A lull in the battles against the wug and barbarians begins after dark and a makeshift headquarters forms near the ruins of the gate. Thale has blocked the gate with walls of stone and all of the city’s living archers and artillery men have reached their positions. The wug retreated during the spell barrage after their antimagic skins expired but when darkness fell they renewed their assault on the walls.
Inside, battle against the barbarians becomes vicious street by street, house by house fighting that slows after dark. Queen Irene and her house guard were found safe with the children of the city inside the temple of Stasis.
Oliver and Nisoru find you as people are passing out rations. Oliver has a few wounds and his garb is bloodied. Nisoru has few if any wounds but his usually gleaming mithril armor is darkened. Elayu, always meticulously clean, is covered in gore and finds a clean place on the walls to scrub some of it off.
After the army and city commanders give their reports Gales relates the following:
“When I took Aesculos and Firfin back to Portet it was immediately apparent that the situation was far from ideal. First, we appeared no where near where I intended and I suspected that were were delayed and then hedged out. For those of you that haven’t been there, Portet is city is split east and west by a river, crossed only by a single ancient bridge. The bridge has been destroyed and its rubble is blocking the river. The northwest section of the city is dominated by the high temple of Falan. Firfin and Ajax asked me to take them to the bottom of the hill leading up to the temple, but we appeared on the other side of the river (and I am somewhat thankful for it).
Outside the city, around the temple the city defenders were fighting with the attacking scaled elven forces. Firfin said the battle was about even but then the shadow wyrm appeared. It unleashed its breath weapon upon the defenders and then alighted a’top the temple of Falan. When we arrived it was still perched on the roof but had torn a hole in it above the great hall. Firfin told me that all of those slain, on either side were immediately rising as undead. As we took stock, I saw the wyrm breathe into the hole and a pulse of green light flashed out and in response dozens of undead appeared around the temple. They have surrounded the temple. I could see Escalon and many others fighting at the foot of the hill. That is where I intended to take Ajax and Firfin across the river when suddenly I heard a word of dark power and I was banished back to the celestial heaven and left in very poor condition. I should not have been able to return so soon but Lady Hemator intervened and returned me to you.
