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Willow {Collaborative Story}
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Post by
Morec0
“Foul creatures of indescribable horror!” Gunter yelled once he was above deck. “Thou shall face the blinding fury of the Holy Light this day! It shall bring about your ends! Not one of y-.”
A bolt of arcane magic struck his square in the chest, knocking him backwards. Gunter rolled headfirst back down the stairs, leaving him oddly unharmed but completely dazed when he made it to the bottom. He shook his head and got his bearings once more before charging back up the stairs.
This time he joined the battle without a word, picking up a trident from the hands of a slain naga and jabbing it through the chest of the first living serpent he came across. It hissed in rage and blood trickled out of its mouth as it fell to the ground. Gunter pulled the weapon out of the naga’s body, sending a geyser of blood into the air. “Tally ho!” he cried, charging forward and piercing another naga’s chest with the weapon.
Before this one went down, thought, it knocked Gunter away and the trident out of his hands. Again unarmed, Gunter looked around for a weapon. Just a few feet away from him was the body of a slain member of the ship’s crew, the mace he had been using to defend himself lying on the floor next to him.
“Go with the Light, brother,” Gunter said, picking up the mace and charging back into the fray. Now with a more familiar weapon in his hands, Gunter smashed through the naga’s lines with much greater ease. Scales and blood flew around him and, although he received his fair share of flesh wounds, he was able to turn the tide of the battle in favor of the crew.
He grinned, knowing the Light was surely looking down on him with pride, and charged forward again. Once again, though, he was knocked back, this time not by arcane magic or a blow from a naga, but instead a bolt of lightning. He looked up, seeing a massive thunderstorm brewing overhead. Around the boat the ocean began to churn violently as winds gusted up.
He gulped audibly and muttered a quiet prayer to the light before rushing into battle once more, this time heading for the female spellcasters. Arcane magic flew around him and more than once struck him head on, but a shield of holy light shone around him and protected him from both them and any attempts by the other naga warriors to stop him from reaching them.
“For the Holy Light!” he yelled in righteous fury, bringing his hammer down on the head of the nearest female naga. She fell dead without so much as a sound and the human paladin moved onto the next, raising his mace high above his head.
---
“Willow!” Asein called out as he ran down the hall towards his and his sister’s room, barely managing to keep his balance as the boat churned. Once he reached the door he fumbled with the keys and then opened it. “Willow!” he said again, breathing a sigh of relief as he saw her sitting on the floor, unharmed but pale with fear.
“Asein, what’s going on?” she asked her brother, her fear clear in her eyes. “I heard shouts and screams. What is happening?: Is everybody alright?”
“Naga have invaded the ship, but the crew and that paladin are taking care of them,” Asein replied as calmly as he could manage. “Are you okay, Willow? Is anything down here?”
“No,” Willow said, shaking her head. “No- Asein, behind you!” The male kaldorei spun around to see the naga that Gunter had set alight right behind him, trident raised. It hissed in rage as it brought it down towards the two, and Asein barely had enough time to push Willow out of the way before the boat heaved to one side and threw him across the room and away from harm. The naga had been able to hold his ground against the rocking of the boat, and his trident embedded itself deep in the floorboards.
“Filthy night elvesss!” the charred naga hissed in clear fury as he began to pull on his weapon. “I will ssslaughter the both of you in Azshara’sss glorious name!” The naga wrenched his weapon out of the floor and struck again at Asein, who barely managed to dodge away again. The naga struck once more with a hiss of rage, this time managing to pin Asein to the wall between two of the prongs.
The serpent hissed in amusement and pushed his weapon further, the prongs going deeper into the wall and making it nigh-impossible for Asein to break free. The naga hissed again in laughter and pulled a short sword out of its sheath on the belt he wore (why he had a belt was unknown). He raised the weapon, aiming to stick it right between the night elf’s eyes as an evil grin continued to spread across his face.
A pillow hit him in the back of the head, and then a book, then a lantern. The naga turned around, seeing Willow looking around for anything that she could use to attack the naga with. “Leave him alone!” she screamed, picking up the closest thing to her – another pillow – and throwing it at the naga.
“No! Run Willow! Run!” Asein tried to get himself loose, but to no avail. The naga hiss-laughed again and slithered up to Willow. “I ssslay you firssst, then,” he said, grabbing the girl by her neck and lifting her up. He pinned her against the wall and pulled back his sword to strike at her just as he had intended to do to Asein.
“No! No! NO!” Asein yelled, struggling more to get free of the trident’s hold on him.
“Sssilence,” the naga hissed, turning his head enough to glace back at the male kaldorei. “Your turn will come sssoon enough.” He faced Willow again, pulling back his arm to strike, his grin widening as Willow shuddered in fear and closed her eyes.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
oneforthemoney
Al’Sharess, a high priestess of Azshera was not having a good day. Of course, this had not been her feeling in the beginning of the day when she had gotten up in the morning, smacked a few murloc slaves around for a little bit until she felt a... disturbance. It was as though a massive amount of fel energy was trying to break free but was being suppressed and kept inert by a seal of some sorts. After a report from some scouts she had learned that a passenger ship was passing over them and Al’Sharess had put two and two together. There must have been an artefact on that ship, one that was sealed away and being transported for whatever reason to the Eastern Kingdoms, and a passenger ship was being used in order to keep it inconspicuous. Al’Sharess had wasted no time in rapidly gathering a raiding party of as many naga as she could and set out for the ship above them.
Things had gone well at first. It had still been twilight when the naga had boarded the ship over the side, attempting to sneak aboard. Sadly, a lookout had just looked in their direction in time to shout out a warning. Al’Sharess was irritated, but unperturbed as she had the greatest confidence in her warriors. Naturally, her naga had engaged the sailors while she sent several soldiers down into the ship to investigate further.
That act had initiated her day turning into one of horror the likes of which she had never seen. First, the two naga had disappeared down the stairs to secure the room so she had immediately sent a third soldier and a sorceress to better investigate and locate the artefact.
However, instead of her naga returning to her a psychotic human had pounded up the stairs clad in what appeared to be night clothes and shouting something about the holy light. With barely a second thought she had sent a blast of arcane magic towards the human which slammed into him and sent him back down into the hold. Al’Sharess had felt validated by that act as she always felt after crushing something. Then, the human came back up and started laying into her warriors with a trident, then a mace with almost disturbing abandon, even to her.
To make matters worse, he appeared to have developed a shield of holy light before starting to plow into her spell casters. She had thought him a paladin but he wasn’t coating his weapon in the light like the holy warriors she had seen so that was out. It was becoming quite frustrating and the high priestess narrowed her eyes at the affronting human who had dared to oppose her power. She glanced to the upper deck where her warriors were engaged with the crew and losing ground fast if she didn’t do something, hence the storm she was summoning in order to effectively rout them with a well placed lightning bolt.
But now, now she had a new target, the human who had dared to take up arms against her, slaughter more naga than she felt reasonable to lose in a simple raid on a damn passenger ship. How dare he make her look like a fool?
“Fool, you shhhhall pay for your tressspassss against me, a high priessstesss of Azssshara.” Al’Sharess paused for effect only to see the human embed his mace into the side of another naga’s head, the weapon becoming stuck there. He was ignoring her. How dare he! That was worse than anything else that had happened yet and had officially made this the worst day ever. “You shhhhhall pay!” She hissed furiously, pointing a hand at the human and channelling the full fury of the storm into a single blast.
Gunter looked around curiously. Was there a nest of snakes nearby? He kept hearing a hissing sound. Gunter’s eyes landed on a particularly large naga holding an elaborate staff and pointing her hand at him, the storm growing in intensity as she spat some arcane words in his direction. Gunter had been in enough battles to know when a spell was being cast, and he knew that he couldn’t reach her in time to stop it.
