The figure spoke in a deep smooth voice, raising the staff before him. and its tip flared with a pale violet light that reflected in his eyes. Those eyes caught sight of Grizzik, who was cowering behind Danath, and they narrowed. He spoke again, in angry tones, and Grizzik replied in the same language.
"What is this creature? What's it want?" Danath barked at Grizzik. "He certainly doesn't seem happy to see you."
"I tell him, I lead noble warriors here, that's all."
The being turned toward them again and impaled Danath with his gaze. Then he murmured something and his staff glowed yet again. He opened his eyes and spoke — in perfect Common.
"This… creature… tells me he leads you here. What are you, and what is your goal here, among the revered dead?”
Danath lowered his shield and sheathed his sword, shocked that the other knew his language, but caring more about convincing him to let them pass than in finding out how he learned it.
"I apologize for the intrusion," he told the stranger. "We would not disturb your dead, or yourself. But the orcish Horde has taken refuge in your tunnels, and has captured our friend. We seek to rescue him and to defeat them as well."
The being — Danath assumed it was some sort of draenei, since Grizzik had said this was their temple — glared at the mention of the Horde, but nodded when Danath had finished. "Yes, the orcs have invaded our tunnels," he confirmed, lowering his staff to rest its base upon the floor. "They have laid claim to the Shadow Labyrinth, the deepest part of Auchindoun and the least damaged. It is there they will have taken your friend, and there you will find the majority of the Horde forces."
"The majority?" Danath asked, leaning forward eagerly.
"Some of the orcs did not arrive recently," the draenei said. "They have been here for some years, since just before the explosion. They reside within a different tunnel." He shook his head, a mixture of anger and grief on his noble features. "They have sullied this temple with their presence for far too long."
"We'll soon fix that," Danath assured him.
"You have told me your purpose. Now tell me what manner of creature you are. Many places I have traveled, but I have never seen your like before."
"I am human," Danath replied. "We hail from Azeroth, another world — the orcs forged a portal between there and Draenor and invaded, but we have broken their army and pushed them back. Now we seek to seal the portal once and for all, to protect our home and our people."
The draenei studied him, those large eyes unblinking, and Danath knew the stranger was somehow testing the truth of his words. At last he nodded. "That is a noble goal," he stated, and stepped out of the doorway to stand before Danath. "I am Nemuraan, one of the last of the Auchcnai," he introduced himself. "We were the priests of our people, and cared for the dead here in Auchindoun." Danath introduced himself and Talthressar, and both bowed slightly.
"I applaud your determination, both in rescuing your friend and in removing the Horde's taint." Nemuraan continued. "I can help you with both tasks, if you will allow it."
"I'd be grateful," Danath answered honestly. He showed the Auchcnai the rough map Grizzik had sketched out. "This is all I know of Auchindoun."
Nemuraan examined the crude drawing and chuckled, though it was a bitter sound. "Did that one draw this for you, then?" he asked, indicating the arakkoa with a quick jerk of his tentacled chin. Grizzik was no longer cowering, though he was carefully staying back among the Alliance warriors. Danath noted, "He has been prowling through our halls for years," the Auchcnai continued after Danath nodded, "but he knows little beyond where to search for items to steal."
"I meant no harm!" Grizzik protested. "I not know anyone remained within Auchindoun! I never have taken anything if I'd thought—"
"If you thought you'd get caught?" Nemuraan interrupted. "Be careful with this one," he warned Danath. "The arakkoa were ever a devious race, and a selfish one.”
"He has been true to his word thus far," Danath replied, "and I believe him when he says he hates the Horde."
"Yes!" Grizzik agreed fervently, his dark eyes glittering. "I hate them all! Please please! We have common enemy!"
"That we do." Nemuraan admitted after a moment. "Very well, arakkoa, we will start fresh as of this moment." The Auchcnai turned back to Danath, taking the parchment from his hand and producing a small black stick from a fold in his robes. With several quick marks he altered a few lines, linked a few tunnels, and expanded the map considerably. "The orcs will be here," he explained, indicating one section. "Come. I will lead you to them." Without another word Nemuraan thrust the map back at Danath and turned away, starting back up the stairs, his hooves clopping on the stone floor.
Danath glanced at Talthressar and Rellian, who nodded. He took a deep breath, and followed the draenei into Auchindoun,
"Have you lived here by yourself all these years?" he asked softly as Nemuraan led them into a second wide hallway and then through a series of twisting corridors.
"There are others," the Auchcnai replied, his staff raised to light the way. "Several of us survived the Horde's attack and fled into the tunnels. Other draenei joined us later, seeking refuge from the Horde's sudden onslaught. Many of them died in the explosion, and others have been lost since. Only a handful of us remain."
Danath glanced around, wondering where these others might be. but ahead of him Nemuraan shook his head.
"You will not see them. Though you seem noble and true, it would not be wise for me to put the rest of my people at risk. They will remain hidden while I aid you. so that if you do betray me, our race will yet continue,"
"A wise precaution," Danath agreed. "I'd have done the same."
They continued to walk for some time, finally stopping at another door. "This marks the start of the Shadow Labyrinth," Nemuraan explained. "Behind it lies the Horde." He turned and studied Danath closely, his face somber yet his eyes alight with … anticipation? Joy? "I would aid you further, if you will permit it," he offered softly, "though I warn that the type of aid might prove unsettling to some."
Danath frowned and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
The Auchcnai bowed his head. "In my keeping are the souls of all our departed," he explained humbly, hands clasped on his staff. "At times of great need I may call upon them. I would do so now — they would relish the chance to cleanse these halls of the orcs' foul touch."
Danath was a little shaken at the matter-of-factness with which this was presented. He knew the Horde's death knights were orc spirits placed in human bodies, so clearly spirits could survive beyond death, although he'd always been taught the dead should be left to rest in peace. But if Nemuraan was a protector of the dead, it would be all right if he asked for their help… wouldn't it? Danath had said to Turalyon earlier that the ghosts of the men who had fallen would fight with him when they found the orcs, but he'd been speaking metaphorically. It looked as though the ghosts of someone's fallen took such comments literally. Finally Danath shrugged. Such questions were for those of a more esoteric mind-set, and from a military standpoint he could certainly use all the help they could get.
"I am honored," he told Nemuraan. "And if it would not disturb or anger them, we would welcome their assistance."
Nemuraan nodded and bowed deeply, clearly pleased with Danath's reply, then straightened and raised his staff high. Violet light blossomed down the length of the hallway, filling it with light and awakening answering gleams all along the ceiling. These gleams grew brighter rather than dimming, their colors shifting from violet to blue to green to gold as they descended and expanded, gaining shape and definition. The one nearest Danath and Nemuraan altered to reveal a massive figure, clearly a draenei but burlier than Nemuraan and wearing ornate plate armor rather than robes, a giant warhammcr across one shoulder and a long cape trailing behind him. Others came into crisp focus as well, filling the room.