And here we are, seeming for some at last, at the end of the caverns of Time mini-arc. Personally I enjoyed it, and while the clarity of how time-travel in Azeroth functions may seem convoluted to some, I feel that it was rendered as best as it was explainable from the context of what actually occurred. Nevertheless, we are at the end of our little detour down memory lane, and will soon return to the Outland Campaign, and what lays ahead is clear for all. But are we prepared? Find out in due time ~F
Chapter 129
Defying the Defiler
Nobu'tan spotted the look of surprise on Archimonde's face, and even a slight glimmer of fear.
"Warlock, your power shines in the flow of time," the voice of Soridormi came to Nobu'tan, sounding in his mana-infused mind. "Take of the blessing of the Bronze Dragonflight, and see Time itself warp before you!"
The notion of the spell struck him like a thunderbolt, and Nobu'tan acted, temporarily phasing himself out of time. Suddenly everything around him seemed slower, but unlike when he altered time before, he knew it was because he was moving faster, not everything in a area around him slower.
Flapping his wings, Nobu'tan dove forward, arcane, felflame, and ice singing off of Aetish's surface, even as he wheeled around Archimonde as a stinging gnat would around a giant.
The hulking demon tried in vain to swat him away with hand or magic, but nothing could keep up with Nobu'tan.
"Your soul will languish for all eternity!" the demon lord threatened, but it was in vain.
Drawing the Elder Wand with his free hand, Nobu'tan darted back. Runes, a flowing script of patterns etched into the air with fire from its tip, flew out in droves, stabilizing a one-man ritual, and started the channel of power from Nobu'tan into the form of arcane-enchanted ice before him.
With the overabundance of magic, he could rapidly generate the same spell he used some time ago, channeling Fel, Arcane, and wizarding power simultaneously to devastating effect.
Doomfire swept upward at him at Archimonde's command, but with a casual wave of Aetish, ice formed and surged up between the Nobu'tan and the demon, taking the brunt of the deadly attack and absorbing it utterly.
"Now you will see the power of the wizards of Earth," Nobu'tan shouted, causing even the mighty Eredar pause.
"Oh yes, I know of your conquest there," the warlock of the Stormreaver's pressed, "You took EVERYTHING from me that day…"
"I don't even know who you are…" the demon replied, which may have been fair, given that Nobu'tan's magical aura and signature had gone through many radical changes from the time he was the child doom-bringer on earth.
"You will…" he replied nonetheless, even as his spell completed, and the devastator missile, as he was considering calling it, was released.
The spell rocketed toward the Eredar, but Archimonde caught the arcane and Fel empowered spike of ice with both hands. The force of the missile drove the demon backward from the tree, until Nobu'tan collapsed the barrier keeping the missile stable.
With a tremendous explosion, the chaotic energies surged outward, covering the area around Archimonde with smoke and shattered dirt.
The demon tore through the smoke, his armor clearly damaged, and rage in his eyes, "Clever," Archimonde said menacingly, "I will enjoy ripping the soul right out of your form, and consuming the secrets you hold…"
Raising a powerful hand to the sky, Archominde unleashed a powerful beam of crackling red energy. "At last it is here," he said, "Mourn and lament the passing of all you have ever known, and all that would have been! Akmin-kurai!"
But before he could wield the deadly magic against Nobu'tan, a deep blaring horn sounded from the ridge overlooking the World Tree.
"The trap has sprung!" Tyrande shouted from far off. "The Horn has sounded! Archimonde will meet his end today! Rejoice!"
From all around the base of the tree, small wisps of light sputtered into being, flowing away from the gnarled branches and flying toward the demon, who stepped back in genuine terror.
"No, it cannot be!" Archimonde shouted, leveling the beams of death at the wisps, but there were far too many for him to eliminate them all. One after another, they attached to the magically rich demon, and exploded.
Nobu'tan could feel the destruction of magic as they did so, the frighteningly devastating power that so many small things possessed.
