(( Setting: This story starts approximately 30 days before Kazzak Reopened the Dark Portal, so therefore before The Burning Crusade. Every few posts or so someone can say how long until the Portal opens - E.g. "26 days to go". (In Rp days, not real ones!). This Rp story serves as a means to show your character's first experiences of Outland. Have fun! )) (Open to both Horde and Alliance.)

30 Days to go.

Mctagg was virtually melting in the blistering heat of Stranglethorn Vale. He had flies buzzing around his head, and his long beard was starting to itch terribly. He had a Cougar Pelt slund over his shoulder, and it was starting to smell.
"Dwarves can't stand the heat" Mctagg moaned to his Pet, a rather large Albino Gorilla. "We prefer the cold. Cold weather, Cold Women, and Cold Ale. That's us Dwarves."
Mctagg was making his way to the rebel camp, hoping to sell his freshly caught pelts. Like many, he was totally unaware of the upcoming event that would change Azeroth forever.

As Mctagg headed on over to the Rebel Camp he heard a huge explosion shake the very floor he was walking on. A huge blast of what seemed to be pure darkness erupted and a Paladin came crashing down onto the forest floor. As he got up and dusted himself off Mctagg lowered his weapon.
"What be yer name stranger?"
"Sunenergi," he replied "And I'm gonna need as much help as I can get...follow me!"

29 days to go.

"For the love of the Lady! Someone get more ropes up here!!"
Necoco hurled another bolt of flickering shadows at the hulking, smoking beasts trying to crawl out of the crater. Several Orcs ran up, bearing a massively thick rope, coated in a thick black substance that prevented the demons burning it. With a sigh, Necoco pointed his sword at the nearest creature which was attempting to pass several soldiers and decpitate him in a rather unpleasant way. With various grunts they hurled the rope, and it collided with the beast. As it writhed on the ground, trying to remove the enchanted rope, Necoco began to channel his powers and unleashed a mystical chain upon it. He felt their minds begin to meld, and then he had control of the creature. His grip was tenuous but it held. The demon rose to its feet, and Necoco commanded it to turn on its fellows. Three Felguards fell before the demons realised what was going on. They fell upon and tore his new minion to peices. As more soldiers fell upon the feasting demons, Necoco turned away and ran a hand through his lank, decaying hair. Cursing his rotten joints, he hiked up his robe and began walking back to the Horde camp outside the crater. To no one in particular he muttered,
"Something's bringing these demons swarming in, and I'm willing to bet my hideously rotting ass that it's not good..."

"Eh, Sunenergi Lad, can ye explain to me what's happening?" Mctagg asked, as his short legs tried to catch up with the Paladin. "That explosion looked nasty, and rumours are going around about the Blasted Lands..."

Thaïs sat with her knees up by her chin, her hands on top, as she watched the gryphon's fly in at Nethergarde Keep.

Her blond hair fell to her shoulders, which she brushed away from her blue eyes with her dainty fingers. She looked bored. She wasn't waiting for anyone in particular - she was just looking for someone to tag along with so she could hide behind them if things got messy.

Thaïs had heard that there were strange things happening in the southern direction, things at the keep were frantic and she had never seen so many wounded people. She was sick of simply tending for the wounded and getting garbled snippets of information about what was going on. Mainly involving demons.

The priestess had come here originally to help the medics and other healers. Now she wanted to get out there and 'kick bottom' as she knew her older sisters was doing. Thaïs had not heard from her two sisters since they had left 'for adventure' as they put it.

Right now the keep was quiet, as quiet as it cold be at this time. Thaïs continued to watch the gryphons.

"Warlock! Report!"
A young Orc officer was jogging up to Necoco's position on a cliff overlooking the crater. He put away his dagger and said,
"The demons continue to arrive from the west, and we barely have the troops to keep them penned up south of us, much less stop them arriving in droves. Something is hapenning to the portal, our scouts report seeing the blue glow around it beginning to turn turqoise. We need reinforcements frankly."
"Very well," said the Orc, "You are to read these orders then burn them. The commander also says that if you tell anyone of these orders, undeath will be the least of your problems!"

