Ripples of Shadow
Prologue - The Beginning to an End

From her window in her lodgings at the The Gilded Rose, Moria could see some of the bustle of the city below her. Stormwind was an industrious city, perhaps not so much as Ironforge, but that’s what she loved. In the distance she could hear the clamor from the newly completed Stormwind Harbor. Smells of the ocean wafted through the city, and added to the aroma of fish and salt water was freshly cut timber. Ships of all sizes were being built en masse for the coming invasion of Northrend, where Arthas, the Lich King reigned.

“Arthas…” The name left a sour taste in Moria’s mouth. “We all do what we must, in the time we’re given.” She murmured to herself as she turned from the window. Moria was in her middle years, and a mage of above average skill. Some would say her to be more than handsome, if not pretty. Her auburn hair silhouetted a face with brilliant green eyes and a full red mouth. A vase filled with fresh roses stood on the night stand beside the dresser. I must remember to thank Allison later, she’s such a sweet woman, a wonderful innkeeper. Moria smiled at the thought of the roses; Allison knew of her love for flowers. Putting her attention back on the task at hand, she slid open the middle drawer of her dresser and drew out a folded parchment. A contact of hers gathered this information while in the company of a group of Kirin Tor that were headed for Northrend, and it was her duty to get it into the hands of yet another mage. Moria sighed. All of this based on the hunch of some bloody Warlock who thought she knew better than the Circle of Elders amongst the Mages of Dalaran. Well, as it turned out, the bloody Warlock happened to be right. Moria opened the parchment,and re-read its contents for at least the tenth time today.

Dear Sister, it is colder here than I thought. I should have brought another coat. I have word from the Hunter; the Lion, though no longer caged is in trouble. We cannot allow him any harm. It seems our Dark Sister was right. Seek out the Rose, she must be warned. The son of the Knight has spies everywhere. He has followers in the most unlikely places. Be safe, I will see you soon, the Light willing.

The letter was simply signed, -Your loving sister. But Moria could read between the lines. Her contact was always very careful to not give too much away to the untrained eye. She obviously arrived in Northrend safely and the Lion could only refer to King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind, though how he could come to any harm now that he was surrounded every moment by dozens of guards Moria could not fathom. As for the Hunter, that must be another one of her contacts, but the Dark Sister… That could only be the Warlock who started this all. After all, it was she who inspired them all to band together on this wild goose hunt. Although now, it seemed it wasn’t so wild. Moria turned her head to the door when she heard someone running up the stairs. Resealing the parchment, she turned to smile at the man who entered as he knocked at the doorframe.

“Ah Rash, it is good to see you.” The man before her was a good head taller. His brown hair was slightly grayed at the temples. And a scar on his left cheek wound from the corner of his eye, all the way to the jaw line. Rash Vandren was a seasoned soldier, and as bold a warrior of the Alliance as any. He was the perfect choice to get this letter into the right hands.