Reviews:

Guest 1: I know, I know, its extremely OOC for the Horde to trust someone as shady and unstable as the Skaven. I mean they have a wonderful track record...of trusting the Forsaken after countless backstabbings, trusting Thrall's judgment after he made them settle in a barren waste of a desert where they have to import all their food/wood/etc, Trusting Trolls who had a tendency before meeting the Horde of cutting and running if things ever looked bad, Trusting Tauren to do anything other than sell them out for often immediately disregarded political good points, trusting a man-child with daddy issues who listens to women complaining about being forced to live in a barren wasteland by a psudeo-religious nutcase and decides that war is the only solution to her problems, Trusting an elf... period..., Trusting a man who enslaved his own people, and waaaay back when trusting a green dude who killed his own village and the big ugly Ogre looking Demon whose wanting you to drink their blood, followed by a Dragon named Deathwing...yeah they never learn and Blizzard refuses to give them a freaking break. Sadly the Skaven are probably legit among like the mid tier of unreliability scale of the Horde's chosen allies, difference is that the Skaven actually hold power rather than being a forgotten cliffnote that exists solely to get slaughtered by PCs if the PCs even remember they exist, and not contribute in any possible other way.

Guest 2: The Empire knows when to and when to not allow the Mad Count to travel. And Karl Franz , I doubt he'd ever be dumb enough to allow the Mad Count free access to Azeroth. If he ever tells Marius to go to Azeroth you know a Dreadlord or the Changeling has replaced the Emperor and they must be immediately stopped.

Guest 3: Poor Horde having a huge fight on their hands. Meanwhile Anduin well, the Empire's going to cause issues but likely he has bigger issues.

Dragon King of the West: Ghozul was left with a lot to ponder, and the ever looming threat of people doubting his loyalty. We shall see how things unfold.

JiggyliFAP: Considering Conqueror Krenna's complaints to Garrosh in Heart of War its very likely the Shattering was talking about the Barrens. Because Krenna directly calls Durotar a Desert that makes farming impossible and she complains that everything in their markets is a import from distant lands (that part is likely overblown since she was at the moment trying to posture and make herself seem tough to the Mag'har spoiled brat Thrall had just brought to the city)... and Krenna's sister frames the choice to live where the Orcs do as "atonement for their sins in the first war" something Garrosh found highly frustrating and insulting because why should children who never fought in the first war have to suffer for the decisions of Orcs made before even Thrall was born?

And on a meta note, but don't cite me on this because I don't really consume media right as it comes out, I'm still bouncing between modern productions, 80s anime, and scifi books writen God knows when, but when WC3 and WoW were written I believe was one of the last hurrahs of Hollywood "pacifism" before other media in answer just tore it apart pointing out the pretentious, privileged and destructive behavior it was, and before anyone gets me wrong there, that is the Cold War/early 2000 "Pacifism" made up of people who were fine seeing buses bombed and people beheaded on live television, and even with genocide taking place, so long as the evil of war never took place...so there was a lot of high minded 'peace through talking because everyone is actually entirely the same' *slaps Anduin* "moron" .

Hakuryuu: The transformation is just about as horrific as you can imagine.

Not much more to say on how BA Gotrek is because well as an adventurer he's at the peak.

As for the Big Bertha comment do you mean the German Howitzer or do you mean the Queen Bess the Cannon that was meant as a ship deck cannon for the Imperial navy and isn't even the largest cannon used by humans in WHFB.

And as for the depend...that one is a bit grey. Lore wise it makes a bit of sense both geopolitcally but also because the meta of the writers. Blizzard, and their superior competitor who only failed because EA's deliberate sabotage, both had a lot of writing done by writers who believed in the U.N. Blizzard from the Idealistic/Trekkie "one world government will solve all problems" and Westwood from the "UN will have a military that will force people to obey or else". So Blizzard put a lot of idealism over basic survival instincts in the setting that's why Durotar is built in a barren wasteland that has almost no natural resources let alone food, and why Stormwind is the national equivalent of a gold digger trophy wife, both whose best exports are unskilled laborers, soldiers, and spies.

The Idealism of WoW itself isn't wrong...it's the deliberate strawmaning of anyone whose got even the slightest independent thought, extremes they push it to and praise, and generally bad writing that's the problem. I mean objectively Garrosh not only wasn't in the wrong with the only warcrimes that he did that are by the UCMJ and UN's international law, things not even established in WoW meaning they can't be warcrimes, were the ones he committed against the pandaran...and lets face it after Gnomes they deserve it most. It was indeed Thrall who wronged the Orcs and set the stage for either the inevitable collpase and suffering under servitude of his people or wars of military conquest and enslavement of others by his people. If he had even set up the Kingdom in the barrens ironically he would have achieved his goal of making the Orcs peaceful. Instead he put them in a position where they'd be either dependent on conquered slaves or on their all commanding masters, all so they could "atone".

