Strands of Fate Chapter 3: Enemies in the Darkness (Open RP)

[Theotaz]

The messenger arrived at the Al'shar lo Dor'ano headquarters in Stormwind just after sunset. The watch commander was called to recieve the package. It had the Ravenholt seal apon it. The Officer took it into his office and opened the package. In it were two reports and a letter with three seal apon it. Horde, Nyx, and one other the captain was unfamiliar with.

The first report detailed a raid by some minor guild apon the horde towns of Crossroads, and Razor Hill. Apparently the alliance guild had the bad luck to raid while the Nyx guild had been on manuvers in the area. The alliance attack had shattered under the constantly growing horde military presence as the Nyx forces had gotten word in the field and manuvered to cross roads. A large but potent force at split away and done sever damage to the small town of Razor Hill. When the nyx field force had caught up to them they'd been slaughtered to a man.

The second report detailed the same Nyx force executing a lighting vengence strike into Auberdine, and thence into Darnassus where the bank area, and the military training area had benn hit hard. An alliance general had been taken prisoner and questioned in the field. An unlooked for responce of a command group of Al'shar forces along with a smattering of Kingship troops, and others including the infamous No Mercy Mafia had responded. The Nyx force had apparently called it good and slipped out of the area with light casualties.

The Captain hesitated for a moment before snapping open the seals on the letter. Once he eyes widened in shock as he read the letter.

"My dear Commander's Liekos and Tindr, and the Lady Baast;

While I have no doubt that the attack on Darnassus was a bit of a shock to your forces today it was not directed againt the Al'shar but against an alliance force that was tracked leaving Darnassus late afternoon. They stormed into the Barrens and thence into Duratan causing rather severe damage to two of our settlements. The lighting raid we launched was in reply to these provocitive acts. As always under the enlightened and humane command of our Lady of Shadows, we made every effort to keep actuall casualties at a minimum. In this we fullfilled our orders as best we could. Your guild is held in great respect with the alliance. I would suggest that you riegn in your brethern, and see if a stop can be put to these constantly provocitive actions. Our reponse was a minimum force response. The entire military force of Nyx was training in the field at the time of these attacks. Be thankfull. We could have easily burned Darnassus to its roots had we come against the city with our full strength. You know well the Darnassus's defences are minimal at best. The Night Elves are too heavily committed in to many places for it to be otherwise. My agent Kheliosrham was sent to laison with your people so that this sort of misunderstanding could be prevented in the future. Why you rejected this overture I cannot begine to understand. I refuse to give up on any chance for peace between Horde and Alliance. The threat to this entire world posed by Arthus, and by extension the Burning Legion cannot be ignored for much longer. Our reports show that the forces of this so called Lich King in Northrend that we have seen are but a handfull of the army at his command. Look into the ice at icecrown far to the north. His host is held within the Ice untill he calls them forth. Ask the Death Knights in your service. They will confirm the existance of this frozen army. I have serious doubts at this time of the survival of either the Allaince of the Horde if the current state of affairs continues as is.

I invite the Al'shar to send one of thier own. If you choose to do so, that person will be under my personal protection at all times. They may not have full leave to come and go in Horde territories but within Nyx holdings they will be at thier liberty at all times. They will see what we see, They will know what we know. And they will be told if something is being hidden from them.

Kheliosrham was sent because it was belived you would honor and respect the courage she displayed by coming before you. I suppose I should be thankfull she was able to return at all as she is my foster daughter. Some matter need to be resolved between
the Al'shar and Nyx. I pray to the spirits of the ancestors, and to the light as revealed to the peoples and races of the Horde by the Na'ruu that our two guilds can find a way. Not just for our guilds, but for the people of Azeroth as a whole. If we cannot, I fear we are all doomed. If not in our life time, then in that of our children.

In service to the Lady Nyx, In service to the greater Light.
Theotaz, Death Knight of the Horde"


The Captian carefully folded the letter, turned and locked it into the dispatch safe in his office.

"Orderly, where is Commanders Leikos and Tindr?" "Sir! Commander Tindr is away on a mission to Darnassus, the Lady Baast and others are in his company. I do not know where Commander Leikos currently is." "Damd!" The captain exclaimed slamming a fist to the top of his desk. "Sir?", "Never mind, It out of both my pay grade and yours." Send runners to all outposts and command requesting thier presence with all dispatch apon reciept of this message. Put my name on it. Go man! I belive time is of the essence!"

