Corlindel who was listening stands up and says:
"We can't let them enter here. It is a big risk. But I dont know if it is a good choice to make a surprise attack outside the castle.
We must assure that King Arvedui's army comes asap and surprising the orcs army. If we could manage a way to kill the orcs scouts maybe our allies can save us before an orc attack to the castle."
((Ush said that the orcs should attack if they knew that Arvedui's army was coming))
"I have no idea noble Argentis. Maybe some of our ranger companions may find a way to do it. It is to hard and difficult, but if we warn Arveduis army they could surprise and kill the scouts and arrive sooner.
The other choice is to wait and launch some sorties...Some of us could escaped then, but if not we must resist or find a way to keep this place doomed at the eyes of the orcs.
I dont agree with the ambush inside the castle. It is a big risk. To much dangerous to let them come inside."
Said Corlindel
Ah, some intelligent debate! That's the style, folks!
Ok, first of all, Baranar concurs that an offensive strategy is out of the question. There are over 1000 bad guys out there, and you can manage about a hundred at best. There is simply nothing effective you can do.
There is no such thing as a stealthy approach for the relieving army. This is something you need to understand about large forces- a small Fellowship like yours can travel fast and light. But armies need discipline, scouts, and a vast amount of supplies. Just think about the amound of food and water several thousand people eat and drink each day. The units need to maintain cohesion, and they need blankets and clothes and means for repairing things that break. They are slow and unwieldly and incredibly easy to spot. It's not a stealthy action.
'The relieving army fulfills a function for us by forcing the Orcs to act,' says Baranar, 'but it cannot save us. This fight, if it is to be won, must be won by us, here.'
"Well The Orc's Need to Eat, If we cut off their food we have gained a huge advantage. We need to force the Orc's to attack us weakened and with little chance. Scence they are goin to attack us anyway, I say We make it extreemly difficult for them to win. We Cut off their food and water. Also, If we could arrange for them to be distracted it would be best."
The army outside is living off the land- the Dunlendings do a good line in cattle rustling.
Unfortunately you have already attacked their supplies once and they are now well-guarded.
The fresh water supply eventually comes from the Brandywine to the west- but luckily it is an underground source (one of the reasons the fortress was built here) and so is secure. Food is a bigger worry but time will run out before food does.
"If there is nothing we can do to help the army to surprise the orcs I can't find another solution. I thought that maybe some of us could reach our allies before the orcs scouts and help Arvedui to kill them. But we dont know how much scouts that beasts have out there. It seems an impossible mission" Said Corlindel looking around " I dont know whats up in orcs mind, but if they dont attack while they think we are doomed, maybe the better shall be wait and recover our forces before the battle.
When they start to attack, we must interpretate as a sign that Arvedui's army is coming and not too far. That will help us to keep our faith to kill all the orcs we can." Corlindel eyes turned in two evil flames" I am ready for battle Lord Baranar!
It was definitely the black rain, and you have roughly 100 defenders; maybe a little short of that.
"Well, the fact is that we do not need to defeat this entire army," says Baranar. "These Orcs, like all Orcs, are cowardly, and they are not being personally commanded by any of the Witch-King's dread minions, or even his most senior Orcs- they are all near the front lines.
"Don't get me wrong, Orcs are determined and they will seek to finish their job, but only to a certain extent. They do not want to make an assault because, despite their numbers, they have no siege weaponry. They cannot smash down our walls or mine our fortifications. They can batter at the gates, and escalade the sides, but they will suffer many casualties when they do so.
"When they see the Arthedanian army coming, they will have two choices- flee, or finish the job there and then. What they will not do is commit suicide. If they finish the job and take this fortress, they will need to take it in sufficient strength so they can HOLD it. If they cannot hold it, then the Arnorian army will simply lay siege to this place again in turn, and destroy all of them!
"If the Orcs take this place in sufficient numbers, then there are far too many other pressing matters for the Arthedani to attend to for them to stay, but a weakened force they will happily take revenge on. And, assuming their leader is in any way competent- and whilst he might not be one of the Witch-King's top people, these Orcs have likely been sent a leader of some calibre- the Orcs will realise this.
"Therefore- if they think that during the assault that they will lose too many men in the process of taking this place... they will simply give up. I do not think they are willing to die for this mission, and it would be tactically foolish to destroy themselves so.
"The approaching army gives us this advantage. Come to a battle, we do not have to kill them all. We only have to fight hard enough to make it look like they will lose too many people in the assault!"