The mission: Scout out Corin's Crossing! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own (World of) Warcraft. If I did, I would be busy making the next expansion instead of writing Fanfictions


28: Scouting Run

"This place sure looks depressing . . ."

"It's no more depressing than any of the other towns we've seen that's been taken by the undead."

"Who cares what it looks like? We'll fix it once we've taken control."

"Assuming we don't get killed on this scouting mission. Weren't we supposed to be training to become leaders of the Crusade? I'd love to see the high general go on a paltry scouting run."

"Valdelmar explained this already. If you don't understand the importance of information-gathering, then I don't think you're cut out to be a leader anyways."

"What was that? I oughta throttle you where you stand, pup!"

(a growl)

"Silence! I don't want to hear another word out of any of you. We're almost there, so just keep your mouths shut until then."

Crusader Lord Valdelmar turned back around and away from Danthor, Jonas, Lethella, Balean, and Myles. As instructed, the ten fledgling commanders showed up at sundown with a pack full of supplies. Within ten minutes, they were marching out of the protecting gates of Tyr's Hand and into the rotting fields.

True to its name, Corin's Crossing were the true crossroads of the Eastern Plaguelands. Standing at the center of it all, the path that runs through the town leads all the way from Stratholme to Tyr's Hand to the city of Andorhal in the Western Plaguelands. The path leading directly out of the Crusade's base was somewhat well-kept, but as the group continued onwards towards the town, it began to quickly decay in quality. Eventually, Valdelmar led them off the path to a more indirect route as they got closer.

"Be wary," Valdelmar said. "There's more than undead to worry about here."

Before anyone could ask him what he meant by that, he held his arm out, indicating them to all stop. They did. Straining his eyes, Danthor could see signs of movement inside the town. Their slow and hobbling strides indicated that they were indeed undead.

"Get down."

The ten crusaders all dropped down as Valdelmar rummaged through his own bag and pulled out a small map, a blank piece of parchment, and a quill for writing. His voice was but a whisper when he spoke.

"There are invisible phantasms known only as Unseen Servants," he whispered. "They roam around the town and its outskirts. Don't give them any reason to come out this far and alert the others."

The group was silent. Valdelmar nodded with approval.

"We've been battling for control of this town for a long time, yet we could never win in a direct assault. What we're looking for is any crack in the Scourge's defenses that we could exploit to gain the upper-hand. That's all we need."

"Where do you usually attack from?" Lethella asked.

Valdelmar pointed to the path they were just on. "We don't get too close to the path east of us. That's Argent Dawn territory."

"Lights Hope Chapel, you mean," Lethella said.

"Yes."

Balean strained his skilled eyes to see a bridge on the western end of town, on the path leading to the Western Plaguelands. "What about that?"

Everyone looked over there, with Valdelmar responding. "It's a stone bridge. What about it?"

Danthor, Jonas, Myles, and Lethella's eyes lit up immediately.

"It's not too different from before," Jonas commented.

Myles nodded. "Easy enough spot to get their attention."

"And with a river underneath for an extra advantage," Lethella added.

Kojak's tail started thumping with excitement.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Valdelmar.

Danthor spoke for them. "While we were at the monastery, we were sent on a field test to take a patch of land called Garren's Haunt. While there, we fought with a group of Forsaken on a narrow path between two cliffs. We ambushed them and used the terrain to our advantage. Fighting tightly together allowed us to kill twenty with seven, only losing two of our own."

Valdelmar rubbed his chin. "So you think that same principle would work here, then, drawing the Scourge's attention to fight on the narrow bridge?"

"Yes, we believe so."

"Not a bad idea," the crusader lord said, "but not enough to take the entire town. Still, it's a start . . ."

"Then, if I may, sir," Jonas said, raising his hand.

Valdelmar nodded.

"I can see three direct paths through the town," the paladin-champion continued. "While the bridge plan is certainly a good start, I say we take advantage of the confusion that would be caused among the undead and launch a three-pronged attack from each path, closing in at the center and taking the town."

"With so many men, it wouldn't be impossible," Myles said, nodding his head.

Valdelmar seemed less convinced, though. "I should remind you that we're not just fighting mindless ghouls here. We'll be going against the quick-witted banshee, the towering abomination, and the magical skeleton as well. Our job is to minimize losses and maximize damage."

"With all due respect, sir," Lethella interjected, "our job is to rid the land of the Scourge. And we can't do that if we're too afraid of what we might lose. We need to take this town at any cost."

A slow smile grew on Valdelmar's face. "While I'd normally agree with you, Crusader Borman, we have to think in the long-term as well. More dead soldiers means more undead for the Scourge, which can hurt us later. But you're thinking like a true leader; I like that."

Danthor kept his thoughts on the matter to himself.

Valdelmar surveyed the ten crusaders he brought with him and nodded at them, saying, "To be honest, there's not much more that can be seen around here. It's just a town, simple as that. There's no magic key to winning battles, as you'll eventually learn. For now, I guess we can just—"

The sound of hooves thundered on the ears of all eleven crusaders. They looked in the direction they were coming from to see a man riding on horseback leading several other varying humanoid races towards the direction of Corin's Crossing. The man on the horse evidently saw all of them, because he quickly moved off the path towards the crusaders.

Valdelmar grimaced. He gripped the handle of his sword and said, "Be ready for anything . . ."

