#blackwald

[mycupofrum]

Last line tag & New year, new snippet

Thank you for tagging me @lovelymasks @goldenlionprince @lilacella for either or both of these tag games. 😊 I have been pretty stuck with my writing, which is why I haven't posted anything lately. But I finally managed to get some words out of me, so here is a snippet from my WIP Out of time with Sirius/Gellert. (Thanks to @arliedraws for reminding me of it!)

___

Their game ended with Gellert winning, which was fine. Sirius may be competitive when he wants to be, but chess is all the same to him right now since he needs Gellert to be in a good mood. 

"Well, now. Let us see about the other matter then, shall we?" Gellert says, getting up from the chair. Sirius follows suit as he walks across the room to the bed. 

"Take off your clothes." 

Sirius snorts at the command but plays along and begins to undress. He did resist the man for months, which is not for nothing. 

Now that he has a plan, a valid reason for everything, it's a lot easier to just get on with it. 

He makes sure Gellert watches his every move as he discards his robe, unbuttons his shirt and undoes his trousers. 

Gellert's eyes never leave him, their hungry gleam betraying his otherwise impassive expression. As he moves slightly, something glinting behind his robe catches Sirius's eye. Right there in the breast pocket of Gellert's vest lies a small object, with a thin metallic chain attached to it peeking out.  

Sirius frowns. Has he seen it before? At first glance he'd assume it was a pocket watch. But pocket watches aren't shaped like that, long and thin like a phial.  

Has Gellert carried it with him all this time? It's odd Sirius never noticed, given how much he pays attention to everything. A little too odd.  

He inhales sharply as realisation hits him. 

"How many times have you Obliviated me?" His question comes out before he has time to digest the possible outcome, that is, being Obliviated again. 

Gellert sighs and shrugs off his robe, allowing it to fall on the floor. "Must you bring this up now, Sirius? We were just getting to the good part." 

___

Open tag! You can tag me back if you decide to do either of the tag games, I'd love to see what you're working on. :)

[saltwater-soul]

The Tides Between Us - A Novella RP Recap between Vivienne & Alexa ♥

By the time Vivienne turned from the harbor, the sun hung low over the horizon, gilding the waters of Boralus in liquid gold. The bustle of the day had softened into something quieter—dockhands finishing their last tasks, lanterns flickering to life along the piers, and gulls wheeling overhead, their cries echoing like distant memories.

Evening had always been her favorite time. Not for the grandeur of the sunset itself, but for the moment after—the fragile hush when the world seemed to hold its breath, balanced between light and shadow.

A moment of reprieve. A moment where, if she dared, she could let her guard slip.

But defenses, like reputations, were hard-won and easily lost. And Vivienne Blackwald had never been one to squander hard-earned power.

The sun dipped lower, painting the sea in bruised violets and dying gold. Vivienne exhaled slowly, the breath catching in her throat. "Hearts and harbors," her father had always said, "both get left behind if you want to rule the waves."

Vivienne heard the footsteps behind her—measured, deliberate, and punctuated by an unfamiliar tap, tap, tap against the stone pier. A soft and calculated reprimand.

She didn’t turn. Not at first.

The sea stretched out before her, dusky and restless under the fading light, mirroring the churn in her chest. "I've dreamed of this moment more times than I care to admit", Vivienne says. She had pictured it always with sharp wit, cool restraint, and her heart firmly locked behind polished decorum.

"And what did your dreams warn you of, beloved?" Alexa's words hung in the air.

"That you'd look at me like this," she confessed quietly, "as though the years hadn't carved us into strangers."

"You stopped writing," the Admiral countered.

Vivienne inhaled slowly, gathering the words like fragile glass. "I should have written. I should have sent a hundred letters. A thousand. You deserved more than silence.

But the truth, Alexa— the truth is far simpler and far crueler. I stopped writing because it was easier to pretend you had forgotten me… Than to risk learning you actually had." The admission was quiet, almost lost to the waves lapping at the pier.

"How you could even consider yourself easy to wash away is beyond me. I looked for you in the eyes of a thousand women." Came the Admiral's crisp reply.

Vivienne wanted to tell her. She wanted to tell her that every fleeting whisper of romance— every courtier who had spoken soft promises in to her ear, every noble suitor who had fallen to bended knee before her-- had been a poor shadow, a pale imitation of the woman standing before her now.

She wanted to tell her that she'd been jealous. Jealous of the way Alexa carried herself through the world, so seemingly untroubled by what they had lost. So envious of every other that Alexa had held in her absence, every stolen moment given to another while Vivienne pretended not to care.

"You never came back," Vivienne settled with instead. "When you ran off with Miss McLean, I thought you had decided I wasn't worth returning to."

Tell her. Say it. Tell her you were jealous. That you never stopped caring. That you would have burned the world down if she had only asked you to.

But the words tangled in her throat.

"Ran off? Is that what we're calling it these days? You could have just as well come to me, my office is at the top of the harbor." There was no seek of argument in her tone, no room to conquer in this battle of accusations.

Vivienne did not flinch beneath Alexa's narrowed gaze, nor at the sharpness in her words. "I thought you had made your choice. And so, I made mine.

The titles, the suitors, the walls I built so that no one could reach what you left behind. I do not wait for ghosts. I do not wither at the hands of absence. Yet despite it all— here I am." Vivienne said.

The Marchioness took a step closer, slow and deliberate, until the space between them thinned once more. "And here you are." She stood close enough to smell the smoke curling from Alexa’s cigarette, to hear the steady inhale and exhale, controlled but not unaffected.

"What am I to do with you now?" Vivienne queried.

And just like that, the Admiral reached for her— a beast that prowled before her like an animal skirting the edges of its cage.

Vivienne had faced war councils where men twice her age had tried to corner her into submission. She had brokered deals with cutthroat merchants who smiled as they plotted to undercut her, had walked through gilded halls where every handshake was a game of knives hidden behind silk and lace.

None of it—none of it—felt as dangerous as the way Alexa Imortis reached for her now.

Vivienne did not stop her.

She had always been a woman drawn to dangerous things.

So she let Alexa’s fingers press beneath her chin, tilting her head up. Let her eyes drag over Vivienne’s face like an appraisal, cold and unrelenting, calculating where to strike.

"Are you hiding behind those defenses now? Or showing your teeth?" The Admiral asked. "Acting like you have a choice in how you will handle me." Alexa stepped in, their mouths hovering close enough that Vivienne could taste the smoke lingering between them, feel the heat curling between the fraction of space they had left untouched. "Show me how you bite."

Vivienne did not step back. Did not shift away.

She lifted her chin further, just enough to make Alexa’s hold on her seem like a choice, not a command. Her lips parted on a breath that was just barely restrained, a woman who did not shy from battle, even when it was waged in whispers instead of war cries.

"You mistake me, Alexa," Vivienne murmured, voice low, dangerously smooth, the slow drawl of a woman who has already decided to let herself sink into deep waters.

Her manicured fingers lifted—slowly—trailing up Alexa’s forearm, featherlight as silk, lingering at her wrist. Not to pull away. To hold her there.

"If I were hiding, I would not be here."

A pause—heavy, weighted with the inevitability of a tide that will always return to shore.

"And if I were going to bite—" Vivienne let her lips curl at the edges, exposing her canines— subtle, knowing, inviting.

She leaned in just a little more, their noses barely brushing, her voice a whisper against Alexa’s lips.

"—I would not waste my time with a warning."

@preyontheweak

[findmeinshattrath]

The Worgen are officially returning to Gilneas in Patch 10.2.5: Seeds of Renewal!

