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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Arric, Corvin, Maisha, and Velrin attend a meeting with Radulf Leder, Marran Trollbane, and other notables of the League of Arathor. Ionala and Shun attend as well, each using what camouflage they're best at. All hands will be needed, as the meeting takes an unexpected turn. ~4500 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Stromgarde Keep, once the capital of the proud Arathorian Empire and the cradle of humanity, is now much diminished. The city is divided by lines of battle – the eastern sector in ruins occupied by Syndicate guerilla forces, and the southwest overrun with cruel and brutish ogres. The only part of the city that remains under Stromic control is a heavily-guarded sector to the northwest.
Within that sector, however, something resembling an ordinary life continues. People eat, sleep, live, much as they do everywhere else, though their lives also revolve around guard schedules, watches, and thoughts of defense.
In the absence of their Kings (Thoras Trollbane dead, Galen Trollbane undead, and Danath Trollbane in Outland), the people are governed by the League of Arathor, who see to the protection of both the city and Refuge Point to the northeast. The people of Stromgarde have more than ogres and Syndicate to worry about – in this era of faction war, there is also the orcish encampment of Hammerfall to the far northwest and a camp of undead at the border to Hillsbrad, not to mention the continuing threat of the faction-independent Witherbark trolls.
Still, it is the recent developments with the Syndicate that trouble the League today, and it is on that subject that they are meeting in a secure room in the center of the largest structure of the remaining Stromic sector. The room centers around a circular table with ten chairs, around which members of the leaders of the current Stromgarde sit, as well as the Cobalt contingent led by Corvin Trent.
Somehow the focal point, despite the table’s lack of one, Lord Radulf Leder, a hale man of middle years, sits in his dress armor of red-and-gold – not Horde red, Stromic red, with the closed fist of the nation embroidered in a patch.
At his side is Lady Marran Trollbane, clearly a young woman despite the premature grey streaking her light brown locks. She looks small next to him, and she squints through half-moon spectacles that might not be set perfectly for her. Next to her, in armor, is Captain Veronica Nials. The two women lean close together, talking in low voices.
At Leder’s other side is Donal Osgood, an older priest with blond hair mixed with white, long around bald crown. He is speaking quietly with Lady Elara Ashford, a sharp-eyed woman with auburn hair.
Velrin sits up straight and tall, dressed in her usual dark green armor. She scans the room, taking stock of its inhabitants.
Lord Arric Falrevere sits patiently in his place at the table next to Corvin in a mix of chain mail and leather that is both functional and subtly flattering. His chin-length ginger hair is cut a bit less tidily than it used to be, and his face a bit more covered with beard; he's also acquired quite a striking scar that bisects one half his face. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, he appears as rugged and stoic as anyone else at the table. And right now, he is quite decidedly keeping his mouth shut.
The most unusual thing about him is his companion, whom he flatly refused to bar from the meeting. His "daughter" Rica is a gangly half-grown raptor with deep red scales. She also bears the visible pale stripes of scars - like father like daughter - but she is quiet, still, and well behaved where she stands behind Arric's chair. Her bright blue eyes are eerily attentive to the conversation.
Maisha sits next to Arric, her face still wind-chapped and her red hair a little coarse from her most recent gryphon survey. She looks perfectly comfortable to be in scouting gear in the middle of a nobles’ meeting.
Bael sits behind her chair looking as self-satisfied as a raptor can. He's a bigger raptor than Rica still, though she will outgrow him, but the raptor-in-the-room question has clearly been decided in favor of.
Corvin sits across the table from Leder, looking determined but distinctly uncomfortable. He’s tried to spruce up his scouting gear, but that’s still what he’s wearing, and his blond hair has resisted attempts at tidying.
Slipping through the city under a cloak of stealth, Shun carefully makes his way into the stronghold in which the meeting is to take place.
Ionala can go just about anywhere she pleases if she's carrying something. Everyone assumes she's already on some errand. This time it's a tray of jugs full of beverages that demands a smooth stride and concentration, but the weight of it doesn't seem to bother her at all. a basket covered with a white cloth dangles from the crook of her elbow.
None of the nobles take a second glance at the servant girl, who is surely nobody in disguise. Servants are basically invisible, as everyone knows.
“Welcome, everyone,” Leder says with a grim look of approval, examining each of the table’s inhabitants in turn. Those talking fall silent. “Most of us know why we are here, but let me summarize. What remains of Stromgarde stands alone for the moment, with the rest of the Alliance occupied with Pandaria and the Horde. Hostile actions have been taken by the Syndicate, including the attempted assassination of our absent king and supposed infiltrators here in the Keep. There are… potentially troubling developments with the Forsaken as well, if Forsaken they still are.”