But with how self serving the Honor concept on Azeroth is, more their problems all lie with just how moronic their leaders are. Again the single smartest leader the Horde has ever had was very likely Garrosh, and the guy still for some reason adopted a policy of pointless fanatic racism with the only grounds behind it being "well he didn't like this one pacifist Tauren". Almost like the authors felt the need to strawman their badguy, rather than keep him the aggressive and strong willed individual who at least would listen to reason if it didn't absolutely contradict his ideals.

As for IE, Volkmar was my first to satisfy my oath to the Empire, now I'm playing Festus and considering skipping over to Cathay to let WoC Nurgle have some time for mods or well anything to expand his comparatively bare roster.

Orkbane: Thats the thing about Dwarven tech progression. The tech they have, but don't use "because it's not ready", vs the tech they refuse to even develop or haven't tried to develop is very diffrent. I mean Burlok Damminsson's arm is superior to the one devised by his son, Grimm Burloksson, and his son's mechanical arm is already 1 Strenght and armor penetrating (for WoW fans the son's arm is the equivalent of a lvl 60's two-handed very rare or unique, and Burloks would be a legendary)

So the Dwarves would probably start rushing the approval process for some of the Engineers Guild tech which again their Warhammer dwarves, the race of OCD perfectionists when it comes to building stuff. But Warhammer had seen events that could trigger then to put aside their obsession with ensuring everything is the best quality possible and impossible to make fail, and instead just push out something that works if just (by their standards) One such event being when they and the Imperial Engineers College had a...friendly demonstration of the counter-fire and battery operations and areal engagement abilities of both respective sides creations to display who had the better design...in a friendly manner, its not like the two sides had a big bloody and near crippling battle or anything...ha...hahahaha...no never. *looks to the side* "why are you adding clockwork horses and clockwork angels to the book of grudges?"

Ironwall: Whaaa? no who would do such a thing... *nervously waving away Mazmamundi and Tiktaq'to* But the Horde needs proper pressuring. i mean, hell they keep fracturing during low intensity conflicts, have next to no unity at the beat of times yet somehow still have fanatics who will immediately turn on their beloved leaders who say the slightest thing wrong in the heat of the moment, and will routinely turn on former allies up to and including mass murdering refugees for the nostalgia of when they last murdered the population of a tribe that had once been their allies. They NEED both a threat that can allow them to self justify their own actions without blowing themselves up because one of their leaders said something that the Druidbook morality police find unacceptable, but at the same time they need a huge boost in numbers, manufacturing, and magic...all while the allies ive given them from Mallus haven't been given the End Times Authorial Bias where Order heroes are just forgotten or nerfed to all hell, so there's still quite a bit that needs to be done.

OscuroSignore-51: The one thing I've learned via disunified vs centralized settings is that a centralized setting typically gets a single impression and then screws up from there, or gets blindsided very easily. But a lot of writers particularly of fanfiction go "well we unified so we win" and then just have their unified setting auto crush their opponents like its season one of Gate:Thus the Japanese Defense Force fought there. Which is what I typically use as my example of what NOT to do because if you're going to claim "oh look my modern guns can defeat all this high fantasy stuff" you can't then force that world to be less than low fantasy excapt for when the magic benefits you.

Often a chaotic political landscape invokes heavy casualties even for a disproportionately powerful force.

As for the Waaagh, it's Orks, comprehending their highs and lows isn't too hard when they're the villains of most the Black Library I read (which os odd concerning that Chaos dominates the majority of it)

On the Imperial side of things, Honestly I can't remember what happened at the End of a certain Chaos Maggot's invasion regarding her Dragon, some heroes died but I keep thinking a read a line saying something happened to the Dragon, but then i can't find it. But even then, the Empire does have some reasonable restraint.

Hakuryuu: Varian was fsr more balanced than Anduin or really most the Alliance. And ironically the entirety of the Alliance was basically built around him and not in a "he's the central guy everyone needs to interact with him somehow to get what they wamt" but litterally all the leaders minus a certain gnome, were clearly

all written or rewritten with the idea of "they need to serve Varien" in mind...thus a world super power like the Night Elves constantly turning to Stormwind asking for approval rather than routinely pulling a IRL U.N. World Security Council permanent member move of going "fuck you I'm doing it anyway". I mean the third war, Night Elves, the Scourge, The Legion, and practically on the sideline is the Horde and Alliance, with the freaking Naga playing as big of a role as the Alliance did. But that's technically Anduin's problem, he was written to offset his father and used as the excuse to narratively save the Horde, thus being a boon to the horde and occasional detriment to the Alliance but this was done to help preserve the Alliance's 'Good Guy' status while allowing the Stormwind King and leader of the Alliance to be an agressive edgy boi, fitting with the early 2000 time of writing WoW. But without his dad, rather than have his advisor's change themselves, or do anything resembling character growth for such 'minor' characters such as the racial leaders for over half the Alliance they pulled the BS Blizzard forced down everyone's throats, going so far as to strawman and mindless puppet the entire Horde just so Anduin's beliefs could be validated...all while having the Horde continue to perform warcrimes...but considering it's "Activision Blizzard" well the last Modern Warfare i played the Russians were "tricked" into committing every warcrime in the book so apparently they weren't guilty of committing warcrimes including chemical weapons deployment and the nuking of civilian targets.

