[ Chapter Four - The Entropy of Truth ]
[Authored by John]
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As black smoke rose into the skies of Duskwood few noticed. The sunlight had already been blocked out long ago by foul magic leaving the darkness to envelop what had been the dreams of many. The Grey Raven tavern had been the base of a local mercenary company but was no longer. Its captain, a man by the name of Tripp Blackmoore had decided to “cut his losses” with the group he previously called his friends. He left them to burn in the tavern they had all built together. His plan did not succeed however as he raced into the night, the company had survived, but a long road lay ahead of them.
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Their march was not a solemn one, characterised by hunger, exhaustion and loss. This was a retreat from the world each of them knew. The communities around the countryside of Stormwind while not always on their side had been their home since the company’s founding. Expeditions had taken them North in the past, but this was nothing by comparison. Some were driven by hate, hatred of the leader who had abandoned them, but they all carried with them a slither of hope. Hope that better times were over the horizon.
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On their arrival the great Thane of Dun Garok provided these supplicants the aid they needed. Shelter, food and fresh water. While the company was grateful for the aid Thane Gallegund had provided, he tempered his offer with a humble truth of the world. He would allow them to gather their strength, but after they had done so, the company would need to pay for any further goods or assistance. It was fair offer the Greysteels accepted, after all, they had no one else to turn to.
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[ The Sullen Messenger ]
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Even before the Greysteels had arrived the Thane had been receiving troubling news from the surrounding countryside. The serenity of Hillsbrad Foothills only masked the mystery bubbling beneath its skin. Rumours of disappearances all across Hillsbrad led the Thane to dispatch one of his trusted scouts to discover the truth, and the evidence Belegar found only made matters more concerning.
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Belegar returned to Dun Garok with a furrowed brow and eyes darting across the surroundings. The rumours had been true. Farmhands and merchants from all across the region had been disappearing in the night. Farms understaffed, shops laid bare and scared townspeople the only clues. The Thane was rightly concerned. Whatever was happening to these people remained a mystery, but he decided informing the Greysteels would be the correct form of action. After all, he couldn’t collect payment from them if they disappeared too.
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The Thane briefed the Greysteels in the open air of Hillsbrad and while he spoke the man who would help unravel this mystery approached the fortress. His robes once white, now darkened with blood. Clutching a sealed letter the guards called for medical assistance however the Greysteels, hearing the commotion arrived first. James Harvey the Greysteel Doctor attended to the man, but Harvey knew as did the man that he was not long for this world. Pressing the sealed envelope into Harvey’s hands he spoke his final words.
“H-Hillsbrad……F-F-Fields…..Ma….Ma……..”
With that the wounded man’s strength failed. He was gone.
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Opening the letter confused the company even further. Although the man had given his life to see it delivered it was completely blank. Handing the letter to Ashlynn Hope she too found it blank, but looking at the now broken seal confirmed the dead man’s words. It was the seal of Hillsbrad Fields. With a newfound desire to uncover the reasons behind this man’s actions the Greysteel Company set off to find the truth.
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[ The Village of Dreams ]
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As the company arrived at the frontier town of Hillsbrad Fields they noticed all was not as it seemed. Villager and townsfolk were going about their daily business but each one of the Greysteels developed a headache. They felt that something surrounding the atmosphere of the town was wrong this drove them ever onwards.
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Using the description of the deceased man and the broken seal the Greysteels successfully questioned the townspeople. They discovered that the man was the local priest, going by the name of Gregor. None who they talked to remembered him leaving, only that he was gone. The wax seal was confirmed to be that of the aging Town Magistrate, Markus Burnside. To question him was their next objective, in town hall of Hillsbrad Fields was where they would find him, but getting in proved to be a challenge in of itself.
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The guards at the entrance of the town hall were less than helpful. No matter what the Greysteels said they demanded proof of an appointment. Orthios DeVarus attempted to use his Argent Dawn connections but it did little to sway the guards. When they pressed for where to get this appointment the Greysteels discovered that here bureaucracy knew no bounds. To get an appointment to see the Magistrate, one needed to see his assistant, Susan. To see his assistant you also needed an appointment. While the Greysteels were left fuming over this catch-22 Susan was leaving the town hall. Seeing the commotion she took the Greysteels further away from the guards and heard their plea.
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Susan was a kind woman who understood the headache those guards gave everyone. She believed that they only kept people away from her because they were jealous, but that was neither here nor there. She was distraught when she heard of Gregor’s death and concerned when she saw the broken seal. She knew Gregor spoke with the Magistrate before he left the town, it had been that very morning. Susan mentioned how this friction between the two began when the Magistrate handed out ornate pocket watches to notable citizens. She mentioned how people were acting differently after they accepted this gift. She didn’t know where the Magistrate had gotten them. Her only additional comment was, that the Magistrate wore the only golden watch. With a similar desire to find out why this happened to Gregor she wrote the Greysteels the legal documents required to see the Magistrate, signing her name at the bottom.
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When the entrance guards saw the Greysteels returning they were mid-sentence dictating that they “Get lost!” when they were presented with the proof of appointment. Shocked by this new development the guards’ faces went white and immediately let them past. Even calling them “Sir” and “Ma’am”.
