[Horde] Chapter Four: Session Six

Appearing Characters: Allari Elburn, Arthak Saurfang, Azgadaan, Azuka Stormbreaker, Gargolmar, Halno, Kayn Sunfury, Lantresor, Levia Blackflight, Loramus Thalipedes, Mannoroth, Nyxxa, Kalec, Khadgar, Rakeesh, Sadras, Sevis Brightflame, Tyri, Veena, Velhari, Zaeneas Emberlight

Outland Day 3

Khadgar’s brow furrows, one hand on his hip and the other on his staff.

Khadgar pinches his brow and sighs.

He looks back to Kalec and Tyri and informs them they should know better than to tell anyone else about the meeting, and they nod. Khadgar sighs and looks back to the group.

Nyxxa claps her hands together.

Khadgar raises his brow.

She looks at Halno.

Nyxxa nods.

Her eyes look to Kalec and Tyri.

She regathers herself. Kalec nods in agreement.

Nyxxa nods.

Kalec nods.

Kalec nods.

Azgadaan tell that neither Kalec nor Tyri are good at hiding information, but Tyri less so. It’s clear they have a vested interest in dragons, and they aren’t telling them everything. However, they seem to be willing to trust the group somewhat because Khadgar is willing to.

Kalec takes the map Azgadaan offers and Azgadaan also states he had created a spell to aid in mapping, if Halno was willing to share it.

With a flick of her hand, a quill appears in the elven woman’s hand and she starts to do some calculations. Meanwhile, Kalec takes some notes on the spell in Halno’s book, and meanwhile, Nyxxa touches base with the others in the group to ensure they are alright with a theoretical rescue mission. No one seems to be opposed.

Halno’s eyes go to the quill Tyri conjured.

Kalec, meanwhile, is fascinated by the spell that Azgadaan had proctored as he looked at Halno’s book, and he muses he can also help pinpoint the group in the direction of some of the nests. However, notably, Kalec is able to copy the spell with a great deal of speed.

Halno is fascinated, and Kalec and Tyri have been consistently sharing looks and then looking back to Halno and the demons with an equal degree of interest. Halno gets the sense that Tyri and Kalec are communicating nonverbally.

Halno quirks his head at them. Tyri immediately gets flustered, but Kalec chuckles.

Tyri had given a very rough sketch of the map with a few circled areas and notations in common.

Her hands are on her hips. Halno looks between her, Kalec, and Tyri’s spellbook.

Kalec looks apologetic, but not undermining, and Khadgar is just observing.

A swirl of icy magic appears in Tyri’s hands, and a teardrop seems to drip from her eye. She starts to warp some magic around the tear, and it solidifies in a teardrop-shaped stone she flicks at Halno.

It seems that Tyri used a temporary infusing ability to conjure a short-term use sending stone. She may have some artificing ability.

Tyri gets flustered for a moment.

Halno scratches his chin and sticks the stone in his pocket.

Halno holds out his scepter.

Almost in unison, Khadgar, Kalec, and Tyri’s eyes all spark with magic as they look at the scepter. Azgadaan starts laughing.

Tyri looks a bit disturbed, but Kalec furrows his brow.

Kalec nods.

Tyri nods as well, and she casts the flying spell on the pair of them and they then turn invisible and take off. Khadgar watches them go.

He nods at the group before stepping aside with Nyxxa.

He pulls out a small, hand-carved wooden raven, which Khadgar takes and chuckles.

She flaps her hands like a bird.

Khadgar laughs.

Khadgar puts the pin on his robs.

Nyxxa’s tail wags tentatively.

Nyxxa looks sad.

Khadgar reassures, and Nyxxa’s spirits start to rise again.

Khadgar cocks his head, and then looks back at the group, starting to piece things together.

Nyxxa nods.

Khadgar smiles and puts a hand on her shoulder.

He bids farewell to her and the rest of the group, and he swirls his staff around, and in a billow of smoke, he transforms into a raven, lands on Nyxxa’s horn for a second, and then takes off toward Honor Hold.

