The Summertide's Passing

The overall atmosphere in the courtyard opening before the main gate of the Scarlet Monastery was that of melancholy and regret because once more, their comrades gad fallen because of a lost battle, leaving the living crusaders to fight against their reanimated bodies. But an unmistakable feeling of hope and sublimity could also be recognized at the words and expressions of the surviving knights. Today they had seen acts of bravery and nobility that most of their comrades could only hear tales about. Whitemane's stand against the massive abomination, Herod's juggernaut of death and most importantly, Osran's example of true courage had turned each of the crusaders into true beacons of Light in the eyes of their allies.

This feeling of loss and euphoria wasn't lost on Osran. The aging paladin could see that even in defeat, the trust in their cause had risen once again. He turned around to see Whitemane riding through the palisade gate, knowing that this would be the best moment he'd get to make his point clear. Osran had rediscovered his respect for the priestess in her valiant stand against the abomination but that didn't change his plans. He would lead the Monastery to victory and earn the triumph Valdemar had ordered him to accomplish.

"We took a noble stand today, my brave comrades! The servants of the Scourge will remember this day for years to come!" Osran started to speak in a loud, deep voice and the heads turned immediately to look at him. The knight stood near the main gate, leaning towards his sword that stood on the ground. Osran's voice and unwavering face made a great impression on everyone assembled, his noble presence seemingly calming everyone down. All except one: High Inquisitor Whitemane who decided to stay silent for a moment longer.

"Each of us fulfilled our task manifold and it was an honor fighting beside each of you. Yet, that didn't change the fact that we lost the battle. Diodor has surrounded us here in the house of Light and we have no chance to continue our fight. I offered your commanders an optional strategy to prevail but they decided to honor Whitemane's plan. And now we stand here, once again mourning our dead while Diodor's troops advance by the minute. You followed me earlier today in the battle but now I ask a far greater question: will you follow my lead in the future?" Osran knew his words could be interpreted as arrogant and usurping but he had gone through too much on that day to sugarcoat his words any more. However, he received no answer before another voice started to speak near the bearded paladin.

"That isn't your question to ask, outsider! You may have fought valiantly but that doesn't give you the right to overstep the Church's authority! I would have the option to imprison you immediately for treason!" Whitemane called to Osran, her voice full of displeasure at the paladins' antics but it wasn't hateful unlike Osran had expected. Osran answered to her in a tired but encouraging voice.

"You certainly could, High Inquisitor, but your own time as the master of this Monastery would also come to an end sooner than you'd want in that case. Your predecessor fought all his life to preserve this Monastery and I trust you're not willing to let it go this easily? Whitemane, I'm not willing to question your position or your authority but I simply want you to listen me this time!" Osran's voice turned into a grimmer one as he spoke and he turned to look directly at the Inquisitor. Whitemane looked somewhat disturbed by his words but she held her hostile expression.

"And who do you think you are to demand that? More capable people than you have failed to win Diodor but you try to force your misguided thoughts upon us? You speak of Marcus as if you knew him better than I, his deputy for the last decade! I will see this campaign to an end and…" Whitemane was interrupted as shouts of disapproval started to appear among the crowd.

"Give him a chance, High Inquisitor! Things can't possibly get any worse!" The call came from Loksey who was far from impressed by the last battle.

"The monsters can and will be cut down but it'll take more than magic tricks! I say we follow the paladin!" The next speaker was Herod and it was clear that he wasn't excited to follow Whitemane's orders as he hadn't seen her in battle whereas Osran had fought valiantly in the frontlines. Many others joined their calls but Osran realized his supporters were going too far. Herod was calling for a coup inside the Crusade's legal leadership and that was far from acceptable to him. Osran started to walk closer to the priestess, determined to make a compromise with her. He whispered to the Inquisitor so that the surrounding people couldn't hear what he was saying.

"We don't have to go through this! You may still save your face but only if you're prepared to talk! Come, let's go negotiate inside!" Osran knew Whitemane would have never agreed to his proposition if she wasn't forced to but her fearful face told him everything the knight needed to know. Whitemane sighed deeply and spoke briefly to the gathered soldiers.

"We'll go speak for a while. Reinforce the palisades and keep the undead at bay. We'll return soon and tell what we've decided to do." Whitemane sighed deeply as she started to walk after Osran. Being forced to publicly fight the aging paladin was bad enough in itself but now she knew she would be forced to make a real compromise with him if she wanted to retain her own position. The priestess looked in deep anger at the paladin when he started to speak.

"High Inquisitor, I wish to make sure that you understand that I have no plans in taking this place from your command. It's not my right and I trust…" Osran was interrupted at this point by Whitemane's answer. He was taken aback by her sharp tone but in a way, he understood the reason for her rage.

"You already have! Did you hear the calls in the courtyard? You have already overstepped your authority, old man! How do you think I'll believe that it is "all unplanned"? Whitemane knew her position wasn't as weak as she implicated but she wanted to mount a swift offensive on Osran to try to weaken his resolve. However, Osran's answer left her unknowing whether her overture had been successful or not.

"You don't have to believe anything except that I'm here only to buy this vital victory to the Crusade! My future is elsewhere. But I'm willing to stop my rhetoric against you completely and even pledge my loyalty to your leadership if you only give me the authority to lead our troops today! I assure you, the day can still be ours." Osran looked directly at Whitemane's eyes who felt deep outrage at Osran's words but even deeper frustration that she couldn't really deny his demand. It would seriously undermine her reputation in the Monastery and, even if she no longer wished to acknowledge it, she wasn't sure if she had a way to defeat the undead at this point.

"That is far more than you may demand from me in good faith! But, Osran or whatever your name was, I know when I am being outmaneuvered or in a position I know I cannot win. But don't think I agree to this voluntarily: if I ever hear you raise our soldiers against me or Mograine, I'll make sure it'll be the end of you! And make sure that your presence will never defile these sacred halls again after this battle!" Whitemane said in a hissing voice, willing tame her point as clear a possible. Osran looked at her in contempt and rebuked immediately.

"I won't allow myself to be threatened by my own comrades! You may be our commander but in this Crusade, we're all brothers and sisters in arms. I cannot promise anything for the Crusader Lord but I don't hold any special will to return here anymore so I'll do my best to comply to your request. But as long as we're here, we work together. I'll remember my place as long as you remember yours. Is that clear, High Inquisitor?" Osran asked slowly and looked Whitemane with a grim look. The priestess would have wanted nothing more than to kill the paladin right here but she also knew that such a scenario would do little to reinforce her own position. With an annoyed look, she nodded briefly and turned away from Osran. The knight returned the nod and turned to return to the courtyard. Whitemane walked by his side and forced a more conciliatory expression to show to the others that she hadn't been forced into this situation. Osran was the first one to speak of the duo as they appeared from the winding pathway. The heavy, grey clouds still hung over the Monastery complex but they were slowly starting to make way for a careful sunshine over the courtyard, letting a wave of warmth float over the surviving crusaders.

"We have agreed to respect each others' plans. The respected Inquisitor Whitemane proved her valiance during the last battle and she has my utmost trust and respect. I have every confidence that she'll lead us with great wisdom and grace in the years to come, along with her honorable right hand Renault Mograine." Osran spoke in a steady voice, speaking every words with respect to his counterpart. Confused looks and unbelieving voices came from the crowd but they could see that the speech wasn't over yet. To their surprise, the next one to speak was Whitemane. Her voice sounded even surprisingly passionate and Osran was happy to see that she stayed true to her word.

