World of Warcraft®

The crack of the iron hammer came as a sound of thunder in the snow capped mountains. Grymm's runesword had finally shattered it and stood poised, ready to send the final blows that would end the earthen before him.

" Stay your blade Grymm" a voice commanded from behind. The captain of the strike team came up behind Grymm. Stepping back to allow him access to the earthen clan leader, Grymm noticed the stone pebbles strewn around the two. Pieces of the earthen.

" These earthen do not know the kind of pain flesh gives. You do know of ending, the destruction of your earth vessel though, don't you." The captain said standing in front of the earthen.

" I know what you are coming here for Dead Knight, but you wont get the answer from me. The key will stay hidden away from your Dead King, abomination." The earthen chief spat out in defiance.

The Captain showed swiftness as a pale blue light surrounded his hands. Shooting outward a tempest of dark force shattering the earthen being in two. Dust swirls the only trace of life as the two halves feel into the snow. The Captain stood back a look of sheer hate and contempt upon his face.

" So be it." The Captain turned to Grymm, who bowed obediently before the commanding Death Knight. " Learn well Death Knight, never to waste time on those who make the choice of death. Let us gather the others and return to the base. He gave us more then he could have known."

Grymm was left to ponder. The Lich King was searching for a key. Something that he suspected was in the ancient towers of the Titans. These earthen protected secrets here. As Grymm rose from his obedient bow, he made sure his face showed no thought. Thinking was not allowed among the Knights, showing it would bring ones end.

Rousing from this memory Grymm ran his hand on the final pages of the ledger. The circle of rogues for the Dark Lady had kept reports on the Black Hand Society since nearly its founding. No doubt as Grymm would have such reports in an unseen ledger about himself. The last reports made spoke of Aziel's interest in the Northrend lands. That had triggered the memory from long ago. Could Aziel have found out about the Lich Kings search? Not could be said, for he disappeared, much like Creator before him. The two had lead the Black Hand through its creation until their disappearance. Dark powers stirred across this world. Grymm would find all of these secrets. Find them and use them. Grymm would not disappear like those in the past.

((If there are babies, they *will* be eaten. *licks chops*

Also full up support for /evilooc, please use this channel.))

(( The first meeting was well attended. I look forward to conducting more in the months ahead. Next meeting will be January 2nd at Ravenholdt Mannor in Hillsbrad. Write ups will appear in various RP threads. Glad to help with Horde RP and looking forward to the wonderful players we have on CC.))

The sound of it was like the crack of lighting. A deep thud disturbed the wall above the chamber of rising. Bits of stone and dust fell onto the stone slab, where a body lay in process of its reanimation. The Nerubian necromancer and his two assistants where at the final stages of the ceremony. This occurrence above tested the concentration of all three. Silence followed, a long silence. Then the sound of metal boots upon the steps advancing at an even pace down to the chamber. The Nerubian broke off and nodded at his assistants. A fight was about to ensue. Then a pause from the shadowy top of the descending steps.

" You would be wise to not fight, when faced with death." An icy voice said. The Nerubian knew what descended. The echo in this voice, its icy nature. A death knight had come to this Ziggurat.

" I serve the Lich King Knight, why do you interrupt our purpose." The Nerubian said.

" The Lich King sleeps his icy sleep, far to the North no tears to weep. You serve me now Necromancer." The voice said. From out of the shadows came the knight, dark armored a visage of death.

The two acolytes brought up their hands with a spell of dark magic. Nothing was cast from those hands. Notice of their death only indicated by the swish of two arrows, both through the heads, and seconds apart. The Nerubian turned to the direction of this assassin only to see a cloaked figure with a third notched arrow in its bow. Outrage at the intrusion was quickly replaced with a show of subservience. The Nerubian bowed on its six legs, its two front appendages folded behind its bowed head.

" Much better." The knight said. Grymm turned his head to the cloaked figure and gave a nod. " Do not fear Necromancer for you shall fulfill a special purpose. A dark purpose. For now be at ease, rest and feed upon these new corpses."

