Reviews:
Guest 1: The Empire's deforestation efforts are a catch-22, yes you'd get rid of the trees the Beastmen are hiding in, but your territory is almost as big as IRL europe, probably as big as the EU. And the more you deforest the more you expose what remains to magic, specifically the type of magic that resides in Athol Loren meaning more angry trees suddenly summoning new forests and angrily smashing towns. And the current forests are home to a multitude of creatures that the Empire actually likes as well. The Empire is better served by a simple wood thinning campaign so any tree corruption remains on the more easily dealt with outskirts of the forest, but of course that process is slllllooooowww especially considering how delicate and slow the process is even with modern logging equipment (but the process ironically is also far healthier for the forests than just letting them grow wild)
Guest 2: TUBULAR DUDE!
Guest 3: Eeeeeh no. Ikit is already working on the Doomshphere which I'd argue is the greater weapon (if just) and his ego would have him wanting to use and or steal these. And the Empire's tech/magic just isn't at the point to replicate those weapons. The Empire is pragmatic about their tools of murder (usually) they won't obsess over replicating a weapon they cannot yet build themselves and whose performance varies too wildly for them be certain of its success.
Guest 4: Thats the problem with Rushing a End Times event and blowing up the world both mod edition and litterally over a weekend, there's all this stuff that doesn't really have even half decent lore besides "it exists" left laying around.
As for the Grey Wizards everyone knew they had portal magic well before then. It was a question of why they couldn't just *teleports right behind you* "Nothing personal kid" *end meme, and then group teleporting, well Chaos, Elves (very particularly/often Wood Elves), Lizardmen and a few others are implied to have it or just do it by result of where they live. Wood Elves teleport across the world thanks to their BS magical forest of being a shitty forest, Chaos because Chaos Gods are jerks and bend time and space for laughs, and Lizardmen via the Geomantic Web.
Guest 5: Maybe but thats a obvious fear. There's magics and magic details that when blending are a lot more frightening
Guest 6: They could, but the "mass" production varient isn't all that strong or noticeable. The one that everyone knows and remembers was super charged by an magical item sought after by the Blue Dargonflight and only detected by the people who were activelysearching for that magic item. And annoyingly enough like most things from Blizzard i have to deal with, there's no direct visuals of the detonation just the after effects. And well, logistically even if you sextupple the area taken by Theramor they city is tiny with a small population compared to everything...i mean the population that the default gameplay map could at max support would be anything but a city. Hamlet would better describe Theramor's base game map setup and that's still pushing it population wise. But remember WoW fans Bomb a valid enemy target full of Enemy leadership who are actively fighting you, but be a muscular dude, you're a deranged lunatic. Burn thousands of civilians to death who are in a city you have successfully occupied, all in the name of kicking off a genocide war with the intent of feeding souls to a hostile force based off vague promises that you can only hear in your head...but be a Tig ol'Bitty Elf "She's morally grey".
Random Anon: for the sake of the humans stuck in the middle ages as everyone around them runs around with teleporters and laser guns.
kingbean777205: Honestly your right, but i felt that 1) Morrs Garden isn't a desireable place to be, certainly isn't the Warp or Hell, but a young man doesn't want to be there also. and 2) I just didn't feel i had the space to put in the soldiers who are probably off rocking in a corner over how they died as their former comrade grunts, chews grass and shits his trousers.
Ogres yeah likely not, I mean it doesn't really serve Greasus well, but promises of a great payday would probably lead a disproportionate (compared to past migrations of this type) numbers heading for the Portal...if Alyzz can prove her case.
It's hard to see either group of Dwarves getting along. One group is a hyper exaggeration of the word conservative, and the other group has guys who ditch their duties to elope with a married succubus...something that every part of that sentence is a grudge in of itself.
ww1990ww: But the Azerotheans sadly are still a bit ignorant. After all to them a God of the dead has far different meaning and is usually the (besides the light) guy you talk to to get people raised from the dead.
micelzod: Awww someone is rooting for the good guys. But we'll have to start seeing how the cookie crumbles.
Hakuryuu: It's amazing what sort of progress can be had with people who don't get caught up in certain details. But I'm holding off the Dawi more because they're psuedo-isolationist rarely marching down from their mountains. As for the Beastmen attack, remember the all famous One-Eye's predecessor was a strategic moron for a beastman and even he could think of moves like "hit different parts ar the same time", and I was hoping to get a little extra Cathay and Kislev in, but my graphics card broke in my laptop so I have to wait a month or two before i get to play and read all the in game fluff.
Jak23: That she did. And it most certainly isn't AoS Nagash, I wont punish him by making him into the very thing he despises, unlike GW. The God name here is Morr, and he's like the non-disney Hades a dude whose actually chill with ruling the dead and thusly is a LOT more terrifying when someone actually escapes death or steals the dead from him.
As for Nagash learning what the Light can do. Meh, it's just another foe for him to figure out. While the Timb Kings would DEMAND the Light's power be used to finally kill Archon the Black and Nagash...and upon learning of Calia Menethil would probably throw a bitch fit and start punishing the Liche Priests for their failure to do what a single woman had done by accident.
Also the Cathayan Dragons don't have a hate boner for Gods, necessarily, from everything i see it's more like two types of territorial animals in the same region. Mostly the Cathayan dragons seem apathetic to the Gods only hating the Chaos Gods because those ones actually threaten them.
