Commander Braghaman Larethian

Casualties

“Incoming!”

The warning echoed across the encampment, causing the men and women to quickly gather their armaments and move to their assigned positions. Braghaman moved silently, his hands gripping his warhammer tightly, and came to stand next to Heradus and the other Draenei that he’d been working with.

Across the clearing, the paladin could hear commands being barked at the younger paladins. Braghaman put it all out of his mind. Not my business, he thought briefly to himself. Got bigger things to be concerned with.

“There!” Heradus yelled and pointed. Through the opening in the mountain walls, demons were beginning to surge forward. Dozens of defiled stalkers howled and began running towards the defenses. The Draenei formed up, presenting their shields towards the enemy as they braced for the attack.

Braghaman stepped up behind one of the shield-bearers and placed a hand on his back to let the Draenei know that he was there, to provide support if necessary. Sparing a glance to his side, he noticed a more loose positioning of the troops and frowned. But the his attention was back on his side as the demons began their attack.

The stalkers were successfully held at bay. Even though they outnumbered the soldiers, their attacks were uncoordinated and haphazard. They were easily dispatched as they broke upon the shields. They were just the first wave, the soldiers realized as they looked towards the opening again. 

“Man'ari,” Braghaman heard one of the Draenei hiss. Several of the red-skinned Eredar were moving into battle now. Some carrying swords and others wielding magic, they joined the battle as well. Pressing against the defenses, this new wave was more organized in their attacks. Braghaman and his allies held them back, creating a stalemate between the two forces. 

Through his boots, Bragh felt a rumbling vibration that was soon followed by the sounds of gears and motors. Behind the soldiers, two mechanical suits had been activated and were moving in to provide additional support to the troops. Firing over the soldiers’ heads, they began to thin out the forces that were trying to make their way into the clearing. 

From the opening came a deep roar. A nether walker pushed its way through, causing the Eredar to cheer and redouble their efforts. The giant demon charged towards the defenses, moving towards the other group. Between swings of his war hammer and trying to keep protective watch over the soldiers in front of him, Braghaman cast a quick glance to the other side and then swore under his breath. The other line was not working as a unit, instead having opted to meet the enemies in individual combat with the men spread out.

As the nether walker charged in, one of the combat suits moved forward and began pelting the demon with rounds. The injuries seemed to only infuriate the demon as it roared and moved closer. It swung its massive pole arm and struck the mechanical suit high, causing the suit to lose its balance and tip over. Over the sound of crashing metal, there was a scream. Heradus spared a glance to the side and saw what was occurring. Then he turned and looked at Braghaman.

“Go!”

Braghaman nodded and ducked under the attacks of the other soldiers. Moving as fast as he could, the paladin crossed the compound. The nether walker had raised its pole arm high in the air, preparing to bring it down onto the combat suit. Coming up from behind, Braghaman swung his war hammer and struck the demon under his right arm. The demon howled as his right hand let go of the pole arm and dropped to its side.

The nether walker turned to face the new attack. It swung its pole arm through the air, trying to slash across the paladin’s head, but Braghaman ducked under the attack and brought his war hammer back around and struck the demon’s leg at the knee. The demon’s leg swept from underneath it, it lost balance and fell to the ground. Before it could recover, Bragh raised his hammer high and brought it down, with a grunt, and drove it into the nether walker’s head.

Lifting his war hammer, Braghaman took a moment to make sure the demon was gone before turning back to the other soldiers. Shifting his war hammer in his hand, Bragh moved to the combat suit. The soldier inside seemed to be alive, but the suit was non-functional and the soldier appeared to be trying to free himself. As Braghaman glanced from the pilot, that’s when he saw the war priest pinned beneath the suit. 

Braghaman knelt next to the priest, dropping his hammer to the ground and pulling off his gauntlet. Reaching forward, he placed his fingers on the priest’s neck and waited. Then he placed his hand on the priest’s chest. Bragh’s head drooped momentarily and he let out a quick sigh. Looking back to the soldiers who were still fighting with the Eredar, Bragh took a deep breath and pulled his gauntlet back on. Picking up his war hammer, the paladin stood and turned to face the fighting.

“Form up! Paladins! Form up!”