#dolraan

“Is it always like this?” Banny asked.

“Like what?”

“The excitement. The danger.”

“Often enough.”

“I thought going to Valdrakken was exciting enough. But this is different.”

Dolraan said nothing, but just glanced over at the younger paladin from the corner of his eye.

“Things seem so.. I don’t know.. precarious maybe? I mean, didn’t we just get finished saving the world?”

“Azeroth always needs saving.”

“Guess I didn’t realize that. The first time…  last time, it was an adventure. You know, my first time doing it on my own. I mean with the Meddlers, but.. you know.”

“Your father never told you his stories?”

“He did. I thought he was making up things when I was little. Now I think he held back because he didn’t want to scare me or my sister.”

“Yeah, parents will do that.”

“This is what he was doing? All the time?”

“This and more, probably.”

“A wonder he survived it,” Banny said almost in a whisper. Dolraan glanced at the young man again before looking back out at the city.

“What’re you going to do?”

“I don’t know.” 

“What do you want to do?”

“My dad would say that we should help them.”

“What do you say?”

Banagan thought for a moment and then looked at the elder paladin. “I want to help.”

She'd already started preparing herself to be okay with that when Drogar broke off from the group, followed by Darlain and Dolraan, heading her way. They looked every bit the legendary dwarven heroes they were. Her father in his mechanized armor suit, her mother in her angelic war-priest vestments, and though uncle Dolraan would argue that he was a poor dwarf indeed, a fine figure nonetheless in his shining silver and gold armor and argent tabard. Before they could say a word, she smiled and greeted them. "I guess we should wish you all luck in there! I'm sure Fyrakk and his cronies won't know what hit them." Lorellai was pleased with herself, she'd managed to tamp down her own disappointment, and show them the love and support they'd always showed her. But the way they looked at each other and smiled seemed odd.

"Er, lass, that's what we were coming over t' say to yeh. Th' Aspects are calling on your team to join them inside, we'll be holdin' th' line out here." Drogar said, clapping his daughter on the shoulder.

Lorellai gawped as Dolraan followed up. "You've got far more experience with these particular villains than we do, having just arrived. And you've all proven yourselves to Alexstrasza and her fellow aspects time and time again. This is your mission."

"Make sure you teach them a lesson about messing with th' peace of Azeroth, my little sparkler!" Darlain said, pulling Lorellai into a hug. "Make sure they know why every other villain fears going up against th' Meddlers!"

Out the corner of her eye, Lorellai caught Shansii hugging her mom as well, and a few others receiving well wishes from the older heroes. Hlin in particular seemed to be giving some last minute punching advice to Edmund, who was listening thoughtfully. "Are… are you sure?"

Drogar beamed back at her. "Oh hell no, but I trust you, and I believe in you, and I know that Alexstrasza wouldn't be askin' for yeh if yeh didn't have what it takes. But I won't be sendin' yeh empty handed! I cannae help but notice that spear of yers 'as seen better days. Maybe a bit more of a distant approach will suit yeh better in there, and I've got just th' thing, designed and built based on those lovely elemental ore samples yeh sent home." Drogar whistled, and Balinore lumbered over, dragging a long crate. Unlocking it, Drogar pried it open, and removed a beautiful looking rifle from the hay within, handing it reverently to his daughter. "I call it th' Firefighter, on account of it usin' elemental fire to enhance th' shots with which you might fight then fight fire with fire!" Drogar declared, inordinately pleased with his wordplay.

Lorellai gingerly took the weapon from her father's hands, running her fingers along the barrel. "It's.. it's beautiful."

"Wield it with pride lass, and give that' fire dragon a shot to th' eye he'll ne'er forget."

Lorellai pulled her dad into a hug, but already she could hear Rokishan calling her name, as everyone got ready to head inside with the Kaldorei and the Aspects. Loading a magazine, she nodded at her father, and turned to face the temple. It was time to meddle.

Spiru's gaze bored into Dolraan's. "We have had to face paladins and priests overcome with zealousness and rage. You have remained sane, but there has been a strain on you that in hindsight has seemed abnormal."

"We just want to be able to help you!" Lorellai chimed in, all three of them looking at him with various levels of concern.