Levia smirks at Nyxxa.

Levia laughs.

Halno casts sending, targeting Loramus.

He just gets a grunt in response.

He looks at Sadras, and Sadras snickers.

Halno informs Arthak via sending that they have further business in the area they were in, so it would be a bit until they return. Arthak assures him he will keep busy.

The group sneaks away from the area and takes off to head towards the south For about four hours, the drive is uneventful. However, the canyons and divots start to narrow, and they get thicker with blasted foliage and blasted rocks. The damage seems to be different. Rather than the blasted hellscape of the firestorms, the land has remnants of a swamp. However, whatever this place once looked like has clearly changed.

There are blackened trees with crippled veins of bright green that eek up the dead bark, and the water burns with teeming, bright green, acidic rivers. It slows the travel a bit. They notice quickly that the water is incredibly acidic, and may even do damage to the vehicle if they sank into any of the marsh.

They find themselves in a small clearing dilapidated by an ancient battle. But there are also signs of a recent battle. Skulls and bones are cut to pieces, the skeletons of orcs carved to bits. There are torched remnants of an orcish camp, and a collapsed canyon with stones scorched by fel fire.

However, it’s clear this battle will be very quickly resolved. The red and violet blur of Loramus is darting around, cleaving through risen remains of orcish skeletons. The blades cleave directly through the bodies, and he then hurls the glaive at the remaining two skeletons--decapitating them--before the glaive returns to his hand.

Loramus looks toward the vehicle, and his eyes flare with fel fire beneath his deep violet scrim.

The vehicle stops, and some of the group piles out.

She offers a wave.

Azgadaan had seen inquisitor demons before, but not often. They are reclusive, and dangerous. They are the de facto leaders of the inquisitorial division of the Legion. They are mysterious and have the ability to pry secrets from even the most strong-willed. They are incredibly unnerving, and they work closely with jailer demons--hulking brute torturers. The name, however, is unfamiliar.

The jailer demons, Azgadaan knows, are more of a public face. They are brutes, and are large and powerful fiends that are as cruel as they are strong. If they grab you, they will try to cage you, and if they cage you… that’s bad. They are incredibly dangerous in short range.

Azgadaan offers this information to the group.

Nyxxa looks at Loramus.

Nyxxa nods.

The group briefly talks of their plan, which involves Nyxxa scouting and Azgadaan using his clout to perhaps get the rest closer.

Loramus looks at Azgadaan.

Loramus sheathes his glaives and disappears into the trees to follow. The group creeps closer to find a good place to camp for the night. The vehicle takes some damage from the swamp, and some does slosh inside, splashing some of the party in the process

All of a sudden, the vehicle comes to a halt as it slams into something, and they can hear something turning, and sounds on top of the vehicle. The back doors swing open, and there are two elves. One has a bow drawn, and the second has two knives.

The first elf has long black hair that is tied back--it’s Kayn Sunfury. The second one is a younger elf with long, messy gold hair and a scar over one of his eyes.

Nyxxa holds her hands up and leaps in front of the rest of the party.

Kayn points the weapon right at Nyxxa, and his eyes widen. He instinctively lets the arrow fly, and Nyxxa grabs it out of the air.

Then Kayn lowers the bow.

Kayn grabs the arms of his fellow.

Nyxxa climbs out of the vehicle to meet them.

Meanwhile, back with Arthak and Azuka, they had rested and continue onward to the basin around Hellfire Citadel. The fortifications have spilled into the courtyard, and there are orcs and demons alike visible all around the fortress.

However, Arthak chooses to go first to where Dranosh had been put to rest. Or at least try to. However, things are different. For a bit, he starts to believe that Dranosh’s memorial was just gone. Until Azuka finds a small, smooth stone beneath the reddish dirt.

Arthak kneels down and brushes the dust off the stone. It’s a small cairn. Upon it, engraved, he can see the small words that Varok had written. Some of them are gone, but the name is still there.

