Scouting Ahead, Part 6: The Road to Rivendell

[arienv]

Frali:

The young dwarf looked at the orcs hiding in the bushes with contempt , and the words of the orc leader only served to fill his heart with rage. He was not able to understand how easy going the elves where in the whole situation ... the warrior was almost trembling and only great strength of will enabled him to stay put the instance the leader appeared.

Meren's whispering did little to pacify his mood, but only a slight frown showed that he was less than pleased with the instruction.

"As you wish , my lady", he grumbled , "I guess you know what yer doing with that arrow there and the wee bag at the end of the stick ... at least i do hope so."

Frali suddlenly thought he sounded like a dwarfling that had been denied a toy but he couldnt take back his words, but then he added with a fierce smile to soften his reply: " I sure will follow that second part of your order with everything i have ... my axe might not be as seasoned as the elves' swords and bows but it is not untested and thirsts for more orc blood."

[Eonwë]

Auros:

The Noldo had not moved, even as he watched an orc pierced with arrows fall dead at his feet, until one of the larger orcs had finally come charging through his own line, thrusting aside orcs in disarray from Meren's assault.

Raising his sword, Auros met the orc's blade, pushing it aside. The orc blocked his counter-attack and tried to grapple with the Noldo. Auros thrust the orc away, then drove his sword into the orc before it could attack again.

Another orc struck at him immediately, giving Auros just enough time to remove his sword from the corpse and sidestep the attack. The orc had committed too much, however, and Auros slew it as it tried to regain balance.

Fainan was now riding through the orcs, and the group was picking targets at will. Targets were plentiful, but not so well trained it seemed to Auros. Those orcs remaining alive were now in complete disarray, running to and fro. A shout then went up from one of them, and the others began to rally around it.

Auros wiped his blade clean. "Be ready," he told the others. "They're preparing for another assault." A smirk grew across the Noldo's face. I've already committed to the battle. Why wait for the enemy to regroup?

"Better yet,.." he said, and then began to charge into the unprepared enemy.

[Varda]

Fainan:

Having gone completely through the orcs' group once, Fainan spun Hithceleb about. From her high point on horseback, she had a fair view of the situation. She watched for any archers or other distance attackers such as javelin or spear-users and picked them off, choosing first the ones that were shaking off the confusion from Meren's marvelous concoction and Hithceleb's flying hooves. When she saw Auros' charge, she switched to covering him, now including melee orcs.

Over the noise, she couldn't hear the new approach, but saw the ominous sudden wiggles of twigs that meant the oncoming of spiders, using the distraction of the orcs to cover their movements into place. She knew a great way to give warning to her group, however. Shooting off several arrows quickly, she took down a great spider and dropped it into the orcs. It was dead or nearly so, legs pulling into the folded position and making a spider bomb.

A few dismayed chitterings suggested more positions, so Fainan backed Hithceleb into a better position with leg motion. She was grateful that her companions had kept the orcs busy while she concentrated those moments on spiders.

She called out quickly, "Be ready to brush aside webs using weapons or clothing only! They stick worse to skin." Then she concentrated again on finding the half-hidden spiders, letting Hithceleb give warning and hoof to orcs coming too near.

[arienv]

Frali:

The young warrior had impatiently waited for the bag of Meren to do whatever it supposed to but then he had enough - apart from that suddenly two smaller orcs broke through the bushes and with several swift strokes he made sure they had nothing to grope the elven lady with and finished each off with a mighty blow.

Then the melee was in full swing and Frali hacked at whaevert he was able to reach until the first wave of attackers abaited and none remained to harm them further.

Still the dwarf had no time to rest for long, as Fainan's warning reached his ears he spotted glittering in the closest bushes and low pitched chittering. Without hesitation Frali threw one of his beloved axes in the direction and with a hard to hear plop and hiss one of the spiders fell motionless out of the closest bushes and the threads of the web it had woven hung in two from the branches.

Highly alert and in his element Frali watched closely the other edges surrounding the clearing, ready to jump into action wherever he was needed.

[ArPharazon]

Calaron:

With the elf dropping down, there was no point in shooting another arrow. Calaron put the arrow back in his quiver and moved to Estarion's position. The crash was loud, loud enough for him to have assumed the Elf dropped to the ground, but he felt this was a deception; he could still sense him within the trees, on the lower branches. There were also still Orcs tracking them from the ground, and surely he would've heard the rumor of battle if they had faced the Avar there.

