(7:19:07 PM) Void: The ride was long and hard, but in the end, you are too late
(7:19:20 PM) Void: As you arrive at Stratholme, the air is thick with necrotic energies
(7:19:48 PM) Void: Gazing down on the sleepy town, you can see people are already showing the signs of metamorphosis
(7:19:51 PM) Void: Movements are slower
(7:19:57 PM) Void: Coughing and wheezing can be heard
(7:19:58 PM) Eric: Avshar's troop of knights meets up with the Imperial Guard, the Wizard Prince himself at their head
(7:20:11 PM) Void: But by and large nobody is aware that the tainted grain is slowly taking hold
(7:20:20 PM) Void: And people are continuing with their duties as if nothing has happened
(7:20:27 PM) Prof: "Glad you could make it, Avshar." Arthas doesn't sound especially glad.
(7:20:36 PM) Void: Your troops stand poised on the outskirts of the city's South Gate
(7:20:44 PM) Void: On a bluff overlooking the town
(7:21:00 PM) Eric: Avshar did a half bow from atop his horse, "I am here to serve the crown in any way I can, Prince."
(7:21:01 PM) Void: The mood is tense, the area is still encircled by the undead
(7:21:06 PM) Prof: Arthas is on horseback, enormous hammer in hand.
(7:21:14 PM) Void: Cecil: It is good to have you on our side, Master
(7:21:31 PM) Void: Cecil is generally more sincere about it than Arthas
(7:21:37 PM) Prof: Arthas: "There's something I learned about the plague we're here to..."
(7:21:42 PM) Prof: "...oh no..."
(7:21:55 PM) Prof: He sees the dim necrotic haze over the city.
(7:22:00 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Are we too late?"
(7:22:10 PM) Void: Cecil: This is not good. I can feel the energies in my bones.
(7:22:17 PM) Void: Cecil: What do you make of it Master?
(7:22:35 PM) Eric: Avshar: "A very subtle form of necromancy."
(7:22:42 PM) Prof: Arthas: "This is even worse than it looks... the plague was never meant to kill our subjects."
(7:22:46 PM) Eric: "I know the principles behind it"
(7:23:03 PM) Prof: Arthas: "It was meant to claim them for the legions of the undead!"
(7:23:14 PM) Void: Cecil can barely stifle a gasp.
(7:23:22 PM) Void: Cecil: Monstrous indeed. What can be done?
(7:23:34 PM) Prof: Arthas: "All these people are doomed to become that which we're fighting to destroy."
(7:23:41 PM) Eric: Avshar takes a breath to make a suggestion before being interrupted by Arthas
(7:23:44 PM) Kattu: Jaina: "No.. that cannot be true. We must be able to do something!"
(7:23:47 PM) Prof: A pained look crosses Arthas's face, quickly turning into rage.
(7:23:54 PM) Prof: Arthas: "This entire city must be purged."
(7:24:33 PM) Void: Cecil: ...can we do nothing else? Nothing at all?
(7:24:35 PM) Eric: Avshar: "That is incredibly wasteful. There are still many useful resources here"
(7:24:58 PM) Prof: Arthas: "You would have us USE these monsters?!"
(7:25:23 PM) Eric: Avshar: "I shall take whatever weapon comes to hand to strike down my foes"
(7:25:56 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Unthinkable! As your future king, I order you to purge this city!"
(7:26:28 PM) Void: Cecil: Know that I stand with you in this my friend, but pray reconsider. Is there nothing else we can do?
(7:26:39 PM) Void: Cecil: If it must be so my sword is yours
(7:26:45 PM) Void: Cecil: But... to do this?
(7:26:46 PM) Kattu: A mixture of the conversation and Arthas' orders leave Jaina in silence. The look of horror and disgust betrays her thoughts easily, as she struggles to think of a solution in the short timeframe they have.
(7:27:26 PM) Eric: Avshar: "You are not my King, boy."
