(52) - Tyr's Hand

Griffonclaw read the titles on the spines of the books, the heat of the bell tower annex of the Abbey of Tyr's Hand seeming as heavy and oppressive as the order of fanatics which used it. Over the years, the Scarlet Crusade had looted much of what remained of Lordearon, with a particular eye towards siezing any book, libram, tome, or scroll that might contain matters they deemed "forbidden". The Abbey of Tyr's Hand had an extensive library, but few knew about the small select section secreted in the bell tower attic.

Unfortunately for them, Griffonclaw knew. He had spent a great deal of time in contention with the Scarlet Crusade, penetrating its most secret places, leaving a wide and bloody swath from their Scarlet Monastary in the west of Lordaeron, to Mardendale Hold, to Scholomance, to Tyr's Hand. He had kidnapped and tortured their ambassador to Stormwind. He had confronted the demon who kept returning in the guise of Grand Crusader Saiden Dathrohan. The Scarlet Crusade had killed countless innocent refugees fleeing the horrors of the Scourge, scores of warlocks whose only crime was peacefully practicing their craft on behalf of the Alliance, and anyone even remotely critical of their excesses.

Griffonclaw hated them as much as he hated the Burning Legion, the Shadow Council, the Forsaken and the Scourge. They were a living reminder of the same sort of insanity that had manifested in Arthas, who had ordered the massacre at Stratholme, and declared those who would not bathe in the blood of the innocent with him traitor, dissolving the Order of the Silver Hand when Uther refused to co-operate. Griffonclaw considered the Scarlet Crusade to be Arthas' bastard creation, and while he could not yet reach Northrend, he could at least stand between the Scarlet Crusade and those innocents they would persecute.

When Kestrailil had recieved a request from the Archmage Xylum for a rare book of Dalaran magical musical theory called "The Canticles of Ecthalion", Griffonclaw had volunteered to search. In the ruins of Altrerac he had found a codex, listing the volume as existing in the library at Tyr's Hand. He had smiled grimly - any book of arcane lore would be in the aforementioned library of forbidden books. He had flown to Light's Hope Chapel, and ridden to Tyr's Hand. He had contacted Kestralil, and told him of his intentions to investigate.

"Well, love... be careful," she had warned, knowing that he would be as careful as he usually was... which, where the Scarlet Crusade was concerned, was dubious. "And if you have the opportunity, give our "regards" to High General Abbendis, and make sure to loot anything useful from her desk..." Griffonclaw had smiled; she knew him too well, and had no compunction about adding a side mission to his trip, knowing he would welcome the challenge. Even if tactically useless, a strategic analysis of the Scarlet Crusade deployments and logistics would fetch a good price at auction in Bilgewater, and from the goblins into the hands of the Horde. As far as Griffonclaw was concerned, anything that hurt the Scarlet Crusade was all to the good, even if it helped the Forsaken.

Originally founded by pilgrims migrating eastward into lands then contested by roving bands of Forest Trolls, Tyr's hand had become a bastion of security as well as a center of trade and commerce with the nearby High Elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas. During the days of the Third War, forces of the Scourge laid siege to the fortified city but could never breach it, largely in part due to the tenacious efforts of its garrison that would soon declare its loyalty to the burgeoning Scarlet Crusade. After the Third War, it became the spiritual home to the Scarlet Crusade, with three churches - the Scarlet Basilica, the Tyr's Hand Abbey, and the Tyr's Hand Chapel. Its fortress became the base of operations for High General Abbendis, one of the founders and the tactical and logistical commander of the Scarlet Crusade. Tyr's Hand was the last unspoiled area of the region now known as the Plaguelands, untouched by its bleak darkness.

He had sneaked over the wall and hidden, surprising a patrolling guard. Mentally, his brain started a count-down as he once again stole the livery, hiding his own. Nobody had batted an eye as he walked through the Abbey doors. The abbey was identical in layout to the Northshire Abbey, and so he had crossed the vestibule and mounted the stairs to the second floor landing without breaking stride.

