#Ilyea's thoughts

[thebuildingcacophony]

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Inspired Music: 

Ilyea continued her walk within the twilight; the cool airshaking away the thoughts of what transpired. Erudition was always morehospitable around this time as less people were around to break her train ofthoughts. The cool air felt right waking her up from her pre-meditation status,as her bare feet hit the train of the dirt along the ground.

Out of the corner of her eye, a mournful howl pierced thewinds and Ilyea turned her head just enough to watch the hind legs of a wolfbound past. One couldn’t see a creature like that and not have her thoughtsmove towards a certain individual; Celestine.

“I have heard her name whispered to me plenty in the comingnights within the row upon that stupid abandoned cart or from different lipswithin Sunspire port to know who she is. Lledwyn for whatever reason had someinterest in her but that’s something that I don’t bother thinking about.” Ilyeasmirked to herself as that thought left her before continuing.

“While it may not seem like much, she is someone that I havelearned on a greater level then any lover could say they could while stillremaining on the fringes like an acquaintance. People can wax poetry about unboundwinds, infernos and wolves until they are blue in the face because of the behaviorshe wears around those.

Her blood sends something else to be desired of the fewtimes that I wore her essence anyways.

The strength of Celestine’s character is involved with thecompany she keeps, and those that make up her “pack.” Out of all the peoplethat I interviewed or observed, they all have a reason to fight for her; tolove her. The wolves that she keeps figuratively or metaphorically are as muchas the bond that makes up Celestine then the woman herself.

It showed in the way the way her family fretted when shedied, how much her unholy undead guy thing went out of his way to do what hedid, how many lives were caught up in her tempest.

I wouldn’t have met Kael if it wasn’t for what I decided todo with her blood anyways, nor would just found the limit of using such a poweras well.

When someone has that many friends, and that many enemies;it’s easy to see how possessive and worried she becomes of her “wolves.”

They make her as much as she makes them. “

Ilyea wandered near the path where she had seen the wolfcounting the dozens of paw prints where its pack had wandered close for food.

“At first, I wondered if it was really her blood that hadcaused all those people to exist her near, if she was manipulating them due tothings that I’ve experienced in years past but it’s not that at all.

She has a charisma that brings people to her like the eye ofthe storm, red and powerful as well as seductive and smooth.

People aren’t coming to Celestine to become her enemy, butto perhaps gain some of the unbreaking loyalty that she gives to her wolves.

Maybe that’s why I went through the lengths to correct herdeath as I did. To have that kind of an ally is powerful and better to be onher good side, then her bad side. “

Ilyea decided not to follow the paw prints moving back intothe safety of the wards as the traveled along the outside of the hamlet.

“One cannot help though but to consider that with all thebreaks in her blood, and all the rituals that she has gone through that thetempest is a storm that has lost its path. It’s goal. The same swirling chaos Irecognize as a thin line of similarity between us both; needs something tofocus its magic on or else it just breaks everything apart.

Perhaps Theron can provide a bit of guidance for her butwith what I felt in her blood; I doubt it.

He probably has more hands full with her then anything Icould provide.

Hopefully when our paths cross again, it’ll be under bettercircumstances.

Conclusion: Treat Celestine as much as you wish to be treated. Do not come under any false pretenses as she will sniff them out. Come with honesty and politeness. Do not attempt to trick, fool, or manipulate this woman.”

Ilyea giggled at the thought of Celestine and her meetingnext and they happen summon an old god with their rate of catastrophes andTheron’s face at doing that. Twirling on her foot, the mage broke into an easyjog into a random direction with a smile on her face.

 @wolf-queen (Mention:  @theron-darksunder, @lledwynlomeriel (Wolves of Winter tumblr if there’s one)) 

(Thank you for the Prompt Wolf Queen) 

[wolf-queen]

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     Since her return, she had spent countless hours writing everything down. From names to clues, events to memories, feelings to plans. The names were all those who were involved, those who decided not to take part, those who had yet to even realize she had returned. Step by step, line by line, she filled the journals and dated them. She wasn’t due to be ‘recovered’ for weeks after her waking ritual. When the time came, she had hoped she had every bit of information written down. As she moved onto the category of those who were involved, Ilyea’s name came out in a soft scratch of her quill. Brows furrowed as she thought upon the woman, canting her head while pensive eyes stared at the name. 

     “We are not so different, are we?” She inquired aloud to no one in particular. She inhaled slowly and began to write, her mind trailing away from the facts and onto a personal opinion. 

     “Ilyea Lomeriel, sister to Lledwyn Lomeriel. Associate of Kael’deryn Ravensdawn and Demytrya Wintersong’s Scions of Antiquity. Proficent in Blood Magic. Requested to test my blood by Lledwyn and Kurel An’diel. Blood obtained by Velerodra Valesinger. Essence was recreated into a trinket and used for research. Runes were not able to hide her new creation and a beacon was formed. Thoren Winters found her. No harm was done to her, she directed him to Sunspire Port. My slumber began.” She sighed, rolling her lips between her teeth, only to snag the bottom petal in an assault with her pearly whites. 

     “Although she performed her task, she was unaware of the consequences. Pressure perhaps brought her to do what she did, but even then, she is not to be blamed. No one is. I met her twice before. The dinner that turned disastrous between the Wolves and the Scions, and again at the Scion’s Erudition for Noble Garden festivities. I forgave her long before, though there was nothing to truly forgive. She assisted Theron in returning me from my prison, along with Vyth. For that, perhaps I owe her, or are we to call it even? I’m not sure. Maybe the future will answer that. I fully intend to find her soon.”

                                        [ @thebuildingcacophony ]

[nihanovacaine]

The Horn of Recompense (Chapter Two)

The Magistrix and the Shal'dorei Rogue, Valteia Sindal were now in the Dalaran Hq. "Ilyea, I am giving you the co-ords to the Dalaran Office. Do you think you can come over. I have more to speak about that map. Remember to look at Draumr in the eye."  

"Be right there in a flash.......just need to uh, .....figure out something. Aurora will be there with me as well...hold on hold on." She sounds rushed but there's a faint whirling click in the background.

Valteia stayed in full stealth as she listened to Lady Emberfury speak on the comms device. She watched the door to the Dalaran office intently, ready to intervene should things go awry.

Ilyea hesitantly walked into the area and fumbled with the bandages on her hand as she walked over to the door "Okay....the thing with the eyes. Looking something in the eyes, maybe. maybe? Maybe." She seemed to be more reassuring herself.

Valteia watched as the Sin'dorei walked through the doors of the Dalaran office, her periwinkle hues narrowed. She eyed the woman's bandages and studied them, pondering as to why the woman possessed them in the first place.

As the Guardian, Draumr, sensed the presence of the Red-haired Clandestine, the runeforged Sentry would liven up, letting out a stony grind as it did so. Blue runic bolts shot from its eyes as it scanned the Sin'dorei. "Gree...tings.....Cole...Ilyea." It would clap its hands together and open the door on the walkways for the Mage to come in. "Elu...meniel....mal...alan..."

"Oh !Shit!" Ilyea exclaimed loudly with a small jump to her steps. "A security system, well that makes sense....kind of like the other one in Stormheim maybe?" Another fiddling of the bandages as she tilted her head seemed to look to something else. No matter. The woman took a faint smirk as she finger gunned to the guardian. making sure to look at it within its eye, or wherever it was. Ilyea looked all over. Better to be safe than sorry. "Elu menny benny boo to you too." She chirped as she walked further into the office.

Valteia watched and listened carefully as Draumr confirmed the identity of the fiery-haired Sin'dorei who had entered. "Ilyea Cole." Valteia thought to herself, making a mental note.

Nimuehdra would be perched over a large round table as Ilyea walked inside. Her white tresses would cover her features as she hovered over w leather object over the aforementioned table. The Map was all inscribed in runes and ancient elven. Being a reliquarian, Nimuehdra hoped Ilyea would help solve her problems. Nimuehdra looked up as she spoke back to Draumr. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she did so. "Welcome, Ily." said the Magistrix with a gentle smile upon her lips.

Valteia watched as Ilyea approached Lady Emberfury at the table, her eyes never leaving the woman. Because she was unfamiliar with the fiery-haired mage, she was wary of letting her guard down.

"Eeeeeyyy you two." Ilyea murmured once more shooting finger guns. "Just had a hard time with the portaling thing, doing some hard training and lost a bit of track of time. Going from bashy into smarty brain...yeah.."Ilyea figured she had said too much and she could practically hear Aurora rolling his eyes. Ilyea hopped up onto the table where the map was, not taking care one bit. "Oh yeah! The mappity map! Right.....anything you figured out before hand, is this where the Horny Horn is or...just seeming in general for things?"

Valteia lofted an ebony brow at Ilyea's words "you two." She looked about her person with a bewildered expression, wondering how the woman could see her under her cloak of stealth. Realizing that she could be seen my the mage, Valteia dispelled her concealment. She approached the two Sin'dorei, her footfalls light against the office's flooring. She continued to peer at Ilyea, her glowing hues narrowed.

Ilyea was actually surprised to see another person pop up. "Oh %^&*, another person. I was referring to my husband." The mage answered dumbly. She gestured to some invisible space but to say the other rogue was around that spot, she really wasn't showing.

Nimuehdra smirked and returned the gesture back with Ily's signature finger gun with a single gloved hand. She grew concerned as she learned that the Mage was not able to portal to Dalaran. "Ily...Is everything quite alright?" Snowy brows furrowed at the woman. "Auro and Ily, this thing..." A single gloved digit pointed at the map before her. "It's all gibberish to me. Valteia here," She gestures with her chin toward the stealthy Shal'dorei. "Helped translate a while ago that it led to a Cave of sorts. Perhaps this Horn of Recompense as the Vrykul called it, is what the creature guards." She sighed. Her gaze was affixed on the Shal'dorei agent.

Valteia opened her eyes wide at the revelation, feeling a bit embarrassed. She gently scratched by her ear in her humiliation. She remained silent, wishing to pretend the exchange had never happened. As Lady Emberfury addressed her, she glanced over to the Magistrix, giving a nod as she acknowledged her words. "Aye. I share these sentiments, my lady. Considering such an artifact gives one the chance of acquiring one wish, it's only natural for it to be heavily guarded by a powerful creature." continued, averting her gaze from Lady Emberfury, her periwinkle hues falling upon Ilyea's features. "I am unable to fully translate the map I read at the Vrykul settlement as I am a of a newer generation of elves. However, I -did- manage to create a broken translation based off of similar words and phrases shared between ancient Elvish and Shalassian. From what I was able to translate, Odin placed a curse upon Helya, allowing the Jotun, Fafnir, to be freed from her service. He was able to repent by guarding the Horn of Recompense. The map mentions that should someone seek out the Horn and successfully complete its trial shall be presented to him or her one wish." She paused a moment and glanced over to Lady Emberfury. "This horn is what the Magistrix seeks and the promise of a free wish."

"Wish...?" Ilyea's lip pressed together as she thought about it for a little while. "Is it some kind of time magic.....perhaps?" Ilyea asked but was unsure of exactly what was meant by it. There had to be some severe kind of draw back regarding it, and to receive a map that contained it. "Creatures, traps, puzzles....all of the like. Incredible..."Ilyea mused as she confirmed her seat upon the edge of the map. The Mage was of the Magistrix’ concern "I'm sure it's just because of my training. I recognize the lines a bit, just been training more with my fists than with my magic if you catch my drift.."The mage mused. "You should worry exactly kind of wish you may be looking for? Sometimes the price of such may be too great..."Ilyea moved her fingertips across the battered leather and the runic whouls with soft trepidation. A dot of blood would fall where Ilyea would touch but bare enough that it wouldn't hold any weight. Ilyea closed her eyes and seemed to spread her *aura* over the map speaking to the arcane links within the instrument. As she breathed in her eyes would flutter a soft blue as it began to soak up the links and patterns of what was before her. The mage would move her hands letting each runic link flutter and disappear as she moved her hand past, it glowing now softly blue as did the mage. "The magic feels pure, kind of like the wards.....titanic to a fault. The link is there. The runes....while Valkyr are almost Kaldorei in response, nothing that I recognize but then again I didn't do much research into that. Titan though....that would make sense, if it was very heavily guarded....especially considering the spike in old god magics...."The mage shook her head letting the blue drain into green of her eyes. "That's as far as I was getting."

Nur'kuhzal gave a knock to the door frame, before lifting her arms in a large yawn. Bones and joints were popping like a crate of fireworks over there. "Oooh...I should have taken a nap -here-, instead of on the ground..." Nur'kuhzal yawned sleepily.

Draumr greets Nur'kuhzal as a Scion. "Elu...meniel...mal...alann...Duskrune...Nur...kuh....zal...."

Ilyea turned her head recognizing another Clandestine member and giving her a brief nod. She was sprawled herself over the map upon one corner itself, her fingers tapping across the page.

Valteia watched as the Mage began to run her fingers against the map, spreading her aura across the etchings within the leather. The glow emitted from Ilyea's aura reflected in Valteia's periwinkle orbs, creating flashes of blue within the assassin's irises. As the hue of the mage's eyes fluttered into a pale blue, Valteia watched the scene with curiosity, though kept her own eyes narrowed should the incantation go awry. Once Ilyea's hues faded back into their natural, green state, Valteia's body eased, her eyes no longer staring daggers into the fiery-haired maged. Noticing Nur'kuhzal Nur'kuhzal enter the Dalaran office, Valteia nodded at her with respect, acknowledging her existence.

