Echoes of Doom

[Eonwë]

Auros brought his hammer down upon the skull of the final zombie, ensuring this servant of the Lich King was deprived of his undeath. Reports had come into Stormwind that the Scourge had found their way into Westfall, even to Sentinel Hill, far from the Raven Hill Cemetery in Duskwood. Auros, a Knight of the Silver Hand, thought it his duty to investigate this odd occurence, and had arrived to learn, to his relief, he was not alone.

For the moment, he did not sense the presence of any more agents of the Scourge, so he began to examine the formerly active corpses before him. Hmm, this one seems more decomposed than the others,...

Drawing closer to the zombie corpse, he began to examine the features to determine when the plague of Undeath came upon the unfortunate person. Something odd lay on the ground near the zombie's face. Had it fallen from the zombie's mouth, or perhaps it was stuck in its tattered shirt, and had just now fallen free. Auros leaned over and picked the object up, examined it, smelled it. Grain...

As he thought that to himself, stories of the fall of Andorhal came to his mind, and suddenly he realized this could be much worse than expected. Leaving the zombie corpses to be burned by the guards at Sentinel Hill, he called upon his Charger and threw himself upon the saddle. His demeanor now exuded a need for urgency, something his faithful Charger picked up on, and they were off in a flash.

This is far more important than the regular disturbances of a restless soul. Stormwind must be warned!

[Eonwë]

Auros arrived at the gates of Stormwind to learn he was not the first to bring these tidings. The Argent Dawn, a brotherhood of Paladins which Auros had worked with extensively before, had sent a contingent to Stormwind to aid in the investigation, and if necessary, containment, of this plague. Auros was known by many of the Argent Dawn, and recognized a few faces among the contingent. Riding up to one in particular, he hailed the fellow servant of the Light and dismounted.

"If the Dawn has come south from the Plaguelands, then things are grim indeed, my friend," Auros said.

Returning his hail, the Argent Dawn soldier replied, "Indeed, things are grim, and I fear we have seen nothing yet."

Auros removed his gauntlet and ran his hand through his greying hair. "Then you know of the grain?"

The soldier nodded. "Aye. Apparently it came from Booty Bay. From whence it was shipped to Booty Bay, we had yet to determine. Those cursed goblins are secretive when it comes to their business ventures, even in a situation like this!" The soldier tightened his grip on his sword.

"This does not bode well at all my friend. This has happened before, and I do not think any but ... The Lich King ... could be behind it." The revulsion of even thinking of what Arthas had become was too much for this Paladin who had served the Light for many long years.

"The Argent Dawn is concerned as well. We have sent delegations to every major city in Azeroth, from Stormwind to Silvermoon--"

"Silvermoon!" Auros exclaimed. "You would aid those who have defiled Uther's Tomb and corrupted the Light?!"

"The Dawn aids all who are enemies of the Scourge, regardless of who they are, my friend. And you forget the sacrifices made by the Naaru so that those who call themselves Blood Elves may be redeemed and one day call upon the Light themselves."

Calming, Auros responded, "Aye, my friend. You are right. Forgive an old Paladin. Please continue."

"We have also sent an envoy to Shattrath in the chance the grain has made it to Outland. Unfortunately, our delegations did not arrive in time to prevent the Alliance and Horde cities from receiving it. We have managed to destroy some of it, but we have not been able to account for all the grain in the shipment."

"Could it really have made it to Outland undetected? Surely the Naaru, who are stronger in the Light than we, would have detected it?"

"We are not sure, and so we act on the side of caution. Whether A'dal knows of the grain or not, it is only prudent that we station our guards in every fortifiable city."

Auros caught a slight stress on the latter two words, and attempted to pose his concerns softly and discreetly. "It seems that the Dawn has sent out a considerable force. You must have a sizable army indeed, that you can aid so many and yet still hold your outposts in the Plaguelands." The silence of the soldier was all he needed to feed his suspicions. While it is quite likely the Dawn has the numbers, it is also possible they are spreading themselves thin, which only means this is worse than I could've expected.

Aloud, Auros said, "What do we know so far?"