Love Worgen so I hope this will be great! I'm not sure what it's going to look like in-game, probably no new capital city, but I hope it at least ends up actually visibly populated. If it does, one thing I'm hoping for from this is that there will end up being a sizeable Night Elf presence when it's rebuilt, maybe in the Blackwald or the woods near the Greymane Wall. Just something to show the bond between the two still going, you know?

[sekhisadventures]

Adventures in Azeroth: Characters

Protagonists

Avalon

Nelen Fullmoon

Jaie Swiftpaw

Samantha Montebank

Dareley Steelhammer

Shalandrae Deeproots

Zhan-min Irontummy

Aziguni

Savage United

Grimo B. Blamstick

Nitika Dawnhoof

Mola'raum

Sekhi

Galdia Grimaxe

Edwood Vargas

Laurelgosa

Krag’thar Stoneshaper (Deceased)

Merihim Suneater (Deceased)

Others

Jeemjazo & Murgly Jim

Leza

Malgum

Uh'kue of Zandalar

Nankoz Scarletspark

The Timelost

Xhu Pai Bao

Loren Fullmoon

Yvain Steelhammer

Zul'zanza of Stranglethorn

Antagonists

Unlimited Sin

Dissonantia, Witch of the Blackwald

The Demons of Unlimited Sin

Gremori Autumnleaves

House Wintersky

Alalestria Wintersky

Sinranir Downstrider

The Order of Night

Xiaren

Garnal Blackice

Others

Nyloc Athel of Suramar

[world-of-books31]

Ciao a tutti ragazzi/e!

Mi chiamo Bookie e sono un amante dei libri, dei videogiochi e degli horror.

Sono una scrittrice per passione e ho deciso di pubblicare qui su Tumbler il romanzo a cui sto lavorando.

Ma su cosa si basa questo mio romanzo?

Bene, è una specie di... tributo, se vogliamo definirlo così, alla mia band metal preferita: i "Twilight Force".

Il mio romanzo è il primo fi una lunga serie che ho in mente nella quale romanzo le loro canzoni e i loro album e do vita ai luoghi in esse accennati e alle battaglie che vi prendono luogo.

.................................................................

Ma come ho strutturato la cosa?

Ogni romanzo si basa su una canzone o una track all'interno di un album e le ogni serie si basa sull'album stesso.

Cosa vuol dire?

Vuol dire che:

Se scrivo un romanzo basato su una canzone presente in un determinato album, la serie che ne segue segue l'arco narrativo dell'album scelto.

Esempio pratico:

Il mio primo romanzo è basato sulla canzone "Enchanted Dragon of Wysdom", brano appartenente all'album "Tales of Ancient Profecies", che è il primo album della band, quindi la serie seguirà l'arco narrativo dell'album.

.................................................................

Ogni serie basa il proprio numero di libri sul numero di brani o track presenti nell'album stesso, ciò vuol dire che se in un album ci sono 8 canzoni/track la serie sarà composta da 8 libri.

.................................................................

Dato che gli album sono interconessi fra di loro anche le serie lo sono, quindi nasce una collana, ossia (nel mio caso) un insieme di serie che coesistono tra fra loro.

.................................................................

Ma chi sono i Twilightforce e perché mi hanno ispirato così tanto?

Sono un gruppo che canta di tutto ciò che è fantasy e ogni canzone e album narra una storia nella quale i protagonisti sono interpretati dai membri stessi della band.

Sono la mia fonte di ispirazione perché è grazie a loro che sono stata introdotta al fantasy come genere letterario e al metal come musica e da allora sono sempre nella mia playlist.

.................................................................

Chi sono i membri della band o meglio, i protagonisti di questo mio romanzo?

I membri principali sono (li chiamo con il nome del loro personaggio):

• Blackwald: un negromante che è stato esiliato da una biblioteca/fortezza magica per eresia.

• Lynd: un mezzo elfo che è stato abbandonato in orfanotrofio dopo essere stato il risultato di una relazione proibita.

• Aerendir: elfo orfano cresciuto in un villaggio di umani che cerca la sua identità perduta.

• Born: un druido appartenente all'Ordine della Quercia, la più influente gilda di druidi esistente.

• De'Azsh: una creatura misteriosa chiamata anche "Cercatore di Anime".

Loro cinque sono rispettivamente:

• Blackwald -> tastierista/voce narrante

• Lynd: 1°a chitarra

• Aerendir: 2°a chitara

• Born: Bassista

• De'Azsh: Batterista.

A loro cinque si aggiungo i due cantanti che la band ha avuto nel corso degli anni.

• Crhileon: un guerriero il cui destino è diventare re di una terra lontana.

• Allyon: uno straniero proveniente da un regno lontano.

Allyon ha sostituito Crhileon ed è l'attuale cantante dei Twilight Force.

.................................................................

Questo è tutto ciò che volevo dirvi e farvi sapere per quanto riguarda il romanzo.

Se poi siete curiosi di saperne di più commentate e farò del mio meglio per rispondervi.

.................................................................

Detto questo io vi saluto e ci vedremo nel prossimo post dove pubblicherò il 1° capitolo della storia.

Io sono anche su Wattpad e su Instagram e il mio nome in entrambi i social e il nome del mio profilo qui su Tumbler.

Bookie è un nomignolo così.

[bear-do-well]

Okay so please please please please listen to Twilight Force!

Quick infodump: they're a band based on your typical fantasy rpg's. Everything is in the Twilight Kingdoms (you can actually find it on world anvil) and the band itself is the Twilight Force. 6 crystal bearers destined to save the Twilight Kingdoms. Not all songs are about them tho. A lot of songs are actually about myths and history of the kingdoms.

Every member of the Twilight Force comes from a different kingdom. You have:

Blackwald: pretty much the leader. He's the one who came across the prophecies and united the crystal bearers. He's a necromancer warlock and he plays keyboards and is the main songwriter and pretty much the brains behind the band. He's also the narrator

Lynd: half high elf rogue. He's raised in an orphanage, and after getting out, he joined a thieves' guild. These days he is 1 with the shadows. He's lead guitarist, does orchestrations and song writing. Is the second mastermind behind the band, but stays more in the background.

Allyon: human fighter, doesn't have any backstory published yet. He's the singer and Italian. Replacement of Chrileon, the previous singer

Aerendir: half wood elf ranger. He's an orphan(?) raised by humans by the seas. The calling of the forest became stronger and stronger until he ran away to the forest (sounds familiar? Yes, he's all my characters). He plays rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar and did vocals on 1 song.

Born: hermit druid! Hermit druid! He's the bassist! He looks like a hobbit!

De'ash: eldritch being that steals souls. He's the drummer. He's actually not the first drummer in the band, but they kept the character.

Sorry for the huge infodump but they're just huge nerds and have honestly interesting lore!

i can tell you sat writing this for ages very excitedly

[mactyr]

To visit a friend

The forest groaned and creaked in the wind, foreshadowing the coming storm. The Gilnean, who was wrapped in bandages and dark leathers, sighed and glanced at the sky. He pulled up his hood and returned to his weary march through the Blackwald. Every step down the hill made him wince, the pain in his side threatening to bring forth his wolf. His foot slipped on a wet rock and he stepped down a little too hard causing him to grunt, his eyes flashed orange and teeth elongated. His form seemed to ripple; he took several deep breaths and leaned against a nearby tree. Opening a pouch on his hip he pulled out some Peacebloom, a simple herb to help with the pain, and chewed it slowly, he knew he needed to save his magic. His wounds could wait.

