Reviews:
Guest 1: Mmmm, Roast Beef... although I do feel like the Tauren more than any race in WoW gets the most raw deal seeing how they want to just sit around being hippies, but instead are stuck being allies to war criminals, crimes of nature, and straw man capitalists, while minor NPC races push them towards extinction...but then again they are cows and cows taste good.
Guest 2: If i recall, the whole order basically doesn't apply to people outside the Empire, currently living in, or traveling through the Empire's territory. So Bretonnians are seen as backwards because they believe in stupid midwives tales like giant ratmen. Still Likely if the Alliance is looking to trade or buy intel, the Skaven are likely to come up, if just to keep the Alliance from triggering a vermine tide. because unlike Azerothean dungeons which never retaliate to provocation since they're too busy waiting for some evil mcguffin or scheme, Skaven will jump the gun like the wonderful paranoid trigger happy lunatics they are.
Guest 3: For the Humans thats a little less clear...the WoW elves seem excessively prone to mutation, and every other race has at least a couple mutations due to proximity to magic that can be refrenced...but ironically off the top of my head i can think more of incidents where humans become a whole other species before i can think of a mutation.
Guest 4: Radda Radda raaada, radda radda ra.
Guest 5: Well one big invention that no on Azeroth seems to figured out, early Industrialization. Provide the Empire a Tech and they'll have it rolled out on mass in about the same time it take a WoW Gnome to invent it. which lets edit that "alliance is more advanced" to the proper the "Gnome tech pimps and their backwards followers" *cough* Gnomes rule*cough, though honestly i never like playing a short race in games unless it was Skaven. And on a serious take the Alliance's "tech" is spotty to such a extent it makes the tech gaps in the 19th and early 20th centuries look small, and that's after factoring areas where magic can supplement tech.
And while in magic the colleges specialize extensively, the actual applications, barring the not-so-bright mages, the colleges are like Leonardo DaVinci seeing how the Gold Wizards have a finger in every tech, potion, and smithing pie in the Empire from life extension potions to factory development, to better gunpowder there's a Gold Wizard looming somewhere...I'm almost certain that in our world they'd even be involved in the Japanese sex robots...in more ways than one.
Guest 6: Before the third battle of Blackfire Pass, and thus before Storm of Chaos and Endtimes where GW executives did everything in their power to kill the franchise, then blamed poor performance from a franchise they themselves were killing for why they blew up the world and to justify AoS.
Noice: I honestly just couldn't figure out how to fit that detail in without throwing off the flow of the chapter, but I'm hoping some Goblin-Ogre fun will make for some good story telling in the future.
Ironwall: And what glorious questions will come from the limited mind of a brinf Wizard I wonder, how to spread light and wisdom, how to grow things, how to better commune with the world, philosophy and the...who are we kidding he's a bright wizard they're about as complex as 40K Ork, or one of Blizzard's "Deep villain" plots.
Hakuryuu: To answer all your questions..."Next time on Dragonball Z"
Max falcon: A priest of Morr might be nice...being anywhere but Mordheim, Praag or thr Impossible City would be better.
WarNob123: In your order.
1) Very close on that second one, just. wee bit south since there's a sort of extra pass there that allows people who intended further south to go "fuck this shit im out" and swing north instead.
2) That's one of the bits that's weird since Warhammer Fantasy has in lore so many examples of common everyday uses for magic from wizards, many of which then get supplanted by technology (hello printing press) So while Magic would necessarily be viewed with suspicion thanks to bright wizards blowing up randomly all over, it seems like certain schools of magic seem to be seen more favorably by the common man (basically the "what have you done for me lately?" line of reasoning) still news of a nation made up of magic users would very likely get a lot of people up in arms.
3) I do have plans, but the Tomb Kings are a bit southward for most of the plot threads I'm currently spinning, maybe if i get going enough to work spin off stories.
4)Well considering how powerless Shadowlands apparently made certain WoW dieties in regards to the afterlife likely it's going to be a matter of the "value" of one's soul and a question of where they died...at least until the folks in Azeroth realize just how terrible Warhammer death is and angry peasents start rioting over the loss of the great wonderful soul of the grand adventurer better known and more worthy and powerful than Thoradin, Sir p00p1e8utt-number6 may the Light one day rescue his soul from the grasp of these so called Dark Gods.
