bookpower Chapter 37.5
Chapter 37.5
Chapter 37.5
Admiral Daelin Proudmoore listened carefully from the quarterdeck of the Tidemothers Vengeance as reports came in via the scrying crystal about the Hordes movements.
Daelin didnt have much experience working with elves, but he supposed there was no reason to doubt their reports when both they and the scouts from the Second Fleet were telling him the same thing.
The Horde was preparing to launch their invasion.
From what Daelin could tell, it seemed as if they intended to disembark from the Wetlands north of Khaz Modan and land their troops in the Hillsbrad Foothills, as Lothar predicted was their most likely landing point. To do this, they would need to successfully travel by sea across Baradin Bay, but Daelin had no intention of allowing them to travel uncontested..
These creatures were from a different world, so Daelin couldnt blame them for believing that their plans might succeed. However, he would be more than glad to teach them why Kultiras was the most powerful naval force in the world, bar none.
What kind of composition can we expect from the Horde fleet, Fleet Admiral Seabane? asked Daelin, consulting the leader of the Second Fleet. Have there been any significant changes?
No, Grand Admiral. The Hordes navy is still composed primarily of stolen human warships, goblin mercenaries, and many crude oar-powered ships, said the grim voice of Admiral Seabane through the scrying crystal.
Only the orcs could use something as ridiculous as oar-powered ships, thought Daelin.
Despite his derisive thoughts, he understood that the orcs had many troops that they needed to transport and not enough ships. Coupled with the freakish strength of the orcs, it was feasible that they might be able to row themselves across Baradin Bay.
It galled Daelin to see well-made human ships under the control of monsters. Before its destruction, Stormwind had once possessed one of the most powerful navies in the Eastern Kingdoms. The majority of their ships had been used to transport the kingdoms refugees to Lordaeron, but many of them had unfortunately been captured by the Horde.
It was unfortunate that Lothar had not had enough time to set them all ablaze, but Daelin could not blame the man; it was right for him to place the wellbeing of Stormwinds citizens above other matters.
However, it was not these ships that caused the Fleet Admiral to sound so grim. According to everything they knew about the Horde, they were amateur sailors, a deficiency that well-made ships could not compensate for. No, what truly concerned Daelin and Fleet Admiral Seabane was the presence of the goblin mercenaries. Not because of the threat that they posed, although the goblins were no strangers to naval combat, but because of what their presence signified.
Goblins were troublesome little creatures that often demonstrated a shocking lack of self-preservation if enough gold was involved. However, goblins were not fools, and there was still ultimately a limit to how much danger they would put themselves in. Given the vast superiority of the Alliance forces compared to theirs, Daelin had not expected that the goblins would be willing to stay and fight.
That they were willing was worrying.
If the goblins hadnt already run and taken their gold with them, then that meant they believed they had a chance of survival.
Do we have any idea what the bastards are planning? Daelin growled out.
Perhaps the Steamwheedle Cartel has finally managed to arm their zeppelins? offered his son, Captain Derek Proudemoore, Commander of the Third Fleet, although his tone made it clear that he doubted that conclusion.
No, that isnt the case, Captain, Daelin said confidently. Every spy in the Eastern Kingdoms has been keeping a close eye on the weapons coming out of their factories. Besides, one of the other cartels would have informed us.
The only thing that you could trust a goblin for was their willingness to betray their own for a large enough bag of gold.l--B1n.
Then I have no idea what they could have planned, Grand Admiral, said Derek.
Neither do I. Attempting to divine the intentions of a goblin is an exercise in futility. Who knows what manner of ridiculous nonsense might come from their minds? said Seabane.
Daelin was reminded of a particularly humiliating incident in which KulTiras lost a Stormbringer-Class Ship of the Line that was undertaking anti-piracy operations near Blackwater Cove or Booty Bay as the goblins preferred to call it.
To this day, KulTiras still did not have a proper understanding of what happened, other than that the ship was destroyed by a massive gunpowder-based explosion that came from below. The greatest minds at the Proudmoore Naval Academy had come up with all kinds of implausible explanations, such as floating bombs being left in the water or ships that could swim under the sea. Ultimately, the only ones who knew what happened with any certainty were the Steamwheedle Cartel.
With those thoughts in mind, Daelin turned his attention to the two people who stood by his side.
Are you certain your fellow Tidesages are prepared to handle any potential attacks from below, Tidesage Stormsong? asked Daelin, directing his question to a man dressed in the usual brown and purple robes that were traditional to his order.
The Order of the Tidesages was the most powerful religious organization in KulTiras, far exceeding the popularity of the Church of the Holy Light. The Tidesages held a variety of responsibilities, such as blessing the ships of the KulTiran navy, using their magic to provide favorable winds while out at sea, guiding their ships through dangerous storms, and much more. Not only that, but the Order of the Tidesages had even gone so far as to provide their own Shrine Templar to aid the KulTiran military.
