The world was watching. Below Liscor, an army of Humans was gathered. A force ready to sweep south, to break the walls of the Drake city. And in front of them were Goblins. A people described as monsters. They had come here, not of their own volition. They had been herded. Driven like cattle.<\/p>\n
Manipulated.<\/p>\n
This was not their grand struggle. They were tools in other people\u2019s games, a means to the end. In that sense, they were worthless. But see. It was an army of Goblins that gave Tyrion Veltras the pretext to besiege Liscor. It was they who threatened the city.<\/p>\n
And it was the second army of Goblins who rose to defend it. They were an army of fragments. Three tribes, each hailing from a different place. Each with different leaders. But they ran together as they surged across the Floodplains. Down into the valleys, up hills, towards the Goblin Lord\u2019s army.<\/p>\n
Reiss shouted, and his army moved to intercept the charging Goblins. His force spread out, over a hundred thousand Goblins, moving to ensnare the far smaller force. They would win. How could they not? There were three Goblins in Reiss\u2019 army for every one of his enemies.<\/p>\n
And yet\u2014the army of Goblins didn\u2019t slow down. They didn\u2019t waver. Because they were running, chasing a young woman across the Floodplains. Following her.<\/p>\n
Erin Solstice\u2019s heart was in her mouth. She was breathless. Her body was filled with nervous energy. She wanted to throw up, run away, and hide. A wall of night was marching at her. Black armor. Green skin. Red eyes. The Goblin Lord\u2019s army was marching, roaring. But Erin ran on. Because of them.<\/p>\n
Five Hobgoblins ran behind Erin. And behind them, Cave Goblins. Redfang Warriors howling, ready for battle. The Flooded Waters tribe. They had come back for her. And they had charged for her. Just for her. For a hot meal, a place to be safe.<\/p>\n
A smile. And they would fight and die too. How could Erin ever ask them to charge alone? So she ran. And as the Goblins ran around her, past her, Erin could see them. Green faces. Pointed ears. Sharp teeth. Crimson eyes. A monster\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
But they were so beautiful. A people she had come to love. And they looked back at her, smiling. Then they looked ahead and raised their weapons. Erin felt her breath burning in her lungs as she climbed a hill. She had a frying pan in one hand, a knife in the other. She nearly slipped in the mud. Then she was on the top of the hill, looking down.<\/p>\n
A sea of black-armored Goblins stared up at her. Undead lurched forwards. Erin stared down. And then she saw the Goblins raise bows.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch out!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblins were already raising their shields. Erin raised her frying pan, as if it was a shield, then she realized the Goblins were still running. Even those without protection. The Goblin Lord\u2019s archers loosed the first hail of arrows. And Erin ran beneath the dark rain and heard Goblins begin to die.<\/p>\n Screams of pain and terror. Shouts as Goblins were hit and slid in the muck. Cries of anger. And then the sound of more bows nocking. Loosing. A second wave of arrows flew as Erin ran down the hill. More Goblins fell. Erin didn\u2019t see them, but she heard them. She would have turned. She would have gone back. She had potions on her belt, alchemical weapons from Octavia to defend herself. She had not left her inn unprepared. But it wasn\u2019t behind her where the battle lay.<\/p>\n It was right in front of her.<\/p>\n The first rank of Goblins stood shoulder-to-shoulder, braced. They were in formation. They leveled their weapons at the first rank of Goblins charging at them. Erin was a dozen paces behind them. She saw five Hobgoblins running ahead of the rest.<\/p>\n Headscratcher, Rabbiteater, Shorthilt, Numbtongue. Even Badarrow, for all that he carried a bow. They had outdistanced her and the other Goblins. Now they charged forwards, screaming. The Goblin Lord\u2019s army waited for them, loosing arrows, shouting. They were confident. Bitterly resolved. They had Reiss on their side. A Goblin Lord. And what did these Goblins have?<\/p>\n A wall of black steel. Erin saw Headscratcher roar. He sprinted faster than the rest, his mouth opening wide. The [Berserker] howled, and he raised his golden axe. The jade edge gleamed. Reiss\u2019 Goblins looked up at him. They saw the axe\u2019s edge shine and then grow<\/em>. The magical edge grew three times in length. The Goblins shouted in horror. An enchantment? But only Chieftains had weapons that powerful.<\/p>\n Chieftains. Or adventurers. Then Headscratcher swung the axe. The black-armored Goblins raised their shields. The magical axe sheared through the metal. It cut bone and flesh. The first rank of Goblins disappeared. The Goblins standing behind their friends recoiled as Headscratcher\u2019s first blow made a dozen Goblins vanish. And then he was among them. They looked up into blazing eyes and saw the axe swinging towards them.<\/p>\n Forwards. Headscratcher opened a gap by himself. The other four Redfangs followed, moving to his left and right, keeping clear of his wide swings. Five versus an army.<\/p>\n Goblins were all around them. Thrusting with spears, screaming in terror as Headscratcher charged forwards. But so many. They tried to overwhelm the other four, get at Headscratcher\u2019s back. He was only one Chieftain, after all. A Hob thrust smaller Goblins aside. He swung a club as tall as he was at Shorthilt. The [Weapon Expert] turned, and his sword flashed.<\/p>\n The edge sliced through the haft of the club. The Hob blinked. Shorthilt pirouetted, and his second swing took the Hob\u2019s head off. The Goblins backed away as Shorthilt advanced. His sword was not enchanted, but it cut like magic. He aimed at the weak points in a Goblin\u2019s armor, the gap between shield and chest. His teeth were bared, and he fought with a precision lesser Goblin [Warriors] had never seen. And by his side was a Hobgoblin who wielded nothing but a guitar.<\/p>\n Numbtongue cracked a Goblin\u2019s head with the base of his guitar. Then he spun and intercepted a sword cut from another Hob. The bigger Goblin gaped as the guitar didn\u2019t break. Electricity ran from the strings of the guitar. The [Bard] roared and heaved<\/em>. The enemy Hobgoblin stumbled back, and Numbtongue clubbed him alongside the head. Lightning flashed, and the Hob roared.<\/p>\n \u201cRedfang!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n His voice was booming. Reiss\u2019 Goblins stared up at him. It was a word to inspire fear. The name of that most famous tribe. And the other four took it up.<\/p>\n \u201cRedfang.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Badarrow had stopped behind the others. He raised his bow and shot a Goblin trying to stab Headscratcher in the back. He aimed left and shot another Goblin through the head. Then a Hob. The bigger Goblin was wearing a helmet, but the tip of the arrow shot through his eyehole. The [Sniper] spun, and another Goblin fell. His hands moved constantly, grabbing more arrows from the quiver. Then he reached for something at his side.<\/p>\n A bell, bronze and blue metal. The clapper was muffled. The bell was attached to a special arrow. Badarrow lifted it to his bow and aimed past the Goblins. He pulled the bit of wax stifling the bell from ringing and aimed past Headscratcher, at the Goblins ahead of them. He drew back, loosed.<\/p>\n The bell flew up. The arrow curved in a long arc and fell among the [Archers] shooting at Erin and the other Goblins. It landed among the Goblins, a single arrow that didn\u2019t even hit one of them. But as the bell struck the ground, it rang once.<\/p>\n Pain<\/em>. The bell tolled not with sound, but with pain and agony. Goblins fell to the ground, screaming, their ears bleeding. The bell rolled and chimed again. The Goblins around it howled, convulsing. All those who heard the noise shuddered. Those closest to it were paralyzed by pain. And it was into that gap the Redfangs charged.<\/p>\n Four. Headscratcher cut down Goblins ahead of him, ignoring the wounds he took. Shorthilt and Numbtongue took the left side, and Badarrow covered their backs. But it was the fifth Hobgoblin who caught the eye. He had the right to himself. Reiss\u2019 Goblins surged towards him, but they hesitated as one.<\/p>\n Because of how he looked. This Goblin stood tall. His armor seemed to glow. It was pristine, the chainmail perfectly kept. His blade was sharp as could be. But what really stood out was his cloak. Rabbiteater\u2019s cloak was an ever flowing, deep red, almost violet color. And it was not cloth, but liquid. The Hobgoblin swept the cape around him as he advanced. Goblins were loosing arrows at him, but they sank into the cloak, losing all momentum. Rabbiteater took three strides, and then the first of Reiss\u2019 Goblins were ahead of him. They looked up as Rabbiteater grinned. They swung their weapons, and the Hobgoblin swung his sword.<\/p>\n The line of Goblins exploded. Goblins fell from the sky, cut in half. Armor rent. Blown back by a single strike. [Grand Slash]. <\/em>Rabbiteater straightened. He stabbed into the next rank of Goblins as they backed up, screaming. What was he? Who was he? This Hobgoblin wasn\u2019t a Chieftain. But he was no ordinary Hob either. He was dressed like an adventurer. And he fought like a hero.<\/p>\n A [Champion].<\/p>\n Reiss\u2019 warriors faltered. But the Hobs shouted, and they advanced. It was only five! Only five Hobs! They could be overwhelmed, killed! That was when the first rank of Cave Goblins cleared the hill.<\/p>\n The Goblin Lord\u2019s warriors saw the strange, pale, grey-skinned Goblins coming at them. They hesitated. What were these strange Goblins? They poured forwards, a horde without Hobs. They followed the Redfangs into the breach. And they howled as they came on. The black-armored Goblins set themselves. They were warriors! They wouldn\u2019t lose to\u2014<\/p>\n The first wave of Cave Goblins crashed against the shielded warriors. They fought savagely. The next wave overwhelmed Reiss\u2019 warriors. And the third and fourth and fifth\u2014the Goblin Lord\u2019s soldiers fell back in disarray. They locked blades with screaming Goblins. And lost. Hobs cut down Cave Goblins and were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. And not just numbers. The ferocity of the Cave Goblins terrified.<\/p>\n They fought like the five did. With all of Headscratcher\u2019s fury. As precisely as Shorthilt, like Rabbiteater. Miniature champions. And they knew no fear. Hobs backed up as Cave Goblins leapt at them. They were Hobs!<\/em> But the Cave Goblins had fought Raskghar.<\/p>\n The first contact with Reiss\u2019 army sent a shockwave back through the entire force. The Cave Goblins, led by the five Redfangs, poured forwards. At their front was Headscratcher. He couldn\u2019t be stopped. His enchanted axe swung again and again, cutting down Hobs while his Cave Goblins followed him, keeping the [Berserker] safe. Shorthilt and Rabbiteater went left and right, Rabbiteater\u2019s overwhelming horde and Shorthilt\u2019s adept fighters opening the gap in Reiss\u2019 army wider. Numbtongue and Badarrow held the line.<\/p>\n \u201cImpossible. What kind of Goblins are those? Some kind of subspecies? Where did they come from? Liscor\u2019s dungeon?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Az\u2019kerash whispered, his voice an echo in his apprentice\u2019s mind. But Reiss couldn\u2019t answer his master. He was directing his army, giving them orders.<\/p>\n \u201cHold the lines! Snapjaw, take your riders around! Hit them from the side! Eater of Spears, kill those Hobs!\u201d<\/p>\n His warriors reacted to Reiss\u2019 orders. They moved forwards, trying to envelop the Cave Goblins. But more Goblins were coming. The Flooded Waters tribe. The Redfangs. Reiss turned towards them, calculating.<\/p>\n \u201cIgnore the riders. They number only four thousand at most. Focus on those grey Goblins. Wipe them out. I will begin raising them as undead. With them\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaster! Shut up!\u201d<\/p>\n Reiss roared. In his castle, Az\u2019kerash stepped back, affronted. His waiting Chosen, Venitra, Kerash, and Bea, raised their heads. The ranks of silent undead waiting to be teleported did not move.<\/p>\n \u201cInsolence!