Road to the Necropolis
The balding, black-haired man looked at the rows of soldiers around him, able to feel only deep respect to each of them for being able to even go on with this offensive for this long. Yet, the biggest test was still before them and he, as one of the Crusade's High Inquisitors, would be more than honored to guide them forward on this most gallant of paths. He silently spoke to his companion, who had been his lord and friend for as long as he could only remember.
"We still need a few more knights to accompany us, Alexandros. Even then, I must say I'm more than honored by the group we have already managed to gather. We couldn't ask for a better group of comrades on our mission." He said, the excitement of the coming battle flowing into his limbs. He would make sure their attack on Naxxramas itself wouldn't fail, if it only could be avoided. Alexandros looked unusually tense but his voice was still as noble and encouraging as always.
"Aye, I would lay down my life in the hands of each of those knights and I know nothing will stop them from spreading the Light's justice upon the Scourge. Even then, I'm not going to lie to you, Fairbanks. It'll take a miracle for us to be successful on this attack. Yet, I'd be cursed if I let Kel'Thuzad get away for this because I'm afraid to risk my life for it!" Alexandros was annoyed as he couldn't get Abbendis' words away from his mind as for the first time in a long time, he questioned his own motives for some reason. He, as the Highlord of the Crusade, served as one of the whole order's heads and symbols and Dathrohan's words had for the first time made him realize his value. However, Fairbanks seemed to be more confident about this quest and he had often served as his right hand and respected friend for a long time. The Ashbringer was prepared to serve alongside with him at any time.
"As would any of us be. This indeed is a dangerous plan but by the Light's grace, we cannot fall. When I witnessed the birth of the Ashbringer, I knew that this would be the blade that would spell the end of the Scourge. It has made you the embodiment of the Light, Highlord. We cannot fail with you by our side." The cleric said with a serious look on his face, meaning each and every one of his words. That journey to Ironforge had changed everything: yes, Alexandros had been a man of legend even before that but the birth of his famed weapon had immediately turned him into the unofficial head of the Silver Hand, second only to the Lightbringer himself. The Inquisitor had always been at his shadow but that was a role he was very content in. The only thing he yearned was to witness the fall of the Scourge and to see his old friend's ascendancy into the eternal memory of humanity. Mograine gave the driest of laughs, not exactly amused by the comment his friend had meant as a compliment.
"So thought those who followed, Uther, too. Yet, I wouldn't have signed up for this mission if I hadn't believed in our chance for success. And for that, we need one more paladin who I know will stand nobly at our side. The Ashbringer said as he walked along the ruined Menethil Road, looking at the rows of knights around him. His mere presence raised countless honoring and approving glances but he had seen them long enough to pay them any heed. Fairbanks was just about to ask his superior what he meant when Alexandros suddenly raised his voice and called a heavily-bearded commander who was giving commands to his followers.
"Greetings, duke Zverenhoff! I thought I'd find you here." He said somewhat informally as Nicholas had been another member of the Crusade he had known for a long time. However, his voice was enough to cause a notable twitch within the other man who immediately turned around to greet the higher-ranked crusader.
"Highlord Mograine! I… it's an honor to see you here! What business do you have with me?" He asked nervously, not having the slightest of guesses about Alexandros' intentions. The duke himself had survived the earlier fight unharmed and because of that, he had been more than busy reorganizing the surviving forces into effective groups under Abbendis' command. He looked in surprise at the two newcomers but put his early surprise behind himself almost immediately. The Ashbringer answered after a slight moment of silence during which the only sound to be heard was the wind's silent whistling among the massive fungi surrounding the three men.
"Usually I wouldn't be this blunt but yes, I have one favor I'd like to ask you, Nicholas, if you only are able. One that I hope you have within yourself to accept." The Highlord said, knowing that there was no time to waste if he was going to find the way to Naxxramas. Time was of the essence and if he was going to do this, it would have to happen now. Nicholas took an intrigued look and raised his hand to his followers to signal them to stay still for a moment. He then answered to his superior in a friendly yet honoring voice.
"Of course, my lord, if it within my power. What do you ask, Alexandros?" He asked, willing to hear what the other man wanted of him. Fairbanks looked at the noble for a moment and decided to answer in his friend's stead.
"We are here to ask you to join us in finding the way to Naxxramas and storm the citadel while the others move on Stratholme. You are the last one we are going to ask to join this most important of missions. The Grand Crusader has authorized our quest and we hope you would honor us by joining us on this mission." The inquisitor asked, keeping his voice as matter-of-factly and respecting as he simply could. His announcement had the expected effect on the duke whose eyes opened wide immediately. Clearly at a loss of words, he once again turned towards his followers and with a loud voice, he gave his order.
"Report to the younger Abbendis for further instructions. It seems I have other things to attend to." He said and looked at the troops dispersing, knowing better than to question their superior's words. This brief distraction had managed to calm Nicholas down for a moment before he prepared to answer to Fairbank's announcement.
"Are you serious? Do you seriously expect us to be able to accomplish such a thing?" He asked, refraining from voicing his full disbelief as he knew more than well this was likely an issue the two had discussed earlier, especially if Dathrohan had accepted the plan. The Ashbringer moved closer to the slightly shorter man as he gave his answer.
"Only the Light knows the answer to that question but few would have expected a year ago us to lay siege to Stratholme either. We don't have much time, Zverenhoff. No matter what, we need your answer quickly. Are you with us?" The Ashbringer asked, more than ready to embark on his gallant quest. Even if he wanted the noble to accompany him, he'd respect whatever answer he'd give him. Nicholas couldn't come up with any explanation to Mograine's plan but if the Ashbringer wanted his help, there was only possible answer. He was just about to open his mouth when another voice suddenly joined the conversation.
"As willing as always to face danger, aren't you, father? I should have expected no less from the Ashbringer himself." The three men's heads turned to look at the speaker whom all of them knew immediately. The young man's golden hair and strong facial features were easily recognizable and he very soon received an answer from the Highlord himself.
