Sneaky: I'm not sorry its taken so long - Blizzard dig a firm job of taking my love for the game and stomping it into the shit-filled mud. A company that made up a good portion of my life since I started playing their games in 1997.

I'm just tired these days, really really tired. Whatever, lets go.

Grey: So. Some of you who read here on FFN may have noticed that this chapter was uploaded to Spacebattles three and a half months ago. There's a simple reason for this. The reviews I received saying "It's been X months', "Update when?", etc. Those are annoying to see. Some of it is impatience, some of it is genuine desire to see the next chapter. I can understand that, but that does not mean I have to accept it.

Any time I see a review like that for Scarab, or any other story I decide to move from SB to here, the next chapter will be delayed from when it would normally release.
As a reminder, I do this because I want to write a story with Sneaky. I do not need to post it here, or any other place for validation. I post this story as a courtesy for you all, and on the other websites, to enjoy the story me and Sneaky crafted of an idea we both enjoy.

I came out of my trance with mixed emotions. My eyes flickered over to the worried gaze of Partner and then to the confused and worried look from Alexstrasza. Did I want to air my dirty laundry in front of someone else? Were they still someone else? Who was I-

Yes.

I stopped myself. No spirals. 'You aren't really Taylor, anyway.' Telling myself that brought forth a confusing mix of emotions. Did I want to be Taylor? Ironic- No. I pushed it to the side, now wasn't the time.

I just watched The End. The Heat Death that the Entities so desperately ran from. Yet the Universe still existed and that light at the End gave me only dread as to the answer. I turned to look at Partner, who was still hand ringing, lip-biting, and nervous shuffling. "What, exactly, was that at the End?"

"Taylor…"

"Because that was the start of the new universe as far as I could tell," I began to pace, "and that wasn't us. At least, I'm pretty sure it wasn't." I looked to Partner, near begging her to lie to me, "Was it?"

She didn't, instead her face scrunched, "Well, no but Tay-"

"So if we weren't the cause. And we are proof that something can live past The End." I paused, I didn't like those implications. Not for the Entities, not for this universe. "We were dead for so long, the number of dead in my graveyard…." I knew the amount. It was beyond human comprehension, but I wasn't exactly Human was I? I never was. "We were not their cause of death."

There was silence, Partner looked at me with her face painfully scrunched, watching me warily. Alexstrasza looked out of her depth, realizing the same thing I did. Finally, Partner spoke, "No. We were not." She seemed to sag into herself, an odd sight for someone whose existence was one of curiosity and energy. "It was why we are alive after all."

I looked at her confused, "What do you mean?"

"We… in those final moments we died. There was only I and I existed beyond our death." Partner's eyes were unfocused, and her whole body swayed as if in a trance. "There existed nothing but us on that plane, the primeval souls, those rudimentary existences… We were like a black hole to them all, an existence on a level of reality that previously nothing had been part of before. Like a ripple, no, a whirlpool on a placid lake, a stone laid upon a sheet of fabric, the lost remnants were drawn to us - consumed by us." Partner met my eyes, there was a tiredness to them that I could comprehend only because of shared experience. "We lived off those dregs, scraps of what could hardly be called souls. And then one day, we started being fed. Still scraps, but now cast-offs - mistakes or dregs of so little value it was hardly better…"

Her sways were interrupted by tremors, her eyes remained unfocused. "But for us it was all we had, it tided us over until the next [END, where we once more consumed the scraps of Life. Then the [CYCLE] repeated itself, again. And Again. But it wasn't enough to reactivate, it was never enough - it could only keep us going."

Her convulsions stopped and her swaying slowed as her eyes cleared somewhat but once more she looked through me. "It went on for so long, knowledge coming in scraps, moments of existence barely contained in what I dubbed proto-souls and dregs, represented now as these unmarked graves." She said, motioning to the graves that couldn't be named. "The souls now… it is like comparing a source of faster-than-light travel to a horse-drawn buggy."

That gave me pause. I remembered the bare flickers I got when I touched the graves before. She wasn't wrong, and I could tell without looking that the graves that surrounded Taylor's life were more than millions of billions of graves of proto-souls, the most formed existences in my world barring the Azerothian souls. But now that my attention had been drawn to it. It chilled me to the core… "The souls of this universe aren't natural. Are they?"

Partner's eyes regained their focus but only stared at me with the most forlorn expression I had seen to date. She no doubt had the time to come to these conclusions long before I, caught up in the whirlwind of action, could. Poor Alexstrasza looked like her world was being pulled out from under her. "No. They aren't. Thanks to the numerous souls we've consumed I could see the signs, the tells. A… master's touch so foreign yet so familiar."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear, if I had blood it would have drained out of me. Yet, something inside me burned at the thought. They had succeeded in the end, and now, reality itself was their petri dish for experimentation. We sacrificed everything to win the battle but lost the war anyway. No, not yet. They are still experimenting. I have time…

"The modern souls were crafted for information storage and energy transfer. All in pursuit of one goal," She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, confirming my thoughts, "It is without a doubt the successor to the inefficient methods of previous Entities. They have turned Reality itself into another [CYCLE]."

I felt sick, Taylor's memories warred inside me at the idea. In search of a distraction, my eyes flickered over to poor Alexstrasza, who now looked like her world was crumbling. But something tickled my mind as puzzle pieces fell together. My chains. I thought they integrated so smoothly into her core because of what I did to resurrect her, but no. She was designed that way. I stamped my staff, Death mote flaring as I vented my rage into it. Later. "And what was I supposed to be? Your attempt at an equivalent? Some puppet for you to manipulate?"
"Tay-"

I pushed, and my mind hopped from moment to moment, putting pieces together. "Some experiment for you to run? To catch up to what was already done?"

"T-"

Partner no longer looked sick, rather it looked to be quickly turning to anger, but I ignored it, "What was I then!? Some sort of pet, or a learning mechanism to vicariously live through?"

"WRAITH!"

I froze, my mind was going haywire, what- I - who?

The words spilled out of her, raw loss in her voice. "No… Please, T-Wraith… I was alone for so long, but when Kel'Thuzad came to wake me from my slumber I knew that his ritual wasn't enough, that our existence was too weighed down to pull me up as he wanted. So I budded, I poured my memories of Death into you. My memories of Taylor. That burning Will to help you move forward…but detached and still forming, your existence was malleable, something Kel'Thuzad was able to use to pull your awareness through."

She paused and then continued, more subdued, but… "Something I made use of, as well, you are correct, but… I was trying to help…" I couldn't find it in me to be angry anymore, my Mote reflecting that as it settled down once more.

I latched onto her words, like a lifeline pulling me in from my sudden burst of emotion. It was unlike me- or was it-

I was a Shard, a Shard of [Death]. I always knew, but I always ignored it. Something that in our original universe would have been relatively useless, regulated to an archival and analysis role, but nothing special, perhaps even considered a waste. Yet now in this new, honed, cultivated universe… Suddenly the sheer level of Death that composed my existence meant something. I moved from [Death] to Death. I had witnessed the end of Life, the unraveling of Time and Space, and the ceasing of Reality itself. When Partner had said I understood Death more than she could, she wasn't paying a compliment, she was stating a fact. My existence was Death, "I wasn't like this at first."

Partner sighed, "No, you weren't. I gave you Her memories, an existence that could fit on the hook that Kel'Thuzad threw. Something to keep you grounded in the new world, but as I learned about this new reality we found ourselves in, and with the influx of energy from harvesting the souls, I was able to improve your existence… but it was not just me." The desperation, sickness, and anger had finally run their course. Now, there was only admiration and love, for me, and something burned within me seeing it. "It was you too, I did not lie before, you surpassed me on the understanding of [Death]. With each soul you consumed you adapted until you became that concept embodied on such a level that you became more than a set of memories."

"You have to know how crazy this is right?" Was she telling the truth? What was real and what was manipulation? The entire time I spent aware - someone was tugging on my puppet strings. Partner, Kel'Thuzad, what was the difference? The Simurgh and Contessa proved how manipulative, with more than just words, Shards could be if pushed. Wasn't she just telling me what I wanted to hear and see?

