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Helm's Dike
"The rampart across Helm's Dike will be the first line of defence. But for how long will it hold?"
Background
Saruman's forces march toward the fortress of Helm's Deep. Only one barrier stands in the way of Saruman's armies: the rampart of Helm's Dike, built across the trench through which Saruman's forces must pass. If the gate is broken, the green expanse before the wall will be laid bare to Rohan's approaching foes.
Objective 1
- Talk to Thenca atop Helm's Dike
Thenca stands atop Helm's Dike, awaiting your attention.
- Thenca: 'What did you say your name was? <name>?
- 'Gamling asked me to bring these bolts to the forward ballista. Will you aid me? Quickly now!'
Objective 2
- Pick up one of the ballista bolts near Thenca
Thenca, one of the Rohirrim defenders of Helm's Dike, has asked for your help carrying bolts to the forward ballista.
- Thenca says, "If you are a friend to Rohan, you will pick up one of those bolts!"
- Carry the bolt to the forward ballista
- Thenca says, "Follow me, <name>."
- Cenric says, "Right here, right here!"
Objective 3
- Talk to Cenric at the forward ballista
Cenric accepted the bolts you and Thenca brought to the forward ballista, but he wears a worried expression, and his face is lined with fear.
- Cenric: 'What good will these bolts do for us? I have never seen so many Orcs before in all my life. These bolts cannot slay more than three or four at a time, and that only if our aim is unfailing!
- 'My wife and my daughter shelter in the caves behind the Deep, but for how long can we keep the orcs at bay?'
Objective 4
- Fight alongside Cenric at Helm's Dike
Cenric accepted the bolts you and Thenca brought to the forward ballista, but he wears a worried expression, and his face is lined with fear.
- Cenric says, "Our foes are so many, and we are so few!"
- Cenric says, "I will slay as many Orcs as I can, but it will not be enough!"
- Thenca says, "And yet it must be, Cenric."
- Thenca says, "Are we not men of Rohan?"
- Cenric says, "Aye, that we are, Thenca."
Above the din you hear the sound of someone calling for you
- Cenric says, "Gamling needs our help! Follow me!"
- Gamling says, "Orcs advance on the eastern side! This way!"
- Gamling says, "<name>! To me!"
Objective 5
Gamling has called for you at the eastern side of Helm's Dike.
- Gamling: 'We need to get to the other side of the Dike, <name>!'
Objective 6
- Follow Gamling to the far side of the Dike
Gamling has called for your assistance as he hurries to the far side of the Dike, there to combat Saruman's forces before they can crush the Rohirrim defenders.
- Gamling says, "This way!"
- Gamling says, "Hold! Down there! What is that?"
- Gamling says, "It is some construction of Saruman! A mighty war machine!"
- Gamling says, "They will use it to melt the gate!"
- Thenca says, "We must think of some way to stop it!"
Objective 7
- Talk to Thenca at Helm's Dike
As you hurry between the defensive encampments at Helm's Dike alongside Gamling and other soldiers of Rohan, you have spotted the great war machine with which Saruman's forces hope to destroy the gate.
- Thenca: 'What can we do? Its iron casing will surely repel any of our weapons, and it will take only minutes to melt through the gate.
- 'We may not be able to destroy this machine, but we can slow the progress of the Orcs that accompany it!'
- Follow Thenca to the west side of the Dike
- Thenca says, "To the west side, quickly!"
Objective 8
- Fight alongside Thenca at Helm's Dike
Saruman's Orcs have advanced upon the western side of Helm's Dike, and you must stand against them with Cenric, Thenca, and Gamling.
- Gamling says, "<name>!"
Objective 9
- Talk to Gamling on the western side of Helm's Dike
As the soldiers of Rohan fight the invading Orcs on the western side of the Dike, Gamling has called you to him.
- Gamling: 'Saruman's supply of Orcs is limitless. We have nothing to gain by remaining here.
- 'We must retreat!'
Objective 10
- Follow the soldiers of Rohan to the gate in Helm's Dike
Gamling has rodered you and the other soldiers of Rohan to fall back from the defence of Helm's Dike.
- Gamling says, "We have to fall back!"
- Cenric says, "No, Gamling! I must defend my family!"
- Gamling says, "You cannot do that from here, Cenric! There are too many!"
- Gamling says, "Fall back! Fall back!"
- Cenric says, "There is no time to lose!"
- Gamling says, "Watch your step on the rocks!"
- Thenca says, "Our brothers try to hold the gate!"
- Gamling says, "Can it be?"
- Thenca says, "Look!"
- Cenric says, "The gate cannot hold."
- Gamling says, "<name>! Take Cenric and go!"
- Cenric says, "Gamling, what about you?"
- Gamling says, "I will be right behind you!"
- Cenric says, "Follow me, <name>!"
Objective 11
- Talk to Cenric by the stable at Helm's Dike
Cenric has stopped by the stables, despite the imminent arrival of Saruman's armies.
- Cenric: 'When the Orcs come through that gate, no man will be long able to stand before them, no matter the strength of his spirit or the depth of his courage. They will pass right by here on their way to the fortress, but some of our bloodthirsty foes will turn their attention upon the horses tied at the stable. These good creatures will be helpless!
- 'Help me untie our proud beasts and set them free! At least that way they may be able to fight back against those who come to destroy us!'
Objective 12
- Untie horses stabled at Helm's Dike (0/3)
Cenric despairs that the steeds of the Rohirrim stabled at Helm's Dike will be slain by the invading Orcs, and he eeks your help untying the proud creatures so they may fight back against the aggressors.
- Thenca says, "That is a deed well-done, <name>!"
Objective 13
- Talk to Thenca by the stables near Helm's Dike
Thenca is pleased you took the time to free the horses stabled at Helm's Dike, for the Orcs will soon be upon them.
- Thenca: 'It was a good thought to untie the horses, for now they will not be left defenceless in the face of our enemies. Even a cornered animal might slay an Orc or two.'
- Thenca looks at you sternly.
- 'This seems to me clear, <name>. We cannot hold the Dike any longer, and the men at Helm's Deep are truly cornered themselves, and we with them. The Orcs will see how ferocious we can be! To the fortress, my friends!'
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