Endings Or Beginnings by Warneshi

[Keeper Of Lore]

"Lulu, wait!" Syreena shouted as loudly as she could. "Come back!"

She was in Brill the night Lupen was pulled into the nether so many months ago, and she was there when Warneshi organized his rescue. Warneshi's words made perfect sense. Lupen would help bring Warneshi back, just like the Tyrant had done for him in the past. In fact, Warneshi's words made more sense to her than the words of warning others had spoken to her about him.

The little rogue retrieved the sword from its hiding place, and removed the cloak wrapping. She held it in the outer room of her cave, and she waited for Lupen to return.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Lupen stopped cold as he heard Syreena's voice, he precieved it as a call of despair. In an instant, he turned and dashed back to the young Rogue's hideout. Lupen's heart did not beat rapidly, as it was incapable, but he did worry a great deal that something was terribly wrong.

Jhorantia could no longer stand it, she dispelled her cloak of invisibility and yelled toward Syreena, "You bitch...!" A look of both anger and concern encompassed the demon. "Going to kill my master now," Jhorantia cracked her whip and charged at Syreena, yelling, "Wench!"

[Keeper Of Lore]

Syreena let out a shrill yelp of surprise at the sudden appearance and exclamation of the succubus. There was no time to explain that she wasn't planning to kill anyone, or even wonder who her master was. The demon was charging at her. Instinctively, she lifted the sword up to defend herself, the tip of the blade pointed straight out in front of her.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Warneshi felt happy, very happy indeed. The little rogue was doing just as he asked. Lupen was going to be key to his plan and Syreena had understood this with very minimal proding.

Warneshi could feel Lupens presence approaching quickly, excellent, this was going to prove easier then he had anticipated. He could feel an anger rising, it was not either of the forsaken, but a entity of demonic nature. Warneshi expanded his presence quickly to track down the source of this anger.

Finding Lupens succubus, Warneshi was iritated that it was wishing to harm his little undead, Syreena. He decided to end her rage, she would not strike against his minions. Warneshi smirked and called into her mind.

"Jhorantia, yesss Warneshi knowss you little demonling. You may not know thiss voice, but you know the power behind it. Your masster will soon serve Warneshi jusst as you serve Warneshi now...yesss you serve, do not think to lie to yoursself. Stop thiss foolissh anger, you are a tool to return a power far greater then any of uss to thiss world. Now follow your masster, for he followss Warneshi."

Warneshi cackled to himself, the little demon would listen well, she could not hope to deny the power of his words. He turned his attention from the succubus to more important matters; the dread mage...Lupen.

Reaching out Warneshi entered the undeads mind and spoke in a tone Lupen would most surely understand...a tone of pure power.

"Lupen...Warneshi iss returned..."

[Keeper Of Lore]

Lupen stopped at the mouth of the sewer, darkness circling behind him. He cast his eyes upon Syreena, then to Sul'thraze the Lasher, finally to his Succubus, who stood near paralyzed before the sword. Jhorantia's whip had fallen out of her hand, her hooves quivered at Warneshi's voice. Lupen let the former Tyrant's words echo in his mind before speaking. Without speaking, Jhorantia picked up her whip, and returned to the Nether, this was clearly no place for her, not now.

Lupen refocused his mind, onto the sword. Yes, he had seen it once before, soon after Warneshi had recreated it out of the two pieces from the ruins. The blade was horrific, unimaginable, dark, demonic, evil... The Warlock had to contain himself from reaching out and touching it. Lupen's tone was a bit shaken by hearing Warneshi once more, but still strong as Demonology was his specialty.

"Syreena..." He began quite gravely, "Dear Sister... Do you realize what you deal with? Slys'Thok herself, Puppeteer of Kazzak, The Third Dark, the Grip of the Nether... She embodies that blade." Lupen's voice fell quieter, just barely audible over a whisper. "Warneshi, the Demon Blood in you is thick, I owe you my power and the core of my soul, you will be released." The Dread Mage could not begin to fathom the coming deceit, he believes his action for the good of The Grim, he had not seen Regnanetah's warning.

The Dread Mage eyed the Rune of the Nether on his left palm, though covered by other cuts, it began to glow a bright teal, and then to a deep purple. "The Blade..." Lupen muttered as he reached out and touched the shaft of the broadsword, horrific visions of those he had killed, countless dwarves, gnomes, elves, and mostly humans circled around. The memories of the torture in the Nether, thoughts of The Grim standing by the Gate... It all returned. Lupen staggered back a bit, regained his composure and held out his hand for the hilt.

[Keeper Of Lore]

The little rogue didn't know what stopped the demon's charge, but she was relieved when the succubus disappeared. She saw Lupen then as he began to speak. Although Syreena did not recognize most of the names he spoke, and didn't know much about the names she had heard before, the concern in his tone was unmistakable.

"It's Warneshi," she whispered. The great sword was too heavy for her to hold long, and it wavered under Lupen's touch.

