Vathron
02-01-2009, 01:56 AM
Vathron plodded across the bridge, a green-white fall of water rushing to his left, the ocean spreading to his right, and the trees of Feralas ahead. A pair of paladins followed, Risticus and his apprentice, Desivina. Apparently, Risticus had decided to show his apprentice some of Kal’dorei history, Dire Maul. But that was not where they would find themselves.
Pausing, Vathron glanced at the soft earth beside the road when he stepped off the bridge. The tracks were unmistakable. “What is a Crypt Lord doing this far south?” He mused, as the Paladin’s stepped up behind him.
“What?” They asked, almost in unison, other comments falling on deaf ears as Vathron knelt to inspect the track. It was fresh, the claw of the Crypt Lord imprinted on the ground. He glanced up, noticing more signs of its passing along the roadway. He stood slowly, continuing to track the Crypt Lord. Further ahead, they came to an overlook. Beside its tracks, there was an imprint in the grass, like what a sack full of heavy objects would make.
Behind him, Desivina said. “I found something.” Vathron turned, taking a step to look over her shoulder. She pulled up a small, rough, greenish pebble. “It’s Saronite.”
They discussed this piece of information, perhaps the Crypt Lord was a servant of the Lich King, perhaps it was still living and had its own agenda. But its purpose remained a mystery. Whatever it was though, the weight of the raw ore would slow it down, allowing an easy pursuit if they could follow the trail of the monstrosity.
Onward, they continued, in pursuit down the road. They called their mounts, using the added speed to catch up. Beside the road, they came across a Tauren mounted on his Kodo. Vathron guessed he was a druid, from the leather robe and hood he wore. Walking his wolf up beside the Druid’s Kodo,
Vathron asked. “Have you seen a giant beetle come by here? About this high?” He motions with his hand the approximate height of the Crypt Lord, almost as high as he can reach mounted on his wolf. “he’d have a few nice
spines.”
“Yeah, he burrowed down after Kel’thuzad shook my hand.” The Tauren answered, sarcastic with disbelief.
Vathron grins. “Kel’thuzad himself? I guess you don’t have any information that would help us, then. A crypt lord has passed this way, his tracks are along the road.”
The druid nodded. “I’m afraid not. Are you certain it was a Crypt Lord?”
“Positive.” Vathron confirmed.
Risticus tossed the bit of Saronite ore to the Druid. “He was carrying Saronite.” Risticus explained.
The druid caught the ore, inspecting it, then tossing it back.
Soon, they were making their way forward again, the druid walking with them. He seemed interested in the same thing they were, the passing of the Crypt Lord had drawn some attention from the Cenarion Circle. Farther down the road, Vathron came across some tracks that were not the crypt lord’s, glancing to them as they discussed the possible goals of the Crypt Lord. He contributed to the conversation distractedly, stopping his wolf.
“Let’s turn south… something sinister is about.” Vathron said softly, turning his wolf off the road. Practically as soon as the soft grass was beneath the canines feet, Risticus dismounted, going to the base of a tree and picking up a rotted apple core with a tooth imbedded in it.
“Someone lost a tooth.” Risticus observed.
Vathron peered at it curiously as Risticus peeled the tooth out of the apple. Something about it seemed familiar. “It may be relevant…” He murmered, as
Risticus handed it to his apprentice.
They continued south, Vathron driving his wolf into a run. There was no doubt in his mind now, Visararath was about. Soon he left the others behind, proceeding into some Night Elven ruins. He dismounted his wolf, striding into a large temple like structure infested with ogres. There on the stone in the middle of a moon well in the center, the forsaken rogue Visararath sat, meditating in a beam of moonlight.
“What the fel are you doing out here?” Vathron questioned, glaring at the rogue.
Visararath blinked his eyes open, standing with a sigh. “I live here, and I could ask you the same thing.”
“Do you now? An interesting find then.”
“Indeed.” The rogue replied.
Vathron glared at the rogue. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had a hand in this vile business.”
“I’m sure I have no idea what your talking about.”
“Of course you don’t.” Vathron furrows his brows angrily.
Visararath stepped off the stone he stood on, wading through the moonwell water. He jumped up onto the ledge in front of Vathron, glaring back.
Vathron stares into the forsaken’s glowing eye’s with his green ones. After a moment, the rogue goes back to his stone, sitting once more. “I’ve been living here peacefully except for the occasional excursion to Northrend since I left infection.”
“Perhaps you have been quiet lately, but you’ve done some bad things.” Vathron smirks slightly, glaring still.
“What sort of “bad things”?” Visararath asked, seeming truly curious.
