Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Anubarak shifted from a deep slumber to perfect clarity in an instant.

The High King of Azjol-Nerub immediately began searching his surroundings to find what had alerted him, only to relax once he did. As the ruler of the most powerful nation in the world, Anubarak had many enchanted artifacts that served a variety of purposes, and one of them was alerting him that one of his advisors, Elder Nadox, was approaching his chamber.

Anubarak telepathically directed the skitterers that were cleaning his carapace to leave his chambers as he waited for his advisors arrival. The past few years had been some of the busiest of his time as High King, and there was no reason to believe that things would change any time soon so he was not surprised to be awoken ahead of schedule. It was an occurrence that Anubarak was growing more and more accustomed to in recent times.

As the Elder made his way through the complex system of wards and guards that made up Naxxkalik, the largest ziggurat in Azjol-Nerub and the ancient home of its High Kings, Anubrak decided to use the moment to consider recent events. This was a time in which his kingdom was undergoing drastic changes more quickly than ever before, so it was worth taking a moment to gather his thoughts and consider all that had happened.

It started innocently at first, with Anubarak receiving a report from the Circle of Viziers that Kilahkuk had begun trading with the surface races. While he had disapproved of such practices, it was not a serious enough matter for Anubarak to feel compelled to tell an Underking what he should be doing in his own city.

There was no possibility of the tuskarr ever becoming a serious threat to Azjol-Nerub, so why would he be concerned if some strange Initiate decided they wanted to trade with the surface races? Such things had happened before, and it was likely that the Initiate would lose interest and the tuskarr would simply forget about them in a few centuries.

That was before the tuskarrs shellfish became one of the most popular luxury foods among the higher castes. After that, Anubarak realized that it was becoming unlikely that trade between Kilahkuk and the tuskarr was going to cease anytime soon. There were even signs that Enkilah was interested in replicating the success of Kilahkuk and had considered negotiating a similar agreement with the tuskarr near their own city.

At the time Anubarak had considered trading with the surface races to be the most significant event to happen in Azjol-Nerb since the Seers began delivering portends of vague and unspecified doom in the kingdoms future. He had believed that it would be the most important matter that he would have to deal with until their prophesied doom made itself known.

Anubarak could only look back on his past self and envy his ignorance.

It wasnt much longer after he first received reports of Kilahkuk trading with the surface races that Azjol-Nerub learned of a fact that would send a political shockwave throughout the kingdom and would undoubtedly change things forever.

Their belief that the lands they occupied were the only ones to survive the Sundering was incorrect. There was an entire continent across the sea that contained multiple kingdoms, including one made by the long-assumed extinct elves, and two previously unknown sapient species, the so-called gnomes and dwarves. Reactions to this news had been intense and varied, from extreme curiosity about the new lands to a desire to avoid anything to do with them.

From there, matters began to develop at a speed that surpassed Anubaraks expectations. The Viziers had very quickly sent proposals to send a diplomatic delegation to the new continent, and several of his advisors made suggestions that they establish a settlement there as well. Anubarak had agreed to the former with hopes that the delegation would gather additional information and started giving serious consideration to the latter.

He was correct to believe that the delegation would send back information that would change how Azjol-Nerub intended to interact with the Eastern Kingdoms. In fact, it was beginning to feel like there wasnt a month that went by where Anubarak didnt learn something new that changed his kingdoms plans for the future.

The delegation sent their first report shortly after they arrived in Capital City, which was the aptly named capital city of the Kingdom of Lordaeron. That report had been filled with information about guns, a new form of magic that had captured the attention of Anubaraks most loyal Spiderlord, and an army of otherworldly invaders called the Horde. Under normal circumstances, any one of these discoveries would instantly become the center of the High Kings attention, but the times he lived in were anything but normal.

Debates had emerged among his advisors on the best ways to move forward, and orders had been given to the delegation to learn as much as they could so that they could make informed decisions. The Viziers in particular were extremely interested in gathering information and seemed to have become the main driving force pushing against Azjol-Nerubs insular nature.

More than one Vizier had come to Anubarak with urgent requests that the delegation send back knowledge about guns and the Light so that they might attempt to replicate them. Research into both was ongoing, but the High King was not expecting any results for several more months.

It wasnt long after that before a portion of the delegation traveled to Dalaran, a city-state run by mages that seemed to serve as the center of magical learning for much of the Eastern Kingdoms. Then the delegation began making claims of advanced enchanting techniques that surpassed what Azjol-Nerub was capable of, and the rulers of Dalaran sent an offer that would have nerubians living and studying in their city.

After considering the matter and analyzing the security risks posed by a portal between Dalaran and Enkilah, Anubarak eventually decided that the benefits outweighed the costs. The portal was extremely well-guarded from both sides, which was something that he had discovered after asking his advisors to evaluate what would happen if Azjol-Nerub tried to send their own soldiers through, either covertly or otherwise.

