[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Twelve

Appearing Characters: Elissa Cross, Enrian Silverfall, Galadin Windrunner, Glutonia, Kel'Thuzad, Krasus (Illusion), Liiraluma, Maighread Tàillear, Medivh, Raluhi, Rhonin Windrunner, Riff, Seria, Siobhan Nials, Skye Menethil, Talath Dawnsworn, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Victor Prestor, Vittoria Trollbane, Wrathion

September 25th (Evening)

Uther and Vel enter a dreamscape to speak with Victor after Vel sent her cousin ahead to Wrathion. Vel shaped the dreamscape into a replica of her conjured mansion’s study, and shortly after, Victor appeared. He looked just like he did before, half of his body covered in the draconic scales.

He squinted at Uther.

As soon as Uther spoke, it clicked.

Victor chuckled.

Victor gave Uther a hug and then turned to Vel.

Victor smiled.

Vel’s eyes narrow at the mention of an orc.

He gestures.

There is a steel in his demeanor that’s absolute.

His smile falters.

Uther moved forward and gave Victor a crushing hug.

Uther could feel Victor’s claw dig into his back a bit.

Uther was relinquished from the spell and fell into his slumber once again, while Vel cast the spell again and shifted her mind toward the dreams of Wrathion and Galadin. She found herself stepping through a door that Vel recognized. It was the door that led to the backyard of Vel’s manor in Dalaran. She spied Galadin and Wrathion in his visage form. The tree back there had cut marks all over it, and Galadin was leaning nearby as Wrathion was swaggering by.

He threw a dagger into the tree.

He turned, as he had picked up Vel’s arrival.

Wrathion gestured to the tree and held a knife out to Vel. Vel looked at the knife and rolled her eyes, but she did pluck the weapon up between her fingers and hurled it at the tree. The blade struck right in the middle of the target, and Wrathion grinned.

Vel chuffed.

He shot a smile over at Galadin.

Vel smirked.

The vampyr’s eyes flitted over to Galadin, given they had already made plans to return to Dalaran to return him home and, by extension, reveal herself to her uncle Rhonin.

Wrathion looked at her with a wide grin.

Vel seized control of the dream back from Galadin and conjured a sheaf of paper detailing the cipher code, which she held out to Wrathion.

Vel dispersed into mist and faded from the dream.

September 26th

The next morning everyone awoke and they gathered together at the breakfast that Moroes had prepared for them. Galadin had started to engage in a conversation with a plate, as the dishes were magically sentient. Vel sipped at her coffee.

Luma piped up with her mouth still full of egg, though Vel opted to ignore the comment.

Vel expressed she would likely be going to Dalaran as she had a personal contact there that could likely allow her to discreetly access the city so she could speak to her uncle.

Luma said that they wanted to go too, as the sooner they could see more of the world, the better. However, Vel was hesitant to bring anyone along, as she didn’t know how her uncle was going to react. Luma said they didn’t need to be around for Vel’s family business, but Vel clarified that there was ultimately a non-zero possibility that she might need to just leave the city depending on her uncle’s reaction.

There was a brief expression of nervous fear on Vel’s face, and Luma waved their crystalline hand and said Vel could do what she needed to do. Galadin said that they could likely take Luma some other time, and Luma acknowledged there would be time, as they knew there was likely a series of layers involved.

At that moment, Medivh teleported beside the table and sat down to eat with a jovial greeting. Vel introduced Medivh to Galadin, who was completely wide-eyed. Medivh said that he could give an autograph if he wanted, and Galadin quickly expressed he had a Hearthstone card he wanted Medivh to sign when he came back.

Uther furrowed his brow and asked if it was possible to contact Vittoria, and Vel said there was a possibility they could likely actually see Vittoria in person as there was a tree not far away from the pond they had scryed before.