“Surely you’d remember the plots you made, scum.” Vathron glowered.
“Either way, I’ve been planning on killing you.” He said casually, drawing his gun.
“You can try.” The rogue answered, chuckling as he slipped into the shadows. Vathron reacted immediately, gauging Vis’s position and firing a flare. The bright light illuminated the rogue, revealing him to Vathron. Shortly Visararath sprinted off up a spiraling ramp to the second level of the temple, Vathron hot on his heels, the ogres slowing them both down as they fought them off. On the second level, Vathron had a target. He fired both barrels, each shot taking out one of the rogue’s knees, bullet passing through, mangling the joints beyond use. The rogue dropped to his knees, and soon Vathron was standing over him, gun reloaded and aimed at his head.
“Any last words?” Vathron growled, finger tightening on the trigger.
“Yeah, look behind you.” The rogue answered with a grin. Suddenly, he was wrapped in green healing light, and Vathron spun to see Risticus, the druid beside him replenishing Visararath.
Vathron glared at the druid. “Your wasting the effort of blowing out his kneecaps…”
“Why’re you trying to kill our new recruit, Vathron?” Risticus asked angrily.
“… What the fel, recruit?” Vathron responded, frowning.
“That’s right ‘brother’.” Visararath sneers. Vathron growled.
“We have a job to do, lets find the Crypt Lord.” Risticus stated.
Vathron glowered. “I thought we didn’t let scum into our ranks… Fine, we’ll find our Crypt Lord, but we’ll talk about this later.” Vathron turned, walking away.
He made his way out of the temple, the rogue yelling “Brother” once more.
He called an insult over his shoulder, making his way out into the sunlight.
The druid fell in behind him. “Your awful quick to shoot arrows, hunter… or in this case bullets.”
Vathron frowned, then said softly but angrily. “I kill” A gunshot rang out as one of his bullets split the skull of an ogre. “Those that need to die.”
“As do I, but your quick to judge.” The Tauren mused.
“I’ve known that rogue for some time… I talked to a… friend of his, one that
I’ve grown to trust. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get many details, but I assure you he was not up to anything good.” Vathron explained, calling for his wolf and mounting. He rode out of the ruins, talking with the druid as his wolf trotted. The paladins trailed a distance behind them. Vathron could not shake the feeling of being watched.
“But now, he is your ally.” The druid noted.
“So it seems, but I have a feeling that it’s a charade.” Vathron frowns.
They came to the roadway again, Paladins catching up. The Druid turned to face them, saying. “I think you should leave.”
“Why?” Vathron asked, as the paladin’s rode up behind them.
“This is the Cenarion circle’s business, you should stick to Northrend.” The druid explained.
“Anything that involves Arthas is our business.” Risticus responded, joining in the conversation.
“We all have our duties, you should go back to Northrend, Pale Heart.” The Tauren stated coldly.
“Our duty is here, the Pale Heart will remain.” Risticus said, adamant.
“I don’t take orders from you.” Vathron glares at the druid, then continues
down the road.
************
Behind them, unknown to Vathron, a second druid confronted the first. Maphie told Moonswift not to worry about the Pale Heart, and that she would keep an eye on them. Moonswift nodded.
************
The druid split away from them, the original three moving forward. They came to another bridge, waters of a river flowing beneath. There on the road was the corpse of a night elf. Vathron knelt to inspect the body. “He was killed by daggers.” He frowns.
Risticus face palmed. “Visararath…”
Vathron smirked triumphantly, and continued tracking the Crypt Lord. Soon, the tracks split south from the road; the Crypt Lord seemed intent on avoiding the Tauren town ahead, Camp Mojache. They agreed to stop and get supplies in the Camp. Vathron went into the inn, buying some meat to feed himself an Firath. He sat on a hammock, tossing some meat to Firath. When he looked up, there was a Druid in catform sitting across from him, hidden into the shadows, but the flicker of a torch gave it away.
Then the Druid spoke. “I see you’ve caught the eye of the Ceneration Circle.”
“No, something more sinister caught their attention. Your not the one who’s been following us?”
“You’d recognize me better in my other form.” The cat said softly.
“Would I?” Vathron peers at her.
The paladins walked into the inn. “Who are you talking to?” Risticus asked, raising a brow.
“Hard to see.” Vathron smiles, looking past them and into the shadows.
Then Maphie shifted from the form of a Cat, into her ‘normal’ Tauren shape. “Hello.” She smiled.
They exchanged greetings, then Vathron explained what they were doing out
here, and how they’d found a crypt lord’s trail. During their conversation, Visararath appeared behind Vathron. The hunter turned, trying to backhand
the rogue, but Vis slipped away too quickly.
