Moonrise stains the forest silver as Tuiwen and her picked archers reach the next stage. Behind them, prisoners and wounded scouts travel under guard toward the beacon.
Ahead, the eastern road glimmers between black trunks. Tauriel remains with the eastern guard at the beacon, while Thranduil holds the reserve and watches the sealed mountain roads.
The Picked Archers
The ridge fires are moving. The host has begun its descent.
Far south, orange points kindle beneath the broken ridge, one after another. Horns answer through Dol Guldur’s darkened forest, drawing the assault toward the eastern road.
The Picked Archers
The next hollow is narrow, but the main host will reach it before the beacon line. We can still take the advance guard there.
The waxed map shows concealed approaches converging on the road, while the marked retreat leads back toward Tauriel’s archers. No path turns toward the spring or heartstone ward.
The Picked Archers
Give the word, Tuiwen. We are ready to vanish into the trees and meet the first ranks where the ground closes.
“"We have captured the enemy's plans, and that is a great thing, but our small group cannot defeat the orcs by itself. We will continue according to plan." She sends a few elves back with the prisoners and the wounded and instructions to give the orc's map directly to Tauriel, Then the rest begin their wait at the staging point.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Tuiwen
Take the prisoners and wounded back to Tauriel. Give her the waxed strip directly, and tell her we continue according to plan.
The order carries royal authority without needless alarm. Tuiwen’s Sovereign Heritage makes the archers listen, while Protector of the Kin turns every prisoner and wounded scout into a duty of safe return.
Her Oath-Bound restraint keeps the message narrow and truthful: no boast, no reckless pursuit, and no claim beyond the captured plans. The waxed signal strip makes the warning tangible and immediately useful.
Tuiwen's Picked Archers
We will place the map in Tauriel’s hands and bring the prisoners and wounded safely behind the beacon line.
Three elves depart with the captives, wounded scouts, and waxed strip secured separately for Tauriel. Their retreat follows the marked path without turning toward the spring, heartstone ward, or sealed mountain roads.
The remaining archers settle into the narrow staging hollow. Fern and stone conceal their bows as moonlight advances, and the forest holds its breath before the greater host reaches the eastern road.
Behind them, the beacon continues to burn; ahead, the enemy’s plan is known and the Woodland Realm’s defense remains joined. Tuiwen waits with her band, concealed, prepared, and faithful to the chosen design.
The three elves slipped away beneath the boughs, bearing the prisoners, the wounded scouts, and Tuiwen’s waxed signal strip toward the beacon.
Tuiwen
Hold until the hollow takes them. Then loose together.
Around her, bowstrings settled into waiting hands. Beyond the trees, horns called and firelight crawled down toward the eastern road.
Tuiwen
The beacon stands. The ward holds. Let the dark come to us.
Tuiwen and the remaining archers vanished into the staging hollow as Dol Guldur’s advance descended toward the beacon line. Tauriel received the warning, the wounded, and the prisoners, while Thranduil kept watch over the sealed mountain roads. Behind them, the spring and heartstone ward remained undisturbed, and the eastern defenses held beneath the rising moon.