Tales of a Scoundrel's Crew: A Simple Plan

[Theodary Thelo]

or, Sometimes Supervision Is Best.


Really, the simpler a plan was, the better it was likely to work. I knew this. A fist to the face, a knee to the groin; much more effective than haranguing someone who wasn't going to act different without persuasion of a more firm sort. So when Nyx told me the Mourningstar people were likely behind the Boss's disappearance, I wasn't going to waste any time.

Nyx had spent months on the Mourningstar, acting as errand-girl to the little elf-whelp Toraneko, so she'd know better than anyone else if our "allies" had decided to make better safe than sorry in regards to our dubious friendship.

It's true that Xaraphyne had seemed to take the notification amiss. The one Rassada delivered regarding the removal of certain Vile Reef members from her crew. Really, we just wanted to discuss a new business direction with her, but she didn't seem able to see past the fact that certain members of her crew hadn't ever really been hers. Not much of a pirate if you ask me, if she really took that to heart. Mutinies, they were a fact of life.

I still remember the one that had nearly gotten Boss hanged (http://wow-tng.org/showthread.php?t=5667). A damn shame, if you ask me. Hmm? What exactly about it was a shame? Nevermind that. I was telling you about the plan.

So it was quite simple. I came up with it, of course. Nyx would slip a little bit of sleeping herb into some of the elf-whelp's drink and cart her off to a cave to the west in Mulgore. There, I'd do some "questioning". Nyx did mention something about the girl developing violent tendencies, and something about a druid and an orc friend who'd been hanging out with her, but really, long as we kept to the plan it couldn't go wrong.

It was nice and simple.

[Nyxiani]

"She act like dis gonna be so simple, she not knowin dis one" Nyxiani remarks to herself as she walks cautiously across one of the rope bridges connecting the Elder Rise to the Rest of Thunder Bluff.

"No matter tho, she fall one she get just a sip o dis Brew" She continues talking to herself or perhaps the elements themselves as she wanders up to the largest tent on the rise. Suddenly she is quieted by an outburst from the tent.

"THAT'S IT, DOESN'T ANYONE SPEAK ORCISH ON THIS STUPID RISE!"
Toraneko yells as she storms from the main tent leaving several wide eyed druids in her wake. Nyxiani just shakes her head and pulls a drink she had prepared earlier in the day for the head cabin girl. The drink that would surely make things go smoothly and get some results.

Tora, lost in her thoughts made no notice of the Young shaman walking up to her holding a flagon of drugged rum. Nyxian walked casually behind the young elf who now seemed busy cursing quietly to herself.

[Filora]

A few apologetic-sounding murmurs could be heard from the tent before Filora emerges, hurrying after Toraneko.

"Tora! Wait!"

Filora casts a curious glance at the shaman, but doesn't seem to think much of her. She quickly draws abreast of the rogue and takes ahold of her arm.

"Tora, I'm sure we'd be fine in Silvermoon City. I want to catch up with you, are you sure we can't go there?"

[Toraneko]

As Filora grips her arm , Tora spins with her daggers drawn poised to strike. Her eyes locked into a cold stare. The moment seems to last forever finally Tora quietly whispers a question. "What would ya have with me? "

She stands there a moment silent , something seemed all wrong with this. She looked over the elf girl holding her arm and then it came to her.

Shock rushes into Tora's eyes, as she suddenly drops her blades to the ground and lowers the mask that covers most of her face. "Filly ? , Umm, im sorry..it just..sorry." a look of shame replaces the shock quickly as Tora's cheeks grow red.

[Chikt]

Diomades stood tense as he watched the Tauren Druid turn around and walk around the back side of the largest hut in Sun Rock Retreat. The moment she disappeared around the other side his shoulders slumped, closing his eyes and rubbing at his temples with his big fingers.

Women. They scared him more than demons or undead EVER would.

He took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before sighing and looking off in the direction she had left. She was definitely not flirting with him, she thought he was weak and scared and decided to see how he would react to her... invading his personal space.

Women.

What she had offered him was intriguing to say the least, a trade alliance between the Raven Cross and her guild, some sort of exporters based out of Stranglethorn. She knew about Xara's plans for her crew, and that made Dio uncomfortable. He would need to approach the troll about it later - exporters and pirates never got along well, and he suspected that if the exporters were malicious as he had suspected, perhaps this Alliance could somehow be the key to finding out what they were doing.

