[IC] "Shadows of the Past", a Warcraft Roleplay

[Sinerathin]

"We... will not forget this!" Glacus spat out towards Sevarian and the White Hands.

Sevarian, in return, graciously bowed as he smiled.

"I hope you don't." The black haired man said mockingly, before he turned to the rest of his company. One of the riders shouted something to the rest, and they all got back on their horses and turned to ride away. It did not take long for all the White Hands to disappear from the square, leaving only their steps in the snow behind, alongside the splatters of blood at where the duel had taken place.

In the meantime, Doin was being carried back towards the house.

"Sure, if you know anything!" The Red Vanguard officer stated to Kathlin as they carried Doin back inside the alehouse. The dwarf was writhing around as they carried him, biting his lips."

"Arrr, I almost had him! If ya'll just lemme, oowww, Muradin's bearded balls!" The dwarf growled between biting his own lips as he tried to suppress the pain from his wound. The trio of Kathlin and the two Red Vanguards carried Doin through the main hall of the inn, and into one of the rooms to the side. The room in question that they entered seemed to be a small amateur emergency room, with a basic wooden table, chair and shelves filled with various medical tools, potions and remedies. Apparently whoever usually owned the room was gone.

Placing Doin down on the table, one of the Vanguards went to towards the shelves to look through them for anything they could use.

---

"I think you already know, my lady... " The girl whispered, before she walked back towards the fence of the gate of the house she had appeared from. As she did, she motioned for Rithrynn to follow her, still keeping most of her eyes on her Nightsaber.

" ... will you come?"

She asked, pulling her cloak closer around herself, seemingly freezing a little in the cold weather.

[Rithy]

" ... will you come?"

Rithrynn peered down at the girl, before her eyes shifted over to the house she had come from. Furrowing her brows, she threw them both a suspicious and long gaze.

Although she had looked forward to meeting Sherpa again, she was suddenly met with by an invisible wall of doubt. It made her hesitate, but why? Was it the little girl that she couldn't bring herself to trust? Was it it something about the street? She looked up at the windows of the house, but couldn't see anything of interest.

Rithrynn and Nisha treaded silently through the snow covered street until they stood next to the little girl.

"I... guess, I will come?" Rithrynn answered with an air of uncertainty, before she dismounted her nightsaber and stood next to the girl. Nisha did not seem none too happy to be in the street either, the Nightsaber acting uneasy as she scanned the streets around them with a predatory instinct.

[Feychild]

Kathlin joined the other two in their ransacking of the shelves of the small laboratory, the little girl rapidly selecting a syringe, a roll of bandages, a bottle of alcoholic disinfectant and a couple of vials. Heading back to the table, she swabbed the needle up and down with the disinfectant as she stretched out the skin on the dwarfs inner arm between her fingers to locate a vein. “Don’t move, Mister. This won’t hurt”

“Whaa? Whaddya – ZzzzzZZzzzzzzzz”

Withdrawing the needle and setting the syringe to one side, Kathlin surveyed the gushing wound on Doins shoulder with an air of dismay. Wiping away the most recent gore the girl trickled some of the antiseptic into the wound, probing cautiously for anything metallic or alien stuck in the cut with her fingers. Raising a needle and thread cautiously to the jagged edges, the girl visibly gave the idea up as a bad job as yet more blood bubbled up, putting it to one side as she placed both hands over the wound as she started to very quietly murmur under her breath.

As she spoke, a faint golden light blossomed under her fingers, growing slightly brighter for a couple of a moments to peak in intensity before dying away again. Removing her hands, the wound beneath now resembled something that was at least a few days to a week old, as Kathlin reached for a bandage and shot Fran (who had since entered) a deeply apologetic look. “Sorry”

“….”

“Technically, I should have sewn up the wound, or at least aligned the edges properly before I did that” the girl explained after a pause that clearly indicated that some sort of explanation needed to be forthcoming. “Otherwise…”

Indicating the large, jagged half formed scar that had recently been an extremely fresh wound as she wound a bandage around his missing finger “that happens. It’s ugly, but he can still use the arm…and it’s not as though he cares too much about that sort of thing?”