\u201d<\/p>\n The three Chosen flinched as the Necromancer uttered the word aloud. He directed his will. But his apprentice wasn\u2019t listening. Reiss was focused on the young woman who was caught up in the fighting. The Cave Goblins screened her, and she had yet to enter the fray. She was shielding her head with a frying pan, shouting. He pointed at her, and his warriors shouted, surging at her position. The five Redfangs and the Cave Goblins defended her, refusing to let any of his warriors get near. But it was her Reiss wanted. Her. He had to kill her.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It all revolved around her. Niers stared through the scrying orb at the distant figure. The half-Elf controlling the spell was magnifying her vision, but the battle was still far away. Partially obscured by the valleys. But clear enough. The Fraerling could see the young woman, surrounded by the small Goblins with grey skin.<\/p>\n Cave Goblins, apparently. From the dungeon. He could hear people shouting on the walls around the half-Elf. A woman in armor was pointing down at the fighting.<\/p>\n \u201cIs she mad? She\u2019ll be killed! We have to go after her!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo! You\u2019ll be killed!\u201d<\/p>\n A man in armor, her older brother, stopped her. The young woman with blonde hair turned on him, but another half-Elf raised a skeletal hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYlawes is right, Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCeria!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n That came from both Yvlon and a young man in white robes. The half-Elf turned.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid, Pisces! What can we do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces\u2019 face was white. He looked to an Antinium with three arms. The insect-man nodded, but hesitantly.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Ceria is right. If we participate, I believe our team will perish. But if we do not fight\u2026Miss Solstice will die.\u201d<\/p>\n He fell silent. The adventurers stared at the fighting. The half-Elf shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is she doing? She\u2019s going to die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? What can we\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Niers tore his attention away from the scrying orb. He looked around. The war room was silent, unlike the shouting and thump<\/em> of stones hitting Liscor\u2019s walls. His students were bent over the map. They were creating a projection of the battle. He looked down and saw the Goblin Lord\u2019s army, trying to envelop the other Goblins. There were so many of them. Niers hesitated. Then he looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n His students jumped. They\u2019d been so engrossed they\u2019d forgotten why they were here. They looked at each other. Then Wil spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is that? Who is that Human girl? Where did those Goblins come from?\u201d<\/p>\n The young man pointed at the scrying orb. Niers shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cPointless questions. This is a battle, Wil. Ask later! You\u2019re [Strategists]! Tell me how the battle\u2019s changed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all changed. The Goblins could damage the Goblin Lord\u2019s army. It will delay the siege. But not for long. That army can\u2019t defeat the Goblin Lord\u2019s army purely by numbers. But they can\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Umina was running her claws across the board. Her eyes flickered as she stared at the scrying orb and adjusted the positioning of Reiss\u2019 left flank. She looked up at Niers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can<\/em> aim for the Goblin Lord, though.\u201d<\/p>\n Niers nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n It was their only hope, and he thought the Goblins knew it. The Cave Goblins were driving straight for the Goblin Lord. But there were far too many. And yet\u2014Niers stared at the map. The second group of Goblins was closing in.<\/p>\n They hadn\u2019t charged wildly forwards. They were moving in formation. The Flooded Waters tribe ran, each unit of Goblins spaced out, maneuvering to the left and right of the Cave Goblins. Redscar led them, directing the Goblins to spread out. And they were the largest group besides the Goblin Lord\u2019s army. A fourth as large perhaps, but\u2014Niers pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cThose Goblins are about to make contact. Cameral!\u201d<\/p>\n The Dullahan snapped to attention. He lifted his head up and stared.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re using pikes! In a charge? That\u2019s foolish!\u201d<\/p>\n Niers saw Marian look up and snap without waiting for him to call on her.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it\u2019s tactics. Watch!\u201d<\/p>\n The students and Niers stared at the scrying orb. Rags\u2019 tribe rushed towards the Goblin Lord\u2019s army. The pikes were indeed in front. They were anti-cavalry weapons. But Niers had seen them used like this before. He knew what to expect. The Goblins with black armor were braced, shields raised. But they faltered as Rags\u2019 army came at them, screaming fury. Because what were they supposed to do?<\/p>\n Twenty-foot long pikes of wood, tipped with steel. That was what was aimed at them, a wall of pikes. There was no way for Reiss\u2019 warriors to hit the pike Goblins of Rags\u2019 army. They could only brace as the pikes rammed into them. And then came warriors behind the pikes, Hobs who tore into the wounded lines. And behind them crossbows fired constantly while Rags\u2019 elite Redfangs charged into gaps.<\/p>\n It was precise. Orchestrated. Beautiful tactics. Niers had never seen Goblins using strategy like that. Not since the Second Antinium War. Not from a Chieftain.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDead gods.\u201d<\/p>\n Marian murmured as she watched the Goblin Lord\u2019s ranks buckle. Unlike the Cave Goblins, the Flooded Waters tribe wasn\u2019t propelled by the five Redfangs or momentum alone. They dug in and advanced, supporting the pikes, pushing forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cAnalysis. Venaz! How is that group\u2019s strategy compared to the Goblin Lord\u2019s army?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoblin scum. Goblins don\u2019t have strategy<\/em>, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur looked affronted. He folded his arms. And then he winced as Niers looked up. The Minotaur bit his lip and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014But their tactics are superior. The pikes, the crossbows\u2014they\u2019re reloading quickly. There must be an army-wide Skill at work. This army looks defensive. But the pikes, the crossbows\u2014they can take a powerful offensive. Look, the Goblin Lord\u2019s forces are falling back. They might have more armor, but it\u2019s not helping.\u201d<\/p>\n His voice was grudging, but his analysis was on point. The Goblin Lord\u2019s force was indeed being pushed back by the second charge. And yet\u2014Niers looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cYerranola.\u201d<\/p>\n The Selphid took one look at the board and replied in her male, Human body. She wore the body of a sixty year-old man, but she spoke like a young woman.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth smaller tribes are fully engaged. But the lines are drawn. The Goblin Lord\u2019s shifting his army to surround them. They won\u2019t go further except\u2014the riders, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Niers pointed. All of his students looked. The Redfangs hadn\u2019t engaged yet. They had circled the battle and were approaching from the side. The Goblin Lord wasn\u2019t blind. Reiss had moved a wing of his army out to block the Redfangs.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re going to hit the Goblin Lord\u2019s army from the side. If they could break through, they\u2019ll shatter his lines, cut off parts of his army and reinforce the others. But there\u2019s four thousand riders and at least twenty thousand infantry in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n The Selphid counted the numbers at a glance. She traced her hand across the map.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they can break through in a charge\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cImpossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Venaz asserted. Marian looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cCentaurs could do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Goblins?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose aren\u2019t any Goblins. That\u2019s the Redfang tribe.\u201d<\/p>\n Wil consulted a piece of paper on which he\u2019d scribbled notes. Niers just nodded. He watched the Redfangs riding across the battlefield. The half-Elf, Falene, had a sense of the battle too. She was staring at them.<\/p>\n Four thousand Goblins, riding Carn Wolves or horses. A paltry number compared to the other sides engaged in battle. But these Goblins were different. Niers didn\u2019t need his Skills to tell him that. He could feel it.<\/p>\n On they rode. The Redfangs laughed and grinned, ready for battle. They roared as they came. They had been waiting for this moment. The mountain hadn\u2019t been enough. Garen had trained them and the warriors who had joined him in Tremborag\u2019s mountain. They had lived and bled and fought for this moment.<\/p>\n \u201cRedfang!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The roar issued from four thousand mouths. The Goblins standing in their way looked up, and their eyes were wide with fear. Redfang. They braced.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>Redfang!<\/em><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Spiderslicer led the charge. His shortsword swung down as his Carn Wolf leapt. He dodged a spear mid-jump and cut down the Hob holding it. His Redfangs followed him. They didn\u2019t stop as they rode through Goblins, cutting, blocking, dodging.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods.\u201d<\/p>\n Yerranola stared down at the map. The unit marking the Redfangs kept going. They charged through the Goblins sent to block them and cut straight towards the Cave Goblins. There they turned.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re cutting back out!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose are Centaur tactics.\u201d<\/p>\n Marian watched as the Redfangs charged in and then secured an exit. They were already looping to strike at the Goblin Lord from another spot. Niers found himself following the riders with his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat power. They could do it! If they keep harrying\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Wil was perched over the table, nearly blocking Niers\u2019 view of the scrying orb. Venaz yanked him back.<\/p>\n \u201cRidiculous. It\u2019s one mobile force. The Goblin Lord has his riders as well. Look, they\u2019re moving to intercept.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll lose. Those are elites, <\/em>Venaz. They can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are too many.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Umina agreed. Niers looked up sharply. The Lizardgirl was staring at the map. The Goblin Lord\u2019s warriors were faltering. The charges had caught them off-guard. But Umina had seen what the others hadn\u2019t. She pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey could do it. Maybe. But he\u2019s sending his lieutenants in. And\u2014look at that.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at the scrying orb. In the distance, Niers saw pale bodies moving. A separate force, slowly lurching towards the Goblins\u2019 side. And more. Across the battlefield, more bodies stood up. Bloody corpses that had just fallen.<\/p>\n The undead were rising.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUndead!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Poisonbite heard the shout. She looked up and around. She saw Redscar pointing and turned. Her female warriors had been engaging Reiss\u2019 warriors from the pikes, darting in and stabbing with poisoned blades before pulling back. Now they turned and saw a new threat.<\/p>\n The undead. A group of zombies, several thousand strong, was coming their way. And Ghouls. Poisonbite bared her teeth. Not good. The undead were immune to her warriors\u2019 poison. She looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cNoears!