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

[Tindr Thornleif]

The group of Al'shar and Storm Riders quickly mounted and rode swiftly across the water.
If the scout's report was accurate, they had little time to make it to Dire Maul.




The patrol rode upon the small group of Nyxians as they traveled along the main pathway into the structure. Tindr immediately recognized the blood elf Leothiel. The one who was wanted for war crimes and threats against the alliance. But it was the other familiar face he was not expecting, the blood elf priestess Asarelah, which caught him off guard.

Tindr hesitated briefly. Knowing he could not let this opportunity slip by, he straightened himself up on his mount as his emotionless cold voice gave out clear orders, “Take down his guardians! Leave him alive.”

The group quickly obeyed as Tindr remained atop the hillside, watching. It did not take long for them to seize Leothiel. His guardians were no match for them.

Tindr instructed Ephrendis to search the third body as he dismounted and knelt beside the small form of lady Asarelah. He carefully searched her unconscious body yet found nothing of importance other than a peculiar rune upon her armor.




The patrol left the two bodies where they lay as they began escorting Leothiel back towards the Feathermoon Stronghold. But it was not without a fight. Leothiel was defiant, testing the group numerous times for ways of escape.



Eventually, they managed to get him onto the boat and take him to the ruins behind Feathermoon. He could be bound and secured there for a few days until arrangements could be made with the Dalaran mages to have him transported to the Stormwind Stockades by way of secured portals.

As Baast searched Leothiel for the documents, she began pointing out odd runes she had noticed upon his armor. The group moved closer for a look as Tindr took the documents from Baast. The runes were unfamiliar yet looked similar to the ones Death Knights used.



Leothiel once again struggled against his bindings, managing to get another spell off at those closest to him. Tindr looked up from the documents and yelled to have him bound tighter until he was satisfied the blood elf could not cast anymore. He returned his attention to the documents, glancing over them briefly as he turned to hand them to Andenel when he noticed an odd rune glowing on the Keeper's shoulder. It was the same kind that they had seen upon Leothiel. Another member also took notice at the same time that one of Leothiel's runes had disappeared.



“Everyone check yourselves!” Tindr was furious. What kind of magic was this? What had Leothiel done?

Only priestess Dnallivah and the Keeper, Andenel, seemed to have runes upon their armor. The group waited and watched both of them carefully, fully expecting something to happen to either of them, yet nothing occurred. Perhaps it was simply a residue mark of whatever magic Leothiel was tapping into to cast his spells?

Satisfied the prisoner was bound securely, the group departed leaving Vendil temporarily to guard him until the guards from Feathermoon could arrive to watch over him. Tindr made his way back to the Al'shar headquarters in Stormwind to meet with Commander Leikos, turning over the documents and informing him of their current prisoner.

[Leothiel]

(( The morning after the capture ))

Leothiel was in the middle of one of his horrifying nightmares when a swift hard kick to the stomach woke him. The magic of his invisible prison not only killed off his abilties to cast spells, but also weakened him mentally and physically. Someone put a blindfold on him and told him in broken Orcish "You are being taken to Stormwind to answer for your crimes against the King." Leothiel mustered the strength to reply with "What crimes?" The answer to that was a plate gauntlet to the face from a backhanded slap. Leothiel recognized some of the words of Darnassian enough to know that the King he would answer to would not be Varian Wrynn. One of the guards responded to Leo's question "I have killed my own king, why should I have fear to your false king?" with a blow to the head.

Leothiel woke up inside a different prison. All he could hear was laughing. He also recognized it as the one where he had been just weeks before rescuing one of the Oracles. He recognized some of the Common language as the guards were talking about some shaman that had been held. Another guard stormed in, grabbed Leothiel and said "Wake up sleeping beauty, we need to... talk."

[Asarelah]

Asarelah stood before the Tribal Council where she had reported immediately upon her return to the Nyxian Compound. Wiping tears, she did her best to report, a much shaken Treuna standing close behind her.

“I never knew what hit me, Oracle Tallbear,” she stammered in answer to Aitana’s query. One moment I was riding behind Frosthawk, listening to him fuss about whether or not I had remembered my dictionary, the next moment Vendil Darkwood was leaping over me, laughing, and I ended in a heap on the ground, with my spirit desperately trying to keep the Ambassador alive!!”



