Guardians of the North

The Headman, whose name Kersti never bothered remembering eyed rune covered bags that held the substance the Boss Rat coveted so much. The fellow undead's eyes reflected the Fel-glow of the green substance within before he smiled and closed the pouch. Kersti could only scoff, rolling her remaining natural eye, and pet her spider pet while watching as the Headman grabbed a separate pouch of coins before dropping into the waiting hands of their hired theif.

"Good work, Kester with so much, so long as I regulate how much he gets, we can keep milking this for quite some time. How about the other tasks." The Headman asked the third undead, a rogue so shifty Kersti could swear just standing in the light was causing him pain.

"Sabotaged the wheels on all those weird catalults and shrine things of the rats. Don't see why were sabotaging our allies, but the damage proved to make for a good enough distraction for me to slip away unnoticed." The Rogue looked a little to self-sure and he even held out his hand like he was expecting a bonus. Honestly she wondered how someone as honest as Bathol would take what the Headman was trying to do, she was tempted to tell him, or maybe Lo'jie watching that airheaded warrior let this slip certainly would be entertaining. But Kersti knew that would just hurt her own share of the profits.

"And the other task?" The Headman stated firmly, holding up the last bag of coin before pulling it back.

"You want to discuss this... here?" The Rogue hissed at the Headman who just looked back to Kersti.

For her part the undead woman who was lounging by her spider just rolled her eye again before looking to ber let who warbled at her for several seconds before she sighed in exasperation. "Like when he first came here, Precious' babies haven't found anyone else, he'd have to have been followed by someone better than he is if there's anyone watching us now." Kersti lazily proclaimed.

And while the Headman grinned at the Rogue the other undead seemed to fume before relenting. "Fine, I found your fucking Gnome. I don't know what's with this lunatic but he actually tried to pay ME money to let him see it. I've even smuggled him to Brill and set up a lab for him as you instructed, however it was less of a kidnapping and more of a escort... though I'd move fast, guy's as anxious to get his hands on the product as your buyer is."

"Still think this is a stupid idea, that Rat's going to sniff you out if you try this bossman." Kersti stated from her end of the alleyway.

"No be won't, He trusts me." The Headmam proclaimed only to be met by Kersti's firm disbelieving stare. "It's true, he trusts me."

A slight cough interrupted the pair. "Now about my payment?"

The Headman just shook his head in response. "You know how this goes, we get to see the Gnome first, payment upon delivery."

This caused Kester to scowl at the Headman. "Fine, follow me." The Rogue ordered and with a handwave began leading the Headman and Kersti out from the alley. The three undead casually crossed Brill, Kester in the lead but making casual small talk and the Headman answering while Kersti followed with a skeptical eye and a hand restraining her beloved spider Precious to ensure the spider would not lash out without her permission.

Eventually the group crossed into another dark alley in one of the housing areas of Brill before the Rogue opened up a hidden hatch that lead to a basement. Inside mana fueled light illuminated the entire basement where machines that Kersti could never even hope to guess the purpose for all sat waiting to be used. Then after moments the Rogue spoke up. "Professor Tillux, our supplier is here."

"Finally, I haven't had a proper sample of the Fel-stone, or as these Malleusians call it 'Warpstone' in ages. Not since Jaina rejected the notion of progressing the scientific understanding of the arcane in her deluded need for 'safety'." As he spoke a tool laiden Gnome rounded the doorway from one of the side rooms of the basement. His face was mustachioed, his head bald otherwise, and below his head the Gnome wore very little that wasn't clearly meant for a specific purpose in his research. On the Gnome's skin and across his neck Kersti noted he was covered with strange oddly colored scars, one of which almost looked to be a unnaturally vibrant shade of pink.

Before Kersti could blurt out how strange this Gnome was, the Headman stepped forward presenting the Gnome with a polite handshake. "Professor Tillux, a pleasure. According to my sources you are, or at least you were Azeroth's foremost expert on the substance I now possess."

"Why yes, good sir, I've worked with the first samples of the substance ever brought to Azeroth. And I've gone to great lengths to acquire further samples when your Horde Rodentia comrades passed through the Mount Hyjal Portal. As well as making as many additional study material acquisitions possible. You see I actually believe that this substance represents a brand new source of magic as of yet unseen, both literally and metaphorically. While I wouldn't classify it as part of the Cosmic forces it does behave as if it were one in its own right while simultaneously reflecting aspects of... oh look at me rambling. I'm sorry, I never caught your name Mister?" The Gnome ended with his question trailing off giving the Headman a chance to provide his name.

"Hey Headman, if this guy's so valuable why would the Alliance just let him go? Also what's with the scars?" Kersti interjected, demanding answers to the questions that added credence to the uneasy feeling she had around this Gnome.

"Hmm, Headman, you Forsaken sure do adopt strange names..." Professor Tillux began.