Vel opted to scry on Vittoria briefly and she witnessed Vittoria doing some drills with one of the soldiers that she was with before. The situation looked safe enough. After they finished up breakfast, Seria used her staff to create a tree that she could use to transport them to Stromgarde. She visualized the tree on the highlands and put her hand on the bark of the tree, which opened up into a portal they were able to step through.

They were greeted by the rolling hills of the Arathi Highlands. It was the former heart of the empire of Arathor that ruled the majority of the Eastern Kingdoms. It was sunny (unfortunately for Vel), but also windy and slightly chilly. There was a small pond near the settlement they had arrived at, which was where Vittoria had been playing her pipes near before. There was also a hill-like grotto, where the flags of the League of Arathor were flying. There were people milling about, but it seemed like no one saw them.

Vel sighed and cast the [Sending] spell, targeting Vittoria.

It seemed that Vittoria had started to talk to someone else.

Vel sighed, and she cast the spell again.

There was a pregnant pause as she tried to figure out what to say.

Vel glanced skyward.

Before long, two figures started to approach cautiously. They spoke to the watch and gestured for a while. As they grew closer, they could tell one of them was Vittoria. She was still wearing training armor, and she had a horn at her hip, and her shield at her arm. She was speaking to the woman with her. She was relatively close in age, and she was also familiar: she was the leader of the guards that were with Vittoria when they first encountered her in Hillsbrad long ago. Vel could read Vittoria’s lips as she spoke to her companion that they needed to be ready for anything, but to not draw steel.

They passed the group initially, as they didn’t see them.

The two fell into a back-to-back formation.

At that moment, Uther walked around the corner, and Vittoria put her full hand on her blade.

Uther reached up and rubbed his beard.

As Vittoria heard Uther’s voice, her hand faltered.

She threw her shield aside and ran directly for Uther. The other woman was at the ready still, but Vittoria fully threw her arms around him as she tackled him and met his lips with a kiss that was also wet with tears that started to stream down her face.

Vittoria pulled away.

Vittoria kissed him a few more times, and everything started to click.

They continued to kiss as the rest of the group emerged. The other woman crossed her arms, but smiled. The woman then cleared her throat.

Vittoria gave Uther one last kiss and forced herself away. She saw the several unfamiliar faces, and then saw Vel. She started to head over to Vel.

Vittoria held out a hand to Vel, which Vel looked at it, but then opened her arms for a hug given Vittoria was someone that ultimately was more of a hugger. Vittoria did, in fact, hug her.

Vittoria looked back at Uther.

Vittoria loosed a full belly laugh as Uther showed off his attempt at a Stromgardian accent.

She then looked at Elissa.

They also hugged before Vittoria looked at the rest of the group, but they were people she did not recognize. She started with Luma, who made their introduction with a handshake. She also shook Seria’s hand, and then she looked at galadin.

They shake hands as well.

Vittoria suddenly got a look, and a nervous sort of air.

Vel blinked, and Uther’s mouth flapped.

The group headed toward the refuge, and they were surveyed by the guards. Vittoria confirmed they were friends, and the watch warned them not to cause any trouble. They quickly found themselves in a makeshift mercenary war camp turned fortress. There was a large tent at the center of the camp that they headed toward. There were a lot of people looking, especially at the strange alien draenei creature. There were some children, but not many.

They also heard the wailing of a baby from inside. In the old Arathi tongue, someone was talking about taking the child before she blew out their eardrums, but another gruffer woman told them to back off as she needed to get better at consoling the child. As they entered, they saw a mountain of a woman, who was rocking a child back and forth. She had long wild, dark red hair that was slightly darker than Vittoria’s, but similar. Her face was a battlefield of scars and wrinkles. She had an eyepatch over one of her eyes, and she had a sizable scar that was still visible. She stopped as she saw the group, and she was dumbstruck.

Vittoria smiled.

She took the child, and she immediately calmed down and stopped crying and coo’d gently as Vittoria bounced her. The woman looked over to the group.

The other people in the room looked to the One-Eyed Gryphon, who told them all to leave, and they quickly dispersed.

