Reviews:

Guest 1: Typically a massive explosion or plague followed immediately by a tide of Ratmen indicates that the Ratmen are at fault.

Guest 2: Some Alright observations, and a good arc suggestion.

Guest 3: As for the Mana Bomb's blast radius, VERY small for a WMD, like the MOAB (the largest conventional warhead bomb) has a much larger blast radius. The Weapon technically has a higher lethality rating but by this point Blast Radius is the more important of the two as each is only a half a percentage point from one another.

Guest 4: Others had it a bit more right, The Ostermark Army is fucked, the Night Elves and Reikland armies should be more ok.

Guest 5: Yeah it's weird Azeroth SHOULD have knowledge of how to fight swarm foes, they clearly have fought them...yet Guys like Sourfang are in charge and worship at the feet of strategies which decisively lose to squad and army tactics even from their own world, Azeroth's nature gives it some buffer against the the more historically bases tactics of Warhammer particularly with the superiority of their healers (if you ever played CnC tiberian sun you know the power of medic) yet every time Sourfang or anyone else talks about his hate of formations i wish to have a mod where a Pandaren/veteran of Northrend/Foresaken/Alliance member/etc slaps him in the face for disgracing the very thing that allowed them to survive. (seriously every raid group ever operates off of a very formulaic formation, even the famed leeroy Jenkins video the first 80% of that vid was guys trying to talk formations and meta-gaming)

Guest 6: Alright Alright Alright

Ironwall: I doubt it honestly. Mordheim is legit one of the Shittiest places in ALL of GW's product lines, even Nuffle couldn't make it right and he made the Chaos Gods give up on their "make a wverchosen who wants to kill us, blow up the world, ?????, Profit" plan.

Hakuryuu: They didn't, they might being him back, but I mean Thanqual was killed in End Time in a side sentance...and GW policy WAS "let the past die, kill it if you half to" concerning WHFB only to be changed due to fan backlash and the success of TWW1 was having over AoS. AoS can try to claim success over WHFB but returns over investment WHFB faaaar outstrips AoS as WHFB was returns for near no investment, vs AoS increased returns for dramatically increased investment...and then TWW1 was minimal investment absolutely massive returns, (GW even tried to claim former employees independently hired by CA as part of their investment into the project)

Azeroth Goblin Tech is almost the same in nature as Skaven tech, any Azeroth, particularly Horde, tech will likely be cake for Skaven to adapt almost immediately in some crude form (Goblin tech still isn't quite as massive when it blows up on the user). But obviously this rocket was going to be a failure until a Horde hero helped. As for future Alliance- Empire relations well they are seperate nation/super state with very different government structures and philosophies, but with similar causes and compatable wants and morality.

And here we have what ill call a vote for a Cathay/Horde arc and a Altdorf centric Arc.

kingbean777205: We might not see the Empire's tactics as recognized by the tabletop or Total War. Urban Warfare historically had a very different style to it, but some clear formations and tactics.

TheJackinati275: Laughs in background brewing.

Random Anon: "For the Horde" And I'll rephrase my question a little based off everyone's reactions and some decent input from everyone helping make a few decisions. Which Front(s) would you most like to see?

Strength of Our Swords

Anduin's world was a haze for several long moments. The only thing breaking it for him was the gruff commanding voice next to him, and the cries of pain which slowly tore through the deafining haze. Eventually Anduin came to, the scene around him was one of horrible chaos and destruction, a sight the youth found himself far too familiar with.

Anduin was being dragged out from beneath the still smoking corpse of the Horde ambassador Kuyo, around her multiple Lion's Guard and Rieksguard Knights lay dead, some their bodies half melted, others partially calcified into statues of salt. Anduin looked to who was dragging him and saw the form of Volkmar and the Paladin Aursuun, at their sides the remaining Lion's Guard and Rieksguard stood watch.

Further out Kaxu's body had turned to salt and was beginning to collapse. Along the wall Gerunn's skull was impaled and drained of all liquid. Elsewhere Günther staggered in a daze, a hole in his armor and uniform revealing the fresh pink skin of the man's left breast as Avenah heaved in exertion. General Hatto Käutner had half his body turned to salt and next to him Adolf Heiden stood in triplicate each version dying in a different horrific way.

