Battle at the Crossroads

Luthyre and Aerun discussed tactics as the marched, the men were showing signs of unrest, they had battled the Mordorians together a three times and were used to each other's company.
"A direct attack would spell disaster for us, even without the goblins at their side we are outnumbered" commented Luthyre
"Then we need a distraction for a portion of their force...." Aerun replied, then looked at Luthyre, who met his gaze and the colour drained his face.
"If that is what must be done, then it shall be done" Luthyre conceded.

Further discussion was broken but a ranger hastening towards them. Aerun had asked him to travel further ahead to determine the enemy layout.
"Lieutenant!" The ranger called.
"Speak, what news of the enemy?" Aerun asked
"They are barely half a day's march from here" The ranger replied
"Where are they now?"
"I know not, only that one orc commander is marching, whilst the other is stationary"
"They are searching for us!" cried Luthyre drawing his sword, "They must have scouts to know we are within striking distance."
"Luthyre! Calm yourself!" Ordered Aerun, "We shall move into the clearing and await their arrival there."
The troop marched into clearing, although it seemed quiet a small band of orcs had settled beside a ruined house. It was Vashner! As Aerun ordered an attack Morge and his company appeared from the shrubbery...

Lieutenant Aerun and Luthyre Vs Lieutenant Morge and Vashner (A Chance encounter)

Deployment:

Marching

More marching

..........

Morge's force turns there attention's to Luthyre

The orc archers manage to double wound the ranger

Luthyre edges a Heroic move over Morge

And moves far away

The sides clash

Vashner loses both corporals and two other warriors

The orc archers join Vashner in the melee

Luthyre attacks the orc ranks with the aid of one archer

Yaion falls to orc blade, yet three orc are killed around him

More attacking

The orc corporal survives the throwing spear of Luthyre

Luthyre kills two(knocking the other to the ground)
whilst both archers fall aside him

Vashner fall to Gondorian steel, fate abandoning him

The orcs are surrounded

Morge flees!

Luthyre throws a spear at the grounded orc disabling it,
the orc corporal take up command ordering his orcs to give chase.

To little cause as all other orcs are downed, reducing them below 25%

Giving a major victory to the Gondorians!(and 400R)

To be honest if Morge had ignored Luthyre they could have gained the middle ground at fewer losses, but Luthyre would have probably have attacked to greater affect, and maybe they would have achieved a draw.

In Aerun's company the ranger recovers but gains an old battle wound.
One corporal gains +1 defence, Theorn gains +1 fight, Bereov gains +1 defence.
In Luthyre's company Yaion and both archers will miss the next turn.
Luthyre gain Rally to me special rule, His other corporal gains +1 wound, one of his spearmen is promoted to a citadel guard (and gains +1 fate).

In Morge's company all recover, except one archer who will miss the next turn.
A two-handed-axe warrior is promoted to a morannon orc.
In Vashner's company one spear orc will miss the next turn, and both corporal's gain old battle wounds.
One of who also gains +1 wound.

Luthyre and Aerun watched the afternoon dwindle, as the groans of the injured faded.
Even though the morning came there was no sign of a rider. Both Luthyre and Aerun had been waiting for their orders, in the meantime they had sent a couple of scouts to determine the whereabouts of Morge and Vashner.
Not until evening did anyone arrive; it was one of the scouts.
"Lieutenant!" he called.
"Speak, what news of the enemy?" Luthyre replied.
"Vashner has moved North upstream, there are only a couple of his warriors injured from the attack by the looks of things."
"And what of Morge, is his company with them?" said Aerun, who had hastened from his bed after the scout's arrival.
"Bereov is tracking them right now" the scout replied.
"Where is Vashner headed?" Luthyre enquired.
"West, to what end I do not know."
"Gather arms men! We move out!" Aerun bellowed
"I move to Minas Morgul, I shall send word for Dengond to accompany you." Luthyre noted.
The scout was left slightly befuddled, but followed orders.

