Acherus was a huge necropolis-like structure floating above New Avalon. Skeletal gryphons flew to and fro, carrying other death knights from Acherus to a fortified camp below in the ridge overlooking the town. The whole area would have reeked of undeath as a regular human, but now, it smelled…almost pleasant to the new death knight. As the Lich King transported Jacob and the Scourge soldiers up into the complex, Jacob felt his ornate armour change, turning into basic death knight initiate gear. It left his arms bare and his helm was replaced by a hood. All in all, the gear offered much less protection and decoration. Somehow, the new death knight understood. "Break them down to the basics, build them back up as elites." He muttered as he walked forward to the Lich King, who was standing on a pedestal. They were on a wide balcony overlooking New Avalon. "All I am: Anger, cruelty, vengeance, I bestow upon you, my chosen knight. You will now be known as Jacob Deathstalker." The Lich King said as he saw the initiate approach. "Go, your training begins now." Jacob bowed, and set off to find the instructor.
Instructor Razuvious was a huge man, with ornate blue armour and a massive runed sword on his back. Turning his head at the initiate's approach, he gave a thin grin, one that didn't touch his eyes. "Ah, there you are." He sat Jacob down on the steps to the lowered pit and stood, towering over him. "Your first lesson, Deathstalker, is to forge your weapon. Go to those weapon racks and get a sword. Place it in the runeforge and watch the magic happen. Then report back to me. Go." Jacob rose, and headed over to the weapon racks. He sorted through the blades, and finally picked one that was just right for him. He headed over to the forge, testing its weight. As blue Scourge magic enveloped the weapon, Jacob felt a new spell work its way into his mind.
Runeforging.
Taking the runeblade out of the forge, Jacob waved his hand over the blade, emblazoning runes onto it. He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at seeing his new weapon, sleek, deadly and beautiful. He walked over to Razuvious, who took the blade. "Well done, Deathstalker. The runeblade is the very extension of your being. A death knight cannot battle without a runed weapon. Now, you see over there in that pit the unworthy initiates who have failed. Chained to the heart of Acherus, they serve only to take up space, unworthy of joining the dark brotherhood. The endless hunger will soon overpower you, and you will feel immeasurable pain." Razuvious gave a key to Jacob. "This is the key to your salvation. Go and unlock one of the initiates' soul prison. Then, kill them, and the pain will stop. Live or die, the choice is yours to make." He handed back the sword to the death knight.
Jacob took the blade from Razuvious and headed over to a human initiate. He unlocked the prison and the man stood up. "You have made a grave error, fiend!" He grabbed his armour, swiftly buckled it on, then took up his sword and charged at Jacob. "HAH! You can barely hold a blade. Yours will be a quick death!" The death knight sidestepped the human and slammed the edge of the blade into the man's back. The victim gasped, and Jacob brought his sword up into the man's chest. Firing a death coil into the man's stomach, Jacob then cast Festering Strike and Outbreak, causing numerous pustules to appear, then rip open all over the man. Blood poured from the man's mouth, and the keen runeblade separated his head from his shoulders. As the head went tumbling away, Razuvious smiled.
"Good work. Now, your next lesson is to choose your school of magic. You now wield the power of the unholy. Death knights that follow the unholy arts gain access to a wide range of biological powers. They inflict infested wounds, diseases and festering boils on the enemy! You may either choose to change it, or remain. There are two other schools: The school of frost, and the school of blood. Frost is for those who want to end their enemies quickly! With powers of ice and fast, heavy strikes, a frost death knight is on nigh invincible! Those death knights that choose the power of blood become walking tanks! Wielding healing blood magic and delivering swift strikes that rend flesh and tear marrow, blood death knights are usually seen at the forefront of the battle."
Jacob thought for a while. "Instructor, I choose to follow the school of frost." Razuvious said nothing, but cast a spell on Jacob. Instantly, the death knight felt a sense of discomfort as the spells belonging to the school of the unholy were ripped from his mind, and the spells according to frost replaced the empty spaces. Frost Strike, Howling Blast, Obliterate and Death Grip replaced Scourge Strike, Raise Ghoul, Outbreak, Festering Strike and Death Coil. As if on instinct, Jacob cast aside his sword and spent a few minutes forging two new one-handed runeblades, curved and serrated like the ones he received when he had been raised. Razuvious gave a crack of a grin, pleased at his new student's initiative.
Jacob then headed over to the balcony. As he went, he passed by a tall blood elf death knight, clad in ornate spiked armour, a long flowing black cloak and carrying a large runed axe with six sharp blades in a circle. Jacob didn't know the elf's name, but he knew him by reputation. One of the Lich King's most powerful death knights. The Deathwalker. The Deathwalker said nothing as the initiate passed, but gave him a nod of acknowledgement and welcome. The Lich King was just up ahead. Turning to his newest addition to the ranks, the Lich King gestured at a large floating orb, just left of his pedestal. "This, Deathstalker, is the Eye of Acherus. You will use it to spy upon the citizens of New Avalon." Jacob looked at the sleek metal construct admiringly. Jacob listened attentively as the Lich King highlighted the controls and how to use them. Finished, the Jailor of the Damned clapped Jacob on the shoulder. "I am pleased with your performance, Deathstalker. Do not fail me."
Jacob went over to the Eye and seized the controls. Piloting the construct out of Acherus and towards New Avalon, the death knight couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Not for himself, but…the citizens. Shaking his head to clear the odd feeling, Jacob saw through the Eye. The Lich King had given him four places to scout out. The New Avalon Forge, the New Avalon Town Hall, the Scarlet Hold and the Chapel of the Crimson Flame. As Jacob looked over the town and gathered information, he also noticed a large force of Scarlet Crusaders mustering outside the town hall. "This is a reason to be concerned about…" Jacob muttered as he finished gathering all the needed information and reported back to the Lich King.
"They prepare for battle - as expected - but there is something else. I sense an old enemy. An enemy I destroyed long ago…It matters not. We will send the full might of the Scourge against them before they have a chance to evacuate their homes and put in place their defences." The Lich King stared out at New Avalon again. "Listen well, death knight, for I give you the words that will start a war. My final judgement is clear. Death. To. All. None shall stand against the might of the Scourge! Go now, report to Highlord Darion Mograine. Have him carry out my orders, and you shall carry out yours, too. And when the Crusade has been dealt with, we shall finish off the Argent Dawn."
Using the Ebon Transporter to ferry quickly to the first floor of Acherus, Jacob hurried over to Darion, who was studying a large war scroll. "There you are, Deathstalker. Razuvious has told me all about you." As Jacob delivered the Lich King's orders, the Highlord nodded slowly. "A wise decision. You, death knight, will be rewarded for your service to the Scourge. I bestow this amulet upon you. Use it wisely. The horns of war will sound across this land soon. When I next look over the lands, they will be covered with the legions of Acherus." Raising a large ornate horn, he blew the war call. "Armies of the Scourge, hear my call! The scarlet apocalypse had begun! Tear this land asunder and leave nothing in your wake."
Looking back to Jacob, Darion nodded. "You and your fellow death knights will lead the deadly charge. Take a Scourge Gryphon from Thalanor and fly down to Death's Breach. Report to Prince Valanar immediately upon arrival. Angmar!" Darion called over the Deathstalker, who apparently was named Angmar. "Take this young one under your wing. Teach and guide him in the path of the death knight. Go now! Suffer well, brothers!" Jacob nodded at Angmar, who nodded back. "Well met, Deathstalker."
And as the duo made their way over to the Scourge Commander, neither were aware of the fact that they, in their previous lives, had been stalwart bringers of justice and the Light, and close allies.