A Look at the Present (Imber in Falcrest)

This was actually co-authored through Google docs with the brilliant author of  http://pvillegirl.wordpress.com/.  She was my GM for our online DnD game and a great one at that.  – Byrd 

It was a blustery, chilly November day in the Nentir Vale. As usual the commerce in The Market Green of Fallcrest wasn’t perturbed by the weather. Children were playing in the open areas, noses and cheeks rosy pink with the cold. The farmers had pulled up their wagons in a small circle on the east side of the square, there wasn’t much, but the winter squashes and root vegetables were looking pretty good. There were a few traveling merchants who had pulled up on the west side. A tinker offered pot and tool mending services. A gem merchant hawked diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and the like. A map and scroll merchant was trying to find a balance between displaying his wares and keeping them from blowing away.

Imber stopped before the market and admired the view, it wasn’t necessarily the best looking place in the world but it definitely had its charm. He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time once more before looking around and taking in the surroundings. He stared at the sky for little bit, the clouds floated by some faster than others. Oooo, that one looked like a steak with a large loaf of bread. He wondered if there was a place nearby that might have milk.

The soft cry of a kitten snapped Imber out of his daydream, he reached down his side and drew up a very precious spellbook. It was a marvel as to how a man who looked to be in such disarray could ever have obtained a magnificent book such as this. The leather bound book was covered in rare jewels and the pages looked as though they were imbued with silver and gold thread. The ink that seemed to cover the pages was a lush velvet black that looked as though it could be wiped away with one stroke, yet there was not a single smear among any of the pages. He sat the book in his hand and drew a finger across the face as if stroking it thoughtfully. It opened up as though by magic the pages turning silently and gently, it stopped a few pages from the beginning and a purr came from the book.

“Well if you feel it is safe we will venture forth” Imber whispered gently. The book closed again as if by magic; four gold clasps, two on the top and two on the bottom closed as if it were a cat folding its feet together, the book clicked and stopped purring. Imber patted the outer cover once and then returned the book to his side in a small satchel made just for it. I wonder if Iggy would have liked steak, he thought but then brushed that thought aside.

Imber recognized Eli Greenwood from the Naeurmar’s Imports, he seemed like a nice fellow despite the rumors he had heard while talking to other merchants. He moved up beside the shop owner pretending to peruse the maps around the table. From the side of his mouth making sure only Eli was evident of the conversation he asked, “Rumor has it you have adventurers that work for you, is there a chance you have a party going to Winterhaven?”

Eli looked up at Imber, a bit startled, and peered at the disheveled wizard. Suddenly recognition dawned on his face, “Mr. Vulpes, right?” he said quietly, taking a queue for discretion from Imber. “You came by the shop a few days ago? Well, I don’t have any definite plans to send anyone to Winterhaven right now but I’ve had other inquiries about the area. I had planned to wait until spring but if you’ve got something specific out there, I could be convinced to change my mind.”

A wind seemed to run through Imber’s hair, yet the his hair was already disassembled and could not be further inconvenienced. Imber suggested the two go elsewhere to discuss some things. Eli recommended they take a walk around The Green. Imber felt he could trust the old man and related to Eli how he had come to Fallcrest to meet up with his old teacher for some help developing new spells but his teacher hadn’t returned from an expedition to Winterhaven to explore a rumor of an abandoned dragon’s lair. Imber told Eli all that he knew beforehand concerning the topic of their discussion. After all the information had been laid out for Eli, Imber paused a moment to let it all sink in.

Eli looked excited and intrigued with the information and motioned for Imber to continue. “Eli,” Imber started “I wish to join your company and assist them as necessary. Even if you will not venture to Winterhaven right away, I still wish to join and lend a hand.”

