Author's Note: This is my take of a Death Knight's story. I like this class, I have two of them, and I enjoy questing and going through dungeons and raids with them. I will follow some of the original Death Knight's quest line at the Scarlet enclave, and then gradually move to Icecrown Citadel and the forging of Shadowmourne. I hope you all enjoy the slightly reviewed version.
Death Knight
At peace at last! No more pain, no anguish, no worries. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. She has moved on, passed beyond the veil, and into the realm of the dead. And it did not frighten her anymore. Why should it? All she saw now was a bright light coming out of a long tunnel, and all she heard was a soothing voice, filled with love for her, telling her that everything is going to be alright now, she will be safe at last, loved and protected. She will be surrounded by her dearly departed and she would finally rest and be at peace, knowing that she did everything in her power to keep the world, and everyone she loved and cared for, safe from the forces of darkness. Alas, someone had other plans installed for her. No rest for the righteous, it would seem. Before her spirit could even approach the bright tunnel, she was pulled back by an unseemly force.
"Noooooo..."she cried out, "I have done enough, let me rest in peace, please, leave me be...! A malevolent chuckle echoed all around her, and a vicious dark voice answered her.
"No my dear, you haven't done nearly enough yet, you are not going anywhere, your true destiny awaits!"
Moments later, a young Blood Elf opened her eyes, and was greeted by a tall dark figure standing over her. She was lying on a cold marble altar, wearing a long dark robe and cowl, and said dark figure was holding a terrifying looking sword over her, a blue mist trail connecting its tip with her chest. In fact, the entire sword was surrounded but that mist, that was slowly fading away now. 'Where am I?', she thought, 'What is this place? What am I doing here? Who is this big dark man? And most importantly, WHO AM I? Why can't I remember anything?' The big dark man chuckled, and spoke in a deep, baritone and slightly raspy voice, that sent chills down her spine.
"You are in Acherus, it's a Necropolis. You are here to serve the Scourge, I am your King, your Lord and Master, and it no longer matters who and what you were before this very moment. For now, you are more than a mere mortal, who fell victim to her own weakness and frailty. You have ascended into a higher form of a existence." He paused for a moment, giving her time to comprehend what he had just told her, and then continued.
"All that I am: anger, cruelty, vengeance - I bestow upon you, my chosen Knight. I have granted you immortality so that you may herald in a new, dark age for the Scourge." He offered his gauntleted hand at her, which she took, and he helped her off the altar. They walked to a large terrace.
"Gaze now upon the lands below us. The Scarlet Crusade scurries to undo my work, while Light's Hope stands defiantly against us - a blemish upon these Plaguelands. They must all be shown the price of their defiance. You will become my force of retribution. Where you tread, doom will follow. Go now and claim your destiny, Death Knight."
"As you wish, My Lord", Lady Phaedra Brightwing, former Ranger Commander of the Farstrider Order, former Centurion and revered Champion of the Horde, former Knight Lieutenant of the Argent Dawn, and sister of the Ranger General of Quel'Thalas, Halduron Brightwing, bowed before the Lich King, and went on to wreck havoc upon the Scarlet Enclave. And she excelled at that, much to her master's delight and approval. From the moment she was handed her newly forged twin rune-blades, she left no Scarlet Crusader alive in her wake. For reasons unknown to her, she felt extreme hatred for these particular humans, and not just because they were her master's, and the Scourge's enemies. That was the bonus, the icing on the cake, the excuse she gave her self for the ruthless onslaught she unleashed upon them. She loathed them, despised them, the very thought of them, made her sick to her stomach. They disgusted her. So she worked day and night to wipe them off the face of Azeroth. Every time she was spotted in the field of battle, panic ensued. Seasoned soldiers would flee upon sight of her. Otherwise fearless and very experienced Scarlet Crusade Generals, would cower before her, begging for mercy. But she had none for them. They would all fall to her sword, and were then raised as either ghouls, giests or Death Knights, if they were deemed worthy by the master. She never gave them any quarter. The master was extremely pleased with her. He whispered praises in her ear. His voice, that usually sounded like a roar in most of the other Death Knights' minds, was like liquid silk pouring down her ears, a warm caress, that sent chills down her spine. And she loved that voice, craved for it, she felt ecstasy every time it rang in her mind. And she did everything in her power to please the Lich King, so that he would whisper at her again. It was unheard of, for a newly raised Death Knight to be able to hear the master's voice so soon. Darion Morgraine told her so. It took a very powerful and disciplined mind to be able to put its own thoughts in order, so that it can hear the master's voice, and comprehend it. Phaedra felt very proud about that.
Soon, Havenshire fell to the might of the Scourge. All that was left from the once thriving town, was smocking rubble. Very few managed to board the ships that took them to Northrend. The narrow headed, bigoted fanatics had at least the common sense to send everyone under the age of sixteen to the southern Kingdom of Storwind, right under the nose of King Varian Wrynn, to keep them safe. But those not lucky enough to board the ships to Northrend, fell prey to Phaedra's wrath. "The angel of death" the Scarlet Crusaders called her, much to the Lich King's amusement, who adopted that nickname, and it soon became viral within the ranks of the Scourge. She was now known as "Vala", which meant angel of death in old Common. Phaedra didn't mind at all, it installed fear in the hearts of her enemies. And being an Unholy Death Knight, with Frost, as her secondary specialization, just added to her legend of bringing the freezing cold embrace and kiss of death in her wake. The Lich King commanded her to report to him after the fall of Havenshire. Phaedra returned to Acherus and found him at the terrace. She dropped to one knee before him.
"What is though bidding, Master?" she asked him.
