[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Ninety-Four

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December 9th

It was around 5pm in the afternoon, and the sun was starting to go down. Revil Kost went to return to his chapel, and the group were left to figure out what they were doing next. Vel asked Luma how exactly they had known Amber Kearnen, and they explained the shooting competition that had happened.

It also occurred to Luma that the dwarf in charge of the shooting range might have also been SI:7.

Vel agreed that it proved useful, and Gil said that it likely saved them a fight.

Uther looked over at Vel.

Vel hesitated.

Luma set off to work with Teemo on the plane, while Uther went to seek out Varian. The former king was incredibly busy, and Uther was given the run-around that resulted in him waiting a good few hours. Eventually, he spied Varian as he was making his way off the Juggernaut. Varian furrowed his brow in Uther’s direction.

Varian considered for a moment.

Gil happened to catch Uther near the end of the wait, and he opted to join them along with a few others to watch. Varian led Uther onto the ship where there were a few training dummies that were out of use. Varian said the ship was sturdy enough to handle a competition. He asked Uther if he had any rules in mind, and Uther smirked.

Varian smirked in turn, and Uther hefted up the Silver Hand, hoping to prompt Varian to go for his shiny new toy. Both Gil and Uther noticed that Varian didn’t even consider a training sword in the first place, he instead had gone straight for Apocalypse.

For the first few exchanges, there were a lot of throwing test strikes. But as the strikes increased in intensity, Varian forced Uther into a cross-block. However, he planted his feet and was able to shove Varian backwards. The former king got a very serious look on his face.

This was not a safe sparring match. Uther had seen Varian fight for years, and he had always been the type of man to take things seriously, but he had a glint in his eye that indicated he was having a good time even if he was losing. However, in this moment, that glint was not there.

As Uther pushed Varian back, the man went on the offensive. He was faster and more agile than Uther, and he was wearing less-encumbering equipment. Uther had a shield that was helpful when it was usable, but Varian got on Uther’s opposite side and used a series of feints and impeccable technique. Uther started to feel the fatigue, and then Varian lunged forward. Uther went to block, but Varian spun and knocked the hammer away before ripping the shield off Uther’s arm.

Varian pressed the advantage and came in with a furious onslaught. Uther was forced to use the haft of the Silver Hand to block, but then he found Varian’s rhythm and he moved his hand to catch on the head of the hammer to catch Varian from behind. As Varian spun around, he stopped the Silver Hand right in front of Varian’s face – a kill shot for all intents.

Varian froze, and the crowd cheered as a victor was clearly determined. Uther chuckled.

A pang of rage crossed over Varian’s eyes, and then he took a swing at Uther. In that instant, Uther recognized it was a death blow maneuver. Uther ducked back, but the blade sliced into Uther’s arm in a place where, had Uther been slower, he might have lost his arm. The blade was buried into the wood of the ship.

The crowd went fully silent.

Uther looked down at his arm, and then back at Varian.

Varian was breathing a bit heavy, and he looked at the wound, then at the silent crowd, and turned and walked away without a word. Gil hurried over to Uther, who was looking at his wound. The weapon bit deeper than normal, and it seemed it had a toxic element to it.

Uther moved to try and heal the wound, but it didn’t heal.

Gil didn’t think the toxic effect was not permanent, but it seemed to be fully resistant to magical healing.

One of the other lieutenants stepped forward and started to shoo the onlookers away. He looked over at the gash in the deck of the ship and ordered someone to get Blackfuse over to patch up the hole. Varian, however, had disappeared back into the ship.

He looked at Gil.

He gestured at the wound.

The duo returned to Revil Kost and explained the situation, and as the priest looked it over he said it was good they came to him so he could see what the blade could do in person.

Uther looked over at Gil, clearly having meant the comment as a joke.

He looked over at Gil, seemingly looking for something, but then he lost interest as he had not found anything he was looking for.

Revil handed Uther some fresh water and offered the spare cots if he needed one.

Meanwhile, Vel had gone to find Surena Caledon. She was able to find her much easier than Uther was able to find Varian. She was led to a workshop that appeared to be on the Juggernaut, and a guard knocked on the door and informed her that the outsider mage wanted to speak with her. Caledon invited Vel in, and she was greeted by a mage workshop. There was a cauldron actively bubbling as well reagents of various types of demons and other creatures. There was a sayaad wing, a skull of a felhunter, and various tomes, one of which seemed to be covered with human skin.

