[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Fifty-Six
Appearing Characters: Alleria Windrunner, Arator Windrunner, Braun, Dorgar Stonebrow, Elissa Cross, Esara Verrinde, Fellari Swiftarrow, Ferren Marcus, Gilveradin Windrunner, Harlan, Harthal Truesight, Herod, Holla Sunshield, Invar One-Arm, Kael'thas Sunstrider, Korloff, Lirath Windrunner, Loksey, Motah Tallhorn, Orman, Remnii, Samia Inkling, Seria, Taelan Fordring, Thalnos, Turalyon Windrunner, Uther Menethil, Vaelastrasz, Valea Twinblades, Yana Bloodspear
October 31st
Ferren Marcus continued to struggle against Motah, and Herod pointed Gorehowl up at the dragon Gil had conjured. He called that the dragon was a conjuration and ordered the High Abbot to handle it, but Ferren said that he was a bit busy.
The priest used [Banishment], and in a flash of light Motah disappeared. The High Abbot scrambled back to his feet and took a few steps back from where Motah had vanished.
Herod leaped off the parapet and made an indent on the ground as he landed, unphased. Orman of Stromgarde ordered his fellows to handle the bear, as he was going to provide support to the Ashbringer. He disappeared with a [Blink] and reappeared right in front of Elissa. With a flourish of strikes, he rounded on her. She deflected one of the blows aside with her shield, and a blast of light washed over him. He then swung in at Daisy, nicking into her armor.
The illusory dragon swept across the battlefield and used its breath weapon on Harthal, Invar, Holla, and Harlan. Holla seemed to be unaffected by the poisonous breath, but Harthal and Invar fell unconscious.
Gil pulled out some of his snake arrows and fired one at the High Abbot. The priest was started and dropped his concentration, but Motah was pulled away by the other enemies and had to focus on them. However, the High Abbott also then fell unconscious. Gil looked over at the Ashbringer.
The Ashbringer seemed to have heard him, but he didn’t respond. Gil then teleported up onto a column to give himself a better vantage point.
Herod shouted an order at Harlan, who struck Seria with his spear. Herod charged at her and spun Gorehawl around like a buzzsaw before bringing the axe into Seria’s flank. His crimson armor was stained with her blood.
Dorgar Stonebrow rolled his eyes and used [Scorching Ray] on those that had fallen asleep as well as Seria. Those that were sleeping hastily woke up.
Uther hopped off Radiant and told the pegasus to protect the others as he then approached the Ashbringer.
In a flurry of arrows and mist, Alleria appeared at the edge of the battlefield.
Turalyon shoved another Crusader aside as he continued to battle through the forces.
Uther threw his axe to the ground and he pulled Arator into a hug, the radiant energy still burning him. As Uther threw his arms around Arator, he visibly froze.
Arator struggled for the briefest moment.
He stopped struggling, and his eyes turned toward the sword in his hand. He dropped the weapon, and it hit the ground.
Arator fell limp in Uther’s arms and started to sob heavily, partially muffled by the mask. He was shaken beyond reckoning. Orman looked over at him.
He seemed clearly concerned. Uther called for Remnii to get on Radiant, and Remnii ordered the unicorn she rode to stay near Uther and heal him if needed. Elissa looked at Uther and Arator with concern, but she had Daisy charge past Orman up to Seria and put a gauntleted hand on her flank. Minty energy wafted into the bear, healing some of her wounds. Remnii as swooped down on Seria and healed more of her wounds. She then hurled one of her crown of stars at Herod.
Uther continued to hold on tightly to Arator.
Suddenly, they heard a sound behind them. It was a raven caw. Arator looked up, and perched on the flank of the unicorn behind Uther was a white raven. Uther glanced back, and he saw it too.
The raven shook its head, and took off into the air. Arator pulled away from Uther.
He pulled the mask from his face and lowered his hood, then turned to the other Scarlet Champions. His eyes were red from the tears, but as he watched the raven fly away, he was resolute.
Uther’s expression split into a boyish, shit-eating grin. He grabbed Bryntroll and readied his weapon.
He held out his shield toward Arator for him to fist bump it. But Arator looked away.
The slight smirk on Arator’s lips did not reach his eyes, as they were instead filled with immense pain.
Orman lowered his sword.
Arator nodded. Holla looked at Herod.
She started to away.
Herod lunged at her, and with a single strike, Holla’s head tumbled from her shoulders. The light roared up around Arator.
He gripped his fists.
Ferren Marcus looked on in shock.
Arator ran forward to engage Herod.
As Fellari was watching everything unfold, she was uncertain what to do. She turned her eyes toward Remnii and shot. The arrow grazed past Remnii’s arm, leaving an aching wound.
Orman looked over at Uther.
Uther nodded.
Orman looked at his blades.
