[Alliance] Chapter Five: Session Seventy-Five

Appearing Characters: Aoibh Reòthadh, Chulainn, Danath Trollbane, Elissa Cross, Galen Trollbane, Gilveradin Windrunner, Isiden Perenolde, Liiraluma, Maighread Tàillear, Samuel Hawke, Teemo Manabrake, Thoras Trollbane, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Vittoria Trollbane

November 24th

Vittoria looked across the group.

Vel explained that draconic servants had been found within the ranks of the Syndicate within the castle, but they had ultimately been dealt with. Vittoria seemed a bit flabbergasted, but said she would leave all that to them, and she asked Vel what she needed to do next.

Luma pulled out a waterskin and tossed it to Uther to give to Vittoria.

Vittoria took a sip, then her eyes widened as she realized how thirsty she was, and she killed the entire bottle.

Vittoria slapped the waterskin into Gil’s hands with a smirk, and she looked deeper into the catacombs. There was another casket not far down the way, this one with a statue of the titanic man that was Thoras Trollbane. All the statues were carved holding a stone replica of Trol'kalar. On it was a placard as well as a poem written in his honor. A similar placard was on Vittoria’s tomb, with a blank space where her own poem would have been placed following a smaller ceremony.

Vittoria stepped forward.

Uther took Vittoria’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

Vel pulled out her spellbook and it became suspended in the air in front of her as she started to chant in the hissing language of quietish. The temperature in the crypt plunged downward, a ghostly magic emanating from around Vel and her spellbook.

Samuel looked on with wide eyes.

He put a hand on Samuel’s shoulder to try and comfort the man that was clearly perturbed and nervous about what was happening.

As Vel weakened the strength of the veil, she looked around the tomb, but she saw nothing come through. Her brow furrowed.

She looked around. The pervasive chill was still there. But then they heard something deeper in the tomb. Vel turned toward it, and they saw the ghostly visage of Thoras Trollbane emerge from the depths of the tomb. He looked confused and dire.

He staggered, a hand over a wound in his throat.

He coughed in a raspy voice.

Thoras looked over at her.

Vittoria’s eyes were wide, and a growing fear and complexity emerged on her face.

Thoras coughed.

Thoras scoffed.

The Stromic people normally slept with their weapons at their bedside. And Galen had Trol’kalar in his possession. Had the assassins stolen the weapon, Galen wouldn’t have it in his possession.

Danath furrowed his brow.

He gestured to Thoras.

She looked at Thoras.

Thoras looked at Vittoria.

Vittoria stepped forward and gave Thoras a salute.

There was a moment of clarity on Thoras’s face, and he pulled his hand away from his neck and offered her a salute in return. He then faded away. However, his presence was still there.

Vel sighed.

Danath also sighed. He approached Thoras’s crypt and put his hand on it.

He looked over at Vittoria.

Vittoria hugged Danath.

She looked at the rest of the party, and Uther smirked.

She looked at her reflection in in a polished sword, and indeed her hair was beautiful and her dress was ornate and fine.

Vittoria blushed, but took Uther’s hand.

Vittoria smiled.

Uther hugged her and kissed her on the forehead.

Vittoria nodded, and they headed to the tomb exit. Vittoria took a deep breath and rubbed her hands together. She clapped them on her cheeks. Vel saw the unmistakable sign of magic.

As the tomb was unsealed, they stepped out into the setting sun. The guards double-took as they saw Vittoria, who smiled and stretched.

She walked past the guards with the rest of the group flanking her. There was shock, but then they immediately saluted and bowed their heads. Danath nodded to them.

They fell in line after them. The scene repeated a couple times as they exited the grounds. They arrived at the feasting clearing, where everyone was sharing in mead and food. Everyone gasped as they saw Vittoria walking front and center. Room was made for the large group as they passed through.

At the head of the main table, Galen’s eyes widened, and he rose to his feet.

