Chapter 1: The Rising

  "I am going to die," was the last thought Negiem had before the Scourge broke their way into his tiny cabin in Eastern Lorderon. Holding onto the golden pocket watch his father gave to him as a child, the mindless undead tore at his limbs and ripped his gut open. His screams were pointless, no one could save him now.

    Negiem didn't have much family. His mother died during child birth, leaving his father to take care of him. His father became depressed, due to the death of his wife, and couldn't bear to find love again; leaving Negiem an only child. His father died when he was sixteen, leaving him alone against the world. Negiem's purpose in life was never found, but perhaps his destiny was not meant to be fulfilled in life, but rather in death.

    "Another day, another body..." sighs Mort. "Let's hope this next one isn't as brain dead as the others, eh?" Mort says to the val'kyr, an angel-like being who can raise the dead. The val'k'yr doesn't reply. "You don't talk much, do you?" Mort says while glaring at the translucent female figure. "Oh well, I suppose it's better than heading into this morbid place by myself." Mort lights his rusty lantern and heads down the crypt stairs. "Watch your step, val'kyr. This place is older than I am..." The stairs led into a large ante-chamber filled with cobwebs and skittering insects. In the corner of the ante-chamber was a Deathguard, who was trying to re-attach his jaw that had fallen off. "Ah, Deathguard Slackjaw! Good to see you again, my friend." Smiled Mort. "I really wish you would stop calling me that, it's not my fault my jaw keeps falling off!" Slackjaw says to Mort. "True, but it's damn hilarious." Mort says in between chuckles. "Anyway, who did you find out in the Plaguelands this time?" Questions Mort. "Some poor lad who was torn apart in a small cabin, I managed to fix him up the best I could." Slackjaw states, as drool drips down his mouth. "Very well." Sighed Mort, "Let's get this over with." The val'kyr moved close to the body and began uttering a chant that neither Mort or Slackjaw understood. An aura of life filled the ante-chamber and strange, magical energies flowed into the rigid corpse. Then suddenly, it stopped.

    "Well, did it work?" Slackjaw asked, looking confused. Mort began to tell the val'kr to try again when suddenly a deafening scream came from the body. "No! Get away from me!" The once dead, now upright body yelled. "Whoa, calm down! Relax, you're alright... well... mostly alright." Mort interjected. "W-where am I? Who are you?" The frightened character said. "We are the Forsaken, but where you are is not important. The good thing is that the ritual worked." Mort replied. "Now, what is your name?" "M-my name? My name is Negiem... am I dead?" Negiem asked. "You were dead about ten seconds ago, but we brought you back to life. Welcome back to the world of the living." Mort said with a smirk. "You are now one of us, one of the Forsaken." Mort stated clearly. "So, you're not Scourge?" Negiem asked. "Bah! Even hearing that word makes me furious, no we are not. The Lich King is dead, no longer will he make the dead do his bidding." Mort said angrily. "We serve the Dark Lady, Sylvannas Windrunner. Her rebelion against the Lich King gave us our freedom. "I've heard of this 'Dark Lady' before, wasn't she an elven ranger from Quel'Thalas?" Negiem asked, trying to make sense of the situation. "Yes, she was killed by the Lich King defending her home. The bastard made her a banshee, but no longer is she a slave to him." Mort replied. Negiem thought for a moment and then asked, "So if the Lich King is gone, why are the Forsaken raising the dead?" "Good, you're still able to think properly. Most of the newly risen are dumb as rocks." Mort laughed."To answer your question, we are building an army. We need to show the Horde that we are loyal, and not traitors like that bloody Putress. "Mort nearly flinched as he said the name. "Who?" Negiem asked, looking confused once again. "Nevermind, it's not important right now. Get on your feet, we're leaving." Mort replied.