[Alliance] Chapter Three: Session Three

Appearing Characters: Anduin Wrynn, Arator Windrunner, Ashwynn Menethil, Benjamin Warde, Calia Prestor, Elissa Cross, Falric, Gilveradin Windrunner, Jaina Proudmoore-Menethil, Jalinde Summerdrake, Jessica Chambers, Julia Celeste, Lieran, Loania, Marwyn, Rai, Remnii, Saldor Shallowbrook, Seria, Uther Menethil, Valeera Sanguinar, Velameestra Windrunner, Victor Prestor, Vittoria Trollbane

Appearing Locations: Hiri'watha, Last Crossing, Light's Hope Chapel, Quel'danil Lodge

November 12th

As Gil’s group flies over the snow-dusted trees of the Hinterlands, sleety rain is falling from overhead. They take a closer look at the camp at Hiri’watha, and it seems all the tents and buildings were charred and burned down.

They land in a clearing in the midst of what’s left of the tribe’s former home, and dismount.

Lieren and Loania step into the village, looking around cautiously.

Gil starts to sweep there area, looking for any evidence of what occurred. It seemed that whatever happened happened some time ago, as the Quel’Danil Lodge elves were going to deliver the news to the trolls several weeks prior. Many of the tracks had been washed away by snow and rain, but no one has made any attempt at erasing evidence that there was a tribe here formerly.

As he takes a closer look at the huts, it appears there are burned elvish arrows stuck in some of the wood. Fletching is charred away, but they are definitely elvish.

He shows the girls, but there are no bodies or blood.

Seria shifts into her humanoid form, and she starts to speak with a nearby tree, using her inborn magics. She senses the plants begin to stir from their slumber. They don’t move, but there is a sense of them turning their attention toward the trollish woman.

The trees creak in the gentle wind, and rain washes through the leaves, striking her ears with a degree of clarity.

She relays the information to the others. Gil nods, then immediately uses his sending stone to communication with his sister.

Meanwhile, currently at Scholomance.

She throws the sending out, but she gets no response. However, it appears that her target was somewhere in the fringes of the affected area, and she sensed it succeed, but it was perhaps too far away to get a clear response back.

Vel informs Gil of what she found, and indicates her mana is spent for the day, and he thanks her.

She gestures at Seria.

Lieren starts to set up the camp. Seria asks the trees to move their branches to cover them a bit better, and the trees comply.

Loania looks simultaneously shocked and amazed.

Gil just laughs.

Seria touches the two tusks on a necklace around her neck as she speaks. Loania doesn’t ask any other questions, noticing it.

November 13th

The next morning, it’s still a bit drizzly, and it has turned into a soft snowfall. They take off to head back to Quel’Danil Lodge. Vel also attempts to send Rai again, hitting closer to Revantusk Village--where they had originally found the Darkspear. This time, the sending connects.

She transmits the message to her brother using their sending stone.

There’s no response from his sister, and Gil assumes she's likely preserving mana.

Gil asks Seria what she knows of Zandalar, and she explains that it was the ancestral home of the trolls very far away. However, something occurred that forced them to leave their home, and they sought out somewhere to live elsewhere. Zandalar was supposedly across the Veiled Sea somewhere.

She is looking at Seria.

Gil just grins.

There’s silence from Seria.

She mounts up on her gryphon.

Loania touches Gil’s shoulder.

Loania smiles and mounts up on her dragonhawk. They head toward Quel’Danil Lodge. Seria shifts into a cat and grabs a ride on one of the mounts. They arrive at the home of the Highvale elves. The elves take note of their arrival, and the group dismounts. No one approaches them.

She scurries ahead, and knocks on the door. There’s no answer, and she retrieves a key and looks about. It seems the room is empty. Voldana’s weapons, armor, cloak, and the like is gone.

Gil looks at the cat.

Seria responds with a meow that sounds more like a Thalassian cat instead of a human cat.

Gil looks at Seria.

Lieren elbows her.

Loania stammers about going to speak with ranger Summerdrake about where her mother is. Meanwhile, Lieren is just accepting this situation.

Gil knocks on the ranger-captain’s door after casting pass without trace.

There are some heavy footfalls heading to the door, and there is a very irritated elf that looks up at him.