"Oh, fucking damn it."

"... Not that I judge on such shallow presuppositions such as one's name. But for your information Jaina Proudmoor had the backing of the Alliance leadership and full authority over the Hyjal portal site. My research went against her deluded assumptions about the safety of Azeroth. But I ask you this, do you think we would have survived the Legion, or the Scourge if the people of Azeroth just buried our heads in the dirt and ignored the information presented to us? No! My research is risky, but it will be vital for the continued prosperity of all of Azeroth. Already I have learned things of the other world I'm certain no other researcher has even conceived of yet as even being a possibility. A magic power that is as of yet invisible to our..."

"So, yer crazy." The Headman stared at his chosen escort in shock alongside Kester. Meanwhile Tillux fumed as the undead woman's grin widened. "I called it, total nutter, oh can't wait to tell Lo'jie about this."

"I am NOT INSANE! I take the risks fools refuse to take out of animalistic fear! Jaina's fear caused my dismissal, since then I've tested with several dozen Fel-stone samples and have glened insights to the other world far beyind what the simple minded would assume! I am close to discovering the...!" The Gnome entered into a fit, but was interrupted mid rant by the Headman.

"I'm willing to provide you a supply of Warp Dust to work with. But I need to know you can provide me with a working substitute or even manufacture this, ahhh, Fel-stone." The Headman requested holding up one of the several pouches of Warp Dust that had been acquired by Kester.

The Gnome for his part snorted. "That really is an odd request."

"What do you mean?" The Undead group leader asked with a tense tone.

"With the portals open, eventually Fel-stond will begin to naturally appear." The Gnome replied.

"What?! Where?" Kersti could hear the greed in the Headman's voice.

"Well obviously we don't know yet. The aura of their world's magic moves, like a stream. I call it the Magical Induction Stream, and places where that stream coalesces or stagnates in dense quantities eventually Fel-stone begins to manifest. I even have a theory that Azerite is drawing the Magic Induction Stream to itself and thus to Azeroth, though I do not yet have any solid evidence. Now if I were..." The Gnomish professor began only for the Headman to cut him off.

"Fine, well what about synthetic versions of the stuff?" The Headman demanded while Kersti tried to hide her grin at the man's discomfort. Apparently he had less patience for the Professor's annoying book talk than she did.

"Synthetic Fel-stone? Are you mad? I-I mean I obviously could, though I need some smaller samples to help determine the ratios and see if I could create a near match substitute. But you must understand the Magic Induction Stream I'm certain that it has seven branches and I need to be able to know what quantities those branches exist in, but the whole process would require Azerite, a Warlock for sure, and likely an Mage and possibly a shadow priest." The Gnome first tried to deny the Headman, but soon his mind clearly was going over how he could achieve the result more than anything else, getting more and more eager as he listed off all the variables and tools he would need. Kersti tuned him out as the Gnome began listing Gnomish tools and even Titan machinery he would need to properly manufacture Warp Stone.

"Well?" The Headman pressed clearly unamused.

"Well of course I can make it, but I just need the tools and some small scale samples to work with, samples like that fine Fel-sand your accomplice showed me." Professor Tillux snapped back.

"Boss, you can't seriously trust this quack. Guy's asking for Titan Machinery it'll cost a fortune if it even works." Kersti protested only for the headman to lift up his hand.

"A fortune we have, and a fortune we can drastically increase if we can make this stuff. There's still plenty of technology to be looted from the Forge of Wills, we just would need to hire the right adventures for the job." The Headman argued back grabbing one of his small packages of warp dust dripping it into the Gnome's hands.

"I'll get that work done soon." The Gnome promised while eagerly looking into the bag.

"Good, Kester is going to be in charge of keeping you safe, we're probably going to need to relocate and quickly in the near future so anything you don't need to immediately use and can't easily replace make sure is packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. Now I need to go to report to our benefactor so if you will excuse me." And with that the Headman turned to leave, the Gnome not even looking away from the bag in his hand.

"We have so many tests to run." Kersti could hear the Gnome proclaim as she and the Headman left the basement.

"You know this scheme is fucked and going to bite us in the ass." The Undead Huntress protested as the pair began walking into the streets of Brill. All across the town soldiers and armed Adventurers and citizens moved with nervous energy and purpose. Just the other day word of the Alliance fleet being spotted heading away from their anchor point outside Stormwind and making their way North had arrived. And now everyone was tense, wondering where the Alliance would land, who would face the brunt of their might, and who would be the first to fight and die in the now unavoidable war.

Of course all the safe bets were on Gilneas, between the wall, the natural harbors, and King Greymane almost everyone betting coin was betting there. Thats why Kersti bets were on Whispering Shore, and North shore, places where the odds were low but the payoff would be great... and it pissed off everyone in the betting house since no one wanted to imagine those scenarios since they more or less guaranteed that Brill would eventually come under Alliance attack.

