Chapter III required a great deal more research into lore than the others. The quest line in Eastern Plaguelands tells the story of Darrowshire and how it fell victim to the Scourge. Other outside resources and in-game books (Annals of Darrowshire) helped feed some of the key descriptions used, such as the noted difference between Champion Ghouls and generic Ghouls.
While I wasn’t able to find evidence that the Cenarion Circle worked closely with the Silver Hand, it couldn’t be dismissed as impossible either, especially with the Night Elf Rayne in the North and Mulgris not so far to the West.
This chapter also allowed me to explore the abilities of the sub-class of Druid known as Plagueshifters. This sub-class’ traits fed neatly into Marduk Blackpool’s interest in Saljourn as a Scourge asset. Plagueshifter’s use of rune stones, which were placed in a circle to cleanse the area of plague and infection, closely (albiet not exactly) matched with Death Knight use of Rune Magic. Also, as their name implies, Plagueshifters had a unique discipline requiring extreme exposure to disease and other corruption. A perfect fit for a Death Knight, especially an Unholy one.
If you listen to the song linked below, you’ll probably easily pick out the moment Mulgris passes the Hearthstone to Saljourn. This is one of the more powerful scenes I think because the reader already knows that his effort is in vain and that he is doomed. If I had to describe this character in two words, it would be “stolen innocence”.
Thank you for following along, and please enjoy the chapter. Again, I do not take any credit for these artist’s work, but thank them for giving me the motivation to create something.
Finally, If you have questions, or advice I would love to hear from you! But for now, please enjoy.
Chronicles of Deepriver
Chapter III - Brothers
Leaves blew across the streets of the town of Darrowshire. The undead roamed about aimlessly, having desecrated their share. One particularly ugly Ghoul scratched at a signpost, its cruel claw inflicted a horrible scar.
In an instant, the Ghoul rocketed backwards. An arrow that could be mistaken for a tree branch pierced its body, pinning it to the wall across the street.
The mass of surrounding undead turned their heads to see their attacker. A Tauren hunter lowered her bow and rose from a kneeling position, flanked by a company of Silver Hand forces and a detachment of the Cenarion Circle. Several Paladins and Silver Hand Warriors stepped forward, ready to defend the Druids as they performed their cleansing rituals.
The undead unleashed a terrible howl and charged.
Sal’Journ and Mulgris joined the battle. The frontline clashed with the Scourge as the brothers positioned themselves. Mulgris raised his hands high into the air and brought them down hard, striking the enemy with blast after blast of moonbeam, pummeling the attackers with light.
Sal’Journ clutched four stones, each inscribed with a rune. Casting them in a circle around the healers, he closing his eyes weaved his arms in front of him in a deliberate sequence. His eyes ignited brightly with a green haze, as did the runes of the stones. An undead lunged from a rooftop over the Warriors at Sal’Journ but was caught in the invisible forcefield generated by the stone circle. It landed to the ground as a carbonized heap. The platoon cheered and fought more valiantly.
“Brother, the ridge!” Sal’Journ cried out, pointing at the hillside.
Cresting the ridge, a line of Champion Ghouls rushed towards a group of Human townsfolk who had managed to evade detection.
“I have them,” Mulgris growled, ushering a group of Warriors and Druids to join him. The two shared a nod before splitting.
“Deepriver, ahead!” a Night Elf Druid named Rayne shouted. From around a lodge came a monstrous abomination which whipped its many arms about, wielding cruel hooks and blades. The crusaders were thinning out, and the valley seemed nearly lost.
Sal’Journ sneered and readied his staff. He lunged forward, building momentum as he bashed the gnashing undead from his path. Ignited with a similar hue as his eyes, his empowered staff punished the undead severely. The lumbering abomination took several direct hits from the over-watching archers but still it came, tearing through the woefully unprepared Cenarion frontline.
“Sal, look to the sky!” Mulgris cried from above.
As Sal’Journ dashed forward, multiple undead leaped at him from all sides. At the final moment, Sal’Journ’s outstretched hand caught the Hearthstone Mulgris had tossed to him. The feeling of relief was quickly replaced by shock as the adnomination swung its mighty axe. Dipping low to get inside the abomination’s reach, Sal’Journ dove between the two swinging arms, rolling beside the monster. He blocked a downward swing from the monstrosity’s gimp arm and plunged his enchanted staff deep within the creature’s chest.
The abomination roared furiously as it lumbered backwards, with Sal’Journ defiantly riding it to the ground. Its bulbous eyes rolled into the back of its head as it succumbed to the Tauren’s attack.
Recovering from the fall, Sal’Journ looked back to see his brother clutching a fresh wound at his chest, leading some surviving townsfolk to safety. Rising to his feet, Sal’Journ ripped his staff from the abomination’s chest and flicked the goo from its edge. Suddenly his eyes bulged. Clutching at his throat, his staff fell to the ground with a resounding thud. The force lifted Sal’Journ into the air.
The Death Knight, Marduck the Black, marched forward with his Runeblade in hand. Pausing just outside of Sal’Journ’s reach, he studied his prize.
“You’ll do.”
The bright green hue of Sal’Journ’s eyes faded, replaced with a look of terror. Marduk smiled morbidly at his reflection and thrust his Runeblade.