Reviews:
Guest 1: Always less BS is better, but there's plenty they need to find out and plenty of deals to be had, which sadly means more BS to be had. After all a couple hundred Empire soldiers vs the thousands of Ratmen isn't going to be a good showing and the Alliance will probably want something more.
Dragon King of the West: Well Wolfram is what Guilliman would be if the blue smug boi had decent writing. He learned the hard way, the. basically wrote the book on "how to war" (note he's less "whatever i do will automatically be the best possible option" and more "this systematic approach should lead to eventual victory") and he is probably one of the best deligators in the Empire. And being a Good Deligator means being able to read and judge people to decide who would do a certain job best.
JiggyliFAP: Tyrande the mellow "only the Goddess can tell me what to do", "now let me go kill our own allies to free a backstabber who i should factually know will cause romantic issues with myself and the love of my life". The caves connect to a underwater ocean and so with a little bit of slave sacrifie ro dig canals the NE are able to "sail" under grounds from one side of their massive landmass to somewhere out in the "not pacific ocean" presumably out to "not hawaii" I hope.
DragonANGL: Probably should provide some.context for that. How often has Shandris gone months without a co-commander or Tyrande? From what I can tell there's a "maybe" one time but Blizzards instant communications/teleportation makes that hard to judge. And why that's "somewhat" important is because Tyrande is a micromanager, an amazing one of not the single best in the Alliance, but a micromanager nonetheless, and micromanagers tend to breed two types of subordinate leaders, petty yes men (glares at the Pentagon and all the Generals and other 3 star idiots I've had to listen to give big empty speeches to while insulting and personally attack anyone who asks them a legitimate question) or Jack-of-all's who learned well, but have never truly been left on their own and either rise to the challenge or collapse under pressure. And Blizzard did Shandris a disservice always putting her as a co-commander, meanwhile the guy asking her the Question...well lets just say his first solo command, despite all the veteran leaders in proximity (but weren't helping) to him, well it's very infamous, and he's now one of the best deligators in all the Empire, so he's able to judge people very well, but obviously without 100% accuracy he's "realistic" not superman.
Since Warhammer 40k is better known to people, Wolfram is like Guilliman if the guy actually had to suffer and learn his skills and the universe didn't break its own back to make him default correct.
Hakuryuu: we will see what "harflings" will show up or not or if any are too busy taking the Gobbos to Mootenguard. Meanwhile all the castles in the Imperial East are purely functional or build by insane vampires. Bretonnia's castles of course are half High Elf. And the Southern Realm Castles are built via Dwarf Contactors who know what they're doing AND are paid to make it look nice.
Well i mean who wouldn't hide that they dropped Halfling Poachers on you, let alone their other dealings. Also even to get Dwarves Altdorf is best...because what good Dawi is going to trust a magic obsessed blue mutant claiming to be a filthy elf, and why she might not know that she's trusting the advice of some guidance from people who do know.
As for Taal, and his wonderful wife, i feel they are under represented, but I'm more Myrmidia and daddy Morr person myself. As for Asarnil well he has been reduced to a Tilian merc, but considering his skill, his mount, and the people sponsoring him...I doubt anyone will advise Shandris to try and hire him unless She or they are convinced they have enough ground troops and need a heavy hitting badass who costs more than multiple Mercenary companies on his own.
micelzod: Of course the Empire has Halflings, and the Moot has had several white dwarf publications that I actually had to do a bit of a deep dive just to confirm but the unit that isn't from the tabletop is the Rooster riders. But while the Moot might have human sacrifice, no witchhunters are willing to try and jackboot on over to it knowing they have a tendency to turn up dead, and Witchhunters aren't an official branch of the Imperial state and are only semi-legal.
And we will see Azerotheans discovering some of the black humor and the truth of whats happening with Alyzz hopefully in the humor...someone on Azeroth has to get it.
AReader: Scammed? Why would it be a scam to put those little theiv...wonderful heroes among her soldiers?
