The End Is Near..

Minetha: A Letter Of Importance
Minetha kept glancing at the letter in her plater-clad hand, while continuing to pack. The weather outside was cold and wet and foreboding, making the joious occasion worrying for Minetha. Minetha was the type to worry, anyway, but she felt nervous and expectant of something bad. Rain poured against her window heavily, as the stormclouds flowed over Elwynn Forest.

The letter, in her hand, was the second she'd received, for almost a year. It was from her family, her husband and child, living on the island of Kul Tiras. Minetha had read the message over and over again, but she still couldn't recall what it said. She read it again, partly to ensure her it was, actually, real, and partly just because she longed for Arkaan and Aurora so badly.

The writing was rugged, but Minetha knew her husband had very "elven handwriting", as she liked to say, but it seemed it had grown wilder after a long time of not having to use it. The letter stated, shortly, how Arkaan missed her, how they shouldn't have separated, and how Minetha should come see them.

It hadn't taken her more than five minutes after receiving the letter that she'd written a notice in the Command Center about her absence, and placed Lieutenant-Commander Gawain Ravensword in charge. It seemed that Lieutenant Pike was still away on his assignment.

She had then begun packing all her things; truly everything she might need, as she was even willing to, on a whim, move to Kul Tiras, and leave her Militia to fend for themselves. She often giggled at the thought in her head, wondering what reaction the people would have if she did such a thing. Then again, it's not like she was one to care for public opinions.

Minetha finished packing, on the eve of the day she received the letter. She hired two of the villagers near her house as envoys, to carry her bags of course - it's not like the Commander of the Peoples' Militia needed protection. Or, did she? Was this feeling she had something she should acknowledge? A foreboding prophecy, perhaps? She shrugged off her thoughts - she wasn't one to believe in magic and illusion.

They started their journey south, to the only place where you could board a ship to Kul Tiras - Stranglethorn Vale. Down a path behind the Rebel Camp, down the river and to the sea, was the secret port, as she remembered. As she stepped on to the boat, she worried about Stormwind, and her Militia. She thought that it was nothing; she always worried.

Janner: Destionation Darkshire
Lieutenant Janner Pike glanced over the mountains of The Hinterlands, from the roof of Aerie Peak. It was one of his favourite places. This time, though, he was there on an assignment - he'd been investigating some upcoming crime. He didn't know who was doing it, or what was being done, but he had a gut feeling that it wasn't going to be good.

The weather in Aerie Peak was the opposite of that in Elwynn. It was sunny and warm, the type of weather where cats go out, roll over onto their backs and bask out in the sun all day. Janner would've probably done the same, if it hadn't been for his assignment. He got up from his place and heade to the Gryphon Master. He had to continue his search.

He bought a ride to Stormwind City, and with the newly trained Gryphons, flew all the way, instead of stopping halfway. He encountered all kinds of weather while flying, and his fingers froze as he gripped the mane. His body shivered as he passed over Dun Morogh, but didn't feel any of it, as he was deep in his thoughts.

Most people thought that Janner was a no-good drunkard, and they could've been right, but only partly. Janner tried his best to do his best, but he, in the end, was only human. He was, apart from the how the general public felt, intelligent. Or, at least, "not stupid".

Janner was thinking about his sister, Eva, as he flew onward. He wondered how she was doing, and what she was doing. He imagined her, with Juven and Joren, going to visit their uncle in Render's Valley. He imagined her at work, arresting a criminal, and grinning, after she'd beaten them, as so many saw her as merely a young girl. He knew she packed a punch.

In truth his sister -was- out arresting a criminal, though she was ganged up on, and fleed holding her dislocated arm, bleeding heavily. She had then been cleaned up and healed by the nice medic lady - the one who always left a bottle of beer and a bowl of soup for Janner on the table.

His brothers were also out, one drinking his brains out at his own inn, the other on a pilgrimage to meet a priest in Southshore.