*******
Moonswift called out as they passed out of the inn. “Wait.” Risticus paused, hearing the Druid. “If you aren’t going to leave, then it is my duty to join you and observe you while you venture through these lands.”
Risticus nods, and says. “As you wish.”
*******
Soon, they continued onward, Vathron exchanging comments with the shadows where Visararath hid, most of them rude. Now Moonswift and Maphie were with them. Vathron mused on why the Druid had decided to rejoin them, but soon they were on the trail of the Crypt Lord again. It had gone off the road, smashing through a log as thick as Vathron was tall. The next major sign of its passing was a ravaged gnoll village, some of the bodies had been eaten. Soon Risticus and his apprentice split off to scout ahead. They walked over a log bridge after the two paladin’s had left, Moonswift commenting. “Perhaps the Litch King is interested in these lands, there is power here that you cannot understand.”
“Yes, yes, I know your lore. This is Ysera’s domain. You forget I was a night elf once.” Visararath rambles, now in plain sight.
“You were?” Vathron asks, peering at him. The rogue removed his hood, revealing pointed ears. “I’m surprised those haven’t rotted off.” Vathron smirks.
After that exchange, they followed the crypt lord’s tracks back onto the road, and toward Thousand Needles. “It seems he’s not interested in Feralas, he’s moving as fast as he can, I think.”
“Maybe he’s a scout?” Moonswift comments.
“No, that is not the underlord’s job.” Visararath explained. “They use wraiths for that.”
“And what is the underlords job?” Moonswift queried.
“Sometimes, they’re used as ambassadors.” Visararath stated.
Vathron frowned. “What faction would the Lich King be interested in contacting this far south?”
“What do we know about Saronite?” Visararath mused.
Vathron thought it over a moment. “It’s a metal of the old gods, living metal,
infused with their blood.”
“Old gods…” Visararath wondered. “Your familiar with the twilight cult?”
“Yes.” Vathron nodded. “They have strongholds in Sylithus…”
“The Circle has been keeping them at bay.” Moonswift added.
“I don’t think Arthas is interested in the twilight cult, though… they aren’t strong enough to warrant sending a Crypt Lord like this.” Vathron said. “but who else would be interested in Saronite… gods, not the Sylithid?”
“We all know what lurks in their temples.” Visararath said.
Vathron nodded. “The Lich king would likely turn them into his willing servants… we need to make haste.” He finishes, his expression hardening as they rode into Thousand Needles.
Pausing, Vathron glanced at the soft earth beside the road when he stepped off the bridge. The tracks were unmistakable. “What is a Crypt Lord doing this far south?” He mused, as the Paladin’s stepped up behind him.
“What?” They asked, almost in unison, other comments falling on deaf ears as Vathron knelt to inspect the track. It was fresh, the claw of the Crypt Lord imprinted on the ground. He glanced up, noticing more signs of its passing along the roadway. He stood slowly, continuing to track the Crypt Lord. Further ahead, they came to an overlook. Beside its tracks, there was an imprint in the grass, like what a sack full of heavy objects would make.
Behind him, Desivina said. “I found something.” Vathron turned, taking a step to look over her shoulder. She pulled up a small, rough, greenish pebble. “It’s Saronite.”
They discussed this piece of information, perhaps the Crypt Lord was a servant of the Lich King, perhaps it was still living and had its own agenda. But its purpose remained a mystery. Whatever it was though, the weight of the raw ore would slow it down, allowing an easy pursuit if they could follow the trail of the monstrosity.
Onward, they continued, in pursuit down the road. They called their mounts, using the added speed to catch up. Beside the road, they came across a Tauren mounted on his Kodo. Vathron guessed he was a druid, from the leather robe and hood he wore. Walking his wolf up beside the Druid’s Kodo,
Vathron asked. “Have you seen a giant beetle come by here? About this high?” He motions with his hand the approximate height of the Crypt Lord, almost as high as he can reach mounted on his wolf. “he’d have a few nice
spines.”
“Yeah, he burrowed down after Kel’thuzad shook my hand.” The Tauren answered, sarcastic with disbelief.
Vathron grins. “Kel’thuzad himself? I guess you don’t have any information that would help us, then. A crypt lord has passed this way, his tracks are along the road.”
The druid nodded. “I’m afraid not. Are you certain it was a Crypt Lord?”
“Positive.” Vathron confirmed.
Risticus tossed the bit of Saronite ore to the Druid. “He was carrying Saronite.” Risticus explained.
The druid caught the ore, inspecting it, then tossing it back.