As his breath steadied, the fur receded and his eyes returned to their normal hue. He glared up toward the sky as the first drop of rain hit him square in the eye. He growled and pulled his cloak tight then resumed his slow march into the forest. The ground finally leveled out and patches of red started to appear on the forest floor. He was getting close. The next bend brought him to a glade where a gigantic tree crowned the forest. "Almost there," he grunted, "Tal'doren looks well enough after all this time." As he neared the tree, he could feel his emotions calm and some of his weariness melt away. The tree seemed to still have a soothing effect on his wolf.

His stride quickened as the tree eased his pain, he walked around the base of the tree towards the back and swiftly hobbled up a small hill. At the top he stopped and knelt down at a mound of earth, a marker stood at one end. He took a deep breath, the rain almost sensing what was to come started to fall harder, a soft chorus, a background to words of grief.

"Hello Lys," he choked, "We finally did it. We cleared the city, Gilneas is ours, we have a home again." He paused and took a shuddering breath, tears streaming down his face into his beard. "I don't know what happened to the others. Many fell, lost to battles, both physical and mental. I almost lost myself after you..." he paused to wipe the tears away. "After you fell I was lost, I missed my friend...I miss my friend." He continued on, pain in his voice, "I never thought we would be home, I never thought I'd be able to visit you again." He paused for a long time, the sky weeping as he was. “I hoped I would be able to choke up chunks of my own sins, tell you of all that transpired since that day. Now that I’m here I don’t know what to say except I’m so sorry.” He closed his eyes and wept silently.

After some time he softly spoke again "I brought you a gift." He reached into his pack and pulled out a folded tabard with a rose on top. "The Hounds have all but disbanded, this is the last piece I could find of them and I felt it was right to bring it here to rest with you. It’s the only place I could think of that would be peaceful enough to ease the pain." He laid the tabard down and stuck the rose into the ground to the side of the grave. Whispering softly, he reached out and touched the rose, using what druidic magic he had left he asked it to grow. Moments later there was a large rose bush next to the grave, flowers of all colors blooming in the rain. "I haven't used the Gift in years, this is all I have left after the battle." Clutching his side the pain spiked, he couldn't hold the wolf back anymore. The change was swift, and with a growling voice he spoke, "I know I should take better care, I needed to save what magic I had left for your gift. Don't worry, I'll recover and return soon to tend the roses. I'm glad to be home." He paused as he struggled to choke out the words, "I wish you were here."

With a final deep breath he let out a howl, full of all the pain and rage and grief. As his voice gave out, he could hear throughout the forest, wolves were responding. Wide eyes looked around and his hands came to his face as he wept.

[xarcahn]

"And, my friend… I, unbeknownst to me until the last full moon, is the last crystal bearer. That is why I now, in the eleventh hours, come to you. I must seek out the bearers, and the crystals must be unearthed. And you, must in return fulfill your oaths. The Knights of Twilight’s Might must gather and rise."

~Blackwald; Epilogue, Heroes of Mighty Magic

---

* Previous Twilight Force tribute (please check the image description for more info about this project and the band I'm making these tributes for): https://xarcahn.deviantart.com/…/The-Crystal-Bearers-Aerend…

---

My second work in my planned series of tributes for "Adventure Metal" band Twilight Force: this time featuring Blackwald, the "Dark Sorcery Guy", as I like to call him, although I believe his more proper title is "Warlock". 😛Some people argue that he's a necromancer as well, taking in consideration all the skulls and skeleton-parts which are often seen as part of his stage clothes and props. 💀 And the theory that his particular practice of sorcery could be perceived as something rather dark would be strengthened by this excerpt (from the same epilogue the above quote was taken from) as well:

"And now, they have abolished me! The Arcane Tribunal deemed my studies... wretched and vile! Curse them! Let the wrath of the Netherrealm be upon their creaking bones! I have not devoted my life to mundane sorcery to please cowards and weaklings!"

In the "real" boring world though--- Blackwald's band role is to play keyboards, as well as do the occasional narration for some songs. He's also one of the co-founders and songwriters, and always grace the stage with his dark ominous presence. ;P I tried here to replicate his stage clothes as much as possible, while adding a few features of my own, like the skull designs on his boots.

Hope you'll enjoy, everyone, and as usual--- a Find-The-Items-Challenge for y'all:

* Find the Unicorn Horn 🦄

* Find the G-clef 🎼

* Find the signature "D. U. D." ⚜️

--- Technique: Digitally painted from scratch Tools: Photoshop CS4, Photoshop CC, Wacom tablet and Wacom Cintiq Mobile Studio Pro Original resolution: 6476x8780 pixels Time taken: okay, so I forgot to log it ._.

[a-murder-of-crowes]

Blackwald's Edge

Wrong Turn by Neil Burnell www.neilburnell.com

[blackwaldpartisan]

The Scene

                                             Gilneas.

Harsh cliffs, endless heaths, narrow city streets, brooding woods.

A once proud nation of humans, walled away from the rest of the continent to protect against outside threats. Struggling internally with the Worgen Curse turning the population into ravenous monsters. But as a cure at last is found, the land is devastated by a  terrible cataclysm, sinking some of the coast into the grey waves, and cracking the mighty protective wall.

In spilled the undead Forsaken under the command of Queen Sylvanas Windrunner. Bringing war, Blight and terrible creations both mechanical and fleshcrafted. After a prolonged struggle, most of the population flees, seeking asylum with the Alliance in Darnassus and Stormwind.

But some remained.

In a small, Northern abbey, a group of mostly civilians had holed up. The abbess, unwilling to see all of her charges slain, accepted the Forsaken offer to lay down arms, open the doors, and join ranks.

Thus was born the Gilnean Reserve. 

The pet project of a Doctor Alberforth, the Gilnean Reserve is an experiment in population control, memory alteration and brainwashing. Convinced that most of the land has been Blighted, the Reserve is provided with regular doses of medicine, unaware that the apothecary tonic ravages their memories and willpower. The Forsaken fill in the blanks with their own version of events and over time, the Reservists do the same for one another, further reinforcing the new narrative. Collaborators. Keeping their own in check, spying on comrade and kin, and fighting their own countrymen under the delusion that they are responsible for the terrible plight that has befallen Gilneas. They are the Gilnean Reserve, carefully guarded for posterity by their Forsaken saviours, and fighting to clear their debt. Those who fail to uphold their end of the deal are sent to the Second Reserve, and not seen again.

The biggest thorn in the Reserve’s side is the ragtag militia calling itself the Blackwald Partisans. Led through lies and manipulation by a dreadful Nightelf who goes by the monkier ‘Doctor Dead’, they strike out of nowhere and vanish just as quickly.

During one such raid they steal away a young Reservist guarding a flock of sheep.

Filled with paranoid superstition and dreadful tales, the woman stands terrified in front of the glowing-eyed Doctor Dead and stammers a promise to aid their cause in return for her life. She is given a journal to fill, and taken away under guard.

                                            Meet Ailiam Beech.

                                                         .

                                                         .

                                                         .

[mycupofrum]

Snippet Time!