“In the name of the light I spit my last breath at thee. Have at you!” Gunter shouted, following it up with a loud laugh as the thunder boomed and a bright flash of blue lightning arced out of the storm, slamming into the human’s holy shield. The two opposing forces crashed against each other with a booming roll that drew the attention of everyone on the deck, watching as the two primordial forces of faith and the elements did battle with each other, Gunter’s booming laughter not ceasing through the struggles. All eyes watched to see which combatant would give.
In the end, neither did.
()()()
“Please, please leave her alone. Do whatever you want to me just for the love of all things don’t hurt Willow.” Asein begged helplessly. The Naga hissed in amusement but forestalled his blade to torment the night elf a bit.
“Hmm, where shhhould I cut her? The arm?” The naga queried, running the back of the blade against the small girls arm and grinning as she shuddered.
“No, please.”
“Quiet! Or maybe the throat?” The naga asked, running the flat of the blade against the child’s throat in a slicing motion. “No, that would be too quick.”
“I’ll do anything you want just stop!” Asein begged, tears springing to his eyes as he begged further. Asein felt something dark boiling in him, something powerful. Yet he couldn’t bring it out to aid him no matter how desperate he was. “Help me.” He begged fruitlessly in a whisper.
“Weakling.” The naga hissed at the pinned elf before pulling the sword back. “I think I will repay you for what your friend did to mine and pin her to the wall, would you like that?” The naga asked before laughing uproariously in his hissing voice. He paused abruptly when the sound of wood splintering filled the cabin. The naga released Willow and spun around, sword ready to defend against the night elf that had freed himself.
Except Asein hadn’t, he remained pinned on the wall. “Wha-.” The naga demanded right before the ceiling splintered and fell open in splintered wood and a flash of blue lightning and shining yellow light. Asein and Willow watched, awestruck, as the ceiling fell open and the clashing lights slammed into the shocked naga, driving the creature into the floor with a scream of pain and... booming laughter, for some reason which soon ceased as the lights faded. There was silence in the room as dust and fragments of wood clouded the cabin.
Asein flinched as something moved in the pile of splintered wood, a shadowed figure rising from the crater and stood to its full height.
“Hahaha, the blessed light beats the accursed lightning!” Asein’s eyes widened as Gunter stepped out of the crater, grinning visage displayed for all. “Oh, hello friend Asein, I see thoust have a trident, I’m afraid I must procure it for a moment.” Gunter gripped the tridents handle and yanked it from the wall. “Fantastic. Fare the well for now, I shalt return once again should the light will it.” Gunter declared as he kicked open the cabin door and ran off, a deafening battle cry sounding down the hall before fading.
Asein slowly slid down the wall like a puppets whose strings were cut without the trident to hold him up, breathing shallowly. Willow sped from the other side of the room, throwing herself into her brothers arms, Asein hugged his sisters shaking form close, tears spilling from his eyes and soaking her hair while her tears dampened his shirt but neither cared.
She’s safe, she’s safe
. Asein repeated to himself, feeling the bubbling cauldron of foul energies within him subside slowly until he felt nothing again, numb to the world.
()()()
Az’Sharess hissed in displeasure as her naga were forced further back by the crew. She glanced to the sky angrily, her storm having disappeared after focusing so much power into the attack on the human. Al’Sharess hissed in sudden surprise as pain exploded from her shoulder. She yanked the cause from her arm and glared at what appeared to by the bastard son of a fork and spoon.
“Know the pain of the righteous light for I, Gunter, have returned to do battle with thou foul creature.” Al’Sharess turned in shock to the voice to see the human she had cast the lightning at standing at the entrance of the lower decks.
Forget this, it’s not worth it.
“Sssissstersss, back to the deepsss.” Al’Sharess hissed, slithering to a railing and jumping into the ocean, the sound of splashing informing her that her order had been heeded. Al’Sharess swam away from the ship and towards her lair, just wanting to go back to bed and forget this day.
What an awful morning.
()()()
Karng Soulsplitter slowly chewed on his cheek in worry. Of course, since he was already dead and slightly rotting this had taken on a bit more literal connotation but the feeling was the same. He cast his eyes to the frail old woman, who really could no longer be considered such.
It was somewhat hard to believe that the woman had had to carry around for nearly a week was seated before him on his mount. She looked like she was half her original age and had the energy of one as well.
But Karng could see past that, to a shadowy energy that seemed to wrap her in its embrace. It was powerful, more powerful than Karng and the death knight was not too proud or stupid to fail and see that. Fortunately, the night elf appeared to be blind to it but Karng dreaded when she discovered the truth of her recovery.
He could only pray to Sargeras that he reached his destination before then.
Post by
576272
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Morec0
“Priessstessss,” a male naga amored in red and black plate hissed at Al’Sharess. “I sssee that you failed to bring the sssource of the energy you felt back with you. Did you at least manage to find out what is wasss?”
“No,” the High Priestess of Azshara replied, holding herself high despite the fact that the conversation she was having felt more like an interrogation. “I did not.”
“Then why did you return?” the male hissed, slithering back and forth in front of the female. “The Empressss doesss not tolerate failure lightly. Thisss failure in particular will bring about a harsh punishment of sssome sort.”
“You would know all about that, wouldn’t you Zerksssisss,” Al’Sharess hissed at the male.
Zerksis Scalebender looked at the priestess but said nothing. “Regardlessss, we ssstill have sssome time to correct this error. You sssay that you managed to deal a hefty amount of damage to the ship, yesss?” Al’Sharess nodded. “Then we may be able to ssstrike again shortly.” He looked at one of several maps he had – all water-proof, of course – and mumbled to himself as he plotted out a possible course for the ship. “Here,” he hissed, placing an armored finger on an island. “Thisss isss where they’ll go. Take another force and intercept them.”
Al’Sharess nodded stiffly and turned to leave. “And Priestessss,” she looked over her shoulder as Zerksis spoke. “Do not fail the Empressss thisss time.” She nodded again and slithered off.
---
Curho read through his tome, continuing to work on memorizing what spells he hadn’t already and adding any new ones he could think of for future use. Felwood was quiet for now, the Cenarion Circle planning another attack and the Shadow Council planning how to defend against it. He would let them handle it; he had much, much larger plots on his mind.
“Master Demoneye,” one of the Jaedenar defenders ran over and kneeled before him. “Soulsplitter has returned.”
“Finally.” Curho closed his book and stood up. “Did he bring back what he was supposed to?” he asked the other orc as he started to walk towards the surface
“I think so, master,” the defender replied as the two continued to walk.
“Perfect,” the Grand Warlock chuckled. He had thought it would take much longer for them to achieve their aspirations, but fate seemed to smile upon them this day. “Let us have a look at our newest guest, then we will prepare for the Shadow Council’s rise to power once more.” The other or nodded.
They reached the surface quickly enough and were immediately greeted by the sight of Karng, a night elf woman trembling with fear at his feet. “Welcome back, Karng,” he said to the death knight then looked down at the night elf. “Strange, I had expected someone younger.”
“This isn’t her,” Karng replied bluntly with a touch of spite in his voice. “The Sisters of Elune had already reached the child and she was taken somewhere else.”
Curho’s face fell to a frown. “To Darnassus?”
“Doubtful, they want to keep her out of our hands, yes, but I believe they are too terrified of what she may become to keep her close to them. More than likely they sent her somewhere far away from us in hopes that we would not be able to track her down.” He then motioned to the kaldorei woman. “I believe that we may be able to use this woman – their mother – to convince them to surrender when we find them.”
