Undead were universally considered an abomination. In the thousand plus years since the time of Founder Brimir, there had been ONE time that the elves had cooperated with the humans - and that had been against a city of undead.
Well, perhaps 'cooperation' was a bit more than what they'd had. More of an agreement to make sure nothing got out of there and to not get in each other's way.
Headmaster Osmond was a lot sharper than he usually let on. If there was really a NATION of undead out there, allowing them anywhere near his world was not a good idea at all.
"Well, as amusing as all this has been," said the Death Knight, pulling a fist-sized rock out of a belt-pouch. "Let's see if this works."
Osmond noted the knight appeared to be less than confident in this endeavor, but watched carefully while trying to identify the magic being used.
"Ardrukat harth dur felekan. Invoke!"
Crack! went the stone, breaking neatly in half.
"So much for me hearthstone," said the knight. "All right. Perhaps a Death Gate."
"What are you doing?" asked Professor Colbert.
"Trying to return home from my own abilities," said the knight. "Hearthstones and Death Gate will work most of the time, even across worlds. There are times though, mostly in dungeons or around warping magical fields that I'm told they don't function as well as could be."
The Death Knight made a few passes in the air, leaving glowing trails of translucent green behind. When he finished, the last line faded away.
"Well, crap," said the knight. "Maybe outside?"
If the knight had been able to depart, that would have been best by Osmond's view.
Instead, the knight had tried again to summon his 'gate' and failed.
What he HAD produced though were steeds of various sorts.
A horse, a mechanical bird of some kind, a winged black lion-like creature, a gryphon (which had drawn a squeeing sound from Louise), and some sort of horned beast.
Then he gestured and summoned a rat-like creature, which brought a further frown to the knight's face and a comment about how it seemed to have grown somehow since Stormwind.
"Okay, this isn't good," admitted the knight. "I can summon mounts and battlers. But hearthstones and my gates are ineffective?"
Osmund didn't indicate his disappointment that the familiar would not be able to leave with a minimum of fuss.
"Waitaminute," said Colbert, flipping back in his notes. "Elves?"
"Yes, in my world there are two varieties of elves," said Bane, checking one pouch after the other, then finally materializing a large backpack and checking through it. "The race split into two. The peace-loving nature-oriented sort known as the Night Elves, and their philosophical opposites - the Blood Elves."
Osmund knew already that one of the reasons the 'worgen' had shifted to human shape was that the other form was too easily read. The human form still had a few "tells" that were indicating things other than the obvious. For example, the worgen was apparently going through his equipment but he was also carefully checking reactions of those around him. Understandable - as he WAS in unfamiliar territory.
"Elves? 'Peace-loving'? 'Nature-oriented'?" asked Louise, sounding as if the concepts were completely foreign to her.
"Oh yes," said Bane, finding something and flipping it over towards the pinkette.
It never made the journey however, as air WAS Osmund's element and stopping it from making the journey was a simple task. "Oh?"
Which revealed the item was an unfamiliar one. Two of what were clearly elves sculpted of a single white stone and joined at the base.
"I've never found a use for it," said Bane. "Other than putting down a beam of green light."
"Magic?" asked Colbert.
"Yes, something of a commemorative piece," agreed Bane. "If you want to study it - feel free."
Osmund gaped for a moment before covering it. A chance to study elven magic? Perhaps it was just as well this odd familiar was stuck with them for a bit.
"Where's the bloody kitchen anyway?" grumbled Bane as he prowled yet another corridor.
"Sir," said one of the servitors of the castle, approaching him.
This was notable as most of the servitors had been ducking into doors and passageways as he approached.
"Kitchen?" asked Bane, pointing in what he hoped was the correct direction.
"No sir, this is the living quarters, kitchen is on the first floor," said the maid-type.
"Ah, could you direct me, by any chance?" asked Bane. Always paid to be polite to the staff.
"Certainly sir, but if I may..." asked the maid.
"Speak, child, I won't bite your head off," said Bane. At least in Stormwind they stopped cowering and throwing things after the King made his proclamation. Well, mostly. Doesn't keep some people from being holdouts though.
"Good to know," admitted the maid. "If you could please find quarters outside the castle?"
"Huh? No objection, I've spent many a time camping out," admitted Bane. Soldiers had to do that quite a lot after all. "Why though?"
The maid hesitated before blurting out an explanation. "You're scaring the piss out of the other familiars."
"Well," admitted Bane. "I suppose I am a bit intimidating."
"No sir, literally," said the maid, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "The cleaning staff is being quite overwhelmed."
"Ah, I see," said the worgen. That would explain some of the scents.
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(Posted Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:59)
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