203 Dawn of War (1/2)
Dark shadows made their way across the dark fields in several files, approaching the looming city walls where dozens of bonfires were lit at the base, providing a source of light for the sentries on the walls. Metal scrapped and squeaked against each other as the silent shadows marched towards the walls.
Magical detection spells set by the defenders suddenly burst into life as the shadows touched the spells, sparks and magic flares erupting from the triggered spells illuminated the surrounding fields. The lights flickered off the black armor of the Empire soldiers who continued to advance without any changes, heading straight for the remaining few refugees camped at the outside of the city with hopes that the gates will open for them in the morning.
Screams broke out among the refugees as they woke up to a firework display that lit up the advancing soldiers. The black-clad soldiers rampaged through the camps, killing and slaughtering everyone regardless of age or gender. The defenders on the walls looked on in fear and confusion as they saw figures in dark armor attacking everyone below the walls.
Alarms rang and the sentries aimed their crossbows at the Empire force wreaking havoc below. Commanders and leaders screamed at the sentries to shoot their bolts and arrows at the attacking soldiers.
Hundreds of bolts and arrow rained down from the walls, slamming into the mass of enemy infantry and any unlucky refugee into a porcupine. The city was awakened as bells rang of the night attack and more and more soldiers appeared on the walls.
But to the defenders' surprise, the enemy soldiers riddled with dozens and dozens of bolts and arrows appeared to be fine, as they continued their butchery of the panicked refugees. The defenders looked at each other in a panic wondering what sorcery are they dealing with, while their commanders continued to order them to shoot their crossbows and arrows.
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Frontier City, Last Company Camp
Captain Borse stood before his assembled men who were dressed in all forms of patched up armor and different colored tabards. His men were made up from a collection of fallen kingdoms and he was proud of them, for each of his men in his company were like brothers who had fought and bled for each other.
”Captain! The 843 men of The Last Company have all assembled!” The company senior sergeant holding the company's standard which looked like a patchwork of multiple colors stitched together by the womenfolk reported.
Borse nodded and was able to address the company when a messenger riding a war dragon covered with red and yellow trappings reined in before Borse and gave a quick salute before yelling, ”Commander's orders are for your company to reinforce the third section of the Eastern Wall!”
”You are to make your way there now!” The messenger removed a roll of orders and double checked the scroll before he handed over to Borse and jerked his reins, turning the war dragon around and rode off. ”Got to go! More orders to deliver!”
Borse nodded and took the offered order scroll before he turned to his men, ”Group leaders! Form up the men, we head to the third section of the Eastern Walls now!”
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Fields before the Walls
Several mage lights shot out over the walls to illuminate the fields showed the enemy soldiers finishing up the remaining refugees too slow to escape. A cold evil aura appeared to flow out from the enemy that demoralized the defenders especially when the orders came down to not open the sally ports to engage the enemy in close combat and save the refugees.
The defenders could only shoot off bolts and arrows at the strangely silent enemy whose eyes appeared to glow red in the shadows.
Borse's men quickly climbed up the winding tower and onto the battlements, joining the Meccan company of Guardians on the walls. The men spread out among the stretch of wall between the two towers that defined the area which they are ordered to defend.
Borse looked out over the battlements and felt a chill down his spine as he looked at the silent enemy and asked. ”What do you think?”
A soft looking aristocratic youngster with long braided hair wearing a set of tailor-made half plate stood beside Borse and frowned. His perfect eyebrows narrowed artistically as he looked at the slaughter below. ”It's strange, they are too quiet...”
”Yes, wearing that armor and wielding weapons will make men pant and yell,” Borse frowned, ”I don't even hear anything coming from those Empire soldiers other than the screams of the refugees!”
”You are right,” The aristocrat said, ”And they seemed immune to arrows and bolts.”
”Taris, is this what we heard about before we came here?” Borse asked, ”The Empire's secret weapons?”
”I think so,” Taris replied as he rubbed his dragon hide gloves against his chin. ”Look they are retreating!”
”Bastards!” Borse brooded, ”Them Empire sent those bastards just to kill off the refugees!”
Taris nodded absentmindedly as he fell into his own thoughts, while Borse cursed at the retreating Empire soldiers when a horn blew from one of the towers. ”Looks like the lords and commanders are being called to gather up.”
”This is unnatural,” Taris said, ”I don't know what foul magic is being used here but it doesn't bore well for us.”
”As long we get to kill those bastards!” Borse replied, ”If the Grey Lord had let those poor folk in, we won't have these deaths on us.”
Taris nodded, thinking back of his castle when it got razed down by the Empire. ”The men of the Last Company will do their best to prevent what had happened to their homes and families.”
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Black Scorpion Legion I Camp