“We may be able to work something out. I’ve actually given up the mercenary business, my old lady has been asking me to retire for years now, and my daughter is in the process of taking over. She’s grown up so fast, and into such a wonderful young woman.” Eli shook his head, clearing out the nostalgic memories. “You’d actually be working with her so she will have the final say on who she takes with her the next time she goes out. She’ll want to talk with you, I’m sure, but I’m more than happy to introduce you to her. I’m not sure where we’ll be sending the group out to next, I’ll have to wait and see what kind of commissions I get.”

“Ah a daughter?” Imber being somewhat absent minded stopped and started to daydream, immediately imagined the old man in a dress with a little bit longer hair and tad bit younger. Then he imagined her with a fierce evil grin, wielding a thin bayonet and barking orders at her crew. He also imagined the fire and evil laugh, Imber quickly dismissed the thought as frightening. “I would like to meet with your daughter and discuss my possible employment.”

Eli gave Imber an appraising look, apparently reevaluating his opinion of the strange man. He must have decided Imber was just a harmless young man.

“Let me go home and talk things over with Marien and I’ll send someone for you when she’s ready for an interview. Where are you staying?”

“I’m enjoying my stay over at the Nentir Inn, just leave me a message with the receptionist there and I will be sure to get it,” Imber said. Marien, Imber thought, no that couldn’t be that evil right? He tried picturing a Marien but wasn’t able to come up with anything. Maybe she was busty and blonde with blue eyes, or a seductive redhead with freckles. Imber clapped his hands together and got a giddy look on his face. Realizing, however, that Mr. Eli was still there watching him he quickly snapped back to attention.

“Thank you for your time Mr. Eli, I await your response.” With that Imber turned and began to look for a place that sold jerky and possibly milk. Mmmm milk

Imber started to head back to the Inn, however he heard the sound of fighting and headed south. He stopped shortly to get a loaf a bread and flirt with the lady selling it, causing her to blush. She was a pretty brunette and had long flowing hair. Her mother happened to be nearby and gave a discouraging, if not threatening look. He hurriedly bid goodbye and began heading south again. He remembered that the Inn possibly had milk and turned about face and began back north.

A Look Into the Past (Part 4)

The small figure flew through the woods noiselessly.  It was headed straight for Elannah’s home where Imber had been left alone.  The figure didn’t even stop for the door to open, but rather passed right through as if nothing more than a memory.  The poor figure was distressed by what she found next however.  Pieces of the house were no longer all woodsy and earth tone.  In fact, the figure peered curiously at Elannah’s mirror and realized that, yes; it was in fact pure gold.  Various pieces of furniture and other items around the house sparkled brightly as though they had been bought as fresh pieces from a metal crafter.

The figure, a slender ferret, crossed her arms as she stood there in mid-air and contemplated what she would say to her master upon his return.  First, she thought, I must find the boy.  With a glide the ferret moved up the stars and disappeared through Imber’s door.  The ferret was less than pleased with the disarray of the room.  There were scrolls of magic all about the room; this room was filled with random gold things as well.    Books littered about the room from the study area over to the bed.  There was a lump on the bed covered in a dark red silky sheet with a book opened up hiding its face.  The sheet would occasionally rise and fall softly with gentle breathing sounds.

The ferret sighed and set about tidying up the room and once she was done, she pulled the book from Imber’s face.  That hair, she thought to herself.  She made a mental note to remind her master to take him to a barber and have him neatened up.  She squeaked at Imber, but failed to gather any response.  As she hovered in the air contemplating what next, she gleaned an idea with an evil smile.  She hovered just above him and then stopped her gliding to fall on his stomach.  However, Imber just so happened to roll away to one side of the bed before rolling back and managed to trap the ferret under him.  She was less than pleased and decided it was time to use magic.  Using a small cantrip, she summoned an incredibly tiny rain cloud just above Imber’s head and started an amazing sudden downpour.

This did the trick and Imber shot up and out of bed quickly.  The ferret had not expected this and was treated to his brief nudity before she placed one paw over her eyes and squeaked indignantly and pointed to his clothes.  

