Year 2949: Kinstrife and Dark Tidings

[Vladim]

At Beorn's acquiescence and when given leave, Nori goes about writing a note to attach to Hunir. As he writes out the note - briefly explaining the impending danger to Mountain Hall - Nori explains his instructions to the raven. "Now listen here, you flying ham... You go straight to Mountain Hall. You tell them, 'Beorn has a message'. You wait for them to take it off you. Then you can fly to Gloomy Fold. Do you understand?" Nori pauses in his writing to look Hunir in his black eyes, searching for a sign of acknowledgement. Hunir responds with an affirmative squawk, to which Nori gently strokes the top of the bird's head. For as roughly as he seems to talk about the bird and call it names, he seems to genuinely care for Hunir as a pet. Tying the note to Hunir's leg, the dwarf then sets him off on his task - the massive bird flying off in the direction of Mountain Hall.

----------

The dwarf moves ahead of the company as they set forth towards Gloomy Fold. He seems eager to locate someone or something along the way. It soon becomes evident as the small gathering of forces can hear steady, heavy woodchopping in the distance. Nori locates and fells several sturdy, but thin young trees to act as levers for the anticipated rocks and boulders at the location of the "ambush". Recruiting soldiers along the way, he gets pairs to carry bundles of the trees on their shoulders as he moves on to find other suitable trees. Well before they arrive, Nori has plenty of trees to pry the rocks loose and enough to even plant as barriers to soldiers foolish enough to charge the hills or act as makeshift barriers to funnel Valter's forces.

Upon seeing Gloomy Fold, Nori covers his brow as he looks up at the ridge line. He spots several key positions for the group to take with minor to adequate hiding space and a large enough rock to disrupt the line of Valter's force. Sending pairs out to deliver the levers, the dwarf industriously goes about pacing the levers. "Work smart, work hard..." Nori says to himself as he plants the first lever, making it easy enough that a child could pry it loose without making the rock completely unstable in its present location. He seems to be able to locate all the right pivot points in a matter of minutes, readying the traps for the approaching army with about an hour to spare.

[Vladim]

Annungil was in higher spirits now. He was back marching amidst a host of warriors dedicated to protecting their home. This was something he knew and understood. It spoke to him as they marched and his shoulders drew back and his chin raised as they approached Gloomy Fold. His mind was already scouting the terrain and looking at the different approaches. Not as a defender, but as an attacker. He had learned from his officers that the key to defense was to plan like an assailant as much as a defender.

His companion, Nori, had already taken charge of the defenses. He strode to the Dwarf. "What use can I be in your defensive plans?"

[Vladim]

Ingi felt rested after the night was ready to set out with the company in the morning. The anticipation of battle, of conflict was still not something the boy fully knew how to resolve in himself and Ingi hoped his companions could not sense his ambiguity at these mix of feelings. He tried to distract himself by helping Nori with his work with mixed results. After the setting of the defenses at gloomy fold Ingi looked to the leaders - Nori and Ava as to how he could best help, offering as always his bow as his most useful skill.

[Vladim]

The beornings, lead by Ava, marched to meet their foe in the canyon, as predicted - the thugs had been tired from the long march, but despite most being nothing more than highwaymen, some, like Cenric's employer, had been longtime soldiers - they could be easily distinguished from how they carried themselves. Deserters they could be, greedy and cruel they were, regardless if it was for coin or loyalty to Valter that they fought, but these wouldn't give their lives simply - and this spurred on the others. Still, a tired foe was a grand advantage for the Beornings, whom were outnumbered - as were the boulders that began to fall upon the bandits as they piled into the canyon, many falling dead outright, some wounded beyond any ability to fight. The biggest problem, of course, remained Valter, who lurked beyond the enemy lines, yelling commands confidently, as if he'd not been outmaneuvered. Oderic remained at his side, having not been ordered forward - likely, the chieftain decided to keep him nearby as he would be needed later. As the Company began to make their way forward, the fighting slowly began to separate, groups of beornings fighting groups of thugs - and so, even they were engaged by a small detachment: Six swordsmen and three archers. The battle has been joined... But Beorn was nowhere in sight!

