Refuge Pointe - now Grim Pointe

[Vuudu]

There was little left behind for the Alliance to salvage. Following the raid of the Arathi Highlands by the combined Horde forces, much of the Alliance holdings in that area had been left in ruins.

The scene in Refuge Pointe was particularly gruesome. It was here that The Grim were assigned, to completely destroy the Alliance outpost, to ensure that no reinforcements could be called in to stop the slaughter.

Every tent and every wagon was found burned to the ground. The bodies of soldiers lay sprawled across the bloody ground, along with the bodies of merchants, the Flight Master, and the half-dozen griffons that were stabled there. None were spared, not even the so-called "innocents". Many of the bodies showed signs of being brutalized, as The Grim carved off pieces to keep as trophies of the raid. The body of a dwarf, dressed in a high-ranking military uniform, was to be found strung up over the entrance to the Arathi Basin - in no way blocking it, but forcing all who would enter and leave to pass benethe his mangled form.

In the area where the Flight Master had stood there was now a makeshift throne, composed of boxes and barrels, where it seems that The Grim had installed the new leader of this outpost. Indeed, at both the northern and southern entrace to the Pointe, the signs identifying the outpost had been smeared with blood. The previous name of this location was unreadable - but it seems that the sole Goblin at the Pointe was good enough to translate the new name from Orcish into the Alliance tongue, which was painted in blood on every sign.

Grim Pointe

[Varrathus]

To: Garbhan, Captain, Grimsilver Company
CC: Drankherk Darfus, General, Ironforge Regiment
From: Varrathus Greyhammer, Private, Grimsilver Company

Sirs,

This be th’ filin’ o’ me 2135-A Combat Report, a account o’ last eve’s assault on Refuge Point by a mass force o’ th’ Horde. I cans attest t’ nuttin’ more tha’ wha’ I saw wit’ me eyes.

Private Koenig an’ meself were jist returnin’ from Uldaman, havin’ hads our way wit’ th’ Dark Irons fer a spell. Headed back t’ Thelsamar, a hot meal an’ a few pints from th’ Stoutlager Inn were all we hads on our mind. Tha’ were until Vidra Hearthstove cames runnin’ out o’ th’ Stoutlager, lookin’ as pale as meself th’ last time I ate her stringy bear meat stew. Eeeps, wha’ a memory tha’ be. Anyway, Vidra were quites panicked as she screamed a’ us, “Refuge Point! Under attack an’ o’errun by Horde!”

Me arms an’ legs, weary jist moments afore from our fight in Uldaman, founds renewed vigor. A glance a’ Koenig were all th’ answer I needed; we quickly hads Morhan Coppertongue repair our armorings an’ we hopped crows t’ Refuge Point.

As th’ griffon came swoopin’ in t’ tha’ distant Alliance outpost, I coulds see tha’ th’ situation were grim. Lookin’ down I saws a army o’ Horde like I haves nae seen in many a decade. Th’ road down int’ th’ gulley were strewn wit’ elf, human, an’ dwarf bodies. An’ Refuge Point itself, in me brief moments afore landin’, I saw a throng o’ Horde invaders an’ nae a single Alliance solder.

Tha’ were, o’ course, until I hits th’ ground a-runnin’. I called upon th’ memory o’ Uther an’ surrounded meself wit’ a shield o’ Divine light so tha’ I coulds take a quick measure o’ th’ situation. I laughed heartily as th’ Horde army unleashed thar magic spells an’ attacks upon meself, which all bounced off’n Uther’s Light. Ne’er has so much firepower been leveled at a lowly private likes meself!

Before me shield wore off, I were able to do a quicks look ‘round Refuge Point. Th’ massacre an’ destruction were complete. Th’ few Horde tha’ were nae bombardin’ meself wit’ attacks were walkin’ ‘round freely, lootin’ through th’ wagons, an’ takin’ grisly trophies from th’ fallen civilians. Me shield were now fadin’, so I mades a token effort t’ run towards th’ south exit afore I were thumped int’ unconsciousness next t’ th’ large bonfire whar th’ low-life trolls were barbequein’ a Alliance soldier.

