World of Warcraft®

(*Gasp* A gnome that is not silly! My god. We need more of you, sir. Maybe we can clone you. We might have to, considering Ra's feelings on the Pillar of Honor << >> Well, maybe not. I think you probably have the highest kill death ratio amongst the attack forces :D

There are quite a few actually. Unfortunately, mine don't number among them. Charitye and the gnomes are my get away characters.

Very well done, Tim and everyone else. this is an excellent read.))

((Maybe they don't notice us because they just assume we're all ridiculous. I mean, after all, short people got no reason, short people got no reason, short people got no reason to live.

((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NvgLkuEtkA))

04/01/2012 06:35 AMPosted by Silverquill

((*Gasp* A gnome that is not silly! My god. We need more of you, sir.

((Excuse me? *raises eyebrow*))

(( In his defense, ridiculously over the top bias is pretty silly /nod ))

((A Forsaken, Orc, and Troll walk into a bar... ouch. <.<;; Also...

Vectus, I imagine the last bit actually happened, but I don't recall. It did seem to be the point of them going, so I hope you don't mind that I'm adding it in. D:))

‘They want to ‘send a message’ to the humans. This isn’t how it’s supposed to work, is it? They’re supposed to actually speak with them. Hmh.’ Vazraka thought, as she crept slowly through Stormwind behind Vectus. She looked up, seeing the not quite as sneaky Orc charging ahead of them. Vazraka was not sure why she was being brought along for this task, but it meant being out of the sanctum and that was good enough for her. The grass in the unfamiliar city felt good on her feet, much better than the stone ground she was used to in the sanctum. After a moment, she saw Aethel jumping up onto a stone structure, running inside of a building. ‘Blue Recluse, that is what they called the place.’ She thought. She was unsure of what it had to do with this ‘Pillar of Honor’, but perhaps the Pillar was inside. As the Vectus seemed to move more quickly, Vazraka followed suit. She leaped up onto the stone, and quickly snuck into the building.

It did not seem to be fully occupied, but Aethel began hacking away at the closest living thing. It was then that Vazraka understood her role, shifting out of her feline form and standing up straight, towering over the others. Her hands began to glow green, obediently healing her captors. As guards and others began to pile up, the group was slowly forced into the basement. Aethel wildly swung her axe and mace at the attackers, while Vectus snuck behind, precisely digging his blades into the flesh of the attackers. Another Troll druid soon joined them.

In a moment of peace, Vazraka looked around, healing herself up when the thought came to her. ‘Why aren’t we just talking to them?’

“’EY! HOOMIES! VAZRAKA BE WANTIN’ TO SPEAK WIT YOU!” She shouted at the top of her lungs. Before she could say anything else, the Orc swung a mace at Vazraka, hitting her directly in the chest. She fell on her back, hearing the other Troll speak up.

“You want to speak with them? They aren’t going to talk to you unless you have AAMS with you…” Zularn said.

Vazraka groaned, sitting up as another wave of attackers came. Wave after wave came, until finally vectus was able to sneak ahead, creating a distraction. Aethel and Vazraka fled the scene, heading back to Orgrimmar. Vectus quickly slipped the note on one of the corpses of the guards before he fled.

Order through atrocity.

Looking over the reports on his desk, Timeus couldn't help getting a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. The Coldfire Fever was finally being contained but it had still claimed lives. But it would likely have been much worse if not for Jonathan Harmarth, Taelanas, and his own experience with the virus when the Modas had first deployed it against the Pillar of Honor several years prior. Swift response and a treatment to aid the afflicted surely saved numerous lives, both in Stormwind and Aerie Peak.

There was also the attack on the Recluse that bothered him. He had little doubt that it was a response to his own message. Like his own, it was left on the dead found at an attack. He knew there would be consequences for his actions. One did not beard the lion in it's den and expect to dance away scott free.

Then there was the encounter in Feralas. He had answered a call for assistance in defending against a Horde assault in the area, as he had done the night prior in Hearthglen. What he hadn't expected was to be ambushed after hostilities broke off and most of the defenders had used the portal he summoned to return back to Stormwind. The orc from the Modas, Æthelgyth, seemed to drop out of the sky like an angry bird of prey. He barely had time to respond before he found himself impaled on her wickedly honed blade, driven to the ground by the force of her charge. He could still hear the sound of her glee echoing in his ears as she twisted the blade slowly, taking pleasure in his pain. When she pulled the blade free, he had rolled and fell off the edge of the stone pillar they had fought atop. As he plummeted through the air, he thought that there was a strange sense of irony about the High Guard of the Pillar nearly being killed on a pillar of stone. Having the presence of mind to slow his decent just before impact, he activated his hearthstone to return to Stormwind before the orc could follow and finish the job.

