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The Alliance Splinters
With Kel'Thuzad's success in Lordaeron, the Lich
King made the final preparations for his assault
against Human civilization. Placing his
plague-energies into a number of portable artifacts
called plague-cauldrons, Ner'zhul ordered Kel'Thuzad
to transport the cauldrons to Lordaeron, where they
would be hidden within various cult-controlled
villages. The cauldrons, protected by the loyal
cultists, would then act as plague-generators,
sending the plague seeping out across the
unsuspecting farmlands and cities of northern
Lordaeron.
The Lich King's plan worked perfectly. Many of
Lordaeron's northern villages were contaminated
almost immediately. Just as in Northrend, the
citizens who contracted the plague died and arose as
the Lich King's willing slaves. The cultists under
Kel'Thuzad were eager to die and be raised again in
their dark lord's service. They exulted in the
prospect of immortality through undeath. As the
plague spread, more and more feral zombies arose in
the northlands. Kel'Thuzad looked upon the Lich
King's growing army and named it the Scourge, for
soon it would march upon the gates of Lordaeron and
scour humanity from the face of the world.
The Alliance Splinters
Unaware of the death cults forming in their lands,
the leaders of the Alliance nations began to bicker
and argue over territorial holdings and decreasing
political influence. King Terenas of Lordaeron began
to suspect that the fragile pact they had forged
during their darkest hour would not last for much
longer. Terenas had convinced the Alliance leaders
to lend money and laborers to help rebuild the
southern kingdom of Stormwind, which had been
destroyed during the orcish occupation of Azeroth.
The higher taxes that resulted, along with the high
expense of maintaining and operating the numerous
Orc internment camps, led many leaders -- Genn
Greymane of Gilneas in particular -- to believe that
their kingdoms would be better off seceding from the
Alliance.
To make matters worse, the High Elves of Silvermoon
brusquely rescinded their allegiance to the
Alliance, stating that the Humans' poor leadership
had led to the burning of their forests during the
Second War. Terenas fought back his impatience and
quietly reminded the Elves that nothing of
Quel'Thalas would have remained if not for the
hundreds of valiant humans who'd given their lives
to defend it. Nonetheless, the Elves stubbornly
decided to go their own way. In the wake of the
Elves' departure, Gilneas and Stromgarde seceded as
well.
Though the Alliance was falling apart, King Terenas
still had allies that he could count on. Both
Admiral Proudmoore of Kul Tiras and the young king,
Varian Wrynn of Azeroth, remained committed to the
Alliance. Furthermore, the wizards of the Kirin Tor,
led by the Archmage Antonidas, pledged Dalaran's
steadfast support to Terenas' rule. Perhaps most
reassuring of all was the pledge of the mighty
dwarven king, Magni Bronzebeard, who vowed that the
dwarves of Ironforge would forever owe a debt of
honor to the Alliance for liberating Khaz Modan from
the Horde's control... . . .
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