Deep Within

[Kyrion]

“Help me....” the voice muttered. Illisade’s head perked up as he was running down a long narrow hallway. The air was filled with death and sorrow. The voice called out to him again. “Help me....”. He ran faster and faster but it seemed the faster he was running the farther away the voice was getting. All of a sudden an image of a familiar Sin’dorei was about to get beheaded by an undead was envisioned before him. Her screams high pitched and horrific penetrated his ear drums. Illisade’s eyes opened wide and yelled out. “NOOOO!”. His body was covered in sweat as he was laying in partial garments along a lake in Darnassus.

Sitting up he rubbed his face over trying to process what happened in his nightmare. That face he saw.....Why would she appear there? Of all bloody people. Illisade tried to relax his body once more but there was a constant chill running down his spine. He has never had a dream or nightmare that felt so gripping and chilling.....Or anything that felt so real. Grasping his swords at his side he tried to close his eyes, and eventually fell back asleep.

The next morning Illisade went out to Shattrath preparing to enter the battlefield like he normally does. As he was walking through lower city an eager human approached him grabbing at his arm pleading. Illisade quickly drew one of his swords and placed it at his neck. “Don’t touch” He replied not paying attention to what he has to say. The human let go of him and stepped back. “Please.....You have to listen to me. My family was captured.....and I’m getting together an army to get them back. I pay very well....” The human said to Illisade in a convincing manner now calmed down a bit. Illisade raised an eyebrow at the offer sheathing his sword. Now suddenly interested in what this man has to say. “How much?” Illisade asked narrowing his eyes. The human smiled. “1000 gold”. Illisade’s eyes went wide with shock. “1000 gold? For a mere rescue? So where are they being held? Orgrimmar? Undercity?” He asked as if they were simple to break into. The human shook his head. “Thunder Bluff...?” Illisade asked almost jokingly. The human shook his head once more. Illisade then nodded his head. “Then Silvermoon.....such an easy place to infiltrate. Why need an army? I can get them back myself...” Illisade told the human with a hint of arrogance in his voice. The human’s expression turned to anger shortly before he shouted. “You arrogant Night elf! They’re held in none of the horde cities! They’re being kept in the Necropolis..... Naxxramas!”. Illisade’s expression went cold. He has never been there....He has only seen the floating terror when he was passing through in the Plaguelands, and also a few of the tales that he read in books when he was younger. Gold was gold, with an army of brave warriors the undead will be no match.”Very well, I accept...” Illisade nodded looking the human over. “Good....very good. You will receive half your payment when we assemble...and the rest when the job is complete.” Illisade gave the human another reassuring nod. "So when do we head out?" he asked folding his arms.

[Kyrion]

“Tomorrow” The human answered promptly. “You were my last person to pick....”With that answer Illisade’s curiosity kicked in and gave the human a questioning look. “How did you know of me?” He asked. “That’s quite simple....I have seen you across the battlefields many times. Times of victory.....times of defeat. You will be a worthy asset to our rescue mission. Illisade’s eye’s narrowed at the human’s response but it was good enough. It didn’t really matter how he found him....or why he found him worthy. Just as long as he’s going to be paying up the gold when tomorrow comes. “We will meet at Light’s hope chapel at this time tomorrow. Be prepared Illisade.....” The human’s voice said darkly backing away and heading off into the mist. Was he prepared? He has encountered the scourge before.....The attack of the World Tree. Its been so long but he couldn’t forget all the sacrifices made that day. All the death and destruction caused by these vile monsters. He barely made it out with his life....let alone his sanity.

Illisade looked over to his Saber and placed his hand on top of her head gently petting it. As he was petting his saber another thought crossed his mind. What if his family were dead when they found them? Would the human pay him still? Or would he merely drown in his own sorrow and never be heard from again? Regardless of the outcome Illisade will be getting every bit of his gold. The scourge was no joke to be trifled with.

Mounting his saber he sped off to the terrace of light looking at the constant maintaining portals that stood there. Perhaps he should go to Darnassus and meditate to prepare himself for tomorrow? With that his Saber bolted towards the portal entering it. After reappearing in Darnassus Illisade was over come with relaxation and less tension. Nothing beats home...Hopping off of his cat he knelt in front of the moon well sitting in the temple of the moon. Removing his mask he could feel the cool breeze brush against his face. Placing the mask at his side he looked up slightly glowing eyes reflecting off the clear pure water. His mind needed to have complete and total clarity in order to enter a proper meditative state. After a few more moments he could feel himself levitate, as he was levitating he saw himself kneeling as if his soul was extracted from his body.

