The bells began ringing even louder now. There were soldiers and knights rushing around in all directions. The walls lit up with torch light as the fort began preparations for the night to come. That is when they all heard shouts of contacts and the rhythmic hum of bow strings. Deacon and his team, still standing at the doorway to the stairs, all turned toward the nearest wall. There was a flurry of activity and body fell from atop the wall to land in the yard below.

“We have to help, right? Even if me getting involved could make things worse.” Deacon asked.

“Don’t be a fool. Your party skill alone will turn the injured in to fighting ready troops in minutes. Of course we have to help.” Amanda said hood firmly around her head. She even began sliding her belt around to expose several potion vials. She then began dipping her knives.

“Guess it helps to be prepared.” Tanus said shaking the chain loose on his wrist that held his shield stone.

“Enough talk. I want to cut something.” Ralph said taking his first step toward where the defender lay in the grass.

“What do you suppose caused him to fall over?” Tantus asked just as the bulbous head of a giant ant poked over the top of the wall.

“Chimera damn it, Tantus! Every fuckin time.” Deacon said adding them all to the party as he began to jog over.

Giant Pharaoh Ant, Soldier- This large species of ant can be found in any deep forested region. They are typically passive unless out hunting for the hive. Surprisingly strong, it is recommended to use hit-and-run tactics. In greater numbers they have been known to use strategy in the presence of a Commanding higher caste ant. Level Fifteen/Insect.

With that information shared with the team, they hit the steps at speed to cover that section of the wall. Up at the top it seemed like several soldiers were either fending off other ants or firing bows down over the side of the wall. Deacon was the first to arrive with his speed attribute near fifty. The ant reared back to snap at his torso and Deacon Sparta kicked it back over the wall with the sound of cracking carapace.

“They aren’t all that heavy. I expected it to weigh more.” Deacon said as the others arrived.

“You’re a freak remember? Most people would need to be level fifty to have enough points to be even close to your strength. Pay attention to the fight.” Amanda yelled while liberally dumping one of her fluid vials all over the outer wall.

“What’s that?” Tantus asked casting a gale force wind spell down the length of wall opposite Amanda.

“Don’t touch it. It’ll make your day worse.” Amanda said replacing the vial and preparing for the next thing to happen. That’s when they all heard a deep bass roar coming from the tree line one hundred feet away.

“Did that sound familiar to you?” Deacon asked Ralph as he sliced the climbing legs off of the next ant.

“Oddly, it did.” Ralph answered looking off in the direction of the roar.

Stomping out of the tree line were three full sized rock trolls carrying large boulders. They threw them like shot puts at the walls. Two of them lodged themselves into the stone of the wall but the third managed to blast a whole a bus could drive through. The opening was soon flooded with ants and the soldiers on the ground surrounded the opening in a semi-circle. Pikes were brought to the front of the line and an ant massacre began.

“They won’t be able to hold the wall and defend that hole at the same time. The ground out there is crawling with ants. Also anyone notice how the ants all look the same?” Deacon asked.

“I know what you mean. I thought it was just a trick of the light, but they are almost identical.” Tantus added.

“Tantus, stop looking at ants. Can you get magic shield up in the breach or something? Give them some breathing room?” Ralph asked.

“I could try but I think it’d be a waste of effort.” Tantus answered.

“And why is that?” Ralph asked cutting down another ant. Just as thick vines and brush began growing in the opening. On top of the main building Elle can be seen casting magic at a frantic pace. The vines began weaving together in a basket pattern, crushing the ants trying to break through.

“I miss traveling with them.” Deacon said wiping away a fake tear before being grabbed around the torso by a pair of ant pincers. Before it could toss him off the wall, he turned intangible slipping right through the ant’s grasp back onto the wall. The ant, now overcompensating for Deacon’s weight, toppled back over onto his fellows.

At the same time Armand showed up at the front of the line of soldiers. He had a shield in one hand and his enchanted sword in the other. His entire body was coated head to toe in metal. After a minute or two there was just a pile of ant corpses, and the soldiers made a wide circle around him cleaning up the stragglers. Those same soldiers began cheering before the next wave of thrown boulders slammed into the wall making two more breaches. Deacon’s eyes fluttered open as he looked up to where he used to be standing. He was covered in stone debris but largely unharmed. This wasn’t going to work as long as the Rock Trolls were still out there. He decided to use his Adventurer’s Die. Hopefully, he could paralyze one of them. That should give Daskus’s people time to get out there and smash them up good. Shifting the rubble around he reached into his bag as the first of the rock troll appeared in the breach before him. Frantically he pulled the artifact out as Amanda landed on its face shoving her arm in its mouth. The face it made couldn’t be misinterpreted. It was shocked and disgusted all at the same time. It moved to grab her by the torso and stopped mid motion. She retracted her arm and slid down its right shoulder back onto the wall. She shook saliva off her arm and started making her way to another section of the wall. The rock troll just stood there foaming at the mouth.

Deacon had seen enough. He threw the die watching it roll end over end before landing on six. Six was activate relevant chaos prayer. Having never hit this number before he had no idea what to expect. Why was it labeled relevant. Thunder clapped high above as the skies darkened. He could still hear the sounds of fighting around him as he got up to his feet. Polterheist recovered the die and secured it back in his bag. One of the rock trolls cleared the other breach and was being engaged by the Dwellers forces. Deacon was confident they could manage that. He was curious if Amanda used Vespers Blood poison on it but quickly confirmed that was the case. The trolls eyes were bloodshot, and gagging could be heard from even from down here. That seemed like a horrible way to die. The thunder in the sky became louder and peeling sound corn being shucked could be heard. There was an all too familiar grin spanning the clouds high above. The mouth began to speak

“Impregnable, Bouncy, and Forever.” Came the voice of Chimera, God of Gambling and Chaos.

Suddenly the holes in the walls sealed shut. The colors of all stone structures in fort began to blend into an orange and blue stripped pattern. The watchtowers began tilt and sway, no more than two to three inches, but it was obvious just looking at them. All the homes and the main fortification had the same color pattern. Soldiers began bounding up and down the wall the stabbing ants that were still attempting to climb over. The lone troll on the outside was furiously battering the walls only to have its fists bounce back at him. Deacon could see both Typhus and his shadow with arms crossed shaking their heads. He could almost hear the laughter of Elle high above him as she continued to fire arrows down while jumping laterally back and forth.

“Are you nuts? I’m the only one here who knows what a bouncy castle is!” Deacon screamed into the sky.