[Horde] Chapter Four: Session Fifteen

Appearing Characters: Altruis Shadowsong, Arthak Saurfang, Azgadaan, Azuka Stormbreaker, Dornaa, Durak, Geya’rah, Go'el, Halno, Karg Bloodfury, Kaviir, Kroll Gravenight, Lantresor, Laroki, Levia Blackflight, Lokra, Nethrandamus, Nyxxa, Palkar, Phaedra, Rexxar, Sadras, Sorak Thunderforged, Thelamis, Veena

Outland Day 16

The [Haste] spell subsides and a wave of fatigue washes over Nyxxa. She stands over the slain husk of the rogue demon hunter, and her tattoos pulse with power as the power she had consumed from him consolidates itself within her own being. It’s euphoric, but she is able to maintain her senses.

Azgadaan had caught up with her, and Nyxxa nods.

She looks down at the body.

Nyxxa pats him on the shoulder.

Azgadaan goes to grab the dead elf by the scruff, but Nyxxa darts in and gives the eredar a quick hug

Azgadaan hugs her back and then they both start to head back to the group with the dead demon hunter in tow.

Nyxxa scratches her head.

Nyxxa hears cackling laughter in the back of her head.

Nyxxa nods and does a quick sweep, but there didn’t seem to be any sign of drops or signals to his fellows. He was more focused on trying to escape.

Meanwhile, with the rest of the group, Sadras comes paddling over to where Arthak had shrank back down in the water.

Arthak grunts.

Sadras throws an arm around him to help back to the shore while tapping into her healing magics to patch up some of the more grievous injuries. A wafting, greenish-yellow wind swirls around him. The pond was quite a bit shallower than it was before, and steam was rushing all over the area from the heat of the three infernals that had been dropped into it. Rexxar and Lantresor were waiting to help Arthak out, and Altruis lay in the water for a moment to just stare at the sky. His headband was floating in the water nearby.

Azuka ran up to Arthak and Sadras quickly recruited her to help look over some of Arthak’s more severe wounds.

Levia was leaning against a cliff-face, her wings out and her face vacant and she was just trying to take in what exactly had happened. Arthak looked over at her.

Levia blinks twice and nods, clearly confused.

Nyxxa and Azagadaan return before too long, and Nyxxa immediately raced over to hug Levia. She was shrugging off her jacket and it seemed to be caught on one of her wings.

Azgadaan holds the corpse up.

Levia kneeled down and drew her sword to start to cut more room into the wing holes that were present on them.

Upon hearing Nyxxa arrive, Altruis scaled the edge of the cliff. He had a fair amount of cuts and bruises, but seemed to be moving well enough. He clapped his hands together as he stood up from the edge.

Altruis crouched next to the corpse of one of the felbats.

Nyxxa held out her hand, and Altruis looked at it, then back at Nyxxa, and then to everyone else–specifically Azgadaan and Levia, but he smirked and took it.

Nyxxa shrugged.

Nyxxa nodded.

Altruis chuckled.

Altruis looked around again and switched to orcish.

Nyxxed nodded.

She pointed at Halno.

Halno gave a sarcastic, drawn out wave, and Altruis’s brow raised.

He placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled before calling out.

The nether drake that was circling in the air started to drop and landed nearby the group with a powerful beat of its wings.

The nether drake nodded.

Altruis had started to bind some of his injuries.

Nyxxa gave a thumbs up.

Altruis chuckled.

He whistled.

Before too long, Rexxar’s massive boar appeared, his tusks stained with bright green blood. He snorted and quickly set to work snuffling around to make sure nothing would remain.

Nyxxa approached Arthak to see if he wanted to be part of the conversation given the fact he was trying to keep plausible deniability, and Arthak glanced at Nyxxa and then back at Altruis.

He grunted as he got to his feet and moved away to ensure he couldn’t hear anything that was being spoken about.

The group settled down to rest while they spoke and Nyxxa informed Levia that she had consumed the soul of the demon hunter that had fled.

Nyxxa got up and walked over to Altruis.

Altruis raised an eyebrow.

Altruis smiled.

Altruis furrowed his brow.

Nyxxa nodded.

Nyxxa quickly summarized what had happened in Silvermoon as well as explained why Caria was specifically mad at her.

