Another day, another chapter. Thought I might not be able to get this chapter out but managed to find the time to write it up. First review response, OutlastTheDark; glad you liked it and you'll find out more this chapter. Now, on with the show!
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Chapter 2- Enter the Duke
One week later…
"What the hell is taking this guy so long?!" Howitz Flashbang seethed, pacing around madly at the docks of Booty Bay. "He was supposed to be here in three days! Three days!"
"Duhhh...actually boss, I think he said a week." the Hobgoblin Grimnose murmured, his voice perfectly matching the oblivious look on his face.
"Yeah? Well when someone says a week, I expect them to be here in three days!" Howitz growled, sending a glare at the mindless Hobgoblin who merely gawked in response. "Ace, this guy better be worth the trouble he's put me through..."
"Don't you worry boss, this guy is a professional!" Ace replied, grinning as he gave a thumbs up. "He works for the Banshee Queen herself!"
"So does every single rotting corpse that ain't Scourge!" Howitz shouted, throwing his hands into the air incredulously.
"True...but he knows his stuff!" Ace reassured, dipping low as if cautious of who might be listening. "He's like a...Inquisitor for her or something."
"Everything you said 'bout this guy better be true..." Howitz grumbled, crossing his arms as he glared at Ace. "Or else I'm docking yer' wages!"
"That won't be necessary..." a cold voice announced, sending shivers down the two Goblins spines.
Howitz slowly turned and stared at the new individual. Before him stood one of the Forsaken, clothed in a black and purple robe that wrapped tightly around his bony frame, with a ragged black cloak flowing behind him. A gloved skeletal hand grasped onto a simple looking scythe, the blade covered in a thin layer of dried blood and rust whilst the other arm hung loosely at his side. Black metal guards covered his shoulders whilst a black hood was pulled over his head, the skull of some unfortunate animal covering the front of his face. Behind him loomed a being of shadow with long clawed arms dangling from its side and large shoulder pads floating gently on its incorporeal form, a faceless head with two small orbs watching everything around it.
"Lord Felshroud...glad you made it!" Ace quickly stuttered, bowing lowly whilst the Forsaken before them watched uninterested. "I hope your journey wasn't unpleasant..."
"Frankly it was rather a bore..." the Forsaken, evidently Lord Felshroud, muttered as he looked around the Port Town clearly uninterested.
"Yeah yeah, whatever!" Howitz grumbled, quickly marching up to Lord Felshroud. "What the hell took you so long?!"
"I'm sorry I couldn't keep up with your time schedule Goblin, but I was rather preoccupied at the time." Lord Felshroud replied, sarcasm dripping from his voice as he watched the Goblin grow more and more impatient.
"Preoccupied with what?!" Howitz shouted, crossing his arms as he awaited the Forsaken Lord's response.
"Well if you must know, I was having a rather lovely conversation with a captured Scarlet Crusader..." Lord Felshroud explained, gently running his thin fingers along the edge of the scythe. "He was telling me about Crusader troop movements in Tirisfal after I'd just gouged out his eye with a hot iron rod, and was in the process of slowly pulling out his intestines with a carving knife...Would you like me to go into further detail?"
"I...I think I'll pass..." Howitz muttered as he pulled at the collar of his shirt, gulping loudly in the process before he quickly recomposed himself. "It doesn't matter, yer' here now!"
"Indeed..." Lord Felshroud murmured, quietly chuckling to himself at the Goblin's short fuse. Such simple creatures. "Well, why did you call for me? I was under the impression it was dire business."
"Walk with me, then we'll talk..." Howitz responded, earning a low growl from the Forsaken Lord.
Howitz and his escort led Lord Felshroud through the levels of Booty Bay, many moving out of the groups path upon seeing the Goblin Trade Baron, and moving even further upon seeing the Forsaken Lord. Lord Felshroud grunted in amusement as he gazed at the many bystanders who had been until recently going about their daily business. Amongst them were many low key adventurers, both Alliance and Horde, who gazed at him with both fear and curiosity. He had a reputation amongst both factions, specifically amongst the Alliance. Many referred to him as 'the Duke of Pain', which was rather absurd of course seeing as he was a Lord, not a Duke. Yet something just seemed to nag at him whenever he thought of 'the Lord of Pain' as a title. Still, having a reputation that proceeds you can be handy...as was the case now.
Finally, Howitz had finally reached his office, a small shack like building that very clearly shouted 'Goblin'. Howitz entered the building, turning around as he awaited Lord Felshroud. As the Forsaken walked forward, Howitz held up his finger, shaking his head as he denied him passage.
"Nuh uh, just me, you and my bodyguard! You can tell that...thing to stay outside!" Howitz stated, pointing a finger at the walking mass of shadow behind Lord Felshroud. The entity clearly took offence at the word used to describe it, as it seemingly growled loudly as it loomed over the Goblin, stopping only when the Forsaken placed his scythe between the two.
