Chapter Two-The Riddle Master and the Hunt For the Black Blade

Part 1- The Riddle Master

With the creation of the new Wardens, Duvaineth was given access to a vault with various items that belonged to the former order. Amongst those belongings was a key chain with two keys to a saronite cage and a stack of scrolls, that had detailed information where the corpse of Isadora Rose Dawn the fallen founder was being kept. Duvaineth briefly read that specific scroll not noting much down in her mind.

During that day she recruited a few knights. Some were of the former Shroud and Wardens, some were new. While roaming Stormwind to find more recruits they were approached by an Ebon Knight who spoke in riddles. He'd repeat gibberish over and over. All they could understand was the word "Pretenders". Duvaineth with her mind set on her task to find new recruits, dismissed the Riddle Master knight as crazy.

When the moon was high and the city sound asleep, The Riddle Master and a female knight ambushed the Wardens. The Wardens managed to slay the female, by removing her head in a dark alley close to the pig. Chopped her body into little pieces and scattered them around for the rats to eat. The Riddle Master managed to escape, his final words once again, "Pretenders". Yet again Duvaineth did not pay attention to the key word given, as the new Wardens of the Blade returned to the Acherus.

The following day they gathered in the Hold, where they began training their blades. All of a sudden some Ebon Guard sounded a warhorn, following with orders for the Wardens of the Blade to descend to the enclave and confront an unknown group that was approaching. Once down below the hold, from the distance a small unit emerged. Leading them the Riddle Master, yelling out " Death to the pretenders". The horn was sounded as battle broke out. All sorts of evil magic's were unleashed as the two sides of Ebon Knights engaged in a small civil war. Heads were removed and bodies decapitated, with the new Wardens prevailing in battle with two prisoners. One was a Crazy worgen called Pat, the others name unknown. Amongst the dead bodies the Riddle Master was no where to be found. He must of cowardly fled once again. Some information was gathered, a clue that Pat the crazy was behind these attacks, but as they spoke some more Duvaineth realized the Riddle Master was using Pat as a scapegoat.

Duvaineth took the prisoners to the hold where they were imprisoned and foolishly left without guards. The Next day when the Wardens went to the cage, the prisoners were no where to be seen. How they escaped very unclear. Only explanation was someone had a spare key. Duvaineth ran to the vault, recalling of seen a spare key chain upon a wall. Once inside her eyes opened wide. One key was missing along with the scroll she had read the previous day. She dug around, noting down in her mind, what else may of been stolen. To great surprise the Black Blade containing the ashes of the shroud and warden tabards was also missing. She searched her mind for the location of the Founders corpse and began planning to seek it out. "Where the corpse is so shall be these traitors", she muttered as she leaft the vault.

Part 2- The Hunt for the Black Blade

The following day in the city of Stormwind, she located a group of well know explorers who called themselves the Freelancers. Without hesitation they struck a deal. Coin would be the reward. They set a date and time to meet, to begin what they now called it, The Hunt for the Black Blade.

Upon the next few days the Wardens searched the city for clues and rumors that may be found about this group of traitors. Some humans saw the Riddle Master, pass with a group of knights into the tram for Ironforge. The Freelancers and the Wardens had gathered by that time. Together they set out for the city known for its Great Forge.

Once they set foot outside the tram, they were met by dwarves with drawn weapons. The only way to pass was by handing their weapons over until they were past the city gates. The group of Wardens and Freelancers agreed but were placed and guarded in a tavern in the city. A senator named Irondawn lead Duvaineth and the leader of the Freelancers to a military hall. There they questioned the groups intentions, which led to a political disturbance. Only if Duvaineth had known, she needed the senates permission to hunt down traitors in Kaz Modan. Lucky she was by choosing the correct words, she had presented the traitors as renegades. The dwarfs in their own minds formed the image of scourge. They asked once or twice and she simply nodded. Two and two equals four, the Dwarfs of Ironforge decided to join the hunt. There fore permitting the Wardens and Freelancers to proceed with their task.

They marched beyond the gates as cannons fired in honor of the dwarfs who marched. They sent scouts in all directions, that returned with clues of Kharanos, so there they marched. The small town buildings had rifles out of every window. An old innkeeper came out and approached Marshall Gilran of the dwarven army. The inkeeper motioned towards the undead knights who stood behind the dwarven lines. . After the Marshall gatherd what information he could, the group pushed on towards the south. The Freelancers broke off from the main group in search for clues.

Further down the road a wagon of wounded dwarfs was found. The mighty ones from Ironforge attended to them, while the Wardens pushed on with only a few dwarfs to lead the way. As they marched on they came upon another clue. Fallen dwarves laid in the middle of the road. Suddenly they rose up and attacked the group. Soon more joined in from the surrounding forest. Necromancy was now clearly seen to of been performed. The battle was brief with the destruction of the freshly risen dwarven ghouls.

Around the time of the end of battle, all had gathered once more. The Freelancers had found an ancient dwarven rune, Duvaineth uninterested let the living admire it while she stood aside and observed. Some talk about looking for a forest, as the leader of the Freelancers pointed to a tree and commented, "Are we looking for a forest? Well here is a tree! Damn clue right there." Duvaineth was not sure what to make of that comment. The ghouls on the path was the only clue useful to them. As for a forest and trees she had no idea why that would be a clue helping in the Hunt. She finally spoke up and suggested following the road. All agreed and once again the group began to move.

The path now led them to a cave, outside lay a dead ebon flying steed. The Wardens were to dispose of the steed, but instead they burried it, far from watching dwarven eyes, beneath the snow. The group slowly entered the cave, where inside was the Riddle Master, two knights and the corpse of Isadora Rose Dawn. One again he repeated the word "Pretenders".

The dwarfs were the first in battle who managed to slay the Riddle Master and his knights. The fight was briefer than Duvaineth had suspected. Upon the corpse of the Riddle master, scrolls and the Black Blade of Dawn were found. She took the Black Blade and opened its ruby pummel, pouring the ashes it contained into a small sachiel. Their mission a success. All was now clear in Duvaineths mind. The Riddle Master must of been a former Warden who thought he could strike his claim as rightful leader of the order, by killing Duvaineth with the blade of the true founder Dawn. Only if the fool had known that it was the Highlords command for Duvaineth to reforge the order. The corpse of the founder Dawn was delivered to the Acherus and placed in the vault with the remaining relics of the old Wardens. As for the Blade and sachiel of ashes, only Duvaineth knows where they rest.

[ Many thanks to The Three Hammers, The Freelancers, The Wardens, everyone who attended and Kyrby our Dungeon Master. You all made this event fun]


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