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Jan. 10th, 2018
The Dark Portal
Jan. 10th, 2018 02:12 pmKhadgar couldn't believe his eyes and barely remembered to flap his wings and stay afloat. The summons he had received had mentioned the Dark Portal turning red and a few strange orcs with brown skin instead of green slaying those sent to greet them. Survivors said they called themselves the Iron Horde. Even with that ominous, familiar name nothing could have prepared him for what he now saw.
It was like the First War all over again.
The dusty red earth of the Blasted Lands was dotted with the brown skinned orcs, their numbers swelling as he neared the Portal until the ground seemed to swarm with their black armored forms. Splitting the crowd were various machines of war, strange immense cannons the like of which he had never seen and smaller machines that bore the marks of goblincraft.
Where had these orcs come from?
Alarmed he wheeled, turning his raven form towards Nethergarde Keep. He could see it smoking even from here and his heart ached for what he would find. Over twenty years ago he'd proposed building the stronghold and lived there for a time helping to keep watch over the Dark Portal should the Horde, the old Horde, ever return. Two years in this desolate place praying the Portal would remain shut.
Now the proud walls that had helped defend against the old Horde's second incursion lay in shambles. The forge stood but still and silent. The barracks had been burnt to the ground and he could see the quartermaster's corpse run through in front of it. The central fort stood, a pile of dead Nethergarde warriors, mostly humans, piled haphazardly in front. Iron Horde orcs crawled over everything.
He had known people here. The grief in his heart spiked to fury. He longed to land and blast them all back to wherever they had come from but he knew that would be wasting time. Instead he smoothed his feathers and turned towards the Portal, intent on inspecting it to determine what the Iron Horde had done. He landed on the massive archway of the Portal itself, examining its magic. Strange. The dimensional anchors were intact; the Portal should still lead to Outland. Puzzled he followed the old links of fel and arcane power and found something new between them. Something gritty.
Time magic. Someone had hijacked the other end of the portal and whatever Outland was on the other side of it was not the one he knew. Even worse the magic was being fueled there. He couldn't close the Portal from this side. There were very few mages capable of such a feat and Khadgar suspected he knew exactly which one to blame. Flaring his wings, he dropped from the archway and glided towards the Alliance camp, hoping to touch base with Maraad before he left. As he flew he saw a dark-haired gnome on a low hill, dressed in the black leathers of SI:7, peering through a telescope towards the Portal herself. In his haste he almost missed the two orcs creeping up behind her.
He dived immediately, determined to save at least one person today. He landed, returning to human just as the first hulking orc grabbed the tiny gnome's hair. He raised a hand, drawing arcane power to him and released the blast. It caught the orc full in the chest as he finished slicing open the gnome's throat.
Light damn him!
A low chuckle came from behind him. "Too slow, mage," the second orc said in his native tongue. He barely had a moment to look surprised before he caught Khadgar's second arcane blast.
He had failed.
"Pazerp!" a voice called frantically. "Pazerp!" A blue haired lavender skinned night elf in black leathers crested the hill atop a nightsaber, hand flying to her mouth as she saw them. "Archmage! Oh no..."
Khadgar shook his heard at her sorrowfully as she dismounted. "I was a moment too late. Your scout is dead." He turned to look out over the swarming Iron Horde. "This is worse than I could have imagined. The Iron Horde invasion has begun. Take a look for yourself." He gestured to the gnome's telescope, still on its tripod. The night elf stepped forward and she turned pale at what she saw.
"I must inform Maraad at once," she told him. Mouth fixing in a grim line she bent to gather up Pazerp.
Khadgar nodded. This would save time. "And I must tell King Wrynn. Keep alert, agent. Dark times lay ahead." He returned to his raven form and took wing.
He should message the Horde as well, those descendants of the old Horde that had first invaded Azeroth over twenty years ago. The old Horde had nearly wiped out all known civilization when it had arrived and neither modern Horde nor Alliance could ignore this new Iron Horde now.
Whenever it was coming from.
It was like the First War all over again.
The dusty red earth of the Blasted Lands was dotted with the brown skinned orcs, their numbers swelling as he neared the Portal until the ground seemed to swarm with their black armored forms. Splitting the crowd were various machines of war, strange immense cannons the like of which he had never seen and smaller machines that bore the marks of goblincraft.
Where had these orcs come from?
Alarmed he wheeled, turning his raven form towards Nethergarde Keep. He could see it smoking even from here and his heart ached for what he would find. Over twenty years ago he'd proposed building the stronghold and lived there for a time helping to keep watch over the Dark Portal should the Horde, the old Horde, ever return. Two years in this desolate place praying the Portal would remain shut.
