Paeda of the Rohirrim
This is a tale of one of the TATW battles i recently played and thought you should hear of.
Paeda was not an important man. He only came to command any of the glorious Rohirrim through marriage into the ruling family - and even then it was only a few troops. When war broke out between the Kingdom of Gondor in the south and the Dark Lord's forces in Mordor, Paeda was given command of a small force of Riders and mounted archers sent to aid their allies in this hour of need. When Paeda arrived in Gondor he naturally sought out the Steward, Lord Denthor. However, Denethor was struggling for his life in a siege of Eastern Osgiliath, the hordes of orcs threatening to take the city and slaughter all those inside. Paeda rode straight to Osgiliath, the sight of the strong horses of the Rohirrim and the thunder of their hooves bringing cheers through the city torn by war. They first saw the Orcish force camped some way away from the city, devlisih equipment for the siege being prepared. Paeda commanded the Riders to tighten their bridle straps, sharpen their blades and string their bows, for the Riders of the Riddermark were going to war!
Paeda took account of his forces. Besides his own retinue of 32 men he had roughly 144 Riders of Rohan split into two squadrons, and 152 Mounted archers, split also into 2 squadrons. The orcish hoard numbered over 1200 filthy creatures, hate foaming their mouths and poisoning their tongues.
Paeda ordered one of his archer squadrons to his right flank, the other to his left. On his left, a hill and some foliage concealed his archers for the most part, while on the right open plain stretched away. This ensured the simple orcs would split their front to face Paeda with his Riders and the archers to the right.
Paeda sounded his horn, signalling for the riders to begin a trot. The archers on the right flank sped forward, spitting steel and death at the orcs, felling them in many numbers. The orcs, maddened by the wasp stings of the archers started sprinting towards the archers and the Rohrrim. Just then, Paeda sounded his horn another time, and the archers from the left burst forth from the trees and galloped towards the orcish force. The orcs, fright overtaking their bloodlust stopped running and thinking this a charge, turned to face this new threat. Once again, Paeda sounded his horn and his true masterplan was revealed. While the orcs had stupidly turned to face the archers from the left side and some chased those from the right, his centre force of Heavy cavalry charged towards the orcish horde. Thundering hooves tore up the earth, ululating and wooping men adding to the crashing charge. The charge was sounded, horses brought to the full gallop as the Riders of Rohan smashed into the unprotected flanks of the orc formations. Men stabbed and thrust with spears and swords, horses tore at flesh and kicked at the fiends, all the while arrows continued flickering and impaling orcs.
No army in middle-earth, let alone these cowardly creatures, could have withstood the charge. The orcs soon broke and fled eastwards towards mordor. The rohirrim, adrenalin pumping through their veins, high on the excitement of the charge, pursued them until only a ragtag mob of survivors were left. Denethor's garrison arrived unexpectedley at the closing of the battle, too far away to be of help, yet their sight was encouraging.
over 1000 orcs fell that day to Rohan steel. Paeda lost 12 brave warriors, three of which were from inadvertant friendly fire. Paeda's fame was sung across Gondor and Rohan, and he was Heralded as a hero of the light, a new saviour for the lands of men.
opinions would be so welcome guys. I am considering writing more of these, especially about Paeda and later, his fellow Generals who come to aid him.
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