User:Minionman/Battle of the Sanctum

The battle of the sanctum was a small battle fought between the Blood Elves and Scourge during the reconquering of Quel'thalas. the battle was fought in the courtyard of an old Arcane Sanctumin what is now known as the Ghostlands.

Before the Battle
The reconquering of Quel'thalas began when Blood elves from Dalaran joined Elves remaining in Quel'thalas. Over the first several days of the reconquering, Blood elf rangers under Lor'themar Theron made many hit and run attacks against small scourge groups in the ghostlands. These attacks destroyed many of the smaller groups of ghouls and allowed the Elves to control most of the southern forest, but several larger groups of scourge remained in the south.

The largest group of scourge was at the arcane Sanctum of Shel'ron, containing about 200 scourge. This group also contained about half the necromancers in the Ghostlands. These necromancers were studying at the Sanctum, and hoping to control a small amount of the magical power from the Sanctum. The Elves also wanted to use this battle as practice for fighting the scourge in the open, While Dalaran Elves were experienced and skilled in such fighting, the rangers were not.

The Battle
The Sanctum's courtyard was an elliptical area stretching to the south of the Sanctum itself, surrounded by thick forest. On the day of the battle, the blood elves approached from the South, placing several archers, spellbreakers, healers, and mages to the south, while sending a few spellbreakers and rangers to forest east and west of the Sanctum itself. The scourge did not detect the elves approaching.

The Elves to the south attacked first, with several rangers entering the courtyard and shooting at the scourge. The scourge sent their ghouls into the forest to attack the elves, while the necromancers came out of the Sanctum to watch the battle. As the battle went on, the elves to the south slowly retreated, drawing the necromancers and ghouls further south. When the necromancers had been drawn far enough from the Sanctum, the spellbreakers and rangers near the sanctum enterted the courtyard and quickly killed the necromancers. Some of the other scourge ran back through the courtyard to attack the new Elf groups, but were quickly killed by the spellbreakers and archers as well.

After the Battle
Only 2 elves were killed, two of the rangers who had originally attacked were caught by ghouls and killed. Necromancers had raised the bodies and used them in the fighting, and the resulting injuries were too severe for resurrection. All of the scourge were killed.

Although other groups of undead remained in the Ghostlands, the elves were now confident that they could attack and kill scourge in open battles, and wanted to move quickly to capture Silvermoon and begin rebuilding as quickly as possible. The remaining scourge in the Ghostlands wuld be killed later.