07:00 – The Arena, Hellfire Peninsula

Zujin stood on the top level of ruined arena which long ago had been used by the horde before the invasion of Azeroth. It was the perfect place to observe the Citadel without being seen, but such was the distance between the two structures that he had to use his Destructo Holo goggles. Being an engineer of some skill he had crafted them himself, thought it had taken him months, as most of the parts were rare and the construction was a very delicate and time consuming task. What made them worth the effort was that they allowed him to see the base of the fortification as if it was right in front of him.

“Master Zujin, are you busy?” he heard Oleysia ask from just behind him.

“Oleysia, Torgina, what can I do for you two?” he asked with out looking round.

“How did you know I was here?” Torgina exclaimed in suprise.

“Your boots,” he answered still looking at the citadel. “They make a louder noise than Oleysia’s,” he explained.

“Really?” the young warrior asked. “Can you teach me to do that?”

“I’m not sure either of you could learn it, you need to be able to listen,” he joked.

“Hey!” they both yelled in unison, making him laugh.

“So what is it your after?”

“Well, we were wondering about something,” Oleysia began then paused as if she was unsure how to continue. “Why does Rokash hate the ‘Fists of Fury’ so much?”

“He simply he does not trust them,” Zujin replied evasively.

“There is more to it than that,” Torgina stated. “The gnomes even go quiet when I talk about him, why?” he could tell by their tones that they would not let this go.

“Look,” he said turning round and removing his eye wear. “Rokash and Tout’Sweet have some very complicated history even I don’t know the full story behind it, but what I do know is that its none of my business, understood?” he used his most serious tone of voice to make sure they would drop it.

“Yes Zujin,” they both replied getting the message.

“Good now go prepare, we’ll be moving out soon,” he instructed them, they nodded and walked away somewhat subdued.

“Thank you,” came a voice, he turned to see Tout’Sweet who had been resting just out of sight of the girls.

“Don’t worry about it,” the warlock said as he put his goggles back on. “Rokash would not be pleased if they got involved in your little feud.”

“I wish the other Fists would do the same,” the gnome stood focusing his own goggles on the Fel-orc stronghold. “Sometimes think we should go some place secluded and finish it one way or the other, once and for all.”

“When this is over you might get your chance,” Zujin commented, then something caught his eye. “I think we go something here, take a look at that southern barricade, there’s a door hidden just behind it and no Fel-orcs are near it.”

“I think your right that’s what we are looking for, better get everyone together,” Tout’Sweet agreed and they turned back towards the large camp. “You know the more I learn about this demon of yours the more in shocked that Asta threw her lot in with him,” when he said this Zujin stopped and looked down at him.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, what was your connection to the Fem Fatales?” he asked.

“Well Asta their leader, she was my wife,” the gnome replied sadly. “Or should I say ex-wife.”

“Is that so,” Zujin commented thoughtfully and they both started walking again. “Those knights that Sim has brought along, most of them look young for humans.”

“Yes, lets hope their up to the task ahead of them,” the warrior agreed and with that the two separated and moved to their groups.

08:00 – The Main Chamber.

Silence and Darkness filled the cavernous chamber both were oppressive and everywhere, and it was they who were the first victims of the battle. Suddenly the massive doors buckled inward with a colossal bang coming from the other side, as the sound echoed through the many halls a second bang accompanied the sight of the doors buckling some more, on the third they flew open and light rushed in as fast and far as it could into the room. Siloetted in this was the huge figure of Rokash, behind him the other raised their weapons in preparation for a rush of cultists, but none came.

“This is what I was afraid of,” Zujin commented.

“What’s that Master?” Oleysia asked looking up at him.

“They are holding back, making us fight them on their terms and in their stronghold,” he answered. “This is going to be a very hard fight,” he added grimly as he stepped towards the darkness.

He stopped just inside the door way allowing his eyes to adjust to the poorer light conditions, to his left stood the ‘Fists of Fury’ appear with the ‘Knights of the Righteous Path’ next to them, to his right Saku, Rokash and Nyako with Ruya, Oleysia and finally Oathbreaker behind them. Lastly Xue, Torgina and Beladia though all hung at the back as per Zujin’s instructions.

At first they seemed to be alone in the compound but then slowly from out of the shadows first one then four, and then dozens of Cultists appeared. There were far more of them that anyone had thought, it was clear that the Master had kept most of them hidden away so as not to reveal the true number of his followers. As such even with the twenty five knights of the ‘Knights of the Righteous Path’ they still out numbered the group two to one.

As with almost every battle before and after, there was a pause while both sides sized each other up, this short moment was ended when Rokash charged. The front row of cultists could not get out of his way fast enough and four were sent flying backwards as he smashed into them, hot on his heels Nyako and Oathbreaker were in among their ranks. Not to be out done the Fists and the knights closed the distance and engaged their enemies, they found the skill of the cultists was far above that of many foes they had faced before.

Oathbreaker was surprised when a human he was fighting managed to dodge his decapitating strike and stab at the bull’s right thigh. Luckily the thick plate armour he wore deflected the blow and he was able to stab his black skull decorated dagger into his small foe’s neck. Before the man had even hit the ground a screaming female troll with a razor sharp axe in each hand leapt out of the mass at him, as he blocked her first attacks he smiled at finally finding an enemy as insane as he was.

Not far off Rokash realized that he could not use his tree trunk in such close quarters, as even with the cultists greater numbers there was a chance he would hit one of his friends or allies. So with deafening roar he hurled his great weapon towards where the casters stood hurling theirs spells, though he did not know it he killed half a dozen of them in that one attack. With his hands free he grabbed his hammer Sulfurus a weapon that he forged in the heart of Black Rock Mountain, as he drew it however two cultist jumped his each grabbing at the large handle attempting to use their weight to it from his grasp, instead though they found themselves being lifted from the ground and meeting the gaze of a angry tauren. With a snarl of contempt Rokash shook them free, and when they dropped to the ground he stepped on them, even as he took his first swings.

Working together the ‘Fists of Fury’ hacked and sliced their way through any who sought to challenge them, at one point Tout’Sweet used his shield as a platform from which Rascal leapt up from and slit the throats of two cultists as she flew threw the air. Being small in stature it seemed that the gnomes were harder to hit and so had an advantage in some respect; that was until they came face to face with the three gnomes that were part of the demon’s group. The trio grinned evilly as they saw that they now faced two members of the ‘Fists of Fury’ seemingly recognizing the group, but then what gnomes wouldn’t. The middle one stood a little taller than the other two and he made straight for Tout’Seet attempting to bring his axe down of the warrior’s skull, while the other two converge on Rascal.