\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblin [Mage] had charged with her. But he was nowhere to be seen. Poisonbite cursed him and turned. She screamed, and the pikes turned to face the undead. They surged down the slope and crashed into the undead.<\/p>\n Ghouls leapt and were skewered. Zombies were impaled dozens of times. The undead had no self-preservation. But that was also a problem. They didn\u2019t die even when impaled. They kept going, walking onto the pikes. They had to be hacked apart or the brains had to be destroyed! And Reiss\u2019 warriors were still fighting.<\/p>\n \u201cHobs kill undead! We fight!\u201d<\/p>\n Poisonbite pointed forwards. The Hobs under her command strode towards the undead. Poisonbite grimly held the line. Her daggers flashed, and a Hob screamed as he tried to get past the weakened line of warriors. He stumbled back as Poisonbite cut him twice more and then dodged back. He swung at her, but the poison was already doing its job. Poisonbite moved backwards, applying a new coat to her blades as the Hobgoblin slowly weakened. He tried to keep fighting, but only two minutes later he was stumbling.<\/p>\n A Goblin ran him through. Poisonbite moved forwards, aiming for another Hob, and then stopped.<\/p>\n The poisoned Hob was moving. He was standing up. How? Poisonbite stared at him. Was the poison not working? Did he have a healing potion?<\/p>\n No. She stared at him. The Hob\u2019s mouth was open. His eyes were wide. And he was dead. A bit of froth and blood ran from his mouth as he forgot his sword and swung clumsily at the Goblins around him.<\/p>\n A zombie. But so soon? He\u2019d barely died. Poisonbite saw the Goblins trying to bring the Hob down a second time, cursing. She looked around.<\/p>\n There<\/em>. A Goblin died as a female Hob ran him through with a pitchfork. But the instant his corpse hit the ground, it was sitting up. The Hob stomped, cursing, as the zombie tried to claw its way free of the tines pinning its body down.<\/p>\n They were rising. The dead. Not just Reiss\u2019 warriors. But the dead on both sides. One of Poisonbite\u2019s warriors fell, struck by an arrow. She rose and proceeded to bite the Goblin next to her.<\/p>\n \u201cUndead! <\/em>All dead rising!\u201d<\/p>\n Poisonbite screamed. The Goblins looked around. They stared at the undead. More and more were getting up. For every warrior they killed, for every Goblin they lost\u2014an undead was spawned.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Poisonbite backed up. This wasn\u2019t right. This wasn\u2019t fair.<\/em> But it was happening. She could see Goblins dressed in robes and holding wands, staffs, now. They were stationed behind Reiss\u2019 troops, reanimating the dead. So was Reiss. Between him and his [Necromancers] and [Shamans], they were resurrecting\u2026<\/p>\n Everyone.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWatch for undead! Guard backs! Kill and then chop off heads!\u201d<\/p>\n Redscar roared as he fought on another front. He could see the Cave Goblins faltering. Headscratcher and the others had found the same trap waiting for them that he had. Redscar cursed as the Hob he\u2019d killed lurched up, bright light shining from its eyes.<\/p>\n Ghoul.<\/em> It was faster in death than the Hob had been in life. But not cleverer. Thunderfur knocked it down, and Redscar leaned out of his saddle to run the Hob through the head. His enchanted blade easily sheared through the bone, and the Ghoul died. Redscar turned, and the Goblins around him fell back. His frost blade had cut down every Goblin who\u2019d been in Redscar\u2019s way. The undead couldn\u2019t slow Redscar. But they had doubled the Goblins that his warriors had to cut through to get to Reiss.<\/p>\n Even the Redfangs and Spiderslicer had slowed. So many undead! They were all coming to life now. Redscar snarled as he saw Reiss and his [Necromancers] casting magic. They had to be stopped. But how? Some of the [Mages] had set up a barrier, and the arrows Badarrow\u2019s Goblins were loosing at them were just bouncing off. As for Reiss\u2014<\/p>\n He had to die. They had to cut to him and kill him. But everywhere the Solstice Goblins had slowed. Their first charge had run out of steam. The undead and Reiss\u2019 troops were pushing them back. It was just numbers. And then Redscar saw them.<\/p>\n Snapjaw and Eater of Spears.<\/em> Reiss\u2019 lieutenants. His last remaining lieutenants, rather. It was an irony. For all Reiss\u2019 warriors, his best officers, the ones who inspired, who defined his army were dead. Zel Shivertail had slain them, and with them gone, his warriors lacked the fire to engage Redscar, Poisonbite, and the five Redfangs where they led. But the last two of Reiss\u2019 warriors were still present. And now they were coming.<\/p>\n Snapjaw rode at the head of what had to be at least fifteen thousand Goblins on horseback. She charged at the Redfangs, her teeth bared, sword drawn. Spiderslicer rode to meet her, and the Redfangs howled with him. They were fearless. They met Snapjaw\u2019s warriors in a fury of rearing horses and terrible collisions. Carn Wolves and horses went down alike.<\/p>\n They were stronger than Snapjaw\u2019s forces.<\/em> Redscar saw more of Snapjaw\u2019s warriors going down each second. But she had the numbers on the Redfangs. And she\u2014<\/p>\n She was strong. Snapjaw cut to the left and right, fighting Redfang warriors. She was as good as they were, and her armor and sword were enchanted. But that wasn\u2019t what made her strong. No. It was as Spiderslicer cut towards her that Redscar remembered. Snapjaw wasn\u2019t a [Warrior]. She was\u2014<\/p>\n The female Hobgoblin blocked Spiderslicer\u2019s sword. He cut, cursing the lack of his falchion. She dodged the sword as her horse reared, hooves striking at Spiderslicer\u2019s Carn Wolf. Spiderslicer took the opportunity. He lunged, sword aimed at Snapjaw\u2019s throat. The Hobgoblin opened her mouth\u2014<\/p>\n And bit<\/em>. Spiderslicer recoiled as the metal teeth closed on his sword. He heard a crack <\/em>as the poorly-tempered steel snapped. Snapjaw crunched<\/em> the metal and spat. Spiderslicer stared at her and then leapt back. He cursed, and a Redfang Hob took his place. The warrior rushed at Snapjaw, swinging a battleaxe. Snapjaw stared at him and then opened her mouth wide. Wide\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Her jaw dislocated. Her overly large head seemed to grow bigger. The Hob flinched. And Snapjaw bit. Spiderslicer and Redscar stared at what remained of the Hob as it slid from the saddle. The horse shrieked and fled as Snapjaw chewed.<\/p>\n That shouldn\u2019t have been possible. <\/em>But she had done it. The Redfangs\u2019 assault slowed as more of Snapjaw\u2019s riders forced their way forwards. And Snapjaw led them. Spiderslicer had to retreat, calling for another sword. And while her warriors held the Redfangs back\u2014<\/p>\n Eater of Spears was headed for the Cave Goblins. Redscar saw him, a towering giant above the rest. He was leading a wave of Hobs through the smaller Goblins of Reiss\u2019 army. His tribe. Redscar looked around. He was too far. He had to command Rags\u2019 tribe. But one Goblin could stop him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Noears?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblins looked around. No one could answer. Redscar turned, swearing. He began to ride forwards, but it was too late.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The first roar of contact had been terrifying. The first minute, Erin had thought she would die. But the press of Goblins pushing forwards, the sounds of screams and the clash of metal\u2014all of it was at a distance. Erin had been outpaced by the Cave Goblins and the Redfangs. She was stuck amid them as more and more pushed forwards. And they weren\u2019t inclined to let Erin past.<\/p>\n \u201cHeadscratcher! Numbtongue! Where <\/em>are you?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin screamed above the din. Her frying pan was raised like a shield to ward off falling arrows. She was taller than all the Cave Goblins, but she still couldn\u2019t make out the Redfangs amid the fighting. It was chaos.<\/p>\n Green bodies struggled with other figures. Goblins fought in ever-shifting lines, retreating, charging. Erin couldn\u2019t tell how they were identifying friend and foe. The black armor? She tried to push forwards, but the Cave Goblins actively resisted her.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me go!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shouted at them. She had to fight! To protect\u2014<\/p>\n She was no warrior. Erin knew that. But she had asked them to come. So she moved forwards, ignoring the press trying to keep her back. If she could do something, anything\u2014she had potions.<\/p>\n \u201cIs anyone hurt? I have healing potions!\u201d<\/p>\n It was no use. Erin\u2019s voice was lost amid the fighting. She couldn\u2019t tell where she was, how the battle was going\u2014until she heard the screaming.<\/p>\n The battle lines abruptly opened up in front of her. Cave Goblins moved back, screaming. Erin didn\u2019t understand why. Not until she saw the way the Goblins in front of them awkwardly shambled forwards. Her blood chilled as she recognized the light in their dead eyes.<\/p>\n Undead<\/em>. The Goblin Lord was raising the undead. And the zombies were rising from every corpse on the ground. Cave Goblins fought the undead and Reiss\u2019 warriors both, but their own were being turned to undead. Erin stared as a Cave Goblin fell not fifteen paces ahead of her and then got up and faced its former allies. She saw a Hobgoblin charge past the zombie, shove it aside, and bring down a huge maul on the head of a Cave Goblin.<\/p>\n He was wearing black armor. He roared, and undead and more Goblins in black armor poured past him. The Cave Goblins cried out and tried to fight back. But\u2014these were Numbtongue\u2019s warriors! Some didn\u2019t even have proper weapons. They were musicians.<\/p>\n The Hob scythed forwards with his maul, bashing bodies aside. Erin stared at him and then realized he was getting closer. And she was walking towards him.<\/p>\n The Hob turned to Erin. He roared, pointing at her. Erin raised the frying pan. She threw it. The Hob blinked as the frying pan flew at his face. He raised a gauntleted hand and knocked it down. He laughed\u2014<\/p>\n And the kitchen knife struck him in the eye. Hilt first. But Erin had thrown it as hard as she could. The Hob screamed and covered one eye. He swung the maul one-handed. Erin backed up. She reached for something at her belt. The Hob raised his maul.<\/p>\n And Erin threw a Pepper Potion vial in his other good eye. The Hob screamed. Erin yanked another knife from her belt and charged. The Hob was flailing about. She raised a fist and aimed at his unarmored stomach.<\/p>\n \u201c[Minotaur Punch]!\u201d<\/p>\n The Hob folded over. Erin slashed up and cut at the Hob\u2019s throat. He tried to block her. Her knife slashed across his fingers, cutting deep. He screamed and bled. Hot blood splattered Erin\u2019s arm, her right cheek. The Hob tried to swing his maul, blinded. Erin stabbed.<\/p>\n The knife went between his fingers and into the Hobgoblin\u2019s throat. The Goblin gurgled. He knocked Erin flat with a swing, but his arm had no force behind it. Still, Erin went tumbling. She cut herself lightly with the knife as she fell and scrambled up. She looked for the Hob\u2014<\/p>\n And found he was on his knees. He was trying to stop the blood flowing from his cut throat. He gurgled, blinded. Erin stared down at him.<\/p>\n The Goblin died there. He was the second Goblin she\u2019d killed. Erin stared at his body as the Cave Goblins rushed past her, seizing the moment of weakness. She stood there, staring at the Hobgoblin\u2019s body until a Cave Goblin screamed at her. Then she realized the Hobgoblin was getting up.<\/p>\n \u201cOh no.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin had a second frying pan at her belt. She grabbed it and began hitting the Hob on the head. Cave Goblins joined her. Erin hammered at the Hob\u2019s head. It began deforming. She felt something crack, <\/em>and a Cave Goblin bashed the Hob\u2019s brains in. Erin stumbled back as the zombie stopped moving for good. She tried to throw up.