World of Warcraft®

((I'll get with you Monday.))

Myzzi looked down at the three letters she just wrote, all the same and all to the Maggot Lord Abominus. She had no idea how hard he would be to find, but she still didn’t know where he was. She frowned. She really had to make this delivery.

Myzzi shrugged, “Well, finding him hasn’t worked, maybe he’ll get one of these.”

She attached some device to each letter and nodded to herself, looking at the assembly in front of her.

“Which first?” She mumbled to herself.

She took one letter, and shoved it in the mailbox.

“No idea if he can get mail, but it’s worth a shot!”

She took the second letter, grabbed the pigeon in front of her, and secured the letter to it.

Throwing the pigeon in the air she shouted, “Off you go!”

She turned to the final object and grinned, “Kezrin’s never lets me use –this- to make a delivery, but hey! Maybe it will work. Gotta deliver this letter and really, I can’t rule out –any- methods, you never know what will succeed.”

She attached the final letter to a big firework. Still grinning she lit the fuse, and watched the letter take off with a bang.
“Hope one of them makes it!”

Whistling she brushed off her hands and walked off, recalling the contents of the letter.

---
-See that device there before you opened the letter? Yeah, that? That means this letter will self destruct if you are not the Maggot Lord. Oh now don’t give me that look, you shouldn’t have opened a letter not addressed to you! Can’t have you reading mail that’s not yours! How rude! I really hope you aren’t still reading this if you aren’t him, cause really, what are you waiting for, this things gonna explode! Are you still here? Really? You must be a fast reader. Don’t worry, I’ll be here with you through this. I’m here for you, just waiting, it’s really not every day you see someone explode is it? How could I miss this? Now now, it’s your own fault remember, don’t blame me. <letter starts humming the AAMS jingle> Why are you looking at me like that? Never seen a humming letter? Why are you still here anyway? We can’t have that! Oh, and don’t read others mail! Have a good day!-

For Abominus,

If you are reading this then the letter did not explode and you must be Abominus!

Hello, AAMS here, haven’t been able to find ya, so I’m deliverin’ this way, whichever way you happened to receive this. So I hope ya get this one, or all of them. I got TWO messages for ya.

First one’s from Terra Incognita. They’re tryin to set up a meeting with Raoul, Tyrexus, and yaself. It’s tentatively set up for Thursday the 16th, at 7pm in Dalaran. Only 5 on each side allowed, and no weapons. That’s all from them.

Second ones from Lady Gentyl.

“We appreciate you visiting the clinic last night. Apparently, in your haste to leave, you gathered up one of my men by mistake.
I request a meeting as soon as possible to secure his release or possible exchange.
Truly,
Gentyl”

That’s all I got for ya. Good luck where ever you are. If you got a reply please contact the AAMS!

Myzzi Kanzelry
AAMS

The Maggot Lord read his messages, dusting off some charred remains swirling from the goblin he employed to pre-open his letters, just in case.

"We need a new goblin, we will have Kezzi in Humanois Resssourcesss and Acquisssitionsss get usss one, yesss. Hmm, they want to talk to usss, yesss? We will be there, yesss."

Kezrin sat on the porch outside of the Wyvern's Tail, idly resting her arm on the cat carrier sitting next to her. The kitten mewed now and then, 0and she'd stuff a piece fish inside to shut it up. It was smelly, but it worked.

She had a new source of aural irritation: the muffled hearthstone stuffed into the deepest recesses of her courier's satchel, wrapped in every spare piece of cloth she could find. She could still hear it through the padding, babbling. It seemed to alternate with "the jingle," some song about "not giving you up," and other nonsense.

She tensed a little every time she heard a footstep behind her; three times now, that Raoul fellow had snuck up on her and Myzzi, and she wasn't keen to meet him a fourth time, not after their last meeting. He hadn't seemed too pleased with Terra Incognita abruptly cancelling their meeting, and even less pleased with the "trinket" Stoneheardt had sent. He'd refused to take it, even. So now the AAMS had to deliver the hearthstone.

She idly wondered how Tyrexus and Abominus had taken the news, and was glad she wasn't the one who had to tell them. Tyrexus has seemed a decent fellow, but she'd never met the Maggot Lord. They hadn't been able to find him, so maybe he had never even heard about Terra Incognita's request in the first place.