"So they sent you along with the latest reinforcements from the Monastery, didn't they, Renault?" Alexandros asked, surprised to meet his older son for the first time in about two years. He had hoped to see him learn more about the way of the paladin at that sacred place of learning but his brash, even arrogant greeting hadn't exactly raised Alexandros' hopes. The young man stopped near the other three, his face turning into a more neutral look than before.
"They did and I'm more than honored to serve in the coming battle. It should be quite a spectacle, eh, father? However, I've been wondering about Darion's whereabouts I haven't seen him anywhere." Renault asked in a voice which sounded genuinely curious about the issue. However, his appearance, despite the slight relief of seeing his son after a long time, wasted more precious time Alexandros simply couldn't afford. Despite that, he decided to give Renault a fair answer.
"Your brother was left to Light's Hope as a member of its garrison against the Scourge. And about the coming fight, don't underestimate the enemy. It has cost many young paladins their lives." He said grimly, not approving of the younger knight's words in the least. Renault looked at him in slight disappointment but answered to him shortly.
"That may be but I happened to hear what the good inquisitor Fairbanks said. Are you sure this is wise?" He asked in a slightly worried look. The question started to slightly irritate the three knights and Alexandros gave him answer which he hoped would end this discussion once and for all.
"It is what is best for the Crusade and the kingdom. I don't ask you to understand it but I hope you understand we have to go." The Highlord turned his gaze before him, starting to go rally his followers into the coming battle. However, what he heard next nearly froze him in his place.
"I do more than well, father. And that's why I beg to accompany you on this most important of missions." He asked before earning a swift and even hostile look from the cleric. His face penetrated into the younger paladin as he gave his answer.
"Shake it off, boy! Each and every member of our group has been hand-picked by the Ashbringer himself, each of them having proven their worth on battlefields like which you've only heard in stories. You have no room on this group." He, said, hoping that the conversation would be over after those words. However, his son's words raised a deep conflict within the elder Mograine. In his heart, he knew his old friend was right and that Renault wouldn't most likely live through what was to come. However, encouraging bravery and heroism and giving each one their time to prove their worth was an integral part of the Crusade's creed as long as it wouldn't hurt the order's chances on the fields of battle. And even now, he couldn't deny that more help would only increase his odds of success. No matter his own misgivings about the issue, he knew there was only one thing he could do. He didn't even turn to look at the younger man as he spoke, only continuing his walk forward.
"Then follow us. I dearly hope you are ready for this." Fairbanks and Zverenhoff glanced at their superior in surprise but they knew they weren't in a position to question his decisions. Renault, on the other hand, did as he was told and soon headed after the older knights towards the fight which could probably be his toughest ones yet.
"…and that is how we finally managed to break the Scourge's hold there. It was a surprise that most of the undead had gathered at the edges of the city, apparently trying to lock us in that cursed town. It was rather clever really as Andorhal is surrounded by the Thondrodil river to the south, which makes surrounding us that much easier for them. It seems the enemy's tactics are becoming ever more sophisticated." Veria said as she drank a mouthful of water, looking into the distance as she recited her story to Osran. The two wished to exchange their last weeks in an effort to ease the anxious wait for the battle to begin. The man felt slightly awkward as he was forced to once again lie about so many things but even Veria couldn't know about the secrets of the Legion.
"Just like in Corin's Crossing. Those cursed beasts are becoming an ever larger threat by the day. We've outsmarted them thus far but I dearly hope Dathrohan and Mograine will be able to plan better than Kel'Thuzad. I just hope Tareth were here: he always understood the tactical choices far better than I did." He meant every word but he also couldn't deny the fact that he missed the noble yet humble personality of the long-departed knight captain. He still hoped every day he hadn't met the grisly end that became his part. He had seen worse fates during his days but Tareth was one comrade he missed more often than the others: of course excluding Valdemar. Suddenly, after a moment of peace since his reunion with Eneath ended as he remembered his old friend and what had happened to him. It was one day he'd never forgive himself for. Veria looked at him as a distant cry of a massive bat could be heard from somewhere afar.
"You're right. After Gavinrad, he was the best captain I've had the honor to serve under. I'm sure the Light smiles upon him even now as few have served the goodness in this world better than he did. But I know he would have wanted to be here on this day. He really would have deserved it but we never get the privilege to choose where we fall. I only hope I'll be half as honorable as he was until the end." She suddenly realized how morbid the discussion ad become but what else could be expected on a day like this? Probably very soon, both of the paladins would have to prepare to fall in battle and while both of them would pay the price gladly, they wanted it to happen with honor and with a chance to serve the Light one, final time. Osran looked at the sun slowly heading towards the west, knowing the duo's time of rest was up when it would touch the fungi in the distance. He was about to answer to his old comrade when he suddenly heard the steps of a horse right behind him.
"A message to Crimson Legionary Lowriver. Please follow the instructions detailed in the letter." The courier said as he handed the message to Osran who felt a wave of concern flow through him. He already knew what the message was about and he had never actually expected his journey to escape the notice of the Crusade's leadership. He took the letter and it immediately confirmed his fears and with a glum expression, looked at Veria.
"I am required elsewhere, Veria. I apologize for leaving like this but it isn't in my power to decide." He said with a sigh, already preparing for what was to come. The other knight turned to look at him and answered neutrally while looking into the depths of the forest.
"Of course not. Fare well, Osran. I look forward to standing at your side today." She said, earning a brief nod from Osran who then turned to the courier and spoke to him briefly.
"Very well, good man. Your message has been delivered. May the Light guide your path." After those words, the younger man saluted the higher-ranked knight and returned the path he had come from. The aging paladin headed for the Crusade's lords' tents as he was told, dearly hoping he'd be able to speak himself out of this mess as he knew Isillien and Abbendis' patience with him had already worn thin.
The former duke felt the outrage and depression that had accompanied him for the last days cracking slightly as he looked at the men who accompanied him on this day. The constant and seemingly never-ceasing plotting of the Crusade suddenly felt like a distant prospect as the damned traitors he had been forced to call his comrades were nowhere to be seen. For too many times, the noble had been forced to question whether the Crusade still had a place for him but the fact that Alexandros was still ready to lead them with the wisdom he had always shown gave him new courage. Gone were the spineless plotters like that cursed Lowriver, Abbendis or Demetria and now he knew he was accompanied only by men of true honor. He felt his earlier pride and trust at his comrades return as his eyes wandered on the other knights.