<\/p>\n But then she was fighting. It was automatic. Erin had a knife in one hand, the frying pan in the other. Zombies were attacking with Goblins. And Erin was in the first line of Cave Goblins. She was no warrior. But as Calruz had told her, she had talent.<\/p>\n Throw the pan<\/em>. It bounced off the head of a Goblin warrior in black armor, stunning him. The knife followed, and a Goblin screamed as it appeared in her leather armor, just above the shoulder. Erin yanked a potion from her belt.<\/p>\n \u201cDown.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Cave Goblins around her ducked. Erin threw the bottle over the heads of the Goblins and heard Goblins screaming. The fiery pot of burning oil burst and coated undead and Goblins in flame. Erin reached for another object and came up with a Tripvine bag.<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t have many weapons, but she had enough. Vines burst forwards, ensnaring the undead and a few Cave Goblins. Erin ran forwards. She had a club from somewhere. A fallen Goblin? She cracked a zombie\u2019s head and tripped another one.<\/p>\n Fighting. She was little better than a Cave Goblin. But she had reach. Potions. Alchemist\u2019s weapons. And the Cave Goblins fought to protect her. Erin didn\u2019t know when she stumbled back to catch her breath. But she was wounded. Someone had cut her across the belly. It hurt. She drank half a healing potion and looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n A Cave Goblin clutching at his nearly sawn-off arm looked up. Erin bent. The world spun. She bit the inside of her lip and offered him the potion. He let her pour it on his arm. Erin stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to keep fighting. Follow me.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She ran. This time, the Cave Goblins followed her. All of them. They charged past Erin. The Goblin Lord\u2019s army was trying to hold a hill. Erin threw a smoke bag and blinded the Goblins on the other side of the hill, then charged up the slope. She had to see. Wasn\u2019t that the point?<\/p>\n Cave Goblins grappled with Goblins in black armor. Erin punched a Goblin and struck another with the spiked mace she held. She lashed out at another and turned.<\/p>\n Now she saw. Billowing smoke from the alchemist bag cleared. She saw the Goblin Lord\u2019s army fighting on the hills, loosing showers of arrows. Undead and Goblins fighting. Rags\u2019 tribe was holding them back. But where\u2014<\/p>\n There<\/em>. The Redfangs were ahead of her. Headscratcher was leading the way, roaring. He was still pushing forwards despite the wounds on his body. Shorthilt was following him. Numbtongue had pulled back\u2014it was his tribe that Erin was fighting with. Rabbiteater was to the right, holding the Goblin Lord back. Badarrow was camped on another hill. She saw his archers loosing arrows, shooting down the Goblin Lord\u2019s warriors trying to attack them from the side, then another volley of arrows shot towards the Goblin Lord\u2019s troops.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re losing.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin didn\u2019t need to be a [Strategist] to see it. She stared at the lines of Goblins. They were losing. There were too many of the Goblin Lord\u2019s warriors. And the undead! The undead were practically numberless. So long as they kept rising\u2014Erin squinted at a coven of Goblin [Mages]. They were hiding on a hill far distant, out of even Badarrow\u2019s range.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone has to kill those [Necromancers]. Pisces told me\u2014the undead will attack everyone if they die! Tell Badarrow!\u201d<\/p>\n She shouted. The Cave Goblins looked at her. One of them turned and shouted. Erin saw the message flicker back to Badarrow in less than a minute. The Hobgoblin turned. He saw Erin and nodded. He aimed and pointed.<\/p>\n His Cave Goblins turned. They drew back and loosed as one. Badarrow\u2019s arrow flew with a hail of others. The [Mages] turned. They saw the deadly arrows falling towards them and didn\u2019t flinch. Erin saw a shimmer in the air, and the arrows snapped<\/em> and bounced off something.<\/p>\n \u201cShields.\u201d<\/p>\n Badarrow loosed another arrow. This one didn\u2019t arc. It went straight across from his hill towards the [Necromancer]. The shield protecting the Goblin mages must not have been able to block it. One of them spun and fell. The other [Shamans] backed up, and one raised another barrier. Badarrow shot arrow after arrow, but they bounced off the new shield. He turned and directed his archers\u2019 fire at the Goblin Warriors now assailing his hill.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone has to take them out.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at the mages. They weren\u2019t all just [Necromancers]. Some were hurling fire or casting clouds of noxious gas at the Flooded Waters tribe and the Redfangs. Erin eyed the distance between them and her.<\/p>\n \u201cShorthilt.\u201d<\/p>\n She was about to shout for him. Then she looked around. Something\u2014someone was roaring. So loudly that it carried even over the raging sound of battle. Erin\u2019s head turned.<\/p>\n And then she saw him. A huge Hobgoblin, at least nine feet tall. Maybe even taller. His body looked like a mass of muscles. And he was leading a group of Hobgoblins, all larger than normal. Straight towards Headscratcher.<\/p>\n \u201cHeadscratcher!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Redfang [Berserker] didn\u2019t hear Erin\u2019s warning. But he couldn\u2019t have missed Eater of Spears. The Hobgoblin punched his way through a rank of Cave Goblins who swarmed around him. He kicked, and they disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n Eater of Spears pointed. Headscratcher bared his teeth. He roared and charged. His enchanted axe swung. The glowing, expanded edge cut through the air in a wild swing. Eater of Spears leaned back. Headscratcher tried to bring his axe back. In that moment, Eater of Spears punched.<\/p>\n Headscratcher landed. He didn\u2019t remember flying. He tried to get up and realized he was on his back. His arms and legs flailed. He stood up, looked for his axe.<\/p>\n It was missing. Headscratcher got up groggily. Eater of Spears was walking towards him. His Hobs were cutting down the Cave Goblins around Headscratcher. His<\/em> Cave Goblins. Eater of Spears grabbed a warhammer one of his warriors handed him and swept it in an arc. Cave Goblins went flying, broken and shattered. A copy of Headscratcher\u2019s assault.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Headscratcher got up. He roared and charged Eater of Spears barehanded. The Hobgoblin raised a fist. Headscratcher ducked and felt the blow snap his ear. He ignored the pain and struck.<\/p>\n One blow. Two. The fury in Headscratcher burned. He struck Eater of Spears in the stomach. Five times, six times. The Hobgoblin grunted. He bent slightly. Headscratcher struck him and felt the huge Hobgoblin\u2019s ribs creak. He swung\u2014<\/p>\n Eater of Spears\u2019 uppercut cracked half of Headscratcher\u2019s ribs. Broke others. The Hob doubled over. The huge Hobgoblin stomped on him and then kicked. Headscratcher tumbled. Eater of Spears advanced on him as the Cave Goblins tried to shield Headscratcher. He waded through them, barely noticing their blades as they cut at his legs and lower body.<\/p>\n \u201cStop.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The muscle-bound Hobgoblin turned as he bent for Headscratcher. He saw a young woman standing with an army of Cave Goblins. She pointed, and they charged Eater of Spears\u2019 Hobs, holding them back. Eater of Spears stared at Erin, and then she reached for her belt. She threw what she was holding.<\/p>\n A bottle, glowing bright yellow. The alchemical weapon flew towards Eater of Spears\u2019 head. His eyes went wide. The Hobgoblin leaned<\/em> to the left, and the bottle flew past him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared up at him. Eater of Spears calmly drew the throwing axe from his belt.<\/p>\n \u201c[Unerring Throw]? Nice Skill. Perfect shot. Only works if I hold still.\u201d<\/p>\n He lifted the throwing axe. Erin\u2019s eyes went wide. She dove. Eater of Spears took aim\u2014<\/p>\n And an arrow sprouted from his chest. He barely flinched. But it made his throw go wide. A Cave Goblin died instead of the young woman. Eater of Spears looked up and raised a forearm. Badarrow\u2019s second arrow sprouted from his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cNice shots.\u201d<\/p>\n Eater of Spears grabbed the second axe from his belt, calmly ignoring the arrows, most of which broke without even penetrating his skin. He turned towards Erin and raised the second axe.<\/p>\n Someone tackled him. Eater of Spears grunted and took a step back. He looked down. It was Headscratcher. The Hob howled as he pushed<\/em>. Eater of Spears tried to kick him, but the Hob was strong.<\/em> Eater of Spears chopped down with his axe, and Headscratcher lurched left. Eater of Spears kicked him down again.<\/p>\n Another arrow struck his arm. Eater of Spears growled. He lowered his arm, turned his head. Where\u2014<\/p>\n There.<\/em> Erin Solstice stood poised, arm cocked back. The bag flew into the air. Eater of Spears sighed. He dodged, and the Tripvine Bag exploded harmlessly somewhere behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you.\u201d<\/p>\n He raised his axe. Erin nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. You did.\u201d<\/p>\n Eater of Spears\u2019 arm drew back. He aimed at Erin, expecting her to dodge. But she was still. Why was\u2014<\/p>\n Below him, a little Cave Goblin threw the vial it was holding straight up. Eater of Spears saw it coming, and his head jerked back. But the little bottle was uncorked. And the concentrated Pepper Potion flew up his nose. Into his eyes.<\/p>\n Eater of Spears screamed.<\/em> Erin saw his hands go up and claw at his face. The Hob, who had ignored swords and arrows without so much as flinching, howled and clawed at his face. The Cave Goblin scrambled back as Eater of Spears flailed wildly with the axe in his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cGot him! Headscratcher!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Innkeeper] turned and looked for her friend. The Hob was getting up. Headscratcher downed the healing potion and stood up. A Cave Goblin held something up. His axe. He turned towards Eater of Spears. The giant was still roaring. Headscratcher activated the enchantment on his axe. He burst towards Eater of Spears with a roar\u2014<\/p>\n And Eater of Spears charged.<\/p>\n He ran straight ahead, straight towards Erin. Headscratcher swung at him, and the axe bit into Eater of Spears\u2019 side, but the giant was moving too fast. Eater of Spears came up the hill, and Erin dove.<\/p>\n \u201cRun!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Cave Goblins scrambled out of the way. But Eater of Spears kept going. He ran up the hills, swinging his arms, sending Cave Goblins flying. He kept going, tripping, falling down the hill, standing up, running forwards.<\/p>\n Straight into the Flooded Waters tribe. The Goblins saw Eater of Spears coming and turned. They raised their pikes, set themselves. Erin watched Eater of Spears crash into the pikes. The metal tips dug into his flesh\u2014<\/p>\n And the pikes splintered. The Goblins holding them were thrown back. Eater of Spears threw them aside. He bashed in a Hob\u2019s skull with one flailing fist, struck at the Goblins with the throwing axe in his hand. On he went. The Goblins in front of him ran out of the way or died.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my god!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shouted. Eater of Spears just kept going! He could barely see, but it didn\u2019t matter. He ran straight through Rags\u2019 tribe, sending Goblins flying. They couldn\u2019t kill him!<\/p>\n But they had bought a reprieve. Shakily, Erin turned. Headscratcher was bent, clutching his ribs.<\/p>\n \u201cHeadscratcher.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo! Go back!\u201d<\/p>\n Headscratcher shouted at Erin. He waved his axe, and she stopped. Then she realized. They were too close to the fighting with Eater of Spears\u2019 warriors. Headscratcher wanted her to go back. To be safe.<\/p>\n \u201cNo!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shouted at Headscratcher. He waved his axe at her.<\/p>\n \u201cGo. Please?