"But I admit my mistakes during today's battle. The greatest of leaders are willing to listen to others as well as themselves, a lesson I hadn't learned until today. Many of our comrades payed for it with their lives, a sin I hope to overcome in the future. I wish to start it by naming our noble comrade Osran Lowriver as our commander against Diodor as I've seen that he knows how to turn the tables on our common enemy. I pray for the Light that he is the right man to free us of this horrifying situation." Save for a few forced words, Whitemane sounded completely sincere in her speech. Osran was positively surprised as sounds of jubilation could be heard in the audience. However, this wasn't the time to become complacent. This was the time to prove that he had been right about the things he had put together during the two battles.

"I hope I'll be worthy of this great honor I've been granted. The final battle is approaching my comrades! Diodor's slaves are gathering around us as we speak and they have almost twice the numbers we have. However, there is a way that we can beat them and that is the war of attrition!" Whitemane nearly shuddered as she heard the proposition. Was the knight insane? That would be the worst idea possible against the immortal undead! Sounds of surprise and discomfort could be heard among the crowd also before Osran decided to explain himself.

"I know this sounds odd but we, as the defenders, hold the keys to this battle in our hands. We have to keep the enemy just far enough from us and let the purging fire do its job! Our mages will be instrumental in this job and each of us will join them with our torches! This is the way we may thin the enemy numbers for good before Diodor realizes what's going on! The slaves of the Scourge may hold our comrades' powers but they are still nothing but mindless killers who cannot defend themselves!" Mutters of approval could be heard among the crowd as the main point of Osran's plan begun to dawn on them. However, the last, decisive question remained still unanswered. What would they do with the massive abomination and Diodor himself? Osran noticed the crowd's hesitation and he decided to finish his strategy's elaboration.

"I see you still have questions. Well, here's the rest of my plan…"


Most of the following hour was spent on finalizing the fortifications protecting the Monastery. The work was often interrupted by an undead attack but they were never a major danger to the defenders. Some of them were even surprised by the amount of patience Diodor had for the defenders even if his reasons were likely to bode no good for the crusaders.

The cool air blew on Veria's face as she finalized her work on a wooden wall overlooking the fields opening under the Monastery's hill. She had made a few holes on them in order to give the archers the safe shooting spots they needed. The paladin could feel that everyone around her knew that these hours determined the difference between life and death to all of them. No matter what, she would give her very best to prepare for the coming carnage as well as in the battlefield itself. Even then, she was more than happy to hear a call from Herod who led one of the groups doing the fortifications.

"Alright, slackers, it's time to take a brief break until you return to work! You have no more than fifteen minutes, is that clear?" Herod called in a stern yet somewhat calming voice. Even through his rough antics and barbarous appearance, every one of his comrades knew he was a man of Light and virtue and a true champion of the Crusade. He would be a major asset in the coming battles. Veria looked around herself but saw no familiar faces among the crowd. Veria wasn't on the mood to talk anyway and she had just an idea how to spend this brief respite.


The Cathedral wing of the Monastery held many rooms for personal searching and private prayers in case one ever needed help from the Light. Right now, Veria was highly conflicted. She knew her fate lied with the Crusade but she was far from confident about her own position within it. The Scourge had killed every member of her family during the fall of Andorhal which had been her ancestral and childhood home. She had joined the Order of the Silver Hand, not because of her own devotion to its cause, but because of the status it had earned her in her home village. Very few people from those provincial towns had managed that feat and she found it odd that she had befriended one of the few other such paladins, Osran. The other knight had offered her with company and mutual respect but he had never understood her own motivations for this cause.

Not that she did herself. That clarity had disappeared with the demise of her family and her old friends. Veria knew she was as capable paladin as any other but, as Osran had so often noticed, her heart very seldom was in her deeds. She hated the Scourge for everything they had done but that was it. She had very little idea about her own future in the reborn Lordaeron.

Veria fell to her knees in one of the small chapels, looking as the Light shone dimly into the room. She heard nothing but her own breath, as the heavy walls of the Monastery blocked all of the other noises. Veria tried to let the Light flow into her and to show her the way she had to go. The Light was a very real force but, unlike many of her comrades, it had never offered her with anything but brute strength to vanquish her foes. But now, like in all these kind of sessions before, the Light was silent.

Veria tried to let her mind float in the cool, light air and to find the inner tranquility she was looking for but to no avail. Seconds flew by but she didn't feel the inner warmth or peace fill her instincts. When she opened her eyes, she was still no wiser than when she had arrived in this small chapel. She hadn't received the guidance she was looking for nor had she any more idea about how to proceed from here if she survived at all. Veria took one last look at the small, masterfully painted window from which the light flew into the room and even if the mere sight of it was enough for her to appreciate it as a piece of art, it served little else purpose. Sighing in slight disappointment, the paladin rose back to her feet and started to walk back towards the Monastery's surroundings. It was still some time until the fifteen minutes would pass but she didn't have anything else to do.

However, one of the many statues among the massive halls caught her attention. They were filled with memorials to the past heroes of their cause but one of them stopped Veria for a moment. The memorial of Gavinrad the Dire, one of the original knights of the Silver Hand and her old superior. Veria was only slightly younger than Osran and, like him, her old leaders were mostly gone, their legendary deeds passed into the realm of memories. Gavinrad had served as Veria's captain for many long years and his mere devotion to their cause and his encouragement for his followers had inspired the young knight greatly back then. Even if many found this particular founder of the Silver Hand to be the least notable, Veria knew there were many others who felt like her. She still remembered his encouraging leadership with great respect. Veria was taken aback when she heard a voice speak behind her.

"He truly was a great man, Veria. I often regret that he has been so often overshadowed by the Lightbringer, even if his reputation was also hard-earned." Veria quickly turned around and noticed Arellas speak to her in a low voice. It carried a sense of sympathy but also respect for the fallen knight.

"You never knew him, elf. You were fighting your own battle back then and it's a small wonder if you ever even met Gavinrad. Shouldn't you be helping the others with the fortifications anyway?" Veria answered quickly, not knowing what the elf had to say at this point. She didn't want to insult him but she wasn't willing to dwell in those days for too long.

"I'm going there soon but our revered High Abbot had requested a chance to study some of our volumes and I took the liberty to return them to the library now that he no longer needs them. And you're right, I never met him personally but I know his deeds as well as anyone." Arellas' voice was extremely mournful as he stated his business, his respect for the fallen Abbot clearly greater than many would understand. His mood improved somewhat as the conversation moved away from the immense loss the Monastery had just experienced.

"He was a hero in many battles even before Arthas' betrayal and one of the most gentle knights I've known. I'll always regret that I wasn't there to help him against the traitor's onslaught. The fight could have ended differently if Arthas hadn't managed to divide our troops before engaging Gavinrad. He didn't stand a chance at that point." Veria looked at the statue's head, surprised by the immense accuracy of its stone face. It had been years since Gavinrad's downfall but she still remembered his features clearly.

"Arthas' deeds weren't his own back then, Veria. It seems like the Legion's demon lords guided Arthas in his first campaign and he would have never been able to achieve such quick gains if it weren't for them. You should be happy that you survived the battle at all. Very few of Gavinrad's followers can say the same." Arellas looked at the human with respect as he reflected on all he had learned about those terrible days. He wasn't a stranger to desperate situations himself as it was a wonder any of the high elves still lived after the Lich King's and Kael'thas' deeds. Even then, he wasn't willing to talk about such things here. He was fighting the humans' war after all.