Nur’kuhzal offered a lowering of her head, as well. The most prominent thing in -Nur'kuhzal's- eyes was confusion. Had she really -just- woken up, this late at night?

Nimuehdra watched as the drop of blood fell upon the map. Emerald obrs studied the Mage's movements as she worked. The Blood Mage listened intently, raising a gloved hand to her chin as she spoke. "Of titanic make...yes...that makes sense...the runes are old even the newer Vrykul have forgotten some of their usage as well. The tribe we...acquired this from. Were using it for wealth and prosperity. Something about it...seems a miss." Nimuehdra, being a Scion for a while was used to the red-haired mage's eyes flickering to blue every once in a while.

"Eh, you know what they say. Don't judge a book by it's cover, and all of that business." Nur’kuhzal said.

Vamine blinked, hearing the conversation inside, she stops knocking and pressed her ear to the door. She listened in on whatever was taking place.

The Sentry, Draumr greeted the teenager and whirred. A stony hand would grind away from its body to open the door. "Young Emberfury.....Elu....meniel....mal...alan...."

Nur'kuhzal yawned, and stretched, again. A smoking pipe was brought out--crafted from a smooth, black rock--was procured, glancing to the others with questioning. As if to ask, if it was fine to smoke in here.

Vamine meeped loudly as the door sprang open and she fell forward, looking at Draumr. "Yeah, yeah. Aluminum Mental Mal'Ganis to you too.."

Ilyea tilted her head as Vamine fell forward and chuckled, but then again she hadn't seen Vammy since she got older so her eyebrow rose again. "You got another kid?" The mage asked but simply brushed her fingers across. "Wealth and Prosperity....perhaps, but a wish. You don't understand Nims. A wish...to be able to boast that is some realty breaking power. Is it really meant for that, or is it even pure? Is it corrupted? There's so much to be said here..."The mage offered biting her thumb. "Magic that powerful must has some kind of fall back....typically. Does it mean it can be re-done or is it a one or done? Whoever is protecting it might know this....or something is looking to you to figure it out..”

Vamine rubbed her arm, peering around to all the people. She pulled her hood back to reveal her matured features. She was quite the beautiful young lady, but it was clearly still Vamine.

Nur'kuhzal fiddled with her boot, flapping the loose end that was barely holding on. There were holes in her socks, too. "Oh, feet! Toenails!" Blink, blink. "What about uh, the cave thing?"

Valteia smirked to herself behind her leather face mask, fondly remembering the night when they acquired the map. The discussion between the two Vrykul was colorful, to say the least. At hearing Ilyea's concern, however, Valteia ceased thinking of humorous thoughts. She listened to the mage's words carefully, letting them sink into her mind. She glanced between the fiery-haired woman and Lady Emberfury before chiming in. "If Lady Emberfury deems acquiring this Horn to be of utmost importance, then it shall be done. However, madame Cole -does- seem to make a good point. Perhaps we should look into this 'wish' and the possible repercussions that could arise from obtaining it."

Nimuehdra thinned her lips into a smile to Vamine. She pointed at her as she entered. "Vamine has...uh...had a growth spurt of sorts. She is seventeen years old now." She informed the Red-haired mage, shifting the emerald gaze to her. "I don't....desire anything but the artifact, Ilyea. There is something amiss. So much that is incomplete about the information we have. And for a whole village of Vrykul to so horribly desire it..." She she raised her hand to massage her right temple. "There is more to it, Ily...I just know it. Dangerous it may be...but I am no fool. I won't ask for anything. I have learned that you must be careful what you wish for." She wrinkled her nose at Nur'kuhzal. "Yes...the Horn...it points us to a Cave. We were hoping the Clandestines would help us locate it. Maybe Auro can go scout for the coordinates. I know there is a portal summoning involved." The Magistrix looked toward the group. A heavy sigh would escape her lips as she averted her gaze and folded her arms deep in thought.

Valteia furrowed her brows in confusion as Vamine entered the room. When she last saw the young Sin'dorei, she was a mere child hiding behind the skirt of her mother's gown. She eyed the girl curiously, pondering how one could grow so rapidly in such little time. At hearing Lady Emberfury's sigh, she averted her eyes from the younger Emberfury and spoke calmly. "What do you know of the Vrykul's history that could indicate why they would desire such a relic? Is there something sinister afoot in this village, perhaps?"

Nimuehdra sighed and shrugged at Valteia, "It is an artifact that can cause potential unrest among people if not safely guarded. Maker knows what they would have accomplished if we had not whisked it away from the village's possession." She raised both her arms and played her fingers. "Imagine, an entire village, Valteia."

Ilyea pressed her lips together in long thought as she considered the information to herself. "I'm wondering if the Vykyul are cursed? Or...I mean, they give you this in order to figure it out as well....? I wonder if they are stuck to the village because they failed the riddle....I don't like this." The mage's words were soft. "I don't like this at all. We could be walking into a trap for a powerful artifact or something similar. Always look to see if the worst will outweigh what it means...and please don't mean this any disrespect each other....I don't mean any disrespect at all."Ilyea frowns as she looks over the map tilting her head to the side. "Aurora is saying that he is sure in his adventures in Northrend that he may recognize it, or his network does. Somewhere within near the border of the Fjord and Dragonblight.....that's what least from what he sees from all this time treasure hunting."The woman took in a sigh and didn't seem too concerned about Vammy. It happens in this world.”

Nur’kuhzal spoke up, saying "There's always something 'bad' happening. Whether it's corrupt elders making everything seem fine, or warping people's views of something that "doing this thing will be better for everyone in the end", when the elders know it isn't. Heck, Hydra hasn't even told us what she wants to do with it. We could be aiding her for some sinister cause as well; not even knowing it ."

Valteia did as commanded, imagining an entire village of riled Vrykul. "It would be a formidable scene, my lady, though I'm sure Kirilovos and I could dispatch such nuisances with relative ease." she remarked with a hidden smirk, her fingers drumming against the hilts of her blades.

Vamyine remained quiet, peering around to the remaining group. She had no idea what this meeting was about. She however began rummaging around the office, opening footlockers and peering within them.." She knelt down and let out a small sound. “Hrm…”

Nimuehdra nodded and approached the fiery-haired Mage. "I know how you feel about such shady artifacts, Ilyea." She returned in a calm voice. "If it is a trap, we will try our best to withdraw before it gets too dangerous. I know you mean no harm..." Nimuehdra would recall the time with the bracelet of coercion and how when the Magistrix informed her that it originated from a dark druidic hazing ritual, Ilyea had decided to destroy it. A sigh escaped her full lips as she turned once more to Nur'kuhzal. "I assure you I am not cursed. Not at all. I only wish for this.....artifact to be studied and stored away. It could be potentially dangerous in the wrong hands. I...." she bit her lip as her voice trailed off.

Nimuehdra saw Vamine from the corner of her eye, "What are you doing, child?" She shook her head and then looked back to Ilyea. "If Auro thinks he recognizes the place...then let us prepare and at least...at least check if it is indeed dark in nature."

Vamine had found a really pretty dress in the foot locker. She subtly pressed it into a bag on her hip and nodded. Standing and peering to Nimuehdra. "O-Oh nothing...heh.." She stretched and let out a grunt. "Mmm.."

Ilyea bowed her head "That's all really and I agree with you in putting away such a dangerous artifact. We have several within the deep vaults that we study from time to time. If it's a means of procuring it and putting it there to study as you say would be fine. The only thing I caution is why exactly regarding it....tis all." The mage offered as she rolled her shoulders. "He does. He pointed it out to me."

"Whatever happens, happens.” Said Nur'kuhzal, continuing, “Everyone ends up doing what they want, eh? When are we going to shove off? I didn't even flab my gums this much to my psychiatrist."

Nimuehdra gave Vamine a look as she stood next to her. Shifting her gaze back to Ilyea, she nodded. "Such is the job of the Scions as well, I believe. Let us...pursue it." Her orbs averted to Nur'kuhzal for a moment as she spoke. "Nur'kuhzal, we need to prepare first. Like Ilyea said, we can't just be walking into a death trap."

Vamine blinked at the look Nimuehdra gave her. "What?" She then shrugged and looked over to Ilyea and Nur'kuhzal, she smiled very softly. Her purple and green eyes brightened quite a bit. "Hmmm.."

Ilyea bowed her head "That's, I mean, the least we can do. Though some times death traps seems awfully fun, they are not fun when you actually encounter them." The mage mused with a lift of a smile. "And you are correct, that's what the Scions do. If anything, we'll learn a bit."

Nur'kuhzal's arms crossed softly, hefting herself up and heading over to the map. "Well, one thing's for certain." Nur'kuhzal, stepping up to the plate since things were moving at a snail's pace. At least she had motivation, now. "I've seen this sort of thing, before. We used similar to reach access to our dead and speak with them. The only difference is a larger sacrifice in order to make it appear in the -physical- realm, instead of the -spirit- realm." She grunted.

Ilyea frowned to herself more so and pressed her lips together in long suffering silence. "So even necromancy.....or a kind of necromancy. Do you think dark titan magic like with Heilya or something similar then?" The mage was unsure as more information was thrown her way.

Vamine looked at the map, tilting her head to the side a bit. "Hmm.." She blinked. "If you are wishing to speak to the dead..without bringing them into the physical realm..Why not just ask the assistance of a strong Shadow Priest.. I would offer my services..but the dead kind of scream too much..”

Nur'kuhzal responded, "I don't think it's too out of the question to think such a thing. I used to do that sort of thing, before we got picked up by the Legion. Well, help the others with that sort of thing. We still practiced a variant of it, with the Legion. Even -I- practice a variant of it today. Elemental spirits, rather than.... gods, though. A big project like this, would definitely need more than one person involved. Demigods? Giant toenail clippings? Whatever."

Vamine blinked at Nur'kuhzal. “I am worried about you…”

Ilyea slipped off the map and moves over to where Aurora re-appeared as reaching her bloodied hands up to take some of his hair. She smiled as it colored it pink and kissed the ends. "So.....that would perhaps be what the village maybe is doing? Or am I off?”

Nur'kuhzal gave a wheezed chuckle, filling the chamber of her pipe with a strange, ground-up crystal that had been purple in origin. "Welcome to old age, little one."

Vamine looked at Nur'kuhzal. "Yeeeah, here is to praying I never get that old.."

Nimuehdra nodded to Nur'kuhzal, emerald eyes shifting to Auro as he appeared momentarily. She nodded a greeting to him even though he was present all along, acknowledging his presence. As the fiery haired Mage moved away from the Map, the Blood Mage would take a deep breath and began, "Ilyea, while Necromancy is a dark art, they are somewhat what Warlocks like Nur'kuhzal are adept at, I would briefly point out that I was trained to do so as a Blood Mage. I don't believe you recall our conversation from when I first joined the Scions...but I am not unfamiliar with this kind of magic. We might as well have to offer a sacrifice for this Jotun to appear...according to what Valteia translated, he was named Fafnir." She nodded once to herself. "These crystals can possibly be at the Village...they may have doubled their guard however. I may have to request Auro to pilfer them, if that is the case,"

The mage gives Nimuehdra a look as if saying "the hell?" The mage indeed was not present during the whole initiation thing or whatever the Scions do. "I wasn't....there..."Ilyea softly re-counted to the mage and shrugs "I didn't know blood mages could do that..."The mage was tapping her lips but merely shrugged. "I don't mind Aurora going as long as he won't be in too big of a trouble...."She studied her husband for a long moment.

Aurora pursed his lips, giving a long pause.. Turning to Ilyea he smiled softly then to Nim inclining his head in a soft nod in response.. The rogue rolled his shoulder " Aye.. If you're needing help, I can definitely be of service…” He smirked “Besides, Ilyea should be with me.. So I'm sure it won't be too big of a deal.." He turned back to his wife.

Nur'kuhzal grunted once more, mostly after the two had taken so long to speak their piece about their lover. "Come on. Let's get our shit and get out of here."

Ilyea smiles happily to Aurora and nods. "Just as long as that's the case, then I can definitely help in that regards as well."

The pale-haired Rogue turned to Nur'kuhzal watching silently behind his mask.

Vamine still had not the slightest clue as to what was going on, so she opted to remain silent, peering around. Her hand flicking at a trinket on her bag tied to her hip. "Hmm."

"It was back when we were discussing the Void once in Erudition. Never matter, it was several months ago." Nimuehdra smiled and looked to Auro, bowing her head in gratitude. "Thank you two so much for lending aid. If all is well, I believe I can hand the Map to Auro and he can lead us to the Cave after we revisit the Village for a bit of....shopping." She pulled her lips sideways, giving the group an enrapturing smirk. The Magistrix raised her hand and twirled two gloved

digits. The leather map would float toward Aurora and into his hands. The Mage would wait for everyone in the room to prepare their belongings before weaving the portal. "Let me know when you're all ready."

The fiery-haired Mage eyed the map as it floated near Aurora and ran her fingers down her robe. Her hands seemed a bit cleaner now, as she rubbed more of the blood stains into her robes. I mean that’s what they are there for. A bloodied rag would also be in Aurora's hand from cleaning them earlier and she took in a small sigh to herself, steeling herself mentally.

Aurora Cole looked back to Nimuehdra giving a sharp nod.. He reached up snatching the map from mid air and slipping it into a bag he held with his supplies.. " As soon as Ilyea and I retrieve some provisions we will be ready.. it wont take too long.. " The rogue turned to his wife.. " Unless there is something more pressing you can think of?”

