If the newly-landed boats’ troops seem, with Hraedsig’s able assistance, to be coming ashore satisfactorily, Sir Thoroncir will remain with the main body of troops. Otherwise he will ride with Orodreth and Pelendur to support Hraedsig, ordering his senior lieutenant Aestirion to continue to attack the enemy.
Hraedsig’s charge barrels through a line of men that were rushing to stop those landing. The surprise and force of Windfoot and Sword and War Shield clear a line through and they push right to the first boat where he gives greeting, wheels about and charges back again. Commander Thoroncir must remain with his troops of course but can spare 3 of his men to follow Hraedsig through. This slightly delayed charge, charges through the already disorganize men actually send many of them scurrying back to safety.
In the meantime Thoroncir see a great opportunity to wheel to the south and into the light guard around the two ballistae setup furthest to the east. He split his remaining cavalry into two flying wedges of 18 each and crash into these defenders.
The heavy infantry marches fast, shields high against the arrows and bolts of the enemies and then charge as one into the gap of the front line to get to the archers. The fighting is bloody and fierce and many on both sides drop but far more of the defenders whose armor is inferior to the men of Gondor. Where the two Dwarves fight, none can stand and no weapons can bite. Their terrible axes rise and fall with a rhythm that spells death. Their shields crush legs and hips or bash open faces that come too close. Finally they see a huge warrior with a mighty mace approach, he must be 7’ tall and over 400 pounds and is armored well on finely made banded mail. His helm is golden like the sun and nearly blinding but Gwaelur answers by lighting Rilthol up to blaze for real.
As the scouts head quickly in the chaos to the ford, Ghân feels the air tingle with the feel of lightning and senses something odd is coming in swiftly. He sees something odd flying in fast to the battle but his Pine Marten eyes fail him in this case.
If he is close enough to see Gwaelur and assess the situation, Sir Thoroncir will ride to assist the Dwarf against the massive enemy warrior, and allow Aestirion to command the ongoing ballistae assault. Otherwise he will remain where he is.
Keeping moving behind the infantry and off to the ford.
Hraedsig will stay at the landing site until it is secure, to ensure that all of our men can get ashore. Once (and if) the site is secured, he will lead a charge back to Thoroncir and the main cavalry to regroup.
Still looking for mischief - I don’t know if Ghân is able to articulate clearly enough to direct my keen eyes towards the mysterious flying interloper, otherwise I’m still interested in what’s going on at ground level and closer to hand.
Can Ghân use [COLOR=“Blue”]Speak to Animals to communicate with Gil-Gandel?[/COLOR]
Since as a Pine Marten he can’t see the danger, Ghân will cast Summon Insects on the huge Warrior with the Mace.
Ghân is nowhere near the huge warrior and does not even see him.
Hopefully Mulligan with Rorimac behind keeping pace behind make it to the ford relatively safely and hopefully before the reinforcements arrive.
Can Ghan use [COLOR=“Blue”]Speak to Animals to communicate with Gil-Gandel?[/COLOR]
If Ghan feels the ‘lightning tingle’ is an imminent attack, he’ll cast Protection from Lightning on Gil-Gandel.
If he feels that there is a storm brewing, he’ll cast Call Lightning (and blat any opponents he can see, especially seige weapons).
You can talk in a high pitched voice to Gil-Gandel or you would not be able to cast.
It is not a storm, but something else and it is getting stronger quick. It is something up in the air coming out of the east.
Bitur instructs the infantry to make sure the warrior becomes and remains isolated from the remaining enemy troops. He then nods at Gwaelur and begins to cut a path to the warrior.
Here we go.
Gwaelur is ready with axe in hand. He locks eyes with the giant warior and steps forward for battle.
Bitur and Gwaelur engage the huge warrior. He swings his mighty mace down in a two handed stroke and does 20 points to Gwaelur. Gwaelur strikes with his Axe and shield for 30. Bitur hits with his Battle Axe for 17. Thoroncir leads a charge through the enemy. He gives orders for the cavalry to try and open a clear path. He finds his path and locks in his lance. He strikes true for 26 points but loses his lance. Thoroncir spins to help the Dwarves. A Lightning bolt descends from the sky. It does 83* points of damage and Seafoam is dead beyond hope. All three adventures save as does the huge foe but they all take 41 points of damage. The Warrior’s well made banded mail is slagged and his Golden helm charred and smoking as are his boots.
The blackened helmed foe strikes Gwaelur for 19, he is down by 80 of 82 He is dropped to his knees and woosy. 8 arrows strike the now vulnerable body of the warrior. He then swings on Bitur and hits for another 22 bringing Bitur down by 63. His final swing misses Bitur though. Bitur’s rugged backpack with a light load and Dwarven equipment have survived. Rilthol is shining extra bright but Gwaelur lost nothing. Thoroncir’s strongbow is broken and quiver destroyed. The elven barding did survive and everything else.
Hraedsig now leads a force of a dozen knights at the ballistae, the landing looks secure with the first boats already heading back. The forces of Gondor though look like they need help against this Wizard and his mount. Arrows and bolts fired skyward all seem to go astray.
- Deor quickly calculates that the figure above is likely to be a full Wizard with staff of 12th level +/- 1 level and that he specializes in electrical spells. Keep in mind the figure and wyvern is high enough for safe spell casting. What does Deor do this round?
Sir Thoroncir went sprawling when Seafoam fell. Now he chokes back tears to see his poor, loyal steed, lightning-struck and dead at his feet, but he knows this is not yet the time to mourn. He drops his strongbow and quiver, draws his longsword and moves to protect Gwaelur and Bitur from the huge warrior. Elendil!
Ranged combat is far from Hraedsig’s specialty, but that wizard clearly needs to be dealt with. He orders half of his 12 knights to man the ballistas and target the wyvern. The remaining 6 will provide protection for the ballistas and the men firing them, along with Hraedsig himself.
“Bring that monster down, men!!”
Gwaelur drops to his knees shouting instructions to the troops, but he does not have the strength to keep fighting. He drags himself to a relativly sheltered area to await medical attention.
Bitur retreats as well, knowing that another solid hit will no doubt knock him out of the fight if not outright kill him.
Plus, while he and Gwaelur can hold their own against the warrior, they are no match for the essentially unreachable wizard. At least the wizard doesn’t seem to care about friendly fire, but that’s hardly a consolation.
Rorimac looks on stunned at the scene unfolding in front of him.
“Mulligan what do we do?” he blurts out hoping she can hear, before realising the nearby enemy may also notice.