The Descent into Madness
Ulduar
A tiny rock pelted the paladin's head. He darted his eyes towards the origin of the attack. Weasel was easily spotted through the lenses of his threat assessment setting. He was standing all the way at the bottom of the deep descent a silently waved for them to join him. The gnome was at least two, maybe even three hundred feet below them so for him to peg Rayne with a little rock from that distance was quite impressive.
The Templar Knights passed through the broken flooring. Each layer was nearly twenty feet thick. With the aid of the priests' and mage's combinations of slow descent spells, they could easily hop from platform to platform quietly and without any added exertion.
Rayne was the first to reach the room. He approached the gnome standing in front of another broken stain-glassed window. It lead to another similar crumbled path only this one didn't share the same Titan-esque architecture like the ones prior.
"We don't need to worry about keeping quiet here," Weasel reported. "There's still another good three to four hundred feet to go to reach the next chamber."
The paladin acknowledged the news with a nod. The rest of his companions soon joined him. Rayne stepped through the golden window frame with a look of curiosity. Panes of broken glass floated in the air carelessly without a gust of wind nor any other noticeable means of defying gravity. Rayne carefully grabbed a piece between his thumb and index finger. He moved it around slowly up and down and then from side to side. The paladin released the damaged fragment in a place other than its origin and it continued to hang in the air as if that was the place it was always meant to be.
"What do you make of this Cayden?" Asked Rayne.
The mage stepped forward. He looked at the structure as if it were the rarest of relics. His jaw would have hit the floor if he didn't possess the willpower to keep himself composed in such situations.
"I have studied the arcane arts for as long as I can remember," he began. "I have read over half of the books in the Kirin Tor library from cover to cover. I even assisted Master Rhonin on several expeditions where his vast and adept knowledge was required."
Cayden snapped his fingers. A small trickle of arcane light filled the tip of his finger. He began to draw a small rune in the air.
"I have experienced and learned far more than I ever imagined in my short life."
The rune exploded in a quick puff and expelled into the air in a haze of black mist.
"But I have never seen anything like this."
"The Old God's ambient power must be growing," said Samuel.
"Then his influence will be even greater beyond this pathway, correct?" Asked his sister.
The male twin nodded. His expression was grim with a touch of uncertainty. Normally Samuel was always cool, calm, and composed no matter the situation. To see him in a state of doubt was both worrisome and heartbreaking.
Emerald waded through the Templar Knights and continually sniffed along the path past the golden frame. His body perked up and quickly picked up speed as he descended to the uncharted territory below. The way he vicariously moved proved to the paladin that Lorelei had definitely come through here. If the tiger could pass through here without any sense of fear or warning then it should be okay for them to continue as well.
"Let's go," ordered Rayne. "Weasel, take the lead."
"Will do boss!"
The gnome followed Emerald downwards. He proceeded slower than but not nearly as careless as the green-skinned beast. After getting a good lead, Rayne and the others proceeded through the entrance. They took slow and methodical steps towards the bottom. Rousing the interest of any potential enemies was not in their best interest at the moment.
The stench was thick with decay. It stunk with the same odor as the rotting blood of the faceless one. The hairs on the back of the paladin's neck began to stand on end. He could definitely sense Samuel's prior warning coming to fruition. This area of the fortress was unlike any other. Yogg-Saron's presence was more than abundant. It was as if he were everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
The Templar Knights reached the bottom of the descent. Familiar Titan architecture reappeared near east portion of the room. The entryway was carved in beige stone and had a similar golden arch as the windows prior. However, there were no shards of glass to be found anywhere.
Sitting at the edge of the room were a pair of large nodes of raw saronite ore. Unlike the substance found in the wilds of Northrend, these clumps were brighter and cleaner. Traces of teal mist hovered around the top section where the color was its brightest. Emerald and Weasel stood on opposing sections of the opening waiting further instructions.
Rayne approached and knelt down next to the gnome. He switched his goggles to their zoom function and peered into the room. His heart began to quake. He did not expect to find this roaming about the confines of an Old God. Dozens of humans, orcs, and trolls clad in black and purple robes and armor appear to be joined in arms with these heinous monsters. Purple tabards hung off their chest bearing a silver crest depicting a silver hammer in the center of a spiked circle. Their gear and weapons lead Rayne to believe there were mages, warlocks, and warriors amongst them which would have to be accounted for in their strategic discussion.
