Ironmaw (IC--Closed RP)

Lore World's End Tavern: Role-play and Fan Fiction
135

“Keep your ears sharp and your eyes peeled…” Mithrian replied, staring intently into the fog. One ear twitched as an eerie hiss and several splashes sounded, though the murk muffled the noise and made it difficult to tell what might have caused such a sound. It did, however, sound disturbingly close.

The gryphon rider soon appeared above deck–a saddled gryphon in tow. Mounting the beast, he waved to Aorasia and gestured to the seat behind him on the saddle, casting a worried glance at the surroundings.

“Should still be able to fly in this mess, but we’ll need to make it quick. I do not want to stray too far from the ship in case it gets worse.”

“As far as I’m aware, the Kul’tiran fleet should still be in its harbor in Boralus,” Mithrian replied, taking note of the others as they appeared above deck. Good…the more eyes and ears we have, the better. He glanced at Myorga as he continued.

“It’s possible that a Kul’tiran vessel could be patrolling this far out, I suppose, but why would they be summoning a fog bank in the middle of nowhere? We are flying Alliance colors, after all.”

Mithrian paused, confusion flitting across his face briefly before a distant look settled in his eyes. Some of the crew seemed to share the reaction, now seemingly unconcerned with the present situation.

“Yes…yes…of course! I think you may be right about the tidesages…” the quel’dorei continued, taking a trance-like step towards the railing. “I think I hear them now…worshiping the sea…such beautiful voices…”

Indeed, there did seem to be someone singing out in the fog–a feminine voice, caressing the ears of those listening with melodious notes, though the language was quite alien. It seemed to speak of pleasant things, washing away all fears and beckoning to the ocean below. Those listening carefully, however, may discern a malicious undercurrent to the song, with encroaching splashes, hisses, and wingbeats that the notes attempted to hide. It was not long before serpentine shapes began to materialize in the fog.

136

Khalloy listened as the song carried upon the wind. It was quite beautiful, perhaps whoever these song slingers were are friendly? She didn’t pick up on anything else than the enthralling song. She brought herself closer to the edge of the ship, intent on seeing them first.

Glinda wasn’t so certain though. She wasn’t really affected by the music and heard strange noises intermingled into the work. “A word of caution, I think these creatures are not what they might appear to be.” She said to Khalloy, but Khalloy didn’t seem to notice or care.

137

Myorga looked at Mithriann quizzically. She heard nothing in the fog, no song of the tidesages. Listen more closely a dark voice beckoned her. I can hear it. Let me out, I want to destroy them.

Myorga looked very alarmed, first because she heard nothing, but the song was beckoning to the worgen spirit in her blood. LET ME OUT, FOOL, YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS. The voice was more insistent this time.

Myorga closed her eyes and let the spirit show her what she needed to hear. Over the sound of the waves came the siren song, but it was a foul, dischordant song to her ears. Do you hear it now? The sirens approach. Stop the fool before he dies.

Myorga raised her voice. “NO!”, she almost shouted as she flung herself between the captain and the railing. Loba, who had followed her faithfully, clamped down on a corner of the Captain’s clothing and tugged a little to get his attention. Myorga reached up to clamp her hands over his ears just as the shapes began to materialize in the fog. “These aren’t tidesages!”, she shouted at him.

138

“What is that noise?” Tolbyas thought he heard a hiss out from the waters. He shook his head as he put away the poison rags. His daggers were coated enough. He saw the crew do something odd. They seemed to stare off into the distance, captain too. How peculiar, Tolbyas mused. He took a step towards them when something caressed his ears.

”Come swim. Come swim, lovely. The water is ever so warm, ever so soothing. All you age old aches and pains will ebb away, if only you would come swim with me.” It sounded feminine, melodic, and soft. Soft enough to be a woman’s whisper right into his ear.

Tolbyas felt his face flush as he glanced to his side. “W-where are you? I would swim, but I cannot find you.” He walked sluggish towards the side of the boat, his steps akin to a drunken sailor, his cold exterior gone in a soft and warm bliss.

139

Ezari thought she saw a serpent like shape forming in the fog, but she wasn’t sure. She moved her face closer to the porthole as she tried to get a better look. What was it? Something sounded melodic, muffled through the glass of the porthole. Ezari tilted her head as she heard it, but she could not make sense of it.

