Post by Toroi on Jun 3, 2023 0:04:57 GMT 10
With a subtle wave of his hand, the slender elf dispelled the unnatural darkness. The cavern came into clearer view with the ever-present gloom interrupted only by a few scattered flames. Pulling his blade out of the chest of a fallen orc, the elf looked around, his keen eyes penetrating the dark, He remained still and silent, almost a part of the shadows around him. Absently cleaning the blood off his blade and sheathing it – even now his training held – he saw nothing but broken, destroyed buildings littered with bodies, both elves and orcs. The few moving were those of his squad, and their skinwings; checking in vain for survivors.
Oblivious to the two tracks of tears cutting twin trails through the blood and grime on his face, the elf looked down at the corpses at his feet. Not trusting himself to speak, he simply stood motionless amid the destruction, hand on his sword. Waiting.
“Sergeant, see to the wounded, and this includes you,” the voice of his commanding officer broke through his shock. He glanced at himself, realizing that not all the blood on his armour was from enemies.
“Yes, sir.” Calling out to his men, he efficiently went about distributing healing potions, and aiding the squad medic with bandaging where needed. He noted sadly, that two of their unit had fallen. Perhaps the shaman could bring them back. As everyone had taken injuries of some kind, he directed the most able to load up the fallen on one of the skinwings to take back to the temple. Despite his slender frame and apparent youth, there was little mistaking the aura of command, and his troops, all reflecting the same shock he felt, were quick to obey. The flickering flames from the few devastated homes still burning were more than ample light to work with, and the men were quickly ready. This was far from their first brush with the enemy, but definitely the most horrific. Not a single villager had survived.
“All accounted for, sir. Two casualties, the rest of the men are mobile enough to go.” The lean elf saluted as he reported back to his superior.
“Let’s go, sergeant. They’ll send a detail back to do what they can. We need to get our men to a proper medic.” As he turned to go, the officer looked back at has Sergeant. “Wait, didn’t you used to live in one of the outer villages?”
The sergeant looked back down at the bodies at his feet. “This used to be my home.” With that he turned on his heel and walked away without a further word, directing his men to head back to headquarters. Away from the utter destruction around them.