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[Short Story] Woeherald: Pyre for the Memories
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Post by
Behelich
Several decades ago, in a dying world of Draenor...
"Let me talk to them."
The former necrolyte in a feeble human's body suppressed a shiver, standing in front of two massive orcs and an outright gargantuan ogre mage.
"They may not realize what's going on, but they still are fine soldiers. Resolving this without bloodshed will benefit the Horde."
"We were not sent here to talk! The Skull is a rightful property of the warchief, and the Bonechewers will give it to us without questioning - or die," spoke one of the orcs, a giant with a monstrous two-handed ax.
The ogre mage raised a hand, calling for silence.
"The death knight has a point. I'm sure our master won't approve of needless thinning of our ranks. Go now, and don't procrastinate - by the end of the day the Skull will come into our possession, one way - or another."
Nagorm, son of Raz'grom of the Bonechewer clan, bowed his head curtly and spun around, walking across the Horde's military camp.
"State your business!" snarled a scarred orc wearing minimum armor, one of the two guarding the entrance to the Bonechewer camp, his weathered two-handed held inches away from Nagorm's throat.
"Gal'gar?" the death knight asked in faux surprise and joy, pressing two fingers against his chest and sending a pulse of magical energy through it, making his voice sound almost identical to that of his former orc self.
"Nagorm?"
Gal'gar stared at the undead for a couple of seconds, subconsciously lowering his weapon. However, his eyes then narrowed and he spat on the ground in disgust.
"It's true, then. You're one of
them
. What ill-fashioned joke of Fate brought you back?" he demanded.
Nagorm sighed, despite having no functioning lungs.
"I came to talk with Skullsplinter, old friend."
"I'm no friend of yours," Gal'gar growled, raising the sword once again, "And tough luck for you, bone-sack, chieftain Hurkan doesn't like to be disturbed - especially by someone like you."
"Will it help if I say that I'm not here on my own, for our warchief Ner'zhul has sent me with a mission of utmost importance?"
Gal'gar muttered something profane under his nose, throwing a side glance to his fellow guard. The latter shrugged.
"Fine. I'll enjoy watching the chieftain tearing you apart," Nagorm's childhood friend sheathed his weapon and sidestepped to give way.
As the death knight walked through the camp, his weathered cloak flapping around his feet, he could sense the negative emotions around him - all directed at him, of course. Loathing and mistrust were predominant, but the fact that Nagorm recognized a hint of fear made him smile wryly under his hood. He also noted that this was indeed a military camp, not differing much from the one his superiors were stationed at - so far, the death knight had failed to notice a single child, or an orc too old to fight. Every single Bonechewer around him was a trained soldier - for a given value of trained - and, somewhy, knowing this Nagorm relaxed slightly, and even felt some dark excitement.
Soon enough, a massive orc came into sight - almost as large as former warchief Orgrim Doomhammer, the one responsible for wiping out the Shadow Council - the one to kill Nagorm. The former necrolyte shifted uneasily, his hand inadvertently rising atop his chestplate, against the place where Orgrim's dreaded weapon shattered his orc's body's ribcage. Nagorm tried to chase away the memories of his death, focusing on what he knew of the Bonechewers' new chieftain. As told by scouts, Skullsplinter '
was prone to madness and bloodlust, but was a cunning and wily warrior when he was actually thinking
'.
'
Let's hope he's not angry now,
' Nagorm thought. He began to inhale, but then remembered his lungs were not functioning. Scowling, he pressed a finger against his throat, empowering his voice and filling it with sinister reverberations.
"Chieftain Hurkan Skullsplinter of Bonechewer clan!"
Hurkan spun around, his eyes narrowed menacingly. He walked up swiftly to Nagorm, towering over the death knight and breathing loudly, the Skull hanging on his neck. Despite his aggressive demeanor, Nagorm understood that, of all people in the camp it was the chieftain to be afraid of him the most - if only because he was smart enough to understand just what the undead monstrosities were capable of.
"Who am I speaking to?" barked Hurkan.
"Nagorm, son of Raz'grom of the Bonechewer clan," the death knight stated. "I seek an audience with you, chieftain."
Skullsplinter nodded, "And just what is it you wish to speak with me to, son of Raz'grom?"
"I'd rather discuss it in private, chieftain," Nagorm replied, supporting his words with a weak persuasion spell.
Hurkan blinked, "Very well."
He inhaled to say something else, but one of his lieutenants interjected.
"Chieftain Hurkan! Are you sure it is a wise decision?"
"And just what can this puny wretch do to me? He's already more of a human than of an orc - and I won't let anyone think I'm afraid of a human!" Skullsplinter retorted. The lieutenant nodded, his chieftain's words made perfect sense to him.
"Follow me, son of Raz'grom," Hurkan growled, Nagorm's father's name sounding like an insult in his mouth. The rest of the clan looked at their chieftain with approval - truly, this was the way to treat the likes of Nagorm.
"I'll ask again, what is it you wish to speak with me of?" Skullsplinter said evenly, keeping his voice low.
"My family."
"Oh."