“Hmm,” Curho hummed in thought. “Yes, we may, but we will have to find her first.” He turned back to the Jaedenarr defender. “Prepare a scrying ritual, I will locate them myself.”
“And then send me after them again, I presume?” Karng said irritably.
“Yes,” Curho replied, glancing back at the death knight. “But this time I will come along.” He could not see his face, but Curho knew that was not what Karng wanted to hear. “I will see to it myself this time that we find the girl and bring her back here… where she belongs.”
“As… you wish,” Karng said, grabbing the kaldorei roughly by the arm. “I’ll take this one to the prisons. We can keep her there until such a time as she is needed.” Willow’s mother whimpered in fear.
“Just be warry of the Dae’mon we are keeping down there as well,” Curho replied before turning and walking back the way he had came. Karng also went into Jaedenar’s depths but took a different path then Demoneye on his way to the prisons. Willow’s mother just closed her eyes and hoped for rescue.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
Morgan watched warily as Alaric exited the inn. He had tracked both of them to the tavern after using the latent energy from their house in Darkshire. Doing what he did best, Morgan quickly cast a rune circle that took him to Stormwind. Now he stood within another, completely invisible for the moment, as Alaric exited.
Morgan wanted to call to Alaric, badly. However, he wasn't sure what Alaric's part in all of this was. Frustrated, he waited as the other passed by, and then broke the circle, and walked into the tavern. Wearing a long black cloak and hood that hid his face, he knew he stood out. A lot.
A little gold in the hands of the barkeep assured him that the barkeep paid no special attention to him however, and a few more got him some wine and a meal.
Morgan secreted himself in a back corner and started to eat, watching Amaranth closely. Twice she turned to look at him, but she didn't realize he was watching her. Grinning, he took another bite of his food, potatoes au gratin, and felt more strength surge into him. The food did him good, and already he felt his strength returning after his horrible bout of death.
He finished it, and played with his wine, not wanting to intoxicate himself at this critical moment, but not wanting to draw undue suspicion to himself. Under the cover of asking a waiter to take his plate, Morgan quickly inscribed a rune of recall under the table with his finger, leaving dark energy behind, but not enough to sense.
Finally, grimacing, he took a sip of his drink, then another. He was about to take a third, when Amaranth stood up. Grinning, Morgan stood up and followed. As she started down the street, Morgan slipped around into a side alley, and as she passsed, he grabbed her, stuffing an inscribed kerchief into her mouth, silencing any spellcasting she may attempt.
"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?" he mocked. Her eyes raised in horror. "I'm back from the dead, and wanting vengeance, and you'll give it to me. In one form or another." The blood drained from her face, but she dropped her eyebrows and assumed a pose of disdain.
"Nice acting, but you can drop it. It doesn't fool me, and nobody else will see you..." Amaranth maintained her pose, but she broke out into a swear on her forehead. Morgan spat on the ground. "Fine, be that way. I'm going to ask you a few questions. You can answer with a nod or a shake, that's all I need." When she didn't respond, he sighed, but continued. "First, Darius is still alive. Do you know where he is?"
She shook her head. Sensing truth, he continued, "Does he know I'm alive." She shook her head again. "Good. Does he know our goals?" Another shake.
"Excellent. Is he nearby?" She shook her head and jerked her head south. "Darkshire?" She nodded. "I see. Last question. Is Alaric in on it with you, and does he know Darius is alive?" She shook her head. Grunting, Morgan drew a rune of pain on her head, and she threw her head back, screams muffled by the cloth. "I ask again, is he in on it?" She shook her head again. "Perhaps he isn't... but I'll still have me fun with you..." he said, a smile breaking out. "Revenge is a wonderful thing..." Morgan muttered, and started drawing more runes...
Post by
oneforthemoney
Asein rested his back against a piece of driftwood, leaning back slowly and cradling Willow in his arms. He sighed slowly as he felt himself relax slightly several yards from the rest of the crew and other passengers of the ship moved to make sure they were out of the way for the repairs. He felt the steady breaths of Willow against his chest signalling the young girl was asleep. Asein closed his eyes in the hopes of catching some sleep as it had been somewhat lacking for him in recent events.
“Ah my good friend, it gives me no greater pleasure than to see thou and thine sibling resting with such comfort beneath so sturdy a piece of lumber.” Asein’s eyes snapped open with a frown and he quickly hushed the tall armoured human standing in front of him. “Ah, yes. Of course, my error and I beg thy forgiveness.” Gunter whispered, still somehow loudly, before taking a seat before Asein in the sand, crossing his legs and planting his shield and hammer into the sand. Asein eyed the human before him, the situation more than a little awkward for the night elf.
“Um, Gunter?” Asein began tentatively.
“Yes?”
“Maybe you should help fix the ship for now, so that we can get underway faster.” Gunter shook his head side to side swiftly before grinning broadly at the night elf.
“I would be remised if I did after they so kindly asked this unworthy vessel of the light to stop helping them. They were quite adamant that I rest after the righteous battle we just encountered which we won thanks to the gloriou-!”
“Please Gunter, don’t be so loud.” Asein quietly admonished as the human had been steadily rising in volume.
“Ah, my apologies. The crew of the mighty vessel asked me to leave them to the repairs so I took the initiative to come and guard your sleep. Now then, rest so that thoust may rise in the light of the morn for I will guard thy rest unerringly.” Gunter loudly declared, crossing his arms and fixing Asein with a focused stare.
“Oh, um. Ok then, I guess.” Asein shifted a little and closed his eyes in an attempt to prompt sleep. However, the sheer intensity of Gunter’s gaze prevented him from relaxing enough to try and rest. Being stared at like that was a new experience for him, the gaze holding no malice just intense interest and focus but then again his entire journey had been filled with new experiences.
Travelling outside the village, working in Ratchet, being attacked by that death knight, discovering people who gazed at him without preconceived judgements based on his parentage and Gunter was a fount of new if not necessarily pleasant experiences himself.
Like the death of those naga. Asein shivered in the sunlight as he recalled those glassy stares from their dead eyes and the knowledge that they would never again move. Maybe they had families that loved them and were wondering if they were alive?
Did father consider that when he sacrificed a whole village?
Asein slowly opened his eyes and looked down to the small girl cradled in his arms, recalling the protective urge that had enveloped him when the naga had threatened her. He had wanted to kill the creature, crush and destroy until it was but dust in the wind. He would have done anything to save Willow.
Was that how his father felt when he had willingly slaughtered one hundred innocent people? Asein did not like that analogy. He had wanted to protect his sister from someone clearly threatening her wellbeing, not some innocents who had no dealings with Willow in the least. But... would he be willing to kill all those people if it meant he could protect his sister? Asein didn’t think he wanted to know. He glanced back to Gunter, recalling the ease he had slaughtered the naga and seeming joy he took from combat. The man was currently reading from a metal bound book, a hammer emblazoned on the front.
“What’s that?” Asein asked the human, curious and unable to sleep with Gunter’s close proximity. Though he was certain Gunter would not wish to harm him, the caution he had felt when around strangers was still unabated. Gunter glanced from the book to grin broadly.
“Why, it is a libram of the holy light. I have had this book of since I was but a lad still attempting to understand my role in the world of the blessed light and those that live in its brilliance like thou and thine sibling.” Asein grimaced a little at that, the idea of him living under the ‘blessed light’ not quite agreeing with him.
“I see.” Asein answered diplomatically. Gunter grinned brightly, mistaking the polite answer for genuine interest.
“Of course you do, after all the light shines down on us in all different ways regardless of our background and history. For the light is all pervading, even in the darkest of night it shines in a holy requiem of joining music-.”
