Drahna wrote:

This comes from an RP done with Drahna Krom'gosh and Pikki. It has been edited slightly and modified to fit your screen. Viewer discretion is advised (IN OTHER WORDS READ THIS!!)

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She came home to Desolation Hold as often as she could. Most of the time Drahna found her clan asleep in their bunks and the grots in their holes. Tonight however was so different. Tonight, the War-chief himself had finished Promotions of new Grunts, and Pikki as always was at his side. Drahna was most pleased, and taking the opportunity she moved quietly to him and begged a moment of time.

"Yes Raider, for you I can spare a moment." Krom'gosh moved from the fire and then bellowed "PIKKI! The Raider has returned. You are to listen in on this as well" he said as he walked quietly to an area outside of the normal earshot of the clan.

Drahna's smile was soft under her mask as she bowed before Krom'gosh, with Pikki at his side. She was pleased with herself and her ideas on how best to follow this tax chest. Malifika and the Soulflayer had asked her to get the timing and now that she had, this was going to work out best.

"Sir, basically it comes to this. The Alliance is broke. With them having no money they have overtaxed their heroes and adventurers to no end. They gather the tax money in one hold and then send it to Stormwind. I got word of this and put the facts, intell and scouting together. I know exactly how much gold there is and when it shows up and where." She said as she showed him her maps and plan.

Krom'gosh Thrashstaff nodded slowly thinking through the possibilities as Pikki nodded taking this in. Drahna moved her finger over the map of Exodar and Darnassus then across the sea to Menethil. She repeated that from Booty Bay to Ironforge and then from there her fingers met. They come together at the map of the Tram and move to Stormwind.

"It's almost 500,000 gold all together." she explains. Pikki quickly moved closer to the map and glared at it. Krom'gosh looked visibly moved.

"That's... Thats an impressive amount of coin!" he gasps. Pikki nods.

"We were in Menethil tonight. We met some unexpected resistance dere." she says seeing where the map was being pointed at. This was starting to make sense.

"Every single week it comes and is heavily guarded. 20 guards and 15 of SI's finest. Last night Rode, Babe, The Lizzardrat and myself went to Stormwind and Ironforge. We checked their defenses, response time and their we also verified guard count on a normal night versus my previous spying I made earlier on the cart." Drahna said and watched them both.

Pikki nods. Krom'gosh bows his head understanding. "Much higher with the cart I suspect. Perhaps even many, many times higher" he ponders over his fingertips as he speaks.

"In all honesty we *can* take the cart but I assure you it will be hard to do. The nights they have the cart are as you said, heavily fortified." Drahna smiles. Krom'gosh bows his head once more.

"We will need to muster as many as we can than. We cannot slip, Raider. If we make our actions obvious before we move, we will fall directly into a trap" he cautions.

"Sir, I agree. The Lizardrat suggested, and it is my firmest belief that we would have to have our finest stealthers go into the tram first from Ironforge, and summon the war party to it. Then have someone summon out a small group with the chest while the remainder of the party continues the fight" she explains.

"What's da timing?" Pikki demands.

"Well, the timing is simple. The train comes in on Gromsday every week. I assure you that if we try flying in or coming any other way, it will end in a bloodbath and for nothing." Drahna explains.

Krom'gosh shudders at the thought of the bloodbath.

"Is dere a routine?" Pikki asks. Drahna nods.

"Every week about 7 pm a small group gathers at the Airport for the coffers from Darnassus, Exodar and the rest. The money is compiled and they take it to the tram. From there the guards meet in the Tram and then transport it to the terminal in Stormwind. They offload and meet with 30 more guards and take it to the treasury." Drahna explains.

"I can see why they use that tram for transportation, Raider." Krom'gosh says. "How long have you been observing this?" he asks.

"Weeks sir. The dwarves dislike me greatly." Drahna admits.

"Were you present at the Battle of Summoner's Foley?" he asks her with grave seriousness.

Drahna shook her head no. "No sir, I was upside down in an uncomfortable crawlspace in Ironforge"

"Go on... "Krom'gosh says.

"I have been off and on trying to find out about this. I decided to follow the money before we settled here in the Hold. If we really do want to get our lands back in the Barrens, we need to stop them. The best way is to cut off the supplies which means no gold." Drahna says.

Pikki nods in agreement.

"I also have been puncturing the gas tanks in the siege engines aimed at the great wall" Drahna's eyes glitter with mischievous delight.

Krom'gosh Thrashstaff chuckles as Pikki smiles.

"A suggestion on that Raider?" he says.

"Yes sir?" Drahna asks.

"I've found the nectar of the most dire flowers of the wilds of Azeroth nicely spoils the tanks of such machines." he grins.

Drahna was always interested in new ways to muddy up the works "Oh? Which one?" she asks.

"Any sweet flower sizable enough to produce a gallon or two. It will take them days to clean out the tank. I find that the Overgrowth just north of here holds plenty such" he explains.

"And dey keep sproutin, so good supply there too!" Pikki nods.

"That would be a great suggestion. They are reinforcing the plates under those tanks now. I was trying to come up with something new. I was going to try stuffing the gas tanks with cotton but, this flower Idea I think may work better" Drahna purrs under her mask.

