Reviews:
Guest 1: Too bad for the Alliance people don't just readily give up information and monolog, or leave around copius amounts of notes and detailed journals or portals into their memories on Mallus. They'll have to learn how to actually ask or even accept 'no' as an answer.
And as for the hammer, well leave it to the sensibilities of the righteously arrogant, only they may decide what's insulting or not.
And speaking of Arrogance, the Alliance just came off killing God, saving Gods, and being the type of people extremist propaganda makes oil companies out to be.
Guest 2: Though her character, despite the "she a good guy" BS, is a flipping tyrant, she could just be looking for her own "ancient chinese map say I own you"...which is just as bad.
Guest 3: Also remember WHFB and WH40k Chaos is still actually very different from eachother, mostly because GW watered it down and dumbed out the philosophy since apparently regressing tech somehow means everyone has to be a absolutely moronic meathead rather than not able to comprehend a machine that defies quantum physics. The real horror of the WHFB Chaos Gods is the innate contradiction and the question of "Is my desire to kill all the blood thirsty savages an desire to protect my loved ones or fueled by daemonic rage, is my feelings leading me to this true love or dark obsession?" because Khorne honestly has some good sneaky bois, but even more he has some weirdly deep philosophical thinkers among his champions, like "What is peace but surrender to fear, fear of being hit, fear of what happens after you strike another, fear of yourself" types.
Guest 4: It was a bit short but I didn't know what to do without bogging down the chapter, and Ill spoil, Volkmar has some cruelty in store because he is a man of actionswords.
Guest 5: We wont forget them, but gotta stay with the more relevant elements.
Guest 6: Noice, said the demon after tricking the princess into her third murder that week after stealing her coin purse at the pub.
Guest 7: to keep in tune with my previous reference. "Do it, Do it, Do it do it, dooo it."
Guest 8: Well the first half your comment mostly is right. I'd argue fantasy sigmar is dramatically more effective since he's not a God-Emperor proxy but his own unique entity and someone who actually took action. As for Khadgar and the magical powers of the Warhammer world, some of that has to be a school of dreadful thought since most of them are powerful enough to cast magic even without the winds of magic.
Guest 9: That was more or less the theme of my thoughts when i first started a "how would they react and adapt" line of logic.
Guest 10: If the Alliance Vouches for them. What better diplomatic/propaganda approach than to deny your enemies the freedom of speech on threat of harm or death.
Tyrande's plan of outright invasion probably wouldn't look good. But realizing their on someone else's land, and then negotiating hasn't been a Alliance or Horde strongsuit, hell thats almost what you could summerize the whole Night Elf campaign of WC3 as, them not recognizing or caring that they're trespassing.
Guest 11: I'd probably reveal her, if she's relevant to the current course of events, but most likely she's lurking and waiting.
Guest 12: Sadly that's why I'm there rather upset with Blizzard, that basic modified Archery shield formation (likely ripped from a few old movies) is the first formation anyone playing WoW has seen in at least a Decade and the last time we'll see one actually put into action...at least one that wasn't there to set up troops as bowling pins for players to run over in tanks as they just stand around blindly, thus making people question why melee even exists in Warcraft if it's such a guaranteed suicide.
And then you have multitude characters from different eras talking up individual one on one fighting and Sourfang (the old ork in that video) the highest ranking Orc in the Horde at that time directly stating how he despises formation fighting calling it ineffective. idk how shields to the front, healers to the back, guns to the flanks, cavalry/mobile assault circle about the back is ineffective as that basic formula is even used by the most advanced militaries in the modern world...but then again I'd argue that the species, and a member of said species that actively participated in the knowing enslavement of their own species and themselves specifically to demons for the most unnoticeable, most ineffective of power boosts ever followed by knowingly blowing up their own planet thus killing off more of their species than a genocide war did all because they didn't want to fight humans and wanted to try and find a weaker opponent to fight...after killing their entire planet...yeah WC Orcs might not be WHFB Ork dumb, but WHFB Orks have them beat in the common sense department. "If Ork dead, then Ork can no longer fight, because Ork dead."
But it's Blizzard they think naming a character after Oprah is somehow top tier writing, that the Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker were the greatest things in all of media and that humanity has now peaked because how amazing thise movies were so why bother trying to do better, and that interns exist to be exploited in unmentionable ways, leads to jail time for anyone but a politician ways.
Random Anon: And you too can purge them in righteous flame, just sell your soul to GW, or go drop the soap for Blizzard and enjoy.
And I had intended to drag out the crushing but found if i cut it a little short it worked better.
Bruh.io82: I'm not forgetting, but he doesn't get crowned as Everchoosen for nearly a decade though that timeline might now be accelerated, and no one in the Empire remembers a man named Diederick Kastner who died in a fire within the Great Temple of Sigmar.
OscuroSignore-51: Welp as my Drill instructor always said, "long term psychological trauma is character building so keep pushing you God blessed pansy, if you dare stop I'll make sure your ass is getting worse...why the hell are you fucking crying?"
AReader: Technically worse since they beat the Mad Titan and expect the Legion to more or less to be decaying or defunct as a cohesive fighting force.
Hakuryuu: Figured the ropic points would be fun to ponder. But i figured everyone should have their own decent but seperate point to bring. And the worlds just keep turning with background events and things I'd probably have to cover in secondary stories.
micelzod: a good summation. And we can hope Avenah's path hardens her in the right ways...where Kyn'ra's seems to be taking a different turn. Also praise the well oiled sexy pecks man, reject all evidence to the contrary, Sigmar is a testiment to the power of masculine nudity!
kingbean777205: You know full well the Diplomacy for the horde will be strongly uphill for the Old World human nations...well most of them.
