Reformation Stories

So, if anyone noticed a page or two, along with my profile page, one might've noticed that I've made some heavy references to "Reformation". That's pretty much the big point of my story at the moment. Where that story will go will be told over time, but I'd love to portray it all in short story writing. Not only do I have a fierce enjoyment for writing, I also have no way to represent a story that has almost completely detached itself from role-play aside from the writing I so enjoy. Regardless, I want to represent so much here, and so I shall. - Allose, the main editor and author of the Reformation Storyline.

Chapter I - Finding a Leader
Margrave casually walked up the steps of the ruins of Auchindoun, trailed by his cohorts Myril and Zanen. Margrave brushed a fallen strand of hair away from his field of view, as he observed the bizarre sky, how it seemed spiral before converging upon the single azure point in the center. Very interesting, indeed, but he did not have time to observe nor research it. A shame, he thought, as he walked further up the steps.

"I'm not sure what purpose there is to coming up this way," the deep voice of Myril interjected, breaking Margrave's train of calm thought for the sake of his lack of ability to observe. "I said we needed to find Urthudar, to which you agreed, and yet you're leading us to this point."

Margrave scoffed in annoyance at the impudence of the masked man before looking over his shoulder for a moment to regard Myril and Zanen. Zanen, the maniacal killer and assassin, had been kept quiet for the past few weeks since he was recruited. His scarlet hair flowed lightly in the wind, his head craned over his shoulder to look away from Margrave.

Margrave peered at Myril, his oval mask hiding his features, save for a pair of hollowed circles that exposed grey eyes, and the shape still exposed the head of hair that had a lighter black color to it. How annoying, to hide behind a mask for no apparent purpose.

"Don't be foolish," Margrave replied, "In case you didn't notice, Urthudar's respective forces are engaged with Merandar's precious soldiers in battle. Both will perceive us as enemies. No need to cause unnecessary bloodshed, at least not for Urthudar's allies."

Margrave calmly adjusted the collar of his dark crimson coat - it had annoyingly found its way under his chin - as the coat itself flowed freely behind him. Since he now opted to wear clothing such as robes, coats, and cloaks openly, he was able to feel less confined, allowing him to move with the sense of freedom he found himself to enjoy.

"None of them matter, right?" Zanen interjected, taking a moment to look over at Margrave. "We could just cut our way through and be done with it."

Margrave looked over his shoulder again, this time at Zanen. "Not quite. Firstly, our goal is to turn the Void Horde towards us, not just to get Urthudar into the Chained Reign. The latter point will be easy. The matter of bringing the Void Horde to our side is less than so." Margrave looked forward again as he reached an actual floor and end to the stairs, taking a left turn as he was followed by his companions.

"Secondly," he continued, "Have you not seen the creatures those Orcs are employing? They were obviously Void magic in origin, but their form was completely unlike anything I've ever seen."

Myril scoffed. "As if they are a challenge. All three of us could destroy them without even needing to raise a weapon. Don't be afraid of those things, Margrave. They were only as good as any Voidwalker."

Margrave stopped abruptly, and turned to face Myril and Zanen, who had stopped as well. Margrave smiled as he regarded his masked companion. "Myril, please. Don't put me in the same boat as you, in regards to a level of power. Additionally, I'm not afraid as much as I am curious. Creatures like those are not natural. They were no doubt made by Urthudar, and possibly valuable to us.

"Besides, we don't know what the Void Horde has. If they're efficient, they'll have hundreds of those things to utilize. However, what if we made a mistake and were to accidentally kill off one of the Void Horde's most valuable assets, one of things that makes them useful? We'll have lost the use of an ally, and that would've been on your hands, Myril."

Margrave paused for a moment to let his message sink in before turning and moving again. A couple of seconds passed before the sound of footsteps followed him. Margrave decided he'd actually bring up his own conversation. "What of Leiv? Where do we stand on bringing that one in?"

"Haven't contacted him, yet," Myril responded. "We're waiting on Urthudar and Inkoroth before we get involved with Leiv. I'd rather not reveal ourselves to an outsider liable to decline while we're this weak."