There was a bed and a desk as well, which Caledon had stood up from. There also appeared to be a teleportation circle in the center of the room, but there was a simple ward that made it difficult to focus on – the equivalent of a privacy curtain that made a circle difficult to memorize unless fully focused on.

Vel confirmed and she explained she was there to follow up with her given fellow mages were something of a rarity amongst the Defias. She asked if Surena was familiar with a man named Colyn Clessington, and Surena confirmed she was, though she imagined most around Stormwind were. Vel noted he had been a rather generous donor to the Defias.

Surena’s brow raised and she mused she was curious how Vel had that information, and the vampyr simply replied she was quite certain she was familiar with the types of connections mages were wont to have. Her eyes flickered over to the felhunter skull as if to punctuate the point, and Vel also noted that she knew that Clessington had a recent meeting not far from the stronghold, namely in a tower that she had reason to believe belonged to Surena.

Vel said she was hoping to get Surena’s permission to visit said tower, specifically because there was reason to believe Clessington was more than he appeared. However, she was, of course, willing to make a deal in exchange. She asked if Surena knew of the city known as Venetia, and Surena confirmed she did, though the stories sounded like pipe dreams and she didn’t know how such a city could hope to function.

Surena’s eye twinkled.

Surena accepted the deal, and confirmed the tower was under her care, but she was willing to show it to Vel in exchange for the knowledge to access the hidden city. Vel plucked a thought strand from her mind and turned it over to Surena, in turn showing her the passage that she used to reach the city. Surena absorbed the thought strand, and she was clearly intrigued as the memory played back to her.

They decided to go to the tower immediately, and Vel informed Gil that she was going to investigate the tower, just to keep the group apprised of her location.

They arrived in a rather classical mage’s tower, and Surena welcomed Vel to her humble abode, though she was still thinking of a name for it. Vel said she had done good work, though Surena corrected she had yet to do much, as she was largely just cleaning up after her former master.

Surena grinned.

It was evident that the other woman had likely done something to dispose of her prior mentor.

Surena led her down a flight of chairs, and they entered an audience chamber. As Vel looked around, she saw very simple decorations along with standing tables. There wasn’t much as far as seating, and it looked more like a wine-tasting than anything else. Vel asked what Surena’s prior mentor was serving his guests, and she explained that, seeing he was a gifted alchemist, it was there that some interested clients could sample his products or see demonstrations of their effects if they were more lasting.

She gestured at an area that more resembled a stage.

Vel moved slowly around the meeting chamber as she took it all in. She asked Surena if Clessington had happened to say what he was worried about his funding being used for.

Vel looked around the room and there didn’t seem to be many convention traps inside the tower. She saw a cabinet that appeared to be under the effects of an arcane lock, and she asked Surena if that was where her mentor had kept his wares. She confirmed, and offered to show Vel what was inside, though she noted the stock had largely waned. However, as Vel looked at the three remaining unlabeled vials, she realized they were identical in every single way to the poison that Zanzil had made that could raise someone into an obedient undead.

Vel’s brow raised.

Vel moved over to a window and peered out to the surrounding grounds. There were several undead humans at various points of decay that were equipped with simple weapons and seemed to be guarding the outside of the tower.

She asked if Surena’s former master was one to keep a ledger of sales he made, and the other woman admitted he was that sort of insane, but unfortunately after his death it had all combusted and she had failed to make copies before it got to that stage.

Surena showed Vel around other parts of the tower and she saw another workshop with dragon bones and a preserved draconic heart, but it was nothing near what had been seen at the Tower of Il’galar under the purview of the mage in Onyxia’s employ.

Vel turned questions toward the sword that Varian was wielding, as well as the Dark Rider. Surena confirmed she had been able to look at the sword, and she noted it was a potent weapon, but she didn’t seem to be particularly keen to talk about the details. She also didn’t seem to be worried about the sword, but Vel couldn’t help but wonder if that was because the other woman had failed to pick up the severity of the curse on it. After all, minor curses were manageable, but most couldn’t read the nature of them.

