[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Sixty-Five
Appearing Characters: Anarys Lunastre, Arthak Saurfang, Deline Glimmerdusk, Joshen Lafave, Kandia Starstream, Lantresor, Ly'leth Lunastre, Maribeth Lafave, Noressa Starstream, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Rak'Symma, Runas, Sol'chi, Thalyssra Dusklily, Vanthir Leburque, Zar'Kaa
December 16th
As the warband arrived to speak with Thalyssra, they noted that Arthak had also returned to Shal’Aran. Zar’Kaa smirked.
Arthak nodded and Thalyssra congratulated the group on their expert burglary. She retrieved her belongings and looked at her staff fondly as she got them situated. She excused herself briefly to get changed, and she thanked the group for their help before she launched to a brief explanation that Ly’leth had stopped by via the translocation beacon so she could make her own arrangements.
As further plans were being made, Symma added that she was looking for someone else in the city: an arakkoa named Reshad. Arthak didn’t recognize the name, but he also didn’t know everyone under Iskar.
She explained the rest of what Iskar had told her, and Arthak nodded. Thalyssra also mentioned the Waning Crescent normally opened for breakfast, so if they headed there now she was sure its proprietor, Vanthir, would be there. Zar’Kaa mentioned he wished to touch base with Silgryn about early plans for aggressive action, and Thalyssra acknowledged that they weren’t ready to make aggressive action now, but it wouldn’t hurt to see if Silgryn had any direction as he seemed optimistic he could get some important members of the Duskwatch on their side.
Zar’Kaa handed the field reports he wrote to Arthak, who scanned it over and thanked Zar’Kaa for the thoroughness.
Meanwhile, Nyxxa gave Lantresor the cutting of the wisteria she had taken, and she explained it was what the flowers looked like so he could identify them in the future. Lantresor smiled and placed part of it in Nyxxa’s hair.
Nyxxa blushed and gave him a smooch.
The group headed back to the Lunastre estate via the translocation beacon. They were greeted by Ly’leth, who was waking up for the morning. She smiled as introductions were shared with Arthak, and he was given his own masquerade mask so he too could walk around the city disguised. He transformed himself into the guise of an older member of the Blacktooth Grin, and Ly’leth regarded the group approvingly. She explained she had a busy day and might not be in the manor, but they were welcome there whenever they needed.
Rak’Symma went to speak with Anarys before they left, who was being kept in one of the guest rooms. She spoke with the guard, and the guard informed Anarys they had a guest.
Rak’Symma sighed and requested the guard give them space, and she opted to lean against the door.
There was no response for a moment. And then she heard a sniffle.
Anarys scoffed, and then chuckled. They reluctantly told her a few things and gave her some names of people that would know them. Rak’Symma said that she would do her best to ensure they weren’t embarrassed, though she would take credit if someone thought they liked birds more than they did.
They then talked a bit about birds, as it seemed Anarys did like birds. Anarys requested Symma check on the birds in the garden for them. Rak’Symma assured them she would, and Anarys thanked her for stopping by.
The guard asked if Anarys caused Symma any trouble, and she assured her that they didn’t. The guard nodded and said they were ultimately a good kid, and Ly’leth also intended on bringing them their meals herself once their sibling calmed down.
The party headed toward the Waning Crescent to wait for Vanthir’s arrival. As they headed toward the tavern, they saw nightborne out and trying their best to deal with the arrival of snow: a phenomenon that the majority of them had never had to experience before.
Zar’Kaa commented that the elves didn’t even know their own land, and they mused upon the nature of Suramar being created as a gilded cage.
Runas also added that, until he went outside the dome, he hadn’t even known the outside world existed, as they had always been told it was destroyed in the war, and a great majority of the population had been born after the dome had already been erected. Arthak, however, was smiling, as his brain was already churning on how the climate could readily be used to their advantage.
On the way to the Waning Crescent, Rak’Symma sent her raven figurine with a message for Reshad to meet her at the Menagerie the following day, and the bird took off to try and find the arakkoa.
