“We will fight, we have to!  We cannot allow these creatures to destroy us in our sleep.  How can you back down now?”
        “Sire, we all know that you are furious after the destruction of Azeroth, but now is not the time, we are so few.  We have fifty armed men at most.”
        As they sat and discussed their plans over a small amount of food, Janos pondered what his long-time friend and consultant, Lothar, had said.  Janos knew the power of the Unspoken Horde himself having witnessed its fury as it desecrated his home and viciously murdered his people without one single sign of remorse.  “Alright, I agree.  Tonight we shall camp here and tomorrow we shall continue our journey towards the Pillars for answers.”  As Janos said this, Lothar could see the despair in his eyes, but said nothing.  He knew how much anger his master was holding and was very gracious that Janos truly listened to him, setting the rage aside.  Lothar had always been Janos' truest friend and closest ally ever since their youth, which led Janos to agree with most points made by his long time companion.  
        The next day was dark and gloomy, just as the others before when Janos was in his deepest despair.  The surroundings always seemed to change to fit what he felt emotionally, but Janos thought nothing of it.  The air was cold and stale, yet the group moved on through the never ending, wet marshes, hating every move and wishing for release as they went on.  Making it worse, everything was quiet, not a creature stirred.  The few creatures left, silently hid without making a move, fearing the thought of being caught by the Horde.  
        Janos and Lothar rode ahead as Janos’ four main generals, Hadrian, Mortanius, Rachel, and Lestan, rode directly behind them in their search for some possible answers, at the mysterious Pillars.  As he always had before, Hadrian studied the land about them and ahead.  Ever since his childhood, Hadrian seemed to have the ability to sense oncoming dangers through a form of telepathy.  Luckily for him and his weary band of companions, he sensed no such danger and actually had a good feeling about the road ahead.  Mortanius, on the other hand, was not keeping such an enthusiastic outlook on their current situation.  He had been a wealthy nobleman for quite some time in Azeroth, containing and managing almost all of the economy, and did not like his newfound lack of money after being forced to leave his home.  Rachel rode proud on her steed, knowing that she was the only female leader and that she had definitely earned it.  Being the brother of Janos, Rachel felt she had to prove that she really deserved the title.  When the first wave of the enemy drew in, her blade became the most stained and her path contained the most followers, as she led them to safety.  Just about everyone else was thinking of the road ahead or the climate around them, yet Lestan was not.  He was only thinking of what had just recently happened to his home.  He could not get over the fact that his family and most of his friends were dead.  He would have his revenge, when the time was right.  

        Later that night, Stefan and Drakis, the two soldiers with the keenest eyes in the troop, had ridden ahead to scout for the armies of the Unspoken nemesis and in search of the right way to the Pillars.  They had come to a clearing in the forest and were not too far away before Drakis had spotted the Pillars.  
        “There, look ahead, I see them.”
        “Aye, me also,” Stefan replied.
        As Drakis looked upon them, he thought to himself, “Why are we coming here?  What does Janos hope to find?”  And with that, they turned around and rode back to the others who were not far behind.
        “Sire, we have seen the Pillars,” Stefan said as he and Drakis returned, “they are just beyond the edge of the forest.”
        As Stefan said this, a cold wind blew, revealing a mist.  Janos felt the cold chill down the back of his neck and could hear the cries of his freezing people.  He gathered Lothar and his generals to tell them, “We must move quickly.  A mist has come that could greatly jeopardize our safety against our nemesis.  Move everyone to the edge of the forest, so we can camp close to the Pillars.”  This was done quickly, for everyone wanted to rest again.  Once their encampment was made, Drakis led Janos, Lothar and Mortanius to the Pillars as Rachel, Hadrian and Lestan were left behind to watch over the camp.  
        The group steadily moved forward with Janos enthusiastically leading.  He seemed to be the only one anticipating the interaction to come.  As the four stepped closer and reached the base of the monolithic structure, each had their own feelings about it.  Mortanius actually did not have the sore feelings that he had had a little while before.  It was as if all of his sore feelings were washed away with the awe of the Pillars.  Janos felt quite the same only his enthusiasm became intensified.  Lothar and Drakis, being very loyal supporters of Janos, felt the same way as their leader.  
        "This structure is beyond belief," Janos cried out, "the answers we seek must lie here.  Do you agree Lothar?"
        "I do not see anything that would lead to that conclusion, yet I feel the same way," Lothar replied, "as if the Pillars are reaching out and whispering assurances to my soul."
        Mortanius and Drakis nodded in agreement, when suddenly the mist seemed to disappear from out of sight.  When the mist faded, a loud, deep voice bellowed from the center Pillar exclaiming, "Janos, you are worthy."  As the others gasped in disbelief, Janos just starred directly back at the Pillar with a look of understanding, yet with a hint of awe still glaring in his eyes.  He did not exactly know what was happening, yet he could feel some unconscious understanding from deep within himself.  
        After a moment, the voice began again "Janos, you have been chosen."  When the voice spoke again, Janos still seemed awed by it yet he seemed to snap out of the trance he was in.  