Ilyea shook her head back and forth smiling to Aurora. "Not that I can think of. I'm following your lead regarding that. Something to ward perhaps a few magics I think would be wise, but other then that. Fate of the Gods it would seem."

Nur'kuhzal gave the leader of the group  a, 'really?' expression. Arms out and everything. "If I don't have the reagents we need, they will no doubt be somewhere in the cave." With a flick of a finger, a green flame ignite upon the end of a finger. Bringing it to circle about the rim of the pipe, to light it's contents. That -definitely- wasn't smoking tobacco; it was something more off putting and unhealthy looking.

“I was thinking the same exact thing, considering wards.” Aurora smiled, “I like to think our fate is with in our own hands…”

Ilyea spoke, “I already have enough of my blood upon us both, I could fashion up something pretty similar. It's titans but with necromancy. So....Shadow magic, what else do you think?”

While everyone prepared, Nimuehdra would change into her Div armor. Robes always got in the way of fieldwork.

Vamine peers around. "So...what exactly are we doing?"

Nur'kuhzal suddenly woke up, from a trance. "Wait, what? We're finally gettin' goin'?" ...Was she sleeping again? "No one's gone to look around in my head; poke my brains. Although I think that'd hurt. Eh. Even with the military companies, they wouldn't get me seen by anyone before I joined. I guess they thought I'd die before I saw any field action."

Vamine spoke frustratedly, “Mother come open your silly, Aluminum Mal’Ganis balls door?"

Nur'kuhzal wiggled her fingers at the door. "Openus the dooriosus!"

Ilyea gestured to the group "Follow us!" Auro finished for her, “We are headed out.”

Upon arriving, Ilyea spoke first “I remember this spot, don't you love?” Auro nodded with a smile “Aye, that I do love.” Ilyea used some of her blood and made a small rune upon herself and then upon Aurora's arm smiling to him.

Nur'kuhzal chimed in "Oh, hey. This is where I met you folks." She seemed much more coherent, after her smoke. What was that stuff, anyway?

Nimuehdra said "Aye, remember we flew from here, down into the village, Nur'kuhzal?"

Vamine peered around, her hood hiding all but her mouth, her lips curved up to show her fangs, clearly she had an angered expression being back on this continent..

Aurora smiled. " Up down up.. " He turned his gaze out to the town below.. "

Ilyea responded“I don't remember this myself… Unless you met somewhere else all I remember is Orgrimmar.” She grinned to Aurora smiling gently "Up down up indeed love. I'm glad you remember."

Nur'kuhzal looked around, "Someone brought the translations. Right?"

Aurora pursed his lips, he reached down for the map once more.. He slowly began to open it, his hand gripping either side.. he looked to Ilyea.. " Seems we are at the correct spot.. " He glanced around, then to everyone else.

Ilyea eyed Aurora as he had the map "Well he has the map itself right now. As far as anything else, it's here say. I think Nims mentioned something about crystals." Auro responded, “Aye.. It seems we need to make our move.. There should be a cave near by..”

Vamine moved away from the group. She sat down and overlooked the area. She clearly disliked being here.

As the group chattered away, the Magistrix would raise her hand and extend it, palm facing upwards. A translucent holographic map would flash before the other four. There would be a white spot on the map that would blink, easing in and out as it did so. "That, if you remember, Miss Nur'kuhzal...is where the village is located." She would let the four observe before dismissing the image she conjured. She nodded at Auro. "We must first gather those...crystals or whatever aids us in the summoning."

“If it's titan in origin, and is as powerful. There usually should be some traps nearby unless they were disabled. That could be the case....Always seems to be the case.” Ilyea paused before adding, “And that would be where you'd have Aurora sneak in to gather them, exactly how many crystals do we need?”

Nimuehdra nodded, "You are right, Ilyea. Titanic ruins are almost always full of those pesky traps. I do believe however that the Cave the map speaks of is Vrykul...and ancient."

“Well.. We have two options really... A cave to the north.. and one to the east..” Closing the map Auro looked to Ilyea and gave a nod “Easily.. They should be blue in nature, emitting a purple hue.. if I'm correct..” he glanced to Nim.

Ilyea teased Aurora gently,"That's the magic that I channeled but you are correct. Nur'kuhzal, Vammy, how many crystals do these certain rituals need?”

Nur’kuhzalresponded, "I can set up the crystals and reagents in the manner that we use when calling upon the spirits. There's a different way--and different reagents--to call upon the elements, compared to people and other creatures. We should probably use the latter formation, aye? Usually, it all boils down to things that relate to what you want to summon. Summoning demons usually required something from the Twisting Nether. I am guessing here, we'll need the 'sacrifice', as well as something related to this Horton---Jo...Jotun, thing."

Nimuehdra thinned her lips at Auro and nodded. "Blue...with a purple glow..." The Magistrix's eyes widened. "Ymirjar..." she quietly murmured to the four.

Vamine held up her hand. "Why not just use one bigger crystal?”

Nur'kuhzal added,"The area has to be 'purified' of sorts, we usually mark off which areas we want to use with the smaller stuff, aye?" She nodded at Vamy’s question.

Ilyea quietly shrugged at the mention of the name, all of these names just kind of sailed over her head. She glanced back to Aurora and smiled to him.

Aurorar looked to Vammy, "Suppose on how big that crystal needs to be. "

Vamine stood up, her golden eyes peering around, then looked back at the group. "I would say, for what you want to do, maybe one about the size of my leg?"

Nur'kuhzal broke in, "Anyway. We'll focus on the summoning portion later. For now, I can use my peeper to check the place out, aye?"

Auro blinked, haltingly saying, “...your... Peeper?”

Ilyea snapped her fingers and motioned to the air. Sorenar appears seemingly out of thin air to the mage, floating alongside her. "Why'd you wake my from my nap, Ilyea... geez! I was doing some cataloging and things” Ilyea responded “...I need information on Ymarsomething or other."

The masked Rogue gave a very long, sustained sigh in response to Ilyea.

Sorenar,  lazily spins his small head around and glares at everyone present. "Someone obviously hasn't been reading the new fashion catalogs..."Ilyea waved her hand "And you mean Ymirjar....ancient runic soul magic...my mistress studied that quite a bit while she was here." Ilyea simply sighed into her palm.

Nimuehdra was grateful for her mask as her eyes glazed over from containing her laughter. She somehow managed to do so. "A larger crystal is probably more convenient idea." She nodded. The Magistrix would cloak the group in an invisibility spell. "Alright, you know how this works. There's no direct sunlight here so no one should be able to detect our shimmer. But careful about spells, the enchantment would fail should you cast any."

Vamine shook her head. Vamine falls flat onto the ground, upon making contact she dispersed into the shadows. A much easier form of invisibility for the girl. "I’ll stick to the shadows.."

Sorenar peered to Aurora "I didn't touch her… She is my new mistress, I wouldn't dream of it!”

Auro responded, “Aye.. You didn't... Watch your tongue, or you'll find yourself in a coffin...again... This time, I won't tell anyone where you are.”

Sorenar responded,  “Urrrgggh, macho husband a…” Ilyea let him talk mid sentence, almost seemingly like the two exchanges were nothing new to the mage. The skull disappeared and Ilyea took in a sigh. “ ...I don't like this...Runic soul magic…” She said.

Nur'kuhzal made a fist, beating on the back of her head. A sickening, wet 'pop' sounded, as the Eye of Kilrogg fell into her other open, waiting hand.

Nimuehdra shuddered at Nur'kuhzal. The Warlocks had advanced since her time. Must she always have to use her actual eye for this? A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she dismissed the thought. The Mage's attention shifted to Sorenar, she recalled him from a few months prior. "Aye, runic soul magic was a common theme among them, wasn't it? The Ymirjar...what are they even doing as of late. Surely they lost their purpose after the fall of the traitor Prince Arthas." She maintained a furrowed brow as she asked the floating skull.

Ilyea shook her head "Well runic soul magic I mean I don't know enough regarding it. Is it mostly with warlocks, would it be with mages. What kind of things are you asking for when you pull that out of you, just a lot of different questions. When you use the summoning, and the sacrifice part, are you using something else or a part of yourself or your own soul?”

Nimuehdra nodded she would raise a gloved hand to rub the back of her index finger to the tip of her masked nose. "I would defer that question to Nur'kuhzal..." She would pause for a moment before continuing further. "Though, hopefully, we don't actually have to sacrifice ourselves for the ritual." Though, should it be required, the Magistrix wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice one of the villagers to acquire the artifact. She would however, keep this to herself.

Aurora gave a soft nod.. “Sometimes you must take extreme action for the better good..” He smirked  “I’m sure a lowly villager won't be missed.”

Nimuehdra lofted a snowy brow at Aurora as he said so. A smirk grew on her features behind her mask in turn. A nod followed, "I suppose not, Auro."  She then shifted her glance toward Nur'kuhzal, "Can you lead us back to the village?"

Ilyea slowly crossed her arms over her chest and took in a small breath. She would simply observe for now, her eyes glancing to the rogue and then everyone else in tow.

Nur'kuhzal's hand touched her chin. That smoke break had really helped. "Only the uninformed use their actual souls. What we tend to do, is take them from our opponents and store them away for later. It's the same thing we'd done to our dead that didn't have any great knowledge to share or use for later. We'd use them to help with our rituals, or to power our attacks, or the like." A hand waved in explanation; her words eerily....clear. "Aren't the two--the Ymarjar and Scourge--different, though? The Scourge hasn't been around for a long while, but the magics used by the people here have been set in place for much longer. We -should- be able to... persuade any lingering souls around here to help us with any of that sort of thing, should we need it, though."

Nimuehdra nodded. "Aye they are older than most. Though, the Kvaldir are older, the Ymirjar possess the knowledge we seek. The Jotun in question, Fafnir...we need our questions answered first." She looked toward Auro and Ily. "Let's get the blue crystal first, then capture a couple of the villagers...hopefully someone who can answer our queries." She would then shift her attention to the senile Warlock. "You know the way from last time, we are already cloaked as I explained. Lead the way, Nur'kuhzal." She awaited the trio's response.

"Well, before we shove off.... you get more with honey, than you do with vinegar. If you have to show off how big your penises are, challenge them to honourable combat. Not going around slaying them from the shadows without saying something first. You'd like to be told before someone's gonna whip it out and piss on your face, too, right?" Nur'kuhzal beckoned Nimuehdra over.

Nimuehdra approached, saying "I don't think that is necessary, Nur'kuhzal. We'd rather handle this stealthily,"

"You can't get questions answered if you're nowhere to be seen to ask about them." Nur'kuhzal responded with a nod.

Ilyea bit her lip "It also depends on how different we wish to or how much in stealth we wish to be as well. Yeah what Nims said. So we have to capture the blue crystal, would it have the same signature as the map?”

Nimuehdra looked over to the Coles. "And what do the Clandestine have to say about this? Honorable combat or swift stealthy action? I do so prefer the latter. I bet we've made a bit of a ruckus since we killed off two of their men last time. Insignificant as they were to us, we are still unclear what role they once played. I am unsure where they hide the crystals, I suppose we'll just have to find out."

Aurora rolled his shoulder.. " We are very skilled with the shadows.. and do prefer to do things within the vale of the dark... But.. Honestly, Magistrix... Either way you point the blade.. We will make do.. It's up to you and the Div to make the choice.. We will find away to bend the shadows to favor us.. don't worry about that.”

Ilyea pressed her hands together considering everything in tow. "They hide the crystals and get angry at us killing yes. But if there's an easier way perhaps with trial by combat to get both, but depends how well we are for combat really. I agree with Aurora upon your decision. It's the Divs mission though it doesn't involve artifacts."

Dusrune interjected, "How about this. We do the sneaky sneaky stuff. And if we get caught, we show them proof that we've killed two of their men. They wouldn't challenge us if they'd known that we'd taken them out. The best way to show proof, is to show their armour, weapons, or scraps of clothes they'd worn. Or…”

Ilyea asked quickly, “Do you still have something similar to that? I think that's.....A good way of going about it, yes.”

Nur'kuhzal continued, "Two groups could go. One of them of less-than stealthy people, like myself, to talk to them. The guys will be distracted with us newcomers.The second group is the stealthy people, going around to look for the crystal if we can't 'earn' it through diplomacy."

Ilyea added, “If the crystal is the same as the map, I could try and track it. We have the map, it'll just be keeping with the signature.”

Nimuehdra raised a gloved hand to her masked lips and thought for a moment. The Clandestine were flexible in their suggestions she would be silently contemplate. Her eyes averted to the Orc as she spoke to the trio. However, the clothes of the artifacts the men Ingvar and Torsten possessed has rotted away because of the Ebon Chevalier's unholy magic. The Magistrix shook her head. "We have no physical proof of their demise."

"Who knows? The map might be a reagent for later on, too." Nur'kuhzal pondered aloud.

Ilyea adds, “Well, we could even do one easier. You have your poisons on you right love? We poison their drink. Sleeping potion. Wait a little bit, go in and take what we need.”

"Well, whatever we do is up to Nom-Nom Hydra, so..." Nur'kuhzal frowned with disappointment at Nimueh.

Ilyea asked, baffled, “Nom nom Hydra?”

Aurora gave a nod.. He looked back the group.. " Is there a river? We could poison that to infect the whole place.. " He looked around.. " They must be getting their water supply from there. "

Ilyea said, “I was thinking their brew, any kind of warrior race needs to have their alcohol so...I don't know.”

Nimuehdra raised her chin to the trio, her hands folded across her chest. "There is a river over yonder, they do have it running through the Village."

