(2025-04-28) Gathering Allies

Details

Author:	Disknight
Summary:	Ishaya brings Crim to Silvermoon to meet with Elowel and join the Crimson Coterie
Rating:	T for Teen

+ Show additional content warnings

discussion of inter and intra faction conflict

Elowel pauses at the innkeeper, slipping her several gold coins with a finger to her lips.

Ishaya waits patiently. She is 15 minutes early.

Elowel cannot possibly miss the presence of a tauren and an orc behind the gauzy curtains as she finally arrives. She is at least 5 minutes late.

Ishaya rises when Elowel enters.
Ishaya salutes Elowel with respect.

Elowel lifts her chin proudly, then nods to each. "Ishaya…and you must be Crim Ragefang."

[Crim]: I am.
Crim was already standing, but he beats a fist on his chest in greeting, "Well met, Lady Elowel."

Ishaya is dressed in fine blood elf style clothing, but she looks a bit tired and travel-worn.

[Elowel]: The proprietress assures me we will not be disturbed. All the same, we should keep our voices down.

Crim is dressed to kill (literally) in his armor as usual.

[Ishaya]: Of course.
Ishaya nods at Elowel.
Ishaya has the sort of voice that does not carry particularly - low and soft, even when she is not attempting to be covert.

Elowel is likewise armored, but her own is gleaming and golden, polished and enchanted to appear pristine.

Crim grunts, "I have a wind spirit keeping watch near the entrance as well."

Ishaya thanks Crim.

Elowel lifts a long, slender eyebrow. "And…that will be helpful?"

[Ishaya]: It will.

[Elowel]: Excellent.
Elowel gestures, moving immediately to lounge on the largest bed, despite being the smallest person present. "Let us sit and discuss."

Ishaya returns to her preferred chair.

[Elowel]: Ishaya, you arranged all this. Perhaps you could start.

Crim sits down on one of the cushioned seats and sinks in.

Ishaya arranges her blood elf style skirts around her legs - her tailor did a decent job altering the fit for her very non blood elf frame.
[Ishaya]: Yes. Well, I wanted you to meet Ragefang because I believe he shares certain concerns with us in the Coterie.
[Ishaya]: Concerns that it can be difficult to trust others with.

Elowel lifts her brow, glancing between Ishaya and Crim.

[Ishaya]: Concerns related to leadership, shall we say.

Elowel nods slowly. "Not my own leadership," she feels compelled to clarify.

[Ishaya]: That's correct.

[Crim]: I'm sure you have heard about what happened in the Twilight Highlands.

Ishaya darts a long-lashed glance toward Crim before returning her gaze to Elowel.

Elowel sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. "Just the latest in a series of 'incidents'. Yes."

Ishaya sighs softly and shakes her head.

Crim grunts, "I am glad that I refused to join that offensive."

[Ishaya]: So am I.

[Crim]: And to think that when I found him in Outland he had given up all hope of amounting to anything. Now here we are…

[Ishaya]: Often those who feel insecure are the ones who grasp most desperately at power and glory.

Elowel tries not to take that personally.
[Elowel]: Yes…sometimes that is the situation. But clearly, we are dealing with an extreme case…in the highest seat of power.

[Ishaya]: While I do feel some empathy for his struggles, I draw the line at endangering civilization as a whole in the name of personal achievement.

Elowel sighs and frowns. "I will be blunt: Garrosh is out of control, and he is leading the Horde down a path to ruin." There. His name has been spoken.

Ishaya winces subtly, but then exhales and nods.
[Ishaya]: Those who stand up to him, though, tend to meet terrible ends. Just look at what happened to Cairne Bloodhoof.

Elowel nods grimly. "Which is why we must be clandestine."
Elowel looks to Crim, awaiting his reaction.

Crim nods along but falls short of voicing his displeasure, "He idolizes the memory of his father. As time goes on I am increasingly unsure if he has merely missed the lessons Grom learned, or if Grom was not the same hero I remember when I was younger."

[Ishaya]: I am not accustomed to hiding my intentions from others. But if it is a matter of survival, I can be discreet, and even misdirect where needed. You may count upon me.

[Elowel]: You would certainly know more about his father than I would, Crim. But I suspect it is also a difference of the times. Our Warchief seems to think this is still the First War.

[Crim]: I feel the same. To work in the shadows is shameful, but we are merely meeting to discuss the future of the Horde.

Elowel nods solemnly to Ishaya.
[Elowel]: I prefer to be more overt as well. But circumstances have made this necessary.

[Ishaya]: I believe that all three of us share a similar vision. A society where those of different cultures and beliefs can all coexist and help one another, to our mutual benefit.

[Crim]: Varian Wrynn is not making things any easier for us either. It is hard to convince him to vie for peace when the Alliance has stated so plainly that they would wipe out every last one of us given the chance.

[Ishaya]: We do not need to enforce some uniform code of virtue as the Alliance does - our differences are our strength. But I believe that this ideal is incompatible with the idea of one "warchief" single-handedly ruling the entire Horde.
[Ishaya]: There need to be multiple people influencing our future, and they need to communicate with one another.

Elowel rolls her eyes. "Wrynn is as much a brute as Garrosh." Then she points eagerly at Ishaya. "You're so very right. A council would serve the Horde's needs much better."

[Crim]: There is wisdom to that. The Horde was built on accepting differing cultures. First with the clans uniting and now with other races being brought into the fold.

[Ishaya]: I would not mind the position of Warchief existing to act swiftly in emergency. But the support of a council is necessary, and that council should be listened to - something of which I believe the current warchief is incapable.

[Elowel]: The fact is, Hellscream knows only war. He does not know how to lead in peacetime. So he will create war to suit his personal needs and biases, at the expense of the rest of us.

