Frema's Bane
West Bank of the Anduin, Below Rauros Falls Near to the north, the roar of Rauros Falls can be heard. All along the northern horizon, the escarpment that marks the southern edge of the Emyn Muil rises up and spreads to the east and west, and the great falls plummit down directly north of you. To the west and south, the rolling, cool and damp plains of eastern Rohan sprall. The great river Anduin, just to your east, runs in almost a pure north-south orientation. Across it, there lays a brief beach and then the great Nindalf marsh and northern Ithilien. Around you, the autumn mid afternoon is cool, misty. The river flows by, swift and deep. A path leads northward towards Rauros Falls, another heads out onto the plains before disappearing, and a beaten area leads up to the water's edge--apparently this is a sometimes-used fording spot. Rain pours down from the day sky, drenching all around you. Contents: Gurgarath Gimles Kayl Thunorsteda Frema, bearing Eothain Dorin Obvious exits: North, Fords of the Anduin, and West Grot has arrived. Kayl wheels his horse around, though his back was to the strangers he quickly sees them Eothain holds onto the saddle while he climbs off of his steed. Eothain has arrived. Frema looks back as Eothain drops the reins. Frema waits, quietly. Frema lowers her head to graze on some scrub. Dark shapes lurk in the thick mists to the north. Low to the ground and moving slowly, the dark shapes crumple the grass beneath them. Sometimes one of them speaks in a quiet hiss, and others move further out from the group. But as yet they are stealthy, careful in their approach, shielded by the mists and by an easterly wind. Grot slowly moves in watching for hand signals from his superiors. He keeps his scimtar low and against his thigh to prevent the sun from reflecting off it and giving away his position. Gurgarath marches well behind the dark shapes to the north, still invisible for the heavy fog that chokes the area. Kayl wheels his horse to Gim "What is it man? After a time, the dark shapes pause and sink to the grassy earth, lying still. Then, with not a little prodding, one of their number moves forward. Loping along toward the horsemen. He appears in the mists suddenly, a lone orc, small and clearly terrified as he espies their looming forms. One of the horses seems skittish, plodding sideways at it whickers at the autumn air. It takes a Rohir's skill to calm the beast, but it sets nerves on end...for both parties. The lone orc squeals in fear and turns tail, sprinting northward again away from the cruel spears of the Rohirrim. "Garn," he cries as he sprints, tears flowing. "Cursed Oglok and his slacker getting me blamed for it!" His voice degenerates to a panicked whine in the guttural tones of the Uruk speech. Gimles scans the area through the mist and rain. spotting the little orc he yells out to the others and wheels his horse around to charge the beast, but glances to the Aethelwigend questioningly Eothain mutters. 'This is folly, Lord Kayl. To chase phantoms in the forest. Our ires ate up for the scamperings of squirrels. We will find no enemy in this confounded rain, save our deaths of cold. Grishnakh grumbles from his place hidden in the grass and mists. He reaches over to a nearby companion, Grot, and hisses a quiet order. Kayl looks at Eo "Hold, let Gim see what he does, follow him" Grishnakh says in Uruk, "You, cry out to that fool, and get the horsemen's attention. Make them think there are the two of you. It looks like he fled too soon." Kayl tries to keep his horse under control until he smeells the stench, his eyes scan the woods Gimles looks back a little at Kayl's order, reluctantly he urges his horse forward at a slow canter, his spear leveled and his eyes peeled......... Eothain stops as the squeeling orc thunders off. "Ah! A quarry for the hunt. Ride Frema! Hyeah!" His large grey rears and thunders off as well, sodden turf flying from her hooves as she bares down on the mounted Gimles, who in turn is gaining on the snaga. The fleeing orc continues to run northward through the mists. Already he is nearly lost from the sight of the humans, but his muttering voice rises from complaint to howling fear as he hears the hunting-cry behind him. Kayl keeps his place, always his eyes on the sourrending woods Grot nods as he quickly charges out into the field scimitar quickly coming to the ready he swings it viciously although he is a long ways away from the humans and the retreating uruk. As he nears the uruk he yells to him in some inaudible language and then continues bye. Finally words can be heard coming from his swollen lips "FOR DE EYE!!" Grishnakh watches Grot's charge, and smiles. For now he keeps his hidden place, and issues no order for any other orcs to rise. Kayl turns , startled as he brings his stteed to the attacking thing, s...his sword ready A deep and rumbling chuckle sounds from the grey mists behind the Orkish host, seeming to rise from from deep caverns in the very earth itself. Eothain laughs loudly, calling to Gimles' back. 