Elsewhere Irma Schoff pulled herself out from under the rubble suddenly shouting. "Fuck someone get me my wine!"

Further away Shandris stepped away from Emmanuelle Nacht, no longer feeling the need to protect the woman now that the danger had mostly passed, next to her Relyea put down Tolgar and Luitgard Reichen.

Overall Anduin felt the room's occupants had come out from whatever happened rather well. The building itself however was entirely in ruins and portions were now falling or collapsing in very slow motion. Other portions crackled and burned, but rather than flames the element of water seemed to take its place, which instead or releasing smoke seemed to emit a purple mist.

Sixty yards from what would have once been the outer wall of the mansion was the outermost edge of a massive crater over which various debris floated. Alongside the building the Portal had grown exponentially, now the portal nearly filled the chamber on Azeroth it had been contained in, though Anduin could see that the building on Azeroth had been destroyed exposing the forest beyond.

The crater's epicenter had been just outside the Alliance camp, but from the devestation Anduin could tell that for both the Alliance Pioneers and the Army of Ostermark the devestationnhad been near total. All around from the crater buildings had been leveled or mostly destroyed only leaving various low walls or even a stairwell still standing.

But certainly to Anduin's rapidly mounting dread multiple rifts began to form and open emerging from each a different form of demon or neather-beast the High King had never seen before. The air about the city then slowly began to fill, drums, horns, and bells began to sound in a rising cacophony.

Finally Volkmar's voice broke through the haze. "Get up! Rally your guards for hell will be upon you soon!" As he spoke the bald human pulled Anduin to his feet shoving Shalamayne into Anduin's hands. After proclaiming this the Grand Theologist began to loudly recite a prayer with his hand thust forward, a moment later what looked like a twin tailed comet made of firey light lept from his hand and struck one of the Demons as it emerged, shattering the Daemon's form killing it in a instant.

Slowly Anduin stood to full height assessing everything about him and taking stock of what forces he had, and what had likely been destroyed as well as the enemy before him. "Warriors of Azeroth, Soldiers of Stormwind, my Lion's Guard. WE HOLD HERE, NOT ONE OF THESE BEASTS PASSES THROUGH THAT PORTAL UNCONTESTED! Shandris Feathermoon go to your women, bring the Sentinels into the city! TODAY THE ALLIANCE IS TESTED AND WE WILL NOT FAIL! FOR THE ALLIANCE!"

With his cry most of the survivoring Azerotheans surged with renewed energy rushing to the edge of the crater even as red and pale skinned demons raced to meet them in melee. While the two forces closed the distance between on another Volkmar was already in action with Avenah surprisingly taking to his side. "Wizard, find the remaining Troops, rally the Mercenaries, and bring me my army and report back to me who the hell dares attack! FOR SIGMAR!" And Volkmar then rushed with the Rieksguard to help hold the line.

There were very few Daemons, but they still outnumbered the survivors on the ridge of the crater, and their numbers seemed to slowly grow. A red beast charged Aursuun, the Paladin's Hammer blocking a blade that seemed to be made of metal flames. Even as the Paladin's hammer blocked the Swordstrike a pale-purple daemon ducked under the Draenei it's claw sheering into the Paladin at speeds that seemed almost impossible for what was being done, making both Daemons cheer as blood sprayed from the tortured victim. A group of five Reiksguard came to Aursuun's rescue their blades and maces alight with a bright light that seemed to take the form of a hammer. The first three were unable to strike the purple Daemon, but the fourth and fifth both landed their blows, and with that Daemon distracted Aursuun was able to clash head on with the Red Daemon his hammer forcing past the burning blade eventually crushing the beast's skull.

Elsewhere Anduin held alongside his Lion's Guard. Yet his presence and that of Volkmar attracted the attentions of even more Daemons who eagerly punished the Lion's Guard for daring to stand against them. Bloodletter's blades carving through metal as easily as they carved through flesh, Pincers of Daemonettes sheering limbs from torsos. Magical flames from Horrors collided with warriors dropping them entirely or throwing them back by several feet, and slowly bile and snot ran as Plaguebearers closed, their vile aura and clouds of flies clogging the helmets of the defenders, sheer revulsion warding off blows which would have otherwise landed. Yet despite the immense pressure these monsters applied, the Lion's Guard held. The Healing might of Anduin and Avenah bringing the Light's reassurance and care to each soldier. Meanwhile Volkmar and the Reiksguard at his side were shielded by Sigmar's Light and the strength of Volkmar's staff crushed each Daemon foolish enough to challenge the aged Priest.

