[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Seventy-Four

Appearing Characters: Aliden Perenolde, Aoibh Reòthadh, Danath Trollbane, Elissa Cross, Galen Trollbane, Gilveradin Windrunner, Liiraluma, Robert Travard, Rommath Pyrewing, Samuel Hawke, Singer, Teemo Manabrake, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Vittoria Trollbane

November 22nd

The sun had started to set, and Gil and Elissa were heading back to the Wobby Shepherd where they had happened to pick up rooms separate from Uther and Luma. Elissa smiled at Gil.

Gil smiled.

Elissa chuckled.

As he looked up at the cloudy, darkening sky and regarding the scenery around them, he noticed that they were being followed. They were being subtle, but there were several individuals. He could not count how many there were, but there were at least half a dozen.

Gil used [Message] to alert Elissa to the revelation, and her eyes widened. She asked via the message if he could tell who it was, but Gil said he could not. They were able to play it cool, but Gil was unable to tell what the followers’ intentions were.

They opted to try and lose the followers, and Gil subtle spelled [Pass without Trace] to aid their passage. They kept it casual as they strolled, but as they rounded a corner, he pulled Elissa into a side alley and successfully lost the followers in the shadows.

Some dark-garbed individuals walked right past where they were hidden. Quietly, he heard them speaking.

The individual appeared to be wearing dark leathers, but was a black-scaled drakonid beneath the glamour of a shape-shifting ability. Another individual was a human, and he cast [Sending].

There was an unheard response, and the human looked back at the drakonid and shook their head.

The group fanned out to attempt to search for them. Elissa and Gil slipped around the docks, and Elissa peeked her head out.

Gil, however, grabbed Elissa and pulled her back, narrowly avoiding two other human Syndicate members as they passed by.

They redirected their passage, but successfully left the district without the Syndicate members picking up on their trail. They returned to the Wobbly Shepherd, and Elissa was clearly mentally exhausted from the effort, as she was not built for subterfuge at all.

Luma and Teemo were accounted for, but they were back in their room. Uther saw them, however, and he noted Gil looked fine, but Elissa seemed stressed. Uther stood up to greet them.

Gil smiled.

Gil clarified via message they were drakonids as they found a quiet corner

Uther smiled at Gil.

Uther snorted.

Uther made himself smell of alcohol and then exited the bar to try and get himself lost.

Elissa fiddled with her sending stone.

Elissa deflated.

Uther headed off into the district that Gil and Elissa had slipped from, hoping to run into the Syndicate members that were lurking around. Uther wasn’t even sure Gil was following him, as he had managed to hide himself so well.

Uther passed by two shady-looking individuals, and Gil noted he was pretty sure they were the same individuals he had seen before. Both of them glanced back in Uther’s direction, and Gil saw them make some sort of gestures that might have been thieves’ cant. They watched him for a moment, but then continued on and didn’t double back to follow Uther.

Gil used [Message] to inform Uther that the two figures he had just passed were two of the members.

Uther opted to take another lap around the block to come back to the spot where the figures were, and he wound up passing the duo again. They appeared to still be actively looking for someone. Again, the duo passed by Uther and gave him a wide berth.

Uther opted to head back to the inn, and Elissa breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, back at the keep, Vel got a sending from Rommath Pyrewing.

There was a pause as Vel processed who the sending was from.

Vel told him the timing was fine, and he confirmed that he would see her in a dream. Vel checked on Aoibh to ensure she was okay, and she then retreated into her portable hole.

As Vel drifted off to sleep, she materialized in a dreamscape that looked a lot like the room that Vel had specifically made him in the magnificent mansion. Rommath was staring out the window, which overlooked a night sky that resembled Northrend. As she appeared, he looked at her.

Vel’s ears flexed back against the side of her skull briefly, and she looked momentarily unsure.

Vel had been clearly tense, but she slowly relaxed.

Rommath furrowed his brow.

Vel considered for a moment, her eyes fixed on Rommath as if weighing the decision as she played with the tip of a fang with her tongue.

Rommath’s brow raised, and it was clear on his face that pieces were clicking together.

He paused.

He considered for a moment.

Vel offered a tired, sardonic smirk.

Rommath looked at her for a moment.

Vel sighed quietly, but she imposed herself on the dreamscape, requesting permission from Rommath to manipulate it. He in turn relented it to her.

