Thoughts.com Blogs - Trials and Tribulations, Chapter 5

View Blog

Trials and Tribulations, Chapter 5

It had been three days since Kelnas and Illyruan had abandoned all but 200 of their forces to whatever fate the Nether had in store for them at Pyrewood. Three days of trecking through the Arathi Highlands and down into the Wetlands, just north of Dun Morogh.

Kelnas slummped down infront of the pyre of wood that had been piled up near his tent. He gestured at it, call on the power of his demonic flames, and igniting the wood. This he did for all the other campfires in the area. There was a clatter of steel and leather as Illyrian droped his shield and sword, both were caked in blood.

"We've driven them back for now, and they won't come after us again till sunrise." Illyrian said. The group had been persued, doggedly, by a group of humans, dressed in red and white. The called themselves the "Scarlet Crusade." From what Kelnas had been able to glean from those he'd....interrogated....they existed to hunt down and exterminate the Lich King and all undead. And, if you weren't part of the Scarlet Crusade, it was reasoned that you were part of the Scourge. Aparently, they were led by the Ashbringer, Morgraine. A powerful Paladin.

"Stupid bastards. Do we look like we have flesh hanging off our bones." Kelnas growled. He had become increasingly aggitated since he had started working his Warlock powers. And, he constantly craved more. He rolled his tongue around in his mouth for a moment, then stood.

Illyrian got up as well and appraised him. "What's wrong?"

Kelnas sighed. "I feel as if our Scarlet friend hasn't given us all the information we could use. There must be something else. And I aim to find it." Gathering up his pouch and staff, Kelnas strode off to the largest tent. Two humans and dwarf were guarding it. Bowing low, they let the Elf and Warlock pass.

There, strapped to the post that held up the tent was a young man. He was stripped down to his undergarment and was resting his weight into the straps. His face was swollen and bruised, his lip was bloody. As the two friends approached he raised his head and spat, blood and spittle splattered onto Illyrian's face.

The Elf moved faster than Kelnas would have thought possible, and drove his fist deep into the man's gut. He grunted in pain, and blood splashed out of his mouth and on to Illyrian's shoulderplate. "Come now, is that anyway to greet a friend?"

"You are no friend, Undead."

Illyrian's eyes, now glowing with green fire, due to his feeding off of Kelnas' demons for magic, arched in surprise. "Undead. No no no. I assure you, I am quite alive. Infact, I am a Paladin. Perhaps you have heard my name? I am Illyrian Sunsword, Master of House Sunsword of Quel'Thalas. First Paladin of Silvermoon?"

The man slowly blinked. "Heard of you. Heard you abandoned your men in Pyrewood. Too bad. We had to kill them all. Afraid they were infected by the plague."

Kelnas stepped forward. "As tragic as this is. I don't care. What I do care about, is your people hounding us day and night. We are journeying to Menethil Harbor to avoid the Scourge, and your damned Crusade keeps killing my people. Now, tell me what I need to know to reach and equitable agreement."

With a gesture, a small purple gem rose out of Kelnas' black and red pouch. A Soulgem. It began to pulse and glow, purple letters of hidden power formed under Kelnas' feet, and a green cube began to pulse above his head. Moments later, there was a thundering crash, and the purple light crashed into the ground. From the mist, stepped a sultry, sudictive and sadistic creature. Wings, horns, and barely enough clothes to cover her supple body.

A succubus.

"Mmm, Kelnas.." She purred. "Is it play time again?" she grinned melevolently, and pressed her body up against Kelnas' robes.

He stroked her chin. "Yes, my dear. See if you can't find out what his master's name is, and how we may come to an accord with him."

She walked over to the bloodied man, and licked the blood of his face. "MMmm, heheh. It will be a....pleasure."

"Do try to keep him alive Aradosia. He may prove of use to me."

"Yes, master." she said, and cracked her whip.

As the elf and Warlock left the tent they heard the man scream as he was exposed to the claws, whip and wiles of the succubus. "He will break soon. Then we will meet with his leader and see what he needs done to remove the Scarlet Crusade from our backs." Kelnas said. Illyrian nodded, and strode off to check on the wounded. Kelnas, for his part, waited outside the tent.

When Aradosia poked her long, blackmaned head out of the tent, she becked with one finger. "He's ready, my love." She said, chewing her bottem lip.

Kelnas entered the tent again. The man's flesh was barely still on his bones. Kelnas grinned. "Now, tell me what your master's name is. How to contact him. Tell me this, and I'll let you die. If not...." He pulled a pruple orb from his pocket. "I will store your soul, raise you from the dead and we can do this all again."