“…uh, no offence”

[Sinerathin]

Most of the Red Vanguards simply stood to the side as they watched the girl's handiwork, seemingly too afraid to intervene in case they might fuddle things up. As Kathlin finally finished. the older human officer walked forward to inspect the sleeping Doin on the wooden slab.

Looking over the white bearded dwarf and listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing which was now normal, he turned back towards Kathlin and bowed.

"You've done the Van' a great favor that we won't forget, young miss." He said with a deep and somber voice.
"Your skills as a medic are most impressive."

Frarn, who had stood and watched for most of the procedure; although ready to jump forward should it be required; finally stepped forward as well.

"Ah dunnea 'ow tha thank ye enough, lass.... " Frarn uttered at first, the younger dwarf seeming to be rather speechless as his eyes shifted between Kathlin and Doin. Eventually however, the dwarf simply walked forward and gave Kathlin a good hug, the dwarf reaching just above her chest.

"If you ever need a commendation for your future career, you can trust the Red Vanguard." The younger member said lastly, having waited until the end as the young human smiled warmly towards Kathlin.

---

"I... guess, I will come?"

"You will!? That's wonderful, my lady!" The little girl suddenly beamed up with joy as Rithrynn said those words, before she quickly quieted down; as she realized her sudden burst of joy after it had already happened. Hanging her head down again, she motioned for Rithrynn to follow her as she walked towards the entrance.

"This way, my lady."

But, as she reached the steps to the entrance of the tall house, the girl again paused. This time, she threw an uncertain look towards the nightsaber in Rithrynn's company. A few seconds passed as she merely looked at it, seemingly unsure of what to do with it. Finally, she gathered the courage to talk, and turned to Rithrynn.

"Uhm, I don't think, eh.... I don't think she can come in inside."

"It's alright." Suddenly sounded a voice from the door, as a strong looking, bald headed man wearing a white cloak became visible in the doorway. The figure was wearing some polished steel platemail and black leather armor beneath his pale cape. He looked down at the nightsaber with a gaze of familiarity, as if he had seen one before.
"We have a guest room to house her in."

"Ohh, right, alright; come in, come in!" The young girl then quickly stammered, as she continued to lead Rithrynn and Nisha up the stairs.

As they entered the building, they stood in the entryhall. It was a smaller, narrow corridor with two doors on either side. The white cloaked guard took a few steps back into the corridor, before he opened one of the doors to the side and motioned in towards a dark bed chamber.

"She can stay here for the stay." He explained, before throwing Rithrynn a stern look.
"If it is okay for you."

[Rithy]

Nisha let out a growl to complain as the large saber glared ominously at the door and the guard.

"It's alright." Rithrynn smiled back, and Nisha roared furiously at her rider's decision.

Turning to the nightsaber at her side, Rithrynn looked down at her while resting her hands on her hips.

"You've always wanted to have a room for yourself, haven't you?"

" .... "

"A double bed, all for your selfsome? No mean Fasha or Nila to steal it from you?"

" .... "

"It does have a double bed, right?" Rithrynn suddenly asked as she turned to look at the guard.

"Yes, we,-"

"See? Your own bed!"

*ROAR*

"Off you go!"

With a sudden jolt of energy, Nisha suddenly stormed towards the guard; before taking a quick turn and charging inside the the room with a roar of glee! As the giant battlecat entered the room, she launched herself through the air with grace, flashing her claws as she descended towards the bed!
On the outside, they could only hear satisfied roars and growls as bits and scraps of cloth flew everywhere in the room, some reaching the door and falling out in the corridor.

"That'll keep her occupied for a while, I'm sure." Rithrynn said with a pleased tone as she listened to the carnage going on inside the room, ignoring the face of the servant girl that was becoming increasingly pale.

[Feychild]

"If you ever need a commendation for your future career, you can trust the Red Vanguard."

“Thaaanks….” Kathlin stuttered finally, apparently slightly overwhelmed by all of the admiration and gratitude so suddenly aimed at her. Giving the young man a beseeching look, she gestured quickly down at the dwarf clamped onto her, before mouthing the word: ‘help’.

“Kitty! Who were those goons, and what were they doing outside of the pub!?” The door flew open as Liaena demanded, her breathless face and numerous scrapes in her clothing telling their tale about the alacrity of her descent. Kathlin wordlessly handed the piece of newspaper off to her. Snatching to hide her face behind it, a moment later she reappeared again. “Is he OK?”

