Grunts hungry for blood and thunder regarded a posting at Sunrock Retreat as a fate worse than death. Nothing dangerous happened here. Even when war came to Stonetalon this Tauren backwater remained unmolested by conflict. The Alliance, the Legion and even the Grimtotem never attacked the place. That’s what made the Forsaken’s arrival so unsettling.
He appeared in the dead of night upon a Plaguebat that was heralded by an eerie silence brought about by the local wildlife’s scattering at the scent of an apex predator. The undead wore the armor of a field apothecary, still caked in drying gore and reeking of alchemical compounds. He spoke a word to no one, save the Plaguebat, who took off into the black sky at a command in his unnatural tongue. Then he removed his armor and strode directly into the pond.
That was sixteen hours ago. The water remained still. If it hadn’t been for the warnings of the night guard the new shift would’ve noticed nothing amiss. By Hellscream’s axe, what was that wretch doing? Had the Banshee Queen deemed this forgettable hamlet a suitable place for a weapon’s test? Had some abyssal portal been torn open - inviting faceless things to gather just beneath the surface? What deeds of sustained cruelty and wicked portent was their mysterious visitor conducting down there?
Benedikt was sleeping. It was a luxury for his kind and one he hadn’t indulged in at length since this misadventure of a war began. His mind wandered to better times. Thoughts of his childhood in Alterac to the brief but pleasant peace enjoyed after the Argus War. He thought of family, friends and lovers lost in the many unceasing calamities that bothered this world. He also thought of just how long it’d been since he’d had a proper Sunscale Salmon dinner. He started to consider how one might recreate this with Murloc meat before his eyes fluttered open.
‘Ah, that’s right, I fell asleep underwater. Explains the fish fixation’ he thought to himself. His eyes flicked upward and observed an apricot light dancing on the water’s surface. Hmm. Sunset. He’d been down here awhile. He checked his surroundings and then himself. His gaws had completely disintegrated and an olive cloud had formed around him wrought by ichor escaping from wounds he hadn’t quite got around to tending. It probably wasn’t enough to cause a problem but exposure to fluids of undeath tended to cause unexpected side effects. The giant maggots in Lordaeron sprung to mind. Best to be on the safe side. He clasped his hands together and with conviction uttered a powerful prayer. A radiance of Holy Light exploded from him and abolished any disease or harm his extended stay may’ve caused in a blast that briefly turned the water a bright emerald.
‘Well that ought to do’ Benedikt thought to himself before realizing that the wasted gaws had caused another problem. He was completely nude and had just drawn considerable attention to his position with his little Light show. Hmm. Maybe he could wait till the sun set? Ehh. Honestly that sounded boring. He made his decision. Eldritch and extraordinary words escaped his lips, consuming him in dark energy and dispersing his corporeal form into a living shadow.
Up top the Grunt Captain readied her war axe with a fatalistic determination. She was well aware that this small detachment guarding Sunrock Retreat would not be able to repel much but they swore an oath to defend the Horde and would not leave these villagers alone to contend with whatever depravity was emerging from the strange light. Behind her the most experienced troops stood at attention. In the lodge the rookies - who not but a day before loudly boasted welcome to any danger to break up the tedium - hastily scribbled letters to family, having never dreamt the end would meet them here.
The Captain watched as a blackness broke through the surface and drifted over the waterline to that cursed Forsaken’s equipment. It twisted and moved about his belongings before it changed course and skittered toward her. She dug in her heels, gripped her axe for dear life and had just about sounded a warcry when the shadow swirled inward, manifesting a concerned looking undead wearing only pants.
“Is zere somesing wrong?” Benedikt inquired, looking around for some threat.
“Blarafg!” the Captain replied, the mix of adrenaline and confusion leaving her at a loss for coherent sentences.
“Mein apologies I’m not zat goot vith Orkish, vhat does ‘Blarafg’ mean?” asked Benedikt.
“What were you doing down there?!” the Captain asked, lowering her axe but still holding it in a lime knuckle grip.
“Ach, mein apologies. Vas out like a light. I uh, leaked, a bit but I sink I kleared zat all up.” replied Benedikt.
The Orc Captain continued to stare daggers at him.
“… So, no trouble zen?” Benedikt asked again, futilely surveying the landscape for some sort of hostile.
“I’m not sure” growled the Captain.
“Vell, let me know vhen zoo are. I still have a goot cache of healing potions vith mein sings. Also veird question but how far vould zoo say zee coast is?” inquired Benedikt
“Long walk” replied the Captain, cautiously holstering her war axe.
“Vell sat von’t due” muttered Benedikt as he wandered into a more open part of the town and summoned a pillar of holy fire unto himself that seemed to have no visible origin point. He then stood around awkwardly for a few seconds as the Grunts looked at him, their horror becoming mere bewilderment.
“Oh und I know zis isn’t zoor job but if zoo kould point zee town armorer toward mein sings I’d be very appreciative. Price isn’t a koncen” he added.
“Umm…” started the Captain before the sound of mighty wings alerted her of the Plaguebat’s return, who landed near Benedikt, clutching an adult nightsaber in it’s maw.
“Ah vell zoo’ve been a busy girl Heidi” Benedikt said, levitating to scratch the beast behind her massive ear. “Eh don’t vorry about it Kapitan I’m hier for a couple of days, I’ll figure it out” added Benedikt as he climbed onto his war beast.
Heidi beat her wings and took off eastward toward the Veiled Sea’s coast, leaving the Orcs to process what just happened.