[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Seventy-Four
Appearing Characters: Ailen Astravar, Arthak Saurfang, Aurore Astravar, Ly'leth Lunastre, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Rak'Symma, Randeth Duskmere, Reydan Duskmere, Riema Dawnrunner, Ruven Duskmere, Selora, Seria, Sol'chi, Thisalee Crow, Volrath, Zar'Kaa
December 22nd
Seria went to meet with Volrath as well as Nyxxa and Arthak in the office on the Reuniter. She retold the story of what had happened with Zar’Kaa earlier that day, and Volrath sat listening intently. When Seria completed the retelling, he sighed.
He looked over at Arthak and Nyxxa as well.
Volrath thanked her, and Arthak agreed knowing was important. Volrath looked at Nyxxa.
Volrath wished them the best of luck, and he asked for Seria to continue to keep him informed. However, he had one final request, and he pulled out a cigar and looked at Arthak, who lit it, and Volrath went out to have a smoke.
A bit later, the group returned to Shal’Aran and Nyxxa announced there was something she wished to inform them all of.
Zar’Kaa said he was intending on going, and Nyxxa added that Remnii had been researching the matter for years at this point, in addition to the sin’dorei and the arakkoa. Rak’Symma suggested she could see if Dawn and some hexxers could arrive, though Dawn was a bit preoccupied.
Symma had a proud but confused expression, as the entire matter had progressed very quickly.
Meanwhile, the mana wyrms had started to adapt to their new surroundings around the Arcan’dor quite well, and they had readily taken to preying upon the locusts. The tree had started to grow some branches, and it appeared to be actively approaching the first critical juncture.
The group headed back into Suramar City at dusk, and Ly’leth awaited them in the dining hall. She clapped her hands cheerfully as she greeted them.
Arthak asked for clarification that she was seeking them to do a favor for Aurore in exchange for her vote, and Ly’leth admitted the nobles often worked in transactional ways. Arthak acknowledged the notion was something he was familiar with, and Ly’leth thanked him for his patience.
Arthak then asked about the more aggressive strategy, and Ly’leth added she had considered the idea of ensuring the populace was talking about good things they have done, and bad things competitors have. Nyxxa said she was curious about how her competitors thought about alternates to arcwine, and Ly’leth agreed she wanted to see what was going on behind the curtains since the Legion arrived.
Stelleris, however, remained Ly’leth’s chief rival, as his family had accolades in the Duskwatch and in the more influential regions of artifice in the city. The house promised law and order, something the public was quick to buy into. Arthak asked if he had any political weaknesses, and Ly’leth smiled.
Ly’leth confirmed the populace will remember if a slandered noble is elevated, and they will talk. Elisande wouldn’t want them to talk. Zar’Kaa suggested they spread a narrative through the clinic he had set up, and Arthak said he could likely draft something that could be distributed, like papers and the like slandering different houses from other houses.
Ly’leth offered them breakfast, and the group grabbed some food before they headed out to visit with House Astravar. She also met with Seria and asked if she needed a mask to disguise herself in the city, but Seria effortlessly was able to mask her own appearance. She opted to disguise herself as a felblood elf like Levia, but her skin was more grey, and she had curved horns on her head coming out of her long black hair.
The Guilded Market was the seat of the house, which was filled with many shops and stalls that were selling all sorts of things. There were even shopping malls and super stores that people could find many different shops in one place. It was one of the most high class areas in the city because of the sheer amount of wealth that was funneled into it.
Symma asked if Sol could answer a question for her, and Symma gestured out to the shops.
They made their way to the southern edge of the Guilded Market where House Astravar was located. However, when Symma, disguised as Anarys, greeted them and explained why they arrived, she was informed Aurore was not presently seeing guests. It was clear the man was entirely genuine
Symma sighed.
She handed off the letter of intent to the steward, who nodded.
The guard glanced at the other guard, but said that doing so would make things even more complicated.
