Might of Lordaeron

by K2JC

The Black Dogs. A mercenary company that would rape and pillage anything they could get their hands on. Their numbers, unrivaled. There was no hope of stopping them. They will rule over all. Unfortunately, a certain Prince will not stand idly by while this injustice runs amok. The Black Dogs will learn to fear the Might of Lordaeron.

12. Might of Lordaeron Ch 12

The cold winter breeze pricked Arthas' skin as he stared at the soon-to-be battlefield from atop his mount, Unyielding. Beside him, a helmless Captain Falric sat on his own mount while holding a smoking pipe between his lips. Downhill, a force of one thousand four hundred and forty Footmen and Auxiliary Halberdiers stood in attention as they faced their foe. Behind the Prince was a line of Trebuchets and Ballistae while a row of Footmen Archers and Auxiliary Crossbowwomen held their bows as they waited for the battle to begin. Far to the left and hidden in the trees, Alicia and her three hundred and twenty Knights eagerly await for the signal to charge.

After the Alliance slow but successful campaign in Kühlschrank, Gallix the Ruthless called upon the remaining tribes of the west and assembled a large horde of barbarians numbering in the thousands led by his son, Braun, to overwhelm the Alliance. Thanks to their spies and scouts, Arthas managed to assemble a fighting force to match the barbarian horde and meet them in the field of battle before the horde can reach a songle settlement. If what his spies say is true, then this is the bulk of Gallix's army. The defeat of this horde would leave their other settlements nearly unprotected and ripe for the taking. Once all of the regions of Kühlschrank are subjugated, bar the North, Arthas can push for a final siege in the center of the province where Gallix and his tribe reside. The mountainous region of Dauðafjöll.

"Have the scouts returned yet?" Arthas asked while scratching his beard. A year has passed and he decided to keep the beard. He didn't like it at first but it 'grew' on him. Sadly, Alicia didn't like that joke and left the room without a word. Brünnhilde seemed to like it though.

"Not yet, my- wait. I think I see them."

The Captain pointed in the distance and sure enough, the scouts rode their mounts towards them. When the lead scout reached them, Arthas saw the worried look etched into his face.

"Milord, we bring troubling news."

"What is it?"

"The Grells have received support from the Black Dogs."

Arthas was silent as were the whole army.

'So they finally decided to get out of hiding, huh.'

"How many men did they give?"

"Not men, milord." The scout shook his head "Catapults. Crude looking trebuchets and Ogres. From what our spy told us, Volt sent his lieutenant, Hicks, to bring those siege engines and monsters as an offering to join forces and Braun accepted."

"Then we have to hit them harder. Falric." He turned to the Captain who had stashed away his smoking pipe and put on his helmet.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Send word to Alicia that the plan has changed. Rather than flank the barbarian horde, I want her to find and take out those catapults and tell her to do with haste. Those weapons need to be taken down before they could deal significant damage to the army."

"Understood, my Lord. Hyah!"

Arthas watched the Captain go before turning back to the lead scout "Form up with the rest of the Missile Infantry and prepare yourselves."

"Yes, milord."

"Now... we wait." The Prince muttered to himself as his eyes narrowed at the distance.

~Line Break~

Alicia cursed when she heard the news from Falric. The bastard Hicks was here and he came to offer the Grells an alliance. If she can find him, she would impale the silver tounged mercenary personally with a pike and leave him to bleed in a slow, agonizing death. It wouldn't hurt if the crows decided to have a little feast as well. Such thoughts were not fit for someone with the title of Princess Knight but she couldn't help herself. She loathed the Black Dogs. The mere thought of them made her blood boil. She heard the sound of the trebuchets loose their incendiaries and looked up to see the flaming boulders sail through the air. The sounds of the boulders' impact was quickly followed by the screams of the barbarians who were unlucky enough to get caught in the impact zone. This was soon followed by large spiked balls flying through the air and headed for the Alliance lines. Screams followed before a horn was blown. That signalled the front line Halberdiers to form a Phalanx.

'So it has begun.'