(7:28:00 PM) Prof: Arthas: "A trivial detail. All serve the same crown, which is destined for me."
(7:28:02 PM) Prof: It begins to rain.
(7:28:28 PM) Prof: Arthas: "By the right of my succession, and in the name of the crown, I hereby exile you from the Empire's service."
(7:28:55 PM) Void: Cecil definitely can't hold back a gasp here
(7:29:12 PM) Prof: Arthas turns to face the city, carrying a lit torch in his off hand.
(7:29:18 PM) Void: Although his Master's suggestion was certainly monstrous, the Dark Sword has taught him that it has merit
(7:29:29 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Those who have the resolve to save this land, come with me. The rest of you, get out of my sight."
(7:29:31 PM) Eric: Avshar: "Bah! I never swore allegiance to your emperor to begin with. If you don't want my help, I have my own agendas that need my attention"
(7:29:40 PM) Void: However, he knows in his heart that he would have no stomache for the business. He is not even sure he can do this
(7:29:48 PM) Void: Steeling himself, he turns towards the city, swallowing hard
(7:30:02 PM) Void: Cecil: Sorrowful though this business is, I stand with you my friend.
(7:30:03 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Coming, Jaina?"
(7:30:24 PM) Eric: Avshar's troops peel away from Arthas' troop and start galloping towards Statholme, carrying nets and cages in addition to their normal weapons
(7:30:27 PM) Kattu: She can't even bring herself to look at Arthas as she shakes her head.
(7:30:36 PM) Kattu: Jaina: "I'm sorry, Arthas. I can't watch you do this."
(7:30:58 PM) Prof: Arthas's voice is strained. "So it comes to this, then? After all you said, all we've been throguh, you reject me in the end."
(7:31:04 PM) Prof: Arthas: "I shouldn't have expected more."
(7:31:56 PM) Kattu: Nothing more needs to be said from her own lips as she starts down the path that brought them to this city.
(7:32:26 PM) Prof: Arthas heads in, directing some of his knights (the ones who didn't abandom him just now) to block off the other exits to the city.
(7:32:29 PM) Prof: He has work to do.
(7:32:55 PM) Void: (Xykon and Black Mage, you may now react to the troop movements)
(7:34:19 PM) Dragon: Xykon's just been hanging out and enjoying the scene -- making skeletons fight each other in gladitorial combat and stuff -- but even he can sense something's different. Out of the base he'd appropriated for his own use he pops, flying up to see what's bugging him.
(7:34:39 PM) Void: Xykon sees the Knights of the Imperial Guard moving to encircle the city
(7:34:45 PM) Void: Curiously, they are sealing the exits
(7:35:51 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "...I think I see where this is going, and I think I like it."  And that leads the sorcerer to swoop a little lower, hunting for the leader of this little expedition.
(7:36:32 PM) Prof: Arthas is looking very leaderly! Except for the part where he and his men seem to be sort of
(7:36:36 PM) Prof: burning the city.
(7:36:50 PM) AOB: Black Mage has been wandering in and out of his new shoe store. With the upcoming battle in mind, he has been preparing a most adequate gear. He's wearing the clothes of an average peasant and the face of the old cobbler, Cobblepot, around his face. He's watching from afar, of course, looking specifically for the commanders. And as he sees the burning from a distance away...
(7:37:18 PM) AOB: Black Mage: "Hey... wait, isn't that supposed to be... our job? Aren't they supposed to be trying to, I don't know... save the city?"
(7:38:36 PM) Void: (Xykon and Black Mage may continue if they have any actions against the troops, otherwise please respond with a +)
(7:39:19 PM) Dragon: Xykon:  "Hey, if the prince wants to get close and personal with some blackguard levels, a little push down the slippery slope never hurt anyone... HEY DOWN THERE!"  Xykon flies down a little closer to Arthas, doing his best to look angry.
(7:39:47 PM) Prof: Arthas: "You..."
(7:40:09 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "I'm already wrecking up this city!  Who invited you?"
