Man in the Box

I follow Mirveda through the wide halls until we reach a room I've never entered before. The walls are white stone like the rest of the palace, but there are couches on three sides facing a low center table. They are fluffy and the same shade of purple as the curtains that drape the halls.

On the couch across from the door, Gunther and Amon sit on opposite sides discussing something. They both hop up upon noticing me enter but I wave them down.

"This doesn't count as a formal setting, sit," I say with a side-eye as Mirveda and I sit on the couch to the right of the door.

They both sit before Amon speaks up "We did our best to rush over here as soon as we cleaned up Strathholme, we were discussing the possibility of taking over Scholomance and the entirety of the Western Plaugelands."

My brows raise as Mirveda gasps "The Western Plaugelands certainly would be better, less land to deal with with a higher density of townships." As I finish my words the sound of heels hitting the floor comes from the door.

Sylvanas turns the corner meeting my eyes first, she nods to me before sitting across from me. She sits at the center of the couch with crossed legs and an arrogant posture causing me to smile. Both give her a nod of recognition as well.

"I was planning on telling you the plan myself," Her eye flick towards the two on the side before she continues, "Our current foothold in the Western Plauguelands is weak, we only have safe paths through the scourge. Scholomance would be a strong fortress to use as a fortress to slowly clear out the areas."

"With the bulk of our forces heading north, I plan to use some reserve forces comprised of our alchemists and magic users. I have struck a deal with a powerful mage, he will be at the forefront of capturing the school of the damned. In return, I will give him the title of Lord and he gets the research material."

"Apparently he was once a great hero of Azeroth, if his stories are true, we will have no issues taking the Plaugelands."

My brows raise in curiosity "Then where is he? Will he not aid in fighting the scourge?"

She shrugs "He said he is on a mission to defend Azeroth now, that Scholomance has books he needs in order to save Azeroth. His name is Meryl Felstorm."

My curiosity grows pondering what other threat there is "I would like to meet him."

Sylvanas nods "I can set up a meeting with him, just give me a date."

I shake my head "No, I mean now. Where is he?"

She seems a bit surprised "Before I left he was staying at the inn of Brill. He said he had work to do before leaving Tirisfal."

I nod as I stand up "I'll try and be quick. If you need me, have one of my subordinates call out to me, I will be there immediately."

Without waiting for their words I summon a death gate in front of myself and step through. Despite my distaste for using magics of the shadowlands, it is much more mana efficient than teleporting.

As I step through the black inky wall the sight of Brill's town center is brought into view. There are a few undead on the street staring at me in awe while a few guards look both weary and afraid. I ignore them as I close my eyes.

She said he was an incredibly powerful sorcerer I check my surroundings for people with a high amount of mana surrounding them. Instantly my eyes lock onto a man inside the inn who is staring back intensely seemingly through the walls dividing us. He must have noticed my power the moment I arrived, I don't try and hide it after all.

A grin shows on my face as I walk towards the inn. Sylvanas is correct, this man has great power, it lies somewhere between Thrall's and Sylvanas's current power. Impressive for a man who has not taken a side.

By the time I casually walk to the inn the undead mage is already waiting for me at the entrance a weary look on his face.

My smile falls a bit as I realize the root of his power. "I see, you are not as powerful as I expected. I would say around Ronin's level."

His eyes narrow "Who are you? WHAT are you?"

"Isn't it proper to introduce oneself first?" My words come out casually but cause the mage to become nervous.

"I am Meryl Felstorm, formerly Meryl Winterstorm, Council member of the Order of Tirisfal. We are an Order created to protect Azeroth from the forces of the Burning Legion. We recently reformed due to the threat of Cho'Gall." He does a small bow as he introduces himself.

I nod with a courteous smile "I am Lorian, The God of Pestilence. Some have recently started calling me The Dead God, but you may call me Lorian." As I finish speaking the guards at the front of the inn drop to a knee.

'They must be Deathguard,' I think to myself as I ignore their actions.

The mage's eyes stare at me widened with seriousness. "Are you truly a God?"

"As true as they come… is there somewhere we can speak? I wish to know more about this 'Cho'gall'." I ask with my curiosity growing.

Meryl's eyes gaze at the two kneeling guards "I had heard the Forsaken had taken a Patron as their… God. But I did not expect to meet them in the flesh." After a momentary hesitation, he meets my eyes "Do you side with the Horde?"

I shake my head "I side with no one, although I do admit I favor the Undead… I am an Undead God after all. But I am acquaintances with Ronin and Varian."

Meryl nods "My companions are waiting at a camp not far from here. They are not allowed in town due to their affiliation with the alliance. Follow me."

I shrug as I allow him to lead the way, "So what is this 'Cho'gall' figure up to that would threaten the whole of Azeroth?"

Meryl winces "He has holed himself up in the Temple of Ahn'Qiraj. He is trying to release the old God C'Thun, the one who was pushed back by adventurers years ago."

A small laugh escapes my lips seeing Meryl's odd stare I quickly clarify "When I read the History of your world my first thought was. 'These Mortals seem rather unconcerned about an Evil God just on their doorstep.' And here we are, talking about that very god."

Meryl shakes his head "It is not their fault, too many problems arise at the same time. It would take more powerful mages than we have to seal the old one anyway."

I nod in understanding, it is true, they lack manpower. "Is that why you took that demon into your body? Or was that against your will?"

He stops in his tracks as he stares at me, his white glowing eyes flare up in a green flame. "You can see me?" Green astral horns appear on his head as I smile at him like I'm staring at an angry puppy.