Maxwell Tyrosus, Carlin Redpath, High Inquisitor Fairbanks and Ferelyn Bloodscorn, among the few dozen other knights who were less familiar to Nicholas. These were only some knights of whom he had never heard a word that wasn't honorable and true and Tyrosus, for example, was known among one of the most capable and honest men the Crusade had ever known. He wasn't widely regarded as one of the order's heads but among those who knew him, he was outskilled only by the very leaders of the Crusade.
And Redpath had made a name for himself, alongside with his valiant stand in the final battle of Darrowshire, as a kind but strong-willed trainer of new recruits and as a constant defender of his comrades. And leading them was the famed Ashbringer whose very presence seemed to purify the air of any doubts or distrust that had clouded his mind earlier. These were the kind of men he had decided to serve under when he answered the call of the Light. Not to even mention their most noble of goals on this day. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a call from Alexandros.
"Move as silently as you can from now on. We don't know where the entrance to Naxxramas lies but it shouldn't be too far. We cannot give the enemy a chance to get the initiative at any time!" The Highlord said as he and the rest of the first rank of knights moved between two massive fungi towards the place Wacin had told him before his tragic passing. Somewhere around here, there should lie a hidden ziggurat inside which the portal to Naxxramas should be hidden. The path had been far too silent until now and every one of the knights knew that was more than a little suspicious. Yet, there was no choice about it that this point.
None was more aware of that fact than Alexandros whose eyes scoured the shadows of the horribly mutated woodland, searching for any clues about the presence of the undead. Even if he knew the chance of that possibility was slim, he wanted to believe the Scourge was actually running out of forces to control this area and they'd be forced to flee inside the protective walls of Stratholme for good. Yet, he'd never have become the leader he was now if he let himself drift into hopeful thoughts about the most vicious foe Lordaeron had ever met. As far as he was concerned, the whole forest around him was filled with monsters who were only waiting for the right chance to ambush him and his followers.
Yet, the minutes passed slowly and no such attack seemed to come. Alexandros was becoming increasingly concerned about the situation as he realized that they'd reach the right part of the forest at any moment. Here and there had lied ruins of long-destroyed villages and even some constructs of the Cult but none of them were even close to the point the fallen paladin had described. The Highlord was already beginning to hope for an attack when a thicker, heavily protected area of the forest appeared in the horizon. The paladin's head had already turned into a frown out of ever-increasing disbelief when the sound he had waited for a long time finally reached his ears. The sound of a cracking branch near him. The knight immediately drew his legendary sword from its sheath and pointed it towards the sound.
"Show yourselves, slaves of the Scourge! Know that neither you or your damned lord will live to see the end of this war!" The Highlord cried as he looked in hate as the shadow of an extremely long man slowly emerged from the woods. At first, there was nothing extraordinary about him as he was dressed in a long and blue robe, not unlike most of the members of the Cult of the Damned. However, Alexandros' expression darkened even further as he saw the necromancer's head which was mostly covered by a massive beard and something which looked like a skull of a horned horse. The necromancer gave his answer quickly as he stopped near the host of knights.
"I see your fear, oh Highlord. I see that you know all of your words are for nothing and all that made you what you are will become undone today." The necromancer's expression was hidden under the skull but it mattered very little to Alexandros. He was just about to give the order to slaughter the necromancer before he heard another voice on his other side.
"No one can stand against our master. The Lich King's power grows by the day and no matter what you think or do, this wretched kingdom's despicable remains are only heading towards its final sunset." The other newcomer was a shorter man whose face, unlike his companion's, was completely within the sight of the crusaders. It was covered with some kind of paintings and his hair was, as was usual for members of the Cult, turned to white. And this was another cultist whose identity wasn't a mystery to one of the knights.
"I should have known I'd find you here, Noth. After all, you never cared about anything else than the powers Kel'Thuzad offered." Fairbanks said in clear hate, remembering to have met this man a few times during his many visits to Dalaran. He had been one of the most loyal of Kel'Thuzad's disciples back in that legendary city of the magi and it seemed like his antics had changed none since those days. The necromancer looked at the inquisitor with contempt as he gave his answer to the older man.
"Kel'Thuzad was only the one who showed me the true path. I'd lay down my life for the Lich King at any moment but right now, I doubt it'll be me who'll fall on this day. We'll never let you enter our master's sanctum." The necromancer said, earning a quick rebuke from Alexandros. He suddenly cried to his followers, clearly decided that there was nothing to be gained from talking with these villains.
"We'll see about that, traitor. Give the wicked no quarter, my comrades! Cut these monsters down!" He knew more than well the depth of his comrades' skill and he knew none of them would take unnecessary risks even if they faced only two enemies against the two dozen knights. These paladins, priests and magi would never charge the enemy headlong and fall into their cheap tricks. However, the two necromancers' response to the Ashbringer's call to battle surprised the attackers completely. Both of them cast their own spells simultaneously even if it took the knights a few moments before they could even feel what was happening. And even then, only one of them saved the others from total annihilation.
"It's a curse! Mages, remove them before we're all lost!" The voice belonged to Renault Mograine who had walked in the last ranks of the host due to his limited experience on the battle. The four mages in the group wasted no time trying to do as they had been told but it was at this moment they realized what was the effect of the other necromancer's spell. As they tried to counter the power of the enemy's curse, the magic seemed only to linger and linger in their hands, as if releasing it was something they couldn't even attempt to execute. The casters nearly started to panic before they finally felt the familiar sensation of finishing their spell. Apparently this was some kind of mere delay to their magic, not a counterspell as they had initially feared. Even then, even this slower spellcasting was enough to delay their efficiency.
Suddenly, the dark power around the paladins seemed to suddenly sink inside them, the darkness making its way inside their bodies. For a moment, it seemed nothing was happening but that sweet illusion was shattered in mere moments. A terrifying cry could be heard from most of the knights as parts of their skins suddenly split open, a terrifying pain accompanying the monstrous curse. Smaller bones broke, muscles were torn apart and blood spilled around as Noth's curse hit the knights in full swing. Alexandros panted in shock as he suddenly put his other hand on his chest, concentrating his power to try to mend the effects of the necromancer's spell. As long as it was up to the Ashbringer, this battle wouldn't end in the Scourge's triumph.
