The hordes of Undead matched the ferocity of the Elves’ counter-attack and threw themselves upon the enemy, unmindful and uncaring of injury. Dire Wolves, fresh into the fray, leapt upon the Phoenix Guard defending the steps of the watchtower.

A Fell Bat swooped low across the battlefield from where it had been feasting on the Dragon Prince and attacked Commander Arianar-eth. A Dire Wolf join the fray as it avoided the mêlée with the Phoenix Guard. The Banshee and Ethereal Host floated forward once more. With an ear-piercing scream, the Banshee wailed its lament at Commander Dalthimar. His heart began to freeze with horror and his vision swirled, yet still he hung on.

The Dire Wolves snapped at the heels of the Phoenix Guard, but could not find an opening in their defence. In return, the silent warriors hacked down one of the wolves and managed to throw another totally off guard. To the left of the Phoenix Guard, Drakemaster Staris could not take down the wolf opposing him despite the numerous wounds it now suffered.

Arianar-eth could not quite string his bow in time to meet the oncoming threat of the Fell Bat and the Dire Wolves. The Undead creatures swept over him. The wolf went for his arm, gnawing off his armour and wounding the Commander badly. The Fell Bat went for the jugular, trying to finish off the hapless archer. But the Elf’s armour saved him.

The White Lions were just barely holding their own against the Dire Wolves, thanks to the intervention of the Keeper of the Flame, Elthanon, who slew another of the wolves. The White Lions Guardian, Orthanan, managed to knock another wolf to the ground with the flat of his axe. The White Lion, prone on the ground, took heart from his comrade’s actions and dived out of the way of the hungry wolf.

In the centre of the field, the epic battle between Dalthimar and the swarms of bats and the Dire Wolves continued. Having momentarily beaten back the swarms, Dalthimar turned his attention to the wolves braying before him. Neither he nor the wolves could cause any damage against each other as they circled each other, dodging.

Looking over his shoulder across the battle lines, Elthanon could see that Arianar-eth was in serious trouble. Silently indicating across the steps to his brother warrior, they both charged the fetid Fell Bat. Elthanon reached the combat, but his brother warrior was forced to fight en route by a vicious, growling Dire Wolf. 

Both of the Dragon Princes on the flank were now free and able to help their fellows. Turning their horses round and digging in their spurs, they galloped back to help.

The Phoenix Guard fighting the downed wolf finished it off with the spear point of his halberd, driving it through the rank creature. His fellow warrior, who had encountered the Dire Wolf while trying to rescue Arianar-eth, was barely able to defend himself against the surprise attack of the dangerous creature, desperately holding him off.

Elthanon charged into the Fell Bat, the point of his halberd aimed squarely at its chest. The fanged creature turned at the last second, receiving a wound, but that was all. Arianar-eth, barely conscious, somehow managed to hold his sword up to defend himself from the fangs and the claws of his assailants.

Across the field, the High Elves continued to hack and slash into the Undead creatures. The upper hand was being won, but at what cost? Drakemaster Staris, impaled a wolf as it dove upon him, killing the creature instantly and covering him in a film of ancient dust. The White Lions remained locked in desperate combat with the wolves.

Commander Dalthimar hacked at the wolves, his magically imbued blade cleaving one of the dogs clean in two. So mighty was his blow that he left himself open to attack. The other wolf dived, claws unfurled, fangs glistening. Dalthimar’s horse was hit in its flank and fell over on to its side, thrashing in it’s death throes from the mortal wound inflicted from the wolf. The Commander was trapped beneath his horse and his sword was sent flying from the impact. There was nothing Dalthimar could do as the jaws of the colossal wolf closed around his head…