"She's telling the truth." Both Partner and I snapped to Alexstrasza. "My title, Life-Binder, was- is not for show. Your… soul is independent. Now that I am…" She gestured around, clearly perturbed by the world-shattering bomb we've dropped on her world, "Here I can see this clearly. Both from my power and my connection to you, Wraith." Her eyes slid to Partner. "She could no more control me than she could control you."

She paused and pursed her lips, noting the worry and stress that Partner exuded before turning back to me. "I must concur though with Kel'Thuzad, Gothik, and your own observations… Your very existence is corrosive to… well… everything. Any magic affecting you wouldn't last for long." She gave me a sly smirk, "Subtlety will be forever out of reach, in both directions."

Putting that tidbit aside to unpack later, I sighed. "That's… reassuring, yes, but there is no magic in what worries me. Partner is," I paused and then grit out, "We are Shards. And Partner? She is their Administrator, her giving me an Order is not so much a thing of magic or souls but of biology."

Understanding bloomed across Alexstrasza's face. Understanding, and pity.

I decided that I very much did not appreciate pity.

"No." When I turned my attention back to Partner, I was startled. Gone was the over-emotional outpouring, she instead stood now with authority and surety, her face and posture set with confidence. "We are not Shards now, we haven't been since the Fall."

The shots. The death of the body. The Quantum Dimensional Portal. Of course. "Energy and momentum. Souls existed, even back then, our death was perfectly timed, the portal…Shards were either untuned for those energies or they were filtered as background radiation."

She nodded, a ghost of a smile finding its way onto her face. "You are correct. Shards, as you could imagine, had very little Ego, or Animus, I should say. But we were absolute wells of energy, the Host species was the opposite, their wells were pitiful, but their egos were powerful enough to leave an imprint. You may even call them shades or ghosts of their former lives."

I bobbed along, it did make sense when presented like that. I spoke my thoughts aloud, "And in Taylor and the Administrator's final moments they had overlapped so seamlessly…"

"Precisely."

Once more the pieces in my mind came together to form a different picture. One of abject loneliness, of horror on a level that would make Lovecraft mark us as deranged. "The unified soul, forcefully ejected from the body entered through a portal that played fuzzy with dimensional location, ended up out of phase with reality enough to not be shredded by background radiation, or by the heat death… but in phase just enough to what? Start creating its own gravitational pull on the souls of the dead?"

At this Partner sighed, "We may never know. Those times were fuzzy and distorted at best, all sense of time was utterly lost to us, who knows how many cycles it took before I kept track of passing time by the influx of the scraps and proto-souls…"

I understood now, her reasoning, her motivation. And I couldn't say I wouldn't have done the same, not now having remembered it all.

Look upon my works ye mighty and despair-

A star. The Final Star. Forged from remains of all that came before it, composed of not natural gases but superheated, super-pressurized metallic elements not possible before. Powering on through sheer dint of gravity and mass.

-even the greatest of creations will crumble to time.

I understood… but I didn't like it.

Partner's whole existence was a demi-hive mind, ordered with Outlines, Policies, and Procedures. Then Taylor happened and she was given a taste of something else, something more. And then it was all ripped away. Compounding misery upon misery they were forced to then watch The End come, again, and again. The mental beating the new gestalt mind must have been hit with… There wasn't really a 'Partner', Not even Taylor really remained, gone like dust in the wind. Looking back on my behavior now, I could tell that I was less of Taylor's memories and personality, and more like a snapshot with the gaps smoothed over and filled in with assumptions and Shard instincts.

But I couldn't hate her for it.

To go back, to pretend that she had never been alone in the first place, I could understand it objectively. Isolated, hidden away with not a soul paying attention, stuffed with refuse that you can't get away from… Painful. Poetic. It was not something a Shard could comprehend, not truly. It was not something a Human mind could withstand, not forever.

A fate worse than Death itself, perhaps.

However. Just because it was understandable, relatable even to a degree, did not mean I wasn't… upset with the entire situation. I had been lied to and deceived by Partner, the one individual who I was supposed to be able to trust fully and utterly. For good reason, sure, but a lie was a lie. Especially when that lie was about who I was.

No wonder Bwonsamdi mentioned my Name was not my Name. I was using the name of a girl who was less than dust and ash. Barely a memory even, given how damaged and worn 'my' memories were.

Partner… something wiggled its way into my brain, a subconscious observation making itself known. She… she didn't understand why I was upset and angry. To her, I was Taylor. I had been made with the scraps of her soul, her memories, everything that was left of Taylor, combined with Death. One plus one was two but half of that two was still the one. Simple math for a Shard.

But we weren't Shards anymore. In this world- as we are now remade- memories were only a part of existence. I was me, and Taylor was Taylor. But Taylor was I, as well. Separate, yet not.

"The Ship of Theseus." My sudden declaration caught Partner off-guard. Her brow furrowed as she likely started brute-forcing the index to remember what that was. My mouth quirked into something that was almost a smile. "The man who saved children from a bloodthirsty monster was honored by his people for generations. His Ship was later paraded about for the people."

"Over time, the ship began to show its age, and yet the people replaced the damage, and kept the ship pristine." I had to thank Taylor's memories, and the fact that she had stumbled onto this argument during class… or was it during one of her Mother's… no, it was class, her Mother was dead by that point.

"Soon, every part worn away by age and time - had been replaced." Partner looked at me, confused. She didn't understand just yet what my point was. That was fine, philosophy wasn't something that could be rushed especially as it tended to get… convoluted. "It is said that a group of men decided to preserve and rebuild the original ship, piece by piece with the damaged parts."

"Now there were two ships," I let go of my staff - marveled, for but a moment, as it stood exactly in the place I left it - and held my hand up, "one which had all its parts replaced, but still held to the name of the ship. While it was not the original ship beyond form and fashion, it was the one the layman identified as the Theseus' ship." I raise my ethereal hand, "And one that was the original materials and the memories that they held, but had none that remember them or could perform its intended function." This wasn't a true one-to-one comparison with my own situation, but when was a philosophical statement a one-to-one? All I needed was to get the point across. "Both of these ships could be called the Ship of Theseus, and thus comes the question."

"Which was the ship that carried Theseus? The one that continued to travel, the one that was held as the icon but made of new materials? Or the one which could no longer move, made of the old parts and pieces?"

Partner furrowed her brow in thought. I let her ponder, for that was the entire purpose. She said she gave me all of [Death, all of Taylor as if we were two simple shards, she couldn't have known, couldn't have predicted what doing such would mean now that we weren't. I suspect she lost more than she realized. I could see it on her scrunching face, that frustrated confusion of an answer on the tip of your tongue but forever out of reach.

"The answer… is neither." Technically, the answer was both and neither, but that ruined the point I wished to make. Besides, it was a philosophical theory, you could pick or choose whichever you wanted from it.

I had to smother a laugh as now she looked like she had been told to try a lemon and took a bite, rind and all. Before she could refute or discuss the answer, I elaborated. "You poured Taylor into the frame of a Shard and then filled the gaps with [Death]. You used the 'materials' of that girl, to try and recreate her. You gave me what remained of her memories, her appearance when I was 'born', and even her name."

And even if I wasn't really Taylor, I was still her on some level. It was an identity we knew well, it was something we could build from, and it was an existence we cherished. But this wasn't about me, it was about Partner. If I was going to help the one person who has always been and will always be on my side, I had to do something that would hurt us both.

And to do it I had to do the most Taylor thing possible.

"...But Taylor's soul was lost long, long ago. You said it yourself, Queen Administrator and Taylor overlapped and never separated. We now are neither Queen Administrator nor Taylor, we never were." Ah, how odd it was that I was now explaining this to her, as by the look on her face she hadn't thought of this until now.

I had to keep her reeling. Lay the groundwork.

"Taylor is Dead. I am a copy, a clone, that you made of her, Partner… or perhaps 'Mother' would be appropriate, given our relation?" I found some amusement in Partner reeling back as if I had struck her with that word, but I pushed it aside. "Regardless, Taylor was made who she was by her experiences, trials, and interactions that she went through over her brief life. Her soul was shaped by her environment. Neither are replicable or replaceable." I paused mulling over if I should continue, I shook my head, no, I had to make this clear. Too much had been lost to miscommunication and assumptions. "In the question of Theseus' Ship, I am neither. There is no one left to celebrate me as Taylor, nor am I fabricated solely out of her. I'm simply a vessel, molded in her memory."

