Note: Do not get discouraged just because I called the story a fanfict a few lines above. It is written in a fashion that NO knowledge of the popular online game is requiered to read the story and understand every part of it. It would probably help to know the game, but is not mandatory.
I have published this story on a couple different sites under the pen name 'Calystea'. Unfortunately I won't be able to upload the new reworked version to every of said sites. Nevertheless I hope you find the time to check out either of the releases (preferably the updated version though). The most notable of these site are probably FanFiction.net (having the new and updated version) and the IncGamers WoW FanFict Forums (had the original version -- edit: link removed due to 'suddenly missing site that has been replaced by something totally and utterly different').
Additionally, only recently I created a second blog featuring solely this one story. Therefore, feel free to check out Bloodstained Shadows on this new site, which in my opinion sports a layout which is also more comfortable for the eye, when reading.
But no matter where you end up reading the tragic story of Marc Fipps, later to become known as Ceberus and Malevolence, leave me a comment or review and most important of all: enjoy the ride!
***
The story follows our protagonist Marc Fipps through the various stages of his Life and Unlife as he searches for answers, vengeance, forgiveness and finally freedom.
The four parts in short (minor spoilers included):
The first part 'Scarlet Dawn' refers to the human the main character had been before dying by the sword of an undead warrior of the Lich King and his ambitions to become a noble priest of the Scarlet Crusade, blinded by their masquerade.
The second part 'Memories of the Twilight' follows the protagonist after he had turned into a forsaken and how he tries to cope with this completely new world opening up to him. Finally he succumbs to the shadows, which eventually lead him down a dark path to a future even more grim.
The third part 'The Kiss of Nightfall' covers the time after the protagonist gave in to the Scourge and was turned into a deathknight. We follow his bloody path as he and other great deathknights of the black fortress attack the remaining forces of the Scarlet Crusade in the battles of the eastern plaguelands. (closely following the quest arc of the dk-starting area)
The forth and final part 'Frozen Hearts' shows the deathknight now known as 'Malevolence' on his quest for revenge, retribution and remorse. He as a lone wolf, only bowing to the banshee queen seeks his freedom in loneliness and insanity, constantly reminding himself of the horrors he had seen in his previous lives.
***
I came up the main idea for 'Bloodstained Shadows' as I was working on a satirical short story about my current ingame endeavors at that time, which consisted mainly of achieving the title "the Insane".
The short was heavily focused on it's dialog thus I quickly made up my mind to write it as a kind of screenplay, as I felt that the interaction of the main two characters was more vivid to me.
Main characters of this little text are the undead deathknight Malevolence (with a slightly different attitude and mind-set) and a human journalist named Howard Ravencroft from Stormwind. They meet each other in the Inn in Brill for an arranged interview.
As you can already tell, the short is off-set from the actual WoW storyline and should be mainly read for inside and perhaps satirical value of the text (only if you think so of course).
It is also the source for quite a few jokes embedded within the main story. And it also should add a few minor details to the overall background.
Therefore I now present to you, my dearest reader 'A Ghoul's Life' in its entirety. I hope you enjoy it.
A Ghoul's Life
The northern regions of the Eastern Kingdoms in the outskirts of Tirisfal. The Sun is shining, birds are singing. It’s a lovely afternoon in early summertime. In the little Town of Brill a group of dwarfs, gnomes, elves and humans secures one little restroom in the local tavern.
One tall human is standing besides the window looking eagerly outside - awaiting the arrival of somebody. He is middle age, probably in his thirties. His hair is brown and long enough to reach his shoulders even though it was bound together. Regarding his clothing, he seems to be rather wealthy. He is tapping his foot whilst the gnomes are rushing through the room trying to prepare everything for the upcoming events.
H. Ravencroft: Would you please get me something to eat from downstairs, me love?
(his eyes put on one of the two beautiful young, dark coloured elven women, she shrieks and raises her hands in the air)
Moonflower: No way I am going down there again! Ask one of your gnomes or one of the fat dwarfs at the door, but I won’t!
(he shrugs and points at the dwarfs, one of them makes his way through the open door with a sigh to get downstairs, the wood under his feet creeks)
H. Ravencroft.: Come on Ladies and Gent’s, we gotta get moving up here, he could be here any minute. This has to be perfect! We won’t get such a chance again!
(he turns around back to the window)
(meanwhile the dwarf reaches the end of the stairs and suddenly he knows again why the elf didn’t want to go back down here, surrounded by the undead of Lordaeron he shivers, even he as an old dwarf who fought many battles was chilled to the bones when he did see those many actually dead people sitting there, eating and drinking and talking and laughing, it’s just not right.. he walks past most of the tables towards the bar. the smell of rotten wood lies in the air)
M. Stoutbeard: You there, giv’ me som’ o’ your finest ale, meat an’ bread fo’ your visitor upstairs, com’on hurry up. We don’t hav’ tha’ much o’ tim’, ya see?
(the barkeeper did as the dwarf wanted. although there was only little bread left, but he persuaded the dwarf to take some of the fine Undercity mushrooms instead. the bones of the customers ratter as the dwarf makes his way up again.)
M. Stoutbeard: Sorry boss, no’ tha things ya usually get, bu’ ya should try the mushrooms, they ‘re lookin’ rather tasty. An' may I advise ya no' to' touch the beer - it smells terr'ble!
(the dwarf puts the plate down onto the table in the middle of the room and backs off again.)
H. Ravencroft: Oh my goodness! (Ravencrofts eyes are widening)
(the dwarf rushes back into the room)
M. Stoutbeard: Ev’rythin’ okay boss? The mushrooms taste funny, I kno’ bu’ I didn’ expect them to...
H. Ravencroft: Shut up you idiot. It’s not the mushrooms... He is coming! I can see him on his horse! (Ravencroft turns around and yells) HURRY UP! HE’LL BE HERE ANY MINUTE NOW!
(only moments later they heard the horse outside, it’s voice was very high and tense, not like anything one would ever hear in Goldshire. they could hear clearly how he entered the tavern. his heavy armour made sounds as he passed along, silence fell onto the busy ground floor which had been rather lively till the present moment. one could here that he was not alone, heavy steps of two persons made their way up the stairs. one of the dwarfs turned pale as he saw the two had reached the upper floor.)
Ratcarver: BRAINZ!
Malevolence: Oh shut up you idiot... not again... you’re scaring the people away.
(with a swift strike he hit the ghoul on the back of its head)
Malevolence: If you had feelings, you’d have learned what you do wrong by now... (he turned away from the ghoul, you could hear some uttering from it that in fact sounded like ‘sorry‘)
I apologise, usually he’s more of the shy-guy, you know.