“Gunter, please.” Asein spat a little viciously, his patience fraying at the religious prattle spilling from the human’s lips. Gunter shut his mouth with a wide smile, believing that Asein just wanted to get some sleep again. Asein sighed, hearing from the human about how ‘glorious’ the light was opening old wounds. “So, it’s because of that book that you follow the light like that?” Gunter blinked and nodded vigorously.
“Aye, twas this book that didst save me.” Asein arched an eyebrow but shrugged.
“Did it now... How?” Asein inquired. Gunter sat very still, his smile still in place.
“
Give me that blanket!” The other child demanded.
“I can’t, it’s too cold out!” Gunter protested, his bare feet already numb in the snow covering the cobbled streets of Stormwind as he pulled the ratty blanket around his malnourished form closer. Gunter leaned closer to the ruined piece of masonry near the fractured wall behind him left in its current condition from the orc invasion.
“Give it!” The other child screamed, grabbing at the ratty fabric. Gunter tried to hold on but the seven year old tore the blanket from his grasp.
“No! I need it!” Gunter screamed as loudly as his five year old voice could, rising to his feet and gripping the metal bound libram tightly in his hand before bringing it around and smashing it into the other boy’s skull. There was a sickening crack and the other child fell motionless on the ground, the snow turning red. Gunter snatched the blanket from the body, snow already beginning to cover the corpse before he turned around and sped off towards the former mage district. Gunter halted, panting when he reached a specific building, the reconstruction only just starting on it before approaching an overhang and squeezing under it where another boy was huddled over in cold.
“Here you go Darius.” Gunter told the other child with a bright smile. The other boy looked up, his cold blue eyes observing the other human critically for a moment before his face softened slightly.
“Thanks.” He mumbled before pulling the blanket close to him. Gunter smiled brightly and crouched next to the other boy, holding his libram out shyly.
“So, can you read me some more of it now?” Gunter asked the other orphan. Darius nodded, eager to show off his education he had received before his family perished before snatching the book, pausing when he noticed the frozen red liquid on the spine of the metal libram.
Darius didn’t say anything but shot the other child a look of gratitude before opening the book and pulling the blanket closer before beginning to read, Gunter sitting with wide awe filled eyes as he ignored his several blackened toes from the frostbite.
“It protected me.” Gunter brightly declared. Asein looked down to Willow and rolled his eyes. Had he honestly expected more from the clown?
()()()
Darius glared at the small shop in the mage district, his blue eyes sharp and judgemental as he gazed at the buildings overhang. He was wearing casual blue robes, ridding himself of his normal warlocks garb in favour of the incognito appearance of the average Stormwind mage. No one really knew exactly what he looked like without his numerous glamour’s he had created for himself over the years since only one other person really deserved to know. He scoffed after a moment and turned away to return to the Slaughtered Lamb where all the trouble had started.
He couldn’t die yet, he reminded himself as he clenched his poisoned hand tightly into a fist. He still had a debt to repay and he would be damned if he had allowed some idiot like Morgan to rob him of that opportunity.
He was Darius, a grandmaster of the Warlock’s of Stormwind! He finally had power and he was going to use it to show that the things Gunter had done for him did not go to waste. He lifted a lip into a sneer; he was a survivor and had proven that without a doubt.
Post by
Monday
Morgan walked away, letting Amaranth twitch and writhe on the ground behind him, hidden by some boxes. She'd find her way out eventually, he didn't doubt it, but no sense in staying nearby when she did.
Perhaps she'll die from the pain.
The thought lifted the corners of Morgan's mouth and he assumed a jaunty step, heading south.
I need to find Alaric, find out what his part is in this. I can't trust anything Amaranth said, even if she was probably telling the truth,
he thought. Keeping to the sidewalk above the grass, he started tracking Alaric's magic scent.
He's near. But where?
Eventually, Morgan spotted Alaric walking south, but slower. Alaric was wary, looking around for somebody. Morgan felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, and grimaced at what he was about to do. Slipping into an alleyway, he started running, until he was in front of Alaric, same as with Amaranth. Slipping a runed dagger out of his robes, he crouched, waiting. Luckily, it was nightfall, and not many were out and about in the mage district.
Alaric started by Morgan's hiding spot, and Morgan waited until he was almost completely past, and then grabbed him. Yanking Alaric back into the ally, he held the knife to his throat and his hand over the others mouth. "Hey Alaric," Morgan muttered, as Alaric squirmed. "Who're you looking for?" he asked. Alaric stopped, and murmured something.
Morgan lifted his hand away from Alaric's mouth, and motioned for him to continue. Alaric gulped slightly, and said, "You. You'd been missing for awhile." Morgan raised his eyebrows. "This is true," he replied. "And you know why."
Alaric shook his head. "No, I didn't." Morgan turned his head to look Alaric straight in the eyes. "You don't know what happened." Alaric shook his head, and Morgan saw the gleam of truth. As much truth as could be had from a Warlock. Grinning, Morgan slipped the knife back into his robes and embraced Alaric.
"I was so afraid you were with them too, you know," he muttered. Alaric grinned but shoved the other away, straightening his robes and rubbing his neck slightly. "In with who?" he asked.
"Darius."
Post by
470415
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Post by
oneforthemoney
Willow blinked her eyes open, squinting in the somewhat strong sunlight shining down into her eyes. She yawned and tried to sit up before realizing that Asein still held her. With a slight frown she carefully wriggled free of the night elves grip to land on her knees in the sand.
“Ah, you have arisen fair maiden.” Willow turned her head to observe Gunter put away his libram in order to better observe her. “Doest thou require anything?” He asked pleasantly. Willow gave him a curious look but shook her head.
“I’m fine.” Immediately after saying this her stomach growled noisily in protest to her claims.
“Ah yes. I see that you require sustenance to better prepare yourself for the glorious day before you. I will go and bring forth food for you to devour to thine hearts content. Would you like to come with this unworthy soul to request from the chef to provide we two servants of the light with food for the day? I believe I gazed upon a cooking tent not too long ago in that direction.” Gunter proclaimed, pointing heroically towards the other side of the island.
“I guess.” Willow said after a moment of sorting out exactly what Gunter was saying.
“Wonderful. I shall awaken thine fair sibling to inform him.” Gunter proclaimed before turning towards Asein only to pause when Willow tugged his cape. “Yes?”
“Don’t wake him up. Brother hasn’t been sleeping too well and needs his rest.” Gunter stared at the small girl for a moment before nodding enthusiastically, tears streaming down his face.
“S-such concern for a sibling’s wellbeing. Truly these eyes of mine have been blessed with a vision of such pure familiar love. Come then, let us see to our travails and bring back some food in the name of the glorious light!” Gunter proudly declared before offering his gauntleted hand to Willow. Willow stared at the metal encased limb for a second before hesitantly placing her own hand in it and following the metal clad human away from her brother.
()()()
Beldrum ‘One Eye’ brought his pipe to his lips, striking a match off of the cutting board in front of him and lighting the tobacco in the pipe. The dwarf took a deep breath before pulling the pipe from his mouth and blowing a smoke ring into the air with a bored look.
“Bah, this is retirement? Dull, dull, dull. By the bloody cornerstones of Ironforge I thought I would be dead by now Pepper.” The dwarf groused to the black wolf lying underneath the table. The wolf opened an eye; the other scarred and closed much like his masters gave a low woof in agreement, not bothering lifting its head to regard the one eyed dwarf. A fellow mercenary had once asked if Pepper had lost its eye in sympathy for the dwarf to which Beldrum had politely replied that no, it had just happened in combat before he had smashed a stool into the individuals knee’s for the rude question.
