You Are Not Prepared
A Deathknight Beta Insight
Posted: August 17, 2008
As I created my character, I took great care in preparing her for battle. I knew being a Deathknight would be as dangerous as the training would be grueling. Donning the viscous name of Alurix I entered the game and watched on as the introductory movie spoke of my origins. The video excited me even more so, and my anxiety peaked as the camera slowed to a halt on Alurix. I knew I was about to become an honored member of the Scourge.
… with everyone else and their mom. However, this is to be expected; the Scourge does need cannon fodder to safeguard those of us who were specially chosen to work directly under The Lich King himself. And there he was waiting for me. I, his chosen knight, would never fail him. He began my training swiftly
and instructed me to speak with Razuvious, as he knew I was in need of my own Runeblade. Ordinary weapons are pieces of useless sculpted metal compare to a Deathknight’s Runeblade. Upon crafting my new weapon, I tested it out on a few of The Lich King’s unworthy and felt its power flow through me. Soon I would become one with this blade.
The Lich King immediately had a request of me, to spy on our enemies: The Scarlet Crusade. The humans are no match for The Scourge for we are too powerful, but The Lich King desired to be strategic so who am I to deny him of this? Astrally projecting my sight, I spied upon the Scarlet Crusade and reported back to my Master. He delivered me unto Highlord Darion Mograine and Baron Rivendare, deep within Archerus: The Ebon Hold.
My time with Highlord Mograine was short, despite my obvious recognition by The Lich King. He sent me down below our flying citadel to Death’s Breach where I continued my Deathknight training led by Prince Valanar. However, retrieving fallen arrows was not exactly what I had in mind. My lust for killing pathetic humans was growing inside of me, and it was difficult for me to practice patience.
I had several tasks to accomplish during my time out in the field:
One of which I received from Salanar the Horseman, he needed me to retrieve a horse for him from the Scarlet Stables. While I appreciate the gesture, I was unsure as to how he would transform something so ugly into an appropriate mount for a Deathknight of my stature. I, of little faith, was proven terribly wrong when he later presented me with a wonderfully corrupted Deathcharger.
Another quest I was to practice my skills out on other budding Deathknights. Needless to say, they did not last long against my enchanted Runeblade and powerful spells.
And my favorite, Noth the Plaguebringer was in need of sacrificial minions, and I was more than happy to assist. Using a specially tuned device, I was able to transform the simple human miners into more suitable ghouls under my control. Raising an undead army from our enemy’s men is deliciously evil.
While I performed these tasks, Prince Valanar was busy formulating another plan of attack for me to execute on his behalf. I was to hide within an unsuspecting mine cart which would then be taken to the ships at Light’s Point by a dim-witted miner. Upon being delivered to the Scarlet ship I was to obliterate the Scarlet forces using their own ship’s cannons. They did not even see it coming.
Highlord Mograine finally recognized me as I deserved to be, and rewarded me properly for my slaughter. With the Scarlet Fields overrun, it was time to prepare our full-scale attack against the Scarlet Crusade. I took this time to evaluate the spells and skills surrounding my class, visiting three distinct areas of Ebon Hold: The Frost, The Blood, and The Unholy.
Frost focused primarily on tanking abilities, and being able to withstand damage. By no means does this mean Frost users would be unable to deal damage, and they also have enemy-slowing and self-hasting abilities.
Blood is most dependent upon melee abilities and strikes, making them a formidable opponent in close combat.
Unholy was where I found my calling; rising of undead minions, calling upon the bodies of those I have killed to assist me in battle. These ghouls were to be used in conjunction with debilitating diseases that I spread like plagues through my opponent’s armies.
Retuning to Death’s Breach, I joined my fellow combatants for a pre-battle speech from Prince Valanar. He then sent me ahead of the other soldiers to assist Prince Keleseth just outside of New Avalon. To prepare for war, I was sent into New Avalon to terrorize soldiers into confessing about the Crimson Dawn and to rescue Koltira Deathweaver from the depths of Scarlet Hold.
The Scourge had already managed to set up base within New Avalon itself, claiming ownership of their previous Chapel of the Crimson Flame. It was here that I was remembered of who I once was. I had been asked to kill a captured prisoner that we had held up in a building beside the Chapel. This pathetic prisoner thought he recognized me, claiming I was once a goody two shoes of the light. I killed him swiftly and moved on.
Orbaz Bloodbane had a rather sneaky task for me to perform, he requested I kill the Scarlet Courier in order to pose as him and deliver a misconstrued message to the Scarlet commanders. The plan worked perfectly! My inconspicuous tree stand was able to lure the Scarlet Courier over, allowing me to ambush him. Donning his clothing and replacing his message with one written by Orbaz I hurried to the dock where I delivered the false message to High General Abbendis. Little did she know the trap we laid for her and her men.
With everyone in place, The Lich King descended from the flying necropolis to launch the attack on New Avalon. Mounting great undead beasts, our full-scale attack was launched and we decimated the Scarlet settlement with ease. But there was still one monumental task at hand: Light’s Hope Chapel.
Every Scourge gathered just inside of the Eastern Plaguelands; my instructors, my advisors, our behemoths, ghouls, every minion at hand was poised ready to strike at the heart of the Scarlet Crusade. We were 10,000 strong, while they were but 300 units weak; we could do nothing but succeed.
At the command, we launched our forces and pressed forth into battle. Defenders of the Light fell defeated at our feet, their corpses exploding causing damage to the army they once fought with. Everything was going according to plan…
Until all of a sudden, Highlord Mograine dropped to his knees claiming defeat. I could not fathom the scene that appeared before me. Tirion Fordring claimed there was an item buried beneath the Chapel that our Master, The Lich King, feared greatly and that we were merely peons he was playing with.
A vision appeared behind us of Highlord Mograine’s father, Highlord Alexandros Mograine, and it depicted Highlord Darion Mograine’s original obsession with battle and the Ashbringer. This turned our commander from a great Deathknight, into a pathetic Paladin, a bringer of Light. The Lich King emerged before the changed Highlord and proclaimed his ownership over him. He disappeared as quickly as he had come, fearful of Tirion with the revived Ashbringer and whatever lie beneath the Light’s sacred
grounds.
Highlord Darion Mograine humbly accepted the victory over Dark and reintegrated himself with the Light. He proceeded to declare that a new order would be established, one to work cooperatively with the Light in order to defeat Lord Arthas. Regretfully, I accepted his offer to join the new order, Knights of the Ebon Blade, as it did seem that The Lich King abandoned me.
What am I to do now?