Also i don't write God POV because WHFB isn't about God PoV they are supposed to be beyond most mortals with limited exceptions and the Wood Elves are far too isolationist to get involved and the Everqueen has no reason to travel a quarter of the world for people who are still inferior to the High Elves (it's sad when the Dark Elves and High Elves are so lore OP that even WoW at BFA and Shadowlands the Alliance or Horde are only just strong enough to challenge either of them)
Terran Raider: Thank you?
Rook435: That and everything else more or less fills their MOs. But certainly thanks for the detail, i write from my phone since my computer isn't usually what i can be at when I'm free to write...and my phone's autocorrect is terrible.
TheJackinati275: Someone get the Magehunters and Bronze Dragonflight in here. Someone is trying to mess with time and control the Cathayan Dragons.
Formations of Azeroth
Kingdom of Stormwind
To break things up we'll jump lines to the Kingdom of Stormwind, the central kingdom to any World of Warcraft players game experience and the Kingdom Orc gloriously end in Warcraft 1, suck it Alliance your kingdom sucked since game 1(;D). Stormwind modernly is virtually the American Abrams tank of the Alliance, a strong massive force that does everyone else's job for them, yet nothing about the thing was built by the country it was assembled in or fighting for. Leading to the national points for Stormwind.
1)Cosmopolitanism: Stormwind doesn't really do the self betterment, or working to improve the lives of its citizens thing, hell the one time they tried they then refused to pay the people who built the whole kingdom. The vast majority of arms more complex than a Warhammer Bretonnian's wargear is going to have origins from outside of Stormwind. However this has lead to Stormwind as part of point 2 having a military specifically designed to include the military forces of other nations.
2)'Accidental' Hegemon: While it can be debated heavily how anyone could not intentionally be a Hegemony, Stormwind sits effectively in this place with the only nation of the Alliance not directly requiring the Alliance to prop them up militarily, logistically, or economically before the Battle For Azeroth was the Elves of Darnassus. All other Nations to varying extents required Stormwind's support to take action and almost none of them save for Kul Tiras post BFA could hope to take action without Stormwind supplementing them. As such Stormwind also designs their military to be intigrated into that of their allies and Stormwind focuses more on the logistics of war than most other Azerothean Nations as they have to manage the logistics of multiple nations, most of their allies as mentioned dramatically out teching them thus requiring much more complex logistics.
3) Church of the Holy Light and SI:7: These two agencies are the largest and most stand out sub-organizations within Stormwind, and that can be truly labeled as Stormwind 'exclusive'. The Church of the Holy light provides Stormwind with a disproportionately high supply of Priests, and while Mages are also significant in Stormwind they do not hold the power that the Church does as even King Aunduin can be claimed as one of their number. Meanwhile SI:7 is virtually unopposed as a spy agency requiring several organizations working in tandum to match SI:7's mercenaries and specialists.
4) Discipline: While Cutscenes and even gameplay would try to state otherwise the style of combat in cutscenes shown and stated to be practiced by Stormwind, but again never actually seen due to the limitations of the Warcraft RPG, would require soldiers not only to have strong personnel discipline but also the discipline needed to fight in coordinated formations. listening to, identifying, and obeying orders. I know to some you might think "but thats basic bla bla bla" one in a melee with a Orc finding the courage to suddenly put your shield on say you back because someone said to is going to be real hard. And two, IRL actually hearing orders even in modern combat with headsets and radios, and recognizing those orders as being meant for you is a lot harder than the preprogramed video game characters make it look. And considering these are Azerothean humans whose main enemy the Orcs obsess over one on one combat and dying with 'honor' with their Honor being about as dubious as a klingon's, and their allies all either run around with laser guns treating war like a field trip, or so physically or skillfully imposing that a single soldier is equal to a few dozen that Stormwind has such high discipline among its soldiers is a true testiment to their strength of character.
In term of Resources Stormwind is located in a resource rich area of Azeroth and just south of some extremely resource, particularly metal, rich mountains which are controlled by their allied states. However most of these resources exist for trade , fleet building, and the forging of basic materials and tools as Stormwind leaves most to all complex tool creation to their allies.
In terms of Technology Stormwind is in a crossroad, humanity itself is drastically far behind their allies barely, as a whole, able maintain or manufacture (two seperate skill sets) the Guns and Canons that their allies had been using for nearly a half century or more. But Stormwind has access to said technology and clearly can grasp the operation of such weapons (basically Stormwind is the Imperium of Man from 40k in terms of understanding the black hole gun a gnome just dropped in their lap for warhammer fans who don't understand)
The Ultimate tactic for Stormwind is to attempt to bring the armies of multiple nations to bear upon their enemies, and do so in a way that the armies all fight as one cohesive force. Barring that Stormwind will, like Lordaeron in its final lonely days, fight relying on discipline and older but proven tactics to win the day.
We begin with Stormwind's smallest unit scale the Squad. Due to the Discipline of these squads and their intended flexibility Stormwind sticks to a strict six man Squad composition.
•Footmen Squad: The basic melee force of Stormwind, the notible training of and Stormwind Footmen is their unique shield training meant to catch and deflect most arrows and bolts. Otherwise each combatant is trained to fight in two rows of three with between half a meter to three meters between them, often physically bracing and supporting one another.
•Alliance Expeditionary Squad: A "open space" in Stormwind's military planning intended to be filled by Alliance member state troops, most commonly the Dwarf or Gnome Gunner squads, but it could range to Dwarf Griphon Riders, Draenei Rangari, Night Elf Wardens, or even Pandaren Warriors.
•Ranged Battleline Squad: Built namely for linier combat the default arrangement of this squad is three heavy shield carrying footmen, and three archers/crossbows/gunmen in a line behind them, though those three could be supplmented by allied ranged troops.