(a grim smile was on his mouth, his black armour had some rusty parts, but nevertheless it should be a good protection against many forms of injury. his hair had a middle length - at least he still had hair for being undead - which was black. his skin was white and looked a bit like old leather from far away. on his face he had a fair amount of scars from deceases, probably black death. his armour was mostly black, on some spaces it had red markings, not to know if that was just colour or blood. several skulls could be seen on his set of armour. the shoulder part was rather pointy with two spikes on each shoulder, probably sharpened so they can be used as blades. smaller parts of the armour were missing, in which case you could see the bones of the undead.
a gigantic broadsword was tied to his back, a wonder his horse was able to carry that awful lot of weight around. the ghoul by his side had a strange look in his eyes, you never knew if he would jump right at you or if he could be sleeping... if ghouls sleep that is. his limbs were dressed in rags and a greater part of his belly was just missing, a strange thing to see. his black hair was tied to a knot, probably done by the knight and the it’s teeth were terrifying sharp as razors, but also black and yellow - somehow rotten, just like the rest of the creature. the ghoul emitted a foul, revolting smell.)
Malevolence: SO... you’re not talking? are we goin’ to do this or not?
(Ravencroft slowly raised his right hand and pointed at the ghoul not taking his eyes of it)
H. Ravencroft: Was it really necessary to bring that.... thing ... with you?
(the knight turned around to look at his pet)
Malevolence: WELL... I couldn’t have left poor little Ratcarver here alone at home, could I?
H. Ravencroft: Could you?
Malevolence: sighs No, of course not. Besides, he extra dressed up for today and...
H. Ravencroft: Wait a minute.. you just said ... that thing there dressed up? What? Those rags?
Malevolence: You know, ghouls don’t usually change so often AND these here, are his best rags! Between us two - sorry, but I’m the expert concerning this. According to your looks you don’t have made so much experience with ghouls till now, haven‘t you?
H. Ravencroft: Okay, you’re right and I’m kind’a happy about this ‘lack of experience with ghouls’ to be honest. (Ravencroft steps away from the window and takes a seat at the table) Please sit down. (his hand pointing to the chair on the other side ) And please don’t mind, but send your... ghoul ... out, it’s smell is disgusting.
Malevolence: Hold on buddy... watch your words, ghouls have feelings too. (Ratcarver is still standing without the slightest bit of movement) But okay... I’ll send him out. Hm.... you don’t have a shiny golden or silver coin, do you?
H. Ravencroft: Of course I do. But why?
Malevolence: Well, I forgot my change - would you mind? (he stretched his hand out)
H. Ravencroft: Ehm.. alright, I guess one or two silver coins won't matter, here you go. (Ravencrofts looks were puzzled, nevertheless he reaches into his pocket and pulls out two shiny silver coins)
Malevolence: Thank you. (he turns around facing the ghoul) Here girl... go get them! (he waves the two coins before the eyes of the ghoul before he throws them down the stairs)
Ratcarver: I LIKE GLITTER!
(the ghoul jumped head first down the stairs after the two coins, meanwhile Malevolence took a seat on the opposite side of the table taking his sword from his back)
Malevolence: It always works. (he is grinning again)
H. Ravencroft: I'm happy that you arrived this early... this leaves us with plenty of time to talk. (he tried to look as friendly as possible)
Malevolence: Uhm... oookay, whatever you say... Mr... ehm I didn't get your name? Or maybe I forgot it, not sure. (the knight shrugs)
H. Ravencroft: Well... it's Howard Ravencroft, THE Howard Ravencroft of Stormwind.
Malevolence: AHHH! That guy, now I remember. How could I forget? Hm, probably my ghoul would have known... (he offered a foul grin)
H. Ravencroft: (rather annoyed) Alright then, lets get started. Tell us something about yourself, it's the first time I actually meet an und...
Malevolence: ... you meet a Deathknight of the Forsaken - yeah I know. Where should we start?
H. Ravencroft: Wherever you want to, but lets do the basics first. Your name for example.
Malevolence: Malevolence.
H. Ravencroft: Is that all?
Malevolence: What?
H. Ravencroft: Is that all you can say? I mean... ok you "call" yourself that way, but what's your name. Your real name?
Malevolence: Uhm... Deathknights fancy those abstract names... having died twice and so on, you know - some of us don’t even remember their real names. Or some of us also take strange names with even stranger pronunciation. (shrugs) In my case, I took this kind of name because it strikes fear into the heart of my enemy (he lifts his voice while saying this) and probably because all the cool other names were taken... (the looks on his face darken) Pseudonyms like artists.
H. Ravencroft: So you consider yourself an artist? (said in a tone of bewilderment)
Malevolence: Somehow, we do - artists of death itself, it’s not ‘bout killing people, but killing them with style! (he raises his hand into the air)
H. Ravencroft: That sounds rather awkward.
Malevolence: Aye, and it’s all made up - except for the part with the pseudonyms.
(Ravencroft looks angry)
H. Ravencroft: That surely is interesting but what is your real name? (Ravencroft is tapping his foot)
Malevolence: Do I have to? (he somehow looks agonized)
H. Ravencroft: Please, for our readers.
Malevolence: Okay, fine... Hector.
H. Ravencroft: Is that all?
Malevolence: Jep.
H. Ravencroft: You’re kidding me!
Malevolence: Nope.
H. Ravencroft: But, you...
Malevolence: Nope again.
H. Ravencroft: Hey! You didn’t even knew what I wanted to say!
Malevolence: Oh... I’m sure I did.
H. Ravencroft: WHAT?!
Malevolence: I’m pretty sure you understood me, but now... could we please go on? I’m getting tired of this.
H. Ravencroft: Just tell us your full name... please!
Malevolence: Ok ok, it’s Fipps.
H. Ravencroft: You say your full name is Hector Fipps? Do you have any relatives that are still alive or well... of the Forsaken?
Malevolence: None except of one. Samuel Fipps... poor bastard...
H. Ravencroft: What? Why?
Malevolence: Well he doesn’t have a free will, still connected to the Scourge, tried to bite my ear of once or twice, still got markings on my left one from that day. I wanted to visit him once in a while, so he doesn’t feel that lonely, but... nah.
H. Ravencroft: That’s ... sad?
Malevolence: Well I feel sorry for him, he gets killed, robbed and raped a zillion times a day because that crazy bitch of an undead witch apprentice up in Deathknell in the church keeps telling everybody to kill him and bury him besides it. About ten minutes after being buried, his buddies Stephen, Daniel and Karrel come sneaking up, dig him out and drag him back to their camp. All day long.
H. Ravencroft (grumbling) Alright Hector...
Malevolence (interrupts) Malevolence
H. Ravencroft (sighs) FINE... Malevolence, we heard you are an adventurer, but before I want to go deeper into that subject, I would like to hear what do you do for a living?
Malevolence: Uhm... well... as you said, I’m adventurer, far more though, raider, treasure seeker, ninja looter, bounty hunter and so on. That’s what I make my money with.
H. Ravencroft: No, no, no... what’s your profession?
Malevolence: AH, that’s what you're talking about. I’m engineer.
H. Ravencroft: Engineer? Wow, skilled engineers are rare these days, aren’t they?
Malevolence: Well, actually... nope again. They’re not. Since the goblins and gnomes released those blueprints for a self-made bike... everybody is going wankers about engineering. Damn Gazlowe. Especially Deathknights. Sadly... Nevertheless, as an engineer I’ve got plenty of things the other people usually don’t have.