“I fell just as quickly, Oracle.” Treuna sobbed. “We were so outnumbered.... there was no warning… We got hit, and then the next thing I knew was an Al’shar face - Ephrendis I think - bending over me, as he searched me where I lay stunned. What he expected to find, I have no idea.”



Asarelah quickly nodded in agreement with Treuna. “Aye, I was also searched by both Commander Thornleif and Sentinel Swiftfoot.” Lah sighed. “I have no idea what they expected to find either; we were only going to the Dire Maul Library and posed no threat what so ever. I suppose I should have expected such from Tindr, just doing his job, but I had counted Baast a friend….”



“Aitana, why they would take Leothiel like that?”Asarelah asked. “I would have thought the fight over Oracle Smoketusk would have done much to stifle another kidnapping, even though our diplomacy failed and I have had little to no contact since that time,” Lah continued with a nod toward Warburn.

Oracle Tallbear answered, “There is still no word from our field agents to absolutely confirm whether or not the Al’shar were behind the attack on me; or further, why lo Dor’ano attacked us in the Blasted Lands last week. I suppose Leothiel may have stirred up one to many hornet’s nests with his poking fun at the Alliance, and the ultimatums he made without our knowledge. Or perhaps he just trifled with one blue woman to many…..”

“I have no idea, or even a guess.” Asarelah admitted. “All I can add further is that as soon as Treuna and I had seen to our hurts, and found our land mounts, we got back here as quickly as we could.”



“Oracles, shall I attempt another Diplomatic mission to…” Asarelah was abruptly cut off as both Oracles sprang to their feet, and then abased themselves. She felt a cold chill behind her. Turning carefully, her hand pulling Treuna out of harms way should there be need; Asarelah gave a startled gasp, then also fell to the floor in abasement, pulling Treuna down with her, and instantly opening all her senses to listen…

“There shall be NO Diplomacy!!” the voice of Lady Nyx penetrated in to the minds of all that were present in a hushed chill, as She appeared in her Death Aspect before the assembled. "Oracles, You shall mount an assault on Stormwind City, to return My Champion to Me at once!!” the frigid voice continued. “Further, You will sound My Drums of War, and leave none alive in Your path!! Obey at once!!” And with that the Lady vanished.

Oracle Tallbear was the first to shake off the after affects of the encounter. “I trust you all saw and heard what I just did…” she said, as she looked around her at those still on the floor. “Nightwarder, I also trust that I need not tell you what to do?”

Asarelah stood, rather shakily, gave one sharp nod of her head to Aitana, and gathering her skirts, along with the still stunned Treuna, left the Audience Hall at a run.

[Leothiel]

(( Time: Day of the Capture ))

Azureus, Leothiel's faithful pet azure whelpling, had been scared for the third straight day. Fear is not in the nature of dragonkin, even for whelps. As Leothiel, Asarelah, and Treuna approached Dire Maul; Azureus flew off. Was it the ambush that immediately followed? Could it have been something even more sinister.

Azureus flew off as fast as his little wings could take him and even stopped at some points along the way. It was a long way to the snows of Winterspring from jungles of Feralas even on two small wings. The whelp arrived in the caves of Mazthoril exhausted and collapsed at the feet of Haleh, the blue dragonflight's matron protector. Haleh picked up and scryed the scale to find out what has happened. She saw visions of Leothiel taking care of the whelp. Then she saw something sinister: A blob with many mouths. She looked for the next of kin of the whelp's master: A death knight named Thieldren. She immediately dispatched a messenger to find this Thieldren.

The messenger went to Outland and followed the combination scent of life and death to find Thieldren. He was at the Mag'har encampment in Hellfire Peninsula. "Haleh, the matron protector of the blue dragonflight, hereby summons you. You will make haste to the caves of Mazthoril and seek her out, for she has something belonging to your brother." Before Thieldren could reply, the messenger turned into a blue drake and flew off. One of the orc shamans approached him and said "The spirits are with the dragon. Go for someone's life is at stake." Thieldren gated to Acherus wondering where he heard the place called "Mazthoril." He realized it was in Winterspring guarded by the blue dragonflight, but it still left him wondering what they would want of him.