She focused her gaze on the air before them, and a phantasm appeared there. It was a blackened, crackling, flaming skeletal man with eyes that glowed like coal-like embers. As it looked over at the Grand Magister, it bowed, sweeping its wide black hat from its head.

Rommath looked at it for a long time, and he narrowed his eyes.

Vel’s ears flattened against her skull as she dismissed the image. Rommath sighed.

Rommath chuckled quietly.

Rommath waved his hand, and the room faded to instead reveal the empty streets of Lordaeron. There were decorations that had started to be set up, such as gourds and pumpkins. Some were pale white while others were vibrant orange and green. One of the fountains of the central district had candles lit upon it, some with white wax, while others were with red. There were baskets filled with cloth and other goods that had been made to hand out to people that needed them, and one of the most notable things was that the lamps were lit with the familiar, unearthly fire of Al’ar.

The main street had many tables set up, that in less than a week’s time, would be open to all for feasting.

Vel saw a look pass over Rommath’s eyes in a way that belayed his own struggles with such a thing. After all, if they couldn’t even accept themselves, then how could others do the same?

Vel smiled slightly.

Rommath chuffed quietly.

She looked back at the streets of Lordaeron.

Rommath bowed and faded away, but he left her on the street for just a moment longer so she could see the full thing before the image also faded into true darkness.

November 23rd

As the group awoke the next morning, Vel checked in on Aoibh and set up the telepathic bond for the day, before she headed to the chapel to meet with Aliden. She had manifested her spider form and she paused outside it for a moment, her skin crawling at the presence of the holy energy.

But she entered, as it wasn’t under the influence of a full hallow. She saw Aliden sitting in the front row. It was a small chapel, and there were a few runestones that the altar was built in and around.

As Vel approached, she transformed herself into her disguised form with Alter Self, her glamored armor filling in for the outfit she had been wearing. Aliden had his back to her as he sat in the pew at the front of the chapel, playing with a coin between his fingers.

He flipped the coin and it landed in an open offering basket by the altar.

Vel chuffed quietly as she looped around and sat in the pew next to him, a few feet of distance between them.

She looked over her shoulder to ensure no one was entering the chapel, and then she conjured illusion magic to show the three individuals, two male and one female. Aliden’s brow furrowed.

Aliden considered the offer.

Aliden got very quiet.

She looked over at Aliden.

Aliden chuckled.

She smirked.

Aliden chuckled again.

Vel raised her eyebrow.

Vel waved her hand, and her familiar, Arkha’din, materialized before them. There was a pulse of magic as she imbued the magic through him, and he turned his attention toward Aliden.

Aliden squinted at the familiar.

He scratched the mana wyrm behind his frill, and the magic channeled through him, imbuing his eyes with the same special sight she had used herself. When he looked over at her again, he saw her true appearance to be that of an elven woman.

Aliden smiled, realizing his assessment of who she was in the group had been correct.

Aliden squinted, perturbed as the question of who he was wrong about rose to the top of his mind.

She stood up and dismissed her familiar, then began to walk away. As she did, she transformed back into a spider and then skittered away. Aliden watched her, getting used to the special vision that she had given him, and noting that even as a spider, he still knew who she was. He spoke up one final time.

Vel paused in acknowledgement, but disappeared.

Vel relayed the information into the group, including that Aliden had confirmed it was Galen that had given the order to search for “Camtheus Glowsun”. She also spent the rest of the day chatting with Aoibh back in their room as she monitored the castle using the invisible sensor she had created.

Luma continued to wander around the city and get a read on what the people of Strom were adept at building. However, it seemed most of the orders were commissions for the war, all signed and sealed by the High King to build weapons and fortifications.

But things like rebuilding the Basilica were being ignored in favor of the war.

The one thing Luma noticed was that there was a shipment the prior week of more supplies from Shadowforge, the Dark Iron dwarf capitol. But every time they came through, a wagon would break. Whatever was being shipped was heavier than even heavy, dense stone.

Uther decided to focus on just relaxing at the tavern and playing hearthstone. He managed to create an influx of people playing battlegrounds. It was good for him, as he was able to unwind a bit and focus on playing games instead of the dread of the drakonids hidden in the dark.