Now the proud walls that had helped defend against the old Horde's second incursion lay in shambles. The forge stood but still and silent. The barracks had been burnt to the ground and he could see the quartermaster's corpse run through in front of it. The central fort stood, a pile of dead Nethergarde warriors, mostly humans, piled haphazardly in front. Iron Horde orcs crawled over everything.
He had known people here. The grief in his heart spiked to fury. He longed to land and blast them all back to wherever they had come from but he knew that would be wasting time. Instead he smoothed his feathers and turned towards the Portal, intent on inspecting it to determine what the Iron Horde had done. He landed on the massive archway of the Portal itself, examining its magic. Strange. The dimensional anchors were intact; the Portal should still lead to Outland. Puzzled he followed the old links of fel and arcane power and found something new between them. Something gritty.
Time magic. Someone had hijacked the other end of the portal and whatever Outland was on the other side of it was not the one he knew. Even worse the magic was being fueled there. He couldn't close the Portal from this side. There were very few mages capable of such a feat and Khadgar suspected he knew exactly which one to blame. Flaring his wings, he dropped from the archway and glided towards the Alliance camp, hoping to touch base with Maraad before he left. As he flew he saw a dark-haired gnome on a low hill, dressed in the black leathers of SI:7, peering through a telescope towards the Portal herself. In his haste he almost missed the two orcs creeping up behind her.
He dived immediately, determined to save at least one person today. He landed, returning to human just as the first hulking orc grabbed the tiny gnome's hair. He raised a hand, drawing arcane power to him and released the blast. It caught the orc full in the chest as he finished slicing open the gnome's throat.
Light damn him!
A low chuckle came from behind him. "Too slow, mage," the second orc said in his native tongue. He barely had a moment to look surprised before he caught Khadgar's second arcane blast.
He had failed.
"Pazerp!" a voice called frantically. "Pazerp!" A blue haired lavender skinned night elf in black leathers crested the hill atop a nightsaber, hand flying to her mouth as she saw them. "Archmage! Oh no..."
Khadgar shook his heard at her sorrowfully as she dismounted. "I was a moment too late. Your scout is dead." He turned to look out over the swarming Iron Horde. "This is worse than I could have imagined. The Iron Horde invasion has begun. Take a look for yourself." He gestured to the gnome's telescope, still on its tripod. The night elf stepped forward and she turned pale at what she saw.
"I must inform Maraad at once," she told him. Mouth fixing in a grim line she bent to gather up Pazerp.
Khadgar nodded. This would save time. "And I must tell King Wrynn. Keep alert, agent. Dark times lay ahead." He returned to his raven form and took wing.
He should message the Horde as well, those descendants of the old Horde that had first invaded Azeroth over twenty years ago. The old Horde had nearly wiped out all known civilization when it had arrived and neither modern Horde nor Alliance could ignore this new Iron Horde now.
Whenever it was coming from.
Preparations
Jan. 10th, 2018 02:20 pmKing Varian Wrynn looks up as the raven lands on his throne room floor, one hand going to his sword, Shalamayne, until the bird transforms. "Khadgar," he says, relaxing. "You've returned. What news?"
The mage does not look happy. "Nethergarde Keep has fallen and the Iron Horde has taken Okril'lon Hold for their own. Maraad was planning a strike when I left." He looks troubled. "The Portal has been redirected. It still leads to Outland, but the time is different."
"Garrosh," Varian growls, his scarred face growing fierce.
Khadgar nods. "And Kairoz. It must be where- when they fled to." He frowns thoughtfully. "It leads to Draenor, then, not Outland. It would explain the orcs' brown skin."
"Maraad suspected he's altered the forming of the old Horde and created this Iron Horde instead."
"And is using it to take vengeance on Azeroth for defying him. He must have had years to plan this. The Iron Horde seems to have endless resources. The numbers coming through the Portal haven't slowed once." He looks at Varian. "We must stop them. Even if they're not fel-fueled, we know what happened the last time a Horde invaded Azeroth."
"You cannot close the Portal again?" Varian asks with dismay.
"Not from this side."
The king sighs. "We are still recovering from our siege on Orgrimmar but Maraad has already convinced me to sign the declaration of war. I will give you what aid I can and we'll put out the call to arms." He smiles grimly. "I'm sure there are many who remember the First War."
"You should know, I plan to ask the Horde for aid as well," Khadgar says carefully.
Varian's eyes narrow. "You better have a good reason."
"You said yourself the Alliance is still recovering. The first Horde invasion nearly destroyed our world. Who better to help stop it than the descendants of that invasion?"
"You play a dangerous game, Khadgar." Varian frowns. "Very well. Seek aid from the Horde, but be cautious. Garrosh may still have sympathizers among their ranks."