“So, sorry miss.”  Imber fumbled around and quickly got his clothes on.  He ran his hand through his hair briefly; it only led to further make a mess of his hair.  The ferret explained to Imber through squeaks that she had been sent to check on him while Elannah and Douven were away on their adventure.

“Oh, well I have managed to master the cantrips,” he started but kind of looked away.  “However, it seems I tend to sleepwalk and spellcast while I’m sleeping which would explain all the gold items around the house.  At first I thought it was a ghost, but I realized it was me when I woke up to find one of my pillows gold.  I’m not sure why, but ever since I learned how to use the cantrip prestidigitation for making gold it has kind of gotten out of hand.”

The ferret responded by smacking her face with her palm and shaking her head in disbelief.  She knew her master was not going to believe that her new apprentice had already mastered his cantrips and managed to alter the dimensions of the spells themselves.  The ferret relayed Elannah’s message that they were expecting to return with the next week or two and to keep practicing his spellwork.

Imber bowed and thanked the ferret for relaying Elannah’s message.  This surprised the ferret for she was just use to demands and not pleasantries.  As she turned to disappear back to her master she had a feeling that this boy was indeed something special.  

Imber stretched hard and realized all of the books were organized and tidy again.  “Augh, which book was I on last?!”  He sighed and smiled happily to himself, “guess I will just have to read and practice them all again until I find the one I was on.”  With that he took a book from the shelf labeled, Mudslinging with Magic: More than One Way to Knock Down Superiority.  He saw it was a pretty day outside and walked, barefoot, outside to sit in the sun and read.  He couldn’t wait to show Elannah his progress thus far.

A Look into the Past (part 3)

Imber truly felt like royalty and it shamed him that he was given such treatment.  However, he did not wish to displease Elanna or Douven and thanked them profusely.  Elanna informed him that he would be training everyday to master the basics of wizardry.  All things explosive and dangerous would be lessons with Douven.  This was mainly because Douven was a specialist when it came to causing havoc with spells.  Though, Elanna mentioned out of his hearing that Douven was just terribly bad at magic in the first place and tended to cause the noblest of spells to go awry and wreak havoc.

Elanna gave Imber more than he could imagine.  He was given an expansive room inside her home with a large bed, and some other furnishings made of rich woods.  She explained to him that as he learned to control his magic he would be able to alter the room to his will.  Imber could barely contain his excitement.

The first few weeks were painful for Imber.  Mainly as he learned to alter the magic around him and channel it through his body and mind.  Elanna guided him as much as possible, but it was up to Imber to learn to fully control the energy that was invisible and wild like a river.  Magic was nothing something so easily tamed and would often cause Imber to black out from the surges.  After many weeks Imber had tamed the magic.  In response to her pupil’s hard work, Elanna took Imber to the capital and he was rewarded with his first treasure, a spellbook.

With the new spellbook, Elanna and Imber returned home to put down some spells and truly begin the mastery of spells.  Imber was truly excited that he had a spellbook and could not wait to use it.  However, as they arrived home, Elanna was met by Douven and a few others.  They had a mission from the government up North.  Elanna laid out some basic spellbooks for Imber to practice with and warned him to stick to cantrips while she was away.  With a grimace she left Imber and headed north with the others.  Imber retired to his room with all the new books and spent each day practicing as he had been taught.  He looked forward to Elannah’s return.

A Look into the Past (Part 2)

The boy’s master was less than pleased that the boy returned with all the orders.  His annoyance was quickly hid, however, by the company of the elf and human that approached him.  He shooed the boy off to do his chores and masterfully greeted the two newcomers.  The boy wished he could stay and listen in, but fearing reprieve took off to clean.

It had been an hour before the boy was summoned back to the mansion.  The boy’s master had a greedy look to his eyes as he patted the boy on the head and pushed him to his new master.  “You will serve this man now.”  With that he passed of the scroll of ownership to the gentleman and bade them farewell.  

