The sun was barely breaking the horizon as Drakus finished putting on his robes. Setting his goggles in place he looked down at the still sleeping Natallya. She was naked and intertwined so peacefully in the sheets the warlock couldn’t help but smile. “Rest my beautiful flower, your road ahead is not going to be easy.” He whispered leaning down to gently kiss her on the forehead. A knock on the door shook away the creeping thought of awakening her in a more lustful manner. Taking his staff he opened the door where a hooded figure stood, flanked by two others, one looked like a High Elf by the tint of her pointy ears the other was a dwarf. “We have come for you Lord Drakus.” The hooded one said in a quiet tone. The warlock nodded and stepped between them confidently, making way for the stairs below. “Everything is as you have commanded. We ride east to the Swamp of Sorrows where the team awaits.” The hooded one reported, following close at Drakus’ heels. “Are you sure there was no discovery of the expedition in any town registry?” Drakus asked making it down the flight of steps slowly his shielded eyes glancing to the patrons of the Darkshire inn. “The Night Watch is oblivious to our plans milord.” was the quick response. “They better be. For your sake, the Council has little tolerance for failure.” Drakus warned ominously. “And I have even less.” He finished stopping and turning to face the cringed man. “I understood my lord.”
A group of horses awaited them. Drakus mounted quickly and without a word rode off into path leading towards the Swamp. Morning passed to afternoon and afternoon into evening. Drakus leading the riders on a non stop trip to their destination. Their horses exhausted the group arrived to the designated spot just as the sun vanished into the hazy swamp sky. “We rode hard and made it with little time to spare.” Drakus said coming off his mount. The dwarf and high elf approached and bowed before him. “Forgive us. We shall not delay any further.” The female elf said. Drakus nodded and gazed over to the hooded one. “If you ever manage to get off that mount Smitz, I would like to get started. This swamp reeks.” There were echoes of the mixed species that inhabited the swamp. Cougars and other predators were aplenty. “Where are they?” Drakus asked impatiently. He noted his two bodyguards begin to suit up. Deciding it was best to err on the side of caution he began his ritual summoning, his mind however was on edge. Something was near. Channeling his power he called upon what many considered to be one of the foulest denizens of the Abyss. A felhunter growled as it manifested itself onto our plane. Smitz cringed again and leaped back as the demon sensing his fear snarled at him, snapping its two tails dangerously close. “We are here human.” A hissing voice called forth from the darkness. Drakus was surprised, but only for a moment. His party however stood poised to attack. “That won’t be necessary…” he said waving them down. “Nor wise…” said the voice again with a chuckle.
From the surrounding brush of trees and plants three dragonkin warriors emerged, holding onto spears and armor that would break many a blade. Smitz gasped and nearly fainted from pure horror. The dwarf stood ready to strike, while the elf cursed in her native tongue. “Do you have what was agreed upon warlock?” the dragon warrior asked. “Perhaps…” Drakus replied in a casual manner. The next moment was a blur. The dragon had for a four legged beast, amazing dexterity. It leapt and had taken the warlock by the throat. The dwarf charged with a cry at the nearest dragonkin. The clumsy dwarf never saw it coming, another dragonkin launched its spear with such force it not only impaled him, but flew him back into a tree where the spear also went through. Nailed to the tree in horror the dwarf slumped dead in seconds. The elf female stood transfixed, in shock at the brutal death of her companion. Smitz was now crawling towards his horse, wetting himself with fear. “Enough!” the dragonkin leader ordered gripping tightly around the seemingly unfazed Drakus in his hands. “You will give us the artifact or I will watch your head explode in my grip!” The warlock only smiled, the air was leaving his lungs fast but he could manage a few words. “It would be unwise of you if you did not put me down at once.” He said. The dragonkin laughed for a moment, as did the others. It was odd hearing dragonkin laugh, odd and quite frightful. It ended quickly. A chorus of shadow bolts struck the dragon warrior that had killed the dwarf. The strength and focus of the surprise attack was so powerful it barely shrieked.
