Eonwë and Ossë: Beating Fate
Oct 12, 2003 1:45:59 GMT -5
Post by Eonwë on Oct 12, 2003 1:45:59 GMT -5
Report from Fionwë, on the situation in Romendor.
October 4th, 2003
Messengers had come in the night. The orcs had grown mighty in the East of Middle-Earth, where humans still were not seen. The Avari there had learned to trust no one, whether human, orc, or even one of their own kind. It was up to me to plan a response to the orcs' aggression. Standing in the high towers of Taniquetil, I looked east over the carnage they began to wage. Save my father and mother, were I any other than Fionwë, I would have not seen this tiny spot on the face of Arda, almost too small for my eyes. But even if no one else heard their cries to the Valar, even if the Elves must soon abandon their homes anyway, I could not leave them alone against such an onslaught. I would not.
It was then that Nornorë flew up the stairs (a swift one, hehe is.) No lesser errand did I send my father's herald for than to seek one who was of like mind with me on this matter. With him this Ainu came. Ossë had arrived.
After sharing this vision with him, he lead me by secret ways through Ulmo's realm from our land, Valandor, to Romendor. We looked upon the land in fëa and in carnal form, walking both as Elves and as lowly Orcs among the respective races. We saw that our move must be soon, but we could not simply slay the orcs oursleves. It was obvious these Avari must be willing to fight for their own homes. I walked among the villages and found a king, who in this time of darkness still paid homage to Eru. It was his people I chose to lead the fight against the Orcs. His people were valiant but few, and between they and the orcs lay a bitter enemy of theirs, Avari who would hear no reason in my warnings and chose to do battle with both the Orcs and their neighbors.
One army would not defeat these two foes. Ossë, having been through these lands, had known this and decided the only solution was to call upon the sons of Elros. Would the men of Numenor have the strength and will to fight this foe? We were soon to find out, as the ships unloaded and the Elf chieftain met with the Commander of the Dunadan army. Ossë and I had decided at this point we should each focus our councils with one of these leaders.
It was not long before the enemy Avari attacked my people's base. The Elves fought hard and drove them back, lead by a young warrior who in the tongue of men was called "Painkiller." He lead the forces and pushed them back as his people sought to move closer to the orcs and establish a new line. Meanwhile, Ossë had councilled the Dunedain to prepare for to attack, and the knights of Gondor were preparing for a move on the Orcs. The enemy Avari were persistant, and with sadness Ossë and I agreed the only way to the orcs was through these Avari. Together our armies attacked the enemy encampment, already weakened by assaults from the orcs. A few moments of peace were enjoyed while we prepared for the true battle, but it was not long before we realized how great a buffer the enemy Avari were against the onslaught of this Morgoth-spawned force.
My Elves' defenses were shattered in but two assaults, and the force Ossë's Dunedain had sent to contain the Orcs' expansion were decimated shortly after. The Dunedain struggled to rebuild their forces and to seek new supplies as a few of the remaining friendly Avari wandered into their base. Painkiller had lead them here. He and his men(and women) had managed to carry away enough supplies to rebuild and join in the fortification of the now joint lines. Alas, this was not enough, for the Orcs hit the line before it was ready, and the Dunedain and Avari were both struggling to hold them back. Several assaults hit the line, but the stalwart Elves and Men stood their ground as best they could, fighting back each orc wave as their lives depended on it. An Elf woman named Marin Bladewing fought alongside Painkiller, nobly endangering herself to protect the Dunedain workers. Her blades flew fast and numerously as she aimed at each orc with deadly accuracy.
The orcs would attack, retreat, and attack again with greater numbers. The Avari still struggled to regain some long ground as they sought aid from their druids and the Stone Giants of the neighboring mountains. It was not long before this line finally broke, and the Dunedain scattered to take a foothold somewhere else. The Avari had found one again, and had sent miners to their home territory to rebuild and gather the remaining resources. The Orcs patrolled the area viciously, attacking once again the Avari and grinding their structures into the dust. The Dunedain too were attempting to rebuild, and were as yet safe in their new location.
Having been deprived of a new settlement thrice, the Avari made a decision that if they could not rebuild in one place, they would rebuild in many places, drawing the orcs army with them and thus buying the Dunedain time to rebuild. At first this plan seemed it would work, and for a time it did. The Avari had established tree-halls in several areas of the southern forests. However, the orcs soon discovered the Dunedain base where Painkiller and Marin stood with the Dunadan Lord to defend it. It was not a long battle, and unfortunately the Dunedain did not escape.
I admit it was my interference that saved Painkiller and Marin; that I took a hand, transporting them safely to an altar to the West. Ossë and I, we, could sadly not act fast enough to save all three of these valiant souls. In the end, the Dunadain died to ensure the Avari would live.
