The Lich Knight Chapter 2: The Black Temple

The Dark Portal towers over the army encampments of both the Horde and the Alliance. Nicolus looks down at them, the wind blowing his cape out behind him. Outland is the pressing issue while they battle the Scourge in Northrend. They haven’t even found the Lich King, he thinks as he begins walking down towards the camps. Might as well start somewhere while I wait.

He reaches the Portal, and he can feel the dark magic pouring off of it. He runs a hand through it with no resistance. A moment later, he steps through and into Fel itself. He looks around, seeing what looks like the black of space, with nebulae all around through the sky. The ground is red, rocky, and bare. And marching along a road made only of lighter dirt than the rest of the ground, marches hordes of demons.

There were the huge felguards, with their giant axes and maces, their backs and head sprouting horns. There were the demon legionnaires, with their pale green skin, four legs, and huge hands holding twin swords. There were the frizzy felhounds, with their stalks for unknown reasons to Nick, and their long, narrow jaws lined with razor sharp teeth. Between the horde of demons and the Portal were two encampments side by side: one flying the red banner of the Horde, the other flying the blue banner of the Alliance.

Nicolus walks down, moving to the side as a ball of green Fel flames struck the ground nearby. He stops at the top of the steps to the Portal and glances over his shoulder. Huh, the Dark Portal looks bigger from this side... He is interrupted from his musings by another ball of Fel fire striking the ground in front of him. He shouts and leaps backward, drawing his Runeblade. He stands there as the battle wages on below, thinking.

These hordes of demons won’t stop unless they are stopped at the source. I need to find out either where they are coming from, or who is controlling and ordering them around. Take off the head, and the body dies. He looks around, then heaves a heavy sigh. He closes his eyes and stretches out with his Unholy powers. Surely there must be some dead beast I can resurrect... ah ha! He reaches his hands out, and channels the resurrecting dark magic into the ground some twenty feet off. It begins to tremble, and a moment later, a skeletal gryphon surges up from the ground, squawking and crying out, a blue ball of energy forming in its chest cavity.

“You are mine, beast,” Nicolus speaks, both physically and into its mind. “I am your new master, and you will obey me.” He crushes its will with his own. Essentially, it is like the gryphon becomes a part of him. Without a word, the gryphon flies over in front of him, and he climbs onto its back. It shakes stray clumps of dirt and dust loose, and it takes off into the sky with Nick on its back.

He flies far away, going above the barren rocky ground until it transforms into a forest, and he sees a pillar of Light rising in the distance.

Shattrath City... finally. He swoops down into the city, in the center of which stands a large dome, from which the pillar of Light was coming. Surrounding the dome is a large empty moat, where he sees many people. To the North and North-Western area of the city, he sees two raised areas, with buildings on them, each with different banners. He looks around, noting all the Sin’dorei, Draenei, Ethereals, Orcs, and raven-like humanoids he sees.

He lands and hops off his gryphon. He immediately feels slightly sick and he clutches at his stomach. By all that is Unholy... that’s unpleasant. I’ll just have to bare it. The gryphon, too, seems to be in pain, squawking and shaking its head. He slowly straightens up, focusing on his mission, and he walks into the dome.

The inside is huge. A balcony runs along the inside of it, and he sees Draenei and Sin’dorei all over the place. A man in blue and white robes lined with gold walks over to him. He has a long white beard and a golden circlet rests on his head.

“Death Knight, you have great courage to enter the Sanctum of the Light. Does it not burn you? Or do you have an objective more important than keeping yourself alive?” The man stops a good five meters away from Nicolus.

Nick swallows hard and says, “I am here... to see the Naaru, A’dal.”

“I am Khadgar, one of the Sons of Lothar. Anything you wish to say to the Naaru can be said to me, as I am A’dal’s advisor.”

Nick shakes his head. “I wish to see A’dal. It is... of great importance.” Khadgar studies him for a moment, then nods inside and walks over to the Naaru in the center.