The cloaked assassin disappeared into the shadows above, followed by three descending. Two warriors weapons drawn and a third of similar stature to the assassin, also cloaked. The cloaked figure raised its hands and words of fel magic where spoken. Dark wards spread through out the chamber. The three stopped at the base of the steps as the death knight did also on the opposite side.

" For now Necromancer, this Ziggurat is mine to command. Sulir here and his two guards shall keep you company. Watch over you for a time. When the time arrives I shall return with a need for your most special skills." Grymm then turned and headed back up the steps. The Nerubian could not help but smile at his new situation. It had been far too long since a true leader had commanded him. This knight held a dark power he could only admire.

"They're gathering forces, Captain," The cloaked Ocheliad rogue spoke among the dull roar of people currently crowding the Blue Recluse. Raemas, the black-clad agent with the Ocheliad's eye tattoo'd into his arm, slid an envelope to Cyrus, who promptly tucked it away into his armor.

Cyrus stifled a sigh, rubbing his temple to nurse a forming headache. "What do you know so far?" He spoke in a level tone.

"They're pretty good at keeping themselves concealed, as far as objectives are concerned. I do know, however, that they've acquired a Ziggurat. If I were a betting man, I'd wager my next meal they're looking for something up there in Northrend."

"Rae, you gambled off your old weapons last week."

The rogue grunted in response.

Cyrus maintained a level look to him for a moment before, nodding satisfied with what he'd learned. "Keep an eye on them and keep me updated as to what resources they acquire. The moment that little band of misfits show promise as associates or a problem we need to put down, let me know."

Raemas nodded slightly, turning on his heels and smoothly stepping between patrons until he'd slipped out of sight, leaving Cyrus in wonder. The Black Hand Society... Does that mean he's back? Or are they trying out new management?

The Knight Commander Clavuis stood just near the thick sanctum door. No sound came from without, but Clavuis had heard the faintest sound, as if the portal had been opened above. The sanctum was built below a former Lich King controlled tower. Just past this chamber was held books, scrolls, and a few articles of arcane taken after the Lich King fell. The Scarlet Crusade had chosen this out of the way tower to house these powerful articles for later use. Guarded by the remnants of the Scarlet left in Northrend, Clavuis stood guard over the relics charged with a two of his elite soldiers. He motioned the two other guards just awoken, to arm themselves.

A cold began to creep under, around and over the thick door. Built to withstand assault from hand weapons, it was held in place by three large metal bolts. Hardened wood made up the rest of the door. Outside a narrow set of steps lead down. The portal itself, to the stairs down, was cleverly disguised in the floor of a closet. The tower itself seemed abandoned. No signs of life evident. Set atop a peak, it crumbled under the ice that coated its structure.

Ice crystals formed over the door and around its frame. Clavuis guessed an ice mage and stood back from the door, bracing himself for close combat in the chamber. " Prepare yourselves guard" he said to the two female solders.

Frost misted over the door, flowing over it as if a curtain. Wood creaked a sound Clavuis had not heard before issued from the metal. Then a crack, and the door tumbled inward icy fog where once it stood. Clavuis stood tense trying to not let this unnerving scene overtake him. Faster then thought a figure shot through that fog and burst upon one of the guards, past Clavuis. A ghoul attacked with fervor the second guard seizing upon this attacker to save her companion. Clavuis kept his attention forward. It was but a few heartbeats and his attention was answered a pull ripped him from his stance out into the dark stairs outside the chamber.