"Nooo!" Archimonde shouted, even as he was consumed by the raw power of the ancient Elven spirits.
Nobu'tan had to shield his eyes as the demon exploded into brilliant golden energy, his powerful soul shattered and sent back to Argus in disgrace. He would be reformed in time, but by then Nobu'tan's plan to betray the Legion would have already been enacted, and there was nothing that Kil'jaeden would be able to do to stop him.
"It is finished," a voice said next to Nobu'tan, and he turned to see Medievh straightening his robes, "The Legion's attack is stopped, and their forces will be defeated in due time through the unified forces of the Horde, Alliance, and Night Elves…"
"For now…" Nobu'tan said, catching the knowing look from the Guardian.
"Luckily, Azeroth has her champions…" Medievh said, smirking, "I trust that we can count you among that illustrious number?"
Feeling more refreshed than he had in what seemed like months, Nobu'tan smiled. It was a genuine thing, unlike any grin or smirk he had given since returning to the world that he considered home. "Yes, I would count myself as such."
"Then we have little to fear for the future," Medievh said.
"What will you do now?" Nobu'tan asked, "You know as surely as I that there is no end to the conflict to come…"
"It is not my place to interfere any more than I have," Medievh said, looking over at the World Tree. Nobu'tan turned as well, and was saddened to see that the roots of the tree were blackened from the blast of magic as Archimonde died. The tree was wounded deeply.
"The roots will heal in time… as will the world." Medievh said, looking up at the victorious forces on the ridge, "My hope for the future lies in the hands of mortals, and now as my task is completed, in ensuring that a future will happen." He turned to look at Nobu'tan once more, "I will take my place among the legends of the past…"
"Is there any chance you'll return?" Nobu'tan asked, spotting out of the corner of his eye the shimmer of a golden time portal. Soridormi was awaiting his return, and the end of this time meddling business.
"Perhaps," Medievh said thoughtfully, also seeing the portal, "If the need is great enough that I must intervene, but there are places out in the Nether I would wish to go and events that even I cannot foresee…"
Nobu'tan nodded.
"I've thought much about your presence, warlock of another world," Medievh said, "and I have looked, and found others of your people, out there in the Great Beyond."
"My world is not yet destroyed, in this time and place, at least not yet" Nobu'tan commented…
"Time does not flow the same in the Nether as it does on any particular world," Medievh chided gently, "I see your world, yes, but that is not to what I refer. Your people survive the coming disaster and shattering of your homeworld… there are others out there, and they may need a nudge in the right direction; to be at the right place at the right time, as one may say."
Nobu'tan did not fully understand the worlds of the Guardian, but accepted them as they were given. "Well then, if we meet again, I hope it is under more pleasant circumstances." He offered his hand to the Guardian, which Medievh took and shook once, each keeping a grip on their respective form of Aetish.
"Goodbye for now, Nobu'tan of the Stormreavers," Medievh said, surprising the warlock at the Guardian's knowledge.
As they separated, the powerful mage transformed into the form of a raven and took to the air, spiraling over the branches of the World Tree and out of sight.
"I really need to learn how he does that," Nobu'tan commented, glancing at Aetish in his hands, before shrugging and returning to Soridormi inside the antechamber of the Caverns of Time.
"Well done," she said, "despite everything, you defeated every chance that the Infinite Dragonflight threw at trying to destabilize time, and this key point can now be locked down and merged back into our history."
"But at what cost?" Nobu'tan asked, "I worry that my influence will not go unnoticed in the long ruin. Not only the Dragonflight, but the Legion and even Medievh will remember me, despite whatever you do to wipe the minds of mortals."
"It's the best we have to work with," Soridormi said, almost dismissively, "You may go bring the good news to Andormu, and then I believe you are free to depart the Caverns in peace."
"Then I will leave the clean up to you and yours," Nobu'tan said, hoping he didn't sound as eager as he felt to leave the dragon's presence and get back to the present day trials and troubles.
