top, where the materials changed, it looked like there had been a square, meter-sized tunnel going in both directions, surrounded by gray block. The one on his left side was dry, but the one on the right side had water running in a steady stream out of it that got lost in the rubble.
“I think that water is coming from the aqueduct. Before the wall was destroyed, this probably held water for the entire Abbey.”
“I estimate that the Abbey itself, in its prime, housed about 300 people, Barcus. There were stables, kitchens, barracks and a hall.”
“What the hell happened?”
From their vantage on the wall, they could see that the main sanctuary of the cathedral had suffered massive damage.
“It looks like an explosion just to the side here.” The HUD rendered a roof where it might have stood, then performed a slow-motion simulation of what Em thought would have caused this amount of destruction.
“The roofs of the perimeter buildings were impacted by flying debris, here, here and here.” The HUD indicated the damage. “The buildings on the southernmost part of The Abbey were least affected.”
“There must have been an assault of some kind after the explosion. All but a few inner doors have been destroyed. The rest are burned or torn from the hinges.”
Em slowly began to descend the ramp of rubble, which continued right to the foundations of the cathedral and down further into the basement and even the crypts below. Water was running here, and a pool filled the lowest part. The floor of half of the cathedral was still there, creating an overhang above rubble and deep shadows. Em walked directly in, her legs neatly straddling the large pool of water. As Barcus was walking into the darkness, his personal HUD automatically used light amplification. The far end of the cathedral was evenly cast with rubble and debris. The flat of the flooring could be sensed below the layer of stone rubble. At the far end, a staircase climbed up into the base of the tower that was still standing straight.
“This will make an excellent garage for the spider, Em.”
“Maybe after we tidy up a bit,” Em quipped.
Barcus looked over at the other seat to see that she was smiling at him.
“I want to get out.” Barcus had stood before Em replied. The spider rotated so that the front of the module aimed out toward the opening. Only the far collapsed wall was visible, touched by a corner of sunlight.
Barcus stepped out of the hatch and the spider rose, leaving him standing on the debris-strewn floor. He moved toward the steps that were also scattered in rubble until he reached the first landing. He looked up and could see more winding stairs that climbed far into the shadows. They were each about a meter wide and had no railing at all. He climbed the way to the top, emerging in the belfry quietly and the sunlight. The massive bell lay on its side in the corner opposite the stairs opening. The view was spectacular.
To the south, Barcus could see an overgrown willow tree in a courtyard at the exact opposite end of The Abbey. It was higher than the wall and completely filled the courtyard; it had seen better days.
The buildings to either side of it looked in very good condition. “Em, have you assessed those buildings?”
“Yes. I believe they are our best bet for long-term shelter.”
Barcus could see to his right that one of the courtyards had a great mountain of ash and charcoal. He made a mental note of that and after looking around in all directions began his descent.
At ground level the tower made up one side of the main gate. If enemies entered the main gate, they were forced to do so directly below the tower, and they were funneled around to the left, exposed to battlements above on both sides. It was a classic kill zone.
He began to explore the desolate, abandoned place. It felt so empty.
The main hall was above a reception courtyard. A wide staircase ran up about two meters to enter the hall - another obvious line
“I think that water is coming from the aqueduct. Before the wall was destroyed, this probably held water for the entire Abbey.”
“I estimate that the Abbey itself, in its prime, housed about 300 people, Barcus. There were stables, kitchens, barracks and a hall.”
“What the hell happened?”
From their vantage on the wall, they could see that the main sanctuary of the cathedral had suffered massive damage.
“It looks like an explosion just to the side here.” The HUD rendered a roof where it might have stood, then performed a slow-motion simulation of what Em thought would have caused this amount of destruction.
“The roofs of the perimeter buildings were impacted by flying debris, here, here and here.” The HUD indicated the damage. “The buildings on the southernmost part of The Abbey were least affected.”
“There must have been an assault of some kind after the explosion. All but a few inner doors have been destroyed. The rest are burned or torn from the hinges.”
Em slowly began to descend the ramp of rubble, which continued right to the foundations of the cathedral and down further into the basement and even the crypts below. Water was running here, and a pool filled the lowest part. The floor of half of the cathedral was still there, creating an overhang above rubble and deep shadows. Em walked directly in, her legs neatly straddling the large pool of water. As Barcus was walking into the darkness, his personal HUD automatically used light amplification. The far end of the cathedral was evenly cast with rubble and debris. The flat of the flooring could be sensed below the layer of stone rubble. At the far end, a staircase climbed up into the base of the tower that was still standing straight.
“This will make an excellent garage for the spider, Em.”
“Maybe after we tidy up a bit,” Em quipped.
Barcus looked over at the other seat to see that she was smiling at him.
“I want to get out.” Barcus had stood before Em replied. The spider rotated so that the front of the module aimed out toward the opening. Only the far collapsed wall was visible, touched by a corner of sunlight.
Barcus stepped out of the hatch and the spider rose, leaving him standing on the debris-strewn floor. He moved toward the steps that were also scattered in rubble until he reached the first landing. He looked up and could see more winding stairs that climbed far into the shadows. They were each about a meter wide and had no railing at all. He climbed the way to the top, emerging in the belfry quietly and the sunlight. The massive bell lay on its side in the corner opposite the stairs opening. The view was spectacular.
To the south, Barcus could see an overgrown willow tree in a courtyard at the exact opposite end of The Abbey. It was higher than the wall and completely filled the courtyard; it had seen better days.
The buildings to either side of it looked in very good condition. “Em, have you assessed those buildings?”
“Yes. I believe they are our best bet for long-term shelter.”
Barcus could see to his right that one of the courtyards had a great mountain of ash and charcoal. He made a mental note of that and after looking around in all directions began his descent.
At ground level the tower made up one side of the main gate. If enemies entered the main gate, they were forced to do so directly below the tower, and they were funneled around to the left, exposed to battlements above on both sides. It was a classic kill zone.
He began to explore the desolate, abandoned place. It felt so empty.
The main hall was above a reception courtyard. A wide staircase ran up about two meters to enter the hall - another obvious line
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