(For those joining in, my character is a female Worgen Death Knight, named Shanalaia)
The Death Knight Worgen sat there, in the room allotted to her by her friend and lover, staring at her small little recipe book.
A missing page! In her baking recipes!
Damn it!
She snorts and rifles through the pages of the paw-sized book, the binding well worn, the leather cover of the otherwise nondescript notebook water-logged and weather-worn, but she keeps flipping back to the gaping hole in her past life, furrowing her furry eyebrows, the train of thought crashing to a stand-still at a lack of tracks again as she eyes the jagged page bits where a recipe, and the first page or two of notes about it, would have been, left with only a warning about not using a particular wood in the baking process.
DamnitDamnitDamnit!
A Forsaken mage, one Abyoyo, caught the faint hint of swearing on the frigid north wind that blustered intermittently into the palisade surrounded depression in the south of Frostfire Ridge.
She hustled across the snow-covered grounds towards the small bakery set up for their strange, semi-permanent visitor.
Aby put her bony fingers up to hold her purple, pointed cap on her head when an errant wind flared up.
Her robes swished across the snow as she stuck her head through the entryway, smiling brightly, "I get the feeling someone's upset in here. Tell we Shana, what troubles you?" The question seemed friendly enough, but there was a probing nature to the words.
Shanalaia was, indeed, strange, though it could be explained. She didn't quite follow the Alliance/Horde battleline, being part of the Ebon Blade giving her some wiggle room to associate with those across the lines, which she happened to do. How she managed to get her own bakery in a Horde outpost is a straightforward yet confusing tale, best left for another day.
Presently, though, she is seated at a small table, near the counter where business was done. At Abyoyo's entrance, she looks up to her, giving a frown. "Very. I seem to have a few... pages missing in my recipe book." She stands and moves over to the doorway, showing the Forsaken the jagged tears in the binding and the obvious gap in the notes. "I'm... sure I don't need to tell you as to why this troubles me so much." She looks to the side, distress in her twitching and bodily movements.
After the Liche King's destruction, the Ebon Blade members scattered, their tasks complete. Some fought for their former factions, some the cross faction, and yet others still sought out their own path. Shanalaia was one of the last, seeking out the dregs of her former life. Loooong story short, she found her past life, she was the owner of a baking shoppe, located in Ambermill, just to the south of Lordaeron in the Silverpine Forest. So, that completed, Shanalaia set out to continue a semblance of her past life and become a baker. She takes pride in her work and modest calling, dedicating herself to her shoppe, and to have something unknown missing from her only link to her past life is, well, troubling, when she doesn't remember any of it.
"Right, right, your past," the mage says, waving her hand almost dismissively. She studied the torn pages with real interest though, her lamplight eyes casting a moldering glow across the old pages.
Abyoyo was more or less indifferent to the distress the worgeness was facing, but the prospect of a mystery, hidden knowledge no matter how petty, had put its hooks into her.
She looked up and stared at the worgeness for a long minute, then asked, "So, where are we going to start looking?" She folded her arms, as thought he decision for her to accompany Shana had already been decided, and in her mind it had been quite decided.
Shana nods, still holding the small notebook for Abyoyo. As Shana's gaze held Abyoyo's own, she smiles at the question. She closes her notebook with a muffled 'thwip,' slipping it into her small shoulder bag. "Ambermill is the first stop, in Forsaken Territory. Should be very familiar to you!" She smirks, knowing full well Ambermill was just a stone's toss from the Undercity, the main city for the Forsaken. "We will be leaving in a moment, and having you along will benefit me greatly. Just need to change into more.. suitable attire. After that... Undercity, likely." She lopes over to the door, fixing to lock it after they leave, turning to smile to Abyoyo. "After you."
After locking up, she would return to her small collection of belongings and don her plate armor for the long, dodgy trip back to the Eastern Kingdoms... unless a mage was involved, then it would be very simple, indeed.
The forsaken smiled brightly, "Ah! Ambermill. A bland little place, though there is a banshee there, she's always interesting to chit-chat with. Here, hold on a moment..."
