Karp
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Chapter 138
🕑 Added 2024-12-31 19:23:21 +0000 UTCEmerging from a portal alongside Rho'dan, Varrus exited to see a group of Night Elves all standing around the Undead World Tree, Tha'salah.
A little more than a hundred of his purple skinned kin were standing guard around 3 of the most important Heroes to come from their race.
Malfurion was busy in a meditative posture, probably communing with the tree or something.
Tyrande was idling on top of her giant white tiger mount, and Maiev was conversing with Faedra.
He even saw that the Darkfallen druid, Prince Valanar was present. In fact, he was looking sort of healthy? Not quite the grey skinned look of a Darkfallen, but something else? If he had to describe him, Valanar looked incredibly pale, like milk. If anything, his appearance was what he imagined a Snow Elf would look like.
Varrus turned to Rho'dan in confusion.
“It is the Sunwell, Highlord. Ever since it has reignited, the Darkfallen have undergone a metamorphosis.” Rho'dan supplied.
Varrus blinked his eyes, and thought that was a nice upgrade. In the lore, there was a type of Undead called Light Forged Undead, and they had less drawbacks than the typical zombie, as the Light somehow empowered them without turning them into ash.
It seemed that the various elements of the Sunwell interacted with the Darkfallen differently, and created this new type of Undead creature.
Whatever it was, it was something to investigate at a later date. For now, he had to suss out these Elves from across the sea.
“Bal’a dash, malanore. I am Varrus Vandercross, what brings you to Quel'Thalas?” Varrus greeted.
The guards all pointed their weapons at him as soon as Varrus took a step forward.
“Stand down, sisters. Sinus a'morane, I am Tyrande Whisperwind, my husband is a druid, and he sensed that the land here was free of corruption, yet this tree remained in a state of Undeath, and came to investigate such an oddity. It is his hope that we can learn how it was done, so that we may purify our own corrupted groves.”
“Hmm. Well it is a surprise to see our long lost kin after our exile. I am aware of the sacrifices you have made, and congratulate you on your victory over the Legion.” Varrus said with a bit of hidden heat, to let her know he wasn't pleased with this ‘unannounced’ visit, but was also praising her people, so that he didn't come off as entirely antagonistic.
“Yes, I apologize if we entered your land without any prior warning, but your mother-in-law, Faedra assured us that all would be taken care of.” Tyrande softly rebuked in a diplomatic tone. “I thank you for your well wishes. It seems that we are not the only ones to be undergoing a trial at this time?” Tyrande gently hit back.
“Yes, we are about to mount an assault upon the Undead within 3 days. Perhaps you could join us? Then you would see first hand how, exactly, our lands were cured of their taint.” Varrus replied, asking both for the high end fire power of the Night Elves, as well as subtly offering them what they claimed to desire.
While Varrus didn't know their true motives-you never could with a druid-he was willing to bet that they were interested. Because many, many places were corrupted in Kalimdor, and they would most certainly want them uncorrupted.
Varrus didn't necessarily plan to drag the Night Elves into the fold, what with their extreme anti-Arcane magic policy, but it didn't hurt to make some positive inroads.
If he could heal their land with a type of magic different from Life, he may even be able to change their minds.
“That is…an interesting offer, young Vandercross. One I am uncertain if we are prepared to engage in. We are a small expedition, and every day we are away from home, the more I worry something needing my attention would come up. I must consult with my husband, and then we shall come to a decision.” Tyrande slowly, and carefully replied.
Varrus understood wanting to go home, and the need to safeguard your land, but the claim of being a small expedition didn't really hold any water when Malfurion was demigod tier, Tyrande had the potential to transform into a demigod with her Night Warrior, Elune's wrath form. And Maiev was a high tier Hero on par with the likes of Lor'Themar.
They may be lacking in numbers, but he guaranteed every single one of the Night Elves that came along for this transcontinental journey were Elites.
This group could quite literally challenge the sovereignty of a nation, such was the power of a demigod.
“Understandable. Then while we wait for him to break out of his meditation, may I ask, what brings you to the Eastern Kingdoms?” Varrus asked, even though he already knew the answer.
“Apologies, Varrus, I'm not quite at liberty to disclose our plans to outsiders.” Tyrande apologetically bowed.
