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Willow {Collaborative Story}
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Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
576272
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
Shen stared in a kind of horrified fascination at the woman, Lauren. She seemed to be slightly manic, as if she hadn't had company for a long time. Morgan walked up behind Shen and set a hand on his shoulder. Shen recoiled instinctively, and received a cuff on the side of his head as a consequence.
Lauren was staring in turn at Shen, who felt his skin crawl under her gaze. Lauren opened her mouth and said, "Shen,", as if testing out the word. "I... I... like it," she said, voice gravelly. "Shen is my partner?"
Alaric nodded. "Indeed, Shen is now your partner. We now need the last person attuned to start the ritual. In fact, we're off to get him now. Amaranth!" Amaranth looked over at Alaric, as if gracing him with her attention. "You'll be watching the prisoners. Morgan and I will be back soon." Amaranth nodded. "Where's the last one?" she asked.
Morgan jerked his head north. "Back in Elwynn. It's a High Elf in the Cathedral, which is why we didn't want to get them both. It'd be obvious something was happening if we had kidnapped somebody from the Cathedral at the same time as a 'random arson'. This way we got him out, and we can sneak the elf out as well." Amaranth nodded and slid a curved knife out of a sheath at her side, setting it down on the table. "Don't take too long."
Morgan and Alaric left, carefully retracing their steps in the dust, marking the walls as they went for a quick return. "You have the summoning circle ready?" asked Alaric to Morgan. Morgan nodded. "Yes. Set up in the basement of the Cathedral. The Black Bishop will make sure that we aren't caught. You have the poison ready to knock him out?"
Alaric nodded. "And the blowdart too," he said, before Morgan could ask. They approached a circle set up in a side chamber, and walked into it. Morgan spat a quick word, which burned his mouth and caused some blood to dribble from it, and their surrounding blurred and shifted, to become the basement of the Cathedral. The Black Bishop stood in the corner, eyes closed in dreamlike concentration.
His eyes flicked open as soon as the two warlocks appeared. "Ah, my Pawns have arrived. Soon the set will be complete..." he murmured. Morgan rolled his eyes, but kept his tone respectful. "Indeed. The elf is here?"
The Black Bishop nodded. "Indeed. Anthorist is in the room above me, taking stock of the holy candles." Alaric smiled. "I won't be but a moment," he told Morgan, and exited the room. Alaric crept up the stairs, hardly making an impression in the dust. He lifted the blowdart slowly, smiled, and breathed, not too hard. The dart flew through the air and struck the elf in the back of the leg.
He jerked straight up, and started to collapse. Alaric snatched the elf before he could hit the floor, and picked him up and carried him slowly down the stairs. Morgan grinned and started empowering the circle. Alaric went inside the circle, making sure very part of the elf was inside.
The Black Bishop smiled at them. "Come, my pawns. Bring the End for me, and you will be richly rewarded when it comes."
Morgan once again rolled his eyes and moved them back without saying anything. Entering the crypt, they dropped off the elf. "That was easier than expected," Alaric grunted, lowering the still unconscious elf. Amaranth grinned. "At last, it's coming together..."
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Morec0
Fifteen minutes later…
Karng Soulsplitter – former death knight of the Old Horde and now death knight in service to the Shadow Council – stepped into the house. He had doubled back after realizing that he must have passed the home where his objective dwelt, and now he was here. All that remained was to find the girl and return to his benefactors with her in tow.
He walked through the house, ignoring the fact that it seemed to be completely empty. He had made quite the ruckus when he had arrived, so the inhabitants of his home were probably hiding or attempting to escape. But Karng had anticipated as much, and so ordered his undead steed to circle the house to make sure no one escaped without him knowing. As the mount had made no effort to alert him it was clear that they were still here.
He turned over all the furniture that he came across and tore away any doors that blocked his search. He would find them eventually; it was only a matter of time. He headed deeper into the house, back towards the bedrooms, as he continued his search. As he neared the master bedroom he though he heard a quiet shuffling coming from it, as if someone was attempting to pull themselves into a smaller hiding place.
He charged into the room, knocking the door away with a blast of dark magic, and was immediately thrown into the opposite wall by a burst of moonlight. He looked up, seeing Evalin standing only a few paces away, her hands glowing with magic for another spell. “I should have killed you when I had the chance,” he growled, standing up and snapping his neck back into place. “No matter, I will correct my error here and now.”
Evalin blasted him with another bolt of moonlight, this time knocking him threw the wall and onto the grass outside. Karng jumped back to his feet and grabbed his truncheon, pointing it at Eavllin and shooting out a wave of dark magic. The night elf priestess mumbled a quick prayer, eyes closed and head bent, and a shield of moonlight formed around here, protecting her from the death knight’s spell.
She opened her eyes and looked back up; Karng had charged towards her and was now in melee range, he swung his weapon at the priestess, who barely managed to dodge away from it by jumping to the ground. “
Irritating
little…,” Karng started to say, cut off as a volley of moonlight struck him and nearly threw him to the ground once more.
“You’re too late,
monster
,” Evalin yelled. “The child is gone, and will soon be far beyond even the reach of your demonic masters.”
“You think that I will not be able to find her?” Karng laughed, dispelling the light and knocking Evalin back with a bolt of demonic magic. “Despite all odds we learned of her existence and then tracked her here. If we did so once, then we can do so again easily! Only, this time, you will not be
alive
to interfere!”
“Nor shall you!” Evalin cast another holy spell on the death knight, knocking his truncheon out of his hand and disorienting him. With another she knocked him into the wall again, where he crumpled onto the floor. His left hand twitched for a few seconds, but eventually his rotting body fell completely motionless.