His hand went to the mostly healed wound in his belly. If not for the abundance of healers in Stormwind due to the outbreak, he may well have bled to death before finding assistance. He barely even remembered making his way to the Galleon, where many of the sick had been quarantined. But he hadn't stayed long. Once he was healed sufficiently to move, he had departed. His preparations were nearly ready.

He knew that the Modas would come. He was counting on it.

Timeus was getting anxious. It wasn't anything in particular, really. The citizens of Stormwind were going about their daily routines, unfettered by concern for their welfare. But this feeling had been growing since his encounter in Feralas and he just couldn't shake it.

He was joined by Tyrynna as he passed over the bridge between the Trade District and Old Town. Her faithful companion Pip was by her side, as usual. The large feline gave Timeus a brief sniff before setting into a casual pace beside the Pillar's second in command.

"Tim, I've got a bad feeling."

The gnome's heat skipped a beat at her words and he looked up to her. "Oh?"

She nodded down at him, her brow furrowed in concern. "Doesn't it feel like something bad's going to happen?"

Tim sighed and stopped at the edge of the bridge. He leaned against the stones of the rail and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Tyrynna, I've had that feeling ever since I left that message in the Undercity for the
Modas."

Her eyes narrowed, as if trying to figure something out. He knew she wasn't poking around in his head: she still had her circlet on. After a few moments, she spoke up again but it wasn't what he expected to hear.

"Belpha, what are you doing behind that crate?"

Timeus blinked and looked around. There, behind a pile of crates a bit up the canal, a large draenei stepped out into the open. His expression was a bit sheepish.

"How did you know I was there?"

A voice from above them cut in on the conversation. "Probably the same reason that I haven't seen any sneaky draenei thieves."

As they all looked up at the intrusion, they saw Kaellar slip off his gryphon and fall the short distance to the street. He took the impact easily, knees flexing to absorb the impact. Voldarr landed a bit behind him and dismounted with a bit more dignity. A smirk spread across Belpha's face. "Yes, I suppose the hooves do make it difficult to be silent."

Timeus looked back to the Pia Presidium officer, clearly confused. "Belpha, are you stalking me?"

The shaman shook his head. "No. Following. Discreetly. Trying to, at least. You did ask my order to render assistance, didn't you?"

He did have a point. Timeus had gone to the Presidium and informed them of his message to the Modas and requested aid should they make a move. Many had been willing to oblige, though there were concerns about goading the Modas.

"That's true. I just didn't realize I would have a shadow as a result."

"Difficult to help you if your dead before we can reach you, isn't it?"

In truth, Timeus hadn't been sure how much Gentyl and her people would help. Responding to a call for assistance, defending the Alliance lands like usual. But some kind of escort? "A fine point. I do appreciate..."

Timeus was cut off as the alarms went off, signaling an attack with in the city.

Tyrynna was twisting around, trying to determine where the alarms were coming from. "An attack? Now? That can't be coincidence."

The earth shuddered beneath their feet as if in response. Timeus had to clap his hands over his ears as a horrific shriek echoed through the streets, causing a chill to ripple up his spine. Looking up, he saw a mass of dark, swirling energy spear into the air. Timbers and stones were sent skyward as well, as if a child throwing it's toys in a tantrum. After just moments, the darkness seemed to pull back in on itself so quickly that he wondered if he had seen it or if his eyes were playing tricks on him. The shrieks and cries that were left in it's wake gave lie to that thought. Leading the way into Old Town, it didn't take long to see where they had to go.

Aziel was growing impatient. He waited, cloaked in shadows, below the surface of Stormwind; a shattered vial rested nearby. The attack had to be strictly one of guile and one belonging to the Modas il Toralar alone; Aziel lamented how difficult it was to encourage violent behavior in the Horde contrary to the popular propaganda in the city above. Horde pacifism that would, mused Aziel, be corrected soon.

A decrepit Pillar, cracked and unstable...

Vectus came, Master-Assassin and Claviger of the Ebon Reavers, and with the aid of a mercenary they opened the first portal. Numerous Toralites faded into the chamber; cutthroats and necromancers, sorcerers and marauders – all in service to the cause of the shadowy society. Aziel rose from a meditative position, his skeletal form extending spidery claws as he surrendered a courteous bow to his kindred. His favored consort Thelinna joined him at his side.