“Nonsense, priestess, he has a right to know, and would learn from Faedra anyway.” Maiev broke away from her conversation, and harshly rebuked Tyrande.
“Maiev, this is neither the time nor place for-”
“A traitor. We were hunting a traitor who was about to slip away. Faedra led us to him, and when weaker wills failed.” Maiev paused to glare at Tyrande. “Your mother-in-law prevailed. I only wish Illidan saw it coming.” Maiev spat to the side, venom coloring her voice.
Varrus arched an eyebrow. Illidan was dead?! By Faedra's hand no less?!?!?!
It would seem her stealth skills were even more terrifying than he had first thought. If even the bullshit Skyrim abilities couldn't detect her, then he supposed the literally blind Illidan who relied on Mana Sight to navigate the world didn't stand much of a chance.
But still, this was an incredible feat. To assassinate Illidan Stormrage was not easy. She didn't seem to be much of a front line fighter, but her stealth abilities were top class.
“Surprised, dear? I'm certain you intended to mn, interrogate me after the events that transpired recently. But as you've noticed by now, the Undead are rather restless thanks to you know who.” Faedra smirked with an air of utter superiority, and winked at him.
If Varrus was reading between the lines, it would seem she was aware of Illidan's plan, and had waited until it had just completed before she took his life.
By that logic, and the fact she had been with the Night Elves all along, she must have been leading them astray until it was the most optimal time to attack.
Now, not only were the Undead going into a frenzy, but the Night Elves were slightly indebted to her!
Varrus stared woodenly at his mother-in-law. She was a dangerous woman, one whose motives remained unclear. But to date, every action of hers had seemingly benefited him.
Truthfully, the Lich King and Illidan were major thorns in his side. Her actions indirectly, and directly saw to both of their demise.
He didn't know if he should bow to her, or lock her up in a cage to be questioned.
So he settled for a firm nod of respect, and a dissatisfied scowl.
“Ohh, no need to look so glum. A little bottle informed me that she might just be making a breakthrough soon. I can't wait to be a grandmother.” Faedra's grin widened, and she inclined her head towards him.
‘Starbottle might finally be nearing completion of a fertility potion?!’ Varrus excitedly-and fearfully-thought to himself.
At long last, he would be able to fulfill his wife's dream, and within a generation, the High Elves would be able to repopulate! On one hand, that was awesome! On the other hand, fathering 12 children kind of frightened him. Being a father was scary and awesome. He didn’t know if he was ready to raise kids during the tumultuous times of war to come.
‘No wait. Faedra has even infiltrated my House?’ Varrus dropped the excitement, and glared at her.
“Don't shoot the messenger, she told me herself. We are long time friends going way back.
Varrus felt his blood boil as he conversed with this silver tongued she-devil.
She thought she was so smart, yet had failed to prevent the sacking of Silvermoon.
Yet because of her efforts, the Kobolds had readily joined up, he suspected she led the Scourge to resurrect Nightsong, Blood Queen Lana'thel's plans to Deatholme were revealed, and while he was in Gilneas, he used her contacts to clean up the dissidents and nobles opposed to Tess's coronation. Furthermore, Dawnbringer's movement to start an Undead rebellion was only possible thanks to her minions, and the enchanted items that broke the Undead away from the Lich King's control.
Her hands were dipped in many failures, but also many victories.
How he hated how useful she was.
“We are done here. Tyrande, my love, let us return home.” A deep, sonorous voice called out from the base of the tree.
Emerging from a pile of dead foliage, the 7 foot tall, muscular druid practically towered over Varrus as he approached his wife.
“The Elves of Quel'Thalas have invited us to do battle with them. They claim to show us how they purified this land.” Tyrande replied.
“There is nothing for us here. The roots have told me much. I must return to Darnassus, and nurture Teldrassil. Illidan's damage to the world is far reaching. We can do the most good back at home.” Malfurion patiently explained.
“As you say, my love. Warriors, rangers, and druids, we ride for the coast!” Tyrande commanded.
“We can't just leave! The Undead are the Legions minions! Our enemy is here, crushing them will prevent another invasion!” Maiev stood in front of the troop, and held out her hand, halting them in their tracks.