“Ah for the good old days of thumping across Azeroth.” The dwarf reminisced wistfully, his beard lifting slightly at the smile that curved his lips. But he had been getting on in years and some of even his closest friends had badgered him towards retiring, which he had eventually grudgingly done so after the Northrend wars. He fondly patted the rifle underneath the table before him, Pepper lifting his head at the familiar noise before dropping it again when the dwarf did nothing else with it.
“Hail chef, might we partake of some sustenance which you have no doubt prepared!” Beldrum looked up from his rifle to narrow his sole eye at the plated human now standing before him.
“Aw great, you again. Just bugger off ya damn twit.” The dwarf complained. The human just laughed it off.
“Ha, my request is a simple one good dwarf; I merely seek to partake in some food for myself and my little friend here.” Gunter declared.
“Piss off; it’s too damn early for me to be making lunch so come back when later ya damn kid.” Beldrum spat before taking another deep breath of his pipe.
“I say, that sort of language is completely uncalled for with an individual of such youthful innocence present. We merely wished to partake in some of the meals which clearly do not take much time or effort for you to prepare.” Beldrum paused as he was about to blow another smoke ring before letting it out.
“And just what do ya mean with that boy?” Beldrum asked slowly.
“Only that your meals appear to have had no though of effort taken into their preparation if the breakfast you served this morning was of any indication of the skills you possess.” Gunter easily replied with a bright smile.
“Oh, so you think ya can do better ya git!” Beldrum demanded heatedly, planting his hands on the table before him.
“Are you challenging me? Gunter! Aspiring Paladin of the holy light!”
“Oho, so yer backin out are ya?” Beldrum smuggle demanded.
“Ha! Though your facilities here are lacking I have made finer meals with less such as when I made scrambled eggs off of a fire elemental as I was killing it using only my shield!”
“Bah, you call that an achievement? I’ve cooked a meal for my entire rifle division by feeding a black bear some gunpowder while it was trying to kill me and tossing a torch down its throat.” Beldrum declared, thumping his chest with a scarred fist.
“Then let us begin our culinary competition! Fifteen minutes, whosoever makes the most energizing meal that is still edible shall win and the loser must apologize to the victor and declare their inequality to the world.”
“Yer on ya bloody twit. I’ll show ya the mistake ya made challenging your elders.” Beldrum shouted back.
“Your overconfidence shall be your downfall venerable dwarf for much like your courage is like a stone, hard and unyielding, so too does your cooking taste!”
“I’m fine with just an apple or something.” Willow pointed out in a small voice.
“This is not about you.” Both men barked, still staring each other down while Gunter pulled off his gauntlets and cracked his knuckles and Beldrum pulled out a hatchet from a knife rack.
Willow shook her head slowly.
Men.
()()()
Al’Sharess paused in her tracking spell, her lips curling upward in a cruel smile. It appeared that the seal had been moved from the artefact to the other end of the beach. This was the perfect opportunity to capture both.
“Missstresss, what isss it?” One of the battle maidens asked her. Al’Sharess turned to the other naga, revealing her fanged smile.
“Good newsss, the ssseal hasss been moved to the other end of the beach. I will take sssix of the myrmidonsss and three f the ssspellcassterss to sssecure the ssseal. You take the ressst and bring me the artefact. Do not fail.” She warned the battlemaiden. The other naga nodded affirmative and went to gather her force. The other naga would need the extra spellcasters to subdue the artefact until she returned with the proper seal since it seemed like the dark energy was building unrestricted without it.
Soon now, very soon.
()()()
Asein woke slowly, his nightmares having been growing worse during the last little bit. He groaned and sat up, rubbing his head which was pounding like a troll’s drums. It was then that he realized that he was missing Willow.
“Willow, Willow!” Asein shouted, shooting to his feet headless of his headache. He slapped a palm to his head instinctively as the pain seemed to multiply with that action, his vision swimming.
“Doessss he have it?” Asein spun around, his head clearing for a moment when he saw the naga slithering up onto the beach.
“Perhapsss, take him alive.” Another naga hissed. Asein’s eyes widened.
Naga, what are they doing here? Did they take Willow?
“Give her back.” Asein hissed darkly, his fists tightening into balls, shadowy energies coating them as his rage built. I
t’s all my fault; they have her because I was sleeping. I’ll get her back!
“Give back Willow!”
()()()
“Ha! You call that seasoning? The amount of salt and pepper you are using is an abomination to the holy light!” Gunter declared as he watched the dwarf cook.
“I don’t need advice from the damned fool who mashed a potato with his bloody fist.”
“I did not wish to dirty yet another utensil, is that a crime?”
“Unsanitary is what it is you twit.” Beldrum shot back. The dwarf paused when Pepper perked up, rising to his feet and letting loose a low growl. “What is it boy?” The dwarf asked, pulling his rifle out from beneath his table slowly. Gunter paused and looked over to where the wolf was growling, eyes lighting up upon noticing several reptilian forms crawling from the ocean.
“Naga! They have come to exact revenge for those of their sinful ilk that were slain the other day. Come my culinary rival; let us show them what it means to interrupt a competition between real men!” Beldrum stared at the human for a second before grinning and dropping a bullet into his rifle.
“I like the way ya think boyo.” Beldrum growled.
“Be sure to leave on alive as the light wills it though.” Gunter added as he hefted his shield and hammer.
“Aye, for questioning.” Gunter blinked before nodding.
“Yes, that too but first we must ensure we have an unbiased taste tester to declare one of us the winner of our competition. Now then, cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!” Gunter shouted, drawing the attention from the naga as Pepper let loose a howl of agreement.
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576272
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Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
The two entered a nearby building. The fact that it happened to be closed for the night made no difference. They proceeded to a nearby table and sat down.
Morgan sat back in chair, stroking his mustache slowly. "Let me see the orb," he said. Alaric handed it over, and Morgan inspected it, turning it over slightly. "We need the map back," he murmured. "I assume the safe house is no longer safe however..." Alaric nodded. "We need to assume we can no longer return."
"You, however," Morgan replied, "Need to keep with them, to make sure they don't become suspicious. As far as the world is concerned, I'm still dead. Just you and me know differently, and I intend to keep it that way." Alaric nodded. "I can get the map. Stay out of trouble until I return," he stated, standing up. Walking quickly to the back room, he wove a portal and stepped through, arriving just outside of Darkshire.
Morgan arose from his seat and exited the building, quickly ascertaining that nobody had seen him, and started toward the mage district. There was somebody he needed to talk to...
Alaric entered the town of Darkshire, nodding at the guards at the gate, who let him pass, no questions asked.
Having contacts in the government is a wonderful thing...
Alaric reflected as he passed through the city.
Especially when they answer only to you.
Reaching the door, he stopped and checked the area around them. Once he was sure nobody had followed him, Alaric entered the safehouse, and was nearly decapitated by the Felguard lying in wait.
"Yah!" Alaric cried out, staggering backwards. He was bleeding heavily from a gash on his shoulder. Grimacing, he made an obscene sign at the Felguard, which roared in pain and retreated. Alaric stayed where he was, gathering flames around his hands as the Felguard fell over, and started to twitch in pain. Alaric made another gesture, and the flames flowed from his hands, bathing the Felguard in demonic fire.
As the Felguard screamed in agony, Alaric started sucking its life energy away in the form of a sickly green stream of light. "Either Morgan left bloody this here as payback, or Amaranth didn't tell me she left a watchdog. Either way somebody is going to pay..." he grumbled, entering the building. Stopping in the doorway, he sighed in ecstasy as the energy mended his wound, then strode inside.