Portals materialized from multiple locations and out of them came a score of warlocks. All dressed in robes of the Shadow Council. Drakus’ grin grew as the dragonkin lowered him to the ground. “The artifact you want will not be secured until after you and your kin have destroyed the Draenei village.” The warlock said, rubbing his bruised throat. “Also, if you touch me again you will be destroyed.” He also spat with deadly intent. Smitz who was in the fetal position underneath a horse whimpered as the elf female prodded him with her sword. “Get up, our team arrived.” She said. The warlocks remained in their positions for the next hour as Drakus and the dragonkin made their plans to assault the Lost One Village. “Not a single Draenei is to be left alive.” Drakus reminded the dragonkin. “We do not take prisoners human.” He replied. Nodding he left the camp and ordered his men to move out. The dragonkin followed close behind. The march was not very long, the village which was barely a collection of a forty huts and a few more shelters built from the mud and logs of the swamp. “Amazing were one hides a treasure?” Smitz told Drakus absently. “Medivh was wise to hide this particular treasure among these brutes, or more precisely below the brutes.” Drakus answered, his arms crossed in front of him as he watched the unknowingly doomed Draenei in the distance. “We are ready human.” The dragonkin reported. “Very well…begin the attack.” He ordered with a wave of his hand. The felhunter at the warlock’s feet snarled and licked its fanged mouth.
Precise and deadly were two words of understatement to describe the massacre of the Draenei village. Fire and brimstone rained death to the unsuspecting villagers. The assault caught the militia completely off guard. The cries of the wounded and dying echoed into the unforgiving swamp, which this night earned its name of Sorrow. Drakus watched it all with an impassive gaze, studying the reaction of his enemy closely. “They are sufficiently surprised. Send in the kobolds.” He commanded. “At once my lord.” Smitz bowed and scurried off to obey. The Shadow Council had procured the service of a clan of kobolds from the Arathi Highlands. Loyal only because of their fear of torturous undeath the rat like cretins were used as fodder for assaults such as these. The villagers had managed to seek shelter and the unholy attack from the warlocks ceased. Orders could be heard from inside the village as the Draenei braced for another attack. Their wait was not long. Scores of kobolds cried out and rushed headlong into the village. Armed with only picking spikes, near blunt swords, clubs and maces, a few were “lucky” enough to have armor, let alone clothing at all. Yet blindly they rushed in eager to cause any mayhem they could. The Draenei eager for a bit of revenge counter attacked. Lines of kobolds fell but their numbers were great and soon it came down to close range melee. Swords clashed as clubs hit shields. The villagers fought hard and were achieving a significant amount of success. Drakus smirked, they had no idea what was coming. Cheers erupted as the cowardly kobolds retreated back into the swamp. The rat creatures leaving their wounded behind, even tripping and trampling over one another in their haste to flee. “The kobolds abandon us!” Smitz cried pointing towards the obvious outcome. “Relax my impetuous friend, all is in order.” Drakus calmly replied turning to the dragonkin commander who looked on the carnage in the village with a fevered bloodlust. “Now dragon, send in your kin. Destroy them all.”
The cheers from the village stopped as soon as the war horns sounded. They knew now, the rain of fire, the kobolds, were only a small glimpse at the death that was about to come. There was a look of confusion on the warriors. Yet from among them now began to emerge robed Draenei, peeling off their battle armor. They knew what was about to attack them and prepared spells to try and counter. “You see, I knew there would be mystics among them. Order the others to send in felhunters to neutralize the casters.” Drakus ordered quickly, looking down to his own minion. “You shall see action soon enough my pet.”
