With the wargs closing in Amalina focuses and gets off one more shot with her bow that skewers the creature right in the chest. Following her strike she releases Winter to attack as well and the big hound leaps into battle with relish ripping and tearing and the wounded warg in an attempt to bring him down quickly.
The two of you easily cut down the last orc.
The warrior levels his claymore at you with one hane, a feat of strength that would intimidate many, but not you. "The goddess of fortune must spread her legs for you, for if that orc had not blown its horn you would have spoiled my evening sport."
You hear something coming fast from the direction of the fortress. Great footfalls splashing water and mud. Then you feel the ground begin to shake as it approaches. The warrior smiles with one side of his mouth. "We may yet taste bile this night." He grips his sword with both hands, holding it aloft, pointed to the sky. He crouches and coils, ready to strike at whatever black thing emerges through the thicket.
You don't have to wait long. Crashing through the scrub is a massive black troll carrying a boulder lashed to a log as a maul. It stops when it sees you, 60 ft away.
Blacksilver
Thorgrim
Olag-Hai
Blacksilver holds his action, waiting for the troll to make the first move.
Éothain, despite the Ring's continued presence in your mind, you realize this is not truly Isildur's Ring, but only a memory of it. Findegil is not currently capable of such rationalization. He is lost to it now, but that does not make him your enemy.
As the two of you grapple with Smeagol, the Ring acts of its own accord, falling off the unworthy hobbit's finger. It splashes into the shallows mere feet away, a shiny golden thing amongst the pebbles. The sight of it causes you both to release Smeagol. He collapses into the Anduin and is swept many yards downstream before he can recover his footing. His arms hang limp and his face is anguished.
"It is mine!" he screams through tears as he stalks back toward it, too slowly. "My precious!"
One of you is about to become the Ring-Bearer.
Knowing the pack-hunting nature of wargs, you manage to spread out to limit their advantage before they reach you.
With the wargs closing in Amalina focuses and gets off one more shot with her bow that skewers the creature right in the chest. Following her strike she releases Winter to attack as well and the big hound leaps into battle with relish ripping and tearing and the wounded warg in an attempt to bring him down quickly.
Warg 1 takes 6+20 damage!
The wargs crash against you, fearsome teeth biting at your flesh.
The first warg, though injured, continues it's attack on you, (), and it's jaws tear into you.
You take 10 damage, and make a DC11 STR check or be knocked prone.
The second warg attacks Saleb, (), teeth rending the boy's flesh. ( )
Saleb takes 10 damage and is knocked prone!
The third warg jumps at Savod, (), but misses!
misses!
The fourth warg grapples with Trena, (), and it's jaws lace through her shoulder. ( )
Trena takes 10 damage!
Warg 1 has taken 26 damage.
Warg 2 has taken 6 damage.
Warg 3 has taken 7 damage.
Warg 4 has taken 7 damage.
Amalina has taken 10 damage.
Trena has taken 10 damage.
Saleb has taken 10 damage.
Gritting her teeth against the pain, Amalina replaces her bow with an axe and hacks at the attacking warg while Winter tries to get at the creature from the side.
Gritting her teeth against the pain, Amalina replaces her bow with an axe and hacks at the attacking warg while Winter tries to get at the creature from the side.
Warg 1 takes 26+8 damage!
The first warg, sensing it's own imminent death, continues it's attack on you, (), but it misses!
The second warg attacks Saleb, (), teeth rending the boy's flesh.
Saleb takes 10+10 damage and falls unconscious!
The third warg jumps at Savod, (), but misses!
The fourth warg attacks Trena, (), cutting her again!
Trena takes 10+10 damage!
Warg 1 has taken 34 damage.
Warg 2 has taken 6 damage.
Warg 3 has taken 13 damage.
Warg 4 has taken 19 damage.
Amalina has taken 10 damage.
Trena has taken 20 damage.
Saleb has taken 20 damage and is unconscious.
Seeing the boy fall Amalina lets loose a howl of rage and strikes out again with her axe, this time feeling the steel blade bite deep. Winter tears into the creature as well, getting a grip on its back leg and tearing with all of his might.
Seeing the boy fall Amalina lets loose a howl of rage and strikes out again with her axe, this time feeling the steel blade bite deep. Winter tears into the creature as well, getting a grip on its back leg and tearing with all of his might.
Warg 1 takes 34+9 damage and dies!
Warg 2 takes 6+6 damage!
The second warg now attacks Winter, (). The hound wails and falls!
Winter takes 20 damage and is unconscious!
The third warg again lunges at Savod, (), but again the Woodman fends off the beast.
The fourth warg attacks Trena, (), and hits again!
Warg 1 has is dead.
Warg 2 has taken 12 damage.
Warg 3 has taken 13 damage.
Warg 4 has taken 33 damage.
Amalina has taken 10 damage.
Trena has taken 30 damage.
Saleb has taken 20 damage and is unconscious.
The troll halves the distance separating you, then stops again and unleashes a SAVAGE ROAR!
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Shocked and stunned by the ferocious howl, Thorgrim is checked into inaction for a moment. He is left to wonder how the other warrior seems unmoved even by so barbaric an assault.
Unwilling to be shown up by any man, even so fine a soldier as this one, Thorgrim CHARGES at the giant beast, swinging his sword and SCREAMING his own wordless cry.
While her attention is primarily upon her foe, she attempts to see how dire the other elf's wound is, even from the distance of her perch.
Blacksilver bristles with RAGE and clears the distance to the troll in three great strides, delivering a blow as soon as his feet touch the mud next to the great monster. Then, in a fearsome display of skill, he follows the path of his blade in a full circle, spinning round and gaining momentum to strike a second time!
The Olog-hai troll takes 29 damage!
Unwilling to be shown up by any man, even so fine a soldier as this one, Thorgrim CHARGES at the giant beast, swinging his sword and SCREAMING his own wordless cry.
The Olog-hai troll takes 29+15 damage!
The troll reels from the attack but then lunges forward, his maul crashing down toward () Blacksilver! ( ) The maul slams into the barbarian's shoulder.
Blacksilver takes 13 damage!
You hear more orc shouting coming from the direction the troll came by.
While her attention is primarily upon her foe, she attempts to see how dire the other elf's wound is, even from the distance of her perch.
The Barrow-Wight takes 8+16 damage!
Lindir swings again, () but cannot tell the difference between the monster and the surrounding darkness.
Realizing that you are the real threat, the WIght drifts upward, away from Lindir, who swings at the creature's back, (), but the sanguine halls of the House of Elrond have done nothing to improve his thrust with a sword. He loses his balance and falls to the stone floor.
The dark horror reachs a bony, blackness-sheathed hand out at you, striking you only with a touch, , but you feel ice in your heart as your life essence bleeds out of you and into the Wight.
You take 11 damage, and the Wight recovers 21 HP!
The Barrow-Wight has taken 3 damage.
Cereidh has taken 11 damage.
Lindir was taken 9 tamage.
Knowing that to flee and regain a higher vantage would be only a temporary victory, Cereidh draws her broadsword - although it is not as reliant a weapon as Bregghar - and attempts to outdo this memory of Lindir. She is confident that the memory she leaves in this place will be a worthy one, but still. She'd rather not die.
Well. At least she doesn't fall on her face.
Cereidh is confident that the memory she leaves in this place will be a worthy one, but still. She'd rather not die. (attack missed)
Lindir picks up his sword, but he seems shocked by his own ineptitude. Changing tactics, he whispers something in elvish, but the words make no sense to you. Then, suddenly, the interior of the Elftower fills with bright light, as if the sun had risen inside.
The Barrow-Wight shrieks, ( ) and is stunned!
The Barrow-Wight has taken 3 damage.
Cereidh has taken 11 damage.
Lindir was taken 9 tamage.
Seeing Winter fall, Amalina channels her anger and sorrow into a burning desire to send these foul creatures to their doom.
How hurt is the troll? Like, is it inches from death, or is it still hale and haughty?
Last round was a good one. Keep it up.
Seeing Winter fall, Amalina channels her anger and sorrow into a burning desire to send these foul creatures to their doom.
Warg 2 takes 12+9 damage!
The second warg attacks you, (), but misses!
The third warg again lunges at Savod, (), finally cutting him with its teeth.
