Hyper's Corner

Mass Update

2011-09-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

This is what we call the 'Post full of pictures that I've made but have been too lazy to actually put on this blog'. Because there's going to be a lot of them, I'm not going to go into rambling about what all of them are, and will simply just label them by game.

These aren't in any recent order, so some of them might be dated in style.

Knights of the Old Republic

An In Between Picture...

Legend of Zelda

This above picture is the most recent one I've done.

Some Other Things!

Enjoy!

STAR WARS!

2011-07-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

*cue rolling gold text*

Twi'lek techie Tera-Kai (say that five times fast).

And the Miraluka Jedi Knight, Coirean Fey.

That is all.

You Thought I Forgot!

2011-06-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

Well I haven't!

BUT HERE'S SOME PICTURES!

This is a water elf.

A chibi of Mira from Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Now I Only Want You Gone...

2011-05-07T20:15:00.001-07:00

I have absolutely nothing to say here except that I finished Portal 2.

I also have no pictures.

Go make some new disasters
That's what I'm counting on
You're someone else's problem
Now I only want you gone...
Now I only want you gone...

Now I only want you gone...

SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE.

The Cake is a Lie: Part 2

2011-05-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Tetira never always had the best of life's cup of tea, but we can figure it didn't get any better when she was recruited to be an Apeture Science Test Subject.

Original Sketch

There just has to be something humiliating about being an engineer at the whim of a hunk of metal and artificial intelligence that won't stop mocking you.

Hard Shading

At least she can hold her own!... we hope.

Soft Shading/Final Product

As you can see, this is a picture of Tetira Shadowstrider, who this time around doesn't look like Riku, which I'm pretty glad for. I warned you this wouldn't be the last Portal inspired picture. This is a crossover, which doesn't make much sense without a long and convoluted backstory that I won't bother putting here since I'd probably confuse you more by stating it.

I color swapped Chell's orange jumpsuit for a more fitting palette for Tet, with a cute Weighted Companion Cube tee! Oh and there's a cube in there too. And as you can see through the development pictures, the crowbar thrown in there was sort of a late piece.

You can sit there and puzzle yourselves over that H on the crowbar.

Compared to my previous sketch-to-computer pictures, this was actually really fun to do, so I might do it more often.

Kept lines again. Derp.

The Cake is a Lie

2011-05-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

But this picture isn't!

From Zelda fanning to Portal, strange how it works, innit?

Anyway, here's Chell, the main protagonist of the Portal series, in her outfit from Portal 2.

For this picture I went really overboard, including working on proper shading in consideration of lighting and textures-- as you can see on the clothing! I was also going to do a really impressive background, but you can see how that turned out. It's quite lame.

Kept the lineart on Chell because it looks better. This will not be the last Portal inspired picture I draw in the near future, I assure you.

On a completely off-topic but somewhat related note, my Weighted Companion Cube came today. It does not speak :(

Zelda

2011-04-28T22:01:00.003-07:00

Derp.

Artistry Evolution

2011-04-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

There's nothing really exciting in this post, except that yesterday I was looking up some photoshop guides on how to properly paint with it.

If you don't know, I have a goal to one day create a picture that looks like those amazing paintings/pieces of artwork people create that are amazingly awesome. If that description doesn't suit you, look at any proper fan-art gallery.

So I was testing out my shading and did a couple of object sketches.

Here is one of a ball!

And a gem...

And a person in a jedi cloak!

I really like the shading that comes out of this. My only peeve, of course, is the lack of lines which makes coloring these things 10x harder, but I'm gonna keep working on it.

Starting at the Top

2011-04-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

I'M BACK.

You can go ahead and be scared now.

Anyway, I would totally post some concept art pictures but they all suck so I won't. Instead you'll have to sit through me doing something that might actually seem maybe just a little like actual blogging. Yes, I'm being very scary today. You're going to have to deal with it. It's my birthday.

So like I was saying, I did lots of concepting, various doodles of Sable, Link, and Blue&Star <3 so fun to doodle Star, CaEzLi and mostly nothing else really useful. I tried writing an LoZ short too but notebooks hate me and so that didn't get very far. Maybe I'll come back to it. Later. When I finish I ton of other stuff.

BUT YAY BIRTHDAY STUFF.

Like... let's see... got Fires of Heaven, which is the fifth book of the Wheel of Time series (yay!), also decided to get an LoZ game with the grandparent's money (Phantom Hourglass--- Phantoms&Temple of the Ocean King are the most annoying thing in a video game this side of Outlands) since I've never played one except TP at Yoda's house (and I can't ride Epona).

Which on another note: I'M GETTING PORTAL 2 SOMETIME OR ANOTHER. CAKE!

So yeah.

Not much else to say.

Rawr.

Sable

2011-04-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

EDITED WITH ANOTHER PIC!

Yeah. Yeah.

I know.

I know.

I've gone and done it again.

This is Sable, the result of too many character concept sketches and the want to have Aiya (the annoying fairy guide from the Minecraft parody map) a proper canon acquaintance.

She's Hylian. And not pale.

Rough sketch and color, I'll probably make a better one later. I'm going out-of-town tomorrow until Thursday, so I'll do more doodling/concepting on the way.

More Sable, but in white and black! Kinda freaky isn't it?

Aiya's being a creeper in the background thar.

Here I made another one quick, was testing out doing some lineless work.

Interesting, no? I still prefer lines though...

The Legend of... Hyper?

2011-04-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

So in recent past days I found myself hanging out with my good friend Yoda, which usually means doing stupid stuff like playing Minecraft. And then doing stupid stuff in Minecraft. Like attempting to kill creepers for their sulfur. Which actually just ended with us cowering on top of a pillar shooting arrows blindly at the dark.

And somehow we found ourselves designing an RPG world loosely (loosely, emphasis) parodied of the Legend of Zelda. With sort of a lack of Zelda, but more ninjas and explosions. Oh and there's an annoying fairy guide! Like Navi, but not.

That's the story of how Yoda and I got off on an LoZ track, and ultimately how I got around to drawing this picture.

If any of you remember, I drew Blue* a long time ago, back when I sucked more. So here's take two.

She kinda took a class in ninjaism or something. I don't even know.

In this picture we see me practicing coloring with skin tones that are not-as-pale-as-they-usually are. I know Yoda is going to look at this and still think they're too pale though. Oh well. Blue's hair was a pain because it just did not want to be shaded. Still working on clothing folds.

My elbows turned out okay. And my hands. But I guess that's expected when I just had to draw a bunch of knuckles.

Oh and there's Link in there too.

That Master Sword looks really lame. WHAT HAVE I DONE.

*Still not my character.

Not Finished

2011-04-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

I did this a few minutes ago, but any attempts to go over the base sketch in black completely ruined the picture.

:(

In Celebration

2011-03-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

My roll is still rolling.

Here's a picture in congratulations to myself for finishing Pokémon Black, anticlimatic ending or no.

Yay N looks like a guy!

On a Roll

2011-03-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

Two pictures without ... two weeks between them!? Amazing!

Alyva and Quintal.

Yes. She only has one leg. I did not forget to draw a second foot. No lies.

THAT MAN LOOKS VERY FEMININE, I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

Mother of the Forests, Mistress of Life

2011-03-22T20:32:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun drawing this one, especially because I tested out some new shading techniques.

I'm terrible at clothing folds.

This is Olithia, she is a dragon. I'm totally not lying.

Character Interview

2011-03-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today we're going to do something a little different.

There is no picture in today's post, not a doodle, and not a story. Instead, I'm going to introduce you to a handful of people who may or may not be known by the few people who actually know as the main characters of my most recent original story. (For those of you who know about it, but might not know this little tidbit, it got a huge overhaul by way of plot and design).

And as a warning, the following is probably going to contain a lot of spoilers to a lot of different things, so you know, if you'd OCD about spoilers should *should* anything here ever get published by chance, skip over this blog post.

And let's begin! *Drumroll and shift to interview style...*

Hyper: I've got the main cast here and ready to roll, so we'll start the ball by letting them introduce themselves.

Adai: I'm Adai Morninglight, supposedly the 'main' main character. Not to mention I've come along way from just being poster-girl for the story... you know, finally getting a personality.

Hyper: Hehe....

Zane: My turn. I'm Zane Swordsong and I'm the most awesome person you'll ever meet.

Adai: You're also an arrogant self-centered jerk.

Zane: Shut up.

Strike: Right, I'm Strike. I'm the cliche blind action chick, because apparently that and my rash temper are my only selling points.

Hyper: Are you all trying to make me look bad here?

Everyone: Yes.

Axel: I'm Axel Truesworn, which is really just Axel Sworn but because Hyper is extremely lazy everyone has two word last names so she had to shove something in front of mine.

Strike: Not to mention he's the prettyboy swordsman...

Zane: *Shakes fist*

Neva: And I'm Neva Silverleaf, last of the main characters. Well, there was Jamye at one point... but she kind of got axed for lack of story.

Jamye: QQ

Hyper: Hey, we weren't supposed to keep mentioning that!

Axel: You didn't even tell her... just... kind of fired her. That was kind of cruel.

Zane: I have to agree with Axel on this one.

Hyper: Yeah, yeah, we'll talk about this some other time. Let's change the subject now... how about plot significance, how do you guys feel about your roles? Adai, you first.

Adai: In a nutshell I end up becoming the Herald of Light and the defender of all things good and everyone expects me to spearhead some attack against evil. Talk about no pressure, right? I guess I'm all right with it, just seems a bit lot for me to be handling.

Strike: I'm leaning towards just cliche.

Hyper: I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm not original, I know. Zane, your turn.

Zane: Well considering I don't have any plot significance besides being a pain in the rear, it's hard to say exactly how I feel about my plot significance.

Hyper: ... Strike?

Strike: Well this is a doozy. Looks like I end up not being blind in an amazing turn of events, along with ending up the daughter of the main bad guy of the entire story. And my name's Coria. Why again do I run around wearing a blindfold for no apparent reason?

Hyper: Because you're guilty because you dad is pretty much the biggest traitor this side of the ocean from the Old World? Well, mostly because its cool, but that's the backstory.

Strike: Riiiiiiight. No comment, just... no comment. You're up, Axel.

Axel: Looks like I'm the lost heir to the entire throne of Jezrahil and since everyone else in my family was murdered, that makes me king.

Zane: Why does he get that sort of awesome back story? Why can't I have--

Axel: I die.

Zane: On second thought, keep your plot significance.

Neva: Don't worry about it so much, Zane, I don't do much of anything either. Well, except marry Axel, which kind of does make me a queen, sort of.

Zane: *Sigh*

Hyper: Right, uhm... yeah, *Cough*, so we're going to move on from that topic again (why did I think this was a good idea?) and move to something else. What do you all think of each other?

Axel: I guess I'm fine with everybody else. Neva already said we eventually get married, even though I end up dying. Strike's a bit of a hothead, but she's a great sparring partner. Adai's nice too... but Zane? I won't even go there.

Zane: The feeling is mutual.

Hyper: Don't kid yourself you two, you become good friends.

Adai: Well I can't say much about anybody else, but I'm not on best of terms with Zane at the moment, but I suppose if it counts for anything, we end up a few steps behind Axel and Neva. I think we can all agree Strike's a bit of a hothead.

Strike: I'm not as much as a hothead as Zane though.

Zane: LIES, ALL LIES.

Neva: Well, I'm not sure I'm on anybody's bad side, except I think for Adai's right off the bat... but that's because of a little bit of jealous over Axel.

