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sekhisadventures · 2 years

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Landfall

The Great Ocean, Northeast of Kul Tiras

The steam engine of the large Horde vessel hissed as it chugged along far from the shores of Durotar, having been sailing across the ocean for several long weeks but was nearing it's destination at last... which was a good thing as morale on the ship wasn’t exactly good for one passenger in particular.

Galdia Grimaxe snarled, digging through another crate of empty bottles. “There’s no fuckin’ beer?! No ale?! No NOTHING?!” she snapped.

Leaning against a wall nearby was the massive form of Nitika Dawnhoof, the tauren at least big enough to stand against the Warsong warrior woman through sheer size alone. She was a Seer, a sect of people who followed the Tauren Sun God An’she, but she was as strong as Galdia in terms of pure muscle if not in martial training.

“No Galdia, not since the last time you shouted that two hours ago…” she sighed, shaking her head. “Its not the crew’s fault you drink enough for four orcs on average.” she snorted. She had long since accepted Galdia’s heavy drinking habit, after all the woman had been through a lot. Galdia was a Mag’har after all, and the phrase ‘you can never go home again’ was extremely true for someone in her situation. The Alternate Draenor that had been created by Kairozdormu’s attempt to ferry Garrosh back in time and space to the Draenor of the past was lost to them forever with the Hourglass of Eternity destroyed and that world’s own Dark Portal in ruins… as far as they knew.

Galdia let out a loud growl and threw the crate across the hold, the box shattering against the far wall. A goblin sailor swore as he was unable to get out of the way fast enough, cringing and covering his head and eyes with his hands… only to lower them a moment later to find a shield of pure sunlight covering his body.

“Galdia!” snapped Nitika, “That’s ENOUGH! I spoke to the helmsman an hour ago and we should reach the Dragon Isles today. Can you please keep this under control until we make landfall?”

Galdia glared about her, then snorted and stood up, “FINE! Fuckin’ fine…” she spat, stomping out of the hold, “Where’s Zhan-min when I fuckin’ need that overgrown furblog…” she grumbled in annoyance.

Nitika shook her head and shrugged apologetically to the goblin, then followed her friend out of the hold. A few years ago she would have been babbling apologies and offering to help clean up, but a lot had happened since they had entered the Shadowlands. Let the crew get on with it, she had to try to make sure Galdia didn’t wreck something else.

As they emerged onto the deck the other four members of Savage United looked up. “Fuckin’ fel Galdia…” huffed Grimo, the goblin making some adjustments to his goggles using a barrel as an improvised workbench. "Do I gotta pay for damages again?"

Galdia grumbled under her breath, stomping to the edge of the ship and leaning out to watch the ocean go past. From here one could just barely make out the distant coast of the island nation of Kul Tiras. Despite the armistice the crew had made a very firm point of staying well north of the island. While Jaina Proudmoore had, after a lot of meaningful looks from some of the other leaders of the Alliance, agreed begrudgingly to abide by the terms of the cease-fire… well… many sailors still remembered the fate of her father Daelin Proudmoore and while his daughter had been absolved of the hand she’d had in his death, many of them were still all too willing to remember that it was Horde-forged weaponry that had cut him down that day in Theramore, and it wasn’t unheard of for ships to just ‘go missing’ at sea.

Grimo frowned at the orc’s back, then grunted to Nitika, “How many?” he asked in a low voice.

Nitika sighed, “One box, but it was all empty bottles.” she replied in the same tone. Grimo let out a muttered curse as their two undead companions, the Death Knight Mola’raum and the Forsaken Darkcaster Edwood shook their heads.

“I get what th’ lass is upset about, long sea voyages are a pain in th’ arse even fer Kul'Tirians… but ye gotta find somethin’ ta keep busy with or you’ll go mad ‘n drink runs out eventually.” sighed Ed. In life he was a Kul'Tirian, but the Scourge had ensured he could never go home again as anything but a potential invader.

Mola’raum just shrugged, but kept one glowing blue eye on Galdia, ready to use his Death’s Grip to yank her back if she let her temper get the better of her again.

Sekhi let out a small whine, the vulpera songstress sitting crosslegged on the floor next to Grimo’s barrel, her flute in her hands. She could hear Galdia’s song from here, an angry tempo of frustration, boredom, and an eagerness to do something. The truth of it was Galdia had cabin fever bad. She hated long sea voyages because she had to sit and wait and if there was one thing that the orc woman could not abide doing it was nothing.

She took a breath and closed her eyes, trying instead to focus on the sound of the ocean. To her shamanistic senses all the elements were different musical sounds, and all around them was a slow steady beat of drums to her. The element of Water was a drum, sometimes a small set of hand drums for smaller ponds or pools, other times a series of drums such as a fountain or a waterfall. Here it was as if there were a massive drum beating out a soothing rhythm all around them… and then… her ears twitched as a faint metallic pinking noise drifted over to her. A xylophone-like sound, the sound of Earth.