The captain stood up from his desk eyeballing the dispatch safe as if it were about to to burst into flames. In some ways it allready had. He considered calling the Orderly back and coutermanding his orders, taking the reports and letters and destroying. He shook his head at his own foolishness. Tindr would be displeased, but Tindr always seemed displeased. He heard the sounds of several horses leaving the compound at a run, their riders screaming to make way as they pressed through the cities crowds. He called the Sergent of the Guard to hold post while he made his way into the command head quarters proper. Others close in needed to be informed.

[Leikos Darkwood]

*Following the interrogation of Crusader Leothiel*

Leikos sat in the Stormwind Park in quiet contemplation. The interrogation of Crusader Leothiel had not gone as expected. He had wished to hear more solid reasons for what had so far transpired. All that they had been able to cover were jumbled up answers about Old Gods and the likes. There was till question about the runes that had been found upon the Nyxians, and that had now begun to affect Andenel and others. Leothiel had seemed in pain for the interrogation. Though, little was inflicted upon him.

Many of his answers had brought a rush of different emotions from the Al’shar present. Gothyelk had been angered by the Sin’dorei’s answers, causing him to lash out several times, despite his peaceful nature. Ghebast had felt the interrogation had little merit and that they had been mistreating Leothiel. The ever agitated Kasim had believed Leothiel to be a general waste of time. There were a number of others that had varying feelings towards the situation. Baast had been the most outspoken of them all, once again allowing her emotions to best her and outright speaking out against her brethren.

Tindr had carried himself well, which was to be expected. Leikos knew what Tindr wanted to do with Leothiel. Most understood Tindr’s abilities to be adept to say the least. Few knew Tindr to be a masterful tactician. Some even knew Tindr to the extent of always achieving his goals. Yet, Leikos knew Tindr better than anybody. They were like brothers. Tindr was not an individual to be trifled with. He was fiercely protective of his friends and his people. He knew Tindr would likely have killed Leothiel while extracting information from him.

Nevertheless, Leikos had promised safety for compliance. Leothiel had held up his part of the bargain and Leikos had held back his interrogators. There had been a few outbursts, and Leothiel was undoubtedly uncomfortable, but no long term harm had come to him. There had been an instance when Leikos had left the interrogation in hopes of reaching Andenel. He had been so adamant about finding out his location that he had failed to notice Vendil slip by him. Vendil, his brother, he was a loose cannon. He had favored results over all else. Now, as a scourgeborn, his inhibitions seemed fainter, if ever he had any.

He had lashed out at Leothiel. Tindr had stopped him before any real harm could become of him. He had departed angrily. He had passed Leikos without even acknowledging him. Leikos had returned to the group with no word from Andenel, which had concerned him. It was unlike Andenel to not be present for something so important. His council was important in such times. It left Leikos to make the decision to cease the questioning. Leothiel had requested to be allowed to write a letter, to which Leikos had agreed to so long as it was drafted by Arielah, cousin of Asarelah of Nyx.

She had been crucial in the night’s happenings. Without her, the interrogation would have been for nothing. Leothiel’s thick Thalassian accent was far too difficult to understand. She had translated for the Al’shar, to which Leikos had be grateful. She quickly drafted the letter to Nyx then sealed it and departed to deliver it. The Al’shar dispersed and Leothiel was escorted back to the Stockades by his Shadowleaf guard detail.

Tindr and Leikos were left alone in the Easter Headquarters.

“I need a drink.” Tindr had said.

Leikos had patted him on the shoulder, “Come on, I’ll buy you a round.”

The two old friends had headed off to the Blue Recluse and chatted for a bit then parted ways. Now Leikos was alone once again, contemplating every angle, every possibility. He felt the puzzle forming around him. Things were falling into place. The question now was who was it that was piecing this puzzle together and why?

[Leikos Darkwood]

*The morning after the attack on Darnassus*

It was always unnerving to see Darnassus in such a state. The serine and peaceful city was never a place of war but of peace. Alliance came from all corners of Azeroth to meditate, reflect, and pray. The temple gardens were quiet, the city tiers were beautiful, and the waters of the city were gentle. Seeing it in such a state would fill anyone who held it in high regard with anger and Leikos was no exception.

