Losing Face-- or Half of it at least

A first hand account of Palor Undermire's second Death and his rebirth.
==Scourge Cauldrons==
The Plaguelands... used to be so beautiful, so rife with life. But looking at them now they are a blight on their former glory. 
Why was I there?
That answer was simple at least, I was there to dismantle a scourge cauldron for the Royal Apothecary Society. There was myself and two other forsaken in the group sent out for this task.
We were standing on the road looking into one of the fields... I do not remember which, contemplating how we were going to get in and get out again. One of my group members was a Death Stalker, the other a Death Guard, they had both been human in life and obviously had not quite forgotten their disgust with my former race. "I propose we destroy the chains and drag it," the Death Guard was saying. "No, we'd attract the scourge, we need to thin their numbers especially around the cauldron," the Death Stalker replies. "We could just go for the master and get the key..." I put in, I do not know why I bothered, the glares were enough to still any tongue, but I went on regardless, "We could thin the scourge out at the front, get to the one with the key, kill him and then unlock the Cauldron, it truly is a simple process..." I probably went a little too far-- well, they thought I had when I heard the Death Stalker say, "Oh simple huh? Listen to the pale skin elf here, suprised you can see that far with them pink eyes." Yes, back to the Albino jokes, my sight had deteriated greatly since I was-- how would humans put it? In my thirties, but undeath had removed that problem now. I sighed as they went back to their previous argument and walked into the field.
I had covered a few feet when the first scourge spotted me, it flew at me, teeth and claws bared, sensing a traitor to them in its midst. I drew my sword instinctively, all my training when I was alive to be a paladin came down to this, killing scourge. I removed its hands in one swing with the blade in one hand and mumbled one of my demonic spells to finish the job, the faint smell of burning flesh went up my nose-- no it was not faint, I just could not smell as well.
There was a thud behind me, I turned to see the Death Stalker had taken the head off of one that was sneaking up behind me. "Can't have you dying on us in this mission... don't take it personally." I just nodded and turned back to the Cauldron. Both the Death Stalker and the Death Guard had taken up to flanking me.
The scourge cauldron master was in our sights, the Death Stalker faded to shadows and the Death Guard charged in, swinging his great sword. I followed behind, summoning fire to immolate the scourge. There was various thumpings behind me as the Death Stalker culled any that decided to sneak up behind us.
We stood infront of the Cauldron, I had the key in my hand, the Death Guard had the cauldron master's head. I approached the base and started to undo the chains. "Why do you want one of these things anyway?" the Death Stalker asked. "Research," I replied shortly. 
==Ambushed==
I was undoing the chain at the back when I heard a noise, a voice, shouting. I turned and gasped. Scarlet Crusade, five of them and two hounds. "Humans incoming!" I yelled. The Death Guard was around the corner first, grunting he charged into the fray, the Death Stalker had dissapeared, obviously trying to get behind one. I saw one of the light weilders break away, she fixed me with her gaze and started muttering. I did not need to understand common to know this was going to hurt. The spell singed me inside but it was only minor, I threw its exact opposite back at her and tried to get in closer.
I could see the look of confusion cross her features briefly, they could never straight away figure me out, I was in cloth, but not robes, and I threw spells of shadow and flame, yet I was pretty good with a sword too. She didn't stay confused, just resumed trying to smite me. I had gained on her when I heard a grunt, the Death Guard had been floored with a sword while the hounds tore him apart. The Death Stalker I could not see anywhere. There was a flash near my right and I turned my head, just in time to not die from having my skull cleaved. I crouched and rolled. It was as I got up that I felt it, agony in the left side of my face. Also I had closed my left eye, I tried opening it, no response, then I saw why.
Laying on the floor was a mess of flesh... I could see my ear amongst it as well as all the skin that had once covered the left side of my face, if I had time to take a closer look, I probably would have seen a puddle that would be the left overs of my eye. As it so happens, I did not have time to contemplate this loss, for there was another thumping noise and a pain plumed in the back of my head, I fell and blacked out shortly afterwards.
==Strung up==
The next part is a blur, I simply woke up at various intervals before drifting back off to my sleep of the damned, so some of this probably will not make sense - especially since some of it never actually happened I was just halucinating to escape the sheer amount of pain I was in and nearer the end of this chapter of my life, the hunger. I was dragged up to Heathglen, at some point attacked by a dragon and orcs - not at the same time, strung up, teaching my son how to weild a sword, hungry, generally being with my wife and having an argument with Naeol over Tsiel. I am pretty sure apart from the being dragged to Heathglen, strung up and starving none of the rest actually happened. Then there was black.
==In the Lich King's grasp==
I quite recently got asked what was dying like, I had suffered it twice so I should be an expert. I am sure it is a relief once you have been through the agony, whether it be long or short... I am sure... as I have never actually seen the part past the waiting for them to see whether you move on or stay. 
I could hear a voice calling me, I imagined it was Tristine, my wife at first, deluding myself. I knew exactly what it was. The voice grew harsh and I awoke to be looking up at a Necromancer. The harsh features gazed coldly over me, examining me. She threw me the robes of an initiate and I climbed into them.
I will be fair, my whole service for the Lich King... The real me was stuck in the back of my head yelling, "why are you doing this?" Although, I can admit I really did enjoy killing those Scarlet Crusaders... revenge hhmm? I did so hope that squadron of five was amongst those I killed, I cannot say I payed too deep an interest in the looks on their faces at my misformed face. Was it all just suprise or was there a hint of "I reconise that corpse," in their faces? Ever? I cannot say.
==Light's Hope==
Ah yes, onto the battle of Light's Hope. You do not need a play by play of what happened... I am sure you have heard it many times already. I was simply a good little soldier and did as I was instructed. Recap? We lost, found out that our precious leader had sent us in there to die and broke away. You know the real me in the back of my head? By then it was nodding smugly saying, "I told you so."
So we went on and cleared out our base of the scourge infestation and we were all sent back to our allies to meet the Warchief... you can imagine the commotion caused when thousands of Death Knights turned up in front of Orgrimmar looking for peace.
==And when it hit me==
I haven't seen my family since I died a second time, I would not know how to react if I did. On the other hand, I have seen both my mongrel children since then, Ifemmara more then Kaocha. It was in one of these conversations with her that it hit me, I had escaped the Lich King's grasp... for a second time. This time around though, I shall be more careful with my life. Three is a charm... I do not want to test that.
Category:Story