She knew what he wanted when he held his hand out, but she hesitated, reluctant to give up the link to Warneshi. She still wanted to talk to him. The thought crossed her mind that if she gave him the sword, Lupen might leave with it, and she'd never see it again, or hear Warneshi's voice again. Yet, the Tyrant said that Lupen was to be trusted; that he would help him return. She didn't know what else to do.

"Bring him back," she whispered with an urgent look to the Dread Mage. "Please, Lulu, please bring him back."

She placed the hilt of the sword into Lupen's hand and gazed at him a moment longer before unwrapping her boney fingers from it. Although very little air was needed to sustain her body, some habits from life lingered beyond death, and she let out a deep breath. She was no longer alone in this. Lupen would know what to do. He would bring Warneshi back, and then everything would be fine again.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Krezinak walked down the streets of Ogrimmar towards the embassy muttering to himself along the way.

"That blasted little corpse!, hide from me will she!" "The next time I see her I'll ring whats left of her neck." "I am the King of the Sandfury and that blade belongs to me. I have seen the power that great sword can create." "I MUST HAVE THAT POWER!" Krezinak yelled out. Hearing the yell the orphans near the embassy ran back into the orphanage.

Krezinak entered the embassy and shut the door behind him. As he walked towards the desk to begin his work a searing pain flooded his body and he fell to the floor. Krezinak awoke a few hours later. He felt a certian calm and confidence.

Krezinak spoke but his voice had a evil tinge to it "Yesss little corpsse it will be mine." Krezinak sat down and calmly started working on the many papers that were stacked on the desk.It would take a while to get the embassy back into order with it being torn apart. He worked into the late hours of the night and awaited his time to be called.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Lupen gripped the blade tightly, not allowing it to come in contact with the dank ground, to do so would be to insult the blade. Even with both hands on the hilt firmly, the blade still waved a bit as Lupen carried it over his shoulder. The Dread Mage walked slowly toward the opening and onto Tristfal's dank grass. He summoned his dreadsteed and locked the sword tight upon the back of the saddle, enchanted leather straps covering every inch of the broadsword. Lupen then began to pull out a small blanket of felcloth to cover the sword so none would see it.

He gruffly mounted the dreadsteed, it gave out a slight grunt as its weight shifted about. Lupen looked over his shoulder at Syreena and said, "You are coming, arn't you?" Lupen smirked, "...Besides, I'll need a sacrifice." Lupen chuckled a bit at this, it was ment to be a joke... Might not have come off like that to Syreena...

[Keeper Of Lore]

Syreena followed Lupen and watched him secure the blade to his saddle. She remained silent, hoping she did the right thing in giving the sword to him.

When Lupen asked if she was coming, she nodded quickly and called for Bones. She mounted up, but at the mention of a sacrifice, she blinked at the Dread Mage, hesitating before putting heel to ribs.

"I can sap someone for you along the way," she offered.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Warneshi could not believe his luck, it was all working out just as he had wished it too. Lupen now held the blade and Syreena was loyally in tow, not mention yet another bit of luck he had not counted on...Krezinak.

Slys'Thok spoke into his mind about the corruption of his nephew, which he had so adamently fought against before. It would make things far simpler now that Krezinak had found his true alliegences.

Warneshi cackled and breathed in deeply the power of Lupen. The Dread Mage was indeed a mighty entity, even for a corpse. Warneshi wanted so adamently to take what soul was in the undead the second Lupens hands touched the hilt. He restrained himself however, Lupen was going to be paramount to his plans.

Warneshi knew however he could only trust those serving him so far, so to make sure they all remained in their own ways...loyal, he would need to make sure that trust was something they could only afford from him. He spoke to Lupen softly in his mind, his tone that again one of great power so as to make the undead understand what it was he was truely dealing with.

"Warneshi iss glad to see thiss out of you Lupen. Your power and intelligence hass grown, and the dessire to repay your...debt, iss a comforting one indeed. It iss you who Warneshi will assk to bring him back to Azeroth, only you can undersstand what musst be done. Be warry however, Slys'Thok watchess thesse eventss and corruptss many againsst our causse. Even now she listenss and planss to see that Warneshi iss never allowed free of thiss prisson. Syreena, she iss ussefull and powerfull, but be mindfull, she stole the blade once she will steal it again. Krezinak, he iss mighty and under Warneshi'ss sway, but hiss will iss weak. He will fall to her power soon and then he will kill all he can to hunt the blade down and see it desstroyed again. There will be otherss, alwayss otherss who will seek to desstroy thiss blade and thosse who wield it, that meanss you Lupen."

Warneshi knew what would bring the undeads full loyalty, he would remind Lupen of the prison she kept him in. He conjured in Lupens the mind the horrors the Dread Mage had endured during his imprisonment within the nether.

"Remember well thesse imagess Lupen, thesse painss, thesse sightss and soundss. If you fail thisss, Warneshi will not be able to save you again, thiss time failure will be eternity and eternity your prisson."

Grining to himself Warneshi reached out and called to Syreena's mind, taking his kind yet stern tone she was used to hearing from him.