They stood in the midst of the parted crowd, the soldiers fanning out to the edges of the crowd.

Vittoria had a serious expression.

Vittoria held up her hand.

Galen furrowed his brow.

Vittoria stepped forward.

There was shocked gasps in the crowd, and Galen looked surprised.

Uther stepped forward, and he swept off the Stromic ceremonial helm.

Galen looked on with wide-eyed shock.

Galen scowled.

Vel stepped forward.

Stepping out from the crowd, pulling down a cowl, was Maighread Tàillear, the One-Eyed Gryphon. Several of her own people stepped out with her.

More shocked gasps rippled through the crowd.

Vittoria raised her hand.

Galen’s lips turned into a thin line. A boiling rage trembled in his expression. The soldiers behind him looked a lot less confident than those backing Vittoria. But Galen nodded.

Vittoria gave the party a nod, and she gave Uther a severe, but determined look. She was quietly asking if she did the right thing, and Uther set his jaw and gave her a solitary nod. The nod lifted a weight from Vittoria’s heart, and she walked past Maighread.

Vittoria stopped, her back still to her mother, but then she moved on, heading out of the city with a passive procession of people that needed to see what happened. Vel noted a surprising dearth of people that she believed to be Syndicate. She also saw Galen furiously searching for them, but they seemed to be nowhere to be found, as if they had vanished from his immediate sight.

They ventured not far from the city. Most of the people from Strom followed, and they approached a hill with a natural spiral to it. It was an important place where it was said the Arathi chiefs would meet in ancient history, and it had a significance. However, Vel and Gil also knew it was the location king Thoradin and Ignaeus Trollbane had the duel that marked the beginning of the Arathi Empire.

Uther had gotten close to Vittoria before she ascended and told her that he loved her, and that he was proud of her. Which earned a deep kiss from Vittoria.

Uther looked flushed and he breathily told her that he would absolutely continue to do that. Uther stumbled back to the group, completely flushed, but he tried to stone-face it up.

They moved to scrub the red war paint off Uther’s cheek, but Uther grabbed their hand.

Luma put a heavy hand on Uther’s shoulder with an approving look.

Vittoria looked at Vel and nodded in gratitude, as it was because of her she had found the truth, and Vel nodded back.

Galen and Vittoria made their way to the pinnacle, and the rest of the crowd circled the hill in a massive flock.

Galen had replaced his ceremonial armor with real armor, his soldiers uncertain if they were doing the right thing as they did not follow him to the crest of the hill. Princess Vittoria’s dress had been discarded in favor of crimson body paint that made up ancient sigils of protection, just as their ancestors did. She had a shield in one hand, and a blade in the other.

Galen hefted Trol’kalar in his hand.

Vittoria shook her head.

Vittoria raised her blade and pointed it at Galen, and she screamed. Magic surged around her as she used [Bloodlust], and she rushed forward at her father. She slammed into him, and knocked him clear on his back with her shield. Galen rolled back onto his feet and struck forward with Trol’kalar. Vittoria dodged out of the way of his first strike, but the other swing clashed off of her sword.

Vittoria returned the strike, and sparks flew as Galen blocked it. But then Vittoria was able to kick him straight in his chest, winding him as was knocked to the ground again. She jumped down on her father, but he rolled out of the way and tried to get her with his fist. She blocked it with her shield, and he cursed as the impact reverberated through his gauntlet.

Galen got up to feet again, and he struck out with his blade. He feinted, and tried to sweep his daughter’s legs. But she jumped back and stomped on Galen’s foot, who cried out in pain. He tried to grab Vittoria’s shield and vault himself at Vittoria’s head with the pommel of his sword. She staggered, but she regained her composure.

Galen blocked another hit, but Vittoria’s blade started to crackle with blue lightning. She looked complete surprised, which caused her strike to go wide. The pair of them clashed back and forth, and Galen was able to trip her up.

