It had all happened so fast. 

It wasn't so much of a charge as a wave when the Vuldrok's broke through the treeline. Axes and lasweaponry, mixed in with more primitive yet highly effective gunpowder armaments waved about and fired at the defender's direction. Orion had held the men back until the barbarians were at the maximum effective range, and then he ordered for them to fire. What few cannons and artillery batteries the Duke's forces had opened fire and blew chunks out of the earth, spitting body parts and blood across the now broken ground. They were followed by the rifle fire from the rooftops, which in turn were drowned out by the massive volley of pistol and shotgun blasts tearing through the Vuldrocks until all became a massive, bloody melee. 

Orion stood at the vanguard, his senses battle-hardened and used to the cacophony of warfare. Every stroke at him was riposted and every gunshot his way was blocked or taken in a graze. He punched a Vuldrock's face so hard he shattered his teeth, and clove his comrade's arm off with a mighty swing of his sword. He was glad for the smaller, individual commanders that controlled their platoons, as they concentrated fire on what small vehicles the Vuldrock's utilized, along with where their army was thickest in numbers. It was so consuming to Orion, that when the battle was over and the Vuldrocks retreated...when his army was in tatters but ultimately victorious...he realized no cavalry had come. 

The Knight was on his knees amid a pile of slaughtered bodies, and miles around him there were perhaps a hundred living souls still alive. Everyone else had been turned into a corpse. He could barely lift his hand to feel his cut face, and he didn't know who's blood was upon his shoulders and chest armor. Was Sergeant Burnside alive? He didn't know. He couldn't begin to think on what to do now, other than he needed to know what happened to Annika. 

Out of the darkened shadows of the early morn, Ragnar appeared. His axe and furs smeared with gore, but he seemed alive if nothing else. The Vuldrock strode up to Orion, and the Knight didn't know if the Vuldrock was there to strike a killing blow or aid him. His question was answered when the barbarian offered his hand to help him up. 

"We need to find my confessor." Orion growled. 
[@Penny]