23Chapter One: The Herald
There was a flaring of green light, and Arthas found himself at the end of one path and the beginning of another. Around him, he saw a large but run-down village. It was day, but dark nonetheless, and the grass here was dark. Checking his side, he saw he had Frostmourne, and it was whole once again.
"What the..." began Arthas. "What trickery is this?"
Looking around, he saw a man drinking what appeared to be tea, looking downcast but a bit happier. Moving forward, Arthas found himself looking down on him. "You, what is this place?"
"Can't a fella drink in peace?" asked the man. "I'm trying to drink tea to cure my... my... what was the word?"
"Alcoholism?" guessed Arthas, who had no particular place to be at the moment.
"Yeah, quit cold turkey on all that stuff a few lives ago," said the man. "Gillian suggested it."
"You realize quitting alcohol cold turkey kills you?" asked Arthas.
"Yeah, happened a few times to me, too," said the man. "So you're one of them uh... 'heroes' or somesuch. You ought to go talk to Cain, he should be around here sooner or later."
"Why would I want to do that?" asked Arthas.
"You want to know the story, don't you?" asked the man. "Go away now, I've got drinking to do."
Arthas considered cutting his head off right there, it would be just like old times. He could probably wipe out this village, but Arthas had no idea where he was. And he wasn't sure he wanted to go to the trouble of rebuilding his Empire just yet.
So he turned and made his way further along the path. Soon he came to a town square. There looked to be an inn with windows filled with light. In the center of the town was a well of crystal clear water, and standing by it was an old man. He smiled as Arthas moved forward, just as though he had been expected. "Hello, my friend, stay awhile and listen."
"Why should I?" asked Arthas flatly, not liking this one bit.
"Well, I imagine you are wondering where you are and what is happening. Are you not?" asked Cain.
Arthas considered the last time something like this happened. "Do you want me to destroy an empire for you?"
"Oh no, the town of Tristram is quite enough for me on its own," said the man. "I was gone for this place for quite a few years, but I'm back now. And I'd rather not leave it, except to brief the various heroes on the details.
"I am here, in short, to provide explanations for things people do not understand. That is why they call me the storyteller of Tristram."
"This is going to be a very long explanation, isn't it?" asked Arthas flatly.
"Yes, indeed, my young friend," said the man sagely. "For it is an old tale, and my own presence within it is comparatively recent. I am Deckard Cain, the storyteller of the Town of Tristram in life, now I have the same role in death."
"You look alive enough to me," said Arthas.
"Well, I am, in a manner of speaking," said Deckard Cain. "This realm around you is known as the Nexus. It is a dimension that can only be reached through physical death. In here, your body is your spirit, and death is but a dream."
"This is a spirit realm?" asked Arthas, looking around.
In every direction, Arthas could see endless rolling hills. A forest was far in the distance, and it was a bleak sight indeed. As if someone had made this world to appear dark and foreboding.
"Is it truly so hard to believe?" asked Deckard. "The hole where the Ashbringer pierced your chest is gone, your armor has returned to when it was a Death Knight. Frostmourne is unbroken at your side."
"How?" asked Arthas, looking back.
"The universe is not done with any being. Not until they have reached enlightenment or utter ruin," said Cain. "This is a realm of trials, where those who are neither appear."
"Get to the point," said Arthas.
Cain nodded. "Very well then.
"The Nexus is more than a realm for lost souls, such as ourselves. It is also the battleground where the greatest warriors in the universe. All of them seek the ultimate prize.
"Do you see the Gates of Death far in the distance?"
Arthas looked to where he motioned, past the hills, and saw... nothing. "No."
Cain looked a bit disappointed at this. "Then, do you see a shining light?"
Arthas looked hard and realized that there was no sun in this place. Gazing around him, he couldn't see it. The light seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once as if it were part of the very world itself. Looking at the distance, however, he perceived a distant light. But pale and faint.
"...I think I do," said Arthas after a moment.
"That light comes from the Castle of the Raven Lord, within which lies the Nexus Crystal," said Cain. "A warrior who is strong enough, brave enough, and virtuous enough may enter that domain. There, once they lay hands on the crystal, they shall be granted their heart's desire."
"What are the limitations?" asked Arthas, immediately suspicious.