Moments later, I founds a chance t’ gits t’ me feet an’ dart up th’ southern ramp, where I took up a position on th’ western ledge. Private Koenig joined meself an’ guarded our position as I were able t’ watch th’ Horde troop movements. Wit’ Refuge o’errun an’ hardly a defender in sight, th’ Horde army began movin’ en masse towards th’ south exit. I followed ‘em on thar flank t’ see whether they were retreatin’ t’ Hammerfall or off t’ more bloodshed in Menethil or Southshore. Through me spyglass I watched as they reared thar mounts t’ th’ south; t’ th’ Wetlands they were headed.

I quickly alerted th’ Alliance defenses tha’ Refuge Point were clear fer griffon flights in, an’ also reported th’ last seen direction o’ th’ Horde forces. I revived Cedric Rose (griffonmaster a’ Refuge) an’ gots him t’ load meself on a flight t’ Menethil. Alliance defenses were still scramblin’ an’ attemptin’ t’ plot thar next move, so I tooks it ‘pon meself t’ dispatch meself t’ Menethil t’ finds out fer certain if’n th’ Horde army be headed tha’ way.

I landed in Menethil wit’ Private Koenig closely in tow. I dashed t’ th’ main gate an’ ran halfway across th’ bridge afore stoppin’ in me tracks. Th’ Horde army were jist arrivin’ an’ skirtin’ th’ main gate by flankin’ along th’ outer edge o’ th’ west wall. It were clear they were headeds toward th’ docks an’ th’ ship t’ Auberdine.

I mades me report t’ th’ Alliance raid commander, an’ all forces were now diverted t’ Menethil. In th’ meantime, a small group o’ locals an’ meself engaged th’ outer edges o’ th’ Horde army. A flea on thar back we were, but e’en flea bites cans git infected. A’ this point, as th’ Horde awaited thar ship t’ th’ elf lands, Alliance reinforcements began arrivin’, but none t’ any great effect.

Th’ Auberdine ship arrived an’ its crew were quickly massacred by th’ Horde army. Amidst jeers an’ taunts, all th’ Alliance defenders coulds do were watch as th’ ship sailed wit’ th’ bulk o’ th’ Horde army aboard.

At th’ docks we waited fer th’ next ship which took us t’ Auberdine, an’ those docks were th’ site o’ further fightin’. Tha’ were until th’ Horde army, which were shrinkin’ in size, hopped th’ next boat towards th’ elf tree. On those distant docks, most o’ th’ Horders dispersed through portals or hearthstones. I heards nay reports o’ any Horde attemptin’ t’ attack Darnassus itself.

I returned t’ Refuge Point an’ dids me best t’ help clean up an’ bury th’ dead. Poor Vikki Lonsav, general goods vendor, hads been knocked down an’ seemed besides herself. Jannos Ironwill, a good dwarf an’ a fine macecrafter, hads been strewn up on a post a’ th’ entrance. A few gnomes an’ meself cut his body down afore one o’ Darnassus’ high priestesses were kind enuff t’ revive him.

Conclusion: Though th’ Alliance forces were grossly outnumbered an’ outled, all those in attendance foughts wit’ honor an’ dignity. Th’ Horde army were well-coordinated an’ hads good leadership, were monstrous in size, though fer a force tha’ large I wouldsa expected a greater target than distant an’ small Refuge Point. At nay time dids they enjoy anythun less tha’ a 3-1 advantage. Still, they moved fast an’ were smart in keepin’ a step ahead o’ any moves th’ Alliance defense coulds make.

In closin’, th’ Ironforge Regiment were well-represented. Roratri, Shadowhammer, Karos, Koenig, Thurgo, Miroudias, Kurlen, an’ meself answered th’ call. If I missed anyun’, please extends me apologies t’ ‘em. Meself, I dids more scoutin’ than fightin’, an’ more healin’ than swingin’.

Filed: Sunday, April 09, 1522 hours