•Combat support squad: With a front line of three Footman bodyguards, three Priests of the light support Alliance lines from behind.
•Paladin Squad: Six Paladins, this squad serves as a close range all purpose unit ranging from healing support, anti-undead, and strong forward melee.
•Knight Squad: Six mounted or dismounted knights, Knight Squads often serve as a gauntleted hammer to either break Horde formations or intercept and disrupt Horde attacks.
•Mage Squad: A full Squad of Mages is usually placed just behind battle lines where they can combine their firepower to serve as a living artillery or disrupt enemies with their various spells like polymorph.
•Single Entity: Stormwind has its own stockpile of Cannons, Siege Tanks, and other weapons of war rangeing from Catapults to Gyrocopters.
•Stormwind Scout Squad: Arranged in a loose skirmish formation similarly spaced as the Orc Line, the Six man Scout Squad focuses on movement, target identifying, and use of bows, crossbows and guns to harass enemies.
-In the Alliance, following Stormwind's model Squads are collected into Companies. Stormwind particularly uses ten squads per company.
•Stormwind Combat Company: Intended for independent direct combat, the Stormwind Combat Company is a direct melee combat force intended to defeat enemies in a direct confrontation. The first row of this Company is five Footmen Squads, two Knight Squads can be on the left, right, or both ends of the rear of the formation. Then two Combat Support Squads and a Paladin Squad follow up to ensure the survival of the troops and keep the combatants lasting as long and possible.
•Scout Company: made up entirely of ten Stormwind Scout Squads this Company scatters its squads over a wide area with the intent to detect any enemies or threats early and help steal initive from a enemy force.
•Stormwind Ranged Company: Comprised of four Ranged Battleline Squads to the front, then to the rear two Combat Support Squads, and two Mage Squads, and two Stormwind Scout Squads on the flanks.
•Knight Company: Ten Knight Squads in a variety of dense arrangements from blocks to wedge formations. This Company is meant to penetrate enemy lines, destroy logistics and enemy single entities, as well as collapse enemy formations.
•Church's Company: Built around the Chruch of the Light and thw paladin orders, particularly the Order of the Silver Hand, this formation features five Paladin Squads, three Combat Support Squads and two Stormwind Scout Squads.
•Siege Company: Three Single Entities, typically siege tanks are defended by three Ranged Battleline Squads, two Mage Squads and a Footmen Squad and a Combat Support Squad.
•Stormwind Alliance Close Combat Company: As Stormwind is so heavily intigrated into the Alliance they have devised a series of Companies specifically intended for when their Allied States can only minimally contribute to a war effort. The Close Combat Company varient features two Paladin Squads, and three Footmen Squads as well as spots for five Alliance Expeditionary Squads with the intent to have them close to the enemy.
• Stormwind Alliance Ranged Company: The medium to long ranged varient of the Stormwind Alliance Company, these Companies feature two Stormwind ranged Squads, two Stormwind Scout Squads, and a Mage Squad followed by five Alliance Expeditionary Squads.
•Stormwind Alliance Artillery Company: Meant as battlefield support three Solo Entity artillery peices are defended by a squad of stormwind Scouts, two Ranged Battleline Squads and four Alliance Expeditionary Squads.
• 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.
-Following the Companies, five Companies are combined to form half a Battalion. Each half of a Battalion helps serve a particular purpose for the Stormwind Army.
•Stormwind Assault Battalion Half: The primary front line force of the Stormwind army when acting independently, this force comprises two Stormwind Combat Companies at the front, two Stormwind Ranged Companies on the flanks, and a Knight Company to the rear.
•Stormwind Siege Battalion Half: Intended to breach defenses and capitalize on the opening in the enemy, this force is comprised of three Siege Companies, a Church's Company in support and a Knight Company held in reserve for the crucial moment.
•Stormwind Scouting Battalion Half: Three Scout Companies lead a Stormwind Ranged Company and a Church's Company which act as their support.
•Paladin Battalion Half: Three Church's Companies, a Siege Company, and a Stormwind Scout Company form the Paladin Battalion half, formed with the intent of the first three companies engaging the enemy while the siege equipment lays into the enemy and the scouts instead flank and shoot down enemies from the rear.
•Stormwind Alliance Combat Battalion half: The true primary Battalion used by the Commanders from Stormwind. Two Stormwind Alliance Close Combat Companies lead the formation with three Stormwind Alliance Ranged Companies follow after.
•Stormwind Alliance Siege Battalion Half: The longer ranged formation of the Stormwind forces, this Battalion half comprises two Stormwind Alliance Artillery Companies, two Stormwind Alliance Ranged Companies and a lone Stormwind Alliance Close Combat Company held in reserve to support whenever enemy melee gets too close.
Power of words
Avenah sighed in partial relief as the column passed a marker indicating that they were now entering into Ostermark territory. The Draenei had been disappointed to learn she had missed the bulk of the journey instead recovering from the mental attack of the 'brayshaman', recovering her mental facilities and bringing her animalistic urges under control. It was like her mind had been trying to rebuild itself ever sense that monster's attack.
But now the City of Mordheim was only a short journey away. The Empire's troops had crossed the Empire's territory in a little over two weeks time and now as the journey was coming to a end the Draenei found herself sitting across from Irma Schoff and another human woman. Lady Emmanuelle Nacht was without a doubt a beautiful human woman, dressed in what must have been a trendy dress with a green broach and cloak. The woman also was strict, business-like and at least somewhat courteous in everything she did.
