Chapter (WIP)
The fate of Elwynn,
Synopsis. While Souldefiler brings war to Orgrimmar in a bid to crush the Horde leadership and install in their place her puppet her army in Stormwind continues its work of enslaving all who survive and slaughtering and raising into undeath those who resist. At the head are General Ly’Ker and his subordinate D’rae while Zor languishes in the citadel awaiting his punishment. With the captured girl in his grasp, Ly’Ker scours Elwynn and Westfall for slaves leaving only destruction in his wake.
His charger rearing, Ly’ker watched impassively as the survivors of the slaughter shuffled past him in binds, their hands tied behind their backs and a chain linked to a hoop on their manacles. Alongside them the children shuffled helplessly, tears running down their stained faces as each one looking for their parents. A cry of recognition was rewarded with a pull on their chain and a sword blade drawn to their cheek to cow them into silence. As the column made its way past Ly’Ker looked to the east and thought to himself how fortunate the King was that he had escaped as he would surely have been killed as a symbolic sacrifice. No matter. Once this pitiful band of stragglers was put to work in the mines in Elwynn he would lead the hunt, he shifted his head slightly as D’Rae came up behind him.
“The work goes well general,” said D’Rae as he swayed in the saddle and brought his charger to a halt. “There are more than I first thought. Let us hope we have enough supplies to keep them alive.”
“Alive?” said Ly’Ker not taking his eyes off the column. “Supplies. We do not need to waste such resources on keeping these wretches alive. After all. Undead slaves need no substance as do living ones. When they inevitably die we will simply raise them and work them until they wither to ash. The weaker will break earlier, but the strong…” He paused as a burly Kul Tiran paused to stare at the two riders with sadness in his eyes before he was pulled into the march again by the human in front. “Like this one” he gestured to with his head. “He is strong. he will work for long alive and even harder and longer as undead.” D’Rae looked at the Kul Tiran with admiring eyes. “Yes, this one will serve us well. Should we kill him now…”
“Of course not” said Ly’Ker. “Much more productive to break the soul before the body.” Pulling on his chain the girl Souldefiler had given special attention to fell on her knees and hands. “Now my pet,” said Ly’Ker. “Tell us where the villages are that you know of.”
Sobbing gently the girl lifted her head and pointed over the ridge to Goldshire. “There is an inn and a blacksmith in Goldshire, and some hamlets nearby with simple farmers.”
Releasing his grip on the chain the girl collapsed. D’rae dismounted and walked slowly to the gates of Stormwind. “Over this ridge?” he asked gently, as the girl continued to sob. “come now,” he said softly. “Don’t be shy. Tell us. We will find out sooner or later. For example, who lives in that humble little home just over yonder?” as he pointed to the just visible roof of a house. “I do not know their name but it is an old woman who lost her husband many moons ago. Now she tends to what meager means she has, a few cats and some cows.”
“Interesting,” said D’rae as he mounted his charger. Riding over to the house he dismounted at the gate and surveyed the area. Seeing nothing except a few cats as the girl had said he went to the door. Opening it slightly to his surprise it was wrenched open and a hoarse voice bellowed “Leave my home monster!” and a large rake was thrust at his head repeatedly. Grabbing the rake he pulled his assailant forward and as he thought, the old woman was pulled forward with a gasp onto the floor. “I admire your spirit old one,” said D’rae as he drew his blade “but as my General said, you would do better as a working corpse”. He swiftly brought his blade to bear and a head rolled out of the door. After raising her he commanded her to return to Stormwind and await her work orders. Returning to Ly’Ker who had not moved he dismounted and knelt to the girl. Presenting his blade to her as she looked up he smiled and whispered “No one will escape” before standing and mounting his steed.
Fresh tears came to the girl as she whispered softly “One day my vengeance will come or death will claim me”
Feeling the chain pull she dragged herself to her feet and Followed Ly’Ker as he and D’rae made their way house to house, killing and raising all they met. Finally, they came to Goldshire.
“Is it deserted?” asked Ly’Ker. The girl said nothing but slumped to the ground. “Is it deserted?” said Ly’Ker sharply, pulling her onto her feet with a sharp pull of his chain. “I do not know. It is usually busy with people going about their business.”
“Yes…” replied D’rae with a hint of disgust. “The Goldshire Inn is… Legendary. There will be degenerate wretches in there, lurking hoping to avoid us” he said, looking at Ly’Ker.
“Well,” he said. “Let us not disappoint them. Do not try to run” he said, pointing to the girl. “You will never outrun my steed nor my wrath.” Dismounting both headed into the inn.
It did appear empty, signs abundant of hurried retreats. Ly’Ker ran his hand over some food on the table. “Still warm,” he said. “They have not all left.” Drawing his blade softly he walked as quietly as he could to the kitchen. before motioning over to D’rae. “Go upstairs and make as much noise as you can. Kill anyone or anything you see up there, do it noisily. I want to see what rats rush out to escape”. D’rae nodded and walked heavily up the stairs. Going from room to room he grabbed door handles and swung open doors. Only one room was occupied, in the corner was the huddled shapes of a night elf woman and a Draenei woman, clutching the bedclothes around them. “scream for me” he whispered as he took his knife across the throat of the night elf. Screaming, the Draenei was dragged by her hair through to the next room and thrown onto the floor where she scrambled to find something to cover herself. Down below Ly’Ker listened carefully for sound. He quickly turned his head and retreated into the shade as he heard the trapdoor creak open. A human female’s head slowly popped out and quickly looked around. Whispering to someone below her she clambered out from the trapdoor and helped her companion. Watching from the shadows Ly’Ker waited until both were free from their hiding place. Suddenly he kicked a chair which slid over and slammed against the door, startling both women. Stepping into the lights he looked them up and down with barely disguised disgust. “Harlots” he muttered as he drew his blade. “This is nothing more than a cleansing” as he slew both and left them on the floor. Upstairs D’rae was also busy as the Draenei begged for her life clutching what remained of a bedspread. “No one will be spared.” he said as he drew her blade against her throat “Especially one such as you.” Dragging her corpse by one leg he left her to lie on the stairs before joining Ly’Ker. Outside some Devoted had arrived. “Burn this place to the ground” ordered Ly’Ker. “And if any are still lurking in the cellars, kill them if they try to flee.”
The Devoted bowed and took a torch to the inn and other buildings.
“Now my little pet,” said Ly’Ker. “What lies to the east?” The girl stood to her feet again and said “Westfall, but there lies a guard tower before to watch for trespassers and to keep order”
Ly’Ker looked to D’rae who nodded. "I shall take some devoted and clear it out. Ly’Ker nodded and returned to watching his Devoted burn Goldshire as his captive knelt before him saying nothing.
D’rae rode ahead of his party and reached the tower. Dismounting he checked the area for guards. Sure enough, he saw two patrol the grounds, clearly on high alert. “Let us test them,” he said to his devoted. “Three of you challenge them to combat, if you survive I will personally commend you to our Mistress.” The three devoted ran to the tower with their weapons brandished, yelling as they charged. But these were no mere gate guards. These were well-trained soldiers who had escaped the carnage and retreated to a stronghold to defend and prevent attacks. The devoted were cut down in seconds and challenging voices were heard. “They dare?” said D’rae as he dismounted. “Sir?” said his remaining devoted, “you should retreat.”
“Retreat?” shrieked D’rae. “Retreat? from a pitiful band of soldiers? When I return I will feed you to my dogs” as he marched to the tower. “Hold or I cut you down where you stand monster!” cried a voice that D’rae duly ignored. Suddenly rushing feet were heard and D’Rae steadied himself as a stormwind soldier came rushing out of the tower on a charger. Rolling to one side as the soldier flew past he quickly drew his blade across the horse’s legs. With a scream it crashed to the ground and rolled over it’s rider, crushing him beneath it. As the rider coughed and vainly tried to push the corpse off his body D’rae strode up to him and drove his sword down the soldier’s chest. With a scream of pain the soldier swung at Drae and with desperate strength knocked him to a knee. For a second D’rae paused admiring his courage as his life ended. He did not hear the second soldier draw back his bowstring and with unerring accuracy released a heavy arrow. Suddenly D’rae gasped and lurched forward, as he looked down at the arrow tip protruding from his chest. Then he felt a heavy boot on his shoulder as the arrow was kicked further, with every kick a tearing pain surged through his body. Then as a small grunt left him he fell forward onto the arrow.