Red Blooms for Me and You

Ergere had to take command, he had to pull out of the fight to command his troops, the left flank had collapsed and if something wasn't done they would be falling back into their next layer of defense with the Waaaagh's troops intermixed with their own making the entire defensive layer little more than a chaotic melee racing to purge the Waaaagh's troops before the Orks and Goblins could force open new breach-heads in the wall. Ergere was certain that race would be one the Horde would lose.

Driven by desperation and the need to fulfill his mission Ergere fought back and away from the oncoming Orks reaching the back where the tired reserves of the Horde and where the Cathayans were already joining the fight against the Orks pushing against their left. Freed from combat and given a couple seconds of rest Ergere immediately switched roles. He couldn't be a front line fighter, now he needed to be a Commander, something that had been denied these Grunts when their actual commander had been killed by that Seventh Legion Marksman.

"You! gather anyone with strength enough to hold a shield or swing a blade, help the Cathayans hold. You, get every shaman and marksman you have and pull back to the next layer, we need to thin their numbers and have someone to push them back when we eventually pull back! I need some volunteers to try and challenge or assassinate the big guys these Orks seem to follow whoever is biggest, if we can lead them away from the walls or cause some confusion in their ranks maybe we can hold..." Ergere's flurry of commands were broken by a single, now all too familiar, dreadful and outright frustrating sound.

"Waaaaaaagh!" The cry of the Orkish army was near deafening as a new wave of the Black armored Orks crested the wall of the central portion of the defense.

There was no time for selecting volunteers to kill the large Orks. There was no time for Ergere to play at being a commander, as incompetent as he felt as one. Now Ergere had to leave his post leaderless once more as he sighted the largest of the Orks that crested the hill, a heavily armored warrior weilding a crude axe that softly glowed with it's own light.

The Blademaster left the burdensome responsibility of command, stepping over the unconscious form of Alyzz Kneecord, and embraced his natural position in the field of battle, those closest to him being inspired by the speed and power of his blade. Equally the Orks and Mallus Goblins had abandoned their half hearted attempts at strategy, and now were fully throwing themselves into the battle. This was the deciding moment of the entire conflict, and both Ergere and these Orks knew it. If Ergere could disrupt them, if his troops could pull back to the next layer of defense uncontested these Orks would have expended themselves for nothing, but if these foes could push forward and remain hot on the heels of his warriors, Ergere and everyone in the Crimson Post was certain to die.

Set on killing the leader Ork, Ergere pushed into the brawl of battle. Even as Ergere pressed on he could witness these otherworldly Orks, their savagery making them rely on endurance that he doubted more than a few Orcs of Durotar could claim, though he could think of a few clans who could probably match these Orks the sheer numbers of these Orks happily accepting blades into their flesh in exchange for a chance to swing their weapons at a foe was disturbing.

Still where Ergere marched the Orks and Mallus goblins died, only the three heavily armored Orks that challenged the Blademaster once he got into proper form could delay him. Their armor and coordination staving off the various sure kill blows that Ergere sent their way. The Orks were certainly a frustrating opponent, crude witless foes that couldn't even grasp the artistry of the blade, yet skilled enough one had to be a Blademaster like himself to be able to set aside their learned skills, faints and simpler blows always striking with a fatal strikes.

It releived the Orc to know that there were at least some among these Orks who took the effort to learn coordinated strikes and proper stances and forms. Especially since the larger Orks were the only ones who could match him and their skills were from pure experience and never from proper training. Still as one of the Orks tried to block Ergere's sword with a shield allowing one to try and bisect him with a large axe while another went swinging in with a pair of hand axes.

In response to the skilled and armored primitives Ergere let go of his blade narrowly avoiding the large axe before throwing himself into a tackle of the one with two hand axes. As the Ork roared a mixture of hate and excitement both combatants slammed into the ground as one of Ergere's hands challenged the Ork for control of one of his weapons and Ergere's other hand set to beating on the armored helm of his opponent's head. The Ork continued to roar as Ergere continued to pound, however its comrade came in with the axe in a powerful overhead swing, but Ergere saw the attack coming and leapt off of his opponent still holding the Ork's one handed Axe, though his opponent let go as the other's axe collided with its chest making the beast roar in pain.