He marched, armed and in full armor, down the roads and bridges surveying the damages and causalities. Three Shadowleaf Sentinels, part of the detachment from Feathermoon, flanked him. Numerous times he had pleaded that the city be allowed to reinforce its defenses and double the guards. He had even gone as far as requesting a regiment of Sentinels be placed at both Auberdine and Rut’theran. That would have halted any Horde force attempting to gain access to the home of the Kaldorei. So many of their own were off fighting the wars throughout Azeroth and many had remained in Outland to see to the world’s restructuring. The High Priestess had refused.

She had smiled at Leikos and touched him on the shoulder, “This is a place of peace, Warden Darkwood. We are not the walled city of Stormwind or the mountain clad city of Ironforge. We must show that our belief that peace can endure, no matter what come against us.”

Today the dream of peace seemed to be a foolish one. The fact of the matter was Leikos was no longer feeling very peaceful. As he made his way through the aftermath, he saw an overly grand figure walking about with a line of druids behind him. It was Staghelm. He and his covenant were walking about giving token blessings and light healing spells from what Leikos could tell. Their eyes met. A sly smirk appeared upon the Arch-druid’s face. He looked around then back to Leikos and spread his hands. Leikos understood what he had meant. He had simply nodded to the self appointed Arch-druid and turned his direction towards Al’shar Western Headquarters.

“One of these days I’ll see that sly smirk wiped off the arrogant clouts face.” Leikos thought to himself.

He couldn’t help but feel the self appointed Arch-druid might actually be right, for once. He knocked hard upon the massive door and waited. A moment later it creaked open. Several Al’shar agents had been present. One presented himself immediately to Leikos. He was normally found at the Eastern Headquarters.

“Commander Darkwood,” the agent saluted, “This letter was delivered just this morning. It was addressed to you, Runeguard Thornleif, and Scout Swifhoof. You are the first to be found.”

Leikos took the letter and headed up to the second tier of the building. He headed over to his desk and sat. As he scanned over the seal he recognized it immediately. The rogue Khelio had worn the seal upon her armor. It was the mark of House Theotaz…

[Arielah Trueheart]

Arielah did her best to hide her tears during the interrogation of her Cousin’s friend. Asarelah had come to her, not an hour before the prisoner had been transferred to Al’shar headquarters, ordering Arie to tell what she knew of Ambassador Frosthawk’s whereabouts. But the young Druid had flatly refused, and she was still terribly shaken by that encounter.



“I am where I am because you asked me to be here, Cousin. I shan’t betray any confidence when it’s you, and you alone, that has placed me in this position!!” Arielah had stood her ground in the face of her Cousin’s terrible wrath, and not budged an inch.

“Cousin, there is more at stake here than just your dignity. I have been ordered by Lady Nyx to forgo any Diplomatic solutions. My hands are tied, don’t you see? I can’t even let it be known that I came here in the first place. I am not asking you, I am telling you. Tell me what you know!!!” Asarelah shouted, her hands waving wildly in the air. “Our comrades WILL DIE !!!”

Arielah took a small step back. She has never seen her Cousin this angry. No, not at all. It just was not in Asarelah’s nature to raise her voice, or be demanding. If ever a High Priestess deserved the name of Care Giver, Lah was purely such a one. And to see her in such a blinding rage was frightening.

“Cousin, I love you. I wish to someday be all that you are. But you must calm yourself. And you know I can not betray a trust. Any more than you could.” Arielah tried to remain calm, and soothe the overwrought Priestess, but it was not to be. “But I shall tell the Commanders that you are here…. Perhaps if any is known, they will send word…”

Asarelah’s eyes seemed to erupt in a fiery blaze that was terrifying to behold. Before Arie could even move, Lah reached out her hand and slapped the youngling sharply across the face.

Holding her cheek, stunned that her Cousin had struck a blow of any kind, much less against kin, Arie watched in shock as Asarelah opened a portal to leave.



“Know this Cousin. I will place any deaths of those whom I hold dear squarely at your feet for your refusal to aid. Suffer well, Youngling!!” Asarelah all but spat before she vanished from sight.