Osran took one, final breath as he prepared to enter the tent he had been ordered into. It was one of the few ones that had been erected on this day of anxious waiting but it mattered little to the knight. At this point, he had no remorse about anything he did in the last battle. He had saved his nephew and if that was the crime he would end up paying for with his life, so be it. Osran's life had lately been filled with countless honorless acts he regretted but this certainly wasn't one of them. The paladin lowered his head in acceptance as he raised the fabric covering the entrance into the large tent. Waiting for him were too men, one of them whose face was familiar to him and one whose wasn't. Osran was slightly relieved to see Landgren's face again as, despite his methods, he had proven himself to be a reasonable man. Osran looked and him and spoke in a steady and confident voice.
"Hail again, good bishop. I am glad to see you safe and sound. A courier brought me a message calling me to arrive here. What is it?" There was no reason to bring up any of his guesses about this meeting as it wasn't he who had called this gathering in the first place. However, Landgren's voice was far from friendly as he gave his answer.
"Crimson Legionary Lowriver, according to reliable sources, you were separated from our main army during yesterday's battle yet here you are. The Legion wants you to explain yourself." The cleric's face was cold but otherwise refrained from any kind of emotion as was custom in any kinds of interrogations. Osran was slightly worried by Landgren's eerie words but it had been more than clear since the beginning this had been the reason for the meeting. Yet, he had nothing to hide in this questioning which eased his worries a bit.
"All that you told is true. I indeed got separated from the army but I managed to fight my way to the Thondrodil tunnel and escape the Plaguewood before I got overwhelmed. I even found the sad remains of old Cinderhome which was still a better condition than we had expected." Osran said briefly, earning a somewhat annoyed nod from Landgren's companion. He quickly stepped forward and asked Osran in a hostile, even outraged voice.
"You know as well as I do that no one could survive out there on their own, not against all of those undead roaming out there! The Tunnel is far away from here and you would have had a hard reaching it even with a steed. Do you seriously expect us to believe such a story?" The balding, black-haired man said as he looked Osran in his eyes. The paladin frowned deeply and raised his voice sharply as he gave his answer.
"I don't care what you believe or what you don't! It's likely that most of the undead had been drawn into the battle and that's why I wasn't attacked! I met a few ghouls here and there but the first real resistance I met was a host of giant spiders in Cinderhome and in the Tunnel. It was practically swarming with those monsters but I eventually managed to fight my way through! Also, I'd appreciate if you would tell me your name, good man." Osran asked, realizing his need to counter any immediate counter questions about the tunnel as he wanted to do his all to save Tirion from his failures. The other crusader seemed somewhat taken aback by that question but he knew he'd have to answer to Osran's question as a sign of respect to a fellow knight.
"I am cannon master Derios Willey of the Scarlet Bastion but that knowledge does little good for you, Lowriver. As for your claim, there has been no reports about any giant spiders in Lordaeron and it's not likely they'd just be living in one cave in the middle of this land. Your tale is becoming less believable by the second." Willey said as he began to circle around the room which only heightened Osran's growing frustration about this investigation. He was just about to rebuke the other man's words when Landgren asked the question Osran had feared the most.
"In addition to that, I'd really like to know, if you truly managed to fight your way through the tunnel and reach the river, how did you exactly find your way back here in a matter of mere hours? You would have required a well-trained horse for that but they aren't exactly bountiful in Darrowmere anymore. We haven't received a word about anyone borrowing, nor stealing, a steed from any of our outposts in that area." The cleric asked Osran who tried to hide his worries behind his annoyed composure. This was a question where he hadn't been able to come up with a believable explanation but now he was put against a wall with the failure to explain himself not being an option. He forced his face to a normal expression as he started to speak.
"Believe it or not, I found my horse wandering near the river. At first I thought it had escaped from one of our garrisons but then I noticed it was circling around one corpse which had been torn to pieces by the bats and worms in that area. He had been a long and muscular man but he didn't carry our tabard or armor. He had to be an outsider but that's all I can say. In any case, the horse didn't object to me trying to mount it and here I am." The paladin said in a loud voice, looking at the other crusaders' faces as he spoke. To his growing chagrin, neither of them let out any kind of emotions about his defense. After a moment, Landgren scratched the corner of his eye for a moment before he broke the increasingly tense silence.
"I dearly hope you speak the truth, Lowriver. In the light of your disappearance into the lands of the Scourge and unbelievable survival, you are suspected of collusion with Kel'Thuzad and possibly treachery against all of humanity. It is far more possible that you headed into Stratholme or Naxxramas to inform Kel'Thuzad or Rivendare about our plans instead of all of the things you claimed here." The priest said which immediately triggered a furious rebuke from Osran who couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Shake it off, Landgren! You should know that true members of the Cult wouldn't make their absence known the way I did! Besides, I'd be a terrible spy if I had let the Scourge lose to us like this! I've given my all to the Legion and I won't stand for these accusations!" Osran raged as he tried to make his interrogators see the foolishness in their own actions. However, Willey's composure did little to implicate any turn for the better in this discussion.
"Attacking us certainly doesn't make you see less guilty, Osran. Yet, I think we all know what is the next part of this interrogation, don't we?" He turned to look at Landgren who nodded to him in acceptance. Willey regretted not being able to help the priest in what was to come next but he would do his all to ensure Osran's cooperation and to serve as additional witness to his possible confession.
Osran's hand instinctually moved towards his sword not trusting in the justice of the two men but once he realized it would only spell his final fall from grace in the Crusade, he eased his grip somewhat. He still remembered the terrifying structure used to interrogate Iren but to his relief, nothing like it could be seen here. However, that didn't mean he would have an easy time with the two sadistic crusaders but he knew this was something he'd have to go through for preserving even the slightest of hopes of breaking free of those ludicrous accusations.