“Aye.. But they make it from something.. The issue with the river.. it will take time.. While going directly to the source we will be in danger and it will be faster.” Auro observed, continuing, “We won't have to kill them.. We can put them to sleep.”

"I prefer that idea, too." Nur'kuhzal agreed.

Ilyea added “Then we take whatever we need for the ritual to work and get the crystals.”

“At least.. We can do that from afar.. I can call for a Scion envoy to come by air..” Auro added.

Ilyea said, “Not to mention that, if they have anything else interesting in the village we can pick it up too for later.”

Aurora nodded... " Fine.. I’ll send word back to Maggie to mix a concentrated version of the sleeping mixture.. A barrel should work.. It should be here within the hour.. "

Ilyea smirked to Aurora and gave him a little elbow. “He's used it on me before so it doesn't take too long for it to work.”

"They're a lot bigger than us, and more hardier from working and living in the cold." Duksrune pondered aloud, "Will have to give them a lot. But not too much to kill them."

Nimuehdra's brow furrowed for a fleeting moment. "Drug them and then capture a couple of them. While going and pilfering the crystal too..." She nodded. "Yes..." she added. "That sounds like a plan. No need to charge in and potentially endanger ourselves. They are no Orcs, while they value honor, they also once served the Lich King..." she reminded them. "It's best we use the quieter approach."

“Despite times..” Aurora gave a nod to Nur'kuhzal.. “I agree.. It will need to be adjusted..” he glanced to Nim listening to her words.

Ilyea slowly nodded, "Sometimes the smarter approach works  especially against a full village. We take what we need but we have our back up plan, which is potentially not to die or kill them or whatever we need." She chuckled softly.

Nimuehdra smirked at Ily and nodded. "Very well, Nur'kuhzal. Lead us to the border of the village." She would whistle and summon her Spellwing ready for flight.

Ilyea would climb aboard Aurora's mount and follow. She gave Aurora a kiss upon the cheek and smiled to him. "Good luck love." She whispered as they came down from their mounts and the barrel of Aurora's potion was made.

Nimuehdra nodded and thanked Nur'kuhzal for escorting them to the Village border. "Alright, Auro and Ily. Let's begin."

Auro nodded, “Aye.”

Ilyea agreed, “I am surprised maggie even made this, but I guess there's been stranger requests. She gave me a horrified look when I asked for the undercity candied spiders...But now it's not too bad.”

Aurora sighed softly.. The barrel of poison sat exactly where he had marked for Maggie and crew.. He pursed his lips and spoke softly to Ilyea.. " Come with me love... If you can, use some arcane to carry the barrel.. I’ll shade us in the shadows to the water..Then toss the barrel in.. After that..we wait.. "

Ilyea nodded to Aurora and smiled "Feather fall to make something move at least." The woman smiled to Aurora and casted the spell upon the barrel lifting it with ease as she moved closer to her husband. "As you will love."

Aurora smiled softly.. He gave a sharp nod.. He looked to Nim.. " It's going to take about an hour for the water to mix well with everything.. After that it's up to the people.. It usually takes a day or so... But.. What I'll do.. Is go in personally.. and burst the barrels they have of alcohol and water.. it'll force them to drink it.. At least you three will be out of harm’s way.. "

“Aurora is very very good at what he does on the shadows, I easily think with those provisions that they will drink and we can go in and take what we need. Just a bit of time.” Ilyea added.

Aurora sighed softly listening to the natural noises of the forest about him.. The clacking and flicking of fire could also be heard, while the village was very much alive and breathing like it’s own entity of the forest.. But, alas..this wasn’t a time to enjoy the sounds of Northrend.. Aurora pursed his lips looking back to Ilyea.. Her arcanic magic seemed to flow about the area, as aurora turned, the crunch of grass beneath his feet… He looked to nim and gave a nod.. “ We will return shortly, my friend.. “ Aurora motioned to his wife and they both walked towards the water… Aurora’s eyes flickered black as he began to vale the two in shadow and out of the sight of everyone… Nim could possibly feel Ilyea’s magic.. But all else would be seemingly invisible due to the darkness. They were in the shadow lands now.. It was like a vast ocean of emptiness.. Structures stood, shadows leaped back and forth and sounds seemed to be muffled.. As the two approached the water, Aurora could see the reflection of himself.. His essence.. He turned to his wife and gave a sharp nod.. The mage lowered the barrel upon the ground with no sound.. Dark shadows seemed to traverse once more.. It was the village’s guardsman it seemed.. Any closer and they would be caught.. He looked to Ilyea and gave a nod.. Her que to leave…

She reached over placing a hand upon his cheek and spoke through their bond.. “ Be swift, my love.” And with that she cast her own arcanic shadows, hiding her from sight… Aurora reached down, unsheathing his dagger and stabbing the bottom of the barrel and the top… then lowering it upon its side.. The slashing and splashing of liquid could be heard as aurora softly rolled the barrel into the river.. It was beginning to be infected.. And now aurora, needed to dry out the very village they seeked to fill… Aurora began… He looked around noticing the shadows walking in patterned.. The chopping of wood, the dinging of metal.. There was work going on.. The clanking of cups told Aurora they were getting definitely drinking their fill.. ‘ Should be easy

then.. “ He smirked.. Aurora did what he did best.. He’d leap from shadow to shadow, entering into each house, tavern, and supply barn. Using his dagger to cut holes in each of the wooden barrels, leather bags, and containers holding their fresh water and mead… The rogue seemed to be complete.. As he walked out of one of the barns to get back to his wife and crew he bumped into an unsuspecting villager.. It was a swift death for the commoner… a thud echoed around him as the body fell to the ground.. His neck slit open, and the blood pooling around him.. Aurora growled.. Reaching down, to lift the man.. And vanishing within the shadows once more and making his way back to the group.. tossed the body in the center of everyone... " A small casual.. " He sighed softly, giving a nod.. " Give it time.. They will drink.. "

The waters of the shadowlands parted away like a ripple within the pond as Ilyea stepped back. It was only a few moments or what seemed to be like that as the mage faded back her arcanic shimmer like a dizzying array. She tilted her head to Aurora and smiled to Nimueh "We wait and watch." The mage murmured. Gesturing to her side, a void covered crow seemed to appear by Ilyea's side just like the skull before. "Keep watch Rose, let me know once they get sleepy." The small thing let out a small caw of "fffiiinnnee" and seemed to poof into the shadows. "She'll let us know when they get sleepy. I doubt it should take long."

Caèryssa scoured the skies above on her dragonhawk, searching for the arcane signature of her sister. The trail of arcane essence would lead the spellblade into a vrykul village, although something felt...different. In her armored form, she would be unable to sneak as effectively, not realizing that fact as she jumped off her dragonhawk, landing on a nearby roof and crushing the tiles beneath her feet. The echoes of the tiles would cry out into the valley, yet no guards seemed to notice her entrance. Spotting her sister in the distance, she would begin to make her way through the shadows of the buildings, before revealing herself to the group. "Bal'adash, sister, Ilyea, and Aurora." She nods nonchalantly, trying to skim the fact that the loud crunching sound of tiles earlier was not caused by herself really.

Aurora smiled softly to ryssa he gave a respecting nod. " Bal'adash. "

“Ballydeshhydiggerydoo.” Ilyea responded.

Nimuehdra glared at Ryssa as she landed. The resounding crash upon the rooftops did not go unnoticed by the trio. "Greetings. Had the villagers not been drugged by Auro, you would have caused a -lot- of trouble for us, Ryssa...."

Caèryssa nodded, ears wilting slightly as she took the surroundings in. "And I am thankful that they were. T'was out of habit that I landed on the roof, forgetting that I was clad in armor. Was preparing to draw my weapons when I realized the alarms were not sounded." She would nod, shifting her gaze towards the village once more. "So, sister. Do tell us of the next phase in your plan."

Nimuehdra nodded. She would look skyward and then to the Coles. "I believe our plan may have worked already." She would then point toward the Village. "It's best if we act now, grab the damn crystal and then make off with two of the villagers." The Magistrix then looked toward the group.

Aurora gave a soft nod.. "Do you know where the crystals are?” he pursed his lips.. “Perhaps Ryssa and myself can grab a townsfolk each.. meet you somewhere?"

Ilyea's eyes glanced towards the horizon as Rose came through the sky line popping through the shadows back to the group. She let out a soft caw and Ilyea gave him some jerky on the side. Nodding her head, "Keep me informed if any are waking up." She told the bird and Rose once more disappeared. "If you give me the map, I can use its essence to find the crystal. Shouldn't be too hard with everyone sleeping no?"

Caèryssa nodded to Aurora, before shifting her heterochromic gaze back to her sister. "I shall follow Aurora and snag one of the townsfolk for further...questioning then, if there is no objections on your end, sister dearest." Lips curling slightly into a faint smile, Ryssa would rest her hands idly on her hilts. "Is there anything else you would like for me to do?"

The Magistrix shook her head. "Let's get the crystal and and the two men." She nodded. Two guards were heard talking about the treasury in the distance.

Clearing his throat, Auro looked around.. “It shouldn’t be too difficult, Ryssa.. I’ll sap m. I suggest you do the same with yours..” he smiled… “Let's move..” Aurora took a step forward and leapt into the shadows… Again he glanced around as dark figures seemed to walk the realm in which he hid in… Approaching a dragonflayer Run-seer.. Aurora seemed to glide towards his target.. Like a wolf on the hunt.. He leaped forward once more and out of the shadows, saping the man… and once again, a thud as the body hit the floor. Aurora sighed softly, looking to see if Ryssa completed her task.. The rogue pursed his lips, picking up the snoring giant best he could and making his way back towards the group… He looked to Nim.. Sweat beading his forehead.. “ You know how to work us, Nim.”

Ilyea pressed her lips together and glanced to Aurora for the map or at least what it could be. The mage went quiet as the two rogue's went about their business in quiet contemplation. Her eyes moved over the various actions as she quietly watched to see where she could step in, if anything.

Nimuehdra let out a soft chuckle as the red-haired Emberfury and the Pale-haired leader of the Clandestine returned once again to the two Mages. Nimuehdra Emberfury raised an armored foot and swiftly pinned the Vrykul down to the ground which he already lay upon. "Great work, you two."

Caèryssa would follow suit, listening intently to the two having a conversation in close proximity to her. She was still rather agile, and as she hung from a wall over them, she would continue to listen in on their conversations. It wasn't too clear, as they spoke in Vrykul, but the names Ingvar and Torsten had been repeated several times. Once their idle chatter had ended, Ryssa would release the grip she had on the wall decor, swooping down and giving a swift kick to the head of the first guard, knocking him out cold. The second would turn around as he heard the thud, but before he could react to the spellblade, he would find a crimson plated boot aimed straight for his face. Two down. With the guards out of the way, she picked up the communicator and dials it back in. "Sister? Entrance is secure, although I overheard them mentioning two names, over and over. Could you please send Auro my way? I'm in need of a bit of muscle to drag this guy back."

Aurora could hear Ryssa’s voice out of Nim’s comms..” I'm on the way,... “ He made his way to the other rogue and stood impressed as he approached.. “ Nice work.. “ He gave a nod, leaning down to pick up one of the men..Aurora began to move back to the group.. ‘ Seems like you made short work of these two.. “ He smiled..

Caèryssa smiled, nodding to Auro's words. "I had the element of surprise, would've been harder if they..well..heard me in my armor just fumbling about." She spun around, beginning to fumble with the locked gate leading into the treasury. Moments later, the lock would fall to the ground, having been cracked open. Ryssa quickly pried the gate open, making her way into the vaults to search for the crystal her sister had mentioned earlier. It rested on a pedestal in the center of the vault, making it rather difficult to miss, and as she approached, the blue orb begins to hum, turning a deeper shade of violet, and causing Ryssa to back away slowly, awaiting the rest of her companions to arrive.

Ilyea would walk over to where Nimueh was placing her foot along the fallen comrade. It seemed that the plan didn't go as well as she thought before but it was thought up on the fly. More projection for things in the future, she supposed. It seemed....messy and clinical in some weird way. Mechanical and broken. It shifted and shimmered and whirled together like a storm of blood and chaos. Typically she thrived on it, but it just seemed calm to her. The man was already scared, that much was certain with the way his eyes upturned and his chest heaved in and out as she approached. The mage lowered herself towards the Vrykul and simply brushed her fingers across his chest, his face and his hair. She didn't need to say anything, there was nothing that needed to be said. Dirt echoed from his feet as he thrashed violently at the completely relaxed way the mage that alluded fear and pain approached him like prey. The dirt was gathered upon the tips of her gloves and put into her mouth. It crunched against her teeth as she stood up. Her eyes flashed blue as she considered the taste. "...Seems similar. He might know something..."

Aurora gave a soft nod, reaching behind him pulling out a small flask mixture, crimson in color.. He took in a deep breath taking a few steps towards his wife... " Here love.. " He reached out handing her the canteen.. " To wash the taste from your mouth.. " Aurora stood next to his wife, then kneeled down over the vrykul.. he tilted his head to the side looking over the man.. He could taste the fear in the air, as Aurora's eyes flickered.. He gave a soft nod.. " Aye... Perhaps so.. " He turned his gaze up to his wife.. he pushed himself up off the ground and turned to meet Ilyea.. with a smile he leaned forward pressing his lips to her forehead.. " Be gentle.. "

Nimuehdra watched as the fellow Mage worked, her method was strange and unusual to her. As the the man started thrashing she would, remove her foot. Her lips formed a smile watching the interaction between the Coles, though, it would quickly fade. "Aurora, I thought you were with my sister. Where is she?" The snowy-haired Magistrix lifted her head, emerald eyes would scan for her sister. Then, the Mage would pull out her comms.

