Ulric scratched his thick beard as he stared out across the small dune of sand that stood between his troupe and the mighty port of Valiance Keep. In the years since the Lich King's defeat, with no heroes to legitimize the port, it had fallen more to shadier pursuits, much like Northrend as a whole. If the cruel wildlife weren't to kill you, it was said, the Valiance Keep alleyways would be there to finish the job instead.

So notorious had the settlement become that Ulric had found great use there, specifically in the buying of tools, but also in the selling of illegal pelts, much like the one Remnaar had stuffed in his largest knapsack- that of Gauvir.

"Lots," Ulric muttered quietly, turning to Shadowmoon, who shrugged in reply.

"I'm feeling generous," she noted with a smirk, "Split the bill clear down the middle. I don't need these boys robbing me in my sleep."

Remnaar chuckled, "As if we were stupid enough to attempt it."

Shadowmoon shot him knowing glance before returning her attention to Ulric, whose serious face stole the air around the entire group, "Right. You all have your assignments; I want us all in and out. No funny business. If you run into D.H.E.T.A, turn and leave. If you run into a tough customer-"

A thundering crash from behind him forced him to turn to Tandkota, the mighty tauren having pulled his gigantic totem around and into his other hand, patting it maliciously, "We know."

Ulric watched him for just a moment before nodding, turning back to the settlement while Remnaar quickly spoke up, lightly, "And if we run into an artifact…"

"Shut up," Parvaen snidely replied, "I'll have you know, my good man, that I once-"

"Get Parvaen," Ulric answered, turning with one of his rare, devilish grins, "Quickly, at that."

The blood elf groaned dramatically, pulling his hand down his face as it shook in dismay, "If you all don't start treating me right, you'll lose me."

Unexpectedly, a monstrous hand gently grasped his shoulder, Parvaen's head spinning around quickly to find Tandkota watching over him, emotionlessly, the tauren's voice quaking the ground beneath, "You're just the new guy. Just some teasing."

Parvaen scoffed, "I know, I know; just…"

He stopped himself before revealing too much information, stealing a glance at Shadowmoon's knowing grin before beginning the walk toward Valiance Keep, "Blasting caps. Got it."

Ulric walked alongside him, wrapping a massive arm around the elf's shoulders, shaking him vigorously as the two walked, Parvaen's head beginning to spin. The other three followed behind, conversing amongst themselves as the other two fell out of earshot.

"He won't last the summer," Tandkota surmised, bluntly.

"Like hell he won't!" Shadowmoon quipped, angrily, "No way am I going back to being the new guy."

Remnaar turned to her, worryingly, "You didn't like my playful and loving little teases?"

Shadowmoon scoffed, "Playful and loving? They might have been little to our boy Tandkota here, but for a measly elf like me, waking up along the trail of a well-known D.H.E.T.A. courier route is not at all "playful and loving". Especially when you know they're managing to recruit more and more sinister defenders into their ranks."

"You assured us you were well-prepared to deal with "anything" when you first showed up," Remnaar shrugged, "I was just simply obliging!"

"Yes," Shadowmoon replied, her voice thick with sarcasm, "And you'll notice that, around you, I watch my tongue so much more."

The draenei nodded with a grin, "Ah, yes, that would behoove you, I would think."

She turned to Tandkota, "You were here after Remnaar was; he didn't treat you so evilly, did he?"

The large man turned to her, but Remnaar answered for him before he could reply, "I-I was a lot more subdued; I mean, that was when I was the new guy!"

Tandkota took the opening to speak for himself, "He prepared beef for dinner one night. Offered me a rather large portion."

"It was funny!" Remaar claimed, stretching his arms outward.

Tandkota turned to him with a stare for what seemed like an eternity, though a minor chuckle managed to accompany a grin, "Yes. I suppose it was."

Beside them, Shadownmoon had continued into her thoughts, "…and the only constant has been Ulric."

Remnaar turned back toward her, "Hey, now; such comments could sound like a coup, y'know."

Shadowmoon shot the man a glare, "Not that. I know this is all his deal and all; I'm just shocked he's been doing this for so long. You said you've been with him for fifteen years?"

"Mm hmm," Remnaar confirmed, his lips pursed in thought, "And the oldest among us had been with him another ten before Ulric decided he wasn't worth keeping around."

He jittered with his fingers as he shot back to the others, "N-Not to make it sound so cruel! He was getting to old, and wasn't worth the effort of slowing up just for his sake. Our Master was quite kind in his request- he offered him enough gold and a nice memento. Though, there have been some, uh…"

He searched for the proper term, "Ehh… some rather 'malicious' breakings from this group. One of the reasons he's become so much less strict has been that he simply likes us, and would rather become more lenient than have to find another so agreeable."

Tandkota walked in step, his powerfully low voice emerging, "Ulric is a good man, though; don't you think, young one?"