And just where was Myzzi? Off on another secret delivery, maybe? She'd refused to tell Kezrin what her second message to Abominus was about. She did notice some fireworks were missing, but all the cats seemed accounted for.

She brushed aside her worry with a shrug and stood back up. Break time over.

"Cats! Come get ya cats here!"

Gentyl had sent messages to Dree'jin, Abominus and Raoul. Only Raoul had responded. He wasn't the man she was looking for. Look for an elf with an obsession for Nagas.

It was past time for niceties. "Mount up, Guards. We have a mage to catch."

Three hours later, Tyrexus was in their cell. They would trade him for Rhudran and be done with it.

Tyrexus flew on the back of his drake aimlessly. Outwardly, he seemed calm, almost asleep, lulled by the smooth flight of the black drake. Inwardly, he seethed and roiled with anger and hatred.

How could I have been so foolish, he thought. Idiot. Fool.

He replayed the scenario over and over in his mind. Being on the Isle of Tol Barad. Seeing Gentyl just outside of the gates to Warden's Vigil. Her eyes growing wide and ducking back behind the wall. Him smiling, knowing the pain he was going to inflict on the little paladin. Stepping beyond the gate to get her back into his line of sight and realizing that it was a trap. A full dozen of the Pia Presidium in their shining armor stood there waiting for him. All filled with power of different types. All with enchanted armor and weapons. All with a look of grim determination on their faces. Yes. This was most definitely a trap meant for him. These weren't first year recruits. These were blooded warriors, each one.

Tyrexus surveyed his enemies and knew that he would fall. He tried to choose the weakest out of the bunch in a hurried attempt at escape. He did manage to catch one in a shatter and downed another with a frostfire bolt that hit the poor lad right in the face. However, in the end, a very large and smelly worgen smashed him in the head with his weapon and the world got very small indeed.

He awoke in mid flight. Slowly opening his eyes, he took in his surroundings. He was on the back of his own drake, in the middle of a vanguard of the Pia. He was bound magically and gagged the same way. No hope there. The rest of the flight was short as they touched down in Hearthglen. He was "escorted" to the basement of the keep which, to his surprise, was runed and glyphed to keep him secure. He doubted they had done this solely for him, but they had gone through a lot of trouble to have this done, so they expected to have guests here from time to time.

People started talking in that unintelligible gutter speak that most members of the alliance use. Tyrexus rolled his eyes at Gentyl, shrugged his shoulders, and went back to looking for weaknesses in his prison's magical boundaries.

Soon, Gentyl pulled out a scroll and read it aloud. "Can you understand me now?"

Ahhhh, finally, someone with some sense. "Yes. What is it that you want from me?"

She looked him straight in the eyes. Not the easiest thing to do to an undead lich. "A trade. Nothing more. We want Rhudran back and in exchange, we'll give them you."

Fury boiled up. "My life for a wretched dwarf's?"

"Yes."

He was shocked. Insulted. Disgusted. Having no words, he just stared at her.

She looked down and saw Gentyler's, his cat, head peek out from a fold of his robe. She smiled. "Is that the cat I gave you?"

He nodded.

She said, "I will make sure there are accommodations made for her as well." With that she turned and walked up the stairs completely dismissing him. Amid threats and glares, the others turned to leave as well.

He was left, by himself, fueling the fires of hatred.

Three days later, Gentyl returned. She canted her head towards the door. "You want to be released? Rhudran's back and Mira's alright, so there's no more need for you." Dismissively, she walked away again. Following the way she left, he walked up the stairs and out of the keep. No one tried to stop him. A Pia guard was holding his drake for him. Tyrexus blandly threw his leg over Belgorath and launched him into the air.

((This isn't exactly how it went, but it is what Tyrexus believes in his mind happened. He was treated with far more courtesy and respect than what was shown))

((Brilliantly-written. I've really enjoyed reading about this whole arc, from all points of view involved.))

((content advisory warning. This gets dark and graphic really quickly))

After a few hours of letting Belgorath have his head, Tyrexus could stand it no longer. "Bah! Wretched, foul excuse for a woman! Insolent, petty wench! If I allow you to survive our next encounter, I'll have Dree'jin put you on the slave blocks! For hard labor!"