Finally, a pair of colossal faceless creatures also roamed about as if searching for their next victim. They hulked over the others ready to pounce on any intruders without a second thought. One was already bad enough to deal with but with two on hand, this would prove to be one of their most difficult challenges yet.
The paladin's heart stopped when he reached the center. He had to pull back the zoom function until it was nearly at its base setting in order to bring the giant monster into view. Vezax was ugly beyond any description. His shell was just as Mimiron had described. Thick plates of deep blue natural armor hung off its body. It was trimmed with gold along the edges along with several similarly colored spikes protruding from his shoulders and back. The C'Thraxxi general did not have any typical hands to speak of, only a pair of giant claws with bladed white teeth that were larger than even Ademski's muscular arms. Those things were massive enough to crush any of them where they stood and he had two of them.
Vezax's face was the worst feature about him. Sure he had a few purple tentacles and appendages that grew into claws and other menacing features but his head was a sight to behold. There was no mouth to speak of but three distinct webbed tentacles hung off the sides and chin. A pair of long curved horns rose of from the top of its head. Finally, unlike his faceless brethren, a pair of bright yellow eyes glowed within the center giving the monster an ominous and treacherous presence.
"What are those people doing down there?!" Cringed Rayne. "Have they been enslaved?"
"They're from the Twilight's Hammer Clan," answered Weasel. "Bunch of crazed fanatics if you ask me. They call themselves a religion but they're really a cult."
The gnome took a long deep breath as memories from past jobs concerning this group came filtering int.
"Can you believe these morons actually worship Old Gods? They're obsessed with the apocalypse. Why anyone would want the watch the world be destroyed is beyond me."
The paladin pondered the information carefully. These people, though misguided and troublesome did not deserve to die over their beliefs. He would have to take careful consideration on how to deal with them. It would greatly impede their current strategy. He wasn't looking to kill them but they sure would be.
"We'll have to deal with the minions before tackling Vezax," Rayne began.
The paladin turned to the gnome and began relaying his battle plan.
"Weasel, do you think you can sneak around the outskirts of the room and get behind the General?"
The gnome responded with a raised eyebrow initially while pondering the task at hand.
"It's possible," replied Weasel. "But you're going to have to get everyone's attention before I can start moving. I need to hedge my bets in case they have any extra senses we don't know about."
"I believe we can accommodate that," said Rayne. "The challenge here is how to gather all of those clan members before drawing the attention and subsequent ire of their leader."
"That will not be a problem for us Templar," the draenei boasted.
Rayne stood up and acknowledged his companion directly.
"What do you mean?"
"I have felt the presence of a great corruption within these walls. This land they fight on has be desecrated and devoid of all natural life. It is obvious that they hold an advantage over us."
Ademski's claims made sense. It was only natural that the soldiers of an Old God would thrive in a place of pure evil and chaos. The only thing that stood in their way was figuring out how to even the odds.
"If that is true," the paladin sighed, "then how can we possibly fight against that?"
"Templar," the draenei called with a great slap upon his back. "Have you forgotten already?"
Rayne couldn't have looked more confused than in this moment right here.
"We're paladins!" Grinned Ademski. "It is not only our duty but the gift granted to us by the aaru to cleanse such corruption from the world."
It was a very bold plan but not without its flaws. The draenei's heart was in the right place but he may be overestimating their combined skills. Consecrating a small patch of land is one thing but this room was massive and right next to a creature who may literally be the God of all that is evil. It would certainly take more than two champions of the light to bring this place back to life. However, this initial suggestion soon gave birth to a new and craftier idea.
"Then let us do what we must," smiled Rayne. "You and I will drop down first and draw their attention towards the right side of the room. We'll need to gather them quickly near the wall but not too far in case we need a place to retreat later."
"Agreed," nodded the draenei.
"Once that's done, you'll move in and separate the faceless ones from the rest of the group and drag them to the center. Narula and Cayden can help slow them down while you take them out one at a time. I'll keep the others tied up in the meantime. Samuel will help me take out some of the weaker members while you work on the big guys."