Achievement
When Lady Emmanuelle Nacht, the Amry of Ostermark, the Riekland Army, and then the Sentinel Army of Darnassus arrived at Bechafen, the various people in the city seemed to gather and virtually made the whole thing a celebration. While the people in the streets cheered and clearly tried to even force a full true celebration to come about from the tired, road weary human armies, and the cautious and bewildered Sentinel Army, they were not in the mood of joining the locals in the revelry. Instead the Ostermark Soldiers looked through the crowds for friends or loved ones as they marched, while the Rieklanders looked more for where they could finally settle in for rest.
The Kaldorei meanwhile had to stare, not quite in awe but neither was it quite disgust either. Many Kaldorei were tolerant of their human allies, but this place, this 'city' was obviously a massive lumber mill with many of the devices they had grown familiar with destroying even openly shown and currently cutting the logs of what must had have been massive trees. The city itself was indeed large, with looming and large buildings all of which looked like they could used to make a street into a fortification which would be difficult to assault.
Still the Sentinels keep a overall high spirits, particularly with the news that their restored General waited for them with good news. So the High Spirited Kaldorei allowed some of the cheer of the locals to spread to themselves as they walked down the streets to the square in front of the Bechafen Palace. Here those members of the Sentinels who entered the city arrayed themselves waiting for Shandris to appear. Meanwhile the Druids and the Walking Wood remained outside the city, waiting for reports from their allies.
Then outside the Palace the Kaldorei waited with their human counterparts. Even Lady Emmanuelle Nacht sat on horseback outside the Palace waiting until at last the Palace gates opened, riding out a single armored human rode up to Lady Nacht and both dismounted. The man then bowed in a practiced manner, likely a bow with some meaning that was lost on the assembled Kaldorei. Then the man lead Lady Nacht into the Palace and out marched Captain Gerard Sessler and at his side General Shandris Feathermoon. The moral of the Kaldorei soared at sight of their General and as she rose her restored left arm a cry of victory spread across the women of the Sentinels.
Then Captain Sessler started crying out orders to the Imperial Soldiers. Many of the Ostermark Soldiers dispersed into the city while others alongside their Riekland counterparts turned and began to march out of the city. It was then that Shandris spoke to her own army.
"My sisters, the battles are over. But the War for Azeroth has begun. The Skaven Ratmen, and the Vampire Counts have joined with the Horde with the intent of destroying the Alliance and likely to then bring death to the Empire who have fought alongside us. I have begun negotiations to bring the Empire into this war, we will return home, and return home soon, but we will not be alone and should our Allies, should Darnassus call upon us to do so, when we arrive we will bring the arrow to the heart of the Horde ending their threat once and for all!" Shandris' voice carried powerfully over her army, but taking more breath and strength than what she was accustomed to on Azeroth.
And then she stepped away and Uydron stepped forward while Aethalas lunged forward giving a brief hug to Shandris before snapping back to her own professionalism. After a soft awkward cough Aethalas spoke, "It's good to have you back, General".
Shandris laughed slightly. "It'sgreat to be back. How was the Army while I was gone?" Shandris might have started jovial and light hearted, but Aethalas downcast look spoke volumes.
"We're down to Seven Hundred Sentinels, more than seventy Pioneers escaped, almost all that remain are those who willingly chose to remain behind. A element of our own forces abandoned us to join the Pioneers, far more of them than i had hoped, but still not within our worst case estimates." Shandris' right hand explained a slightly crestfallen look on her face.
"Ok still better than what we feared. We can still easily work with this. Like I told the ladies, we have the means to hopefully get the Empire to join the Alliance for whatever is going on in Azeroth. Once we get home, we'll report back to Darnassus and deploy to wherever we're needed." Shandris was disappointed but had already come to terms with the likely losses, also she needed to keep both moral high and everyone focused on the Army's ultimate goal.
Next Shandris turned back to the Palace before gesturing for Aethalas to follow. Both Night Elves walked into the large structure following after Lady Nacht and Elector Count Hertwig. The two humans seemed to be sharing simple pleasantries as they walked before the Elector Count excused himself and left, leaving Shandris Aethalas and Emmanuelle all alone in the chamber.
"What did you do?!" A hiss that could only be the glaring Lady Nacht slithered into Shandris' ear.
