H'nry sat leaning over a map laden table in a large cavern at Geode Warren Dining
Hall that the wing leaders had taken over.  He had been introduced to so many new
people that it was hard to keep track of them all.

"The patrols I sent out should be in position along here," H'nry said pointing at a
ridge line on the map, "I've given them strict orders not to engage."

"My patrols should also be in position," T'rell added, "We've got to try to meet
the wraiths as far from the warren as possible."

"To give us room to retreat?" Jer'rid asked, "That's not supposed to be an option."

They were all faced with the same problem, defeating Ash and his wraith hoard.
Their only advantage was the ability of their dragons to maneuver more quickly
across the battlefield.  Then it cam to him, "There is one other thing," H'nry
muttered.

"What's that?" Jerârid from Cleft asked.

"I was considering our strategy," H'nry explained, "It seemed that our only
advantage lie in our ability to teleport and keep Ash off balance.  Then it
occurred to me that might be our biggest asset."

"I'm not sure I follow," R'ven said.

"It appears, based on what happened here earlier, that the individual wraiths are
as stupid and driven by instinct as they always were.  Ash can direct them in
battle, but once he sets them at a task, they will keep at it until he instructs
them otherwise.  If we use our mobility to come at the wraiths from different
directions, and we can spread them out, it will make it difficult for Ash to know
what is happening and to issue commands," H'nry explained.

"That's based on the assumption that the wraiths are still mindless, and Ash
supplies all their commands," T'rell pointed out.

ãWe have to hope for something,ä Hânry said.

A rider escorted in a young woman, and Phadera turned to face her.  From the look
that settled on the Warrenlady's face, H'nry guessed that there was some history
between them.

<Geode's queen is her queen's dam,> Dalanth informed H'nry, <She was taken from
here in her egg and joined away from the warren.>

The younger rider, Loran, began to tell her story.  It ended in the worst possible
place, with Ash.

> "I think our young Queenrider here, might need to find someplace to lay
> down and rest for a bit," a woman's voice said and Meena of Cleft stepped
> forward. "She looks exhausted."
>
> "No... Really I'm fine," Loran protested, then wished she could sink into
> the floor when all eyes turned her way. It was only then she remembered
> what she was wearing and felt ashamed. "I would however like to have a
> bath if I may... and maybe have the loan of some decent clothing."
>
> "Argent.. will you please see the young woman... Loran.. to a apartment
> where she can bath and see that she gets something warmer to wear," Phaedra
> turned to the younger woman who's been sitting beside her for most of the
> meeting. "Go with her child. She is Geode's Junior Queenrider and will see
> to your comforts."
>
> "Certainly," Argent smiled reassuringly and stood motioning for Loran to
> follow her.

ãHellspawn that can infect dragons,ä Hânry said with a deepening frown as the two
women left the room, ãthat is bad news.ä

ãWarrenlady,ä Gab'rin of Telnor said, ãdo you have a couple of people who can be
assigned to discretely keep watch on Loran?ä

ãYou think she might have a Hellspawn inside her?ä Phadera asked.

ãIf I were in Ashâs place I would try to put a spy inside the enemy camp," Gab'rin
replied.

"What really troubleâs me is the concept of Hellspawn inside dragons," H'nry added.

ãThat would take away some of our mobility advantage,ä R'ven said.

ãIâm also worried about our dragons balking at killing other dragons,ä Hânry
replied.

ãDo you have a plan?ä Phadera asked.

"Stay alive," H'nry said.

<My rider,> Dalanth said in H'nry's head.

*Yes, my dragon.*

<Tarlith and his rider have spotted a group of wraiths.  He says that they haven't
begun to move, but it looks like a group of them are massing.>

*Tell them to keep their distance and thet we're on our way.*

"Bad news," H'nry said, "our time just ran out.  Wraiths have been spotted massing
near here."  He jabbed at the map with a finger.

"We should take Telnor's riders and attack," Gab'rin said.

"I agree.  Prepare the other wings to assist us or engage at other locations.  It
looks like Ash is making his move."

"Good luck," Phadera said.

"Thanks," Thomas said pulling his riding gloves from a jacket pocket and pulling
them on, "we'll probably need it."

***
[A few minutes later on the green]

"Remember to use short attacks, and get away.  If you get caught within the group
of wraiths, teleport away," H'nry shouted back at his wing.  "Now, let's get
going.  We've got work to do."  H'nry thrust his fist in the air and when he
brought it down the dragons of Telnor Warren launched themselves into the air.

A short distance away, Jer'rid went over tactics with his flight leaders.  His plan
was much more straight forward.  "We'll do things the way we always have," he said,
"stay in formation and aim before flaming."

"That isn't the way the other warrens are approaching this," Dan'yar said.

"It's the way we're going to do it.  Now get to your dragons, and await the signal
to lift."

***
[Out over the mountains]

The Telnor riders appeared over a rocky peak, and M'rtin and Sabrina fell right
into position in their wing.

In the distance they could see a writhing grey cloud.  Dalanth turned his head and
H'nry fed him a large lump of coal.

*Ready buddy?* H'nry inquired.

<Ready.>

H'nry flashed an upturned thumb to Thomas who flew beside him and got one in
return.

H'nry fixed an image in his mind and Dalanth teleported forward.  They appeared
about 50 feet from the wraith mass.  Dalanth breathed a great gout of flame
incinerating a cluster of wraiths.  Dalanth turned his head and breathed again.
Then they teleported backward so Dalanth could eat another lump of coal.

>From up ahead H'nry saw the dragons of his wing flaming all along the mass of
wraiths.  "Where are you Ash?" he breathed.

NRPG:
The battle begins.  This is a very Telnor-centric post.  It also took more than a
week to write.  Shame on me.

Katrina: Welcome to Telnor.  I play H'nry, Alpha wingleader and a bunch of NPCs
(all of whom are at the battle at Geode).  H'nry knows sign language.

So, for Channukah we got the kids yo-yos with a clutch in them.  Now I want one :)

I'm thinking that Cleft's dragons will be used as reinforcements, since they sent a
relatively small contingent (it's a small warren).

That's all for now.

  Respectfully submitted,
  H'nry - Dalanth
  Alpha Wingleader - Telnor Warren
  Alton Reich
--
    Alton & Elizabeth Reich
     alton.reich@snet.net
"Love is born with solar flares / From two magnetic poles /
It moves toward a higher plane / Where two halves make two wholes"
-- Rush, The Speed of Love

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