More Bronze dragons were entering as he exited the passage that led to the Battle of Hyjal timeline, including Chromie, who winked at Nobu'tan as the gnome passed.
Andormu was smiling as Nobu'tan approached, "I sensed the moment that the timeline reverted back to our control, and I congratulate you on succeeding in what we have asked of you. All of Azeroth is safe, past, present, and future, due to your actions, and you have the eternal friendship of the Bronze Dragonflight."
"As long as there is no chance of a relapse of the timelines," Nobu'tan said, eyeing the dragon in Elven form.
"We will be more vigilant, the Infinite will never strike those timelines ever again, but I cannot guarantee that they might not find another way to try and destroy everything we hold dear. We will do what we can, but I trust if the need becomes as dire as it was this time, we can call upon you again to intervene?" Andormu said, tilting his head as he asked.
"Of course." Nobu'tan replied, turning toward the passage that led back up to the surface, "When will I emerge?" he asked, genuinely curious as to how the flow of time outside the caverns worked.
"If all is as it should be, it shouldn't be more than a moment or two after you entered…" Andormu said casually, as though it was common knowledge.
Nobu'tan raised an eyebrow. That was something he wished he had known from the beginning of this journey. Shaking his head at the secretive nature of the Bronze Dragons, he rapped the Staff of Aetish on the sandy ground. Searching through the artifact, he willed it to channel his magic in the same manner that Medievh so effortlessly used it, and transform him into a creature of flight to speed his journey up to the surface.
In a rush of shifting bones and sprouting feathers, Nobu'tan felt himself shrink. Experimentally, he spread his arms, which had changed into Fel-touched raven wings. Understanding the concept from his normal demonic form, Nobu'tan took off with a small hop into the air, and caught a gust of wind from somewhere within the Cavern.
Rushing through the tunnel, Nobu'tan allowed himself to take a small amount of enjoyment in this free experience of flying without any sort of threat or dire need driving him. His personal respites were usually very brief, but this might turn into a habit of clearing his mind in the future. That of course presumed that he was able to keep this particular talent of the Aetish a secret.
Rocketing out of the cavern mouth, Nobu'tan actually felt a change come over him as he returned to time in the present. Sighing, in the means that were capable in his raven form, Nobu'tan found the closest remote area to land and change back to his humanoid shape.
Thanks to his time in the Well of Eternity under the World Tree, technically many years in the past, Nobu'tan felt more than refreshed and filled with ideas for the coming assault on Illidan and the Black Temple. But still, Nobu'tan had a notion of wanting to just relax for a small time, before being forced back into the high stress situation of a wild battle against another powerful foe.
Swinging Aetish, Nobu'tan opened a portal back to Blackrock, stepping through to the war room of the Dark Horde, almost moments after he had left it. The genuine surprise on Lucius' face was testimony to that fact.
"I trust that you had everything you needed before departing…" Lucius said, raising an eyebrow.
"Long story, time travel, returned moments after I left, it really would be too much effort to explain what I just went through…" Nobu'tan said, sitting on his throne and letting out a long sigh, allowing his mind to relax for a moment.
A messenger entered, speaking quietly to Lucius before departing again, and the Pureblood looked equal part amused and annoyed.
"Do I even want to know at this point?" Nobu'tan asked, and Lucius shrugged.
"Nothing concerning, more of an interesting surprise that Yaxley has been working on in secret. I was just informed of it when the clans started assembling for the attack."
"Oh?" Nobu'tan pressed.
"I think it would be best to wait and see what he has in mind, rather than spoil his fun with this little project…" Lucius said, grinning.
Nobu'tan rolled his eyes, too drained mentally to want to deal with the taunting tone of his close friend and ally.
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Teg'Ramm was tired, and covered in both sweat and blood, but at last the hulking, deformed ogre was finished. The power of the Fel pouring through Teg'Ramm sustained him in his physical battle, keeping him at the peak of physical strength even well after he ought to have collapsed in exhaustion. Still, it was starting to feel as though he had been battling for several days on end, rather than mere minutes.