 

Roll Requirements

Battle Rolls for Combat Advantage, TN12
The Company holds the Initiative, meaning they do their Opening Volleys first. Anyone who has a ranged weapon can attempt one - the base TN of the Volley is 12+Parry of opponent. The swordsmen have shields(despite the picture not showing any). Anyone with a bow gets 2 attacks in the volley.
After the enemy resolves opening volley, proceed to close quarters, ordered by Stances.

Forward Stance - TN6+Parry to hit you - Acts first - Can intimidate enemy to drain Hate with Awe or Battle instead of attacking. Can also Challenge Adversary or do a Two-weapon attack.
Open - TN9+Parry to hit you - Acts second - Can rally allies instead of an attack. Can Enhearten Comrades or do a Sudden Attack.
Defensive - TN12+Parry to hit you - Acts third - Can take attacks for allies with a point of Hope or Valor. Can do Full Defense or Stand Ground.
Rearward - TN12+Parry to hit you - Acts last - Can make ranged attacks or escape combat with Athletics check. Only 2 characters can be Rearward. Can Harry Foes or Seek a Mark.

All stances have Called Shots they can perform.

[Vladim]

As Valter's mercenaries not engaged with the Beornings approach the fortifications of the fellowship's members in the bottom of the gulch, Nori waits patiently out of view, hidden behind the massive bolder he's wedged a lever under. When the gang of thugs has drawn in far enough, he press down on the lever without snapping it, causing the bolder to dislodge and begin tumbling down the hillside. Picking up momentum as it goes, causing other smaller rocks to join it and kicking up debris as it goes, Nori watches for a moment until he feels confident the group will be caught by surprise.

Grinning from ear to ear, he reaches up with his free hand to pull down his rather ferocious helmet to cover his face. "And now the fun begins," he saws loudly before proceeding to charge down the decline, his axe held in both hands. Nimbly footed, he skips, slides, and jogs across the rough terrain, headed for the bottom just like the boulder. As he draws closer, he lets out a war cry, now swinging his axe about in an attempt to frighten the armed hooligans and cause them to turn about.

OOC: Nori is now in the forward position, coming up to the edge/side of the group of mercenaries.

[Vladim]

Annungil took a deep breath and readied his shield and sword. He could already feel the battle-joy singing in his veins and resounding in his ears. He had waited for this and this was what had kept him searching after his service was finished. The sword rang in its sheath as he stared the brigands down through his helmet. The sword glinted in the sunlight. Ahead of them, the boulders crashed down into the enemy ranks while a short barrage of arrows rattled around them.

That was the hardest part, waiting for the charge. Orc darts, brigand arrows, it was all the same to him. But the shield was revealed now for all to see-- a great shield of Minas Tirith, embossed with the White Tree. They would know who Valter stood against, and that the men of the West had not yet forgotten their role and duty to the broader world.

"I will assault their center and draw their ire." He gave them a grin through his helmet. "Once I have them engaged, hit them in the flank."

With that, he took a deep breath and ran at them, heading straight for the center of the small cluster.

(Defensive Stance- Full Defense)

[Vladim]

Gramtyng quickly let loose two arrows, each hitting their mark. Without giving the enemy a chance to recover, he charge, unsheathing his sword and grabbing his shield from his back, leaving his bow to Belgo. Momentum was important - evne if he was not mounted. From the side, a large boulder crashed into the enemy, followed by a screaming dwarf - Nori - who barreled into the ranks of the enemy. More arrows followed, Ingi's far more accurate than his own, felling at least one man that he saw; the bard charged forward, bellowing his own warcry in the tongue of the Rohirrim: "Hilderæs forþcuman!" - bringing down his sword on a man who was already clutching a wound from his previous arrow. Somewhere, he felt pain as an archer's arrow got him in the side, but this only spurred his anger, cutting down the outlaw in front of him. "Forward! We cannot afford to pause here!" He knew his friends would know what he meant - Oderic was up ahead, in Valter's company - and he would rather die than betray his oath to the Beorning.

