The Fourth War

Preparation

Chapter 1

Premonition

"The scale of the catastrophe was unbelievable and the result was incomprehensible….

I should have left him finish what he was scheming or never allow him to set out in the beginning….

Brother you are a plague to your own kind and now I have to bear the guilt….." – Journal entries of a night elf arch druid.

In the dark plains of the corrupted Lordaeron he smiled at the faint moon. If he was someone else, you would have thought he was in a good mood. But considering he was one of the few entities that all races loathed and despised, it was hard for him to actually be in a good mood. Although the constant hatred suited him a lot more than a smile on his skeletal face, which he couldn't stop as the suffering and death in the air gave him a sort of warmth inside, even though his body was mostly ice. But these 'good moods' never seemed to last long as some impertinent corpse would disturb his thoughts,

"Kel…."

and call him by his short name…

"What fool dares to interrupt my peace!" he turned around with blue bolts lighting up in his eyes and hands, "And call me..."

The anger faded together with the menacing blue energies and was replaced by shock and cold sweat, for as he turned around there was no one there.

"Kel…."

There was only one being in the whole of the Universe and Nether that called him by his partial name, and there was only one being in the Universe and Nether that had a direct telepathical link to him,

"Master?" he tried not to think of what caused the Lich King to call him so suddenly, but he hoped dearly for his unlife that he won't punish the Archlich for his insolence.

"Kel….I need to talk to you."

Kel'Thuzad regained his cool, his master was in a good mood as well, but the last time he was contacted in the same way was to bring news of severe importance. It has been some two months since the betrayal and the beginning of Prince… no King Arthas' crusade. A month after that Kel received a similar telepathic message together with a small gift from King Arthas in the form of a pet wyrm, named Sapphiron, who delivered a burned Sunstrider Banner and a chip from Illidan's horn directly to Naxxramas – a complete victory for the Scourge. From that point in time Scourge activities in Lordaeron increased tenfold. The blasted dark elf's forsaken forces were pushed back all the way to the Tristfal Glades. Scholomance was refurbished, school attendance increased by 300 and research continued in full stride. The Scourge took back half of the ruins of Stratholme, giving about another thousand corpses for the undead cause, whilst the 'Scarlets' were pushed back into the deep corners of the plagued lands (Kel couldn't resist but smirk at the last thought; he recently found out what kind of 'lord' the Scarlets actually have). Considering Kel'Thuzad was directly responsible for all these developments, he expected a reward from his new Master, yet the urgency of the King's call bothered Kel greatly.

"Yes Master, what news from the Nether."

Arthas' pause made the Archlich's premonition all the more worrying.

"I have seen a great disturbance in the Nether. I have decided to proceed with the ritual."

Now he understood. The New King will proceed with the ritual of binding himself to the Icecrown by encrusting himself in the Frozen Throne. Although making himself completely immobile, his mental power will increase immeasurably. His control over the Scourge will increase dramatically, yet there was a problem.

Kel'Thuzad dwelled deep into his memories, he remembered Arthas as the one who was able to defeat all his enemies, three times murdering the ones who gave him support, the mercenaries of Northrend, the people of Lordaeron and the Undead of Undercity, and of course he is the only person ever able to slay and resurrect Kel'Thuzad himself. He was the greatest champion of the Scourge and was not even initiated into the Cult of the Damned. Ner'Zhul did find an intriguing successor. But if the Scourge will lose the champion chosen by Frostmourne will it be able to withstand the enemies the Lich King sees in the future.

A gale rushed through the citadel. The crash of bottles, test tubes and corpses echoed throughout. The defenders of Stratholme cowered as a great shadow passed over them. The blue skeleton dived into the main chamber and gracefully landed on its pedestal. Kel'Thuzad still mused whether using a frost wyrm as a messenger bird was logical but decided not to question the King's choice. Besides he was slowly starting to enjoy the company of such pets rather than walking corpses and demented humans. Yet Sapphiron's arrival was too well timed…

His eyes froze. Completely struck the archlich continued to glare at Sapphiron's mouth. One of the teeth was glimmering too much for a tooth of a decaying dragon. In fact it wasn't a tooth at all. It was a sword.

"I suppose Sapphiron has just arrived," the Lich King's voice awoke Kel'Thuzad. "I believe you understand what this means Kel."

If Arthas can't be the Lich King's champion any more than a new champion must be found, it all made sense. But what kind of battle will the Scourge be facing if the King has gone to such measures.

