18th October, The year 27 (human calendar):
Today was the fifth report of illness in the lower regions of the eastern kingdoms, Galatyr and I went south to meet with the lords of the area to discuss the cause, effect and treatment of the new disease among the populace of the area.
I still feel strange to be here, it was only 2 months ago that we were told to bar our gates to all but the most revered of travellers from both Westfall and Redridge to the east due to reports of strange happening in both provinces. The alliance may seem strong to those inside its home; however to those looking outwards it is seen as a crumbling state, although I dare not say it to anyone save those I trust most. This should be a time of rejoicing and happiness after the arrival of the missing king after 2 years, yet there are no celebrations: With the increase in all manners of evil activity it is with sombre duty my order sets out not to tell of greatness but of sorrow and misfortune to those who wish our coming, and eventually will cheer our departure. I feel more trapped in the keep than I ever have, as though it is now made to keep us in, and not vile creatures out.
After the king’s departure the Lords of Stormwind all but abandoned the sister states, fearful of the fate that behest both the overwhelmed Lordaeron and the now missing Dalaran. The king however does not embrace the other men as they were the kin that he should see them as, instead he shuns them and holds them at arms length. Most in my order agree with this treatment: most are pigs and wish only joy for themselves. Prince Menethil would be proud…
19th October
The meeting with the lords was to no avail. Of the 18 only 7 bothered to arrive, 8 of the missing nobles did not even send word of their condition or wishes, the 3 that did were vague and almost uncaring of their land. It was decided that the south shall be annex from the order’s duties; a move I see as both foolish and unkind. Of course the nobles insisted they still get paid their taxes in the name of Stormwind…they have no spine. The king has ordered the menace of the Defias to be ignored for the time being and all patrols along the border of the river to the south doubled. The people of Darkshire are no more cousins to us, but enemies to be mistrusted like the Orcs we are so indoctrinated to hate.
The group known as the Nightwatch –Some of whom I know to be very skilled and reputable paladins- have reported they need bolstering with supplies and men; we have been ordered to kill them on sight.
My own ears have heard rumours around the city when I am on my patrol, the festivities of hallow’s eve have been overshadowed by something the citizenry cannot see or hear but seem to be afraid of. Only time will tell what the light will give us in terms of hope, faith is not enough.
21st October
The goblins of the steamwheel cartel have been deemed unfit for commerce with as the supplies they send are found with traces of the disease that the surrounding area seems so unready to fight. Our saviour is however perhaps at hand: we have received word that the crusade in the north has been all but abandoned by the argent dawn and their numbers are to add to our own. They are experts at fighting these illnesses and their arrival brings hope to many of the citizens. Their appearance does however signal something far worse to come, why would they end their attack on lordaeron in all but the worst circumstances…are we their newest crusade?
I am ordered to reinforce the entry to Goldshire, the first defence of Stormwind. I am to take 20 men at a time when it is most important to protect the capital. I do not believe my superiors can be fully trusted, they seem very rare of late, only giving orders through letter and never seen in the king’s council. I dare not trust anyone, save myself.
22nd October
We saw them today for the first time in 2 years. It is as we have feared most, the Scourge has redoubled its efforts and with every citizen that dies their number increases. Why did we not see this, why were we not warned by those on the furthest outposts of the alliance. This is the first week in 2 years we have not heard from any of our sister states or the city in outland; Galatyr has deserted and gone to his home of Ironforge, he would not say why but I feel he fears for his family, and rightly so.
I do not know whether The dwarves have been effected by this new plague of undeath, as the attacks seem to be coming from the south….we seem to be the first hurdle.
23rd
We lost our first men today, both young and reckless they hurled themselves at yet another wave of the undead that assaulted our gates. Goldshire has been abandoned. We now sit in our wall, repelling every wave as if it is the last. They still come.
We are ordered to give every last ounce of our being into fighting the menace that has still not been explained to us. The argent dawn however are great sources of morale, their words give us hope in this time where none can be found in our souls.
There have been reports that the warlord Thrall has accepted the asylum of the lordaeron survivors under Jaina Proudmoore’s command, it is clearly not just the east that is suffering: water can also carry this affliction.
25th
The outer wall has been abandoned, we are over run. We have been ordered back into the keep to the north and to refuse entry to the dying citizens of Stormwind. They are dying and have no chance of help, even the knights of the dawn who swore to help us have deserted, fled back to the north to “fight a larger threat”, What is larger that the doom of 50,000 people?!! I hope they do not exile us to a death without rest or the light’s guidance, or it is their soul’s too that will perish with ours in the eternal dream.
The most disturbing thing stalking the streets of the city is not the dead but the warriors in black, I swear I have seem humans among the dead who are not attacked, bitten or clawed at. These men seem intelligent and armed; they do not fear the dead but embrace them and seem to hold sway over their movement. I believe these to be the new leaders of the scourge but I cannot. If I share my thoughts with anyone I will surely be killed, no man of the light can turn to darkness, and it is against his soul’s yearning to help those who do not see the light.
I feel these are my last hours before the fall of Stormwind, and I wish I could say I spend them valiantly…however I am hiding behind stone, my hammer laid upon the wall, clean and un-wanted.
They are coming…May the light be with us all.
26th
I have left my post to seek refuge in the tunnels towards Ironforge, they are many miles but it is our only hope to reach the city and hope it has lasted better than our defences stood. We have seen many strange things on our travels and heard worse…but one chills my bones more than any other.
The lich citadel of Naxxramas has mobilised and is spewing forth evil onto our lands, they attack all peoples, human, dwarf and troll alike, they do not care who they harm but what they can gain from this…they are raising an army to destroy the kingdom…and it is working.
27th
We are but 5 now, the rest, dead by my hand…bitten or worse in an attack last night…I still hear the screams as we walk…they are everywhere and all directions are filled with danger. The lake above us was a warm sight we it was reached, the relief of seeing blue not red water was a large one indeed
…
They have taken all sides and we now are outnumbered yet they do not attack, the black warriopr that accompanies them stalks their lines 60 yards from us, holding them back…
We will fail…and we will die
May the light give rest to my soul, if I shall have such a thing when I am at one with the lich.
There is no hope…there is no light…There is no salvation, only destiny…something I wish I do not have to face, alone or otherwise…in the dark or in the bathing glory of the lights true darkness.