If this were any consolation, the two survivors swore the battle would not be in vain. Ossë and I agreed, and taking council once again with each other we sought to ensure the orcs would not move beyond this point. Ossë took to advising Marin and I to Painkiller as they lead a guerilla assault on the orcs bases. Little was left of their people to lead an attack, but the tactic of setting up bases in several locations bought the Avari much needed time. The Orc armies were strong and numerous, and these heroes, though valiant, would not stand in a face-to-face battle. No orc would fight an honorable duel.
The two began to conduct hit-and run attacks, striking blatantly in the day to attract the armies to one place, then running through secret forest paths, and targetting mining complexes at night, melting into the shadows when the army patrolled too near. The Avari people finally began to rebuild and mine, having hope again as Painkiller and Marin drew the focus to themselves. Painkiller called upon the local population to assist in the battles, and soon the Elves were not the only ones attacking the Orcs. Giant turtles and amphibious creatures came from their homes to aid the Elves in their battles.
Due to the attacks on the Orc treasuries and supplies, they began to grow desperate and sought to end this once and for all. They again attacked several of the Avari settlements, but Painkiller and Marin would not be stopped. Ossë and I would not be stopped. Given by us the designs to a seige weapon, they gathered the resources and began to construct glaive throwers. A small group of them went out to demolish an Orc base and succeeded. These were then lost to the Orcish army. Seeing they worked, however, the Avari constructed more. Knowing if the orcs lost thir fortresses they would have to retreat, we began to council simoultaneous attacks of the Giant turtles on one base, while the Glaive throwers attacked another. Painkiller and Marin also joined these attack, or drew enemy fire to a third or even fourth base.
The orc army was not prepared for such an offensive. Being bipassed, the orc army was useless to its bases. In the end, the Avari succeeded, beating Fate itself. As Ossë and I looked on, we could only grin as we watched the celebration of the Avari in their triumph, and weep when the slain, both Avari and Dunedain, were laid to rest. They have earned great honor and a short sojourn in Mandos.
I will stay but a little while longer with them to council, but will return to Valinor soon to speak on this before the Valar. I look forward to Vairë's tapestry of this battle.
Fionwë
Notes on this Tale
Romendor - Quenya meaning "East Land" pieced together by yours truly :}
Valandor - Found it in the Silmarillion under the root "dor" meaning strictly "Land of the Valar" while Valinorë means in the strict sense "people of the Valar" After seeing it, I just had to use it :}
Take care :}
Eonwë
October 4th, 2003
Messengers had come in the night. The orcs had grown mighty in the East of Middle-Earth, where humans still were not seen. The Avari there had learned to trust no one, whether human, orc, or even one of their own kind. It was up to me to plan a response to the orcs' aggression. Standing in the high towers of Taniquetil, I looked east over the carnage they began to wage. Save my father and mother, were I any other than Fionwë, I would have not seen this tiny spot on the face of Arda, almost too small for my eyes. But even if no one else heard their cries to the Valar, even if the Elves must soon abandon their homes anyway, I could not leave them alone against such an onslaught. I would not.
It was then that Nornorë flew up the stairs (a swift one, hehe is.) No lesser errand did I send my father's herald for than to seek one who was of like mind with me on this matter. With him this Ainu came. Ossë had arrived.
After sharing this vision with him, he lead me by secret ways through Ulmo's realm from our land, Valandor, to Romendor. We looked upon the land in fëa and in carnal form, walking both as Elves and as lowly Orcs among the respective races. We saw that our move must be soon, but we could not simply slay the orcs oursleves. It was obvious these Avari must be willing to fight for their own homes. I walked among the villages and found a king, who in this time of darkness still paid homage to Eru. It was his people I chose to lead the fight against the Orcs. His people were valiant but few, and between they and the orcs lay a bitter enemy of theirs, Avari who would hear no reason in my warnings and chose to do battle with both the Orcs and their neighbors.
One army would not defeat these two foes. Ossë, having been through these lands, had known this and decided the only solution was to call upon the sons of Elros. Would the men of Numenor have the strength and will to fight this foe? We were soon to find out, as the ships unloaded and the Elf chieftain met with the Commander of the Dunadan army. Ossë and I had decided at this point we should each focus our councils with one of these leaders.
It was not long before the enemy Avari attacked my people's base. The Elves fought hard and drove them back, lead by a young warrior who in the tongue of men was called "Painkiller." He lead the forces and pushed them back as his people sought to move closer to the orcs and establish a new line. Meanwhile, Ossë had councilled the Dunedain to prepare for to attack, and the knights of Gondor were preparing for a move on the Orcs. The enemy Avari were persistant, and with sadness Ossë and I agreed the only way to the orcs was through these Avari. Together our armies attacked the enemy encampment, already weakened by assaults from the orcs. A few moments of peace were enjoyed while we prepared for the true battle, but it was not long before we realized how great a buffer the enemy Avari were against the onslaught of this Morgoth-spawned force.
