There was only one word that could describe the scenery. Dismal...
A mixture of white cloud and black smoke filled the sky, denying the land below the little warmth the sun provided. The once fresh snow on the tundra had been kicked up and dirtied by mud and ash.
The charred remains of a small settlement lay in the middle of the tundra. The blackened and withered skeletons of its buildings stood in the frozen earth. Although the fires themselves had long since died, the cold breeze that extinguished them still carried its red hot embers. They floated over the blood soaked dirt roads of the hamlet. They were now only occupied by corpses of fallen militiamen.
Only hours ago, the residents of this hamlet had refused to give tribute the the area's newest power : the Tanurak.
Two hundred and fifty of these fur-clad wild men rode to respond on the backs of their great war elk. Armed with bow, spear, and antler, they rushed through the settlement and slaughtered all who took up arms against them. Now that the "battle" had ended, the raiders moved about the settlement unrestricted. They were collecting what resources they could. All of it was being gathered together in the central square of the wrecked community, where it would be distributed and carried back to the main tribe.
Among these resources were live prisoners, those who either refused or were unable to fight back against the Tanurak horde. The barbarians, in turn, were merciful. They rewarded these survivors by allowing them to live. They were bound by rope, sitting amongst the piles of food and other supplies, waiting to be taken away with them. In the square, a young blond man oversaw the progress his people made from the back of his war elk. By the way he carried himself, this was the commander of the raid.
Time went by as slightly less than two hundred and fifty savage warriors occupied the settlement. Some were dismounted just beyond the perimeter, allowing their beasts to graze while they kept watch for any unexpected visitors. Others scoured the wreckage for additional resources or people. Many still held their weapons, either bow or axe, wary of survivors who would not give in without a fight...