Arielah tried to compose herself and digest what had just occurred, and be ready for what she knew was to come. And come it did, in the dashing form of a roughly clad Blood Elf running for his life past her, herded in to the Headquarters by Al’shar Commander Leikos.



Much of the rest of the evening passed by in a daze. Arielah did her part, trying to keep up with the flow of conversation as the Al’shar Commanders and their Officers interrogated Ambassador Frosthawk. She watched in horror as the battered Blood Elf was beaten senseless again and again for failure to satisfy his questioners. The Ambassador did not seem to be evading the questions put to him, but his answers only garnered more questions. It was a grueling ordeal, and he was knocked senseless repeatedly by several enraged Al’shar.



Toward the end of the questioning, Sentinel Baast had enough. She stepped over the prone form of the Ambassador, who had fainted yet again. “I will not let you hurt him any further. Are we animals?” She had asked, the horror of it all clearly showing in her eyes.



Checking the Ambassador’s unconscious body, and finally agreeing that they had gotten all the information they were likely too, Commander Leikos consented to allow the prisoner to send a letter to Tribe Nyx. Arielah was asked to write it, being the only one present that could perform such a task. And the prisoner would only be allowed to sign it.



The Priestess, Dnallivah, did her best to revive Leothiel, and he was then escorted to a table where the writing took place. Finally, Arielah held up the finished letter for all to see, and looked questioningly toward those standing around her.

It only reports that he is alive and had been treated fairly, and that he is being sent to trial for his war crimes, Commanders.

“Arielah, allow him to sign it. And we trust you to deliver this to where it needs to go. Make it so,” the Commander said.

Nodding in agreement, the young Night Elf watched Frosthawk’s shaky signature on the letter, picked it up, carefully folded it, and then placed it in her carry sack. “Commanders, I leave at once for the Docks. I shall journey to Vallance Keep in the Borean Tundra and pray my Cousin will come to me….”

[Tindr Thornleif]

Tindr raised his arm, shielding his eyes from the brightness as the late morning sunlight streamed into the room.
He gathered himself up, sitting quietly at the edge of the bed. His head throbbed painfully yet his mind slowly awoke
and began reflecting back on yesterday's events ...



... the interogation of the blood elf, Leothiel Frosthawk, did not result in anymore answers than they already had. Much of the responses given, and translated by lady Arielah, seemed to be nothing more than riddles and delusional answers.



To add to the frustration, the Al'shar had become heatedly divided over the handling of the prisoner. Lady Baast and the warlock Ghebast, as well as lady Dnallivah of the Storm Riders, had felt compassion towards the ill looking prisoner, while master dwarf Gothyelk, as well as the Death Knights Vendil and Kasim wanted to deal with him more ... directly. If at any time he could have used Commander Leikos' presence, it was then.


Tindr's mind reflected further....



... the runic marking upon lady Dnallivah had stumped the Kingship warlock, Stodesgier. Lady Shalmyan had called upon her friend to examine the rune as he had immense knowledge of the arcane. But it was when Stodesgier had become visibly agitated, almost demanding answers from Dna on how she had aquired such that tensions increased.



When he touched Dnallivah's cheek softly in an almost apologetic expression, the group was stunned to see a similar runic marking suddenly appearing upon Stodesgier. Almost immediately at the same time the rune appeared, he had chanted, suddenly thrusting a shocking spell into the middle of the lady's chest.

Tindr closed his eyes ...

... Dna's body went limp and collapsed upon the floor ... the rage he felt was intense as he was ordered to stand back. It wasnt until Dna had awoken, unharmed, that he could regain his control of his anger.

It had been at the same time that the group realized that the runes could not only be transferred by a psychic connection but also by direct contact with the skin of one who was afflicted. He had also remembered trying to hide his own rune marking that was upon him but was unsuccessfuly in view of Shalmyan's sharp eye.

Unfortunately, alarms had rung out through the city. The discussion on this new development, which could have a significant impact on the transfer of the prisoner, was put on hold.


Tindr's thoughts drifted upon the battle....

... the lone Nyxian fled almost immediately upon being spotted.

He had ran down the ramp after the Nyxian and rounded the corner where their main force was waiting. The Nyxians swiftly had him surrounded. Within seconds, he heard only a single wicked laugh before succumbing to a forceful blow to the head before blacking out.