However, as Vittoria got back to her feet, she struck her father with a sudden surge of lightning. This time, Galen was ready for her shield bash. Vittoria kept up the assault, and she got a seemingly perfect lineup, but he was able to block the strike.

Vittoria growled in frustration, and lightning continued to spark off her sword. Galen was knocked on his back again. Vittoria brought her sword down, and Galen had to grab her sword, the electricity crackling through his armor as he rolled over to avoid the blow.

Galen scrambled to his feet and started to swing Trol’kalar in wild, predictable arcs. Vittoria threw her own sword aside and grabbed Trol’kalar in one hand. She shrugged her shield off and lightning crackled around her fist as she punched her father in his face.

Galen was sent sailing through the air and hit the ground. Vittoria still held Trol’kalar by its blade in her hand. She took the hilt of Trol’kalar in her other hand, and she walked toward her father.

She looked down at her friends, and her eyes lingered on Uther for a moment, before she looked at her father. Galen looked at her with pure terror in his eyes. A man terrified to die.

Vittoria ran at Galen and took the blade in two hands. She plunged it down… straight into the earth inches from Galen’s face.

Vittoria pulled Trol'kalar from the earth.

She turned to address Galen, as well as those gathered.

Galen scrambled to his feet, nursing bruises and wounds, and he dragged himself from the hill. The crowd started to shout, cursing his name and calling him names. Some of them threw stones. One of them struck his brow.

The crowd parted, allowing Galen to leave amidst looks of disdain. Tears of anger, embarrassment, and shame streamed down his face, now exiled from his own home.

Vittoria looked out to the crowd.

The crowd started to chant Vittoria’s name, and she smiled. Eventually the crowd began to disperse.

Vittoria headed toward Uther, and practically stumbled into Uther’s arms as the magic of the bloodlust left her. Uther lifted her into her arms.

Vittoria cried into Uther’s chest, and Uther also started to cry with her. Danath walked up near them, and he whispered she did great work.

As they headed back to the city, Vel sent a telepathic message to Vittoria, asking if she wanted her to drop rations off with Galen. Vittoria teared up again.

Vel gave her a nod, and she got Gil to help her collect the most needed materials for survival that were then collected up into a small cloth parcel. She then shifted into her raven form and grabbed it up in her beak before she took off.

She was able to find Galen without any issue at all. He was a miserable man in the trappings of a king. His hands were calloused and bruised from the fight with his daughter, and the efforts of trying and failing to start the fire. He had torn off his own cape and was using it as a blanket.

Vel fluttered down and strutted over with the bound parcel hanging from her back. She dropped it next to him. Galen looked at her, and then he reached over to take the parcel. He opened it and saw the dried rations and a few coins, flint and steel for a fire, and even a small dagger so he could defend himself or cut up whatever he was able to forage.

Vel imitated Vittoria’s voice.

Everything came crashing down on Galen at that moment, and he started to weep heavy, miserable, ugly sobs beneath his torn cape next to the failed fire. Vel took off, leaving him to the wilds as she returned to Strom.

The rest of the group brought Vittoria into the palace. Danath ensured everything was under control, and the party was invited to stay in the palace.

Luma asked Teemo if she thought they should check on Vittoria, but Luma immediately answered their own question as Uther was obviously with her and was probably doting on her and they were likely naked.

As Vel settled in to sleep, she reached out to Isiden via dream. He seemed confused at first, and he called out a hello, as he wasn’t usually aware of dreams like this. However, he seemed to have taken fairly good care of himself after escaping the werewolf apocalypse, as he was clean shaven and well-dressed.

He turned around and saw her in the dim light of the study room she had created.

She explained the situation with Aliden, and Isiden considered everything she had to say.

Vel chuffed at the pun, but she could see gears turning in Isiden’s mind.

Isiden got a devious expression across his face.

Isiden laughed.

They spent some time conspiring into the evening.

November 25th

The next morning, the party was invited to a delicious breakfast in the castle.

Vel and Gil both shot Uther a look.

Vittoria smirks.