"Just Samuel?" Posed a curious Zariyana.
"Yes," replied the paladin. "We'll need your special talents elsewhere Zari."
Rayne was incredibly confident and direct. So much so that it appeared to through the normally quick-witted priest through a bit of a loop.
"What do you mean?" She timidly asked. "What else can I do?"
"Do you think you can create a barrier?" The paladin inquired. "I'm not talking something small and personal. We're going to need something big that can protect several of us at the same time."
"I – ," stammered the priest.
Zariyana was beginning to look a bit flustered. Rayne had never asked her to take up such an important task before and he did it so boldly it was hard not to be impressed. Given his usual kind a somewhat doting nature, this was a big step up and the priest definitely wanted to meet and exceed the expectations he asked of her.
"Yes, I believe I can."
"How long will you be able to keep it up?"
The paladin wanted to make sure they had enough time to set everything in motion before proceeding. Zariyana's protective barrier would be the key to all their plans.
"As long as I can maintain concentration and we are not swarmed by all those creatures," she started forming a tiny little smirk at the end of her lips. "Almost indefinitely."
"Good," nodded Rayne. "Then you, Cayden, Narula, and Samuel will stay underneath it while Ademski and I take out the first wave of enemies."
From the corner of his eyes, the paladin could see the silent draeni vying for his attention.
"I haven't forgotten about you Saelena," smiled Rayne. "Do you still have any traps left?"
She nodded once with a stern expression hoping to mimic the paladin's enthusiasm and stoic presence.
"After we get down there, I'm going to need you to split the room in half separating Vezax from his army. The timing is crucial because we're betting on the assumption that the General moves slower than everyone else. With the traps in place, we can buy a little more time for us to take out everything else."
Rayne took a deep breath. This is a big gamble and he wasn't betting with his own life either. However, they were a team and the burden could not fall on just one individual. He placed his faith in the one most suited to the task but wanted to make sure their mind was in the right place. It is easy to get dissuaded in the heat of battle as the day has proven.
"Do you believe you can handle it?"
The silent draenei immediately nodded without flinching or a second thought. She was just as prepared for this battle as any one of her companions standing before her.
"Alright," smiled Rayne in deep gratitude. "Afterwards, shadow Weasel as he makes his way towards Vezax. I do not wish any ill upon him but should it occur, we need to be ready for it. Those explosives are the key to our victory. Support him as best you can Saelena."
She returned a smile and nodded once more.
"What about me kid?" The warrior grinned. "Or were you saving the best for last?"
"Actually," Rayne smiled back. "You have the most important task."
The paladin put his hand on Marcus' shoulder.
"You are going to be our wild card," confided Rayne.
The warrior raised his eyebrow. He looked upon his leader as if there were tentacles protruding from his nostrils.
"The battle may be hectic and could fall out of control at any moment," stated the paladin. "This person will be able to step in and assist in the blink of an eye and instantly shift the odds back in our favor. I need someone with unrivaled battlefield experience and more importantly, someone I can trust who is more than up for the task."
Rayne smile grew even larger.
"There is no one else I can count on that could do a better job than you Marcus."
"Geez kid," the warrior sighed while averting his gaze. "It takes a man with a good head on his shoulders to come up with a wild idea like that and have it actually make sense. You're really coming into your own as a tactician, you know that?"
"Thank you Marcus," he nodded. "I am honored to hear that coming from you."
"Yea well," Marcus smirked while brushing his leader's hand aside. "If you keep that hand on there any longer, I might give someone the wrong impression if you catch my drift."
Rayne laughed to himself. The warrior did have a unique way with words. He didn't dare pay the night elf a look. She more than likely heard their brief conversation but if he could play it off as a moment of aloofness, it would be much less likely to lead towards a grave misunderstanding.
The paladin drew his sword. He stepped towards the entrance and gave the tiger a quick acknowledgement.
"Stay here Emerald," he ordered. "It's too dangerous for you to be down there. Once we're finished, I'll call out to you, okay?"
The beast looked at him with a confused gaze. He apparently understood the orders but didn't agree with them. Emerald was an attacker after all. Hunting prey was in his blood. However, in order to assist them further as they continued towards the Old God's prison, they were going to need him to be in the best shape possible. Worrying about an animal on the battlefield that most of them had little to no control over was a variable Rayne just couldn't risk at this time.
