[Alliance] Chapter Three: Session Six

Appearing Characters: Matron Alesso, Dorothy Egan, Edward Egan, Elissa Cross, Esara Verrinde, Fialla Sweetberry, Galadin Windrunner, Gilveradin Windrunner, Giramar Windrunner, Griftah, Jasper Fel, Krasus, Lee Hale, Mida, Mingus Diggs, Nikki, Patricia Egan, Raluhi, Remnii, Rhonin Windrunner, Roderick, Sanzi, Seria, Talath Dawnsworn, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Victor Prestor

December 2nd

It’s a very windy day when the party begins to stir. They catch the scent of something rich and syrupy. Talath has made breakfast, which is egg toast with maple syrup and cinnamon on it.

Remnii is ecstatic about it. Seria is kind of hesitant about it, and struggles a lot with the fork.

Galadin comes down and eats quickly then goes back upstairs. Giramar goes to do something outside.

Elissa offers to help Seria learn how to use the fork and knife before going out to feed Indomitable and her own horse, who she conjured last night.

Esara sets out to meet up with some contacts. Victor, likewise, heads out to try and learn some things on his own.

Vel uses disguise self to set on a disguise before heading out to the market with Seria in tow, specifically heading to the magus commerce exchange.

As Seria is flying around, she’s quite overwhelmed by the sights of the city.

As Vel is walking around, she notes a few places. There is a greenhouse with a translucent window over it, and there is a beautiful garden inside. There is no sign, but it seems to be a storefront. The greenhouse appears to be built inside of a house.

There is also an apothecary called the Agronomical Apothecary, which has just opened. Laid in into the stone, the door looks like a potion, and as it opens, water pools on both sides of the door as if it was coming out of the potion vial. It seems to also function like a clock.

As she continues to wander around, there is one store in particular that has a raven on the sign. It’s small, and hard to see, but the shop’s name is Tanks for Everything. There is a stained glass battleaxe on the side.

Vel heads back to the greenhouse first, and she notes that there is a homemade doormat on the entrance. After taking note of Seria, Vel goes to enter, but the door is locked. She knocks.

An elderly couple answers, and opens the door.

A kindly human woman looks up at the disguised Vel and cheerfully greets her. She apologizes, expressing that their hours sign had been knocked over and they hadn’t fixed it yet, but the greenhouse was closed on that particular day.

Though she still offers to help Vel if she would like, as they still had a few hours before church.

She looks at Seria, who is perched on Vel’s shoulder as a raven, and she mentions she will be right back before she shuffles inside the building. Inside, there are plants all over the interior of the home as Vel is led inside. Dorothy shuffles into the kitchen, once more calling that she will just be a moment, and she returns with a smile, opening her hand to offer a handful of delicious-looking berries to Seria.

Seria examines them for a moment and then starts to eat them. Dorothy smiles again.

She shuffles over and grabs a key ring. An older gentleman also appears, balding, but with long gray hair--though none of it is directly on top of his head. It’s tied back in a long ponytail, and he seems to be dressed quite nice.

Dorothy gestures for Vel to follow and unlocks the greenhouse. She passes her hand over something, and soft lights illuminate inside as they enter.

She is just taking in everything, her eyes drifting across everything. As Vel looks around, she notes that there are a few rare plants, including things that aren’t indiginous to the area. There are some tropical plants, and areas that are kept at different temperatures. There is some amount of magic that is allowing certain areas to simulate different climates. As Dorothy leads her through several interlocking rooms, it seems some are warmer, some are cooler, and likewise. It’s a rather impressive, yet humble, set up.

Dorothy snickers quietly to herself.

Dorothy thinks for a moment.

A few moments later, Edward comes barreling in.

The pair prattle on for a little bit, but Dorothy finally turns back to Vel.

She gestures to some mushrooms in a darker section.

She starts to point to different parts of it.

Vel looks intrigued.

There’s a faint smirk on Vel’s lips as she offers the good-natured humor.

Vel is nodding along as she listens.

Dorothy takes Vel outside and extinguishes the magical lights.

Vel nods and lets the couple set the pace. Dorothy and Edward hold hands as they go, making small talk with Vel. A woman is already waiting at the monument there, clearly related to the pair of them.

She has a short bob cut and she’s wearing a nice outfit. She’s currently pacing back and forth.