She also explained that their attempts to get information out of the Dark Rider had extended from mind reading to charming to even planar binding. Ultimately the man’s mind was scrambled and a mess of fragments. It was like the fel had addled him, and even when charmed, he remained cryptic, as if a stronger influence overwrote any other magics that Surena was able to think of.

Surena paused.

Vel produced one of the vials of blood she had collected from the man and offered it to Surena.

Vel thanked Surena for humoring her, who apologized she wasn’t able to find what she was looking for, but Vel assured her she had at least gotten some additional context. She suggested that if Surena did find her way up to Venetia to look up a man named Ebonlocke, as Vel believed they would have similar interests. Surena said she’d be sure to do so.

They had meandered to the entrance of the tower, and the door started to open. A living, burly man with a scraggly beard and wild hair stood in it. He had several axes on his belt, and his arm bore a Defias armband. He looked dangerous, and he was holding a pile of firewood.

Caledon smiled as the man peeked out from around the firewood.

The man got a dumb smile on his face.

He moved around the two women and headed deeper into the tower to drop off the firewood. Vel watched him go.

Surena smiled.

Surena chuckled.

Surena got a fond smile as she looked after Erlan.

Vel had noted the Defias Brotherhood bandana on the man’s arm. Surena took Vel back to the Deadmines, and Vel gave the other woman the cost of the teleportation circle spells back and further. Surena expressed her gratitude for everything by allowing Vel to memorize both her own teleportation circle and the one at the tower, with the request that Vel just let her know before she shows up at the tower. A request Vel was more than glad to oblige.

Gil had gone to Luma and the Blackfuse to get some armor, and after some haggling and the offer of a magma dragon breath pouch, he was able to get a great deal on a rush job for armor that would be gotten to him the next day.

That evening, Vel shifted into an animal form and slipped away into the Defias base. It was far from bustling. She was noticed by a few watch people, but they didn’t care enough to pursue her as there were so many rats. A gnoll guard licked its lips and considered chasing her, but it decided not to.

She made her way to where the ships were docked. The Juggernaut was still moored, but there were flickering torches from the watchmen, and she heard the chittering bats overhead. She claimed control over a portion of the swarm of bats and used them to serve as a distraction as they started to swoop down at the guards.

She heard the sound of things dropping into the water as some of the bats were knocked out of the air, but there was also a much larger splash as one of the guards tumbled over the edge with a shout instead, and several of his fellows rushed over to help him back on board. It gave her an easy opening to slip onto the massive ship.

Vel shifted into mist and slipped through the cracks where the canons jutted out. She found herself in a munitions bay, and she continued through the room where the “throne” was. She continued her way to a door that was locked and shut. She got the sense that this room was one she was barred from.

She tried to look under the gap in the door in her rat form. It was a very narrow field of view, and she could only see the legs of a chair and evidence of a desk. She sensed the door had an arcane lock on it and other protections likely added by Surena. She also saw evidence of a bed, and there was no sign of the sword, but there was strewn clothing and she had heard the soft sound of breathing.

She left as swiftly as she had come, recognizing there was no further she could go.

December 10th

The next day, Luma and the Blackfuse finished up the project. The goblins were amazed at the time dilation magic Luma utilized, and Luma then got their cut of the income. A round of drinks was shared before they slept the last few hours.

Helix Gearbreaker greeted Gil when he arrived to pick up his armor, and he was happy to inform him the work had been completed as promised. He invited Luma to reveal the completed commission.

It was a very goblin-esque construction in Gil’s preferred colors of red and gold. It had optional goggles and a hood that Gil could use as he wished. Helix said they added one extra little feature to the armor as they had a bit of extra time.

A goblin-sized bot that looked like a goblin walked over. Helix explained the armor had a special condition, and he said it was good Gil was a bit flame resistant. He told the bot to go ham on the armor, and the goblin bot started to punch the armor. Helix goaded the bot to hit it harder. But finally, the bot lucked out, and the armor exploded. The goblin bot went flying backwards, and then also exploded.

Gil tried it on and it fit like a glove and was very cool.