"I guess you're right if even Uther himself wasn't a match for Arthas. I just… after Andorhal's fall and my comrades' deaths, it seems like me passion for serving the Light has dwindled dramatically. Once I knew I was fighting for my home, then my comrades but now… I don't even know." Veria looked at Arellas with an unreadable expression. It wasn't like she was asking for help but it was a remark that caught Arellas' attention. He knew it wasn't his advice to give but he decided to answer nonetheless.

"You know, Veria, the way I see it, many are in a similar position. The Plague has slaughtered most of our kingdoms' people and enslaved the rest in this nightmarish reality. Many are asking what is left for them to fight for but few have really given up. It seems that there still are many things driving them forward even today." Arellas spoke from his own experience but he hid it in order to give a more common and relatable context to the paladin. Veria, however, didn't seem too convinced just yet.

"I know that we're lucky to be alive but it just seems… worthless. All I have left at this point is the revenge to the undead but I don't think it's enough." Veria turned her gaze back at the statue, knowing that the time passed quickly and that she should soon go to rejoin her comrades. However, there was still some time until then.

"We still have much more than that. Even if it is beyond recognition today, Lordaeron is still your home and all the noble things it once represented still live. Once we get through all this, think it as a great privilege to be involved in rebuilding your beloved homeland. I for one, live to serve my comrades as best as I can and to hope for seeing Quel'Thalas reborn again. Even hope and ideas of a better future are enough to keep you going. The way I understand it, Gavinrad was completely devoted to the Church and he harbored no deeper ambitions than to safeguard his homeland. Every knight of the Silver Hand has devoted themselves to the kingdom in order to be free of such personal ambitions." Arellas spoke calmly in order to help Veria get over her misgivings about the situation. However, his approach was far from the correct one.

"You never chose the path of a paladin and you never knew Gavinrad, elf! I… I see that you mean well and you may be right but it seems so futile to live for such things! I know I will walk my path until the end but that's all I know… I just hope things get clearer the further this war goes." Veria said as she calmed down. She knew Arellas hadn't meant ill but the situation just felt too oppressing for her. Arellas was about to answer when a monk called from the opening of a nearby corridor.

"Master Fireleaf! The High Inquisitor and Commander Lowriver wish to speak with you!" The young man called and Arellas quickly turned one last time to Veria.

"Think about what I said. Your future will lie with Lordaeron's rebirth and if you find what you're looking for, it doesn't need to be as dark as you fear. Lead the way, good monk." Arellas said quickly to Veria who took a deep breath before she headed back to work. Arellas' words rang in her ears but it would take time to see whether they held any real substance to them.


"The plan seems rather simple the way you put it, Osran, but are you sure Diodor won't find a way to bypass our calculations? Tareth said to Osran as he listened to his comrade's plan. Burning the enemy down one by one and luring Diodor into making mistakes by not responding to his taunts in any way seemed like a good plan but it held many ifs. But in the case he saw his slaves burn to the ground one by one, there was a real chance he'd make a mistake sooner or later.

"He might very well realize our plan but as long as we have the Monastery, we hold the advantage in a long-term battle. Diodor's strength has always been the ability to turn our attack into our own defeats. As long as we command the course of the battle, he will have to try to come to us. In all of our previous battles we've always underestimated his strength and his preparations for his ambushes but if we won't attack, those traps will be useless. The moment when he realizes that he has to do all the work himself is the time we need our honored comrade Fireleaf's and his followers' help." Osran explained to Tareth, Whitemane and Herod, the latter being present as hehad to know the plan if he was going to lead the footmen right in the coming battle. The High Inquisitor seemed annoyed by the situation but she knew this was a necessity if she wished to stand on Osran's seat ever again.

"I fought him alongside with Renault and what good did it do us? We caught him by surprise and even then, he managed to repel our attack!" Whitemane wasn't afraid to admit the defeat as none in the room questioned her skill in battle. Osran looked at her in a puzzled look, relieved that the priestess seemed to stick by her promise. He wasn't about to let this momentary solidarity go to waste. He was about to answer when Tareth interrupted him.

"You were working by yourself whereas we need all those able to take him down simultaneously. We need your priests as well as Arellas' mages if we are to beat him. That is why we sent the courier to search for him." Tareth answered in a serious voice to Whitemane who simply looked away to hide her chagrin. Osran looked at his commander in approval and continued.

"Judging from your tale, High Inquisitor, you were close to actually defeating him and with some help, you might have been successful. Mark my words, Diodor will join the assault once he sees we've learned our lesson. Even then, me must never underestimate this villain. He has outsmarted us thrice and each time we have paid a heavy price. Whatever you do, don't let your guard down until he lies decapacitated in the ground, his hands unable to cast another curse upon us." Osran spoke to Whitemane who listened silently. However, no answer came when another voice called from the corridor.

"My humble greetings, High Inquisitor and Commander Lowriver. How may I be of service?" Arellas said as he entered the room, his face concealing any kind of emotion he felt. Osran was happy to see his arrival when he spoke again.

"Welcome, master Fireleaf! I'm happy to see that you managed to get here today! Please, take a seat." The paladin said while he crossed his legs while sitting. Arellas obliged and looked at Osran in an asking expression. Osran returned his gaze and answered immediately.

"We were discussing our strategy to beat Diodor in the coming battle, Arellas, and we have decided to give you an instrumental task in implementing it. You, with decades of research and experience, know most of us about the different forms of magic and you were working in Dalaran when Kel'Thuzad's school was forming. We trust that you are most capable of us in trying to foresee Diodor's moves as you know most of the tricks he has in his sleeve." Osran spoke in a calm, respecting voice. He expected that the elf wouldn't feel ready for the mission but he knew that this was an offer the elf couldn't refuse. Arellas looked at Osran in puzzlement but kept his cool and neutral expression.

"I'm not a necromancer, commander. I have no idea what…" Arellas was trying to make his case clear when Osran interrupted him in a kind manner.

"But your apprentice was, Arellas. I've heard that you know all of his past and due to your superior experience, we believe you are more capable to this most important of positions than young Doan is. You are the right man to combine your experience and Doan's knowledge and to lay a trap to Diodor. With your help, we might get a decisive edge over that traitor!" Osran said in a revering voice, willing to receive Arellas' consent without any major conflict. Arellas looked at Osran in puzzlement, not knowing what to think of this offer. After a moment of thinking, the elf realized that this was the chance he had waited for to prove that he was an important asset to the Crusade.

"I'm afraid I'm not that capable in deceit, commander Lowriver. But I think one of my followers would like to take care of that detail. Thalnos has always wished to make a difference before the battles even begin." Arellas said in a confident voice but Whitemane looked at him in an odd look.

"Thalnos? But we have deemed him incapable of instrumental positions due to his inability to listen to our orders. Very few like him and some have even called to his banishment from our Monastery!" Whitemane narrowed her eyes as she looked at the elf. In truth, the younger elf was one of her few allies among the mages but she kept those ties in secret as it enabled her to better manipulate Arellas' comrades without him noticing. The elf returned her gaze and answered in a decisive voice.

