Crimson Dawn
Prince Keleseth flipped through the pages of the book.
"The registry will tell us many things about the Scarlet Insects, Vala." Keleseth whispered as he continued to flip through the pages.
"Death rates, births, but most importantly, movement. Look here, Vala, they have already sent three vessels abroad. Let me see here... Where are they headed? The vampire muttered something about latitude and longitude under his breath as he calculated the route.
"WHAT? This is impossible. They sail to Northrend! And beside the coordinates are the words: "Crimson Dawn." What is this Crimson Dawn, Vala? What are those inbred fanatics up to now? We must find out at once!" Keleseth looked at her, and she could see that he was perplexed.
'What is Northrend, and why are the Crusaders so hell bent in getting there? It must be a place of grate importance, or else the prince would not look this concerned' Phaedra wondered.
"It is our home, Vala. The seat of my throne. No one trespasses in my house", the Lich King whispered in Phaedra's mind again.
"Then I must stop them at once my Lord" she frowned, angry at the audacity of the Scarlet Crusaders to set foot upon her master's domain.
"I know that you will, Vala" the Lich King reassured her. That was when the blood Prince spoke.
"In my travels across this world I have made several interesting discoveries. For instance, did you know that with the proper amount of encouragement one can extract all the truths that a man dares hide? As luck would have it, I happen to have some encouragement on hand." The Blood Prince pulled something out of an ornately jewelled box. "These are my "persuaders." Equip them and take to the field, Death Knight. Apply the pointy ends to soldiers of New Avalon. Discover the truth about this "Crimson Dawn." The San'Lyen gave Phaedra a feral smile as he handed her the "persuaders". She took them and matched his smile.
"Oh they will spill the beans soon enough Prince Keleseth". She run up the stairs and headed back towards the front.
Soon she found some Scarlet Crusaders patrolling the field, and ambushed them. While keeping the rest of them lifted off the ground, incapacitated by her strangulation spell, but kept alive, she started interrogating the free one, by striking him with the "persuaders".
"I'll tear the secrets from your soul! Tell me about the "Crimson Dawn" and your life may be spared!" she growled at him.
"You'll be hanging in the gallows shortly, Scourge fiend!" he spat at her. That earned him a more brutal beating from her, and soon he was moaning in pain.
"Tell me what you know about "Crimson Dawn" or the beatings will continue!" she hissed at him. But the soldier was not able to answer to anything any longer, Phaedra had hit a major organ.
"Useless gnat!" she spat, and tossed him aside. She turned to the next one and started striking him more carefully this time.
"I'm through being courteous with your kind, human! What is the "Crimson Dawn?" The soldier shook his head.
"You'll have to kill me, monster! I will tell you NOTHING!" She continued hitting him.
"Is your life worth so little? Just tell me what I need to know about "Crimson Dawn" and I'll end your suffering quickly." The soldier laughed at her
"You hit like a girl. Honestly. Is that the best you can do?" Enraged by the human's sexism, Phaedra plunged both of the "persuaders" into the soldier's eyes, killing him in the process. She started torturing the third one.
"I can keep this up for a very long time, Scarlet dog! Tell me about the "Crimson Dawn!" This one must have been dropped in his head when he was a baby, because all he said was "ARGH! You burned my last good tabard!" before he dropped dead. Phaedra was getting quite frustrated by that point, she was afraid that she would disappoint the master with her failure. She started on the Scarlet Preacher.
"What is the "Crimson Dawn?" she growled at him. Argh... The pain... The pain is almost as unbearable as the lashings I received in grammar school when I was but a child." he mocked her.
"Perhaps I could kick it up a notch for you, to bring back some more school memories." she snarled, and hit him much harder.
"I used to work for Grand Inquisitor Isillien! Your idea of pain is a normal mid-afternoon for me!" he laughed.
"You call us monsters, and yet you are the ones who engage in S and M on a daily bases" she retorted, and hit him with all her Death Knight strength.
""Crimson Dawn!" What is it! Speak!", she roared at him. The Scarlet Preacher decided to become more cooperative.
"I'll tell you everything! STOP! PLEASE! We... We have only been told that the "Crimson Dawn" is an awakening. You see, the Light speaks to the High General. It is the Light...The Light that guides us. The movement was set in motion before you came... We... We do as we are told. It is what must be done. I know very little else... The High General chooses who may go, and who must stay behind. There's nothing else... You must believe me!" Phaedra sensed that he was holding back information.