"I have reviewed the records and notes provided by my adjunt as well as my own breif interviews of your two traveling companions regarding the predominant cultures of your Alliance present at the 'Worlds Portal'. But now that I've been permitted to meet with you directly there are a number of pressing questions We'll need to have absolute clarity on." The Empire Diplomat stated.
"I understand." Avenah replied.
"Good. Then to start, what were you ordered, or permitted, to request when first opening negotiations. Or if not yourself what can you suppose your superiors will want from these Negotiations." As Lady Nacht spoke Irma Schoff at her side wrote swiftly taking note of everything said or done by the two.
"Truthfully I had only been given permissions to establish trade, I was sent out as an attempt to begin negotiations with the Empire's government. But the Alliance will want ultimate control over over the portal, and considering the situation that will mean Control over Mordheim enough to allow fortification of the portal. Nothing unreasonable surely. " The Priestess explained, hoping to ease negotiations.
The Empire Diplomat sighed. "That's some heavy demands. Ostermark, particularly the League of Ostermark certainly wont want to relinquish Mordheim to anyone, particularly with it situated on a river as it is. Though I could perhaps sell them on it if your Alliance is willing to make some severe trade concessions or even accept being taxed for everything and everyone on this side of the portal."
Avenah looked at the Diplomat oddly. "You need to convince them, I thought you represented the Emperor?"
Emmanuelle Nacht allowed herself to be seen with a small self concious smile. "Indeed, I do represent the Emperor. Thats why I must conduct these Negotiations with the interests of Ostermark and the neighboring Grand Counties first. The Emperor can not be seen as putting his own County, or his own interests, above that of the Empire or the counties that it is comprised of. But that is precisely why I have been summoned and sent, I can convince them all not only to agree to any terms and conditions we arrange for our treaties, but I can also convince them that it it is all to their benefit even with the sacrifice of sovereign territory."
Avenah could understand the statement to a degree. She was certain there were things in the Alliance that the Night Elves or Draenei didn't agree with but chose to allow or just ignored because of the benefits of being part of the Alliance. "Ok and what necessarily would the people of Ostermark want?"
At this the Imperial Diplomat sighed. "Ostermark is one of the poorest and most invaded Grand Counties of the Empire. And they have rivals on top of the territories they border being relatively unsecure. Adding a new state to those they border is not something they wish to have happen. The League is going to want to dramatically increase the wealth and prestige of their territory, and all the people of Ostermark will be looking to remove threats and increase their security."
Avenah was a little shocked by the first thought she had listening to the woman but still it was a good overall summery. "I doubt we could convince them to join the Alliance and I also doubt they'd trust, or that anyone in the Allaince would rightly agree to sign, a treaty promising our Armies to serve as a one sided defense agreement. But on Azeroth we have a wide array of adventures and champions, perhaps an arrangement where we pay them to move into region aiding in the defense while building outposts exclusively for Ostermark's use and defense?"
"Are you suggesting that in exchange for Mordheim the Alliance pays for mercenaries to serve in the defense of Imperial territories?" The Diplomat asked with an amused smile.
"I-i think I am." Avenah responded.
"A good suggestion but the League wouldn't want to relinquish a river city like Mordheim just for that." The Diplomat stated.
"Well that probably should just be a opening offer, after that we start talking trade?" Avenah then suggested, the Priestess' clear inexperience as a diplomat showing, though she certainly had a good head on her shoulders.
"No, but we'll get to that part shortly after." The Diplomat stated.
As she wrote Irma finally looked up from the book in her lap. "Lady Nacht, do you wish for a copy of all my notes or just the diplomatic points?"
The Lady Emmanuelle Nacht didn't even look away from Avenah. "Full copy of the note with the key points listed first."
Immediately Irma went to comply before looking up again. "Oh and Lady Avenah, Volkmar has decided he wants to have another conversation with you tonight."
The ride was grueling, the group of fifteen had ridden non-stop for four days straight and Launchalot still pushed them. If there wasn't explanation Zannae was certain that at least the living members of the force would certainly revolt. Zannae needed to get answers for the sake of the unit.
The blood Elf pushed his Charger steed up next to the Undead Knight who commanded the group. Breathing deeply Zannae then shouted to Launchalot. "Don't you think we've traveled far enough!? What is this mission that Sylvanas gave you? I think it's time we're told what we're supposed to be doing."
The Undead Knight glared ahead for a few moments. "The Warchief has tasked us with a secret mission. We are in the midst of committing a conspiracy to both subvert the Alliance's hold on this world but to also bring them into war with one and hopefully multiple powers on this world."
Gin rode closer to their leader. "You're fucking with us right?"
Launchalot just shook his head. "The timeline for the mission is incredibly tight, impossible even, but we have co-conspirators who want this to happen. They will be helpingus reach the Alliance base in Mordheim in less than a month."
Now Zannae felt taken aback. Fellow co-conspirators, who could have Sylvanas contacted, oe had the foresight to contact her, for such a plot? Even the terrain they were in now made the question all the more pressing. The rolling terrain now turned into larger and larger, and steeper, hills, mountains each smaller than MountNeverest, but certainly invoking thoughts of the massive mountain, and towering beyond those mountains, the largest mountains the Blood Elf had truly ever seen.
Zannae had dismissed it when looking at maps, but now it was clear, entire Empires and Kingdoms could be hidden away in these mountains and be seldom seen by those living in the foothills below. And these co-conspirators were supposed to help them pass these mountains at what might be there thicket point, in less than a month's time.
"So where are these Co-conspirators?" Gin demanded, his eyes scanning the hills.
