My Fair Heretic..

[Noury]

Nouri was ashamed. He had really made an ass of himself last night. This whole business of socializing and meeting new folk was beginning to take its toll. All these important, distinguished people he was meeting were polite and forgiving; at least to his face nothing was directly said, but Nouri could tell they thought him a barbarian!

His antics at the Pig and Whistle didnt help that impression much. Nouri was not the best with alcohol and last night he had a wee bit more than he was accustomed to. The elves in particular just naturally exuded grace and poise, and made Nouri feel crude and clumsy without even meaning to. It took Teelia to point out to him, among a table full of beautiful noble friends of hers that he had in fact fell off his chair and was sitting on the floor! Nouri really didn't clue in, such was his lack of attention to manners.

He managed to stifle the beer belches somewhat and with some effort held in the farts that were twisting his guts into knots. He knew that goretusk liver pie he ate earlier was a mistake. Goretusk liver pie always gave him the farts. But he loved them so..

Teelia in particular gave Nouri a funny feeling deep inside his belly. It mattered greatly what she thought of him. Why Nouri really didn't understand, but yet it did. She carried herself with innate confidence that spoke to her noble upbringing, whatever she had endured those years since the Scourge invasion. That upbringing was so much a part of her that she still possessed that quality, whether she realized it or not. Nouri in the other hand was a farm lad. That, coupled with his vagrant existence left him with little in the way of etiquette.

Nouri knew, if he was to fulfill his destiny he would need the respect of people such as these, with their connections and the power they could call to bear. He needed to understand how to gain their proper respect. He could not do that as an unkempt lout.

He thought about it for a time, then hit upon a plan.

----------------------------------------------------

Later that morning, a notice was posted on the wall outside the Stormwind Auction House.

********** JOB OPPORTUNITY ***********

Socially inept cleric looking for a mentor in all manner of social etiquette.

Must be knowledgeable in proper social conduct in a variety of formal or informal gatherings.

Must have life experience in matters of the heart, and familiar with current men's fashions.

Fee negotiable. Will be willing to travel if necessary.

Apply at the Stormwind Cathedral. Ask for Nouri

[Tillna]

((No mention of that hot kiss? Shame shame))

Keisori walked up, looking at the note. He turned to Dalis who was chasing after some kids

"These humans..no class at all....Dalis..do we need any gold?"

The serpent nodded

"Fine fine....lets see if we can't give this bum a lesson in honor...for the coin only...you do eat to much though.."

Dalis nipped Kei on the arm, causing Kei to bat him on the head. He headed to the Cathedral

[Teelia]

Teelia watched as the elf walked away, and casually glanced at the note. When she read the name on it, she quickly tore the note from the wall, folded it up, and put it in her pocket. She then went looking for Nouri, lest someone who didn't care about him try to take advantage of the young priest.

Teelia had been born into wealth, and her upbringing was strict in terms of etiquette. If someone was to teach this priest, it was going to be her. She would be honest with him, and mold him the right way. She smiled as the thought of the challenge....

[Barke]

((Cut this out since Teelia beat me to it. hehe

Good luck))

[Tillna]

((Save from Kei? Kei is broke. He needs cash. HE can teach Nouri some stuff you know))
Kei wanders up to the church, lookign around
"Dalis, go find him"

[Kurohane]

((*giggles* Nooooouri~ Feel special! They're fighting over you now!))

[Noury]

((*giggles* Nooooouri~ Feel special! They're fighting over you now!))

(( Special? Are you kidding?! He'll be lucky if he doesn't come out of this a quivering mass of jelly-like goo... ))

[Hifazat]

((And here I was thinking I could have some fun with this :D))

[Laron]

Me too I guess I will have to PM him. :P

[Kurohane]

(( Special? Are you kidding?! He'll be lucky if he doesn't come out of this a quivering mass of jelly-like goo... ))

((You need to come talk to Kuro more... >_>))

[Noury]

It was still early afternoon that same day when Nouri returned to the Cathedral to find a letter waiting for him. Opening it, he was immediately struck by the flowing, elegant script done in the elvish style.

" Good Day Master Nouri;

I am Laron Ravenshank. I noticed your advertisment earlier, but alas I could not stay to meet you in person. I am sending you the following suggestions, I hope they are a start for what you are looking for.

Well we can start with the basics, which is the clothes, my fighting gear is the most mismatched group of things you could ask for, but for formal events, I went to the auction house to put together a nice set of clothes. I went so far as to get a pair of cloth pants, just because they looked nice. Now depending on the race, maybe a hat? Not to cover the face, but some races look great with a hat. Try the stylish black or red shirt and go from there.