Realizing he had flown all the way to Westfall, Tyrexus sawed on the reins and caused Belgorath to head in for a landing. The drake had no idea who his master was screaming at, he just hoped he wasn't angry with him. Coming to a landing, Tyrexus vaulted off the drake and started walking. From the sky, he had seen what he was looking for. The darkness not blinding him with his preternatural sight. A hovel. Poor, but very well kept. Flowers lined the path to the front entrance and the thatch was new. A warm glow escaped the window. Yes, this will do nicely, Tyrexus thought.

Eyes glued to the door, he walked with a predator's stride. He picked a flower without thought and smelled it. Politely, he knocked on the door.

Matius, his wife Karla and their nine year old daughter, Saiya, had just sat down to their evening dinner. The portions were small, but prepared with love. Matius looked at his wife as she sat across from him and she gave him a smile that made the room seem brighter. "Smells good, Karla." He looked at his daughter's portion. "Here, honey-bee. Taste some of mine," and cut about half of his portion of meat to give to his daughter.

"Matius," Karla objected, "you need your strength."

"It's fine, Karla," he smiled, "I picked a bunch of those berries and almost had my full earlier. She needs to eat more."

"So, honey-bee, what did you do today?"

Saiya was always excited to tell her daddy about the adventures she had. "Mommy and I played dress up. That was fun, she made me a pirate." She closed one eye and made a hook shape with her finger. "Arrrrrrr."

Matius laughed and then a knock came at the door.

"Who could be knocking at this hour," Matius asked as he moved towards the door, picking up the big kitchen knife that Karla used to cut the meat.

"Who's there," he asked? He heard phrases being uttered on the other side of the door. Words complex, forgotten just as soon as they were heard. Just then, the door exploded inward into a thousand splinters, some burying themselves into the flesh of Matius' face.

The Undead Lich strode in, surveying the entire room. Those cold eyes seemed to take in everything and dismiss everything as unimportant, including the three humans that sat there stunned.

He grabbed Matius by the wrist that held the knife and with the strength of Undeath, threw him into the chair he had occupied just a few moments before. He froze everyone in place and pulling a scroll from inside his robes he uttered a few words. "Scrolls of Understanding are cheap and came by easily. Can you understand what I'm saying?" They all nodded vigorously.

"Good, then this shant take long. I have a question. Who is it that protects you out here in the wilds?"

Matius hurriedly answered, "why the Pia Presidium protect us. And...and Terra Incognito promised us aid if we were ever in need. Now please, leave my family alone."

"Oh, Goodman Farmer, I assure you I will leave your family alone, in good time. And who is this Terribly Incorrigible group you were talking about?"

"Terra Incognito?"

"Yes, them. Ah, no matter. The Pia. We will talk about the Pia. So they promised to protect you? Where are they now when you need them the most? Probably warm by their own fires, protecting their own, in their own beds. Selfish if you ask me." Turning to the girl, "I want you to remember that, little one. Not only are they not here to protect you, they are the ones that have caused this misery to come to you."

A blue glow suddenly surrounded Tyrexus as he began to deftly freeze the parents in such a way that their backs were the only thing not encased in ice. Their eyes still moved though, showing they had knowledge of their surroundings. Tyrexus pulled out a small, wickedly hooked blade. Moving behind Matius, he spoke to Saiya.

"You know, little one, that during my days as High Inquisitor, people would just start sharing information with the guards when they found out I would be the one putting them to the question. Yes (cuts away the farmer's shirt) I am very good at getting the information I want (makes an almost perfect cut straight down the farmers back). You could almost say (cuts another perfect line two inches from the first) that it is a gift." He made a small cut at the bottom connecting the two lines and peeled a two inch swath of skin from the farmers back. The farmer's eyes told the story of the pain. The girl screamed. "Enough of that," and he gagged her with ice.

Starting another cut, he continued on with his one way conversation. "Oh yes, it takes quite a bit of talent to bring so much pain to someone without actually killing them until you get what you were after (cut)." Tears flowed from the girls eyes. "If you make the pain too acute (peel), they will just lie to you to get you to stop. However (cut), if you bring them to the apex of what a human (cut) can take, they will tell you (peel) where their mother lives."
Looking into the farmers eyes, he barely nodded knowing that he had died from the pain. Moving over to her mother, Tyrexus motioned with the blade.