The Bonechewer chieftain frowned, doing his best to mask discomfort.
"Shortly after your departure, your mother fell victim to some kind of a disease."
Nagorm narrowed his eyes - he knew already what Hurkan was going to say, but some part of him refused to believe. As they walked on, the death knight subtly poured more dark energy into Skullsplinter, causing him to be truthful and obeying.
"Your father approached our old - last - shaman, asking for help. Alas, the latter refused. He claimed that the elements have abandoned us, and the likes of you were to blame. No matter what your father said, the shaman did not change his decision - even after Raz'grom declared that he does not have a son."
The death knight had to muster all his willpower not to stammer, or not to rip the chieftain apart where he stood.
"Your mother passed away shortly after, causing Raz'grom to start seeking death. When some ravagers started attacking our camp, he was in the first wave of the counter-attack - and died, saving a younger, less experienced hunter's life in the process."
The two stopped some several dozen yards outside of the camp, in front of two weathered graves. Not far from them a vast forest stood, its trees big enough to conceal even an ogre mage in their shadow.
"We buried them here."
"What about the shaman?" Nagorm asked coldly.
"He is still with us, even now, despite his age. He went inside his tent, refusing to come out while your presence taints the camp when he knew of your arrival," Hurkan explained, his voice monotone and lacking emotions - an obvious evidence of Nagorm's sorcery.
"I see."
The death knight snapped his fingers, removing his spell from Hurkan and casting another one - to hide what was about to happen from the rest of the Bonechewers.
"What the-" Skullsplinter shook his head.
"HELLSCREAM!" Nagorm cried.
Gorehowl, the already legendary ax of Grom Hellscream, came flying from the forest, spinning with devastating speed until it buried itself right between the Bonechewer chieftain's eyes. Hurkan Skullsplinter died before he knew what was happening.
"Good job, death knight," came a booming laugh as the chieftain of the Warsong clan came up to Nagorm, tearing his ax out of Hurkan's head and snatching the Skull of Gul'Dan. Behind him, the soldiers of the Horde poured out of the forest.
"The rest of the Bonechewers don't know about us yet, but my spell won't last long. We must strike now - and kill every single of them."
"I thought you wanted to spare them?" Grom laughed again.
"I was wrong, mighty Hellscream. The Bonechewers need to be taught a lesson."
"Good thinking, son of Raz'grom."
"Son of Raz'grom is long dead, mighty Hellscream. Killed by the Doomhammer."
"Very well, then who are you?"
"Nagorm Woeherald. And another thing, mighty Hellscream..."
"Yes?"
"Leave the shaman to me."
"Very well, Nagorm Woeherald.
LOK'TAR OGAR
!"
Post by
576272
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
I enjoyed it, even if it differed slightly from the version set down in the novel
Beyond the Dark Portal
.
I liked how he didn't just slaughter everyone, and you knew without a doubt that he was dead.
EEEEEERGH typos.
Post by
Behelich
My wish has been, swiftly, granted! It has been a while since I have read something from Warcraft times, and I am pleased. More people should write about events from this time... Anyways, for the actual story, it served its purpose in that it was background information for Woeherald. It is clear that he has some daddy issues, well issues in general. I like how you use his abilities subtly and not over used them to death. Well done, Alu.
You're absolutely right in stating that its purpose is providing background information for Woeherald, nothing more. And thank you, I have some more ideas that I'll probably release someday, but now they still need fleshing out.
I enjoyed it, even if it differed slightly from the version set down in the novel
Beyond the Dark Portal
.
I took the liberty of slightly altering the canon - while leaving the key elements, such as Grom Hellscream landing the killing blow on Hurkan Skullsplinter, intact - because I considered this particular event minor enough for the overall story, while at the same time being crucial for Nagorm alone.
I liked how he didn't just slaughter everyone, and you knew without a doubt that he was dead.
This is again me trying to emphasize that Nagorm is not evil, at least not fully - note how I explicitly stated that no children or elder people (except the shaman, of course) were killed.
To quote him from the Interview thread, "Undeath sucks". His eagerness to become alive once again is what I think one of his most important characteristics.
Post by
Morec0
*Unglues eyes from screen*
Another epic installment! So Nagorm led Hellscream to the Skull of Gul'dan... makes me want to reread it to see how you tied in the fic with the fact. Looking foreward to the next installment of Nagorm's sad undeath.
Post by
Behelich
*Unglues eyes from screen*
Another epic installment! So Nagorm led Hellscream to the Skull of Gul'dan... makes me want to reread it to see how you tied in the fic with the fact. Looking foreward to the next installment of Nagorm's sad undeath.
He did not exactly 'lead' Hellscream to the Skull. Nagorm simply volunteered when he knew that Ner'zhul is sending Grom against his former clan. Then he went to Dentarg, Grom and Kargath (the trio in the prologue, in case it isn't clear), trying to prevent bloodshed.
And then the truth came out.
Post by
355559
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Behelich
As an old saying goes, thought thrives on conflict. Perhaps, confronting the 'villain', the so-called 'heroes' will change for good, eh?
Post by
355559
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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