Aftermath ((open tavern RP after Leikos' transfer))

[Asarelah]

Asarelah started as she felt an arm wrap around her in a tight hug, and turned to see the face of her student, Svalina, laughing, fit to be tied. Turning back to Commander Leikos, she chuckled at the bemused expression on his face. He kept glancing from one, to the other, and back again, clearly caught off guard that he was boxed in by nearly identical twins. Lah was certain had Sva not been wearing her work clothes, he would have been hard pressed to tell them apart.

Asarelah remarked warmly, "Svalina, I am sure you recall the Alliance Commander, Leikos?"

Svalina's eyes shot wide for just a moment. That Asarelah was not thinking about warfare or artifacts when she looked in Leikos’ direction was all too evident.

Secretly amused at Asarelah, Sva had not seen her mentor in such a cheerful mood since long before Howling vanished. Shrugging to herself that there was no accounting for taste, Sva did her best to stifle her rancor at being so familiar with a Kaldorei - much less one that she had done her dead level best to blast in to oblivion less than a fortnight before, when Mistress Aitana had been rescued at the Azshara Bridge.

Leikos had shown great honor in his past actions, or so whispered the rumor mill that always followed a Nyxian Tribal Council meeting. He had made sure Aitana was treated as a visiting Diplomat, even though her “visit” was not by choice, but by capture.

Asarelah smiled again and Sva knew Leikos was in serious trouble for his gallantry.

"Sva! Leikos has just invited me for lunch, you must come along!" Sva all but choked on her own smile. <Yes, completely, and utterly doomed!>

“Let’s go!” Sva said, lacing one arm in to the Commander’s and motioning for Asarelah to do the same on the other side.

Leikos nodded toward one of the tables overlooking the pier, and was about to seat the two woman, when he heard a commotion heading in their direction. Turning, instantly in defense stance, he relaxed slightly when he recognized the approaching runner to be a youngling in service to Lady Aitana.

With a puzzled expression, recognizing who was at his Nightwarder’s side, the Nyxian page raced to where Asarelah stood, saluted, dropped to one knee at her feet, and awaited her command to make his delivery. When Asarelah reached out her hand, he did not hesitate to surrender the orders he was charged to bring her.

“Please excuse me Commander,” Lah said, as she carefully unrolled the scroll so that no eyes but her own might see its contents. That the message held no favor in her eyes was all too evident by the intense expression on her face. As she finished her read, she raised one hand, and with a quick casting, the scroll became ash. She let it fall, drifting on the breeze, in to nothing.

“That lunch will have to wait,” Asarelah’s voice was full of regret, as she looked up at Leikos. “But I thank you, for just the thought of it has been delightful.”

With a curt nod to the page and Svalina to follow, Asarelah turned on her heel and headed out at nearly a run. After putting a bit of distance between them and the Commander, Lah called back over her shoulder to Sva that Aitana had a sending from the Dark Lady, and Asarelah was ordered to appear at the Nyxian compound immediately.

[Warburn]

In the Barrens

Bofur's had just finished doing the dishes of the 30 or so dwarves stationed at Kazgrom. Cursing his fate he wiped his hands and took off his apron, hanging it on a silver hook. He wondered what in Titan's name he did to deserve 500 years of doing the same chores in a forsaken land. Even tho he was the son of Bombur Orcrist (orc slayer) - the fact that he was the youngest warrior in the dwarven stronghold doomed him to the menial chores.

Walking past the assault vehicles parked in the central hanger he ignored the engineers working on them, and the guards playing dice. His next task was actually one he was looking forward to. Bofur reached the current officer on duty, Kharm who without looking up from his work, grumbled something, and held up a scroll.

Bofur saluted to Kharm, snatched the scroll, and turned around with a snap of a heel. With his shotgun slung over his shoulder he walked out in to the Barrens sun. The sun was past it's peak and the Elite Night Elf Saber Riders should be at the designated meeting spot soon. Every fortnight he got to deliver the Kazgorm report to the night elves, who would carry it north, to the Forest Elves. Seeing her, Hanndah was one of those small pleasures he delighted in.

His crunch of dry dirt, rocks and twigs made a couple of hyenas pop up their head from the kodo feast that laid before them. They watched Bofur walk on, and returned to their corpse meal. As he passed he looked down the Gold Road, and then up towards the north. That is when he saw it.