Something was going on, however, and that something meant she needed to be back on deck. Ezari rubbed her arms to nullify the pin pricks in her skin as she made her way out of the room and down the hall. As she breached the deck, Ezari immediately put her hands over her ears. Voices, she heard voices. Beautiful, sing song voices.

“Get out of my head.” Ezari snarled and a bubble of light formed around her. “Out of my head. Light shield me. Light shield me.” Her voice was ragged as the holy power of the Light formed a shield around her at the cost of great pain. Ezari’s eyes twitched as she struggled to stay standing. As the Light empowered her, the voices died down. Ezari relaxed through the pain and looked around to assess the situation.

The man that had accosted her prior was stumbling towards the side of the boat. Why? Ezari made her way towards him when another commotion caught her eyes. She saw another trying to shield the captain’s ears. Perhaps whatever was speaking was being heard by everyone, maybe a spell? Ezari scowled and ran towards Tolbyas before he could throw himself over the edge.

“You fool!” Ezari snapped as she grabbed his uppers arms and strained to pull him away from the edge. “Snap out of it!” Tolbyas seemed not to heed her as she tugged on him and tried to pull him away. Ezari began to grow more frantic and had an idea. She moved her hands from his arms to the side of his head and began to channel shadow magic into his mind. Perhaps mind pain would wake him from this stupor.

140

Huulto growled, but had to focus his attention on the brute. “Captain!” He called over the din of combat, “They are after the Azerite, I am sure of it now! We must deny them their prize! Murlocs have gone below deck, we need to send some of our own to expend the ammunition!” Huulto shouted, shifting from his ursine form back to his former Tauren one, though his hands remained transformed into ursine claws. He collided with the brute with a great crack, wrestling with the thing for control over the deck. Hooves found better purchase in the wood than padded paws, and Huulto snarled. Ursol and Ursoc had granted him the strength needed to contest such a massive creature, but it would take full dedication of his power for Huulto to stand a chance.

“Make them bleed, and grant them no victory this day!” Huulto commanded with all the authority of a battle-tested elder.

143

Aorasia hopped on the back of the gryphon and they headed out towards her ship as the singing started. Aorasia looked around looking for the source of the singing, but not before she felt the effects of the song. Such a lovely melody. Such a beautiful… Aorasia shook her head violently and growled. Damn sirens. Her mind was heavy with their magic, but the vermin were common enough around Freehold she could resist for a moment and a moment was all she needed. She threw her hands into her pouch and quickly pulled out some cotton she kept there for just this purpose. She quickly stuffed it into her ears and the song and its damnable magic were muffled.

With that issue resolved, she had another more pressing issue. Namely the soldier flying the gryphon was diving straight towards the waves. “Ahoy! stay focused! Its th’ damned sirens!” She shouted at him, but all she could hear in response was some incoherent babbling about joining ‘his mistress of the sea’. Aorasia rolled her eyes and muttered something about the weak wills of Alliance soldiers. With a few quick jabs, the man slumped over in the saddle. Aorasia reached around and pulled back on the reins, getting a squawk from the mount.

“Easy ya beastie. We ain’t gon’ be serpent grub tonight…” She tried to assure the creature. It was well trained at least since it wasn’t fighting her touch. She turned to look back at the Alliance ship and she could see the crew on board walking towards the edge in a trance… but it was also likely that her crew, even if they were more competent than these Alliance lapdogs, were likely also under attack.

She growled in frustration but turned the reins towards the single glowing lantern in the distance that marked her ship. A captain’s first duty is to her crew. She would be back for the remains of the Alliance crew when her own ship was safe.

144

Raiku turned around, flames licking his fingers as he prepared to blast whatever threatened the ship, and by extension, him. He heard something in the water off the side of the ship and saw shape appearing in the fog. He could feel the music brushing against his mind. He ignored it, the magic song of some sea creature wasn’t going to stand up to growing up in the Twisting Nether where even a breath from some creature was enough to break your mind.

Once he had a solid sight on one of the creatures, he channeled his power into a spell bolt, drew his arm back to throw it… and then all of the chaotic energies from his spell faded as Kawisa ‘stepped’ forth.