Not that she cared, the odds plus the dirty looks she got when she made that bet meant the whole thing would be worth it. Not that it really mattered anyways, if the Alliance landed in Tirisfal or northern Silverpine, well they were fucked. There was no way that 'Brilliant Rat' they had of a employer could hope to actually do anything to help.

However Headman had a whole other opinion. "No it's not, he trusts me, besides between the Adventurers and Mercenaries I instructed him to hire, and once he gets a little bit more right of mind with his fix finally here I'm sure everything will go splended."

"Your so full of it." However before Kersti could say more the headman used his body to pin her against a nearby wall.

'It... is... all... going... to work out." The Headman hissed before stepping back. "I have everything managed, I'm rolling nothing but sixs lately, and we have contingencies."

Kersti rolled her good eye while her replacement eye stayed locked on the Headman. "Your funeral."

The Headman laughed at that and stepped away from Kersti who signaled for Precious to stay back, didn't need her agitated pet biting her meal ticket. Especially not when her team wasn't here to help her loot and dispose of the body. Also she guessed she owed the guy for all the work he had been giving them up until now.

So Kersti followed the Headman silently now as he walked past the guards at the town hall, and found Thanquol's room. For the several past days the Rat had been locked away groaning and drinking whatever alcohol would be brought to him while throwing very aggressive threats at whoever sparked his ire with even the slightest of gestures, all while the freakish three armed Rat Abomination stood silently in the corner of the room.

"Go-Leave now or...Kill-Kill!" The rat tried to be threatening with his face burried into the pillows of the bed he lay on, a travel keg lay empty on the ground nearby while the rat waved his mug in the air imitating the hand motions he would usually make while preparing that odd lightning spell of his.

"But, Oh Great and Mighty Thanquol how then can I do as you ordered and immediately bring you the Warp Dust we acquired." The Headman stated theatrically dropping to his knee while holding out one of the smaller pouches of warp dust, the rest already hidden away in his backpack.

"Give-Give me!" And suddenly the Skaven was lunging out from the bed at the small pouch which thr Headman eagerly gave over to the rat. It took mere seconds before Thanquol had burried his nose into the small pouch and was inhaling deeply. In a single breath half the pouch was gone, snorted down by the rat who then quickly closed the pouch and stepped back to bask in the feeling of whatever that twisted substance was doing to him.

After several moments the Ratman stood up pulled the pouch out and checked it once again. "Where's the rest? He had to have had more-more!" The rat insisted already seeming to be offended by what was already given to him.

With this the Headman slowly lowered himself to his knees before the Grey Seer. "I'm sorry Thanuol, however that doubius coward Blistrox has spread out and hidden his supply of Warp Dust, but the spy we hired he's willing to search for each and every one of Blistrox's cashes of Warp Dust for you... for a price, mighty Thanquol."

A tense second passed and then suddenly Thanquol leapt up and stomped softly on the Headman's head, just barely making him lower his head all they way to the ground. "It's Mighty Grey Seer Thanquol! Now-Now get all the Warp Dust, hurry-hurry your gold coins are of no consequence. No Warpstone, no coin!" The Rat raged snarling before sitting on the bed imperiously.

"Well I have another idea, but it would need your infinitely vast and all important help, Great and Almighty Grey Seer Thanquol. With just some extra gold coin I can get one of the smartest Gnomes to foolishly find and give to you the secrets of how to make warp dust and warpstone on Azeroth, an limitless supply, Great, mighty and brilliant Grey Seer Thanauol. With your plan to trick him and buying the supplies to aid this research you can control all the Warpstone on Azeroth, Greatest Grey Seer of Azeroth Thanquol, Lord of the warpstone." The Headman's over dramatic grovelling almost made Kersti sick to her stomach, if she was still alive she might have even fought back a retch at the scene before her.

However it was almost certain that the groveling worked. Immediately the Skaven perked up and realed back as his mind finally grasped what the Headman was saying. "Yes-Yes my Plot-scheme is brilliant. Hurry up servant complete my brilliant-smart plan!" Even as he was speaking Thanquol pulled out a handful of seven gold coins and threw them all at the Headman before leaping up from the bed and rushing out into the main lobby of the Brill Townhall.

Before the ratman could even get to the door, the Headman was back on his feet pocketing all the gold coins and following after Thanquol, though stopping as the freakish monstrosity followed Thanquol through the door first, the three armed Rat monster struggling to get through the door for several seconds. As the grinning Headman walked out and with a sigh Kersti followed after the rats and the Headman into the main area of the town hall.

As they approached the huntress could hear the sounds of thorough debate and the delivery of military orders could be heard in-between. Over the last several days Executor Zygand had been trying to coordinate the defense of Tirisfal, however he was supposed to be subordinate to Thanquol who had locked himself in his room and shouted contradictory orders if he had ever bothered to stick his head out. So even Kersti who didn't understand the full political and personal position of the Executor could understand as he glared at Thanquol who walked into the chamber with a smile.