An almost naked Orc, wearing only a tusked helm, and evil looking pauldrons, fighting the Elite Saber Riders... unarmed. Two of the Riders were already motionless at the orc's feet. The other 3 were fighting for their lives, weapons in hand. Their sword swings were either dodged by the mighty orc or would glance off his skin not leaving a mark.

By the time Bofur son of Bombur dropped to a prone position and put his cheek the guns hilt for an aimed shot, the other three elves were down. Now fearing for his life, Bofur just lay motionless, watching. Through his scope he could see the Orc sniff the air, tilting his head to the side, as if listening to the wind. He gave out a roar and started walking, not even looting any spoils of battle. He walked not 30 yards from where Bofur lay, but without a care continued on... East toward the Marsh... alone.

Bofur waited for the orc murderer to walk out of sight before he jumped up and ran back to base.

"I best get word to Angvar! The Watcher must know!" he thought to himself.

[Tasera]

Another battle against the alliance came and went. This time though, the Horde was not victorious in their efforts. Their enemies had gotten hold of the artifact and it was the alliance alone that now could decide what to do with it. Tasera as usual tried to put up a calm front. She told her friends that she was glad to see the item gone, that she was pleased the alliance would now have to deal with it. This was not the case however.

The easily frustrated angry individual was boiling inside, in a deep rage that she somehow managed to hide this time. Probably not for the better. That evening, as they fought off small numbers of alliance who decided to pounce on the cross roads, a few of her guild mates where just playing around with her, Yet, with the way she had been feeling already, her temper blew and she ran off in a fit of rage. She cooled for a moment after kicking a small rodent about thirty feet and returned to the crossroads, turning back to see Aitana discoursing with a few other Tauren. She could not under stand the language they spoke so she simply nodded and told the oracle that she was returning to Orgrimmar to relax and cool her head.

That evening though, she sat there, quietly pondering from her room in the inn. The
Corehound Bane stayed ever vigilant at her side, noting her distress. For a demonic beast, it was keen to its masters emotions, and quietly whined at his mistresses anger. Tasera was pacing, but the moment the behemoth whined she stopped in her tracks, never hearing such a noise uttered from its jowls. She gentle pated it on both of it’s heads, “It be okay Bane. Just all dis nonsense wit dis artifact has me angry”. The beast starred at her, never taking his huge eyes off her. She then sighed, “Yeah..yous can tell I have sumptin’ cookin’ in my brain. “

Tasera walked slowly to a window. She rested her hands on the sill and peered outside. Orgrimmar was still busy even at such late hours. Seeing the bank from her room, she was surprised so many Horde where active this late. She smiled quietly. “I tink I’m gonna go to da Shatterspear for a while Bane. Da elders dere know me now, dey do nuttin’ to me, dey welcome me I tink. Wit da horde commin’ ta terms with dem an all… I tink if I spend some time dere, it will cool my head.” Tasera closed the window and turned peering at Bane who still watched her, “What, It not like I be stayin’ dere forever. I’m not runnin’ away from all dis or nuttin..” Bane had rested his head down, started to sleep, but Tasera kept talking to herself without realizing, “Dey need me, I’ll be dere, I jus’ tink some time alone would be good for me. Orzumu always be telling me ta meditate ta help calm me, he said dat works a lot wit da mortal races. Maybe I could learn ta meditate dere or something. If nuttin else I can do some target practice. Dey good be good archers an’ hunters.”

The female troll stopped pacing and turned to see Bane already fast asleep, “I be a fool ta tink you actually had intelligence” She scoffed and launched herself onto the bed. Letting her form rest between the blankets and pillow, “Besides, some how dat shidomae found I was in dis guild. She be followin’ me like a fly. If I encountered her right now, I’d probably cut off her head. …Wit…my blade..or..use my…” Tasera now laying in the bed, dozed off while mumbling to herself.



The morning had come quickly and with it the Troll woke up. She had her things packed already, but strangely enough she was not in her armor. Instead in a pair of cotton leggings and a loose, comfortable shirt. Her armor was in a bag slung at her shoulder. Of course in true Tasera fashion though, her polearm never left her back, and her gun was held firmly in her right hand.

She was found that morning making arrangements with the local flight master. She had a map in hand telling him exactly where to go. He seemed to be more then wary of her choice of destination, only officers of the Horde had permission to go to the secluded spot. In fact, most of the horde had no idea of it’s existence in the first place. So he was shocked to find this lone troll giving such detailed directions, and descriptions on how to get to this location. At first he denied lending her a wyvern, but the moment her Nerubian Conqueror was placed at his neck, he was quick oblige.

