Fur and Fire (RWBY/Warcraft)
- Thread starter ThatOnePsycho
- Start date
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Castle_Bravo
The user formerly known as Nuke_Equestria
I think you mean "I do not think Xia is Cinder Fall. She uses swords and has black/ dark brown hair."
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ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
Or "I do not know if Xia is Cinder Fall. She uses swords and has black/ dark brown hair"
I can't say I've ever watched RWBY, and my knowledge of WoW lore isn't the greatest, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread; I'm loving the story so far.
(Incidentally, after reading the whole thread, I'm glad the mods stepped in and got Lyxi to get back into his clown car and get lost...what a prick.)
(Incidentally, after reading the whole thread, I'm glad the mods stepped in and got Lyxi to get back into his clown car and get lost...what a prick.)
Chapter 8
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
"Open the door, would you, boy? He isn't light," Rehgar grunted as he kept Broll standing.
The night elf was drunk, very drunk.
"Where are you gonna put him?" Crocbait asked as he pushed open the door.
"Couch," Rehgar said, "It's his turn anyways."
Rehgar didn't have enough beds to house all of them. Three had been enough before, but he supposed that if they would be staying in his house, he would have to get another room or two added. Hopefully Ruby would stop being tongue tied with Blake before he had to get yet another bed.
Oh spirits, he was getting attached again, wasn't he? He didn't want to get attached, he wanted to get rid of them as soon as he recouped his investment at Dire Maul.
"For what?"
Rehgar looked over at the kitchen at Ruby's question only to immediately groan, "Damnit, Sanguinar! How many times do I have to tell you to stop that!"
Valeera stared at him, before sliding down off the back and into the seat of the chair, "Sorry."
"What's the harm?" Ruby asked, "Bloodeye and I have put these chairs through hell and back. Her sitting on them differently isn't gonna do anything we didn't."
That wasn't why he was irate about it. First, there was the simple fact that he didn't know how Valeera got into the habit, and the second was that he didn't want her getting hurt.
He really was getting attached wasn't he? Why couldn't he have started getting wolves or something? Why was it slaves (and former slaves) that he seemed so determined to take in?
"Oh, fine," Rehgar sighed as he placed Broll on the couch, turning the night elf onto his side, "she can sit like that if she wants to. Playing Hearthstone?"
"Mhm," Ruby nodded, placing down a card. An illusionary pool of lava bubbled up and a hand reached into it. When the maimed hand came out, it was wrapped around the Doomhammer. Ruby tapped the card twice, and the hammer swung out, shattering one of Valeera's creatures and passing harmlessly through her head as the counter ticked down.
He should have gone into the card game business instead of blood sports, the owner of Blizzards of the Coast was probably filthy rich.
"Where's Blake?"
"My room, she's reading that Common to Orcish book you got me. Can we talk after this match is done?"
"For a bit," Rehgar said, "it's getting late. Big day tomorrow."
Ruby stared at him in confusion, before her eyes let up, "Oh, yeah!"
"Huh?" Valeera looked between them, "What's tomorrow?"
"A couple of things," Rehgar said, "I'll tell you in the morning."
Valeera puffed out her cheeks, sulking on her chair as her and Ruby continued their game.
Once Ruby had won easily, causing Valeera to sit in one of the living room chairs (properly this time) and stew, the two shaman stepped out of the house.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Rehgar asked, "if it's about me springing the test on you, save it. There's no going back now."
"I'm not happy about that, but no," Ruby's eyes seemed to focus on one of the torches, which was almost dead, "I talked with Blood."
"I thought that wasn't working?"
"He showed up in Silithus," Ruby said, "just walked up, making dumb jokes about shaman talking to the dead."
"Sounds like him," Bloodeye had always been fond of corny jokes, "What did he say?"
"Why didn't you two talk to me about this gladiator team idea before you did it?"
"So he told you it wasn't my idea?"
"Yeah, but," Ruby's gaze on the torch broke, even as the flames roared back to life, "why didn't you tell me?" Ruby's voice had taken on a pleading edge, "Did you not care how I felt about it to ask before you ran off and bought a couple of slaves."
"I figured it better to ask your forgiveness than convince you about it," Rehgar said, "and I sure as hell thought it better to grab Valeera before she was bought by someone that had worse intentions. Besides, you and me? We know what it's like to be on that side of the lash."
Rehgar had never been sure if he had been born into slavery, or if he had been captured as a kid, or if his parent had sold him to the Gorian Empire, but his oldest memories were of being used as a training dummy for their young. He killed for the first time before he reached his victim's hip, by the time he had reached their chest, he killed half the ogre's he went against.
Then they sold him to the orc arenas where he stayed until something strange started to happen. Slowly, over the course of several weeks, the gladiators were taken from their cell with none returning.
When it had been his turn, several green skinned orcs were waiting for him and after checking him over, offered him two things that meant so many things. An blade and a drinking horn of green liquid, death and life, freedom and damnation.
He had taken the horn, drinking deeply from the demon's blood. Little had he known all he was doing was trading one yoke for another.
Rehgar had been one of the many orcs who sacked Stormwind, had fought in the bitter war of attrition in Khaz Modan, and slaughtered tens of men at Hillsbrad Foothills.
And when the Horde had been routed, he was forced into one of the internment camps, though he didn't stay there long. Instead, he was sold off to a human lord to be used as a gladiator, again.
"Bloodeye said the same thing, but that doesn't make it right," Ruby said, "it just makes us as bad as them."
Rehgar sighed, "I know. We had both agreed it would be a temporary thing. Bloodeye was sure they'd agree to stick around after seeing the money we make at Dire Maul. Even split five ways, it's a lot."
"And if they don't want to stay?"
"They can leave," Rehgar shrugged, "I've been trying to convince the Warchief to take me on as an advisor. If that happens, I won't need gladiators. I'll still sponsor 'em if they want to keep going, but it's their choice."
"..."
"Look, I know it's a shitty thing we're doing, but we can make the best of it. I need you to run up to Ashenvale before you head back south."
"Uh," Ruby looked taken aback by the sudden change of topic, "why?"
"Broll's curse is related to an idol I think is that way. Looks like a dragon, should be leaking Fel. Shouldn't be too hard to find, and I need it to break the curse."
In the meantime, he was going to have to get Broll to open up more about his daughter's death.
Why couldn't life be easy?
"If it helps them," Ruby bit her lip, "I'll go with Blake… and maybe one of the others?"
Rehgar looked at her, "You better not be thinking of doing something stupid, pup."
"No," Ruby sighed, "Crocbait's here willingly and I think Valeera's willing to stick around if it means she keeps getting money and warm food."
"She does seem to like it, doesn't she?" Valeera had cheerfully disappeared into Orgrimmar after he gave her cut to her, returning with her arms full of Hearthstone packs and candy.
Rehgar hadn't thought someone could eat enough surgery food to give Ruby a run for her money. Ah, spirits, Valeera was going to be bouncing off the walls about Hallow's End, wasn't she?
"She'd like it if you cooked pork less often."
"There's nothing wrong with pork!" Rehgar defended.
"You cook it several times a day," Ruby pointed out, "you can't blame her for wanting a little variety."
"Eh," Rehgar grunted noncommittally, "We should get to bed. We're probably not gonna sleep till it's November first."
Ruby giggled, "Yeah."
---
Weiss fiddled with the sheath keeping her new dagger on her hip. How did Jaune deal with it constantly bumping into him?
She wasn't sure why she had decided to grab a dagger before they left Honor Hold, but it seemed like the right thing to do.
Plenty of things can be done with a dagger. It might be impressive to rip the life from your opponent and use it to cast a ritual at high speeds, but it's also burning energy you could be using later, so just slitting their throat and using their blood to create the seal for the ritual is more practical.
"How long do you think it will take to get to Shattrath?" Yang asked Maan.
"At the rate we're moving? Two weeks, maybe more."
"Two weeks?"
I've waited twenty years for this, I can wait a couple of weeks. Still, it would probably be more effective if you summoned a Xorothian steed. We haven't worked on summoning though… I suppose we'll have to work on that when you make camp. Imps first, maybe that collection of them Gul'dan made.
Weiss shook her head again, trying to get rid of the vague murmurs.
Why ever would you want to do that? All I'm doing is helping you on the path to grea- oh, you. Run.
There was a noise like trumpeting in the distance, and Weiss turned with Yang and Maan.
"An elekk?" Maan asked, "what would an elekk be doing in Hellfire?"
"What's an Elekk?"
"They're big- nevermind we don't have time to worry about it. We need to contin-"
I said RUN, Weiss staggered, looking for the source of the voice.
Before they could, a large creature appeared between them. It looked similar to a goliath, though with a long trunk. It was covered in ornate white and gold armor with purple gems and, strangely, slightly transparent.
Someone jumped onto the ground, standing to his full height. He was of the same race as Maan, but with hooves instead of feet, wearing similar armor to the animal and he was similarly transparent. In his hand was a giant hammer that's head was seemingly made of the largest crystal she had ever seen.
Gorefiend, he said with a voice that seemed to echo as he stared at her and started walking forward, did you really think you could escape your punishment?
"Gorefiend?" Weiss said, drawing Myrtenaster, "I don't know what you're-"
Do not lie! he roared, swinging his hammer towards her. Halfway through, Yang stepped into the blow, grunting as her Aura rippled around the strike, You-
"I don't know what you're talking about," the blonde brawler said, "but if you want to hurt Weiss, you'll have to go through me."
Very well, he calmly raised a hand, then I shall!
An explosion of Light burned into existence, a second sun in the man's hand as he tried to bring it down on Yang.
Yang stepped to the side, deploying Ember Celica as she did and slammed her fist into the armor. The man grunted in pain, though the shot apparently went through him, if the explosions of red earth were any sign.
You can strike me? the smallest amount of surprise leaked into his voice.
Karsius, my friend, you brought yourself death by chasing me here. Thank you, it saves me the time to hunt you down myself later.
I am not your friend, monster! The man's eyes started to glow gold as he focussed on Weiss again, And the Light shall punish-
Yang hit him again, right where the kidney would be on a human. This had the unintended response of the shot striking Weiss full on. It didn't hurt as much as it should have, "Hey! I'm not-"
Idiot. Can't even watch what she's hitting.
Yang ducked under the sweeping attack by the hammer as Maan's hatchet flew through the man and his animal harmlessly. Weiss took the opportunity to move forward, driving Myrtenaster into a chink in his armor. It was odd, watching the blade go through him, but still clearly harm him.
Weiss yanked Myrtenaster from its place in the man's side, sending up a plain white glyph at her side as he span, his hammer burning with golden fire. The glyph shuddered with the blow and the golden fire rushed into the glyph, turning it the same color.
Oh? I knew those runic circles of yours could channel Fel quite well, but to take the Draenei's precious Light?
Weiss shifted the glyph, letting it glow with golden power, before pushing it out.
The man was sent flying backward as a golden blast of light crashed into him. He landed hard, rolling away and losing his grip on his hammer.
So you have learned new tricks, Gorefiend, the man pushed himself up, unfortunately for you, I have been fighting since before your race was even born!
As he finished his declaration, he flung his hands forward, sending two golden swords flying towards Weiss. The heiress threw up two more glyphs, the swords disappearing the minute they hit the glyphs.
The man charged at Weiss as he took up his hammer. Seconds before he reached her, a new glyph appeared around his waist, "I don't know-"
Gorefiend! The roar was accompanied by an explosion of light, sending Weiss flying back.
Karsius! I can't wait to see you consumed by the Fel, I've waited years for this. Up Weiss, up!
Weiss pushed herself up, glaring at Karsius. The man grabbed his hammer, attempting to swing it down in a heavy strike.
He only got halfway through before Yang came from the side and pushing Weiss back. The hammer hit Yang's head with an unholy crack, though she didn't flinch.
You...
"You hit pretty hard, buddy," Yang said, "like, definitely harder than I thought you would. But here's the thing, my Semblance? The more I get hit, the stronger I get, and you've been hitting pretty hard, so let's see what happens now, eh?"
Then Yang unleashed a haymaker, smashing the man back and against his mount as she leapt after him, hitting him several more times.
Maybe she does have her uses. But I want us to be the one's to end his pitiful existence, so…
"Yang, let me do it."
Yang stopped, one arm braced against his throat, "You sure?"
"Yes," Weiss walked towards them, tightening her grip on Myrtenaster, "I'll do it."
As Weiss reached him, she imagined her Aura coating the rapier blade, covering every inch.
You haven't won, Gorefiend.
I think you'll find that I have. You should of shown me the proper respect, but you didn't.
Weiss felt another glyph appear on the back of her hand, and copies along Myrtenaster. A glance down showed it to be the green one Grarm had used in the cave. Was that really only a couple of weeks ago? It felt like a lifetime.
He'll only destroy you, girl. Gorefiend doesn't care about you beyond a vessel for his rebir-
"Shut up," Weiss said shortly, imagining her Aura burning away. As she did, the glyphs glowed bright green and flames of the same color exploded to life on Myrtenaster's blade as another rush of euphoria raged into being in Weiss. A simple flourish, and Weiss ran the man through.
He roared in agony as the same flames seemed to spread through his body like a forest on fire, until he was nothing but a man shaped flame. Then he disappeared, as if he had never been there.
And while we're at it…
The glyph changed and the man's mount seemed to be dragged towards her, before it disappeared into a funnel that melded with Weiss's skin. After a moment, the rush faded, and instead Weiss staggered back in pain.
Mh… suppose that's still too much. I should probably…
Weiss felt herself fading out of consciousness, and the last thing she remembered was Yang turning her over and asking, "What's with her-?"
---
"So what's today?" Valeera asked loudly as she left the house with Rehgar, Crocbait and, strangely, Blake.
She wasn't complaining the black haired human was with them, mind you, but wasn't expecting it.
"Ruby's birthday and Hollow's End," Rehgar said simply.
"Still can't believe that," Blake muttered.
"What, that something was twisted enough to give Ruby the excuse to nearly triple the amount of sugar she eats?" Rehgar chuckled.
"Yeah. So we're-?"
"Buying her presents, food for it, and dropping off last minute invitations. Figured it'd be good to go as a group."
"And Hollow's End?" Valeera asked.
"We'll do that before the party," Rehgar said, "Ruby's probably gonna drag you all out to get costumes the moment we get home, so don't expect much rest today."
"Did she ever tell you about our Hallow's End at Beacon?" Blake asked.
Beacon?
"No, why?"
"Well, when it came time to go trick or treating, she kept acting like a brat. She didn't even put on a costume, just kept following behind us going 'it's my birthday!' at every house so we'd give her our candy," Blake said, a small affectionate smile on her lips.