The Skaven immediately placed himself at the head of the table looking over the arrayed markers showing the various positions that the Horde had occupied. "So-So where are the enemy-prey?" Thanquol asked while looking over the map of Tirisfal.

"We don't know where the Alliance forces are yet. We're preparing for Worgen and Crucader uprisings in case they attempt to strike in support of the Alliance forces. We also have to prepare for if the Alliance invades our territory...Sir." Executor Zygand stated ending with some forced deferrence to the Skaven.

Thanquol looked over the map frowning while the Headman came up and whispered something into the Skaven Grey Seer's ear. Then Thanquol looked again and started to ask more questions. "Where are these rebel-cowards?"

"We haven't pinned any of their locations, even their known encampments all have dispersed in these last few days but there's some small bands that have been spotted but our forces typically attacked and eliminated them on the spot or drove them into retreat." The Executor explained only for Thanquol to huff and release a small snarl back in response before the Skaven swiftly began speaking again.

"How do you plan to fight-kill the enemy?" Thanquol asked looking over the map and sniffing one of the pieces idly while he waited on the answer.

"We have three plans, one for a invasion from Silverpine, and two different plans for the beaches." The Executor stated with clear distaste for the Skaven who in turn groaned in impatience.

With a frustrated shrug, while the Headman whispered again into Thanquol's ear, all while the Rat side-eyed in a way that only Kersti seemed to take note of, the Executor continued his explanation.

"The Alliance's most probable route of attack is to pass through Silverpine and then strike north with the obvious objective of ultimately eliminating Undercity. Following this there are three routes they can take. The first and most obvious will to be to take the main road which will allow them to swiftly start their siege of the city and will allow them to bring up supplies for their troops easily. The other two are more difficult, the winding path to Deathknell would leave them vulnerable and the path makes a natural choke point. Lastly Western Tirisfal has a trail that near the shoreline in Silverpine and the trail there is relatively unfortified and easy to traverse but then the Alliance would have to fight through Deathknell, and our outpost in Calston estate. For the first road our forces are prepared to work with Saurfang's garrison in Undercity to trap the Alliance between the city and ourselves, if we can pin them on the main road up with the city on on side, our army blocking their progress, and reinforcements and garrison forces striking into silverpine victory can be guaranteed. For the other two paths we have forces prepared to reinforce our hardpoints and to try and strike for the roads until reinforcements can be used to hold the Alliance in check. With their forces caught in the foothills the Alliance will have limited mobility and vulnerable supply lines."

Kersti looked at the map and sighed, Lordaeron in general was a nightmare for mobility a single bridge being damaged could force an army to divert for miles through nearby creeks and over the Aits formed by the rivers and streams, so of course everything being said was mind numbingly obvious. Thanquol on the other hand was enraptured by what was being said, though also seemed increasingly upset as the Executor went on.

"Fool man-things will walk into traps regardless. What are other two option-possibilities?" The Skaven asked with a dismissive tone.

"In order to land north of us the Alliance would have to either use their entire fleet to run escort duty for their supply ships, or bring all the supplies with them. Several million tons of food, then ammo and construction equipment and repair tools. Also to be honest our garrison is perhaps the weakest out of all the Horde's positions, since we can be easily reinforced and even the army stationed at Crimson Post can be called upon. So if the Alliance lands at Whispering Shore to the West unfortunately our control there isn't strong enough that we can't deny the Alliance a foothold, however by manouvering troops in Western Tirisfal we can provoke a response and enage in a gradual retreat while buying time for reinforcement while preparing the fortifications of Lordaeron. If they land on North Shore the plan is to immediately enage the Alliance with probing attacks while sacrificing ground until we can find an opening to attack their supplies. That should force the Alliance to rethink the invasion..." Executor Zygand's explanation dragged on and Kersti was beginning to tune him out knowing the man would start delving into specifics, but Thanquol cut the man off.

"Bah, Dumb-Stupid Dead-thing! Reinforcements bad, traitors and cowards all no come-fight for us! Run-fleeing away from Alliance will fail-doom us. Make your coward troops hold ground, make traps, Alliance die-die for every step forward!" The Rat shouted standing on his chair to make himself larger, and standing barely half a head taller than the Executor.

"Traps? You want us to fight to the death with the Alliance as if we don't have allies coming? What is wr..." The Executor began in a rage but was cut off by the Headman speaking up.

"I have a supplier who for the proper price will be willing to supply us with a excellent array of traps to use against the Alliance forces. We could turn Tiriafal into a minefield which would serve the wise Thanquol's plan perfectly." The Headman offered while placing his palm on his chest bowing to the Grey Seer.