"You have done well, Warneshi thankss you. The blade iss safe...for now. Watch Lupen clossely, he hass fallen to the sway of the nether before, he may do so again. Be prepared for Slys'Thok may take hiss mind as well as hisss body next time. Detain him when that time comess, remove the blade from hiss grassp. Be prepared little one for if he iss to losst to her will, hiss only chance to be free may be in hiss desstruction. Warneshi hass faith in you, do not make him think he iss wrong for putting it with you."

Satisfied that the seeds of mistrust had been sowed, and some loyalty gained, Warneshi began to think on how to deal with a rather large thorn in his side. Slys'Thok had warned him that his own loyal subject had maybe seen through his trick, Regnanetah it seemed may be working against him. If it was true then the mage would have to be convinced otherwise or dealt with immediatly. Warneshi prefered if Regnanetah would stand with him, his intial plans would reflect as such. Warneshi gave his mind over to thought, for an eternity within the nether he plotted and planed; that eternity was but minutes in Azeroth. Warneshi cackled, Regnanetah had his intelligence, but Warneshi had his time. Reaching into Lupens mind Warneshi gave a simple instruction, only one way could he try and coerce Regnanetah into being an ally.

"Take thiss blade to Regnanetah, he fearss Warneshi may be a slave again. Let him see that he iss wrong, that Warneshi iss but a prissoner. Be ready however, if he iss still clouded in doubt then he musst not be allowed to hold thiss blade. Thiss musst work Lupen, find a way, Warneshi hass faith in your abilitesss."

Letting his voice fall silent, Warneshi imprinted a sense of urgency within the mind of the Dread Mage. All would fall into place, Warneshi was sure of it; this time it would all work out.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Lupen twitched and muttered a bit while on his Dreadsteed. Every word of Warneshi's and every image of the Nether hit the frail corpse like a brick. His intention had changed immediately from the Burning Steppes to Orgrimmar. Lupen was fond of Regnanetah, he found him to be a decent officer and at the very least, a fair example of a mage. Lupen reared his horse's reins back and galloped toward the Zepplin tower, next stop: The Grim's halls.

The Blade's taint was still present through the enchanted leather and the thick felcloth. The Warlock wanted to give himself to the blade, the Nether commanded it. He had resisted once, it will be done again. The Dread Mage shot a glance at Syreena, eyeing her movement, wondering if she was to be trusted with such power.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Syreena smiled faintly as she heard Warneshi's voice in her head. She nodded her understanding as he spoke. She knew Lupen had some trouble with the Nether, even aside from when he was taken. She helped take care of him last time he was sick, and she suspected that if it wasn't caused by Warneshi that time, then it was something regarding demons or the Nether.

Then she frowned as Warneshi mentioned that Lupen might need to be destroyed if he was over taken by the demon. She would try to subdue him if that happened, and take the sword back from him, but she doubted she would be able to bring herself to kill him. Still, she would watch him closely.

Bones flicked his tail and pinned back his ears as Syreena made him jump over obstacles instead of letting him run around them. She ignored his annoyance and pushed him hard not to lose too much ground to the faster Dreadsteed.

"Where are we going?" she asked at the zeppelin tower. While they waited, she coated her daggers with crippling and mind-numbing poison, just in case.

[Keeper Of Lore]

The Zepplin arrived, late as usual. Lupen stepped on with The Blade strapped along his back, motioning for Syreena to follow, without speaking. The Goblin motor clicked and whirred as the pylon began to spin. How violently Lupen hated the Goblins... With a single slice of the cursed blade, he could cover the ship in shadows and blood. The Warlock resisted such urges, as he had a demon-given task.

The wind moved the crisp and brittle hair on the corpse's head to and fro. He looked back on Syreena, he trusted her, he felt many things toward the fellow Forsaken... Something new, however, told Lupen to keep eyes on the fellow Forsaken. Was it the madness of The Blade, or his own Instincts?

*****

The ship was arriving in Orgrimmar, Lupen stepped off and began to mount his Dreadsteed, waiting for Syreena by the City Gate.

[Keeper Of Lore]

"Where are we going?" Syreena asked again as she reached the gates of Orgrimmar. "Are we going back to the embassy? Is it safe?"

Bones snorted at the dusty air, and Syreena looked over the people dueling, as well as those coming and going from the city. She fidgeted in her saddle, ready to dismount and slip into the shadows in an instant.

Again, she pushed her horse to keep up with the demon horse under Lupen. As she followed him, her glowing gaze constantly swept the crowds.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Lupen growled slightly as the Grim Halls came into sight. The chill wind encompassing the zone was inviting. He dismounted his horse and turned toward Syreena and motioned toward the doors.

The Blade was heavy on Lupen's back, but the burden was welcome, the Dread Mage wished to pay the Tyrant his debt back. Before pushing open the Hall's doors, he summoned his Felhunter, Traanum. He looked down toward the hound and motioned inside, to seek magic and mana. Calling Regnanetah's name throughout the city would prove useless, they needed to proceed directly to the source.

Lupen followed his Felhunter inside, stopping a moment to eye the burned message, but simply disregaurding it as foolishness.