H. Ravencroft: Like what?
Malevolence: (He reaches into his little bags tied to his belt and pulls out three miniature sheep) Like these little buggers. (Malevolence puts them down in front of him) They even have sounds.
(He picks one up again and squeezes it softly with two fingers.)
Baaaaahhhh!
You see? That’s what engineering is all about!
H. Ravencroft: All about miniature sheep? (raising one eyebrow Ravencroft takes one of the sheep into his right hand)
Malevolence: No, at least not solely, but about those little gimmicks that no other profession can offer! Have you ever seen a blacksmith whirling around in high-speed boots? Well I don’t. Or a tailor making little pet animals out of metal?
H. Ravencroft: Erm... no?
Malevolence: There you go, I was right. Oh this reminds me of a funny story. There was this guy I had almost beaten to death because I said to him something like “Don’t you dare to touch my piece of cake!” and well he did, so he lay there on the ground trying to apologize, but had already cut his throat so he could only gargle at me...(he starts laughing in amusement) oh boy, it always makes me giggle thinking about that evening... (he wipes a tear of laughter from his eye)
(Ravencrofts mouth stands open and with wipe eyes he stares at the Forsaken laughing)
Malevolence: Okay... I see, not the same kind of humour, alright... forget it... (he is looking disappointed)
H. Ravencroft: Well...uhm whether engineering is really useful, I can’t tell. But it surely is different to other professions. (With these words spoken Ravencroft squeezes the sheep in his hand and with a loud ‘BAAAAHHHHH!’ the sheep explodes knocking Ravencroft backwards of his chair onto the ground where he rests lying on the floor.)
Malevolence: Ups... I forgot to mention possible side effects. (Malevolence turns around to the shocked elves and dwarfs.) You don’t happen to have a cleric around here, don’t you?
(The local cleric fixed Ravencroft in no time, although he surely didn’t like the feeling of the undead hands on his face trying to repair his burned skin from the explosion.)
H. Ravencroft: Next time, please warn me...
Malevolence: Never ever touch some gadget of an engineer with out permission and a manual...
H. Ravencroft: grumbles Where were we?
Malevolence: Engineering. And you tried to blast your nose of...
H. Ravencroft: THAT was an rhetorical question... (his looks darken) So, now tell us, me and my readers - what is your current occupation.
Malevolence: (he is quiet for a short moment, thinking) I’m roaming restlessly through the woods of the Plaguelands in search for the blood spilled of long forgotten heroes.
H. Ravencroft: Uh...
Malevolence: Jup, that’s what I’m doing at the moment. (he nods) In fact I came right from the Plaguelands to meet you today, want some meat of dead plague-hounds? (he opens his bag) Fresh and bloody, just as my ghoul likes it.
H. Ravencroft: NO! ... No, thank you. Keep it for your ghoul.
Malevolence: You mean my secretary...
H. Ravencroft: Your what?
Malevolence: My secretary.
H. Ravencroft: But why? (his voice is thin)
Malevolence: Awww... forget it.
H. Ravencroft: No... please tell us. (his eyebrows raised)
Malevolence: No I won’t! You don’t even respect my ghoul... now go on with your questions, I haven’t got all week, need to find myself some more abo stitchings.
H. Ravencroft: Abo... stitching?
(Ravencroft shortly turns to one of the elves and forms with his mouth the words ‘He’s a lunatic!’)
Malevolence: Yeah, those gigantic lumps of undead flesh from the Scourge. The abominations make these. (he pulls a sheet of undead skin from his bag) oops... that’s shadowskin, now where are the stitchings? (he forces the skin back into the bag)
H. Ravencroft: But why?
Malevolence: Oh dammit... now I know, I already gave them to the elves of Diremaul, jeez how could I forget? Oh the stitchings are marvellous, I’d loved to have shown them to you. Oh yeah - that “why” Well... most people tell me that they think I’m crazy, sooo...
H. Ravencroft: So?
Malevolence: So I might as well go ahead and give them a reason to say these things. At first it was rather hard to find a good idea what I could do to proof that, but finally I came up with the perfect ideas how to manage that problem.
H. Ravencroft: Problem? Uhm, what did you do? Or furthermore - what are you doing?
Malevolence: Ah... it seems your clever after all! (he’s grinning again at Ravencroft revealing his yellow and black teeth) Yeah, as you already noticed, I’m not through with it by now... but I have to say... I met a lot of strange people till now, and with strange I mean crazy, crazy like even more crazy than I am!
H. Ravencroft: Unbelievable...
Malevolence: Thank you.
H. Ravencroft: whispering don't mention it...
Malevolence: Uhm where was I?
H. Ravencroft: You wanted to tell our readers what your plan was.
Malevolence: Well, it’s a five step plan, the first two steps are through, number three and four are half done, and number five... well it’s number five on the list.
H. Ravencroft: So what was the first step?
Malevolence: Calm down, Mister... I’ll come to it. So... The first two steps were rather difficult in the planning. I suppose you have heard of the Blood Sail Buccaneers from Stranglethorn.
H. Ravencroft: Of course, you hear about them everywhere, when they plunder the merchant ships going to booty bay.
Malevolence: Yeah I suppose so, they are in fact pretty blood thirsty, probably that’s why they came up with this name... nevertheless I obtained this .. (he reached into his bag and pulls out a relatively large blood-red feather)
H. Ravencroft: What exactly is that?
Malevolence: Don’t you see?
H. Ravencroft: What? (his looks are bewildered)
Malevolence: It’s a feather smartass. A feather of my own blood parrot... (he rolls his eyes) yeah I know, they are pretty creative when coming up with names for things, but, that isn’t all... I also got a full Blood Sail uniform. Without bloodstains - so you see - they gave it to me with their own will. Oh! And they made me admiral! Although it wasn’t easy.
H. Ravencroft: What did you have to do to get that? Recover a sunken treasure? Prevent a mutiny on board? Or did you kill the Captain of the fleet?
Malevolence: Hum... If I think of the possibilities you mentioned, then it was rather easy nonetheless .
H. Ravencroft: Well then, what did you do?
Malevolence: I slaughtered the whole of booty bay on one evening. (he shrugs)
(Ravencrofts eyes and mouth are wide open seemingly not able to be closed, the dwarfs and gnomes have turned pale and the elves tried to step into the shadows behind them so they couldn’t be seen anymore)
Malevolence: Why are you looking at me like that? I wasn’t even in the news! None of the newspapers in Undercity, Orgrimmar or Thunderbluff had an article about the “Slaughtering of Booty Bay”. And I’m sure about that! I wrote one by myself! But they didn’t want to publish it (he lets his head sink) not even the neutral cities like Shattrath or Dalaran wanted my writing, damn them!