Tindr slammed his fist on the bed, frustrated with himself that he was so easily led into the ambush.
Straining to remember what took place afterwards, the vague images slowly came into form as Tindr remembered waking and being tended.

He had listened and watched as the group of Al'shar, Kingship, and Storm Rider spoke and walked amongst the numerous fallen bodies. The Nyxian force had been defeated almost as quickly as they had arrived.


Tindr stood up from the bed, wincing as the throbbing in his head briefly increased. But there was still much to do in preparation before the evening transfer of the prisoner, Leothiel, into the hands of the Kingship and he didnt have the luxury to allow such inconveniences to get in the way of his duty.

Slowly, he gathered his weapons, checking them over them carefully then began strapping on his armor when he caught a glimpse of a small note upon the floor. As he knelt to pick it up, memory of the tiny dove that had delivered it during the interogation proceeding came to mind. He sighed heavily as he looked at the note in his hand having completely forgotten after the attack in Darnassus that he wished to send a note back to the little lady Kharena.

.... But the morning was getting late and duties needed to be seen to.

[Asarelah]

Asarelah stormed in to the Nyxian Audience Chamber, shoving aside the guards trying to block her entrance. Waving a tattered parchment in her hand, which she slapped down in front of Oracle Tallbear, she pounded on the table for further emphasis.

"My Cousin just hand carried this to me. It's from the Ambassador. And what is written are not the facts, from what my sniviling kin had to say," Asarelah all but snarled.

Aitana picked up the letter, and looked up at Asarelah. "Calm yourself, Nightwarder. There are no enemy here for you to snap at. What do you mean, "not the facts?" Lets keep the emotion out of this. I can clearly see this appears to be the Ambassador's signature. But I do not recognize the hand of who penned the letter itself, and think that it could be nothing more than a clever forgery."

"My Cousin, Arielah, is the hand that penned it, and she claimed it was from the words of Leothiel himself." Asarelah snapped again. "But she also said that they would not allow him pen and quill to write with, and that is why she had to do it."

Aitana looked skeptical. "I find it hard to believe that they would allow the Ambassador to send word, yet not allow him to write it himself."

Asarelah nodded. "Be that as it may, I promise you it is my Cousin's pen. Further, I could not get her to speak freely, but after a little application of Mind Control, she finally broke and admitted that Leothiel was repeatedly knocked senseless during an interrogation last night, and that he is surely being sent to his death. There was nothing what so ever that was fair about his treatment, other than some that I have called friend trying to heal and protect him. I pried out of Arielah that Dna kept him healed up, and that Baast finally put a stop to the torture. Arie further admitted he's being turned over to the Kingship of the East for trial of his War Crimes against them - TONIGHT!!!"

Aitana jumped to her feet and shouted in outrage. "WHAT??? WHAT DO YOU MEAN TURNED OVER TO THE KINGSHIP?? WHAT WAR CRIMES TRIAL??" Asarelah fell to her knees as she watched Aitana's nostrils flare in forthright fury and the Oracle's Warstomp shook the building.

"Nightwarder," Aitana slammed her hand down on the desk, "we will put a stop to this NOW!! It was bad enough that the Alliance tried to kill me. We will NEVER allow them to put our Ambassador to death!! We will carry out Lady Nyx's orders AT ONCE!!!"

[Leothiel]

(( The day after Leothiel's interrogation ))

=================================

Thieldren woke up with a weight on his shoulders. It bothered him that his brother was being held captive but hasn't been able to hear from him. As he was rising, a knock came on his door which he quickly answered.

Opening the door, he was faced with the pale continence of the priestess Asarelah "Thieldren, I have disturbing news." She quickly gave the letter to him and he read:

Dear Brother,

I have been arrested and am being held to stand trial on the account of my role in the assault and theft of documents from the Kingship of the East. I am doing fine right now but have attracted a lot of attention.

Your Brother,

*Something illegible even by Thalassian standards*

He stuffed the letter in his pocket and demanded to see the oracles about it.

Thieldren thought something odd of the note. The salutation and the body were not in his brother's handwriting. The signature was Leothiel's but it was very illegible. Thieldren thought the worst: His brother had been tortured. He stuffed the letter in a pocket and went to see the Oracles about it. The uncorrupted grasslands of Nagrand will have to wait.