"That may be but I know my mages better than the others among us. I agree that his antics are far from pleasant but I know his abilities. I'll take care of handling Diodor but I let Thalnos plan the trap where we'll drag him. But getting that bastard to catch that bait will be up to you." Arellas said in a smug voice, enjoying the position he suddenly found himself in. The coming confrontation with Diodor worried the elf somewhat but he was hopeful that he'd manage to engage the enemy in a nearly equal fight. In addition, he had mane allies on his side whereas Diodor would stand alone. Osran looked at the elf in slight worry but he decided to trust the mage's judgement.

"Very well, Arellas, but don't tarry with your planning. I'm sure Diodor won't be wasting any time…" Osran's sentence was cut by a loud call of the Monastery's bells, implicating that a dangerous escalation was happening outside. Each of those present rose to their feet and started to prepare for the coming battle. Tareth spoke in a sharp, hissing voice.

"Each of you, remember your job! And Arellas, hurry with your plan! It will be needed quicker than expected."


Diodor was torn between two possibilities. It was becoming clear that the crusaders' resistance hadn't been broken just yet and their silence puzzled the necromancer somewhat. They were clearly expecting his attack but he simply couldn't see how becoming passive would help the defenders' position. If he could name the battle's course and strategies, he could even starve the crusaders with a siege if he didn't have better things to do. However, he wasn't about to let the scattered remains of the Crusade's western wing trick him into complacency. He would take an approach none of them expected.

Diodor took one of his notebooks from a small pouch that hanged from his belt. The necromancer browsed it quickly, searching for one detail that had raised curious possibilities to his mind. The results of all his research brought a distinct sense of pride to the necromancer until he found the page he was looking for. Diodor's face turned into a smile as he read his own notes. Apparently his plague could be stored in new kinds of items, ones that were far less secure than those designed to house them but that was far from a bad thing here. Regular barrels could be found nearly everywhere in the newly-ruined villages and they could be an effective way to crush the crusaders' futile resistance.

I bet those weaklings think they're safe in their cozy little home. Well, I'm sure they will come to their senses soon enough!

Diodor looked in expectation as his slaves brought a few barrels to him and the necromancer immediately loaded each of them with one vial of plague or poison. When they reached the Monastery's courtyard, the defenders' lives would be fully forfeit. It was most likely, however, that the defenders didn't expect him in that plan and there was only one thing for him to achieve that plan. Lightfader would be able to toss some of them over the wall but Diodor had to find the weakest spot in the palisades which his forces could break while the defenders were in disarray.

The old man's eyes scoured the palisades from the edge of the field below the Monastery's main courtyard. The wooden walls themselves seemed solid and no part of them seemed any weaker than the next one. However, soon he noticed something that caught his interest. One part in the southernmost part of the wall lied near a large natural ramp that could provide his undead with an effective way to breach the walls. Not surprisingly, that part of the wall was lightly garrisoned as the crusaders were likely to expect attacks from the forest and road. Initial casualties, however, meant nothing for a necromancer so this didn't hamper the strategy's efficiency.

The old necromancer didn't turn to even look at the sight when he heard Lightfader gather five barrels containing his poison to its massive arms and started to head towards the Monastery. He didn't need to as the monster obeyed even his briefest thoughts. Diodor followed the scene with interest as the abomination run towards the spot Diodor had sighted and tossed the barrels uphill all the way over the palisade. The following screams and fuss told Diodor everything he needed to know. The final assault against the Monastery had started.


The sight that greeted Osran as he charged out of the main gate was horrific beyond measure. About a dozen defenders were choking for life with the all-too familiar symptoms. Looking at the noble crusaders' final, lost struggle for life was a saddening sight but Osran had gone far too much to be seriously disturbed by this. His order was swift and held no slightest tone of hesitation.

"Burn them all! If you have even the slightest of doubt they have infection, burn them immediately! Priests, contain the Plague, now!" The doomed monks and priests looked in panic and resignation as the torches flew upon them, immolating their rapidly deteriorating flesh in flames. The surviving defenders looked in silent respect as the burning forms of their comrades fell to the ground, their struggles against their demise and looming undeath slowly vanishing to the realm of the passed. The priests got into work immediately and the brownish-green cloud was surrounded by bright light. However, all of that vanished swiftly under the noise of huge bolts of dark energy hitting upon the nearby wall, blasting a gaping hole into it immediately.

The breach in the wall was quickly utilized by the attackers as dozens of ghouls and skeletons poured inside the Monastery complex immediately. They attacked with immense ferocity and it took many long seconds until their advance could be even started to be contained. Nearly all of the attackers fell immediately but, as was to be expected, they stayed down for five seconds at most. Tareth moved to the front line and a few other paladins started to distribute torches to the defenders.

"Don't let the contact line grow any wider! Burn them down!" Tareth called as he started to gather the defenders' lines together. Osran moved to his side nearly immediately, not planning to stay safe despite his temporary position. The fight became increasingly difficult as the blazes of the dismembering undead grew ever stronger. It didn't take long before the attackers were pushed away from the courtyard and Osran yelled his last call.

"Throw the torches over the wall! They'll ignite some of the undead and with luck, spread it to the others!"


Diodor raised his eyebrows as he followed the scene. He had been eager to see how long it'd take for the defenders to utilize the main weakness of his troops. Even then, relying on the weakest ghouls wasn't the way he was planning to win this battle. No matter what the defenders did, they wouldn't be able to repair the palisade in time. The defenders didn't have any major threats against him as they were outnumbered four to one, even without counting the necromancer himself and Lightfader. It was time for the second act in the slow and desperate struggle of the doomed crusaders.

Legions of risen paladins and monks started their advance towards the breach, shielding each other from the arrows and torches with their twisted heals and spells that interrupted the fires' flight. Soon enough, they would disarm each and every torch from the defenders. That, combined with an incoming flanking attack would even the odds considerably.


Thalnos listened to his master's words with great intensity and nodded to his remarks constantly as the duo walked quickly towards the central hall. Arellas explained everything he had heard during the last hour and Thalnos's face was an expressionless mask as he followed his master's explanation. The younger mage was incredibly heartened by the trust his master was putting on him, even if he held little respect for the older elf. Thalnos, another refugee of Quel'Thalas, had searched to join the Crusade for similar reasons as Arellas but he had never shown any passion for Lordaeron or his new comrades. Most of his comrades saw Thalnos as a cold, distant mage who served or cared about nothing else than himself.

"And that's where you come in, Thalnos. I need you to decide what is the best way and place to surround and kill the wretched necromancer." Arellas was calm even if he neither was fond of his companion. He greatly respected most of his comrades as persons but Thalnos was tolerated only because of his power and expertise in his art. Thalnos' voice was extremely typical for a high elf even if it held an extremely complacent and smug tone.

"Diodor is an immensely orderly and dedicated man and nothing makes him more nervous than disorder and vagueness from our part. I've seen it today: he hides and observes us while we walk right into his trap. When we outsmart him once, even a man of his abilities will make a mistake." Thalnos said as he approached the opening of the Library Wing where he had been upkeeping the priceless volumes it held. Arellas glanced at his apprentice in concern and answered quietly.

"It seems like you admire him, Thalnos." Arellas tried to reach for his apprentice's conscience to which the younger elf nearly snorted.

"Any sensible man would do so. He's our enemy but he has brought the whole Monastery to its knees by himself. Only a fool wouldn't respect that kind of power! But don't worry, Master. In the end, your allegiance will be a stronger bargaining chip than eternal servitude under the Lich King. I value myself far too much to exchange it for even Diodor's power." Thalnos smirked as he spoke, his words disturbing his teacher to an even greater degree. Even then, he was glad there were things keeping Thalnos from necromancy, no matter how distasteful they were.