While the conversation was going on, Sol stealthily cast [Detect Thoughts]. They were led into an external garden, and Sol threw his perceptions toward the guard, who was still thinking about how complicated matters were going to get and that he hoped none of “his men” saw them come in.
Before too long, a nightborne woman met them. She appeared to be similar in page to Ly’leth, and she wore a large, puffy dress that was relatively low-cut. Her hair was done up in a hasty-looking braid that was tied with a bow that looked like a dolphin’s tail. She offered a smile and curtsy.
The surface thoughts Sol was getting was a series of “this is bad, this is very bad”.
Sol continued to get thoughts about “I need to convince them to leave, this is not good”. She was clearly distressed, though there didn’t seem to be an immediate threat in the area.
Symma took Aurore’s hands in hers briefly, but released them before her illusion failed.
Zar’Kaa asked if the woman knew where her son was being held, but Aurore had no idea and she was terrified that if they tried scrying or finding him they would hurt her son. Zar’Kaa asked if he could discreetly check the perimeter, but Aurore shook her head and said if anyone was watching the house, they might get keyed off they were looking.
Arthak emphasized that he was not comfortable with that risk, as it was too much risk to the son, whose name was Ailen, and Aurore had been through enough.
They returned to the bustling city of Suramar, and Sol cast [Invisibility] on Zar’Kaa as he set off to try and pick up any sort of trail. However, there didn’t seem to be one, so Ailen was likely not drug out with any sort of struggle.
Thisalee suggested they could maybe reach out to Silgryn to put some pressure on it, but Arthak said that Duskwatch getting involved was too risky. Nyxxa suggested just informing Silgryn, and Arthak agreed informing just Silgryn was wise. Thisalee said she could take care of that, and she took off.
Sol suggested they maybe talk to the animals, and Seria volunteered to do so. Sol gave her a treat to give to any of them with good information, but Seria just took the treat herself when she turned into an animal and scurried off. Before too long, she found a gang of mana pigeons and asked if they had seen anything weird. One of the pigeons proclaimed there was unauthorized aerial transportation happening the prior night, and he knew for sure it was unauthorized because he kept a tight ship. They had bombarded the figure, but then it disappeared.
Seria reported back, and it seemed likely Ailen had been taken by a sayaad.
Meanwhile, Symma went to a restaurant and pretended to have been stood up on a date with a bunch of dramatic sighs and frustrations. Before too long, a nightborne woman Symma did not recognize but seemed to recognize Anarys came over to greet her and ask what was wrong, and Symma went on a long tirade about how they were stood up on a date.
Unknown to Symma, it was Riema Dawnrunner, who Sol had met, who was apparently a very supportive friend that was also low-key into Anarys.
Arthak opted to meditate and open his senses, trying to get a feel for some sort of intuition. He simply started to walk. He didn’t know why, or how, but there was some sort of nudge toward something unknown. However he had an earnest belief he would find something when he was meant to find it.
Sol pulled his two simulacrum into the city, and then head headed off to talk to the sayaad they had in custody. Selora was in her assigned room playing some sort of board game, and she furrowed her brow as Sol and his cohorts entered. He was disguised as Socrethar, and two other unnamed demons that had been killed on Draenor.
He asked how Selora was doing, and she asked who they were supposed to be. Sol said they needed to know where Ruven would bring a kidnapping victim, and Selora demanded to know who he even worked for. Sol said he worked for himself, and he could make her stay more comfortable if she cooperated.
Another of the simulacrums pointed out it could be made more uncomfortable. A lot more so. Selora shrugged and assumed Sol was likely in league with the others that captured her..
She handed over some addresses and leaned right up to the edge of the magic circle.
Meanwhile, Nyxxa went back to the Duskmere estate and she made her way to speak to Ruven, who was apparently expecting her. She knocked and Ruven greeted her tersely, but then realized who she was. He clarified the house guards couldn’t tell the difference between the demons, but he was glad to see her. However, he had been quite busy given the time was running down until the advisorship election.
Nyxxa asked if there was anything she could help with.
He stood up.
Nyxxa nodded.
