Needs More Crusader Aura

This is what happens when I get gold, some materials, and a bit of free time. I take paladin fiancees out for a night time spin.

 

 

Exploring The Other Side

Having read WTT:RP’s latest post, it seems a great time to mention an idea I’ve had and one I hope to further explore in the future (when my 18-20 hour workdays 6-7 days a week are done. Sorry about the silence here, folks.).

Take a look at your main RP character. What makes them tick? What events, past and present, have helped them be the character they are today? What if something drastic happened to them? What if something cataclysmic (sorry for the pun, but it works) shook them to the very core of their being and changed them 180 degrees from the character they are today?

Without getting into too many details just yet, Arrens would not be anywhere near who he is today. Having had some recent email discussions with Anna about this subject, I came to realize that if Aely were to leave Arrens – say she didn’t want to marry him for any number of reasons – how would he be different? For one, he’d no longer be the headmaster of Stormwind University. He’d hole up in books, certainly. It’s kind of his thing when things are going horribly wrong for him or leave him confused. But this singular event would likely cause him to search for power, something far greater than he already possesses. And as the old saying goes, power would corrupt him. He would become that warlock he’s spent his entire career trying to avoid. It would take him down paths far darker than merely being summoned to the Twisting Nether by an enraged demon.

Perhaps, as I’ve said, I’ll have an opportunity to explore this in some fiction – sort of an alternate universe version of Arrens.

What about you? How would something of such magnitude change your character? Would they go from good to bad? Bad to good? Remain as they’ve always been? Or something completely different?

 

 

Heated Embarassment

Arrens dismounted the gryphon in Booty Bay, carefully ensuring the small crate he carried didn’t tumble helplessly to the floor several levels below him. “Long time, no see, p’rfessor,” said the gryphon master as he helped Arrens with his goods. “Wha’ be bringin’ ye down our way on this lovely summer’s day?”

Arrens stretched, his complacent muscles sore after the long flight. “I require some herbs from the region, Master Gyll. As it happens, the University’s run out of Khadgar’s Whisker for next year’s alchemy students. I need to replenish our stock.” He wiped the beads of sweat forming on his brow. “Unfortunately I hadn’t taken into account that it would be this humid here already.” He fanned himself to no avail. The robes he wore, while not thick, kept all but the stiffest breezes from reaching his skin.

Gyll chuckled. “Aye, lad. Welcome to th’ jungle.” Handing Arrens’ package back to the warlock, he said, “That’ll be 35 silver, lad.” Handing over a little extra for the tip, Arrens thanked the dwarf and summoned his stead Inigo before leaving the confines of the port city.

Hours later and several dozen specimens of Khadgar’s Whisker later, the sun began to set. Arrens’ robes were soaked through with sweat as he swallowed the last bit of water. “How the fel does anyone live down here?” he asked himself. Placing his case in Inigo’s saddlebag, he mounted his demonic stead and made a steady pace back to Booty Bay.

Before reaching the town, he saw an enormous bonfire along the coast. As he approached, he saw all manner of celebrants in varying states of intoxication laughing and celebrating the beginning of the summer. He chuckled as he recalled Aely telling him similar stories of the north, stories he had no first hand knowledge of as his youth was spent cloistered in the libraries of Dalaran.

Travelling a ways further down the coast, he dismounted Inigo. Looking back, he could still see the glow of the bonfire, but his distance was great enough that he knew he wouldn’t be bothered by their drunken revelry. Removing his clothing under the darkened sky, he stood in the pale moonlight. While the heat of the day had lessened some, the humidity continued to make him sweat. Arrens approached the waters of the South Sea and dove in. While warm, it was considerably cooler than the air and felt refreshing to the warlock.

As he was enjoying himself, he was surprised to hear quiet laughter nearby. Looking up, he saw two goblins running from his position back towards the bonfires. Not wanting anyone to see an esteemed Stormwind University headmaster in all his naked glory, he decided it was time to leave and return  his goods back to Stormwind. As he approached Inigo, his jaw dropped. While his crate of goods was still within the saddlebag, he was horrified to discover his clothing missing. He rummaged through his saddlebag further and pulled out his buzzbox. Switching to a private channel, he spoke quietly.

“My love? Aely? I’m…yes. Yes, my love. Yes. I know it’s late. I’m sorry to have woken you. No. No, I”m fine. Really. But…erm…I need some help. And some clothes…”

((Thanks to Anna for the inspiration for this post.))

 

 

Hell On The Heart

I’ve said before that music is a great motivator for me. It inspires me in ways few other things can. This post is one of those ways. Based off this song, enjoy!
Arrens sat in his private study surrounded by stacks of brochures for elaborate cakes, floral arrangements and formal tailoring services. The oil lantern flickered in the late evening providing him his only means of light as he flipped endlessly through brochure after brochure. He muttered to himself, “Gods. How the fel does one choose?”
 