When they arrived at the Waning Crescent, they saw some patrons sitting and eating, but none of them fit the description of Vanthir. A nightborn with a pixie cut appeared to be fixing an awning, and she gave them a warning to watch their step, but her eyes narrowed as she noticed Anarys, an orc, and a demon.
She asked what she could do for them and Zar’Kaa requested breakfast for all of them. The innkeeper nodded and rang a bell. A male young-adult nightborne that looked like he may have been related to her appeared. She called him “Joshen” and directed him to get them to a table.
Zar’Kaa requested arcwine, and Arthak requested coffee and a place where he could sit with his back to a wall. Joshen nodded and said he could accommodate that, and he gestured to a table. Rak’Symma looked at Arthak.
Arthak sat with his back against a wall and Joshen asked if he needed help into a chair, as Arthak appeared to be pretending that his stone arm was actually lame. Arthak shook his head, and Joshen arrived with a coffee cup that was incredibly small. Arthak knocked it back like a shot as Joshen was halfway asking if he wanted cream.
Meanwhile, the group noticed the innkeeper speaking with someone in the distance and they caught her glancing in their direction. Nyxxa mused over the telepathic bond that with all the attention they were getting, Vanthir would probably come by to check on them himself, as it was possible he might think he was being investigated.
Before long, a heavier-set, bald nightborne came into view, and he was accompanied by a few disheveled, cold-looking nightborne. He shared some words with the innkeeper, and he then nodded and he and Joshen brought the disheveled nightborne to a table. Vanthir pulled out each of their chairs, and Joshen was immediately at his side with cups of arcwine for all of them. The innkeeper also approached with a handful of warm cloaks. Joshen then returned with some warm stew.
Not long after, Vanthir turned his attention to the eclectic group that had arrived. As he approached, his general demeanor was warm and inviting, but his eyes were sharp and dead of emotion. Arthak met his gaze, and Nyxxa waved.
Vanthir stopped before them, his hands behind his back, and he looked at Rak’Symma.
Rak’Symma scoffed.
Sol held out his hand, and Vanthir shook it. Sol had palmed Thalyssra’s coin to him, and Vanthir’s eyes widened as he recognized the coin.
He looked at the group and then around at his establishment. He gestured, and several of the other nightborne left.
Vanthir handed the seal back to Sol with a second seal of the Waning Crescent. He explained the seal would show Deline that he had sent them, and he informed them that Deline was more tapped into the supply lines of arcwine, and they could likely coordinate with her to establish what they could do.
Symma took the bottle of arcwine delivered to their table and handed it back to Vanthir. She told him that if anyone asks she was simply disappointed by the vintage. Vanthir said that he had a better idea, as he felt Anarys’s face being seen would help shake things up, and he requested they accompany him to deliver some things to various locales.
Nyxxa also asked for the location of the orphanage she was raised at, and Vanthir said that one of his deliveries was destined for there. He offered to allow her to deliver it given it was hardly out of their way to meet with Deline. Nyxxa thanked him.
He grinned and he told them to see Maribeth on the way out, as she’d have the packages for them. He nodded to the innkeeper they had spoken with when they first arrived. Arthak looked around and he didn’t see a single soul outside those who were warming up, who did not appear to be listening in.
Maribeth handed the group the designated parcel, and she thanked them for helping Vanthir, as he was prone to running himself ragged. She also apologized for their welcome, as last time Anarys was there, they had caused a bit of a scene, but they seemed to have turned over an entire new leaf.
Nyxxa assured her that there was nothing to worry about.
They headed off toward Elune’s Embrace, the orphanage, and Runas seemed uncharacteristically quiet. Sol asked if Runas knew them, and he said that he had done some work for Vanthir in the past.
They arrived at the orphanage and they saw a bunch of kids outside the building. They were bundled up in scarves and playing in the snow, laughing and giggling while they were packing up snow and throwing them at each other.
Nyxxa snatched one of the snowballs out of the air and the kids all called out in amazement and asked how she did that. She said she was very fast, and another kid said that they liked her horns. She thanked them and said she was there to deliver something to the caretaker. Another kid said that he would tell her where she was if she could tell him how to grow horns because he wanted them too, and she told them he didn’t because they would pay dearly for them.
