You're So Offensive.
Having been told of her sister's abduction by Queen Calia, Vereesa wasted no time and teleported to Stratholme before flying on a Gryphon to Quel'Danas. She had expected her homeland to be on high alert if the rumours were to be believed, but as she approached the island, she saw the Quel'Dorei fleet was turned toward the Sunwell instead of the mainland.
"What the hell is going on?" she wondered, leaping from the Gryphon's back and slow falling into the courtyard outside the Sunwell chamber.
Upon landing she was finally confronted with the resistance she had been expecting since she had passed over Silvermoon City, as a small troup of Quel'Dorei guards rushed to surround her.
"Identify yourself! How did you get past our defences?" their leader demanded.
"What defences? Every ship is facing Quel'Danas, and I didn't encounter any Dragonhawk riders the whole time I was over our lands." Vereesa laughed. "Where's my sister?"
"Identify yourself, now!" The armoured knight demanded, pointing her sword at her throat.
"I'm Archmage Vereesa Windrunner, the Prince kidnapped my sister Sylvanas, where is she?"
The knight took a moment before lowering her sword and signalling her guards to stand down.
"The Prince took Sylvanas into the Sunwell chamber over three hours ago, intending to reignite our ancient birthright to empower our people against the Legion," the woman began, not sheathing her sword. "Less than two hours ago Prince Arthas arrived with an escort demanding to speak with the Prince, and they were led inside by General Brightwing. All was quiet until an hour ago when we all felt the Sunwell energy once more, but instead of feeling its reassuring warmth, it was like the pressure against your ears when you sink too far underwater."
"And then?" Vereesa momentarily dropped her concerns for her sisters, instead wanting to know what had happened before she had arrived.
"We all retreated from the chamber, fearing the energy would explode out and destroy the building, especially when the energy felt momentarily tainted by something… Evil. The energy did eventually erupt, and as you can no doubt sense the Sunwell's energy flows through us once more, the Prince was successful in restoring our…"
"Has anyone been inside since the Sunwell was restored?" Vereesa interrupted.
"The Prince was explicit, no one was to enter until he emerged."
"But you let Prince Arthas in?"
"I was forced to make an exception as they were led by the disgraced Prince of Lordaeron and were escorted inside by General Halduron."
"Surely you want to make sure that the Princes are alright, you described the build-up of energy as painful on the ears, surely that pressure would have been greatest inside…"
"We can't enter!" The woman snapped, before sheepishly admitting; "the heat of the Sunwell's reiginition fused the doors shut, and we haven't been able to pry them open."
"It's a good thing an archmage has arrived then, isn't it?" Vereesa laughed, summoning a shard of ice in her hand. "Lead the way."
She was escorted by the knight, who called herself Lady Liadrin, to the doors into the Sunwell chamber; Vereesa immediately saw the hinges and the seem between the two doors has been fused shut when the doors had heated up.
"Surely there should have been safe-guards in place to contain the energy from exploding out like this?" She wondered aloud. "Unless they had been tampered with…"
"Why would someone tamper with the Sunwell's defenses?" Liadrin questioned her.
"The only reason I can think of is that he wished to use the energy for something the protections were put in place to prevent." Vereesa summoned several more shards of ice over her head, before launching them at the hinges and the centre of the two doors.
"Such as?"
"What purpose did Queen Ashara have for manipulating the Well of Eternity? The Sunwell's energy is derived from the ancient Well."
"The Prince would never be so reckless or traitorous as Ashara was!" Liadrin bristled. "He would never betray our people like she did."
Vereesa did not reply, instead hurling a wall of icy water at the doors. The sudden cold against the still warm doors caused the metal to crack, and thanks to her targeted hits against the hinges and lock, the doors fell forward away from the frame with little encouragement needed. Vereesa quickly summoned more walls of water as they entered, using them to put out the smoldering remains of the tapestries and carpets that had decorated the interior of the Sunwell chamber.
After passing through the antechamber, they reached the passageway that overlooked the Sunwell itself, and they all stopped in their tracks at the sight that greeted them.
"By the light of the sun!" Liadrin breathed.
Between the archways that overlooked the Sunwell the floor and walls were blackened and burned, but behind the arches the décor was mostly intact. They couldn't see down into the Sunwell chamber as smoke rose up from the floor below, making the once elegant passageway mirror a descent into hell.
Despite her better judgement, Vereesa led the way down the passageway, using more frost magic to quell the smoldering fires that barred their way. When they reached the Sunwell chamber itself, they were again greeted by a scene that stunned them where they stood.
Uther and Alleria were kneeling beside an unconscious Sylvanas at the centre of the glowing Sunwell pedestal, surrounded by blackened walls that had cracked from the heat of the well's ignition; there was a small void in the blackened wall, but Vereesa and Liadrin's gaze were drawn to the right side of the chamber. A strange blue-skinned alien in gilded armour was waving glowing golden hands over Prince Kael'thas, who was knelt down facing away from them, with Halduron and Lor'themar restraining him physically, and Jaina casting arcane bindings on him to restrain his magical abilities.
