Flashback: Just say No to Demon Blood

At first it seemed that the champions with their The Tempest Key from the Sha'tar had killed Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider and taken Kael's Vial Remnant and one of his Verdant Spheres. Instead he was very much alive and clearly insane.

 

"... did you see how Kael'thas looked?" asked Ellrys Duskhallow.

"Yes. He hasn't been the same since the attack on Tempest Keep," said McTacky. He looked like a Wretched now.

"He was beaten and left for dead. If Priestess Delrissa hadn't arrived when she did, who knows what might have happened!" exclaimed Ellrys Duskhallow.

"That look in his eyes now... it scares me," admitted McTacky,

"Yes, but we will follow him to the end. It's our duty to head to Dawnblade Village on the Isle of Quel'Danas and hold it while he prepares." explained Ellrys Duskhallow.

"Prepares? Prepares for what?" asked McTacky.

"You will find out," said Ellrys Duskhallow ominously, "Also an elite few will be given the chance to become Felblood Elves, they will drink demon blood and gain fast strength and power, the Shadowsword. As a Master Blood Knight, you would rate highly on that list. First you just need to gather some items for us for the ritual."

"Of course," said McTacky.

Later....
"You just ran away?" asked the Bartender.

"No. I realised that the Warlock Duskhallow wasn't actually my superior, so myself and my squad came back to Silvermoon for new orders," explained McTacky.

"You just ran away?" asked the Bartender.

"That warlock wanted me to drink demon blood! I am already superb, I don't need Demon Blood!" said McTacky.

"So you ran away," shrugged the Bartender.

"See here, the Trolls over at Zul'Aman need our attention now. They are infusing their champions with their ancient animal gods!" said McTacky, "they could use that power to threaten the homeland."

"It just sounds like an excuse," said the Bartender.

"Listen. If someone offers you Demon Blood. You just say No!" said McTacky.

"You didn't say no. You ran away," said the Bartender.

Flashback: Blood for Blood at Tempest Keep

Tempest Keep was a floating fortress created by the Naaru. It had arrived in Outland to fight The Burning Legion after the Blood Elves and their allies had begun their campaign in Outland for a new Mana Source. The discovery of M'uru inside Tempest Keep have been fortuitous and directly lead to the creation of the Blood Knight order.

 

 

Many years ago...
"McTacky! By the Blood! You are back!" said Lord Sanguinar 'The Blood Hammer'.

Master Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky cast Mana Tap on a bloodgem crystal as he and his squad returned to Tempest Keep.

"We still hold the Eye of the Storm, M'Lord" reported McTacky. The Eye of Tempest Keep and The Eye of the Storm having simular names was annoying, McTacky kept traveling between the eyes so much he felt cross-eyed.

McTacky's squad had been defending the Eye of the Storm from a Sha'tar attack. The Eye of the Storm was just a series of barren rocks, but they were strategic barren rocks! In the past Draenei had successfully broken though once and taken the Exodar wing of Tempest Keep from the Blood Elves.

"The Sha'tar keep handing out The Tempest Key to their champions," said Lord Sanguinar, "it is said that to prove worthy for The Tempest Key they must slay the mighty Magtheridon."

"Magtheridon! Those ridiculous Fel Orcs, draining blood from a Demon to become stronger," said McTacky.

Lord Sanguinar gave McTacky a look. A look you would give a foolish child, "Yes. It is completely different from draining magic from the Naaru M'uru."

"It is entirely different, M'Lord. That is magic," said McTacky.

"It is all Blood Magic, Master Blood Knight. It isn't even a matter of degrees. M'uru bleeds light instead of green blood. Both sides of a coin have the same value," said Lord Sanguinar, "Blood for blood!"

Lord Sanguinar meaningfully tapped the huge bloodgem crystal floating in the room with his legendary Warp Slicer and not his signature Blood Hammer, before heading off.

McTacky wasn't one to have much agency or initiative when it came to these things. He'd been following orders for the Order, growing stronger and stronger. but he was starting to see things more clearly, and he didn't like the picture. He didn't even like the frame around the picture, and it was a nice frame too! The Frame was pretty on the outside and rotten on the inside. Sure it'd look good on the wall, but it would fall apart on you without warning one day. McTacky got lost in that analogy.