Seria quietly pads past the ranger-captain’s leg and enters the office beyond. She hops up on the chair, and takes a look at the table. There are some papers on the desk, as well as some drawers and a cabinet nearby.

Seria paws at the middle drawer to the left, and it quietly opens. There are a number of files in it.

Gil goes into a rather lengthy explanation on what he uncovered. Saldor listens quite closely, but doesn’t betray any thoughts on the matter.

Meanwhile, Seria is pawing through the files. It appears they are ranger files that were recently used.

Saldor sighs.

Gil nods.

Meanwhile, finally, Seria finds the correct file that is labeled for less than two weeks ago from Ranger Summerdrake. It appears to be the file she’s looking for. She grabs it in her mouth, paws the drawer closed, then turns into a fly. The file absorbs into her body as she does.

Saldor looks back, as he heard something. He notes the fly, but he turns back to Gil.

Saldor grumbles and slams the door. Meanwhile, a fly lands on Gil’s shoulder.

They return to the group. Loania also walks back into the lodge, and Ranger Summerdrake is accompanying her.

Lieren shoots Gil a dirty look, but Jalinde smirks.

Jalinde walks away. Loania looks down for a moment, and she’s clearly wrestling with the fact she wants to say something.

Gil throws his arm around Loania’s shoulder.

The distraction doesn't work.

Jalinde stops and turns.

Jalinde sighs.

Gil turns to leave.

The group heads back to the landing site, feeling unwelcome eyes on them. Loania is looking fairly dejected.

Loania wipes a tear out of her eye.

Gil gives her a hug.

She almost clings to Gil as she reciprocates the hug.

Gil pauses.

She hugs him again, and Gil returns the hug.

Later on, after they left, Gil also looks over the report that Seria stole. Jalinde had deployed with all the dragonhawks, and they delivered the message, as was required. They returned the next night, no casualties. The arrows loosed were logged under hunting and gathering. There was also a full inventory of what was used.

There was no evidence that they did anything underhanded, but perhaps if someone with a more discerning eye might see something else. Perhaps a Ranger-General.

Seria is clearly still very angry.

November 25th (Early Morning)

More and more people are rousing as Indomitable is taken away to recover. Runners are darting to wake up important people.

Uther rushes over to Marwyn, informing him of what happened, and ordering that he needs 25 knights mounted up and ready to ride. Marwyn starts barking out orders immediately.

Vel has started to spam sendings to try and locate Arthas. None of the sendings result in a response. Nothing from Arthas. Nothing from Calia. Nothing from Falric. She immediately starts to summon her phantom steed, a circle of icy energy materializing and she begins the incantation for the ritual.

Uther sends Remnii to inform Victor, and she asks Uther if he wants her to go. Uther simply says that it will be dangerous, but he trusts her to make her own decision. Vittoria also informs Uther she’s going.

Remnii makes a noise on the outside of Victor's tent.

She explains the situation.

There is mass commotion. Elissa and Arator have readied their mounts. Victor arrives with a small group of Alterac knights as well as Lady Celeste of the Silver Hand.

It’s a cool day. The sky is still and cloudy.

They huge group starts to follow the road due southeast, and they arrive at Eastwall Tower. They catch up to a few scouts, and they reported that they saw a flighted creature appear flying over Eastwall Tower. It seemed to have come from the mountains that separated Tyr’s Hand from the expansive Greenwood.

They stop to camp a bit away from Eastwall Tower. Meanwhile, Gil and his group has arrived at Last Crossing.

Gil quickly sees everyone is in high alert. Valeera approaches Gil and nods to him.

They go to see Indomitable. The Lordaeron veterinarian identifies Gil as one of Uther’s companions. Loania and Lieren had gone to find Voldana. Meanwhile, Seria is accompanying Gil in animal form. Gil uses speak with animals.

Indomitable looks to Gil.

The horse almost tries to get up. The veterinarian tries to calm him.

Indomitable relents, and settles down.

Indomitable calms a bit, and the veterinarian looks at Gil.

The vet is amazed, and expresses that Gil is something magnificent. She expresses they are counting on him.

That evening, Vel receives a sending from Gil with the information. She informs Uther. Light’s Hope Chapel will likely be the best place to check.