Axel: Oh yeah... that. No hard feelings, right Adai?

Adai: Nah. We're cool.

Axel: *Phew*

Strike: I'm not the most particularly well liked person. I know Zane thinks I'm about to kick his butt every time I look at him and I'm running on thin ice with everybody else. Nev thinks I'm uncivil lunatic and I think Axel would like to teach me some manners. Adai's really only the person I find myself talking too, but that's because she's the only one who wants to listen.

Hyper: Boo.

Strike: You wrote me like this, shut up.

Zane: I'm going on Strike's tail, nobody likes me.

Hyper: That's not true, I like you.

Zane: If you liked me, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have written me as a jerk.

Hyper: I have nothing to say that. Anyway, next question. Weapon of choice?

Adai: Runic sword blade. I think the original version was made by my brother, but you're retconning that to something more exciting aren't you?

Hyper: Probably.

Axel: Judgment, my giant claymore.

Strike: I've apparently got this nameless katana I like to use.

Zane: A bow, since you thought I just kept trailing in Axel's shadow for everything so you gave me something unique to do with my insignificant life.

Hyper: Stop pushing it, Zane, before you end up on Jamye's road.

Jamye: QQ

Neva: I don't fight, I'm the medic.

Hyper: Good point! I think this will be the last question: What do you all think about the current tentative aspect of dragons in the main story? I know they were a huge part of the old one, but you might not have your companions in the new version the things are looking.

Adai: I don't know, I'm upset because I liked Vaerite.

Zane: Shekyn was my only friend. Jerk.

Neva: I suppose it doesn't matter much to me because I never had a dragon, even in the old story, but I can see how they'd be helpful but also unnecessary.

Strike: There was a rift between me and Zya because of my disability that really isn't a disability, you know? I don't have much to say on the issue.

Axel: Olithia was kind of like a mother to me, and while I appreciate not having her motherly yack my ear off, I do think I'll miss her if you keep them out of the story this time around.

Hyper: Well thanks the five of you for answering the questions that seem stupid considering I imagined all of you! Anyway, in the comments below, feel free to ask your own questions if you want. Until next time!

A New Picture!

2011-02-27T20:32:00.000-08:00

This was fun to draw.

I messed up so badly though when I was drawing it. I traced the picture on the layer of my linework, so it turned out poorly compared to how it could've looked :/

The picture is of a Blood Knight (blood elf paladin) by the name of Tyreal Dawncry, if you're interested.

Makeover!

2011-02-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

If you haven't noticed, which you probably should have, Hyper's Corner got a much needed makeover.

Now don't get me wrong, the old one was cute and everything, but I'm getting the feeling that people were starting to get unnerved being stared at by a creepy stick figure head for a few years.

Unfortunately the background really doesn't match the header because any files I try to upload as the background are apparently too big. Oh well.

Hope you enjoy the new look, huzzah!

That is a totally accurate representation of me on the banner. Completely.

Minshi

2011-02-15T20:49:00.001-08:00

She's a gnome! Pilot, to be exact.

Concept art.

A Handful of Things

2011-02-10T18:36:00.000-08:00

First up, some draft pictures that aren't finished and wont ever be finished, so you can see them in their rough unfinished form of unfinishedness!:

Abby, you meanieface, give Kai'ren his doll back!

Oh, we should all take a moment to pity Kai, for I made him wear a sweater vest.

Marivyne Ashthorn, Head Warden of the Erubaris Barrow Dens. She died.

This was to be me in T6 Absolution priest gear. I liked it, but I kinda messed up, as I look like 30.

Now, I'll show you some pictures that are finished in a new flimsy shading style:

A Raskuul woman, or, bipedal stone cat warrior people.

Ricket, a Mytiz, or a super short like foot tall mouse person.

Both of these are from a multiverse I never used.

OH AND THIS IS SOME CONCEPT OF A CHARACTER OR SOMETHING.

That's all.

Well, Here We Go

2010-11-09T21:04:00.000-08:00

My first real successful latest drawing on the computer, I used a lot of Photoshop blurring, which makes it look a whole lot cooler.

Not anybody in particular.

Just an elf.

OH HEY LOOK ITS A KITTY! I DREW A KITTY!

Unintentional Awesomeness

2010-10-21T20:45:00.001-07:00

Like.

Wow.

Some More Starcraft Peeps

2010-10-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Here's that pictured (Colored, terribly) of Eva that I promised the other day, but forgot to post here until today.

Oh, and as an apology, I add Miss Nora Sanchez. Medic/Medivac pilot.

Not colored, but shaded, so its better.

Raider Ghost Eva Barker

2010-10-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

It's not very good, actually. I'm planning on do a better one of the same character tomorrow. For realz. Not like Nasia. She never got colored, I'm sorry.

Eva Barker is a Ghost, from Starcraft. Sniper assassin peoples who can call down tactical nukes and blow stuff up.

I won my first SC2 match today, Terran vs Terran. *Gives cookie to self*

Nasia

2010-08-30T21:05:00.001-07:00

I will color this tomorrow. When I feel like it.

Sonic Stuff?!

2010-08-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

Yes.

That's right.

Hyper's back into Sonic, and maybe one day you will see the namesake of my nickname, the one and only Project Hyper.

In the mean time, here's Meg Starlight.

Another Character That's Not Mine!

2010-08-01T20:21:00.001-07:00

This is Star, who's Blue's friend from the last post. Still not my character.

On a different and totally unrelated note, I have Starcraft! Weeeee!

Oh Look!

2010-07-25T20:47:00.000-07:00

This is a friend's character, Blue.

No relation to my Blue, which is this guy.

And that's all folks.

Lot's of Drawings, Like Really, Lot's of Them.

2010-07-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

So I did a lot of drawing while I was at my friend's house, so I would like to show them with you to explain one thing. I love drawing hair now. I really do. I used to hate it. But now I love it.

When it doubt, it needs more hair spikes.

This is Farahlohn... something or other, I never decided a last name for her. All you need to know is that she's wearing a dress, that's not a pair of pants that looks like a skirt, and she's a ghost. Also that she's incredibly irritable and overly annoying and nobody likes her. She's a high elf.

This picture is a shoutout to said friend that I was staying with. This is a character in her story that she's writing, Sha're. No, she's not half dragon, she's part of a bipedal race called something-or-other that has wings and can fly. She's also pretty awesome AND I HATE OUTLINING WINGS.

Both of these are of a character that comes from a long story, so I'll begin.

My friend does not play WoW, so since we do not have that at her place, we bother ourselves by playing a 'free-to-play' MMORPG that many know as Wizard 101. At first glance the game is overly childish in graphics, playstyle, and most everything else-- especially the whole fact that you can't do half the things in the game without paying anyway. Either way, we've made it more exciting by creating lore for the game on top of the already cool lore it has, using self-inserts.

This a new character we made to make more gold, but stuck her in as a childish apprentice... with a lot of magical capability. Suri Wyrmrider was a lot of fun to draw... because of her long, scarlet hair. Its not red in the pictures, but its long, and that's why it was so much fun to draw. I love hair.

This is Jenny.

Only people that know about Jenny will get Jenny.

She's a time-traveling eight year old anomaly. That is all.

This is the next picture with a story. So my friend came to my house after being at her house, and I have copies of the Kingdom Hearts game. We never finished the first one, but finished the second one, and today we decided to try the first one again. That lasted a whole four minutes before we popped in the second game and restarted that. (I really love Axel and Roxas.)

Along the way I got the idea to do self-inserts for us. Since I'm the one who actually plays the games, I get the keyblade. Yes, I'm the short shrimpy one with arm muscles that don't actually exist. I can pretend. My friend is the one who looks totally awesome and I should have given her a trenchcoat but I didn't. So use your imagination. She's my gummy ship pilot/navigator/engineer/person who gives me moral support when I'm killing nobodies and heartless.

And that's all for now!

Demolitionist Tetira Shadowstrider

2010-06-27T19:11:00.001-07:00

Without the bombs.

And she kind of looks like Riku from Kingdom Hearts with that hair.

I don't know how that happened, really I don't.

Abby and Kai

2010-06-22T21:16:00.001-07:00

Uh yeah. That's easy enough.

So, I Finally Drew Something Else

2010-06-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

So I'm starting a new non-WoW related story in a notebook somewhere (which no, I'm not explaining here so someone can rip off the idea and I'll cry.)

Introducing one of the characters:

Coria Dawncry, better known as Strike.

Hey look Chibi Demon Hunter!

2010-05-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

I did this in like, an hour and a half. Woooooohoooo

Ohhai.

2010-05-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

ITS A GUY AND IT LOOKS LIKE A GUY.

I'm amazing.

Not shaded, I know, shut up.

Awwwwww!

2010-05-10T19:29:00.001-07:00

Adorableness!

Nothing to See Here, Move Along

2010-05-02T20:05:00.001-07:00

From Sketchbook to Computer...

2010-04-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

This isn't my first attempt at scanning something I've drawn outside of computer art programs and then trying to color it on the computer. Most of the time its failed, and when its 'succeeded' it kind of looks some messy kid scribbled in a picture in a coloring book. This is the first time I've tried with my tablet (I think, as far as I can remember that is) and I have a feeling it turned out better than I expected.

So I give you a character of something I'm currently working on, but probably won't be unveiled for quite a while, Sara Sage.

Trans-Atlantic Doodles, Oh My!

2010-04-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

So, we went out on vacation, back on the 8th of this month, to take a Disney Cruise over to Europe. I brought with me a DS (Packed with a brand-new cartridge of Pokemon Heartgold), a sketch book, and a writing notebook. While the video game took up much of my free time, I did get a dozen (maybe less, because I'm too lazy to count), pictures drawn up.

Amazingly, there's no WoW drawings. Sorry to disappoint, most of it is Pokemon, the sliver that isn't is stuff from the story I'm currently writing, that's not WoW related, or miscellaneous things. I'll put that stuff first, for your convenience.

You can see my scanner in the background, yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaah!

This is the first one... that's just of me, normally, but in a chibi style. It's called... zeh block head. Because everyone has square heads that look like giant blocks. Easy, no?

This is here because my mom wanted a picture of a Disney character in chibi-block style.
ARE YOU HAPPY MOTHER?

This is Fish.
Yes her name is Fish, she's part of my story. Angry Fish is angry.

This is Fish in a more fancier costume, which she is more or less forced to wear for some sort of fancy pirate event of pirateyness.
No, I don't know what I'm talking about, stop pretending that I do.

This is the last picture before all the Pokemon ones, be afraid, very afraid.
The creepy lizard thing is called a Xyrazak, I'm quite proud of myself because its the first creature like thing that I've ever drawn that actually looks okay. Go me!

Me, first custom Pokemon trainer outfit. My eyes are funny, hah.

Second custom outfit... not as good as the other one in my opinion. And my eyes are closer together and they still look funny. And I think this picture makes me look fat.
That backpack is... backpacky.

Look! Its me again! But this time I'm in the female trainer outfit from Pokemon Emerald. I love that outfit, my favorite one ever. Why? Because its like... a jumpsuit dress, not some flowery flirty thing you wear with every other female character.
My legs and arms are twigs in this picture. It looks funny. Haha, toothpick limbs.
I hate the female trainer in Heartgold. Those pigtails... and that hat... I mean seriously? I think she wears overalls too, I mean what gives with that?

