Well legioner (Guest) I hope you're happy because I didn't take too long on another chapter anyway I hope you enjoy it
"Darnassus?" Talos replied to the Night Elf Druid's question. He knew it must be the name of a some place or other but he didn't know what the aged night elf meant.
"Yes I'm sure after your actions here High Priestess Whisperwind would be welcoming since your actions at Astranaar did save my fellow night elves lives" Cendir answered.
"Whisperwind?" Xarl said over the vox "That is the most bizarre name I have heard" he stated. "Who in their right mind would want to call themselves that?"
"Our gene Sire's name was Night Haunter" Mercution reminded him.
"In that line of thinking maybe she is some kind of assassin then" Ruven stated. "You know the last thing you hear is the whisper on the wind." he explained.
"That surprisingly makes sense" Xarl stated grudgingly.
"It would but you did hear that the Xeno referred to her as a Preistess." Mercution stated.
"She could be a peistess dedicated to death" Ruven suggested.
"Don't count on it brother" Ruven replied. "We may as well prepare ourselves to be disappointed."
"They're Xeno what are we to expect except a trap?" Xarl asked rhetorically.
"You would be disappointed if it wasn't" Ruven stated. earning a laugh from Ruven while Xarl snarled something in Nostraman at him.
While his brothers were enjoying themselves with their little debate Talos was left to be the one who answered."Who?" he asked.
"Tyrande Whisperwind is the Chosen High Priestess of Our Goddess Elune" Cendir answered.
"Sounds important" Xarl commented over the vox.
"It would be a bit too rude even for us to decline" Mercution stated.
"Why are we deciding let Malcharion take the call he is captain for a reason" Ruven stated.
Talos Listened to his brothers remarks before he answered "I will contact the War-Sage" was all he said.
Getting on the link to Malcharion he waited for the his captain to respond Talos was greeted with the War-Sage's voice "Soul Hunter" he hailed Talos as an equal.
"War-Sage" Talos greeted in return using the name the Night Haunter had given Malcharion. "We have had an unexpected development" Talos stated.
"What kind of development?" Malcharion asked concern and intrigue in his voice.
"We have been invited to go to the capital of the Kaldorei and meet their leader" Talos answered.
"That is unexpected" Malcharion admitted. "Very well I will send Sar Zell in your Gunship with the rest of First Claw" Malcharion stated.
"Understood" Talos said as Malcharion cut the link. First Claw meant that Vandred and the others were coming. Though he did wonder briefly what Gunship was Malcharion talking about. He had not seen Blackened in the cargo bay. Titling his head so that his Visor could stare Cendir in the Eyes he answered "We will go but first we must wait for some of our brothers to arrive."
Cendir nodded in thanks "Great I will go ahead then and tell them of your arrival" the druid stated.
"Do as you wish" Talos responded before turning to his brothers "You heard what the War-Sage said" he asked. All of them answered with a yes "Good now we will wit for Sar Zell and the rest of First Claw to arrive." he stated.
"Excuse me but what do you mean by fist Claw?" One of the Sentinels asked in a somewhat friendly manner as she was trying to be sociable.
"You go from trying to riddle us with arrows to trying to make small talk in the span of five minutes this is something unheard of" Ruven stated whether it was a joke or not was unclear.
"Ruven my beloved brother Shut you mouth" Xarl rebuked him. Before turning to the Sentinel "It is a rough translation from our home worlds dialect that means squad though the translation is rough given Nostraman is a very colourful and flowery diallect." Xarl explained.
"You come from another world?" the same Sentinel asked shocked.
"Why yes" Ruven answered the smile could be heard in his voice. "We are after all son's of the Sunless World" he stated. Noticing the gasps he looked somewhat amused at them behind his helmet before asking. "What you thought we were from your world?" Ruvens enjoyment caused his brothers some vexation.
"Enough Ruven" Talos chided him. "Yes we are from another world and we have been to many, any other questions?" he asked.
"What do you mean you have been to many?" one lone male warrior asked. "Many what?"
"Worlds" Talos answered with a sigh.
"What are you?" another asked.
"Astartes of the Eight Legion" Talos answered."The Night Lords."
"How can a world be sunless?" another asked.
"Well the star we orbited was very weak and dark clouds blotted out any form of light so its brightest was about as light as it is now" Ruven answered.
"But it is at an ungodly hour in the new day and the sun has not even begun to rise" a younger looking one who looked as if she was in early adolescence blurted out.
