[Alliance] Chapter Two: Session Twelve
July 16th
0:00
Vel and Vincent found their way to an inn to lay low until the black market at dusk.
Vel sends Sylvanas about what’s going on: “Drathir’s alive. Body created by clone spell. Likely he knows we know. I’m being framed. He has hat of disguise. Nothing can happen to body.”
Sylvanas responds, clearly talking to Kael’thas. She is informing the king that her relation to the suspect would not interfere with her farstriders tracking her down. However, notably, she allowed Vel to hear that side of the conversation.
Vel and Vincent hash out their plan, and then Kilnar makes a telepathic link with Vel. She informs Vel that someone informed Kael’thas that Kilnar herself was also involved, and she now has spellbreakers outside her estate. However, Vel states she and Vincent are still going to be going to the black market, and they sort out a code phrase: “Light save her majesty.”
Later that day, they head towards the site of the auction. Fortunately, they are unaccosted.
They approach a small, dilapidated shed or warehouse. As Vel and Vincent draw closer, Vel sees something interesting. The doorknob is an old rusted fox. Vel knocks three times in rapid succession.
Doorknob: “Hi there!”
The doorknob is enchanted with a magic mouth spell. Vel inserts her coin, and then the doorknob asks about her companion. Vel says he’s with her, and the doorknob opens its mouth again. However, Vincent doesn’t have a coin.
The doorknob said they could ask the stone, but its greedier than he is.
Vincent picks up the stone. It’s hollow inside. He puts 20 gold pieces in. There is a clearing of a throat. Vincent keeps adding gold until he put a total of 110 gold in. Then they are allowed in.
They step into magical darkness, which, Vel is able to recognize is linking the door to somewhere else.
They show up outside in a quiet grove area. There is an archway behind them, and there is a stoneway path that leads into a forest somewhere in the Eversong Woods. Immediately in front of Vel, about 15 foot tall, are perfectly trimmed hedgeways. There seems to be a pathway that leads into a hedge maze.
Vel: “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
She looks over to Vincent, who isn’t Vincent. He looks like Signitious, the famous minstrel. Meanwhile, as Vincent looks over, he sees a short and incredibly buxom and scantily clad form girl: Thal’ena in full entertainers garb.
They hear chuckling coming from the maze. They sigh and enter. Vel puts her hand on the right wall and starts to go. They hear a voice, and there are two figures at a dead end, complaining about the “pomp and circumstance”. One is standing and the other is sitting on a bench. The man, tall with golden hair, is Dath'remar Sunstrider. The woman is a statue of the huntress of the sun.
They converse for a bit, and the woman informs them that the enchantment gets easier closer to the start time, but those that make it to the center get bragging rights. And perhaps first dibs at the table of goods, though she personally was not one for bloodthistle.
Vel knows what that is.
Vincent and Vel continue, and they get to a spiraling section. They hear more people complaining. As they round the corner, they see Magistrix Larynna, but covered in bloodspatters. Standing next to her is a woman with a sleek white cloth tied around her torso and swimwear, is another elf woman with sea shells braided in her hair.
Vel and Vincent go to continue, and the bloody Larynna asks Vincent for “Signitious’s” autograph. Vincent just walks away, and the girl calls after him asking if she can at least touch his arm.
0:45
However, as the pair continues, they start to get what’s going on. They reach the center where there is a large clearing. Vincent offers Vel a high five, and “Thal’ena” looks at it for a moment, then gets a smug look and returns the high five.
A rather portly magister approaches them with a smirk, a wine glass in his hand, accompanied with a young, 15 year old Alleria in a sundress who also has a wine glass in her hand. She congratulates them.
She says they could head over to the refreshment table, and then walks over to an older Alleria, who is wearing a farstrider lingerie outfit. She is standing next to a regular-looking Sylvos. They laugh.
There is also a spellbreaker with no head.
As well as a “sexy” spellbreaker.
The spellbreaker seems to be on alert, and there are several others that also seem to be almost keeping watch.
There is also a Rorha Sundown that looks like a dirty hobo, and a Thalorian Dawnseeker with a dog nose and ears.
The two Allerias start walking over to Vincent and talk about how much they love Sig Nicious. Vel, meanwhile, in addition to some of the guards, sees an image of Lor’themar with two eyepatches. There is another magister on the other end with a large nose and deformed features. Seemingly standing watch is another Thalorian, and a Halduron. There is also a spellbreaker with backwards armor, and a Borel with a MASSIVE beard.