She raised her head a bit, eyes closed to hear better. All around them was the sound of water, accompanied by the flutes and horns that were the sound of wind to her ears, but Earth had joined them now… and then she heard something else. The sound of a fiddle, being played rapidly, a sort of dance-like song that made her own foot do a little jig in sympathy to it as she sat there.

“Guys!” she yipped, beginning to wag, “I hear other elements! Earth 'n Fire! I think we’re getting clo-…” she started, and then a loud cry came from the lookout.

“LAND HO!” came the voice of a troll, holding a spyglass as he pointed ahead of the ship.

The group looked ahead as Sekhi jumped to her feet, then scampered forward to the bow of the ship as several others joined along… and ahead of them on the horizon was a faint dot that slowly grew bigger and bigger…

And then came the roar.

All heads looked up as a massive green dragon banked over them, the creature’s wings making a such a huge downdraft that it sent a few of the smaller passengers facedown onto the deck. They heard a laugh from above, as if the dragon was amused by this, then it flapped again and shot ahead towards the landmass in the distance, leaving no mystery as to what they were seeing.

The Dragon Isles, the long-lost home of Dragonkind. They had arrived at last!

Sekhi’s eyes were as big as saucers as she pulled herself up onto the front of the ship, her ears twisting this way and that. She could hear the Isle’s song clearly now and it was almost overwhelming to her.

The elements of the isles were strong and pure, left untouched by the races and wars of Azeroth for centuries. Its song filled her ears and mind and the Spirit of the island, the souls of dragons long past singing a joyful chorus to welcome their kin home after so long away. Her tail was practically a blur behind her as the island slowly grew from a dot to where the details could be seen even with the naked eye, and a dock came into view next to a massive volcanic mountain as one of the Blood Elf members of the crew laughed out, “Welcome to the Dragon Isles, adventurers!”

“About fuckin’ time.” smirked Galdia, the orc heading to the side of the boat even before the crew had the gangplank set up as everyone else gathered their things and made ready to disembark.

“Grimo, are we meeting up with Avalon?” asked Nitika, the tauren glancing down at the goblin.

Grimo just shrugged, “Eh, search me Nitts. We’ll run into ‘em eventually. Heard th’ Alliance has their half of the expedition set up near where we’re landin’.” he grunted.

Sekhi was the first off the boat, darting past even Galdia’s eager legs as she scampered down onto the coastline, her head twisting this way and that as she took it all in. The shamaness had heard a taste of the song that night in Dalaran when the Isles revealed themselves, but this was… well… it was so much more. It was hard for her to even keep upright… she wobbled a bit on her footpaws for a moment, then a voice cut through the song.

“Er, are you well?” asked a woman’s voice.

Sekhi shook her head to clear it, then looked back behind her.

Standing there was Laura Brightflame, the woman they’d met when they first got on the boat back in Durotar. She stood there in a long set of white robes holding a silver and blue staff with a draconic motif to it, her long blue and pink hair tied back into a messy ponytail.

“Oh um, yeah sorry… I can just… um… I can hear so much! Its… wow… yeah…” she stammered, looking around. Laura’s intervention had snapped her out of her initial reverie and now that she could focus she noticed something else.

Not all of the song she was hearing was good.

There were undertones of anger and betrayal causing a discord with the song of the Isles as a whole… but Sekhi couldn’t pinpoint where they were coming from. “Huh, that’s odd… I hear something else…” she muttered, her ears flicking back and forth.

“Something else? Like what?” asked Nitika as she caught up with her. Sekhi’s ability to hear Azeroth’s song was a good indicator if there may be trouble.

“I dunno… something… angry? Like there’s someone on th' island that don’t want us here… or don’t want… anyone here?” she tried to focus, catching a few hints of the Spirit of the song… “… lies… they lied… I hear…” and then the angrier parts of the song began to get louder, very quickly.

Sekhi’s eyes flew open, the vulpera’s fur raising on her hackles. “EVERYONE! LOOK OUT!” she cried!

From inside the landing area came a cry of alarm as one of the tents that the Reliquary’s explorers had set up suddenly exploded into flames, another one falling into an ever-widening chasm as the earth seemed to open up underneath it, the gap reaching the sea as oceanwater rushed into drown the unfortunate occupant.

“KILL THEM ALL! DRIVE TH’ HORDE FROM THE ISLES! FOR TH’ INCARNATES!” came a loud roar from above, and then roars came from all around as two dozen more figures burst from the bushes and rocks surrounding the camp.

On the cliffs nearby stood a furious looking dark iron dwarf, her body wreathed in flames as she directed a staff towards them.

Grimo rushed up next to Nitika, his rifle already in his hands. “A dwarf?! The fuck is going on?! Alliance stabbin’ us in the back?” he snapped.

Mola’raum shook his head, the troll unholstering his spear, “Don’t be assumin’ tings mon! She said ‘de incarnates!’” he snapped back, “Who be dey?” he asked.

Laura however, took a step back, shaking her head. “No… no no no…” whispered the human-guised dracthyr, her eyes wide.

