The Oath
Human settlement, Southwest of the Barrens
Amidst the dreary plains, the settlement stood. At the settlement, the peasants were busily working like ants. They built several farms, and repairing other structures. Meanwhile the footmen and militias kept their eyes on the surrounding from scout towers. The dwarven riflemen marched around, while proudly brandished their blunderbusses. Not far from the Barrack, the Knights trained their attack with the dummies. Above the sky, the dwarven gyrocopters flew around the settlement, while the Griffon riders took care their steeds at the Aviary. In the midst of other buildings, the city hall stood as its heart.
Inside the city hall, someone was arranging the interior. Books were piled in stacks. The shelves were half-filled. An old man with a white cloak went back and forth. He has a snow-white beard up to the chest. It seemed he was thinking how to arrange the room. Then someone knocked the door. He asked,
"Master Zoril, are you around?"
An auburn-haired man stood in front of the door. He has sideburns at sides of his face; he also wore a silvery armor covered by blue cloak. His right hands held a warhammer; while a large book was hanging at his left side. The man felt uncomfortable when he saw the room,
"Master, if you were busy, perhaps I could return." The old man cut the paladin's word as he shook his head,
"Nonsense, I could take care of these stuffs later!" When he waved his hand, the light suddenly filled the dark room. However, the mage looked confused, muttering
"By the way, where did I put my spectacles?" The paladin spotted it at the nearest pile of books. He quickly took it and gave it to the mage,
"Looking for this, Master?" Relieved, Zoril took the spectacles and put it at his face,
"Ahh, thank you! Karn, it was very difficult to keep anything in place nowadays," Karn Ironfist let a hearty laugh out. Then he commented,
"I thought the Dalaran magi didn't like to use any gnomish inventions," The mage looked disagree,
"Nonsense!" he protested, "They should use this to cure their near- sightedness! They were ashamed to admit it." Zoril's face slowly turned into a deep sorrow, he said to himself,
"Had they were here." Karn felt guilty to what happened.
He apologized, "I'm sorry, Master! I didn't know you missed Dalaran," Both knew well that Dalaran was no longer exist. The Purple Tower of Kirin-Tor had fallen to the Burning Legions and their minions, Undead Scourge. The same fate had befallen to Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas. Yet, the remnant of the once proud Alliance like Khaz-Modan and Iron Forge still resisted the invasion in their mountainous kingdom; while the humans stubbornly defended themselves at the isles of the former kingdom Kul Tiras. The Scourge was unable to force them out. However, they had sent their people far away from danger. Led by Jaina Proudmoore, the refugees went to the East and landed at the safe shores of Kalimdor. The young archmage had appointed several elders, including Zoril to lead the people and built the settlement for them. Though, it won't last long as the danger even pursued them here. The Orcish Horde had been landed at Kalimdor as well. Therefore, it was not uncommon to have a frequent fight between the orcs and the refugees. Being leader of the settlement, Zoril Magestorm took care of 100,000 refugees in his ward. Most of them came from Lordaeron and Quel'thalas.
Dismissed the memories, the archmage took his staff and went outside. He turned to the paladin later, "Karn, I believe you also missed some of your comrades when they went with Prince Arthas to Northrend," Karn sadly nodded, confirming the archmage's word. The closest among them was Shineglow. He was lost when Arthas went to Northrend to exact vengeance to the Dread Lord Mal'ganis. Nobody knows what happened afterward. Then Arthas suddenly returned to Lordaeron, and greatly changed. He had killed his own father, King Terenas and his old master, Uther Lightbringer. Felt it was not enough, the demented prince had turned over his own kingdom to the Undead Scourge! Now, Lordaeron was nothing than ruins and rubbles. After Uther's death, the Order of the Silver Hand were scattered to the four winds. Some of them joined Jaina's expedition to Kalimdor, including Karn himself. He had secretly wished that Shineglow might be dead. It was such a better fate than Arthas.
Then they went to the clock tower at the city hall. Above, they saw the peasants back and fro. At the east, several golems stood unmoved. It looks like they were guarded the settlement. Among the Kirin Tor magi, Zoril was the only one who could control those mindless creatures. Unlike his colleagues, he always took interest to animate things. Sometimes they derided him as ' a zany tinkerer' Even so, everyone knew the opposite; Zoril was not to be underestimated, he was a veteran of the Second War. Jaina herself sometimes seeks his counsels. Zoril knew better than bickering in endless debates and politics by immersed himself in golem researches. As a result, Zoril's golems were a welcome additional beside the Water Elementals.