Army Formations of Azeroth
Mag'har/Iron Horde
And here we have what is part two of the Formations of Azeroth going through the Horde's forces going with our friendly Iron Horde refugees.
Like before the listed Formations are likely to be smaller building blocks towards larger formations which in turn used like building blocks to form Battalion formations.
Mag'har/Iron Horde Orcs: With a similar history to the Orcs up until the moment the Horde was created. Once enemies of both the Horde and of Azeroth, following the events of their failure to conquer Azeroth and then an accelerated timeline putting the Mag'har many years after the fall of their Iron Horde, and seeking to escape their dying world, and from the army of Draenei known as the Lightbound they were offered a chance to eacape and join the Horde and partially intigrate into the nation of Durotar shortly after the War for Azeroth had begun between the Horde under Sylvanas and the Alliance. (for those that dont know Mag'har is a term for Orcs of a certain set of skin tones, the word meaning "uncorrupted" as green orcs are "corrupted" by the magics of demons. So these Mag'har are explicitly from the Iron Hoard)
While technically a part of the Durotar military and people these Mag'har Orcs had developed very independently of the Horde and Durotar Orcs and hold their own customs, traditions and approaches to military affairs which they had been allowed to practice.
A number of core details help the Mag'har/Iron Horde details stand out from the main Horde.
1) Technology: While certainly not more advanced than some of the races of Azeroth, the Iron Horde still had made significant technological advances which had lead to a strong early advantage over Azeroth, and much of that development stayed with the Mag'har.
2) Coalition of Clans: The Iron Horde and the subsequent Mag'har never went through the hardships, dramatic losses of life, and constant reshuffling of their populations which caused the same unification of the Durotar Orcs, as such each of their clans show much more individual identity and have a impact on the fighting styles and types of troops their portion of the military uses and emphasize their honor through a variety of varieations of the Orc's Blood and Honor code rather than the single overriding code.
3) Aggression: All Orcs are naturally aggressive, and despite the lack of history to bolster it the Mag'har/Iron Horde still instinctually will turn to more aggressive solutions.
4) Shamanism: The Mag'har never had their shamanistic tendancies lost to the ways of the Warlock Gul'dan nor the demons of the Burning Legion, as such their connection to natural spirits and their ancestors like their technology is greater than their Durotar counterparts.
The Mag'har share the same resources as the nation of Durotar and have a equal or greater population density than their 'standard' Orc counterparts. The biggest detail diffrentiating their approach to Warfare then would come from their technological, and Shamanistic practices combined with their sense of independent identity.
With all of these details the Mag'har/Iron Horde Orcs do not serve as a main line to support their fellow nations, but rather as a independent element of a wider whole. Each Clan wishing to gain recognition for its members deeds, honor their ancestors, or simply attain an victory through the most convenient means. Unfortunately this would mean I should list each clan with an immediate description of their priorities.
•Blackrock: quality Armor and quality weapons overhwelm foes.
•Burning Blade: Having swords that burn, and home of the most Blade Master Orcs.
•Laughing Skulls: Wear facemasks, are highly independent, and collect bones from fallen foes, considered treacherous.
•Shadowmoon: Former void magic Necromancers of the Iron Horde, full of seers mystics and shamans.
•Shattered Hand: self mutilating orcs who replace their hand with a melee weapon and act as assassins.
•Bleeding Hollow: leaders remove a eye for a vision of their death giving them fanatical frenzy in battle, often poison their blades.
•Frostwolf: Community focused Orcs, notable for hunting with wolf companions.
•Thunderlord: Communal, coopertive fighters, famed for tactics in hunting
•Warsong: Shock and Awe Raider cavalry
Due to the various points of the Mag'har/Iron Horde they use similar terms as the Durotar Orcs but diffrent units, Formations and measurements.
We will start with the Mag'har/Iron Horde's smallest unit/formation scale the Line.
•Melee Line: The Melee line follows much of the same arrangement as the Durotar Line, however their Mag'har/Iron Horde line consists of eight members and the density of the formation can very from all the Orcs being roughly 2 meters apart to an extra five meters apart from the Durotar line.
•Grenader Line: Comprised of six Mag'har each spaced five meters from the Orc in front or to the side of them to avoid catastrophe. The front Rank will typically have grenade equipped Grunts, while the back rank withh have grenade equipped crossbowgrunts or Gungrunts.
• Mixed Line: Formed similarly to the Melee line, the second rank is comprised entirely of Grunts with ranged weapons, or orcs with magical abilities.
• Shaman's line: A combat line of 8 magic casters with Shamans and mystics occuring so frequently as to derive the name from them.
•Gun line: spaced like the Melee line, this line supports eight Crossbow Grunts or Gungrunts, with archers also likely but less common.
• Single entities: Like Durotar The Mag'har have a number of large single entity siege engines, vehicles, and Gronn and Ogron. Unlike their standard Durotar cousins the Mag'har/Iron Horde Orcs have either such a large stockpile, or the ability to produce their own in such quantities thay often the Mag'har will form squadrons of these or attach them to larger formations. However unlike most Durotar Single Entities the Mag'har machines and beasts are more complicated and consume, overall, dramatically more manpower to produce, field, and maintain.
•Warsong Wolf Raiders: almost entirely made up of Mag'har Warsong Raiders, these 10 Orc squads are entirely loose formations meant to slip past enemy defenses and strike where damage would be maximized.
• Frostwolf hunting party: Comprised of Frostwolf clan members with their wolf companions, this group of ten orcs plus their wolf companions with the tenth member being a clan shaman. This party will almost always serve as a vanguard or foot scouts ambushing enemies who close on larger formations.