For a moment, Necoco had to resist the urge to slaughter this upstart, but only for a moment. He was working on self-control, and it seemed to be working. Opening the scroll, he read,

Warlock,
You are to travel to the Alliance fortress to the north and negotiate a ceasefire. We wish to prevent an attack on our northern flank to free up troops for the south. Go with haste and do not anger them.

With a roar, Necoco incinerated the scroll, incinerated a nearby imp, then incinerated several plants for good measure. After summoning his mount, he went off in search of a flag of truce.

28 Days to go
"Halt, Dwarf, and you, Paladin, in the name of the Alliance." Said a tall Night Elf in heavy armour, as the duo reached the Rebel Camp. "You have been called to fight for the Alliance in the Blasted Lands, against Demons of the Burning Legion. Something is happening with the Dark Portal..." - Mctagg exchanged a 'Told you so' glance with the Paladin - "And we need you. Talk to the Flight Master and get there as soon as possible." The Elf boomed, before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"The Cheek!" Mctagg fumed. "He didn't even give us money for the flight, and everyone knows those Flight Master are gold-grabbers."
The rest of his moaning was drowned out by the strangely loud jangling noise he made as he rummaged through his pocket for coins.

28 days to go....

Thaïs was rudely awakened in the early hours of the morning by the sound of alarm bells throughout the keep.

The priestess wandered out of bed and opened her door in her nightdress, she was still rubbing her eyes from being awoken early. Everyone was running around madly - Thaïs decided to find out what was happening in the easiest way possible

"Excuse me?! Yes you there. Please, by the light, what is going on?" she asked a passing guard as she leaned out of her window her room at the Inn.

"Nothing to worry about, Priestess. Just a visitor" the guard said as he continues towards the gate.

Thaïs knew that most visitors to the keep never caused as much of a stir as this, perhaps it had something to do with the whereabouts of her sisters.

Not even bothering to change into something more practical the blond ran out of her room, through the Inn (followed by 'wolf-whistles' from younger drunks) and out into the court yard. The air was still hot in this part of the world, Thaïs didn't feel cold at all.

Not being able to see what was happening, the guard presence at the front gate were obstructing her view, th priestess shimmied up a drain pipe in her silken night-wear. The view from the walls gave her a good view of what was approaching. The sight made her blink and rub her eyes in incomprehension...... was that a truce flag?!

Mctagg had just landed at Nethergarde, and oblivious to the Chaos occuring outside, he was looking up in interest at the Human Priest who was peering over a wall whilst holding on to a Drainpipe.
"Ye need a hand lass?" Mctagg shouted. "I'd also appreciate it if ye could tell me what's going on."

"Hold monster! Take not a step forward lest you be slaughtered where you stand! Speak, what is your prupose here!"

Necoco couldn't help but credit the soldier above him. He knew the whole song and dance of this kind of thing. The warlock had ridden to just beyond the range of bows on the cliffs above him. He could only hope that they would choose not to waste a ballista bolt in removing him. Raising his voice and waving his flag high he said,
"I come unarmed and under a flag of truce! My commander wishes me to negotiate on his behalf with you!"
"On what terms?"
"He wishes to arrange a ceasefire, but I am ordered to not share this with anyone but your negotiators! I daresay shouting will not help that! Do I have permission to enter?"
There was silence for a moment, save the creak of taught bow strings and the muttering of soldiers. For 15 minutes, Necoco sat there and won a staring contest with a soldier above him (quite easy since he no longer had eye lids). Finally, a response came,
"Dismount and await an escort! You will relieve yourself of all weapons, and submit to a full magical search! Any treachery will be met with deadly force! Understood?"
"Perfectly..."