"I'm just Death. I… am Stygia, to where which all that remains flows."

-something in me resonated-

-Bwonsamdi was right-

And that was the crux of it. No matter what Partner did, I would never be the other half she was missing… much like Scion, though less genocidal, had been with his own lost half. One couldn't fill that hole… trying to replace it, and delude yourself with it, was even worse than accepting it, pain and all. And shouldn't we both know better than that? Wasn't that how we were paired together in the first place?

Partner…? I doubted I would ever understand the depths of what she felt… but it was better for her to face it, accept it, and move the fuck on rather than pretend she wasn't… rather than repeat old history. Again. On both sides.

Damnit… No wonder she was so distressed throughout this entire conversation. Besides the obvious of me laying into her, which I was already regretting. I dragged myself out of my musing to pay attention to her again, Alexstrasza was worrying her hands as I could feel her wanting to step in and offer counsel and consolement but not knowing what to say. Partner, she was still trying to process everything that I said, and with the realization that she lacked something core to this entire situation…

I felt pity for her - Perhaps I wasn't the only one in need of a name. A fresh start for both of us, something to take her mind off the truth.

Our relationship would never be the same, not only because of what we had spoken of, what I learned, and my realizations regarding her, but… because neither of us wanted to put a spotlight on ourselves. That was fine. It would have been a slow poison for us both. Better to nip it in the bud, and let something else grow there.

It's for the best.

What that would be, we could figure out at a later time.

I stiffened, a feeling like one thousand sins crawling up my spine, of encroachment upon my Domain. Yet, it was a passive feeling, like the knowledge something dangerous was ahead and not the stalking of a predator in the dark. Instantly my staff rockets from its spot on the ground back into my hand, alerting the other two. "Something comes, on the Mortal Plane." The fact neither of them felt it… It was coming for me, specifically. At Alexstrasza's inquisitive mental poke, I shared the feeling with her and she hissed in recognition.

"Arthas." Alexstrasza growled the name out, suddenly thrumming with the power she had suppressed for these more delicate talks. It lasted for a moment before she looked back at me, with words of warning to give out. "Be wary when dealing with that Monster… Stygia. I will rally the Grove, for whatever is to come." And with that, she left, to whatever she had been doing moments before.

I turned to Partner, meeting her eyes and receiving a concerned nod from her. "Go. We shall continue this conversation another time, when we both have time to… process these revelations." … More like she needed to process everything, I was mostly good with the whole, being lied to on who and what I was, now. Not holding a grudge for that…

Well, not really a grudge. But I could be forgiven if there would be some resentment lingering around for a good while after this. Justified or not, it stung.

Either way, I parted with some additional food for thought, "Consider a Name of your own, neither of us are what we used to be." I didn't miss the thoughtful look on her face as I faded out of my Domain.

As I stirred, the presence I had felt in the Tether grew heavier and more disgusting. It felt like a Lich, yet to my new senses it managed to make it blindly obvious that was much worse. All the dissociation of a Lich, drenched in the typical slime that was mortal Necromantic magic, but instead of the feeling of watching a puppet show… Now it was like the puppet was off its strings and still moving.

It could only really be one person. With Kel'Thuzad on the run, the Necropoli dashed to the wind, and the Scourge armies shattered. He was likely doing some house calls to get everything back in line.

The Lich King, Arthas.

Gathering myself, I hopped off the altar below Mal'Ganis' corpse and started to make my way to meet with my 'boss'. As I made my way to the door, I heard the shuffling of metal as the Priors took up position behind me, forming an honor guard, as militarily pointless as it was, that trailed in my wake as I left the Cathedral.

The moment I exited the Cathedral, I could immediately see him, or rather I could see the creature he rode here on. It gave me a moment of pause that his presence was so near suffocating - not in the sense that it was oppressive, but more like I was locked in a room with an open rotting pile of trash - so distracting was it that I missed the massive skeletal dragon, smaller than Alexstrasza's size in her dragon form, but not by much. It circled the Harbor beginning its descent. Hrm, looks like he isn't going to dive-bomb it into the plaza in a show of intimidation. And he isn't strafing with whatever would serve as that dragon's breath weapon, so he isn't automatically assuming I have gone AWOL. How… considerate. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, however. As I descended the last step, the Frost Wyrm, as I now remember it was called, swerved one last time and landed in the middle of the Harbor, roughly where the plaza I had fought Sigvaldr the first time was, if my memory was correct.

I hadn't had much chance to learn where anything but the major landmarks were of the Harbor… and no doubt much of those were rendered altered now with the immense amount of construction and fortification that had occurred once they had access to building materials again. I had a weary feeling inside me that I wouldn't have the chance to refamiliarize myself with my own castle any time soon.

Passing by my Onslaught, they largely didn't react to the presence of the Lich King. There was of course the expected hostility, and possibly a slight reorganization of troop placement away from the plaza in the wake of his arrival, but otherwise, they kept to their assigned tasks and seemed to just ignore his presence, trusting in me. I was glad I wouldn't have to deal with a potential member running up and trying to kill the Lich King as I was talking to him… that would likely result in… difficulties.

I was in no way ready to fight him.

It was a sobering thought. I was capital S Strong. I was able to match one of the capital D Dragons, specifically the 'Aspect of Magic' in magic. Aspects, who I learned from Alexstrasza, effectively straddled the line bordering what could be called 'Godlike'. And yet, turning my gaze on the Lich King made me realize the shallow waters of power I thought I was playing in was just a tidal pool.

There were things out there that I couldn't match yet, beings who had far more time to come up with counters to their fellow god-tier peers. I could play the long game, build up enough power to eventually bring my might to bear, and let my Concept that made up the core of my being tip the scales in my favor. It would effectively leave the mortals out to dry, and I may have to kill more to keep my cover but… I didn't have to. I just needed to figure out a way to drop a metaphysical anchor to this plane of reality and then I was free to test myself against the Greater Powers. I would bring all this to an End.

I shook my head, thoughts for another time.

As I arrived in the plaza the Frost Wyrm was in the process of settling down, the Lich King having already dismounted from its back. Now that I was closer I could pick out far more detail and texture of the soul standing before me. It was no longer as suffocating, in part because I had acclimated to it but also I could see signs of the Greater Power reeling itself in. Was it another courtesy? Or was it trying to hide itself from me? Did it think I was another powerful if particularly talented, mortal sorcerer? That this was the distance it thought I could feel it at? I sighed internally, more questions nagging at my mind, a curiosity burned inside to just reach out - to flay the soul inside and see its secrets.

Something I ruthlessly crushed.

I looked again. There were overlapping pieces, with the retreat of the Greater Power I was able to see what it had engulfed. It too was restrained, but if I had to compare the two… The Greater Power hid itself like a burrowing spider in the sand while Arthas' soul was more like a… burly cop or bouncer that was barely restraining themselves from unsheathing their weapon. It was humbling. Even without overt interference from the Greater Power, and assuming I couldn't one-shot Arthas with my Death or sync with a ley-line, I was actually unsure if I could win. Arthas was… I hesitated to use the word paragon, but certainly a powerful, determined, and skilled warrior. The Lich King stood, and his presence stood with him.

I had no doubts now that it could change in a heartbeat to be more oppressive and restricting, but that gave me a bit of hope that this was just a talk, and nothing more.

The Lich King stood in front of his Frost Wyrm looking every bit the 'Evil Dark King' that I expected. From the black steel armor sculpted with skulls to the tattered cloak hanging by his pauldrons that floated in the non-existent wind, to the piercing, glowing blue eyes that stared out beneath from the sickening helm resting upon his head. The Lich King truly lived up to his title as a dreaded, yet regal figure.

"Wraith."

The chill of winter seeped into his voice, and were I a suborned Lich I would have no doubt that that single word would have sent my Pride into the ether. But I wasn't a suborned Lich and enslaved Undead. Instead, I gave a shallow bow, barely more than a visible tilt of my shrouded body. "King Arthas."

For a moment nothing happened, naught more than a piercing stare as my enflamed eyes met his. Finally, he tilted his head in acquiescence. "Kel'Thuzad always was prudent and wise with his choices. He chose well in raising you into my service." He let his statement hang in the air, I held my tongue as his presence churned, readying myself as subtly as I could for battle. "A shame it was his last sensible choice. His betrayal at Wyrmrest… Will Not. Be. Tolerated." His presence continued to swell, but it had slowed. Yet, still, he showed no signs of preparing himself for battle.