"I negotiated, If I didn't things were bound to progress into a worse state, one my Army's treasury couldn't afford." Shandris spoke softly but firmly back.
A sigh answered Shandris. "You should be thankful to your God that Wolfram took pity on you, he's only providing half of what I was certain I could get from him while working with you, rather than the quarter he plotted to originally provide. We have your current stockpile of gold, and now Wolfram is going to provide you a loan of One hundred and Ninety thousand Marks."
Shandris sat for a moment silently. "Is that a lot?" This flabbergasted the Imperial noble for a moment before she took a deep breath, causing Shandris' ears to drop.
Then the woman let out a sighing breath. "Each Mark is equal to one ounce of Gold. The man put more Gold at your disposal than seven times your stockpile but is putting strict stipulations and had you sign to very firm terms of repayment. If you are to repay him within the year you'll be repaying him three hundred and fifteen thousand and two hundred twenty-six Marks, with an additional twenty thousand marks for each year past the first. The Gold is worth it, while nothing compared to the war chests of most Electors a small warband can survive a long time off such funds and we could probably bring in plenty of reputable soldiers and Mercenaries with this, or bring in some heavier ordinance. But again this is just Ostermark's initial funds, to wage a war like what you're speech suggested we need more far more than even double of what we have now. What Hertwig has provided if you build a full army would likely only last you a month of warfare, that means we will need five times the current funds at least."
Shandris then shrugged. "It's a start isn't it?"
"It's a blessed achievement that you even made it this far without me." The woman snarked as now she and the General walked deeper into the palace with the intent on meeting in the Elector Count's office to help finalize the negotiations and to receive his blessing for the next legs of their journey.
With a sigh Emmanuelle Nacht continued. "Still with the number of troops and your own army at our side, we should be able to leverage more support now. People will rightfully assume you have money, and that you have allies with more to share. All we need is to travel and make that fact obvious and certainly there will be other Lords and other powerful individuals willing to sign onto your cause or loan you even more."
Shandris winced, did Darnassus, no did the Alliance have the funds to pay back everything she was getting and fund their current war? No Shandris couldn't think about that, there was no question the Alliance had the funds, and likely Darnassus would have the funds even after the current war with the Horde finally concludes, even if they had to ask for donations from Adventurers. Right now she needed to focus on getting soldiers and funds, then getting it all through the Mordheim portal.
"Still it seems like you and Wolfram have plenty to talk about." Shandris stated simply while the pair walked slowly with practiced steps.
"Yes to see if the man truly benefited you, or if thay loan is self serving." The Diplomat stated vaguely.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shandris asked.
"If the Elector Count committed Ostermark's forces under Ostermark's support, then those troops are a massive boon, another portion of your war expenses he is shouldering for you...if not, then they will be a drain on the loaned fund given to you every day they wait in Mordheim." The woman explained without so much as a sideways glance to Shandris.
The General silently nodded. The Night Elves seldom had to concern themselves too deeply with the finances of war, but that said she still had had plenty of experience as the Geneal of the Sentinel Army, as well as when recruiting adventurers and when dealing with Stormwind or the Gilnean military remnants. These Empire forces still seemed to cost somewhat more to field. But at the same time Emmanuelle, a diplomat, seemed to be navigating these costs and the Army's requirements even more expertly than Shandris' millenia of experience could have prepared her in dealing with the particularities of the Empire. Still she had the sense that Emmanuelle seemed impressed, maybe she was holding her own better than the diplomat had expected?
"Should I go in with you?" Shandris asked simply as she and her Diplomat counterpart neared the Elector Count's office.
"No, I can't be acting as your representative. Instead I'm acting as a agent of his Majesty and ensuring this deal is to the Empire's benefit and the details of it thereon. I can't get what I need for my duties with you at my side." The diplomat stated.
"Then can I ask a few more questions before you go?" Shandris asked stopping and causing Emmanuelle to turn and face her.
"Go ahead."
"The other day the Count's council mentioned a Dwarven Kingdom that seemed almost eager to help, one that is closer to us than Altdorf. So why are we not speaking to them first? Who are these Kislevittes that the Pioneers ran off with? And upon reaching Altdorf what exactly was your plan?" The General of the Sentinel Army asked her questions peircing as true as a arrow and with the swiftness expected of the Kaldorei.