H. Ravencroft: You... you... you are the one responsible for the massacre oft booty bay several months ago? You killed about 700 goblins all by yourself single headedly? (Ravencrofts face waswhite as marble)
Malevolence: Uhm, yeah I did. But my ghoul helped me! (he smiled again and pointed towards the stairs, where you could here his ghoul utter “I LIKE GLITTER” from somewhere) At first I had hoped that the goblins were stronger but in the end, it took long enough at all. And before you ask - yes I spared women and children, if I could make out a difference that is. They’re all so small you see. (he uses two fingertips trying to show)
H. Ravencroft: You ... (Ravencroft wasn't even able to form proper words)
Malevolence: The second part was far more difficult, regaining alliance with the goblins without slaughtering all the Blood Sail pirates in the world. And thanks to the massacre shortly before, there was no chance in talking to anyone who comes from Booty Bay or has, uhm, perhaps had relatives there.
H. Ravencroft: (Ravencroft started biting on to his pen he was making notes with) What did you... what did you do then? (Ravencroft was shivering all over)
Malevolence: I heard around... held an ear open here, there, anywhere (he bursts out laughing)
H. Ravencroft: (still shivering) Stop making a fool of me!
Malevolence: Oh no - you should stop making a fool out of you! (still laughing) If I had any intention of killing you, you'd be dead already,trust my words.
(Ravencroft swallows hard)
Malevolence: Or do you think this sword is only decoration? Pah.. If I may resume back to the topic I was talking about...
(Ravencroft is nodding swiftly)
Malevolence: It came to me that the goblins hated the South Sea Pirates as much as the Blood Sail Buccaneers, luckily for myself, so I offered the goblins of Gadgetzan and Ratshet to kill as many South Sea pirates for them as they wish if they guarantee that I can travel safely through their cities. Gazlowe wasn't very friendly to me at all...
H. Ravencroft: You murdered 700 goblins and complain he wasn't friendly enough to you? (Ravencroft looks shocked)
Malevolence: Concerning me having my sword on my back all the time, yes I think he was a wee bit rude that day, but nonetheless he made me an offer.
H. Ravencroft: What was it?
Malevolence: He said I should have to bring him 8.000 heads of South Sea pirates and he'll guarantee my safety in any goblin city.
H. Ravencroft: What the h...?
Malevolence: You got no idea how exhausting it can be if you try to bring 8000 heads to a single goblin. In the end when I stated Galowze that I was done - which took me about a week or so - it turned out that I fell into a blood-rage and brought approximately 20.000 heads - since that day they also call me ‘Bane of the South Sea Pirates’.
H. Ravencroft: u...u...u.. (Ravencroft turned pale again and started stuttering)
Malevolence: Yeah I know, I got carried away a bit. At least now I’m allowed to work for the goblins again too, only restriction is that I’m not allowed to wear my uniform in the cities. Sad enough - but I can live with that.
(Ravencroft swallows hard again)
Malevolence: Hey, what’s up with you? You’re so quiet now? Because I wiped out a fleet of pirates? Oh come on!
H. Ravencroft: Noo-noo-nothing, ju-just carry on, p-please.
(Suddenly strange noises seem to draw closer, the ghoul is coming upstairs)
Ratcarver: I LIKE GLITTER! (he strokes nearer directly to Ravencroft who is shivering in fear) HUNGRY!
Malevolence: Now you've done it... jeez... he’s hungry (he swiftly grabs his bag and pulls out a lump of the meat he brought from the plaguelands) .. damn you! (he throws the dead body-parts down the stairs again, the ghoul following immediately) Never EVER say “carry” again when he is near! He reacts to that as a name don’t ask me why, I’m not sure whether it was his name or of a relative, but he gets hungry every time somebody not familiar to him says that....
H. Ravencroft: O-o-okay (Ravencroft still frightened)
Malevolence: By now I encountered the third and fourth step of my plan!
H. Ravencroft: (recovering) Tell me more about it. What about the stitchings?
Malevolence: I’ll come to those in a moment or two. I suppose you know of Eldre’thalas?
H. Ravencroft: Of course I do! I studied history in the libraries of Stormwind!
Malevolence: Well that’s ok for you but I met the last of the former inhabitants of Eldre’thalas, a group of elves guarding the huge library. The mysterious Shen’dralar. But I personally prefer to call them ... (he makes a short pause) ...Wacko-elves.
H. Ravencroft: How can you say such a thing!? They are amongst the wisest of this world!
Malevolence: Those elves there have serious issues! Ok... it may not be easy with half your former city infested with ogres and plant-controlling demons but that is just silly! One of the two elves who let me talk to them was going all the time ‘What nice weather we have today!’ I looked at him and said ‘Buddy you’re inside a room with no windows...’ the only response I got was ‘Yes! Isn’t it marvellous?’ (he sighs and looks to the window) the other elf there told me that I could help them to complete the library, because several books have been stolen some time ago. Well at least that is what he told me...
H. Ravencroft: What do you mean?
Malevolence: He said 83 books were missing, it turned out that those 83 books were three books again and again and again. (he puts one hand on his face) For the first time I found all three rather easily, the ogres had them. That was the first time when I asked myself: why on earth should an ogre steal a book? When I handed over the books the elf told me that if I brought him some very awkward materials he’d fix me up with a little enchanted stone for me to keep, so he gave me the list of the materials... Oh I can imagine how that elf lies sniggering and snaggering behind some stones whilst I was searching for the librams in the ogre camp. (he smashed his fist onto the table)
H. Ravencroft: Please tell us more about the materials you have to collect (Ravencroft is recovering slowly)
Malevolence: We’ll for every libram returned he said he needs two magic shards, those that enchanters use, one flawless black diamond from Blackrock to focus the magic and one of these three different things. Either a pair of shadowskin - such as I showed you lately, one stitching of an abomination or two bottles of blood from heroes who died in the Plaguelands. I found out that they use the stitchings to repair their robes yesterday when I left the 37 stitchings there. Can you believe those fat abominations do flower patterns? (he offers an astonished look)
H. Ravencroft: Flower... patterns?
Malevolence: Yeah, I ran several times through the ruins of Stratholme to find out that abominations produce stitchings with flower patterns! One even made a kitty! Getting the shadowskin was almost the same - that elf gave me a skinning knife to collect it... (Ravencroft is looking at him rather speechless) Jup I ran into the old necromancer school called Scholomance to kill and skin Zombies because only the Zombies there have this magical enhanced skin... Something bout keeping warm? It sounded as if they use the skin as a kind of blanket - I dunno.
H. Ravencroft: I start to understand your attitude towards the Shen‘dralar.
Malevolence: I haven’t even found out by now why they need the blood - I could imagine they use it as ink or colour for their clothes, but probably they’ll just make soup of it... Hmmm... yummy plague infested blood soup! My ghoul would surely approve of it...
(He throws a look over his shoulders down the stairs hoping the ghoul stays in the lower areas.)
Malevolence: The elf also told me that if I had no use for the enchanted stone I could give all 83 of them back and he’d give me something unique in trade for them, somehow I have the feeling that the elf gives me a copy of one of the books, at least that’s what he tells me and then he sends the next best idiot after me with the words that I stole that book from there.
