Along the main road of Hillsbrad, two figures sauntered casually admist the tattered landscape. Though the land was beaten and tattered, the only sounds of strife or conflict were just mere whispers on the winds of distance.
They were completely different save for the sickly green tabards hung loosely over their various pieces of mismatched light armor. The by far larger of the two, an orc, fell behind a bit in their already slow pace to look over his left shoulder, to the north. Another gust flew by, the kind that presents ominous sight of past or present- even though neither were practicers of any sort of shamanistic or druidic arts who sense such things. The orc touched his braided beard, which was greyed with age. "Masta'", he said in his orcish accented Common. "Does not this bring back a memory?"
The second of the pair, smaller in stature but exremely more fearsome looking, also gazed to the north. His skin was dusty and cracked and a grey-becoming-blue. Despite a complete lack of eyes he was able to see the run down remains of Durnholde Keep. The rotting humanoid's jaw twisted as if it was loose as he voiced his words.
"Swallows fly in the sky. Water reflects their shadows. The swallows leave no trace. The water keeps no shadows."
Then the undead continued to walk again.
The orc was overcome with emotion. Despite all the ancient powers that the old orc held onto bearing from the dark powers of the warlock, he felt weak to the power of the other's words.
Master Tsao, of the Forsaken. Former Alliance General of Lorderan. Former teacher of ethics. Former human. Though for all his words, he could not meditate away the feelings of sadism, which all but replaced any feelings of sadness for the past.
---
"Dabu, Master Tsao.", an orc raised his hand as he sat behind the table-like desk which he shared with two other orcs. In the wood-and-stone constructed schoolhouse, many desks and other orcs behind them inside. Though Durnholde looked like a formidable prison fortress on the outside, on the inside things were much more civil.
"Hmm?" The aged human looked from behind what he was writing on the chalkboard to his studen orc who had called for attention, and set the chalk down. "A question from you?" Tsao was happy when his orcish students asked questions. Sometimes they were so lethargic that he was surprised they didn't sleep during class. Better this, though, then their past desire of bloodlust.
"I'm sorry, but I do not understand. Master." The orc continued. Tsao knew him as Baeldok. Once a very powerful orc who was known himself as cruel and to never take prisoners, he too was now as docile as the others. Tsao nodded, and Baeldok spoke slowly, to get his Common correct. "You say those who desire and keep great treasures will have roots in the earth. But... you say as if this is bad. Do not root be good? Root give life to tree and plant."
Tsao smiled. He was proud to have such thinkers. 'There's hope for this world's peace, yet.', the Master thought to himself. "Yes, roots are very nourishing. But tell me, when is the last time you have seen a tree wander on it's own? There is a pretty river and field down in that valley. Go, tree, live there happily. Oh? You cannot? Why are you rooted, tree?"
Baeldok lowered his head in deep thought.
"Don't expect all to be clear as a snap of a finger. You have a long life to think about it."
"Zug zug, master."
"And in Common?"
"Thank you."
"And thank you."
And such as exchanges went, and many more, in Tsao's Ethics Class. Though the captive orcs fluxuated between lethargy and anxiousness throughout the intermitten camps in Lordaeron, Durnholde was the one most well known for it's peacefulness. Many war heroes spent time with the orcs, either to rule as wardens over their previous enemies, to study them out of curiousity, or in attempt to better them. And although things seemed docile within this classroom, Durnhold was not without it's strife. The chief warden Aedelas Blackmoore sought to mold the orcs into his vision of his own personal army. He, in fact, was personally teaching one of them all of his tactics and philosophy. Through this cunning, the Horde's future warchief Thrall was trained. Tsao, looking to retire, was a perfect addition to Warden Blackmoore's plans. With his passive teachings of manners and ethics, he thought through him that they would stay in line, and leave their desires of breaking out for their own freedom through respect through mental discipline.
Instead, this caused orcs to think for themselves. Because of this, though it was the Alliance that held power today, things would not remain this status quo forever...
Rumors were starting to spread throughout the orcs who were returned to the camps after escaping that there were still clans out there who were resisting entrapment, such as the Warsong clan and the Frostwolves. Thrall started to plan his escape from Durnholde. And things at this very location were becoming a storm for a shaping of things to come.
Next: Chapter 1- Tsao's Secret! Will This Lead To Betrayal?
"I got another one right here!", one of the prison guards shouted.
The orc prisoner burst out of the pile of hay a fraction of a second before the guard drove his spear into him. "No weapon.", the orc said in Common, waving his hands to and fro to show they were empty.
---
Durnhold Keep, one of the main intermittent camp for orcs held prisoner after the last war. This is the camp where the legendary Thrall himself was raised in. But he was not here any longer. Not even an hour after his escape, word of Thrall's elusion spread through the other orcs held there like wildfire. Though the desire for battle was still not in them, the desire of freedom was as strong as ever. Unfortunaly the hasty call for a break-out was too random and unorganized. With Thrall missing, the Warden had raised security by calling all men in the keep to arms, and there was even less of a chance for escape now. No chance for escape... or mercy...