Without having any control his entity continued to levitate farther and farther away from his physical form. As he rose higher into the air the top of the temple could be seen, with that his entity began to move with much more haste heading towards the east. Darnassus was nothing more than a spectacle looking back as his uncontrollable entity guided him. Looking down he saw the great sea flying over it with incredible speed. There was no feeling in him at all, no sense of hot or cold, pressure, the powerful wind blowing right through him. It was complete and total freedom. Freedom from all the burdens, grudges,......regrets. His mind was never more clearer than it was at that very moment. Land soon came to his vision, the eastern kingdoms. The haste of his entity quickly slowed down in order to see the scenery around him. The forests of Silverpine forest came to direct view. Such a lifeless place....so empty, no color. Though his entity did not stop there, he flew right over it and passed the once glorious city of Lordereon. Illisade has read the atrocity that occurred there, the betrayal of the once honorable Arthas when he was younger. Flying passed he soon reached the western part of the plaguelands, the feeling of death came over him. Something that did not bode very well with his entity. Andorhal came into view, though Illisade wasn’t very sure as to what happened at that once prosperous human village, he knew it wasn’t pleasant. Gliding passed it all he reached the eastern part of the plaguelands the feeling of death still lingering almost holding back the will power of his entity. Now that every second passed Illisade could feel that wicked energy becoming stronger and more potent. He wanted to turn back, all the way back to the sanctity of his temple. Though his entity was intent on their destination.

Soon the image of something so foul, and so evil it almost felt like his soul was deteriorating. The Necropolis came into clear view. Getting closer and closer his entity stopped right in front of the entrance for several moments. Then ever so slowly his entity entered the floating terror of death. Once within he could feel the walls pulsating such corrupt and draining energy towards him. This weakened him slightly but his entity continued to move down the first hall. Traveling down the hall he noticed something very familiar.....This was the same hall he saw from his nightmare. As it became even more narrow the voice called out to him....”Help me...”. No....not again.....Not again Illisade began to relive his nightmare. Her voice called out again. “Help me...”. He didn’t want to witness it again. The image of the same female Sin’dorei was set before him clearly weakened by the atmosphere. Her head pressed forward as this abomination of a skeletal creature walked towards her with an axe. By instinct his hand reached for his sword, but nothing. There was nothing he could do. He was nothing but a useless spirit The clumsy skeletal arms rose with the axe waiting at the pivot point in the air as Illisade attempted to cry out. “NOOO ” His voice charged and fueled with anger. His clarity began to diminish. The will power of his entity weakened. Then without warning his entity sucked back into the hallway, the scene of the familiar Sin’dorei and the skeletal creature fading not able to see the outcome. With uncontrollable speed he was ejected from the floating terror of death and continued with incredible haste flying through the plaguelands, right passed Lordereon and directly to the great sea. His feeling of freedom and clarity has diminished so much the scent of death was lingering about him. Through the great sea he went, this time there was no sense of elegance moving about the air. Illisade’s entity needed to get back to his physical form before the aura of death diminishes him forever. Darnassus came into view very quickly, from over top his spirit jolted through the temple of the moon and into his still kneeling physical form.

[Kyrion]

Falling over Illisade’s body became burning hot, sweat instantly covering his body once more. The same way he had awoken from his nightmare the previous night. Grasping his swords immediately a slight sense of comfort came over him, but not nearly enough to where it would make him feel better. So that was the abomination of a place he would go to. What in Elune’s name has he signed up for? Going to that Necropolis was truly suicide. Though she needed help....Illisade shook his head in anger. No he couldn’t go. The feeling of death still lingering in his system he could feel the weakness bearing down on him. Illisade had to go back...not just for the gold, or the man’s family, but her as well. His ambition and driving force would not break for anything. Though very foolish it may be. His reasoning behind senseless heroism wasn’t very logical to say the least. Illisade acts on instinct and his passionate ambition towards something. Very rarely in times like these does he make decisions using common logic.

Releasing his weapons from their handle he reached down to pick up his mask. Illisade then placed it firmly around his face and head. Tonight the Goldren Tree tavern was open. Perhaps he would have a few drinks with Eowynn and Fynne, they may be his last. Taking a hard breathe he mounted his saber. Placing his hand on her head she didn’t react very friendly. The saber was compliant but hissed at him when he tried to touch her head. Shocked Illisade was gripped with slight anger. “I’m Illisade you stupid cat Don’t hiss at me like I’m some Orc ” He snarled at his saber. Becoming subservient she mellowed down and sped off away from the temple of the moon with him. Porting down to the village he stepped onto the boat that was headed towards Auberdine. While sitting and waiting on the boat his conscious couldn’t help but flash images of her through his mind. The side of him that doesn’t want to go-the side that has common logic is telling him that she’s dead, and that she can’t be saved. But the other side of him is telling him that she’s still alive It’s not like he will be alone though......There would be an army of brave soldiers at his back Would that be enough? Would they even survive to get that far into the wicked floating terror of death with their sanity still left? Only time will tell.