Further down the battleline Relyea dueled a pair of red demons. Her two large blades evenly matching the blades of the two demons before her. But whenever she landed a blow the demons remained, her blade either passing through, or deflecting off their flesh, bouncing off like a child would bounce off a stone wall. And then as one of the demons deflected one of Relyea's blade prepared to thrust his blade into her overextended side a pair of arrows penetrated his eyes. The Demon roared, without pain, and only in rage as it was denied its blood instead having its hold on the material broken and its body burned away. Alone it's companion lasted only moments before Relyea's second blade cleaved the monster in twain.

"Thankyou!" The Worgen woman shouted to a Dour faced Night Elf who only scowled harder, eyes alight with hate. As the Elf took her place next to Relyea the next red skinned demons seemed to zero in on her eagerly rushing towards the archer, but these demons were stopped by bith bullets from a fopish human, and Fel-fire from a Void Elf at his side.

Still the battle was hard fought, and slowly the defenders were perishing, while the foes numbers seemed constant and unending. Then the Horns blew, and hymns crested the crater. On the other side of the crater an army emerged and the demons charged it, even from where they stood it was clear to all this army had fought an enemy all they way here as nearly hundreds of hymn shouting women clashed with both the Demonic and a beastial foe coming from behind. along the west ridge another army, Mercenaries in great number arrived firing guns and fighting desperately with sword, halderd, bow and club arrived diverting yet more of the demonic tide. Even as they fought a Orange Haired Dwarf holdings a single Axe raced forward well ahead of the Mercanary army, a lone frightened yet resolute looking human chasing after him, and so motivated a Mercanary army after them.

With this opportunity Volkmar with the support of the army of the Sisters of Sigmar began to call upon the Man God's power sealing many of the rifts one by one. As divine light struck down closing each rift one by one a wide cheer spread through the defending armies. An the light of rage in the Night Elf at Relyea's side intensified. "Don't mock me Void Creature!" The Night Elf shouted firing more arrows into the failing Demons.

And then a spike of Green stabbed through the soil at the crater, followed by another, then one behind the defenders, and one, two, three behind the Mercenaries, and another dozen at seemingly random and unseen places throughout the battlefield. For the Azerotheans defending the portal the creatures that then poured out like a tide from these tunnels were a brand new sight, a race never before seen. To the young of the Empire many shouted about Beastmen, while those older or with more knowledge roared out the name of the enemy that now brought forth hordes of fighters, guns and flamethrowers to the battle. Skaven.

Gin raced down the city streets hot in pursuit of the messenger rat even as battle raged all around him. Humans of all kinds now stood on balconies and rooftops firinging bows, handguns and pistols into swarms of ratmen, even as on other rooftops ratmen armed with slings or their own guns or even chainguns and flamethrowers fired back on the humans. Elsewhere where the humans were too fortified use of cover preventing the return fire of the Skaven from ending them, secret assassins would slip in undermining their defenses, or glass orbs filled with a gas that reminded Gin of Blight were lobbed through, or at least at, windows allowing clouds of poison to kill all who came into contact with the lethal mist, yet other buildings were demolished by massive beast rats like the one Thanqual used against Gin.

Many times as he ran various Skaven would notice Gin, but upon seeing his Horde Iconography would stop themselves, if barely from attacking him, though many seemed to change their minds only to find it too late as the Orc barreled past.

As he raced after the secretive messenger, Gin at one point nearly found himself caught in a crossfire. Slingers threw their stones at a formation of Human Troops in purple and yellow uniforms, who retaliated with a volley of gunfire, followed by a second as men steped forward replacing those who had just fired in their eight man wide ranks which took up most of the street, and then a third as the process continued. Instead poorly armed and poorly armored Skaven were pressed forward made to rush into the waves of gunfire toward the human line. As the Skaven got close a new series of lines of humans weilding sears and shields filed past the gunmen and bracing held the charing Skaven. Gin did not see the conclusion of this battle but the sounds of multiple engines and screams told him that it was bloody.

