(34) - Plaguelands

If there was one place Griffonclaw hated the most on Azeroth, it was here in the East Plaguelands.

Nature was poisoned here. The grass was brittle and unhealthy, and most of the trees were deadwood... or perhaps undeadwood. The fauna had all but disappeared, and what remained was mostly horribly mutated bats, enormous maggots, and ravening hellhounds. Scourge creatures spilled forth from Stratholme and wandered the countryside, wreaking havoc on what few living they could find. Undead trolls occupied the southern region. Corrin's Crossing and Darrowshire remained haunted. restless spirits seeking to drain the living. Tyr's Hand, home of the Scarlet Crusade, was buttoned up tight, and the members of that cult assumed that anyone not wearing their tabard were the enemy, to be captured, tortured, and killed - when they weren't killed outright.

For some time, Light's Hope Chapel has been the only place of relative safety, the base of operations of the Argent Dawn. Formed the death of the Scarlet Highlord Mograine by former members of the Scarlet Crusade who became disgusted by the seeping corruption within the organization, they strive to uphold the founding principles of the Scarlet Crusade while eschewing its abusive excesses. Unlike the Scarlet Crusaders, the Argent Dawn opened its ranks to not only other Alliance races besides Humans, but also members of the Horde and even some of the Forsaken. Now they found themselves under siege, their very existance at Light's Hope Chapel threatened. If they lost their foothold here, it would be an enormous setback, and leave the Eastern Plaguelands under the unchallenged control of the Scourge.

Griffonclaw had been in Nethergarde, recovering from massive injuries sustained fighting alongside the Argent Dawn at the Dark Portal when it had become active again after nearly two decades of dormancy. Created by the the Sargeras-possed Medivh and the warlocks of the Shadow Council, the Dark Portal bridged the dimensions between Azeroth and Draenor, and it had been through this portal that the orcs and demons of the Burning Legion had come, beginning the First War. Following the war, the Alliance had taken control of the portal, and the Archmage Khadgar had deactivated it. Netherguarde Keep was constructed to stand watch over the remains of the site, for although destroyed, the tear in space connecting the two worlds remained.

And that caution had been justified. The Warchief of Draenor, Ner'Zhul, planned to open more portals using the Book of Medivh, the Skull of Gul'dan, the Jeweled Scepter of Sargeras, and the Eye of Dalaran. Ner'Zhul reopened the Dark Portal and sent his forces through to take those artifacts. King Terenas of Lordaeron prepared a counter-strike, and led an expedition through the Dark Portal to pre-emptively strike at their enemies before they could mount a complete invasion. Ner'zhul succeeded in opening his portals to other worlds, but the power tore Draenor apart. Grom Hellscream, seeing his world destroyed, led his people throuhg the DarkPortal to Azeroth. The Alliance force in Draenor took a drastic measure to save their homeland - they destroyed the Dark Portal from the other side, sealing it again but trapping them there.

Unless the Demon-Lord Kazzak found a powerful artifact and used it to reopen the Dark Portal to Draenor. The Argent Dawn had set up a containment perimeter as demons spilled forth, trying to establish a foothold. Anyone who held a reserve commission in the Argent Dawn - in fact, anyone who would volunteer, commission or not - was pressed into service again as they sought to maintain the line at the Dark Portal and maintain their presence at Light's Hope Chapel. Griffonclaw had been summoned to service with the consent of Guild Master Thrinwizzle, and he had traded his Hammer of Magni tabard for the black and silver of the Argent Dawn.

The line around the portal was stretched very, very thin. Members of both the Alliance and the Horde had responded to the call, and for many hours Griffonclaw had fought in tandem with a tauren shaman named Kintai. He lost track of how many times they had plunged back into the fray, guarding each other's back. Griffonclaw spoke no Horde languages, nor Kintai any Alliance, but they forged a new language that day, one of mutual support and hatred of the Felguards, Felhounds and enormous Voidwalkers which continually swept form the portal in waves. He considered Kintai as a sworn brother now - his first among the tauren race. But not even the able assistance of his new friend prevented Griffonclaw from ending up with a shattered shield-arm as he faced three Felguard by himself; they had destroyed the Argent Dawn defenders when Griffonclaw had thrown his shield and leaped following into the fray, his aim to delay them until more reinfocements could be sent to plug the gap. They had broken his arm, and grimly Griffonclaw had healed it, knowing that the bones would not heal correctly. He fused the bones together under the shield-straps and continued, each block an agony of pain. He had held out just long enough for others to relieve him, and he had been sent back to Netherguarde for proper healing and rest.

Unknown to Griffonclaw, however, there had been a massive breakout when the Dark Portal was breached, Kazzak had sent one of his captains, a Doomguard named Highlord Kruul, and a force of Infernal demons and Infernal Hounds forth to attach Light's Hope Chapel. Word had come, and as walking wounded he had been dispatched to reinforce Light's Hope Chapel. His arm had finished healing on the long rides north, and he had arrived not precisely rested, but ready for duty.

He had reported to Duke Nicholas Zverenhoff on arrival, and His Grace's tidings were grim.

"Griffonclaw, we have more reinforcements coming, but we need to buy time" he began, and Griffonclaw smiled, in spite of the grave news. The Hammer of Magni had been founded when a group of volunteers from Ironforge had descended from Mt. Hjal to hold its approach, so that the defenders could organize their defenses before the Burning Legion could overrun them. They had held the path up the mountain... and died, with few survivors and no regrets. The survivors had been organized into the first Hammers, Magni's personal reserve troubleshooters.