Now for that "special lady." If one talks to you that is a good sign. It is almost like, pardon the term, fishing. You have to put out the line and see if they bite. If not change the bait. Start by maybe writing her a letter, after you do something together, thanking her for a good night. Then maybe the next time you see her have a red rose to give her at the end of the night. Make sure to give it to her at the end of the evening, so she has something to think about after you leave... You know see if she bites.

I hope this is the help you are looking for. I have more, but would need to know some details first. Is there indeed a "special" lady you are looking to impress? Does she talk to you, do you do things with her, or watch from a distance? Most important, is she available, don't want to waste your efforts on some one who isn't going to return the effort... I found that out the hard way...

Yours Truly;

Laron Ravenshank "

Nouri read and re-read the letter several times. He actually started getting flushed with embarassment each time he got to the relationship part.

The clothes he could manage. He had that scarlet shirt Teelia had given him. It must be OK, as she would not have sent it otherwise. Then he had the kilt he had made the other day. He was studying tailoring and was actually getting pretty good.

Now to go out and try the advice..

[Noury]

Nouri finished off the letter of thanks to this Laron for his freely given advice and headed out into town to find the mailbox. He deposited the letter into the mail slot and turned around, to come face to face with Teelia!

"Hello Nouri!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, hello Teelia." Nouri squeaked out.

She had a certain glint in her eye that Nouri was suspicious of. The woman was up to something..

"Come, follow me." she asked, then started walking to the canal district near the mage quarter. Nouri followed her. He allowed himself a little bit of pride that he had decided to wear the red shirt she gave him, along with the kilt he had made. At least he looked presentable, or so he thought.

Coming to a quiet, unfrequented corner of the canal walkway, Teelia motioned for them to sit. Then she dropped the bomb. "Nouri, I have your notice here." She handed the advertisement Nouri had drafted earlier to him. Nouri's blood went cold and his throat tightened. "No, don't worry, " she went on. "I will help you. I wouldn't trust anyone else."

"But.." Nouri stammered, " You can't. You're..." he broke off his sentence.

Teelia looked at Nouri quizzically, "Nouri, you aren't doing this for me are you?"

"Yes, well no," Nouri tried to explain, " There are many powerful and influential people here that have resources to draw upon to aid the cause of the Light. But they will not take me seriously as I look now." Nouri was pleased he covered that up so well. At least he hoped he did.

"Hmm. yes well. Lets start with those hands. Let me see them."

Nouri hesitated a second then slowly held out his gnarly hands with the chewed nails, encrusted with dirt underneath and more ridgy than the Stonetalon Mountains!

"Well, you certainly will need a manicure. Now, lets see those feet. Take off your sandals please." Teelia asked.

"Um.. they are off.." Nouri answered in a subdued voice.

" ......... oh dear.."

"Well, lets add a pedicure to that list. But first, you need a good bath. And I know just the place.. follow me." With that Teelia got up and led Nouri to the park district, and the large pool of clear, pristine water in the center.

There were several druids congregating around the pool, as well as a couple of night elves in what looked like an intimate conversation.

"Now, take off your clothes and get in the water." Teelia ordered.

Nouri looked around at all the people. "Really? Here? What about them?" he pointed to the couple, who seemed oblivious to anything around them.

"Don't mind them." Teelia answered, "they won't bother you."

Shrugging his shoulders Nouri asked Teelia to turn her head as he undressed and waded into the surprisingly comfortable waters. Teelia tossed him a bar of soap. "So, you are going to bathe me?" Nouri asked.

Teelia laughed. "No no! You are doing that yourself!"

Nouri started lathering up. He was still washing his face with his eyes closed against the sting of the suds when he heard a familiar voice exclaim, " Well well, what are you two up to? "

"Oh, hello Kurohane!" Teelia welcomed the newcomer. "I am just getting Nouri to take a bath."

Oh wonderful! Thought Nouri dryly. An audience, thats just what I didn't need.

"Good plan Teelia", Kurohane answered. "Make sure he gets behind the ears.."

Nouri was mortified. Here was one of those very folk he wanted to make a good impression on. He could not imagine it getting more awkward.

Of course, it did.

" Kurohane! There you are, I was looking for you. We are supposed to.. oh, am I intruding on something?"

There was that elf rogue he had met a while ago, Xelthan? Yes that was it. Teelia giggled, then explained once more what was happening.

