In the Shadows of Light
(This story begins with the WotLK, as a temperamental Human Warlock comes face to face with death itself in the cold hearted lands of Northrend, he finds the immortality he had once sought in Demonology. He just didn't count on his immortality being one of servitude. Will his living temperament free him from the Kings Will or consume him in a struggle even an immortal can not win?)
Chapter 1: In the Beginning…….There was a void?
Thaedian Mordrus started his life like any other human child in the Eastern Kingdoms. He had begun with a grooming process aimed to insure him a position in life such as his father, a man of some means in the Great City of Stormwind. The Mordrus family had survived the second Orc Invasion simply by hiding out in there country home outside the city, Thaedian was just a baby at the time of the second invasion. His father Gaius Mordrus had started life as a masons son, but when the great city was being patched up after the second invasion, Gaius made himself a friend in a young up and coming rogue of means, Mathias Shaw. Mathias helped secure Gaius a position in the government as an advisor to the Stormwind Council in matters of the local labor men.
Fearing his family would return to the ranks of common Laborers, Gaius spent much of his new career trying to build up and maintain friendships with Stormwind Nobility rather then working with the local laborers. As such, he was loved by his friends in the nobility, but was looked down upon by the compatriots of his youth who felt him a traitor to his birth class. In his attempts to keep his family in the civil sector, Gaius inadvertently created the beginning in a chain of events that would set his own sons life.
Thaedian as a boy, revered his father. For him, it was easy. His father was gone from their country home often enough that the young boy never had to see his fathers flaws. His mother, an accomplished herbalist and daughter of a tailor did very well selling her herbs to young alchemists while also making garments and patching up cloth war gear for battle mages who would visit the Academy in Stormwind. The priests however would not use his mothers services. Relmyna's Father fought the Scourge in the days before Arthas and his culling of Strathholme. When word came that Tetius Rhym (Relmyna's father) had fallen victim to the Scourge and was now an undead, the Cathedral of Light closed its doors to the family of Rhym. A fact that was not lost on Relmyna's only son, even at a young age.
Thaedian was a strong willed boy with a solid head on his shoulders. He was intelligent like his father, but more practical like his mother. He found no fondness in his mothers love of gathering however and decided, when given the option of education, chose not Herbalistic Lessons, but his father innate love of Geology and took basic mining practices. The only problem, his stocky Dwarven teacher always said "The boy has a good head on 'em I tell ya, but he's just too fragile. He's limber, he's tough, but he's small in the arms and his bones are just too easily hurt. I just dunna think he will ever be able to mine anythin' better then Iron." Gaius said to himself that it didn't matter anyway. Stormwind was built of stone, not iron. His son could play with steel all day, but when he became a civil servant, laborin' just wouldn't matter.
Relmyna however took the Dwarf teachers word more as an insult. She felt her son was as strong as any other human boy was in the city and that maybe the dwarf was just a little to prejudice of humans being miners. So, she figured, just to be on the safe side, she would teach Thaedian how to Tailor as well.
Chapter 2: Coming of Age
It was summer time in the beautiful Elwyn Forest and the Fair was coming. Thaedian was also getting ready to celebrate his birthday; not just any birthday either. Thaedian was coming of age. He had spent the last ten years being educated as a miner, being taught at home to tailor and when Gaius was home, groomed to be a civil servant. Coming of age meant that Thaedian would be allowed to come and go as he saw fit, he could even work with his father as an assistant. All in all, life was looking up for the boy, now becoming a man. But the days seem to creep by so slowly now that he was so close to independence.
Finally, the fair came and with it, his Birthday. It was a celebration that everyone attended. It was almost like they were there for Thaedian and not the fair. But alas, he was a smart young man and knew he had not yet become anything of note. In spite of what he had learned thus far, he was still only reluctantly allowed into the doors of the cathedral (having his fathers last name and not his mothers) and because of his fathers reputation, was still an outcast to many of his peers who's fathers were the laboring class. But Thaedians birthday came and went and soon he was at work in the Advisors office as his own fathers assistant. Thaedian was quickly recognized by the nobility in Stormwind and was greeted with open arms. His father had done well in his smoochings. But it still grated on him that the Laborers were so openly disdainful to a boy who had done nothing to earn their disrespect.