"Well… I have sent a word to my colleagues and we'll be ready to bring down Diodor when the time is right. Observe the battle and try to lead Diodor to our trap. You should know him better than the rest of us after all." Arellas felt awkward for saying it but it seemed to him that Thalnos and Diodor shared a similar way of seeing the world, thus giving him the best shot in this mission. Thalnos answered shortly.

"Don't worry, Master. I'll make sure Diodor won't see the evening."


"Stay in line! Whatever you do, don't let the comrades next to you fall!" Osran called with a steady voice as his blade clashed with that of a scarlet-tabarded ghoul. Trying to vanquish the risen paladins was never an easy job, especially with the utmost care being driven to the effort to defend your own allies. Osran's whole plan relied on the defenders' ability to survive the incoming attacks without casualties and bleed Diodor's forces one by one. The undead fighters did their best to extinguish the flames but the living still held the edge due to Diodor's disability to predict their moves. Thus far, no one had fallen during the second assault but they couldn't hold this up together. Osran could only hope Diodor ran out of slaves before all the defenders' fortitude and stamina was spent. Everything depended on that hope.


Many frowns appeared on Diodor's face as he followed the battle on going in the Monastery courtyard. The crusaders were doing an extraordinary job in keeping his forces at bay and to his surprise, they were really taking a toll on his forces. Not that it mattered greatly. The defenders probably hoped he'd intervene personally in the fight, exposing himself to their schemes and ambushes. However, there wasn't any need to as long as he had his most powerful tool still in his disposal. As long as he commanded both his risen troops and Lightfader, he held all the cards he needed to earn his position back in the Cult of the Damned.

Diodor spanned his rod a few times and pointed it towards the Monastery's main entrance. With unusually stealthy and swift movements for him, the necromancer moved towards the forest to weigh his next moves. He would most certainly join the raging battle but in the way the defenders would expect. He had been very careful not to show all his tricks in the preliminary skirmishes.


Tareth felt his courage return quickly as he noticed the defenders' strategy working as intended. There was no question that the undead still outnumbered the defenders greatly but the momentum was swinging towards the crusaders. The Scourge's attack seemed somewhat dissipated and they were slowly but steadily being pushed out from the breach. In this moment of expected triumph, none of the living paid the necessary attention to distant footsteps that were growing stronger by the second. Not until they saw a sight that nearly froze their blood cold.

The Monastery courtyard filled with wooden debris as the highest and strongest part of the palisades were decimated under the immense strength and weight of the massive abomination which continued its charge against the assembled crusaders. Even if he had already seen this sight, the charging, deformed abomination running straight towards him nearly frozen Osran as he struggled to get his thoughts together.

"Scatter and try to dodge the monster's attacks! Mages, kill it!" Osran cried as he rolled to safety, Lightfader's foot landing on the spot the paladin had stood mere two seconds earlier. The abomination had to be at least five meters in sight, its rotting intestines slowly growing ever more profound from its open stomach. The beast had no clear face or head even if it seemed to see perfectly what was happening.

Doan, who had been put into charge of the second half of the mages in case something like this happened, look at the sight in jolt as he begun to form a large ball of fire in his hands. This abomination, like every undead, could be brought into life unless it was burned into nothingness.

"You heard commander Lowriver! Give the beast everything you have!" Doan cried as the dozen mages cast their spells at Lightfader while it was trying to kill as many crusaders as possible and while the risen monks and paladins flooded the courtyard. They hoped to see the monstrosity turn into a tower of flame but, to their shock, their magic died as soon as they thought they had launched it. It seemed like they had lost their ability to draw power from the world around them, as if their wizardly abilities had suddenly stripped from them. Doan looked at his comrades in fear as he heard Osran's voice call from near him.

"Fall back into the Monastery! Get out of this carnage!" Osran was seemingly fearful by this turn of events. His hopes of containing the damage had been proved wrong but the Crusade hadn't been beaten just yet. However, there was a minor change of plans. Osran quickly searched for Tareth and spoke to him quickly.

"Lead the defense and try to minimize the casualties! I'll go assist Arellas and Thalnos in ending this nightmare once and for all!" Osran said as he called six paladins to him, readying them for this surprise mission. Tareth looked at his comrade in surprise but simply nodded at him.

"Alright, Osran, but be safe! That will be a tough fight." Tareth said simply as he prepared to lead the troops' evacuation back into the main building. Osran looked at his captain in approval and turned to his six followers. Even if Arellas and Thalnos had their plan ready, they would probably need some bait for it and no matter how he regretted bringing his long-time comrades and friends to this immense danger, nothing was as important as stopping Diodor. So many things depended on it.


Diodor himself followed the scene with immense pleasure. His mass counterspell had did the trick to scare the mages and to collapse the Scarlet lines in a second. At this point, the necromancer wished to rely on extreme caution so that he would be able to affirm his victory. If even a tiny detail would escape his notice, there was a real chance of failure even this late into the battle. Diodor wouldn't join the fighting himself unless he absolutely had to.


"I bet he's hiding in those woods somewhere. That way he can stay safe and direct the entire battle effectively. There's no way he could counter our allies' spells while remaining unseen." Arellas said as he investigated his surroundings. He, Thalnos and five other mages were scouring the areas around the Monastery, using the thick of the battle to make their movements as unnoticeable as possible.

"Indeed, Master Fireleaf, and it's likely that he expects either peace or direct action wherever he is. I doubt he thinks we stand a chance anymore and if he does, he probably expects one, final charge from us. However, indirect action is the best way to go right now." Thalnos said as he looked into the dark, dying forest. The battle raged quite far away so it wouldn't be likely that Diodor followed their movements with great intensity.

"What do you mean by indirect action, Thalnos? Should we go interfere with his concentration?" Arellas offered, his voice thoughtful at his followers' proposition. It made sense but there was also a risk that the attackers would simply waste their surprise element.

"That's correct. If we spread out and attack him vaguely from each direction, he might get unnerved. That might buy our comrades time to bring down the towering monstrosity which in turn forces Diodor's hand in this struggle. That is when we catch him!" Thalnos said in expectation, his voice turning ever more pleased with himself. Arellas respected his comrade less with every passing second but his help was needed to bring down this foe. He could only hope his complacent attitude wouldn't become a problem.


Tareth fought fiercely, trying to keep the advancing undead from moving deeper into the entrance hall of the Monastery. His forces were decimated by Lightfader's fearsome attack and the rest of the defenders knew their lives were no longer in their own hands. Tareth and Herod stood side by side, vanquishing the enemies before them but even then, some of them returned to "life" before they could be burned. The frontline was slowly creeping towards the doors to the library and graveyard wings, letting the attackers into all parts of the complex. Tareth felt desperation flow into him as his ranks were slowly beginning to falter.

"Stand strong, soldiers of the Scarlet Crusade! Each second we hold the enemy here, the more time Osran and Arellas will have to destroy the source of this nightmare! Even now, the Light of Dawn floats above this cursed land!" The knight captain called as he repelled another attack from the enemy. His remark earned only a snort from his side before another brutal assault started.

"And more importantly, destroy these villains! The Light favors the strong!" Herod once again cut into the horde but this time, one detail swiftly received everyone's attention. The dead no longer rose, the rotting corpses left on the floor for good. Tareth was dumbstruck by this development but not in a negative sense.