Shadowmoon shrugged, "I never said he wasn't. I was just curious; we don't usually talk about him whenever he's around."

"Try it sometime," Remnaar goaded, "He's quite ready, usually, to recount stories of his youth. Though, from everything I've heard, they're the sort of stories one often tries to forget, not recall."

Shadowmoon and the other two put on straight faces as they approached Ulric and Parvaen, the latter of which having not cheered up in the slightest, the five of them now joined at the checkpoint into the Keep. In order to curb the rising crime, the Major General of the Keep, Deegan Poore, had instituted a sort of martial law, though had refused to do much about the shadier parts of the port, simply because his men were unwilling.

A short line now led out from the Keep, each visitor being checked for any weaponry or contraband, and Ulric's band of leatherworkers were at the end, conversing between small steps forward.

"Alright, business time," Ulric concluded quietly as they approached the two guards who were checking everybody, "You all have your assignments. I expect everybody to be back here no later than three hours from now. Any longer, leave the stragglers. If you're late, you're out. If you're prevented from being on time through some malicious means-"

He turned to the group with dark eyes, "Well, that's why I don't tell you all much. You have nothing to tell under torture."

Parvaen shook at the prospect of such a thing, even if Ulric had given him the easiest task, understanding that he was still relatively new. He felt a hand upon his shoulder, turning to see Shadowmoon watching him, patting him as they made their way forward.

Ahead of them, they began to hear the guards chattering, both to themselves and to the visitors crossing into the keep, "-simply explained I'd be back in a few months."

"Well it's certainly been longer than that."

"I know, I know. I'll just take a bottle of Northrend wine home to her or somethin'. That usually does her some- Whoa, whoa there, sir."

A kindly old man had been stopped, turning slowly to the guard, whose voice softened at the realization of his age, "We're checking all bags coming through here, sir; I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

The old man groaned, but acquiesced rather quickly, handing off his pouch. The guard rummaged through it quickly, finding a small bolt of fur that easily could have been purchased over a counter somewhere. The guard peered over toward his companion, who shrugged, before returning to the old man.

"Sir, I apologize, but we're going to have to confiscate this. In cooperation with D.H.E.T.A., we're attempting to slow down the killing of game here in the Tundra as well, so we can't allow the buying or selling of fur here. If you'd like, as long as you have proof of purchase-"

Ulric remained still, but Parvaen spun around to the others, more desperately than the former would have preferred, "Wh-What do we do?!"

Remnaar reached out and grabbed the blood elf's shoulder, forcing him to turn back around, "We trust our Master."

To this, Ulric remained silent, and at the forefront of the group, none could tell how his face appeared, though as the guards sent the old man off and turned to Ulric, their faces suddenly became noticeably darker.

"Is it the five of you?" the guard questioned in a far more authoritative tone.

"Yes," Ulric nodded, "Just traveling tradesmen seeking to trade here."

The guard examined the group, his eyes quickly peering toward his companion, who was scrutinizing them as well from behind. He wasn't suspicious, but obviously understood the task of accepting five bodies to one.

"I'm going to have to check your possessions, sir. No contraband or fur, correct? You've heard the new ordinances?"

Ulric nodded, reaching for the bag that had been slung around Tandkota's shoulders, the only bag they'd brought, and rested it on the guard's small table, "Absolutely. Go on and check it out if you'd like."

The guard watched him skeptically, but turned slightly toward the desk, opening the bag and beginning to check its contents. As he did, Ulric patted him gently on the back, keeping his hand against his armor as he leaned in toward him and the bag.

"Anything wrong, sir?"

The guard stood still, not quivering, but with a noticeable sweat building on his brow. Shadowmoon followed Ulric's hand and saw that his fingers had actually worked their way through the inner workings of the guard's armor, her eyes narrowed in curiosity. The guard remained unmoved, and even his partner began to watch them with confusion.

Ulric leaned closer toward the man, his lips just barely parting as he spoke, "It'd be shame if you couldn't return home to that lovely lady of yours."

The guard coldly began to shake, but Ulric's hand managed to keep him still, avoiding detection as the guard just managed to breathe, "N-No. Everything's fine, sir. You're free to enter. Have a good day…all of you."

Ulric smiled, patting the man on the back again before grasping for his bag and passing it back to Tandkota, "Thank you very much, my good man! Keep up the fine job, sir."

He waved the others to follow him, leaving the guard rather heated as he went on to the next visitor in line. Just out of earshot, Ulric returned to his serious demeanor, snapping his finger.

"Go," he muttered to the others, quietly, leaving his group to separate out, able to freely pursue their individual tasks.

Shadowmoon, however, watched Ulric as he walked off, curiously examining his hands. She couldn't make heads or tails on what he possibly could have done, but still found herself to be extremely curious as she slowly made her way on, her eyes trailing behind her every step.