She looked at Uther, then down at the child, and smiled.

Uther took a step toward Vittoria with his arms out.

Vittoria smiled and nodded.

She gently passed the child over to Uther, and he saw a wee lass with a shock of red hair that was barely grown out. Her eyes were bright and unmistakably blue.

Uther looked from the baby to Vittoria with tears in his eyes.

Vittoria shook her head.

Uther took a deep breath.

He looked down at the child in his arms.

Vittoria wrapped her arms around uther and pressed her forehead against Uther’s.

Uther felt a small tug on his beard. He looked down, and Skye had firmly grasped it.

She smiled up at him, her eyes as blue as the sea. She cooed happily and laughed. He held his finger out, and she grabbed it. Uther looked over at Vittoria.

Vittoria looked over to the rest of the group.

Vel looked on, wide-eyed, and Luma also looked a bit wide-eyed and made eye contact with Vel. Elissa and Seria, however, raced over.

Elissa started to croon at Skye and played peekaboo. Vel started to creep forward slowly, and the child’s eyes immediately went to her and almost seemed to peer into her soul. Vel’s ears slowly flattened against her head, and the baby vaguely grabbed the air in her direction. Slowly, Vel raised her finger so the child could grab it, and the child did, but then immediately released, as her finger was frigid, but she didn’t look away.

There was insatiable curiosity in the child’s eyes. The type of curiosity that was desirable in someone that would love to learn, even beyond that of the natural wonder children had.

In the meanwhile, the One-Eyed Gryphon was watching Uther like a hawk.

Vittoria was listening, enraptured.

Uther looked over at Vel.

Vel got her faraway look again for a moment.

Uther chuckled.

She looked at Vittoria.

She sat down and leaned forward.

She gestured at Vel.

Uther immediately glanced over at Vel.

The woman clicked her tongue.

Vel nodded.

Maighread chuffed.

She took a deep breath.

She looked at the party.

Her mother nodded.

Vittoria nodded.

She looked down at Skye. There seemed to be a fear in her, as it was likely her father didn’t know about the baby, and there were enough doubts that she was worried what her father would do if he found out.

She got to her feet, and left with only a passing glance back at Vittoria.

They had some time to talk further, and Uther would meet with many of the others in the camp, though he was introduced as Angus. Siobhan was with Vittoria when she was abducted, and had gone to look for her, and eventually stayed as she didn’t want to leave her basically sister alone.

Uther told Vittoria everything that had happened, and just took time to exist as a family. Luma and Elissa opted to stay there and get to know some of the people at the refuge further. Vel and Galadin, meanwhile, got ready to go to Dalaran, and Vel used [Telepathy] to open a link with Enrian Silverfall.

There was a palpable silence that seemed to say “of course you do.”

She also projected what she currently looked like in her present disguise, so that he could more readily identify her.

Shortly after, Enrian’s voice manifested in her mind again and he started to make some small talk as he looked around for a sheltered location that Vel could use to teleport into Dalaran.

Vel channeled her magic through the scrying mirror and assessed the area that Enrian had found. Satisfied, she took Galadin’s hand, and the two of them teleported into Dalaran. They arrived in a park, not far from the diner where Aethas Sunreaver and she had once spoken in private about the warlock concerns in Dalaran, which had resulted in the conception of the Sunreavers.

Enrian bowed.

Galadin flashed Vel a look that clearly said “yeah, this guy is definitely from Silvermoon.”

Enrian smiled.

Enrian flashed another smile and headed off. Galadin looked up at Vel after the other elf was well out of earshot.

Galadin snickered.

Galadin snickered again.

Galadin looked at her, perplexed, but then he pieced it together.

Galadin reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. Vel squeezed his hand harder than he was used to her doing so. But she then released it and folded her hands neatly behind her back again.

