The following events are the accounts of Cynthia Hawkspear, Dark Ranger of the Forsaken – not historical fact. As of such, some of these events will represent fact others merely hearsay but do not, however, doubt their importance, even for a second.
As we rode on through the fallen gates of Thoradin's Wall and on to do battle against the mongrel worgen, I began to wonder; what was Nightingale up to? It would be many years until I found out the truth about Nightingale's actions during our time in Arathi and if I had of known then what I do now, I probably would never have believed it…
The sun rose above its mountain prison, casting its warming glow over the ruins of a once great city. All the denizens of Stromgarde, humans, ogres even the trolls, basked in the new day sun and began to go about their daily business; all but one lone figure. He leapt silently through the shadows, seemingly stalking the darkness through the south-western quadrant of the fallen bastion.
Nightingale paused for a moment behind a section of broken wall, planning his next movements. For you see this rogue was on business but not the usual work for gold mission, this was personal. Nightingale peered around his stone-shell and surveyed the land, searching for a pathway that required less effort than slitting ogre throats. Not that he was disinterested in killing ogres, no he cared not for these beasts but he knew not what evils lurked inside the Mage Tower of Stromgarde and his ultimate goal lay within that keep.
Okay Nightingale focus, he thought to himself, quick barrel roll to left pillar followed by a brilliant summersault over that bumbling ogre mage, who will be dealt with by a perfectly executed Ambush attack. Finally land stealthily on the lower ledge of the Mage Tower, taking cover within its shadowy interior; got it? Good, onward then. With his movements planned, the rogue took a swig of Volatile Rum and emerged from his cover. Within fifteen seconds, Nightingale was inside the tower with nothing but one ogre corpse to reveal any hint of his whereabouts, and that could have easily been seen as the work of another hostile citizen of Stromgarde. The man chuckled to himself, a dry, hoarse laugh.
"Well done old boy!" He said congratulating himself, "another perfectly executed entry." Another voice entered the room, a cold, lifeless voice, jeering at Nightingale.
"Perhaps you should make certain of your surroundings before you celebrate next time, Nightingale." Suddenly a torch burst into flame and light exploded throughout the once shadowy haven. A woman was standing three feet from Nightingale and he could feel the presence of demonic magic all around her. He responded to her in an equally mocking tone.
"How did I know you would follow me here Vera? I'll tell you here what I told you back in Booty Bay, you're really not my type sweetheart." With that a dagger winged its way from Nightingale's hand, pinning Vera's hand to the adjacent wall. She cried out briefly, more in shock than pain and scowled back at the rogue but the scowl began to creep into a smirk as dark magic began pulsing through the air.
"Achor she-ki, sheet-sah ered'nash ban galar." Vera chanted, laughing madly as she did so. The demonic tongue had disturbed some kind of presence within the tower and shadows suddenly returned to the room. Without warning a whip flew out of the darkness and coiled around Nightingale, he screamed in agony as the whip began crushing his ribs. Vera regained composure and jerked the knife free, while her Succubus minion stalked proudly at her side.
"I know what it is you seek here, human so don't try and deny it." An inhuman quality had entered Vera's voice, granting an unpleasant echo to her speech. "Now before I order Selona to crush the life out of you, tell me what you know about the Amulet of Souls. Why do you want this artifact in particular?" Nightingale squirmed uncomfortably on the ground for a few seconds, feebly trying to escape, when he realized this was futile he turned to Vera and chocked out his response.
"… I don't … know anything … honestly." Nightingale began coughing violently but before he continued he noticed a strange bulk moving around the stairwell. Trying not to draw attention to his potential rescuer he stared deep into Vera's now demonic eyes and asked.
"Tell me … Vera … did you check your surroundings before you entered this tower?" In one swift motion the bulking-mass smashed through the stairwell rail and screamed
"LOK'TAR OGAR!" His huge axes were brought down upon both Vera and her minion, ending their lives in a flurry of blood and gore. The orc turned to Nightingale, who was struggling to stand on two feet, and offered him his hand, pulling him up and leaning him on the wall. Nightingale blinked three times in quick succession, trying to figure out why an orc had save his life before asking
"Thank you for saving me warrior but if you don't mind me asking, who are you and why did you save me?" The orc laughed heartily and replied in an odd fatherly tone.
"You always were an inquisitive one Nightingale, my name is Kashmir and I have been watching over you for many years now in an attempt to insure you make it to this location on this very day." Nightingale eyed the orc suspiciously, that's not creepy in the slightest, he thought rather sarcastically before replying
"Perhaps I should rephrase my question, maybe what are you…?" The orc simply stared up into the dark abyss of the tower for what seemed like at least five minutes then he turned to Nightingale, a stern expression creasing his face
"A much better question indeed. As I said my name is Kashmir and I am born of both the Bronze and Blue Dragonflights yet I belong to neither. I am my own flight, a new breed; the Crystal flight." Nightingale was shocked by this revelation; he never suspected he would ever be in the presence of a Dragon that didn't want him dead, like most of Deathwing's brood. After pondering and collecting his thoughts, he proceeded with his questioning
"Kashmir, you said you were part Bronze flight. Does that mean you have already seen all of this?"