The members of Savage United glanced at her, then Galdia shrugged, “Eh fuck it, they’re attackin’ us! This is exactly what I need!” she grinned as she unsheathed her pandaren-made claymore, “LOK’TAR OGAR!” she roared, charging into the fray as the camp’s defenders tried to rally from the sudden surprise attack.

Grimo shrugged, “She’s right about this at least. SAVAGE UNITED! ATTAAAAAAAAACK!” he shouted as the other members sprang into action.

Mola’raum immediately charged in next to Galdia, snapping his fingers as the runes on his spear flared brightly, a ghoul bursting free of the dirt next to him with a guttural cry before the undead beast threw itself at a nearby attacker.

Sekhi shook her head, the song pounding in her ears now, but she’d learned a lot from her time working in Tirisfal Glades… she couldn’t turn it off, but she had found a way to help block out the worst effects. She raised her flute to her muzzle, and a loud series of notes cut through the cries of combat as the skies rumbled above and a bolt of lightning arced down into one of the attackers, sending them flying to land at Edwood’s feet.

The Forsaken looked down, then made a face, “Tides Below…” he muttered. The one leading the attackers was a dwarf… but the one who had been crisped by Sekhi’s attack was an orc! “LADS! THIS AIN’T TH’ ALLIANCE! THERE’S ORCS AMONG THEIR CREW!” he called out over the sounds of battle.

Galdia brought her sword around in a fierce arc, the metal rebounding off a weapon drawn up to block it just in time, as she came face to face with a Darkspear Troll warrior, his blade and body shimmering in a heat haze as if he was about to burst into flames himself. She grinned, then headbutted him right in the face, smashing his nose and snapping one of his tusks in half, and as he stumbled backwards she ran him through the chest!

“Trolls too!” called back Nitika, “Who are these guys… EVERYONE! TRY TO TAKE ONE OF THEM ALIVE!” she called out.

Galdia laughed, “Alive? Sure! Not like they need all their arms and legs right?!” she grinned, bringing her sword around again at a Draenei’s body… and then with a loud crack she stumbled, staring at her blade.

At most of her blade.

The sword had snapped cleanly in half, the rest clattering away across the battlefield.

Galdia’s head came around just in time to see a fist approaching her face at speed, made out of something hard and brown, and then she was flying backwards as she was knocked clear off her feet!

The Draenei sneered. He was a tall man, dressed in the same sort of shamanistic garb as the rest of the attackers but his arms and chest were covered in a carapace of solid rock, his hands transformed into wicked bolder-like fists.

Nitika saw this and sent a burst of sunlight at him, but it barely slowed him down. “GUYS! GALDIA IS DOWN!” she called out in warning.

… but the others didn’t hear her over the cries of battle, and she was too far away.

A bit further away Laura Brightflame was not in a good place mentally. The sounds of combat, the elemental chaos, and the smell of blood were affecting her badly. Her mind kept flashing back to that dark day twenty thousand years ago. Her heart and head were pounding, her hands clenched against her temples so hard her knuckles were turning white… and then she heard the voice of that tauren woman she’d met on the boat.

Her pink eyes snapped open and she saw Nitika trying to rush towards the body of a fallen orc, that one that had been causing all that trouble in the galley. Suddenly she saw an ancient battlefield, and a fallen humanoid with crimson scales and large wings covered in blood, gasping for breath, reaching out a clawed hand to her as if to beg for aid…

Her breath caught, and instinct took over.

“STAY BACK!” she roared at the advancing Draenei, and a pair of massive azure-scaled wings erupted from her back, the membranes between the long scaley digits the white of fresh-fallen snow, and she flapped them hard, the scales glowing with a rainbow of colors as a swirl of wind to match any tornado slammed into Galdia’s attacker!

He stood his ground, but the blast of wind forced him to a stop as he glared at her. “EVOKER! THAT ONE IS AN EVOKER!” he called out to his allies as several more of the attackers turned towards Laura.

Nitika managed to make it to Galdia and began to heal her as she looked up at Laura. She’d seen a few around Orgrimmar after Ebonhorn arrived, but she hadn't seen one in this form up close.

Laura’s expression was wild, her hair swirling about her as her wings flexed, and suddenly she just changed.

Azure scales erupted along her skin as her robes seemed to unravel, becoming a crimson chest-wrap and breechcloth, her face elongating into a lizard-like snout, and a huge reptilian tail stretching out behind her.

For Laura Brightflame, everything else just went away. All she saw was the Draenei, the Primalist, before her. All the instincts that Neltharion had worked into her mind took charge, and she stopped pretending to be anything but Laurelgosa, a dracthyr.

Laurelgosa lashed out with a wave of Obsidian energies and the ground erupted under him, sending him prone as his own weight was suddenly used against him! The stone armor was powerful, but it had made him top-heavy!

As he struggled to regain his balance she leapt into the air, and several of the Horde’s veterans cried out as they saw something that some of the oldest, the ones who remembered the earliest days of Thrall’s rule knew all too well.