Thaedian had managed to graduate from the Dwarven school of mining, Stormwind with the title of Expert Miner. Most of his peers, being Dwarves, had made it to Artisan and one had even been sent to the exotic outlands to study under a Master Miner. His instructor said, "Well, like I said in the begginin', he is a smart lad, and tough as nails, but them arms ya see, they just too small and boney. He knows his stones though and will be a good advisor when the time comes. So dun worry, I dun taught him well."
The funny thing was, Thaedian was one of the stronger boys in the city. He just didn't have the stocky stature of a dwarf, he had the stocky stature of a human.
Though war raged all around the Eastern Kingdoms and the lands of Kalimdor, there really didn't seem any pressure for Thaedian to learn about war. Few of his father line had ever been more than local patrol, beating up on thugs and bandits. Thaedian had learned to use the staff however as he would some times have to fend off a thief living in the forest. But now, those days were gone as his new position within his fathers office paid him a city wage that was enough for him to get a small dwelling. His wage wasn't real great as his dwelling was a small block away from the Inscription Institute near the City Stockades. Yet, oddly enough his biggest problem was the Mages School. There always seemed to be some kind of small threat coming from the mage district. This or that student conjuring something infinitesimally weak but still horribly irritating when free to roam. There were even rumors of a school of demonology near by, but no one seemed to have any idea where or if it was really true.
Sometimes Thaedian thought it would be nice to find a real warlock. Having a warlock teach him to summon some kind of demon under his control would make for an aweful lot of fun and maybe let something loose on the mages to remind them that their magic wasn't the only one in town. Once, in passing he asked his fathers friend Mathias if there was any truth to the matter of a warlock school of demonology near where he lived. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about those boys in the Slaughtered Lamb young Mordrus. They know better then to get outta control in my city."
When he was alone again, Thaedian was taken aback. Not only was there a real warlock school in stormwind and near his home, it was in the very tavern he would get his hot meals from after work. 'How could I have missed something like that?' he thought to himself. As his work week passed, the thought that he had totally missed the goings on of his local Tavern tore at him. He decided that he would go in, get his meal and when enough people were gone, he would ask the tender about it.
Thaedian went to the 'Lamb' as he called it later then usual that night. He was starving and was eager to get his food. The Tender was courteous and friendly to him as Thaedian was one of his very few returning customers. Being a place suspected of being built atop catacombs wasn't really the best thing for business. "Well young Mordrus, your late this evening. Everythin' okay in the advisors office?" Jarel Moor asked.
"Hmm? Oh yes, everythings fine. I just had some things to do at home before I come in is all." Thaedian replied.
Jarel brought his food and cool mug of ale. Theadian did his best to eat slowly, but again, he was starving and waited a great deal longer to get in for dinner then his body was accustom too. When he finished, most of the people in the tavern had left. Jarel appeared to be cleaning up, getting ready to close. "Jarel, why is it you close so early? Every other tavern in town is open all through the night."
Jarel lifted his hand up his side, in line with his shoulders as if to say, 'I dunno, look around, theres no one here anyway'
Thaedian thought maybe he could bring up the warlocks with a joke rather then bring on a too serious overtone. "Ahh, maybe its those Warlocks you hide in those secret Catacombs or somethin'." Jarel made a smiling snear and for some reason, that only confirmed to Thaedian that Jarel did in fact know they were there.
"Wait a second, Jarel, You really have a school down in your basement?"
"Hey, keep your voice down okay! I dun want no trouble in here."
"Trouble? From who? Me? Jarel, its me. Its not like im Shaw or something?"
A rough voice come from in the store room just to the side, outside of Thaedians Peripheral vision, "No lad, your no Shaw. So how do you know of the Catacombs?"