Tout’Sweet easily brought his shield up and blocked the other gnome’s clumsy and obvious attack, then in those few seconds where the wielder of the axe was not in control of his weapon Azeroth’s number one mercenary counter attacked. Stepping forward he head butted his foe stunning them causing them to drop their weapon and on the back of this move he thrust ‘Thunderfury’ through his opponent’s chest.

As he pulled his blade free he turned to see Rascal opening the throat of one of the gnomes then spin away from the others attacks. For a mere second he watched as she seemed to dance around her enemy and strike him not once, twice, but four times. Alone the wounds she caused would not have killed him but together they were fatal, he was dead before he hit the ground.

The battle was rapidly turning against the cultist but they still had a few cards to play, three in fact as Falkus, Jar’ag and Ezekyle entered the fray. The rogue killed three knights before they even realized that he was there, while Jar’ag unleashed a torrent of shadow bolts forcing Tout’Sweet and Rascal back towards the entrance, as for the hunter he and his large spider picked the biggest target that they could see, Rokash.

Sim realized that many of their group were pressed to the very limit of their abilities, but now with the demon’s three lieutenants in amongst them the fighting spirit of the young knights was at breaking point. The paladin knew it was up to him to turn this around, looking over he saw his second pull his sword ‘Destiny’ out of the abdomen of a purple clad troll.

“Alpharius, with me!” Sim ordered as he threw up his divine shield and ran threw the close ranks of the demons followers. The younger paladin followed his example and they smashed scores of their enemies to the ground without throwing a single blow, however Sims plan had not been to kill any of them but to break their momentum. An arrogant smile grew on his face as he could see clearly that it had worked, now there was a gap between the cultists and the knights giving them the breathing room they needed.

With a snap assessment of the situation Falkus realized that they could not hold this position for much longer, the master had ordered them to hold their enemies up for as long as possible, so that he could complete the final ritual which would make them an unstoppable force. The rogue gave a sharp whistle towards Jar’ag and the few remaining casters which was the agreed signal for them to cover the retreat, nodding the warlock rained fire down on the intruders, his actions were quickly followed by the others. Seconds later the only cultists in the room was those that were dead or dying.

“What just happened?” Torgina asked looking around.

“Isn’t obvious,” Saku replied. “They pulled back, to set up a second line of defence.”

“But why, surely they know we’ll just punch right through that one as well.” Beladia said. “And does any one else hear that whispering?”

“Everything they are doing here is to delay us,” Zujin stated grimly. “That whispering you are hearing my friend is the voices of dozens of demons being summoned by the same powerful spell.”

“They all went in different directions though, the warlock Jar’ag went further back into the rooms behind this one, while Falkus went into the east wing and Ezekyle the hunter that Xue is after went west.” Rokash informed them.

“Regardless of our personal issues with individual members of this group our top priority must be to stop that summoning,” Tout’Sweet declared and then turned to look at the three warlocks who were talking quietly to each other. “So which way do we need to go?” he asked them.

“We don’t know,” Brimstone answered. “There is too much demonic magic in the air for us to be able to pin point the location of the spell.”

As soon she had said this everyone knew which direction they would go and so without any need for discussion they split up, Sim led his ‘Knights of the Righteous Path’ after Falkus, while the ‘Fists of Fury’ who were still under contract with Xue to capture Ezekyle set off towards the west, not suprsingly Torgina and Beladia went with them since they had struck up quite a friendship with the Draenei mage. Of course that left Zujin and the rest of them with Jar’ag to deal with, the veteran warlock smiled, he would not have had it any other way.

08:45 – The Laboratory

“Zanggorg, Sarrida, Prygrom, Lazgup” Jar’ag yelled out as he barred the doors. “We got company coming, hold them up while I release the experiments.” He ordered his mechanical demons as he ran past them.

Almost as one they stepped towards the door, Zanggorg the Void walker hummed slightly as the gears in its mechanical body began to spin faster, Sarrida stretched out her arms in and gave a harsh metallic laugh as her adamantine talons extended as for Lazgup he bounce from metal foot to metal foot excited as always while his felhunter Prygrom growled at the door and whoever was on the other side and snapped his Feliron jaws. Not for the first time Jar’ag found himself thankfull for the masters gift, an amulet which allowed him to summon and control all his demonic minions at once.

Even as he reached for the lever that would open the cages which housed the subjects he had used to test and refine his control of the machine, the doors bucked inwards with such force the heavy wooden bar across them almost split in have, he knew that it would not survive a second hit. However Jar’ag heard himself laugh as the metal portcullises opened and his ten surviving creations emerged, despite the desperation of his situation he could not help but admire his own work.

As a result of his fine tuning his technique no two were the same, one was stooped like a primate with body proportions to match, while another’s head had merged with its torso, a third had grown a large barbed tail and these were just a few examples. All of though shared a few similarities, there skin was the same black scale covered texture with numerous blood filled boils, not to mention all of them had increased muscle mass beyond even that of a tauren. With such weapons at his command Jar’ag felt his fears vanish, that was until his creations turned on each other.

“NO!” he yelled as they attacked each other like savage animals, but before he could even make an attempt to stop them pain engulf his left shoulder with such intensity that he dropped to one knee. Over his shoulder he saw the warlock he feared more than any other, who now stood looking straight at him his eye burning with rage, Jar’ag wondered why his minions were not protecting him.

Quickly though he realized why his demons were not coming to his aid, all of them were caught up in battles of their own. Zanggorg had locked hands with a tauren that due to its stature could be none other than Zujin’s fearsome heavy, Rokash, while Sarrida movements were a blur of motion as she attempted to dodge and strike out at another slightly smaller bull who was comfortably matching her speed. The other two were no help either as Lazgup was to busy throwing himself though the air while simultaneously hurling fireballs at a female blood elf and orc, lastly his trusted Fel-hunter had just brought down a flying serpent but was now being bartered away from its carcase by a fairly pissed off looking hunter and troll warrior.

“Get up,” Zujin told him. “Die on your feet not on you knees.”

Jar’ag knew that in a stand up fight he was no match for Zujin, so he decided to use a few of his tricks, he grabbed a small explosive he called a grenade from his belt and hurled it at the older warlock, his foe saw the attack coming and struck out with his staff knocking the bomb away from himself and into the fighting monsters. It went off with a loud roar but did not seem to hinder the insane abominations.

