Fast and Dirty Answers to Big Questions....

I knew what Evis 7 had cobbled together back in Dr. Whats TARDIS even before she told the others not familiar with Gaussian weaponry.

I knew it even before the Doctor said a word in shock that the red haired Betty tells me he didn't use on the TV show.

I was born on an Earth in what is called Addventure. Its a universe (or something) of inconsistencies and anachronisms (and much more).

So despite the fact that there was no good reason for the sudden appearance of railgun armed soldiers in the Army…no real explanation on how they came to be invented, I know what Evis 7 created from cobbled together parts from one of the TARDIS storerooms.

The Doctor objected, but was finally silence when Evis 7 said that it could have been worse.

"I could have cobbled together a Stinger missile with rocket launcher," shed said calmly, "This way we get massive stopping power combined the elegant fact that it doesn't destroy a large chunk of real estate…and mayhaps people as well."

I was told later by Probe that Evis 7 believed that there was no such thing as having too much firepower on ones side.

Eh, right.

Now, for those NOT familiar with what a rail gun is, its basically a weapon that can fire a slug of metal via magnetic means. One railgun from my world can punch a hole in a tanks armor without effort.

So does the metal slug, the armature, do as it punches its way through the skull of the slumbering wyrm.

Well, it does have the appeal of ending this contest quickly, as Probe and the others say.....

Minestus, smiling in delight as Phinneus Fog accedes to his messengers demands. Yet another set of provinces in his pocket….in his power.

The image in the scrying device fades with a wave of the hand.

Now, he turns to check upon Andrea and Astra..

He then hears what on another world would be termed a sonic boom as a slug of ultra hard metal rips its way through a pile of gold (vaporizing some while turning the rest into a molten splash of wealth over the floor of the den).through the head of the dragon (killing it instantly) and then slams its way 30 feet into a vein of unprocessed adamantine. Part of the ceiling collapses (thus pointing out the reason why rail guns weren't used on Terra Prime in hunting dragons…since the armature could well bring down a large part of the cavern even if it hit its target). That and the sonic boom would deafen any possible hostages the dragons had within their dens (thankfully the magical shield spares the hearing of the adventurers).

Minestus turns in shock, ready to defend (and avenge) himself, when the powers he had taken from the sleeping wyrm turns (no pun intended).

Minestus turns in shock, ready to defend (and avenge) himself, when the powers he had taken from the strange dreams of the powerful wyrm are pulled out from his control and backlash upon him.

Minestus isn't out for long, but can only mutter out an incoherent grunt of surprise as he sees not ONE but six visions of the princess he'd captured, stripped and eventually transformed…as well as six visions of the demonic knight, Thaobath (or at least somebody who looked like him).

He doesn't know what they are all pointing at him...but the last thing he hears as blasts of agony course through his body as bullets rip into him are the sounds of spell muffled gunfire bounce off the walls.

As the other handful of dragons who are all that remain of dragonkind on this world shudder and die even as they wing their way to the group who'd summon them (Goodness knows what would have happened if they'd actually reached Malachis group). They may have helped on a whim...or just torn the whole party to shreds out of sheer, chaotic delight. So to does the power that these other dragons had gifted on their "toys" (wizards who'd entered unholy pacts with the chaotic dragon puppets) backlash upon them as it does with Minestus.

They (the human magi toys who'd been "gifted" by the ancient wyrms) faint from the pain.

Minestus also faints dead away, since the powers he'd harvested from the slumbering dragon's dreams works in similar manners as those running dogs of those other wyrms….

Thus Minestus awakens to the sight of multiple images of the Astra (who'd he'd recaptured and infected with a blood curse) and Fred (who'd at last viewing was still a servant of Hell)..

"Oh no." he whispers, seeing death in their eyes.

He's too weak and dizzy to be able to plead for his life…or caste a spell in defense.

The Astras and Freds had already agreed (as well as the others). This guy must die for what hed done to Astra 8 (and Astra 8a).for what's hes done to the people of this worlds Allaria and Aquilaria.

So Astra and Fred, 1 through 6, take their revolvers and fire as one into the prone form.

Agony and then darkness for Minestus.

Then a scream of sheer female outrage from a figure that arrived from another entrance to the dragons den.

Queen Mab and a host of guards stare, unable to believe that these seeming mortals have been able to beat them. Beat them to this place. Beat them before they can awaken the dragon (after disposing of the foolish mage Minestus). Beat them in sheer speed.

The fairy steeds were the fastest means available to the fell fairies. They'd thought that such was the swiftest means of travel available (barring magical hops given by the Host of Hell).

"Yeah, dragonback can be such a great thing," Synizn chuckles.

"Shall we play a game?" Probe says in an eerie voice…flat and atonal (a perfect copy of the voice of Joshua from Wargames .

"Checkmate." Lireth says, smiling, "Now, where is our…trophy? Where is the one called Andrea?"

Sulkily, but honoring their debt, the fairies bring forth the wolfwoman known as Andrea.

"Here," Mab grinds out. "Have your day! We will have ours soon enough with you! But enjoy it while you can, fools! If…you can!"

The first part of the meaning of that was clear enough. The heroes may have won the day, but the Unseelie Court would have words with them in coming days (that is...if they were so foolish as to stay on this world). The Unseelie didn't know about Lireth's groups unusual origin (and never even thought to ask about where these strange folk came from).

As for the other meaning..

The fairies disappear, leaving an enraged wolfwoman in the adventurers midst.

"Shit!" Lireth shouts as she dodges the charge of the werewolf.

Probe and Evis 7 wrestle Andrea to the ground and force down the cure for lycanthropy.

Andrea, restored, then listens in increasing amazement and shock as the Astras and Fred tell their tales (and tell the goings ons with Astra 8a and such).

Tarin Gazin looks lovingly around the piles of gold and silver and sighs as he chases off a few timid followers of Minestus who've come to find this carnage. Satisfied that they run, the dwarf returns and sighs.

"By the Forge, my place in the Clan will be secure INDEED!" he says softly, looking around.

Now, if I can only get the Rule to be so kind and put it in my hidden vault, the dwarf thinks.

Oh, he'd be fair and give a fair share to the others, but dwarves and gold are almost a couple made in heaven…as it were.

1. "It would have to still be a full moon out," Lireth mutters to herself as the others contact the other groups.

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