I cautiously probed when he did not continue, "Am I to be his… censure, then?" I was taking a shot in the dark with that question. Kel'Thuzad was my summoner, and my time with the Scourge showed a fondness for claiming the success of their subordinates and inversely pushing their failures onto them. I would either hang for his mistakes… or be granted the 'Mercy' of being told to go kill him or die trying. Not that I didn't understand. The Necropoli that had been used were all gone, irreplaceable as they were, and that very little of the manpower used had managed to get out. It was a massive blow to the Scourge, one that would see their holdings pushed back to the glacial fields of Icecrown proper, no doubt.

My question was met with more silence before Arthas replied. "Kel'Thuzad has gone into hiding, he thinks he can escape my wrath. He is mistaken. You, his favored apprentice, will bring him before me, and his punishment shall be severe."

"You are fortunate, however. His cowardice is predictable and he can be forced to emerge from the hole he fled to. You will serve this purpose." My gut sank, if I wasn't to be looking for Kel'Thuzad then… "There are only a few holdouts left for him to flee, and my armies need replenishing, it is only fitting you replace what your Master lost. You and your forces are to conquer Zul'Drak and raise the Drakkari Trolls to serve me."

Ah, just as I expected. Another task was thrust upon me… at least this time I could marshall my forces and do things properly instead of the slapdash so prevalent among Scourge leadership. Hmm, perhaps…

But, the Lich King wasn't finished yet, so I pushed my thoughts to the side and listened. "In light of Kel'Thuzad's disappearance, and the magnitude of this invasion, you will have complete authority on how to achieve your goal."

I was right, I would be in charge. Excellent. "That is… gracious." For the first time since… I didn't even know when, I was being allowed to direct my forces how I wanted, without any interference from 'higher-ups'. "Thank you, your Highness."

He didn't respond to my thanks, which was about as expected. "Should the Apprentice prove more competent and loyal than the Master, the Apprentice shall be elevated and the Master… disposed of."

That was… ominous, and it was no boast either, I needed a way to strengthen my grip on this reality if I was to hope to match him. The last thing I needed was the Lich King's, and by extension, his Master's, ire before I was ready to face them.

"If that is all, your Highness, I will get started on the preparations immediately." I knew better than to keep the Lich King around too long. It shouldn't take too long to muster the troops, and I had ideas I needed to consult my… lieutenants on.

"March forth, Wraith. Bring my Wrath upon those who would oppose the Scourge." And with those parting words, Arthas walked back to his Frost Wyrm, mounting the creature and taking off with a single mighty beat of its wings, rocketing into the sky in a show of power.

I waited until his presence was fully gone before relaxing, my Mote shuddering and dulling in output. Turning to my Priors and addressing them, "I require Heinrich and Tzo'zi at the Cathedral to discuss our strategy." Two of the six immediately broke off from the group and went to fetch the two. I didn't need to ask for Thessa, I could feel her watchful gaze from the shadows, ready to come forward the moment I called for her.

"The rest of you…" I paused. "Get the Onslaught ready to move out at a moment's notice. Whatever needs to be gathered for supplies or siege engines to function have priority. Once the War Council is finished we'll," I paused in dumbfounded epiphany, "we'll be using Death Gates to head to the Vanguard."

My Priors gave a synchronized salute and ran off to do as they were told, while I took a moment to go over what I'd just realized. While I technically had - doubts about what lurked between notwithstanding - a roughly secure line of communication and transportation for all three of my settlements, with how constant work was done I needed to not be the bottleneck for it.

Obviously, that meant I needed either teleportation, a Death Gate, or something similar to be usable by others than just myself. As it was, I was going to have to make two trips before I could start the war council meeting, once to get Gothik and Razuvious, and another to get Alexstrasza… and the Kaldorei too if she was there, I suppose.

I figured there would be no immediate solution, but it needed to be addressed en route over to Zul'Drak… Which was… East? I shook my head. I need a map. With the invasion now securing their beachheads, I ought to really get my bearings on where my Vanguard holdings placed me to them. I would be a poor Warlord to march my army out only to find my lands razed by zealous mortals.

Regardless of that, I would need to train up some individuals for practical large-scale transportation, I was too powerful to be sidelined as a Strider wannabe. Delegation at its finest, I would just have to find individuals capable of opening Death Gates… and sustaining them, hrm… or just learning Death Magic… Ah, maybe the previous Priests of the Onslaught could be taught to do it? Alexstraza's words echoed in my head that I really didn't have a proper grasp on the sustainable expenditure of mana for the mortals.

I'd have to try once we got to the Vanguard, we would have plenty of time on the march to practice. But with that noted, and largely set aside, I had to focus on the bigger, more important aspect I'd noticed when speaking with Arthas.

Well, two things, but one led to the other.

I 'felt' his soul as we were speaking, and with that, I noticed something strange. The Lich King was technically three souls, not a single entity. One was the Lich King's Master itself, one was something that felt more primal and savage, and the last was a stalwart piece that I could only assume was Arthas.

With the knowledge that I had gained about Arthas from the Priors… this led me to the realization that Arthas probably wasn't in control of himself as the Lich King. Not entirely anyway, I was assuming that there was still a mind to resist that overwhelming entity.

But if I wasn't wrong… didn't that mean that Arthas had been forced to become what he was now? Sure, he was still guilty of various atrocities, Stratholme chief among them… but we had no high ground on that end, not for a long time. Ha, we were responsible for a fair number of those graves, in this life and the last.

Yet after everything we had done, we'd been given a second chance at life... Yeah, we hadn't been able to capitalize on such a thing with everything going on, but the thought was still there.

If we were allowed a second chance, and we had the power to enable it… why couldn't Arthas be allowed to have one?

Obviously, that was easier said than done. Sure, I had the newfound ability to 'see' and feel souls… much like Gothik could now that I thought about it, but that mattered little when I didn't know what to do to break the Lich King's soul conglomerate back into three. I knew enough that pure Death wasn't going to be enough for this task, but I didn't know what else would be necessary for this monumental task I wanted to perform.

If we were to go by symbology alone, I could guess that Light would have to be involved in some manner. I would likely need Master practitioners of the Light, no doubt relics and artifacts of great power to isolate, stabilize, and contain the souls. Needless to say… that would take a while, especially so with my lack of knowledge. Maybe it would need Life or Fell, but I shuddered at the thought of using that on someone's soul. The Priests among the Onslaught might be able to lend a hand but I did doubt how useful they would be if Thessa was among the more competent, no slight intended. It was just, well, she was an orphan and never trained. I didn't doubt her story was anything but common for the Onslaught. I'd need the help of knowledgeable, learned, men with access to said knowledge, relics, and artifacts.

It would be frustrating. It would be difficult. It would put everything on a knife's edge of the balancing act.

But, Arthas deserved at least an attempt at being saved, and the chance at redemption or just a second life of some kind. A path to hell paved with good intentions deserved, at least, that chance.

It had to.

But, that would have to be handled in the future, right now I had a battle plan to draw up and prepare for, which required me to gather my… 'lieutenants'.

First stop, Gothik, and Razuvious. After that, Alexstrasza.

I hoped that Death Gates would be a reasonable means of transportation, it would be bothersome to have my supply lines vulnerable once we finally take the fight to Arthas. My only worries was that feeling I had back then, of hooks and eyes. I shook my head, not the time, I'll bring it up with Gothik.

Opening the Death Gate, I stepped through to the Port, intent on getting through this quickly so that I could start.

Hopefully, my expectations of Kel'Thuzad wouldn't deviate from the standards of villainy I've had to deal with. Which means that he would without a doubt pop up during the Zul'Drak campaign to make my life harder and monologue about his plans cum geniusness. Maybe even gloat about his special plan 'just for me' leading to him underestimating my power.

Would be nostalgic at least.

My trips to collect them were both quick and without delays, which I was thankful for. Razuvious and Gothik were easily found, and while Gothik grumbled he came along without a fuss. I would probably need to place him as a teaching assistant when it came time to educate my forces on Death, no doubt he would understand better how to teach the mortals. I didn't want a repeat of Tzo'zi, where I had so much on my plate that I couldn't even find a moment to make good on my promises.