On her side Emmanuelle looked to her opposite with a softening of her stern expression. "The Dawi are long time allies of the Empire, but are a vengeful and cautious people. You are outsiders in every sense, their motivations have nothing about aiding you in their hearts are are purely for the purposes of their honor, or their own benefit. A direct appeal to them is less likely to result in what you want, while acting through the Empire could even get you more than what you hoped from them."
"I doubt they can give me a fleet of Alliance Gunboats." Shandris snarked, but was ignored by Emmanuelle as the woman pressed on.
"As for Kislev, I don't know what would motivate one of their nobles to allign themselves with your Pioneers. Nor do I even truly understand the motivation of your pioneers. Kislev has very little it can honestly provide, standing more as a bulwark against the threats from the Chaos Wastes. Their realm doesn't have the magics, or any other powers to help you retuen home." The Diplomat stated and Shandris nodded. The answer being mostly what she had expected.
"And when we get to Altdorf?" Shandris pressed. now crossing her arms.
Here Emmanuelle chuckled slightly. "More financial loans. gathering some of the Empires experts, and loans of troops in exchange for more concessions so that no matter the scene on the other side of the portal, no matter what, the Empire remains both secure and benefits."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Shandris asked.
"The obvious reality of course." Emmanuelle began. "If the portal opens, and the Alliance had won your war, then the Empire has those loans, economic policy set in place and the means to enforce it in place. If the war is ongoing then our army of loaned troops and Mercenaries will march through to try to pitch the war in your favor while keeping the war further away from the Empire's borders. And if the Horde controls the Portal, the Empire will have a army for our defense already in place. In the end the Empire will either see to it's security or be seeing to secure our economic advantage with the Alliance."
"And you think I'll just go along with that?" Shandris asked a slight snarl to her voice.
"Tell me, are you certain that in two out of those three scenarios you won't need the help of the Empire? And also haven't you already acted in accordance with that plan? No I'm certain you already consigned yourself to the truth of these expenses and your need for them, you're just upset that other people can recognize the fact that you need us and are acting accordingly." The Imperial Diplomat stated, now tapping her foot impatiently.
"Right. But what about the portal itself, even with the loans we'll need it open as soon as possible." Shandris then pressed on abandoning the current topic.
Emmanuelle sighed. "This needs to be the Last Question. We'll be in contact with both the Imperial Engineering School and the Colleges of Magic. Likely through the Engineers we can also get Dwarves skilled in digging through snow and ice to join our army. Between nature, magic, and engineering skill we should be able to open a clearing swiftly if one hasn't opened entirely by the time we reach Mordheim with our army." The Diplomat answered then stepped away before turning back to Shandris performing a curtsy. "I will see you soon, m'lady."
Many miles away Kyn'ra continued to march, at her side the Gnome Eekizz Switchpickle continued to drill their Kislevitte host for every possible detail he could while formulating plans and strategies for the Pioneers. The Pioneers had, as Kyn'ra had instructed, met with the Kislevittes and their Mercenaries on their march north, and many Sentinels had even abandoned Shandris to join the Pioneers for one reason or another, bringing a smile to Kyn'ra.
Nearly one hundred and Ninety Pioneers and Sentinels served under Kyn'ra's command following her to the North. Once she and her followers, who all now donned the lable Kyn'ra's Pioneers, had regrouped and gathered the Night Elf laid out her plan for them.
"The evils of Mallus are deep hidden away far from the portal in Mordheim." She had begun at their meeting, catching many by suprise but quickly gaining their silent and apt attention. "What we faced are not the Dark Masters of this world. No! We faced mere servants to the Darkness. Elune illuminated me, her glowing gaze showed me visions. Much like how the Naga were once from the Kaldorei, the Dark Gods of this world take everything they can to twist to their own service. The Undead are but one of our worries and Elune's Voice spoke to me.
