Post by ruleofthumb
This tale takes place about four weeks prior to when the main forces of the Alliance and Horde came to the shores of Northrend. Thrall, Sylvannas, and King Bronzebeard have only sent minor advance parties to set up camps and conduct some reconnaissance of the southern territories. Thrall and Sylvannas had sent additional forces the destroy Naxxramas while it is in recovery of its movement from the Plaguelands.How anything survived out here is beyond me. The harsh, cold wind carried the freezing rain as it hits my face like needles. Thankfully, the bear’s thick hide kept me warm…for the most part. The high mountains of the Storm Peaks were one of very few places the Scourge had yet to taint with their unholy grasp. Most of the fighting here was between the vrykul and the frost giants. The Lich King had ordered the relocation of Kel’Thuzad’s necropolis to the frozen wastes of Northrend, and I was going to see that the evil city comes to its end.
I am Kraeus Redhorn, the last of the Redhorn tribe. I am a druid of the Cenarion Circle. Ursoc has blessed me with his strength and endurance, and I intend use it well in his honor and greatness. Even with the bear patron’s gifts, I cannot succeed in destroying Kel’Thuzad alone. I have made an agreement with the orc, Thrall, that I would join his Horde to destroy Naxxramas. Afterwards, I would be continuing my tasks with the Cenarion Circle.
But first, I must reach Wyrmrest Temple. That is where I am to meet the soldiers he plans to send. My previous task was to keep watch on the Scourge’s actions in eastern Icecrown. They seem to have no interest in the titan city of Ulduar, but they are slowly infesting the far western cliffs and peaks of the Storm Peak Mountains, seemingly avoiding the ancient cities
The distance would be much shorter if I could fly, but the snow storms that had stirred up in the past few days have made that impossible. So I remained in the bear’s form and traversed the plains and foothills of the region for three long days. On the night of the third day, I reached the peaks of the hills just west of the frost giant city of Dun Niffelem. I could see wild wolves and jormungar feast on the frozen corpses of giants and vrykul.
Mindless conflict. If only the vrykul and frost giants realized that the Scourge are a greater threat and enemy than each other… I posted a tent and rested for that night. I could hear the frost wolves fighting amongst each other, probably for food. But it was the sounds of the screaming proto dragons in Dun Niffelem that kept me awake. After a restless night, I decided to headed south once again, avoiding the ravenous wolves and jormungar in the pass.
When I reached the other side of the pass later that morning, I took some time to appreciate the view I had into the ruined troll empire of Zul’Drak. While I knew that the entire area had been corrupted and decimated by the scourge in internal strife, it had a sort of grace and history I wish I could have witnessed back in its prime.
Upon reaching the northern swamps of Zul’Drak, the snow storms were behind me and the weather seemed fine for flying. I stayed out of sight of the nearby scourge and shifted myself into a large, brown hawk. I grabbed my satchel with my talons and took off. The warm, humid air of the swamps made take off surprisingly easy. As I flew towards the southwest, I could see humans garbed in white and silver assaulting a large stone pavilion. It’s not surprising that the Argent Dawn would make a move here. Fordring was an honorable man that only wanted peace for his people. The destruction and corruption of Lordaeron was a dark and terrible event… And he sought peace and retribution for those acts.
Later that afternoon, I could see the border of the Dragonblight just beyond the walls of the troll empire. A wooded pass that had yet to be tainted by the scourge lay there. I landed at the base of a tree and returned to my normal Shu’halo state. I ate a small ration of vegetables and spiced bread from my pack, then decided to take a look around. There wasn’t a lot to watch. A few deer ran past and I watched a small white rabbit dig for food under the snow. As little as it was, it was comforting and peaceful to watch; knowing that within a few short months, probably less, it will all be gone and tainted by the scourge’s plague.
I suddenly heard a scream in the distance, towards the giant stone wall to Zul’Drak. It wasn’t a scream of terror or pain, but rather that of anger and ferocity.
What was that? I thought to myself. I picked up my staff and cautiously walked towards the source of the sound.
Sure enough, it was the scourge.
I watched as a score of necromancers and their legions of undead soldiers heading towards a small troll encampment.
No! I could see the troll families and children rushing about, in attempt to gather their things to flee. But it was all in vain.
I wanted to help. But I couldn’t. I could only watch in horror as the ghouls and skeletons of the scourge hacked and ripped the innocent trolls apart. Men. Women. Children. Everything. The necromancers toyed with the ones that lived; destroying small amounts of flesh on their very bodies, and unleashing blight upon the grounds of the village and the corpses of their loved ones. One even killed a female right in another troll’s arms. I could hear him cry out her name in tears and anger.
Fal’ua.I dropped my staff and fell to my knees upon the ground.
Why! WHY! I could hear their spirits crying out, now faced with an eternal torment they did not deserve. The land and trees around seemed to cry out in sorrow and pity.
Continue to chapter two.