Post by Gaien on Dec 9, 2004 20:09:05 GMT -5
As Gaien lays down by the fire and drifts off to sleep, he dreams of himself in another dimension…<br>
Gaien headed north, through Tristfall Glades, beside him were his ever-faithful companions that had risked their lives to strike a blow into the heart of the Undercity, the capital city of the Undead Forsaken. Though he had left the service of the paladins of Azeroth, he still trained and kept to their ways.
His younger sister, Gailena, was tired from the long swim across the channel, but the young mage’s eyes were filled with excitement. She had never known Lorderan before the wars and as such did not know the glory that the human kingdom had known. All around them was the ruins of what had once been a fast and prosperous kingdom, a land that many valiant heroes, including Gaien’s own mentor, Uther, had sacrificed their lives for. All this before Prince Arthas’ betrayal and the murder of King Terenes…<br>
Gaien noticed his other companion also lost in deep thought. Jacin sprinted easily along side his two human friends and with the nimbleness of his race, managed to avoid snapping even a single twig. The night elves had only become involved in the war that destroyed Lorderan towards the end of the conflict but they had fought the evils of the Undead and the Burning Legion for many millennia before humans had ever known of their existence…<br>
The three of them had elected to make the dangerous journey to the ruins of Lorderan almost a week ago, leaving the dwarven city of Ironforge with only what they would need. Now, a week later, they were almost to the ruins of the great city itself. They had relied on stealth and speed to get this far, but in order to succeed in their mission they were going to need a bit of divine luck as well.
For weeks, the Undead had been performing hit-and-run raids against a small village outside of Stormwind called Goldshire, murdering peasants, farmers and children as they created chaos throughout the countryside. The three had gotten wind that these orders were coming from a powerful undead warlock named Malkavious, who had made his home in the graveyard outside of Lorderan. They hoped that by slaying the warlock, the raids would be stinted for a while, if not ended. They would have to strike fast and with the precision of a surgeons scalpel in order to overcome the warlock quickly without raising an alarm.
A few hours later the trio had found the graveyard outside of Lorderan and hid themselves inside an empty mausoleum, awaiting some sign of their prey. As twilight loomed above them and the stars began to make their appearance in the evening sky the three noticed several undead begin to gather around their hiding place. They looked at each other in silent fear. Had they been discovered?
Gaien shook the thought away almost instantly, if they had been discovered they would have been attacked by now. As Gaien dared to peer closer he noticed that the undead seemed to be waiting for something. That was when he heard one of the coffins in the mausoleum start to open.
A skeletal hand grasped a ledge for support and began to pull the body from within out of the tomb. Reacting quickly, Gaien grabbed his large, two handed mace and ran towards the tomb. As the creature lifted it’s head from its resting place Gaien brought down the hammer with such force that he shattered not only the head of the creature, but part of the creatures tomb as well. Bits of skull flew about and a putrid stench filled the air.
Suddenly the gathering outside the trio’s hiding place began to cry out in voices that only the dead could utter. The sound sent a shiver down Gaien’s spine and he feared that his actions might have doomed his companions. As he listened closed Gaien realized that the cries were not one of alarm, but instead they were shouting a name… Malkavious.
Gaien went back to the tomb and starred inside. There lay what remained of an undead, presumably male, dressed in fine red robes with a wicked looking dagger at its side. Also at its belt was a piece of parchment. Carefully, Gaien pulled the parchment from its belt and began to read it. The parchment contained orders and directions for staging raids, not only against Goldshire, but also against several cities across the Alliance nations! The orders were signed Malkavious. Had Gaien slain the supposed mighty warlock without realizing it?
The cries from outside began to die down and Jacin motioned for Gaien to look outside. The crowd was departing, going back to the various locations they had come from. Gailena’s eyes were still filled with terror, no doubt even her magical powers could have held back such an onslaught, but she seemed to be recovering more and more as the undead left.