"I assure you, you're only wasting precious time here with me you should use to prepare for the coming battle. But I know more than well you'll never believe me so please, let's start this. I'd like to get ready to storm Stratholme as soon as possible." He said dryly, earning a brief, annoyed snort from Willey. Landgren took his rod which had been hanging from his back and spoke to the knight one more time before he began.
"Very well, crusader Lowriver. We'll see very soon if you've lied to us the whole time. Willey, tie his hands to the table." The knight's eyes flinched wide open as he heard those words. It seemed like his interrogators had a few new tricks on their sleeve after all. For a moment, he thought about finally attacking his torturers but the cold grip of reality returned to him once again. He merely took a deep breath as he saw Willey grab a long rope from the ground and looked in disgust as he moved closer to him. Landgren spoke to Osran who seemed to hesitate on this horrible moment.
"Follow the orders. Your status saved you from a worse fate and believe me, anything you do from now on will only make this harder. You could indeed take us out but you see, there are a dozen guards outside this tent who are more than eager to see you cooperate." The cleric said and even if Osran knew he'd regret this in less than a minute, he put his hands on the table and let Willey tie them tightly to it. For the slightest of moments, Osran wondered what was to come but when he saw Willey take a long splinter of a wood and pliers and headed towards Osran who immediately growled at the two others.
"I'll make sure you'll regret this later. There's no way Dathrohan or Mograine could have ever approved this." He said as he looked at Landgren in deep hate. The cleric merely shrugged before he cast a spell at the knight.
"You can go tell that to the younger Abbendis later if you wish to but I doubt she'd pay your whining any heed! Prepare yourself!" The cleric said as a flash of pale light appeared from his hand. Osran cringed immediately as a violent, painful grip seemed to suddenly take a grip of his brain, searching for some kinds of answers about his memory. And all the while, Willey approached him with some infernal plan, more than happy to try breaking the paladin's will.
The duke panted heavily as the terrifying wounds on his body closed at last. The long minutes following the terrifying spell had been characterized with an unspeakable mess as some of the knights seemed to lose their cool completely. Yet, it was clear that Alexandros had chosen his followers wisely. Eventually each of them managed to regain their composure in the face of total defeat and even if some of them had been gravely injured by the massive spell, each and every one of them were willing to continue the fight. The two necromancers continued their attacks but thus far, nothing they did was even close to rivalling the brute efficiency of the initial curse.
Nicholas looked at the other caster's bearded face and something in his grim features made him shiver. It was clear that he had to be a total madman but that meant little when dealing with the insane zealots who wished for nothing more than to die at their master's service and to rise as another one of those horrible monstrosities. It seemed like he was waiting for something and Zverenhoff soon came to the conclusion that it would be best if his plans were thwarted as soon as possible. He turned around and called at Alexandros.
"We have to take that madman out! We haven't yet seen his attack and we can't afford to be surprised now!" He cried to the Ashbringer whose eyes were locked into the tall wizard's eyes. He had had similar thoughts to those of the other man's and with a loud voice, he called to his followers.
"Surround the bearded necromancer and don't let him try anything surprises! The last ranks, keep the other bastard at bay while we take the other one out!" The Ashbringer said as his eyes met briefly with those of the bearded caster's. He said nothing but even this glance told Alexandros that he had some vile plans in his mind. Still, he wouldn't be able to escape the Light's justice no matter what.
The necromancer looked at his attackers carefully even if it was clear he despised them heartily. No matter who these arrogant blasphemers were, none of them would ever get near his master. Kel'Thuzad had ordered him and Noth to check this group's advance by the Lich King's name, that was what he would do. None of these self-righteous crusaders would survive what was to come.
Still, he waited one second after another as the crusaders approached him quickly. It was only when they were only a few meters away from him when he snapped two of his fingers together. No one could have seen the subtle gesture inside his long sleeve and it was clear that all of his opponents were completely taken aback by his sudden attack. In less than a second, the air around him was filled with the green cloud of death that was all too familiar to all enemies of the Scourge. However, it wasn't the true trick he had aimed for. He suddenly hit rod into the earth and the crusaders around him looked in fear as the ground around them began to gleam with an eerie light. Most of them were in apparent loss of what to do by this turn of events. All of them in fact but one.
"Move to your left, now, or we'll all be lost! Do it!" The Ashbringer cried as he felt the ground below him turn hotter by the second. He had never seen such a spell before but he could already tell its effect. It was a spell which slowly turned the ground below the enemies' feet into a blazing inferno which would spell a brief end to a slow-witted enemy. The Highlord hated fleeing in the face of the enemy's power but even more he hated the thought of actually losing to this mindless pawn of the Lich King. He'd pay for his actions soon enough.
None of the knights lingered for a moment as they heard their respected leader's call. When they reached the one spot that did not gleam with the sickening glow, everything around them seemed to explode to pieces. The Highlord himself was impressed by this how of brute force as the dust fell back to the ground but only to reveal a ghastly sight. Out of the terrifying explosion appeared a massive axe which was carried by enormous skeletal hands. However, this was one fight Alexandros knew he could win headlong. Instinctually, he jumped forward and just as the huge weapon was falling to the ground, the legendary knight raised his word upwards and cut the attacker's hands from its arms, the weapon itself dropping to the ground.
Alexandros wasted no time jumping towards the monstrous skeleton's chest and it could only growl in agony as the Ashbringer sank deep into its chest. Despite the monster's horrifying size, the battle was over before it could even fully begin. The bearded necromancer then looked at the knights and spoke briefly.
"You were lucky to have managed to escape my spell that fast, knights of the Scarlet Crusade. Yet, if you think it was of some consequence, you're wrong. The night will fall upon this cursed land at last… I, Heigan the Unclean, will make sure of it!" He said as he cast another wave of his horrifying spell but this time, he also cast his previous, slowing magic. To make matters worse, they could suddenly feel the same sensation fall upon them as during the first part of this most taxing of battles. The Plaguebringer's wrath once again descended upon them, this time accompanied by a large host of other massive skeletons. Alexandros looked in worry at the flurry of these attacks but his resolve didn't fall for the briefest of moments. This was nothing compared to braving the fierce onslaught of dozens of massive orcs in the narrow, darkened halls of Blacrock Spire.