(7:40:10 PM) Prof: "...are BEYOND redemption!" Arthas launches a lightning-like stream of purifying holy light at Xykon's chest.
(7:40:17 PM) Void: (Xykon react)
(7:40:54 PM) Dragon: Xykon hadn't been prepared for that.  The bolt catches him square in the chest, sending him hurtling behind a building.  "OW!  Son of -- I forgot how much pain HURTS!"
(7:41:05 PM) Void: (Xykon and Arthas, duel away)
(7:41:10 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Curse you for forcing me to do this!"
(7:41:27 PM) Void: Knowing he can do nothing, Cecil grimly moves forward, some of his Red Wings at his side
(7:41:48 PM) Void: Darkness rises about him and he begins methodically moving through the city, cutting down fleeing civilians
(7:41:58 PM) Dragon: Concealed, Xykon casts Greater Invisibility on himself.
(7:41:59 PM) Eric: Avshar's troops crash through the gates seconds ahead of the imperial guard, whooping and howling like demons.
(7:42:02 PM) Void: Rain streams down his visor, but that may not be the only liquid emanating from it
(7:42:32 PM) Eric: They start catching any citizens they can in nets for carrying away for Avshar's own nefarious ends
(7:42:45 PM) AOB: (just asking, any chance I could use the opportunity to have BM and Cecil duel or should I wait a little? so that it won't get hectic)
(7:42:54 PM) Prof: (Go for iiiit)
(7:43:51 PM) Void: (Totally cool Black Mage)
(7:43:57 PM) Void: (In fact, Black Mage, Jaina, act)
(7:44:21 PM) AOB: Dressed in peasant's garbs and wearing Cobblepot's face, Black Mage notices Cecil... cutting down civilians. Well, he spent all day getting this disguise ready, might as well use it. BM runs over to Cecil with his arms waving.
(7:44:22 PM) Prof: Not wishing to distract from his duel with the lich, and not especially surprised ar Avshar's betrayal, Arthas directs some of the Imperial Guard to start cutting down THOSE troops, too.
(7:44:30 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Show yourself, monster!"
(7:44:42 PM) Dragon: Xykon pops back up, though invisible.  "So it's a challenge, huh?  Then let's make it a race!  You start on this side, I start on the other, and whoever murders the most innocents wins!  We meet in the center to compare body counts!"
(7:44:52 PM) Prof: Arthas: "THIS IS NO GAME!"
(7:44:53 PM) AOB: Black Mage: "Hey! Hey! Look, I'm a perfectly ordinary dirt farmer, completely unaffected!"
(7:45:31 PM) AOB: "See? Welcome to Stratholme! Welcome to Stratholme! Perfectly normal and stabbable. ... I mean. ... Yeah, normal."
(7:45:35 PM) AOB: +
(7:46:10 PM) Void: Cecil turns on Black Mage with disgust. "I take no pleasure in this duty, but you. I will take pains to end your life along with the innocents you have brought this slaughter upon!"
(7:46:16 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "If you don't kill them, they pop up on my side as undead.  That counts for my score.  I hope you brought your game face!  ...heh heh, I hope Black Mage heard that one."
(7:46:30 PM) Kattu: It doesn't take long for guilt to weigh in on Jaina's mind. With one act of defiance already fresh on her reputation, what's another? Her return to the city is anything but valiant, but she focuses primarily on the nets to free as many civilians as she can. As quietly as she can as to not draw the attention of Arthas and his men.
(7:46:31 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Rrrgh..."
(7:46:53 PM) Void: Cecil sends a wave of dark energy outward towards Black Mage that sweeps out and quickly returns to him, pulling anything in its path (such as an unsuspecting Black Mage, should he not dodge) within sword's reach+
(7:47:01 PM) Prof: THen again, what he says is true. Every one Xykon reaches is another enemy of the empire...
(7:47:21 PM) Dragon: Still invisible, Xykon casts Greater Teleport to return to the other side of town and start his part of the fun.+
(7:47:32 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Hurry, men! Target the houses that the lich hasn't reached! Don't let him claim any more of the dead!"
