Lost Honor
April 29th, 2011 by Samodean
Over the past few years, I’ve been tinkering with my WoW fiction. I’ve developed a few very devoted fans who I have completely disappointed. You see, as my interest in the game has waned, so has my interest in continuing to write the story. Now that I’ve concluded I’m done for good, I know I’ll never get it even remotely close to done.
In my head, I have about a dozen chapters planned out. I haven’t even finished writing the first one yet, even leaving off on a big cliffhanger a whole year ago.
So, I’ve reached a decision. I’m going to post the outline of the story. That way, readers who want to know how Corrigan’s story plays out can have that satisfaction and I can finally get this bloody story out of my head.
Chapter 1: Corruption
When I left off in Part 7, Corrigan had finally given in, Rondrey was facing off with the shade and Sylphine was betrayed by her own sister.
Rina finally reveals her motives. With her mother dead and her sister being groomed as a replacement sacrifice, Rina refuses to be the next victim. Remember: in the library, Sylphine picked books she remembered from her mother’s bookshelf. After their mother’s death, Rina spent all of her time in their mother’s bedroom. What Sylphine had initially thought was grief was actually Rina studying magic on her own. Rina decided the only way not to be a victim was to grow in power. She allied herself with Therin in exchange for safety and even more power when Therin’s master entered the world.
Rondrey and Rusty face off with the shade and felhunter. The holy ward is still in effect, but Rondrey can still protect himself with shields. Sadly, Rusty gets taken down by the felhunter, leaving Rondrey outnumbered. The felhunter attacks with a tentacle, but Rondrey reflects the attack with a well-timed shield, causing it to latch on to the shade instead. The felhunter quickly drains the shade of its magic energy, leaving nothing behind. With the shade gone, the ward drops and Rondrey dispatches the felhunter.
In the ritual chamber, Corrigan is the willing host and Sylphine is the unwilling sacrifice. Partway through the ritual, Rondrey’s defeat of the shade drops the ward, allowing Corrigan to touch the Light once more. He comes to his senses, sees the lies and lashes out. Unrestrained and catching the warlocks by surprise, he is able to disrupt the ritual, causing Therin to be destroyed by the backlash, sparing Sylphine. In the confusion, Rina runs away.
Rondrey escorts Corrigan and Sylphine out of the warlocks’ den.
Chapter 2: Cast Out
Shorter than “Corruption,” this chapter would take place days after Corrigan’s rescue.
Corrigan is back to full health, if still a bit weak from his imprisonment. Due to his “corruption by the forces of darkness,” he is cast out of the Order.
Sylphine has been sentenced to death.
Rondrey receives reports of a girl matching Rina’s description traveling through Hillsbrad. The Order refuses to investigate a lone girl, so Rondrey takes matters into his own hands. He visits Sylphine in prison, who explains Rina’s lust for power. If she’s traveling through Hillsbrad, she could be heading for the Plaguelands. With the warlocks cut off to her, she may be seeking the Lich King as a new master.
While Corrigan is initially apathetic to Sylphine’s plight, Rondrey reminds him of his teachings. Just because he’s no longer a member of the Order, that doesn’t mean he can’t still serve the Light. Sylphine may have done wrong, but she is not evil; she deserves a chance at redemption. Rina must be captured before she can grow into a stronger threat.
Rondrey and Corrigan break Sylphine out of prison. The dwarf remains behind to accept his punishment in an attempt to delay the Order’s pursuit.
Chapter 3: The Chase
Corrigan and Sylphine make their way to the Plaguelands, dodging the forces of the Order. When Sylphine uses her abilities on a scout, Corrigan loses it. He forbids her from using any magic involving the souls of the fallen.
They may be working together, but they don’t like each other.
Through their journey, Sylphine follows Corrigan’s demand, though constantly pushes him. When he disapproves of her summoning her imp minion, she tries to explain that, while the Nether may be full of corruptive influences, it is not inherently evil. A skilled practitioner can use its power for good. Corrigan remains unconvinced.
Eventually, the pair is caught by the Order. Surrounded, Corrigan holds them off long enough for Sylphine to escape. Hiding in an abandoned house, Sylphine can only watch as Corrigan is struck down.
Chapter 4: Wounds, New and Old
I never developed much plot for this chapter, but know where I wanted it to go.
Sylphine finds Corrigan clinging to life. She brings him to the abandoned house and tends to his wounds.
Over the following weeks, Sylphine nurses Corrigan back to health. Corrigan sees that she truly is a good person and starts changing his outlook.
The two form a bond and eventually fall in love.
Yeah, romance really isn’t my thing, but I was going to try.
Chapter 5: The Chase Continues
While they lived in seclusion, the Order gave up their search, assuming Corrigan dead, with Sylphine sure to follow after being abandoned in the Plaguelands. Without having to look over their shoulders, Corrigan and Sylphine can continue their search for Rina.
They find a fleeing merchant, claiming to have been attacked by a powerful sorceress and her ghoulish minions. Thinking this could be Rina, the pair heads off to investigate.
They find the sorceress, but it is not Rina. She tells them that Rina did come to her, wanting to learn. The sorceress deemed Rina unworthy of the Lich King’s power and killed her. She then unleashes her power on Corrigan and Sylphine.
The pair is quickly overwhelmed, but Sylphine manages one last spell, sending Corrigan away to safety. The last thing he sees is his newfound love buried under a pile of ghouls.
Chapter 6: Grief
Fast forward a couple years to the Burning Crusade portion of the timeline.
Corrigan has spent the time mostly in bars, drowning his sorrow.
Rondrey finds him and explains what has happened to him in the intervening time. Rondrey was kicked out of the Order, but found a place in the 7th Legion. He offers Corrigan a better place to sleep than dirty alleys, and he accepts.
Chapter 7: A New Direction
Corrigan serves in the 7th Legion. His rage on the battlefield becomes legendary among the troops; many foes fall to the might of his hammer.
Corrigan quickly rises to a command position, though his decisions are hindered by his drinking. Rondrey joins Corrigan’s unit as an advisor and attempts to steer the younger paladin in the right direction.
CYOA
Again jumping ahead a few years, to the beginning of Wrath of the Lich King, the Crate Your Own Azeroth story takes place here.
The Future
I still have many more stories floating around in my head, including Corrigan’s journey to Naxxramas and the introduction of two characters based on my Cataclysm toons. I’ll be posting part 2 of Lost Honor soon.
