Bayt al-Sham

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

Herneiros was about to say something sweet to Silvia when Nigel opened his mouth.

"You want to fire your cannon at our only bridge? Are you a moron or a madman?"

Herneiros didn't seem to care which. His disdain was obvious enough.

[Nigel Thornheart]

"No," Nigel replied, clearly considering punching the Wildman in the face, but deciding that he had likely spent too much time in the wild to know how artillery or modern tactics worked. "I want to utilize the cannon as a mobile firing platform and portable cover to lead the advance, then fire a cluster small miniature cannonballs called grape shot forward if the creatures appear in front of us. The rounds are meant as anti-personnel fire and if any do hit the bridge it should not affect the structure integrity."

[Damien Chevalier]

Comte-in-exile turned to Herneiros, "If Nigel desires to scout ahead, I think we should let him. It would be very helpful the survivors." He walked to the group talking as he played with his beard. "I would love to see what happens. It will be.... magnificent." He studied Nigel closely, "How much do you weigh exactly? Three thirty? More?"

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

Herneiros pointed at the bridge. "Two different earthquakes didn't stir them. They're not coming out from under the bridge until they smell blood. And there are two of them. How fast can you aim your grape sauce in a hundred eighty degree angle?"

[Tehol Nookington]

"Quite right friend. Nigel volunteering the lead with his cannon is best. Now lets get to it."

[Dr. Archimedes Steller]

The Professor scratched his chin, trying to remember any more information about Blade Demons that might come in handy for the next encounter.

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

“If they need to smell blood...” Juliette walked up to the start of the bridge and cut her finger again. “Here’s some blood for them.”

[Nigel Thornheart]

"Which is why we will have Tehol acting as the rear guard," Nigel explained, already having covered that bit of the presentation. "The cannon also leads in case there are enemies waiting on the other side of the bridge. You will be grateful for he makeshift cover then and you have no lived until you have seen grape shot used against infantry with a level unobstructed firing lane."

He began pushing the cannon. "Kjell on my right, Silvia on my left, use the shields as stable firing platforms to rest your firearms. Tehol in the rear. The rest between the two groups. Head on a swivel everyone!" 

[Silvia Raizer]

Silvia nodded and readied her arquebus. She wasn't inclined to argue when there was a fight in the offing.

[Tehol Nookington]

Tehol brings up the far far rear. Waiting to see what happens before actually getting on the bridge.

[Dr. Archimedes Steller]

Though he hated the man, Archie had to admit that Nigel at least knew what he was doing when it came to fighting, so he complied with the instructions, and fell into the center. He carried one grenado in each hand.

[The Forgotten God]

The cannon rolled onto the bridge, making a strange reverberating sound. The smooth material that formed the pathway over the unnatural lake changed colors slightly as wheels and feet applied pressure, from pearly white to purples and blues and oranges. For a hundred meters of cautious progression the adventurers move in their formation, the welcome yellow sun shining down upon them and the clear blue skies overhead.

The first sign something is off comes with the lake itself. The turquoise waters begin bubbling and churning as though some great fire had boiled them, and then translucent green mountains came from the water in a clearly illusionary display. Hundreds of strange trees bloom from the lake’s waters, with leaves of pink and green and trunks that range from black to a burnt orange. “Looks like Lisandre,” Elise whispered to no one in particular. Strange animals grazed on the blue-green grasses between the hills and the great temple sat. It looks like this is some sort of spell cast centuries ago, depicting it in ancient times. Men and women in heavy armor patrolled the lands. As they continue, time seems to pass, until three hundred meters in the dragons arrive. At least a half dozen monstrous beasts, raining fire and poisonous gasses from the sky, obliterating the meadows and orchards and slaughtering the guards.

[Damien Chevalier]

Damien walked to edge and looked down into the mysterious lake. "Oh... it is a show. Quite interesting." His thumb played with his chin as he admired the illusion. "Look at that. Well that is clearly a warning. Some on the other side of that bridge does not want many visitors." He chuckled and looked around at his companions.

[Justine-Juliette de Vair]

Juliette sucked her finger as she fell into formation and followed them all up the bridge. She watched as what she presumed to be the history of the place unfolded. “Dragons, how interesting. Do you think we’ll have to fight them before the demons? Or maybe...time will do that for us.”

[Tehol Nookington]

"I think it's more of a light show then anything." Tehol says with a pang of sorrow at thinking how much K'rull would have enjoyed the show. He looks down at Korobas and is met with complete slithering indifference and sighs.