Reviews:
Guest 1: Ironically, Dragon King of the West put half my response in his review. But it's good that it's annoying, but as for Shandris plot demands, i sadly hold her back still more for now.
Guest 2: Baine hopes to, as he did in BFA, but with less of the blatant treason and directly harming his own side, causing more deaths. And this by Azeroth standards the Empire is Xenophobic (since Azeroth is standard of Stellaris xenophillic minimum standard for "not evil" ) but also add in wartime propaganda. I mean, you still commonly encounter people modernly who go "1939 German? must murder evil satanic anti-good Nazi before they can speak!" Propagandizing a new enemy is a great way to control people's reactions to them, and both Sylvanas and the Skaven need everyone to see the Empire as evil oppressors of the Vampires and the poor adorable filth-covered rats.
And Baine's going to need absolute air control (maybe a few dragons), or a lot of firepower if he wants a field victory against the Empire. While Azeroth is amazing at skirmish warfare, I have yet to even in comics be shown an instant where they show basic competency when it comes to larger engagements...again I rail against the character of Varok Sourfang as presented by Blizzard...because of the guy's incompetency should have seen him relieved of command, or executed...yet he's a supreme commander because he's good at 1v1 dueling and knew how to command a squad. A move actually dumber than putting the Jedi in charge of the GAR, a move that was deliberately made because it was a bad choice. But making sense of WoW, their NCOs and Captains have all been shown to be exceptional. They have to be when your leaders are all suicide at a species-wide level.
Guest 3: Horde has to convince themselves they're in the right somehow. Otherwise, the guilt would have them all committing suicide, I mean furries? Just horrible.
Guest 4: The Empire compares to the rest of WHFB hit that middle point of being tolerant without being completely overtaken by all the BS of their world. Still is a crapsack world, but because it goes "yeah I go to farm the fields and some random monster eats my son or a ghost possesses my wife while I'm out sowing the oats. And rather than everything then just magically pausing in my life until an adventurer comes by, my life just sucks and people keep dying."
Having RP'd DnD as a peasant, I can say when you're not some broken, "I attack 12 times in 6 seconds with the blade of mountain splitting" but a guy whose whole life had been nothing but farming, shoe making, etcetera. Not having the RPG ability to put the world on hold until a murderhobo...I mean brave noble adventurer comes along...it sucks. And this is true for Azeroth outside of WoW but far less prominent.
As for the three, if we're talking the current task force, Sherman is the only one that this particular force could "do", as the other two systems were meant for state vs state and for longer periods of time. Small War was meant to drain and conquer peice by peice the border regions (as well as capture more future Janissary soldiers who will inevitably die on mass during the upcoming years of sieges) and Chevauchée was political terrorism effectively, damaging faith in the protection of the lords while avoiding sieges and major confrontations. Future Empire engagements with the Horde after this would probably go the way of Chevauchée, but honestly the way the Horde and Alliance wage war might as well be this already since neither want to hold land and simply wage war to hurt eachother rather than to secure territory, and thus major resources, and view one or the other actually securing territory as a World War level act. (Leave it to Blizzard to try to fake virtue so hard they circle back to barbarism instead)
Dragon King of the West: A good assessment of his character, my only "sad" about it is that not only is he basically a clone of his daddy, he's basically just the most Tauren Tauren which makes his rivals more distinct in their personality. I like his personality, but I HATE "species of hats" *glares at Star Trek*. Of course, Wrathion's making an arrogant display, and we'll eventually see the arrangement he made with Cathay.
BloodRedRoses11: Well, feel free to review here as often as you like. And we all know that Beelz and Ironmouse are supported by Clans Moulder and Skryr, respectively. And it's likely the Skaven will be the first to adopt Azeroth's unique features into their society. I'm usually pretty confident with my action scenes, honestly. But some long set-up minor details and quick details got to have their moments of reveal while the whole battle is one that ironically is just supposed to be the sideshow so I'm trying to get us past it. As for Eekizz, he's waiting and looking for an opportunity to escape. Sadly, things are looking dark.
ww1990ww: Is this coming from a WoW fan who supports Sabellian, or Ebyssian. Or is it because he epitomizes the arrogance of WoW's Alliance and Horde? But fret not, if Zhao Ming and a Blademaster couldn't take down Valkia, you think he could?