The other ogre was faring far worse, blood flowing into its single eye and one arm hanging at a strange angle, from where Teg'Ramm had broken it.
"You will not defeat the Hand the Gruul!" the ogre said, chest heaving in the effort.
Instead of responding, Teg'Ramm charged again, knocking the other ogre's good arm away, and plunging his Fel-spike claw into the exposed chest cavity, curving upward to pierce as many internal organs as he could.
The lifeblood of the other ogre gushed out of the wound around his arm, and his opponent howled in agony, trying vainly to shove Teg'Ramm away with his good hand.
Twisting the spike hard to the right, and pulling out sharply, Teg'Ramm opened the wound wider, and stepped back as the ogre fell to his knees. Innards were already trying to slip out of the massive gash, and Teg'Ramm knew he had won. There was no surviving that wound without magic, and none of his casters were inclined to lend their aid.
"Gruul will… crush you…" the ogre said, even as he faded into unconsciousness from the overwhelming pain.
Flicking the blood from his claw, Teg'Ramm snorted, "Unlikely…" he said, looking toward his magic users, who were already following the next part of their plan.
Gruul could have been challenged directly, but it would be far easier to turn this lair into his tomb. Warriors came, carrying the supplies that the goblins of earth had supplied them, learned and perfected from their Azerothian cousins.
The explosives would be sufficient to cave-in the entire place, once placed at every support leading down to the chamber beyond this one, and they could bury the mighty Gronn completely.
"Get those charges set up, and then move out. We don't want to alert the creature of our trap before it's too late for him to stop it." Teg'Ramm ordered, already turning with his fighting force to return to the entrance.
From the depths of the cavern, a thundering roar sounded. They all paused, waiting for the sound to subside, and Teg'Ramm had a pang of worry that they might not have the time he needed to set the charges to bury this monster like he wanted.
"Go, I will investigate…" Teg said, even as Ramm muttered spells that would aid him just in case the Gronn was waiting for one of them to approach his chamber.
Moving down the tunnel, Teg'Ramm checked the lines of charges, making sure that they were correctly placed and connected one after another. The fuses, while crude compared to what existed on his and Nobu'tan's homeworld, they would suffice for their purposes.
Looking into the final chamber, Teg'Ramm saw the massive form of Gruul, already looking toward the corridor as though expecting his now dead minions to come attend to him.
"I am Gruul, greatest of gronn!" the creature announced, spotting Teg'Ramm and speaking in a low growl that shook the ground. "This is my land. My mountain! And you will not take them! You go, or end up like children!"
Gazing around at the hundreds of skeletons, Teg'Ramm could understand the fate of those the challenged the massive creature.
"Then we will go…" Teg said, even as Ramm smirked, "You may have some difficulty ruling, however, with your minions now dead…"
Gruul roared, stepping forward with thunderous crashes. "Come… and die!" the Gronn challenged, but Teg'Ramm was not falling for the bait.
"No thank you… I have better things to get to doing, and you're just not a big enough threat anymore…" he said, turning and leaving swiftly.
The gronn roared again, lunging for the tunnel, and Teg'Ramm slipped just out of reach of the massive arm. Departing the cavern swiftly, and knowing that the Dragonkiller was likely hurriedly digging himself out of his lair, he signaled for the mages to ignite the trap.
A pair of ogre magi quickly launched fire at the ends of the fuses, lighting them and setting off the chain reaction. The hissing quickly disappeared back inside, and Teg'Ramm turned away as the first set of charges went off, hurling stone and dirt from the tunnel beyond. Again and again the consecutive sets exploded, triggering continual avalanches of rock to bury the entrance of the cave as well as cave-in the inside of the lair.
A massive roar of rage and pain sounded from within, audible even over the crashing stone and explosions deep inside the mountain. But the cry was quickly cut off, heralding the end of Gruul, and the shattering of the gronn's power in Blade's Edge.
