Chapter Four
Tavin boringly twirled his blade as he waited patiently for the runner he sent to return, hopefully with new orders of what to do.
Byron sat down next to him, the two were seated on the fountain that was in front of the Town hall, although he doubted water hadn't flown through the fountain in a long time.
"Where do you think they are?" Byron asked
Tavin glanced at him, "Who? The runner or the Scourge."
Byron grimaced "The Scourge… that many Scourge can't honestly disappear into thin air without someone noticing."
They heard a loud trample of boots on stone behind them, so they turned around, to find the runner they sent returning with a roll of parchment.
"Well?" Tavin asked anxiously as the runner caught his fleeting breath.
"Scarlet's attacking Stratholme" he wheezed out. "Abbendis ask for help."
"Scarlet Crusade is attacking Stratholme and the High General wants the Argent Dawn's help for once…" Byron murmured.
He glanced up to Tavin, "Well?" he asked.
Tavin sighed and said "I don't believe we have an honest choice in the matter."
He looked back at the runner, "What about Corin's Crossing, leaving it just open for occupation again?"
The runner shook his head and said "A few men are coming in to hold the ground, if things get too messy, they'll fall back to Lights Hope Chapel" he said, his breath had returned to him. "Hopefully a counterattack isn't in the Scourges plans although" he added
Tavin nodded and turned back to the rest of his men and ordered "Fall in!"
Instantly they all forgot about their small conversations and gathered around Tavin and Byron, anxious to hear their next move.
Tavin threw a thumb back, towards the north where Stratholme lay, "The Crusade is attacking Stratholme head on, and they've requested for a helping hand in the matter.." he peered around at the men's faces.
"Whadya say to killing some Scourge?" he asked.
The men roared in approval, pounding their swords to their armor and shields.
Tavin and Byron both grinned, "Seems like were going to Stratholme" Byron said.
Tavin nodded, and said "Alright, lets get moving!"
The runner looked at Tavin incredously, "Aren't you going to wait for the other men to arrive before you leave."
Tavin shrugged "I suppose you can hold the area, you look like a brave chap." he grinned wryly and began marching out with his men towards Stratholme, leaving the lone runner at the town fountain.
Meanwhile in Stratholme…
"Aydeline! Watch your left!" a watchful Crusader yelled to Aydeline as two Scourge advanced on her.
She grimaced and whipped her sword around, impaling on the Scourge straight through the collarbone, and then attempted to dislodge her blade.. But no avail.
She cursed loudly and brought her buckler around, slamming its flat surface into the other Scourges body, surely cracking what ever still lay under the pitiful things decaying torso.
The undead crumpled down, unable to walk anymore, but still dragged its half broken body towards Aydeline in desperation.
Aydeline felt a chill crawl up her spine as she remembered the Scourge certainly didn't die by normal human means… there was no ribcage to crack, splintering bone and organs, and maybe crushing the heart… no blood flowed through these abominations… all they were made for was practically cannon fodder.
Aydeline growled and slammed her boot heel into the creatures face, leaving a dent in its decayed skull.
For good measure, she stomped her boot a few more times, until the Scourges head was basically unrecognizable.
Aydeline finally pulled her sword free, and spat on the unrecognizable corpse.
She decapitated a Scourge that was advancing on Salvias from behind.
He glanced over his shoulder and yelled "Thanks!" as he swung his enormous hammer around, pulverizing a few undead with its mighty swing.
"Keep moving!!" he yelled out to the Crusaders, they had advanced through Market Row and Festival Lane with little resistance, but had encountered a mass of Scourge in Elder's Square… thankfully almost all the Scourge were dead, and they thankfully had lost no men… yet.
She naturally knew the original layout of the old city.. However she had no honest clue what lay beyond Elder's Square… how much the Scourge had twisted the once grand city was beyond her.
They cautiously advanced through the gate, careful to find what lay in the Gauntlet, as Dathrohan had aptly titled it.
Aydeline gaped as she saw what lay inside.
What once was probably a glorious square of royalty and grandeur… was now plagued with what seemed three ziggurats, their wicked domes stretching towards the sky with a vast amount of dark energy swirling in a fury around it.
"So…" a voice suddenly sounded from no where.. But ever present in everyone's ears, crystal as a bell.
