"Thank you, Lazheros," The Prince extended his hand in friendship to the Cleric, "Your blessing upon my bow made all the difference in our struggle today."

"You're welcome, Prince Willow," Lazheros addressed the ranger by his station.

Serna walked over to Alyson who was still lying on the ground and reached her hand down to the Elementalist, "Need a hand getting up?"

Alyson got up with a helping hand from the shield maiden, "Thanks, Serna."

"You're welcome," The Shield Maiden smiled before she turned to The Prince, "So what do we do now, Willow?"

The Prince turned to The Cleric, "Lazheros, can you please consecrate the ground upon which this village stands and give these poor souls a proper burial? I do not wish to see another Necromancer try and succeed where the previous one failed."

"I can but it will take me a few minutes to do," Lazheros pulled out some incense and sage and lit it. He then proceeded to walk the perimeter of the village entire while everyone else stayed.

The elementalist brushed herself and looked over at the ranger, "Willow, I could be wrong here but its a good guess that when the horde invaded the Southern Valley it opened a window for a lot outcasts to start raising hell."

*******

The armored hill dwarf on a war goat stopped eyeing his kin in the company of a drow and some dark draconic creature warily. "About time you sounded the horn, what took you so long?"

Danvald stepped forward, "We got separated from the main supply convoy and ended up on the Ridge Line. There were eight of us but an ettin and a group of goblins ambushed us."

"What happened to the other four?" The rider asked.

"The ettin ate them," Thinbar said wiping the blood off of his weapons. "This is Irzen, and I forget the dragon man's name came along the Ridge Line with others. Three humans, a cleric, a sorcerer, a shield maiden, a fairy, and an elven ranger, who looks a lot like Prince Willow, sir."

"Prince Willow, you say? Can it be he has returned in our hour of need?!" The armored dwarf said.

"Should we tell them that their prince has returned?" Irzen whispered over to Dragolem.

The draconian moved forward, "To clarify, I am Dragolem and yes, the prince has returned although he seems to be out of the loop as it were."

"I see," The armored dwarf dismounted announcing his presence, "I am Captain Mandur, of the hill dwarves here. My cousin is Knight-Captain Martuk of Asylum."

"Asylum, huh," The draconian's shadowy form shifted a little, "Then you'll be happy to here that the guardian of Asylum is here too."

"What?" Mandur's eyes went wide, "Then where is the guardian?"

"Traveling with The Prince," The Swordsman stepped forward, "I am Lord Irzen, a friend to your Prince, he has heard about the plight of his people and he has come and sent us to aid you in your hour of greatest need. We helped save your colleagues when an Ettin and some Goblins fell upon them."

Irzen added regretfully, "We regret not saving them all, but we did the best we could, Captain Mandur. Is there anything further you need now that we have returned your kin to you? If not, then my friend and I will be on our way and rejoin the Prince."

"I am grateful you and your friends came along when you did, Lord Irzen. My kin have not seen battle on this scale before and it will only get worse before its gets better. The horde is vast. I'm guessing what you and your friends have seen are only a handful."

"A giant, an ettin, goblins, and a pack of worg riders is all they've seen," Dragolem said nonchalantly.