"We need to reach the mountain ahead, the map I was shown had specific instructions written on it." Their leader stated, his own eyes also frantically searching the hills as they rode. Many others of the unit seemed to have questions but most held their questions to themselves.
The next hour of travel, pushing their mounts as hard as possible, crossed in silence. As they rode up the hills, the path becoming narrower and the terrain rougher, Launchalot focused on the terrain focusing in on a portion of the hills that looked like a naturally occuring, yet squared archway. As Zannae noticed this he too looked at the point, and after a long time of silent riding while watching, he noticed movement.
"There!" Launchalot shouted, just beating Zannae. Near the top of the structure three crude banners rose, like those used by the Orcs in the earlier days of the Horde. Each of the banners had a crude representation of the Horde's stylized scorpion claw symbol, the rune meaning for the many to surround and embrace the one. Yet around that were other symbols that Zannae didn't recognize, one of which might have been the original symbol that the Horde's was crudely painted over.
Swiftly the fifteen veered to the site carefully guiding their mounts up the paths and towards their supposed allies on the hill. Gin lead the way guiding the group swiftly up the hill. Eventually they reached the point where now three banners stood, planted on stands and waiting for the group. Immediately Launchalot leapt from his horse and began calling out into the hill around them. Meanwhile Gin and the others took to an immediate defensive carefully scanning the terrain and the Orc took place by Zannae's side.
"Don't worry, I'll watch your back." Gin reassured as he kept a keen eye on the terrain.
Zannae didn't reply instead focusing on the banners. One depicting some sort of creature head with short horns had the sigil of the Horde painted over it. The other two banners had multiple groups of odd lines drawn around the Horde Sigil. Groups of three lines all formed uneven and crude triangles on the Banners.
"We are the agents of the Horde sent by Sylvanas Windrunner!" Launchalot shouted again still searching for further signs of life.
And then finally they revealed themselves. With chittering, squeaking, and hyperactive movements a sudden swarm of small creatures. Each stood low hunched toward the ground, some nearly crawling with short swords and small shields in their hands. Where so many of these things had hidden was a certain suprise to Zannae.
But now this large mass of what could only be considered Rat-people nearly surrounded the Sunset Expedition. Each of these creatures seemed to move, sniffing the air and chitter with nervous energy. Gin even subtly prepared his gun to rapid fire into the horde. Then the rear of the swarm opened up allowing two figures through, a massive brutish monstrosity that stood taller hunched over and walking on it's knuckles than Launchalot on his steed and a straight standing and grey furred creature with curved horns coming from his helmet.
The obvious leader seemed to look the Horde team over very analytically before extending his arms out. "W-weellcome to Great-Mighty Under-Empire Horde-Ally. I am Wise-Mighty Thanqual of the mighty Council of Thirteen, who knew-saw that you would need-want greatest Seer to guide you to victory in war over over your...enemy-neighbor." The thing's speech probably was intended to be grandiose and impressive, but between the voice, and almost incomprehensiblely thick accent, and the odd tick Zannae had to keep Gin silent least the Orc break out laughing at their self proclaimed guide.
"Thankyou. The Horde shall be certain to honor your people and welcome them to our battles and shall fight hard for the betterment of your people." Launchalot replied, giving a bow to the rat-folk. For their part the majority of rats looked on confused and nervously, while the leader analyzed everything with a skeptical look.
"R-Right. Come-Follow. Tunnels not secure-stable." The uncertainty in the leader, Thanqual, seemed obvious though why he seemed uncertain was another matter entirely as the Rat squeaked at those around him sending them all scurrying towards a well hidden entrance which seemed to descend deep into the earth.
"Right, time to follow the people we only just met, who seem sketchy as hell, with funny voices, down into a deep dark hole...what's the worst that can happen." Gin muttered at Zannae's side.
"Hey don't worry. I've got your back. Besides if you can come back from a suicide mission against Dwarves looking better than the Troll Adventurers who carried you back, then likely you'll make it back looking better than me as i carry you like a bride over the threshold." Zannae said, a slight tease to the Blood Elf's voice.
"Ha, ha." Gin responded.
"Hurry-Faster!" The voice of the Rat Leader shouted from the front, causing the Horde representatives to pick up their pace.
Deep within the hole began an underworld the likes of which Gin only expected around the Titan Foundries or Iron Forge itself. At first however the Sunset Expedition only witnessed tight, dark tunnels for hours the Expedition endured these cramped conditions fearing the entirety of their journey would be under these conditions. But then the tunnels ran along side of a chasm where a opening revealed a massive underground chamber. They only had a moment to witness the underground valley they walked past and over, but there waterfalls of lava, mighty stalagmites and stalactites larger than greak oaks towered, and a massive road passing through what looked to be a underground town, one that was decayed, held together by wooden planks and crude effigies of a skull or face.
The town was currently under siege, dwarves with a cannon assaulted the town as those inside fired arrows and threw spears in a furtile attempt to fend off the sieging Dwarves who scaled the low walls or pushed through the breaches made by the Cannon.
And then the sight was gone. replaced hours later by one of a massive stone spire dominating a cavern as rickety structures some even collapsing, clearly causing their occupants to fall to their deaths, as the Expedition passed. This city was one clearly occupied by rats and in such numbers to threaten to match the Mantid.
Launchalot looked to the city before them and then to the Rat leading them. "Where are we is this your capital?" The knight asked in a mix of horrified awe at the sight.
"No-no...I mean Yesss-yes Capital of clans-armies which will fight-kill for Horde. Mountain Spire. Hidden away from Nasty Dwarf-Things well placed to send army to Horde Camp and to where Alliance Man-Things and Elf-Things dwell with their portal. Hurry-Faster city unimportant to mission move Now!" Thanqual ordered stomping his foot at the end.