~Line Break~

Indeed it has. The Battle of Blüdreik Field has begun. The Grells roared as they charged the Halberdiers only to be impaled upon their weapons. Even so, the onslaught of barbarians didn't stop. With the bodies of the dead tribesmen occupying the Halberds, the Halberdiers were having a hard time keeping the rest of the horde back. A horn blew and signalled the Halberdiers to fall back and were replaced by Footmen who formed wall of shields. They have done their job. Taking down a number of barbarians in the Grells' initial charge. Now, it was the Footmen's turn to hold the line. The strong defense kept the savages at bay, long enough for the Missile Infantry to take aim and fire a volley flaming arrows at the barbarian horde. The Grells screamed as the arrows hit their mark but that wasn't enough to stop them. In fact, the scent of blood drove them into a frenzy. Their strikes became harder and faster. Arrows struck their bodies but they ignored it in favor of relentlessy attacking the Footmen. The Alliance soldiers, however, fought back.

While keeping them back, the Footmen would look for their opportunity to strike at the enemy with their swords while keeping the barbarians back with their shields. Once an opening presented itself, a Footman would thrust his sword into the barbarian's abdomen. Despite using leather armor now, the Grells did not wear anymore protection underneath and a Footman's Steel Forged Sword easily tore through that armor. Blood spill to the ground as bodies slowly piled one after the other. A spiked ball slammed into the front line of the Shieldwall and the Footmen immediately retrieved their dead or wounded before filling the spot they left behind quickly. Arthas saw this and nodded towards a Footman Archer who then proceeded to fire a flaming arrow into the sky. The Prince looked into the distance to see Alicia's Knights used the surrounding forest to cover their movement as they made their way to the enemy catapults. Then the battle went on as if it was routine. A Footman is wounded or dead, another takes his place. A barbarian manages to break through the line, immediately killed before they can raise their weapon. Arthas watched all this from top of Unyielding and felt that something was missing.

Suddenly, a roar tore through the battlefield and he turned to the source as six, heavily-armored ogres entered the fray. The barbarians parted for the giant beasts but the ogres had no regard for them and only wanted the Alliance soldiers. The beasts charged and broke through sections of the front line, allowing the barbarians to engage the Footmen on the broken formation. Arthas ordered the Halberdiers to engage the armored ogres while the Ballistae give them support. Footmen Archers and Auxiliary Crossbowwomen were ordered to maintain fire at the farthest barbarians. Should they run out of arrows, Footmen Archers were to pick up their swords and shields then reinforce the ranks while Auxiliary Bowwomen were to stay and defend the artilleries should the Grells try and flank the trebuchets and ballistae.

Seeing that the Grells were slowly pushing their forces back thanks to the ogres, Arthas raised Light's Vengeance and cast Devotion Aura that reached out to his troops, making them more durable than in a fight. The Prince would then cast down Holy Light on those he see were close to faltering. He then looked to the sky to see that the Grells still have their artillery. His gaze then went to the barbarians at the behind the main fighting force of the Grells and saw them wield crudely made bow and arrows before firing a volley of arrows towards them.

"Shields!"

The Footmen heard his order and raised their shields above their heads while still trying to fight off the barbarians. The Footmen Archers and Crossbowwomen stepped back to avoid the rain of arrows. Arthas, satisfied that they're out of harm's way, cast Divine Shield on himself. A golden shield surrounded the blonde Prince and the arrows reflected off the shield. He looked over his shoulder and ordered the artilleries to concentrate fire at the enemy Missile Infantry.

~Line Break~

"Lady Alicia, there they are."

Alicia looked to where Eve was pointing at and indeed saw the row of eight trebuchets. All of them were manned by Black Dogs but unfortunately, Hicks was nowhere in sight.

'Bastard must've left these grunts to do the dirty work and hightailed it. Coward.'

"My Lady."

The Princess Knight was interrupted from her fuming thoughts before composing herself.

"Alright, Knights. Follow my lead. Charge!"

She spurred her horse and galloped towards the trebuchet crew. The other Knights following behind.

"For the Alliance!"