The new master took the scroll and turned to head back with his female companion.  “Come lad, let us go home.”  They stepped back into their carriage where the bird and ferret were already waiting.  The boy approached the carriage and moved to the back in order to follow it as a proper slave would.  However, the gentleman noticed this and motioned for him to join them in the carriage.  He had never been treated so nice before and was unsure of what exactly to do.  He decided that following his new master’s orders was be more pertinent to his survival and got into the carriage.  The man and the elf began making plans, the boy stayed silent and listened with his head bowed, he was not sure what his new master had planned for him or even what his mannerisms were.  He knew he did not wish to make this master angry though as he seemed much different from normal.

Time and scenery passed quickly, the boy was unsure of exactly where he was.  Then again, he had never really been far from the mansion and farms.  The boy noticed that his new master was attempting to get his attention and turned to face him. “Yes sire?”

“Bah, do not address me as a sire.  My name is Douven Staul, this lovely lady across from me is Lady Elanna after the Goddess Ehlonna.  Though I fear the lady at hand is far prettier.”  And with that he winked slyly at the boy and grinned.  Elanna’s cheeks turned slightly red with embarrassment but she did not say anything to the contrary.  The boy turned to her and looked, he tried not to stare but it was indeed hard.  She was indeed the most beautiful elf he had ever met.  

His gaze broke away as he realized Douven was addressing him again. “Now lad, what is your name?”

“I am unsure sire, uh sir Staul…, I was never given a proper name as it is unusual for slaves such as myself to have one.”  The boy frowned and bowed his head fearing that he may disappoint his master for not having a name.

Douven spoke, “it is also unheard of having an Eladrin as a slave.  Eladrin are normally much respected around the world, yet, here you are.”  With this the boy hung his head even lower, he hated disappointing people.  Douven looked troubled and then turned to Elanna.  “Well then we must give this lad a proper name by which to address him.  Do you have any suggestions m’lady?”

Elanna looked deep in thought as though she had not even heard Douven speaking.  Finally, she smiled lightly and spoke with a voice that could tear at anyone’s heart.  “We shall call you Imber.  You look as though you will master the storms with your magic.  I think Imber Albus Vulpes would suit you perfectly.” 

Douven looked surprised and said, “How intriguing that you would give him your own last name.”  He grinned rather largely and said, “Especially since you think he will be worthy of being called a fox like yourself.”  His comment caused her to smile slyly and suppress a giggle.  “Well,” Douven started grinning like a schoolboy that had just evaded detention. “If he is to have your name then he is your responsibility to train.”

Elanna smiled gently and gave Imber a reassuring look, “Well, if he is to learn magic then he should learn from the best, correct?  Besides, I can not afford to have another wizard around me that can not perform a spell without blowing up his familiar.”  With that Douven’s familiar gave a light smack to his master with its tail while looking at Elanna and nodding furiously.  Douven gave a sour look to her and his familiar.

Imber could not help but be surprised by everything that had happened to him this day.  Not only had he met real wizards, he had been taken in and given a true family name.  He had a feeling this was only the beginning of a new world for him.  The three continued their conversations as the carriage sped along the woodland trails.

A Look into the Past (Part 1)

The crying sound of the infant awoke the Drow that night.  The Drow were at war with others though and this did nothing except cause hatred and despise amongst the clan for fear of being discovered.  The mother, having given birth alone, saw this child as merely a further reason to hate the one that had helped in the creation of this runt.  Though there was hatred for the child itself, the thought of using the child to cause pain to the father was stronger.  Thus the child was saved if by nothing more than blind rage.  Unfortunately for the child, as he grew older, he displayed less and less the birth signs of a Drow and more of his Eladrin father.

The mother, fearing retribution from her clan, cast the child out into the wilderness praying to the Queen of Spiders that her sin be forgiven and the child killed.  Whether luck was with the child was undecided, as it would happen he was picked up by humans and sold into slavery at his young age. 