Now they just had to figure out how to get home…<br>
Gaien awoke from his slumber with a start. What a weird dream…
Gaien headed north, through Tristfall Glades, beside him were his ever-faithful companions that had risked their lives to strike a blow into the heart of the Undercity, the capital city of the Undead Forsaken. Though he had left the service of the paladins of Azeroth, he still trained and kept to their ways.
His younger sister, Gailena, was tired from the long swim across the channel, but the young mage’s eyes were filled with excitement. She had never known Lorderan before the wars and as such did not know the glory that the human kingdom had known. All around them was the ruins of what had once been a fast and prosperous kingdom, a land that many valiant heroes, including Gaien’s own mentor, Uther, had sacrificed their lives for. All this before Prince Arthas’ betrayal and the murder of King Terenes…<br>
Gaien noticed his other companion also lost in deep thought. Jacin sprinted easily along side his two human friends and with the nimbleness of his race, managed to avoid snapping even a single twig. The night elves had only become involved in the war that destroyed Lorderan towards the end of the conflict but they had fought the evils of the Undead and the Burning Legion for many millennia before humans had ever known of their existence…<br>
The three of them had elected to make the dangerous journey to the ruins of Lorderan almost a week ago, leaving the dwarven city of Ironforge with only what they would need. Now, a week later, they were almost to the ruins of the great city itself. They had relied on stealth and speed to get this far, but in order to succeed in their mission they were going to need a bit of divine luck as well.
For weeks, the Undead had been performing hit-and-run raids against a small village outside of Stormwind called Goldshire, murdering peasants, farmers and children as they created chaos throughout the countryside. The three had gotten wind that these orders were coming from a powerful undead warlock named Malkavious, who had made his home in the graveyard outside of Lorderan. They hoped that by slaying the warlock, the raids would be stinted for a while, if not ended. They would have to strike fast and with the precision of a surgeons scalpel in order to overcome the warlock quickly without raising an alarm.
A few hours later the trio had found the graveyard outside of Lorderan and hid themselves inside an empty mausoleum, awaiting some sign of their prey. As twilight loomed above them and the stars began to make their appearance in the evening sky the three noticed several undead begin to gather around their hiding place. They looked at each other in silent fear. Had they been discovered?
Gaien shook the thought away almost instantly, if they had been discovered they would have been attacked by now. As Gaien dared to peer closer he noticed that the undead seemed to be waiting for something. That was when he heard one of the coffins in the mausoleum start to open.
A skeletal hand grasped a ledge for support and began to pull the body from within out of the tomb. Reacting quickly, Gaien grabbed his large, two handed mace and ran towards the tomb. As the creature lifted it’s head from its resting place Gaien brought down the hammer with such force that he shattered not only the head of the creature, but part of the creatures tomb as well. Bits of skull flew about and a putrid stench filled the air.
Suddenly the gathering outside the trio’s hiding place began to cry out in voices that only the dead could utter. The sound sent a shiver down Gaien’s spine and he feared that his actions might have doomed his companions. As he listened closed Gaien realized that the cries were not one of alarm, but instead they were shouting a name… Malkavious.
Gaien went back to the tomb and starred inside. There lay what remained of an undead, presumably male, dressed in fine red robes with a wicked looking dagger at its side. Also at its belt was a piece of parchment. Carefully, Gaien pulled the parchment from its belt and began to read it. The parchment contained orders and directions for staging raids, not only against Goldshire, but also against several cities across the Alliance nations! The orders were signed Malkavious. Had Gaien slain the supposed mighty warlock without realizing it?
The cries from outside began to die down and Jacin motioned for Gaien to look outside. The crowd was departing, going back to the various locations they had come from. Gailena’s eyes were still filled with terror, no doubt even her magical powers could have held back such an onslaught, but she seemed to be recovering more and more as the undead left.
Now they just had to figure out how to get home…<br>
Gaien awoke from his slumber with a start. What a weird dream…