He opted to send Bob to let him know he introduced battlegrounds to Stromgarde and they were having a fantastic time. Bob said he was glad to hear it, and everyone there was always welcome at the Helping Hand.

Gil continued to spin the tale he had started, but he added the antagonist of shadow people to it. Elissa asked if he was trying to start something, and Gil simply said he was a very arrogant man.

Gil headed back with Elissa later that night, but this time there was no one following them, which was in and of itself interesting.

Meanwhile, Vel found a message left for her that indicated where and when the meeting was. It was in the dungeon under the castle.

Vel crept down into the dungeon, once again in her spider form, and she saw about a dozen Syndicate members other than Aliden, and all three of the targets were also present.

He was pacing back and forth.

The different members looked at one another, and one of the drakonids spoke up. As she passed by, she had a distinctive scent of blood and peppermint.

Aliden laughed.

Vel heard a hissing noise, and the door to the dungeon above them locked. Her keen senses picked up a foul odor that began to waft into the room. He gave a nod, and every single Syndicate executive pulled out a breathing apparatus except for the three drakonids.

Singer stepped forward.

He threw a mask on the ground in front of the drakonids.

The three of the drakonids looked at each other and started to cough as panic started to build. Their eyes slit as the disguises started to wane, and in a flash of activity, the three of them broke out into a fight. Two of them lunged forward. One appeared to be some sort of arcane trickster, Singer was a full assassin, and the third one appeared to be a mage of some kind.

In draconic, Vel heard Singer shout the others.

Weapons were drawn, and the three drakonid went into combat with the rest of the Syndicate members.

One of them, the mage, started to cast a [Dimension Door]. However, Vel’s spider eyes flashed, and she used [Counterspell]. The mage looked around in a panic.

A hand crossbow bolt went through his throat, and he dropped dead. The other two attempted to hold their ground as long as they could, and they even dropped one of the Syndicate loyalists, but it wasn’t long before the poison and stacked odds caused them to succumb. As they died, each of them took their true forms.

Aliden was stone faced, but the other Syndicate loyalists’ eyes widened.

Singer coughed, her eyes bloodshot. Aliden leaned down to her.

He collected the mask and offered it to her.

Her disguise faded, and scales covered her body. A build up of magma started to rise up her throat. She went to disgorge it on Aliden, but in a moment, he slit her throat, and the magma poured from a gash in her throat.

She slumped to the ground.

Aliden stood up and looked at his melted dagger. He sighed.

He tossed the dagger on the corpse of the drakonid.

He looked to the others.

He gestured to the injured Syndicate member.

He gestured over in the direction of Vel.

In her spider form, Vel skittered down to the ground, and a waft of white mist materialized as she took her disguised, humanoid guise before the gathered Syndicate members.

One of the members looked at her in shock.

Despite themselves, a few of the agents gasped and stepped back from her. Vel smirked, showing the tips of her fangs. Aliden leaned forward.

Aliden’s brow furrowed.

Aliden started to laugh, first beneath the mask, and then he removed it.

She nodded at the corpses on the floor.

Aliden looked at the other Syndicate lieutenants.

He pushed the claw of one of the drakonids with his boot.

Vel chuffed quietly but strolled forward with a wave of her hand, opening up a portal to a demiplane in the middle of the room. She then twisted her fingers around, and a [Telekinesis] spell manifested, which she used to levitate each of the bodies forward into the gaping portal. She then closed her fist, and the portal disappeared.

It happened in the span of a minute.

Aliden looked to his lieutenants and then back at Vel.

Aliden gave her a nod, and as she turned to leave, she happened to catch one of his lieutenants signing to Aliden using thieves’ cant. The message functionally asked if Aliden wanted them to assassinate Vel when she left.

Before Aliden could even reply, Vel spoke.

The lieutenant froze, and Aliden laughed. Vel took another step and she dispersed into mist and disappeared. When she returned to the room she shared with Aoibh, she used sending to inform Uther the drakonids had been dealt with and he had her apologies that he hadn’t been able to get in on the action.

Vel chuffed to herself in response.

November 24th

The next day, early in the morning, Uther and the people at the Wobbly Shepherd noted there was a pall of grief that had fallen over the tavern. Pamphlets had been prepared and distributed announcing the death of princess Vittoria. A public service would be had later that evening, and everyone in Strom was invited.