Nod

“Good”

“….”

“…this doesn’t say anything about those men outside. Why’d you even give me this?” Liaena concluded bitterly after rapidly scanning through the lines of the article. Moving forwards, she gently took Fran by the shoulder to tug him back from the other girl. “Fran? Fran. I need to know who those guys were, and what they wanted. It’s kinda important”

“They were here to gloat after the advisor died. They seemed pretty happy about it” Kathlin volunteered, the girl looking much happier now Fran was detached from her. Liaena blinked back at her, before reading the bottom two lines again. “…Oh. That might – that could be bad”

“What could?”

“….”

Liaena stared at the paper for a moment longer, before turning rapidly to face Fran again. “I need to know where to find them. It’s important”

[Sinerathin]

"For what you did for our friend, an explanation is the least we can offer you." The slightly elder, gray officer stated; his eyes passing between Liaena and Kathlin.
"Have a seat."

He motioned for a smaller table on the opposite end of the medical room, where a couple of chairs were standing around. Frarn looked to the younger member, and called out to him.

"Ye heard the man; it's story time. Bring the beer!"

"But, we're in the medical,-" The younger man tried to speak.

"Ah said bring tha beer!" Frarn shouted again, and the younger man hastily nodded.

"Right away!"

As the younger man ran out of the room to get the drinks, the group gathered around the table. The officer was the first one to sit down on the opposite end, clearing away some potions and vials lying on the wooden table before he looked over at Frarn, Kathlin and Liaena on the other side.

"My name is Darian Lightbarrow, senior member and advisor to our Guild Master, Glacus, of the Red Vanguard. It's a pleasure to meet you, ladies. I only wish we could have met on a better occasion." The gray haired Darion spoke with a somber and serious tone as his cold eyes tracked them.
"The men and women you saw outside in the white cloaks were members of the White Hand, a private security firm. Although they might claim to be a guild, most of their contracts are outsourced to individual mercenaries or sellswords looking for a manager. Chances are a lot of the people you see wearing those white cloaks will only wear it for the duration of their contract."

Darian explained with an unimpressed tone. As he spoke, the young man had already returned to the small medical room, carrying five heavy flagons filled with dwarven ale and topped with a thick foam that was barely tilting over the top. Distributing them evenly across the table, he eventually sat down at the corner to join them.

"They are a rather young outfit. It's been half a year since we first saw White Cloaks wandering the city, but back then they mostly kept themselves to the docks. They used to just be a maritime protection company only, protecting trade vessels and routes through renting out ships, warriors and advisors. But lately, as they have grown in numbers, they have begun to move into the city, taking jobs of protecting VIPs and similar. This is when the 'Van first clashed with them, as they are determined to steal our clients."

"And they've done a damned good job... hmmpf!" Frarn grunted, the dwarf having already downed half his flagon.
"If they continue at the current pace, the 'Van will become glorified farm guards and country patrols by tha next year!"

Darian gazed at Frarn for a moment, but the senior warrior decided not to comment.

"Since they are new, not much is known about them. But if there is thing I can say for certain, then that is that whoever's backing them has deep pockets." Darian said with a thoughtful gaze.
"Nothing else could explain their rapid expansion. I have a hard time imagining they have paid for it all through some maritime contracts, no matter how lucrative."

"And if yer wonderin' where they are housed, ya have perhaps seen that new fort they're buildin' at the outskirts of the harbor?" Frarn then said, as the dwarf finished his flagon.
"Used tha be just empty land and reefs, but they musta convinced tha city guard tha 'ave it fer a cheap coin by promisin' to take up protection of the city harbor. Easy job though, as we've never been invaded by sea. Ya'll usually see their ships dock by it. Even some of tha merchant ships do so, so they probably have warehouses too. Damn... "

"It puts our little ale hut into question, doesn't it?" Darian said, smirking for the first time.

"Gimme their money, and I'll 'ave tha best builders of Ironforge to set up a fortress that'll put theirs tha shame, I tells ye!" Frarn proclaimed loudly, banging his flagon down into the table to signal that he was ready to receive a refill.