"You seek to invade my territory and once home…" the voice murmured. It suddenly cackled wickedly, sending chills down Aydeline's spine.
"This will be your grave, crusaders." the voice said.
"Keep moving! All to the left Ziggurat first!!" Salvias yelled over the mystical voice. "Half guard the outside, Half inside to wipe it out!!" he roared and ran forward, swinging his hammer wildly at any foolish Scourge that dared approach him.
Aydeline surged forward, her blond hair plastered to her face as heat pounded down on them from the numerous burning buildings in the area.
She cleaved a zombie in half as she ran by, her eyes wild and sharp as they encountered more Scourge on the first Ziggurats doorstep.
"Uunak-hissss tik-k-k-k-k!" a hissing clicking noise sounded as they charged the Scourge building.
Aydeline glanced up, spotting a large spider like creature at the top of the Zigguart's steps… she shivered as she remembered it was a Nerubian, a race of intelligent spider creatures from Northrend.
They were certainly far from home, but she returned her attention to fighting through the crowd of Scourge.
As the mass of Scourge was nearly thinned, the Nerubian atop the stairwell clicked his massive mandibles and scurried down with several other Nerubians into the fray.
They fiercely sliced up the front line of Crusaders, knocking many unconscious with powerful blows that sent hem soaring backwards and down, onto the charred pavement.
One of them paved towards Aydeline, swinging his razor sharp claws in a flurry at her.
She quickly brought her shield up, deflecting the talons, and then ducked under the creatures abdomen, twirling her sword around, slicing its two front legs in a spurt of black blood.
The creature hissed and crumbled down to its back legs, now having to defend itself from several advancing Crusaders.
"Attack the legs!" Aydeline yelled out, causing her fellow warriors to changed their tactic in battle.
Sudden searing pain ripped across Aydeline's lower back as something sliced through the small span of flimsy chain mail that was left exposed slightly in the small of her back.
She rolled down and over to find more Scourge advancing on them from behind.. Obviously from the other Ziggurat.
She ignored the pain in her back and impaled the Scourge, yelling at the same time "More Scourge!!"
Salvias groaned and cracked his hammer around, clearing a line of Scourge with it, as he muttered "This is getting bad…"Just as the Crusader's seemed surrounded… another cascade of roar's reached everyone's ears as something behind the new Scourge appeared.
Grateful black and silver tabards surged into view as a hammer of Argent Dawn paladins smashed into the Scourge, decimating them within seconds with new energy.
A man with brown hair and blue eyes ran up to them, and saluted Salvias with a wry grin. "Seems you boys need help."
Salvias grinned as well, slackening the grip on his hammer slightly as he nodded fervently "You certainly came in time!"
The Argent Dawn paladin nodded and said "Take the Ziggurat out, well hold the Scourge off while you do!"
Salvias nodded and dashed off towards the Scourge building with a handful of wild warriors, roaring as they slammed open the Zigguart's door, a slaughter was sure to follow inside.
Aydeline suddenly remembered the pain in her back and groaned as she stumbled back, catching herself on a shattered lamppost.
A man with blond hair noticed this and lowered his weapons as he asked "Are you injured?"
She nodded numbly, turning around, exposing the deep gashes in her lower back.
She heard a sound, and then warmth flowed through her as her skin suddenly stitched itself back together, leaving only tender new pink skin as it was healed completely.
She sighed in relief and thanked the Paladin gratefully.
He nodded and said "Certainly not useful while injured now are you?" he added a smile and returned to watching the streets, alongside the brown haired Paladin she had seen earlier.
Aydeline rubbed her back gingerly and picked her discarded weapons back up, glancing around carefully as the only sound she heard was yells and rings from inside the Ziggurat behind them.
After a moment.. The noise ceased as Salvias emerged with a bloody sword and a small cut on his cheek.
"Cursed worm nicked me.." he murmured, rubbing his cheek as he passed Aydeline.
The Argent Dawn paladin, in charge she supposed, glanced back, and asked "All clear?"
Salvias nodded and hefted his hammer up, "Aye, onto the second one!"
The Paladin nodded and roared "Forward!!" receiving a loud roar in response from all the soldiers.