Stepping through the portal he was happy that night had arrived. The city seemed as silent as a tomb. Then he remembered what he had seen coming in today. It was perfect, no one would notice him leave in such a rush, nor would they have noticed the smoke that was till coming from the exposed roof. “Mourn your loss Stormwind, for in your suffering I have gained much.” Deciding not to return to the Slaughtered Lamb, Drakus decided on mocking the foolish Night Elves with talk of philosophy and politics. He headed towards the Park where the patrons in the Tipsy Elf rarely greeted him well. All the better he thought. Upon entering the Park proper he heard a familiar voice whispering into the night while sitting on a bench. It was Natallya, the paladin he had been somewhat working with. A chuckle erupted from his lips at the thought. Working? No, more like recruiting her to his side. A powerful woman who offered much when it came to battle had trusted him. The proud warlock had to admit that perhaps there was something more to his plans with her then mere power. He felt warmth again creep into him then, but not that fires of hell.
Quietly he approached, shaking off his robes and wondering if he reeked of ash. “Natallya my dear!” he began, but watching her weak reaction and eyes heavy from tears he refrained from empty pleasantries. “What has happened?” he asked taking a seat next to her and smiling warmly at her… “Drakus…what…oh lords he’s gone!” she cried out and embraced him tightly, tears again falling freely. She trembled in his arms as she sobbed. The warlock held her close to him offering comforting words, a bit confused at first but then realizing she must have somehow known one who had been honored this day. He offered council to her, and vowed to remain at her side for as long as she needed it…
The night’s sky was cloudy, the moonlight fought desperately to escape the increasing cloud cover. Thunder rumbled in the distance, with only a few droplets falling from above. Drakus stood firmly in place, waiting patiently. Natallya on the other hand fidgeted and gripped her sword tightly. Jhorantia, Drakus’ succubus also seemed anxious. “How much longer do we have to wait?” Natallya asked finally breaking the silence. “Soon my dear, soon…my sources are seldom wrong in matters such as these.” Drakus replied placing a hand on the paladin’s shoulder. “I am glad to see you so excited once again Natallya.” He finished sliding his hand down her arm slowly. Natallya smiled feeling her face grow warm to his touch. “You were right Drakus. I needed to get out of Stormwind. I was suffocating in that gods forsaken city.” She said turning around to face him. “The never ending quest for justice is a noble task Natallya…one must not stray from it. It is what your mentor always told is it not?” Drakus said, noting Natallya shifting herself as he mentioned the fallen dwarf. “Yes…yes he said that…” she replied in a whispered tone. Jhorantia giggled and snapped her whip then, the warlock and paladin turned to see what had gotten her excited.
A small procession was making its way towards them on the road. Two lightly armored soldiers, and a single horse that carried a cloaked figure. “As promised, my informant was right. We shall soon see if these fools have what we need to continue our investigation about your missing father.” Drakus now took his staff in his hand and quietly began preparing his spells and curses. Natallya only nodded eagerly, signaling to Jhorantia which one of the two she was going to take. “Kill the guards. I will keep the other one occupied.” Drakus ordered to Jhorantia’s delight. Natallya frowned, thinking the two guards could easily be incapacitated. “They will report our identity and ruin our plans Natallya.” Drakus said noting her obvious hesitation. Shrugging she charged out into the open. Jhorantia followed closely behind, Drakus had commanded her to protect Natallya at all costs. Rain began to fall more now as the two guards braced for the attackers charging at them. The mounted figure withdrew a crossbow from his cloak and aimed it at Natallya, Drakus smiled as he cast a spell of immolation, igniting the man in a fiery globe that burned him from within. Screaming he let loose the arrow that went well wide of his target. The rider slid off the horse that in fear of the sudden attack reared and scurried off into the forest, its saddle still smoking.
Jhorantia snapped her whip as one of the guards charged at the creature of the Abyss. She blew it a kiss as the whip gripped the man’s throat. In a trance, the guard simply stood dumbfounded, staring at the beautiful succubus. His eyes glazed over as if in love. Drakus chuckled at the spectacle. The fallen rider tossed off his flaming robes and cast a frozen block of ice around him. Drakus turned to witnessed this and smiled. “A wizard eh? I love a challenge.”
