Of Honour & Dishonour

It was a hot day, even hotter in the depths of the Forsaken Stronghold in the city. The summer has reached its peak and in this here battlefield it would truly come apparent. The searing heat would cause the flesh to become putrid and foul-smelling rather quickly, with neither side having enough time between the battles to recover the dead. 

Andorhal reeks of ash and smoke, gore and gut, ruination and death. Yet, this scenery was merely the beginning. Both Alliance and Horde required a firm hold on this strategical key location in order to expand their influence to the Western Plaguelands. Losing the city would be a catastrophy for both sides, causing the aforementioned factions to clash even the harder due to that. And every day, more and more soldiers would part from the living and join the fallen in death.

"Blood for the Fallen!"

The Knight-Champion had shouted forth in this, the Forsaken Stronghold.

"Tal anu'men no Sin'dorei!"

In immediate response came the voices of his proud and stalwart unit, the Eclipsion Blade of the thalassian vanguard. They had been serving here alongside him for days now and already endured alot. They were a sturdy lot and he was glad to serve alongside every single one of them.

And so they marched forth, following their Knight-Champion once more into battle. Their armour stained with blood, the hot sun burning on them from above. Yet, they would endure. Yet, they would not stand alone.

As the proud procession arrived by the square before the main hall of Andorhal, they were joined by their close allies of Division Twenty Three led by Knight-Lord Sunsworn. Today, following the proposal of Champion Bloodcrest, they would try something new. To challenge the human forces already amassing into duels for their honour before the battle was to begin. This would eventually break the morale of the losing side, giving advantage to the so confident Sin'dorei. So his booming voice echoed across the ruined town, so intense that flies and other filth would arise and flee from the rotten flesh of a cadaver they just feasted upon.

"Humans of the Alliance! Today is a momentous day. For today, you may make prove of the honour you so often talk about but so seldom display. I, Knight-Champion Vorathel An'delas Bloodcrest, and he, Blood Knight Saeus Brightforge, challenge you to duels of HONOUR! Step forth, if you dare, or be brandished as cowards forever!"

Moments of silence followed in which Champion Bloodcrest and Knight Brightforge waited patiently for anyone to dare accept their challenge. Then, finally, a shift within the ranks of the Alliance army. Two human knights, paladins by the looks of it, coming forth to face them in mirrored stance. The tension could be truly felt, graspable in the putrid air of the previous battlefield.

Not many words were exchanged, merely words of introductionary nature. Both parties knew of the importance of this moment and the outcome of it. Their honour was at stake and so was their pride. Then, after painfully long seconds, the weapons were risen. Confidence beaming in the two Blood Knights, for they knew they were superior.

"Three!"

The countdown that had to be utilized for a fair start to the duels, had come to an end. Immediately steel clashed with steel, armour collided with armour. Saeus and the human man were drifting off to the right and across the square, whilst the light-imbued blades of the human, Alyndaria her name, and Vorathel clashed in fierce display!

She held herself quite well for someone so young and still, she was no match to a Knight-Champion of the Blood Knight Order. She parried his strike and repelled him, but he found a weakness in her defense the moment they regained balance a few meters apart from eachother. A confident smirk beneath his helmet.

"You fought well, woman. You will die with your pride intact."

"Try me, elf!" She retorted.

With a mere scoff in response, the Knight-Champion charged forward with all his might. He used a partially levelled area on the ground to lift his movement into a forward leap that had all his might behind him. Having risen above he had the clear and utter advantage. The fury of the sun blessed him in avenging wrath emitting as wings of glory from his back, as the unfathomable happened.

The mere woman, without a doubt blessed by the light, mirrored this his doing. Even more. Around her form, clutched in her hand, a red energy as he knew it to be invoked by the bloodlust a shaman can cause for their troops. A powerful tool that temporarily grants one inhumane powers. 

"You will not best me!" She shouted, furious in anger caused by the bloodrush.

"Imbecile! Have you forsaken ALL your honour!?" The Knight-Champion shouted.

Then, his strike hit. It hit hard. The woman momentarily going to the ground. A blow that would have slain any ordinary foe, swept aside as if it was nothing as she stood up. Her eyes burning with intensity as she unleashed all her fury, evoking the light's wrath around her to pummel the Champion to the ground. 

He had lost. He had lost, with his honour in tact however. Looking up at the woman towering before him in all her glory and rage, he merely snarled.

"You will be granted a merciless death, woman. And what little remains of your life will be spent in dishonour, you name disgraced for eternity. Anar endal'belore. I promise you that!"

Before further words could be exchanged, Saeus Brightforge appeared from his side of the battle. He had bested the human foe and a sudden and harsh duel begun. Yet, the Blood Knight quickly gained the upper hand as the bloodlust within the woman wore off and exhausted her, causing her to be struck down. Victory for the Horde Champions!

What happened then, would remain in the memory of all those present that day. The firm command of Knight-Champion Bloodcrest and Knight-Lord Sunsworn to press the attack and push back the Alliance. The contineous back and forth in the bloodshed showering them in gore. The rear strike of the Division, just to be mirrored by reinforcements of the Alliance coming from Uther's tomb and this culminating in the proud Sin'dorei to withdraw to the north of Andorhal, holding out until reinforcements arrived. 

And the arrival of the reinforcements would be remembered too, the glorious engagement of the Sunreavers on their Warhawks screeching furiously, Rangers bolstering the backline and supporting the frontline that was now joined by the Blood Knights of the Bladewing. Glory awaited. Death and Glory!

And as hours later the two captives, Aenicus and Cominius, had been freed in a cavalry charge of all the Blood Knights in the area and the blood addled mists of war slowly lowered for the day it became clear. This was merely the beginning.

The beginning of a tale of honour & dishonour.

A tale of war.