Chapter Six
The voice sent shivers down Tavin's spine, not to mention the wall of stitched abominations advancing toward them… he had to think quickly.
"Plan of action…" Byron said nervously as he readied his weapon.
"Slice the stitches holding them together, they'll fall apart without them" Tavin said just as nervous to the group.
They all nodded and charged forward, avoiding altogether the flurry of swinging arms, as big around as Tavin's shield, all equipped with a shoddy weapon… blunt or not, it'd be fatal to get struck full force by one of those creatures.
Tavin ducked as two weapons whistled by his head, and then brought his sword upwards, slicing an array of stitches holding one of the abominations side together.
The action only made the bumbling giant more angry, but certainly made his right arms utterly useless, as he could now barely swing them above waist level.
Tavin ducked as another weapon came whistling by, blindly thrusting his blade up where it struck thick bone, wedging his blade into the abominations arm.
Tavin grimaced and tried to un-wedge it, but not avail, the blade was stuck solid in the beasts arm.
Just as the creature readied for a second swing with his other set of arms, the one Tavin clung to burst in a spray of green ichor as Byron effortlessly sliced through it, skillfully un wedging Tavin's blade in the process.
Byron then swung his blade back around, cutting the stitches around the abominations neck, causing him to fall to the ground in a useless heap.
Tavin nodded thankfully to Byron before charging back into the fray, knowing now to cut the creatures across the neck.
He caught sight of one of the Crusaders facing two abominations, and he was loosing ground quickly as he was battered with a storm of attacks.
Tavin sprinted forward and slammed his blade into one of the abominations neck, causing it to jerk back and loose its balance.
Tavin hung onto the creatures neck and his sword as it flailed wildly in dismay, before finally falling face forward on the ground lifeless.
The Crusader had little time to thank Tavin as the second abomination continued his unabashed assault, swinging if not harder than before in a blind fury.
Together, the two effortlessly sidestepped the creatures bulky arms, and severed the stitches holding the creature together, turning it into another lifeless form of mismatched body parts.
"Thanks" the one Crusader said as he panted heavily, trying to regain his breath from the intense fight.
Tavin nodded and said "You held your ground well back there."
The Crusader nodded in reply, as he grimly smiled, saying "I had little choice."Tavin grinned and hefted his shield up, running back into the fray… having already laid waste to most of the creatures.
The last few remaining abominations were eliminated, leaving only the large structure ahead of them, were surely the person behind the mysterious voice from before, lay inside.
"Interesting… you have proven yourselves to be quite adequate…" The icy voice said.
Tavin's head jerked up as the large ornate doors to the structure in the square opened up dramatically, allowing a mounted figure to pass through them.
Sitting on a ghostly steed, was a ghastly gaunt man armored in wicked looking violet armor, a mask of the same color covered his lower face, partially hiding his identity.
On his head was a thin circlet of a strange make, obviously signifying he held power in some regime. And finally, held loosely in his hand was a large jagged sword, with a sinful looking eye placed in the center of its hilt.
Just looking at the gaunt figure sent shivers down Tavin's spine.
Tavin slowly steadied himself as the ghastly man approached, his icy voice saying "Alas, which of you will dare to attack me first…" a touch of playfulness in his voice, as if he was a small child with toys…
Suddenly, Salvias roared deeply and took a crack shot at his steeds ribs, slamming his enormous hammer right into the skeleton steeds side, causing its frail decayed bones to shatter and utterly snap in half.
The steed crumbled down in a plume of dust as the gaunt figure that was on the steed effortlessly sprung off, landing a few meters away, looking rather irritated.
"You knaves.." He said menacingly "You'll pay for that."
He roared and charged forward, slinging his blade around at the two nearby crusaders, rending their both their breastplates as if they were just tinfoil.
The crusaders cried out and fell to the ground, clutching their bleeding chests.
Tavin grimaced, wishing he could heal the two men, but at his position, with the impending mad knight on him, he could hardly glance at them without having to snap his gaze back to the death knight, for fear of ending up like them.. Or worse.
Even Byron, who was an experienced healer, able to quickly channel the Light through his fingertips for soothing purposes, could hardly toss a glimmer of Light at the two, for the death knight was carefully watching their actions.. Should one of them turn their heads, he'd be on them in moments.
