When returning to Clegur, I found the Mayor waiting for me together with one of his hunters and Menhildir. Before my tale could leave my lips, they reported that the hunter and his companion had caught an Uruk, and we quickly went to investigate.

Upon reaching the hunting ground, the other hunter thankfully still has the Uruk captive (despite us having to stop to kill some boards for meat, courtesy of the hobbit Hunters – the remaining hunter even inquired if we had indeed seen the boars!). We interrogated him as best we could, but was interrupted by more Uruks attacking, what we thought was to free the captive. After having defeated the interlopers, we discover that they had already suceeded in their objective, for it was not to free their comrade – but to silence him, something they had done with two Uruk arrows.

By his dying words, he mentions the name of their master – the Orcish version of Saruman, the same name the White Wizard bears. Troubled by this, Menhildir and I return to Mossward, to contemplate our next move.

The locals are arming themselves to the teeth to guard against the new threat – the dwarven smith having worked overtime to create extra swords – which I helped them distribute. They are all involved and interested, even if they do not realize what they are up against. While there is still some doubt to the orcs masters – if the worst was to happen, that indeed Saruman the White has sent them to attack Mossward, these poor villagers will stand little chance in the long run.

After discussing the matter with Menhildir, he informed me that he would go scouting for more signs of the Uruks purpose, and I will go scout towards the east – the likelyest route the orcs arrived from. In the hurry of it all, I think I might have neglected to tell Menhildir of the orc fortress out there, but I will probably have to investigate if their lessened number and siege capabilities have taken some of the fight out of them anyway.