Reins in hand, Tasera took off, her destination, her ancestral home, the Shatterspear Village, well hidden between the Moonglade, Darkshore, and the Felwood.



In the mail she had sent a notice to Asarelah, and her alone. In the past she had taken the bloodelf to the village. The only blood elf she had opened up too, and the only person she had never seemed angry towards. The note simply read

“Da events wit de alliance have left me outta it sistah. I be going to my home village. Da one I took you wit so I could investage how it was doin’ ? Yeah yous remembah it I be sure. I’m not sure when I be back, I be noticin’ dat recently I’ve been loosin’ my temper more den usual. It prolly be a good ting I stay a while.

Ya friend, Tasera.

P.S. I be leavin’ Bane wit you,”


((No, I am not leaving Nyx in any way shape or form, nor am I taking a break from WoW. This is all purely roleplay, and such I am RPing Tasera as the brash, somewhat crude, quick to react troll that she is. So I will be on in my usual amounts, raiding and stuff with her, I just won’t be roleplaying with her
if anything this could lead to a few visiting the shatterspear tribe, which I know a few guildies have always wanted to see the hidden troll village!
<3
))

[Theotaz]

((I've flown over it hundred times, but never been able to figure out how to get in there...and not for lack of trying either...You know a way???))

Theotaz sends

[Tasera]

((Yup indeed I do!!))

[Kharena]

Kharena woke with a start. Brushing back her tangled hair to glance quickly at the time. Throwing back the covers she jumped from the Inn's bed where she was only going to take a short nap and instead had slept for hours. Slipping on her shoes she grabbed her pack and made a mad dash out of the room. Tiny feet flew down the staircase then out into the crowded streets of Dalaran. She pulled back her hair hastily grooming as she jumped into the portal that flung her to the magical quarters of Ironforge.

Within a short time she was on the boat to Theramore and joining the others as they gathered. Once more an attempt to retrieve that accursed artifact was upon them. How she wished it was found and destroyed. By the Light, she would do her upmost to find it.

She blamed it for so many things, for deaths, for greed, and for hopes that would be crushed. She was sure the Artifact was evil, for nothing that contained goodness would cause such strife in the world.

Blue eyes turned to look at her dear friend Tindr. Most would think it unlikely a holy Priestess would care so much for a death knight. She did not care if anyone understood her or not. She loved her friend and was worried for his mental wellbeing. It pained her to know Tindr had such high hopes on the rumors of the artifact. How crushed he would be when his hopes turned to ashes. How many other death knights believed as he?

It broke her heart as she believed it was just a vicious rumor that the artifact would bring true life to the dead.

Commander Liekos called for the small army to move out. Stay with your groups he ordered as they made their way into the marsh.

"Ugh, why the marsh", she thought. She absolutely detested the stench and bugs.

Kharena followed Xa'ania, her Chevrail sister, into the depths of swamps. Angel, Kharena's mount, yowled as it's massive paws sunk into the slimy muck. Kharena cooed softly to Angel, trying to soothe the beast, when she looked up and realized she was alone in the middle of the marsh.

Calls over the stone shouted out of Horde spotted here and there. Her heart hammered as she slapped the reigns moving further into the marshy terrrain. The last thing she needed was to be found roaming lost and alone. And the raid party didn't have time to dwell on her directionally challenged skills. With a defeated sigh she pulled out the raid's communication stone calling out that she was lost.

Friedrich's deep voice told her the direction to head and that he would come for her. She glanced at the map again, turning it around the other way, then heading forward again. It was not long before the Paladin's charger was within sight. She gave Friedrich an embarrassed smile thankful to see his kind face.

After they rejoined the others it was not long before the Commander gave orders to move to Fray Isle. Reports of the artifact's carrier was heading in that direction. The party moved swiftly. Stragglers joined as they marched to the shore. Tension was gathering within the groups. Kharena's gaze darted from one to the next. The grim resolved look on many of her friend's faces.

On the shore of Fray Isle the fighting commenced. Shouts calling out. Screams of pain both of Horde and Alliance. Her mind stayed focused, lips moving in silent prayers as her hands wove magic into a healing force. Forward then retreat, over and over the battles went. The Commander's voice bellowing over the shouts.

"Search everywhere!" his deep voice boomed again. "Find that Artifact!"

