Expedition

You: We need to attack these people.

Henri: No, we can fight them when they come back through.

You: You do realise that their army is much bigger than ours. We will be easily crushed.

Henri: What do you propose?

You: We attack them. Go through this portal, and strike while they won't expect it. We could deal some serious damage while we're there.

Henri: We have no idea what is through there! It is too dangerous.

You: We need to do this!

Henri: NO!

Harold: Can I speak?

Henri: Go on.

Harold: We will go through, on our own. You don't have to send any of your troops with us. It will be a reconnaissance mission, and we will return soon with information.

You and your soldiers travel through the portal, and for a second are surrounded in whirling greyness. Suddenly, heat scorches your skin and you collapse onto boiling sand. You look up into a bright blue sky, then around at a scorched wasteland, broken up occasionally by outcrops of sharp rock. Even after a few seconds, your tongue is already parched.

Harold: I found a road!

You: Great! Follow it! Hopefully it leads to water. Be careful though, this is hostile terrain.