This is my second favorite picture. Its in chibi-block style, me and my eevee. Her name is Evo. Yes, its a girl, yes she'll get angry if you call her a dude.
I don't have a backpack in this picture.
Fingerless gloves are hard to draw when the character doesn't have fingers.

This is my favorite, and last picture I have to show you. The triplets, which is a record in itself, because three detailed people in one picture is the most I've ever done. From left to right, Green, Red, and Blue.
Yes, Green is crazy and mentally unstable.
Yes, Blue is a prep.
No, Red is not strange in any particular way, she's actually the level-headed one. And that backpack looks the same in EVERY PICTURE. I mean... seriously.
They are my Pokemon alter ego's cousins. That's kinds of scary, to be honest.

So there you go. Doodles.

WAIT I FORGOT ONE

That's Ash.
He's a Blaziken.

Okay, now I'm done.

Whelp.

2010-04-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

Done. Finally.

This is mine.

Steal it and I'll come after you.

Minto of Mintonia, Minto, La Minto Power!

2010-03-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Yep.

This is Minto.

She has pink hair.

Just Another Picture

2010-03-04T13:06:00.000-08:00

Mhmm, so our group has gotten a little bigger.

Right now its Abby, Kai, Fyla, Trissy, and Ella.

Four more kids are getting added, Arabella, Tirion, Leon, and someone who hasn't been named yet. :P

Below is Bell, or Bella, because I accidentally put an 'a' on the end of Bell.

A Raven's Dawn

2010-02-23T18:36:00.000-08:00

Abygail Daybreaker, hero.

:)

Lil' Wrathy!

2010-02-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

So I doodled a new picture today, and figured it was cute (and well-drawn) enough to put up.

This is Wrath, Kai'ren's mom, if she were like, six years old. :D

Da da... DUN DA!

2010-02-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

Presenting to you, the next new hit secret agent movie:

Kai Bond!

Starring - Kai'ren and the lovely female agent, Abygail Daybreaker

That's all folks.

Another Picture =)

2010-01-29T15:09:00.000-08:00

Another picture of the people from the previous post.

The night elf is Fyla, and last picture I didn't give her markings because I didn't realize she had them! I am such a failure, but now she has them.

The blond one is Trissy, and... I don't actually know if she looks like a biker or not. That's just how I see her.

The black haired one pointing accusingly at the other guy is Abby, she's awesome.

And the only boy in the picture is Kai'ren. He's a half dragon dude.

No that doesn't make sense.

(The newest addition to this post is a little doodle of an older Kai's head, in a manga style that's ten times more detailed than the messy picture below >.<)

Still adding to this one, yet another picture of Fyla.

A Post With Some Pictures

2010-01-22T19:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing much else to say here.

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Nine

2009-11-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

It's late. I know, I'm sorry. :'( It's short too, but we finally uncover the mystery of the piece of paper!

Alexstrasza spoke quickly about what was happening out on the Dragon Wastes, she then pulled the two gnomes aside, as she wanted to speak to them alone. Jackal and Phoenix were then escorted down to the bottom of Wyrmrest. The two boys looked at each other and then headed to the nearest table, away from the disguised dragons.

“Do you still have it?” Phoenix looked over at Jackal.

“Have what?” The rogue asked, slightly confused.

“It! You know, the paper?”

“Oh!” Jackal exclaimed, rummaging through his bag. He couldn’t find it in the leather sack, so he moved on to the pockets of his pants. After searching through a few, he finally pulled out a slightly wrinkled and torn sandy brown piece of parchment.

He placed it on the table and the two began looking over it, “Do you think we can nab it when they aren’t looking?” Phoenix asked.

“You really think that they won’t be looking?” Jackal rolled his eyes.

They argued for a while in whispers, constantly jabbing fingers at the paper and making hand gestures. Jackal threw up his hands in annoyance, and Phoenix turned away because he was tired of what his friend was saying. While they were being childish, they didn’t notice when Aridormi leaned over and snatched the paper off the table.

The bronze dragon studied what was on the page, before scowling and looking down at the blood elf and the human, “Is this the only reason you’ve been following the Twinspark sisters?!”

They looked up at her with fearful eyes because of Aridormi’s harsh tone, “M-maybe?” Jackal stuttered.

“Unhonorable, good-for-nothing...” She started, lowering the paper, “Not only do you betray the trust those two have given you, but you know absolutely nothing about what you’re trying to get either! This... this thing...”

Aridormi hissed, “Death’s Fang.”

“Death’s Fang...?” Called a voice from behind, Jackal, Phoenix, and Aridormi glanced behind them to see Aruna and Anura, “What about Death’s Fang?” Anura said, holding her runeaxe effortlessly in one hand.

Phoenix lowered his head and Jackal grumbled, “These two...” Aridormi gestured to the two boys, “Were planning on relieving you of the runeweapon, on orders...” The bronze dragon tossed the piece of paper to Aruna.

“By and by...” The gnome warrior glanced over the writing.

Anura looked at Jackal and Phoenix, anger sparking in her blue eyes, “You... were... WHAT?”

The death knight would have leapt upon them in an instant if her sister didn’t hold her back, “Can you for once just settle down so we can handle this peacefully?” Aruna scowled, “Now...” She lowered the paper, crumpling it in her plate gauntlets and tossing it aside, “... tell us why you were after the axe.”

“We... we didn’t get any details! We were just told to find it!” Jackal stated.

Aridormi sighed, “He tells the truth, and my only assumption could be is that after the fall of Naxxramas, the soldiers infiltrating it retrieved the sister axe- Death’s Bite. With one of the two runeweapons, the other in their possession would be a great boon in the time of war...” The dragon gestured to outside.

“That makes perfect sense...” Aruna nodded, “But still, the fact that you two would be stupid enough to follow us just for the axe, especially when we’re on an important mission.”

“We’re sorry! Alright!?” Phoenix cried.

“I believe that their punishment should be sticking around until this war is over and our job is done,” Anura grinned slyly at the two boys, who lowered their heads with a heavy sigh.

Jackal looked up at Aridormi, who hovered over them like a jailer, “... so what’s the plan?” He nervously asked.

The gnomish warrior cleared her throat and began, “Alexstrasza says that at the moment, all we can do is wait. Nalice had said that the Obsidian Dragonshrine was overrun with the Scourge, meaning that the undead are waiting for the perfect time to strike--- when the Alliance and Horde forces are weakened.”

“We’ll be there to help clean up the mess when they do show up... until then, Anura is going to stay here and keep watch for the Scourge, Aridormi and I will be heading to Agmar’s Hammer to hopefully get something out of the Horde, and you two...” Aruna stopped to look at the blood elf and the human, “will be heading to Wintergarde.”

“Aye, aye... captain...” Phoenix muttered, less than enthused.

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Eight

2009-11-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

So here we are, chapter eight, at the normal length the chapters should be at. Also, I'm sorry it was delayed, last week I was traveling. Enjoy this section. :)

Oh wait, still no paper here.

I'm sorry.

The war had begun.

The Horde and the Alliance met up on the snows of the Dragon Wastes and engaged each other in battle almost immediately after they came in contact with each other. King Varian Wrynn dove into the fighting with a battle-cry, and Garrosh Hellscream roared before slashing his axes down.

After the first hour, the sky was already dark with storm clouds. Rain poured down onto both sides, the water mixed with blood that splashed onto the merciless fighters. Bolts of lightning hit the ground, their landing points guided by the hands of shamans. Magi of both sides rained bolts of frost, their warlocks showering the soldiers in fire, and paladins consecrated the ground with holy power.

Across the white ground were now the stains of pure red scarlet as bodies dropped down from blades and other wounds. Their throats ripped out, or entrails cut from their very chests, arrows piercing their hearts, or the marks of magical elements. Men and women, dying, many from unhonorable attackers that killed them from the shadows or where they could not be seen, their bodies serving as a message of the carnage of this war.

From a balcony on the Temple of Wyrmrest, were Alexstrasza and Chromie, who watched the battle from afar. The bronze dragon looked up at the elvish form of her Dragonqueen, “You do not plan to stop this?”

“I will, but they must learn that this fighting is pointless, and I believe the only way for them to learn is to see what will happen.” Alexstrasza lowered her head in dismay, “The lives lost here... weighs heavily on my soul.”

“A shame that the events to come are the events to come.” Chromie said.

“Your agent will arrive back soon, I hope.” Alexstrasza stated, raising her gaze to the blood stained field of battle.

---o---

“Stand strong!” Aridormi called to the sailors and the heroes present.

“Easy for you to say...” muttered Jackal.

“Kill them all.” High General Whitemane commanded.

The Scarlet army descended upon the courageous group of escaped prisoners and the one who had broken them out. Aridormi fended for herself with blasts of time energy, Aruna slammed her shield against their plate armor, Anura desecrated the ground beneath their feet, Phoenix unleashed a torrent of fire, and Jackal stabbed his daggers into their chests. The remaining sailors defended themselves with what they picked up inside the barracks jail, scraps of metal and bars of iron.

David’s crusaders were brutal, even with help from the fully armed heroes and the bronze dragon, three of the captured sailors fell, hitting the ground with echoing ‘thuds’. Aruna’s stomach turned as she saw their dead bodies. Aridormi guided the fighting group towards the entrance, hoping they would make it to the gates before too many of them fell.

“You’re a fool, General, if your men will not stay down so that these people may leave, I will force my way out.” Aridormi cried, turning to Aruna, “Give me room.”

“Aye, aye!” The gnome warrior said, giving a signal out to Anura, and the two gnomes pushed the Crusaders back to give the dragon enough space for her plan.

Arin smiled, with a blast of golden and sandstone colored energy, the form of the human female vanished. Instead, taking its place was the dragon’s real reptilian form. Aridormi bowed her enormous head, allowing the remaining sailors and the four heroes to climb up onto her back. The dragon looked down at the Crusaders, who were petrified in fear.

“Mortals, I will now be making my leave.” Was all she said before she beat her powerful wings and lifted up above the ground.

They flew for a bit, Wyrmrest was in sight and not far from New Hearthglen. Jackal narrowed his eyes and looked out across the snow, “Something isn’t right.”

One of the sailors leaned to look around Aridormi’s form, “There...there...there...’s... blood seeping... in the snow!”

“If what you say is true, than the carnage has already begun. We must make haste.” The dragon said, pushing her wings faster.

Aruna and Anura looked at each other, and shook their heads.

---o---

“It begins...” hissed Sang’thul.

“Do we yet strike?” bellowed the magmawyrm that lumbered behind the commanding lich.

“Not yet, Serinar, we will strike when they have weakened each other to the point where it will be easy to swoop in and crush them.” The lich laughed. “Their blood will linger in the snow until the Dragon Wastes will need to be renamed to the Blood Wastes...”

“They already seem to be slaughtering each other well enough...” Serinar commented.

“Ah yes... a wonderful observation, but also see that their battle has only just begun...” Sang’thul’s chilling laugh echoed across the caverns of the Obsidian Dragonshrine.

---o---

“Here we are.” Aridormi landed near the back of the Temple.

Aruna covered her ears as she slid off the bronze dragon. The sounds of battle were heard clear as day across the Dragonblight. She watched the others get off Aridormi, the sailors retreating into the base of the Temple, where the other disguised dragons tended to them. Aridormi reverted to her disguise and led the four heroes towards a red dragon disguised as a high elf.

“He will take you to the top of the Temple, I have matters to attend while you have audience with the Dragonqueen,” Arin said, bowing before moving inside.