A Pillar that will be toppled...

Aziel slammed his scythe into the stoney floor and a black viscous liquid began to pool in the 'wound' and for a moment he even admired himself upon the reflective surface. Portals began to open, a hellish crimson framed in twisting shadow. The air grew thick with the smell of sulfur and a strange electricity.

The finite life is simply not worth living; they resist, they struggle without reason...

There is an explosion of sorts, as few other words would apply. A maelstrom of fel energy ravages all in its wake and burns even the shadows into what remained of the walls. Aziel's eyes widen in anticipation as the Toralites ready their weapons; the Pillar of Honor would certainly not fall without a fight.

This world is an altar; every drop of blood is sacrifice...

The Command Center was in ruins. Timeus' jaw dropped at the sight. Wood, stone, and bodies littered the area around the remains of the building. The stillness of the scene belied the destruction that had occured. Just a few moments...such destruction...

Others were starting to respond to the alarms, which had now silenced. Macnee, another member of the Pillar, was picking her way over to him through the scattered rubble. A Gilnean that prided herself on knowing things seemed as shocked as he did by the scene. Timeus could hear Belpha calling over his hearthstone to his fellow guildmates but he needn't bothered: they were already arriving before he had finished putting the stone away. Andeddu lead the way, looking around for any threats, moving aside rubble as he moved to keep his footing clear. Erelyn gasped as the destruction came into view and she leaned heavily against Lahkin when he came up behind her.

It was Kordrion's reaction to the scene that snapped him out of his revere. The trained operative came up on the scene, weapons drawn, prepared for the worst. Tim looked over to the others. Belpha and Tyrynna were looking for survivors with Voldarr and Kaellar.

"Let's secure the area first, make sure there are no other threats."

As if on cue, a ball of flame struck him full on in the chest. Staggering back a step, he looked at the charred cloth of his robe, then up at his attacker. An elf...one he remembered well from when she was a guest of the Pillar's several years prior.

Thelinna!

The level of destruction was difficult to describe and that of a singular nature that one would certainly not associate with standard explosives. A stench of sulfur, a flash and a gust of wind all heralded a wave of emerald colored fel energy. Documents, artifacts and even some curious civilians quickly found themselves consumed. Black tendrils slithered out of the basement, grasping for the higher floors before quickly retracting to their dark pit of origin. The smell of sulfur and demons remained and the headquarters became a strangely cold ruin, as if all smoke and heat were swallowed back into the nether as well.

The cycle of hatred shall not be broken...

Aziel wished Ehlina could have been there to see it; wherever she was, there was little doubt that she would be seething. The High Karcist of the Modas il Toralar was filled with a victorious pride and stood tall alongside his kindred.

"Come, my brethren...and let us at least leave some survivors; they are important to the greater cause".

He chuckled softly and clicked his claws together before prying his scythe from the basement floor. They made their way up the stairs, eager to face the ever defiant Pillar of Honor and whatever allies they gathered to their cause.

In the wake of destruction, they will serve our machinations...

Aziel twirled his scythe and narrowed his yellow eyes at the defenders. He rested the weapon on his shoulder and pointed a single claw towards those that would oppose them; the order, for those of the Toralar, was perfectly clear.

The Modas swept out of the ruins like a plague of locusts, swarming those who had come to investigate the scene. Some were more prepared than others but it wasn't long before a pitched battle was being fought. Blades rent and spells burned, crimson splashing onto the trampled grass like a painter's fevered dream.

It was chaos. Elidantos' blades hummed through the air, singing as they sought out Tyrynna but Voldaar managed to draw his sword and shield in time to deflect them from a direct hit, shoving the elf back by driving his shoulder into his gut. Lahkin shoved the unarmored Erelyn behind him as Æthelgyth pressed in with her blade, sparks dusting them both as Lahkin's on sword met the orc's.

Vectus had seen Kordrion before the attack began, the very person that had escaped the Sanctum so recently and sought to rectify his mistake. He paced among the combatants, fearing no sword or spell as he sought his prey. He sensed it before the attack came, dancing away from Kordrion's blades as they struck. The assassin pressed in on his target, both dodging much of the other's attacks. Had it been another time, another place, it would have brought a rousing applause from the audience. Kordrion used a smoke bomb to break up the dance, Vectus' blades finding nothing but air. Again, his senses screamed of an attack from behind. Without thought, the undead ravager bent backwards at such an extreme angle that it would likely have broken the back of a living being. His blades struck forth, driving deep into the human's chest. They stood still for a moment like that until Vectus withdrew his blades while rising. Kordrion fell to his knees, his own weapons dropping to the ground. If not for Andeddu furious assault, Vectus would have been able to confirm his kill.