He shook his head. She wasn't too far from the truth saying he was simple, he knew that. But he knew she was a lot more complicated than she appeared - and not for the reasons he suggested. Sucking up another breath, he leaned back and rolled his shoulders before sighing and clenching his still-bloodied fists.

He'd see her again, of that he had little doubt.

[Filora]

Filora's hand loosens as she stares at Toraneko, shocked and paling at the girl's menacing demeanor. As sense comes back to her friend's eyes, Filora puts her other hand on Tora's other arm. "Tora... Let's just go somewhere, anywhere... You need to relax, and talk to someone."

Of course someone very nearby certainly had a means to help Tora relax in mind.

Filora squeezes Tora's arms reassuringly. "Just us girls, all right? You can talk to me about what's been on your mind lately."

[Theodary Thelo]

I paced impatiently, often peering outside the cave to check the angle of the sun. Surely Nyxiani should have drugged the girl and brought her here by now? I wasn't just impatient, it had to be taking too long. I supposed that was what happened when you made someone else take care of business rather than doing it yourself.

But I didn't exactly have the subtlety required to convince someone to have a drink when they didn't know me in the slightest. I heaved a sigh and resumed pacing.

I found myself thinking about that shaman again. I'd talked to him earlier. According to one of Xaraphyne's former crewmembers, the Mourningstar gang was planning on leaving one of their allies in the lurch under certain upcoming circumstances. It smelled like an opportunity to me, so I seized on it. Now the Raven Cross and Vile Reef Exports were "friends". A smile curved my lips as I remembered how easily the shaman had agreed. He'd also been very easily intimidated. I kind of wanted to see him again.

Just to see how far I could push him. Don't get any ideas.

Anyway, where was Nyx?

[Nyxiani]

This is is getting outta hand, and the elfie in armor is gonna steal my prize, Nyxiani thought to herself as she stared at the situation unfolding in front of her. Her shoulders slumped slightly as she noticed the sun setting.


Then it came to her and she knew just what to do. Reaching into her bag for another tankard she quickly poured more of the spiked rum into the new container. " Eh, Tora and miss other Elfie perhaps dis be helpin da situation, sure as it cant be hurtin it. "


Nyxiani grew confident as she saw Tora's eyes lock onto the tankard and saw a smile creep to her lips. This was gonna be complicated but it it was also sure to be fun.

[Filora]

Filora turns with a little surprise, having almost forgotten the shaman was there. She takes stock of the troll and recognition finally comes to her eyes. "Oh, Nyxiani, right? I'd forgotten you joined the crew, that was awhile back and we haven't met!" She gives the troll a big smile. "I'm Filora Livlet, another cabin girl."

Glancing to Toraneko and seeing where her gaze landed, her smile turns into a grin. "No reason why Nyxiani can't come along, right, Tora? Here, let's all drink together tonight! We can share girly secrets." The elf giggles and takes one of the proferred tankards, then looking to Nyxiani expectantly to drink with them as well.

[Toraneko]

Seeing the drink that her messenger girl was holding brought a smile to Tora's face. She had always associated drinking with happiness or at the very least an escape even in the most dire of situations.


She quietly accepted the flagon and looked to Filora considering her offer. She knew that Filly was one of the few of her kind she could always trust. Her fears then returned to her mind. Tora's smile quickly faded with a look of concern taking its place. Her eyes scanned the area quickly looking to every shadow. Tora begins to speak in a hushed tone.

" I really would love to Filly, but its not safe. There is a reason Ive been avoiding the crew, I know who I am, Being around me is not a wise decision until i can find a way to fix things, to fix me. "

" One drink with ya for old times and to our friendship, but Filly i dont wantcha gettin hurt because of me... or by me. "

Tora looks to Nyxiani and nods,
" that goes for ya too errand girl, after this drink i need ya ta do me one more favor, then ya owe me nothin. I need ya to find Xara for me its kinda important."

Tora nods to both and raises her cup.

[Filora]

Filora nods, aceding gracefully to Tora's wishes. She lifts her tankard and drinks before giving it back to Nyxiani with a smile. "Thank you."

The elf looks back to Tora, concerned but respectful. "I wouldn't hold anything you did against you, Tora... If you ever need me, don't hesitate to call me, all right? I might be able to come when Xara can't."