Thank you @strugglequill, @lovelymasks, @goldenlionprince, @lilacella, @arliedraws and @groundzero-v and for tagging me to different snippet/WIP games a while ago. Enjoy this short snippet of unedited and unhealthy Sirius/Gellert smut as I’m slowly getting on with the next chapter of Out of Time. :)

"Is this your preference, then?" Gellert asks, leaning closer and rolling his hips just so. Sirius makes a sound but no words come out. He doesn't really have an answer, given that he had a long break from having sex with anyone prior to Gellert.    "Well?" Gellert says, kissing Sirius's neck. "Did your James ride you like this?"  A hot surge of anger shoots through Sirius, and he digs his nails into Gellert's skin.  "Don't fucking speak his name."  "Still a touchy subject, I see," Gellert says, smiling. Without a warning, he brings his hand to Sirius's neck and squeezes it lightly. "I think we should do something about that. Don't you?" 

Tagging @squintclover @nyxunderwood @sc0rpiflow3r if you have any writing you would like to share + open tag!

[saltwater-soul]

Re-Introducing: Marchioness Vivienne Blackwald ♥ Character Name: Lady Blackwald Aliases: Only by those close to her: Viv, Vi. Race: Human Gender: ♀ Profession: Noble - Tradeswoman

Apparent age: She appears in her thirties, though a lady never tells. Hair: Dark, thickly-curled, chocolate hair. Skin Tanned/Fair Appearance details: Vivienne is remarkably unblemished, at least where polite eyes can see. Personality: Vivienne's presence is one of quiet, commanding elegance. Her clothes, posture, and the soft chime of her jewelry reflect a life of wealth and refinement. A well-thought compliment goes a long way with her.

She is the embodiment of aristocratic grace.

Raised in Gilnean high society, she carries herself with poise and unfailing decorum, addressing even her dearest friends by title until familiarity softens her formality. Beneath the polished exterior lies a warm, vibrant heart. Vivienne is chatty, playful, and physically affectionate—a brush of her hand, a kiss to the cheek, an arm draped casually around a companion's...

Her mind, however, is as sharp as a rapier. Skilled in politics and business, she navigates trade routes and battle lines with equal finesse. Vivienne is no stranger to manipulation, though she prefers diplomacy to coercion. Charm, after all, can often open doors that brute force cannot.

Childhood: Born into privilege to loving and doting parents, Vivienne was the cherished only daughter of an unlikely union. Her father: a Gilnean merchant lord with a fleet as vast as his reputation was scandalous. Her mother: a well-bred Kul'Tiran noblewoman from a family of naval prestige. They met long before the rise of the Greymane Wall—a love story born of stormy seas and whispered promises under moonlit sails.

Vivienne’s early years were spent wrapped in love and luxury, raised in a sprawling Gilnean manor surrounded by forests and fog. When the Wall rose, Vivienne’s connection to her mother’s homeland was severed. Lady Maeve spoke of Kul Tiras often, painting vibrant pictures of a world Vivienne could no longer touch.

Until now.

Notable relationships: A certain Admiral, a certain Pirate, and a certain Priest ♥

@preyontheweak @blessedveil

[tartheanmaid]

BABSHDHFHFHFHFJGGJDHGD the real reason behind the red wedding

my favorite trope isn’t really “forbidden love.” it’s “strongly disapproved of love.” no one can stop the two characters from being together; it’s not illegal, but, boy howdy, nobody likes it very much.

[sekhisadventures]

The Heart of the Matter

The Undermine

Through the back alleyways, past the slum apartments, over rickety bridges built to traverse what could only be called ‘water’ because it was moving too fast to be called ‘mud,’ two beings crept… in the same body.

After the sudden reappearance of the incubus of the late Witch of Blackwald Forest the group was on high alert. Cenoon had managed to outfly Laurelgosa and escaped to an unknown location, and the others couldn’t take the risk that the other surviving members of Unlimited Sin were at large in the city. They had enough to contend with already without having to worry about having Az’arad or Gremori come charging out of the shadows of the tall buildings.

Edwood and Nelen had been working together to try to track down Cenoon’s via magic, but so far their resident experts in the arcane and fel were having little success. Zhan-min was still angry about what the incubus had done to him, the pandaren man taking it as a personal violation that he’d manipulated his emotions like that.

Samantha, however, was following another lead. Let the rest of them keep an eye out for Dissonantia’s old minions, she and Annulus were more concerned about the Darkfuse Cartel’s interest in the black blood.

Nelen had pointed out to her that maybe it was just a co-incidence. Xal’atath’s machinations in Khaz Algar had shown just how potent a resource it was, given how she used it to transform the nerubians into her ascended slaves.

Samantha had nodded at his words, then thought to herself ‘sure Nelen, and maybe I’m the faerie dragon Brightwing.’

She had, after all, been the only one of their number to have an actual conversation with the Harbinger, if only in her dreams. She knew just how far and wide Xal’atath could travel, and where she could travel to. It was possible that she wasn’t involved in this, but Samantha (and Annulus) wouldn’t be happy until they were sure she wasn’t.

So they watched, and waited, and listened, and occasionally clonked a Darkfuse goblin over the head when he was away from his fellows and rifled through the hapless goon’s pockets for anything important… and an hour ago they had hit the proverbial jackpot.

Inside the pocket of a manager of the Cartel along with half a candy bar (mostly melted,) twelve gold and fifty five silver (immediately pocketed,) a takeout menu from a local Pandaren restaurant (she made a mental note to hit that up later,) and his car keys Samantha had found a letter from none other than the big boss himself which read as follows:

Grilo,

Listen up Greasebombs, this is important.

You’re to head to the Cartel’s off the books site and ensure that it’s secure. Make sure all the security features are up to standard and if they’re not you have my personal authorization to cut off however many fingers from the idiots running it is necessary to get them to fix the problem.

Get a move on too. We’ve heard its not just the Alliance and Horde who are sniffing around. Some of your co-workers have been seeing ‘ghosts with bandages’ and while you may not know what that means I sure as fuck do.

Don’t worry about it, just make sure they can’t get in.

Oh, and since you probably don’t know which off the books I’m talking about, its that one over by Venturewood. MOVE IT!

Signed,

Your Fucking Boss

Thus, Samantha made her way to Venturewood, the main neighborhood of the Venture Company, as quickly as she could.

She found a place under rather heavy guard to say the least. A small group of buildings near the cavern wall on the edge of the Undermine, but with at least ten guards for each building. Thankfully, her own talents combined with Annulus’ power ensured that nobody saw her at all…

She crept along the path through the buildings, frowning to herself. “(I don’t see anything, but the guards here are so thick its absurd. Gallywix may as well be holding up a sign that says, ‘something huge is here!’ Annulus, do you sense anything?)” she thought.

“Something is here…” came the reply from Annulus in her mind, “Samantha, that door on the wall, the reinforced one there… I sense something behind it, but its very faint. I will open a voidgate, move quickly.”

Samantha nodded, and in an instant a hole of pure blackness appeared. The elf broke into a sprint and dove through it, landing on the other side of the door they had seen. It was built into the wall of the cave, and now they were in a smaller tunnel lined with electric lights.

Samantha drew her daggers and crept along, her ears pricked and her eyes wide to take in all she saw… and soon she came to a wide-open workshop. All along the walls were containers of black blood, the viscous starcursed liquid whispering to her mind, and crates of the purest kaja’mite ore that the goblins could mine… and in the center of the workshop were a trio of goblin engineers hard at work.

“Okay, casing is holding so far… black blood infusion status?” asked one, raising his goggles up. He was a younger goblin, likely barely into his twenties, in a dirty tee-shirt and jeans.

“Stable. Oh man I hope it works this time… remember what happened to Emvi?” shuddered another, wringing his hands together. This goblin was older than Grimo was, with white hair and a deeply lined face.