"You see, small one, I've found that women can sustain more pain than men. Even though they are usually the weaker of the species (cut all the way down one side). They just can't sustain as long (cut all the way down the other side). The screams they produce (cut along the bottom connecting the two) are absolutely musical (cut all the way along the top making a large square)."

"Sorry, the sound this is going to make is quite disturbing." He peeled the entire square of skin from her back. Laying it as a blanket, he laid the grotesque piece over the young girls face, using it to effectively blind her. "This is something I just don't want you to see. I want you to hear." He melted enough of the ice to allow freedom of the mother's mouth. She started screaming. "Ahhhh...there's the music I was looking for."

He started cutting more, deeper. Removing a rib, the screams intensified. He tossed the rib at the child. "Perhaps you would care for some meat later? The meal you had seems small."
Removing another rib, the screams lessened somewhat. Tossing it on the table, he went for the third. After the last cut, the women became silent. "Such a shame, I must be losing my touch. I used to be able to get five before they passed."

Turning to the girl, "now for you, little one. Such pretty eyes." As he moved towards her, he picked up a spoon off of the table. "Lovely shade of green."

Sorry I'm behind on this. I'll post our end of it.

"Perhaps you did realize he was wanted by the Watch, but I assume you at least realize he is a very dangerous criminal."

"I read a notice after we had released him."

Orwyn looked at her. "I see."

"However, I had already given my word he would be released in exchange for curing Mira and the return of Rhudran."

"I gave my word and that is my bond."

"Your word? To whom?"

"To him."

He gazed out across the ocean. "I see. And you did not understand the threat the he poses to Stormwind and the rest of the Alliance, I assume."

"Anyone who wears the Modas tabard is a threat. Don't assume I am naive."

"Assuming that would be giving you the benefit of the doubt, in this case. Otherwise I would have to assume an almost criminal negligence on your part. Orwyn says: I certainly would not want to assume that, considering that we all have to work together well and trust each other to make good decisions to respond to the Modas threat."

She reached down and stroked the gryphon's withers. "So, the law now says that regardless of what we have pledged, you will tell us what we have to do? You have gained much power, Orwyn. There are any number of 'noble' orders that will pledge one thing and do another as it suits them. Pia is not one of them."

"Much responsibility. You may pledge your word, but I'm pledged to protect the lives and property of everyone in this kingdom. So while you protect your honor, now I am stuck explaining to my superiors how Modas continues to be able to wreck havoc at will inside our territory. This was a golden opportunity to remove one of their leaders from the equation, and it's gone."

Gentyl laughed softly. "I was unaware our honor was the cause of the havoc Modas wreaks. Pia is much more powerful than I realized"

"It is not. But you didn't have to pledge him a damn thing. He's a fiendish criminal. And he got away."

She looked at Orwyn steadily. "You would have knowingly sacrificed two of your men?"

"Never willingly. But they knew the risk when they joined. They pledge to give their lives in the defense of the defenseless. I suppose you all have the luxury not to worry about that."

"Don't be so sanctimonious. Never abandon a friend, a Guard, a noble cause. It is part of our pledge. We do not leave our men behind."

"Yes, that's the difference it seems. Pia comes first to you. The people of Stormwind come first to us." He sighed and made a frustrated gesture with his arm.

"It is what I was sworn to do. However, there is not a single one among us who would not die for the alliance. We are the ones who answer defense."

"People who are counting on us are dying."

"We are not enemies, Orwyn."

"No."

"We captured Tyrexus solely to get the cure and Rhudran. I'm certain someone else can capture him also."

"Yes. Well it looks like we'll have to."

"And, if we happen to capture him again, I will contact you. However, he is kill on sight to us."
.
"That's acceptable. He had a chance to turn himself in, and declined."

Gentyl chuckled softly. "Gee, I can't imagine."

"I would prefer it, personally. However, if we take him alive, we will give him a fair trial."

"He will not be standing trial."

"It's important that the Horde see we aren't savages."

She sighed. "Orwyn, Pia was the foundation of the judicial system years ago. We tried many people including high ranking horde. I'm familiar with the concept. I still have Meshqa and he won't be standing trial either."

"What will you do with him?"

"Trade him. We'll trade him for as many slaves as we can manage."

"I see. Since when is trading criminals part of a judicial system?"

His condescending attitude was starting to rankle. "The judicial system died about three years ago. I simply said, I am familiar with the idea of trying to be civilized."

