Gondor in Flames turn 12

Last turn Haldran defeated Anersk, only to push him closer to Minas Tirith.
General Mainz captured north Harnen, while Lieutenant Rathin turned north
The Riders of Rohan and the Goblin Horde both had victories over the rogues.
The troll was wounded by a rogue captain, who is now being sought out on both sides of the river.

The Mordorians get priority and gather 1000R, meanwhile the Gondorians gather a similar 1100R.

The dark lord is aware of the treat against Cair Andros the riders of Rohan pose, so he purchases the service of six peasants, two for Cair Andros, two for Khand, two for Cirth Ungol.
Also a battle company at Cair Andros lead by Lieutenant Corgoth, and sends out for three recruits, two return, an orc warrior(with shield) for Vashner at Osgiliath, and a Mordor Uruk-hai warrior (Blurthrug) at Cirth Ungol.

The steward is growing increasingly fearful of the impending battle, so orders four recruits for Lieutenant Oira, to which only a Guard of the Fountain court (Questor) returns, he sends for four more, to which two men of Rohan with shields return. They must suffice.

The goblin horde and Lieutenant Anersk both manage to assail at the walls of Minas Tirith.
General Morge returns to Cirth Ungol to attach Blurthrug to his company.
Lieutenant Rathin's company mange one hex before Rathin's stretcher gets stuck in the Ithilien trees, fortunately this blocks the path north through the Gateway bridge where they rest.
Lieutenant Jurasin manages a single hex north into the mountains.
Lieutenant Vashner remains at Osgiliath to protect it's walls.

Lieutenants Dengond and Aerun form an attack on Osgiliath with captain Bestir.
General Mainz attacks Gateway bridge. 
Lieutenant Nethar joins the riders of Rohan outside Cair Andros, but are unable to attack.
Lieutenant Io manages two hexes towards Minas Tirith.
Meanwhile lieutenant Haldran's company actually manage to reach Minas Tirith in aid.
Lieutenant Luthyre remains at Minas Morgul to guard it.

Three battles this turn two of which are very decisive.
If Minas Tirith is claimed the Mordorians will have another settlement, and a base to plunge deeper into Gondor territory.
If Osgiliath is claimed by Gondor the assault on Minas Tirith will be cut short, and maybe even re-claimed if it was taken.

Until then

Fish

Gondor in Flames turn 11 end

In the last turn:
Newly appointed General Mainz secured North Harnen.
Lieutenant Haldran fought a close victory over orc Lieutenant Anersk.
The riders of Rohan company got their first victory.
The goblin captain got his second at the expense of a turn without the troll.

	Good	Evil
Capital	500	100
Settlements	800	800
Battles	1200	400
Other	-30	0
Supplies	-115	-94
Expenses	-1300	-900
Total	1055	306

Giving The Mordorians a total of 1709R and the Gondorians a massive total of 5123R

This leaves Minas Tirith exposed to the goblin horde, who might remain their another turn so the troll can recover, also Anersk presses ever closer. 
Cair Andros is almost theirs for the taking, a handful of peasants against the Riders of Rohan. 
The south is too almost secure, only Rathin to expel from the territory.
Cirth Ungol is within their reach too if they can defeat the General Morge in battle.

The Mordorians could claim Minas Tirith if luck is on their side, Lieutenant Vashner keeps Osgiliath secure. Lieutenant Keresk has never been under much danger, although he could travel to Cair Andros and protect Mordor's northern border.
Lieutenant Rathin needs to keep General Mainz occupied so that he can't unite the people across the Anduin to attack the orcs coming across.
Lieutenant Jurasin needs to secure the Nurn settlement before he can help out General Morge

Lieutenant Oira walked down the stone hallway. Even as a dwarf he marvelled at the stonework in Minas Tirith. He had come before the Steward.
"Tell me dwarf!" He spoke. "Should I flee now? Or wait for you to be defeated in battle?"
"Neither lord." Oira replied. "You have heard the rumours I take it?"
The steward wore a frown like it was his crown.
"The rogue captain, who wounded the troll before your very gates."
"Lieutenant. I care little for the brave deeds of warriors, so long as they are done by my warriors!" Barked the Steward.
"I just so happens that the rogue captain quoted, I sold an amulet to."
The steward sat in silence. It was an indication for Oira to continue.
"I thought at first the amulet was but a trinket, but clearly it has great powers to grant the holder, and if we were-" Oira continued
"Speak little else dwarf! Send for Lieutenants Luthyre, Nethar and General Mainz to watch if this captain should pass between our borders again, and acquire his services!" Ordered the Steward.
Oira had already done both of these, but left anyway.