"Mages, do your best! The others, head towards the area which is free from the spell! And after that, regardless of what happens, attack Heigan! We have to take him out the next time we get the chance!" This time, three of the knights fell as the horrifying crunch of Noth's spell penetrated their flesh, their bodies obliterated as they were left to lie in the fires of Heigan's magic. Yet, this time the magi could remove over half of the spells before their true power manifested itself, enabling the knights to continue the fight far quicker.
Fairbanks panted as he released another powerful smite of the Light on another of the massive skeletal monsters, bringing it down quickly. Before him, the necromancer looked at his opponents in an annoyed look, apparently preparing for his next trick. However, Fairbanks wasted no time beginning his own assault towards him. A massive pillar of the holy power appeared from the sky which seemed to penetrate Heigan before he even managed to flinch his fingers. The crusaders looked in renewed hope as Heigan seemed to falter under the inquisitor's purging fire. The cleric was the first one to charge towards the wizard as he cried to his comrades.
"The way to the villain is clear! The time has come, my comrades! Take him down!"
The priest frowned deeply as he concentrated all of his powers to see into the paladin's mind. He could see countless flashes here and there but his pained screams made it hard for him to make perfect sense of them. The first and foremost feeling inside him was… regret? Landgren looked in confusion as he saw a man being crushed to pieces by an abomination, an unarmed prisoner was being executed for his crimes and the scene of Valdemar's mind being crushed into a thousand pieces. Those visions were worthless to him right now and he released another wave of holy power to burn Osran's cowardly mind.
All the while, the paladin tried to contain himself as the dual pain of the priest's spell and Willey's sadistic practice circled inside him. The cannon master slowly but surely put the stick ever deeper under Osran's right hand's thumb's nail. It was clear to the paladin that it was already bleeding heavily and it only grew worse by the minute. The sensation was truly hellish as Willey's pliers simultaneously stretched the nail upwards. The feeling itself and the pain caused by it were close, but not necessarily the most terrifying, pain Osran had felt in his life. His whole body twitched in pain but his hands stood still due to Willey's knots. The stick was digging ever deeper into his flesh and it was only a matter of time before the inevitable would happen. And that would be only the first of ten. The paladin suddenly turned to Landgren and once again cried loudly towards him. No matter what would happen, he wouldn't begin giving wrong confessions or beg for mercy but this whole situation rebelled against everything he had once thought to be.
"I hope you'll burn in hell for this, Landgren! Can't you already see you'll find nothing of worth? Are you truly that blind?" Osran cried as he once again tried to pull his hand away from the terrifying grip of the cannon master. The cleric was becoming increasingly annoyed about Osran's words and partly also about the truth in them. There were no wicked thoughts nor any kind of pledges to the Lich King. As much as he wanted to believe it wasn't true, maybe…
At this moment, Landgren suddenly saw something that caught his attention. It was only a flash, some kind of brief memory from the past, but certainly something that Osran was hiding from him. It had happened a short while ago, possibly on his journey and if there was something the paladin was trying to prevent him from seeing, things would get grim for him very fast. He merely bypassed Osran's remark as he nodded to Willey.
"Increase your efforts, Derios. He is trying to prevent us of seeing something of worth. Osran, I advise you to answer me now. Who did you meet on your journey? Your whole life is hanging in the balance right now." The priest crossed his hands and his eyes met those of the tortured paladin's. A terrible weight suddenly seemed to fall upon Osran as he realized he had already failed. In some brief, fleeting moment he had apparently thought about how much better things were if he had never met the old paladin and now he was put back against the wall. Realizing that he might slip his final failure very easily here, he put all of his concentration to thinking about the story Harthal had told about the lands of Northrend back at the Monastery. That memory had made a large enough impression on him while also serving as something which couldn't reveal anything personal about him. Yet, to the cleric and the torturer, that wasn't a welcome development. Willey intensified his efforts while Landgren cast another, violent smite upon the paladin.
"Stop wasting our time! I know the person you met is someone you respect greatly but I can also see he is someone you hadn't met in a long time. Why do you want to preserve this man's secret? None of this should mean anything to you!" He cried as he cast another bolt of Light at Osran whose agony was only growing worse by the moment. Still, he only intensified his efforts to concentrate on that terrible carnage on those distant, frigid lands. However, the amount of pain he got grew only worse and worse and Landgren's manipulative words reached his ears.
"Your way out of here goes through that one answer, Lowriver. I know you met someone after you escaped the Tunnel, someone we both know more than well. I guess it was him who gave you your steed, wasn't he?" Landgren asked as he suddenly saw something of interest. It was a brief glimpse if an old, roughly-dressed man but the vision was far too brief for him to even begin guessing who it was. Yet, the priest only continued to increase the intensity of his purging fire.
"Tell me who that old fool is. He certainly isn't one of us and there shouldn't be any civilians on that area. Was he some kind of agent of the Scourge? Tell me who he is and we can go make sure he'll never spy on us again!" Landgren asked once again and at this point, the situation slowly begun to creep deep into Osran and, while unknown to him at first, that would be his failure. It was true that he could get away from this nightmare very easily. If he only told about who the man had been, he could save himself from worse curses. But that would be an antithesis to his honor as a knight and even through all that had happened, his old mentor was someone who had never seen what he had lately become. Additionally, Tirion had suffered enough injustice for him to reveal the location of his home. Yet, as long as Osran had thought those words, he realized his failure was complete.
"Tirion? Tirion Fordring? Is that old fool still alive? I had thought him to have died many years ago." The priest said to Osran's complete humiliation. The paladin felt relief as the stick left his hand, his ruined nail hanging disgustingly from the finger which lied in an increasingly large pool of blood. However, that brief moment of returning serenity was soon cut short as Osran realized how much he had changed in the last months. Before he could have been able to resist torture for far longer if it had been for someone he deemed to be worthy of defending. Yet, it seemed that the ordeals of the last months had taken an even greater toll on him than he knew. Now, his resolve had failed after a few minutes and even then, he felt only relief it in the fact that it was all over. Knowing his mind had been defeated, he decided he had nothing to save anymore. He raised his gaze and Landgren and cringed as he felt his nail finally dropping off completely.