(he rolls his eyes once)
(Sundown is drawing closer, the town around the tavern is slowly coming to life. The merchants are opening their little shops, the major goes to work. The clock of the towns hall states that it is 6 o’clock)
H. Ravencroft: We’re talking for quite a while now.
Malevolence: Jep, but believe me, I won’t visit you a second time, so we should go on. (he smirks)
H. Ravencroft: In that case, you’re probably right.
Malevolence: So... the fourth part... well you know Ravenholdt? Probably you do... The number one assassinating group in Azeroth. Hm Ravenholdt, wouldn’t that be a good place for you Mr. RAVENcroft? (he starts laughing again). Ok ok that wasn’t very funny, I know...
H. Ravencroft: Well, at least you notice... (Ravencroft sighs)
Malevolence: So ... how could a Deathknight like me get into this ‘We-let-no-non-rogue-into-our-guild” organisation?
H. Ravencroft: That truly is a good question. (Ravencroft still seems annoyed by the joke before)
Malevolence: At least they didn’t want to carve a hole in my face the first time we met. I started of with the eradication the Syndicate camps in Durnholde and Stromgarde.
H. Ravencroft: Whatever you do - you have to slaughter many people, don’t you?
Malevolence: Well... if this is the price to pay for being called insane - then it shall be, on the other hand, why do you care? Ok those 700 goblin in booty bay were more or less ... well you know... an accident, but...
H. Ravencroft: AN ACCIDENT? (Ravencroft screams out loud)
Malevolence: Yeah, what would you want to call it? ‘A fatal connection of circumstances’? Or rather "collateral damage"? On the other hand I did a good deed for our society by killing approximately 20,000 Pirates and 4,000 thieves of the Syndicate. I did what usually the gallows do - and I was much faster and more efficient in my actions! I killed like 24,000 criminals and you blame me because of 700 city guards and merchants... oh boy.
H. Ravencroft: That’s what some would call a dilemma... (Ravencroft looks out of the window)
Malevolence: Hm, never mind .. After that Lord Jorach Ravenholdt did talk to me, but all he told me is that this wasn’t enough and I should go talk to Fahrad about my issues. The orc then told me that I could come back with heavy plunder boxes and if I would bring enough they would consider taking me in. Then he said they need 1.400 before the winter... jeez. They surely don’t let you in easily.
H. Ravencroft: Doesn’t seem so... (Ravencroft was yawning - seemingly tired)
Malevolence: At least he gave me the hint that they usually get the boxes from naga in Azshara. They steal them from drowned merchants and sailors. If got no idea why exactly the naga do that, because they don’t open them, but... you know... we don’t need to understand fish-people I guess. (he shrugs) BUT I’m exited about throwing naga down the cliffs of Azshara!
H. Ravencroft: That is rather strange...
Malevolence: Was anything I told you not strange?
H. Ravencroft: Well some things were just... gruesome.
Malevolence: Okay, that's a point, but I'd prefer to call those things strange too, gruesome is such a hard word. (he grins at Ravencroft)
H. Ravencroft: So now, what's your step five? Killing murlocs? An assault on the higher ranks of the Circle of Cenarius? Eradication of the rest of Sporreggar?
Malevolence: No, no and no, although they all sound pretty entertaining, except for the murloc-part you mentioned.
H. Ravencroft: What’s up with the murlocs?
Malevolence: Well... it’s not easy for me to talk about this... (he seems a bit nervous)
H. Ravencroft: Oh come on... share with us! (Ravencrofts tone is pressing)
Malevolence: I... I... I’m terribly afraid of murlocs - it’s a kind of phobia.
H. Ravencroft: Is there any particular reason why?
Malevolence: It all started way back, when I fist stood from my grave in northern Tirisfal, I was a simple guy, rather blunt those days... One of the chemists in Brill sent me out gathering different things, and he wanted the scales of murlocs for one of his potions. I said if I went north from Brill I’d reach the coast eventually, there I would find enough of them.
H. Ravencroft: And then? What happened then?
Malevolence: I never met such creatures before -hard to believe in Azeroth, but... you know... They saw me - within seconds the whole beach rushed towards me, over fifty of those creatures, probably even more! I’ll never forget their battle shout... ‘Mmmmmmrrrrrrggggllllll!’ It was horrifying. The cold wet skin, the giant lifeless eyes, the teeth sharp as razors... (he whispers) help... (he is nodding back and forth wipe open glaring eyes)
H. Ravencroft: Get the man some water! (Ravencroft turns at the elves who respond with an angry look in their eyes)
Malevolence: No! No, I’m fine - sorry... I had a flashback. (he shook himself to get the feeling of him) Please continue... (the elves look at each other seemingly glad to here this)
H. Ravencroft: Ok then..., what do you have to kill this time?
Malevolence: Seemingly the plant life of Azeroth...
H. Ravencroft: What?
Malevolence: You heard me. Step five is getting the Grand Price from the Darkmoon Fair. Until now nobody ever claimed it. To get it you need like two million tickets... and in the end it's the toenail of an ogre or something similar, I can feel it! (his looks are agonized)
H. Ravencroft: Ok, that is insane... but what does the plant life of Azeroth has to do with this?
Malevolence: I figured that the fasted way to obtain that many tickets is to collect those magical darkmoon cards. I suppose you know them, being lost all over the world and so...
H. Ravencroft: Yeah I know, some of the things you get for turning them in are astonishing.
Malevolence: Aye - I've got three by now, more to come. But luckily I don't have to search for the cards everywhere - inscriptors can make them.
H. Ravencroft: What? Really?
Malevolence: Yeah, skilled inscriptors can make these cards, but they need a special ink for that, and getting the material for the ink is the really hard part. Only every fifth stack of plants have pigments proper for this purpose. So...
H. Ravencroft: Hm?
Malevolence: So... I need to find myself a herbologist in order to get the plants I need.
H. Ravencroft: Okay, but that sounds probably harder then it is in reality. (Ravencroft raises an eyebrow)
Malevolence: Okay, imagine you’re me. You copy?
H. Ravencroft: Yeah I'll try...
Malevolence: Now... go out there and find yourself an herbologist for collecting 10 million stacks of plants! Go Johnny boy, go! You see what my problem is?
H. Ravencroft: I think I understand what you mean..
Malevolence: Not easy, not easy at all... sounds simple, the harder it gets. I’m anxious about finding out what that “grand price” is.
H. Ravencroft: I’d love to feature that in an extra story for our rea...
Malevolence: (interrupts) Yeah, I know you would, but not with me... search for your own crazy guy for that one. It’ll take long enough for me and after that I don’t want to be bothered by more of your kind...
H. Ravencroft: But, but that is something unique! One of a kind! We have to feature it!
Malevolence: Just don’t try to convince me! See - every time you try, it gets more and more sure that I won’t cooperate - okay? There is nothing in for me I don’t have by then. (he waves his hand)
(Ravencroft doesn’t look too pleased about this answer)
Malevolence: Besides if it really is the toenail of an ogre you’d be disappointed by the outcome.
H. Ravencroft: So, let us change topic for a while...
Malevolence: Now I get to ask you stuff?
H. Ravencroft: (Ravencroft bites on his pen) Not exactly...
Malevolence: I’m sure it would be fun.
H. Ravencroft: Well, I believe the opposite. Now...
Malevolence: (interrupts) AWWWW....
