The rest of the flight carried on in grim silence as they soared through the air, eventually landing some distance off from the fortress they had just raided. The dragon alighted on a high, rocky cliff face with a view overlooking much of the land around the black city. The bulk of the Crusade's forces could be seen marching out of the city, preparing for the next assault that the main army would be undertaking. Banners of the crusade hung from the city's walls and a small force within the walls was establishing supply lines to the shore, likely to receive new forces and equipment in what was to be a lengthy campaign. From this high vantage, the main battle forces seemed like a distant sea of banners and armor, with a few monstrous silhouettes breaking the tide.
"So. Our dutiful taskforce has returned, one member shy. I thought I smelled danger on the winds." The dark, smooth voice of the mysterious vampire Alucard cut through the silence like a knife, his presence chilling as always as he seemed to materialize from the shadows of the treeline, a short distance from the side of the cliff. Behind him, the armored form of Sir Walter of Gandrick strode silently into the clearing. The master of the crusade walked to the very edge of the cliff, gazing out at the forces arrayed below, before speaking. "So. Tell me of what has transpired in the Fortress of Screams."
