The eve before war.

Night covered the dessert landscape of Durotar, home of the proud Orcish people. Orcs were hulking green ape like creatures, sporting tusks and wield heavy armour and weapons. They were shamanistic in nature and valued honour of oneself and his or her family above all. Despite the rough landscape and it’s dangerous inhabitants, they settled in well, their strong fortified settlements holding fast against the Centaur tribes that seek their destruction and the sandstorms. Among the many settlements across durotar, the city of Orgrimmar, named after the previous Warchief of the Horde. The Horde was a alliance of diverse races of which the orcs were founders of. Either races included the blue skinned, tusks sporting lanky Darkspear trolls, who lived together with the Orcs in their settlements, the bovine Tauren from Mulgore, the mysterious ‘free’ undead Forsaken from Lordearon and the Blood elves from Quel’thalas, the newest addition to the Horde. Though diverse and sharing some distrust, especially between the Western Horde, orcs, trolls and tauren, and the Eastern Horde, forsaken and blood elves, all shared a single goal.....survival.

The city of Orgrimmar was divided in valleys, build in the canyons near the mountains of Azshara. The gates into the city proper was heavily defended by the Orcish warriors while the rooftops were constantly guarded by Troll spear throwers. The valley of honour was build in the north-eastern canyon, housing the Horde’s warfare’s efforts. From forges to recruiters to goblin tinkers who slave day and night to come up with new technology to blow up the Horde’s enemies...for a hefty price.

One of the forges was called ‘Warsong’s pride’, run by a female orc of the Warsong clan named Kloria, daughter of Kortal. The weapons she created were one of the finest the Horde could use in battle, gaining praise for the easy handles and deadly sharp blades as far to the Eastern Horde’s territories. The forge was closed, for it was late at night, but there was still signs of life coming from the forge. The forge consisted of two floors, the first floor was the shop where the warriors of the Horde, and even some neutral parties who proved themselves to Kloria, could buy their weapons. In the back there was the forge and the anvil where the weapons were made. The second floor were the living quarters. Kitchen, bathroom with running water taken Azshara’s river and three separate bedrooms, of which all were used. Kloria and her mate Gorvar had two daughters, Anniya and Lauren, young orcish toddlers, who were sleeping blissfully while their parents’ room was still lit.

Kloria arched her head backwards, her black hair messy and wet from sweat, moaning. Her mate laying below her, holding her hips as he groaned, his claws embedded in her flash while her hands rested on his chest. Both cried out, the sound muted by the thick walls, drawing blood, re-opening their mating scars, scars made by each other during their first mating night. With a sigh Kloria layed on top of Gorvar’s chest, panting. The male strayed her messy hair until she stood up, leaving the pelt made from Kodo hide, skinned by her mate himself, grabbing the pitcher of water and a wooden mug. ‘You mind getting me a mug to Klo?’ Gorvar asked, sitting up. ‘I fear I will not be able to walk that length.’ He grinned. The female rolled her eyes, pouring the water from the pitcher into the second mug, bringing it over to her mate. Gorvar nodded his thanks and drank.

‘You could’ve walked yourself.’ She said, grabbing her light brown robe off the floor, putting it on. ‘I fear you were to hard on me, I will not be able to leave the pelt until dawn.’ ‘I mated with a peon...’ she sighed and layed down next to him, her back to him. Gorvar chuckled, kissing her cheek and pulled the pelt over them both, holding his arm over her waist. ‘This peon will make breakfast and take the pups to school tomorrow while the strong Warsong can sleep in.’ ‘You better.’ She turned her head to face him, glaring. She glared until they both chuckled, laying back down.

