Wasteful Wanderings 4: In which Gryfflet puts a cunning plan into action

Gryfflet has been keeping Faramir's historical namesake company as they consider how to deal with the Wainrider spirits who have occupied the stronghold of Dol Acharn. After a false start Gryfflet finds some missing Rangers in the Marshes and rouses them from their trances, then attempts again to approach Dol Acharn, confirming his earlier observation that there is some kind of spiritual obstruction. Faramir suggests that Gryfflet search the nearby Marshes for the spear that slew him, which should allow negotiation with the Wainrider who wielded it. This brings us into conflict with wandering marsh-lights so we pull out a Lore Question to discuss while dealing with them. It turns out that Faramir has concocted a plan with genuine cunning: the Wainriders' hatred of the Númenóreans of old can be used against Burudagath the Bloodletter, the Black Númenórean making sacrifices to Sauron. Gryfflet returns to Dol Acharn and this time he is able to approach the fortress and defeat many of its undead occupants before confronting their leader; he also collects some relics for Artamir, the scholar from Minas Tirith. The Wainrider chieftain is outraged to hear of a Númenórean survivor and summons his troops. Faramir points out that the presence of the Orcs at Ondoher's Folly might give the game away, so we proceed in his company to slaughter as many as possible before the Wainriders arrive. Unfortunately, Gryfflet is overwhelmed and has to retire hurt; fortunately this means that he stumbles across a key location on his way back that completes an Explorer Deed that had been worrying him for some time! On his return to Ondoher's Folly, however, he is overwhelmed and strapped to the sacrificial altar, waking up just in time to witness the arrival of the dead Wainriders who defeat Burudagath handily. Gryfflet returns to Haerondir to report his progress: Faramir's sudden appearance startles the Rangers who are most impressed. This does not stop them reminding Gryfflet of his outstanding chores so he sets about igniting strong smelling herbs to deter Orcs. The follow-up task involves blowing horns loudly but there is not time to finish so we defer completion to the next session.
"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the folly tree!"
"Here I was, about to talk about the oath-breaking of horses!"
"Knock it off, man! Snap out of it!"
"Trying not to make some kind of really bad Pokémon pun!"
"That truly does not make very much sense!"
"Oh look, I don't have to kill your horse!"
"Are those scythes? That's pretty metal!"
"Look at me, not letting myself die!"
"Oh, that was worth dying in the Instance for!"
Lore discussed this week included the increased presence of unquiet spirits in the game compared to the book; we also considered what Saruman actually knew-and when-about the fate of the One Ring, and how the Balrog arrived at Khazad-dûm.