JiggyliFAP: Well, leave no combatants alive, destroy all buildings that can be used to fortify behind you. It's all pretty basic tactics... but you'll see where the Empire severely diverts from the Alliance soon enough. It looks like even Blizzard is shelving Shadowlands and planning to silently re-contextualize it and soft retcon it.
micelzod: There is no question his arrogant ass is trying to show off. But considering what's handed him his ass, 6ish years in the future... let's hope he survives Valkia. Poor Baine has to sift through propaganda, which is painting the Empire as the Imperium, and reality and the truth that there are things that even make the Imperium look good by comparison. And then there are the things in the background, things no one sees coming, and what's being built.
Jak23: The Tauren would short term have a "poor slaves" attitude which would eventually correct to match more the attitude most hold towards the Scourge or the Demons and the attitude they have towards the races made by the Old Gods. As for Stronger, Minotaurs are bluntly stronger they lean into being BULLS more, and following the primal truth of what a Bull is, they actually practice their strengths more and thus grow them But the Tauren have extra technique and they've grown those so while their strength in terms of headbutting strength, deadlifting, etcetera, is lesser if the two were to wrestle the Tauren is more likely to win since they could stomp and the earth spirits would stun the Minotaur or more likely throw off his footing.
While the Empire is academically open-minded, they'd likely just play it safe, killing anything with horns running at them. Cathayans and the people of Ind might have different opinions depending on how GW handles the "beastmen" of Ind not only possibly retconning the history of the Beastmen but perhaps possessing their own alternate forms for even the existing Beastmen and very likely some very different cultures even for the existing Beastmen in their regions.
Hakuryuu: That is the stinger, though. "we aren't Nazis. We hate Nazis. Nazis hated Jews and wanted a totalitarian state that enslaved people. We just want the destruction of Israel and anyone descended from it, for our government to have absolute control over all aspects of our lives to protect us, and we want people to work to give us stuff for free without anyone paying for it"
You always propagandize your own virtue and project faults and sins onto the other side, particularly when you don't know anything about the other side due to ignorance, willful or otherwise. "The Horde can't be guilty of crimes or racisms, that was just Hellscream's actions. However, the Empire kills people who aren't human, so says the small rat people and the people who eat people, so obviously they are bad because and it's just and good for us to destroy them because we are Honorable and fighting for our survival."
The Horde has plenty of actual good to them, but it's overshadowed by Blizzard's incessant strawmaning since they can't strawman another faction without suffering sauron syndrome since of the time they can't seem to present their villains as actually succeeding and taking actions without the Player Characters doing it FOR them. Not to mention, they have developed an amazing ability to have players absolutely destroy major and minor factions in a single expansion, a final third of an expansion in some cases *glares at BFA* thank-god for retconning in Dragonflight... thus far.
Once Blizzard learns how to write villains who are competent and able to have a successful plan beyond, "but i planned for you to destroy my most loyal followers and strip me of half my power (almost like I'm trying to commit suicide by murderhobo)" so far following what plot I've seen from Dragonflight, I'm giving Blizzard credit where credit is due, they seem to have pulled their head out of their ass and kept the like of the SW sequel trilogy fans, 11 year old me, and the Rings of Power writers the hell away from their writing staff and instead used dark magic to steal and infuse them with the spirits of Rifujin na Magonote, Yoshiyuki Tomino, and Eiichiro Oda for this expansion because by the dark gods I've seen all the flaws of those three in it, but also many of the good points (and when their flaws are considered good compared to Blizzard's writing this last 8 years that's all praise)
As for the Gnome, no, the courts gave her custody. You can not have him. He must be at least four foot five inches to be considered capable of caring for himself. ;p
Awww, you don't have a take on the self-proclaimed future black dragon aspect?
As for Gotrek and Felix I might reference them, but I am loath to write them. There's certain characters who either because the effort to incorporate them, or just sheer respect I have a hard time writing. And honestly it's hard to Balance Gotrek against the Warhammer universe he's made for, let alone against a whole other universe where murderhubos already team up to kill their gods on a weekly basis.