"Yes-yes do it, do it, price is no consequence, Exetutor pay-pay for traps, but don't dig mines, we don't have time and need land for fight-killing." Thanquol's pride, confidence, and odd ignorance really amused Kerati at the moment. Even if the Rat was making decent decisions, even with the Headman influencing them, she somehow doubted the plans would hild up to the challenge and she doubted that Thanquol had the understanding to actually lead their defense.

"Even if we fill the entirety of Tirisfal with traps we simply don't have the manpower to hold the Alliance, if we stay and try to hold all we do is kill our soldiers more swiftly." Executor Zygand protested, his offense and disdain blatant.

Thanquol in response groaned and rolled his eyes so fiercely his head rolled slightly with the action. Honestly the ego of the rat was hilarious, Kersti hoped it would be just as hilarious to try and crush that ego, if only she knew what might work on him. But getting tired the Huntress walked to the side of the room and sat down.

"Then get-steal MORE troops! Press more into fighting! No-no cowards allowed, must fight kill enemies! We-we shall...ahhh!" The Rat shouted trying to pose boldly on the chair, however the chair's balance was lost and the Skaven was sent tumbling back into the swift arms of his monstrosity bodyguard which then silently put him down onto the table.

"We can't just requisition or conscript more troops. Unless you can afford to hire more advenurers or peovide your own forces Tirisfal has provided everything it can." There was a mixture of arrogance and disdain in the Executor's voice as he spoke down the Grey Seer's snap proclamation.

"Of course I can-shall! More-more fighters are easy-simple to bribe-hire!" Kersti almost laughed aloud, as Thanquol spoke she watched the Headman behind the rat, as his expression broke from the mask of confidence to a momentary look of horror before he forced his expression back into one of confident subservience.

"M-my Lord, oh wise Grey Seer Thanquol. Are we not above spending more of your money on something that with your brilliance we shouldn't need to waste your time on?" The Undead Headman began with a forced smile.

"If this was so beneath him, then why is Thanquol here? If he was assigned to the defense of Tirisfal he should show us his superb brilliance in our defense, and if 'just getting more troops' is all we need, he should be able to get more without issue." Executor Zygand challenged from across the table and with a dark grin. Oh how Kersti was enjoying watch the Headman squirm, she had to tell the others about this.

The Headman looked at a loss for words while Thanquol looked ready to make some unreasonable declaration, chest puffed out and arms stretched. But before the Skaven Grey Seer could speak the doors to the town hall slammed open of their own accord driven by a dark wind. All debate in the building immediately ending as two figures walked in entirely unannounced. Kersti was already up with her bow in hand, her spider Precious hissing and ready to leap to the attack. Executor Zygand's hand was on his sword as he watched the door and Thanquol's bodyguard was already aiming its strange flamethrower towards the door all watching the figures with caution.

"I hath come to announce mine presence to thee. My kin and I shall once again be taking residence within thy village we shall be remaining for some nights this time to complete our, ritual observance. Thou will permit mine champion presence in your, strategy meetings. Failure will bring about mine wrath upon you, Rat. Thus speaks Aleksandr Von Carstien." And with a flurish the Vampire was walking out of the Town Hall, beside him Tarei smiled cruelly, a trickle of blood of unknown origin rolling down her chin as she posed in a sexual manner before following after her lord.

And as swiftly as they appeared, both Vampires had left leaving a single Skeletal warrior in their place. The Skeleton smoothly walked up to the table, making no other sound outside that of his metal greaves striking the wood as he walked. The Skeleton then took place next to the table as if it too was overlooking the strategic map of Tirisfal, but it said nothing and without eyes or movement of its head it was impossible to tell what it was looking at or even if it had any thoughts to begin with, only the faint etherial glow even indicating there was a life-like presence at all within the armored skeleton.

Even the Headman looked rather taken aback and unnerved by the new addition to their meeting while the Banshee Queen's Executor looked even more offended than he was before. And while Thanquol, still standing on the table puffed himself up and was clearly trying to look confident and in control, Keesti noted the slight tremble in his leg suggesting that he too was left slightly disturbed.

If anything the defense of the North was proving to be a far more complicated affair than anything Kersti could have ever imagined it to be. And it looked like the people in charge were all idiots.

