Shadows of War: Attack on Arcangrove
Shadows of War: The Secrets of the Ley Lines
Malgor's war is meeting resistance from the Warfury's troops and the armies of Swordhaven, Shadowfall and Yokai. Gar wants to prove himself after the pirate disaster, but Malgor has another task for him: the Hero still needs watching. To strengthen his position elsewhere, Malgor sends Dragonlords and their dragons against Arcangrove. The Tower of Magic's library holds knowledge of the ley lines, and he intends to use it to spread his shadow across Lore.
Rayst raises a barrier against the fire, but the defenders are overwhelmed. Paddylump sees Rayst, Reens and the others taken into the tower. Warlic was away when the attack came; Paddylump escaped capture by hiding in the bushes. Ashamed of that choice, he now wants to stand and help. Their missing friends are prisoners, not a group whose deaths the defenders have confirmed.
Warlic explains what is at stake. The ley lines carry mana like arteries, and corruption there would give Malgor a hold on the world's magic. Galanoth brings the Order of DragonSlayers to face the dragons, but even his confidence cannot answer whether the captives have already been corrupted. They need to recover the tower and rescue its people before the enemy secures its secrets.
The Hero fights the Dragonlords and brings medals back to Galanoth. Warlic needs powdered dragonscale to extinguish the wall of dragonfire keeping them from the stronger beasts. Each effort supports the other: the fighting provides room to work, and the magic opens more of the battlefield.
Elite Dragonlords carry larger medals. Once the defenders can reach the more powerful dragons, Warlic uses oil from their glands to prepare a counterspell against the barrier sealing the tower. As the army's resistance breaks, Galanoth calls everyone inside to reach their captured friends.
The dragons within have been mutated by shadow. The Hero fights them while Warlic works against a stronger spell around the tower portal, using oil from those changed creatures. Clearing the route brings the defenders closer to the enemy leader and the mages still held above. Taking back the tower means more than winning the battle outside its doors.
Shadows of War: Paddylump Save You
In the observatory, the Titan Dragonlord demands cooperation from the bound mages. Rayst refuses. When the captor orders them killed, Reens treats it as a bluff: he has just said he needs them. He answers that the library can supply the knowledge whether they help or not, and repeats the command. The Hero, Warlic and Galanoth interrupt before the order is carried out.
Galanoth tells the leader to stand down. Instead, he calls his dragon, which appears beside the damaged room, and orders the other Dragonlords to keep anyone else from entering. The defenders must fight for the people they have reached. Even in defeat, their enemy insists that Malgor has enough soldiers to replace him.
Galanoth drives his blade into the Titan Dragonlord. The Hero turns to the remaining enemies, who want no part of continuing the fight. The captives can finally answer for themselves: Rayst says they are all right. Reens still claims the threat was a bluff, but the Hero doubts it. Their rescue has prevented the defenders from having to find out.
Moonwrath urges better protection for the tower because another attack is likely. The Hero cannot stay, however much they would like to. Galanoth offers to remain and face any more dragons Malgor sends; Warlic stays too, refusing to leave the ley lines unguarded. The victory secures this place for now, while the wider work still calls the Hero away.
Paddylump charges in at last, announcing that he will save them. He has finally found the nerve, only to discover the fighting is over and the attackers have gone. His friends do not treat this late arrival as the end of his chance to be brave. With the danger likely to return, there will be more chances to help.
A surviving Dragonlord reports the retreat to Malgor. The Shadowlord is exasperated, while Gar sees another chance to distinguish himself. He promises to destroy the Dragonslayer, the blue mage and especially Paddylump. Malgor tells him his opportunity will come soon. Arcangrove has been defended, but its enemies are already looking toward the next attack.