Karn began to speak, "Master, I found out that the High Elves felt uncomfortable since we were landed at Kalimdor. What are they afraid of?" Zoril replied,
"A long time ago, the High Elves came from here after they were exiled by their own relatives.they were called the Kaldorei or 'The Ancients'. The High Elves always considered Kalimdor as their origin despite the treatment. Yet, it seemed the Ancients could not forgive what they had done. These mighty elves once battled the Legions ten thousand years ago," Then the mage sighed,
"Are you know, Karn? Since we were landed here, I have feelings that the legends were alive here.the Legions, Ashenvale Forest and so on. It seems we are going to need the Ancients' help again!" Quickly, the paladin said,
"Master, please don't think seriously! After Lady Proudmoore found the solution at the Stonetalon Peak, everything will be all right!" As Karn ended his cutting remarks, a young girl came. Her hair was black, yet it looked sparkling like silver. She wore the blue-green garment, which usually wore by the sorceresses. The golden circlet with a red gem adorned her forehead. Her brown eyes looked cheerful.
She greeted them with a smile, yet respectful, "Greetings, father! Oh, I'm sorry that I didn't notice you, Sir Ironfist." The archmage returned the smile upon her. He asked,
"Adyl, how are you? Tell me about your trip," The young sorceress quickly answered,
"Everything is fine, father! I come here to ask your permission; Tanil asked me to join the scouting band," Karn knew Tanil Healfinger, son of the Elf-Lord. It seems the young elf priest had taken interest to her. He saw the mage smiled approvingly as the girl talked about her daily activities. Adyl Silverlock was Zoril's adopted daughter; he found her in an abandoned house during the Second War. Since her parents had been killed, the mage took her to Dalaran and raised her as he could. There was some rumors said that she was the illegimate daughter of the mage. Knowing the mage's eccentric attitude, the rumors seemed make sense. Instead lashed back, Zoril buried himself deeper in his researches. He took delight of raising his daughter as a spare time and comfort. As time passed by, Adyl had grown into a beautiful girl. Her origin and adopted's father reputation didn't prevent her to serve others. During the evacuation, she selflessly labored to help the refugees. From there, Tanil and she knew each other. Even, Jaina had appointed her as her handmaid. Somehow she looked like an elf than a human. For Zoril, it was a vindication to his ordeals and efforts of raising her. Suddenly, the father and daughter's laugh returned him to the present. Then the girl turned on the paladin,
"So, Sir Ironfist? How about you?" Karn coughed a little; they had known each other when he was a young knight. She always loves to tease him anytime, no matter to their status.
"Perhaps you should find someone, Sir.so you won't looked gloomy!" The girl's remarks made Karn blushed. Adyl likes to make fun of his loneliness; yet it was not meant disrespect.
Zoril quickly reminded her, "Adyl, don't tease Sir Ironfist like that! You know that the paladin wasn't allowed to marry," Then Karn said,
"It.is all right, Master! She didn't mean it." The mage shook his head tiredly,
"If I allowed you stay around, nobody knows what kind of mischief you plans. Fine! You may go with Tanil, but remember: stay close!" The sorceress hugged him lovingly,
"Thank you, father! I promise!" After that, she left them and went to staircase. Suddenly, Zoril shouted,
"Adyl, I had told you not to." Instantly, she vanished from their sight in a split second.
".use the Invisibility. That girl! How many times I warn her to not use her powers, except if it is necessary! Well, perhaps that was the risk of raising the child! Do you agree with me, Karn?" The paladin couldn't help to wonder,
"She had grown up so fast.I never thought that that little girl would become a 17-years old girl."
The mage corrected, "Eighteen! She already eighteen years old now!" Karn stunned,
"Really? Then she was no longer a girl, but already a young woman." Zoril chuckled, enjoying the paladin's amazement,
"If so, the only thing I have to wait is a grandson." Again, the mage sighed,
"Looking our situations now, I doubted that we even had time to talk about family.soon or later, the Legions and Scourge would pursue us as the Horde did. Only the Light know what happened to us later." Karn tried to lift Zoril's spirit,
"Don't despair, Master! There must be a way out from our trouble! The Light wouldn't let us down!" Heard the paladin's word, the mage gripped his staff tighter.
"You were right, Ironfist!" He declared, "For my daughter, I had taken oath to protect these people no matter happened! I won't let what happened to Dalaran and Lordaeron to be repeated again here! Never!" Karn watched him with a growing admiration, silently he said, It was my oath too! My oath as the Paladin! To protect the innocent and serve the Light!!
Author's note: Phew! With this, 'Prelude to Chaos' was ended here! Yet, the characters, which you had been seen here, would be appeared again at another story, 'Chronicle of Chaos'. I had written the excerpt of the story to give you the impression. Just wait! By the way, the golems were added here as an additional. In the game, there is NO way to control the golems except through items. The Archmage could only summon the Water Elementals; so Zoril's character was my own imagination about the human hero. Thank you very much!
.