"Ok enough is enough Launchalot what are we actually doing here?" Gin demanded now glaring daggers into their leaders back.
Launchalot sighed, "We're on our way to meet with more co-conspirators, and when in position. We're going to detonate a Mana-bomb, blaming it on the Alliance and using it as our newest Allies excuse to go to war with the Alliance helping Sylvanas with an attack which is intended to cripple the Alliance." Gin stared at their leader with shock, even Zannae felt the cold realization of what they were doing hit him.
"That's fucking insane! Who thought of this? This is no better than Gorrosh Hellscream!" The Orc Hunter began to loudly protest while Zannae tried to calm his companion.
As the Horde Expedition team leaders argued a single Ratman ran up to their leader squeaking out a report. After the Rat delivered its report the leader Rat stood there shaking in what Zannae guessed was outrage before punching the other Rat. The rat growled before thrusting his staff into Launchalot's face.
"You make your servants shut-up. Move-hurry now-NOW! Madrat fool has already reached city! He already likely to be Tinker-breaking Bomb as we speak!" The Rat's rage was palpable and he almost looked ready to strike Launchalot, his fury barely contained, though not enough to prevent him from hitting one of his own in place of Launchalot.
No one quite understood the sudden urgency, but Zannae could guess. Either a rival, or someone as imsanely ambitious as a Gnome we sitting next to a device more complex than anything these rats clearly had ever seen. Zannae almost pittied them even Murlocs had better construction than what the Elf was witnessing.
"You Ear-thing hurry up!" Thanqual shouted as Zannae took off to keep with the group.
Aunduin sighed in his debating with Shandris Feathermoon. The Sentinel General had in light of a invading army elected to take command. Meanwhile Aunduin had forced his point remaining to negotiate with the local Empire forces. And he had been relatively successful days ago, until the General had taken command. Now, now the General was countermanding him and trying to increase the defenses facing the Empire army.
"Listen Shandris we are already pushing chances of causing the Empire to attack already. Jaina and I both agreed and negotiated with them enough to at least buy ourselves time and hopefully prevent violence. But what you're doing is guaranteeing that a battle will break out." The King explained.
"No the arrangement you made is putting us all in unnecessary risk!" The Night Elf countered, already listing off the long list of details about the city's security that Aunduin had undermined with his agreement.
This caused King Aunduin to think back longingly to the Negotiations he and Jaina had started with the Empire's representatives.
Days ago
"Speak, but my General has his orders. You will end your occupation of Mordheim, or we will remove you." The messenger ordered, his face hardened and his steed eager to ride away. The harshness of the Soldier seemed unnecessary but Aunduin kept his face in check and began.
"If you would be willing to send a representative or seek confirmation from one of the Mercanary companies inside the city, we hail from a portal that had opened within your city. Our intent was never to occupy land belonging to another Empire but rather to secure our borders, particularly those on the edge of a site of great cultural significance to our people. And since discovering the existence of your Empire we have now attempted to seek to speak with both your League of Ostermark and your Emperor regarding our new, portal made, border." Aunduin explained as simply and as calmly and invitingly as he could.
The rider just stared down at the King for several moments. Then with a nod the rider took off towards the Empire's army encampment. At first for several tense moments Aunduin waited, half filled with a dreadful expectation of cannon fire to answer his pleas.
Instead after nearly a half hour three figures walked toward the King and Archmage. One a bald man in armor with priestly vestments, the next a smaller man with paper, ink, and quils all over, and the last a woman in grey robes and a staff topped with odd candles that released a thin veil of smoke around her as she walked.
Eventually the three reached Aunduin, the leader making a two fingered salute while the other two stood by silently observing. Aunduin returned the man's salute with one of his own, and shortly after Jaina did the same. Seeing the group's silence Aunduin was the first to speak.
"My name is Aunduin Llane Wrynn, High King of the Grand Alliance. I am here to hopefully negotiate a peaceful resolution to our current predicament." The High King stated, now offering hos hand to the leader.
"Adolf Heiden, Lector of the Bechafen Temple. I am here to ensure that Sigmar stands behind your people's judgment for your action of seizing some of our God's land from him. Thus I was sent to see to Sigmar's decree upon your portal, to my sides are Walter Feitz, the general's scribe, and Luitgard Reichen, Grey Wizard." The self Identified Lector announced himself and introduced his companions to the pair of Alliance leaders.
From there the leaders toured the city, the Alliance Encampment and eventually displayed the portal to the other three representatives. From there while it had been difficult Jaina and Aunduin had begun a process. The trio of Empire representatives would come and go from the Empire Encampment and the Alliance battlelines over the course of the next two days.
Then Aunduin devised a plan, the Sentinels would gradually pull their forces back into the city, and the Alliance would bit by bit over the next several days surrender their buffer zone to the Empire forces. This, the King hoped, would open up more avenues of communication between the two sides, and show that the Alliance was both still serious about their defenses, but even more committed to a peaceful resolution.
As far as Aunduin was concerned the first withdrawals of Night Elves happened successfully with some interaction between the Elves and the Empire Humans. However this would not last, the Human troops became more forceful trying to take positions the Night Elves were not yet ready to sacrifice, and Shandris had now on both her own authority and with Tyrande's support, seized command from Jaina. Seeing the humans pressing on her forces the Sentinals General ordered Hippogryph riders sweep over and observe the human army and their progress.