"That was not intended to be a swipe at you nor your organization."

Of course it was. She refrained from stating it, however. "I hope not."

"There are some other members of the Alliance who don't understand that, however."

Gentyl was dead to what people thought. You had to do the best you could and go on. People would believe whatever they wished and listen to whatever they wished and the ones who cared, would seek the truth.

"I've said my piece. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to a better working relationship in the future."

"Indeed. Oh, by the way. I didn't realize you had expanded your territory. I believe Tyrexus killed a family in Westfall."

Orwyn frowned. "Technically it had always been, but in the strictly law-enforcement role where if the local watch could not resolve an investigation, we were called in as experts."

Odd. Not long ago Tenwit had asked one of the Watch for help with something and he had been told their only territory was Stormwind. She didn't feel like arguing about it. "We buried them. the little girl lived for a while, but not long."

"So I heard."

"The parents had been flayed alive."

"You believe it was Tyrexus?"

"Aye, It was a forsaken from the footprints. Ice mage and he took the little girl's eyes. He's fascinated with eyes."

"It was him personally?"

"That is my belief. There were no other footprints aside from the little girl's. Their farm is near the dead acre."

"By the light...and you let him go. You *let* him go." Orwyn shook his head

"That was before this happened, Orwyn."

"My point exactly."

"Yes, well, when you bring him in for trial, and the judicial system can't convict him, then let's sit down and talk. We'll talk about who is the bigger fool."

"Well, *if* that happens, yes. Until then, I already have a pretty damn solid opinion."

"Because, frankly, what I believe and what you could convict him on are two different things. Yes, well, if you're quite through chastising me, I shall go stand in the corner now."

"Always a pleasure, Miss Gentyl."

"Aye, well, I hope you have better luck doing the right thing." She kicked the gryphon into the air and flew away. Arrogant !@#. His officers would arrest a dwarf for pinching someone and file sexual assault charges on him because they had to follow the rules and he had the audacity to preach to her about her following the code of her order.

Orwyn might try to bring Tyrexus in for trial, but if Pia had anything to do with it, the fiend would not survive long enough to ever reach court.

She still had nightmares about the family he had slaughtered. They had done what they could. They buried the family and took the little girl to Stormwind to treat. She had not lasted the night. And so, they had made another trip back to Westfall to bury her beside her parents. Zauim had gathered personal possessions of each member and laid them in the graves with them. They had consecrated the graves to keep them from being raised as undead. They had prayed. And now they would hunt Tyrexus down.

And Orwyn had better not preach to her about what she should do while he sat in his office in Stormwind.

((Tyrexus, could you please upgrade the warning on that from "gets dark" to "gets very graphic"? Please? "Dark" is a bit vague, and...I think I don't want dinner now.))

((Jeremias. I truly hope I didn't offend anyone with my post. That truly wasn't my intention. If it does, I have no issue removing it.))

*I did not find it so, but then, I am kind of twisted =) *

02/18/2012 04:59 PMPosted by Tyrexus

((Jeremias. I truly hope I didn't offend anyone with my post. That truly wasn't my intention. If it does, I have no issue removing it.))

((Thanks for being so understanding. It wasn't offensive as such, just...wibbly-invoking. And also makes me want to take a piece out of the character Tyrexus as close to what passes for his heart as I can, but that was probably your intention. >:-) ))

(( I thought it was a nice insight into the character and a well written piece. Probably means I'm twisted in some way but hey, you can't have great heros without horrifying villians. ))

Mira worked diligently to save the girl, hands bright with Light and Water, but nothing seemed to help. Meriste watched the child shy away from even the gentlest touch, trying to cry from what was left of her eyes. Choking sobs echoed against the Cathedral walls.

Meriste leaned over her, gently stroking her hair, and began to sing softly.

Golden slumbers, kiss your eyes;
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry…

And I will sing a lullaby.

Cares you know not, therefore sleep,
While I watch o'er you, do not weep,
Sleep, pretty loved one, do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.

The child was still. Meriste smoothed a strand of hair away from her face, kissing her tenderly on the forehead.

Sleep, pretty loved one, do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.

(( It's a traditional lullaby. I didn't write it. If you've never heard it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTKh0fxegZk ))

((Updated to include Orwyn's meeting with Gen))