She soared towards him, flames flickering around her mouth, and then exhaled a titanic blast of flames and magic below her. The draenei barely had time to scream as the burst of dragonfire fell upon him. When it faded all that was left was his stone armor wrapped around a few charred fragments of bone, one arm still raised in a defensive position.

The other attackers cried out in fury and horror at their ally’s fate, flinging abuse and insults at Laura.

“Abomination!” they called her. “Titan-twisted monster!”

Laurelgosa heard none of it. She was in her true form, and there was an enemy. She hissed, then flapped into the air and channeled the power of the Azure into her wings, and almost two dozen bolts of magic shot out around her into her foes, slamming holes in armor and knocking weapons flying.

But there were quite a lot of them and Laurelgosa was an Evoker… but she was just ONE Evoker.

From among the attackers came the crackle of electricity, and a blast of lightning erupted from among their ranks! Laurelgosa froze, remembering the fury of another creature who used such powers, the half-remembered horror paralyzing her.

Then the lightning bolt hit a shield of sunlight, sparks arcing all over her form, unable to connect through the barrier.

Nitika lowered her staff, Galdia already back on her feet, holding her broken weapon… and there was murder in the orc’s eyes. That sword was special to her, and it was broken. The draenei who’d done it was dead, but someone was going to PAY.

She sheathed the broken sword, then snatched up the axe of a fallen Primalist and charged in as the defenders rallied themselves.

Another Primalist tried to fire off a spell only for a blast of wind to smack him across the face, then another bolt of lightning to slam down into him, sending him sprawling as Sekhi continued her song on her flute, driving and influencing the Air in the area to their defense even as the Primalists fought to control it.

Several burst into flames as Edwood channeled his fel magicks into them, the fires they became engulfed in not the ones they wielded but the corrupted green fires of demon magic. A couple even tried to dive into the ocean, but it didn’t help. Felfire wouldn’t go out until the victim died, even if they were underwater.

Two of them tried to take aim at Edwood, seeing what he’d done to their allies, and with a loud pair of bangs they both went down with bullet holes in their heads as Grimo popped open his rifle and loaded in a new pair of slugs.

And on and on and on and on until finally only one stood, backing away slowly. The dwarf who’d been leading the attack had vanished and he stood alone against the ambush’s survivors, all of whom were VERY angry with him to say the least.

A single dwarf, not a dark iron, but looking ready to fight his way out rather than surrender regardless. Suddenly, there was a loud roar as Galdia burst through the crowd, and the last thing that dwarf saw before the darkness came was her fist heading straight for his face.

He awoke half an hour later, his wrists tied securely behind him, with Grimo, Nitika, and Mola’raum nearby along with the leader of the Reliquary’s agents. Sekhi was near as well, the vulpera unable to ignore the fact that the song she’d heard earlier, the angry one, sounded just like this dwarf’s song.

“So, you can make him talk?” asked the Blood Elven man, wearing the long crimson robes his people were known for.

“Oh yeah, easy peasy for Nitts here.” replied Grimo, “You, uh, need somewhere private to…” he asked her, giving the tauren a sidelong glance.

Nitika sighed, “No… just…” she shook her head, closing her eyes, then when she opened them again they were a deep violet. “There we go, my turn.” she grinned, reaching out a hand as a faint whispering began to fill the air around her.

The dwarf glared, struggling against his bonds, but they had been tied securely. “Do yer worst.” he snarled.

She smirked, “Be careful what you wish for shorty.” replied Nitika Darkhoof, her hand taking on a dark aura as her eyes glowed purple… then suddenly Nitika cried out and clutched at her head as her staff clattered to the ground. “AUGH!” she screamed, stepping back from the dwarf. “I… I can’t get into his mind! Its like a wall of fire in the way!” she gasped.

The dwarf laughed, “That’s right! I’m protected from th’ likes of ye!” he spat, “Torture me all ye want! I ain’t sayin’ a damn word!” he retorted.

There was a bit of an audience to this, several others in the camp wanted answers after all. Murmurs arose from the crowd as the others considered things from alchemical truth serums to engineering devices and the like, and then a voice said, “Hey, troll. Yer a death knight aye? Ye can control dead people?”

Mola’raum pointed to himself quizzically, then nodded, “Um… yah, I can be doin’ dat… but dey don’t always be givin’ clear answ-…” he started.

“Good enough!” the voice said, and then there was a bang and the dwarf jerked into the air and landed on his side, smoke rising from a bullet hole in his head! Several cries came from the crowd, and a few laughs (there’s always a few who appreciate directness,) as a vulpera strode into view.

He was dressed in seafarer’s garb, with a cutlass on one hip and an axe on his other, blowing smoke off the barrel of a flintlock pistol. “There ye go, wake him back up ‘n make him tell ye.” he nodded.

Mola’raum blinked slowly, “Uh… ya fooked up ‘is brain mon. I dunno how much I be gettin’ now…” he replied.

The vulpera paused, lowering his pistol. “… that matters?” he asked.