Reviews:

Guest 1: As long as the Skaven keep on doing their very obvious and very stupid ritual of secrecy, the Empire will keep on playing along and pretending they don't think the Skaven exist. The Skaven then don't feel threatened and remain ununified and squabbling among themselves and thus easier for the Empire to manage. It's a hilarious cycle of stupidity, because the Skaven think their stupid spell is working because the Empire goes out of their way to pretend it is, which in turn makes the Skaven feel safe so they instead focus on the "real" enemy (aka their fellow Skaven) and this in turn protects the Empire. So far all we have is an abandoned city which has seen Skaven warbands march on it before seeing yet more Skaven in the streets. The wonderfully stupid rats haven't yet decided to attack the Empire outright. which thr Empire has the Sewer Watch, and Scholars and Nobles who actually trade and 'openly' negotiate with the Skaven... so if the Skaven were to actually try anything the Empire would ironically in thr current state of affairs be well aware much earlier than with what happened in the forgotten Skaven Wars. Skaven are one of the few races in Warhammer and in general who most break from their type casting, yet also the one race who most known breaks from their type casting is actually a weakness and not some "OMG they'd all havw super powers if they all just listened to women more often" type BS. But these breaks from the typecasting are also why Skaven we know for certain they can work with others like for example, the Horde, and why as a GM I will usually approve a player RP'ing a very unSkaveny Skaven (Psody anyone?) because there isn't some grand species uplifting revolation to be found there, just some interesting story threads to manipulate and abuse to make the players experience something special.

Guest 2: Gods forbid you actually play World of Warcraft oh the horror of realizing the Horde includes the Tauren, Trolls, and Forsaken, two of whom would have been fine with humanity if they weren't imperialist assholes to them, and the third tried to rejoin the Alliance only for the murder of a certain Chad hyper racist to stand in their way. The problem for Horde players is that they STILL have the weak and stupid losers in their faction dictating everything about their story lines...so the horde gameplay is "we simp for the Alliance" yeah Horde players muat really beg for the privilege to simp for the other team.

Guest 3: Ask AoS, likely by throwing the lore out the window only to weekend at bernies it back for the member berries. Its like all the people who keep going "but Skaven are chaos" thats only in AoS. But it's still a metal hammer in thise guys hands, they should be able to still whack the Dragon Ogres.

Guest 4: And yet the Humans accepted the Night Elves and the Night Elves joined the Alliance no problems... no mass murder incidents between them, almost like the Forsaken and Night Elves were forced to abandon their own lores and conform to the gameply molds laid before them.

Guest 5: A lower Skaven is treated better in a Ogre's stomach than in Skaven society. As I was alluding to before, Skaven are the biggest detriment to the Skaven, if you pretend you don't notice them, and they have no reason to unify, then they'll ruin each other. "Peace" and success kills more skaven than open war does.

Guest 6: ? it's warhammer fantasy, all mind reading and telepathy is nothing more than magic, only the Orks defy this rule as they are unnatural beings foreign to Mallus.

As for the Sci-fi's, 40K is more consistently powerful, Star Wars can occasionally pull far higher level psychic abilities out their ass but all of those are related to edgy "better and more evil than Darth Vader so obviously they're cooler guys" characters whose whole stories sort of suck particularly the ones that dive into thr Grey Jedi BS that goes entirely contrary to George Lucas and the legacy of best Jedi Liam Nelson. Starcraft has some impressive psionics but they are far from consistent humans need tools just to properly use them, and even the protoss need tech to properly weaponize or use half their abilities and so often you'll see them fall back on the Zerg or on God characters.

Guest 7: As unimportant and unnoticed as ever, doomed to die without anyone ever realizing it was there.

Guest 8: Cant really say, there just isn't enough information on the Azerothean Pygmy's. And It makes me sad that we'll likely never live to see the day where we got to witness Lumbria (wathammer Australia) and while people keep saying the Pygmies are based off a racist stereotype honestly I always thought the Warhammer ones, while the art is indeed racist as all fuck, were situated to make for a badass historical sub-Saharan culture fantasy counterpart, though since their from Lumbria that would have also meant that Aboriginie culture could have also been weaved in, like all their ancestor spirits manifest at a giant rock, or maybe even their gods, heck make the place the magical center of the pygmies where the spirits of the past see to the bloom of life today and where one can see glimpses of those living in the future and only the Pygmy can safely navigate through this magic effect. but thats off the top of my head, and I've already put more effort into Pygmies than GW put into the End Times or Blizzard into making the Jailer's plan actually make any fucking sense.

Guest 9: Sigmar is too much of an anomaly, those most blinded by the Light will fail to understand him, but even the Signarittes don't fully grasp him, because he's not a traditional God but a nearly entirely unique entity ascending neither by his own might alone nor by some depraved God's will. He had Ulric's help, but obviously he didn't ascend like a Daemon-Prince nor (as i suspect so pure theory on this one) a Diva but went straight to Godhood.

Guest 10: If i read the question right. No, humanity has greater numbers and the Lizardmen while "unified" are actually broken up into some various minor factions (if your a Warhammer 40K fan think of the Imperium's factions, or just as well the different factions who make up the Alliance) Lizardmen do wax and wane but they'll never recover their Pre-Cataclysm numbers where they once were able to exterminate entire races and killed a whole moon civilization in the Old Ones order. Second Question orcs no question, in a twenty or so year period they went from a few thousand scattered over all of Mordor to millions upon the return of Sauron.

