Strands of Fate Chapter 3: Enemies in the Darkness (Open RP)

[Tindr Thornleif]

Tindr watched Leothiel place the parchment on the table closest to him then turn to leave the establishment. He hesitated a moment, allowing the curiosity get the better of him before walking over and picking up the letter in hopes of being able to read what the blood elf had written.

[Theotaz]

Theotaz pondered. He had stood post while his guild held Moot in the tavern here in lower city. The meeting had gone well. The celebration and general letting down of hair afterwards had gone well. There had been a bit of a drunken call to go fishing.

He had seen nothing amiss untill Tasera's hound had torn apart the Hyena that had charged into the party. His minion had given a warning growl, but he'd not really been expecting trouble.

Tasera had a shot off before he'd cleared his axe. The dwarf had gone face down in the dirt with a crossbow quarell in his right lung, another in his abdomen, though the telling shot had been a mammoth cutter from Tasera's rifle that had cut through the drawf's spine from the back and had ripped an unpretty mess out of the dwarf's left side blowing lung tissue and bone all across the trail.

The Dwarf was still alive if but barely when Theo rolled him over. The tabbard he wore was all to familiar though curiously ill fitting. He looked up. Aitana's armor had been scored and had obviously deflected the round. Theo meditated a moment, and looked carefully about. There, embedded in a near by tree was another round. From the impact it could have not been the round that struck Aitana. He would check it in a moment. Asarelah hustled Aitana out of the area.

Theo waved Tasera over. "Dis don't make no sense Tasera. To clumsy for lo Dor work. Even SI:7 not this clumsy stupid." Theo checked the dwarves hands. "Not Ravenholt either. Look at his equipment. Battered, old. Dat last shot he fired blew de breech on his gun."

Tasera gave Theo a puzzled look. "You say'n dat not his tabbard?"

Theo pointed, "He got a shirt on dat got fresh wine stains on it. He was drink'n earlier. He hadn't had dis tabbard on for just a short time or de wine spilled on his shirt woudda soaked through... No stain. De only thing dis drawf have on dat be even reasonably clean be dis tabbard."

Theo stood up and went over to the tree. With two quick swings of his axe he had split a wedge out of the tree. Slapping it against a rock the wedge broke again to reveal a tidy piece of work. Theo sniffed. His eyes shot up. "Tasera smell dis and tell me it aint what I tink it is".

Tasera sniffed. Her lips curled in distaste. "Theo, nobody use dat poison no more. Tis to dangerous. Dat stuff would drop a pit lord in its tracks wid a drop."

Theo nodded. "Be glad he don hit noth'n more solid den dis tree. Dis round designed to fly apart if it his something hard.... woulda sprayed dis poison about ten yards in all directions. It would been bad."

Theotaz carefully removed the round, and set it in a small box well padded against spillage or further damage. "Dis gotta be neutralized before be'n disposed of. I'll take care of it. I tink I need to go talk to de lady. We got very lucky."

Looking down at the dwarf he muttered. "Who's gold did you take little dwarf. It must have been a very great amount to send you to suicide..................."

[Asarelah]

Asarelah was very pleased with her new Battle Gown. She had just earned it fighting beside the Serpents in the Halls of Naxxramas... Sympathy, it was called. And how appropriate for a pure care giver !

But those bloody runes had appeared on it, as they had on her older battle gear; and for no other reason that she could imagine save coming in close contact with that Al'shar assassin - who had been hell bent on killing as many of her Tribe as he could hit at one time, if Theo's appraisal of the poison the Hunter had used proved accurate.

Still, the only strike that had landed, unless you counted the poor tree that had now withered and died, was Oracle Tallbear. And she still refused to accept the evidence that the assassin was tied to Al'sar. She just would not believe it.

Shaking her head, knowing that her guesses would solve nothing, she carefully stowed her new gown in her pack, sent a silent summons to Alexstraza, and made ready to pay a visit to Lore Mistress Ezraella. Perhaps SHE could get to the bottom of this mystery!!