The Brightest Day
Kurt Helborg sighed in releif. A long overdue return to his desk allowed the Reiksmarshal a moment of rest that of late even his bed could not afford him. Though that likely stemmed from the Hochland Dutchess who had been sharing, and now still trying to occupy that bed. Rather than the stress of the countless Noble dignitaries, activists, lobbyists, and foreign 'dignitaries who all had either forced him into various 'events', or had 'coincidental' encounters with him interrupting his own activities. They do it all because they want to reach the Emperor, all of them like the unattentive fools they are seeing how Kurt had even made a personal policy to avoid giving favors or Imperial preference to anyone who attempts such tactics.
Individuals Kurt actually fancied could see themselves prioritized to see the Emperor, but he refused to serve as some passage to his majesty for uninspired manipulative fools. But that's where some of his own issues began, as Reiksmarshal and Grand Marshall of the Reiksguard Kurt had an perpetually growing list of military matters to see to, logical concerns the Elector Counts either could not or would not meet. Then the countless Intelligence reports, and seeing to the organization and approval of patrols, garrisons, and force dispatches beyond Kurt's ability to even count. And those were duties that the Emperor left to him taking on his own share and more.
And some Hochland Dutchess was currently trying to dominate his bed, and his affections. The Reiksmarshal of the Empire sighed sinking into the relief of simple paperwork, a few hours of reading and stamping and he should be right as rain.
Three firm but slow knocks stopped the Reiksmarshal. Few people could knock on the Reiksmarshal's door. The most likely to was his secretary who had a particular system of knocks he had devised to alert the Reiksmarshal of his reasoning for being there before ever entering the room. An enemy of assassin would be foolish to knock on Kurt's door, while the Emperor or Grand Theologist would have just entered as is their right or personality respectively.
"Enter." Kurt commanded keeping a wary eye on the door while still going over the first of the papers on his desk. The door swung open swiftly and Kurt cursed his misfortune, if it had been nearly anyone else in the Empire the matter likely would have been a simple affair, instead the golden mask of Balthazar Gelt told the Reiksmarshal the affair would likely be anything but something his experience and skill would make simple.
"I'll try to keep it as simple as I can out of respect for your position. I recieved visitors several days ago claiming to have come with important news from Ulthuan. Shortly after I also received a letter from the Astromancers. Both contained similar messages for me and I've wasted some of my valuable time attempting to look into this matter when it would rather be best brought to you so you can assist me." The Gold Masked man stated as Gelt took a seat across from Kurt without any invitation to do so.
"And what does this need my influence for? Are you expecting to find some magical army or is this some other warning?" Kurt asked, not allowing his annoyance with the Supreme Patriarch to show.
"Apparently the Elves claim that magic rifts have opened in the Old World. These rifts have disrupted the flow of the Maelstrom distrubing the Elves. Then the missive I recieved from the Astromancers refrenced, and I shall paraphrase out of respect for your position, a visitor of the Rift shall come, one of a beastial form, the essence of a Elf, favored of Hysh or the Wind of Light, and colored by the heavens." Gelt stated, reciting everything of the letters by memory.
"That prophecy sounds like it's as legitimate as a throneless Tilian Prince." The retort was short, dismissive and summerized everything of the lunacy put before Kurt perfectly.
"I don't require anything more than what I can forcibly claim either by meeting with Karl, or by leveraging my own position to force it through your commanders. I need to have copies of all the reports over the next few months and to have them aware of this coming encounter." Gelt stated simply.
"Listen to yourself Gelt. A Elf Beastman from a magic rift, with light magic what exactly just making their eyes glow? And what the hell does colored by the heavens mean? Are they 'star colored' or maybe your magic visitor is all black with sparkles, or blue?" Kurt now was mocking the Supreme Patriarch, magic while occasionally having significant use, seemed to mostly be a waste of important resources and time when not being used directly for the Empire.