Now, a squad of heavily armed soldiers made their way down the road, pulling up before him. The leader, a dwarf, said,
"Surrender your weapons now beast, or be destroyed."
As he spoke he levelled a shotgun at Necoco, squarely between his eyes. All undead creatures dislike shotguns, they had an excellent capacity to remove limbs and heads, which was pretty much one of the few sure fire ways to stop an undead foe. Removing his dagger belt, and handing over his wand, Necoco growled,
"Here, and don't call me beast. Or be destroyed."
The soldier's sword arm twitched, but it stayed in its scabbard. A young magician or priest rode up, and Necoco had to force himself not to stare, for she appeared to be still wearing a sleeping gown. He may be dead but he still had an appriecition for an attractive member of the fairer sex. She said,
"I am going to search you for any magical means of concealment or deception," and then she held out her hands, closed her eyes and muttered. Necoco felt a strange shivering as the Light wahsed over him, a thouroughly unpleasant sensation. He had once been struck by a priestly spell during a clash with the Alliance in Ashenvale, and it felt much like this.

The search over, the Dwarf said,
"Ye will mount and follow us now. We'll take ya to ya negotiator!"
With that, the patrol turned and began riding up to the fortress. After passing through the gate, with several archers watching them, they reigned in before a Paladin. He said,
"Greetings Forsaken. I am Sunenergi, and I am to be your negotiator. Mctagg here is to be our guard, and Thaïs will be assisting me in the negotiations. Please follow me."
Dismounting, Necoco supressed a shudder at the stink of the Light around the paladin, and followed.

All eyes were on the Undead as the group marched across the fortress towards the keep. The Undead was watching the Soldiers closely, scowling and muttering curses under his breath.
Mctagg pressed the Shotgun into his back - "I may not want to, Undead, but I'm under orders to kill ye if ye so much as speak right now. To be honest, I'm not the murdering type of guy."

The undead sent shivers of revulsion down her spine. She hide her feelings well.

Thaïs also followed Sunenergi through the keep till they reached one of the conference rooms within the keep. It was there that she offered a seat to their guest.

She wished she had had a chance to get changed but she was going to have to conduct the negotiations in her white silk nightie - not the most 'professional' of clothes to wear, but certainly the most flattering and revealing

Mctagg leaned over to Thaïs as the Undead sat down.
"Yer weapons search was accurate, right?" The Dwarf asked.
"Yes, as accurate as possible. I have faith in my powers of the Light." The Priestess said.
"Good. Let's hope the search was as revealing about the Undead's magical powers as your Gown is your legs." Mctagg said, with a chuckle.
"Silence please. Negotiations have started." The Paladin boomed, halting the Dwarf's laughter.

Once the Paladin had finished yelling at the trigger-happy dwarf and the morally loose priestess, he turned to Necoco. They stared at each other for a long moment, each appraising the other. Finally Thaiss broke the silence,
"As much as I enjoy sitting here in my nightie, could we perhaps get to the point of this meeting?"
"Aye, the lass be right! Time's a wastin'!" agreed McTagg, banging the butt of his gun on the table. Necoco scowled at him, then said,
"This is a simple point. Are you aware of what is occuring at the Portal to the south?"
"We have our suspicions, but the large scale military presence of your people has prevented us getting scouts close enough. Can I assume that this is to be the subject of this meeting?"
"You can assume that your own mother is Mr Bigglesworth, beloved pet of Kel'Thuzad, and I wouldn't care. I am not one for lengthy negotiations, so I will lay this out on the line. The Portal is becoming somewhat active, and demons are swarming into the crater from the west. My commanders wish to free troops from our northern flank and move them to press our attack on the Portal."