Seemingly made of crystal, the Naaru, A’dal, seems to give off Light itself, shining with a bright silvery glow. Nick feels quite hot in its presence, and a thought occurs to him. I wield the Unholy powers of darkness. Could the Light possibly be wounding me, rejecting me?

No, little one. You simply need to become accustomed to it once again, a voice, like the sound of a hundred bells ringing softly, says in his mind.

Who is this? he thinks.

I am A’dal, and you are Nicolus Ryder, the Lich Knight. The Light has not forsaken you, Knight. It has merely been absent for quite some time. The Light makes up your very soul, and for a long amount of time, both you and your soul had been separated. It is still readjusting itself to fit perfectly with your body again. The holiness of this place aids it, but pains you in the process.

Nick feels a small blossom of hope inside him. Perhaps it is not too late then to atone for what I’ve done.

Of course it’s not too late, A’dal says. Now, you requested to speak with me?

“I did,” he says aloud. “I have seen the Burning Legion marching on the Dark Portal, and I wish to stop it at its source. Where do they come from?”

The Burning Legion come from Shadowmoon Valley. It is there that Illidan cowardly hides inside the Black Temple, and it is there that the Burning Legion marches from. But he is not the only hinderance in our campaign, A’dal says sadly. We are also being attacked by Mages, who draw power from Netherstorm. It is rich in Arcane magics, and is controlled by an ally to Illidan named Kael’thas. With two fronts hitting us from both sides, we can’t push either back.

“The Burning Legion has its own powerful magic, drawing on the shadow realm and summoning demons from the Void,” Khadgar says. “But the armies of Kael’thas have Arcane magic, the power to manipulate the very fabric of time and space. Both are lethal and need to be dealt with though.”

Nick thinks this over, considering the facts. Finally he says, “Perhaps I can be of even greater assistance than I thought. I will go to Shadowmoon Valley, infiltrate the Black Temple, and slay Illidan. Then you will be able to reclaim Netherstorm, and stop Kael’thas.”

Both A’dal and Khadgar are silent for a moment, then A’dal says, It is possible such a plan could work– you are known to be incredibly powerful and skilled– but even the great Maiev Shadowsong has yet to recapture Illidan Stormrage. Are you so sure you will be able to defeat him?

“I will help him!” Comes a deep, rough voice.

They turn around to see a Broken Draenei standing outside the dome. On his back is a sack, carrying what looks like skulls and spikes, and sheathed at his sides are a pair of kamas. “It is time for Illidan’s reign to end.”

Akama, you take great risk in coming here, A’dal says.

“It is worth it. The Betrayer must die!” he replies vehemently.

“And he shall, friend,” Khadgar says. He then turns to Nicolus. “Are you absolutely sure you can pull this off? If Akama helps you, his cover will be blown.” Nicolus nods, and Akama goes to stand by him. Khadgar nods. “Very well then. I will create a portal that should take you to just outside the Black Temple.” His hands glow with azure light, and he creates what looks like a circular window in the air, except without any frames. Within they see black mountains behind a black temple with sickly green fel fire raining from the skies.

“Let us depart,” Akama says, “before the Betrayer discovers my absence.” And with that, he steps through the portal, closely followed my Nicolus.

They gaze up at the temple for a moment. Then, shaking his head clear of the past, Akama begins walking away. “I used to serve the Light there, as a Priest, before they came.”

“I am sorry you had to lose something so valuable. You have my sympathy,” Nick replies. Akama nods.

They reach a large stone wall, out of which flows a river of sludge. Nick makes a face as both he and Akama walk inside. They travel through the seemingly abandoned sewer, until they emerge on the inside of the temple. They hide behind a pillar just as a patrol of felguards go by, along with a couple Orcs.

