Feychild

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

“No” Liaena snarled back, clinging to Serphia’s arm as she tried fruitlessly to loosen the strong choke-hold the big Night Elf had her in. “Where’s Sharon?”

Trailing her eyes up and down the big Captain, there was indeed no sign of her miniature boyfriend, and in any case she would have expected him to have shown himself already during the confrontation in the nave. “You haven’t lost him, have you!?”

“Er, just along here, Mistress….!”

Rounding a corner, Serphia stomped towards the set of prayer rooms. Possibly alerted to the approaching natural hazard by the thundering footsteps, or Rithrynn’s frantic attempts at appeasement, elves spilled out of the rooms into the corridor to stand at attention and hastily salute their captain. This did little to appease Serphia’s wrath as she glared down at them. “And WHAT do you think you’re playing at, Asha Del…where are Aleena and Lithrielle!?”

“……”

“Smoozing, apparently” Liaena volunteered coldly into the silence when it became clear that no Night Elf wanted to run the risk of attracting Serphia’s attention onto themselves. Glancing into the biggest room, one could indeed see the two Night Elves intertwined on one of the beds, fast asleep as though the recent bloody violence was simply a dream.

*

“…What is the situation here, Thea?” Benedict enquired worriedly, having followed Serphia’s movements with his eyes, before returning to the priestess. Belatedly, he nodded towards the other priestess in the nave. “Priestess Clarissa. Should I be concerned for that girl with them?”

“Possibly. However I do not think involving the guard would be wise at this stage” Thea said carefully as she studied the exit the Night Elves had taken. “They would likely perceive it as a threat. I can attempt to reason with them Bishop, with your approval?”

“Hm….as you wish, very well” Benedict murmured, before turning to the paladin that had planted himself between the high priest and Serphia earlier. “Thank you, Hugo. Please escort the priestess, and defend her from any threats…our new guests, or otherwise”

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

“I am so dead….”

Liaena groaned, voice indistinguishable to anyone but Rithrynn due to how deeply her face was buried in her hand. In the centre of the nave, Benedictus gave the Night Elf captain, then Thea, a baffled look. “Your warriors? Why would we have them?”

“I believe her kin are visiting, Archbishop” Thea clarified softly from behind Serphia. Benedictus frowned as he absorbed this, before turning back to Serphia. “I see. It was good of you to visit. Your species rarely takes an interest in our teachings”

Serphia apparently decided to take that statement with all the contempt it deserved with a derisory twist of lip, looming over the paladin and by extension, Benedictus. “Tell me where they are, and I’ll gauge their intent for myself!”

“…..”

“Well…..there’s one over there” Benedictus mused as he pointed over one of Serphia’s shoulders. Swivelling around in one single, fluid motion, Rithrynn was caught like a deer in the headlights in the full force of Serphia’s glare, unsure in that moment of whether to stand her ground or flee. Liaena meanwhile, did her best to merge into one of the nearby columns.

*

“…No, no, that’s fine” Kathlin said slowly, looking slightly bemused by the sudden flare of anger followed by the humble contrition. Perching on the bed beside the woman, she reached over to fluff up the pillow and ensure Alissah was settled comfortably. “I know the newspapers aren’t very good. But Bella’s been shrunk, so it might take a bit longer than normal for them to find out that she’s down here. That’s something, at least”

“…..”

“Are you going to be alright if I leave you with the priest on duty now?” Kathlin enquired after a pause, during which she glanced around the small space to try figure out if there was anything she had possibly forgotten in her ministrations. “I’m very sorry, but I do need to go and explain what happened to Thea and the others. It’s probably important”

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

Sorry guys, I was planning to post this evening but I've been having a not-too-great and generally stressy week, which has completely sapped creative juices. I'll try and have something up tomorrow.

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

“Of course” Thea responded. Looking up at the huge Night Elf, she inclined her head slightly in a gesture that was as polite as it was unyielding. “I would happy to escort you to your kinswomen. After you stable your tiger”

The priestess became aware that the nave was slowly filling around them. Five armoured knights, one of which was obviously a paladin were carefully advancing towards the pair, without having drawn weapons….yet.

Clarissa had retreated towards the knights at this point, and was quite loudly telling them in no uncertain terms that they probably should be drawing their weapons.

There was also an older man, who had quietly emerged from a small door set into one side of the nave close to the altar. He was clearly older than Thea or Clarissa, but younger than Marshal and dressed in robes that while largely similar to what the other elder priests such as Marshal wore, included gold and blue trimmings on the shoulders and on the hem. Clarissa’s voice, initially high pitched and squeaky with rage, tailed off noticeably at the sight of him.

