Tales of Aemus.

The journey to the Plaguelands.
PART I.


CHAPTER I

"He slowly opened his eyes and gazed out the window. The first rays of sunlight appeared over the mountain peaks. He sighed somewhat and grunted:
- The day has come, may the light guide me through it.
He reached out for his sword, his guardian in battle. His instrument of rage.
The townbell rang. From the tents outside plated soldiers appeared. Their tabards, with the sign of the alliance sawn into it, waved in the cold wind.
Aemus shivered.
- It looks a cold day will soon be upon us, his Sergeant, Demiril, said and smirked.
- Aye, indeed, Aemus answered without much enthusiasm. Gather the men and prepare to break camp. We are moving for the Plaguelands.
- Yes, Sir, the Sergeant replied followed by a salute and started issuing out orders to the officers.

Aemus looked upon the lined up soldiers. They were a few less than one hundred, all carrying shining armour and sharpened swords. A fine collection of soldiers they were. He streched his back a bit and spoke to them, out loud in a solemn voice:
- Soldiers of the Alliance, Guardians of the Light. Today we move for the once mighty lands of Lordaeron, now filled with the scums who have sworn their allegiance to the Scourge. Our mission is to escort pilgrims of the Holy Light to the Tomb of Uther. With us we carry an artefact that will shield the tomb from Scourge pillagers and marauders. By sunrise, three days from now you will be sleeping in your own beds. May the Light give us strength!
Aemus lifted his sword into the air and a loud cheer followed from the gathered soldiers.

The group of soldiers fell into a column formation and marched up the roads towards the Silverpine Forst.
With an unpleasent feeling Aemus glanced over his shoulder as the townhall of Southshore faded into the distance."



CHAPTER II

"A familliar rattling of bones and the stench of rotten flesh reached the senses of the old Lich. Two dark-coloured guards stepped aside as a messenger stumbled through the whole in the wall currently serving as door. The servant kneeled infront of a pile of bones and skulls the Lich was resting on.
The Lich spoke with a voice of cold, dire death:
- What news do you bring, messenger?
The messenger responded as he tried to catch his breath:
- Alliance movements sighted, great sir; going into the forest of Silverpine as speak, sir.
- What are their numbers and orders?
- 92 soldiers, sir; and they are escorting pilgrims, sir.
The Lich motioned his arm towards the door and the messenger disappeared, taking most of the stench with him. A magus of human origins showed himself from the shadows of a corner and said calmly:
- That is a strong escort for a few pilgrims. I suspect they carry something of greater importance with them.
The Lich nodded slowly. He turned to one of the guards:
- Inform Captain Darkcrest that he should send out a few spies to keep an eye on the intruders.
The guard bowed deeply and made haste through the door.
The magus smiled at the Lich.
- Spies in the form of ghouls? Captain Darkcrest is in charge of the assault squad, the magus said.
- Yes, perhaps we will know more of their intentions with a small harassment. The ghouls will perhaps not stop them, but slow them down leaving us with more time to find out what they brought with them, the Lich replied in a solemn tone."


CHAPTER III

"As the escort entered the dark forest of Silverpine Sergeant Demiril looked at his quiet Captain and asked:
- What troubles your mind, captain?
Aemus remained silent for a moment until he answered:
- Long have I rode into battles against the odds and made it out alive. Yet, I fear for entering the domains of the Scourge with an artefact of the Holy Light. If the Scourge finds out what we bring with us, no pardon will be given. Our bones will be grinded to dust. Only the birds high up in the sky will know of our tale. He paused for a second. Perhaps not even they will see tomorrow, for that is the rage of the Scourge.
- Do not loose heart, captain. The men will flee in fear if they see their leader troubled by the might of the Scourge. May the Light give us strength and aid us through the day.
- It is not the day I fear, but the night, he sighed and looked down onto the road.

They walked all day. The sun shined high up in the sky, but the howling cold wind and the echoes of agony grew seeds of dispair in the heart of the soldiers. As the sun faded behind the trees the battlehymns ended leaving nothing but silence. The soldiers looked anxiously around at the surrounding dense forest as they marched. The Sergeants were struggling to order them to march on and keep their eyes on the road. Even the prayers, hummed by the pilgrims ended. No one dared to speak, as they feared terror might overrun them.