Nick suddenly remembers that he hasn’t had proper food in a while now. He holds up a fist, signaling Akama to wait. He closes his eyes for a moment, calling upon the San’laynian part of him, and when he opens them again, they are glowing red rather than blue, and his sharpened fangs are bared. He makes his move, his whole being shrouded in darkness, moving at blurring speed as he dashes to the patrol. He grabs a couple of Orcs and slams them face-first into the ground. He then whirls around, crushing the windpipe of two others before drawing his sword and decapitating the felguards. They sink into a pit of shadows that forms beneath their feet.

After looking around to make sure no one else was coming thanks to his swift strike, he then bends down and, with a snarl, sinks his fangs into the neck of one of the Orcs. After a moment, he pulls away, the Orcs’ red body now a very pale pink, blood dripping from his fangs. He pants and nods to Akama.

“Alright, lets go.”

And so they begin making their way through the Temple, clearing out members of the Burning Legion, leaving piles of corpses in their wake, minus the demons they slay.

Finally, they reach a set of doors, a green Rune where the doors connect. Nick steps forward, in his Worgen Form, and digs his claws in the crack before heaving with all his might. It groans, but other than that, he gets no response.

“Let me try,” Akama says. He gestures toward the door as soon as Nick backs away, and bolts of Light, fire, electricity, and nature magic shoot into the door. He sustains it for a time before stopping, breathing hard. “My strength... fails me... I’m sorry...”

Nicolus suddenly gets an idea. He closes his eyes and reaches into the very spiritual plane of the place. He finds two elder spirits, and says to them, Please, help me and Akama. We are trying to reach Illidan the Betrayer. They regard him for a moment, then they both nod. Channeling his dark magic into them, Nick yanks them into the physical realm as well.

“You are not alone,” he dimly hears a voice say.

“We can do this together,” says another.

“Thank you, elders,” he hears Akama say, and suddenly, even with his eyes closed, he sees a prolonged flash of light through his eyelids, and feels the sheer magical power ripping through the air. There is a shuddering explosion, followed by a CRASH and Nicolus opens his eyes to see the door blown clean off its hinges. He looks just in time to see the specters of two other Draenei-like people fade away. “The Betrayer’s hour approaches, Nicolus.”

“Yes. Lets end this quickly.” He and Akama race up the stairs and up onto the rooftop of the temple, where they see Illidan crouched down, a rag over his eyes, two large horns curling out of his forehead, and a pair of dull grey, leathery wings sprouting from his back. As they approach, he slowly stands and turns his face toward Akama.

“Akama. Your duplicity is hardly surprising. I should have slaughtered you and your malformed brethren long ago.”

“We've come to end your reign, Illidan. My people, and all of Outland, shall be free!” Akama declares.

“Boldly said. But I remain...unconvinced.” Illidan sneers.

Akama raises his weapons, pointing them at Illidan. “The time has come! The moment is at hand!” With that, he and Nicolus charge at Illidan. As they near him, a smile twists his features.

“You are not prepared.” he says. Then in a blur, he draws his green double bladed swords and the battle begins.

Sparks fly as their weapons clash and meet again and again. A chilling wind whips across the rooftop, icicles freezing on Illidan’s skin, as the three combatants perform their deadly dance. Akama hacks and slashes with his sickle-like weapons, Nick delivering blow after blow with his Runesword, blows that would have felled a mortal within a couple swings. But Illidan holds them off, blocking with his blades, seemingly unhindered by the freezing cold.

Suddenly, as Nick is recovering from being knocked back, Illidan blocks both Akama’s weapons with one of his swords, and drives the handguard of his other into his stomach, sending him flying across the rooftop.

“Behold, the power of the blades of Azzinoth!” He flings his blades into the stone and out of the green blades emerge huge fel fire elementals. He soars into the air, cackling as they move towards Akama, but Nick lets out a roar, and in a blur he dashes between them and, coating his Runeblade with Frost energy, he whirls and slices at the elementals. They scream and roar as they are reduced to smaller and smaller versions until they altogether disappear.

Nick helps Akama to his feet, as the Draenei says, “He is... too strong. We can’t... beat him... alone...” He looks up at Nick. “We need... Maiev Shadowsong.”