"Let's move."
The paladin stepped through the entrance with Ademski in tow. They quickly descended the rugged rocky surface. Their armor skidded across the rough terrain. Rayne didn't even mind the noise they were making. It was up to them to distract the minions guarding the area. As far as he was concerned, this would simply aid in their efforts.
This room was odd. The circular wall contained remnants of the Titan architecture but the area itself appears to be suffering from a different form of corruption. Tiles on the ground were cracked or missing entirely. More nodes of brightly colored saronite protruded from the corners of alcoves. Even the stained-glass portraits were different. They depicted hideous looking creatures with multiple eyes, snarling fangs, and tentacles.
A faint teal light shined above over the center of the room. More bits of floating glass hung without care of question. It certainly carried an ominous presence as Ademski had pointed out. Their duty was clear and the battlefield was ready. There was no turning back from here.
The paladins slammed their plate greaves onto the ground. Their stoic stance radiated the wondrous power of the light swelling within them. The three groups of Twilight's Hammer clansmen all shifted their gaze onto their mighty visage. Their menacing stare brewed with rage as they called out to one another to assault the intruders invading their domain.
Gouts of flame, frost, and fel energies began manifesting in their hands. Their warriors charged in first with their casting allies following closely behind. The paladins darted towards the right side of the room as originally planned. However, Rayne knew with this makeup of enemies it would take more than a couple of cornered rats to gather all the cats together for their meal.
Gleaming light filled the paladin's shield. He hurled it at the leftmost group while speeding along the path. The steel barrier slammed into the skull of the furthest caster in the group and toppled over the next three upon its return. Rayne affixed the shield back over his gauntlet and admired his rational decision. In the blink of an eye, he had already knocked a third of their fighting force unconscious with the other two still bearing down on them. This was going to be easier than he thought.
The two paladins met up near the wall on the right side of the room. Rayne quickly examined the battlefield. The cultists rushed forward and would be here shortly. Fortunately, the faceless ones moved at a much slower pace. It would take no effort keeping them separated from the Twilight's Hammer clansmen. And finally, an even brighter scenario presented itself. General Vezax did not appear to be moving or interested in the current confrontation beginning in front of him. Whether he was waiting for his minions to take out the trash or simple standing guard at the door until physically provoked was of no consequence to the paladin. They would take whatever edge they were given and use it to their full advantage.
The rest of the Templar Knights had made their way down the platforms and were moving into position. Rayne felt confident enough in the current state of the battle to begin the initial opening assault. He looked over at Ademski and gave him a quick knowing nod. The two paladins simultaneously slammed their feet into the ground. Tiles quaked under their sheer might. Cracks formed from the base of the stomp and continued outward for another twenty feet forming a pair of crude circles. Golden rays of light formed from deep within. They shot out with an explosive fury bathing them in pure holy power. Its radiance shined brilliantly and blinded the eyes of the sinister clansmen.
"Go! Now!" Ordered Rayne.
Ademski nodded and darted towards the center of the room. He drew the large steel blade from his back and channeled the divine strength of the naaru to envelop its sharpened edges. The two faceless creatures slowly turned their attention towards the draenei as he drew them away from the others.
Things were going smoothly in the first six seconds but this battle had just begun. The armored cultists pierced through the consecrated area and charged the paladin with axes drawn. Rayne caught the first two strikes with his gleaming red sword. The third bounced off his shield with maddening ferocity. These orcs were clearly skilled but their minds were not in the right place. Their attacks were wild and this sloppy style of combat blinded them from the more finesse approach taken by the paladin.
The orc's weapons were forced back into the air. Rayne pushed their axes away and spun in a full circle driving the hilt of his blade across their jaws. With their focus disoriented, the paladin blasted the first away with a sharp kick to the abdomen. He winded up his shield and cracked the skull of the second sending him flailing backwards onto his backside. Rayne caught the third on the upswing and crushed the orc's skull against his armored elbow. He finished him off with a brutal slap using the flat of his sword. The orc reeled to the side, tripping over his fallen comrade and falling flat on his face into the blissful realm of unconsciousness.