The four took the red drake escorts to the very top of Wyrmrest. Phoenix watched the battle between the Horde and the Alliance from afar, not exactly sure who to root for. Then he kind of remembered he wasn’t really on either side, so he just frowned.

When the drakes arrived, they let the two gnomes, the blood elf, and the human get off their backs and then flew back down to the base. The four of them took the time to look around, a giant sphere of Azeroth hovered in the center of the meeting chamber, two ambassadors (that Aruna knew as Itharius and Nalice) were arguing off to the side, and on the balcony overlooking the Dragon Wastes were Chromie and Alexstrasza.

“Life-Binder, we are here on behalf of our own accord, Warchief Thrall’s wishes, and Aridormi’s guidance.” Aruna said as she timidly walked towards the Dragonqueen, awed, as always, at the red dragon Aspect.

Chromie finished saying something to Alexstrasza, who nodded before the bronze ambassador headed over to the two fighters to try and quell their bickering. The Dragonqueen turned towards the heroes and beckoned them closer, “Let me welcome all of you to Wyrmrest, and in a greater, but not as impactful, way, the Dragonblight itself.”

“Thank you...” Aruna bowed.

“I know your intentions here, but the plan must be different. Come, and let me tell you of the events to come...”

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Seven

2009-10-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here we come to save the day! Seventh chapter is on its waaaaaaaay!

Enjoy, it's short, be warned.

“Everything is going to plan, my King.”

“Sang’thul, I say that if you do not crush them all beneath the snows of Dragonblight, you will feel pain worse than anything you have ever felt before! You will beg for death, for mercy.” The voice of the Lich King boomed through the image standing before the Lich.

“I will not fail you, master. The dragon is being raised back by my necromancers. He will become a magma wyrm to crush his once-brethren.” Sang’thul hovered off the ground. His skeletal form bobbed up and down and the chains surrounding his body circled.

“Make sure of that, lest your arrogance cost you everything.” The image of the Lich King faded away.

The Lich hovered back inside the caverns of the Obsidian Dragonshrine, muttering the whole way about how he would never fail.

---o---

“King Varian Wrynn is here! We’re saved!” A soldier shouted, and anybody who had been previously working stood up to attention as the King passed by.

Varian was followed behind him by Lady Jaina Proudmoore, the Ruler of Theramore, who was constantly trying to talk him out of this, “You don’t have to fight the Horde, Varian! We have to fight the Lich King together!”

The King ignored her. He didn’t have time for her peaceful, Horde-loving, antics. This was a time for war, and her words wouldn’t stop him.

“You have problems in your own city! Are you going to just ignore those!?” Jaina stated.

Varian gritted his teeth. Those problems he wasn’t going to think about at the moment. He continued ignoring Jaina, who eventually got the hint and stopped bickering with him. Around him stood the town of Wintergarde, which had been taken back from the Scourge in the lower levels of the town. He was proud of his men for that, and soon they would ride forth to ensure victory against the Horde and all the monsters that made up their ranks.

“Wyrmbane, is the army training well?” The King asked.

“Yes, of course, they’ll be ready to take down the Horde!” The commander of the 7th Legion responded.

“Perfect.”

---o---

“Stand at attention, dogs!” Overlord Agmar stood in front of the Horde warriors.

Supplies from caravans had trickled in to Agmar’s Hammer in the previous weeks. Night elf Sentinels from Star’s Rest had attempted to ambush a few of them, but failed miserably and lost more of their own. The trolls, orcs, tauren, undead, and elves present were fitted with new armor and weapons for the coming fight.

“Garrosh will be arriving from Warsong Hold as soon as he is able! Until then, you must continue training to make sure we win against the Alliance scum! FOR THE HORDE!” Agmar shouted, and the Horde forces nodded in agreement.

“LOK’TOR OGAR!” The warriors screamed in response.

The Horde dispersed in the courtyard of Agmar’s Hammer, some of them sparring, other practicing on training dummies, and others were still getting their armor fitted. Agmar watched them all work with a savage grin on his orcish face.

They would win this war for sure!

---o---

“Aridormi... a bronze dragon!” Aruna pushed her face up against the bars to get a good look at the human figure before them.

“Yes... I am one of the Bronze Flight, and I have been charged with your rescue by the Wyrmrest Accord.” Aridormi said.

“Well isn’t that just awesome!” stated Jackal.

The dragon lifted her hand and channeled some sort of energy that clicked all the locks in the jail cell open. Aruna, Anura, Jackal, Phoenix, and the rest of the sailors trapped in the prison walked out and waited for Aridormi to lead their next move.

“I cannot disguise all of you, so be prepared to fight.”

Scarlet Crusaders poured down the stairways at the sound of the captives being freed. They noticed the well-dressed human in the middle of the prisoners and assumed that was the one who freed them all. The Crusaders leaped at Aridormi, but they were quickly thrown back by a blast of golden magic.

“Foolish humans.” The dragon muttered as she led the group of people up into the barracks. “You attempt to stop what has already been planned.”

After fighting more Scarlets, the group entered the courtyard of New Hearthglen, where before they could exit, a call sounded out. Anura looked over her shoulder by the chapel, where the High General came running out on a horse.

“Look out!” The gnomish death knight yelled.

Phoenix turned around and threw up a fire barrier in front of the group; it was dispelled as soon as David struck it with his sword, however. The High General called for the priests and paladins of the Scarlet Crusade to gather, and soon the courtyard was flooding with the red-armored zealots.

A battle was about to begin.

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Six

2009-10-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ahahahahahaha! I win! I win! The next TCOP is ALREADY READY. I worked extra hard to get this out so that the entire story schedule would not get messed up! This chapter shall introduce the fifth, and last, main character for the story.

I apologize for killing people last chapter. Especially Elayne, I know you liked her.

The bad guy gets a very short section, you still don't know who he is. It's a he, ooooh, I revealed something, I'm so bad. Allow me to state that the magic paper has been neglected, it will get mentioned next chapter, that I promise you.

ON WITH THE SHOW

The gnome came striding up the steps, murmuring under her breath. Her blond hair was pulled into two buns on either side of her head, held with silver clasps. In truth, the form was only a meager disguise; the gnome was actually the bronze dragon Chronormu, although she was mostly known as Chromie. Beside her walked a lanky tall elf, glowing blue eyes, and long gold hair. She knew him as Itharius, a green dragon, and the two of them represented their respective Dragonflights as Ambassadors.

The third member of their group was a black dragon, normally taking the form of a dark haired female human, named Nalice. She was already present at the top of the ancient temple of Wyrmrest when Chromie and Itharius arrived, the Ambassador of the Black Dragonflight’s gaze was stony, and Chromie was sure she saw a trace of fear in Nalice’s eyes.

Situated at the southern end of the council chamber was the even form of the Dragon Queen, Alexstrasza, and beside the Life-Binder was her prime consort, Krasus. Itharius and Chromie barely got to their positions before Nalice blurted out.

“The Scourge has returned.”

Itharius turned his nose up at the black dragon and scoffed, “Impossible. After the events of the Wrathgate and the fall of Naxxramas the Scourge would not return...”

Nalice scowled at him, “But they have! Last night I received a message from Serinar, the Obsidian Dragonshrine has been overrun with Scourge once again! They killed him, Itharius, they killed him!”

Chromie looked from side to side, then sighed, “Itharius, don’t argue, what she says is true.”

Alexstrasza shook her head, “This is troubling. The Horde have gathered many more forces together in Agmar’s Hammer, and in response the Alliance are building an army at Wintergarde Keep. The two sides are preparing for all out war.”

“And what do we do about it, m’lady?” Itharius asked.

“I intend to quell this quarrel at all costs should a spark ignite it. Unfortunately, I believe the Scourge seek to take advantage of the situation. We must all be on our guard,” The Dragonqueen looked at Krasus, who had nothing else to add, and so she continued, “However; there are others who have arrived here on behalf of stopping the battles to come. They seek my council, yet they have been hindered.”

“In what way?” Nalice looked up.

“The ones of misguided paths have captured them.” Alexstrasza gestured to the southeast, “They must be rescued, but we, as the council, have duties to ensure the safety of Wyrmrest.”

Chromie giggled, her round face lighting up, “I know just the dragon for this job.”

---o---

“Continue working, necromancers, this dragon will be crucial to my plans.”

A ring of black robed figures stood around the bones of the dead wyrm, Serinar. Their master had forced the dragon out of his disguise in the last moments of his life, and the body was given to them to raise into service. Each necromancer wore a hood, shrouding their deathly pale skin from the light of the lava and flames that surrounded them.

“I wish for my new pet to be delivered as soon as it is properly enslaved.”

Without needing another word spoken to them, the necromancers lifted their hands and began channeling dark energies into the bones.

“Perfect... everything is coming together...”

---o---

Phoenix sat cross-legged in one of the cells located in the bottom of the barracks in New Hearthglen. He held a tiny mug, and brought it back and forth against the metal bars, causing hollow noises to echo throughout the entire basement. While he played with the bars of the jail, he whistled a lowly tune, something between a sorrowful elven lament and a nursing rhyme. In another cell, where the Scarlets had taken enough extra measure to chain her up, Anura sat and tried with futile effort to cover her ears.

“Cut that infuriating noise out!” The gnomish death knight screamed.

He dropped the mug as if on command, hesitantly crawling into the backs of his cell. Anura let out tired, heavy, almost panting, breaths as she attempted to loosen her tightened jaw. Jackal was sharing a cell with Aruna, and so he took the time to ask her a question.

“Why did your sister get so angry when Phoenix was playing with the mug?” The human glanced down at the pink haired gnome, who was tinkering with some odd invention she had managed to grab from her bag before the Crusaders took it away.

“She hates sound when there’s no action. If there’s conversation, a battle, any activity, noise won’t bother her in the least. When nothing is going on, like right now, she’ll just go mad if there’s an ambient sound.” Aruna never looked up from her invention when she replied, but from what Jackal could tell, the gnome was all too happy with what she said.

Jackal looked thoughtful for a moment, “Why do you think that happens to her?”

Aruna gave him an indifferent look, “I couldn’t tell you facts, she won’t tell me,” the gnome looked through the bars to see her sister’s glowing blue eyes piercing through the darkness. She looked back to Jackal and lowered her voice, “I believe it’s because of something that happened before the death knights became free from the Lich King.”

The rogue would have asked more, but the gnome gave him a look that he understood to be that she had no more answers on the subject, so Jackal left it there.

---o---

Silver snow crunched beneath her feet as she trudged through the endless winter lands. Biting winds whipped against her face and caused her tan skin to begin gaining a pink hue in her cheeks. Yet even though the elements of Northrend battled against her, she pressed on, and looked less than phased by the cold weather.

What she wore could not be considered proper for the climate that surrounded her. A black bodice laced with bronze rope covered her chest up until her shoulders, where the sandy colored shirt that lay beneath came billowing out into sleeves. The cuffs were embroidered with shimmering gold thread. Her pants clashed against the white of the world, pure black silk, except for down the outer sides of her legs, where in more gold thread, was designed a dragon. Each dragon’s tail was lost beneath her boots, which were laced with more bronze rope just below her knees.   Wrapped tightly around her shoulders was deep scarlet cloak that trailed behind her.

She raised an arm to her forehead to block the snowflakes that drifted into her line of vision while she scanned the area in front of her. Her eyes were something odd, a muddled, metallic yellow color that never seemed to catch the light just right. Flowing in the harsh winds that pushed against her, a long braid of golden-blond strands of hair was held in place by silver bands. Before her stood the gates of a white and red town, its dirty and tattered banners of allegiance whipped back and forth.