"Really?" Valeera asked.
"Yeah. We got her back for it," Blake's smile twitched, "she was complaining that she didn't have a costume for the party and asking us to get her one."
"And you didn't?" Rehgar asked.
"No, we did. We stuck her in a trashcan."
Rehgar let out a bark of laughter, "I knew I liked you!"
"It was Yang's idea."
"Yang?" Valeera frowned, "who's Yang?"
Blake looked behind her, and Valeera was very glad she hadn't been looking anywhere that could have led to problems, "Ruby's sister, Yang."
Ruby had a sister? Valeera suddenly realized she knew very little about the woman. She knew Ruby had been a slave, that she played Hearthstone, was a shaman and loved sugary things (something Valeera was really happy about) but that was where her knowledge stopped.
"Where is she?"
"Don't worry about it," Rehgar said roughly, "she isn't here and you aren't likely to ever see her."
"Sorry," Crocbait interrupted, talking for the first time since they left the house, "Hallow's End? What's that?"
"Supposed to be a day of mourning," Rehgar said, "but then the Forsaken broke free and turned it into half that and half celebration, then the goblins got their paws on it and turned it into a big party. People dress up in costumes, hand out candy and play tricks on each other. I hate it."
Really? Looks like the undead had given them something good.
"You probably hate most holidays," Valeera responded, only to freeze as Rehgar looked back at her. Had she just pushed things too far?
"Actually," Rehgar drawled, "I happen to like Winter Veil. My problem with Hallow's End is that I'm normally busy getting things ready for Ruby's party and having to stop and chase off kids who think chucking those stupid exploding eggs at the house is funny makes it take longer."
"We'll be starting here," Rehgar dodged around a cart to enter a shop with a gun and bow crossed on the sign, "She'll need plenty of gunpowder for Crescent Rose's bullets, right?"
"Yeah," Blake said, "the most we could ever afford was six bullets."
"Crescent Rose?"
"Big unholy contraption she uses," Rehgar said, "like someone put a scythe together with one of those Alliance sniper rifle. I've never actually seen her use it though."
"Just ask her," Blake said as she examined a display case full of the newest goblin made pistols, "she loves that scythe more than anything."
Valeera saw Rehgar roll his eyes, and strained herself to hear what he whispered.
"Except she was willing to give it up to keep… Bah," Rehgar spat as he walked to the counter, changing to orcish to speak with the female tauren behind it.
---
Yang grunted as she carried Weiss into the cave, sliding the heiress off her back and flopping down across from her. Maan had remained outside, squatting down beside a boulder to keep watch.
"This better not become a thing," Yang said to her unconscious friend, "Your eyes turning red, then you pull some freaky new ability from nowhere and then you pass out. I mean, the red eyes is kinda my thing, so if you aren't willing to stop the other two, can you at least let me keep that?"
Yang was completely aware Weiss couldn't hear her, but needed to keep talking to not freak out about the circumstances.
"Did I ever tell you I was scared of ghosts when I was a kid?" Yang said, "like, completely terrified of them. I used to sneak into my dad's room if I saw a ghost movie. And that sucked, because Ruby loved them and I could never say no to her about it. What was I gonna do? Let her see her big sister be scared? Hey, what do you think her and Blake are doing?"
Yang focused on that, instead of the fact that they had just fought a freaking ghost.
"I bet Ruby's probably been running around Vale and Patch, trying to figure out why we disappeared. The authorities have to know we're missing by now, right?" Yang chuckled as an idea came across her, "Hey, do ya think they think we did some cheesy 'run off together and get married' thing? Oh! By the way, I was thinking, do you think there's any chance Blake and Ruby are around? Like, maybe at Shattrath?"
Yang sighed, leaning her head back, letting the cold stone wall sooth the spot where she had taken that hammer blow to the skull. It ached slightly, a testament to just how strong the guy was. He had hit her like a raging ursa major, instead of a normal, if buff, guy.
"So, who's Gorefiend?" Yang asked, "and why'd the big guy think you were him?"
Come to think of it, Weiss had never explained how she knew about Shadowmoon valley or why they going there.
"Just," Yang sighed, "just, please stay safe, ok? Until we find Ruby and Blake, you're all I have."
Yang closed her eyes, figuring there was no harm in dozing while she waited for Weiss to wake up.
It had started to get dark out by the time that happened. Weiss gave something between a moan and a groan as she pushed herself up. The red was fading from her eyes, almost completely gone from the right, but slower on the left.
"Yang?" She asked, "what happened? Last thing I remember, we were fighting…"
"You passed out, again."
Weiss hummed lowly, a pleasant sound, "Really?"
"Yeah," Yang said, "You did. I had to carry you again. You know, if you wanted a piggyback ride, you could just ask, princess."
Weiss chuckled weakly, "Sorry."
"Weiss," Yang asked, "are you alright?"
Weiss jolted slightly, looking completely bewildered, "Yes. Of course I am, why?"
"You're just… I don't know, first you do that thing with Biggs, then you're suddenly talking about going to Shadowmoon, then you do something to one of those orcs, and now this. I'm just worried about you."
"You shouldn't be," Weiss said, "I'm fine, in fact, I haven't felt this well in a long time. I'm not reliant on Dust anymore."
Weiss had said that with an almost smug satisfaction, a slightly mad smile on her face the wasn't helped by her eyes being two different colors.
"I…" Yang sighed, "Fine. Let's go talk to Maan, it's getting late."
Yang wasn't sure what was going on, but until she found an answer, there wasn't much she could do. And come hell or high water, she was finding an answer.
---
Blake leaned against the outer wall of the fifth store they had gone to, a seamstress, waiting for Rehgar to come out.
She had gotten Ruby's present a couple stores back, and it quickly got boring standing around as Rehgar tried to haggle at every shop, especially when you couldn't tell what was being said. It was quite a bit more interesting to watch the people of Orgrimmar go about their day
Which is probably why she was joined by Valeera. The blood elf was watching her intensely as she threw a slightly curved throwing knife into the air and caught it.
"What?" Blake finally asked. She didn't like being watched, it set her on edge. She had spent more of her life in the shadows than anywhere else now, between the White Fang, laying low at Beacon and the last six years of drifting.
That thought was actually kinda depressing.
"So, uh…" Valeera coughed, "So you and Ruby have known each other for awhile?"
"Yeah," Blake drew out the word slightly, confused by the question. Of course her and Ruby knew each other, "Why?"
"Just curious," Valeera said, "I've never had any girl friends," after a moment, Valeera's face blanched, "I mean, I haven't had any friends that are girls, not any, well, nevermind."
"Ok?" Blake said, resisting the urge to reach up and scratch next to her ear. What the heck?
"Anyways," Valeera said, "you mentioned something about, what was it, Beacon? Where's that?"
"It was an academy we went to when we were younger," Blake said, "It's where we met."
"Wait," Valeera's nose wrinkled, "you two went to some stuffy learning place?"
"Beacon wasn't like that," Blake said, "it was a school for learning to fight. We were on the same team."
"Team?"
"Mh," Blake nodded, "Yeah, Beacon divided the students into teams of four. Ruby, Yang, Weiss and me were Team RWBY, led by Ruby."
"Really?" Valeera had turned so she was leaning her shoulder on the wall, "Ruby was in charge? She doesn't seem like the type to lead."
"She's a fine leader," Blake defended her friend, "but she's never been one for the spotlight. Neither of us are."
It was why Blake had been content with spends the last few years going through the motions of living as guilt ate away at her. Probably why Ruby was content with staying with Rehgar as she tried to keep an ear to the ground about Blake.
It made Blake wish they were the type to make big waves, "a black haired woman wearing a bow' was an incredibly vague thing to go on.
"Huh," Valeera said, "she just seemed… I don't know, not mellow-"
Blake snorted. Ruby, mellow? While certainly more common than it had been before they had been separated, Ruby's calm seemed confined to when she was meditating. She still inhaled cookies, drank hot chocolate whenever the opportunity arose, was gleefully in the center of the fighting when the Silithid came, and was up and doing stuff while Blake was still happily asleep. Even this morning, she had woken to Ruby baking a new batch of cookies to fill the now empty jar. Then there was her increased tendency to burn or shock anything that drew her ire. And, if what Rehgar said was true (and Blake was willing to trust him on this), the fact that Ruby was apparently still trick or treating in her twenties, or at the very least, turned her birthday party into a costume party.
Blake had always viewed Ruby as the physical embodiment of purity, and had added sacrifice onto that over the years they had been apart. Made her into a borderline immaculate figure in her mind.
That Ruby had apparently made a deal with four literal embodiment of the elements and was determined to keep to it even as they sent her to a war that was rapidly becoming a meat grinder didn't help that image.
"-but she just doesn't seem like she'd be a stick-in-the-mud authority type."
Blake laughed, "What you just described is the opposite of Ruby's leading style. She'd drill all these different strategies she came up with into our heads, yeah, but otherwise she was kinda hands off. Wanted to be willing to fight for each other because we were friends."
"She was?"
"She was two years younger than everyone else and made leader without being asked her opinion on the matter," Blake said as she tucked a bit of hair behind her ear.
"Huh," Valeera repeated the noise, "what about you?
Blake raised an eyebrow, "What about me?"
"Do you have any other family?"
"Not anymore," not until they found a way back to Remnant, "it's just me and Ruby. We-"
"Alright," Rehgar marched out of the building, a package under one arm, "We have one place left to go."
---
Thrall sighed as he read the reports, feeling thrice his age as he continued further.
Over a thousand men dead over the last month, on his orders. And he would need to send even more if they had any hope to stop it, if they didn't, everyone under his rule would die.
The badge and the burden, as Ruby put it.
"Dat bad?" Vol'jin asked grimly.
"Yes," Thrall rubbed his eyes with one hand, feeling stress start to build, "I should compose a letter to High Priestess Whisperwind and Archdruid Staghelm."
"Dem?" Vol'jin scowled around his tusks. Fandral's attempts to silence his people had earned the druid Vol'jin's undying hatred, "Why?"
"There's tension between the Horde and Alliance forces at the front," Thrall said, "if we can form a united front, more from both sides can return home."
For every member of the Alliance guilty of crimes against the Horde who died down there, it would come at the cost of Thrall's people and those who were fine to live and let live. While Thrall was willing to defend his people to the last, he didn't wish to take it out on those who weren't guilty.
To do so would make him as bad as Blackmoore and Kagrim. Taratha hadn't done anything to deserve her execution, and Ruby nothing to deserve her slavery. He remembered the first meeting with the young shamaness. Her hair had been a cracked blond color, though it had eventually returned to its natural brown-red, and she had been almost dreadfully skinny.
He had felt so guilty over it. Those were supposed to be his people, they had been part of Grom's clan and they had enslaved a human out of petty spite.
Thrall sighed at the knock, "Yes?"
The Kor'kron stepped in, "Warchief! Rehgar Earthfury is here requesting an audience."
Speaking of Ruby…
"Send him in," Thall said, resigned. Rehgar had been pestering him about being taken on as an advisor. Thrall strongly suspected the gladiator master was growing tired of his occupation.
Rehgar stepped into the room, though he wasn't alone. Next to him was a black haired human who looked like she would rather be anywhere else, her bow twitching rapidly.
"Warchief," Rehgar greeted roughly, "Do you have an answer for me?"
Right to the heart of the mattar then.
"If I do allow you to advise me," Thrall said, "it will be a harsh job."
"But it will pay well," Rehgar said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"Then it's not the harshest thing I've done," Rehgar responded.
"Was there anything else?" Thrall asked.
"Yes," Rehgar switch to slightly stilted Common, "Warchief, this is Blake Belladonna. Blake, this is the Warchief of the Horde."
Thrall's eyebrows jumped up. Ruby had found Blake?
"Uh," Blake looked taken aback, "Hello, Warchief," she bowed slightly.
"Hello," Thrall greeted in return, "I must say, I didn't think the day would come where I would see you in Orgrimmar."
"You know me?" Blake sounded surprised. Had Ruby not talked to her about the Horde?
"Ruby learned from my mentor," Thrall said, "At my insistence. I should have dealt with the Warsong renegades sooner."
"Rehgar-?"
"No," Rehgar cut her off, "Drek'thar, who isn't here right now?" the last part tilted into a question.
"We're dealing with increased tensions with the dwarves," Thrall explained in Orcish before jumping back to Common, "Drek'thar has been a shaman longer than almost any orc, he had things he could teach that Rehgar couldn't. She spoke of you often."
That was an understatement. Blake never seemed to be far from his friend's mind, even when he was requesting for her and Bloodeye to clear out some threats around Orgrimmar.
"She did?" Blake seemed to inflate.
"Yes," Thrall said gently, "I assume that if you are here, Ruby has returned home?"
So long as Thrall was Warchief, Orgrimmar would always open its gates to those with nowhere to go. The Horde took in those outcast through no fault of their own, from the orcs to the Forsaken to the blood elves.
"She has," Rehgar said, "which is the another reason I'm here. It's Hallow's End."
Thrall blinked. It was? Ancestors, he had lost track of time. But why did that-?
Oh.
"I won't be able to make it," Thrall apologized, he normally tried to make a brief appearance, to wish Ruby well, if nothing else, "pass on my regards to Ruby?"
"Of course," Rehgar nodded, "just wanted to let you know she was back."
"Yes."
"The last reason I'm here is to formally inform you that she has passed her final test," Rehgar said, "and that I wish to have that recorded."
"I'll have Drek'thar do it when he returns," Thrall said, "Would you please leave? I have much to deal with."
"Right," Rehgar grunted, turning, "Come on, Blake. We'd best get back."
As the door shut, Thrall sighed. Back to the work, though…
Thrall grabbed his fountain pen, penning a quick letter to Drek'thar to be sent when he was done with the one to Tyrande.
It was going to be a long Hallow's End, he could tell.
---
Teron: Hey, Psycho!
Psycho: What, Teron?
Teron: You know how you were gonna wait for us to get to Shadowmoon before you confirmed it was me?
Psycho:Yea-
Teron: Nope.
Just because I'm a paranoidal son of a bitch, I want to stress that the pedestal Blake has put Ruby on is not the good thing.
On a lighter note, that Blizzards of the Coast pun hurt my soul.
The night elf was drunk, very drunk.
"Where are you gonna put him?" Crocbait asked as he pushed open the door.
"Couch," Rehgar said, "It's his turn anyways."