"You did well Vala, you have once again exceeded my expectations, and destroyed my enemies in that rat hole. For this I promote you to the rank of Knight Lieutenant." that title, struck Phaedra as strangely familiar, "Keep it up, and soon you will become my right hand." Ηe patted her head.
"I am honoured my Lord" she whispered breathlessly, and dared a glimpse at his half hidden, by the Helm of Domination, face. He smiled at that, and spoke.
"Now rise, and report to Prince Valanar, for the next stage of our operation, my angel of death" he stroke her cheek with an ungloved finger, causing her to shiver, as she stood up.
"As you wish, my Lord" Phaedra bowed again and left, feeling elated by the master's continuing favour towards her. She returned to the ground at Death's Breach, and found the Darkfallen Elf.
"Ah, young Vala, welcome, and congratulations on your promotion. I knew that you would go far." the Blood Prince greeted her in a very pleasant voice.
"Thank you Prince Valanar, I am honoured. What is your command?" Phaedra saluted the Elven vampire.
"The attacks upon the gates of the last Scarlet bastion have begun. Our ghouls are wearing the Crusade's front lines down, as we labour to fortify our new forward base, the Crypt of Remembrance. Venture south to the crypt, which borders New Avalon, and report to my dear brother, Prince Keleseth. He will be expecting you. Prepare yourself, Vala, for you are about to witness the next stage of Scourge warfare: DOMINATION! Ride now, Death Knight!"
"Right away, Prince Valanar" Phaedra saluted the Blood Prince again, and summoned her Deathcharger.
An hour later she was descending the stairs of the crypt. A San'Lyen Elf was standing in the middle of the crypt. She approached the Blood Prince and saluted him. The Elven vampire smiled at her and spoke.
"Hail, Death Knight. I am the blood lord, Keleseth, ruler of the south-eastern reaches of Northrend. The Lich King has sought to utilize my talents in ending this mortal affront to the Scourge. As with all things the Lich King asks of me, I am happy to oblige. Of course, a sea of endless souls to sate my thirst certainly sweetened the deal, don't you think?"
Phaedra did not know how to respond to that. 'It's one thing to suck the blood out of a victim, but to feed on souls? Was that a metaphor? Is it even possible to devour one's soul? True, the master's sword, Frostmourne, sucks the souls of it's victims, but they still exist, kept safe within it.' she thought.
"They feed on the emotions and the energy emanating from those souls Vala, souls are eternal, they can never be lost. They can be altered, and become darker, but they cannot be destroyed." the Lich King's voice echoed in her mind like a lover's caress. Phaedra relaxed and addressed the Darkfallen Prince.
"What is your command, Prince Keleseth?", she asked the vampire.
"Nothing less than total annihilation will suffice,Vala. To that end, a few hundred mindless ghouls assaulting the gates of new Avalon will not do. We must infiltrate the inner sanctum and dispose of their officials. They must be shown that no one can escape the Scourge's grasp! Make your way to the New Avalon Town Hall, southwest of here, and assassinate the mayor. Search the building for the New Avalon registry and bring it to me."
Phaedra bowed her head at the Elven. "As you wish Prince Keleseth". She then made her way towards New Avalon's Town Hall. Getting there undetected by the Scarlet forces, was completely out of the question. The entire town was infested with Human fanatics. She did not even bother to conceal her self from them. She carved a path of destruction between the crypt and the Town Hall. Those who tried to escape her, were pulled back to her with the Death Grip spell, and were skewered by her sword. A great number of townsfolk was camped outside the Town Hall, shouting abuse at mayor Quimby's inaction. They all screamed in horror upon the sight of her, but were stupid enough to attack her, confident that their greater numbers would be able to subdue her. Alas, they were all dead within moments and a few minutes later, mayor Quimby squealed like a pig, as soon as he saw her enter the Town Hall.
"Here piggy, piggy, piggy..." she taunted him as she approached and revelled at his panic.
"Papapa...please don't kill me, I, I'll give you everything, what do you want? Gold, gems, jewellery? A beautiful Elf like you, would look stunning in the silk dresses I can give you" he pleaded, but to no avail.
"I am a Death Knight, pig man, not a vain trollop. I bathe in blood, not gold and gems. Now die like the pig you are", Phaedra plunged her blades in the mayor's overly large belly and he squealed even louder at that. "This little piggy went to hell" She laughed as the mayor drew his last breath at her feet. She walked up to his desk and found the registry right on top of it. 'Well that was easy" she chuckled.
"Vala, you little minx, what a wonderful mess you have made!" the Lich King whispered in her head.
"All in the name of your glory, My King", she whispered back to him.
"That's my girl. Take all the spoils you find there, they are yours, you have earned them!" the master's voice sounded like a purr now, he was very satisfied with his favourite champion's performance. Phaedra rode back to the crypt, decapitating any Scarlet Crusader she found in her wake, never reducing her momentum. 'Fun game, this one. I should do it more often. Who would have thought that their heads would get chopped off this easily, while riding Buttercup', she chuckled as she skipped down the stairs of the crypt.
"Buttercup? You named your Deathcharger, Buttercup? It's a Deathcharger, not a cowboy's mare, Vala", the Lich King scoffed in her head.
"It is more terrifying and confusing for them, when the Crusaders get stomped under the hoofs of a Deathcharger with such an innocent name, my Lord" she whispered back to her master.
"That is why I named my ghoul Steve. The look in their faces when I tell them that I will feed them to Steve, after I am done with them, is just priceless!" The Lich King laughed at that, and said nothing more. She delivered the registry to the Blood Prince and waited patiently for her next assignment.
Author's Note: I have included a lot of the original dialogues and quests from the starting area, I claim no ownership of them.
Please enjoy, and review...
:)