The sound of sword upon sword issued from that darkness. Blasts of icy wind came howling into the chamber. Then Clavuis's head, still wearing its helmet, rolled and clattered just inside the door. The second guard stood back from her attack upon the ghoul, glanced into the dark, tears of fear shed from her wide eyes. The first guard struggled futility with the ghoul, was losing this battle. From out of the black a dark clad figure stepped into the chamber, a blooded rune sword held in one of its large hands. The second guard looked into the eyes of this death knight revealed and charged forward. Her attack was answered with a single swing of the rune sword, her head bouncing back. The ghoul rose, blood dripping from claw and teeth. Grymm, took a quick look around the chamber, keys swinging swinging in his hand, taken from the knight he had just downed. A single door stood closed, another open. No other sounds could be heard coming from the open room beyond. Grymm strode to the closed door to open the secrets laid behind it.

(( Is this hosted on a weekly basis or monthly? Would like to add it to the RP Events thread. :-) ))

(( Next Black Hand Society to be held January 2, same place as the December 19th meeting.))

(( Bump! ))

((I'm so pleased the Black Hand has been revived. It's starting to feel like vanilla again.))

(( Meeting tonight, Monday the 2nd, at 6 server time, Ravensholdt Manor Hillsbrad foothills. ))

((I'm so sad I missed the meeting -- I was at work. :( I hope it had a good turn out!))

(( It was a small but good meeting. As you can see in other posts, dark things are moving in the realms. Next meeting is to be announced, want to get it on a Monday when the story telling night is not going on.))

Cyrus grinned slightly upon seeing the orc, Grymmbror, enter the room. Cyrus had chosen Fenris Isle to meet, as it wouldn't be far from the Undercity, serving as a good backdrop of the misery the Cyrus secretly hoped to inspire among the renewed Black Hand Society.

Spotting a familiar tabard on Grymmbror's chest, Cyrus couldn't help but comment. "Good to see the Modas still have a spine, despite their recent habits of staying under the radar. Welcome."

Not wasting any time, Grymmbror spoke, "I was puzzled by the letter." Cyrus had sent him a letter requesting a meeting some days back and as he'd expected, the response had been swift.

"Puzzled? Why?"

"It was unexpected," Grymm responded coolly, which seemed odd considering he had Cyrus and three other Ocheliad alone in a room with him. So, if anything, this orc could keep his cool under pressure.

"Mmh. Our past interactions with the Horde have been atthe business end of weapons, and as satisfying as it has been to send the Horde reeling in recent fights, I've been told I need to work on my... diplomatic approaches," He said with mild distaste. "We have a problem, you see."

"I see. And ... I can help?"

"In a manner of speaking. You see, the Ocheliad is heavily invested, both financially and operationally, in the Alliance. Both Modas and this new... Black Hand Society... pose a threat to that. You see the problem?" Cyrus answers, trying to get to the point.

"I don't, really... we are not involved in business. That said, what cooperation could the Black Hand and the Ocheliad have?"

"It's not so much cooperation as... understanding. You see, your recent ghoul-message to the Presidium has made it to my ears. And as sad as it is to level a threat against such..." Cyrus eyed the orc over, even casting a minor glance to his accompanying ghoul. "Promising assets, I'm afraid I can not allow any further aggressions against the Alliance to continues. That would include the Presidium."

Grymm finally seemed to grasp what Cyrus was saying. "A simple fix, really. See to the freeing of Meshqa, if you have that type of influence."

Having seen that request coming, Cyrus stifled a sigh. "Unfortunately, Gentyl isn't under any Ocheliad influence, so that request won't be met. However, I can't help but notice you don't quite appreciate the gravity of your situation." Both Haelolin and Samego, Ocheliads in uniform, tensed at the possibility of a demonstration being called for. "Any further acts of violence against the Alliance or the Presidium will be met with retaliation. And I can promise that no goblin is worth that. The Ocheliad don't show the kind of mercy you'd receive from an order run by paladins."

The moment he'd understood that the Ocheliad would intervene, Grymm was working out a way around it. "I've heard the Black Guard can work for a price. What would it take, in gold, for this conflict to be resolved between us?"

"Under normal conditions, some Ocheliad take outside jobs, but we can't be bought off in this situation."

