Much thanks to those who've reviewed the last few chapters. The Veneficus Trilogy is concluded, making this the only fanfiction work that I am currently active in writing. hopefully the singular focus between this and my new original work will not cause too much of a burnout effect that I was avoiding with multiple projects working in tandem, although I foresee no issues for the time being. Please enjoy the new chapter! ~F
Chapter Eighty Six
Tense Discussion
Nobu'tan was not sure how he was to respond to the hasty message from Lucius. The King of Stormwind wanted to, more or less, confirm their loyalty. And because of Narcissa's predicament, clearly Lucius could not attend to the King's request in the deserts of Silithus. Draco was already heading there, and that left Nobu'tan himself to go, meet the King in person, and determine how much they wanted their assistance.
Nobu'tan hesitated at this because he didn't trust the leader of the Alliance. The man was far too intelligent, much like the Warchief of the Horde, and it was possible that they might; however slight, discover who and what he truly was.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the option of whether to go or not was denied him. There was no one else he could trust to keep their peace on the important things regarding the Dark Horde. And especially with the clear, pointed desire that King Varian wanted to know about Nobu'tan specifically, he had to go himself and run damage control.
Crushing a teleportation stone in hand, he allowed the travel magic to steal him away from Blackrock Mountain, depositing him in Lucius' and Narcissa's home in Stormwind. He arrived with a slight flutter of air in their sitting room, which was devoid of other people. He would guess from the time of day that Narcissa would be resting in bed upstairs, and Lucius was at her side. Whispering a short message, he conjured an eye of Kil'jrogg and sent it upstairs; to let Lucius knew he had arrived.
As he waited, Nobu'tan took a seat in the designated "guest" chair of the room and thought about what he was going to tell the King of the realm. Within a few minutes, Lucius appeared, and Nobu'tan acknowledged his presence.
"How's Narcissa?" he asked, to make small talk.
"Resting," Lucius replied, looking tired himself.
"You worry quite a lot over her," Nobu'tan observed.
"I am concerned that she might have a complication, like the one we narrowly avoided with Draco." Lucius admitted, and Nobu'tan understood. The man loved and depended greatly on his wife and her strength. If she succumbed, he would likely break and never be whole again.
"Would you like some wards and magic that will monitor her, so you don't have to hover at her bedside night after night?" he offered.
Lucius said nothing, but the momentary flicker in his face told Nobu'tan all he needed to know. "I will make the preparations for them while you send a message to King Varian that I have arrived and will meet with him at his earliest convenience." Nobu'tan urged, pressuring the man to think of other things than his worries over his wife.
Only when Lucius actually vacated and sat at his writing desk did Nobu'tan start. A few minor waves of the Elder wand, and he had conjured the materials that he needed. Half a dozen wax candles, their coloring as green as the Fel lay in a neat stack in his hand.
Quickly fishing inside his robes for a sheet of parchment and a quill, which he always kept several on hand, Nobu'tan started on an incantation. A Charm, or some other spell, that would monitor and comfort without actually relying on the Fel or another negative power source. The baby ought to be protected from such influences while still in the womb, and a few years afterward. Nobu'tan thought that with a mild amount of scorn toward his own early years.
The one and only criticism that he held for Gul'dan was his less than adequate care for Nobu'tan when he had been an infant. Nobu'tan had heard plenty of stories of himself being used as a font of raw magical power while still in his infancy; and while there had seemed to be no adverse effects from it, there certainly were complications and potential hazards for using a baby in such manner. Nobu'tan had never asked when the orc warlock had changed his mind about him, and likely he would never know now. Not without some form of speaking with the dead and long departed.
Lost in his trance, Nobu'tan worked, adding every small enchantment he could think of that would protect and comfort mother and child, weaving some measure of the arcane into the spell and imbuing it into the scroll. Combined they would be everything that Lucius needed, and then some.
By the time Nobu'tan finished, Lucius was already returning with the King's response, a swift messenger having delivered both the original note and the reply. "King Varian will have you meet with him at the earliest convenience." Lucius reported.
"Can't say I'm surprised," Nobu'tan huffed, stretching his arms and rising. "This scroll contains the spell you need to help Narcissa and yourself. Just arrange the candles around the bed and light them. They will burn as long as you need them." He explained, taking the missive in exchange and nodding.