Slowly, the rumbling from within subsided, and the canyon fell into eerie silence. After waiting for any sign that the massive lord of Blade's Edge was still trying to dig himself out, Teg'Ramm relaxed, sudden aware of how sore his body was.
"We need to lay off the Fel infusions…" Teg said, while Ramm chuckled at the humor.
A spark of magic from the sky drew the three eyes upward, just in time to see a messenger soar down. Gently brushing the eye of Kil'rogg with the permanent growth of sickly green claws, both minds of the ogre lord filled with the image and summons of Lord Nobu'tan.
The Lord of the Stormreavers was calling all his forces back to Blackrock, in preparation for their major assault on the fortress to the south, now that all objectives had been defeated in other regions.
Turning, Teg'Ramm sliced a tear in reality with the clawed hand, opening a nether gateway back to Ogri'la. He would report their success of defeating Gruul, and after leaving some of the Balefire ogres to learn and observe the peaceful ogres of the plateau, he would obey the summons of his master.
Teg'Ramm was already looking forward to whatever stratagem that Nobu'tan had concocted to lay siege to the Black Temple.
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Blaise looked out over the strip of land that loomed before the Black Temple.
Despite the job he had been sent to do, and the map he had carefully draw of the most suitable locations for the armies of the Dark Horde to congregate as they laid siege to the massive fortress, there was something bothering him.
There was a small fort on a rise of cliff, right outside the main entrance to the massive ruined stronghold. Despite its prime location as both outpost and guard station, however, the guards there were not looking out for invasions from outside, but seemed as though they were guarding something within.
Fingering his daggers, Blaise thought long and hard as he watched this place, hiding on a tall outcropping from the nearby Fel volcano. Judging from the patterns of the guards, they were growing lax, and would be easy to assassinate without a second thought. The downside to that would be revealing that someone was interesting in the outlying lands from the bastion of power of the one called Illidan, and that would be far more punishing than anything found inside.
Nevertheless, Blaise was finding out what they were hiding here, and if he couldn't kill a soul or demon within, he would have to rely on stealth.
Smirking at the thought of the skills that Garona had shared with him, he merged them with the power of his birthright, slipping into and merging with shadows themselves, skirting along walls and just out of sight of the fires that the Fel orcs huddled around in the cold night.
Delving into a downward staircase he found in one of the few solid structures, Blaise quickly found a secluded corner, and sent a single eye of Kil'rogg ahead of him, scouting the location, and curiously finding it to be a prison of sorts.
There seemed to be only a single prisoner however, and the guards were some race of creatures that the Dark Horde had yet to really investigate. They seemed to be some manner of Draenei, but misshapen and weakened from the Light-oriented beings that habituated Shattrath.
They were also incredibly adept at stealth themselves, and only because of his magic did Blaise keep out of their keen sight.
Exhaling slightly, Blaise allowed himself to merge with the world of shadows briefly, slipping through the solid bars of the prison, and darting out of sight of the guards.
The armored elf woman stalked her cell, anger clear in her steps and breathing, but she whirled as Blaise manifested back to reality.
Holding up his hands, Blaise urged her to keep quiet.
The armored helm turned toward the doorway, and nodded. She slipped closer and spoke softly, "Who are you, and how did you get in here without the Ashtongue discovering you?"
"That doesn't matter at the moment," Blaise replied dismissively, "I need to know who you are, and why they keep you here…"
"Surely the world hasn't forgotten Maiev Shadowsong already…" she whispered hotly, nearly raising her voice, but keeping control of her temper.
Tilting his head, Blaise understood the accent he was hearing as she spoke the common language. "A Night Elf…" Blaise said, nodding, "I apologize, but I have no familiarity with your people, or culture…"
"That tells me little," Maiev said, stalking across the room and back, clearly keeping up appearances for her captors.
"I am part of another group, scouting the area as we prepare to fight the one called Illidan…" Blaise said.
