Reckir sighed and stepped forward, "Let's do this Thassarian, it's now or never."
The three of them exchanged glances and nodded before walking up the southern staircase to the edge of the platform. Shortly after, a tall, grey-skinned elf in red garments stepped onto the platform from a staircase on the west side while a horrifying image walked into view from the eastern staircase.
The Lich King.
The brothers and their death knight companion readied their weapons and watched on in silence as the two evil beings exchanged words, seemingly unaware of their presence. The elf spoke, his voice quiet and slightly muffled by the large fang designed collar of his robe, "My liege, the infiltration and control of the Alliance power structure by our cultists is well underway."
The avatar of the Lich King rang out with his deep raspy voice as it replied, "Your progress in this region has been impressive, Blood Prince Valanar. I am pleased..."
"The power you've bestowed upon me has allowed me great mental influence over human minds. I bear these offerings as proof of my progress." added the elf, as he motioned behind him.
Two figures walked into view from the western staircase. The first was General Arlos, the man in charge of Valiance Keep, the location that Reckir and Wilmarth had been assigned to by Captain Adams. His one eye appeared dazed and he wavered as he walked. The second was a young woman with long, raven black hair that nearly covered her face.
"Leryssa!" Thassarian cried out as he ran forward, "What have you done to my sister, you motherless elf scum!?"
Valanar and the avatar of the Lich King both turned to face the trio. The Lich King seemed to smile from within his dark helmet as he taunted, "Now this is a surprise, Thassarian. I hadn't heard from Mograine or the other death knights for months. You've come to rejoin the Scourge, I take it?"
Thassarian's lip curled up into a furious snarl, " I would sooner slit my own throat. You will pay for what you did to your own men, Arthas... for what you did to me! I swear it."
The elf turned to the Lich King, his expression calm, yet it was obvious that the dark creature was eager to please, "Allow me to take care of the intruders, lord. I will feed their entrails to the maggots."
The image turned it's back to those gathered and spoke with dark purpose as it faded from sight, "Do not fail me, San'layn. Return to Icecrown with this fool's head or do not bother to return."
Once the image is gone completely, the elf turns to the trio, "Yes, my lord!" he cries out as he raises his hands to cast his spells.
Wilmarth sprung into action, casting protective magics upon Reckir. Thassarian and Reckir charged side by side, their weapons drawn. The elf lifted his staff to deflect the oncoming blows, and then thrust his free hand forward, launching a bolt of blood at Thassarian's chest. Thassarian was knocked back a few paces while Reckir lifted his Axe up high to swing it down violently on the elf's exposed back.
Valanar spun around with his staff, sweeping out Reckir's legs from under him. As Reckir laid on his back exposed, Valanar channeled his energy and cast out beams of pink light that shot at the three attackers. Reckir glanced behind Valanar and saw Wilmarth charging his power into his weapon as he rushed to Reckir's aid. "No Wil! Don't strike!"
But it was too late, as Wilmarth swung his weapon upward, the field of energy around Valanar absorbed the force of the attack and redirected it back at it's wielder. A large slash tore open Wilmarth's chest and sent him flying back to the edge of the platform. "WIL!" Reckir cried out.
"Pitiful... just pitiful." Valanar sneered as he stopped channeling the field and turned to face Thassarian.
Reckir stared at the lifeless form of his younger brother before turning his hateful gaze onto the elf. With a roar, he leapt to his feet and hefting his axe high, he charged at the elf. Thassarian lunged with his twin runeblades from the opposite end, dismembering the Blood Prince.
"What... what happened to me?" with the Blood Prince dead, General Arlos and Leryssa sprung to life, "Ugh! My head won't stop spinning..." Arlos mumbled as he slumped to the floor, unconcious.
"Thassarian, you're alive!" Leryssa yelled as she rushed to her brother's side.
As the woman and her death knight brother exchanged words, Reckir stepped numbingly towards the fresh corpse of his brother. He fell to his knees, red fury showing in his face. "Wil..." he mumbled to himself, dropping his axe at his side.
Just then, a swirl of warm air and leaves swirled about Reckir's body, removing his fatigue and recovering his wounds. Bewildered, Reckir glanced around to see a tree waving it's branches around at the southern staircase. Another death knight, his face hidden beneath his helm stood at the tree's side. The tree wore several trinkets, and had a face etched into it's bark. As the tree finished casting it's spell, a cough was heard from behind Reckir.
"WIL!" Reckir roared, helping his brother to his feet.
Wilmarth looked down at his sundered armor, "This is going to be expensive..."
Reckir laughed and punched Wilmarth in the shoulder. The brothers then walked up to the tree, which was a shapeshifted Druidic healer, and offered their thanks. The tree and his companion nodded before the death knight added, "Seems you took care of the problem for us, it's the least we could do."
Reckir and Wilmarth nodded before turning to see how Thassarian fared. Laryssa was crying but stared at her brother with reverence as he walked towards Reckir and Wilmarth. "You did well, my friends. I was hoping to leave my sister out of all of this. Thanks to you she is alive and well.
My obligations to my king and my army have been fulfilled. It is clear I'm not welcome among my comrades anymore. I will have to find my own way, fighting no wars but my own and following no orders but my heart's.
Perhaps we shall meet again. Until then, know that you will always have my gratitude."
The three exchanged salutes and grim stares. They knew this was the beginning. The war was far from over.
The Wrath of the Lich King had only just begun.
NOTE: The characters Reckir, Wilmarth and the Druid and Death Knight companion are original. However, the events are an interpretation of the events that occur while playing through
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