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The meeting with the Magistrate did not develop as they had hoped. Without any political tact the Greysteels gave away all the knowledge they had discovered to the Magistrate. Despite having all the cards they needed, they were left with no option when the Magistrate demanded to see this letter. As the Magistrate accepted the letter from the Greysteels his other hand rested inside his pocket, the pocket where the golden pocket watch ticked. The Magistrate burnt the letter in front of the group stating that they “Had nothing”. Incensed, Caleth Levitt fired his pistol at him. “GUARDS!” The Magistrate yelled, a battle ensued.
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During the course of the battle the two town hall guards were killed by Talvik Giselher and Danwell McDurn. While Talvik and Danwell dealt with the guards Caleth, Harvey, Ashlynn and Orthios assaulted the Magistrate. Although no blow injured the Magistrate, when Caleth pulled the Magistrate’s pocket watch away from him he promptly fell to the ground, eyes closed. With the Greysteels rushing out of the building, no one checked if he was still alive.
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As they left the town hall they noticed night was beginning to fall and none of the townsfolk remained outside. It was at this moment, Caleth opened the golden pocket watch.
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Visions shot through Caleth’s mind as he held the watch. A river leading north. A fortress on the lake. The eyes of the man who from that fortress schemed.
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The pocket watch burnt into nothing releasing smoke that reformed into the image of a man. This man was adorned with yellow and blue robes of the light. This man was familiar to the Greysteels. Not for his knowledge of the light however, but for his knowledge of the dark. It was John. John, the mentor of Ashlynn’s shadow power. John, the man whom Blackmoore had called a traitor before his own betrayal. This was different however. Gone were his scars from shadow magic. He looked healthier than any of them had seen him before. He was a new man.
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“Murdering guards, assaulting officials. The only sentence for such crimes is….death.”
As he spoke three men marched in unison in front of the group. Their eyes were dull, their movements were jagged. These men were not individuals, they were puppets.
“Goodbye.”
John stated as he flickered out of existence. And then, the puppets attacked.
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The fight was a long and challenging one. The puppets knew no pain, no fear, they only continued their onslaught until they were dead. Much like the undead of the Scourge, but these things, however devoid of personality, were still living. During the battle Caleth distinguished himself as a trick shooter, managing to drop both his pistols and still hit the enemies with their shots.
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As the battle drew to a close and the last puppet was killed the Greysteels were left exhausted and wounded. They returned to Dun Garok to recuperate with some of the knowledge they sought, but with the situation going from bad to worse. John had returned.
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[ The Prophet’s Crusade ]
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During the time the Greysteels were recuperating, Belegar had been sent out to scout for any developments since their foray into Hillsbrad Fields. When he returned, he showed how the situation had deteriorated even further.
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Belegar arrived back to Dun Garok steadying himself with his rifle. It was easy to see what was wrong. During his scouting mission he had been attacked by “some crazies” as he put it, one of which was a fire mage. This mage had blown his arm off. With the Thane currently indisposed he gave his report to the Greysteels while their Doctor bandaged the stump he once called an arm.
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The scout spoke of whole Syndicate Outposts being empty, the only clue being their emblems lying on the ground. While an outpost being empty would normally be cause for celebration the presence of their emblems made it only concerning. Syndicate members are executed for losing their emblem. Why would they just drop theirs and walk off? A sudden change of heart or something sinister? He spoke of groups like the one that attacked him coming down from the north via Hillsbrad River. He spoke of town stockades being found empty, not even the guards were found. He spoke of a militia arriving in Hillsbrad Fields who would attack anyone who came near. Finally before his report was over, he warned the Greysteels not to attack any large group, even with them united he did not see them triumphing.
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It was in this moment Caleth shared the visions he received from the pocket watch. Although annoyed by not sharing his knowledge sooner, the Greysteels set off for the fortress on the lake. Caer Darrow. It was there they believed they would find John. There they believed they could stop this madness.
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Travelling up Hillsbrad River they found the sites mentioned in the Dwarf’s report. Even the spot where he was attacked, but it was not until they entered the Western Plaguelands and reached the bridge to Caer Darrow did they find a group like the one that had attacked Belegar.
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Just as they suspected it was a group of John’s puppets, but this was much larger than before. Organised into two columns of five the group numbered ten puppets, each with the same ferocity of the three that attacked them in Hillsbrad Fields. Shocked into inaction the Greysteels failed to react before the group of puppets had spotted them. As they readied a volley to kill the Greysteels, Caleth used a smoke grenade to break line of sight. As line of sight was broken the Greysteels ran like never before. They ran and hid, there was no other option. They struggled against three. Ten would be their end.
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Thankfully the puppets soon resumed their march south, leaving the bridge unoccupied. Moving across the bridge the Greysteels found only one guarding the entrance to Caer Darrow. Although he was covered in runes seemingly burnt onto his skin they assumed they could take him. He was only one man. It was the hardest fight yet.