Vashner sat in the Gondorian command office at Osgiliath. He had wooden plate with a mud-like meal on it, clearly the peasants would need a lashing. 
Before he could reach his whip his second in command came at the door.
"Some unusual news, Vash"
"If this weren't private I'd have your arm!" He said smiling.
"Dengond and Aerun the filth" Vashner grinned at that "are no longer pursuing the general"
"What!" He shouted. "Are you sure?" 
"Yes sir, he wanted you to prepare better defences, his orders"
"I will improve the defences, when Aerun licks my right boot!" 
"The orc you requested are here also."
"Good send the scum in here then!" When the orc came in his eyes shifted around the room, as if they were looking for an exit.
"Tell me what you know" Vashner ordered.
"The man you want, moves south from Minas Tirith."

Further south, just so past Gateway bridge in Lieutenant Rathin's camp, his corporals drugged Rathin's soup so he lay at rest for much longer than he thought. 
His corporals then marched the troop north. The dark lord knew what he was doing, they would follow to the letter.

Until then

Fish

Gondor in flames turn 11 other battles

Riders of Rohan Vs rogue Mordor (200pts) (Hold the line)

Deployment:

...........

..........

One arrow piercing the orc ranks

..........

A flanking manoeuvre

Literally de-ridered

The orcs seize the initiative 

The Rohirrim charge

One Rider down

The captain proves himself, and another orc is also killed

Another charge, and a rider flanking to the back of the orc line

More charging

A rider surrounded and cut down
the other slices one and knocks the other over

The orc captain saved by fate, the Rohan captain gets two more
two orcs and riders wounded

Even more charging, one rider leaves the flank to aid at the centre

Being broken three orcs flee!

The Rohan captain charges the orc captain twice to little avail,
three orcs fall to one rider

The Rohirrim charge, hopefully for the last time

The captain getting his fifth and sixth kills

But fails to get the seventh

The orc captain stands his ground pushing a rider to it,
One orc and a rider wounded too.

Reducing the orc force below 33%.
Giving the Riders of Rohan a minor victory! (and 200R)
Four of the wounded were detained and two were found dead on the field. The other three made full recoveries.


The Goblin Horde Vs rogue Gondor (100pts) (Take the high ground)

Deployment:

..........

..........

The forces ascend onto the hill, one man trips on his way up.

One of the goblin archers was clearly trained

The lines are formed, and arrows are exchanged

The battle lines join

Two men fall under the weight of numbers, the rogue captain ducks
beneath the troll's attacks and pierces it deeply. 

The rogue captain charges the beast again

And smashes his hilt at the troll's nose, rendering it unconscious
A goblin and man are wounded either side.

The game continues despite the rogues being broken

Fighting

The rogue captain has a wound saved by fate
the other captain beheads one of the other three men left

The game continues

The Rogues clearly at a disadvantage

The rogue captain wounded, and his last man downed

And the game ends!

Giving the goblin horde a major victory! (and 400R)

The troll sat slumped, bleeding from the nose. None of the goblins had gathered enough courage to mop the brown blood pouring onto the troll's stomach. 
They had won the battle, but the news was bleak.
If a small rogue company could incapacitate the troll, the goblin horde was losing it's skill in this world. Maybe a siege on Minas Tirith was too soon.


The Rohan captain had taken up scouting duties, he was cantering through the brush. No orders yet, but he was hopeful. Until.
Glinting on the horizon, mail that suggested. More than one suggested a troop. 
It was unlikely than Minas Tirith had fallen, yet an orc troop could have been sent north to trap them at the Cair Andros defences. Behind him a one of his men rode up to him.
"Ill news captain" He said.
"Well, we have a troop approaching from the south, most likely Gondorian." The captain responded.
"It is, a rider came before you came out sir. Nethar is coming to us-"
"That is good news? how could it be bad?" The captain interrupted.
"A new company has been seen at Cair Andros, and more peasants there too."
"So, we are to attack Cair Andros?"