Elune she said to me, 'Kyn'ra, Kyn'ra my child awake. You must have suffered so greatly, and sacrified so much already. Sacrifices that were necessary for the glorious pursuit of preparing you for the task at hand. This world, this Mallus is full of evil that you have now seen with your own eye, and far more. But now the deal is before you, your choice. We, myself and the Gods of Azeroth will give you power, power enough that when use correctly will steam the coming tide of darkness. From the north Imperfect, twisted beings, parodies of humanity, prepare to march south. Prepare to march against Azeroth. To prepare this world for my perfect vision these beings must be swept away and their twisted Gods left frustrated and without followers. Serve me, and we will create my Empire on Mallus. We will reduce these Dark Gods of Chaos to Gods of nothing.'"
The passion and ferver of Kyn'ra had then swept through all her followers regardless of race, faith, or history, and they had all chosen to fight against the northern monsters. And thus they all threw themselves into the task now knowing that they were to purge the north of Mallus of all the cults of the Gods of Chaos.
And that lead to the present moment where Eekizz Switchpickle spoke. "So these four Gods of Chaos, where are they sealed? We have nearly sixty adventurers in our ranks. With support the Adventurers should be able to kill at least one of them." The Gnome eagerly asked.
Boyar Dyalov Androniki's stomach jiggled as he laughed. "Sealed? They aren't sealed anywhere, they're Gods. They dwell in the Realms of Chaos and I don't know, sit around eating souls or something." The man seemed almost cheerful as he talked about terrifying and dismal details.
"Ok where are their champions holed up? Surely there's a tower we can hit and kill their greatest commanders." The Gnome then insisted, but the Human's laughter stopped his rapidly planning mind.
"Yeah, I don't know that garbage. Sure there's the Inevitable City, the Silvered Tower of Sorcerers, and other such places that I heard exist, but my soul would be pretty damned if I actually knew where they were. Or even how to navigate the Chaos wastes like some damnable cultist." The man answered, this earned a frustrated grunt from Eekizz and even Kyn'ra shook her head.
"What sort of use are you? I thought you wanted us to fight these Chaos Guys for you to stop their raiders." The Gnome demanded, then the air chilled as an admonishing glare came from the, until now, silent Ice Maiden behind them.
"Would you so willingly study a land that is twisted as to break both spirit and mind of those who look upon it? Try to comprehend Cornfields that light you ablaze for touching them and turn to maggots and snakes if you look too long, and desserts of bone that one can drink? Would you allow your friend if you knew that your friend would likely come from such studies a raving murderous lunatic seeking to sacrifice your very soul to please the very Gods you wish to challenge?" The Maiden challenged the Gnome, her tone wrathful and harsh.
"Well you wanted us to fight Chaos, but with no mention of a invasion in your land. Maybe you can go into specifics of what you're wanting from us." Kyn'ra then stated.
"We need aid in clearing out Noracan Tribes who have been becoming more bold and frequent in their raids as of late. Particularly the Baersonlings and the Aeslings and even the foul Kurgen have come west to raid into Kislev. Additionally we also need people who can check on some of the long abandoned mountain keeps and lairs where rumors claim Ancient Kings and Monsters are apparently being roused or summones by Dark powers." The Maiden provided, which quickly sent Eekizz scouring the maps that had been provided.
"Oh don you give two minutes to thise rumors, my Grandfather's Grandfather couldn't wipe his own ass when they started telling those rumors, and low and behold we are all still here." The Boyar complained loudly, earning a icy glare and a multitude of odd looks.
"Still we might be able to fortify and make use of those positions thanks to my knowledge of technology where before you might not have been able to. I would need to check the paths, and start devising plans for more efficient paths for our purge campaign. Though these other Mercenaries, are they working with us?" Eekizz Switchpickle asked thr Gnome easily changing his thought process to match the new goal before him.
"Nah, you're being given this mission solely because the letter of recommendation from yer one Imperial friend. These mercs will be helping my soldiers hunt Kyazak bands, and any marauders that come into Kislev while you're hunting down the villages." Boyar Dyalov answered with a a mirthful laugh followed by a oddly jovial growl. Even as Dyalov growled and Eekizz worked on his map the march north continued with a odd mixture of wonder and resignation.