[Ezraella]

Ezraella simply wandered, not caring where she was going. With a book in hand, she stroled towards her usual outlook to think and pour her mind into it. Since joining Nyx, she had become quite the bookworm as much as that would please her mother, who was thankfully still alive in Silvermoon. In truth, however, the book in her hand was one of personal interest to her, titled, "Law and Punishment." - After witnessing a trial not a few scant days ago, she was researching the subject to better aquaint herself with the procedures.

Instinctively reaching for the floating crystal, Ezraella finally found herself at her destination. The highest point within Dalaran itself. Quiet, peaceful and serene... ...Though raising her eyes from her book, she frowned minutely. Something on the wind made her halt her movements. As she tried to direct her own power towards it, it was gone and she shook her head. Fortunately, if her Tribe needed her, she would be within calling distance.

She knew something was amiss... But the details remained a mystery to her.

[Asarelah]

Asarelah dismounted, and giving Alexstraza an affectionate pat, sent her red drake to hunt on the river below Dalaran. Just as she was about to exit the flight pad, she heard a familiar voice hail her.

“Lah!! I gots sumtin fer yous ta see….” Tasera’s voice stopped her in her tracks. Turning, she saw Tas motion for her to follow, and she about faced, returning to the flight pad at her sister’s back. Puzzled, she watched as Tasera began summoning her mount.

Lah was surprised to see a Netherwing appear at Tas’ call, rather than the twin to her own beloved Alex. Gasping in startled surprise, she let out a ringing cheer to see her sister mounted on the back of a brilliantly translucent dragon.

“Sis! When did you catch him? What is his name?” Lah asked, clearly impressed with Tas’ new ride.

“I not be knowin’ ‘es name yet. He still be wild,” Tas admitted. “Dem Netherwings helped me catch em. But dey be harsh folk ta let strangers in. Dark Lady be well served if we works to bring em to da cause.”

“How so Sis?” Asarelah questioned, shielding her eyes from the energies of the Twisting Nether radiating all around the blue hued dragon hovering before her.

“Well, dat Mordenai dat walks ‘round in da Netherwing Fields in Shadowmoon Valley will talk ta any of us, ta help us get ta know da nether dragon folk. ‘E walks ‘round lookin like a high elf. Guess he tinks he can fool folk wif dat silly disquise. Just stands der ‘n hollers fer hep ta save his people from dem Dragonmaw orcs. But, ‘es really da son of Karynaku and Neltharaku, da Netherwing's leaders. ‘N if we jus go talk wif ‘em, we maybe bend dem dragon folk ta follow da Lady Nyx. Be a sight to reckon wif, all us showin up ta fight, aback a netherwing!”

“I can see it sis, and it would be an amazing sight to behold,” Asarelah smiled, thinking of the possibilities. Then a worried frown crossed her brow. Still gazing up at her radiant sister, she looked carefully to see if the dragon’s twisting nether essence was the only thing shining out from Tasera’s glistening aura.

“Tas, have you noticed any thing amiss with your armour since the attempt on Aitana’s life?” Asarelah asked with obvious concern in her voice. “Look at my shoulders, they are steaming with runes! And the runes have also appeared all over my new gown. Look!” Asarelah carefully opened her pack, and pulled a bit of her new battle gown, Sympathy, out for Tas to see.

“I thought we saw da last of dem cursed runes when dat artifact got destroyed!” Tas exclaimed, bending down to peer at the gown’s edge.

“Aye, as did I. But Aitana found a blade next to the body of that assassin, and when she was turning it over in her hand, I saw strange markings on it too! I am on the way to show my gown to our Lore Mistress. Will you come with me, then?”

[Ezraella]

Having been escorted with friends, family and allies to the Tower of Althalaxx in the northern most part of Darkshore, Ezraella began preparing herself for what was to come. What was coming, however, was beyond even her sight to see.