H. Ravencroft: NOW.. stop it! Now, a while ago you said something about being an adventurer...
Malevolence: Yes I am!
H. Ravencroft: (grumbling) Tell us more about it, please.
Malevolence: Oh I do love strawberries!
H. Ravencroft: (glaring at Malevolence) What?
Malevolence: Nothing.
H. Ravencroft: (looking bewildered) What did you just say?
Malevolence: I think your hearing ghosts, now... what was it that you wanted to ask me?
H. Ravencroft: (still a bit confused) Ehm,... yes, you are an adventurer, are you a lone strider or are you in a guild of some sort?
Malevolence: At the moment I do most of the things alone, single headedly but I am in a guild, most people I like are in there too.
H. Ravencroft: What’s the purpose of your guild, for you and in general?
Malevolence: Well it is a community at some point, we group up for dungeon crawls for each other profit, you know, the things you do if you want to go and raid some old tombs.
H. Ravencroft: So basically you do this just for your own profit?
Malevolence: In the starting phase of this it was that way, yes, but you find friends there fast, and then it’s not only about yourself anymore although sometimes I love it being on my own. But most of the time I enjoy company other than my ghoul. He’s not so the type of person for longer conversations. (A far ‘I LIKE GLITTER’ can be heard from downstairs.) He’s more like a.... puppy, yes an undead and stinking puppy, but a puppy. (he is smiling)
H. Ravencroft: Interesting comparison... (Ravencroft is making notes)
Malevolence: Last week we had a sneak peak into Ulduar, oh boy, those dwarfs in there are rough. I wonder if someone is able to take that strange ‘Yooggle’ creature down.
H. Ravencroft: It’s Yogg-Saron.
Malevolence: Uhm... thanks. We did hardly find anything in there, the iron dwarfs take that all rather seriously. That reminds me, I have to carve some runes into my new axe that I left at the bank.
H. Ravencroft: Why on earth would you want to do that? Are you carving your name into the weapon or what?
Malevolence: I’m a Deathknight? Deathknights carve runes into their weapons so they can use the magic flow? (he waves his hands around dramatically)
H. Ravencroft: Never heard of that.
Malevolence: Basically it doesn’t matter what you carve into your weapon, somehow the idea of doing so is enough to let the magic happen (he had to giggle whilst saying this) it could be your birthday, a name perhaps your own or of your mother, even the name of your kitten counts.
H. Ravencroft: So then, what’s carved into your weapon?
Malevolence: No chance, I’m not going to tell you that. If you can’t read it, it’s not my problem.
(Ravencroft took a closer look at the carvings on the blade. Somehow he couldn’t imagine that the cryptic runes on the side of the sword really says ‘Tiki Tiki‘ whatever that means... )
H. Ravencroft: You talk about this as if it was just a giant bit of fun for your personal entertainment. You know that Yogg-Saron is a real danger, do you? That he could destroy greater parts of the world as we know it?
Malevolence: I do look at it as entertainment. But you won’t understand that. You are a writer, I am a fighter - that’s a big difference. I live for fighting. for victory and for the glory of it all... yet still I don’t fit into your schematics because I represent an attitude that isn’t shiny or full of compassion. Yes I do live for myself, I admit it! Shouldn’t I? Who of the great of Stormwind would respect me if I led an what you call ‘honest’ live? None would accept me! None... would spare me in battle. Soooo Sissy, what would you do? Live life as it gets to you or stick to some rules that apply for not even half of the world? Just cope with it, will you?
(Ravencroft fell into silence for once)
Malevolence: If I’m not on tour with my guild or on my own I’m usually in Dalaran or Undercity doing the things to do... chilling in the small park next to the northern bank, distracting the vendors by releasing rats in their stores, duelling in the sewers of Dalaran, annoying nightelves or picking on gnomes - the usual stuff, you see?
H. Ravencroft: You call picking on gnomes ‘the usual stuff’? That all sounds rather childish to me...
Malevolence: Oh come on, if tauren would be smaller then the Alliance ‘d be picking on them as well!
Mniature cows on two legs - Ha ha, very funny. Don’t you want to hit yourself sometimes for talking like that? As if the Alliance was the only right side to be on? Just come back to earth, will you? None of us, either anyone of the Horde, nor the Alliance is a sacred person - not a Thrall and not a Tirion Fordring - just be realistic for once!
(The situation is tense, none of the both really wants to speak and go on further, after a few minutes of silence Ravencroft tries to bring the conversation back to life again)
H. Ravencroft: Okay, can you tell me more about your guild, about the people you group up with?
Malevolence: Well, I guess so. Oh that reminds me of this 'situation' we had last week.
H. Ravencroft: What do you mean by that?
Malevolence: First of all we have several druids in our guild, all rather nice people. But you know - as many people say, being able to shift into different forms won't go by without side-effects.
H. Ravencroft: Uhm?
Malevolence: Yeah, some even say it damages the brain severely, but that sounds somehow just mean. Probably said by someone who hates those nature lovers, whatever for. On the over hand, being able to transform into a bear, a cat, a tree or a moonkin - don’t know if you’ve ever seen on of these ... well, don’t know what to say, probably that guy was right about the severe brain damage.
(he shrugs)
H. Ravencroft: So, what’s this situation your talking about?
Malevolence: I’ll get to that. Just relax for a moment.
H. Ravencroft: Okay, sorry.
Malevolence: We had several druids joining us that evening in Ulduar, two of them as trees trying to blend into their surrounding and cast their healing magic without being spotted, which is rather hard if you imitate a walking tree in an ancient stone hall. I’ve seen the looks of the iron dwarfs face and knew what he was thinking.
H. Ravencroft: Tell me.
Malevolence: ‘How the hell did that tree get in here?’ - Yeah I know that’s rather blunt, but hey, he’s a dwarf! (the two dwarven guards gave him an angry look) A third druid came along as a moonkin or owlkin. Basically a moonkin is what happens when a owl and a bear would mate. The sad part of it all is that probably somewhere in the world that really happened, because there really are such creatures, at first I thought it’s just a bad joke of one strange nightelf druid and getting to know the Shen’dralar somehow increased my speculations about that, but no - those creatures exist, in Winterspring or Feralas for instance. Furthermore those druids always jump around making strange “brrrrrr” noises whilst doing there thing, arcane and nature magic I suppose. (he’s making a short pause)
H. Ravencroft: Wow that is strange... (Ravencroft looks irritated)
Malevolence: But the ‘top-dogs’, err ‘top-bears’ of our guild are two tauren druids called Dunkoro and Zula. (Ravencroft raised his hand) Can’t tell you their real names. In fact those could even really be their real names, remember - they’re tauren. While I visited Mulgore several months ago I witnessed the naming of a young tauren by the local shaman. The little hoofling got the name ‘Skyflare‘. And I always thought trolls where the most abusive with hallucinates.
H. Ravencroft: That’s interesting...
Malevolence: Dunkoro and Zula both call them self feral druids, that simply means “HEY we can change to bears and sabre-tooth-kitties and even more fearsome bears!” At least that’s what I figured. Dunko, as we call him as friends, is more of the leader type. Nevertheless he also is just a cuddle bear and he’s trying to get the girls trying to be cuddly and fluffy and stuff as he is. Ladies man, or more suiting ladies-bear you know.