The scourgetouched made his way through Mazthoril and found no sign of Haleh. Then he saw a rune that was partially covered with snow. "What happens when I step on it?" He stepped on it and immediately, he saw what looked like a Quel'dorei woman. "I was wondering if you were going to head here, Thieldren Frosthawk."

He replied with "How do you know my name?"

"I have something that belongs to your brother." She picked up a sleeping Azureus off the ground. "He is in much danger. I've scryed the scale and Leothiel knows how to raise a dragon whelp. But this one has been scared for some time. Something has woken in this world and is slowly taking control of your brother's mind."

"Who or what has awoke that can plague minds and scare dragons?"

"Old gods. Enough questions. You are to return to where you were. Should you return to Northrend, you are not to seek out Yogg-Saron." After Thieldren picked Azureus up off the ground into his hands, Haleh then kicked them to the Swamp of Sorrows. Thieldren thought it was a dream, until he saw the sleeping azure whelpling in his hands that is his brother's.

[Treuna]

Oh, it was horrible! One moment I'm walking with Leothiel and miss Oracle in these pretty woods.. we were going to some library.. and the next I'm laying dazed on the ground! I barely had time to defend Leothiel - he was captured in the blink of an eye! Miss Oracle was dazed.. I was dazed on the ground.. they searched our bodies for something!

All I can remember is staring at all these people with Leothiel..



I don't know what they did or why they did it.. but it was horrible..

[Leothiel]

(( Morning after the capture ))

Thieldren saw a druid fly around Zangarmarsh with its eye focused on him. The druid landed in front of him and reverted to her tauren form. "Aitana?"

"Yes, Thieldren. I have dire news for you. Last night, a group from Alshar lo Dorano captured him while he was on a research project."

"Was that the same group that tried to kill you?"

"Yes."

From there, it became clear on why Azureus is still tucked away in Thieldren's pack, but not shivering.

Aitana and Thieldren had a lengthy discussion as to what had been going on before the capture. Thieldren was impressed almost to the point of envy of his brother's accomplishments and daring. But it led to a final question: "How did they know? He was always moving around and although lived on the edge, he knew how to escape." Not even Aitana knew who tipped off Alshar. Aitana then said "For his daring, the Kingship of the East is demanding his blood. I know they will get it, but it's a matter of when they will get it."

Thieldren remembered his week in Naxxramas where he tortured a former Shattered Sun comrade of his. He thought the same thing would happen to his own brother. "Leave now, Aitana" said Thieldren as he fought back a tear.

[Theotaz]

"No Kheliosrham you may NOT go!"

"Theo I have to! Leo is.."

"ENOUGH! I am the head this house and you will not question dis decion! You are not yet ready. You will be going back to Stormwind but not yet. Belive me gal, I got someth'n in mind for ya. Let them see you not there and wonder. Svalina will be staying home also.."

"WHAT?!? Theo I must!"

The sound of an armored gauntlet slammed onto a table, the wood creaking and splintering. Serim looked at Dulucre her eyes large. Dulucre held a hand over her mouth a finger pressed across his own. They pressed thier ears back against the door.

"Have the females of dis house gone insane? The only one of us going shall be me. No one else of the house shall be risked. Even If I should be slain I would rise again. No one else in dis house can do this."

"But Theo they need me."

"No, they do not need you. You are still learning the holy path. They need proficiant healers and you are not yet ready to heal under battle conditions. You will be needed when we return. There will be many injuries that will need treatment. Those going wid us will be exausted. You will be needed then, and desparetly. If I were to take anyone of the house along it would be Serim. She is nearly ready for this sort of work. She has come far in a short time, and she has the needed shills..almost. SHe must study yet for her artisan hunter qualifications. If she had allready passed them she would be going."

Serim gave Dulucre a look of triumphal satisfaction and a thumbs up. Dulucre grimaced and pointed at the door, pressing his ear back against it.

'Well you haven't convinced me why I'm not going Theo. My skills would be most handy dealing with the guards."

"Yes, you are correct gal. They would. But I will need you rested. Your going to spend a great deal of time in Stormwind after we return. I receved this packet from Ravenholt dis very morn'n"

The sound of wax seals snapping and paper rustling could be heard.

"But this says.... oh...oh my!"