In the worst-case scenario, they could always close it whenever they wished.

It was around that same time that the kingdoms of Stormwind and Alterac sent offers to cede portions of their territory to Azjol-Nerub, for a price. Anubarak had immediately called for a meeting with his advisors and they debated the wisdom of accepting each, both, or neither of the offers that had been presented to them.

It was easy to decide that neither was not an option, given that the Seers were still giving warnings of calamity in Azjol-Nerubs future. Many of the more powerful Seers had made claims that they could feel that the details of the tide of death threatening to sweep over their kingdom were beginning to change, but that didnt alter the fact that Azjol-Nerub would be well-served by having a settlement in the Eastern Kingdoms to flee to should the worse happen.

Anubarak had eventually settled on only accepting the offer from Alterac. The land that they were offering was simply more valuable, as it was situated in a position that would allow Azjol-Nerub to extend its influence throughout the northern portion of the continent. Not to mention Alterac was merely asking for them to prevent their rival from entering the proposed settlements lands, thus making it impossible for Stromgarde to invade them.

From what Anubarak could tell from the reports hed received estimating Stromgardes strength, it was a simple matter. Truly, as long as Azjol-Nerub was given enough time to establish a permanent portal and fortify their location, the only nation in the Eastern Kingdoms that could hope to threaten them would be Quelthalas.

Stormwind, on the other hand, was offering them land that they did not even currently own and was asking for Azjol-Nerubs assistance in regaining it. It had not taken Anubarak long to dismiss their offer, but depending on how the next meeting with his advisors went that might be a decision that he would need to revisit.

Anubarak turned his focus back to the present as he felt Nadox pass through the last security checkpoint. Moments later, the Elder was walking into his private chambers while wearing a pensive expression.

Your Majesty, I apologize for waking you, but I have news that I thought you should hear before the council meeting, said Elder Nadox, speaking as soon as he entered the chambers.

Your apologies are unnecessary. You would not wake me if it was not important, said Anubarak. What news do you bring?

There are a few things, Your Majesty, said Nadox, reaching into his spatial bag and retrieving a few documents. The most recent report from the delegation to the Eastern Kingdoms has arrived. Please, take a look.

Anubarak directed one of his beetles to take the documents from his advisor and bring them to him. It had been several weeks since the humans had formed the Alliance of Lordaeron, and since then they had been learning more about the Hordes capabilities. The information contained in the report mostly concerned the Horde, and it didnt take long for Anubarak to pick out what had drawn his advisors attention.

How credible are these reports of Death Knights? asked Anubarak, addressing the heart of the matter. Is this something that our own necromancers are capable of?

Anubarak knew that the Circle of Viziers studied Death magic to a certain degree, but such research was highly regulated due to the adverse effects such magic had on the mentality of the practicing mages.

Not at the scale reported, Nadox admitted with some worry. Each Death Knight seems to possess natural necromantic abilities, making them capable of raising dozens of corpses, controlling and maintaining them for long periods of time, while also being skilled in all manner of deadly magics. We are unfamiliar with such undead creatures, so it is difficult to determine what they are truly capable of. These Death Knights freely raise the corpses of their enemies, allies, beasts, and are extremely difficult to truly kill, making each one of them a considerable threat.

We would also benefit greatly from the promised magical reagents, said Weaver Tutenkash. Enchanted weapons are not cheap. A steady influx of reagents would help blunt the costs of our ongoing efforts to prepare the kingdom for the prophecy.

Once again, his council was nearly in complete agreement, and Anubarak hated the hint of suspicion that fact invoked in him. Still, he found himself agreeing with their arguments, and had reached similar conclusions on his own.

Queen NezarAzret, is it feasible to render the beasts infertile before we send them? asked Anubarak. It was likely that the outsiders would be able to replicate the enchantments on the artifacts, so it was important that they maintain their control over their supply of the beasts themselves.

Queen NezarAzret scoffed lightly before replying, That would be a simple matter.

For the best really. The last thing we would want is for the primitives to lose control over a few of the beasts and allow them to breed out of control in their wilds. They would no doubt throw their ecosystems out of balance, and then we would lose access to reagents and test subjects, said Vizier Yathamon.

Very well, then we will agree to Dalarans proposal, said Anubarak. Will there be any problems with the Jormungar? As I understand it, controlling them requires significant amounts of training in addition to the use of Nature magic.

Although they are not common, there are a few practitioners of Nature magic among the humans that I believe capable of learning our skills quickly, said Seer Drannix. The so-called Harvest-Witches of Gilneas and the Thornspeakers of KulTiras.

Good. Then I will leave this matter in the hands of Queen NezarAzret. She would know best about which of our beasts we should offer the outsiders, said Anubarak.