The charge came on then and two dozen dragonkin warriors charged from the swamp. Arrows bounced off armor and scale and the Draenei archers threw down their bows quickly to prepare for close range fighting. Lightning bolts erupted from the mystic’s hands, hitting and falling a few dragonkin. “Go, destroy the mystics and devour their magics for your own power!” Drakus commanded and his felhunter pounced off into the fray, followed by the minions of the other warlocks present. Only a few more lightning bolts were seen shortly after, the felhunters performed perfectly, the dragonkin as well. The village fell before the moon rose fully. Drakus waited patiently for the last of the fighting to end before making his way into the village center. Bodies littered the ground and pools of blood flowed into each other. The air smelled of charred flesh and burning wood. Fires burned all around him. “My lord, a group of warriors has escaped into the swamp with the women and children…” Smitz reported bowing low before his victorious leader. “I said no survivors, have a group summon voidwalkers to hunt them all down.” The cowardly lieutenant saluted and rushed off again. The female elf that had stood the entire battle at Drakus’ side smiled and traced a finger down the side of his cheek. “They were right about you dark one. You are powerful and brilliant.” She said seductively. Drakus brushed her hand away and walked towards the dragonkin leader. “We did our part human, now where is our artifact?” it said with a growl.
The warlock smiled. “A deal is a deal…the Shadow Council would never break the treaty with your clan…the artifact you seek is there.” He said pointing to the elf woman who looked from side to side confused. The dragonkin also a bit put off hissed and stormed towards Drakus who stood in his place, still smiling. “This is no time to try my patience human.” It warned growling. “Look closely at her, tell me if I lie…” the warlock said walking away, with a wave directed to the elf. The dragon then seemed to peer at the elf female and after a moment or two laughed in understanding. “I would have been foolish to wield that particular artifact out in the open…” Drakus said taking a seat at what appeared to be the village elder’s chair. “Removal of it will…” the dragonkin began as the elf female realized her life was and had always been forfeit. “A small price to pay for the Council.” The warlock said wiping off some debris from the armrest. To her credit the elf warrior kneeled silently in her place. “We shall take her to our stronghold.” The dragonkin said. “Do with her as you please and be gone, we have work to accomplish here.” Drakus said with a tone of the dismissal that the dragonkin understood and complied with.
With the return of the successful hunting group there would be not witnesses to this event. Drakus directed all the warlocks to the center of the village. It had been cleared of bodies and debris. “Begin the summoning!” he ordered. The score warlocks chanted as one, slowly the ground rumbled underneath them. A quake of dark power cracked the ground open. Drakus watched as the hidden treasure split open its prison and emerged into the night. A large obelisk crystal rose into the air. Humming with power it seemed to echo in the sky above. The well studied warlock was a bit surprised and somewhat shocked once he recognized the crystal. He had seen such things in the desert of Tanaris. It was evidence of an ancient race known as the Silithid that had warred with the Night Elves eons ago. Something big was beginning, and Drakus couldn’t help but feel that he was now part of an event that was being set in motion that would affect the lives of all in the realm. The smile on his face seemed ominous under the dark glow emanating from the crystal.
A group of horses awaited them. Drakus mounted quickly and without a word rode off into path leading towards the Swamp. Morning passed to afternoon and afternoon into evening. Drakus leading the riders on a non stop trip to their destination. Their horses exhausted the group arrived to the designated spot just as the sun vanished into the hazy swamp sky. “We rode hard and made it with little time to spare.” Drakus said coming off his mount. The dwarf and high elf approached and bowed before him. “Forgive us. We shall not delay any further.” The female elf said. Drakus nodded and gazed over to the hooded one. “If you ever manage to get off that mount Smitz, I would like to get started. This swamp reeks.” There were echoes of the mixed species that inhabited the swamp. Cougars and other predators were aplenty. “Where are they?” Drakus asked impatiently. He noted his two bodyguards begin to suit up. Deciding it was best to err on the side of caution he began his ritual summoning, his mind however was on edge. Something was near. Channeling his power he called upon what many considered to be one of the foulest denizens of the Abyss. A felhunter growled as it manifested itself onto our plane. Smitz cringed again and leaped back as the demon sensing his fear snarled at him, snapping its two tails dangerously close. “We are here human.” A hissing voice called forth from the darkness. Drakus was surprised, but only for a moment. His party however stood poised to attack. “That won’t be necessary…” he said waving them down. “Nor wise…” said the voice again with a chuckle.