Arthak stands there, looking at the stone in contemplation. Veena flits down and reaches out. She places a twig-like hand on Arthak’s armored bicep. She looks at Arthak, her five eyes blinking.

Arthak looks at Veena, and then nods.

Veena looks down, and the petals of her wings rub together in a quiet, almost solemn song. She tentatively reaches out and touches the stone, and there is a soft glow of violet, pink energy. Moss begins to grow over the rock, accentuating the writing. Lavender lichen is nestled in with the green.

Arthak grunts.

Azuka’s hand reaches forward and brushes against the plates of her armor, but she retracts the hand. She opts to back off to give Arthak some privacy, and calls for Veena to follow her.

Arthak stands there for a few minutes.

Arthak stands in silence for another couple moments then turns to walk away. Summerpaw senses a mournful presence and she rears her head back and howls, and then nuzzles close to Arthak.

Veena flutters before Arthak’s face and nods in understanding. Azuka looks up at the citadel.

Veena nods again and then flutters up and away, leaving just Azuka, Arthak, and Summerpaw. A number of rylaks and felbats with riders seem to have been drawn to Summerpaw’s howl, and they are watching the group.

Arthak observes them for a moment, but then starts to head toward the main gate of Hellfire. A felbat starts to swoop down. About 100 feet from the gate, he can see the felbat land. A fel orc dressed in golden steel armor arrives on its back. He is missing both hands, one replaced with a blade, and the other replaced with a chain wrapped around the felbat’s neck.

As the felbat swoops low, the fel orc released the chain, and it retracts into the contraption on his arm, allowing him to land beneath it. He is covered in ornate scarrations. He laughs.

The orc starts to cackle.

Gargolmar smiles and approaches.

He gestures to the citadel.

The doors behind Gargolmar open, and his teeth grit.

Arthak sees a familiar figure--the crimson skin and imperious visage of the fallen vindicator, Velhari.

The fel orc growls, but bows his head.

Another figure steps out next to Velhari. It’s another eredar with deep violet skin. He isn’t wearing the same armor, but instead he has more simple garb. It’s Rakeesh.

Rakeesh looks back to Velhari.

Rakeesh steps down the rampart.

As he passes Arthak, he puts a hand on Arthak’s shoulder, and he mentally presses against his mind. Arthak allows the connection.

Arthak gives him a shallow nod.

Rakeesh smiles, and then continues down the rampart.

Meanwhile, Arthak walks past the fel orc.

Arthak enters the citadel after requesting Azuka stay with Summerpaw, and the doors close behind them, leaving Summerpaw and Azuka outside.

Velhari nods, leading Arthak deeper into the citadel.

At that moment, they hear a bellowing roar that shakes the walls of the citadel. Velhari looks up, but otherwise makes no notice of it. A few orcs and a few small demons stop and freeze for a second, but then they shake it off and go back to their business.

Velhari nods.

Another roar shakes the citadel as they head deeper into the citadel. Arthak sighs and lights a cigarette. There are a lot of changes to the citadel, and as the roar echoes again, they can see steam pour off strange steel contraptions. A wash of heat and liquid go through the pipes, and there is the sound of more screaming, but this is orcish in nature.

Velhari smirks.

There is another roar, and Velhari leads Arthak down the corridor for a while. After a while, Arthak starts to hear very heavy panting. Eventually, they arrive in a massive, dungeon-like chamber. There are no light sources aside from bright green liquid running through translucent pipes. In the very center, dimly lit by the afterglow of the emerald flame, is the biggest pit lord Arthak had ever seen. He is easily a full head taller than the others. His skin is a dark, earthen green, and he is in some strange chain-like contraptions. His arms are suspended in strange mechanisms, needles the size of Arthak’s sword jutting into his wrists.

Once more he roars, the needles drawing his blood, and as the blood slows, he takes in deep breaths.