"LIES!" she hissed. "The pain you are about to endure will be talked about for years to come!" she threatened him. The Scarlet Preacher winced at that
"NO! PLEASE!" he cried out "There is one more thing that I forgot to mention... A courier comes soon... From Hearthglen. It... The Scarlet Preacher died from the torture.
"A pity" she shrugged "he had spunk in him".
"He will be raised like the others. Becoming a Necromancer is a fitting transformation for any Preacher." the Lich King chuckled in her head. Phaedra snorted in agreement, and run to report her findings to the Blood Prince. The Prince had already been informed by the Lich King. He grinned at her, showing his vampiric fangs and informed her about the next stage of operations.
"I have sent Orbaz, Thassarian and Koltira behind enemy lines to search for the courier. They have set up a base of operations at the Scarlet Tavern, located at the southern end of New Avalon. The tavern is tucked away behind the two orchards, adjacent to the Chapel of the Crimson Flame. You are to make your way to the tavern and report to Orbaz Bloodbane. He will update you on their situation."
"As you wish Prince Keleseth" Phaedra saluted the San'Lyen Prince, and headed for the heart of New Avalon. It was a very treacherous journey there, the enemy was lurking in every corner and behind every shadow, between the Crypt of Remembrance and the Scarlet Crusade tavern. Since the new base was behind enemy lines, and they needed to act as if they did not know anything about the courier and the Crimson Dawn, Phaedra had to be very stealthy on her approach to the tavern. Surprisingly, she managed to reach her destination without being detected, utilizing skills she did not even know that she possessed. Knight Commander Orbaz Bloodbane was not happy to see her.
"Looks like we'll let anyone into the dark order these days. When I was given the gift, things were different. Much different!" He shook his head. Phaedra raised a red eyebrow at that.
"Forgive me Knight Commander, but are you questioning the Master's choices?" The Death Knight blanched at that, he forgot that the Lich King listen in at their conversations any time he wanted.
"Of course not, it was a figure of speech, I am certain that you are a great Death Knight, or else the Master would not have given you the gift. Now about this courier. We haven't got a damned clue about when or where this courier is supposed to show up. None of these humans had an answer either." he pointed at the Scarlet corpses strewn across the floor.
"I did manage to beat something useful out of the last one. Inside Scarlet Hold they keep a schedule of all patrol routes. I want you to break in there, and steal it." Phaedra nodded at the the Death Knight, and turned to leave.
"Vala wait, please" another Death Knight called out to her. She turned and saw Thassarian hunched over a chair, sporting several injuries.
"Thassarian, what happened?" she asked concerned.
"Breaking through the Scarlet lines was no easy task, Vala. We suffered many casualties during the assault and lost one of our best Death Knights, Koltira. I don't know whether he's dead or alive, but I'll be damned if we don't search for him. I last saw him being bound in irons and dragged away to the Scarlet Hold, northeast of here. Tear that keep asunder, Death Knight. Find Koltira!" Phaedra nodded at Thassarian, she was very fond of both them, and spend countless of hours chatting, joking, and playing Hearthstone with them and Darion Morgraine, when they were off duty. They were nice and pleasant towards her, very much unlike Orbaz, who was just a bastard, and still clung to the old hatreds from life. And it was more apparent now, when he confronted Thassarian for tasking Phaedra with rescuing Koltira.
"Why do you care, Thassarian? His weakness led to his capture. Only the strong should survive. Not to mention..." Thassarian's angry voice interrupted Orbaz.
"What, Orbaz? That he's a Blood Elf? In life we were hated enemies, this is true. But in death... We are the children of the damned. The bastard sons and daughters of the Scourge. In death we are brothers. Besides, he got captured because he stayed behind to fight them off, giving the rest of us the chance to escape and regroup." Orbaz shook his thick head.
"To hell with you, Thassarian." he spat at the other Death Knight, and walked away. Thassarian signed at that.