“YA IT FOOKIN’ MATTER!” shouted Mola’raum, throwing up his arms. “De brain be where he keep all de memories! If ya fook up da wrong part de memories might be gone, or ‘e might not be able ta talk no more! Why ya be tinkin’ necromancers always be fookin’ careful wit dat bit?!”

A loud groan went up from the crowd as the Reliquary’s leader rubbed his temples. The vulpera winced, his ears folding back, “I… um… oops… w-well, I’ll just be shovin’ off then aye?” he tried… and then he noticed something.

Sekhi’s eyes were locked onto him, and her muzzle was hanging open. One arm was extended, and her finger was pointing right at him in shock.

“… wait…” he muttered, narrowing his eyes at her. “Oh bloody fel it can’t b-…” he started.

“JEEM!” she yipped loudly, rushing forward and pouncing him to the ground, her tail wagging like a blur behind her as the crowd stepped back. The male vulpera yelped and managed to keep from landing prone, but otherwise was knocked off his feet.

“SHIT! Sekhi?! What th’ fel are ye doing here?!” he yipped, looking more shocked and worried than anything.

“ME?!” she chattered back, “What are YOU doing here?!” she yipped excitedly, “Ya disappeared from Vol’dun years ago! We all thought ya were dead!”

“Er… w-well I did exactly what I told ye I was gonna do! I joined th' Bloodsails 'n became a powerful 'n feared pirate captain!” he replied, holding up his pistol for emphasis.

From behind him however came a faint gurgling sound, a wet guttural chattering as if a fish had learned how to talk.

Sekhi’s ears flicked, then she peeked behind him, and saw an infant murloc staring back at her. It was seated in an eggshell that had been turned into a sort of makeshift litter that Jeemjazo was wearing as a backpack.

“Murblblbhgbhbl. Mrublblglbhgl.” said the murloc.

She nodded at it, then looked at him. “He says your ship smashed inta his village, ya killed your captain, 'n then ya just left with him.” she nodded to Jeemjazo.

The vulpera boy stared at her, “… wait, YE SPEAK MURLOC?!” he yipped. “I didn’t even know he was doin’ anything besides just makin’ noises! I mean he’s just a baby!”

“Well no, but I can hear his song 'n its tellin' me what he’s trying to say.” she nodded.

“… his what?” asked Jeemjazo, cocking his head.

“Oh right! After ya disappeared, I started hearin' Azeroth's voice! Imma Shaman!” she grinned, wagging. “Oh wow! I gotta tell ma! We never found out what happened to ya 'n your ma came with the rest of th' caravan to Orgrimmar too! She’ll be so happy!”

Jeemjazo cringed, “Sekhi, jeez… no, seriously, please…” he whined as Murgly Jim, the murloc baby, let out a wet sounding gurgle that might have been a laugh.

As the two childhood friends reunited Mola’raum looked over the dwarf’s corpse, then shrugged at the others, “Eh, be worth a shot…” he sighed, reaching out his spear as the runes flared. Turning a formerly living person into an undead monster like a ghoul was easy… but bringing them back was hard, especially if the Kyrians had already claimed their soul. However, the dwarf had only just died so maybe…

The dwarf’s body twitched, then gasped as it slowly eased itself back up into a sitting position, it’s eyes glowing with the same witch-light as Mola’raum’s.

“Right den, ya be me dwarf now… who ya be workin’ fer? Why ya be attackin’ de camp?” he spat out.

“… ubuhg… gubhaaaaahn… guhg…” replied the zombified Primalist, a stream of something dripping out of the hole Jeemjazo’s shot had left.

“… crap. Say somethin’ mon?” he tried.

The dwarf’s jaw worked, but nothing recognizable came out of it. The bullet had either torn up the language center of his brain, or simply done enough damage to effectively lobotomize him. Mola’raum sighed, then snapped his fingers as the dwarf fell over with what almost sounded like a relieved sigh, his body going still once more as he went from undead to simply dead.

Mola’raum shook his head, “No good bruddah.” he shrugged, looking to the Reliquary’s leader. “I can make dem talk, but only if dey got enough brain ta be talkin’.”

“Yes… well…” nodded the elf, clearly put off by the display but only just. He was part of the Reliquary after all, it was hardly the first time he’d seen a dead body. “I appreciate the attempt. Pity that vulpera had to get in the way.” he sighed.

“Eh… we’ll figure it out soon enough.” said Grimo, “If these guys is ballsy enough to attack th’ Horde directly then it’s a good bet th’ locals have run into ‘em too.” he said, taking a drag on his cigar, “Besides, that other dwarf is the one I’m worried about. Notice how she took off th' second we started winnin’?”

Mola’raum and Nitika nodded to each other. A brave leader stays to fight to the bitter end, a smart one knows when to run for it. Still, not even ten minutes on the island and they were already in the thick of it again. What the hell would tomorrow bring after an introduction like that? What other dangers might be awaiting them on the Dragon Isles?