OscuroSignore-51: So for Cathay, their lore has gone over a long course of evolution. but what you were asking likely was then one of the missing siblings and the Lightbringer's story is well she's missing still. And the 40k Chaos has been "self sustaining" for a long time since humanity is very likely NOT going to go extinct under their dominion...so long as they don't escalate their behavior...but oh look they that beyond dumb for no reason.
As for Gnomes and the Empire, The Empire's tech is foundational and their progress follows stages that if you study the history of technological advancement makes sense (ignoring why certain elements go hundreds of years with no forward progress) where the Gnomes tech progress is like the Federation's in star trek...progress at the rate of plot demand and writer ego. I mean the Federation tech has "advanced" backwards from the 80s TNG star trek because the tech progression is no longer powered Gene's absurd need to prove his socialist ideals are better than reality 'space magic proves it'. Which sadly that tech progression is well...even rule of cool is more consistent and steady.
Wrath
The Spear Slaupnir pulled slowly from Alyzz's neck and swiftly the Goblin slapped her hand over it to stem the bleeding. Painfully she crawled back and away watching as Wrathion and
Valkia now gazed at one another. One with arrogant superiority, the other with unbridled hate. Then Valkia twisted in place wresting her weapon from Wrathion's grasp, the Warrior of Khorne and the Black Drake pacing back and forth watching eachother seeking weaknesses and openings to exploit.
"As I said. My name is Wrathion, protector of Azeroth and future Black Dragon aspect. And you are, so I know the name of who I'm about to kill?" The Dragon's smirk as he spoke enraged his opponent her offense clear on her face as she balked at his words.
Valkia clearly could not tolerate such an offense immediately charing at Wrathion her wings lifting her from the ground so to throw the entirety of her weight into her spear thrust. Wrathion armed only with a scimitar stepped aside knocking the thrust aside only to have the edge of Valkia's shield slam into his face as she swung violently as she passed him by. Then before Wrathion's blade could swing back in retaliation Valkia's wings beat carrying her away from him.
Wrathion moved in to bring his blade in to Valkia's side, his legs kicking up dirt with every step. In response Valkia began to spin her spear and brought the blade of Slaupnir against Wrathion's blade. The two weapons collided with sparks the Slaupnir carving a near inch into Wrathion's Scimitar before pushing the sword away allowing Valkia to thrust the shaft into Wrathion's stomach blowing away all air from Wrathion's lungs.
The heir of Neltharion staggered back gasping for air before calling upon his power to restore his lungs. And as he did so Valkia stormed forward thrusting her spear again. Acting in the last second Wrathion brought up his scimitar the blade breaking but diverting Valkia's strike enough to barely miss Wrathion's head, meanwhile Wrathion's other hand was now a black scalled claw, powerful enough to rend iron and wrapped in flame. Wrathion's claw struck Valkia's chest scrapping and rending armor and drawing blood. At the same moment Valkia brought her spear shaft down slamming into Wrathion's face before drawing back her spear, the bladed edges cutting his face and nearly gouging the Black Prince's eye.
In response Wrathion's own wings emerged in a black haze carrying him back and away from his armored foe. He then began to throw flames at Valkia who ducked behind her shield the flames washing over it harmlessly. Wrathion smirked as fireball after fireball kept the woman grounded and unable to strike against him. Either soon reinforcements would come, or his flames would push past her sheild and truly envolop this demonic being. Even as Wrathion laughed ready to taught his opponent in the middle of yet another barrage of fireballs, his eyes caught a slight gleem of light and Wrathion moved, barely avoiding Valkia's thrown spear impailing him through his heart, instead the weapon burried itself deep into his stomach forcing Wrathion to the ground.
Valkia flew as a bolt of hate towards her foe, even as Wrathion staggered to his feet throwing a deluge of flame at the Valkyrie of Khorne. However the Daemonshield warded off all flame allowing her to close despite the tide of fire, grasping and pulling free her spear as Wrathion roared in pain. Then Valkia spun in place intent on bringing the final hammering blow against Wrathion's head, however this was not to be.
"Enough" The Drake roared a cloud of black smoke errupting outwards as his true form emerged, a black claw the size of Valkia's torso swiping the Champion of Khrone. Valkia was thrown away by the blow, her armor rending open under the talons of the drake, only to seal as her own blood reformed the armor.