Natallya on the other hand was having a little less fun. The guard was a proven fighter. For every strike Natallya gave the defender parried and countered with one of his own. Her opponent wielded a short sword and shield, and he was quick against her heavier two handed sword. The warrior had quickly put her on the defensive. Managing to score a few hits, she cursed herself for not bringing her cutlass and shield. The time had come to call upon her training. Casting on herself a blessing of might that immediately gave her results. The man thought he saw an opening when she cast the blessing and dove in for an easy hit. Natallya however was expecting such an attack and brought her sword down hard on his. Metal clanged against the thunder and rain, the two swords on the ground bringing the warrior down low. The paladin smirked as she brought her knee up high into his abdomen. Letting out a gust of air the man fell back a step. Natallya pressed on bringing up her blade and stabbing forward. Her precise hit landing in an open spot of the warrior’s armor where the shoulder meets the arm. Blood exploded from the wound and his shield fell from its protective position. “Now my friend…it’s my turn.”
The mage launched a volley of magic missiles at the warlock. Drakus dove hard and took a few hits, but not before he launched a shadow bolt at the mage sending him flying back a few feet into a tree. Standing up he chanted a curse of demon’s tongue at the mage, laughing as he heard the demonic language replace the common the mage was trying to use to freeze the warlock in place. “You’re going to have to read up on the languages of the Abyss before you get that spell off!” Drakus sneered casting yet another spell, corrupting the mage and draining his very life from him. Green energy escaped the fallen man and entered into Drakus. The mage however was not finished and let loose from a wand he had in his hands a ball of fire that caught the warlock in the chest and released his draining spell immediately. Jhorantia noted her master’s predicament and made a move to assist. “Stay with your plaything my minion, this one is no trouble.” Drakus said brushing the soot off his robe. The mage, now weakly on his feet cast a spell of his own, silencing Drakus, shutting off his connection to the Underworld and arcane. He still though was under the curse of tongue and could not cast any spell other then, magic missiles! Another volley fired from his hands at the dark one. Drakus however had anticipated this and had taken a potion he carried with him that made him impervious to an arcane assault. The bolts seemed to be absorbed into him. “You are very resourceful, but not enough!” Drakus now cast another spell. This one meant to tap into the mind of the mage, drain the mana that allowed him to cast another attack. Drakus drew his own wand, firing off a constant barrage of shadow energy. “Silence me if you will, there is more to me than magic, I assure you.” Jhorantia giggled as she continued to torture the guard in ways only a succubus could.
Soon as Natallya drew first blood the battle was over. Her ferocity was untouchable. The doomed warrior had already lost his shield and was tiring from the constant barrage of swipes from the oversized two handed blade that was getting closer and closer to him. The paladin only cried out as she felt the end was near.
Drakus had drained the mage of his power, and was free to do with him as he pleased. The warlock had also consumed much of his life force. There was little else the mage could do but wait for death. Satisfied he turned his attention to Natallya. She was close to victory, and he knew it. What pleased him the most though was the fact that he saw something in her eyes. Something that was akin to his succubus. Pleasure, unmitigated delight at her glorious battle, Natallya’s anger gave her focus. It made her powerful. It was a strength he too reveled in. “What do you want of me warlock?” the fallen mage croaked out of dried lips. Angered by the interruption Drakus blasted the man again with his wand. “Be silent! Or be silenced! Jhorantia, finish playing and return to my side!” he commanded. His minion frowned but obediently followed her orders. With a flick and pull of her wrist she withdrew her whip, taking the head off of the tortured guard. The succubus returned to her master’s side, her eyes looking down on the mage with deadly intent. “This one is for Natallya my pet.” He said turning his back to the seemingly defeated wizard.
The guard was lost, he charged her with the last of his energy. Natallya’s eyes narrowed as she timed her killing blow perfectly. An easy shift in her body turned her sideways at the last moment, she leveled her blade and it tore through flesh and bone, slicing the warrior at the chest. The body fell in a heap and Natallya healed herself with a blessing of light. She didn’t bother to clean her blade as she replaced it in the scabbard on her back. Natallya felt exhilaration at her victory, yet in her heart she was torn. Did the warrior have to really die? “Drakus…I…” she didn’t have time to finish. The mage had a dagger in his hand and was aiming for the warlock’s back. With a motion so fast it caught even Jhorantia by surprise Natallya’s blade cut the mage’s head off. Drakus turned around in mock horror at what had transpired. “Treacherous wizard!” Natallya let her blade fall to the ground, shocked that she had so easily slew the man. “That is why mercy is for the foolish my dearest Natallya.” Drakus said with a calming smile. The paladin nodded, truly agreeing with the warlock. “What of the information he had?” she asked. “It died with him…but take heart my Guardian of the Shadow. A valuable lesson was learned this night…” the warlock finished turning and walking back towards their camp.
