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Nerindel · 03-24-2004, 08:55 AM

“Then we ride!” Astalder cried with a nod to the young Knight. Turning his steed he led them towards the smoking tower. “Khalad take two men and scout ahead, but be careful not to be seen!” he called over the thunder of hooves, He knew that soon they would have to hid their horses and continue on foot, if they where to scout their enemies without being seen. Once Khalad had returned reporting the way ahead was clear they took to the forest. The forest ended on an out cropping a short distance from the location of the south tower, where they could leave the horses under the cover of the trees and spread out to get a better look at their enemies.

Stopping his men a short distance from the edge of the forest he dismounted and indicated for Khalad and another of his company and young man named Josef, to follow him, they walked to the edge of the forest and looked out over the carnage below. Then seeing movement amidst the smoke they dropped to their bellies. Astalder watched with growing anger as Haradrim warriors pillaged what was left of the outpost. “Look!” Khalad whispered beside him alerting him to the hundred or so well disciplined warriors who stood watching their company sack what was left of the outpost. “They stood no chance!” Josef gasped. Astalder did not dwell on the man’s assessment but continued to scan the scene below. His gaze suddenly stopped on the figure of a tall thin man who walked with the confidence and demeanour of a Harad officer, as the man turn he saw fully the officer’s uniform confirming his suspicion. Astalder’s eyes narrowed and he found himself wishing that he had some skill with a bow, as he recognised Lan’kash the Lieutenant of the Harnen crossing, of course the two men had never met, but his merchant friend Talfas dealt often with men of the south who grumbled often about the crossings inspections, and he now found that their description of the outposts leader was more than accurate.

“That is their leader!” he spat, pointing Lan’kash out to his two companions. “Oh may the Valar preserve us, they’ve got catapults!” Josef gasp pointing to where a gap in their enemy’s ranks revealed the two monstrosities. Astalder knew at once that the walls of the village would not hold up to their assault. “I want you to each take two men and scout their flanks, we need their full numbers including any scouts they may have patrolling the vicinity.

“And you?” Khalad asked watching with growing concern as Astalder continued to stare at the two catapults, “I will try to even the odds” he answered with a wry grin. “That is madness!” Josef exclaimed in horror, “I have no choice, the walls and buildings of the village will not stand up to the assault of those monstrosities!” he calmly informed the younger man. “Now, come we do not have long, they will soon move again and I wish for us to be well on our way back to the settlement before then.” the two men nodded and followed him back to their company.

Once back they spilt into three groups, Khalad and his two men went right, While Josef took his men to scout their enemies left flank. Which left Astalder with three men at his disposal but he only needed one, he chose the shortest of the three and ordered the others to stay with the horses. “If we are not back when the others return, set out at once for the village.” The men began to protest, but Astalder stopped them abruptly with a raise hand and a sharp look. “If we have not returned by then, it is likely that we have failed and you are to presume that we are dead! Do you understand?”

“Yes sir!” the two men replied lowering their heads. Astalder then turned, beckoning for his companion to follow and set off towards their enemies.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

The two men moved silently keeping close to the shadows as they approached their intended victims, the Two Haradrim guards looked more like farmer than warriors, But they had no choice if they where to get close to the catapults they would need disguises. As luck would have it the two guards also watched the pillaging going on at the outpost, grumbling that they too wanted a share in the spoils. Astalder silently signalled for his companion to take the smaller of the two guards and at the sometime they stepped out of the shadows of the trees and pulled their blades silently across the throats of their victims, before they even knew anyone was upon then. They then dragged the bodies under the trees and stripped them of their clothes, then hiding their own gear they changed into the garb of the Haradrim soldiers. Astalder kept on his chain mail shirt and strapped his own sword instinctively about his waist, but his helm he removed putting on the head scarf of his victim, pulling the lower section across his face, so that only his eyes could be seen.

“Our aim is to sabotage the catapults, but not to destroy them, we need our enemies to think that they still have the advantage until they try to use them.” he grinned wryly, turning to his companion, who was now also dressed in the garb of a Harad soldier. After his companion nodded his understanding they took up the dead Haradrim guards spears and made their way towards the mammoth weapons.

The majority of the soldier ignored them but as they neared their goal they were stopped several times and asked where they were going, they could only pointed in the direction of the men milling around the base of the catapults and grunt “orders from Lan’kash!” To which the questioner would laugh harshly and send them on their way. Once at the catapults they split up, Astalder taking the nearest. He inconspicuously circled the mechanism looking for an easy way up, he was just climbing towards the ropes that worked the leverage went he heard a sharp, commanding voice below him.

“Just what do you think you are doing up there?” He froze searching for a suitable answer, but just as he was about to answer, another voice broke the silence.

“Lieutenant we found another one on the other catapult and look!” Astalder looked down in horror as the Haradrim soldier ripped off his companions head scarf revealing the dark hair and pale complexion of the Gondorian knight. With instinctive reflexes he pulled free his sword slicing through the leverage ropes and jumped down to face his enemies.