He smiled. It was a clever plan, but Calaron didn't have to rely on sound alone, and so it wasn't clever enough. Sneaking to the hole the Avar made, he sensed him near a treetrunk, and if he strained his ears enough, he could almost hear him breathe.

Swiftly, Calaron went into action. In a mere moment he dropped through the hole, swung around the trunk, and slammed himself and Estarion out of the trees, while making sure to avoid a weapon-stroke.

Both elves landed on the ground nimbly, and faced each other. With a quick signal, Calaron signalled the Orcs to approach, though with caution. He did not want to waste them in a melee when they would be more suited in delaying the Avar, should he try to flee again.

With a grim smile he addressed his opponent, no longer trying to conceal his contempt. "No hiding anymore. Even if you went back into the trees, I would find you, for I have more than Elf-skills to use. Now face me and my forces," waving a hand-gesture at the trees behind him, where more Orcs appeared, "or tell me what I want to know. And don't expect your comrades to rescue you, because as you can hear, my Orcs and spiders have them pinned down a distance from here." He nodded in the general direction of the battle, now clearly audible.

Calion:

Having followed Auros to the clearing, Calion also dismounted, and readied his knife. He did not get a chance to go into melee yet, because of Meren's tactic, but he smiled at the effect. After the dust settled, he took advantage of the situation by killing some of the sneezing Orcs, and retreating out of the melee when they regrouped.

Soon, the Orcs were being reinforced by spiders, and he started his involvement in this wave by hitting a spider in the trees with a thrown dagger, before preparing to go into close combat again, should any Orcs or spiders approach.

[Shelob]

Estarion:

Estarion crouched low behind the trunk of the tree, awaiting the Elf to drop down after him. What came next, caught him at unawares. He was able to dodge the lightning-quick stroke of the Elf's sword, but could not avoid being taken down to the ground.
The blow which took him to the ground only slightly knocked him off balance, which he corrected while falling, and Estarion landed nimbly on his feet. As he turned to face the Elf, a quick hand signal brought several Orcs skulking towards him. The elf started speaking, in the Elven language, but in a harsh tone, which belied his true nature.
In a growling sneer, Estarion answered, "you know nothing and will not learn anything from me, traitor!" The words had barely left his mouth when he darted a lightning swift stroke at the Elf's shoulder on the side of which he held the sword. He chose the side deliberately as it would make it much harder to parry it, yet would be a swordsman's first instinct to do.
As expected, the elf started to parry almost instantaneously, committing himself to either an attack or other defensive measure to follow up on the first parry. It was all Estarion needed. In one fluid motion, he changed the direction of his sword, sending it down towards the Elf's leg, in an effort to hamper his ability to follow, while turning around to flee. The slash only left a narrow gash on the leg, nothing that would stop the Elf from following.
It all happened so fast, the orcs didn't have much time to prepare, and Estarion caught several by surprise, dispatching them easily, leaving a small gap to run through. Several crossbolts were loosed, from other orcs nearby, one of them grazing his leg, and Estarion cursed under his breath as he felt wetness spilling down it. So much for advtantage, he thought. Several cries behind him told him that some of the bolts had hit a better target, although unintended ones.

Taking no heed from the cries behind, Estarion rushed towards the battle now clearly audible, hoping he could outrun those behind, and yet come in time to make a difference in the battle his friends were fighting right then.

[Indis]

Meren:

After nodding her thanks to Frali for his quick work with the two invading orcs, Meren continued her archery until she heard Fainan's warning and herself caught sight of the spiders. "I should have known they'd come sooner or later," she thought with annoyance. "I'm sure I have something in my supplies that will help with them..." Putting aside her bow, she rummaged in her herb pouch and pulled out a bag. "Spider-bane! This might well do the job." She was especially pleased that this substance was specific to spiders and their venom, so all her companions would be unharmed. If some orcs were injured by it, so much the better. She smirked briefly at the thought.