Rehgar didn't have enough beds to house all of them. Three had been enough before, but he supposed that if they would be staying in his house, he would have to get another room or two added. Hopefully Ruby would stop being tongue tied with Blake before he had to get yet another bed.
Oh spirits, he was getting attached again, wasn't he? He didn't want to get attached, he wanted to get rid of them as soon as he recouped his investment at Dire Maul.
"For what?"
Rehgar looked over at the kitchen at Ruby's question only to immediately groan, "Damnit, Sanguinar! How many times do I have to tell you to stop that!"
Valeera stared at him, before sliding down off the back and into the seat of the chair, "Sorry."
"What's the harm?" Ruby asked, "Bloodeye and I have put these chairs through hell and back. Her sitting on them differently isn't gonna do anything we didn't."
That wasn't why he was irate about it. First, there was the simple fact that he didn't know how Valeera got into the habit, and the second was that he didn't want her getting hurt.
He really was getting attached wasn't he? Why couldn't he have started getting wolves or something? Why was it slaves (and former slaves) that he seemed so determined to take in?
"Oh, fine," Rehgar sighed as he placed Broll on the couch, turning the night elf onto his side, "she can sit like that if she wants to. Playing Hearthstone?"
"Mhm," Ruby nodded, placing down a card. An illusionary pool of lava bubbled up and a hand reached into it. When the maimed hand came out, it was wrapped around the Doomhammer. Ruby tapped the card twice, and the hammer swung out, shattering one of Valeera's creatures and passing harmlessly through her head as the counter ticked down.
He should have gone into the card game business instead of blood sports, the owner of Blizzards of the Coast was probably filthy rich.
"Where's Blake?"
"My room, she's reading that Common to Orcish book you got me. Can we talk after this match is done?"
"For a bit," Rehgar said, "it's getting late. Big day tomorrow."
Ruby stared at him in confusion, before her eyes let up, "Oh, yeah!"
"Huh?" Valeera looked between them, "What's tomorrow?"
"A couple of things," Rehgar said, "I'll tell you in the morning."
Valeera puffed out her cheeks, sulking on her chair as her and Ruby continued their game.
Once Ruby had won easily, causing Valeera to sit in one of the living room chairs (properly this time) and stew, the two shaman stepped out of the house.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Rehgar asked, "if it's about me springing the test on you, save it. There's no going back now."
"I'm not happy about that, but no," Ruby's eyes seemed to focus on one of the torches, which was almost dead, "I talked with Blood."
"I thought that wasn't working?"
"He showed up in Silithus," Ruby said, "just walked up, making dumb jokes about shaman talking to the dead."
"Sounds like him," Bloodeye had always been fond of corny jokes, "What did he say?"
"Why didn't you two talk to me about this gladiator team idea before you did it?"
"So he told you it wasn't my idea?"
"Yeah, but," Ruby's gaze on the torch broke, even as the flames roared back to life, "why didn't you tell me?" Ruby's voice had taken on a pleading edge, "Did you not care how I felt about it to ask before you ran off and bought a couple of slaves."
"I figured it better to ask your forgiveness than convince you about it," Rehgar said, "and I sure as hell thought it better to grab Valeera before she was bought by someone that had worse intentions. Besides, you and me? We know what it's like to be on that side of the lash."
Rehgar had never been sure if he had been born into slavery, or if he had been captured as a kid, or if his parent had sold him to the Gorian Empire, but his oldest memories were of being used as a training dummy for their young. He killed for the first time before he reached his victim's hip, by the time he had reached their chest, he killed half the ogre's he went against.
Then they sold him to the orc arenas where he stayed until something strange started to happen. Slowly, over the course of several weeks, the gladiators were taken from their cell with none returning.
When it had been his turn, several green skinned orcs were waiting for him and after checking him over, offered him two things that meant so many things. An blade and a drinking horn of green liquid, death and life, freedom and damnation.
He had taken the horn, drinking deeply from the demon's blood. Little had he known all he was doing was trading one yoke for another.
Rehgar had been one of the many orcs who sacked Stormwind, had fought in the bitter war of attrition in Khaz Modan, and slaughtered tens of men at Hillsbrad Foothills.
And when the Horde had been routed, he was forced into one of the internment camps, though he didn't stay there long. Instead, he was sold off to a human lord to be used as a gladiator, again.
"Bloodeye said the same thing, but that doesn't make it right," Ruby said, "it just makes us as bad as them."
Rehgar sighed, "I know. We had both agreed it would be a temporary thing. Bloodeye was sure they'd agree to stick around after seeing the money we make at Dire Maul. Even split five ways, it's a lot."
"And if they don't want to stay?"
"They can leave," Rehgar shrugged, "I've been trying to convince the Warchief to take me on as an advisor. If that happens, I won't need gladiators. I'll still sponsor 'em if they want to keep going, but it's their choice."
"..."
"Look, I know it's a shitty thing we're doing, but we can make the best of it. I need you to run up to Ashenvale before you head back south."
"Uh," Ruby looked taken aback by the sudden change of topic, "why?"
"Broll's curse is related to an idol I think is that way. Looks like a dragon, should be leaking Fel. Shouldn't be too hard to find, and I need it to break the curse."
In the meantime, he was going to have to get Broll to open up more about his daughter's death.
Why couldn't life be easy?
"If it helps them," Ruby bit her lip, "I'll go with Blake… and maybe one of the others?"
Rehgar looked at her, "You better not be thinking of doing something stupid, pup."
"No," Ruby sighed, "Crocbait's here willingly and I think Valeera's willing to stick around if it means she keeps getting money and warm food."
"She does seem to like it, doesn't she?" Valeera had cheerfully disappeared into Orgrimmar after he gave her cut to her, returning with her arms full of Hearthstone packs and candy.
Rehgar hadn't thought someone could eat enough surgery food to give Ruby a run for her money. Ah, spirits, Valeera was going to be bouncing off the walls about Hallow's End, wasn't she?
"She'd like it if you cooked pork less often."
"There's nothing wrong with pork!" Rehgar defended.
"You cook it several times a day," Ruby pointed out, "you can't blame her for wanting a little variety."
"Eh," Rehgar grunted noncommittally, "We should get to bed. We're probably not gonna sleep till it's November first."
Ruby giggled, "Yeah."
---
Weiss fiddled with the sheath keeping her new dagger on her hip. How did Jaune deal with it constantly bumping into him?
She wasn't sure why she had decided to grab a dagger before they left Honor Hold, but it seemed like the right thing to do.
Plenty of things can be done with a dagger. It might be impressive to rip the life from your opponent and use it to cast a ritual at high speeds, but it's also burning energy you could be using later, so just slitting their throat and using their blood to create the seal for the ritual is more practical.
"How long do you think it will take to get to Shattrath?" Yang asked Maan.
"At the rate we're moving? Two weeks, maybe more."
"Two weeks?"
I've waited twenty years for this, I can wait a couple of weeks. Still, it would probably be more effective if you summoned a Xorothian steed. We haven't worked on summoning though… I suppose we'll have to work on that when you make camp. Imps first, maybe that collection of them Gul'dan made.
Weiss shook her head again, trying to get rid of the vague murmurs.
Why ever would you want to do that? All I'm doing is helping you on the path to grea- oh, you. Run.
There was a noise like trumpeting in the distance, and Weiss turned with Yang and Maan.
"An elekk?" Maan asked, "what would an elekk be doing in Hellfire?"
"What's an Elekk?"
"They're big- nevermind we don't have time to worry about it. We need to contin-"
I said RUN, Weiss staggered, looking for the source of the voice.
Before they could, a large creature appeared between them. It looked similar to a goliath, though with a long trunk. It was covered in ornate white and gold armor with purple gems and, strangely, slightly transparent.
Someone jumped onto the ground, standing to his full height. He was of the same race as Maan, but with hooves instead of feet, wearing similar armor to the animal and he was similarly transparent. In his hand was a giant hammer that's head was seemingly made of the largest crystal she had ever seen.
Gorefiend, he said with a voice that seemed to echo as he stared at her and started walking forward, did you really think you could escape your punishment?
"Gorefiend?" Weiss said, drawing Myrtenaster, "I don't know what you're-"
Do not lie! he roared, swinging his hammer towards her. Halfway through, Yang stepped into the blow, grunting as her Aura rippled around the strike, You-
"I don't know what you're talking about," the blonde brawler said, "but if you want to hurt Weiss, you'll have to go through me."
Very well, he calmly raised a hand, then I shall!
An explosion of Light burned into existence, a second sun in the man's hand as he tried to bring it down on Yang.
Yang stepped to the side, deploying Ember Celica as she did and slammed her fist into the armor. The man grunted in pain, though the shot apparently went through him, if the explosions of red earth were any sign.
You can strike me? the smallest amount of surprise leaked into his voice.
Karsius, my friend, you brought yourself death by chasing me here. Thank you, it saves me the time to hunt you down myself later.
I am not your friend, monster! The man's eyes started to glow gold as he focussed on Weiss again, And the Light shall punish-
Yang hit him again, right where the kidney would be on a human. This had the unintended response of the shot striking Weiss full on. It didn't hurt as much as it should have, "Hey! I'm not-"
Idiot. Can't even watch what she's hitting.
Yang ducked under the sweeping attack by the hammer as Maan's hatchet flew through the man and his animal harmlessly. Weiss took the opportunity to move forward, driving Myrtenaster into a chink in his armor. It was odd, watching the blade go through him, but still clearly harm him.
Weiss yanked Myrtenaster from its place in the man's side, sending up a plain white glyph at her side as he span, his hammer burning with golden fire. The glyph shuddered with the blow and the golden fire rushed into the glyph, turning it the same color.
Oh? I knew those runic circles of yours could channel Fel quite well, but to take the Draenei's precious Light?
Weiss shifted the glyph, letting it glow with golden power, before pushing it out.
The man was sent flying backward as a golden blast of light crashed into him. He landed hard, rolling away and losing his grip on his hammer.
So you have learned new tricks, Gorefiend, the man pushed himself up, unfortunately for you, I have been fighting since before your race was even born!
As he finished his declaration, he flung his hands forward, sending two golden swords flying towards Weiss. The heiress threw up two more glyphs, the swords disappearing the minute they hit the glyphs.
The man charged at Weiss as he took up his hammer. Seconds before he reached her, a new glyph appeared around his waist, "I don't know-"
Gorefiend! The roar was accompanied by an explosion of light, sending Weiss flying back.
Karsius! I can't wait to see you consumed by the Fel, I've waited years for this. Up Weiss, up!
Weiss pushed herself up, glaring at Karsius. The man grabbed his hammer, attempting to swing it down in a heavy strike.
He only got halfway through before Yang came from the side and pushing Weiss back. The hammer hit Yang's head with an unholy crack, though she didn't flinch.
You...
"You hit pretty hard, buddy," Yang said, "like, definitely harder than I thought you would. But here's the thing, my Semblance? The more I get hit, the stronger I get, and you've been hitting pretty hard, so let's see what happens now, eh?"
Then Yang unleashed a haymaker, smashing the man back and against his mount as she leapt after him, hitting him several more times.
Maybe she does have her uses. But I want us to be the one's to end his pitiful existence, so…
"Yang, let me do it."
Yang stopped, one arm braced against his throat, "You sure?"
"Yes," Weiss walked towards them, tightening her grip on Myrtenaster, "I'll do it."
As Weiss reached him, she imagined her Aura coating the rapier blade, covering every inch.
You haven't won, Gorefiend.
I think you'll find that I have. You should of shown me the proper respect, but you didn't.
Weiss felt another glyph appear on the back of her hand, and copies along Myrtenaster. A glance down showed it to be the green one Grarm had used in the cave. Was that really only a couple of weeks ago? It felt like a lifetime.
He'll only destroy you, girl. Gorefiend doesn't care about you beyond a vessel for his rebir-
"Shut up," Weiss said shortly, imagining her Aura burning away. As she did, the glyphs glowed bright green and flames of the same color exploded to life on Myrtenaster's blade as another rush of euphoria raged into being in Weiss. A simple flourish, and Weiss ran the man through.
He roared in agony as the same flames seemed to spread through his body like a forest on fire, until he was nothing but a man shaped flame. Then he disappeared, as if he had never been there.
And while we're at it…
The glyph changed and the man's mount seemed to be dragged towards her, before it disappeared into a funnel that melded with Weiss's skin. After a moment, the rush faded, and instead Weiss staggered back in pain.
Mh… suppose that's still too much. I should probably…
Weiss felt herself fading out of consciousness, and the last thing she remembered was Yang turning her over and asking, "What's with her-?"
---
"So what's today?" Valeera asked loudly as she left the house with Rehgar, Crocbait and, strangely, Blake.
She wasn't complaining the black haired human was with them, mind you, but wasn't expecting it.
"Ruby's birthday and Hollow's End," Rehgar said simply.
"Still can't believe that," Blake muttered.
"What, that something was twisted enough to give Ruby the excuse to nearly triple the amount of sugar she eats?" Rehgar chuckled.
"Yeah. So we're-?"
"Buying her presents, food for it, and dropping off last minute invitations. Figured it'd be good to go as a group."
"And Hollow's End?" Valeera asked.
"We'll do that before the party," Rehgar said, "Ruby's probably gonna drag you all out to get costumes the moment we get home, so don't expect much rest today."
"Did she ever tell you about our Hallow's End at Beacon?" Blake asked.
Beacon?
"No, why?"
"Well, when it came time to go trick or treating, she kept acting like a brat. She didn't even put on a costume, just kept following behind us going 'it's my birthday!' at every house so we'd give her our candy," Blake said, a small affectionate smile on her lips.
"Really?" Valeera asked.
"Yeah. We got her back for it," Blake's smile twitched, "she was complaining that she didn't have a costume for the party and asking us to get her one."
"And you didn't?" Rehgar asked.
"No, we did. We stuck her in a trashcan."
Rehgar let out a bark of laughter, "I knew I liked you!"
"It was Yang's idea."
"Yang?" Valeera frowned, "who's Yang?"
Blake looked behind her, and Valeera was very glad she hadn't been looking anywhere that could have led to problems, "Ruby's sister, Yang."
Ruby had a sister? Valeera suddenly realized she knew very little about the woman. She knew Ruby had been a slave, that she played Hearthstone, was a shaman and loved sugary things (something Valeera was really happy about) but that was where her knowledge stopped.
"Where is she?"
"Don't worry about it," Rehgar said roughly, "she isn't here and you aren't likely to ever see her."
"Sorry," Crocbait interrupted, talking for the first time since they left the house, "Hallow's End? What's that?"