‘I heard the Warchief will discuss the invasion on Northrend tomorrow with Garrosh and Sylvanas Windrunner.’ Gorvar said, straying her hair again. Kloria snorted. ‘Garrosh does not act like a Warsong nor as a competent commander.’ She growled. ‘He rather wants to charge in slaying everything in sight and expect all will go for the best.’ ‘I thought as a Warsong you would like to see him take control of the clan?’ Gorvar asked. ‘No, there is a difference between fighting for the honour of your clan and fighting to please your father’s lost soul, hoping to gain his approval.’ ‘You are one of the few Warsong who do not seem thrilled by his return....’ The male noted. ‘Because there was no need for his return, yes the return of the Mag’har does bring a powerfull ally to the Horde and help us connect with the Ancestors again, but I heard what Garrosh was before thrall showed him the vision...’ she paused. ‘I do not trust a male who swings from one emotional extreme to the other in a blink of a eye.’ Gorvar nodded, seeing truth in that statement. ‘What about Sylvanas then?’ ‘You told me enough about her from your travels and from your undead friend whom you let the pups see as their aunt.’ ‘I thought you two got along well?’ ‘We do....’ she turned her head around again, grinning. ‘Espcially when we discuss the stupidity of a certain Bleeding Hollow Beast-master who rather wants to talk to birds then watch his back from a Worgen.’ This time the male rolled his eyes. ‘That only happened once....’ ‘Or the time she had to rescue you from a mob of skeletons, or from a Demon whom you taught you could easily handle.’ ‘Both rare occasions I assure you mate.’ Gorvar said. A short chuckle later Kloria laid back down. ‘Best you get some sleep, I expect my egg and bacon to be ready when I awake.’ ‘I love you to.’ Gorvar kissed her one last time; ‘Goodnight.’ Kloria yawned, muttering the same as she fell asleep.

The next morning Gorvar awoke first, slowly pulling his arms away from his mate as he dressed into a leather vest and trousers, closing the door behind him as he went to the kitchen, making breakfast. He muttered to himself as he prepared to scramble his eggs on a metal pan on a fire he made prior, throwing the bits of pork and spices in when ready. He grabbed some loafs of bread and divided the egg and bacon amongst four plates, placing three down on the table, the fourth one he put away so his mate could eat it later.

He went over to his daughter’s bedrooms, opening the door, knocking. ‘Wake up little puppies, school day.’ ‘Noooooo....’ his eldest covered her face in the pelt.’ Don’t want to go....’ ‘Though.’ Gorvar said. ‘School or no take out Troll take out tonight.’ The little pup gasped, immediately getting up. Gorvar grinned as he went to wake the other, all three sat at the table having their breakfast. Heavy steps sounded on the stairs. Gorvar looked up, smiling as he saw a big black wolf walking up. ‘Good morning to you to mutt.’ Gorvar went to the meat closrt, giving the black worg a piece of salted meat. Anniya patted the black wolf, eating her egg and bacon sandwich. Shortly after Gorvar took his pups to the local school. ‘What are the plans for today?’ the male asked his daughters. ‘Matron Tarla will tell us a old orcish story.’ Lauren told excitedly. ‘from back on Dreanor before it went boem boem.’ ‘Boem boem?’ he raised his eyebrow. ‘Is that how your teacher calls it?’ ‘No silly!’ Lauren smiled innocently. ‘Mister Gork does.’ ‘Ah....’ Gorvar nodded, already seeing the ogre in his mind pulling the cart filled with other children, mostly from other valleys in Orgrimmar or just outside, walk towards the local school. The elderly female was already stood In front of the school, calling the little orclings in. ‘Throm ka Tarla.’ Gorvar said. ‘How are you?’ ‘Good thank you Gorvar.’ The elderly female smiled. ‘the pups are very excited to hear the story and learn how to count.’ Gorvar blinked. ‘You got them excited how to count?’ Tarla nodded. ‘How in the name of the ancestors did you learn how to do that?’ Tarla chuckled, tapping her nose. ‘Family secret.’ Gorvar sighed, shrugging. ‘As long it works...’

Gorvar bid goodbye to his pups and the matron and went back to the forge where his mate was already working. ‘You took your sweet time getting here peon!’ she hammered on a piece of metal. ‘We’re running out of water, grab the baskets and get us some, I told you last night to fill them!’ ‘Throm ka to you to Klo.....’ Gorvar said under his breath. ‘What was that?!’ ‘Nothing klo, nothing.’ Gorvar said, grabbing the baskets.

