Fallout:Blood and the Bull

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Any opinion and comments are welcome

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My legionaries, along with the count's soldiers, stormed through the city gates en masse after breaking the bolts and annihilating the guard who tried to stop us. The enemy resistance, barely coordinated, lasted only a few minutes before collapsing. Amid the clash of swords and cries of pain, the defenders began to scatter as hundreds of men poured through the main gates.

Our cohesive formation broke their lines with the force of a battering ram. Even so, many of my men fell in the melee, as the initial assault to breach the gates claimed several lives. However, once the gates were open, the entire city was at the mercy of the Legion. Those who failed to escape found themselves facing their worst nightmare: groups of legionaries sweeping through the main streets, killing anyone who resisted and capturing those wise enough to surrender.

Chaos overtook the defenders. Without clear leaders or an established chain of command, some ran without even donning armor; others, losing the will to fight, dropped their weapons and fled in vain into alleys where my men awaited them. The pressure we exerted only ceased once it became clear that most of the garrison was dispersing; this meant the city was virtually defenseless, a prey about to be devoured.

Terror spread unchecked. Entire households fell at the mercy of our armies; yet I soon noticed a stark contrast: while my legionaries maintained their composure and made efforts to capture those who surrendered, the count's soldiers began abandoning all discipline, succumbing to a frenzy of violence. Seeing victory within reach, they gave in to their basest instincts—looting, raping, destroying. They broke into homes by force, plundered chests and cupboards, and slaughtered even civilians willing to give themselves up.

"No! Stop this!" some of my centurions shouted as they witnessed the count's men killing defenseless people. They understood that every living civilian could become potential labor or future recruits for my Legion and that excessive killing meant fewer usable resources. But the fury of the count's men was difficult to contain; every alley they took filled with screams and wails, while blood mixed with the soot of fires.

Still, a part of me recognized that terror could serve my purpose in instilling fear in neighboring regions. At times, such excessive horror became a propaganda weapon to subdue other cities without needing to spill as much blood. While my legionaries worked to capture prisoners, the count's soldiers acted as the brutal hand that spread panic.

In the narrow streets, my disciplined troops launched arrows at clusters of militia who still dared to raise spears, capturing those who surrendered. In contrast, the count's groups set homes ablaze without hesitation, dragging inhabitants out regardless of whether they could be used as slaves. Bodies piled up in corners, staining the cobblestones dark red; smoke spread uncontrollably, creating curtains that concealed the worst atrocities.

I stopped in front of the church, its stone walls standing like a final bastion of calm amid the chaos. Around me, the city burned with cries and flames, but here the atmosphere was different: the legionaries had established a perimeter, keeping looters and the more unruly count's soldiers at bay.

I looked with disdain at the count's men whom my centurions had restrained and tied to one of the church's outer columns. Their faces bore the marks of blows, their clothes torn; undoubtedly, they had tried something near the temple, ignoring orders not to provoke the Church. I approached them with measured steps.

"Who gave you permission to come here?" I asked coldly. Their nervous, evasive glances betrayed their fear. One of them muttered something unintelligible in a trembling voice.

"Speak," I demanded, clicking my tongue against the roof of my mouth.

"We… we wanted to loot…" he stammered finally. "There was talk of a treasure in the church… gold, sacred chalices…"

I let out a restrained snort of anger. "You ignored my orders for a handful of relics?" I turned to my centurions. "If this continues, we'll incur the wrath of the clergy, and instead of gaining more slaves and resources, we'll make a powerful enemy. Ensure these idiots don't cause any more trouble!"

With a slight nod, my men understood I wanted no further bloodshed near the sacred building. I gestured for them to guard the doors and the perimeter diligently; the Church could become a neutral ally—or at least, not an enemy—if we handled it carefully.

I turned toward the main door, flanked by two massive carved wooden panels. Two legionaries stepped aside to let me pass, and I entered the temple with measured steps. The interior was dimly lit, with only the candles on the side altars casting faint light. The air carried the scent of wax and incense, a stark contrast to the smoke and blood outside.

At the far end, on worn tiled floors, I spotted a group of clerics kneeling, praying in low voices. One of them looked up, visibly frightened, as he noticed my presence. The eldest among them—likely the abbot or a senior prelate—slowly rose and, trembling, walked toward me.

"Lord," he said tensely, "I beg you not to desecrate this place. We are servants of the divine… we take no sides in noble disputes."

I observed him silently for a moment. There was fear in his gaze but also a hint of dignity.

"Your temple will remain unharmed as long as you do not act against me," I replied at last. "My men have orders to protect the church. We do not wish to make more enemies. For now."

The elder swallowed hard. "We will not stand in your way," he assured. "Allow us to tend to the wounded. Some families have sought refuge here, fleeing the violence in the streets…"

I frowned, considering his proposal. I knew that every refugee within these walls was potentially one less slave for my Legion. But I also couldn't afford to antagonize the clergy, especially when my men—and particularly the count's soldiers—were already committing enough atrocities outside.

"You may shelter anyone who does not fight against me," I conceded in a neutral tone. "I do not want conflicts with your order. But remember this: if anyone leaves here with a weapon, they will die. And if I hear of any conspiracy against my cause, your walls will fall like the rest of the city. Understood?"