Knowing that he had to keep his foe off balance Jar’ag grabbed a device from his workbench and pointed it at Zujin, pressing the button on the back a jet of green flame burst out and leapt towards the older orc but with surprising agility he threw himself out of the way of the attack and brought his staff around hit Jar’ag on the head. It was not a hard blow but enough to cause him to drop the device.

“No more tricks you little runt,” Zujin stated coldly, and he lashed out with his staff forcing Jar’ag to step back. “Stand and Fight, or flee like the cowered you are, choose.”

It only took him a moment to make his discision, Jar’ag grabbed the invention he had made for just this situation and activated it. For a moment the chamber was filled with a bright light before it was plunged back into darkness again and Jar’ag was gone, however his demonic minions remained as now they had a new Master to serve and he need them to keep fighting.

They did not last long however as Zanggrog mechanical strength was no match for Rokash and the bull tore off the constructs arms in one powerful movement, then as the metal encased demon staggered he grabbed its head and crushed it between his hands before finally lifting it high in the air and throwing it into the wall with such force the stone cracked.

Sarrida lasted a little longer against Oathbreaker, though not by much as he used his own shoulder armour to snag her talons in, in a blur of speed he hacked off one hand at the wrist and then plunged his sword through her neck decapitating her metal head taking it as a trophy.

Oleysia screamed with frustration as she once again had miss the dancing, motorized imp, Ruya looked just as angry as like her friend her attacks too sailed past the little demon. Suddenly though the young Warlocks Succubuc Bronwena caught the wrist of the creature with her whip and held in place for a few seconds, which was all the pair needed to simutaniusly hit it with their most powerful spells. Lazgup exploded in some of the most bright and unusual colours that any one in the room had ever seen.

Saku and Nyako had the hardest fight though of them all, the hunter’s pet flying serpent had dived down to attack the artificial fel-hunter but to their shock it had leapt into the air and bitten the creature in half. The troll warrior had been smashing it with her hammer a moment later while the orc had planted shot after shot into its metal head, under such a punishing assault the demonic dog had died quickly. The real threat to the pair was from Jar’ags creations or rather the one that had killed all the others.

Pain, all K’mara could feel was pain as she tore out the throat of a creature that had once been her kin, with her enlarged right arm. Blood oozed, or spurted from countless wounds and boils that covered her hardened black skin, her vision was clouded as one of her eyes was still normal while the other was looked to be that of a fle-orc both seeing the world differently. Looking around she spotted the closest living thing to her and attacked it.

A blow with such force hit Saku’s shoulder that the large armoured plate buckled throwing him to the ground. Looking up he saw a black skin creature twice his size looming over him, large tusks jutted for its lower jaw, two hardened bones jutted out from where ears should have been one eye burned green and the other red. As it moved to strike him again Saku raised his ‘Wolf Slayer Sniper Rifle’ and shot it point blank in the left side of its face and blowing it back wards away from him. Jumping to his feet he looked at where it had landed with a mournful expression on his face, but then it got back up.

For a few brief moments K’mara had been blinded a shot that had destroyed the left side of her head, she had raise her smaller left arm up to find a large gaping hole where its should have been. Rage and Pain rushed through her body once again and she climbed back to her feet, she did not even register the shocked look upon the orcs face as she threw herself at it again.

The powerful blows came fast and hard as Saku desperately tried to defend himself using his rife like a staff to block the attacks. Then Nyako was there swinging her hammer with all her strength into what remained of the creatures head, a loud sound of crunching bones was clearly audible and the creature stepped back unsteadily. Now it was on the receiving end of the fast and furious assault as the warrior’s weapon hit it again and again before finally shattering its legs and dropping it to the floor.

K’mara screamed her pain and rage at the troll who now stood above her thrashing about she tried to climb back up, but her attempts were in vain. She never even saw the look of profound sadness of their faces or that of the orcs as he move to stand over her, aimed his rifle once again at his head, say something she did not hear and pull the trigger.

“I’m so sorry,” Saku repeated as the creature’s body slumped back onto the floor.

“Well at least we know what happened to the pilgrims,” Nyako commented sadly

“Indeed,” Zujin agreed as he produced his own bombs from his belt. “Lets blow this thing up and get back out there,” he decided and threw a timed bomb into the large machine at the back of the room.

08:45 – East Wing (Barracks)

One by one his crew placed them selves in the positions he had assigned them, before fading into the shadows. Ambushes had always been one of Falkus’s specialities, the battle in the main chamber had revealed to him just who it was that he was up against and now revenge was his for the taking. With a smile on his face he stepped into the shadows at the very back of the room, everything was ready now all they had to do was wait…

The knights entered the room slowly, fully aware that their enemies could be anywhere in this dark lair. It was clear from the numerous beds and discarded items that this was a barracks and a big one at that, Sim looked at the remains a slowly dieing fire which flared unexpectedly and revealed a cultist moving towards him, their eyes met and the man knew that Sim had seen him.

“Ambush!!” Sim yelled loudly and threw himself at the man swing his sword. Instantly the other assassins revealed themselves, some were more successful than others and three knights dropped to the ground their throats opened, but most found themselves going toe to toe with warriors with better equipment, if not skill.

Despite the fact that his crew had rushed head long into the fray Falkus hung back remained in his position undetected. This was not because he was afraid to fight, far from it infact, but because he wanted to locate the leaders of these knights so that he could deal with them personally. It took him only a few second to accomplish this; Lord Sim was easy to spot since he had sprung the ambush Alpharius had worn his helmet but his trade mark sword ‘Destiny’ flashed high above the battle giving him away.

With a cold deadly grin on his face he made his move, three powerful strides took him with in striking distance of Alpharius, who was unaware of the danger. However before he could even strike at his unsuspecting foe he had to dive out of the way of a warhammer aimed at his head, when the knight that had struck at him spoke Falkus knew he had been duped.

“I guess Sim was right you just could not resist the bait,” Alpharius laughed, the sword wielding knight had been a decoy.

“No matter I’ll still kill you,” Falkus snapped and attacked. His blows were fast and well aimed Alpharius was hard pressed to block them with his hammer and shield meaning that the paladin could not mount an attack of his own and so was constantly of the defensive, the old saying ‘A defender has to be lucky all the time, while the attacker needs to be lucky only once’, came to his mind.

The fight would not have lasted much longer but then Sim was there after having dispatched the cultist who had been sneaking up on him. Now the tables had turned and Falkus was the one on the defensive, but with his lighter armour and his highly trained reflexes he dodged every blow with ease, still it was only a matter of time.