'Strike true, Gimles, and it is ale for you at the healer's tent. Go now with the lust of it!" His horse rears and wheels at the grumbling sound, and his frivolity is lost as dire eyes scan the drear mists. Bright steel flashes, Hremkeolor is in his sturdy grip. Gimles hears the cry of the charging Uruk behind him, he gives up on the first snaga, thinking Eothain will ride him down. He weels his steed around and charges toward Grot. Kayl wheeles his horse around yelling to Gim "Watch man, wath it now get the creature." A massive black blotch appears in the swirling mists to the north. Little can be seen of the giant in the mists excepting that it is over fifteen feet in height, and clutches a heavy hammer in one gargantuan arm. Grishnakh nods to himself, then issues a brief, low command to the orcs nearby: "Rise and take them." With that he stands, and with a sudden burst of speed he lopes toward the three Riders. Behind him and across from him, dozens of other shapes stir, black shapes howling with the throaty shouts of orcs. Grishnakh says in Uruk, "The legs of the horses! Cut the legs of their horses and they're helpless!" Kayl seeing the thing come from the woods he turns to Grot continues running as he sees the human ride toward him on horse back. He begins to drool thinking of how good the horse will taste after the battle but concentrates on the task at hand. He slows as the horseman nears glancing around. He raises his sword to the ready staring into the eyes of the horse and then glancing at his rider. He quickly steps to the side of the horse with the humans shield swinging quickly at him as he passes. Gurgarath takes a few long strides forward, and stops. The Orkish host advances around him, but The Troll stands still, shrouded in the grey mist. As Grishnakh yells out, the rumbling laugh rises again. Kayl dorins hooves paw the air an..as he turns, his sword held high as he moves the horse who needs no encourgement Grot attacks Gimles with his Scimitar, but he misses by an arm's length. Kayl seeing the attacking things he quickly strikes one down, his head is served from it's foul body as Dorin continues onward The fleeing lone uruk crashes to the ground and rolls squealing out of the way as he hears the joyful sound of his fellow orcs rising to the kill. In his place, a larger orc looms before Eothain's warhorse. It is a squat creature, as short as most of them, but broader and more powerful, and more heavily armed. Grishnakh, the orc nearest Eothain, looks up at the horseman with pale eyes barely visible within his heavy helmet. Around him other orcs surge forward with scimitars and axes. You forego your chance to attack. The scimitar misses the rider and Gimles pulls his horse around as quickly as possible, again facing Grot. He charges, his spear leveled like a lance, hoping to spit the orc through the chest.. Gimles attacks Grot with his Spear, but he misses by an arm's length. Eothain's eyes meet the squat foes, and he spurs his steed into the midst of the charging orcs, flashing blade hewing at opportune instances as his destrier draws him closer to this obvious champion. It is with a great cry to Eorl that the sword Hremkeolor descends, looking to cleave this one's helm in one dire downstroke. Eothain attacks Grishnakh with his Longsword!... ...and he misses! Wazid has arrived. Wazid arrives from accross the Anduin and an evil smile comes to his face as he lees the riders. Kayl seeing the orcs move he attacks again, stricking an orc dorins hooves drive the creature into the gound Grishnakh wastes no time as Eothain charges him: his pale eyes scan the horseman critically, appraising his speed and strength. Surely this man is not one to be trifled with... but the orc-captain moves with surprising speed and sureness. His shield rises in time to ward off Eothain's bright sword, and he ducks and sidesteps, twisting to turn a counter-attack against the man or horse. Gurgarath suddenly explodes into action, leaping towards Kayl like a long legged battering ram on huge toeless feet. A round buckler floats out of the fog, the red eye upon it's face seeming to stare down horse and rider. A scally troll arm propells the buckler forward, obviously attempting to unseat the rider with the force of impact. Kayl