Lastly, speaking to each other, quietly, is a lanky elf magister with a long blue robe. He has bruises over his face, and toilet tissues sticking to his feet. There is a huge grin on his face, while he talks to a Larynna with massive boobs.
The thought of the idea that the Larynna with big boobs was ACTUALLY Larynna crosses Vel’s mind, and she starts to approach. They talk a bit, and the magister gives the opportunity for Vel to drop the code phrase. It is, in fact, actually Thalodien and Larynna. Larynna is really offended.
Thalodien mentions they shouldn’t stick too closely to avoid drawing attention, and Vel agrees and goes back to Vincent.
1:05
More people come filtering in. There is a perfect replica of the burned body of Dar’khan, and there are several Lana’thels. There are also several more Dar’khans. One is a “heart throb” Dar’kan, with a tattoo that says “Kilnar”.
Vincent points out the two Allerias, one of which he is pretty certain may be Finnall, and Vel starts to approach, but then the auctioneer starts speaking.
He closes down the maze to the more difficult version, and there is a poof of smoke, and Kael’thas himself appears, with a ridiculous amount of jewelry. His hair and ears are covered in gold and silver. He calls that he will be their host.
The crowd shouts “Long live the king!”
He then introduces his assistant, Jaina Proudmoore, who appears in a puff of smoke in revealing, Thalassian dress. On the butt of her dress is printed “property of Kael’thas”.
There is a streak of blue energy from someone in the crowd, which hits the Jaina, and the disguise drops. The individual is dressed is really casual nightwear, and she immediately hides behind the Kael’thas.
The Kael’thas then announces that such dispelling magics are not allowed, and they are lucky he didn’t see who it was. He dismisses the blond elf hiding behind him, saying they got their laughs, and she runs off crying.
The Kael’thas then introduces the first object. It’s a small sapphire. He then summons a steel shafted arrow in his other hand. If someone were to strike someone with the arrow, they would be killed immediately, regardless of the bow used.
Then a woman, who is Sylvanas with tight black leather and whips and chains on her hips, stands. A human with a leather harness is next to her, and it’s clearly Nathanos. With a gag.
Sylvanas: “But your majesty, I’m right here.”
Everyone laughs, and Kael’thas asks if that was a first bid. She agrees in the spirit of things. She starts at 15,000 gold pieces. Several more bids start to roll in. Vincent looks around in the immediate area, and behind him is Kilnar with blatantly spiky robes that makes her look like a warlock. There are a few more other people near, including the Dathro’mar and the statue, and a white haired magister with immaculate robes. Right next to him is an image of Velameestra with a piece of paper that says “I did it” and her hand is covered in blood.
Directly in front of them are a white haired magister, but his features are stone, like an arcane golem. There is also another Larynna with a baby bump. There is also Esara nearby, smaller, with impish features, and high priests Vandellor dressed in a pimp outfit.
Directly behind them, a bit confused and watching everyone curiously, is an ancient elf: Anasterian Sunstrider. Sticking out from his chest is a blood bone dagger.
The Velameestra actually puts a bid in, and the Astalor next to her whispers. They have a brief conversation, the Astalor looking surprised, but she is promptly outbit.
The arrow goes to the portly magister for 23,000. However, he is given the sapphire. Vel instantly recognizes it as a stone of Instant Summons, and Vel fills Vincent in. They realize they have to get the sapphire.
The next object is a universal solvent, and immediately, the statue woman bids 10,000 gold pieces before he even finishes. Someone outbits her, and she immediately elevates her bid to 15,000. She retrieves the sapphire for the solvent.
Vel starts to maneuver closer to the fake Velameestra, and she passes by the image of Lireesa, Vel’s grandmother. The woman looks at her, and Vel sees a fearsome gash in her throat.
Vincent also moves, closer to Thalodien and the real Larynna, and he passes a Sylvanas who is actually shirtless. He ends up standing in front of a young elf with long, platinum blonde hair and a wisp of a well-kept goatee. Next to him is a very, very sexily-dressed elf woman who is blatantly checking herself out. The young man looks at her and sighs, shaking his head.
The next thing being brought out are six coral candles of different colors. They are “candles of the deep,” which were found pre-lit deep beneath the sea near the Tirisfal glades. It starts at 150 gold pieces.