A menacing axe came driving downwards. Rayne swayed away from the attack. The violent air brushed up against the exposed skin in his face. The weapon slammed into the ground, cracking the tile, and temporarily rooting itself. The orc struggled to dig it back out which provided the perfect opportunity for the paladin to launch a smooth counterattack.
Rayne rolled around his opponent's side. He threw his blade up into the air briefly freeing his hands. The paladin seized the orc's cloak. He pressed his back against the green-skinned adversary rolling the thick black cloth over the gleaming silver pauldrons. Rayne let out a triumphant shout and he drove the cloak down, lifting the orc off his feet, and chucking his carcass towards his companions. The armored clansmen barreled into two of his allies with a brutal thud. Their bodies collapsed in a heaping pile, unmoving and utterly defeated.
The red sword fell into the paladin's awaiting grip. His lips begged him to smile pleased at how quickly he was able to dispatch the first wave of attackers. Rayne stood over the gleaming rays of lights lifting through the cracks. His eyes snapped and he was barely able to get his shield up in time as a chaotic volley of arcane energy sought to swarm his body.
Bolts of flame, ice, and fel infernos ripped over the paladin's armor. Reddened specs of magical energy exploded in a torrent of unadulterated violence. Rayne braced himself, clenching his teeth over the swelling agony that would inevitably tax his nerves to their breaking point. No matter how hard those spells struck, the pain never came.
The paladin stole a glance out of the corner of his visions. Zariyana's eyes glowed with a magnificent holy light. Her hand was stretched outwards towards Rayne. A protective barrier of light had surrounded him. Her free arm was pointed upwards channeling a golden dome of radiance that encapsulated the rest of the Templar Knights as he asked of her. The silver haired priest offered no words, only a tiny smirk in response. She had easily created a massive shield to protect her allies as well as keeping their leader guarded against any external attacks as well. Zariyana was certainly lived up to her notorious reputation.
This glistening opportunity could not be squandered. The paladin blitzed forth through the rippling explosions attempting to bring him down. He threw all senses of caution away by hurling his shield once more at his attacks. The gleaming barrier charged with the essence of holy power sliced through the air, cracking the skulls of another trio of enemies and knocking them out of the fight entirely.
Rayne caught his returning shield while leaping through the air. He affixed it back into its proper position as he landed amongst the cultists right in the heart of their grouping. Zariyana's protective spell would only last a short while longer. He needed to seize this moment as presented or he may very well not get another.
The paladin exploded forward. He drilled his shield into the abdomen of the frost mage. The troll let out an exasperated cough as he dropped to his knees. Rayne quickly spun in a circle and slapped the face of the female pyromancer with the flat of his blade. She shrieked in agony before falling unconscious alongside the first victim of the paladin's attack.
Rayne shot a look over his shoulder. His brow furrowed immediately. Another pair of frost mages channeled glowing icy energy between their palms. The trolls readied their stance and prepared to unleash their frozen barrage upon the paladin. There was no change to dodge and Zariyana's shield was fading away.
Blue sparks of magic fizzled into a cloud of thin white vapors. Their spells immediately dissipated as a pair of radiant beams of holy fire swathed the trolls in column of burning agony. Samuel's assistance was greatly appreciated. His timing was impeccable and he knew just what to do to keep the heat off Rayne's back and graciously offer it to their enemies.
Only four more cultists remained. The two frost mages pulled back after seeing the mortifying results of Rayne's impressive skills. They spread out quickly, keeping their distance and began conjuring an arcane retaliation.
The paladin knew he had to deal with those first. The pyromancers posed a great threat but being slowed by frost magic was something he could not afford to succumb to with so many enemies remaining. Being entombed in ice would just be the first step towards his demise.
Unfortunately, with the mages had grown wiser by keeping their distance. They spread out approximately twenty yards apart and targeted the paladin with another deadly burst of frost bolts. The distance was too great for his shield to accurately bounce off one and hit the other. However, changing the angles in his favor would close the gap on this little geometric problem.
Rayne ran forward leaving the consecrated area and stood equal distance apart between both trolls. They slowly shifted their stance to better aim the upcoming release of their spells. The paladin hurled his shield backwards and charged at the frost mage in front of him. He knew he could count on the steel barrier hitting its target first. Rayne just needed to outrun it upon its return.
