[Soldier]

It was loud enough to shake the very ground. From the direction of the Keep came a loud blast, a bright orange fireball sending the structure in every direction. The shockwave sent buildings collapsing to the ground with clatters and people flung through the air. The gunpowder inside the keep was still setting off small explosions, and around the structure, buildings lay in shattered ruin, the cries of trapped and wounded civilians filling the night air. From the wall came the deep, droning cry of the alarm horn, the eerie sound spilling into the darkness.

The fires around Gunther’s shop were dying down, leaving charred sticks and melted stone. The fires were raging madly elsewhere as fire crews battled desperately to put the stubborn flames out. From the sky came the screech of Griffins as they dropped sandbags on the flames. This far from the gadget shop, the chemical had burned away, and thesand was quickly able to smother the flames. Near the keep, the flames were eating hungrily against the wooden sides of homes, though hoses were quickly dousing them with water.

Despite these efforts, the orange glow of the fire was still burning, and soldiers and civilians lay in the streets and charred buildings, screaming, groaning or just unconscious, dead or dying. Near Valan was a group of soldiers lifting a comrade on a crude litter. His legs had been burned away, leaving charred bone. The soldier was screaming, and two of his comrades were forced to hold him down so he didn’t hurt himself. One of the soldiers walked up and handed him a small military folding shovel. “Mind you watch the flames. They sneak up on you. Your best bet is to run if you see flames headed your way. Don’t try to save what’s burning. Save what isn’t.” With that, he turned and followed his companions off.