Khadgar bows. "Thank you, King Wrynn."
----------------
"What's the plan, Khadgar?" The green skinned orc shaman glances down at him, then returns to watching the Portal. The factions' combined forces have cleared the Iron Horde from their stolen strongholds and pushed them back to the Portal's opening. But even now brown skinned orcs pour through only to be met by the warriors of Azeroth.
"Now we wait, Thrall," Khadgar says with a sigh.
"Go'el," the orc reminds him gently.
"Right, sorry. I will remember eventually." He gives the orc an apologetic smile. Go'el had recently learned the name his parents called him before they'd been murdered when the shaman was just a babe. He'd given up the human-given 'Thrall' to claim it. "There has been much on my mind. Tell me of your champions?"
Go'el nods and points out the five heroes Warchief Vol'jin has sent to assist them. Gorla, an orc warrior, the tauren shaman Kanu Cloudchaser, the Forsaken warlock Norman Farnsley,a pandaren monk named Zi Swiftfist, and Kaz, a troll hunter. He is somewhat surprised to see Lady Liadrin join them as well but the blood elves also have history with Outland. "Who has the Alliance sent?"
Khadgar names the Alliance champions: Shinrea Shadeleaf, the night elf SI:7 agent he met earlier, Asurra, a draenei priest Khadgar knows from Shattrath, Balinor Highforge, a dwarf paladin, Jinks Boomfizzle the gnome mage, and Benjamin Griffin, a young worgen druid. And of course, Vindicator Maraad who fought the old Horde before it had ever invaded Azeroth. Go'el nods in acknowledgment. He has worked with some of them before.
"And the Warden?"
Khadgar smiles with some hidden amusement. "Cordana Felsong. Maiev sent her to bodyguard me, though I think she's here to make sure there isn't another Illidan through the Portal." Go'el snorts in amusement as well.
Both factions have sent troops and there has been an uneasy truce between the soldiers. Word has spread that Garrosh Hellscream is responsible for the Iron Horde invasion and many on both sides are eager to make the former Horde Warchief pay. Twice now, the troops grumble, the orc has evaded justice. Twice now he has attacked all of Azeroth. Zi, in particular, seems eager to meet Garrosh in battle and Khadgar cannot blame her. It was the pandaren's homeland Garrosh ravaged.
"Champions!" Khadgar calls, amplifying his voice magically to catch their attention. He waits for them to gather around him. "I thank you all for answering the call to arms. All of Azeroth remembers well the last invasion through this Portal." A few dark looks are sent from Alliance members to Horde. "I have once before stopped such an invasion and with your help we will do so again. We must travel through the Dark Portal and sever the Iron Horde's tie to it from the other side." He smiles at them mischievously. "Now the last time this happened I wasn't seen for twenty years but I assure you I've taken precautions! Once the Iron Horde has been dealt with you will all be able to return home again." There are nods and smiles all around except from Norman who can't seem to move his face very well.
"You are Azeroth's strongest champions," Khadgar says solemnly. "Destroying the Portal may be the only way to save our world. Go, prepare your troops, and be ready to charge at a moment's notice!"
The champions cheer and spread out to return to their preparations. Go'el, Maraad, and Khadgar watch the Portal for their chance.
The mage does not look happy. "Nethergarde Keep has fallen and the Iron Horde has taken Okril'lon Hold for their own. Maraad was planning a strike when I left." He looks troubled. "The Portal has been redirected. It still leads to Outland, but the time is different."
"Garrosh," Varian growls, his scarred face growing fierce.
Khadgar nods. "And Kairoz. It must be where- when they fled to." He frowns thoughtfully. "It leads to Draenor, then, not Outland. It would explain the orcs' brown skin."
"Maraad suspected he's altered the forming of the old Horde and created this Iron Horde instead."
"And is using it to take vengeance on Azeroth for defying him. He must have had years to plan this. The Iron Horde seems to have endless resources. The numbers coming through the Portal haven't slowed once." He looks at Varian. "We must stop them. Even if they're not fel-fueled, we know what happened the last time a Horde invaded Azeroth."
"You cannot close the Portal again?" Varian asks with dismay.
"Not from this side."
The king sighs. "We are still recovering from our siege on Orgrimmar but Maraad has already convinced me to sign the declaration of war. I will give you what aid I can and we'll put out the call to arms." He smiles grimly. "I'm sure there are many who remember the First War."
"You should know, I plan to ask the Horde for aid as well," Khadgar says carefully.
Varian's eyes narrow. "You better have a good reason."
"You said yourself the Alliance is still recovering. The first Horde invasion nearly destroyed our world. Who better to help stop it than the descendants of that invasion?"