Human settlement, Southwest of the Barrens
Amidst the dreary plains, the settlement stood. At the settlement, the peasants were busily working like ants. They built several farms, and repairing other structures. Meanwhile the footmen and militias kept their eyes on the surrounding from scout towers. The dwarven riflemen marched around, while proudly brandished their blunderbusses. Not far from the Barrack, the Knights trained their attack with the dummies. Above the sky, the dwarven gyrocopters flew around the settlement, while the Griffon riders took care their steeds at the Aviary. In the midst of other buildings, the city hall stood as its heart.
Inside the city hall, someone was arranging the interior. Books were piled in stacks. The shelves were half-filled. An old man with a white cloak went back and forth. He has a snow-white beard up to the chest. It seemed he was thinking how to arrange the room. Then someone knocked the door. He asked,
"Master Zoril, are you around?"
An auburn-haired man stood in front of the door. He has sideburns at sides of his face; he also wore a silvery armor covered by blue cloak. His right hands held a warhammer; while a large book was hanging at his left side. The man felt uncomfortable when he saw the room,
"Master, if you were busy, perhaps I could return." The old man cut the paladin's word as he shook his head,
"Nonsense, I could take care of these stuffs later!" When he waved his hand, the light suddenly filled the dark room. However, the mage looked confused, muttering
"By the way, where did I put my spectacles?" The paladin spotted it at the nearest pile of books. He quickly took it and gave it to the mage,
"Looking for this, Master?" Relieved, Zoril took the spectacles and put it at his face,
"Ahh, thank you! Karn, it was very difficult to keep anything in place nowadays," Karn Ironfist let a hearty laugh out. Then he commented,
"I thought the Dalaran magi didn't like to use any gnomish inventions," The mage looked disagree,
"Nonsense!" he protested, "They should use this to cure their near- sightedness! They were ashamed to admit it." Zoril's face slowly turned into a deep sorrow, he said to himself,
"Had they were here." Karn felt guilty to what happened.
He apologized, "I'm sorry, Master! I didn't know you missed Dalaran," Both knew well that Dalaran was no longer exist. The Purple Tower of Kirin-Tor had fallen to the Burning Legions and their minions, Undead Scourge. The same fate had befallen to Lordaeron and Quel'Thalas. Yet, the remnant of the once proud Alliance like Khaz-Modan and Iron Forge still resisted the invasion in their mountainous kingdom; while the humans stubbornly defended themselves at the isles of the former kingdom Kul Tiras. The Scourge was unable to force them out. However, they had sent their people far away from danger. Led by Jaina Proudmoore, the refugees went to the East and landed at the safe shores of Kalimdor. The young archmage had appointed several elders, including Zoril to lead the people and built the settlement for them. Though, it won't last long as the danger even pursued them here. The Orcish Horde had been landed at Kalimdor as well. Therefore, it was not uncommon to have a frequent fight between the orcs and the refugees. Being leader of the settlement, Zoril Magestorm took care of 100,000 refugees in his ward. Most of them came from Lordaeron and Quel'thalas.
Dismissed the memories, the archmage took his staff and went outside. He turned to the paladin later, "Karn, I believe you also missed some of your comrades when they went with Prince Arthas to Northrend," Karn sadly nodded, confirming the archmage's word. The closest among them was Shineglow. He was lost when Arthas went to Northrend to exact vengeance to the Dread Lord Mal'ganis. Nobody knows what happened afterward. Then Arthas suddenly returned to Lordaeron, and greatly changed. He had killed his own father, King Terenas and his old master, Uther Lightbringer. Felt it was not enough, the demented prince had turned over his own kingdom to the Undead Scourge! Now, Lordaeron was nothing than ruins and rubbles. After Uther's death, the Order of the Silver Hand were scattered to the four winds. Some of them joined Jaina's expedition to Kalimdor, including Karn himself. He had secretly wished that Shineglow might be dead. It was such a better fate than Arthas.
Then they went to the clock tower at the city hall. Above, they saw the peasants back and fro. At the east, several golems stood unmoved. It looks like they were guarded the settlement. Among the Kirin Tor magi, Zoril was the only one who could control those mindless creatures. Unlike his colleagues, he always took interest to animate things. Sometimes they derided him as ' a zany tinkerer' Even so, everyone knew the opposite; Zoril was not to be underestimated, he was a veteran of the Second War. Jaina herself sometimes seeks his counsels. Zoril knew better than bickering in endless debates and politics by immersed himself in golem researches. As a result, Zoril's golems were a welcome additional beside the Water Elementals.