"I'll meet you when you return," Lucius said, and Nobu'tan nodded again, departing swiftly and cutting through the less crowded canals to get to the Keep.
The guards eyed him suspiciously, but the royal seal allowed him to pass unhindered. He was directed into the main throne room of the Keep. Nobu'tan was somewhat dubious of their intent with such a public place for their meeting, but there was nothing he could do or say against it. He did not rule here.
His fears were confirmed; however, when there were a significant number of people in the throne room aside from the King and a few guards. Prince Anduin was not in attendance, but the large warrior-regent, as well as a host of guards and armed men, and two women. Nobu'tan could easily sense the arcane magic on the pair of them, although the older of the two worried him all the more. Her strength, while diminished significantly, reminded him strongly of Merlin.
"Tobias Banu, I presume," the King said from his seat, and Nobu'tan stepped forward.
"If that is your real name," the old woman said, her eyes flashing with subtle magic. Nobu'tan could tell that she knew instantly what he was and what magic he wielded.
"I am…" he replied regardless, staying in the very center of the room even as guards came and closed all other exits from the chamber. "Might I ask why I am here before you, surrounded by men-of-arms like some wanton criminal when I have done nothing to offend your Majesty, nor have I actually had the pleasure of meeting you before?"
"One cannot be too careful when courting those who might turn out to be his enemies," Varain replied, and Nobu'tan felt his insides grow cold. He had sorely underestimated how much the King would glean between the lines of what Lucius said and did not say.
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Jaina was shocked at the man that had come before Varian. Bold as brass and unafraid of the number of potential foes, herself and Aegwynn included, he seemed perfectly at ease.
"This man is no normal human," Aegwynn whispered to her, the old Magna's eyes flickering with faint magic, "he burns with Fel energy, greater than any of the Malfoy's. It is literally part of him, and I honestly doubt that this is even his true physical form…"
Jaina kept that small tidbit to herself for now. There did not need to be some manner of panic of the man before them turned out to resemble a demon of some kind.
"You likely know of why Lord Malfoy summoned you here," Varian said from his throne, the combined sword, Shalamayne, on his lap, "but what I want to know is the truth…"
"The truth," this man, Tobias, replied, "is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution…"
"I concur," Varian quickly replied, "but there is still a dangerous need for it at this time, and a great need for the comfort it can bring."
Jaina understood the verbal byplay that was going on between the pair of men, like watching two masters play at a game of chess.
Most of the guards, and even Regent Bolvar Fordragon seemed lost on the subtlety that was going on before them, and grew edgy with their sheathed weapons.
"I fear, your Majesty," Tobias stated, "that the truth in its entirety would overwhelm even one as wise as yourself, for it is a terrible tale, full of pain both personal and monumental in scale. I have not the heart to relive it in full…"
Yet Varian would not yield on the matter, "Nevertheless, I would that we hear something more than what we have already discovered…" he pressed.
Banu sighed, and Jaina felt her grip of her staff tighten unconsciously. "I cannot tell you all, your Majesty," the man said at last, "and I will not insult you by pretending that lives depend on the secrecy of every matter about anything and indeed everything that we do, however there are a fair many that do hold life and death in their unspoken words. Nevertheless, I attest that everything Lucius has told you is true, in spirit if not literal word."
Jaina understood the flowery words and weaving talk, and she was sure that most of those that mattered in the chamber also did, and she suspected that the other man spoke thusly for their benefit, to prevent the guards from understanding flatly what he had to say and therefore limit the number of people that had the information that was so precious to him. "We are not from this land, or any land that you've likely heard of," Tobias admitted, and Varian widened his eyes. Jaina knew that they all had suspected something like that, but to have it confirmed was still impressive.
"We fled from invaders who destroyed our home, and slaughtered many that we loved." He continued, and Aegwynn narrowed her eyes from her position next to Jaina.
Varian seemed to be aware of the pair of them and their misgivings, and held up a hand to stop Tobias. "Perhaps this tale would be better told in private, away from potential prying ears and loose lips…" he said.
