Long before the sun formally sank before the horizon, the leaves of the Elwynn Forest had begun casting their long shadows. The warlock named Surena Caledon liked to think of it as a victory of Darkness and Shadow over the Light, albeit only a temporary one.
Once upon a time the sun setting over the horizon would have been a herald of the beginning of her day. She had lived in the nearby Stormwind, and had risen from her bed every night like one of the Forsaken, summoning her familiar succubus, and stalking the streets near pubs and bars for mortals just itching to have their souls drained. A warlock's power depended on being able to supply the demonic forces at her command with soul shards - and those required the death of her victims, and so she would watch while her succubus enchanted unwary, horny victims into a secluded spot nearby, and Surena would begin the ritual.
The bodies fed the canal crabs and creatures.
Until one of her victims fought their way back from her succubus' control, and vanquished the sayaadi and almost killing Surena herself. "I don't mind the pain as foreplay" he had snarled, "but the rest of the deal is off".
Surena had fallen in severe lust, or perhaps maybe even love. She had left Stormwind that night. Left her teacher and lover, Gakin the Darkbinder. Her whole world had become Erlan Drudgemoor. She had followed him into the Elwynn Forest, where he commanded the Defias in and nearby the Brackwell pumpkin farm. His band of Defias relieved unwary travelers to nearby Eastvale logging camp.
Unfortunately, life at the Brakenwell farm required that during the day, the pretense that the pumpkin farm was just another farm needed to be maintained. Erlan had placed her in charge of the deception, and a small detachment of guards who also served as farm labor at need.
Unfortunately, it also required her to be awake and alert during the daylight. Still, she loved Erlan, and he loved her. She wished she could convince her lover to leave the Defias - they could go anywhere, perhaps even Dalaran. She could grow in knowledge and power, and he could keep her safe! To her chagrin, however much he loved her, he was almost religiously devoted to the Defias Brotherhood. He would never leave them, and so she was stuck where she was.
"You look thoughtful tonight, Caledon" came a voice from behind her. She froze where she stood, near the doorway to the farmhouse; she would never forget that voice, but she knew better than to turn and look for it's source.
"Why have you returned to trouble me?" she asked, forcing herself to keep her voice strong and calm against her rising fear. Whoever the voice belonged to, it came on the wings of death; she knew from past history that at least a few of the Defias guards and sentries would be found dead when the owner of the voice had gone. The first time she had heard it, she had found Erlan had been knocked out by a blow to the head and hogtied like one of the farm swines ready for butchering. That time, the voice had demanded a piece of jewelry given her by her old teacher and spurned lover Gakin. They had searched afterward, with every mundane and magical means at their disposal, but had found nothing. other times, the voice had come asking questions about the Defias Brotherhood and their operations.
"The usual reason..." the voice chuckled. "Information. You have a friend named Varissa Goldgears. I require her location".
"I do not know her location," Surena informed. "She went off to Moonbrook with Marissa DuPage. I have not seen her nor heard from her since," she added, resentfully. Dupage was a mage and a Defias officer in charge of recruitment and training magical talent and looked down on Surena as an outsider, little more than Erlan's whore.
The silence that met her declaration was oppressive, but after a short interval, Surena resumed her routine; the voice had never been one for farewells, but rather vanished with the same abruptness it had manifested.
Surena smiled. Perhaps the owner of the voice would kill DuPage. If DuPage died, perhaps Surena could take her place; it was worth thinking about.
Maybe good would come of this, after all...
Once upon a time the sun setting over the horizon would have been a herald of the beginning of her day. She had lived in the nearby Stormwind, and had risen from her bed every night like one of the Forsaken, summoning her familiar succubus, and stalking the streets near pubs and bars for mortals just itching to have their souls drained. A warlock's power depended on being able to supply the demonic forces at her command with soul shards - and those required the death of her victims, and so she would watch while her succubus enchanted unwary, horny victims into a secluded spot nearby, and Surena would begin the ritual.
The bodies fed the canal crabs and creatures.
Until one of her victims fought their way back from her succubus' control, and vanquished the sayaadi and almost killing Surena herself. "I don't mind the pain as foreplay" he had snarled, "but the rest of the deal is off".
Surena had fallen in severe lust, or perhaps maybe even love. She had left Stormwind that night. Left her teacher and lover, Gakin the Darkbinder. Her whole world had become Erlan Drudgemoor. She had followed him into the Elwynn Forest, where he commanded the Defias in and nearby the Brackwell pumpkin farm. His band of Defias relieved unwary travelers to nearby Eastvale logging camp.
Unfortunately, life at the Brakenwell farm required that during the day, the pretense that the pumpkin farm was just another farm needed to be maintained. Erlan had placed her in charge of the deception, and a small detachment of guards who also served as farm labor at need.
Unfortunately, it also required her to be awake and alert during the daylight. Still, she loved Erlan, and he loved her. She wished she could convince her lover to leave the Defias - they could go anywhere, perhaps even Dalaran. She could grow in knowledge and power, and he could keep her safe! To her chagrin, however much he loved her, he was almost religiously devoted to the Defias Brotherhood. He would never leave them, and so she was stuck where she was.
"You look thoughtful tonight, Caledon" came a voice from behind her. She froze where she stood, near the doorway to the farmhouse; she would never forget that voice, but she knew better than to turn and look for it's source.
"Why have you returned to trouble me?" she asked, forcing herself to keep her voice strong and calm against her rising fear. Whoever the voice belonged to, it came on the wings of death; she knew from past history that at least a few of the Defias guards and sentries would be found dead when the owner of the voice had gone. The first time she had heard it, she had found Erlan had been knocked out by a blow to the head and hogtied like one of the farm swines ready for butchering. That time, the voice had demanded a piece of jewelry given her by her old teacher and spurned lover Gakin. They had searched afterward, with every mundane and magical means at their disposal, but had found nothing. other times, the voice had come asking questions about the Defias Brotherhood and their operations.
"The usual reason..." the voice chuckled. "Information. You have a friend named Varissa Goldgears. I require her location".
"I do not know her location," Surena informed. "She went off to Moonbrook with Marissa DuPage. I have not seen her nor heard from her since," she added, resentfully. Dupage was a mage and a Defias officer in charge of recruitment and training magical talent and looked down on Surena as an outsider, little more than Erlan's whore.
The silence that met her declaration was oppressive, but after a short interval, Surena resumed her routine; the voice had never been one for farewells, but rather vanished with the same abruptness it had manifested.
Surena smiled. Perhaps the owner of the voice would kill DuPage. If DuPage died, perhaps Surena could take her place; it was worth thinking about.
Maybe good would come of this, after all...
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