Lord Arric's pale blue eyes flick briefly toward the "servant" and then away. He drums the fingers of one hand restlessly on the table.
Velrin raises her eyebrow at the comment about the Forsaken.
Corvin nods, clearing his throat. "Our scouting has at least shown that they're no longer flying the Undercity banner, which is unexpected."
Maisha nods at that.
“I think we should focus on the Forsaken threat,” Osgood says nervously. “The Syndicate is, at least, still a remnant of a human kingdom. They must be on their last legs. Surely they can be reasoned with. The former King Galen on the other hand…”
The corners of Arric's eyes tighten slightly, almost but not quite a wince.
"Banner or not, we don't want to get involved in conflict with the Horde," Ashford shakes her head. "The Alliance military has made it clear they have other priorities than the Highlands, and we cannot stand against the might that took Hillsbrad."
Leder frowns, and says, "Stromgarde is a part of the Alliance. Even if the other nations are occupied elsewhere, we should not pull away to ourselves like the elves once did."
“Agreed. The Alliance is stronger together.” Velrin speaks up, “It would be better to voice any concerns to our allies than to be secluded and alone. I can sympathize with the Alliance’s focus being somewhat scarce in my own land, but there is nothing to be gained by isolation.”
Arric nods emphatically toward Velrin.
"Enemies all around us, and all too few allies," Marran says, sharing a glance with Nials and then turning to Velrin. "We need a plan to handle both enemies. The Syndicate tried to kill my uncle, and may well try to kill me. But we've seen what the undead do to a land they take, to a people. Still, if even Danath Trollbane is too busy with other Alliance matters to come to our aid… I appreciate the help Cobalt has given in untangling this mess, but a mercenary company is not an army to fight on two fronts."
"We could always call in more of Cobalt, if need be," Arric says tentatively. "I know not all of their people are in Pandaria. They exist for this very reason - to ensure that areas the military cannot protect are not left to themselves."
Osgood looks over, eyes lighting a little. "That may be a sign of hope. Our people have fought so hard, for so long, with so little hope."
"Mm, and we continue to dwindle," Ashford says with a wry smile. "I believe the last time we had a Cobalt team here, it was just before we lost Galen. And now so many of our noble houses are gone."
Maisha looks down at her hands.
Arric clears his throat. Oh, dusty in here. He drinks some water.
Ionala circles the table with a jug of water, waiting for the right moment to fill each glass without jostling someone.
Corvin does not look at the servant girl. He does not look at the servant girl. "More force could help against the undead, but what do you think the Syndicate even have planned? We know they have at least one inside person, and that they don't have the arms for an assault."
Arric chugs what remains of his water glass with just the right timing so that it happens to be empty as Ionala nears his side of the table.
“I do have a great deal of experience in guerrilla tactics.” Velrin offers, “It may not be enough to prevent an invasion, but it will certainly deter our enemies or at least slow them down.”
Arric looks at Velrin with interest, his eyes lighting.
The servant glances at Corvin at the mention of insiders in the syndicate. Here, in Stromgarde? He must mean that. She stands beside Arric and refills his water glass very carefully.
"That will be useful," Leder nods. "And if the time comes to it, I'll call on you for that, Silverbloom."
"I assume right now you're serving as a deterrent, Silverbloom," Nials says, frowning. "Or they would've tried taking out Marran by now. That seems to me to be a possible plan, to take out our noble families one by one. A plan to destabilize us through morale, each generations-long thread they sever. And so many lost already. McTavish, Kerwyn…"
“I have been doing all I can to ensure no one else comes to harm.” Velrin says solemnly.
Maisha chokes a little on her water at the family names, then pats her chest.
Ionala looks at Maisha with concern, but no one is going to make meaningful eye contact with a serving girl. She finishes walking around the table with water and waits near the wall.
Arric looks vaguely distressed, and presses his lips together as though to keep something from escaping them.
"I'm not sure what we can do to root out the infiltrators before they make their move," Corvin says seriously. "I… have… some knowledge of Syndicate personnel, but I haven't seen anyone I recognize on the premises. And questioning only goes so far."
Maisha shoots Corvin a knowing look, and then turns back to the Stromic folk. There are no secrets in this room. Nope nope.
"We know who took up the mantle after their more recent leaders have been slain," Shun says, finally revealing himself for now, "Could start by taking out the heads. "
Arric nods toward Shun. "It is, after all, what they have been trying to do to Stromgarde."