•Rylak Rider Squadron: Comprised of 5 riders and their Rylaks, they combine the deadly breath of their mounts with bomb tipped Javalins they throw down at their foes and serve as the near entirety of the Mag'har's air forces.
•Blade Line: As the home of the most Blade Masters first in Draenor with the Iron Horde, then Azeroth with the Mag'har and Durotar the Burning Blade clan is capable of fielding entire five man lines with aspirants who seek enough recognition to become a Blade Master, or even a Blade Master and their students.
•Shadowmoon clan: As the most devestated of the Mag'har clans the Shadowmoon are seldom able to field significant numbers for a battle, often with a single line being the best they can bring a larger formation. However they are the magical void artillery and support of the Horde making their role less direct.
•Blackrock support line: A 6 grunt battle line of Blackrock Orcs equipped with specialized war gear either meant to complement a overall formation or complete a very specific task.
-From the Mag'har lines they combine multiple lines to form the Mag'har/Iron Horde Blocks. Since they use smaller lines the Mag'har use more in their Block Formations. Nine Line formations are used by the Mag'har to form the Mag'har Blocks.
•Mag'Har Combat Block: One of the most common combat Blocks used after the Iron Horde and as the clans unified into the Mag'Har Horde. designed to be applicable with any combination of basic clan Units the formation comprises of a front line of three Mag'har melee lines each spaced at five meters apart, behind these lines by 8 meters are the ranged lines comprised of two Mixed lines, and a grender line between them, lastly 8 meters back from them stands the support row two Gun Lines on the flanks and a Shaman's line or a Shadowmoon line in the center.
•Armored Block: three Iron Horde siege engines form the forward line then riding in support are three Gun lines, then two mixed lines which can be launched as part of a specialized shell from the larger siege engines and a Blackrock support line who serve as much the same role as the Mixed lines but with equipment specialized to help maintain the Siege Engines or to combat likely enemy counters to the Siege Engines.
•Wolves' Howling Block: A rough combination of clans Warsong and clans Frostwolf. The combination of lines unfortinately is highly inconsistent but Ideally is supposed to comprise of five lines of Clan Frostwolf and four lines of clan Warsong. Clan Warsong are intended to engage in highly aggressive feint assaults and probing attacks on a enemy force agriviating them to give pursuit and into waiting Frostwolf ambushes, the roles can effectively be reversed with Frostwolf guerrilla attacks leading enemies to break up formations allowing Warsong Raiders to then easily overwhelm enemy lines. The actual positioning of the formation is highly mutable with one part forward and engaging and the other part held back preparing for an optimal assault.
•The Blade's block: The Combat block made famous by Clan Burning Blade, this block follows more traditional Orcish forms with 9 melee lines in a single row. Often, particularly if clan Burning Blade is present one or more of the melee lines might be replaced with a Blade Line which would dramatically increase the combat power of the block.
•Blackrock Support Block: Three Mixed Lines provide the protection as six Blackrock lines carry specialty weapons or serve as combat Engineers for the Mag'har forming forward combat positions for the rest of the army to position their Gun lines or siege engines.
•Gun Block: three mixed blocks form the first rank, the second contains two Gun lines and a Shaman's line or a Shadowmoon line, and the last rank contains two gunlines and a grender line.
•Rider Block: Comprised entirely of Rylak Rider Squadrons or Warsong Wolf Riders, this block of 9 squads is intended to severe as a outriding force to swiftly apply pressure to openings they find in enemy forces to reap havoc or to destroy enemy materials.
•Mag'har Siege Block: meant to break outposts and towns quickly Mag'har siege blocks comprise of one or two Single entities, three Blackrock Support lines, a Shaman's line or Shadowmoon line and then two gun lines and one or two Grenader Lines.
• The Raid: Almost exclusively used by adventurers, the effectiveness of the 15 to 30 man raid on Azeroth and beyond has not been questioned and national leaders still throw out money to adventurers willing to form raiding groups which often ignore mainline battles, and instead go "boss farming" killing champions, commanders, monsters, and vital assets of a enemy force.
-The Mag'har combine five blocks to form half a Battalion and then two halves are combined to serve the specific task the Battalion is meant to serve though it is more common for Battalions in the Mag'har to be shaped by their central clan or commander's clan culture leading to some Battalion halves being meant to mirrior themselves in the full Battalion or serve the clan's cultural service.
•Mag'Har Line Battalion half: Intended for frontline duty this Battalion half is comprised of three Combat Blocks on the front, a Blade's Block behind them, and a blackrock support block or Gun Block or Rider Block to the rear.
•Mag'har Armored Battalion half: Meant to support and apply pressure on the enemy with massed vehicles this Battalion half is comprised of three Armored Blocks and a siege block and a Blackrock Support Block.
•Burning Blade Clan: Built entirely of memebers of the Burning Blade this is comprised entirely of five Blade's block areanged in a singular line and will often have more Blade Masters than elsewhere.
•Wolf Clan Battalion Half: Comprised of a combination of both Warsong and Frostwolf or mostly to entirely of one clan or the other, this Battalion half features one Mag'har Combat Block as the visible center with four Wolves' Howling Blocks spread around it to harass and weaken foes allowing the central block to crush through weakened and disrupted enemy formations.
•The Blackrock clan Battalion Half: Comprised of two Siege Blocks, an Armored Block, an Blackrock support Block and a Gun Block or Mag'har Combat Block this formation is a mutually supportive combat force, often Battalions comprised of these forces can reshape battlefields to suit the needs of the Horde.
