The army passed Osgiliath and made camp; the horsemen moved ahead, but encountered no opposing forces. As the army drew closer to Mordor, Glorfindel instructed the heralds to sound the trumpets and declare the coming of the King of Gondor. The army’s stirring and brazen cheers met little answer from Sauron aside from an eerie, watchful silence.

"Do you think this is the calm before the storm?" Folco asked one of the Rangers nearby.

"I'm sure Sauron is confused," Halbarad responded.  "What kind of fool would so brazenly attack with such a small force?  He must be hesitating, fearing we have some kind of secret weapon."

"Well, in a way, we do," Folco said simply.  "It's just not with us."

"What do you mean?" Halbarad asked.

"I mean what Frodo is carrying," Folco said.  "Although I imagine if Sauron saw Aragorn's sword, Anduril, I bet he might think that is our secret weapon."

Halbarad took a deep breath.

"Yes, I'd heard the Hobbit carried something of importance to the Enemy," he said.  "I hope he can complete his mission."

"Me too," Folco uttered somberly, "Me too."  Folco hoped that Aragorn would make a move so as to draw Sauron out.

As the army continued to march a green hawk Folco recognized as Radagast spiraled from the sky and landed before Aragorn, Glorfindel and their company before transforming back into the wizard.

"A company of Orcs are coming from a pass up ahead.  They plan to waylay you," he warned.

"They are testing our strength," Glorfindel pointed out.  "Or they are warning us.  Sauron would not attack us on this path with only a company otherwise."

"Well if they're trying to test our strength, let's show them how strong we are," Folco spoke up, with a bit of false arrogance in his voice.

"Archers, secrete yourselves into the woods up ahead, we'll draw them out then you fire," Aragorn commanded.  A company made of the armies archers moved out.

"I'll cover their flank," Radagast said, turning once more into a hawk and spiraling into the sky.

Folco went off with the archers to lie in wait for the approaching Orcs, steeling himself for the battle.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Wed 10 June 2015.

The Orcs moved stealthily down the hills and as the army drew close to them they sprung the attack.  Fortunately Aragorn's army was ready and just as the Orcs made their move the company of archer's let loose their arrows.

Folco fired at the what he felt was the most dangerous and menacing Orc, and then drew another arrow, ready to strike again.

OOC 2d6

OOC: 5 + 4 = 9.

Folco's arrow hit the orc in the shoulder.  The Orc army was easily routed as it was caught between the archers and Aragorns army.  Tearing through the center was Radagast who'd transformed into a large, grey creature with a horn on it's nose (a rhino).

Folco let out a cheer of victory as he fired off another arrow at the dwindling horde.

OOC 2d6 for attack; remember to reroll and add for natural 6's.

OOC: 6 + 1 + 2 = 9.

Folco's arrow skimmed the orcs thigh but deflected off its armour.  The orc and a detachment broke off from the group and began to move towards Folco and the other archers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:35, Thu 21 Jan 2016.

Folco stood his ground and fired off another shot , but could tell this one was probably not going to hit either.  He waited to see if his fellow archers were ready to retreat, or if they would stand their ground.

The orc detachment moved closer but were still far enough off that they weren't in danger.  The archers of men let loose another volley but did little damage to the advancing foes.

Folco fired again, but his aim continued to be poor.

The archer unit fired upon the Orcs again, nearly wiping them out.  At this, they faltered, leaving them open.

Folco gained new confidence in his fellow archer's success, firing at the retreating monsters.  However, even though his confidence was high, his aim was low.

Before Folco could fire again the archers had cleared away the whole detachment and the army had cleaned up the rest.  All this had been done with almost no injuries and no death on the part of the Armies of the West.

"Well, I'm glad that's done.  It seemed a little too easy though," Folco commented, getting a slightly uneasy feeling in his stomach.

"They were testing our strength," Halbarad replied, coming up next to Folco.

"The question is, do they have enough strength to counter it?" Folco asked.

"Yes," Halbarad ominously replied.  "Sauron's hordes are endless."

The armies of the West rallied together and continued their march.  A few hours later they saw, high in the sky, a black, winged shape circling above them.  Occasionally it would switch with another.  Folco guessed, by the feelings of anxiety he felt at the edges of his mind, that it was a Nazgûl.  One continued to circle them for the next four days before some of the men were overcome with fear and stood, paralyzed, in place.

"Take courage my fellow beings, 'tis a mere winged demon," Folco started sarcastically.  He continued boldly serious: "He seeks to create fear in us because he is afraid.  He knows we will succeed, for we have a more noble cause!"

Aragorn, Éomer, Imrahil, and the other captains noticed the distress of the soldiers and stopped.

Folco hoped his message reached the hearts of the people.

OOC: Rolled 4 + 1 = 5.

Folco's message seemed to have no effect.   In pity, Aragorn spoke, permitting those overwhelmed to turn back.  Some took his offer but others, touched and shamed by the idea of turning back, chose to stay.

OOC Anything to say, otherwise we're jumping straight to the gate.

OOC: Proceed to the gate.

After two more days of marching the host approached Morannon, the Black Gate of Mordor.  The area had reeking pools of mud and filth so Aragorn arranged his army upon two great hills.  As they finished the gate opened and a lone horseman trotted out.  Before he could reach the Armies of the West, however, there was a great earthquake and he was thrown from his horse and the armies were shaken to the ground.

Folco was able to find his balance.

OOC: Rolled 1 + 6 + 5 = 12.  Also, if that's not a high enough roll, go ahead and emend my IC statement.

Folco managed to keep his footing.  Beyond the open gates he could see the scrambling of forces of Sauron.  The trolls and orcs were scrambling aimlessly while the men attempted to get out of their frenzied way.

"What's going on?" Halbarad called.  He'd managed to keep his balance by crouching low.

"I'm not exactly sure," Folco replied.  "It seems that something has the orcs and trolls spooked."

Folco saw, out of the corner of his eye, Radagast transform into a giant eagle then swoop into the sky toward Mordor.

OOC Any comment?  If not I've got a lot of backstory for Frodo and Sam to write up.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:39, Tue 29 Nov 2016.

Folco didn't figure a giant eagle could be sneaky, but thought it best not to draw more attention to Radagast than necessary, hoping he had purpose for flying off.  Folco remained on the lookout for what might be scaring the orcs and trolls, figuring now that it may be the earthquake itself that was causing their fright.

OOC: Go Frodo and Sam backstory!