“Hey, we don’t talk about that. Just be glad she went quick.” nodded the third, a female goblin who looked a little older than the first one, as the other two winced, “We do the job, we get this back to Gallywix, and we get the fuck outta here.”

“Right.” replied the first goblin.

“Y-yeah, anyways it looks like it should hold…” nodded the second, “We can’t be sure unless we test it… but… we can’t use this fuckin’ thing. Only she can.”

The female goblin grimaced, “SHUT UP YOU IDIOT! Don’t talk about them, don’t even think about them! You want them to show up?!” she blurted out, making chopping gestures against her neck with her hand to urge him into silence.

Samantha crept closer, hidden by Annulus’ power as much as her own skill, barely a suggestion of shadow in the air… and she saw it.

Sitting on the table was a circular pendant, a golden setting with purple gemstones inlaid with strange runs, the center of which was a flat jewel that showed what appeared to be the depths of space filled with stars.

At least, that’s what it looked like, but the sight of it made Samantha’s blood run cold and Annulus gasp with shock in her mind.

“(The Dark Heart. The fucking DARK HEART!)” thought Samantha, biting her lip hard to keep from saying it aloud out of sheer shock. “(I knew there was some connection! Alleria smashed it with an arrow, but it looks pristine now! That’s why he’s harvesting so much black blood! Xal’atath has him fixing it! The weapons are just a bonus!)” she sheathed a dagger, then reached out one invisible hand towards it with the intent of grabbing it and fleeing from here with all haste.

“DO NOT TOUCH IT SAMANTHA!” shouted Annulus in her mind so loudly that the void elf only just stopped herself from crying out. “That is far more than a magical tool! We must alert our allies at once!”

“(But its right there!)” insisted Samantha, staring at it like a cat entranced with a string. “(I could grab it, have it in my pouch, and be out of here before they know whats going on!)”

“That artifact contains the endless hunger of Galakrond, Samantha. Just touching it runs the risk of that hunger consuming you!” warned Annulus. “I will not be able to protect you from its power, I am not strong enough to do so. We must leave at once and get word to the others!”

Samantha gritted her teeth in frustration but nodded as she turned and quickly made her way back to the entrance. Annulus knew far more about the Void than she did, her partner had no reason to lie to her.

Twenty minutes later, a few blocks away from the hidden workshop.

Samantha had used her gemstone to call everyone as soon as she’d made it out, using the rune for ‘all’ which meant it would alert EVERY other gemstone (save for the one belonging to Jaie’s mother, which they had carefully ensured would be exempt from such. No reason to give the poor woman nightmares about her daughter’s safety.)

Leaving the Glittering Prize in the care of Jeemjazo and Loren, the remaining members of Avalon and Savage United were making for Dornogal and the teleporter to the Undermine with all haste. This was an emergency of world-shattering proportions, literally if Gallywix got the Dark Heart back to its owner!

Samantha was hiding in the shadows as she awaited her allies, keeping an eye on the outskirts, but so far it was free of incident. It was clear Gallywix’s men didn’t even realize that she had made it inside.

Suddenly there was a loud roar of an engine, and the void elf looked up to see a car speeding towards her, the driver slamming on the brakes as the void elf stood and made herself visible.

The car crashed to a halt as Grimo pulled the keys out and jumped out of the driver’s seat, pulling his gun from its holster. Seated in the backseat were Galdia, who was looking like she’d just had a particularly exciting roller coaster ride, and Nelen, who looked like he was fighting down what was likely his first ever case of carsickness.

“Right, where’s our target Sam?” grunted the goblin man. He wanted an excuse to go after Gallywix beyond him just wrecking life for everyone in the Undermine and having him aiding a world ending threat like Xal’atath definitely did it!

“There’s a hidden lab in that compound, but we need to wait for the rest of us. The Darkfuse Cartel is all over it. We’d be outnumbered, and they all have black blood weaponry.” she nodded, “Where is everyone else?”

“Well… hard to fly down here…” shrugged Grimo, “… ‘n I’m the only one with a proper vehicle. Th’ others are coming, but they gotta ride their animals or shit so, yeah.”

Nelen swallowed, wiping his forehead with his fingertips as he tried to keep from being ill. “I’ll happily take Arrexis over that again Grimo…” he frowned.

Galdia grinned at him, “Wuss.” she laughed, already holding her sword and shield ready. She wouldn’t care how many guards there were, she’d chop them all into pieces!

“Still, we need everyone we can get before…” began the void elf, then suddenly the tentacles in her hair thrashed about as her eyes went wide.

“Samantha! I sense a surge of energy from inside the compound! Voidgates are opening! Several!” warned Annulus.

Sam looked back and immediately her hands went to the hilts of her daggers, “Get ready, somethings happening!” she snapped.

The two goblins at the gates of the facility looked back and shouted something that they were too far away to hear, then they raced inside before a blast of shadows sent one flying backwards, his body smashing into a building across the street and falling limp to the ground. The other fared better, but his attack knocked him back to the gates and charged. As he did, they got a good look at them, and Nelen and Grimo swore loudly as Samantha looked stunned at the sight.

A humanoid shape, but wrapped tightly in bandages, wielding weapons made of pure shadow, seeming to not entirely be real and yet powerful and deadly enough to take out Gallywix’s guards, black blood weapons or not!

“Ethereals?” whispered Samantha.

“The Dark Heart! The ethereals must be after it! Samantha, we can wait no longer!” shouted Annulus in her mind.

Samantha nodded, “The others will have to catch up with us guys! The only thing here the ethereals would care about is the Dark Heart, it has to be what they’re after! Move it!” she shouted, racing towards the entrance as the Grimo and Galdia fell in behind her, Nelen jogging along as his body transformed. The magus entered his worgen form as he growled, flexing his fingers as he drew upon the power of the arcane, ready to unleash it on any who tried to waylay them.

The inside of the compound was in chaos now! Ethereals were attacking the guards left and right, and the goblins were not faring well. Black blood weaponry apparently didn’t do much to their enemies when they had no real bodies at all to corrupt, and the Ethereals could vanish and reappear much like Samantha could herself using Annulus’ power, but without limit! They darted around the goblins like shadows, attacking from seemingly all sides at once.

Within mere minutes the Darkfuse Cartel were slain to a man, and the ethereals vanished into their voidgates once more… the area now empty of anyone at all.

“Where did they go?” asked Grimo, turning on his shadow energy detector built into his goggles. He couldn’t see any signatures at all save for Samantha… nor could he see the gigantic explosion of shadow energy that the Dark Heart should have caused. The workshop must have some serious shielding on it, he thought.

“I don’t know, but they’re keeping it behind that door.” replied Samantha, nodding to the cave wall behind them. “Grimo, do you have anything that can blast it apart?” she asked. Annulus could open a void gate for Samantha to use, but not for anyone else.

Grimo looked at it up and down, then shook his head, “Not on me no… that’s pure titansteel reinforced with adamantite. I have a bit of seaforium with me, but nowhere near enough.”

“Well, I should have enough!” came another voice as two other goblins came jogging into view, the group turning to them.

Coming towards them was a squat goblin man with a ballcap on his head and sturdy workmans overalls on his body. Monte Gazlowe, Trade Prince of the Bilgewater Cartel! Next to him was a goblin man in darkened leathers with a pair of daggers on his hips as well.

“Boss? When did you get to th’ Undermine?” asked Grimo.