She heard the howling of the wind, and looked over her shoulder. With no other looks behind, she glanced at the guards stationed in front of the place. A slight jerk of her hand pulled the scarlet hood over her head, and a flick of her wrist cast a spell of masquerading. Unnoticed she slipped past the guards that gave her not a glance, and further into their town of slaughter did she waltz with quick and near perfect-footsteps.

The barracks before her, the chapel to the left, and with a pause for thinking, she danced her forward. To those around her she was nothing out of the ordinary, she looked like one of them, a soldier, and a comrade in goals. How easy it was to slip past them without them even suspecting a thing. Patrols walked past, crimson dogs ferociously biting towards her, yet the masters held them back with an odd glance, and they did not question.

Delicate steps took her down the staircase into the depths of their barracks. They had set up cells for those they would capture in war for no reason other than for sadistic torture or interrogation. Oh how her heart went out for those who never had aid in escaping such a cruel and inevitably deathly fate. She hit the last step and her boots clicked against the stone tile of the dark basement. The soldier set up on guard duty believed his shift was done when she arrived, and hurriedly left by escaping up the stairs.

There were fifteen of them in those cells, she quickly counted. Most of them were sailors, deckhands, there only because of unfortunate circumstance and a foolish girl’s trade. She looked them over once more, four of them she was to ensure the ultimate safety of. As she walked, she looked, she searched, and through the shadows she saw two flickering blue lights and illuminated wisps of smoke. The lights vanished as her boots began to click louder as she hurried her pace, the last cell held the death knight, that she knew.

To the side she saw the flicker of sparked flames, a mage, and on the other side she saw the outlines of two other figures, one shorter than the other. She had found who she was looking for, but she was certain one of them was aware of her presence.

“What are you doing over here, guard?” The taller figure in the third cell asked, a man, the rogue.

She smiled, and she knew what was happening, her disguise was flickering, the magic fading. The four looked on with surprised eyes until her normal human figure was seen. To them, she glowed, like her very skin was alive with light. Her smile was warm, comforting, and when she spoke it was soft, but firm.

“I am Aridormi, yet you may call me Arin.”

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Five

2009-10-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

Oh no! This TCOP was delayed! I am so sorry for this! Blame my laziness and lack of ideas for this chapter. You might find that the exciting gunship battle in today's chapter is not very exciting.

People die in this chapter, you have been warned.

For clarification, The Cost of Peace takes place during Wrath of the Lich King, before the Lich King was defeated, after the Wrathgate event, Kel'thuzad has been killed, and Ulduar has not been fully explored and plundered yet.

Enjoy the lack of funny in this chapter, I'm sorry, you have creepy whispers in the mean time.

It was quiet.

Not for long, the four resting within the cramped storage room would find. Not long after all sound on the ship had been silenced did it lurch forward, slamming the blood elf, human, and gnomes into the crates lining the back wall. The ship stopped dead in the water, and they could hear bickering and orders being thrown out from voices both familiar and unfamiliar. There was Elayne, shouting for someone to man the cannons, and another person, a man, ordering the same.

Cannons? Thought Aruna, Isn’t this a trade ship!?

The gnomish warrior didn’t question anymore when a cannonball ripped through the side of their room, flying right past their heads and slamming into the opposite wall. She hoped the Lightning Hawk had cannons, or they all would be dead meat, literally. More ‘bang’s resounded as the cannons fired off and on. Three more shots came barreling through their cabin, they debated going up deck to help, but from the way the battle was sounding, their side wasn’t winning. There was screaming, shrill cries of pain from both sides, victory calls, and more orders.

“The general demanded prisoners! Search the ship for any who weren’t killed in the initial attack!”

A stampede of footsteps resounded; these were definitely not delicate people

“Get yer dirty hands offa me, ye zealots!”

Jackal stood up and headed towards the exit to the cabin, unfortunately, before he ever touched the doorknob the door viciously tossed him to the side as it was slammed open if a huff. Aruna’s jaw would have dropped to the floor if it could have. The raiders, the ones who had boarded the ship without any permission or warning, and the ones who had mercilessly broken their ship and were about to take hostages, were... She saw the deep red armor masking their figures, weapons charged with mishandled light, and the tabard.

The pure white cloth was stained with the blood they had shed; a red border lined its edges, and in the middle sat the image of a flame.

Scarlet Crusaders.

Phoenix saw it too, as did Anura, and the death knight could not mask the rage she felt as she leapt upon the so called ‘warriors of the light’. A battle broke out, by Aruna didn’t remember much of it, as she felt a heavy object crush into the back of her plate, and then there was darkness.

---o---

Her head was pounding, like thousands of little needles continually poking into the back of her skull. The death knight never opened her eyes; she didn’t want to see where they—she almost spit—took them to, and she didn’t want to see their gloating eyes of how they managed to catch her. She nearly killed them all, almost, but they overwhelmed her, somehow, with their demented light. As she went over what exactly has happened in her head, she realized how unnatural the circumstances were for what had taken place. The four of them, her, her sister, the human, and the elf, were only talking when all of the chaos began. One of them, the rogue, had said they were nearing Dragonblight and should have been at Moaki later that day. Then it hit Anura exactly where they had been when the Crusaders got to them.

New Hearthglen.

But then, she remembered, Ratchet in Kalimdor, to the west. New Hearthglen was in eastern Dragonblight, so why did the ship divert so far off course? She snapped her eyes open to stare at the scenery around her. White marble walls guarded giant stained glass windows, pillars held the ceiling up, and the ground beneath was cold tile.

“The dead one is awake...”

Anura scowled as a foot as big as her head pushed down on her chest, reflecting that sometimes being tiny had its problems. She looked up at the Scarlet holding her tiny frame down, and wondered why they even let her into their sacred chapel without slaying her on the spot. Around her laid the others, among them her sister was slowly stirring into consciousness. The mage and the rogue were now awake, too, she saw, but they dared not to get up after what had happened in the cabin earlier. Then she saw the dwarf, who had obviously been up longer than anybody else.

Elayne had her hands tied behind her back and was standing before one of the zealous Crusaders. This one, however, looked ten times more important the lackeys that had fought them on the ship. It was a he, with short brown hair and a muscular build. Under his arm he carried a horned, red helmet.

“It is pathetic how your friend believed she could pay her way through her sins.”

“Ye killed Lunae! I ain’t gonna let that stand...” the captain barked.

“I don’t believe you realize that she was the one who got you all into this predicament. She hoped that by telling us you all were against the light we would pay her for getting rid of you. Unfortunately for her, we knew that she was as unholy as the rest of you, and now you will all die for carrying the taint that plagues the Scourge.”

“What!?” Elayne shouted.

The dwarf attempted to kick the Scarlet holding her down as she leapt upon the commander. She was successful in breaking the ropes around her wrists and holding the edge of her rapier to the throat of the man. Before she could swiftly strike, her eyes opened wide, and the rest of her crew could see what happened.

A bloody sword was shoved through Captain Ironhammer’s chest; the commander of the Scarlets had managed to draw a weapon before the dwarf could make any lasting threats. Gasps arose from the captured men and women as the man dropped the dead woman to the ground and looked across the captives.

“Let that show you what will be done to you later.”

“Abbendis is dead, who are you?”

The commander turned his head to see the little pink-pigtailed gnome who had asked the question. Aruna was on her feet, smiling triumphantly, with one finger pointing straight at the man in charge.

“The new leader of New Hearthglen, High General David Whitemane.”

“Heeeeeey! You’re related to that one chick!” Jackal yelled.

“The High Inquisitor of the Monastery, yes, unfortunately she has passed away due to tainted ones like you.” David stated, facing away from the group and instead to the altar that had been constructed at the end of the chapel.

The general raised a hand to signal the other Scarlets in the room, “Take the prisoners away.”

---o---

“I have to get out of here; I have to get out of here...”

Serinar sprinted down the caverns of the Obsidian Dragonshrine. The black dragon was in his human disguise, hastily sucking in breaths of air as he dodged around walls of rock and pools of lava. They were getting closer with every step he took and he knew in the end he couldn’t outrun them all, but he kept running.

“Your death is near.”

The bone-chilling whisper came from within the tunnels, but to Serinar, it felt like it was right behind him at all times. He didn’t dare look over his shoulder, he couldn’t pause, if he did, they would catch up.

It was a matter of life or death, and by all means, he wanted life.

“Give up... embrace the cold chill...”

“No! No!” Serinar screamed.

He realized he wouldn’t make it, no matter how fast he ran and no matter how far he pushed his limits, the exit to his Flight’s sacred shrine would be just out of reach. Someone had to know, though, someone had to be aware of what had invaded. Serinar slipped around a corner, hopefully out of their gaze. With one hand extended, he began to channel an image of himself, hopefully someone would see it.

“Your efforts are futile.”

“Somebody! Anybody! The Obisdian Dragonshrine is overrun... overrun...”

This wasn’t supposed to happen, Serinar knew it, but after every adventurer he sent to help purge the dragonshrine never came back... he knew something was up. He checked himself... but they were everywhere.

“Yield.”

“Serinar? Serinar!?! Is that you?!” The black dragon heard the female voice respond.

“Nalice... NALI—“ Serinar’s shrill cry was ended shortly, and was followed by a gurgling mass of blood being choked on.

“Welcome to the embrace of undeath... wyrm...”

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Four

2009-10-02T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here we are, chapter four, we've come a long ways. Okay, so maybe not. Anyway, here's the continuation of both chapter two and chapter three!

As of now, the gnomes and the boys are both caught up in terms of timeline. And don't worry, we'll be seeing more of Vai'sig and Saikai later in the series!

“You have defied orders, Garrosh. You were not supposed to cause a war!” Thrall barked at the brown skinned orc who had pushed past both Vai’sig and Saikai to get into the inner chamber.

The room was bristling with tense energy. Saurfang and the Warchief continued to stare down Garrosh as he watched what happened before him, while and the Twinspark sisters were caught right in the middle of the fighting.

“The humans will be slaughtered!   The land shall be bathed in the blood of the pink skinned and their allies! Dragonblight will forevermore be Horde territory!” Garrosh looked down at the gnomes with bloodlust in his eyes; he fingered the axes resting at his belt.

There was not a second warning to his assault, and not another word was spoken as the orc grabbed his weapons and leapt upon the sisters. Aruna was quick to lift her shield as soon as she saw the armored monster coming down upon her. However, there was not force against the Crest of Lordaeron, no familiar jolt in her bones that came when something struck her defenses, and as she lowered the barrier away from her face, she saw the reason.

Saurfang had come to their aid. The old orc had rushed between them and Garrosh, lifting his axe to parry the incoming weapons. “You think you can stand up to me, you old man?!” The brown skinned orc cackled.

“You have pushed your limits, Hellscream, I told you I would not let you bring us down a dark path, and I intend to keep my promise.”

Aruna drew her sword and looked ready to jump into the fray, but a firm hand on her shoulder pad held her back. The gnome glanced behind her, to where Thrall was bent down on one knee, and looked her straight in the eye. “Come with me, Twinsparks, this is not your battle to fight... and you have other places to be going.”

