Act Two - Second assault on Cair Andros

Faramir is sent uplands, ambushing Southron and Easterling columns in the hope of delaying enemy reinforcements and distracting Sauron's gaze. One captain remains at Cair Andros with the orc host camping behind the palisade, and an attack during the night out of the question, due to their limited numbers, the captain set a watch and hoped that the attack would be long, so the walls could grind down the orc forces.
With little light left in the day, the orc host emerges through the gate and holes in the palisade, the defenders assemble with the orcs barely a stone's throw away.

Objectives: Get 10 models behind the ramparts before turn 12 / prevent this or break orc forces


 

 

One arrow flies over the siege bow, plucking an orc off his feet

Two more are felled to slow down the ladders

The ladders are hoisted up, only to be shoved back down

More ladder shoving as the ram hits the gate in a dull thud
Two more orcs fall prey to the archers

Orcs are ordered over to the siege bow assisting the
lone crew-member in firing at the gate

The defenders are preparing as the ladders are picked back up

The archers fire on the ram-crew downing two of them,
as they smash a small opening in the gate

The ladder is pushed back down squishing two of the orcs with it.
The orc archers volley into the tower, striking one of the rangers dead

Men moving to the gate preparing for any breach

Two ladders are pushed up, the other picked up

They form a battle line at the gatehouse

The captain guards the only ladder, while another ranger is felled

The ladders are mounted as the third is pushed down,
one orc is struck down, killing another unawares in the fall

The captain tumbles his opponents over each other with ease

One of the captains springs over the ramparts slicing through
both the defenders, who stab at another orc in the assault

The ram hits the gate to little effect and a ladder is cast down

More orcs join the captain on the ramparts

The other attacks are beaten back but the
captain reduces the defenders by one

One defender sacrifices himself, so the others can throw down a ladder

However an orc volley catches the last ranger, yet three orcs manage
to dash each others heads against the ground in their falling back

The siege bow finally lands a shot on target splitting the gate in half
the archers behind are prepared for this and an arrow slays an orc

Two ladders are cast down, while another is pushed up

The defenders at the gatehouse buckle under the orc line who cut
down two men while the ramparts are cleared of all but a captain

 

Gothmog sees the strength of the defenders being the wall

The Captain of Gondor held his sword aloft and cried "For Gondor!" which rallied a cry amongst his men, who were killing their way across the ramparts. 
The captain rushed down to the gatehouse where the fighting had become more balanced. That was until he arrived and tore through Gothmog's bodyguard. The orcs had had enough, so fled before the Gondorians swords leaving the injured for dead.
The gates were broken, and the next host would be much larger, there was no hope of defending the isle. So the captain gathered the men, and set out for the Rammas, where Faramir was gathering the remaining defenders of Osgiliath and Cair Andros.

Until then

Fish

Act One - First Assault on Cair Andros

Saurons's forces march northwards towards the only other major crossing of the Anduin. The two keeps and the stone ring wall protect Cair Andros from invaders. But after centuries of warfare and decay, all that remains is an impressive wooden palisade and one of the keeps to prevent Sauron from controlling the rivers crossing points. Faramir must prevent the orc captains from gaining a foothold in the defences.

Objectives: Secure as many objectives before either force is broken.
                  : Palisade gatehouse, Keep gatehouse, Road to Palisade, Courtyard well, Ruined keep
 

The Gondorians guard the palisade very thinly

Several orcs arrows whistle over the palisade
one catches one of the defenders

The orcs find a way through the line gaining a foothold in the defences

Three orcs fall prey to the spiky barrier

Two-pronged attack on the sparsely numbered men

Not able to get through the gate

Everyone engaged

The attack slaughters the defenders in the south

Faramir, sets an example, although no-one seems to notice

The only place where orcs are being killed, and four more

One captain manages to kill his way across with a warrior
while the other takes a vicious stab wound but stays standing

four orcs trip amongst the spikes and a dozen fall over completely
Though five more break through the line.

Faramir prevents the gate being opened
however is surrounded by orcs

The defences here are barely holding

Getting over the palisade is half the trouble
as the defenders put up a brave fight

Faramir slays another orc

Three orcs get impaled as Damrod and the ranger are cut down

The Gondorian captain strikes twice against his foes
while another comrade falls under orc blades

Another orc to the palisade, as the defenders are surrounded

More orcs making their way across

Preparing for the assault on the keep walls, 
only a third of the orcs are lying prone

The orcs moving to secure the courtyard objective
As Faramir fights the tide of orcs

Two more orcs speared by the barrier, four make it across though
One of the captains hurries to the second keep objective

Two orcs are felled near the gatehouse

One fatality either side, but this puts the orcs in favour

More movement in transporting the ladders

Further traffic through the inner defences

Add caption

Faramir retreats with a warrior, only for him to be cut down by orcs
yet Gondorian archery claims one orc

With the Palisade gatehouse secure, the ladders
are being moved towards the main keep

But some orcs haven't got the message, still unable to vault the barrier

Faramir is surrounded

With the captain retreating, the archer prepares to open the gate

The other archer faces three orcs and their captain
still unable to pierce their armour

Faramir succumbs to the weight of orc bodies around him

And the orcs preparing to take the keep move into place

This archer takes up a defensive position

Still trouble at the palisade

The captain is but footsteps away from the gate, simply needing to 
hold off the attacks, and prepare for the final orc assault on the keep

But the orcs couldn't let that happen this day, 
crushing both men underfoot

The Gondorian bowman bolted the gate closed. Preventing the orcs on the other side through the fortified door, which is when the orc general called off the attack. Cursing themselves, the remaining orcs jogged back behind the palisade.
The remaining bowman looked beyond the natural barrier to see fire. Brands marching towards the isle with machines of war. The Isle was now besieged.

A ragged Faramir and a handful of men returned through the gate. He spoke to the captain briefly before leaving with Damrod and some rangers. The captain gathered the last of the men and prepared the defences, for what he knew was the last battle before Sauron's forces made it across the Anduin...

Until then

Fish