Savod takes 10 damage!
Warg 4 takes 33+11 damage and dies!
Warg 1 has is dead.
Warg 2 has taken 21 damage.
Warg 3 has taken 13 damage.
Warg 4 has is dead.
Amalina has taken 10 damage.
Savod has taken 10 damage.
Trena has taken 30 damage.
Saleb has taken 20 damage and is unconscious.
Cereidh takes this opportunity to ascend another level before shooting down upon the wight.
Cereidh takes this opportunity to ascend another level before shooting down upon the wight. Attack misses.
Lindir speaks another quick evocation, then raises his bow and fires into the air at the Wight, (), finally striking the dark evil! ()
The Barrow-Wight takes 3+20 damage!
The Barrow-Wight tries to free itself from being frozen by the light, ( ), and succeeds. Descending again on Lindir, it attempts its life-draining touch attack on him, (), but misses!
The Barrow-Wight has taken 23 damage.
Cereidh has taken 11 damage.
Lindir has taken 9 tamage.
The mighty warrior brushes off the hit by the maul and brings down his sword in a wide arc, then rotates his hands fluidly, the sword never changing speed as it carves a half circle in the air and is brought back down and through the troll.
The Olog-hai troll takes 46+32 damage!
Thorgrim continues to press his attack, wielding his two-handed sword with agility and ease, searching for a lethal blow.
The Olog-hai troll takes 78+15 damage!
Greviously wounded, the Troll bellows another SAVAGE ROAR!
Blacksilver has taken 18 damage.
The troll has taken 93 damage.
The orc shouting is getting closer.
Cereidh fires again upon the wight.
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Thorgrim's surprise and amazement at the ferocity and tenacity of the warrior beside him his surpassed only by the brutal vitality of the gargantuan troll-beast.
Fully unwilling to show weakness in front of either, he maintains his unending attack at the wicked creature, uncaring yet that more combatants seem to be close to entering the fray.
= 8
Amalina drives her axe into the warg again hearing the gratifying sound of bones cracking as blood flow from another wound.
Blacksilver appears to be completely frozen, stricken with terror.
Fully unwilling to show weakness in front of either, Thorgim maintains his unending attack at the wicked creature, uncaring yet that more combatants seem to be close to entering the fray.
The troll takes 93+8 damage and dies!
With the source of his fear defeated, Blacksilver shakes from his spell and quickly returns his claymore to the lashing upon his back, slings the hog over his uninjured shoulder and gives you a stern eye.
"Come," is all he says before busting out of the clearing at a right angle from the coming orcs.
Cereidh fires again upon the wight, but misses.
Lindir again takes up his sword to stab at the Barrow-Wight, (), slicing into the heart of the black horror.], ().
The Barrow-Wight takes 23+11 damage!
The Wight jabs back at Lindir with its spear, (), but it cannot connect.
The Barrow-Wight has taken 34 damage.
Cereidh has taken 11 damage.
Lindir has taken 9 tamage.
Amalina drives her axe into the warg again hearing the gratifying sound of bones cracking as blood flow from another wound.
Warg 2 takes 21+8 damage!
The warg snarls and comes at you again, (), and you feel its jaws tear at your flesh.
You take 10+10 damage!
The third warg again lunges at Savod, (), but misses!
Trena, comes to flank the second warg.
Warg 2 takes 29+8 damage and dies!
Warg 1 has is dead.
Warg 2 has is dead.
Warg 3 has taken 13 damage.
Warg 4 has is dead.
Amalina has taken 20 damage.
Savod has taken 10 damage.
Trena has taken 30 damage.
Saleb has taken 20 damage and is unconscious.
There it is, Isildur's Ring, the Ring of Power, laying in a few inches of water at your feet. One of you only needs to go and pick it up.
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Thorgrim takes a few deep breaths, feeling exhilarated that he has laid the killing blow for so doughty an adversary. All the more so as it came when his companion found himself held in fetters by the beast's mighty roar.
Thorgrim gives a curt nod in response to his companion's invitation. No more words are needed, and indeed were he in the same position, he might not waste more breath with so great a combat done and foes still inbound.