"S… so did I but it was him. I defended him only because I gave him my word of keeping his survival as a secret. He deserves that much." Osran said as his eyes fell back into the bloodied floor, just wondering how little his word mattered anymore. Even Tirion had noticed that he was so very different from the Osran who had first joined the Silver Hand. How long could this nightmare go on?
To his surprise, he didn't hear any immediate response from neither Landgren nor Willey as the two walked near each other and exchanged some words with each other. The paladin looked at their conversation in a resigned look, not really caring about their decision anymore. After a while which seemed to stretch on for hours, Willey finally walked nearer to Osran, his face seeming completely neutral.
"Crusader Lowriver, your failure to rely this information to us in the first place was highly disappointing. The survival of the only surviving founder of the Silver Hand in addition to the Grand Crusader himself is something that a faithful member of our order should have certainly told us without even a need for a real interrogation. The High General was right to doubt your "disappearance" in the first place, even if you didn't join together with the Scourge." Willey took a brief pause during which Osran countered with a question of his own.
"The High General? Did he order this interrogation?" He asked in puzzlement, not knowing the older Abbendis to also actively command the Legion's agents. Yet, it would have been highly surprising if only his daughter had been giving these commands. Willey looked at Landgren who nodded at him as a sigh to continue to his speech.
"He did after the good commander Truesight told him of your return. However, he also gave us the right to decided about what to do with you as all of our superiors are too busy to prepare for the attack." The cannon master said to Osran who merely snorted at those words. Even if what they said were true, he wouldn't give them any more edges in this conversation. If they wanted him to slither further before them, that wouldn't happen. However, to his slight relief, Landgren's composure turned back into the one he had seen earlier, into the trustworthy, honorable if fanatic one as he continued from the other Legionary's announcement.
"That is right. And as he said, we would have certainly been more trustful of your motives had you been more cooperative. Tirion is a criminal, Osran, who should have fled forever from our beloved kingdom's lands. His failure to do so is a clear breach of Lordaeron's laws and in trying to cover his presence here, you, too, have tried your best to become a fugitive. And I truly cannot see why. It just seems like a total waste.
However, even if it should actually be my duty to order your imprisonment or even execution, you have time and time again served Lordaeron faithfully and it has become clear you are not aligned with the Scourge. We simply cannot lay down your help in the coming battle because of this deed as today will decided our land's future for centuries to come. I know Abbendis might disagree with me about this but I cannot find it in myself to cast away your service in the streets of Stratholme. I won't lie to the High General about what you did but I will defend you before him in the coming days if you prove to be worth it. If we all survive the battle, that is." The cleric said as he moved closer to Osran.
The paladin was initially taken aback by what he was hearing but he very soon realized what Landgren was saying. In essence, the priest was giving him a chance to die with honor in battle rather than meet his end in the claws of the Crusade's command. That was a slight relief to the beaten knight but at least he wouldn't be judged immediately. He took a brief sigh before he acknowledged that he understood what he had just heard.
"Very well, Landgren. That's all I ever hoped for." Osran said even if he still raged inside. Despite his judgement, this was a day he wouldn't forget easily. Willey looked at Landgren in apparent uncertainty but decided against questioning his judgement. He took slowly a knife from his belt and with a swift movement, cut the knots tying Osran's hands to the table. The cannon master looked at the paladin grimly as he walked past him towards the tent's door.
"Thank your luck Landgren let you go this time, Lowriver. Had it been up to me, this day would surely have been your last. Don't waste this chance." Willey said as he moved into the road, clearly disappointed by the conclusion to this meeting. Landgren was apparently about to continue from his companion's words when the scene was completely interrupted by a loud horn from nearby and its meaning was clear to both of them. The brief moment of rest to the troops was over and the final preparations for the attack were about to begin. The priest them nodded to Osran one time before following Willey into the battlefield.
"Good luck, Lowriver. May the Light guide your path." And after those words, the still shaken paladin was left alone but for the first time since his moment with Veria, he was free to have a brief moment to calm down. He would certainly give his all today but if Landgren though he'd give up his life willingly, he was terribly mistaken. He'd fight his way through the night and he'd make sure the actions of the Legion would be made known to Dathrohan and Mograine and bring the High General and his daughter to justice. Osran knew that both of them were highly honorable men and there was no way either of them could have accepted what happened to Valdemar or the ever-worsening methods of torture. He couldn't come up with a realization how they could be ignorant about what the Legion was becoming but he'd make sure they'd know about it soon enough.
Yet, as the noise around him grew ever louder, the aging knight put his sword which had dropped to the ground back to his belt and raised his gaze upwards. At least his story hadn't yet come to an end and he still had a chance to make into something he could be proud of. As he took his leave from the tent, he looked into the hazy-orange sky and let his heart make one last apology before he'd finally join his regiment in which he would serve this night.
I'm sorry, master Fordring. I was too weak to hide your secret no matter how I tried. But I promise I'll do better in the battle to come. I pray to the Light I'll make you proud, Tirion.
The necromancer looked in growing annoyance as the host of knights got ever closer to him. They had managed to survive his destructive spell far better than he had anticipated and at this point, he knew he couldn't cast another one before they'd reach him with probably lethal consequences. Yet, the future Kel'Thuzad had promised him wouldn't be denied by these weaklings. Thankfully, that wouldn't be up to him soon enough. Only a few more seconds and he and Heigan could take their leave from this fight, after which it would be up to the others to take lead. The pale-faced wizard suddenly cast a simple bolt of shadow around him which soon surrounded him completely. It wasn't part of his usual repertoire of spells but even the simpler spells would prove their worth in fights like these.
Heigan looked in satisfaction as his companion suddenly cast a massive cloud of plague and death upon the duo's enemies. Simultaneously, another wave of the dead suddenly surrounded the brave knights who were taken aback by Heigan's sudden defensive spell. The necromancer smiled in anticipation as he heard the horn call in the far distance, realizing that the time of reckoning was at hand. He was more than impressed by the Crusade's resistance but none of that mattered when the power the Lich King had promised was so close to being his. He understood very well Kel'Thuzad's eagerness to get rid of the leader of this group of knights as he certainly was one of the most skillful and powerful fighters he had ever met. Too powerful, in fact, for the two necromancers to actually stand a chance against him and his crew of loyal followers. Glad that he could finally take his leave, Heigan took his rod to cast the required spell… only to return to the present only a few seconds later.