"One must desire it," said Cain.
"And?" asked Arthas.
"That is more than a limitation than you may think, young man," said Cain with a smile. "One thing that all men must learn is that they may not actually want what they seek."
"And I am being forced to seek this crystal?" asked Arthas.
"No," said Cain. "You may do as you wish in this place, I am merely here to tell you about the Nexus, you may seek it if you wish. Or you may go elsewhere or remain here.
"I am but the herald, and this is your story. You may seek the Nexus, or go elsewhere, or stay here if you wish."
Arthas narrowed his eyes. "...There has to be more to it than that."
Cain sighed. "Yes, well, the Nexus does have a law. Not a law as you and I know it, though there are plenty of those in the settlements. No, this law is engraved into the very soul of this realm.:
"And what is it?" asked Arthas.
"You cannot commit wanton slaughter for its own sake," said Cain. "You may murder for money, you may kill your enemies in battle, you may threaten and destroy. But those who slaughter the innocent for entertainment will face the Dark Wanderer."
Arthas felt a chill go down his spine and glanced around at the surrounding fields. Looking around, he thought he saw a cloaked figure, their face hidden. But when he glanced back, they were gone.
"You feel his gaze on you now," said Cain. "But he watches all who earn his ire. And those who scorn his warnings do so at their peril."
"Who is this Wanderer?" asked Arthas.
"An old friend of mine," said Deckard looking upward. "Though his name is no longer spoken. He is known as the Dark Wanderer, and he travels the planes of existence. Demons fear him, and his spirit is strong enough to contend with Diablo himself.
"To earn his wrath is to be hunted eternally." Then Cain suddenly looked up. "Ah, a new arrival. I shall have to go to greet them as well. Not all end up in Tristram, you know. There are many places in this world that reflect this and other worlds.
"A young lady by the name of Sylvanas was the last I met. I fear she did not take my warnings seriously."
Arthas blinked. "Sylvanas?"
"Yes, though she may not be the one you remember," mused Cain, picking up his staff. "The Nexus exists outside of time and space. In this place, you are not who you are in your youth, or at the time of your death. You are who you are, no more, no less.
"And sooner or later, you'll have to face yourself." And he moved off.
"Well, this has been... informative," said Arthas, before turning to where Cain had left. Yet Cain was gone, as though he'd never been there, to begin with.
Sylvanas would probably be a problem if he ran into her again.
Still, there was no sense in obsessing over the matter now; she had no power base. Neither did he. Arthas would have to learn more about this world if he were to prosper in it. So he moved toward the doors of the inn he'd seen. Over the door, he saw a sign with a symbol of a rising sun on it. Knocking the twice, the door was opened, and he saw a beautiful, red-haired woman.
"Oh, hello, how may I serve you?" she asked.
"I'd like to ask some questions about this place," said Arthas. "Castles, fortifications, armies, empires."
"Well, we're a fairly secluded village, so we don't know much about the outside world," said the woman. "There are a large number of villagers in this region. They've been growing more numerous in recent years. But most of them are refugees from one horror or another in faraway dimensions.
"Ogden might know more, I'll take you to him."
Arthas followed the woman into the inn and found it to be a homey sort of place. It well-cleaned tables and sturdy benches, unlike that of the outside. For some reason, there was a second, identical sign on one of the shelves. At the far end of the inn was an orange-haired man who was cleaning one of the counters. He looked up at once. "Greetings, Good Master, welcome to the tavern of the Rising Sun. My name is Ogden, how may I serve you?"
Arthas considered his question and decided the best task was mercenary work. "...Are there any wars in this place to fight?"
"An odd question. In this place, most who come here are fleeing wars," said Ogden. "This town used to be the site of a demonic infestation, but, well..." He glanced up at the second sign. "That was a long time ago, and I suppose it wasn't the same town if we must be technical."
"What do you mean?" asked Arthas, sitting down.
"Well," said Ogden. "There is a Cathedral to the north of town. It is the dwelling place of Diablo, Lord of Terror, one of the Prime Evils of this world. Or he was."
"And you've made your village on this doorstep?" asked Arthas. "Why?"
"Revenge," said Ogden with a shrug.
"And the scenery is beautiful, in a dark sort of way," said the woman.