Still as a war, in a form unfettered and more insane than anything Gin had personally experienced, raged about him Gin needed to focus on his task pursing the messenger rat. Many times Gin finally caught sight of the Rat he pursued, only to see it duck into yet another street, or divert to avoid where a dense block of human soldiers carved horrible casualties out of the Ratmen.

Eventually the chase bore Gin into a crater where a horrible battle was taking place. On one side an army of humans struggled to Hold back tides of lightly armed Skaven. Guns, blessings, and steel holding fast, if just, against the sheer numbers of the enemy. On the other side Gin could see the Skaven moving their army on a massive portal. Cannons the likes of which Gin never saw before fired into the Portal while being pushed forward by hordes of slaves. Each threw green Fel-Lightning through the portal at targets Gin could not see, and one as it charged to fire suddenly released strange arcs of the lightning which burnt through ranks upon ranks of the Ratman.

But Gin spotted his pray, out of his effective range with his gun, rushing towards the portal even as row upon row of the most heavily armored Skaven Gin had yet seen marched through the portal in organized ranks and columns. The hunter needed to take a risk, rushing past so many Ratman at once. He could only hope they weren't ordered to kill him and like the others he had passed who were obviously given orders to treat those wearing the Horde's symbol as allies, Gin guessed.

The Orc rushed through the battlefield where Skaven pushed through tight tunnels into the mana infused crater. On the far ledge a blocks of infantry with pistol support and magical buffs held still while gunfire blew away swarms of rats that tried to flank, and arrows in a stead stream rained over the battle lines and into the Skaven beyond. To break the human lines the Skaven even diverted one of their cannons only for a sudden maelstrom of flame to drive the rats away from their weapon. As Gin neared the Portal a small group of Mortar were gathered by the rats, what they thought the lighter weapons would do Gin could hardly hazard a guess.

Before the Mortars could be fired Gin passed through the Portal and into a far more chaotic scene. The Skaven were spread all across the Alliance base, and Gin had to spin to regain his bearings. He could see the Shrine of Goldrinn in distance behind a line of Ancient Defenders which were tossing boulders towards scattered squads of Skaven most of whom were fleeing from the oncoming bouldefs scattering away so very few were slain by the various flying stones and boulders.

All across the Alliance base as much as Gin could see the Skaven had caught the Alliance by suprise both to the relative suddenness of the attack and the absolute oddity of the Skaven's tactics and weapons. The Rats swarmed over small bands of Stormwind's Footmen, unprepared and caught spread apart none of the men could effectively defend themselves, even with Paladins or Priests supporting them. Instead it was the Night Elves who formed the outer perimeter and the secondary garrison, which had not been caught in the blast from mana-bomb who were now able to slow and were before Gin's eyes gradually halting the Skaven.

But those details mattered not now, now Gin caught a fleeting sight of the Messenger now breaking away from the battle and traveling south, towards Thunder Bluff. The Skaven clearly was given a map of Kalimdor, so why go to Thunder Bluff when he could have gone to Ogrimar the closer Horde city to spread his lie? Gin dismissed the thought and pressed on after the Messenger, staying only just ahead of one who hunted the oblivious Orc, much like the Orc pursued the Messenger who had yet to realize how many times he had just barely been spared the Hunter's gun.

Grey Seer Thanqual praised his rightful genius. Surely the Horned one had blessed him well beyond his peers. A whole world of fools had been exposed and truly only he had the RIGHT vision of what to do, anyone else claiming to have been visited by sightings of the Horned Rat telling them to align with the ones now known as the Horde, and to thus invade the other world to claim its magics for Skavendom...well they were just lying trying to preempt Thanqual's grand vision by claiming to have seen it before he wisely chose to announce that he had seen the Horned One, or following after the many others like the groveling snivers they were.

