Secure for the moment, the party observed the fleeing savages. They retreated to the eastern camp, causing a bit of chaos. Shortly thereafter, a pair of messengers sprinted the gap, and disappeared into a tent on the western side of the army. After another fifteen minutes, about half the western detachment (maybe 350 men) broke off and started heading west. These were the unscarred jungle men, hardy warriors but nowhere near as competent as their elite black-blooded counterparts. As the savages marched the ten miles around to the top of the cliff, the party withdrew back to the safety of the enclosure. Depleted of resources as they were, they feared the second force would be more than a match for them.
West returned a few hours later. He reported having seen nothing on the sea that could reach Kith Cairn in fewer than three days. Much relieved, the party discussed their future plans over the evening meal. While doing so, they noticed a quiet but passionate disagreement between Vali and Cetus Farstrider, who led the Sunndi men. Most of the party was content to observe from a distance, but Gronk wandered over to try and defuse the situation. Gronk learned that Cetus was upset that Vali had ordered his men into danger without consulting him. Despite Gronk's good intentions, all he accomplished was making both Vali and Cetus unhappy with him.
He returned to the party, who quickly changed the topic to their future plans. West wanted to go scout out the incoming army, now only a couple of days off. Identifying them as men of Sunndi or jungle savages would be crucial to the continuing defense of the mine. The rest of the group, not nearly as mobile as West, didn't want to risk exposing one of the hidden entrances to the redoubt. Instead, they decided to harry their foes, perhaps taking out a few more of the gricks before some coordinated attack could be mounted.
The next morning, after breaking fast, West turned into an eagle and flew out of the redoubt. This time, though, as he flew from the redoubt, a bolt of lighting slammed into him, and arrows whistled through the air. The enemy had made the connection between druid and eagle, and had laid a trap. Only lightly wounded, he quickly distanced himself from them and continued with his mission.
Closing on the enemy army from the air, he saw banners flying Sunndi colors. Unsatisfied, West flew closer yet, and grew suspicious at the lack of military organization. He landed ahead of the army, shifted form into a mutt, and joined the men on the march. He quickly realized these men were not Sunndi folk at all, but Suel jungle-folk. Spending all day on the march with them, West was able to identify a leader from the score of scarred warriors who stood out from the five-thousand man army. That evening, as they supped, West snuck near their campfire and turned back into an eagle. He summoned tigers, then called down stroke after stroke of lighting on the leader. The savage did not fall, and West needed to flee before attracting undesired attention.
Back at the redoubt, Triben spoke with Vali and Dafur Steelhews about their intent to sally forth. Vali was given a rope to lower for them, in case the party's magic failed to get them back behind the wall. Dafur requested they try to draw the enemy out in front of the walls, where they were vulnerable to dwarvish crossbows. Triben agreed, and returned to the party to make ready. Once they'd cast their preparatory magics, Oleg, Triben, and Gronk flew over the walls and moved for the beach.
No sooner had they reached the edge of the enclosure than they were struck by more magical lighting. The party quickly engaged, slaying a pair of old crones who were tossing the bolts about. Several archers acting as pickets also peppered the party, but they were not very effective and quickly slain. As the enemy camp roused itself against this incursion, the party fled back for the walls. One of the umber hulks popped up before them, but the party wisely evaded rather than engaging it.
Even as they flew back over the walls to safety, they heard Dafur's booming voice shout "Loose!" The sky blackened as quarrels flew overhead, slamming into the enemy, who had overpursued the party. The party saw that all of the dwarves had formed in the courtyard. "Loose!" Dafur called out again, and the sky was black once more. The savages withered under the dwarves' fire, and fled back for the saftey of their camp, leaving almost a hundred men on the field.
That evening, the party traded war stories and discussed future plans. West intended to head back out and try to further delay the army. They had to ford a river, and he intended to make them pay dearly for it. Oleg, Triben, and Gronk decided that with the imminent arrival of reinforcements, the savages would be more proactive. They decided that rather than continue to harass their foes, they were best spent defending Nelir the Stonesinger. Though it was the eve of the new year, there was little celebration, and it was distinctly muted.
The next morning, West took to wing once more. He took more fire from the ground, but Oleg's protective magic kept the enemy arrows from biting too deeply. West flew to the river, and waited. The army arrived, and began to ford the river. West waited patiently until the scarred ones were in the middle of the ford, then began his assault. First, he raised an army of razor-sharp stones from the earth just beyond the ford, halting any further progress. As the army rippled to a halt, he raised another such army on the opposite side of the river, denying the men in the river any quick escape. Next, he called upon the spirits of the water, bringing forth a great rush that raised the height of the river from a couple of feet to almost twenty feet. The great wall of water smashed into the army, tearing it asunder and dragging men downstream. Finally, West took to wing, chasing the leader. Upon spotting him, he conjured forth a giant shark right next to him, hoping to finish him off. Taking one final wingover to appreciate his handiwork, West turned back towards Kith Cairn. Behind him, the river ran red.