He pointed his blade at Herod.
The [Vicious Mockery] caused Herod to flinch in frustration. Remnii looked overhead and saw Vaelastrasz flying overhead. She called to him for aid, and she turned Radiant down toward the ground. She hopped off Radiant.
Vaelastrasz spiraled through the air, disguised as a black dragon, and breathed a concentrated force of crimson energy that spiraled around Remnii’s naaru mark. T’uure glowed bright, and Remnii brought Holla’s head back to her body, and she prayed. There was a pulse of golden energy, and the woman took a sudden breath.
Holla looked around, realizing she was alive.
Holla grabbed her weapon, her eyes on Herod. Herod scoffed.
Harthal Truesight ran forward and looked up at Remnii.
He cast [Bless] across the group.
Armsmaster Harlan appeared to be undeterred and he turned his blade toward Remnii. He slammed Remnii with his shield, and she was sent spilling to the ground. Harlan raised his sword and Arator barked at him to stop, and raised the Ashbringer. Remnii heard the echo of A’dal radiate with Arator’s voice, and the light of the blade caused Harlan to grunt, his strikes going wide.
Meanwhile, Yana Bloodspear ran up on Seria and thrust with her lance, undeterred by anything that had happened. She then did a spinning kick into Seria’s flank and flipped back to disengage.
Radiant ran back to Uther to pick him up and then charged right back into the fight. He raised Bryntroll the Bone Arbiter, which scintillated with holy light as Radiant flew around Seria, giving Uther the momentum to strike a devastating blow that created a column of gold and green light that split through Herod.
Herod was dropped to his knees, stagged from the strike, and he turned to look back at Uther, his helmed gouged by the blade of the axe.
He struck Herod again, showing no mercy.
High Abbot Ferren Marcus approached Dorgar and asked what he made of the situation.
He looked ready to cast a spell.
Ferren placed a hand on Dorgar’s shoulder and cast [Hold Person]. Holy chains wrapped around Dorgar and pulled taught as he demanded to know the meaning of the betrayal.
Ferren kneeled and began to pray.
Herod started to laugh as he looked at Uther.
He raised Gorehowl and started to spin in a flurry of blades that struck into Uther, Arator, Seria, and Remnii. As he stopped the spin he then hacked his axe at Arator. Their weapons clashed, and Arator shoved the axe aside.
Meanwhile, Invar looked up at Gil and nicked against the elf’s thigh. He deftly dodged the second strike as Herod continued to focus on Arator.
However, Uther used [Righteous Defense] and deflected the attack toward him.
Elissa turned her focus on Valea and Daisy charged toward her. Spectral, minty vines roiled around her sword and she struck into Valea with a holy blow. The vines latched on, restraining her as Elissa swung again and managed to throw Valea’s weapons aside. The woman realized she was had and quickly raised her hands in defeat, surrendering.
Gil disappeared in a puff of flame and he maneuvered the illusory dragon to once again breathe a cone of poison at Invar. The man abruptly fell unconscious on the pillar. He then focused on Harlan and fired a snake arrow. The man fell unconscious. He then shot Yana, and she also fell unconscious.
Gil looked at Herod.
Holla grabbed Harlan’s weapons and subdued him completely.
Seria roared and tore into Herod with her massive claws. He was brought to his knees, panting, but he released a battle cry, as he endured through the attack. In the chaos, Fellari Swiftarrow slipped away.
As Herod prepared to continue fighting, there was a screech from overhead and the sight of a massive figure that landed in the center of the group. Kael’thas landed on top of Herod and slammed him into the ground. He spun around and flung Herod into the air before leaping after him. His claws found purchase on the man, who was ripped in two, sending a spray of blood over the group as Gorehowl hit the ground. The Crimson King then took off to contend with other Crusaders.
Arator seemed to be looking for something, and he saw on a branch was the white raven. It cawed and then took off toward the entrance of the basilica.
The other Crusaders around them look horrified at the massacre that Kael’thas had just inflicted.
He looked up at the monstrous vampyr that was patrolling the skies.
Remnii used a [Mass Cure Wounds] over the group. She then looked at Holla.
She squeezed the woman’s shoulder.
The group turned their attention forward as the rest of the Crusader champions fell back to help the rebellion forces. Nazgrim stepped forward and grabbed Gorehowl.
They headed toward the ground vestibule, and they heard a warhorn. Another column of Crusaders charged up on their flank. There were lines of fire that snaked across the ground and exploded into columns as Esara darted in, her sword ablaze. Lirath took up his bow and his eyes glowed with arcane light. His arrow split into dozens that erupted into a cone of arrows that riddled the Crusaders with arrows.
His eyes met Arator’s for a moment. Moments later, Turalyon and Alleria manifested and promised they would follow after them and secure the monastery. Turalyon put his hand on Arator’s shoulder and told him that he was good to see him again. He promised they would speak later. Arator nodded.