In Morge's camp the mood was very low, they had failed to defeat the Gondorians in open battle, with a larger force. The only light side was that many of his warriors were becoming much stronger, and would soon contest with the men.
An orc tracker came during late evening, which was unusual since the dark lord rarely gave specific orders. The orders the Tracker gave bore good news, at least for now.
"Vash!" called one of the minions.
"It's Lieutenant you filth!" Vashner responded
"We spotted a scout scum! in the southern bushes!" he cried, and then added "...Lieutenant"
"Good, but the dark lord calls us to a more pressing task."Vashner grinned. 
They had left the camp by late afternoon.

Until then

Fish

Assault on North Druadan

Siege-roll - 4

Nethar had simple orders, secure the settlements west of the Anduin, and to prepare for the Mordorian assault on these such settlements. 
In a way he was proud of himself, not a single battle and he had taken the North Druadan and Entwash settlements, he had even abetted summoned the aid of the riders of Rohan without himself going anywhere near Anorien. 

Yet this 'record' was to be broken, he had left the loins of Gondor exposed to Lieutenant Anersk, who he thought would be too scared to leave Cair Andros after his predecessor Grash had been killed by Rogues. 
But Anersk had crossed the Anduin whilst Nethar was returning from the Entwash.

The only upside was that Haldran and the Riders of Rohan battalion were barely a day's march from their position. Anersk would be forced to retreat anyway, or he would lose Cair Andros too.

Nethar and his troops had marched since first light, it was now late afternoon and they were beginning to tire. He thought that they could make it to the North Druadan settlement before Anersk, but for the warning beacon on the horizon. He knew they must hasten, the attack could have begun...

Deployment:

..........

..........

The peasants take advantage of moving second

Bottle-neck here

And capitalising

Combats begin here

And a melee here, an orc tries to flank
yet tumbles and breaks his head on the ground

Casualty re-paid

The peasants more into the centre to lengthen their lives

But they are trapped

Two peasants remain

And are quickly surrounded,
one defender must be present for Nethar's forces to arrive

One is present, and wounds the enemy corporal

Nethar's Forces have arrived

..........

Only to be injured for his actions

Anersk orders the orcs to prepare the defences

Nethar and co. have one side of the wall

They skip over, while the orc and men archers exchange arrows

Combats over here

Another orc down

More moving

And more

More clashing of blades, but no blood is drawn

This guy manages to fight atop of the wall (only if he rolled a six)

Anersk fails his fate roll, and a bowman is wounded in the melee

..........

One orc is downed in response of the corporal bowman's wounding

The orcs are overwhelmed, but continue fighting

Two more fall to Gondorian steel

The last orc is surrounded

And Nethar Claims the Glory

Granting the Gondorians a minor victory and 200R.

Both injured men from Nethar's company recover although his bow corporal had to part with his leg. two peasants were left unscathed in the assault, another was injured for one turn, and the other was found prone on the wall. 
Nethar gains +1 fight, and the other corporal gains +1 courage.

In Anersk's company One corporal and three others must miss the next turn, additionally the bow-corporal gains an old battle wound.Anersk gains +1 fate after his recovery, the bow-corporal gains +1 wounds, and one of the two-handed orcs is promoted to a morannon orc with spear.

Nethar and his company spent the night in the settlement, since Haldran and the Riders of Rohan could easily defend and push back Anersk to Cair Andros, then they would be called upon to take it soon afterwards.
Little did Nethar worry of the future, until a rider came the next day who had Nethar's orders. Nethar had a look upon his face after reading them.
"Arise soldiers of Gondor, the hour has come!"He bellowed. His troops stirred and gathered their things as quickly as their drunken bodies could.

In the Orc camp tempers were higher than usual. They knew the Dark Lord would not be pleased, then again when was he? Anersk strutted around as if a nobleman.
"Things would be worse had we lost!" He laughed at his corporal."Nethar could trot around our position to Cair Andros, and it would be lost. Not only that, but we would be crumpled beneath horse-y hooves of the Rohirrim!" His grin at this point, was obvious and ugly.
"But the goblins at Osgiliath will open up Minas Tirith!" His corporal shouted.
"I have my orders. Get to it scum!"responded Anersk.

Until then

Fish