She steps forward to wrap her arms around the slight rogue in a tight hug. For some reason though, the movement sends her off balance and she ends up squeezing Tora a little harder than she'd intended. "Oh wow, that drink must've been strong..." The elf giggles.

[Toraneko]

Tora's blinks with a bit of amazement as she is hugged tightly by the wobbley paladin. She stumbles a bit, a little off balance from the hug and stops just short of the edge of the rise. Tora quickly raises her rum to her lips to drink as much of the spilling drink as she can. Tora looks at Filora and begins to speak, suddenly realizing how hard it is to turn her chaotic thoughts to words.

" Urm..not you Fil, i know, you are..you , just Xara may be in danger..thish shtuff is quite shtrong"

Tora blinks and shakes her head. She looks at the now grinning Nyxiani.

" eya, Nyx got any more, of Thish stuff, itsh great ! " Tora raises her tankard to Nyxiani.

[Filora]

[[ Right login this time! ]]

"Danger?" Filora blinks once, slowly. Then her head turns toward Nyxiani. "Wait a..."

Foggy remembrances of Xara mentioning another mutiny; a growing certainty granted by the Light that some sort of poison is creeping through her, and Toraneko's, veins. But the blackness is rushing toward her and as Filora steps away from Toraneko, gathering her cleansing magic, she completely loses her balance. Her foot goes down where the empty air of the edge of the cliff is, and only another blink is given before the paladin drops out of sight.

[Nyxiani]

Nyxiani Grinned proudly that the potion she whipped up was working so well. She smiled as the realization of what was going on overtook the young paladin. She reached into bag to draw out the container that held the poison, then the paladin stepped off the plateau.


Nyxiani 's eyes grew wide as she Saw Tora's face go blank at the realization that her friend was toppling off Thunderbluff and her grin quickly tuns into a frown when Tora turns and leaps off the rise after her.


" Dat Cant be good fer business " she exclaimes as she watches the blond rogue disappear from sight.

[Toraneko]

The rushing air stung Tora's eyes as she plummeted after her friend. The darkness and warmth of sleep crept upon her as the toxins flowed through her blood. Months of fighting sleep strengthened her resolve, she couldnt give in until Filly was safe.

Tora reached for Filora's leg with one hand and the other went toward the cloak that had saved her countless times before. It was times like these that she was glad she took to inventing so well, well that and the times she got to blow things up.

[Filora]

Filora barely has time to take a breath. Sky, wind, and the towering earth of the bluffs rush past her at frightening speed, but Toraneko dives toward her seemingly in slow-motion. Without thinking, Filora reaches for her hapless friend, calling on holy power.

The moment the other girl's hand closes on Filora's ankle, the cloak snaps open, billowing into a parachute shape. The jerk pulls Filora right out of Toraneko's slackening grip as the drug finally takes possession of the rogue's senses.

Tora hangs loosely from the gently floating parachute, enveloped in a sparkling shield, as Filora continues to plummet.

Is there going to be enough time to cast another -- the ground is so close -- Filora closes her eyes.

The fall ends with a softly cushioned bounce rather than a crunch. Filora opens her eyes and pushes herself up, blinking through the sparkling holy energy around her and then quickly searching the skies. "Tora!!"

Spotting the slowly descending form of her friend, Filora begins to run after her, trying to guess if the parachute is going to give out sooner rather than later. The protective blessing is already beginning to fade, and Tora is still so high up. Running to try and get where Tora will fall to, Filora fails to take note of when her own shield fades out of existence.

[Theodary Thelo]

This didn't look simple at all.

Of course I'd headed back towards Thunder Bluff to check up on things, see if maybe Nyx had somehow gotten caught. How hard it could be to get one drunkard of an elf to drink a drink, I didn't know, but this wouldn't be the first time I'd bail Nyx out of circumstances gone inexplicably wrong.

I have to admit it was the first time I'd ever watched two elves fall off a cliff, then one land unharmed and chase after the other who was serenely floating across the sky in apparent unconsciousness.

See, this is what happened when you hung around elves.

Anyway, the one who landed looked familiar. It took me a moment to realize she was another member of the Mourningstar crew I'd seen hanging around. One of the other mutineers Xaraphyne had foolishly allowed to come back? But that wasn't relevant now. She was going to steal the prize if I let her. My tail swished once and I flexed my claws. Cat form was perfect for this.