Lieren tells Gil that she and Graysoar can fly him. Valeera asks Gil if he wants her to go with him. Lieren said that Graysoar can’t fly three.

Valeera says she will try to get down to Light’s Hope Chapel, or at least get word to some contacts. Gil gives her his sending stone so she can contact Vel directly. Gil then gives Loania the report from Quel’Danil, and tells her to deliver it to his aunt with information it was falsified. Loania asks if he's sure, and he assures her that she is the best person for the job right now.

Lieren and Gil set off on Graysoar.

November 26th

The group arrives at the edge of the lake near Light’s Hope Chapel. It’s known as Lake Abundance. At that moment, they see a gryphon overhead, which comes down and lands in their midst. A raven flies off the back of the gryphon.

Gil is greeted by the group, and he quickly introduces Lieren and Graysoar as well. Uther then goes to speak to Victor, who is staring across the lake.

Victor snaps back to Uther.

Uther gives Victor a hug.

As Uther hugs him, it’s clear Victor is terrified. He’s trembling.

Vel continues to try and ping for Arthas, but she is still having no luck.

November 27th

They cross the bridge, and it’s a lot warmer than it has been. However, the connection to the very end of the bridge is out.

On the far side, there are bodies.

Uther pulls out the charm he received in Statholme, and the anchor on it begins to glow. There is the sound of rushing water, and an ethereal anchor flashes in the sky over 11 horses.

With a tentative step, Radiant steps on the water, and he walks across.

People steadily get ferried over, and they look about. Many of the bodies by the shore are black-furred knolls. But as they look further into the woods, they start to see flicks of red and the signs of battle, and blood-soaked snow.

Then Uther sees the first glint of Lordaeranean steel. It was the body of a knight that was with Arthas.

Seria flies through, and she sees many other bodies. They are similarly clad, and also those with black armor and an orange eagle.

The group wades further in, and it is very clear there was a battle here. There are also humanoid bodies clad in black with long cloaks.

But there is no sign of Arthas or Calia.

However, as Uther looks through the bodies, he sees the winged helmet of Falric torn off of a head, and a body slumped against the tree. Three black cloaked individuals are slain in the snow beneath him, blood on his sword and their weapons.

As cloaks are pulled back, it appears the cloaked figures are human. There’s one half-elf. But there are many more knight bodies than those of the assassins.

Victor kneels next to one of the Alterac knights, a man by the name of Captain Trand.

Gil senses a group of living people further to the west with his primeval awareness. Perhaps 3-5 miles beyond.

As Seria is flying about, she finds evidence of someone being dragged. She follows after it, and there is a figure kneeling in the snow a short distance away. She flies a bit closer, and it appears she is not alive.

She’s wearing well-made, travelers clothes. Her throat was slit.

Seria takes a clasp, and brings it back to Gil. It’s a crest. A golden eagle. Gil brings it to Victor.

Gil looks at the raven.

Seria doesn't transform, but she takes off, and Victor sprints after her. As he rounds into the clearing, he freezes.

The figure is Calia. A trail of blood leading to her.

He runs over to her and drops down to his knees, grabbing her shoulders.

He pulls her into an embrace. Uther also drops to his knees and starts sobbing, realizing that not only Falric, but his aunt is also dead.

Uther then stands, and goes over to Victor.

She trots forward carefully.

There was no sign of Arthas.

One of the Alterac knights report back, and they inform him that of the registries the Lordaeron and Alterac knights had, Arthas was one of the only ones missing save three Alterac knights. It was possible they had fled.

Gil starts to look around, and he finds some old tracks. A bit further from the battlefield, there seems to be tracks that lead away. There is some blood dried into the snowy grass, but eventually the tracks stop. Gone without a trace. There were about seven humanoids in a sporadic pattern.

Gil calls for Seria, and she alights on his shoulder. He asks her to take a look at things.

She finds some boot prints that may have been their ambush spot. As well as gnaw marks on a tree, which may have been from the knolls.

Gil informs Vel that the footsteps cut off, and as Vel follows, she summons Arkha’din so that she can borrow his eyes.

As Arkha’din appears, she senses transmutation magic over the entire area, as well as conjuration magic at the site where the tracks disappeared, and she immediately starts to poke around the area.