Golden Hour
The room turned towards the female Dwarven leader, while no one expressed shock or disbelief, all of them showed that this was a topic they had honestly been avoiding. And indeed Jaina suspected they had been effectively avoiding the topic. She herself hadn't wanted to dig too deeply both out of fear of what she might discover, but also because the topic seemed to distract from the multitude of other issues and topics of research that seemed to cross her desk on a hourly basis.
"Are none of you concerned about this? How did our people get to this other world, before? Did the Titans bring them when the set out from Azeroth or did a portal open while the clans and tribes were first migrating that these people all traveled through? " The former sole regent of the Dwarves asked.
Aunduin looked over to the Dwarf with a soft expression. "No, because ultimately doesn't matter, the portals may or may not have been open once, but these people are still humans and Dwarves and they still have their own nations and are not beholden to our authority. We may wish to make them our allies but we cannot force ourselves upon them. And based off of everything they might be dealing with a Burning Legion hold out, or a seperate force that splintered from the Burning Legion before Sargeras was first defeated. These people need our help and may have much of value they might give us as well." The young King stated, but despite his gentle tone and expression he clearly would brook not arguement.
"Now if we're going to have peaceful relations with this Empire of Man, or the Dwarves we should know a little more about them. Jaina, what do we know about them?" The human king asked.
"The Empire seems to be more like an confederacy of lesser states, unified under a Imperial system. They're unified by their faith, and based off the reports of our local informants as a nation might boast similar industrial power to Gnomericon or Iron Forge, maybe both, though certainly the technological level I've observed places them closer to Stormwind or my homeland, Kul Tiras." Jaina reported.
"If they have such Industrialization, why is their technology so far behind?" The High Tinkerer demanded.
Nearby Muradin Bronzebeard shrugged. "Mass production, they're probably more concerned about putting out as much as they possibly can rather than making sure it's as advanced as possible."
"But then what ensures the enemy doesn't just field something better?" The Gnome demanded.
"I can name a lot of things, and a lot of people who exist just to answer that question." Marthias Shaw quipped from across the room.
"Unfortunately this Empire seems far from entirely uniform either, simply put the states involved with this Empire each seem to have varying levels of Industrialization and have varying attitudes about everything. I think maybe even in terms of magic since the only magic caster i met there seemed insistsnt on some of the Oddest claims and set a building on fire when I tried to debate him on it." Jaina recounted her encounter with the so called 'Bright Wizard' while the man's magic power was incredible his sheer ignorance told her that he'd never compare to a properly trained Kirin Tor. Even recounting the encounter Jaina mocked the man, what next they find a world with a mage who insists on only learning a single explosive spell?
Tyrande seemed perplexed. "The more you talk about them the more backwards these people seem. And they are a dominant power?"
"Yes, what of them have been willing to interact with us seem to find most of our weapons either familiar or even underpowered." Jaina explained.
Shandris Feathermoon then interjected. "My own forces have engaged in a series of skirmishes, despite them being some of my best Hippogryph ridders they do report some of the local threats to be sufficiently talented but extremely crude."
Again Aunduin stood whos voice crossing the entire chamber. "I want us thinking about how best to approach these people as equals and friends! Not as potential enemies or fodder for our own wars."
With that the room quieted down for several moments before Jaina spoke up again. "As we somewhat touched on, the people of this world seem to possess a diverse faith system that may be worthy of substantial note. They seem very tolerant of a multitude of faiths and honestly while I'm not theologically inclined that may be one of our best avenues of discussion with them outside of basic exchangen of resources or military and territorial concerns."
Aunduin nodded. "Alright, I have some training as a priest and as King of Stormwind I would best serve as our representative."
Immediately the chamber broke out into protest. "We cannot risk the the High King needlessly."
"Tyrande is Priestess of Elune, and these are her lands wouldn't she serve better?"
"If you go that puts us at risk of having you cut off if the Horde attacks us here."
"I think we should send more than just you my king."
"We can not afford to have them demand we leave their lands, they must know we are here to stay until the Portals close."
Jaina remained silent throughout the noise of everyone making demands or protesting the High King's decision. She sat and contemplated the entire affair, and then thinking of a decent plan Jaina spoke up. "I like his proposal." Jaina said pointing her staff towards Aunduin, an action that from perhaps anyone else would have set Glenn on the defensive, and that still earned Marthias' cautious movement to his sidearm.
It took several momente but the noise of the various leaders eventually died down. "But I certainly understand everyone's concerns. So how about we establish a rotation system for until whoever the Empire sends arrives. First we'll set ground rules for a compromise, Anyone in this room, who wishes to cross over will have to provide their own honor guard, and only one of us may cross over at a time and we will remain on Mallus in two day intervals. Lastly whenever the top ranking representative arrives, Aunduin will be immediately brought to meet with him before any official negotiations begin."
Jaina waited as the round of individuals affirming or refusing began. But as she had hoped, both Glenn and Marthias spoke up in support of the plan.
"If we all participate it'll keep Aunduin safest, We need everyone we can to be involved." Glenn pleaded with the other leaders, though Shaw after him certainly had the more persuasive argument.
"If anything with how slow travel seems to be with this other world it buys everyone here a chance to start their own operations on the planet. That way the Council of three hammers, the people of Gnomericon, the Kaldorei and the Army of the Light can see to it their own operations start smoothly. After all we don't know when the next portals will be opening up, and we don't know where they'll be opening to either, it seems that this might just be our best chance to establish a presence on this world." The Spy Master reasoned.
After minutes of intenral debate Gelbin was the first to submit and agree to the plan, soon after Moira Thaurissian and Muradin Bronzebeard both agreed and even offered to contact Falstead Wildhammer, and then the last of the resistance finally broke as Alleria Windrunner also agreed to Jaina's scheme.