Gripping his sword tightly again, the soldier sounded more like he was giving a report than talking to a friend, perhaps due to the nature of the information.

"Reports of Scourge activity has been sporadic, but has occurred in almost all lands. I believe you have just come from Westfall? That was only the beginning. Reports from Goldshire, Darkshire, the Crossroads, and Chillwind have indicated varying numbers of Scourge attacking with no apparent pattern or plan. The latter would not be surprising, except these zombies are not like the Scourge we are used to in the Plaguelands. They're something,.. new. They bear a very infectious strain of the Undead Plague. They seem to spew a cloud of undeath. People have become infected simply by being near them. Our healers are still quite capable of healing the infected, if we can catch them in time, but," lowering his voice the soldier continued, "there are reports that the plague is becoming resistant."

Auros felt his heart race for a brief moment before his will brought it back under control. "Resistant? But how?"

The soldier continued softly, "We do not know yet, but if the Undead Plague becomes resistant to the Light, all of these cities may soon become islands in the oncoming storm. If we cannot cure it, we will be forced to destroy it."

[Eonwë]

Auros had come to Darkshire in hopes of stemming the spread of this new plague before it could find its way to the Blasted Lands. So far his results were mixed. He tried cleansing the plague from the infected many times and in many ways. Some worked, and those cured - guards, citizens, or members of the Night Watch - returned to their normal lives. Some, however, did not recover. These had to be dealt with carefully, lest those attempting to cleanse the plague be overwhelmed by the newly turned zombies. Patients were routinely restrained during the curing process to ensure that if they did turn, they could not attack anyone.

Somehow, the infected were turning faster now, leaving little time to attempt cleansing. The cleansers had discovered just how sinister this plague was: the longer someone was exposed to a zombie carrying it, even in the thickest of armor, the more swiftly they turned. Some were on the verge of turning when they were brought in, and care had to be taken to ensure that those bringing the person in were not infected as well....

With a sigh, Auros stood up and offered a prayer for his patient. He had tried hard until the very end, but it was too late now; this patient had turned. Leaving the zombie to be dealt with by the paladin and guards standing behind him. Returning to his room in the inn, he tried to get some rest. Tomorrow would be another long day. He had received orders. A new town had been infected.

[Eonwë]

Gadgetzan, a bustling hub amidst the desert wasteland of Tanaris. Yet, the plague had found its way here. Between the regular attacks of the Horseman's shade who continued to torch Alliance towns, showing no mercy despite the greater danger faced by the Lich King, and the constant travel to combat the plague and its results, Auros was worn. Time for rest did not come, however, and as always he leaned on the Light to give him strength.

Another patient was brought into the room, a makeshift triage room formerly occupied by some merchant. The goblins were not pleased that business was affected, but understood the necessity that their customers not turn into zombies.

Using his hammer to pull himself to his feet, Auros walked over to the new arrival and began to inspect him. A sound came from somewhere behind him in the room, the knocking over of trays and tables. Auros turned around. A woman in the corner had turned, and the Gadgetzan's guards were attempting to subdue
her. Auros took two steps toward the commotion to put the tortured soul to rest, but another Paladin stepped in before he got far. He turned back to find his patient pouncing at him. Instinctively, he called upon the Light. His eyes flashed with the power of the Light as he raised his hand towards his assailant. The attacker flew back, thrown against the far wall by a blast of holy energy. The zombie fell to the ground and crumpled into dust as the bells of Alonsus Chapel rang in Auros' ears.

"Sorry," the guards who brought him in said, "He was only infected a couple of minutes ago. We didn't expect him to turn so quickly."

"Only a couple of minutes ago?"

Auros had no time to absorb this new development, however. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble, and a thundering sound began to fill the air. Auros left the building to find the source of the sound. Descending from the sky over the Shimmering flat, moving toward Gadgetzan, Auros saw a sight he had seen not enough years before. As the shadow passed over Gadgetzan, Auros whispered, "It's come again."

