The charge

The enemy army is large, composed mostly of demons. Many of them seem to be slavering beasts, barely more than animals, but there are a LOT of them. More concerning are the knots of order in the chaos, groups of heavily armored warriors, waiting grimly to attack. There are also larger demons, some the size of a small house!

You look to the girls as the enemy forces begin to move towards you. Clarissa has her feet planted, staring straight ahead, both armored fists gripping her axe. Her axe and armor alike glow, as if fresh from the forge, and you can see the heat distortion around the metallic dwarf as she awaits the start of battle.

Uzume grins at you, leaning casually on her huge club. Amusingly, she’s eating. A hunk of cheese disappears in her mouth as she winks, swinging her club up to rest upon her shoulder. She looks across the field at the approaching army and rolls her shoulders, loosening up in gleeful anticipation.

Sadie is quiet for once, lightning already flickering at her fingertips. The grim look doesn’t suit the happy go lucky djinn, but you can understand her desire for some payback.

Samara has her eyes closed, fingers touching the amulet around her neck. Her blade is in her other hand, but otherwise, she could be meditating. Her lips move in silence, speaking only to herself.

Finally, Kali. Standing beside you, resplendent in her silvered armor, her golden eyes are fixed upon the figure of the demon lord, who has let his lines pass him as he strides towards your army. Kali’s teeth are bared in a snarl, and ghosts of white flames flicker along her fingers. Her feathered, angelic wings are tight against her back as she readies herself for battle.

Behind you, you hear the hiss-thump of the first catapults firing, boulders streaking through the sky to impact among the charging hordes. It’s barely a pinprick to the mass, but every bit will help. You glance over your shoulder to find Greg and his team gathered around their strange contraption, and you see a faint glow building within the large crystal. A hum of power, loud enough to be heard from where you are, begins to sound.

You look back to the charging army, hearing the sound of bowstrings as your archers open fire, darkening the sky with arrows. Many glance off armor, shields, or armored hides, but just as many more find their home in flesh, dropping foes by the dozen. Still they come, undeterred.

The world seems to darken for a moment, and there’s an ear shattering crack-boom as a beam of red light streaks over you into the enemy lines. An orb of red appears, then vanishes, leaving an afterimage on your vision. Demons puff into ash from the blast of energy, fired from the crystal cannon. And still they come, scattering the ash with their passage.

Missiles fly the other way now, javelins and gouts of flame. The first casualties on your side groan in pain as they are hit, but your lines remain unwavering.

A roar goes up from both armies as the charge nears, the demons charging into the teeth of a storm of arrows and artillery. Your line braces, readying for impact, and you can hear yourself yelling as you raise your sword.