While the warrior nodded, her sister appeared to be paying no attention to the orc leader’s words of wisdom. Instead she had lifted her hands to the air, a bolt of shadow erupting in her palms, which spread and morphed into the shape of an axe... that finally became a true solid object. Black metal formed the handle, which spiraled up and made room for the jagged edges of the black axe-head. A hole was carved in the head, within the hole spun a red gem with the help of necrotic magic, and a twin gem was set into the bottom of the hilt of the weapon. Runes glowed and twisted up the runeaxe, a deadly weapon indeed.

Thrall was about to say something to the death knight, when he caught sight of the weapon in her hands, “... impossible.” He shook his head, and grabbed Anura by one of her arms, the gnome would have cut of his hand right then and there, if it weren’t for the stern glare of her sister who stood beside the Warchief.

“A war has started on the wastes of the Dragons this day, Varok! I plan to be there to lead the Horde to victory against our enemies!” Garrosh brought his axes up to hit Saurfang in the shoulders, the older orc jumped back and countered with a cleave.   There was a long gap of silence between the guards stationed across the room. Saurfang’s adversary was on his knees, staring up at Varok, “You have not lost your touch in combat...”

“I never plan to, traitor.”

Aruna looked over her shoulder as Thrall escorted the Twinsparks out of Orgrimmar with a group of Kor’Kron. Varok’s words rang in her head, Garrosh... a traitor.

---o---

Becca and Tektali were right where the gnomes had left them, hiding in the underbrush, out of sight and unsuspicious to anybody who might have found them.   Thrall had set Anura down during their retreat out of the Orcish city, and she grudgingly walked up to her raptor and mounted the beast. Aruna stayed to discuss farewells with the orc leader.

“I am sorry our meeting did not go as planned, Thrall, and I am sorry about the decent of Garrosh’s legacy.”

“Little one, that is not your fault... Varok has made me realize I never had a firm hand on the lesser Hellscream’s path. I thought he would make the right choices himself, but his hate for the Alliance has caused many to sway from the path of peace.”

The gnome didn’t say anything for a bit, allowing the words to sink in, and before she could open her mouth, the Warchief continued, “Ratchet, that is where you need to go. It is the closest port, and I believe there is a ship docked there that is headed for Dragonblight. I will have to settle the uproar that has started in Orgrimmar, deliver this news—and our plan for peace—to Alexstrasza.”

Aruna bowed, “I will do it, Thrall. Lok’tar ogar.”

The warrior proceeded to swing herself onto Becca’s saddle, Thrall and the Kor’kron left back to Orgrimmar as soon as she was properly mounted. “Shall we proceed then, sister?” Aruna gave Anura a sly grin.

“Let us ride.” was the death knight’s only reply.

---o---

“I don’t think I can drink another one...”

Jackal shoved the bottle of spicy juice in Phoenix’s face, “Stop being such a sissy and drink it! I have money on you!”

The blood elf reluctantly grabbed the bottle and uncorked it. He held the end of the neck at his mouth for a few moments before Jackal screamed at him again, so Phoenix finally spilled the whole mixture right into his mouth. His face contorted into a look of extreme disgust and that whatever was in his mouth was extremely sour. Jackal looked around, then handed his friend another bottle, “Drink up!”

Around them the Broken Keel Tavern was exploding with events. People from all over Ratchet had arrived that evening to socialize, but a traveler had pulled some mixture from a crate he had brought with him and declared a competition. Soon everyone was placing bets and getting their friends to drink the odd liquid. Jackal had gotten Phoenix to do it; Elayne was shoving it down her throat like it was water; unnamed orcs, goblins, and trolls were slurping it; and the only other person who had stepped up to drink it was the navigator of the Lightning Hawk.

Phoenix downed another bottle before his chair tipped backwards and Jackal found him unconscious. Everyone else was still at it, and almost an hour later did the mysterious man who had brought the juice stepped forward to announce who had drank the most. He made a subtle gesture to the last woman standing, “Lunae Arisray!”

The night elf stepped forward, claiming the large bag of gold and flexing in response. Elayne’s crew was hooting and cheering for the girl who sailed their ship. Jackal’s draw almost dropped to the floor, and Phoenix would’ve been just as surprised... but he wasn’t awake.

“Oi! I don’t mean to cut the celebrations short, but we’re off schedule!” Captain Ironhammer screamed,

“Back to the ship ye sea dogs! And the two landlubbers too!”

---o---

Phoenix had woken up while Jackal was carrying him to the lower deck where their room was. After demanding to be set down, the two plopped onto their makeshift beds and began talking about what they were going to do when they got to the Dragonblight. Part-way through their conversation they started hearing noises of the crates behind them being shifted around, while they ignored it at first, the noises continued until they felt they needed to investigate.

“Do you hear that?” Jackal asked.

“I hear it.” Phoenix looked over his shoulder.

“What is it?”

“A ghost.”

“A ghost? Are you crazy?”

“Maybe.”

This bickering went on for a few minutes before Jackal stood up and searched through the crates and barrels because he refused to believe that whatever was in their room was a ghost. He displaced boxes and bags and continued this until the point of a crude iron blade was shoved inches from his nose.

“Waaaaaaaah!!!!!” Jackal stumbled back away from the sword and Phoenix scrambled to his feet to see what the yelling was about.

Leaping from behind the boxes came two short figures, clad in plate armor and brandishing weapons, one with striking bright pink hair and the other glaring at the boys with misty blue eyes. Phoenix started conjuring fire in his hands as he looked at the gnomes, who began screaming in response. They waved their weapons and it was then the mage and rogue’s turn to begin yelling. The act of hollering continued for a while until the two female midgets calmed down and began loudly shushing Jackal and Phoenix.

“Stop screaming!” The black armored death knight shrieked.

“Waaaah---“ The boys stopped screaming as soon as they saw how angry the little undead gnome was staring at them. “Who are you two!?!” Jackal asked, on the verge of screaming again.

“We can only give you that information if you promise not to tell the captain of this sea vessel!” The gnome with bright pink hair seemed to have more authority in her voice.

“Let me confer with my colleague.” Jackal pulled Phoenix aside and the two began whispering in a conspiring-like fashion.

The two gnomes just stood there with dumb-looking expressions on their faces as the blood elf and the human chattered for the next ten minutes. Every so often one of them would jab a finger in the death knight’s direction until finally the elf approached them, “Okay, we won’t tell Elayne about you two!”

“Alright then, we are the Twinspark sisters, I, Aruna,” The pink pigtailed gnome gestured to herself, “And Anura.” She then gestured to the death knight, “We have hidden on this ship with the information that it is traveling to Dragonblight. This was the closest port to where we were currently located and to the most direct location.”

“Oh.” Phoenix said.

“We’re going to Dragonblight too!” Jackal said with a giant, goofy looking smile.

“I see.” Aruna replied.

“What was all that screaming about you two!?” Jackal and Phoenix heard Elayne’s voice and automatically told the two gnomes to hide for cover; the sisters dived behind some crates and prayed that they wouldn’t be discovered.

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Three

2009-09-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

YES! YES! It is chapter three! Here we return to our friends Jackal and Phoenix as they carry out the mission given to them by Mathias Shaw. Unfortunately, you will NOT get to learn what is on that paper, as I still wish to make you scream at your computer in anger of wondering what everybody is thinking about. Have fun!

As a note, Jackal and Phoenix are a couple of weeks behind Aruna and Anura in the story! Don't get it all confused!

Jackal and Phoenix walked side by side, both of them tightly clutching the edges of the piece of paper. Their faces were buried in whatever was written on it as they walked down the docks of Stormwind harbor.   Luck would have it that neither boy had done anything but stare at their document as they wondered through the city to get to where they were. They were so engrossed in it that many times they almost found themselves running straight into a wall, falling off the edges into the canals, or even plummeting to their doom off the side of a large stone wall. Miraculously, they finally found themselves close to a final destination, and after tripping over each other’s feet, they looked up from the paper to discover that fact.

The sea captains currently in port had seen the two clumsy individuals coming their way, and as soon as the two had looked up to select their choice of water-going vessels, many of them began hollering orders to begin to leave the harbor. Phoenix began inquiring the captains if the pair could travel with them, each time went with a swift and harsh no and removal from the vessel with more than necessary brutality. Eventually every one of those the ships were sailing off into the horizon, leaving one solitary vessel at the port.

When Jackal approached the lone ship, he was surprised to find a pirate-garbed female dwarf holding on to the mast, barking orders, and directing the actions of the dirty and battered crew consisting of a multitude of different races. The rogue was immediately regretting the idea of asking this rough short woman for a ride upon her boat, but he had little time to consider when she dropped down a few inches in front of his face.

“Aye! What do ye little muscle-short human want upon the Lightning Hawk, ship of the great Captain Elayne Ironhammer?!” The dwarf nearly screamed in the rogue’s face as she tossed a bundle of bright orange hair out of her face and behind her back.

Phoenix crept up behind Jackal, who was trying not to freak out because of the crazy dwarf, “We uh... we uh... need a ride... to..." he leaned in and whispered "Dragonblight.”

Elayne gained a wicked smile, “If ye have pay and don’t minda pit-stop before we get there... then I’d be happy to help...”

The mage dug in his pockets and produced a brown burlap sack full of gold coins. He casually shook it and slyly tossed it to the captain, who ushered both boys aboard, “Blind Eye! Show tha landlubbers to their cabin!”

A twitching human approached the three, justly called blind-eye because of an eye patch covering his left eye and a scar covering his right, and guided Phoenix and Jackal below deck. Elayne smirked slightly as she tossed the bag of coins up and down in one hand, the other loosely gripping a sheet of paper...

---o---

It had been two days after Captain Ironhammer had so graciously allowed Jackal and Phoenix aboard her ship. They were now crammed into a very small cabin, which most likely had been a storage room—considering all the crates overflowing with random merchandise—where two makeshift beds had been set up in a haste. Their room had been a flurry of a mess a day ago, when Jackal had realized their mission paper had been lost. In the search, they managed to tear through everything, which gave Elayne reason to almost throw them overboard. Both of them had to then clean up what they had misplaced, down to the little scraps that had been there before them. After that, the captain less than politely ordered to see both boys in her quarters.

“Boys, ye told me ye wanted to go to the Dragonblight, but ye never told me the reason why.” Elayne looked between Phoenix and Jackal, before slamming a parchment on the desk the three of them were seated at, “I want ta know who sent ye for that!”

The dwarf pointed an accusing finger at the paper which the two realized was the missing mission, Phoenix and Jackal stared wide-eyed as she bitterly looked back up at them, “Ye daft fools probably don’t even know what this is, do ye?! Of course not... ye fools are headed for troubles in the wastes of Northrend... don’t let any higher power try ta tell ye that searching for this will be easy.”

“We... we were sent by Mathias Shaw, who got the orders from King Wrynn... we... we’re just the messengers!” Jackal exclaimed.

“The laborers too, lad.” Elayne folded her arms on the table, glancing between both boys, “We’ll be takin’ the pit-stop I told ye about in Ratchet. From there, we’ll head to Dragonblight where I’ll drop ye off with the Tuskarr. From there I can’t do much ta help ye, the Lightning Hawk will continue to sail...”

“But what about it?” Phoenix asked.

“... boy, if ye ever find it, I wish ye the best of luck. That... that thing, is something so valuable that the deadliest of assassins will be at your throats for it. But, ye won’t find it, because if it’s where ye think it is, then it will be harder to obtain than keeping it after ye have found it.”

The pair nodded, before Elayne snapped, “Dismissed, both of ye!”