*

“Stop dragging me” Liaena growled as Rithrynn dragged her out of the corridor containing the prayer rooms and up a flight of steps. From the sounds of fighting behind them, the other elves had not even noticed or cared that they had left. “I was going that way anyway. And you’re taking the long way round”

“I just hope that they don’t actually find the wine stores”

“Besides, I don’t think –“

*BAM*

Ignoring her completely, Rithrynn slammed the final door to the nave open, to stand, visible to all, and gawp at the sight in front of her “Mistress!”

Peeking around her, Liaena blanched. “…Priestess Thea?”

Thea shot Liaena a Look, before inclining her head to the elder priest. “High Priest Benedict”

Benedict acknowledged Thea’s courtesy, before turning to give Serphia, then Rithrynn, then Serphia again, an odd look. “What is going on here?”

*

“Yes. I don’t know”

Kathlin said in response to Alissah, raising her eyebrows slightly at the other woman’s agitation. “It’s not that odd really. We don’t get many Blood Elves, but if we do it’s reasonably likely they’re going to be beaten up. And the church doesn’t discriminate for healing, so they end up here….”

“…Well, not for elves. We’ve never had an orc, or a troll, or tauren in, so I wouldn’t really know about that. I wonder what would happen if a tauren claimed sanctuary” Kathlin added thoughtfully and belatedly as she sat back down on the bed beside Alissah, poised with bandages in hand. “We’d need to get bigger beds”

“…..”

“Either way, don’t worry about it” the girl added consolingly as she started to wrap bandages around Alissah’s shoulder and torso. “The city guard can’t arrest her here. This is holy ground.”

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

“What?”
Liaena did a slight double take at her words, before giving Rithrynn an are-you-trying-to-mess-with-me look. “What would she be doing here? Serphia hates the church”

*

“She is good hands with the clerics here” Thea said soothingly to the angry Night Elf, as Liam finally received help from the two apprentices that had dared to come close enough to the tiger to assist him with the heavy load of Rae’liel plus armour. Eying Serphia warily, the priestess let out a small, private sigh.

“When it rains, it pours”

“I believe we are currently accommodating some associates of yours. Were you aware of that?”

The priestess stood her ground as Serphia’s attention, the Night Elf previously being on the verge of spurring her Night Sabre out of the doors, swung around to fixate on her. “If you would like to speak to them, I would like you to find a berth for your tiger. I can assist you with an empty stable. And keep your voice down please, this is a holy place”

*

“That’s not what happened – the city guard weren’t even involved” Kathlin observed, peering over to glance at the pages as she worked on Alissah’s wounds. The girl sounded distinctly aggrieved by the inaccuracies of the news, as she scanned the pages. “That headline is sensationalist. The quality of the newspapers really has gone downhill – although I suppose we were technically terrorists. Oh dear”

“……”

“I think I need to explain what happened” the girl stated, after a worried pause. Resting a hand around on Alissahs back to support her, she helped the older woman shift back so she was more comfortably resting on the pillows. “I’ll finish up here, and then go and find Li. She’s good at this sort of thing….”

“Excuse me! Er, coming through, coming through!”

Starting at Liam’s voice, Kathlin shifted over to peer out through the curtains as Liam, the two apprentices and Rae’liel entered, the clerics dragging the unconscious elf towards a bed at the far end, before retreating back through the curtains to smile at Alissah. “Oh…it’s just Priest Gray, and a blood elf. Nothing to worry about”

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

Silence fell as Serphia’s words reverberated around the nave, save for a murmuring coming from the outer circle behind the columns, getting slowly louder. Looking around, the Night Elf could make out faces peeking out from behind the columns, hiding in the relative gloom.

Someone who wasn’t hiding on the other hand, was a priestess about a foot away from the Night Elf, who looked as though she had been kneeling at the altar before Serphia barged in. She now pointed a shaking finger at the Night Elf as she stared at her, and the giant cat, both standing as bold as brass on top of the raised marble tableu, bathed in the faint glow of the dawning sun. “You – you dare¬….”

*

“So there were cultists in there”

“Yes….I’m afraid so, Priestess” Liam said sombrely as he walked in step with Priestess Thea, the latter moving swiftly through the corridors towards the central nave. “Rune was actually right on the truth – more or less. If we’d been there any later, I doubt Kath….ehhh, Apprentice Priestess Lennox would have survived”

“Then that has been achieved, regardless of what this might cost us” Thea pronounced, before shooting Liam a slightly softer look. “How is she?”