Dolraan couldn't help but smile. "Well, isn't it good that I was just coming to talk to you three about it then? Let's grab a bench out in the grounds so we're not taking up the hallway.

A short time later, the four sat on a bench in a lovely park. The sky was clear for the first time in weeks, much to the delight of the locals. Dolraan cleared his throat. "Alright. So, you know that I, and my fellow paladins draw our power from the Holy Light. What's harder to explain is how the light feels to us. It's a bit different from person to person."

Dolraan looked up, letting the sunlight caress his face. "For me, it's always been like a lantern. Warm, welcoming, guiding. It has helped me find my way to where I need to be, and reminded me of what I need to do. Ever since we were summoned though.... it was more like fire. Powerful. Purposeful. Dangerous. And I wanted to feel it."

Spiru blinked. "That is concerning."

Dolraan nodded. "The allure of it was one of purpose, of Knowing with a capital K. 'There is the enemy' it felt like, 'you need but destroy them to save the world.' And it only got stronger as we pushed further into the Voidspire. It offered answers to all the questions and doubts in my heart. But.... what happened with the army of light? I felt the pull when they turned on us. The Light was burning in my soul. To stop Alleria. I think I know now what Lothraxion went through before we had to kill him."

"That's scary... how did you resist?" Lorellai asked.

"My oath. Most paladins swear one when we are knighted, and it becomes our purpose, and in Stormwind we were encouraged to write our own." Dolraan stood up, and when he spoke next, his voice resonated.

"I swear to devote my life to protecting the innocent from the cruel; the weak from the strong, and the righteous from the wicked. I shall show Respect in diplomacy, Tenacity in battle, and Compassion in victory. If I fall, it will be only when I have done all I could do."

Dolraan blinked then smiled at his friends. "And if I'd listened to what the Light was roaring in my ear then, I wouldn't have upheld that oath. It helped ground me, much like I think Turalyon's love for his family grounded him, kept him from losing himself up there, for all the good it did us."

"So, is the Light not the benevolent force we believed, then?" Janosis mused.

"The fire and rage is gone, all the survivors have felt it just as I did. It's like it was before all this happened. I think... I think we saw the harsh side of the Light, like we did back during the Legion War when X'era overstepped herself and tried to forcibly lightforge Illidan Stormrage. As we have seen over the last few years, none of the great powers are simply understood. I'd not expect the Light to be any different."

"Thank you for your explanation, and I hope the Light does not attempt to subvert you again. I would hate to have to attempt to subdue you, both because of our friendship, and because I suspect it would take many of us to do so," Spiru said, cracking a smile. "You have a remarkably hard head."

Dolraan barked out laughing. "It's served me well so far. Don't worry, I'm just a year out from getting my 'Ten years without being mind controlled' badge, and I'm not going to let that slip through my fingers!"

Lorellai blinked. "You were mind controlled nine years ago?"

Dolraan marched with speed through the open yard, nodding at the crusaders running to and fro as he passed. Mounts were being tended, supplies checked and rechecked, and sleep was being taken wherever it could; his own order to ensure that the Crusaders wouldn't be dead on their feet as they marched. His gaze met Alynore's as she oversaw crates of medical supplies being loaded into carts, and returned her nod as she angled her head towards the stables.

Pushing the door open, his eyes set upon his next, most unenviable task. Denyara, his Kaldorei squire, brushing down her charger, only recently bonded. He closed his eyes, taking in the moment of pride over her accomplishment, then called to her. "Squire!"

She started, but quickly spun and snapped to attention, saluting with an arm across her chest. "Master Dolraan, sir! Just tending to the readiness of our mounts, sir!"

Dolraan returned her salute. "At ease, squire. I've got orders for you."

Her golden eyes all but glittered with anticipation. "It's begun, sir? I'm ready to ride at your side!"

Dolraan shook his head. "Not this time, thero'shan. You are being placed in command of Northpass Tower. Your first command," he noted, hoping to soften the blow, "an important step on your path to Knighthood."

"Shan'do?" she faltered, then regained her poise. "Permission to speak freely, Master Dolraan?"

"As always, Squire."

"Why are you sidelining me?" she asked, her stance falling into a more casual, upset pose. "Have I upset you? Have I failed a test? Have I-"

"Denyara, stop. You have been the best student I ever could have asked for. And that is why I am trusting you with this command. Even diminished as they are, the Scourge of the Plaguewood will be eager to take advantage of any weakness in our defenses. Like the one created by having half the Crusade march against the Void's attack."