The kids started to bicker about the horns but one of the girls told them to be quiet because she wanted to learn how to make snowballs from the big guy. However, likely attracted to the difference in noise, a woman stepped out of the building as Arthak was busy teaching the kids how to make better fortifications.
Nyxxa mentally noted that there was something familiar about the woman, whose name was Noressa. However, Sol picked up on what that something familiar was immediately.
She was a beautiful, relatively young woman with long violet hair in a side-ponytail braid.
She looked over at the orc and then back at Nyxxa, who was a demon.
Nyxxa confirmed and said that she had grown up there before the barrier a very long time ago, and Noressa welcomed her home as she had only recently taken over. Sol asked her what she used to do, and she explained that she used to be a tailor. She explained her family used to live nearby, but then interrupted herself, as she was prattling on.
Noressa added she needed a change of pace, and she was glad she had moved, as the children were wonderful. Nyxxa thanked her for taking over after Mother Moonweaver.
Meanwhile, Arthak was explaining the concept of fortifications and trench warfare to the children using the snow.
Noressa invited Nyxxa to come inside so she could see her old home again, and Nyxxa agreed as she and Sol followed the nightborne woman into the building. It was a simple entrance with stairways that led to upper floors that likely had the bedrooms. There was an assortment of enchanted objects, like brooms, that were deactivated against the wall, but one was busily moving. A few of the older kids were hanging out inside, and one was practicing magic by solving a puzzle with mage hand. However, a few of them were drawn to the sight of Arthak outside bent down with the younger kids.
They followed Noressa upstairs where she saw the various bedrooms, one of which had a child in a crib sleeping soundly. At the very end of the hall was the room Noressa herself slept, as she just lived right in the orphanage with the children. She mentioned she had found an old prayer book of Elune in the orphanage when she moved in, and she had started to read it even though she knew no one practiced worshipping the old gods anymore.
Nyxxa asked what it said, and Noressa said it was mostly prayers and blessings for safety. Nyxxa said she felt that Elune was watching over the city and that it was probably easier now that she could see it. Noressa said that she hoped Nyxxa was right, and Nyxxa replied the prayer book was exactly where it needed to be, and it was nice to see someone carrying on the faith in some way.
Noressa started to tear up quietly and Nyxxa asked if she wanted a hug. Noressa nodded, and they embraced.
Noressa nodded.
She seemed flabbergasted.
Noressa started to cry again and she told them she would be right back. She returned with a portrait of three nightborne: Noressa, a young child, and a male nightborne with a nice goatee and a long silver ponytail.
Sol looked at it and requested that she block her ears. Noressa blinked, but nodded, and Sol used [Wish] to cast the scrying spell as he pulled out a small mirror. He watched as the world shifted in the mirror, and he saw a nightfallen woman huddled up in some cave. She was shivering and looked very worse for wear.
Nyxxa called for Zar’Kaa to come upstairs so he could also look at the cave as Sol showed them. They could tell she was far from Suramar, but then they realized she wasn’t in a cave, she was in old ruins that looked similar to those near Shal’Aran.
They reached out to Thalyssra and informed her that they believed Theryn’s daughter was near Shal’Aran, and Thalyssra reached out to them telepathically so she could also look at the scrying sensor.
Noressa said her name was Kandia, and she asked if they had found her. Nyxxa confirmed but she asked Noressa to remain quiet, as they had friends outside. Noressa promised she would, and over the telepathic bond they heard Thalyssra speaking to Kandia via sending as she asked her if she needed some help and introduced herself as Thalyssra.
Kandia recognized her as the First Arcanist and she asked her where she was. Thalyssra said she was nearby, and she asked her to go outside so that her friends could find her. Kandia seemed hesitant, but she stood and headed into the night. Thalyssra asked her to walk around so she could see where she was, and over the telepathic link Thalyssra said that she wasn’t far and they’d be able to recover her.
Sol informed Noressa their friends were going to pick her up and she would be alright. Noressa continued to cry, and Nyxxa moved her over to the bed so she could sit down.
