STRATHOLME

The dead city of Stratholme, torched by Prince Arthas in an attempt to prevent the Scourge plague, was witness to an exhausted lone human entering the gates without care for the undead denizens.

Father Inigo Montoy was surrounded by undead.

Yet he did not fear. Nor did they move to attack as he strode through their midst. For the man was cradling the phylactery of Kel'Thuzad.

He had been given the responsibility to see the phylactery destroyed by the Argent Dawn, but the crusaders had made a grave mistake.

For despite his long history and status at Light's Hope Chapel, Inigo had long ago chosen to follow a different master. And now he had almost completed his much different mission.

He had secretly stolen away by night with a few horses, after the revelry concerning Kel'Thuzad's defeat at the Chapel died down. But he knew he only had a few hours before his disappearance would be noticed and a search started.

If he was lucky, they wouldn't suspect him for a traitor right away due to his status and waste valuable time looking for other clues of foul play.

But with the phylacteries disappearance as well, it was inevitable that they'd tear up the Plaguelands looking for it.

So he had ridden the horses hard. And they hadn't survived his mistreatment.

Which had left him continuing by foot until he finally made it to Stratholme.

Which now led Inigo to further trudge purposefully across Stratholme until exiting the city through the northside gate.

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Where he beheld his final destination.

The floating citadel of Naxxramas.

NAXXRAMAS

Despite felling the lich in command of the dread citadel, the Horde and Alliance had been unable to destroy Naxxramas afterwards. And as it started to drift away without anyone to control it, the victors had been forced to leave quickly, lest they lose their ability to leave at all.

And in leaving, missed the magical signs of their foe being physically reformed.

Kel'Thuzad, once again resurrected after his physical body succumbed at the hands of the Horde and Alliance in the Plaguelands, gravely accepted the phylactery humbly proffered by his returned follower. The man knelt afterwards out of reverence.

How would the Argent Dawn react, the lich mused, now knowing that Inigo Montoy, the trusted father at Light's Hope Chapel, was a traitor. That the well-loved and highly honored man had absconded with the phylactery, meaning that Kel'Thuzad's purported defeat was ultimately nothing more than a sham victory.

Would those self-righteous mortals even dare to reveal the treachery to their allies?

His attention returned to Inigo. The man had secretly joined the Cult of the Damned soon after its creation. And his position had made him a important member, one that had proven his value today.

Kel'Thuzad peered down at the loyal cultist, "You know the Argent Dawn will never stop hunting you, as I'm sure you know."

"Yes, master."

"Your identity no longer has importance in the Eastern Kingdoms, which is unfortunate. Yet you have done exceedingly well in this matter. As you can no longer serve as our spy, I think it best that you serve the Scourge in another way."

Inigo looked up at the lich with blatant hope, "Do you mean?"

"Yes, you have earned it."

His follower had outdone himself. And deserved the promised reward.

Immortality. Through undeath.

Kel'Thuzad calculated that it would do good for the Cult of the Damned to have recent proof of someone achieving their shared goal. It would doubtless spur their efforts and zeal in the near future.

Kel'Thuzad dismissed the ecstatic Inigo as the lich glided to his chambers at the citadel's highest point.

Despite his defeat, it had only been temporary. The lich had succeeded in his primary mission to probe the strengthened defenses that lay in the Scourge's way.

Lordaeron had fallen quickly due to being the first victim and being unprepared. However, the Scourge had been prevented from using that momentum to further conquer the Eastern Kingdoms when the Lich King was forced to defend his throne from demonic machinations.

But with the threat expulsed, and Northrend fully under the Lich King's grip, the Scourge would finish what was started.

Soon enough, the world would join Kel'Thuzad in service to the unmistakable might of the Lich King.

But for now, as the lich magically piloted the flying fortress north, it was time to return to Northrend.