Interlude - Burning Legion/Scourge POV
For those of you who are interested in this story I apologize for the long time space between this chapter and the last I let myself get side tracked with other activities. Anyways about this chapter since I know that Gul'dan died prior to the third war I have decided that he would make for a rather interesting plot device since this story covers the war if the southern kingdoms hadn't been ignored throughout - as the seemed to have been - throughout the entirety of Warcraft 3. In any case I hope you guys enjoy and please leave a review if you have any ideas on how I could improve.
Without further adieu, Enjoy. :)
Gul'dan stood peering through the dense foliage that lied between him and the battle which had just ensued between his orcs and that of Doomhammer's and the pathetic Alliance knights.
"Well, that doesn't seem to have gone as we had planned," an orc warrior who had accompanied Gul'dan snarled grimly beside him.
"No, it went exactly as I had planned," Gul'dan replied, "they were meant to fail, but we now know that this Alliance is capable of siding with Doomhammer when the need arises and the situation presents itself. Besides that force pales in comparison to what is to come when our masters arrive. Soon we will be masters of this world, Garthank."
For a moment more the pair stood staring after the retreating forces of both Horde and Alliance as those loyal to them returned from the carnage which now littered the street ahead.
"You sound confident, for a dead man," Garthank muttered to Gul'dan, staring at the ghostly apparition as he began to hobble back to their encampment deeper within the woods. Despite his hobble, due to his now ethereal visage the old decrepit orc was capable of covering distances much faster than the warriors and warlocks which accompanied him.
At first it didn't appear as though the elder orc intended to respond to Garthank's comment as the proceeded farther from the rode before Gul'dan unexpectedly spoke up as the encampment came into view. "And what is there not to be confident about, now that I am dead few things can harm me and I have the ability to garner greater power than ever before. Those demonic fools had perceived this as a punishment similar to that of Ner'zhuls', well I can only see this as a gift for it only enhances my capabilities." Very few among the orcs which Gul'dan had gathered were aware of how Gul'dan had come to appear in the state which people could now view him, and many in fact questioned wether or not this truly was the old orc who had apprenticed to the most powerful shaman on their home world, but not Garthank. Unlike so many of the others Garthank had known the old orc back in the days before their would had been sucked dry of all of the life which it had possessed, and he knew that nothing could impersonate the devious power hungry creature that moved slightly ahead of him as the creature itself.
"Yes, nothing may be able to hurt you, but you have trouble interacting with the physical world in more physical matters aside from your petty magics, your army and followers can still be destroyed. And I imagine that would be quite damaging to your plans and capabilities." Garthank retorted to the others previous comment with a slight sniff of disdain as he felt more and more like a pawn for the others use.
"Not as mud of a problem as you might expect, I have learned from my previous mistakes. Rather than placing both feet on one path I will leave multiple open to myself in order to garner the power which I require, and I now see many alternatives if you should fail in your task." the elder orc replied, his voice slightly tinged with amusement as they entered the confines of one of the larger structures spread throughout the encampment. The building which they entered was one of the few Great halls in which Gul'dan and those he most trusted would devise their plans, and were quite generally large spacious buildings scarcely decorated aside from the wooden obelisks which stood in the center surrounded by small stone braziers and a map of the surrounding territory on the far wall across from the entrance. Most of the time, aside from when a meeting was called between the leading members of the encampment in one of the five Great halls, the places were empty save for two or three ogre warriors. But this time as they entered the Great hall Gathank noticed something strange. Staring up at the map which detailed the surrounding territory were three figures who Garthank recognized immediately; Ragnok Bloodreaver one of the Death Knights who Gul'dan had raised for Doomhammer after their conquest of the now rebuilt city of Stormwind, Zuluhed the Wacked a notable member of the Dragonmaw clans, and Gargok of the Warsong clan.
"Greetings, friends, welcome to our stronghold on this new home world of ours," Gul'dan called out warmly as they entered the hall spreading his arms in a friendly gesture - which Garthank had come to associate with him attempting to assuage the fears of those he doesn't trust. For his part Garthank stayed back just inside the entrance wary as to the appearance of those he had thought to have either sided with Doomhammer or died at some time, and while Gul'dan was willing to approach them Garthank had no respective ability to remain unharmed aside from his blade and skill.
"We are not your friends Gul'dan," replied Gargok impetuously scowling at the ethereal figure before them, "the only reason the warsong clan has come to your encampment is due to our distrust of the weaker orcs behind that obsidian gate up there."
"I see, and you have spoken to those who I had asked you too and convinced them of the necessity of this operation?" Gul'dan asked warily.
"Yes those who needed to know have been informed, as well as Zuluhed here, although I fail to see why he needed to know," Gargok replied disgustedly before he turned back to the map behind him.
"In which case," Gul'dan began stepping closer as he rested an air light hand on the other orcs shoulder.
"There is no more need for you," he finished as his hand came alight with a wickedly purple flame and the other orc collapsed to the ground screaming and writhing in pain as his features slowly changed as his body was rapidly aged. Garthok knew that despite the intensity of the screams which the dying orc released nobody outside of the hall would be able to hear him due to the wards which had been set in place by the warlocks whom Gul'dan had trained upon his return, indeed it did seem as if the demons "curse" was turning out to be more of a "gift".