"Burn them while there's still time! Follow me, we might have a chance to even kill the abomination! Diodor is either dead or embattled, now's our moment!" The leaderless undead were quickly overrun by the crusaders while the defenders quickly ran towards the courtyard. the battle against the monstrosity would be bitter but without the necromancer's guidance, they had a real chance to do it.


The dim woods momentarily flashed with lights as bursts of arcane, frost and fire illuminated it. Diodor did his best to try to find their source but for now, he would have to regain control of the situation. No matter how many enemy wizards there were, he could repel them once he had the time to prepare. Diodor did his all to stop the incoming spells and his efforts proved highly successful. Not only was he safe, he could also start to return the favor. However, no matter what Diodor did, he could see that none of his attacks hit their target. It was as if the enemy was merely taunting him and to the necromancer's great annoyance, they were successful. Diodor had no doubt that his ghouls were falling under the crusaders as he had to put his might into repelling the insufferable mages.

"Get here, cowards! No matter what you do, you don't have a chance!" as Diodor spoke his eyes searched the woods for any signs of the enemy's whereabouts and to his sudden delight, s shadow could briefly seen among the trees. Not a second was wasted before the necromancer blasted a small but swift spell at the mage, burning him down instantly. Diodor called once again the mages, his voice being even more threatening this time.

"Flee or fight, it will make little difference. I will snuff your lives out one by one if I need to…" Diodor continued to shield himself when Arellas released a small, green light on the air, implicating that the mission had been complete. Now, the next task was to help the crusaders in bringing the massive abomination down as Thalnos had proposed.


Tareth panted intensively as he rolled away from another kick's way. The monstrosity's legs were filled with wounds, Herod even injuring its waist but they had little impact on the giant's ability to fight. Five crusaders had been crushed under its feet and the rest were growing increasingly fatigued. The knight commander was becoming ever more desperate when he heard a voice that renewed his attention into the battle. A loud crack of ice could be heard striking into the abomination's back, making it reel heavily forwards. He was happy to hear Arellas' voice call from a nearby hill.

"Take heart, warriors of the Light! Now's your chance to destroy this monster once and for all!" Storms of ice and fire started to rage around Lightfader, seemingly destabilizing it and making its moves harder. Even if the spells would affect him too, he realized this was the time to strike.

"My comrades, follow me! Let's hit at the heart of the beast as one!" Tareth called as he and four other paladins around him charged at the reeling abomination. The spells had nearly felled it to the ground, enabling the crusaders to target the monstrosity's torso with great effectiveness. Tareth's heart beat in his ears as he looked at the sickening beast but he knew he had to deal the decisive strike. Lightfader looked like it was going to fall apart by itself soon enough.

However, at the last moment, the towering monster regained its former composure. It was too late to stop the charging paladins' killing blow but it managed to do one, last service to its creator and master. Tareth looked in horror as the abomination, in its mortally wounded condition, tried to grab him and with a herculean effort, the knight captain managed to dodge the hand but its side hit the knight captain heavily in his side. Before he got the chance to rise from the ground, Lightfader stomping its deformed foot on top of the fallen captain. Not even the smallest of noises had the time to leave Tareth before his consciousness failed for the last time.


Lightfader's demise wasn't left unnoticed by Diodor. At first, he was extremely angered by this turn of events, his masterpiece and most powerful creation destroyed because of his own inability to divide his thoughts between defending himself and controlling his minions. However, his fury at himself was short-lived as the necromancer started to think about his position in more detail.

In the end, all he had lost was one big blob of meat and a group of lowly ghouls that could be replaced any time he wished so. Even without those assets, Diodor could tell that his victory still wouldn't be robbed from him. He was one of the founders of the Cult and one of the original disciples of Kel'Thuzad after all and even now, the display of his full power would crush any resistance.

The Crusade has fared far better than I expected but it matters little anymore. Lightfader probably crushed most of their forces and I still command a larger, superior army!

Even then, Diodor realized he couldn't act brashly. His own powers were second to none in the Monastery but if he made one mistake, he might never be able to use them. He wasn't going to walk into the enemy's trap, no matter how well it would be laid.


Osran and his troops were stationed near the edge of the forest, determined to check that Diodor wasn't going to bypass them to reinforce his positions in the battlefield. It had been many minutes since the mages had left the woods to join the crusaders vanquish Lightfader before Diodor could interrupt those plans. Those moments seemed to drag on forever as the defenders braced themselves for the necromancer's appearance. The conversation between him and the mages had been a brief one even if Osran understood their plan.

"You were supposed to attack Diodor, not run from him! Go back immediately!" The paladin called to the mages when Arellas approached him swiftly. A grim look was on the elf's face as he tried to explain his and Thalnos' idea to their commander.

"We have bought the defenders time to take the fight back to the courtyard! Once it's gone, Diodor's whole strategy will collapse! Please, Commander Lowriver, keep him at bay until we return!" Arellas then left Osran and gave the paladin no real chance to object or question the mage.

Osran started to silently curse Arellas in his mind for leaving him and his comrades in such a dangerous position. He had heard a powerful thud from the Monastery, most likely caused by Lightfader's downfall but it mattered little if he was in danger of being butchered by the necromancer. Seconds passed by as Osran stared into the dark spaces between the trees, prepared to see a black, hooded form appear from one of them. The whole situation was oppressive beyond measure as each of the defenders waited for their imminent deaths.

Soon, Osran heard a small snap of a breaking branch and immediately cast a powerful judgement there. This failed attack was swiftly countered with a bolt of dark energy aimed at Osran's head but it was immediately stopped by one of the commander's comrades. The five knights and Doan looked in fear as Diodor appeared from the forest, a ghastly cloud near the earth making it appear like he was floating in the air. The defenders waited until the necromancer stopped before they started to speak.

"Your abomination and troops are decimated, traitor! You better run now if you wish to live!" Osran said in cold rage. He knew he was hopelessly overpowered by the necromancer but he wished to see what kind of game he was planning after his slaves' crushing defeat. Diodor looked at the paladin calmly, not letting out any emotion before he spoke. Not only was Diodor interested in hearing how his enemy had survived this long but he always planned to investigate the crusaders to see how they planned to defeat him.

"No one can escape from battle once they have pledged themselves to the Lich King's service, paladin. No matter what, we will see this to end today. You have created a formidable defense, one that I didn't expect to face." Diodor looked at Osran in an investigative way, remembering the aging paladin's face from the previous battles. The necromancer was intrigued to see how he had lived this long against his powers. However, it wasn't the paladin who answered.

"Diodor, you were a hero of Azeroth once and I often looked up to you and Ras Frostwhisper during our time in Dalaran! Tell me, how could you complete your studies? How could you not see they were twisted and wrong?" Doan called in an accusing voice, willing to hear how anyone would willingly fall to the depths of necromancy. Diodor turned to look at the speaker and a slight surprise was apparent in his gestures.

"Doan, what a surprise to see you here! I had always thought a mage of your strength would have fallen long ago!" Diodor smirked as he looked at his old comrade. His voice was as toxic and disrespectful as was to be expected but it mattered little to the young mage.

"Not as surprising as the fact that any members of your cursed Cult still survive! So many were slaughtered already during the War that I had already wanted to believe none of you survived! It seems like Kel'Thuzad didn't lead you to the perfection he promised! Your Lich King is most likely dead and the Legion is beaten! The Scourge has lost, Diodor, and now you will pay for your mistakes!" Doan yelled as he looked at Diodor who twisted his rod in his hands. The necromancer stayed silent for a moment before he answered.