“Good….surprisingly good. She’s taken it rather well”

“That’s promising, if true” Thea frowned as she opened a door to exit into the Nave. “So how many elves did we have?”

“Six”

“Quit your gawping, useless creatures, and take this infidel off my hands!”

“….seven” Liam gulped as he stared at the sight in front of him, before his eyes widened still further as he caught sight of the unconscious Rae’liel. “Eight?”

“You are…trespassing on sacred ground!” the priestess next to Serphia at the altar gasped. Tall, middle aged and rather large, her outrage appeared to have defeated her fear of the heavily armed sentinel and the tiger. Meanwhile, Thea surveyed the ridiculous scene before letting out a small sigh and heading towards the altar, Liam reluctantly following after. “May light forgive you, get off the plinth and…and get that thing out of here…!”

“The thing has brought someone in need of help here, Clarissa” Thea observed carefully as she reached the altar, bowing her head respectfully towards the older woman before turning sharply to beckon at the shadows. “Apprentice Priest Morgan, Apprentice Priestess Ardent. Come over here and help Priestess Gray take this woman to the infirmary.

“….”

A few reluctant seconds later, two young humans slunk out of the shadows and towards the altar. “I…really? I suppose…alright” Liam stuttered, before nearly falling over as Serphia disdainfully dropped Rae’liel on him. “Oof!”

Having dealt with that, Thea then returned her attention to Serphia. Laying a soothing arm of Clarissa’s shoulder (who looked as though she was one step away from trying to physically toss Serphia and Silafeen out of the doors), she tilted her head up to look at the larger woman. “Thank you for bringing her to us. Now take that Sabre outside, and if you intend to return without it please respect our customs. Thank you”

*

"Is that... ?"

“Someone who’s come to the wrong place, I guess” Kathlin observed thoughfully, having also looked up at the loud shout from above them. “We don’t have many physicians. Just clerics”

Apparently under the impression that she had resolved any misunderstanding or confusion in the other woman with that comment, Kathlin returned to removing Alissahs armour, taking particular care around the unpleasant, half-healed deep wound she had suffered in her side from the Peculiar Death Knight. While she worked, the girl glanced several times at the tattoos covering the rogue with interest, and did not comment. “Yes, the night shift on the doors usually get a newspaper in the morning. I can ask for you, if you like”

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

“Nooo….” Liaena muttered as she looked back at Rithrynn, also ignoring the developing drama between the two Night Elves behind them. Buried in the bedrock of the city as they were, the girl was reasonably content that there was nobody there to hear them. “I suppose they must have gone back to the mansion – maybe? Or not”

“….”

“I need to know what’s going on in the city” the girl muttered after a pause, lowering her voice in a vain attempt not to be overheard by the other Night Elves. Luckily, the others appeared to be mostly distracted by Aleena and Lithrielle (the dispute was apparently to be settled via arm wrestle). “We know that Sherpa’s out there, and Light knows what he’s doing, and what’s going on. We weren’t exactly subtle”

“And I don’t want him getting near….you in particular”

The girls eyes strayed over the Night Elf a trifle uneasily at that thought, biting her lip slightly before making her next proclamation. “I’m going to go track Sharon down and let him know what’s going on. You should stay here, and make sure your friends don’t wander off and trash the Cathedral. Besides, Thea’ll be down here in a bit, I expect Liam went to get her”

*

“Oh, I’m not very brave at all. It was quite terrifying, really” Kathlin said quietly as she supported the wounded woman on her arm, as they walked through the corridors. Turning her head to look at Alissah, the girl blinked for a moment before tentatively returning her smile. “It’s the door just to your right, Ma’am”

Guiding Alissah through the doorway, they emerged into a large, quiet room with many beds all spaced out well apart. A couple down the far end were occupied, the occupants administered to by a priest that gave Kathlin and Alissah only a passing glance as the former moved the latter onto a bed. Ensuring that the woman was sat comfortably, Kathlin bent down to whisk a box containing several neatly folded hospital gowns out from under the bed, removed one from it and placed it on the bed next to Alissah as she started to pull curtains around the bed to give it some privacy. “Can I give you assistance to change, Ma’am?”

Taking the womans nod as silent assent, Kathlin seated herself on the bed next to start carefully unlacing the leather armour and padding protecting the womans vitals. One of her shoulder pads and part of her jerkin were very badly mangled, and would probably need to be cut off. “It was very kind of you, and Li, and the others to come and get me. I really wasn’t doing very well by myself”

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

“Lady Rune, yah right, pfft….” The sulky voice of Bella emenated from Liaena’s fist as she also turned to study Aleena’s sword, head and large bum.