Thaedian turned slowly and saw a shadowy figure in ominous cloth regalia staring at him. "I work for the Labor Advisor. Im his son. Mathias Shaw is a family friend."
"Jarel old boy, you didn't tell me you catered to Stromwinds finest." Gakin said to Jarel with a suspective overtone.
Jarel stooped back to his work, cleaning the glasses and dishes behind the bar.
"So, Friend of Shaw, why the interest in the Basement? Has the Nobility of Stormwind finally decided to send in someone to investigate? You look more no more then a moon into manhood." Galik said to Thaedian as he sized the young man up.
"I'm not interested for official reasons. I'm interested for personal reasons."
"Personal you say? Well then, I am Gakin, the Darkbinder." Galik reaching his hand to greet Thaedian."
Chapter 3: When dawn fell upon the City.
Thaedian had been working now with his father for nearly two years. The one thing he learned was that promotion didn't come fast and the pay rarely got better. Working for the City had some perks, but it also had some set backs, especially when you were too low ranking to be bribed. Giaus seemed content with his work however and Relmyna brought in more then enough coin from her work to keep the household on an even keel. With both the family men working within the city walls however, Relmyna was more vulnerable to bandit attacks in the cottage, so Giaus decided it was best to move the family home inside the city walls. He rented the cottage out to a veteran who was far less likely to be invaded then his wife, and the rent just about covered their new apartment style home in old town.
Gakin had become a regular visitor to Thaedians home as the two had become good friends. Gakin had also become Thaedians Instructor in the demon arts. By this point, Thaedian had found himself a real home in the arts. He was strong enough to handle the demons he learned to summon, his favorite and most powerful being Klathnos the voidwalker. But his mental aptitude's seemed well suited to training as a warlock. Gakin would often say that Thaedians mind was like a steel trap with the dark arts. Never did something need to be said twice or shown twice. Once was always enough. Being that Demonology was an ethereal power like other magic, Thaedian always had to keep his clothing light or his ability to summon power would diminish. But he had learned well from his mother and had a fine clothen set made for when rituals were practiced at the Slaughtered Lamb. Having mastered the ability to summon a Succubus allowed Thaedian the ability to manage his time more effectively without the youthful pursuit of female companionship. 'Human women are just too damn dramatic and sensitive anyway. They always want more time and more effort while providing nothing of real value that my succubus can't provide.' It seemed that most Warlock's, male and female were of a similar dispositions.
Tonight was a bit of special occasion. Gakin was going to induct a new member to the order. Surena Caledon was a stunningly beautiful young woman whom had caught the eye of Gakin a few months earlier. It seemed apparent to everyone that Surena and Gakin would probably be together. It was a widely whispered joke that if they had children, they probably wouldn't be human ones. But Surena was honestly a good practitioner of the dark arts so no one begrudged her induction as something solely related to her relationship to Gakin. What made this induction special was the fact that it was the first induction in nearly two years. Thaedian had been the last inductee as the Paladins seemed to be on the recruiting path lately.
Once, only a few months prior to this night, a Paladin saw Thaedian practicing his staff skill with the local weapons trainer just outside the city gate. Thaedians skill was impressive enough that the Paladin had approached him the next day and asked if he was interested in training with some Paladins, maybe even train to become a warrior of the light. Thaedian curtly reminded the Paladin of his parentage, his mothers more precisely, and the Paladin backed away as if Thaedian himself had been tainted with the Scourge. From that point on, Thaedian would feel no love loss with the so called Warriors of the Light. In fact, they could kiss Klathnos's blue voided butt for all he cared!
Surena was inducted that night, having summoned Jubtik the Imp earlier that evening. In response, everyone summoned their own Imps and let them loose upon each other. Those who were not related to one another by some means, played together, a few who had a common bloodline, tried to eat each other. Evidently that was the way of the Imp. It wasn't a major issue however, the Imps could not kill one another while summoned to the prime material anyway. They would simply go back to the nether and could be summoned again with no issue. However, there was drinking and plenty of food. Gakin had commissioned a beautiful garb from Relmyna as a kind of inductee graduation prize and also gave her a beautiful necklace for more affectionate reasons.