The priestess watched him for several seconds then moved in closer to confirm his death. She pulled back his cloaking hood, revealing the rotting, almost completely skeletal human face of the death knight; a face that had once belonged to a knight of Stormwind many, many years ago. There was no life, even the artificial life of undeath, in his eyes, nor were there any signs to suggest that his soul was still in this world.
She breathed a sigh of relief and then stood up and turned, heading for the closet where she had hidden Asein and Willow’s mother to keep her safe during the battle that she had known was coming the minute she had seen the death knight reach the house. She had not taken three steps, however, when a hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Before she could get a fix on who it was that was doing this another hand gripped her neck, lifted her into the air, and slammed her against the nearest wall.
“One of the things about already having died once,” Karng said, his blood-red eyes staring into Evalin’s own, “is that you become rather good at faking it over and over again.” His grip tightened and dark magic began to pull Evalin’s life out of her. The priestess struggled to break free but this time there was no hope.
Karng let the lifeless body drop the ground, spitting a bit of green ichor on her body before pulling his cowl back up and stepping over the elven corpse. He wondered what was in the closet that she had thought worth protecting, and he was sure that he knew what. He flung the door open, only to see a sickly night elf woman sitting on the floor. Her frightened gaze drifted up to look at his face, her body quaking even more in fear as she looked into his eyes.
He scowled. This was no who he was after, that he was sure of. She was far too old and far too sick to be the girl he had been sent for. He considered slaying the woman on principle, but then thought better of it. She may be of some importance to the girl, her brother, or the Sisterhood that was trying to keep the child former safe. He placed a boney finger on the terrified woman’s forehead and mumbled an incantation. Within seconds the sickly kaldorei had fallen into a deep sleep.
Karng picked her up and carried her back outside to his steed. He threw her over the back of the saddle and mounted the rotting horse. The trail had gone cold, but he knew those who would be able to warm it up once more – as well as provide proper ‘housing’ for his captive. He spurred his mount and rode off towards the north. Towards Felwood.
Post by
oneforthemoney
“Th-that’s an awful lot of territory to cover.” Shen tentatively mentioned, eying the map and the man who had unrolled it cautiously lest he offend and receive some more ‘corrective measures’ courtesy of somebody’s hand to his face.
“Well duh, we could only figure out the continent with one of you,” Alaric nodded to Lauren who just rolled her eyes at him, “but now that we have you two we can be more precise. Now, go to sleep.” Alaric finished with a mystical voice, waving his hands in front of their faces. Shen and Anthorist exchanged a look of confusion before turning back to Alaric.
“Alaric they aren’t just going to fall asleep like that.” Morgan snarled before walking towards a shelf bolted to the stone walls. “We just need them unconscious to do this. Now where’s that potion.” Morgan muttered as he perused the bottles in thought. With a sound of triumph he turned back around with a bottle of blue liquid in hand. “Got it.” Morgan crowed in triumph before snatching several glasses from the shelf and pouring a measured amount into each. He then placed a cup before each of the people seated there. “Now drink.”
“Its blueberry flavoured.” Alaric chimed with a grin. Morgan rolled his eyes but watched smugly as the three at the table slowly drained their glasses under his watchful eyes. As soon as they finished Shen and Lauren collapsed face first into the table, snoring loudly while Anthorist blearily blinked his eyes and squinted at his sleeping companions.
“”Why is he still awake!” Amaranth demanded, glaring at Morgan as though it were his fault. Morgan put his hands up in an attempt at calming her down.
“I-I don’t know. No worries, we can just give him another glass-.”
“Wait, I have an idea.” Alaric shouted before calmly walking behind Anothrist. Casually he reached down and slammed the elves face into the table. Releasing the elf that remained motionless he grinned and gave Morgan thumbs up. “Problem solved.” Amaranth pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
Surrounded by idiots.
“Whatever just start the ritual.” She spat, watching with interest as Morgan and Alaric grabbed the trio’s hands and put them on the map before lighting several noxious candles around them. Amaranth smirked darkly as Morgan began to chant, hands weaving in arcane forms while his eyes remained closed and focused. Amaranth watched in excitement as the map glowed before the light slowly began to contract on the map, moving towards the continent of Kalimdor. She held her hands together breathlessly as the light grew tighter and tighter until it encompassed the territories on the top left hand corner, hugging the shores and just teasing the edge of the barrens. Abruptly, the light jerked causing Amaranth to gasp in surprise as it suddenly faded before her eyes leaving the territories from Ashenvale, Darkshore and Felwood illuminated before disappearing completely.
“What happened? This is not the same as last time!” Amaranth demanded of Alaric, who blinked in surprise before facing her.
“I-I don’t know. It could be that it’s because we have three of them or...” Alaric trailed off uneasily, looking to the side to avoid her gaze.
“OR what?” She demanded tightly.
“Well, the subject could be moving in which case they may be suspicious or-.”
“Someone else found it.” Amaranth finished hollowly. Alaric nodded, his brow wrinkled in thought. “So what now?” She demanded. “If they’re moving we can’t just mark the map and send them to pick it up.” Alaric shifted from foot to foot.
“Well, we could but we would have to search for them more and if they keep moving who knows where they could end up.” Alaric intoned, glancing the still unconscious trio on the table. Amaranth bit her lip in thought, what to do?”
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Behelich
Curho Demoneye, self-proclaimed chieftain of the Demon's Eye Clan - a small orc with a big ego, as I sometimes think of him, - flipped through a large tome he can be often seen with.