"You play a dangerous game, Khadgar." Varian frowns. "Very well. Seek aid from the Horde, but be cautious. Garrosh may still have sympathizers among their ranks."
Khadgar bows. "Thank you, King Wrynn."
----------------
"What's the plan, Khadgar?" The green skinned orc shaman glances down at him, then returns to watching the Portal. The factions' combined forces have cleared the Iron Horde from their stolen strongholds and pushed them back to the Portal's opening. But even now brown skinned orcs pour through only to be met by the warriors of Azeroth.
"Now we wait, Thrall," Khadgar says with a sigh.
"Go'el," the orc reminds him gently.
"Right, sorry. I will remember eventually." He gives the orc an apologetic smile. Go'el had recently learned the name his parents called him before they'd been murdered when the shaman was just a babe. He'd given up the human-given 'Thrall' to claim it. "There has been much on my mind. Tell me of your champions?"
Go'el nods and points out the five heroes Warchief Vol'jin has sent to assist them. Gorla, an orc warrior, the tauren shaman Kanu Cloudchaser, the Forsaken warlock Norman Farnsley,a pandaren monk named Zi Swiftfist, and Kaz, a troll hunter. He is somewhat surprised to see Lady Liadrin join them as well but the blood elves also have history with Outland. "Who has the Alliance sent?"
Khadgar names the Alliance champions: Shinrea Shadeleaf, the night elf SI:7 agent he met earlier, Asurra, a draenei priest Khadgar knows from Shattrath, Balinor Highforge, a dwarf paladin, Jinks Boomfizzle the gnome mage, and Benjamin Griffin, a young worgen druid. And of course, Vindicator Maraad who fought the old Horde before it had ever invaded Azeroth. Go'el nods in acknowledgment. He has worked with some of them before.
"And the Warden?"
Khadgar smiles with some hidden amusement. "Cordana Felsong. Maiev sent her to bodyguard me, though I think she's here to make sure there isn't another Illidan through the Portal." Go'el snorts in amusement as well.
Both factions have sent troops and there has been an uneasy truce between the soldiers. Word has spread that Garrosh Hellscream is responsible for the Iron Horde invasion and many on both sides are eager to make the former Horde Warchief pay. Twice now, the troops grumble, the orc has evaded justice. Twice now he has attacked all of Azeroth. Zi, in particular, seems eager to meet Garrosh in battle and Khadgar cannot blame her. It was the pandaren's homeland Garrosh ravaged.
"Champions!" Khadgar calls, amplifying his voice magically to catch their attention. He waits for them to gather around him. "I thank you all for answering the call to arms. All of Azeroth remembers well the last invasion through this Portal." A few dark looks are sent from Alliance members to Horde. "I have once before stopped such an invasion and with your help we will do so again. We must travel through the Dark Portal and sever the Iron Horde's tie to it from the other side." He smiles at them mischievously. "Now the last time this happened I wasn't seen for twenty years but I assure you I've taken precautions! Once the Iron Horde has been dealt with you will all be able to return home again." There are nods and smiles all around except from Norman who can't seem to move his face very well.
"You are Azeroth's strongest champions," Khadgar says solemnly. "Destroying the Portal may be the only way to save our world. Go, prepare your troops, and be ready to charge at a moment's notice!"
The champions cheer and spread out to return to their preparations. Go'el, Maraad, and Khadgar watch the Portal for their chance.
Digging In
Jan. 10th, 2018 03:55 pmWell. That docking could have gone better.
Khadgar climbs to his feet, joined by what's left of the Alliance forces and the rescued draenei slaves.
"Sorry!" Thaelin calls out from behind them. "These blasted orc controls make no sense!"
The factions, Alliance and Horde, had each stolen a ship to flee from the Iron Horde after the destruction of the Dark Portal. No doubt even now the orcs of this world were trying to hunt them down. Thankfully the rescued slaves had offered them sanctuary: the draenei to the Alliance and the orcs of the Frostwolf Clan to the Horde. The factions had accepted, knowing better than to risk continue working together. Khadgar would check on the Horde later but for now he had gone with the Alliance to Shadowmoon Valley.
"Find a plank," Maraad calls over their makeshift army. "We need to get these people to shore."
"Archmage, you're injured," says a female voice and Khadgar looks up into the concerned glowing eyes of a draenei priest. He glances at his shoulder where an orc had been strong enough to pierce the enchantments of his robes.
"Ah, it's nothing, Asurra. See to the others first."
She smiles at him, amused. "I have. It has been a long boat ride." She raises a hand to his shoulder, warm yellow light glowing around it.
Khadgar sighs in relief as the pain starts to fade. "Thank you. I am glad you chose to join me."