Snatching up the map, he wove another gateway back to Stormwind and stepped through.
Morgan strode purposefully along the pathway in the Canals, just outside of the Cathedral District. His footsteps were muffled by his shoes, and with the light completely faded, Morgan was practically invisible in his black robes.
Unless I have to get on top of a building.
As Morgan neared the gate, he slowed his walk a bit, but nobody was there. He passed into the Cathedral District, smirking at the prayer to the Light inscribed above the gate. The District was dominated by the titular Cathedral, which was where Morgan turned his steps. As he entered the great doors, a priest rose to greet him. "Welcome to the Cathedral of Light, child."
Morgan nodded perfunctorily and kept walking, leaving the baffled priest behind. Descending into the Catacombs, Morgan stopped another priest walking by. "Do you know where I can find Acolyte Jonathon?" The priest looked slightly confused, but pointed out the Acolyte. Morgan thanked the man and approached the Acolyte, who turned at the sound of his name.
He was not very tall, barely 5'5", with raven black hair falling past his eyes. "Jonathon," Morgan said in way of greeting. The boy nodded in return, but said nothing. Morgan rolled his eyes heavenward. "I need word on one Guntar, a Paladin in training. What do you have for me?"
Post by
oneforthemoney
“Ahoy, valiant Dwarf!” Gunter called out over the din of battle.
“Whaddya want ya bloomin brat?” Beldrum shouted back as he reloaded his gun.
“I cannot finish our culinary contest.” Gunter shouted to the dwarf as he finished bludgeoning a naga with his frying pan.
“Aye, I spilled mine as well.” The dwarf agreed as he fired off another shot at a retreating naga, its brains exploding through the front of its face causing the dwarf to grin wickedly.
“Ah, yes. Spilled.” Gunter replied, glancing at a nearby naga currently foaming at the mouth and convulsing on the ground. A moment of silence fell over the field of corpses and the two figures remaining until a ritual as old as time was invoked between the two men. A ritual respected throughout the world and repeated in all places where combat was waged by true warriors.
“So, how many’d ya kill?”
“Hm, about 3.”
“Aye, same.” There was a moment’s pause between the two men as they stood and stared at the ocean for a moment. “Say, where’s the wee lass ye had earlier?”
“She must have returned to her glorious and well meaning brother at the other beach. By the light! What if the accursed serpents travelled there as well?” Gunter demanded in horror. “Come my diminutive rival; let we two make haste to save the damsel in distress!” Gunter shouted before snatching up his shield and hammer and rushing into the jungle.
“Ah bollocks, I should just let ‘im go get himself killed.” Beldrum muttered. The dwarf glanced down at his rifle and the way it still fit so perfectly in his hands, Pepper letting out a light whine of disapproval through her blood caked muzzle. “Balls, if I let him go he could get more kills than me and I don’t lose.” The Dwarf spat before rushing into the trees in pursuit of the armoured human.
()()()
Al’Sharess stared in both awe and horror at the scene before her. Body parts of naga littered the beach, the sand soaked in the blood of her followers and kin yet still the battle raged though it was now one of desperation. In the center of the devastation a figure stood, its entire body covered in inky darkness aside from a pair of glowing green eyes and curved horns adorning its head. The physicality of the shadows soon became apparent when, with a roar revealing pointed shadows in an enlarged mouth the monster snatched a myrmidon with a pair of hands whose fingers ended in a set of wicked looking claws and tore the screaming serpent in twain, dropping both ends to join the sea of corpses surrounding it. A lone sorceress cast a frostbolt at the shadowy beast only to have a gargantuan bat like wing stretch out and shield it, the bolt of ice shattering against it like it was a gust of cool air. The wing flapped back and a hand outstretched to fire a shadow bolt in retort which chewed through the naga with contemptible ease.
“By Azssshara.” Al’Sharess immediately winced at the unbidden statement as the creature turned to her and her entourage. Only then did she realize that it had slaughtered all the other naga she had sent to the beach.
“Willow.” The beast moaned before a hoofed foot stomped in the sand in the direction of the naga. “Give me back Willow!” It howled at her. The howl shocked Al’Sharess back to her senses.
“Ssssecure the creature!” She ordered the spell casters who immediately began to cast various spells while Al’Sharess pulled the child from beneath her arm and held it before her.
Now, how in Azshara’s name does this thing work?
“Ahhhhhh!” Al’Sharess whipped her head around to see one of her spell casters become devoured in a green fire, another soon suffering the same fate as the demonic creature approached, it’s footprints illuminated in green flames.
“Give her back!” It shouted once again.
Her!
Al’Sharess looked down to the girl in her hands,
it wanted her? The seal?
She grinned evilly and held her out to the other naga. “Well? Give her to him and he’ll let ussss live.” The other naga looked at the girl hesitantly before reluctantly taking her and slithering up to the demon. She looked up to the head of the creature towering above her before depositing the girl on the ground in front of it and turning to retreat. Before she could however she was impaled by the monsters claws, her corpse sliding off and onto the ground.
“Willow.” The voice was softer as the hand lowered to brush the young night elves face affectionately before it recoiled, its fingers losing tangibility until they faded like smoke. Al’Sharess grinned widely as it became visibly shorter the longer Willow was next to it as it refused to take a step away from her.
“What’s wrong?” She asked snidely as the horns and wings disappeared, “feeling down?” She cackled wildly as she watched the now pair of night elves on the sand, one asleep and the other trying to shield the other with his body. “Whatever, now all I have to do is bring you back and-.”
“Tie breaker!” Al’Sharess whipped around in surprise and horror at that easily recognized booming voice right before a bullet slammed into and through her shoulder.
“Gahhhhh!” Al’Sharess screamed in pain, her now useless arm hanging from her side.
“Bugger! She moved!” Beldrum swore as Gunter jumped over him with a bellowing laugh.
“The light has granted this soul an opportunity and I would be remised and rude to deny it! Cervantes!” Gunter shouted before swiping at the naga with his hammer. Al’Sharess brought one of her two staves around, two of her remaining three arms holding it shuddering as the hammer slammed into the enchanted metal.
“Thissss ssshal not be a repeat of lasssst time.” She spat at the human before bringing the other staff around, the crystal on its head glowing blue with magic before firing a lance of ice at the human. Gunter laughed boisterously and brought his shield up, the ice slamming into it but the human remained undeterred.
“Your feeble slurs and assaults shall not deter me foul siren.” Gunter declared before spinning around and attempting to slam his shield into Al’Sharess. The naga hissed and lashed out with her staff.
“Sssslur! How dare you!” She hissed as the crystal flared blue once again as it struck the shield, an explosion of magic knocking the metal barrier from Gunter’s grasp. “I will end you fool!”
“My faith is my shield witch!”Gunter retorted before bringing his head back and slamming it into her chin. A’Sharess clenched her teeth just in time to prevent them from shattering from the blow before bringing her staff around yet again, her eyes burning in rage as the crystal glowed an even brighter blue before a gauntleted fist wrapped around the massive gem, halting the stave in midair.
“Fool! Releassse it!” Al’Sharess demanded in a panicking voice as Gunter moved slightly to the side and yanked the end of the staff to his chest level.
“Nevah!” Gunter loudly declared before his fist finally shattered the gem, an explosion of arcane energy and shards of crystal blasting the two combatants away. Al’Sharess blinked as she found herself staring at some clouds above her before attempting to bring the hand that held the staff to observe the damage.
Only to see a bloody stump.
This should hurt. Why doesn’t it hurt?
She wondered to herself curiously as she examined where her hand had once been before the sun was suddenly blocked out. She looked up to see Gunter’s upper body over her, a manic smile twisting his features as blood dripped on her from various cuts decorating his face along with a sharp burn mark on the side of his head. A gauntleted fist, its metal twisted in various places revealing burned skin beneath was held over her.
