them's fightin' words

What is it with the humans and the Northrog? This guy in charge of the Northrog seems pretty reasonable—maybe the humans should try talking to him.

We were on our way to the future site of Dragon Keep when we saw some big birdies circling overhead. They came to land and it was Malakar’s shape-shifting buddies come to tell us about some planned Northrog attack on some human city, yadda, yadda, yadda.

So of course we change directions to help out the humans. The dwarven squad we’re with will catch us up well before the Northrog arrive, or so the story goes as Obegard summons up a bunch of magic horses again.

The shapeshifters leave behind someone to help us out. Like most of the Upworlders his name doesn’t seem to mean anything, but at least it will be easy to remember—Erson the Person. Oh, okay, maybe I added “the Person” but at least it will help me remember his name.

We rode on ahead only to find out that things were not as expected. We were told that the captain of the guard was a fool who wanted to engage the attackers in the field, but based on the information available it seemed like a sensible plan—the numbers were equal but the attackers were all infantry with siege engines, while the defenders had cavalry and should be able to cut the attackers to pieces.

Also the city had a hidden trade in providing, um, “discreet” places for notorious individuals to avoid attention. Apparently wealthy individuals at that, judging by the types of things available in a city of its size.

We did some scouting of our own and found out that the Northrog army was much bigger than originally reported, and much closer. The dwarves aren’t going to make it in time, and there’s no way to clear the city out in time.

Oh, yeah, right. Also the army has a bunch of giants and other unexpected beasties. Man the Northrogs have some serious magicking on their side—I wonder if I can buy some of it?

I think we should cut our losses (currently at zero) and make a run for it, but of course everyone else wants to stay and help defend the city. Hahahahahaha. At least with the updated intel the captain of the guard has decided to defend the city from inside the walls, instead of venturing out into the open.