The Cursed Keep (Part One)

Before I start my report about our attack on Shadowfang Keep, I have to say something: I finally own my own horse! Sponsored by the Cathedral of Light, I can now travel fast and quite comfortable through Azeroth on the back of Betsy. Yes, Betsy is her name. And don’t you dare to joke about that!

Anyway, this is my report on the events in Shadowfang Keep. For me, the cleansing of that demonic place was something personal: every place that has not yet been touched by the Light, is a place I should travel to. And the dark keep, towering over Pyrewood Village, is such a place. My brother Razgrimm joined me, of course, out of personal gain. Rumors of long-forgotten treasures got his attention, and so he and his swords joined me. Duriff, my beloved sister, came along just because she could not let her two brothers have all the fun. And finally, Fizzikz the warlock joined us too. Why? Well, none of us knows, but my money is on the demonic lecture he could find in the library of Arugal himself.

Indeed, Arugal. It is told that it was him who brought the twisted and wild Worgen to this world, and that he has gone mad after the fall of Dalaran, the fabulous city of wizards and magicians. Now, he is corrupted by his own insanity, and seeks nothing more than the ashes of what was once Silverpine Forest in his hands. Such an adversary is more than an excellent challenge to the Undersized Heroes, and thus we entered his keep, while the wails of ghosts and the howls of the Worgen echoed across the midnight sky…

We did, however, not expect to meet this former Archmage shortly after we entered. As we walked through the archway of the ruined castle, we witnessed with our own eyes how the wicked Arugal killed one of the Undead, and then disappeared with a manic laughter. The gate in front of us was locked, so we had to fight another way.
“Over here, an open door!” Razgrimm yelled, and blindly charged forward, just into the arms of a mixed group of Worgen and rabid wolves. A silent “oops” could be heard, just before claws clattered against cold steel. I knew what to do, and leaped in front of my brother, right in time to save him from a Worgen’s claw to his head. I fell, numbed by the attack, but got back to my feet. I stared into the eyes of the beast, and grinned.
“Raz, you know what time it is?” I asked. He nodded.
“I think it is…”
“BRAWLING TIME!!!” both of us yelled in excitement, and jumped on our foes. Fizzikz let out a maniac’s cackle, and weakened the wolves and worgens, while the young priestess Duriff kept an eye on our “medical” situation. But even she knows how to inflict pain, and so she used her more sinister divine powers to punish our enemies.

We smacked, sliced and brawled our way through something that looked like a kind of stables, until we came to a staircase leading down to some small prisons. One of them held a human, waving and screaming at us.
“Take care! The Worgens you met so far were nothing! Their commander is not far!” he yelled.
“The Worgens have commanders? I don’t think that mindless killing machines are commanded easily” Fizzikz said. Duriff giggled, and I smirked while looking at the Imp Fizzikz brought with him.
“As far as I noticed your Imp is also quite a mindless drone, burning everything in its way. Still, ye command it.”
“That is something completely different, because…” Fizzikz could not finish his reply, because we heard a deep, ferocious growl behind us. Slowly, the four of us turned around, and gazed into the eyes of a big, dark-furred Worgen.
“I warned you!” the human yelled.
“Meet my warden, Rethilgore!” We ignored this last sentence, for we were far too busy dodging the wild swings of this certain Rethilgore. I made sure to get his attention, and directed his attacks in such a way that I could parry them easily with my shield. Still, I could feel the impact of Rethilgore’s strikes, and had a difficult time to stand my ground. Ground! That’s it. I concentrated on the divine powers granted to me, and the floor started to glow in golden embers. Clearly, this was something the Worgen commander did not expect, and howled in pain as the divine light burned his feet.
“This is what you deserve, scum! I will make you bathe in the justice of the Light, wretched abomination!”
“Stop your chatter about your religion, Muffy” I heard from the back of the creature. It came from Razgrimm’s mouth, who was just plunging his swords into the back of Rethilgore. This would be the finishing strike for him, as the Worgen fell onto the floor, covered in dark, muddy blood.

“That was awe-inspiring, my friends!” It was that human again, and now we had the time to walk over to his cell.
“Finally someone came here to rescue me!” he said.
“Rescue you? We don’t even know you. And nowadays, I don’t trust random strangers in robes” Fizzikz replied, followed by an agreeing nod from Duriff.
“You have to! Arugal locked me up here as his next test subject! Please, help me!”
“What would ye do for us, lad?” Razgrimm asked, looking at the human quizzically.
“You are here to hunt Arugal, right? You cannot proceed without me, because the door to the courtyard is locked. Even Rethilgore does not have a key for it, but I know just the spell to open it!”
“So you are also a wizard, friend?” Fizzikz asked, this time in a more friendly way. I know how happy that little Gnome could be when he met someone who was into the arcane arts, or the demonic ways.
“Yes, yes! I even studied in Dalaran! But there is no time to just chat! Help me out of here by pulling that lever over there.”
“I don’t trust people who don’t even tell me there name” I said, still not trusting this fellow. These days, the world is full of dangerous magicians, and this could be one of them. But was I afraid of? I travel together with a Gnome who controls winged devils and creatures made of the Void itself!
“Ashcrombe. Sorcerer Ashcrombe is my name.” That did not sound like the name of an insane warlock to me. I nodded towards Duriff, who stood next to the lever. She pulled it down, and the cell opened. Ashcrombe sighed, and moved out.
“Follow me, friends. But move silent. Those Worgens hear almost everything!”

It was true, Ashcrombe brought us to a locked door. But with just a few gestures, he unlocked it. We thanked him, and he went for the exit of the keep. We, however, stepped through the door, just to look at a courtyard filled with not just Worgens and wolves. Amongst them were the ghosts and souls of the former inhabitants of this residence. Kitchen maidens, chefs and more! The four of us gulped, and we readied our blades and magic. This would be one wild ride…

Well, that’s it for now. Check back later, to read more about what happened in Shadowfang Keep. I promise you it will include explosions, emotions and endangered animal species. Well, not so sure ‘bout the last part. But still, make sure to return!

May the Light guide you,

Mugrimm Frostbrew.