(7:48:07 PM) Prof: Arthas's wedge of knights heads towards the more defenseless parts of town in an attempt to cut off Xykon's supply of future corpses.
(7:48:13 PM) Eric: Avshar notices someone trying to free his prizes
(7:48:13 PM) AOB: Crap, the disguise had no effect. Having little talent with dodging, the wave of dark energy hits him and sends him flying into the air towards the ground. He lands with a thud and Cobblepot's face flies off of his.
(7:48:55 PM) Kattu: Quit noticing things, Avshar. Jaina's trying to mount a rescue quest here.
(7:49:12 PM) AOB: "... ow. You know how long it took me to get that peasasnt act just right?" He gets up and stares Cecil in the eyes from the distance. +
(7:49:17 PM) Eric: And hurls a curse at her. However where a normal man's curse does nothing, one from Avshar's lips can crush an unprepared mind like a rat caught between milstones
(7:50:09 PM) Void: A distance Cecil quickly closes. His Dark Sword active, he moves in to run the foul creature through.+
(7:50:29 PM) Dragon: Xykon, monologuing to himself: "Oh dear, what EVER shall I do, every innocent life they take is one more I can't ha ---  pfffffhahahahahaha!  Aaah, seriously, I should try to make a good show of this."  So saying, he cheerfully casts Cloudkill into a nearby shelter, gives it a moment to churn away, then follows up with Animate Dead.+
(7:51:01 PM) Prof: As soon as the cloud of dead disappates, Xykon finds his fresh batch of undead being struck down by divine light!
(7:51:08 PM) Prof: Arthas is in the house.
(7:51:38 PM) AOB: Crap, what is this? A hero who doesn't care for monologing? This is not what Black Mage planned out at all. He panics a little, but there's nothing left to do but fight. "With all this rain, it's time for some... BOLT-2!" A lightning bolt falls from the heavens down at Cecil. Black Mage starts running backwards to make more distance. +
(7:52:29 PM) Void: Cecil cries out in pain before quickly downing a potion. The strain of the dark sword and the magical attack was definitely felt, but he could not afford to stop
(7:52:35 PM) Kattu: Jaina's magical wards are up in place already in order to mentally prepare herself against the plague, but it does still effect her enough to earn her ire.
(7:52:50 PM) Void: Slamming his hand to the ground, a wave of dark energy rises up around Black Mage to entrap him and keep him from fleeing+
(7:52:52 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "Seriously, you ran all across town just to get to me and left your men to do the dirty work?  Guess staining your hands with the blood of innocents is a delegated task after all."  Of course, the Cloudkill is still churning in there, draining stamina and fortitude, so have fun with that.
(7:53:38 PM) AOB: Still not stopping? But with all this water coming down at him, not to mention that he's wearing metal, this should be an easier fight if he uses the stronger spells. He thinks this while continuing to run backwards... only to be thrown forwards by the dark energy he ran into.
(7:53:40 PM) Prof: (Is Xykon still invisible?)
(7:53:52 PM) Eric: Avshar's eyes narrow. Though he is several hundred feet away, his voice sounds in Jaina's ear as if he stood by her side. He sounded surprised. "You are that brat from the academy I spoke to."
(7:54:03 PM) Dragon: (Yes, for about half a minute more.)
(7:54:33 PM) Eric: "Very well, we shall see how your sorceries stand to an unbound mind."
(7:54:34 PM) AOB: "Son of a..." As he sees Cecil still approaching... "Fine, Bolt-3! BOLT-3!" Stronger bolts of lightning come down from the skies at Cecil. His spells should still work even while being trapped...
(7:54:39 PM) AOB: +
(7:55:10 PM) Prof: Arthas raises a divine shield to protect him from the cloud, but it claims his mount. On his feet now, he smashes a passing skeleton with one swing of his warhammer, looking out for Xykon's reappearance.
