((Author's Note: This story was inspired by World of Warcraft. Izusa is my character from the Thorium Brotherhood server. This story, although using characters I've created personalities for, is copyright Blizzard Entertainment 2005, please don't sue, etc.

This story is rated M for some language, some adult themes and violence.))

Izusa Witch Doctor Extraordinaire

A World of Warcraft fanfic

By Heidi Cautrell

~Izusa's Up To Her Old Tricks Again~

A shadow slid over Izusa. She was sitting at a table in the Salty Sailor, minding her own business, for the most part, and enjoying an ale. A quick glance upward told her the owner of the shadow was a rather disgruntled looking sin'dorei man who just happened to have a rash on his face the color of a ripe pumpkin.

"You told me," said the elven man, his teeth gritted from either the rash or anger, "that your salve would cure that blemish. It not only didn't cure it, but it made me into a Hallow's Eve freak!"

A surprise gasp was Izusa's response, followed by a wide smile. "Well 'ello dere Mistah! I didn't recognize ya! Now what ya be sayin' mon, dat Izusa's salve doan werk? Well den, we jest get you a bettah one den-"

Cut off, Izusa blinked down at the gun the sin'dorei had pulled out and pressed to her collar bone. She glanced up at him, her brown eyes narrowing. "No need foah de gun, mon. Dis is jest business. Izusa fix ya up and foah free. How good bein' dat, eh mon?"

The elven man held out his hand, "Just give me the five gold you swindled out of me and I'll be on my way."

Hesitation on her part, had the man with the gun pushing it against her chest. Not wanting to have to regrow part of her shoulder or spine, Izusa finally relented. From a pouch on her waist she pulled out five gold coins. The coins were placed slowly, carefully on the table. Her dissatisfied customer, snatched up his coins, put up his gun and whirled away in a cloud of hair.

A sour look at his back was all Izusa spared before going back to her ale. The goblin across from her, who was the biggest goblin she'd seen to date, grinned at her, teeth glinting in the dim tavern light. "You'll never learn, will you, Izusa."

Hands folded primly before her, Izusa said, "Why Baron, I'm sure I don't know what ya mean."

A soft laugh was the goblin's answer before he tossed a bag of gold in front of her. "For the Shatteredhand orc brothers." Another, smaller pouch came next. Jez'rah blinked at it, then shifted her gaze up to the Baron. "What's that for, eh mon?"

"That, my dear, is for you to get out of my city. I have followed your exploits with some amusement and I would hate to see such an ambitious troll woman like yourself, get killed over something minor. Take that gold, do some work for me in Outland and then return when rumors of you have died down," said Baron Revilgaz.

"Outland, ya say..." said Izusa thoughtfully. She glanced out the door of the Salty Sailor and wondered just how different Outland would be. A glance back at the Baron then told her a change of scenery would be in her best interest, especially if she wanted to continue to live.

"All right den, Baron. Ya be havin' Izusa's eyes and ears and spells out dere in Outland." The charlatan witch doctor grinned, playing it off as if it really were her decision.

"Excellent! There's a settlement of orcs in a place called Garadar. They're brown skinned, untainted by demon blood and may be willing to buy a few things if you go to trade with them..." The Baron continued on his his plans. They were rather mundane for the most part, but some of them piqued Izusa's interest enough that she didn't balk at being forced to do his dirty work.

After a few hours, Izusa found herself on a Wyvern to Stonard in the Swamp of Sorrows. She stared down at the muddy waters, wondering just what the hell she'd gotten herself into this time.

"At least de pay is bettah," chuckled the Shaman to herself.

~Izusa Versus Griftah~

The Lower City of Shattrath reminded Izusa of Booty Bay and, as such, she felt right at home. She had to put her eyes back in her sockets a few times over various sights including alliance and horde members mingling and the sight of the consortium energy beings. They looked like glowing mummies to the shaman, though she soon found out they certainly weren't brainless.

On her third day in the Lower City, Izusa came across someone who was possibly better at swindling and cajoling than she was. His name was Griftah and he was a troll of indeterminate tribe. He could have been anything, his coloring was just that kind of mish-mash that would allow for it.

When she first stumbled across him, Griftah was selling a piece of soap stuck to a string to some witless human. Crossing her arms as she watched, Izusa did her best to hide her contempt. She wanted to observe him before she moved in for the kill. There were few who could out swindle Izusa, but she knew competition when she saw it. It would almost be rude if she didn't at least try to oust him.

Once the human wandered away with his soap dangling from one hand and a bemused expression on his face, Izusa sauntered by.

"Ya look lovesick. Special Someone be gettin' ya down, eh? No worries, no worries. Ya get this medallion from me, ya wear it when ya see 'em, and they be all over ya, sweetheart!" Griftah grinned at her, beckoning her over with one hand as he held up the medallion in question. One glance at the thing told Izusa it was just a piece of junk. In fact, after taking a second look, Izusa realized that the writing was in Zandalari and the words were gibberish.

A sweet smile touched Izusa's blue lips. "Ya be so kind to be worried over complete strangers. What makes ya think I be love sick, eh mon?"

Grin still in place, Griftah said, "Not love sick? Maybe it's fear then? Fear of the tingbaling! Fearsome creatures they are." He shoved the first medallion out of sight and pulled out a leather cord with a chunk of polished stone attached. "This amulet will protect ya, guaranteed!"

She blinked at the stone and then at the troll man holding it. Was he for real? She narrowed his eyes. There was something off about him. He wasn't trying hard enough. Or maybe that was his game. Izusa wasn't sure if she was giving him too much credit or not enough. Chewing on her bottom lip thoughtfully, she regarded Griftah. He wore nice clothing, though it was hardly finery to rival the blood elves. He was neither old nor young that she could tell, so he was likely around her age of thirty.

Grunting softly, Izusa said, "Dunno what a tingbaling is, but I be thinkin' my lightning will be more affective than a rock." A sour note had entered her voice. She didn't like people she couldn't read and this Griftah was one of the few she'd encountered that confused her.

At that moment a beautiful blood elf woman sauntered by. Griftah's eyes lit up and he shouted after her, "Hey blood elf! Ya look lovesick. Special-"

"Drop dead," said the elven woman over shoulder, then sauntered off, flipping her blond hair as she went.

Griftah cackled wildly. Izusa blinked, then let a slow grin touch her lips. "I see ya have admirers around here."

A gallic shrug was Griftah's response. He put away the amulet, then pulled out the same item he'd sold to the human earlier. He offered the soap to Izusa, "Soap on a rope? Washes away all ya troubles." He grinned at her.

Snorting, Izusa said, "Ya need that more than me, mon." Turning with a swing of her shapely hips, Izusa sauntered off.

Calling after her, Griftah said, "Half price just for ya, sweetheart" Izusa rolled her eyes, trying to keep the grin off her lips.

Izusa hadn't gotten what she wanted from the encounter. But neither had Griftah. So, it was a draw--for now.