Across the Island, near the Obsidian Citadel

A young dragon roared in fury, shaking it’s head as it pulled against the restraints holding it down. It was a black dragon, barely more than a drake really, and it was in severe distress.

“LET ME GO! I WON’T SUBMIT TO YOU! I REFUSE!” snarled the wyrm, attempting to unleash a gout of molten breath upon it’s captor, but as hard as it tried the burning power wouldn’t come.

“Oh shut yer gob…” sneered the captor as she flexed her claws, glowing with fel energies. “I need a ways ta get ‘round this bloody island, ‘n yer me ticket fer that once I give yez an… attitude adjustment.”

Dissonantia grinned as she gestured again, the dragon screaming in pain as felfire streaked across it’s mind and soul, wrapping it in chains as psychological and spiritual as they were real. Its glowing red eyes flashed a deep fel green as it shook it’s head frantically… but the black dragonflight had long been corrupted by the madness of the Old Gods and even though their masters were gone or imprisoned the marks they left were still there.

All Dissonantia had to do was reach into the hollow they had left behind and fill it with her own power.

The dragon let out one last cry, then went still as its eyes glowed with felfire.

“I… will serve…” it gasped out, it’s chest heaving as it felt horror at it’s own words.

“Attaboy…” she chuckled, “Azzy, looks like we got a new pet…” she grinned over her shoulder.

Az’arad sneered at the dragon, his own body showing several claw marks and burns. He had worked with Cenoon and Xelkek to bring the dragon to heel long enough for Dissonantia to restrain it for the rest of her spell, and he was relishing seeing the creature broken.

“Roight then… Dragon Isles! Oughta be lotsa useful shite here fer a discernin’ lady like me.” she cackled as she snapped her fingers and with a woosh of flames a saddle appeared on it’s back, set with fel runes of compulsion, control, and dominance. The dragon let out a whimper of despair, but otherwise said nothing. “Climb on Azzy, lets see wot mischief wez can get upta.” she nodded, climbing up onto the dragon’s back as Az’arad followed her, seated behind his Mistress.

The felfire chains fell away and the dragon spread it’s wings, then took to the skies with it’s two riders, as Dissonantia extended her senses across the isles… seeking a new source of power, a weapon to use against her enemies.

#warcraft #dragonflight #warcraft fanfiction #warcraft roleplay #adventures in azeroth

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sekhisadventures · 2 years

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Pandaren in the Big City

Stormwind City, about two months before the discovery of Pandaria.

Stormwind.

Capital of the Alliance.

Home to two hundred thousand people from all races that stand with the Lion banner. Humans, Dwarves, Gnomes, Night Elves, Draenei, and Worgen all wander its streets, work in its shops, guard its walls, and more…

… and now, a new race was added to this melting pot, one so rare that some people didn’t even know they were real.

Jaie Swiftpaw padded her way through the city, blushing visibly through her white fur at the looks she was getting. Some people didn’t know what to make of her, others wondered if she was some new kind of furblog, more than a few thought she was rather cute in a patronizing sort of way.

It was a massive change from her small village on the back of Shen-zin Su, she’d never seen so many people in one place before. All around her were voices, people gossiping on the path between shops, guardsmen marching along across the cobbles, vendors hawking their wares, laughter from the bars and taverns, it made the poor country girl’s head spin! How did they stand it?!

She stumbled along until, finally, her feet carried her into the dwarven district and to a tavern in the back of it. Pandaren were fond of their proverbs, and one of the first ones she’d learned as a cub was thus: ‘If things get overwhelming, have a beer. If nothing else, you’ll at least have beer.’

She sighed and flopped down at the barstool, fidgeting as she felt eyes watching her come in even there, the tavernkeep walking up to her. She was a dwarf, a stout woman in a sturdy leather apron which he wore when grilling nearly entire cows over a blaze as hot as any dwarven forge to feed the workers of the district. “Ah, yer a new face fuzzycheeks! Names Thaegra Tillstone, welcome to th’ Golden Keg! What’ll it be?” she asks.

“Uh… what have you got?” she asks timidly, very aware of how many eyes are upon her.

“Well… how about we start ye off with a mug o’ Thunderbrew’s ale? Good starter fer any new face.” she nodded to her with a smile.

Jaie smiled awkwardly back, then nodded as the bartender turned to her taps, then slammed down a mug still heavy with foam at the top. “Freshly delivered from snowy Dun Morogh this mornin’! Enjoy!” she grinned.

Jaie did enjoy… she also enjoyed the two that came after it, and the three mugs of mulled wine afterwards, and then another round of each, the dwarf rather impressed that she was able to keep up. It was rare to see anyone but another dwarf able to pack away drinks like that. Finally however even Jaie had to admit her face was getting a bit warm, the girl letting out an appreciative hiccup as she stood up, a bit unsteadily, then glanced towards the exit.

“Lass…” said Thaegra in a warning tone, “Ye better not be plannin’ on leavin’ without settlin’ yer tab…” she said, but not unkindly. She knew sometimes a patron would forget important things after a good round of dwarven drinks. Things like their names, and the concept of walking upright, for example.