Naturally, this meant that the Tidesage leader, Waylon Stormsong, was as venerated in KulTiras as Archbishop Faol was in the rest of the human kingdoms.
We are, Grand Admiral, said Tidesage Stormsong, his expression blank and his voice toneless. Any members of the Horde which seek to attack our ships from below shall be swiftly sent to greet the Tidemother.
Although Daelin worshiped the Tidemother like any other proper KulTiran, he could admit that the Tidesages were much less amiable than the priests of the Church, especially in recent times.
Daelin briefly turned his attention to the lad standing by Stormsong, who was apparently the mans apprentice.
According to the report he had received from the Tirassian Secret Service, the lad was an orphan who had been taken to Stormsong Monastery by the Tidesages after he started hearing the whispers of the Tidemother more clearly than most. Many of his fellow street children had described the lad as friendly and outgoing, but Daelin would have never guessed that to be the case looking into his eyes now.
Im glad to hear that, Tidesage, said Daelin, forcing his attention back to the scrying crystal. Fleet Admiral, where do you believe it best that we engage the Horde forces? Naturally, It will depend greatly upon the course they take, but we have a certain amount of freedom to choose where we attack them.
In my opinion, our best bet would be to engage them near the island of Zuldare, said Seabane.
Not Crestfall? Daelin asked curiously. He agreed, but he wanted to hear the Fleet Admirals reasoning.
No, Grand Admiral. It's very likely that the goblins will be expecting an attack from Crestfall and will make efforts to avoid it.
I agree. The goblins will know that Crestfall is much more heavily populated and fortified than Zuldare, said Daelin. The coastal formations near Zuldare are suitable for an ambush, as long as we utilize the magic of the Tidesages.
Given the temperature of the water in Baradin Bay, it should take us little effort to summon a fogbank large enough to drastically reduce the Hordes visibility, Grand Admiral, said Tidesage Stormsong, immediately understanding his implication. We should also be able to hold it as long as it is necessary.
Good, said Daelin, his tone one of satisfaction. The fleets would have little trouble navigating something as simple as a fog as long as they had the assistance of Tidesages. If that is the case, then I propose that the First Fleet should lay in wait near Zuldare, while the Second and Third Fleets are held back in preparation. Once the Hordes ships finish passing by Zuldare, the First Fleet shall engage them from the rear while the other two fleets move to quickly attack from the front.
There was a lull in the conversation as the Fleet Admiral contemplated his plan before responding.
Are you certain that is wise, Grand Admiral? This plan would place your fleet in a vulnerable position if the Horde navy proves more formidable than anticipated, Seabane said evenly.
I agree, this plan sounds unnecessarily risky, said Derek, a note of worry in his voice. Especially when we dont have a full understanding of the enemy's capabilities.
Daelin took a moment to consider the Fleet Admirals words. It was true that he would be in the most vulnerable position; while the Second and Third Fleet would have the option to retreat back north in the direction of Hillsbrad Foothills, it would be much more difficult for the First Fleet to do the same. However, Daelin had much more confidence in the capabilities of the First Fleet given that they were composed entirely of ships from the KulTiran navy.
The Second and Third Fleets were composed of a combination of ships from the other human kingdoms, as well as a few elvish destroyers.
Daelin had no doubt that the First Fleet would be able to wreak havoc in the back lines of the Hordes navy while also relying on their extreme advantage in maneuverability to escape once they figured out whatever had the goblins feeling so confident. And if whatever surprise the Horde had waiting for them proved to be insufficient, then attacking the Horde navy from both the front and the rear meant there was a chance they strike a decisive blow against the Horde.
Unfortunately, there was little chance that they would be able to actually end the war in a single battle due to the sheer amount of transport ships that the Horde possessed. They simply wouldnt be able to destroy them all before the Horde managed to make landfall. However, if there was a chance that Daelin could destroy a large portion of their forces, then he had every intention of doing so, even if it meant taking on a little risk.
Daelin quickly explained his thinking to his subordinates and eventually received a reluctant agreement.
It is a risk, Daelin said after finishing his explanation. But it is one worth taking.
Understood, Grand Admiral. The Second Fleet is prepared to set sail to the ambush location at any time.
Good, said Daelin, nodding in satisfaction. If we are to succeed in this plan, then we must set sail for Zuldare immediately. The Tidesages need enough time to finish casting the ritual to summon the fogbank long before the Horde arrives, lest they grow suspicious due to its sudden appearance. Is the Third Fleet prepared as well, Captain Proudemoore?