Nur'kuhzal held fast to "Hydra's" shoulder, as if she had been a guide of some sort through a dark area. "Not all of me is here, at the moment, but--" That much was obvious. Lips curl and twist in confusion, grumble-mumbling. "I'm not feeling anything here." Hands reached blindly--though with a sense of precision as well, as one whom had navigated an area many times in their life and could do so even in complete and utter darkness--reached for the hefty mace upon her side; cracked and splintered with the same Decay energy she oh-so-often used in her magics. Nur'kuhzal could wield the mace with one hand, but for the more frail Nim, she might have to use both hands. Was Nur'kuhzal implying something? Finally, she explained, with a wheezed chuckle,"One or two whaps won't hurt....us. Maybe aim for his balls, if he's got them."

Caèryssa remained in the vaults, unsure if she should approach the ominously glowing orb that was seated snugly on the pedestal, a couple of feet from where she stood. She looked around the room still, watching and awaiting the arrival of the rest, if they were even coming, that was.

Ilyea smiled at Aurora's nature and took the flask sipping in the mixture and swishing it in her mouth. "Depends how quickly we want the conversation, I may need something else to take the taste off soon." She teased and smiled up to him. "I'll try not to kill him." She offered and took one of Aurora's daggers from his sheath. It gleamed white like bone and seemed to hold spidery fllagree. The woman went down to her knees and took the tip towards the corner of his eye. "I'm going to move this around reeaaaaalllllyyyy slowly, if you want your eye, you better tell us where that cave is for the horn! If you do it fast, you keep your eye. Won't that be fun." The mage chuckled and sloooowwwlllyyy moved around the man's eye sockets as the man started to SCREAM and thrash and wail. It was kind of funny actually that caused the woman to chuckle. Slowly the knife bleed over in rotation, vicious fluid and blood drained from the socket until the eye was almost completely out where the man began to spew "Towards the north! Towards the ^&*!ing north. Just follow the @#$%ing runes you ^&*!ing hell bitch of north! " He choked and Ilyea quickly finished off the eyeball causing the man to scream. "Maybe seal it up with fire? I don't know..." She mused and popped the eyeball into her mouth with a crunch. Aurora's red potion was chugged again as she licked his knife clean and handed it back to him.

Auro smiled softly " That's my girl.. " Aurora reached over taking the vial form his wife.. "go ahead and hold onto the dagger love.. I like the way you hold it. "

Ilyea smiled to Aurora and put the dagger into her belt upon his insistence. "Ryssa Ree wasn't around you....or...hm? Did she get lost?" Once more the guy was thrashing about and sighed. She unhooked her gloves and conjured a little fire upon the eye socket searing it to keep further blood. The man yelped again but fell silent in shock.

If Nimuehdra's features were unmasked, she would have a bemused look upon them. A smirk was well hidden behind the mask, she looked in Ilyea direction, clearly impressed by her work. The violence was something she was used to, so the Magistrix was not phased. She raised the comm to her lips. "Ryssa. Did you find the crystal?"

A staticky voice would come through the comms. "Aye, sister. Vault is secure. The orb is glowing now, but I'll take the risk and bring it back to you, in case more guards return." She quickly slammed the chest shut, lifting it from the pedestal as she left the vault behind, making her way back to the group. She would notice the Vrykul on the floor, opting not to question their methods of inquiry as she gently placed the chest by Nimuehdra's feet. "Here it is, sister. But I'll be wary of it. It was glowing awhile ago." She spoke, keeping a wary and watchful gaze over the object. If Nimuehdra opened the chest, she would see the orb resting within. However, the glow emitted from before was now absent, the orb merely resting within the confines of the enchanted wood.

Nimuehdra wrinkled her brow. "It was glowing before? Are you certain, Ryssa?" She would defer to Nur'kuhzal. "What do you have to say, Nur'kuhzal?"

Caèryssa rolled her shoulders, shrugging to her sister. "Perhaps it was from the light outside, it might've been a mistake on my end, but...exercise caution nonetheless, sister." She would warn, keeping her attention away from the vrykul as he laid still.

Nur'kuhzal took the orb, holding up a finger, and holding it gingerly. After a long moment of turning the bit upon its sides, there was a rather sickening crack, as the woman bit down upon the orb. Smacking lips together, before shaking her head. "Nothin'." It was tossed off of the side of the cliff , tapping the empty eye socket. "Peeper's got something deeper in the cave. I'm certain that this is the right one." Well....'certain' was quite a strong word. Judging by those crossed arms, and straight back, she was telling the truth. Nur'kuhzal probably believed herself too old--or simply didn't care enough--to deal with lying about this.

Ilyea carefully chewed upon the eyeball or what was left on it, giving a faint swallow as the rest of the salty imagery went down. She was content. Her eyes glanced over to the crystal that Ryssa has brought in as she rested her head upon Aurora's chest "Well we have the crystal, where the cave location is ....all that's left is to actually do the ritual..."

The rogue would give a nod to everyone quietly as he slipped into the shadows "Aurora will be spending the rest of the time in the shadows but let me know how to have him help us."

Nur'kuhzal grunted, "Good. In the meantime, we can gather our reagents."

The Magistrix nodded and weaved a portal for them to return home to Silvermoon. “Very well done. Let us reconvene once more in a fortnight.”

 @scions-of-antiquity @mercutiomalache @lledwynlomeriel @roewyn @thebuildingcacophony @iamauroracole @the-clandestines @seilune

[theoneplainjane]

Late Night Thoughts

Confusion. Anger. Resentment. The three terms cut through the rogue like an ice pick, jamming through, piercing and shattering her soul. It had been three days since she last slept and it was beginning to take it’s toll on the snow blonde haired woman.

Sighing loudly, she hopped up from the bed, trudging along as her feet enjoyed the sensation of the worn yet polished wooden floor. *Let it go child...* the whispered words flew in through one ear, swirling in her mind’s eye momentarily, before exiting its counterpart. She leaned against the window pane looking out at the vegetation of Erudition. Of all the sights to see in which Azeroth and its fellow territories possessed, Silverpine was her favorite.

*Home* she thought fondly as a hand pressed against the cool glass separating her from the elements. The woman reflected deeper. “A lot...” she whispered quietly to herself as she recounted the recent events that had transpired. *well, let’s see..”* Lyrica said with a faint smile. *Logaine...Sr. Artificer of the Scions...A new nephew AND new niece* the woman smiled a bit more at the thought of new life. Sure, Aurora was her sibling and Ilyea, his wife. They were the closest thing the elf had to family and even though Llewelyn was Ilyea’s sibling and Demytrya, his wife, she included them as well.

They had all helped and been there for her through some dark periods in her life. A soft plop of water hit the glass, startling the woman as she snapped out of her thoughts to focus on the pellets of rain that were beginning to fall from the dark purple clouds. *Ahhh that’s what you’ve needed, I see...* she thought. Sleep was beginning to invade the rogue as her eyelids began to grow heavy. *thats what you needed, Lyr. A rainstorm and a reminder of the present and her treasured family she held so dear. To look to the past and yearn for it more than the present was an issue she battled daily but it felt lifted as she finished her counting of blessings. *Time for sleep...*

After one last quick night cap, she hopped on the bed and curled up under the blanket where she fell asleep instantly. *Look towards tomorrow Lyrica and never yesterday* were the last words to go off in her mind before she was out.

[theron-darksunder]

He was looking at Ilyea’s letter.  After working through the stack of correspondence, this had been the last and most important to reach.  None of the others had mattered as much as this one.  Missives, requests for services, letters from past clients, letters that he cared little for had all had been dealt with. Truth be told, he had put this one for last as he both wanted to read it and dreaded it.  Ilyea was one of the few that could make him feel bad for not reaching out to her.

The words upon it touched him. The mage was his confidante and he had not seen her in ages.  How would he explain his absence? Did he need to?  Never.  Yet as he read and re-read the letter, he could not help but feel guilt.  Why?

Pulling a clean scroll from the stack, he took hold of his quill and began to write a letter in response despite the very fact that he could contact her via mind.  Emotion could be heard through voice and he was far too proud to allow that to happen.  I have missed you, my dear friend.

“Dearest Ilyea,  I hope this finds you well.“ He murmured out loud as he wrote in the fancy script that had taken him years to master.  A ruckus just outside the door made him pause.  As if on cue, the door opened and Ryssa entered the study, slamming the door behind her.  A muffled voice was yelling apologies to Theron, jiggling the door that Ryssa had pressed her back against.

“Send them away.” Ryssa said rather tartly, her breathing heavy and looking rather harassed.  

“It is fine.  I will deal with this.”  He said rather loudly to the guards that had likely tried to stop Ryssa.  “A raven would have sufficed to avoid all of this, you know?”  He eased back on the chair, eyeing his sister cooly.  She was standing right at the desk, looking down at Ilyea’s letter upside down.

“I do not understand why I have to send word to you that I am coming.  We are family, Kael.  We share a mind connection and yet you are closed off and ignore me.  What do you expect?”  Her fingers took a hold of the letter, glancing over it only to have her lips thin even more.

“It is considered polite to announce your presence.  Even if you are family.  In case you have not noticed, I have my own family that I attend to.”  He murmured, reaching for Ilyea’s letter only to have it be pulled away as Ryssa perused it.  “What do you want, Ryssa?”  He said rather tiredly.

She eyed her brother, finally giving back the letter.  Her gaze flickered over his form.  He still looked feverish, beaten, run-down.  His hair was still that silvery-white and she could tell he was using illusion magic to conceal certain things.  She could feel the thrum of Void energy coming off him and it made her wary.

Reaching into her satchel, she pulled a few items namely Dalaran cinnamon candies and a necklace with a ring dangling at the end.  It was the necklace that caught Theron’s attention, frowning even more so.  “That’s Ilyea’s.” He grumbled.

“It was.  She gave it to me to give to you after I told her that you looked like you had been through Helheim and back.”  She laid the necklace on the desk over the letter he had been writing.  “I know something happened in that house, Kael.  I know you have changed.  I know I have two men imprisoned on my ship.  One, I would proudly skin alive.  I saw him in my vision and I know he is guilty of holding you hostage. The second, however, breaks my heart to have in there.  Will you tell me why I am keeping both imprisoned?”  Her voice raised even as Kael merely stared back at her nonchalantly.  

“Oberyn and Bryntal are to be punished for crimes committed against my person.  You saw Oberyn and thus you put out a bounty on his head.  I have delivered him to you. Bryntal is not innocent despite his protestations.”

“Tell me why we did not give them to Silvermoon? Or your people here?”

“Because they are Ravensdawns.” He steepled his fingers in front of his mouth, touching his lips to the tips of his fingers.  “Silvermoon will jail them just as you have them and there would be more official channels for us to jump through to have them punished.  Ravenmist is not property of the Ravensdawns.  The Wolves are not mine to command.  You are a Ravensdawn and thereby, they are in your hands and mine by proxy.  We will mete out our punishment as we deem fit.”

“And I am to keep them on my ship until further notice?”

“Correct.  They are to remain in your custody until they no longer serve a purpose.”  Kael’s dark eyes closed for a moment, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.  “My only stipulation is that they do not die so please, feed and water them every now and then will you?”

“Tch.”  Ryssa snorted.  “Rhaen is temporarily captain of the fleet and manning The Ravensdawn while I focus on my work with the Scions.”  She bit down on her lower lip, eyeing her brother who now looked at her expectantly.  Ryssa knew that look but she was not giving him the satisfaction of getting more information out of her than she was willing to give.  “Why are you visiting my dreams, Kael?” 

There was nothing but silence from her brother, his gaze leveled on her even as he crossed his arms over his chest.  He was closing off and she knew it.  Truth be told, he knew nothing of it but he knew that she would tell him eventually.  “My mind wanders.”  A half-truth. He had to sleep and purposefully focus on someone to infiltrate their dreams with a trinket of ownership.  He had not been sleeping lately.

“That is Elekk shit.”  She snapped.  “What is with the raven horror? And this?  What in shadow’s blazes is this?”  She pulled at her leather jerkin, opening the front to reveal the mark that glowed violet against her skin low on her abdomen.  Kael’s eyes only glittered with amusement, a smile beginning to work at the corners of his mouth.  “You marked me and Ilyea.  Do you want to explain what is going on?”

“In due time.” Kael answered and Ryssa’s mouth opened to make a reclamation but stopped short.  The silence between the two was deafening as they stared at each other, Ryssa’s fingers twitching at the smug look that framed Kael’s face. It drew on until Kael broke it by moving to pick up the necklace and ring.  Idly, he gathered it in his gloved palms before he stood.  He still looked feverish and the corners of his eyes were tight with pain. 

Ryssa shook her head sighed, running her hands through her mane of red hair streaked with silvery-whites. “I talked to your prisoners, Kael.  They had a lot to say but I do not know what you are doing about it.  If the tales of the Seven are true, there is nothing good to be had from serving the Dark.”  The moment she had seen the horror in her dream, she had recognized it.  The Dark manifested in many forms but a raven was one of them.  She had hoped Kael was going to be forthcoming.  

“No. There is not.” He shifted the necklace from one palm to the other.  “But this is where we are.  I was not about to give them the satisfaction of killing me, Ryssa.” His black-violet eyes looked down upon his sister, so much darker than before.  They were a peer into the endless abyss of the Void.  “It gave me the opportunity to see my children be brought into the world.”

