Tarvy cast Shatter on the group of were creatures, and Miadi supported him, with them both blowing holes in the ranks of the lycanthropes.
They then mounted a defensive retreat, killing several jackals and wounding a number of the wolves.
As they retreated, Nadaar got a crossbow bolt in the leg and was forced to crawl into the camp, being narrowly saved by Gortan. However, just as Blek (Flight) was about to get into the camp he was shot, not once, not twice but 5 times from crossbow bolts, right in front of his brother as he tried to save him.
Zartagar managed to get most people inside as Shag, Thrack and Tarvy were the last few remaining outside.
Thrack was on his last legs, as they fell back another volley of bolts came in, one catching him in the shoulder and knocking him unconscious. Shag, seeing this, threw himself over Thrack’s body to weather the storm, taking several nasty injuries in the process. They all survived and made it back inside the fort.
A Brief Reprieve
The Lycanthropes did not pursue, seeming to wait outside, as Miadi and Gortan said they could smell the tar-like substance around the camp and Cash warned everyone that he had been pursued by those tar-like creatures just behind him. They all fell back to the upper courtyard and hoped for rescue.
After some time they realised that they could see what might be their salvation approaching, an airship, not far away, if only they could hold out long enough to be saved.
As they were looking they also noticed smoke starting to roll across the fort, and smelled the heat of fire down below. It seemed as though the Lycanthropes were to try and smoke them out.
Crossbow bolts started whipping over the top of the camp as the Lycanthropes advanced again, hidden in the smoke. The party fought bravely, but took a few injuries,
Thurdren the armorer was ripped apart in glorious combat
Bula the smith was thrown off the wall by a wolf, her status is unknown.
There were various other wounds to Carnast among others.
As it looked like the camp defenders were getting the upper hand, they heard whimpering and screaming from the smoke in the courtyard, as Acseytan arrived carrying several of her young looking terrified, and Clive the Girallon with his family arrived on the other side, all apparently fleeing what was coming their way.
Doom Comes
The mine at the back of the camp exploded and dark horrors emerged from it, shambling towards those holding out in the courtyard, seizing one of the Swinford crew as they went and absorbing him into the tarry sludge that accompanied them.
Looking out over the camp, they saw Vasool, now in black armour with a red, bleeding wheel in its centre approaching the upper courtyard as the airship circled in overhead.
After some few words, Vasool raised his trunk as it split in two, rippling like serpents as a forked tongue emerged from between them and the creatures advanced on the camp.
After numerous deaths and casualties on both sides, including Vasool, the party were able to escape, witnessing Braaz’s brave sacrifice as they did so.