By the time they arrived at the manor, it was near the time Rhonin would typically be arriving home after work. They had taken a seat nearby on a bench to keep an eye on the road he would be following, and they saw him arrive home. He was well-dressed in his Kirin Tor regalia, and he seemed to be conversing with various people via sending. He passed within 20 feet of them without noticing, and entered the manor.

Vel had visibly tensed, but she waited for a few moments after Rhonin entered the manor before she spoke.

The two of them got to their feet and headed over to the manor. Vel hesitated for another moment before she raised a hand to knock. As she did, her eye caught something moving in one of the windows, and she identified the shadow of the cat Mr. Bigglesworth staring down at her. Vel felt the presence in her ring skip.

Vel knocked firmly on the wood of the door. Moments later, they heard a voice from inside.

A moment later, the door opened to reveal Rhonin. He had cast away some of his robes and was just wearing a simple tunic and his coat. He looked a bit haggard, and he rubbed his forehead with the back of his arm.

He abruptly stopped when he saw Galadin.

Rhonin melted and pulled Galadin into him as he wrapped his arms around the boy.

Rhonin smiled as they pulled apart, and there were obvious tears of relief in his eyes. He stepped back to let Galadin come into the manor and then looked at Vel, who he had not recognized due to her disguise. He nodded and gestured for her to follow him inside.

Vel gave a nod in return, her claws digging into her palms behind her back as the nerves wracked at her, but she followed Rhonin inside and allowed the door to shut behind her. The scent of delicious food cooking wafted in from the kitchen.

Talath peeked out from the kitchen.

Talath ducked back into the kitchen and a few seconds later he emerged fully from the other room.

The elf’s clockwork hummingbird followed him out of the kitchen. It was ticking, as it probably had a timer set for whatever he was cooking.

He looked over at Vel, also not recognizing her.

Rhonin had turned away and was sorting through some things at a side table in the large entry way.

There was silence for a moment as Vel reached up to slowly undo the lace mask that was covering her eyes, and she allowed the minor illusory alterations to her facial features fade away. Rhonin had snapped his fingers and was sorting through a pouch of coins that had been summoned to his hand, still not looking in her direction.

He had started to count through the coins.

Rhonin froze, and the metallic sound of a coin clinking into the pouch was heard. He turned back in Vel’s direction, where he saw her with the mask held tightly in her hands, and her ears flattened nervously against the side of her skull. Talath bore an expression of pure shock and awe, completely speechless as the “stranger’s” true identity was revealed.

Rhonin interrupted her with a stern question, his voice rising.

Vel flinched, her ears still back.

She started to take a step forward, but then stopped herself.

She paused, bloody tears starting to drip down her face.

She had started to recite a fragment of a speech Rhonin had once drunkenly told to her on the eve of her birthday. He had returned from a tavern crawl, but had still ensured he had gotten home to celebrate at midnight. It had been a speech that had been years ago at this point, and she could not manage to get the rest of it out, but it was enough.

There was no reason for anyone else in the entire world to know what she had just repeated back to him. His expression changed to shock and confusion as the bag of platinum pieces crashed into the floor at his feet.

Rhonin’s arms were dropped out to his sides.

Rhonin chuffed mirthlessly.

Rhonin chuffed again.

Rhonin took a few steps back towards her.

Vel shook her head. Rhonin brushed some hair out of her face and used magic to clear the streaks of blood away.

More tears had started to seep down her face.

Rhonin laughed weakly.

He trailed off, realizing what he was about to say.

Vel nodded, and Rhonin gestured in the direction of the study.

Rhonin moved over to pick up the gold he had dropped, and he murmured to himself that it was days like today that made him wish he didn’t stop drinking. Vel said she was proud of him for that too.

Talath cleared his throat.

Talath nodded.

Talath turned around to put a pot on, but he stopped at the doorway and turned around to give Vel a small smile.

Later that evening, Raluhi had come home and called out a hello to everyone. He mused that whatever Talath was cooking smelled wonderful, and he apologized for being late as he had someone come late to the shop. He was fumbling around as he entered, but then he saw Vel and stopped.