"Right, what are we supposed to be expecting these tribes? Rifles? Mages? How many Guard towers?" Kyn'ra asked though clearly Eekizz had intended to ask as well.
Dyalov just seemed to sigh again. "No wonder the lady said you were free outside getting you to Kislev. You seem absolutely out of touch with the world. Listen here and listen well. Norscans aren't going to be using much of our southern technology, they'll instead rely on dark powers, brute strength, and a mastery of their incredibly harsh land to fight you. Now not all of them worship chaos, but all of them are brutish marauders more willing to fight and kill than they are to talk. They're going to have twisted monsters, Trolls, and far worse at their disposal... maybe. It all depends on the village." The Boyar finished with a tired groan as he sat back in a seat in the wagon he and Eekizz both sat in.
"You mentioned before that you were going to visit the Tzarina before continuing north. Is there any advise..." A scoff cut off Kyn'ra as she tried to ask about meeting the Tzarina.
"Yeah, stay in the camp, and away from the city. News about what I went through to get you likely is going to be troublesome enough. Having you cause a commotion in Kislev itself before we reach our destination is practically going to be a death sentence for us all." The Boyar explained his tone starting jovial but hardening and becoming colder and crueler as he spoke.
"So we're not allowed in the city?" Kyn'ra asked, a smirk at her lips.
"I'm saying stay the hell away or by Tor I will see you dead, not by my will but by the Tzarina's orders almost certainly." The man replied, his face now stern.
Kyn'ra shook her head and was about to give a scathing retort befofe Eekizz cut her off. "Thats fine, gives us a chance to drill and adjust to the region. But can we know more about the area, what kind of creatures do these Norscans live with? Do we have any tactical examples? What's the political alignment do the Trolls have?"
The Boyar shook his head sighing. "Again, if that woman hadn't recommended you all, I would have never..."
Eekizz cut off the Boyar with his own huff and impaitient reponse. "Yes, Yes, just explain it to me like...oh I don't know. I'm an alien who has never lived on this world, or like I'm the most oblivious guy you know."
Dyalov sighed, then grinned. "Fine, well my favorite idiot. Well work with the Trolls back. They don't really have a government, you know being Trolls. But plenty can be convinced to join Norscan or even Ork tribes. There is the self proclaimed Troll King Throgg, but while he's smart, very smart, he's still just a Troll and leading a race of monsters. I doubt he or his trolls will leave Troll country though."
Eekizz sighed slightly. "What is a Troll?"
Kyn'ra looked at the Gnome with shock. This Gnome had to be intentionally antagonizing everyone. I mean how could he not know Trolls, they were one of the leading races of the Horde, blue and green skinned with tusks, lanky bodies, regeneration, and a wrongful grudge against almost every race of the Alliance.
"Really? Ok my fool." The large man began. "The size difference between me and you, would be about the size difference between miss Kyn'ra here and your average Troll. They're constantly hungry, very stupid, can eat even rock and metal, and are adaptive creatures with more muscle than wits. In Norsca Ice Trolls who breathe ice and Sea Trolls capable of surviving under the frozen seas are the more commonly seen of their kind though others from the Chaos Wastes also often march south."
At that response Kyn'ra raise a eyebrow. That didn't sound like any of Trolls on Azeroth, well except maybe Dire Trolls. Still these things sounded closer to beasts than anything elsw.
"Anything else of note about them?" The Gnome pressed on.
"Eh, they Regenerate and their stomachs are home to some of the strongest Acid I've ever seen. Saw once a man who collected twelve Troll Stomachs, used em during seige of a town pouring the contents on the poor fools as they tried to climb the barricades. Stuff formed a pool in the ditch and swept the the enemy into it, nearly fourty Marauders and their equipment all melted to paste once it dried. Just little bits of corroded metal laying about where they once were."
"Ok anything else in Norsca we should know about?" The Gnome said quickly writing a note that Kyn'ra was sure said, 'must attain troll stomach for lab testing'.
"Well, the land is inhabited by a whole variety of monsters, Ice Drakes, Mammoths, Fimir, Giants, Manticores, and more. The Norse hunt them all for one reason or another, and might even have either allied or tamed and mastered any of them. Besides raiding and piracy the Norsemen are violent hunters and fanatic followers of their dark faith. So much so that they embrace or are themselves as much monster as they are man." The Kislevitte explained, a sense of dread in his voice.