Without warning, from behind him a voice answered, “I can toss a dagger an choose fer ya.”
 
Arrens jumped to his feet and whirled around. Instantly, Klathmoth was there, his large shadowy hands grabbing the intruder around the neck and pulling him into the lantern’s light. “Shall I kill the toy thing, human?” the Voidwalker asked.
 
Arrens peered closer. “Master Jeb?” The warlock hadn’t seen the former SI:7 operative in months. “How in the Nether did you get in here?!”
 
Fighting for his breath and pawing furiously at the demon’s hands, he managed to get out, “Door…unlocked…” With a flick of his hand, Arrens dismissed Klathmoth. The demon disappeared as quickly as he had shown, and Jeb tumbled helplessly to the floor. He rubbed at his neck and took the professor’s offered hand to get back to his feet. “Sorry ’bout that, mister. Didn’t mean to scare ya like that.”
 
“We’ve normal working hours around here, Master Jeb. Might I ask what this intrusion is about?”
Even in the dim light, Arrens could see Jeb’s face turn red. “I didn’t mean ta do nothin’ wrong. I just don’t wanna be seen ’round here just yet. Them Sevens bastards ain’t taken too kindly ta me just yet, an’ goin’ for a swim in the canals don’t sound like my idea of a good time, ya know?”
 
Arrens nodded, remembering when Jeb had taken the blame for killing an SI:7 agent and ostensibly saving Lorelli, Zhaane, most of the University’s staff, as well as the Wildfire Riders from incurring their wrath. Aely had told him about finding Jeb neck deep in the sands of Tanaris surrounded by scorpions and the apparent torture he’d endured before being saved.
 
“Of course. What can I do for you then?” Arrens asked quietly.
 
“I’m lookin’ fer honest work, sir. Heard you was lookin’ fer someone ta take head of security ’round these parts since Miss Lorelli ain’t around no more.”
 
Arrens raised an eyebrow at the young man before him. “You’ve heard of her leaving, have you?”
 
Jeb gave him an aw shucks grin. “I still got my best friend in Sevens. He lets me know stuff. Heard she was with them Riders folks now.”
 
Arrens sighed. “She is, yes. However, I’ve already chosen a new head of security.”
 
Jeb’s shoulders slumped a bit as he glanced over to the desk. “Plannin’ your wedding? How’s Miss Aely doin’?”
 
Arrens’ brow furrowed. “You are uniquely well-informed, aren’t you? Madam Aely’s doing well. She’s recently returned from the north and is currently asleep in the other room.”
 
Jeb grinned. “Kinda my job, ya know? Well…it was before the shit hit the fan. But I can still find stuff out when I need to. She’s a good woman, that Miss Aely. Betcha she’s a firestarter, ain’t she?”
 
“I beg your pardon?”
 
“A firestarter. I betcha she’s hell on the heart.”
 
Arrens looked at him questioningly. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, Master Jeb.”
 
“She’s a looker. Purdy as a picture, ya know? An’ I’ll betcha she’s every bit as funny as she is smart, though she don’t rightly go about showin’ it to most folk. If I were a bettin’ man, I’d say her smile can hold ya together, but her touch’ll tear ya apart. When she’s yours, she brings ya sunshine, but when she’s gone the world looks dark. That’s what I mean, mister. She’s heaven on the eyes, but boy she’s hell on the heart.”
 
Arrens looked Jeb up and down. “That’s…an amazingly accurate description, Master Jeb.”
 
“Just somethin’ I picked up on, mister. And please, I ain’t no master of nothin’. It’s just Jeb,” he smiled.
 
“As you wish, Jeb.” Arrens opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a sheet of paper. “I can’t promise we have an opening, but here’s an application all the same. If you wish to fill it out now, I can have it to my secretary in the morning.”
 
Jeb took the paper and grabbed a pen from Arrens’ desk. After several minutes of scribbling, he handed the application back to the headmaster. Arrens glanced at it and looked at Jeb. “‘Artemis Jebediaeh’?”
 
Jeb sighed. “Yeah. Named after my granddaddy. Ain’t much care for the name, so I just go by Jeb. Please don’t go tellin’ no one?” he asked pleadingly.
 
“As you wish, Master Jeb. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve an early class in the morning and should be getting some sleep. I trust you can show yourself out?”
 
Jeb nodded. “Of course. Sorry to be botherin’ ya so later, Mister. Give Miss Aely my best, would ya?”
 
“I will, Master Jeb. Good night.”
 
As Jeb walked out of the Headmaster’s study, Arrens shook his head and smiled. “Hell on the heart.” With that, he extinguished his lantern and walked into the bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind him.