Altruis smiled again.

Altruis chuckled.

She looked over at Rexxar.

Rexxar looked at Nyxxa and squinted, and it’s evident that he probably didn’t know what “collusion” meant.

Rexxar went off to tend to his own business and to make sure Arthak didn’t wander off. Altruis looked at Nyxxa.

Nyxxa nodded.

Altruis looked over at Azgadaan.

Azgdaaan said he wasn’t sure of anything personally, though theoretically he supposed it could be possible.

Altruis shakes his head.

Nyxxa looks over at Veena.

Altruis crosses his arms and shrugs.

Azgadaam offers to get Veena’s opinion and casts speak with plants. Altruis watches curiously. Veena was just listening and humming along and didn’t seem to have much to add.

He smirks at Nyxxa, who pats Azgadaan’s shoulder.

Azgadaan pulls her into a quick side hug.

Altruis furrowed his brow.

Nyxxa nodded.

Nyxxa glanced at Sadras.

Altruis nodded.

Nyxxa pointed in the direction Arthak had disappeared into.

Altruis glanced over in Arthak’s direction.

Nyxxa pursed her lips and looked at the gathered group.

Nyxxa nodded.

Altruis shrugged.

Azgadaan considers the possibilities, but he can’t think of any examples of random portals or time gates or anything that would even breach the possibility of getting Broxigar back to that time frame on a completely different planet.

Nyxxa shrugged.

Nyxxa nodded.

Nyxxa shook her head.

He glanced at Azgadaan.

Azgadaan shifted into the form of a satyr, and Altruis nodded.

Nyxxa nodded.

Nyxxa nodded and handed the coin over to Altruis. Azgadaan tried to recall the name Demos, but he didn’t know the name specifically. However, he could wager that the eredar was probably a member of the same organization that was in charge of all the artifice. However, he was not one of the leaders.

Altruis looked over the group.

Nethrandamus looked at Nyxxa and shook his head.

Nyxxa quickly gave an explanation of Sinestra and the two missing dragons she was experimenting on. Azgadaan used magic to shape the earth and show Altruis the symbol of the orcish group that had been working with the dragoness.

Nyxxa nodded.

Nyxxa nodded and smiled up at the dragon as she realized this was functionally a child.

Altruis chuckled.

Nyxxa glanced at both Levia and Azgadaan.

Nyxxa nodded.

He glanced at Azgadaan.

Azgadaan nodded.

Altruis looked back to Nyxxa.

Nyxxa nodded.

Altruis put a hand on the dragon’s flank and asked if he was ready to head out. The dragon nodded. Azgadaan asked if Altruis wanted the extra sending stone he had, and Altruis agreed that might be useful. He held his hand out and Azgadaan dropped the stone into it and explained it was connected to anyone in the group.

He stroked the side of the nether drake’s neck and the two of them took off to the skies and headed toward the southwest.

Nyxxa shrugged.

Azgadaan moved over to the lake and shifted some of the dirt under the the stones of the inert infernals with magic to sink them a bit further beneath the water. Lantresor was fairly quiet during the entire exchange, as was Azuka. They were just taking in everything.

Sadras seemed to be in pretty good spirits and enjoyed hearing things from Altruis.

She was subtly indicating Khadgar.

Nyxxa did use her stone to send Altruis the news that Loramus was trailing around with a small squad of new recruits and there was just a chuckle on the other end as Altruis mused that he was sure Loramus was very happy about that, but it was a good thing as they needed more numbers.

While Arthak was smoking, Rexxar eventually came over and sat down on a stone nearby.

Rexxar chuffed.

Rexxar muses on that thought for a while. As they saw the nether drake take off, Rexxar commented that the others seemed to finally be finished with their chat.

Between the dread raven, the wolves, and the giant boar, the animals had seemingly disposed of the greater part of the bodies. They return to the group and Rexxar asked if they enjoyed their chat, and Nyxxa nodded, beaming.

They decided to make themselves scarce and continue traveling for another three hours to make their way toward Garadar.