"You are preparing for war Kel'Thuzad. You have two weeks to assemble the mightiest force in the history of this world. I do not care about their previous affiliation…use any means…I await you at the Nexus…"

War. Another war. In the first the night elves and dragons were able to push back the Burning Legion but with cataclysmic results – the Sundering and the splitting of Kalimdor. In the second the humans were able to dismantle the orcish horde before the Legion was able to act, the result the decimation of the orcs of Draenor and the imprisonment of Ner'Zhul, followed by his inauguration as Lich King. In the third the united alliance of orc, humans and elves was somehow able to defeat the Legion and fight back the Scourge. Thus Ner'Zhul failed twice and had to be replaced, in fact empowered by another. And that turned out to be Arthas. Now it is time to prepare for the Fourth War. And it was his duty to form the Unholy Alliance of the Scourge. Kel'Thuzad turned around to look at his experiments and was filled by a feeling of such twisted joy that he couldn't resist laughing. Meanwhile his creations were rising to meet his master, acidic spit dropping from the enchanted teeth, stitched flesh lumbering concentrated in dark magic and magical seals unbinding the magical statue.

"Greed, Gluttony, Lust. It is time to see if you can gain true names, my creations. The master has ordered us to find a new champion and so we shall," Kel'Thuzad chuckled, "We shall let the blade choose its wielder itself, but we will have to gather the competitors. Greed, Avarice start preparing the trial," the lumbering giant and the menacing ghoul ran out, "Lust seek out those you lust. I feel a few powerful entities have forgotten to enrol into the Cult," and with that the living statue spread its wings and dived into the diseased skies. "As for me it's time to arrange a gathering of the undead elite to find out who is worthy."

She always believed in heroes. Believed how chosen people can protect you at a time of need. Believed how their promises were more precious than gold. And he turned out to be a true hero. Even before his elevation to great authority, where he stood now above everyone else, she was his greatest follower. She remembered the long hours studying dark books, hiding from the Dalaran guards and then proudly striding forth with the armies of undead. She still remembered the first time they met, she told him his fortune, without realising he came to her in order to escape the night watch, as he was prowling to the first Cult meetings in Dalaran. Even at that point he noticed her, noticed her gift and remembered her ever since. She never knew if it was love that she developed over this time or a truly extreme loyalty towards her master and tutor, but still she protected him with her body from the Dwarven bullets, when Arthas finally found them. She didn't hear him shout her name at that moment or maybe she couldn't, her death was very quick. Yet the fact remains unchanged, after long months he came back, in his resurrected form, and gave her a new life, just as he promised in the very beginning, "The Cult, no, I will promise you unending life if you follow me and become my pupil." From being the poor 'Krobelus the Oracle', who told people their future for mere coins, she became Krobelus the Death Prophet, who decided the future of the people, the most powerful Prophet of all Undead. And of course she remained Kel'Thuzad's personal advisor.

"Krobelus my dear," her master's voice always gave her spectral body the feeling of warmth, "I require you to summon all the prominent death knights to the arena. The King wished to elect a champion," Krobelus never questioned her master's words, nor did she ever ask for more information than he decided to give, yet this on its own was a troubling matter. She despised Arthas that was true, but she knew him as the slayer and resurrector of her master, both acts requiring skill and warrior qualities. Such a move could only mean one course of action – conflict. She peered into the Nether with her soul. A catastrophe. An epic battle. And a hazed result…Why could she not see?! Why could she not see the glorious victory of the unstoppable Scourge? Nor the opposite? A draw? But that is impossible in a war. Another contestant? Possible but unlikely. Her master broke her train of thought.

"Also Krobelus, I am interested how my old comrades and other prominent members of Dalaran are faring. We may require their aid."

"Yes, master."

"Very well, pupil."

A major difference with her previous human self and new banshee self was not just the increased prophetic skill, but also a large increase in dark magic and spiritology skill. Her conversations with fading spirits have opened a new window in her world and gave her much knowledge of other worlds and dimensions. Finding individuals of such magical power should not take long at all. And in fact one was rapidly making his way towards Naxxramas.

That's it for the first chapter, but they will get longer as the story progresses. Thanks to Sangheneili for proof reading and being my main advisor. Reviews criticism and advice very welcome. And since this will be based mainly on Dota heroes write to say which is your favourite, so I can promote them in importance. See you soon ;)