"The wheels have been set in motion... At long last! When the Legion carries on its relentless onslaught, warlocks in its service will remember this day as a triumphant example of how seemingly unimportant events lead to a far greater victory!" he growled, raising a fist clenched tightly into the air and inhaling deeply after saying such a long monologue in one breath. To give the warlock due credit, I did not see any evidence of him rehearsing this speech.
Normally, in times like this I make a witty remark that infuriates this olive green midget - and then watch as he wallows in his own saliva, unable to kill me as he desires. Of course, more often than not he throws a fel lightning or something like that at me, but, given my nature that even I do not fully know about, I hardly notice his spells.
But not today. Today, something urged me to pick up my head the moment Curho began speaking and look in the mirror hanging in my prison - and recoil in fear and surprise. Today, for the first time since I was captured by Curho's servants, a part of what I like to think of as my body finally became stable - namely, one of my limbs took up the form of a humanoid arm, with numbers '179' burnt deeply into the wrist.
"What the..." I gasped, unable to suppress joy. The warlock spun around and glared at me with his only eye.
"Even you can understand now, how heavy is the weight that we have thrown on the scales!" he cackled. I slowly turned my head to look at him, and uttered, "It won't last for long, and your robes do not fit your skin color at all."
Curho threw his head back and laughed, "You have used that one three weeks ago, it's a good sign indeed."
Damn. The warlock was right. I had to come up with something quickly, so that the thought of this small victory would not last long in his bald head.
"Karng will screw everything up. He hates you, in case you forgot."
"Don't try to look more daft than you are, dae'mon. Soulsplitter can be respected simply for the fact that he can put aside our differences and work efficiently in times of need. And of course, I would not be worth to be called a warlock in the Legion's service if I hadn't taken measures to secure my position from any kinds of coups."
"Are you sure I'm the twisted one here?" I inquired ironically, somewhat annoyed by the d-word, moreso since it it the only way I am referenced to. Curho ignored me, as one of his underlings entered the room and knelt before his chieftain.
"Lord Demoneye, the amplifier has reached the final stage of construction, and we are ready to conduct the first field tests," spoke a tall, lean human male dressed in black leather richly adorned with red orcish runes. Despite his ludicrous appearance, I would have gulped if I had a throat - whatever that amplifier was, it was the sole purpose of my containment here, and thus could not mean anything but trouble for me.
Curho nodded approvingly, "I shall observe them first-hand, in that case," and stormed out of the room.
I sighed, and leaned against a nearby wall. The arm with the numbers dissolved again, leaving my appearances unstable and my mind wondering about my fate.
Post by
576272
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
oneforthemoney
Amaranth wished there had not been a torch on the wall. Had the source of illumination been missing she may well have been spared having to watch as the man who had professed that his heart was only for her had said organ torn out of his chest to be held, still pumping blood, in the gloved hand of a vicious warlock. Amaranth watched as life drained from Morgan’s eyes though he still had the time to give her the most profound look of betrayal she had ever seen before his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped in the chains still holding him up. With a look of disdain Darius flicked his wrist and the chains holding the man’s body vanished causing the corpse to crash to the ground like a puppet whose strings were cut.
Darius smirked was silent for a moment before he promptly doubled over, hacking into his gloved hand while the other continued to hold the heart. Amaranth watched in surprise as the man who had just viciously cut out a man’s beating heart with a dagger seemed to collapse into himself in a hacking cough. Eventually, the raucous sound began to ease until the only noise was the warlock’s wet and heavy breathing.
“Fel.” Darius spat as he straightened, his cowl falling backwards dispelling the slight glamour it had placed on him returning his eyes to their natural blue colour though he paid no heed as his teeth bit into the glove he had been busy coughing into moments earlier. With a jerk of his head he tore of the glove causing Amaranth to suck in a breath of surprise. Amaranth could only stare at the appendage illuminated in the torch light revealing how the veins of Darius’s hand were a sickly purple beneath his skin and seemed to throb in the orange light of the torch.
“This is your damn fault!” Amaranth snapped back to attention as the furious voice of Darius snarled before he turned and kicked the motionless corpse that had once been Morgan. “You should have suffered more for what you did to me you egotistical little brat.” Darius raged as he moved around the body obscuring the corpse from Amaranth’s view with the hem of his robes. She watched as Darius kicked out again and again, only to hear a cracking sound and noise of disgust from the warlock. “I thought you had a thicker head.” Amaranth gulped as Darius turned his head to pin her with his blue eyes before turning around and approaching her, squatting until they were eye level.
“Now then, what to do with you?” Darius asked thoughtfully, grinning like a cat playing with a mouse between its paws. Amaranth shrank away from him before giving him a tentative smile.
“Well, you said you would remove that demon seed thing if I gave you Morgan.” Amaranth said somewhat tightly. Darius stroked his chin thoughtfully before smiling widely.
“Why yes, yes I did. And I hate to go back on my word.” Amaranth felt herself relax slightly as her bubbling anxiety began to settle. “However, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Darius told her apologetically before rising to his feet, towering over the bound woman menacingly, the shadows obscuring his features.
“Wh-what! Why?” She demanded shakily, her eyes pleading. Darius looked down at her before casually raising his foot and placing it against her head without much pressure. Amaranth felt something cold and wet press against her face and shuddered when she recalled exactly why Darius had ceased kicking Morgan’s body.
“It’s quite unfortunate actually. You see, it’s out of my hands.” Darius seemed to chuckle a bit at that before hacking, turning his head to spit some blood into the corner of the room before holding out his ungloved hand with its purple veins visible. “You see, nether energy is poisonous. Unbelievably so in large doses. However, in smaller ones and taken over a lengthy period it can be used to empower a warlock since it is energy being placed atop a warlocks own, and demons use pure energy from the nether in order to physically manifest. What does this mean for you one might ask?” Darius inquired rhetorically as he applied a bit of pressure against Amaranths face. “It means simply put that a warlock must never drain a healthy demon completely or else he will become a living conduit to the twisting nether and the poisonous energies within.” Darius snarled as he harshly applied more pressure. Amaranth squirmed slightly but kept stubbornly quiet, unwilling to let this man know she was afraid. “And in order to save my own life and heal my lung before I drowned in my own blood I had to devour completely my minion meaning every time I use magic requiring any large effort I am slowly adding more poison until I have taken too much and rot away. I’m dying thanks to that fool and though I am sorry but if I attempt to remove the demon growing in you now I will die very painfully.” He hissed darkly.
Amaranth dared to dart her eyes to see the furious gaze directed at the corpse before turning back to her only to melt into one of profound pity. “I do apologize though. I thought that I had enough resistance to be able to beat the sickness but alas no, I am barely able to even cast a shadow bolt without adding to the poison coursing through my body. As such, I will at least grant you mercy and kill you myself rather than let you suffer the corruption from within that will come about when I die. Toodles.” Darius informed her lightly before gently beginning to apply pressure to her head and showing no signs of stopping.
“W-wait, please. I k-know how you can b-beat the sickness. W-we were after something t-that can help you!” Amaranth desperately told Darius, who paused in his ministrations before pulling his foot away slightly, a brow arched in interest.
“Go on.” Darius prompted, his blue eyes sparking with interest while the hand gripping the heart glowed a sickly green, the heart shrivelling like a prune in his grasp.
()()()
“Finally. What took you so long and- wow, what happened to your face?” Amaranth self-consciously wiped her hand against her cheek before looking at her fingers to reveal a squishy pink piece of flesh whose origins she would prefer to not think of. Amaranth shuddered and wiped it away on her cloak feverishly.
“Nothing, nothing. Let’s just get them on the road.” Amaranth mumbled before forcing past the warlock to make her way up the steps leading outside of the catacombs. Alaric scratched his head but shrugged before turning to the three people standing near the wall.
“Right you three, up you get. Time to get on the road.” Alaric cheerfully declared as he pointed up the steps with an elaborate bow.
“Um, can I have some shoes first?” Shen requested quietly.
“Shoes are for earners, out you get.” Alaric prompted. Lauren stuck her tongue out at Alaric but shoved past Shen to run up the stairs in a somewhat wobbly gait though she nevertheless managed it all the same. Alaric chuckled at her eagerness before following them up to the surface.
Post by
Morec0
Curho looked at the machine; a construct of both engineering and demonic magic. It was made of two parts. The first four rings – each designed to fit into one another and placed so that they would not interfere with the other’s spinning. At the center of it all was a platform, and both the rings and this platform were inscribed with demonic runes that would keep any demon – or dae’mon, as this case was – confined within, helpless to prevent the inevitable.
The second part of the machine was simple enough; a platform with numerous restraints built into it. Above it were several blades connected to the first part by barely-protected wires that pointed downward at the platform. And, when the time came, that pointed down at the one who was attached to it.
“Will it work, though,” Curho asked, continuing to inspect it from a distance. “Bazil is ingenious, yes, but he is still prone to almost destroying himself with every device that he makes.”
“Shall we prepare a test then, Lord Demoneye?” the human asked, bowing slightly.
The orcish warlock nodded. “Yes, let us see if this device has the potential to do what we had hoped for it to.” The human bowed again then yelled towards the back of Jaedenar for the cultists to bring out the test subjects. A minute later they arrived; one dragging a weeping draenei woman towards the second part of the machine, a group of some twelve others attempting to force a powerful felguard towards the first.
“As you may know, Lord Demoneye,” the human said. “With a being of such power as the dae’mon we had captured, it is difficult to find a suitable replacement for the purposes of experimentation. This felguard-.”
“I understand the theory well enough,” Curho growled, turning his one-eyed gaze onto the human. “What I don’t understand is whether or not it will work as intended. Get on with it.”
The human nodded and then yelled the order to the others to proceed. The cultist that had been dragging the draenei, who Curho could now see had clearly been savagely beaten over some length of time, heaved the struggling female up onto the platform and then began to attach each of the restraints to her body, completely immobilizing her when he was finished. The ones forcing the felguard along had more difficulty, but with some effort were able to force it into the second part, the runes activated the second that he was trapped inside.
The human then gave the order to continue and warlocks surrounding the second part began to chant an incantation over and over again. The rings began to spin around one another and the confined demon, slowly at first but quickly gaining speed. They went faster and fast, until demonic energy in the form of sickly-green bolts of lightning came off of the felguards body and into the rings. They were not harmed by this, but the wires attached to the machine sent the energy straight into the draenei, and she, in fact, did feel pain.
This went on for several minutes, the rings eventually reaching a set-speed and the energy coming off of the felguard began to come in more frequent blasts, all of which were sent directly into the helpless woman. After some time, the felguard itself transformed into a silhouette of itself form by green fel energy before finally being sucked into the machine. The draenei screamed in terror all of that same energy was shocked directly into her body, smoke forming around her.
There was silence for a moment as Curho and the others waited for the smoke to clear. A wind blew up, blowing the smog away to reveal the draenei, sitting on the platform and still very much alive. With a motion of his hand this time the human sent the cultists to unbind her. They did so quickly, and after the manacle was removed the draenei stood; horns sharper, eyes glowing green, and – most notable of all – skin a deep shade of red.
She looked at Curho and curtsied. “Kuretani of ze Burning Legion,” she said, “at jour serveece.”