With Rexxar’s assistance, Nyxxa was able to navigate fairly well as Azgadaan drove the crew through the rolling hills and plains. Before too long, they heard the sound of birds cawing at each other. They came to an inlet and they found trails that indicated the passage of wild creatures. As they rounded a cliff edge, they saw large nests with creatures that were fighting over a piece of meat. They had large wings, but also had long legs and resembled flightless birds. Their beaks had large, bony protrusions that looked like curved blades. The two that were fighting got the others in the area rustled up, and they were likely two large male birds that were both trying to impress a female.

The two males broke off from each other when the piece of meat ripped, and they both slammed their beaks into the rock with a territorial display.

Azgadaan tried to navigate the vehicle quietly around the cliffs and nests, but a stone rolled off and plunked off the roof of the vehicle. They heard louder squawking and screeching and the birds were all flaring out their wings. Some of the birds hopped down and began to surround the vehicle and slam their beaks into the ground. One landed on top and also crashed its beak off the vehicle’s roof.

Azgadaan cast a flight spell on himself, which also washed through the vehicle. The vehicle took off, and there was some scraping from on top as the bird slid down onto the windshield. Azgadaan dipped down to drop the bird off, and Sadras used her magic to convince the creature to drop off while it had the chance. A few more of the birds pecked at the vehicle, but Azgadaan was able to take off and left the birds behind.

After a few minutes of flying, they landed again and continued on their way, but there was a heavy feeling in the air. Sadras utilized [Druidcraft] and she warned the group that it seemed they were going to be getting some heavy winds soon. They decided to bunk down and wait out the storm, and they were able to find a safe nook. Before long, the winds started to howl viciously. In the distance, they could see localized twisters in the area.

They set up watches for the rest period, and the sound of the moaning winds only intensified. The winds continued for many hours and into the next day.

While they were sitting, Azgadaan asked Arthak if he was willing to talk about what he told them a few days prior. Arthak confirmed he was.

Their minds both wander to Broxigar, who was apparently a time traveling orc.

Nyxxa also mentioned that she wanted to follow up with Arthak, and he agreed to just get it all out of the way.

Nyxxa shrugged.

Nyxxa smiled.

Nyxxa thanks Arthak again as their conversation falls into comfortable silence.

Outland Day 17

The next day, the group wakes and waits through the windstorm. With time, it slows, and they start to head out. Azgadaan had sent Kroll to inform them they were on their way, and he informs them they would find him on the edge of Skysong.

They can see the crystalline water as it pours sin from the mountains to the north. In the distance, on a large islet in the middle of the lake, there are a number of stones jutting upward which Arthak is able to identify as the Throne of the Elements. There are clefthooves drinking from the edge of the lake, and there are beautiful creatures swimming through the waters.

The better part of a mile or two away, there is a small hovel with an orcish tent, which likely belongs to Kroll. As they approach, they also notice a delta at the edge of where the lake transitions into a tributary. There are beautiful, arching stones that spiral up in an unnatural manner and form a platform that has been broken into shards. It almost looks like a ribcage that roils upward, and there are trees growing amidst them.

They wait for a moment as they approach, and there’s no movement, but as they climb out of the vehicle, the flap of the tent moves, and they see a familiar, hunched, mag’har orc emerge. He is rubbing his eyes with his other hand as he yawns.

He watches the group emerge, and he smiles.

Nyxxa immediately runs for Kroll and hugs him.

Nyxxa disentangles herself and Kroll looks to the rest.

He approaches Sadras and pulls her into a hug.

Kroll tussles her hair.

He greets Lantresor as well, and then looks to Levia, Halno, and Rexxar.

Nyxxa nods.

Rexxar rolls his eyes.

He looks to Halno, who charges him and gives him a hug.

Kroll mentally goes through people.

He gives Halno a wink and looks back to the group.

He whispers something under his breath, and translucent spirits start to waft around and fold up his belongings and pack them away. Halno taps Nyxxa’s shoulder.

The rest of the group start to get the things out of the vehicle and pack them in the portable hole and other bags. He then dismisses the vehicle.

Kroll then leads them to the delta, and he taps his staff on the edge of the water. It starts to freeze just on the top of the river, letting the river continue to flow beneath.

On closer examination, the group notes the land is broken in some places. Water has filled micro channels within the delta.

