"Your men, my lord, will follow you to whatever end," said Gamling.
"To whatever end," repeated Theoden. "Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. How did it come to this?" -The Two Towers
The Lost Halls of the First ElvenKing, The Mountains of Mirkwood, Rhovanion, Middle Earth
March 23, Year One of the Fourth Age
Day Five. Afternoon. Cloudy, cool
The eagles are coming! The eagles are coming!
Having won the legendary weapons that smote Ancalagon the Black, the Company returned to the orc-choked vale to be snatched from the jaws of certain death!
By the time the scattering orc host realize it's not an attack but an escape, the giant eagles and their precious burdens have sailed beyond the range of arrow, spear and vengeful curses.
Up, up, up the Company soar in the grip of gigantic talons! Some laughing, some shouting, some hesitant, some joyous; all flying!
The emerald shadow of the forest canopy falls away and so do the Mountains of Mirkwood as they plunge upward into the sky, plummeting through cloud and wind, up into the dazzling light of the golden sun!
But their breathless exhilaration is short-lived. From this dizzying vantage, high above the world, the dread handiwork of Sauron is laid bare, especially to the eyes of the elves. To the north and the south, Mirkwood burns! And in the distant south, the black fumes of Mordor reach out their fearsome tentacles to cover eastern Gondor in darkness and terror.
Middle-earth is falling before the Dark Lord's might.
The greatest of the majestic birds speaks. "I am Gwaihir and I bear grim tidings from Gandalf the White."
The elves of the Company know that in Sindarin, his name means "Wind-lord."
"In this most desperate of hours, he bid that we find you and bear you, and bear you we shall, to the Lonely Mountain in the Desolation of Smaug."
Actions?!
Wilderland Map:
Dotted red line marks the Company's journey.
PC Status:
Elbenwin: Male Dunedan Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 29/34
Folco Boffin: Male Hobbit Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 2, HP: 11/21
Gilda 'Gilly' Ironfoot: Female Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 26/41
Glasik Ironfoot: Male Dwarvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 20/34
Gilwennen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 13/13, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
Naruthirdor Nowe: Male Elvish Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 7/8, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
Rumil: Male Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 11/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Therone: Female Elvish Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 16/31
Tinuwen: Female Elvish Fighter/Magic-User 2/1: Move: 9", AC: -2, HP: 12/12, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Vindoboduoc: Male Man Thief 3: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19
Red: Guard Dog: Move: 12", AC: 6, HD: 2+2, HP: 9/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4, THAC0: 16
PC Magic:
Player Resources: