The Crown Has Fallen

Overwhelmed as one may be...

The molten stadium was ablaze with inhabitants from all regions of the Firelands, millions of elementals, Druids of the Flame, ascendants, even molten giants and volcano lords who looked to the high podium over the gold-orange architecture. Their attention was directed to the robed, hooded figure who approached the position of power within the room. The mysterious silhouette took center stage, eyeing the applauding gathering that welcomed their presence. Voice booming, the figure began to speak.

"Denizens of the Firelands! Hear the words of your arbiter, and listen! The elements roil at the thought of this Plane rising once again, upsetting the balance of Azeroth's stability! But Azeroth was long doomed from the beginning! I have watched with my own eyes, the greed and selfishness of the surface dwellers who only take and take, never give! Hurting the world and damaging the very planet at its core! Using that harm to only further fuel their arms race, and bring more ruin! Then they come together and play their politics after the damage is already done, thinking that exchanging treaties of parchment and apologies is enough to ever make up for what their war has wrought!"

"And for too long, has the power of fire, that which makes way for rebirth and regrowth, been locked away behind the boundaries of this Plane! Those, you! Who would truly bring balance to the world been forced to sit idle! While we watch those who pledge neutrality and forsake their influences to the efforts, pretending to play balance in a world that has long since tipped the scales! The Cenarion Circle, the Earthen Ring, all clutter that inhibit the true path that flames would bring! That give their watchful eye to keep us bound here, trapped, unable to show the world our true course!"

"No more! Teldrassil has shown that they are willing to damage the very world's health only in the name of war! Never in the name of progress, and healing! To those who stood by on either side, watching a native home scorch to its roots, opinions unchanging after the carnage and turmoil that was wrought that day, I pledge that you will be the first to burn! To be shown the fires you only watched! Playing coy to what lies under the rug for the sake of pockets and neutrality! A neutrality that to this day forever remains false! Lying to yourselves in this horrid, barren landscape you dare stick your hand in! The dry landscape of reparations, that you have never given, nor pushed for!"

"The dry land that wildfires will rage throughout! Every inch of every region will not be spared! The waking flame is rising upon us, and to this, I call for all to heed, and follow through! To break to the mortal plane and burn everything! Scorch everything you touch! Every greedy hunter taking the hearts of wildlife for sport, burn them from the legs up, showing them the same torture they pervasively show the planet! The King of Stormwind who sent soldiers off to die in his name, who could not even be bothered to spare a single ship to Ashenvale, while he sat safe, bunkered in the walls of his keep! To the Leaders of the Horde who sat and watched, letting the only rebellion against their cruel warchief falter in the name of ridiculous traditions instead of executing her where she stood! Every soul on Azeroth you see, look dead in the eyes, tell them of their transgressions, and BURN THEM!"

"Through the Rite of Ash, they will see truth! And when they bend their knees to grovel and pledge to the cause, we will deny them, every one, for principle and principle alone! When Naaru come down, they do not ask for repentance, they only cleanse with holy fire and then forgive them! When the Firelands come down, we will ask for them to repent, and kick them when they are down! No forgiveness! No trial! Only judgement, for what is long overdue!"

"Rite! Of! Ash! Rite! Of! Ash! Rite! Of! Ash!"

The chant very quickly caught on, this supposed arbiter continuing to recite it. Soon enough, the echoing of the crowd turned to a different tune, 'Long live the Ash Warden!' The figure turned on their heel and walked away from the podium, rampant support continuing to shake the stadium even as they went "backstage."

"I'm coming for you, Nordrassil..." The Ash Warden muttered to themself.