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Trials and Tribulations Chapter 6

A few days later, Menethil Harbor came into sight. Illyrian lifted his helm off, and ran his hand through his hair. Another elf approached him from behind, and tapped his shoulder. Illyrian turned, and glared at him. "Yes?"

"My lord. I have had word from...our visitor."

"And?"

"All went according to plan. The young Morgraine did indeed jump at the chance to take his father's place. However, the Ashbringer was lost. Due to his having killed his father in cold blood, the young man could not lift it. When the Scarlet Crusade returned to Stratholme, it was gone. Also, they have been driven to a corner of the city, the Scourge have the rest."

Illyrian smiled. "Good. They will keep each other occupied. And what of his promise to give us passage to Northrend."

The messenger pointed up. Illyrian looked to the sky to see a massive dirigible coming down over the mountains behind them. It was covered in demonic runes. Two others followed it. When it finally came into range, it lowered a rope ladder. Illyrian scurried up, to find the entire ship manned by Humans, suffering from some sort of mind-control. The other zeppelins were the same.

Upon discovering this, Illyrian ordered this men to cast the possessed humans from the dirigibles. The fell several miles below, impacting on the soft earth of the Wetlands, becoming lodged deep in the sodden soil and peat. "Excellent. We will make good time wit these."

"Indeed," Kelnas said, stepping up into the cabin with his friend. Illyrian noticed that Kelnas' face was becoming darker and more lined as the days went on, as if the demonic power was eating him from the inside out. But the young man seemed as hale and hearty as ever, and indeed his power was far beyond anything that Illyrian had ever known. "Some of the men, however, are starting to grumble. Especially after we....removed Blanazzar's servants from the ships. They think we should have helped them recover their minds."

Illyrian shrugged. "Let them think what they will. I care not, anymore. The important thing is to reach Northrend. I don't care how many bodies I leave along the way. Arthas will pay dearly for what he has done. Starting with his beloved Lich King." With that, he turned, and stormed from the cabin, crossing one of the magical planks that Kelnas had created, and entered into his private cabin on the lead vessel.

Several days later, while out over the norther Great Sea, there was a pounding on the hold door, where Kelnas and Illyrian had taken to eating their meals together. The pounding grew louder and Illyrian turned in frustration from his soup to watch the door splinter open with a loud explosion.

There, in the doorway, stood a Dwarf dressed in leathers, holding a great blunderbuss. He ran into the room, several humans, elves and gnomes following him. "This ends here, ya great bloody bastards!" He roared.

Illyrian stood and drew his long sword from his back. "What can we do for you and your friends, master Dwarf?"

"You can surrender, and be put in the brig, ya long-eared git! Ya left me brother, and all our friends back in Pyrewood ta die. And, as if that was'n bad enough, ya trafficked with a demon ta get us these blimps, sacrificed on o' tha greatest Paladins ta ever live ta do it, than ya had us push almost 100 humans to their deaths!"

Kelnas stood now, an acid green glow flowing from his eyes. "They were under Balnazzar's control. Do you believe we would have made it this far had they been left to their own devices?"

"We couldda helped them! Relieved their minds!"

Kelnas shook his head. "They're better off dead, Master Dwarf."

"Aye, and so are you." The Dwarf said, and he pulled the trigger. The blunderbuss fired. Kelnas swiftly raised his hand, and his body was covered in a thick, purple hide. The bullet deflected off his chest, and lodged itself in a wall.

He curled his hand, and muttered a word. The Dwarf's skin began to smoke, and then break into flame. "Have a care, Dwarf. I am far more powerful than you."

The others, seeing their leader in trouble rushed the pair. "Very well," Illyrian said. He drew another blade from his hip and met the group head on. Dodging their blows, he ducked under a human swinging a great sword, and brought his elven blades up and under the man's stomach, spilling his entrails out on to the floor.

Kelnas cast his hands out, and summoned a mass of living shadow. "Voidwalker, do as you will to them."

"Yesss Massster," it rumbled and moved towards the group, caring not a wit for the blades passing through its shadowy body. When it reached the center of them, it threw it's hands into the air, and the group began to scream, living their worst nightmares and fears as the demon tormented them. As they did, Kelnas began to cast shadowy balls of energy at them. It corrupted their flesh, and at their bones. As they died, the gurgled, blood pouring from their orifices.

Illyrian took a blow to his arm, cutting open his armor and forearm, the gnome who had done this received both swords through his helm, where they bit deep into his skull. "I tire of these games. Kelnas! Destroy them."

The warlock bowed. "As you wish." Placing a hand in front of himself, palm facing outwards, he began to chant. A red glow appeared and lanced into an elf, standing in the center of the group. She doubled over with pain, wracking and coughing, blood splattering across her teeth and the floor. Then, she screamed as the spell, called Seed of Corruption by Kelnas, exploded from her body, becoming lodged in others where it continued its work.

After a moment, it stopped. The insurrection was over. Illyrian wiped blood from his blades and slid them back into their scabbards, and strode on deck. There, he grabbed a human by the arm, and too him up onto the wheel house and cast his voice out, using his magical skill, to all on the Zeppelins.

"My followers, hear me. I know that some of you disagree with what I do. And some of you are planning to...remove me and my friend from power. I assure you, this will be met only with death." With that, he turned. And, in one motion, drew a dagger from his back, and cut the human's throat out.

The man grabbed at his ruined neck, trying to breathe. He collapsed, blood leaking out. "We have just foiled one attempt. Rest assured I will kill ALL of you if I have to. No one will stop me." Dropping form the wheel house, he retreated to his chambers.

Kelnas strode on to the deck, when an elf approached him. "Did this really happen? Did it fail?"

Kelnas blinked slowly, and tilted his head. "Yes. And you will not get a second chance." He backhanded the elf, enhancing himself with demonic strength. The elf was lifted up and over the guardrail where he plummeted down into the ocean, the impact killing him. Kelnas glared around at the other soldiers. "Have a care," and he too, moved to his quarters.

Illyrian tossed and turned in his sleep. His dreams were becoming more and more vivid. In them, he saw his betrothed, Summer, saying that, if they were to kill the Lich King, they needed to fight fire with fire! If one could gain the power of the Lich King, and then use it against him, it would succeed! The Lich King would be undone, foiled by thinking himself safe from his servants.

The elf woke, sweating. "Indeed....if one could be like Arthas...that power could be useful in the fight. I must tell Kelnas of this."