The battle finally wained and she started searching through the buildings. Barrels, boxes, behind pictures, and any crevice she could find. Hesitantly she turned to start checking one unconscious body after the next.

"Light give me strength for this" she muttered as she felt ghoulish going through their personal affects.

Small hands went through the pockets of a male Tauren then she turned to spot a Troll.

It was him, the Troll she had several brief encounters with. She paused glancing around hoping someone else would step up and search his unconscious body. She now knew who he was, Warburn, Chieftain of the Nyx.

Her hands trembled as she went through his pockets, checking everywhere for that accursed artifact. Blue eyes darting anxiously for any sign of him waking. The Chieftain would kill her if he regained consciousness now. Of that, she was sure of. Lastly she went through his packs, sighing to herself as she found nothing. With a blush painting her cheeks she whispered, "forgive me", then rose and ran down the stairs to join the others.

No one had found the object they sought. A shout broke the quiet as one of the Nyx was spotted fleeing towards the Barrens, heading swiftly for the village called Crossroads.

Quickly they mounted up and gave chase. Angel's paws ate the miles as they pounded over the dry terrain. It was not long before the Alliance arrived in the Horde village. The devistation made her queasy but she squared her shoulders turning a blind eye to what was happening around her.

"It has to be found" seemed to be the chant in her head. "For the good of both factions, it must be found!"

"Search every building!" Commander Liekos' voice shouted once more.

She first scoured over a small hut. Nothing again. Kharena sighed in frustration.

"Calm yourself" she mutter then closed her eyes, imagining the artifact. Opening her eyes, she lifted her long skirts and ran to the Inn. She searched around the room in almost a frantic rush then turned to look at a lone, wooden, barrel. Within moments she was precariously bent over the rim of the wooden container. Toes barely touching the floor as she dug through the contents.

Her heart jumped as her hands touched the metal object. Wiggling back out she unwrapped the prize in her hands.

"Thank the Light!" she whispered relieved.

"Commander! I think I have something!" She shouted, running out of the Inn to stand before the tall Kaldorei. Her heart beating wildly in hopes she found what was sought.

With both hands she lifted up the engraved object upwards to the Commander,hoping he would take it from her. Instead he called those of the Kingship and a few of Al'shar to gather and escort her to Astranaar.


((hope I posted this in the right place))

[Aitana]

(( Yep, this is the place. Thanks for posting!

For the record until I get a chance to post, the one carrying the artifact was Sitchenn from <V A S H>. ))

[Asarelah]

Tending the wounded after a battle was not one of Asarelah's favorite tasks, and this proved no exception. There were so many hurt, wounded, and still unconscious... Would that it would end....

She had been at Onyxia's Lair, where the ensorcelled Azim had gone, clutching the Artifact as if his life depended on it, caught deep in its thrall, and listening to fleeting voices that beckoned him to come hither. Lah sent a silent pray to the Lady that Azim's mind would heal... not much more could be done for the tormented Orc.

Lah remembered being struck by the solidarity of the Nyxian Tribe, and its trusted friends. They had stood shoulder to shoulder, before the old world Dragon’s Lair - bound together in a burning desire to see the Artifact rendered sterile, so that no more mischief could come from it's handling. Then, a report came in that Alliance were in the area, and on the move.

At Aitana Tallbear's command, the entire party moved as one toward Fray Island and the Nyxian stronghold there. But approaching the coast near the Witch's Tower, the band of faithful followers had run smack in to an Alliance war party, with Commanders Leikos and Tindr standing at its head. And the battle over the Artifact began!

Many fell at the first of several skirmishes…. friend and foe alike. Lah’s heartstrings strummed wild, with no relief in sight as she did her best to tend fallen comrades. At one point she spied the crumpled form of Commander Tindr lying exposed on the rocky ground. Lah remembered what kindness the Alliance Commander had shown Aitana during the Elder’s force stay in Darnasus, and she was loathe to leave him lying senseless. Moving quickly, least his men drop her where she stood, casting what magicks she was able, Asarelah threw up an umbrella to shade the supine Officer, and a fire to keep him warm until his own medics might find him and tend to his wounds.

Snapping her thoughts back to the present, Asarelah put a hand to her throat, running a finger fleetingly across a healing scar – remembering another time; how Tindr had nicked her with a blade she had jokingly teased him with. With a sigh, she continued rolling bandages.