        "Who are you?  Who has chosen me and for what?"  Janos replied. 
         The booming voice responded, "As you should know, Nosgoth is in chaos.  The Unspoken Horde, as you call it, is running rampant throughout the land.  Nearly every creature's life is now gone or extremely close to being taken away.  You, your few followers, and some other small groups are the only ones left alive."
         Still with a look of awe in his face, but with a touch of urgency in his voice, Janos replied, "I understand this, yet you have still not answered me.  Who are you and what I have been chosen for?  As you should know, my people are freezing, starving and dying.  I apologize for my rudeness, yet time does not stand still and the Horde is not idle while it grows more powerful each day."  The voice then bellowed with laughter, "That is exactly why you have been chosen.  The land is dying Janos and you are the one to save it.  I reside in the underworld, ruling the souls that travel there after life.  With all of the death from your world, mine is becoming chaotic.  There is no order and especially, no balance.  You must return balance to Nosgoth by forcing the Horde to leave your world."
         With that said Mortanius, Drakis and Lothar stared in wonder at their leader.  They all knew he was powerful and important, yet this was shocking to them.  It was his destiny to save the world.  Would he accept such an important quest?  As they all pondered this, Janos nodded, "I gladly except, yet how will this be done?  No one has ever defeated the Horde."
         With a new light to his voice, the voice spoke, "Ah that is good to hear.  Do not fret, this is not a job you can do alone.  Not only will you need your own warriors, you will also need the help of someone else.  Come Nickolai, it is time to show yourself and your brethren."  As the voice ended, noises could be heard not too far off in the woods beyond the Pillars.  Drakis was the first to make out who and what they were.  "My god, you cannot expect us to fight along side with them.  They are our enemies!"  Janos was then able to see who his companion was talking about when the voice said, "They are the surviving members of the Warlock clan, the last werewolves.  Come Nickolai, meet the new leader of the fallen kingdom of Azeroth."  
         Tall and proud, Nickolai stepped out from his brethren with his two lieutenants, Raul and Rashide standing directly behind him.  He seemed shorter than he really was, as he stood hunched on his two hind legs.  Quickly after inspecting Nickolai, Mortanius burst out, "look at him mocking us, standing on two legs instead of four.  Janos, Drakis is right.  How can this voice expect us to fight with them?"  Janos paid very close attention to everything going on before shouting out, "Drakis, Mortanius stop!  This is not how the leaders of Azeroth treat a new ally.  He is not attempting to be a threat and he is definitely not mocking us.  If you would open your eyes more, you would realize that this is his attempt at respect for we humans."  
         Nickolai then began to talk, "your master is right, we mean no harm.  Like you, we have been thrown out of our homes and made to suffer because of the ruthlessness of the Horde.  At first, we felt the same as you about the two of us becoming allies, yet we have come to realize that by ourselves we cannot defeat the Unspoken.  You need us as we need you."  With shame in their eyes, Mortanius and Drakis nodded as if they understood perfectly.  Without a word being spoken by either of them again, Nickolai knew that they, in fact, did really understand and felt ashamed.  
         The voice laughed out again, "Janos, Nickolai, you have done well.  Now, before you set out, I have one last thing to give both of you.  Nickolai, step up to the Pillar before you and take this."  Nickolai did as he was told and grabbed the object that suddenly appeared.  It was an amulet with a green jewel in the center surrounded by gold and silver rings as if protecting it.  As he silently studied it, the voice spoke out, "This is the Amulet of your great-grandfather taken from him years ago by the Horde and now it is finally returned to its rightful owner.  Now, Janos, step up to the Pillar and take your item."  Janos stepped up and reached out to find a sword placed in his hand.  The handle was firm and seemed to be made of a metal unknown to the land with tight leather twisted around it.  Like the handle, the blade seemed to be made of the same metal and did not stand straight as most swords did at the time.  Instead, it was long and wavy as if forged by a mad man.  Then between the handle and the blade was a dark skull.  The voice then explained, "This is the Soul Reaver, forged in the spirit realm and unlike any sword ever created.  I made this wraith blade for your quest of vengeance.  Take it and use it wisely, for it is more powerful than you would ever know.  Now you and your people are ready to achieve victory.  The Horde is not far and will not be hard to find, they will be looking for you."  With their new weapons in hand, both felt ready for battle and like they could actually defeat their nemesis.   
         Janos then quickly motioned for Nickolai, his two lieutenants, Mortanius and Lothar to gather and discuss battle plans.  Drakis then immediately knew that he should run back to the camp and fetch Janos' other three generals, Rachel, Hadrian and Lestan.  When they arrived, they quickly began to tell everything that had happened and discuss what was to happen next…
         The next day, the two groups gathered together and set out for battle.  They all moved on knowing that the enemy could attack at any moment, without any warning.  Nothing happened until they reached an opening in the forest.  Beyond the opening, laid a large plain or grass with one large hill not too far ahead.  It was there, when they all came out of the forest, that the loud, shrill scream of the Unspoken could be heard just beyond the hill.  As if the Horde had been expecting and awaiting them, they suddenly sped down the hill and toward the defenders of justice.  As always, there were not many, about half of the alliance's forces, yet their gigantic size made up for this.  They all stood eight to ten feet tall on their massive legs with their arms and claws stretched out as if to grab the nearest creature and rip it apart.  In front of their people, Janos and Nickolai awaited the oncoming menace as Janos yelled out, "Arm yourselves and do not fear death, but instead await our victory."  Shortly after that the first line of the enemy reached the heroes.  
