Back in Minas Tirith, Pippin receives his new uniform and gear as a member of the Tower Guard. He spends a long day serving Lord Denethor, Radagast, and the Captains of the West. Pippin chats with Beregond at the outer wall of the Citadel amid heavy darkness and a stagnant air. Suddenly, they hear the terrifying shriek of a Black Rider. Beyond the outermost gate, they can see five dark Nazgûl swooping over a small, rapidly approaching group of Men on horseback. The leader of the horsemen sounds his horn; Beregond recognizes the trumpet call of Faramir, Denethor’s son.

The men, thrown from their terrified horses, run for the city gate on foot. Just as a Nazgûl descends on Farmir, Pippin sees a great Eagle swoop in and rake the Nazgûl’s mount with its talons. The Nazgûl cries and smashes into the ground, the other Ringwraiths circle away.  The Eagle swooped down and landed on the fallen Nazgûl and tore at the mounts throat with its beak.  As the other Nazgûl spiral away a fell, black smoke seems to stream off of their fallen comrade and follow in their wake.  The Eagle takes to the skies again, lands at the summit of the City and transforms back into Radagast.

Faramir is escorted into Denethor’s chambers by his guards, where he meets Pippin, Radagast and Saruman.  Pippin starts when he learns, from Faramir, that Boromir had met Frodo and Sam heading to Mordor. Boromir was scarce in his account of their meeting, but Faramir suspects that his brother tried to take the Ring.

Denethor upbraids Faramir for showing cowardice in defending the outposts, even though Faramir had only returned at the behest of Boromir. The Steward bitterly remarks that Boromir, at least, tried to bring him a “mighty gift”—meaning the Ring. Saruman points out that Boromir would have kept the “gift” for himself. The two men argue, and Pippin again senses the strain between them. Denethor opposes sending the Ring with a Hobbit into the hands of Sauron, believing that he himself should have been given the Ring for safekeeping. The gathering disperses as it hears the horns of the Rohirrim.

Faramir rides off toward Osgiliath that evening to help fight The Lord of the Nazgûl, the Black Captain against whom none can stand.  Meanwhile King Théoden is brought up to confer with Denethor.  Together they, along with Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, devise a defensive arrangement for their men.

The next day the Rammas are again assailed.  Faramir remains at Pelennor, trying to hold his men together to execute a safe retreat. Not long after, the armies of Mordor approach Minas Tirith. Thousands of black-clad Men and Orcs stream onto the plains to be met by the mighty riders of Rohan.  As they meet in a clash of metal, a fleet of black ships appears on the Anduin River. The defenders of Gondor turn for the city at the sight of the enemy ships, suddenly, the foremost black ship unfurls a banner bearing the white tree of Gondor and the seven stars and crown of Elendil— the symbols of the ancient high-kingdom of Arnor. Aragorn has arrived in the black ships, along with the Rangers of the North, Glorfindel, Odin, Folco, and reinforcements from the southern fiefdoms. Wielding the legendary sword Andúril, reforged and burning like a star, Aragorn leads a fierce battle to save Gondor.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:19, Mon 21 Aug 2017.

Folco jumps off the ship as soon as he can and draws his bow.  He looks for the nearest target.

The closest foe was a Southron warrior with a shaggy head and swarthy skin.  He wielded a scimitar and charged straight at the newly arrived men.

"Andùril and Aiglos, Andùril and Aiglos!" called Glorfindel, hefting aloft his spear as he and Aragorn stood majestically at the pier.  The two weapons crossed in the morning light as it broke through the retreating black clouds that covered the landscape.  Beyond the Southrons the orcs and other creatures paused in surprise at the sight of the weapons.

Folco rolled 6 (with no modifiers; still not very good though).

The arrow embedded itself in the shoulder of one of the Southrons, breaking the stunned silence.  Aragorn's Rangers were quick to follow after Folco, their arrows hailed down upon the Southrons as the Orcs retreated to more shaded regions of the battlefield.

Meanwhile Aragorn, Glorfindel and Odin led the charge for the Gondorian soldiers that had been on the ships with them.

Folco searched for cover from which he could continue to shoot.

Farther away in the field, near the broken ramparts of the Rammas Echor Faramir remains was trying to hold his men together to execute a safe retreat.  Thousands of black-clad Men and Orcs stream onto the plains. A small, beleaguered ensemble rides before them. Lord Denethor, clad in armor, sends a small army of horsemen out to protect the retreat. Boromir rides among them while Radagast flies through the sky as a great Eagle, keeping the flying Nazgûl at bay. The retreating men reach the city safely, but one of the Nazgûl’s poisoned arrows strikes Boromir who put himself in the way to save his brother.

Stricken with sudden bitterness and grief, Denethor locks himself in the Tower with Boromir, who is now delirious with fever from his arrow wound. Pippin looks on as Denethor weeps, claiming he has no more sons and bewailing the end of his lineage as Steward of Gondor. As Denethor is holed up, Faramir takes over the defense of Minas Tirith. The army of Mordor launches an attack on the outer wall of the city. Denethor instructs the desperate messengers who arrive in his court that everyone in the city should give up and burn in the fires. Saruman, calmly standing by tells them to ignore the old fool and to return to their posts.

* * * *

As Folco sought cover behind a chunk of rampart he sees a shape swoop down over King Théoden.  An arrow leaps out at the King's horse and who is crushed beneath his mount.  The Nazgûl swooped back around for another pass...

Having already faced a Nazgul close up, Folco waited until the Nazgul's hellhawk came within range.  He fired an arrow at it.  The arrow stuck fast.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:23, Tue 25 Jan 2011.