The Forest Perimeter

[Alcorad]

Deep within the bowels of Khazad-dum, there stirred a new threat. Already the goblins were war mongering but there were far more sinister designs at hand than mere numbers of war. Outside the Dimrill Gate, where Erebor's forces waited, came the slow groan of the Drimrill Doors, the dust unsettling from its surface and drifting into the air as the steady march of goblins sounded. One by one, two by two, three by three, the numbers never ceased to come from the gate and onward they went passing by the Erebor forces stationed at their threshold.

At their head were two dark figures robed in a black riding cloak. They were mounted upon Fell Steeds of foreboding proportions and skeletal faces with eyes of red, like small flames alive within an empty socket filled with shadow.

From the sides of the host came strange banners not like those of Moria and Mordor. These were of Angmarian design, created by the Goblin Shamans at the command of the higher power. Their authenticity was almost genuine for they were made with such precision and skill that not even the orcs of Angmar themselves could make a better replica.

The Goblins turned sharply North towards Angmar, keeping close to the eastern slopes. When they were a good distance away from Lorien they turned east and then sharply down towards the South. They couldn't come from the West. They would draw far too much suspicion to their point of origin and so they came the way that those they were attempting to mirror.

Slowly as they came upon the northern perimeters of the forest, they began to chant. Some brandishing torches, others with blades, and some with bows came upon the eaves of the realm and began to wreak havoc humming lyrics of old Angmarian war chants that were once used by the famed Men of Carn Dum.

Alcorad turned to Jadyis with a dangerous smirk as the pernicious goblins began run into the forest, dispersing around the trees with torches in hand so that they might overwhelm the elves. "So our rouse begins." he said malevolently.

[Jadyis]

Jadyis smirked at Alcoards words as she watched the Goblins run through the trees there tourched held on high, such beauty here....and such beauty they would surely destroy.

"How long do you suppose it will take the Elves to react? Minutes....seconds?" she asked with a malicious smile turning back towards the direction where already cries of surprise could be heard and tries were already alight "Ameteurs" she murmured under her breath holding out a hand that burst into flame at her will, Once the Goblins had began the havoc she would join, for sleeping elves were of no challenge to her.

[Faron]

An Elven Warden dropped down from a tree, spearing a goblin with his sword while others picked up their bows. Lorien was always awake. Lorien was always strong. Lorien was never to be defiled. Quickly a signal was sent to Lord Ashuron, who would be there within mere minutes with the might of Lothlorien at his back. A large reflecting mirror was shone in the direction of the Council Chambers, a quick and easy way of alerting all of the woods to the dangers entering them. The arrows flew from what seemed like nowhere, as if the trees had learned to exhale the arrows themselves.

[Alcorad]

(btw this isnt a seige, just a fun little skirmish. lol figured i'd entertain you)

Alcorad smiled and urged his beast forward, idly trotting through the forest amidst the disarray. Here and there the skilled elven archers would expose themselves just enough to fire a volley of flaming arrows upon the oncoming elves. The arrows dart through the trees, planting themselves firmly in their neck or pass into the autumn foliage to wreak further havoc upon the forest. This most heinous of crimes was to be done for a reason. To turn Lorien's attention toward Angmar.

The goblins tossed created a long trail of leaves in the center of the path as the other elves were being drawn toward opposite locations by various congregations of goblins on either side of the forest paths. As the reinforcements moved through the trees towards the hysteria, a goblin leapt from the branches of a nearby Mallorn and dropped a burning torch upon the dead foliage. Flames leapt up high, their fiery tongues lapping at the branches above. There was a wall of flame around the elves and then as they made for a clearing, another trap of the same design was set. Their options were becoming less and less.

[Jadyis]

Jadyis moved through the Goblins, Admiring there viciousness and work. Alcoard had trained them well. Casually she picked up a flower from a garden that had not yet been trampled by the Goblins clumbsy and random movement. Smiling as the flower was momentairly engolfed in flames and soon vanished, Jadyis laughed maliciously and tossed it aside where its remains began another small fire that would soon grow.

Moving through the homes she ran her hands along surfaces and anything that she touched that was able to ignite quite easily did so.

[Faron]

Ashuron's wolf leaped through the air, knocking a goblin over to the ground while viciously biting its head off. Behind it stood it's master, Lord of Lorien. He ran his twin swords through the goblin's body smearing them with the vile creatures blood. He was amused. Not at the burning forests, but at the small force that their enemy had sent to attack them. Nothing short of all of Middle-Earth together would pull Lorien from him as far as he was concerned. With a word from him, the Elves were still, and then with another word, the forest erupted in battle again. A unit of cavalry was sent off to the River Celebrant to bring water to do what little they could to back down the fires. Lorien's infantry and cavalry joined the wardens in their battle.

[Alcorad]

The goblins crept behind trees in three or four groups of five to every single elven group of twenty five or so. As the warriors of Lorien tried to find their way through the smoke to where their enemies were, their dark shapes became clear through the fumes and the goblins unleashed flurries of poisoned arrows into their hearts and necks. They had moved onto phase two, eliminate the border patrol.

Fear was coming upon the elves as dark shadows moved among the smoke surrounding them. Only a fleeting glance was usually gained as the goblin enemy passed behind the burning Mallorn trees. The battle field became quiet. The keen ears and eyes of Ashuron's men worked furiously and at the first faint grunt of their foes, one of the elves unleashed an arrow into the goblins neck. His comrades looked towards the origin and from the other side came a volley of poison tipped arrows carrying whispers of doom to those it came into contact with.