Grymmbror nodded in response. "So this isn't about gold. I understand. My response is.... nothing has changed. Your warning is taken seriously." With that, Grymmbror turned to leave, leaving a few words in his wake. "Tell the Presidium that darkness falls upon them... see you on the battlefield."

The moment he was out of the room, Cyrus' grin spread fractionally. "Excellent..."

(( excellent Cyrus. Nothing to add for that write up.))

(( Nice writing Cyrus! Anyone else read that and automaticaly think of the line at the begining of Chronicles of Riddik?

"In normal times, evil would be faught by good. But in times like these... it must be faught by another kind of evil." ))

Azor tower, Elwynn forest. This tower contain the artifact the Eye of Azor. Dreejin and Grymmbror had flown to the edge of the Elwynn forest. Grymm had chosen the target, Azor tower, for the artifact and its closeness to Stormwind.

" Dis be the Homeys forest. The Tower be just over der." Dreejin said.

" Yes, it is only us then. " Grymm said.

" Sure be, us and our pets." Dreejin said. His Felhound lifted its head and roared.

Grymm nodded and mounted his Death Horse. Dreejin took to his raptor and the two set off across the fields and forest. The tower was a close run and they made it without notice. The acolytes, servants of Azor, showed only shock at the sight of the two. Dressed for battle the gnomes fell quickly to Dreejin and Grymm. Grymm ordered his ghoul to dispatch the servants and tear up the bodies. Dreejin sped to the top of the tower to face down the Magister. The intent was to keep him alive, all others would fall. The eye would be taken, and the two would fly out quickly.

The Magister fell under Dreejins spell, and guards resisted Grymms climb to the tower top. Two defenders, hearing the alarms no doubt raised by the guards, showed up. Dreejin fought them off as Grymm bagged the Azor sphere. As the two came down out of the tower the rest of the defenders showed. Grymm removed the plate glove from one of his hands, dipping it into ebon paint he stamped its imprint just inside the towers entrance. Grymm then noticed one of the defenders waiting outside, in particular, Gentyl. The Sepha of the Pia Presidium. These defenders set their focus on Dreejin, who fought them hard. Grymmbror called his skeletal steed, mounted it and began a circle around the tower. Dreejin and his felhound fought nearly to defeat then in dramatic fashion, spun himself onto his wyrven. The two flew off to another rendezvous point. Before passing completely from the forest, Grymm pulled out a stone, made special for him.

" Gentyl," he whispered into it, " Pick up your dead from the tower and notice the missing eye of Azor." He placed the stone away and headed for the arranged meet up with Dreejin, a smile came over him at what the two had done. Grymm would write a letter to be delivered by ghoul, much like the first one sent just a few days ago. The pressure to free Meshqa would grow higher. The Black Hand was on the move, and tonights strike was the opening gambit.

(( It's very kind of you to say so Grymm, but I got walloped by the Alliance there numerous times >.> but it's okay...I'll remember to keep an eye out for those names next time I'm in TB... ))

(( Ssshhh Dreejin, we are making legends here. If you got walloped, I was downright smashed into the ground. But hey we completed the mission in good style, so I believe it works. ))

Gruzzexl's quiet meditation was interrupted by the arrival of the Void Walker Makgorg.

"They have retrieved the Eye," the Void Walker announced.

Gruzzexl's eyes snapped open. The goblin still rested, and so they glowed with darkness to match the demon in front of them. "Good. It is in order. The gambit begins."

"Is there more for me to do?"

Gruzzexl nodded. "Things are underway against the Presidium. Our efforts against the Homeland have been interrupted for far too long. They must be dealt with next. They are trying to save lives. Help that elf retrieve from them what I have asked of her."

Makgorg's nodded -- an awfully human gesture for such an inhuman creature -- and then simply faded out of sight. Rather than returning to meditation, Gruzzexl stood and strode out to the stairs leading up into Southshore.

He'd need to find Grymmbror now. There was simply too much at stake to allow this to play out from a distance.