Just as his portal was about to be completed, he noticed something that made his blood run cold. Out of the smoking wall of fire suddenly appeared another paladin who was able to penetrate his defenses using his invincible shield of blessed Light. Before he could even begin to cast another spell to repel him, it was already too late.
Renault Mograine grinned triumphantly as he saw his sword meet Noth's right hand, the cold steel quickly sending the limb flying into the dead, sickly ground. The necromancer panted in slight shock as he looked at his missing hand, the pain quickly coursing through his whole body. However, the initial shock subsided very quickly as the manic faith of a member of the Cult of the Damned quickly manifested itself in the man's mind. What did one hand matter when the eternal glory of undeath was waiting for him very near? What did another piece of his cursed, fleeting body matter when many of his own colleagues had earned the unbelievable glory of serving their beloved king as one of the invincible lich? Noth merely grinned with a maddened look at the paladin who prepared for a second attack.
"Your victory will be a brief one, defender of righteousness. At the end of the day, the Scourge will be victorious and your despicable order will fall at very last. You have Noth the Plaguebringer's word about this." And before Renault could say another word, Noth stepped into his portal which immediately closed behind him. The young man attempted to follow him but just as soon as they reached the spot, the swirling circle of pure magic vanished into thin air. The paladin looked around himself amid the song of battle which still circled in his veins. However, as he looked around himself, his emotions told him the same thing his mind had known already. Noth was gone and so was Heigan while the final servants of the Scourge were quickly being cut down in the middle of the field. In disappointment, Renault put his hands on his thighs while he attempted to regain his breath but his moment of rest was quickly interrupted by his father.
"Move forwards! Secure the gateway to Naxxramas!" The golden-haired knight had almost forgotten the goal of this battle but once he had heard the order, he didn't waste a second trying to realize it. All of the surviving knights were covered in severe wounds and all of them were still coughing sickeningly from the seemingly never-ending clouds of the Plague. However, all resistance seemed to have disappeared with the two necromancers and only an occasional ghoul stood against the Crusaders at this point.
The Ashbringer himself was more than surprised by his son's display of courage as he had before ben far too hesitant to put his own life on the line. He'd have to thank him later but for now, he'd have to finish the first step of their mission which would very soon reach its zenith.
The Highlord narrowed his eyes as another, another larger ghoul blocked his path once again but to the paladin of legend, it was nothing more than a mere worthless obstacle. Alexandros ran towards the monster and with one pull, penetrated the unlucky undead with the might Ashbringer. It was after this brief clash when he saw something which immediately caught his attention. It wasn't a normal ziggurat, it resembled more like one room only partly covered by protective walls. At first, he was about to dismiss the unimpressive building between the looking fungi as something of little interest but as he soon saw a group of ghouls appear from the mystical entrance, the man immediately realized this was what he had come looking for.
"Surround that ziggurat and cut it off from the rest of the forest! Do it now!" Alexandros cried as his followrrs did as told. One by one, the remaining troops of the Scourge were cut down by the knights and to their immense astonishment, no further reinforcements arrived for the enemy. As soon as the paladins had completed the circling of the cursed gateway, the fighting stopped completely. The Ashbringer panted heavily as he realized the first step of his plan had been a success and the only known entrance to Naxxramas was under the Crusade's control. His brief moment of respite was soon stopped by a very familiar voice near him.
"W… we did it, Alexandros! The undead are pushed back into their damned lair and the way in is clear!" Fairbanks said as he walked closer to his friend, still recovering from the morbid wounds caused by Noth's spell but he seemed more than ready to continue the fight. The Highlord immediately turned his gaze to his followers, knowing there was no real time to linger at this point. He was more than encouraged by Fairbanks' words but he decided it was for the best if he addressed all of the surviving knights at once. He looked above himself to look at the dark form of the necropolis around him, yearning for a chance to sink the Ashbringer into the traitor who had started this hell. He then waved his weapon towards his followers before he yelled loudly, his voice thundering over the sick forest, the diseased wind carrying his mighty voice forward.
"This is the end of the road for all of us, soldiers of the Scarlet Crusade! This is a day which will decide the fate of our beloved homeland! We all remember the day when the Plague first appeared in Andorhal, when the ashes of our last king were scattered into the winds by his own son and the hour of the arrival of the Burning Legion into this world! We remember all those who died in the hands of Mal'Ganis, who were betrayed by Arthas and crushed to nothingness by the demons who laid waste to all we hold dear! While all of this was caused by innumerable villains, it was all started by the lich lord Kel'Thuzad! Ever since Arthas' final departure to that wicked northern land, it has been this man who has fought against us for years and vigorously murdered our families, comrades and children! Only the traitor prince has committed more sins than the being who lurks in the citadel above us!
Never forget, my respected commanders, any of the things we fight for. The people of Andorhal, Quel'Thalas and the heroes of the distant Mount Hyjal are with us on this day! Let us make Kel'Thuzad pay for all the crimes he has committed against our very world, against Azeroth himself! Let us bring the Lich King's general down and return peace into Lordaeron once and for all! In the names of king Terenas and Uther the Lightbringer, I ask you to follow me one last time into battle! The time of final reckoning against Kel'Thuzad has come!" And after those words, Alexandros sprinted towards the portal, the battlecries of his comrades and the distant horns of the Crusade ringing in his ears, knowing that this would be the day that would irrevocably alter the history of all of Azeroth.
With the Crusade securing the doorway to Naxxramas and the assault beginning on Stratholme, the stage is set for the decisive showdown over the old center of eastern Lordaeron. The brave defenders of humanity are prepared to give their all in an effort to save their homeland but it is doubtful the Scourge hasn't prepared for their attack beforehand… I truly hope you'll find my take on the Crusade's greatest hour enjoyable and the few changes to the lore in this part justified. Let me know what you think and see you again in a few weeks!