The numbers around the elves were growing as the piles of leaves were pressed further around them, closing the gaps and working the elven armies into one congregation. Barricades of fires were working them into a cramped single unit, slowly but surely.

[Faron]

Ashuron's twin blades flashed in return to the fire's light, giving hope to his elves. "Where's your master?" he roared, charging into a group of goblins and destroying a few of them with one slice apiece. "Who dares assault my woods?" The Warden's Captain scaled a tree in a few seconds, nocking four arrows to his bow, and raining death upon four goblins beneath the tree. Several infantry formed a line and charged the goblins. The neigh of horses rose above the din and a large amount of water from several cavalry-elves was poured upon the fire, dousing it in a small section to allow the elves a means of escape, which they took quickly so that they could regroup.

[Alcorad]

As the elves made their way from the ring of fire in close quarters, a volley of arrows was ordered to be fired upon them. From the smoke darted many small black shafted arrows of the goblin hordes, laced with poison. The elves turned about as the shadows moved forward. The goblins were going into a skirmish formation. Their green, cat-like eyes dilated even in the smoke as their sights were set upon their prey. After the first volley they notched their arrows and prepared to fire once more but a massive shadow caused them to falter in their strike.

The forest became silent as the great Fell Steed slowly walked out into the clearing, fires burning all around them. Smoke veiled the sky and the scenery consisted of lapping walls of flame. It was the perfect setting in which to make Alcorad's entrance. Twas a pity that he wouldn’t be revealing his own identity. "You ask who I am, Lord Elf, and I shall bestow upon you an answer. I am the Lord Morsereg Dindaedel, Dark Lord of this Middle Earth."

[Faron]

Several more of the Elves fell to the goblins poisoned arrows, but Elves were of strong character, and would fight the venom as long as possible to protect their woods. "Why are you wasting your time with words? Anyone who burns my woods can call themselves Dead for all that I care. Arken!" At the sound of his name and a hand gesture from Ashuron, Arken rushed forward to knock over the mount of the so-called Morsereg and thus drop him onto the ground. At the same time, the Elves of Lorien moved backwards, forming a group away from the burning trees, while at the same time more Elves brought in buckets of water, throwing them upon the fire.

[Alcorad]

Alcorad thrusted his arm upward with tremendous strength, the blow sinking deep into the wolf's gut. A piercing howl sounded above the chaos and Ashuron looked with a wary eye upon his faithful companion. Alcorad was holding the creature in the air with one arm. The beast's head was drooped down and its body was limp. The Lord of Defile pressed one of his arms firmly against the dry earth below him and propped himself up, rising to his feet. With the beast firmly in his grasp he slammed it hard against the earth and unceremoniously unsheathed his sword. He smirked in lust for carnage and plunged the blade into the beast's heart, red blood seeping around the incision, slowly rising to the surface and matting the wolf's fur. As the blade as pulled from the flesh, the sound of steel cutting against bone made itself known to the elven lord and clawed at his mind as the most terrifying sound he had ever heard. Alcorad stood seemingly ascetic above the beasts trembling frame but from the shadows of his riding cloak he flashed a cruel smile of satisfaction to Ashuron and retreated into the smoke as if a fading image disappearing onto the horizon, his body silhouetted by flame. The shadows began to disperse and silence overtook all of fair Lorien. Their attackers had gone. The message had been delivered.

(the wolf dont have to be dead if you dont want it to since he is like your pet, just so ya know im not implying that he was killed. he can be if you want some sadness in Ashuron's life but... ya know. lol)

[Faron]

OOC: I'm still trying to decide if I want Arken dead or not, so I'll leave that up in the air for a little while

Ashuron was overcome with fury, a greater fury than had consumed him in the Citadel of Minas Tirith whence he had dueled the King, a greater fury than he had wielded fighting Valdrik at Erebor, and there was nothing to channel it to. So Ashuron stood amidst the burning woods, which were being quickly doused to save what was left, and burned himself up inside with the fury.

"Have the army prepare for war," Ashuron said, his eyes burning for justice, "For this Dark Lord of Middle-Earth hath defile both my Woods and my greatest friend."

"My Lord, my brother, please, see reason," the Warden Captain said, coming down from his place in a tree, "Our forces have all suffered loses, and they cannot march now, and we can never break through Angmar alone with only our own army. Also, to reach Angmar, we would have to cross direly near Moria or Arnor, both of which it seems are unfriendly to say the least."

Ashuron sneered. "Then I shall go alone, sneak into the Dark Lord's keep, and murder him!"

"Again, I must beg you to see reason. That task would be impossible. In addition, Arken may yet live, if given our medicine," Edwen Leadbow, Captain of Lorien's Warden's and brother to the Lord pleaded.

"Very well then. Fulfill your duty as current Prince of Lorien. Take the swords of the fallen to the Glade and take Arken to our medics. I shall go -alone- to Cerin Amroth and ponder my hatred of Angmar. If they have not killed Arken, then they have certainly descecrated Lorien's Woods, and that alone should equal a death sentence upon them." With that, Ashuron left towards Lorien's center, to Cerin Amroth, and Edwen took the swords of the fallen elves to Lorien's burial glade, while medics rushed to apply the fabled Elvish potions and leaves to not only Arken's wounds but to the wounded soliders as well.