Gondor Gambolling 57: In which Gryfflet waves goodbye to Minas Tirith and to Epic Battles
10Gryfflet has been waiting on tenterhooks since our last session, standing before the Great Gate of Minas Tirith as the city burns around him, in case the invasion started without us. He takes us to meet Prince Imrahil who has been awaiting our arrival to help with the Defence of Minas Tirith, one of the Epic Battles that Gryfflet enjoys so much. We mount the walls in the company of Mithrandir whose job will be to inspire the defenders and keep them from despair while Gryfflet engages with the enemy. Initially there is some confusion as to what Gryfflet should be doing, but with the help of the ever-present peanut gallery he sets to attacking the siege towers that loom over the walls, destroying their grapnels and blowing them up with conveniently-placed powder kegs. As directed we move around the walls as various threats present themselves, occasionally venturing down to the streets, until this phase of the battle is complete and we move to defend the Gate against the great ram Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, which has been repaired since we vandalised it so long ago. Another Epic Battle ensues which progresses much the same as the first, although some of the mechanisms remain opaque, so Gryfflet consoles himself wreaking familiar havoc until the final confrontation before the Gate takes an unexpected turn. We are given the chance to catch our death and consider what just happens when a glitch means that we have to repeat the encounter, not helped by the paucity of travel options during the battle itself. The subsequent strange encounter leads to a stunning revelation leading Mithrandir to wonder what has been happening in Rohan. He therefore sends Gryfflet to find out. Pausing only to address a case of loose lips in the City Stables, Gryfflet sets out northwards where he finds the despatch rider who had been sent to Rohan, who wants us to warn the Rohirrim that the way is blocked. Pausing only to make sure that we have all the correct Quests lined up, Gryfflet crosses the river into Taur Drúadan ready to explore a new region.
"It's time for Epic Battles…I'm awesome at Epic Battles!"
"Oh, it's an enemy, not a thing!"
"It was nice of them to pack their own tower with gunpowder!"
"Boom! Oh yeah, that was rather satisfying!"
"I wouldn't want to get blown up in the middle of an Epic Battle or anything!"
"Beriadir seems to have this under control!"
"Remember when I was complaining they were ignoring me? Not complaining any more!"
"I don't mind doing this Instance more than once…I don't want to do it more than twice, I think, but OK!"
We were so busy with the Epic Battles that we didn't have time for any Lore Questions this session.