The Varden and their allies left Surda three moons ago to begin their long compaign to Uru'Baen. From the first two battles, at Feinster and Aroughs, they emerged victorious.

The seige on Belatona has lasted nearly a month, the Vardens' rations and spirits are low, and despite those they recruited from their previous victiories, they do not have a hope to take Belatona without being too weak to move on Uru'baen.

An hour before the suns light broke upon the Varden encampment- a mile away from Belatona's southern wall- a wild thunderous roar came from within the confines of Belatona, and an enormous, open-mawed black dragon detached from the dark horizon..and flew toward the Varden's ammassed forces.