Tavin stole a glance at Byron, and instantly, the two knew what to do.
He would provide a viable distraction to their dangerous foe, and Byron would take the few seconds to provide some form of healing to the two… at the very least to staunch the bleeding to an extent.
Tavin tapped into his inner self again, drawing some power from the well of Light up into his body, channeling it into his arms, causing his blade to glow with a faint golden aura, thrumming with holy power.
He roared fiercely and swung his sword in a vicious arc at the fallen knight, sending the two into an intense lock of combat.
From his peripherals, Tavin could see Byron move hastily to the two wounded men, and the others moving in to help him.
Tavin sliced at the death knights ribs, actually cutting him across the side, leaving a slender gash, which oozed ghastly looking black blood.
The man hissed and jumped back, clinging to his side with one hand, keeping them at bay with his wicked weapon with the other hand.
His face became even paler as he actually felt pain.. Which Tavin honestly never thought was possible for a Scourge to experience.. But even though, apparently some could.
The gaunt man slowly backed towards his ziggurat, ignoring Byron who had skillfully mended the men, and was now shielding them as the knight backed up slowly.
The knight reached the steps, and whispered in a faint voice "You fools.. Two of your orders has already been corrupted… your cause will be your demise…"Tavin felt a chill crackle down his spine as the doubt from earlier bounced back to the front of his mind.
He instinctfully glanced at Dathrohan… who seemed even paler than usual.
The knight removed his hand from his side and pointed directly at Dathrohan "You still use that shell, do you? And yet you dare attack me?" He laughed manically, fiendish blood dripping from his fingertips. "Did you seek to overthrow me, Balnazzar?"Tavin glanced back the Dathrohan, who was now clutching his head in his hands, convulsed around fitfully as he begin murmuring incoherently.
Aydeline dropped her weapons as he saw the demonic look shadowing the once glorified Crusader's eyes.
Dathrohan threw his arms back and howled in pain as a sickening violet orb broke free from his body, leaving only an empty husk of the once grand Crusader behind… lying feebly and lifeless on the charred cobblestone.
Aydeline, Salvia and the other Crusaders hands flew to their mouth's as the gasped audibly, stricken with grief as their worst nightmares suddenly erupted into reality.
The orb took shape, spreading great bat wings and evolving into the form of a Dreadlord, or a fiend of another dimension, named "Nathrezims" in most lore.
The demon spread his great ebon wings and clicked his razor sharp claws, roaring viciously at the Death knight on the steps.
"Touchy…" the knight said sarcastically, only seeking to invoke the Dreadlord's anger even more.
However.. This certain demon looked nothing like what Tavin had heard and read about… most of them were enormous, with unnatural strength and muscle, with enormous blades of power bound to them.
Yet, this Dreadlord looked feeble.. Pale, with small amounts of muscle, and no blade on his bodice at all.
Even the vambraces around his ankles and wrists were shoddy and ancient looking.
The demon launched into the air, and hurdled at breakneck speeds towards the wounded knight on the ziggurat steps.
He quickly slipped inside, slamming the cast iron doors magically, causing the angered Nazthrezim to halt suddenly at the door, as he pounded on them with his enormous fists.
Tavin cautiously backed up, nodding for the others to do the same.
They seized their fallen weapons quickly, forgetting all about the sudden shock of their corrupted leader, worrying more importantly that their was a Dreadlord several meters from them.
Aydeline blinked away tears of grief as she steadied her shaking body, helping one of the wounded Crusaders back, away from the angered demon.
Suddenly, the demon turned around, glaring at them with malice, his eyes burning bright with a mixture of hate and pain.
He roared again and launched himself at Salvias, giving him only a second to bring his enormous hammer around, slamming it into the demons arm, causing him to slam into the ground a few more meters away, but even so, the Dreadlord recovered quickly, looking even angrier, ignoring the hammer strike that would of snapped anything in half normally.
Tavin channeled more holy energy into his arms, sending it mostly into his aegis, causing it to glow alight with the Light, giving off the telltale golden aura.
As the Dreadlord launched himself again at them, Tavin slung his shield forward, sending it hurdling with unnatural speed, the slab of holy light infused metal slamming into the Dreadlord's face, exploding with a radiance of golden light.
He howled in pain and flew back again, this time landing on his back, clutching his face as holy energy conflicted with his own fiendish life force.
