Marching Towards Annúminas - Chapter 3, Lone Lands

The Hand of Numenor was at last ready to set out and continue their march to Annuminas, but there was a brief matter that required their attention. Word was passed by the tavern keeper of the Forsaken Inn that the ruins of Minas Eriol had been occupied by some foreign force and Captain Belenir determoned they must be dislodged so as to provide some safety to the people of the Lone Lands. Captain Belenir took the initiative, in concert with the company's dwarven allies, to lead a small company through a secret tunnel in order to emerge in the midst of the faded citadel.

Within, the company encountered a host of Dourhand dwarves that were quickly dispatched but served as a cause for alarm amongst both the Hands of Numenor and their compatriots from the Blue Mountain Regiment and the Sons of Durin. After emerging in the heart of the Minas Eriol it was assumed the ruin was largely deserted and reports were false - indeed, some of the tombs of Arnorian lords of old had went largely untouched by any alleged occupying force. Then things took a turn for the worst. A host of goblins in league with the Dourhands attacked from the hills overlooking Minas Eriol where they had erected a small fastness! 

Urged on by a sense of duty, the attack was repelled and the fleeing goblins pursued to their fort. The company examined the ground for some time before determining that only a frontal assault would serve to dislodge the enemy. Belenir lead the charge into the heart of the enemy and within a profane idol to the Dark Lord was found, coruscating with some malevolent power. Thonin devised a plan to destroy the physical structure of the idol while Laurdril deduced the method in which the dark sorceries may be dispelled. After clearing the fort of goblins the plan was put into motion, defeating the works of Sauron's servants but forcing a quick withdrawal from the fastness. 

 Fleeing back to the tunnel from which they had emerged, the company was caught unawares at the last bridge by the remnants of the Dourhand's forces. Caught in a pincer assault, the dwarves, led by Snjorblom, sought to hold the bridge until Captain Belenir ordered their withdrawal - an order followed with some begrudging hesitation. In the last instant, as the bridge was brought down by the workings of Laurdril, the Captain stormed across to ensure that pursuit of the company would be fruitless. Left without the captain's guidance, the company was almost divided until Alvarwyn sought to fulfill his last wish and forced the alliance to withdraw back to the Forsaken Inn. Cutting a bloody swathe through the remnants of both goblin and Dourhand, the company arrived back at the Forsaken Inn only to be met by an agent of Gondor. Accused of acting without instruction, the company almost came to blows with the man until it was decided they would return to Minas Eriol to either save the captain or, at the least, recover his body for burial. Taking a brief moment of respite, they made plans to refit and rearm before gathering their strength to descend once more toward the ruins.