Karn began to speak, "Master, I found out that the High Elves felt uncomfortable since we were landed at Kalimdor. What are they afraid of?" Zoril replied,
"A long time ago, the High Elves came from here after they were exiled by their own relatives.they were called the Kaldorei or 'The Ancients'. The High Elves always considered Kalimdor as their origin despite the treatment. Yet, it seemed the Ancients could not forgive what they had done. These mighty elves once battled the Legions ten thousand years ago," Then the mage sighed,
"Are you know, Karn? Since we were landed here, I have feelings that the legends were alive here.the Legions, Ashenvale Forest and so on. It seems we are going to need the Ancients' help again!" Quickly, the paladin said,
"Master, please don't think seriously! After Lady Proudmoore found the solution at the Stonetalon Peak, everything will be all right!" As Karn ended his cutting remarks, a young girl came. Her hair was black, yet it looked sparkling like silver. She wore the blue-green garment, which usually wore by the sorceresses. The golden circlet with a red gem adorned her forehead. Her brown eyes looked cheerful.
She greeted them with a smile, yet respectful, "Greetings, father! Oh, I'm sorry that I didn't notice you, Sir Ironfist." The archmage returned the smile upon her. He asked,
"Adyl, how are you? Tell me about your trip," The young sorceress quickly answered,
"Everything is fine, father! I come here to ask your permission; Tanil asked me to join the scouting band," Karn knew Tanil Healfinger, son of the Elf-Lord. It seems the young elf priest had taken interest to her. He saw the mage smiled approvingly as the girl talked about her daily activities. Adyl Silverlock was Zoril's adopted daughter; he found her in an abandoned house during the Second War. Since her parents had been killed, the mage took her to Dalaran and raised her as he could. There was some rumors said that she was the illegimate daughter of the mage. Knowing the mage's eccentric attitude, the rumors seemed make sense. Instead lashed back, Zoril buried himself deeper in his researches. He took delight of raising his daughter as a spare time and comfort. As time passed by, Adyl had grown into a beautiful girl. Her origin and adopted's father reputation didn't prevent her to serve others. During the evacuation, she selflessly labored to help the refugees. From there, Tanil and she knew each other. Even, Jaina had appointed her as her handmaid. Somehow she looked like an elf than a human. For Zoril, it was a vindication to his ordeals and efforts of raising her. Suddenly, the father and daughter's laugh returned him to the present. Then the girl turned on the paladin,
"So, Sir Ironfist? How about you?" Karn coughed a little; they had known each other when he was a young knight. She always loves to tease him anytime, no matter to their status.
"Perhaps you should find someone, Sir.so you won't looked gloomy!" The girl's remarks made Karn blushed. Adyl likes to make fun of his loneliness; yet it was not meant disrespect.
Zoril quickly reminded her, "Adyl, don't tease Sir Ironfist like that! You know that the paladin wasn't allowed to marry," Then Karn said,
"It.is all right, Master! She didn't mean it." The mage shook his head tiredly,
"If I allowed you stay around, nobody knows what kind of mischief you plans. Fine! You may go with Tanil, but remember: stay close!" The sorceress hugged him lovingly,
"Thank you, father! I promise!" After that, she left them and went to staircase. Suddenly, Zoril shouted,
"Adyl, I had told you not to." Instantly, she vanished from their sight in a split second.
".use the Invisibility. That girl! How many times I warn her to not use her powers, except if it is necessary! Well, perhaps that was the risk of raising the child! Do you agree with me, Karn?" The paladin couldn't help to wonder,
"She had grown up so fast.I never thought that that little girl would become a 17-years old girl."
The mage corrected, "Eighteen! She already eighteen years old now!" Karn stunned,
"Really? Then she was no longer a girl, but already a young woman." Zoril chuckled, enjoying the paladin's amazement,
"If so, the only thing I have to wait is a grandson." Again, the mage sighed,
"Looking our situations now, I doubted that we even had time to talk about family.soon or later, the Legions and Scourge would pursue us as the Horde did. Only the Light know what happened to us later." Karn tried to lift Zoril's spirit,
"Don't despair, Master! There must be a way out from our trouble! The Light wouldn't let us down!" Heard the paladin's word, the mage gripped his staff tighter.
"You were right, Ironfist!" He declared, "For my daughter, I had taken oath to protect these people no matter happened! I won't let what happened to Dalaran and Lordaeron to be repeated again here! Never!" Karn watched him with a growing admiration, silently he said, It was my oath too! My oath as the Paladin! To protect the innocent and serve the Light!!
Author's note: Phew! With this, 'Prelude to Chaos' was ended here! Yet, the characters, which you had been seen here, would be appeared again at another story, 'Chronicle of Chaos'. I had written the excerpt of the story to give you the impression. Just wait! By the way, the golems were added here as an additional. In the game, there is NO way to control the golems except through items. The Archmage could only summon the Water Elementals; so Zoril's character was my own imagination about the human hero. Thank you very much!
.