Now that the alliances had more formally organized, it was once again time to send the Child out.  This time, she would be attacking a nearby vale that was strategically important to the valley.  Before they even had eyes on the valley, she knew there would be resistance; she could feel the presence of one of the cauldron’s chosen.  She also knew that they would be ready, as the enemy could just as certainly feel Adrik…

As the Child moved into the vale, Hoarluk and his party sprang into action, rushing out to face the intrusion.  The Child reacted by sending her Gorehound right into the group with his discordant wailing preventing the shaman’s spellcasting.  Meanwhile, Torg sent out his spirits of war to wreak havoc on The Child’s line while his Pyre Troll spewed a fireball at Adrik.  Still learning his new power, he barely managed to transfer the damage to the Rattler as the flames engulfed him.

What occurred next was a confusing demonstration of both forces mental prowess.  First, Hoarluk moved away from the Gorehound and managed to cast a spell to control the beast – he sent it running back to the child, turning the wailing disruption back on her.  Then, the Witchwood took control of the Pyre Troll and sent it in to attack its master, Torg.  While neither attack did enough damage to harm the warlocks, both found they would need to be more careful lest their greatest weapons be turned upon them.

Finally, it was time for the greater struggle to begin – the Skin and Moans charged to engage Rök with his massive blades powered by the summoned dead of Adrik, his strength bolstered by the abuse of the child, and with Lday Karianna Rose goading it on.  With this power, it tore through the massive troll, removing the biggest threat Hoarluk had brought to bear.  The Skin and Moans wouldn’t last though, as the Mauler and Impaler brought it down hard.

Now was the time to strategize deeper, and so Adrik closed the gap between him and the Child and executed the plan they had perfected against the Iosians.  First, the Witchwood took control of Torg, and sent him to engage Hoarluk.  While the two were engaged, Adrik powered up the Cage Rager with the corpses of the nearby dead.  In so doing, the Cage Rager became a conduit for the Child’s spells, and she slammed Torg with her Force Hammer, knocking him and Hoarluk to the ground.  Then, the Gorehound came in, thrashing Hoarluk and raking his claws over exposed trollflesh.

Torg came on again then, wrestling away the Gorehound and commanding the remaining warbeasts to hold off the Grymkin while he and Hoarluk retreated from the battlefield; defeated.