---

"Light, no! ... I spent 30 minutes on that bed!" The servant girl muttered under her breath as she stood next to Rithrynn, hood facing the floor as she was grinding her teeth in desperation. There was nothing she could do, other than to listen to the savage roars of Nisha as the nightsaber demolished the room on the other side of the door!

The bald guard threw an odd gaze inside the room at the ensuing carnage, before finally closing the door and leaving Nisha alone to her wanton rampage.

"Well, right... " He said, turning his attention to the servant girl.
"Weren't you supposed to take our guest to the master?"

"Oh, right! Yes, I was!" The girl stammered, before grabbing Rithrynn by her arm and pulling her along as she walked further into the building.
"This way, my lady; he's in the living room, just around here!"

The little girl displayed a surprising amount of strength as she almost dragged Rithrynn single handedly up the flight of stairs to the second floor. Arriving at another corridor, she turned to the right as they entered into the opening of a large archway leading into the living room, where four individuals were standing around a table in the corner, with one steel masked White Hand guard standing silently in the corner between the towering bookcases that lead up to just below the roof. The fireplace was crackling with life, with the living room being adorned with portraits, flowers and white curtains.

All of the four men in the middle of the room were wearing wealthy and richly adorned silk and wool attires of a variety of colors. One was a rather chubby, short haired man, the other was a taller, black haired man with a narrow gaze. The third was a slightly shorter, glass wearing accountant holding a collection of books and scrolls.
And lastly, was a pale, silver haired elf wearing a long black silk shirt and pants, embroidered with fine silver thread. A red sash was tied around his waist, and an elegant, thin fur cloak hung from his shoulder and back, down to his waist.

The four men turned to look at the Night Elf who had just entered the living room in the company of the maiden. The more chubby businessman suddenly took a step back, and pointed at Rithrynn.

"There's a Night Elf in your house, Silverlion! How did she get in?!"

"Relax, relax; she's with me!! ... sorry!" The little servant girl squeaked next to Rithrynn, waving her arms as she tried to get the attention away from Rithrynn.

"It's alright. I invited her." Sherpa said with a calm voice to reassure the businessman, who threw him a harrowed look.
"If you will leave us, I'd like to have some time in private. You can finish the metal contract with my financier."

The High Elf spoke with a soft voice, motioning towards the other exit of the living room. The three men looked at him for a moment, before bowing as they turned and left the room. Sherpa then turned towards the guard in the corner, giving him a slight nod. Without a word, the masked guard made a quick salute, hammering his chestplate with his mailed fist; before he turned and walked out of the room the way the three men had gone.

With only the three of them left in the room, the servant girl, Sherpa and Rithrynn, the High Elf turned back towards Rithrynn and threw her a broad smile.

"Rithrynn... "

[Rithy]

As she was lead into the room by the little girl, Rithrynn immediately identified Sherpa in the middle of the crowd.

"It's actually him!"

As she recognized him, her heart skipped a beat. But she managed to restrain herself until the small crowd had left the room, even though her eyes were stuck to him all the way through.
As the guard left the room, Rithrynn immediately rushed forward; spreading her arms before she captured Sherpa in a solid hug! Holding him close to herself, she squeezed him some more before uttering to his ear.

"I've missed you! ... "

For a moment, she had actually doubted whether she was even going to meet Sherpa at all. It had taken ages to find him in the first place, back in the sewers. It was quite hard to imagine that he was holding out in a simple house, so close to the Cathedral even!

"I was worried you'd disappear like last time!"

[Feychild]

“I think I’ve seen them before…” Kathlin said thoughtfully from where she sat beside Liaena. “Down at the docks? …Although there’s so much building works down there, I assumed that fort belonged to the Stormwind Guard”

“Gnngh” Liaena grumbled, leaning forward to plant both elbows on the table. “I don’t like them”

“….”

Looking up, she addressed the main speaker, Darian. “Did you see that champion that they had? That last hit Doin gave him should have ripped him open, but it was like he didn’t feel it. I’ve never seen anything human – anything living, act like that”

“You think they’re… undead?”

There was a very faint trace of disbelief in Kathlin’s voice, which Liaena rounded on. “Oh come on. You saw it too!”