Then still standing Jaina looked across the room. "Now, if I can have everyone's permission might be best suited with Aunduin making the first journey to the other side, since all of this was just now planned. Also, I or Shandris should probably give everyone an initial tour, I suggest she and I alternate daily as the two of us still have authority over the camp and forces around Mordheim. Now your Highness, how about you and I leave while everyone here negotiates the order we will all rotate through. Oh and if someone could send Kalec an invitation, I'm sure this world would interest him." Jaina stated, some of it was met with scoffed protests but other just smiled and nodded, as Aunduin quickly stood from his chair and with a measured regal pace made his way to her side, hiding the slight grin he had from everyone.
Aunduin's first sight of the world of Mallus was the inside of a large processing and storage chamber where he needed to step aside as a Night Elf was brought past, tied down to a stretcher.
"What happened?" The young King asked in concern as his Lion's Guard positioned themselves between the King and the wounded.
A Gnomish doctor stopped and immediately bowed. "Your majesty, don't worry, she's suffering psychological trauma, and we intend to get her the best help possible."
On the stretcher the Night Elf began to scream as she neared the portal. "No, don't send me back, I need to solve it, I need to solve it. That Girl with the Dog she can solve it! I saw her solve it! I need to save David Bowknee from that baby! I can solve the Labyrinth it'll just take a few thousand more years, I'll have plenty of time if you just let me go back!"
The Gnome just shook his head in disappointment. "We found her outside the Camp in this state a hour ago, she was supposed to be exploring the city, but from the moment she regained consciousness outside camp she's been on about being in love with this David individual, as well as evil babies and poor goblins. I assure you she's going to get the best help possible."
"Well that was a experience." Jaina stated to Aunduin as she lead the king out and into the open air of Mordheim.
"Does that happen often?" Aunduin asked, both concerned and curious.
"Incidents in this city are frequent, but once one leaves they become far less common." The Archmage explained.
"Seems like we landed in a wonderful place." The King of Stormwind deadpanned.
"Welcome to Mallus your majesty, where the friendly locals are agressive and semi-hostile, entire armies rise from the ground to kill you because a lone lunatic, and even the trees, plants and rocks pose a danger. So far the weather has actually been fairly nice." Jaina joked back, before setting off to give the king a tour.
Kyn'ra ran as quickly as her battered body would allow her to move. She escaped the fortress and thanks to the blessings of Elune rendering her invisible she had avoided retaliation but Tarei had a general ability to track her and had been swarming her general location his clawing spirits, as well as lightning and fire. The Night Elf continued her frantic pace, soon seeing the barge where Silandel and Aursuun were being loaded aboard by Eike and Arman.
As she started to dash for the boat, Kyn'ra released the power of Elune running through her. The concealment given to her by her goddess dissipating as she ran, snapping back to loose a arrow at Tarei, which expectedly the Shuk'Tar blocked with an blood thirsty hiss. A foul spirit passed within inches of Kyn'ra as she ran and shortly after it the Night Elf could feel flames wash over her back causing her to stumble. However she caughter herself and continued to run.
"Launch the boat! Launch the Boat!" She screamed while sprinting towards her companions. Immediately Eike gabbed for a rod and began to push the barge off from the shore while Arman with his hammer and shield stood defensively before the human, deflecting a rouge spirit that lunged for the duo.
Then the Boat was into the water, and Kyn'ra dove into the river swiming to catch the boat. Almost surprisingly and much to Kyn'ra's relief Tarei did not follow, simply casting angry spells from the shoreline. Kyn'ra reached the boat and was pulled aboard by her two conscious companions, but even as she was drawn on board the boat Tarei called forth a new swarm of ghosts sending them across and through the water at the escaping boat.
Now on deck, Kyn'ra joined Eike and Arman surrounding their three unconscious companions. However the Night Elf's attempts to harm the spirit host was entirely useless, as was the gunshot from Eike. Even as the the three struggled and Kyn'ra frantically thought of some solution to save herself and the others. But the tide of ghosts would not be stopped as one came from beneath the deck grabbing the Elf's leg and pulling her down. Before a multitude of formless hands could tear into her a blast of holy light cast away the undead buying them repieve. But only enough for Kyn'ra to stand and redraw her bow. With Arman growing tired and the Ghosts multiplying Kyn'ra could only hear Tarei's mocking laughter from the shore.
And then salvation came as the first twilight of day broke the sky. Five Hawks decended upon the boat each unleashing a multitude of wind spells into the swarm of ghosts before changing themselves back into Druids of the Talon who formed a defensive perimeter around the adventuring group. Even as Kyn'ra's eyes widened in shock four Hippogryph with Sentinel riders landed on the barge.
"Get on now!" Kyn'ra and the others moved to immediately obey lifting Aursuun onto the back of one Hippogryph, Kyn'ra holding Silandel on another, Eike cautiously obeying to mount the third, and Arman mounting the last while holding Mata.
Then the Hippogryph all took off and the Druids soon followed their magic keeping the undead at bay.
And then the sky darkened and tumultuous winds began to make flight difficult. Swarms of bats began to rise from the forest and looking down Kyn'ra could see that Aleksandr had joined Tarei at the shoreline smirking at hiss escaping prey. The Vampire raised his hand towards the barge beneath the fleeing flight and suddenly a massive darkness, no what appeared as a purple rimmed star engulfed the vessel.
Two of the Druids were immediately consumed by the expanding star of darkness. And as the swarms of bats descended upon them Kyn'ra and the rest were split between trying to fight back against the swarming blood suckling animals and trying to urge as much speed from their mounts as they could.
