The View From Here

[Halbarad]

Tim strikes out down the path, using the stick to make sure the path ahead is solid - in a bog like this, it's possible that it could look solid and yet not be - but that's probably true of anywhere in the dream, really. Nevertheless, he feels a bit better for taking the extra step of making sure as he proceeds down the path.

[Ebiris]

Daniel slows down enough to let Tim keep ahead and do his bog testing thing. Not that he really feels it's necessary, here - or even guaranteed if the local environment can change on the whim of a strong-willed dreamer.

But there's no harm in it.

[Brian]

The group proceeds down the path for some distance, as it gradually curves to the left.  After passing the curve, it straightens out, rising slightly over the bog a meter or so.  The foliage overhead is thinner here, allowing for glimpses of constelations, and a blood-red moon.

The fog appears to thicken further ahead, as the trees thin.

"Charming place," Carlos says.

[Ebiris]

"Beats Mexico. Or America," Daniel shrugs. "Nobody shooting at us, or anything like that."

[Halbarad]

"You'd think they didn't want visitors or something," Hal says wryly. As the group proceeds on, he tries to see if he can do anything to dissipate the mists a bit - getting separated in the fog would not be a good idea.

[Brian]

It seems beyond Tim to make the fog dissapate ... though while he's thinking about it, it doesn't seem to thicken anyway.  From ahead, the sound of a shout carries, followed almost immediately by an inhuman, piercing wail, which echoes for a long moment before silence falls.  The frogs and crickets of the bog cease their songs, amplifying the sensation of quiet, as everyone's ears strain in an attempt to make out what's going on.

Mark quietly draws his sword, and Walker does the same.

[Halbarad]

Tim tightens his grip on his staff, frowning slightly. "Definitely not the welcome mat," he opines.

He halts for a moment, letting everyone else draw even with him.

[Ebiris]

"Creepy," Daniel nods in approval, seemingly unperturbed. And he's not, really. It's just a dream, after all!

[Brian]

Everyone stops behind Tim, looking around and trying to see or hear some hint about what's going on ahead.

[Halbarad]

Tim maintains his concentration on the mists; even if he can't diminish them, keeping them from thickening further is a definite improvement. He slowly starts off down the path again, still using his stick to prod the path ahead for anything out of the ordinary.

[Brian]

Other than the occasional gnarled root which protudes above the surface of the path at a good height to trip someone, the path seems clear.  As the group progresses, they can see that the ground beneath their path is wider than the path itself now.  It seems that the path is a gradual slope, which widens further still up ahead.  A stone wall of some kind, which looks like centuries worth of rocks and boulders heaped into a line lies ahead.  There's an archway made of two ornately carved grecian colums, supporting a cracked and ancient keystone across them, which the path leads through, and it appears to be the only gap in the three meter high pile of stone.  Not much can be seen beyond.

[Ebiris]

Daniel heads through the archway, sure that something interesting lies ahead! "Think we're near to our guy?" he asks the group in general.

[Carthrat]

"I think 'Near' has a very loose definition here, but for what it's worth, yeah," replies Tom, bobbing forward like a drunk.

[Brian]

On the opposite side of the archway, the path opens into an arena, a wide circular clearing of hard-packed dirt.  Trees line the periphery, but in the center, there's a man in ancient greek-styled armor, weilding a spear against a horse-sized two-headed dragon.

The man seems to be faring well; one of the dragon's necks is bleeding.  Nearby, another man stands, wearing similar (gold) armor, and carrying an identical (gold) spear.  His back is to the group, but at a glance he has the same build, hair style and color, and identically patterned gear.

[Halbarad]

Tim stays well out of the way for now, not wanting to distract the men. Likely they're some of the Brothers of Morpheus, but better not to distract them or get in the way while they're occupied.