Tobias visibly relaxed at that declaration, and Jaina understood the show of power that Varian had just enacted. In showing this as some sort of interrogation at first, and breaking Tobias into revealing information carefully before them all, once the pressure of unknown ears was lifted he might let even more information slip.
Varian pointedly glanced at her, and Jaina understood that she and Aegwynn were to attend this more private meeting. Even if Tobias grew violent, it was likely that the three of them would be able to hold their own and defeat him, or at the least survive.
Varian led the way to his study, a room that was becoming significantly more used than it had in recent years. Once safely behind the closed, locked, and guarded door, Varian sat in his desk chair and gestured for Tobias to continue.
It was Aegwynn however who spoke first, "Come out and tell us, young one, why the Legion had such a genuine interest in your world?"
Surprisingly, the younger man showed no surprise at the forthrightness of the Magna. "It is my fault…" he said, stepping slightly away from the two mages, "I was born there, but raised in Azeroth because of the Legion, to be used by them as a tool of destruction for more worlds. When I returned, they tempted me with the one thing I wanted."
"To return here, to your home," Jaina guessed, and the other man nodded, suddenly seeming far younger than his years suggested.
"Indeed, Sorceress of Theramore." Tobias replied. Jaina said nothing about the specifics of how he knew who she was. Clearly the Malfoys were quite loyal to him.
"I brought those who would follow me, and saved all those who wanted to escape the Legion, and we have been trying to find a way out of actively serving the Legion if they return in strong influence, but it is difficult…" Tobias explained.
"Reveal your true form," Aegwynn insisted, and Tobias flinched.
"I would rather not, for all of your sakes, Guardian…" the man replied.
They all froze at his words. The fact that this person, who had not been on their world for some time, knew that Aegwynn had been the Guardian, or even that a Guardian existed was worrisome.
"How…?" Varian started, but Aegwynn held up her hand.
"He has the same internal magic that the Malfoys do." She said, launching into an explanation, "these people, while appearing normal humans, have magic naturally part of them. Things that we have to actively cast a spell for, they can just do without invoking anything outside of themselves."
Varian seemed to understand, but the Magna continued, "That likely is also why he does not wish to show us his true form. The Fel corrupts all magic that it comes into contact with, and…"
"And therefore they would have their very selves changed as a result," Jaina finished, looking at the man before them with a new light of sympathy.
"And as I grew up using the Fel, as an apprentice to a powerful warlock and a tool for the Legion, you can imagine what I may look like now…" Tobias added, and Jaina noted the tone of uncertainty in his voice.
"You sound as if you don't even know…" Varian pointed out, and the other man nodded his affirmation.
"I'm glad we've established the basis of what is going on between us…" Tobias stated, but Varian still looked serious.
"But where is it that you and the majority of the men of your people keep going?" he asked, "Surely you're not fighting the Legion head on?"
"That I cannot comment too much on," Tobias said, growing agitated once more, "lives are at stake on our secrecy in this matter, and I cannot trust that there aren't ways to steal the information from your minds without your knowledge or consent."
Jaina widened her eyes. To even consider such magic meant that the man had experienced a wide array of abilities that they had never even fathomed in their wildest dreams. The things that they could learn from this man were widening with every second he spoke.
"I'm sorry, but that isn't sufficient to prove that we are safe with your people in Stormwind…" Varian said, pushing farther still, and Jaina wondered for a moment if they were intentionally going to make an enemy of Tobias.
"All I can say is that we are striving to counter the Legion's plans throughout the world, and prepare for their inevitable attempt to force their way into our world once more." The man said, "Fighting Fel with Fel, as it was…"
Jaina could tell that still, Varian was not satisfied, but Tobias seemed to have had enough. "I have answered what I can for you, your Majesty. What is this you require regarding Silithus…?"
Varian was silent for a moment, clearly struggling with the subtle demand to move on, before speaking, "Our allies have reported increased activity both of the Twilight Hammer cult and the native insectoids of those deserts, and have requested Alliance heroes to investigate. Lord Malfoy recommended that you would be available to lead such an expedition…"
Jaina noticed that Tobias clenched his hands at the mention of the Cult, which was odd. She did not comment on it however, and held her peace as the two men spoke of the logistical details of the company, how they would sail from Menethil Harbor, and then ride south from Theramore. It would be interesting to see the man leading as they passed through her city.