No Thanqual truly was the most humble Grey Seer ever allowing the Seerlord Kritislik to proclaim the vision before he. Thanqual mustnhave told the Seerlord about the vision some time before the plan was announced to all of Skavendom. And as the Seerlord convinced the Council of the Brilliant plan, Thanqual graciously accepted his orders via farsqueeker. He was first to pick up the Horde stooge-things then deliver them to another Grey Seer, when he had asked the Council had answered over the static filled device 'Thanqual'. So Thanqual accepted the orders to go out collect the Horde representatives and deliver them to Mordheim and to himself.

Sure this had left Iket unsupervised by a council representative, and Thanqual had to graciously beat another Seer to near death, providing yet again his vast humility leaving the other seer broken and pushed off a ledge into a cage full of starving skavenslaves. Sure it had meant that Iket Claw had been left outside the supervision of the Seers for a time, but everything had obviously worked out for the better.

Sure the mana-bomb didn't detonate immediately underneath the portal as intended, but nearly half the Mining teams had emerged right by the expanded portal, and only five of the mines had collapsed catastrophically, likely as part of a plot by Thanqual's enemies but he had been cleaver-smart and by leaving these tools to Iket. That meant that everyone who could have stopped them were actually Iket's enemies and it was Iket's reputation at stake. And yes there were even more humans between the Skaven and the portal than expected, but the Grey Seer's all knowing foresight clearly, in his vast superiority to his peers, had subconsciously predicted this and now the Skaven were able to kill a enemy who might have once threatened their rear.

Orrrr thats how Thanqual's absolute brilliance would have manifested if his enemies hadn't made sure his soldiers were all incompetents and weaklings. Even now one grovel-begged at the feet of the infinitely Wise and Brave Thanqual.

"We-we failed to drive the Elf-things from the wall-walls. Man-things are now pressing into the city! But-But it was all Qrak's fault, Stakhich has seen to Qrak's death as punishment and promises his smart-smart scheme will work-work!" The messenger cowered before what surely was the greatest Grey Seer, no the Skaven he had ever seen.

Still the news greatly upset the Grey Seer, he had promised and delivered more than a hundred slingers to the Chieften's command. He even with great wisdom had saved the Gutter Runners for more important tasks and sent instead one hundred Skaven Slaves each armed with slings, which should have been more than sufficient. It seemed that Thanqual would 'unfortunately' have to divert some of Iket's Globadiers and weapon teams for countering the Man-thing and Elf-Thing threat, rather than allowing Iket to claim them for his assault on the other side of the portal. The Madrat claimed he could smell new science on the other side of the portal and raced off to take everything there for himself.

"Yes-Yes I'll send Weapon Teams and even Cannons! West Wall shall be Ours-ours! Now-now, lets see how goes fight for North-Wall Chieftens say-tell of much glorious victory there. Perhaps I should flank-surround fool Elfs." Thaqual moved on plotting his grand victory only to be interrupted by the messenger.

"But-but there is no North Wall. Elf-things have West Wall because they climb-scaled North-wall ruins." The Messenger said, earning a death glare from Thanqual.

"What-WHAT!"

Günther sighed in relief, not even bothering to try and chase, or shoot his repeater pistol at, the fleeing swarm. They would be back, and with greater numbers. He was one of many who ended up forced through the portal when the Skaven and their armies emerged from underground and from deeper within in the city. Others had been forced through, random State Troop units, many Reiksguard, and most importantly Volkmar.

Since then the Skaven had pressed the Imperial survivors and the Alliance forces further and further back from the portal. Initially, Günther was upset to find the Stormwind army so ill prepared for the Skaven attack, their men scattered over a wide area, many instead focused outwards rather than on the tide of retreating soldiers and the then onslaught of Skaven afterwards.

While the soldiers were perhaps as skilled as State Troops, they initially didn't cover one another nearly as well, the sheer number of priests like Avenah, as well as magic casters and 'Paladins,' who fought much like Warrior priests instead keeping the Alliance forces from being entirely overwhelmed. Yet that's still exactly what happened, as the Skaven's numbers allowed them to outflank the isolated squads killing their supports and then overwhelming them.

The Skaven's initial advantage ensured that the battle was certainly a loosing one for the Alliancw at the moment, but with only a little guidance, and with good skill and discipline the Stormwind foot-men squads raced to eachother forming denser and less easily surrounded formations. Really the only advice Günther both had the time, and need to give them was to prevent any Skaven from slipping through a few gaps the ratmen could take advantage of, and geneal warnings about the ranged weapons he had seen the Skaven use.