====================

Leothiel woke up in pain. The physical pain was dying slowly but the mental pain was becoming worse. The horrifying nightmares were beginning to blur between the world of the waking and the world of the sleeping. The Silver Covenant magi never physically harmed him but they made sure his magic stayed siphoned rendering him unable to cast. His reagents were split between them and most of what he walked into the stockades with were cataloged and stored all over the prison. For once, the Sin'dorei thought he was truly alone.

[Warzen]

Battle dairy page 413:

Today we led a strategic strike on Stormwind's Stockades in hopes to rescue and retrieve Leo our Umbral Champion of war; although the rescue was a success we took heavy losses in the keep housing our champion. Thankfully Leo found his gear and was able to open a port which led to our very survival.

Within the next hour battle alarms were going out accross Durotar, the alliance stirred up and battle ready for more killing Attack with great vigor at the gate of the Ork Capitol but after too long they were driven back to the sea and rivers bordering the land.

- Warren Zenatine Stonefield

[Theotaz]

*PAIN*

"Maaassster not sleep, not saaaffee," a rattling intake of breath sounded in his ear. "Bad place maaaster.. safety close.. frieeennnddds close.. maaaster go now.. wake uuupp."

Theotaz opened one eye to see his minion's face.. it was blurry.. everything in shades of red..red like blood.. his blood. His minion, Crypt Kicker, hissed quietly. "Not move yet.. enemies.. many enemiies.. close.. they.. are.. maaaster must prepare.. safetyy there."
The ghoul lifted one bony finger pointing down the stairs. "Friends there.. they wait.."
Theo nodded his head. There were voices nearby. He wiped a sleeve across his eyes, his vision cleared, and he could feel his battle goggles. He slipped them back into place.

His next thought went to his axe. It was there at hand. He grasped the handle and felt energy flow into his body. The power of the runes infused him, healing him. He could feel bones moving, pulling into alignment. There was pain, great crippling pain, but not to him. He was a Death Knight and Death Knights may die, but they do not stay dead for very long. Crypt Kicker looked on. there was anxiety in it’s face. Theotaz was amazed. The Loyalty of his minion he had always assumed and taken for granted. This was more.. it was.. love.. and worry, and concern, and care..

The voices.. Human, Thalassian, Dwarven, Gnomish were moving off. Several companions were near by, some dreadfully wounded. He looked where the minion had pointed. It was Leothiel hiding in the shadows.. he was pulling.. who? Aitana! Theotaz looked to Crypt Kicker.. "Help him."

Crypt Kicker looked at him in surprise and smiled. "Yesss master.. I help.. get all to safetyyy.. yesss."



The ghoul scrambled down the stairs and picked Aitana up, then slung her through a portal. He could see waiting hands take her. He levered himself up with his great axe as a prop. One after another he slid them down the stairs toward Leothiel and the ghoul. Another Death Knight groaned and moved. He couldn't tell who; there had been 8 in the War Band. They were a mess. Who ever it was took in what he was doing at a glance and lent a hand. More bodies were quickly grabbed and slid down the stairs to waiting hands. Some of the Death Knights were still unconscious. Their minions were not and helped, those still intact that is.

He heard a human voice yell an alarm. he called on the unholy and silenced the hateful sound. He summoned an Army of the Dead from the bodies of fallen Alliance guards. The ghouls blocked the entrance, attacking all those near by. A hand grabbed his arm; he spun raising his axe for a deadly blow. It was Leothiel.

"Theotaz! We're the last. Let’s go!" Leothiel whispered urgently, as Crypt Kicker waited by the portal waving them forward. Theotaz pushed the obviously exhausted Blood Elf ahead of him and dove through the portal.

(( shortly thereafter… ))

Healers worked their magic; soon everyone was up and as ready for action as they would ever be. The Elders talked. There had been far more Alliance than they had any reason to expect. Had there been treason or just bad luck? The latter more likely as reports were coming into Orgrimmar of massive Alliance raiding parties hitting all across Horde holdings both in Kalimdor, and across the sea. Yes, Theotaz suspected bad timing. Coordinated action on this scale did not happen over night. Planning had been in place, but the reports indicated that coordination was off. Some of the attacks were too massive to resist, others insufficient to do more then startle the Defenders The mission had succeeded but at a cost. As a bonus it had apparently disrupted alliance planning.

