The Great Thief

Stormwind City was still as magnificent as it was before, but Lu Li felt that the atmosphere was heavy.

“Ok, here will do, I owe you big time. When all of this ends…” the Marshall trailed off as he dismounted his horse, patted it and left.

Reginald Windsor used to be a soldier under Anduin Lothar. A few decades ago, he attacked the Tower of Medivh alongside him.

Now, he was old and had come to terms with the fate of his life.

“Yes Marshall, but I wish to fight alongside with you again one day. I want to follow you until my final days.”

Lu Li received a quest notification and completed the Escorting Marshall quest. However, he did

not plan on leaving yet.

“Soldier,” Marshall Windsor began as he firmly gripped Lu Li’s shoulders and looked him sternly into his eyes, then continued, “I will accept your request, but please, be on your guard.”

“I will fight with blood and glory.”

A fully armored Warrior and a mysterious Thief made their way through the Stormwind gates.

Water Fairy hesitated but followed shortly behind.

She’d never seen this side of Lu Liu before. Was it because deep down in every man’s heart, there was a dream and a desire to be the hero? They would ignore all fears and obstacles that stopped them from achieving that dream.

“Reginald, you know I cannot let you pass!”

High Command of Stormwind Defences General Marcus Jonathan appeared with his squad. His hands held tightly onto the sword. He was facing an old friend but because of his duties, he had no choice but to stop him.

“You must do what you think is right, Marcus. We served together under Turalyon. He made us both the men that we are today. Did he err with me? Do you truly believe my intent is to cause harm to our Alliance? Would I shame our heroes?”

“Look at the five heroes behind you. Am I really mistaken?”

Marcus Jonathan stared at Windsor as he hid away the pain that he felt. They had become friends when they both first joined the army and had survived through many wars time and time again.

They were both humans and served as perfect exemplars as to how a soldier should be. They weren’t afraid of death nor hardships, willing to sacrifice everything they had in order to protect Stormwind, even their own beliefs and values.

“I am ashamed, old friend. I know not what I do anymore. It is not you that would dare bring shame to the heroes of legend – it is I. It is I and the rest of these corrupt politicians. They fill our lives with empty promises, unending lies. We shame our ancestors. We shame those lost to us… forgive me, Reginald.

“Now, it is time to bring her reign to an end, Marcus. Stand down, friend.”

The soldiers who were assigned to stop the ‘traitor’ were confused. Were they supposed to follow orders and attack this legend or put down their weapons and stand down?

General Marcus Jonathan says: Stand down! Can you not see that heroes walk among us?

General Marcus Jonathan says: Move aside! Let them pass!

Marcus Jonathan yelled and the soldiers cleared a path for them to pass. They all knew about the story of Reginald Windsor and the sacrifices he made for the Alliance.

General Marcus Jonathan says: Go, Reginald. May the light guide your hand.

The soldiers bowed down in respect because they knew that Windsor was about to become a hero in Stormwind.

The party then proceeded from the gates to the base of the keep. Along the way, the city guards stood and paid tribute to Windsor.

“Light be with you, sir.”

“We are but dirt beneath your feet, sir.”

“You are the nerves of thorium.”

“Make way!”

“A living legend…”

The players in Stormwind noticed this and a crowd gathered to see what was happening. They saw the respected Reginald Windsor as well as the two players that followed behind him.

Many were quick to recognize that it was Lu Li and Water Fairy.

Before they entered the Stormwind Keeps, Windsor said, “Be brave, friends. The reptile will thrash wildly. It is an act of desperation. When you are ready, give me the word. The dragon hides behind a royal facade. The tablets will reveal her for what she is… If what I have seen holds true, I will not survive this battle, friend. It is you that must finish what I have started. Are your forces ready? Are you ready? We will begin on your command.”

“I am ready, as are my forces. Let us end this masquerade!” they both declared.

The party then entered the keep.

Marshall Windsor yelled out, “The masquerade is over, Lady Prestor. Or should I call you by your true name, Onyxia?”

“You will be incarcerated and tried for treason, Windsor. I shall watch with glee as they hand down a guilty verdict and sentence you to death by hanging.”

Lady Katrana Prestor walked out, followed by a group of Human Royals.

“As your limp body dangles from the rafters, I shall take pleasure in knowing that a mad man has been put to death. After all, what proof do you have? Did you expect to come in here and point your fingers at me and leave unscathed?” Katrana said as she stared at Windsor with a condescending look. The Marshal was nothing but an old and washed-up soldier in her eyes.

“I may be hanged, but before that I swear to expose you!” Windsor yelled back.

Windsor took out the two stone tablets from the Blackrock Depths, which were the reason why he came to Stormwind.

“You will not escape your fate, Onyxia. It has been prophesied – a vision resonating from the great halls of Karazhan. It ends now…The Dark Iron Dwarves thought these tablets to be encoded. This is not any form of coding; it is the tongue of the ancient dragon. Listen, dragon. Let the truth resonate throughout these halls.”

Reginald Windsor then began reading from the tablets.

Lady Katrana Prestor’s expression changed completely after hearing where the ancient enchantment had come from.

“Guards, seize him at once!”

Highlord Bolvar gasped as Katrana Prestor shes her disguise and revealed herself as Lady Onyxia

The black dragon Onyxia was the daughter of Deathwing and had political influence over the city of Stormwind. With her beauty and knowledge, she was appointed by Bolvar Fordragon and quickly earned his trust.

She had finally been exposed.

The aristocrats and Bolvar were all stunned.

Lady Onyxia was surprisingly calm and asked, “I’m curious, Windsor – in this vision, did you survive? I only ask because one thing that I can and will assure is your death, here and now.”

Lu Li jumped and appeared in front of the Marshal in order to take the hit for him. That way, the lore could be rewritten. Lady Onyxia had already been revealed and the dungeon Onyxia Lair would be available for them.

It could be possible that the Marshal did not have to die.

He could continue on his journey and die an honorable death on the battlefield as he would have wished for.

Onyxia’s claws began glowing eerily as her guards morphed into reptilian creatures.

Many players charged in with the same thinking as Lu Li. They would do anything to stop Onyxia from killing the respected veteran.

However, no matter how many players stood before Windsor, Onyxia’s magic was like the bright morning sun after a night of snow, melting away everything in its path, including Lu Li, Water Fairy and all the players present.

“No, Windsor, No!” Bolvar Fordragon cried out.

Unfortunately, it was too late and no one could change the fate of the Marshall.

Bolvar rose up and killed every guard that stood in his way; his eyes were determined and there would be no mercy.

No matter how many he killed, he could not bring back Windsor. After the battle, Bolvar knelt down next to Windsor and cried, “Windsor… I… I’m sorry…”

Lu Li was able to narrowly survive with Gale Step, but he did not feel happy at all.

His heart was filled with bitterness as he helplessly watched Windsor die. At that very moment, he truly felt what it was like to be powerless and useless.

Marshal Reginald Windsor, a legendary knight who discovered that Katrana Prestor was really the black dragon Onyxia, had paid for this knowledge with his life. He had slain countless enemies, been captured and tortured and had sacrificed all he had for the Alliance.

The ground was scattered with dropped items, but no one was in the mood to loot them.

“Onyxia!” Bolvar Fordragon yelled as he held onto Windsor’s still body tightly, “You will pay for this!”

Following this came a System announcement: Congratulations to Lu Li and Water Fairy for unmasking the black dragon Onyxia. Onyxia’s Lair has now been open. Bolvar Fordragon has placed a bounty and reward for Onyxia and players are welcomed to join in on the hunt.