But despite the increasing resistance of the Stormwind warriors, and the Night Elves and their own 'unique style' of defense the Skaven's foothold on this other world was still steadily increasing. Already the first uncontested Skaven warmachine now passed through the Portal the machine veering towards another portion of the Alliance base moving at a unsteady near random pace towards an Alliance Tower, the wheel plowing through the building as random blasts of green lightning shattered stone, or peirced nearby Skaven or Alliance Ranks.

And then again the Skaven swarm was charging Günther's position, again a feeling of warmth as strange magic washed over Günther, and again the Captain leveled his pistol unleashing a volley of pistol fire, adding to the strange magics and occasional arrow or bolts that tore into the Skaven. Then the Skaven were upon the line, shields side by side held back the mass of bodies, men behind the captain bracing him so the weight of the Skaven's bodies did not bowl the man, or any of the other men in the front. The clash lasted only seconds and then the Skaven broke back now swinging their sword, thrusting their spears, and scampering to slip over or under the shields of the defenders and to the flesh of the Skaven's intended victims.

However skill at arms was not something the Skaven had in sufficient quantity to match the Captian nor the Stormwind Footmen at his sides. Skaven died and soon five more of the Ratmen joined those slain that day by Günther. And again the Skaven broke fleeing away, only this time they were brushed aside by another unit. Heavily armored, and weilding cruel polearms, Large Black furred Skaven charged but rather than throw their bodies into the Alliance line they added the momentum of their charge into the swings and points of their polearms.

Even as the Skaven collided, even in the first second, this clash was clearly different. Günther's shield was penetrated the blade, forcing itself through towards the man, behind barely missed Günther's arm. The Skaven behind sneered at Günther with an imhuman contempt and then pressed forward his blade pushing in slightly more. Nervously Günther looked to his sides, both men beside him were dead, the men behind them trying to push forward to support the Empire Captain. But it was obvious, each assault before had been either probing attacks, or despirate attempts to breach the Alliance's line here, and now this was the true attack, and now the Skaven would kill everyone on this line.

Then a miracle. Light washed over the battle and even some among the dead woke to find the enemy standing atop them, and for many their sword still in their hand. With suddenly dead foes stabbing their feet and legs, and their enemies entirely rejuvenated the Skaven push went from nearly shattering the Alliance line on just the charge, to pressing the Alliance defenders back. Then magic tore into the Skaven, and there was a powerful sudden presence, Knights collided with the Skaven flank with Volkmar himself leading the charge.

As the Skaven line began to crumble the Grand Theologist shouted. "Heathens of the Alliance if you value your souls, HOLD! They will still come and from here on out will keep using stronger weapons or more dishonorable schemes, but you MUST hold!"

As Volkmar's proclaimation carried to the Footmen of the line, the Skaven brought their first Mortars and a Lightning Cannon through the portal and at the Cannon's side an armored Skaven energed into the new world eager to test his science against the test subjects and samples of this new world and prove his creations destructive might.

Mordheim shone with a new value and darkness now that Tarei was able to see the city with Shuk'tar eyes. The streets were filled with the spirits of the dead, trapped in echos of their horrific and laughable passings. And as a Shuk'tar Tarei was able to call upon each and every last one of these echos to attend her. Her beloved's army was not yet into the city, instead clashing with Alliance fools and other pathetic mortals at the Eastern Wall of the city.

Instead she had been sent ahead to prepare his way, her spirit host growing as she went. Buildings full of Night Elf Archers or human defenders foolishly trying to hold on to their pointless lives found themselves instead prey to Tarei and her spectral host, the spirits not stopped by walls, floors or ceilings just entering and beating all within to death, and then thanks to the nature of this wonderfully wretched city many of their spirits then were pressed into her service.

Death was unstoppable, and now Death came for the Draenei. Thanks to her spiritual slaves, Tarei marched unopposed toward the portal. Entire streets filled with nothing but corpses before her, and the dead did not rest, soon the streets will be swarmed with Zombies new hands to drag the Draenei to the ultimate fate of all things.

Then Tarei came into sight of the portal, the Skaven now controlling the space around it and on sight of her already making wide birth for the Undead and her host. One day she would see these creatures die as well, but for now they remained useful allies.