As the night wore on, the Warlocks had become ravagingly drunk, some passing out on the floor of the catacombs. Gakin and Surena left a little early and stumbled to Gakin's Apartment in the Park District. Thaedian stumbled to his little home near the stocks.
When early morning light peeked into Thaedians window, he felt as if he was being racked by boulders. His head was pounding and he felt so wobbly that he could barely stand. It seemed strange to him that his head was pounding so inconsistently. He used a bowl of water he kept near his bed to wipe his face, trying to sober up a little. Pound again, he fell to the floor. He tried to stand up and another pound. A closer pound. Thaedian stopped, confused, Wait! That's not my head! That's a real boulder!
Thaedian began to sober rather quickly. He got some cloths on, opened the door and saw a fiery boulder smash somewhere in the trade district. People began poring out of there homes in confusion and fear.
Thaedian ran back into his house to get his cloth gear on. He picked up his staff and a shadow wand he purchased at Auction. If the city was under attack, he thought, then im not gonna sit about as a simple assistant! He ran outside and immediately went to the Tavern. He wanted to see if the revelers from the night before were okay. He ran down to the basement, and no one was there. The whole place was deserted. He ran back up and Gakin at the door. "Are you alright Thaedian?"
"Yes…where is everyone else!" Thaedian asked.
"They went to get prepared. The Orcs are invading. Stormwind may not like us too much, but the people will still need our help if they are to live. You seem in good order, go check on your family."
Thaedian ran to Old Town, but his parents apartment was demolished. He had no way of knowing if anyone had been inside. All he could think to do was run to the main gates and help however he could. If his parents yet lived, his father would send word. As he entered the Trade district, he saw with great horror, a huge fiery boulder smash into the tall tower of the Mages Academy. All the various magics locked withing the tall tower were suddenly released into a huge, bright and dreadfully beautiful display and ultimately destroyed the entire mage district. Thaedian caught view of Mathias Shaw and ran up to him. "Mathias, have you seen my parents?"
Mathias hardly recognized Thaedian in his warlock regalia. "Uuh, no… oh, Thaedian. No, your father is in the lower keep with the rest of the non combatant civil servants. In fact, you should be there yourself!"
"Is my mother with him?"
"umm, hmm, no… No Theadian she isn't. She… She was at home."
Thaedian was bereft. He knew Shaw had just told him that his mother was dead and his father was in the keep, safe. His father must have left her behind to save himself. Thaedian got angry, his temper flared and Mathias saw a little of what Thaedian had become. Gakin ran up to Thaedian with Surena under tow. "Come now my friend, lets give these damned Orcs what for!"
The main gates were beaten down. Orcs tried to poor into the city but the Paladins and Warriors stop their initial entry. Upon the tattered inner walls, the Mages and Priests took up station. Priests were trying to heal as many as they could will the remaining mages casted their fireballs and Ice shards into the chest and faces of the resilient Orcs. Rogues waiting patiently in the shallows of the front moat, waiting for their chance to get behind the enemy and backstab them critically. Gakin and the warlocks waited as the lines of Paladins and Warriors began to get cut down. Some thought the warlocks were waiting to let their rivals of the light die before they started to fight, but the truth was simpler. The Melee attackers were in the damn way. When the Orcs cut through the first line, the Warlocks opened hell upon them. Summoned minions were thrust into their midst while shadow bolts were cast onto them. Fire rained from the sky killing Orc after Orc. Then the next blow, Shaws Rogues made their strike, killing the rear guard of the first wave. The Orcs were cross fired in. They could not escape nor push forward. They just died, painfully.