ScruffinMcguffin: Thankyou. I honestly have no Idea, these last three chapters have been a single chapter diversion that kept going on. But we may see the Alliance get their own version when the Siege of Lordaeron starts, which the whole siege there analyzing the troop positions, and everything could be Azeroth's Siege of Acre, though truth be told if I want to stay closer to the Azerothean timescale the Lordaeron skirmish might still remain somewhat interesting rather than being entirely forgettable outside a few cutscenes.

Oh for new players who don't mind playing a 40k clone that then 40K turned around to mimic, AoS is good. but I don't like the gameplay, and I keep finding member berries whenever I read their books...so i keep going back to what WHFB books i own. So I don't "like it" but the gameplay is actually decent, but GW and the End Times and .5 AoS left me so apathetic towards the game, and so tired of GW's Metapushing I just bought more Iron Kingdoms and Total War to get my strategy fix.

Dragon King of the West: Probably, but there's more worthy subjects for Khorne's attention and time on both worlds, she'd earn a fleeting glance from both gods at best. Trugtold and Ikit though were certainly the MVP's of the match, but the rest of the team came in clutch.

BloodRedRoses11: I get tempted, but between SpaceBattle's WoW fandom, and their other fans, to quote uncle rick "i do not have the time or the crayons" I mean I'm still trying to spread the concept, but they seriously can't wrap their heads around what i label the Sakura Leaf Principle. In almoat every shonen anime there will come a point where Sakura leaves or leaves in general are falling as the backdrop to a fight between major characters, major characters the Space battle crowd will tell you are moving at multiples of the speed of light... meaning that for thise Leaves to be falling rather than static in the air for the duration of this battle, they themselves have to be moving near or at the speed of light. Such speed and the surface area of those leaves already would create a pressure wave, those anime worlds are all already dead by the logic of fans at space battle, since they try to use hard physics to dictate speed and power. And really they constantly shoot themselves in the foot, such as the One Piece fans who try to use Zoro's lazer backflip to showcase his speed, in the same episode where kizaru is being a menace, because the mass of air that Zoro passed through "at ten times light speed" would be more than the mass of kizaru's foot and that man turns into light to move so he's not building up or feeling any air resistance as he moves, meaning Zoro's backflip should have hit Zoro harder than kizaru's kicks.

So when we have to deal with people who can't understand basic principles yet will try to use real physics to try and feat scale and do so with no regard to the internal consistency of the very universe they're trying to support... yeah im pretty certain that while i could enjoy posting there, too much of my time would be wasted, i might consider it, but the stories i follow that started posting there then died... I'm reluctant. Like there are WoW fans who take the claims about WoW's animals being intelligent far too literally all while those same animals as mounts are given equipment and bits while being "super intelligent", that a suitably smart real world horse wouldn't need for you to ride it. (thank you my equestrian mother and all her horse training videos) and theres Warhammer fans who try to make power claims about the Skaven that drive me up the wall failing to realize how much of a asspull all of the End Times after the first book was, and even the first book was filled with ass pull moments. But ultimately i would have to waste my life until i following the legacy of my family die well into my hundreds, just getting Space Battle morons to realize that unobtanium armor with sketchy as all fuck durability does not make one side auto win over the other just because that unobtanium has a more special name than the other, and it will be the same moronic circular cycle.

Skrrit was only honest because he's scared shitless by Trugtold. Otherwise you know it would all be BS about how he's the greatest Skaven mind to ever exist.

JiggyliFAP: "Oh shiet here we go again" ;)

And that Retcon of the light is great, but it's a retcon, and a LOT of people still hold to that pre-retcon light in which it's practically impossible for it's followers to ever do anything bad, ever. Arriving in Northrend with Arthas' abilities all stripped still is a bitter memory. But while I certainly agree with the retcon there (and it's a pretty old one too) there's still a failure in its implementation since the "the light allows no evil" bit wasn't scrubbed as clearly it does. It has less to do with the power and a lot more to do with the intent, because if the Light permits Arthas to commit Genocide, the Scarlet Crucade to mass murder LIVING innocent civilians just for not hating the Undead enough, and the Lightbound to do it's shit, then clearly the Light's claims on morality are tenous at best.

As for the second half that paragraph, while the origin of the universe has been retconned, there has never been any reason why Fel and Light can't be combined. I know some people have used triangles trying to display compatibility, but then ironically the Light and Titans should have never been able to touch the Enerald Dream as extensively as they have without some sort of cataclysmic repercussions.

