A Thief's Tale

Zarlan

This is an original work that I created about six months ago. I thought you guys might enjoy it, so I am posting it here for anyone who feels like reading it. Feel free to give any feedback that you wish to, I'm no stranger to critique.

A Thief’s Tale
Rich Sabine

“But you’re our last hope!” the night elf sang. “Everyone else who has attempted this feat has never been heard from again.”

“I value my life, thank you,” said the mysterious figure in black.

“But sir, there will be gold to plunder and fame to win. Darnassus would be forever grateful of your service.”

“Fame means nothing to me, but gold I can appreciate,” the mysterious figure murmured. He rested his head on his chest and contemplated the possibilities. If he was serious about doing it, then it wouldn't be something he could accomplish on his own. If he wanted to succeed, he would need some help. Luckily, he knew just the place to go. “I have made up my mind, so if you will excuse me, I have some orcs to kill.”

And so it was, as the rogue walked by a glistening moon well, that he was about to meet up with an old friend. He came to a small building with a sign on the front, above the doorframe, reading “Sureshot Bows”. As he entered, he saw that behind the counter was a slender elf, tall as far as night elves go. The elf looked up from the twisted bow he was carving and his eyes lit up.

“It's been too long, friend.” He placed the bow on a rack with two others behind the counter and stood up. “What brings you to my shop, Zarlan? Surely you aren't interested in purchasing a finely strung bow!”

“Aye, you are correct, Finawin. I have quiet a large favor to ask of you. It’s been far too long since you stepped foot onto the soil that lies beyond this grand city, and frankly, I need your help.” Zarlan replied.

“I should have known. What trouble are you getting yourself into this time?” Finawin asked hesitantly. He knew from experience that agreeing to help a rogue before understanding the situation is dangerous at best.

“The orcs have established their presence in the ruins of a stronghold just east of the forest,” Zarlan began. “The establishment of Clan Stonecrush is growing stronger each day and the orcs are starting to grow bolder. They send small battalions to the edge of Darnassus that kill off small numbers of citizens, and occasionally a guard. As they succeed, their attacks grow bolder. The High Priest has come to me, asking that I liberate the ruins of that outpost and bring him the orcish leader, Emperor Flamerage. He estimates there to be nearly thirty orcs protecting the castle and believes I can save Darnassus. No guard here has the training it would take to overcome such fierce opponents. I may be able to sneak up on and backstab the orcs, but once they figure out something's wrong, I wouldn’t last long against the orcish archers. That is why I have come to you, Finawin. I need your help.”

Finawin stood speechless for a short time, and then regained his composure. The rogue saw the thrill of adventure flash in his eyes.

“For the glory of Azeroth!” he finally proclaimed. He opened a hidden door behind the counter and pulled out a long, snarled bow that had a magic aura about it. “She haft saved my life many times.” He smiled, and they began to make preparations for what promised to be an eventful day.

In the morning, the two set out. They walked through the city until they came to the edge of the forest. After setting foot on the damp soil, and paying respects to the guards watching over the area, they took the path toward Stonecrush.

As they approached the mountain, with its snowy caps, they noticed a small hole at the base of it darker than the darkest nights the two had ever entered. The tunnel had high torches on either side with four orcs patrolling it.

“Can you kill all four of them before they have time to alert the others?” Zarlan asked.

“I doubt it, and I don’t want to try my luck. Orcs aren’t very bright, so let’s see if we can outsmart them,” suggested Finawin.
After pondering it for a short time, Zarlan suggested: “I might be able to scale the mountain above the entrance and drop down behind them. If I pull that off, I could probably back-stab two before they know what’s hit them. Could you take the other two out in time?”
“I suppose,” Finawin said with a grin.