She turned away, facing a blanket patch of snow by the side of the path cutting through the light snowfall and began to mutter under her breath. Light shone between her fingers and with a resonant thrum, the portal split open.
"Nothin' to it! Now, after you," she grinned, adjusting her pointed cap and giving a rather over-dramatic bow, "We can discuss what your plans are in Undercity."
Shana smirks. "Ambermill is small, likely why it was the location for the large bakery. Located out of Lordaeron." She watches her open the portal, smiling softly. "Very handy. Now, what we check in Undercity will depend on if we find anything at Ambermill." Before she knew it, Shanalaia had walked through the portal, but instead of Ambermilll like she had assumed the portal led, she suddenly found herself face to face with... another forsaken?
Both of them, of course, are rather taken aback, with Shana reaching for her blade, while the forsaken lets out a screech of surprise.
Loud? Oh yeah. This isn't going over well. Not very well at all. Totally the wrong place for a drop-off point. She, of course, tries to backpedal back out through the portal, to the welcoming chill of snow, finding herself face-down in it, panting heavily in surprise. "Aby... was that Undercity? Let's... not go to Undercity quite yet."
Aby laughs as she comes backpedaling out and falls into the snow, wiping a nonexistent tear from her eye, she clenches her fist and the portal snaps closed with a 'whoosh'.
"Ah, right, hadn't thought about that," she gnaws on her finger lightly, "Well, I suppose we could take the portal to Stonard, bit less conspicuous. Plus, I've got a neat little spell, disguises you as someone else, but only for a couple of minutes, it should be plenty of time to get out of Stonard, but then we've got a long flight ahead of us."
Shana snorts and picks herself up off the ground, dusting the snow off of herself. She reaches into her pack and pulls out a slightly-bloodied, pieced together map and searches through it. Eventually, she does find Stonard on the map, aaaaaaall the way down in the Swamp of Sorrows, making her wince.
"That is... indeed... a long flight. Well, short of meeting somewhere later, that would do. We will proceed to Ambermill first. See if there is anything left of the bakery that would point us in any sort of direction, before we resort to Lordaeron." She rolls up her map and slips it back into her pack. "Ready, Aby?" She slings her pack over her shoulder, checking her sword hilt to be sure of it and being ready to defend herself this time, if necessary.
"Hold your horses!" She frowns, and sticks her hand out, fingers spread, palm lightly slapping Shana's forehead, muttering something.
She stepped back just as quickly and paused to admire her handiwork, then turned to start opening the portal.
"There, I put a temporary illusion on you," she smirks, "You're a male Orc, by the way. Just grunt and drool a bit, you should be fine."
The portal popped open a moment later, and Abyoyo bowed mockingly, "After you, 'Lurg Smashrock'."
Shana blinks and snorts softly as the illusion is being applied, then grins. swishing from side to side, making the orc dance a little. "Mmm, yay. Guess I'll pick up the nearest, handy tree branch." She smirks, nudging her after the portal pops open. "Why thank you, Aby. Maybe this time it'll be better." She smiles, then heads off through the portal.
Abyoyo strode through the portal behind the 'orc', the rip snapping shut behind her. The two of them found themselves in the oppressive, humid murk of the swamp of sorrows. Even inside the building, the faint stench of rot was present. Abyoyo bustled past a blood elf, smiling cheerfully at him, her bony fingers snagging Shana's wrist and dragging her along behind as she made for the exit, quickly getting clear of the small outpost of Stonard.
Beyond the palisade, she found an out-of-the-way spot, and not a moment too soon, as the disguise wore off shortly after. She turned and leaned against a tree, "So, to Ambermill, huh? It's too bad the illusion wouldn't have gotten us through the Undercity. This'll be a bit of a trip, and we can't take any alliance or horde flights."
Shana urks softly, following after Abyoyo quickly, keeping up with her, grumbling deep and quiet. As they clear the palisade, she sighs and shakes her head, being pulled aside not a moment too soon for the illusion to dissipate.