No roars of pain or hate emerged from the chosen paramore of Khonre as she rose to her feet. Her eyes locked on the draconic form of Wrathion who glared down at the lesser mortal creature, this demonicly tainted thing before him with indignant rage. For her part Valkia merely licked her lips, her teeth cutting her tounge as she did so filling her mouth with fresh blood.
"Come on!" "Blood for the Blood God!" The two combatants bellowed at one another each now bounding towards their opponent. Wrathion's claw descended to crush Valkia but the Daemonkin slipped inside Wrathion's strike thrusting her spear into the pit of the Drake's outstretched foreleg earning a pained growl as Wrathion then threw his weight down, intending to roll over and crush his foe.
As Wrathion stood, he gazed to where Valkia's crushed corpse lay. But rather than her broken body the Deamon Princess rose to he knees then here feet having dropped down to avoid being crushed. With a roar Wrathion unleashed a torrent of flame, but before his fire could engulf the chaos worshipper Valkia's spear smacked into his jaw forcing it closed.
In reponse Wrathion snapped about his tail strong enough to demolish buildings connecting with the shield of his foe sending her flying before she collided with the ground with such force dirt was sent every direction and a cloud of dust concealed the Deamonkin. To deny Valkia a chance to move Wrathion then breathed fire into the cloud engulfing the entire area where she landed, fighting defenders and attacking harpies alike consumed by his flames. But as his torrent of fire washed over the land Valkia's spear soared up and over the flow of fire before embedding itself in his nose earning a roar of pain and cutting off his stream of flame.
With a huff Wrathion blew the Spear from his nose along with a glob of blood. Wrathion then looked to the spear watching for his for knowing she would go for her weapon. Instead from above, falling like a missile Valkia decended using her shield edge as a blade she slammed into Wrathion's head slamming him down to the ground. Then Valkia dove back picking up Slaupnir and charing for Wrathion once again. In return Wrathion lashed out with a blind claw strick which caught Valkia's wing snagging her and allowing the Drake to slam her into the ground.
"This is your end!" Wrathion's Draconic voice roared, only for Valkia to scream in return tearing the flesh of her wing free of Wrathion's claw and dodging what was going to be his finishing strike. Then with a upward thrust Slaupnir plunged into the bottom of Wrathion's jaw, and kicking off of the ground the Deamonic paramore forced Wrathion up until he fell back landing on his back with Valkia now standing atop his stomach.
Letting loose a roar of exhertion Valkia stabbed her spear into Wrathion's chest, and the Drake roared as the blow struck deep even cutting into his heart. And then Valkia was gone, a armored form colliding with her and knocking her off from the Drake who then fell unconscious unable to withstand the pain anymore.
Shortly after his victory over the Demonic creature, one that worried Ergere as the beast's cursed sword had cut him and he had felt like his flesh was on fire ever sense, Zhao Ming had plucked Ergere from the ground shouting about the portal. With the corpse of his own opponent locked in his jaw. With a wrathful roar the Cathayan Dragon tossed the body in his maw throwing it seemingly at a black dragon that had taken to the field, at Wrathion.
"Prepare yourself!" Zhao Ming then shouted befoee flying straight at the ground. At the last moment Ergere was let go of and the Orc landed on hia feet as light engulfed where Zhao Ming would have otherwise struck the ground and soon a human form stood for the Dragon, bloood trickling from a wound on his forehead and his left arm broken, the arm even hanging limp until with a crack he forced it back into place.
Ergere prepared himself, unsure as to who they faced now, until she climbed back over Wrathion's body. Out of the corner of his eye Ergere could see Kogkradd carrying Zhang Genji and Alyzz Kneecord away from the battle, all battered and wounded. Clearly the fighting had been intense until his arrival, Valkia's wing was torn and she was covered in blood, and her armor bore scars of damage Ergere had not seen earlier. The Champion of the Blood God them let loose a wordless warcry of challenge and Zhao Ming snapped into a stance for his people's Pandaran-like martial art.