The rain was falling heavily on the ground, Natallya watched as Drakus faded from view, Jhorantia close behind. She looked around and saw the bodies of those she had helped defeat. Her heart ached for them, but only for a moment. She remembered the feelings she had when in battle. With a lustful smile she walked in behind her adventurous warlock.
Quietly he approached, shaking off his robes and wondering if he reeked of ash. “Natallya my dear!” he began, but watching her weak reaction and eyes heavy from tears he refrained from empty pleasantries. “What has happened?” he asked taking a seat next to her and smiling warmly at her… “Drakus…what…oh lords he’s gone!” she cried out and embraced him tightly, tears again falling freely. She trembled in his arms as she sobbed. The warlock held her close to him offering comforting words, a bit confused at first but then realizing she must have somehow known one who had been honored this day. He offered council to her, and vowed to remain at her side for as long as she needed it…
The night’s sky was cloudy, the moonlight fought desperately to escape the increasing cloud cover. Thunder rumbled in the distance, with only a few droplets falling from above. Drakus stood firmly in place, waiting patiently. Natallya on the other hand fidgeted and gripped her sword tightly. Jhorantia, Drakus’ succubus also seemed anxious. “How much longer do we have to wait?” Natallya asked finally breaking the silence. “Soon my dear, soon…my sources are seldom wrong in matters such as these.” Drakus replied placing a hand on the paladin’s shoulder. “I am glad to see you so excited once again Natallya.” He finished sliding his hand down her arm slowly. Natallya smiled feeling her face grow warm to his touch. “You were right Drakus. I needed to get out of Stormwind. I was suffocating in that gods forsaken city.” She said turning around to face him. “The never ending quest for justice is a noble task Natallya…one must not stray from it. It is what your mentor always told is it not?” Drakus said, noting Natallya shifting herself as he mentioned the fallen dwarf. “Yes…yes he said that…” she replied in a whispered tone. Jhorantia giggled and snapped her whip then, the warlock and paladin turned to see what had gotten her excited.
A small procession was making its way towards them on the road. Two lightly armored soldiers, and a single horse that carried a cloaked figure. “As promised, my informant was right. We shall soon see if these fools have what we need to continue our investigation about your missing father.” Drakus now took his staff in his hand and quietly began preparing his spells and curses. Natallya only nodded eagerly, signaling to Jhorantia which one of the two she was going to take. “Kill the guards. I will keep the other one occupied.” Drakus ordered to Jhorantia’s delight. Natallya frowned, thinking the two guards could easily be incapacitated. “They will report our identity and ruin our plans Natallya.” Drakus said noting her obvious hesitation. Shrugging she charged out into the open. Jhorantia followed closely behind, Drakus had commanded her to protect Natallya at all costs. Rain began to fall more now as the two guards braced for the attackers charging at them. The mounted figure withdrew a crossbow from his cloak and aimed it at Natallya, Drakus smiled as he cast a spell of immolation, igniting the man in a fiery globe that burned him from within. Screaming he let loose the arrow that went well wide of his target. The rider slid off the horse that in fear of the sudden attack reared and scurried off into the forest, its saddle still smoking.
Jhorantia snapped her whip as one of the guards charged at the creature of the Abyss. She blew it a kiss as the whip gripped the man’s throat. In a trance, the guard simply stood dumbfounded, staring at the beautiful succubus. His eyes glazed over as if in love. Drakus chuckled at the spectacle. The fallen rider tossed off his flaming robes and cast a frozen block of ice around him. Drakus turned to witnessed this and smiled. “A wizard eh? I love a challenge.”
Natallya on the other hand was having a little less fun. The guard was a proven fighter. For every strike Natallya gave the defender parried and countered with one of his own. Her opponent wielded a short sword and shield, and he was quick against her heavier two handed sword. The warrior had quickly put her on the defensive. Managing to score a few hits, she cursed herself for not bringing her cutlass and shield. The time had come to call upon her training. Casting on herself a blessing of might that immediately gave her results. The man thought he saw an opening when she cast the blessing and dove in for an easy hit. Natallya however was expecting such an attack and brought her sword down hard on his. Metal clanged against the thunder and rain, the two swords on the ground bringing the warrior down low. The paladin smirked as she brought her knee up high into his abdomen. Letting out a gust of air the man fell back a step. Natallya pressed on bringing up her blade and stabbing forward. Her precise hit landing in an open spot of the warrior’s armor where the shoulder meets the arm. Blood exploded from the wound and his shield fell from its protective position. “Now my friend…it’s my turn.”