Dorothy calls to her upon seeing her and she waves back, then sees the disguised Vel and cocks her head to the side curiously, but gives her mother and father a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

She then looks at Vel.

They exchange a handshake, and Patty notices the raven still perched on Vel’s shoulder.

Vel confirms.

She scratches her chin, and it’s clear she knows something.

She looks at Vel, and Vel nods.

Patty laughs and promises she’ll be right back, and Dorothy looks at Vel.

Dorothy smiles and waves her off, expressing it was good to meet her again. Vel waves in return and accompanies Patty as they start to head back toward her shop.

Patty shakes her head and moves closer.

Patty nods and then heads to catch back up with her parents, and Vel opts to head toward the tavern that Patricia pointed out. It’s a small joint restaurant and tavern. There’s a table outside that would normally have samples, and there’s a barber next door that is already quite busy. It looks like the restaurant itself is closed, but they are due to open around 11.

Vel kills some time, doing some of her own shopping while she waits for the restaurant to open. Eventually, an elvish woman wearing a wine-colored top with her midriff exposed and a skirt. She greets Vel upon seeing her, stating they’ll be opening shortly, and after she finishes setting up, she gestures to Vel to indicate they were now open.

Vel gestures to the raven, and the woman laughs.

Vel raises an eyebrow at Seria with a silent question as the hostess continues to explain that she can bring by a few samples to get started. There are some cheeses imported from Stranglethorn, plus Dalaran sharp, and a few wine samples.

Vel agrees to try some of the cheese samples and the elven hostess, Fialla, offers some pieces of flat bread with some of the cheeses. The bread is toasted with prestidigitation, making a small grilled cheese sandwich. She also offers some bread crumbs to Seria in a small dish, which Seria does eat.

Vel takes Fialla up on the offer of getting a seat, and Fialla happily invites her in and gets her a seat at the bar. She’s passed off to a young man.

Before long a young half-elf comes out from the back room. He has messy white hair.

He hands Vel a menu.

He leaves and returns momentarily with a glass and small dish of chilled water. Vel orders the grilled cheese special, and she lets Seria pick something from the menu with her beak as well, which Seria eagerly points to one of the meat dishes under the familiar section.

He’s looking at the raven. Seria indicates she wants it basically raw.

Fialla comes in with more people as the lunch rush starts. None of them are people Vel recognizes. Roderick periodically comes by to refill drinks, and Fialla also comes around with more samples as well.

At some point Vel did pull out the coin that Rehlana gave her, and she left it sitting by her hand near her drink where it could be visible to any of the staff. Roderick doesn’t seem to recognize it when he comes back with Vel’s grilled cheese and a bowl of vegetable soup. There’s also a tiny plate with a tiny steak cut into small pieces with a sprig of basil on top. It’s presented with a tiny knife and fork, though that’s mostly for show.

Fialla also comes by to check in on them.

Fialla stops for a second upon seeing the coin.

Seria and Vel finish their meal, and Roderick brings the bill around. After a few moments, Fialla also comes back to take the payment and lead Vel to the back, talking about wines as they go.

Vel is lead into the wine cellar, and she notes a small, steel ring on the wall. The hostess takes the steel knocker and knocks on it. A few seconds later, there’s a sound, and Vel watches as the stone wall opens, and Vel quickly realizes that it’s a hinged door.

Fialla whistles.

Vel nods.

Vel nods again, and she and Seria head through the passage. The door closes behind them. There are torches that light up as they wind down deeper into the sewers. She can hear and see the activity from down below.

As Vel turns the corner, she is met with a curious sight. There is not just the sewers, but an entire district. There are wooden lean-tos and tents that line segments of the sewers, and people walk about, seemingly not the most upstanding individuals. There are a large number of goblins and elves. There are also some humans and half-elves, but goblins and elves seem to presently be the majority.

It’s a bustling marketplace. It goes off in many different directions, and it seems to be an entire city in itself. People cast some looks in Vel’s direction, but they don’t pay much mind to her.

Vel proceeds cautiously, once more looking for any raven symbols. As she is trying to keep a low profile, she hears a voice.

As Vel turns, she sees someone wearing armor and with a sword and shield. They look like a Dalaran guard, but the sigil of the Kirin Tor, the violet eye, is closed. She’s an elf with pale silvery blonde hair that is short and choppy.

With a smile, the guard spins around to start showing Vel and Seria around the Underbelly.