The nimble rogue ran a long way down the mountain before he began to work his way back over it. Finawin climbed up a tall tree and stood post with his bow in hand. The mountain had a steep grade, but Zarlan’s feet found a way with cat-like agility. He made it to the point above the entrance, and gave Finawin a silent wave. He could hardly make him out, because elves are innately skilled at blending in with nature. Zarlan fell ten feet to the ground without making a sound. He snuck up behind a pair of orcs and back-stabbed both of them through their weak chainmail in less than a second. Just as the other pair of guards started running at Zarlan, an arrow slipped through the head of the first. Zarlan engaged the second, and the orc bashed him to the ground with his shield. Just as the foul creature was about to slice down upon his prey, an arrow jutted through his bloody chest and the orc fell to the ground. Zarlan promised himself he would thank Finawin later.

Finawin rushed down from the tree and up to Zarlan. The tunnel took a sharp turn to the right a few feet away, so they were both silent. Zarlan peered around the corner. He saw the tunnel end about half of a mile down the dark shaft. Both crept down the tunnel until they came to the end. There was grass on the ground there, and they could hear the sound of running water. Finawin spotted two guards on either side of the tunnel exit, and quickly disposed of them.

As they looked to the right, they saw a small fortification with four orcs on top, and two watching with bow in hand from opposite windows. Also, there was a moat surrounding an ancient castle. The drawbridge was down, and the gate was opened. Eight orcs were patrolling along the bridge and just inside the gate.

“This isn’t going to be easy,” Finawin said with a sigh. “Our best chance will be to pick them off one by one from a hidden spot. If they realize what's happening, and start coming near us, you can defend us at close range. How does that sound to you?” he asked.

“Sounds dangerous, but that's never stopped me before. I’m ready when you are!”

Finawin and Zarlan found a bush near the exit of the tunnel, and settled in. Finawin fired four arrows, each killing a single orc. That eliminated the threat of those stationed on the roof. He shot twice more, and picked off the orcish archers. That was the easy part. It would prove much more difficult to take down all eight on the bridge without the orcs spotting them. Finawin was only able to shoot down the two just inside the gate before the rest spotted them. The orcs had short and muscular bodies, but they could run unexpectedly fast. Finawin fired three times and missed once, so only two more were dead before the orcs had run the one-hundred yard sprint. Zarlan jumped from his cover and the orcs stopped, pausing for a split second. After evaluating him, they presumed their charge. Within seconds, the orcs were upon him. The first ran at him with sword raised, and Zarlan side-stepped him, driving through with a dexterous stab to the back. The second and third orc came at him together, with the fourth trailing only shortly behind. Zarlan lunged through the air with amazing agility and parried a blow that was heading for his chest, while slicing off an orc’s head with his sword. Before the orc he had parried could slow down and spin around, the fourth orc was already dead. Zarlan sheathed his dagger, reached into his cloak, and flicked his wrist. Observing, Finawin didn’t understand what had happened until he glanced at the fallen orc. A small throwing dagger was lodged between his eyes. He grimaced, but then they pressed forward into the castle. If the High Priest's estimate was correct, no more than ten orcs would be left inside.

After confronting no orcs in the hallways or corridors, the two comrades came to what seemed to be a royal chamber. Two orc legionnaires stood with spears in front of a grand throne with a window above it. A large orc sat on the throne, Emperor Flamerage. To the side of the Emperor, a night elf stood. He was dressed in red robes, which contrasted well against his dark blue skin. He then spoke: “I am Salidir, ambassador of the dark elves, night elves who have seen the power of evil and have turned from the weaknesses all of your kind tries to preserve. We have been made aware of your arrival, and though you have made it this far, you won't get any farther.” As he spoke, two more orc legionnaires stepped into the room from behind Zarlan and Finawin. “Any last words?” the dark elf said sardonically.

“Maybe I should ask you the same thing, but it would be below me to grant a fallen night elf as yourself that privilege.” said Finawin. With a gesture from Emperor Flamerage, the four orc legionnaires came nearer to Zarlan and Finawin. Finawin pulled out a black flask with arcane markings on it from his cloak. As he drank of it his body seemed to be imbued with the spirit of a wolf, and strangely, he seemed quite quicker. He leapt over the two orc legionnaires in front of him with amazing agility, and he produced a dagger from his sleeve which he tightened against Emperor Flamerage’s throat.