"The sun does not rise your planted spins on an axis for it is round" Mercution corrected her. "What you call night time is-" But he was cut off by Xarl
"Yes this is about how bright as it gets except there are no stars" he answered the youths question.
"What was it like?" the same youth asked.
All of them thought back to their earliest memories of their early childhood before they became Astartes. Finally they came with an answer and as one stated. "I wouldn't have recommended living there."
"Why do you speak in past tense?" one of the more sharp Night Elves asked.
Talos sighed. "Because" he answered. "It no longer exist for it was destroyed."
"You said you were a member of the Eight Legion how many more were there?" Another asked.
"There were twenty Legions that were made" Mercution answered.
The discussion was cut short by a low rumbling that grew closer and became an all out roar. The Night Lords were not worried by it they had heard the roar of engines on plenty of occasions. Looking up Talos saw the Dirge the gunship they had used to escape the Primogenitors on Tsagualsa. "That would be our ride" he said his vox casters amplifying his voice. "Can any of you guide us?" he asked.
"I will" one of the Female sentinels declared.
"Fine them come" Talos instructed as the Gunship hovered just barely over a clearing as they made their way to it.
Inside Vandred, Cyrion, Uzas Variel and more surprisingly was Deltran who awaited them Vandred finally after a brief argument complied with the Tech adept demands as he had argued that he could catalogue more data from outside the Covenant. "Good to see you brother" Vandred greeted clasping Talos's wrist before surveying the Night Elf "what is your name?" he asked over the rumbling of the engine.
"Amawiel" the Night Elf answered. "Amaweil Silverthorn."
"Good get to the front Sar Zell will need directions" Vandred instructed. "Also you may want to strap into the co-pilots seat" he added.
As soon as the Night Lords had strapped themselves in the Dirge's engines roared. Lift off the ground the Gunship took off at to to the night elves at an unimaginable speed. Keina who was looking at them Depart stared in amazement. "What are they really capable of?" she asked herself.
Amawiel Silverthorn was more than grateful to get off the Gunship when it touched down in Darnassus. While she had been fortunately strapped in the speed at which it had been going at wand the constant rattling made her feel sick. She almost stumbled and fell over but one of the giant's the Astartes or Night Lords as they called grabbed her with a huge arm and forced her to remain upright. "Everyone's first time is like that" he said to her. Once again she found how deep their voices were and how akin to a Nightsabers Growl they sounded. It was as if she was talking to predator. This one had not been with the other four who had saved Astranaar. While he wore similar livery his armour was less intricately adorned though he made more than up for it with the amount of chains that hung around his armour and the spiked the protruded from it. He caught sight of her staring and spoke. "for hanging trophies of the more" he paused as if searching for the right words to speak "Grizzly kind" he finished.
"Uzas enough" said another walking up from behind them. His armour too was different as his gauntlet looked heavily modified and had some short of drill in it. The pack on his back also was bigger and seemed to sport some sort of light. He had some form of canisters hanging from chains at his waste though they looked empty. "She is suffering from a form a motion sickness, it is what happens when the body experiences a level of vibration that it cannot handle or it is moving to fast." he stated. Before turning his red eyed helm to glare into her. "I suggest rest and recuperation mainly lying down on a soft surface preferable but it will work just as well with a hard one. Though it is also appropriate for her to vaccate herself of the contents of her stomach."
"That is very nice Flayer" Cyrion stated. "But do you really need to tell her the obvious?"
"Do not presume that someone knows every way to deal with an ailment" Variel replied.
"The same could be said of presuming they don't" Cyrion replied.
"Enough" Vandred ordered. "Amawiel Silverthorn are you still able to guide us?" he asked.
"Yes" Amawiel stammered still a bit dizzy and a bit intimidated by the Astartes presence.
"Good" Vandred replied Lead the way.
To the Night Lords surprise it seemed that somehow Cendir had gotten there before them. As the Sentry's let them in and thanked them for Talo's, Xarl's, Mercution's, and Ruven's deeds.
"That makes it over four times now nothing the span of a year" Talos stated. "Is something going on?" he asked jokingly.
The other Night Lords laughed through the Vox at the joke. "So honoured Tech Adept?" Cyrion asked through the vox "what do you think."
"This is I believe the term is confusing No tree should be this large and if it is this large no tree should be able to support itself while being hollow much less support an entire ecosystem." Deltran answered over the vox. They followed the Night Elf named Amawiel to the place called the temple of the moon. "Deltran found it absurd tat they worshipped a natural satellite.
"did you see the statues they had?" Sar Zell asked.