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman shook her head. She looked around. The Cave Goblins were rallying on her. Headscratcher\u2019s group, Numbtongue\u2019s\u2026they were following her.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t go. We have to stop them! The mages!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pointed at the hill. The undead were still rising. And they were truly pushing back the Solstice Goblins now. Headscratcher nodded. He pointed, and the Cave Goblins streamed towards the hill. He ran ahead of Erin, swinging his axe.<\/p>\n But there was a wall of Goblins between them and the hilltop where the mages stood. Reiss\u2019 Hobs barred the path, and what was worse, Draug.<\/em> Erin saw the first huge undead Hobgoblin crushing bodies like grapes, and even Headscratcher had to slow to battle them.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep going! We have to keep going!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shouted as she hunted at her belt for another potion. Another of Octavia\u2019s weapons. Anything. But she didn\u2019t have any more tricks. And the Goblins\u2014<\/p>\n They were aiming at her and Headscratcher now. One threw a [Fireball], and it sent Cave Goblins flying. Another shot what looked like poison gas from his wand. Erin covered her mouth and screamed at the Cave Goblins to run<\/em>. But they were fighting undead, who didn\u2019t even notice. They didn\u2019t need to breathe or see.<\/em><\/p>\n It was impossible. They\u2019d never make it. But they had to. They had to. Erin stared at the Goblin [Mages]. They were aiming again. Someone had to do something.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n And then the skies flashed. Erin saw the light. She heard the roar. The hilltop with the [Mages] vanished. Erin stumbled backwards as noise and light burst, deafening and blinding her. She couldn\u2019t hear anything for a while. When she could see again, she looked up.<\/p>\n The [Mages] were gone. A few were trying to get up, but over half had been charred. The rest had been sent flying. By what? Erin saw another flash.<\/p>\n Lightning<\/em>. She looked around and saw another bolt blast into the ranks of the Goblin Lord\u2019s forces. Goblins and Hobs went flying. And then another bolt of lightning fell. And another.<\/p>\n \u201cWho? What?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin scrambled onto a hilltop to see. Who was casting the magic? Who\u2014and then she saw.<\/p>\n On a distant hilltop. Far, far from the battle he stood. His arms were raised. The sky was dark and clouds gathered above his head. Bursts of electricity shot from his raised hands. They arced upwards, and lightning flashed down. The Goblin [Mage] laughed as he pointed and lightning struck.<\/p>\n Noears stood on the roof of Erin\u2019s inn, on the shattered third floor where Bird\u2019s tower had been. He stood alone. And each bolt of lightning he called down from the heavens was minutes apart. But the force in each one was overwhelming. It was lightning magic. Pure lightning, not conjured from his hands. But how was he doing it?<\/p>\n \u201cThe inn.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at her inn. She could feel it. Dimly, at the back of her mind. Her inn was where Noears stood. Empty. Abandoned. It had been deserted, stripped of everything. Adventurers. Guests. And her magic door.<\/p>\n The magic door that could teleport someone a hundred miles away to Celum or, even further, to Pallass. A magic door fueled by the mana from her inn. Only, it wasn\u2019t there. And now, all the mana normally used by the magic door, all the power<\/em> was his.<\/p>\n \u201cNoears!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mage] couldn\u2019t see her. He was pointing at the sky. Another bolt of lightning arced down. Straight towards the Goblin Lord. Reiss looked up and raised a hand.<\/p>\n A spire of bone caught the lightning, exploding just over Reiss\u2019 head. He turned and pointed.<\/p>\n \u201c[Deathbolt].\u201d<\/p>\n The black magic sped across the battlefield. But even Reiss\u2019 aim was insufficient. Noears laughed as the spell went wide of him by twenty feet. His arms trembled as they rose.<\/p>\n \u201cMore! More lightning!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n His arms tingled. Noears shot more electricity towards the sky. Charging the air. He had to keep the lightning falling. But it was so hard<\/em>. And he was so far away. Sweat streamed down his face. Each time he called a bolt of lightning down, even with the excess mana, he felt his heart stopping and skipping beats. The pain\u2014<\/p>\n He had to do it. Another bolt arced down from the heavens. It blew apart Reiss\u2019 warriors. But it had missed its target\u2014Snapjaw and her riders. Noears stumbled. His vision greyed. He pointed at the sky. He had to keep casting. Empty mana bottles lay at his feet. He had charged the air. He had to bring down more lightning. Had to\u2014<\/p>\n A bolt of lightning fell from the skies. It landed among a group of Hobs. Noears lowered his hand and stared. He hadn\u2019t called that one. What was\u2014<\/p>\n He heard a song. It echoed across the hills. Noears looked and saw him.<\/p>\n He stood on top of a hill, surrounded by the others. Cave Goblins, holding instruments. They played with him, following his melody. The sound shouldn\u2019t have carried across the battlefield. But it did. The Hob played on his guitar, and electricity danced across the chords. He played, and the lightning flashed down.<\/p>\n Once. Twice. Numbtongue ignored the fighting around him. Reiss\u2019 warriors tried to swarm up the hill, and his Goblins held them back. The Hob played and called the lightning. His Goblins played with them, a song of thunder.<\/p>\n Noears grinned. He raised his burning arms to the sky, and electricity shot from his fingers. It arced into the clouds and came down. It was undirected until Numbtongue gave it form. Noears poured all the mana in his body, all of his power into the sky.<\/p>\n \u201cRain it down! Bring him down!\u201d<\/p>\n He screamed to Numbtongue. And though he was too far away, he knew Numbtongue understood. Lightning flashed down across the Goblin Lord\u2019s army. Reiss looked up as more lightning fell.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that? A Goblin [Bard]? They don\u2019t exist. How? How are they doing this? Destroy them already.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Az\u2019kerash\u2019s voice shook. Spires of bone rose upwards, catching the falling lightning. But the cost of defending against the lightning meant less of the Necromancer\u2019s power could go towards the undead. The ceaseless stream of bodies began to slow.<\/p>\n But still. It didn\u2019t matter. Reiss looked across the battlefield and saw the Flooded Waters tribe, the Cave Goblins, even the Redfangs were stuck. They were struggling, but they still couldn\u2019t advance. They had slowed. And like flies in a spider\u2019s web, they were caught.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJust by numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara stood on her walls. The Watch Captain stared at the fighting Goblins, feeling sick. She looked up as more stones fell towards her walls.<\/p>\n \u201cCover!\u201d<\/p>\n She sheltered herself, feeling the thud<\/em> of impacts. Hearing a [Guardswoman] cry out in agony and then go silent. But the majority of the stones hadn\u2019t even hit her walls. They were all clustered on one spot.<\/p>\n \u201cThe eastern gates are falling.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara got up. She stared at Klbkch. The Revalantor hadn\u2019t bothered to duck. He was standing on the walls with the Soldiers, watching the battle. He hadn\u2019t looked away once.<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n That was all Zevara said. The metal was folding, bending inwards. A few more hits\u2014one direct one\u2014and it might completely fall inwards. And the stone was\u2014cracked. The walls might come down.<\/p>\n The walls of Liscor.<\/em> How could it happen? The Humans were using enchanted munitions, true. And they had been volleying endlessly since the battle began. But still.<\/p>\n \u201cIt won\u2019t be the same. Now they have siege weapons, they\u2019ll be able to take Liscor. The other cities.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara stared at the Human army. Klbkch didn\u2019t turn his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Goblin Lord is winning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Watch Captain wrenched her gaze away from the Human army. She had a bitter taste in her mouth as she stared at the Solstice Goblins. If they had managed to take him out\u2014but they could delay him. Weaken his army, at least.<\/p>\n \u201cSo many undead. How powerful is<\/em> that Goblin Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPowerful. As strong as the ones who rode with Velan.\u201d<\/p>\n The words chilled Zevara. But Klbkch would know. She stared at the army of Goblins.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not going to make it. They\u2019re surrounded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey must. She is there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey can\u2019t<\/em>, Klbkch. They need\u2014something. They can\u2019t do it. Not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara looked around helplessly. The [Guardsmen] of Liscor, the adventurers stared at Zevara. They gazed out across the Floodplains, towards the fighting Goblins.<\/p>\n Not one of them moved. Halrac gritted his teeth as he stared at Erin. Typhenous bowed his head. Below, in the Hive of the Free Antinium, the Free Queen listened through Klbkch.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are going to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Belgrade spoke involuntarily. He shuddered as the Free Queen and the puppet used by the five Queens looked at him. The Grand Queen\u2019s voice was imperious.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not? This is the desired outcome. These Goblins were <\/span>not<\/em><\/span> projected as part of the plan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut Erin is there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo? What is an Erin, and why does it matter? The Human?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Belgrade ignored the Grand Queen. He stared down at the map, longing to be above. If he could be there. If he could go\u2014he looked despairingly at Anand. The other [Tactician]\u2019s head was bowed. But his gaze was not despairing as he looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not over yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Belgrade stared down at the map. It was over to him. There was no way the Solstice Goblins, Erin\u2019s side could win.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it is her. Erin. Belgrade, it is not over yet.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Tactician] reached out and gripped Belgrade\u2019s shoulders with one of his four arms.<\/p>\n \u201cBelieve.\u201d<\/p>\n The two Workers stared at each other. And then Belgrade looked at the map. He closed his mandibles and looked up. Then his head turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Pawn?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn stood with Yellow Splatters. They were positioned near the entrance to the Hive. The public entrance, that was. The Painted Soldiers were stationed there, ready to fight the rear-guard action when Liscor fell. They were waiting. Waiting for the city to fall.<\/p>\n But the Worker stood with them. Pawn clutched his censer tied to his walking stick in his four hands. He looked up at Yellow Splatters. The [Sergeant] stood with Purple Smile, at the head of the Painted Soldiers. Yellow Splatters\u2019 arms were crossed.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is out there. She is leading the Goblins. They\u2019re fighting. For her. Erin is out there<\/em>. She needs our help. The Goblin Lord will win. He will\u2014he will kill her. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n Yellow Splatters did not move. The big Soldier hadn\u2019t moved. Even after Pawn had explained what was going on. It was not that he didn\u2019t care. He was listening, as hard as he ever had, to Pawn\u2019s pleas. But he was conflicted.