“…I’m not sure what I saw” Kathlin mumbled after a pause. Turning, she gave the other an imploring look. “He might not have bled but Li, you could probably make something that does that. And it makes sense that he would have come doped up; they were clearly planning to fight”

“I know I’ve seen their leader before” Liaena said decisively. Ignoring Kathlin, she turned back to Darian. “Do you know anything about that man that was doing all of the talking, at all? Is he new? High up with them?”

“….And does nobody really know anything about whoever it is that is backing them? No rumours, or anything?” Liaena demanded after a pause. Looking around the table, she searched for any sort of feedback from the others faces. “I mean, you’ve basically got a guy, that nobody knows anything about, funding his own private army and having them build fortresses at strategically sensible points. Call me stupid, but that sounds like a dumb idea for the city to let them get away with it”

[Sinerathin]

"It's cheap, that's all that matters to the generals." Darian commented dryly.
"The generals don't want to spend more money than the can get away with, so when someone shows up offering to do most of the job, it's no surprise that they all nodded their heads and went along with it."

He said with a rather unimpressed voice, seemingly no more enthusiastic about the prospect of there being a mostly privately owned fort at the harbor than Liaena herself.

"As for private armies, they're definitely not the first. There are quite a lot of merc outfits in the city. The White Hands have just been the most successful lately. These armies usually come in trends, with fleeting popularity and success. Or at least that's the way it has been so far. It figures the bureaucrats simply see the White Hand as just another temporary outfit."

Darian took another sip from his mug, which he had barely touched. Pausing for a moment, the mercenary lieutenant looked distantly into the empty air for a while, before his gaze shifted back to Liaena and Kathlin.

"The man you saw on the outside who commanded the lillies was called David Portwright, a mage of some sort. He is the guildmaster himself, or "Archon" of the White Hands as they call him. Although we have been quarreling for some time, I had not expected him to show up in person. Especially not during the night to merely gloat."

"The twat has galls, imma give 'im that!" Frarn scoffed, before the dwarf gazed at Kathlin.
"And what's this talk of undead? Ye mean me father was struck down a zombie?!"

"Let's not draw any hasty conclusions." Darian commented, slightly raising a hand in the direction of Frarn.
"For all we know, Doin's axe blade could have stopped in the space between the plate and skin, despite the penetration. It could explain why their Champion was able to fight on. Although I don't like them, I'm not ready to accuse them of recruiting the walking dead to their side for one isolated incident."

"What?! Ye were out there, Darian!" Frarn exclaimed, jumping up from his seat as he looked down at Darian, waving his arms as he talked loudly!
"Ye saw the bleeder stan' up and stab me pa like nuthin' had happened to tha bastard! By all me hairy ancestors, ah swear that any other man woulda been lyin' in the ditch given the same!"

[Sinerathin]

"I am sorry about that." Sherpa said, trying to stay conscious during Rithrynn's steel hug.
"Destiny brought us apart, but also back again. I promise I will not disappear again."

He said, while thinking back on the time he had left Rithrynn. He remembered having almost given up hope that he would ever escape the Night Elf's rear again, a task that the loving Rithrynn had not made easy for him. The flirtation back at the boat had been a terrible mistake! But Rithrynn did not need to know any of that, Sherpa concluded in his head.

"Personal note 1: No shrinking this time."

As Rithrynn finally slacked her grip on him, Sherpa managed to tear himself loose to beckon her towards the sofas in the middle of the room.

"Care to join me then, my lady? The night is ours." He asked with a warm voice, giving Rithrynn a small smile as he moved towards the center of the room.

[Rithy]

Rithrynn snickered at the suggestion of going to the sofa, before she happily offered her hand to the High Elf as she followed him over to it.

Upon reaching it, she sat down next to Sherpa; making sure to push him into the corner of the sofa with her hips where the large Night Elf leaned over him with her shoulders. Moving her right arm behind his back, and her left arm in front of his torso, she successfully trapped him halfway under her as she snuggled up to him.

"Is this all yours?" She asked as she looked around at the majestic living room with admiration, before her silvery eyes shifted back to the High Elf under her.