H. Ravencroft: That works? (Ravencroft looking astonished)
Malevolence: Jup, maybe you should consider getting yourself a fur. Now back to that situation. We were in the front halls of Ulduar, basically just came through the door, our rogue scouted the areas and found a rather large group of iron dwarves around a corner not too far from the point where we were situated. The warriors and druids stepped forth. Suddenly Dunko turned around facing us, giving us a sharp look. Moments later he let himself fall onto his back and yelled at us: “I won’t charge that mob of dwarves unless you stroke my tummy!” (he puts his hand on his forehead again) So there he lay waiting for us to pet him and we all gave each other looks like ‘not again’... Nobody moved at first, then he started waving his paws around and yelled at us “I’m not feeling anything, get going!” Then the female participants of our group sighed and did their ‘duty’. The rest of us just begged the iron dwarfs didn’t hear the two yells of Dunkoro...
H. Ravencroft: That doesn’t sound too coordinated if I’m honest.
Malevolence: So? It isn’t, but it works for us. Zula also is a very potent druid, problem with him is sometimes you just don’t understand him. Okay, it’s getting better every week but in general there are moments when you think he is stuck in swimming form thinking he’s a seal. Luckily a good friend of mine, a warrior - I’ll come to him later, and me figured a way out to understand him so we can act as translators if we have to. And we also have the advantage of knowing a language that nobody else in the guild understands.
H. Ravencroft: What’s the advantage of that except for being able to communicate better with druids?
Malevolence: We can go ‘Awaka a ka E!’ on everybody and nobody understands a word - it’s hilarious!
H. Ravencroft: Errr...
Malevolence: If you ever have the ‘luck’ to meet a druid, keep in mind that most druids somehow forgot how to think quietly. Always brabbeling about what they are doing. I suppose that’s a side- effect of being able to communicate with animals and some sorts of plants. Don’t be too harsh to them if it starts annoying you, they don’t do that willingly and more important - they can’t stop that.
H. Ravencroft: I’ll try to remember that.
Malevolence: (he’s thinking) I usually tend to do a lot with that warrior I mentioned earlier. Leroy or Leeroy or Lerooy or whatever. He’s a Fhwuwi Whawhiu as he calls it. We usually call him just Pit.
H. Ravencroft: Why that?
Malevolence: He offered it to us once and since that day he’s just Pit for everybody of us. I can’t tell you why exactly but I’m fine with that, he’s a tauren maybe it’s a reference to his real name... something like ’dies-fighting-in-a-pit’ and I could imagine that tauren shaman naming him like this. (making a short pause) Pit and I are basically of the same kind of people. We have quite similar goals in life, equal interests, a personality that comes close to the other, we both have suffered, we are on the same level of insanity (he emits a fierce short laughter) and we have almost the same sense of humour. In a certain way we are made for each other, soul mates in fact.
H. Ravencroft: It is disturbing to imagine a person that’s basically equal to you in insanity. (Ravencroft shivers)
Malevolence: Oh I just love the memories of him and me standing in Dalaran and just talking or running around through the Alliance part of the cities chasing gnomes. Those were the days! But now... You’re not allowed to enter those areas anymore, I think that’s our fault, at least for a bit. That nightelf on fire was a bit too much I guess.
H. Ravencroft: (Ravencroft and the elves looking shocked) A nightelf on fire?
Malevolence: Yes, a druid in tree form - Pit and I persuaded a mage to show us some tricks with his fire magic, well the druid walked by, the mage slipped, the fireball hit the druid and there he was off running and screaming, I wish an engineer had taken a photo of that moment, it always makes me giggle. (he’s thinking) Damn... I’m engineer - I’ve could have taken that photo.
H. Ravencroft: How... bright of you to notice...
Malevolence: Dammit, I forget that all the time when I could use it. Nonetheless blaming us for that accident is somehow outrageous!
H. Ravencroft: Oh, how could they do such a thing? (Ravencrofts tone was mocking)
Malevolence: Then there is this orc shaman that appeared several months ago. I like him actually, but I love to tease him. His name is Renku, before you ask, that is in fact his real name - nevertheless when hearing orc I also think more of names like Garbash or Bargolsh. That would be suitable orcish names, where you can hear the those tusks in their mouths. Maybe his mother was an alternative, but who knows. (he shrugs) I normally just come up to his and tell him he’s worthless.
H. Ravencroft: (Ravencroft doesn’t really know what to say) Uhm, what?
Malevolence: At first he went of crying actually - have you ever seen an orc cry? I haven’t - it’s so humiliating for him. The next few times he tried to hit me for saying that. But after a week or two he got used to it. And by now - were best friends, went drinking together and so on. He can be pretty funny if he wants to.
(a rattling can be heard from downstairs, a short scream, then silence, then a dump noise and finally you can hear the ghoul say ‘HUNGRY!”)
H. Ravencroft: What’s going on down there? Call your pet back!
Malevolence: That’s nothing, he’s just playing... he does that every time we’re here... Playing with the cook and begging for some leftovers. He loves fooling around with my ghoul.
H. Ravencroft: Uh, okay?
Malevolence: Nothing to worry about.
H. Ravencroft: If you say so, as long as that thing doesn’t want to play with me. (Ravencroft shivers)
Malevolence: Don’t worry - my ghoul has some taste. (he smirks) One day I tried to let my ghoul bite a troll from our guild, not a chance - he refused. And I don’t think you taste better then a troll.
H. Ravencroft: (Ravencrofts looks darken) Thank you... (Ravencroft is grumbling)
Malevolence: Seljun might be a nice guy, but he’s to much drawn to theory in my opinion. A very, very talented rogue nonetheless. But usually we crash at a point when he tries to explain something and myself and others are just like ‘Blah blah blah... Shut the hell up buddy“. And oh yeah, we like to remind him that battle is usually a different thing then theory, although we admit, it helps a lot. I wouldn’t want to miss him. Although his troll jokes or whatever trolls see as humour, are exhausting from time to time. Oh, and he has a great sense for music - for a troll that is...
H. Ravencroft: So basically your guild consists of tauren, orcs, trolls and undead?
Malevolence: You forgot the bloodelves. I just can’t get one of them out of my head. Her name is Cassiopheia. Before you ask - yes that is her real name, you should see the psychologist because of your name fetish seriously.... it's getting out of hand.
H. Ravencroft: That is essential information for my article!
Malevolence: Oh please stop nagging... But back to topic. I surely had a crush on her - her black hair, the soft skin, her merciless eyes when she took out a foe. She’s just too gorgeous!
H. Ravencroft: So, what happened? You said you had a crush on her?
Malevolence: Think you idiot, think! I’m undead, she a living bloodelf, it wouldn’t have worked out...(he looks to the ground) I mean, if I was alive, even I wouldn’t want me in this state. I’m not a necrophiliac. Ok there surely are Forsaken out there who are that, but... I don’t know - it’s disgusting somehow. At least I think of it that way. Nevertheless even a rotten heart can have feelings. (he turns his head to the window) But you know, in these times we don’t have too much time for feelings, and being a long term part of the Scourge eradicated most of them, so there isn’t too much to miss there. She was one of the few who called me by my real name - ‘Marc’.
