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Skulls and dried flowers.

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Harlocke & Covie.

Tarzan - Directors: Chris Buck and Kevin Lima - June 18, 1999

BONUS

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"When searching for what you desire, best not to rely on directions."

Via Facebook

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Fences

"So you're all grown up, eh?" 

The deep baritone voice broke through the sound of the waves that crashed against the mountainside on the other side of the channel. A smile curled her lips as Covie turned around to look at the Kaldorei that she'd not seen in years.

Her hair whipped around her head from the brutal winds that swept through from the sea, looking much like a blackened halo. "Guess I had to at some point, huh?" Her gaze ran over the male's form, and she let out a huff of laughter. "You haven't changed a bit, Rem." 

The tips of his fangs appeared as he grinned, and a casual shrug was given as he stood on the far side of the dock. Where he'd come from, she didn't know, since the place had been empty upon her arrival. There was no boat, and no gryphon like the one waiting for her nearby. Though he was fully clothed, one wouldn't be able to mistake the corded muscles that ripped of a lean frame, and his dark blue hair was pulled back and up into a messy man-bun that would have looked ridiculous on anyone else. Couple that with the beard, and he was definitely a morsel to enjoy looking at. "There's only so much changing I can do at my age, yeah?" He gestured towards the house. "Let's talk."

 A nod was given as she followed him towards what looked like a broken down house along the mountainside on the west coast of the Eastern Kingdoms. It was guarded on all but one front, and even then, looks were deceiving. One might find a dilapidated, abandoned home here if they didn't know exactly what to look for, or how to make that illusion disappear. The Keeper stepped into the house with a watchful gaze. Having only been here a handful of times, her brother had always made her wait outside.

"I heard about your brother. Sorry to see him go, Cov." It was the only words of sympathy offered before his hands clapped together and he turned around to face her. Muscled arms lifted to cross over his chest. "So you're looking to step into his place, then?" Moving, the Kaldorei stepped to the unlit hearth, and leaned back against the stones as he watched the woman. 

 A shrug was given as she looked around for a moment, then finally returned her emerald gaze to his own blackened one. "I'm looking to test the waters, yeah. I already know the ins and outs, despite not being directly involved." At the expression on his face, she arched a brow. "What, you didn't think he told me everything?" She nodded, hands resting at her waist as she took a slow tour of the room. "I have something big coming up, and I need your services, Rem. It's as simple as that." Pausing, Covie looked over her shoulder at the elf. "Surely you don't still see me as the child that used to tag along with her brother, right?" 

An appreciative sweep of his gaze was given to her, and a single corner of his lips lifted into a smirk. "How could I, Covie Soames, Keeper of Grimscale Mercenaries? Contracted to the Baradin Wardens out on Tol Barad, and living on a ship docked off the coast." It was his turn to smile at her expression, a deep but quiet laugh rumbling out. "I don't just handle what you're looking for, Cov, but I have informants all over. Tidbits of information that aren’t exactly secret. But then, why would they be?" It was his turn to flash an amused expression. “What, you didn’t think I’d do my homework?”

Covie knew better than to let her shock remain for too long on her face, and a mask of neutrality appeared. "Mm," she responded, shaking her head. Of course he knew, or had done his research once she'd requested the meeting. "Alright, then. Tundin Steamclock. You've heard of him?" 

Silence met her inquiry, stretching over several moments before Rem finally nodded. "I do. And you know how difficult his product is to move. He's that good." When she didn't respond, he shrugged. "It'll cost you, but yeah... I can move it for you, keep it off the markets and go to personal buyers. For a fee." 

 With a smile, Covie walked over to the male. "Perfect. Let's discuss that fee, then." 

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Mercenaries or Criminals?

"That's not how we do things."

Dark violet eyes bore a hole right through her after she'd spoken, a look of both patience and contempt on the Ren'dorei's too-perfect features. "That's not how you -did- things, Ms. Soames. That is about to change."

Standing up from the table tucked into the corner of the bar, Covie looked around the room slowly, noting those that still lingered despite the early hour of the morning. The Keeper prided herself on running a company that had standards, that were able to retrieve even the most dangerous and difficult to obtain items... so long as the price was right. Was this really any different? His voice cut through her thoughts.

"The only difference is that you're the one setting up the contract, as opposed to a client. Otherwise, aside from the larger cut you'll receive, name the issue."