“Such a pretty song…” The elf stated as he slowly walked towards the edge of the ship.

What are you doing?! Raiku roared within their shared mind. He tried to take over once more, but his struggles were fruitless. The tones of the siren’s song were louder in Kawisa’s head than Raiku’s obscenities.

As the edge of the ship drew closer, Raiku tried to channel his magic without being in control, something he had not done before. Kawisa kept walking.

145

Lynara sent several arrow at the Brute, probably more of an annoyance than anything but it might help the tauren keep his footing against the beast. She pulled out her sword in one hand and a dagger in the other, her bow slung back over her back. She slid between a pair of combatants before leaping over a naga entirely, her blade dragging across the back of his neck. She landed and stabbed a murloc before continuing under deck.

She did her best, killing murloc after murloc trying to route them completely but so many of them had swarmed below deck. Her blades were dripping with their blood, it was splattered over her as well. Her pale flesh a sharp contrast to the dark red. “Spread out!” She barked out at any crew down here. “Find any others and don’t stop until her know the ship is secured!” She added as she began hunting.

146

Runas nearly lost his footing when the bear he stood on changed into Huulto the tauren from earlier. As the massive naga creature began to contend with Huulto, the small Vulpera barely managed to cling to the tauren’s back without dropping his daggers.

He caught a glimpse of the small fish men going below deck and the dead girl chasing them, but couldn’t easily move to assist lest the giants trample him as they wrestled. When the duo were caught in a stand-still the rogue managed to flip the handle of one dagger into his mouth to allow a free hand to grip the tauren’s robes more securely. He had to help end this quickly, and help hunt down those things that went below.

Waiting for a lull in the wrestling between the two giants did not take long, and Runas sprung into action as soon as he thought himself able - practically throwing himself up onto Huulto’s shoulder and, using his momentum, leaping up into the air over the behemoth. He spun around as he began to descend, spitting his blade back into his free hand before plunging both envenomed daggers into the flesh on the brute’s back.

Leaving the blades in the naga brute’s back to let the venom work more effectively Runas kicked off and flipped backwards onto the deck, narrowly avoiding a naga’s trident as it jabbed at the tiny fox man. He swiped a cutlass from the wooden planks at his feet and lunged forward, slashing the naga across the belly as he dashed past. As much as he wanted to help below decks, the fight above was far from over. Using his agility and speed the Vulpera charged at a sailor who was struggling and dodged around his legs, stabbing his blade into the surprised sea snake to allow the troll a moment to finish the snake off.

Though his body ached and his muscles screamed for a rest, Runas turned to the man and nodded, panting. He couldn’t stop until the ship was secure. He had to prove his people’s worth!

147

Kaledane Gazed off into the distance, something was very wrong, he began hearing a quiet melody, unable to understand what he is hearing at first.

listening closer he swears something made him hear a familiar voice, but somehow strange, trying to spot where it’s coming from he goes wide eyed at what he sees.

stepping forward “Jessica!” he says with a surprised shock in his voice, he finds himself walking forward slowly at first, he was dead focused on the sight.

he only stops till he stumbles forward, nearly collapsing on the floor boards entirely, but he stands back up slowly.

he won’t stop till someone stops him or stops who ever is causing the melody.

150

The tauren’s heroic actions and words spurred the crew into a frenzy–the tide of battle beginning to turn against the remaining naga much more quickly. Adding to Huulto’s inspiring shout was a guttural roar from Tor’ghar himself, as the orcish captain vaulted over a pile of crates into a knot of serpentine warriors and flailing murlocs.

Meanwhile, the few murlocs that had slipped past the swift blades and arrows of the dark ranger were beginning to return to the decks, carrying small bags of azerite gunpowder or azerite-infused ammunition with them. Though they still seemed intent on staying out of the fray and returning to the sea, their ill-gotten prizes were weighing them down quite a bit and impeding their efforts significantly.

The naga brute roared, wresting an arm free from the tauren to flail wildly at his back, scratching and clawing in a bid to remove the foxman. Try as he might though, his body was much too bulky to allow him the necessary reach; the attempts merely ripping scales loose and leaving the flesh beneath vulnerable to attack.

