Cwenawynn had followed the orc raiders to a camp in the North Downs she had been unable to help them on her own had to ride back seeking help. Arriving in the town of Trestlebrige she wrote to her friends she knew must be somewhere near Bree. After an anxious wait they did arrive in ones and twos. Ryheric had set up a secluded camp making Cwen rest while waiting on the others. Winnie had found the camp eventually joined by Osio, Lavendara and Tars, Silver was there though off on her own watching over the area.
The initial part of the trip was uneventful. Cwenawynn eventually led them to a narrowing valley where she’d found the camp containing some savage wargs blocking the path further in. Osio soon silencing the beasts and opening the way for the party to advance. After a pause to plan Tarsorel stood out to challenge the confused orcs while Ryheric, Winnie and Lavendara moved into a flanking positon.
.The orcs started a haphazard charge. Only to be thrown into confusion when Osio and Cwenawynn began to fire from their concealed on a ridge.The lead orcs killed by Osio’s arrows or tripping over their fallen comrades Tarsorel had little trouble finishing the last of the vanguard. . That left a slower but larger contingent, surprised when Ry called the charge. This confused Tarsorel for a moment but Lavendara and Winnie followed Ry and Tarsorel joined in the brief and chaotic fight. Winnie was minorly injured during the fighting. The orcs eventually overwhelmed by Ry’s demonic like attack eventually fled for their lives.
It was only then that the group could enter the camp and found some mistreated prisoners locked in a cage. and Lavendara broke them free while Winnie stepped in to help the injured. It was eventually deciding to construct some stretchers for those who couldn’t walk. With everyone gathered up Osio led the party west toward safety. They had saved some of the people Cwenawynn was looking for but it seemed Foxglove and those judged better able to keep to the orcs punishing pace had been taken further onward.
Winnie had joined Tars in waiting for Cwenawynn for the next phase of the trip. They talked briefly till she joined them then headed down into the area where the last camp had been. Soone Aerluinil joined them and they headed on toward where it was believed the prisoners were now being held. On approaching they stayed back, observing for a while, unable to see where the prisoners were being kept in the ruins of the town. It was determined that the orcs were too many for the four, it would be a difficult fight to get the prisoners out safely. Winnie offered the suggestion to set up fireworks she had made in a ruins further away to lure out the orcs and then while they were going off the group could head in. Aerluinil snuck forward while Winnie set up the fireworks with a three minute delay and a sequece that would give time and distraction. While climbing a nearby tower to try gain a look over the ruined town Aerluinil slipped and dropped down in front of a guard, a struggle took place but eventually she gained ground and killed the foe. Having to sneak around a little more to find the location of the prisoners she finally returned to where Winnie had now returned to Tars and Cwen.
The group now together the fireworks began to explode and commands could be heard. Orcs began running toward the other ruins across the water, leaving barely any behind. On entering the town, Aerluinil lead them through the streets. The destruction to the ruins by the orcs tormented both Aerluinil and Winnie, so by the time they found the four orcs guarding the prisoners, their blood boiled. Still they waited till Tars indicated that it was time to attack. On his command the four attacked, Winnie and Aerluinil dove in fast taking down the orcs before them, Tars narrowly avoiding beind taken down himself. Quick movements from the two women soon dispatched the two on Tars. Then the four took to the cages and dismantled them freeing the prisoners. Aerluinil then led them to safty to Nen Harn.
It was on the way to safety that Winnie saw the elven horse. She dropped off those she had with her to circle back, but that is a tale of a different making.