"I suspect this might be describing a particular entity from the lands of Ind." The Supreme Patriarch then began. "It took me some private research, particularly since I don't want to get the Temples in this affair just yet. But according to my research, the people of Ind have one thousand, perhaps more, Gods all supposedly living among them. Most likely that land is simply inhabited by various chaotic or otherwise magical creatures, but the ones they refer to as Devas, while they have as many and as varied descriptions as there are Daemons, share a common trait of blue or grey skin across many of the depictions we have in the Library in the Colleges. It could be very likely that either by traveling through a rift in Ind, or simply had begun their journey and are still on their way, but either way their presence must have some important tie to these rifts. And until these rifts are delt with the winds of magic will be disturbed and I, and eventually the Emperor , will be constantly harassed by the Elves over this issue."
Kurt finally gave up on hia dismissal of Balthazar and gave the Gold Wizard the attention he deserved. "And what makes you think this visitor is going to be acting peacefully or even in a way that will actually be beneficial to the Empire?"
"I don't have any evidence suggesting as much."
"And if they came through one of these rifts then I need to ask what sort of threat would they pose to the Empire?" Kurt then demanded.
"From my research, the Empire isn't the sole bastion of humanity in the world. Cathay could claim to be another bastion. However the Empire is the centerpiece and greatest Nation of the Old World, a realm whose Gods are Man, ruled by man for the benefit of mankind and uphold all of manmank's kingdoms around itself. The further away from the Empire one travels the more this unique and grand reality becomes apparent. To live anywhere else as a human is to be subject of other beings. Any other kingdom on the other side of the rift will show this truth, that anywhere else Humanity exists for the benefit of masters who would demand our sacrifice to suit their needs. Whoever is on the other side will not be able to truly grasp the benefit and power of our Empire. We will wish peace and they might even come with its intent, but a struggle will be inevitable. I however am not a God so how this struggle will come to be, or even in what form.is beyond even what I have access to. That is why I wish to make use of your resources to help bring this matter to light all the sooner." Gelt certainly had not lost his flair for the dramatic, but Kurt knew the Wizard was likely correct in a number of regards.
The best scouts to send on a route armies intended to travel in the future were sent as merchants or envoys, the military scouts best served just ahead of the actual army. Also if this rift wasn't an intentional creation, then perhaps whoever was on the other side was just as confused.
"Fine I'll give the order, you will receive the reports you want and if this Blue Skinned Deva thing of yours shows up anywhere in Reikland you and I shall be the first to know." Kurt finally relented, pulling aside a blank General Order paper and started filling out the instructions his secretary likely the secretary would take the order to the Reiksmarshal's privately owned printing press and have multiple copies made to distribute to the various garrisons of Reikland. Knowing the efficiency of the Press and his secretary the orders would be spread throughout the city by the end of the day, and Reikland in its entirety by either the end of the week or the next.
"Thankyou. Now if you excuse me I have other affairs on top of this one. Apparently I am needed in Nordland, some trifling affair which is costing me yet more time." With that Gelt stood and walked out of the room, leaving Kurt to sigh.
With Gelt gone, maybe some relaxation would meet the Reiksmarshal. A peice of paper caught the old Reiksguard's eye, a flyer left in Gelt's seat. 'This Year's New winner of the Altdorf Lady's most attractive facial hair contest' the paper read, surely this isn't real. Kurt skimmed the paper. "How can they even consider having me compete with a Dwarf?"
The River port of Altdorf was truly a mesmerizing sight to behold. How dirty it was certainly one thing that shocked Avenah as she looked onto this city. For the Grand Capital of the Empire this city's docks had none of the shine or majesty of Stormwind Harbor, instead the detail that stunned the Draenei was just how massive the whole thing was. They were on a river, yet a fleet, maybe upwards to a few hundred ships all meant for the sea sat either anchored in the River or being attended to on the docks. One of those vessels was even suspended in air not by magic, or by great powers but by ropes as dock hands moved supports up to the ship and worked on its under side.
And then there were the smaller rivers which all had river boats and one even having another ocean vessel all traveling in or out of them into the main river. Indeed Avenah clearly could not even see everything yet from what she could see she assumed this grand port matched the main port of Kul Tiras. Of course the Draenei reminded herself that much of this was still river boats and not proper ocean vessels.
"Hmmm, Port's a bit busy today, hope you've got a good coin purse, hate to see you starved dead in the gutter wheneverwe return." One of the boat's crew stated to Sister Avenah and her two gawking companions before returning to work on the boat slowly bringing it towards port.
"You don't have a dock we can go to?" The sister quickly asked stopping the man.