The second wave thrust into Shaws Rogues trying to help rescue the injured and salvage the dead. Again the warlocks fired their arsenal of Demon Magic from directly in their line. The mages fired their bold of hot, cold and arcane, all the while Rogues shifting in and out of sight, murdering anyone whos skin had any color others then human, elf or Dwarven skin tones. The third wave fell as well. But the armies of Thrall had a surprise. The first three waves were just a game. A means to fire up the veterans. The fourth wave began with Mages firing bolts of fire into the allied midst. Electric Blasts began to incapacitate as the shamans of Orgrimmar showed their worth. Gakin was struck unconscious, Surena Dragging him to safety.
Zardeth took command of the Warlocks and ordered them to split up and get out of the line of sight of the shamans. Ethereal wolves stormed in and began attacking the rogues who had a difficult time seeing them in their ghostly forms. Stormwinds Paladins began their second assault, Judging the enemy, shattering some, getting killed by others. The mages began to run out of power, as did the priests. The shamans laid down their totem springs giving a constant fuel of magic to their kinsmen. Within hours, almost every vial of rejuvenation was empty and the city was almost on its knee's. Orgrimmar brought what seemed to be an endless supply of Shamans whom could refill all the mana their kin would need. Over half of Stormwinds Paladins were dead, many of the warrior retreated further into the city, waiting for the Orcs to come in deeper and give them a revived assault. Zardeth finally ordered the Warlocks to retreat into the city. The frontal assault, he said was damned to work anyway. Night began to fall and Orgrimmars forces collected their dead and dying and withdrew. Stormwinds remaining forces withdrew into the trade district. The only soldiers who would be fighting at night were the rogues. Shaw leading them as valiantly as any Rogue could muster.
Those from the keep exited and began looking for survivors. Some went to the trade district to find out what was happening and what they should do next. Thaedian had been hit hard by a fire bolt which burned a good deal of his regalia and weakened his body. Giaus went to the trade district and saw his son. It was anything but kind.
"Thaedian, thank the light your alive."
"Thank the light? Are you serious!" Thaedian said as he stood up, shakily. "Thank the light! Orgrimmar is invading our city, you ran off like a coward leaving mother to die alone and all you can do is say thank the Light!" Thaedian punched his father, knocking him to the ground.
"Ma..My son! I had no.. no choice. I have a duty to the council and to the laborers. I had to warn the council and rally the laborers to safety." Giaus said meekly, shocked at his sons violent act against him.
"A duty eh? Well then coward, take your duty back the safety of the keep. When the Orc's take the trade district which they likely will by tomorrow, we shall see who is safe in Stormwind!"
Zardeth, hearing the exchange, spoke so that the other warlocks could hear him. "Thaedian is right, Stormwind has no chance of holding out. We need to get to safety if we are to be any help retaking the city after this assault."
The following morning, Orc forces began their renewed assault. It was much easier for them this time around. Over half the forces of Stormwind had quit the field. Many took ships to Darkshore, some took flight to Ironforge. Most of the stronger soldiers went directly to Northrend. The warlocks flew to the neutral harbor town of Booty Bay, where they booked passage to Rachet, near Theramore. Gakin had indicated a powerful ally in the unlikely goblin city and they believed he would have the resourced they would need to ready themselves to assist in retaking Stormwind City. Though Thaedian had never been outside the borders of the forest, he didn't seem at all pensive about the journey.
Later that evening, the remaining soldiers and citizens of Stormwind surrendered the city and themselves to Thralls Army. The soldiers were kept securely in the stockades while the citizenry were allowed to leave the city, being of no real value to the Orcish Military. Giaus was able to pass as a laborer well enough and made his way out of the city to Westfall. Mathias Shaw and his remaining rogues, snuck out of the Stockades in the middle of the night and, leaving a trail of blood from the various guards along the way, left Stormwind in an attempt to muster Stormwinds allies to retake the city.
(Remaining Chapters shall be submitted one at a time to assist in keeping the story consistent. From here, the Characters will be in the more current timeline after having spend some time in Rachet. I will allow for some Memory Portions to help advance the readers understanding of the storyline and how the group of Warlocks made their way to Northrend. Any and all feedback will be accepted.)