Thus armed Ergere threw himself at the shield bearing Ork who was now trying to claim the Blademaster's weapon for his own. Moving swiftly Ergere chopped up into the lightly armored armpit of the suprised Ork. The blow forced the Ork to stagger back releasing Ergere's own, swiftly reclaimed, blade. Now The Blademaster had an lightly wounded Ork infront with a shield and Choppa, and to his rear one with a large two handed axe.

The Ork to Ergere's rear charged first, but the veteran Orc's experience honed senses told him this was a distraction. So rather than answer the attack, Ergere took a step to turn to the side, and as he thought the other Ork rushed forward bringing his shield up to ram his opponent. Seeing the Orks move Ergere rolled backwards and once he was back to his feet right infront of him now was a unbalanced Ork and the blade of the two-handed Axe just inches away, a narrow miss, from his comrade. The next blow took all of Ergere's strength as he brought his blade into the back of the shieldbearer.

The blow nearly carved the Ork in half and most certainly killed it. This left Ergere as alone as one can be on a raging battlefield with his opponent. The other Ork roared it's defiance at the Blademaster before charging. Be it the innate nature of the Orks taking over, or conscience decision of his opponent, but the Ork closed with a open stance putting everything into the attack. The Ork was skilled, Ergere couldn't evade as he was at the moment, so instead the Blademaster put his faith in his speed and power, he would entirely destroy this Ork before it could land its blow.

The two roaring opponents close, blades flashed in the light of a rising sun. And then an Ork in three parts collapsed to the ground as Ergere panted for breath.

"Ghehehe, Now dats a Git who gives a good scrap. If I kill you I bet all yer Boyz would be bossless and I'd win this battle." A voice pulled the Blademaster from his short recuperation.

Ergere turned to face the newcomer, the leader of the Black Armored Orks stalked forward towards Ergere, twirling his large axe in one hand. The Ork closed with the causal pace of a excited child, or a predator playing with its prey. In response Ergere readied his own blade watching the Ork's approach carefully. Almost casually the Ork moved its smaller shield up onto its upper left arm freeing both hands to work his large axe.

"Okies yeah worthless Git. Make dis fun fee me." The Ork mocked, Ergere could almost see the smile of the Ork behind its helmet. And then the Ork dashed forward, in response the Blademaster prepared and then as the Ork reached hos range Ergere struck his blade cleanly carving the crude charging Ork in half...if it had been there. Instead the Ork suddenly stopped short and Ergere's attack passed less than inches away from the Ork, at the swings Zenith it barely scraped across the Ork's armor sparking where it made contact.

"Spirits of the Earth damn you!" Ergere roared, frantically trying to will his body back and away from his opponent who held their axe like a spear thrusting the blade forward and into Ergere's chest. The blade didn't cut as the edge of the weapon pointed away from Ergere's flesh, yet when the steel collided with the Blademaster's armored torso there was the sound as if the steel itself was screaming a warcry and then Ergere was sent flying back. As he hit the ground the Blademaster tumbled backwards, and Ergere's opponent followed closely after him giving no respite.

Ergere rolled to the right, his chest heaving in stabbing pain, certainly multiple broken ribs. He'd need a healer soon, and likely a few days of bedrest for the natural healing to catch up with that of the magical. Still now the Blademaster was able to draw his blade close to the ground and up into his foe. The Ork for his part delighted in the maneuver, positioning his shielded shoulder to intercept the blade. It took the sacrifice of the shield but the Armored Ork continued to laugh as the ruined shield allowed him to shrug off the sword of Ergere bringing his own axe for a wide swing against the Blademaster.

Again the Ork's weapon connected with the Horde Commander, but this time as the blade roared it's cry sharpened edge met proud Orcish hip. Ergere felt his hip nearly shatter under the impact as a thin wave of force caused his armor to shatter and evenhis flesh to open before the Iron of the axe could. Again Ergere was sent flying away from his foe but now he entered into a wild uncontrolled roll upon hitting the ground, each rotation bringing new pain and likely new injuries. But once he finished rolling Ergere planted his blade, using it to steady himself as he shakily stood to his feet.

"Ghehehehe! Me like you git! Most gits even da big un's all go running, or lay brokened at me foot afta getten hit by my Tala'once. But yous Git you still scrapping! I'm gonna enjoy krumping you." The Ork mocked as he closed on Ergere his glowing axe laxly swaying from side to side as he approached.

Ergere's vision narrowed darkness seizing the edges of his sight. He couldn't possibly win against this Ork this way. He had spent himself and his potions fighting against the Orks, his own orders made it unlikely that there would just be a shaman or priest on the field who could just so happen to heal him at the vital moment. So Ergere Brokenaxe felt around himself, a rock, anything would do at this point but he could not afford to allow himself to die at the hands of this murder happy savage.

Swiftly the Orc felt around himself until his hand impacted something soft that groaned at his touch. "W-What?" A soft feminine voice moaned, Alyzz Kneecord lay just recovering her consciousness next to him.