The false Velameestra immediately bids on it, and continues to bid on it, mentioning to the Astalor it would make a good birthday present. She gets it for 1,100 gold pieces. However, she’s short on money. Vel recognizes the voices, however.
It’s Esara and her father.
Vel sighs and mozies over, offering Esara the 100 gold she’s short. She then mentions the code phrase, and Esara realizes who it is. Lirath looks confused for a moment, and then puts two and two together. He looks really surprised.
The next item is a set of gloves of thievery, which is bought by Thalodien.
The next item is a beautiful set of chain mail. The Kael’thas said it’s made of dragon scale, but notably, they are green of scale. The golden statue woman immediately raises her hand. There is a bidding war, but she gets it for 30,000.
The next item is a large warhammer made of black steel with a gauntleted field on the side of it. The Kael’thas snaps his fingers, and it super heats. He explains it was made by the dwarves of the Blackrock mountains, who would be quite cross to find it here. The bidding starts, and the scantily clad woman who was checking herself out bids 6,000, and wins, but definitely doesn’t have enough money.
Vincent overhears her.
Finnall: “And this, Theo, is where I need you to make a distraction.”
Theo: “Are you serious?”
Finnall strides up, her arms open, and Theo mutters to himself, whistling nonchalantly. He reaches out toward one of the plants as his mother strides forward. He then reaches down, and he snaps his fingers. One of the nearby plants then catches on fire.
Theo then walks away.
Theo: “Guard! There’s a fire! There’s a fire over there!”
Immediately the guard goes to pat it down, and makes enough of a scene that Theo could then slip back into the hedge maze. Finnall approaches and hands over the money, now conveniently having enough.
She then steps back with Theo, and they duck out of sight.
The next object is a chain necklace with a warm, red ruby on it. It’s a periapt of health, which the Kael’thas comments “wards off any diseases of any kind. And I mean any kind.”
He looks around at the various Larynnas.
Bidding slows at 600, and it sells to a woman that looks like Vereesa with human ears and wearing a tavern wench’s outfit.
The next object is a 20,000 year old ring of mind shielding. It starts at 500 gold pieces. It sells for 2,000 gold pieces.
The clear guards have not bid at all, but as Vincent and Vel look around they note that a timid Alleria, heart-breaking Dar’khan, neither the young or alluring Allerias, and the Sylvos has not -- he actually looks rather disappointed. In addition to a buff Vandellor.
Vel notes that, other than her father, the Dathro’mar, the Lana’thel behind her, the Lireesa, have not bid, and the Rorha has only put token bids in.
Next item is a small, beautifully crafted rod. The Kael’thas explains it allows one to reach out to the planes beyond the mortal one. It starts at 10,000 gold pieces, and the Dathro’mar states that he will bid at 4,000. The Dathro’mar is rather insistent on getting the rod as the bidding war starts. It sells for 25,000.
2:04
The final lot he produces two sapphires, and conjures an image of one of the blood bone daggers. There are two in one lot. The bidding starts at 40,000. The demonic Kilnar places a bid. And then suddenly people start to bid like crazy.
Dath’romar and the statue start to leave, and Vel focuses in on the Dathro’mar. The illusion flickers, and she sees Zendarin beneath the illusion. The golden statue is staring hard at Vel. Vel looks back, and then both are staring.
They then leave.
The prices continue to rise. The devilish Dar’khan and the devilish Lana’thel, as well as the Lireesa are continuing to bid. At 80,000, the Anasterian with a dagger in his back steps up. He makes an offer of 90,000 for ONE of them. He wins it, and produces gemstones instead of gold.
Vel sees through his illusion, and he is heavily cowled and covered by a heavy cloak.
Lireesa buys the other dagger for 90,000.
2:17 Vel also sees through her illusion. It’s Telina Mirthbrook. However, her blood red hair is stained with streaks of white through it. Bone white. She heads back toward the back table for a moment, and she lingers. The crowd begins to disperse.
Vel speaks with Vincent, and then goes to speak with Thalodien. She gets the gloves of thievery off of him, and returns them to Vincent. Vincent and Vel start tailing Telina, now invisible. They follow at a distance, and eventually Telina gets out of the maze. Waiting outside of the maze is the beggar Rorha Sundown.
Rorha: “Excellent. That went rather well, though I’m a bit cross at the other individual who decided to split the bidding. Clearly I should have brought more currency for this. I have others tailing him. We can recover it later.”