She couldn't, and she wanted to slap that smirk right off his face. Hating to admit it, Varelios was right. They were mercenaries; they fulfilled almost any contract brought to them, so long as it didn't violate the only two rules they had. After all, mercenaries were accepted, criminals were not. 

But this job was.... different. It had to be. It's what separated them from being full-on criminals. Wasn't it? Her hands gripped the back of her chair as she blew out a steady breath, eyes closing.

It had to be different...

And even then, a simple nod was finally given after several moments of silence from the woman. "I'll be in touch."

"Don't wait too long, Ms. Soames. Opportunities like this don't last long." His voice was quiet, words spoken with confidence as he brushed by her and disappeared into the night before she could respond.

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Grimscale Mercenaries

Covetous

1: marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions

2: having a craving for possession

What Are We?

Covetous Intent, known ICly as “Grimscale Mercenaries”, is a community-oriented (Alliance) guild with a multi-faceted nature. On the surface, we are a mercenary company, banding together in search of profit and adventure. Officially, the company is under contract by Baradin’s Wardens, putting our talents to good use on the island of Tol Barad.

Beneath the surface, however, Grimscale is more than just a collection of mercenaries. The group operates outside the bounds of Alliance law, working within the seedy underbelly of society for its own benefit. Mercenaries sell their swords for profits, but why stop there? The underworld is a veritable gold mine. Intimidation, assassination, black market dealings, racketeering, brothels. If there is a profit to be made, Grimscale is likely to be involved.

Our Mission:

Interesting, character-driven roleplay is the name of the game. Well, actually the name of the game is World of Warcraft, but you get the point. We are a guild that seeks quality RP from our members and from players associated with other guilds or those unassociated entirely.  Our first priorities are weaving an in-depth narrative and creating a broad appeal within the RP community. Our goal is not only quality and drama-free roleplay for ourselves, but to build lasting connections with guilds of like mind and foster the growth of inter-guild and server-wide events.

Is Grimscale For You?

We like to think of ourselves as a friendly bunch, and we are happy to consider any legitimate interest in membership. Our membership is most active in the evening, and events are typically scheduled in the 5PM-6PM (sever) range. The guild is comprised of adults over the age of 18 and as such has adult-themed OOC discussion. We aim to foster a pleasant and friendly OOC environment while also striving for high-quality storytelling. That being said, we realize that our guild is not everyone’s cup of tea. Our IC focus is on the shadier side of society. Those seeking to play a true hero of the Alliance or a ‘knight in shining armor’ may not find fulfillment in Grimscale.

How to Join:

Please navigate to our tumblr page and submit an application. Grimscale has a set limit to the number of players we’ll accept as a whole. If you have questions, feel free to reach out via tumblr, or find an officer in game: Cóvie, Vurim, or Thaêlea.

((For potential re-blogs: @wraconnect @wracentral @the-royal-courier))

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Covie Soames - LF Contact

THE BASICS

Age:  21

Race:  Human

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Marital Status: Unmarried / taken

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Hair: Black, long

Eyes: Green

Height: 5′8″

Build: Average, but toned

PERSONAL

Profession: Mercenary

Hobbies: Horticulture, hemomancy, gambling, brawling

Residence: A ship off the coast of Tol Barad

Birthplace: Stormwind City

Fears: What’s -in- the sea, spiders, losing her family/company

TRAITS

* Bold your character’s answer.

Extroverted / In Between / Introverted

Disorganized / In Between / Organized

Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded

Calm / In Between / Anxious

Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable

Cautious / In Between / Reckless

Patient / In Between /  Impatient

Outspoken / In Between / Reserved

Leader / In Between / Follower

Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic

Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic

Hard-working / In Between / Lazy

Cultured / In Between / Uncultured

Loyal / In Between / Disloyal

Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful 

RP HOOKS

Grimscale Mercenaries: Her work is her life, and she is open to taking most any contracts for the company and herself. Contracts can include almost anything, as she believes everything can be done for the right price. This also includes treasure hunting! Having been raised in the lifestyle from her father, then her brother, she has always been involved in various circles in one way or another. (Guild tumblr can be found here)!

Blood Magic / Hemomancy: Covie is self-taught, and learning slowly due to caution when it comes to hemomancy. Any sort of guidance, or experiments would be accepted!