<\/p>\n The Goblins were fighting. Erin Solstice was among them. She was trying to defend Liscor. And because she was there, Pawn had come to him. To Yellow Splatters and the Painted Soldiers. To beg them to defy Klbkch and their Queen. To fight a battle against the Goblin Lord, against the Grand Queen\u2019s<\/em> orders.<\/p>\n All for Erin. Pawn had asked them to fight, and because they were Soldiers, die. For her. But how could Yellow Splatters ever agree?<\/p>\n It was not their fight. <\/em>Yellow Splatters looked down the line of Painted Soldiers. It was not their battle. Moreover, it was not a situation where the Antinium would survive. There were hundreds of thousands of Goblins. The Painted Soldiers were six hundred strong, and of that number, only two hundred were \u2018old\u2019. They had levels, but they were all under Level 20.<\/p>\n They couldn\u2019t win. They would die, and for what? Friendship? A warm meal? A\u2026smile?<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t enough. How could you weigh the lives of the Antinium like that? Yellow Splatters looked at Pawn. He didn\u2019t have to explain any of it. Pawn knew. The Worker bowed his head. He had tried for half an hour to reason with Yellow Splatters. To no avail. The other Soldiers were restless, but they followed Yellow Splatters in this.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t enough. Yellow Splatters didn\u2019t move. He stared down at Pawn. The Worker clutched at his censer. He sought for words, spoke in a trembling voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I know how much I\u2019m asking. I know it\u2019s just one person. I know she\u2019s not Antinium. I know. Even if the Goblins are our\u2014our friends. Even then, I know what it would cost. But Erin\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He broke off, shaking his head. The Painted Soldiers were all listening. They stood straight, motionless, waiting for orders. But they listened like Yellow Splatters. They judged. They decided where they had only obeyed before. It was a terrifying thing.<\/p>\n The Worker went on. He spoke to Yellow Splatters, his voice numb.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s her.<\/em> She made me me. <\/em>I owe her everything. We do. If she dies\u2026if she dies, what purpose have I? She told me of faith. She played chess with me. She was kind when no one else was. If she dies\u2014how could I live? How could I continue?\u201d<\/p>\n The Soldiers stirred. Yellow Splatters hesitated. Pawn looked up at him. The Antinium did not cry, but there was no need for tears. All Yellow Splatters had to do was look in his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no right to ask it of you. But I am no Soldier. And you are. I beg you. All of you. There is no good reason I can give. Only that she must not die. Please. She gave me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n He bowed his head. Spent. Pawn sank to his knees. He was empty. Helpless. He wished he could fight. But alone he was useless. As useless as he had ever been.<\/p>\n He began to curl up. And a part of him wept inside, though he had never known tears. Pawn sank lower and lower. Until a hand reached down. Yellow Splatters gripped Pawn by the shoulders. The Worker looked up.<\/p>\n The Soldier stood above him. An impassive face. Tearing mandibles. A deep gaze. Yellow Splatters turned. The bright splats of paint on his body caught the light. He looked down the ranks of Painted Soldiers as Pawn slowly rose.<\/p>\n Slowly, Yellow Splatters stepped forwards. The Painted Soldiers waited. He raised one finger. Pointed down the line of Soldiers. The meaning was clear.<\/p>\n One hundred.<\/em><\/p>\n The Painted Soldiers held still. They waited, and for a second, Pawn despaired. He feared none would volunteer. But then a hundred moved.<\/p>\n A hundred Soldiers. They were not the hundred closest to Yellow Splatters. They stepped out of line, in pairs, alone, in large groups. Seemingly at random. But as Pawn looked down the line for Soldiers, at the hundred chosen, he understood.<\/p>\n They were the first. The ones who had heard Pawn\u2019s stories, the ones who had survived the mass suicide. The oldest. None of them were more than three years old.<\/p>\n Yellow Splatters nodded. He turned, and the Soldiers stepped into line behind him. Purple Smile moved. He looked uncertainly at Yellow Splatters. The [Sergeant] nodded to him. Purple Smile nodded slowly.<\/p>\n That was all. Pawn stared at the Soldiers. Yellow Splatters began to walk. They followed him, abandoning their posts. Disobeying direct orders from their Queen. The Hive.<\/p>\n Going to battle.<\/p>\n Words could not express what Yellow Splatters was feeling. He walked, feeling death in the air. Death, sadness, determination, a giddy excitement at betraying his hive. But strangely, no regret. He marched ahead, through the Hive, until he realized someone was following him. He halted, and the Painted Soldiers stopped with him. He stared at Pawn and held an arm out. The Worker stopped and placed one of his hands on Yellow Splatter\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Shock.<\/em> The other Soldiers stared. Yellow Splatters shook his head. Unacceptable. Pawn was\u2026everything. He had brought the Painted Soldiers freedom. Without him\u2014he was to them what Erin was to him. But Pawn refused to be moved.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t stop me. You\u2019ll need my prayers. It might help. And I can shout to Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n It made sense. But Yellow Splatters refused to budge. He blocked Pawn\u2019s way. The Worker looked into the [Sergeant]\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t ask you to do this without going as well.\u201d<\/p>\n But if you die\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Yellow Splatters wanted to speak. More than anything, in that moment he wanted to say something. But he had no words. And as he thought them, he realized what he was saying. It was what Pawn had said.<\/p>\n Slowly, the [Sergeant] turned. The Painted Soldiers stared at his back, but Yellow Splatters just kept marching. Slowly, Pawn fell in beside him. The two walked in silence. But Yellow Splatters was happy to have Pawn. Happy. Afraid. He felt alive.<\/p>\n This was how the Painted Soldiers went.<\/p>\n They marched through the dark tunnels, past Workers and other Soldiers who turned to watch. Each Soldier was alone with their thoughts, and each was together. They followed Yellow Splatters, followed Pawn upwards, out of the secret tunnels.<\/p>\n To death. But the Soldiers thought little of that. They had been asked, and they had answered. Instead, as the ground sloped upwards, the Soldiers looked up. Bright light shone on their faces, and they smiled then. Even if the smile was only in their hearts.<\/p>\n It was good to see the sky.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They were losing the battle.<\/em> Laken listened to the reports coming to his position with a sinking heart. He could only imagine the battle. He could hear distant sounds, the sound of thunder. And around him, the thumping<\/em> of trebuchets. But nothing else. He bowed his head.<\/p>\n A young woman leading Goblins. An army opposing the Goblin Lord. Here he was. There was good and evil here. Perhaps not right and wrong, but a choice to be made. He looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cGamel.\u201d<\/p>\n He felt a touch at his arm. Gamel stood by his [Emperor]. Laken tilted his head towards the sky. He could hear only screams. Death. But he thought he knew what had to be done.<\/p>\n \u201cGet me Tessia. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n Gamel ran. Laken stayed where he was. He kept listening. Lord Tyrion was aiming for the gates. He wanted them down and the walls breached by the time the Goblin Lord was finished. The Cave Goblins were dying. The other tribes were being pushed back. They were losing. There was no hope.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags slid from her saddle. She had arrived too late. Too late. She stood on a cliff at the edge of the Floodplains. She had come so far. So far, <\/em>at such speed. But it was too late.<\/p>\n The battle was underway. And even so far away, Rags could see. Her tribe was losing. They were fighting with the Redfangs, with the strange grey Goblins. But they were outnumbered, retreating. And Reiss kept advancing. Even the lightning wasn\u2019t slowing his forces.<\/p>\n \u201cChieftain. What do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags turned. She saw a few hundred of Tremborag\u2019s Goblins, eight Redfangs, Pyrite, Ulvama, and Garen looking to her. Garen was holding his crimson blade. His teeth were bared, and his Carn Wolf was growling. But the Hobgoblin had a grip on his wolf\u2019s mouth, preventing it from howling.<\/p>\n Because of the Humans. Their army was in front of the Goblins. A vast host, infantry, trebuchets, [Mages], and cavalry. They were spread out\u2014Tyrion\u2019s riders in front, the trebuchets in the middle, and infantry surrounding them at the back. Rags could see tens of thousands of [Soldiers] in ranks. Waiting to move in.<\/p>\n They were between her and her tribe. There was no way they\u2019d be able to get around them. Garen shifted.<\/p>\n \u201cCould run past. Me and Redfangs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. You die. And we die.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags shook her head. Garen had barely slipped past them once, and that was with a hundred of his warriors in the cover of night. When they were on the move? Now? They would be dead before they even cleared the trebuchets. She stared at her tribe.<\/p>\n \u201cHave to do something. Have to.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChieftain. We can fight. Cause distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n One of Tremborag\u2019s Hobs offered. Pyrite shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNot big enough distraction. Need one to occupy army. Especially\u2014him.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed at Tyrion Veltras. The Hob was staring at the battle. He had hold of his battleaxe, and he was strong enough to lift it. He was restless. They all were. But Rags couldn\u2019t figure out what to do.<\/p>\n How? How could she save her tribe? She burned to race towards them. But that was death. Rags bowed her head. By the time they went around the cliffs, it would be too late by hours. Could they really cause a distraction? With what? Ulvama\u2019s spells? She had nothing strong enough. What if\u2014<\/p>\n Memory.<\/em> Something tugged at Rags\u2019 mind. A thought. She looked around and recalled something.<\/p>\n Long ago. A skeleton racing out of a cliff. Enchanted armor. Crossbows. Dropclaw bats. A bunch of cursed amulets. And\u2014<\/p>\n A cave. <\/em>Rags looked up. She stared around and then saw it.<\/p>\n \u201cThere.\u201d<\/p>\n Her Goblins stared. They looked at a little cave set into the stone. Rags pointed at it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCave. Leads to dungeon.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags explained to Garen and Pyrite. Her heart was racing. She had no idea if the dungeon led towards Liscor. But maybe\u2014<\/p>\n Garen\u2019s eyes were troubled. The Hobgoblin shifted restlessly.<\/p>\n \u201cDungeon is very dangerous. Without [Rogue], will die to traps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Chieftain good with rocks? What other choice is there?\u201d<\/p>\n Pyrite questioned the Redfang Chieftain. Garen eyed him, but said nothing. Rags leapt down the cliff.<\/p>\n \u201cGo!\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblins entered the cave cautiously. They looked up for Dropclaw bats, but there were none. They must have all flown off. Rags led the way. She was desperate, still despairing inside. They\u2019d never make it. How long would it take them to find a way through the dungeon? But if\u2014<\/p>\n She paused as she entered the main cave and looked around. Something was wrong. Someone had been living here. There were scorch marks on the ground, trash. Signs of habitation.<\/p>\n \u201cA tribe lived here? Or old trash from your tribe?\u201d<\/p>\n Garen frowned around the cave. Rags shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. New.\u201d<\/p>\n Pyrite bent down and sniffed at some leftover charcoal. He straightened, frowning about, and then his keen eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed. There was a sound. Rags turned. Garen\u2019s Carn Wolf growled, and the Hobgoblin pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cGoblin.