Chapter 1:
My mind is as blank as a fresh sheet of parchment.
I don't know where I am nor why I'm here in the first place. But whatever..., I don't even know my name.
Yet there is something inside my head, a voice that tells me that everything will be fine how it is. That everything is alright. And that I don't have to worry at all. I'm told that I am currently in the black fortress of Acherus, hovering high above the eastern areas of the plaguelands. Not that I'd know any of those places yet still they ring a bell for me.
As far as my recollection of my life goes I woke up just only minutes ago, lying alone on a rough wooden cart. My feelings were numbed and this still hasn't changed at all. Shortly after the moment of success, when I finally got up from what seems to merely a slumber, three most hideous ghouls came rushing towards me. Usually I would have had to be frightened, but somehow I knew they wouldn't harm me in the slightest. They were my minions or companions at least, eagerly handing me different parts of a dark grey armor from a rack close by. A skull with bright blue eyes was shining forth from the chest piece and now my body too. The only thing they didn't equip me with was a weapon.
The undead things were blabbering the whole time in their guttural speech or moans and snarling. I didn't understand them, yet it seemed they were talking to each other rather vividly.
And now? ... I stand here wearing a full suit of armor, two spiked pads adorning my shoulders. The bones of my undead body are clearly visible at the arms for they wouldn't need as much protection. And as bony fingers went to explore what remained of my face, once described by youth I'm sure, I discovered many few small circular places where my rotten flesh was completely missing.
The room I am standing in right now is as circular as one could ever be with four small vaults to the sides, each of them offering space for something else that seems to me of utter importance for this structure. In one of the vaults I find an alchemical laboratory as I walk around the hall for the first time. In another one I see several black anvils, skeletons standing next to them, hammers flying above their heads only to strike down again. In the third one there stands the cart which I was seated on only moments ago and in the last and final vault I see a pile of dead bodies. Every once in a while one of them digs itself out into the freedom of this world and with that into the servitude and bonds of this prison. In between each of these still rather compact alcoves there is something that I can only describe as a forge, even though it's rather little resemblance. With large fangs the outside of it shows a large skull with a strange blue fire bright and happily burning inside of it.
A muscular man in an ice-blue suit of armor is making his rounds at the back of the hall, his eyes constantly fixed onto me. He is much taller than any human I have ever seen, at least I believe so. The voice in my head tells me how this man is of incredible strength compared to me. I can't tell why but every word that is whispered into my mind already seemed so obvious to me.
'Step forth my future champion...' It then loudly proclaims making wonder if I really was the only one hearing it. Its tone is calm, even somewhat gentle, gathering my trust. And just how it demanded my body started moving on its own. Between the vaults with the anvils and the laboratory there is a wide open space I crossed leading out onto a kind of balcony. I take the eleven steps up on the stone staircase and stand in front of two Val'kyrs, blighted angels of demise usually only found flying high up in the air. They may appear like beautiful maidens to worn out traveler, yet their soul is consumed by as much hatred and darkness as that of any rotten ghoul. Their presence is astonishing, a terrifying sight indeed and not less seductive in their tightened black armor although they themselves shine forth completely in a perfectly pristine white.
The air around me grows colder with every step I take closer to the edge. A well-known feeling my body tells me.
A tall man is standing at the very end of the balcony in front of me, keeping a close watch on the lands down below. It seems we are flying above this area and the voice had proven to speak the truth as it said we were hovering.
The long black cape of the armor he is wearing is already ripped apart at its end, showing off the many battles it had seen and still it never fully lost its elegance.
He slowly turns around to me, as I am now close enough to be in reach. In his right hand he is holding a claymore, using it as support right now.
Just like the sword the rest of his black armor is also decorated with several skulls on the shoulders and the waist, whilst the back of the gloves resemble the claws of a dragon. From his elbows to the shoulders the mail is similar to dragon scales; maybe it was even crafted from those. The plates along his legs look like bones, ribs if you want to be more precise.
The helmet he is wearing is spiked, a worthy crown for an unholy king. Underneath it you can see long white hair falling out in strands as the rest of his face remains hidden by a certain darkness. Not meaning to insult it but something about this armor looks orcish. But my mind is torn away from these menial details and onto the intense blue glow that is coming from his eyes. I seemed almost as if they had turned into flames.
My eyes are now fixed to the sword. Something about it is utterly terrifying, yet then again it is also remarkably beautiful. Above the handle there is the skull of a ram, at least of some sort, its eyes also glowing in a bright blue too. The blade itself is jagged on one side, a flesh-ripper for good measure and glowing in a cold blue runes are shining upon its whole length.