151

The quel’dorei offered little resistance, still continuing his trance-like walk towards the railing as the siren song continued. Only when Myorga clamped her hands over his ears did he put up a fight, trying to first push her away, then trying to wriggle free of her grasp. A confused look washed over him as come clarity returned to his eyes–irritated gaze locking on the Gilnean huntress.

“What in blazes are you doing?! Get off me!”

His protests were cut short as several piercing screechs cut through the air, disrupting the song; the sirens swooping down from the veil of fog and striking at those most vulnerable.

The gryphon rider remained in a daze, though years of experience riding allowed him to remain in the saddle purely on reflex. The gryphon cocked its head, peering back at Aorasia with one eye as it sized up the unfamiliar Pandaren. It gave a low squawk, but continued to obey her commands.

Meanwhile, serpentine shapes circled in the fog ahead, unsettling hisses and screeches coupled with snatches of entrancing song carrying across the water.

152

Khalloy was near the edge of the ship when the song subsided. She was rather quite viciously knocked over as some of the sirens swooped across the deck of the ship. She landed with a dull thud on the ground and it shook her from the trance as now their vessel seemed to be under attack.

She shook her head, trying to rid herself of her lingering haze. A few moments after is subsided her hand glowed with a purple-green hue ready to strike at whatever just attacked her. She picked out a target and sent a shadowy bolt towards them.

153

Kalithos adjusted his glasses after setting his medical bag into the makeshift sickbay only to realize what the source of these storms were cursing his breath. "I knew there’d be trouble but not so soon. He’s place his hand over the trinket he kept clipped to his tie as his armor appeared on him “One of these days,I’ll figure out how Damalys made this it’s been handy so far!” He quickly ran outside to help the Alliance members fighting the now invading sirens and naga alike his labcoat replaced with a tabard bearing the Argent Crusade crest. He filled his shield with holy light and tossed it towards a few knocking them senseless before catching the shield and striking them down with his sword. He evaded the attack of another before slamming his shield into the creature to knock it back “Is everyone alright thus far?! Bring any injured you can to sick bay and I can treat them once this threat’s been culled!!” he called out.

154

Velleineda’s hand grasps the face of the siren that mere moments ago had been singing sweet, sensual nothings into her ear. If she were being wholly honest, she didn’t quite mind the soothing song and tantalizing talk, no. What she minded was that she was dinner, to this temptress. She had witnessed numerous sirens dart into the fog.

“You are going to take me to whatever ship your sisters have found.” She commanded, and at the flicker of defiance, backed up her authority with a hand coated in lightless flame. “And I assure you, diving will not save you.”

Mere moments later, a siren sailed over the ship’s deck like a bat out of hell, before being immolated in pitch black, a slender, robed form rolling across the deck to stop against the door. “I’ve had worse ideas…” Velleineda groaned out, before standing up and presenting both hands weaving netherflame. She addressed the crew of the ship quickly, “I would love to explain, but this is a most inopportune time. So instead, I wish to bargain for my passage across the waves, in exchange for my services and power. Do you find this agreeable, yes or no, please respond quickly.” She said, voice rushed and tense.

155

Kawisa blinked as a majority of the siren’s song lost it’s power, not even a moment later he felt the wrath of Raiku pushing at his mind. Whether his control slipped, or if he just moved out of the way of his mental companion’s demands he couldn’t say, but Raiku was MORE than ready to unless his wrath. He let out an inhuman (in-elven?) roar as his connection to the Nether flared to life.

He was too pissed to notice the other humanoid form that appeared on deck even if she wielded a similar energy to his own. As he let loose his first volley of energy blasts, he didn’t even notice the ethereal wings that shimmered in the air behind him revealing a hint to his true nature. His blasts struck true; blasting a pair of harpies that were more eager to get early pickings than to dodge. They shrieked with pain, but didn’t fall yet. Raiku was too lost in his rage to care as he simply threw out more blasts at the invading sirens.

156

Kaledane’s vision altered moment he heard the screams, but merely looked in confusion as the vision of his sister suddenly turns into a serpent with wings that knocked him down.