Telina: “Of course. Is there anything else that needs accomplished, or can we leave? I’m tired of this disguise.”
The Rorha says they can go, and Telina takes his hand. She starts to cast a teleport spell. Vel tells Vincent he has one shot, as she isn’t turning this into a fight. Vincent gets closer. He slips his hand into Telina’s pocket, and starts to withdraw the sapphire.
Then Telina grabs his hand.
2:32
Telina looks at Vincent for a second, and her hand starts to alight with super intense heat. A lash of burning fire pulses through Vincent’s body, and he feels pain course through his body.
Dar’khan’s eyes go dark, and he sneaks around to Vincent. He tries to stab at Vincent, but misses. Then lands a second hit, and he starts bleeding. He then breaks and runs, popping the bead of diminution as he runs into the hedges. With the sapphire.
Dar’khan: “We need to find him. And we need to find him now.”
He starts to look around, searching for Vincent.
Dar’khan: “This is the last chance to return what you stole, or you’re not going to like the result.”
Lirath then comes out, and he gets to the very end, watching the situation unfold from the hedges. However, he’s hidden.
Telina: “This is your last chance. Reveal yourself and drop the dagger, or there will be a lot of blood on your hands.”
Telina casts wall of fire, blocking the pass toward the portal. As the wall appears, Vel is unable to dodge out of the way. The invisibility drops.
Telina: “Well well well, what do we have here.”
Esara: “You know what they say! Fight fire with fire!”
The ground beneath Telina starts to churn. Dar’khan is able to roll out of the way of the explosion, but Telina just laughs as she is burned.
Vel moves away and tries to vast invisibility on herself and Esara, but Dar’khan promptly counters it.
Dar’khan: “Nuh uh, we aren’t done talking yet.”
Vincent pops a potion and tries to hide. He drinks a second potion, and then dashes further into the maze. The flames from the wall of fire are starting to catch the edge of the hedges on fire.
Lirath fires an arrow at Telina, and the arrow embeds in her side.
Lirath: “We need to get out of here.”
Vel then subtle spells an invisibility on herself and Esara.
Dar’khan: “Aha… clever. Clever girl.”
Vel smudges her foot on the ground, making it look like she was making a break for the portal, but then doubles back the other way, brushing by her dad to let him know she was running in the opposite direction.
Larynna then appears, attempting to cast hold monster on Dar’khan, but the spell fails.
Dar’khan: “Oooh, sorry my dear, you have to do better than that.”
Then, springing out of nowhere, Thalodien thrusts a dagger into Dar’khan’s side.
Telina then asks for Dar’khan’s dagger. The blood she got from Vincent amasses and starts to roil and twist around her. Exploding out from the ground, like a tree being grown in an instant, is a terrifying creature. It looks like a twisted tree.
Dar’khan then casts enemies abound on Lirath. The tree starts to walk slowly toward Lirath. Esara runs to engage it, and the invisibility vanishes on her. Thalodien also runs in and makes several attacks on the tree.
Vel tries to interfere as Lirath goes to attack Esara, and his attacks then miss. Telina then tries to feeblemind the now revealed Vel, but is unsuccessful. Telina frowns.
Magistrix Larynna tries to charm Telina and Dar’khan, but fails.
The tree attacks Lirath, and then gets him in his maw. Lirath, however, fights his way out.
Dar’khan, meanwhile, looks at Vel, and casts Power Word: Pain. Excruciating agony rips through her.
Esara, meanwhile, swirls around and hits Dar’khan and Telina. Telina and Dar’khan flee in a surge of green energy. Vel tries to use her wand of arcane missile to fire off at the tree, but is unable to overcome the pain.
Lirath continues to cut through the tree, and then slices his way out.
Lirath: “That. Was singularly unpleasant.”
Esara starts to channel a teleport, and Vincent returns, still small. They all pile through the portal, and they reappear in Kilnar’s estate.
Vel: “Vincent, please tell me you got it.”
Vincent: “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been hiding.”
3:33
He crushes the sapphire and the dagger appears.
Kilnar greets them, and then opens up a portal to one of her safe houses. She requests that Velameestra destroy the teleportation circle there. Lirath hugs his daughter, as does Esara, and Vel and Vincent step through the portal.
They arrive in a small village a few dozen miles from the city. Vel destroys the circle. Kilnar complains a bit over the telepathic link about what a waste having to destroy it was given how much time it took to create a permanent teleportation circle, but then tells Vel to be careful.