Meanwhile, back at the manor, Remnii had gotten a bit of a pensive look as she looks for something to do. She went to go find Raluhi, and asked him if he could help her with some common lessons.

Remnii also expresses she had introduced herself to one of the archmages from Dalaran, and she had spoken with Lan’dalock and informed him that Raluhi was in the city. Raluhi said that was likely a good thing.

Remnii also suggested that they could perhaps look into more things Raluhi could do in the city, as he could provide unique insights. Raluhi asks about Remnii as well.

They hug, and Remnii cries a little bit into Raluhi’s shoulder.

Remnii continues to cry a bit, but then tells Raluhi she would like to see the other people off. She goes to Victor as he’s getting ready to leave.

Remnii then goes to find Uther before he leaves.

They get ready and decide to go to the chapel.

Uther does, however, and he guides them both to the chapel, along with Elissa.

They continue to the church, and the same one that Dorothy, Ed, and Patricia were attending. Remnii had turned heads, but rumors had already passed across the lake about who and what she is.

For perhaps one of the first time in his life, however, people seemed to notice Uther second. Some people greet them curiously.

The church service is the better part of an hour and includes singing, chanting, and quiet meditation. The priestess, Matron Alesso, speaks on one of the tenants, and there are a lot of elves present. Specifically, the preacher is focusing on keeping the flame of the Holy Light alight in light of hardships. How does one show kindness when the world has shown you none, and other things like that.

She then offers the opportunity for others to share their epiphanies, and various people do so.

Remnii looks to Uther, curious, and he stands up.

There’s some chuckles at the horse.

Uther nods to the priestess and sits again. People nod and whisper in agreement. The priestess thanks him for his words, and one of the people sitting near them pats Uther on the shoulder and nods.

Remnii also pats Uther on the shoulder as well as she stands.

There are once again many nods, and the priest thanks Remnii by name. Remnii smiles at him.

She continues moving forward, and as the sermon is concluded, the pair of them feel themselves reaffirmed.

They then head back, and Remnii begins her lessons with Raluhi. Uther, meanwhile, opts to go help with the church along with Elissa.

Gil, meanwhile, heads to speak with Krasus at the Violet Citadel. Hel ascends to the tower, but he looks up the stairs with a sigh— it’s a long way up to see Krasus. He’s directed to the Chamber of Ascension. There are disks on the ground and other people are stepping onto them. They speak to the floor, and the disc is magically lifted to the correct floor. They seem to be made of Arcane force— large enough for multiple people.

Gil gets up the 37th floor. Krasus’ office is near the top of this level. He looks at everything, as he is clearly a tourist.

Gil chats with a mage who is getting off who pinpoints him as a first-timer. He said it was magnificent, but now he just wishes they moved faster.

Gil continues on, passing a magic broom, and he does locate Krasus’s office. Gil knocks.

The door opens at his command, disappearing into the ceiling above it. Krasus’s office is quite unorganized for a man as put together as he is. There are massive stacks of paperwork around in a sort of controlled chaos.

The door shuts.

He gives an explanation of Elissa’s magic.

Gil takes to the language rather easily, and Krasus muses on Gil’s natural gift for linguistics.

Krasus shows Gil how to dismiss his familiar and what Ara’shel can do. Gil feels a warmth in his chest where the dragonmark is, and he gets the sense his familiar is with him. It’s similar to how Vel dismisses Arkha’din using the tattoo on her chest.

When conjured again, Ara’shel immediately curls around Gil’s leg.

Gil also informs Krasus he would be working with the Sunreavers, and Krasus admits he isn’t sure how he feels about destroying the Sunwell, but that is going to ultimately be a decision Kael’thas and the Magistrate makes. However, he hopes they make a wise decision.

Jumping back to the Underbelly, Vel and Seria pass by some places as the guard gives the tour.

They had passed one or two scuffles which were broken up by some other guards that just grabbed those involved. One person got dragged away, thrown on the ground, and kicked repeatedly.

The guard laughs.

They pass over a bridge over one of the channels, and the guard gestures to some floating planks attached to the walls by chains.

The guard leads Vel into the largest area off the Circle of Wills. There is shouting and cheering, and the guard smalls.

As they walk by, they hear more cheering from beneath them, and a voice carries out.

Vel looks down, and she can see through the grate they are currently walking over. There’s an arena down there.