"I agree, and I will do more than just lead your adventurers," Tobias said at last, "I will pull a selection of my own people to aid this effort, and we will discover the truth of this matter. I swear it to you, your Majesty." The elegant man replied.
Varian nodded, and with a scant nod of dismissal allowed the man to depart freely. Only when Jaina did not sense the man's Fel aura in the Keep did she feel safe to speak of her thoughts. "He is certainly an… intense, person…" she started, and Varian huffed.
"Too secretive and too proud for my taste," the King said, "I do not trust him, even though Lord and Lady Malfoy are quick to vouch for him."
"You are wise to do this," Aegwynn said, turning to face the King, "If I recall, based on the man's approximate age, there were no human warlocks of any great power during the time that he claims to have been here in Azeroth…"
"Then he's lying?" Varain asked, his grip on Shalamayne tightening.
"Not exactly," Aegwynn replied, "he did indeed live here, I can sense the old magic from that era on him, but he was not among humans."
"But who or what could he have…" Jaina asked, but then the notion struck her. It was obvious, the man's stance, his calm demeanor in the face of armed subtle threats. It was exactly like Thrall, albeit out of place to find in a human. "Orcs?" she asked, and the old Magna nodded.
"Gul'dan, the warlock of the old Horde, was most assuredly the shrewdest and most power warlock of his people, and they were clear servants of the Legion at that time." Aegwynn affirmed, "Although why this man was so quick to tell us this information, I do not know."
Jaina was equally confused at that. This was all potentially dangerous knowledge, even for them to have. To hand tools to use against him to them so quickly, either they were a diversion to prevent them from looking elsewhere for answers, or the man greatly desired for their acceptance and trust.
"I do not know what to think regarding this revelation," Varian said, and Jaina widened her eyes at the implications. That would mean that Tobias was the apprentice of the orc that orchestrated Varian's parents' deaths.
A tense situation, to be sure... "We must keep this information to ourselves," Aegwynn declared, "If even a scrap of what that man said is true, and he seeks to harm the Legion, even the whiff of suspected betrayal could throw the entire balance of this world into chaos."
"So we're to just trust him and do nothing?" Varian huffed.
"We watch, and make sure that he holds true to what he has said, but as far as any others are concerned, yes, we trust him…" Aegwynn affirmed.
"I still want to know more about these people, and what their motivation is in being here, aside from fleeing the destruction of their homeland." The King said, almost as a petulant child.
"Nevertheless, treating him like a potential prisoner probably was not the best choice in getting information from him in future…" Jaina admitted, and ignored the glare that Varian shot her.
"We shall return to Theramore, and await Tobias and the company of soldiers going to Silithus. With luck we may have some time to simply observe the man as he leads, and that will give us an idea of just what sort of man he truly is."
"Alright…" Varian said, caving to the idea at long last, "I will trust your eyes, and your magic to discern the truth of this matter, and with luck all my fears will be unfounded. I just cannot shake the feeling that something is amiss…"
"We do not blame you for that," Aegwynn replied, "something is most assuredly amiss… the question is what and to what extent…"
Together, the two mages departed the brooding King, and Jaina opened a portal back to Theramore for them. They had some preparations to make before the company arrived, just in case they had to accommodate that large number of warriors for a night or two. Stormwind ships weren't as strong or swift as Kul Tiran ones, and sometimes a transport fleet got separated, and arrived at different times to the same harbor.
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Lucius was concerned when Nobu'tan didn't come back as swiftly as he had expected. It was nearly midday by the time the the Grand Warlock returned. Lucius and Narcissa were in the sitting room when they heard the door open. Lucius could sense that Nobu'tan was in a foul mood, even though the door shutting softly did not contribute to it.
"King Varian is far more perceptive than we gave him credit for…" Nobu'tan said as he entered and sat down with them, "and he has dangerously powerful allies…"
"Lady Proudmoore?" Narcissa asked, and the Grand Warlock of the Black Harvest nodded.
"And the old woman that was with her… a Guardian like Merlin…" Nobu'tan added, and Lucius stiffened. He had not anticipated that there would be another powerful sorcerer in this world. It was the entire reason that they had avoided the Deadwind Pass, because of the Magus that supposedly lived in the tower there, Medievh.