Tarei moved to step into the clearing and towards the portal when a arrow embedded itself in her chest. Upset the Vampire scanned the area for who muct had have fired the arrow, and Tarei was not disappointed in the slightest when she found the source.

"Kyn'ra, you appear before me again. I was hoping I'd have another chance to show you what you helped create." As she spoke Tarei pulled the arrow from her chest then flexed and snapped the arrow in her hand.

In response Kyn'ra refused to speak instead loosing another arrow at the Vampire. The arrow never reached the Vampire instead Tarei's spirit magic blocking the arrow and the clash between the two began once more Tarei hurling magic and spirits at the Night Elf who hid among the alleys and ruins, while Kyn'ra unleashed arrow after arrow into Tarei.

"Is this all you have, oh how the mighty have fallen Kyn'ra!" Tarei went to face the Night Elf, but rather than her blood soaked foe, the Vampress faced a empty alleyway as the Elf fled deeper into the city. So with a disappointed hiss the Shuk'tar turned and marched to the portal, a mixture of raw fear and the Horde iconography preventing any Skaven from being foolish enough to attack her.

Time passed swiftly as the Vampress closed on the portal, and viciously she planned to send her spirits ahead to help demolish and repurpuse the Shrine of Goldrinn to a more, deathly purpose. Yet as Tarei watched the spirits that passed through the portal slowly began to dissipate, her control over them immediately broken.

Frustrated Tarei stared at the portal, pushing her hand through and even casting various spells. Tarei could see warpstone, Skaven and all sorts of things passing through the portal. Finally Tarei, still without Aleksandr's brilliant darkness to guide her eventually gathered her courage and stepped through to Azeroth. Almost immediately the Vampire collapsed to her knees, her connection to Shyish severed almost immediately.

She screamed in agony and various Skaven gathered, pulling out their blades, tempted to end the miserable and weak thing in their midst. Rather than the power flowing through her soul, the void of her soul, Tarei only felt the numb emptiness of her new existence, full of horrific realizarions and her own form trying to come apart and rot about her. The Vampress released a wail of pain to match a banshee's scream and the warpstone about her answered slowly dissolving, feeding the Vampire but not nearly enough.

She could feel her very essence calling upon the winds, demanding magic come to her. Powers unlike the Winds answered her, magics that felt old, familiar answered, yet were not in quantity enough to satisfy either. Then the portal pulsed, and like the breaking of a dam the winds flew out from the portal, Shyish answering Tarei in particular drawing into and flooding the Vampress, her spirit hosts dragged along the current to her side.

Releif washed over her and Tarei smiled, the winds now flew over Azeroth, and the wind of death flew for Azuremyst. The Vampress called her spirits and began to use the corpses of the dead to begin her own march for Darkshore certain that Aleksandr would follow after her now that the way had been made.

Shandris Feathermoon looked over the map of Mordheim in her possession. The destroyed North Wall was under her control and even the Reikland army was now firing cannon into the city over the ruins and past her Ancient Defenders who flung boulders into the city. The West wall was mostly under Night Elf control but these Skaven tried to contest the wall sacrificing lives for miniscule gains. The East wall and South Wall however were entirely under enemy control. Along the East Wall an army of the dead marched lashing out at the Night Elves and Humans with unexpectedly powerful magic and deathly vigor.

Bats swarmed the air in such number that Hippogryphs found it difficult to attempt to approach this army. Skeletal Knights and ghosts ran down lone archers and squads while the main body of Skeletons pressed into Empire lines. In city streets Zombies used the press of their bodies to lock down Empire formations or trap Night Elves while bats and ghosts attacked from all angles.

The combination of foes made this battle one of complexity and difficult balance for Shandris. Especially since she had to coordinate with the Empire forces and they were pressed by the need to reclaim the city and the portal as soon as possible.

It was only good fortune that then it had been Lady Emmanuelle, Irma and the Wizard Luitgard were in command and the Wizard worked well keeping the Geneal and the Empire nobles in touch with one another.

Gin pursued the Skaven messenger for miles. Even as he hunted the Skaven Gin found the creature's, either luck or skill over the Kaldorei surprising. Neither the Skaven Messenger nor the Orc Hunter had yet been harassed by any of outposts they passed, and not a single patrol had yet found the pair.