"A place like this? Lady it costs coin just to dock long enough to unload your wares here. And unless you've got permission from the city proper or enough coin we can't stay here." The man answered before returning again to his work.
It was a few more hours before the river boat finally found a opening on a port that allowed them to roughly unload their three passengers, before quickly purchasing some supplies being peddled on the dock and then pushing off again.
It took little over a half hour, yet standing in the pier Avenah and her two companions felt as though the whole thing had been so fast and chaotic that they barely could get their barings. If not for Relyea Redcap and her sharp senses and speed a pick pocket might have even made off with one of Avenah's coin pouches.
"Ok, I think asking to talk to their Emperor might not be the best first option, maybe their local Churches or authorities would be the best first step." Avenah asked, keeping her heavy cloak she had put on before docking closed tight. Even then she stood as tall as the tallest man on this pier, and that man looked more like a short Vrykul with extra muscle than a human.
Still even before arriving it was clear to Avenah that she should at least initially keep her form covered. These local people were mostly homogeneous and even if they were not prone to panic at the unknown, their curiosity would certainly impede the progress of this Alliance mission of peace.
Walking to the nearest stand and waiting for her turn the Draenei figured her best option was to ask for direction. "Excuse me ma'am, where is the nearest temple or government building?"
The woman at the stand squinted at the Draenei for a moment. "That accent is a first. If yer asking whose in charge, yer gonna have to ask Boss Zuckerborg for his grace. He runs the Fish on these few piers and his eyes are everywhere. But if he likes yah, typically you can find yerselves in the good graces of a Merchant, or on yer way to wherever you going without any troubles at all."
Then the woman returned to peddling her rather low quality fruit to the people on the pier. This left a perturbed Avenah to just return to her group, where Gerunn Goldenpass just shrugged, his armor clanking slightly as the Dwarf stood watch.
"Hey hey hey, what do we have here?" Avenah pivited on the spot as a large man with thick meaty arms walked over to her group with a whole assortment of followers each making cruel faces as they approached.
"Please we dont want anyone inconvenienced and we don't wish to hurt anyone." Avenah pleaded with the approaching group.
"Hear that boys? So you're the leader, just like I thought. Well miss, reason I'm here is I spotted you and your pair of hired idiots and knew I had to come over. Lets see, reasons I should be 'oh so scared'" the lead man mocked, his huge muscles rippling under his skin as he flexed and brought out a club that he proceeded to point with.
"At first I was worried about the Dwarf you hired. Half decent if eccentric armor, and a decent axe and shield." The man then pointed at Relyea, "but the Dwarf now that I'm close is obviously a sham, no dwarf with a beard cut that short has anything resembling the honor or skill worthy of such gear, and this woman really sells you're inexperience. Her armor doesn't fit and both those swords on her hips are far too big for a dainty little tart like her. And now fer you!"
Before anyone could react the large man grabbed Avenah's cloak, and with a harsh pull ripped the clothing off the sister, exposing her to the world around her. Relyea almost howled with outrage, the Worgen woman's blue eyes alight and her shoet red hair seeming to spread down her slightly wider back. Gerunn drew his axe ready to fight. Meanwhile the crowd was aghast with disbelief, with only the Sister's attacker seeming unperturbed.
"Hmmmm, I say Thomas Zuckerborg, I really gots myself a catch here. Marble white skin, shiny black hair, Is the blue of those lips natural or is that makeup? Speaking of lips, noce and plump with some fat cheeks on that cute innocent face, and while the hooves are weird, if yer nethers are the same I can fetch a hefty sum from some creeps looking for a nice fuck." The human summerized looming over Avenah even as her shaking hands reached for the mace at her side. Even though she was almost a foot taller than him, this human seemed to dominate Avenah's sight, her heart trembled with a fear she hadn't felt since Deathwing flew over her home bringing ruin in his wake, a fear she certainly had never felt around any human before. Somehow she felt powerless.
And then with a flash of red fur, and a Worgan weilding two broadswords biting into the Human's arm, the fear was gone and instead a fight begun.
Relyea, her mouth clamped tight around the criminals arm, began to thrash her head side to side as the man yelped in pain. "Get off you mutt!" he shouted bringing his cub down on her snout. At the Worgen's side one of the gamg members charged but his reckless charge was quickly ended as one of the red furred beast's two great swords was brought down onto his shoulder single handed. The blade with its weight and force mulched the man's interior even as it cut through his meat and bone entirely.