The elder nodded emphatically, a glimmer of relief in his eyes. "I understand, lord. We are not warriors."

With a wave of my hand, I indicated he could step back. The cleric retreated, and at his signal, the others lowered their heads and resumed their prayers. I turned and walked toward the door, my steps echoing solemnly.

I descended the church's steps, making my way through the smoke and flames still engulfing much of the city.

The streets were strewn with debris, blood, and bodies, but I pressed on toward the second stronghold I had ordered to safeguard: the Adventurers' Guild. There, my men maintained a tight perimeter to prevent the count's soldiers from raiding it. I raised my hand in a signal to halt, observing how the people and adventurers on the other side kept their distance, tension palpable in every gaze. No one wanted to provoke another bloodbath.

My men, as enigmatic as I, stood firm, blocking the path of anyone who approached with intent to loot or cause unrest. Only the distant crackle of fires and a few scattered cries broke the heavy silence. The stillness around the structure felt like a brief reprieve amid the chaos.

I didn't enter the Guild; it was enough to see that a precarious balance held: the adventurers, ready to defend their neutrality, and my men, determined to respect it. I exchanged a look with one of the guards who noticed my arrival; if he sought to read my expression, he found only the same impenetrable veils. Then I turned and began my return to the streets engulfed in devastation.

The looting lasted for hours, and when the sun finally began to rise over the horizon, the morning light revealed the city's fate with brutal clarity. The streets were covered in corpses, numerous buildings still burned or lay reduced to ashes, and a large number of inhabitants had been chained as slaves. The clamor of battle gave way to an oppressive silence, broken only by a few scattered laments and the crackling of the last embers.

I walked slowly toward the central plaza. Under the golden light of dawn, my legionaries awaited with their faces covered, like mine. The soot and blood on their armor were silent witnesses to the night's carnage. A pair of them, exhaustion etched in their tense shoulders, approached to deliver an initial report.

"My lord," one of them said, inclining his head slightly. "We've gathered most of the survivors. Small groups are still being found in basements and granaries. The count's soldiers have left a trail of death, but we've also secured a large number of prisoners for the Legion."

My expression remained concealed behind the cloth; no gesture, no emotion visible. I glanced around: overturned streetlamps, charred carts, anonymous bodies lying against the walls. An old man knelt on the bloodied cobblestones, clutching the pieces of a broken vase without a word. The silence was so thick it felt almost surreal after so much chaos.

"Our casualties?" I asked in a muted voice.

"A few men fell taking the gates," another legionary replied. "Once inside, there was barely any organized resistance. Most of the defenders died or fled."

I nodded slowly. My gaze swept over the long lines of captives waiting with downcast eyes, rough metal bands clamped around their wrists. A silent crowd, broken by horror and exhaustion. Occasional sobs emerged here and there, but most remained in resigned muteness.

"With every slave we take and every resource we seize, our strength grows," I murmured. Then, raising my voice slightly so those nearby could hear, I added, "Finish sweeping the main buildings and prepare the carts to move out. I want the count's men kept in check; I will not tolerate further excesses that rob us of the spoils of this conquest."

As the rising sun cast long shadows over the ruins, I stepped away from the plaza and walked down the main avenue, where only recently the air had echoed with screams and the clash of iron. Now, it was thick with ash and death, but at least the city had returned to a deceptive calm.

I advanced to the plaza where the captives were gathered, their faces still covered and hands bound in shackles. The remaining fires in nearby buildings dimly illuminated their expressions of fear and resignation. My legionaries stood alert on either side, ready to intervene if any of the prisoners attempted resistance.

I stopped in front of them, observing in silence for a moment. Then, with a gesture of my hand, I singled out several who seemed to have more composure or at least some clarity despite the massacre.

"You,you,you and you," I said firmly, "will carry my message to the cities still thinking of resisting. Go and tell them what happened here: how your city was reduced to ashes and its people chained. Announce that they have two days to surrender, or they will share the same fate."

The chosen ones exchanged glances, unsure whether to feel relieved at being allowed to leave or terrified by the task I had given them. One of them, his wrists bleeding from the shackles, raised his eyes to try and see mine behind the cloth.

"If… if we do this," he stammered, "will you let us live?"

"Follow my order, and you will live," I said without hesitation. "I want the cities that still waver to send me their nobles or prominent figures as hostages to prove their surrender. Otherwise," I added, looking at the rest of the trembling prisoners around me, "they will burn like this one."

My legionaries moved to unlock the shackles of those few selected to deliver my ultimatum. Seeing the confusion in their eyes, one of my officers approached and directed them toward the path out, while I remained motionless, shrouded in smoke and the morning shadows.

"Two days," I repeated. "Tell them I will show no mercy if they ignore this warning."

The messengers, still dazed, nodded slowly and walked out of the plaza unsteadily. Behind them, silence reclaimed its hold over the place, broken only by the muffled sobs of the captives left behind and the murmur of flames still licking at the remains of the city.

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honest reviews would be greatly appreciated

Any opinion and comments are welcome