There was silence. It was obvious to all that a ceasefire was on the table. Sunenergi ran a hand through his hair. "I expected a long, drawn-out negotiation," he said, "With complicated tacticts designed to confuse us. This is a surprise, and I half expect you to have a hidden agenda. I must consult with the base commander. Thaiss, please show our guest the facility. I will not have it said that I am not a gracious host. McTagg, I would appreciate it if you went with them."
The priestess took one look at Necoco, his frightening undead appearance made all the worse by the pall of demonic magic around him, and said,
"Allright, but I want to go and get changed first."
"I'm fine with coffin-sitting him, lad," said McTagg as he stood, "Come with me and we'll find you something to eat, while the lass makes herself presentable."
Necoco stood, and hid his distaste at the offer. He would much rather sit in silence and await the response, but it was more important to appear interested. If the worst came to the worst he had his dagger hidden in his ribcage...

(( OOC - You know.... I've never really been comfortable with people taking over my characters. Luckily what was said so far isn't too different from what she would normally would have said. But call her 'morally loose' again and that paladin will have to eat through a straw for the rest of his life.... Mctagg would already be in the situation for making such a rude comment. Not her fault she was woken in the early hours of the morning =P
I know what I have just said may very well end this thread but, please, you don't know my characters, don't play them))

The Priestess stormed out the room as fast as she could, furious with the dwarf, livid with the Paladin and just loathing the undead in general. She couldn't believe that anyone would seriously wish to join forces with the horde.

Running to her room she dressed herself in her robes and turned to the mirror

"Light, give me strength" she said once she had sorted out her hair "No good, smelly, un-living, foul... bleh!"

It was all she could do not to walk downstairs, stand in front of the undead, explain to him where the cemetery was and demand that he stay there while she buried him. Perhaps she should also suggest that she encase him in lead first, so he couldn't dig his way out.

Instead, the Priestess wandered into the main part of the inn, looking for Mctagg and the undead. They shouldn't be too hard to find, it wasn't every day that horde associates walked into Nethergarde Keep.

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Q u o t e:
(( OOC - You know.... I've never really been comfortable with people taking over my characters. Luckily what was said so far isn't too different from what she would normally would have said. But call her 'morally loose' again and that paladin will have to eat through a straw for the rest of his life.... Mctagg would already be in the situation for making such a rude comment. Not her fault she was woken in the early hours of the morning =P
I know what I have just said may very well end this thread but, please, you don't know my characters, don't play them))

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((OOC - Sorry to call you "Morally Loose" but as far as my guy knows, you dress like that all the time. Keep in mind he has a certain disdain for anyone living.))

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Q u o t e:
((OOC - Sorry to call you "Morally Loose" but as far as my guy knows, you dress like that all the time. Keep in mind he has a certain disdain for anyone living.))

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(( OOC - No worries, sweety. Sorry for that - I didn't think =) Anyways - on with the RP =) ))

Mctagg slammed his Ale down on the table and passed the Undead a plate of Potatoes and Salad.
"Ye do eat, I trust?" the Dwarf said. "If ye don't, I'm always willing to finish it for ye."
People were still gawping at the Undead, and others were yelling insults at him.
"Oi, leave 'im alone, ye hear?" Mctagg shouted at them. "He may not be the nicest of people, but he's still our guest."

Necoco picked up a potato and sniffed it. "As a matter of fact, we do eat. It takes energy to move. Although we din't eat as many vegetables. After dying, not growing up big and strong isn't such a concern," he said, then he put down the potato. The Dwarf gladly pulled the plate towards him and began eating. Despite his shout, people were still muttering.

"I appreciate your treating me with some courtesy," he said to McTagg, "It is an attitude I am not used to amongst the living..."
"Lad, I've travelled across the world, and I've done battle with amazing creatures. I once fought a blob of radioactive sludge in the old Gnome city! That sorta thing gives ye an open mind!" said McTagg between mouthfulls, "Now where be that bonnie lass?"

Mctagg poked at his Salad idly with his fork.
"Cannae the Alliance afford to get us any beef, chicken or fish?" he mumbled to the Undead. "If not vegetables, do ye eat meat? I could go and catch summat if ye like."
The conversation was cut short when McTagg glanced across the inn to see Thaïs heading towards them.
"Ay up, look sharp. The priestess is headed this way." the Dwarf said with a chuckle.