The beast manage to tackle him tackle him to the ground, with his vision cleared he attempted to dog all the bites from the winged serpent.
pushing the creature back slightly, he punches it square in the jaw, and pushes it off when it tries to recover from the strike.

grabbing the knife hidden in his shield, he rushes forward too finish off the creature with a series of multiple stabs towards it’s chest, with the siren dead, he turns too look for more, he spotted an elf as he shouted.

not to be out shined in such a feat, he picks up his sword and looks for another siren to come nearby, moment he spots one approaching, he began sprinting towards the edge of the boat, and then leaps off too grab a-hold of one.

He forces her too fly near the boat and he lays a series of stabs in most violent way he can, even decapitating it with the sharp part of his shield.
whence finished he looked up and howled out a war like-cry in a tempt to terrify any remaining sirens in the area.

158

Kill. Kill the one who forgets the Light. Offer his body to us.

Voices whispered in Ezari’s head as the level of magics in her body shifted. She kept her focus on the task at hand, trying to cause a massive headache and break the hold on Tolbyas. Watch out! You risk yourself for one who cares not! Ezari glanced around and nearly lost her grip on Tolbyas’s face. The pair were right at the edge of the ship, a misstep from her could be the end of the man.

Ezari snarled, though she did feel some relief as the shadowy void magics worked through her and into him. She focused on herself for a moment as she toned down the life magics she needed to maintain herself. Otherwise, the holy force of Light would rend her asunder for her transgressions within the shadows. This balance she maintained was delicate, but she was adamant in her devotion to the Light. The force that saved her from eternal torment and solitude in the nether.

“Gah!” Ezari missed the sirens’ attacks and one slammed her with its tail. Ezari stumbled forward and gasped as she inadvertently pushed Tolbyas over the edge. “No!” Ezari barely grabbed his wrist in time as he fell over, but the force slammed her chest into the rail. The elf was far heavier than she, and she was not a physical fighter.

Ezari gripped his wrist with both hands and pushed her feet against the rail. “Wake up you fool!” Ezari snapped out as she glanced behind herself. The siren was coiling around for another lunge at her.

159

The beautiful, melodic voice danced in Tolbyas’s ears as he swayed towards the ship’s edge. His lips twisted into a blissful, possessed grin and he occasionally giggled. It wasn’t until Ezari gripped his temples that a part of him started to wake up.

Pain pulsed behind Tolbyas’s eyes as Ezari focused on trying to snap him out of the stupor. All the while, Tolbyas internally fought with himself. To drift off into the warm sea and swim away? No, that was wrong. Wrong. As Tolbyas fought mentally, his physical body remained still. A saving grace as it allowed Ezari to continue her work.

Something slammed into him and Tolbyas could feel his body start to fall. And then stop. A jerk of his left arm told him someone grabbed him. Why did they? He just wanted to swim after all. No, something… something was wrong.

W.k. u. .o. …ol. Another voice snapped through Tolbyas’s ears as he hung there, but he could not make out their words. Tolby. Tolbyas felt a warmth inside him as his heartbeat quickened. That was a voice he knew. Wake up and make me breakfast. The familiar whip like crack of her voice snapped Tolbyas’s eyes open. A dream?

“Oh! Oh titans what-” Tolbyas looked around frantically as he sought to take in the scene. He was hanging on the edge of the ship by… Ezari? And she seemed to be struggling to hold him. Tolbyas frowned and pressed his feet against the ship’s side. Using that leverage, he pushed off and jumped back onto the deck, landing on top of Ezari and coincidentally covering both from a siren’s charge.

“Sorry. Sorry.” Tolbyas scrambled to his feet and pulled out his daggers. As the siren circled to attack again, Tolbyas charged. As soon as it was close enough, he vanished and appeared behind it. He stabbed his daggers into the siren’s ‘wings’ and slammed its body onto the ship’s deck. The siren whipped its tail around and knocked Tolbyas off, but his poisons were starting to take hold. Its motions were slowing.

But not as fast as he anticipated. A tail slap to the face wiped Tolbyas’s smug grin from his face. However, Ezari was ready and shot forth a tether of shadow magic between her and the siren. Slowly, along with the poisons, the shadow tether ate the siren’s mind and left an empty husk on the ship.