Sam, Frodo and Gollum arrived at the walls of Mordor near dawn. High cliffs bordered the evil land, built up with walls and sentry towers. They beheld the Teeth of Mordor, the tall towers built earlier by the Men of Gondor after the fall of Sauron, but then later reoccupied by the Dark Lord upon his return to power.  When day came, a trumpet sounded and it was answered by bursts from the other towers. At the sight of the closely guarded gate, Sam wondered how they would enter; Gollum replied that they must not enter, prompting Sam to ask why they bothered traveling to Mordor in the first place if they cannot go inside. Gollum replied that he fulfilled his part of the agreement: guiding the Hobbits to the gate. Sam was angry, again asking why they bothered going to Mordor at all. Frodo affirmed that he must enter Mordor at all costs. Sméagol explained that there was another way in.  Frodo was frustrated that he did not tell them this before he led them to the main gates of Sauron. Sam though that Gollum was just trying to delay them until he could get a chance to take the Ring.

Frodo reminded Gollum that he had sworn by his “Precious” to guide them safely and not betray them. Gollum directed Sam and Frodo toward a road that bent south around Mordor, telling them that the road extended for a hundred leagues, but warned that they should not go that way. Frodo asked if there was a third way. Gollum admitted that there was a third path running around to the back of the kingdom, past a fortress built long ago by tall Men with shining eyes. Frodo realized that Gollum referred to the former fortress of Isildur, the warrior who defeated Sauron and won the Ring from him. Part of the fortress was a tall tower called the Tower of the Moon. Sam asked whether the tower is occupied, and Gollum replied that it was guarded by Orcs and by even worse creatures called Silent Watchers. Sam remarked that this third path sounds just as risky as the first one, but Gollum said the Dark Lord is focusing his attention elsewhere. Gollum admitted that the rear path past the Tower of the Moon was dangerous, but that it was worth trying. The hobbits were suspicious, but they accepted Gollum’s advice.

Four Nazgûl appeared in the sky overhead, and the hobbits knew that Sauron is observing them. Frodo and Sam grabbed their knives, but they knew that escape was impossible. They linger in the shadows and Frodo considered their options. Frodo thought over the creature's claims and looked at the gate and became aware that there was a great commotion on the plain behind them.  They heard singing and shouting.  Frodo could see the light bouncing off the spears and helmets of an army. A host of men was approaching the gates to join with Sauron.  Squadrons of men with long dark hair, gold rings, and red flags were moving to Mordor. Gollum described them as very fierce, saying that he had never seen anything like them. There are always Men entering Mordor now. Frodo worried that some day all the men of the world would be under the control of the dark shadow. Sam asked whether the men have Oliphaunts with them, as he had heard the creatures described in old poetry. Frodo didn't see any and decided to follow Gollum to Minas Ithil. Gollum urged the hobbits to sleep through the daylight hours, and proceed again at night.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:08, Thu 31 Dec 2009.

Sam, Frodo, and Gollum proceeded through the desolate landscape of Mordor. Gradually, they noticed that the land was becoming greener, more fragrant, and less barren, and they welcomed the change. As always, they travelled by night and rested by day. They did not travel on the open road, but near it. They worried about their dwindling food supply. After several days, they arrived in a country full of woods and streams once known as Ithilien. Gollum coughed and sputtered in the verdant setting, but the Hobbits rejoice in the reappearance of greenery and water. They stopped at a stream to drink and bathe. Again, they were troubled by hunger. Sam sent Gollum off to hunt some food for them all; reminding him that Hobbit food is different from the food the creature is accustomed to eating. Sam watched the sleeping Frodo, observing the fine lines visible on Frodo’s face. Sam acknowledged that he felt deep love for Frodo.

Gollum returned with rabbits, which he did not want to cook, preferring to devour them raw. Sam proceeded to make a nice dinner for himself and Frodo, calling upon Gollum again to gather wild herbs for his rabbit stew. Frodo awoke and saw the cooking fire burning. Sam informed Frodo of the nice dinner being prepared, but Frodo warned Sam about the dangers of fire in the open field.

Suddenly Frodo and Sam heard voices nearby, and they saw four tall Men wielding spears. The warriors wondered whether the Hobbits are Elves or perhaps Orcs. One of the Men identified himself as Boromir, Captain of Gondor. The Hobbits identified themselves as Halflings. One of the warriors conjectures that the hobbits could not be travelers, as uninvited travelers are not allowed in this land. Frodo explained the Hobbits’ separation from Aragorn and Faramir. At the mention of the name of Faramir, Boromir was startled and became stern.

Two men named Mablung and Damrod guarded Frodo and Sam, telling the Hobbits of their enemies, the Southrons, who threatened to attack. Sam wondered where Gollum was. Suddenly, they heard noises of battle and the name of Gondor called out. Damrod announced that the Southrons are attacking and that Boromir’s men were setting out to meet them. The Hobbits climbed into a position where they could see what was going on, and they witnessed their first battle among Men.
Suddenly, Damrod called out for help from a large elephant-like creature called the Mûmak. Sam was pleased that he had seen his first Oliphaunt. Damrod told the Hobbits to sleep, as the Gondor captain would soon return and they would have to flee the enemy. Sam replied that the troops of Gondor would not disturb him when they leave. Damrod answered that it is not likely that the captain would allow Sam to stay, but would instead force him to travel with the troops.

