You stumble towards the stronghold, tired from fighting the demons that have been hunting you for days. You held your ground, yet the skirmishes have exhausted you.
As you look upon the looming temple before you, your heart sinks for a moment. It is unlikely a place like this would inhabit friendlier creatures, let alone some who would help you. But there is only forward, and so you try to find a last bit of energy to reach the thick walls that might hide you from your enemies.
You start running. The wound in your side is leaking more blood as you move as fast as you can. You press your hand down on it, drawing more willpower from your desperation, stubbornness and pain. You reach the massive doors of the temple, hammering your fist against it. The demons are closing in.
You turn your back to the doors, facing your doom, trying to gather what is left of your powers, lifting your weapon to fight. With a yell of defiance you strike down the first demon, who is too surprised by how much is still left in you to dodge your blow.
When the other demons lift their weapons, thunder is rolling through the dark skies, followed by light in the clouds. It illuminates your certain end in the most sarcastic way.
Then, a shadow drops from the skies. All you can see are green double blades and a blur of flashing strikes. What was left of the demons is now a mess of blood, bones and limbs.
A fierce looking woman turns toward you.
„I am from the Illidari. Lord Illidan sends me to investigate your business here," the warrior says, sheathing her bloodied weapons.
You realize how hard you gripped your own and force yourself to lower it now. „I was being hunted by those demons. I merely need a place to regain my strength, a little food and water. I can pay and won't bother you long."
The woman looks you over for a long moment, then nods. Obviously, in your state you don't seem to be a threat.
„Follow me, then."
She leads you through the dark corridors of the temple. The creatures you see strolling around look a lot like the demons you just faced outside. A feeling of dread overcomes you. Maybe you did indeed stumble from a bad fate towards a worse, though for the moment, no one seems to have hostile intentions.
The walk feels endless. The temple is a vast one, and when you arrive in front of two huge double doors, you are exhausted to the bone. The doors open, revealing a huge man, with wings slightly spread. Horns are curling from his head toward the sky, hooves are making a sound like thunder on the floor. Behind a thin cloth, fiendish eyes look at you, glowing like the fel that is tainting the land.
The shining tattoos on his chest remind you of the light in the clouds that illuminated your certain doom.
Your guide drops to one knee, then rises again.
„Lord Illidan. I bring you this... visitor. They were fighting demons outside the temple."
Lord Illidan turns toward you. A slow, vicious smile spreads across his face, almost as if in mockery. Your heart beats louder, faster, you feel it echo in your chest.
„We don't usually take in strangers. But it seems you did something useful for Outland by decimating the demon population that is not under my command."
He comes closer, examining you, before turning towards the Illidari woman. „Find them a place to sleep and food. Let them rest up. Maybe they can even be useful."
You press your lips together. Relief washes through you, as you realize that for now there is no danger to expect.
Strangely, there is also spite in your heart.
Somehow his words make you want to show him how useful you can be.
As if he has felt your burning gaze, he mocks you with another sly smile. But you keep silent and when your guide beckons you to follow, you do.