One particularly close blow took his favoured hat right off his head, Falkus knew he had to think of something fast. So he blasted blinding powder into the face of the older paladin who staggered away shaking his head furiously, now with a few seconds window the rogue turned on Alpharius. But a third knight threw himself at the assassin, however this one had neither the speed of the skill of his two leaders and only moments later Falkus had thrust his dagger into the gap between the mans helmet and the chest plate.

As the knights body fell to the floor Alpharius attacked again force Falkus to release his dagger and fight with only one weapon. Things only got worse as Sim had recovered from the blinding powder and was back on the offensive also. As the rogue dived under one blow then another he saw that it was not just himself that was now fighting mutable opponents but all of his surviving crew, already half his assassins were dead and the others were quickly falling as well.

With one last powerful kicked to the head of Alpharius Falkus whistled loudly, giving the signal to retreat, before throwing a smoke bomb on the ground and vanishing, only two others managed to pull of the same trick .

“Come back here you cowered,” Alpharius roared into the darkness. “Fight like a man,” he demanded, Sim just shook his head.

“Its no use,” he said. “A man like Falkus is trained to pull out when the odds are stack to much against him, he won’t be back.”

“Then I’ll find him,” the younger man declared. “You two search the bunks over there,” he ordered two of the nearest knights.

“No there is not enough time,” Sim countered. “What ever this demon is doing it’s not here, we need to head back out and rejoin the others, let’s see how many are still able to fight.”

In all they found that two knights had died and a further ten were no longer capable of carrying on. Sim ordered four more to carry the injured and the dead out of the complex before pressing on with the last seven.

“How did you know that Falkus would come for me like that?” Alpharius asked as they left the room.

“Simple I know your history, and that damn sword of yours might as well be a flag saying ‘Look at me I’m Alpharius’,” Sim explained with a smile as picked the younger mans iconic sword off the floor and handed it to him. The sound of yet more fighting echoed off the walls, “Looks like we have ways to go before this is over,” he commented and led them out.

Watching them go Falkus carefully picked up his hat and waited in the back of the room. At his sides were the only two members of his crew who had shown the speed and skills to survive the fight, with them he would rebuild and soon be at large once again, for now though it was time to disappear once again. The rogue had no qualms about abandoning the Master and the others, since first and foremost Falkus was loyal to no one but himself.

08:45 – West Wing (Outside the Master’s Chamber)

Ezekyle planted his trap not far from where the others now took cover behind the barricades, when they did come this would slow their pursuers down so that he and those with him could shoot them down before they even got to the defences. Once it was in place he vaulted over the up turned furniture and raised his crossbow, the twenty others followed his lead.

“Fill the air boys,” he told them. “Kill as many as you can before they reach us,” he added grimly.

The first enemy through was not what they had been expecting, Brimstone’s Fel-Guard. The hunter’s trap went off, ice covered the floor from wall to wall slowing the demon down, making it an easy target for every longbow and crossbow all of which fired turning the monster into a huge pin cushion. Without a sound the large axe fell from its hand as it slump to its knees before slowly toppling forward, even as it did Tout’Sweet and Rascal leapt over in an arc that meant they would easily pass over the iced ground.

Ezekyle and his followers that had reloaded fired again but the buckles on the gnomes belt glowed brightly and the arrows bounce off a shield that seemed to surround the pair, the hunter remember something Jar’ag had mentioned about gnomish invunrabilty belts, but only for a second. Then the diminutive fighters were among them, Tout’Sweet swept his spiked shield outwards knocking the closest of the Cultists out of the way before striking at the others with ‘Thunderfury’, Rascal on the other hand stabbed and hacked at the legs and tendons of the enemies around her bringing them down to her level.

With a snarl the hunter aimed his crossbow at the small rogue but before he could fire an ice bolt struck him in the thigh. Bringing his aim round he found himself facing a kinswoman with bone white skin and hatred for him in her eyes, though he did not quite believe it he knew exactly who she was.

“Xue, you’re meant to be dead,” he commented stupidly.

“I almost was,” she replied coldly “But now I’ve come to make you answer for your actions.”

“Good luck with that,” he mocked and fired, she froze the bolt in mid air and it dropped to the ground at her feet. “Neat trick,” he conceded. “But I have my own, Lucius!” he roared as his skin took a definite red colour to it.

Lucius now infused with its masters magic grew to five times its normal size and pounced from its position on the wall. Massive fangs lunged towards Xues head and with a startled yell she blasted at the spider with a quick fire spell and threw herself out of its path. But the beast recovered quickly and leapt at her again, this time though it was intercepted by Brimstone’s Fel- Guard which the warlock had just resummoned and it was pissed.

Axe met fang as the two pets tore into each other doing untold damage to each other, Ezekyle though focused on killing Xue and he fired bolt after bolt at her forcing her to give ground with each shot as she used her magic to knock each projectile out of the air, but then one got through. She screamed as it hit her shoulder, moments later another hit her mid thigh dropping her to the ground, seizing his chance the hunter rammed his hoof down on her chest and raised his crossbow for the fatal shot.

“To bad,” he mocked. “Better luck in your next life,” he added never seeing Beladia charging out of the shadows at him, nor the blow which struck his head so hard it sent him spinning through the air. He did four full rotations before he landed on the ground face first, almost instantly he was kick over on to his back and his blur vision saw a green skinned female standing over him.

“Lights out,” Torgina snarled and brought her foot down on his head knocking him out cold. She turned smiling triumphantly as Beladia helped Xue to her feet both matching her expression. By the time they had patched up the mages wounds the Fists had cleared up the rest of the cultists.

“This is the place,” Brimstone stated grimly as her Fel-Guard pulled its axe out of the giant spiders corpse before limping over to stand next to her. “Ugh, I have never felt such demonic power like it,” she added. The large Tauren smirked and stepped towards the door.

“I have,” Zujin commented as he and those with him walked into the corridor. “This was the exact seem feeling I had when my uncle and father were summoning this demon in the sunken temple. What ever is behind this door its going to be the hardest fight yet for all of us.”

“Then lets get it over with,” Sim called as he and those few knights he had left arrived. “If your large friend there would provide us with a method of entrance I would be most grateful,” he added nodding his head to Rokash.

09:15 – The Master’s Chamber

“Is it me or is the darkness thicker in here?” Ruya asked.

“Its not you,” Zujin replied. “Be very careful there is no telling what in the shadows,” he warned.