Luma laughed and joked Uther should be denied coffee as they believed everything should be an outside thought.

Danath, meanwhile, talked to Vittoria about plans going forward, as ultimately she was now the ruler of Stromgarde, and the Syndicate would likely come collecting as Galen owed them a great deal of money. Vittoria said she had ideas on how to lean to a more gentle severance of the partnership. There was also the matter of the League, and Danath said Maighread had been brought into custody. Vittoria agreed she probably should speak with her, as she was her mother in the end.

Vittoria asked the group what their plans were, and they said they still had to investigate the binding stones before they had to head down to Stromwind. Vittoria asked Danath if she could help them with the binding circles at least. Danath gave her a look and reminded her she was the new queen after ousting the prior king and there were many things at work that they had to smooth over given the activities of the League of Arathor. Vittoria sighed and accepted that he was right.

Vel also mentioned that Siobhan probably would want to return with her special parcel, and Vittoria cursed and said she was probably going to be so mad she missed everything, but she would have to make it up to her. Vittoria sighed and said that she hoped the group could at least make the coronation, and Gil confirmed they wouldn’t miss it.

She glanced over at Danath.

Vittoria resigned herself to accepting the charity, and she said she would help them in other ways, as she promised Strom would stand with them when the time came. She then diverted topics, as she recalled Vel had said something about magic. Vel confirmed and stated Vittoria had likely put the pieces together given she doubted it was normal for her blade to crackle with lightning.

Uther’s face lit up.

Vel’s ears flattened slightly.

Gil gleefully explained that Vel had shot a frostbolt at one of their friends, and Vel added that she had been startled by her because she had jumped out of the woods pretending to be a troll.

Vel went to ask Aoibhe if she was planning on leaving immediately, and the woman admitted that there was far too much going on for her to make herself scarce too soon, she just had to believe that her mother wouldn’t burn the shop down while she was away. She also had to exchange words with Maighread, given how things panned out.

Uther grinned as he passed with Gil, and Aoibhe blinked.

Vel regarded Uther with a deadpan expression and stated that, ultimately, Uther was the loudest among them on such things, and the rest of them didn’t treat such matters as a picnic outing. Luma shot Uther a wry expression as they commented that it seemed to keep happening.

Luma raised their flask and took a swig from it, clearly cheekily counteracting the statement they just made. Aoibh raised a brow at them, but she wished the group luck on their pursuits.

After Aoibh left, Vel looked over at Uther.

Uther laughed.

Gil asked if a helmet would even help at that speed, and Teemo retorted it certainly wouldn’t hurt. Vel said they should probably head out, but after a pause she hesitantly added that she did try not to appear insane. Gil said that she was insane and he didn’t know what else to tell her.

Elissa shook her head and said they dealt with crazy things all the time.

Vel muttered about how that’s why her hair turned white, and Gil immediately retorted that it wasn’t because of them, that was because she got blow-back from the Sunwell. Teemo hummed and said she thought Vel was right.

Vel looked incredibly tired.

The group found a good vantage point and opted to double-teleport to the Valorcall Pass and then to the nearest circle of binding. Luma took the second teleport to the circle of binding they had seen, but they went awry and instead showed up at the circle of binding on Hatchet Ridge.

A logger shouted out a warning, and they all leaped out of the way of a falling tree. The peasant lumberjack asked if they were all alright, as they just appeared out of nowhere.

She muttered to herself in annoyance as she picked herself up and started to head towards the Circle of Binding.

Luma leaned over to Teemo.

They started to follow after Vel. Gil looked down to make sure he still had his hands and fingers.

They pointed at Vel.

Luma shushed her.

They made their way through the trees and headed down to the circle of standing stones.They could feel the magic pulsing off the circle of binding, and they were able to assess it was one of the ones that were supposedly being tampered with. Vel reached out to Chulainn, who met them at the circle.

This page was last edited on July 04, 2025, at 11:31 AM

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