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A little Goblin flinched and cowered against the rocks. She\u2019d hid herself by a plank of wood. Rags blinked. Garen\u2019s wolf growled, but the Hobgoblin held it still. Rags looked at Pyrite. The Goblin was very small, barely more than a child. And her skin was\u2026grey.<\/p>\n \u201cMe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, me.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags put out an arm and stopped Pyrite. She approached the Cave Goblin slowly. The little Goblin cowered. She was holding something red in her hands. And she\u2019d been lying on something. It looked like a dirty, white\u2026hat?<\/p>\n \u201cHello?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags halted as the Cave Goblin flinched away from her. The Chieftain of the Flooded Waters tribe blinked down at Pebblesnatch. The little Goblin looked up. Rags was barely taller than her.<\/p>\n \u201cI am Rags. Flooded Waters tribe Chieftain. Who you?\u201d<\/p>\n The Cave Goblin froze with panic. But then she gabbled her name. Rags frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy you alone? You live here? Where other Goblins? Tribe?\u201d<\/p>\n Pebblesnatch was too afraid to speak. Rags squatted by her, trying to demand answers, but the little Goblin was petrified. She kept staring at Garen and his Carn Wolf for some reason.<\/p>\n \u201cTake too long. Want me to charm her?\u201d<\/p>\n Ulvama grumbled. Pyrite stared at the [Shaman] disapprovingly. Garen stared at Ulvama\u2019s chest. The female Hob glared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cWith spell.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hobs shook their heads. Rags glared and pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cOut!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The others left to watch the battle and figure something else out. Rags stayed. Garen did too. He was checking out the dungeon, frowning into it.<\/p>\n \u201cDungeon was cleared. Looks like statues gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags was astonished. She went to look. There was a strange wall where there hadn\u2019t been before, and a bit of it had been broken down. The statues were all gone\u2014smashed, if the rubble was any indication. She stared around. And then, only then, did Pebblesnatch move.<\/p>\n The little Goblin crept up behind Rags and Garen. The two turned to look at her, and she flinched and nearly fled. But she raised a trembling claw. She had the red mana stone in one hand, her chef\u2019s hat in the other. She was afraid. But she looked at Garen. At his Carn Wolf. At the war paint that was so familiar. <\/em>And she spoke a word.<\/p>\n \u201cRedfang?\u201d<\/p>\n The two Goblins stared at her. Rags opened her mouth and looked at Garen. He nodded. He tapped his chest.<\/p>\n \u201cRedfang.\u201d<\/p>\n Pebblesnatch stared up at him. She had seen Garen fight Headscratcher, seen him flee. But she had witnessed the Humans, seen the Goblin Lord. And she knew her tribe was dying. She looked to Rags. And then she began to speak. Rags demanded answers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is beyond wall? Is there way through dungeon? Fast<\/em> way?\u201d<\/p>\n No. No fast way. Or safe way, either. Pebblesnatch bowed her head. She was nearly in tears as she told Rags about the Raskghar, about the dungeon and the invisible much-death in the room beyond. About the secret entrances and exits and the flooded rift. If they could go through the many trap rooms, maybe\u2014<\/p>\n Rags listened, heart racing, mind blurring with fear and thoughts and impatience. And then everything crystallized. She latched onto something Pebblesnatch had said and stared at the Cave Goblin. Garen looked at her, suddenly alert. Rags stared at the wall. At the dungeon and what lay beyond. And then she turned.<\/p>\n \u201cGet Pyrite. Hurry.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n They were running. The Free Queen saw it through Klbkch\u2019s eyes. She relayed the news quietly. Calmly. She felt his distress. But she kept it out of her tone.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Goblins are falling back. Losing ground.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Grand Queen and her puppet rubbed their feelers together. Her tone was smug. For that reason alone the Free Queen wished the Goblins and Erin Solstice would win. But it was impossible. How could they win? She felt Klbkch\u2019s grip tightening on his swords and urged him silently not to move.<\/p>\n And then she felt it. So did Klbkch. The Revalantor slowly looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara glanced sharply at Klbkch. Both he and the Free Queen ignored the Watch Captain. They stared to the left. Towards an entrance into the Flood Plains only they knew. And then\u2014<\/p>\n The Free Queen\u2019s breath caught as she saw the first bodies leaving her Hive. She felt them. A hundred and two. A Worker holding a censer. A [Sergeant], larger than any other Soldier. And a hundred of the Painted Soldiers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? What is going on?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Painted Soldiers. They have left their positions. And so has Pawn.\u201d<\/p>\n The Free Queen and Klbkch spoke the same words. Their voices were one.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are going to try and save Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara stared at the dark Antinium. Her eyes widened. The Grand Queen lurched upwards, alarmed.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is <\/span>not<\/em><\/span> part of the plan! Why did you order this, Free Queen?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI did not. They disobeyed me.\u201d<\/p>\n The Free Queen spoke quietly. The five Queens went still.<\/p>\n \u201cAberration?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Free Queen didn\u2019t answer. Belgrade and Anand looked up. Bird tried to sit up.<\/p>\n \u201cPawn is going? With the colorful Soldiers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Free Queen watched them march. She felt them in her mind. Both she and Klbkch watched them go. And they thought as one.<\/p>\n \u201cUnacceptable. Unacceptable. Order them back. Recover them. The Hive cannot lose an asset. The battle must be <\/span>lost.<\/em><\/span> Do you hear me? Free Queen? Free Queen?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The puppet was raising its voice, and the Grand Queen spoke sharply through her scrying mirror. The Free Queen glanced towards her. And in that moment, she made her decision. She bent down low, towards the puppet, and opened her mandibles. The little copy of the Queen bent back. The Free Queen spoke one word.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium in the chamber stared. The little Queen and the Grand Queen hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, what? I gave you orders. Carry them out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Free Queen stared. She tilted her head from side to side and then shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI did not hear that. Can you speak again? Louder? Your connection is breaking up, my Queen. I am afraid I cannot hear your orders. Hello?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is the meaning of this? I said\u2014can you hear me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy audio reception is perfect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIs something the matter? Why can the Free Queen not hear us?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI. Wonder why.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI cannot hear anything, my Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n The Free Queen repeated herself loudly over the babble of voices. She looked at the Workers. Belgrade and Anand shot each other quick glances. Anand nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the, uh, vessel has malfunctioned. As has the scrying glass. I am quite deaf to the Grand Queen\u2019s orders. I cannot hear a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNor me.\u201d<\/p>\n Belgrade nodded, his antennae waving about wildly. The Grand Queen spluttered. The Free Queen smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI hear nothing. Do you, Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n The little Worker looked up at the Free Queen. His voice was small, but distinct. He looked towards the ceiling. Towards the marching Soldiers.<\/p>\n \u201cI hear laughter. They\u2019re laughing. And so are you.\u201d<\/p>\n The elation in the Free Queen turned to surprise. Shock. She stared down at Bird, tuning out the Grand Queen. Had he just\u2014<\/p>\n The Free Queen kept looking at Bird. Her mandibles opened, and then her head turned. Her attention snapped back to Klbkch. Above, she saw the reaction to the Painted Soldiers play out, on the walls, on the battlefield, and across the world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat in the name of love are those things?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSend word to Lord Veltras! The Antinium are on the march!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only a hundred! Only\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Human army stared as the Antinium emerged seemingly from the ground. Tyrion Veltras stared as the Painted Antinium marched forwards, across the Floodplains.<\/p>\n \u201cJericha. What are those Antinium? A new variant?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re\u2014we sighted them around Liscor previously but\u2014we have no knowledge of them, Lord Veltras. They\u2019re\u2026new.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNew?\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion stared at the Soldiers. They looked just like ordinary Soldiers. But the paint on their bodies. That was different. On any other species, he would dismiss it as decoration. But the Antinium had no decoration.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are only a hundred of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut are they going to reinforce the Goblins? Attack both sides? What?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe should ready a defense. Just in case. Attack them from afar, even. If they close\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion turned to the arguing [Strategists].<\/p>\n \u201cNo. We hold back. Watch them.\u201d<\/p>\n His words were unnecessary. Everyone was watching the strange new Antinium. Tyrion turned back to the battle. It was just a hundred. They couldn\u2019t do a thing. He knew that intellectually. But for the first time since this battle had begun, he began to grow vaguely uneasy.<\/p>\n And on they came.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIs that Pawn?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria stared down at the Antinium from the walls. She recognized the Worker. The other adventurers craned over the battlements, keeping a watchful eye out for more falling stones.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is Pawn! What is he<\/em> doing? Has everyone gone mad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPawn, get back here!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua bellowed at the Worker. But if he heard, he never slowed. He was marching with the others. Ceria vaguely recognized Yellow Splatters. She turned to Ksmvr to ask what they were doing. And stopped. Ksmvr was staring down at the Painted Soldiers. And he looked far away.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr? Ksmvr?\u201d<\/p>\n The former Prognugator didn\u2019t turn. He opened his mandibles slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are Pawn and the Soldiers doing? They\u2019re not fighting, are they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut they\u2019ll die!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium looked up. His mandibles opened, and he straightened. He looked down at the Painted Antinium as the Drakes and Gnolls looked down. The adventurers stood together. Ksmvr nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is what they are doing. Dying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n At first, the Goblins didn\u2019t notice them. They were harrying the retreating Solstice Goblins, pressing them back. It wasn\u2019t easy. The Flooded Waters tribe was dug in. The Redfangs fought like demons. And the Cave Goblins refused to buckle. But by numbers they were losing. Eater of Spears was cutting back. Snapjaw was attacking from the flanks, skirmishing with the Redfangs. And Reiss had created a shield of bone spires. Now he was directing the undead to attack.