"So I am bound to help them in Silithus, and I am taking some of the Black Harvest with us to deal with it…" Nobu'tan explained, "I trust that Draco will care for our affairs in the north, and you both here in the south."
"What of the other matter?" Lucius asked, fearing the worst. Nobu'tan looked irritated, "They know some of the truth, but I hid any connection to the Dark Horde that I could from them… I underestimated them, and am solely at fault of there are any repercussions from this."
"We will do what we can," Narcissa said, seemingly unaffected by the gloomy atmosphere that Nobu'tan was broadcasting from his mood.
"So long as we maintain our secrecy, I can continue to avoid open war with the Alliance." Nobu'tan stated, "I have no desire to truly go to war with them, they are more valuable as connections to the rest of the world and what is going on outside. But if it comes to that…I don't know what we will end up doing."
"With the Horde on our northern boarder maintaining a strong presence, we may not be able to commit to a two pronged war…" Lucius added.
Nobu'tan nodded, "and with what the Scourge plan, we have enough problems as it is to deal with… I hope that we can conclude these matters in Silithus swiftly…" the warlock sighed, "at least it's a good enough distraction to prevent anyone from investigating the other forces I sent out to gather even more allies to our cause…"
"More allies?" Narcissa asked tersely. Lucius knew that his wife favored peace and that she had voiced as much to Nobu'tan before, but the pureblood lord was well aware that some things couldn't be helped.
One set in motion, a plan was very difficult to change the course of, even if one wanted such. And the Legion had set their control of the Dark Horde quite clearly, even before the Stormreaver Clan returned to take control. They were viewed as the enemies of all, and it would take a long time for that to change, if at all.
"I had best go and prepare what warriors I am taking to meet the Alliance expedition at Menathil Harbor. With luck we can make something of a grand entrance and prevent them from guessing where exactly we came from…" Nobu'tan said, rising slowly from his seat.
The Malfoys bade him farewell, and look at each other after the small ripple of magic signaled the opening and closing of a demonic gateway. "Everything stands so precariously now…" Narcissa commented, "It's no wonder that Nobu'tan is not himself. The stress must be killing him…"
"I know," Lucius said, kissing his wife's hand. "We have to support him however we can, and urge him to not take all matters on himself."
"Perhaps he needs to have a retreat from all these affairs for a time, a vacation of sorts…" the magnificent woman said, and Lucius was struck with inspiration.
"I think I know of something that might just work…" he said, "but it would take a great deal of time, which we do not have at the present moment. Perhaps I can pull strings together and present the idea when he returns from Silithus…"
"Hmm," Narcissa hummed thoughtfully, "I think you had best let me in on your little secret, so I can help smooth out the plan and make it perfect…"
Lucius kissed her. This was part of the reason he had been so attracted to her as they got to know each other after their arranged marriage. Narcissa complimented his mind perfectly, refining his ideas and making them more favorable to others.
"Well, firstly," Lucius explained, between planting kisses on his wife's neck and shoulders, "I would need the memories of Nobu'tan about this place, all of Azeroth that he remembers, and then take the scenic route through those locations, to help him reconnect with his life here before."
"I see," Narcissa said, "and what do you plan to do, teleport or apparate from place to place?"
"We would ride, taking the slow path to allow memories and thoughts to truly resurface…" Lucius countered.
"And what would you do in the meantime, from place to place?" Narcissa asked pointedly, "You'd run out of things to talk about fairly quickly I presume."
"That…" Lucius stated, but halted. He had not truly thought all the way through that.
"I figured as much," Narcissa said, smirking in her way that was neither demeaning nor reproachful, "but I do have an idea."
Lucius listened intently, his smile widening as Narcissa expressed a most exquisite notion that would very much snap their leader out of the strange, secretive, mood that he had fallen into since they entered this world.
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Blaise was not terribly comfortable with so many massive creatures around him, but he suffered through it as he slowly guided the Balefire warriors into the southern wastelands of Desolace and into the narrow pass that led to the lush jungles beyond.