Gerunn was already in front of Avenah protecting the Sister of the Light from the enraged thugs, and the various dock hands and others who had chosen to take up arms against the representatives of the Alliance. While Gerunn's shield held off the foes, and his axe dispatched them Avenah focused on calling the Light, healing her companions and trying to soothe the tempers of their opponents. The Draenei never wanted this violence and hoped to bring it to a swift end.
The fight proceeded despite Avenah's wishes and her cries of protest. Zuckerborg kept his club bashing the face of the Adventurer, Relyea, who in turn kept thrashing her head, her teeth sinking deeper in until at last the man's arm came off. Even as she did this the Worgen woman used her two swords to deal fatal blows to any who tried to come to the gang boss's aid. A short distance away Gerunn held back a dozen attackers, none of them able to penetrate his armor or avoid his axe.
And so the fight was over in minutes. Thomas Zuckerborg lay screaming on the ground holding the stub of his arm, while most of his crew and many other individuals from the pier lay dead around the three Alliance members.
"You, You're going to regret this!" one of the survivors shouted, before turning and blindly running face first into a shield. The shield bore the symbol of the Altdorf Dock Watch, which the man paled upon looking up at, seeing a scowling soldier and the line of swordsmen all at his side, and a row of handguns beside them. "I-I surrender!"
The first the Alliance representatives were aware of the small task force of Soldiers was when they heard the sounds of guns being raised and a shrill whistle. Looking, all three could clearly see these potential new foes had more than enough strength at arms to kill at least two of the three if not quickly end all three of them.
"Everyone calm down!" Avenah shouted throwing her mace aside, a gesture mimicked by Gerunn, and after a tense moment followed by a softly growling Relyea. The three then stood unarmed facing the line of soldiers, fear and uncertainty had Avenah imagining a series of small booms as a line of gunfire would then scythe the three down. However there was no gunfire as instead a fully armored man stepped forward instead.
"I am Captain Günther by the authority of the Empire you are now all under arrest! Swordsmen put them in Irons. Bring the carriage around."
After a moment of staring at the group the man then turned and whispered to one of the soldiers at his side who then took off running into the city. However none of the Alliance members could comcern themselves with this, instead Avenah found herself surrounded by spears, one of which was held by shaking hands, as a man tried to nervously shackle her while barely touching her which caused the shackles to pinch the wrists of the Priestess of the Light.
Next Relyea was surrounded by spears and every gun focused on her Worgen form which the woman was sustaining. However none of the iron shackles would fit the Worgan so instead after several tense minutes and awkward manipulating, Relyea found her arms tied behind her back by a sturdy rope, and a lasso was thrown around her neck that the soldiers then used to start leading her away.
Lastly four soldiers approached Gerunn who resigned himself to capture, and while the soldiers scoffed down at him they shackled the dwarf and began to lead him away. All three were then taken to carriage, one obviously not intended for Draenei or Worgen as both women had to slouch to fit inside and even curl up slightly as they sat. Though as it was a Prison cart little thought had already put into it for its passengers.
The cart slowly rolled through narrow and dirty city streets, strange and rancid smells occasionally assaulting Avenah's nose. The Soldiers who had arrested the Alliance group had even either chosen or been forced to split into multiple groups so now only a handful of the Empire's soldiers traveled with the group, though they were clearly wary of their prisoners.
Suddenly the cart stopped, an obstruction on the road, one of the soldiers shouted that he'd check it out then approached the Obstruction, a large group of fallen wooden boxes. As the man marched forward a large group of thuggish looking individuals came out, at least two of then armed with crossbows. Upon reaching them the soldier stook out his hand, and the thugs handed him a small pouch of coins. The soldier then stepped aside and the thugs attacked. The street became a clash as half a dozen soldiers fought against almost twenty armed thugs. The fight was short and the soldiers were quickly overrun by these men armed with large fish hooks, swords, and the two crossbows. With panicked shouts the last two surviving soldiers fled.
"So these are the dock killers. While I don't care for them Fish bastards, you killed some of the people under our care on the docks, and if we don't do anything the Hooks will lose credibility. Sorry but you all are going to die." The leader of the thugs stated pointing a fish hook at the three prisoners.