03-24-2004, 08:55 AM	#2
Nerindel Spirited Weaver of Fates Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: In an endless sea of dreams! Posts: 827	“Then we ride!” Astalder cried with a nod to the young Knight. Turning his steed he led them towards the smoking tower. “Khalad take two men and scout ahead, but be careful not to be seen!” he called over the thunder of hooves, He knew that soon they would have to hid their horses and continue on foot, if they where to scout their enemies without being seen. Once Khalad had returned reporting the way ahead was clear they took to the forest. The forest ended on an out cropping a short distance from the location of the south tower, where they could leave the horses under the cover of the trees and spread out to get a better look at their enemies. Stopping his men a short distance from the edge of the forest he dismounted and indicated for Khalad and another of his company and young man named Josef, to follow him, they walked to the edge of the forest and looked out over the carnage below. Then seeing movement amidst the smoke they dropped to their bellies. Astalder watched with growing anger as Haradrim warriors pillaged what was left of the outpost. “Look!” Khalad whispered beside him alerting him to the hundred or so well disciplined warriors who stood watching their company sack what was left of the outpost. “They stood no chance!” Josef gasped. Astalder did not dwell on the man’s assessment but continued to scan the scene below. His gaze suddenly stopped on the figure of a tall thin man who walked with the confidence and demeanour of a Harad officer, as the man turn he saw fully the officer’s uniform confirming his suspicion. Astalder’s eyes narrowed and he found himself wishing that he had some skill with a bow, as he recognised Lan’kash the Lieutenant of the Harnen crossing, of course the two men had never met, but his merchant friend Talfas dealt often with men of the south who grumbled often about the crossings inspections, and he now found that their description of the outposts leader was more than accurate. “That is their leader!” he spat, pointing Lan’kash out to his two companions. “Oh may the Valar preserve us, they’ve got catapults!” Josef gasp pointing to where a gap in their enemy’s ranks revealed the two monstrosities. Astalder knew at once that the walls of the village would not hold up to their assault. “I want you to each take two men and scout their flanks, we need their full numbers including any scouts they may have patrolling the vicinity. “And you?” Khalad asked watching with growing concern as Astalder continued to stare at the two catapults, “I will try to even the odds” he answered with a wry grin. “That is madness!” Josef exclaimed in horror, “I have no choice, the walls and buildings of the village will not stand up to the assault of those monstrosities!” he calmly informed the younger man. “Now, come we do not have long, they will soon move again and I wish for us to be well on our way back to the settlement before then.” the two men nodded and followed him back to their company. Once back they spilt into three groups, Khalad and his two men went right, While Josef took his men to scout their enemies left flank. Which left Astalder with three men at his disposal but he only needed one, he chose the shortest of the three and ordered the others to stay with the horses. “If we are not back when the others return, set out at once for the village.” The men began to protest, but Astalder stopped them abruptly with a raise hand and a sharp look. “If we have not returned by then, it is likely that we have failed and you are to presume that we are dead! Do you understand?” “Yes sir!” the two men replied lowering their heads. Astalder then turned, beckoning for his companion to follow and set off towards their enemies. ++++++++++ The two men moved silently keeping close to the shadows as they approached their intended victims, the Two Haradrim guards looked more like farmer than warriors, But they had no choice if they where to get close to the catapults they would need disguises. As luck would have it the two guards also watched the pillaging going on at the outpost, grumbling that they too wanted a share in the spoils. Astalder silently signalled for his companion to take the smaller of the two guards and at the sometime they stepped out of the shadows of the trees and pulled their blades silently across the throats of their victims, before they even knew anyone was upon then. They then dragged the bodies under the trees and stripped them of their clothes, then hiding their own gear they changed into the garb of the Haradrim soldiers. Astalder kept on his chain mail shirt and strapped his own sword instinctively about his waist, but his helm he removed putting on the head scarf of his victim, pulling the lower section across his face, so that only his eyes could be seen. “Our aim is to sabotage the catapults, but not to destroy them, we need our enemies to think that they still have the advantage until they try to use them.” he grinned wryly, turning to his companion, who was now also dressed in the garb of a Harad soldier. After his companion nodded his understanding they took up the dead Haradrim guards spears and made their way towards the mammoth weapons. The majority of the soldier ignored them but as they neared their goal they were stopped several times and asked where they were going, they could only pointed in the direction of the men milling around the base of the catapults and grunt “orders from Lan’kash!” To which the questioner would laugh harshly and send them on their way. Once at the catapults they split up, Astalder taking the nearest. He inconspicuously circled the mechanism looking for an easy way up, he was just climbing towards the ropes that worked the leverage went he heard a sharp, commanding voice below him. “Just what do you think you are doing up there?” He froze searching for a suitable answer, but just as he was about to answer, another voice broke the silence. “Lieutenant we found another one on the other catapult and look!” Astalder looked down in horror as the Haradrim soldier ripped off his companions head scarf revealing the dark hair and pale complexion of the Gondorian knight. With instinctive reflexes he pulled free his sword slicing through the leverage ropes and jumped down to face his enemies.