Bread and water were his nourishment and he spent many years toiling to the needs of his masters.  There was never anything unnatural of him, his hair and eyes having a brown colour, he was dressed in rags and his hair held a wild look.  His skin was light, his ears somewhat elvish but quickly being hidden by the growth of his hair.  Knowing nothing else he took pride in his ability to serve others, he smiled his boyish smile to those around him, often causing people to think him foolish or delusional.  When he could not smile, for fear of a beating, he smiled inwardly and would bite his lip to hold back any other feeling than hope. 

Every day was the same for the young lad.  One particular day the master chose him to deliver his orders and scrolls to the temple.  The boy having been giving such recognition smiled more than he had ever.  He made quickly to the far side of town to deliver news for his master.  As he paced himself along the path to the temple, he took notice of a carriage coming up the same road.  He kept his pace but moved over to let the carriage take full use of the road.  As the carriage passed slowly he took notice of the humans in the carriage discussing a great war.  It was a man dressed in magnificent deep blue robes with a bird that sat upon his shoulder and looked about everywhere.  Beautiful could not describe the lady that sat across from him; however the boy was not so much interested in the lady as he was in what he believed to be a well trained bird.

“Excuse me, sir” the boy spoke aloud but not enough to startle anyone.  The two in the carriage to acknowledge the lad walking beside the carriage, his smile certainly didn’t seem to match his appearance.  “How did you train that bird to sit on your shoulder and appear so calm?”

The man looked incredulously at the boy and said “You can see this bird here?  And what of my companion, can you see her pet?”

“Yes sir, he seems like such a nice bird and her ferret looks neat” the boy spoke after a moment.  He thought it strange that the man would act as though he should not have seen those pets.

The man asked the carriage driver to stop and stepped to the side and held out a hand to the boy.  “You seem so young and intelligent and yet, you are dressed as though you are a slave.”

“I am a slave sir, my master lives back up the way,” and he turned and pointed at the large mansion surrounded by large fields.

The man shook his head in disbelief, “Come, I wish to purchase you from your master.”  The boy hesitated, looking back at the mansion and down the road towards town, knowing that if he did not finish delivering the scroll to the Temple he would be severely punished.  Decidedly, he led the carriage walking back up to his master’s mansion wondering what trouble he would be getting himself into.

Seheilvia (Part 2)

Sehsi was shedding tears quietly in her cold prison.  Adventurers were coming slowly as the day progressed, the new find for most were the small raptors and a few of the mechanopeeps.  The day dragged on as the Northrend sky changed from grey to blue to white to purple.  Sehsi tried to make the most of the situation and laid to rest.

Later on she was awoken to find a strange paladin eyeing her cage while haggling with “the goon”.  He was trying to get a bargain on a snow white hare and he also had a very young little girl with him.  The little girl was in his arms and was also stealing glances at the cage.  The paladin seemed very strange, Sehsi was positive she had never met the guy before.  More customers came while the paladin and goon argued over the price.

Sehsi rolled her eyes at all the commotion.  Finally the goon waved him off to find something else or go away.  The paladin went back to his steed and placed his child upon it, fetching some more gold probably for payment.  Sehsi actually thought she saw the paladin speaking to his horse but blew it off.  While everyone piled around the good with their goods and money in hand the horse slowly ventured towards Sehsi.  It neighed briefly before turning it’s back to her cage.

Sehsi was curious as to the goings on around her and why the horse was acting on its own.  Without moving the rest of its body, the horse lifted its right hindleg and brought it down hard upon the lock of the cage.  The lock was definately not made to take this kind of beating and quickly gave way falling to the ground with minimal noise.