Suddenly a large shock ran through the house, shook by a powerful voice. ‘Hear me, pups of Orgrimmar, brash upstarts of the Horde!’ Gorvar growled. ‘Tremble and know your doom, for the gaze of the Lich King is upon you!’ ‘We’ll see about that...’ Gorvar put the baskets down, running upstairs. ‘Gorvar don’t!’ Kloria pleaded, but by the time she was upstairs Gorvar was already dressed. His mail armour was put on as was the Tabard of the Horde, his helmet, in the shape of a wolf’s head, he put on his head, grabbing his twin axes he got of Kloria as a mating present. ‘I need to go to the school, see if the puppies are allright, you stay here in case they come here.’ Kloria sighed, shaking her head. ‘Be carefull...’ she said. ‘Thanks Klo, stay inside and keep out of sight.’ He kissed her and ran outside, Wolfgen in tow.

He merely took one step outside but the beast-master was already greeted by rotting humans, their eys cold and dead. He raised his axes, cleaving the undead in twain, green blood sputtering on his face and tabard. Wolfgen tackled another, biting the undead’s arms off.

Gorvar continued his face, coming into the valley proper....greeted by chaos. The defenders of Orgrimmar were swarmed by beings of nightmares. Shambeling corpses, flying skeletons of dragons and a floating building, marked with skulls and the smell of dread and fear. He gasped as a Dragon swooped in, grabbing a tauren female in front of him in it’s jaws. The female screamed and shouted, dropping her gun as the dragon took her to the sky. The scream became a distant sound until it finally silenced. The dragon turned around, it’s teeth and claws covered in blood as it flew towards Grovar. Gorvar growled, his axes at the ready. ‘Gorvar, catch!’ a male voice sounded, a bow and a arrow thrown at him. Gorvar dropped his axes, grabbing the bow and arrow, shooting it at the creature when it came in sight. The arrow hit the fallen dragon, the arrow going through it’s bones, ‘a magic arrow..’ Gorvar mused. The creature roared, but it was soon barraged by other arrows, gunshots and magic spells from all kinds, causing it to crash on a abandoned hut. Gorvar turned to see his benefactor, and smiled when he recognised him. It was a Blood elf male, though a lot more muscular then the average elf, coverd in blood red plate. He wore a red shield and a sword. His hair was black, though now covered in green blood, as were his eyes. ‘Halamdir!’ Gorvar shouted. ‘Praise the ancestors you’re here!’ The Blood elf gave Gorvar a quiver filled with arrows. ‘Praise your spirits all you want, I wish I was not here.’ The Beast-master put the bow and quiver away on his back, grabbing his axes. ‘I cannot blame you.’ Halmadir nodded, turning his sights to a mob of lumbering hulking abominations, corpses that were stiched together to make a giant rotting beast, coming towards them. ‘We shall continue the pleasantries at a later time, agreed?’ µ ‘Zug zug.’ Gorvar nodded and charged into battle with the Blood elven warrior and his Wolf ally.

The Orc and Blood elf swung their weapons, cutting through flesh and bone. While Halamdir’s sword was fuelled by a magic gem that enabled him to cut through flesh with ease, Gorvar was filled with a rage that boiled one’s blood. He had to get through to find his pups and bring them to safety. The Beast-master looked over the battlefield. ‘We have to find my pups, the school is over there!’ he pointed at the direction of the school. ‘Let us go then.’ Halmadir said. ‘We’ll make these rotting meatbags pay with their lives!’ .The two fought their way in, aided by a Grunt, or Roofstalker and sometimes a Adventurer towards the direction of the school.

When they came across another mob of undead, Gorvar grabbed his bow and arrows, shooting away. Much to his amazement they dropped down like bricks. ‘Well shot Gorvar!’ Halamdir exclaimed. ‘That wasn’t me...’ Gorvar admitted. Both glanced back, looking up at a dark hooded figure. It had a feminine form, her hood and cloak obscuring much of hair face. But they could see the burning red eyes and her blue-pale skin holding a dark wicked bow. ‘Lady Sylvanas....’ Halamdir gasped in awe. ‘I have no time for games.’ She said. ‘Why are you two going east, the fight is in the east.’ Gorvar’s heart breathed easier for a moment, his pups would not be in the thick of this attack. ‘I need to find my pups.’ Gorvar said. ‘They are in the school at the east side of the valley.’ Sylvanas nodded. ‘I understand.’ She whistled, a black robed forsaken with a dark magic staff running up to her. ‘Go with these two and find Putress, he is properly hiding in the east swell, the coward.’ She ordered the robed figure. ‘Yes milady...’ the dark robed forsaken, a female guessing of the voice, and ran off, followed by a small cadre of skeletons that threw themselves on the Scourge ones.

