All three of us jump to our feet and ready our weapons as we look around. It doesn't take long for me to hear the goblins approaching and when I turn to face their direction the other two do as well. From the sound of it there are at least a couple of hundred goblins, enough for a light workout at least.

They come charging into our campsite eager for blood only to die in droves. Nived gets in trouble a couple of times but Raindrop and I manage to help him out. As the fight progresses he gets better at using his new body and has less problems.

When I see the goblins starting to waver I cut my way deep into their ranks and use Lion's Rage. It doesn't quite get all of them but in the end only a couple of dozen manage to run away. My original estimate of their numbers was a little low, by dawn we have killed a little over six hundred goblins.

To be honest I wasn't expecting the enemy to send such large groups of goblins this far ahead of the invasion. I was expecting much smaller groups sent out to forage and bring back food. The fact that they are sending such large groups means they planned to wipe out the villages and outposts quickly.

The fact that everyone has already been evacuated is probably the reason they have advanced so far into the kingdom already. This means we need to change our tactics, small groups of adventurers aren't going to be able to do anything against these numbers. It is my fault for not thinking about how my plan would affect the enemy's movement.

"Raindrop, could you return to town and then find us again?"

Raindrop says "Yes, easily."

"Great! I need you to find Roland and Zimmy and give both of them a message."

Raindrop says "Sure! What's the message?"

"Tell them the goblins are moving in groups of five hundred or more and are at least two days ahead of the main force."

Raindrop says "Okay, it shouldn't take me more than a couple of hours."

"Alright, Nived and I will continue northeast and hunt more goblins."

Raindrop says "See you soon!"

As she vanishes into the distance I turn and lead Nived in the opposite direction. Once we are out of the trees I head to the nearest hill so I can get a good look around. Since the sun is up I am expecting the goblins to be camping but I spot several groups moving around.

Over the next three hours Nived and I hunt down several groups and kill over two thousand goblins. By the time we are fighting our seventh group I have used Lightning Wave so many times that I am out of sacred power. It doesn't slow me down much though, just my sword is enough for slaughtering goblins.

When goblins start to die from arrows I know that Raindrop has returned. Thanks to her targeting those who try to run, none of this group manages to escape. Once the last goblin is dead she rides over to join us, she is smiling as she rides up.

Raindrop says "You seem to have been busy while I was gone."

"Just a few goblins so far, nothing challenging. Did you have any trouble?"

Raindrop says "Nope. The message has been delivered."

"Good. What was the response?"

Raindrop says "Well, Roland already knew. They have encountered and wiped out several groups. Zimmy marched out of the town with the mercenaries to go help her adventurers."

"I feel like I am missing something."

Raindrop says "What do you mean?"

"The way the goblins are acting doesn't make sense. Something else is going on but I can't tell what."

Nived says "Yeah, they seem a little too willing to die. Only a few try to run."

"Exactly. That and the fact that they are moving during the day."

Raindrop says "That is unusual for goblins, but you think there is more to it?"

"Yeah. This is a tactic, but I can't figure out the objective."

Nived says "Are they just using the goblins to wear us down?"

"No, they don't have enough goblins for that."

Nived says "Well, what else are they accomplishing by doing this?"

"Wait, you said Zimmy marched out with the mercs?"

Raindrop says "Yeah, as well as all her remaining adventurers."

"That's it! They are drawing all our forces out and away from the town!"

Nived says "What would be the point of that?"

"Nothing, unless they have another force!"

Raindrop says "You mean they are going to attack the town somehow?

Nived says "But how could they get past us?"

"If they have something besides orcs and goblins it wouldn't be that hard."

Raindrop says "Aren't you overestimating them?"

"Maybe. Then again who said the leader of the army was an orc? They might be serving something else!"

Nived says "So, what should we do?"

"Let's head back to town. Just to be on the safe side."

Raindrop says "Do you really think something else is leading the army?"

"Yeah, if it was just orcs they wouldn't be using tactics."

Nived says "I will follow your lead."

"Okay, let's go!"

We turn and head for town once I make up my mind, we are delayed a couple of times by groups of goblins. In the end the town comes into sight just as the sun is going down, and things don't look good. The town's gates are closed and the town is surrounded by an army of undead.

Raindrop says "You were right! But where did they come from?"

"No idea! But all that is left in town is poorly trained militia, we need to do something fast!"

Nived says "What's the plan?"

"From what I can see it is mostly low level undead, zombies and skeletons. They aren't hard to deal with, but something has to be controlling them."

Raindrop says "The walls seem to be holding them back for now, but that won't last."

"Yeah, we need to deal with them and at the same time look for the leader."

Unicorn says "If I circle around I should be able to sense where the evil is most concentrated!"

"Okay, Nived and I will start killing the undead. Raindrop, you two circle the army and try to find the leader."

Raindrop says "Okay!"

So, Nived and I charge into the undead and start destroying them as quickly as we can. When the town's people on the wall spot us we can hear them cheering. Meanwhile, Raindrop rides off to see if she can locate the leader, probably a lich or something.