---o---

The words of the captain were rolling through their heads again as they neared the mark of their second week of travel. After all that time the crew had gotten enough out of the rogue and mage’s gullibility for entertainment, and now spent most of their time ignoring Jackal and Phoenix. This gave the two the ability to leave their cabin for more than ten minutes and explore the ship at their leisure. They were currently on the top deck away from the navigator—at her request—and leaning their elbows on the edge of the ship to gaze out across the blue waters.

“I hope this works out, Jackal, after what Elayne told us... I’m kind of scared.” Phoenix mumbled.

“Stop being a sissy! It’s gonna work out and we’re going to get a big reward when we come back with the prize!” Jackal pushed himself away from the edge, lifting up his arms in excitement. He stumbled back however, right into the wheel of the ship, where the night elf steering jabbed her elbow into his ribs.

Phoenix turned around and caught the staggering rogue before he toppled down deck.   Unfortunately, the blood elf fell backwards from his friend’s weight and the two of them went tumbling down the stairs to the middle deck. They knocked over a deckhand, tipped over a pail, began sliding faster because of the water that tipped out of said pail, and ended up in a pile against the side of ship. The two worked for about ten minutes to untangle themselves, until shouts from above screamed about seeing land.

The pair jumped to their feet, looking out across the water. Dark shapes that resembled docks and buildings came into focus gradually as the ship pulled into the new port. They could see multiple goblin trade ships lining the outstretched docking areas, sleek steel hulls glimmering in the sunlight. Phoenix shielded his eyes, squinting to be able to see the town ahead closely. He saw the little green goblins haggling, trading, failing to haggle, and bribing each other, along with the travelers—pirates of all different races, shady warlocks, and Horde adventurers.

Elayne walked up behind them, having to stand on her toes to look over the edge of the ship, “Ah... Ratchet! A glorious port! You two!” She looked at Phoenix and Jackal, “We’ll be staying here a few days to pick up supplies and get the jobs we needed to get done... well... done. Make yourselves at home here in the goblin city... I’ll find ye both when we’re ready to sail again.”

“Aye aye Cap’n!’ The human and the blood elf saluted the dwarf, who proceeded to leave the ship.

Following Captain Ironhammer was the rest of the crew, one after the other, until the only one left was the navigator. She turned and gave Jackal a rude gesture as he and Phoenix left the sailing vessel to walk around town.

---o---

“Get off the counter!”

A goblin rudely pushed a drunken orc away as he wiped a damp rag across the metal top. His inn was bustling with different people, armored goblin bruisers were stationed outside and in to keep the peace. However, their duty wasn’t done very well, as brawls started constantly. Pirates who had one too many drinks and adventurers who refused to have their pride degraded. The innkeeper sighed, lifting his head to see the newest group of patrons arriving.

“Elayne! Why aren’t you a sight for sore eyes...?” The goblin grinned mischievously, stooping down to grab a mug that he began cleaning.

The dwarf captain looked over her shoulder, not much of her crew had followed, and those that did were buying drinks from the bartender, “Wiley! Keep yer voice down...” She hissed in a whisper.

“...right, I’m sorry, confidential information, right?” Wiley sighed once more, continuing to clean a mug that was most likely spotless; he looked from side to side and leaned his head in, “Where is it?”

“Dragonblight.”

The goblin grinned from ear to ear, dropping a sack of coins in front of the pirate.

Filler Post!

2009-09-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

So, I realized, if I don't post anything right now I'm going to have two TCoPs (The Cost of Peace(s)) in a row! That's just not right! I have this feeling we need some more pictures for you people to look at...

I'm going to have to start drawing more soon! :O

...
Wait for it...

Wait for it...

o_O Wait! I can't upload any pictures! THAT'S WEIRD!

Sorry everyone! You're going to have to wait... So I'll just talk some more...

You all know I like to draw. Draw... draw... and draw some more. But if you haven't noticed yet, I don't tend to draw any men! This observation is completely correct, as I completely fail at drawing boys... which is kind of weird... unless they're animal things. Why can't I draw boys? I can't get the hair right... and they also look waaaaay too feminine. I don't know why! They just do.

To be honest, I can't draw animals if they're on four legs, either. Now, you might be thinking some more, if you can only draw animals that walk on two legs and girls... why you must epic fail!

This observation is also correct, I do fail. A lot.

So I'm wondering, if you draw men/boys/males, how do you make them look like men/boys/males?

The Cost of Peace, Chapter Two

2009-09-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

It's time for another edition to The Cost of Peace! What will happen this time as Aruna and Anura jump recklessly into Orgrimmar? Will Jackal and Phoenix find whatever they're looking for? Will the gnomes gain audience with Thrall? And what in the world is ~~in that jar of dirt~~ on that peace of parchment?!

Your questions may be answered, (or not), in the second chapter!

I regret to inform you there is a lack of clumsy rogues or pyromaniacs in the following writing.

“This is... very interesting...”

Aruna looked over her shoulder and signaled Anura to be quiet. The death knight grudgingly agreed as both gnomes continued to creep silently across the rooftops of Orgrimmar. Their plate boots made thumping noises as they walked, but the noise was drowned out by the members of the Horde below, conversing, haggling, and loitering. A cover of shadows, darkness, or night was not on their side, but it mattered little when the Horde took no notice of who, or what, was crawling above the city.

A few more minutes passed of traveling, they were nearing the Valley of Wisdom and the sun was almost directly above their heads. Anura could not seem to keep her mouth quiet for long, but she quietly muttered this time. Her sister did not seem to mind the near-silent tone, and the two began a conversation as they walked.

“What do you plan to do when we arrive at the throne?” Anura mumbled.

Aruna let out a sigh before responding, “We ask for an audience before Thrall.”

“If they don’t kill us before we can speak.”

“Don’t be so negative, Anura.”

“Just sayin’”

There was a long pause before either said another word, “... it’s fine. You’re right, it’s going to be hard to convince the Horde we aren’t a threat... or just free game.” Aruna glanced at her sister and smiled slightly, “but don’t worry, we’ll convince them. And hopefully, we’ll finish our goal.”

Anura grumbled, “Your goal.”

“‘Ey mon! We haven’t had any of dos Alliance peeps come ‘ere for a while!”

“Ya mon, and lookie here some are! Dese ones are da gnomes too!”

The sisters looked from each other to turn their gazes forward. With hands on their green glowing axes, two trolls in full mail battle armor stared back at them. They glanced at the gnomes, then looked at one another, and burst into a fit of laughter.

“Lookie! Dey looks so dumfounded that we caught them!”

Aruna cleared her throat, “Excuse me... sir... trolls, I do not mean to interrupt your chatter, but I wish to ask what is so funny?”

Both trolls stared at the warrior like the gnome had grown a second head; one of them spoke up, “Oi! That be Saikai to you!” He paused for a moment, before jabbing a thumb towards his companion, “And that be Vai’sig. And the funny is the fact you gnomes be in Orgrimmar! That be funny!”

The warrior kept a straight face as she spoke, Anura behind her, a scowl as her expression, “We are here to speak with Thrall, Saikai.”

Vai’sig apparently found the idea quite absurd, as he began laughing uncontrollably once again. Saikai soon followed his friend’s lead, and both trolls looked ready to cry during their chuckle fit. Aruna tensed, waiting for them to say something more.

“You is funny! Very funnah!” Vai’sig managed to say, “Maybeh we should let Thrall see what to do wit them! Maybeh he’ll let us punt dem!”

Anura leaped out from behind her sister, slamming a plated glove to smack Saikai across the face. The troll reeled back from the slap as the death knight dropped to the ground, expertly dodging a strike from Vai’sig’s axe. Aruna called for her to stop, but Anura was ready for action. A ball of necrotic energy was crushed in the gnome’s palm; sparks of purple erupted from her hand and struck a runed-circle in a certain section of the ground. From the earth came a rotted body, bits of flesh hanging from blood-stained bones. The ghoul slobbered as it jumped upon the trolls, and below the rooftops watched the citizens of Orgrimmar, curious as to what the ruckus was about.

---o---

“Thrall, I see your reasoning, but you hold too tight to believing he is like his father. The boy is foolish, not a hero. He has swayed the orcs of Northrend into believing his murderous cause and I believe he prepares for war, even against your wishes.”

Within the circular throne room two aged orcs debated pressing matters. One was armored in the finest plate armor known, with a wicked two-handed axe resting against his back. He spoke firmly, yet respectfully, to the other—Thrall, Warchief of the Horde.

“Varok, I—“

“He is more like Varian than you think. Hot tempered, quick to charge, and unable to reason when faced with those of the Alliance. The younger Hellscream is the reason the humans and their allies continue to judge us as they have from actions in the past.”

The Warchief was about to say something more, but the doors to the outer chamber burst open.

“Oi! Sorreh to interrupt the talk batween tha Warchief and the Overlord—“

“That be High Overlord, mon!” Saikai corrected.

Vai’sig gave his partner an angry look, “Whateva! That Warchief and the High Overlord Saurfang!... but we got something important we think ya would want to see, mon.”

Both trolls nodded quickly, and pulled two net and rope bound figures from behind their backs. The gold armored Kor’kron guards drew their weapons in surprise and took a step forward towards the prisoners. Thrall and Saurfang looked down as the tied up messes unwound themselves.

Anura managed to get herself out first, viciously cutting open the makeshift bounds. She was an absolute mess, mangled hair, bloody wounds—covered in ice to keep them from dripping—yet her armor looked no worse for wear than it had been before she threw herself into the fray. Aruna, on the other hand, came out a little later, but was skillfully slicing her way. The gnome warrior looked completely unharmed from the fight.

“I beg your forgiveness for the actions of my sister; they were quick and un-responsible...” Aruna hastily said as soon as she realized the awkwardness of their situation.

Saurfang looked from side to side, and made a gesture with his hand. The elite guards surrounding the area reluctantly backed up, but still kept their weapons ready. Thrall took a step forward toward the gnomes, Anura flinched.

“I wish to ask who you are, why you have come to Orgrimmar, and why I should not deem you a threat.” Thrall stated bluntly.

Aruna gathered her composure and stood up to her full height—not tall enough to make her look imposing—but held an expression that one would find quite courageous, “We, Warchief, are the Twinspark sisters. Our business here is one on the terms of peace; unfortunately we do not come as ambassadors from King Wrynn himself, therefore our plans deal outside of his mindset. And why we are not a threat, is because, do you believe two gnomes could best an entire city of orcs by themselves,” She paused for a moment, “Neither do we.”

Saikai and Vai’sig stood by the entrance where they had burst in only minutes before, dumbfounded looks slapped across their faces, “Mon, they be serious...” Vai’sig mumbled.

The High Overlord took a step behind Thrall, allowing the Warchief to have full reign of the conversation with the warrior, however, his gaze towards Anura forced the death knight to reconsider the action of starting another brawl. She crept behind her sister, waiting for anything that would threaten harm to the peaceful gnome.

“Varian has noticed the increase in Horde soldiers gathering around the Dragonblight, in response, he has begun to send the elite royal guard to Wintergarde in hopes of countering it. He thinks you are preparing for all out war. He believes that ever since the tragedy at the Wrathgate,” Aruna nodded her head towards Saurfang in silent mourning, “that a Scourge presence is almost non-existent in the Dragonblight.”

Thrall narrowed his eyes and sighed, “You were correct, Varok, Garrosh has begun a war because of his mindless zeal for the death of the Alliance. I had not heard news that he had left Orgrimmar for Northrend, however.” The Warchief turned his piercing gaze to Aruna, “And how do you propose peace, Twinspark?”