sees the attacking thing he tries to move out of the way, his shield poised to take the blow Grot quickly snaps his scimitar around in a defensive position as he misses and the human stops his stead. As the human stabs at his chest he slaps the blade aside quickly stabbing at the humans stead and then feinting at the human as he prepares to defend himself. Grot attacks Gimles with his Scimitar, but he misses by a handspan. Grishnakh's heavy sword flashes upward with little effort, slashing up into Eothain's abdomen with a sudden, violent stroke. The orc twists again, shield rising in defense even as his sword comes back from the strike. Grishnakh attacks Eothain with his Scimitar... Eothain parries your attack with his shield! Thunorsteda rears up, his hooves kicking out fiercly to split Grot's skull. Gimles stabs blindly down past his steeds shoulders, hoping to catch orcish flesh on the head. Gimles attacks Grot with his Spear and moderately wounds him! Eothain throws his oversized horeseman's shield in the way of the nasty strike, slicing back at the weapon arm of the offending orc, Grish. With a pistons power does his fresh arm fall to bear... Eothain attacks Grishnakh with his Longsword!... ...and you parry his attack with his Scimitar! Gurgarath's buckler crashes into Kayl's shield, rocking horse and rider with the impact. The massive rust colored beast brings the hammer in it's other hand sweeping around in a wide arc, aimed at Kayl's left leg. Gurgarath attacks Kayl with his War Hammer and badly wounds him! With a dull THUMP and a ringing cry of steel, Grishnakh blocks the sword of Eothain again. "Now, now," he calls up, mockingly. "Surely the might of Rohan is quicker than that." Kayl flling from his horse he quickly strickes up Kayl attacks Gurgarath with his Longsword, but Gurgarath parries the attack with his shield! Wazid,keeping his distance, watches over the fight. Every time it seems a hit is cfalling upon the riders he lets out a small cackle. Kayl as his strike misses he scrambles to his feet Grot is struck a glancing blow to the head by the human spear. He whinces slightly in pain as he shifts his weight backwards to regroup. He circles to the left stabbing forward to keep the horse back finally moving in. He swings low at the animals belly and then quickly brings his blade up and over his head to attack the humans leg. Grot attacks Gimles with his Scimitar, but Gimles parries the attack with his shield! Grishnakh lopes sideways, surefooted on the damp and uneven ground, waiting for the moment to strike, waiting for the Rohirrim leader to spur his horse closer again. Around them, smaller orcs dart among the three Riders, jabbing at their horses' flanks and occasionally swinging in at a leg with axes. You forego your chance to attack. Gurgarath's thick booming laugh rumbles in the air again, and his glittering black eyes study Kayl with malicious mirth. He circles slowly, and as Kayl whips his sword forward, the Troll drops his buckler. A screeching sound is heard as the sword scrapes across the face of the metal shield. Again the booming chuckle, and the Troll circles. Gimles sees the attack coming and drops his shield easily to cover his leg. The scimitar scitters across the smooth, studded surface and the rider pulls his shield upward, flinging the curved blade upward with it. Quickly, Gimles crosses his spear over and stabs down hard at Grot's exposed ribs.. Eothain's horse. Frema, rears as a scimitar slices one flank, the wound is not dire, but it charges her stumbling sideways, neighing with an ear- splitting keen. In doing, she tramples a brace of uruk unedrhoof, and almost unseats her rider. With the press of his heels and the hailing of "Forward Frema! Hai!" She lunges again to close with the dastardly orcish champion. The bright blade sweeps as the distance is met, the helmet being his intended goal. Gimles attacks Grot with his Spear and moderately wounds him! Eothain attacks Grishnakh with his Longsword!... ...and he misses! Kayl watching the blow go off his shield he makes Dorin leave, standing on the ground, his left arm holding his shield a bit lower, blood trickles down to his had making the shield hard to hold Grot feels the human steel break his skin somehow slipping through his tattered armor. He muffles a scream quickly returning the attack with anger and pain strengthening him. Grot attacks Gimles with his Scimitar and moderately wounds him! Grishnakh spies Gurgarath across the sward, the troll looming like a tower above his hapless young opponent, and the orc-captain laughs softly with something akin to envy. But already Eothain presses him, and his attention is