"Don't worry Thassarian, I will get our brother out of there, and punish those who dared to assault him." Phaedra reassured her friend and headed towards the Scarlet Hold. It was not an easy task. The way from the tavern to the Hold was blocked by dozens of Scarlet Crusaders. She needed to either sneak past them, or quickly dispatch them. After what seemed like hours, she made it to the keep. She decided to look for the schedule first, in case she might have to carry Koltira out of there. So she headed at the top of the keep. She quickly dispatched all the guards on her way there, and slew Commander Rodrick. She found the schedule on the table nearby, and tucked it into her pouch. She then headed towards the dungeon, to find Koltira. 'Oh they better not have harmed him, much' she thought as she descended the stairs to the dungeon. It was very dark, the only light coming in, was from a tiny window. She could see torture instruments hanging around the wall. The smell of this place was unbearable, had she still been mortal, she would have thrown up. At the far end of the room was a table, and sprawled on it was the large body of Koltira. His hands and feet were chained at the ends of the table, and she could tell from the wounds on his naked torso, that he had been tortured. She growled. 'Oh they're gonna pay for that' she thought. She moved towards him and unchained his hands and feet. He was still alive, but unconsious. She opened her pouch and took out some bandages and potions. She treated his injuries and poured some health potions down his throat. Koltira's eyes fluttered open.
"Vala", he whispered, You were foolish in coming after me. I failed. I should have been left for dead , now two of us might be killed." He shook his head.
"We are Death Knights of the Scourge. This flies in the face of the dark brotherhood's covenants. Thassarian, you blasted fool!" Phaedra shook her head.
"No brother, I'm getting you out of here. Besides, Thassarian said that they would not have made it, if you didn't hold the Scarlet worms back." Koltira cut her off.
"The alarms have been sounded. The High Inquisitor and his acolytes will be here soon. I'm too badly injured to be of much use, but I'll do what little I can to help. Slay the High Inquisitor and his cronies. Tear off his head and return with it to Thassarian. Vengeance will sooth his savage soul. One more thing, Vala. If you do manage to survive and make it back to Thassarian, tell him that they're executing prisoners at the chapel. Perhaps he'll send you there to play the hero once more." Phaedra smirked at that.
"None will be left alive in this keep Koltira. Steve is going to have a feast tonight". Koltira chuckled, as he watched several Crusaders descending the dungeon stairs.
"I'll need to get my runeblade and armour... Just need a little more time." He started to fumble at the pile of tossed armour parts and weapons.
"Don't worry Koltira, they're mine" Phaedra had a feral smile pasted on her pale face, as she pulled out her rune blades, and charged at the humans. They were vicious fighters, fuelled by their hatred for anything undead, but theirs, did not match Phaedra's viciousness and hatred, bestowed upon her by the "Prince of Darkness" himself. They were dead within minutes. Koltira nodded his approval and rasped.
"I am still weak, but I think I can get an anti-magic barrier up. Stay inside it, or you'll be destroyed by their spells." Phaedra nodded "Excellent idea, their little spells, do sting a little, and not in a remotely pleasant way" Koltira snorted.
"Maintaining this barrier will require all of my concentration. Kill them all!", he ordered, as Phaedra jumped next to him, within the barrier, and continued to fight the mortals.
"There are more coming. Defend yourself! Don't fall out of the anti-magic field! They'll tear you apart without its protection!" Koltira warned her. Phaedra casted consecutive Death Grip spells on them, to pull some at her position, while shooting deadly spells at the rest, choking them up in the air with her Strangulation spell.
"I can't keep barrier up much longer... Where is that coward?" The injured Death Knight hissed. At that moment High Inquisitor Valroth screeched.
"The Crusade will purge your kind from this world!"Koltira's head jerked up towards the top of the stairs.
" The High Inquisitor comes! Be ready, Death Knight! Do not let him draw you out of the protective bounds of my anti-magic field! Kill him and take his head!" Valroth sneered at them.
"It seems that I'll need to deal with you myself. The High Inquisitor comes for you, Scourge!" Phaedra casted the Death Grip spell at him, and pulled him to her position. She then swung one of her blades, in an attempt to decapitate him. His sword intercepted her's.
" You have come seeking deliverance? I have come to deliver!" Valroth hissed at him.
"The only delivery that will take place here is that of your soul into my master's blade, you inbred bigot" Phaedra smirked at him as she easily parried his attack.
" LIGHT PURGE YOU!" Valroth roared at her.
"DARKNESS CONSUME YOU" Phaedra retorted, laughing at his hysteria.
"Coward!" he hissed.
"I'm the coward? You are the one who just pissed his pants" Phaedra snorted, pointing with her head at the wet trail from the human's nonexistent crotch, all the way down his trousers and on the floor. Koltira laughed hard at that, but then yelled at Phaedra.
"Vala please stop making me laugh. It's harder to focus on maintaining the field, while you hold a comedy play over there. And stay in the anti-magic field! Make them come to you!" Phaedra noticed that she had ventured away from the field.