The Ork leader picked up his pace laughing as he virtually skipped towards Ergere with a dark chuckling as he waved his axe eagerly from side to side. "Kneecord, do you have your daggers?" Ergere asked with a grim plan formed in his mind.

"Y-yeah." All the answer he needed as he steeled himself and put all other thoughts but victory aside.

"Good, get ready." He said in all the warning or explanation he would give to the goblin hidden behind himself.

The Ork leader closed further increasing his pace to a jog only slowing slightly as a Forsaken soldier tried to charge him only for a backhanded swing to shatter the Forsaken's entire form into fragments that were thrown across the battlefield. That was at fifteen paces, the Ork was now five paces...four...now!

The Ork leader was subject to Ergere's sudden attack. He thrust his hand forward catching and deflecting the backhanded strike from Ergere's grounded blade, the blade cut into the Ork's armored hand but not enough to deal significant damage. In reponse the Orkish leader brought the broad flatside of his Axe across Ergere's face, the metalic Waaaagh of the Axe ringing in Ergere's mind as he was launched across the ground each new tumble breaking a bone or leaving all encompassing bruises and new gashes that would bleed painfully.

However the Ork leader wasn't able to enjoy the the funny, painful and humiliating ways his opponent tumbled across the field of battle until he hit and broke through the wall these puny unorky used. Instead his vision was blocked by the soft green form of Alyzz Kneecord who was wrapped across his helm. The half conscious Goblin's mind racing to recognize where she was. For several moments both sat there trying to comprehend what was happening.

"Ummm, who are you?" A very unorky voice came from the green infront of the Waaagh leaders face. But this much green and the pitch, shouldn't the unorky thing infront of him be a goblin?

"Oi, yah Unorky Gobbo. I is Vokor Stumpystomper! I da Biggest and bestester Boss in all da Darklands! Wait... who is Vokor yabberin at? Oi Unorky Gobbo, who yous before i krump yeahs?" The Ork answered the voice of the green thing on his helm.

"Ummm, what if I answer no one?" The voice said now shuffling on the helm, Vokor could feel the weight of the Gobbo moving.

"Nah, yous someting, I can see, smell, and hear you. So who am I's about to smack with muh Tala'once and Krump?" The Ork asked readying his axe to swing up and destroy whatever was on his face.

"Ummm, well I'm Alyzz Kneecord Private Eye, or Kneecord Investigations, Subsidiary of Bilgewater Intelligence." The Goblin's voice got softer and she quickly spoke the last part. However all Vokor felt was more confused.

"Proove-it eye?" The Ork asked, confusion and curiosity staying his lethal blow.

"Hey did you know you have a really big open spot on your armor?" The voice then asked.

"Wut!? I'll Krump dem Gobbos who made it! Dey said it covered everyting! Where! Where is it?" Now outraged the Ork bellowed his command. How dare his armor Goblins leave a spot unarmored in his armor, he now needed to kill them all!

"Yeah. right here!" The Unorky Gobbo on Vokor's head stated, and for half a second Vokor felt like pointing out how stupid the Goblin was for not realizing Vokor couldn't see, but then the pain from two daggers stabbing into the Ork's neck followed by a unnatural burning pain spreading through his veins. and then the unnatural burning stopped with a small 'eh' of confusion followed by a gasp of realization from the Gobbo on Vokor's head.

The Waaagh Warboss roared in frustration and pain bringing his axe up in a sweep that blocked his vision for less than a quarter of a second. Yet Alyzz was already gone, the Goblin now straddling his back started stabbing into the chinks the Ork's armor desperately stabbing at the Warboss after realizing her poison had run out. Roaring in yet more pain and frustration the Ork threw himself backwards his back slamming into the ground, but the Goblin had barely evaded the mass of her opponent crushing her. But now Vokor was on his feet standing above the Goblin his axe already poised to crush her.

"Ghehehe. I wins Gobbo!" The Ork Roared as Alyzz looked on with mounting terror.

"Mawrider!" And then a Club collpased the Ork's helmet sending him flying back several paces. "I found you!" Kogkradd cheered, bloodied, bruised, and heavily wounded over his friend a massive smile on the Ogre's face, before he turned to glare at the Black Ork Warboss.

The Ork struggled and finally removed his helmet to reveal the mostly smashed, cut, mangled and bruised face and neck beneath. But then the Ork locked eyes with the Tyrant across from him. "Oi, dum Ogre. Me Krump you already go away!" The Ork cried brandishing his axe.

"Bring it you dinner plate!" The Tyrant roared in response as Alyzz staggered to her feet getting ready.

"Oi I'll Krump yeah roight this time!" The Ork roared puffing and sucking in air.

"No!" The cry stopped both sides as a still heavily wounded and bleeding Ergere stumbled into the battle, a lone Shaman looking on nervously behind him. "Ork! You still have a duel to settle with me first!"

