'We have come part of the way, Player, but there is a long way to go yet; the Drownholt is perilous, and while Raddir has chosen our road with care, we must still use caution. The rest of the Hidden Guard have gone on ahead, for we cannot move as a group if we are to maintain our secrecy. You will bring Mazog to the members of our company, further ahead in the fen.
'Did you hear that? Something approaches! I will leave the coordination of our attack in your hands; shout your commands of me by this banner, and we will repel whatever evil approaches! My talents are for the restoration of morale and power, though they will be of no use for our prisoner. Do not let Mazog sustain injury!'1/1
1 Speak to(Show dialog)
'We have come part of the way, Player, but there is a long way to go yet; the Drownholt is perilous, and while Raddir has chosen our road with care, we must still use caution. The rest of the Hidden Guard have gone on ahead, for we cannot move as a group if we are to maintain our secrecy. You will bring Mazog to the members of our company, further ahead in the fen.
'Did you hear that? Something approaches! I will leave the coordination of our attack in your hands; shout your commands of me by this banner, and we will repel whatever evil approaches! My talents are for the restoration of morale and power, though they will be of no use for our prisoner. Do not let Mazog sustain injury!'1/1
2 Enter areaUse the banner of the Golden Host to issue support commands to Issuriel1/1
Special conditionCLEAR_CAMP1/1
4 Speak to(Show dialog)
'We have done well to repel the creepers of the Drownholt, Player, but there will be more, I am sure of it. We must protect Mazog from their barbs and grasping tendrils, though our hearts be not fully in it!
'Make certain his shackles are secure, and travel forward with him through the swamp. Cúcheron should be just ahead.'1/1
Special conditionESCORT1/1
6 Speak to(Show dialog)
'The passage so far has gone smoothly, but our fortunes in this miserable swamp can change in a moment, if we let down our guard; so we must not!
'If you stand by this banner and shout your commands for me, I can provide support in battle. Arrows I let fly from Cúmaeth can slow the attack speed of our foes or make difficult their movement; additionally, I can pepper our enemies with such a flight of shafts that their general defences are broken.
'Use this banner of the Malledhrim during battle to tell me which of these tactics you desire!'1/1
7 Enter areaUse the banner of the Golden Host to issue support commands to Cúcheron1/1
Special conditionCLEAR_CAMP1/1
9 Speak to(Show dialog)
'I have not seen creatures of that sort within a league of Lothlórien, Player. They fill me with disgust. Still, we triumphed over them, and Cúmaeth has many arrows left in reserve.
'There is a tunnel just ahead; it lies upon the route Raddir selected for us. I do not wish to bring Mazog through there until we know it be clear.
'I will stay here and guard Mazog. Enter the tunnel and clear it of any dangers and then return here to me. Then you can bring the Orc safely through the tunnel.'1/1
10 Speak to(Show dialog)
'The tunnel is just to the north-east, Player. Clear it of dangers and then return to me. I will remain here and guard Mazog until your return.'(Show dialog)
You explain Cúcheron's desire that you clear the tunnel of dangers before bringing Mazog through it, and Raddir nods.
'That is a good idea; the creepers here remained asleep for Sigileth and I to pass through, but of course Mazog would have sought to awaken them at the worst possible moment! Cúcheron is perhaps more canny than I gave him credit for being!'
Raddir seems to think for a moment, and then haltingly begins.
'I came back here because I thought I saw... I thought I saw someone I knew, Player... a friend. But it could not be, for this friend... this friend has not walked this way for many a year and has since gone where none may follow.
'If I did not know better, I would have sworn it was he. But here there is nothing but creepers. It was a trick of the light, my error in the dim.'1/1
11 Speak to(Show dialog)
'The tunnel is clear? Good. I fought off some more fen-lizards, but it was nothing I could not handle with Cúmaeth.
'Ensure that Mazog's shackles are secure and bring him through the tunnel. You should have no more problems.'1/1
Special conditionESCORT1/1
13 Speak to(Show dialog)
'According to Raddir, this is the mid-point of Râd Cened, the road he has chosen for us to take through the Drownholt. You are lucky, Mazog, that we have need of you alive! Were it my decision to make, or Achardor's, you would be slain already and left to rot within one of the foetid pools of this swamp!'
Mazog says nothing, and Sigileth continues.
'This banner of the Golden Host will allow you to select a support role for me to use during battle, Player. I can draw the life-blood of our foes with Lanchigil and Egnassigil or provide you with morale or power support. It is up to you.'1/1
14 Enter areaUse the banner of the Golden Host to issue support commands to Sigileth1/1
Special conditionCLEAR_CAMP1/1
16 Speak to(Show dialog)
'We have done well to repel these attacks, Player. Ensure that Mazog's shackles remain secure and bring him further into the Drownholt.
'You will encounter Raddir next along Râd Cened. Give him my thanks for planning this route. We have done well to weather its dangers, and Mazog's presence is still a secret to the Orcs of Mirkwood.'1/1
Special conditionESCORT1/1
18 Speak to(Show dialog)
You call his name and try to get a response from the Elf, but it is already too late: Raddir is dead.
There are no signs of a struggle or any mark of injury that you can see, but despite that puzzle, one thing is clear: the Hidden Guard has lost one of its own.1/1
19 Speak to(Show dialog)
'What a delight! Look how fall the Elves that seek to imprison me, one by one. Perhaps you will be next, Player, ${RACE} that deserves it so!
'So end all enemies of Mazog, Lord of Caves! No shackles can bind me forever, and if my hands be bound let my legs carry me to the allies that must have done this, the allies that even now seek to free me from bondage!
'Ho, Orcs of my distant kin! You seek to free Mazog, and he will be free with the rewards of generosity!'1/1
'We cannot talk here, Player. We have blocked the Orc's escape, but now we must gather the rest of the Hidden Guard and devise a new plan. Without Raddir....'
Achardor's face is a storm-cloud of emotions. He brings himself under control, but it is clearly an effort.
'We must rejoin the Malledhrim. There is a village called Audaghaim among the Dourstocks. The plan was for the main body of the Malledhrim to use it as a supply point before advancing further into Mirkwood. We must go there and discuss what is to be done.'1/1
22 Speak to(Show dialog)
'The memory of our desperate journey overland out of the Drownholt is a hazy one, Player, but we have arrived at Audaghaim. It is a place for us to lick our wounds, though not all our wounds can be healed, here or anywhere.
'I cannot believe Raddir is gone! Can our mission have failed even as it begins?
'I will sharpen my blade. It may drink the blood of our prisoner soon, once we see wisdom and abandon this foolhardy errand.'1/1
23 Speak to(Show dialog)
'This journey has already cost us a great deal, Player, and with every loss, it becomes more difficult to keep this wretch alive!
'I cannot stand to look at him. To tally up the pain he has already cost us would take a long while already, and I worry he is not done adding to it!
'Let us leave this cellar for now. Achardor will watch him... and Sigileth and the others will watch Achardor.'1/1
