Disclaimer: I presently do not hold any rights whatsoever over Dota 2. That is strictly the domain of Valve Software.

There was...there was three of us in the command tent. We were on our final meeting, Human, Oglodi, and Keen, all in one room. Bastadin, the female Keen Inventor-Leader. Grughan Thun, the Oglodi warlord. And me...one who does not even remember his own name. We were all together, trying to find a way to keep centuries old grudges and hatreds from boiling over and tearing apart our alliance. A historical meeting. One that chronologers did not record.

"There is no other way! They will consume us all. Take us. Destroy our individuality, the very thing that distinguishes us from each other. We. Must. March!"

Oh Bastadin. You had no idea what destruction what a decision would cause.

"We could stay! We could set up defenses while the best mages and scholars of our generation craft a solution! Order the engineers to make ballistaes, traps and holdouts while our arm-"

Was I ever so naive back then?

"No! Every day we spend cowering back here, the three Thorns of Terror grows stronger. While only one shows their savage face, the other two are more dangerous by far! They beguile us with facades of reason and intelligence while all they crave is slaughter and power!.Even now our alliance is crumbling. We need to act. Now!"

And Grughan Thun. Always the voice of practicality. Surprisingly fluent.

"We cannot face them! We need more time. Without the proper preparations the attacks will end in a fount of blood and failure! Please, at least consider attacking one at a time."

We were only pawns. To be used.

"I would sooner have the Keen away from the Oglodi, and the Humans apart of them both. If any of the races march to war together, it will end in bloodshed, with allies stained crimson by their peer;'s blood. Just yesterday, there was seven murders and twelve brawls, including one case of arson where an Oglodi set the Keen tents on fire. We cannot stay together any longer."

Aye Grughan, we would've ended up clawing at each other's face anyways.

"If we fail, the survivors will be entralled for life."

The voice of caution? A Craven?

"Fortunately you will be facing the one where failure means the lost of your own self. You won't be enslaved with you still conscious of it."

You have no idea how wrong you still are.

"You cannot mean...You mean to send the humans against the Dead God?"

Momenteous moment.

"Yes. I...we mean to. You will have the Arsenal Magus, Carl, to counteract the Fell Deity's Mourning Magicians. I am sure he will do a fine job. Now go, both of you. We shall set out by the next dawn. My Oglodi will move against the True Dark while Bastadin march against the False Light. Bastadin, you may take the wizard Aghanims to help you against the Light Enthrallers. We Oglodi shall ride forth with a legion of Stormwielders."

Grughan, always the masochist. Not that I was complaining.

"He shall be useful. Thank you. May you find clarity in battle."

One does often find legendary mages useful.

"May you bask in the blood of your enemies. "

Very predictable.

"May you find yourself alive when we meet again."

Much more sensible.

Dirge groaned. He...he felt differently as he viewed his old memories. The Dead God had spared him some of it at least. Or had not felt troubled to destroy them. The Dead God will be interested in this, a temporary consummation between Radiant and Dire. He always will be.

He wish he did not have to slay his old comrades when he returned as the Dirge.

He wondered what his name was. His old name.

Probably not Dirge.

Hello again guys...Really, really sorry about the long pause but I swear I can explain it. Semester finals, projects, life stuff, and Game of Thrones. I'll stay away from the Doldrums now, and here is a little filler kinda chapter until Sunday. I fill kinda bad for cliffhangering. Get it? Filler chapter, and I "Fill" kind of bad? I am totally hilarious.