"We need to find out what dey know. Dey would not allow you to work wid dem openly so we gonna have to sneak you in."

"Theo.. it says here Garona is.."

"Not a word..yes, I feel..This room, it is to small.."

The door was pulled open with a slam. Dulucre and Serim both falling down onto the floor.

"And how long have you two been listening? Well, Answer me now!"

Dulucre stammered not quite saying anything intelligible. Serim simply stood up and folded her arms across her chest.

Theo lifted a brow "That long eh? Well, the damage is done. Serim you will accompany Khelio back out to Tasera's place. They'll need an extra set of eyes out there. I still have heard nothing of who those elves were that were spying out there the other day. I want an extra set of eyes on the ground. We are to exposed to take un-needed risks."

Drums were beating outside, and horns were blowing.

"Damd! Dats the assembly call. I must go now. Ladies I am sorry. Dis is what must be. We will be back within hours or not back at all. If we do not return, go to the the Lady Nyx, do as she commands. She is wiser then all of us togetha. Alshar lo Dor'ano will regreat de day they did not deal openly wid us, and Kingship of the East will not be permitted this affront. I will show them terror they have not seen before now."

Theo's eyes went from thier normal icy glow to a blaze of diseased green shot through with red. Drops of dark blood formed at the corners of them.

"I go. pray to the spirits and the ancestors protection for the souls of Al'shar lo Dor'ano and Kingships of the East. We need none this day."

Theotaz snapped his fingers in command. Crypt kicker unfolded himself off the floor and moved to Theotaz's side as he ran out of the hall to join the assembled Nyxian host

[Leikos Darkwood]

The walk to Leothiel's cell was a dreary one. The air was stale and humid and the sound of water could be heard trickling against the aging stones. Every now and then a door could be heard creaking open somewhere. Leikos headed down the corridor, flanked by four Shadowleaf Sentinels. Every time they would run into a Stockades Guard they would move quickly from the path of the old warrior and salute sharply.

Leikos had supervised the transport of Leothiel into his new cell from a distance. After the mistreatment of him by the Stormwind guards, Leikos had called in a special detail to guard him. Leothiel had been carefully transported by Silver Covenant mages with Vendil had following closely behind.

"Well brother, looks like you've managed to take the Horde by the tail on this one." Vendil had jested.

Leikos had snapped back sharply, "This is not a game, Vendil. This is a very dangerous situation. Now remain here and see that no one harasses the Shadowleaf Sentinels. No one but Al'shar representatives are to get near the prisoner. Understood?"

Vendil had nodded and walked towards Leothiel's cell without another word. Vendil was still so brash, despite everything that had happened. Though, that was a matter for another time. Leikos had visited Leothiel after the cell had been secured by the mages. He had been untied and placed into the cell with no further hassle. Leikos had eyed the Sin'dorei mage. Leothiel stood proudly and met his gaze.

"Interesting that we appear in this scene once again. Though, it is you in the cage. I am here to inform you that tonight you will be questioned about the recent hostilities your people have brought upon the Alliance. Should you choose to comply, no harm will come to you. Should you refuse..."

Leikos didn't need to explain. Leothiel was a soldier. He knew the cost silence often brought. Leikos turned and walked away from the cell and headed towards the exit. Vendil leaned up against the wall and watched him depart.

Leikos turned his head and spoke as he continued out, "See that he is ready, Vendil. Tindr will likely be waiting for him..."

[Asarelah]

Asarelah had just finished sending out the first round of dispatches when she felt a cold chill on the back of her neck. Thinking that Lady Nyx was about to appear again, she got ready to fall to her knees. Turning, it was in fact not Lady Nyx, but the last person on earth that she expected to see.

“M’lord Howling,” Asarelah said in surprise. “You have been away long and long. What brings you here?”

“You do!” he snorted at her, eyes full of icy rage.

“Me?” Lah looked surprised. “How so, m’lord?"

“I told you what would happen if you allowed another Night Elf to touch you!” he snorted at her, his arms waving above her head in forthright fury, his frost breath chilling her skin.



Lah rubbed her arms, trying to warm them. “Aye, you did. And I have allowed NO ONE to touch me. Who would dare??”