She was frowning at him, unable to back down despite the height he had on her.  It was clear who had won the genetic lottery.  “You are an idiot, Kael.  Nothing is worth servitude to these strange gods.  Did you offer them your twin’s lives?” It was a rhetorical question but Kaelderyn began to laugh.  His feverish cheeks pulled back in utmost amusement but he neither negated nor confirmed her suspicions.

“My darling Ry.  Let me tell you what happened when they forcibly removed what I had stolen.  My heart stopped for a brief time. In that moment, I died but I was able to see the web work that our lives have been and will be.  I saw the infinite connections.  She was in the middle of it all.” There was a light within his dark eyes, making them so much more animated than Ryssa had ever seen them.  “You see, Mother Dearest had it wrong.  They all did.  Our blood and family does not mean just the Ravensdawns.  It means so much more.”

Ryssa reached up to her brother, taking his face into her gloved hands.  Even through the leather that covered her hands, she could feel the cold of his skin.  The touch broke the illusion he had on himself, giving way to the violet tinted skin.  She studied this for a brief moment, letting a scowl cross over her features.  “You are delusional.  Amarhys did atrocious things to keep our family line going.  Have you forgotten the rituals?  The mind control?  The possessions?  You are beginning to talk like Amarhys did and that frightens me, Kael.”

His lips thinned, pulling her hands away from his face.  “Except I know far more than she ever knew.  Mother Dearest went about it the wrong way.  The Dark knows the path and it will give us the clues along the way.  It will lead us to what and who we need.  Aid me with this, dear sister.”

“The Dark makes you look like this?  Half-dead every time I see you?”  She shook her head, clicking her tongue against her teeth.  He was her twin brother but this talk was nothing she wanted to do with.  She had spent the better part of her life fearing the Dark not to mention being imprisoned in the Manor due to some forsaken prophecy. She thought she had killed every Ravensdawn, washed her hands free of her family’s crazed blood only to see it resurface.

“It grows in power and it has become more difficult to feed.  I have become Its vessel, Its anchor to the realm of the living.  It was a sacrifice I was willing to make.  In conjunction with..the one Amarhys made.” He grew quiet.  “When all is done.  We will be able to open the doorways.  Azha’lis awaits.”  Ryssa could not help the pained look that crossed her features.  She had heard all of this before.  It had come out of her Mother in much the same zeal that it spilled from her brother.  Every part of her screamed at her to pull the dagger from the small of her back and sink the blade into his flesh.

If only she had the heart to do that.

“How do we know it is not trying to trick us into some diabolical scheme? I have traveled the worlds and met many an entity bent on using the living for their wiles.”  She asked, trying to mask the misery that she held in her heart.

“We do not know but that is why we make our contingency plans.  Our kingdom awaits, Ryssa.”  The witch smiled back at him but she was not sure that it reached her eyes.  The unease was coiling harshly in her gut.

“Visit Ilyea before anything else happens, will you?” 

“I will contact her after I see Kendryk and Rosalie.” He leaned forward and kissed Ryssa’s forehead, easily putting together the illusion magic to hide his void touched skin.  

“Of course.  I have a few jobs to do.  Do not shut me out anymore, alright?”

“I will not, my raven queen.” He held the door open for Ryssa, escorting his scowling sister through Ravenmist.

Mentions/Tags: @ryssa-ravensdawn / @septem-tenebris (Bryn and Oberyn)/ @thebuildingcacophony / @wolf-queen (for Ravenmist and her Wolves) / @telidraedarkbane / @favrielle-emberdusk (if Darry pops in on Oberyn)

[iamauroracole]

Tic Toc

Music inspiration here 

Tick... Toc... Tick... Toc... The clock on the wall echoed through the room.. Aurora sat comfortably in a chair against the wall inside their room.. A small tea table held his arm up, In his hand held a dip pen, he drew back and forth.. Tic… Toc... Tic... Toc… straight lines to the beat of each Tic… and Toc… Sweat started to build around the rogues forehead as he stared intently at the door… Tick...Toc… The clock continued upon the wall..

Aurora pondered the tics… He pondered the tocs… then he pondered something he had never really gave thought to at all. Time… It was infinite… Unlike their finite lives, it was something that would span forever, stretching and moving… No matter what was to happen in his life… his past life.. Or his future life, if there was such a thing… Time moved forward… More true than an arrow… and more plentiful than all the grains of sand in Azeroth. The motion of time was not only relative, but also absolute..

Not even the caverns of time or Chronomages was excluded...Caverns of time, It’s very name was the epitome of time itself... But the dungeon had a way of bending time back in on itself... proving to many that entered, that past events could be seen and interacted with… Aurora pondered some more… If time is ever ending… always moving.. One would consider it to be sacrosanct or impregnable.. But it wasn’t touch able… As timeless as it may seem, it could be turned inwards, manipulated… and that scared him for many reasons..

Ilyea’s anchor to him was fickle and brittle… She spoke about it the day she linked it… Her words were committed to memory “ We will need a more permanent solution soon… “ It was true the idea was to make Aurora her ballast and he had been that for her all this time… But there was something that dug deep in him, slowly churning at his very soul… Tic.. Toc… The clock moved a few hands from before… Aurora took in a deep breath, then slowly turned his head back to the door…

It was imperative they made it impenetrable… like time itself… They needed to make the anchor so strong, that even time… the one true absolute entity in all of the universe would have trouble cracking… Muchless Callistus or the witches that plagued their lives… Aurora bit down on his lips, small bits of blood pulled, he didn’t bare think of what would happen if the foundation broke loose… Where would she go.. He thought… Chronomancy was something that scared her just as much… but if he had to imbue the art to understand it, he could… It...technically wouldn’t be breaking the law that Ilyea had placed.. “ No talking of death.. “ But is that not the same thing?

The doorknob wiggle slightly…Aurora's heart stopped; Tic...Toc... Tic...Toc… frozen in time, it seemed that even the hands upon his clock had come to a pause… But the sound still persistent… Like a rush of fresh air to the lungs the mellifluous voice of Ophie echoed through as she opened the door “ Daddy! I’m home! I’m so excited for tonight.. “ Aurora placed the pen down and slowly stood to his feet.. “ Aye love, I’m sure Uncle Lledwyn and Aunt Demetrya will be happy to see you. “ He smiled.. “ Let’s get a move on, hmm? “ Ophie smiled, reaching out to take Aurora’s hand… Aurora thought quietly as they walked out the front door.. - It matters not, for the time im in now is the one most precious to me.. With my Daughter and with my wife..-

@thebuildingcacophony

{Mentions: @lledwynlomeriel and @roewyn }

[lylithiumwhispers]

breaking through.

[ music inspiration ]

                 “Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

The days leading up to that night were slow, painfully so. For days and nights, she lingered within the Winters’ estate, her time spent within the chapel within the gardens. Often she was alone, save for the grounds keeper who tended to the small family cemetery the Queen insisted on keeping within her iron gates. Tears often pricked at her eyes, pooling along her lashes before tricking down her cheeks. 

She held her hands laced together, perching her chin upon the marred digits as her eyes stared forward into the nothing. The candles flickered against the soft glitter of her attire, reflecting off the small droplets that wet her visage in their path. 

Sometimes, she would pray. Mostly, she would sit in silence. It was the only place the whispers dared not torment her. She feared for them, for the men and women who were placed within this situation, just as she was some time ago. Thankful, she was, that they had stuck it out this long. She often wondered if they could ever finish it. Could they bring her back? No one would understand the connection the seven families had. No one would believe them. Thralling, some rumored to call it. It was not that, it was fierce loyalty. Loyalty that not many were capable of. The Queen was, however. 

She had her games, her manipulation. To those who held that bond with her, she would risk everything for them. Even her wolves, they belonged with the families, extended in their own way, perhaps. At least, those who were left. So many had given up, so many had walked away. It was a common thought in her mind that perhaps they just didn’t feel the woman was worth it. Was she? 

To the seven families, to Lyli, to those who stayed, clearly she was. 

The night before the final piece, Lyli paced the estate, finding herself wandering until back at the threshold to Celestine’s chambers. Again and again, her shoes would wear their soles across the elegant marble flooring. There was a looming feeling, a twist within her stomach that spoke of problems that might arise for those brave enough to follow Theron to the ritual. She was not invited, she was not called to help. Not by Theron or those living. It was the dead that whispered to her, urging her to be there. 

That night, she washed and scrubbed herself. The white cotton dress she wore was plain, as plain as the rest of her figure without gloves or trinkets to protect her, or them. She braided her hair just as the girls did when they were younger, Celestine still did so even now. Pulling it to one shoulder, she toyed with the end of the braid as she stared in the mirror. A white ribbon was tied around her long platinum curls to hold the braid in its place. 

It was as expected, difficult and dangerous. Though, the time she took part was far worse than this one. They were prepared, more so than the three women were. It was good that she had listened to those beyond the veil, it seemed her talents and support were needed after all. When it was all said and done, there was that eerie feeling within her that spoke of what was to come, what was to come of them, of the Wolves. So much had happened since Celestine was trapped in her prison, so much was lost. 

Would the Queen be the same? Would she recover fully or would her mind be lost within the turmoil of what transpired? Lyli was unsure, what she did know was that she would pay for the aid she had given to those at the ritual. She broke the rules and took what didn’t belong to her. To say she was terrified was an understatement. For now, she paced the estate while Theron and Celestine rested. Ilyea had ventured home and she suspected the same for Vyth. 

As she walked, a strange feeling washed over her, sending the hair on the back of her neck to rise. She suddenly knew what it was, halting in her tracks with wide eyes. 

                                                                The Reaping.

[ mentions - big or small: @wolf-queen @wolvesof-winter @theron-darksunder @felbane @thebuildingcacophony ]

[kurel-andiel]

“She said she’s leaving Sunspire.”

            “We’re in for some world shattering news tomorrow…”

                               “I need to speak with you privately tomorrow.”

                                                                       “We both fucked up….”

It had taken simply hours minutes for him to feel the weight of the world closing in. It was not a crown on his head that he wore, but a vice and each of them had their hand on the lever and were cranking it slowly. He couldn’t begin to fathom how everything had become so disheveled, so ruined or who was truly at fault-- for any part of it-- as he gathered up all the blame like a starving man hoarding food.

Lledwyn and Ilyea both were quick to remind him that they had advised him to withdraw Vel from her task. Citing concerns and danger, but he had risked it regardless. He had risked Vel’s very existence, believed that she would succeed in acquiring a second sample of Celestine’s blood and though she had failed in almost the worst kind of way he was angry at no one but himself. Angry that he hadn’t listened.

It was so much more than Vel’s life he risked as he walked the very perimeter of Erudition into the late night. There was concern to be had for the standing involvement of the Crimson Wings with Sunspire.There was whatever backlash yet to come when Winter’s pulled from the Port. There was potential friction for future alliances to be made and there was the microscope that Kerrwynn once again held him under. There was the burden of all of this that blanketed out across the family which had built up around him.

If Ilyea came to harm, it was his fault…

It was just before dawn by the time his roaming had brought him to the Demytrya’s quarters. Croak’s had found him at the halfway point, delivering what could have been called the final straw that broke him. The enchanted letter read its message out loud when the sheet of paper was unfolded saying simply:

“Blaque has resigned as Purveyor.”

The timing couldn’t have been worse and though it wasn’t a statement that Blaque, or rather Orchid as Kurel had first come to know him, was leaving the Port town. It still felt like a casualty all the same. It was the beginning, all of this, of a same sequence of events that he was damned to suffer every turn of a century. He built kingdoms out of nothing and built armies out of broken chains. But eventually Time had its way of reminding him that he was destined for nothing in the end. That it would all eventually crumble like broken glass and slip through his fingers like very fine sand. And this felt so much like the very start of exactly that. The collapse.

Devoured by his thoughts Kurel wandered towards a chair and sat, and from the corner of his none existent vision he saw something in that infinite field of shadow. With the turn of his head, standing among nothing at all the bloody presence of Thelonas’ ghost and the gaping hole in his chest.

“Hello, brother.” Spoke the phantom with a grin. “It looks like you need me again. Have you missed me?”

@wolf-queen @scions-of-antiquity @velerodra @mrblaque @lledwynlomeriel @thebuildingcacophony

[pettyelves]

The Adoration

                                                                              The Salty Sailor, Booty Bay

Ten gold awaited Eilithe when she walked into the tavern, which she assured the Sin’dorei that she could keep it. “The satisfaction of being right is enough,” she chuckled, tapping the table as she slid across from the woman. 

They exchanged ‘pleasantries’, which for people like them meant a long line of ‘I’m impressed you found me’s’  and ‘What are you hidin’ under that’s’. Covering her face was a habitual by now for Eilithe, she barely gave thought to her covered eyes or the way she clicked her tongue to see the world around her. 

Ilyea was an interesting enough character to her, the way she withheld her reasons for going across faction and spoke of being bought with gold or with information. Eilithe gave respect to the direct nature of their conversation- it was rare she was so forthright a person. Refreshing. Even better was when the words Sunspire, passed over the Sin’dorei’s lips without a second thought. 

“There is a goblin at the docks, I will set it up so that you can pick up your first shipment of Brown Sugar from him. An advance,” she said, tossing a sack of gold onto the table with a thud. “Now, of course give me information from your side and that would be even more advantageous for you.” 