(7:55:33 PM) Eric: Avshar slows his horse, steering it with his knees while he makes a complicated gesture and a red ray of light springs from his hands towards Jaina, burning straight through a soldier that happened to be passing between them and turning him into a charred skeleton.
(7:56:00 PM) Void: The bolts slam into Cecil but he doesn't stop. Quaffing another potion mid-stride he leaps into the air - a surprising feat for one so heavily armored - and comes down on Black Mage, sword-first+
(7:56:04 PM) Kattu: Jaina: "Do you think I will permit you to engage in such a heinous act?!"
(7:56:25 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "Out of curiosity, does that hammer have any particular symbolism or meaning to you?"
(7:56:41 PM) Kattu: Quick thinking leaves her shielded by a stronger field of magic around her form in an attempt to at least dull his own vile sorcery.
(7:57:15 PM) Eric: Avshar: "I think you will try to stop me."
(7:57:25 PM) Eric: "I think you will try and die with prayers to your false god on your lips"
(7:57:35 PM) Prof: Arthas: "Don't think you can distract me with idle talk, monster."
(7:58:27 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "It wasn't idle."  The invisibilty fade just as he gestures at the hammer, speaks the word "Shatter", and invokes rending destruction upon the weapon.+
(7:58:30 PM) AOB: Crap, no time to dodge that either. Black Mage tries, of course, and he leaps out of the way... only for a fair part of his sides to be sliced off and his robes stuck beneath the sword. This elicits a scream, but... this puts Cecil close, though... a knifing won't work like it normally would.
(7:59:24 PM) Eric: While maintaining blow after hammer like blows of insubstantial magical force on Jaina's psyche, Avshar spins his horse around and begins a charge straight for her, drawing a mighty, black broadsword as he closes the distance
(7:59:42 PM) Kattu: Jaina: "Then I ask of you to leave the people of this city be!"
(7:59:44 PM) Prof: Arthas catches the spell just in time to channel protective energy into the hammer. It's only a partial win - he'll be lucky if it stays intact until the battle is over, but it should at least give him a few more hits.
(8:00:05 PM) Kattu: Even though he approaches her rapidly, she makes no motion of movement, stubbornly standing her ground.
(8:00:09 PM) Prof: One of which he's taking now, leaping impressively far in an attempt to crush Xykon's bones to powder.
(8:00:18 PM) AOB: Black Mage: "Come on, isn't this the part where you as a hero say how good will triumph over evil and go on and on about it? ... I thought you were supposed to be this city's liberators! meteor." +
(8:00:36 PM) Eric: Avshar: "Foolish child. Die without every knowing the tuth."
(8:00:58 PM) Void: Cecil had raised his blade to end the foul creature, but the meteors blast him backwards off his feet. Standing, he quaffs another potion, noting he is beginning to run low.
(8:01:01 PM) Eric: Avshar doesn't slow down. It's down to the line and if Jaina doesn't do something soon shes going to get chopped in half"
(8:01:15 PM) Dragon: (Is the hammer considered magical?)
(8:01:25 PM) Prof: (It's medium magical.)
(8:01:40 PM) Prof: (Arthas is magical enough to make it happen, probably.)
(8:01:45 PM) Void: "Though we meet this sin with a greater sin, I cannot stand idly by and allow it to happen. We will purge this city, but I will also purge you!"
(8:01:55 PM) Void: (I am fairly certain it is a magic item in WoW, so yeah probably magical)
(8:02:00 PM) Kattu: Jaina: "I did not want to resort to this, but you leave me little choice."
(8:02:28 PM) Void: The waves of darkness form up around Cecil and he slashes at Black Mage from a distance, sending a dark shockwave at him+
(8:02:32 PM) Kattu: A flicker of azure spreads across the orbs of her eyes and within seconds, ice spouts from the ground around the horse in an attempt to freeze it within place.