The gnome gulped, being in the presence of such an important leader of the Horde was becoming more nerve-racking then she originally thought, “If the flag of war is raised in the coming weeks in the Dragon Wastes, we will be unable to settle peace as either the Horde or the Alliance. We will need help from someone greater, and someone whose doorstep is where this war is to be fought.”

“You speak of the Life-Binder, the Dragon Queen,” Anura whispered, “Alexstrasza.”

Aruna nodded towards her sister, “If the Scourge intervene to conquer while we squabble, then I feel Alexstrasza will be able to help rally both sides together into stopping a greater force. Maybe after that, maybe then, maybe we can finally have peace.”

“Your plan might work; unfortunately it relies heavily on chance.” Varok spoke up, “The chance that Alexstrasza will help us, which I do not doubt she will; The chance that the Scourge will intervene at all; The chance that the Horde and the Alliance will work together at all; and the chance that after the battle the peace will continue.”

“What other plan do we—“

“Thrall! You now allow pink skinned MIDGETS?! Into our city!?”

A Picture!

2009-09-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hey look! A visual help! It's Aruna! With pink pigtails and her goggles...

Wait! You might be thinking, Where's her armor? And the Royal Crest of Lordaeron, or the Red Sword of Courage?!

That's a very good question, and she would be wearing all of those if I could draw the dreadnaught armor for beans. Or that shield. Or the sword.

Yes, that wrench is bendable and the hammer is the size of her wrist. I'm terribly sorry.

The Cost of Peace, Chapter One

2009-09-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

Alright so my editor got the first chapter checked over faster than I thought she would, so you get to read it earlier then you might have thought! This is the first fan-fic I will ever post on the internet for others to view, so I hope you enjoy it. The next chapter should be up sometime next week!

Follow Aruna and Anura, gnome sisters, as they attempt to create peace between the Horde and the Alliance so that the two factions may work together to defeat a greater enemy. However, certain political leaders will be their downfall, and a simple mission will lead into something much more dangerous.

The intense heat of the sun raged down upon the barren Durotar land. Blasted, orange ground formed into well-traveled roads and natural craters, which housed the area's less-than-friendly-wildlife. A lulling background noise came from the raging and crashing of the Southfury River's waters. On the sandy banks of the rushing river that parted Durotar and the Barrens-- were two figures that one would least expect in orcish lands. They were far from any wanderer's path so as not to be noticed as they talked in hushed whispers.

"Easy Becca," murmured the first figure, leaning forward to keep the massive brown kodo calm, "we're almost there, almost."

A fresh breeze rushed by. The looming silence and the lack of activity were holding the scarlet and gold armored beast on wit's end. Mounted upon a simple leather saddle was a gnome of no more than two and a half feet of height. Her striking neon pink hair was pulled back into two pigtails that dangled off the sides of her head. She wore no display of flamboyant clothing, but was only dressed in golden plate armor commonly known as the 'dreadnaught'. Slung on her back was a reinforced rectangular slab of wood, decorated with the royal seal of Lordaeron. At her side rested a vrykul sword, its red designs representing courage and honor running up both sides of the crude iron blade.

"Why do you linger, Aruna?" The second figure snapped, "Come on, let's get on with this..."

Compared to the first figure, the second was nearly the same height, if not a big shorter. She rode upon a maroon girded, muddy green raptor, whose eyes could not contain anger that both rider and mount shared. The rider had tangled, shoulder-length, near-black brown hair in which certain locks were intertwined with frost. Through the web of unruly bangs pushed thin wisps of cerulean smoke, which came from a larger mass hovering within her vacant eye sockets. A death knight's raven black and blood red scourgeborne plate covered the second gnome's tiny form.

"Don't be so impatient, Anura. Just remember that we're coming before the Horde in the name of peace. Try not to be reckless..." Aruna mumbled something else before coaxing Becca into traveling upriver.

Anura stood and continued to keep her raptor there for a moment, "She's too trustful, too supporting, and too hopeful." The death knight whispered before quickly jerking the reigns of her raptor, "Ride Tektali! Ride!"

---o---

Master Mathias Shaw sat disgruntled behind his desk. He glanced up from his recent assignment to peruse the number of SI:7 agents wasting their time. Most of the thieves were already assigned work, and he needed somebody to take this job of his hands. It was another pathetic little assignment King Wrynn decided was not important enough to take care of himself. Now that there was a higher calling for him in Northrend, Varian began sticking the jobs he didn't want to dirty his royal hands on with Shaw and the SI:7.

The master rogue was getting quite sick of it.

He glanced over the orders, once enclosed in an elegant envelope, again. There was only one agent he could think of that was not skilled enough for something more pressing and important...

"Jackal!" Shaw barked.

Little time was wasted, which Shaw was eternally grateful fore, when a particular rogue came running up the stairs. The thief pushed and shoved through fellow agents, much to their annoyance. Jackal managed to bump into a much larger rogue, who thought another rogue did it, and proceeded to punch that rogue into a man buying poison. That man dropped his poison which rolled down the stairs and tripped another rogue who was trying to pick-pocket a fellow agent. Mass chaos ensued as the entire SI:7 building was thrown into a man against man fight. At the scene, Shaw had to use every ounce of willpower to keep from burying his face in his palm.

"Yes sir! Jackal reporting for duty!" The young man was now leaning practically in Mathias' face.

Shaw pressed a hang against Jackal's short black hair and firmly pushed him off the desk. Jackal could have been no older than his late teens, a human, and pathetically skinny-- with his hands shoved in the pockets of his black leather armor.

"I have a set of orders for you, Jackal," Mathias continued and Jackal once again leaned in, "something has attracted the King's attention..."

He pulled a single paper from the stack of documents in front of him. The parchment was turned so that Jackal could read it, and Shaw pointed a finger at whatever was printed on the front, "We need you to find this..."

---o---

Aruna turned her ear to the sound of beating drums and lifted her gaze to the column of smoke rising above the stone walls. She eased her grip on Becca's reigns, the kodo slowing to a complete stop.

"The grand orcish city of Ogrimmar, the names of brave heroes carved upon its very walls..." The warrior waved her hand in a gesture towards the capital, a sparkle in her eye, "just remember your place, sister, while we're here. The title of Warchief is not tossed around like a birthright as the Kings of Stormwind, Thrall is a true hero among heroes."

She looked at the death knight riding beside her, who had stopped, lost in thought. Aruna carefully pulled her yellow-lens goggles over her eyes and set a small brown leather backpack on the ground. Anura watched curiously as her sister removed two grappling hooks from the bag.

"What, did you think we were walking in the front door?" The warrior laughed at Anura's expression.

"You sounded quite confident in your Horde allies..." grumbled Anura.

Aruna ignored her as she tossed over one of the clawed pieces of metal attached to a crude braided rope.

---o---

The soil was black, the dying husks that were trees were black, the corpses of critters were black.

And in the middle of the charred ground was a soot stained blood elf. His jade eyes barely gleamed under a layer of ash, red hair mistaken for black was pulled into a wild ponytail, and scarlet Thalassian robes were burned against a spell-caster's body. He stood there for a while, staring at his surprisingly clean palms. A spark, a glimmer of red and orange peaked out from the center of his hand. The flame grew, and soon his other hand mimicked the channeled spell. He was just about to release his conjured inferno, his lips rapidly muttering an incantation.

A hand tapped the blood elf on the shoulder and he fell forward onto his face, straight into the black mud.

"Whoops."

The elf waved a now non-flaming hand in the air. Jackal grabbed said hand and helped the blackened fire mage to his feet, "What a mess, Phoenix! Are you trying to deforest Elwynn?"

Before Phoenix could even speak, Jackal shoved a peace of paper in his face, "Shaw gave me something to do for SI:7 and I was wondering if you wanted to tag along with me..."

The elf squinted, "I can't see it."

His rogue friend leaned in and slapped the black mess out of his eyes, before pointing to whatever was written on the paper, "We need to find this..."

Introducing 25% More Randomness

2009-09-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

Aha! You thought this was a dead blog didn't you?!

... okay, so it was, for a while.

But now I'm back! Bringing with me a new batch of randomness-- fresh out of the oven!

Introducing:

The Cost of Peace- A WoW Fan-fic, the first chapter should be coming out later in the week!

Stay tuned in for the story, more drawings/doodles/pictures, and all the rAnd0m. Have fun!

And keep all hands, arms, legs, feet, heads, brains, fingers, toes, bodies, and other limbs/tentacles/things inside the vehicle at all times!

The Ice Cream Capital of the World!

2009-07-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

So today my family and I took a drive and went to the Ice Cream Capital of the World--LeMars, Iowa.

It was a very interesting time, we got to see how Blue Bunny makes their ice cream, how they got their name, and how LeMars... is... the Ice Cream Capital of the World.

After the tour of the little museum, we got to eat some quality ice cream in the Blue Bunny ice cream parlor. I got vanilla ice cream, with fudge sauce, malt powder, and a cherry :D. While the actual drive to LeMars (the Ice Cream Capital of the World) took more time than actually going through the museum, the scenery on the way was beautiful-- so driving was okay!

It was a cute experience, and I suggest that ice cream fanatics go and check out the Blue Bunny museum some time.

Did I forget to mention LeMars is the Ice Cream Capital of the World?

Oops!

2009-07-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

It seems that I forgot to write a blog post before I went to the world of nature, campfires, and mosquitoes...

Anyway, for the past week I've been at Girl Scout camp, learning the hard way that being away from home isn't as fun as I thought it would be. I was homesick, to put it plainly. However, I made friends with a lot of neat girls who made leaving camp sad.

But I'm back, and I apologize for the very long gap I made you sit through-- I'll try and remember to update more frequently. So, to make this post more than just an apology and a filler gap...

Here are some pictures for you to look at! Straight from photoshop and drawn out with my tablet.

Topic Checklist

2009-07-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

There are few things that are happening that will contribute more topics to the blog:

Tomorrow I will be going to a 4th of July party, since mom and dad will take pictures, I'll post them here when I get back, (and explain all the wonderful, crazy things that happened there. And the food. Mmm... food.)

Next, yesterday my parents helped me buy something wonderful....A Wacom Bamboo Fun Tablet! Expect to see some drawings up while I practice using it.

Lastly, I'm currently working on planning out the first story to appear. I wish I could give you guys a title for it, but I'm not even sure what to call it. (No spoilers for you!)

Tune in next week for a mega-update!

Find something to do while you wait...

Wait... it's the First Post!

2009-06-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

So.

I finally got around to typing up my very first blog post. I'm new to blogging, so please bear with me and my attempts at being witty to entertain you all. Now I believe that introductions are in order.

You may call me Hyper, or Amber, depending on which one suits you fancy. I am the daughter of my mother, also known as Tammy, who is the host of the mommy blog Three Different Directions. This is my blog, Hyper's Corner, where I will attempt to share my creativity to an audience. In the future, you may see drawings and stories, composed by... me! Along with those, you may just see posts about myself and my randomness or there is the possibility of me typing about none other than... WoW!

The above is most likely what you'll be finding in the coming days, weeks, and months following this single blog post. If you don't think this blog will interest you, well... you might want to go find another one to read. However, if you wish to stay, be prepared to face my terrible attempts to be funny and seriously bad puns (okay, so no puns, I don't like them either.)

So.

In other words, welcome to Hyper's Corner and thanks for joining us.. (me) ... for the opening celebration!

Don't forget to stay for the cake!