“Sure. But maybe not right now” Liaena proclaimed after a pause. While the nave itself appeared to be completely deserted, the girl knew better than to set any store by that. Kathlin also glanced around at their surroundings, having come to the same conclusion as Liaena.

“We’ve made quite an entrance, Li”

“….So much for low profile” Liam muttered miserably to himself. Liaena glanced briefly at him, then turned to Rithrynn.
“Okay fine, come with me. I’ll get a room for your lot”

“You should probably come with me. Are you feeling alright?” Kathlin enquired to Alissah kindly. “I wouldn’t expect so, because you look terrible”

“I’m going to go and…debrief some things” Liam muttered to himself as he turned to head in the opposite direction to where Liaena was leading the Night Elves to a door in the wall of the nave, before pausing to look at Kathlin. “You should….maybe lie down, Apprentice Priestess Lennox. You’ve been through quite – er, an ordeal?”

“No, it’s alright. I’m not hurt” Kathlin returned quietly as she led Alissah towards yet another side door in the nave. “Lets get you to the infirmary”

*

No matter how grand the main hall might be, the narrow and cramped corridors in the belly of the great cathedral did not live up its initial charm. Almost immediately meeting a spiral staircase that led both up and down – Liaena went down – the route they were taking was clearly leading underground. It would be quite easy to lose ones sense of direction in the winding route they were taking, but Liaena evidently knew the way by heart.

Stopping outside a door, Liaena didn’t even stop to knock as she threw it open. There was two screams from inside and the girl sighed pointedly as she leaned against the door. “I didn’t see anything if you get out now”

Liaena turned to Rithrynn as the two young apprentice priests – the girl bright red and holding her blouse together with both hands – fled away down the corridor. The room left behind was notably extremely Spartan, with a single bed against one wall, a desk against another and not much else. “These are rooms that used to get used by priests for meditating, and fasting, and stuff like that. They’re not exactly fancy, but nobody important ever comes here so you shouldn’t get disturbed. There’s a few more like this…” she looked down the corridor, which indeed had several identical doors leading off it “…and if you interrupt anyone else, just throw them out”

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

Soooo...

I'm around, but where is Shaw? :O

"Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

“Thanks” Liaena said tonelessly, while behind her Liam’s mouth gaped open wide as a fish, the boy pointing a weak finger at the Night Elf as he tried to summon the capacity to speak. Reaching out with one hand, the girl accepted the miniature human, now coated from head to toe in a mixture of unpleasant bodily fluids, into her palm. “Dear me, Silva. What a shame about your robes”

“…..”

“…Go to hell, bitch” Bella finally snarled as she coughed up some mucus, after a moment where she clearly flounded around for a more original comeback. “….this….this never happened, Rune”

“Language!”
Liam said reprovingly, the boy visibly slipping back towards ‘Priest Gray’ mode as he turned to lead the way towards the Cathedral. Kathlin tagged along next to Liaena, the latter making no attempt to even bother hiding the broad smirk on her face as she carried the tiny Bella along. “It’s not so bad, Bella. According to a thesis I read once, the Night Elves evolved an enlarged rectal cavity due to lack of pockets in their traditional attire. It’s a mistake that could happen to anyone”

“I do-not-care what your useless thesis said” Bella growled miserably from inside Liaena’s hand. As the group passed through the gate of the cemetery to head through a walled courtyard, the girl squeaked, to huddle into an even smaller ball as they rounded a corner into the main square where there was a greater potential of coming across a late night wanderer. “Hide me! Please!”

Kathlin gave Liaena’s fist an odd look. “Nooo no no. It wasn’t my thesis. I just read it”

“Soooo Rithrynn. This visit needs a low profile” Liaena muttered to Rithrynn, over the plaintive whining of Bella. Glancing up at the large Night Elf as she climbed the marble steps, she shot her companion a look that clearly conveyed her scepticism that anything of the sort would occur. “Do your sisters understand the concept of ‘low’? Because alcohol is banned in the Cathedral”

“Wut?”

“And parties. And…getting naked in public”
Liaena added belatedly with some distaste as she led the way into the vast nave. Kathlin glanced over, to raise her eyebrows slightly at Liaena at this. “Oh yes. Like that time you burned your robes off Li?”

“…..”

“Just…try not to cause any trouble” Liaena grumbled after a pause. Kathlin looked up to smile consolingly at the Night Elf.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll be fine”