"That 'thing' as you so delicately put it, is a Void Lord! But I will comply nonetheless." Lord Felshroud seethed, lifting his scythe as he turned to face the Void Lord. "Khamû, wait outside for my return."
"As you command, Master." the Void Lord, evidently called Khamû, replied, bowing as it slowly backed away.
"Ace, keep an eye on that thing." Howitz ordered, pointing at first to Ace and then Khamû. "If it so much as touches anything, break its bones!"
"I...I don't think it has any bones..." Ace murmured as he looked at the Void Lord, who seemed unimpressed with the muscular Goblin in front of him.
"Well use yer' imagination!" Howitz barked, quickly shutting the door as soon as the Forsaken entered the office, leaving the Goblin and Void Lord alone.
"So...err...havin' a Boss can be a REAL pain in the ass...am I right?" Ace nervously laughed as he rubbed the back of his head. Khamû simply glared in response, causing the Goblin to gulp loudly as he shuffled away slowly.
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The Goblin's office was as filthy as he had expected. Only a few candles lit the room, causing the room to light up with an almost eerie glow. Stacks of paper were piled onto a desk, with many more scattered across the room. Small piles of mouldy food were also scattered around, attracting a large number of flies and maggots. Were it not to his sense of smell both having become accustomed to the Undercity whilst also deteriorating over the years, he would've gagged at the stench. The Goblin simply strode across the room, jumping into the chair before shuffling it forward.
Lord Felshroud simply leaned his scythe against the wall before taking a seat adjacent to the Goblin, who simply crossed his arms behind his head as the Forsaken shuffled forward.
"So...Lord Felshroud...Do you have maybe another name I can use?" Howitz asked, raising an eyebrow as he crossed his legs and laid them against the table.
"If you must know, my friends call me Malic...and we are most certainly not friends..." Lord Felshroud muttered, knowing he would almost instantly regret that decision.
"Malic 'ey?" Howitz grinned, earning a growl from the Forsaken Lord. "Mind if I call you Mal?"
"Yes!" Malic seethed, his clawed gauntlets digging into his robes.
"Mal it is then!" Howitz grinned, clearly enjoying the torment he was inflicting onto the Forsaken, who only growled again. "So Mal, you're probably wondering why I asked you to come down to Booty Bay, no?"
"Of course I am." Malic replied, the anger clear in his voice. "I was in the middle of important business!"
"Yeah yeah, the Crusader thing. I heard you the first time round." Howitz interrupted, waving his hand dismissively in front of him.
Malic could only growl in response as he sent a glare at the Goblin, hidden by his mask. Oh how he wanted to just slit his throat and be done with it. "Well? Spit it out then!"
"You see, 'bout a week ago we had a...situation involving one of our new boys." Howitz explained, leaning forward as he interlocked his gnarled fingers together. "One minute he was there, the next just a pile of dust..." Howitz continued, shaking his head solemnly. "Sad really...had to close down my store until I get this crap sorted..."
"And this concerns me how?" Malic asked as he gazed at the tips of his gloves, clattering the metal guards together, clearly disinterested with the whole business.
"Cause the thing that turned him into dust was a god damn Warlock book!" Howitz replied, leaning backwards onto his chair as he awaited Malic's response.
Malic froze immediately, turning his gaze towards the Goblin. 'This just got interesting…' Malic thought, leaning forward slightly as he looked the Goblin up and down. "A book you say? Where is it?"
"Still in the warehouse, I ain't touching that thing after what happened to..." Howitz paused as he tried to remember the kids name, scratching his head lightly before giving another dismissive wave. "...whatever that guy was called."
"I see..." Malic replied, resting his hand where his chin used to be. "Anything else of importance I should be aware of?" The last thing he wanted to do was to enter a situation unprepared. Especially after what happened the last time such a situation occurred...he liked that jaw a lot…
"Not that I can think of..." Howitz replied after a short silence, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. 'Maybe I should warn him about the book beckoning people to open it…' Howitz thought, watching as Malic seemingly weighed his options before thinking otherwise.
"Very well Goblin, we have a deal." Malic finally stated, placing both hands on the desk in front of him. "I'll investigate your little 'problem', for a fee of course."
"Absolutely!" Howitz shouted, eagerly clapping his hands together as he rubbed them greedily together. "How's 200 gold sound?"
"I've earned less for bigger jobs..." Malic mumbled, holding out his hand to confirm the deal. "Shall we shake?"
"Why of course!" Howitz beamed, quickly clasping Malic's hand, squeezing the appendage tightly as he pulled the Warlock closer. "Oh and if you break anything while yer' in there, Grimnose here will break you!"
Malic turned to face the Hobgoblin who smiled menacingly as he pounded his fists together. Malic merely chuckled as he squeezed Howitz hand even tighter, causing the Goblin to wince slightly. "I understand...and if you threaten me again, broken merchandise will be the least of your worries..."
Howitz narrowed his eyes as he glared at the Forsaken, who could only assume glared back at him. The two then firmly shook hands before relinquishing their grip, Howitz hopping off the chair as Malic calmly strolled over to his scythe, scooping it up quickly.