Maisha does not quite yelp at the sudden appearance.
Leder blinks, and that's the only sign of his surprise, though there's a rustle among the other nobles. Nials reaches for something that might be a knife, but then subsides at Shun's words.
Ionala keeps her face impassive but How. How did he do that? She could never do that. UGH.
"Thank you for that effective demonstration of how easily we might be infiltrated, even in this very room," Leder says dryly. "I'm glad you're not our enemy. Yes, we could turn their own strategy around on them, but it seems every place we fight them, they melt away. You know their leader?"
"I do. It would be a matter of locating him," Shun replies.
Arric subtly leans toward Shun, sharply attentive.
"I might be able to help with that, if you want," Corvin says, looking at Shun with an uncertain cast to his eyes. "…I'm a good scout."
"Well, then we have some progress," Leder says with a sigh. "Cobalt to reinforce our guerilla capabilities, and to behead the Syndicate. That's a start, and now we can draw up plans." He turns slightly to Ashford. "Maybe a little more fortifying refreshment to see us forward?"
"Of course," Ashford makes a gesture with one hand, and another servant girl enters the room with a little tray of glasses of wine. She moves around the table, setting a glass by each participant, though not the raptors, sorry.
As the servant moves past Shun and towards Leder, he can catch a faintly floral scent from the tray, very reminiscent of a certain stew bowl in Honor Hold.
Arric looks pleased by the possibility of wine!
Velrin holds her glass but does not drink from it. She palms some powder in her hand and pours it into the glass to test and see if it’s been poisoned.
Velrin's wine is unpoisoned.
Corvin accepts his with a polite nod, but doesn't yet drink. Maisha does the same.
Shun looks over Corvin for a moment, then nods to him. As another servant comes in and he catches a peculiar scent, he makes eye contact with Ionala as a sort of silent signal, then moves to cover the exit.
Marran Trollbane accepts her wine and starts to drink it. Nials makes a sound of disapproval and takes the glass, sipping from it. She seems fine, and after a moment she passes it to Marran, who drinks.
The servant hands Radulf Leder his glass of wine.
Ionala immediately steps forward with a jug of red wine, gets in the servant's path, and stumbles, pouring the contents on her livery. "Oh!"
Wildly trying to keep her balance, she knocks the glass across the table.
"Don't drink that!"
The servant makes an indignant noise, barely managing to keep from spilling the remaining two glasses on her tray.
Leder looks at Ionala and the spilt glass in surprise, and then at the wine down her livery. "Lass, are you well?"
Arric's chair scrapes the floor as he leaps to his feet. Rica hisses.
Ionala grabs the servant as she tries desperately not to fall. When she has a good grip, she says, "Can you test that spill, please?"
"Who prepared that tray?" Shun asks calmly, folding his arms as he stands before the door.
Velrin stands up, a dagger suddenly in her hand, “I already tested my glass and it wasn’t poisoned.”
The other servant girl, who Ionala likely knows from kitchen duty, holds still to let Ionala get her balance.
"Why pour separate glasses outside the room, miss?" Ionala asks.
Marran has stopped drinking her wine, but she seems to be suffering no ill effects from her sipping so far. Her eyes are wide.
Arric glances to Velrin. "That means this girl knew which glass to give to whom."
The servant girl flushes, and stammers something incomprehensible, and then says, "I was just following instructions. I picked the tray in the kitchen."
"Whose instructions?" Arric snaps.
Velrin nods to Arric and stays back while the others question the servant. Her silver eyes burn bright as she stares her down.
"Who instructed you? You're not in trouble, I won't allow it. But I need you to remember. Let's set that tray down,” Ionala says.
"Was it Gayle?" Corvin asks, coming to his feet. "I mean, was it a woman, this high, with…" his powers of description fail him.
Suddenly, the servant girl's eyes flash with anger. "It's not my fault."
Velrin strafes over to the spill to test it for poison without taking her eyes off the servant girl.
Ionala's instinct was on. The wine on the table is poisoned.
Ionala is not explaining herself or her actions. "It's not," she says. "We all know how to put filled drinks from a tray on the table. There's an order, to keep the tray balanced. You wouldn't have to know anything. But I need you to remember. Who told you to bring this tray? Were you already doing a job when you were instructed?"
Arric flushes slightly. He did not, in fact, know how to put filled drinks from a tray on the table.