"Yes, and I agree. We may want to fly higher than usual to avoid detection. My mount and I do not need air, so we are fine at those altitudes and temperatures. Or, we can hang low and away, hugging borders and tree rows until we get there. Or, we follow the water's edge once we cross the continent." She pulls out her pack and rifles through, the snorts, pulling out the leather collar and leash. "All else fails, horde party, I'm your pet, alliance, you're my prisoner..." She chuckles softly, shaking her head, stowing the leather pieces again.
Abyoyo lifts a thin eyebrow at the leash and collar, but doesn't inquire about it, smoothly continuing with the topic at hand, "If we meet an alliance patrol, I'll shoot you with a quick burst of arcane magic, then turn invisible and flee."
She grinned, shrugging her shoulders, "No sense in doing a whole song-and-dance on my account. At any rate, I'd prefer not to fly here. We'll travel on foot near settlements, fly when we're clear. For now, we need to plot a course along the roads."
Shanalaia nods. "Sounds prudent. Where would we meet if we split up in such a manner?" She pulls out her map again, looking it over. "As far as travel, could just avoid roads and travel along mountains and forests?" She looks at her map, studying it for a few moments. She pants a few times, wiping her brow with the back of her paw. "This heat is oppressive." she opens up areas as she traces her route, mostly over mountains.
"Hmm, how about this?" She steps closer to Aby, showing her route, using the mountains to their south to head east, following the mountainous shoreline north, aall the way to the border between the Arathi highlands, and the Hinterlands, but west of there is all too much open space. She pauses, then grumbles softly. "Well... north would be easy, that way, but going west, from any point, is going to be dicey. We might have to travel in the dark, which could prove to be interesting, as well, and simply stick to the shoreline through that bit of travel." She rumbles, stuck in thought, not seeing an easy way west without going out of their way. She starts to pant as she wipes her forehead again, shaking her head. "Ice would last but a moment in this damned swamp..."
Abyoyo tapped her chin thoughtfully, her fingers drumming slowly, "Your route sounds about as good as any." She smiled cheerfully and shrugged. "I'm just excited to be on a little adventure. At any rate, getting out of the swamp sounds like a good first step. Pretty sure this is getting the maggots excited."
The Forsaken woman began striding purposefully towards a narrowing of the mountains, where she knew the swamped ended, glancing back over her shoulder, "Let's get a move on, no sense staying here."
Shana nods, shaking herself off of the mostly imaginary maggots, surely those things had about a 5 minute span before they turned into flies in this place! "As I mentioned, you being here will be a boon, if we have to proceed to Lordaeron. Can likely search more easily this way if we have to get into their libraries, or records." She follows after Abyoyo, walking at a slower pace to match her's after catching up. She walks silently for a while, her eyes glowing brightly, freezing their steps so they don't sink into the mire. "I have heard that the Undercity doesn't take too kindly to Worgen especially, do you know if that is still true? Something about... Sylvanas, having a special hatred for them? I have only heard of that much."
"Well, we did invade Gilneas. I couldn't tell you if she has any particular hatred beyond that."
As the trees thin, the oppressive heat begins to fade and the greenish fog disperses, replaced by an a grey, sullen aura of moldering death as the two travelers made their way into the twisting paths of Deadwind Pass.
"After this, I think we can head west and reach Duskwood, then skirt around Stormwind and head north. I'm lost at that point though, so you'll have to take the lead."
Shana nods, giving her shoulders a shrug. "I was just wondering as to the 'why' of that invasion, though I suppose the 'large port city' aspect is very nice. " She follows Abyoyo as they head to Deadwind pass, blinking a bit, then pausing, chuckling softly. "Aby. I suggested east!" She laughs, then gently hugs the girl. "Ah well, this'll save us from having longer walks further north, I suppose!" She giggles, then sighs, giving Aby a quick hug with one arm. "Typically, when I've traveled north, I just pay to be flown north to... Hearthglen? With the Argent Crusade. They likely wouldn't take too kindly to your presence there, though. We'll make due with this way. Unless you are inclined to walking along the bottom of the ocean outside of Stormwind, we should fly as far out as we can manage, while skimming the water. We'll have to avoid the trade ships, though." Shana sighs, feeling not quite as stuffy as they leave the moist bog behind them, shaking herself off a bit before pausing. "Should we mount up here, then, for flight?"