The Black Dogs turned to her and saw the hundreds of Knights charging towards them. Alicia let out a battle cry before throwing the spear in her hand towards the closest mercenary before unsheathing her sword while holding her jousting lance in her other hand. The spear sailed through air and buried itself in a Black Dog's heart. The tip of her lance managed to impale another and she pushed the mercenary to the ground, dragging his screaming body along as she rode her mount. Alicia raised her sword and brought it down on a Black Dog's head. The Princess Knight halted her mount before pulling her lance free from the impaled mercenary's corpse. She looked around and saw that the catapult crew were already running away. A few brave ones tried to fight only to be trampled or cut down by her Knights. Eve halted her mount in front of the blonde.

"We've routed the Black Dogs, my Lady. The other Knights scoured the area and these mercenaries are the only ones here. It seems Hicks' only offered them artillery support and leather armor. The Black Dogs are desperate but not desperate it seems."

"Or maybe they're greedy." Alicia suggested "Why waste weapons and armor that they could've used for themselves? The only true offer they gave were the armored ogres."

"But what about the catapults?"

"Have you seen the catapults?"

Alicia made an exaggerated gesture at said artilleries.

"They look like they can barely stand as it is." Alicia dropped from her mount and kicked the side of the trebuchet. The result was immediate and the structure fell into pieces. The blonde looked at the purple haired Knight and gestured at the broken down catapult "See?"

Eve blinked before jabbing her lance at the next trebuchet and received the same result.

"Wow. That was... "

"Shit."

"For a lack of a better word."

Alicia snickered before climbing up her mount and raised her sword.

"Knights, rally to me! Rally to me!"

The Knights stopped chasing after the fleeing Black Dogs and regrouped with their commander. Alicia faced the ongoing battle and hefted her lance. Eve did the same beside her before the blonde Princess Knight ordered the others to form a Wedge. Alicia narrowed her eyes as she observed the backs of the Grellian lines. She could see the large forms of the ogres wreaking havoc among the Alliance ranks. A ballistae arrow struck it in the neck and the beast fell on top of the Grellian lines. Alicia counted four more ogres rampaging.

"My Lady, I have doubts about this. There's too many of them to flank."

"Well, Eve. When in doubt."

Alicia spurred her horse and raised her sword towards the Grells.

"ATTACK!"

The Knights need not to be told twice before charging after the Princess Knight. The cavalry closed the distance between them and the horde, running down a row of Grellian Archers who were unfortunate enough to get in their way. Alicia roared as her mount jumped over the heads of some of the Grells before landing on the backs of a group of barbarians, crushing them in the process. The blonde impaled a barbarian with her lance but other barbarians ripped it from her grasp. Her mount reared into it's hind legs before stomping down on an unfortunate sod, crushing his head and staining the ground with blood, bone fragments and brain matter. Alicia unsheathed a second blade and began cutting down Grells or kicking them away. From the corner of her eye, she saw the rest of her Knights arrive and trample the barbarians. Eve rode her mount beside her before handing her a banner of the Alliance. Alicia smiled as she raised the banner high in the air. A group of Knights surrounded her and kept the barbarians back.

"FOR THE ALLIANCE!"

~Line Break~

Arthas pulled Light's Wrath free from the ogre's chest and watched as it let out the last of it's death throes. The Prince ducked down just in time to avoid a swing from another ogre before throwing Light's Vengeance into it's face. The force of the blow threw the beast to it's back and also threw off it's helmet. Arthas jumped down the dead ogre before walking over to the other ogre. He retrieved his warhammer and stood over the downed ogre. Gripping Light's Vengeance with both hands, Arthas raised the warhammer high above his head before slamming it down hard on the ogre's face, bathing the Prince in a bloody shower of gore.

"FOR THE ALLIANCE!"

Arthas looked away from his recent kill and looked to the back of the barbarian lines to see Alicia, encircled by a group of Knights, raise the banner of the Alliance. The Prince saw that this managed to gain the attention of the Grells. An opportunity showed itself and Arthas reformed the Footmen line.

"Push forward, men! Not one step back. For the Alliance!"

"FOR THE ALLIANCE!"

The Footmen slowly pushed forward, gaining the ground they lost when the ogres pushed them back. Arthas looked over his shoulder to the Missile Infantry.