"Sylvanas!" Vereesa breathed, rushing to her sisters' side.
"Release the Prince at once!" Liadrin demanded, moving toward her restrained liege.
"Your prince is a traitor!" Arthas stepped into her path. "He tried to summon Kil'Jaeden into our world using the power of the Sunwell, and it was only with our intervention that his summoning failed."
"Preposterous!" Liadrin laughed.
"It's true, Liadrin." Lor'themar sighed, not taking his hands off the Prince who was keeping his head bowed. "He killed his own father, lied to us about his intentions, and consorted with Magister Drathir to summon one of the Legion's lieutenants into our world."
"Where is Drathir? If he is complicit in these accusations, surely he'll admit to such heinous crimes."
Arthas pointed to the small void in the blackened wall.
"His remains speak volumes about his guilt."
"What the hell happened here?" one of Liadrin's guards asked.
"Dar'khan opened a portal at the heart of the Sunwell by siphoning the power contained within Lady Sylvanas, and he did succeed in bringing Kil'Jaeden partially into our world." Jaina explained slowly, never removing her gaze from Kael'thas. "But Alleria managed to wake Sylvanas from her induced coma and she turned the Sunwell's power against the demon lord, causing him to retreat, vaporising Magister Drathir and wounding the Prince."
Kael'thas turned his head to look up at Jaina, and Liadrin saw the state of her prince.
"I do not regret my actions, your 'victory' today has only delayed the inevitable and ensured a far worse fate for every being on Azeroth." Kael'thas spat.
Half his face was severely burned, revealing blackened muscle and bone as well as blinding one of his eyes. His hair had thinned around the edges of his burnt face, and his clothes were also mostly intact, likely due to the magic imbued within the fabric. His hand on the burned side of his body was little more than a blackened stump, evidently it had taken the brunt of the fiery explosion when he tried to shield himself with magic. Liadrin wondered how the prince was not screaming in pain from the severity of her injuries but surmised that it was only the alien's healing that was keeping him conscious and able to speak clearly.
"You can't arrest our Prince! Who will lead us against the Legion?" Liadrin protested. "What will the citizens think if they hear what has happened here?"
"It will be easier to be truthful, than lie now and have to confess when this is over." Arthas counselled, surprising everyone that he was the one to say it. "Tell the soldiers outside that their Prince betrayed their trust, gave in to hopelessness, and sought personal power over the good of his people."
"I did it f…" Kael'thas began, but Yrel struck him with her gauntleted hand and the scarred prince collapsed into an undignified pose.
"Who will lead us?" Liadrin pressed.
"Leadership falls to those who have the will and position to lead decisively in times of war," Yrel began, looking at the Quel'dorei around her. "I may be an outsider, but there are suitable leaders for your people in this room."
She gestured to Lor'themar, Halduron, and Liadrin.
"She has a point, you three are in the right positions to lead Silvermoon's forces against the Legion; Halduron the navy, Lor'themar the Rangers, and Liadrin the army."
"I'm no General!" Liadrin protested. "I can't lead our entire army by myself!"
"Think of this as a field promotion, General Liadrin." Lor'themar gave her a warm smile. "I'm sure you can promote others under your command to help you lead our army. You're stronger than you realise, Liadrin, this is your moment to shine."
"What of the Windrunners?" Halduron asked, gesturing to the three sisters huddled a few feet away. "Where do they fit into this plan?"
"Wait… Is that Alleria? She's alive?" Liadrin's attention finally noticed the third Windrunner who was tending to her sister. "How long has she…"
"Traitor!" Sylvanas yelled, awaking with a start.
Alleria and Vereesa quickly comforted her, informing her of what had happened.
"A story for another time," Uther cut in. "With the Sunwell no longer at risk of being used to summon demons, all our attention must turn southward to the Legion forces slowly encroaching on Stormwind."
"The armies of Kalimdor are already on their way," Vereesa joined them, supporting Sylvanas with Alleria's help. "The World Tree is safe, and the Orcs, Tauren, and Kal'dorei are prepared to fight for the survival of Azeroth."
"If only it were now as simple as pushing the Legion from this world," a cold voice said from above, and they all looked up to see a large raven perched on the balcony above them.
"Now the Guardian shows himself," Jaina grumbled, as Medivh landed in their midst and transformed back into his human state. "Where have you been?"
"My responsibilities…"
"Just answer the question." Alleria growled, a dagger appearing in her hands.
"Helping move your allies into position, persuading more powerful forces to join your cause, and ensuring that there are no more distractions."
"Distractions? What else could possibly…"
Arthas began, but Medivh reminded him;
"There are ancient threats that have been here longer than mankind, and they are not simply languishing in their prisons."
"Are they close to breaking free?" Uther asked, fearing the worst.
"No." Medivh said after a long pause. "And their minions will not distract your focus from the Legion."
"So why are you here? Why isn't it now just a simple matter of pushing the Legion out of Azeroth?" Alleria asked, not sheathing the dagger in her free hand, the other supporting her groggy sister.