The mage launched a volley of magic missiles at the warlock. Drakus dove hard and took a few hits, but not before he launched a shadow bolt at the mage sending him flying back a few feet into a tree. Standing up he chanted a curse of demon’s tongue at the mage, laughing as he heard the demonic language replace the common the mage was trying to use to freeze the warlock in place. “You’re going to have to read up on the languages of the Abyss before you get that spell off!” Drakus sneered casting yet another spell, corrupting the mage and draining his very life from him. Green energy escaped the fallen man and entered into Drakus. The mage however was not finished and let loose from a wand he had in his hands a ball of fire that caught the warlock in the chest and released his draining spell immediately. Jhorantia noted her master’s predicament and made a move to assist. “Stay with your plaything my minion, this one is no trouble.” Drakus said brushing the soot off his robe. The mage, now weakly on his feet cast a spell of his own, silencing Drakus, shutting off his connection to the Underworld and arcane. He still though was under the curse of tongue and could not cast any spell other then, magic missiles! Another volley fired from his hands at the dark one. Drakus however had anticipated this and had taken a potion he carried with him that made him impervious to an arcane assault. The bolts seemed to be absorbed into him. “You are very resourceful, but not enough!” Drakus now cast another spell. This one meant to tap into the mind of the mage, drain the mana that allowed him to cast another attack. Drakus drew his own wand, firing off a constant barrage of shadow energy. “Silence me if you will, there is more to me than magic, I assure you.” Jhorantia giggled as she continued to torture the guard in ways only a succubus could.
Soon as Natallya drew first blood the battle was over. Her ferocity was untouchable. The doomed warrior had already lost his shield and was tiring from the constant barrage of swipes from the oversized two handed blade that was getting closer and closer to him. The paladin only cried out as she felt the end was near.
Drakus had drained the mage of his power, and was free to do with him as he pleased. The warlock had also consumed much of his life force. There was little else the mage could do but wait for death. Satisfied he turned his attention to Natallya. She was close to victory, and he knew it. What pleased him the most though was the fact that he saw something in her eyes. Something that was akin to his succubus. Pleasure, unmitigated delight at her glorious battle, Natallya’s anger gave her focus. It made her powerful. It was a strength he too reveled in. “What do you want of me warlock?” the fallen mage croaked out of dried lips. Angered by the interruption Drakus blasted the man again with his wand. “Be silent! Or be silenced! Jhorantia, finish playing and return to my side!” he commanded. His minion frowned but obediently followed her orders. With a flick and pull of her wrist she withdrew her whip, taking the head off of the tortured guard. The succubus returned to her master’s side, her eyes looking down on the mage with deadly intent. “This one is for Natallya my pet.” He said turning his back to the seemingly defeated wizard.
The guard was lost, he charged her with the last of his energy. Natallya’s eyes narrowed as she timed her killing blow perfectly. An easy shift in her body turned her sideways at the last moment, she leveled her blade and it tore through flesh and bone, slicing the warrior at the chest. The body fell in a heap and Natallya healed herself with a blessing of light. She didn’t bother to clean her blade as she replaced it in the scabbard on her back. Natallya felt exhilaration at her victory, yet in her heart she was torn. Did the warrior have to really die? “Drakus…I…” she didn’t have time to finish. The mage had a dagger in his hand and was aiming for the warlock’s back. With a motion so fast it caught even Jhorantia by surprise Natallya’s blade cut the mage’s head off. Drakus turned around in mock horror at what had transpired. “Treacherous wizard!” Natallya let her blade fall to the ground, shocked that she had so easily slew the man. “That is why mercy is for the foolish my dearest Natallya.” Drakus said with a calming smile. The paladin nodded, truly agreeing with the warlock. “What of the information he had?” she asked. “It died with him…but take heart my Guardian of the Shadow. A valuable lesson was learned this night…” the warlock finished turning and walking back towards their camp.
The rain was falling heavily on the ground, Natallya watched as Drakus faded from view, Jhorantia close behind. She looked around and saw the bodies of those she had helped defeat. Her heart ached for them, but only for a moment. She remembered the feelings she had when in battle. With a lustful smile she walked in behind her adventurous warlock.