Kyn'ra unfolded her arms taking a half step forward. "And what is that supposed to mean?" The Pioneer leader was not challenging the Boyar but still felt the need to demand more from the human.
"I've faced the Norse many times. All of them are brutish, powerful warriors, berserkers and fanatics. But I've heard the tales, and once seen for myself the darker power behind them. It was a simple raid, a simple defense with one of my armies. No more than a few hundred men on either side for the entire battle. But one of the Norsemen's shaman joined the battle, he was like any witch, or hedge-shaman. Except with his presence the Marauders became even more vicous and...and he held some of their number back, painting runes over their flesh. Skinny and nervous looking people, almost unworthy of being considered Marauders, but when the runes were done these people were woken from their trances...woken from their trances...and those...they tore their way out from inside these men and women, the shredded flesh drapped over these hounds like scraps of clothing. Hounds shaped like men, raced forward by the command of the Shaman tearing through their own allies just to reach our men. One of those hounds survived the battle...only to suddenly drop and a young girl tore herself out from inside of it, oblivious of the slaughter she performed." Dyalov told his story, his eyes distant remembering the trauma of the battle.
Kyn'ra was now certain of her mission, and any of the Pioneers nearby now were assured of the truth of Kyn'ra's mission. The need to stall these Dark Gods before they unleash monsters disguised as innocents on Azeroth became all the more clear to them now.
The Sentinels was a strange place, Caravans of all kinds ranging from Cathayan traders, Western Explorers, Indi merchants, Orge Mercenaries, and even what the locals called greenskins all semi-peacefully coexisted her. The name Greenskin offended Alyzz, she wasn't anything like the Orkish brutes and their 'Gobbo' counterparts, only also having Green skin and thus was constantly mistaken for some weird stupid brute rather than the entrepreneuring Woman she was.
Still the Sentinels filled Alyzz with a sense of unease. She was certain she was being watched. Not only was Zhang Genji on edge, but now the Goblin Private Investigator herself could sense the unusual and unnerving sense of something less than natural watching her every movement. It was there as she purchased trinkets and spices in the markets and when she looked at the second hand armors on display. And when she met back with Kogkradd and Tragg Alyzz the feeling intensified and set the Goblin on guard.
Silently, stealthily the Private Investigator kept her attention on the area around her asashe spoke with her Ogre companions, there were fewer people about and because of that the Goblin narrowed the probable spies watching her down to five. However it was with Zhang Genji's help that the Goblin was able to determine which of the five that had unsettled her so.
Slightly closer than the other four of the five spies one of the spies moved with a fluid grace that neither matched his clothes nor his walk. Each step should have been awkward a almost lumbering gait, yet instead he moved with a fluid stedy pace. Even the man's clothing was upon closer inspection not quite right. Alyzz was even critiquing herself for missing the odd details because the man should have stood out as odd at a glance, yet no one seemed to notice. His clothing was the same solid bright colors Alyzz expected from a Cathayan, yet he drapped odd and clashing trinkets over himself and wore multiple layers, yet left his arms uncovered, while wearing a thick hood.
"Half his garmet is from a Indi... You would call them a noble, and the main clothes are from a Cathayan peasent. Yet he is neither and the scent of Dhar is about him." The Shugengan stated the power of her Dragon-blood flowing through her setting her alight and ready.
Alyzz nodded at that. "Thankfully it seems he's done watching us and is more intent on...well whatever he's doing, to notice we're on to him." The Goblin stated, ready to follow this spy.
"Water, he's bought water and meat, and is putting both into a Jar." The Cathayan lord stated to Alyzz, the Master Goblin's lips making a thin line.
"Then lets stalk him and find out what he is actually up to." Alyzz decided, her gaze a solid steel of determination, one that Zhang Genji matched.
So the pair set to following the man, following from a distance as he wandered the Sentinels before walking away out into the Darklands with the duo following from far behind slowly closing the gap. The pair stopped and had a silent debate with themselves as the man suddenly stopped out in the howling wastes looking about himself as if looking for pursuers. The pair decided to wait and hope this man would either show them hos secret, or hopefully provide them a better opportunity to ambush him.