[Ishaya]: The main reason I encouraged Ragefang to come here is that the only organization I have seen that seems to be putting into practice the sort of agile response to changing situations is the Crimson Coterie. Yes, it is led by sin'dorei, but you listen.

Crim nods, "A warrior is needed to face Deathwing, but he must be tempered. Lor'Themar and Vol'jin could be vital advisors on other matters if he would only listen."

Elowel smiles, preening a bit under the praise.

Ishaya nods enthusiastically at the names Crim proposes.
[Ishaya]: Both of them possess great wisdom and differing sorts of experience that are deeply valuable.

[Elowel]: We are of like mind. I admit, I've been surprised at the measured wisdom Vol'jin seems to display.

[Ishaya]: I will confess that with Cairne Bloodhoof gone and Baine still a bit unseasoned, I have been praying to the spirits to guide Vol'Jin to… firm action on this matter.

[Crim]: He's as cunning as a fox. The Darkspear's shadow hunters are not to be underestimated.

[Elowel]: However, the reality is that no matter how much glory and influence the Coterie has garnered, we are still a small voice in the Horde.

[Ishaya]: At times, small can be useful. Agile, as I said, and discreet.

[Crim]: A small voice perhaps, but better than none at all.

Ishaya agrees with Crim.

Elowel nods. "I believe it is that discretion that will matter…if it comes to a need to take action."

Ishaya nods at Elowel.

[Crim]: Garrosh does not tolerate dissent. I have cautioned him before, but he does not listen.

[Ishaya]: This is another reason I wished to bring Ragefang to your attention - while he is a man of action and conviction, he is also capable of subtlety and forethought.
[Ishaya]: He has insight into the minds of Horde leadership, and may be able to predict their actions, giving us lead time to take what actions we can.

Elowel nods slowly, looking Crim over. "What are your intentions? I've taken a great risk in speaking with you. I'm sure you understand my reluctance to speak openly about these matters outside of the Coterie."

[Ishaya]: You can trust him, I assure you, my lady.

[Crim]: Of course. My bond with the warchief is no secret. You honor me with your trust. *Crim inclines his head respectfully*

Ishaya smiles as she looks between the two.

[Crim]: My intention is to preserve the interests of the Horde. I do not think that continued conflict with the Alliance is sustainable, certainly not with Deathwing running rampant.

[Ishaya]: It's unthinkable, truly. I agree.

[Crim]: If Garrosh will not do it himself, then we must do so in his place.

[Ishaya]: We… the Coterie should take on Deathwing?
Ishaya 's violet-brown eyes go wide.

[Elowel]: I trust your judgement, Ishaya, and while I believe we are all of like mind, you must understand that in my world, trust is backed by oaths. Right now, the extent of trust I can afford to give is to those loyal to me-…no, to the Coterie.

Ishaya turns to Crim with pleading calf-eyes. "Surely you would be willing to swear an oath to a lady who commands such a like minded and diverse group of people?"

Crim grunts and sits silent for a moment, "I understand your concern. If it is for the better of the Horde, then I will fight for the Crimson Coterie."

Ishaya smiles in relief.
[Ishaya]: I understand that each of you have only my word by which to judge the intentions of the other. And while I am a shaman, I am no great Farseer, no prophet. I do believe, though, that my intuition leads me well, and I believe this is the right course.

Elowel looks pleased.
[Elowel]: I believe you're right, Ishaya.

[Ishaya]: Ragefang has so much to offer the Coterie, and the Coterie has so much to offer its members!
Ishaya 's tail thumps twice on the cushion in her enthusiasm.

[Elowel]: Welcome to the Crimson Coterie, Crim Ragefang. I think you will approve of the direction we are going. I have come to realize that the Horde is necessary, and must be preserved. If we are to be a pillar to hold it up, I find that agreeable.

[Ishaya]: I believe the next step is to make certain that Ragefang is acquainted with our most connected and powerful members.

Elowel rises. It feels like a moment to be standing.

Ishaya stands as well.

[Crim]: I still have my pride as a champion of the Warsong, but I have more to think of that just myself these days. *He stands as well.*

[Ishaya]: As do we all, sir.

[Elowel]: I agree. You'll meet with the Hands. Our own council. Your knowledge of Horde leadership will be most valuable to them.

[Ishaya]: I can also draw up a list of other interesting and well-connected members for your later perusal, sir.

Crim grunts, "That would be wise. But we should not move too quickly. I would not invite suspicion from the Kor'kron."

[Ishaya]: Ah yes. My enthusiasm runs away with me. Agreed.

[Elowel]: Thankfully, the Kor'kron have no significant presence here in Silvermoon, and I have…connections with the Magisters. We should be safe here.

Ishaya nods at Elowel.

[Crim]: Good. My reputation helps to protect me in Kalimdor, but even so there is only so much I can do.

[Ishaya]: And as far as anyone else is concerned, we are simply a mercenary company, loyal to the Warchief, doing odd jobs for pay to help out where the military cannot or wishes not to reach.

[Crim]: As we can see in the case of Cairne Bloodhoof, none of us are completely safe.

Elowel nods grimly.

Ishaya nods sadly.

[Elowel]: Oh, one more important thing. The tabard. It's not required, but it is terribly dashing.

Ishaya laughs softly.
[Ishaya]: I think the colors would suit you, Ragefang.

Elowel blinks at Ishaya. Why cow laugh?

Crim grunts and looks down at all his cool Warsong, tauren, and troll garb, "I can wear it during official business."

Ishaya gives Crim a little wink, then curtseys to Elowel. "I shall move on for now, and continue playing the part of the curious tauren tourist."
[Ishaya]: Farewell, and spirits guide you.