Noressa nodded, and Sol asked over the telepathic link if they should tell her about Theryn. Thalyssra said that they should start small and focus on mending the relationship between her and her daughter. Sol told Noressa that, for the time being, Kandia would be safe with their friends, and in time they would be able to reunite them.
Noressa asked who their friends were, and Sol said it was the Dusklily. Noressa’s eyes widened in recognition.
Nyxxa told Noressa to continue looking after the kids, and she promised she would, and she also asked Nyxxa to give Vanthir the sincerest thanks for sending them and the supplies.
Nyxxa added that, she didn’t wish to overwhelm her, but she also wished to pay forward all the donations she had missed over the years. Noressa was completely flabbergasted.
Noressa hugged Nyxxa again, and then she looked completely shocked as Nyxxa handed over 1,000 gold.
Meanwhile, Arthak had arranged the children in mock battle lines and was having them compete against each other in a snow war. When it became evident it was time to go, Arthak called the games off, and encouraged them to continue practicing. Several of the kids came over to hug Arthak’s legs and thanked him for playing with them.
Arthak said it was his honor. Noressa told the children to thank all their guests for stopping by, and they did so. Arthak gave them a chest thump, and the kids gave it back.
Nyxxa smiled at Arthak as they headed off.
Runas was tearing up, and Nyxxa asked if he was alright.
Arthak tossed a snowball at Runas to shock him.
He laughed and grabbed a snowball to hurl back, but it went wide.
They continued to their next stop and they saw a large sign labeled “Gondola-A-Go-Go”. There was a nightborne girl kicking her feet as she sat on a crate against a wall. She seemed to be chilling and looking around as there wasn’t really anyone interested in her services at the moment. She was chewing on bubble gum and periodically a bubble would just emerge from her mouth and pop.
Arthak looked dubiously at whatever had just come out of the woman’s mouth, but he cleared his throat.
The woman jumped off the crate.
She clapped.
The nearby sound device that had been repeating their catch phrase stopped and folded up into one of the nightborne sentinels that had been chasing Thalyssra.
He hopped into the gondola as the nightborne woman withdrew a small rod and clicked it. It extended into an oar that she leaned on.
Arthak told her to just row and threw her a few gold coins and they piled into the gondola. Francis transformed back into the sound device and started to play some classical Suramar music. Arthak asked him to increase the volume, and Sol showed Deline the coin Vanthir had given them.
She smiled.
Her demeanor shifted to one that was far more serious.
The group looked around as they passed a palanquin a noble was riding. At the upper tiers where the Grand Promenade was, there was a military checkpoint where they saw the Duskwatch’s private casks of arcwine.
Francis launched something from its chamber and a small spigot landed in Zar’Kaa’s lap.
She pulled back a tarp and they saw a large empty cask.
She slapped her cask. Sol asked where the tap needed to go, and Deline asked him if he was familiar with the passwall spell. Sol confirmed and she explained it was a localized version of it.
She grinned.
Deline confirmed.
Zar’Kaa asked more specifically about Deline’s business and her competitors, and she specified her gondola service was a front. However, people like her had been disappearing recently. But, the first priority was getting Vanthir his delivery.
Arthak opted to hop off the gondola as it went near a Duskwatch checkpoint and he headed up to the terraces. He saw nobles going about their business and he headed toward a first aid waystation for the Duskwatch. One of the guards looked up and noticed the orc approaching.
The guard was speaking in Darnassian to see if Arthak knew it.
The guards exchanged looks and one of them elbowed the other to go check. They reported that they could get him a half bottle.
Arthak gave them a name from the Blacktooth Grin, and the guards managed to provide him with some bottles. They told Arthak they would get his request sent through the line, and Arthak chuckled and flashed a friendly-not-friendly smile.
He gave the men a chest thump and headed back off the terraces. He passed by some of the nightborne that were more destitute who had been watching the exchange at a distance. He looked at them with a smile and took a deep swig from a bottle as he continued on his way.
Arthak saw anger flicker in their faces.
Meanwhile, Sol had used Arthak’s distraction to attach a tap to the Duskwatch’s kegs. He was stealthy about it and siphoned a bit from each. By the time Arthak turned away, Sol was already gone.