He arrived in Stormwind and rode to the Command Center through the dense rain. There he saw the notice about Minetha leaving, and sighed. He sent out a message to all Militants to return to duty by Sunday. He had that feeling again.. It was going to take place soon - now that the Commander was out of town. He was sure of it. Janner left for Darkshire - it was the only concrete clew they had.

Durner: Garden Slaughter
Corporal Durner McGowland was sitting on the garden bench outside his house in Elwynn in a state of shock and soaked to the bone. But he didn't care about the rain. Not after this. His beautiful garden, destroyed! All the work he had put into his begonias, roses and dafodils for the last few months had come to nothing. While he had been on duty patroling the city someone had come along to his beautiful garden and, for some abominable, evil reason, had completely turned it upside down. Had it been a demon? Had it been zealot racists? Durner didn't know. But he would find out! And who ever had done this monstrosity would pay dearly. In rage, Durner aimed his rifle at the air and shot three times. A pigeon fell dead on the ground a couple of meters away.

After about half an hour, Durner had calmed down a bit. He put his militia tabard back on and started walking towards the city. He was going to stay at the Inn for a couple of days. He couldn't bare the thought of his poor dead garden.

Eva: The Last Job
Through dim light from a nearby lamppost, Eva peered down at the girl peering back at her. She had long, dark hair covering most of her dark skin and pretty face, but eyes showed sign of exhaustion. Eva leaned closer so that her nose nearly touched the girl's nose and she whispered…

"Jes un las' job, then i's oveh. 'E'll 'aveta fin' 'imself anotheh girl ta do 'is biddin' frem then on."

Eva closed her eyes and dipped her face into the moonwell, ruining the mirror image that rippled on the surface after she pulled her face upwards again with a gasp for air. She wiped her face with the sleeve of her shirt and felt a familiar movement behind her. With a grin she quickly pulled the kitten out and tossed it lightly into the moonwell. The kitten gave a nasty meow and quickly paddled back on dry land. Eva chuckled.

"Dun' worry, Belly, I saw tha elves clean tha moonwell befoeh. No un 'as pissed in it since then."

The cat gave her a grumpy look and hissed slightly as Eva returned it with a smirk. Halmar had given her the kitten a while back, outside the Command Centre. He'd said that it was cute but had sharp claws, just like Eva. He was probably right.

Eva dug into her bag and pulled out a parcel wrapped up in thin cloth. She swung the bag onto her back and started walking back to the Trade Centre. She walked past Juven’s pub and smiled at the thought of him and her other brothers. Janner was the fun and cool brother, the one she’d tried to imitate as far back as she could remember. Juven was very different, he was the quiet type, much more serious than Janner, but he was very caring and was, in a way, Eva’s father image. Her own father had left her mother, as did all the other men thereafter. Janner and Eva possibly shared the same father, they didn’t really know, but it was clear that Juven had a different father. His fair skin indicated that. Then there was Joren who had the dark Gypsy look, but he still had a different father, some noble who had met “Mam” briefly.

Eva was determined never to tie herself to a man. If she would ever marry, it would be for money and to someone she didn’t love or care too much about. That way she wouldn’t get hurt if he left.

With a slight sigh, Eva removed the cloth from the parcel as she walked past the Slaughtered Lamb. Stale bread rolled out of it and she tore hungrily into it. It had been a while since she’d had a decent meal. Isobel, the Militia caretaker and medic, had made soup three days ago, but Eva had been away since then. Her arm was getting better after the struggle with the criminals she’d foolishly chased after alone.

Eva nearly choked on the dry bread and stopped by the well to get water. The bucket hit the bottom of the well with a splashing sound and as she pulled it up again she thought of her latest mission. It involved her daggers, Wiley and Darkshire… It would not be an easy task…but then when were Wiley’s tasks easy? She had met with him in Lakeshire yesterday and he had talked her into taking a “one last job”. Since Eva had always had a soft spot for Wiley, after he took her in three years ago when she’d left the family circus, she had agreed to do it. But she promised herself, for Juven’s sake, that this would be the last…

Halmar: A Mission
Sergeant Halmar Reyver gave his horse a soft pat. He was making his way to the Town of Darkshire.