Nick gestures with his chin toward the stairs leading back into the temple. “Get her; I will hold Illidan here.”

“By yourself?!” Akama demands as Illidan recalls the blades to his hands.

They both look up at him, then Nick says gravely, “I have many more tricks up my sleeve, comrade. Now go!” Without arguing further, Akama races off.

Illidan cackles. “Sending for reinforcements, are you? He won't arrive in time to save your bones from the flames of fel! Now... feel the wrath of ten thousand years!” He swoops at Nicolus, and with a snarl, he meets him head-on. Nicolus moves with increasing speed, slowly losing himself to the familiar pulse of combat. Suddenly, he feels him once more, the dark being in the recess of his mind, a presence he thought he had been rid of long ago. It seizes control of his body, and he moves faster and more viciously, steadily backing Illidan away.

Illidan leaps into the skies, crying out, “Like all other beings, you are below me!”

“You are not the only one with wings from darkness, Illidan! I am as capable in the air as I am here!” Nick and the monster shout in unison, and he feels a chill on his back as his shadowy black wings take form. He roars and takes off after Illidan. They continue their fight in the air, Illidan trying to protect himself while Nicolus swoops and weaves around him like an annoying insect. He flips through the air and delivers a two-handed overhead blow, forcing Illidan back onto the Temple, impacting the stone with enough force to leave an impression in the stone.

“Is this it, mortal?” Illidan sneers as he staggers to his feet. “Is this all the fury you can muster?”

“I have returned!” Nicolus looks back to see Akama back, along with a woman in full plate armor, long white hair exposed out the back, and a large blade in the shape of a huge ring.

“His fury pales before mine, Illidan. We have some unsettled business between us,” she says.

“Maiev...How is it even possible?” Illidan demands with a snarl.

“Ah, my long hunt is finally over. Today, justice will be done!” she cries, and she and Nicolus continue fighting while Akama heads towards the stairs.

“I hear reinforcements! I’ll hold them off!” He shouts as he draws his kamas.

Maiev and Nick strike again and again at Illidan, not giving him a chance to recover. Finally, they knock his blades from his hands and Nicolus stabs Illidan through the stomach. He cries out as he collapses to the ground, a hand over the fatal wound. Dark blood pours out, darker than normal blood. Nick feels the beast retreating back into his mind, satisfied with the bloodshed. The Betrayer looks up, gasping at Maiev.

“It is finished,” Maiev says softly, “You are beaten.”

“You have won...Maiev. But the huntress...is nothing without the hunt. You...are nothing...without me.” Illidan rasps. And with that, he breathes his last.

After a moment of silence, Maiev says, “He's right.” Quietly as if to herself, “I feel nothing. I am nothing.” Then she turns to Nicolus. “Farewell, Nicolus Ryder. It was an honor and privilege to fight alongside someone with such potential and reputation.”

Nicolus nods. “And it was a pleasure to fight by you, as well.” Maiev walks off, Akama coming from the stairs.

“They felt the death of the Betrayer, I think,” he says. “I heard him die and they immediately ran like yellow-bellied cowards.” He shakes his head, looking at the body. “The great and mighty do fall hard, don’t they Nick?”

“Yes they do. What will you do now?” Nick asks as he assumes his Human Form. I feel much more comfortable in this civilized form after being under the beast’s influence.

“I will work on purifying the halls of this unholy place. The Light will fill these dismal halls once again. I swear it!”

Nick claps Akama on the back. “Good luck then, friend.” He walks out of the temple, and climbs onto his gryphon, and loses himself in thought.

The Outland situation is fixed... Neither the Alliance nor the Horde have been able to get a strong foothold in Northrend yet... I might as well go and see what remains of my homeland. He nods to himself. Yes, I need to know what happened. And I should pay my respects to Prince Liam. He was a good boy. Gesturing in front of him, he summons up his dark power and rips open a Death Gate. He walks through it on his gryphon, back to Acherus, the fastest way to get to his former home.