The Hippogryph riders were only to observe but thirty of them left fully armed flying over the human formations while in formation. Not finding any resistance the leader of these scouts then decided to make a pass over the Human's artillery section. So thirty armed Night Elves on Hippogryph swooped down on the Cannons of the Empire, and in response nearly a hundred handguns and a cannon opened fire at the force threatening the Empire's artillery.
The shots were inaccurate, a quick snap firing by the weapons and their crews, but they were effective nonetheless. Eight Hippogryph and their riders drop dead from the sky, and nine more more of their number would turn about flying weakly barely able to make it back to crash among the Ancient Protectors making up the final lines of the defense.
Surprised by the sudden turn the scene quickly devolved into chaos. The State Troops in uncertainty either froze waiting for orders or surged on the Night Elf defenders pushing in to claim the ir defensive posts. While Aunduin tried to spread orders for everyone to immediately fall back to the defensive line of the Ancients, Shandris gave orders for her vital defensive points to hold fast, the Night Elves recieved contradictory orders were reluctant to obey Aunduin's orders and moved slowly. Thus short ranged and intensive skirmishes broke out, Night Elves firing their arrows point blank into oncoming blocks of human infantry, human archers firing counter volleys catching fleeing elves and wounding them, and fierce clashes of blades occurred all across the defensive front.
Today
That lead to the current moment where Aunduin and Shandris had spent the last four days fighting over the defense. Aunduin wishing to repair the exchange between himself and the Empire, while the Night Elf General wanted to take to the defense thinning the enemy ranks before they could close on Mordheim's walls.
"And pulling back the Ancients like you're asking would mean opening the gate, or widening the gaps already in the walls, something we can nor afford at this point." Feathermoon concluded, a map of the city and the battlelines laid out before her.
"I'm telling you, I've seen that Gray Wizard, she's shown me they are still willing to return to negotiations. But only if we make the first move to return to how things were before we messed this up. And the Sentinals are not the Stormwind army, as long as you command them they'll follow you. So it's up to you, do we give up peace, against the wishes of the Alliance, or do we give the Empire the benefit here?" Aunduin tried to reason.
"They attacked, and are still moving to aggressively claim their advantage. We can not afford to sacrifice what positioning we have left. If we do and they press in insisting on our eviction we'll lose the entirety of our foothold on Mallus." Shandris countered.
"If we can open negotiations, and start an treaty with the Empire such a sacrifice would be worth it." Aunduin reasoned with a calming smile.
"And what about those we'd be abandoning? Our emissary to Bechafen? To Altdorf? Is that what we want to Empire to think of us that we'll abandon our own whenever anyone threatens us with violence?" The general in turn stated outraged at the thought of giving up on everything and everyone the Alliance had on Mallus.
"Again if we can make a treaty then we wouldn't be abandoning them." Aunduin stuck to his ideals, refusing to waver on the peace he could see forming.
"Yet you've seen Kyn'ra and the others. Do you think this is a world that is nearly so just?" Shandris questioned the High King of the Alliance.
Then the sound of soft booms ended the debate between the two leaders. Swiftly both made their way to the wall just in time for another set of booms, followed by one of the Ancients splintering and collapsing toppling onto its side.
Aunduin and Shandris watched the groaning Ancient and the Druids who surrounded it trying to help the dying wood. Minutes after that ancient went down more booms from the Empire Cannons and another ancient came apart in a hail of wooden splinters, too little of the walking tree was left to even hope for the faintest chance of saving it.
"You need to pull back now!" Aunduin now ordered the General.
"I won't have anything to pull back if they keep this up!" Shandris raged. Immediately the Night Elf set to delivering orders to her troops.
After several minutes the and the deaths of three more Ancients the Ancients and Night Elf archers began racing back towards the walls some going around the sides and others through the openings and gate. Even as the Sentinals began to retreat from the frontlines, Hippogryph took flight the entire force took off towards the Imperial lines.
The Hippogryph and riders began to pass over the Imperial lines. Even as they passed now though arrows, bolts and gunshots rose up to attack the Sentinel forces as they passed overhead of the Imperial lines. Many of the Hippogryph Riders began to retaliate firing arrows back into the Imperial forces as they passed, the fight getting more intense.
Then the Alliance forces closed on the Imperial Cannons, a shouted order crossed the cannons and six shots rang out. A second later Hippogryphs and Riders fell out of the air as cannister shot tore through the loose flight formation. Over two dozen fell, and as the Riders closed with the cannons the weapons unleashed another volley but now the Hippogryphs were too close for the Canister shot to be nearly as effective. Still the Riders had sacrificed nearly a quarter of their number closing with the cannons and even as claws, arrows and blades lashed out towards the weapons and their crews, Empire Halberdiers lept to the defense of the weapon crews.
The fight over the Empire Cannons was violent and intense. Hippogryph talons lashed at State Troops, arrows loosed at near point blank ranges, and spears and Halberds clashed. For minutes nearly sixty Hippogryph Riders battled fifty Halberdiers, thirty handgunners, and the crews of the cannons. Men and Elves screamed in agony as metal peirced flesh, and limbs were hewn from bodies.
While only lasting minutes the exchange was bloody and for the Alliance costly. Of the nearly sixty Hippogryph that flew into the melee, twenty flew out, of those that remained twelve were captured and the rest slain. In exchange the Hippogryph failed to destroy any of the cannons but had wounded or killed most of the crews, had claimed twenty-six of the Halberdiers and had killed fourteen handgunners. Most importantly for the Sentinels the Cannons had been stopped long enough for their forces to retreat out of the weapons range.