I hear screams, quiet at first, but growing louder with every second longer that I look at the blade. It appears almost as if they are coming from the weapon itself.
If I had to describe it I couldn't but something is drawing me to the sword. I want to possess it. I want to reach out and grab it. I want it to be mine!
But then the man speaks up from his silence; his voice sounding as if he is miles away and not at all so close as he is standing right in front of me now. Unworthy of his words I know my place and kneel down.
"All that I am: anger, cruelty, vengeance - I bestow upon you, my chosen knight. I have granted you immortality so that you herald in a new, dark age for the Scourge."
His eyes are gazing right into my mind with their blue fire.
"Gaze upon the lands below us. The Scarlet Crusade scurries to undo my work, while Light's Hope stands defiantly against us - a blemish upon these plaguelands. They must all be shown the price for their defiance."
I stand up and take a look over the edge, down into the green parts of the land just as he had wished of me.
"You will become my force of retribution. Where you tread, doom will follow. Go now and claim your destiny, death knight."
I bow and back off slowly. Now the voice in my head starts talking again.
'You will become one of my champions, go forth now. The instructor Razuvious is already waiting for you.'
With this I know I have to talk to the tall man in the ice-blue suit of armor all of a sudden.
And as I stand in front of him not many seconds later I begin to feel terribly small.
"You have heard the call of your new master, now the time has come to answer it!" He says with a clear and strong voice. "First of, you need a weapon. Take whatever sword you want to use from the weapon racks and talk to one of our skeletal blacksmiths at the rune forges. They will teach you how to carve sufficient runes into the weapon of your choice."
I follow his orders and turn to the racks standing in almost every part of the hall. Quickly I am to find a sword that I wanted to wield. Its blade is jagged just like of the claymore I had seen in the master's hands and the handle looks like the wings of bats. It almost appeared as if a blue eye is staring at you from the side of the blade. I guess this was one reason why nobody had picked up this beautiful weapon before. But that's not all... there are several more engravings on the blade that are toned in a dark red, making it look similar to spilled blood. And the longer I take my time look at the weapon the more I wonder if it might even actually be said spilled fluid of life.
Next I shall take the blade to one of the skeletal blacksmiths, just as I was ordered to. The undead carefully takes the weapon into his hands and gives me a short nod back. The creature is unable to talk, so I guess this means he or at least it ... approves of my choice.
The skeleton takes me over to one of the rune forges idly standing around. There it puts the blade into the blue flames for a short moment as in the meantime the undead takes up some kind of strange curved tools with his bony hands which I suppose he needs to carve the runes into the weapon. After taking the weapon out of the fire again it seems that everything is fairly easy to carve into it. Yet again, only few moments later the runes shine in a light blue and the blade has turned out to be as hard as ever before. It looked actually surprisingly easy and I guess I won't need any help the next time I get a weapon for usage.
The moment I take the sword into my hands I feel strength rising in me, the empty weakness of this hull finally leaving my soul.
With the runes now shining on the blade I return to the instructor as he had asked.
"Fine, now that you have a weapon suitable for yourself we can carry on. Yet you still have a very different problem to face – the endless hunger. You are a former Forsaken I do not doubt that you had to deal with this issue before. Yet as a part of the Scourge I can give you a something better than the dried flesh of animals. There is a 'cure' for the hunger, so you will never have to worry about this ever again." Razuvious looks into the middle of the room.
"This will also serve to be a first test for you... This key will offer you the salvation we all once sought." Without hesitation the instructor takes a small key with a skull handle out of his pockets and hands it to me. "Initiates like you that prove unworthy for our dark brotherhood are enchained here in the very core of Acherus. Take the key and set one of them free. Take any one you wish – it will be your judgment the tormented souls shall heed. Whoever you pick - let him take his armor and a weapon and tell him about his fate. That you will stand against him, raise your sword in the Lich King's name and should he be able to overpower you he will be granted the second chance amongst us he once begged us for." A grim smile comes to Razuvious' face. "Now go! If you kill him, your pain will end and you will feel no hunger ever again. His soul shall feed you for all eternity! But should you lose... Let me tell you, I'm sure you will still be a fine ghoul for our legions."
Without a single word wasted I bow once before the instructor and then back off.
'Your touch will freeze the blood in the veins of every enemy you face and your blade will deliver blows tearing flesh asunder, spreading my diseases...'
Once again I hear the whispers in my mind.
Seven steps lead down to the circle inside the hall with the enchained ones. A dark violet light comes from the chains holding them, all of them deemed unworthy for our brotherhood.