"Give them everything you got!"

"Yes, milord!"

Arthas watched as arrows fly above their heads and rain down on the Grellian horde. The Alliance pushed the barbarians back and moved to encircle them. Among those in the front line was Falric. The Captain slammed his helmed head on a Grellian berserker, forcing the barbarian to it's back before kicking him in the head. Falric didn't give him the chance to recover and buried his blade in the barbarian's chest. He looked back up and saw the state of the battle. With the shield wall reformed, they were slowly encircling the barbarians and victory will be theirs soon. The last ogre roared as it turned it's attention on the Knights. It grabbed one of them and ate the mount while the rider fell to the clutches of the barbarian horde. Her screams were drowned out by the outraged cries of the other Knights as they used their lances and thrust them in the armored ogre's exposed areas. The beast roared in pain before swinging it's massive club and smashing into groups of Knights and Grells, throwing them off their feet. The Alliance broke formation as the Footman let out a battle cry and attacked the closest barbarian.

Falric bashed a barbarian with the edge of his shield in the knee, forcing the Grell to kneel in pain. This was followed up with the Captain running his sword through the barbarian's mouth. Falric kicked the body off to free his weapon and jumped into the air before bringing down his sword as he descended. His blade met flesh as the weapon was buried halfway down the Grellian's neck. The Captain heaved his weapon free from the barbarian and thrust the sword to his left, piercing the hand that held the charging Grellian's weapon. The barbarian screamed and Falric twisted the blade, dragging the arm and breaking it. He twisted the blade once more before stabbing it in the barbarian's heart.

"Look out!"

Falric turned around just as Arthas slammed his shoulder right into a Grell that was about to attack the Captain. The Prince looked at the barbarian he shoulder bashed and slammed Light's Vengeance on the Grellian's chest, crushing the entirety of the barbarian's chest. Arthas then ducked to avoid a swing for his head and ran his attacker through the gut with Light's Wrath. The barbarian coughed up blood before being torn in half as the Prince heaved his Greatsword upwards and faced the surrounding Grellians. When the Grells faced Arthas, a myriad of emotions gripped their hearts and minds. Fear. The Prince was bathed head to toe with the blood of their tribesmen he had personally slain and eyes that promised only death. Anger. Arthas slaughtered their kin and dared to go against their king. Respect. From one warrior to another. All of these feelings ran through their minds and Anger was the sole force that kept them fighting. Fear for their lives made them flee the field of battle. Respect had them accept a worthy death from a worthy foe.

"Face me!"

The first ones to do so where the ones who were blinded by anger, followed by those who were brave and ready to face the Prince. Their thoughts solely centered around a worthy death. Better to die in the hands of a noble warrior than in the hands of an animal like Gallix and his ilk. Those who feared the Prince fled but those consumed by anger slaughtered them. There are no room for cowards in Gallix's army. However, some lay down their weapons and surrendered to the Alliance but even so, the battle rages on.

Alicia, who was thrown off her mount, faced the rampaging ogre and charged at it. She used both her blades to cut the beast's exposed calves and saw it roar in pain. It reached down and grabbed her before bringing her closer to it's face. Alicia struggled against it's mighty grip before glaring the beast right in the eye. She showed no fear and only yelled obscenities at the ogre. It roared at her and she replied by throwing the sword in her left hand at th beast's eye. The weapon met it's intended mark and the beast roared in pain as it tried to pull the blade out of it's eye. Alicia, however, held on to the beast's hand before making her way to it's head. Below her, the Knights saw their commander climb up the beast's head and rode their mounts to her aid. They used their lances to impale the beast in it's exposed calves and forc e it to it's knees. From behind the ogre, Eve hefted a spear and threw it towards the ogre's exposed back.

The spear hit it's mark and the ogre started swaying but it refused to fall. More Knights charged it from behind and jabbed their lances at it's calves. This time, the beast fell on all fours. Alicia held on for dear life until the ogre fell. She steadied herself and held her remaining sword with both hands in a reverse grip before raising it up in the air.

"In Arcturus' name, I stab at thee!"