The three just stood there and watched as Nouri rinsed off the suds. Even the intimate couple paused long enough in their conversation to cast a glance at the proceedings.

Well, thats the worst it can get.. right? thought Nouri. Wrong..

The three turned at the approach of another newcomer. A tall elf man. "Hi Galidon. This is Nouri, he is bathing." Kurohane welcomed the elf.

"Oh, well hello Nouri."

Nouri glared.... "Hello...."

"Oh, Nouri, those clothes are filthy. I will get you something more suitable," Kurohane exclaimed, and ran off.

The once pristine waters of the pool were now a dingy brown. Nouri on the other hand was squeaky clean, moreso than he had been in years.

But he was also starting to shrivel up. He wanted to get out, but he had no clothes and Kurohane was still not back. The others were conversing as if nothing were the matter, while Nouri tried to look comfortable, making sure his 'Twisting Nether' remained below the waterline.

Eventually Kurohane returned with a white silk shirt, a kilt similar to Nouri's own and some fresh sandals. "Now, these are a loan, I will need them back you know."

Nouri was about to climb out when he realized they were all still watching him. He cleared his throat.

They looked at each other, then as one turned to face outwards as Nouri climbed out of the water. He quickly shook off the excess water and dressed himself.

"Ok, you can look."

Nouri didn't know what to make of the reactions. But he decided it was a positive one.

He also decided that the next bath would be somewhere else..

The evening ended with Teelia and Nouri sharing a few drinks and exchanging tales of their experiences over the years.

Remembering the words of Laron, Nouri made sure he thanked Teelia before they parted. He would need to write the elf about this experience.

[Teelia]

((I was laughing so hard. It was supposed to be private, and then all these Swordwaltzers showed up. Xelthan even came online and appeared standing there at the pool! ROFL.))

[Laron]

The stench of Trog was thick in Gnomergean, Laron was escorting some of his younger friends to the bottom. As he reaches the small outpost of Gnomes, he tries to help out asses their situation, and shakes his head. “These people are going to die. Well let me see if I can help them out as much as possible before I leave.” As he readies his blade, a Gnome walks up to him and hands him a printed letter. “MailforyouSir.” Laron stares at the note before opening it. “How in the hell…” He thinks as he opens it. Skipping down to the bottom, he figures it has been here for a while, maybe left by someone as they went through. But no, it is from Nouri??? “I just met him.” He says out loud. Even more confused than ever. Laron wonders out loud. “How did they get mail down here? They must have more technology than they let on to.” Putting the letter away, he scratches his head looking at the mail box with his head cocked sideways. He is happy to hear that his advice helped, he would have to write him later after he gets out here.

[Tillna]

Dalis flew back, a dark crimosn strak, coilign around Kei's arm
"Oh....he's done? bah...we gotta make rent some how red.."

Dalis hissed at being called Red

"Oh hush. YOu know I'm just kiddin"

[Noury]

Nouri sealed the letter and went in search of the mailbox.

He rather liked the forests of Ashenvale and thought the outpost of Astranaar was neatly laid out. He was glad Teelia had taken the time from her fights against the Scourge to show him these sights.

His mind went back to the other evening, when she had taken him to Darnassus. The city was a wonder! Everything a work of art. The elves obviously took pride in their architecture.

But most fresh in Nouri's mind was the kiss. It was brief, but had made an indelible impression on his mind. He never would have dreamt that a highborn girl like Teelia would ever bother to socialize with a lowly farm lad like Nouri, regardless of what paths each had taken over the past few years. But a kiss! Well, that was just out of the question.

Where to go from here? Nouri was in uncharted territory and completely out of his element. The last thing he wanted was to do something stupid and destroy their friendship. Was he even allowed to pursue affairs of the heart? Nouri could not see why not. Didn’t the universe rejoice in love? The Light uses the power of love, compassion and joy in the creation of the Universe. By falling in love, Nouri would be helping to buoy that creation.

Falling in Love?! Nouri paused in his steps.. Is this what is happening? A sudden feeling of tingling started growing in Nouri’s stomach. He had to talk to someone. This letter needed mailing..

He checked the address on the outside of the sealed envelope to make sure he got it right.

“ Master Laron Ravenshank
Blaze of Tears of the Phoenix”

Hopefully his pen pal and advisor would be able to offer some options on how to avoid any chasms on this journey..

With a sigh Nouri dropped the letter into the mailbox. Then he returned to the Inn to gather his gear for his next leg.

“Now.. where are the Stonetalon Mountains I wonder?”