The two crossbow weilders walked up to just outside the cart and began to aim. "Make sure its quick. Ready." The leader ordered, as the two crossbows prepared Relyea strained against the ropes, then momentarily turned back to her human form quickly slipping out of the ropes.
"And fire!"
Bang.
One of the crossbowmen collapsed with a shout, and distracring his companion. The crossbowman never had a chance to reaim, or help his wounded and still screaming companion as a second gunshot sounded and the man's face burst open into blood and gore. Quickly the leader and other thugs turned back looking up the road. There the Empire Captain Günther sat atop a horse while a small unit of handgunners stood next to him two of them reloading their weapons.
"Run!" One of the thugs shouted and the group abandoned the cart fleeing down the road. Soldiers with spears and swords soon after charged past the cart giving chase as the Captain and his horse rode past the knocked over boxes even as other soldiers began to clear the obstruction.
"Get this cart moving, we are changing destinations get these people to the Reiksguard Barracks immediately! These are standing orders delivered by the office of the Reiksmarshal as of six days ago." The Captain shouted holding up a piece of paper. Within minutes the cart took off again.
The Reiksguard Barracks was an interesting juxtaposition for the Draenei prisoner and her companions. It had indeed taken several hours to navigate through the city streets and travel the very few miles from the docks to the barracks near the Imperial palace. But even then that such a diffrence between the Docks and here could exist was amazing.
At the Reiksguard Barracks once their prison cart had arrived just outside the doors, the Captain brought the three prisoners out, his state troops were quickly replaced by fully armored Knights who then escorted the three and the Captain into the Barracks past a statue of white marble depicting a woman with numerous doves about her. This Barracks had been designed with a warrior philosophy, the walls were sparce, the corridors were extremely tight compared to almost anything in Stormwind or even the Exodar. Often to allow the three prisoners and their escorts through various individuals had to duck into alcoves and wait for them to pass before beginning their journey again.
Eventually the group came up to a desk, here a soldier sat looking over a number of small loosely bound books and various papers. Once the group approached and before anyone spoke the soldier looked up and with a nod stood up and walked to a door at the back of the room. Here the soldier rapped a series of knocks on the door and then after a moment opened it. "The Reiksmarshal will see you now." The soldier stated. Captain Günther gestured and the three Alliance prisoners entered into the office with the Captain following behind.
When contrasted to the rest of the Barracks the room they were in was luxurious, book shelves, and art covered the walls, a stand held a full suit of armor, a small cot took the corner of the room, and a large desk with a human male dominated the center of the room.
"Reiksmarshal Kurt Helborg, I have the individual described in your orders. We found her and her companions killing several men at the pier." The Captain reported as they all stepped into the room.
"Fuck no, they attacked us, We DEFENDED ourselves." Relyea protested, now in human form and shackled like the rest of her group.
"You did well Captain, due to the sensitive nature of this operation I'm hereby reassinging you immediately to the escort and protection of these individuals." The Leader, this Reiksmarshal Kurt ordered slowly standing from his desk. "Seeing as your arrival was quite violent and my position within the Empire, while I'd be confident to pet each of you free immediately, I realistically can only unshackle one of you at any given moment. Until such a time my order has been superceded or more pressing evidence for us to trust you has been presented, unless you are behind bars only one of your group will be allowed to be unshakled at any given moment."
The Reiksmarshal then looked between the three. "Now I know those things aren't very comfortable, so who is it going to be?"
Avenah, Gerunn and Relyea looked between eachother cautiously for several moments. "Avenah" Relyea stated first, followed after by Gerunn.
"Captain?"
"Ummm, I think that's the Blue one sir." Captain Günther stated quickly going to unshakle the Draenei woman. As he did so the Secretary behind him placed a hand on his sword, and the Reiksmarshal across from them put a scabbard with a sword on the table in front of himself while idly stroking his mustache.
With her shackles removed Avenah rubbed her wrists which were indeed sore from the tight cuffs. "I think I might be a little co fused as to our situation. My companions and I came in hopes of establishing communications with your government and perhaps even starting negotiations. We never intended to start a battle, much less become prisoners." The Draenei pleaded her case to the Human leader.