Gin had half hoped that the Night Elves would deal with the Skaven Messenger for him, yet instead they were nowhere to be seen. It was at Falfarren river where Gin's chase of the Messenger came to a head. The Skaven slowed at the river coming into Gin's effective range and with enough time that Gin could aim and ensure the Ratman's swift death.

Gin with this new opportunity finally settled in, aimed Gun at the Skaven sighting for the sure kill shot. Releasing a breath the sights lines up, and Gin began to bring back the trigger. In a instant the bullet would fly, strike the Skaven in the head shattering his skull and mulching his brain, ending the lies the Skaven were trying to spread to the Horde.

Instead, as Gin began his gentle pull of the trigger a blade punched through the Orc's shoulder. Even with a twitch of the eye Gin could see the tip of the green blade as his attacker pulled the weapon back. Gin span about and raised his gun to block a double downward strike of two swords, as Gin's cloaked Skaven attacker came down on him, its tail with a blood soaked bladed tip whipping back.

As Gin blocked with his gun, the weapon gave way bending and getting cut deep into by the attacker's blades. This forced Gin to stagger back dropping the Gun, and reaching for his axe with a rapidly numbing arm. Already Gin lost most of the feeling in his arm though muscle memory and skill meant he still could use his axe with full ability.

And Ability was what Gin needed now fighting back against the Skaven attacker and his flurry of weapon strikes. But the Hunter was being pressed back, two weapons Gin could have handled, but with the Skaven's weaponized tail Gin kept getting cut or stabbed as he struggled against the Rat.

Slowly Gin was numbing, and based off the expression in the Rat's eyes, the poison's failure or perhaps just slower than expected effect was now evident to the rat and the creatre was now also becoming enraged or despirate. Both things that Gin could use for an advantage. So the Orc pressed forth against the Skaven allowing the Rat to score more shallow blows against him.

Then the Rat Struck to deep with his tail, the blade stabbing deep into Gin's thigh, but now Gin could bring his axe down on the Rat before it could flee. The Assassin dodged the leathal intent blade, but sacrified his tail in the process. Now Gin the Orcish Hunter and the Rat Assassin squared off, two poison blades against the Orc's one Axe.

Thr Rat charged, Gin deflected a slash, the Rat's second blade knocking Gin's axe from numb fingers. But taking a punch to the snout which caused the animal to stagger back dropping his blade. The skaven came at Gin with his final blade, swinging wide. Gin caught the blade on his arm, the poisoned blade wedging in the Orc's bone. With a thrust of his other arm Gin pushed the Skaven off him, then with a clumbsy movement pushed the blade from where it was wedged in his body.

Gin was certain that if he wasn't numb right now he'd have passed out in agony. But now there was a blade between the two combatants and both were unarmed, and both intended to kill the other and survive this encounter.

Both rushed the center, the Skaven though rather than dive for the blade leapt onto Gin, digging into the Orc with claw and fang. Gin attempted to bat the Skaven away but the creature dodged the strike instead biting Gin's throat and clawing his chest. An elbow to the Back drove the Skaven from Gin's neck, and with surprising speed the Orc caught the Skaven by the neck.

As the creature srruggled to escape the Orc lifted the Skaven off the ground and tightened his grasp choking the Rat. Even as the creater scratched and tried to bit Gin's hand the Orc's claps only grew tighter until there was a snapping noise and the rat went limp.

Gin stumbled as he stood. The Messenger was now long gone and Gin could barely move, barely breath. But the Horde needed to be warned. Gin took his first step, the Horde needed to be told. Gin took another step, Gin reminded himself of his task and took another step.

Later an Horde scout would find a lone orc dragging a Skaven corpse behind himself. The Orc's incoherent muttering of, "Don't trust" over and over again unnerving the scout. The first shaman on the scene would then proclaim that the Orc was already dead and there was nothing they could do. So the bodies were moved to the side of the Golden Road to make way for the Horde's army, though Lord Sourfang would receive an immediate report of what was ovserved as the Horde marched north towards Ashenvale and their ultimate goal of Darkshore and Teldrassil.