My Elves' defenses were shattered in but two assaults, and the force Ossë's Dunedain had sent to contain the Orcs' expansion were decimated shortly after. The Dunedain struggled to rebuild their forces and to seek new supplies as a few of the remaining friendly Avari wandered into their base. Painkiller had lead them here. He and his men(and women) had managed to carry away enough supplies to rebuild and join in the fortification of the now joint lines. Alas, this was not enough, for the Orcs hit the line before it was ready, and the Dunedain and Avari were both struggling to hold them back. Several assaults hit the line, but the stalwart Elves and Men stood their ground as best they could, fighting back each orc wave as their lives depended on it. An Elf woman named Marin Bladewing fought alongside Painkiller, nobly endangering herself to protect the Dunedain workers. Her blades flew fast and numerously as she aimed at each orc with deadly accuracy.
The orcs would attack, retreat, and attack again with greater numbers. The Avari still struggled to regain some long ground as they sought aid from their druids and the Stone Giants of the neighboring mountains. It was not long before this line finally broke, and the Dunedain scattered to take a foothold somewhere else. The Avari had found one again, and had sent miners to their home territory to rebuild and gather the remaining resources. The Orcs patrolled the area viciously, attacking once again the Avari and grinding their structures into the dust. The Dunedain too were attempting to rebuild, and were as yet safe in their new location.
Having been deprived of a new settlement thrice, the Avari made a decision that if they could not rebuild in one place, they would rebuild in many places, drawing the orcs army with them and thus buying the Dunedain time to rebuild. At first this plan seemed it would work, and for a time it did. The Avari had established tree-halls in several areas of the southern forests. However, the orcs soon discovered the Dunedain base where Painkiller and Marin stood with the Dunadan Lord to defend it. It was not a long battle, and unfortunately the Dunedain did not escape.
I admit it was my interference that saved Painkiller and Marin; that I took a hand, transporting them safely to an altar to the West. Ossë and I, we, could sadly not act fast enough to save all three of these valiant souls. In the end, the Dunadain died to ensure the Avari would live.
If this were any consolation, the two survivors swore the battle would not be in vain. Ossë and I agreed, and taking council once again with each other we sought to ensure the orcs would not move beyond this point. Ossë took to advising Marin and I to Painkiller as they lead a guerilla assault on the orcs bases. Little was left of their people to lead an attack, but the tactic of setting up bases in several locations bought the Avari much needed time. The Orc armies were strong and numerous, and these heroes, though valiant, would not stand in a face-to-face battle. No orc would fight an honorable duel.
The two began to conduct hit-and run attacks, striking blatantly in the day to attract the armies to one place, then running through secret forest paths, and targetting mining complexes at night, melting into the shadows when the army patrolled too near. The Avari people finally began to rebuild and mine, having hope again as Painkiller and Marin drew the focus to themselves. Painkiller called upon the local population to assist in the battles, and soon the Elves were not the only ones attacking the Orcs. Giant turtles and amphibious creatures came from their homes to aid the Elves in their battles.
Due to the attacks on the Orc treasuries and supplies, they began to grow desperate and sought to end this once and for all. They again attacked several of the Avari settlements, but Painkiller and Marin would not be stopped. Ossë and I would not be stopped. Given by us the designs to a seige weapon, they gathered the resources and began to construct glaive throwers. A small group of them went out to demolish an Orc base and succeeded. These were then lost to the Orcish army. Seeing they worked, however, the Avari constructed more. Knowing if the orcs lost thir fortresses they would have to retreat, we began to council simoultaneous attacks of the Giant turtles on one base, while the Glaive throwers attacked another. Painkiller and Marin also joined these attack, or drew enemy fire to a third or even fourth base.
The orc army was not prepared for such an offensive. Being bipassed, the orc army was useless to its bases. In the end, the Avari succeeded, beating Fate itself. As Ossë and I looked on, we could only grin as we watched the celebration of the Avari in their triumph, and weep when the slain, both Avari and Dunedain, were laid to rest. They have earned great honor and a short sojourn in Mandos.
I will stay but a little while longer with them to council, but will return to Valinor soon to speak on this before the Valar. I look forward to Vairë's tapestry of this battle.
Fionwë
Notes on this Tale
Romendor - Quenya meaning "East Land" pieced together by yours truly :}
Valandor - Found it in the Silmarillion under the root "dor" meaning strictly "Land of the Valar" while Valinorë means in the strict sense "people of the Valar" After seeing it, I just had to use it :}
Take care :}
Eonwë