It wasnt only Gramtyng who had been hit - two arrows hit Nori, but the resilient dwarf seemed to shrug them off - the rest thankfully missed. Though the might of the Beornings was unquestionable, not giving their all to aid them was a coward's path. Briefly, he saw a wall of iron come charging past him, smashing into the middle foe - Annungil had made his appearance, followed by a familiar whistle of the spear that he'd came to associate with Idunn engaging a foe. It was almost musical, the sound of combat - to him, there was no cacophony that others claimed to hear when they were in battle. Though the thought worried him somewhat, given the fey moods he had been prone to, it mattered little right now. Now, there was only steel.

[Vladim]

Dahr-Ol crouched as he ran, the fold was not as heavily covered in shrubs right on the lip of the gorge as he might of wished but he could not afford a more round about route. Already he heard the clash of boulders and missiles against armor. Battle cries were voiced in a foreign tongue, but he recognized the voice.

His own blood rose as he thought he had been spotted by Valtar's archers. But they were too distracted. He pushed on, whispering to himself.

"For my village. For us all."

He prayed Oderic was ready. The lad had not been known as a natural warrior. This fight would grow sharp quickly if they could not kill Valtar fast.

[Vladim]

Idunn joined the fray as arrows were loosened from front and rear; they whistled above her head, some coming from the direction of her companions, some from the bandits, but she did not pause or hesitate, and soon closed in on the frontline. Their task was now clear - to hold the line until Beorn could come. 'Where is he?' she thought, frustrated that the mightly leader of the Beornings was nowhere to be seen. By himself, he was worth dozens of seasoned soldiers, if not more, if the stories were to be believed. Yet more than that, his presence would certainly inspire his men, and fill the hearts of these foemen with terror.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Dahr-Ol, moving quietly, and his purpose was instantly understood by the huntress. She spoke no word and made no sign, and she let the young Beorning seek this task quietly and alone. These were his lands and his peoples, and if there was any that deserved to defeat Valter on the field, it was Dahr-Ol.

[OOC: Defensive stance, TN to hit her is 19.]

[Vladim]

------------------------------ROUND 2------------------------------

Gramtyng, son of Fastred

The rhythm of battle flew quickly, arrows flying this way and that - blows were exchanged, two of the outlaws already on the ground. Spurred on by Ingi's covering fire, the Rohirrim abandoned any further thought to being careful and rushed forward. Seeing an arrow strike the archer, Gramtyng attacked the swordsman who opposed Annungil - the swordsman who had another arrow sticking out of him, though if it was his or Ingi's, he couldnt tell. The blade found a gap in the man's armor and he fell into the mud of the canyon silently, freeing the road for Annungil to attack the suddenly exposed archer.

OOC: Gram's encouragement heals Nori and himself for another 3.

[Vladim]

The struggle raged on left and right about her. In her hands, Idunn held the Thane's spear, the weapon that had once belonged to Merovech. Its bitter blade glittered in the gloomy fold, reflecting the rays of the sun. The weapon was thirsty for blood and for vengeance. As for Idunn, her heart was cold now, and before her she did not see Men, but orcs, and in the heat of the battle she forgot that though she had slain orcs and spiders before, she had never raised her weapon against the race of Men, her kin. With one swift thrust she struck the soldier that stood before her.

'Valter!' she cried, expelling wind loudly from her lungs, and she looked to the captain's direction. She wished to make sure that the leader of these bandits knew they were coming for him, but she also sought to distract him, so that Dahr-Ol would catch him unaware when he approached from the rear.

[OOC: Open stance, TN to hit her is 16.]

[Vladim]

With the chaos of the battle, Dahr-Ol had been able to make his way through atop the cliff walls to the spot Valter and his men had been standing, observing the battle together with Oderic. The young man stood, hand on the handle of Merovech's sword, staring ahead at the fight - there had been too many in his way to get to the Beornings, and he'd likely get an arrow in the back from the archers that were with Valter. The self-styled 'lord', meanwhile, had at least dressed the part, with polished armor engraved with the heraldry he'd claimed for himself - the mountain and the wall, previously seen by the companions on the gear of Cenric's employee. How much claim DID this man have, or had he been simply a liar? He, and his troops were well equipped and prepared for this to be a mere con...