"Curthe that "Thhadowbreaker" for thending me on thith mithion. But, ohh well...I gueth I`ll never path the exman if I don`t do it." He said to himself.

Halmar was sendt to Duskwood to recover an old tome which was buried with a dead priest on The Tranquil`Gardens Cemetery. He kept mumbeling about beind treated like a dog. And it was that thing about Eva, she ordered him around all the time, and Halmar just felt he couldn`t say no. He came to that it had to be that fragment she had, what else could there be? After all she was a mere Corporal. He didn`t need to take order if he did not wish to, or did he?

Halmar frowned as he heard a choir of ghouls howling somewhere in the woods.He quickly led his horse of the road heading for a hill where the howls came from. Halmar let go of his horse and unsheated his sword, for then to start running towards the hill.

The first ghoul didn`t know what hit it before it was smited to the ground by a holy spell. Halmar glanced at the ghouls, it was six of them, if you don`t count in that one he killed. He raised his sword and charged at the closest one. He swung his sword for the ghoul`s spine and cleaved it in two pieces. "You will all die by my hand!" He yelled as he chopped the head off another one. One of them sneaked up behind him and grabbed him. Halmar rolled down on the ground and kicked the ghoul off. He smirked as he watched the ghoul tumble down the hill and into a spider nest. It was quickly devoured by the nasty all-eating spiders. He then started to wildly cast spells, killing two more. Halmar glared at the remaining two. They were both over the average ghoul-height. Halmar ran to the tallest and tackeled it down, he drove his sword through it`s chest and pulled it up again. Tha last one had already fled from the young paladin`s wrath.

Halmar lighted a campfire and offered his horse an apple."Time for a retht I think." He smiled at Spenn. Halmar took up his sword and put a dead chicken on it, which he had dug up from his bag. He started to frie the chicken. "Tathteth better fried than raw you know, Thpenn."

After a while they was on the move again. Only a right turn left and he would be able to see Darkshire. Halmar smiled slightly, it had been a long way to ride.

A guard of The Night Watch ran onto the road infront of Halmar. " Stop there! Who are you? Idenify yourself!" He said, letting a hand rest nervously at the shaft of his sword. "I am Thergeant Halmar Reyver of The Peopleth Militia. I am a friend of the Night Watch. I have come to retht my horthe and do some studying for my exams." The guard nodded and gestruded for Halmar to move along. He yelled after him "Be carefull out there, sir!".

Halmar rode into Darkshire. He peered around and stopped a man of the village to ask for the way to the inn. " Excuthe me thir, but where is your in in thith town?" The man only pointed towards a building in bad shape. Halmar gave the silent man a friendly nod as thanks.

Outside the inn he left his horse in care of the local stable boy. "If you treat him good it might be a reward for you" Halmar said while giving the boy a silver coin. "I will treat him like a prince ,sir!" The boy replied, while looking greedy at the coin.

Inside Halmar sat down and ordered a mug of beer, preparing himself for what he had to do, but first he would have some rest.

Diliamem: The Deal
The gnome sighed and tugged his hood further down over his pale deathly face. Setting off swiftly Diliamem guided his horse through the gloomy, deserted streets of Darkshire. The transaction would be happening soon and he wanted to be ready. The broken crumbling tip of a stone watchtower, loomed out of the foggy murk. Dismounting the necromancer strode towards the tower, one gloved hand hovering over his concealed wand. He was fairly sure this Forsaken could be trusted…at least to carry out their deal. But Diliamem had not survived in this cruel world by taking foolish risks. Quickly surveying the area the gnome settled down against a slab of chipped rock and muttered a string of arcane word. The black figure merged into the shadows...and waited.

Esme: The Godmother
Esme sat at the table of her farmhouse in her nightdress and slippers, sipping a cup of tea, her eye falling once again on the letter before her. The request was dangerous and the unfamiliar scrawl made mistrust flare deeply in her bosom- but if the deal worked out according to plan, the rewards would be massive.