Soon, they were making their way forward again, the druid walking with them. He seemed interested in the same thing they were, the passing of the Crypt Lord had drawn some attention from the Cenarion Circle. Farther down the road, Vathron came across some tracks that were not the crypt lord’s, glancing to them as they discussed the possible goals of the Crypt Lord. He contributed to the conversation distractedly, stopping his wolf.
“Let’s turn south… something sinister is about.” Vathron said softly, turning his wolf off the road. Practically as soon as the soft grass was beneath the canines feet, Risticus dismounted, going to the base of a tree and picking up a rotted apple core with a tooth imbedded in it.
“Someone lost a tooth.” Risticus observed.
Vathron peered at it curiously as Risticus peeled the tooth out of the apple. Something about it seemed familiar. “It may be relevant…” He murmered, as
Risticus handed it to his apprentice.
They continued south, Vathron driving his wolf into a run. There was no doubt in his mind now, Visararath was about. Soon he left the others behind, proceeding into some Night Elven ruins. He dismounted his wolf, striding into a large temple like structure infested with ogres. There on the stone in the middle of a moon well in the center, the forsaken rogue Visararath sat, meditating in a beam of moonlight.
“What the fel are you doing out here?” Vathron questioned, glaring at the rogue.
Visararath blinked his eyes open, standing with a sigh. “I live here, and I could ask you the same thing.”
“Do you now? An interesting find then.”
“Indeed.” The rogue replied.
Vathron glared at the rogue. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had a hand in this vile business.”
“I’m sure I have no idea what your talking about.”
“Of course you don’t.” Vathron furrows his brows angrily.
Visararath stepped off the stone he stood on, wading through the moonwell water. He jumped up onto the ledge in front of Vathron, glaring back.
Vathron stares into the forsaken’s glowing eye’s with his green ones. After a moment, the rogue goes back to his stone, sitting once more. “I’ve been living here peacefully except for the occasional excursion to Northrend since I left infection.”
“Perhaps you have been quiet lately, but you’ve done some bad things.” Vathron smirks slightly, glaring still.
“What sort of “bad things”?” Visararath asked, seeming truly curious.
“Surely you’d remember the plots you made, scum.” Vathron glowered.
“Either way, I’ve been planning on killing you.” He said casually, drawing his gun.
“You can try.” The rogue answered, chuckling as he slipped into the shadows. Vathron reacted immediately, gauging Vis’s position and firing a flare. The bright light illuminated the rogue, revealing him to Vathron. Shortly Visararath sprinted off up a spiraling ramp to the second level of the temple, Vathron hot on his heels, the ogres slowing them both down as they fought them off. On the second level, Vathron had a target. He fired both barrels, each shot taking out one of the rogue’s knees, bullet passing through, mangling the joints beyond use. The rogue dropped to his knees, and soon Vathron was standing over him, gun reloaded and aimed at his head.
“Any last words?” Vathron growled, finger tightening on the trigger.
“Yeah, look behind you.” The rogue answered with a grin. Suddenly, he was wrapped in green healing light, and Vathron spun to see Risticus, the druid beside him replenishing Visararath.
Vathron glared at the druid. “Your wasting the effort of blowing out his kneecaps…”
“Why’re you trying to kill our new recruit, Vathron?” Risticus asked angrily.
“… What the fel, recruit?” Vathron responded, frowning.
“That’s right ‘brother’.” Visararath sneers. Vathron growled.
“We have a job to do, lets find the Crypt Lord.” Risticus stated.
Vathron glowered. “I thought we didn’t let scum into our ranks… Fine, we’ll find our Crypt Lord, but we’ll talk about this later.” Vathron turned, walking away.
He made his way out of the temple, the rogue yelling “Brother” once more.
He called an insult over his shoulder, making his way out into the sunlight.
The druid fell in behind him. “Your awful quick to shoot arrows, hunter… or in this case bullets.”
Vathron frowned, then said softly but angrily. “I kill” A gunshot rang out as one of his bullets split the skull of an ogre. “Those that need to die.”
“As do I, but your quick to judge.” The Tauren mused.
“I’ve known that rogue for some time… I talked to a… friend of his, one that
I’ve grown to trust. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get many details, but I assure you he was not up to anything good.” Vathron explained, calling for his wolf and mounting. He rode out of the ruins, talking with the druid as his wolf trotted. The paladins trailed a distance behind them. Vathron could not shake the feeling of being watched.
“But now, he is your ally.” The druid noted.
“So it seems, but I have a feeling that it’s a charade.” Vathron frowns.
They came to the roadway again, Paladins catching up. The Druid turned to face them, saying. “I think you should leave.”