“Few days ago, Blamstick. We just heard that Gallywix is holding th’ Dark Heart here. Ethereals just tore apart Noggenfogger’s lab and would’ve gotten him if Alleria hadn’t been holding down th’ fort.” he replied, “Marin told us everything. Gallywix is repairing th’ Dark Heart because he made a deal with Xal’atath, ‘n he was holding his wife hostage to make sure Noggenfogger did as he’s told.”

“Okay, but who’s the mook with ya?” asked Grimo, looking at the other goblin… before Samantha stepped forward.

“Hey Renzik. How’s Shaw doing?” she asked with a smirk.

The goblin in darkened leathers gave her a toothy grin, “Better now that Fairwind got him a letter finally… but I ain’t here for him. This is goblin business.” he replied.

Grimo looked at Samantha, “… you know him?” he asked.

Samantha shrugged, “We move in the same circles. His name is Renzik the Shiv, and he’s on SI:7’s payroll.”

“Yeah, normally. This is bigger than th’ Alliance or Horde though. Gallywix gotta be stopped… so less talkin’ ‘n more breakin’ ‘n enterin’ eh?” snapped Renzik as Gazlowe nodded, digging in his bag and taking out a trio of very large and very nasty looking bombs, setting them up by the doorway.

Grimo nodded at Renzik, though he was wary of him. Renzik was a goblin, but one not with any cartel. Instead, he worked for Matthias Shaw and Stormwind Intelligence, a spy for the Alliance. Matthias was a pragmatic man, and he didn’t judge based on race alone. He mistrusted the Horde of course, it was his JOB to do so, but he knew talent when he saw it and he recruited when he found it if he could do so. Renzik was one of those recruits.

Gazlowe lit the fuses and ran for cover, “FIRE IN THE HOLE!” shouted the goblin as the others quickly ducked behind whatever was sturdy nearby, and with a tremendous BOOM the doorway was blasted off its hinges, falling onto the floor of the tunnel!

“And we’re in! Lets go everyone!” grinned Gazlowe as he, Renzik, and Grimo climbed out of the cover. The other three were a bit stunned by the blast, their ears ringing loudly for a moment… until Samantha froze.

“Another voidgate is opening Samantha!” shouted Annulus in warning as the void elf spun around just in time to see a portal of blackness appear behind them… but it wasn’t ethereals who emerged.

Instead came two figures they knew all too well.

“Of course you would be here…” sighed a human man’s voice, his armor clattering with each step as he drew his swords. The monstrous weapons hissed, their fanged blades trembling in anticipation of violence.

“We know what’s in there. Stand aside, or don’t. I don’t care. I’d probably kill you anyway…” added his companion, a pandaren woman with dark glasses over her eyes, wearing robes of swirling black and white.

Standing before them were Xiaren and Garnal, the minions of Xal’atath!

Nelen nodded to Samantha and Galdia, “Grimo! Go with Gazlowe and Renzik! We’ll hold them off!” he barked as he began to channel arcane energy into his hands.

The trio of goblins nodded and raced into the cave as the worgen, elf, and mag’har prepared to battle their foes.

“Two on three, a bit uneven… shall we introduce our new recruit Xiaren?” smirked Garnal as he held his weapons ready.

Xiaren nodded dispassionately, and once more the voidgate opened behind them… and out of it came another familiar figure.

A trollish man, in the garb of a witch doctor. He looked between them all, then sighed. “Really? Ya gonna make me fight dem?”

Nelen stared at him, almost losing his grip on the energy he was readying. “Zul’zanza?! Whats going on, why are you with them?!” he demanded.

The troll shook his head, “It not be anythin’ personal bruddah, but Xal’atath say she can get me back ta me own time if I help her in dis one… so…” he glared, then suddenly the shadows swirled around him and his body seemed to become a cloud of darkness with pinpoints of light for eyes. “Sorry, but I be goin’ home, one way or anudder!” he nodded.

As he did Galdia roared and charged, the orc enraged! They had helped Zul’zanza, given him aid and a place to live after he was thrown into their time, and THIS is how he repaid that?!

Before she could reach him however Garnal dove infront of her and her pandaren forged sword clashed with his void spawned weapons, the blades locking with each other as she struggled to push past him!

Zul’zanza flickered away in a burst of shadows, ready to unleash his own powers upon Galdia, but there was another whirl of darkness and Samantha appeared behind the troll, ready to drive her daggers into his ribs! He vanished again, reappearing a bit away as Samantha kept up the chase.

Xiaren raised her hands as they swirled with the corruptive power of Y’shaarj, ready to unleash it on any who drew her gaze, only for a blast of arcane energy to shoot towards her. Before it could hit the pandaren sorceress her sha manifested behind her and smacked it away with a claw, cackling as it looked down, tasting the worgen’s anger.

As the battle continued outside the goblins raced along the tunnel until, finally, they came to the workshop. The three engineers that Samantha found lay on the floor dead, their wounds leaking the twisted power of the black blood, and nearby stood a familiar figure…

“Well look who th’ cat dragged in!” he cackled, standing there with their cane in one hand and the repaired Dark Heart in the other. Jastor Gallywix sneered at the goblins, standing next to a teleportation pad with a triumphant look on his face! “Monte Gazlowe, Renzik the Shiv, and… uh…” he paused as he looked at Grimo, cocking his head. “… do I know you?” he asked.

Grimo snarled, aiming his rifle, “Damn right you do lard-ass! You tried to enslave me when Mount Karajo erupted! Tricked me onto your ship ‘n shoved me into a cage!” the goblin retorted, narrowing his eyes at Jastor.

Gallywix raised his eyebrow at him, then frowned, “… buddy, do you got any idea how little that narrows it down?”

“NARROW THIS DOWN YA PIECE OF SHIT!” roared Grimo as he pulled the trigger, a bang echoing through the cavern as a led slug erupted from the barrel of his gun, aimed right at Gallywix’s face! A second later there was a flash of electricity and the bullet ricocheted away, knocking an empty can of kaja-cola flying off a nearby desk!

Gallywix smirked, “Force shield dumbass. You think I’d be standin’ here gloatin’ if there was any chance ya could reach me?” he smirked, “Doesn’t matter anyways.” he turned his attention away from Grimo and back to the others. “You’re too late, Gazlowe-buddy.” he chuckled, holding up the Dark Heart. “You’ll never beat me to a good deal!”

As he said this, however, a void portal suddenly appeared behind him. Gazlowe’s eyes went wide and he cried out in warning, “Gallywix!” he shouted!

Before Jastor could react his body suddenly went rigid, dark energies swirling around him as he was lifted into the air, an ethereal walking out of the portal behind him.

Gallywix’s eyes swiveled as he was raised up off the ground like a puppet and turned to face the newcomer. “Oh… uh… I was just about to send that on to Xal’atath…” he tried, but the ethereal gestured with one hand and the Dark Heart floated away from Gallywix and towards him instead. “R-repair work’s all finished! Not holdin’ out or nothin’, I swear!”

The ethereal looked at the Dark Heart as if examining it, then without a word he walked back through the portal, which closed behind him without a trace. As he did the magic holding Gallywix aloft ended, and the goblin man fell to the floor with a loud grunt of pain.

Gazlowe looked at Jastor as the heavyset goblin picked himself up. “Whatever Xal’atath promised you Gallywix, it ain’t worth it!” he insisted.

Gallywix ignored him however, looking furious as he let out a stream of colorful cursing, then glared at Gazlowe and jabbed a finger at him. “I’ll remember this…” he growled, narrowing his eyes, before stepping onto the teleport pad, “This is my town!” he snapped, pointing his cane at the trio of goblins before him. “… and when I come back, I’M GONNA BURY YOU UNDER IT!” he roared, and then with a flash of electricity he vanished. As he did the teleporter’s control panel suddenly erupted in sparks as the smell of burning copper wire filled the air, the force shield vanishing as the machine went dark, smoke billowing out from behind the controls!

