Apostles of Doom

Gasps arose around the room as an ice dragon with a Storm Lord on it suddenly passed right through their vision. It was a shock, and for most, the closest and best view any had ever had of one of the Storm Lords. The dark-robed lich did not seem aware of their viewing, and quickly passed out of the view port.

“Well, that was startling,” Ashena Brightfeather remarked, breaking the tension of the room.

“That was the first time I have ever seen a lich, or an ice dragon,” Teragdor said to Rasmeth and Leighton.

“I have only seen them from a distance.” Leighton said. “That was a spectacular view!”

“Indeed; I actually felt chills seeing it. I do not want to think about being that close in person,” Rasmeth remarked.

“Okay, let’s get back to the task at hand,” Melona reminded everyone. “That sort of thing can happen with the Eye of Krinna; those we observe have no easy way to detect our viewing. I’ve had birds seem to fly right through the air at me.”

Several people chuckled at that. Teragdor turned his attention back to the encampment and shook his head at the absolutely massive amounts of equipment arrayed with the armies. It was truly terrifying. The view then panned past the encampments to the area behind them. As expected, a line of charred forest, completely burnt down, stood behind the encampment.

“What is that, over there?” Eileen Sealegs, Prophetess of Namora, asked, pointing to what appeared to be a large cloud rolling down the cleared line of trees. The cloud was at ground level and seemed to be traveling the clear space between the trees.

Melona moved her hand over the map in the direction of the cloud. Teragdor was impressed by the way she knew how to coordinate what they saw above their heads with the map below; he probably would have moved his own hands in the wrong direction. As she panned across the view, one could see other dragons; presumably ice dragons, in the air, patrolling the skies above the encampment.

“I’m guessing the aerial patrols are why the Wardens can’t get very close. Why we aren’t immediately taking the attack to them?” Rasmeth whispered to Leighton.

“Correct on the first, partially right on the second,” Rasmeth replied. “We needed to get everyone inside before we engaged; the safety of the general population is our first priority. Today is our first good chance to truly recon them and get an idea of what we are up against. It’s really the first time all of their forces have been fully arrayed before us for the coming battle. We have rushed to attack in the past and been taken by surprise. We’ve learned lessons about their tactics; we want to know about all the pieces on the board before we engage. I grant you it may seem strange, but we have a long history of repelling them.”

As the Eye of Krinna moved closer to the cloud, it became clear that the cloud was actually dust from soil and gravel churning up and plowing under the charred forest remains. As their viewpoint moved over the cloud, two zombie dragons with riders became visible flying behind it.

“Geomancers are plowing the ashes and debris under,” Garion Hearthhand, the hearthean Prophet of Hendel, said.

“What, are they building a road? Seems a touch bizarre,” Jacquesparrow, Namora’s Archon on Nysegard, observed.

Teragdor glanced at the archon. He was quite an interesting character; looked a bit like a deranged sailor of some sort. Upon arrival, Teragdor had noticed that he walked in an extremely odd, almost drunken manner. Leighton had told him that the archon’s walk was common among people who had spent more time at sea than on dry land. Even so, Teragdor could not get it out of his head that the archon was overly inebriated.

“It would certainly facilitate movement of equipment and resources around out of the range of our weapons,” Grob observed. “Although I’d have thought they could have built the road a bit closer.”

“Melona,” Dashgar said. “Since you have the Eye of Krinna open near the camps, can we try to do some recon, get troop counts, equipment? I know the tarps are a problem, and may in fact be misleading, but whatever information we can gather will be useful.”

“Certainly.” Melona smiled.

The Inferno: Mid Fifth Period

“I trust you are settled into your compartment?” Chancellor Alighieri asked Melissance and her very charming escort as they entered the bridge.

“We are, thank you!” Melissance smiled at him in a truly fetching manner.

“I am so sorry that we did not have two separate rooms available. You are certain your husband will not mind the two of you sharing such close quarters?” the chancellor asked.

Salvatore smiled radiantly. “They are separate bunks, and no offense, but I am sure my lord Hesseforthalus will be most appreciative of my close watch of his beloved soulmate.”