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

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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

Prologue - Osgiliath

Warning: this post contains over 40 photos

Gothmog has set out from Minas Morgul with a host of orcs. Their sole intent to drive the outnumbered Gondorian defenders from the metropolis. Denethor discovers these plans and dispatches Boromir to aid Faramir in the defence of Osgiliath.

Objectives: Control more objective markers than the enemy, after either force is broken.

Beregond and his guard are sandwiched between orcs lead by Gorbag

Boromir and his guard arrive, three men attack near the fireside
In total 20 orcs and two of their captains reinforce Gothmog

The Fireside building in garrisoned, three orcs block the paths of 
Faramirs and Boromirs Men

Gothmog seizes the weapons stash, and moves orcs to take the fireside

The men secure one objective, defend the wall against the 
oncoming orc group with their captain

The pantry is secured, while Beregond is attacked on all sides 
by orcs and a captain, more orcs move towards the square

Faramirs rangers fire their arrows to little avail, so attacks the 
blocking orcs while Boromir moves slowly forward

Gothmog command the party taking the fireside,
Shagrat brings many orc reinforcements

Beregond still trapped as more orcs and men enter the fray around

The orcs gather a battle line, longer than the men's

An orc captain slices apart a man near the edge

Orc traffic through Osgiliath

The rubble is defended by the gondorians, 
as Faramir and Boromir fight through orcs

The fireside building is invaded by orcs, killing two,
elsewhere a ranger and an orc are draw from either side

Two more men fall to orc blades

Some struggles here

The Gondorian encourages his men to attack the orc battle line

The square ignites in a fierce melee

Gothmog sets up an orc barrier to defend the fireside

More orc reinforcements, and Beregond is surrounded again

Orcs move from the hill, the men in the square are attacked

Beregond is finally killed, trying to buy time for his comrades

Men and orcs fall alike, as death carpets the city streets

The orcs have the upper hand, as the men fail to breach the defensive line

Boromir finally assails the defences, Faramir leads his 
rangers in combat securing their flank

Orcs swarm the beleaguered Gondorians 

And surround the thinning supply of men

Boromir blasts the horn of Gondor in the orcs face and scythes down 
two orcs, Faramir crumples one to his will too, as another ranger falls 

The orcs have secured this objective by the looks of it

The captain finishes off the remaining reinforcement

More orcs come from the Pantry, clouding the vision on any men near

The men are near breaking so the captain gambles,
 charging against many orcs

Boromir and Gothmog face-off, as the Gondorians are forced 
back from the fireside

Another man and two orcs are cut down, while 
more orcs seem to come towards the fireside

The captain's gamble pays off, as two orcs hit the floor while 
he rushes towards more orcs

One an is left against too many orcs...

Who move to completely secure the other objective

Two orcs attack the rear of the Men

Rangers and guard try to get near to the fire, as their numbers dwindle

The last man falls, but not easily

Boromir and Faramir stab orcs in the chest, as three more men fall
claiming any more objectives seems too far...

And for a single moment all was silent. Boromir and Gothmog glanced around themselves, weighting the odds of the battle...

The weapons stash secured by orcs

The captain, unable to gain a foothold at the well

The store-house, uncontested

The fireside fought over, but in orc hands

Boromir knew Gothmog had out-fought them here. He sounded the retreat, the men vaulted over barriers, parrying their way West. Faramir sounded another horn, and Knights of Minas Tirith appeared at the rear of the orc host. 
Boromir rallied his men in one last stand; Gothmog bought it, charging headlong into the anvil of Gondor warriors. The Knights, crashed into the exposed rear of the orcs, tearing them to disarray and Gothmog, unable to muster them, reluctantly retreated East of the river...

The defence of Osgiliath was dearly bought. Hearing news of orc warbands marching northwards, an exhausted Faramir gathers the rangers and makes for Cair Andros.
While Boromir is ordered on a more secretive mission, to find Imladris and the key to their salvation...

Until then

Fish