"You are right that in assuming that our greatest plan was a failure. The Legion will never again set a foot on this world and we won't be able to spread the Scourge all over the world for now. But the Lich King is alive and his power is growing by the minute. We may have suffered a defeat but make no mistake, we will rise again. You threw a glorious future away, Doan, and for what? To sacrifice yourself defending these weaklings against a far superior foe? You might have been one of us but you made your own choice." Diodor looked at Doan who returned a hateful expression at his former comrade. Osran looked at the duo, wondering how well they had once known each other and what had really happened in Kel'Thuzad's early school of necromancy. The paladin was the next to speak.

"I heard many tales of your heroism during the evacuation of Stormwind. Yours was one of the names that were whispered with great reverence during our preparation for the Second War, an archetype of an unlikely, young hero during time of need. It saddens me greatly to see you following Arthas and his masters into this terrible fate, Diodor. You were one of the great heroes of the past: let me end it here and maybe you can still be remembered as such." Osran whispered silently, hoping that something of the old Diodor still remained in that horrifying, withered shell. The paladin didn't expect the necromancer to agree and to his disappointment, he was right. Diodor kept his respecting posture but his voice dipped with poison as he answered.

"Initially, I only did what I had to survive against the barbaric orcish hordes. Soon after, I, like any other foolish, young man, grew fond of the respect I received and took my position as one of the leaders of the refugees. It is ironic really, that it was those days that showed me how pointless it is to search for glory in others' eyes. In the end, after risking my life to save those weaklings, what did I achieve? Medals, statues, money. Why in the name of sanity would I care about those? Only Kel'Thuzad gave me what I really yearned for and your promised honors are only a continuation of those shallow "prizes" I received in the past! I live only for myself and only for those great secrets I'm going after!" Diodor looked around the scene, noticing a few very interesting details. There were snapped branches here and there and the environment as a whole was unusually silent. Were his enemies really thinking he was this easy to fool?

"So it was true all along… you were always one of our most eager researchers and you always wanted to know all about the arts we were after. I always wanted to know if there were other things driving you forward but it seems I could see everything I needed back then. It's a shame really: you could have been a major asset to the Crusade if you had chosen differently." Doan said slowly, wishing to voice his long-hidden misgivings concerning his foe. It seemed that his old comrades were just as zealous as he had feared all along. Diodor answered quickly as he prepared a powerful spell to counter the coming attack.

"I would have but I wouldn't want to stick with the losing side, Doan. And if you think I'm on one now, think again! Your pitiful trap won't hold me!" Diodor released a gigantic magical cloud around him, quickly hitting the nearby mages and paladins that had gathered around him. The necromancer used this moment to flee further into the forest to improve his position. Osran realized his plan immediately and yelled to his comrades.

"No matter what, catch and kill him! The longer he lives, the more of us will die in vain!" Osran was the first one to charge after the old man, many other paladins following him immediately. The chase was on: either Diodor would fall now or else the crusaders would be killed one by one.


Thalnos cursed as he saw Diodor realizing his plan. He had planned to use the arrogant outsider as a bait, a detail he had kept hidden from even Arellas, to get rid of his leadership and to reinforce the more traditional elements in the Monastery's leadership. Even then, it mattered little to the young elf. The trap had been set too thinly for the necromancer to escape it anymore. Even then, with luck, he might get the chance to get rid of Osran before the battle would be over.


To his growing concern, Diodor noticed that there were more chasers gaining on him for his frail body to escape from. The knowledge that he had to stand and fight was a rather new one for the old necromancer but it brought him no concern whatsoever. What did it matter if he needed to face these pathetic weaklings face-to-face? He would no longer spare any expense in destroying his hated enemies.

"Come then! Bring each of your sorry faces right here and I will pulverize each of you!" For the first time since the great War, Diodor's options were limited and because of it, he concentrated each and every piece of power he could muster to his spells. Diodor released an enormous, swirling barrage of shadow into the woods, prompting countless pained screams and deathrattles from the poor defenders. Each inch of caution and strategy had left the cornered necromancer: only direct and decisive action could help him escape this terrifying situation.

"If that was too much for you, I won't even have to show you my full arsenal, spineless ambushers! Disappear from my sight, all of you!" Diodor yelled in rage as the adrenaline of the moment flowed in his veins. He had longed for a real challenge.


Arellas was terrified by all the attacks Diodor was casting upon the crusaders. His aim was sharp and the powers enviable even for a necromancer. None of the earlier fights against him had prepared him or his mages against this kind of display of power but it mattered little at this point. Either Diodor would fall here or the whole nightmare would repeat itself soon enough.

"Try to contain his powers! Counter his spells to buy our comrades the time to engage him in melee!" Arellas called in desperation as mage after another fell upon the onslaught. It seemed almost like Diodor could simply overpower their counterspells but in reality Arellas understood that his expertise allowed the necromancer bypass them with extremely swift, weak spells so he could continue his battle against the wizards of the Crusade. Arellas was determined to see his part of the battle through, no matter the cost.

Osran looked at the scene In fear, seeing that the mages wouldn't be able to hold their positions for long. In a minute, all of them would be wiped by Diodor's frenzy and his plan, and hopes of ending this campaign would be lost. Realizing his charge, Osran quickly turned to the nearest officer he could find. This time it turned to be Houndmaster Loksey, who was in the thick of the battle trying to keep Diodor's reinforcements at bay. Osran turned to him and asked in a low, noble voice.

"Houndmaster, take a few of your troops and hounds and attack Diodor from his left side. While you keep him busy, I'll put an end to him once and for all!" Osran's eyes resonated with dedication and even in this situation, Loksey simply nodded to him. Anyone in their right mind would know Osran asked for a suicide in essence but Loksey, as well as any crusader, knew that wars weren't won by sparing single soldiers' lives. The Houndmaster then answered briefly to his commander, determined to see Osran's request through.

"I'll buy you the time you need, Commander Lowriver. Light bless your path." Loksey gave his blessings to Osran as his role would be the most dangerous one. The paladin turned around to move towards Diodor when another voice rang in his ears.

"I'll come with you, Osran. If nothing else, I'll shield you against the monster's attacks!" Osran turned around and saw that the speaker was Veria. She was clearly injured but it didn't look like her wounds were nowhere near dangerous. Osran approved her presence but there was no time to talk. Even now, Arellas' forces were under attack and Loksey was heading to his doom. Osran continued his walk towards Diodor when he called silently to Veria.

"Then come! I won't turn down any help I can get!"


Thalnos followed the scene with a self-indulged expression, firmly believing that Diodor's downfall was merely a matter of time in face of the Crusade's superior powers. There was only one thing that stood between him and the day's total success and that was the arrogant paladin. Thalnos was Whitemane's close associate and he was prepared to get rid off this new power no matter what.

He could see Osran moving silently among the trees, Veria following him closely. The elf mage had moved silently closer to the duo and further from the others in order to ensure that his next deed didn't have any eyewitnesses. He launched a quick fireball towards Osran, small enough to be hidden among the trees but powerful enough to be lethal. Thalnos looked in expectation as it drew closer to its target… until it suddenly disappeared at the last moment.