Sehsi sensing her only opportunity quickly dashed from the cage and lept and bound away as fast as her little legs would carry her.  The horse taking no noticed crept up behind the paladin and waited.  Sehsi could hear the little girl giggling as the paladin fetched her from the horse.  There was a great commotion.  The goon, realizing his prize was gone, was in a tantrum over losing such a rare find.  Sehsi had not gone far, she tored the muzzle from her mouth and she ventured back wanting to see how the event played out.  The goon was eager to blame the new customers who were still haggling.  The paladin has purchased the hare and was already mounted and leaving the vendors.

Sehsi giggled at the scene, the other adventurers had a bit of temper on them and were giving the goon a very hard time.  Seeing no reason to tarry around longer, Sehsi set out on the road to Dragonblight, stealthed.  Soon, a steed with the paladin and his little girl passed.  Sehsi thought she was going crazy when the little girl giggled and waved her tiny stubby fingers in Sehsi’s general direction.

“Kitteh!”

Seheilvia (Part 1)

She stared down depressed from her constricting bonds and cold iron cage to the soft lush looking grass below. The muzzle on her mouth was both embarrassing and frustrating; speaking was completely out of the question, all she could do was growl and moan. All around her were pets and other forlorn animals of assorted shapes and sizes; from the rare white elekk to a brown cockroach scratching away in its box.

Northrend was a very dangerous place for those who were unfamiliar with it, as Seheilvia had quickly found out. One of Nessingwary’s wannabe goons had caught her unaware, with a tranquilizer to her tushy.  All this while she had been adventuring in her shape shifting form which resembled a panther. While most druids end up closely resembling the tough bears and panthers of this day and age with their heavy dark fur, Seheilvia was different. Her coat was a shimmery sky blue with soft patches of white.  It all started with her mother long ago…

Seheilvia’s mother, Lasietha, was a very magical night elf with quite the talent for restorative powers. She was also a bit of a daredevil and risk taker. As luck would have it, she and a lot of her girlfriends at the time decided during the Brewfest events to venture to Orgrimmar and take on the Orcs in drinking contests. There just so happened to be some buff looking Tauren there as well that caught Lasietha’s eye. One in particular whose name she claims she couldn’t pronounce, or as the case probably was that she was too drunk to remember, was a pure silver Tauren.
Both of them seemed determined to outdrink the other and as the free brew was pushed between the two of them the night went on late into the morning both having retired with each other somewhere in Durotar. Lasietha was woken to find herself back in Darnassus and had sworn off the event, claiming to be the obvious winner of the drinking contest. Time revealed she was pregnant, though she claims it was probably one of the high elders of the grove that took advantage of her back in Darnassus, many were wiser than that.

Time blessed Lasietha with Seheilvia.  Many saw poor Sehsi, a nickname from her mother, as an abnormality or a curse to the Darnassian race. Most night elves had silky smooth deep blue and teal skin. Seheilvia was the colour of the silver bluish white moon cast upon a crystal clear ocean, with short silky smooth fur all over her. She was also much shorter than any other night elf standing at four feet rather than the respectable six and seven foot tall night elves. Ignorance of any kind was not welcome among Darnassians; however that didn’t stop most from snickering at the sight of her and casting disdain. Yet, all this was of the past; she had proven strong no matter her size and was building up her talents and abilities by fighting the scourge of Northrend when she came upon her current predicament.

All the animals, including Sehsi, were loaded up and hauled out to the Borean Tundra.  The goblins and humans loved to sell their wares to those new to Northrend in hopes of making a few pieces of gold.  Though they often tried to swindle as much as possible, from younger adventurers.  Upon the road, far east from the Cenarion druids, the bunch set up their tents and camps and began to shout their wares to those gion back and forth on the roads.  Sehsi, still confined to a very tight fitting cage with bonds and a muzzle, was on the brink of tears surely someone would come and save her…  Right?

The Paladin (extra 1)

Another quiet day, clouds slowly passing overhead with everything the warm glow of the sun basking down upon Azeroth.  That is, until the shrill voice of an annoying imp and his enraged master broke the nice afternoon.

“That was pathetic” giggled the imp known as Pagtog seeking to further enrage his master.

