Reniolwaith

Three of us there were, dispatched from Ered Luin, charged with the duty of scouting the ever encroaching hordes of the enemy in the lands that lie to the north. We travelled swiftly, Gildin, Llerieth and I and upon arriving in the human dwelling of Trestlebridge we took heart in the fact the town was still in the hands of Men. Haraldwine, brave captain of Rohan and Medriana, stalwart hobbit of the Shire gave us warm greetings upon our arrival and reported that the Orcs had mounted only small scale raids during our absence.

Gildin dispatched members of our company to question the townsfolk on the state of the defence and the Orc positions. From this we learned that the Enemy had managed to waylay several key supplies including the book of founders in which maps and other information was contained, more worrying still was reports of a strange black liquid that when used as a weapon would burn with a fierce fire that had already claimed the lives of several of the town guard.

At length, once all the facts where gathered we set forth to scout the outlying Orc camps, as we where instructed by the council. The camps where guarded by several fell servants of the enemy, and watched over by the accursed eyes of the craban. Yet their numbers where far less than we had feared. Emboldened by the poor defences Gildin resolved that we should strike at our foe for we could see many of the lost supplies within the camps. By the grace of the Valar and the strength of our company we where able to recover all of the lost supplies and to inflict significant losses on the Orcs who stood guard. At the time we feared a counter attack from across the gorge and so we acted swiftly to secure the supplies, however few Orcs came in response to the commotion.

After returning the supplies to the humans we pondered upon the Orcs strange behaviour, for myself I had feared a far greater and more potent force would be arrayed against us. We discussed this for a time whereupon we where joined by a welcome ally. Bellaro of the Shire, a most wily and cunning hobbit who’s ability to avoid being seen had proven useful in the past.

The townsfolk where grateful for the return of the goods but seemed ever more concerned that we had yet to uncover the source of the black fire, furthermore one of the townsfolk made mention of huge, brutish and yet cunning Orc that he referred to as The Defiler. This foe sounded far more dangerous than any we had met in the outlying camps. And so, with this threat and the as yet undiscovered source of the mysterious black fire we resolved to probe deeper into the Orcs main encampment.

And so we crept with all the stealth and cunning we could muster into the depths of the vile fortifications of Nan Wathren proper, wherein we discovered a most troubling sight, the Orcs were in vastly superior numbers and strength than was displayed in the outer camps, and worse still there was indeed a huge and brutish Defiler within the bowls of the camp. In hushed whisper we discussed the enemies forces and came to the conclusion that the dark army was massing for an all out attack, leaving the outer defences undermanned in an attempt to lull the townsfolk into believing they are yet safe, when in fact the Enemy prepares for the final crushing blow. Realising the hammer could fall at any moment, Gildin resolved that we should sow confusion amongst their ranks by striking at the very heart of the enemies camp and slaying this Defiler where he stood. Lest he launch his attack before our forces could make their move in the north.

Silently we slipped past the sentries and took up positions in range of this dread captain of the enemy and after a terrible battle the foul Orc and his lieutenants lay dead upon the floor. As confusion spread throughout the enemy ranks we took advantage of the disarray and pushed deeper into the camp in search of the black fire that we had been warned of. A running battle we fought, against a host of fell Orcs and goblins, striking swiftly we drove ever deeper into the heart of the canyon, like an unstoppable arrow we plunged ever onward, driven on by unwavering heart of Gildin as his voice rose in song of great deeds and battles won, and so it was for the enemy fell about us like leaves in a Firith storm. Until by the grace of the Valar we came at length to an open area, wherein lay large stacks of crates containing the vile black liquid we sought.

Our goal was in sight, but the enemy closed in about us in numbers to great to count. Medriana was without fear, she ducked and weaved taunting the enemy into ever more reckless attacks, as my bow sang like the wind upon a mountain top and arrows filled the air about me. But the enemy was too many. Llerieth and her great bear held the left flank, her skill and his strength stood like a wall protecting us. Haraldwine bravely drove at the enemy on the right, hewing down Orcs and goblins without heed to his own injuries. We did not waver in the face of such darkness for Gildin stood by my side his voice raised against the shadow, but even as his song filled my heart I knew that the enemy were to many, it would be only a matter of time before all was lost. But it was in this moment that Bellaro, unseen and unnoticed by the enemy snatched up a mighty flaming torch in the very heart of their ranks and hurled it with all his might into the great stack of crates.

For but the briefest of moments, barely a single beat of a fox's heart, there was silence. Then a great noise filled the air as if the very earth itself had been ripped asunder, black flame soared into the sky and flowed outward like a wall of shadow consuming all before it in howling death. In an instant the enemies ranks where broken, rife with confusion and rage as the heart of their camp burned and black flames rushed to claim the lives of those who had sought to master it, and such was our luck, for as the Orcs before us wavered, Haraldwine let forth a great cry of vengeance and charged without heed of life or limb through the ranks of the enemy, Medriana too let out a battle cry that I shall not soon forget and charged after him. With our path cleared we followed quickly and with the enemy fleeing in terror from the great blaze we where able to make good our escape from the deepest reaches of the camp to safety.

My lady Aldalin, though I write this dispatch to you in the knowledge that today we have stuck a blow, be of no doubt. The Orcs we killed were but a fraction of the hundreds that are encamped throughout that dread filled canyon. It will not be long before the dark unseen leaders rally their troops, new lieutenants rise to fill the void and their losses are replaced by reinforcements from the north. By our efforts we have bought perhaps a week at most, unless the planned attack succeeds in stemming the flow of minions from Angmar’s accursed depths.

My heart tells me that there is yet hope, for we have learned much of the Orcs strength, we have discovered the nature of this black fire devilry and reduced their supplies. What is more it is clear that the Enemy is overconfident, he believes his forces to be unstoppable and thus pays little attention to the outlying defences. A blow of sufficient strength may yet turn the tide and force them to halt their advance lest they be drawn out and destroyed utterly. should our forces and those of our allies succeed in striking at the heart of the enemy then we will have bought a reprieve at least for a time for the men of this land. Though to what end I still cannot see.

Your loyal servant,

Fennas