[Eonwë]

Auros sat down hard and leaned against a tree. He'd been forced to give ground to the approaching Scourge in Elwynn Forest. Foolishly, he'd agreed to follow someone to aid a sick relative. He'd known the person would be turned before he got there, and he would have to put the unfortunate soul to rest, but he could not have expected that the man's entire family would've been infected and turned. The man himself showed no signs of the plague when he'd arrived in Goldshire. He had not been infected. Auros made thoroughly certain of that before following him. The man too, was turned, only moments after they arrived to find the condition of his family. Looking down at his tabard, Auros could tell by the claw marks that they'd almost got him as well, if not for a servant of the Lich King due to his protection by the Holy Light, then certainly for zombie food. Removing a gauntlet, he lifted his tabard with his bare hand. It was shredded, and his breastplate was scratched. The righteous wrath of the Holy Light was enough to stun and confuse the zombies for his escape. As worn as he was when the attack began, he was not fit to challenge so many undead.

The day the Necroplis arrived in Tanaris, Auros recieved a letter from the Argent Dawn, calling all available defenders to Light's Hope. He'd answered the summons, and after a brief respite to regain his strength helped to demolish a Scourge staging point in the Plaguelands. They were appearing everywhere, from Winterspring to the Blasted Lands, no doubt attempting to gain the Dark Portal, where on the other side joint forces of the Alliance and Horde fought to hold the demons at bay. As advantageous as it may seem to let the Scourge and the Burning Legion at eachothers' throats, neither side of the Dark Portal was an acceptable loss.

The Argent Dawn had recalled many of their healers from the capital cities, leaving Stormwind at a greater disadvantage to the Plague, and the Knights of the Silver Hand had redoubled their efforts to ensure the loss would not be felt in the wake of the Necropolis once again settling in over Stormwind.

Enough reflection.

Auros rose to his feet. He could sense the undead not far away now, moving aimlessly. They're losing interest.

Running his bare hand through his greying hair, Auros smirked. They're never going to find me at this rate.

Taking a clean knife from his belt, Auros cut his hand and touched it to the tree he was leaning on. That ought to get their attention.

Auros waited for a moment in the silence, standing still except for the brief moment he took to heal his hand. The wind blew against his back, pushing his cloak against him and thrusting his tattered tabard waving before him like a banner. Only a moment later, and he knew the undead stiffened up. They'd caught the scent of blood. His blood, and they were coming. He could sense them long before they were in sight.

Replacing his gauntlet, Auros wrapped his hands around the haft of his hammer and slowly began to back up. He needed them to follow him just a little further. They were in sight now. He turned and began to run again, surprisingly fast despite the weight of his armor. Auros could sense them getting closer. They'd spotted him and would not give up the chase now.

Auros stopped and turned around facing the charging Scourge, seeing the hunger in their eyes even from this distance. The air around Auros was now permeated with his intent. It was time for retribution.

Just a little closer..

A glow surrounded Auros, and wings of light seemed to sprout from his armor. A similar light had now surrounded his hammer. The zombies came closer. One let out a shriek, and the charging Scourge hastened their attack.

Auros said to himself, "Closer...."

The shrieking zombie had taken the lead, and was coming right for Auros. The wind had suddenly turned again, throwing back Auros' cloak to wave behind him. The lead zombie lurched toward him,...

Suddenly, vines sprang from the ground, grasping the lead zombie and pulling it down to the ground even as another found itself thrown in the air, spinning relentlessly. Yet another was smashed into by a Dire Bear with strange markings, a species of bear certainly not native to Elwynn. The other zombies were hit by bolts of Holy Light shot from behind Auros. The zombies were brought together around the one trapped in vines.

Making a gesture with his hand, Auros said, "May the Light release you from this curse and grant you rest." About him rose a whirlwind of light that passed through the zombies and through his companions. The light healed and strengthened Auros and his companions, but the servants,.. the victims, of the Lich King, shrieked as the light passed through them, and then fell silent, at peace.

[Eonwë]

Once again Auros found himself in the Plaguelands answering the call of the Argent Dawn.

What new devilry has the Lich King created to threaten our existence?