The boat disembarked heading towards the eastern kingdoms. A similar route that his entity took. As the boat became closer and closer to the eastern kingdoms Illisade could feel the wicked energy of the Naxxramas afflicting him. But he was so far away.....why was this affecting him? It never has before. Baring his teeth he clenched his fists around his swords. It was a mere malady that would pass over He will remain strong and diligent, this is no time to be weak. Raising his head he saw the shoreline of Menethil Harbor, the air foggy and misty. Very different from his home Darnassus. Raising his body Illisade stepped off the boat heading towards the Gryphon master. “Stormwind” Illisade told the dwarf. With a nod Illisade hopped on the Gryphon and it sped off into the mist like a volley of arrows first being shot in the air at the opening of any given battle. As he was grasping onto the Gryphon’s reigns Illisade could feel the tension and unusual uneasiness of it. What was wrong with these animals? Soon after the Gryphon glided right over the great city of Ironforge a glorious cite to view from up above. After a little while later the Gryphon entered the gates of Stormwind and landed slowly next to the Gryphon master of Stormwind.

Illisade dismounted the creature, the human Gryphon master examined the pet to see that it was petrified and could barely breathe. “Hey You ” The human called out to him. Illisade stopped his movements and turned his head towards the human raising a steady eyebrow which couldn’t be seen through his mask. “What did you do to my Gryphon? The blasted thing is petrified and is unfit to fly.” He asked sounding annoyed. “I did nothing to your Gryphon. It is weak. The second I took off from Menethil it felt like it wasn’t strong enough to fly.” Illisade returned the answer firmly without much emotion. The human sighed running his fingers through the Gryphon’s fur. Taking a step back in his original direction Illisade continued to walk towards the trade district. The prosperous city of Stormwind. The busiest of all the cities. Though it was subject to many attacks on a daily basis. Many consisting of rogues such as himself. It is still a little while until the Golden Tree is open. Henri was no where to be found, it was too early for anyone to really be around.

Perhaps he could lay down and relax at the Crystal lake? He has never really relaxed out in Elwynn forest in a very long. Walking out through the gates of Stormwind cautiously he eyed around to make sure he wasn’t being followed, naturally. Only after around ten minutes of casual walking he reached the lake only seeing a few humans passing by. The lake was in fact beautiful but it didn’t compare to the ones in Darnassus. Nothing beat those, but this was different. Slowly lowering himself and laying down next to the water he removed his mask and placed it at his side. The soothing chirping of the birds and water moving around in the lake gave Illisade a sense of relaxation and without intention fell asleep.

As if it were only several moments later his eyes opened, only to see black darkness and was overcome with the stench of death. Where in Elu-. “Help me....”. The voice interrupted. That voice again, her.....that female Sin’dorei. Standing up abruptly he reached for his swords, but they weren’t there. “Looking for these?” An unknown voice asked with a very dark and cynical tone about it. Turning around to look behind him he saw the same skeletal warrior from his previous dreams. That thing was holding both of his swords, pointing them at him. How did he end up here already? What in Elune’s name was happening to him?

Reaching within his boot he pulled out a small combat dagger, holding it firmly in his right hand. The skeletal warrior laughed at him which lasted a good ten seconds. Fear engulfed his entire body. He was at a severe disadvantage without his swords. The skeletal warrior took an abrupt step to come slashing down with a barrage of vertical swings at Illisade’s front. With pure instinct he moved to the side with incredible reflexes. As he evaded the skeletal warrior’s swings Illisade jerked the dagger within the undead creature twisting the blade hearing some crunch noises. The skull turned towards him and merely laughed at his futile retaliation. Baring his teeth he yanked the dagger out and slipped behind him attempting to shred it’s back with the sharp blade. The skeleton was more reactive now and quickly turned around striking Illisade with the hilt of his own sword knocking him back onto the ground. That scrawny thing was stronger than he looked. Quickly getting to his feet, the skeleton had already began bearing down on him with a reign of relentless swings. Closing his eyes Illisade projected his entire body through the darkness of the shadows appearing right behind the skeleton. Blunt force was the only thing that would stop this creature. Dropping his dagger to the ground, which made a noise that projected an echo, he grabbed the skeleton’s back by it’s bones and shoved him forcibly into the wall. With that, many ‘crunch’ noises could be heard. Without letting up Illisade grabbed it again this time gaining more momentum and threw him into the opposite wall, thus making more of the ‘crunch’ noise. The skeleton rattled his entire body and snarled at Illisade. “She will not survive.....” he hissed. Illisade’s anger rose to an uncontrollable level and ran at the skeleton his fist tightly clenched aiming right for it’s skull. Contact was made and the Skeleton’s skull was shattered into a hundred bone particles. The skeleton fell to the ground with his blades as well. He noticed one of his blades was all bloodied then looked at himself to realize a huge gash
across his body. Placing his hand over it, blood began to pour out. Scrambling for bandages he could only find one and quickly used it to stop the major bleeding. Kneeling down quickly picking up his swords and dagger he needed to get out of there as soon as possible. That room only lead to a narrow hallway, the same which was seen in his dream. Running with his swords held firmly in his hands, he could feel the bandages beginning to fail. Without warning he was in another room, a pitch black room. Then it was lit with a fel green light. The first thing he saw was her, the familiar female Sin’dorei. Looking around the room he realized he was surrounded by undead minions. There was no escape, nothing. Was this the end? The undead creatures began closing in on him...ever so slowly. They came from all directions. His swords were held up firmly waiting......and waiting. A split second before he would have began to slash with every last breath he saw the skies of Elwynn forest open up.