Many of the Night Elves shifted in place uncomfortably, clearly conflicted between the two Heroes and their orders.
“Out of the way, Maiev. You failed at imprisoning my brother, and have harried me at every turn. I will not have you delay my return.” Malfurion coldly intoned as he stared down the warden.
“But Shan’do-” Maiev entreated, only to be interrupted.
“We will do our best for Azeroth back on Kalimdor. But you are right about something. This tree is a blight upon the world, and must be destroyed.” Malfurion turned towards Tha'salah, and a green energy radiating powerful Nature energies coalesced in his fist.
“No, don't! Shan'do, I beg of you, don't do this!” Valanar cried out and tried to run between Malfurion and the Undead World Tree, yet the Night Elf guards held him back.
“Highlord, don't let them do this, the transformation that the Darkfallen underwent is replicable for the corrupted trees of Quel'Thalas, please, stop him!” Valanar cried out from the side.
Varrus briefly pondered Valanar's claim. If it were true, then it would be worth saving this corrupted tree. Because when it was alive, it acted as a balancing influence, and was a seal against the creatures of the Void. Doubtlessly, it would prove useful against invasions from Oblivion as well.
Malfurion, uncaring to Valanar's plea, unleashed a green orb full of titanic, overwhelming power at Tha'salah.
Teleporting with a short ranged Blink, Varrus interposed himself between the attack, and blocked it with a ward.
Green light cascaded off his ward, and Varrus felt his arm shake from the force behind the impact.
He almost felt the ward break, but by using two hands, he forced Malfurion's spell to dissipate on his magical shield.
“Have the Elves from afar fallen so low as to attack another nation so openly? Are you so ungrateful that you would destroy our World Tree?” Varrus angrily crossed his arms, and sharply antagonized.
“Stand aside young man, this cleansing must be done to guarantee the safety of the land.” Malfurion charged up another attack, this time raising his staff high.
“Perhaps there is a good reason that they are defending this, my love. Violence need not be our only avenue.” Tyrande cautioned.
“I agree, yet during my attack just now, I sensed something off about this youth. Almost as if he has the scent of time about him I had associated with Nozdormu. Yet such a thing should be impossible. Something is wrong here, Tyrande, and I intend to find out what!” Malfurion lovingly said to his wife, then pointed his staff at Varrus.
“What relation do you, Varrus Vandercross have with the Aspect of Time, Nozdormu. You are not one of his children, or his agents, so don't bother lying to me!” Malfurion said with a heavy weight of authority, then slammed his staff onto the ground.
A wave of nearly invisible Nature energy spread out from his position, and enveloped the grove.
Varrus felt as if he were compelled to speak, yet thanks to his perks, magic resistance, and superior spell power, was able to shrug it off with some difficulty.
However, not everyone present was immune to this sinister technique.
“Nmmm-auuurrgh. He slew Nozdormu earlier today, and absorbed his soul.” Rho'dan fell to one knee, bit off his own tongue, and tried to wrench his mouth shut, yet in the end, was compelled to speak.
“I see. The truth has been revealed. I knew this land was corrupted. That you users of the Arcane were beyond redemption. Now I learn you were directly involved in the slaughter of one of Azeroth's mightiest guardians?! For the world to heal, you must perish!” Malfurion slammed his staff down, and erupted with a magnificent amount of power no less than Nozdormu had earlier.
Varrus wanted to feel panic at this swiftly deteriorating situation, but instead, all he felt was a frothing, maddening anger.
“How dare you.” Varrus quietly, coldly seethed.
“How dare you come to my land, and attack my people. Do you even know that Nozdormu was attempting to kill my people's hope? As someone who experienced the Sundering, I thought you would be sympathetic to the plight of your kin, but I see you for the foolish old man that you are. More concerned with the Emerald Dream than reality, your people suffered while you slept for ten thousand years.
Your so-called wisdom sacrificed the most powerful World Tree on the planet, and entire forest of ancient trees, and the lives of countless wisps. You could have used the Well of Eternity, and defeated Archimonde with its powers, transformed the World Tree to do battle against the Demon!
But instead, you condemned your people, and removed their immortality.
How dare you judge my actions, Malfurion Stormrage!!!”
