Second battle for the Captain's hill

"The Dwarf Lieutenant Oira marches from the opposite flank."  Tangold spoke to Haldran, who had regained his respect recently. "Our scouts report four supply cases in the four corners. However they estimated the fifth case at the top of the hill would be twice as large."
"And Io comes from the south later than we planned. The rogue captain will easily sway the odds against, we must take the hill before the battle is joined and we fight uphill." Haldran continued. 
He then gathered his men at the plain before the hill, the past two battles had been a preparation for this ultimatum.
"So we have marched to the fangs of our enemies." He said to his men. " And note this, any man who stands his ground foregoing all dangers is in my up-most respect. Fight here, not only for our lands, or our wives, or even your freedom. But fight so none shall have to anymore! And their scum shall be wiped off the face of Middle-Earth!" Which raised a cheer amongst his men. 

Lieutenants Haldran, Oira and Io Vs Lieutenant Vashner, Goblin and rogue captain (Control)
The game ends when three companies have been reduced below or equal to 50%, which ever side has more supply cases wins, if neither side has greater then the game continues until one side has more. The case on the hilltop is worth twice of the each of the others. 

Deployment:

............

............

The rogues reach an objective marker, Haldran's forces hold ground

Vashner's forces descend to meet Oira's dwarves (and men)

Poor goblin archery, as usual

The riders charge into the goblin line

And the sides collide over here

The royal guard cleaves the captain's body leaving him barely
conscious on the ground, a rider of Rohan is wounded too

Oira smashes on orc in the face his corporal manages the same,
but the orc's shield prevent any fatal blows

Haldran casts his spear, kebab-ing the captain into the ground

Tangold is un-horsed much to his distaste

Failed orc archery

Haldran squishes another goblin, the guard survives a Gondor attack

Vashner takes a wound, and the Khazad guard takes an orc

The riders getting stuck in

A dwarf mounts the hill while the others tidy-up

The rogue captain slashes Haldran, the guard takes another Gondorian
Ferior gets a kill and Tangold resists the troll

On Rohan warrior down, the dwarf corporal takes a stab to the face
and the orc corporal succumbs to the dwarf axes

The dwarves surrounding

Ferior charges into the goblins onto of the hill
Tangold and the guard retreat

The guard using his throwing spear

Tangold taking his second to last wound

Ferior manages to slice another two
Breaking the goblin force

The Khazad guard and Oira get one each
Vashner force is now broken

The troll and co. charge Tangold and the guard
oblivious to two friendly companies being broken

Two goblins however take to the winds

The Khazad guard and Questor get one apiece

Ferior surviving the 'onslaught'

the rogue captain takes a wound, Tangold takes his last
Haldran's force is now broken

Io arrives, and has one of his men go for the south-western objective
Good control the hill (2) and evil control two markers (2)
so the game continues

The goblin and orc flee the hilltop

Io's warband approach the smaller hill

The guard is surrounded, northwards Vashner is
attacked by Oira and two others

The guard finished

Oira controls the house objective, the hill
against the rogues smaller hill so 3-1

Giving the Gondorians a Major victory 5-2 (+1 point for each enemy company broken) and 400R!
Vashner retreats south-east.

At the hill's summit, Oira buries the dwarf corporal and a Rohan warrior who were killed in the fighting.
Haldran and Hethion will miss the next turn. Tangold managed to find a treasure chest on the hill so gains +40R.
Haldran and Questor gain +1 fight, Ferior and Oira gain +1 courage, Hethion and KG 2 gain +1 attacks, Oira gains +1 might, KG 1 gains +1 defence. The other Rohan warrior and ROR 2 are promoted to ROR 3 and RRG 2.
The rogue captain agreed to join the same cause however the injured spearman didn't recover from his wounds.

In Vashner's camp Cpl E and  MO 7 gain old battle wounds, W 24, Cpl F, MO 6, newly promoted MO 8 will all miss the next turn. W 34 and MO 5 both make full recoveries.
A spear orc was promoted and gains +1 fate (MO 8).

The goblin captain was killed on the field, the other goblins and troll disbanded into the wild.

In sight of Io arriving the troll fled along with Vashner. The rogue captain stood his ground, as Oira's company took to the hilltop, Io joined them with the rogues and the injured riders.
"Tell me rogue, why have you not fled with the scum of your worth?" Oira questioned.
"I stand so that we may join forces in light of this victory, my men and I are at your service brave dwarf," and he knelled before him along with his men.
"Stand you scum, you betrayed my force here two weeks ago, and I would not allow such a thing to occur again!" Oira barked, and the captain was aggrieved. "But such decisions are beyond me, I am not in command here. Your pleas should be towards Haldran." Oira pointed to a tent east of the hill.

