The following night the group spends huddled around a fireless camp. Fear of the unknown (and known) things that go bump in the night keeping them wary. As the night progresses Garitas notices a large winged creature blocking out the night’s stars. Luckily whatever it is (likely suspects seem to be the Chimera) does not see them there and continues on its way.

The following morning finds them just outside Fort Palco; the density of the forest has changed markedly. The dense shrubbery that was enclosing them till now and forcing them in a single direction suddenly opens up. Even the amount of trees they can see in the limited fog seem to be fewer and farther apart.

Scouting ahead, the group picks up on a skeleton minotaur lurking in the gloom, but sounds indicate another slightly out of visible range. The group attempt some subterfuge and clever tactics, and are able to engage only a single minotaur at time – easily defeating them. Further on the sounds of battle filter through the strange yellowish gloom.

Rushing forward the group come upon a true clearing – they can make out the walls of the Fort and a sizeable force of undead gnolls surrounding the area. A large catapult can be spotted in the gloom, another can be heard further away in the distance.

The group again showing clever tactics engage the flank of the undead army, and are able to destroy one of the catapults and sizeable portion of the undead army. The rest fleas into the gloom. The skeletons show marked intelligence in the face of this foe and keep a harrying force on the group buying time for the rest of the group to retreat. During this harrying, the gate to Fort Palco opens and a lone “knight” in rusty armor astride a starving white horse trots out and helps slay the remainder of the forces.