The Elf spat at the sound of the name. "Illidan is the one who put me in here… but it doesn't matter how long I wait. He will not escape my vengeance."
"So what you mean to say is, if we liberate you, you would be willing to fight alongside us to defeat the lord of Outland…" Blaise replied coolly.
Maiev turned and considered him, "I am no ally with orcs of any type," she said sternly.
Blaise raised an eyebrow, daring the woman to consider the situation she was in.
"However, I suppose that at the chance to defeat Illidan, I can make a temporary alliance for the duration of Illidan's reign in Outland." She conceded.
"But that leaves an important question," a third voice said, and Blaise spun around, backing away as one of the mutated Draenei stepped out of a shadow.
"Akama…" Maiev said, looking more irritated than concerned.
"Who is this, then?" the creature said, and Blaise raised his hands defensively, "another enemy of the Betrayer?"
"I represent a powerful force from Azeroth that are coming for the Black Temple, to kill Illidan…" Blaise explained.
"But what afterward? Take the Black Temple for yourselves?" Akama challenged.
"I can guarantee our interests regarding Outland do not contain the Temple itself," Blaise said.
"I, for one, do not trust him…" Akama said.
"Then how long do you plan to wait? Until Illidan dies of old age? Do half-demon Night Elves even have old age?" Blaise said, grinning at his own sarcasm.
"We have little choice, if we want an actual shot at defeating him, and liberating the temple," Maiev said.
"Fine, we will join with you and your army, but the Ashtongue do not obey my orders since Maiev was captured." Akama said.
"It will make little difference, when Lord Nobu'tan and his forces take this position, you will both be liberated." Blaise promised.
"We shall see…" Akama said, and Blaise melded back into shadows, passing back through the barred cage, and retracing his steps to a clear area above ground, and well away from the prison outpost.
Blaise was just thinking of whether that would be sufficient for Lord Nobu'tan, when he felt the flare of Fel magic that indicated an Eye of Kil'rogg was approaching him rapidly.
Draining the memory that was impressed in the eye, Blaise nodded in understanding, willing to obey the call to return and report.
Concentrating, and silently cursing how simple Nobu'tan made it seem, Blaise poured Fel power through him, thinking of the destination he desired. The purple and black rectangle of power ripped open, and Blaise stepped through, breathing hard and already sweating from the last moments of effort.
Straightening and refreshing himself with a wave of his wand, Blaise turned and started from the portal room of Blackrock Mountain, heading upward for the throne room and quarters that Nobu'tan had long ago claimed for himself.
Blaise entered the massive chamber, where the strategy plans were held, to find a near-full group of the Black Harvest, barring Draco, as well as the other various leaders of the Dark Horde gathered.
"Tenebrous, glad for you to join us," Nobu'tan said, gesturing for one of the few remaining seats available, "Your report will be vital for what we have to plan."
"Of course, Grand Warlock," Blaise said, half-bowing as he approached and took his seat between Macnair and Yaxley.
"Now all whom we are waiting for is Voldemort of the Blightbringers," Nobu'tan said, seeming slightly impatient, "and we can begin…"
It took another few minutes, the other starting to chat with each other about mundane things, when the Death Knight finally arrived. But it was not the lateness that was commented upon when he did so, but the ghostly woman that followed in his wake.
Lucius stood, "Bellatrix?" he asked, a mixture of confusion and horror on his face.
"Miss me?" the woman said, still managing to be sinisterly sarcastic even with the chill in her voice of death.
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Nobu'tan did not know who the banshee was in life, nor did he really care about the reactions of those around him.
Voldemort glanced in his direction, "Apologies for our tardiness… was making certain of the completeness of our assignment before returning to Zeth'gor."
"And its status?" Nobu'tan replied.
"Satisfactorily cleared of all resistance," the Death Knight said cryptically, in the code that Nobu'tan had previous devised for those handling the destruction of the Shadow Council.