---
Though he never fought back, it took three soldiers to bring down the hiding orc to death with their spears. There was no remorse for killing the surrendered. In fact, the humans were smiling with pride. This was an orc they got to slay!
"Nonna' the other prisoners make it out of the walls yet.", one of the guards, Anders, said with grimness yet satsifaction.
"Hey!", Yohan shouted playfully with near out-of-breath pantings of adrenaline. "If anyone else is hiding in here, they should come out now, or expect no mercy!"
In the simple but large barnroom, the three humans stood near the only viable means of escape; the front entrance. None of the horses were in here, all of them out and mounted by knights to hunt down the one orc who had gotten away. Thrall. This left ample room in there for a few orcs who had failed to make it out to hide and avoid punishment or death temporarly. Baeldok was one of those orcs.
Baeldok fought to not grind his teeth and fangs together for fear of making any noise. But inwardly, his mind was shouting at the top of his imaginary lungs, cursing himself for being such a coward. 'If only I had a weapon', lamenting in thought. 'If there was a way to fight back and win freedom.'...
The Anders, Yohan, and Jorac, growing impatient, advanced further into the barn, when a fourth huamn joined them.
Tsao casually stepped over the slain orc at the entranceway. An eyebrow raised and the three men felt a cold chill run down their spines. Though Tsao never showed any inclination to anger or violence, he sure knew how to make someone feel very uncomfortable suddenly.
"I do not sense any more life in here. Go kill elsewhere." The General spoke quietly.
"Yes sir!" came in broken unison, and the three guards hurried out past Tsao, mail link armor chiming like metal rain as they marched quickly, pace quickened as the screams of more orcs could be heard further throughout the keep. Tsao stepped up to one of the stables and looked inside over the wooden pen door. An orc he knew, Umolg, looked up at him worriedly.
Tsao remarked, "It is not just you in here. One other." Baeldok stood up from his stall confidently, but rattled to the bone.
"It was just us two in here...", Baeldok started but then droned off, "..and Vomkar." His red eyes stared wairly to the slain orc. "If only he could have fought them off with his bare hands."
Tsao knew instantly what he was talking about. The discusson and display had come up more than once during his classes. The art of attacking and defeating your opponents unarmed. But there was little time at the moment for pondering silence.
"If you had taught us that, instead of... ethics," Baeldok practically spit out the word in Common, "we would not get slaughtered now. If only Vomkar had a fighting chance, we--"
"Silence!" Tsao shouted in a whispery voice that wouldn't leave the structure, but would strike the desired effect. Umolg looked between the two with continued worry. He was always the quiet type anyway, desiring to study more about their race's history and the shamanic roots. His greatest fear right now wasn't dying, but that he'd never get to learn this fully. So he stepped out of his hiding spot and bowed before Tsao.
"Please Master Tsao, we'll be killed here today."
Baeldok snorted. "Stop calling him that. In our day of death, have some honor."
"I agree." Tsao said without hesitation, which caused Baeldok to stop in surprise. "Today is death or freedom. I have much too long watch you suffer for Warden Blackmoore's personal goals." Tsao turned his back to the two orcs and looked outside as a pair of guards ran by. They gave the General a glance, figured he had that location secure, and continued on their way. After they passed, Tsao continued. "I should have told King Terenas of this long ago, but the Alliance was as walking on ice. Now we will all sink and drown."
Baeldok and Umolg approached Tsao further.
"But today I will do this one thing right. Let us go."
---
Jorac looked over to the paladin, Captain Quintsen, who tugged at the reins of his uneasy horse. "I don't understand."
The Captain grinned manicially over his own glee. The situation is too perfect, so much so that he tried to contain his laugh while he responded. "What's to understand? Only because the King favored his devil's tongue with words and silly poems did he get to be a General. Tsao was always too soft on non-humans."
"So, shouldn't we stop him? Those orcs an'em are gonna get away!" Anders was thirsty for more blood.
"Let them escape to the outside first." Quintsen nodded. "Then there will be no excuse for him when we catch him and bring him back for execution. He's poisoned the King's mind long enough about leaving the orcs alive. With him dead, humanity is one step closer to survival."
The soldiers at the side of the mounted Captain pumped their fists in a cheer at the wisdom of his plan.
Yohan sighed. "Good. If we kill all the orcs, maybe we can get a break and go home to our families."
The crowd of soliders liked that even more, and cheered again, this time louder.
Captain Quintsen's eyes sparked with determination. "Finally.", monologing to himself. "Finally a chance to get rid of him. He made me look like a fool in front of the Court one too many times. Once that's taken care of, Uther will have to respect me for rooting out such a high ranked traitor..."
The hunt was on.
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Next episode! Chapter 2: Pride's Revenge: In Chaos A Panda Appears!