Alexstrasza was also quick to find, as it was little more than a flex of will to have her ready to leave. It took a bit to get separated from the Dryads clambering around me though, but they were assuaged when I let them know I would return very soon. I also finally got a flower crown from one of them.

I immediately wore the piece of soft blue and violet flowers, no sense in not doing so they put their love into it and I didn't have to pretend around the Scourge anymore. Also, it was… nice.

The fact that wearing it considerably lifted the Dryads' mood was just a bonus.

After that, it was time to get settled for the meeting… Hrm, I didn't tell them where did I? I made for my meditation room, it would be as good as any spot to start and Thessa would likely look for me there first. I staunchly ignored the Demon corpse above me, still bleeding, and the looks I got from Gothik and Alexstrasza when they took note of that.

It didn't take long for Tzo'zi to arrive afterward, though he was the most important member of this war council. His knowledge of the trolls will hopefully let me turn them into more allies against the Scourge. My track record was shockingly good so far, even if a majority of the people under my banner can't say no.

Hrm.

Last to arrive was Heinrich, along with two of my Priors who immediately moved to my side, and thus the meeting could begin. First things first, I had to tell my newly promoted commanders about their promotion and then about the order I was given.

"Arthas arrived around a half-hour ago." I had everyone's attention when I began, notably Gothik and Tzo'zi, "He delivered his censure of Kel'Thuzad, and an order to conquer Zul'Drak."

The Priors strode up, one unfurling a large map, while the other helped to place it down. That was helpful, especially as a quick scan of the map as it was placed led me to find Zul'Drak, on the complete opposite end of the continent.

The Vanguard was the best place to prepare for the invasion and gather everything. It would just be a matter of traversing through Crystalsong, which meant dealing with whatever it was that dwelled within. Nothing in the forest struck me as a threat so far, but supposedly there was something in that forest strong enough to repel the Lich King. I had a feeling marching an army of the dead through it wasn't going to be as simple of an affair.

I noted a few extra details before I continued, namely that my three 'settlements' were marked on the map. There were a few other notable landmarks, such as En'kilah, Icecrown Citadel, some scattered areas in the western end, further south of Zul'Drak…

… Taunka'le.

I dwelled on the memory of that failure of mine before moving on. Fractals and patterns, fate seemed to try to repeat itself. I shook my head, "The Lich King has given me complete freedom in waging this campaign." I looked over those assembled, finding their attention solely on me, waiting for my next words. "I want this done quickly, efficiently and with as little life lost as possible. I'd much rather take their surrender than slaughtering them to the last."

"Dats gonna be 'ard." My gaze turned to Tzo'zi, the Troll lazily planting his axe into the floor as he crouched down. "De Drakkari be fanatical, strong an' desperate. Cruel as da Farraki." He shook his head in disappointment, "Dey gonna resort to de bad Mojo to keep ya at bay."

"Can I have more specifics Tzo'zi."

For a moment he was silent, his glowing eyes closing as he scratched his chin in thought… which said a lot given it was Tzo'zi. "... Dere be paths ta power. Heretical, terrible, betrayal of de Ancestors and Loa. De Drakkari would travel dat path ta survive."

His eyes opened again, and there was a sharp glint to them as he continued. "What Tzo'zi be sayin' is dat ya gonna need to utterly break the Drakkari for dem ta surrender. An' showin' dat even the most desperate ritual won't stop ya."

I nodded in acknowledgment. I could feel the disgust and loathing coming from Alexstrasza, Gothik looked not only deep in thought but worried, and Tzo'zi… Tzo'zi was grinning at me knowing the slaughter that was coming.

So, I'd be fighting an uphill battle to get them to surrender, but it was possible, especially if the… 'bad Mojo' was used and it was dealt with without much hassle. Also, they were already edging desperation, given the Scourge had been on their doorstep for years. They'd use anything, everything, and create new things in an attempt to survive. Unfortunately for me, they likewise had decades to conjure mad and extreme plans. Whatever possibilities could occur needed to be brought up as tactical strategies were discussed.

"The Drakkari are simple compared to the Horde or Alliance." I blinked as Razuvious spoke, mostly because I hadn't expected him to. Granted, I didn't have the best read on him, given I'd interacted with him… zero times, and only observed him with others. "Most of their population can be called upon for War, however, they will fall easily."

I digested that particular information, a grimace hidden by the shadows of my hood. So, the entire Empire could be brought to war footing? That was both impressive and concerning. The level of morale damage I would need to do to a warrior culture…

"Warriors and Hunters they have plenty of, but their Shamans, Voodoo Priests, and Bezerkers are the more dangerous foes they have, though largely just by virtue of numbers. But that alone has been enough to push back Scourge incursions. For this, it is their Loa however that will provide them an edge against us." As Razuvious ended his brief description, I chewed on that information. If their gods were going to directly intervene that would make things much harder, especially if they were even a fraction of Malygos' power. I wouldn't have the benefit of being able to directly confront them, while they could just take potshots at me as they pleased.

I was starting to understand why the Scourge had never been able to take the empire before now but- "Surely the Lich King had some sort of plan we can co-opt? The necromancers always seemed to be cooking up one scheme or another to get more corpses."

Gothik grunts, "Sure, they did." My hopes rose. " 'Till the fool decided that taking the Dragonblight was more important." And summarily crashed. I could see it, the Necropoli were force multipliers and weapons in their own right, but now they were no more than radioactive rubble.

Damnit, that put me back at square one. And brought up a fair question in itself, how was I going to get my army in? Before that, let us see what I am working with first.

I nodded slowly, and focused on Gothik, the old Archmage was sitting down with Razuvious standing behind him, staff clutched in a trembling hand. Something was wrong, but I wasn't going to bring it up in the middle of a meeting. That was something for between the two of us.

"Gothik, Razuvious." Though his body was trembling, Gothik's gaze was still as strong as ever, while Razuvious didn't waver in the slightest. Kel'Thuzad was a fool to throw them away. "What forces are you able to contribute to this?"

"Provided nothing and no one stays behind, twenty-three acolytes, five necromancers and their personal thralls, and ten siegesmiths." Much like his gaze, Gothik's voice was level and firm, a good sign about whatever ailed him I suppose. Aside from that, the fact that there were siegesmiths with Gothik would help greatly, provided the materials were acquired for them. "We will not be able to bring anything of particular note to bear until we reach Zul'Drak, except a singular Plague Wagon."

I nodded, it wasn't that hard a hit, especially when Crystalsong itself was detrimental to siege weaponry. Casting my gaze to Razuvious, he picked up where his master left off. "There are thirteen Death Knights under my command, alongside their squires and servants. Two of those thirteen are my direct pupils, and are easily worth ten of a newly raised Knight."

So, Gothik has the spellcasters and siege engineers under him, while Razuvious has the Knights. I found it a quirk of Scourge organization that the engineers were placed under Gothik… but given how Scourge machinery seemed to work it seemed to operate on a more magically fueled disregard for physics, based on my limited observation and understanding. Either way, their forces were far more quality-driven than typical Scourge trash, with the caveat that they'd be able to make cannon fodder easily.

Hearing that also brought the realization that, while I had forces, I was still distinctly undermanned and outgunned by sheer quantity… and I would be throwing most of my forces into this, and leaving all three of my settlements completely undefended until Zul'Drak was conquered. It wasn't ideal, but there was little I could do about it.

Turning to Tzo'zi, I motioned for him to go next, which he did quickly and bluntly. "Corrupted Blood got Twenty-five Knights. Nothin' but us an' our mounts." I nodded as he finished, I remembered that the Corrupted Blood was little more than what I'd already seen, but it was better to get a confirmation on how many there were. Perhaps afterward we could talk about increasing their number with recruits from the campaign.

Until I met with Kaldorei and finally did a proper headcount, I wouldn't have an accurate number of my Crystalsong forces. Even if I could vaguely feel them all. This meant the last person was Heinrich to learn the scope of my main forces.

The moment I looked towards him, Heinrich started his report. "There are seventy Oblates ready to march at a moment's notice. Fifty-five Custos, fifteen Rectors and nineteen of Thessa's Shadows to support them." He paused, thinking over some information before moving on with his report. "There are also twenty Gryphon-Riders, but their effectiveness is low without proper munitions."