Everyone stopped, all but Zarlan at least. Zarlan took that moment of opportunity to double-backstab one orc and slice another's throat. The dexterous abilities he possessed were acquired from his many years of experience, and they were proving to be very useful that day.

“I see you had another trick up your sleeve. Very well, it is of no matter.” Salidir gloated. He murmured something as he conjured a sphere of ice between his hands, seeming to draw it from the moisture in the air. He made a gesture towards Zarlan, and the sphere of ice struck the rouge with great force. Zarlan fell to the ground, motionless. The two orc legionnaires from behind Zarlan stepped over him and brandished their spears at Finawin. Finawin, with the spirit of the wolf still presiding in him, leapt away from Emperor Flamerage and slid between the legs of the nearest orc, slashing the orc's leg as he did. The orc fell to the ground in pain, and the second orc charged at him, spear outthrust. Finawin barely reacted quickly enough to avoid the spear tip as it cut through the air past his side. He punched the orc in the face as he passed, but that didn't do much. The orc looked like he was going to throw the spear at him, but before he had a chance to; Finawin slung his bow from over his shoulder and shot the legionnaire clean between the eyes at an extremely close range. As he turned on Salidir he saw him making a gesture as he had before, with a sphere of ice already forming between his dark hands. The icy sphere sped at Finawin, who at the last moment moved his bow to intercept it. When it struck the bow, the bow glowed blue for a moment and then the sphere disintegrated before Salidir’s eyes.

“That is no ordinary bow you have there,” Salidir remarked.
Those were his last words, for at that moment a throwing dagger was hurled into his heart. Finawin shot a glance at Zarlan who forced a painful grin.

Emperor Flamerage rose from his throne and gazed deep into the eyes of Finawin. "You are a plague and an abomination to this land. Though you have thwarted my minions in their attempts to destroy you, you'll soon see the power of my sword." the Emperor gloated. As he rose, he unsheathed a mighty sword from its jewel adorned hilt.

As Flamerage raised his sword to charge at Finawin, he closed his eyes and murmured something inaudibly. At first, it seemed as if he was fading from existence, but three identical images of him soon stabilized. With no indication of which was the true Flamerage, Finawin didn't want to take a chance with his only primed arrow that could lead to the death of himself and his injured comrade. At that moment, the sun lowered to a position behind the window above the throne that showered the room with light. As light flooded into the room, a single shadow fell from the center image of the Emperor. Without hesitation, an arrow flew from Finawin's snarled bow and split through the dark green leg of Flamerage, immobilizing him. As the ancient sword fell to the ground and the illusions disappeared, Finawin sprinted towards the orc and bound him with an elven rope.

“Let’s leave this place,” Zarlan gasped breathlessly.

Later that day, Zarlan stood in a dark corner as the High Priest addressed Finawin. “Darnassus will be forever grateful of your service. We have interrogated Emperor Flamerage, and he has told us of the dark elves’ plan to attack our city. Without this information, Darnassus could have been doomed to destruction. Now we have time to prepare a defense against the threat. In the stronghold, my scouts found a chest full of gold. I am giving you each half of the gold as a sign of the infinite gratitude that Darnassus owes you. Is there anything else I can do for you, sirs?”

Zarlan smiled and remarked, “Tell me more about this treasure that your men found.”
Last edited by Zarlan on 06-06-2004 at 12:19 PM

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"There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who do not."

LoStCaUz3

I have read that somewhere before. I really did like it, too. Kind of inspired me to be a Rogue. But when I found out how many people were going to play Night Elf, I moved on over to the Troll side. I was originally planning on being a Night Elf Rogue, but I am more than happy with my Trolls.

j-monster

This is the story that inspired me to be a Rogue. Good job

Zarlan

Thanks, it was fun writing it. I posted this here a few months ago, but there are so many more forum-goers now that I thought some more might like to read it.

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"There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who do not."