There she was, stood alone on the hilltop, her grey-black armor illuminated by the light of the raging inferno below, bright red cape fluttering behind matching the glinting red eyes of her spiked, skull-like helmet. By her order, the village was being razed to the ground, its inhabitants forced out to be taken to the Shadow Weaver for 'readjustment' - or left to burn, if they caused any trouble. It was of little consequence to Despara. By now she had sheathed her twin Swords of Destruction - she had no further need to fight, the battle was long since over and the Horde would deal with any stragglers - and was instead holding her command staff, almost leaning into it.

It was a far cry from the merciless warrior felling the Ethereans left and right. But then, spying a mother cradling her baby from a Horde soldier, something seemed to shift in her manner - a flicker of hesitation, perhaps? - and she gave the order to end the massacre and take the survivors prisoner.

It was totally uncharacteristic of her. No mother or child had ever prompted her to show mercy before. She seemed troubled - but was she troubled by the actions of the day, or the seeming flicker of conscience?

For a moment it seemed as though she were about to remove her helmet... but just then, something caught her attention and she wheeled around quickly, discarding the staff and firmly grasping the hilts of her swords. If it was an opponent, she wouldn't be caught off-guard.

"Show yourself, in the name of Hordak!"