From the surrounding brush of trees and plants three dragonkin warriors emerged, holding onto spears and armor that would break many a blade. Smitz gasped and nearly fainted from pure horror. The dwarf stood ready to strike, while the elf cursed in her native tongue. “Do you have what was agreed upon warlock?” the dragon warrior asked. “Perhaps…” Drakus replied in a casual manner. The next moment was a blur. The dragon had for a four legged beast, amazing dexterity. It leapt and had taken the warlock by the throat. The dwarf charged with a cry at the nearest dragonkin. The clumsy dwarf never saw it coming, another dragonkin launched its spear with such force it not only impaled him, but flew him back into a tree where the spear also went through. Nailed to the tree in horror the dwarf slumped dead in seconds. The elf female stood transfixed, in shock at the brutal death of her companion. Smitz was now crawling towards his horse, wetting himself with fear. “Enough!” the dragonkin leader ordered gripping tightly around the seemingly unfazed Drakus in his hands. “You will give us the artifact or I will watch your head explode in my grip!” The warlock only smiled, the air was leaving his lungs fast but he could manage a few words. “It would be unwise of you if you did not put me down at once.” He said. The dragonkin laughed for a moment, as did the others. It was odd hearing dragonkin laugh, odd and quite frightful. It ended quickly. A chorus of shadow bolts struck the dragon warrior that had killed the dwarf. The strength and focus of the surprise attack was so powerful it barely shrieked.
Portals materialized from multiple locations and out of them came a score of warlocks. All dressed in robes of the Shadow Council. Drakus’ grin grew as the dragonkin lowered him to the ground. “The artifact you want will not be secured until after you and your kin have destroyed the Draenei village.” The warlock said, rubbing his bruised throat. “Also, if you touch me again you will be destroyed.” He also spat with deadly intent. Smitz who was in the fetal position underneath a horse whimpered as the elf female prodded him with her sword. “Get up, our team arrived.” She said. The warlocks remained in their positions for the next hour as Drakus and the dragonkin made their plans to assault the Lost One Village. “Not a single Draenei is to be left alive.” Drakus reminded the dragonkin. “We do not take prisoners human.” He replied. Nodding he left the camp and ordered his men to move out. The dragonkin followed close behind. The march was not very long, the village which was barely a collection of a forty huts and a few more shelters built from the mud and logs of the swamp. “Amazing were one hides a treasure?” Smitz told Drakus absently. “Medivh was wise to hide this particular treasure among these brutes, or more precisely below the brutes.” Drakus answered, his arms crossed in front of him as he watched the unknowingly doomed Draenei in the distance. “We are ready human.” The dragonkin reported. “Very well…begin the attack.” He ordered with a wave of his hand. The felhunter at the warlock’s feet snarled and licked its fanged mouth.
Precise and deadly were two words of understatement to describe the massacre of the Draenei village. Fire and brimstone rained death to the unsuspecting villagers. The assault caught the militia completely off guard. The cries of the wounded and dying echoed into the unforgiving swamp, which this night earned its name of Sorrow. Drakus watched it all with an impassive gaze, studying the reaction of his enemy closely. “They are sufficiently surprised. Send in the kobolds.” He commanded. “At once my lord.” Smitz bowed and scurried off to obey. The Shadow Council had procured the service of a clan of kobolds from the Arathi Highlands. Loyal only because of their fear of torturous undeath the rat like cretins were used as fodder for assaults such as these. The villagers had managed to seek shelter and the unholy attack from the warlocks ceased. Orders could be heard from inside the village as the Draenei braced for another attack. Their wait was not long. Scores of kobolds cried out and rushed headlong into the village. Armed with only picking spikes, near blunt swords, clubs and maces, a few were “lucky” enough to have armor, let alone clothing at all. Yet blindly they rushed in eager to cause any mayhem they could. The Draenei eager for a bit of revenge counter attacked. Lines of kobolds fell but their numbers were great and soon it came down to close range melee. Swords clashed as clubs hit shields. The villagers fought hard and were achieving a significant amount of success. Drakus smirked, they had no idea what was coming. Cheers erupted as the cowardly kobolds retreated back into the swamp. The rat creatures leaving their wounded behind, even tripping and trampling over one another in their haste to flee. “The kobolds abandon us!” Smitz cried pointing towards the obvious outcome. “Relax my impetuous friend, all is in order.” Drakus calmly replied turning to the dragonkin commander who looked on the carnage in the village with a fevered bloodlust. “Now dragon, send in your kin. Destroy them all.”