As they entered the tent, a reek of dying flesh punched them in the noses, and two buckled over to vomit.
"So, Oira obeys the chain of command." Stated the man at the rear, sitting on a bed wounded but not fatally. It was Haldran.
"Lieutenant, we come to join your forces in this victory." Haldran pondered upon this.
"I cannot make such a decision either. Take your case before the steward and he will grant you your wish." And the rogues left annoyed they would have to travel to Minas Tirith.
Oira then entered the tent, but could stand the smell.
"You gave them leave? Our victory was ultimate, the goblins are disbanded, the rogues subdued, and Vashner is too weak to attack us!"
"Did I?" Haldran asked,and Oira thought for a second.
"I envy your brilliance" chuckled Oira. The steward would refuse their plea, they had attacked in the name of Mordor, death was their punishment. "I'll send my best archers to the north road."

Vashner looked westward at the hill, no sign of the rogues following, they had probably joined forces with the dwarves and riders. 
For once they held all the cards, and now they held only one.
He was cut off from Mordor and the yearly Lieutenants meeting, so at least the Dark lord couldn't inflict his wrath on his defeat just yet. But he would be reduced in military strength slowly if he remained cut off without a settlement.
"What direction are we taking?" Spluttered his second corporal on his injury bed. Vashner then thought of something unbelievable and brilliant. 
"Move Scum! East we go!" It was time to earn his recognition, and maybe even a promotion in the goblin captain's absence...

Until then

Fish

Gondor in Flames turn 15, the final turn?

Well I hoped this game could go on for five more turns. But due to personal matters, thank you uni :) , I will be unable to continue playing this after I have left home.
At least until Christmas, I hope to rejoin you again then with something different, and less one sided!

Onto the final turn. The 14th turn left Mainz victorious again
Dengond suffered his second defeat ever against a large rogue warband
Luthyre snatching north Ithilien off Keresk
The goblins claiming the services of the rogue captain and defeating Oira
Nethar pushing Anersk from the walls of Cair andros
Corgoth being defeated by the riders of Rohan
And Haldran crushing the rogue orcs at East Lossarnach

The Gondorians claim priority and gather 1300R compared to Mordorians 1000R

The steward purchases the services of ten peasants, two for Minas Tirith, two for Osgiliath,
two for north Ithilien, two for Pelargir, and two for north Druadan.

General Morge orders eight recruits, returning are three serpent guard (Eiluan, Thiluan, Nurion) an orc tracker (Chragsk) and a Haradrim raider.

The large rogue company outside Osgiliath disbands into the wilderness.

Lieutenant Io marches his company into the mass of evil units at captain's hill, Haldran and Oira join the attack.
Dengond marches across the crossroads to assist Aerun, who is attacked by Morge.
The Riders of Rohan march to north Ithilien but encounter a rogue warband.
Luthyre marches his troop around the riders and to Cair Andros, which is attacked by Corgoth, Keresk and Anersk.
Mainz attacks Rathin hopefully for one of the last times.
Lieutenant Jurasin manages a single hex towards Cirth Ungol.

Giving three major battles, a minor battle which could finish off Rathin? And one against rogues.
Nethar faces a hard challenge holding three companies to allow Luthyre to arrive.
Haldran leads the charge against the Goblins, Vashner and the rogue captain, which'll either defeat any resistance the Mordorians had west of the Anduin, or will push the Gondorians back to their settlements.
Aerun is the east faces a reinforced Morge, with Dengond arriving only in the last hour.

And as a one turn special, any injured models may be fielded in a battle, however if the are injured in that battle they are considered as dead on the injury table.

Until then

Fish

Gondor in Flames turn 14 end

Six more battles have been concluded this turn
Mainz gained yet another victory over Rathin
The goblin captain achieved his third victory and secured the services of the rogue captain.
Corgoth and Anersk were defeated in the twin battles of Cair Andros
Luthyre gained a victory over Keresk and north Ithilien.
Haldran also gained victory over rogues where Dengond failed to.

The orcs of the north are broken and divided, and must  retreat the black gate to keep the Gondorians from Mordor itself.
Luthyre remains weak to attack, Nethar is strong along with the riders of Rohan. But they have to deal with Anersk before turning on the Black gate.
Rathin has retreated from Gateway bridge eastwards, a final blow is imminent although it maybe possible to couple an attack with Morge on Aerun.
Dengond, defeated by a large rogue warband, resides in Osgiliath preparing for a siege.
The orcs and men in the south are stronger than ever, three companies against a broken dwarf company, an untrained Gondor company and a numberless Rohirrim company.