"Supposed to be a day of mourning," Rehgar said, "but then the Forsaken broke free and turned it into half that and half celebration, then the goblins got their paws on it and turned it into a big party. People dress up in costumes, hand out candy and play tricks on each other. I hate it."
Really? Looks like the undead had given them something good.
"You probably hate most holidays," Valeera responded, only to freeze as Rehgar looked back at her. Had she just pushed things too far?
"Actually," Rehgar drawled, "I happen to like Winter Veil. My problem with Hallow's End is that I'm normally busy getting things ready for Ruby's party and having to stop and chase off kids who think chucking those stupid exploding eggs at the house is funny makes it take longer."
"We'll be starting here," Rehgar dodged around a cart to enter a shop with a gun and bow crossed on the sign, "She'll need plenty of gunpowder for Crescent Rose's bullets, right?"
"Yeah," Blake said, "the most we could ever afford was six bullets."
"Crescent Rose?"
"Big unholy contraption she uses," Rehgar said, "like someone put a scythe together with one of those Alliance sniper rifle. I've never actually seen her use it though."
"Just ask her," Blake said as she examined a display case full of the newest goblin made pistols, "she loves that scythe more than anything."
Valeera saw Rehgar roll his eyes, and strained herself to hear what he whispered.
"Except she was willing to give it up to keep… Bah," Rehgar spat as he walked to the counter, changing to orcish to speak with the female tauren behind it.
---
Yang grunted as she carried Weiss into the cave, sliding the heiress off her back and flopping down across from her. Maan had remained outside, squatting down beside a boulder to keep watch.
"This better not become a thing," Yang said to her unconscious friend, "Your eyes turning red, then you pull some freaky new ability from nowhere and then you pass out. I mean, the red eyes is kinda my thing, so if you aren't willing to stop the other two, can you at least let me keep that?"
Yang was completely aware Weiss couldn't hear her, but needed to keep talking to not freak out about the circumstances.
"Did I ever tell you I was scared of ghosts when I was a kid?" Yang said, "like, completely terrified of them. I used to sneak into my dad's room if I saw a ghost movie. And that sucked, because Ruby loved them and I could never say no to her about it. What was I gonna do? Let her see her big sister be scared? Hey, what do you think her and Blake are doing?"
Yang focused on that, instead of the fact that they had just fought a freaking ghost.
"I bet Ruby's probably been running around Vale and Patch, trying to figure out why we disappeared. The authorities have to know we're missing by now, right?" Yang chuckled as an idea came across her, "Hey, do ya think they think we did some cheesy 'run off together and get married' thing? Oh! By the way, I was thinking, do you think there's any chance Blake and Ruby are around? Like, maybe at Shattrath?"
Yang sighed, leaning her head back, letting the cold stone wall sooth the spot where she had taken that hammer blow to the skull. It ached slightly, a testament to just how strong the guy was. He had hit her like a raging ursa major, instead of a normal, if buff, guy.
"So, who's Gorefiend?" Yang asked, "and why'd the big guy think you were him?"
Come to think of it, Weiss had never explained how she knew about Shadowmoon valley or why they going there.
"Just," Yang sighed, "just, please stay safe, ok? Until we find Ruby and Blake, you're all I have."
Yang closed her eyes, figuring there was no harm in dozing while she waited for Weiss to wake up.
It had started to get dark out by the time that happened. Weiss gave something between a moan and a groan as she pushed herself up. The red was fading from her eyes, almost completely gone from the right, but slower on the left.
"Yang?" She asked, "what happened? Last thing I remember, we were fighting…"
"You passed out, again."
Weiss hummed lowly, a pleasant sound, "Really?"
"Yeah," Yang said, "You did. I had to carry you again. You know, if you wanted a piggyback ride, you could just ask, princess."
Weiss chuckled weakly, "Sorry."
"Weiss," Yang asked, "are you alright?"
Weiss jolted slightly, looking completely bewildered, "Yes. Of course I am, why?"
"You're just… I don't know, first you do that thing with Biggs, then you're suddenly talking about going to Shadowmoon, then you do something to one of those orcs, and now this. I'm just worried about you."
"You shouldn't be," Weiss said, "I'm fine, in fact, I haven't felt this well in a long time. I'm not reliant on Dust anymore."
Weiss had said that with an almost smug satisfaction, a slightly mad smile on her face the wasn't helped by her eyes being two different colors.
"I…" Yang sighed, "Fine. Let's go talk to Maan, it's getting late."
Yang wasn't sure what was going on, but until she found an answer, there wasn't much she could do. And come hell or high water, she was finding an answer.
---
Blake leaned against the outer wall of the fifth store they had gone to, a seamstress, waiting for Rehgar to come out.
She had gotten Ruby's present a couple stores back, and it quickly got boring standing around as Rehgar tried to haggle at every shop, especially when you couldn't tell what was being said. It was quite a bit more interesting to watch the people of Orgrimmar go about their day
Which is probably why she was joined by Valeera. The blood elf was watching her intensely as she threw a slightly curved throwing knife into the air and caught it.
"What?" Blake finally asked. She didn't like being watched, it set her on edge. She had spent more of her life in the shadows than anywhere else now, between the White Fang, laying low at Beacon and the last six years of drifting.
That thought was actually kinda depressing.
"So, uh…" Valeera coughed, "So you and Ruby have known each other for awhile?"
"Yeah," Blake drew out the word slightly, confused by the question. Of course her and Ruby knew each other, "Why?"
"Just curious," Valeera said, "I've never had any girl friends," after a moment, Valeera's face blanched, "I mean, I haven't had any friends that are girls, not any, well, nevermind."
"Ok?" Blake said, resisting the urge to reach up and scratch next to her ear. What the heck?
"Anyways," Valeera said, "you mentioned something about, what was it, Beacon? Where's that?"
"It was an academy we went to when we were younger," Blake said, "It's where we met."
"Wait," Valeera's nose wrinkled, "you two went to some stuffy learning place?"
"Beacon wasn't like that," Blake said, "it was a school for learning to fight. We were on the same team."
"Team?"
"Mh," Blake nodded, "Yeah, Beacon divided the students into teams of four. Ruby, Yang, Weiss and me were Team RWBY, led by Ruby."
"Really?" Valeera had turned so she was leaning her shoulder on the wall, "Ruby was in charge? She doesn't seem like the type to lead."
"She's a fine leader," Blake defended her friend, "but she's never been one for the spotlight. Neither of us are."
It was why Blake had been content with spends the last few years going through the motions of living as guilt ate away at her. Probably why Ruby was content with staying with Rehgar as she tried to keep an ear to the ground about Blake.
It made Blake wish they were the type to make big waves, "a black haired woman wearing a bow' was an incredibly vague thing to go on.
"Huh," Valeera said, "she just seemed… I don't know, not mellow-"
Blake snorted. Ruby, mellow? While certainly more common than it had been before they had been separated, Ruby's calm seemed confined to when she was meditating. She still inhaled cookies, drank hot chocolate whenever the opportunity arose, was gleefully in the center of the fighting when the Silithid came, and was up and doing stuff while Blake was still happily asleep. Even this morning, she had woken to Ruby baking a new batch of cookies to fill the now empty jar. Then there was her increased tendency to burn or shock anything that drew her ire. And, if what Rehgar said was true (and Blake was willing to trust him on this), the fact that Ruby was apparently still trick or treating in her twenties, or at the very least, turned her birthday party into a costume party.
Blake had always viewed Ruby as the physical embodiment of purity, and had added sacrifice onto that over the years they had been apart. Made her into a borderline immaculate figure in her mind.
That Ruby had apparently made a deal with four literal embodiment of the elements and was determined to keep to it even as they sent her to a war that was rapidly becoming a meat grinder didn't help that image.
"-but she just doesn't seem like she'd be a stick-in-the-mud authority type."
Blake laughed, "What you just described is the opposite of Ruby's leading style. She'd drill all these different strategies she came up with into our heads, yeah, but otherwise she was kinda hands off. Wanted to be willing to fight for each other because we were friends."
"She was?"
"She was two years younger than everyone else and made leader without being asked her opinion on the matter," Blake said as she tucked a bit of hair behind her ear.
"Huh," Valeera repeated the noise, "what about you?
Blake raised an eyebrow, "What about me?"
"Do you have any other family?"
"Not anymore," not until they found a way back to Remnant, "it's just me and Ruby. We-"
"Alright," Rehgar marched out of the building, a package under one arm, "We have one place left to go."
---
Thrall sighed as he read the reports, feeling thrice his age as he continued further.
Over a thousand men dead over the last month, on his orders. And he would need to send even more if they had any hope to stop it, if they didn't, everyone under his rule would die.
The badge and the burden, as Ruby put it.
"Dat bad?" Vol'jin asked grimly.
"Yes," Thrall rubbed his eyes with one hand, feeling stress start to build, "I should compose a letter to High Priestess Whisperwind and Archdruid Staghelm."
"Dem?" Vol'jin scowled around his tusks. Fandral's attempts to silence his people had earned the druid Vol'jin's undying hatred, "Why?"
"There's tension between the Horde and Alliance forces at the front," Thrall said, "if we can form a united front, more from both sides can return home."
For every member of the Alliance guilty of crimes against the Horde who died down there, it would come at the cost of Thrall's people and those who were fine to live and let live. While Thrall was willing to defend his people to the last, he didn't wish to take it out on those who weren't guilty.
To do so would make him as bad as Blackmoore and Kagrim. Taratha hadn't done anything to deserve her execution, and Ruby nothing to deserve her slavery. He remembered the first meeting with the young shamaness. Her hair had been a cracked blond color, though it had eventually returned to its natural brown-red, and she had been almost dreadfully skinny.
He had felt so guilty over it. Those were supposed to be his people, they had been part of Grom's clan and they had enslaved a human out of petty spite.
Thrall sighed at the knock, "Yes?"
The Kor'kron stepped in, "Warchief! Rehgar Earthfury is here requesting an audience."
Speaking of Ruby…
"Send him in," Thall said, resigned. Rehgar had been pestering him about being taken on as an advisor. Thrall strongly suspected the gladiator master was growing tired of his occupation.
Rehgar stepped into the room, though he wasn't alone. Next to him was a black haired human who looked like she would rather be anywhere else, her bow twitching rapidly.
"Warchief," Rehgar greeted roughly, "Do you have an answer for me?"
Right to the heart of the mattar then.
"If I do allow you to advise me," Thrall said, "it will be a harsh job."
"But it will pay well," Rehgar said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"Then it's not the harshest thing I've done," Rehgar responded.
"Was there anything else?" Thrall asked.
"Yes," Rehgar switch to slightly stilted Common, "Warchief, this is Blake Belladonna. Blake, this is the Warchief of the Horde."
Thrall's eyebrows jumped up. Ruby had found Blake?
"Uh," Blake looked taken aback, "Hello, Warchief," she bowed slightly.
"Hello," Thrall greeted in return, "I must say, I didn't think the day would come where I would see you in Orgrimmar."
"You know me?" Blake sounded surprised. Had Ruby not talked to her about the Horde?
"Ruby learned from my mentor," Thrall said, "At my insistence. I should have dealt with the Warsong renegades sooner."
"Rehgar-?"
"No," Rehgar cut her off, "Drek'thar, who isn't here right now?" the last part tilted into a question.
"We're dealing with increased tensions with the dwarves," Thrall explained in Orcish before jumping back to Common, "Drek'thar has been a shaman longer than almost any orc, he had things he could teach that Rehgar couldn't. She spoke of you often."
That was an understatement. Blake never seemed to be far from his friend's mind, even when he was requesting for her and Bloodeye to clear out some threats around Orgrimmar.
"She did?" Blake seemed to inflate.
"Yes," Thrall said gently, "I assume that if you are here, Ruby has returned home?"
So long as Thrall was Warchief, Orgrimmar would always open its gates to those with nowhere to go. The Horde took in those outcast through no fault of their own, from the orcs to the Forsaken to the blood elves.
"She has," Rehgar said, "which is the another reason I'm here. It's Hallow's End."
Thrall blinked. It was? Ancestors, he had lost track of time. But why did that-?
Oh.
"I won't be able to make it," Thrall apologized, he normally tried to make a brief appearance, to wish Ruby well, if nothing else, "pass on my regards to Ruby?"
"Of course," Rehgar nodded, "just wanted to let you know she was back."
"Yes."
"The last reason I'm here is to formally inform you that she has passed her final test," Rehgar said, "and that I wish to have that recorded."
"I'll have Drek'thar do it when he returns," Thrall said, "Would you please leave? I have much to deal with."
"Right," Rehgar grunted, turning, "Come on, Blake. We'd best get back."
As the door shut, Thrall sighed. Back to the work, though…
Thrall grabbed his fountain pen, penning a quick letter to Drek'thar to be sent when he was done with the one to Tyrande.
It was going to be a long Hallow's End, he could tell.
---
Teron: Hey, Psycho!
Psycho: What, Teron?
Teron: You know how you were gonna wait for us to get to Shadowmoon before you confirmed it was me?
Psycho:Yea-
Teron: Nope.
Just because I'm a paranoidal son of a bitch, I want to stress that the pedestal Blake has put Ruby on is not the good thing.
On a lighter note, that Blizzards of the Coast pun hurt my soul.
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ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
In her favor, the Glyphs take the edge off, but yeah, the Fel is already atarted to screw with her head.
The real question in the equation, is Weiss strong enough to not go swan diving off the deep end?
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
So, I'm taking suggestions on what everyone (minus Rehgar and maybe Broll) would dress up as, since I only have an idea for Crocbait.
If anyone has an idea, feel free to throw it out.
If anyone has an idea, feel free to throw it out.
Though Broll isn't particularly keen on the whole affair, he figures it'd be less hassle to just play along, and after a couple of minutes thought he ditches some of his bear-themed gear, gets a few pieces of cloth cut to look like feathered wings, fastens said cloth wings under his arms, and says he's dressed as Malfurion Stormrage.
Valeera'd go for something cheap, too; she's got better stuff to spend money on. A robe or cloak that's sturdy enough to keep for later, to throw over her usual armor if it rains, and a pointed hat. Boom, witch.
On an unrelated note, is there a reason Blake is still hiding her ears? Is she just sick of explaining them?
"No, I'm not a druid." "No, they aren't from drinking a gnome's experimental potion." "No, they're not from an accident with a Dimensional Ripper."
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
Volume 1 Blake (despite wearing her Volume 4 clothes). The RWBY four were taken from in between Black and White and Best Day Ever, that's why Weiss is worried about being 'useless' without Dust, and no mention has been made to Yang's arm, Sliver Eyes, or Maidens. They just weren't in the loop when they left.
Otherwise, it actually depends on whether she feels like putting on the bow. She's noticeably lazier about it then she is in canon. When she went looking for Ruby in chapter two, she didn't have it on and never realized it, even as the receptionist at the inn was gawking at them. It only gets mentioned when Ruby comes out of her trance and looks over at her. She tends to not wear them to bed anymore, since they're kinda restrictive and she's spent the last six years either living alone or with Ruby.
Rehgar knows, he just doesn't care either way. Even him telling Valeera to drop asking about Yang is only really about making sure she doesn't ask Ruby in the middle of her birthday.
Blake, funnily, did get pestered about being a druid a lot (remember, she set up the closest thing she had to a home in Darnassus), but not because of her ears. It was because of her eyes, amber eyes are a sign of drudaic potential (along with Horns. And yes, I did mention the horns as an excuse to link to an image of Broll as a kid).
Illidan had 'em, I'm pretty sure Mal's eyes turned that way at some point, I knowHamuul and Broll got them after the shit they went through in Stormrage.
On the costume front, I was joking on SB that I'd have Valeera go as one of her HotS alt skins. Like Demon Hunter or (and this one's really fitting) Vampire Slayer V.
Alternatively, we were talking about the idea that a goblin was making costumes of various faction leaders and other important Azerothian figures and Valeera could go at Sylvanas (who, according to HotS, is someone Valeera respects enough that she's willing to overlook her hatred of undead). This could lead to fun times down the line where Ruby goes to pick out an outfit (hopefully not the day of Hallow's End) and discovers copies of Team RWBY's outfits.
You say Valeera has better things to spend it on, but does she really? This is a 15-16 year old who's response to getting a substantial amount of money for the first time was to immediately run off and blow a third of it on trading cards and candy (understandably, she's an orphan who only had a meal if she stole it. When she said it would've been hard for things get worse, she meant it. Now she, like Ruby, is making up for lost time, and she has a lot more time to make up). Now you tell her to put on a costume and get free candy?
Rehgar's not just staying home to get things ready, he's making sure everything breakable is secured for the apocalyptic event of Ruby and Valeera on a sugar rush.
Broll being unenthusiastic about it was part of the reason I mentioned him potentially not doing it in the first place. He's got enough on his plate between him getting into a slient war with Blake on who is better at blaming themselves for things that weren't their fault, doing the actual blaming, and dealing with the curse.
Crocbait's coming along outta curiosity and Blake's going along because Ruby wants her to.
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
There are three/four potential paths for Weiss's character to go from this point. All can be inferred, and all are specs across a group of class.
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
Apologies for the triple post, but there's a poll up. The result may be ignored if Weiss/Gorefiend decides they don't give a crap (as Teron seems want to do)
Chapter 9
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
Christ on crutches, you people are dirty minded.
Final tally between SB, SV, and FF is:
Gramr: 4 votes.
Imp: 5 votes.
Felhoud: 5 votes.
Blueberry: 8 votes.
Dreadsteed: 12 votes.
And finally, Succubus: 31 votes.
The amount of votes of Succubus is nearly equal the the number of votes for the other options combined!
(Though you lot at least voted for Dreadsteed over Succubus)
---
Blake sighed as she trudged back down the Drag along with Ruby, Valeera and Crocbait. She missed scrolls.
It seemed like such a small thing to miss, compared to many other things. But she walked this same path in reverse a little under a hour ago so they they could swap Rehgar for Ruby.
She wished she had a mount like the nightsabers of Darnassus, even one of those giant wolves the orcs used in the place of horses would have done.
"Soo…" Valeera said from behind them. Why was she always behind behind them? None of them were that much taller than her, "Where are we going?"
"There's a fairground outside Orgrimmar," Ruby said, "we actually passed by it when we met to meet with Rehgar, Blake."
"I don't remember it," Blake said.
It made sense though, even some place at desolate as Durotar had to have celebrations at some point, right?
"It's mostly for Brewfest," Ruby said, "and Pilgrim's Bounty."
"Brewfest?" Crocbait asked.
"Yeah," Ruby nodded, "big celebration about alcohol earlier in the month," she shrugged, "It's ok."
"You've been?" Blake asked.
"Bloodeye loved going," Ruby said, "if only to renew his Brew of the Month club membership, but also for the drinking contests. Rehgar always sent me to grab him at the end of the day."
They made their way out of the main gates of Orgrimmar, dodging around wagons stacked high with boxes, barrels and soldiers, all of which were traveling the same way.
"They must be for Silithus," Ruby said, silver eyes locked on them as they disappeared to the west.
Blake nodded, feeling her mouth dry. That was a lot of people. The Horde, at least, had made the decision to go all in.
They walked for another ten minutes before they reached the shops.
"Woah," Blake breathed.
You wouldn't have been able to tell that there was a war going on by the area in front of them. In the back was a giant tent, out of which people were coming and going with bags containing outfits. The fence in front of them was lined with jack-o-lanterns carved to look like different races, torches burning with (hopefully) simulated Felfire crackled away, and kids were running around, grabbing candy and returning to the costumed men and women at several pavilions. In the center of it all was an unburnt wicker man.
Blake followed Ruby into the fair, jumping back as an troll child ran by them, wearing a white dress, blue wig with leaves laced in it, and clutching an bow with limbs made to look like wings. She grabbed the bow string and as she pulled it back, a glowing blue arrow appeared on it.
The arrow flew, hitting an shirtless orc wearing a shoulder pad and holding a giant axe and faded silently. The boy turned, dropping the axe as he made an exaggerated stagger, clutching his side as he fell to his knees.
Another orcish boy ran over, dressed up to look like the Warchief. His hand was wrapped around an oversized hammer, and he slid to his knees next to the other boy. He reached down briefly to touch the spot the 'arrow' had struck, before springing to his feet with a howl, running at the troll girl as she fired several arrows at him.
"That's cool," Valeera said as the boy batted the arrows aside with his hammer.
"I guess," Blake said, following Ruby and Crocbait into the tent.
Now came the hard part. Picking out a costume.
---
Weiss tightened her grip on the dagger, trying to steady the shaking as she moved the green edged knife.
You need blood for this ritual, Weiss. It's enough that it won't hurt anyone.
A quarter of an inch above her thumb, Weiss stopped again. What was she doing? Hurti-
A second of pain for a servant, Weiss. Are you really so weak that that scares you?
Weiss's hand started to shake. This wasn't right.
Do it.
She was better than this. She couldn't-
I said, do it.
She shouldn't even be considering this. This was something someone who was weak would do.
Weiss started to move the dagger away, letting of the breath she had been ho-
Well, at least I know you won't be easily controlled when we rejoin the Legion. But…
Weiss lowered the dagger, swiping it across her thumb and drawing blood. Shouldn't her Aura of-?
Oh, yes. Can't forget that-
Weiss's thumb burned as a blood red glyph appeared in her mind.
Now, draw it. Summon your first minion for us.
Weiss reached down, placing her bloody thumb onto the ground and drew a large circle. Then she created a star in the center.
The second it was done, another glyph appeared in her mind. A smaller circle intersections a larger one, which in turn used it to create half a ring with another line, and had even smaller circle at the top. Weiss added this to the top of the main glyph. Talar.
Then a circle with a triangle intersecting it, two smaller circles around two of the point and a pair of horns above the last. Midway between one of the circle points and the horn point, Weiss added another circle with three lines coming from it's center, one of which ended in another circle. Taam.
The last was a sprawling combination of triangles, lines and circles. Dregla.
Good. Now give me a moment to remember the rune for the imps…
Weiss stood, sheathing her knife as she held each hand out in front of her waist, palms up. She pushed her Aura into the glyph in front of her, shaking as she did so.
Talar lit up first, the red blood turning blue,then Talar turned purple and Dregla turned green. Finally, the red glyph glowed, a ring of green spinning around it. Slowly at first, but each cycle sped it up. The air within the circle seemed to warp, like it was only partially there.
No! Weiss, without a destination anything could-!
"Oh, my," a sultry voice came from the circle as a woman stepped out of the warp, "My, my, my, my. What do we have here? I come across a summoning and find a cutie with white hair? It must be my lucky day, and from the look on your face, it's yours too."
Within the circle was the most attractive woman Weiss had ever seen. She had long golden hair around a pair of horns, silver eyes and a playful smirk on her full lips. The nails on either hand were so long they were practically claws, and she was holding a long leather whip in one hand, the other on her hip.
Her clothes, a black leather corset and underwear, exposed most of her light purple skin and wings. Wrapped around one long hooved leg was a barbed tail.
"Do you have a name, cutie?" the woman asked.
"Uh…" Weiss wetted her lips, trying to focus through the forming haze to answer the question, "Weiss."
Weiss-
"Weiss," a pleasant shiver went up Weiss's spine at the way the woman said her name, like she was tasting it, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Fierna."
Weiss, listen to me. Whatever you do, do not let her out of that cir-
"Why don't you come over here and let me out of this?" Fierna said, curling one index finger forwards, "And then we can get to know each other."
"Oh," Weiss focused on the circle, why was she using that to keep someone as beautiful as this locked away? "Yes! Of course!"
Damn you mortals. She's just going to kill you.
"Oh, hush," Fierna put one finger against her lips, "Don't ruin the fun and maybe I'll let you watch."
...Your kind never stops disgusting me, sayaad.
Weiss moved her foot, scraping away the spent blood. The minute she did, Fierna stepped forward, her tail unlashing from around her leg and wrapping around Weiss's waist, pulling the heiress close.
Weiss felt her breath hitch as Fierna grabbed her chin, angling the heiress's head up as she swept down to steal a kiss.
As Weiss felt the warm lips of the woman, no goddess currently in front of her, a heavy haze started to overtake her. She felt something force its way into her mouth, groaning as Fierna wrapped her wings around them, pushing Weiss against the cave wall.
Was this why people entered relationships? How had she missed this? Even the rough talons scrapping along her scalp as Fierna laced her fingers though Weiss's hair was amazing.
Weiss! You- -it!
Finally, Fierna broke away, grinning wildly as she allowed Weiss to regain her breath. The woman leaned down, silver eyes glistening as she breathed in Weiss's ear, "did you like that, pet?"
Pet? Weiss wasn't a pet.
"Yes," Weiss breathed out in spite of herself. The haze making it hard to stay angry at Fierna. Why should she? Fierna was so beautiful that she shouldn't have given Weiss the time of day, instead- Weiss stifled a moan as Fierna nipped her neck.
Something about this didn't seem right. Some of these things shouldn't- shouldn't-
Whatever Weiss had been worrying about fled her brain as Fierna came up, a pout on her face. Oh, no. She had made her sad…
"Pet," Fierna said, "I don't want you trying to keep quiet, understand?"
"Yes," Weiss squeaked out.
"Good," Fierna's grin grew wider, her tail slithering up Weiss's back. Weiss felt the barbs lightly rake across her skin, flames burning in their wake, numbing Weiss further, "because there's more where that came from."
Weiss barely had time to register that before the lips returned, rougher this time, and stole away her thoughts.
Dust, she had never considered something like this. She was the heiress of the SDC, so she had assumed she wou-
Wait. She was the heiress of the SDC, she shouldn't be getting to first base with someone she had just met. No matter how attractive- Weiss gave a shuddering gasp- or how skilled they were.
Weiss wormed her arms out of Fierna's embrace, pushing the woman back, noticing that one shoulder of her bolero was hanging off, "Stop."
"Oh?" Fierna pouted, "Why? I thought we were having fun."
Weiss closed her eyes, ignoring the pounding of her heart, and pushed Fierna back, "I don't know what you're trying to do-"
"What makes you think I'm trying to do anything?" Fierna asked coyly.
"-but it stops now," Weiss said.
"So we're done playing?"
"Yes," Weiss growled.
"Ah," Fierna, "I figured you'd rather go the fun way, but if you insist…"
Weiss dodged Fierna's lunge, watching the talons sink into the stone like it was water. As Fierna span, ripping her claws from the wall in a shower of stone chips, Weiss saw that her eyes had gained slitted pupils and her flawless features were… weren't. They were still unnaturally good, but there were slight problems.
I'm not sure if I should be proud you broke free of that on your own, or angry we're in this situation in the first place.
Weiss looked towards the entrance of the cave, where Yang and Maan were still asleep… alongside Myrtenaster.
If someone hasn't jumped the gun, we wouldn't need a weapon!
Weiss ducked under another claw strike, only to be struck by Fierna's tail. Weiss's aura rippled around the green tipped barbs.
"You should have just went along with it," Fierna snarled, "it would have been quick and painless. In fact, you would have loved it. Now this," Weiss dodged another strike, "it will be quick, if your lucky."
Weiss drew her knife, eyes locked onto where Myrtenaster sat at the cave entrance. Could she make it in time?
Weiss dodged a whip strike, listening to the crack as she focused on Fierna. The woman raised her whip hand, and another glyph sprang into existence around her wrist, halting the strike.
Weiss created a glyph around the other hand, forcing them above Fierna's head, and the woman to the ground, straddling her and pushing the dagger against Fierna's throat, "You. Lose," she growled out.
Fierna gave Weiss a look that could only be described as… smitten? "Oh… So that's why your angry!"
"What?" Weiss wasn't in the mood for games. The places where the barbs had touched stang slightly, and just their existence made her skin crawl.
"You wanted to be the dominant one! You should have said so, mistress."
What.
"I mean, how was I supposed to know? It was just a random summoning and you seemed content with letting me take charge. Please forgive me, mistress. I'll do what you say."
Cute. Typical sayaad behavior. You like the fact that Weiss proved to be something more than an easy meal. Attracted by it. If we had more time, I'd have her just kill you and summon something else, but you'll have to do for now. But if you betray us, I will use you to summon something less likely to do so.
"Fine," Weiss lowered her dagger, and ignoring the small part that liked being called 'mistress', "You get to survive for now."
Another new glyph appeared in her head, and as she held out her hand, it appeared. Chains burst from both ends of the green glyph, wrapping around Weiss's arm and Fierna's body. They blazed for a second, before disappearing, the only evidence of their existence the strange feeling in Weiss's skull telling her where Fierna was.
Well. It isn't a imp, but it's your first demon nonetheless. Hopefully next time you summon one, you'll do it properly so it doesn't devolve into a fight for your life.
Weiss let the glyphs around Fierna's arms disappear, walking towards the cave mouth, "Keep watch, Fierna."
"As you wish, mistress," Weiss shuddered at the teasing voice.
If this whole affair was forgotten and never mentioned, Weiss would be very happy. As it was, she felt dirty.
---
Valeera grinned as she tried on a hat. The base was shaped like a triangle, with a large oval shaped cylinder above it. Attached to that was a skull with metal bat wings. The tip of the hat dipped into the fifteen year old's line of sight, but that didn't stop her excitement.
This was fun! She had been trying on costumes for the past hour, and wasn't close to being ready to stop.
Though she thought she might go with this. She wasn't sure what a vampire was, or why they needed hunting, but she liked the design, especially since they had it in her colors. It fit her better than the Demon Hunter outfit she had tried did.
Maybe when she was a bit older, that one would work…
Valeera checked herself in the full body mirror. The outfit had a pair of (strangely) armored stockings, and a red tailcoat over a ruffled doublet. Connected to the right shoulder was a red and purple finned shoulder pad, and it came with two toy weapons that were generously called stakes and about as large around as Valeera's arms.
Valeera stepped out of the smaller tent, only to immediately yelp as someone jumped out from behind a rack, wrapping their arms around her with a loud, "BOO!"
Valeera yelped, elbowing her unexpected captor in the face, "Ruby! You scared me!"
"That's the point," Ruby said, standing up and pushing back the hood covering her head.
Ruby's red and black ensemble had been replaced with an all black long robe, with spiked shoulder pads, ghostly illusionary wings and a breastplate just visible under the robes.
"Nice costume," Valeera said, "What's it supposed to be?"
"Thanks," Ruby said, "I'm not actually sure. A character from some book series, apparently. You're going with that?"
"Yeah," Valeera grinned, "like it?"
"It looks cool on you," Ruby said, "come on. We should pay for your stuff."
"Where's Blake and Crocbait?" Valeera asked.
"Outside already," Ruby said with a grin, "wanna try to sneak up on them?"
Valeera laughed slightly as they reached to cashier, handing over the gold for her costume, "Sure!"
Halfway to door, Ruby stopped suddenly, eyes unfocused.
"Ruby?"
Ruby cocked her head, looking like a dog as she did so, "Do you hear something?"
"No-" before Valeera had time to continue, Ruby ran out of the tent, "Hey! Where are you going?"
Valeera jogged after Ruby, looking around the area. Blake was seated at a table, a book in hand and a large brimmed witches hat on the table.
You know, for all Blake's insistence that Beacon wasn't a namby pamby school, they seemed to know a lot of things you wouldn't expect from a former slave and… whatever Blake did for work. Reading and writing were the sort of things you'd learn in some school for nobles. Though she wasn't sure why'd they be at Orgrimmar if that was true.
It didn't take Valeera much longer to find Crocbait, the man, currently dressed in a replica of a paladin's armor, was staggering back as the two orc boys from earlier, and a blood elf girl holding a toy sword and shield, struck him. Crocbait swung the toy hammer in his hand lightly, tapping it against the girl's shield and swinging it wide as she pushed against the force, deliberately over extending himself.
"Blake!" Valeera looked over at where Ruby was calling the other human. Blake's eyes seemed to drink in Ruby, "Do you hear anything strange?"
Blake froze for a second, her bow twitching, "I-"
"I still don't hear anything," Valeera said.
"-is that… laughter?" Blake asked, "and neighing?"
Ruby's eyes jumped over to Valeera, widening slightly, before she tackled the blood elf off her feet, doing her best to cover Valeera.
What-?
There was a roar of flames as Valeera felt a wave of heat, followed by maniacal laughter.
"You alright?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah. What about you?"
"Fire," Ruby gave an exaggerated scoff as she stood, helping Valeera up, "compared to forge burns, that's nothing. Where-?"
Another storm of fire blossomed around Ruby, only for it to flicker be sucked into something around Ruby's neck. The shamaness didn't look fazed, not even her outfit damaged.
"Prepare yourselves, the bells have tolled!" A mad voice called from above, causing them both to look up, "Shelter your weak, your young and your old! Each of you shall pay the final sum. Cry for mercy, the reckoning has come!"
Riding on a horse above them was a headless human, a flaming sword in one hand. He pointed the sword at one of the kids, and a pumpkin shaped blast of fire launched from it. Crocbait grabbed the blood elf, yanking them behind him.
"Shelter your young?" Crocbait growled, a similar look to the one he had just before he lost it against Roxana, "How are we supposed to do that when you're attacking them?"
Valeera looked under the table, finding the bag holding everyone's normal clothes and their weapons.
"Pass me my cloak while you're under there," Ruby hadn't moved her eyes from the horsman, something bluish white crackling around her arm for a second before she swung it forward. Lightning lanced through the horseman, and if he had felt it, he certainly didn't respond.
Valeera grabbed the black sword in a sheath, throwing it on top, then the really heavy red box and Ruby's cloak, and finally Crocbait's swords. Halfway between drawing her daggers, Valeera looked up at a whirring noise, dropping her jaw to gape.
That was a big scythe.
---
Ruby couldn't help the smirk that spread on her face as she enjoyed the weight of Crescent Rose. After six years away from her sweetheart, it was still so satisfying to hear the mecha-shift activate, to feel the blade in her hands again. She was glad Blake had taken care of Crescent Rose for so long.
She could only hope Crescent Rose had done the same for Blake.
Ruby lowered her center of weight, waiting for the horseman to stop moving. He did, pointing his blade at Blake.
The smirk slid off Ruby's face and she swung Crescent Rose in an upward arc, the air rippling from the scythe blade and knocking the blast off course.
"Ruby!" Ruby looked behind her, watching Blake running towards the her, Gambol Shroud in scythe form.
Ruby shifted Crescent Rose slightly, resting the back of the blade on the ground. As Blake planted her feet on Crescent Rose, Ruby activated her Semblance, using her strength to fling Crescent Rose and Blake forward.
Blake flew into the air, throwing Gambol Shroud to the side as she went flying past the horseman.
Which meant Gambol Shroud wrapped around the horse's legs. Blake gave a sharp tug, pulling the horseman closer to the ground… and Valeera.
The curved throwing knife flew through the air, hitting into the horseman's chest. In response, the horseman span his sword through the air, sending a rain of embers onto the ground.
"Soldiers arise, stand and fight! Bring victory at last to this fallen knight!"
At each spot an ember struck, a pumpkin appeared and exploded from the earth on a body of vines. The one closest to Crocbait was immediately cut in two, followed by two more.
"Val!" Ruby called to the blood elf, "Me and Blake will deal with the horseman, you help Crocbait!"
Valeera looked startled, before nodding and bursting into action, slotting her daggers into two pumpkins and dragging them out is a shower of pulp and slime.
"You," Ruby pointed at a reedy looking orc that was watching everything with a look of fear on his face and a shaking grip on his axe, the armor marking him as a guard looking massive on him "Get the kids to Orgrimmar and send help!"
Ruby saw the horseman point his sword at the guard, ripping one of her totems off the necklace and throwing it to the ground in front of him. Seconds before the flames hit him, a fire elemental burst from the totem, absorbing them.
"Now!" Ruby barked, shifting Crescent Rose into its rifle form and shooting at the horseman. Crescent Rose gave a roar, and Ruby took satisfaction at the horseman's jolt.
The guard tightened his grip on the axe, nodding, "Come on, pups," he said to the kids gently, "follow me."
The horse flew down, Blake trailing behind it like a flag, aiming for the guard's back. No…
Ruby exploded forward, feeling the flames attempt to eat through her aura as she used her Semblance to put herself between the guard and the horseman. If the horseman had a head, she'd like to think it would have jerked in shock.
Especially since Crescent Rose was in pressed against his spine.
Strength of the earth, heed my call…
Power filled her, drawing from the rocky ground beneath them.
"You shouldn't of opened yourself up like this," Ruby said, before yanking Crescent Rose back with incredible strength, cutting the horseman in two.
Everything was quiet for a moment, the horse looking lost without its rider. It didn't even fight as Blake unraveled Gambol Shroud.
"What the heck was that?" Valeera asked.
"I dunno," Ruby said, "but we should probably report it to-"
"So eager you are for my blood to spill," Ruby span, shock running through her as she watched the horse take to the sky, its rider atop it again, "yet to vanquish me 'tis my head you must kill!"
"We- we need to report this," Ruby said.
What was going on?
---
Yang sat up with a yawn, ignoring her coat, which she had been using as a blanket, sliding down as she did.
"Oh," an unfamiliar voice said, "I was wondering when you would wake up."
Seated across from Weiss, a strange look on her face as she stared at the sleeping girl, was a woman with long white hair. She seemded to have something wrapped around her upper body, and her legs ended in hooves.
Yang, rather understandable, in her opinion, jumped up, deploying Ember Celica. The woman finally looked away from Weiss, allowing Yang to see her blue eyes as she cocked her head slightly, a cocky smirk on her face, "Mh? What's that about?"
"Who are you?" Yang asked loudly, hoping to wake Maan, at least, up.
"Me?" the woman stood, "I'm Fierna. Who are you?"
Who was she? Why the hell-?
"Yang," the blond brawler said, wondering why she had been angry. No wait-
"Yang? It's a pleasu-"
"Why are you here?" Yang growled with a snarl. That hadn't been right.
"Oh? Two in one day?" Fierna sounded pleasantly surprised, "either I'm slipping, or I got summoned by a very interesting mistress."
Yang coiled one arm back. Mistress? Summoned?
"Stop playing around," Yang growled, ready to attack if Fierna did anything.
Fierna simply cocked her head, the cocky smirk "What's wrong with playing? I like playing," she stood up, a predatory look in her eyes as she unfurled a pair of heavy wings, "I bet you like playing too~!"
Was it worth wasting a shell on her? Yang had already lost a few fighting that ghost yesterday, and she wasn't sure how many more fights were between them and Shattrath.
"Fierna!" Weiss barked, sitting up, "Stop that!"
What-?
"Mistress!" Fierna cheered as Weiss stood up, lunging at her and wrapping her arms and wings around Weiss. Yang saw Weiss tense.
Mistress? Weiss?
What the hell was going on?
"Let go," Weiss said gruffly, and Fierna jostled.
"Mistress," Fierna whined, "don't be like that! We were having such fun last nigh-"
"I said," Weiss's eyes flashed red as she snarled, "Let go!"
Fierna's smirk finally faded, replaced with a pout, "But mistress," Fierna whined again, "I thought we'd gotten over this! Your the one in charge, and I'm your loyal servant!"
"Fierna," Weiss said, "Let. Go."
"Oh, fine," Fierna said, "but first…"
Yang blinked as one of Fierna's arms came up, pushing Weiss's head up and allowing Fierna to press their lips together in a deep kiss. After several seconds, in which Weiss didn't fight nearly as much as Yang expected her to, Fierna let go, exposing a barbed tail and an outfit consisting a pair of panties and a leather corset.
"I'll be waiting outside!" Fierna called with a wide smile as she skipped away, "Come get when you're done talking with your friend!"
"You, uh," Yang pointed a thumb at the winged woman retreating back, ignoring the slight urge to give into hysteria, "You wanna explain that? Because…"
Dust, it was like the world was coming apart at the seems. Ghosts, Weiss doing weird stuff with her Semblance and making out with a weird faunus girl. What's next? People turning into Grimm?
"Fierna," Weiss said simply, "She's a sayaad and she works for me now."
...That explained nothing. What was a 'sayaad'? Why was she working for Weiss?
---
"I don't want to talk about this," Broll said.
"Don't care," Rehgar said, "We're talking about it. What's that totem?"
It was strange to see the orc bustling around the house, checking the food in the oven, placing a carton of strawberries on the island, placing bottles on the coffee table and piling presents next to the couch. From the moment the others had left, Rehgar had started to get everything ready for the party.
"What do you care?" Broll grumbled.
"That totem has a lot of Life in it," Rehgar stopped as a bang came from outside, "One sec," Rehgar stalked to the front door, flinging it open, "You-"
The was another bang as Rehgar's head jerked back, the bald orc's face covered in soot.
"Oh no…" Broll heard someone say outside.
"RUN!" another kid yelled.
"That's right!" Rehgar yelled, "You better run! If I see around here again, I'll feed you to a worg!"
Rehgar slammed the door, stalking over to the kitchen, grabbing a towel and scrubbing his face with a disgruntled grumbling.
"Does that happen often?" Broll asked, trying to ignore what he would have done if it had been him who was hit by it.
"Couple times a year," Rehgar threw aside the dirty towel, "More, if they're particularly dumb. Now, the totem. What is it?"
"It's called the Idol of Remulos," Broll said reluctantly, "It was an incredibly powerful drudaic artifact."
"And you had it?" Rehgar asked, grabbing the roast from the top of the stove and sliding it into the oven. Then he grabbed a pan from the counter, sliding it onto the stove as he lit the gas under it, "Shouldn't it of been with some archdruid?"
"Remulos gave it to me," Broll said, "it was supposed to help me draw out my potential as a druid."
And he had failed. He had held the idol for over two thousand years and hadn't ever lived up to the promise his horns gave.
"Then this Remulos is some important druid, then?"
"Yes," Broll sighed, "He's the son of Cenarius."
"That big deer-elf?"
"Yes," Broll sighed again.
"So he thought you had potential as a druid you weren't using?" Rehgar sat down across from Broll with a relieved sigh.
"Everyone did," Broll said, grabbing one antler, "That's what being born with these are supposed to mean."
"Really?" Rehgar gave a bark of laughter, "and you don't think you lived up to it?"
"Yes," Broll said simply.
"Well," Rehgar said, "Hopefully we'll be able to purify the thing when Ruby get back with it-"
"It was destroyed," Broll cut Rehgar off.
"You sure about that?"
Broll stopped. He had been sure, it hadn't been there when he woke from his first rampage, "You think it's around?"
"I do. Ruby'll head off to get it within a couple days, then we can get rid of this curse," Rehgar said, standing up, "Come help me with the banner, would ya?"
Broll stood with a sigh. He wasn't sure he deserved being freed from it.
---
So, you all made me write the single most uncomfortable scene I've ever written. I hope you're happy.
Ruby costume is Malthael before anyone asks.
Final tally between SB, SV, and FF is:
Gramr: 4 votes.
Imp: 5 votes.
Felhoud: 5 votes.
Blueberry: 8 votes.
Dreadsteed: 12 votes.
And finally, Succubus: 31 votes.
The amount of votes of Succubus is nearly equal the the number of votes for the other options combined!
(Though you lot at least voted for Dreadsteed over Succubus)
---
Blake sighed as she trudged back down the Drag along with Ruby, Valeera and Crocbait. She missed scrolls.
It seemed like such a small thing to miss, compared to many other things. But she walked this same path in reverse a little under a hour ago so they they could swap Rehgar for Ruby.
She wished she had a mount like the nightsabers of Darnassus, even one of those giant wolves the orcs used in the place of horses would have done.
"Soo…" Valeera said from behind them. Why was she always behind behind them? None of them were that much taller than her, "Where are we going?"
"There's a fairground outside Orgrimmar," Ruby said, "we actually passed by it when we met to meet with Rehgar, Blake."
"I don't remember it," Blake said.
It made sense though, even some place at desolate as Durotar had to have celebrations at some point, right?
"It's mostly for Brewfest," Ruby said, "and Pilgrim's Bounty."
"Brewfest?" Crocbait asked.
"Yeah," Ruby nodded, "big celebration about alcohol earlier in the month," she shrugged, "It's ok."
"You've been?" Blake asked.
"Bloodeye loved going," Ruby said, "if only to renew his Brew of the Month club membership, but also for the drinking contests. Rehgar always sent me to grab him at the end of the day."
They made their way out of the main gates of Orgrimmar, dodging around wagons stacked high with boxes, barrels and soldiers, all of which were traveling the same way.
"They must be for Silithus," Ruby said, silver eyes locked on them as they disappeared to the west.
Blake nodded, feeling her mouth dry. That was a lot of people. The Horde, at least, had made the decision to go all in.
They walked for another ten minutes before they reached the shops.
"Woah," Blake breathed.
You wouldn't have been able to tell that there was a war going on by the area in front of them. In the back was a giant tent, out of which people were coming and going with bags containing outfits. The fence in front of them was lined with jack-o-lanterns carved to look like different races, torches burning with (hopefully) simulated Felfire crackled away, and kids were running around, grabbing candy and returning to the costumed men and women at several pavilions. In the center of it all was an unburnt wicker man.
Blake followed Ruby into the fair, jumping back as an troll child ran by them, wearing a white dress, blue wig with leaves laced in it, and clutching an bow with limbs made to look like wings. She grabbed the bow string and as she pulled it back, a glowing blue arrow appeared on it.
The arrow flew, hitting an shirtless orc wearing a shoulder pad and holding a giant axe and faded silently. The boy turned, dropping the axe as he made an exaggerated stagger, clutching his side as he fell to his knees.
Another orcish boy ran over, dressed up to look like the Warchief. His hand was wrapped around an oversized hammer, and he slid to his knees next to the other boy. He reached down briefly to touch the spot the 'arrow' had struck, before springing to his feet with a howl, running at the troll girl as she fired several arrows at him.
"That's cool," Valeera said as the boy batted the arrows aside with his hammer.
"I guess," Blake said, following Ruby and Crocbait into the tent.
Now came the hard part. Picking out a costume.
---
Weiss tightened her grip on the dagger, trying to steady the shaking as she moved the green edged knife.
You need blood for this ritual, Weiss. It's enough that it won't hurt anyone.
A quarter of an inch above her thumb, Weiss stopped again. What was she doing? Hurti-
A second of pain for a servant, Weiss. Are you really so weak that that scares you?
Weiss's hand started to shake. This wasn't right.
Do it.
She was better than this. She couldn't-
I said, do it.
She shouldn't even be considering this. This was something someone who was weak would do.
Weiss started to move the dagger away, letting of the breath she had been ho-
Well, at least I know you won't be easily controlled when we rejoin the Legion. But…
Weiss lowered the dagger, swiping it across her thumb and drawing blood. Shouldn't her Aura of-?
Oh, yes. Can't forget that-
Weiss's thumb burned as a blood red glyph appeared in her mind.
Now, draw it. Summon your first minion for us.
Weiss reached down, placing her bloody thumb onto the ground and drew a large circle. Then she created a star in the center.
The second it was done, another glyph appeared in her mind. A smaller circle intersections a larger one, which in turn used it to create half a ring with another line, and had even smaller circle at the top. Weiss added this to the top of the main glyph. Talar.
Then a circle with a triangle intersecting it, two smaller circles around two of the point and a pair of horns above the last. Midway between one of the circle points and the horn point, Weiss added another circle with three lines coming from it's center, one of which ended in another circle. Taam.
The last was a sprawling combination of triangles, lines and circles. Dregla.
Good. Now give me a moment to remember the rune for the imps…
Weiss stood, sheathing her knife as she held each hand out in front of her waist, palms up. She pushed her Aura into the glyph in front of her, shaking as she did so.
Talar lit up first, the red blood turning blue,then Talar turned purple and Dregla turned green. Finally, the red glyph glowed, a ring of green spinning around it. Slowly at first, but each cycle sped it up. The air within the circle seemed to warp, like it was only partially there.
No! Weiss, without a destination anything could-!
"Oh, my," a sultry voice came from the circle as a woman stepped out of the warp, "My, my, my, my. What do we have here? I come across a summoning and find a cutie with white hair? It must be my lucky day, and from the look on your face, it's yours too."
Within the circle was the most attractive woman Weiss had ever seen. She had long golden hair around a pair of horns, silver eyes and a playful smirk on her full lips. The nails on either hand were so long they were practically claws, and she was holding a long leather whip in one hand, the other on her hip.
Her clothes, a black leather corset and underwear, exposed most of her light purple skin and wings. Wrapped around one long hooved leg was a barbed tail.
"Do you have a name, cutie?" the woman asked.
"Uh…" Weiss wetted her lips, trying to focus through the forming haze to answer the question, "Weiss."
Weiss-
"Weiss," a pleasant shiver went up Weiss's spine at the way the woman said her name, like she was tasting it, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Fierna."
Weiss, listen to me. Whatever you do, do not let her out of that cir-
"Why don't you come over here and let me out of this?" Fierna said, curling one index finger forwards, "And then we can get to know each other."
"Oh," Weiss focused on the circle, why was she using that to keep someone as beautiful as this locked away? "Yes! Of course!"
Damn you mortals. She's just going to kill you.
"Oh, hush," Fierna put one finger against her lips, "Don't ruin the fun and maybe I'll let you watch."
...Your kind never stops disgusting me, sayaad.
Weiss moved her foot, scraping away the spent blood. The minute she did, Fierna stepped forward, her tail unlashing from around her leg and wrapping around Weiss's waist, pulling the heiress close.
Weiss felt her breath hitch as Fierna grabbed her chin, angling the heiress's head up as she swept down to steal a kiss.
As Weiss felt the warm lips of the woman, no goddess currently in front of her, a heavy haze started to overtake her. She felt something force its way into her mouth, groaning as Fierna wrapped her wings around them, pushing Weiss against the cave wall.
Was this why people entered relationships? How had she missed this? Even the rough talons scrapping along her scalp as Fierna laced her fingers though Weiss's hair was amazing.
Weiss! You- -it!
Finally, Fierna broke away, grinning wildly as she allowed Weiss to regain her breath. The woman leaned down, silver eyes glistening as she breathed in Weiss's ear, "did you like that, pet?"
Pet? Weiss wasn't a pet.
"Yes," Weiss breathed out in spite of herself. The haze making it hard to stay angry at Fierna. Why should she? Fierna was so beautiful that she shouldn't have given Weiss the time of day, instead- Weiss stifled a moan as Fierna nipped her neck.
Something about this didn't seem right. Some of these things shouldn't- shouldn't-
Whatever Weiss had been worrying about fled her brain as Fierna came up, a pout on her face. Oh, no. She had made her sad…
"Pet," Fierna said, "I don't want you trying to keep quiet, understand?"
"Yes," Weiss squeaked out.
"Good," Fierna's grin grew wider, her tail slithering up Weiss's back. Weiss felt the barbs lightly rake across her skin, flames burning in their wake, numbing Weiss further, "because there's more where that came from."
Weiss barely had time to register that before the lips returned, rougher this time, and stole away her thoughts.
Dust, she had never considered something like this. She was the heiress of the SDC, so she had assumed she wou-
Wait. She was the heiress of the SDC, she shouldn't be getting to first base with someone she had just met. No matter how attractive- Weiss gave a shuddering gasp- or how skilled they were.
Weiss wormed her arms out of Fierna's embrace, pushing the woman back, noticing that one shoulder of her bolero was hanging off, "Stop."
"Oh?" Fierna pouted, "Why? I thought we were having fun."
Weiss closed her eyes, ignoring the pounding of her heart, and pushed Fierna back, "I don't know what you're trying to do-"
"What makes you think I'm trying to do anything?" Fierna asked coyly.
"-but it stops now," Weiss said.
"So we're done playing?"
"Yes," Weiss growled.
"Ah," Fierna, "I figured you'd rather go the fun way, but if you insist…"
Weiss dodged Fierna's lunge, watching the talons sink into the stone like it was water. As Fierna span, ripping her claws from the wall in a shower of stone chips, Weiss saw that her eyes had gained slitted pupils and her flawless features were… weren't. They were still unnaturally good, but there were slight problems.
I'm not sure if I should be proud you broke free of that on your own, or angry we're in this situation in the first place.
Weiss looked towards the entrance of the cave, where Yang and Maan were still asleep… alongside Myrtenaster.
If someone hasn't jumped the gun, we wouldn't need a weapon!
Weiss ducked under another claw strike, only to be struck by Fierna's tail. Weiss's aura rippled around the green tipped barbs.
"You should have just went along with it," Fierna snarled, "it would have been quick and painless. In fact, you would have loved it. Now this," Weiss dodged another strike, "it will be quick, if your lucky."
Weiss drew her knife, eyes locked onto where Myrtenaster sat at the cave entrance. Could she make it in time?
Weiss dodged a whip strike, listening to the crack as she focused on Fierna. The woman raised her whip hand, and another glyph sprang into existence around her wrist, halting the strike.
Weiss created a glyph around the other hand, forcing them above Fierna's head, and the woman to the ground, straddling her and pushing the dagger against Fierna's throat, "You. Lose," she growled out.
Fierna gave Weiss a look that could only be described as… smitten? "Oh… So that's why your angry!"
"What?" Weiss wasn't in the mood for games. The places where the barbs had touched stang slightly, and just their existence made her skin crawl.
"You wanted to be the dominant one! You should have said so, mistress."
What.
"I mean, how was I supposed to know? It was just a random summoning and you seemed content with letting me take charge. Please forgive me, mistress. I'll do what you say."
Cute. Typical sayaad behavior. You like the fact that Weiss proved to be something more than an easy meal. Attracted by it. If we had more time, I'd have her just kill you and summon something else, but you'll have to do for now. But if you betray us, I will use you to summon something less likely to do so.
"Fine," Weiss lowered her dagger, and ignoring the small part that liked being called 'mistress', "You get to survive for now."
Another new glyph appeared in her head, and as she held out her hand, it appeared. Chains burst from both ends of the green glyph, wrapping around Weiss's arm and Fierna's body. They blazed for a second, before disappearing, the only evidence of their existence the strange feeling in Weiss's skull telling her where Fierna was.
Well. It isn't a imp, but it's your first demon nonetheless. Hopefully next time you summon one, you'll do it properly so it doesn't devolve into a fight for your life.
Weiss let the glyphs around Fierna's arms disappear, walking towards the cave mouth, "Keep watch, Fierna."
"As you wish, mistress," Weiss shuddered at the teasing voice.
If this whole affair was forgotten and never mentioned, Weiss would be very happy. As it was, she felt dirty.
---
Valeera grinned as she tried on a hat. The base was shaped like a triangle, with a large oval shaped cylinder above it. Attached to that was a skull with metal bat wings. The tip of the hat dipped into the fifteen year old's line of sight, but that didn't stop her excitement.
This was fun! She had been trying on costumes for the past hour, and wasn't close to being ready to stop.
Though she thought she might go with this. She wasn't sure what a vampire was, or why they needed hunting, but she liked the design, especially since they had it in her colors. It fit her better than the Demon Hunter outfit she had tried did.
Maybe when she was a bit older, that one would work…
Valeera checked herself in the full body mirror. The outfit had a pair of (strangely) armored stockings, and a red tailcoat over a ruffled doublet. Connected to the right shoulder was a red and purple finned shoulder pad, and it came with two toy weapons that were generously called stakes and about as large around as Valeera's arms.
Valeera stepped out of the smaller tent, only to immediately yelp as someone jumped out from behind a rack, wrapping their arms around her with a loud, "BOO!"
Valeera yelped, elbowing her unexpected captor in the face, "Ruby! You scared me!"
"That's the point," Ruby said, standing up and pushing back the hood covering her head.
Ruby's red and black ensemble had been replaced with an all black long robe, with spiked shoulder pads, ghostly illusionary wings and a breastplate just visible under the robes.
"Nice costume," Valeera said, "What's it supposed to be?"
"Thanks," Ruby said, "I'm not actually sure. A character from some book series, apparently. You're going with that?"
"Yeah," Valeera grinned, "like it?"
"It looks cool on you," Ruby said, "come on. We should pay for your stuff."
"Where's Blake and Crocbait?" Valeera asked.
"Outside already," Ruby said with a grin, "wanna try to sneak up on them?"
Valeera laughed slightly as they reached to cashier, handing over the gold for her costume, "Sure!"
Halfway to door, Ruby stopped suddenly, eyes unfocused.
"Ruby?"
Ruby cocked her head, looking like a dog as she did so, "Do you hear something?"
"No-" before Valeera had time to continue, Ruby ran out of the tent, "Hey! Where are you going?"
Valeera jogged after Ruby, looking around the area. Blake was seated at a table, a book in hand and a large brimmed witches hat on the table.
You know, for all Blake's insistence that Beacon wasn't a namby pamby school, they seemed to know a lot of things you wouldn't expect from a former slave and… whatever Blake did for work. Reading and writing were the sort of things you'd learn in some school for nobles. Though she wasn't sure why'd they be at Orgrimmar if that was true.
It didn't take Valeera much longer to find Crocbait, the man, currently dressed in a replica of a paladin's armor, was staggering back as the two orc boys from earlier, and a blood elf girl holding a toy sword and shield, struck him. Crocbait swung the toy hammer in his hand lightly, tapping it against the girl's shield and swinging it wide as she pushed against the force, deliberately over extending himself.
"Blake!" Valeera looked over at where Ruby was calling the other human. Blake's eyes seemed to drink in Ruby, "Do you hear anything strange?"
Blake froze for a second, her bow twitching, "I-"
"I still don't hear anything," Valeera said.
"-is that… laughter?" Blake asked, "and neighing?"
Ruby's eyes jumped over to Valeera, widening slightly, before she tackled the blood elf off her feet, doing her best to cover Valeera.