A flicker of sorrow passes over the draenei's face. "How could I not? A chance to save my people from the atrocities I had to live through? Even if they are not, technically, my people." A ghost of a smile plays around her lips as she finishes her healing. "There. I regret there will be some tenderness but you will have use of it." She pats his shoulder then turns to look out over the beach as he mends his robes. "It is just as beautiful as I remember."
Khadgar steps up to join her, surveying their surroundings and watching as Maraad shepherds their forces to land. They've crashed in a small cove, boat run aground on a small sandy white beach. Several yards inward vegetation starts, more of a teal color than the green of Azeroth. The trees here have thick trunks and willowy, almost blue leaves. Further inland they become more broadleaf with purple foliage. A herd of talbuk watches them warily in the distance before its matriarch gives a snort and leads them away. There is life everywhere, a far cry from the fel-corrupted Shadowmoon Valley he knows.
"Where you born here?" he asks her, curious.
She laughs. "Oh no, I was born on the Genedar. But Draenor is the first world I stepped hoof on." She smiles fondly at land around them. "Do you know what it's like to grow up on a vessel, never knowing the earth? It was like a miracle when we landed here." A wry smile twists her lips. "Well. Crashed."
"It does seem to be a theme with you draenei," he observes mildly. She laughs and he joins her, happy they have survived to laugh. It feels good.
"Commander, Archmage," Maraad greets them, striding up with the other champions following behind. "Everyone is ashore and we have salvaged what we could."
"Maraad, please, you're practically my uncle. Call me Asurra." The Vindicator nods, his lips twitching into a brief smile before his stern countenance returns. Asurra sighs unhappily.
"Exarch Maladaar said we would be met by his people here," Khadgar reminds them all. "We are fortunate to have found him."
"There's a party coming now," Ben says, his sharp eyes catching the movement first. "Let's go meet them."
"Allow me," Khadgar says and before they can move he's teleported them all to shore.
"My thanks, Archmage," Maraad says and moves ahead.
Jinks is glaring up at the human. "I could've done that. You must be exhausted after what you pulled in Tanaan, you should be resting."
Khadgar smiles easily at the small gnome. "There is little time for that, friend. We have much to do." Jinks grumbles under his breath and hurries to move after the rest of the party. Only Asurra remains.
"I am worried about him," she says softly, looking after Maraad. "He has been so…angry since he heard the Portal had opened to this place. I fear he blames this world for the crimes of another."
Khadgar looks after the draenei as he greets this world's Prophet Velen and sighs. "I am not certain he is far off, Asurra. They were using a Soul Engine to power the Portal," he says grimly and she gasps in horror.
Then her features harden. "Garrosh has much to answer for."
"Agreed. Until then, let us get your camp set up. I have enough energy to pull through a little help from Stormwind."
------------------------------------------
Khadgar lands near Gorla and resumes his human form with a look of dismay. "You ran aground?"
The orc warrior glances back at the Iron Horde vessel and shrugs. "We ran into some of their fleet. Go'el and Kanu had to bargain with the elements just to keep the water out and get us here."
Khadgar shivers against the cold of Frostfire Ridge as he looks towards the orc shaman. He's greeting his father, Durotan, an orc he had never known. "I suppose it can't be helped," Khadgar sighs, taking a moment to enchant his robes against the wind. Gorla watches him, amused.
"If you think this is cold you're going to hate when we actually get out into the open."
"Now, now, Gorla, you can hardly blame the man," Zi says, approaching them with a laugh. "He cannot help not having fur."
"Shall I ask a fire elemental to come keep you warm?" Kanu is laughing at him, too, and even Norman has managed to have a smile on his undead face.
"Don't know 'bout Khadgar but I would like tah get out of dis cold," Kaz grumbles, the only one of them from a tropical clime. "It looks like dey ready tah go anyway." He waves a hand at the small orc conference calling their wolves to them and mounting up.
"Lead the way, then. I won't stress your troops by staying long," he knows as a human he isn't exactly welcome here, "but I will help get you settled."
They follow Durotan up a winding path, their mounts' feet crunching through the heavy snowfall. Harsh stone spikes through the snow everywhere and the ground rumbles underneath them more than once. They pass a lava flow and emerge onto a rocky outcropping over a relatively flat plain, revealing an expanse of snow and ice before them. From here they can see a glowing volcano to the far northeast and a ridge of mountains beyond that. To the northwest is a rocky ravine, snow crusted, with a herd of clefthoof plodding its way through. The sun seems small and distant but still strong enough to make the jagged obsidian spikes that stab through the snowfall glitter. Despite the harshness of the land Khadgar finds himself awed; Frostfire Ridge did not survive Draenor becoming Outland and he has seen nothing like this before.
