-----Garrison looks out across the field. Pointing off to the left, he tells Raven, "If we can just flank around to the left there. That will put us closer to Sol!"
-----A line of thirty soldiers, two ranks deep, now begins to form in a straight line just to the right of where Sol and his captors are.
-----"Archers position behind the line!" the leader calls out as more hobgoblins rush forth.
-----"MeLady," Dilton croaks out in a concerned voice beside Sarah, "We oughta take cover in these 'ere hills."
-----"If'n them bowmen be worth their keep, we be in hittin' range," Pil says warily on the mage's other side.
-----Garrison and Raven ride off to the left toward where Thunder battles the humanoid whips. At the same time, a hawk takes to the air soaring above the hills. Raven's wolf takes off after his master.
-----Suddenly out upon the field, fire erupts in the long grass centered on the area where Sol lays. Bright flames leap up filling an area of nearly one hundred feet across! The fire seems to be an unquenchable raging inferno. Thunder and Sol are lost within in the blaze and hobgoblins caught in its area begin rushing out from among the flames slapping themselves for anything that might be burning.
-----The fire also disturbs the defensive line of hobgoblins as they scramble to flee the sudden disaster.
-----The four frogs touch down a little over halfway across the field and immediately leap toward the evil army.
-----The cloaked man also runs frantically out of the fire giving Sarah a much-needed target. Four magic missiles leave Sarah's hand streaking across the field. They strike the cloaked man and almost drop him to his knees.
-----"MeLady," Strolum says sadly speaking to Sarah, "Master Sol . . ." He then stops himself and urges, "We oughta be takin' cover now."
-----"Hold the line!" the other officer yells to rally the hobgoblin polemen.
-----Lovan pulls his horse to a stop yards in front of the still forming line. He quickly dismounts and yells, "FEAR THE FURY OF THE RAGER!" Close to a dozen hobgoblins flee from him as he points his hammer. Even though they run, over a hundred of the humanoids advance to the line.
-----Suddenly a loud ominous voice comes from within the flames. It shouts out across the field momentarily giving pause to both adventurers and enemies alike. "STOP! STOP I SAY! I HOLD MY SWORD AT YOUR FRIEND'S NECK! THE GALLANT RAGER WILL DIE UNLESS YOU STOP YOUR ATTACKS!"
-----Thunder is then seen to leap from the wild fire. The horse's eyes are wide with fright at the flickering flames.
-----The hobgoblin line continues to form and a sense of waiting prevails for the adventurers' response.
-----Raven growls, "That went well." Raven pauses for a second and then yells back, "Then you hold your own life in your hands. Release him and we'll not kill you all." Raven looks back to Sarah. Raven's eyes show a rare emotion for the hunter, fear for a friend.
-----A few moments pass and then the voice replies, more hateful than before, "FOOL! YOUR THREATS ARE MEANINGLESS UNLESS YOU HIDE AN ARMY BEHIND YOU! YOU WILL SURRENDER YOURSELF OR YOUR FRIEND WILL DIE HERE ON THIS FIELD BEFORE YOU!"
-----Just after this, lower speaking from the enemy is heard that is not quite audible.
-----Thunder now paces the western perimeter of the fire neighing angrily. He occasionally stamps in his hooves in frustration and agitation.
-----On the other side of the fire, a few hobgoblins look toward the fire as if in thought. The armored leader of the army rides toward the fire still mounted. Suddenly he yells at the humanoids, "You heard him! Find the priest in the fire and help him!"
-----About four hobgoblins then ease into the fire and are gone from sight.
-----Caranip glances up at Sarah and tells her, "I can make the flames disappear. That way if you have magic ready, you can hit whoever has poor Master Sol."
-----Strolum looks down at the gnome in surprise. "You made th' fire?" he says before he falls silent in confusion.
-----Sarah produces a wand and mutters "Desta." Starry motes form around the sorceress. Sarah gets as close as necessary for her spell to work. "Now Caranip." She says, and begins working a different spell.