Asarelah, Warburn, Tasera and Aitana all explained what was going on during the ride up, how these runes were connected to the Tower. Ezraella's first instinct were that they were arcane in nature, which is what had her curious about the Tower to begin with. After seeing Asarelah's gown in Orgimmar and feeling the convoluted power revolving around it, she just had to see it all for herself.

Walking into the Tower initially nearly overwhelmed the Blood Elf, her eyes closing tightly to try and make sense of the energies revolving around it. The extreme amount of power coarsing through her body because of it all was just amazing for her. Truly, it was the first full power she had felt in her life, unlike her magical powers and the ability to control Fire.

Bidding a fond farewell to her family, she opened a portal to Orgrimmar for them and was left to do what was necessary. Opening her pack, she started getting out various crystals and other reagants. Putting them in the center of the lower room, she began to ward the entrance to intrusion of arcane and magical means. She did not wish to be scryed or watched while she was in there. Spending a few minutes on her wards, she eventually returned back to the center. She seemed focused, almost lost in her own world.

Picking up four of the crystals, she would step to each compass point, placing a crystal on each. To the north, she placed a glowing sky-blue crystal. To the east, a burning red... To the west, a diamond crystal, glittering in the torchlight and to the south, a green crystal, as deep and meaningful as the forests that surrounded her. The only crystal that remained in the center was the colour of the night sky, purely black. Exhaling softly, she returned to the center, standing above the inky black crystal. Reaching down, she took a small brown pouch from the ground and reached into it, scattering a fine dust over her circle.

Letting the wind from outside blow it around, she raised her hands and crossed them over her chest, "With the power that I possess, show me the truth..! Show me what I want to see...!" And after those words, she arched her back slightly, releasing a mixture of arcane and fire energy to the east and west. The crystals seemed to absorb it for a minute, before shooting around along the outside, making a diamond shape of red and white. It looked quite beautiful. After a few minutes of focusing her magick, Ezraella began to sweat almost profously, the physical and mental exhertion almost too much to bear.

But fortunately for her, the energies suddenly shot back towards the black crystal, turning it from a black to a bright orange. After that process, they shot up, straight up, basking the Blood Elf in an orange light. Bathed in magical energy, Ezraella closed her eyes and willed herself on, using what energy she had left to create a doorway to an alternate existance... The Druids would call it the Emerald Dream, but Ezraella called it something completely different. Reaching down and taking the gown that Asarelah had left in her possession, she exhaled again and eventually, showing just a small amount of fear, stepped through the gate.

[Asarelah]

Asarelah was still arguing with Aitana and Tasera as she accepted Ezraella's portal away from the Darkshore Tower.

"I tell you she was young. She could NOT have resisted my Mind Control. She didn't even know I cast it. There is NO WAY she could have lied to me!!" Lah nearly shouted, smacking a fist in to her palm.

"She also took great risk to even approach us. And she's very lucky she waited to talk to me, instead of you, Aitana. You would have had her in front of Inquisitor Gorehorn so fast, she might have died of fright!!"

Aitana snorted. "I very much doubt that, Nightwarder. But I would have liked to hear her for myself. Next time something like this occurs, do send word, if it's not to much trouble!"

"Ya, mon. Yous tink yous gots ta do ever 'lil ting youself," Tasera said, appearing deep in thought. "Da rest a us all be lendin a hand if yous jus sing out; we come a runnin. But I tink yous wrong. Dat blood elf lies. Al'shar sent dat blade out. I stake me gun on it!"

"Tasera," Asarelah said gently. "Don't even jest about that. You would loose the gun, Sis. I promise you - the Al'shar are NOT involved in this!!" Asarelah was adamant.

"Falelore would not divulge her sources, and I could not see them past the natural blocks in her mind. But I can assure you when she said that sinister forces were at work, and creeping up on both the Houses of lo Do'rano and Lady Nyx, that she was telling the absolute truth. And you will never make me believe that the Al'shar were in any way responsible for the attempt on the Oracle's life!"