Kyn'ra's bow acted and fired non-stop. She fended off the bats with a frenzy as they attempted to flock to the wings and necks of their mounts. Then she heard it, a screech followed by a short yell. Snapping her head back, Kyn'ra watched as Arman and Mata's mount first lost its rider, then with bats all ovwr it's neck and weighing down its wings the Hippogryph fell. Hippogryph, Mata, Arman and the rider all fell and passed through the dark star plunging into the dark waters below and disappearing from sight.
Kyn'ra's heart once again froze, and the Elf returned to killing the bats with a renewed hatred. Arrow after arrow she unleashed into the seemingly endless swarm. The pace ever frantic as the Night Elves and others struggled for their survival. And then the Sun broke the Horizon, with a final powerful gust the winds broke and the bats were blown away by the Druids, and the fleeing party was free.
Two Druids survived, and three Hippogryph, though a near panicking Eike now held the reigns of his as the Night Elf rider of his slowly bleed into unconsciousness in front of him. Slowly Kyn'ra felt that her resentment of this cursed world had grown. Emis was lost, replaced by a monster and now she had lost even more to this corrupt world, and she would have vengence.
Jaina and Aunduin finished the tour of the of the Alliance Mordheim Expedition Camp. The whole place was small, strange and Aunduin could admit had a charm to it, albet a somewhat frightening one as a air of danger and excitement always seemed to loom over the camp. The King had seen plants explode, a wall scream, a street rebuild itself, and hunters bring in a caged beast that put many of the Scourge and Old Ones abominations to the test. Even now he could hear the thing shouting the word "chirp" from across the camp.
"So what do you think?" Jaina asked the High King stepping back from him.
"I think this is the most awful city I've ever stood in. And there are multiple mercenary companies that operate out of here?" The King responded.
"Yes most of them are relatively small maybe a tenth of our number, but then there are organizations here whose power or number certainly would provide a challenge to deal with." Jaina answered as generally as she could.
"And have we been able to negotiate with them? Maybe asked them what it would take to form a peaceful relationship?" Aunduin asked, his peaceful diplomatic side at the forefront.
"With the Mercenaries we have formed some trade relations, but the Sentinals showing up hasn't helped things, nor that that so-called wizard with the largest mercenary company has their leader wrapped around his finger. But to try and keep the peace we've limited some of the areas of the city we've explored and flow over. We still keep getting various reports.
So far of note we've seen local Dwarves but haven't been able to locate where they operate from, even scrying attempts have failed. But a small group of them had attacked the Necromancer who helped lead the army that attacked us.
Also we're avoiding the Island near the center of the Island. That's where the Temple of the Sister's of Sigmar resides, they helped us against the Undead as well, holding the enemy elite skeleton warriors, locally referred to as either Wights or Grave Guard, for a long period of time allowing us to win over the Undead." Jaina explained.
"If we know where they are why don't we go thank them for their aid?" Aunduin asked.
"Apparently they're territorial and in a way isolationist. When we tried to approach the Island they met us with with weapons and battle hymns. The Mercenaries exained it as that their order contains the last remaining original residents of this city. They view outsiders as a sort of invader or hindrance to their holy mission to reclaim this city. They also seem to use fighting in the streets here as a type of training for their warriors who they then send out into the wider world by boat." Aunduin was disappointed with the answer. He wanted peace, not to battle women who his Expedition would be sharing a city with.
"There's also another two groups inside the city, although we don't know much about them." Jaina continued cautiously.
"And they are?" Aunduin asked, a eagerness Jaina was sad to disappoint.
"First looks to be a faction of human cultists, lead by warlocks. They've been hostile in nearly every encounter and are scattered across the city. The other seems to be a seperate force of non-humans, we've only caught site of them on occasion but they seem intent on avoiding us." Jaina kept her answer as direct as she could.
Aunduin sighed. "Unfortunate, but sometimes this is the way of the world. You said we should be expecting a diplomatic response soon?"
"Today or within the next two weeks by estimate." Jaina responded as a cry sounded from above and a trio of Hippogryph and a pair of Hawks landed.
As soon as the group arrived they were surrounded by Sentenals and to Aunduin's suprise one of the Night Elves riding the flying mounts was tackled put into shakles almost immediately upon landing, soon a Draenei dismounted unsteadily from another of the Hippogryph and then held out his wrists to the Sentinals, after a Human stepped off wearing what seemed to Aunduin to be flamboyantly colored clothing who held his hands up but stood away from the Sentinals dodging their attempts to grab his wrists while muttering in the local language which Aunduin still didn't fully grasp. Lastly a unmoving Void Elf was pulled of the last Hippogryph, the Void Elf weakly trying to call out but instead was carried off to where Druid healers were waiting.
"What's this?" Aunduin asked showing intense concern and like he was about to intervene.
Jaina blocked the King. "Deserters. They stole resources from the camp and set out on their own. The Night Elf is the Kyn'ra mentioned in our meeting, the others are newcomers, the human Eike whose been our first informant and Aursuun who was our leading Paladin. Let the Sentinals handle this."
"If this is the Kyn'ra that some of our reports are based off of, then shouldn't it be my duty to meet with her?" Aunduin asked, earning a sigh of surrender from the Archmage.
Kyn'ra sat in her cell brooding. it had now been over a day since the escape from Tarei and her Vampiric master. Still the return to Mordheim had been rough, many of them required rest and healing. And now that they arrive she was chained and locked in a room. Of course she got punished for trying to save people, thos world seemed determined to ensure any good intentions lead to disaster.
Make friends, explore and meet new people? Instead she watched a new friend die, suffered horrible pain, and was part of starting a war between the Alliance and Vampires.
Keep everyone safe, prevent the Undead from claiming any more? All she did was stand by uselessly as dozens of people died around her and a local mocked her for thinking that level of casualties was bad, followed by fighting a pointless death and watching helplessly as those around her were dragged off or killed.
