First Blood in Deathknell's Shadow
A fresh Forsaken rogue cuts down a dozen of the restless dead, answers Shadow Priest Sarvis, and receives a sealed scroll from the Deathstalkers' own trainer.
The Road
The day was spent in Deathknell, in the Tirisfal Glades, under the pale light of midday. I went no farther than the edges of the little graveyard village, and it was enough to keep me busy until dark.
Battles
The dead do not rest easily around Deathknell, and I gave them no reason to start. By day's end I had put down twelve of them: seven Wretched Zombies, four Mindless Zombies and a single Rattlecage Skeleton. The first few came early, two Mindless Zombies and a Wretched one, and I met them blade-first. Later I cut down six more Wretched, two more Mindless, and the lone Rattlecage. It was close, patient work. The zombies shambled; I did not.
Deeds
Shadow Priest Sarvis greeted me with a reminder that no other race on Azeroth has suffered as ours has. "To laugh in the face of death," he said, "has become second nature for all of us." Then he marked "The Mindless Ones" as finished. He admitted it is unfortunate that the Scourge cannot be brought into the fold, since their numbers would be useful in the battles ahead. They will not join us, so we have no choice but to destroy them.
He had more for me at once. In "Rattling the Rattlecages" I am to kill twelve Rattlecage Skeletons and return to him. He called them a tougher foe than the zombies, the Lich King's mindless minions, and wants to see me under pressure. One has fallen to me so far. Eleven remain.
He also handed me an Encrypted Scroll that had arrived while I was out among the mindless. It bore the seal of the rogue trainer David Trias. I carried it to him at the inn, and he finished the matter with a few easy words. He spends most of his time there watching for new faces and keeping tabs on up-and-coming prospects. If I keep my nose clean, he will teach me a few things.
Novice Elreth has a request of her own, "The Damned." She tends the wounded, tailors armor and clothes, and helps Sarvis with whatever else he needs. She guessed I would soon be enlisted in his service, hunting the Mindless Ones. If I bring her six Scavenger Paws and six Duskbat Wings, she will find me armor. She says there are wolves and bats in good number to the south. I have not yet gone looking.
Fellowship
I traveled alone today. The only company I kept was the Forsaken of Deathknell: the Shadow Priest, the trainer at the inn, and Novice Elreth.
David Trias welcomed me with talk of the Deathstalkers. By the sanction of Lord Varimathras, he said, their numbers grow, with more blades to strike at our enemies when they least expect it. I liked the sound of that more than I let on.
Growth
A new strength settled into my limbs early in the day. I stood a moment to take it in, and my defense improved with it. Later, after all those zombies, my skill with the dagger sharpened too.
David Trias says to come back whenever I like, and we will see if I am ready for a new skill or two. I mean to take him at his word.