Eilithe gave her the name, ‘Kaz’Aka’ if only to ward off those who might be listening for her true identity. Crossing her legs, she gave a low hum-- she couldn’t keep the question in. “Tell me, what do you know of the Pirate King called Kurel.”

The woman had but one word. Volatile. 

                                                             The Hanged Man, Dead Sun Harbor

After a bit of convincing, Eilithe got the Sin’Dorei mage back by way of one of her ‘doorways’, something Ilyea had spoke interest of seeing her open. Much like mages had portals, her teacher had instructed Eilithe on how to craft them, the chants to do, the powders to ignite the doorway. There were rules, of course.

“Once you’re through, I can only send you to other places I’ve made doors. It isn’t like a portal I can just drop anywhere.” 

The Shadow Hunter had hopes for the girl- slippery and secretive, which reminded Eilithe enough of herself that she rather liked Ilyea for the time being. Leaving the new Runner to her own devices, Eilithe had made for her office in the top floor of The Hanged Man- flipping the sign on the door from ‘be back later’ to ‘In’. 

Carefully she had chosen the words to right to Kurel. ‘I could have sworn you were dead.’ ‘Someone we both loved.’ Lucia had never said it outright when she spoke of Kurel-- but she didn’t have to. Those doll like eyes gleaned in a way that said as much as it she hated herself for it, she loved the captain. 

There was much should could have written in the letter. The plans that Lucia had confided in Eilithe weeks before her death. The Admiral, Eilithe, and the Pirate King- their reaches were to search across the Great Sea. She could have told him how she traveled into Horde territory- only to hear talk of his death. How mad she’d been when her last connection to Lucia fell through her fingers. 

The bottom said, simply ‘- A friend of the late Phoenix Admiral’. Her eyes found the harbor as she sealed the envelope and passed it to be delivered to the Captain. 

On the water the very vessel that embodied Lucia drifted, her body drifting through the water with the same grace Lucia had. Much like Eilithe and Lucia, the ship was built for going in fast and boarding hostile ships. 

Amidst her wallowing in self pity, Eilithe had found herself tapping onto her desk. It was precise- Tap Tap. Pause. Tap. A message Lucia had given her time and time again in the language of their people. She reminded herself aloud- as her eyes fell over the frigate in the distance, “Adoration.”

@thebuildingcacophony @kurel-andiel @deadsunharbor @sunspireport |For Mentions|

[thebuildingcacophony]

Thought bubble for Kit!

Inspired Music: 

Adrenaline sparked through Ilyea, her heart beating rapidlyagainst her chest as she stopped to regain her breath. There was no morequestion that she was awake now, and the mage could feel herself growinghungry.

Maggie typically had out some light snacks and with Ophiemaking most of the muffins; the woman knew she could take a few without any ofthem getting mad. Her child had been determined to make the perfect chocolatemint muffin when Ophie had learned that cupcakes were more dessert, but muffinscould be eaten at any time.

It would be like the boar stew incident, and the dozens carrot cakes Ophie baked. Ilyea was half thankful that she couldn’t really taste anythinganymore.

Something glittery crossed her eye sight, and the fadedsparkling mural came into view. The mage knew they were near the blacksmithingbuilding and her thoughts turned onto Kit.

“Light, Kit is the whirling definition of a happiness storm.If there wasn’t a happiness storm before, she’d be the prime candidate. Whenyou are around here, you can’t help but smile. She makes me want to smile, andfeel happiness and light.

It’s almost addicting.

When we get together and honestly talk, there’s chaos butmore in a mischievous way. We are alike in a way but where my hand went througha darker path, yours seemed to fill with light and continued to fill withlight.

The friends that surround you may grumble about the mischiefthat you cause, but it’s clear that they love you.

Where ever you go, love follows you. That is beyond clearwith how you do your magic, and the green halo of gorgeous light that fillsyour aura when you heal.

I don’t know what you see with me, maybe similar folks aredrawn to those that unconsciously exude chaos.

Sometimes I fear I’ll corrupt you with the chaos that *I*like to do. Better to let you set the pace of what shenanigans we throw.

I bet Aurora would rather have me glitter bombing folks thenfirebombing folks at least; though I’m sure your friends would rather not haveany at all.

It’s the small victories you must take in stuff like this.

There is some sadness in her, like anyone else but it’s sominute that you have to stare really hard to find any within that girl.

Conclusion: Treasure Kit’s friendship when you can see her.When you do get together, go with her flow of fun but not your brand of fun. Donot want to piss off the friends that she keeps. Inexhaustible supplier ofglitter. “

Ilyea fixed a bit of the mural with a small giggle and thenmoved onto the kitchen as her thoughts faded.

@kit-sunsoul (mentions: @scions-of-antiquity @iamarchme ((Crimsonwings tumblr as well, didn’t know the name) 

(Thank you for the prompt)

[wolf-queen]

[ response to Theron’s post. ]

     A feeling deep within her had alerted her of the distress Theron had been placed in, the deeply rooted magic within her signaling far more than a simple tiff between two friends. This was serious, this was dangerous. Grabbing her daughter and a few choice tools, she set towards Org in hopes to still find him there. The image she was met with was devastating. The two women took separate paths, following the trail of blood and scent of the beast. Desperate to find him, Celestine kept within the heart of the destruction. 

      Not a clue formed in her mind as to how this could have happened, training was going so well - or so she had thought. Answers would come soon enough, she reminded herself; first she had to find the wolf. A trail led to a cave, the subtle sounds of life still lingering within it. It was surrounded by guards and authority that was called in to clean up the mess. Celestine offered her credentials, explained the situation and took the charge commander to discuss the consequences of her companion being set loose upon Org. 

     Meanwhile, Joie slipped between the guards and held herself steady within the shadows before a deep inhale was pushed into an exhale upon her blow gun. The brightly colored dart found it’s mark within the wolf’s rear and allowed the sleeping agent to course through his figure quickly. After transferring him from the city and to her home, Celestine rested him comfortabily within the chambers and made her way to her office. She scanned the papers, sighing softly as her hands tugged and ran through messy curls. There was a faint scent upon him, one that had brought back memories of a time that felt so far from the present. Ilyea. 

To Whom This May Concern, 

       Two days and nights, the morning was disrupted by a creature of aggressive intentions rampaging through the streets of Orgrimmar. Five were found dead, their bodies unable to be identified for their families. Twenty were wounded and sent to the local healers. Four brazier were toppled, resulting in eight buildings being engulfed in flames. After speaking to the commanding officer that morning, the current bill of damage has been sent to me. I forward this to you as it is your responsibility to restore order and assist our fellow Horde after the tragedy that has taken place.

Property damage - 1,497,932 gold.  Healing expense - 673,112 gold. Disturbance of the peace fine - 4,000 gold. Materials needed to clear debris - 399,520 gold. Pain and suffering to the families - 2,000,000 gold.

Total: 4,574,564 gold    Please be sure to pay the full amount or speak to the Guard Union as to making payments over time. Failure to comply will result in a warrant for your arrest. 

   General Celestine Winters

[ @theron-darksunder @thebuildingcacophony ]

[thebuildingcacophony]

💭

Inspired Music: 

The third chocolate mint muffin slid down her throat easilyas Ilyea chewed the confectionery that her daughter had provided her. There wasstill two more upon the plate to the side, and the woman began to feel herselfgetting a little full. The taste did not have the dryness of too much flourbeing added, and seemed moist on the tongue as it slid down. She only had topause to drink one glass of water in-between each muffin instead of the usualtwo.

As Ilyea reached for another muffin, her eyes glanced overto one of the lighted candelabra that glittered along the tavern halls ofErudition. It was of shiny polished metal that was of some expensive tastefulthing that Demy had picked out. Hell if Ilyea knew at that point, but it wasthe flame that the mage was attracted to. Her mind drifted to the one personthat the flame seemed to exist on, the Phoenix.

“Aranya is someone that one could easily wax poetic abouttheir beauty, their kindness, their support for people but there’s somethingelse I can’t really put my finger on.

Was it how she didn’t seem phased when I pressed the knifeto the Naga’s throat and cut it? Kin-ship by torture it would seem to be arather fine gait.

I always wondered how her magic *tasted* like but the stupidarcane gem that Halenvar gave her always kept me from getting a true feel atleast until recently.

Her magic seems to pulse and flow like a heart. It bubblesclose to the surface and then spreads around like magma. There’s a dark core ofsomething that singes your tongue when it becomes too hot and the soft feelingof fire light on a cold day.

Just like Garog, she is fire but not quite.

Perhaps like with the ritual to bring her back from thenether, there is an essence within the flames that derives her magic. Maybethat is why the Valanjar gave Aranya the gem because there is something therethat may undo it.

Something interesting, but something deeper.

It’s hard to say exactly what I think of her because I feelas if there is more. Something more then what we are meant to be seeing.

Conclusion: Observe. Observe and generally approachable, aswell as polite as need be. Take as much knowledge as you can about the woman,when you can. Take up any offers she has as well, she knows a lot more then shelets on”

Ilyea pushed the empty plate of muffins to the side beforegulping down another large glass of conjured water. Using a passing servant,Ilyea snuck past the kitchen to avoid another muffin ladened plate as she madeher way outside.

@aranyaphoenix (Mentions:  @halenvar @goodguygarog @roewyn @scions-of-antiquity ))

[thebuildingcacophony]

💭 - Theron

Inspired Music:

The heaviness that Ilyeafelt walked outside of the tavern made her regret eating all five of thosemuffins and drinking those two glasses of water. She could feel her breakfast sloshingaround as she walked around to the back of the Scholar’s lab as she tried herbest to walk off the morning meal.

It was the cawing of a familiarraven that broke her attention as Rose came careening out of the sky to handdeliver the gift of the day sent by Theron.

Was it already morning?Ilyea couldn’t even comprehend it as the gift via Rose was thrown directly towardsher as the familiar disappeared. It was something small and it hit her directlyin the forehead. Eating always made the mage sluggish, and she was already atcapacity so she was an easy target for the projectile. Theron probably would haveguffawed at the sight of that small vial giving a delightful clink as it hither upon the face before landing unceremoniously into the grass.

“Urgh” Ilyea groaned asshe rubbed her reddening forward picking up the vial of rose oil that Theronliked to send to her. She couldn’t help but have her thoughts drifts towardsthe man.

“Theron or Kael as hetold me I could call him. God damn, what about the man is there that I haven’tsaid loudly. Or screamed, or yelled or had expletives thrown at or had thrownat me.

He is kind of like Lledwynin a sense of feeling like an older brother, almost like a father figure? Amore fun father figure then Lledwyn’s Dad ever was. He seems to be the one toyell at me when I do something stupid but then turn around and give me thereigns to Mom’s hawk strider because he knows I need that freedom or something.

Theron has singlehandedly shown me tricks in my own magic that would have taken me years tofigure out on my own. He may not have taught it all to me personally but inwatching him I have learned tricks and things that were way better than anybook I could have read.

The man is like awalking library to observe, and watch, and listen to.

Frankly, I couldprobably follow him around all day and learn more than I ever did around theKirin Snore. Though that’d probably scare him a bit if I did that, so only somuch when I can.

I know there are peoplethat would say that why would I befriend a guy that attacked me but he was agamble to say the least.

One that paid off and Iwouldn’t have it any other way.

There are a few thingsthough about him that concern me because I see the same faults in myself. He hasa habit of throwing himself into other people’s problems because sometimes theyare easier to figure out then his own.

I do the same thing aswell and don’t think that I don’t recognize that type of behavior.

I know he has a few thingsthat he doesn’t talk about, like the sleepers and the new glyph on his hand.

And I know he will notcome to me specifically about those things but rather would suffer alone.Perhaps in a way to protect ourselves from him? It’s hard to determine.

Conclusion: Observe himabout everything and anything magical and do not be afraid to ask questions. Hemay scoff and tell us, well in his own way, to fuck off if he doesn’t want toanswer something but he’s more than willing to teach. Use every opportunity tolearn. He has more problems than he’s letting on, isolate those. Experimentwhen you can, and show results. Let him come to his own conclusions. He has afair bit of pride.”

The vial was lazilyrolled within Ilyea’s hand as she dimly rubbed her forehead a few more times.She just had to remind herself to eat less so this doesn’t happen again.

Ilyea chuckled toherself once more and started on her way to the labs to start today’s shenanigans.

@theron-darksunder (Mention: @lledwynlomeriel )

 (Thank you for the Prompt!)

[thebuildingcacophony]

💭 ~ for Tess

Inspired Music:

Ilyea had just stopped meditating for the night, thedreariness of the activity leaving her mind in a restless lurch. Her arms feltlike they were on pins and needles as she stumbled out of the shared abode thather and Aurora shared. The night air felt fantastic and the mage stretched asfar as her arms could go letting the joints pop and rearrange themselves uponher frail frame.

There was a slight rustling to the side that caught her eyeand Ilyea found herself investigating out of conditioned survival training.

Within her focused eye view, Ilyea watched a larger largeblack orb spider rustle and fight with a small insect to devour. The struggle thetwo were engaged in was shaking the web so hard that it’d rustle the leaves ofthe bush nearby. It wasn’t an unbidden thought but something about it made herthink of Aurora’s once pupil, Tess.

“Tess is quiet, as quiet as Aurora but even more so. If theman is the shadow, then she is the shadow’s shadow. I wish I could say that Iknow her better than the two times that I’ve met her, but her unfailing loyaltyto Aurora is awe worthy and scary.