The man on horseback stopped right in front of him. He was about as large as the crusader lord, with neatly-combed, short brown hair and matching gold-plated armor, including shoulderpads that had the image of an eagle protruding from the side. The most noticeable thing about him was his square glasses. He (and all the others following him, for that matter) wore a black tabard with a white trim. At the center was a white circle with golden rays protruding from it.

"Crusader Lord Valdelmar," the man with the glasses said. "What a surprise seeing you and your kind here."

"Dispatch Commander Metz," Valdelmar said. "I could say the same. May I ask what brings the Argent Dawn out here this day?"

Metz's horse gave a little whinny, but the commander kept him restrained. "Oh, just a little of this and that, you could say. The details don't really matter to you. Just know that we're here on business that will actually make a difference in fighting the Scourge." He smiled. "Something your kind can probably learn from."

"Watch it," Valdelmar said. "Scarlet Commander Marjhan may be able to put up with you at the Chapel, but that doesn't mean I have to. Now I'd suggest you go on your way before I decide to end our treaty myself."

Danthor had heard about Marjhan from Lethella. She was sent to Light's Hope Chapel as a representative in the uneasy pact between the Scarlet Crusade and the Argent Dawn to fight off the Scourge—more specifically Kel'Thuzad and Naxxramas. As far as he knew, she (and a few other representatives) still resided there.

Dispatch Commander Metz tilted his head slightly. "You still think we have an alliance? How cute . . . That ended as soon as Naxxramas disappeared to Light knows where." He touched the handle of the warhammer strapped to his back. "There've also been reports of members of the Dawn disappearing, and not because of the Scourge, either. I could take it upon myself to rid the Plaguelands of you and your cancerous kind once and for all. Maybe then, we could get some of the Light's work done."

"You claim to serve the Light, yet allow undead into your ranks." Valdelmar pointed to the undead behind Metz. He was balding at the center, yet had a bountiful amount of hair growing out all around the side of his head, sticking out in every direction. He reminded Danthor of a mad scientist. Still, he wore a tabard of the Argent Dawn like everyone else he was around.

Metz looked back and shrugged. "If Brack wants to join our ranks, that's his and the Forsaken's business. Now are you going to take my advice and leave or shall we force you?"

"We don't take orders from you," Valdelmar said. "But you're more than welcome to try and make us leave."

Metz drew his hammer, saying, "I'd normally be against creating more soldiers for the Scourge, but I'll make an exception for you. You'd probably be too brainless to help them anyway."

Valdelmar drew his sword, with all the crusaders behind him standing suit. They were clearly outnumbered, but that didn't matter. To Scarlet crusaders, death meant nothing. They would fight until the last man, if it came to it.

It didn't.

Just as Valdelmar andMetzwere about to strike, a black phantasm appeared a few feet away from both of them. Spotting such a large number of humans, it said in an eerie voice, "Intruders to the southeast! Kill them in the name of the Lich King! Intruders to the south—"

He was cut off as Jonas, Myles, and Metz all judged the creature with the Light at the same time, killing him instantly. Silently, he disappeared as a small black orb fell in his place, lifeless. What the phantasm had seen and said was enough, though. They were caught, and the Scourge would be coming soon.

"Idiots!" cursed Lethella at both Valdelmar and Metz. "You're bickering caught their attention and brought them all on us!"

The crusader lord and dispatch commander looked at each other, before Metz grunted and said, "I guess we'll have to put our little match on hold, as much as it pains me. Next time, though, I'll make it a point to beat your brains in."

"Not before I cut your foolish head off."

Metz raised his hammer into the air, saying, "Retreat, men! Back to Light's Hope!"

Valdelmar did the same. "No point in dying here! Back to Tyr's Hand"

The Scourge came upon them before anyone could move. The ghouls were by far the quickest, with the banshees coming up next. In the distance, the gargantuan abominations lumbered towards them. Valdelmar cut a ghoul down with his sword before pointing to the path back towards the Crusade's capital.

"Get moving!"

No one could follow his order, however, as they too found themselves fighting for their lives against the unusually-quick ghouls. Letting out high-pitched grunts, they threw themselves on the Crusade and Dawn alike, trying desperately to claw at their prey.

Balean popped off a quick bolt before turning to Danthor, who just blocked a ghoul's strike with his shield before cutting him down. "Watch out, the ghouls are the easiest to kill! We gotta get out of here before the reinforcements show up!"

"Let me know if you find an opening," Danthor shot back, running his sword through a hapless ghoul.

Jonas smashed through his enemies mercilessly, using the Holy Light to judge those running at him, burning them from the inside. Lethella blasted her opponents from afar with fire magic, and used her enchanted sword to kill those who were close to her. Kojak kept by his master's side, cautious about biting the rotting creatures.

Myles, too, found himself surrounded. He fought valiantly with his mace, killing enemies indiscriminately, but he let his guard down for a split second, and a ghoul snuck up on his side, sinking his teeth into his right forearm. Myles cried out in pain before slamming the mace into the ghoul's head, causing him to let go and die. He didn't have time to pay attention to the wound, however, so he kept on fighting for his life.

The Argent Dawn wasn't faring any better, either. Metz easily held his own, killing the ghouls from his horse, but his men didn't fare as well. They, too, found themselves surrounded. And although they fought valiantly, it was clear they couldn't keep fighting forever.

Finally, an opening appeared as the last of the ghouls fell. The banshees were quickly nearing striking distance, and neither party wanted to be around when they and the abominations showed up. Quick as lightning, everyone bolted towards their respective paths and bases.

Neither group bothered looking back at the other as they fled.


An ambush splitting the party up!

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