“O-oh! Right…” giggled Jaie, reaching into her pouch, then handing over a large coppery coin inlaid with intricate designs and a square hole in the middle. “Will this be enough?” she asked.

Thaegra looked it over with a confused expression, frowning. “… never seen any kinda coin like this lass…” she glanced up at her, “Sorry, we only take Alliance coin in this establishment.” she said in a warning tone, “Tab comes ta eight silver, fourty eight copper. In the local currency if ye please.” she said, much less kindly than before.

Jaie winced, she’d never left the Wandering Isle before. It hadn’t even occurred to her they might use a totally different form of currency here! “I… er… um…” she stammered, “I… that is… um… I didn’t realize…” she tried to explain as she heard the sound of heavy mailed footsteps coming up behind her, the pandaren feeling a sudden sense of foreboding as she imagined herself being arrested for theft and trying to explain herself to the authorities, then letting out a startled yelp as a heavy metal glove landed on her shoulder.

“Oi Thaegra! C’mon lass, she has ta be fresh off th’ boat! Its an honest mistake.” laughed a voice behind her, a jovial tone with the same accent as the bartender. Standing next to her was a male dwarf, this one in blue armor with gold decorations, a hammer hanging from a harness on his back. “Lass this happens every damn time someone new joins th’ Alliance. We went through it with the Draenei too remember?” he grinned, “C’mon, I’ll pay her tab this time.” he chuckled as the pandaren let out a sigh of relief.

Thaegra sighed and rolled her eyes, “Fine fine, whatever Steelhammer. Its yer coin, rather its my coin now.” she nodded as the paladin pulled out his coin pouch and counted out enough to cover the cost of Jaie’s drinks. Thaegra took it, then went back behind the counter to put it safely into her cashbox.

“Thank you…” sighed Jaie, “I… I can’t pay you back yet, but I’m looking for work so…”

The dwarf just smiled at her, “Lass, dunnae worry about it. I’m a paladin, helpin’ others is what we’re supposed ta do. It was an honest mistake, just dunnae try ta drink… uh…” he paused, counting the empty mugs where Jaie was sitting, “… bloody fel how much DID ye drink?” he asked, looking at her, then back at the mugs. “That many brews should have ye dancin’ naked in th’ fountain singin’ th' Hedgehog song! How the feck are ya still upright?” he asked, the paladin looking at her with an expression akin to awe.

From the back of the building came a laugh, “Whats wrong Dareley? Finally found someone who can outdrink you?” asked a voice. Jaie looked over to see a tall purple-skinned woman with long white hair and even longer pointed ears wearing leather robes, drinking a goblet of some shining purple liquid. Across the table from her was a human man wearing long purple robes stitched with arcane symbols, though his mug just had water in it.

“I ain’t jokin’ Shalandrae! She drank six mugs at least of Thunderbrew Ale AND Modan Mulled Wine! She should be sleepin’ through th’ rest of th’ week!” he called back as Jaie blushed at the attention, the dwarf turning back to her, “Seriously lass. I am genuinely impressed! Come look me up next Brewfest, I wanna see what that belly of yers can really do!” he laughed.

“I-Its not that big a deal, really! I mean I’m a little buzzed, but it wasn’t that strong…” she replied as the dwarf gaped at her.

“You think that wasn’t that strong?” he looked around quickly, then whispered, “Lass, bit o’ advice. Never suggest Thunderbrew makes weak ale in an establishment like this if ye value yer kneecaps. That’s nae a name ye wanna insult in any proper dwarven beer hall…” he nodded firmly, “But if ya got room fer more then I wanna see! C’mon over!” he laughed, leading her over to his table and taking a seat, gesturing to the empty spot.

Jaie hesitated but padded over and slid into the spot next to the mage who glanced at her awkwardly, then shrugged and went back to focusing on his water as if it was vintage ale.

“So! Introductions then!” grinned the dwarf, “Name’s Dareley Steelhammer. Paladin o’ th’ Holy Light ‘n son of Ironforge. Pleasure to meet anyone who can drink like that!” he nodded to her.

The elf spoke next, smiling at Jaie. “Shalandrae Deeproots of the kal’dorei. I know what you are… though I haven’t seen a pandaren since I was a small child. Our village was on the very southernmost edge of the empire in those days, we had a few pandaren who were descendants of those who fled Lei Shen’s empire in our village… some of us thought your people died out in the Sundering, glad to see that’s not the case.” she nodded.

Jaie stared at her. Lei Shen? The Thunder King?! He died thousands of years ago before Shen-zin Su was even hatched! How old was this woman?! Finally however the third one spoke up.

“Nelen Fullmoon, of Gilneas. Sorry if I don’t join in on the drinking… I don’t hold my alcohol well…” he nodded to her.

Dareley sighed, “Lad, ye canna spend yer entire life jumpin’ at yer own shadow…” he muttered.