(8:03:49 PM) Dragon: The hammer blow lands with a solid thud that does indeed send visible cracks racing through the lich's arm bones.  "Oh come on, bludgeoning AND magic?  What's even the point of this DR?!"  A massive ball of black energy gathers in the lich's free hand, then he hurls it point-blank into Arthas's chest. "Energy Drain!"+
(8:04:15 PM) Eric: While Avshar may be more than a mortal man, his horse is just a horse. It whinnies in fear as it's footing gives out to slippery ice and falls over. Avshar curses and kicks from the horse before his leg is trapped beneath it.
(8:04:37 PM) Prof: Arthas reels from the impact, but doesn't fall. He's too angry to fall.
(8:05:04 PM) Eric: The horse is screaming in pain and may have a broken a leg, but Avshar ignores it, climbing to his feet and giving Jaina a ten-thousand megawatt stare of pure hate.
(8:05:05 PM) Prof: So, he regains his footing, and counters with another healing lance to Xykon. If it's a match of power he wants, that's what it will be.
(8:05:27 PM) AOB: It's do or die now. Black Mage can't dodge this and being the glass cannon that he is, he's already nearly at the end of his robe. He begins to draw the strength that he has for a much more considerable attack. Putting his hands together, he thrusts it at Cecil and the incoming dark shockwave. Siphoning the love from around the world, he bellows out...
(8:06:46 PM) AOB: "HADOKEN!" A wide, destructive beam of light is shot at Cecil. Upon using the spell, Black Mage is shot backwards from the force of it. +
(8:06:56 PM) Kattu: Listen, if Jaina can withstand her Prince getting pissy with her, Avshar is nothing in comparison. He needs to chill out though, so she's not above flinging a bolt of frost straight towards him.
(8:08:26 PM) Eric: Avshar: "You would challenge Skotos' champion with ice?"
(8:08:58 PM) Dragon: "Aaaagh!"  This was starting to become a lot less entertaining. Still pretty entertaining, but this seems to have gotten off the subject of plunging Arthas's soul straight down into crappy-fighter-with-no-bonus-feats levels.  Acting swiftly, he hurls a Xykon's Moderately Escapable Forcecage over Arthas, then takes to the air again to survey the damage being done to the city and its inhabitants.+
(8:09:05 PM) Eric: Now that he's not focusing on riding, Avshar waves his hand and Jaina's spell passes harmlessly through him as if he were a mirage
(8:09:17 PM) Eric: Avshar: "See now, it should be done like this."
(8:10:08 PM) Eric: With a gesture, Avshar summoned a trio of icy wraith like spirits that started closing in on Jaina to claw at her while shrieking like banshees
(8:10:09 PM) Void: The wave washes over Cecil, bringing him to his knees. He is basically spent, but he will not allow it to end like this. He sends out another tether of dark energy, to bring Black Mage toward him-
(8:10:43 PM) Prof: Arthas smashes his way out of the cave with holy fury and hammers, moving fast to keep the lich from getting away. He's got about one good hit left in this hammer...
(8:12:37 PM) Dragon: His target?  Not the paladin's foes, or the townspeople; the lich swoops over Artha's soldiers, raising his hands high. "Mass Hold Person!"+
(8:12:49 PM) Prof: Arthas: "What?!"
(8:13:01 PM) AOB: "... well, guess that's over with. I guess I'll just come back and open up shop once... eh?" As he's shot backwards, he sees the tether of dark energy coming right for him. The mage is caught. "Wh.... what the hell...?"
