From the shadows to the Light (closed)

[Lynillia]

Lynillia had a day off from her duties at Dynastus, and she was making the most of it by sorting her possessions and counting her money. She placed her ample amounts of leather into a box she kept at the end of her bed, and the various pieces of armor she had crafted into a pile that she would take to the Auction House in Silvermoon.

The rogue eyed the swords she had hung above her desk. She used them to take down enemies. She used them for skinning beasts. She used them to shank things smaller than her. And, she used them to impress the ladies at the inn.

She gave the swords the stinkeye.

Truth be told, Lynillia wasn't a very good rogue. When grouped with others for combat, she mostly stumbled around looking for a target, and then stood in one place and slashed away. She lacked the finesse of other sneaky elves, and she spent more time hunting for women and leather than sharpening her combat skills.

Perhaps it was time for a change.

[Lynillia]

Lynillia decided to stroll down to the Auction House to sell the armor she had made. It was a nice day in Silvermoon — the elves were out in all their haughty glory, and each pretended to stare at something when Lynillia smiled at them.

Whenever these pretentious aristocrats were distracted, the rogue — at least, she would be a rogue for now — attempted to pick their pockets. She had little success, and became disillusioned with her prospects of finding spare change quickly.

Then, on her way through The Bazaar, she was too distracted to think of stealth and subterfuge.

A tall figure in plate armor walked past Lynillia. The paladin removed her helm, and shook out long waves of blonde hair. She turned to Lynillia, scoffed, and walked toward a group of women standing near the fireworks vendor.

She was beautiful. She was powerful. She was kind of a bitch.

The red-haired elf couldn't keep herself from staring at the penultimate example of snobbery. She was so strong, and yet so beautiful.

"I will make her mine. And I will be like her."

Lynillia thought she said this in her head, but after taking a look around realized that she had screamed it at the top of her lungs. She blushed a bit as the elves around her stared and laughed.

She ran away and forgot all about the armor she was going to sell. It was time to start over.

Lynillia gathered up all of her possessions and put them in a large crate. She left it on the Marquess' desk with a note:

To the Master of the house:

Gone training.

Lynillia Starstalker

[Lysimachus]

(( I am reading this. One hundred. YEARS. ))

[Lynillia]

Lynillia left Silvermoon and went all the way back to Sunstrider Isle. She changed from leather to mail armor, and gave up her twin swords in favor of a heavy two-handed sword. She fought her way through Mana Wyrms and Tenders, which was all too familiar to the former rogue.

Eventually, she got back to Silvermoon after running errands for all the elves of Eversong Woods. She spoke to the blacksmithing and mining masters of the town, and began learning to use these new skills.

After several days of toiling, Lynillia felt she had reinvented herself enough to be happy. More training would be required later, but now, it was time to rest in her quarters at House dej Dynastus.

[Sabeinne]

Sabeinne was up late, as she often was these days, finishing a cigarette and plotting quietly as she narrowed her eyes and stared into the green glow of a fel crystal. Technically she was still vacationing in Dalaran, but each day saw her sinking more deeply back into her familiar position in Dynastus Hall.

Sabeinne's ear flicked. She turned to see the new wench stumbling in, wearing some variety of armor and looking as though she had been performing a number of sweaty tasks. Sabeinne's eyes narrowed further. Notably, the girl had neglected to use the servants' entrance.

Sabeinne couldn't remember specifically what the girl had been hired for, but such negligence required a reprisal.

"Girl," Sabeinne declared. "I find myself in need of a drink. Kindly retrieve a pinot noir from the cellars."

[Lynillia]

Lynillia cocked her head at the Dynastus matriarch. They had never actually met — Lynillia took orders from Lysimachus, mostly. She was intrigued by Sabeinne's gorgeous red hair that matched her own, and the scent of smoke wafted toward the paladin from Sabeinne's cigarette.

Lynillia smiled and gave a curtsy.

"Of course, Lady Dynastus. I will go right away."

The servant girl winked at her and walked down to the cellar.

---

Lynillia threw up a light spell to illuminate the dark cellar, and took her time examining all the bottles kept there. After dilly-dallying and comparing vintages of various sparkling wines and liquors, she found a large bottle of the wine in question and brought it up.

Lynillia presented it to her and waited for approval.

[Sabeinne]

Sabeinne just looked at the bottle. She raised an eyebrow at Lynillia.