“Dammit…” growled Grimo, holstering his rifle, “So fuckin’ close…”

“Close is right…” sighed Gazlowe, “How much ya wanna bet those ethereals are workin’ for Xal’atath? They’ll probably take th’ Dark Heart right to her.”

Grimo shrugged, “I mean, you guys saved Noggenfogger ‘n Jastor’s hostages right? Ain’t a total loss…” he asked.

Renzik snorted, “Yeah sure. That’s four for us, a few billion for th’ apocalypse. Go team.” he retorted.

Grimo opened his mouth to bite back, then there was a sudden explosion from outside! “Ah fuck! Those assholes are still here! Gazlowe! Renzik! C’mon, those guys who showed up are Xal’atath’s goons too!” he snapped, racing out of the cave as he drew his rifle again, the other two immediately following behind.

Outside the battle raged, Galdia’s shield showing several fresh gouges where the death knight’s blades had bitten (literally) into it, but the orc’s wounds were relatively minor. She was filled with battle rage, her sword a blur of steel as she tried to take Garnal’s head off.

Samantha was holding Zul’zanza at bay for now, but it wasn’t easy. They were both using the power of the Void to fight each other, so their abilities kept cancelling each other out. Shadowboxing in the most literal sense!

Nelen’s arcane powers were managing to keep Xiaren back, the pandaren woman only using the sha’s power to attack him. Perhaps she’d finally run out of skardyn to summon, but whatever the reason she was only focused on taking Nelen down.

Then again, Nelen was the only one of the three who had been in Pandaria during the war… so he may just be the only one she cared about hurting.

The goblins emerged into the open cavern of the Undermine, Grimo’s rifle at the ready as Renzik drew his daggers, Gazlowe holding a grenade in one hand.

Garnal saw them and smirked, “There! They must have the Dark Heart! Take the goblins!” he shouted.

Grimo frowned, “We don’t got it! Your spooky ethereal buddies already stole it!” he spat back, “… ‘n I’m gonna put a bullet in your freakin’ face for it!”

At this however Garnal paused, “Ethereals?” he asked, looking genuinely confused by this. “But she…” he looked around, then frowned, “Xiaren! A voidgate! NOW!” he shouted.

The pandaren looked down at the worgen, then sighed dispassionately and opened a portal behind the death knight as Zul’zanza vanished in a swirl of darkness, appearing next to it.

The pandaren woman swooped down from where she’d been hovering with the sha’s power, then the three of them jumped through the voidgate as it snapped shut behind them. A second later a bullet, two throwing daggers, and a blast of arcane energy shot through where it’d been.

“Dammit…” growled Nelen as his fur vanished and he shrank back down into his human form.

“Nelen, situation is critical man.” nodded Grimo. “One of th’ ethereals got in there ‘n stole th’ Dark Heart from Gallywix! They could be takin’ it to Xal’atath right now!”

Samantha however cocked her head, “… are you sure?” she asked as the others looked at her in confusion. “Garnal seemed really surprised when you mentioned the ethereals were here. Wouldn’t Xal’atath have told them if she was sending them?” she pointed out.

Gazlowe frowned, “… well, maybe not? Void things tend to like fuckin’ with people’s heads. Besides, why else would the ethereals take th’ Dark Heart if they’re not doin’ it for her?” he asked.

Samantha nodded, “That’s a very good question…” she murmured.

Nelen just sighed, then took out his gemstone and drew the rune for ‘all’ on it. Once it connected, he spoke into it, “Change of plans. The Dark Heart has been stolen by ethereals. They may be in league with the Harbinger. Rendezvous at the center of the Undermine, the Incontinental Hotel. We’ll figure out where to go from there.”

Samantha nodded, but that did bother her. If Gallywix was repairing the Dark Heart for Xal’atath, why steal it at all? Jastor couldn’t use it, so why would he keep it? Maybe to try to extort something from the Harbinger (and oh to be a fly on the wall if he did try that,) but otherwise it made no sense.

What if the ethereals weren’t working for Xal’atath?

What if they wanted the Dark Heart for themselves? What would they do with it?

Next Story

Previous Story

[damien-ward]

Alaric Hastings Cameos

Decided to make a cameos list for my alt Alaric the same way I did Damien last year!

[Damien cameos Cata-BfA] [Damien cameo in Shadowlands]

Cataclysm

1) The first cameo for Alaric is after the player wakes up in Duskhaven as a worgen. Either by exploring around, or just doing the questline, the player will eventually come to Crowley Orchard where they will find a worgen standing by a barrel of apples working on them. Approaching Alaric to speak with him he will say:

<Alaric sniffs at the apples and then the air>

“Can you believe this feeling? Is this as overwhelming for you as it is me? This ‘curse’... I can smell everything, hear everything, and I feel like I have the power to take on an ogre. I feel so alive.  I was going for a run to get used to, whatever we are now... but decided to stop for a bite to eat when I smelled these apples.

<Alaric looks over his shoulder and then back at you>

Just be careful of that woman over there. That’s the Lorna Crowley, you know Darius Crowley’s daughter. She threatened to shoot me and I am not even sure what I said in response I was in awe of how beautiful she was... Do you think I have a chance? Of course not who am I kidding. “

This first introduction to Alaric shows a few things. First, that he finds the worgen curse to be exhilarating. Second, he likes apples. And third, Alaric has a crush on Lorna Crowley.

2) Continuing through the Worgen starting the zone the player will eventually end up in Stormglen Village where they investigate what happens. The player then is sent into the Blackwald where they find Tal’doren with a bunch of feral worgen awaiting to undergo the ritual. Just outside of Tal’doren the player can encounter Alaric for the second time, kneeling by a tree, approaching him and talking to him he will say:

“I can’t. I can’t try the ritual again.

<Alaric slams his fist into the ground>

“The druids say we must remember and come to terms with what we are. Learn to accept the beast within. Last thing I can remember was being attacked by the worgen and fleeing Stormglen Village with my parents... and then nothing until I woke up in Duskhaven. I don’t want to remember what happened between there. I’m afraid of what I will learn happened.”

This cameo shows Alaric survived the Forsaken attack on Duskhaven, the shattering caused by the cataclysm, and made it to Stormglen Village and found his way into the Blackwald. During that time he has apparently tried the ritual but was unable to complete it as he refuses to accept what he may have done while he was a mindless worgen. It also gives some backstory that he was from Stormglen and was there when the worgen began to attack Gilneas. He was bit during the attack and eventually turned before being caught and given Krennan’s potion in Duskhaven.

The player will not see Alaric again in the worgen starting zone.

3) Next time the player will see Alaric is if they quest in Duskwood. Along the road in a little camp the player can encounter Alaric with another Gilnean and some Night Watch. He will be standing guard with a crossbow. If talked to he will say:

“When I heard of the worgen here in Duskwood I decided to leave Darnassus to come here with my fellow Gilneans to help, I never thought the situation was this bad. Feral worgen run rampant here. 

<Alaric pauses as he reminisces before laughing for a moment>

Growing up I always thought I would just be a fisherman like all the men of my family, although I always wanted to be more, and here I am. I train every day to get better with my crossbow, well when I am not out here helping gather ingredients for Mr. Harris’ salve. I’m hoping to start taking bounties and jobs from Darkshire soon, though I try to be careful when there I imagine they’d be a little on edge if I were to ever lose control and transform. I’m still trying to learn to control when I shift, it’s been a slow process.