"There is still one talon that the Legion has buried into this world, ensuring their foothold in the south."
"But we've stopped the Lich's agents from sewing discourse," Arthas objected. "The traitor Danath is imprisoned in the Undercity for his crimes."
"Kurdran is broken by the loss of Sky'ree, and I sent him to the Violet Hold." Vereesa noted.
"And you took Khadgar to Karazhan," Jaina added, before realising what the Guardian was driving their conversation towards. "The Herald! He's still out there."
"Correct." Medivh gave the merest hint of a nod. "The Herald of Sargeras oversees the Legion's invasion personally, it is thanks to him that they have gained ground so quickly."
"Where is he hiding?" Yrel bristled, hefting her mace up with one hand.
"Karazhan."
"But… That's where you took Khadgar…" Jaina hesitantly stated.
"My tower is a place of infinite complexity; I doubt they will find where my old apprentice is currently imprisoned." Medivh smirked. "Your primary concern is to enter the tower, find and defeat the Herald, and ensure the power contained within Karazhan cannot be used to the Legion's favour."
"Once we've done that, the Legion will retreat?" Vereesa asked.
"The Burning Legion never retreats, but their resolve will falter, their leadership will have been lost, and you will be able to push them back to whence they came."
"What about closing the portal?"
"Leave that to me." Medivh simply stated.
"What of my people? Where did the Exodar land?" Yrel gasped, remembering the events she had experienced before joining the human's party.
"The ship crashed into the Stonetalon Mountains, the impact left it damaged beyond repair," Medivh informed her dispassionately. "Should you fail, your people will not escape the Legion this time."
"What of her people? Can they help us fight back?" Uther asked, wanting to give Yrel some encouragement to fight on.
"Some nearby druids were quick to investigate the crash, and thanks to a shared Orcish tongue, the Draenei people are readying themselves for the coming fight."
"And the civilians?" Yrel demanded.
"I believe some druids are helping to acclimatise them to Azeroth," Medivh seemed disinterested again. "I have lingered here long enough; I must return to Karazhan to ensure the Herald does not recover his captured piece. Farewell."
Medivh transformed and flew up and out of sight as quickly as his wings would carry him.
"Is he…" Liadrin began.
"Always so blunt and discourteous? Yes." Alleria answered her question.
"What happens now?" Halduron asked immediately.
"Your armies must head south with all haste, enough time has been wasted already," Uther immediately took charge of the situation. "Send Kael'thas to the Violet Hold to await trial for his crimes, the mages of the Kirin Tor will be able to keep him restrained until the war is over."
"I take it we must now head for Medivh's tower?" Arthas inquired.
"Yes. He's right, with the Herald still in play the Legion are too strong to simply push them back, and Karazhan is a key strategic location that the Legion currently control, removing it will greatly weaken their foothold."
"Who is this Herald?" Lor'themar asked. "Why do you speak of Kurdran, Danath, and Khadgar as if they are traitors like our Prince?"
"They are, though unlike Kael'thas they are not traitors entirely by choice," Jaina said, before explaining how the former heroes of the Alliance had been broken by the Legion.
"I didn't break!" Alleria growled. "I fought back and escaped their clutches!"
There was an uncomfortable silence, in which Uther decided to say what was no doubt lingering in the backs of their minds.
"I do not wish to believe it, but if we have already found three of the five that ventured beyond the Dark Portal, and Alleria stands with us, then the Herald could only be Turalyon. No one else could give the Legion an advantage in Azeroth like him, especially if he was broken like the others."
All eyes turned to Alleria, who remained silent and avoided their gazes; this only confirmed their fears.
"Could he be saved?" Arthas asked after another long silence. "Is it possible to break the Legion's hold on him?"
"Kurdran only broke when Sky'ree died," Vereesa said again.
"Danath…" Uther began, but found the words failed him. "He regrets what he did, and will be haunted by his mistakes for the rest of his life."
"So we just need to reach him, remind him of who he was, and make him see the light?" Arthas suggested.
"There is always a chance," Alleria gave a weak smile, still avoiding their gaze. "But I believe he may be too lost to be found, too deep in the Legion's control to return to the Light."
"Are you willing to kill the man you loved?" Vereesa asked gently.
"If he refuses to turn back, then the Turalyon we all remember died long ago, death would be a mercy for him." Alleria snapped.
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"Kil'Jaeden and Archimonde have failed me, their suffering will be great." The voice boomed. "The Lich King's pitiful soul will suffer until the end of time for his failures, and the 'Prince' will die a million slow, painful deaths. Azeroth must be purged of all life, its existence erased from the universe!"
"I will not fail you." An almost imperceptible voice assured the omnipresent voice that made reality shake. "This 'Alliance' will fall before the armies of the Legion, their resistance will be fleeting."
"Be sure. For if you fail me, your soul will find no respite in death, I will enjoy making it suffer until all the stars are ash. The Light will not save you from my wrath."
"All light gives way before darkness." The Herald bowed his head low.