Ergere then tested his own strength. Hands slick with his own still running blood gripped his sword testing against the weapon's familiar weight. His breath was getting shallower and he was weakening even after drinking his potion, but Ergere still had this fight in him. If he just killed this one then the battle would be theirs.
Valkia then lept off Wrathion charging at Zhao Ming and Ergere, and both the Orc and Dragon ran headlong at her with Ergere falling in behind Zhao Ming. While one of Zhao Ming's arms was ineffectual for the fight the other lashed out with speeds that even Ergere struggled to track. But Valkia's shield was there to deflect the blow and the torrent of flame that emerged from Zhao Ming's hand. But Ergere was there to follow the strike up his sword catching the lip of Valkia's shield knocking it from her grasp. Valkia in return peirced Ergere's thigh with his spear earning a groan of pain from the Orc.
Valkia then pulled her spear back readying to strike again only for Zhao Ming's fist to strike her shoulder unleashing a wave of power which knocked back Valkia before her second strike could connect with Ergere or Zhao Ming. Clutching his teeth in pain Ergere next rushed forward, the heat in his ribs intense as he swung again his sword collapsing Valkia's shoulder as her spear peirced Ergere's stomach.
Zhao Ming then followed in his leg connecting with such force Valkia was knocked from her feet and a multitude of fangs were thrown from her mouth. Valkia collapsed to the ground before sprinting back her spear moving to lash out while screaming in outrage. Ergere moved forward his own sword swinging. The burning had taken Ergere entirely, his bones boiled, steam came from his flesh and a fresh layer of blood bubbled on his skin. But despite this he put every ounce possible of his strength into this strike, enough to break through a city gate.
Yet as Ergere's sword met Valkia's Slaupnir, his sword shattered. Spearpoint punched through Ergere's throat and up through and out the back of Ergere's skull. The Orc trembled, vision fading as he gazed into the eyes of his killer. Valkia grinned maliciously at her victim.
"Tribute to the Alt-" The Gorequeen stated as Zhao Ming's foot connected. Flesh tore and collapsed under the force of the Cathayan Dragon's foot. However Ergere didn't see the conclusion of the kick, his strength leaving him his spirit no longer able to cling to his flesh any longer and his life brought to its end and a agony beyond what he knew in life meeting him.
Ghozul panted as he swung his blade striking down another manling slave that had pushed past his bodyguards foolishly. How dare these slaves dare strike against him, he was soon to become more than a mere despot but a true Overlord of the Dawi and they were striking against him now, distracting him from the fortress and his prize! Still this battle was his, even with the Cathayans reinforcements, unless their entire army had set out marching earlier, between his and the Khornitte forces they'll take the Crimson Post and all of its slaves and be able to leave with nothing left for the Cathayans.
Such chaff stood no chance against the organized lines of the Dawi-Zharr and the ferocity of their slaves. Indeed Ghozul could smile knowing that now not only could he grind away at the loyalists to the other Despots sent to thia battle by forcing them to fight on the front against the Fortress, his own troops could claim honor fighting and protecting the rear while still preserving his force and of course keeping a level of legal separation should anything with the assault go wrong.
Nothing could go wrong, Valkia would lay waste to the defenders, he would push through and steal the slaves before the blood soaked idiots could do something stupid with them all. And the slave pits of Zharr Naggrund would be filled with new, exotic, and valuable slaves.
Until that oepning however the Dawi-Zharr had to press against the defenders of Crimson Post foot by foot putting disciplined volleys to suppress the defenders while throwing slaves up to lock them down. Meanwhile their ranks had to hold against the Cathayans, entrenched Dawi with traps and fire-pike scathing down rank after rank of Cathayans who willingly holding their ranks died one after another only to then route under the might of the Dawi, then regrouping under the watch of their Jade Warriors setting out again only to be cut down once more.
All this happened while the artillery of the Dawi continued to beat down all the walls of the Crimson Post. Only a little while more and the defenders would have no where to flee that wasn't exposed to the daemon-fire of Ghozul's weapons. They should hasten their advance, Ghozul reasoned, before their cannon fire killed too many slaves. A runner soon found his way to where Ghozul and hsi bodyguards stood anchoring the line and directing the left's defense against the Cathayans.