“As you can see, Lord Curho,” the human said, “the device not only corrupts the body, but it also corrupts the mind. However, doing so requires a demon of power proportional to the will of the one on the receiving end, as we can only do so much to weaken that will.”
“Hence the importance of a powerful demon,” Curho said, nodding. He did not even attempt to hide his joy at the fact this machine worked - and so well, at that. All that remained now to find the girl and bring her here, then she would be the one where the draenei –now eredar – stood. Then she would be the one having her full, dark potential unlocked.
Then she would be the one to ensure the Legion final victory in this world.
===
Asein looked up and breathed a sigh of relief. Ratchet was in sight, and they had not been spotted – or at least set upon – by a single Horde patrol.
“Asein,” Willow said, opening her eyes and looking up at her brother. “I’m hungry.”
He nodded. “Don’t worry Willow; we’re almost at a town. We’ll get you some food there.” His sister nodded and again closed her eyes. Asein then continued to walk towards Ratchet, hoping that he could trust whatever magic or being had told him to travel to the east.
He also hoped that he did not run into any trouble while in Ratchet.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
The ship slid into the harbor, and was tied to a dock. Cargo was ferried out first, being the most important. Finally, the few passengers, Lauren, Shen, Anthorist, and a few assorted others were shepherded onto the shore. The town was much different than any of the others Shen had been too, even the rowdy Trade District of Stormwind.
Shen curled his nose at the noxious chemical fumes that wafted from the city, and Anthorist proceeded to cover his mouth and nose with the sleeve of his robe. Lauren bounded along happily, seemingly unconcerned with anything. Shen kept a wary eye out as they proceeded into the city, when he felt an alien consciousness touch his.
Shen, and as he dimly noted, Anthorist cried out in shock and pain. Lauren stopped and looked at them curiously. "It doesn't hurt anymore," she confided, but Shen was too busy to pay attention.
You are close. You'll find them in the city near you. Perhaps an inn...
came a rumbling thought. Shen recognized it as Alaric. He nodded frantically, and the consciousness retreated. Anthorist straightened hurriedly and looked questioningly at Shen. "Did you feel that?" he asked, voice trembling slightly.
Shen nodded. "Yes," he replied laconically. Lauren shrugged and turned back to the city. "An inn?" she asked. "Yay! It's been years since I've been in an inn!" Shen and Anthorist traded resigned looks as they entered the inn.
Morgan, his corpse left where it had been mercilessly killed, twitched. The stone in his pocket flared into new light, and he sat up, gasping. Grimacing, he picked up the stone and slipped it into the hole where his heart had been. The flesh slowly closed over it, and the scar vanished.
Morgan flexed his neck, cracking the vertebrae, and then stood up. "Being alive is a wonderful thing," he confided to nobody in particular. He picked a purple shard out of his pocket, and grinned at the face contained within, which screamed in horror at the sight of him. He held it in front of him, then let go.
The shard hung motionlessly in the air, and then started rotating. Morgan drew several arcane symbols in sickly violet light on the air around it, and they slowly sank into the crystal. The crystal flared with light, and then turned black. Morgan took it and slipped it back into his pocket.
Slowly treading up the stairs, he peeked outside. Nothing. He felt Darius and Amaranth nearby, but he was unconcerned with them. Slipping out of the crypt, he moved until he came upon a Night Watchman. "Sir!" he cried, stumbling. "I've been attacked! Please! I need help..." With that final faux cry for help, he collapsed.
The Night Watchman ran forward and knelt down. "Where are you hurt!?" he demanded, patting Morgan down. Morgan's eyes flickered open. "My... soul," he whispered, and thrust his hand into the guard's chest. The guard flexed in a silent cry of pain as Morgan's hand, covered in fel light, sank into his chest and started rooting around. Finally, he found the heart, and pulled it out. The guard collapsed to the side, but Morgan paid no attention, slowly sucking the lifeforce out of the heart and into himself.
Flesh started to regrow around the soulstone he had used, and his heart started reforming. "A few weeks," he grunted. "But I can still fight, thankfully."
With that, he straightened his robes, and started on his way to Darkshire.
Post by
576272
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
oneforthemoney
Asein shot his eyes around before the ship in wonder before they alighted on a sole figure, the night elf that had informed him of the danger and gave him the gold. Asein rushed towards the other night elf, planting a hand on the other elves shoulder and turned him around to ask what he should do once they reached Menethil harbour.
But the words died in his throat when he turned the other elf around and gazed into the almost milky white eyes characteristic of nearly all night elves on Azeroth. At first Asein was sure he was mistaken, the night elf from the bar had had purple eyes yet the face was the same as was the hair. It was the same elf.
“What the fel do you want?” Asein shot back to awareness, his surprise still present as he tried to understand the difference. “Well, answer me idiot.” The Night Elf demanded. Asein took a step back from the other elf cautiously.
“I-I’m sorry but you were the one who told me to come here.” Asein quickly explained.
“That’s ridiculous; I’ve never seen you before in my life.” The Night Elf spat. Asein was confused, what the fel was happening?
“B-but you gave me gold for ships fare.” Asein quickly answered as he set Willow down and pointed to the goblin at the bottom of the gangplank. The other elves eyes widened again and a hand shot to a pocket, pulling forth pouch and quickly snapping it open and looking inside. The other elf slowly turned his gaze back to Asein but now it was clouded in fury.
“You thief!” He spat, dropping his pouch back to the pocket before drawing a shorts word. “Give it back.” Asein clutched a hand to his chest, taking another step back from the elf threatening him with the blade but shaking his head resolutely, his sisters sniffling strengthening his resolve. He couldn’t give back the coin; it had already been spent. Asein glanced about for aid but the crew were only looking on in interest of some excitement so early in their voyage and were disinclined to aid.
