As we are at our camp in Gnollwood that evening, we hear a strange noise and a flash of light blinds us all. A 20-foot tall man appears with a large huge hourglass in his hand, which is turned sideways. Time slows and stops for everything except for us. The man tells us simply, in a booming voice, “It is happening.”

We rush back to the fort, knowing that the warning must have meant that the battle had started, and find it being assailed with many siege devices. It appears that most of the battle has been fought, with many Gnolls lying dead on the battlefield. Arrows from the rangers’ bows stick into the ground like so much wheat in a field.

We quickly attack the Gnoll forces from the rear, managing to disable several of their siege devices, but the Gnolls topple one of the fort’s battlements.

The party gains entrance from the back of the fort and begin assisting the rangers and Dwarves with the battle. The Dwarves open the front gate, flanked by Cardollan. After attacking for several minutes they retreat back into the fort and close the door. Cardollan, unfortunately, had been struck by many arrows as they fought, and seemed in dire shape.

The party leads a charge out of the front gates, and Krodmich blows the Horn of Summoning to challenge the Gnoll Leader. We kill him and his captain, sending the ranks of Gnolls into despair.

The Gnolls finally retreat, and we count our fallen numbers. 175 rangers and Elf warriors were killed in the battle. We tend to Cardollan, but realize painfully that he is too far gone. The arrows that slew him, we find, bear the mark of Necros’ Assassins, the same ones that previously attacked the group.

The long process of rebuilding begins.