After quickly preparing another leaf bag and putting spider-bane in it, she pulled out another of her small herb-delivery arrows and attached the payload to it. Off it went to the nearest large clot of spiders. At first it seemed nothing was changed, but as she watched impatiently, she could see that none of the clot was moving away, and they were now easy targets, as long as the spider-bane left them dazed. "Shoot where I do," she shouted. "The spiders are dazed." After loosing a few signal shots, she began work on another spider-bane preparation. Fortunately she had plenty--this was a necessity in Mirkwood.

[Eonwë]

Auros:

Auros pushed aside the smaller orcs with shields, intent on slaying the large orc issuing orders. The orc met his blade, as several more large orcs gathered around the Noldo. Auros was keenly aware now that he was alone, and far afield. Hastily spun webbing was strewn from trees, hanging low and thick, obscurring the view behind him and making arrows from the outside dangerous, as there could be no guarantee he would not be struck. The orcs he had pushed through now made a line behind him, shields outward and arrayed to deny entry, javelins in hand ready to be thrown or thrust at any who approached.

Auros thrust the leader back as one of the other large orcs lunged at him. He stepped aside just in time and struck the orc down. The orc was unarmed, and Auros percieved they were trying to capture him. The other large orcs did not give him long to prepare before striking again, closing in on the Noldo and shrinking the space Auros had to swing his sword.

An orc drew closer to him from behind. With a deft motion, he separated the orc from its hands, carrying the motion to bring his hilt over his head, and grasping it with both hands, he brought his sword down to meet the blade of the leader. With them thronging around Auros, it was all he could do to meet the orc-leader blow for blow and keep the others from rendering him immobile. The lesser orcs dared not approach the Noldo, but these larger orcs were not as daunted, and the will of their master was now strong over them, pushing them even if they would quail at the Noldo's determination, and the Noldo could feel that will fixed on him.

He pushed another orc back and struck at the one coming from the side. He parried the leader, then went to deal the death-blow only to have an orc grab his other arm, forcing him to change his attack and hew the limb from the orc grasping him. Even as he struck them down, there were more that thronged about him, pressing in on him even as he forced them back, a shrinking circle that he kept alive only by the force of his will.

At that moment, Estarion burst through the trees, and the orcs could no longer afford to give their attention solely to Auros.

[Shelob]

Estarion:

Estarion was running as fast as he could, his pursuers not far behind. Quickly though, the clamor of battle grew louder, and finally, he cleared the trees, and came upon a large group of orcs, surrounding a lonely figure. Almost all had their weapons sheathed, apparently intent on capturing what must be Auros.
As Estarion had made no effort at all to stay silent, as soon as he burst forth, several orcs turned around, expecting reinforcements. Bewildered at first at the appearance of Estarion, they wasted little time drawing their swords and standing ready to deal with the new threat.
Wasting no time either, Estarion rushed forth, parrying and dodging, the way Auros had taught him, striking only where it did harm, and almost in fluid motion. As the first orc fell, Estarion yelled, "Auros! More coming in, we cannot stay here! An Elf traitor leads them!"

[Varda]

Fainan:

Horrified at Auros' predicament, cut off by orcs and spiderweb so that she could not shoot into the melee, and concerned by Estarion's warning of reinforcements, Fainan chose a particular point in the surrounding orcs that seemed the least guarded.

"Come with me! We have to aid Auros!" She drew her sword and charged on Hithceleb at the point that she wanted her party to attack and sliced at the hangings of webs between them.

[arienv]

Frali:

Being busy keeping Meren as safe as possible , the dwarf at first had not noticed that the Noldo had run off on his own to deal with the leader. Just when the fight slowed a bit down , so the dwarf could glance around and almost instantly saw the fence like webbing out of which the sound of swordfighting came now slightly muffled. Quickly glancing around his fighting companions Frali realized to his horror that Auros was missing and so it could be only him in the webbed area. Fainan's shout confirmed his conclusion and off he ran to follow her order, not without turning to Meren: "Come , Come my lady .. leave the spiders be , they are no threat now . The Lord wants a rescue and i intend to play my part in it!"

As fast as he could , Frali followed on foot and slashed at anything that wanted to hinder his advance.

[Indis]

Meren:

Meren grabbed some more 'orc medicine,' her herb pouch, and her weapons and followed Frali, tellling him to stay on the periphery at first, as she had another 'wee bag' to shoot in there in the gap that Fainan was making and that Frali would enlarge. She thought hard as she ran about what she could use for the leaders, who might be resistant to her usual weapon.