"Runner! Tell Dhuagma to push his men harder! We're wasting slaves here, he was sent here to subjugate this fortress wasn't he, then why is his army insufficient even after everything I have provided him?" Ghozul ordered even as the runner dropped to his knees before the Despot.
"Oh great and wose Ghozul, Dhuagma plans to withdraw from the field. The Khornittes are breaking and he fears the north may be left exposed." The runner announced.
"He's fleeing? The Khornittes breaking? What nonsense is this?" Ghozul demanded glaring down at the Dawi. A youth barely worthy to be Ghozul's footstool.
"I know not. But even as I came here some of them had thought to throw themselves at our lines braying for more sacrifice while others seemed to exhault as though they were already victorious." The young beardling stated while Ghozul glared down incredulously. Behind Ghozul the Eternals seemed to shuffle in a manner that almost put the Despot into a panic.
"What about the Infernal Guard surely those are not so cowardly..." Ghozul began in desperation but was cut off by the petulant thing before him.
"They follow Dhuagma my Despot." Was Dhuagma trying to dishonor Ghozul? Was this some contrived plot in the middle of the battlefield? They were surrounded on three sides and the coward dared think he could flee unscathed. Did he plan to blame his failures on Ghozul? Did he plan for Ghozul's ever watchful Eternals bodyguard to execute him so he could shift the blame onto a dead Dawi, or worse did he really think of a way to shame Ghozul so poorly that Ghozul would be forced to take the oaths of the Immortals and join the Infernal Guard an Iron Mask burnt onto his face?
No Ghozul was well above the ability of Dhuagma to shift blame for what should be Dhuagma's fault. After all Ghozul had given him even more of a army, weakened the Crimson Post in advance and stopped the rampage of the Khornittes and set them against the Crimson Post. And now he would save the warmachines of Zharr Naggrund. He would salvage every piece of weaponry that Dhuagma would abandon in his cowardice.
"Fine, if he wants to retreat let it be known that Dhuagma took command and chose to flee abandoning the war machines gifted to us by the Sorcerer-Prophets but I, Ghozul and my forces stayed to salvage each of them we could while Dhuagma fled. Beardling, carrt my message, run all the way back to the nearest post of Zharr Naggrund carrying it. Tell them thay Dhuagma fled the battle while Ghozul who had come to watch the Cathayans stayed to protect Dhuagma's siege weapons from the filthy hordes even as Dhuagma ran! Someone bring me a Hobgoblin Chieftain any of them will do!"
However before he and the Hob could speak, Ghozul would need to move deeper into the thick of the fighting. Where the clash of metal was louder and the risk greater. Only there would the sharp ears of the Etenrals perhaps miss a few conspiratorial words. And if truly necessary only there could Ghozul have any hope of escaping with his life.
Hans Leitdorf rode hard with his knights at times nearly outpacing their Kaldorei escorts. They had another target they needed to strike before the Iron Companies could bring their cannons to bear on the gates into Mulgore. A camp noted as Vendetta point where hardened warriors of the Tauren race stood to guard their homeland and to exact vengence against the Alliance. Hans could appreciate the honor and dedication of his soon to be foes, but they stood in the way of the Empire's army, and thus they would need to be destroyed swiftly.
Undoubtedly they were already alerted and prepared for his coming force, but Hans knew that his knights would need to bear the brunt of the fighting yet still as the rest of the army would be necessary for the battles within Mulgore and for the inevitable counterattacks the Horde would send their way. Looking to his left and right Hans could see his knights all around him, the Outriders and their Kaldorei allies intermixed among them. And then looking ahead He could see the great gate of Mulgore and dwarfed immensely to its side in a secure location along the cliffside was Vendetta point.
Riding at full speed it would still take them tens of minutes before they would be close enough to clash with the Tauren, but still Hans knew, even if he couldn't directly observe them, that the Tauren were now preparing their defenses both at the gate and for Vendetta Point. So he took his time to draw and raise his blade shouting for all to possibly hear over the sound of their rushing horses.