Springing from the shadows with feline grace, I pounced on her back. She staggered, being not quite as flimsy as most elves I suppose, though she hardly measured up to a real tauren woman. Still, she was stunned, and it was enough time and leverage for me to leap from her shoulders into the air and snatch the floating rogue by her cloak just as it caved in. The rogue didn't weigh much but I struggled for a moment to get a good grip on her form as we landed on the ground a bit less gracefully. I had to sink my fangs into her shoulder and upper arm to lift my prize up enough to start dashing across the plains.

The other crewmember yelled something and gave pursuit, but I was much quicker in this form than she could manage. By the time she'd summoned her mount, I'd found a good hiding spot from which to watch her charge past.

The rogue was still unconscious, but much more dragging her around and biting her and that probably wouldn't last. I shifted back to tauren form and slung her over my shoulder. Time to start making my way to the cave where Nyxiani would hopefully soon join me.

I hummed cheerfully to myself as I walked. Simplicity restored.

After all, we had the rogueling now, just a little bit of "questioning" and it'd all be done and over with.

[Theodary Thelo]

The bonds I tied around the girl's hands and ankles were very secure. I propped her up against the wall and waited. Eventually, I started pacing again.

Where was Nyx? Had she gotten lost? Had she not seen me grab the girl? It was entirely possible. But she'd have to come back here eventually. And I really didn't need to wait for her anyway; one tied-up rogue divested of her daggers and half-drugged I could surely manage.

I leaned down in front of the girl and patted her cheek a little bit. Then harder when she didn't respond. "Hey! Wake up, you're not on vacation!"

She stirred and her eyes opened, focusing on my unfamiliar face with confusion. The confusion deepened when she tried to move her arms, and then it hit her. I smirked as I watched the bewilderment and anger rise.

"What're ya doin!" she demanded. "Where's Filly!"

I sat back on my heels. "Oh, you mean the dumb paladin? Probably running around in circles looking for you. Relax, she's fine." I leaned forward a little. "Can't necessarily say the same about you, though."

"What do ya want?" She struggled, trying to get to her feet, and I reached out and shoved her down to the stone ground with a thud.

"Information." I grinned, baring my teeth. "About the little crew you're on."

She continued to struggle against her bonds, so I reached out and grabbed her by the neck. She gasped and I squeezed just enough to make a point.

"This doesn't have to be painful," I said simply. "Just tell me what your crew might have done with the Boss."

She wasn't doing a very good job of listening. I sighed. This was going to have to get ugly.

[Toraneko]

The embrace of darkness, it was never a friend in the past, always it lead to memories and dreams, which seemed to me now to be all lies. Thinking straight wasn't in the cards today, what day is it, where was I.


A vision appears in the darkness, another lie? No a memory, something recent. I was falling, poisoned by a trusted crew member..Filly! I almost had her, almost saved us. Then the darkness overtook me. Something warm and safe wrapped around me, I am safe.


The cold and moist air ripped me from the darkness. My eyes blinked open to see faces of several Tauren, no one..this toxin is strong..and this Tauren, I've met her before. This all seems familiar. She was in Silvermoon when the darkness had threatened. I wasn't well, a wound that wouldn't heal from a wolf.


Realization then hit me, I was bound. This Tauren hadn't saved me she had captured me. I quickly scanned the room, trying to take in everything, what was going on, I was poisoned by a member of the crew one of those I would consider family. This is all happening again my family abandons me or tries to end me. I thought it would be different. Filly was the only one of the Mourningstar to come for me. Wait , Filly wasn't with me.


I manage to speak though i had to force the words out. What ever I'm drugged with is clearing from my mind but I'm numb and weak from its influence. She responds to my question about Filly, good she is safe. Is she working for Kalish, has he finally found a way to end me. No this isn't him, he isn't here to gloat.


"What do ya want?" i said as i began to get weakly to my feet. She sent me quickly to the floor for my efforts. She says something about the crew and information. A little hard to hear over my thoughts.



Then I'm there again. Bound to a tree fleeing the warmth of my blood spilling from stab wounds. He stands there with my best friend dead and skinned at his feet. His strong hand gripping at my throat speaking of pain. Kalish, no not this time. Its not Kalish its the Tauren girl, she has hunted me, the treachery of my friends, my family..the crew has led me to ruin.