“He’s right you know,” laughed a dark and powerful voice. “Shadows are such a dangerous place to lurk in.” it added as the darkness pulled back to revel a huge hooded figure, bigger even than Rokash, sitting on a raised throne. “Zujin it’s been such a long time, and I see you brought some friends to our little reunion.”

“How did you manage to remain in this world after we stopped your summoning?” Zujin demanded.

“We’ll truth be told you only stopped the part that summoned my physical form into this world, but the sacrifice brought my spirit through,” the voice explained as the figure looked straight at Zujin.

“What do you mean sacrifice, not a drop of my sisters blood was spilled,” Zujin countered.

“Ah yes I forgot your uncle told you that it had to be an innocent soul that was sacrificed didn’t he.” The demon said almost sympathetically. “Well the truth of the matter was that it just had to be the blood of the summoner which was needed to be spilled. Sacraficing your father was not an option since he was your uncles right hand, while you were his most promising apprentice and despite his disappointment that Vasu was not gifted in the ways of demonic magic he could not bring himself to sacrifice his only son, so that only left your little baby sister. Your uncle added the innocent part just to get your parents to agree.”

“So when my uncle and father were killed your spirit was brought into this world,” Zujin replied.

“Close but no, there was one other death during that battle and I think you know who that was, don’t you?” the tone dripped with amusement and mockey.

“Me, I was the sacrifice,” the warlock almost gasped.

“Haha, I knew that you would figure it out eventually, now let’s see how good your friends are,” the voice stated and the large hooded figure leapt from the throne, as it did so the robe was torn from its body to reveal a dark red skinned orc. Massive spines ran down the length of its back and jutted out from the its wrists, the long teeth on its lower jaw, which reach half way up its face, had been crudely capped with metal. When it landed the ground noticeably shook and for a moment it brought itself up to its full and terrifying height and stared at the group before it, then it picked its target, Zujin, and charged.

Roaring out a challenge Oathbreaker threw himself at the monster sinking both his weapons into its right side, but with a backward thrust of its arm it sent him sprawling to the floor and continued. It was almost on top of Zujin before Rokash stepped into its path, spreading his arms and legs wide, when the two collided the bull did not try to halt the leviathan but instead spun on the spot using his foes own massive momentum to hurl it across the room.

A stone pillar reinforced with metal struts disintegrated as the massive orc slammed through it. However despite this impact no one was surprised when the beast stood up looking even more pissed off than before and seemingly uncaring about the chuck of massonary, the size of a human torso, sticking out of its left shoulder, charged again.

“Take out its legs,” Zujin yelled as he blasted a shadow bolt out of his demon staff. His words seemed to break the rest of the group out of their shocked trances and they rushed to intercept the monster. Torgina and Beladia were the first to reach it, splitting up the orc hacked at the massive right knee with her axes while the night elf smashed her warhammer into its left one, neither attack had any noticeable effect. Rascal and Tout’Sweet were next going for its tendons but even the mighty ‘Thunderfury’ failed to cut through the thickened flesh. Nyako and Oathbreaker came from either side striking at their foes thighs but it knocked them both away with a mad sweep of both its arms. Saku took aim and emptied a whole ‘clip’ of his ‘Wolf Slayer Sniper Rifle’ into the monster even hitting it twice in the head but the rounds all but bounce of its hide.

The air became thick with shadowbolts, fireballs, icebolts, and lightning as the warlocks and mages hurled their most powerful spells towards their huge enemy, as it drew closer its skin was burned and frozen in numerous places. Sim and his knights threw themselves into its path striking it with their blessed weapons and at last they seemed to be doing some damage as the hulk seemed to be attempted to ward the blows even as it continued to charge towards its chosen target. Still though hurtled towards the line of casters and pulled back its left arm to throw the punch that would have killed Zujin, but Rokash was there again, this time with his tree trunk.

“Try pass through this,” he bellowed as he smashed it into the orc’s abdomen, there was a very loud and sickening crunching noise as the leviathan hit the weapon and flipped over onto its back. When it hit the ground a fountain of blood erupted from its mouth spraying all those close to it, from the sound of its breathing all knew that the blow from Rokash had destroyed its internal organs including its lungs.

“Damn.” Alpharius commented. “He really hated you,” he added as he spoke to Zujin for the first time.

“That wasn’t him,” the orc said shaking his head, and the dark laughter filled the chamber once again. Unlike before, the sound was not coming from all around them, but rather from the now reoccupied throne. This new figure rose from the chair and casually walked down the steps absorbing the shadows as he did so, when he reached the floor the fully lit room revealed that he was no alone, no not even close.

The group suddenly released that they were surrounded by dozens of demons of all races, Nathrezims more commonly known as Dread Lords, Doomgaurds, Infernals, Succubi, Shivarras and even a runted Annihilan or Pit Lord. All stared at the mortals which they would soon kill with sadistic triumphant smiles.

“I must say I have been truly impressed by your power and skill in besting my mortal minions,” the Master applauded. “But now you can see that those victories were meaningless as they bought me the time to summon my true followers,” he added opening his arms wide towards the ranks of demons. “Ah, I can see the puzzlement in all your eyes, even yours Zujin,” the demonic orc chuckled. “Very well you have earned a little explanation, yes why not, would you like to hear how this very situation arose?”

“Go on tell me,” Zujin agreed knowing he had to play for time to figure out what they could do, the demonic orc nodded.

“Very well then, it all began millennia before the legion discovered these pitiful worlds that you call home. Our glorious founder Lord Sargeas made a great mistake when he formed our mass armies, he chose Kil’jaeden and Archimode as he chief lieutenants,” the mater paused and spat on the floor. “He could not see what incompetent fools they were, so I hatched a plan to show him just that. Feigning allegiance to them I gathered many demons who thought likewise and slowly I began to placed my own followers into key positions in the legion’s army. However before I could stage my coup I was betrayed, Kil’jaeden captured and incarcerated myself and most of my supporters in a magical cell which he then cast into the void. But before he could get the rest of my group the legion was plunged into a great war and they escaped to plot my release.” The other demons around the room cheered at this clearly as enthralled in the tale. “I was greatly surprised when a being such as your uncle was the one that breached the ‘walls’ of my prison, a mere mortal hungry for power and revenge, something I could happily work with,” He paused again as his body began to glow and change shape. “Now despite your best efforts I am fully restored, soon I Mal’Garnic, the most powerful Nathrezim ever to live, will bend mortals and immortals alike to my will as I forge an empire of my own!” he roared as he finally remade himself in to his true form, the other demons howled and screamed their eagerness to begin the slaughter, but it was not they who struck the first blow.