	Good	Evil
Capital	300	500
Settlements	1300	500
Battles	1400	400
Other	-10	20
Supplies	-137	-94
Expenses	-300	-100
Total	2553	1226

Making the totals 10,173R and 2700R

Gondor clearly have more resources, yet the Mordorians have better positions around the Anduin making the moves the Gondorians mostly ill-effective.

Unknown to Dengond, the amulet rests in the hands of the warg captain, preparing an attack on Osgiliath with his rogues.


Until then

Fish

Gondor in flames turn 14 other battles

Haldran and Ferior, his second corporal, spoke in hushed words at the front of the troop. They knew of a rogue company in the area, but not of it's participants, and they hoped it wasn't wargs. The last time they encountered wargs here turned out bad for the first corporal's pocket, Tangold, who was now guarding the back of the troop, as ordered by Haldran as punishment for the lost battle. 
He now trotted to the front, Haldran didn't stop talking, then Tangold interrupted.
"Sir. at this rate we shall encounter the rogues while we are in the wood ahead."
"Corporal, would you have me overstretch the men so we fight exhausted?" Haldran responded.
"No, but I would rather have the privilege of not being ambushed, and the men uncoordinated." 
"Fine corporal." Haldran noted angrily. " But this is your call!" He added glaringly. 

Lieutenant Haldran Vs rogue Mordor (The chance encounter)

Deployment:

...........

This rider's horse stumbles over the wall,
yet he manages to rise from the dust

...........

..........

The riders charge into the fray

Haldran the guard get kills, Tangold gets wounded though

The guard throws his spear well, the foot-ed rider reaching the main melee

Haldran, Tangold and the guard getting more kills

Giving the Rohirrim a major victory and 400R!

Back at the camp-site the rider recovers his horse yet remains un-promoted due to his clumsiness. Haldran gains +1 courage, his Corporals Tangold and Ferior gain +1 wounds, and the royal guard gains +1 strength.

The Knight cantered through the shrubbery beside the road from Minas Tirith to Osgiliath. All was quiet now, yet a mile or so ahead a large company approached. Orcs, with their captain on a warg and even a banner bearer. 
Dengond must know of this, if they continued they would attack Osgiliath. The knight galloped back into the shrubbery where he moved across the field, and within shooting range of the rangers. Dengond jogged up to the knight.
"What news?"
"A large company of orcs. Around twenty, they have a banner and their leader is mounted."
"Luthyre had a group of rogues with a banner not the other side of the Anduin." Exclaimed Gerthil.
"The rogues are growing stronger in number and bravery, we must warn the steward" said Dengond.
"What of the rogues here? They will surely attack Osgiliath!" Warned Gerthil. Dengond didn't respond, but wrote a letter, sealed it and handed it to the knight.
"Send this to a paid messenger, and from him to Minas Tirith." Dengond said. And the knight cantered away. "We attack in tomorrow!" he called.
"Won't the messenger read it?" Asked Huos.
"I'm counting on it." mumbled Dengond...

Lieutenant Dengond Vs rogue Mordor (Hold the line)

Deployment:

The orcs split, making the Gondorian's objective harder

...........

The warg captain closing in on the knights

The captain charges

Gerthil aims well, the orc archer, hits one of his fellow minion in the back

The captain close to support from his orcs

Dengond and guard attack the orcs but two break through

Caorn knocked into the dirt by the captain

Dengond cutting down the banner, two guards take wounds

Another orc escaping

the knight charges bravely, Gerthil and Huos back off to take more shots

One finds the captain's warg

Dengond and the guard fighting well

Dengond then chases after the running orcs

Gerthil and Huos are caught, while the orcs break the line

Both rangers wound the captain who also gets lucky with his fate roll

The rangers are swarmed

Dengond and his guard attacking

Six orcs break the line

Huos wounded, and saved by fate

More attacking

The rangers are surrounded

One more orc breaks the line, so the game ends this turn

Gerthil and Huos take multiple wounds

And Dengond provides little consolidation

Giving the the rogues a major victory.
Dengond retreats to Osgiliath.

In the Gondorian camp everyone recovers except Gerthil who will miss the next turn, yet Huos gains an old battle wound
Dengond gains +1 attacks, Gerthil gains +1 courage, Huos also gains +1 will and CG 1 gains a might point.

Until then

Fish