Brawling:  Often found in the brawlpub, Covie enjoys both participating, and watching the brawls that take place. Gambling and drinking go hand in hand.

Black Market:  Covie has had a heavy hand in the black market for some time, often retrieving hard-to-obtain items to put up for sell/auction. 

Misc: I can work with mostly anything. I love RPing things from alchemy to blood magic to animal companions. I often initiate walk-ups in game, and have no problem with one-off scenes. Adventure RP is fantastic as well. 

WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR

Any sort of RP, so long as it’s quality RP. I prefer to RP in game, though discord RP is welcome from time to time. Tumblr is limited, as I don’t enjoy a full scene taking place in this avenue. Asks are always welcomed, along with short interactions. 

I’m looking for friendships, enemies, or anything in between. Past familial relationships are welcomed, so long as we can make it fit with the characters. Healthy competitions/rivalries are also enjoyed.(as far as work matters go)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Tumblr: This is it

In WoW as:  Cóvie or Covié  (dual class until transition into hunter is complete IC). 

(For potential reblogs: @wraconnect @wracentral @the-royal-courier)

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Beautiful art of Covie by Nyxaria! 

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Opportunity & Change

Footsteps of the armored guards that flanked the raven-haired woman echoed throughout the winding tunnels located below the earth's surface with every step taken against the metal plates that made up the flooring. The woman said nothing, her gaze forward, posture straight, an air of confidence surrounding her. But those metal, rhythmic sounds were suddenly swallowed up and replaced by wailing that came from an unknown entity further down the tunnels towards the cells that she’d not passed by on her way in. There was no reaction given, gaze flicking briefly towards the darkness of a tunnel further ahead, but was otherwise dismissed. 

It smelled of rusted metal, sweat, blood, and something she couldn’t quite place, but figured it was better not to know, not to wonder. The letter that had brought her to the prison of Tol Barad was held loosely in one hand, and the Warden’s offer replayed in her mind from their meeting held only moments prior. The way she repeatedly tapped it gently against her leg was the only betrayal of any sort of nerves. 

Finally, they exited the tunnel system, a steady, deep breath taken in of the fresh air, and Covie moved towards the massive garn that waited patiently, while the two guards remained at their station near the entrance. There were no words spoken as she stepped away, climbed into the saddle with ease, took up the reins, and began to make her way off of the island. She knew she was being watched, but it meant little, despite being a bit unnerving. In truth, this entire island was unnerving. One could easily feel the magic that settled here, not only from the protective wards that kept the prisoners in check (and often failed), but in the very soil itself. It lingered everywhere, and it felt like a thick blanket that had settled over her form. It felt… dark. Even the guards weren’t exactly ‘right’. 

But the thought was dismissed as Silo loped towards the imposing metal architecture that was the center bridge connecting the two islands. The garn was pulled to a stop at the center, and Covie took a moment to simply look from one side to the other. The same location, with two very different ‘vibes’ coming from both, and though she’d always known the prison was there, and who it housed, the Keeper had never actually traveled onto the Southern island before; there’d been no reason to. Until this morning, anyway. While Tol Barad Peninsula had become her home over the last several months, there had never been a thought given to the other island. But this offer… this would change things. 

A single, light tug on the reins was given before Silo continued to lope towards the peninsula, and she guided him to the western side, where the massive graveyard was located. Every now and then, word was spread about restless spirits, and a failed attempt at raising those that were put to rest here. Her emerald gaze swept over the various headstones and crosses, and knew what trouble could rise from this particular area. But overall, this wasn’t high on the list of concerns, and she moved on to the north. 

A wide berth was given to the center location of the peninsula where the thick webs were seen from nearly any location on the island itself. She couldn’t help but shudder at the reminder that Harlocke had taken refuge with her inside one of the thick, sticky webs meant to entrap prey, and her stomach rolled. Covie -hated- spiders. Feared them, even. The woman ‘noped’ right out of investigating that particular death trap, and moved on. As she toured the island, she noted potential problems that would need to be dealt with, locations that were prime for housing for those within the company, and those that would frequent the area, though her little tour ended with Rustberg Village.

It was known for the pirates that docked here, trade done amongst them all down near the harbor. So long as there wasn’t massive bloodshed, the Warden’s let them be, and it didn’t seem as if there was any one entity they all answered to. Instead, chaos erupted now and then, but matters were typically handed amongst themselves. Those that stayed for longer than a few hours often made their way to the nearby inn that Covie had come quite fond of, as of late. The chefs were amazing, the booze was always in stock, and even the waitstaff were enjoyable company.