"Whoups, sorry Koltira" she said and pulled the remaining Scarlet crusaders close to her with her Death Grip and used Strangulation to finish them off. She then disarmed Valroth by breaking his sword with her rune blades, and with a powerful side kick, she threw him against the wall, caving in his chest in the process. She sheathed her blades at her sides, and slowly approached him.
"So you think you can cast a Death Knight in chains, and drag him to this dungeon and torture him?" she hissed in a low menacing voice. The inquisitor's bowels failed him at that moment.
"You dare you lay your filthy, sticky paws on one of my master's creations?" She roared, and grabbed him by the throat lifting him off the ground. Valroth was making choking sounds as his feet were dangling beneath him.
"You are not worthy to even look upon us, let alone, touch us" She dropped him to the floor and grabbed his head with both hands. With one swift movement she twisted it, and ripped it off his body, just as she promised Koltira. The High Inquisitor's remains fell to the ground. Koltira clapped his hands at Phaedra and spoke.
"That was beautiful, Vala, but the death of the High Inquisitor of New Avalon will not go unnoticed. You need to get out of here at once! Go, before more of them show up. I'll be fine on my own." Phaedra shook her head.
"No Koltira, I am not leaving without you, I promised Thassarian that I will bring you back alive." Koltira sighed at her stubbornness.
"Very well, I'll draw their fire, while you make your escape behind me. I'll head towards the chapel, where they're holding the rest of us captive, and deal with those worms. When I tell you, make a dash at the tavern and deliver Valroth's head to Thassarian. Run, Sister and do be very careful. You are truly worthy of the Master's favor" He winked at her and started running with Phaedra right behind him.
"Your High Inquisitor is nothing more than a pile of meat, Crusaders!", Koltira roared, "There are none beyond the grasp of the Scourge!"He drew them all towards him.
"Now Vala, GO" he shouted at her, killing ten Crusaders at a time with his sword.
Phaedra run towards the tavern. As soon as she got there she was greeted by a very concerned Thassarian.
"Thank the Darkness, you made it" he sighed in relief "What of Koltira?" Phaedra smiled reassuringly at him.
"He is fine Thassarian, we made it out and he run at the chapel to save the rest of out brothers and sisters, and bring those Scarlet worms to justice. Oh, here's the High Inquisitor's head by the way, I twisted it off just as I promised Koltira I would." She grabbed the dead human's head by the hair and pulled it out of the pouch, presenting it to her friend.
"Excellent work Vala, your best so far!" Thassarian, gave her a feral grin and took it off her hands.
"I'll feed this bastard's head to the ghouls!" He laughed and tossed the head into the back room. Then he asked Phaedra again.
"Are you certain that Koltira made it out?" "He paused for a moment. "I'm certain he did. Those walls can't hold him. He's probably at the chapel as we speak playing golf with the Crusader's heads. Now it's time for some payback." Phaedra's feral grin matched his.
"Indeed it is, so what are your orders Thassarian?" Thassarian smiled at the young Blood Elf. I need you to head to the Chapel and help our brothers and sisters. Leave none of the Scarlet Crusaders alive." Phaedra nodded at that. Just then Orbaz appeared.
"Before you go to another's fool's errand, tell me that you found the schedule" Phaedra nodded and pulled it out of her pouch.
"Here it is Knight-Commander" The Human Death Knight snatched it off her hand and scanned it.
"Hm, he courier should be passing right outside New Avalon, on the way to the Harbour. Intercept him Knight Lieutenant, find the message and bring it to me. And bring his clothes to me too. I have a plan." Phaedra saluted him.
"Right away Knight Commander". She run to the outskirts of New Avalon, and spotted the courier riding towards her position. With a Death Grip, she pulled the courier to her position, and skewered him with her blades. She took his pouch, which contained the message and stripped him from his clothes, then tossed his body in the bushes, and rode his horse back at the tavern. Orbaz read the message.
"Looks like reinforcements are coming from Hearthglen and Tirisfal Glades. And a grand number of them. The Master needs to hear about this. In the meantime disguise your self as the courier and deliver the message to their General. We will play along. After you are done, you may go and play hero." Phaedra nodded and changed into the courier's cloths. A Scourge Mage changed her appearance to look Human and concealed and the runic blue glow of her eyes. When she was ready, she rode the horse to the harbour, and delivered the message to the Scarlet General. The moment the general read the orders, she started issuing orders. They were to aid their comrades, biding time for their fleet to set set sail for Northrend. As soon as she was dismissed, she rode to the chapel to aid her fellow Death Knights.