Macnee and Kaellar fought side by side, steel and spell against the combined might of Aziel, Donovann, and Kelonar while the necromancer Yrykh supported his master. While Kaellar's protections couldn't last long under such a blistering assault, it was long enough for Kaellar's ghouls to overwhelm the necromancer.

Timeus' own attentions were taken fully by the mystical battle he waged with Thelinna. This woman that he had held captive within the very structure they had just destroyed. Her fury fueled her magic, driving him back. He took a step back, then another. She crowed in triumph as he fell to one knee. Her grin grew wide as he bent down, his hand supporting him under the force of her superior magic. That's when the world turned upside down. She cartwheeled before falling back to the ground, momentarily dazed. The ground where she had been standing was blackened, still burning in places. As was the place the gnome had touched the ground and a thin patch of smoldering grass connecting the two points. Before he could press his advantage, Kutamori slipped from the shadows and struck at the gnome. Timeus felt a tearing pain and looked down through the hole in his robes, seeing for the second time in two days where a blade had opened up his belly. The troll withdrew the blade and tossed the gnome to the ground.

Tyrynna, who had been injured herself, pointed out what happened to Belpha and the shaman quickly made his way to the fallen High Guard. Kutamori grinned as the large draenei advanced but when the very earth under his feet started to become unstable, he wasn't grinning long. Before the troll retreated, he took several strikes against the shaman.

While the Modas proved skilled in destroying life, they were little prepared to preserve their own. Aziel continued to lash out, hurling curses and afflictions upon any he could find. This was, however, to be a fight of attrition and a total victory would be beyond their grasp. The ritual was complete and the only true object of their desire but he would not deny his brethren a chance to strike upon those long hated.

They resist, they struggle...

Blood splattered across the battlefield, bodies were charred in magical flames; daggers twisted and limbs were cleaved. Aziel was disappointed in that, for once, this grotesque horror of war included many of his own. He saw Kutamori, the savage devotee of Mueh'zala, garrote an already blood smeared neck. He saw Eldantios let loose arrow after arrow before suffering to several himself. The ever stoic Argustus seemed deep in thought, calculating every spell for maximum efficiency. He saw the meticulous Vectus shove a blade into the side of one of the defenders before kicking them off the roof. The necromancer Yrych tended to the wounded, his shadows granting what life he could spare to his allies while sapping the essence of the Alliance defenders. Aethelgyth, her eyes red in demonic blood-lust, charged into the majority of defenders. Kelonar and Thelinna weaved their magic with destructive results. Their vicious efforts still proved not enough and Aziel began to whisper an ancient spell.

Spears of fire rained from the sky, as demonic infernals took to the aid of the Modas il Toralar. They could no longer wear the shadows and were forced to fight in the open in unfamiliar territory. A few arrows, a torrent of magic and Aziel fell to one knee. He turned a knowing gaze to Thelinna who opened a portal of escape.

I will never die; I will never sleep...

Laying on the ground, holding his stomach to keep his wound as closed as possible, Timeus could only watch helplessly as the Modas withdrew through the portal. The Infernals kept the remaining combatants separated from one another, though neither side was in any condition to continue in earnest. One by one, the Modas slipped through the portal. As the Stormwind Watch began to filter in to secure the area and dispatch the remaining Infernals, the survivors found that the invaders had left one final token of their esteem: burned into the grass where the portal had been was the mark of the Modas il Toralar and a single phrase.

Peace through fear.

(( Incredibly well written, the both of you! ))

((Incredible!))

((Yarr, the three of us sort of combined efforts in this part. Unfortunately I couldn't do quite as much writing as I had hoped, but this came out pretty fantastically. :3 Lots and lots of luff to Azzie and Timeus for all this writing. ))

((I agree with Dree and Aethel. Incredibly well written, and well done.))

((Bravo!))

((Most squeefully epic and well worth the wait!))

((Im not sure there is an adjective worthy enough to describe how great that write up was! I'm so glad I got to take part in this. Thanks to all who participated, and thanks to Modas for bringing the new guy along! P.S. Im pretty sure I nailed Erelyn with an ice lance at least once. I got a little tab happy. My apologies.))

((This has been an amazing story. thanks so much for sharing it))