Suddenly noticing her bow that was getting between them, she quickly sat up to remove it; before immediately resuming her original position right after she had put it down as she clung to Sherpa, as if she was worried he'd simply fly out of her arms at any time if she didn't hold on.

Contrary to Sharon's mansion, which although it was bigger, there were no other members of her warband to disturb her right now. No Serphia to order her around, no Naliyah to stalk her through the corridors, and no Janessa to ruin her fun with any more of her annoying tricks! Speaking of the latter two, they were probably too busy with each other to care.
But more importantly, no Liaena either!

Right now, nothing could ruin this moment for her!

"Tell me where you've been while you were gone... " Rithrynn spoke with a soft, yet excited voice as she looked Sherpa down in the eyes.
"I want to hear everything!"

[Feychild]

“conclusions, schmoozions” Liaena muttered under her breath, clearly no happier with Darians explanation than Fran was. Raising her voice to speak again, the girl gazed up at the guildmaster. “So what are you going to do about them then? I mean, I assume you’re planning to do something. What with this…”

Here Liaena put the scrap of newspaper on the table, before poking at it with a finger. “…locked room murder mystery thing that’s going on here. If you catch whatever did it, it makes you look much less incompetent – and gives the culprit a kick in the teeth for good measure. This feels like it was done to screw with you. At least partly”

Lapsing into silence after her speech, the girl studied the newspaper cutting intently for a couple of minutes before looking up again. “You should try and speak to his wife. She might know something”

“What? Ye think she was involved?”

Liaena glanced quickly at Fran, who was the one who had spoken, and then away again. “…Maybe. Probably not. But there are things – you should probably talk to her. You know, as a witness, at least”

“….”

“I’m surprised she’s still alive, to be honest” Liaena muttered after a pause to nobody in particular, as she again studied the newspaper cutting. “Seems like a bit of a shoddy job, that”

[Sinerathin]

"Mebbeh she was in on the whole bloody deal, hehe!" Frarn hummed with laughter at Liaena's quiet talk. However, when he received quiet stares from the rest around the table, Frarn quickled raised his hands in his defense.

"Whah? Ye know how those nobles and rich people are, marryin' often outta money and power than love! Wouldn't surprise me if they had their fair share of psychos!"

Darian took a moment to gaze at the dwarf, before quietly rolling his eyes and looking back at the two girls by the table.

"We have tried to lay low. It has never been in our best interest to start a feud with another outfit." Darian commented dryly, looking down in his own drink as he folded his hands together on the table.
" ... but, that strategy hasn't worked in our favor so far, despite having served us in the past. The success of the White Hand doesn't seem to have slowed down, nor do we see any indications that it will do so in the future; given current circumstances continue... "

Darian seemed distant as he spoke, the man lost in his own thoughts as he chewed slowly on his next words.

"But you are right in your predictions that we will do something about this. When one of our jobs suffer such a grossly unfortunate and terrible end, it's inevitable that guild officials show up and explain how this could have happened. Although the nobles will most likely have their own investigation of this case, the Vanguard will not stand idly by either. This is a matter of reputation as much as security, and Glacus will most likely send someone along get this mess sorted out."

Darian finished. However, the man's eyes suddenly opened as if something had just dawned on his otherwise somber face, and the officer looked across the table to Kathlin.

"Your skills in handling our friend, Doin's wounds indicate that you have some experience within medicine. Our physician is currently on leave and we have no one to replace him. Will you be willing and able to assist our investigation of the killing tomorrow?" Darian inquired as he looked at her.
"Don't worry about Glacus. Although he is the Guildmaster and is the one calling the shots around here, he has rarely turned down one of my suggestions."

---

Sherpa grimaced as Rithrynn rolled herself over him in the sofa. But despite her aggressive approach, the High Elf managed to retain somewhat of a friendly smile as he gazed back up at her.

"It is... my temporary home." Sherpa explained in a cool manner, as he managed to sneak his left leg out from under the Night Elf to allow its blood circulation to continue.
"My real home is in fact under construction at the moment. When it is finished, it will be quite a place."

Sherpa said with a cool smile, as he managed to reach an arm forward to grab his glass of wine from the table which was still half full.