The man then pulled out his jar and opened it staring and whispering into it. He then dropped the jar onto the ground and began to walk away. Alyzz activated her stealth belt, the device making an annoyingly too loud of a humm as it made the Goblin disappear from the visible spectrum as she planned to take the jar. But then stopped, frozen in place and thankful she was invisible as she trembled and paled. Alyzz Kneecord hated snakes, she was absolutely petrified by the wiggly creepy things and her Dreadmaw encounter, while not a snake likely didn't do her any favors in getting over her dread of the creatures. And the half dozen vipers each slithering out of the Jar just a three yards away from her was enough to set the Goblin's heart racing.
Two of the Snakes stopped staring directly at her, whatever senses the creatures had able to see past her stealth belt's ability. The other four slithered away unbotheted by Alyzz's presence and eventually the two that sat staring at her disregarded the Goblin, instead choosing other paths to take themselves.
And then the vipers were gone, Alyzz's belt beeped and sputtered offline leaving the Goblin woman entirely visible as Zhang Genji jogged up to her. Alyzz then fought to get her heart rate under control before speaking. "What was that?" She asked with a even and cold voice, none of her current terror showing.
"I honestly don't know. Nothing like this ever showed up in Western Cathay." The Shugengan Lord stated much to Alyzz's frustration.
"Lets...Lets just keep following him. We'll catch him and demand what the hell the...what the hell these snakes were about." Alyzz ordered, shakily, almost stumblingly, taking several steps forward before locking onto the distant man and returning to the pairs pursuit. And thankfully for Alyzz putting thoughts of the jar far, far into the back of her memory.
And so the pair continued as the man still walked away from the Sentinels stopping multiple times, now seeming more to orient himself rather than as if searching for pursuers. The pressed on until he finally reach what Alyzz assumed was his destination as he sat down into a meditstive pose and waited. The man waited several minutes, long enough Alyzz considered ambushing him now, and Zhang even stated that they should. But then the man opened his eyes yawning widely before standing up and then howling into the night sky.
In response wolf howls came from the distance and after a moment the man howled again. In response, closer this time came more howls. Alyzz and Zhang stopped and ducked into some rocks as they watched. The man howled a third time and then they came, fourty wolves with Hobgoblins riding on their backs.
"Yea got it?" The apparent leader of the wolf riding Hobgoblins demanded with a scrathy high pitched voice that annoyed Alyzz to no end.
The man clearly nodded his head as two of the Goblin's circled him. He then held out his empty hand clutching the air, clearly demanding payment. At this the leader of the Hobgoblins rolled his eyes reaching behind him and pulling out a bag he shook several times causing the coins within to rattle. Then the Hobgoblin tossed the bag between himself and the man. As the man moved to get the bag one of the two Goblins circling him started silently pulling out a large cruel blade his wolf stealthily preparing to leap onto the man. But as the wolf punched the man turned in place thrusting his long thin blade both through the wolf and through the hobgoblin riding it.
As the pair died to the man's blade some of the Hobgoblins fell upon eachother stealthily, as their kind could be, slitting the throats of their comrades before a full third of the Hobgoblins were dead even as the man finally grabbed his coin pouch. All the while their leader checkled at the display before shrugging his shoulders.
"Yeh gots yer monie. Now where da stuff?" The man then silently pulled a scroll from his robe before handing it off to the cackling Hobgoblin. Then without another word said the Hobgoblins rode off leaving the man.
It was now that Alyzz and Zhang chose to execute their ambush. If they waited longer who knew what was going to happen and perhaps, though unlikely, they could track the Goblins if the scroll proved too important to ignore. However as Alyzz activated her belt and took the first twelve steps toward the man he turned and faced her.
In one hand was his sword from before, in the other a small crossbow loaded with a single shot and aimed directly at Alyzz. The Man's smile spread far too wide to be natural as long fangs showed underneath, each dripping with a green liquid. It was then Alyzz realized that they had likely walked into this man's own trap as he was expecting them.