He approached Denyara, and with as much poise as he could, hopped on a nearby crate so he could put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's because I trust you that I am giving you this task. I need to know that things here are in good hands, so I can fight to the best of my ability on the new front."

Denyara sniffed, and slumped her shoulders. "I thought I was going to be at your side, bringing the Light where it's needed."

"Not this time, kid. But someday soon. I promise." Dolraan said, pulling her into a hug. "Now, stand to attention Squire, here are your orders, you ride out within the hour to take command of the tower. Make me proud, and Elune light your path!" he declared, snapping a salute. To Denyara's credit, she straighted and returned the salute immediately.

"Sir, yes sir! I won't let you down. Light be with you, Sir!"

This was the face of the enemy, Dolraan thought as he sat atop his charger, hearing the officers ready the lines. The necromantic cults, the undead, they were symptoms. The plague was the source of it all, and this was where it bred and grew. But now, thanks to their friends among the Earthen Ring, and Cenarion Circle, they were ready to fight back. He looked to the north, spotting the Sindorei contingent that had agreed to support the operation.

"It's a smash and grab on a large scale. We've identified several key points that can provide the samples our experts need, but they need to be taken at the same time, and with most of the skilled adventurers in Khaz Algar, that means we need to do this the old fashioned way. We have what and whom we need to get the samples, but we need every skilled soldier we can get to secure the objectives against the undead while they work."

"An audacious plan, Highlord, but we will all benefit from its success. The Regent-Lord has authorized two companies of foot soldiers, and I will personally lead a third company of blood knight cavalry to guard the northern flank, as per Lady Liadrin's command."

Dolraan tightened his grip on the reins, feeling the anticipation in the air. He checked behind him, and saw Rhianon at the head of the recovery company, ready to charge in their wake to claim what they needed with all haste. She smiled and nodded at him from atop Quincy, and he felt his heart soar. Today would be a bloody one, but they had trained the Crusade well. He looked out on his forces, members of every race and creed, united in purpose. This was Azeroth at its finest.

All too quickly, it was time. He heard the calls of readiness, and felt the eyes upon him. He drew his blade, lifted it to the sky, and with the Light infusing him, ordered the charge.

The Crusaders, resplendent in silver armor and white tabards, roared and charged, and the Plaguewood rose against them. Skeletal and rotting undead emerged from all angles to meet them, and steel met flesh and claw across the whole line as they collided. The undead were ravenous, feral, hungry for the flesh of the living, but the Crusade was united, and the line held, shields holding the dead back as the blades and pikes of those behind them struck out, smashing bone and skewering rotted flesh. Flashes of light and arcane energy rang out as the support teams unleashed their magics against the dead, blasting them to cinders with flame and radiance. Dolraan surged his charger forward, leading his elite cavalry up the middle, drawing the undead in. His blade struck true, again and again, as his mount crushed decrepit bones under hoof. A sickening roar caught his attention from the north, as a plaguehound the size of a house emerged to challenge them, only to be skewered by the charge of the Blood Knights flanking it from behind. The dead fell in dozens, but surged forward in hundreds, as they had every time the Crusade had sought to crush the undead. But their training held. Every Crusader who fell was seized and hauled to safety by those behind, and replaced on the line before the dead could surge through. They couldn't keep this up forever, but they would last long enough.

"Fight on, Argents! Fight on, Sin'dorei! The Light is with us!" Dolraan yelled, smiting an abomination with his blade, and leading the charge for another surge.

Hours later, the companies had retreated from the woods, and the pursuit of the dead had been broken upon the defenses of the Northpass tower. Exhausted and filthy with the blood of the endless hordes, Dolraan listened to the reports from the officers. Thirty percent casualties, but miraculously only seven dead among their number, and none of them left behind to be claimed by the scourge. They would be mourned, but at least they would not be used against their fellows. Then came proof of their victory. The shaman and druids drunk on adrenaline, discussing the various liquids, root samples, and fungus they had claimed; keys to their next stage of experiments. It seemed a small thing, but understanding the enemy was the first stage to eliminating it.