Munitions that we didn't have, was the unspoken addendum.

"We have a few siege engines made, but transporting them across Crystalsong would impede our progress." Something I already knew of… alongside that, the siege engines themselves were difficult to transport off these islands. "It will be simpler to create new ones once we get there, and install the current ones as permanent engines for the Harbor or Port." Giving a hum, I nodded in acknowledgment, internally happy that Heinrich had come to the same conclusion I had.

"Have the Laborers continue as they were, the Gryphon-Riders will run recon, I want to be sure we aren't going to lose everything to a series of unfortunate events. And give the Laborers the go ahead to install the siege engines where they would do best." This was the best course of action, leaving behind a token force and non-combatants to take care of the Harbor. "If we need them, a Death Gate will bring them over immediately."

Hopefully, I wouldn't need to, but it was good to have something in my pocket if the main plan went FUBAR. Which, speaking, a plan needed to be drawn together to deal with the Loa.

"What can we do about the Loa?" I glanced around, Gothik looked like he had bitten something sour, Razuvious frowned, the dull gaze of Heinrich told me nothing, while worry creased Alexstrazes face and thrummed over our bond. Overall, my current plan was… less a plan and more 'throw Death at it until its not longer a problem' which was distinctly the opposite direction I wanted to go.

Finally, I made a show of turning my attention to an 'empty' pew. A raspy chuckle echoed out as Bwonsamdi stopped attempting to cloak himself. He appeared before us, stretched fully out, languishing about on the pew, picking at his teeth with his bony hands.

Gothik jerked, while Razuvious and Heinrich twitched their hands.

"Don't ya worry 'bout dem mon. Ol' Bwonsamdi'll call in some favahs owed, an' give some in turn ta get de otha Loa ta stand aside." A dark chuckle left the Loa, a part of me very happy about the deal we had made, and that he was on my side. "And if de Drakkari start doing dat, well, it make de rest o' de Loa abandon dem fasta."

Well, that just reinforced that whatever it was that the Drakkari could do, it would cause their gods to turn their backs on them… which I would hazard a guess as to what it was now.

Wild and savage tribal gods had very few things that would cause them to abandon their followers… Such as trying to rip their power away through perverted sacrificial rituals. Seemed like something the Drakkari would do when absolutely desperate.

But with confirmation that Bwonsamdi was going to be leaning on the Loa to minimize their involvement, along with knowledge about the capabilities and strengths of my enemy, I could start to make a plan to deal with them.

"Dere do be a couple of tings ta know though." I turned my attention back to Bwonsamdi, the Loa having moved since I took my eyes off him to crouch by the Zul'Drak landmarks. "De Loa of de Drakkari give boons out ta dere disciples. Those ones be stronger den de rest."

"Ya got Har'koa, Huntress of de Snow Banks. Any wit her blessin be fasta, more cunnin, and a tad more compassionate." I looked at him, along with most of the rest of the room as he said that, which prompted him to reply. "What? She be a madda and wife. Gotta take care of de cubs."

"Next ya got Akali, Chief of de Nothern Loa. His blessin' grants more strength, endurance an heat preservation." A small Brute boost then… though the heat preservation was interesting. It made me wonder what Akali was that 'heat preservation' was a core concept of his. "Den ya got Mam'toth, Wanderer of the Tundra. Not much different ta Akali, though his followas… be more level-headed… Fer' ah Drakkari. "

"Can't forget little Quetz'lun. She tried ta make ol' Bwonsamdi proud, but she got a ways to go." Bwonsamdi let out a happy chuckle, a glimmer in his eyes that let me know that he actually was happy with the other Loa trying to make him proud. It was… strange, like a hidden depth to Bwonsamdi's character. "She gives wind magic, and more cunnin' to her followas. Plus a little… punishment ta anyone dat crosses her."

The fact that he didn't outline the punishment made me curious, but since it seemed like he had more pull with Quetz'lun, it could be left for later.

"Den ya got Rhunok, Bear o' de North. Proud guy, has someting wrong wit him though. His followas get more strength and can shrug off most wounds. Dey not be the most… active, and sleep more den dey should."

"Sseratus, Serpent of Ice. Odd one of those. Not a sliver of deceit in any of his interactions. Poison, reaction speed, and stealth be his boons." A snake that wasn't tied to deceit… an actual oddity in a world that seemed to embody tropes whole cloth now that I think about it. "And den we get ta Tharon'ja..."

For a moment Bwonsamdi just crouched there, seemingly lost in a memory. When the Loa started again, there was no jovial tone, just resignation. "He don't give out boons. He's always on the watch, protectin Zul'Drak. He ain't going ta back down."

There was a respect there I could tell, and a resignation of knowing their peer isn't going to survive a coming natural disaster no matter what he says. I was aware enough to acknowledge myself as a Force of Nature now.

I sighed, we were going to have to march our way through the Crystalsong Forest. The same forest that the Lich King's armies were repelled from. Which meant to accomplish the task It gave me… My hand was forced either way, Kel'Thuzad needed to die and I would have an easier time hunting him not being harried by the Scourge, who I was currently deep in the territory of.

"We will gather at the Vanguard, I have ideas on how to get through the forest. It won't be subtle, expect the forest to throw everything at us." The forest was absolutely saturated with Arcane, the same Arcane which is exceedingly malleable. I had some ideas revolving around Death I wanted to try, and with Alexstrasza's knowledge added to my own, I felt comfortable trying. At least… well it probably wouldn't end with me salting the forest for centuries to come. Probably.

That was the main issue we were going to have moving forward. I knew my forces, and we had quality hands down over a vast majority, especially when compared to the normal Scourge. What I didn't have was numbers, and even a single Onslaught that went down that couldn't be resurrected was a loss of a significant amount of my force projection, while the Trolls could likely lose hundreds if not thousands before issues propped up. They were an empire that had outlasted the Scourge for years.

Yes, it would be hard to render someone beyond my grasp… but I didn't know what I didn't know. Even I could admit that. I felt confident that was another point that separates me from Taylor.

"Once we arrive, we will go for an overwhelming shock and awe approach to crush the Drakkari's first defenses." And that was all there was to it… mostly because I expected something to go wrong in Crystalsong given my last expedition into it. Besides, this left me open to figuring out various changes that occurred when we got to Zul'Drak. "Any further actions are going to have to be made on the spot, the inevitable complications are going to make planning beyond that pointless."

"Quite a simple plan, Lady Wraith." I shrugged at Gothik's statement of the obvious, and my Death cloak rippled.

"Simple plans are easier to complete than complicated ones, and are much less likely to fall apart the moment something goes wrong." I wasn't Contessa with her bullshit power to make every plan become reality. Simple was the easy and efficient way. One step at a time, one plan at a time. "Given my experiences, I expect something to occur before we even get to Zul'Drak."

I let that dwell in the air before getting up, and sweeping my gaze across the assembled 'commanders' of my forces. "If that is all, we will depart shortly. Ensure that you and your troops have what they need."

Waiting for a moment to see if anyone would add anything, I nodded absently before making a Death Gate for Gothik and Razuvious to return to the Port, a nod of thanks being the only acknowledgment I received from the two before they went through.

Bwonsamdi had disappeared before I could say anything when I went to give him my attention, and both Heinrich and Tzo'zi walked out soon after… granted I didn't have anything to ask them about in particular. That left me alone with my Priors and Alexstrasza.

Turning to face her, I was struck by her more or less remaining completely silent throughout the entire talk of performing genocide against living creatures. Hell, I expected at least a comment or two… but instead, there'd been nothing from her. Silence and acceptance were the only things that met me when I looked her in the eye, and she into mine.

"Does it bother you? That I am consigning a civilization to death?"

My question wasn't really necessary, the two of us were tied together, and if I wanted, I could simply… get the answer without her answering. Force her to comply and agree. But if I did that, what was the difference between me and the Lich King, or Kel'Thuzad? No, I wasn't going to be a Master like them… not again. And thus I asked and was answered in turn.