The man whimpered. "My master's name...is Saidan Dathrohan. In...in my armor is a tone that you may use to contact him. I know what he will want. He will want Alexandros Morgraine dead."

Kelnas was shocked. "The Ashbringer? Why?"

The man laughed weakly. "The Ashbringer is a relic of the 2nd war. A time passed when his way of fighting wold work. No..no longer can he be considered the strongest of us. His SON, however, is more than a match. And Dathrohan knows this. He would see Morgraine dead, and the son raised to power. The son is very loyal to Dathrohan, and will submit, even if he controls the Ashbringer Sword. Give him this, or show him how it may be done, and he will let you live. This I swear."

Kelnas mulled it over. "Very well. I will keep my bargain. You may die." The man nodded, accepting his fate. Kelnas reached out with his hand, and a blue beam struck the man in the chest.

"NO! You said I could die!"

"And die you will, my boy." The beam retracted ripping a purple gem from the man's chest. "But your soul, I'm afraid, belongs to me." He laughed, a high, cold, cruel laugh. This power was amazing. As the man's final scream passed his lips, Kelnas gestured to Aradosia. "Do you have plans for the evening my dear?"

She grinned "No..not at all," and she followed him back to his tent.

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

The next day, Kelnas and Illyrian contacted Dathrohan, and he agreed to meet with them. When the elder crusader arrived, he came alone. Something that Kelnas and Illyrian hadn't counted on. They escorted him into the meeting tent, and he sat, took the food and wine offered and then got right to business.

"So, you say you want the Crusade to leave you heathens alone...very well. But...I have no time for games. So, what's in it for me?"

Illyrian blinked. "Morgaine."

This got Dathrohan's attention and he leaned forward. "What of him?"

Kelnas cut across Illyrian before he could say anything, and he grinned. "First, do us a favor, and lose this...for you are in. Dreadlord."

Illyrian bulked. And Dathrohan laughed. "A Warlock, most excellent. Very well. I, am Belnazaar." The Crusader did indeed begin to change shape, until, at last, he had assumed the form of a Nathrazeim. Illyrian stood and drew his weapon, and Kelnas forced him back into his seat.

"Knock it off." Kelnas breathed.

"But he is a demon! Responsible for the destruction of Quel'Thalas!" He lunched, and Kelnas caught him, slamming him into the ground.

Holding the Elf's neck, he leaned in and breathed. "That may be so, but listen well. He commands the Crusade. We need them to stop hounding us. We also have something he wants. Two things, actually. I know from torturing that damned Crusader that Balnazaar wants the Lich King destroyed. Not only can we deliver him Morgraine and strengthen the forces here, in Lordaeron against the Scourge, but we can get passage to Northrend to aid in the fighting there. THINK, before you act."

The Elf breathed heavily. Then finally nodded. "You are right, of course." Kelnas eased off, and the Elf stood up, and bowed. "Forgive me my lack of manners, Lord Balnazzar."

"Indeed," the Dreadlord said, steepling his long, elegant fingers. "You were saying something about Morgraine."
Kelnas nodded. "Yes. We have devised a plan that will give you complete control over the Scarlet Crusade, A city, and the Ashbringer."

Balanazzar leaned forward. "And, what is it you get out of this, I wonder."

Kelnas smiled. "Two things. The Scarlet Crusade stops bothering my people, the ones in this camp. What you do to everyone else is your own business. Number two, you gurantee us safe passage to Northrend. We are going to Valdarde to assist in the battle against the Lich King. Which, I suspect, falls in line with what you and the Legion want......" Kelnas said, trailing off.

Balnazzar blinked slowly. "You...are far to intelligent for a human."

"I am no mere human, if you recall." He lifted his hand, and a shodowy glow grew around the fist.

Balnzzar nodded slowly. "Very well. I agree to your terms. But do not interfere with my plans for Lordaeron."

Illyrian scoffed. "Do as you will to Lordaeron, Khaz Modan and Azeroth."

The demon looked at the Elf. "And, what of Quel'Thalas?"

The Elf stiffened. "Touch it, and I will see you burn, daemon."

Blanazzar chuckled long and loud. "Indeed. You, Elf, have more guts than your entire nation combined. Save perhabs that wretch Sylvannas."

Illyrian smiled. "Yes, my cousin can cause quite a stir I'm told.."

The Dreadlord leaned forwards. "Very well, enough prattle. Tell me, how do I end the Ashbringer....."