Reflecting on her dual heritage - High elf on the one side, Human on the other - Lah felt torn... as if standing in the middle of two worlds. She could clearly see both sides, and loathe to take either; for it was clear to her that the Artifact was nothing but serious trouble and needed to be thrown in to the bottomless abyss in the depths of the Occulus, where no mortal could venture without dying.... or some where else that could never be reached by any living being. So, what were they fighting over really? Who got the privilege of seeing that thrice cursed bit of metal thrown in to the fiery depths of hell?

((Later that day....))
Asarelah was giving orders to her drudge to have her favorite Battle Gown taken to the Haberdashers for cleaning. She was considering taking the cleaning bill to Commander Leikos (since the blood, and gore staining it were a result of his commands) when the mail carrier arrived. Accepting the bundle, she retreated to the quiet of her study and started reading.

Chuckling over a letter from Tasera she had just finished, Lah called out to a kitchen drudge, and gave orders to be relayed to the stable master for Bane to be tended and fed - with a warning to make sure Tasera's ornery core hound be kept out of the rabbit hutches. Suddenly, what sounded like a herd of Clefthoofs at stampede brought her attention sharply out the garden window. Barreling up her garden path, Theotaz was moving so quickly that Lah looked behind the Death Knight to see what gave chase. There was nothing there.......... Lah managed to make it to her front door, and throw it open before finding out if Theo would stop and knock, or bash his way on in.

"Theotaz! Slow down! Why the rush, brother?" Lah asked as she put out a hand to steady the reeling Troll.

"Gone, she be gone! Word be on da street she be headin ta dat village what raised her... an I donno where dat be!!!!!" Theo all but moaned a dirge.

Asarelah did not need to ask who he meant, for Tas' letter had warned Lah where her beloved sister was headed, and Theo's fascination with the quarrelsome troll was well known by all that held Tasera dear. Lah herself had even saved Theo's hide on more than one occasion for being too familiar, when Tas wanted none of it.

"It is all right Theo; I know where she is.... I know precisely where she is. And have ventured there with her before... even been welcomed by the village healers, in hopes that I would share my outworld knowledge."

"Yous know da way dere?" hope gleamed in the old Troll's eyes....

[Theotaz]

Theotaz looked at Asarelah, and carefully knelt down in front of her.

"I got some confess'n to be mak'n and .. well.. I would go to Sin'Jin and talk wid de elders der." he paused taking a great breath.

"I am still dead to my people. I am welcome der, but yet not. I understand why, but it be der." he fidgeted with a buckle on his breast plate for a moment. He looked up to Asareleh and lifted off his goggles he always wore. Even the unholy glow of his eyes could not hide the misery and anxiety there.

"I got to know she be safe. I got to believe it. I got to see. Even if I get nutt'n from dat gal but a lump on de head I still gotta know. Please, You gotta take me der... " Theotaz's head hung with a most forlorn posture.

[Tasera]

The day was perfect, the clouds where puffy and billowing across the portions of the sky that where visible between the towering mountains. In the valley, the Shatterspear village was quiet. Its residents busily tending to the daily grind, while a few of course danced to the deities in respect and probably just to get out of morning chores. Luckily for Tasera though, she did not have to deal with any of that. She was treated more like a royal guest in some sense. Having found out the details of her past, the villagers where quick to try and appease her in forgiveness, (and in the end, the forgiveness of the gods for such an awful act hey committed on her and her family).
So instead of helping around gathering and hunting, the female troll rested back in a boat. She wafted from side to side in the Shatterspear Lake. A fishing pole in hand, practicing her skills that she had desperately needed to expand upon.

“Dis be da life” she whispered to herself, a goofy grin curving her lips, “Nuttin’ ta worry about. “ The pole bobbed and she was quick to learn forward, “Ah gots me a big one! “ She started to real in her catch. A large bass hung at the end of the line and her leisurely grin grew into a full tusky smile. A memory flung through her thoughts of when she was a tiny little troll and she was attempting to catch fish in the lake with her bare hands.

She jumbled with the line as the fish continued to jolt side to side in a desperate attempt to free itself. She pulled out her Wraith Spear and then grabbed the line. Cutting the line from the pole she placed the large fish near a bunch of others. “Dis looks good for today!” She stretched out, grabbed the lines with fish still dangling from the hooks and jumped from the boat into the water. She swam to shore and began to prepare her catch to let smoke over a fire.
“I tink I could stay here forever if I wanted ta. I can kinda undastand why dis place choose ta remain so hidden.” She looked up towards the great water falls, then turned back around. To continue prepare her meal.