"Yes, young rogue and there is still much more to do this day." His speech now finished, Kashmir began channeling the energy of the Ley lines into some kind of spell. When his incantation had finished, a portal flashed into existence and Kashmir gestured toward it
"The Amulet of Souls is no longer in this world and so you will not find it here but through there." Nightingale could think of many reasons not to step through that portal but something inside him told him to follow this Dragon, perhaps this would lead to his true purpose in life. Stepping through the portal made Nightingale feel like his whole body was being ripped apart and slowly pieced back together again, while at the same time twisting him this way and that. I guess that's why they call it the twisting nether, he pondered as his feet finally hit the welcoming firmness of the earth. Nightingale found himself staring at a magnificent city, with mighty defenses, towering keep and thousands of people going about their daily business. He turned around, searching for Kashmir and asked
"Ahh... Kashmir. Where the hellfire are we? On second thought where are you?" Nightingale's question was met, gladly, by the familiar fatherly tone of his new companion.
"It is not a question of where young one but rather when. Welcome to the city Strom located within the mighty Empire of Arathor currently ruled by one Liam Trollbane, if I'm not mistaken. In answer to your other question I'm behind you." Nightingale turned around and was greeted by an extremely aged human mage, with a beard that touched the ground and rather odd looking staff in his hand.
"Wow Kash… you aged terribly." Both companions had a good laugh at that comment but were interrupted by the sound of warning bells blaring out from the city's keep.
"Ahh, music to my ears. We must hurry Nightingale, today is the day." Kashmir sprinted toward the city at surprising speed and Nightingale struggled to keep up with him.
"Maybe I'm missing something" he puffed, "but what is happening today?" Kashmir didn't even stop to explain, he simply whispered, you will see. As the two 'men' entered the city, they saw a gathering of twenty men awaiting orders from their leader, Prince Liam Trollbane. Witnessing this, Nightingale finally realized what day it was today, this was the day the paladins of Strom killed Loam Fletcher, creator of the Amulet of Souls. Nightingale was shocked out of his trail of thought when Kashmir nudged him and handed over a ring
"Here put this on, it will grant you invisibility so we may witness the coming events."
"You're just full of tricks aren't ya Kash." He said while putting the ring on, Kashmir simply smiled at him and then proceeded to lead them in pursuit of the Paladins. When they reached the Mage Tower a foul aura of demonic magic surrounded the building, its appearance now resembling something more suited to Karazhan then the mighty bastion of Strom. The battalion of paladins came to a halt and their Prince began to address them
"Paladins of Strom! Today our city faces terrible peril. The demonic forces of the abyss have somehow infiltrated our beloved city and corrupted one of its brightest citizens and now the Arcanist, Loam Fletcher has declared war on his brethren. We will not stand for this injustice. BY THE LIGHT HE WILL BE PURGED!" A mighty cheer erupted from the paladins and they exploded into action charging into the seeming abyss of the Mage Tower. Holy magic ricocheted off the walls as the paladins battled valiantly against all sorts of demonic beasts from the nether. After what seemed like days of fighting, Kashmir and Nightingale followed the paladins into the upper section of the tower, where Loam stood waiting. His entire being was coated in foul magic, and blue fire flickered violently in his skeletal palm.
"I've been expecting you Liam, come to die have we?" His voice carried a similar echo to Vera, as if a demonic being was channeling its voice through Loam's.
"We do not fear the likes of you, warlock." Liam stated proudly "The Light will burn you where you stand and send you back to the twisting nether!" Loam just laughed at Liam's words and began to remove an amulet from within his sleeve.
"With this Amulet, Trollbane, I will control the world beginning with Arathor and YOU!" With these words, Loam unleashed a devastating blast of demonic fire, knocking back the paladins, and began channeling a demonic spell through the amulet. Dark magic began worming its way towards Liam but as it touched him, the shadows recoiled and Loam began to shriek in pain. With this moments respite, Liam got to his feet and cast a mighty blast of Holy Fire which burnt away at Loam who continued to scream.
"I told you the light would burn you Loam! BE PURGED!" The shadows began to dissipate while Loam burned, than an explosion of light filled the room blinding everyone within the tower.
"Now is our chance!" Kashmir yelled of the noise of the explosion "Let us grab the amulet and be gone." Quick as a Lynx, Nightingale pounced on the amulet but in doing so he caught sight of Loam's face and recoiled in horror. For the man he stared at was an exact double of himself. Nightingale was frozen, unable to move or speak while Kashmir picked him up and teleported away.
The two companions landed with a thud on a grassy bank, a few miles outside the city. Nightingale was still in shock, so many questions raced through his mind; he pulled out his flask of Volatile Rum and began to gulp it down until it was empty.
"I am sorry for not telling you earlier but it was best you found out on your own accord." Nightingale didn't respond for a long time but eventually he decided he had to know, he turned and faced Kashmir
"What's going on Kash? Who am I?" Kashmir looked over him, apparently surveying him for injuries than responded
"This won't be easy to say, so I'm just going to say it. Loam Fletcher is your grandfather; it is why you were supposed to find the Amulet of Souls because only you can wield it. The amulet is bound in blood to the descendants of Loam and you are his last remaining heir. It is your inheritance… your legacy." Kashmir got up and began to pace around, gathering his thoughts before he continued.
"The power of the amulet, though demonic in nature, is not bound to evil – you and you alone are its master. I have seen, no I have lived the future Nightingale, you will accomplish great things in your life and all for the benefit of Azeroth." Nightingale remained seated; there was so much to take in, what did this all mean? Is this what it's like to discover ones destiny? He thought. He slowly rose from his position and began to stare back at the bastion of Strom. Finally, he turned to face Kashmir and accepted his responsibility to Azeroth with these words…
"What must I do?" Kashmir smiled at him and began channeling the Ley lines once more. When he had finished he gestured at the newly crafted portal and said.
"Step forward, my friend, step forward and face your destiny…"
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