Book 2: Act 1 - Words of the Wise

[Shurijo]

Borir is glad to be returning to the town. Even being around woodmen is better than surrounded by elves. The dwarf looks up to see the wizard and hopes that the townsfolk has fared well since their departure.

[TetNak]

Aerth is no where near as paranoid as Borir, but he is still watchful. He does not believe the elves would do anything overly against Woodland hall, but the half-elf does not believe they have come out of the goodness of their hearts. If they have come, it is because the king believes it is in his own best interests, not in the interests of all.

[Vardaen]

King Thranduil looks up at the hill and Radagast that stands before the Hall, "The Brown Wizard awaits." He motions his host to hold here, save for a few bodyguards. "Come, he will want to speak to you as well." You then pass into the town, the host of elves stopping just inside the gates, and the much smaller collection of bodyguards and your Fellowship make the trip with the town and up the hall to Wudeseld where Radagast does in fact stand waiting for you; having heard of your arrival from his animal scouts.

The Brown looks releived to see you all, "Welcome Elfking Thranduil of the Woodland Realm, and welcome come friends of Woodland Hall, I have never been so pleased to see you before. We must make haste, war is nearly on us." He pushes the door open and you stride into the Hall. Gathered are the chieftains of the Woodmen around several long tables. They are shouting and yelling, but not in anger, but in eagerness and fear.

Radagast bangs his staff on the floor to silence the room, "May I prevent the Elfking Thranduil of the Woodland Realm." Thranduil regards the room but speaks only to Radagast, "Now you must tell me why I have marched my hunting host these many days south. What news of these Orcs?"

The Brown Wizard has seats for the group and you all sit and take council Radagast and Thranduil speak for a time as the wizard fills in the king on what happened and what has been happening. You listen and you learn that while you were gone the Orcs have been raiding and pillaging the outlying farms and villages, but only in small numbers. However scouts have reported a much much larger war band has gathered and is marching even now on Woodland Hall. It seem fate has allowed you to arrive perhaps a day before the Orcs will.

Thranduil calmly states that the Orcs won't attack until night, so you have perhaps a day to prepare the town. The Chieftains speak of war, and council on the defense of the town is had for hours on where to put men, what to do for defenses and what can be done in such a short time. Your input is more than happily accepted as well.

[Muskrat]

In spite of herself, Varuthil is pleased to be included in these high councils and also relieved that they managed to persuade King Thranduil to come so quickly--if the king had lingered over his decision, they might well have arrived to find the orcs already laying siege to Woodland Hall.

As they debate what to do, Varuthil says, "I have never endured a siege, but I imagine it is a grim thing." She looks over to King Thranduil, who, being several thousand years in age, has almost certainly been through many sieges, for confirmation. "If we can stop the orcs, or at least some of them, before they arrive, would that not be best? Perhaps if we could find ways to draw small groups of orcs away from the main group and ambush them? Make them think easy, valuable loot lies in some of the abandoned farms and then spring a trap on them there?"

OOC

How well disciplined do orc armies tend to be? This seems like something Varuthil should know, given that she has Shadow-lore.

[Trogdor]

"An orcish army?" Pipkin says. "Attacking this peaceful town?" It seems almost impossible to the hobbit who has grown up in a land of quiet serenity. "We must do everything we can to stop them!"

[Vardaen]

Ignomer replies first to Varuthil, "Our men are good with a bow, but if the trap is sprung and we can not get away, or get cut off from the town then what?"

Thranduil considers, "My subject has a good tactic. I shall set some of my host to ambush orcs at various targets outside the town. We also will need hay bales and combustibles piled around the town. The Orcs will come at night, and we can light the bonfires to give the men here a chance to see in the darkness."

Ignomer nods to the Elf King, in awe of the elf for certain.

Radagast considers as well, "We must make sure all women and children are secured inside the center of the town, and that the gates are well manned, if the gates fall or if the orcs scale the palisade the villagers will be in grave danger."

OOC

Everyone can suggest something if they want.

Varuthil Battle (2): 3,5,5 = 13 vs TN12 1 Success

Total Battle Plan Successes 1

[Shurijo]

Borir adds, "Ration the foodwares and collect everything you can find and put into the cellars. Make sure there's enough arrows for your men. If more arrowheads need to be made, then follow me to the smith. Swords and axes need to be sharpened."

The dwarf then looks at the group and says, "Put most of the elves in the woods. It's their," he pauses a moment to keep back the bile, "their native environment where they'll have the advantage. When the orcs strike at the town, the elves can flank them from outside the walls."

He looks over at the woodmen and says, "Set all your traps outside the walls, even bear traps will slow and confuse Orcs long enough for a few arrows to pierce their skin or an axe to chop off their head."

[TetNak]

"I doubt they will commit to a prolonged siege," Aerth states, "They will try to break through the walls or scale them." The half-elf considers, "Do we have hot oils? Rocks and stones? We could use both to dump on any orcs that try to breach the walls. We could shoot flaming arrows down on the oil, set them ablaze."

[Eilandor]

Wren's mind, as it often does, takes a different approach, "If the town were to appear abandoned, is there any guarantee they would sack the place in lieu of just moving on? Perhaps all can take refuge somewhere, after all it is more appealing to rebuild a town as opposed to its people."

[Vardaen]

Borir and Aerth offer up nothing new to the conversation, the Woodmen have already gathered all supplies within the wall both for a protracted seige and for defense of the wall. "Men will be holding the gates with whatever we can muster. The stores are all within the walls all that we could manage."

Wren suggests something different, to appear abandoned. Radagast strokes his beard, "That won't last long. There isn't time to evacuate the town, but perhaps we can lure the orcs in close at first and then spring a trap on them if they think we are not here." The war council devises their tactics and plans using the suggestions of everyone to the best as they can.

The night passes with worries, but the walls are left 'abandoned' so any orc scouts might think the woodmen have fled. During the next day hay bales are pilled up around the town to be lit on fire for the night to come. Stores are double checked, arrows, oils, rocks all those things are stocked on the walls.

As the evening is slowly turning to night the tension in Woodland Hall is great, everyone is anxious, its this time before the battle that seems the worse. You

Roll

Battle Rolls

Aerth (1): 3,3 = 6 Fail
Borir (2f): 4,1,1=6 Fail
Wren (2): 9,1,3=13 Success

Your total successes were 2. Everyone will get 2 bonus dice, above and beyond the personal chance to roll for more when a fight starts, for the duration of the battle. Elven scouts are returning in a hurry now and report a massive orc warband is heading for the town, and will arrive with the night.

Radagast has come to you and asked you to act as reserves to plug the holes in the lines if they open up, and to handle any unforeseen trouble that arises, as the Woodmen and the Elves will hold the main line.