Moondog: Carn Dum Carnage! [pt. 2] Anatomy of a Beat-Down

Down in the slave pits of Carn Dum, Angmarim, Pale Folk, and Trolls alike slave away in the vile industry of Angmar. The water here is so poluted it glows green and is so toxic that any adventurer who steps one foot in it will overcome and defeated from disease, poison, and dread. What's even more terrifying, though, is that some abominations thrive in this vile spew.

The taskmasters of the slaves are generally patrolling Uruks. These are the fierces warriors of Orc-kind. They may seem from their posture and intelligence less bestial than their less-developed kin, but they are in fact the most barbaricly monstrous fighters to be found in Middle Earth.

This Uruk Lieutenant tried to stop our attempts to free slaves from their prisons in the work area. He found out that despite his skill at combat, the Council's duty was more righteous than his, and we would see it done. Man Guardian Bryandt, Dwarf Champion Gonhsar, and Woman Champion Kaelin drive the point home.

Hobbit Minstrel Moondog sings a song of courage and battle that motivates our heroes to strike with more strength and do more damage with their melee attacks.

Kaelin's blow connects first as the Uruk spins around to respond to Bryandt's taunt. Meanwhile, Gonhsar winds up a double-helping of whoopass.

Gonhsar's fury lands on the Uruk's back, clobbering him a good one. Bryandt brings his spear round for a bite.

The powerful but slow Uruk sets to swing his mace at Bryandt's helmet while Gonhsar and Kaelin reset their fighting stance to strike again. Bryand sees the opening the Uruk has left in his defense.

Bryandt drives his spear into the Uruks gut. Kaelin quickly pounces.

The Uruk is completely harried and overwhelmed. Our heroes quickly finish him off.

As soon as he is smote, another charges in, trying to catch us unprepared. He is met with the combined force of all our warriors, delivered in one fellowship maneuver of ultimate power and precision. His world is rocked to it's evil core!

THAT made him mad! He unleashes a terrible frenzied battle cry to try to unnerve and unsettle our heroes. But they do not waver, and he is ultimately defeated like all the monsters before him.

Moondog: Carn Dum Carnage! [pt. 1]

Looking out from the Ranger enclave of Garth Forthnir the grim desolation of the Witch-King can be seen in the wastes of Angmar. We must march now on Carn Dum and see if we may depose the King's Steward, Mordirith, who still plagues these lands in his master's absence.

It is a long road into the city. Our first view upon exiting the wilderness is a long uphill road towards Carn Dum proper. Images of the terrible spectacle of fell armies of Orcs and Trolls and even worse marching endlessly out of this evil city's throat are enough to quake the hearts of our heroes, yet compel us further in. Woman Champion Kaelin, Man Guardian Bryandt, Dwarf Champion Gonhsar, Hobbit Minstrel Meijha, Elf Lore-Master Gorandir, and Hobbit Minstrel Moondog charge to their destiny!

The road has watchers. Mighty trolls and wicked Men try to waylay our advance. Dwarven Champion Gonhsar narrowly avoids the giant beast's mace blow. Cobble stones are kicked up by the impact. Brayndt and Kaelin charge in while Gorandir conjures some scientific machination to turn the tables.

This troll keeps the first gate to the city with power and rage. But, he is no match for the righteous fury of the Council of the Secret Fire! Man Guardian Bryandt and Gonshar harry him.

We make our way into the outskirts of the accursed capital city of the Enemy. Gorandir and his Eagle Companion Zorandir hurry to meet his friends in the deadly square.

This street is guarded by Goblins. Extremely tough little bastards! It takes even Woman Champion Kaelin, Gohnsar, and Bryandt a while of wailing on this one to continue on our way.

Kaelin et al. are surrounded by the gnarly Goblins. They don't have much trouble plowing through.

The wonders of the world never cease! The fellowship's quest is so righteous, and their might so noble, that an Oath-Breaker spirit choses this moment to redeem his wretched soul and aid our cause to defeat the Orcs of Angmar!

The closer we get to the city proper the more vicious terrors we encounter! At the imposing gates of Carn Dum this behemoth guardian provides the ultimate defense!

Of course... the Beast was no match for us in the end...

To be continued!

Moondog: Haudh Iarchith

My posts frankly won't be as finely hand-crafted as Rav's. I plan to just info and image dump on y'all. Hope that works out for ya. ;-}

Well yesterday old Moondog Shewsbane, Hobbit Minstrel by trade and Councilman of the Secret Fire, took a trip with some of his kinmates to one of the deepest, darkest, dreadfullest dungeons in the acursed Barrow Downs: Haudh Iarchith

The Barrow Downs were the great battlefields and then later burrial grounds of the hubric heathen kings of ancient Eriador. These were men but not Men of the west. Their avarice drew their mighty kingdoms down in corruption and conflict and now here they lie, damned to forever haunt their elaborate tombs.

You can gain reputation with the Men of Bree faction by cleansing fell places such as this on the fringes of their homeland and bringing back relics by which to remember the solemn history of the region.

At any rate... here's a taste of the unpleasant but dramatic and daring adventure we had. (click images for larger size)

I swear it was a bright sun-shiney day trapsing over the farmland of Bree to get to the Barrow Downs... now everything seems so bleak.


In the midst of the dark tunnels of ancient kings, Dwarven Hunter Buldori keeps a keen eye and a quick trigger finger for what evils lurk in the shadows.


In a grand chamber our party is accosted by the wights who were once great men, trapped too long in unending horror of their own greed and obsession. Elven Lore-Master Gorandir, followed by his faithful Raven companion charge down this stairway to aid our Champions in combat.

A whole section of catacombs has been overrun not by the dead, but infested by another ancient evil, giant spiders. Woman Champion Kaelin (she knows how to swing that big-ol' axe!) takes on this one while Elven Champion Zenaidura squishes another and Hobbit Hunter Jesla plinks away!


Where does this stair lead? An unfinished and flooded tomb? What horrors lurk down here?