Flashback: Master Blood Knight McTacky

McTacky on his new thalassian charger, sporting the then popular Outland Clown look!

Within the ranks of the Blood Knight order, there exists an inner circle of elite knights. Members of the circle represent the most dedicated, skilled, and trustworthy of all Blood Knights and are handpicked by the leadership. Each candidate for membership must have a sponsor within the circle and must demonstrate their dedication to the order's central tenets.

 

 

Many years ago...

"I have chosen to sponsor you for standing as a Blood Knight Master, if this is your wish," spoke Lady Liadrin, the first and leader of the Blood Knight order.

 

Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky was still kneeling before the Blood Knight Matriarch. He nodded. He'd just returned from a mission into the city Stratholm to act against the Order of the Silver Hand. McTacky had snuck in at the Deathholm district of the city reached Alonsus Chapel and douced their Eternal Flame.

 

"That you have chosen to accept my offer speaks well of you, McTacky. Ours is the true way of utilizing the Light. I wish you luck in the task I am about to set for you, but I'm certain you'll prove yourself more than capable," spoke Lady Liadrin.

 

McTacky was given a Items for Magister Astalor Bloodsworn, a list of goods to procure.

 

"Without such contributions, the order would fall apart. I will give you a list of items Magister Astalor Bloodsworn's men require to keep us supplied with Light energy for our magics," assured Lady Liadrin.