Next to Alyzz, Kogkradd sighed a breath of relief, his legs giving out underneath him. Even Alyzz dropped back to a seated position recognizing both her own and the Tyrant's exhaustion and poor state. Honestly she couldn't believe that some sort of magical bullshit wasn't in play for all those stories of warriors fighting for days on end, she couldn't even last a day and even Kogkradd wasn't much better...maybe if she had more potions on hand but that was about the most she could imaging getting anything more out of her.

The Warboss eyed his new self proclaimed opponent. "I'z gonna break yah loik i said! Once youz is dead, den dez boyz will break and I can Krump em all as dey running away!"

"Come savage, let me teach you the proper way of the spirits!" The Blademaster challenged his foe.

"Mork'll stomp yea soul dum git! WAAAAGH!" The Warboss responded to the challenge charing headlong at his opponent. Ergere readied his own blade in response. And then as the Ork's blade swung Ergere split in three, three blades moved in tandem to challenge the Ork.

Vokor was far from a unskilled foe and the Warboss ensured his Axe still collided with one of the Blademasters the blow entirely removing the Horde champion's head, or rather the duplicate's head.

In return one of the two Ergere's blade struck the Ork's thickly armored stomach while the other blocked the ongoing swing of the Warboss's weapon. Then Ergere grinned kicking his opponent back allowing himself and his clone to bring their blades in for armor shattering blows. The Warboss however dove under the blow of the first Ergere and thrust his axe at the second, the blade connecting with the true Ergere and sending him flying several feet while breaking off what remained of the Blademaster's armor.

The duplicate Blademaster wasted no time, nor spared a thought towards the fate of his true self bringing his blade against the back of his opponent, cracking the heavy armor of the Ork in a single blow and earning a pained roar in response. As a counter the Ork smashed his Axe into the ground, the force enough to throw the duplicate off his feet. The duplicate tried to defend himself but the Ork's swift downstroke caught his blade and with another cry the metal met metal and the duplicate's own blade was launched into himself cutting the mirror Blademaster in half by his own blade.

"Krump da fakes, I want da realzies!" Vokor Stumpystomper grunted, nearly missing the sound of something heavy leaping off the ground behind him.

The Warboss spun swinging his blade as he turned. Meeting the Warboss's blade midair was Ergere, the Blademaster's prised blade collided with the Axe, both blades meeting in a scream of contested metal and magic power. Then Ergere's blade shattered but not before the Warboss's weapon passed beneath the Blademaster himself. Then Ergere landed on Vokor bringing down the second weapon he possessed a dropped choppa from a Ork.

The Choppa carved into the Ork's unarmored head splitting the head from crown to chin. Still even so severely damaged, and certainly dead the Ork Warboss continued to fight, thrusting his weight clumsily forward throwing Ergere off himself then, almost as if drunkenly, he swung his Axe with one hand. Acting quickly Ergere brought his blade to counter yet still under the strength and magic of his opponent the choppa shattered, yet still the attack was deflected once more. Vokor tried to swing again but just stumbled forward. The Ork tried to bellow his defiance but just gurgled, then drawing a spare dagger Ergere put his still swinging opponent down with a blade to the spine.

Ergere collpased then, exhaustion and wounds denying him much of his bodily control. Still the Orc Blademaster seized the Warboss's Axe and weakly held it aloft. Both Alyzz and Kogkradd cheered his victory, but in the midst of a Chaotic battle they could do little more than grab him along with the observing shaman to drag thr Blademaster back through the gap in the wall his flying body had previously created.

Still the effects of this victory would soon be felt along the entire battle as many of the largest Ork bosses upon learning off the death of their warboss set upon eachother to determine who among them was the biggest and the strongest of their number and thus next to lead. As the Orks fell upon eachother their Goblins fled from faltering battlelines, and the Horde's defenders, bloodied and tired were given respite to regroup and reinforce their positions. While victory was now very likely to be the Horde's and the Cathayan's it would still be much more combat and bloodshed before they saw an end to this battle.

Ghozul watched through his spyglass as the Iron Dragon of Cathay finished with the backlines of the Orkish Waaagh. Any hope he had that the Orks would keep steady pressure on these otherworlders and the Cathayans that he might have held was all now dashed. The armies of the Empire of Zharr Naggrund would be too late in arrival and it looked increasingly so that the army of the blood crazed Northern would be the first to arrive.

Ghozul slammed the spyglass shut before reattaching it to his belt. The Chaos Dwarf stomped back to his tent where the Immortals watched his every move from, when not escorting him. Still their hard judgment filled eyes tracked even the slightest movement by the Despot. Still he looked over the maps on his strategy table before sighing.

With a slam of his fists on the table Ghozul announced his decision to not only those Immortals present but the few spies who were certain to be outside the tent. "We must protect not only the lives of the Dawi-Zharr but also our profits and the pride of our Empire. As such we must takena detachment to march north to meet the incoming Northern army. Turning to our benefit will be the best way to preserve our Empire's pride, power, and ensure our profits."