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Almost killing Talvik in one swing of his sword this man could only be described as an elite guard. A Praetorian Guard. Almost all perishing without landing a single blow it was the quick thinking of Aristoxenus Makrelis tackling and disarming the Praetorian that gave the Greysteels more time. To kill him Ashlynn Hope used her shadow magic to overload the Praetorian’s smouldering runes, weakening him enough for the rest of the Greysteels to kill him. With the Praetorian Guard lying dead the Greysteels entered the Fortress of Caer Darrow.
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It was here, in the ruins they found John. Standing in front of a huge statue of a pious man he was waiting for them.
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“I must admit I am surprised to see you all here. With how badly you normally perform I expected you all to die on the way. Alas, you have instead murdered all the people who tried to stop you. The people whom had saved. Don’t you feel guilty?”
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“You do not understand, but I set them free. Free from freedom, responsibility, thoughts. This is the next step. Evolution. Before I saved them these people they were murderers, rapists and traitors. Some struggled to find food, others struggled with their own feelings. Now they struggle no longer. Now they know peace. Who can deny the people this improvement?”
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“Initially I thought only to influence people into the right direction. Force truth into their thoughts but otherwise leave them. I must thank you and Gregor for showing me how unfeasible that was. You showed that while there are still those who are outside my grip, there will always be those who cannot fathom what we could achieve. Tell me Greysteels, don’t you too long for a world without war?”
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“I once dreamed of it, believing it unattainable. Now I reach ever closer towards it, the inevitable ticking of clockwork. You can’t fight evolution. Did the lungfish refuse to breathe air? No. It dragged itself forth from the blackest ocean abyss, leaving its brethren, with lidless eyes forever staring at the dark. Doomed despite eternal vigilance. I have taken that first breathe, but I will not abandon you all. I offer you redemption, I offer you freedom, you need only reach out and accept it.”
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With that last statement he held out a golden pocket watch, offering it to the Greysteels. Rejecting the gift they perceived as a poison chalice, Harvey began the attack, using his wand to send a fire bolt at John.
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John fought with rays of light, exhausting the minds and bodies of the Greysteel Company. This was unlike they had ever seen John. They knew of a man who wielded shadow magic to pursue his goals, not this man before them. Ashlynn was so shocked by John’s change didn’t react as he defended himself from the rest of the Greysteels. All seemed lost as John dodged every blow while inflicting massive damage on the group. Talvik however, saw through the rays of light. After being knocked into exhaustion by John he analysed the situation before him. The light had no feeling behind it, it was in all sense of the word, empty. John’s body shimmered at the edges. It was then he realised. It was all an illusion.
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[ The Truth Revealed ]
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The spell over his mind broken he rose to his feet declaring this truth to the rest of the group. Enraged the Avatar of John attempted to lash out at Talvik, but to no avail. The Avatar disintegrated as did his spell over the Greysteel Company.
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The Greysteels entered Caer Darrow Keep with newfound resolve to find John. They had defeated his illusion, they would now defeat him.
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What they found was a shadow, a husk of what John used to be. Clutching an orb of seething shadows, sitting in the top room of the keep. Surrounded by medicine his skin was grey and he looked gaunt. He only had the strength to utter a few words.
“How could you….All my work…..”
With that his skin began to fall off, his very essence was being drained into the Orb he clutched with his bony fingers. It took no time at all for the process to be complete.
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John was gone, only a skeleton of the man remained, still clutching that hateful Orb.
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When the Greysteels approached it they began to fight over who would take it. It was clear the Orb was affecting their minds. A battle between each member of the company began. Friend against friend, the dance to the Orb’s tune.
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After Ashlynn and Caleth were knocked unconscious by their compatriots Harvey handed the Orb to Talvik. Talvik believed that destroying the Orb would free the world of its torment. As he broke open the Orb, the darkness was released into the world. What had he done?
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[ Epilogue ]
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Susan
Blamed for the attack on the Magistrate and his guards by letting <The Greysteel Company> in she was arrested, standing trial for manslaughter and treason. Forgotten by <The Greysteel Company> she was promptly found guilty. She wept as they took her to the gallows.
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Magistrate Burnside
Having the connection between his mind and the watch broken so violently, he fell into a coma. He never woke up.
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Army of John the Prophet
With the death of John, the personalities of those controlled by him returned en masse. Tormented within the Eye some lost their minds, those who didn’t took their anger out on the Town John forced them to protect. The smoke from Hillsbrad Fields could be seen from miles around.
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Gregor
None remembered Gregor as the dutiful priest he was. Most who knew him died at the Massacre of Hillsbrad Fields. Despite sacrificing himself to find those to save the town, he failed, his name was lost to time.
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Belegar
Honourably discharged from his military career due to injury he settled down in Ironforge where he found himself a true Dwarvish wife. The very nurse who tendered to his wounds.
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John
Caleth returned to Caer Darrow, burying the bones of John somewhere in the Western Plaguelands. He marked the grave with the name “Old Man”.
<The Greysteel Company> Chapter Four - The Entropy of Truth
Re: <The Greysteel Company> Chapter Four - The Entropy of Truth
Thank you to everyone who attended Chapter Four - The Entropy of Truth! Above is the story line write up for all to read. Although the story is not exactly a happy one, I hope you all enjoy it!