"Yes raising their arms up as if in supplication, what in the world are they thinking following teachings that teach them to be made weak" Ruven replied.
"Who know it may be a wolf in sheep's clothing for all we know" Uzas warned. Their presence had attracted a lot of attention form the native lifeforms.
"Did I ever mention that I also hate to be stared at?" Variel asked over the vox.
"No you only mentioned that you did not like to be touched you also cut one of our brothers arms off for that" Cyrion answered.
Variel grunted but didn't argue. "Enough we have more pressing concerns to deal with" Vandred stated his tone broking no argument.
"Uzas sniggered "What was the exalteds death feel like?" he asked.
Vandred Chuckled at that. "The last thing that damned daemon did was scream as the Covenant was destroyed. I remember telling it as I let got that I hope 'this hurts'."
"Vandred you are one magnificent bastard" Ruven stated.
"You could say that every soul on Nostramo was" Vandred replied.
Mercution didn't comment while he was not a bastard born from rape like the rest of them his father was much worse than some petty criminal. "Look at they leave their females to do all the work" he stated. Since they had entered First Claw had only seen female guards. All the males seemed to be elsewhere.
"Perhaps they take it in shifts" Cyrion suggested.
"Most of their warriors at that settlement were female as well, though one could argue that most of the males of their species had been killed in the attack." Ruven added.
"Why are we even discussing this?" Xarl asked as they walked.
"Something to do and our guide seems a little rattled" Vandred answered. "I do wonder however if our shadow is affiliated with them though?"
Their Auspex had picked up something hidden in the tree line were shadows would have normally been. Now while the shadows were still there to Night Lords darkness didn't exist. "Given the fact that what ever that creature is it is doing its best to avoid being noticed by both I would say that it is unaffiliated with them or some sort of criminal" Talos stated.
"Good observation Talos" Sar Zell stated. "Mercution or myself can easily remove it my lascannon or his heavy bolter will do the trick" he suggested
"Perhaps we should investigate that after we meet this Whisperwind" Vandred stated. "Besides we might want to capture our shadow alive first it is always more fun to make them notice that you knew all along" he suggested.
"That is a good idea Vandred" Xarl agreed. "I say we pretend to be stock still for a while and when it gets to close grab it"
"Yeah we will just have to make sure not to crush to much of it when we do it." Cyrion Joked. "You here that Uzas?"
"Cyrion my beloved brother" Uzas said his words dripping with sarcasm. "Watch your mouth!"
"Enough" Vandred ordered. "I think we are at this Temple of the Moon."
"Is it me or did anyone else feel their skin crawl for a moment?" Ruven asked.
Xarl grunted "Psyker" was all he stated.
"Did you really sense something?" Talos asked.
"Yes" Ruven answered. "I felt something trying to brush my thoughts, but I quickly repelled it and I think dissuaded it from doing the same to any of you."
"That is disturbing" Vandred stated. "Be on your guard brothers"
Mercution sighed "I wish Adhmere were here" he stated "We could have used his blade if things got dirty"
"He is needed onbaord the Covenant" Vandred replied "besides we will make do if it comes to that."
Tyrande Whisperwind internally sighed the alliance representatives were all arguing again. Out of all of them the only one who didn't take part in it was the Draenei. What was more was that she had jut heard from one of the Druids of Talon that he had invited a group of strange beings that had an unusual appearance to meet her, he also informed her that four of them defeated an entire raid of the Burning Legion. Tyrande's thoughts were disrupted when one of the sentinel's on duty walked up to her and whispered in her ear. Looking at the sentinel Tyrande ordered. "Please escort them in it would be rude to keep them waiting."
Tyrande would not lie to herself she was curious as to what these beings they were were. She heard the thud of metal on concrete and looked to where she was nine figures approaching. The Druid Cendir had said that their appearance was unusual but that didn't begin to describe them. They seemed to be in some sort of armour that had the colour of midnight and was laced with lightning streaking all across their armour. Their helmets had Red lenses in were their eyes should be and they seemed to send a chill down the spine of any who looked into them. Not only that but the way they were armoured spoke of death at least two of them had incorporated skull designs onto their helms while the rest had spikes or horns coming from them.
More interesting was the arsenal they carried Tyrande could make out the that all of them had small swords strapped to their waste but two of them held massive axes one which carried some sort of rifle, two had strange gauntlets on their right hand. Every thing about these beings was intimidating. She could understand that at least they looked the part. Though Cendir had only mentioned Four so why were they eight of them? Looking further past them she saw a figure matching them in hight but was a lot less bulky this figure seemed to be wearing a red hood that sought to mask his every feature but Tyrande caught sight of a metallic skeletal like face with red eyes and shivered.