 

~~~~Weeks later~~~~

 

"Have you returned with the materials Magister Astalor requires, McTacky?" asked Lady Liadrin.

 

McTacky nodded.

 

"40 Runecloth, 10 Sungrass, 6 Arcanite Bar, 5 Dark Rune, a Pristine Black Diamond, an Arcane Catalyst, a Crepuscular Powder, Tyr's Hand Holy Water, and 150 gold coins," listed off McTacky. The bag was heavy not just because of the items inside but the time and effort and cost it had taken to collect all of them.

 

"Excellent. It appears everything is here," said Lady Liadrin, "tell this Initiate to bring it all to Magister Astalor. There's no need to go on such a trivial errand yourself."

 

An Initiate Blood Knight came in.

 

"Initiate Khesed, deliver this parcel to Magister Astalor," said McTacky.

 

The Initiate accepted McTacky's quest and left. McTacky remembered way back to when he was an Initiate. Fresh from being infused with M'uru's power of light.

 

McTacky turned back to Lady Liadrin and knelt.

 

"Ours is the true way of utilizing the Light, McTacky. To show others that would call themselves 'paladins' the folly of their ways, we have sent an unmistakable message," spoke Lady Liadrin, "All who would oppose us would do well to heed the warning you delivered in Stratholm. Our foes should know that they are in peril, from the lowest foot soldier to the mightiest hero."

 

Blood Knight McTacky was adorned with the Blood Knight Tabard. He was now Master Blood Knight McTacky.

 

"You have earned your place in the ranks of the masters. Your dedication and prowess serve as an example for all Blood Knights," spoke Lady Liadrin.

 

McTacky was signalled to arise.

 

"You are to lead a unit into Outland to help reinforce the Prince's occupation of Tempest Keep, Master Blood Knight," ordered Lady Liadrin, "they need to bolster their numbers in the wake of Voren'thal the Seer and the Scyrers treachery."

 

As McTacky knew, defection of Voren’thal and his followers to Shattrath was the largest loss ever incurred by Prince Kael’thas’ forces. Nor were these just any blood elves. Many of the strongest and brightest amongst Kael’thas’ scholars and magisters had been swayed by Voren’thal's influence. Prince Kael’thas had gone to Outland with 15% of all the Blood Elves so the defection was a sizable number.

 

"As you command, Matriarch," agreed McTacky.

Flashback: McTacky's Trade

"What a tacky necklace!"

"You are wearing a tacky pendant!"

"That ring is so tacky!"

McTacky Jewellers.
THE name in quality adornments in Silvermoon for over 300 years.
When you see a piece of jewellery, the first name you think of is Tacky!

----------------

Many years ago...
Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky wasn't yet a Master Blood Knight when he first laid eyes upon the pile of Azure Moonstone and realised what they could do. McTacky was a jewelcrafter, like his ancestors. These precious stones were from another world, the destroyed world of Draenor, now known as Outland. A place McTacky had yet to visit.

"I say we make Azure Moonstone Ring from these gems," said McTacky's Father, the now owner of the family business, "they will sell for far more than mere Wicked Moonstone Ring. Praise be to Prince Kael'thas!"

"I'm am not so certain," disagreed McTacky.

"Whereas I am certain. Shadow Oil is difficult to obtain these days. All Lesser Moonstone is good for is Amulet of the Moon. I am certain these Azure Moonstone will be able far more profitable and higher quality," said McTacky's Father, "bless Prince Kael'thas and his expedition for enriching the lives of all sin'dorei. You will do well to finish your training and aid the Prince in Outland!"

"I need to get back to the barracks before curfew," said McTacky, taking his leave, pocketing a Azure Moonstone on his way out.

Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky was thinking outside the box here. He was thinking beyond simple enchanted jewellery and trinkets, those had existed forever. It was the naaru, M'uru, who McTacky had encountered way back when he had become an Initiate. The Blood Elves of Silvermoon drew their magical energies from that huge living crystal in the absence of the sunwell. This Azure Moonstone could also have surprising power within them.

McTacky didn't return to his barracks has he had claimed, instead made a detour to the Silvermoon Inn and sat at a table. He opened his jewellers kit and took out his Loupe.

"Would you like something?" asked an Bartender.

"Just some water right now," said McTacky, trying to concentrate.

The Bartender sighed and used their mage powers to conjure some Conjured Water and placed it on the table before moving on.

There was power within, but the shape was wrong! If this gem was cut a certain way it would amply and release the power. Different shapes would release the energy in different ways. his could take some time.

"I will have some Dalaran Noir, bartender" said McTacky. This would be a late night.

"I have a name. I am Firehybrid, I just made Adept Bartender level!" said the Bartender.

McTacky wasn't paying attention to the Bartender. He was staring into the Blue Gem, seeing the potential inside. He didn't see the gem itself, but what it would become. He just had to cut away the pieces he didn't need. Lustrous, Solid, Sparkling and Stormy shapes perhaps?

Flashback: Redeeming the Dead

 

Many years ago...
Aloysius McTacky walked up the stairs of the Silvermoon City Inn. Upstairs was the accommodation. Upstairs was the accommodation. Laying down was the Blood Knight Sangrias Stillblade, the man who tried to kill McTacky earlier today on Isle of Tribulations. Now he was laying down inside an inn and McTacky stood over him with all the power.

McTacky stood over the prone Sangrias Stillblade. It wasn't his fault, Knight-Lord Bloodvalor had ordered Stillblade to kill McTacky. It had become necessary for McTacky to kill Stillblade. McTacky's hands began to glow with Holy Light. McTacky had learned much of combat and bloodshed, but that wasn't enough for the task at hand.

McTacky's education in the use of the Light has focused on mere charms and parlour tricks thus far. He'd wanted to be a mere Jewel-crafter like the rest of his family. But the time had come for him to learn of the nature and breadth of the power. There was much more to his order. Mastery of the Light requires a focused mind and tremendous willpower. But time was of the essence.

For McTacky this was the longest 10 seconds of his life as he focused the magical energies he had absorbed. Today McTacky had learnt the truth about the source of the Blood Knight's powers. Today Knight-Lord Bloodvalor had ordered Stillblade to kill McTacky. Today McTacky would use the ultimate power on Stillblade.

The power over death.

The magic released from McTacky's hands and bathed Stillblade in a holy light. The spell was known as Redemption. Stillblade arose, alive.

McTacky had raised the dead. He had killed Stillblade not a long time ago on the Isle of Tribulation and now he had to power to raise him.

It had been all part of Knight-Lord Bloodvalor and the Blood Knight Matriarch, Lady Liadrin's plan. Force McTacky to slay Stillblade in self defence, then come back and find out the truth. The gift from our beloved Prince Kael'thas, and the foundation of the Blood Knights' mastery of the Light. Namely the enslaved Naaru M'uru and drain the holy energy from him, granting McTacky the ability to cast holy spells.

Stillblade stood up and wordlessly wandered off.

McTacky could feel the light inside him now. McTacky was now a Paladin. He was now Initiate Blood Knight Aloysius McTacky.