The mage nodded absently at the worgen's comment about the invasion, then stops when she mentions the change of direction, "Oh. Oh! Glossed over that completely. Well, we're here now."
She let out a startled 'oof' at the sudden hug, "Hey, watch the ribs."
She smiled anyways and straightened her pointed cap, tapping her chin, saying absently, "Oh, the crusade doesn't mind me. I have plenty of reason to despise the Scourge, thank you very much."
After pondering Shana's last question for a bit, she nodded, "That's a sound idea."
She pulled a folded up piece of blue, patterned cloth and tossed it casually into the air, where it unfolded and hovered above the ground, "We'll take my carpet."
Shana smiles and releases Aby so she can get their transportation ready. "You'll have to tell me about your story with the Scourge. We'll surely have the time for it while we fly." She looks to the carpet as it hovers, twitching her nose. "Not that riding a skeletal griffon is any better, but this'll handle both of us, yes? One heavyweight in plate, and a lightweight in cloth, plus gear?" She steps closer and does the proverbial tire-kick, resting her foot on the fabric to test it before climbing on board, sitting towards the rear of the fabric, or as best she can figure.
"Oh, yeah, sure," she says absently, climbing onto the front of the carpet, "It's not really all that exciting."
Abyoyo clicked her tongue and the carpet lifted smoothly into the air, then set off towards their destination. She took her hat off and stuck it into her bag, patting it affectionately, then turned around, sitting cross-legged and facing Shana. Her hair was a lusterless, greenish-blonde and done up in a tight bun.
"So, what did you want to know?"
Shana grips the sides of the carpet, not quite sure about the ride, scooting closer for comfort. As she does so, she finds herself nose to nose with Aby, making her pause for a moment. "Ah... uh... I suppose I was looking for a story. SHort or long. We've got time to pass as we fly." She shrugs, getting comfy, which means she has to have her legs spread around Aby, her canine feet tending to make sitting difficult under normal circumstances, let alone on a small piece of fabric. "I can tell you my story, too, if you would care to hear it." She looks around them, just being sure that they weren't being followed by a curious sort, or party.
Abyoyo put her hands in her lap and smiled brightly, her yellowed teeth clacking together in an odd little tic. This close to her, the faint scent of rot was a lot less...faint.
"Ah, my story isn't interesting. Killed by the Scourge in a small town no one remembers, the Dark Lady awakened me, I mean, that is not to say that she personally did, more in a general sense, you know? Oh! I needed two replacement legs, one arm and a lower jaw when I was brought back! You shoulda seen me!" She finished with rasping titter.
"But what about you? Yours must be much more interesting, sewing chaos and destruction," she says with a wistful sigh.
Shana, in any case, would be thankful her senses were slightly dulled in this situation, if she even noticed. "Ah, sounds.... normal, I suppose." She smiles a little bit. "I think I did see you with your initial lower jaw! Glad this one is working out better for you!" She smiles, but the question posed of her makes her look to the side, as they pass through Alliance territory. "Mmm, we should fly closer to the water, now. Coming up to Stormwind." She snorts, thankful for the momentary lapse. When Aby corrects their course to fly closer, she raises her voice slightly. "That I'm aware of, I was a baker in Ambermill, yadda yadda. As best I can figure, I was turned into a worgen during or after the fall of Gilneas. Then, killed, and brought back to life under the Liche King. As you say, I sowed death and destruction under his hand, his thoughts and words in my head, his anger and rage guiding my hands-er, paws, I suppose. The screams of the innocent and dying filled my breast with joy, at the time, but now their screams haunt me. The hot blood splattering my cheek invigorated me, but now brings suffering and shame. The agony of my suffering foes drove me onward, but now brings me pause." She catches herself being somewhat poetic in her delivery towards the end, and she pauses. "So... after the battle which freed us, then the campaign to destroy him, I was set adrift. I had no where to go, so I sought out my past life." She shrugs, looking down. "Maybe, in due time, I'll return, and possibly work the fields there, or plant fruit trees." She looks back up to Aby, a bit anxious from remembering her past. She felt like such a softie, sometimes, when she feels ashamed for the wanton destruction she caused, but perhaps it is a good thing.