[Varda]

Fainan:

A javelin whizzed by, carrying off a bit of cloak right off her shoulder and damaging the leather just beneath. Had the orc not been unbalanced by Hithceleb's charge, Fainan would have been investigating the Halls of Mandos. Now she knew what the webs hid. "Javelins!" she called back to the group. "Come through here and help Auros."

She had done what was needed, breaking the circle, and did not relish being an obvious target. She pulled back, having Hithceleb rear and strike out as she turned. A parting rear kick with both hooves and a leap caused misses by more javelins.

Around the small clearing and above on interweaving branches skittered new spiders, talking amongst themselves but unintelligible to Fainan through the noise of the fight. They broke into groups of three trying to stay more or less above each of the party. Perhaps they might try to drop a web cord to run down, or to hinder a party member.

Fainan sheathed the sword and switched back to her bow, taking special aim for those spiders that positioned their abdomens to drop a webline, and trying to keep those above her busy trying to figure out which way she was going next. The orcs seemed to have concentrated more on Auros and the party needed to work on them if she could give cover from the worst of the spiders.

The numbers were against them and more organized than usual. Fainan whistled piercingly, hoping that the call for help might be heard by some passing patrol.

[arienv]

Frali::

Being on foot didn't slow down the dwarf as much as he feared , since the Orcs were being cleared by the elven horse's hoofs. His own pony had run off in Auros' direction and doing his own best not to get caught in the spiders webs, kicking and rearing when he was being assaulted.

But Frali didn' t have much time to admire his mount's bravery, since he had enough to do keep up with the charging elves and clearing away any lower hanging webbings with his axe and shield, not to mention the odd orc that came too close for comfort.

Slowly they made their way towards Auros, and as Fainan shouted Frali had the easier job of getting through the gap, since he was shorter. On the way he managed to get rid of some of the javellin throwers and slightly worse for wear but whole in general , Frali grouped with the others around the Noldo and waited for the next wave, wondering against how many more they could stand.

Well, at least they had put up a fight and would do until the bitter end. And bitter it would be, since they were so much in the minority. Unless some reinforceents came out of nowhere, of course.

[Indis]

Meren:

Seeing the havoc the horses were wreaking in the clearing, Meren whistled to Duroch, who rushed up and joined in with a will. Dismayed that Frali had understandably run to the center, she took a few seconds to think of an alternative to the 'orc medicine' that she had used before. She realized that she would have to attack individuals rather than masses.

Hastily she rummaged hastily in her pouch for a generous supply of thorns coated with a soporific and her blowpipe, normally used for hunting straying herds. Just near the entrance but inconspicuous, she loaded her blowpipe and shot at an orc near the edge of the clump surrounding Auros in order to test her device. While she waited for the potion to take effect, she used her bow to shoot down spiders, take down javelin hurlers, and assist the melee fighters.

Suddenly she felt a soft but skin-crawling touch on her shoulder. Ugh! It was a spider; medium-sized but still dangerous enough. Hoping her usual dose of antivenin would hold against the creature's poison, she quickly drew her dagger and stabbed at the faceted eyes, then dissected out the stinger and poison pouch, letting them fall to the ground. If she survived, she would gather this and other poison pouches to make more antivenin--but first she needed to stay alive and help her companions.

A few more strokes dispatched the spider, giving her a chance to check her targeted orc. Yes, he was drooping a bit, and his strokes were missing their aim. Once again, she took up her blowpipe and thorns from where she had dropped them to fight the spider and started aiming for strategically placed orcs, where their impairment would do the most good.

She hoped her supply of thorns would last through the fight and help her folk, but she knew it was possible that it wouldn't. And she still wasn't sure the thorns would work on the leaders, so she cautiously tried one on a bigger and louder orc--on the assumption that bigger and louder made a leader among orcs--aiming for a place where a little prick would seem like a wound from a blade. Psssht: away went the little missile into flesh. Her sharp eyes saw the orc flinch momentarily but then resume battle.

While she watched to see if her weapon would work on the big, loud enemy, she alternated arrows and thorns, with the occasional resort to dagger when a spider encroached on her territory. Her sword was ready for stray orcs, too. From time to time she checked on Duroch, who was continuing to do his share. But what would she do when her thorns ran out?