Beckoning for the undead wizard to take the final seat around the massive table, Nobu'tan turned to address all present. "The time has come, all objectives leading to this very moment. We must march in force upon the Black Temple, and slay the one called Illidan, the Betrayer."
He knew that most at this table did not know the real reason that they were set on this course; that the Legion demanded the death of the traitor, but there were reasons enough for most of them to seek the half-demon Night Elf's death.
"Illidan represents the lion's share of demonic power in all of Outland," Nobu'tan explained, just in case there were any secretly harboring questions, "and eliminating him will do much to free the land of demonic influence, and permit us, from the Hellfire Citadel, to hold the largest military might on the continent."
Turning to the representative of the Shadowmoon Clan, Nobu'tan asked, "Is our asset inside the Black Temple prepared for our arrival?"
The Fel Orc nodded, smirking toothily at the acknowledgement of his clan's involvement. "The Gorefiend is waiting eagerly for your arrival."
"Good," Nobu'tan replied, turning to the goblins, "Are our new weapons read to deal with the defenses of the Temple?"
"They are, Grand Warlock," Urnar affirmed.
"And the clans have all assembled here," Nobu'tan asked, looking across the room as each chieftain nodded. Blightbringers, Blackrock, Dawn's Hammer, Bleeding Hollow, Balefire, Dragonmaw, Shadowmoon, Bonechewer, assorted tribes that now formed the Amani trolls, as well as the assorted forces of the Stormreavers, all nodded and affirmed their readiness to go to war.
Looking to those who had been working on special projects or allies, the Dragonmaw, Yaxley, and Bannok, all nodded that their secret works were ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
"Then, I declare we are at war with the Illidari," Nobu'tan said, making the conflict official. "We will depart through portal to Hellfire Citadel, and march overland to the Shadowmoon Valley."
"My Lord," one of the Bonechewers asked, "Why not portal directly to the base of the Black Temple?"
"Our forces are so large now, that even I cannot effectively open portals sufficient to mobilize them all. Additionally, there is a certain level of demoralization we will capitalize on, in marching openly to battle." Nobu'tan explained, and Yaxley smiled. His project, which the Grand Warlock had finally investigated, was directly related to powerful demoralization tactics.
Nobu'tan didn't understand it personally, but he trusted that the older man had his reasons, and the means of communication without needing to use warlocks would also be of benefit to their swelled ranks.
"What of the Kalimdor Horde and the Alliance," Teg'Ramm asked, "will they interfere with our march?"
"I have it on good authority, that the Alliance is distracted launching an assault on Prince Kael'thas and his forces in the Netherstorm," Nobu'tan said, glancing to where Draco ought to have been.
Missing his right hand for this coming battle was a small blow, but the warlock knew that Draco would want him to proceed without him.
"And the Kalimdor Horde is not in force enough to contend with us alone, even if they were inclined to." Nobu'tan added.
Teg'Ramm nodded, his worry soothed.
A messenger arrived, coming directly to Nobu'tan, "My Lord, Hellfire Citadel is under attack from forces of the Blood Elves…"
"It seems Kael'thas managed to divide his forces enough to strike at us, while still dealing with the coming Alliance assault on Tempest Keep…" Nobu'tan said, frowning.
This would delay their march, but defending their holding was paramount for their grip on Hellfire, and Outland itself.
"My Lord," Nek'rosh said.
Nobu'tan turned.
The Warchief of the Dark Horde leaned forward, "May I suggest we reveal one of our secrets as a prelude to our war, and test the loyalties of our newest ally…"
Nobu'tan smirked. The Dragonmaw had been working hard to train their Felriders since the remaining Black drakes had converted and joined the Dark Horde fully.
"Do it…" he ordered, sharing the dire grin with his Warchief. The Blood Elves would rue the day that they tried to invade the holdings of the Dark Horde.
"Meeting adjourned," Nobu'tan said, tapping the table lightly. "Rally your forces to Hellfire Citadel, and prepare to march, we will deal with this invasion and turn it to our advantage."