<\/p>\n So it was little wonder that the Antinium weren\u2019t spotted by the Goblins on either side at first. There were only a hundred. But they were different.<\/p>\n They marched in ranks of five abreast, Yellow Splatters and Pawn in the lead. Each Soldier\u2019s body was marked by paint. Each was unique.<\/p>\n A flower drawn in black paint with white petals. Raindrops, the first ever seen. A series of numbers without reason. Words painted in every color that had meaning only to the Soldier who\u2019d drawn it.<\/em><\/p>\n Their march was steady. Quick. And as they marched, they listened. The Goblins were ahead of them. But it was not on them the Painted Soldiers focused. It was on the Worker who marched at their head. Pawn swung the censer, his voice loud. The censer burned cinnamon. The sweet smoke drifted across the Soldiers.<\/p>\n Time seemed slow to him. Despite the urgency of their pace, Pawn felt like each moment was forever. Was this Erin\u2019s [Immortal Moment]? His words echoed in his mind, across the Soldiers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are going to war. We are going to fight, though this is not our battle.\u201d<\/p>\n Click.<\/em><\/p>\n The Soldiers\u2019 mandibles snapped together as one. Pawn heard the sound reverberate through his soul. He went on. His voice was shaking.<\/p>\n \u201cWe pray not for victory. We pray only that we might live. That we survive. That Erin lives. That our friends live.\u201d<\/p>\n Click.<\/em><\/p>\n The Goblin Lord\u2019s army had seen them now. Reiss turned on the back of his Shield Spider. His master uttered the first curse word he had spoken in three years. Reiss stared and then pointed.<\/p>\n Goblins in black armor moved to set themselves against the Antinium. They stared uneasily at the insect-people. But [Archers] were already moving. A thousand Goblins set themselves in place. Enough. The Painted Soldiers\u2019 pace never wavered. Pawn continued, staring at the Goblins as they slowly took positions. They were so far away still.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no gods for us to pray to. None that will listen to the Antinium. None that will care. We are alone. But we are still Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n Click.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSo. Pray not to gods, but believe in each other. Fight and survive. Believe that Heaven awaits. Arrows shall pierce our bodies. Steel rend our chitin. We will bleed and perish. But believe. We may fall, but we will find Heaven afterwards. Even if it only exists in our minds. And know that you will be remembered forever.\u201d<\/p>\n Click.<\/em> Now the Goblins were ready. A ripple went through their ranks. They were raising bows, aiming. A Goblin [Mage] conjured fire. Pawn\u2019s grip tightened on his staff. He shouted the last words, or perhaps they shouted themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cFor so long as one Antinium lives, we shall never be forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n Click.<\/em><\/p>\n There was no signal. No command. The Painted Soldiers saw the Goblins draw back. Their pace quickened. The march turned into a run. Then a sprint. The Goblins aimed. They loosed as one. Pawn was running. He raised his staff up. The censer released smoke. And the arrows flew.<\/p>\n The Painted Soldiers charged. The Goblins were hundreds of paces away yet. But the arrows were falling. Like rain. They landed among the Soldiers, hundreds of them. First one volley, then another. The Goblin Lord\u2019s archers never stopped firing. But the Soldiers ran on. They had no shields to protect them. Only an invisible thing.<\/p>\n Faith.<\/p>\n Believe<\/em>. Believe they would survive to meet the Goblins. The first arrow struck a Soldier on the shoulder. It did not pierce far, but the tip cut past the shell of the Soldier. Blood ran down his chest. Still he ran.<\/p>\n Arrows fell among the Soldiers. They touched them. The Antinium bled. But none fell.<\/p>\n Perhaps it was a miracle. The arrows seemed to be missing. Or maybe it was the mud, the fighting. Poor visibility, a chance gust of wind.<\/p>\n The Goblins stared. They had expected a few Soldiers to fall. But the arrows were missing. And the Soldiers were drawing closer. The front rank of Hobs shifted uneasily. The Soldiers were as big as they were. And the one in front was bigger<\/em> than the rest, or so it seemed. But they were Hobs. They held their ground. And the Antinium ran faster.<\/p>\n Pawn was in front. He didn\u2019t know if he was screaming. He didn\u2019t realize he\u2019d outdistanced the others, even Yellow Splatters. He ran at the front rank of Goblins and then realized. He didn\u2019t have a weapon!<\/p>\n The first Hobgoblin in black armor was turning, eyes wide. He had never seen the Antinium before. Pawn started to slow. The Hobgoblin had a mace. It raised it to strike at the Worker. Yellow Splatters charged past Pawn. His first fist struck the Hob across the face. The second grabbed the mace hand. Two more blows struck the Hob, and the Goblin fell.<\/p>\n Pawn saw the Goblins turn. One struck at Yellow Splatters with a sword. The Soldier punched, and the Goblin fell back, his face broken. A Soldier crashed into the Goblins next to Pawn. Another leapt. The Hobs looked up, and a Soldier landed, crushing one with a knee. And ninety-eight more charged past the rest.<\/p>\n It shouldn\u2019t have mattered. They were only a hundred. A hundred bodies. A hundred fragile souls, nothing more. But they didn\u2019t stop. The Painted Soldiers overran the first rank of Goblins, then the second. They didn\u2019t stop.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGo!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn screamed. The Goblins fell back. It could speak?<\/em> The Worker ran with the Soldiers. They crashed into a wave of Goblins armed with spears. The metal broke on their bodies. It pierced them. It didn\u2019t matter. They didn\u2019t so much as slow. They had one thought in their minds.<\/p>\n Further.<\/em> A Soldier reeled back, a spear stabbed through his guts. He looked down at the spear as the Goblin holding it twisted. The Soldier punched down, and the spear broke. He grabbed the terrified Goblin and broke its neck. Then he ran on.<\/p>\n Arrows flew down from above. The Goblin Lord was shooting at his own warriors! The Antinium looked up. One of them was struck half a dozen times. He bled. The raindrops on his body became green with his blood. And he did not stop.<\/p>\n The Soldier with raindrops ran on, ignoring the arrows protruding from his body. His fellows joined them. They had yet to fall. They would not fall.<\/p>\n On.<\/em> There was nothing to hold them back. The Goblins began to flee in the face of the Antinium. They screamed and turned. Swords didn\u2019t hurt them! They bled, but they didn\u2019t die!<\/p>\n \u201cHold your positions! There are only a hundred!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Reiss bellowed. But the Goblins were afraid. The Soldiers charged on, a wedge now. Led by Yellow Splatters. And Pawn. The Worker ran through Goblins, forging ahead. Towards Erin. Towards the Goblin Lord. He whirled his staff and struck a Goblin with the censer. With his other hand, he struck another Goblin with a mace he\u2019d picked up.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t enough. They\u2019d never make it. The Soldiers were taking injuries. And they were beginning to slow. Pawn saw one fall. The one with numbers. But the others kept moving. They\u2019d never get to the Goblin Lord.<\/p>\n But they didn\u2019t stop. They overran formations, charged past the stunned Solstice Goblins.<\/p>\n Onwards.<\/em><\/p>\n The Goblin Lord\u2019s lines began to break.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMadness.\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion whispered. The Goblins were retreating. The Antinium were smashing through their lines. It was a suicide charge. But somehow, the Soldiers weren\u2019t dying.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDo they have some kind of special armor? How are they still moving? <\/em>What kind of Antinium is this?\u201d<\/p>\n Jericha stared at the Antinium. Her face was pale. The Soldiers should not be doing this. Even Antinium had limits. But not this group. And the Solstice Goblins were rallying around the Soldiers. Redscar pointed, and his Redfangs raced after the Painted Soldiers. Lightning flashed down ahead of them, clearing a path. Numbtongue roared, and Yellow Splatters looked up. The Goblins surged after the Antinium.<\/p>\n This was the spear they needed. The five Redfangs charged again. The momentum was again against the Goblin Lord.<\/p>\n But he had his army. He could still win. He just needed to slow them. Tyrion gritted his teeth. He looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cJericha!\u201d<\/p>\n His aide blinked. She looked at Tyrion and then colored.<\/p>\n \u201cMy lord?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell the Gold-rank teams to deploy their [Archers]. Take down the Goblin leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mage]\u2019s eyes widened. She nodded and shouted orders. Tyrion saw the message race across the lines of his soldiers, to the group of irregular adventurers. They were behind the lines of cavalry. They had no intention of participating in the mass-combat. But at Tyrion\u2019s orders the teams with high-level [Archers] came forward.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants us to hit the Goblin leaders? From here?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Gold-rank captains exclaimed with dismay. Another, a man named Jackal, turned to the [Messenger].<\/p>\n \u201cWhich ones are we hitting? The Goblin Lord\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, the Goblins defending Liscor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn.\u201d<\/p>\n Jackal swore. He looked at his team. The only other adventurer with a bow, their [Ranger], looked unhappy.<\/p>\n \u201cJack, what\u2019s the point of this? You saw that girl. Are we supposed to shoot her, too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly the Goblins. Lord Veltras was very specific about that.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Messenger] interjected unhelpfully. Jackal gave him a long look. The Gold-rank adventurer shook his head. He selected an arrow and put it to his shortbow. The odds of him hitting one of the Goblins from here was remote, but the other adventurers might have a shot.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got orders. Tyrion wants those Goblins to lose. So\u2026let\u2019s support that Goblin Lord. Sight on those Hobs. That one on the hill with the bow.\u201d<\/p>\n Reluctantly, the other adventurers took aim. They sighted on Badarrow, who was loosing arrow after arrow. Jackal\u2019s grip tightened on his arrow.<\/p>\n \u201c[Farseeker Arrows]. [Double Arrow].\u201d<\/p>\n He could hear the other adventurers using similar Skills. Jackal drew back. He could see the Antinium pushing forwards. He gritted his teeth. And then he looked up. Something bright flashed in the sky.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods! Take cover!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Jackal pointed up, screamed, and threw himself sideways. The other adventurers didn\u2019t bother looking. They dove. And then they saw what Jackal had.<\/p>\n The arrow that flew down out of the sky was glowing, its tip sparking with electricity. An enchanted arrow. It detonated as it struck the earth in front of Jackal\u2019s team. The men and women cried out as the lightning earthed itself, mostly harmlessly.<\/p>\n \u201cMy arm!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt got my armor!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho shot that? A Goblin?\u201d<\/p>\n The Humans milled about in a panic. Someone blew an alarm, but the adventurers were more concerned with the attack. Jackal pulled himself up. The [Ranger] grabbed his arm.<\/p>\n \u201cThat didn\u2019t come from the Goblins. Jack! It came from the walls?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA Drake<\/em> shot that?\u201d<\/p>\n