"Mind your words," Margrave simply said, before moving to a rather ruined balcony, or at least what passed for one. Below, he could see the effectiveness of the Void creatures; the Malderoch Company was forced into a retreat, and, as an interesting side note, Merandar was with them.

By stroke of damned unluckiness, Merandar looked up to regard an Orc woman, appearing as a leader of sorts judging by her garb. However, Merandar saw the figure at the very top of Auchindoun, and seemed to recognize him in how the little figure on the ground began to scurry away towards the area Margrave had just walked up.

Margrave sighed. "You two, preoccupy that Orc, the female leader. Don't kill her, since she's probably the one we need to talk to. Just hold her until I get back. It seems my brother wants to converse with me." He stepped down from his post as Myril nodded and gestured for Zanen to follow. The two disappeared together in a violet flash as Margrave began to move back down the stairs towards the direction Merandar was arriving in.

Soon enough, Merandar arrived, sweaty and his clothes stained in blood, too much of it to be his own. However, aside from his unusually matted hair and sweaty face, uncharacteristic of the younger sibling, Margrave noted his lack of a Kirin Tor sigil. Instead, there was a runic sigil in place of it, a bright blue thing on a field of grey.

Margrave raised an eyebrow as Merandar was the first to speak, in between panting breaths. "Margrave... what are you doing here?" he panted.

"My, my," Margrave said, "Weren't you supposed to be one of the top-of-the-class battlemagi? I know Dalaran's lowered its standards, but this is pitiful. Perhaps you left because you couldn't even meet such low expectations?" Even though Merandar was a brother by blood, the level of thought that went into one's actions differed vastly, and Merandar was hardly family to Margrave.

"Shut up," Merandar growled, catching his breath. "I left Dalaran to hunt people like you without the distraction of the Iron Horde. First Urthudar, now you. People like you seem to just enjoy chaos."

"Nonsense," Margrave said, taking an expression of seriousness. "I value freedom. Something you seem intent on restricting, which I don't take kindly to. Please, leave me be for the time being." To get the point over with quickly, he summoned a portal to Shattrath City - supposedly where the Company was housing itself - behind Merandar and extended a hand outward. Merandar prepared to defend himself, but Margrave forced the man back with magic, repelling him right into the portal and closing it as soon as the surprised battlemage disappeared through.

Now, to find Urthudar. It was likely that the man - Margrave assumed that term could be applied to an Orc - was hiding with the rest of the Void Horde somewhere else. The best resource to find that was the Orcish leader that Myril and Zanen were sent to speak to. Focusing on their location, Margrave activated a teleportation spell...

...and emerged in the middle of a large chamber, and a conversation.

"...There's also a matter of conquest to consider, since that may or may not interest you Orcs... ah, Margrave," Myril said, finishing his statement that Margrave had arrived in the middle of. Margrave brushed off the shoulder of his coat as he stepped forward.

"Greetings, my fellow partners in the opposition of world powers," Margrave said in an amused and sarcastic tone, "How go negotiations?" The female Orcish leader, standing before the three members of the Chained Reign, glowered at Margrave.

"Human, you are not welcome here. All three of you get a chance to leave before you wear my patience and I'm forced to separate your heads from your bodies and give them to the Warchief," the Warlord snarled. Margrave made a "tsk tsk" sound and began to crackle with lightning. The magical force of his ability began to wear down on the Orc, gasping in surprise by the sudden level of power forced upon her. Margrave soon let up, as soon as his point was made clear.

"In this realm, you would be wise not to misuse your magic, former Archmage Margrave Haifrall."

Margrave raised an eyebrow as gathering darkness soon formed into the unmistakable form of Urthudar, also known as "Karg" to some imbeciles. The Orc wore simple brown robes, a hood drawn over his head as red eyes looked over and into Margrave. The Orc's ability to observe was impressive even if one could not see it immediately, and that didn't even touch his unknown level of power.

"Urthudar, old... friend, I suppose. We'd like to speak to you for a moment."

WIP