Sam fell asleep and awoke to find Boromir interrogating Frodo. Boromir wanted to know why the Hobbits originally set out from Rivendell, what their errand was and under what circumstances they parted with Faramir. Boromir knew of a prophecy that stated that a Halfling would arrive bearing something of great value, and he asked Frodo what this object was; Frodo answerd only that he was on an errand to deliver the object elsewhere. Frodo spoke highly of Faramir as the two had gotten along nicely.  Boromir, however, was more interested in the object they carried and attempted to press Frodo into revealing what it was even revealing to Frodo that Faramir was his brother. He asked Frodo again to reveal what the object they carried was and why it was so important to take it into the land of Mordor, there only possible destination.  When Frodo refused to tell him what the object was Boromir announced to the Hobbits that he must take them back to Minas Tirith, the great city of Gondor. On the way, Boromir commended Frodo’s prowess in coming so far on his own, unaware that Frodo has withheld the fact that the hobbits had not done so alone. Boromir tried again to extract information about the valuable object—which he knew only as Isildur’s Bane—that he knew Frodo is carrying. Faramir suspected that Isildur’s Bane was a weapon and that Frodo and Sam had fled the others because they had not been valiant enough to resist its evil influence. Frodo answered that there was no fighting in the ranks.

After a time Boromir began to appear agitated and ordered the other men to go on without him.  Alone with the hobbits, Boromir offered them something to eat and bid them rest a bit.  While they ate, Boromir recounted the former glory of the kingdom of Gondor and its later slide into weakness as the kingdom offered land to the Rohirrim in exchange for military defense. As they talked, Sam accidentally blurts out to Boromir that they sought to destroy the Ring. Boromir is shocked that they would seek to destroy such a gift from fate and attempts to convince them to give the Ring to him.  Frodo refused and in frustration Boromir attacked him.  Frodo’s countenance suddenly changed and he clawed at Boromir’s face.  Boromir stumbled back in surprise, momentarily blinded by his own blood.  Frodo, suddenly overcome with exhaustion, collapsed.  Sam quickly picked up Frodo and, with uncanny strength, hauled him off into the forest.  There they were met by Gollum who had been worried when they had not been there when he returned and had gone looking for them.  Together they carried Frodo away from the searching Boromir.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:18, Thu 31 Dec 2009.

As the journey continues, Gollum reports that the area is dangerous and full of watching eyes. Frodo asks whether a dark shape in the distance is the Valley of Morgul. Gollum answers that it is indeed the valley, and says that they must move quickly to a place called the Cross-roads.

One night, Frodo and Sam awaken to find Gollum gone. Sam expresses relief that they are finally free of him, but Frodo reminds him of the help Gollum has given them in the past. Sam is suspicious, believing Gollum to be capable of tricks. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is changing; the daylight is somewhat dark and the air feels heavy and warm. One afternoon, Gollum wakes Frodo and Sam with an urgent entreaty to get moving as soon as possible. He directs them eastward, up a slope to the Southward Road, which leads to the place he calls the Cross-roads. Gollum asserts that this is the only way to go. As they proceed toward the Southward Road, they spot a headless statue of one of the ancient kings of Gondor, now desecrated with graffiti. Sam finds the head lying nearby, a crown of golden flowers growing on it. Frodo comments that the forces of the evil Sauron cannot hold sway forever in the realm.

Gollum draws Sam and Frodo away from their rapt contemplation of the statue, telling them that time is short. He guides them along the Southward Road until they reach the Valley of Minas Morgul. All three are momentarily transfixed by the sight of the Tower of the Moon rising in the distance, but Gollum finally urges them onward again. The way is hard, and the land is full of a horrid stench that makes it hard for the Hobbits to breathe. Frodo begs for a moment’s rest, but Gollum and Sam insist on continuing. As they start moving again, Minas Morgul erupts in a deafening thunder, and troops appear. Frodo sees a great mass of cavalrymen all dressed in sable, guided by a horseman whom Frodo identifies as the Lord of the Nazgûl.

Suddenly, the horseman stops, and Frodo fears that he has spotted them. Frodo stands still, but almost against his will his hand moves toward the Ring hanging on his neck, which would give him the strength needed to confront the Lord of the Nazgûl. Frodo also touches the Phial of Galadriel, which he had forgotten. Luckily, the Ringwraith ends his watchful pause and continues on his way.

Frodo remains extremely distressed, however. He fears that he has taken too long to reach Mordor and that it is too late to fulfill his mission of destroying the Ring. Gollum, however, urges the Hobbits steadily onward, up an interminable set of stairs. Frodo becomes dizzy and feels that he cannot go on, but Gollum forces them to continue. Frodo looks down and sees that they are above Minas Morgul.

After what seems like miles uphill on the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, as the twisting mountain is called, Gollum leads Frodo and Sam into a dark crevice to rest. They discuss the question of whether there is water at these heights and whether it is drinkable. The two hobbits fall into a discussion of the old songs and prophecies, wondering whether they themselves will become characters in future songs, sung by their own children perhaps. Frodo and Sam also talk about how trustworthy Gollum is. Frodo asserts that no matter how selfish Gollum may be, he is no friend of the Orcs, and therefore may be considered a reliable guide. One night, Sam awakens to find Gollum caressing the sleeping Frodo. Sam accuses Gollum of sneaking around in the dark. Gollum is offended, saying he was not sneaking. Frodo wakes and settles the argument, telling Gollum he is free to go off by himself if he wishes. Gollum affirms that he must guide the hobbits to the end.