As Dahr-Ol raced towards his target, ill luck - or something worse - thought to intervene, in form of a root being where it should not. While this did not slow the capable Beorning any, it sent a small stream of pebbles down below, which fell onto the heads of the nearest of Valter's men. Looking up, he shouted in alarm, nocking an arrow and firing at the Beorning. The arrow took Dahr-Ol in the shoulder, piercing through his armor, but even worse, it seemed that he now had Valter's attention!

[Vladim]

With the chaos of the battle, Dahr-Ol had been able to make his way through atop the cliff walls to the spot Valter and his men had been standing, observing the battle together with Oderic. The young man stood, hand on the handle of Merovech's sword, staring ahead at the fight - there had been too many in his way to get to the Beornings, and he'd likely get an arrow in the back from the archers that were with Valter. The self-styled 'lord', meanwhile, had at least dressed the part, with polished armor engraved with the heraldry he'd claimed for himself - the mountain and the wall, previously seen by the companions on the gear of Cenric's employee. How much claim DID this man have, or had he been simply a liar? He, and his troops were well equipped and prepared for this to be a mere con...

As Dahr-Ol raced towards his target, ill luck - or something worse - thought to intervene, in form of a root being where it should not. While this did not slow the capable Beorning any, it sent a small stream of pebbles down below, which fell onto the heads of the nearest of Valter's men. Looking up, he shouted in alarm, nocking an arrow and firing at the Beorning. The arrow took Dahr-Ol in the shoulder, piercing through his armor, but even worse, it seemed that he now had Valter's attention!

[Vladim]

As Nori makes his way down the hill, he is struck not once, but twice by arrows from the small grouping of raiders. One arrow rips across the side of his gut, opening up his exposed shirt and creating a nice gash that immediately soaks his shirt and armor in blood. The second arrow strikes home in his left thigh, burying itself in the fleshy part of his leg and causing his charge to slow. Now at the bottom of the hill, withing striking distance of the group, the dwarf looks down at his wounds to check himself and growls - both to express pain as well as the impending savagery of war. He's hurt, but still quite dangerous - especially now that the distance is closed.

Leaving the arrow in his leg, the dwarf lunges at the nearest swordsman, raising his axe well above his right shoulder and head and then bringing it down into the nook between the man's shoulder and neck, burying the head of his axe in an effort to cause a mortal wound and bring the combatant out of the fight. Blood spatters across the face of his helmet, giving the dwarf and even more ferocious appearance as he engages the hoodlums.

[Vladim]

Fortune was with the companions this time - with every blow, an enemy fell. Followed by Gramtyng's strike, Idunn pierced the man in front of her, Merovech's spear shredding through armor, flesh and bone, erupting from the outlaws back. He gave a hissing, shuddering gasp and slid off the spear. To her left, Nori's axe bit deeply into an outlaw, making the man collapse into the bloodied mud - still alive, but only just. Annungil's blade drew a silver arc, shattering an archer's bow which he raised to block the hit - but the blade dove past the bow and sliced into the man's neck, causing him to gurgle and collapse, dead. Just as he did so, another archer raised his bow to shoot at Nori, who had been occupied with freeing his axe from the fallen man - only to fall dead as an arrow bloomed from his throat, sent there by Ingi's keen eye and trained hand.
 

------------------------------ROUND 3------------------------------

Gramtyng, son of Fastred

Grantyng bellowed his encouragement - at this point, a meaningless, wordless warcry to spur them onward, and redoubled his efforts on the next opponent - a shocked looking outlaw with a spear. The bard batted away the spear, dove into range, and sunk his sword up to the hilt into the man's side. He'd still been alive - but for how long was anyone's guess. "Press on! Valter must die!!"