One of the Immortals tightened his grip on his weapon but the leading Eternal raised his hand and the Immortals relaxed. Ghozul refused to allow his fear to show but still his dread mounted. It would have taken a considerable influence to put so many Immortals to watch Ghozul and the Despot knew his Clan's Sorcerer-Prophet much suspected much of him to place such a watch over him. Still if Ghozul succeeded now, not only could he weasel his way out from this threat he could certainly become his clan's Overlord, one whose tyranny had no equal.

Still the Immortals and the Despot marched north for grueling hours at a near running pace. The design and Hashut given destiny of the Dwarves driving them forward until the detachment found the army of Khorne. Over Warriors and Daemons of Khorne, hundreds of southern cultists and over a thousand Marauders now marched south and before his very eyes Ghozul watched reality itself distort as the Khornittes marched, their every step crossing, four, eight, sixteen paces at once. All of this under the unnatural shadow of a single figure that flew overhead surrounded by a swarm of furries and manticore.

Set on his goal, Ghozul while recognizing the danger, still proceeded trumpets blaring to announce his arrival and playing a tune that these Northern fools should recognize as one offering weapons to their God. The barbarians didn't immediately attack, a good sign. But within minutes Ghozul and his escort were surrounded by Warriors of Khorne their blood lust and savagery only held in check by their God's twisted sense of martial discipline. These savages would tear his men and himself to peices if they could, but they wouldn't move a foot more until given the go ahead from their leaders.

As Ghozul stood a couple paces ahead of his bodyguards, fighting the instinct to tremble at the sight of this army and their defiance of reality so driven by the will of their God that they were. Then finally a lone figure dropped to the ground immediately infront of the assembled Dawi her impact cracking the stone in front of the Despot. Ghozul had to freeze himself or else he would have stumbled back, revealing lethal weakness to his Immortals, weakness that could be taken that he's unworthy of his position and should be eliminated.

The armored figure, a female with leathery wings and an almost world wide infamy, looked over Ghozul with fury filled eyes and a air of arrogance that spoke of absolute confidence. "Speak Dwarf, and make it worth my while, else I will make you my next tribute to Khorne." Valkia the Gorequeen threatened her spear thrust into the ground at Ghozul's feet.

"You march south and your route is straight for a fortress. One likely shown to you in visions from your Blood-soaked God. We both share a target in this fortress, so I propose an exhange. We will gice you weapons and our services for the coming battles, you allow us a portion of the captives as slaves. You may also take your prize from inside the fortress while I keep the fortress itself where we can still provide you with more arms and weapons." The Dawi-Zharr stated his terms swiftly and simply for the bloody Queen before him, yet Valkia seemed unimpressed and even offended.

"My God is my patron. Arms, Armor I have both in plenty! Why shouldn't I add your skull to the tribute pile?" The Gorequeen proclaimed now grasping her spear.

"Because I have faced the defenders of the fortress before. I know their unusual strengths and their weaknesses. Your God might not care for where the blood flows, but he values victory just as much as he treasures blood and skulls does he not?" Ghozul challenged the threat of mistress of carnage before him, his fists balling as he spoke.

Valkia drew her spear and stepped for ward until her armored stomach was nearly pressed against Ghozul's face. "I will stay your sacrifice for now, Dwarf. But should you displease Khorne, I will gladly give him your skull as tribute."

Ghozul knew, now his situation was truly like walking along the edge of a blade. Yet he still would have to do it, if he were ever to become Overlord of his clan, no of Zharr Naggrund, he would have to win this coming battle all while keeping both his Immortal keepers from suspecting him of disloyalty, and while keeping the fickle followers of a temperamental God from murdering him. "Agreed, slow your march slightly and I will prepare my forces, give the fortress a half a day's extra stay of your execution and you will have my armies at your side."

A bold claim, but now Ghozul was certain, while the profits of the battle would be far less than he wanted Ghozul could steal command, and credit from his peers. And no matter what if Ghozul gained command of the fortress, and the hidden portal within, for his clan he could claim a full new slave trade for his own fame. His future glory or perpetual shame would be determined in the Crimson Post.

A world away Hans Leitdorf mounted his steed the entirety of the Knights and Outriders under his command ready to set out once again to spearhead the path to the Empire's destination. The green tinted light, and shadows of the Ashenvale woods providing the backdrop of the day's march. As the Imperial Knights proceeded the sounds of animals occasionally earned the Knights attentions. But more often than not, it was the echos of distant battlecries, long series of gunshots that spoke of many mobile skirmishes, and the constant noise of small encounters that namely drew the attention of the Knights, the Outriders, and their leaders.

"Aethalas, are we at risk of encountering Horde scouting parties or one of these battles drifting into us, they sound to only be a couple miles away?" Hans asked of his Kaldorei counterpart. As they rode the Night Elves surrounded the vanguard of the Knights guiding the Knights and helping watch for dangers.

