The bloated sun hung low over the tortured horizon as opalescent clouds of steam and black smoke drifted across its ruby gaze. Once majestic towers lay shattered in ruins, toppled as if they were nothing but saplings before a storm. Twisted corpses were strewn across the blood soaked ground, their faces contorted into anguished and terrified expressions. Stained glass from the cathedral windows littered the grey cobble paths that ran through the town, glinting like starlight in the dying glow of the sun. Fires from straw roofs and house timbers belched oily smoke into the warm summer air as the flames clawed at the sky. The whole vista was a striking display of despair and ruin. The man observed the carnage with a blank emotionless gaze, one that betrayed not the slightest hint of concern despite the destruction he looked upon. That gaze was hidden behind a burnished golden helm, which cast a bright crimson light as the last rays of the sun bounced off it. Faint screams could be heard issuing from the gem that adorned the helm. Stood atop a small cliff overlooking the valley, he could see all that he had wrought, all the pain, death and destruction, and yet he had no sympathy for those whom he had felled, they were non-believers and that was not tolerated by his order. They had to be removed. The man turned away from the scene, striding purposefully towards the east. The ring on his hand lead him onwards, towards the Dark Mountains to the lands beyond. It was able to detect the minds of heathens, and lead him to them. A valuable tool. There were always those who would not accept the ways of the paladins, unwilling to bend from their erroneous beliefs thus he always had work to do. He always had souls to reap. However this task was different, he was not merely cleansing a few villages and towns in the land as before. This time he had a much more sinister task in mind. Darkness began to fall. *Usually I write poems and rhymes so apologies if this isn't a particularly great piece of writing *As per usual, constructive criticism, comments, and opinions welcome