Epic of Karanos

I wake up, laying on my back in the midst of a epic battle. What happened to me? Strapped to my right arm is a large bronze and wood shield. The other is clutching a spear, with a bronze tip. I stand up to observe my surroundings.

Nearly the instant I arise, I hear a loud metallic clang and am knocked down again. The spear is snapped. As I look up, I see a man dressed in full Hoplite armor. I roll backwards and feel around my waist. My hands grasp around another handle. A sword, about three feet long. Without thinking, I unsheathe the blade. It seems to glow in anticipation of the coming slaughter. There is writing on the handle. It intrigues me, but there is no time to read it. I cut the man to ribbons, and do it without a single thought crossing my mind, just urges.

What happens next is a blur. Slash, stab, thrust. Hours go by, and though I instinctively manage to block everything that comes at me, I am weakened with every man I kill.

As the battle winds down, I finally have time to look around. The field is littered with bodies. Few are left standing. As I finish off one last soldier, I drop my helmet and suck in the cold air, that reeks of blood and sweat. Suddenly my world splits in half. A bright flash obscures my vision, and when I can finally see again, I find I am on my knees, with a spear that is covered with blood is protruding from my own chest.

A man is pacing around me, sword drawn. He walks with an exaggerated limp. I wonder if I did that to him. He looked at me and spits on my face.

"Spartan bastard. Our people have never wronged you, yet your greed for slaughter drives you to war with an allied empire. You have won this battle, and the future of my city is dark. Before I die, I will have the satisfaction of seeing your head roll by my feet."

He charges at me. His sword is raised, but coming down fast.

I close my eyes and accept my fate. I wait for the final stroke that will end what little I remember of my life.

It never comes.

Confused, I look up at the soldier. He is glowing in a strange blood red half-light. His eyes in mouth are wide open in in agonizing silent scream. He looks like he has lost the freedom of sound.

He explodes in a pillar of red light. When it vanishes, the ashes of my fallen executor are carried by the wind, and dispersed among the dead and dying. Wherever they fall, screams are heard.

I begin to grow weary. I look down and gasp. The spear is gone. There is wet blood where a wound should be, but is no longer, and there is a hole in the armor from that mortal wound that nearly killed me. I lack any sign of damage on my body.

As I drift into unconsciousness, I see two black dogs, walking side by side towards me. They bite down on my cape, and drag me towards a hill where an dark figure awaits.
Darkness consumes me.