The shield cracked the troll straight in the chest during the completion of the spell. Bolts of ice launched from his palms and struck the wall above shattering into countless crystallized fragments. Rayne continued to charge the second. Her ice bolt was already primed and ready. She unleashed it at the paladin. Clouds of frozen mists exploded from her hands. The paladin kicked off the ground and lunged to his right.
Sharp spikes of pain exploded from the paladin's ribs. The frost bolt had only scathed his armor but left a lasting impression. Trying to dodge a mage's spell while in motion was perhaps not the most intelligent move on his part. Fortunately, his initial idea still bore a ripened piece of fruit as the shield came spinning towards the final frost mage.
Gouts of horror spilled into the air. Rayne's golden barrier crashed into the troll's skull. Her head cracked against the hardened tile floor as darkness swelled over her. The paladin quickly retrieved his shield before it hit the floor and pulled himself up to finish the remaining two cultists.
Fire swarmed his vision. Rayne's goggles blared a new warning across the screen. The pyromancers were quite busy while he was dealing with their friends. They had conjured and enslaved a giant fire elemental that bore down on the paladin with a vicious wrath. Its flame endowed appendages loomed over him and desperately sought to wrap its blazing fingers around Rayne's throat.
The paladin acted on instinct. He dropped to his knees and raised the shield above him. The elemental cried in anguish much to his utter disbelief. Rayne shifted his barrier slightly and caught a glimpse the warrior finishing the swing of his mace and splitting the elemental into countless bits of harmless cinders.
"Good call kid," Marcus smiled. "Now leave these last two dopes to me. The big guy could use your holy presence at the moment."
The warrior let out a terrifying battle cry as he leapt forward to combat the two pyromancers. Rayne trusted him to finish the job properly and headed over towards the center of the room. Ademski was hard at work keeping their attention at bay but he needed to drop them quickly as Vezax could enter the fray at any moment.
The two faceless creatures may have been big but they lacked any tactical sense. Instead of flanking him and attacking the draenei on two fronts, they stood shoulder to shoulder stabbing away at him. Their large masses intruded upon each other and it was surprisingly easy to telegraph their attacks and avoid any potential harm. Sadly, this cavalcade of constant tentacle jabs kept Ademski on the defensive and didn't give him any chance to strike back. Narula and Cayden have kept up the pressure with their cascade of spells but it wasn't enough. He needed help of the holy variety.
Rayne blitzed towards his companion. His feet kicked off the ground with a maddening ferocity. The paladin called upon the light's blessing once more. He charged its golden rays over his gleaming red sword. Ademski must have heard the cavalry coming in because he too beseeched the aid of the Naaru on his own weapon.
The tile cracked underneath the force of the paladin's jump. He soared into the air drawing his blade on high. Rayne's triumphant shout carried along the path as he drove the sword straight atop the monster's scaly purple skull. Light poured from his weapon slicing through its thickened flesh. The faceless one wailed in torment as the blade dug deeper and deeper into its body.
The monster flailed desperately seeking release from this pain. Its bulky frame slammed into the other faceless creature and sent them stumbling about the area. A gleam twinkled in the draenei's eye. He charged his blade with an incredible might of holy power. The sword spun in a full circular rotation with an array of translucent golden weapons floating around him. Ademski drove his strike downwards at a forty-five degree angle. The edge bore into its armored hide. It writhed in agony unleashing high pitched moans from within.
With another monumental burst of golden energy, the draenei's sword completed its revolution and sliced clean through the monster's body. Both creatures toppled to the ground in a heaping pool of teal blood. The paladins panted in unison. Unleashing their holy power exerted a lot of stress on their bodies. While it was a force to be reckoned with against their enemies, it wasn't something they could keep up for continued bursts as they have done here.
As much as their lungs desperately required some time to recuperate, there was no rest for the weary. Rayne caught the C'Thraxxi general out of the corner of his eyes taking his first titanic step into the battle. The behemoth's movements were fluid and precise. He was nothing like the minions that lay at the feet of the paladins.
"Your destruction will herald a new age of suffering!"