Uther pushed the doors open and revealed a wide hallway of intricate mosaics. The white raven soared in, leading them deeper and deeper into the monastery. They fought through other barricades, but it seemed the majority of the forces were not stationed there. The raven banked to the left. Within a few minutes, they arrived at a palisade gate that opened into an exterior courtyard. It was a graveyard with a large mausoleum. The raven soared over the graveyard, which was crawling with Scarlet Crusaders. It landed on the mausoleum.
Arator pushed the gates open and stepped into the graveyard. The bald, shirtless men from before was with several other martial artists honing themselves in preparation for combat. There was also the sound of barking, as a couple dozen hunting hounds surged in the distance.
One of the houndmasters demanded to know what the Ashbringer was doing.
Loksey furrowed his brow.
The Crusaders nodded and prepared to fight. The group’s allies also rushed to join the battle. Gil raised his bow and used [Conjure Volley]. A singular arrow he shot into the air erupted into hundreds of arrows that rained across the entire field. The dogs yelped in pain and several of them were dropped or otherwise fled.
At that moment Samia manifested to cover their passage as she soared over the group on her black draconic wings. The earth around the monks trembled, and Samia snapped her fingers. There was a loud crack as a localized earthquake exploded the earth around them. She then took off into the sky again as she threw a burst of searing fire at Locksey, which caught on his clothing and started to burn.
One of the other beastmasters fired a few shots at Seria and Uther. But before the group could charge in they heard Kael’thas cackling from overhead. He appeared above the group and crimson energy crackled around his claws as he used [Reverse Gravity]. The entire group of enemies was wrenched into the air, and Kael’thas then grabbed Korloff as he released the spell, sending the rest of them plummeting to the ground.
He then hurled the monk to the ground. Everyone except Korloff, Loksey, and Braun didn’t move after they landed. Remnii looked on in horror as she buckled at the sight.
Brother Korloff charged at Arator, but Arator turned the strike aside. He made another series of strikes, but he was too disrupted from everything that had just happened.
Beastmaster Braun looked up in the sky, searing for any sign of the Crimson King, but seeing none he used [Summon Beast], which manifested next to Arator. Loksey used [Stoneskin] and fired his bow at Uther.
But the battle had hastily turned against the Crusaders. However, Remnii watched as a fog started to roll in over the battlefield. It started to get harder to see, and they all felt a chill. Uther immediately sensed the presence of undead.
Loksey and Braun looked around.
There was a cackle and a green flame erupted in the center of the graveyard. A figure astride a horse with a flame in place of his head manifested from the fog, a malevolent blade in his hand. They felt the graveyard stir, and hands erupted from the dirt. Skeletal crusaders and specters emerged. There were moans and cries of anguish that filled the air, and the blow to the mausoleum was blown open. A charred skeleton with magister’s robe emerged along with two others.
The headless horseman charged forward, brandishing his blade, and his sword carved through Loksey’s back. His stoneskin faltered, but he clenched his teeth and re-asserted his concentration.
The headless horseman continued cackling as he raised his hand and hurled a mote of fire at Seria before he continued his sword assault on Loksey as the anguished dead started to approach. Remnii hurled one of her crown of stars at Thalnos, who was in the process of casting a spell. The spell was released, but the skeleton was blasted to pieces as his [Fireball] was released.
One of the haunting phantasms surged through the group, only to be struck by Uther. The ghost then grabbed onto Arator, but he shook the spirit off. Seria turned her eyes toward the headless horseman and charged at him in a flurry of claws.
The horseman pivoted on his mount.
Arator looked over at Korloff and it seemed the man was more focused on the undead, so Arator passed by Remnii and swung the Ashbringer around, slaying two of the phantasms with an arc of holy light. As Arator struck down the wraith, it exploded in a blast of psychic energy.
Another phantasm leaped on Braun and more of them screeched and surged onto Seria. Two of the Ironspine Crusaders ran for Braun while two others went for Loksey.
As Uther looked over at the Headless Horseman, there was something about his armor that looked familiar. Though it was blackened by the necrotic energy, he even saw a blemished symbol of the Scarlet Crusade upon it.
Everyone else looked at the Headless Horseman.
Nazgrim slammed two skeletons together. Remnii released her channel divinity to turn the undead that had gathered around them. Many of them exploded into holy energy while others raced away, turned by the magical light.
Uther turned his focus toward Braun and raced Radiant over to him. He brandished Bryntroll and swung at one of the Ironspine Crusaders as Radiant kicked, knocking the skeletal undead to the ground. He then used [Blessing of Salvation] on Braun. The Beastmaster looked up at Uther shocked and confused that he was helping him.
Loksey, however, was fully surrounded. He swung his blade around in a panic.
