The night was frigid. Even during the summer, Silverpine felt like the frozen wastelands of the far north. Darius flew above the forbidding landscape, signs of the forsaken advances clearly evident. Many of the small settlements that had been merely rundown ruins have become great undead fortresses. His dragon shivered beneath him. "Luna, are you okay?" Darius shouted over the rushing wind.
"Yes, but the cold of Northrend was nothing like this!" Luna shivered violently to accentuate her point. Darius had gone to Northrend when the war began as a page serving one of the Lords fighting in the Argent Tournament. However, when the final call to defeat the Lich King came his master left and never returned. He spent two years in the frozen North learning how to fight and defend himself. Now he was on a run for Stormwind, bringing the message to the lost city of Gilneas. Soon ahead the mist that ever prevailed over the dead land gave way to a dark shape, the edges of the great wall becoming visible.
"Luna! Land on the other side of the wall! We will enter the city on foot so as to not alarm the guards." The bronze drake nodded in a quick jerk. They landed on said road and Darius dismounted. He removed his plate helm and set it in the saddlebags, then the duo marked onward until a great bridge appeared. They crossed and stopped in front of the ancient Iron Gate. "Hello!" Darius called out. "My name is Darius, and I am a representative for the alliance from Stormwind! Is anyone there!"
A distant voice replied with a rather aggressive accent, "Aye, this is the Gillnean guard! What is your business here!"
"We are here to speak with the King on behalf of King Varian of Stormwind!"
"Well now! Is that so? We haven't had any visitors from the alliance and so long! hHow goes it the war to the north?"
"It's over! The Lich King and his armies lay vanquished! May we please enter? It is cold and we have traveled far!"
"Ah, yes. So sorry about that!"
The gates began to open on rusting hinges, creaking with the sound of years of disuse. Darius led Luna through to find a Paige waiting for them. He spoke in a quiet voice, "The guard master told me to take you to Prince Liam first. If you'll please follow me." Darius followed the page with Luna behind him. One thing that stood out quite noticeably was the very obvious lack of citizens in the inner city.
"Pardon me good sir, but I couldn't help but notice how unpopulated the city is. What is going on?"
"Ah, well we've heard rumors of some strange beasts attacking people of late. It's not safe for anyone to be out for very long now. the King ordered a curfew at sunset. Anyway, the Prince is in the trade square just down that way." he pointed to some stairs that lead up the inner moat-wall to the upper level. Darius thanked him and he and Luna ascended to find a group of guards assembled at the landing. He took a left into the heart of the square and heard a strong, but young voice rallying his troops. Darius turned right and saw the Prince on a fine brown horse. He approached slowly, not wanting to alarm the guards to his dragons presence. Prince Liam saw the duo approaching and let his guards to ease.
"Well now, this is a surprise. We've not had any visitors from the outside world in quite some time. What brings you both here?"
The guards turned expecting some traveler, but upon seeing Luna they jumped back in surprise. "Don't worry, she won't bite, often." Darius chuckled to himself. He then addressed the Prince directly. "Prince Liam Graymane of the kingdom of Gillneas, I bring word on behalf of King Varian of Stormwind. Since the war against the Lich King is over, he humbly request to re-forge the partnership Gillneas had with the rest of the alliance. Lordaeron is lost, but those who lived in the great kingdom still thrive. Will you grant me an audience with your father?"
"Hmmm... Well, to be honest I don't know. He's been very busy of late and I have no idea what he's up to. But maybe..."
"My Lord!"
The Prince was cut off by a guardsman rushing from the alley behined. "My lord! on of our patrols was found dead by the rear gate! Slaughtered and lying in a pool of blood!"
"What!? Who could have done this? Show me at once!"
The guard saluted, turning on his heel and rushing the Prince to the horrible scene. Liam knealt beside the body of the fallen Gilnean. "Who did this? Who in our city could have done this?"
"That's not a who sire." The live Guard spoke, "That's a what. It's the beasts."
"You can't honestly believe some mysterious beast is terrorizing our city; That's just absurd!"
"But my lord, you can see for yourself, no man did this."
The prince moved to reply when another shout grabbed his ear.
"That came from the square. Quick!" The prince and his escort arrived to a scene of complete chaos.
An ear piercing scream rang out as a very large and vicious looking Worgen leapt onto an unexpected woman. The beast lunged forward to make a killing blow when the night was split by a rifle shot, along with the brute's skull. "My God! The rumors are true!" The prince cried out. Worgen began to pour over the rooftops from all directions as the guards scattered to engage different targets and evacuate civilians. "Traveler, are you skilled with a blade?" Darius responded by pulling the great broadsword from his pack. A Worgen jumped for him and with a great swing he rented in two. Luna spewed fire at the beasts but Darius cut her off.
"Luna! Go! Fly and get help!" The dragon stopped and looked at him sternly. "I will be fine, go now, hurry! Fly to the Dwarves!" She nodded sadly and took off to the south for Iron Forge.
That was the last time Darius would see his Dragon companion...
As the fight grew onward the citizens of Gilneas grew smaller and smaller in numbers as more and more were infected by the Worgens curse. The remaining fighters were forced futher into the city, backing up the the spires of the Chapel, hoping to make a last stand. Darius Stood next to Sir Crowley in the great domain chapel as the creatures swarmed in. Darius's weak magic did come in handy, setting some of the beasts on fire. Suddenly the swarm seem to thin out, and cease altogether. Crowley lowered his rifle "Is that really it?"
"I don't think so... Wait, wha!" Darius exclaimed as a group of Worgen burst through the chapel windows in the back. Crowley turned to meet them, but too slowly and was tackled by a very large Worgen, who then bit down on his shoulder missing his neck by inches. Darius tried to help but a trio of Worgen surrounded him and dived in for the kill. Darius swung his sword in a ring around him to try and push the beasts back, but one of the smaller ones managed to grab hold of his right arm in its ravenous jaws. The messenger yelped in pain and smashed the clever Worgen in the head. The beast let go and back peddled in confusion and Darius rushed forward and drove his blade into its gut. As the beast fell it's weight rent the blade from his grip. He fled past Crowley and through the broken stained glass windows where the Worgen burst through. He fell into the river and found himself incredibly drained and weak. He floated on his back, mourning those who died, Crowley for being left to his gruesome fate, and Luna, for sending her away. "Gah… Luna, I'm sorry."
His vision turned grey as the skies grew dark and began to weep. The screams of the desperate grew fewer and fewer as the Worgen consumed the city in chaos.
The great Kingdom of Gilneas was lost.