As the light began to fade from Gul'dan's hand and the last tether of life was released from the other orc Gul'dan spoke up looking around the room at the faces of those who accompanied him with a renewed vigor, "Well if there will be no more of this disrespect we may continue. Bloodreaver, have you seen to it that your part of this puzzle has been completed?"
"Yes Gul'dan, I left at the same time as Doomhammer and am sure that nobody noticed my disappearance. Slowly I shall build up a network of loyalists within his walls. He wont even be safe beside those he trusts most," the death knight replied as a hungry expression spread across his features.
"And what of Gorefiend, is he loyal to us or to Doomhammer, and in any case - can he be broken?"
Suddenly the expression which had previously decorated his features was replaced by a mask of ice and hatred, wether it was towards Gul'dan, Gorefiend or just the world in general Garthank was unsure. "He appears loyal to Doomhammer, but I think I should be able to convince him to return to his true master."
"NO," Gul'dan snapped, "we have no time to waste on him, he is strong of spirit and mind focus on those who can be swayed, we will deal with Gorefiend when the time is right."
"Yes master," the death knight finished falling to one knee with his head bowed.
"And you Zuluhed, what of our predicament among the Dragonmaw and the clans still to the north?" Gul'dan asked.
"I have garnered what support I could among my clan when I left the previous night, a full fourth of the clan has chosen to follow me into your welcoming arms, and we brought with us four wagons worth of Dragon eggs. Already my followers work in the mines above to build hatcheries for the welps. As for the clans left in the north, that child of Durotan has assembled the frost wolves and what remains of others and has taken a ship west across the sea, they will provide no problem for us." Zuluhed finished proudly looking towards Gul'dan to gauge his reaction.
"And what Gargok told me before his, untimely death, was it true?" Gul'dan asked waving aside everything leading to this point and staring warily at Zuluhed as if watching a predator which had previously been one and had now seemed to double in mere seconds.
"Yes, what he said was true. He spoke to those you have asked and they have accepted. Already the leader of the. . ." Zuluhed said eagerly before he was cut off by a wave of Gul'dan's hand.
"Good, a pity that Gargok won't be able to see this come to fruition, but I don't dare leave chances in my wake any more. In any case this meeting is adjourned; Death Knight return to your stronghold and continue with your preparations, Garthank follow me we have other business to attend before the day is done." Gul'dan said relaxing slightly and waving aside any more distractions.
"I assume you wish for me to return to my clan in the mines above?" Zuluhed asked seeming slightly disappointed.
"No, you will accompany me and show me where our other guests are making residence in our encampment." Gul'dan replied gesturing the other orc onwards. As they stepped outside of the hall the trio proceeded to make their way deeper within the encampment. Ahead of him Gul'dan and Zuluhed talked in hushed whispers glancing around on occasion to assure themselves that nobody was listening in. Garthank realized that this also included him as one who wasn't to be privy to their secrets and so turned his attention to the activities that were taking place around the encampment. Surrounding them orcs went about the daily business; as training and honing their prowess as warlocks cast spells and warriors battered training dummies, the few who were versed in the art of treating wounds were hard at work nursing those who had been wounded in the previous engagements of the past week, and the lowliest of the low - the peons - carried supplies to and fro and worked on the farms which were the source of the encampments food. As Garthank looked around at all of these occurring activities he was surprisingly reminded of how fast they had built up this encampment with having it only have been made of wooden and leather bound wall weeks ago now more permanent stone structures were being erected and even some of their people practiced both shamanism and the new dark magics side be side as the benefits of both were becoming more and more obvious.
Slowly the trio made their way from one side of the encampment to the other before Zuluhed stopped them just before the doors of one of the five Great halls which were spread throughout the encampment.
"I must warn you Gul'dan, He is not best pleased with this necessary evil and uniting of our forces, even going so far as to point out the failure which occurred the last time you united us and how his clan would be better off working for itself. I really do not understand his reasoning behind siding with us or anybody in truth," Zuluhed warned disparagingly before they entered the hall. Before they entered however gar thank felt a difference between this hall and the rest of the encampment which he couldn't quite figure out, his only thought however was of the banners which decorated the hall inside and out.
"Leave the worrying to me Zuluhed, He has always and a temper and the strength to get what he wants. Not to mention that weapon of his, but he will do what he knows is best for his clan. However finding that brute seems to be more of a challenge than brining him here." Gul'dan replied agitatedly as his gaze swept across the room looking for who ever he had been talking about. As for Garthank upon entering the normally spacious interior of the Great hall he finally realized what had been bothering him about this hall and was slightly surprised and disgruntled to understand its meaning. Before them stood a larger host of the most hardened warriors than he had ever seen throughout the entire encampment and as the flags surrounding him seemed to verify in their dark purple coloring which displayed the proud symbol of one of the most feared and mighty clans that had existed on Draenor.
"Ah, there he is," Gul'dan said staring plicately at something which was approaching form behind Garthank, and seemed to leave Zuluhed trembling in fear.
"Warlock, you have come to see my clan and have brought these defenders with you," a unusually high pitched orc voice - at least unusual for all but one orc - said from behind Garthank and confirmed what he had been fearing. As he turned he was shocked to see the lithe form of the mighty Cheiftain of the Warsong clan standing before him. Grom Hellscream.
Anyways as I said above i understand the whole Gul'dan thing but I'm hoping to use him as a plot device.
So enjoy and please leave a review if you have any ideas or want to say anything.