A runner in the colors of the militia ran up to Warburn, Aitana, and the other members of the Council that were present. A large Alliance War Band: a Regiment, he remembered the Alliance term, had been spotted heading directly to Orgrimmar.



The Nyxian War Band scrambled to the gates of the city. Fleeing outriders of the Horde scrambled in the gates with the Alliance scant yards behind them. The Nyxian War Band unfolded from a mass into serried ranks. In seconds the Alliance regiment had been shattered and flung back with jeers of derision by the Nyxian forces supported by a handful of city guards. Scouts reported more on the way. Within moments the War Band was mounted and on the move.

They intercepted the Alliance at the great bridge that crossed the river separating Durotar from the Barrens; only a Battalion which was quickly turned back with casualties.



Reports came in that another force had slammed into Razor Hill, which was only just recovered from an attack two days before. The Nyxian War Band slammed into their rear guard and brushed it aside with almost contemptuous ease. More were reported approaching though. Warburn dispatched squads to watch the approaches holding the main force at the center of town. They came. Kingship of the East supported by Al'shar lo Dor'ano. They came and were shattered.

[Leikos Darkwood]

Nursing wounds had been something Leikos had coped with his entire existence. It came with the territory of being in the thick of battle. His new badges were in the form of a gash on his forearm, a cut above his right eye, and a very dark bruise – noticeable despite his dark purple skin – on the right side of his sternum. Then there was the throbbing headache from several hard blows during the fighting and the tenderness of his right knee from his saber falling on its side. Nevertheless, Leikos knew most of his injuries would heal within the next day or so.

As he sat going over reports, he glanced at the crumbled up letter near the edge of his desk. It was the letter he had received the night before the battle. There had been promises of peace and cooperation. Leikos had spent that night in meditation contemplating the contents. He had come to the conclusion that a sit down with Elder Warburn and Lady Aitana would be beneficial. He had even considered other alternatives for handling Leothiel and the situation he had caused. It had weighed heavily upon the old Kaldorei. Then the attack had come.

The Horde had rallied an army to recover Leothiel; the soul person responsible for the deaths of several dozen innocents in Westguard, the Nyxian Champion who had promised harm and suffering to the Alliance, and the one responsible for the appearance of the strange runes upon several friends. Claims of peace seemed far fetched, to say the least.

The Alliance had answered swiftly and brutally. They had laid waste to the Horde forces that had attacked Stormwind. In their zeal, they assaulted Grom’grol and burned it to the ground. They had even gone as far as Ogrimmar to send a message to Thrall. They had met massive resistance and eventually had been forced back with a great many casualties. It had been a bloody campaign from beginning to end. The question now was, had it all been in vain?

Leikos knew there had to be something else, moving in the darkness, that neither the Alliance nor the Horde had uncovered. He carefully pulled a strange looking blade from his pack. The strange runic marking upon it were familiar. He had recovered it from the battle. It had been on Lady Aitana’s person.

She had taken a nasty blow, while in the Stockades, and toppled over. Her pack had popped open and several items had fallen out. Leikos spotted the strange blade and tucked it into his belt. He had found out later that he had been lucky. The blade had a very powerful poison upon it. Al’shar agents were working around the clock to uncover the manufacturer of the poison. The Horde had speculations about its origins; there were others among the Alliance that believed its source was different.

His eyes turned once more to the letter. He couldn’t help but feel angry as he gaze at it. He gathered up his maps and parchments and placed them neatly into his side pack. He then pulled a thick cloth out and wrapped it around the strange blade. As he began to step away from the desk, he took one last look at the crumbled up letter. He sighed and grabbed the parchment and stuffed it into his pack.

“Enemies seem to be everywhere now. People have become foolish and have begun listening to their emotions rather than their resolve. Whatever enemy lies behind us, we are playing right into their hands.”

Leikos shook his head and departed for the Stormwind Docks. He hoped that uncovering information about the dagger would cause the surfacing of answers. There was only one person fit for such a job, Andenel Thornleif. He headed swiftly to the end of the west dock. His destination, Darnassus…