"This terrain is ideal for a stronghold," Go'el announces, looking around them. Khadgar agrees. They have elevation to see enemies coming. The chasm to the west prevents approach and the pass behind them leads to the sea and will be easily guarded. He is nearing his limit, but he approaches the orc shaman already pulling his magic to him.
"I can open up a portal to Orgrimmar only briefly. Reinforcements are standing by, I hope?"
Go'el grins at him. "The very best."
Khadgar focuses, once again opening a path across time and space back to Azeroth. The blue edges of a portal open, the red earth of Durotar visible through the window and a warmth breath of air blows over them all.
"Somebody call for a fixer?" The small green-skinned being grins up at Khadgar, flashing a gold tooth, then quickly moves aside to let the rest of his workers through.
Khadgar sighs heavily and fixes Go'el with a skeptical look. "You're trusting a goblin to be your foreman?"
The shaman doesn't lose his smile. "Gazlowe here oversaw the construction of Orgrimmar."
"Orgrimmar!" Gazlowe beams with pride. "The impenetrable fortress!"
Khadgar raises an eyebrow at him and happily lets the portal close as the last of the team comes through. "Wasn't it recently sacked?"
The goblin immediately looks exasperated. "Yeah, yeah, okay, one little sacking," he grumbles, waving the Horde champions over to discuss how best to build their camp. Khadgar shakes his head and moves to stand next to Go'el.
"It is not his fault Orgrimmar was sieged," he says, resigned. "Garrosh brought that upon himself."
"Jaina has told me some of what happened." Go'el eyes him warily but Khadgar merely shrugs. "All I can say is thank you for answering my call."
Go'el nods. "I have seen what happens when the Horde invades Azeroth. I could not stand by and let it happen again. Too many lives were lost the first time."
Khadgar follows his hungry gaze to Durotan and hides a smile. "Agreed. I will leave you to your allies, Go'el. I have much to do."
The orc turns to him, concern across his features. "You will not stay to rest? You must be tired with all you've done."
Khadgar smiles blandly. In truth he is near exhaustion. "You know that is not wise, my friend. You and your champions may be willing to work with a human but you know many of your troops are not."
Go'el frowns unhappily. "I wish it were otherwise."
Khadgar quashes an uncharitable thought. "Perhaps someday. I will check on you later but should you need me sooner you know how to contact me. Farewell." He returns to his raven form and takes to the air.
He has one more thing to do before he can rest. The factions' bases have been decided but he will need one of his own, a neutral place where he can meet both sides on equal footing, but also one that will aid him in his work. He extends his senses, searching for a ley line to follow. He has an idea of where it will lead but he doesn't know how much the lines shifted when Draenor collapsed into Outland.
He flies south and east for what seems like hours, thankful that the raven form relies on his staff's, Atiesh, power. The terrain is strange to him, both new and familiar at once. Memories of Outland's nooks and crannies are overlaid by what they once were on Draenor. Again he is amazed by how much life is everywhere and feels a moment of sorrow for how much was lost in Draenor's destruction. The confluence he's looking for is not far from Shattrath City on Outland but here the line is leading him further east. He is almost to the sea when he finds it.
Oh. Dammit.
Of all the luck, of course the confluence is in a swamp. He sighs internally, landing on the edge of the cliff overlooking the muck. There are fungal giants below, trudging through the murky water, and fen striders carefully picking their way through on their towering skinny legs. Sporebats flit through the air from one building-sized mushroom to the next. He returns to his human form and conjures a mana bun and a glass of water, eating to regain strength as he continues to survey the area. There's a small hill rising out of the swamp that should make a decent basecamp once he clears the mushrooms from it.
But first he wants to return to Dalaran and brief the rest of the Council on what's happened. Jaina still won't be happy he's working with the Horde but he should be able to convince the rest of them to lend the Kirin Tor's aid. He takes a deep breath of the musty air and borrows from the ley lines' power to fuel his spell. He just has to teleport himself this time, granted across time and space, but he should be able to manage this.
He vanishes.
Khadgar climbs to his feet, joined by what's left of the Alliance forces and the rescued draenei slaves.
"Sorry!" Thaelin calls out from behind them. "These blasted orc controls make no sense!"
The factions, Alliance and Horde, had each stolen a ship to flee from the Iron Horde after the destruction of the Dark Portal. No doubt even now the orcs of this world were trying to hunt them down. Thankfully the rescued slaves had offered them sanctuary: the draenei to the Alliance and the orcs of the Frostwolf Clan to the Horde. The factions had accepted, knowing better than to risk continue working together. Khadgar would check on the Horde later but for now he had gone with the Alliance to Shadowmoon Valley.