Uther went to Revil Kost and the wound had stopped hurting. But it still rejected magic healing, and only natural healing appeared to affect it. Vel knew there was a type of weapon known as weapons of wounding, which could only be regained through rest, not magic or regeneration. This appeared to be a cousin.

However, Revil Kost was nursing a bite wound, as Mardigan had not taken well to the Ritual of Balance. The other man was sleeping and Revil hoped that he could help him through the rest of it with his tonics, but it appeared the young man had a lot of baggage to work through.

They opted to leave Teemo back to work on the plane, as well as Elissa to offer backup to her and Valeera, and so Elissa could work with the people of Moonbrook more.

Vel got a sending from Alleria.

Luma said goodbye to Teemo by her nickname, “Shortling,” and Teemo responded back with “Streetlamp”, though she quickly asked if “Streetlight” was better. They decided to workshop the name, and Teemo also threw out “Tall Order”, which the goblin admitted she sort of liked. Teemo waved them off and headed back toward the goblin camp.

Vel put a seeming over the group and scryed on her aunt, which gave them an easy gateway into Stormwind. She waited in an alleyway, and the four of the group materialized next to her. Alleria smiled as she stood up from where she was leaning against a wall.

She quickly looked over the group and seemed satisfied that no one looked any worse for wear. Everyone was disguised as either elves or humans, with Luma simply being a notably tall, androgynous-looking elf. They quickly exchanged updates, and Alleria relayed that things were tense up north, but nothing catastrophic had occurred. Turalyon and Arator were meeting with some of Turalyon’s fellows at the church. Vel said it was nice that Arator had come as well.

Vel explained matters with the Defias Brotherhood, and that they had opted to start setting up some groundwork in the city itself. Though Alleria pointed out that if things went poorly, they at least had options.

She held out a wanted poster, one of many that was posted around the city, which had both Varian and VanCleef’s faces on it as well as details on a reward for their capture and additional rewards of 1 gold piece for each Defias bandana provided (with notes that there would be fines for forgeries).

Vel noted that it seemed Edwin being taken in by SI:7 wasn’t publicized, as Edwin was still wanted, which was good for them. Alleria asked what their plans were, and Vel gave a quick run-down of their potential contacts within the city, with their first step being to meet up with Samia and Reginald Windsor.

Vel asked if Turalyon and Arator would be meeting with them later, and Alleria admitted she was fairly certain they would be busy most of the day, as Turalyon was in Stormwind as much to deal with the schism in the church as he was concerning matters about Prestor. However, Alleria and Vel agreed they would probably give the cathedral itself a wide berth.

At that moment, Gil got a sending from Samia to confirm they were in the city, but unfortunately it seemed her old office had been foreclosed because she had disappeared for the better part of a year. Windsor had allowed Samia to stay on his couch in the interim, as they had found an apartment not far from where her office was. He had some friends that were willing to give him a good rate.

The group headed off toward Old Town through the Trade District. They passed a bank, an active auction, a lot of store fronts, and far more guards than normal. They laid low and took their time so they were better able to blend in. Luma was disguised as a very tall, androgynous high elf, while the others were either human or elves of reasonable height.

They passed through a tunnel and they started to see much older buildings. It was something of a historic district, and both Vel and Alleria got a chill as they walked over the running water of the canal. There were a few more dwarves in Old Town, though not as many as the Dwarven District.

Old Town was largely residential, and Uther was able to take point and navigate the district as he was at least somewhat familiar with Stormwind. However, something caught their attention. There was a figure wearing some surprisingly light clothing for the time of year. They had a simple green tunic and a green scarf with shoulder-length black hair. She had a hefty warhammer on her back and she was fairly muscular, and there was a heavy tome dangling from her belt.

She was knocking on a door.

Her back was to them. Nearby, a man in a heavy leather jacket with a sea shell necklace and red hair stood. He looked bored and annoyed as he waited, his arms up behind his head.

He gestured to a writ on the window that said “foreclosed, for sale next year”.

On the building, it looked like a sign was taken down, but it looked to be Samia’s former office. They also recognized the woman. It was Taelia Fordragon, the daughter of Bolvar Fordragon, and Anduin’s cousin, as her mother was the same princess of Stormwind that Varian was accused of killing. She was around Uther’s age.