“GUT THEM!!” Oathbreaker screamed at the top of his voice. “GUT THEM ALL!” and hurled himself into their ranks. The Shivarra who he reached first found her chest suddenly had a gapping hole in it, while in the following second the Nathreizem behind her lost it right arm and then most of its throat spinning in a powerful whirlwind attack he cut a Succubus in half, then smashed into an infernal with such force that it broke apart, its head flying up into the air and as it came down he headbutted it into the face of an incoming Doom Guard which he then disembowelled.

The battle broke out for real with every member of the group seemingly fighting three demons at once. Rokash and Tout’Sweet both separately began to carve their way through the ranks of the monsters towards Ma’Garnic. The large Dread lord saw the two warriors coming and smiled, he had not had a real fight in such a long time with a wave of his hand he sent his followers away from him and into the battle with the others, leaving the way to him clear.

As his staff blasted out other shadow bolt at the demons, Zujin paused and regarded the scene, dodging the whip of a Succubus he then enslaved and sent against her allies the warlock realized that behind the seemingly endless waves of demons more were still forming out of the shadows at the very edges of the room and suddenly he knew exactly what they needed to do.

“Brimstone, Oleysia!” he yelled. “Can you see the tome?” he asked them over the sounds of the battle, the gnome shook her head, but his young apprentice nodded and pointing to a spot just next to the throne. The powerful book floated in the air with its pages flipping from one side of the book to the other, in rapid succession and glowing with an insidious green light. “We need to reach it!” he told them.

“Why?” Oleysia yelled back.

“The summoning ritual is not complete,” he yelled as the succubus he had enslaved was struck down by a raging Doom Guard which he blasted apart in turn. “We can reverse the spell…”

“…and send them all back where they came from,” Brimstone interrupted and finished for him. “We’ll need cover,” she added, just as she spoke Saku appeared bayoneting a Shivarra to the ground.

“Saku,” Zujin called and pointed at the book. “Cover us we are going for the tome,” he told his friend, who nodded and reloaded his rifle.

Only once before many years ago could the hunter recall his aim being as good as it was in those few moments. All in all he fired twenty five shots at the demons between the warlocks and the book, each shot was a hit and each hit was a kill. Dread lords fell with their heads gone, succubi shot through their hearts, Shivarras hit in the throats and Doom Guards struck in any one of those locations. Then as he attempted to reload once again, he was tackled to the ground by one very pissed off nathrezim.

Despite this though more demons stood between the warlocks and their goal, but almost from out of nowhere Nyako was in front of them her hammer crushed one demon then the next as she took up the task of making the path, moments later Rascal, Torgina and Beladia where with her making sure the troll was not overwhelmed. At their backs Maestro and Xue basted at the demons with a combination of ice, fire and arcane spells.

Mar’Garnic almost laughed as her caught Rokash’s huge tree trunk and kicked out at Tout’Sweet, keeping the Tout’Sweet at bay. This was almost too easy despite their skill he was greater than both of them to such an extent that there was no hope of them wining, still though it would not do to take chances. So he ripped the weapon from the bull and attempted to use it to squash his smaller companion, but unbeknownst to him the diminutive warrior knew how to avoid this particular attack and at the last moment dived out of the way in a direction that would not give away the fact that the attack had missed, nor see that the gnome had grabbed onto the trunk and even now was being raised into the air. On the other side of the demon Rokash drew Sulfurus and attacked once more.

To its kin the Pit Lord Runt was actually very small, but to the ‘Knights of the Righteous Path’ it was still a very large and formidable opponent. Nevertheless they attacked it without hesitation or fear. The first to reach it was slain by a sweep from its halberd but even as he fell the other were inside the demons guard and were hacking and stabbing at it with their weapons. With an angry snarl it stood up on its rear legs and smashed its ones back down onto the ground scattering the humans about like rag dolls. Sim fell in front of its weapon and looked to be such an easy kill the monster could not resist, but the blow never landed as the paladin threw up his divine shield at the last moment and deflected it. This action cause the demon to overreach itself and Alpharius was there opening its throat with a swing of ‘Destiny’ his two handed sword.

The warlocks had almost reached the book when a single figure appeared in front of them, Kitty. With her robe discarded, her full armour was revealed, what little there was of it as it barley covered her flawless body, apart from the large scar on her abdomen. Standing between them and the tome, in one hand her barbed whip hung hungrily and into other an evil looking sword, with a seductive and sadistic smile.

“I don’t know what you’re planning,” the demonic elf admitted. “But I can’t let you near the tome,” she mocked, however before she could even raise her weapons Beladia jumped her, with Torgina right behind her.

“We’ll kill you bitch!” the night elf warrior snarled as she struck her fallen kinswoman in the abdomen. Kitty though lashed out with her whip pulling Beladia’s legs from under her but before she could capitalize on this move she was dodging the axes of Torgina. Blocking these with her sword she off balanced the orc and pushed her to the ground, still even with them both on the floor Kitty was not able to attack the casters as now Rascal was in front of her and the rogue was on a whole different level when it came to fighting.

As the two fought their entire bodies, not just their limbs and weapons became blurs of motion as they stabbed, kicked, dodged, parried, spun, lashed and blocked each others attacks. At one point Rascal leapt it to the air spinning in such manner that at the high point her feet were pointing at the ceiling and her head at the floor, she lashed out at Kitty who bent backwards to such an extent her torso was at ninety degrees to legs.

On the other side of the room Mal’Garnic found himself with a gnome on his shoulders attempting to stab his weapon into his neck, and a tauren swing his flame hammer at his armour chest. However with a powerflap of his wings both warriors were blown away, Roaksh threw out his arm and caught Tout’Sweet in on massive hand.

“Thanks,” the gnome commented as he was placed back on the floor.

“Don’t mention it,” the bull replied and they charged the Dread Lord once again.

Sim looked on with a mixture of both horror and wonderment as he saw the tauren known as Oathbreaker brutally slaughtering any demon that came in range of his weapons; the bull was covered in so much blood and gore it was pouring off him as he attacked yet another group of demons. However just then another incredible sight caught his attention, a Dread Lord minus its head being thrown like a rag doll by what looked like a huge tiger standing on two legs, the beast then turned on a Shivarra and with one of its paws it punched right through her abdomen. The origins of this monster began clear as the demonette fell, as before his eyes it shrunk until Saku stood there. The hunter seemed un-phased by what had just happened as he picked up his gun and began to fire once more, it was only then that the paladin felt a small breeze passing his face which began to grow in strength steadily.