"That it is, Gillian," said Ogden. "It must seem foolish to a newcomer like you, but you must understand, he has nothing to threaten us with. Even Diablo fears the Dark Wanderer and will not willingly incur his wrath. They clashed once, oh so long ago, if you want to hear the story."
"I would," said Arthas. The story might have helpful information.
"Well, the Dark Wanderer came to our town long ago, or I should say returned. He lived here with us at one point before he left, but that was a very long time ago.
"By the time he came back, his entire family had been murdered or corrupted, and our town was a shadow of itself. The Cathedral was being used for profane rituals, and monsters were rising within. Now Cain, he knows a bit of sorcery and was able to put a seal on the entrance that prevents them from getting out.
"But the lost Prince of Tristram was seized, and the Dark Wanderer descended to save him. He faced many horrors and destroyed them all. None could stop him, not even the traitor Lazarus. But when he finally reached hell itself, Diablo had possessed the Prince.
"They fought for endless ages, but at last the Dark Wanderer was victorious.
"Unfortunately, his spirit possessed our friend. Shortly after, he left us, and we were all killed by the Lord of Terror's minions." Ogden sighed. "The usual sort of unhappy story that happens.
"Most people in the Nexus have one like it.
"That's why we built our town here, brick for brick the same."
"Truly a wise decision," said Arthas.
"Oh there won't be a repeat of that," said Ogden. "You see, Diablo can't kill anyone. The Dark Wanderer hates him and is always watching him. If Diablo were to violate the rule, even by accident, he'd be immediately killed. It's happened several times, and every time is more gruesome than the last.
"So Diablo can't actually kill anyone."
"There was one time when Diablo went looking for the Nexus Crystal, though," said Gillian. "He must not have found it, though. I remember he came back furious. We had a festival where we threw rotten vegetables at him."
"And this is the Lord of Terror?" asked Arthas.
"He's actually a very stupid creature," explained Ogden. "He only succeeded in his goals in life because he was born with massive innate power. His very presence could destroy a mortal. And the Dark Wanderer still killed him despite being only human.
"He just happened to have the very laws of the universe on his side. Now the shoe, if you'll excuse the expression, is on the other foot.
"I wonder if his success wasn't entirely due to mortal agents like Lazarus and... well... her."
"In any case," said Gillian. "The only thing he enjoys, if he enjoys anything, is torture and committing mass murder. He can't do either of these things now.
"And all his minions realized how poor of a leader he was. So pretty soon, they all abandoned him, except Lazarus, of course, and went off on their own. Now the Cathedral is empty except for them.
"I actually felt sorry for them. I went down into hell to try and bring him a fruit basket. But Diablo just screamed incoherently while hitting Lazarus. So I left the basket and walked out."
"Lazarus did return the basket, though," said Ogden. "In any case, Diablo was humbled once, by our hero. And so long as he resides in this Nexus, he'll be reminded of it daily. Not that there are days in this part of the Nexus."
Suddenly there was a roar like the earth breaking apart. Arthas drew Frostmourne and ran to the window. Outside the window, he saw a massive dragon, made of metal with lines of fire between. His eyes were mad, and he opened his mouth to spew out waves of lava, burning through an entire house.
And now it was coming for them. Arthas fiddled with the door and found it jammed.
"Oh dear, I suppose the dragon ignored Cain's warnings. Sometimes they do that," said Gillian.
Arthas smashed through the door with one shoulder. It was moments before Deathwing's fire consumed the entire house. Looking up, he saw Deathwing rushing down for another pass. Raising his blade, he sent a death coil surging through the air. The unholy green magic struck Deathwing in the face, and the dragon veered off for a moment.
Quickly, Arthas looked around and a hillock. Leaping behind it, a wave of fire consumed the hill. Firing another death coil, Deathwing screamed. Then he turned and burned down the rest of the village. Then he flew off, only moderately wounded.
And everyone was dead.
Well, it wasn't as if they were of any further use to him anyway. Arthas stood up and walked away from the flames along the path. "...So much for the Dark Wanderer."
Walking, he came by a graveyard of recent bodies. For a moment, he considered resurrecting them to use as fodder. After a moment, he decided against it. He wasn't sure he'd need them, and having an undead army could create problems of its own.
So Arthas began his journey.
