Mordor continued to press their advance into Gondor. Gothmog, driven by his recent victory over Faramir's defenders decided to break orders and advance into the Pelennor, hoping to ravage and capture some towns there and grab some slaves as well as a foothold beyond Osgiliath.
The remaining armies of Mordor continued their advance as well. The Witch King's horde entered the eastern side of Osgiliath as the Easterlings entered Cair Andros. The army from Harad continued its long trek north, still two turns away it remained a looming threat to the mind of Denethor.
"I will not leave the fields of Pelennor unfought!" rang the voice of Denethor through his empty hall. Although there was no Faramir to hear those words, Damrod took personal responsibility for the quest that was forced upon them and led out the remains of his army in attempt to push Mordor's orcish horde back accross the river. There they fell upon the army of Gothmog, who had advanced too far and was caught out alone in the Pelennor.
Although Gandalf counseled against the move to defend the Pelennor so rashly, he realized that the forces of Gondor must be victorious in that battle, or be destroyed in defeat. So, with Pippen at his side, he joined Damrod's army in the defence. His heart was lifted on the field of battle however, as the army formerly defending Cair Andros had also joined the battle, adding further weight of numbers for the Gondorian forces.
Although it seemed that all was lost for Gondor, Mordor's lust for blood may have left its leading army too far ahead of its remaining force. Denethor, still with some wit and cunning, siezed the opportunity to reduce the numbers of the foes that rallied against him. Will their counter attack be successful in aiding Gondor's bid to win the war? Only the Valar can see the final outcome.
Gothmog chose to play the fighting retreat scenario (see the rules for this in the campaing supplement); he didn't want to face an enemy that outnumbered him. His hope was to hold off the forces of Gondor for long enough to escape and regroup. Unfortunately it didn't work out for him!
By turn five only his orc captain remained alive, and just barely! At the end of turn six not a single living orc remained on the battlefield. The consequences were that Gothmogs army was reduced to half its original size! Gothmogs army now consists of:
During the battle the forces of Gondor did not lose a single soldier! A major victory for Gondor indeed, and perhaps exactly what was needed to turn around the momentum of Mordor's invasion!