“Feel the righteousness of the lights judgement!” He barked before his fist rushed forward and took up her whole vision.
Beldrum pushed himself up from the grass and slowly approached to stand several feet away from the aspiring paladin as he repeatedly brought his fist down onto the prone naga he was straddling. Beldrum turned away from the sight to observe the beach suspiciously, unfazed by the scene of carnage as he took it in with a soldiers gaze. He turned his gaze to the two night elves, frowning slightly when he noticed how Gunter had manoeuvred himself to shield the pair from the blast. He turned back to Gunter when the sound of the humans’ fist ceased to make the squishing sound of impacting the naga’s head, the serpentine humanoids face now no more than a mashed mess of blood and bone.
“Valiant dwarf.” Gunter declared, turning his damaged and bleeding face to peer at the Beldrum. Beldrum nodded stiffly to the wounded human.
“Aye lad?”
“By the grace of the light this makes four.”
“... Bollocks!”
()()()
“Oh great. This is just what I needed. Blast it all.” Amaranth weakly turned her gaze up from the alley ground to observe a pair of well kept shoes before her eyes. “Honestly, people these days.” Amaranth groaned in pain as she felt something grab onto her collar and yank her to her feet. She staggered for a moment before regaining her feet, her vision clearing quickly much to her surprise.
“Wh-what?” She asked shakily before thin but precise fingers roughly grabbed her hair and began to root around her scalp. “Ow, stop it!” She demanded.
“Shut up, aha, just as I thought.” The fingers left her scalp and retreated. Amaranth tentatively reached up to her scalp and touched the area just searched, feeling a pair of hard bumps there.
“Huh?” She heard a scoff and turned to see her rescuer, though the word became rather ironic when she saw who it was. “D-Darius?” The man, clad in more casual robes than his usually regal attire smirked at her.
“Indeed, now what happened?” He demanded. Amaranth paused as her memories returned in a rush, her face clouding in anger.
“Morgan.” She hissed, tightening her fingers and gasping as her fingers dug into her palms. She uncurled her hands and stared in surprise at her surprisingly sharp and long nails.
“Huh, so the fool survived. Interesting but not irreparable. Regardless, we have other matters to attend to at the moment.” Amaranth shook herself from her reverie and stared in surprise at the warlock who was turning away from her.
“Wait, what’s going on?” She demanded, grabbing the grandmasters shoulder. Darius stiffened and turned to her slowly, the air thickening in menace and danger.
“Remove your hand. Now!” Amaranth snatched her hand back like it had been burned. Darius huffed and turned back to her.
“I thought it obvious. What you are experiencing is a gradual fusion with the demon within you thanks to the threat on your life. Since I have prevented it from growing within you what is occurring is similar to what we observed the blood elves in Outland doing, feeding off of demon blood. In actuality, you should thank me since without its intervention you most likely would have died.” Darius explained his tone as though commenting on a mundane manner like the weather. Amaranth felt what she now understood as horns growing on her head again in growing wonder.
“Wow...” She murmured to herself. Darius chuckled, causing the woman to catch herself and flush slightly in embarrassment. “A-anyway, where are we going?” She asked the warlock.
“To Ironforge, I’m meeting an old friend who sent a letter saying he would be passing through the city soon and I need someone to carry my bags, hence why I’m bringing you.” Amaranth glared at the man before her at the task he had for her but dared not object. “And if you embarrass me in front of Gunter, the agony I will inflict on you will be far worse than you greatest nightmares.” He promised, eyes flashing in menace. Amaranth gulped and nodded before following the Warlock away from the alley.
Post by
576272
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Post by
Morec0
Clapping came from behind Aerth and the demon hunter turned to look at the short orc standing several yards away, clearly admiring the grisly seen that he had created. “Most impressive,” he said, his one good eye wandering as it sought out every patch of gore and every splotch of blood on the trees and grass around. “I could have done no better myself, demon - or, should I say; demon hunter.”
Aerth glared at the small orc, taking his glaives into his hands once again. He began to walk towards the orc, who continued to stand as the massive demon approach him. “I know of you, Demoneye,” the warlock said. “I have heard of you before, I have heard of the things you have done. I know who it is that you serve.” He held the blade of one glaive to the orc’s throat. “Why should I not kill you here?”
“Because you and I seek the same thing, demon hunter,” Curho said. “For different reason, I admit, but we both want the same person in the short term. Your daughter, Willow I believe her name was.”
Aerth’s eyes widened before narrowing in hate. He pulled back his glaive and swung it at the orc, only to miss when the foul warlock jumped back to dodge. Aerth pressed the attack, but through magic or luck Curho Demoneye managed to avoid what would have easily been a killing blow time and time again.
The orc laughed at the night elf. “Did you really think I would incite your rage without being prepared to deal with it? Soulsplitter, now!” Nothing happened, either the orc was mad or his ally was preoccupied. Curho scowled, dodging another strike. “I said now!” he yelled again, rage quickly building up in his voice. “Do not attempt to betray me now, death knight!”
These words spoken, rotting hands burst forth from the soil, grabbing Aerth’s legs. The demon hunter was caught off guard by this, but did not hesitate to burn them away with fel fire. When he turned back to face the orc, though, he was knocked to the ground by a demonic claw. “Foolish demon hunter,” the voice of the orc mixed with a demonic roar, “you may have the Legion’s powers but you do not possess their blessing as I do!”
The orc had become a massive demon – much larger then Aerth’s demon form. Black, bat-like wings sprouted from his back and his feet and hands had become giant talons and claws. His face had twisted from regular orcish features into something that resembled a pit lord, his tusks had grown larger and sharper, and a tail that also resembled an annihilan’s had sprouted from his back. His size had also increased, reaching a point where he could be mistaken for a large black drake by one less observant then Aerth himself.
The demon hunter only gripped his glaives harder. “Then allow me to send you to join your masters within the Nether,” he charged, knocked to the ground once more by a bolt of fel fire and shadow. Aerth quickly jumped back to his feet again, taking to the sky and diving down towards the warlock’s demonic form. They collided, but the warlock’s greater stamina and strength allowed him to easily take the demon hunter in his grasp and slam him into the soil.
“Weak, pathetic night elf,” Demoneye laughed. “You are nothing compared to me. Do you not understand?”
Mustering all of his strength, Aerth broke free of the demon grasp. “I have heard enough!” he yelled, demonic rage reaching its peak within him. He blasted Curho with a wave of shadow magic, and although the spell did no physical damage to the warlock it did knock him backwards several yards. The demon hunter then charged and delivered a set of blows to the demonized-orc’s chest and skull.
It was at this point that Curho lost the strength to maintain his demon form, and he regressed back into his mortal form. Aerth moved in, raising his glaives to land the killing blow. He paused briefly to look around for the orc’s ally “Soulsplitter,” but it seemed that whoever it was he had deserted the orc again. Aerth’s weapon descended to slay the warlock, but he paused then Curho yelled out for him to stop. “Stop!” the warlock said. “Before you continue with killing me, there is something that you may wish to see.”
The orc warlock motioned over to his right, and Aerth glanced over. Fel flames burned the grass and earth into demonic runes, and a small portal – little more than a window to look through – appeared above them. Through the portal one could see a night elf woman, sickly and weak from disease. Aerth recognized her. “Arantha,” he murmured.
“I had a feeling that you would recognize her,” Curho said, getting back to his feet. “If you so much as attempt to slay me, it is within my power to immediately alert my allies and give the order to have her killed. Make any move to try and rescue her and I will give that same order.”