‘Shadow no....’ the robed figure sighed. ‘It’s you....’ ‘Condemption?’ Gorvar chuckled. ‘Sprits am I glad to see you!’ Condemption wore a black robe and hood, though much more coverd then her Dark Lady. Leather straps covered the parts where her eyes should’ve been. ‘Me, not so much...’ Condemption said. ‘Lead the way Oaf, I wish to strangle Putress first before Lady Sylvanas finds us.’ ‘I’m here to.’ Halamdir objected. ‘Good for you, lead the way NOW!’ Gorvar nodded and lead the small party east.

The scourge that came across the party were quickly slain, for they were no match against Orcish axe, Elven steel, Wolf teeth and dark magic. The party saw glances of the Warchief fight alongside his people and Sylvanas, calmly relaying orders while slamming his massive hammer down on the enemy. ‘They will manage.’ The undead warlock said. ‘Hurry, we knows the battle might switch to the East after all.’

Before they could run off, a dark horse stood in front of them, it’s rider wielding a long wicked blade. His armour looked intimidating and cold, a sense of dread seemed to overcome the party. From a glance all could tell the knight was a human in life. ‘Your people will die...’ it said with a cold voice. ‘They already did.’ Condemption replied, raising her right hand, a dark bolt coming from it, hitting the Death Knight square in the chest....with no effect. ‘Spell immunity, great....’ the warlock muttered. Gorvar drew his bow while Halmadir charged, his arrows bouncing off the armour. The blood elf unleashed his powerful blow on the Horse, but the Death Knight deflected it with his sword. The dark knight raised his right end, Halmadir crashing into a hut while the Horse charged towards the remaining duo. ‘Horse?’ Gorvar knocked another arrow. ‘Horse.’ Condemption confirmed and both unleashed their attacks on the steed. The Knight fell of the now dead steed, greeted with wolfgen’s claws. But the human kicked him off, Wolfgen laying unconscious on the floor, angering the orc beast-master. Gorvar growled, charging towards the Death Knight. ‘Gorvar, don’t you idiot!’ Condemption warned, but was to late. The orc wailed down on his enemy, but was also easily taken out by the Death Knight. The two former humans glanced at each other. ‘Traitor...’ the Death Knight sneered. ‘I should call you the same thing...’ Condemption gritted her teeth and began mumbling a spell. The knight laughed. ‘My sword protects me from magic attack little warlock, you stand no chance!’ ‘It may protect you from magic attacks...but it does not protect the land around it!’ Condemption exclaimed and slapped her hands together, the ground under the Death Knight erupting into flame. He screamed, his body completely engulfed by flame. ‘Never knew the tome of Kar’tel would come in handy....’ Condemption mused, walking over to her fallen allies. She grabbed a bottle from her pouch that hung around her shoulder to hip, pouring it in their mouths. Shortly after both warriors got up, Wolfgen shaking his head. ‘For trained warriors you are both idiots.’ She said. ‘Yet another tale I should tell your wives when I get around to see them.’ ‘I do not know what is worse, me almost dying or my mate hearing another tale of a battle you saved me from.’ Gorvar said. ‘Dying sounds worse.’ Halmadir grabbed his weapons. ‘My wife would kill me if I died.’ Gorvar chuckled weakly. ‘So would mine.’ ‘Enough!’ Condemption shouted. ‘We’re supposed to find your brats not waste our time standing by idle!’ Both nodded and ran towards the school.

