I am Warecs

Not much here so far, But my male Paladin, Warecs also wants his story told.

Warecs' travels towards the Light

"I am Warecs" that was my first conscious thought. I must have spoken out loud, or tried to, as I felt a hand hold me down. "Quiet," a voice said and then I slept again. I awoke later to a reality of pain, my body burned all over, I groaned, and the same hand or maybe another, held a cup to my lips. I drank it all, and the pain lessened.
"What happened?" was my first impulse. "Where am I?"
"Your house burned, and you almost burned along with it,” said the voice. "You are at Northshire Abbey”

I tried to open my eyes, but something wet held them shut. I was much alone while healing, and slowly my memory returned. I was an armorsmith in service to the King of Stormwind. My house and workplace was situated on the edge of the Park. I lived there with my wife, our sons had both moved out. Then I remembered. I was commissioned to make a fireproof chestpiece for one of the King's councillors. My sons had been visiting us with their families, and as I was bored by much talk of babies, I and my oldest son had taken refuge in my workroom. He admired the chestpiece, and I told him of the special fireproofing spell, the master mage had given me for the occasion. I held the scroll in my hand and slowly unrolled it for my son to admire. Then I remembered no more.

I started wondering. And what had happened to my family. I asked the next time somebody was around, but the weaving answer I got, left me fearing the worst. Was something the matter with that scroll, making my house burn down?  Maginor was going to pay if that was so. But what about my family?

Some days later I was allowed to take off the bandages from my eyes. I could still see. And I saw Lord Grayson sitting at a chair in my room. The sight of him made me shake inside with fear. He took my hand and told me that my family were all dead. And more than that. Thousands of people in Stormwind had lost lives and homes. The quarter where I used to live, was basically a smoking  hole in the ground now. Deathwing had come that night, flaming and raging he had spread terror over all of Azeroth; Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms alike. I understood that the only reason I had survived was that wretched scroll.

I swore there and then never to use anything having to do with magic ever again.

As I healed, I learned more of the Cataclysm. It seemed that more areas were stricken by the events, than I could even start to imagine. I also had ample time to reconsider my future. I could not continue my old work, my newly acquired aversion to magic saw to that. There were drifters and homeless people enough for all the menial tasks and more. As a young man I had felt a calling to follow the Light, and as I discussed with Brother Sammuel in my many painfilled nights, I found the calling still deep within me. I was not young, being the former father of two grown men, but I had been strong until struck by the fire, and I was willing to train and train hard to regain my former strength. I started the spiritual training while still bedridden, and as soon as I was able, I began lifting stones, sacks filled with water and anything I could think of. The monks and soldiers of the abbey were all very kind to me, but I felt lonely. Understandably so. All my family and many of my friends had died that night.

When I was able I started regular training with the soldiers. I was given easy assignments and the hindmost post. Slowly my strength returned. I took on regular assignments in the daytime and spent much of my night praying in the small chapel. I helped clearing the surrounding area from Blackrock invaders, And I tried my hand at healing injured soldiers in the field. I grew into my new role, and was accepted, fully by the paladin novices, not so much so by the recruits. That was as it should be, as my heart was for the Light. I was clad in paladin’s robes together with the other novices, and inaugurated in the ways of the Light. After that real work started. Milly Osworth sent me to extinguish the fires in her vineyard, and Marshal McBride bade me kill all the orcs over there if I could.  I jumped the river and swam up. I had no problems overcoming the orcs over there with my new skills. I extinguished what fire I could find with a savage glee. Finally fighting my real enemy, the fear!

Marshall McBride was an understanding officer. He handed me a sword and gave me one last assignment. To kill the boss of the Blackrock orcs.  I had seen him when I was extinguishing the vineyard. But he had looked too dangerous.
Now I promised to give it a try. I had my armour repaired and bought a shield by one of my former pupils, Godric Rothgar, and then I set out to get him. He was not that formidable in close combat, and with my new sword and the powers of the Light he was no match for me.
After having killed the leader, I was dismissed.  Brother Sammuel had taught me all he could, and wrote me a letter for the paladin trainer in Goldshire, brother Wilhelm.
My arrival in Goldshire did not go unnoticed. I had forgotten how small a town it was. Everybody yelled at me, and had jobs for me. It seems that ...


... To be continued