Kroll takes his staff and kneels on the ground. He starts to speak in a language the rest of the group doesn’t recognize. The earth starts to tremble, and the dirt starts to move aside. Slowly but surely, a seven-foot-diameter disc of stone emerges, and pillars rise from beneath the group and lift them up. They go up, and up, and up as the ground beneath them disappears. After about 120-150 feet in the air, it begins to slow, and then the pillars stop.

There is nothing around them.

Kroll grins and holds a hand out. He speaks a phrase in draenic, and there’s a moment where the air 100-200 feet above them starts to shift as the clouds gather, and the air shimmers. Where there was nothing, an earth mote appears in the sky. Water is pouring from a precipice, but somehow even where it hits the lake down below had been hidden. As the group looks, they see a rough-hewn staircase that leads to nowhere, and the pillars beneath them rumble, and recede, leaving only the discs they are standing on. The discs meet each other and fuse, that then moves to the edge of the staircase.

The platform connects to the staircase, and as the last person steps onto the stairs, the stone melts away and fuses into the earth mote they are standing upon.

Kroll gets a melancholic look.

Kroll gestures for the group to start following him.

As the group climbs the spiraling staircase, they can see a figure standing near the top of the stairs. They are an orc, but unmoving. As they get closer, they can tell they are stone. It may have been a statue, but it was far too detailed for that. The man stands with his hands aloft as if he’s casting a spell, and there is no suffering or pain on his face, but instead there is pride and acceptance. As they look beyond, every hundred or so feet, there are other similar figures.

Kroll places a hand on the shoulder of the stone figure.

Kroll doesn’t answer, but there is a subtle nod of a head.

He looks over, to figures a few hundred feet away. One has the distinctive silhouette of a Frostwolf, and another figure leaning against its side.

The rough paths lead toward the center of town where they can see an abundance of huts. They are humble, but sizeable enough to easily house over 100 people, or even 200 to 300. There are orcs going about their everyday business. All of them are mag’har.

Hovering above a central brazier is a familiar sight: it’s a narrow crystal, one that is a bright viridian green. It may be one of the ata’mal crystals, potentially Leafshadow.

Kroll looks to Sadras.

Arthak is looking at the figure sitting next to the statue in the distance. The rest of the group opts to follow after Kroll. Several of the mag’har greet Kroll eagerly as they note their arrival. Sadras is looking around as the group enters the small town, and then she stops and lights up. She starts to run, Summerpaw loping after her. Another greenskinned orc had emerged from a larger tent--tall and imperious looking, though with more grey in her hair than before. It’s Lokra, Sadras’s mother.

Sadras throws her arms around her mother, who has a shocked and surprised expression.

Lokra and Sadras push their foreheads together. After a moment, they break off and Summerpaw noses her way in as well.

There is a degree of sadness to her.

Lokra’s eyes close.

Sadras looks beside herself.

There is some commotion from the tent behind them.

Another orc emerges. It’s Sadras’s father, Karg Bloodfury, but he is more maimed than he was before. Both his right arm and leg are missing, and the brown hair and sideburns seem to be only on the left side of his face--there is a lot of scarring on the right side of his face, seemingly from burns.

Karg looks up to Sadras, and pushes himself up.

Another greenskin orc, Palkar, who had left with Go’el emerges with a crutch-like walking stick. Karg grabs it, and then moves forward to embrace Sadras.

She embraces him tightly.

Karg looks quite concerned.

Sorak seems no worse for wear, and he moves forward and lightly punches Sadras in the shoulder.

She returns the punch harder than he anticipated. Sorak rubs his arm.

Lokra looks to the rest of the group and invites them to join them for a dinner that was being prepared.

Nyxxa bows.

Azgadaan pulls a bag out and jingles it.

Palkar takes the bag.

Kroll informs the group that he has some lodgings prepared for them as well, and Nyxxa thanks him.

Sadras looks to her mother.

She gestures to the crystal.

Lokra nods.

Summerpaw and Wintermaw have since greeted each other with no small amount of licks and general happiness.

Meanwhile, Arthak had started to approach the distant figure of Go’el. He looks at each frozen shaman as he passes, and in the process, he sees another statue. It’s one of an older orc woman, and there is a young orc girl leaning up against it, covered in a leather blanket that has fallen off of her a bit. She seems to be sleeping against the statue. She looks to be 12-14, around the same age as Azuka. There is a young frostwolf sprawled out on its side near her.