The sky was becoming darker- soon it would be time to move. Draining her tea swiftly, the Godmother moved upstairs to her bedroom and changed into the black, corseted robe that was the status symbol of one of Lady Sylvanas' high ranking servants. Then, she snatched a large sack, stowing inside it all she would need for her long journey to the Southlands. Finally, she went to her beaureau and from a secret compartment inside pulled out the Merchandise- two thin crystal vials, filled with a faintly glowing liquid. These she secreted in her pocket.

With a final look around in case she'd forgotten something, Esme walked back downstairs, extinguished the fire in the hearth, and stepped outside into the dusk. Hissing in annoyance at the sight of ghouls in the pumpkin patch, the witch wandered to the barn where her steed was tethered.

Pulling her hood over her head, Esme mounted her warhorse and began the long trek to Duskwood.

Iriana: Dawn
The rain pounded heavily against the courtyard outside, in a boring never-ending stream. Every now and then a gust of wind from the outside found it’s way through the open door, sending chills down peoples spine… or it could have done that, if not for the fact that there was only one person in the room. The person was painfully aware of the cold wind, the dark sky and most other thing she would normally refer to as “unpleasant”.

Iriana Nightfall, Master sergeant of the Peoples’ militia, sat in the middle of the dark room, staring at the wall. The surrounding matched her current mood perfectly. A dark hopelessness had slowly taken over her mind lately, suddenly she could find herself lost in unpleasant memories. Mostly about Hyal, but also about anything she considered a failure. Her thoughts circled around this, over and over again. The dark thoughts simply refused to leave her, and in the end she found that she was unable to break the dark pattern.

This behaviour was recording to people who knew her, very strange. But on the other hand, her situation was also very strange.

The bells sounded, dawn closed in. The figure stood up, and walked outside in the rain, still dressed in a white dress, a long red cloak, two small shoulder pads and an old sentinel-helmet. At least she had business to attend to, there was something to fill the endless hours with.

Minetha: Kittens
Night turned to day, as the boat sailed from Kul Tiras harbour. A solomn sun rose with dusk extinguishing the dark veil of the black night, as quickly as a lamp switched on. Minetha stood on the deck, the boat slowly rocking back and forth, but keeping her balance, identifying her as one that had experience at sea. She glanced over her shoulder at her husband, playing with their young daughter, who was extremely interested in an old boot.

Minetha was clad in her everyday armour, but she had hidden her First Mate's Hat in her bag, for the memory of the White Maiden was much to bear for the families and friends of it's crew. Her husband, Arkaan, was clad in his usual studded mail-enforced leather armour and a large rimmed hat. She smiled at how his long elven ears protruded from two self-sown holes on it.

Two cats strolled across the deck past Minetha, and toward her daughter, Auroraa, her husband, and the boot. Auroraa looked up from the boot, and smiled and giggled at them, gleefully crying out "Kitties!". She was dressed in an extremely cute dress, with her hair braided; in fact, by her own father.

Arkaan had grown accustomed to many duties, responsibilities and, also, the enjoyable parts, of parenthood, when Minetha became more and more of a stranger to her own family. Or, her family became strange to her. She couldn't tell. Either way, she wasn't nearly as involved as she wanted to be, nor should be, although, of course, her line of work had taken it's toll, and she tried her hardest to balance it all out.

The boat sailed over the seas, southward, as the sun traveled over them, lining the horizon, on it's own journey into the west. Minetha looked back to her daughter, who looked up at her, and they both smiled a smile from the heart. Minetha idly fiddled with her gauntlets, looking at the shore escaping from them in the background, as the same feeling returned to her. She sighed, decided that her instinct was just off, due to her emotional holiday, and dove deep into her thoughts. Unfortunately, her insinct had never failed her before.

Janner: The Bartender's Tip
The gryphon landed in Darkshire, and Janner got off it's back, soaked from the rain. The dark foreboding rainclouds spread over the southern part of the continent, pouring down on the residents unrelentingly. He ran his hand through his wet, black hair, and headed toward the inn. It was time for a drink.