Alicia roared as she plunged the blade all the way to the hilt in the ogre's nape. As she did so, the clouds parted and the sun's rays shined down upon her as a gigantic Sword of Light fell from the heavens and struck the very ground the beast stood, leaving glowing cracks as the ogre fell dead and the Sword of Light vanished. The blonde let out exhausted breaths as she fell to her knees while still holding onto her sword. Despite all that, the battle continued on around her. The loss of the final armored ogre caused a majority of the Grells to flee but the Knights were all to eager to chase after them. The field was flooded with the blood from both sides but most came from the barbarians. Arthas himself was drenched head to toe with it as he stood atop a pile of bodies. A few meters away from him, Falric was busy beating a barbarian to death with his helmet. Eve reared her mount back and it stood on it's hind legs before crushing a downed barbarian's head like a melon. A barbarian with a missing arm tried to crawl away but a Footman pulled him back by the hair and slit his throat before dropping him none too gently and moved on to the next Grellian.

The battle was coming to an end but Arthas was not one to leave things unfinished. He looked to the Missile Infantry and saw that they still had enough arrows with them before ordering the Archers and Crossbowwomen to fire upon the fleeing Grells. They were happy to comply and aimed at the barbarians' retreating backs. Arthad watched the arrows sail through the air before looking up at the sky and let the rain drops fall into his face. He didn't when did it began to pour but he welcomed it.

"YOU!"

The Prince turned to the source of the voice and saw a shirtless and bloody Grell pointing an axe at him. He had long, messy blonde hair that, from what Arthas guessed, used to be tied up. Blue eyes that burned with unadulterated rage. From underneath the blood, the Prince could see a myriad of tattoos.

"Mark my words, Lordaeronian. The Grells will have our revenge. You think you have won but father will prove you wrong. He will feast on your flesh as he bathes in your blood!" Braun beat his chest twice and roared before running towards the Prince with his weapon held up high.

Arthas glared at the charging barbarian before spinning in his heel and avoiding the charge. With Light's Vengeance in hand, the Prince struck Braun in the back and threw the barbarian a couple of feet away. The Grellian rolled to a stop and shakily stood up. He turned around to face Arthas only for the Prince to drive his Greatsword into Braun's abdomen. Arthas pushed the blade further in before lifting the impaled body if Braun high in the air. The barbarian screamed at the top of his lungs before Arthas threw him down, sliding him off the blade and landing painfully on his back. The Prince stepped on Braun's forearm as the barbarian tried to reach for his fallen weapon. He loomed over the fallen barbarian and looked down on him with a blank stare.

"You send a message to Gallix. Tell him... his kingdom has fallen... Kühlschrank is mine."

Braun stared defiantly at Arthas and spat blood on the Prince's boot.

"I won't tell him shit."

"I don't need you alive to accomplish that."

Braun's eyes widened as Arthas kicked the barbarian to his stomach and grabbed him by the hair. He pulled Braun to his knees and the barbarian screamed in agony from his bleeding wounds. His screams were cutoff as the Prince swung his Greatsword and severed the barbarian's head from his body. Arthas watched the head roll to the bloody field and stared at the frozen expression in it's face. Braun's eyes were wide and blank but his mouth was agape. He knelt down and grabbed the head by the hair and looked to his left to see that there were prisoners being shackled. Falric walked over to him and the Prince threw the severed head at the Captain who caught it without so much as a reaction.

"Put this in a sack. Have one of the prisoners run this to Gallix as a message. Place a note with the head."

"What would you have it say, my Lord?"

"...He's next."

~Line Break~

With the Battle of Blüdreik Field concluded, the Alliance picked up their dead, piled and burned the Grells' corpses, and planted an Alliance banner with a sword and shield resting on it from atop of a hill to show the world who won this fight. Despite the victory, no one celebrated. A welcome silence fell over the army as they made their way back to Fort Lightbringer. Arthas rode Unyielding at the front of the marching formation with Falric and Alicia on either side of him with their own mounts. Behind them were Alicia's Knights, followed by half of the Footmen then the Halberdiers then the prisoners. Behind the prisoners were the Footmen Archers and Crossbowwomen then followed by the Artilleries and more Footmen. The only sound in their return trip were the ones made by the cold wind and the marching of their feet through the snow layered path. Sure there were some idle chatter here and there but mostly it was kept to themselves. The prisoners were quiet and stripped of everything other than the fur clothes on their backs.