It makes me wonder how exactly they had the same partnershipand I remember when he first told me what she was I was shocked. Did he partakeof her blood? I mean, that sort of loyalty would of must be gained of bloodlettingor a ritual at least. “

As Ilyea felt herself lost within the thoughts of the chosencompanion, the spider that had been struggling in the fore front snatched upthe fly into its waiting jaws. The thin woman couldn’t help but shiver at theimagery.

“Tess’s aura reminds me of being within a pool of waterwhere you know there is a danger nearby waiting to gobble you up. You existwithin that spot because they wish you to exist there. There’s an unseen menacethat exists there, that is fascinating and disquieting.  Her weakness can be abused for sure, thatenough is easily known. Anyone that is more than willing to give up an eye totheir “master”,  can easily be forced togive up more with the notion but that seems like weakness.

And one that would put me closer to be like the warlock.

I pity Tess, I pity Tess because of her unwavering loyaltyand her dedication but if there is as much menace below the surface…. Lighthelp us if that ever becomes unstuck. Light help me if she decides to foregothat.

Conclusion; deal with caution and notify Aurora wheneverTess is nearby. Use weakness when threatened or if need a pawn outside of theScions to deal with a dirty task.”

With a final puff of air, Ilyea finished her mental catalogas the spider retreated back into its web. The mage too, departed from the areainto the waking hours of twilight.

@wicked-whispering (mentions: @iamarchme @scions-of-antiquity ))

((Thank you for the Prompt!))

[thebuildingcacophony]

Complete Sacrifice (10) (7) (End)

Previous installment here/ Musical Inspiration: here

It was hard to breath at first. The hiss of air a  mish mash against his broken ribs as Aurora forced the movement into his lungs. It felt bitter hot and acidic with a soft wash of needles down his throat. His black fox tailed soaked with sweat clinging to his lips against the dust and dried earth. The elven rogue would get a handle of where he was...if he could see anything. Thankfully the web of Katanja’s held despite wherever he was. It would provide a guide back to them.

The darkness and swell of the empty space just as dark as the dismal light within his vision.

At least Ilyea was safe though…” Aurora whispered coarsely to himself and felt his voice echo and bounce off. Though the mage herself didn’t know it, he knew that Katanja could only save one of them with the spirit’s corroding strength with her webs. Of course that Katanja would chose her…he would want her too. He was worried but he knew dimly that Ilyea would find a way to bring him back.

They promised after all.

Aurora rubbed his useless eyesight with the back of his gauntlets and took in a few more harrowing breaths. His body wasn’t frail by any means but the shock of all the magic going through at once shocked his him quite deeply. No wonder his eyesight was first to fall. He couldn’t imagine how magic worked with his wife who looked even more sickly than him. The rogue couldn’t hear her at all and wondered if his hearing had gone as well. The subtle rattle of his breath against his lungs proved that it was false.

His heart leapt into his throat and hoped to the deepest of whatever hells the spider god wasn’t wrecking vengeance upon his wife. His family. Aurora growled deep in his throat but it came out ragged and wet. The action felt of blood and grit and he spat into the black expanse splatting his leathers with the wet ichor.

“Ilyea...love...can you hear me?” Aurora spoke within their bond attempting some kind of reach towards his wife.

“AURORA” The voice was soft and gentle against his mind but the connection at least there held. It was distant though. Like an echo rippling through a large pond of water. He yearned to feel her lips against his own and feel the softness of her body against him. Know that she is safe and his...family.

The rogue let out another wet cough as he took in another small breath.   If not for his eyes, his soul would be his guide. Leaning down the man held onto the thin wrapping of web that Katanja provided feeling the thin wiry web against his palm and moved towards it led to.  

He scuffled forward thankful for the distraction, thankful he couldn’t see within the time stream. Though his curiosity piqued, he remembered some of what Ilyea had told of her time being lost. Aurora focused instead on his battered body, the sting of sweat and blood that rolled down his back, soaked into his clothes. The rush of blood in his ears...and how exhausted he was.

If he died here….it’d be alright wouldn’t it? She wouldn’t be in danger, sure she would cry. Mourn him. Both Ilyea and Ophie...would...but at least they’d be okay.

Aurora grit his teeth.  No they promised each other. He couldn’t die here. He couldn’t fucking die here at all.

The tired rogue imagined Ilyea smiling to him. The tired look of her bright green eyes and the way her dark red hair clung to her dirtied face. How much he longed to brush it away and hold her close.  The thought poured more energy into his battle stern limbs. If it was just one step at a time, he could probably manage.

Just one step at a time, with the web as his guide.

Delirious thoughts entered into the rogue’s head as he pushed his body beyond extreme exhaustion. The thought of Ilyea’s smile seemed to have brought the order of her scent to him. Not the one that many would call foul, but the one that seemed to be inexhaustibly her.

The smell of ozone, sweat, earth and  blood. Ah, she was like a goddess of the earth. The smell seemed to linger as Aurora found himself toppling over something warm as he fell against the earth.

The aroma became more pronounced and Aurora’s heart leapt once more in his chest. He couldn’t mistake it….not at all.

“Ilyea….ILYEA you shouldn’t of fucking followed me…….but I’m so…”He choked finding the words hard to suppress his tears. He did without. He clung to his wife he tripped over and held her so tight as if his very life depended on it.

“...What….how….I’m lost..I...how..”The woman croaked but he lined his fingertips against her dirtied face as he pressed his thumb against her lips. He pressed his lips against her dirtied forehead. “It doesn’t matter. You came...and now we can go home…”

“Home…?” Ilyea replied and laughed darkly. Her voice cracked as if it was filled with nothing but dust. If Aurora wasn’t standing so close to her, he may have missed her altogether.

Aurora figured she must of hit her head with grief more than anything else and fished for her hand until he grasped it tight. “Follow me...I’ll take us home..”  Ilyea seemed to hesitate hanging loosely upon his hand but squeezed it weakly.

  Now with two instead of just one, both of them seemed to move closer and closer towards wherever the web was taking them.

“Aurora!” Ilyea’s voice within the bond starting to reverberate clearly as more and more each step guided them. The rogue keeping most of his energy towards his steps merely squeezed his wife's hand nearby. Trying to provide combat to the both of them.

There was no rhyme or reason but Aurora soon felt the vacuum of something that seems chaotic and swirling about him and then suddenly, he was someplace cooler that stunk of dirt and blood. The edge of the web he was following sunk into the anchor clean upon the earth where his dagger held.

But the hand which held his Ilyea felt empty. Panic twisted in him through his whole body threatened to shut down. Aurora screamed with his garbled voice, gritty like worn sandpaper.  “Katanja! I HAVE TO GO BACK…..Ilyea! She’s still in..”

He smelled her before he even felt her, arms about his neck holding him within her grip as salty droplets fell across his skin. He tightened his hold about her and they didn’t need to say much of anything.

Aurora knew that she was here and there…..the guardian chuckled within his wife’s embrace solving one of the small mysteries of what she had told him so long ago. She was lost in time but someone brought her back. He did.

The sound of Ilyea crying thankfully of his return became the nature against the thrumming of his heart. Though he usually hated the sound, here it was musical and a relief. Strength had feld them both as they held each other thankful at the large expanse that they had both endured.

Andy have arrived just a few moments before Aurora came back so the two battle worn souls didn’t have to sleep upon the hard ground. Mounts were taken for both as they were guided from their battle field to their home within Pandaria. Ophie and the kitties understood making no fuss against the dirt and blood that they tracked in. They deserved it even if it meant extra cleaning for the hearth mage in training.

Each barely awake were pressed within the softness of their bed, the morning light filtering through the drapes. The softness of the pandarian breeze salty and sweet lulling Aurora and Ilyea into a restful sleep.  

If anyone were to ask what experience helped the pair, if they were to reflect upon this day...both could say without a doubt, the sheer amount of physical and magical prowess would never be enough to beat a god. They could train for years and never ever come close.

But their love was.

And no one can take that away from them.

@iamauroracole @scions-of-antiquity

[thebuildingcacophony]

Log file: Silverheart (Take two) or Ilyea didn’t cause a war.

To the Council and Aurora mostly. Hopefully when he gets back…..gods, I hope so. Well when you read this in the future, Aurora then we can laugh about it. Haha. Or maybe he’s already laughing. That damn Ilyea and her hi-jinks. I hope so at least.

You’ll probably wonder what I exactly did with the Clandestine or something you didn’t do. I’ll have you know that overall, I didn’t cause a war.

Ilyea didn’t cause a war. Call it that. I’ll even note it like that.

Anyways,

To Aurora and the Council, 

Just going over the details of Silverheart which the Clandestine has been taking a part of for about a fourth of the year. We heard details of a resurgence of Gilneans packed by this bandit called Silverheart so we were sure how dangerous it was. I mean the pups and the deaders pick each other apart all the time….so if more kill each other, what do we care? The question was was there worry with it being so close to Erudition.

The short answer is no….until and the long answer is yes but…...the thing to remember though by the end of this is that most of the poor gilneans were simply pawns of the Discordia Syndicate or part of such. Or were thought to be of such, at least one person was. Yewheart, but we’ll get to him later.  It was hard to believe at whatever happened was just some throw away rumor. Yes, there’s wars going on but what exactly did that mean and what exactly did it mean for the people of Erudition?

---

Well, the quick answer is that the Clandestine tower was over taken quite easily actually by Yew Heart in question. But we didn’t know it at the time. He was simply taking over land as per requested by Silverheart to push back the forsaken forces. Many would say that a band of rogues and never do wells would quite easily retake the tower from a single foe, but that is putting a bit too much faith. As they settled upon the water, they attracted a few murlocs and raised a racket while one named Hopper had distracted most of the group. Landaras, Vir, Nimueh, Mitru, Hopper, Ryssa and Aeydark went forward with the best of intentions, the druid knew they were nearby.

The target had fled with the ridiculous amount of noise that the group had made, ending up in not only Yew heart exiting the scene but everyone knowing that the Clandestine had done something. Thankfully they didn’t know exactly whom we were working for, so we had that going for us. They merely thought we were Horde.

Fundamental racism against us out in force for Sylvanis’s grilling exercise, but I digress.

Hopper didn’t yell out “Hey the Scions of Antiquity is here.” Or something of that nature, which was nice. I mean I don’t understand how Aurora can have this exhaustive spy network, but the agents picked can’t even keep their voices down.

It was something that seemed to happen again and again on a whim. I think at this time Valorie joined but we didn’t understand the significance of such. Should of looked at a bit more closely but I mean we’ve had plenty of weird fawny people over Demy. I didn’t really think much of it.

It was determined that Yew Heart with all the crows that still kept an eye over our tower from his sudden departure with the period of crows. Ryssa managed to snake one where we wrote a missive out to Yew heart to meet with us. One of them was affectionately named Jeff whom we questioned a bit “too” hard but he’s pretty nice.

I think he still hangs out with Landara’s shack by the river. Jeff does, not Yew heart. If that didn’t make it clear.

Through some combination of prophecies and some white magic, with our genteel priestess, Vammy;  we managed to figure out that Yew Heart is looking to end the corruption upon himself. As long as we didn’t remark ourselves in this war, the old grizzled dog wasn’t going to hurt us.

He’d hopefully spill everything of what was happening with Silverheart and what their intentions were.

But that didn’t happen due to a certain Valorie coming by and giving the shank to Demy. I told you that the name would be important. We didn’t really know much about her as she was very….here in the moment was one could say. That seemed to draw a bit more attention and we had a few members come in heightened by the mess. Vammy as I said before as well as Eva.

Valorie hunted at the dead of night within the lodge fawning over some different clothing options with Demy in which she was suddenly attacked by a void enhanced dagger. Demy did well but there was a brief moment that the wards didn’t react. The assassin of course was taken away, but she killed herself within holding. Resurrecting by the other side. A flaw in the plan when one should take away all weapons before they are teleported for capture.

Something to take note of council.

Anyways, we were hardly sure if we should trust Yew Heart but we managed to come to an agreement. Better him than us.

We went to the assign location nearby Gilneas which was all kinds of creepy. There was some kind of shadow guy and he did some disapproving Lledwyn stuff. We were after Valorie and Yewheart so it was two in one spot.

Once more Hopper at least didn’t yell out “Hey the Scions are here.” at the top of her lungs. Yew hearts location was pronounced to the assassins which we barely managed to fend off saving the sickly fellow.

At current he is still being taken care of and is quite enjoying the safety and tarts provided to him. Once lucid, Yewheart let us know that because of all our blunders, mis giving and general un shadowy dealings; Silverheart knew that we were coming….and had quite a bit of time to prepare.

That in itself, was an understatement.

It was a fucking murder dungeon.

Take this as a big fucking clue to any of the other Clandestine that decide to join. It’s best to be regularly shadowy! Especially on ESPIONAGE MISSIONS!

From what I was told there were traps upon traps upon traps with more traps in between the traps! We went in with 8 people. EIGHT. We came back with only three barely. BARELY.

We had so many people in the infirmary room but at least they were able to complete the mission. Silverheart had been vanquished as well as Valorie and Erudition was safe.

I guess they don’t call us the Scion Circus for nothing.

Anyways, hope this clears up everything. You may have noticed an odd report but that was due to the note I received from Aurora right after this. I’m sure now that he’s back (He better be) and is probably laughing bout it.

That’s fine.

Whatever.

Next one yelling out their greeting becomes unofficial Clandestine shield of armor for everything the next few minutes. Heh.

Shadows and whatever Shadows do and dust and crap,

Ilyea Cole

( @iamauroracole @lledwynlomeriel @roewyn @scions-of-antiquity @logainenoviar @ryssa-ravensdawn )