“Easy for you to say Dareley, your shadow doesn’t do what mine does…” he grumbled and, for a moment, Jaie noticed his shadow on the wall seemed to be bigger than it should be, with pointed ears and a long muzzle. Then she blinked again and it was just a regular human shadow. Just a trick of the light?

She looked at him curiously… then realized that the three of them were waiting on her. “OH! Um… Jaie Swiftpaw, of the Wandering Isle.” she said, giving a small bow. “I… thank you again for helping me there… this place is just so massive I feel like I can barely breathe.” she admitted, fidgeting in her seat.

“Aye, took us all some gettin’ used to. Stormwind grew like mad in th' past several years what with so many people comin’ from all over… ‘n believe me lass, when I say ‘all over…’” he nodded to a booth on the far wall where a large blue skinned man with goat-like legs, a long tail, and horns laughed at a joke told to him by his drinking friend, a diminutive woman with neon pink hair tied into twin bunches sitting on some sort of booster seat, “… I bloody well mean ALL over.” he chuckled.

“You know… I heard you mention you were looking for work.” suggested Shalandrae, “Well, we were considering recruiting another member to our team. We’re not a very big group, but we can always use a spare pair of hands.” she nodded.

“Huh? How did you know I…” asked Jaie, glancing over to where she’d said that to Dareley. That was halfway across the room, and it wasn’t exactly quiet in there.

Shalandare just grinned and raised one huge wild eyebrow, then pointed her fingers at her gigantic ears as Dareley threw back his head in laughter and even Nelen chuckled a bit. Jaie couldn’t help giggling herself at that. “Okay, obvious I guess… sorry, just still a little distracted by… well… everything.” she replied sheepishly.

“Aye lass, her pointy ears ain’t just fer decoration.” grinned Dareley, “But anyhoo. We’re all part of a group of adventurers, mercenaries, gofers, whatever ye wanna call it. We call ourselves ‘Avalon.’” he nodded, “Won’t sugarcoat it lass, some of th’ work we do can be dangerous… but if ye stick with us we’ll have yer back. We tackle the big jobs together, we share th’ spoils, we help each other when we can. Ain’t anythin’ fancy, but its gotten us through some shite in th’ past.”

“I’ve only been with them a year, but they’ve been good to me.” added Nelen, “Its not always easy to find someone willing to accept my… condition…” he shrugged.

“Condition?” she asked, looking confused.

Dareley sighed, “Lad, everyone else here knows whats goin’ on with Gilneas. Ye may as well rip that bandage off now.” he nodded to Nelen.

Nelen frowned, “Fine…” he growled, closing his eyes as the shadow on the wall behind him seemed to grow deeper and darker, then suddenly his body swelled and his robes stretched as his hands elongated into massive claws, his face stretching and shifting into a muzzle packed with razor sharp fangs, his eyes opening to show glowing purple orbs instead of their regular human appearance as well as he turned to Jaie’s seat… to find it empty, the pandaren having fallen out of it and onto the floor with her eyes wide. Nelen sighed and rumbled in a much deeper voice than before, “Every bloody time…”

“W-wha… what… what…” stammered Jaie as Dareley got up and helped her to her feet.

“Relax lass! He dunnae bite… well, okay… he bites, but he dunnae bite without a bloody good reason!” he nodded to her. “Its called th’ worgen curse, most people from Gilneas are like that.” he nods to her.

Nelen snorted, taking a pull from his glass... or trying to, but his muzzle got in the way. He sighed and started lapping the water out with his long canine tongue, glancing around as if to dare anyone to comment on it.

Jaie just nodded slowly, looking between Nelen and the others. More than his transformation, she could feel his chi shifting. She was a novice monk yet, not really able to sense it accurately to any degree currently… but a change from human to worgen was VERY hard to miss for anyone like her. “R-right… well… okay then…”

Shalandrae nodded, “My people were able to help them control the transformations… mostly.” she added.

“Mostly…” nodded Jaie, glancing at Nelen again.

“… just give me some distance if I start getting angry and you’ll be fine.” he replied in a low growling voice.

“R-right…” she nodded, but… she needed work, and the dwarf and night elf seemed friendly and welcoming. She could deal with a lycanthrope mage in that mix. “Well, if you’re offering paying work I won’t say no…” she smiled at Dareley.

The dwarf grinned, his mustache perking up as he did, “Aye! Well then, welcome to th’ team lass! We got one more member but…” he glanced at Shalandrae and they both shared a look, “… well, you’ll meet her eventually, probably best ye get used ta things first… for now…” he turned in his seat and called to the innkeep, “Oi! Thaegra! Round o’ Borean Mead fer all four of us lass! We just got us a new recruit!” he grinned.

“I don’t drink Dareley.” frowned Nelen.

“Well then that’s two mugs fer me!” laughed the dwarf as Jaie giggled. It seemed she’d already made some new friends, what else would joining the Alliance bring for her she wondered...

#warcraft #warcraft roleplay #fanfiction #adventures in azeroth #Mists of Pandaria

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