Indeed, now that orcs have been slain and a great victory won, he felt replete. No more did bloodlust gnaw his bowels, or did he nurse a grudge to strike one more blow against the shadow--for a great blow hath been struck.
So too, he needs no trophies. He has won this battle, and that is all that matters.
Sheathing Noctiscide, he lopes after the man with long strides.
Cereidh fires again.
With a face showing shining triumph, Findegil lunges for the ring!
With a face showing fear and concentration, Éothain lunges for Findegil!
Trying to step on and bury the ring in the Anduin riverbed.
Everything seems to happen at once. Findegil reaches for the Ring, but with his fingertips in the water of the Anduin, only inches from his prize, Éothain crashes against him, sending both men tumbling into the water. They wrestle, but the Red Rider is strengthened by Battle-Fury, and he ends up atop the Knight of Gondor.
Both of you completely forget about the Hobbit until you hear Smeagol cry out - not from joy but from anguish. You look over to see him kneeling in the water, a sword piercing his back, and Haleth standing over him.
The boy is transfixed on something shiny at his feet. You try to react, knowing too well the object of his desire, but you cannot span the space between you before he reaches down and plucks Isildur's Ring from the water.
Smeagol flails weakly at the boy, but he only falls into the river and is carried past you by the current.
Haleth's face... changes. "I don't need you anymore," he says with grim determination. "I can save them by myself!"
He slips the Ring on his finger, and vanishes. Splashes of footfalls lead to the shore, and then Haleth is gone.
Breathing heavily, the two of you can do nothing except stare at the riverbed where the Ring lay only seconds before.
Amalina does her best to finish off the warg before it can take her or another of her ancestors down.
Findegil raises his head up and roars with the pain of loss.
He turns to the Red Rider and practically hisses:
"The blood of thousands will be on your hands. The Ring is gone! Let us be gone and see if you can at least die usefully."
Findegil drags himself up.
Cheers, 7 shadow points should have some effect.
Understood. It's quite a swerve for Findegil.
Cereidh fires again, her arrow lancing through the Barrow-Wight.
The Barrow-Wight takes 34+10 damage and dies!
The Barrow-Wight screams and contorts, then dissipates, fading into the light. When Lindir's spell ends, the two of you are left to the darkness of the tower.
He breathes a sigh of relief and sheathes his weapons. "Let us not speak of this again," he says with obvious embarrassment at his own performance during the battle. Then, grudgingly he adds, "You fought well, Lady. Come with me."
Lindir leads you to the top of the Elftower. By the dying light you look out over Oropher's domain, to the Anduin in the west and across the Mirkwood. And there it is, Dol Guldur in the distance to the southeast, a fortress on a hill, black, angular, and foreboding.
"Your journey is most dangerous. But I sense you do not undertake it alone even as you stand here before me so. But even if your companions are as swift and deadly as are you, there can be no hope to survive within the Necromancer's domain."
Lindir looks at you with sorrowful admiration. Then he removes his circlet and hands it to you. "In your darkest hour, you will remember the words I spoke to conjure the light of day."
Amalina does her best to finish off the warg before it can take her or another of her ancestors down. (attack missed)
The final warg jumps at Savod, (), cutting him deeply!
Warg 3 takes 13+14+10 damage and dies!
Once the final warg has been put down, Savod rushes to his son. "He is fading!"
Trena kneels quickly beside Savod and grabs a handful of sacred earth. She begins to pray, spinkling the black dirt on Saleb as she does so. Then, she breathes deeply through her nose and blows softly against the boy's face. To your amazement, Saleb's eyes open.
He coughs and looks about. "Did we get them?" he asks with suprising vigor.
Savod chokes back tears and they share a joyful laugh.
Trena stands. Her wounds are deep, but she again takes dirt and rubs it across her cuts, and the bleeding stops. She approaches you and does the same, and then repeats the ritual for Savod.
"Because of you, we survived this day, Stormhearted. Here," She fills a small sack with dirt from the Field of Heroes and hands it to you. "For when you need it," she says warmly.
Éothain lets Findegil up ignoring the words.
He strides out of the Anduin and calls to Folc, "Bring the horses! We ride for Dol Guldur!"
Saddle up and ride!