This cameo reveals quite a bit about Alaric and gives a few more hints into his life and story. First, it shows that after seeing him struggling with the ritual he was apparently able to finally able to complete the ritual. He survived the Battle of Gilneas, and subsequent evacuation to Darnassus. He then decided to tag along with his fellow kinsmen who came to Duskwood to help the feral worgen. 

Second, this reveals a bit more of his backstory, his family was known for being fishermen and that he planned to become one himself despite dreaming of doing grander things. Which he now sees himself as doing. 

Third, since coming to Duskwood Alaric has begun to train using a crossbow, which he uses to help protect those who go out and collect ingredients for Oliver Harris. He trains hard and hopes to become a bounty hunter soon as a means to make money. He also has gotten new armor to wear while out in Duskwood to help protect him from undead and feral worgen.

Finally, Alaric hints that he still cannot fully control when he transforms, partly because of how much he struggled to complete the ritual, and he has been working to gain better control so he can shift at will.

Legion

1) The next time players can come across Alaric is in Dalaran during the events of Legion. If the player goes into the Underbelly they can find Alaric sitting at a bar occasionally drinking a beverage. Walking up and talking to him he will say:

“You should try some of the drinks here they are delicious. I’m waiting for a contact to meet me for the details on a bounty and started sampling some of the drinks. Though I wouldn’t recommend drinking too much, this area is known for fights breaking out.”

This cameo shows that since the players last saw Alaric he has achieved his goal of becoming a bounty hunter in the years between Cata and Legion, even acquiring new armor. He also apparently has acquired a taste for alcoholic beverages. Alaric’s dialogue is also a playful reference to the Underbelly being a PvP area.

2) The second time the player can encounter Alaric is if they play a Hunter, after arriving at the Trueshot Lodge and completing the quest to recruit Lenara to train archers Alaric will show up at the lodge. He will appear over by the Fletcher vendor and if approached and talked to he will say the following:

<Alaric picks up an arrow and examines it before placing it back down>

“Hmmm, I’m trying to find the right kind of arrow to take on demons, they are a bit different from what I am accustomed to hunting. Can’t have these so called Illidari I’ve been hearing about showing me up. I mean come on, demons hunting demons?..... We’re just going to ignore the fact I’m a worgen who hunted worgen for years. Anyways.”

<He goes back to examining arrows>

The biggest thing to glean from this cameo is that Alaric was among the archer recruits who joined the Unseen Path. This cameo is also meant to show Alaric has a bit of a lighter side as he jokes about demon hunters being demons hunting demons despite him doing essentially the same thing in Duskwood.

Battle for Azeroth 

1) The player can encounter Alaric in Drustvar. Just outside of Falconhurst in a graveyard they can find Alaric holding a strange Drust artifact. There is also a crow hovering beside him. If the player walks up to him Alaric will say the following:

“Huh? This strange artifact seems to attract the animals around here and put them under some kind of spell. They do as their commanded. What kind of magic is this? It must be the same thing affecting the people of Drustvar. 

<Alaric puts the artifact into his bag>

And here, I thought my previous lover was a witch for joining the Veiled Hand... this Heartsbane coven is something else.

The second cameo actually reveals a few things in Alaric’s story. First, Alaric came to Drustvar to help kill the monstrosities made by the Heartsbane coven. Second, Alaric finding the Drust artifact and having the crow hover near him is to show how he ends up being able to control a flock of crows to do his bidding. It’s basically the IC explanation for his Murder of Crows ability. And finally, he mentions an ex-lover joining the Veiled Hand. This is a reference to the rogue artifact quest in Legion where members of the Night Watch joined the Veiled Hand and end up being killed. 

Alaric’s lover was among them, something he isn’t too upset about as he obviously did not agree with the Veiled Hand as he fought the Legion’s forces.

Shadowlands

Alaric’s cameo in Shadowlands is different from the rest in that it is the first time players can receive a quest from him. Once the player hit level 60 they are eligible to do the quest.

Level 60 quest: Dead Man’s Bounty

Upon reaching level 60 the player will find Alaric in Stormwind, in the Dwarven District specifically. He will be seen leaning against some crates with his Crow companion, Damon. Approaching him and talking to him begins the quest:

“Shoo.Go away. She isn’t going to stop and talk with you here.

<Alaric gestures at the crow to fly away>

  🗨️ Everything okay?

If the player selects this option Alaric will respond with the following:

“Yes, everything is fine. I was just trying to get Damon here to go away. I saw this beautiful Draenei woman the other day talking with some of the refugees, and I was hoping to talk to her as I noticed she walked through her on her way to visit the refugees. But I doubt she’ll stop and talk with a bird just flying here. 

<He shakes his head before shrugging his shoulders>

Oh well. I was hoping she could be my Light in the darkness that is Duskwood, alas it wasn’t meant to be. But since you are here would you care to help me out? Someone put out a bounty on a certain undead in Duskwood, they want the ghoul dead as it is, or was, a family member of theirs and they find undeath to be a mockery of their loved one. If you wish to help meet me in Raven Hill.”

 Accepting the quest Alaric will then walk away to make his journey to Raven Hill, and the quest progresses to the next part. Making their way to Raven Hill the player will find a note on the table inside of the tent by the camp fire. It is from Alaric and tells the player that he was told the undead they are looking for was seen in the area and that he went ahead to scout in hopes of tracking it down. This progresses the quest further and leads to the next step which tells the player to find Alaric.

Heading north along the side of the cemetery the player will eventually find Alaric with a few undead he has killed. Talking to him will progress the quest and he will say:

“There you are! I found the ghoul we are after, Allen Davidson, he was traveling in a pack with several other undead. I killed some when I found them initially and well...

<He looks at the bodies around him>

Here are the rest. But Allen got away, headed up north somewhere. If you hurry you should be able to catch him, the bounty said to bring back his pocket watch as a sign that the job is done so be sure to grab that from him afterwards. Good luck. ”

After finishing speaking with Alaric the player will find Allen Davidson north at a little cabin, he will be digging at the ground. He has more health than your average ghoul. Once he his killed the player can loot him for his pocket watch, and on the ground where he was digging there is a mound that can be looted for several items that sell for gold. Returning to Alaric the player can complete the quest and he will say the following:

“You got the pocket watch? Excellent. You did good, I really appreciate the help things have been crazy in Duskwood since whatever went down in Northrend. I’ve been doing my best to try to keep the undead threat contained, but it’s difficult. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

This completes the quest and the player is rewarded: 100 gold, +500 rep for Gilneas.

After completing the quest the player can find Alaric back in Stormwind talking to a Lightforged Draenei. The two will be chatting by the fountain before walking off, eventually disappearing.

This final cameo/questline reveals a few things about Alaric’s story. First, Alaric still has his crow he found in Drustvar. Second, he has a thing for Draenei, you could say he likes the waggle. And finally, since the Lich King helm was shattered he has spent a lot of his time in Duskwood dealing with any remaining undead running rampant. Only taking short breaks to stop in Stormwind to resupply, and trying to talk to his Draenei lady friend. 

[bear-do-well]

Watch me listen to a 10 minute epic with additional vocals by an opera singer and lots of narration about how Blackwald was sentenced by the Arcane Tribunal for doing necromancy. He got thrown out of his college :( but then he came across a prophecy which made him find the other members of the Twilight Force

I'm... It's a good song

it sounds good 👍