(8:13:05 PM) AOB: +
(8:13:16 PM) Kattu: While she's anything but a coward, the cries of the wraiths make it difficult to form the words of a proper incantation in both her mind and throat. Left with no choice, she does what's natural to her - teleport. It doesn't take her far as she's unable to get this city out of her mind, but enough to escape. -
(8:13:28 PM) Void: As the Mage is brought hurtling towards him, Cecil thrusts his sword straight at the creature's black heart+
(8:14:03 PM) Eric: Avshar curses, but a troop of confused imperial guardsman fall on him before he can track her teleport down
(8:14:26 PM) Eric: by the time he was done dispatching the fools, Jaina's trail was going cold
(8:15:16 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "Most undead-creating spells work only on corpses -- but THIS one works only on the living!  You know you can't stop me before I get it off!  Watch as I turn your LIVING men into the undead!"  Yeah, Xykon didn't quite have the ranks in Bluff to pull this off smoothly. He's hoping bloodlust and the urge to murder get Arthas to go where he's pointing, though!+
(8:15:30 PM) Prof: Arthas: "NO!"
(8:15:37 PM) Prof: He takes the bait, hook line and sinker.
(8:16:11 PM) Dragon: Xykon things he really ought to research a spell that actually does this.  Later.
(8:16:20 PM) AOB: "... shit." The Riftspawn is struck in his heart. There's no surviving this. His ace in the hole had somehow been unaffective in at least getting him to safety. Black Mage collapses, undeniably dead. +
(8:16:46 PM) Void: Cecil falls to his knees, his sword in the ground to support his weight. His men, however, continue their grim work+
(8:18:40 PM) Eric: Avshar's men have what they came for, they start pulling out of the city
(8:20:30 PM) Prof: He can't reach Xykon, and the city is all but lost...
(8:20:43 PM) Prof: ...but he can stop this from succumbing to any further horror than it already has.
(8:20:58 PM) Prof: From his belt, Arthas draws a small object. Xykon, at least, should be able to see it.
(8:20:59 PM) Prof: (( http://i.imgur.com/dCt6Q.jpg ))
(8:22:07 PM) Prof: Arthas: "If you have any power, tool of destiny... do what must be done, here and now."
(8:22:47 PM) Void: An immense lightning bolt rips through the sky
(8:23:01 PM) Void: And a feel of dread touches the heart of everyone present - even those who no longer have hearts
(8:23:14 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "Whoa!  This got a little bigger than I expected."
(8:23:32 PM) Void: The rain intensifies
(8:23:37 PM) Void: And becomes... sticky?
(8:23:41 PM) Void: The sky continues to weep
(8:23:44 PM) Void: But now, it weeps blood
(8:24:12 PM) Prof: Arthas is slightly disturbed at how easy that decision was for him to make.
(8:24:14 PM) Void: As the blood descends to the ground, Arthas and Cecil's men fall to the ground screaming
(8:24:20 PM) Dragon: Xykon hurriedly casts Ghostform on himself, in the hopes that whatever is coming will be purely corporeal in nature.
(8:24:35 PM) Void: The blood begins melting away their faces and forms
(8:24:41 PM) Void: As well as those of the citizens
(8:25:05 PM) Void: Even the bones are melted away, although Avshar, Xykon, Cecil, Arthas, and Jaina remain unaffected
(8:25:10 PM) Dragon: Xykon: "I really don't like that I just got totally outshone by a card."
(8:25:13 PM) Void: Their Destiny Crystals glowing with an eerie light
(8:25:27 PM) Void: A shrill, banshee-like scream rips the air
(8:25:39 PM) Void: As it is joined by a second voice, then a third, then hundreds more as a torrent of screams emerges
(8:25:59 PM) Void: A lightning bolt descends from the heavens, shattering the entire city and reducing it to rubble
(8:26:17 PM) Void: As the souls of the dead swarm upward, shreiking in pain and anguish
(8:26:39 PM) Prof: Did Arthas survive the annihilation of the city? Only time will tell...
(8:26:42 PM) Void: In an instant, Stratholme is reduced to ruin
(8:26:52 PM) Void: The souls of the dead bound to haunt the area for all eternity
(8:27:05 PM) Void: Able only to wail their anguish and tear apart any mortal who might dare approach the city
(8:27:25 PM) Void: The only true release to be captivity, joining the hand of the King of Liches
(8:27:41 PM) Void: Stratholme remains now and forever haunted, tainted ground
(8:28:05 PM) Void: FIN