"We'll stop by Wolf's Den while the rest of the army and prisoners will keep moving to Fort Lightbringer." Arthas said to the two beside him "You're Knights will accompany us, Alicia."

"Of course./Yes, my Lord." The two replied before falling back into silence.

Soon they reached a fork in the road and Arthas took the one on the left while the army continued on the right. From the looks of things, they might reach the settlement before a blizzard hits.

"Alicia." The Prince called out "What was that, back in Blüdreik Field? The power you used to slay the ogre?"

"I... I don't know. All I know is that it took a lot out of me. I didn't even know I could do that." Alicia looked down at the reigns of her mount as she remembered what happened "What was that power?"

~Line Break~

Wolf's Den, Kühlschrank

Their arrival was a quiet one. Only the soldiers guarding the gate greeted them before Arthas and Alicia had the stable boys take care of their horses and made their way to the Great Hall. The Knights stabled their mounts as well before heading towards the Inn or Barracks. Falric himself went to the Barracks to rest his body while Eve went to the Inn for a drink.

The two blondes reached the Great Hall were they were greeted by two guards. They opened the doors and the duo entered. Inside, a table was in the center of the building where soldiers and settlers feasted. The hall was crowded to the point that even the extra tables and chairs were occupied and some were forced to stand. Fortunately, they didn't seem to mind. On the head of the table was Brünnhilde. The Chieftain lazily ate the turkey leg while nodding her head along as a drunken settler unloaded his entire life story to her. The woman's eyes spotted the two blondes and was relieved for the distraction.

"I'm sorry, Olaf. But this will have to wait. We have guests."

"But what about- "

He was cutoff when Brünnhilde stuffed his mouth with the turkey leg she was eating before the Chieftain walked over to greet the two blondes.

"So how did the battle go?"

"We lost good men and women but nothing too costly." Arthas replied as he set his weapons down and leaned on a pillar "Gallix's Grells were massive in number. It didn't help that the Black Dogs gave them catapults and beasts to help them fight."

Brünnhilde's eyes narrowed at that.

"That is strange. Gallix was never one to accept help." She muttered under her breath but the two heard it all the same "He usually kills them and take what was offered and more. He must've been desperate."

"Even his sons?" The Prince questioned.

"Especially them. They are the same as him."

She didn't bother to mask the astonishment in her voice. This got the other two's attention. Arthas smirked and accepted the mug of mead from the serving girl that offered it to them. Alicia nodded her thanks before letting out a small smile. Things were looking up for the Alliance. Kühlschrank would be theirs soon.

"Ugh, why haven't I noticed that before?"

The two blondes looked at the Grellian and simultaneously raised their left brow. Brünnhilde snorted and pointed at the Primce.

"You're covered head to toe in dried blood."

Arthas blinked and looked down on himself.

"Oh."

"Aye. Oh. Get yourself cleaned up. There's a bath in one of the rooms. I'll have Helga lead you there."

"That won't be necessary." Arthas shook his head "I know where it is. Ladies."

The Prince bowed his head before walking away, leaving the other two to watch him leave. Brünnhilde then turned to the much smaller blonde.

"What the Hel happened to him?"

"I don't know." Alicia shrugged "I was too busy killing an ogre to watch. All I know is that he was standing on a pile of bodies as barb- I mean, Gallix's Grells surrounded him. My Knights were chasing after those who were fleeing. Falric was busy killing someone with his helmet. The battle was just full of blood, guts and body parts. It's like everyone's sweating blood rather than, uh, sweat."

"Hmm. You might've fought Gallix's Grells in Blüdreik Field."

"What does that mean?"