Abyoyo listened intently, nodding her head while Shana glossed through her story. She remained largely expressionless until she finished, then chewed lightly on her lower lip, thoughtful.
"Hrm. So, why all the shame? I suppose I can understand feeling upset about it, you do seem awfully attached to what you were before you changed and died and all that. Remembering bits and pieces probably adds to that. I don't remember an awful lot, so I just don't think about it." She shrugs, dismissively, "And as you say, it was the Lich King guiding your actions and thoughts, so I see little point in feeling ashamed of it. It's not as though you decided to do those things, and even if you had, what does it matter? I kill humans in the name of the Dark Lady, and while it's true, I have free will, I don't believe there's much place in the rest of the world for me. Oh, sure I might get along alright in Dalaran, but, eh, I don't imagine the mages there would be especially keen on me. Smell funny."
She finishes with a laugh, slapping her knee with an audible 'clack'.
Shana shrugs. "Well, I suppose it's more the screams haunting me, than anything. Memories." She listens, then chuckles at the mention of Dalaran. "I suppose. Perhaps there are some enclaves somewhere that faction members co-exist in. In some remote corner of the world. Nevermind other factions and cults." She nudges her. "Have you thought about getting a sterilizing bath done? Maybe in some embalming fluid or something, that would probably help." Luckily, Shana's own body was in fairly good repair, the magic keeping her intact and, mostly, scent free. THough, she does enjoy scented soaps.
Shana looks around them briefly to check their surroundings and their course, ensuring they're still going in the vague direction they need.
She shrugged, unconcerned, "Eh, if they are, I don't really care enough to go seek them out. And I do get embalming baths. Twice a year. If I remember."
She pauses, working her jaw as she looks up and away, trying to recollect, "Did I forget...?"
Then she shrugs, "Eh, doesn't matter. I'll get one when I get home." That settled, she returns her attention to Shana. "The screams huh? Does it bother you when the things you kill now scream?" She tipped her head, genuinely curious.
Shana gives her a small smile. "Ah, well, I'm sure the enclaves are out there. Maybe see if you can go exploring sometime?" She leans back, watching the waves go by, figuring she was talking about having forgotten an embalming bath. Aby's question concerning current events makers her perk up a bit. "Ah, I try to kill targets as quickly as possible. It was more the tortured screams and cries for mercy that are haunting. The especially slow, tortured deaths. Those screams are what linger." She watches as they finally pass Stormwind territory, heading north.
Aby shrugged her shoulders, smiling, "Oh, perhaps there are groups out there, but I much prefer my own company."
She turned and looked at Stormwind as it passed by, her head cocked sideways. After a few minutes, and the city had faded into the distance, she glanced back at Shana, "Oh, I'm sorry, what was that? I got lost in thought for a moment. Such a big city. Mmm, anyways, how long do we have? I don't ever really come this way."
Shana nods, then gives a soft chuckle when Aby returns from her daydream. "Eh, nothing important. As for where we are... " Shana pulls out her map, glancing up to Dun Morogh's mountainous border to their right. She points it out. "Just passing by where Gnomeregan Will be. After that, will set course straight north to... Gilneas. From there, further north to your Silverpine Forrest. All told, perhaps about an hour or so, at the most. Not bad flying today." She folds her map and tucks it into her pauldron. "Haven't visited Gilneas in some time. I wonder how the homeland is holding up..."