His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he promptly fainted. Vel hurried over to check on him and bring him too again. He opened his eyes and promptly asked her if he had lost his mind and was starting the descent into becoming lost, but Vel assured him that he didn’t and she was in fact there. She also assured him that Remnii was also okay and with her people.

Raluhi suddenly moved to pull Vel into a hug. Vel hugged him back, more tightly than she would normally, and she happened to glimpse Rhonin who had come in to also check on Raluhi. There was a look of guilt on his face.

Vel bit her lip, and she cautiously explained the situation to Raluhi, who was taken aback for a moment, but he asked if Remnii knew. Vel confirmed she did, and Raluhi said simply that if Remnii had not passed judgment on her, then he wouldn’t either. He assured her that as long as she was Velameestra, she’d be welcome in her own home as far as he was concerned. He thanked Vel for looking out for Remnii, and Vel assured him that she was with her father.

While Vel and he were talking, he had picked up on the nervous looks Vel had cast in Rhonin’s direction while he busied himself with his own business, and Raluhi lowered his voice.

Vel nodded in acknowledgement.

Later on, after dinner, while Vel was sitting on her couch in the study, she heard the mewling voice of Bigglesworth as he strolled into the study.

He jumped onto the back of the couch.

In Vel’s head, Kel’Thuzad was all but squeeing about his cat as he murmured about how much he missed Bigglesworth cleaning his paws and how adorable he was. Vel assured Bigglesworth that Kel’Thuzad was quite happy to see him.

Bigglesworth was pleased by the confirmed, and also expressed that he trusted Vel was pleased to be returned to him as well, and Vel confirmed she was, and that she could now understand him. Bigglesworth said he noticed and that he was sure it was one of the most captivating gifts of her transformation.

However, he mused he had also heard vampyrs required permission to answer a residence, which Vel confirmed. Bigglesworth also mentioned he had heard such permission could be rescinded by the owner of such a residence.

Bigglesworth climbed up on her lap and started to make biscuits in it.

Bigglesworth fully settled into a loaf in her lap.

Vel started to pet Bigglesworth, who purred contentedly. Over their mental link, Vel informed Kel’Thuzad that his familiar was blackmailing her, and Kel’Thuzad crooned about how smart he was. He assured her that Bigglesworth would never rescind permission for long, however, as he doubted he’d want to be away from him for that long.

Kel’Thuzad asked Vel if she was doing alright, and Vel acknowledged the reunion went better than she had dreaded, so that was ultimately a positive.

Vel asked Kel’Thuzad if he wanted her to see if Bigglesworth wanted a kiss on his forehead, and Kel’Thuzad said he would. Vel asked Bigglesworth if he wanted a kiss on his forehead, and Bigglesworth said he would allow it. Thus, Vel kissed him on his forehead, which left a small smear of dark lipstick–a sight that caused Kel’Thuzad to completely lose it in delight.

September 27th

The following morning, before Rhonin went to his classes, they made an arrangement to meet at the Bank of Dalaran after class so they could go through Krasus’s vault in the hopes that maybe Vel could find something he missed.

Rhonin told her that if anything happened in the meanwhile, he wanted her to message him, and she assured him that she still had her sending stone.

He forced himself to leave before he wound up late.

Rhonin hesitated in the doorway.

He gave her an uncertain but warm smile before he left. Vel had used the opportunity of the day to meet up with Enrian and get some shopping down.

Later in the evening, Vel met up with Rhonin at the Bank of Dalaran after classes were over for the day.

Vel smiled at him.

Rhonin smirks, and then chuckles at the fact that Dalaran was presently literally floating.

Rhonin led Vel inside and spoke to one of the tellers. Before long, a white-haired goblin with thick and heavy glasses entered.

She then glanced over at Vel and paused.

Glutonia looked at Vel again.

With a flick of her wrist, the goblin produced a requisite form.