Try to save those who were captured? No all she found was death and rather than dying herself ahe watched people die and got to see the result of her actions made manifest as a monster.
Kyn'ra wondered if this is ever how Tyrande or Malfurion ever felt.
Eventually the door to the room opened, first two heavily armored human knights stepped in followed by someone whose presence left Kyn'ra in shock. The Night Elf stared in disbelief as the young, blond, handsome man walked over then took a seat at a table in the room.
"I understand you had gone through some various adventures here on Mallus. I skimmed your reports but I'd like to hear your direct take on everything you've seen." The High King of the Alliance stated.
"K-king Aunduin...sir, y-your majesty." The Kaldorei renegade stuttered.
This earnes a warm smile from the King. "Yes that's who I am. But please I'd like to help you, but I really want your personal perspective on everything."
"I-I'm sorry. Umm what do you want to know?" The Elf apologized then asked simply.
"Well maybe we can just have your whole story up until now, and if I have any questions I'll ask whenever you feel like." The king stated.
"Well it all started after I left the Wardens, I was aimless, jobless, and no one would help. But then Jaina Proudmoore's Pioneer Expedition was looking for recruits so I ended up signing on..." The Elf began and covered the events of her adventures on Mallus, her first Vampire Encounter, the bar room attack, the rainy day battle, her losses, and then the mad plan to rescue those captured by the Vampire. Along each step the Night Elf felt her resentment of this world build, she knew there were forces covering this world intent on turning all good intents to massacres.
All the while Aunduin remained, even, calm, and supportive. Each time he asked her about how she felt the Elf nearly felt compelled to unleash a new revelation of how she thought this world was a evil meant to be warded against, so it couldn't harm anyone else anymore. She also confessed that she wouldn't be opposed to watching this world decay in the Twisting Neather.
But as the pair spoke on this part sudden alarm bells rang through the camp. Within moments the Lion's Guard were planning to withdraw the Kong to safety, but Aunduin assumed his authority as King. "No grab her, lets find out what this is about." Immediately obeying the Lion's Guard unchained Kyn'ra from the wall and dragged the Night Elf out into the Camp square where the Sentinals appeared to be mustering.
As the army was going through its motions Aunduin stopped one of the archers running past him. "What is going on here?" The King asked.
"The Hippogryph scouts spotted a army matching towards us, were moving all the Protectors to the Northern wall to intercept if we need to, but they're all so young and small if battle breaks out fighting will come into the city, we're waiting on Shandris Feathermoon to come up with a contingency for that, but until then Jaina wants to move most our forces to the outer wall of the city." The Elf answered honestly before darting off.
Aunduin then turned to Kyn'ra. "Your opinion?"
The chained Elf glared of toward the distance. "We identify, and then we attack, if we don't they'll assume command of the battle and we'll have to fight them in the way they want."
Aunduin nodded. "Well I think we can oblige one of your suggestions." The King then looked to his guards. "Get a guide, we're heading to the outer wall."
It had taken time, but now Aunduin stood on the outer wall of Mordheim, an uneasy feeling that the very rocks were watching him nagging at his mind as they looked out over the various Night Elf forces arraying themselves to defend the city.
Small pockets of Sentinals taking cover behind druid spawned thornbushes or waiting in small groves of trees while the, admittedly small and weak looking, Protectors gathered keeping vigil of the path they were rooting themselves in.
Overall the defense looked less like that and more like a field battle with some favorable terrian for the Night Elves.
Even groves of Trents were rooting themselves in some of the forward positions intent on abushing whatever enemies attempted to pass through them. Elsewhere Hippogryph riders kept their beasts calm and ready to take flight at a moments notice, while Huntresses readied their Night-Sabers petting the ferocious animals while also preparing their swords or bows.
And then Aunduin could see the other army, for the first time seeing the strange nature of its approach. The entire force marched in a long line which slowly spread itself to stand across from the Night Elves and the city behind them. Cannons seemed to start setting themselves on raises just behind the army. And where they were preparing the Night Elves could have easily begun any battle themselves by sending forth their Hippogryph riders. Instead a variety of banners were observed all with a crown wearing griphon and the name 'Ostermark' written beneath it.
The army possessed a strange quality to it. A grim sense came from the people many of whom wore dark thick clothes and while going through what looked like pre-battle rituals and what looked like death rites for the living the army seemed to engage in this with a near casual cheer.
While this army prepared a single rider, weilding a flag of the army, took off towards the city. This rider eventually began to pace a few yards ahead of the first Night Elves. Then the man began to shout, an odd affair for the High King who strained to listen as the man despite shouting the same if not greater than most on Azeroth his voice didn't carry nearly as far or powerfully.
"Occupiers of Mordheim. By Order of the League of Ostermark you are to vacate both Ostermark and Imperial Territory entirely. Currently you are occupying Imperial Land with military force. If this continues the Grand Province of Ostermark will have no choice but to assume hostile intent."
As the human shouted Aunduin quickly realized the implications of the threat. "I need to get down there." The King stated.
At his side the chained Kyn'ra just scoffed. "Attack, otherwise we'll come to regret it. Negotiations with these people will just lead to our own hardships."
Aunduin took several minutes to get out of the city, and once past the wall ensuring enough fanfair to grab the riders attention. Though Aunduin noted that the man didn't seem to notice the trumpets as quickly as the Elves next to him, nor did the woman...Jaina Proudmoore, she most have teleported to the man...Jaina also seemed to not as readily hear the sound either.