"Down by the docks, in fact; by the westernmost reefs, with a majestic view towards the rest of the city, safely consolidated among the ferocious waves." Sherpa monologued as he looked towards the windows of the room, facing towards the docks; although the view was obstructed by church spires and roofs.
"It has not been cheap, but I've been able to finance it through a deal with some friends of mine."

The High Elf paused for a moment, seemingly absorbed in his glass that he inspected with a deep gaze; before his eyes turned to look back up at Rithrynn.

"Friends... they are such wonderful things, aren't they?"

The High Elf smiled, before he cast a curious gaze up at the Night Elf.

"And you, Rithrynn... you surprised me greatly when I saw you here in Stormwind. I had thought your superiors would have recalled you to Ashenvale a long time ago." Sherpa said, raising his brows at Rithrynn as if he was surprised.
"What caused my delightful mistake?"

[Rithy]

"Friends... they are such wonderful things, aren't they?"

"Meeeh... not always... " Rithrynn mumbled lowly in response to Sherpa's comment, the Night Elf forming a small frown of her own.
"Li can be a real pain in the ass sometimes."

Let no one ever suffer such a gross ignorance as to believe Liaena to be an innocent little kitten(not to insinuate that kittens are not in fact evil little monsters themselves!)! Rithrynn didn't know what Sherpa thought of her friendship with Liaena, although she suspected that his version of it was far more idyllic than the real life counterpart. Although Liaena was her best friend, she was also sometimes her worst arch enemy from time to time!

"We're actually on vacation, sort of... " Rithrynn explained as she gazed back at the High Elf while fondling his hair.
"But most of my sisters are back at your brother's house, so they can't disturb us... "

Rithrynn smiled seductively at the last part, as she leaned closer over Sherpa with her head.

[Feychild]

“What?”

Looking initially surprised, Kathlins brows knitted together to seriously consider Darian’s proposal. “Well. I’ve already failed at my last job, so I suppose it wouldn’t be a problem to help you out now. Although I’m not trained in forensics. And you should know that I’m only an apprentice, I can’t actually say I’m a –“

“She’ll do it” Liaena cut across the other girl midsentence, smiling cheerfully at Darian, then at Kathlin. “You’ll do it.”

“Will I?”

“Yes. Anyway….if there’s nothing else going on for now, I was rude enough to cut a conversation short upstairs. I should probably get back to it” Liaena remarked, getting to her feet and brushing herself down as she made for the door. “Sorry to rush off” (This was to Darian) “…and I’m glad your dads okay” (to Fran).

“Li!”

Liaena paused halfway out of the door, to give the speaker an impatient look. “what?”

Kathlin gestured down at herself, still notably petite, black haired and flat. “…can I have something to make me look like me yet?”

“…so impatient. How rude.” Liaena sniffed exaggeratedly. “Why? What could be wrong with your current figure?”

“You’ve made that joke already” Kathlin remarked dryly. “It’d be nice not to have to go to a crime scene like this. I don’t feel like being a suspect”

“Hmm”

Rifling in a pocket, Liaena pulled out and threw a small vial, which the other girl deftly caught. “Are you going to take the antidote too?”

“….Maybe later”

“Eh” Kathlin mumbled resignedly as the door slammed on that distinctly half-hearted remark. Turning back to the room at large, she gave Darian, who was naturally looking slightly confused, an apologetic shrug. “Sorry. Long story. Kind of”

[Sinerathin]

"I wouldn't doubt you on that." Darian muttered, slightly surprised by Liaena's sudden departure from the room. What was the talk about a conversation upstairs? From what he remembered, only Doin and Frarn had been up there with her. Who would she be talking to?

"Maybe the girl has simply gone mad and taken to talking to herself... "

Turning back to Kathlin, Darian folded his hands together on the table as he looked towards her as if she was undergoing a job interview.

"During the investigation tomorrow, you will be allowed to bring whatever accomplices that you think will be able to help you on your investigation. You may commission this room for the duration of the investigation, including all items and equipment contained within.We will be departing to the crime scene 7:30 AM tomorrow, which is in roughly three hours and twenty minutes, so get some sleep while you still can. Any questions?"

---

Sherpa smiled handsomely back at the lustful Night Elf that loomed over him, moving an arm that was still free up to stroke her cheek.

