S
Spending many long, cold days in Ironforge stirred up fond memories from my past. Fighting through the Yeti Cave, finding my way to Brewnall Village with the help of a mysterious friend, and fighting leper gnomes outside Gnomeregan. I’ve come so far, seen all of Azeroth, yet I find solace in returning to my cold, damp home. My job here is complete. The world as I know it will heal itself over time, and I will one day return to the great city I came from.
Since revisiting Gnomeregan, I took residence in a small house on the eastern side of Ironforge just ouside Tinkertown where I took some time to recollect my travels in this small journal. It wasn’t until recently that I’ve decided to continue my writings. I was slowly walking through the empty halls of Ironforge, when the ground began to shake. I assumed the great forge was the cause, as it has been many times before, but this seemed different. The quakes started slowly, but this repeated and became more violent over a very short time until I was knocked off my chair. I staggered to the forge, where to my surprise, heros were fighting rock and fire elementals. How did these beings get into Ironforge? What was their message?
Struggling to keep my balance I made it to the Hall of Explorers where I overheard two Earthen Ring members speaking about elemental disturbances that have seemingly taken over Azeroth. There was a great uprising in the hills of Alterac Valley, while in Stormwind, a cultist group had formed, determined to save themselves from the end of days. The Earthen Ring is the most influential shamanistic organization on Azeroth. Their warnings are indisputable. Clearly I had to do something. With the abundance of effort in Ironforge, I felt it right to pay visit to Stormwind, to learn more about these cultists.
How did these beings get into Ironforge? What was their message?
The stone walls echoed and rumbled as I rode my mechanostrider to the gryphon master. Leaving Ironforge behind as hundreds of elementals swarmed the ground, I questioned my decision. What would become of Ironforge if these elemental disturbances worsened? The sky grew dark, filled with thick purple clouds as I landed. The ground was still, but the sky above grew more ominous every passing minute. I passed hourglasses mysteriously spun in place before arriving at Stormwind Keep.
There I met a man by the name of Captain Anton. He was assuring a terrified group of Stormwind inhabitants that all was well, though his eyes said otherwise. He saw me approach and called me aside. “We’ve got to do something to reduce interest in this doomsday cult, but I’m hesitant to take much action until we know more about who is behind this group.” He then asked me to try and infiltrate this cult to discover their true mission. I obliged, and rode to Old Town where cultists spoke nonsense about the world ending, and their key to survival, but I played along.
I was then sent to a secret location just south of the city. Here shrouded cultists gathered around a summoning altar. I bowed down with the rest while remaining vigilant. A decorated cultist approached the center of the altar, where he spoke into nothingness at first, but then the archway began to glow a purplish hue, soon a giant beastly Ogre was staring back at the group. It seems this cult runs deeper than a few hysterical radicals.
After the Ogre faded into nothing, I snuck away and unsheathed my robe. The sky rumbled as I returned to the Valley of Heros, where a mob of frantic villagers demanded an a very outnumbered group of Stormwind Guards. The winds picked up as I made my way back into Stormwind Keep.
It seems this cult runs deeper than a few hysterical radicals.
“You have successfully defended Stormwind from the threat posed by this Twilight’s Hammer cult, Piket, and without harming our own citizens. Our enemy will not rest for long. Indeed, Cho’Gall must already be busy planning his next move.” He turned and pointed to the throne room. “You must take word to King Varian Wrynn. Tell the king that our enemies have shown themselves and we must be prepared for their return.”
I nervously obliged and approached the room. These elemental disturbances have brought representatives from every capital city. They were discussing the root of the problem when I approached. With the eyes of every nation staring down at me, I told King Wrynn what I’d discovered. “How dare they strike Stormwind? How dare they try to manipulate the people of this city against us and the Alliance! If not for your valor this day, Piket, our city would not have discovered this Twilight’s Hammer scheme. You are a true hero of Stormwind and the Alliance.”
The others nodded solemnly, with a silent look of concern upon their faces. High Tinkerer Mekkatorque briefly made eye contact, as if he remembered me, but quickly looked away. Regaining my composure, I walked toward the canals. In the meantime, the skies had opened up, and the rain was beating down on the cobblestone path. Looking back one last time at the dim silhouettes of our worlds’ great leaders, I got a strange feeling, like everything I had known was about to change forever.
