“Land this is, a dirty one to!” Skaag cackled gleefully.
“Shut up, you bafoon!” The Viper sneered.
“But master…” Skaag sobbed.
“I said quiet!” The Viper roared, slapping Skaag on the back of the head.

The two continued walking along the river by them, the name of the river long forgotten, it was dawn and light was just starting to shine through the thicket of plague-ridden trees by them. The Viper did not look happy, taking Skaag on a walk-about as if he were some kind of dog, however, ‘the General’ just jumped about as if he were one.

Of course they were still travelling in the Plaguelands, it would be long before they escape the darkness of such a land. Where the mindless walked freely across the ground and the religious zealots fought anything else off that wasn’t in their faction. It was a dreary land, a sad place. While death seems to be at large in this area, it still withholds a small amount of hope in the form of the Argent Dawn, but still their numbers are few, and with Scourge actions rising on a day-to-day basis, they really had their hands tied full and could be obliterated quite easily, if one tried to.

Skaag jumped happily from rock to rock, exercising his new limbs, clearly his mind previously belonged to a mad man and no humanoid should ever act as ‘insane’ as this.

“Skaag!” The Viper yelled. “Stop being so loud! You’ll get us noticed, exorcise your muscles quietly, before you have none left to exercise at all!”
“Yes, yes sah’ master…” Skaag replied.

The Viper began to survey his surroundings, the wounded trees whistled their plight as the wind flowed through them, the bloodied rocks shared countless deaths upon their steep shadow, the stench was rotten, a crisp, thick air, to be honest, it was quite clammy that day, but seeing as both Skaag and The Viper were already dead and thus had no nerves to feel the climate of the day, it was completely oblivious to them.

Skaag began to jump into the river, and catch whatever god-forsaken fish that may still dwell there, with his long, pincer like teeth, he bit into one and threw the carcass away as quickly as he picked it up. Once again The Viper yelled.

“Skaag! If I have to tell you once more…” The Viper roared.
“Me thinks I saw something ahead I did…” Skaag replied.
“Something ahead?” The Viper asked. “What?”
“Most probably flesh-blood, human beast.” Skaag said.
“Humans?” The Viper growled.
“Me thinks they hold the mark of the Dawn, master…” Skaag giggled.
“Argent Dawn? What are they doing patrolling this edge of the wood.” The Viper asked.
“If I knew master, I’d tell you, yes, yes.” Skaag replied.
“Make yourself scarce, any sight of you and they’d take up their arms against us.” The Viper commanded.
“Yes, yes sah’ master…” Skaag replied.

Skaag jumped into a nearby bush and laid quite low for some time, not even making the leaves of this bush rustle, remaining completely still, surveying his master; The Viper, with curiosity from what events were about to occur.

“Who goes there?” Sullivan asked. “I warn you, foul Scourge beast! I am armed!”
“Hush now, Sully, if it is more foul Scourge, then by the Light, we wouldn’t want them to hear us.” Captain Elena replied.
“Aye, Cap’n be right ‘ere boy, Sully, if ya’ go wavin’ tha’ sword a’boot, ya’ get us inna’ more trouble than ye’ be worth.” Gorgrim said.
“Shh!” Captain Elena commanded. “I see someone…”
“Ye’ ther’, wha’ be ye’ name!” Gorgrim asked.
“It… It looks like an elf!” Sullivan exclaimed.
“Ah, sheath your blades, men, no trouble here…” Captain Elena said.
“What would… Argent Dawn be doing here? By any chance?” The Viper asked.
“Well, it is the Plaguelands sir, Scourge infest these woods from North down to South.” Sullivan replied.
“If’n I may ask, mister elf lad, wha’ be wrong wit’ yer’ skin? It be all grey an’ dry.” Gorgrim asked.
“Now no, Gorgrim, this elf may be in need of dire care, who knows what toxins may have poisoned him.” Captain Elena replied.
“My skin? Oh… Yes, terrible… It is.” The Viper replied, hoarsely.
“It does look… A little odd, what happened good sir?” Sullivan asked.
“Enough!” Captain Elena exclaimed. “Enough about the colour of this mans skin! What is your name elf! I am sorry for my soldiers… Pressing matters…”
“My… Name?” The Viper asked.
“Lad looks dead ta’ me, Cap’n, I dinna’ trus’ this ‘ere elfie folk.” Gorgrim said, while grabbing his large hammer from the belt tied around his back.
“Gorgrim!” Captain Elena yelled.
“Same goes for me, Captain, I do not like the look of this one… There’s just something about him.” Sullivan replied, sheathing his sword and grabbing his shield from his back.
“Will you just tell us your name? Elf!” Captain Elena said. “Before my men decide to make mince meat of you!”
“I… I… I don’t have one!” The Viper roared.
“Tha’s it, he be a dead’un, that one.” Gorgrim said, while charging into The Viper, his hammer set high to strike him in the stomach.