"Find a plank," Maraad calls over their makeshift army. "We need to get these people to shore."
"Archmage, you're injured," says a female voice and Khadgar looks up into the concerned glowing eyes of a draenei priest. He glances at his shoulder where an orc had been strong enough to pierce the enchantments of his robes.
"Ah, it's nothing, Asurra. See to the others first."
She smiles at him, amused. "I have. It has been a long boat ride." She raises a hand to his shoulder, warm yellow light glowing around it.
Khadgar sighs in relief as the pain starts to fade. "Thank you. I am glad you chose to join me."
A flicker of sorrow passes over the draenei's face. "How could I not? A chance to save my people from the atrocities I had to live through? Even if they are not, technically, my people." A ghost of a smile plays around her lips as she finishes her healing. "There. I regret there will be some tenderness but you will have use of it." She pats his shoulder then turns to look out over the beach as he mends his robes. "It is just as beautiful as I remember."
Khadgar steps up to join her, surveying their surroundings and watching as Maraad shepherds their forces to land. They've crashed in a small cove, boat run aground on a small sandy white beach. Several yards inward vegetation starts, more of a teal color than the green of Azeroth. The trees here have thick trunks and willowy, almost blue leaves. Further inland they become more broadleaf with purple foliage. A herd of talbuk watches them warily in the distance before its matriarch gives a snort and leads them away. There is life everywhere, a far cry from the fel-corrupted Shadowmoon Valley he knows.
"Where you born here?" he asks her, curious.
She laughs. "Oh no, I was born on the Genedar. But Draenor is the first world I stepped hoof on." She smiles fondly at land around them. "Do you know what it's like to grow up on a vessel, never knowing the earth? It was like a miracle when we landed here." A wry smile twists her lips. "Well. Crashed."
"It does seem to be a theme with you draenei," he observes mildly. She laughs and he joins her, happy they have survived to laugh. It feels good.
"Commander, Archmage," Maraad greets them, striding up with the other champions following behind. "Everyone is ashore and we have salvaged what we could."
"Maraad, please, you're practically my uncle. Call me Asurra." The Vindicator nods, his lips twitching into a brief smile before his stern countenance returns. Asurra sighs unhappily.
"Exarch Maladaar said we would be met by his people here," Khadgar reminds them all. "We are fortunate to have found him."
"There's a party coming now," Ben says, his sharp eyes catching the movement first. "Let's go meet them."
"Allow me," Khadgar says and before they can move he's teleported them all to shore.
"My thanks, Archmage," Maraad says and moves ahead.
Jinks is glaring up at the human. "I could've done that. You must be exhausted after what you pulled in Tanaan, you should be resting."
Khadgar smiles easily at the small gnome. "There is little time for that, friend. We have much to do." Jinks grumbles under his breath and hurries to move after the rest of the party. Only Asurra remains.
"I am worried about him," she says softly, looking after Maraad. "He has been so…angry since he heard the Portal had opened to this place. I fear he blames this world for the crimes of another."
Khadgar looks after the draenei as he greets this world's Prophet Velen and sighs. "I am not certain he is far off, Asurra. They were using a Soul Engine to power the Portal," he says grimly and she gasps in horror.
Then her features harden. "Garrosh has much to answer for."
"Agreed. Until then, let us get your camp set up. I have enough energy to pull through a little help from Stormwind."
------------------------------------------
Khadgar lands near Gorla and resumes his human form with a look of dismay. "You ran aground?"
The orc warrior glances back at the Iron Horde vessel and shrugs. "We ran into some of their fleet. Go'el and Kanu had to bargain with the elements just to keep the water out and get us here."
Khadgar shivers against the cold of Frostfire Ridge as he looks towards the orc shaman. He's greeting his father, Durotan, an orc he had never known. "I suppose it can't be helped," Khadgar sighs, taking a moment to enchant his robes against the wind. Gorla watches him, amused.
"If you think this is cold you're going to hate when we actually get out into the open."
"Now, now, Gorla, you can hardly blame the man," Zi says, approaching them with a laugh. "He cannot help not having fur."
"Shall I ask a fire elemental to come keep you warm?" Kanu is laughing at him, too, and even Norman has managed to have a smile on his undead face.
"Don't know 'bout Khadgar but I would like tah get out of dis cold," Kaz grumbles, the only one of them from a tropical clime. "It looks like dey ready tah go anyway." He waves a hand at the small orc conference calling their wolves to them and mounting up.
"Lead the way, then. I won't stress your troops by staying long," he knows as a human he isn't exactly welcome here, "but I will help get you settled."