Arthak doesn’t recognize any sort of family resemblance, but he looks up at the statue of the orc woman, and he sees some similarities between Durotan and Go’el. She was likely the late Great Mother Geyah.

Arthak tries to walk slowly by, and he manages to avoid disturbing the young orc’s rest. The frostwolf had opened an eye and is watching Arthak, but he doesn’t move.

Arthak continues to the other statue, and lo-and-behold, he sees Go’el. He is wearing simple leather trousers, his gear strewn about nearby, and his hair out and unbraided. Snowfang is curled near him. Go’el almost double-takes as Arthak approaches.

Go’el exhales, and his shoulders sink.

Go’el glances back to the statue.

The statue’s hands are outstretched, and Arthak sees a strong and quite beautiful young orc. Her hair is frozen in a perpetual wild state, fluttering behind her in an unseen wind. There is an imperious determination in her eyes, as well as an understanding and acceptance.

Go’el gets up and puts a hand on Arthak’s shoulder.

Go’el thinks for a moment, staring off the edge of the mote and across the sprawling plains of Nagrand below.

Go’el takes a deep breath.

Go’el reaches out and puts a hand on Arthak’s shoulder again.

He musses up Snowfang’s fur, who yawns, stands up, and then shakes.

Go’el looks past Arthak’s shoulder.

Go’el nods.

Go’el smiles.

There is a warmth that creases Go’el’s eyes.

Go’el gives him a gentle jab on the shoulder.

Go’el guides Arthak over to the sleeping orc, and he kneels down and gentle brushes her hair out of her face.

The young orc’s ear twitches, and she yawns as her eyes flutter open. She has Go’el’s eyes.

She looks at Arthak.

Geya’arah’s eyes sparkle.

Go’el smirks.

He gives a small laugh, and Geya’rah and her wolf get up and gather her stuff to head off to town.

In the meanwhile, Nyxxa is showing Kroll all her woodworking, and she presents a gift a wooden hair stick she made for him.

Sadras and Azgadaan, with Azuka, had gone to find the kids. Sadras stands a bit outside, and shakes the cloth of the tent.

There is some talking back and forth in draenic, and a young draenei comes to the entrance. It’s Dornaa who excitedly pulls back the entrance. She’s grown quite a bit, having hit a growth spurt, and her clothes are orcish in make. She’s not as tall as Sadras, but she got a good deal of height since the last time they saw her.

She throws her arms around Sadras.

Dornaa looks up at Azgadaan.

Another voice calls from behind Dornaa.

The curtain parts again, revealing Phaedra.

There is the sound of a baby crying.

A bald krokul emerges.

Azgadaan takes his helmet off.

A female krokul emerges with a baby in her arms. She is holding it close to her chest.

Phaedra rolls her eyes.

Thelamis shoots daggers at Phaedra with a glance.

She pulls the baby a bit from her chest so that Azgadaan can look. He had never seen a draenei child before, but he had seen eredar children before. While he had also not seen a krokul baby before, the baby looks more like an eredar child than anything else. There are some feature that might be affected by the krokul lineage, but it definitely does not seem that the baby is a krokul--it looks closer to an unbroken draenei than not.

He affectionately nudges his mate, who does a mock upset.

Dornaa grabs Azgadaan and Sadras.

Phaedra clams up for a moment.

Phaedra narrows her eyes.

Phaedra gives a nod, then turns back to the other krokul. They speak back and forth in draenic, seemingly a serious conversation, but details can’t be made out.

They head back through the center of town just as Arthak, Go’el, and Geya’rah are returning.

Dornaa waves eagerly at them, and Sadras goes to give Go’el a hug. He introduces Sadras to his daughter.

They immediately go into a bubbling conversation, which Dornaa eagerly enters as well. Food is being brought out, and the scent of a delicious meal starts to waft over them. Another younger orc also emerges--similar in age to the other other young orcs. He has a scowl on his face as he moves toward the gathered group.

Go’el stops and looks.

Durak looks to his father and sighs.

Durak turns.

His sister hurries to help as well. Sadras’s eyes meets with the two young orcs, and then with Arthak.

This page was last edited on May 27, 2024, at 07:06 PM

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