The man with her appeared to be Kul Tiran, but he was not recognized.

The man laughed.

Vel looked over at Uther.

They went back and forth for a moment discussing what to do as Taelia and the roguish man continued to stroll away, seemingly having not noticed them. Vel pointed out if Taelia was looking for an investigator it was quite possible she was maybe trying to get to the truth of the matter surrounding her mother’s death and Varian’s apparent conviction.

Uther quickly decided to approach.

Uther flagged Taelia down as he took on a more commoner voice. However, Fairwind stepped in front of her.

Fairwind furrowed his brow.

Fairwind rolled his eyes.

Fairwind looked up at Uther and grabbed him by the collar.

Uther forced himself to blush instead of laugh.

Fairwind let him go, and smiled.

Taelia looked up at Luma sometimes, wide-eyed, as they appeared to be a very tall elf.

Fairwind winked at them.

Luma rolled their eyes, and Fairwind elbowed Uther.

He flipped a gold coin to Vel, who caught it, however she quickly assessed the coin was very much fake.

Flynn laughed and flashed Vel a winning smile.

Flynn wrapped his arm around Uther.

Vel caught Flynn’s hand slip into one of Uther’s pouches as he wrapped his arm around him.

Flynn looked back and shrugged.

He produced Uther’s gem of brightness and handed it back to him.

Vel sighed.

Vel was giving Flynn a harsh stare from behind, and he looked back at her with another wink.

Taelia grinned, excited about how similar their names were. Luma introduced themself as “Lumaradin”, and Taelia said that was a very pretty name. She always had thought elvish names were pretty and she really wanted to learn the language, but she admitted it was really hard for her to sit down and study.

Gil said “her” name was Camthea, and Flynn commented that wasn’t a name he expected to hear around Stormwind. Gil offered simply that his parents weren’t from around there.

They arrived at the apartment building in question, and Vel sent Samia a warning sending that there were two others with them that had been looking for her at her foreclosed detective agency.

A child was manning the desk. He smiled, one of his teeth missing, and he was likely the son of the owners. He asked if they were looking to rent a room. Vel clarified they were looking for some of the tenants and they were friends, and the kid said he wasn’t allowed to hand out room numbers.

Vel assured him that it was alright, as they already knew their apartment number.

Luma quietly looked at Taelia and asked if people regularly left kids laying around like this, and Flynn pointed out it was probably just the kid of the owner, as a lot of adults take care of business at this hour.

Vel said the apartment in question was 15, and the kid said it was on the first floor. He pointed in the correct direction, and Vel thanked him and gave him a silver piece.

Gil, however, followed up with three gold pieces. The kid’s eyes widened and he asked if that was really three whole gold pieces and they weren’t fake.

The kid held the pieces close to his chest and said he was gonna hold them really tight until he saw mom and pa. He thanked Vel and Gil, and Vel quickly looked around the entry to make sure no one saw the kid get three gold pieces. It seemed like it was clear.

Flynn fished out a small candy from his bag.

Flynn smiled.

He split the taffy and handed a piece to Uther.

They arrived at the proper room and knocked on the door. Reginald Windsor asked what the password was, and Samia said there wasn’t one. Windsor opened the door with a bashful look.

He looked at the two newcomers.

He looked at Taelia, and then Flynn.

She looked at Windsor.

He gave Flynn a long, hard look.

Samia also cleared her throat.

Taelia said some tea sounded lovely, and Flynn piped up that rum sounded great. Windsor and Taelia both gave him a look and he said he was just making a joke.

Flynn grinned.

The group entered the apartment, and Uther happily requested some sweet tea when Windsor made it evident that was an option. The group gathered around in whatever seats they could find.

Alleria had just manifested behind Flynn, and the man jumped immediately.

Flynn scooted away as Alleria leaned against a wall. Vel smirked and she and her aunt exchanged a look. Samia looked over at Taelia.

Flynn immediately snapped to attention.

Flynn crossed his arms, and one hand had slid into a sleeve to clasp a dagger. If it was a trap, he was clearly ensuring he was ready.

Uther tossed Flynn the coin with a smile.

Taelia elbowed him.

Samia looked at the group and nodded.

This page was last edited on July 30, 2025, at 04:26 PM

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