Mana Wells

They had decided the best course of action was in the open field and try to get the skeletons to gather and face the Lich head on, they didn't want skeletons falling out of the trees, and crawling up some pass. And since the area was a wasteland for a long time there shouldn't be too many bones in the ground that would be usable.

They had a formation of their troops mixed when the griffins were about to begin. The skeletons are really just the bones, so the flesh rots, they would still fly with recently deceased animals with wings, but it was limited and eventually their feathers would fall off.

The muscles and mass made them slower and weaker, since the control was limited to the actual bones none of the muscles would be working as intended. The problem was the different types of animals of all sizes that were coming, huge elephant skeletons, long was could have reptile skeletons, as well as goblins, wolves, and bears. Hundreds of them we coming towards them across the horizon. They seem not to care or not yet see their forces, waiting.

Kurt and Boris' plan was simple, Boris would focus on clearing out smaller skeletons while Kurt engaged the Lich. They just needed to find him the mess of skeletons out there.

Anticipation, the worst part of the battle sometimes, when you know things are working. But that can change quickly. Kurt would still have to pull down the speed for Boris to keep up, but that shouldn't be the whole problem. Boris could clear an area, and there would be a lot of firepower shot at the Bone Army.

The large army in the distance, was useless to chase after them when they were coming toward them. Just tire out your army on the way there. But there was no avoiding it. They will meet today.

"Kind of crazy right?" said Sara.

"Yeah, we're just waiting for them to come and get blasted," said Kurt.

"And there are a couple of surprises underground as well, not like that big golem, but it should be effective once they are in range. But there are so many of them."

"And they seem to be taking their sweet time as well," said Kurt, "they haven't changed their pace at all."

The goatmen had begun blessing all of the weapons the soldier would be using; they said it had to be closer to the event and there was a lot to do. Boris was praying to a small makeshift altar, and Kisune was walking around it as the altar glowed. He was outfitted with a new axe and horseshoes, as well as a shield. His horns were adorned with ornaments. There was a right he was taking to join Kurt when the moment was right. Despite their rough nature Minotaurs were intensely spiritual as well, various ceremonial procedures were followed through their daily lives. It was a great crime to attack someone in prayer to the Minotaurs. The two ways seemed to conflict with Kurt, but somehow worked for them. Great rage and great peace within them. Prayer never translated for some reason, the words held power in themselves.

There were various sand circles ready for some of the shaman, and Kurt had gotten a lot of fire coins ready for the rest of them. They didn't seem to have as many aerial troops as expected, so the griffins had gotten excited to start taking to the skies. They were fitted with saddles, which made everything, as normally you would have to make sure you ride right with your leg in between the wings, but the saddles were set back behind the wing enough to be out of the way, allowing you to sit up, and fire an arrow or cast a spell better. You'd think you could just sit over the top but it would constrict the wings' movements. And without the saddle, you wouldn't have much of anything to hold on to that far back.

"We got good news," said Layla, coming up to Sara and Kurt, "Travis is not very far, he might be able to make it by the end of the battle as a push. One of the griffins has come back; he already knows what's happening."

"That's great to hear."

"We still have to hold, and get the Lich," said Layla, "but all help is good."

"So where is your fiancée?"

"The alliance isn't there yet, we still have to protect our lands ourselves," said Layla.

"Still," said Sara.

"Look, they have said if we fail they can take some of us in," said Kurt, "but we can't expect them to hold all of us and wait, and that is not an option."

"They could have brought some firepower," said Sara.

"They could say the same to us," said Layla.

"Not entirely," said Kurt, "they have a thing." Yeah, a dragon probably could take short work of this problem really, just downpour flames on the whole army until the Lich dies.

"A thing?" said Layla.

"Like a guardian," said Kurt.

"Good thing we have one of those too."

"And my fiancé is at the pillar for a last line of defense; someone has to give a way out if everything goes bad."

"Whatever dude."

"Anyway," said Layla, "we should be ready for them when they get close enough. As ready as we can be."

As the army came closer it was clear they were in a circular formation rather than any traditional line like they were. Was it a boundary? Kurt wasn't sure, as there were certainly a few slow walking skeletons outside what the edge appeared to be. Giant elephant-looking skeletons started to form a more pronounced shape. The forest of skeletons and trees was coming into focus.

The battle was about to begin. An oscillating sound began to form in Kurt's ears growing louder and more out of balance. Faster, the oscillating whomp whomp, started to form into a wing loud WHOMP, and silence then BOOOOOM. Four of the swirling masses of energy came from four shamans on the battlefield.

The griffins leaped into the air darting towards the closest flying creature to create superiority.

As the blast came at the army, four dark circles formed in their path, voids of color, and the blasts hit them dead on.