Remnii uses speak with dead on Falric.

Uther is choking back tears.

Falric’s head shakes slightly.

He gestures at one of the bodies around him.

His hand opens slightly. There’s a crumpled piece of parchment, charred, and soaked with blood.

The light leaves his body, and he slumps back. The tension leaves his arm, but the parchment is still in his hand.

Uther sheds a few more tears, and he picks up the paper. The note is written in a dark, yet refined hand.

Ashwynn nods solemnly.

Uther helps with Falric. During the night, Uther also addresses his closest companions about a private meeting that night.

Eventually, Victor does return, cradling the body of his mother in his arms.

Vel has been poking around the bodies, identifying causes of death. She carefully also examines Calia, and is able to identify that she was attacked from the front--not from behind as would indicate some sort of directly betrayal. Vel is also able to identify all the gnolls as having black fur, and upon examining the dead non-gnoll enemies, Vel uncovers something else.

Bright orange-gold rings are on the fingers of all the assassins. They are dug into the flesh of the people there, and upon yanking one off, dead flesh comes with it. When Vel identifies it, she uncovers it’s a very illegal magical item: a ring of loyalty. Which kills the wearer when they are brought down, so they can’t be taken alive.

Vel quickly goes and starts to collect the others, stashing them away.

They group then goes to the chapel, and the last rites are performed over those that were killed. At Ashwynn’s insistence, she wanted Falric to be buried at the capital.

Then, the core group meets at a small inn. The woman there informs them their rounds are covered, especially after seeing the procession of the dead nights being brought back to Light’s Hope. She introduces herself as Jessica, and hurries away to get some food prepared.

He passes the note around so everyone can read it for themselves.

Victor swears loudly at the mention of the Syndicate, driving a knife into the table with a degree of fury.

Uther asks Vel how far sending can reach, and she confirms she can reach anyone on their plane of existence. He asks her to send Anduin to see if he knows anything about a "seven-sided star" and Vel asks if she should give Anduin any context. He tells her no, and she complies. Anduin clearly sounds quite baffled, but says the only thing he can think of was potentially the seven kingdoms, but beyond that, he isn't sure. Vel thanks him, and informs the rest of the group.

Some further discussion continues, and it's presented for Remnii to use speak with dead again on some of the bodies of the assassins. The counter point provided was that they wouldn't reveal anything to enemies, to which Vel provides she is capable of a degree of illusion magic that can be used to mask their identities. She would just need the night to prepare the appropriate incantations.

It's agreed that there is nothing to lose, as they have to stay the night anyway, and ultimately, they could only potentially have information to gain.

It's also mentioned that they should send Jaina, and Uther asks Vel if she can do so. Vel agrees, but looks clearly uncomfortable, which Remnii picks up on. Remnii offers that she could do it instead, and Vel nods appreciatively, worried that she wouldn't be able to get the words correct.

Soon after, Uther and Vittoria ride out with one or two other knights to fetch the bodies.

Uther offers a smile.

Vittoria smiles back with a sad, but still sweet, smile.

They retrieve the bodies, and they return to Light’s Hope.

Meanwhile, after the meeting adjourns, Vel hangs back to speak with Victor.

There is a degree of hesitation.

Victor almost seems to laugh, throwing his hands up for a moment.

She begins to retreat. Victor looks after her for a moment.

There's a heavy pause for a moment as Vel looks back over her shoulder.

Victor is clearly taken aback, and he bites his lip. There's another silence for a moment, and Vel continues to leave. Victor lets her go.

Remnii pulls Vel aside to listen to her sendings and get filled in on what she was saying as she contacts Jaina.

There is silence for a moment.

Jaina sounds like she’s on the verge of tears. Remnii’s face falls again.

As Uther and Vittoria return with the remains, Ashwynn and Benjamin are still keeping watch, but they overhear a snippet of their conversation.

They stash the two bodies in the chapel, and Uther speaks to Ashwynn.

There is a pause from Ashwynn.

Ashwynn chews on her bottom lip, and a tear pools in her eye and she throws her arms around Uther. Uther hugs her back.

This page was last edited on September 13, 2020, at 08:14 PM

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