The Great Thief

”I trust that you have a way for me to get to him,” Lu Li said.

Hearthglen wasn’t a very friendly place. It was located in Northern area of the former kingdom Lordaeron and had once been ruled by Tirion Fordring. After he was exiled, Hearthglen was inherited by his beloved son Tyran Fordring.

When the Plague of the Undead covered Lordaeron, Hearthglen was fortunate enough to avoid it. However, it swept through the neighboring towns and destroyed them.

Prince Arthas reinforced the town of Hearthglen and held off the Undead long enough until Uther and his knights arrived. The people in the area sought refuge in Hearthglen and Tyran Fordring accepted all who came.

In the coming days, Arthas’ soul was corrupted and he assassinated his own father, allowing the Scourge to engulf the kingdom of Lordaeron.

Perhaps it was the human nature that remained in his corrupted heart, or perhaps he did not want to return to the place that he had fought so hard for, but Hearthglen miraculously survived the plague while the land around them became corrupted and barren.

After Uther fell to the Army of Undead led by Arthas, the Eaastern area of Lordaeron was completely defiled.

The leader of Tyr’s Hand and the elder of the Silver Hand Knights, Alexandros Mograine the Ashbringer, along with the High General Abbendis and the High Priest Isillien, created the Scarlet Crusade. ’Scarlet’ meant that they sought the blood of the Undead for revenge against the destruction of their land. This religious order bloomed and quickly grew in dedication to the eradication of the Undead.

Humans, Dwarves, Elves joined because of the family, friends and homes that they had lost to the Scourge.

Tyran Fordring, who was one of Isillien’s protégés, adored his tutor and his general. He offered his family’s keep and land, which was untouched by the Undead, for their base of operation.

Tyran naturally became the leader of the Hearthglen Scarlet Crusade.

However, the Scarlet Crusaders began straying from their original holy path and became corrupted from within. Tyran Fordring also drowned in guilt and sadness after many failed attempts of eradicating the Scourge, causing him to become nothing but a meaningless puppet.

Eventually, Isillien became in control of Hearthglen.

He was a High Holy Priest, one of the creators of Scarlet Crusade and also the tutor of the great commander Tyran Fordring.

Lu Li knew what level the Scarlet Crusader Knights were and knew he wasn’t strong enough to face them.

”There’s only one way to deliver these items, which is to disguise and blend in,” Fordring said, then went back into his house and came out with a map. ”Follow this map and head South. There, you can find the Tomb of Uther. I have a trustworthy old friend Myranda the Hag who resides there. Find her, give her this and she will assist you.”

Lu Li received the quest item – Tirion’s Gift. It was a small box and he didn’t know what was inside.

Lu Li summoned his mount and followed the directions on the map.

The Tomb of Uther wasn’t difficult to find.

Whether player or NPC, many would come here to pay their respects to the great Paladin.

Uther’s body was buried by followers of the Alliance in a great tomb in Western Plaguelands. The Plaguelands were constantly gloomy and dark, yet a bright Holy Light still shone upon Uther’s tomb.

Uther was a symbol for Paladins and their source of hope and will to fight.

During the war, Arthas ordered Uther to purge the city of Stratholme. Uther was horrified and refused to do so, at which point Arthas charged him with treason, relieved him from command and suspended the Paladins from service.

They followed Uther and resigned from battle, in order to prove their faith and loyalty to him.

Though Arthas was the king, in the many of the Paladins’ eyes, their true leader was Uther.

The death of Uther was devastating to many – they had lost their mentor, their idol and all hope. Many could not cope from the grief, becoming corrupt and degenerate.

When Lu Li had arrived at the Tomb of Uther, there were two Paladins who were kneeling on the ground and praying. Based on their appearances, they seemed like wandering Knights and did not belong to an order.

They might have been Silver Hand Knights in their past and refused to join the Scarlet Crusade.

Their bodies were covered in scars and wounds, but they weren’t refugees.

”Begone, Thief,” the Paladin said when he noticed Lu Li and pulled out his sword.

Lu Li did not plan on fighting them and quoted Tirion Fordring.

”True honor is not defined by race or class, but by one’s character.”

The two level 50 Elite Paladins looked at each other and turned away in shame.

Suddenly, a voice sounded out.

”Well said. It feels as if I’ve heard that before.”

A figure appeared from behind the tombs; she was short and was clearly a Gnome.

”Tirion Fordring sent me,” Lu Li said as he dismounted, bowed to the Gnomish Magician and handed over Tirion’s Gift.

This was the person that Tirion had wanted Lu Li to find – Myranda the Hag.

”Tirion Fordring?” The old Hag was surprised and quickly tore open the gift. Inside were a few sticks of Candied Fruit.

Lu Li knew what this was – it could be crafted with fruit and honey. However, both of these ingredients were impossible to find in plaguelands, so Tirion had obviously put a lot of thought into this gift.

There must have been some sort of background story or inside joke between the two to send her such a bizarre and random gift.

Myranda the Hag refused to share the story, but she was very pleased with the present. She looked at it for a while and put it away safely.

Lu Li had many questions but decided to ask about his main reason for visiting her.

”I heard that you can use your magic to help disguise me as a Scarlet Crusade Knight so that I can sneak into Hearthglen. Is this true?”

”That’s right,” Myranda nodded. ”I’m the one you’ve heard of – an Illusionist. Although I can create a disguise for you, you must know that there is a limited amount of time, for my powers are not unlimited. Also, if you stray too far away from the area, your disguise will also disappear.”

”How long?” Lu Li asked.