Rhonin signed the form.

She snapped her fingers, and a powerful dispel magic from the bank itself washed over Rhonin. She then looked at Vel again.

She turned to walk away with a wide, sharp-toothed smile. Rhonin sighed as she watched her leave.

They passed through a door and entered into a chamber where there was a specialized teleportation circle. They were given a small piece of stonework as a ticket that was keyed into the proper safety deposit box. Rhonin grabbed Vel’s hand, and they were warped into another chamber that was about the size of a typical demiplane. Inside was Krasus’s extra belongings. It seemed to have been poured through, and there were some documents as well as a desk with magical bits and bobs that belonged to him. The thing that caught Vel’s eye the most was a plant that was well taken care of, despite the fact it was inside the demiplane. There was a driftglobe hovering above the plant, providing it with the light it needed. It was a dragonleaf tree.

Vel went over to look at it.

Vel noticed, however, noticed an illusion that was hiding something on the bark of the tree. There was a symbol that was the same as Gil’s tattoo, and it was covered with an illusion.

Vel reached out to use [Identify], and as she touched it, a projection of Krasus materialized behind her in the opening of the room. Rhonin jumped.

The spell ended.

Rhonin chuckled quietly, but then realization dawned.

Rhonin gave Vel a gentle squeeze on her shoulder and they headed back to the manor.

September 28th

The next day, Vel got ready to say goodbye to her loved ones. Galadin was going to stay in Dalaran for a little bit, but he eventually wanted to go back to Karazhan so he could help. Rhonin had agreed to let him help as long as he promised to keep up his studies, and as long as Vel ensured Galadin did so. Everything Galadin helped with also had to be okayed by Vel, because Rhonin trusted Vel to ensure her younger cousin stayed out of trouble.

Rhonin moved in to give Vel a hug, she hugged him very tightly back. It wasn’t the best hug he had ever given her. He was still very clearly nervous, but he also wanted the hug. Vel purposely put her face against his chest instead of over his shoulder, ensuring her fangs were far away from his throat so that he wasn’t even more nervous.

After the hug ended, Vel bid one last farewell, and teleported back to Karazhan.

Meanwhile, Uther also bid farewell to the friends he had made at the refuge, as well as Vittoria, and Skye.

Vittoria gave Uther another kiss.

Skye burbled happily up at them.

Vittoria took Uther’s hand.

Uther reached his hand up to his face and rubbed his eyes to smudge away any moisture as he gazed down at his child.

Vittoria walked Uther to the tree alongside the others. They stepped through the tree once more, and the last thing Uther saw was his beloved Vittoria smiling at him, and gently having their daughter wave goodbye.

They arrived back at Karazhan, ready for whatever happened next. They rejoined with Vel.

Vel and Uther both knew the Whispering Forest was the forest that dominated the mountainous region to the east of Lordaeron. It was near Tirisfal Lake, which was somewhat close to the actual ocean. It was sparsely populated, and the folk there were somewhat grim. It was believed that the place was haunted, and the reason it was sparsely populated was because no one in their right mind would live there. Vel, however, had read a fair amount about the region out of curiosity. The First Stone of Silvermoon had made reference to someplace similar to the Whispering Woods. It even said the woods were dark and endless in a way that drew her attention. The fact that Krasus had made reference to his lair being in old highborne ruins was also incredibly interesting. There were also legends that the Council of Tirisfal had met there to empower the first Guardians.

The group got ready to go, as Vel suggested that they try to teleport as close as possible and then focused on the coast of Fenris Isle in Lordamere Lake. She launched them through the leylines toward Fenris Isle. However, she sensed them move past Fenris Keep, and she cursed and tried to stop the spell.

She felt some arcane tearing, and they appeared in a burst of magic that shot them into an empty glade. Woodland creatures immediately fled from their arrival, and they felt wobbly, but they did arrive.

This page was last edited on April 22, 2024, at 04:54 PM

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