There had been more than a little difficulty in integrating the various naval forces of the Eastern Kingdoms into a single fighting force in the form of the Third Fleet. Most of the other kingdoms were wise enough to mimic the naval structure of KulTiras to the best of their ability, but it was still exceedingly difficult to create a singular command structure and account for the capabilities of so many different varieties of ships. That was especially the case after Quelthalas sent their elvish destroyers.
However, Daelin trusted his son to get the job done. Derek was one of the most capable Captains in the entire KulTiran navy and had a good head for handling logistics.
Yes, Grand Admiral, the elves have been more cooperative than expected and their integration has gone well. The Third Fleet is ready to sail on your order, Derek said proudly.
This continued until he spotted his lookout frantically attempting to signal him over the noise.
Daelin immediately used his spyglass to look in the direction that his lookout was signaling, before spotting a sight that made him rapidly pale. At first, he had no idea what he was looking at when he spotted three flying undead creatures made entirely out of bone. However, once he spotted the eerie red glow emanating from the creatures as well as the Death Knights riding their backs, Daelin was finally able to understand.
Somehow, the Horde had managed to find dead dragons and raise them into their service, and they were flying straight toward the Alliance fleet!
Daelin forced himself to calm down as he quickly studied the creatures and considered his options. He could tell that each of the dragons was flying in the direction of one of the fleets, and it wouldnt be long before they arrived. This was not at all a threat that they were prepared to face.
Daelin himself had not had much experience with dragons, but he had seen one fly when he was younger, and it was immediately obvious that these undead abominations were slower and likely less agile than their living counterparts. Still, it would be difficult to shoot down the creatures from such a low angle.
The majority of their cannons were broadside cannons and were obviously incapable of hitting a target at such a high elevation. The only ones that might be able to do so were the cannons that were on the deck.
Captain, Fleet Admiral, there are three undead dragons approaching our fleets from the south, said Daelin, sounding far calmer than he actually was.
His words were met with silence before Seabane responded with a skeptical tone, I believe I misheard you, Grand Admiral. Please repeat.
There are Death Knights atop undead dragons approaching our fleets! Take up defensive formations immediately and move to regroup! We cannot afford to remain in our current positions with those dragons flying above us. Continue firing your broadside cannons at the Horde fleet and assign your best gunmen to the cannons on your deck!
It was far too dangerous for their fleets to be spread out under these circumstances. They had already done great damage to the Horde, though not nearly as much as he wanted, now they needed to act more defensively.
There was another moment of silence during which the two men were presumably looking for the dragons through their spy glasses. After a while, both of them confirmed that they would be following his orders and Daelin turned his attention back to Tidesage Stormsong.
Tidesage, do you believe your gales will be able to have any effect on these creatures ability to fly? asked Daelin, desperate for a solution to the problem that was headed their way.
I believe so, Grand Admiral. Despite the fact that the creatures wings are made purely from bone and dark magic, the winds that I can summon at my full strength are extremely potent, said Stormsong, his full attention on the dragons.
Good, said Daelin, letting out a small sigh of relief. Then do so, Tidesage.
Stormsong nodded before tightening the grip that he held on his staff, As you wish, Grand Adm
Daelin jumped back in shock as the Tidesage suddenly began choking and clawing at his throat. Just as Daelin was about to call for a healer, a strange black liquid began to leak from the Tidesages orifices, and he soon started to vomit the same substance.
Poison?! But who could have possib
He was barely quick enough to dodge the knife that Stormsongs apprentice had aimed for his heart. Daelin did not spend any time wondering more about the situation; he merely unsheathed Tidebringer from its sheath and removed the traitor's head from his body in one single motion.
Daelin was about to turn back to check on Stormsong, but he was forced to stop and stare as the traitor's body suddenly began changing in front of his eyes.
His skin turned from a healthy tan to a sick and eerie purple color, his fingers turned long and clawed, and the bottom portion of his decapitated head suddenly began growing tentacles.
By the gods! What is this?!
Although Daelin was the furthest thing from a mage, he could tell that he was starting to feel more and more strange the longer he looked at the corpse. The feeling reminded him vaguely of his few encounters with Shadow magic.
Was the boy some kind of Shadow cultist?! Have the Tidesages been compromised?! No, at least not completely, otherwise, they wouldnt have had to poison Stormsong. Are the traitors working with the Horde?
Daelin staggered as his attention was suddenly captured by one of the ships in the Second Fleet suddenly exploding in a burst of fire, followed suddenly by several other ships experiencing various explosions across all three fleets.
Explosions?! How?! Wait the other Tidesages, there must be more traitors among the ships! Did they sabotage the gunpowder?! Wait, they must have also gone after Derek!
Daelin let out a short gasp of realization as he ignored his panicking crew and ran back to the scrying crystal.