Aydeline dropped her shield and rushed forward, a look of pure vengeance and hate on her face as she cried out and slammed the point of her sword directly into the demons neck, causing a fountain of demonic blood to spurt forward as the Dreadlord howled in pain, but could do little as he suddenly fell limp, lifeless as Aydeline stood above him, bloody and her chest heaving frantically as adrenaline coursed through her.
Her grip on her sword wavered, and she suddenly toppled to one side, heading for the ground, only to be saved as Tavin caught her deftly, his muscles groaning as she slumped like a deadweight in his arms.
Behind the rusty gate, Tavin could hear the men roar in victory, both as Aydeline killed the feared Dreadlord, and as the accursed gate finally succumbed and allowed them entrance into the square.
Tavin pulled Aydeline up and noted the bittersweet smiles on all the men's faces.
Salvias stepped up to Tavin and said wearily "At least now.. The truth has come to the light… We have conquered the plaguelands, but at a price.." he took a grim glance at the demons body, and at Dathrohan's body.
Salvias glanced back to his men and said "Wrap his body, we shall carry it back to Tyr's Hand… maybe finally our once champion can finally be at peace." he mournfully ordered.
Several Crusaders unclasped their cloaks and hustled forward, wrapping their Grand Crusader in their scarlet cloaks, bitter tears flowing down their cheeks.
"The anguish of the earth absolves our eyes, Till' beauty ashines in all that we can see.
War is our scourge; yet war has made us wise, And fighting for our freedom, we are free" Salvias said grimly "Do not be afraid to show your tears men, our leader is now at peace, but at a cost, today is a bitter day, we have earned a bittersweet victory."
Salvias turned to Tavin "We will march with you to Lights Hope Chapel… Although our beliefs are different, I believe Saidan would rather see us return victorious with our brothers of war, than to mournfully return home with grief."Tavin nodded silently and clapped Salvias on the shoulder, surprised at the complete unwavering faith of the man.
Salvias then turned to face Aydeline, who had stood up moments ago.. But was now missing.
Tavin and him frantically glanced around, only to see her small petite form flit inside the Ziggurat.
Aydeline felt drawn to the place as she came back to consciousness.. And thus she bustled inside, ignoring all behind her.
The air became noticeably colder as she stepped in.. she could hear frantic hoarse whispers:"--and what now, master?" a gaunt voice came, recognizably the knight's.
"We shall move it, to Northrend, as our king has commanded… he has awoken" came an icy voice.
A sharp intake of breath followed, along with a surprised silence.
"Th-that is good" came the hesitant reply of the Knight.
"Yes, it certainly is… you will take Mograine's fallen stead, I will begin transporting you now.. Once you arrive in, I shall move the Citadel." The icy voice said again.
The knights voice came again, "Very well…" their was a sound of movement as Aydeline crept around the corner.
Just as she peered into the faintly cracked second set of doors, she saw the death knight, who locked eyes with her momentarily.. Then a bright flash of blue light.. Then nothing.
She waited a few moments, before slipping in carefully, expecting this worse.
Yet finding nothing, but an abandoned room, littered with bones on the floor, the only evidence of life was a rotted table with documents on it.
She hastily examined the documents, finding that the most interesting, was a series of layouts, with differentiating names of "Quarters" all with interesting symbols in tactical places.
Must be some layout…she thought.
Aydeline hastily folded the wrinkled parchment, and stowed it inside her breastplate, tucking it safely where her belt tightened against her waist.
Just as she did, she heard a voice call out hesitantly "Aydeline..?"She recognized the voice as Salvias, so she bustled from the room, rounding the bend to find a cautious Salvias and Tavin, both with their weapons raised.
They jumped back alarmed, all muttering both curses and praises, relived to find she was alright, yet scared half to death at her untimely entrance.
"Anything?" Salvias whispered
She shook her head, deciding not to tell them of the documents, for now.
Salvias nodded and said "Good.. Were sending you and six others back on horseback to Tyr's Hand, to announce our return.. But do not mention Dathrohan to Abbendis.. I will do that myself." Aydeline nodded silently and followed the two back of the Ziggurat, to find many waiting knights and Crusaders waiting anxiously.
Salvias and Tavin glanced over the men, and simultaneously said "Alright… lets leave."