The entrance to the bell tower stairs was guarded by a mage with suspicious eyes. "Who are you? Let me see your papers!" he had demanded arrogantly. "Next time I steal a Crimson Legion uniform" Griffonclaw thought as he handed the guard a folded piece of parchment. While the guard unfolded the orders, which Griffonclaw had purloined from his earlier victim, Griffonclaw struck. His plate-clad gauntlet formed a fist, and struck the distracted mage on the temple.

The mage staggered back with a cry, and Griffonclaw drew his blade, chanting:

Light envelop you and comprehend
All of your actions, and mercy forfend
Whether saint or a sinner, see now your life
Stand before me, Oh bringer of strife!

The Light flashed from his outstretched hand, and its nimbus surrounded the head of the guard as the Light made him remember each good and bad thing in which he had participated, flashing before his mind's eye witht he rapidity of thought. The mage stood, stunned at the enormity of his actions and inactions, and while thus bemused, Griffonclaw slew him.

"May the Light have mercy on you, for I will not" the Paladin proclaimed in a low voice. It was probably a sin, but he had no mercy for those who served the Scarlet Crusade.

One set of stairs later, and Griffonclaw found himself perusing several dozen texts considered harmful or heretical by the Scarlet Crusade. Griffonclaw had a love for books - the leather bindings, the smell of the folio volumes, the words that evoked such marvelous imagery when read. He found the Canticles volume for which he had come, and stowed it safely away. Running back down to the guards at the entrance, he exclaimed "There has been foul murder done! One of our Brothers has been slain in the bell tower."

The guards looked at him for a moment, shocked.

"You!" Griffonclaw commanded one of the guards. "Upstairs, and secure the room. Let none examine the body without proper orders!" The guard saluted, and headed up the stairs. "You! Go to your watch commander, and verify each patrol and watch station. I will alert the High General. Move!" The other guard saluted, and Griffonclaw headed for the main fortress. He had not been quiet, and his comments had been heard by several other guards, who now watched as he strode to the fortress.

"You! With me!" he commanded one of the guards to the fortress entrance. "Take me to High General Abbendis, now!" The hapless guard responded to the bark of authority in Griffonclaw's voice, and his training to instant obedience stood Griffonclaw in good stead. He led Griffonclaw past othe guards, who, had Griffonclaw not been escorted, might have been inclined to ask for orders or identification. The guard presented Griffonclaw to the Main Hall guard commander, who blanched as Griffonclaw explained his urgent business.

"Your Grace!" the guard shouted. "There has been a murder!"

The High General looked up from her desk, saw her guard and Griffonclaw in his purloined livery, and stood. "Report!" she compelled, her voice loud and fast.

"The guard to the Abbey annex library has been found slain, High General" Griffonclaw reported, saluting. "I have ordered the watch commander to check on all guards and patrols".

"Well done, guard" she turned to her bodyguard, and said "With me." She and her guards left the Hall in a rush, other guards falling in behind as she raced to take charge of the investigation, leaving Griffonclaw behind with just the two hall guards.

And very soon thereafter, just Griffonclaw. He wiped his blade on their tunics, and went to the High General's desk. He wasted little time, but instead filled his satchel with any documents he could find. He stopped just long enough to write himself an order on the High General's stationary, and used a clerical seal to seal it. He exited the keep with celerity, grimly amused at the activity in the courtyard. The gates were now tightly sealed, and from the buzz of activity near the wall, Griffonclaw surmised that they had found the dead sentry.

He walked swiftly to the stables, and presented the stablemaster with his newly-forged orders; he was now a courier, carrying word to Stratholme. The stable master gave him a horse, and the special baton of a messanger; even tightly sealed, his orders and the baton would see him through the portal in minutes. Once beyond the gates, he would ride for Light's Hope Chapel, and take wing for Menethil, and thence home to

He wondered to what the commisison on the High General's documents would amount; like most of his earnings from Universal Exports, the funds would become supplies for the Stormwind Orphanage and to the Greywall Refugee camps outside Gilneas.

Courtesy of the Scarlet Crusade.