Until then

Fish

Night upon north Harnen

Rathin watched the sun dip below the wooded horizon. Still no word of the oncoming attack. He strolled back into the courtyard.
"You four! patrol the boundaries!" He ordered to the peasants. 
Maybe Mainz would attack by the morning, after then he would sent out scouts.
The troop lay around a tree, praying that they would sleep for a few hours longer. 
But they didn't...

Lieutenant Mainz Vs Lieutenant Rathin (Night raid)

Mainz is injured with old battle wound, Corporal A assumes command.

Deployment:

..........

..........

Both nearby guards fall asleep, the corporals take advantage by
attacking them, the archers however fail to wound one of them.

The alarm is raised, and the Haradrim rush to the ensuing melee

Another of the peasants is wounded, and the Haradrim archer
 fails to wound any of the Gondorians

The Lieutenant awakes just soon enough to join the melee.

More fighting

Another peasant downed

..........

Rathin casts the one-armed Sanas aside (-1 might point)

..........

The ranger and citadel guard match each other in the fights
Corporal B receives a  wound but still has another left.

..........

The peasant payback

..........

Corporal A fends off his three assailants,
the ranger and corporal B wound one each, Rathin's fate point failed

With the Mordorians broken, on of the Haradrim takes to the wind.

Shortly followed by another in the next turn.

All looks grim for the Mordorians

..........

..........

the ranger and citadel guard proving themselves,
Haradrim corporal passes fate roll

..........

Running away, and the arrows failing to penetrate his light armour

They catch him

Only to run again

..........

With nowhere to turn, he faces his attackers, parrying their blades aside

And one blow finds its way under the guard's armour

Corporal B flies in the face of little danger.

The odds seem to be even-ing

Until they finally break his will

Giving the Gondorians a minor victory and 600R (400R for taking settlement + 200R for a minor victory)

In the Gondorian camp Sanas makes a full recovery and gains +1 fate, both the warrior and the citadel guard will miss the next turn.
Thuralion gains +1courage, +1 defence, Asten gains the courageous special rule, Sanas gains +1 wound, CG4 gains +1 courage, R2 gains +1attack and +1wound, The warrior is promoted to a citadel guard (CG8),

In the Haradrim camp, the bowman is found dead, and Rathin will miss the next turn, otherwise all make full recoveries.

Mainz lay rested at a tree gazing at the stars, when the bushes rustled nearby.
"Show yourself! Or face the Gondorian's wrath!" Mainz shouted with purpose.
"It's only me Sir!" came from Thuralion, his second in command, who had lead the assault.
"How went the attack? Is the settlement secure?" He asked as the corporal lifted him from the tree and supported him walking.
"All to well. They were as surprised as you said Lieutenant."
"I bring good news too."
Thuralion looked at Mainz befuddled.
"You no longer have to address me as such." Mainz continued
"Sir please don't retire! Five victories out of as many battles, bear also in mind the resources we've gathered almost as much as all the other Lieutenant's combined!" Refuted Thuralion. 
It was true, Mainz was becoming a superior commander.
"It's not that. I've been given rank of General, second only to the steward himself." Mainz replied. At this point they had reached the gateway of North Harnen.
An eruption of cheers came from inside the courtyard, all except Thuralion who applauded after he had set Mainz on a sturdy stool.
"What are our orders, General?" Asked Asten the second corporal, with a smile.
"Well..."

Rathin had been sneaking through the new defences of north Harnen to rescue the last of his men. He had gathered four of them. He ducked before an incoming arrow pierced his forehead. 
No alarm was raised, so he could continue for a while longer. 
He stooped over a nearby body, it was his other bowman, barely alive. He managed to drag him half way to the outer boundaries. When an arrow came from behind and struck Rathin in the shoulder. He blacked out.

Rathin awoke around a fire with his corporal's deep in discussion.
"Where are we?" he mumbled.
"He's awake!" One corporal exclaimed."Bring him water!"
"Where are we?" Rathin repeated after a mouthful of water.
"East of the settlement, and Gateway bridge" The corporal replied.
"South!" The lieutenant cried.
"The dark lord demanded we go north and fight for Osgiliath?"
"Next time you speak, you will give my rank!" Rathin roared and the corporal backed away.
"Apologies sir, I have got too used to being in command in your absence." He granted. 
"Now turn south, the dark lord still needs something to claim."
And they marched south fearing the dark lord's wrath was ever on their backs.

Until then

Fish