The blood elf was far from amused.  He was a little short for a blood elf and it had been taunted, to the dismay of the now dead orc, that his mother had fornicated with a Dwarf.  His white hair was everywhere and his fine silk clothes looked well slept in; laziness did not begin to sum him up.  Lapse, as he was called, gazed scornfully from his imp up to the tree where the acorns had been falling from.

A squirrel, Lapse thought a little on the mangy side, was chattering from behind the tall limbs and peering cautiously at the two.  Lapse had chosen this tree to rest under, however the squirrel was rather territorial and had begun to drop all manor of objects on top of Lapse’s head.  Pagtog continued giggling at his master’s misfortune, suddenly another acorn hurled towards the ground and smashed between Pagtog’s eyes.  The imp was caught off guard and fell to the ground in surprise and embarrasement.  It didn’t last long though as he hopped up and sent an explosive fireball back at the squirrel.

The squirrel had expected retaliation and had moved higher up the tall tree.  Surprise for Lapse and Pagtog came in the form of a large branch as the fireball spell had snapped the heavy limb from its tree and caused it to fall quickly.  The two were unable to move fast enough and were knocked unconscious.

Lapse awoke to a very beautiful lady sitting next to him.  His imp was dancing around the lady speaking non-stop, always the annoying chatterbox Lapse thought.

“Ah so you are finally awake?”  The lady also had a very beautiful voice, Lapse thought.

Pagtog unable to remain silent for long said, “It will take more than a limb to kill my master” then began to giggle at the whole affair.

“My friends call me Jesabelle” she said “but please call me Bella” and with that she smiled at Lapse.

“You are very lucky” the girl began “the weirdest thing happened, a human paladin actually found you unconscious here, found me and brought me to you.  He apparently removed the limb from top your body.  It is quite puzzling actually; he seemed too friendly to be Alliance.”
She seemed to brush the thought away with her golden hair, filled with an orange glow, as she spoke.  “Well since I am here how about we finish some of the quests we have gotten from Crossroads?”

Lapse wearily got up, dusting off his clothes trying to keep his mind on other things.  Every time he looked at her face he traveled to her eyes and he would blush and look away.

“I’d love you…  to!” He scowled and turned away, he could feel himself blushing even more. “I’d love to quest with you that is…”

The day drew to an end quickly for the pair.  The two blood elves grew closer together, Pagtog had been dismissed shortly upon their meeting due to his obscene habits and talkative nature.  Their time was spent talking and gathering supplies for the various horde encampments around Kalimdor.  As the day ended they withdrew back to Orgrimmar for the night.  Bella drug Lapse around until they met up with her friends Rexxghar and Brujo.  Rexxghar was a very silent orc hunter, and Brujo was a very friendly orc warlock.  However, Brujo was far more advanced in the dark arts than Lapse.

Lapse was lucky to have met such wonderful friends, it wasn’t long before he proposed to Bella and she accepted.  Lapse would never forget the day he was introduced to Jesabelle and often recanted it for others, who also thought it strange.  Lapse longed for the day he could meet the strange human that had introduced them and find some way of thanking him.

The Paladin (Part 9)

After the long day of fighting off the scourge essence in the Tundra, he was tired yet dealing with new emotions.  Byrd had seen the letter, the handwriting looked too familiar.  Over his course, weather worn face a tear worked its way down the dry tanned almost leather like skin.  Byrd spent the night outside the dock waiting on the ship, he was leaving most of his goods there at the inn whether out of belief he would return or just the fact that everything else seemed out of mind and he had forgotten it.

The massive ship arrived and Byrd paid his fare and stepped aboard.  The daily trip back seemed to take an eternity longer than before. Byrd lay in the hammock staring at the ceiling while everyone else slept, the men could be heard whistling and groaning in their sleep.  The cabin was dark, yet Byrd could not sleep.