“My men report otherwise,” he snarled. “I warned you!!” he snorted again, drawing his blades. "Your defense of these alliance scum is sickening!! The Al'shar Commander is doing his job laying hands on you?? You count Baast a friend?? What is wrong with you?? If you refuse to stop it, then I will!!"

[Theotaz]

Theotaz sipped his ale quietly. The rowdy crowd in the Filthy Animal celebrated the return of the punitive expedition to Darkshore and Darnassus. That an alliance raiding party had pushed into Durotar and had burned the Inn at Razor Hill had been to much to bear after all the events of the previous week.

The guild had been on training maneuvers near Cross Roads when word came in of the Raid. It had taken time to gather sufficient numbers to turn them back. As soon as they did, he'd taken command and thrown scouts around the compass. One particular group had crossed into Durotar and assaulted Razor Hill. They did not survive the experience, though not before the Command Post and Inn had taken serious damage. He'd then led them north into Darkshore.

The town of Auberdine had been the first to feel their wrath at this latest affront. Those not killed outright were certain to have been badly wounded. Theo had directed that the War Band use non lethal combat as much as possible, but tempers had been high and deaths had occurred.

Taking the ship at the docks and forcing the crew to sail for Darnassus had been relatively easy. They'd locked the crew in their own holds and left a guard while the small band of Raiders plunged into Darnassus it's self. The Bank had been trashed, along with the Auction House. Several trainers had had their day’s work interrupted with prejudice, and an Alliance General in charge of marshalling forces to the different areas of conflict across Azeroth and Outland had been taken and put to the question. The answers had been.... Unsatisfactory. Leothiel was being held in neither Darnassus nor at the Exodar. They’d left the general bound and unconscious along with most of his staff.

The surprise had been a Command group from Al'shar lo Dor'ano, along with an advisor or two from Kingship of the East in tow showing up. Apparently just bad luck. Theo finished his cup and signaled for a refill. It wasn't until No Mercy Mafia members waded in that it got nasty. Tindr had been spotted for certain, and the one known as Baast. It had been bloody and violent. The party had gathered their dead and wounded and fled back to the docks. There had been no pursuit. The priests had seen to the casualties and even now they were resting and recovering from the effects of resurrections and wounds.

When they'd gated into Dalaran a messenger had been waiting with information on Alliance movements. Theotaz read over the documents. Oh they were clever, of that there was no doubt. But the Ravenholdt Assassins Guild were more clever still and had been doing this for decades. The picture in the data was quite clear. He'd already dispatched his own people to get confirmation. A zeppelin overflight had confirmed Leothiel’s presence along with at least a rough overview of site security.

"Aitana come here" He waved her over. Take a look." He handed her the reports.

She read them over carefully. "What is your confidence in this information?"

He took the documents back and put them into the dispatch case they arrived in. "Leothiel’s presence is confirmed. The security measures are another matter. Best to try and take what we believe will be overwhelming force. Likely it'll be just 'nuff to do the job. That’s really all we can at best hope for. We have the spirit but we have never had the numbers. What we have that the Alliance seems to lack is will over the long term. They seem almost childish at times. Especially with the threat of Arthus and the Burning Legion breathing down our collective necks. I really do not understand their shallow views."

Aitana nodded. "We did well tonight. Not as well as we could have."

Theo nodded in reply. "No it was just a vengeance run for them hitting Razor Hill. We should have run earlier. We almost stayed to long.... A raid is supposed to be just that. Go in, Hit the target, Run away." We need to train more, my lady. Much more. Let the Alliance worry about glory, and honor " Theo spat on the floor... "War is about killing and winning. Imposing your will by violence. Glory is for fools, Honor is for the ignorant. I have no time for it. I am either at war, or at peace. Today I was at war. Now I am at peace. The absence of War. Someday I hope that the moment of peace goes for so long that my knives rust in their sheaths. That I can go back.. some how... to being a simple hunter."

Aitana lifted her long muzzle. "Theotaz, some how I do not think you were ever a simple hunter."

He shrugged. "I am.. I was a Zandalar Troll.. there is nothing simple about my Tribe. Neva has been."

She shook her head in amusement. A call for her presence came from across the room. She lifted a hand in response. "I must go. Bring a synopsis before the Council in the morning."

Theo let fly a lazy salute. "By your command. A Good Evening, my lady Aitana."