"Unfortunately for you, simply arriving the way you did wouldn't have been the best way to make contact anyways. If not for the Astromancers of the magic college and my own colleague you would be sitting in a prison cell and a Witch Hunter would likely be seeing you long before you came into contact with the Nobility or the Military Command." This response confused Avenah even more.
"I'm sorry who is your colleague and who are these Astromancers?" The follower of the Light asked.
"Astromancers practice the Blue Wind of magic, and some of them are supposedly very good at divinination. As for my Colleague he's the Supreme Patriarch of the Colleges of Magic here in Altdorf. They told me that you were coming, this is my first time talking to a Indan Deva but I figured that it would be best you talk to me before we move matters to other members of state." The Reiksmarshal explain.
"I'm sorry a what Deva? I think you might have made a mistake, we didn't come from any place currently on your world." Avenah provided, earning her many disbelieving looks.
Avenah sighed, knowing this would take some convincing. "If you check our bags you'll see a bunch of items from Azeroth, our homeworld including a map which points to the Portal we used to reach your world. I even a
have a map of another world, Draenor, or well it's remains, the planet is dying and my people had failed it. But that's part of why when we came to this world, while not arrogant enough to assume we can solve whatever issues you have, I wanted to help, and I convinced the Alliance which I beling to, to allow me to do so." Avenah explained presenting her unopened pack to the Men about her.
After his secretary began to rummage through the pack, inspecting each item and presenting them all, Kurt responded to the Draenei. "And how did this portal bring your people to our world? What path through the realm of Chaos did you use? What about any of this are we supposed to beleive?"
"We have evidence, I have myself, I don't know if you have any here but my companion she's a Worgen, what else can I give you?" Avenah asked, her voice slowly filling with desperation.
"The right to test you. Allow me three days to go over all your belongings, Captain Günther's reports, and to have you looked over by the Wizards of the Colleges. Do this and you'll earn the benefit of the doubt from me. In this time you will be kept here in the Chapter House of the Reiksguard Knights." Kurt offered with a small smirk.
"We agree, please all I want to do is to open negotiations for a peaceful coexistence between all our peoples." The sister cried out.
"Hans, Prepare to deliver a letter, also look for when we might next be able to see his majesty in court." Kurt ordered, and his secretary immediately stepped out of the room to obey.
The next several days of Avenah's life were rather miserable. She had hoped for excited explorers or scientists, even these Wizards to ask her questions picking at her mind and learning everything they could about her would, it's people, their cultures and everything else. Instead the Wizards looked on her with mixed expressions and only the ones calling themselves Heirophants even having anything resembling interest in her, but all magically poked and proded her with what seemed to be suspicion and what felt like attempts to force her magical power and her secrets from her, and none of them cared anything about the Naaru.
Rather than scholars she received Interrogations, harsh questions many of which she almost could not answer from even harsher men. Men wearing thick cloaks or scaled hides stared at her like some sort of prey, sniffing her making her walk, crouch and run around while their eyes tracked her like prey.
One day what they called Priests were brought in, she had hoped to discuss with them the tenants of the Light. However after what started as a honestly uplifting exhange turned into bitter arguments and eventually an assault from a angry wolf clad man. All she had done was question the relationship between these 'Dark Gods' and their own Gods even questioning the similarities between Ulric and his foes, while suggesting that they were merely elements of the greater powers of Light, Order, Life, and Death and that it might be beneficial for them to look for their place within the greater powers.
It took a woman in a white acting as mediator while another woman in a white and blue armor threatening to intervene to stop the sudden brawl the wolf clad priest had started. And then the next day the knights had dragged Relyea before this priest, unshackled her and insisted that she transform in front of him while leveling multiple guns at her. Once she did the priest walked up to Avenah and cursed her to her face before with a laugh took out a hammer and challenged Relyea to a bought. As the horrified Draenei watched the man and Worgen fought for nearly two hours they dueled until a hammer strike broke Relyea 's snout and knocked her unconscious, leaving the heavily bleeding priest to stagger back before proclaiming. "She might not be a child of Ulric, but she has his fire running through her blood." It wouldn't be until later that night Avenah was able to heal her companion.
After that the Wizards experiments, and the military officers Interrogations continued unimpeeded. And they continued until finally after days of absence Kurt appeared before the three members of the Alliance.