"I can't be expected to drink it straight from the bottle."

[Lynillia]

Lynillia smacked herself on the forehead and laughed.

"Oh, of course! How silly of me!"

She bounded off to the kitchen and fetched a glass for Sabeinne, and, just in case, grabbed one for herself.

She returned to the room with the fel crystal and extended the glass to Lady dej Dynastus.

"Is there any chance I might be able to have a nip of that as well? I could use a drink, and I would enjoy your company."

[Sabeinne]

Sabeinne accepted the glass, and held it out expectantly, waiting for the servant girl to fill it. She kept her brow raised.

"I don't make a habit of drinking with the help, my dear. I have far too much to do, you understand."

[Lysimachus]

Precisely at that moment, Lysimachus came bumbling into the room, helling about nothing in particular. "And did you KNOW what she did THEN, sister?! She had the NERVE to suggest that my cause for being still unMARRIED was in some way related to my helling virility!" He stormed past Lynillia, theatrically waving his hands in an arc above his head, stopping in front of Sabeinne. "Oh, but what do WOMEN know, hm?!"

He looked down, arching an eyebrow at Sabeinne's empty wine glass. He turned to Lynillia, noticing the wine bottle in her hands. With a quick grab, he wrested the bottle from her and squinted at the elaborate lettering on its front. "No, no. Not THIS one, get the '46 Do'fain Sunstriker. Far more appropriate for the occasion." With that, he magicked a nearby chair over and fell heavily into it, sighing deeply.

[Lynillia]

Lynillia gave a quick bow. Her left ear twitched.

"Right away, Marquess."

She went back into the cellar to fetch the wine. This one took a more thorough search — Lynillia had to scramble over various shelves and racks of wine and spirits before she found the correct bottle. She blew off the dust and squinted at the label in the dim light. Sure enough, it was the Sunstriker.

The paladin grabbed a corkscrew off a table in the kitchen on her way back to Lysimachus and Sabeinne. She placed the bottle on the table, and carefully removed the cork. It made a satisfying pop and she poured two large glasses.

"Will that be all?"

[Sabeinne]

"--And anyone can see that your virility is beyond reproach," Sabeinne was saying, hoping to placate Lysimachus' huffy expression. She hardly glanced at Lynillia as she returned and poured the glasses.

"Mm...yes. Run along and make yourself useful. And I expect less of a debacle the next time my brother and I would like to enjoy a glass of wine."

[Lysimachus]

Lysimachus let his vision flick only a moment onto Lynillia as he levitated his glass into his hand, quickly repositioning his attention to Sabeinne. "What is that sad little thing, anyway? Helling Magister really DOES need a bit of retraining in hiring methods, if you ask me. God," he turned his head and crossed his legs, wrinkling his nose, "she's positively FILTHY."

[Lynillia]

Lynillia gritted her teeth.

"Um, you hired me, SIR. And I do not appreciate being called filthy. Hell!"

She stormed off.

[Lysimachus]

Turning his mouth slightly downward, the Marquess looked at Sabeinne, who merely shrugged at him. "Well," he said, "I suppose that's that, then. I do hope the wine is well enough for your tastes, sister."

[Sabeinne]

Sabeinne swirled her wine in her glass and sniffed at it delicately. She took a sip.

"An excellent selection on your part, I should say, dear Brother."

She squinted at an imaginary speck on the surface of the liquid.

"But the helling wench got cork in it. I suggest firing her."

[Lysimachus]

"Well, I suppose I shall do just that!"

In actuality, Lysimachus did have some lingering recollection of having hired the questionably presented girl, though it was all in all a bit too fuzzy to remember any details. Now, of course, he questioned his decision, but dismissed the notion before it could cause him any real worry.

"Here, allow me to pour you another glass." With a motion from her brother, Sabeinne's tainted wine floated out of her hands and into the next room, following Lynillia. Lysimachus flicked a finger, after which a sharp shattering was heard, and concurrent shrieking. "That should show HER. Getting CORK in my sister's wine, after all!"

He then hand-poured her another glass, intending to demonstrate his dedication.

[Lynillia]

Lynillia winced as the wine crashed against her armor.

"God hell!"

She lay in bed and attempted to sleep. She didn't have much luck, as her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of violently rampaging through Dynastus Hall. Even so, she managed to squeeze in a few hours before the sun rose over Silvermoon.