“Keep going!” Maestro yelled. “Don’t lose focus even for a second,” he added as the warlocks who stood with their arms outstretched towards the tome saying the same words over and over again. The book now was opened exactly in the middle and a bright magical hole had opened in its centre, soon the demons that were still coming through from the prison vanished and the others began to be pulled slowly in their direction.

“What!” Mal’Garnic roared throwing the tree trunk at Tout’Sweet and Rokash before turning and running towards the group of warlocks. “I won’t let you send me back!” he bellowed.

He was merely inches away when the force of the raging wind ripped him off the ground and sent him hurtling towards the tome. As he passed her the invisible tether that bound her to him pulled Kitty away from Rascal and the two warriors who had once been her pets.

“NOOOOOOO!” she screamed and vanished into the book with her master. The book snapped shut and all three warlocks collapsed exhausted to the floor, it was over.

Suddenly there was a cry of alarm and all conscious eyes looked up to see Oathbreaker lost in his blood lust attacking the biggest opponent he could find, which of course was Rokash. The larger bull though caught his smaller kinsman by the throat and laid him out with one powerful blow, then as he lowered him to the ground silence descended over the room.

“I think we should get out of here now and head back to Shattrath,” Tout’Sweet suggested, wearily the group picked up their wounded and headed for the exit.

09:15 – Blades Edge Mountains

The sudden changed from almost total blackness to blazing sunlight left Jar’ag blinded for a few moments as he staggered from the telaporter. Stopping to catch his breath the orc burst out laughing at how foolish Zujin had been to let him go, he could not believe how the older warlock did not realize that he would have his revenge and next time it would be Zujin that begged for his life.

His laughter was cut short as something hard hit him in the chest knocking him to the ground and the wind out of his lungs. Groaning he opened his eyes and found himself looking up at three orcs, two of which had the unmistakable look of hired muscle but the one in the middle he knew well.

“You didn’t really think Master Zujin would just let you go?” Rykan asked his tone filled with mockery as he motioned for the other two to lift him up to his knees.

“How…” Jar’ag stammered.

“You forget that Zujin is also an engineer,” Rykan explained from above him. “He worked out your specialization and sent me here to meet you. Also that you are a coward!”

“What do you want to do with him boss?” inquired one of the orcs holding Jar’ag. The wounded warlock looked at his rival and saw him glance at a nearby cliff edge only a few metres away and smile.

“No Please!” Jar’ag yelled as he was picked up and bodily carried the short distance.

“Goodbye Jar’ag,” Rykan stated and nodded his head.

Screaming in terror as he fell Jar’ags fall was finally stopped by one of the many ‘Blades’ that jutted out from the cliffs, in fact the last thing he ever saw was a huge sharp rock sticking out from what had once been his chest.

A Few Days Later – Lower City, Shattrath.

With the battle won the groups paths once again began to diverge, first to leave was Sim and his knights, who departed as soon as they emerged from the compound. The paladin had decided with his second that the new mission of the ‘Knights of the Righteous Path’ was to hunt down and bring Falkus Widowmaker to justice one way or the other. So as soon as the wounded had been loaded into some small wagons they set off towards Honour Hold to rest up and reequip before they started.

With the help of Rokash of all people the ‘Fists of Fury’ managed to move their quarry, Ezekyle to Shattrath, where upon Xue contacted the Hand of Argus that she had been successful in her mission. A mere three hours later a team of her people led by the hunter and her own mage elder arrived to take custody of the prisoner, as soon as they knew that he was in good enough health to stand trial the gnomes were paid the full amount owed to them. As Ezekyle was taken away, still struggling, the elders produced Xue’s tabard and offered it to her, but the young mage shook her head.

“Thank you but no,” she said shaking her head. “I’m not sure where my future lies but its not with the Hand,” she added expecting both of them to argue, but was surprised when they both gave understanding nods and turned to follow the guards. When they had gone she turned to see Torgina and Beladia her friends and an idea pop into her mind, smiling she walked over to talk to them about it.

Not far off Rokash sat examining his tree trunk for damage as Tout’Sweet joined him, the two exchanged tired smiles and the tauren set his weapon to one side. For a brief moment neither said anything both could feel that this was a pivotal moment in their lives that would either send them down an old, worn path or in to an unknown, difficult future.

“So,” the gnome began. “Where do we go from here?”

“I was just about to ask you that,” Rokash replied. “To be honest I don’t know, we’ve been fighting for so long its hard for me to see a life where we are not.”

“But are you willing to try?” the gnome asked. “If not then how far are you willing to take this? Would you want your children to carry this grudge against mine?”

“When I heard that Zujin had made a deal with you I was madder than I had ever been, and I could have killed him for it, in fact I almost did,” the bull answered. “But you kept your end of the deal and help Torgina when she needed it the most. She is to me what Oleysia is to Zujin, what you did means a great deal.”

“You have not really answered me Rokash?” Tout’Sweet stated. “I hear in the grape vine that you have yourself a girl of your own now, maybe even the sound of little hooves will fill you home soon,” he added jokingly, the huge bull laughed.

“I cant promise anything really but lets see how far this truce we has can last,” Rokash decided extending his hand, Tout’Sweet shook it as best he could before rising from his chair and saluting. Moments later he joined his team mates and the ‘Fist of Fury’ departed for Ironforge.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

It was the day after they had returned that Zujin stood with Torgina at the flight master, he had a surprise for his little sister and no matter how much she press him he refused to tell her what it was. When she finally figured it out she cried out with joy as Varlet climbed of a wyvern, with tears flowing freely down their cheeks the two ran over and embraced each other tightly, both talking a thousand words a minute watching them zujin smiled and felt his own eye starting to fill up.

“What this?” asked a voice from his left. “I did not know a warlock was capable of tears,” Jarax said jokingly setting down the twins who ran to their Uncle demanding that he pick them up, and who was he to refuse.

“Who is the lady mummy is talking to Uncle Zuji?” Kelda asked.

“That’s Torgina, your new Aunty,” he inform them

“Aunty Torgi,” Ulric called out and waved his little hands at her when she looked his way. “She’s pretty, like mummy,” he commented and stuck his thumb in his mouth.

“Come on lets get to the Den and eat im sure your all hungry after your journey.”