Personally, Blaise had little desire to remain with them once they arrived at the old elven ruins. However, there was a personal reason that he wanted to go. In his down time he had been pouring over the information that the Dreadlord, Banehollow, had given him. From what he discovered, there were items that could be used in a place strong with Fel magic to conjure a portal to Xoroth, and from there liberate and control one or more of the powerful demonic dreadsteeds that dwelled there.
Such a gift would be a significant boon to the warlocks of the Black Harvest, allowing them to cease their reliance on other forms of mounted transportation and use their own magic to bring forth the loyal, powerful demons to ride.
Luckily, between what Banehollow had provided, and cross referenced texts that Nobu'tan held in Blackrock, Blaise had scavenged all that he needed, and was carrying them in secret with him. There had been the strong presence of the Fel in the ruins they were going to, which would suit his needs perfectly. And if he encountered resistance, the Balefire clan would be most useful in crushing all that opposed his plan.
Naturally, that demanded he remain with the ogre clan until that point, and therefore he strove to tolerate their presence as long as possible. The centaur clan that guarded the pass seemed to have moved on somewhat, and the way was perfectly clear for them to move through.
Teg'Ramm was shrewd and cautious however, and demanded that scouting eyes of Kil'rogg be sent in all directions before they proceeded to the next region, making absolutely sure that they were not being observed. Blaise respect the ogre lord's loyalty to the mandates of Nobu'tan, but even still at times the hulk of a creature was somewhat rigid in his authoritarian ways.
Still, the pragmatic approach did pay off for them. There was a large band of Night Elves from their island fortress hunting near the road to the south, and because of their foreknowledge they had been able to quickly find an alternate route that navigated around them.
Still, their pace was terribly slow, and Blaise couldn't help sighing when they stopped yet again to send out scouts in all directions. "If you disapprove of my methods, perhaps you would prefer to face off against that Elven hunting parties," Teg'Ramm commented, his displeasure clear and pointed at Blaise's near-silent complaints.
"Would it hurt to move a bit quick though?" Blaise said, the floodgate opened for him to voice his criticisms, "If we take too long, then it increases the likelihood that we'll be discovered."
"Impossible," the ogre retorted, "We have just as many eyes checking behind us. If something was following, we would know it. Besides," the ogre added, even as an eye returned, "the other ogres are near, so we can march nonstop till we reach the outskirt of their clan lands…"
"Then let's move," Blaise suggested, ready to get going and be done with them as quickly as possible.
"Not quite yet," the two-headed creature said, pulling out a map of the area, hand drawn by the ogre as they received their intelligence from the fleet of eyes. "We have to be sure where we want to engage their forces, and how best to subdue them without just slaughtering our potential allies…"
Blaise sighed. This at least was true. "It'll be dark soon, and then things will become significantly more dangerous…" he still added.
"I intend that darkness will fall before we arrive," the ogre casually said, "it'll allow us to sneak past their outer guard and find our way to their leaders without having to fight half the clan… that's where you come in…"
"Oh," Blaise said, having only now first heard of this plan.
"You are an assassin, are you not?" Teg'Ramm accused, each head smirking as they looked up at him momentarily. "Locating the whereabouts of a few ogres in a camp and leading some of us to them should be among the easiest task you've been asked to perform lately…"
Blaise narrowed his eyes. Perhaps the ogre was too intelligent for his own good. "That is true…" he admitted regardless. Their primary goal was indeed the recruitment of the ogres, and he had to accept that his side mission was not a priority as far as the ogre was concerned. Indeed, Teg'Ramm did not know that Blaise planned for this to happen.
"So you're scouting their boarder for a weakness." He said, looking at the map in the ogre's massive hand.
"Precisely," Teg'Ramm answered, jotting something down as another eye returned from the thick overgrowth of the jungle. "It is highly likely that these fools have massive holes in their defenses that we can exploit."
Three more eyes returned in short order, and Teg'Ramm's smirk widened as he detailed the information, "there it is…" he said, nodding to himself. "We need to move, there is a window of opportunity to get past their initial line and close to the ruins themselves."
"Understood," Blaise replied, eager to get moving, and surprisingly appreciative that there was at least a motive for their slow pace.
Now that the order had been given, their pace quickly significantly, and Teg'Ramm led them through the jungle growth, crossing into an area clearly marked as ogre territory by the totems and crude banners strewn about almost haphazardly.