The soldier rolled over D’rae’s body and crept into the bushes as another of these Devoted came into view. This one was no soldier, it marched blindly without it’s weapon drawn, clearly overconfident. Waiting until it was close he quickly jumped up with a roar and swept the devoted’s head off with one sweep. Panting he looked to the gate of Westfall judging how quickly he could make it to safety on foot before he was overtaken. But he had no need, as he heard the restless stamping of D’rae’s mount. Walking gently to the horse so as not to scare it, he took its reins and steadied a foot in a stirrup before quickly hauling himself up. With the horse now under his control, like the wind he rode through the gate towards the garrison.
Ly’Ker had waited long enough. He ordered some devoted to watch his pet as he rode toward the tower. Something was wrong. Dismounting he made his way to the tower where he saw two corpses. But they were not wearing Stormwind livery. Cursing softly he walked forward drawing his weapon, he saw the headless devoted still clutching the earth and then he saw the corpse of D’rae as it rested on its face still kneeling. Now cursing loudly he returned to Goldshire and to his pet. Pulling her fiercely to her feet he glared as a faint smile crossed her lips as her eyes faded. “Why did you not tell us there were soldiers there?” he demanded.
“Why would I tell you?” she whispered still faintly smiling. “Wherever you go, whoever you kill, whatever you destroy, we will resist you”
Yelling in anger Ly’Ker dropped the chain and the girl slumped to her feet now softly laughing as Ly’Ker raged at his misfortune. “She will kill you hopefully” laughed the girl, seeming emboldened. Ly’Ker said nothing as the girl laughed harder. Now the devoted began to draw back, sensing something.
Still staring at the horizon of Westfall Ly’Ker did not seem to notice the girl slowly get to her feet. “Sir!” cried a voice and LyKer spun round to suddenly have his neck held firmly in a choking hold by the girl who now rose to her full height. Ly’Ker fought against her grip but to no avail as he beat at her hand with his own hands, quickly losing strength. “Who are you?” he gasped as the girl brought her face close to his, his devoted seemingly paralyzed.
Suddenly there was a roar and a huge white cat, with dark grey spots and a spectral blue maw charged into the Devoted, ripping them apart. Still holding up Ly’Ker the girl commanded her companion to her side. Releasing her grip Ly’Ker fell and hurriedly retreated, still clutching his throat. He got to his feet very slowly and cautiously as he had no other choice, as the monstrous cat watched him for any move. His former captive disappeared behind the inn and re-emerged in full black-scaled armour and testing the strength of her bow. The girl’s pet was now sitting on its hind legs, yet never taking its eyes off Ly’Ker.Coughing he struggled to speak.
“Who are you?” he demanded. The girl turned to him before laughing. “You do not know? Your mistress did. or at least, thought that she did. That is why she spared me and told me she reminded her of someone. She was not wrong. I am the person she remembers, but not as she remembers.”
Ly’Ker said nothing as the girl came to her pet and scratched its ears. It growled softly in pleasure but always watching Ly’Ker. “She knew me as Miriene. I forsook that name long ago when I returned from the wild from many dangers, many trials, and many a hunt with my faithful companion.” as she scratched its ear again. “You would stand against all of us” coughed Ly’Ker as the girl rose again. Suddenly another roar echoed, and another beast jumped into view, as it too took its place on her side, so both cats were studying their captive. “My other companion,” said the girl. “What now? Shall we fight?” he asked. “Give me my weapon and we settle this” he grunted.
The girl said nothing except cross her arms. “No,” she said. “I will let you live. If only to send a message. Tell your mistress that she is being hunted.” Ly’Ker laughed “You can get in the back of the queue then” As he drew to his full height, even though he towered over his foe she was in no way intimidated by him.
“Do you recognise my weapon?” she asked softly, turning her back. Loque and Gondria visibly stiffened, Ly’Ker was under no illusions about what would happen if he tried to attack. Squinting he peered at her weapon and all bravado and courage left him. “Zod’s Longbow. From Icecrown.”
Yes." said the girl now turning to face him. “Return to your mistress and tell her Elwynn is under my protection and always will be. But when the time comes I will come for her. And as she has taken the name Souldefiler, once she knew me as Miriene.”
She uncrossed her arms and snapped her fingers, and her pets jumped up and growled at Ly’Ker.
“Now she will know me as the Soulclaimer. And I will claim hers.”
Then Soulclaimer and her pets seemed to melt into thin air, leaving Ly’Ker standing leaning on his sword still struggling to catch his breath.