“N-no.”
“What was that you filthy piece of scum?” The other elf threatened, advancing another step.
“I-I can’t, I needed it.” Asein defended, his knees quivering in fear and confusion, concern for his sister all that kept him from bolting. The Night Elf’s visage turned grim and his hand tightened on the handle of his blade.
“Then I’ll take it from your corpse.” He hissed before advancing slowly but with determination.
“Hold knave!” A booming voice called out. Both Night Elves turned in surprise to see a human garbed completely in gleaming silver plate mail and sporting a full facial short beard pointed at the blade wielding elf with conviction, a hammer in one hand and a gleaming but somewhat battered shield in the other as he pushed past some crew on the gangplank to stand before them. “How dare you threaten the innocent with an aspiring wielder of the light present. Cease your nefarious aims lest you bring down my wrath and judgements upon thineself spawn of evil!” Asein and the other elf blinked at the picture, both sporting expressions of bafflement.
“Huh?”
“Your unwillingness to surrender to justice damns you, have at thee!” The sword wielding Night Elf looked like he wished to say something else but the humans shield promptly slammed into his face causing the elf to back up in pain and momentum before falling off the side with a shriek. “I have served justice in the name of the light, will the holy light grant me it’s blessing now!” The human demanded of the sky, dropping to a knee and bowing his head in the middle of the ship much to the confusion of all present though the crew scrambled back to work at a sharp bark from the captain. Asein glanced around, the repeated and rapid turn of events confusing the poor introvert. The Human remained motionless prompting Asein to tentatively reach forward and prod the human.
“Excuse me?” Asein tried but jumped back as the human sprang to his feet, thrusting his hammer to the sky with an expression of what could be only described as motivation.
“I am still unworthy of your blessing oh holy Light but I shall persevere till you find me worthy of your melodious guidance and grant me your power, you!” Asein jumped back when a hammer was thrust out inches from his face. “What is your name?”
“Um, I-I’m sorry bu-.” Asein began only to have the human burst out in loud booming laughter.
“Of course, how rude of me. I am Gunter; aspiring paladin who will perform ten good deeds a day till the light finds this pathetic mortal shell worthy of making it into a vessel of its illustrious guidance. Long and hard I have quested to prove myself to the all knowing Holy Light and show that I am worthy of its attention. Yet it has not answered and so I must continue my journey to prove my faith. How doest thou come to be here fair child of the moon?” Asein was struck dumb by the loud and expressive man before him, his life in the forest with only his family and scornful words of those others who lived nearby not preparing himself for an encounter such as this. It was at that point that he saw Willow walk up and tug on the armoured humans cape, causing the ‘aspiring paladin’ to look down and regard the small girl in her own cape of a ratty bed sheet.
“Brother was trying to get me somewhere safe from the bad men after us. We were going to catch a boat and the man wanted big brothers gold. Brother was only trying to look out for me.” Asein shot forward and pulled his sister away from the human, fearful of what the man may try with his only reason for living at this point.
“Willow, be careful.” Asein scolded, his fingers digging into his sisters shoulders in anxiety though the girl did not seem to notice. Asein looked back to the human in fear of retribution only to see the man crying, which only added to Asein’s continued confusion.
“Such love for siblings. I am in awe of your dedication to your cause and thine quest for your sister or brother with long luscious hair. Truly, I am moved beyond comprehension by your earnest devotion to them and your dedication. Such beauty and love for a family I have y- hey, where’d they go?”
Asein sped down into the bowels of the ship, his sister clutched to his chest in fear. Even though that human had saved him from that confusing Night Elf the man had confused him even more with his almost insane overreactions and wordy speech. Asein had never encountered an individual so... expressive before and truth be told it terrified him. He had no idea how to act around someone like that and his almost fanatical devotion to the Light honestly struck a chord of fear in the young Night Elf, a concern embedded in him from his earlier life in the village and the harassment from the worshippers of Elune.
“Hold there lad, I’m gonna need ta ye bugger off the way ya came, this is the crews quarters.” Asein lifted his head to see a short dwarf with a thick orange beard and eye patch standing before him, a palm outstretched in expectance. Asein nodded, still breathless and backed out of the small doorway, the dwarf nodding in satisfaction after a moment. “Aright good. Passengers sleep in the below deck and eat in the mess hall. Stay outta the way and we won’t throw ya overboard.” The dwarf informed him before walking away and leaving Asein to finish gasping. The young Night Elf lowered Willow to the deck giving the girl a strained smile.
“Ha ha! The will of the light cannot be denied and so I, Gunter, have come to share this glorious day on the lower deck of this marvellous vessel of conveyance across the vast expanse of the shining sea!”
“What the fel are ye blatherin on about ye damned git.” Asein watched as the dwarf marched up to the bearded plate wearing man who had just descended the stairs of the ship and stared fiercely with his one eye at Gunter. “And what in lights name were ye thinkin jumpin around on my boat like that cause yer weight could topple the bloody ship.” Gunter laughed broadly and waved the dwarf off who left the man after a moment, grumbling in anger.
Asein turned to leave for the upper decks but felt a plated hand land on his shoulder, causing the elf to stiffen in fear. “My friend, I am fortunate I was able to catch you for I must speak of matters of grave import. Truly it is a glorious day to bask in the most holy of light as it shines upon us.” Asein turned fearfully to the boisterous human, whose smile nearly stretched ear to ear.
“W-what do you want?” Asein asked nervously, Willow staring up at the human in curiosity at his side.