"Ishnu-alah" she greeted them. "I welcome you to Darnassus, On behalf of the people of Astranaar and as the leader of the Kaldorei I thanks you."
The one at the front who had an aura of command about him replied. She didn't understand the syllables were soft and gentle despite his deep voice They also sent a shiver down Tyrande's spine for they felt somewhat unnerving. "It was my brother's pleasure" the giant then stated.
Tyrande then realised that he must have greeted her in his native tongue. "Lady Whisperwind who are these beings?" the Draenei ambassodor asked.
"Yes" the Human ambassador from Stormwind agreed "Who are these, creatures that would interrupt us I demand and explanation" he said in a demanding tone.
"Who are you to ask anything of us little man?" one of the giants asked, the one with just the peculiar axe.
"How dare you speak to me like that" the Stormwind Ambassador snarled indignantly. "I am the representative of Stormwind."
"And what is this Stromwind you speak of?" the giant challenged. There was a low growl to his voice "Must be something rather unimportant since all you are is a snivelling wretch"
"Why you-" the ambasador began but one of the other giants cut him off.
"Uzas don't tease him for your own amusement, he can't understand that you're joking" one of the other giants, one of the ones with the strange gauntlet and who held an extremely large and intricate sword in is hand stated.
"Yes brother" The one named Uzas replied a low rumbling sound like thunder being heard from him.
Tyrande also noticed that a strange clicking noise was coming from the giant's helms where the mouth would be. She began to wonder if they were somehow communicating in this strange way to one another.
The Heigh Priestess of Darnasuss had no idea how right she was, the Astartes of the Eight Legion were sharing words over the vox. "I have to admit Uzas that was good, a human trying to act all high and mighty to us that is hilarious" Xarl stated.
"I like the part where he reacted at being called a snivelling wretch" Mercution said.
"On a more serious topic I did not know they had Squats and Ratlings here" Sar Zell stated viewing the Gnome and Dwarf.
"Neither did I I thought the Tyranids had wiped out their home worlds." Ruven agreed.
"On another note you were right Mercution we are disappointed in this Whisperwind character." Xarl sated.
"That she is not an assassin or that this is not a trap?" Talos asked.
Xarl grunted over the vox "Both" he admitted. Causing quite a few laughs from his fellow's.
The one named Tyrande walked up to them "I apologise for the Stormwind ambassador's behaviour we have all been stressed of late" she apologised.
It was Vandred who responded. "No need, Uzas just thought to put him in his place, though he was somewhat out of line I hope what he did was forgivable." The others chuckled and sniggered over the vox at this.
Tyrande almost took a step back. Had this being that towered over a Tauren and was far more intimidating just apologised to her. "Ah well it is understandable" she replied unsure of what to say.
"Understandable she says" Ruven said over the vox chuckling at his joke.
"Shut up Ruven" was the reply he got from Vandred.
"Not to be rude" the Draenei ambassador stated. "But what manner of beings are you?" she asked.
First Claw turned all of their attention to the blue creature. "It has has hooves" Sar Zell stated.
"And horns" Talos agreed.
"If we went by looks it would definitely a child of chaos" Ruven stated. "Or at least Tzeentch."
"Well is it?" Talos asked
"No its soul is too pure kind, I guess that is what gives it the right to live."
The reply he was given was "Shut up Ruven."
"What, I was clarifying something for you" Ruven stated.
"Yeah, we know and we didn't like it" Sar Zell replied. "Nor did we ask."
Ruven grunted and muttered to himself. "Whore son"
"You're one too, remember" Sar Zell reminded him.
"I keep on hearing this clicking noise coming from you" Tyrande stated. "Do you mind explaining to me what that is?"
Vandred was about to answer her and tell her that it was nothing when Uzas spoke. "We are sharing private conversation between ourselves."
The Dwarf ambassador was the one who asked the next question. "And why do you not share it with us?" he was just generally interested.
Talos decided to speak up "Because we are insulting the circumstances of each others birth." he answered. "Are you sure you would like to be part of such a conversation."
The Dwarf ambassador actually smiled "Aye I think that finally someone here is speaking my language."
"I think the Squat has gone mad" Ruven commented.
"Shut up Ruven" His brothers responded in unison.
"What did they say this time eh lad?" the Dwarf asked.
"They told me to shut up?" Ruven answered truthfully.
