[Suzerain of Sheol]

The city -- once a humble chapel in ancient days, then a smog-filled metropolis before the descent of the Beast -- lies yet ahead of them, miles inland. Three decades of post-apocalyptic vigilance has seen the rise of titanic walls, all clustered with devastating munitions and grim men to man them.

As the group trudges across the hard-packed ground toward the sanctuary and peril of Thyat'ria, their attention is suddenly drawn away by the gushing chortle of a powerful engine, spitting diesel fumes into the darkening sky. From the south, a massive armored reconnaissance vehicle tears its way toward the party, kicking up dust and sand in a billowing cloud behind it. As it draws near, they can make out several figures aboard -- perhaps seven in total -- all of them outfitted in what appears to be fully-encasing powered armor. A heavy, menacing rotary gun is mounted to the rear of the vehicle, and it swings to focus on the party as the patrol pulls to a halt perhaps forty feet away. As the soldiers within dismount to advance, they too leverage their weapons in caution, what appear to drum-fed automatic grenade launchers. Those of the group who are sensitive to such auras can discern a potent Theurgic blessing on every single round of ammunition being carried by these holy warriors....