But as the melee raged, Aunduin could only watch in mounting horror. Now decisive action would be needed, and a gamble the High King of the Alliance personally was nervous of. The Lion's Guard at his side Aunduin set out from the city walls on horseback with one guard holding the Lion banner of Stormwind, and on the other side a Lion's Guard with a white flag. The King raced past still retreating Sentinels, he and his guard continuing until they were maybe 100 yards away from the Empire's lines.
Aunduin's heart raced now sitting across from the Alliance lines where bows, crossbows, hamdguns, and Cannons all were aimed at or past the King. Other State Troops arrayed a line of spears and Halberds to block the Knights and King. The minutes ticked by and Aunduin could feel a cold sweat running down his face, a fear of his own men pulling him away before he could decisively act to save the situation.
Then the Empire lines opened and waves of knights surrounded the King and his entourage. Next three figures broke off from the Knights. Adolf Heiden and Luitgard Reichen both flanked a large, thickly built man on a equally large war horse. The man rode with intent forward to face the High King.
"I am Hatto Käutner, General of Ostermark. Your people are trespassing on Empire territory, invading Ostermark lands, guilty of attacking unprovoked, and killing loyal men. So tell me king Aunduin, how do you plan to answer for this?" The General of the Empire army introduced himself and challenged the young King from atop his steed, even as the Lector at his side and the Wizard both glared at Aunduin.
Aunduin sighed before steeling himself before the General. "I plan to surrender myself to you in order to try and prevent any further violence and to continue our negotiations directly." Hearing this many of the Lion's Guard tensed, debating if they would fight to try and drag their king away or not.
"You think you even have room to negotiate? Your army is now trapped behind the city walls, my mortars are moving into range as we speak, and Luitgard had visited all the Mercenaries of Mordheim offering them contracts for their service, and Adolf has spoken with the Sisters of Sigmar. If I wanted to I could sweep your fortifications by the days end and even with this portal. With cannon and strength we will keep you on your side of the portal until the Colleges of Altdorf are summoned and can close this breach." The General boasted to Aunduin who waited, holding his composure.
"Yet you still came out to speak with me. General I am here fully willing to negotiate on your terms. I am surrendering myself to you to show you that. There is no need for boasts, if anything I believe that now is the time you and I should speak with full honesty." Aunduin responded to the General's boast his voice level and calm.
"Full honesty. From the men who first begged for time, then when given it launched an assault on my Cannon line? And asking for more of these Negotiations right after their second assault failed again to destroy my artillery lines?" General Hatto mocked from his mount.
"Yes because I think we are all entering this situation with bad information. I want us to be able to negotiate and find a solution not to this conflict but to all our future conflicts. I want us to become trade partners and allies. And if that requires that we are driven back through the portal now, so long as you end up securing it so my own people are safe. On the other side of that portal is an entirely other world, and immediately on the other side is the Elven Kingdom of Darnassus. They possess valuable wood, rare stones and magical items that they have been trading with my own Kingdom and allies for years now. And as High King I can guarantee that if you Negotiate the Kingdom of Stormwind, the Dwarven Kingdom of Ironforge, and Gnomericon would also be willing to engage in trade with you and your people." Aunduin spoke swiftly, gently, and offering all he could. Peace certainly now after all the displays would be preferable. The Alliance could destroy this army, but it would be far too costly for Aunduin's tastes and who knew what would come next, with the curtent trend the Alliance's hold here was steadily slipping.
The general loudly huffed in air. "You earn your people a reprieve. King, But you will be held in my own tent and should your people dare attack us, it will be your head that rolls first."
Aunduin grimly nodded. "I had already expected as much."
The general then pointed to the Lion's Guard around the King of Stormwind. "Knights, I hereby seize custody of your lord. You may surrender yourself to share his fate, or you may return to Mordheim where you can ensure his safety by delivering this message to those inside. 'I am General Hatto Käutner, appointed command of the Mordheim Army by Elector Count Wolfram Hertwig head of the League of Ostermark. I have Your King in my possession, any attempts to assail my army will forefit his life. Any attempts to flee Mordheim by River, or by Flight will forefit his life. You have until until sundown tomorrow to surrender or face the overwhelming power of the Empire.'"
The General watched after making his proclamation, as many of the Lion's Guard did lower their weapons in surrender, while others looked ready to take to the city. Then with a nod the General commented, "You have good Knights at your side, King." And then the Knights and General closed in on Aunduin taking the High King captive.
"Don't resist them, do as I order return to the city and inform General Shandris of my choice and the General Hatto's decree. General please if we have this time, might we still speak in your tent?" Aunduin's order immediately ended any resistance from his men, while his tone remained hopeful.
The General just huffed. "Maybe."
Miles away Avenah sighed in releif as she stepped out of the carraige carrying her. The dreary air feeling familiar. The Imperial Expedition was nearing Mordheim. A day's march away and they'd finally reach the cursed city.
As the Draenei stretched, Relyea run up to her. "Hey you no longer need Irma do you? I want to see if she'll teach me any of those, 'Cathayan' weapon styles. Maybe after all this I'll talk to some Pandaren Warriors and compare them later."
Avenah smiled at her friend. "Maybe, but I don't know where she is right now."
Opposite the pair Günther just laughed. "Don't expect her to teach you, that woman's likely a lockbox meant for trapping knowledge and never sharing."
Gerunn then got out of the carraige. "Still wouldn't hurt em to try. Who knows maybe she could suprise us."
As they spoke Irma and Lady Nacht rode past on their horses. "I think I've given you all enough suprises as is. I'm going to keep my secrets to myself thankyou very much." The Archivist mocked as she casually rode past.