I had a hilarious PvP incident over the Holidays. Bartolomei was in Astraanar, doing quests, when he noticed an orc attacking the town guards. A very powerful orc warrior, which was killing 40th level guards without working up a sweat. (ooc: Seemed like a typical PvPer -- 50-something, looking to gank 20-something PCs like me.) He watched the orc for a
bit, hoping he could do something to help the guards kill him, but clearly the guards were over-matched. And while Bartolomei can get awfully over-confidant, he knew he didn't stand a chance against a warrior like that. Especially alone. So, reluctantly, he went on his way.

Some time later he saw a bright beacon fleeing through the Ashenvale woods.  It was the orc warrior, marked by a hunter's spell. And on the orc's tail was a Screaming Elvish Lynch Mob. The orc was well ahead of them... but he was running towards Bartolomei. And, alas, cockiness overcame the young paladin. He hid behind a tree, and then leaped out and tried to stun the orc when he sprinted past. Much to our shock (his AND mine), the stun landed. Bartolomei attacked furiously... doing absolutely nothing to the orc. Just as his stun wore off, however, a hunter's cat ran up and swatted the orc once. Again, the poor guy was stunned. And before the second stun faded, the Elvish Tide swept in and tore the orc to shreds.

Afterwards, as everyone stood about congratulating each other, Bartolomei had a bout of remorse. "This is exactly why the Alliance accomplishes nothing," he scolded himself. "We waste our time in hair-pulling matches with the Horde, instead of focusing on finding a permanent solution to the Horde problem." So he headed off to work on more quests, faintly annoyed
with himself. (Only faintly -- killing Horde is never bad, after all!) He didn't worry that, having broken the Truce, he was now fair game to any hostile Horde minion lurking in Ashenvale. (ooc: PvP flag? Whuzzat?)  He hadn't seen anybody except that orc. And since the Thundering Elvish Herd of Death was now swarming around the orc's body, there was no chance of the orc returning.

Famous last words.

A short while later, cries of anguish echoed through Ashenvale. "Where'd that orc go?!?!?" "Where is he?" "Somebody check Astraanar, quick!!!"

"Uh oh," thought Bartolomei, suddenly remembering the broken Truce. "That doesn't sound good..."

Sure enough, he rounded a tree -- and nearly stepped on his buddy, the 50-something orc warrior. Fully healed. With no elves in sight. It was just him, the orc... and Payback Time.

Flight was out of the question. Bartolomei'd seen the orc's charge attack and knew there was no way he'd escape before the warrior made pate of him.  He scrambled backwards, praying the orc hadn't seen him... but no such luck.  The orc turned at once and ran in his direction. Wincing in anticipation of the immense pain soon to come, Bartolomei braced himself. And then...

Nothing happened.

(Ooc: As my finger hovered over the stun button, the orc's name suddenly turned yellow. My PvP flag had just dropped and, thank gawd, I managed to freeze before I pressed attack.)

At that exact moment, the blessing of the Truce re-established itself. The orc came skidding to halt, unable to kill him.
When he realized what had happened, Bartolomei gasped a quick prayer of thanks to the Light. (I, meanwhile, fell out of my chair laughing.  Bartolomei is far too cultured to yell, "The Light loves me, and you suck."  But that's what was going through my mind.)

And so, as the orc danced about in a fine rage, Bartolomei turned back to Astraanar. Wiser about the dangers of assaulting the Horde directly, and delighted to still be alive.

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