"Lass, Blüdreik Field has a history in Kühlschrank. Many of the country's famous battles was taken place in that field. Legend has it that the field is always soaked by the blood spilled from previous battles. Never drying out. It's always as wet as the day the blood was spilled. They say the Blood God watches over the field whenever a battle takes place. When he is there, the clouds rain blood. Everything wet is turned to blood. Your sweat. Spit. Even your tears will turn red as blood. Only when the battle is almost at an end will everything turn back to normal. When a victor is chosen. A lot useless legend but it is the truth. Though, no one knows why the Blood God does this."

"Huh... weird."

~Line Break~

The Capital, Feoh

Jaina read the reports from the South about the increasing Pirate activity. More towns were raided but the Alliance and Seven Shields always managed to push them back but even so they get bolder and bolder to the point that they had engaged the Alliance and Seven Shields head on. They would fire cannons from their ships to destroy the defenses and allow the Pirates to move in engage the defending force. It soon got to the point that two ships wpuld raid one town or port. Despite the Seven Shields patrolling the seas, the Pirates always managed to slip past them or destroy the patrol itself. Jaina sighed and rubbed her temple.

"We need those ships soon if we want to put an end to this threat. I need to reform the Kul'Tiran Marines but leave the Castle and Royal Guards here. That would take away a quarter from the company of Marines that came here months ago. We need to start recruiting and training new Marines now."

Jaina took a paper and began writing down the official order to recall the company of Kul'Tiran Marines and the recruitment of new Marines. Suddenly, her door flew open and Prim rushed inside. Jaina's eyes widened at the state of the pinkette. Her eyes were wide with fear and her dress had holes and cuts in them. Her face had dirt and grime as well. Jaina quickly rushed over to Prim and was quickly enveloped in a hug.

"Prim, what's wrong? What happened to you? Are you hurt?"

The pinkette looked at the Archmage with tears running down her face.

"Ur is lost."

"What?"

~Line Break~

City of Ur, Lordaeron

It was a peaceful night. The moon was full and illuminating the city with it's glow. Shops and other establishment were still open and the city's inhabitants were enjoying the night life. Unbeknownst to them, this might be the very last time they enjoy it.

A city guard whistled a tune as he passed by an alleyway. He heard a crash and stopped in his tracks. The guard cautiously made his way to the source of the noise. He held up his lamp and checked his surroundings. Nothing was amiss. But then he heard something bang into the manhole's lid. Unsheathing his sword, the guard moved to investigate. He set down the lamp beside the manhole and lifted up the lid. He narrowed his eyes to see through the darkness better and found himself staring at a set of red orbs.

"What the- "

He was cutoff as a crude looking spear ran through his mouth and out the back of his head. His body was pulled through the manhole and sounds of flesh being ripped apart echoed inside. Soon, silence fell. No one bothered to know why a lamp was lying on a ground next to a sword and manhole. Actually. In the next few seconds, people will be too busy running or fighting for their lives.

In the middle of a crowded street, a manhole burst open and out came a swarm of giant rats of varying sizes from a Dwarf to an Orc. They stood on hind legs and carried rusty swords, killing any human they could see. Some of them carried weapons that spewed out green flames or throw flasks filled with poison gas. Soon, all throughout the city, swarms of Ratmen flooded areas of the city in minutes. They even managed to get inside the castle where Prim was residing. The pinkette was attacked but nothing too serious. She was escorted out of the castle and into a carriage. They rode away from Castle Ur and passed by screaming citizens and soldiers as they were swarmed by the hundreds and hundreds off Ratmen. Once they've reached the city gates, the soldiers locked it and kept the Ratmen from getting out. The top of the city's walls were lined with Archers and Footmen who were doing all they can to keep the Rat menace from climbing over the walls.

~Line Break~

Jaina sighed as she let the pinkette cry on her shoulder. As if the Pirates weren't enough, now they have these Ratmen to worry about. She'll have to reroute the troops sent to reinforce Shore Defense to reinforce Ur instead. If what Prim said, is true, then they'll need a big army to take the city back. They were stretched thin and Arthas still wasn't finished with his campaign yet. All Jaina could think off was to quarantine the city. Keep the Ratmen from escaping Ur until Arthas returns with an army but who knows how long will that take.

"Light, why can't things just be easy for once?"