"Men! Knights of the Empire! The Emperor...has called on you to kill an alien foe! To You I Salute!" Over the noise of the horses, the strain of the full gallop of his steed this was the best speech Hans could hope to give. But it was enough, a cheer rose among the Knights who had been riding for hours now, all of them shouting and crying out names, Sigmar, Ulric, Moor, Myrmidia, Franz, and even Hans own name was shouted by the assembled knights and outriders while the Kaldorei some of who likely didn't understand a word all rose their own shouts which if he had to guess Hans thought he heard the name Elune in their warcry as the force closed with Vendetta Point.
Nearly twenty mimutes after that the first shots by the outriders and the hunters of Vendetta Point were exchanged. These rounds collided among both sides, Tauren Braves and Outriders both collapsing under leathal hits from their enemies. Several heartbeats later all chaos broke loose as the pistolier and Kaldorei unleashed and the Shamans and Braves of the Tauren responded with their own spells and javelins. As this exchange took place several of the creatures called Wyverns took flight with Tauren on their backs.
With formations of Knights and Outriders pouring across the Southern Barrens towards the Wyvern riders had ample targets to throw their javelins at, and with the strength of the Tauren each throw was enough to remove a rider from the battle if not kill them outright. However between the Kaldorei and the Pistoliers the Wyvern riders remained aloft only for a minute until most their number were brought down, either dead or escaping certain death. Still they achieved their damage, yet against the armor and resilience of the Empire's Knights this was still not enough.
The Knights of the Empire then crashed into the Tauren like a avalanche. Where most Tauren were confident they could stand down the charge of a Stormwind Knight, most of the Horde even mocking the very notion of a knight riding headlong into what would be their doom at a Tauren's hand, the sheer mass of the Empire Knights so tightly clustered laid low many over-confident Tauren. Elsewhere Tauren Braves caused multiple horses to fall, knocking their riders low with their might by the pair. But when the silent Black Knights of Moor rode they struck with a unnerving efficiency and gaps quickly opened and were now being exploited in the Tauren defense. With Outriders following Tauren soon found themselves cut off with pistols to their rear and hardened Knights to their fronts.
Still the Tauren refused to relent to their enemies holding strong knowing an alarm was already sent to Thunder Bluff and every second they held was a second more the defenses of Mulgore could be prepared and a second closer reinforcements could come. And of course Hans knew they were delaying, but he didn't engage in this battle to win.
"Knights of the Empire, pull back! Take the captives and pull back!" Hans shouted rising and swinging his sword in the air to get the attention the Knights about him. The process of course was slow with the Horde trying to keep fighting and the captured foes being large, uncooperative, and of course difficult to carry away even requiring multiple knights to drag them away.
Hans stood by watching the entirety of the event. In the aftermath the Wyverns attempted to pursue but were gunned down as they took off. The Tauren's defense was ravaged half of their number were dead, and well over a dozen were being dragged away by his Knights, and all within the line of sight of the Mulgore gates. If the Tauren, the Horde pursued his Knights then he would destroy them completely. Otherwise he would be content to let them sit among their losses.
Now with the outer forces thinned the Iron Companies should have a easier time preparing to tear down the gate. Now was the time for him to spread out and provide the protective screen for the arriving Iron Companies. Let Lady Elspeth von Draken focus all her energies on striking down the gate, and pray to Sigmar she could open the gate before Luthor Huss arrived with the main infantry.
If the campaign was to be a success every State Trooper possible needed to be preserved and they needed to strike Mulgore before the Horde to their rear had the ability to rally forces to counter-strike. Now was the riskiest time for the Imperial Expedition, if they got trapped here the Campaign would be a failure and he'd have to march the army back to the Empire in shame.
Shandris Feathermoon sat beside the cot where Malfurion lay unconscious. She looked upon the man who by marriage was her adoptave father and struggled to hold back the deluge of emotions she felt. Tyrande was missing having taken off for some Elune guided purpose, and now their people were at their most lost moment, left without anyone to turn to. And many were now turning to her as if she was some heir to the throne, or asking her to stand behind Jarrod or Maiev like her mark of approval was all they needed. Some people seemed to come to speak with her just for the honor of speaking with her raising up poonts of nonsense like establishing trade restrictions with the Goblins.
Shandris loved Tyrande as a daughter to such an amazing woman. She had stood by proudly as Malfurion and the Priestess of Elune united as one, and she had watched as Tyrande lead the Kaldorei as no one else ever could. But Shandris had never been Tyrande, she never wanted to replace her and the tought of losing her. Such a thought was unbearable.
