Serani
23rd January 2008, 11:59 AM
Written by Rubi about his first real foray into the Ettenmoors.
Dearest,
Suilaid! I know you have noticed the stains ? yes, that is blood. Do not worry, that was simply from a paper-cut of all things. Clumsy me! I would replace the paper, but well, you can imagine how restricted supplies can be when you are but a short way from the lay of the Enemy. The leaf enclosed is to add to your collection ? I hope you don?t already have one of this breed?
I?m writing from the top of a the partially crumbled keep of what I think they?ve named Lugazaz, no doubt named by The Enemy and not changed simply because it changes sides as often as some of us shuffle weaponry? Pardon me while I shuffle uncomfortably in acknowledgement.
The Captain-General of the defending company was quite glad to see our ragtag group arrive earlier today and he has had much to tell which would probably take more time to cover than I undoubtedly have remaining? Today?s fighting was protracted. The Sergeant-at-Arms, Valna, led us in close to continuous fighting with occasional lulls; the Enemy drives his forces relentlessly. Valna and the other lore-masters give them much to consider with their calls to ents as well as their nigh-Mithrandir-quality ?lightshows? as many call them. Their craft is truly welcome as we are low on fighters and high on ranged combatants at this front ? I believe I saw a few hunters that you?d know from Mirkwood!
I know you would have wished to be here, though you should count yourself blessed ? there were more of Shelob?s brood there than normal, along with a full pack of wargs. In fact, as I write this, I am listening to a minstrel raise our spirits while one of the more medically inclined binds my right calf, which was quite thoroughly gnawed by one that answers to Whitestripe (it helps to be near fluent in Black Speech, at times). I returned the favor of his attentions with a cross-down through the neck, but he somehow managed to lollop back toward their camps ahead of the others who gave chase.
I have been working beside a dwarf guardian whose name, to my dismay, escapes me. A fine master dwarf, quiet like our Zyzzyva and strong in spirit and more of a veteran to the Ettenmoors than I. He gave me a whirlwind tour of the region on horseback with a few choice taunts and jeers to a group of uruks which we passed near the lumber camp. The local company routed them in short order, I found out after the fact.
I visited the hobbit village, as requested. You will adore these little folk ? that they somehow manage to maintain irrepressible hope is a testament to their sacrifices in this harsh area. And a bit of a surprise, since it seems more of an adventure than any but a few Halflings we have recently met would undertake!
I found myself not as well-prepared for combat in this valley as I expected I would have been. Many of the veterans here are far more well-equipped than I and much more familiar with the wiles and devices of this arm of the Witch-king?s army. The former has not entirely hindered me as much as the latter. The uruks and yrch chattle? they at times seem disorganized and frantic, while at others they surprise me with their grasp of the shaping of the battlefield. It surely has much to do with their war-leaders and their own veterans (which, in their case, means those who have not been dispatched by the Free-peoples or devoured by their own?) as they are present?
I will be returning to Imladris within a week, I expect, having had my taste of battle here and now truly understanding why adventurers are rotated through here in short deployments, many times left up to the individual. The fighting is fierce and the scars lasting.
I hope you will li?
There is Valna ? the Enemy is advancing en masse. Give my regards to the Kinship ? we will do quite well here, when we can advance in force.
I miss you.
-Rubi
Dearest,
Suilaid! I know you have noticed the stains ? yes, that is blood. Do not worry, that was simply from a paper-cut of all things. Clumsy me! I would replace the paper, but well, you can imagine how restricted supplies can be when you are but a short way from the lay of the Enemy. The leaf enclosed is to add to your collection ? I hope you don?t already have one of this breed?
I?m writing from the top of a the partially crumbled keep of what I think they?ve named Lugazaz, no doubt named by The Enemy and not changed simply because it changes sides as often as some of us shuffle weaponry? Pardon me while I shuffle uncomfortably in acknowledgement.
The Captain-General of the defending company was quite glad to see our ragtag group arrive earlier today and he has had much to tell which would probably take more time to cover than I undoubtedly have remaining? Today?s fighting was protracted. The Sergeant-at-Arms, Valna, led us in close to continuous fighting with occasional lulls; the Enemy drives his forces relentlessly. Valna and the other lore-masters give them much to consider with their calls to ents as well as their nigh-Mithrandir-quality ?lightshows? as many call them. Their craft is truly welcome as we are low on fighters and high on ranged combatants at this front ? I believe I saw a few hunters that you?d know from Mirkwood!
I know you would have wished to be here, though you should count yourself blessed ? there were more of Shelob?s brood there than normal, along with a full pack of wargs. In fact, as I write this, I am listening to a minstrel raise our spirits while one of the more medically inclined binds my right calf, which was quite thoroughly gnawed by one that answers to Whitestripe (it helps to be near fluent in Black Speech, at times). I returned the favor of his attentions with a cross-down through the neck, but he somehow managed to lollop back toward their camps ahead of the others who gave chase.
I have been working beside a dwarf guardian whose name, to my dismay, escapes me. A fine master dwarf, quiet like our Zyzzyva and strong in spirit and more of a veteran to the Ettenmoors than I. He gave me a whirlwind tour of the region on horseback with a few choice taunts and jeers to a group of uruks which we passed near the lumber camp. The local company routed them in short order, I found out after the fact.
I visited the hobbit village, as requested. You will adore these little folk ? that they somehow manage to maintain irrepressible hope is a testament to their sacrifices in this harsh area. And a bit of a surprise, since it seems more of an adventure than any but a few Halflings we have recently met would undertake!
I found myself not as well-prepared for combat in this valley as I expected I would have been. Many of the veterans here are far more well-equipped than I and much more familiar with the wiles and devices of this arm of the Witch-king?s army. The former has not entirely hindered me as much as the latter. The uruks and yrch chattle? they at times seem disorganized and frantic, while at others they surprise me with their grasp of the shaping of the battlefield. It surely has much to do with their war-leaders and their own veterans (which, in their case, means those who have not been dispatched by the Free-peoples or devoured by their own?) as they are present?
I will be returning to Imladris within a week, I expect, having had my taste of battle here and now truly understanding why adventurers are rotated through here in short deployments, many times left up to the individual. The fighting is fierce and the scars lasting.
I hope you will li?
There is Valna ? the Enemy is advancing en masse. Give my regards to the Kinship ? we will do quite well here, when we can advance in force.
I miss you.
-Rubi