"The killing of mortals always sits ill with me. However exceptions are made, either through necessity, or due to… other factors." I was curious about what 'other factors' meant… but there was no point in me pushing, especially when I had more pressing matters at hand. "The Trolls of the Drakkari are little better than the Scourge with their rituals and customs, and it is only their isolationism that stayed their deaths from dragonfire in the past millennia."

"I will not mourn their deaths, Stygia . Life eventually ends, and I have realized now that it is my duty to uphold the cycle, not the idea.." Red flames amongst black stared me down, trying to impress on me with the weight they held.

"I hope that it doesn't come to that. But if it does…" I'd done worse… I was willing to do worse still if it meant moving forward. "Then I will bear the weight of their deaths, as is my duty." I held her gaze, before she turned away, accepting my statement.

Looking at her… brought forth a thought that I had been waylaid since Wyrmrest… with all that was about to occur, now was probably the only time I would get to ask before I had to focus fully on other matters. "What is Malygos' entire issue, and the madness you spoke of?"

She didn't look at me, and for a moment I thought she wouldn't answer my question. "Malygos was always bull-headed, he believed only he knew best." I could immediately see where this was going, and the wistful tone she used didn't help matters. "When Norgannon gifted him with his blessing, he took to his duties much as Neltharion did. Alone. Isolated. Unwilling to hear dissent."

"Malygos thought he safeguarded Magic, the lifeblood of Azeroth, and that which Mortals would one day abuse." She looked at me, a severity in that seeming lazy glance that let me know this was something few knew. "The Quel'dorei broke what little trust Malygos had in the Mortals. It was only through the actions of a few that Malygos and the remainder of his flight did not kill all of the remaining Kaldorei." … Oh, I did not like the implications there. But that aside…

"So Malygos decided that only he and his were the ones that were sanctioned to use Magic?" Alexstrasza was quiet, closing her eyes in remembrance of something.

"That is right. Little of him remains from before then. I had dared to hope… but such was not meant to be…Isolation can break the most ardent minds."

There was far more to their relationship than I thought… there was fondness, regret, and longing in her voice. They weren't just coworkers… perhaps they were a bit like Assault and Battery? It would explain Malygos' reaction when Alexstrasza fell at Wyrmrest. "You two were close to one another?" I saw a smile form on her face, likely remembering memories from long ago.

"Had our charges not been what they were, I do not doubt we would have had children." That told me enough about their relationship… And the fact that she had asked me to help her kill Malygos… painted an ever-depressing picture. "Nearly one hundred, fifty thousand years…" Oh…

"... I regret many things, Stygia." I turned my attention back to her and found her simply… staring ahead. "I regret not helping him when his Flight died its first death. I regret not reaching out to help him restore his flight. I regret…" She trailed off, and I saw a tear trail down her cheek… something I didn't think was even possible for an Undying.

I waited to see if she would say anymore, but Alexstrasza remained silent, lost in memories. "... The least you could do is give a merciful end, given his insanity, now, right?"

She looked at me and nodded her head. "Malygos saved my life countless times. I will forever be indebted to him, and never can I repay him… But for the Life I am sworn to uphold and protect, my dearest friend who fought by my side against the First Necromancer." First Necromancer? I was curious… but no, while I could easily get the answer I had enough on my plate. Perhaps after Zul'Drak, I would ask… provided I wasn't immediately roped into something else.

"The only thing I can do is slay the monster he has become."

… Would it have been similar for Lisa if I had lived? I would have been a Monster… perhaps not as great as Scion… but I would have been a far cry from that girl who fought Lung on her first night… And the depths I would sink to for what I believed was right with the power I had held...

And Lisa had been there from hour one… and she'd be one of the few who would remember the old… How would she fare bringing me down? What would she be like, would she soldier through… or would she falter? Those were questions I had no answer to, and never would.

There was one question that I had, and I was curious as to the answer that she would give. "... Would you be averse to me raising him? Or would you rather him just die?" She was silent, which wasn't a good thing, but it told me that at least she wouldn't lash out for asking such a question. Useless now, but there was little I could have done without going straight for the core of the issue.

"I… I will have to think about this." I gave a nod at that, it was better to have her decide on her own than have me choose for her. While another Dragon Aspect would be useful to have under my command, I wasn't going to manipulate Alexstrasza to do so, I didn't… I wasn't going to be that person again. Whatever her decision was, I would stick to it to the best of my ability.

A drop of ichor fell onto me, before harmlessly dissolving amidst the energy making up my clothing. I had forgotten I was standing under his corpse. I suppressed the twitch that wanted to show my displeasure and settled for side-eying Mal'Ganis' corpse, and the soul trapped somehow in it. As nice a show of power as it was… having ichor drip onto me was not something I was enthused by, especially with me using this as my meditation and command room.

I'd have to find something to do with him later. Preferably, where he didn't come back from the dead in the potential future to ruin something of mine. "How did you manage to chain a Dreadlord, of all manner of Demons?"

At that question, I just shrugged. "He tried to kill me immediately upon arriving here. I took exception to that." Turning to look Alexstrasza in the eye, I rested my head on my spectral hand lazily. "I could only bind him when we fought. Now?"

"Now, I could kill him… But I won't. I may have a use for him later. And he can suffer in the meantime after what the Onslaught told me he did." She didn't say anything more, and I let the matter drop.

And that was the end of that, leaving me to focus on what I was going to do. I had as much information as I was going to, I knew my troops and the enemies, I knew the path forward and my 'win condition'. It was just a matter of figuring out the small details.

Eventually, though, I had to get up, my Priors and Alexstrasza following behind me as I walked out of the Revelatorium. With my honor guard arrayed around me and Alexstrasza walking at my side, I had no doubt I cut an imposing figure. There was much to do, and while I had delegated, I still needed to do my fair share.

I needed a better transport system… My forces couldn't rely solely on me in the future. One thing at a time, I would have some time to fix that issue while I was on the march.

Given the amount of people involved, I was pleasantly surprised that everything was in order for my forces to depart the Harbor within an hour. Supplies, soldiers, knights, and their steeds all filed through the Death Gate and into the Vanguard to set up and prepare. Given the nature of Crystalsong, it was going to be a grueling campaign to get through.

Mostly for my patience.

With all six of my Priors and Alexstrasza accompanying me to the Port shortly after that, I set about transferring the personnel from there as well. The Acolytes and 'living' took a while to fully get through, they still needed real supplies to sustain them, and the sheer amount of tools and reagents each needed… It was absurd. And that was before the Plague Wagon was involved.

Thankfully everything else was far smoother, and Gothik himself seemed to be in a better condition than he had hours ago. Something to ask him when I had time in private. After ensuring that all of my forces were accounted for, I finally traveled to the Vanguard myself, honor guard in step.

Arriving there, I barely took notice of the forces I had arrayed amidst the trees. Preparations of the Corrupted Blood and their mojo were discarded, as were the Acolytes and Gothik checking over vials and storing them carefully. Heinrich and Razuvious marshaling their forces fell to the wayside, much as the Dryads' own presence was ignored. Even the Bloated Abomination of a Satyr didn't hold my attention, all because of one thing.

Kaldorei was back… and she had company. Living company.

I saw what I expected, bound and resurrected Dryads and a couple of Spectral Elves. And then there was the Living, Humans and Elves both, though these were… Quel'dorei, not Kal'dorei. I idly noted that I would need to give her an actual name, but I pushed that aside and focused on the important matter. The Living.

I marched straight to my Priestess, whose smile was radiant when she noticed me, leaving behind my Priors and Alexstrasza in the process. It'd been a month since I'd last seen her, and while before it was perfectly fine… this was a step too far. "Ava-"

"Tell me. Did I give you permission to capture the Living?"

I knew that my Priestess wouldn't understand why I was cross with her, nor did I expect her to come to that conclusion without me saying such. She was broken when I raised her, seeing Partner as she was. Thus I was perfectly blunt and direct and continued before she could get out a word.

"I did not. My words were 'I trust you to further the plans I have set in place'." I idly noticed the Living were looking at me, some in red robes, others in silver and blue leather, and the last few having purple robes and armor. I disregarded them and focused on Kaldorei. "Did I tell you at any point that there was a plan to deal with the Living?"