Aerth glared at the orc, lifting his weapons again. “You’re bluffing,” he growled.
“Maybe,” Curho said, reaching for the fel-iron sword – his last line of defense with his powers exhausted and his ally vanished – strapped across his back. “But do you really want to take that chance?”
Aerth tightened his grip, but finally relaxed his body with a exasperated sigh. “What is it you want, orc?”
“You are going to help me find your daughter,” Demoneye said. “And then you will help me use her for the purposes of the Legion. If you do not I will kill the female elf, and then I will kill you.” The last part of his threat was a hollow one but, although he had a feeling that the demon hunter already knew this, there was no reason to confirm this for anyone listening.
Aerth glared at the orc.
Post by
470415
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Post by
oneforthemoney
It had been five days since the fight on the beach. Time had seemed to pass quickly for Asein. Sunrise, sunset, the crew continued their work on the ship which was nearing completion and Asein made sure that Willow always stayed close to him. He recalled every moment after he had awakened without Willow and attacked the naga but, he wasn’t entirely certain what to make of it. He had spent much of the past five days contemplating the events, running over them again and again. Though Gunter had appeared unbothered by the carnage at the beach and had attested it to a ‘miracle of the holy light’ the dwarf Beldrum had been eying Asein suspiciously and always seemed to have his rifle nearby.
Then again, that may have had something to do with what the dwarf and Gunter had been up to recently.
It had all started with the day after the attack by the naga. Unsurprisingly, Gunter had difficulty doing nothing for a long period of time. Asein had discovered this while lounging on the beach near the cooking tent with Willow and Gunter (who had insisted on coming and could not take a hint). After approximately an hour of silence Gunter had suddenly stood, declared he was going fishing, stripped down to his underclothes and grabbed a piece of raw meat from the cooking tent before swimming out into the ocean.
Asein had sat there for several hours wondering just what the fel had just happened until Beldrum had informed him from the cooking tent that it was something people like him and Gunter did to alleviate boredom.
Asein was unsure of exactly what the dwarf had meant until Gunter had returned several hours later from the sea like some sort of ocean god with a broad grin and dragging behind him a dead shark. He then gave it to Beldrum whom he asked to make good use of. They had excellent shark fin soup that night.
Of course since Gunter had subdued a large carnivorous fish without wearing any armour and pre-tenderized it using his fists Beldrum had naturally stalked off into the jungle that night only to return the next day with a large dead gorilla.
Long story short Asein was once again sitting on the beach with Willow while Beldrum sat nearby cleaning his gun as they awaited Gunter’s return from the ocean.
The silence was stifling if Asein had to be perfectly honest. While Asein would have preferred to be left alone with Willow Beldrum had come over and sat down in the sand near them as his cooking tent had been packed up on the ship, Pepper by his side as usual and began to polish his gun. The dwarf now and then looked at the two night elves with an unreadable expression which was made all the more difficult to decipher thanks to his heavy beard.
“So... How long have you been a cook?” Asein asked in an attempt to break the stalemate.
“Awhile.” Beldrum answered shortly, not bothering to pause in his polishing.
“Oh.” Another awkward and tense silence fell between them. Fortunately the sight of Gunter returning relieved Asein from having to make more conversation with the surly dwarf.
Until he saw exactly what Gunter had brought back with him.
“Hail my illustrious companions, rejoice for I have-.”
“By Magni’s beard! Are those people!” Beldrum demanded, shooting to his feet and pointing at the three limp figures draped over Gunter. The aspiring paladin blinked in surprise before glancing to the prone figures, laughing at himself immediately afterwards.
“Oh yes, I discovered these three innocents floating near the island on the verge of exhaustion. It was quite a stroke of luck indeed for this soul as surely the light was shining down on this humble servant to have gifted me with such an opportunity to serve it.” Gunter loudly declared as he dropped the human, high elf and half elf onto the sand.
“Are they okay?” Willow asked Asein in concern.
“Nay!” Gunter shouted, startling both night elves with his loud tone. “They require mouth to mouth resuscitation. Breathe in the breath of holy life!” Gunter shouted before planting his face over the half elf’s mouth. Beldrum rolled his eyes and walked over to the high elf, delivering a quick kick to the male’s ribs.
“Wake up sleeping beauty, nappy time is over.” Beldrum ordered the elf who stirred with a pained groan.
“Ahhhh, rape!” Beldrum glanced over to the half elf who had screamed and Gunter who had shot to his feet at the scream and was whipping his head back and forth.
“Where? I shall punish the sinner in the name of the holy light!” Gunter’s loud declaration was met with several confused or bemused stares.
“The lass means you ya daft fool.” Beldrum informed Gunter. The human gasped in horror and took a step back from the half elf.
“Nay fair lady. I beg thy forgiveness for the circumstances of your awakening but this unworthy soul had no ill intent upon your form.” The half elf blinked in surprise before looking around in confusion at her surroundings.
Asein wandered over to the human and gently nudged him a few times with his foot, Willow peering into the man’s face inquisitively. After another moment of prodding the human cracked an eye open, his vision being filled with Willow’s curious face.
“... I... know you.” Asein sucked in a breath at that, his eyes narrowing at the human who had just spoken to his sister.
This could not be good.
()()()
"Hmm, Gunter you say? I think I heard something about him but, I want payment." Jonathon told Morgan. The warlock sighed and dug through his pocket producing several gold coins for the young acolyte to see. Jonathon scoffed derisively at that.
"What good is money in a world filled with such hopelessness and deceit. No, I want something else." Morgan gave the youngster a curious and somewhat wary look as he deposited the coins.
"What?" Jonathon smirked and reached into his robes, producing several scrolls which Morgan eyed distrustfully.
"If I share what I know about Gunter, you have to listen to these poems I wrote about my feelings." Morgan slapped a hand over his face and harshly massaged the bridge of his nose.
"You have got to be kidding me. Fine, I'll listen to your damn poems. Now tell me what I want." Morgan ordered. Jonathon smirked and nodded to the very irate warlock.
"Okay. Let's see now... If I remember correctly there were some records of a paladin being trained by that name. He was apparently an orphan, no family or relatives but was accepted into training anyway. There was a note by his name in the roster that said 'fervent'. But I'm pretty sure he was eventually rejected because he couldn't call on the light." Morgan raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms with a noise of dissatisfaction.
"If that's it then you can forget about me staying for your damn poems." Morgan told the acolyte, turning to leave.
"Wait wait! There was something else." Morgan turned back to the younger human curiously.
"Yes?" He prompted.
"Well, it seems that he was also rejected because of an incident involving some warlocks." Morgan stiffened slightly at that but nodded encouragingly.
"Go on." Jonathon grinned, noting that he now had the other man's attention.
"Allegedly he helped a few warlocks escape from some city guards and refused to reveal their identities when they caught him. Spent some time in the stockades where, on a side note, he apparently killed some other prisoners pretty violently while going on about 'the light's judgement'. They kept him in solitary for most of his stay. Anyway, he was rejected and hasn't had contact with the Cathedral since." Jonathon told Morgan with a shrug.
"I... see..." Morgan responded tightly.
"What's wrong?" Jonathon asked curiously.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Morgan reassured the younger human.
"Damn. If you were more depressed than you might be able to really appreciate the raw emotions that I poured forth from cutting my own soul open to bare the truth behind my pain, transcribing into words to share with the world so that it can better understand my unequaled agony! Oh well, try to enjoy anyway." Jonathon then opened one of many scrolls and began to read a very whiny piece of poetry to the warlock.
Morgan had to resist very hard not to rip his new heart back out to escape into the warm embrace of death.
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