NEXT EPISODE: (~X~)
(Recommended Listening)
The border between the Summer and Winter Kingdom, approximately half a mile from the gates of Arctis Tor.
Oberon: We are approaching the outpost quickly. Once the rest of the army arrives, we will marshall forces at the front gate and initiate the siege.
Corrik: What is it you want us to do?
Oberon: This is one of the encampments where siege weapons are assembled and repaired, we established them originally in case Mab ever decided to overstep her boundaries and try to take the border, but now they are valuable resources deep in the enemy territory. I am leaving you here to keep an eye out for possible pre-emptive strikes from Balor’s forces, while I return to assume command of the Summer troops.
Galvyn: What’s the likelihood of something like that happening?
Oberon: At this stage of our attack? Highly probable. Be wary, Balor’s spies have likely already informed him of the impending siege, so he will want to disrupt things as much as possible while we are still engaged in positioning.
Oberon: Captain, I’m leaving you and the adventurers in charge here, the Eldest Gruff will lend some of his shock troops to help secure the area. Goodfellow, keep an eye on everyone and co-ordinate the kobolds as they prepare the siege weapons.
Fey Knight: As you command, my lord.
Robin: Right-o! We’ll send the one-eyes packing if they come round here!
Oberon: Very well, I will take my leave. More reinforcements and weapons will arrive soon. I will send a messenger when it is time to join with the main force.
Galvyn: Right! So what kind of siege engines are we protecting? Catapults? Rams?
Robin: Ah, yes, you humans use those big clunky mechanical contraptions in your armies. No, nothing so crude. Come! I shall show you!
Robin: These monoliths are carved out of the ground by worker kobolds and carved with runes of power to fire bolts of force that can shatter stone and flesh asunder alike. One of these beauties can do ten times as much damage as one of your ridiculous stone-throwers in a single shot!
Corrik: But… there’s no runes on them. They’re just blank stones.
Robin: Pshaw, you think we’d just leave the runes *visible* where any shmuck could read the them and copy the design? We use illusion magic to cloak them so the secret of their power can’t be stolen!
Galvyn: I guess that makes sense, we’ll take your word for it.
Robin: Seriously, what kind of idiot just leaves ancient runes of power out where anyone can see them! That the--
Gruff: Master Goodfellow! We have incoming! A fog bank is rolling in towards the encampment, with Fomorian colors spotted hidden inside it!
Screeches and clamor coming from inside the fog bank as it dissipates.
Goblins: Bang! Clang! Crush! Smash! Turn the monoliths to ash! Kill! Kill!
Robin: Ye gods, are those what I think they are?
Corrik: What is it? What’s wrong?
Robin: Those are Ankou! Very ancient and very evil denizens of the Wyrdwood. Omens of death and madness given form. What dark powers must Balor have garnered favor with to awaken those monstrosities?
Galvyn: We don’t have time to worry about that, we need to keep them from destroying the siege weapons!
Robin: Captain, form a defensive line! They can’t be allowed to take the outpost!