Vel complies, and as soon as she does, a torrent of water cascades down from above and filters through the grate. As Vel peaks down through the grate again from the side, the announcer continues.

A raggedy looking dwarf with gray-ish brown explorer’s garb walks out. He has large goggles and a safari style hat, and a blunderbuss that has a butt that ends in a trowel.

A gate opens on the other side, and there’s some loud stomping as a large creature with mottled blue scales appears. It’s a behemoth with a wide, flanged plate on its head, a single horn on its nose, and two more erupting from above its eyes. It bellows.

The direhorn starts to stomp its feet and then charges as the dwarf. The cheers start to explode again.

Mingus pulls a figurine out and throws it into the air. It’s a white ivory goat, which it explodes and turns into an actual goat that stands between him and the direhorn. The goat bellows and the direhorn slams into it. The crowd goes wild as Mingus starts to fire into the direhorn.

The guard laughs.

There’s another blunderbuss blast from down below.

The guard continues with Vel following behind her and she gestures to another area.

She then looks in another direction and they can hear tavern music.

She gives Vel air quotes.

Vel nods.

Vel chuffs.

Vel nods and heads into the tavern, and the guard joins up with some other guards that have been hired for similar purposes in order to keep an eye out.

Vel starts to look for any signs that this is the place she’s looking for. There are mounted animal heads on the wall: a boar, a raptor, and the like, as well as a taxidermied raven that has its wings extended. There are seedy individuals in every corner of this tavern. The barkeep is a black-haired goblin who is wearing a very tight halter top that she is practically falling out of, as well as a very short skirt.

Sanzi gestures for Vel to follow her.

She points up at the raven.

Seria puffs up her feathers and looks quite offended. Sanzi looks back to Vel.

Vel rapidly realizes all the options are alcoholic, but also is aware she’d stick out a lot more if she gets something not.

Sanzi heads back behind the bar to get the drink. Vel continues to survey the crowd in the room. She had seen a human cloaked and hooded in a corner with a pipe. There’s a dwarf with ashen skin--a Dark Iron dwarf--surrounded by four empty tankards. He looks to be a mercenary of some kind. She also sees a jungle troll with a green vest gesturing to his vest as he talks to another seedy-looking individual.

Vel also sees a few other goblins. There is a goblin woman in a top hat who is talking with another goblin with glass. She gives off the aura of someone not to be messed with, and she is flanked by two very large hobgoblin bouncers on either side.

There are also a number of people who are clearly pirates. They are the loudest ones here. There is one individual with a low-cut white shirt and a crimson red hat. There is an impressive rapier and pistol on the table in front of him. He is talking (loudly) about a “damned axebeak that flew away with all of his coin” and his group is laughing hysterically at the story. There is a woman among them with long blonde hair, and she currently has one of the male servers sitting on her lap and appears to be quite drunk.

The server appears to be trying to go, but she insists on him staying and just hands over another pile of coin.

The coin Vel sees passed around look like a gold coin, but they have the closed Kirin Tor eye on it. These are likely the sightless eyes.

Sanzi comes back with her drink.

Vel nods and retrieves the coin.

Sanzi immediately bursts out laughing.

Vel nods.

Vel flashes the coin.

Sanzi’s eyes go wide.

Sanzi chuckles.

Sanzi quiets her voice and gets closer to Vel.

Vel knows Ravenholdt was one of the many noble families in Alterac, but she also knows around the time of the Troll Wars when Genn Greymane left the Alliance and Daval Prestor took over as king--specifically about five years before it--the Lord of house Ravenholdt, a man named Jorach, left the circle of nobles of Alterac. That was the last anyone ever heard of him.

Vel puts some silver on the table.

Vel leaves the silver there and places a gold piece on top.

Vel puts ten more gold pieces on the table. Sanzi quickly grabs the coins and stuffs them down her shirt.

Sanzi gestures for Vel to follow her, and she heads past the taxidermied raven to the far corner. Sanzi knocks on the door. A slit opens in the door and a gruff voice can be heard.

She leans in close to the slit.

The slit closes and a bunch of locks are undone on the other side of the door. The door opens, and Vel sees a dark-robed man with dark black hair pulled back in a ponytail. The lower half of his face is covered. He gestures for Vel to enter.

Vel goes to enter.

Sanzi waves, hanging back.