Arthak’s heart skips a beat, something intimately familiar about the monster before them.

Mannoroth pulls his hands out of the mechanisms, and his arms start to drip bright green blood, his hooves slamming into the ground. He rubs the wounds on his wrists as they close.

Velhari bows.

Mannoroth spits at the name of Sinestra, phlegm the size of an orc child hitting the ground.

The demon looks at Arthak.

Mannoroth leans down, sniffing at the air in front of Arthak.

Mannorth smiles, each tooth the size of Arthak’s head, and stands up to his full height.

Arthak also bows.

Mannoroth smiles a sharp, dangerous grin. At best, Arthak could hope he would just kill him, but at worst, he couldn’t guess. However, Arthak’s blood hurts.

Arthak looks up at Mannoroth, meeting his gaze as best as he possibly can, and he nods.

There was a veiled threat there.

Velhari nods and bows, as does Arthak, and they leave. As soon as they do, Arthak is lighting another cigarette.

Velhari looks to Arthak.

Arthak is able to find out that Hellfire Citadel and the Black Temple are the two strongholds currently in operation on Outland, and there is a lot of manufacturing going on in various forge camps and forge bases, such as fel reavers. The one in charge of that process is a woman named Mar’tak. There is also a terrorfiend around with bright violet skin named Omor the Unscarred who serves as the temple liaison. Gurtogg Bloodboil is the fel orc battlemaster Velhari had referenced. Zakuun is a fel lord, and a legion battlemaster. There is also an observer named Broggok around, ensuring that no one gets out--if they have second thoughts, you might say. There is also Dia Darkwhisper, a fel orc warlock, and Shadow-lord Iskar, an arakkoa, who are representatives of the Shadow Council. Notably, Iskar is tall and has wings. He isn’t broken like many of his kin.

When Arthak returns to Azuka, she senses the vaguely haunted look on his face. That night, both Arthak and Azuka are woken up by terrible nightmares. Arthak is pretty sure Mannoroth appeared in it.

Meanwhile, Kayn is ordering everyone out of the vehicle. Nyxxa quickly looks for scrying, and sees nothing.

A white haired elf is on top of the vehicle, looking down on them scrutinizing. The youngest of the group is watching them very closely.

Kayn scoffs.

Kayn swerves around with his bow.

Loramus walks forward and puts a finger on the arrow knocked in Kayn’s bow, and pushes it down.

The magister grits her teeth.

Halno looks like he’s going to argue, but stops.

Kayn shakes his head.

The mage shows images of a fel guard and a succubus.

She also shows a felhunter.

She shows them a hulking monstrosity with blackened skin pulsing with bright green sacks of venom, a fel-infused blade on its boney skull. It has long, hooking claws.

Azgadaan recognizes the creature as a vilefiend. It’s a semi-intelligent demon that is used as a mount, a siege weapon, and an outrunner. They are deadly, and infused with acidic fel fire that gives them resistance to acid.

The elves are watching the group cautiously, and they clearly don’t trust them, but they seem a bit unnerved about the group being so candid.

Zaeneas crosses his arms and rolls his eyes.

Azgadaan relays the plan they had previously discussed. Kayn is looking really hard for things he doesn’t like about the plan.

Halno looks at Levia.

He walks around and then runs into something invisible.

The group agrees to hit the area next day, and Elburn and Loramus exchange barbed words for a moment, Allari expressing that she hopes his pursuit of vengeance doesn’t blow the situation.

The magister then sighs.

The elves take off and camp a distance away, indicating they would follow the group tomorrow.

Loramus then also leaves, and during the night, nothing seems to happen. On the third watch, Nyxxa peers around with see invisibility, and she notes a small eye around the size of an apple. It seems to be watching the group. It stays there for a while, and it’s still there when the group starts to rouse.

Outland Day 4

That morning, Nyxxa greets Azgadaan with all formality, and they head out.

Azgadaan offers her a generic response, as the eye can’t see him anyway.

She passes a note off to Azgadaan as she leaves to inform him that the eye is still watching.

Azgadaan strums his instrument once, and Nyxxa turns invisible before she heads off. The rest of the group gets into Azgadaan’s vehicle and heads in the direction of the camp.

Azgadaan summons Ini, and he looks around, and then his eyes hone in on something in the vehicle with them. Ini starts to pounce and swat at the eye, and he continues to search around for something he sees that is clearly invisible.

The group starts to approach the camp, and they can see demons in the open grove. Almost immediately, two felguards approach and hold their hands up to the vehicle.

Azgadaan slows and stops.

The felguards look at each other, and one grunts.

The felguards gesture for the group to follow, and the group piles out to follow. Meanwhile, Nyxxa is scouting. She sees fel hounds, and she attempts to stealth around them. She sees cages. Many of them. Many are empty, but scattered around there are ones that have captives. There’s a stone slab that has been blasted open. All of the captives are elves, and none are super close to each other.

She also avoids the elf bones that appear to be the vilefiend’s nest. Nyxxa recasts see invisibility, and she notes that the eye is still following Azgadaan and the others. There are also two more patrolling around. A few jailer demons are also around. One of them is torturing one of the prisoners.

The two felguards lead the main group over to one of the jailer demons.

Azgadaan opts to start playing his instrument while waiting, and Nyxxa starts to sneak closer to the cages. There’s a familiar face. It’s the third member of Kayn’s group: Sevis Brightflame.

The succubus started to mosey over to Azgadaan.

The succubus is watching him with a curious, dangerous sparkle in her eye. Azgadaan starts to work a spell into the strumming of his instrument.

Meanwhile, Nyxxa is inching closer to Sevis. He opens his eyes and sees Nyxxa, and then a nearby eyeless felhunter senses the demon hunter nearby. It starts to bark, and a jailer turns to look, just in time for his head to get removed and an arrow to strike into its body.

At that moment, the succubus sees Azgadaan start to cast a spell, and her eyes narrow, and she grins.

The three elves and Loramus then appear and start to draw attention as the succubus unfurls her whip and chaos starts.

Seeing their cover is blown, Nyxxa closes in on a felguard, her aldrachi warglaives flaring to life as she carves into the demon.

The vilefiend makes a horrendous screeching, clicking noise and starts to charge through the acid. Bile leaks from its maw, and it vomits the liquid onto Azgadaan, Levia, and Halno. They are able to avoid the majority, but the acid clings to Levia’s skin.

A felhunter charges at Nyxxa, nipping at her, but its jaws fail to connect.

Lantresor races across the pools of acid as he draws his blade. He swings down on the succubus and strikes into her chest, leaving her winded and stunned.

Allari suddenly appears nearby.

A runic circle erupts beneath her, and she summons an elemental out of the acid. It then roils forward to back up Nyxxa, just in time for the felguard to punch and swing at Nyxxa, but both his blows miss as she darts beneath the blows.

The elemental formed from acid lurches forward and tries to whelm the felhunter and felguard. It manages to envelop the felhunter and drag it back into the acid.

Azgadaan, meanwhile uses charm monster on the vilefiend and a jailer, and he commands the jailer to go release one of the prisoners and the vilefiend to sit down.

Levia casts a protection from evil and good on herself, Lantresor, and Azgadaan, and a glowing light connects her horns to symbolize the spell. She then drinks a potion.

The charmed jailer starts to release the prisoners, apologizing.

Halno casts slow, and manages to ensnare two felhunters within the mire of his spell.

The second felhunter near Nyxxa bites at her, but it fails to connect. Meanwhile, one of the slowed felhunters starts to close on Halno. The felguard near Lantresor punches at him and misses, but then swings his glaive around on Halno. He is able to avoid the brunt of the blow.

The succubus staggers, trying to get back in the game.

The second slowed felhunter also dashes and manages to get between Halno and Lantresor.

This page was last edited on June 18, 2023, at 07:48 AM

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