consumed. He lurches forward as if to meet the horseman head-on, but he sidesteps with unseeming agility, cleanly ducking the deadly stroke of Eothain's sword. His own blade rises again, but this time it tears upward along the belly of Eothain's noble steed, the heavy and deadly-sharp scimitar aimed to pierce its soft underflesh. Grishnakh attacks Eothain with his Scimitar... Eothain dodges your attack. Wazid slowly makes his way down to the fight, always darting his eyes around and keeping a safe distance from the riders. You head a small sound of rustling leaves as he sneaks his way down to his fellow uruk. He then dives at Kayl's chest,while yelling a war cry, trying to knock him down. Wazid attacks Gimles with his Bare Hands, but he misses by an arm's length. Kayl taking the blow from the orc he pares it aside, then turning he brings his sword to play Kayl attacks Wazid with his Longsword and moderately wounds him! The scimitar smacks into the shield again, this time with enough force that it knocks the shield to the side, cutting into his leg and then scraping a cut across the horses flank...the horse bolts and Gimles is nearly thrown from the saddle but manages to hang on as the animal sprints off towards the camp..... Kayl with the blow, and his injured arm he stumbles v..back from the attack Gimles dodges aside Grot, and manages to escape! Gimles heads off into the plains to the west. Gimles has left. Eothain's steed, honed to its riders command, lleaps sidelong as the steel- stroke misses its foul target. A flap of the horse's tack is severede, however, and a woolen bedroll spills out onto the ground and is quickly trodden underfoot. " Hremkeolor for the Mark!" Is the noble cry as rider and stted again bear down on the swarthy, yet nimble Gris. A low, sweeping blow looks to catch the uruk-hai in the chest... Eothain attacks Grishnakh with his Longsword!... ...and he misses! Wazid lets out a scream of pain as the sword lashes across his chest,then after a second of licking the dripping blood from the gash, he retreats back behind the armed uruk. Grot screams at the human as he is carried away by his frantic horse "Come back human" He begins to ggive chase but is stopped by another human whom he quickly disposes of stepping aside from the blade and then bringing his knee into the humans stomach. As the human fold up he drives the butt of his scimitar into his back and then places his scimitar neatly between the armor and intoo his back. Kayl moves his way back to his horse, his left arm seems a bit slow behind him Grishnakh dodges aside yet again, his own shield hardly even touching the sword of Eothain to ward the attack away. "Aye," he calls up in a mocking purr, "for the Mark, old man! You do your homeland proud." Then he leaps in again, blade whipping at the horse's fore-quarters... only to twist up again after the feint, and in toward Eothain's torso. Grishnakh attacks Eothain with his Scimitar... Eothain dodges your attack. Gurgarath suddenly and inexplicably takes a step away. As Kayl falls back, the Troll turns away, his dark eyes travel over Grishnakh as the Orc struggles with the horseman before him, and then Grot. All the while, a fanged smirk rests upon his face. Kayl pausing he eyes the situation, then yelle..yelling "Let us be of Riders..." blood flows from his arm as he gestures A bright sword, dips, protecting steed this time, as with the chashing of steel, the horse is once again saved. Out and away is the blow driven, yet a quick, seething arm twists and falls cruelly upon the exposed shoulder of the would-be horse slayer. There is madness in Eothain's eyes, as he loves this horse more than life itself. Eothain attacks Grishnakh with his Longsword!... ...and he hits! Ouch! Gurgarath suddenly and inexplicably takes a step away. As Kayl falls back, the Troll turns away, his dark eyes travel over Grishnakh as the Orc struggles with the horseman before him, and then Grot. All the while, a fanged smirk rests upon his face. Grishnakh is not quite nimble enough, this time. Though he ducks away from the brunt of the blow, he still feels the impact of the blade as it crashes against his shoulder. A spark flies as steel bites into steel, but then the orc is moving smoothly forward again, undeterred by the wound. His blade does not approach the Rider, this time: instead he leaps forward with a savage slash at the nearest hind leg of the great steed. Grishnakh attacks Eothain with his Scimitar... Your attack against Eothain mildly wounds him! Kayl has left. Kayl jumps on Dorin Atop Dorin Kayl wheeling his horse he yells let us go Men, we shall fight again Grishnakh hears the galloping hooves