Guts&Blackpowder: Devils Dawn

Prologue: Devil's Dawn

["This truly is... The Devil's Dawn."]

July 28th, 1812.

The resonating sounds of fifes, bugles, and drums echo throughout the Niemen River.

A man trudges on, his face stoic and devoid of emotion. He bears a French uniform and dons an Old Guard shako on his head. He is Raphael Durand, a 30 year old French officer leading his regiment to Russia.

Raphael sighs to himself, his boots sloshing through the mud. "Nous y sommes enfin, hein? La Russie, il fait vraiment... froid"
("We're finally here eh? Russia, its really... cold") 

Beside Raphael is Olivier "Olive" Auclair. An overly nervous 36 year old ranting nonsense about tactics.

Olivier stutters, clearly panicked over the upcoming event. "No- Non Valentin! regarde. Charger est un plan d'attaque insensé et prévisible. Nous devons nous séparer et prendre toutes les entrées, puis les encercler. Croyez-moi, j'ai de l'expéri-"
("N- No Valentin! Look. Charging in is a mindless and predictable attack plan. We need to split up and take all entrances and then surround them. Trust me, I have exper-")

Valentin slaps Oliver's shako, his face twisted in annoyance. "Fermez-la Olive! Ce n'est pas le moment de divaguer, imbécile!" 
("Shut up Olive! Now is not the time to ramble you idiot!")

Valentin Alarie, a 32 year old, stoic and rude as ever. He comically slaps Olivier's shako a couple more times.

A loud echo of drums from the marchin band reach to Valentin, his face immediately scrunches in anger and he plugs his ears with his fingers.

"Ces foutus tambours, ils m'énervent! Les cinq valent mieux que ces idiots de batteurs!"
("Those damn drums, they annoy me! The fifers are better than those idiot drummers!")

A muscular Sapper calls from the back. "Tu n'es même pas censé être ici, ce n'est pas ton régiment. Allez nous rendre service, retournez chez vous et restez tranquille."

("You're not even supposed to be here, this isn't your regiment. Go do us a favor and go back to yours and stay quiet.") 

Alexander Paul Nicholas, a 35 year old Old Guard Sapper. Considered a legend among French regiments, and the legends are true you must know! Indeed he is!

Valentin mock laughs at Alexander's bold request, enjoying the effect of his precense. "Pourquoi? suis-je trop bruyant pour tes oreilles de vieux?"
("Why? am I too loud for your old man ears?")

"Qui es-tu pour me parler comme ça!?"("Who are you to talk to me like that!?")

"Ou quoi? Tu vas me faire un discours d'encouragement?"

("Or what? You gonna give me a pep talk?")

The two start exchanging insults, getting louder and louder by the second.

Raphael's voice interrupts the upcoming brawl, silencing everyone. "Arrêtez, vous deux, vous étiez là."

(Stop it you two, were here.)

Russia's gates are heavily fortified, it seems. ten foot tall gates with a bridge suspending it, though an air of grimness consumes Russia even from afar.

As the entire army of 60,000 enter the gates of Russia, they expected guards to fortify the area. However, it seems the entirety of Russia has died down to silence.

Olivier gazes upon the empty roads of Russia. "Que s'est-il passé ici?"("What happened here?")

"Où sont tous les Russes?" ("Where are all the Russians?)

The streets of Russia are empty, not a single person in sight. So quiet you could hear a pin drop, the only faint sound the breathing of everyone. 

Suddenly a window shatters revealing a horrifying sight as a Russian jumps out the window slams right onto a French musician, the Russian then spins around and... Bites? The Frenchman, everyone is confused until: