Highlord Mograine stepped forward, and after receiving a nod from Rhodes, he began his report: "Grand Marshal Rhodes, per your orders, as soon as we returned to the Eastern Kingdoms, we commanded a joint team of Dalaran and Quel'Thalas mages to coordinate with Dragonhawk Riders and scout Northrend."
"According to the latest reconnaissance, Arthas has officially arrived in Northrend; his trail vanished in the vicinity of Icecrown Glacier. This information was brought back by some surviving Dwarves. We also discovered a remnant force of humans who had followed Arthas on his expedition—about a few hundred survivors who have established a small outpost in Northrend."
Rhodes nodded. During the Battle of the Frozen Throne lore, a portion of the Dwarves who had followed Muradin were indeed slaughtered by Arthas in the underground kingdom of Azjol-Nerub. Some, however, managed to survive, staying in the frozen wastes until the eventual Wrath of the Lich King era to rejoin the Alliance.
But because of Rhodes's presence, these Dwarves—who originally should have died or remained stranded—would be brought home. As for the human survivors of the Alliance expeditionary force, Rhodes decided to retrieve them as well. There was no need to leave a vulnerable outpost in Northrend; if needed, he could send mages to scout via teleportation at any time.
"Tell the scouting mages to be cautious. They are to avoid any conflict with the Scourge and simply report on Arthas's latest movements. Furthermore, find a way to bring those surviving humans and Dwarves back. I will dispatch a magical vessel," Rhodes ordered.
With several thousand survivors expected, standard teleportation spells wouldn't suffice for a mass evacuation; he would need a dedicated magical transport.
"Understood, Marshal. I will relay the message to Dalaran immediately. As for the fleet, Kul Tiras can provide support. The Grand Admiral has established contact and will soon lead his Invincible Fleet to rendezvous with us," Mograine added.
It seemed his "father-in-law" was on his way. Rhodes had no intention of letting the Admiral sail to Kalimdor to "throw away his life" as he did in the original timeline. The man was to stay in the Eastern Kingdoms or focus on governing Kul Tiras.
"Any other news?" Rhodes asked.
"Grand Marshal, the Stratholme region is firmly controlled by the Death Knight Highlord Stronk, the Banshee Queen Sylvanas, and her 'Forsaken.' They seem to be coordinating defenses with a... new, bloated type of undead (Abominations). There are no signs of a large-scale mobilization, though small-scale scouting skirmishes have occurred. Additionally... there is one matter I am unsure if I should report," Mograine hesitated.
"Speak freely."
"Very well. Not long ago, we captured an undead. He claims he was once a sentry in Stratholme, slaughtered during Arthas's culling and turned into a Scourge thrall. He says he regained his free will a month ago under Highlord Stronk and is now seeking the Alliance's help."
"Oh? You mean these 'Forsaken' have sent an emissary to us?" Rhodes asked.
In the original timeline, this emissary was sent to Stormwind. But now, since Rhodes had unified the forces of the Eastern Kingdoms—Dwarves, Elves, Dalaran, and the Lordaeron remnants—Sylvanas had sent the envoy here instead. It was a miracle the soldiers hadn't killed him on sight.
"Lord Rhodes, if you do not wish to see him, I will order the priests to grant him peace immediately," Fairbanks interjected. "Our priests confirm he has free will, but he remains undead. Perhaps returning to peace under the Light is his best end."
The other Alliance priests nodded. They had tested the creature; he was indeed different from the mindless Scourge and retained his memories. However, his personality was twisted, harboring a natural aversion to the living. The priests suggested "purifying" the poor soul with Holy Light.
"Grand Marshal, we have temporarily imprisoned this specific undead awaiting your judgment," Mograine said. Having traveled to Outland with Rhodes and seen him cooperate with the Demon Hunter Illidan, Mograine's view on "monsters" had shifted. If these undead were no longer under the Lich King's sway, perhaps they weren't beyond hope.
However, Mograine didn't plead for him directly, as he knew the soldiers' hatred for the undead was absolute. Most humans believed the only good undead was a pile of ash. Yet, Mograine remembered his own realization while forging the Ashbringer: the extreme of Light can breed Shadow, and the extreme of Shadow can harbor Light.
Could the end of Death be Life? Usually, such an envoy would be vaporized before meeting the commander, but Mograine had stopped them, deciding to let Rhodes choose.
"Ashbringer, how do you think we should handle this undead?" Rhodes asked, looking at Mograine.
"Lord Rhodes, my view may differ from the others, but I will speak boldly," Mograine began. "I once thought the Light was pure, but through the Shadow Crystal used to forge my blade, I learned that pure Light begets Shadow, and Shadow begets Light. Good and evil are not absolute. I sense no evil in this undead; even standard Holy Light does not seem to burn him as it does the Scourge. That shouldn't be possible. If the extreme of Light is Shadow, is it not possible that the end of Death is also a form of Life? This envoy was once a citizen of Lordaeron. If any of us were turned, only to regain our minds and seek help, how would we feel if we were met only with execution?"
"What? My old friend, have you lost your mind?" Fairbanks stared at Mograine in disbelief. "How can the end of Death be Life?"
"Lord Rhodes, Mograine is likely fatigued. Please ignore these ramblings," Dathrohan added quickly.
"I am not mad," Mograine insisted. "I spoke with Prophet Velen in Outland. I saw what you did with Illidan. We have no right to blindly snatch away a life that was so hard-won."
"Life? Are you joking, Lord Mograine?" a Paladin roared. "So many of our brothers were taken by the Scourge, and you pity one now?"
The room erupted in anger, held back only by Mograine's status as a Highlord of the Silver Hand. Rhodes raised his hand for silence.
"Quiet. I know you hate the Scourge. But who created the Scourge? The Burning Legion. The Lich King. These 'ordinary' undead were once our people. None of them chose this. Mograine's insight is correct; the duality of Light and Shadow is proven by my blade, Holy Judgment, and his Ashbringer. And the fact that 'Death is a doorway to Life' is a reality. Though hard to believe, all souls on Azeroth travel to a place called the Shadowlands after death for a second existence—after a trial, of course. I cannot tell you more, but it is the truth."
The room fell into hushed murmurs. No one expected the "Avatar of Light" to say such things. Only Mograine's eyes sparkled; he had been right.
"Lord Rhodes! Does this mean you intend to spare them?"
"We cannot accept these 'free' undead into the Alliance, but we will not hunt them either. As long as they do not encroach on our lands or harm our people, let them exist. One day, they will return to the Shadowlands on their own," Rhodes judged.