For the Mana bit again, check Gate of the Elder Gods: Drums of War (now on a fanfiction site near you!) There's other work arounds the lack of mana generation in their own being. Also 'Nyhooo, Nooo, Hippie, Hippies all around me, Hippies, think their trying to save the earth, but they just smoke pot and smell bad." But also with the Lightforged (not lightbound) and the Demons of the twisting Neather it should be that full infusion is a choice, a submission of your will and soul which in Azeroth has no fucking meaning whatsoever, but obviously would for Warhammer be a full submission and no God and very few forces otherwise could at all interfere with that process. You don't necromancer raise Champions of the Dark Gods, it costs too much energy and of course pisses the Gods off at you. You steal Krell from Khorne and piss Khorne off because Krell is an amazing fucking warrior whose able to weaken the binding of a multitude of other chaos warriors allowing you to raise more. If a soul is lost to the Twisting Neather because it willingly submitted itself, unlike wow where you can "talk no jutsu" the dead and lost into goodness because bullshit, and likewise turn Gods into their evil form by basically doing anything, things on Mallus have more permanence to them and it takes more effort to change them.

But certainly someone giving themselves to N'zoth, or the Burning Legion's remnants will also be far more set in stone. But thats also why Warhammer fans who actually think about and question souls question the lesser victims of Nurgle's plagues, because why their bodies are acting in a certain way, is he actually getting their souls? certainly enough of them are giving into despair and accepting what he did to them, otherwise he'd adjust his plagues, but how effective is it really? and with that line of questions then the "not My Little Pony" style of brainwashing of magic lasers and auras making people instant good or instant evil, would that actually have an impact on a soul in a meaningful way?

Well mean why wouldn't the world end at the paws of the Skaven ;) , the Void just gave them more inspiration and helped them realize their place as the greatest of all Skaven.

I honestly hate how unnatural the shadowlands are, and how the Eternal Ones are basically just titans with extra fake flesh over top. Might as well claim the Titans made the shadowlands too. Even if "word of god" put them on par with the titans. But again, while the Shadowlands are designed to grab the Souls of Azeroth 1) the fundamentals of the souls are different and 2) the shadowlands fucking suck at their job considering how casually long dead individuals and creatures are raised on Azeroth.

skipping ahead to the adventurers. yes and thats why that whole scene when it comes will be hilarious, because on the other side we will also have a Questing Knight doing the exact same thing with Azeroth artifacts he... noblely acquired.

And as for the Tirisgarde and everything else, also think of it theses ways. as you were just coming to realize where you can dip into multiple cosmic forces, without the High Elves telling them why they're stupid, what's to keep the people of Azeroth from trying to use multiple winds all at once. Though I certainly don't think using multiple Winds at once is immediately catastrophic, you just know that with the nature of Azerotheans it can spiral out of control a lot faster than anyone expects. I mean lets summon evil dog men from beyond our reality and set them loose to fight an army of the undead what's the worst that can happen?

Then jumping back to Ostermark, it's a Pantheon and Pantheonic worship, you can have more than one god. But Morr is their main dude, and for the most part always has been, i mean you seriously just listed the full Empire Pantheon as "the old lore" Myrmidia, Shallya are both newer Goddesses (both meta and in universe) who came up from the South. And before anyone points out Manaan, no one actually worships him, you pray to him hoping he doesn't fuck you over because he's a dick. "Please Manaan, just leave us the fuck alone". I mean come on, he got in Ulric's way more than he ever helped and he should have been one of the most prominent guys to face chaos.

Zuk'jin and the supposed immortality of the trolls since they can be turned into shredded cheese and still should be able to come back since there's no limit to what they can regenerate from.

Hakuryuu: just a chapter to get the last two summed up. More than that, because here you have the "dieties' or "angels" of said religion rather than the mortal leaders coming forth and saying to do it in public, and without limited targets or reasoning orher than "them not us, them must die". But yes the whole thing with Teclis is that he care about the world as it serves the purpose of protecting Ulthuan and the High Elves, even the Alliance who would demand that Ulthuan be sacrificed for "the greater good" with the express assumption that magical BS everything will just be reatored shortly after (as is far too common in WoW) there's not much reason for the High Elves to care about the Alliance, Horde or Azeroth outside the threat analysis and possible trade (which no you don't have to be allies with people to trade with them, hell you can hate a culture or nation and still trade with them)

Always go for the logic of mistakes from fundamental character traits or made due to lack of knowledge of the enemy I'll usually leave in, but mistakes made because no one has the brains or free will enough to go "hey this is a terrible idea let me propose a obvious alternative" I'll be changing, especially ones that WoW characters it should be as fucking obvious as a fireworks display on a lake in the middle of a dark, starless night with no light pollution... rather than assuming a 20 year old with no combat experience knows better than their dozen plus years on the battlefield. I meam just with the basic world map and WoW's average tech and wildlife any veteran could propose a much easier way to take Lordaeron, a method ironically used a very famously by Richard the Lionhearted.

As for Volkmar and Tyrande, as of now distant allies from differing religions and social standings, one effectively being empress or dictstoress of her people and the other just being the "not Pope". But as Tyrande is the queen of terrible snap decisions and Elune the Goddess of not forethought and horrble mistakes, we can see this turning sour eventually.