The party arrived at the school, which was coverd in bodies of the undead...smashed. Much to his oy Gorvar saw Gork use a bench to slam any nearbye undead into a pulp. ‘Gork smash puny bone-people!’ Gork looked up, seeing Condemption. ‘Bone people!’ he shouted, running towards her. ‘Gork stop!’ a male authorative voice sounded, making Gork stop in. Gorvar glanced to the right, smiling as he saw the owner of that voice. His father, Gorvare. Allready the older, but still in his prime, Orc began shouting orders, the Grunts following his commands to the letter. ‘Father!’ Gorvar shouted. ‘Gorvar.’ Gorvare nodded. ‘I see you fought your way through the madness.....where is your mate?’ ‘Back at home keeping the Scourge out.’ The Beast-master replied. ‘I came here to pick up the pups.’ The Bleeding Hollow chieftain nodded, but before he could reply a massive windgust swept around the battlefield.

All gasped as the Necropolis began drifting away, crashing into the dessert outside Orgrimmar. Again the ground shook. ‘ARGH! THIS SMALL VICTORY WILL AVAIL YOU NOTHING!’ the strong cold voice from earlier sounded. ‘COME! COME TO NORTHREND. MY MINIONS ARE WAITING, AND THEY ARE HUNGRY....’

Gorvar took his pups back home as Condemption and Halmadir took Putress to Sylvanas. Halamdir explained he was part of the sin’dorei party that wanted to be present at the meeting, but when the battle began looked for Gorvar to give him the bow Gorvar asked for months. Condemption was, like Putress, a apothecary who travelled with the Dark Lady, representing the forsaken side. The orc and his pups arrived home, Kloria, although tired and coverd in green blood, smiled and hugged both her pups and her mate. Condemption and Halmadir took this as a silent request to leave and left to go back to their respective sides.

That evening, Gorvar, after having the children’s pelts in his and Kloria’s room for the evening, gazed upon the stars from the roof. ‘I know that look...’ Kloria said as she came up. ‘You plan on going...Aren’t you?’ Earlier the crier sounded a declaration of war against the Lich King, the Horde was going to Northrend to end the Scourge once and for all. Gorvar nodded slowly. ‘I plan on leaving next month with the Hands of Vengeance fleet...The Warchief asked me personally.’ He raised a letter, Kloria took it and read it’s contents.

Lok Tar Ogar Gorvar, son of Gorvare of the Bleeding Hollow.

I saw you fight alongside a blood elf and a forsaken today, your father told me you wanted to find your pups, I hope when you read this they are safe. I must ask you a favour, for your relationship with what most call ‘The Eastern Horde’ could be vital in this upcoming war. I ask of you to join the Hands of Vengeance fleet along with your two friends, for i fear, and even Sylvanas herself fears, that once there certain individuals might take the expedition into a dark direction that might mean the end of the Horde. You do not have to go, but if you would I will make certain your mate’s forge will be well funded, as every household would if they send a family member to Northrend. Reply as soon as possible.

For the Horde!

Thrall, son of Durotan.

Kloria paused, then sat down next to her mate. ‘I cannot stop you Gorvar....I know you to well to hope otherwise.’ ‘I will make him pay for threatening our pups Kloria....i promise you.’ ‘Promise me you will return home safe.’ Gorvar nodded; ‘I will my mate....but now...’ he held her, glancing up to the sky. ‘Let us enjoy this month together....’ Kloria nodded. ‘Good....but you better be more focused on helping me at the forge.’ She glared; ‘you forgot to fill the baskets with water again.’ Gorvar chuckled, spirits did he love this female. ‘I promise you I will be more focused and help you with the forge.’ ‘Good.’ Kloria kissed him. ‘Ewwww!’ the sound of a small pup expressed. Gorvar smiles as he sees his two daughters averting their gaze with disgust. ‘Come here puppies, come watch the stars with mummy and daddy.’ Anniya and Lauren ran over, sitting in between their parents, watching the stars. As Gorvar looked at his family he forgot everything. The war with the Scourge, the many worries with the forge, ‘spying’ on the eastern horde...all that mattered in his life was here, right in front of him. From the depth of his heart he thanked the ancestors to be blessed with such a loving family. He was happy.

The end.