"Just one person," Marran is saying, eyeing her own wine glass. "And not me." She seems vaguely put out by that. "Do they really think Leder is that much more important? Or is it because of his insistence that we stick with the Alliance…"
The servant girl looks trapped. Her eyes dart to Lady Elara Ashford, as if for help.
Ionala eases her grip, but she doesn't let go.
“If I can determine what sort of poison this is, it may offer some clues as to who is behind this.” Velrin says.
"What? It was a good ten-year Aspenwood," Lady Ashford says innocently, raising her hands. "To help a difficult meeting go down more easily."
"It is good," Marran comments, raising an eyebrow.
"I caught a similar scent from the stew served to the captives. So likely the same source," Shun nods at Velrin.
"The ones in Honor Hold? The attempted assassins?" Corvin asks to clarify.
Shun nods.
Rica looks to Arric. Her demeanor clearly reads, Biting time? Who I bite?
Arric lays a hand gently on the slightly pointed top of her oversized head. "Not now, love," he says softly.
Ionala looks back at the servant. she lowers her voice. "If you're in danger, look at me and blink twice. I'll protect you. I swear on the Light."
The girl looks to Ashford one more time, and then back to Ionala. After a long moment, she blinks twice.
"We'll need to clear out the kitchens," Nials is saying already, striding towards the door. "I'll see to it."
Nala nods. She stands in front of the serving girl, slightly to her left, like a bodyguard would, and looks to Shun and Velrin.
"She was following instructions," Ionala says, and when she does, she looks straight at Lady Ashford.
Arric looks at Nala, then tracks her gaze to Lady Ashford. He tightens his grip on Rica's head. Maybe biting.
"No one leaves yet," Shun states, holding his position.
Velrin’s body visibly tenses like she’s ready to pounce at any moment.
Rica want bite. RICA WANT BITE. She visibly fidgets.
Ashford meets Ionala's gaze, and there's a moment of recognition in her eyes. She laughs, and says, "Are you serious? It's about time all of you realized that Stromgarde is dead, and the Alliance doesn't care. These mercenaries can give you all the words they want, but when it comes to actions… fine, cling to your patriotism and die with it."
And then she disappears, with a faint scent of the fel.
Arric gasps!
Shun grunts.
"She can't have gone far. the circle's range is limited," Ionala says.
Rica makes a raptor aggro sound and wiggles.
"That could've been a summons," Corvin says, locking gaze with Arric. "That warlock in the ruins."
"Blast it," Arric says.
"If we're going to catch up you have to go, now," Ionala urges.
"Rica!" Arric snaps. "Tally ho!" He bolts for the exit.
Shun lets out a light huff and nods, then vanishes.
Velrin follows close on Shun’s heels, following his lead to their target.
Corvin and Maisha follow.
Ionala slides over to the basket she brought with her and pulls a wand out of it. "I'm staying with you," she says, "Until Lady Ashford is detained you're in danger. They'll get her," she promises.
Marran and Osgood look toward Leder, who says, "We'll see to the security of the Keep while they pursue. Looks like we found our 'infiltrator'. But she… she was one of our own."
The servant looks gratefully at Ionala, and says, "It's not me, not exactly. I'll be okay. Only… they have my little brother."
Ionala closes her eyes for a moment. "Did they take him hostage?"
The servant nods tearfully. "She said I just had to do as I was told, and he'd be back by tonight. I didn't know they were going to kill anybody."
"I know you didn't. If they'd told you, you would have figured out how to foil them," Ionala soothes. It's important that we know who Lady Ashford's people are, because she tried to have His Majesty killed in Honor Hold. She used Syndicate operatives for that."
"Or someone was using her here," Marran says, stepping closer. "Ashford's a Stromic noble house. One less, now, I suppose."
"It could be that too," Ionala agrees. "May I borrow that chair? She's had quite a day."
"Oh, by all means," Marran says agreeably, shoving it over.
Outside, the team rushes into the ruins, ready to track down the warlock and traitorous noblewoman.
Corvin and Maisha follow closely behind Arric, and Bael stalks protectively by Rica's side.
Mishell (Brannagen)
Arric seems fairly confident of where they're going up to a point, and then he says, "Rica. Find the bad lady."
Rica dashes ahead, her scaly nostrils flaring as she scents the wind. For a while she runs back and forth seemingly at random, but then she seems to lock onto something, and makes a grating, almost metallic sound that needs no translation for anyone who has ever been attacked by a raptor. Off she charges, with Arric close behind. Arric did not bring his rifle to the meeting, so he seems to be counting on Rica to do the violence.
It's clear Rica is on the right track when a felhunter leaps towards her from behind a broken wall. Bael snarls.