[Wiindriider]

I decided to stay behind to help guard the Lore Mistress as she prepared to do her business within the chambers..I paid no mind as she did her ritual work, They were strong and i could feel the power as she worked. A few tower guards and the minions they controlled kept trying to interfere with her work and I attempted to keep them at bay lest she fail in her duties. Shaylarose took on those I could not handle, as I was not yet able to destroy all those who were interfering and such a young age. The Mistress had found a door and stepped through it. My work helping guard her was complete and I returned to Shattrath City to retire for the night.

[Warburn]

The group of Nyxians together with the esteemed ladies of House Shadowsworn made the trip to the old Tower in northern Darkshore without incident. A stark contrast to the last time the Oracle led the tribe fighters, healers and scribes to the same place. Ezraella wanted to see the place, and that was reason enough to go back there.

Warburn knew however that the tower had no direct connection to the runes that kept appearing on Lah and himself, and perhaps others. Before setting out for Darkshore, Warburn examined Lah's runes. They were quite dim and not at all as bright and vibrant as they were a few moons ago when they first appeared. Sure that is where they first appeared, but that was also the first major battle against the forces of Alshar and the Knigship since they got hold of that accursed artifact.

What the Elder Shaman was realizing was that these runes as troubling as they were, had no real effect on him. Only when near the artifact or in combat with his enemies did they glow. For when they reached the tower last night, Lah's lapel runes seemed even dimmer then they did in Thrall's chamber... Which could only mean there must have been an enemy in Orgrimmar, most likely a simple yet hateful Burning Blade cultist buying supplies. But in that remote Tower of Althalaxx there was no one out to harm them.

[Tindr Thornleif]

The script was eloquant and legible in nature compared to his own hand
yet Tindr still couldnt make out the words on the parchment that the
blood elf had left behind. He turned the parchment sideways and then
upside down with a foolish hope that he might have been reading upon it
wrongly. It still did not make any improvement.

The streets of Dalaran were busy as always as Tindr stepped out from the
Legerdemain Lounge. The Death Knight hastily folded the note before
stuffing it into his armor and began weaving his way through the masses.
If anyone might be able to read the blood elf's writing, it would be the
Keeper. However, where the Keeper had squirreled himself away was
unknown to Tindr. Darnassus was probably the best place to look.

Tindr made his way towards the portal room when he saw Her standing
directly in his path. Quickly he froze in his tracks. Had she seen him?
Was there still time to dart off before being spotted?

Tindr often made sport of the cat-and-mouse game he played with his
friend, lady Nimiirra. The challenge of avoiding and being undetected by
the agile Hunter had amused him greatly.

Suddenly, the opportunity came. Nimiirra had glanced away and Tindr
quickly darted behind a passing Tauren. He followed closely in his shadow
until he could duck out of sight down the town center pathway.

At the center, Tindr pivoted, eyeing all four exits for signs of of her when
a sudden force jolted him off his feet and into the fountain. Tindr cursed
loudly after the gnome that he saw riding off on the massive mammoth
which had knocked him in the water. This was the third time he had been
knocked, shoved, tossed into this particular fountain and he now had lost
all appreciation for its outward beauty. How could he appreciate what
was often making him feel like a wet toad sealed in a tin can? As he
gathered himself out of the water, he shook his arms vigorously trying to
get the water out of his armor as he stormed off.

It was not long after arriving in Darnassus that Tindr was able to find the
Keeper. He knew that whatever the blood elf wished to speak with him
upon back at the Legerdemain would come to light soon. But the
parchment that was folded in his armor had become wet. There was a
sudden sinking feeling as the Death Knight tried to carefully unfold it. The
writing upon it had been smeered and unreadable from the moisture.

Whatever Ambassador Leothiel was trying to speak to him about was now lost.