"Now then, where is this warehouse?"
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"So...there any lady Demon's yer' Master got?" Ace asked, laughing nervously as Khamû quickly turned and sent yet another glare at the Goblin. He'd always seen some Warlock's with Succubus' or Shivarra in their employ. It was an honest and innocent question!
"What Demon's my Master employs is none of your concern, Goblin!" Khamû swiftly replied, the venom in his voice loud and clear.
"Okay then..." Ace replied, a nervous grin appearing on his face. "So what exactly do you do for him? Do you like...soak the damage for him or something?"
"Do I look like some common Voidwalker to you?!" Khamû seethed, leaning closer to the Goblin who had now backed up against the wall. "I serve the Master in more then just 'soaking the damage'...I have inflicted pain and torment on countless beings who are far greater than you!"
As the Demon spoke in its empty voice, a small orb of shadow had formed on the tip of its claw, moving closer to the Goblin's nose. "Would you like a demonstration of just what I can do?"
Before Ace could even respond, the door suddenly flung open, causing Khamû to immediately back away in less then a second, acting as if the conversation between them had never happened. Howitz exited the building seconds later, a greedy look on his face, followed closely by Grimnose and Malic Felshroud.
"So, you and yer'...void whatever can go and find out what happened in there!" Howitz replied, gesturing to Khamû who only growled in response to the words used to describe him. "Ace, show them the way will ya'?"
"Yo-you sure ya' don't need me boss?" Ace asked, gulping loudly as he turned to face Khamû, who's glare intensified upon locking eyes with the Goblin.
"I won't need a guide Howitz..." Malic interrupted, causing Ace to sigh in relief. "I can find my way easily enough."
"Okay I guess...just remember what I told ya' whilst yer' in there!" Howitz replied, cocking his head towards Grimnose as he spoke.
"And remember what I told you..." Malic responded, swiftly turning as he walked down to the warehouse as instructed, followed closely by Khamû.
"I trust you met a...reasonable deal Master?" Khamû asked, safely out of earshot of all around them.
"It's as good as it'll get, never liked Goblin's..." Malic replied, shifting a stray strand of seaweed aside as he continued to walk. "I trust you weren't too bored?"
"Goblin's are distasteful creatures..." Khamû murmured, growling softly. "The sooner this is done with the better!"
"On that we are agreed old friend..." Malic whispered, slipping into the throng of people that made up the Pirate Cove of Booty Bay…
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Duskwood…
The three black hooded figures rode through the thick forest of Duskwood with little effort. Their black armoured steeds panted loudly as their riders pushed them to the brink of their limits, galloping faster than they had done in years. The lead rider suddenly pulled sharply on his reins, causing the horse to skid to a stop and neigh in annoyance. He quickly held up his hand, signalling the other two riders to stop alongside him.
"What is it?" one of the riders asked, a female Forsaken, her face clearly in the late stages of rot, her skull nearly visible.
Without a word the lead rider dismounted, strolling forward before stopping in the middle of the road, kneeling down as he examined the ground before him.
"We are wasting time!" the third rider exclaimed, a male Orc, his voice rough and croaky. "We need to get moving or we'll lose him!"
"We don't even know where he is headed!" the Forsaken shouted, turning to face the Orc with narrow eyes. "For all we know he could be back in Tirisfal by now!"
"Actually, we do know where he is headed..." the lead rider finally muttered, a Human with almost wolfish features, yet he did not carry the Worgen curse as expected.
"What are you talking about?" the Orc asked, raising his eyebrows warily. When he received no response, the Orc growled softly, dismounting his steed as he strode forward. "Answer me!"
In response, the Human pointed at the ground, a set of fresh hoof prints clearly visible.
"They could belong to anyone..." the Forsaken muttered, having dismounted her steed as well.
"They are his...I can tell..." the Human finally said, turning to meet the Forsaken's gaze.
"How?" the Orc asked, genuinely curious. To him and their partner they looked like normal hoof prints.
"Let's just call it a hunch..." the Human chuckled, though it was clearly a laugh of depravity rather then humour.
"Can you tell where he's headed?" the Forsaken asked, deciding it was best not to question their leader's hunch.
"If I am correct..." the Human started, pausing as he leaned closer, examining the hoof prints more carefully. "He's headed for Stranglethorn!"
"Stranglethorn? That's less then a mile away from us." the Orc murmured, rubbing the back of his hooded head.
"Then let us make haste!" the Human stated, quickly leaping onto his steed. "The sooner we find him the better..."
The other two riders nodded in response, quickly jumping on their steeds as they followed their leader, their destination clear…
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Hope you liked this chapter, but who are these mysterious figures? If you read the description, you probably know the answer. Tune in next week for more action! Liked it? Leave a review and constructive criticism is always welcome. Any questions? Either PM me or leave in the review and I'll answer if I can whenever I can for the PM's and next chapter for the reviews.
Raging Archon out.