The Sacred and the Corrupt

Auriya · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:51 am Post subject: The Sacred and the Corrupt

Equipped with the ancient dragon-forged prismatic blades, Lapsis enters the Icecrown Citadel to seek the counsel of the Ashen Verdict.

Lapsis genuflects on the cold floor of the citadel, "Highlord Mograine, it is good to be in your company again."

Lapsis, I see you've made preparations for bringing an end to the Lich King.
And what is this you are wielding? I've heard lore of the dragon blades - for their power is well known. Do you believe the combined might of the dragon flights will be sufficient for your task?

Do you know of a greater weapon that can be brought to this place, to accomplish this?

I know of something, yes. But it is against my judgment that I present you this errand, Lapsis, as it will likely end in your undoing.

If there is some force that can be wielded against the Lich King, mightier than the five dragonflights, I would be loathe not to hear of it.

Ignore my counsel and embark on the endeavor, and I shall provide you with the knowledge and resources to see it through.

Very well, I will do what I can to ensure the Lich King's defeat.

Then this is what you must do - return to Frostmourne Cavern and recover Light's Vengeance, Arthas' discarded hammer.
Reforged with saronite and etched with the acidic blood of the Lich King's abominations, it will provide the foundation for our work.

"Thank you Highlord, I will undertake this errand ,"Lapsis replied while rising from a bow.

After touching down on the snow outside Frostmourne Cavern, Lapsis dismissed her bone gryphon and slowly entered the cavern, noting that there was a distinct lack of any ambient noise, no footsteps, no critters, nothing but eerie silence.

As the Death Knight approached the central dias in the cave, she found herself trapped in ice. Frantically searching the vicinity for the source, her eyes fixed on the Lich King emerging from the darkness.

So predictable...
Did you truly expect to fulfil Mograine's task unopposed?

Lapsis watched as the Lich King cast Light's Vengence across the cavern to the far corner, noting its resting location.

"You shall both suffer as his father does," the Lich King taunted as he raised an army of ghouls throughout the cavern, "in eternal unrest!"

Die well, fool

As the Lich King withdrew to the darkness from which he came, Lapsis noticed a crack in the ice holding her boots bound. With a quick strike, the ice gave way.
Recalling the location of Light's Vengeance, she plotted a route through the ghoul army - quickly striking down any that were between her and her destination - they were simply no challenge against the might of the dragon flights.

When nearly in arms' reach of the Hammer, Lapsis noticed why the supply of ghouls seemed endless - a risen Vykrul was summoning them on the dias.

"HA! You're not the only one who can summon ghouls!" Lapsis started summoning her own army of the dead to spar against the ghouls interrupting her work.

Once she picked up Light's Vengeance, it rose on its own and began to fly about the room, striking down the summoned ghouls and the summoning Vykrul.

After its work was complete, the Hammer rested nearly against the dias. Lapsis approached, only to see the vykrul reassembling itself as a skeleton, briefly, until its bones met with a quick cleave of the prismatic blades.

Returning to the dread Citadel, Lapsis presented Light's Vengeance to Highlord Darion Mograine.

"So, it has begun," Mograine said while gesturing toward the runeforge.

Lapsis approached the runeforge with Light's Vengence in hand, a supply of Primordial Saronite, and the blood from the abominations of the Plagueworks. As she drew near the runeforge, it's flames seemed to burn even more ravenously. Thinking there was no way for a forge to be "hungry", Lapsis placed the items inside, only to have a deep sense of dread wash over her as the flame devoured the items and erupt.

Darion approached the forge and cast a spell into it to combine the items, in doing so, a blue flame erupted from the mouth of the forge. As he returned to his station, a flaming sword floated out of the runeforge toward his hands.

Behold! The binding of the sacred and corrupt: the forging of Shadow's Edge, a weapon of untold potential!
Bend it to your will, and you shall wield unstoppable power!
Fail, and your soul shall forever be its slave.

"Oh, so that was the incredible sense of dread I felt," Lapsis thought to herself.

Listen well, Death Knight. In accepting this weapon your fate is sealed.
Overcome or succumb.
I have placed your feet upon this path. You are therefore my personal responsibility. Should you falter, I am duty-bound to deliver you from this life.
Remember my words, Death Knight, and do not fail.

Darion hands Shadow's Edge to Lapsis, explaining "Shadow's Edge is among the greatest weapons a Death Knight could hope to obtain."

Is your lust for power sated, human?

Lapsis felt Darion's penetrating gaze and failed to deny his question quickly enough.

I thought not. A final warning then...
You now embark on the most treacherous leg of your quest. Bridle your aspirations, for if your aims are impure then your life, your very soul, is forfeit.
The weapon you hold is but an empty husk, a mere shadow of what it my become. Only by devouring a thousand souls shall its true potential be unlocked.

Considering the warnings Highlord Mograine presented, Lapsis began to question her own motivation, whether it was altruism that fueled her, or truly a lust for power. Would she go mad seeking vengence against the scourge, much like Arthas had, or will she prevail and bring an end to his reign?

Looking down at her tabard, she thought about her brethren in the Fallen and knew the path she had to take.

She handed a folded tabard to her squire instructing, "I want you to return this to Elder Cartagia. Deliver with it this letter." She slipped the letter into the folds of the tabard, it read:

Kalyina · Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject:

Good luck Lapsis! Be safe on your journey and we will be waiting to hear the tale!

*Salute*