"You need to hold strong. You can not die, she needs you. I need you." The daughter of the legendary leaders of the Kaldorei pleaded while holding Malfurion's hand.
Darnassus, the entirety of Teldrassil, the world of Mallus, how was she supposed to measure to all these tasks. Elune did not guide her and speak to her like she did with Tyrande, and she most certainly did not have the relationship with the Wild Gods that Malfurion, or any Druid possessed. She wasn't some legend like Jarrod or the symbol of justice Maiev was. She had always been Tyrande's shadow, a girl of military discipline and a protector. But now the land they sought to protect was in ruins, countless dead, and the Horde, Damn the Horde, had invited evils from another world she was certain that Azeroth would never truly be rid of.
The door to the chamber opened, Cenarius had gone into the Emerald Dream to treat Malfurion from there and Brom had been assailed both by the task of holding the Circle together and by guiding the Druids of the Kaldorei in light of Teldrassil's death.
"Uydron, I ordered you not to disturb us. I will come for you if he changes." Shandris voice was filled with chastisement and rage. This was her first time alone since she had come to Azeroth, every moment of every Night had been nothing but reports, and political maneuvering. She hadn't even been yet given the chance to visit Stormwind to see to the refugees or to hear from the Kaldorei's allies. She was too busy hearing from anyone who had anything to sa, if she wanted to hear what they had to say or not.
"Well, I'm not Uydron so no need to punish him for not listening. As for this old Prophet, I figured I should come offer my services even if now wasn't the most welcome of times." Valen, still needing a staff to stand with from his poisoning stated as he walked into the room.
"Prophet Valen! I apologize, I didn't expect..."
"Didn't expect someone other than a Kaldorei to come so far just to bother you. Well be at ease, I won't bother you any more than you want me to. I actually came to offer my services in treating Malfurion. Encountering you was just a added blessing." The Prophet of the Dreanei stated with a warm smile before taking a seat next to Shandris at Malfurion's bedside.
"I'm sorry I'm just..."
"Overwhelmed, judging yourself, questioning why anyone would dare listen to you no matter how right you are? I think I know that feeling very well. I'm told I make for great council, but truth be told I find other people to be far more admirable than myself and I often find that I ask why I couldn't have been more like Kil'jaeden and really asserted myself when I had to. Maybe then we all wouldn't be here, or maybe then I'd be a red tinted demon lost to the madness of Sargeras. Unfortunately no one is perfectly what anyone else needs, some leaders are too violent, others too crude of mouth, and others too zealous and those who care often find themselves wishing they were someone else that maybe that would make everything better. But what your people, what you have is not someone else, you only have yourself to offer so be the best of yourself for them. " The Prophet elucidated.
Shandris just nodded. "I understand, though i heard something interesting. Apparently you prophesied I will fail." Shandris stated, as a lighthearted challenge to the Dreanei.
"Yes the form of the failure is unclear, only the scope of its consequence. It's very likely the failure has already happened since I made my declaration and we have yet to see its outcome." The Prophet honestly answered.
"Maybe. I have likely made promises to the Empire that I might not be able to fulfill." Shandris admitted, earning a chuckle from Valen.
"I think I have heard that before. But such hardships forge the strong. Despite their so called Theologists claims, I'm certain that Anduin shall become the greatest King this world or theirs has ever seen. And likely their Empire despite being a rough and unpleasant experience will be a good teacher to allow him to reach his true potential." Valen rambled with a good natured cheer.
"How is the Theologist?" Shandris asked with her own small smile.
"Alive and Good, he's trying to push his influence on Anduin as we speak. But despite his experience, his lack of understanding has lead him to lack the influence I'm sure he's accustomed to having. Still the Alliance is finding his council useful, and I think his council is the one Anduin currently needs to grow. Much like my aid here is needed." Valen stated looking to the resting and wounded Malfurion.
"Thankyou." Shandris then took and squeezed Malfurion's hand gently. "Please take care of him, but it seems I know where I must be now." And then the General stood and left, ready to travel.
"If you carry the light, then there is no place too dark."