3:35
Uther and Jaina find a small fishing village on the coast. They try to lay low, however Uther’s eyes fall upon a tree. A rather large, old tree. There seems to be a face carved into the tree. Jaina explained that she had heard there is some belief that spirits infest the trees and continue to watch over loved ones.
Uther goes to touch the tree, and he could swear he saw one of the boughs shift ever so slightly. Jaina suggests they bring it up with Gil later.
They settle in to await communication.
3:45
Meanwhile, Gil and Tess return to the ranger lodge. They head into the room with the body, and Arator is there leaning against the wall, asleep. The body is nowhere to be found.
Gil sighs. Heavily. He then walks over and flicks Arator in the nose.
Arator: “What was that for?”
Gil: “The body’s gone.”
Arator: “I’m aware. The young arcanist who was here before came by to get the body. He said he was sent by Borel to dispose of it.”
Gil pinches the bridge of his nose. “That’s not good. It would have been better if we had gotten what we had known before officially recognized.”
Arator apologizes. Gil said he needs to report in with the Ranger General. He asks Arator if Vel came back, and Arator said no.
Arator hopes that Vel is safe, and admits that he didn’t like the idea of the auction. He hopes it paid off.
Gil immediately goes to report to Sylvanas. She is in her office.
Sylvanas: “Gil. Had best be a good reason for you being here at the moment.”
Sylvanas looks tired.
Gil gives Sylvanas a brief rundown on his day, including the traitors and the fake Thal’ena.
Sylvanas sighs. “Understood. Certainly something to deal with in the morning.”
Gil asks Sylvanas if Vel talked to Sylvanas about the body. Sylvanas closes the door.
Sylvanas: “Gilveradin, you understand that I am the Ranger General of Silvermoon, thus it is my responsibility to ensure that any fugitives are located.”
Gil: “Did something happen?
Sylvanas: “You haven’t heard? Gil. Vel has been accused of attempted assassination of Kael’thas.”
Gil: “Oh.”
Sylvanas: “She fled the scene after attacking him, reportedly, with the help of Queen Jaina. You understand how difficult this situation has become. Now it of course became necessary that none except authorized personnel were allowed to enter or leave the investigation, but to insinuate that some sort of hearsay from a wanted criminal had reached my ears would be silly.”
Gil: “Understood. But Borel had already had the body taken.. But okay.”
Sylvanas: “I was informed that he desired to do so in the morning.”
Gil: “In the morning? Someone already came and took it.”
Sylvanas: “I see. I suppose I should assign a number of striders to locate it, as no such authorization was granted. Not until the dawn. Strange times we live in. For what purpose does anyone have to smuggle a corpse? Gilveradin, in the morning your assignment is to track down and find your sister, few know her better than you. I have reason she has likely left the city. I trust you’ll be able to find her, and your presence away from the city will draw away prying eyes. Many would assume that she would reach out to you, which is of course nonsense as you would never be associated with traitors. Find her and bring her back, Gilveradin. Justice has to be served, after all.”
Gil: “Understood.”
Sylvanas: “Good. I had thought to put Nathanos on this mission, but he lacks a certain degree of subtlety required on this mission. Now go get some rest, Gilveradin, you’ve had a busy day. And Gil, for what it’s worth, you did a good thing this evening.”
Sylvanas praises him on him finding Thal’ena and returning her to safety (as Gil said). She then turns back to the map and begins to move pieces around again.
That night, Gil informs Arator that they need to go get Vel. Arator agrees he would be best with him.
July 17th
The next morning, Kilnar informs Vel that she is sending Theo with Gil when he goes to find her, as Theo was in town. He informs Gil that his mom sent him, as she is going to try and figure out the political quagmire of Silvermoon.
Gil informs Theo he was going to go talk to Kilnar, but Theo said that may be difficult. Right now, it’s unlikely that Kael’thas will allow anyone access to her. Theo informs Gil that Kilnar is being framed for a lot of things presently. He also mentions he has a few other things to mention once they leave.
Vel Sends Uther, briefly informing him that they are fine and asking where they are at. Uther responds that they are in a tavern called Breeze’s Break, located at the small fishing village of Misty Point. Vel mentions where she and Vincent are at, and that she will meet him at Duskwither Spire if it’s safe to do so given it’s a more central meeting point.
Vel also pings Gil, informing him of the same.
They then prepare to converge on Duskwither Spire.
