Marching Towards Annuminas : Hold the Pass

The sun was wavering, shining whatever light it could through the smoky skies above. The forces of the Hand of Númenor with the combined armies of elves, dwarfs and the Dúnedain of Esteldin, banners flying in in the chilling breeze as they approached the chasm to Angmar. This is where the Remnants of Angmar would march through to begin their conquest, as they did against Arthedain so many years ago. The army looked upon the maw of evil. Minaiadan, the Commander of the combined army divided his force into two. He instructed Steward Hunhir Hithfaer of Esteldin to hold the east passage with his forces alongside the Dwarfs of Othrikar, whereas he would take the Hand of Numenor and the Elves, under the leadership of Heledhon of Lin Giliath, to hold the west passage. As the forces waited, the eerie silence was shattered by the rhythmic thuds of war drums that echoed through the chasm. The drums gave way to the sound of fast paces as packs of feral wargs and warg-riders, flying the banners of the iron crown, spilled onto the battlefield. The lines of the free-peoples braced themselves for the charge. The clatter of metal against metal, against wood, against flesh prevailed across the Nan Amlug plains. “Fall back, you maggots!”, an orc mounted atop a large black warg bellowed, presumedly their commander, realising that this force was not going to break the stubborn lines of the free peoples. As they fled, Hunhir and Minaiadan reorganised their lines, for from the chasm emerged a larger host; orcs, Hill-men and Angmarim marched out to meet them. They halted some ways from the entrance. A lone robed man walked forward. It was none other than the Angmarir Warlock that was causing trouble in Taur Gonwaith some two weeks ago. He returned with a vengeance and renewed will to crush this force. “You shall regret defying the will of Carn Dûm”, he called in a sinister tone, before unleashing his force upon the Free-Peoples. .

 The fighting was even fiercer than before as shields began to splinter from the heavy weapons being swung at them. Brave Men, dwarfs and elves began to fall. Heledhon, though brave in his final moments, met his end from an orcish axe, cleaving him almost in two. Red flames erupted through the lines as Hill-men launched fire bombs into the ranks of the defenders, injuring Scout-Captain Aledoras and a number of his men. Yet, still, these brave defenders fought on. In his frustration and anger, the Warlock unleashed his final force that would break the line for good; a group of brutish and horrific troll-like beings. They discarded their war drums and advanced upon the conflict. This would prove fatal to the Warlock; as he fell victim to the thunderous charge of the trolls. Their hammers carved through the lines, routing any soldier who would otherwise be crushed beneath them. Minaiadan looked upon the line giving a long blast of his war-horn, giving the command to hold the line before being incapacitated from his sustained wounds. After a long stalemate, Aledoras, and the forces of the Hand of Númenor finally broke through the Angmarim west flank, and their line began to crumble. Upon seeing this counterattack, Hunhir regrouped his troops and commanded one last assault upon the east line, felling one of the troll creatures and sending many orcs, Hill-men and Angmarim into a retreat. The tide had turned, and War-horns of the free peoples cried along the line striking fear into the remaining forces of Carn Dûm. The Hand of Númenor and Free-Peoples remained on the field of battle victorious. The cost of this victory had been heavy, though it was a victory that will serve as a reminder for how the combined forces of many can overcome a numerically superior foe