The Den of Inequity – Lower City

“Well I hope I don’t have days like that every day,” Ruya to Oleysia as she took the ale from the young warlock.

“Tell me about it,” the blood elf sighed. “I could sleep for a week.”

“Hey can I ask you a question?” the shaman asked sliding close and dropping her voce to a whisper.

“Go ahead,” Oleysia responded matching her friend’s volume.

“Is your Master seeing any one?” Ruya asked with a playful glint in her eyes, Oleysia gasped in shock, before she could answer though another voice cut in.

“I’m afraid you’re too young for him,” they both looked up in to the smiling face of Varlet who had her arm resting on Torgina’s shoulder. “Now why don’t you come join me and my little sister here by the fire with the others? Zujin just started to talk business with Jarax and Saku you know once they start they’ll be busy for hours.”

Waiting for the four of them was Beladia and Xue whose attention was occupied with watching the young twins Ulric and Kelda who were playing with two young but large kittens. When they saw their new Aunty Torgina appear they left the cats, much to the felines relief and climbed up onto her lap where they snuggled in, giggling at her awkwardness.

“Have you asked them?” Beladia asked looking at Torgina.

“What… oh no not yet?” the fluster warrior replied, as the children wriggled about, she looked imploringly to Varlet, but her older sister was looking somewhere else with an amused smile on her lips.

“Asked us what?” Oleysia inquired.

“Well,” the night elf began. “Torgina, Xue and me are forming our own mercenary band and wondered if you wanted to join us?” Ruya and Oleysia looked at each other in surprise.

“I’m not sure,” Ruya began. “What about Oathbreaker?”

“I would not let your history with Oathbreaker affect your choice,” Jarax interrupted suddenly standing close by, Saku and Nyako stood just behind him.

“What do you mean?” Ruya asked. “I thought you put us with him so that we could help him.”

“That was the idea, but I had not realized just how far gone he was,” he replied “From what I’ve been told about his actions in the battle with this Mal’Garnic he is a danger to both friend and foe alike. Whatever is going on inside his head he has to deal with on his own.”

“Not to mention that not one of us has seen him since we got back to the city,” Saku added.

“Well if you put it that way,” Oleysia began. “Then we have no real ties to him.”

“So is that a yes?” Torgina asked hopefully, again the pair looked at each other.

“Yes,” they said simultaneously, and the group all cheered Varlet though looked at his mate with a worried expression.

“You’re going looking for him aren’t you,” she stated. “Despite what you just said,”

“We have to,” he responded. “We are part of the reason he is who he is, and that not something I can just walk away from,” then he smiled trying to reassure her. “Don’t worry, I’ll have Saku and Nyako with me, we won’t be gone long.”

Elsewhere in Lower City

“Why don’t you enter?“ the voices asked. “Are you scared, coward,“ they mocked him. “She’s just an old woman what danger could she possibly pose“. they added filling his head with their laughter.

Opening the door he entered the hut and stood before her, she was nothing like he remembered. Huddling close to the fire for warmth, dressed in rags it was hard for him to believe that this was in fact her, that was until she looked up at him eyes narrowing.

“Well I wondered when I would see you again,” Tala Longstride all but spat.

“Hello mother,” Oathbreaker said coldly.

“Ha, you’re no son of mine,” she retorted. “My son would have done his duty and avenged his brothers murder,”

“Murder, Scarhorn was not murdered,” Oathbreaker yelled. “He was the murderer.” She struck him, it was a weak blow and he barely felt it. “You destroyed our entire family just because you could not see that your precious, favoured son was nothing more than a sadistic bully who should have been drowned at birth.”

Now Tala began to really scream at him and he roared back, the voices egging him on telling him new things to say and insults to throw, and then suddenly it happened. He was no longer in Lower City anymore but in the burning ruins of Strahome and it was not his estranged mother who stood before him but Baron Rivendare.

“Welcome I’m so glad to finally meet you face to face,” the death knight said as he dismissed his war horse. The beast collapsed into a pile of bones, one of many that lay around the room.

“You time is at an end monster!” Andrezi declared.

“Oh now that just not polite, I invite you into my home and you replay me with threats to my life,” the Baron responded trying and failing to sound upset. “Here I am attempting to be a good host and…”

“Enough of this; defend yourself,” Oathbreaker interupted then with his axe and sword raised he attacked.

It soon became obvious just why the Baron had sent so many of his warriors and servants against the group, despite all his taunting and bravado the death knight was not the best of fighters. In fact it was more luck that skill that allowed him to fend off the rain of blows from the enraged tauren and any wounds he actually managed to inflict upon the bull were quickly healed thanks to Andrezi.

But he had not risen to his position without knowing a few tricks, so as he dodged a decapitating strike he cast a spell and skeletons burst from the pile of bones that filled the room. In an instant the two heroes were being swarmed by hundreds of skeletal claws, as Oathbreaker slammed his hooves into the ground the Baron attempted to slip away. However Andrezi was able to call upon the holy powers of the light to sanctify a small area of ground which instantly destroyed the undead that stood on it, the death knight however was not so easily killed and in the few moments where the paladin was weakened by his exertions Rivendare thrust his sword straight through him.

Suddenly though Oathbreaker was there seizing the outstretched arm of the death knight and pulling him away from the paladin, having lost both weapons in the melee with the Skeletons he grabbed a ornate black dagger from the Baron and in a blind rage stabbed him repeatedly in the chest, hearing bones break and internal organs burst. Only when the body became too heavy for his outstretched arm did the bull drop his enemy to the ground, exhausted the tauren slumped against a wall breathing hard, around him the chamber was silent except for the sound of whispering.

The world shifted again and once more Oathbreaker found himself standing in the small hut that his mother lived in, only now there was no yelling or screaming just the sound of ragged breathing. Looking down he saw her cover in blood from at least a dozen stab wounds, the last of which still held the black skull decorated dagger that he had carried since his victory against the scourge champion.

Tala stared up at the son she had banished from Thunder Bluff years ago with dead eyes, her face forever frozen in a mixture of horror and a certain smugness that she had been right about him all along, but he no longer cared for the voices were once again speaking to him, only this time there was only one voice.

“Well done,” it said. “I could tell the moment you picked that dagger up you would become one of my champions, you know who I am don’t you,” it added.

“Arthas,” Oathbreaker though back at the voice, which laughed victoriously.

“You know where to find me warrior come join my army become everything that you were meant to be,“ the voice of the Litch King commanded of him and Oathbreaker obeyed.