They follow Durotan up a winding path, their mounts' feet crunching through the heavy snowfall. Harsh stone spikes through the snow everywhere and the ground rumbles underneath them more than once. They pass a lava flow and emerge onto a rocky outcropping over a relatively flat plain, revealing an expanse of snow and ice before them. From here they can see a glowing volcano to the far northeast and a ridge of mountains beyond that. To the northwest is a rocky ravine, snow crusted, with a herd of clefthoof plodding its way through. The sun seems small and distant but still strong enough to make the jagged obsidian spikes that stab through the snowfall glitter. Despite the harshness of the land Khadgar finds himself awed; Frostfire Ridge did not survive Draenor becoming Outland and he has seen nothing like this before.
"This terrain is ideal for a stronghold," Go'el announces, looking around them. Khadgar agrees. They have elevation to see enemies coming. The chasm to the west prevents approach and the pass behind them leads to the sea and will be easily guarded. He is nearing his limit, but he approaches the orc shaman already pulling his magic to him.
"I can open up a portal to Orgrimmar only briefly. Reinforcements are standing by, I hope?"
Go'el grins at him. "The very best."
Khadgar focuses, once again opening a path across time and space back to Azeroth. The blue edges of a portal open, the red earth of Durotar visible through the window and a warmth breath of air blows over them all.
"Somebody call for a fixer?" The small green-skinned being grins up at Khadgar, flashing a gold tooth, then quickly moves aside to let the rest of his workers through.
Khadgar sighs heavily and fixes Go'el with a skeptical look. "You're trusting a goblin to be your foreman?"
The shaman doesn't lose his smile. "Gazlowe here oversaw the construction of Orgrimmar."
"Orgrimmar!" Gazlowe beams with pride. "The impenetrable fortress!"
Khadgar raises an eyebrow at him and happily lets the portal close as the last of the team comes through. "Wasn't it recently sacked?"
The goblin immediately looks exasperated. "Yeah, yeah, okay, one little sacking," he grumbles, waving the Horde champions over to discuss how best to build their camp. Khadgar shakes his head and moves to stand next to Go'el.
"It is not his fault Orgrimmar was sieged," he says, resigned. "Garrosh brought that upon himself."
"Jaina has told me some of what happened." Go'el eyes him warily but Khadgar merely shrugs. "All I can say is thank you for answering my call."
Go'el nods. "I have seen what happens when the Horde invades Azeroth. I could not stand by and let it happen again. Too many lives were lost the first time."
Khadgar follows his hungry gaze to Durotan and hides a smile. "Agreed. I will leave you to your allies, Go'el. I have much to do."
The orc turns to him, concern across his features. "You will not stay to rest? You must be tired with all you've done."
Khadgar smiles blandly. In truth he is near exhaustion. "You know that is not wise, my friend. You and your champions may be willing to work with a human but you know many of your troops are not."
Go'el frowns unhappily. "I wish it were otherwise."
Khadgar quashes an uncharitable thought. "Perhaps someday. I will check on you later but should you need me sooner you know how to contact me. Farewell." He returns to his raven form and takes to the air.
He has one more thing to do before he can rest. The factions' bases have been decided but he will need one of his own, a neutral place where he can meet both sides on equal footing, but also one that will aid him in his work. He extends his senses, searching for a ley line to follow. He has an idea of where it will lead but he doesn't know how much the lines shifted when Draenor collapsed into Outland.
He flies south and east for what seems like hours, thankful that the raven form relies on his staff's, Atiesh, power. The terrain is strange to him, both new and familiar at once. Memories of Outland's nooks and crannies are overlaid by what they once were on Draenor. Again he is amazed by how much life is everywhere and feels a moment of sorrow for how much was lost in Draenor's destruction. The confluence he's looking for is not far from Shattrath City on Outland but here the line is leading him further east. He is almost to the sea when he finds it.
Oh. Dammit.
Of all the luck, of course the confluence is in a swamp. He sighs internally, landing on the edge of the cliff overlooking the muck. There are fungal giants below, trudging through the murky water, and fen striders carefully picking their way through on their towering skinny legs. Sporebats flit through the air from one building-sized mushroom to the next. He returns to his human form and conjures a mana bun and a glass of water, eating to regain strength as he continues to survey the area. There's a small hill rising out of the swamp that should make a decent basecamp once he clears the mushrooms from it.
But first he wants to return to Dalaran and brief the rest of the Council on what's happened. Jaina still won't be happy he's working with the Horde but he should be able to convince the rest of them to lend the Kirin Tor's aid. He takes a deep breath of the musty air and borrows from the ley lines' power to fuel his spell. He just has to teleport himself this time, granted across time and space, but he should be able to manage this.
He vanishes.