The cheers from the village stopped as soon as the war horns sounded. They knew now, the rain of fire, the kobolds, were only a small glimpse at the death that was about to come. There was a look of confusion on the warriors. Yet from among them now began to emerge robed Draenei, peeling off their battle armor. They knew what was about to attack them and prepared spells to try and counter. “You see, I knew there would be mystics among them. Order the others to send in felhunters to neutralize the casters.” Drakus ordered quickly, looking down to his own minion. “You shall see action soon enough my pet.”
The charge came on then and two dozen dragonkin warriors charged from the swamp. Arrows bounced off armor and scale and the Draenei archers threw down their bows quickly to prepare for close range fighting. Lightning bolts erupted from the mystic’s hands, hitting and falling a few dragonkin. “Go, destroy the mystics and devour their magics for your own power!” Drakus commanded and his felhunter pounced off into the fray, followed by the minions of the other warlocks present. Only a few more lightning bolts were seen shortly after, the felhunters performed perfectly, the dragonkin as well. The village fell before the moon rose fully. Drakus waited patiently for the last of the fighting to end before making his way into the village center. Bodies littered the ground and pools of blood flowed into each other. The air smelled of charred flesh and burning wood. Fires burned all around him. “My lord, a group of warriors has escaped into the swamp with the women and children…” Smitz reported bowing low before his victorious leader. “I said no survivors, have a group summon voidwalkers to hunt them all down.” The cowardly lieutenant saluted and rushed off again. The female elf that had stood the entire battle at Drakus’ side smiled and traced a finger down the side of his cheek. “They were right about you dark one. You are powerful and brilliant.” She said seductively. Drakus brushed her hand away and walked towards the dragonkin leader. “We did our part human, now where is our artifact?” it said with a growl.
The warlock smiled. “A deal is a deal…the Shadow Council would never break the treaty with your clan…the artifact you seek is there.” He said pointing to the elf woman who looked from side to side confused. The dragonkin also a bit put off hissed and stormed towards Drakus who stood in his place, still smiling. “This is no time to try my patience human.” It warned growling. “Look closely at her, tell me if I lie…” the warlock said walking away, with a wave directed to the elf. The dragon then seemed to peer at the elf female and after a moment or two laughed in understanding. “I would have been foolish to wield that particular artifact out in the open…” Drakus said taking a seat at what appeared to be the village elder’s chair. “Removal of it will…” the dragonkin began as the elf female realized her life was and had always been forfeit. “A small price to pay for the Council.” The warlock said wiping off some debris from the armrest. To her credit the elf warrior kneeled silently in her place. “We shall take her to our stronghold.” The dragonkin said. “Do with her as you please and be gone, we have work to accomplish here.” Drakus said with a tone of the dismissal that the dragonkin understood and complied with.
With the return of the successful hunting group there would be not witnesses to this event. Drakus directed all the warlocks to the center of the village. It had been cleared of bodies and debris. “Begin the summoning!” he ordered. The score warlocks chanted as one, slowly the ground rumbled underneath them. A quake of dark power cracked the ground open. Drakus watched as the hidden treasure split open its prison and emerged into the night. A large obelisk crystal rose into the air. Humming with power it seemed to echo in the sky above. The well studied warlock was a bit surprised and somewhat shocked once he recognized the crystal. He had seen such things in the desert of Tanaris. It was evidence of an ancient race known as the Silithid that had warred with the Night Elves eons ago. Something big was beginning, and Drakus couldn’t help but feel that he was now part of an event that was being set in motion that would affect the lives of all in the realm. The smile on his face seemed ominous under the dark glow emanating from the crystal.