The Annual Lorderon Pilgrimage stalwart souls of the Alliance take each year to the tomb of Uther Lightbringer was tainted by skirmishes with Dark Iron dwarves, Forsaken bandits and a sickening, cowardly attack on unarmed pilgrims by the forces of the Horde.

As is usual with the traditions of harvest time, the procession to Uther’s tomb was planned weeks in advance by the esteemed Archbishop Bellano. The group’s route was well marked, following the trade road from Menethil Harbour, across the Wetlands to the Thandol Span bridge, then from there across the Highlands to Southshore, then onwards around the feet of the Alterac Mountains to Sorrow Hill and the edge of the Plaguelands. Forward scouts had reported the path clear of obstructions, though this was not the case.

At the last minute Archbishop Bellano was taken ill, leaving the standing-mayor of Southshore, Leopold Proodsword, to lead the party with assistance from Eccerion Lucien. This did not delay the throng, numbering near to a hundred pilgrims and a small armed escort, from setting out at the appointed hour towards their destination. The only things carried by the group were offerings for Uther’s memorial and provisions.

When the group reached the ruined Thandol Span bridge the travellers were forced to take shelter from a sudden volley of musket fire. Dark Iron dwarves held the road under a crossfire. A firefight began, and the dwarves were made short work of by riflemen from various regiments of Stormwind’s armed forces.

The voyage across the Arathi Highlands was uneventful, though the pathway bore the evidence of recent brigand activity, and the group found themselves filing solemnly past the remains of a merchant’s caravan that had been robbed and put to the torch.

Thoradin’s Wall was passed without event, though once the group was in sight of Southshore a second sniper attack began, with Forsaken bandits firing from the cover of a ruined tower. Warriors went into the tower and flushed out the aggressors while the pilgrims took cover in the undergrowth.

Upon reaching the port of Southshore, the party rested after their long march. After reprovisioning and changing animals the procession began again. It was only as the group neared the Horde outpost of Tarren Mill that any inkling of the horror to come became apparent.

A small cadre of Horde forces seemed intent on barring the party’s movement into the mountain lowlands. Led by a particularly ugly she- orc, the horsemen seemed intent on stopping the march, despite the majority of the group being obviously unarmed. After some attempts to bargain with the thugs were made they grudgingly moved aside, though they began to follow the party at a discreet distance.

As the group skirted by Tarren Mill some of the procession were spotted by a patrol and the alarm was raised. The escorting Horde riders took this as a signal to assail the party, and rode clear into the heart of the pilgrims, deliberately targeting the unarmed. The small unit of defenders assigned to the march rallied and pushed the riders back. The majority of the pilgrims fled into the hills, but the murderous Horde swept around the edge of the group and loosed arrows and magic into the civilians, resulting in a score of injuries and several deaths. As the guards attempted to take stock of the situation, police the area and tend the wounded the orc and some of her companions squared up to the meagre escort and openly taunted the pilgrims. Tempers were at boiling point, and several of the soldiers were prepared to answer blood with blood. Both Mayor Proodsword and Eccerion however called for calm, considering the meaning of the march. After the wounded were tended and the bodies of the fallen were collected to avoid leaving them at the mercy of the Horde, who would no doubt dismember them for trophies, the group moved on again in a much more sombre and bitter mood. The Horde continued to show their utter disrespect for the spirit of the season by marching behind the wounded howling bestial epithets and jeers.

Thankfully the murderers seemed to lose interest, and by the time the pilgrims reached the Scourge-held area of Sorrow Hill. The frustrations of the soldiers were vented against the mindless undead prowling the churchyard, which were cut down and put to fire before they could rise once again.

Once the path was cleared to the tomb, the procession reached their destination. Uther’s tomb was transformed into a sea of colour as flowers, candles, votives and offerings were placed before the tomb of one of the Alliance’s greatest heroes. The foul mood of the group was noticeably uplifted by the scene. As the throng crowded into the tomb’s mouth, Eccerion held a sermon to the Light and to Lord Uther’s memory. The effect upon all was noticeable; as Lucien spoke of the redoubling of efforts against the unholy blight of Arthas in the north and the demonstrated dishonourable intentions of the Horde, one would be forgiven for thinking the Light itself was infused into the gatherers. The spirit of the Alliance is truly unbreakable with the faith, strength and example of men such as Uther within it, and all left the tomb feeling much more hopeful for the coming new year.

The ceremony over, the pilgrims took a slow procession back to Southshore. This time Tarren Mill was given an exceptionally wide berth, and there were some murmurs among the crowd about preparing a reprisal for the Horde based there. This though was not to be, however, and the trip back to Southshore was without event.

Upon reaching Southshore the group discovered that a merchant vessel had been chartered to return them to Menethil Harbour. After the day’s long march the sea voyage was a welcome respite to the travellers. The cost of the march however was seven deaths and two dozen injuries (thankfully none of these were eventually fatal). During a time of reflection on the year soon past and the deeds of those that have gone before, the Horde has demonstrated once again that for a 'warrior-tribe' that apparently prides itself on qualities like honour and respect, both seem to be in pitifully short supply.