Aethalas scanned the forest for several more moments before responding. "The Kaldorei know these woods better than anyone on Azeroth, we've seen them change and some of us even know the past trees now long past, and the slightest change they make. Since the Sentinels know their orders, they will guide the Horde away."

Hans doubted it would be nearly as simple as the alien Elf explained, but he would accept her answer. If these Sentinels were fighting mobile battles to lead the Horde away from his forces then for now they would likely not have to compete against Horde forces but each day that passed and they were still in these woods would certainly raise the chances that they would have to fight the Horde in a pitched battle, something that they could hardly afford if they wanted to get well and ahead of any preparations that Thunder Bluff might make to counter a siege.

Hans nodded to his counterpart. "If you have a way to do so, give those soldiers my thanks. But if there is a way I can assist, break a stronghold and crush a convoy, anything to help them in return please tell me."

Aethalas smirked to Hans in response before answering. "Thats good because we can then use you in one of our plans. There is a village occupied by the by the Ratmen along our path, it's almost certain their coward of a commander will call for reinforcements. The Sentinels already had a plan in action to liberate it, and can't delay launching their attack and likely won't be able to clear the ratmen before the Horde's reinforcements arrive."

Hans nodded. "How many troops from the Horde do you expect, what of their people will be there?" The Knight Grand Master asked considering the potential battle.

"At most a couple hundred of the Horde's soldiers. Since it's the Horde military almost certainly they'll be mostly made up of Orcish grunts. If not for your Knights the Horde will likely outnumber our forces significantly. But with your knights we will have a significant numbers advantage." The Sentinels Captain explained to the Knight Grand Master before going on to her next part of the plan.

"If the Sentinels attack, based off our timing you should be able to flank the Horde's reinforcements before they can commit pinning them between the Sentinels and your Knights. And hopefully we can destroy them completely preventing any word of our victory reaching the Horde." Captain Aethalas explained the plan simply and from there using her sword to try to point to every detail of the plan in the air hopefully to give Hans a mental picture.

"Alright the plan sounds good, let me know when we appearch, I want the outriders ready on the flanks at that time, my own Knights and Myself will form up to take the lead. I want to save as much of our forces as possible and to have a chance to compare ourselves against these Horde savages." As Hans spoke one of the Knights nodded before breaking away from the grand master to report to the other segments of the Knight's portion of the Imperial army.

In response Aethalas smiled a vicious grin. "Then it's agreed. Ladies, pick up the pace, tomorrow we slaughter the Horde and their Rat allies and free more of our lands from their corrupt influence!" A small cheer rose from the Kaldorei which was followed soon by a cry of the assembled Knights, and with spirits raised they pressed forward knowing that on the next day there was the business of killing to be done.

Eekizz Switchpickle sweat profusely as he stood in the burning ruins of the human town that Lady Kyn'ra had assaulted. Those survivors were dragged before her where her power was poured into their unfortunate flesh twisting them half way into into the Faceless. Kyn'ra then languidly slithered into the water her elf-like legs shifting into the tail of a Naga.

"Come, Eekizz, there is a boat here for you and the others. I'll have my N'raqi tow you until we reach our destination." The twisted lady, once champion of Elune and now vassal of N'zoth ordered the Gnome, a almost teasing tone in her voice.

"R-right." Eekizz answered scrambling to get on the ship even as Kyn'ra's happy expression started to slip into one of impatience.

"Hurry up, Azeroth's future can not wait. We have a world to save!" The twisted woman demanded in a flat tone.

"I'm already aboard!" Eekizz gasped as he dropped onto the deck, looking about the longboat he now was aboard.

"Good!" Kyn'ra cheered at her companion. "Get it on the water NOW!" She next ordered harshly as her twisted victims shambled to push the boat into the sea, others also scrambling to get aboard the boat, either because they would not survive the water or because they could crew the ship.

Eventually thr Boat was in the water, all around him Eekizz watched as half N'raqi pulled out oars to paddle the ship as ropes were thrown off the vessel so those in the water could pull. The sights disturbed Eekizz as he watched one of thr N'raqi with a face of a human child in the water labor until its human patt drowned killing it.

However the Gnome couldn't focus on the disturbing sights around himself for long as Kyn'ra's voice demanded his attention once again. "It's a nee adventure Eekizz, one to save all of Azeroth! Lets Go! If we don't then our world.is dead, haste is of the issue here!" The champion cheered with child-like glee as the boat surged forward under her will.

Eekizz needed to get away from Kyn'ra, one way or another he needed to find freedom. Silently he prayed, if anyone was listening all he desired was freedom. To be free of the Alliance's regulations, of Kyn'ra's new master and her constant threat. Eekizz just wanted a place to conduct his experiments without anyone questioning his process, not to be caught up in this...this insanity!