22 Coirë
Today Hir Maegrist arrived from Duillond with grim, although not unexpected, tidings – Dorongúr Whitethorn will not yet release any of the garrison to aid us. He is rightly concerned regarding the fate of the refuge should Gondamon fall, yet I cannot help feeling it would be better to halt the tide while we have the defensive advantages of the fortress. Still, it is not my decision to make.
Maegrist also brought news that the majority of his house is far flung, and he expects only Celebant and Melnor to join us. This is more troubling, as we are critically short of defenders. Of my own kinsmen, only Boridhren has so far managed to reach us. It is fortunate that Hiril Ningloriel has proven herself so steadfast during these times. She even offered her pledge to the Reniolwaith, but I did not feel it my place to accept. If that is still what she wishes after this is over, however, I will stress my endorsement to the rest of our kin the strongest possible terms.
Later…
Hir Melnor joined us but a few hours after Maegrist. We determined that together we should attempt to ascertain the situation around Gondamon in the hope that we would gain valuable information for a larger scale attack. Myself, Ningloriel and Boridhren staged a distraction by launching an attack near the southern entrance to the fortress, whilst Maegrist and Melnor worked their way more stealthily to the north.
Our stratagem came close to failure on our retreat from the south, as we were ambushed by one of the patrols out of Rath Teraig. Glad indeed was I of Ningloriel and Boridhren’s long spears…it seems that the goblins have augmented their forces with unreasonably large spiders, and the many waving legs make it difficult to strike them down with a sword. Fortunately we were able to discourage their pursuit with only minor injuries to ourselves, and returned to camp to find Maegrist and Melnor already awaiting us. The situation to the north is more promising than I had previously thought – evidently the Dourhands of Kheledûl feel themselves secure enough that they do not mount heavy patrols in the upper reaches of Haudh Lin, and we may be able to break through with just a few more reinforcements.
Once more unto the mailbox…