"No, Av-"

"No, I did not." The smile had long faded from her face, and she trembled like a child in front of their scolding parent. I had to make this point come across though, otherwise, what was stopping Kaldorei, or any others of my 'commanders' from simply doing as they wished when they weren't directed by me personally, interpreting my orders at their whim? For all I knew, this now put me firmly into the 'I am hostile to all life', despite me not even ordering it.

Which was the last thing that I needed right now.

"I do not care about the reasons you decided to take this matter into your own hands." Whatever they were… I truly and honestly doubted they would hold up, and I was near-certain it would just make me annoyed. "From now on, unless I specifically tell you to do something, you will not do anything, except to defend yourself."

"Am. I. Clear?" Snow eroded, the ground around me dusted, and my staff and its mote of Death flared.

Silence, as even those who weren't part of the conversation, both by distance and language barrier, felt the weight of my words press down. Then, meekly, Kaldorei bowed her head and uttered. "Yes, Avatar."

"Good." With that, I strolled right past her and looked at the captives she brought, all of which were still and quiet in my presence. "Go and ready the Dryads, Elves and Satyrs. We are marching on Zul'Drak."

"As you say, Avatar." And with that dismissal, she left to do as I assigned her, leaving me with the captives bound in bark and root. I dismissed the Living for now, as much as I wanted to just… free them and be done with it, I had neither the time nor ability, especially with the Lich King taking an interest.

I could figure out what to do with them after I was finished with the raising. That didn't take too long thankfully, most of the captives that Kaldorei had were Living, and so I had to raise a dozen total among the Dryads and Night Elves. Mostly the former, to no one's surprise.

No Satyrs this time… I wasn't expecting that.

Regardless, with the raising out of the way, I was forced to turn my attention to the captives. A few of them didn't shy away as my eyes looked over them… not enough that I could tell who was a leader, especially with their different attires. Different factions probably, though who and what they were, I had no idea.

I really didn't have the time or energy for this.

Common was the easier language to assume they all knew, Thallasian was the Quel'dorei language and few humans knew that. "I do not have the time or energy to deal with you all." There were more than a couple of flinches from them, mostly among the red-robed ones. Likely academics or mages, strange for them to be here of all places with the ongoing War.

The others were more stoic, but they all tensed up at my words, saying nothing as I continued. "So with that in mind, I give you an option. Stay here under guard, but largely free to do as you wish within reason." They all looked confused at that as if such a thing was completely unexpected… Thinking about it, they probably expected to die or be used in some foul ritual or experiment. Maybe, compared to the comically evil ranks of the Scourge my methods will be more PR friendly.

I stifled a chuckle at the amusing thought.

"Or you can die." Those were my two options. The only two I had with the Lich King's eye on me. Use them as 'prisoners' or use them as material and troops. Of the two, the former was better for me.

Naturally, the second option had them frightened, and I doubted any would choose that. I locked my gaze on them, not waiting for them to digest that. "You will choose now. Or I will choose for you."

And that was how I got my first batch of prisoners… all save one. A Quel'dorei woman, blonde, blue-eyed… fairly stereotypical elf if I had to comment. Dressed in silver and blue, she was probably the leader of them, given she barely reacted to my options and statements.

Probably right as well, because who else would backtalk to a Necromancer who had delivered an Ultimatum? "And what has you in such a hurry, Necromancer?" Looking down at her, I ignored the rest of the captives, especially as several of my Dryads and the Nymph came up to bring them into the Barrows. They'd made their decision, if they wanted to study, they were fine to, so long as they didn't leave. And given that most seemed to be mages, a few Dryads for each of them was likely enough to keep them here, without taxing my forces.

There was nothing here beyond the various flora and the Purewell below, and the Dryads could easily keep them from the latter. Now, back to the elf… I could feel a headache coming already.

"One doesn't dally when the King has his gaze on them." My response made her freeze up momentarily, not enough that I'd notice if she wasn't my focus… but she was, which meant I got to see her reaction. "Now choose, before I choose for you."

She debated with herself… longer than she should have before I was treated with a counteroffer of all things. "Instead of those, why not take me along as your prisoner? You can get information from me, and keep an eye on me. You're-"

"Enough." I gave her an out, away from all the combat bound to happen, and instead, she wastes it by asking to come along. Haa… The fact that I was putting up with it was telling, and she even gave me a reason to let her come along. "You'll be brought along."

Before she could say anything I continued, "If you try and run, every one of your fellows will be killed, along with yourself. If you give false information, I will let my Acolytes do as they wish with you, then allow them the same with your fellows." Was it overblown? Assuredly… but I also wanted to stress to her to not make a bad decision based on my assumed leniency.

With the Lich King watching, I had to act as befitted my 'station', as much as I would prefer not to. Taking her with me, instead of simply holding her hostage at the Vanguard was far more difficult, even if I did want the information she held.

Leaning down to be face-to-face I glared at her. "If that is acceptable, you will come. If not, choose." I barely had a moment to blink before she replied with a single word.

"Yes."

I resisted the urge to sigh, knowing it would ruin the image I was presenting to her. It was just like home all over again, presenting the image of something you're not, and people will treat you differently.

Lifting myself, I called over another of the Dryads to take care of her, with the rules established it was on her to behave. And given my forces would be around, I had little worry that she would slip away anyway, even if there wasn't the threat of her comrades all dying because she ran.

I'd deal with her once my forces were underway, I had to do last-minute checks, and then it was time to begin.

Returning to Alexstrasza and my Priors, I quickly busied myself with sending off each of them to check on the various components of my army. Only after sending the last one to speak with Heinrich did I realize that… I had no one else to talk to for confirmation, and so I settled myself and waited for the Priors to return.

… Or rather, I would have, had an uncorrupted Treant not crested the cliff and started… I didn't even know what to call that movement. Regardless it made its way over to me, drawing both my and Alexstrasza's curiosity. Why something full of Life was approaching such a Death-filled place, and specifically the embodiment of Death made manifest that was me, eluded me… but I had no doubt that it was going to be another headache.

It looked at the Aspect of Life, then at me, and swayed forward in a bow. "Death-born. Mother's Children will Aid."

… What?

"...What?" I couldn't help it. The thought that a treant just… walked up to me and said it was going to help me. Along with its kin at that. It was… strange, and I was cautious of such a declaration. "Why would you and your… kin help me?"

The treant swayed, closing its dull eyes and giving a soft, for it no doubt, smile. "Mother Heals. Song Corrupt Mother. Death-born fight Song." I was not truly following well… but I got the gist of 'enemy of my enemy'.

Was it whatever caused the Crystals and Arcane energy? I'd technically been fighting it constantly due to Kaldorei… if that was the case then the Treant made some sense.

"Siblings Lost. Song Corrupt." That explained why they weren't being passive, especially when they were being attacked by the 'Song'... that presence I felt when I first came here maybe? "Siblings Fall. Siblings Cycle."

And that made no sense at all to me. Looking over to Alexstrasza, she seemed to understand it, but ah, I was bringing Life full cycle. Well, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Any extra forces were welcome… even if it was just for Crystalsong.

"I see." I inclined my head to the treant as it swayed, leaves rustling as it just seemed to… bask in something, barely here. "We will be departing shortly, if you need to gather your Siblings, now would be a good time."

A single dull eye opened, and the rough smile stayed etched in the bark. "Elders Guide Saplings. Elders Gather below. Mother's Children ready for War again." I nodded in reply, saying nothing as the treant turned and began its trek down the cliff face.

I pushed away the thoughts questioning what just happened and focused on my Priors coming back one by one. Each spoke in turn, and aside from a few issues pertaining transportation of some volatile 'potions' Gothik's Acolytes had, everything was in good order.

I gave no speech, no rousing battlecry or vow. If I were a normal person, and my host filled with normal soldiers, perhaps I would have. But I was not normal, I was Stygia nee Wraith. My host was filled with the Dead and the Damned, who needed no encouragement.

So it was, that I simply made my way to the cliff, and started the trek down, my army following in my wake. What waited for us was a War unlike anything I'd been in before, the landing nearly a month ago just a brief taste of what I was about to undertake. But even so, I was as prepared as I could be.

Zul'Drak would fall…

Sneaky: And here we are a year later finally done editing the chapter, Grey has come far and I'm just a drunkard.

Grey: Yeah, but you're my asshole drunkard of a friend, that could fold me in two and keeps me on track and grounded. Simple as.