“It is simple my friend. As I stood there on the deck and pondered thy words a thought illuminated the darkness that was my mind and granted me direction. It was clear to me then that your noble quest and yourselves were placed before me by the light itself to test my mettle and prove my devotion to the cause of righteousness! It was clear to me that I must follow you and prove to the light my devotion to its glorious illumination by making your quest my own! I am with you my friend, to the bitter end as the light illuminates our path into the future.” Gunter proclaimed, sweeping his hand across the horizon of a nearby porthole.
Asein wondered if maybe he should have taken his chances with the next ship.
()()()
Karng Soulspitter sat at the base of the tree in Felwood, his back against the warped wood and watching in mild fascination as the elderly night elf devoured yet another ration pack. He wasn’t aware of exactly why, but the woman had actually been gaining strength on their journey. It had seemed impossible but after the first day when she had merely lain across his saddle like a corpse she had been slowly eating more, life returning to her face and eyes sparking once again with vitality. After Karng had begun to feed her more than enough to keep a bird alive she had become even more active, being able to actually sit upright in front of him on his steed without aid though he made sure her hands remained bound.
Perhaps she thrived on abuse
? Karng chuckled at that thought, his hollow voice causing her to look up though he ignored her questioning gaze. However, the last thing he needed was for her to be a detriment for when he finally caught up with his prey but, perhaps her new vitality could be used to an advantage.
“We will come upon your children soon I should think.” Karng stated evenly, watching in amusement as the woman stiffened. “I wonder how happy they will be to see their dear mother so alive and well. Even more, I wonder if they will want you back once they learn why you seem as spry as a woman half your age.” Karng watched in satisfaction as her chewing slowed before ceasing altogether.
“What do you mean?” She asked suspiciously but with a hint of concern that the death knight found absolutely intoxicating.
“Surely you don’t think that you just got better?” He asked, smirking at the confusion that crossed her face. Good, it seemed she too was not aware of why she recovered. Well far be it for Karng to deny her an explanation, false though it may be.
“What?”
“Well, I have to say that priestess I killed in your home was quite energetic, and I couldn’t have you forcing me to drag your bony husk across half of Kalimdor now could I?” Karng snickered in mirth as the woman’s eyes widened in horror and she hugged herself in disgust at him but mostly at herself.
“Y-you, what d-did you-.”
“Well, it would have been a waste to not do something with all that life just bleeding onto the floor.” Karng cackled in mirth as the elderly woman turned pale and retched off to her side, her form shaking in horror and disgust at herself.
Her horror at his lie was better than the sweetest wine, and Karng planned to savour it until she had run her course.
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Asein let loose a sigh and forced himself to his feet, rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully. He glanced to the second bunk to see Willow sound asleep, her form curled in the blanket and her face unmarred with worry lines.
At least one of us is having pleasant dreams
Asein though with a smile before sighing and grabbing his clothes in preparation for the day. He knew he wouldn’t be going back to sleep anytime soon after those dreams of his. He suppressed a shudder as he pulled the shirt over his body.
As long as it’s me and not her.
Asein gave another affectionate look behind him at Willow before opening the door and stepping out into the hall of the ship.
“Awakening with the glorious light of the sun is truly an honourable and commendable habit my friend for it is time to embrace the daylight that sings with the glory of the holy light!”
“Gah!” Asein spun around, hands protectively shielding his face in the direction of the voice.
“Haha, thy exclamation of joy at my presence humbles me and I bow to thine praise. Now then, let us dine in the glorious light of a new day!” Asein slowly lowered his hands when no blows came upon him to see Gunter grinning broadly and standing before him with his hands on his hips without armour, garbed only in a cloth shirt and pants.
“H-how long have you been standing there?” Asein demanded fretfully. Gunter laughed and clapped a hand on Asein’s shoulder causing the Night Elf to wince automatically.
“Only as long as the light has willed it my friend.” Was the somewhat cryptic reply before the large human steered Asein in the direction of the mess hall, his booming voice expressing his joy at having someone to share his ‘glorious and filled with the warmth of the holy light’ morning with.
The mess hall was empty that morning aside from the night elf and human and they (as in Gunter) grabbed a table near the kitchen. Even though daylight leaked through a porthole and down the stairs leading to the deck several of the lamps from the evening remained lit and yet to be extinguished by the crew.
“Fine chef, might we partake in the no doubt scrumptious food which thoust hast prepared in this, a most glorious and holy day?” Gunter bellowed to the kitchen. The dwarf from the other day stuck his head out of the kitchen, his one eye narrowing when he saw who it was.
“Aw bollocks, it's you two. Whatever, give me a tick.” The dwarf muttered before disappearing back into the kitchen.
“Thank thee fine chef. Now then my friend who the light has blessed this unworthy soul’s company, we should discuss our further journey once we reach the beacon of the glorious light that is Menethil Harbour.” Gunter proudly declared. Asein was somewhat taken aback by the exclamation about Gunter being the unworthy one of the pair, an expression had never heard before from a stranger but got over it quickly.
“Uh yes, well... We should probably go somewhere... safe?” Asein asked tentatively. It was only then that he realized that throughout his journey he had been flying by the seat of his pants, not knowing the true end result of his journey and being guided by cryptic messages and voices. Gunter nodded in understanding as the crotchety cook slapped two plates filled with what appeared to be a piece of salted fish before them along with silverware and a pair of steins filled with water.
“I see. A place where the holy light shines down in protection and understanding, letting thy sister and thineself live your glorious lives in- did thy ears hear that?” Gunter demanded suddenly, his eyes narrowing suspiciously over the table. Asein paused and cocked his head to the side in time to hear several thumps from the above deck. Asein tilted his head up and gazed at the ceiling curiously just in time to hear a cry that chilled his bones.