Eventually the High King reached the man, who stared down from his mount still holding his flag. At the man's side Jaina seemed to already be adjusting her diplomatic approach. "Sir this is King Aunduin of the Kingdom of Stormwind, the leading voice of the Alliance. He came here in hopes of opening up diplomatic relations with the Empire. If you would just allow him to state the situation as it is."
The man looked down at Aunduin. "Speak, but my General has his orders. You will end your occupation of Mordheim, or we will remove you."
Avenah stood outside the wall of the Imperial Capital city of Altdorf, she was outside the capital city for the first time since she arrived and honestly the region outside the city looked rather plain. Instead what held her attention was the complex arrangement of soldiers, fanatics, priests and oddly familiar yet alien creatures and contraptions spread about.
"Come on their preparing to march, we'll need to find you a carraige or a horse that'll support you." Günther stated next to Avenah, the Imperial Captain walking past to guide the Draenei.
"Wait Günther are those seige tanks?" The Draenei hadn't thought the Empire capable of Siege Tanks, weirdly she even suspected crude flying machines or air ships before siege tanks.
"Hmm?" Günther itoned looking to where the woman pointed, there one of the Empire's famed Steam Tanks sat with a pair of draw horses mounted to it, and in front of another newer Steam Tank model, the likes of which was put into production juat before Franz took the throne, the larger model needing a full four horse team to draw.
"Wow, Volkmar sure has anlot of influence, or the Emperor is behind this Expedition. So the small one is one of Leonardo da Miragliano's original Steam Tanks, who unfortunately when the man disappeared he took the notes concerning his advanced designs with him, the bigger one is a newer design that's not quite as a effective or at least the Engineers say." The Captain stated with a casual nod, before turning and smiling widely.
"Looks like we have a ride." The captain claimed as a carraige rode up next to the pair.
"The Grand Theologist wishes to keep you close and hired us to transport you." The driver of the Carraige stated as a soldier sat on top holding a halbred.
Avenah raised a eyebrow. "If he wanted us close couldn't he have us go with him?"
Günther coughed politely grabbing Avenah's attention. "The Grand Theologist rides upon the War Altar of Sigmar. To join him on it without being a Priest of Sigmar or invited to join in ritual or prayer is sacrilege."
Avenah nodded in understanding and then mounted the Carraige. Günther followed and moments later while they waited they finally could hear shouting, clattering and finally looking out of the Carraige both could see the Dwarf Gerunn running towards them and then diving into the carraige with a nasty welt on his head. The dwarf then looked between the two in front of him and sighed in releif.
"So Dwarven women here are very different from back home. Ummm, when a Dwarven woman pulls out a notebook and writes your name in it as well as the date, and yer words used when flirting with her...is that good here?" The Dwarf asked cautiously getting into a seat.
While this happened Günther kept his mouth sealed tight, but Relyea laughed as the Worgen woman suddenly appeared climbing into the carraige. "You're a dumbass. Sorry it took me a bit to find you." The Worgen then looked between all the members of the group. "So where is this 'Expedition' heading to anyways?"
Günther then looked seriously between the three. "The Grand Theologist intends to visit Mordheim, I dont know if he has Imperial Authority at the moment or not. But he may be one of the people overseeing the Negotiations."
Avenah looked nervously to her human counterpart. "That seems risky, the man's personality doesn't seem the best for delicate negotiations like this." Avenah reasoned, and as she did horns blared and the entire army began to march.
Günther nodded. "But thats why there's rumors that someone else has been sent to serve as the lead negotiator."
Relyea stuck her head out the carraige to watch the marching army. "The heck do those guys have nails in their skin?"
Gerunn joined the Worgen. "I think they do lass."
Avenah ignored her comrades and pressed the conversation. "Really any ideas as to who?"
Günther shook his head. "Rummers are all over the place from the playwright Detlef Sierck, to the storybook adventurer Felix Jaeger, but my bet is on the rummor that it's a apprentice of the Master of the Komission of the Imperial Archives. Soldiers even claim to have already seen the likely lady about the city visiting Volkmar, the Palace, and Merchants and nobles across the city. And I mean it would make sense, a someone smart, good at book keeping and probably able to negotiate well enough."
Suddenly a voice cut in from the other side of the Carraige, one which started all but Relyea who just scowled. "Actually I've been seconded to Lady Emmanuelle Nacht, I won't be doing the actual negotiations. Just reford keeping and reminding the Lady of the Emperors will."
The voice came from a horse mounted woman wearing thick padded clothing and a vail over her head. Green bespectacled eyes, a pale complexion and red hair were just visible under the woman's vail and hood.
"You reek of perfume, you're using way too much." Relyea growled at the woman.
"Well excuse me for traveling non stop and working day and night for the purpose of making sure the Empire doesn't kill your people. I haven't bathed in weeks now because of you, if not for this perfume i'd probably be smelling and sweat, shit and death right about now." The woman snarked back at the Worgen. "I was hoping I could perhaps take a nap next to this carraige but apparently I offend a dog too much."
Avenah taken by suprise just shook her head. "No you can nap there if you want to. We actually do appreciate the effort you've made for us."
After tying her reigns to the back of thr carraige the woman immediately fell asleep whole riding her horse. All the while Relyea glared at her.
Avenah then turned back to Günther. "So Günther if this is a negotiation mission to Mordheim why the army?"
The Captian just shrugged. "Well there's protecting the diplomats and then there's just in case the negotiations go sour. But I'd guess it's the dangers of getting from Reikland to Mordheim an army this size would probably scare off most of them and fend well against the enemies who would see us as a challenge."
In turn Avenah nodded the logic was there but certainly seemed odd from her world's perspective on everything. A perspective that included Dwarves who apparently were a lot less uptight , and didn't have Vampires and other monsters lurking everywhere.