Nyxxa cocked her head to the side.
Nyxxa relayed the notion over the telepathic bond, and Rak’Symma confirmed she was fine with the plan.
Ruven smiled.
He ran his thumb along the edge of Nyxxa’s chin and tipped her face up.
Nyxxa smiled.
Sol went out to try and narrow down the warehouses while Arthak continued to follow his intuition.
Nyxxa convened with Symma to bring her to the Duskmere manor. She found her still talking to Riema. Nyxxa informed her that Reydan wanted to apologize, and several nightborne that were listening gasped, but then hastily looked away like they weren’t listening. Riema expressed her shock but encouraged Symma to go, but once Symma and Nyxxa left, the woman sighed in frustration.
As they approached the manor, they were actually intercepted by Ruven, who informed them there was construction so they were going to go through a back way. Nyxxa could see that there was a sayaad with him, but Rak’Symma could only see the sayaad in her disguise, which was Reydan. “Reydan” said he wanted to apologize to Anarys, and started to approach, at which point the sayaad attempted to charm Rak’Symma.
However, then Nyxxa’s eyes widened as she saw the real Reydan walk around the corner.
Ruven sighed loudly.
Then Reydan saw the sayaad that looked like him.
At that moment, Ruven disappeared, and then reappeared directly in front of his brother.
Ruven’s blade was drawn and then there was a splash of blood. Reydan was tossed to the side, a slash straight up through one of his eyes. He was barely conscious, but not looking good at all. He looked at Nyxxa.
Over the telepathic bond, Nyxxa asked Zar’Kaa to meet her at the Duskmere estate, and she went to take Reydan back after she turned invisible with him and took off. She teleported straight into the patriarch’s room, who was taken aback, but Nyxxa hastily explained what happened and that a doctor was on the way. Lord Randeth shouted for the guards and ordered them to allow the doctor in when he arrived, and Nyxxa gave the entire story of what was going on.
Zar’Kaa arrived on the scene as soon as he could and was allowed inside, but then Zar’Kaa heard the sound of a blade activating. Zar’Kaa spun around and sliced the guard’s throat open. Two other guards drew their weapons and charged at him, but other guards started to fight them off. One of the guards ordered Zar’Kaa to get into the room and help Reydan.
Seria, meanwhile, had taken off to tail Symma.
Zar’Kaa got into the room and managed to stabilize Reydan amidst a bunch of produse thanks from the patriarch. He turned to Nyxxa and told her to stop his other son. Nyxxa promised they would, and she and Zar’Kaa hurried out to rendezvous with the others.
Meanwhile, Symma was being taken by Ruven to a warehouse. There were other sayaad there, as well as some soldiers, and she heard snarling as a number of mana sabers noted they entered. However, near the back of the warehouse hovered a malevolent creature. It was a monstrous, grotesque demon with deep green skin. It was covered in armor, but had no legs, simply wispy energy. On his back was a large cage made of black metal. In the cage was a young nightborne man that looked despondent and terrified. He had the same colored hair as Lady Astravar.
A guard asked how they were going to transport them, and Ruven asked if another jailer can be acquired. A sayaad said it would take time.
Fel magic wreathed around his arm as he started to cast a powerful summoning spell. He spoke in eredun, and his veins turned black as his eyes sank into his skull, his eyes alight with fel energy. The summoning circle started to grow erratic.
He barked at the other mages, and they put their own energy into the circle. One of the mages caught on fire and he started to scream. They exploded into a pile of ash, and a doomguard was right where the prior mage had been. Ruven’s eyes were wide and mad with power.
He commanded the doomguard to take “Anarys”, who continued to pretend she was charmed as she asked where everyone was. Symma heard Reydan’s voice in her mind, as the sayaad tried to command her.
Symma took a step forward, and the doomguard yanked her deeper into the warehouse. The jailer demon waved his finger and chains wrapped around Symma’s arms, clueless that she could slip them with ease. Ruven started to pace back and forth, waiting for his satyr to arrive.