The boat landed that morning in Stormwind.  Before the ship had finished moving and was even close to being tied down, Byrd and his charger had sprung off the side onto the boardwalk.  It had surprised the deckhands immensely even causing one already on the walk to fall over in surprise and commence screaming that he was drowning in the water.  Byrd had no patience nor knowledge for this, his goal was to arrive that day in Ironforge and time was of the essence.

He urged his charger on as hard as it could handle.  He arrived at the gryphon master and bought a flying trip to Ironforge.  It wasn’t long before he arrived to the very heated depths of Ironforge where the lava flowed freely into the two sides below the anvils.  The heat was indescribable; the dwarves that worked around it had the hardened skin of the large mammoths that they loved to hunt.  Byrd mounted up and rode to the magic quarters of Ironforge.  Outside he immediately took notice of Chiggers the druid.  The druid seemed unusually happy, Byrd had heard that there was a new recruit in the guild but he had yet to meet her.

As Chiggers stepped to the side, Byrd’s heart disappeared into the heavens.  Byrd felt as though he had died.  Before him stood the most beautiful dwarf ever, her long bangs with a slight curl were springy and soft looking.  She was grinning and holding in her arms a little girl.  With a wave Chiggers smiled slyly and took off elsewhere.  Byrd ran to the dwarf stumbling slightly and fell down on his knees before her.  Tears of joy flowed from his tired eyes down onto his worn tabard.  He embraced his girls chocking up from the long sadness that had filled his heart, but was being washed away by the new happiness.

“Lissi… I thought you both were gone forever…”

“Ye sillee man, Ima priest and doncha be forgetin et”

“I know, b…but the house was in shambles when I returned and scourge were all around and our daughter’s rabbit lay dead…”

“Aye, I wasa holden em back until I was suddenly summoned with her in muh arms to Shattrah citeh.  Them dranii folk put us up en homes ther and used me for muh specialties in diseases”

Novare Res, a new beginning, added to its family that day.  The new additions were welcomed not as strangers but rather with loving arms as to family that had not been seen in a long time.  All was well in Azeroth that night… Well except for a crazy gnome stealing a war machine, an overly excited drunk dwarf running people over with his ram and a draeni attempting to outdrink another dwarf; but those are stories for another time…

The Paladin (Part 8)

As he stepped off the boat, a little green on the outside from the boat ride, he thanked the light that he was finally back on solid ground. His only wish the whole trip was that they make the route flyable by gryphon so he never had to be on those swaying menaces ever again. Gathering his things as they were unloaded, he sought a room at the nearby inn and paid for a few days rent. His goal was to move closer to the magical city of Dalaran as soon as possible, he had heard word that many knowledgeable magicians were there that might assist him in his search for knowledge of the scourge attacks.

Byrd checked the mail while he was there at the inn. He had put in an advance notice that he would be in the Borean Tundra and to have all mail forwarded there to him. Byrd sorted through his letters tossing the spam into the nearby hearth. “Amaze the lasses with a larger sword…” another one was “Increase your gold pile! All I need is your…” and a “Is your mount epic?” He smirked and began opening the ones from Novare Res with their official emblem careful waxed onto the back.

That was probably Ruic’s doings, he thought, amused. Ruic always came off as a whimsical kind of guy. Byrd remembered him as a strong and kind leader. There was another letter this time from Aldaria offering assistance as needed. There was even a letter from someone named Babymagik. She was a gnome with specialized skills in enchantments and whatnot. Byrd always found gnomes to be amusing with their squeaky voices and childlike bodies, he briefly recalled Siuan and thought of contacting her.

However, the cold hollowing sound of the war horn awoke Byrd from his memories. He quickly packed away the letters into his backpack, picking up his two handed axe he had received from fighting for goblins. He charged to the front lines to assist the guards, leaving a few unopened letters to be seen later that night, including one with an unknown address, begging him to return to Ironforge as soon as possible. The sight of which would cause his heart to jump…