“Naga!” A voice shouted from the above deck. Asein jumped to his feet as shouts and screams sounded above them along with the clash of steel.
“Forget them; find the source of the disssturbance.”A muffled reptilian voice sounded from the above decks. Asein felt himself chill even more at those words.
Could they be after Willow?
Asein jumped to his feet at the same time as Gunter though it seemed that both had different objectives in mind.
“Aha! The darkness of evil spreads across the vessel and challenges the illuminating light. Come my kaldorei companion, let us be joined in glorious battle this day and spill the blood of those who deny the rights of the just and would do injustice to the innocent!” Gunter loudly declared. Asein looked the aspiring paladin up and down in concern. Gunter was unarmed.
“Theresss more down here.” Asein spun around to see the half lizard form of two naga descend the step, albeit somewhat awkwardly. The serpentine creatures were each armed with a trident and their reptilian eyes examined Asein curiously.
“Haha! The creatures of evil have come to do battle! Let us engage in glorious combat with these serpentine sinners. In the name of the light, feel its wrath!” Gunter shouted proudly. The naga eyed the human for a moment before hissing in amusement at the unarmed and armoured human.
“You may mock me but thou shalt bring down the holy wrath upon yourself for mocking the glorious light! Taste the might of the spork of illuminating blindess!” Gunter shouted, snatching up and flinging the named piece of cutlery at the snickering naga.
“Sssss, my eye!” The first naga screamed, dropping its trident and clutching its eye in pain. The other naga stopped snickering and turned to the human in rage.
“Come meet thy maker foul beasts in the face of the chair of righteous oaken judgement!” Gunter shouted, grabbing the chair he had been seated in previously and charging the now furious naga. Gunter brought the chair about, the wooden seat splintering as it slammed against the second naga. The naga hissed in pain before taking its trident and driving it forward in an attempt to impale the human. Gunter twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the three pronged spear.
“Feel the wrath from the stein of unsure indignation!” Gunter shouted as he snatched a beer stein from a nearby table, grabbing the trident with the other hand before smashing the beverage container against the side of the naga’s head. The creature hissed in pain yet again, its hold loosening on the trident permitting Gunter to pull the weapon free. The naga’s eyes widened in surprise as the trident slammed into its body, Gunter driving the trident and naga into a nearby wall where the creature was pinned like a butterfly.
“Cursssed fool.” The first naga hissed as it finally yanked the spork from its eye, turning its bloody gaze to the human. Gunter spun around and slammed his foot into the first naga, pulling the trident free from the wall and slamming it into the naga, pinning it to the floor as the second naga dropped motionless to the floor from having the trident removed.
“Whatssss going on down here?” Asein tore his gaze away from the sight of the pinned naga to see a female with a frilled head and a third naga descend the stairs. The female spotted Asein and her eyes widened in shock before her lips curved in pleasure. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by a shout from Gunter.
“Taste the flaming fury of the lantern of consecrated retribution!” The two naga had enough time to look surprised before a lantern that had previously been hanging on the ceiling smashed into the male naga, soaking it in oil and flames. The naga screeched before falling to the deck, its hands attempting to pat out the flames consuming it as it rolled around. The female naga quickly extended a hand in the direction of the flaming humanoid, a small jet of water flying from her palm to soak the other naga who stilled on the floor unmoving.
“Foolssss.” The spell casting naga hissed before her hand began to move in an incantation, a blue ball forming between her hands as the temperature in the room dropped significantly. Asein watched in horror, turning to Gunter as he recognized that the human was doomed without any armour or his shield to protect him from the spell. With a final gesture the naga flung the frostbolt at Gunter, who flipped a nearby table in front of him causing the frostbolt to impact it harmlessly, spreading over the wooden surface.
“Accursed serpent, the light will shield me with aid from the table of righteous defence!” Gunter shouted before hefting the table and charging forward. The naga cast another desperate spell only to have it spatter against the table like the first before the table slammed into her and driving her against the wall. Gunter’s muscles bulged and his face scrunched in effort as he continued to apply pressure to the table until the flailing of the naga’s limbs ceased, preceded by a loud crunch. Gunter dropped the table and surveyed the carnage of the room in satisfaction.
“Tis a good morning to serve justice in the name of the light!” Gunter loudly declared. Asein fell backward onto the floor in shock at the scene of carnage before him, breathing shallowly while the sounds of battle continued above him. He had never been witness to such a violent death before let alone four of them. He started when a hand was placed on his shoulder and smacked it away fearfully. Gunter laughed off the reaction boisterously.
“Fear not, the foes are slain. But the battle is not yet through for more need to feel the lights judgement. Though thoust shake in anticipation to deliver judgement I must ask thee to remain here to ensure none escape to harm the passengers. I shall return in victory or not at all dear friend. In the name of the light charge!” Gunter shouted before sprinting up the stairs to the above deck. Asein did not know how long he remained like that; crouched on the floor. Time had little meaning to his traumatized mind as he stared at the four naga.
What if some snuck by during the fight and made it to the passengers?
Asein’s eyes widened in horror at the thought.
Willow!
Asein forced himself to his feet and shakily stumbled in the direction of the passengers quarters, Gunter shouting for the naga to feel the fury of ‘the shark of blessed bludgeoning’ the last sound of battle he heard as he moved down the hall.
Back in the mess hall, the charred scales of the naga set aflame shifted as the creature forced itself upright, wincing in pain as a reptilian eye shot open in time to see Asein slip around the corner. A corner of its lips twitching into a snarl.
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