I look around and spot several bloodelves and gnomes. People of those races are usually weak, I figured, so I have no concern beating one of them. As my wander around further I see a troll, an orc, a human, a few Forsaken and a draenei. I wonder why the orc is here for moment, concerning everybody else it is surprisingly clear to me. They all lack strength and determination. Usually I would not have doubt in the Forsaken, yet I could see it in their eyes. There is no fire left in them, they would all fail..., sooner or later.
It proves hard to decide which one I want to fight. I never was in combat, not that I know of, yet I am still fairly confident that I would be the strongest person now standing in this part of the room.
After a while of thinking I finally step up to one of the Forsaken kneeling approximately in the middle of the room. He slowly raises his head as he sees me.
"Are you the executioner?" He asks with a low, drained voice. I shortly shake my head in response.
"No, but I am your last chance, you fool!" My voice is dry of any emotion. "Fight me... If you are able to overcome me, you will be set free from your chains and receive the second chance in the dark brotherhood. If not... you may rot with the ghouls."
Razuvious looks down on us as I have chosen my opponent. It had taken long enough...
The key fits perfectly into the key hole. As I turn it in the lock, the chains vanish in an instant. Still not fueled by the sudden freedom the Forsaken only slowly gets to his feet.
"GET GOING! This is your last chance!" I yell at the undead with an unknown wrath. He hurries and puts his armor on and takes a sword from the rack close by. As he stands in front of me now I can see the fear in his eyes.
'Kill him my nameless child!' The voice in my head screams at me. 'KILL HIM AND YOU ARE WORTHY TO BECOME MY UNHOLY CHAMPION!'
The Forsaken is shacking, what a miserable sight indeed.
He lifts his blade and tries to attack me. An effort in vain, his strike lacks strength, agility and most of all determination... Before he can even conduct this first blow, the tip of my blade has already pierced his chest. The light in the eyes of the Forsaken fades quickly. With a powerful jerk to the side I pull my sword out, cutting through most of his body. The blade of my opponent drops to the floor. Motionless the body sinks down now resting there next to the weapon.
Come to think of it..., he was wearing the same armor as I am. I guess I will have to be careful looking at how easily my blade ripped it apart.
I leave the lower area and make my way back to Razuvious. A necromancer passes me on my way with a grim smile for me. I wonder if this ghoul would still be of any use for them.
"You did fine, just as I had expected from a knight that I have chosen by myself. Your strength is truly remarkable... maybe one day even close to my own." He chose me? Really...? "The Lich King is calling for you. Now go forth. Do not let him wait. I will be keen to hear from your progress. Suffer well.., brother."
My body again, moves on its own, the voice echoing in my head now as calm as before once again.
'My new unholy knight... I expect great things of you and I know you will be able to become a worthy champion of the Scourge! Your path shall only lead you to strength and immortality right at my side where you belong.'
I kneel down in front of the Lich King.
"The time for bloodshed draws nearer, my champion. I know that you are eager to get into the fight, yet first you have to understand what we want to destroy. I will offer you my sight. A sight that is beyond 'normal' seeing. I will show you what we are aiming for. Now close your eyes!"
I do as he orders me to. In my mind I see pictures of four buildings of the Crusade flashing by. Their banners are hanging everywhere. A filthy plague from the human lands defiling this world...
The first thing I see is definitely a forge.
'We have to cut off their supplies and all possibilities to reinforce themselves.'
Seconds later I see a large human fortress and a town hall.
'We will strike at the confined heart of the city and bring down their leaders as well as the military forces.'
The last thing I see is a little chapel next to an apple plantation.
'If we take out their religious head too in close succession, the crusaders will be helpless. They will lose their false faith and be ready for taking. The final initiation! Once we have taken out these four buildings, the pitiful Scarlet Crusade will be no more and we will be able to focus our full attention on Light's Hope Chapel.'
The longer I hear his voice talking to me, the colder my surrounding gets, it feels as if I am kneeling on solid ice after a while.
"Open your eyes now, my knight. You will get further instructions from my most trusted. Highlord Mograine is waiting for you on the lower floor of Acherus. Go to him! Obtain you appointed task and carry out my gift into the world. May the fight begin and your thirst for blood never cease."
I get back to my feet and bow deeply once right before I head off to the teleporter leading to the lower areas. Something in my mind tells me the way that I have to take. There is just no normal explanation for how I know all of this.
The teleporter itself is a circular stone glowing in a bright violet, the vertical slot on it letting it look like the eye of some creature.
I step onto it without a second's hesitation.