Suicidal delaying actions had become something of a tradition with the Hammers.

"I sent out a detachment to buy time, and I want you to join them" he continued. "Report to Sir Khest, who commands; they are somewhere in the vicinity of Darrowshire." Griffonclaw saluted. If they were tasked with delaying Kruul and his Infernals, they would be simple to find - just look for the brushfires and smoke. Griffonclaw saddled Stormwind, his steed ("Stormwind?" people often asked him. "Yes," he'd reply. "Both Stormwinds consume a great deal and produce an enormous quantity of road apples every day... the difference is that MY Stormwind is useful."), and rode out to find his unit.

He found them around Corin's Crossing.

Or what remained. Of the twenty dwarves, humans, and Kaldorei who had gone, less than three survived; and survived - although "survived" was a misnomer, as Griffonclaw healed their maimed and burned bodies as best as he could. He gave them Stornwind to help them back to Light's Hope Chapel, and set off on foot at a run.

Halfway between Light's Hope Chapel and Corin's Crossing he found them, making a slow beeline for Light's Hope Chapel. He ran to get ahead of them, up to a rise he had spotted with a sheer drop-off; his hope was that if he concealed himself near the top that Kruul's minions would proceed around the hillock, allowing Griffonclaw to penetrate their defense without their knowledge. He made it to his spot just before the Infernal demons and hounds passed by. The heat from their eldrich flames was intensive, and Griffonclaw knew that if he had to stay near them for long, he'd cook inside his armor. "Lucky for me, this won't take that long..." he thought with a tinge of gallows humor.

He stood when Kruul drew near, and threw his shield at the creature's head. It hit his forehead and rebounded, it's Light-empowered path streaking back to Griffonclaw's arm. Highlord Kruul stood there while Griffonclaw intoned the words to an Exorcism, knowing full well that it would only enrage the demon without doing significant harm.

Kruul looked around for this petty annoyance, and his eyes fell upon Griffonclaw. It was very disconcerting for Griffonclaw to see the beast smile. "Little Flea, Azeroth has cowered too long under our shadow! Now, feel the power of the Burning Crusade, and despair!". Griffonclaw's reply was not particularly eloquent; he slung his shield across his shoulders and leaped for the Highlord demon, screaming "Hammers!". He had gripped his Argent Avenger two-handed, in a reverse grip, and as he neared the demon's skin he stabbed deeply downward, focusing on holding onto the hilt. His own weight dragged the blue flameblade downwards, opening a wound in demonic thigh before slipping free. Griffonclaw hit the ground and rolled to his feet, recovering his shield and standing ready.

He didn't have long to wait.

"Your world will die, mortal! Your doom is now at hand!" cried the demon, claw raised. Griffonclaw felt himself flung upward... and then began to fall. He had just enough time to invoke the Shield of Light to soften his landing when he saw something even more disturbing. Kruul carried a sword with flat tip, roughly twenty feet in lengeth. It was wide, and Griffonclaw cringed at the thought of what it would be like to be on the receiving end of such an enormous weapon.

And now he would have to wonder no more, as the demon swung the blade at him two-handed - but not with the edge forward, but the flat of the blade.

It hit both Griffonclaw and his invoked shield, shattering the glowing nimbus of Light. Even thus abated, Griffonclaw felt bone after bone crack up and down his body as he flew forth in an arc towards Light's Hope Chapel. He saw a large force riding towards the demon... and was that Craft of the Argent Exodus at its head?... and knew that he had been successful in that he had delayed the demon. Then he felt himself decend, heard the demon cry "Your own strength feeds me, Griffonclaw!", felt the demon siphon his life-energy, saw the approaching rock face.... and after an initial spasm of pain at the impact, knew nothing more.

* * *

New levels of pain he had never known woke him at last.

He was in a tent. And he was alive. Just not by much.

He moaned. He appeared intact, and he recognized the pain as residual from magical healing.

A dwarven healer entered the tent, and he recognized Lady Kathyo of the Argent Exodus.

"I see you're awake" she said with a smile. When they had served together, she had always had a soft spot for the "Official Dwarf", and Griffonclaw had never quite lost his awe of not only her powerful abilities, but also her exquisite timing in its application. "Quite a bit of pain, I imagine... I think we had to heal just about every bone in your body after that"

"What happened?" questioned Griffonclaw weakly.

"Well, Craft got his summons, and the Argent Exodus rode hard to reach here in time to save Light's Hope from a barbeque" she began, her usual good humor evident in her voice. Nothing seemed to discourage her, and he had seen no threat ever make her hesitate, this steel-willed daughter of Ironforge. "We turned the demon, and the coward formed a portal and left for somewhere else before we could finish him... but Light's Hope Chapel is safe." Both she and Griffonclaw both understood the omitted "For now".

"Decidio had been doing some advance scouting, heard your cry of "Hammers!" and saw your attack... so we knew what the meteor was when we saw you pass by overhead. Craft sent me to see if you were still alive" she continued. "His Grace's report to King Magni stated that you "acted in the finest tradition of bravery and steadfastness, in every way living up to the standards of Ironforge". In short..."

"...brave, stubborn, and stupid..." they finished together, laughing.