Derek! Be careful of the Tidesages! One of them tried to stick a dagger in my heart and turned into some kind of abomination after I killed him!
They tried something similar here, but Im alright. I have a feeling many of our Captains were not so fortunate. It will take some time before we can reorganize and fix our formations, said Derek, sounding a tad disturbed but otherwise unharmed.
A similar message came through from Seabane and Daelin felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. That tension quickly returned as Daelin took an accounting of their fleet's current situation; only now could he understand the totality of the Hordes plan.
The goal of the traitors was to assassinate their command structure in an attempt to disorientate their fleet. Several of the Horde transport ships had already turned around and were sailing toward them, likely with the intention to board them. Death Knights riding undead dragons were quickly approaching their locations, and would be working to both do as much damage as possible while also distracting them from the incoming transport ships.
Once he understood, Daelin swiftly began barking orders that his crew moved to obey without question. Deck-mounted cannons were aimed up at the incoming dragons while ships turned their broadsides to the transport ships. Nobody waited to receive an order to begin firing, and the sea was once again filled with the sounds of cannon fire.
The broadsides proved accurate, but Daelin could tell that it wouldnt be enough. Many of the ships in the First Fleet were still sorting out their situations after the sabotage of the traitors, and the Horde ships simply numbered too many.
The deck-mounted cannons proved more promising, with several near hits. One of the dragons took a hit to its front leg, but the undead creature failed to outwardly react. Daelin could tell that the one headed to his fleet was the most agile of the bunch, which meant the abomination managed to reach them before they could shoot it out of the sky.
Daelin watched in horror as the creature opened its maw and released a stream of fire that lit one of his destroyers ablaze. It was too far for him to hear the screams of the crew, but Daelin felt as if he could hear them anyway. He wished that there was something that he could do, but he could only hope that one of his gunmen would hit their target on the creature's next approach.
Daelin had confidence that they would be able to hit the dragon eventually, but how many ships would he lose before then?
On the dragons second sweep, it targeted one of the battleships. Every deck-mounted cannon in the fleet was trying to hit the blasted creature, but his men had little practice in hitting aerial targets, and this one was much swifter than the other two.
The dragon flew down low again, and Daelin prepared himself to watch as another one of his ships was set ablaze. However, these worries proved unnecessary as a massive stream of water rose from the nearby ocean to meet the dragons fiery breath.
Im glad to see not all of the Tidesages have betrayed us
The Death Knight must have been surprised because the dragon failed to move as a cannonball struck its sides and shattered apart several of its ribs. Unfortunately, this was not enough to knock it out of the air as it simply kept on flying with a wound that would have likely downed a living dragon.
Daelin clenched his teeth as the dragon turned around for its third attack, this time headed straight for the Tidemothers Vengeance. It must have realized now that the cannons posed an actual threat to it, and the Death Knight wished to destroy the Alliance flagship.
Come then, bastard!
As the dragon flew toward him, Daelin let out a quick prayer to the Tidemother. His crew was the best in the world, and the dragon would have little room to dodge while it was coming straight at them. Daelin could feel his heart pounding as the gunmen barely missed their target, and the dragon opened its maw to reveal a bright fiery glow.
When a cannonball coming from one of the other ships suddenly blew apart the creatures jaw, Daelin had never felt such pure relief.
The Death Knight was obviously stunned and was unable to react quickly enough to prevent the dragon from crashing into the deck of Daelins ship. However, he recovered quickly and one of the dragon's massive claws slammed down onto one of the gunners, and the Death Knight didnt hesitate to jump down from his mount and unsheathe his blade.
Humans! I am the harbinger of your death! I am Teron Gorefi
Daelin didnt wait for the abomination to finish talking as he drew his pistol from its holster and fired a shot aimed at the monsters heart. If his pistol was a normal one, he doubted it would have been powerful enough to penetrate the obviously enchanted armor the being was wearing.
As it was, the bullet that was fired from the specially-made enchanted gnome pistol managed to penetrate, but the monster merely laughed as if a hole in its chest was a mere inconvenience.
One of the sailors was brave enough to charge the Death Knight, but he was quickly dispatched when the creature waved its blade and sent out a blast of dark magic that killed the man instantly, literally sucking the life out of him.
As I was saying, I am Teron Gorefiend. First of the Death Knights. What is your name, human? asked the abomination, staring directly at Daelin while its dragon continued to rampage across the deck.
Daelin gripped tightly unto Tidebringer as he began making his way down the quarterdeck, I am Daelin Proudemoore, Grand Admiral of the Alliance and ruler of KulTiras.
What grand titles! Your head will please the Warchief greatly, Gorefiend laughed at his apparent good fortune.
Youll have to earn it, monster! Daelin exclaimed as he readied his blade.
Dear Admiral thats the idea!