Corvin slows, looking back to the others. "Ready for combat?"
"I'm not certain we have a choice," Arric says, going pale at the sight of the felhunter but not backing away.
"Do I hear voices? I thought you said they couldn't follow," says a woman — Ashford. "That was the whole point of this."
"They can't, you should've gotten away clean," a lower voice says, and a sallow-faced man steps into view, his face paling when he sees the approaching force of hunters and raptors. And probably not the rogues, because they're probably stealthed. He does what any warlock in his situation would do, and hastily calls down a rain of fire on everyone.
Velrin emerges from behind the warlock and wraps a length of wire around his throat. She kicks in his knees to knock him down and begins to strangle him, choking out the spell.
Corvin hisses with pain and dodges back out of the fire, which continues for a few seconds after the takedown from stealth.
The warlock grabs at the wire, frantically trying to breathe as he falls.
Ashford is not sticking around. There are footsteps, as she takes off from her hiding spot and runs.
Rica gives chase, sprinting after the Bad Lady with intent to Bite.
Arric, after frantically putting out some fire on the arm of his jacket, follows after Rica.
Maisha is patting her own armor hastily. One strand of hair is still on fire and she hasn't noticed, but luckily the air from rushing after Arric puts it out.
Ashford is not faster than a motivated raptor. This time, there will be no escaping the Bite.
Rica triumphantly catches up to the Bad Lady, and her razor-sharp teeth sink into the back of the woman's leg. It's… not pretty.
"Atta girl!" Arric calls breathlessly as he catches up.
Right after the raptor makes her move, Shun descends seemingly out of nowhere as he goes to try and swiftly knock Ashford out.
Ashford screams in pain, and then there is blessed silence.
Maisha comes to a stop when she sees the woman fall. "Well, then. Now that's what I'd call progress."
Rica looks ready to disembowel the fallen woman, but a sharp whistle from Arric pulls her up short. She trots back to his side just as he finds a chair-height chunk of rubble to sit on and put his head between his knees.
Once the warlock is out cold, Velrin ties him up and applies some bandages to his neck to stop the bleeding.
Nearby, a very small brown-haired kid pokes his head out from behind the rubble. Wide-eyed, he asks,"Are we not playing hide-and-seek anymore?"
Arric sits up, his own eyes going rather wide. "Are you all right?" he asks the boy.
"Uh-huh," the kid says, looking down at the tied up warlock nervously. "You all play really serious."
Shun quickly turns from the sound of the unfamiliar voice. He doesn't relax just yet when he sees a child. This could be a trick.
"What's your name?" Arric asks.
"I'm Ewan," the kid says, knuckling dirt out of his eye. "They said I had to play hide-and-seek until evening. Can I go home now?"
"I'll come with you and make sure you get there," Arric says. "I'm Arric, and this is Rica. Have you ever petted a raptor before? She's tame."
Rica narrows her eyes at him in a very adolescent really? kind of look.
"Really?" Ewan says, in a very different, excited tone. He reaches out to pet the raptor.
Maisha smiles at Arric and the little kid.
Corvin is looking at the perimeter, his expression still worried.
Rica allows herself to be petted, glaring at Arric all the while.
"If you know the way back to your home," Arric says, "Rica and I will walk with you and make sure you get there safely."
"And we should get the prisoners back, too," Corvin says, nodding at Shun and Velrin. "We've dealt with this plot, but who knows what might be ahead."
"Cheerful sort," Maisha says with a little snort of a laugh. "But aye, let's get back."
“Indeed. We should see what information we can get out of them.” Velrin throws the warlock over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Aye, I bet they know something," Maisha nods.
"Our plans still stand, I think," Corvin says, looking to Shun. "If we want to behead the Syndicate's leadership. We've got their feelers out of the Keep, so now may be the time to plan a strike back."
"I'll trust you to tidy up with the prisoners and catch me up later?" Arric says, resting a hand protectively on the boy's shoulder.
"I will," Corvin says, with a brief smile at Arric. "And I'll trust you to see the kid home safe — and make sure Miss Webster's well at the Keep?"
Arric flushes slightly. "I'll certainly - see to anything that needs seeing to there," he says awkwardly. "Come along then," he says confidently to Ewan as though he is definitely the Boss of Ewan, whom he has known for seventeen seconds.
Luckily, that sort of tone works on children, especially children who might be just a little bit scared.
Ewan, as predicted, accepts his new boss.
Shun nods at all of this while he works on applying some restraints to Ashford in case she wakes up early.