H. Ravencroft: WAIT...,wait a minute... you told me a few hours ago your name was Hector?! What’s up with this ‘Marc’?
Malevolence: You see, Marc is my name from way back when I was alive...
H. Ravencroft: But why did tell me your name is Hector?
Malevolence: You know, Hector was the name I had since I stood from my grave an became a Forsaken. When I came out of the tomb of Deathknell the gravedigger yelled at me ‘Hector! I tried to tell the people my name wasn’t Hector, but they wouldn’t listen to me. So I accepted that and took that name as mine. A few weeks later I found out that there were several Hectors in Deathknell - seven during that particular time. As I investigated I came to notice that Mordo had a cat named Hector. And little Hector ran away quite often. So basically I’m named after a cat, just like an awful lot of others too.
H. Ravencroft: This is getting ridiculous.
Malevolence: That is true, but I can not change the facts. But back to topic. I spent a lot of time with Cassi, we had a lot of fun together. Went to Diremaul, to Stratholme, Blackrock, the Outlands and now finally Northrend. We’ve been attacking Naxxramas and Ulduar with our guild. But now, at the moment she’s on 'vacation', visiting her relatives up in Silvermoon. Said she’d have to spend some time up there, settle some things there, take a while ‘till she returns. (he looks sad) I miss her. Oh, but she could be such a bitch from time to time. I things didn’t go the way she wanted she got nasty. Not always to my likings but you know... women... And she got annoyed so fast when I started goofing around, ok sometimes I do that just to annoy her. In the end it’s fun having her around most of the time, although I think we‘d be ripping ourselves apart by now if we‘d have to see each other ALWAYS.
H. Ravencroft: I know how you feel, buddy.
Malevolence: Don’t you dare to refer to me as a friend just because I tell you this! You’ve got no idea how it feels being me! And I promise you - you wouldn’t want to know. But that’s my burden to carry and I’ll carry it, be sure about that. Besides (giving Ravencroft a sceptic look) you’re not even dead, so how can you say you know how somebody feels who died twice? That’s ridiculous!
H. Ravencroft: Uhm...
Ratcarver: WANT PLAY!
(out of nowhere the ghoul jumps at Ravencroft, knocking him of his chair onto the ground. there he lies the ghoul sitting on top of him.
H. Ravencroft: Take that thing away from me! (he is screaming in panic)
(the ghouls head is drawing nearer to Ravencrofts face, its mouth wide open emitting a foul stench a drop of blood from his meal earlier drops from its teeth onto Ravencrofts cheek)
Malevolence: (he is still sitting on his chair quietly) I didn’t want to have to do this... Ratcarver I told you what would happen if you wouldn’t follow my orders...
(Ratcarver is still sitting on Ravencroft, no sign of it moving away, its hand reaches out for Ravencrofts head, the dwarven guards are somehow still paralyzed)
Malevolence: You fool of a ghoul!
(Malevolence stands up facing his pet, he put his right hand forth towards the ghoul, he’s glaring at it the whole time)
H. Ravencroft: (he yells) Take that thing off of me! Don’t just stand there!
Malevolence: SHUT UP! (Ravencroft didn’t see such a fierce expression on the face of the deathknight till that moment.) I’m trying to concentrate not to make too much of a mess is this house...
(Malevolence clenched his fist and rapidly reopened it, with a loud splashing sound parts of the ghoul exploded leaving a bloody mess lying on top of Ravencroft, a sprinkle even hit himself in the face)
H. Ravencroft: a..a...a...a...
Malevolence: You idiot! Thanks to you this whole room is a mess!
H. Ravencroft: You just killed your ghoul? (Ravencrofts eyes wide open, crawling backwards, kicking the rest of the ghoul off of him.) But that was your pet!? You told me I should treat it with more respect and now YOU kill it?!
Malevolence: The world is cruel you see... but then again I told him what would happen in such a case, I warned him on the way here. Don’t blame me, blame him! (he is looking around) Now your elves or whatever should get starting cleaning this room, it looks terrible.
H. Ravencroft: Wha... (Ravencroft looking at the two elves)
Moonflower: Why should we do that? It was his ... thing... that exploded and left this mess, and it was he who made it explode!
Malevolence: And it was your dearest Mr. Ravencroft who broke my concentration, if he’d been quiet the ghoul would have just been ‘shut down’ not killed spreading his bloody masses around the room. So in fact he should be cleaning this.
H. Ravencroft: But...
Malevolence: I won’t, I surely won’t clean that mess you made and believe me, my sword says that I won’t do this. (he offers a foul grin before sitting down again.)
H. Ravencroft: You just killed your pet? Doesn’t that mean anything to you?
Malevolence: Never forget your talking about a ghoul. Out there, next to the town hall is the graveyard - plenty of possible ghouls there.
H. Ravencroft: But you said he’s like a puppy for you? (Ravencrofts glaring at him)
Malevolence: So?
H. Ravencroft: How can you be so cold hearted?!
Malevolence: It’s just a ghoul - to hell with him, I can be happy that he or she or whatever follows my orders!
H. Ravencroft: You’re not one bit better than the Scourge!
Malevolence: Well in fact I was a part of the Scourge...
H. Ravencroft: Cruel bastard!
Malevolence: Oh come on, not again - I’m leaving... (he stands up) I’m pretty sure that you’ll never understand anybody of the Horde, anyone of the Forsaken nor me. (he turns around) I hope for your own sake that we’ll never meet again Mr. RAVENCROFT. Have a nice day...
(he walked off towards the stairs, his heavy armour can be heard with every step he takes, downstairs he apologizes for the mess in the upper floor and hands the barkeeper five golden coins as an indemnity for possible damage, then he walks out of the tavern, where his horse greets him with a shriek like a banshee. Ravencroft takes a last look at him from the windows up in his room. He sees how the deathknight gets onto his horse with his black amour and watches him. He holds his hand out to the side of him and yells something and suddenly a ghoul bursts out of the ground right in front of the tavern, ’Lets go Ratcarver’ - ’I LIKE GLITTER’ the creature utters in response. Ravencroft furiously opens the window)
H. Ravencroft: (Ravencroft yells) You lied to me!
Malevolence: Spirits pass on, you fool - even you should know that!
H. Ravencroft: Get back up here, you owe me an explanation!
Malevolence: None that I know of. (he turns around his horse) Except maybe... Carrie was the name of my neighbour’s dog in the time when I was a kid. I leave the rest up to you. And now... I’m off, got to get me some more blood.
(He roweled his horse and rode off east into the dark woods of Tirisfal. Ravencroft closed the window.)
H. Ravencroft: Damn that undead... he was mocking me all the time.
(Ravencroft couldn’t avoid smiling)
All names of people and places of the World of Warcraft belong to Blizzard Entertainment. I do not own the rights to any of these.