The darkness were quickly upon as the last sunrays vanished. Bright eyes and dark shadows looked upon the soldiers as they marched through the endless dark forest. Fear made a place in the hearts of the soldiers. Nothing in their training could have prepared them for this. It was not the darkness they feared, but what lurked within. They had all heard stories of the Scourge pillaging villages, burning houses and slaughtering anyone who dared to oppose them. These stories, that in their childhood sounded farfetched and more story than truth, now struck their minds like knives to their backs."


CHAPTER IV

"The bright moon showed itself high up on the sky, but the ground remained dark. The wolves were silent this night as creatures horrific and savage ran through the forest on paths no man know. They moved swiftly over abandoned farm lands covered with grass and mushrooms, through dense dark forest, over hills and through valleys. Their mission was simple, to strike upon the marching soldiers leaving but death and pain in their path. The creatures, ghouls, did not fear they would die as their will was bound to the Lich King and not their own.

- Halt! We will set camp here. The loud voice of Aemus broke the seemingly endless silence.
The tired soldiers sighed in relief that they may finally rest their scarred feet. They had reached an opening in the forest and put up the tents in a circle close to each other. A few unhappy guards were stationed around the tents. They held tighly onto their torch and sword as they cursed their mission to be awake in this nightmare, guarding the tents.

The ghoul leader held up his hand and the others gathered around him. The light of the torches had reached their eyes and in silence, carefully avoiding branches that would give off their location, they sneaked to the edge of the forest surrounding the tents. The ghoul leader motioned for the ghouls to spread out around the camp.
It was all silence, as the ghouls knew time was on their side, weakening the nerves of the guards. The ghouls stared upon the wandering guards, picking their targets."


CHAPTER V

"A horrific scream that would compell most humans into fleeing was heard and the ghouls stormed towards the guards. The suprised and in fear stunned guards had little chance to defend themselves as claws ripped for their necks and chests. The ghouls stormed upon the tents where soldiers were struggling to find their swords. Slashing with their claws and spreading fear and chaos the ghouls quickly overrun the camp.
- To arms! Defend yourselves! The shouts of the officers trying to organise the soldiers echoed between the screams of death.
Aemus and the officers with a few remaining soldiers rallied around the middle tent containing the artefact. Side to side they held their swords pointing at the ghouls who stood waiting, having surrounded them.
- What foul magic is this, the Sergeant cried out in dispair.
The ghouls stormed towards the soldiers and a mighty clash was heard as the claws and swords struck together. Struggling, the soldiers repelled the first attack and the first wave of ghouls fell lifeless to their feet, leaving a foul stench as their green blood spread through the grass.
Another wave of ghouls charged towards them and with a battlecry the soldiers charged towards the oncoming ghouls swordfirst.
The ghouls fell by their hands and the soldiers backed, stunned they were still alive.
- Their waves are endless. We can't hold on for long, Sergeant Demiril said spitting out some blood and glared at the ghouls.
- I hate to admit you're right, Aemus answered coldly and stood ready as another wave rushed towards them with their shining claws reflecting the moonlight.
- The artefact! Use the artefact! The sergeant shouted as he swinged his sword leaving a ghoul stumbling backwards headless.
For a second Aemus hesitated, struggling to fight off the oncoming ghouls. He threw his swords towards them, buying enough time to pick up the artefact. He placed his scarred hand on it and felt a warm energy flowing through him.
A mighty light shined down from the sky. The ghouls stood still, gazing at the light not daring to move. As the light touched the ground an aura of light exploded. Aemus held for his eyes as the bright light blinded him.

When he slowly opened up his eyes he noticed that there were little remains of the ghouls. The waves of attackers had stopped and with releaf he looked around him. The ground was still warm and the last frightened ghoul jumped into the protective shadows of the dense forest.
Aemus' releaf turned into shear pain as he saw the lifeless bodies in plate, all with deep scars on their chests and heads. He slowly turned around, refusing to believe his eyes seeing most of his soldiers were lieing dead in the bloodstenched grass. A foul smell of death rouse to the sky.

The old Lich stood up from his throne of skulls as he felt the remains of the holy wave. He roared in anger:
- Bring me Captain Deathsworn! NOW!"

... To be continued.