The people were devastated, as Vittoria was well-loved and the anxiety of her disappearance coming crashing down was palpable on every street. A young girl asked her mother about how the stories said the princess was supposed to come back. Her mother said the story had said that very thing, but sometimes life was a little harder than the stories.

That morning, there was one soldier who had a very serious look, as he had been waiting for Uther. It was Samuel Hawke.

Uther regarded him with a set jaw. He said Samuel’s presence soothed him, and Sam replied that he was sure the people would comfort him in turn if they knew.

He looked at Teemo.

Uther gave Samuel a nod, and a case of uniforms was unloaded from his cart. They were a mixture of sashes and kilts.

At the keep, Aoibh was quite nervous, but she had her formal wear set up and she did a quick check in with Vel to ensure everything else was alright. Vel confirmed everything was going according to plan with the others and they had managed to secure positions as pallbearers so that everyone was going to be able to readily get into the crypt.

Vel assured her they were almost done with the deception and she would never have to do it again.

Vel skittered into Aoibh’s bag and made herself scarce.

The evening came. Everyone met at the appointed hour, and one of the seneschals from the castle explained how the process would go. They were assigned their placements, and it was explained King Galen would accompany them and unseal the tomb for them, but he would not enter the tomb itself. Instead, he would return to address his countrymen and begin the toast in Vittoria’s armor.

They would then simply need to follow the instructions of the coroner, and once Vittoria was laid to rest, they were free to return to the celebration of life.

Droves of people began to gather in mourning, and the group took their positions. They walked in step with the casket on their shoulders. A beautiful stone altar had been set up, and thousands of civilians had gathered to witness the procession.

The priestess that had helped to question Aoibh stepped forward and addressed the masses.

The priestess stepped back, and Galen stepped forward.

There were tears and crying and salutes from the masses, and a procession started.. Each of them were given a shot that they could splash upon the casket. It went on for a long while, but once it was finished, the soldiers moved into formation to escort the procession to the tomb.

The casket was carried with King Galen at the head. Uther was positioned at the forefront of the casket with Danath, and they marched through the streets. They arrived at the mausoleum, which was an ancient building, even older than most of the buildings of Stromgarde.

Galen withdrew Trol’kalar, which was an extremely old and powerful blade. He held it up, and the runes along the blade lit up, resonating with the runes on the tomb. The passage opened, and Galen looked at the casket one last time.

In that moment, there was no grief or sadness, but instead there was hatred and anger as he placed his hand on the casket in a final goodbye. He walked away.

They entered the tomb. The doorway sealed behind them, and they found themselves in the royal tomb itself with just them, and the casket. They brought it over to the appointed area. The tomb was deep and seemed to extend for many miles, lined by generations of ancient Trollbanes for possibly thousands of years.

They walked in silence until they reached the depths where they saw a newer chamber, which contained the last few generations as well as a dais for Galen that was yet unused. As they glanced over, they could see a similar dais where Thoras Trollbane rested.

They carefully placed the casket down, and Samuel rolled his shoulder as he looked over at Danath and Aoibh.

Danath looked guilty.

Gil grinned.

Samuel blinked.

Sam’s jaw dropped, and Luma just busted out laughing. Danath looked over at Uther and the rest of them and said he’d explain the rest. Uther apologized to Samuel but said he was truthful when he said his presence soothed him.

Vel skittered out of Aoibh’s bag and took her humanoid guise while Samuel’s back was turned. Uther opened the casket to reveal Vittoria, and he withdrew the vial he had been given and poured it into her mouth.

Her color returned to her cheeks, and gradually, she started to breathe again. A smile came to Uther’s lips unbidden as her eyes flickered open. The first thing she saw was Uther.

She blinked sleepily.

Uther grabbed her up in a very tight hug.

Vittoria ran her hands through his hair.

She took Uther’s face and kissed him. Her lips hadn’t fully gotten feeling back, and she laughed as the kiss was somewhat sloppy.

Uther laughed with her without breaking the kiss.

Uther helped her sit up and then step out of the casket. She was a bit wobbly, but she held fast as she gradually got feeling back to her legs. She blinked as she saw Danath.

He swept her into a hug.

Vittoria smiled and hugged him back.

Meanwhile, Vel’s eyes fell on the ancient tomb of Thoras Trollbane, where the truth awaited.

This page was last edited on March 13, 2025, at 07:39 PM

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