“Why?” Vathron asked, as the paladin’s rode up behind them.
“This is the Cenarion circle’s business, you should stick to Northrend.” The druid explained.
“Anything that involves Arthas is our business.” Risticus responded, joining in the conversation.
“We all have our duties, you should go back to Northrend, Pale Heart.” The Tauren stated coldly.
“Our duty is here, the Pale Heart will remain.” Risticus said, adamant.
“I don’t take orders from you.” Vathron glares at the druid, then continues
down the road.
************
Behind them, unknown to Vathron, a second druid confronted the first. Maphie told Moonswift not to worry about the Pale Heart, and that she would keep an eye on them. Moonswift nodded.
************
The druid split away from them, the original three moving forward. They came to another bridge, waters of a river flowing beneath. There on the road was the corpse of a night elf. Vathron knelt to inspect the body. “He was killed by daggers.” He frowns.
Risticus face palmed. “Visararath…”
Vathron smirked triumphantly, and continued tracking the Crypt Lord. Soon, the tracks split south from the road; the Crypt Lord seemed intent on avoiding the Tauren town ahead, Camp Mojache. They agreed to stop and get supplies in the Camp. Vathron went into the inn, buying some meat to feed himself an Firath. He sat on a hammock, tossing some meat to Firath. When he looked up, there was a Druid in catform sitting across from him, hidden into the shadows, but the flicker of a torch gave it away.
Then the Druid spoke. “I see you’ve caught the eye of the Ceneration Circle.”
“No, something more sinister caught their attention. Your not the one who’s been following us?”
“You’d recognize me better in my other form.” The cat said softly.
“Would I?” Vathron peers at her.
The paladins walked into the inn. “Who are you talking to?” Risticus asked, raising a brow.
“Hard to see.” Vathron smiles, looking past them and into the shadows.
Then Maphie shifted from the form of a Cat, into her ‘normal’ Tauren shape. “Hello.” She smiled.
They exchanged greetings, then Vathron explained what they were doing out
here, and how they’d found a crypt lord’s trail. During their conversation, Visararath appeared behind Vathron. The hunter turned, trying to backhand
the rogue, but Vis slipped away too quickly.
*******
Moonswift called out as they passed out of the inn. “Wait.” Risticus paused, hearing the Druid. “If you aren’t going to leave, then it is my duty to join you and observe you while you venture through these lands.”
Risticus nods, and says. “As you wish.”
*******
Soon, they continued onward, Vathron exchanging comments with the shadows where Visararath hid, most of them rude. Now Moonswift and Maphie were with them. Vathron mused on why the Druid had decided to rejoin them, but soon they were on the trail of the Crypt Lord again. It had gone off the road, smashing through a log as thick as Vathron was tall. The next major sign of its passing was a ravaged gnoll village, some of the bodies had been eaten. Soon Risticus and his apprentice split off to scout ahead. They walked over a log bridge after the two paladin’s had left, Moonswift commenting. “Perhaps the Litch King is interested in these lands, there is power here that you cannot understand.”
“Yes, yes, I know your lore. This is Ysera’s domain. You forget I was a night elf once.” Visararath rambles, now in plain sight.
“You were?” Vathron asks, peering at him. The rogue removed his hood, revealing pointed ears. “I’m surprised those haven’t rotted off.” Vathron smirks.
After that exchange, they followed the crypt lord’s tracks back onto the road, and toward Thousand Needles. “It seems he’s not interested in Feralas, he’s moving as fast as he can, I think.”
“Maybe he’s a scout?” Moonswift comments.
“No, that is not the underlord’s job.” Visararath explained. “They use wraiths for that.”
“And what is the underlords job?” Moonswift queried.
“Sometimes, they’re used as ambassadors.” Visararath stated.
Vathron frowned. “What faction would the Lich King be interested in contacting this far south?”
“What do we know about Saronite?” Visararath mused.
Vathron thought it over a moment. “It’s a metal of the old gods, living metal,
infused with their blood.”
“Old gods…” Visararath wondered. “Your familiar with the twilight cult?”
“Yes.” Vathron nodded. “They have strongholds in Sylithus…”
“The Circle has been keeping them at bay.” Moonswift added.
“I don’t think Arthas is interested in the twilight cult, though… they aren’t strong enough to warrant sending a Crypt Lord like this.” Vathron said. “but who else would be interested in Saronite… gods, not the Sylithid?”
“We all know what lurks in their temples.” Visararath said.
Vathron nodded. “The Lich king would likely turn them into his willing servants… we need to make haste.” He finishes, his expression hardening as they rode into Thousand Needles.