He passed the quiet villagers of Darkshire, who scurried about their business, frightenedly. He didn't blame them for being scared. Duskwood had turned into the kind of place small children were told of in bedtime stories. The land was ripe with ghouls and beasts that could tear you to shreds. Duskwood made Janner uncomfortable, which meant something, he wasn't easy to unnerve.

Janner stepped inside the inn, and attempted to shake the water off him, like a dog. He was still soaked, but walked in anyway, and took a seat by the roasting fire. He gestured to the lonely bartender cleaning the bar, and smiled. The dark haired, brown eyed, but pale skinned young man smiled lightly and asked.

"The usual, eh, Lieutenant?"

"Aye, bu' only 'alf 'shine, I's on duty.", Janner said. "Oh, an' jus' call me Jannah o' Pike o' summin', I's 'ere 'vestigatin', tryin' ta keep low, y'know wha' I mean?". Janner grinned, and leaned back. He eased his head back, and instinctively ran his hands through his hair, as he thought. He knew that whatever was taking place was taking place tonight. It was the last night the Commander was to be away.

He could only guess at what was happening. They were all scared that it was, in fact, the worst of bad scenarios - the nightmere - the one that wasn't supposed to happen, ever again. He frantically wondered what it could be that someone would want from the dead. He chuckled slightly as an odd thought crossed his mind - at least it wasn't that. He was pretty sure. Well, he hoped he was.

The bartender brought him his drink - moonshine and moonberry juice. They called it a Double Moon. It was one of the only things he liked about Duskwood - it was the only place Moonshine was still actively sold. The bartender interrupted his thoughts, and asked him a question.

"You 'eard about that ship arrivin' at the coast tonight?" "Hmh? Wha' ship?" "Don't know. Some ship from Kul Tiras, I 'eard about it from some visitors last night.".

The bartender shrugged and left Janner to his drink. Janner thought about his comment - could it possibly be that the Commander was returning early? "Good" he decided to himself "she can solve t'is myst'ry, an' 'elp wi' wha'evah's goin' on. She always knows wha' t'da".

Even though, it didn't make sense. Something was wrong..

Eva: Gryphon Wings
Eva clung to the gryphon and cursed into the wind. The bird had tried to toss her off three times now and she’d barely managed to hang onto the saddle the second time. Her hair was wet from the rain and she thought she’d never felt this cold before with her clothes sticking to her body as if trying to make her a heavier load for the gryphon. She felt no pity for the bird, it was war between the two of them.

Eva tried to calm down, although keeping alert as the gryphon swooped down, barely avoiding a very tall tree. A branch smacked Eva hard in the face. Eva yelled in frustration and bared her teeth at the flying animal, whom (she was sure) was smirking and plotting the next move.

“Just one more job”, she thought while fuming and glaring at the back of the bird’s head. Her mind gradually wandered back to Wiley’s room in Lakeshire. His dark hair fell into his shaded face as he leaned closer and whispered “By any means necessary, Eva”. Her job was to retrieve documents that were well guarded by a man staying at the inn in Darkshire. Eva did not care if the man lived or died, but she did care about her job, and should this ever get discovered, theft would look better than murder. Of course she counted on her brother to take care of it if it did get discovered, she was his little sister after all and he had a lot of influence in the Militia.

The bird finally landed with a thud and Eva quickly jumped off and cast the gryphon a look. The gryphon master helped her get her backpack and greeted her off with a grunt, clearly just as disgruntled and moody as Eva and the bird.

The rain poured down and she felt the drops slide down her back. She shuddered, shook the hair away from her face, pulled up a hood and strode off to the inn…

Durner: Risking The Best
Durner limped towards the gryphon master. The gryphon master looked at his bruised face and his bent nose and asked "What happened to your face? Looks like you fell off a bird." Durner shrugged "Nay yer buisness." The gryphon master shrugged back. "I need yer fastest gryphon. Buisness in Darkshire." "Weather isn't very good for flying right now, what with all the rain. I don't really think I want to risk sending my best gryphons in this weather unless it's urgent." Durner glared at the human. "I'll pay ye double." The master stroked his beard slowly as if considering the possibility. "And I ain't raisin' that."