The mage looked at it bewilderment, completely dumbstruck by this development. Who had countered his fireball which was moving under the trees' shadows? No matter. This time he cast a powerful bolt of arcane which nearly hit but it, too, disappeared. Thalnos started to fear for his own security and he prepared a third, foolproof spell to get rid of the new competitor.


Osran was drawing close to Diodor who had thus far managed to maintain his defense against the enemy. The paladin could see Loksey drawing closer to Diodor who was preparing to turn his attention from the last mages into the main host of the crusaders attacking him from his left. Osran was about speak his last words to Veria when she suddenly called to him.

"Get down, now!" He voice was urgent and alerted but silent enough to avoid being heard by Diodor. A powerful explosion of arcane detonated in their previous position, which would have obliterated the duo unless Veria had seen the small, glimmering ball growing between them. As things stood, both of the paladins were seriously wounded but it mattered little to a paladin. Thalnos cursed at his failure but the mage realized it was no longer safe for him to continue his attacks. With silent steps, Thalnos left off to rejoin his fellow mages.


Diodor looked in confusion at the explosion's direction, not knowing what to make of it. It was unlikely that his enemies were shooting at each other so it was most probable that it was merely a missed attack that had been meant for him. Unmoved by the incident, Diodor continued his attacks. The main hos of the crusaders had started charging against him and once he had slain them, the battle would result in a decisive victory for him.


"What the hell was that?" Veria whispered as the two finished healing their wounds. Her voice was agitated at the incident as it was clear that it wasn't one of Diodor's attacks. Which one of their own mages would attack their own commander? Osran looked at Diodor to see whether he had paid the incident any attention but the necromancer seemed completely oblivious to the incident. Knowing that there was no more imminent danger, Osran whispered back to Veria.

"It seems that Arellas' apprentice wasn't as innocent as he would have wanted us to think. This must be Doan's doing! Even then, we must continue our attack! We must go, now!" Osran waited for a nod from his companion as they saw Loksey and his troops storm towards Diodor from the forest. After receiving her approval, Osran took a deep breath and jumped over the bush he had been hiding behind. The die was cast: either his or Diodor's paths would end on this glade.


The necromancer had started casting powerful lakes of shadow in the opening in front of him, greatly hindering the crusaders' charge against him. The necromancer almost pitied his opponents as they wished to keep their hopes high even in this hopeless situation. One monk after another fell under his mighty spells, soon to rise as his servants. Everything was going according to plan… until loud footsteps suddenly disturbed his moment of victory.

"You'll die here, traitor! Here's for Ferren Marcus!" Loksey prepared to hit Diodor before the latter quickly created a shield for himself to parry the charging Houndmaster's attack. However, he got no chance to kill him as ten of his comrades ran past their commander, each of them ready to lay down their very lives just to have a chance to land a blow against the necromancer. Diodor was stunned by this turn of events but he quickly stabilized the situation with his magic.

"Many have already tried to ambush me, pathetic morons! None of them…" Diodor's voice was interrupted by a bolt of fire from behind him, one that he heard approaching at the very last minute. Diodor parried the fireball with a spell of his own but that same instant, the mages' onslaught resumed in full swing. Diodor started to feel fear rise within him as he realized that he was being assaulted from three directions… only to see a sword fall down upon him from the fourth.

For the first time in years, Diodor was forced to counter a hit with his rod. This, however, proved to be a major disaster for the necromancer as his old, weak hand gave up under Osran's bright-shining sword. The impact of the hit fell Diodor to the ground, leaving him to watch as all of his enemies closed down upon him. It was at that moment that Diodor could see that he had failed. He would never complete his research and he would never be able to achieve his revenge against his rivals in the Cult. The legacy he had worked all his life would soon be lost forever, along with all hope of learning the truth behind the very nature of magic and the birth of both Scourge and the Legion itself. For the first time in his life, Diodor felt an overwhelming sadness flow through him as he realized how much he was about to lose. Still, if he was going to die, no one would live to claim credit or honor for his personal destruction. No, no one in this forest would escape his last farewell to the world, the final testament to his power.

"You have ruined everything I ever worked for or what cared about! Well done, but now I'll give my last act of service to the Lich King! You will all follow me to the Cold Dark! Die, cursed weaklings!" Diodor's voice was monotonic and it was a perfect mirror to the necromancer's mind which had given up all his ambition and hopes of escaping this trap. Osran looked horror as a brownish whirlwind started to gather around Diodor and it started to spread the Plague immediately. Most of the troops around the dying necromancer started to flee in panic but Osran realized that Diodor could destroy all of them before they could escape.

With herculean effort, Diodor rose to his feet to be able to pass from this world with dignity. He was pleased to see the crusaders run towards their deaths as his spell would cover the whole forest before his enemies could escape. Only one of the crusaders stayed still, the same one who had struck him down in the first place. The necromancer would have wanted nothing, more than to destroy him where he stood but all of Diodor's power was drained by the mighty spell she was casting. However, he could channel it towards the paladin who so boldly still stood against him.

Osran looked in a mixture of fear and determination at the necromancer whose body's struggles grew more violent by the minute. It was clear that all those years of experimenting with the Plague had taken a heavy toll on the old man whose body could no longer take all the power that was gathering inside it. Diodor's body would collapse before this one last spreading of the Plague was over. This was his moment to land the killing blow on villain who had caused him so much trouble and struggling. It was time to put an end to all that. No more words needed to be exchanged: only the final strike was left.

Knowing that the situation was critical, the bearded knight started to run towards Diodor who gritted his teeth as the necromancer raised clouds of brown Plague from the ground, trying to surround Osran within the deadly poison before the knight could reach him. Osran did his all to dodge the incoming clouds and to his intense delight, Diodor's waning powers enabled him to move faster than the necromancer's failing body enabled him to create new concentrations of Plague. Step by step, Osran approached his nemesis who slowly started to realize what was happening.

Diodor closed his eyes as he realized that there was no victory in this situation. No matter how hard it was to accept it, a certain kind of respect awoke deep within the necromancer foe the courageous paladin. He had destroyed all he had worked for and soon kill him but he had proven that there were still forces far greater than his in the world, highlighting the amount of things he'd never be able to learn. Diodor didn't stop casting his spell until the end but in his mind, the necromancer was content to die from the hand of this paladin. There would have been worse fates but this was one the old wizard was willing to accept.

Osran ran towards Diodor, looking in surprise at the necromancer's closed eyes that could be seen from the holes in his hood. The knight felt immense expectation and thrill as he approached his enemy. However, a he drew closer to his enemy, he could see the calm resignation in Diodor's posture. This wasn't the appearance of a desperate, fearful man but that of one who was prepared to die in peace. Osran looked at the necromancer in confusion but he knew he would never get another chance.

The aging knight raised his sword and swung it towards Diodor. That second seemed to drag on forever as Osran saw his sword collide with Diodor's throat, separating it from his shoulders. The paladin looked in astonishment as the hooded head rolled to the ground, his body first falling to its knees and then to the ground, never to rise again. Osran, too, fell to his knees, panting heavily. The battle for the Scarlet Monastery was over and the Crusade had claimed a total victory.


With Diodor's demise, the battle for the Scarlet Monastery is over. However, this victory will soon give way to news from the other theaters of the war against the Scourge, as well as to backwash of the battle itself. I truly hope you enjoyed my longest chapter ever and I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts about it! One part of this story is now over and it will soon give way to further escalation in the struggle against the Scourge. See you all in the next chapter! :)