The Viper side-stepped quickly enough, he grimaced at the dwarf and shook a finger at him, his cape began to twirl around him, the long, thin, black cape swirled towards the open river, he quickly turned towards Gorgrim, and took the hammer off the charging dwarf, before the dwarf was able to turn around, he took a hammer to the face and the dwarf fell bludgeoned to the poisoned earth. But, realising the length of the situation, both Sullivan and Captain Elena dropped in to save their fallen comrade.
“Gorgrim!” Captain Elena exclaimed.
“Beast of Undeath! I will slay you where you stand!” Sullivan roared.

Sullivan and Captain Elena charged in, their swords set to smite The Viper badly, and as Elena’s sword pierced The Vipers chest, he casually drew the blade further in him, Captain Elena was mystified, her blade was adorned with holy water, surely this elf should burn. The Viper sneered at her, he drew her close to his face, she faintly took her over hand and traced it over The Vipers long scar down his eye. Sullivan, attempted to knock The Viper to the ground, but he failed miserably, being knocked to the earth by Gorgrim. He stumbled back; watching as Captain Elena so dozily meets her doom, the blade which had pierced The Viper was now turned, he drew the blade out of his chest, and turned it on to Captain Elena, a shove to her own stomach, and she was gone, the incapacitated Captain Elena fell down backwards, completely still, the irony in being killed by her own blade she loved as a son.

“You… You fiend!” Sullivan roared.
“You know little of me… Boy!” The Viper roared.

The Viper made his way to the cowering Sullivan; Sullivan was disarmed and scrambled back, The Viper loomed over him.

“Why do you fear me?” The Viper asked.
“Spare me! Oh please, by the Light do not slay me on these poisoned fields!” Sullivan begged.
“You’d think your race would hold a little more honour…” The Viper cackled.
“Please, please, I beg of you, do not slay a one you yourself know little about!” Sullivan pleaded.
“I can read you like a book, boy, I already know much about you.” The Viper sighed, pulling his arm around Sullivan’s neck to keep him in place.
“Ah… Ahh!” Sullivan yelped in fear.
“They call me… The Viper.” The Viper said, hoarsely, while Sullivan screamed.

As Sullivan’s screaming did pursue, The Viper raised his other arm above Sullivan’s chest, the shadow just beginning to swirl around his fingers, the faint purple light which he had forsaken what almost seems as a lifetime ago. He changed his hand to a fist, a fist of iron, hardened by the years he’s spent being this monstrosity.

“What do you hope to see, in the After-Life, boy?” The Viper sneered.

But Sullivan did not reply, he was stunned.

“Very well…” The Viper sighed.

But, as The Viper raised his hand further above his head, ready to plummet into Sullivan’s tender body, his other hand grabbed it and held it firm in place above his head, unable to budge it, he stood up, one hand covered in shadow magic, the other holding it in place to save Sullivan from almost certain and horrifyingly gruesome and torturing death.

“What trickery is this!” The Viper exclaimed.
“Let the man go!” Ithendres yelled.
“No! His men attacked me first, he must atone for his sins!” The Viper replied.
“I won’t let you kill him!” Ithendres shouted.
“I will, I will kill him! I was made to kill this man, his life has always lead to this point!” The Viper said.
“No! Don’t move! I can kill us both!” Ithendres sighed.
“Silence fool! SILENCE!” The Viper yelled, falling to his knees clutching his head.

Taking the opportunity to its maximum, Sullivan got himself up, and ran down the river.

“NO! YOU CANNOT ESCAPE ME!” The Viper roared, as the shadow moved from his fingers towards the man keeping him in place.
“LET HIM GO!” Ithendres yelled.
“STOP… TALKING! SILENCE I SAY! SILENCE!” The Viper commanded, while running to catch up with Sullivan.
“I said! Do not kill him!” Ithendres said.

The Viper remained clutching his head, stumbling towards Sullivan cursing loudly, his hand shot out towards Sullivan and grabbed around his neck, his other hand placed on his head, and he pulled viciously. Snap. Sullivan’s fell to the floor instantly, his expression in shock, the body lied facing down on the ground, but his head lay upwards staring at The Viper.

“Bad day? Master?” Skaag said, stupidly.
“Silence… Fool…” The Viper sighed, finally laying his arms to rest by his sides.

It was at this moment in time, when The Viper finally realised that would be the killer of such an immortal soul sent to eternal damnation by the will of the Scourge and bent by the torment of his memories from the past. He would be the death of himself…