Auroraa: Forever Silenced
They walked through the mist of Duskwood, two envoys, a woman, her husband and their little daughter. The envoys, an elf Elyr Swiftmane and a human Sir Helmer Reyver, walked ahead of the group, watching the trees closely for signs of worgs and other dark inhabitants of the forsaken hills and forest. Not far behind was a very determined looking woman; Commander Minetha Nightingale, of the Peoples' Militia, her husband; Arkaan Nightingale and little Aurora.

Peering through the night, Minetha kept her sword ready as they advanced towards the town of Darkshire while Arkaan kept an eye on their daughter who playfully skipped beside them, unaware of possible danger. She quickly learned to keep quiet and stay close to her father as they were attacked three times by hungry wolves.

The dark clouds swallowed the moon as they reached Darkshire, but they did not stop until they'd passed it and found a shelter from the wind up the northern road. They rested there by open fire and as the child slept, Sir Reyver told rather dreadful stories of his son to fit the dreary surroundings.

They had not rested for long when the night was no longer silent, but was filled with mysterious sounds from close by. Minetha gently woke up her daughter and they made their way up the road out of curiosity.

A single structure towered over them as they were met by a gnome, a human and an undead female, all hooded and robed.

Commander Minetha insisted to know what they were doing, but her only answer was swift deaths of the envoys. Arkaan quickly told his wife to go and keep their daughter safe, but as she moved down the slope, the three figures engaged Arkaan in battle. The moon revealed itself from behind the clouds and mother and daughter watched in horror as Arkaan Nightingale was slain. The three figures turned to the remaining two and aimed for the child, but Minetha threw herself over her daughter in an attempt to save her.

Little Aurora knelt by her mother's body and pierced the night with a cry of pain and desperation before she too was silenced forever.

Janner: The Rainclouds
Janner stood outside the inn, in Darkshire, with a large company of Militants. Some he had called for investigation back-up, others had come for their own reasons. One had just come out of curiosity toward the investigations. The rain had suddenly stopped, and as the storm clouds pulled back over the lands, an odd darkness covered them. It would be seen as night from a quick glance, or if looking from afar, but where they stood, it seemed to envelop them, like black fog.

Suddenly, out of the thick of the forests, they heard a scream. It came from the north-east. It sounded like a scream of pain, but they thought it was only a ghoul wailing at the night. As unexpectedly as the first one, it was followed by a second and then a third scream. Janner shouted to the Militants to follow him, and darted off, leading them toward the sound.

Sobbing could be heard, and the shout of a woman..

"No! Don't you dare touch her! My fulo, run.. dear...", and it was followed by a scream of the same voice. A voice that sounded very familiar to Janner. He didn't have time to think about it, as he ran in on the scene of Diliamem Pentworth, a known criminal, and his accomplice in crime, Mestorath Seveyis, standing over five bodies - of which one was a child.

The undead ran off into the Pass on her horse, and a few Militants chased her for a while, but lost her in the end, returning to the scene after only a few moments. The Peoples' Militia stared at the gnome and the man angrily, and drew their weapons. The two ran, and were chased.

They ended at the top of a waterfall. They were trapped. Janner preceeded to attack Mestorath, who fell off the waterfall. He peered down, and saw the body lieing bloodily in the ruins of the rocks, water flowing over him. The body loosened off the rocks and floated down the stream, toward the river.

They all turned on Pentworth. The fight was hard and long, but suddenly they managed to hold him down, and he was ported straight into the cell in the Command Center.

Janner walked back to the bodies, with the rest of the Militia, killing the undead guards at the tower on his way. They turned the corpses over slowly, gasping at who they were. A tear streamed down Janner's cheek silently. The rainclouds were returning to Duskwood.