Varrus activated his various Illusion buffs, and became a mass of power as Commanding Presence & Imposing Presence swept throughout the landscape.
The Elite Night Elves were crushed under the metaphysical weight, and each and every one of them were forced to their knees.
Malfurion wore a look of stalwart composure as his aura rose to match Varrus’s.
“The incoherent ramblings of a child. Power has gone to your head, much like what happened to my insane brother. It is the duty of the old to educate the youth. Prepare yourself.” Malfurion slowly replied. A hint of sadness, and duty colored his voice. As if what he was about to do pained him, but must be done.
The act of being ‘holier than thou’ drove Varrus into a frenzy. He never wanted Malfurion dead before, but his unprovoked antagonism would not go unpunished.
He could withstand badmouthing, but when someone tried to cast a spell on him? When they forced his longtime companion, and the only person he trusted 100% without a shadow of a doubt to speak? Well then, the gloves came off, and you'd better be ready to box!
Varrus stood fast, and matched Malfurion's gaze of ‘sad duty’ with unrivaled ferocity.
He had intended to test his new enchantments over the ocean, but now it seemed he had a live target.
The battle between distant kin was about to begin!
Comments
Michael DiVelbiss
This is why it's called World of Warcraft and not Legends of Azeroth. Because it's filled with powerful idiots that always resort to violence first, second, and maybe third. I am here for the chaos though. Good show.
Joey
If Varrus wants the disarming to be more permanent he could probably partially sever the Soul and just cut off the part of the soulself that has the arms. That might solve the whole regen issue dependent on the parameters regeneration magic uses for restoration. Ie is it genetic information, soul snapshot reversion or temporal based.
Kasikan
Don't really need hands for magic though. Not to mention I'm sure they can figure out a way to regenerate flesh. Druids are all about taking on animal aspects and there are enough animals that can regenerate lost limbs to make that possible.
Jose Matos
Yeah but leaders on WOW need to be strong. A crippled with no hands can’t be a leader of the druids.
Kasikan
Issue is that if he wins in any fashion, he'll be the enemy of the Kaldorei. As their entire faction is basically under the rule of Malfurion and his wife. With Malfurion basically asleep 99% of the time and when he's awake acts as if all should obey him. So it's basically kill or be forever at war with the idiots. Better to get it over with, rather than have harassment from the Kaldorei for the next ten thousand years. As they're still insulting them over arcane magic after longer than that.
Joey
As always Karp good work. Happy New Year too. Now we go from one self righteous moron with multiple orders of magnitude more power than sense. (Nozy the biggest mass murderer in any time) To the next. (Furion the fraud whos incompetance outshines the Sun) I must simply complement your capacity to make me utterly loath a character in just a single chapter.
Jose Matos
Can we get an extra chapter because its new year?
Jose Matos
Killing the guy would be satisfying but foolish because the MC would alienate a powerful useful faction with nothing to gain from it and a lot to lose. But that doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be consequences or he would look like a pushover, so just cut off his arms and dick.
Conor McGroarty
Out of curiosity, is Illidan demon enough to respawn in the Twisting Nether or is he permanently dead? Well even if he really is dead, could always show up in the shadowlands or something.
Smitty
Know it might not make sense, but I'd love a Varrus curbstomp fight, where mc just demolishes them, hate malfurion as a character
Conor McGroarty
If it had the smut tag I imagine it would imagine many of the scenes would be hate banging. Even without that, the sarcasm and arguing is easy to imagine.
Conor McGroarty
Age does not inherently beget wisdom, otherwise there wouldn’t be any old fools.
Karp
I almost wrote an Illidan x Maiev fic once upon a time.
Conor McGroarty
To be honest, I was always a shipper of Illidan and Maiev even though it would start from a toxic place considering their past. Plus Illidan in canon did mostly good things if not viewed through “arcane bad” prejudice. At least when his edgy demon, Kil’jaeden bitchboy mode is ignored…
Kasikan
Hope Faedra kills Tyrande, then Malfurion. The stupidity of the Kaldorei isn't something that should be allowed to survive and only killing Malfurion would end up with Tyrande as an enemy. So destroying them both and letting the Kaldorei fall due to lack of leadership would be in their best interest.