Thank you, Your Majesty. I have been attempting to create a colossal spider similar in size to Maexxna. Although I have not succeeded, Im sure the Alliance will be pleased to receive some of my failed attempts, the Queen said enthusiastically. I cant wait to hear how they fare against the Horde.

Maexxna, one of Azjol-Nerubs most powerful weapons, was a massive spider larger than most Spiderlords. Any creatures created in her image would be truly formidable.

Anubarak merely nodded before moving on to the next topic of discussion. I assume that you have all already read the most recent reports coming from our delegation?

Yes, Your Majesty, said Seer Drannix. And I must say, these Death Knights are highly concerning. If the reports about their capabilities are accurate, then the Horde may be responsible for the visions that have been plaguing our Seers.

How so, Seer Drannix? There is no indication that the Horde is powerful enough to threaten Azjol-Nerub. Have your visions suddenly become clear enough that you can perceive that the coming tide of death refers to the undead? Spiderlord Yalrat said skeptically. Was there not a time when the Seers were telling us the coming calamity was a plague? Where was this certainty before?

We have had this argument before, and I see no need to have it again, Spiderlord, Seer Drannix said with exasperation. But even if the Horde is not responsible for the visions, is it not wise to learn more about these Death Knights? Should we not seek to discover how the Horde managed to perform a feat of necromancy beyond what we are capable of? I believe we should send someone to discover the source of the Hordes magic.

Who do you propose we send to do that? We hardly have any people in the Eastern Kingdoms, and those who are there are either students or diplomats, said Weaver Tutenkash.

Im sure the Alliance would be more than willing to allow a specialized capture team through the portal if we explained our intentions, said Seer Drannix, waving one of his hands in a dismissive gesture. And if not, we could always send Vizier Hadix.

Vizier Hadix was a name that Anubarak had become well acquainted with in recent times, and was a Vizier who was frequently on his mind, mostly because nothing about Hadix made any sense.

According to reports, Vizier Hadix was born in Azjol-Nerubs capital city and was promptly taken in by one of the most influential Viziers in the city at the time, Elder Yelrin, because of his genius. Ever since he was a hatchling, Hadix had shown a prodigious talent for arcane magic and was seen as a rising star within the Circle of Viziers.

That all changed one day when his mentor was discovered dead and Hadix claimed to have killed him in self-defense.

The records of what happened afterward were suspiciously vague, but an investigation was done, Elder Yelrin was determined to have been practicing dangerous magics, and Hadix had been exonerated. From there, Vizier Hadix traveled from city to city, staying for only a few decades at a time and despite being one of the most powerful mages in the kingdom, he barely had any political influence.

Anubarak found the Vizier to be very suspicious.

It didnt help that the Initiate who was said to be responsible for discovering the Eastern Kingdoms was his apprentice.

Vizier Hadix is an important member of our diplomatic delegation, said Vizier Yathamon. His time is better spent ensuring our deal with Alterac does not fall apart. Weve received reports that they have seemingly become more reluctant to move forward with the deal recently for no apparent reason. Now is not the time to send one of our diplomats away from Capital City.

Of course, he would need to be sent after the negotiations with Alterac have been completed, Seer Drannix agreed. But changes to our diplomatic team need to be made eventually. Do we intend to leave powerful individuals such as Anubrekhan and Vizier Hadix in Capital City indefinitely when their talents could be used elsewhere?

According to the reports, Vizier Krivax seems to be one of our more effective diplomats. Perhaps he could handle the diplomacy while we send Hadix and Anubrekhan to investigate the Death Knights?

Vizier Krivax is practically a hatchling!

If we intend to supply the Eastern Kingdoms with beasts for their war, then perhaps we should reconsider the offer from Stormwind? They might consider ceding some of their lands for powerful enough beasts.

The council meeting continued for several hours before reaching its conclusion. Anubarak agreed that they should seek to learn more about the Horde and their magic and that it was worth reopening negotiations with Stormwind to see what they had to offer. The High King felt like it was only a matter of time before Azjol-Nerub would be intervening directly in the war.

Once it was done, Anubarak bid his advisors farewell and left to continue his duties as High King.

One of the Viziers from the Technological Research Division wanted to present a proposal on beginning the construction of ships capable of traveling the sea. They had even sought advice from the tuskarrs on how to properly construct such a ship.

It was a good idea; portals were highly vulnerable to sabotage and had many limitations, so it would be in Azjol-Nerubs interest to develop a way to travel to the Eastern Kingdoms by sea.

As Anubarak walked through the hallways of Naxxkalik, he couldnt help but feel that his kingdom was changing far too quickly for him to adjust. Still, as High King, his duty was to do so and lead his kingdom to the best of his ability no matter what happened and he would do till the bitter end if need be.