of the fleeing horsemen, and spares a glance their way. Then he calls out, his voice rising over the shouts of the orcs: "Follow, and drive them south! Drive them from the woods!" With an ear-splitting cry, the dappled grey mare rears, throwing her rider to the ground. It is only by sheer wit that he rolls, as the huge beast topples as well, nearly smothering him. The poor beast tries to stand, but cannnot, screaming and pawing at air in pain. The lightly-scaled rider, rolling, springs to his feet...only to see his hoary sight. He falls to his knees two scant yards distant and he cries out her name. ARB: Eothain has "passed" on his turn to attack. The sun sinks in the sky and falls below the horizon. Nighttime takes over. Atop Dorin Kayl says, "West" he yells "Lets us be off men!"" Kayl goes to help Eo to his horse, then seeing that is..it is dead he grabs the man fronm the horse, blood continues to spill over him as he moves him to his own steed" Go man get on him! We shall die if not! Grishnakh sees his handiwork and laughs with a voice of wicked mockery. "O-ho, so there's now sorrow in your eyes, Rider! What to Ride now, I wonder? Nothing, I'll warrant!" With that he charges forward at the taller man, hisheavy blade cleaving a graceful arc through the air toward Eothain's skull. Gurgarath reaches down, and slides his hammer into the loop upon his belt. Crossing his arms over his cest, the Troll looks on as the rag tag group of Orcs persue the rider. Grishnakh attacks Eothain with his Scimitar... Eothain dodges your attack. Grot smirks as he kills one last retreating human. As the last of the humans leaves he laughs as he walks around killing those that are still barely alive and then looting there bodies. After he bores of this he sits down and begins too eat a human not yet dead but unconscious. Kayl quickly seeing the attack he swings back, his left arm now almost dragging it..the ground his right swings upward to the creatures chest Kayl attacks Grishnakh with his Longsword!... ...and he misses! Eothain leaps forward, greeting Grish's charge in a fury-blinded assaut...the very absurdity of which throws off the orc's attack. A viscious hewing, from right to left across his chest, is planned for Frema's bane (Grish) Eothain attacks Grishnakh with his Longsword!... ...and he misses! Kayl yelling and trying to move Eo to his own horse he sees his strike miss "Come man let us not die now, we shall be back." he continues to move the man to his own horse as he climbs aboard he draggs Eo with him, the blood now flows freely Kayl has left. Kayl jumps on Dorin Grishnakh laughs again as another Rider joins in the assault. Moving with a speed that belies hie heavy gear and his bulky form he lurches away from Kayl's blade, and lifts his shield in time for a sudden, loud parry of Eothain's hard blow. But his attention is mostly on Eothain, the man clearly leading these Riders, and apparently the most dangerous. After deflecting his sword, the orc snarls and sends an immediate riposte, his blade slamming down across the mail hauberk covering Eothain's legs. Grishnakh attacks Eothain with his Scimitar... Eothain parries your attack with his shield! Atop Dorin Kayl gaining his horse he falls forward, now weak from the blood loss You hear small screams from across the room as Wazid tries to tend to the slash on his small body by dousing it with water. Eothain throws the blow aside and, through tear-stained eyes, allows Kaye to drag him from the field. He mounts up swiftly on Dorin's back, behind Kayle. His voice calls loudly through the mist. 'I will be your undoing, Frema's bane! Eorlingas! Oi!" Frema has left. Eothain jumps on Dorin Atop Dorin Kayl as he cannot guide the horse, his body now limp he lets Eo take the reighns Eothain atop Dorin heads off into the plains to the west. Eothain atop Dorin has left. Grishnakh lurches forward after Eothain for a moment, but too slowly. The riders dart away into the fog, and are at once lost from sight. The orc- captain looks around at his troops, and chuckles softly to himself. Wazid seeing that the riders have left rejoins the uruks and olog. Grishnakh gestures at some of the nearest orcs. " You there. Slaughter this animal and divide it up to carry back to the fortress. The rest of you, listen! Gather up the wounded and be ready to march! We head northward, and then to the river, to keep their trail confused." Gurgarath stands quietly by, observing. His arms are still crossed, and his smirk is still presant. Grishnakh waits impatiently for the orcs to prepare themselves. Finally, after minutes pass, they are ready, and he leads them jogging northward among the trees.