The fact that no other ogres were in sight was rather pathetic, and if not for what Blaise had already learned from Teg'Ramm that this was an anomaly in their defenses, the assassin would have guessed that the creatures had moved on from this location or were otherwise gone.
"There's an empty mound this way," Teg'Ramm explained as they circled around the line of banners toward the edge of a large ridge. "We'll have the majority of our force take shelter there and form a small group to infiltrate and challenge their leadership."
"I'll go scout ahead and find exactly where they are hiding, and meet with you nearer the entrance of the ruins." Blaise suggested, and Teg'Ramm nodded, returning to commanding his force as the assassin took off toward the ruins themselves.
Merging with the shadows, using a combination of stealth technique and magic he knew that he would be all but invisible to even the keenest eyes. After that, it was a simple matter to navigate around the defenses in front of the ruins, and the sudden reappearance of the other clan of ogres, standing and sitting around fires and enjoying the early evening air.
They were of no concern to Blaise, but rather the hyena-like dogs that were with them. The canine creatures would be able to smell him, and even if he used magic to mask his presence, they would detent the difference in the air as he passed. That complicated his trek somewhat, but taking elaborate routes and keeping his distance from the dogs served just as well to scale the large ramp up to the ruins proper.
It seemed to be some sort of former city, but everything had fallen into deep disrepair, and ogres weren't know for their ability to construct or restore anything effectively on their own. Nevertheless, Blaise was able to tell that there were three sections to the city, and the ogres were only occupying one of them themselves.
Another seemed to go to some sort of garden area, and Blaise felt no reason for them to disturb that location, while the final held the largest mainstay of Fel magic, which was clearly the direction he wanted to go for his ritual. Understanding now that he might have to urge Teg'Ramm to split their force and take both sections at the same time, he quick retraced his steps to the base of the encampment, thinking up a plausible reason for them to do this.
The Balefire ogres were waiting for him, and Blaise removed his spell and appeared in their midst. "There's a small complication," he said to Teg'Ramm as he appeared.
"When isn't there?" the ogre replied sarcastically, and Blaise smirked at the quip. Clearly the ogre was quickly picking up human and orc mannerisms with language.
"While there is one section of the city that ogres live in, another has a large aura of Fel magic, and I desire to explore that while we are here as well…"
Teg'Ramm seemed to ponder the notion. "You suspect that if we go into one section, it will affect the security of the other?" he asked.
Blaise shrugged, "It's a thought," he said. He knew that if he flatly made suggestion it would be less receptive to the ogre mage than if he came to the conclusion on his own.
"Right…" Teg'Ramm said, "we do not need you to deal with the ogres, I will send four of my elites with you to investigate this power, and take another four with me to deal with the ogre leader. Can you make a path large enough for us to get through unseen?"
"Simple task," Blaise said, "so long as we avoid their dogs. Our scent will be difficult to cover, but I suspect that the smell of ogres is something that they've grown accustomed to, and therefore wont react to a bit more of it."
"Make it so," Teg'Ramm said, beckoning for eight of his guard to attend him. It was an even split of two shaman, two warlocks and four brutish warriors. With Teg'Ramm and Blaise each taking half, the assassin presumed that they would be splitting them evenly by role, in order to be most effective.
"Proceed, Tenebrous," Teg'Ramm urged, and Blaise nodded, withdrawing his wand. A few quick spells and he, Teg'Ramm, and the other eight warriors vanished to the naked eye. "Follow me swiftly and cautiously," Blaise instructed. Able to see each other and only blearily the rest of the world, the chain of ogres followed close behind him as Blaise stole his way back into the camp, darting around the posts with dogs and keeping to the edges of the camp as much as possible.
There was one close call when a dog lumbered over to relieve itself in the grass, but the thing sniffed once and relaxed, clearly smelling the ogres that were with Blaise over the disguised human himself. Somehow, it made him feel slightly dirty.
Shoving the strange idea aside, Blaise focused on the task at hand, and got them into the center section of the city properly. Once they were out of sight of the exterior guards, Blaise dispelled the invisibility charm. He indicated the entrance for Teg'Ramm, and the pair mutually nodded, splitting to achieve their different objectives as efficiently as they could.