"Indeed, it is just us two here tonight... " Sherpa said with a calm manner, as he gazed up at Rithrynn. Although she was supposedly a big bad Night Elf warrior, and not to mention a fair share of clumsy from time to time; she also possessed the beauty that often characterized the Night Elves despite their naturalistic ways and often fierce behavior.

"You've been gone for too long, Rithrynn. I've missed you... "

The High Elf merely gazed up at Rithrynn, before suddenly rising up a little bit. Sherpa moved his head forward to give Rithrynn a kiss on her lips, gently tugging her down with him.

[Rithy]

The moment she felt the High Elf's lips touch her own, a surge of emotions suddenly raced through her head as her eyes shot up!

"Sher... " Rithrynn uttered when their lips separated for a moment, the Night Elf looking momentarily confused. However, her lips suddenly turned into a sly smirk; before the Night Elf immediately launched herself back at the High Elf, throwing them both down into the sofa as she gave him a big kiss; holding him tight as she did.

"I'm so glad I found you too!" She said between the kissing and cuddling. Spreading herself out across the High Elf, she happily rubbed herself against him as she reached for the collar of his shirt.

"Elune, I wish this night could last forever!"

A rush of feelings flowed through her veins as she lost herself in the moment, enjoying every second of it!
Her fellow sisters would probably not agree with her having such an intimate relationship with a High Elf, but she did not care much about whatever they might think about it! This was her night, Sherpa was hers, and no one would get between her and him!

She didn't know what Liaena was up to, other than hanging out with her midget friends over at the Red Vanguard. But frankly, the Night Elf didn't much care for anything other than the High Elf under her at the moment. Surely Liaena would be able to survive one night without her protection.

[Feychild]

“Not really” Kathlin responded after a moment of hesitation. Standing up, the girl rubbed some of the tiredness from her eyes as she was reminded of just how late it was. “I’ll get some sleep then. Can I use one of your rooms?”

-

Entering Doins room and shutting the door behind her, Liaena crossed over to the table to sit down and place her satchel atop it. Opening it to rummage around inside, after a pause she pulled out – Donald instead, this time.

“…”

Liaena’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly as she eyed the mini assassin. She had a particularly small amount of love for Donald. He did, after all hold the dubious honour of doing the best job of attempting to kill, kidnap or otherwise inconvenience her, after that original attack on the mansion that had led to her being a hostage to bargain with Rithrynn. Nevertheless, she persisted with her light tone as she placed the man on the tabletop. “Sorry about that. So. Have you two agreed on anything yet?”

The girl watched the assassin closely, taking in every movement. A humourless smile quirked at her lips after a moment of silent contemplation. “I take it we’re not going to go down that annoying honour-before-reason route some of you lot seem to have going on, anyway. You’re quite good at cutting your losses when things aren’t going your way…if I recall correctly”

[Sinerathin]

"It's a bit of a requirement in this business... " Donald said as the assassin gazed up at the large figure that was Liaena whom loomed overhead like a behemoth. The assassin paced back and forth as he looked up at her, seemingly unable to find a simple place to stand.

"My trade is no place for a hero."

Donald finally paused his walking to look forward, seemingly chewing on his thoughts as he threw a thoughtful gaze out into the air.

"A line where only the most mendacious villains can prosper and thrive; and the man who paid me to kill your boyfriend... " Donald said, peering up at Liaena.
" ... that man was a great liar."

Donald studied Liaena for a moment before he spoke again, taking time to decide on his next words. Indeed, this was more of a bargaining for him, where the desired ware was his life and freedom, and the payment most likely information and services.

"Let me go forward and reassure you, however, that we are not enemies. The contract between me and my last benefactor has been... unofficially terminally annihilated, to put it mildly. I am as much a businessman as I am a blade for hire, ma'am. To hold grudges would be very unprofessional of me, not to mention severely reduce my amount of potential clients."

Donald placed the palms of his hands together as he looked up at Liaena, slightly bowing his head. During the short pause, the inaudible squeaking from Astrid still in Liaena's satchel could be heard, as the minuscule assassin screamed out what presumably was no small hail of hate.

"I suppose this would be the moment where I give you my word and promise to leave you and yours alone, but... for a man who just preached about liars, heh, that wouldn't make much of a difference, would it?"