Here in the 5th Age of Middle Earth, the old King Elessar (Aragorn) sits unmoving upon his Golden Throne in Minas Tirith. He hasnt spoken or responded for hundreds of years. Some say he is a living corpse-god. His mind, if it still exists, has shattered into a million fragments, some say. The priests proclaim in public that he still lives and is in the deepest of meditation. All of his will - focused on seeking out the Golden Path - the best greatest destiny for men, elves, and hobbits too! In the Chamber of the White Tower, the Illuminati - a council of wizards and generals formulate their plans and keep the Empire of Gondor functioning. It is by their command that heroes and armies are sent on missions around Middle Earth. Today, they have been called into an emergency council meeting. The fires of the Beacon Hills have been lit! Rohan calls for aid! This happened before, in another age, when it was Gondor who lit them to call for Rohan's aid. As they argue about what should be done, a powerful psychic command is heard sponataneously in everyone's mind. Not just in the chamber, but in the entire city! King Elessar sits unmoving upon his throne, but his mind has spoken and it says, "ROHAN CALLS FOR AID... AND GONDOR WILL ANSWER!"
Everywhere in the city, the people cry out, "King Aragorn lives! The King has spoken! We will ride forth in the name of this quest!"
~~~
Rohan is being invaded by Mythos creatures under the command of Nyarlathotep. So the industries of Gondor have been placed on wartime alert and this post shows what reinforcements have been made to the armies of the West...
The latest technological innovations are ready to be used in warfare. Blackpowder weapons have been manufactured in the forges of Nuln and troopers from Altdorf to Kings Landing, from Baldurs Gate to Belfalas have been trained in their use. Behold, the Imperial Guard Handgunners.
Their uniforms are stained with the colour of soot and the odour of phosphor. A mysterious fraternity born out of smoke and danger of death.
They march in their attack columns doggedly towards the enemy. War is waged only with vigor, decision, and unshaken will; they do not grope or hesitate.
A soldier must learn to love his profession, must look to it to satisfy all his tastes and his sense of humor. That is why handsome uniforms are useful.
And here we have The Imperial Guard Dragoons! Mounted on their steeds (Slaaneshi steeds? Shhh.... dont tell the Inquisitors. These steeds have been broken in and are no longer in the service of those Dark Gods!)
So maybe once these creatures were in the employ of the Dark God of Pleasure. But now, they are loyal steeds who love nothing more than to charge at the enemies of their riders.
Sometimes they do lick and nuzzle Chaos Warriors and Warp creatures instinctively when no one is looking.
Cmon, that dont make you a bad person. And anyway, the forces of Gondor needs all the help it can get these days. We can overlook these moments of weakness and impropriety!
Here we have a mounted commander leading his fusiliers with gusto.
And here is another new cavalry type from the city of Dol Amroth in Belfalas.
Are those... meat-eating... uh, meatasauruses? They show extreme intelligence, even problem-solving intelligence. Life always finds a way!
A Raptor Rider. Everything is better with dinos, right? The Valar create dinosaurs. The Valar destroy dinosaurs. The Valar creates man. Man destroys the Valar. Man creates dinosaurs. Dinosaurs eat man. Woman inherits Middle Earth!
And here he is leading his troop of spearmen - the Myrmidon Guard of Dol Amroth. Prepare for hedgehog formation! Hoo-ah!
The Spearmen of Dol Amroth are another new troop type available. In battle, they are ready to brace for impact with a hedge wall of pointy sticks.
They have the Weapon Reach ability and can attack from one rank behind a friendly. So put them behind your fellow soldiers to increase damage output!
So the Age of Pike and Shotte has come to the Moria Reclamation Project.
And just in time! The forces of Nyarlathotep the Crawling Chaos has spilled into the world from within the depths of Moria. Rohan is bearing the brunt of the invasion so far - its defenses are holding at Isenford for the moment. While Gondor's armies move to help secure Rohan defenses, the White Tower also sees an opportunity for a smaller force to go to Moria itself and cut the head off the tentacle, so to speak!
The astromancers of the White Tower have spotted a strange beacon high atop the peaks of Khazad Dum - at the highest peaks of Zirakzigil. The White Tower has decided to send an expedition to investigate it and determine if it is a threat or perhaps... an opportunity.
This mission promises to be a great first test of Gondor's new forces. A small army is chosen and provisioned. And to lead them...
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To lead them, Goldberry and her team has been chosen for this mission...
Goldberry: Ok folks, listen up! We got a mission, and we have 2 new recruits with us...
Bulldog: We are hardly "new guys". Verbal here has killed more men than small pox. And I happen to know the Riddle of Steel...
Zoltar: Sorry buddy, rules are rules. Your still one of the new guys. No one cares about the new guys. The unwritten rule is a new guy's life isn't worth as much 'cause he hasn't put his time in yet.
Goldberry: Anyway, heres new guys and we got a new mission in.... Zirakzigil? Some place in the boonies.
Zoltar: Hmmm, my Middle Earth geography and history is spotty, but isnt this the place where Gandalf killed the Balrog about 2 ages back? Something about smiting his ruin upon the mountain and whatnot? What if the Balrog isnt really dead? Just mostly dead? And if it IS dead, how do we know it will stay dead? Do those things even die?
Goldberry: IF Gandalf killed it properly, then it must be dead. Although... I suppose there must be a reason why the White Tower sent an army with us. Some great and terrible evil awaits us there.
Verbal: I dont want to meet a Balrog sized threat on my first outing with the team. But having an army with us is a little bit comforting, no? *looking around* Do you think we brought enough people?
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