All of it mattered, and the offer given was one that could lead to…. So many other opportunities not only for Covie, but for Grimscale as a whole. Already, she envisioned this place to be something more, something worthwhile, and the more the thoughts continued to develop, the tighter her hands gripped the leather reins. It meant big changes to what she had already set in place for Grimscale, but change was meant to be embraced, as far as she was concerned. Even the plans she hadn't yet implemented could be twisted and tweaked in order to fit with this new vision of hers. 

One thing at a time, though. While the offer wasn't accepted yet, assurances needed to be in place before she could speak to the Warden with confidence. The first was to speak to a few key members of Grimscale, seeds planted in regards to the grand opportunity this all would mean, that would only flourish later. They would adapt to this change and settle into a semi-new role… or they would leave. It was as simple as that. 

There was only one the Keeper believed would have an issue, and there was no choice but to keep him, an asset he was that couldn't be let go. But only when she had answers to it all would she seek him out and attempt to turn this into a benefit for him. But for now…. 

The scaled charm at her wrist warmed as she sought out Thaelea, her voice slipping through the Ren'dorei's mind quietly. "I need to see you. I'll meet you at the emissary portal in Tol Barad." 

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Image by Natalia Drepina

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Weakness

Covie didn't simply walk away from Svarr after turning away from the man, she ran. She sprinted until her legs ached with every step, and her lungs burned with every breath. Even then, she didn't stop. The physical pain was welcomed, though it came nowhere close to matching what she felt in her heart; was there anything that even would?

It wasn't until she reached the far side of the sea along the southern coast of Westfall that the woman dropped down in the sand, unable to go any further. Her breathing was ragged, her body trembled, and her stomach rolled. And still, she looked around wildly, despair filling her to the point of illness. Those tears that had been held back suddenly let loose, hot against her lashline before rolling down her cheeks in steady streams. Here, alone, she could be pathetic, she could be sad, and she could cry. No one would see her, and no one would judge her for it.

Ayla? Gone.

Daegan? Gone. 

The two that had been with her since she was but a child, teaching her, growing together, and becoming a trio that had been unstoppable in more ways than one. The two were people who knew her better than she knew herself, just as she'd known them. The only two that she showed her true self to, that she relied on in every way to keep her grounded, to support her, and she them. And now... she was lost, her heart feeling like it had literally been broken from the pain she felt in her chest. Every beat of the muscle, every breath she took.... hurt. 

Without warning even to herself, Covie tipped her head back, and let out a ear-shattering scream. It likely only lasted moments, but it felt like a life-time, her throat sore and voice hoarse by the end of it. The sound of the sea swallowed up her scream, carrying it away on the wind. Her eyes opened as she looked out over the rolling and crashing waves of the ocean, then felt her stomach turn violently. 

Crawling away frantically, she hunched over and threw up, and even when there was nothing left in her system, her stomach heaved.  Her arm curled around her abdomen as she moved away, then sank down in the sand again and simply stared at the sea. Daegan has left for reasons of his own, but Covie was no fool, and neither were the others. She loved him with all that she had, but not in the way he’d loved her. They would never ‘be,’ and last night, she’d finally allowed her feelings for Harlocke to be shown, a simple gesture because she believed that she ‘deserved happiness.’

How… foolish. 

How… selfish. 

Daegan could tell Svarr it was for purpose, for being something he was meant to be, and while it was true in part, she also wasn’t under the delusion that it had nothing to do with her. It wasn’t vain if it was truth. 

Her head dropped back and she searched the skies, Daegan and Svarr’s beliefs whipping through her mind, that were slowly becoming her own beliefs. And there in the sand, she got to her knees, and she prayed to whichever god might be listening that they kept him safe, that they guided him, knowing he needed it now more than ever. He’d walked away from them, but it was also to better the man that he was. Even in her grief, Covie knew that. 

She would be strong before she headed back to the others, even if it was false. A smile in place of a frown, laughter instead of tears. Covie could 'fake it' with the best of them, and no one would know. A leader that fell to her emotions? That would never be respected. 

But for the moment... she was alone, and she could be pathetically weak.