         They were a pure menace to the eyes, yet the forces of Azeroth and the Warlock clan held their own.  As they fought each other, most of the humans teamed up with one werewolf against one of the demons.  The werewolves fought bravely as they slashed with their claws and bit deep with their large knifelike teeth as the humans fought valiantly, striking the demons with their swords, axes and maces.  Rachel and Lestan were the first to team up.  They both killed many by having Lestan beat the beasts into submission with his mace.  Then when the creature was temporarily subdued, Rachel would make the final blow by cutting the demons' head off with her sword.  Mortanius fought with Raul until one of the demons made a huge gash in Raul's head, killing him instantly.  Mortanius then began to fight with Rashide who had been fighting with Hadrian before his chest was ripped open.  Janos fought alongside Lothar and Nickolai as they killed the most demons.  
         The battle raged on and the alliance began to win for the first time ever.  The three just finished taking down one of the largest, when the leader of the Horde stepped into view.  Even more massive than the one they just killed, he walked through the crowd without halting at all as he cut off the other warriors' heads.  Janos knew that if he could destroy him, it would be the end and the Horde would retreat.  
        As if they could read his mind, Lothar and Nickolai walked with him to the leader.  When they reached him, Janos made the first move, striking the creature's arm with the Soul Reaver.  The demon quickly moved but it still cut deep into his skin.  Furiously, he then cried out and swiped at Nickolai close to the ground.  As Nickolai dodged, Lothar jolted in to stab the beast.  As if anticipating this, the massive creature kicked Lothar's legs out from under him, making him fall to the ground.  Lothar could not get back up in time as the creature's leg made one final blow to Lothar's back.  Janos cried out in the deepest rage Nickolai had ever seen and slashed at the beast.  Janos made slash after slash, hitting the demon in the left arm then the right, to the right leg and then the stomach until he fell to his knees.  As he raised his sword to make one final blow, the demon reached out and grabbed Janos, knocking the Reaver out of his hands.  As the creature raised his claw to finish off Janos, Nickolai screamed out and grabbed his amulet, pointing it out at the beast.  The gold and silver rings surrounding the jewel opened up and a dark green light flashed out from the amulet into the creature's eyes.  Janos fell from his grasp as the demon screamed out in pain.  When the light stopped streaming from the amulet, the demon's head exploded, instantly killing him.  
        Janos looked over and starred at Nickolai in awe as he put down the amulet.  Nickolai then helped Janos up off of the ground.  When Janos stood up he walked closer to the body and inspected it.  Just as he turned to finish the battle, a small red light escaped from the body and headed towards Nickolai.  With a look of terror on his face, he tried to dodge it as it entered his amulet, turning the jewel inside from green to dark red.  As the transformation ended, the amulet broke apart, with every shard entering into Nickolai's flesh.  Before Janos could help his injured ally, the red light returned out of the amulet.  Quickly, it came for Janos and entered his body, knocking him unconscious.   

         When Janos awakened, he found himself in a tent with his sister, Rachel, looking over him.  As she looked down on her brother with joy in her eyes, she cried out, "we are victorious!  After you killed their leader and became unconscious, the last few demons escaped back into their own realm."  Janos felt happy upon hearing this news, yet he still could not get over Lothar and Nickolai's death and the red light entering his body.  
"Rachel," he replied, "what happened to me out there?  What was the red light that killed Nickolai and made me fall?" 
"Red light?" Rachel said, "No one knows of any red light.  All that is known is that Nickolai used his amulet and something went wrong.  The other werewolves and the doctors believe that his amulet backfired and accidentally killed him.  This force was so strong that it knocked you unconscious at the same time.  Do not worry though, for there is nothing physically wrong with you.  Yet, one thing that is a little strange is the paleness and the coldness of your skin. The doctors believe that these are probably just from the battle.  They are not worried so there is no reason why you should be."  
        All of these words from his sister calmed him done yet he still felt different.  He had been in battle before and had never felt this way.  The tent was slightly open and he could feel the sun upon his face.  Normally after sleeping, he would welcome the warm sun on his face, but this time it annoyed him.  Then, to top it off, he had a deep hunger that filled his entire body.  This was a different hunger, for the thought of food was not appealing in the least.  He wanted something else…something pure…something that he would kill for.  As he thought about this, he realized that he was reaching for his sister.  When she came to embrace him, his teeth were deep in her neck before he realized what he had done.  He dropped the dead body and got up realizing he was not human anymore.  He had become something else…