This time, Auros was not called to battle the Scourge, but to travel to Shattrath and speak with Bishop Lazaril. With as busy as he had been, he was not aware the Bishop had been sent by the Church to Shattrath. It seems some the Dawn's strongest healers and paladins were also sent to Shattrath.

Girding himself for the journey, Auros made all possible speed to the Dark Portal. Passing through, he called upon his faithful gryphon. Swooping down, it landed before him. Patting the great creature gently, He mounted, then said, "To Shattrath, my friend." The gryphon took off, and with great haste made its way over the dangers of Hellfire Penninsula, over the Razorthorn Ridge, and through Terrokar Forest to finally come to the Terrace of Light. Dismounting, Auros let his gryphon return the the skies and proceded to the newly established Alliance camp within the walls of Shattrath.

He sensed it even before he saw it: an item of pure Light, distinct even upon the backdrop of A'dal's immense power.

"Greetings, noble paladin!" hailed the Bishop as Auros came up. Auros gave a bow in return. "Is that,.." he began to ask.

"Aye," she said. Explaining that it was created with the aid of the Naaru, Auros was then instructed by the Bishop to take it to King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind. "Guard it close, Auros."

Auros walked to the portal to Stormwind, maintained by the denizens of Shattrath as it was with every capital for both Alliance and Horde. Despite knowing better, the old Paladin couldn't help but wonder what trouble he could run into when there was a portal directly to Stormwind inside the city. He stepped through and descended the tower. Before leaving the Mage District, he sensed something, and a shade appeared before him.

"Greetings. I bring a message from my Master."

"Begone, servant of the Lich King!" Auros swung his arm as if to disipate the shade, and it vanished.

As he crossed into the trade district, the shade appeared again. "I can feel that holy trinket. Think not that it can save you!"
It was obvious now that this shade had no power to stop him from his task. Zombies had broken into the Trade District and began to attack, drawing Auros' attention for a moment. When he turned back, the shade was gone. Auros had to leave this fight those those already engaged.

Taking a back street, Auros emerged along the canals. No zombies had struck here yet. Auros continued his trek to the keep. Passing the Old Town, the shade appeared once again. "Your kingdom will fall human! My Master will grind it into dust! All you know shall perish!" Auros ignored the shade and continued his way to the keep.

The shadow of the necropolis overhead darkened the streets leading up to Stormwind Keep, but daylight still held and Auros was able to find his way. Again, at the entrance to the keep, the shade appeared. "There is only one way for you to escape your doom. Forsake your allegiances. Swear fealty to the Lich King, and he shall grant you power beyond your imagination!"

"Begone, shade, or I will send a message of my own!" Auros' Hammer was bathed in the Holy Light. The shade departed, having failed in its task.

Coming before the king, Auros kneeled. The king bid him rise. "My king, I have brought this weapon against the Scourge from Shattrath."

Suddenly, shouts from outside entered the keep. Auros gripped his hammer and ran to the door. As he got closer, he realized these were not shouts of fear but of joy.

"My lord," one of the guards exclaimed, "they've found a cure!"

[Eonwë]

Auros donned his armor, lifted his great hammer, and left the inn. Stormwind had become more peaceful, despite the Necropolis that was settled over it and the occasional skeleton or abomination dropped into the city, once the cure for the new plague had been distributed. Too many had been lost to this plague, but now at least if it's caught in time, the person could definitely be saved.

The Scourge staging points had been destroyed once again, and Auros had come to Stormwind for a brief respite and a visit to the Cathedral of Light before continuing the fight in Outland. Today, he felt called to visit the new Stormwind Harbor.

The harbor was active with the sound of bustling workers, ship crews, and soliders. Work was going on below to refurbish some steam tanks. Preparations were being made to strike at Northrend and bring the Lich King down.

As he took in the view and the smell of the sea air, Auros suddenly sensed something out in the distance, and knew that once again this had been the calm before the storm. Screams came from citizens and dockworkers and what Auros sensed came into view. Shouts rang through the Harbor, guards sending word to King Varian and to nearby guardhouses. Archers raised their bows and prepared to fire at the flight of approaching Frost Wyrms.