What-?
There was a roar of flames as Valeera felt a wave of heat, followed by maniacal laughter.
"You alright?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah. What about you?"
"Fire," Ruby gave an exaggerated scoff as she stood, helping Valeera up, "compared to forge burns, that's nothing. Where-?"
Another storm of fire blossomed around Ruby, only for it to flicker be sucked into something around Ruby's neck. The shamaness didn't look fazed, not even her outfit damaged.
"Prepare yourselves, the bells have tolled!" A mad voice called from above, causing them both to look up, "Shelter your weak, your young and your old! Each of you shall pay the final sum. Cry for mercy, the reckoning has come!"
Riding on a horse above them was a headless human, a flaming sword in one hand. He pointed the sword at one of the kids, and a pumpkin shaped blast of fire launched from it. Crocbait grabbed the blood elf, yanking them behind him.
"Shelter your young?" Crocbait growled, a similar look to the one he had just before he lost it against Roxana, "How are we supposed to do that when you're attacking them?"
Valeera looked under the table, finding the bag holding everyone's normal clothes and their weapons.
"Pass me my cloak while you're under there," Ruby hadn't moved her eyes from the horsman, something bluish white crackling around her arm for a second before she swung it forward. Lightning lanced through the horseman, and if he had felt it, he certainly didn't respond.
Valeera grabbed the black sword in a sheath, throwing it on top, then the really heavy red box and Ruby's cloak, and finally Crocbait's swords. Halfway between drawing her daggers, Valeera looked up at a whirring noise, dropping her jaw to gape.
That was a big scythe.
---
Ruby couldn't help the smirk that spread on her face as she enjoyed the weight of Crescent Rose. After six years away from her sweetheart, it was still so satisfying to hear the mecha-shift activate, to feel the blade in her hands again. She was glad Blake had taken care of Crescent Rose for so long.
She could only hope Crescent Rose had done the same for Blake.
Ruby lowered her center of weight, waiting for the horseman to stop moving. He did, pointing his blade at Blake.
The smirk slid off Ruby's face and she swung Crescent Rose in an upward arc, the air rippling from the scythe blade and knocking the blast off course.
"Ruby!" Ruby looked behind her, watching Blake running towards the her, Gambol Shroud in scythe form.
Ruby shifted Crescent Rose slightly, resting the back of the blade on the ground. As Blake planted her feet on Crescent Rose, Ruby activated her Semblance, using her strength to fling Crescent Rose and Blake forward.
Blake flew into the air, throwing Gambol Shroud to the side as she went flying past the horseman.
Which meant Gambol Shroud wrapped around the horse's legs. Blake gave a sharp tug, pulling the horseman closer to the ground… and Valeera.
The curved throwing knife flew through the air, hitting into the horseman's chest. In response, the horseman span his sword through the air, sending a rain of embers onto the ground.
"Soldiers arise, stand and fight! Bring victory at last to this fallen knight!"
At each spot an ember struck, a pumpkin appeared and exploded from the earth on a body of vines. The one closest to Crocbait was immediately cut in two, followed by two more.
"Val!" Ruby called to the blood elf, "Me and Blake will deal with the horseman, you help Crocbait!"
Valeera looked startled, before nodding and bursting into action, slotting her daggers into two pumpkins and dragging them out is a shower of pulp and slime.
"You," Ruby pointed at a reedy looking orc that was watching everything with a look of fear on his face and a shaking grip on his axe, the armor marking him as a guard looking massive on him "Get the kids to Orgrimmar and send help!"
Ruby saw the horseman point his sword at the guard, ripping one of her totems off the necklace and throwing it to the ground in front of him. Seconds before the flames hit him, a fire elemental burst from the totem, absorbing them.
"Now!" Ruby barked, shifting Crescent Rose into its rifle form and shooting at the horseman. Crescent Rose gave a roar, and Ruby took satisfaction at the horseman's jolt.
The guard tightened his grip on the axe, nodding, "Come on, pups," he said to the kids gently, "follow me."
The horse flew down, Blake trailing behind it like a flag, aiming for the guard's back. No…
Ruby exploded forward, feeling the flames attempt to eat through her aura as she used her Semblance to put herself between the guard and the horseman. If the horseman had a head, she'd like to think it would have jerked in shock.
Especially since Crescent Rose was in pressed against his spine.
Strength of the earth, heed my call…
Power filled her, drawing from the rocky ground beneath them.
"You shouldn't of opened yourself up like this," Ruby said, before yanking Crescent Rose back with incredible strength, cutting the horseman in two.
Everything was quiet for a moment, the horse looking lost without its rider. It didn't even fight as Blake unraveled Gambol Shroud.
"What the heck was that?" Valeera asked.
"I dunno," Ruby said, "but we should probably report it to-"
"So eager you are for my blood to spill," Ruby span, shock running through her as she watched the horse take to the sky, its rider atop it again, "yet to vanquish me 'tis my head you must kill!"
"We- we need to report this," Ruby said.
What was going on?
---
Yang sat up with a yawn, ignoring her coat, which she had been using as a blanket, sliding down as she did.
"Oh," an unfamiliar voice said, "I was wondering when you would wake up."
Seated across from Weiss, a strange look on her face as she stared at the sleeping girl, was a woman with long white hair. She seemded to have something wrapped around her upper body, and her legs ended in hooves.
Yang, rather understandable, in her opinion, jumped up, deploying Ember Celica. The woman finally looked away from Weiss, allowing Yang to see her blue eyes as she cocked her head slightly, a cocky smirk on her face, "Mh? What's that about?"
"Who are you?" Yang asked loudly, hoping to wake Maan, at least, up.
"Me?" the woman stood, "I'm Fierna. Who are you?"
Who was she? Why the hell-?
"Yang," the blond brawler said, wondering why she had been angry. No wait-
"Yang? It's a pleasu-"
"Why are you here?" Yang growled with a snarl. That hadn't been right.
"Oh? Two in one day?" Fierna sounded pleasantly surprised, "either I'm slipping, or I got summoned by a very interesting mistress."
Yang coiled one arm back. Mistress? Summoned?
"Stop playing around," Yang growled, ready to attack if Fierna did anything.
Fierna simply cocked her head, the cocky smirk "What's wrong with playing? I like playing," she stood up, a predatory look in her eyes as she unfurled a pair of heavy wings, "I bet you like playing too~!"
Was it worth wasting a shell on her? Yang had already lost a few fighting that ghost yesterday, and she wasn't sure how many more fights were between them and Shattrath.
"Fierna!" Weiss barked, sitting up, "Stop that!"
What-?
"Mistress!" Fierna cheered as Weiss stood up, lunging at her and wrapping her arms and wings around Weiss. Yang saw Weiss tense.
Mistress? Weiss?
What the hell was going on?
"Let go," Weiss said gruffly, and Fierna jostled.
"Mistress," Fierna whined, "don't be like that! We were having such fun last nigh-"
"I said," Weiss's eyes flashed red as she snarled, "Let go!"
Fierna's smirk finally faded, replaced with a pout, "But mistress," Fierna whined again, "I thought we'd gotten over this! Your the one in charge, and I'm your loyal servant!"
"Fierna," Weiss said, "Let. Go."
"Oh, fine," Fierna said, "but first…"
Yang blinked as one of Fierna's arms came up, pushing Weiss's head up and allowing Fierna to press their lips together in a deep kiss. After several seconds, in which Weiss didn't fight nearly as much as Yang expected her to, Fierna let go, exposing a barbed tail and an outfit consisting a pair of panties and a leather corset.
"I'll be waiting outside!" Fierna called with a wide smile as she skipped away, "Come get when you're done talking with your friend!"
"You, uh," Yang pointed a thumb at the winged woman retreating back, ignoring the slight urge to give into hysteria, "You wanna explain that? Because…"
Dust, it was like the world was coming apart at the seems. Ghosts, Weiss doing weird stuff with her Semblance and making out with a weird faunus girl. What's next? People turning into Grimm?
"Fierna," Weiss said simply, "She's a sayaad and she works for me now."
...That explained nothing. What was a 'sayaad'? Why was she working for Weiss?
---
"I don't want to talk about this," Broll said.
"Don't care," Rehgar said, "We're talking about it. What's that totem?"
It was strange to see the orc bustling around the house, checking the food in the oven, placing a carton of strawberries on the island, placing bottles on the coffee table and piling presents next to the couch. From the moment the others had left, Rehgar had started to get everything ready for the party.
"What do you care?" Broll grumbled.
"That totem has a lot of Life in it," Rehgar stopped as a bang came from outside, "One sec," Rehgar stalked to the front door, flinging it open, "You-"
The was another bang as Rehgar's head jerked back, the bald orc's face covered in soot.
"Oh no…" Broll heard someone say outside.
"RUN!" another kid yelled.
"That's right!" Rehgar yelled, "You better run! If I see around here again, I'll feed you to a worg!"
Rehgar slammed the door, stalking over to the kitchen, grabbing a towel and scrubbing his face with a disgruntled grumbling.
"Does that happen often?" Broll asked, trying to ignore what he would have done if it had been him who was hit by it.
"Couple times a year," Rehgar threw aside the dirty towel, "More, if they're particularly dumb. Now, the totem. What is it?"
"It's called the Idol of Remulos," Broll said reluctantly, "It was an incredibly powerful drudaic artifact."
"And you had it?" Rehgar asked, grabbing the roast from the top of the stove and sliding it into the oven. Then he grabbed a pan from the counter, sliding it onto the stove as he lit the gas under it, "Shouldn't it of been with some archdruid?"
"Remulos gave it to me," Broll said, "it was supposed to help me draw out my potential as a druid."
And he had failed. He had held the idol for over two thousand years and hadn't ever lived up to the promise his horns gave.
"Then this Remulos is some important druid, then?"
"Yes," Broll sighed, "He's the son of Cenarius."
"That big deer-elf?"
"Yes," Broll sighed again.
"So he thought you had potential as a druid you weren't using?" Rehgar sat down across from Broll with a relieved sigh.
"Everyone did," Broll said, grabbing one antler, "That's what being born with these are supposed to mean."
"Really?" Rehgar gave a bark of laughter, "and you don't think you lived up to it?"
"Yes," Broll said simply.
"Well," Rehgar said, "Hopefully we'll be able to purify the thing when Ruby get back with it-"
"It was destroyed," Broll cut Rehgar off.
"You sure about that?"
Broll stopped. He had been sure, it hadn't been there when he woke from his first rampage, "You think it's around?"
"I do. Ruby'll head off to get it within a couple days, then we can get rid of this curse," Rehgar said, standing up, "Come help me with the banner, would ya?"
Broll stood with a sigh. He wasn't sure he deserved being freed from it.
---
So, you all made me write the single most uncomfortable scene I've ever written. I hope you're happy.
Ruby costume is Malthael before anyone asks.
- Location
- Spain
What? Since when is this a thing?
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
Technically it's a kusarigama. Blake just doesn't use it as such very often, despite Gambol Shroud being advertised as a Variant Ballistic Chain Scythe.
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- Location
- Spain
Damn, she really doesn't use it, that image is from volume 1 IIRC. I think she only uses it like an anchor kinda thingy, to make grim trip with her ribbon. I didn't remember it as "scythe mode" I always saw it as gun mode because that's the mode in which her pistol is most often used.
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
TRIFLING HUNTRESS, YOUR ARROGANCE WILL BE YOUR UNDOING!
*Yang wakes up* "Huh?"
YOU FACE JARRAXUS, EREDAR LORD OF THE BURNING LEGION!
Fierna might be a creep, but it certainly could have been worse (She could have been an imp mother under an illusion :Kappa:.) It's mostly that I'm a very PG-13 type of guy (when writing) and that scene inches a *bit* too close to the line for me, especially since it's also the definition of not actually giving consent.
I felt it was important to show, however, because Weiss is going to be messing with stuff that can effect the mind in ways much worse than the Fierna did.
As a side note, this is one of the only times a character shows up named after one of my toons (or their pets, in this case) and isn't immediately killed off.
Which is technically what she does here.
Gambol Shroud's gun form has been seeing little use, unfortunately. Getting bullets for it made is money that couldn't be spent on getting one for CR made, and CR is more effective at killing something that needs to be shot.
If only Blake got in good with the king of Stormwind or something, right?
Dragonjackel
GOLDEN Judgement
- Location
- Gregory House
Great update, headless horseman is always cool.
>That succubus and both scenes involving her
That was pretty good. I'd have voted for a void walker myself since they're my favorites design wise, but the succubus didn't disappoint. And that's all I'll say on the matter. (Boxes checked: 2.5)[COLOR]
>That succubus and both scenes involving her
That was pretty good. I'd have voted for a void walker myself since they're my favorites design wise, but the succubus didn't disappoint. And that's all I'll say on the matter. (Boxes checked: 2.5)[COLOR]
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
I hope you mean it had an uncomfortable undercurrent. Because Fierna's two scenes (more the first) caused me to writhe in agony and write it in small bursts.
Now that they've got a kinda-consensual-kissing-relationship-thing going on, it's not as bad, but all I could think about while writing it was that Weiss was sure as hell not in her right mind.
Don't worry, assuming Weiss sticks to the 'Lock path, the Blueberry is sure to show up.
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ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
It's one of those things that only matters if you're a grammer nut. Enough people use should of that it's not the end of the world, even if it isn't technically 'correct'.
On that note, the only time it shows up in story is from Gorefiend using it, so I'm gonna keep it in, since, you know, he knows enough Common to carry a conversation but not every grammatical rule.
Dragonjackel
GOLDEN Judgement
- Location
- Gregory House
Yes. It was entirely an uncomforting experience that I hope we never see again.*
Good to see Blueberry will be (hopefully) showing up eventually though!
I wonder if she'll get the "greater" warlock minions from the Grimoire of Supremacy that they had for awhile before they removed them in Legion (like the Fel Imp and Voidlord.)
*: *nervous sweating*
ThatOnePsycho
Tilting his Vanes and Ennobling His Spires
I pray to every god willing to listen that I never have to redo that (the questionable consent, not the kissing. Gonna be a lot of that.)
It'd depend on which spec she was (*says it like he doesn't know which she would be even though he has plans for her as Warlock or mage up to Legion's end*). The bigger Blueberry would require Demo, as it's kinda an omnicide Void creature. Fel imp would be easier to control.
How many demons she could have with her at a time would depend on a combination of spec and time to learn (Demo would always be ahead of the curve, since controling demons is kinda their thing). Fierna and Grarm could be out at the same time, for example. (As a side note, they added the Grimore minions back in as glyphs)
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