[Kyrion]

His body was shaking violently when his eyes opened, completely covered in sweat. When he tried to move he felt a sharp pain along his mid section. Pressing his hand against it, he could tell it was a really bad bruise, like someone smashed him with a huge ogre mace. Illisade could barely get up without the pain searing, so he stayed laying down. That was the exact same spot where he was slashed in his supposed nightmare. Was this....real? Madness He was laying there the whole time. The only possible way would be from the violent shaking. Illisade must have slammed himself against the ground repeatedly. But how could the bruise completely outline exactly where he was slashed? His sanity was wearing thin and he still hasn’t even entered that blasted Necropolis yet One more day and this whole mess will end. He was going to go there and obliterate every one of those undead if he has to. They afflicted him with something ...somehow. And he didn’t exactly know what. Looking up at the sun he noticed that it was almost time for the Golden Tree to open up. That’s exactly what he needed right now, hang around people he knew, and just have a cold drink.....Maybe several.

Forcing himself up he grunted through the pain. He then used his hand to grasp onto the nearby tree as he felt soreness in his right hand. Frowning Illisade removed his right glove, looking at his knuckles he noticed a bruise mark all along his hand. “Elune....What is happening to me?” He whispered still in shock. Quickly he put his glove back on trying to forget that anything before just happened. Illisade was going to have several drinks and enjoy himself
Walking towards the city he did a very good job on hiding his injuries. Illisade had to see a cleric of some sort before tomorrow, it was a really bad idea to enter battle already injured. With every step he took it seemed harder and harder to stay standing up. He called upon his saber and within a few seconds she was at his side. Clumsily Illisade crawled on top of her, and only managed to say “Cathedral...” before passing out on top of her.
He could hear screams. Screams that would make the most hardened of warriors shiver to their very bone. Her screams echoed from what seemed all the way down the narrow hall. They were pleading for help. Illisade’s body was strapped onto a mechanical chair very tightly. His muscles straining against the chains attempting to free himself, it made no difference. Then a ghoul appeared from the dark and narrow hallway approaching his position. Once he was in arm’s length the chain holding down his right arm magically slid down. Immediately he grabbed the ghoul’s throat squeezing tightly baring his teeth. Enraged and fueled with blind passion his fingers dug into its neck, then with a slight twist broke it’s neck. With that a flash of blinding light glowed through out the whole room.
When his eyes recovered from the light he saw himself in a much different area. He was in the cathedral laying on a bed. Looking around frantically he saw several priests and a dead man on the floor. His eyes widened and saw that his neck was completely mangled and out of place. Oh no....Was it that man’s neck he snapped? That ghoul was a blasted illusion. The priests had a look of shock on them as they were looking back to him and the dead man on the floor. Finally Illisade was able to open his mouth and mumble out a few words. “W-what happened?” He asked. The priest that was lingering over the dead man looked up sighing. “Your cat brought you in while you were violently shaking, we had to have all of us hold you down. When we went to try and treat your illness you grabbed his neck for a few seconds then broke it, like a twig. There was nothing anybody could do to pry your hand off....”The priest responded placing his hand over his face. That whole thing was an illusion. Somebody was playing with his mind and it got an innocent priest killed. Illisade tried to get up but was stopped by a hand at his shoulder. “Your not well enough to get up y-“ The priest was instantly cut off by Illisade. “I need to be in combat condition by tomorrow is there anything you can do to mend my injuries?” He asked impatiently. “Well yeah but it’s going to take a little while for the mending elixir to kick in.” the priest responded. Illisade nodded hitting his head against the pillow.

[Sifar]

((Glad you picked this up again!))