Chapter 3: Falador's march
The skies were dark, water leaking from the clouds only added to the dismal scene. Marching slowly from the west down the winding dirt road were two hundred white knights upon armored steeds. The downcast sky caused the normally brilliant white armor to appear a light grey.
Heading the line of knights was Sir Vvvin, atop a powerful black steed, armored with well crafted white plate armor. Sir Vvvin's eyes grimly drifted across the grim scene.
By the crumbled Western wall he saw numerous fallen tents, some resting over distinct body-like shapes. Water logged corpses were strewn about the campgrounds, an infants body partially submerged in an ever growing puddle.
As the host of Falador drew nearer two gaurds could be spotted, ones bronze helmet was embedded in the mud next to him, his head dashed against a tree, leaving a vauge trail of blood across the bark. The other gaurds limp body was sprawled on the ground, rain flowing from his attire, his own bronze blade lodged in his neck.
" The scouts didn't exagerate... It truly is a disaster," Vvvin quietly said to the escort to his right, who nodded in solem agreement.
Vvvin sharply pulled on his horses reigns, at reared up and turned, facing the expanse of knights.
" Search for survivors! Scour the region for those who may have fled!" He bellowed as loud as his voice allowed, others down the long line of knights repeated his words so that it could reach the rest. Knights departed in various direction, swiftly vanishing in the increasing downpour.
Vvvin and his escort, distantly followed by a few knights approached the campsite, taking measures to avoid the bodies of the gaurds, and the women and children whom had occupied the tents.
" The scout reported that he witnessed a duel between a skilled swordsman who he saw engage a burly man in combat, I suppose theres a chance the man drove off the attacker and is alive somewhere, after all the scout didn't witness the conclusion of the battle," the escort to Vvvin's right said, a spark of hope in his voice.
" Doubtful Zelos, the scout said that gaurds aswell as atleast the majority of people in this area were alive at the time of the explosion that startled him into fleeing back to Falador," The Escort on Vvvin's left said in a matter of fact voice.
Vvvin raised his hand to cease their bickering and nodded, signalling them to look before them.
In a trench lay a partially covered man, his left side completely submerged in mud, his right limply floating in the pool of water that had accumulated. Swiftly Zelos and the other escort leaped from their steeds and to the body.
" Without a doubt, this is Josef, and likely the man the scout spoke of," Zelos placed his fingers against Josef's wrist," there's life in him yet!"
The escorts pulled, breaking the severely brutalized Josef from the mud.
Vvvin dismounted, his armors legs instantly splattered with mud. Slowly he made his way around to the other side of the trench, a body spread evenly garbed in mithril chain laid untouched several feet away. As he approached Vvvin felt something was wrong, as he passed by the mans dagger he realized to his utter digust that the mans waterlogged head was several steps away from the bodies neck, cleanly severed.
Vvvin abruptly turned, letting vomit seep from his throat. He stood hunched over, eyes closed, letting the rapid downpour wash the image from his mind.