The Golden Axe Guild spent three weeks preparing for its second defense challenge.
Lord Titters's sponsored group used the first reservation ahead of them. They survived nineteen hours before their group was overrun by those green menaces.
The mixed group of twenty adventurers and five last-minute recruits lasted fourteen hours. Their individual parties fought well. They never agreed on who commanded all twenty-five people. It was obvious that their coordination wasn't on the same level as the first two groups.
Matthew intended to learn from both failures. He stood inside the defense dungeon while his guild unloaded supplies from the starting wagons.
"No single outer wall. We build three positions and we retreat before each one becomes a grave."
The fortifications spread around the merchant wagons in layers. Archers had marked ammunition for specific waves. Repair crews carried hammers instead of swords. Every adventurer knew which position to defend and where to go if it fell.
