(Day 36). As the party were preparing to set out a woman was seen to approach the camp. Eldarion greeted her, she introduced herself as Niniel. She was quite attractive wearing tight leather amour and carrying a bow. Niniel seemed to know Eonan, Eonan started acting all shy. It transpired that Eonan had gotten drunk in Bree and told people about our plan to loot the Castle. Niniel had then followed the vague directions he had left. She asked to join the group. Eldarion tested her by having her fire at a tree, she seemed to know what she was doing. It was agreed that she could join and would receive an equal share.

The group hiked to the Castle in good time. The horses and gear were abandoned in the same area as before. As the group approached the castle from the trees they noticed an Orc guarding the door. They decided to try and sneak up and hit it with missile fire. Unfortunately they made too much noise and the Orc bolted inside screaming a warning. The company settled down to wait for a reaction from the Orcs.

A half hour passed without any activity. Growing impatient they arrayed themselves for battle. Eldarion, Eonan and Thorin started to march for the main gate. The others followed behind with missile weapons at the ready. Crossbow bolts rained down on the party but only Lars took any damage. A number of Orc were clearly waiting at the gates. Instead of running straight for gates the party head for the cover of the walls. Just as the reached the wall Eldarion took a hit in the side. He collapsed to the ground blood pouring from the wound.

Eonan and Thorin charged the main gate. As they burst into the courtyard they could see four orcs, two on the left, two on the right. Eonan attacked the two on the left. Orc#1 was waiting with a crossbow it fried and missed. Eonan got a minor hit on Orc#1. Thorin attacked the two on the right quickly smashing Orc#3's weapon arm. Orc#1 dropped his crossbow and drawing a scimitar also attacked Eonan.

Outside the keep Niniel ran to Eldarion and started applying bandages and healing him. Dwalin and Lars headed up to the main gate. Inside combat continued fairly ineffectually for a time. Thorin managed to break the left arm of Orc#4 but it continued to fight. Orc#3 had retreated back to a tower, its broken arm dangling uselessly. Dwalin charged Orc#1, Orc#2 scored a good hit on Eonan knocking him out. Dwalin crushed the hip of Orc#1 sending it out of the fight.

The fight continued, Lars entered the courtyard and carefully placed down his bow reluctant to join in hand to hand. He then stood there and stab at the Orc with the broken hip which lay helpless on the ground. Thorin smashed his warhammer through the ribcage of Orc#4 but weakened form bloodloss he also collapsed to the ground. Lars and Dwalin continued to fight the final Orc. Dwalin fell worn out by many minor strikes. Niniel joined in the combat but was knocked out cold by a strike to the head. Lars desperately tried to kill the Orc the fate of the entire party resting on his shoulders. With a mighty strike he fumbled his spear, the weapon broke beneath him and he tripped over it. His impact with the ground rendered him unconscious and sealed the fate of the party.