The Reiksguard allowed the three Alliance members private time to bathe and prepare themselves each making themselves the most presentable they possibly could even making use of make-up brought by the Knights and both women were even presented with what seemed to be dresses that matched their colors and sizes very well. Next they were again shackled but instead with ornate cuffs that felt comfortable and likely were more for show.
Next they were loaded into what was certainly a Noble's carriage. The journey was incredibly short, however a palace larger than Stormwind keep, if likely less defensable and more ornate, greeted the sight of the three Alliance travelers. Quickly they were whisked away inside, away from the sight of the masses. They were then made to navigate back halls and servants corridors until eventually the Knights had them stop just outside a grand hall, at the end of the hall stood a large ornate set of doors that Nobles were passing in and out of. Eventually Kurt Helborg appeared outside those doors and with a jesture the Knights hurried the three to the Reiksmarshal's side.
"Now presenting for His Majesty Emperor Karl Franz's deliberation, brought forth by Reiksmarshal Kurt Helborg, the case of the Otherworldly Dignitaries." A voice on the other side of the door proclaimed. Immediately the Knights opened the door, and before the doors had even opened all the way Kurt was marching into the chamber with a long practiced, experienced and poised grace. Eventually straggling behind him came Avenah, Relyea and Gerunn.
All throughout the chamber voices could be heard whispering to themselves. Avenah could sense calculating eyes and a few disgusted looks all directed her way as she walked, careful no to trip on the dress provided to her. Finally Avenah turned her attention to the other side of the room where a lone man sitting on a throne. In his hand was a large hammer, his black eyes and dark hair made his gaze seem like a deep appraisal even of Avenah's own soul.
"I have brought them to you my Emperor as instructed, I present Avenah, Relyea Redcap and Gerunn Goldenpass all claiming to be of The Alliance, a multi-national state of another world." Kurt explained giving a deep showy bow to the Emperor. After a moment of observing, Avenah quickly decided to also attempt a bow, but then remembering her dress attempted what the humans called a curtsy.
"Why do you come bringing such outrageous claims to my court?" The man firmly demanded to know, still seated on his throne.
Avenah froze, all those days of torment and this...this ass..this man didn't believe the obvious truth? "Nothing about out claim is a lie. I and my companions came through a portal arriving in what you call the city of Mordheim from our own world of Azeroth. We came as part of a exoritory expedition, and having just discovered your Empire we hoped to establish peaceful first contact."
The man stood up, his red uniform was covered in military medals and orante gold decorations. The man still carried the Hammer with him and after closing the distance used it to lift Avenah's chin while looking down on the slightly bowed Draenei. "Do you expect anyone in this room to trust such a tale?" He demanded again, causing the Priestess of the light to scowl in frustration as voices of ascent joined in from the background.
"I provided ample evidence, testing and myself as proof." Avenah firmly aserted.
The man fiercely pulled his hammer back. "That's not good enough!" He then pointed his hammer to Gerunn. "You dwarf, look at me."
Gerunn lifted his head looking at the Hammer weilding Emperor and the Emperor continued.
"This is Ghal Maraz, crafted by your Ancestor-God Smednir and gifted to Sigmar Heldenhammer by your High King Kurgan Ironbeard as a symbol of perpetual friendship and trust between our two peoples. You shall swear upon this Hammer and provide us the TRUTH!"
Gerunn froze for a moment staring at the hammer held above his head. "I am sorry but I can not swear this. High King Kurgan was never king over my people, my King was Magni Bronzebeard and will be Dagran Thaurissan the second. I can not swear upon, and take advantage of a legacy neither myself nor any of my clan had ever been part of. But I do swear, upon my Mother, my Father, and each of my siblings and the very Soul of Azeroth and its speaker whom I respect greatly, Avenah speaks the truth, and that she is one of the single most good natured individuals you can ever meet. Assuming deception and besmirching her only shows your own rotten nature."
With that the Human Emperor remained silent, walked back to his throne and slowly seated himself. "I take it then everyone her should be satisfied with the Dwarf's answer?" The human asked, much to Avenah's shock an smirk graced the man's lips as he carefully survayed the chamber.
"Aye, Nothing to complain about here."
"Not questions your crude methods will answer, for now the Asur will have to wait."
A dozen or more voices all spoke, all stating their satisfaction.
"Then let us begin."