"Careful for every truth that one has spoken nine lies" Uzas stated in a solemn tone. Though in the vox his brothers were laughing at his joke.
"I have not" Ruven defended himself.
"The self denial in itself is a lie" Vandred stated.
The delegates of the alliance were confused as well as surprised and unsure of what to do. Tyrande was the one who recovered first "Ruven is it" She asked the only one who held some sort of staff. Though Tyrande suspected that it was not for walking purposes. "Is there a reason why your brothers are, the term is I believe teasing you."
"I wouldn't call it teasing, its downright hatred if you ask me" Ruven thought. "Well I don' think I should answer that" he replied carefully weighing his words.
Vandred laughed "Please brother let us not unsettle others with yet another family argument." Turning to the Draenei Vandred surveyed it "I believe you wanted to know what we are?" he asked offering no apology.
"Uh yes" the Draenei ambassador responded a little unnerved when she stared into the lens of his helm. "What manner of being are you?" she asked.
They all chuckled at this though they had the vox mute it out. "Would you believe us if we told you that we were human?" Talos asked.
"What" the Stormwind delegate shouted. "You're human?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes" Vandred answered. "Though we have been genetically enhanced." he admitted.
"Genetically enhanced" the Gnomeregan representative shouted excitedly. "Is the hooded one behind you enhanced like that as well?" he asked thrilled at such a prospect of stable genetic enhancments.
"The honoured Tech Adept" Vandred replied "why don't you ask him" Turning to Deltran he asked. "If you may?"
Deltran made a noise that was akin to cough though he hadn't coughed in centuries his body no longer having the weak fragile lungs that he was born with. "No I am not genetically enhanced like them, as said before I am a Tech adept so it is natural for me to replace parts of my flesh that no longer capable of being used with mechanical replacements."
"You're a walking gizmo?" the Gnome asked incredulously.
"I do not know that term" Deltran confessed. In his mind he made several variables as to what it could mean all of them suggested that it he was being refereed to as a machine, as one who strived for the perfect balance between flesh and metal this did not please him in the least.
It was then an loud and demanding voice called out. "Who are these outsiders who dare trespass in our halls."
Vandred and the rest of First Claw seemed unfazed. "I need to confirm this but are you trying to intimidate us" Cyrion asked as the turned their hels to view a slightly bulky night elf with green hair and a mane. It seemed that to them that he was trying to intimidate them and the Eight Legionaries were not impressed.
"No" the male Night Elf answered.
"The body is a wonderful thing is it not?" Vandred asked absent mindedly. "When one lies there are certain things it does, their hair may raise for a fraction of their pupils may dilute their sweat may take on a different fragrance" he listed them. "Just to let you know such signs are beacons to us and you just showed several of them. Besides you should practice more if you think you can deceive us we also have Ruven here with his expertise can spot a lie a mile away and sometimes before the person has even decided or started to fabricate it." Vandred Gestured to Ruven.
"I am not sure whether to feel honoured of insulted" Ruven said over the vox.
"Feel the later" Cyrion advised.
"Why you-" the Night Elf began but Tyrande cut him off.
"Fandral Staghelm I suggest that you do not barge into here and try to insult our guests." She said in a calm voice. "I suggest that you leave she" spoke her tone leaving no argument.
"Not until they remove their helmets" Fandral declared. "How are we supposed to trust someone who hides their face?" he asked rhetorically.
"You seem to be under the illusion that you can demand anything of us" Vandred stated. "If the Warmaster cannot make us bend knee and he has countless armies at his disposal what chance in the warp do you have?" he challenged.
Over the Vox Ruven informed them "He has been touched by some dark power or the other and it has corrupted him"
"My thanks brother" Vandred voxed back. He contemplated telling Tyrande about this and decided for it after getting the counsel of his brothers but only when they were alone with her. Regarding Staghelm with his gaze he spoke "You are fortunate that we are in a good mood today otherwise we would have killed you for the two insults you made, make a note there will not be a third" Vandred Stated before he lifted his hand to remove his helmet and First Claw mirrored his action.
How did you like it just to make note this is during the start of the Wrath of the Lich King anyway review or PM me if you have any feedback also tell me if you want them to Kill Fandral Staghelm and how. Since they are night Lords I am open to the writing about the most painful ones, Like the one Talos did in Throne of Lies, though that would be a little to merciful but anyway let me know if you want that bastard who you kill in game and had to put up with in the original and two of the expansions killed by the Night Lords
Like I said before Review or PM me if you have any input all would be welcome