Vel follows after the man, and it’s very quiet as he leads her through a back room.

Vel flashes it close to her chest.

Vel hesitantly holds the coin out, and the man takes it. He holds it up to his face, and he pulls the scarf around his mouth down to bite the coin before flicking it back to Vel.

The man leads Vel deeper in.

The man opens a door, and Vel is greeted with a beautiful circular room that resembles a banquet hall. There is a long table with a beautiful black and grey tablecloth. There are places set and candelabras lit. However, there is no food currently.

There are daggers, papers, coins, and the like all over the tables around the room. There are six large banners and a dozen or more smaller ones against the walls. There are sigils of organizations Vel has never heard of before. Sigils of pirate flags. Raven on one. There is even an orange standard that may represent that of the Syndicate. However, the standard is not very well kept and appears to be tattered and torn. The biggest banners are greyish-black and in the centers there is a bloody dagger and a crown with a streaking, shattering mark through it.

There are a few people in the room. There is a feminine figure with tight black clothes and a cloak. She has strawberry blonde hair tied loosely in a ponytail with an impressive looking crossbow nearby. As she turns to look at the new arrivals, Vel recognizes her as Lee Hale.

The man that led Vel inside walks over to her and he whispers to her. Lee is looking at Vel the entire time, and she nods, then saunters over to Vel.

Lee raises an eyebrow.

Vel nods, and Lee squints at Vel, seeing there’s a disguise in place. Vel smiles faintly.

Lee crosses her arms.

Lee chuffs.

Lee gestures for Vel to follow her and she pulls up a seat at the table.

Vel provides the coin and Lee takes a look at it.

Vel nods.

Vel glances at the Syndicate banner, and Lee follows her gaze.

Lee nods.

Lee smiles.

They stand up and shake hands.

She says Vel’s name quietly, and Vel works her way back out of the Underbelly.

The group all reconvenes at Vel’s manor in the evening. Upon Uther’s return, Vel pulls him into her study to have a word.

However, Uther asks Vel to stay there, and he instead fetches Victor to speak to him now with Vel present.

Victor heads back into the study after Uther.

Victor takes a deep breath and then exhales.

Uther looks at Vel.

Victor’s expression darkens.

Victor growls in exasperation and shakes his head.

Vel’s ears go back.

Victor winces and grabs the side of his head as he growls.

Victor winces and grabs his head again.

Vel doesn’t make eye contact.

Uther tries really hard to stop himself from laughing at the comment.

Vel immediately leaves the study.

After Vel leaves, Victor hangs back to speak with Uther in private.

Uther’s eyes narrow.

Uther smirks.

Uther pulls down his shirt.

He puts a hand on Uther’s shoulder, then moves past him and leaves the study.

The group gathers before dinner to talk.

Gil nods.

Victor isn’t looking at Vel.

Gil raises an eyebrow.

Victor looks at Gil.

Gil looks at Victor.

Vel chances a glance at Rhonin, who meets her eyes and then looks away.

Vel takes a breath.

Vel looks distinctly uncomfortable.

Vel nods.

At that moment Talath pops his head in.

Vel jumps.

Later that night, Vel shoots a sending to Lee.

Gil goes to speak to Elissa that night.

Gil points at her eyes.

Elissa said she’ll make sure the horses are ready, and Gil goes to find Seria. She is tending to her egg.

Seria looks up.

Gil then takes his leave.

They talk a bit about the relay Remnii used back on Draenor, and it seemed it was successful.

Remnii goes through everything she recalled while Raluhi is recording it so he can also review later.

They muse on Nyxxa’s differences from the Quel’dorei.

They talk a bit longer, and Raluhi agrees that it’s worth a shot, and if he gets some info, he can also see what he can do. Remnii also expresses that, in the future, they would need a larger relay.

Remnii poses her questions to Raluhi, and Raluhi muses on the limitations of divination, as it is reliant on a short-term goal or action.

Remnii then casts the spell as she cracks a crystal in half.

As the magic flows through and the crystal disappears, it wafts around in a vague shape, and the dust vanishes. There is a chill, and there is the sense of darkness, and loneliness.

The answer is no. It will not be worked on in the next week.

Remnii shakes her head at Raluhi.

Remnii is concerned, but nods.

Remnii nods and gives Raluhi a hug.

This page was last edited on November 29, 2020, at 12:08 AM

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