"If they are fools enough to start the device, they'll need to replace all of the pipings" he adds to a roar of laughter.

"Yes.. yes sir.. I shall get right on that. I'm rather good with poisons and distributing them" Drahna admits.

"Yeah, get da grots in on et too. The gatherin I mean" Pikki offers.

"Needless to say we can thank the goblins for their exploration in "Alternative Fuels", on engines I'd already purchased."

"Yes sir. They are very good at that. Sir, while I am at it, is there any other information you want me to gather for you? Any timing or things you need to know?" Drahna asks.

Krom'gosh's brows furrow in thought. After a moment he nods. "Yes Raider, I need a sample of their coin" he asks.

Drahna couldn't have been happier if she tried. Three weeks ago she had plucked a fine gold from a coffer out of the Ironforge chest she now was trying to see that the Grin would take. She handed it to Krom'gosh eagerly. The Alliance gold was heavier than a Horde gold coin.

"It does not have the same properties as ours. They spend more time bothering to purify it." He explains.

"Yes sir. That is the Stormwind's currency that all four cities use including Gnomergan. There has been an edict that all coins bare Wrynn's visage now." she says.

"Bring it to a clan Alchemist. I want to know at what temperature it will melt." he ordered.

Drahna grinned under her mask. "Already done chief. It melts about 20 degrees higher than ours. I smelt metal for my tinkering and wires. I found that out on my own" she grins.

"Perhaps we can make a mess of things, and make away with some gold from the sewers." Krom'gosh says. As he speaks Pikki's eyes gleam under her cowl.

"Can I see that coin?" She asks eagerly. Drahna hands it to her, and Pikki looks closely at the markings and bites the coin. She hands it back after a time pleased.

"That would be interesting to go to the sewers." Drahna nods.

"Anything we don't get, the scum of the cities will take and hold from them." Krom'gosh says. "If we're lucky, it will upset the balance of things."

"The alliance seems more in favor late at night in guarding the Dark Iron Brat and her son. Ironforge is more guarded then Stormwind. I suppose we could do that easily." Drahna shrugged.

"Nothing would irk the kings of the east more than borrowing money from an orphan to fund the war effort." Krom'gosh grins wickedly at Drahna.

"Raider, Draft a plan of assault. Then run it by the officers and bring it to me. I want all eyes on it before we move" Krom'gosh says his order.

Drahna salutes Krom'gosh rigidly. "Yes sir"

As Krom'gosh began to lift off of his comfortable throne Drahna stops him. "And sir, What would you ask me to do for the clan. Now that I have tracked this gold and bring this message to the officers, what do you ask of me"

"Find who serves your needs best in the clan, Raider" he pats her shoulder as he finally gets up and nods. "That's all I can offer you"

"That would be you and Pikki sir" she nods back.

"I'll talk to ya about dat den Drahna" Pikki says saluting the chief.

"You may be right, Raider. You may be right. Now, I go. Do as I command" the elder says and leaves the shadow dancing war women of the clan to mingle to their own schemes.

Drahna wrote:

Consulting the Ha'gosh - Battleplans Form

The crackle of the fire snapped in the inn of Desolation Hold and Xibalbah watched it with warmth in her eyes. The events of the last year had weighed heavily on her shoulders, and with the new information from Wailing Caverns, she could only feel the dread creep up her spine. Yet the grand Druidess remained calm and warm to behold, as the shadowy cold movements got near her.

Drahna was anything but what Xibalbah was. Where the Druidess was warm, Drahna had become cold. She was trying so desperately to cling to her cold shadows now, to move with no noise and to never be viewed. If anything Drahna did not want attention whatsoever. So to search out the understandings of others, well she was clearly feeling out of place.

As the shadow came closer she lowered her cowl retaining her tight face mask over her face. She no longer let anyone gaze on her face completely if she could avoid it. Why bother, as it would only ask for attention and that wasn't what she wanted.

Xibalbah's ears moved slightly and she saw the girl before her. Drahna knelt down respectfully at the feet of the great woman and spoke in a low tone.

"Ha'gosh ma'am" she spoke smoothly. "I'm sorry to disturb you"

"Drahna!" clearly not the tone that the shadow was expecting back as the warm Druidess smiled at her. "Da Ha'gosh is always here fo' you mon." she bowed too. Drahna was more then a little taken aback but she nodded.

"I know I don't come in search of you very often ma'am and I apologize for that. I come from the Warchief on a special errand. Krom'gosh has asked me to speak to you personally concerning an issue of secrecy" she explained looking up.

The Ha'gosh nodded and listened as she held a tiny bear in her hands. The Dun Morogh Cub seemed content in her arms.

"Dat be true eh?" she asked.

Drahna nodded and heard the dancers moving around the tables in the inn of Desolation Hold and pointed with her head. "Perhaps it would be no trouble to go below the floors to discuss this further?" She asked. Too many ears. Too many noses in business and coin could move secrets out.

Xibalbah nods and moves toward the kitchen. "Dat be good t'inkin fer sure mon" she says walking with the confidence of ages.

Drahna marveled but her face remained a solid mask of emotion. She had no feelings visible. Xibalbah first winked at Mato and then flirted with Awilo Lon'gomba. Drahna moved to the stairs and made her way to the floor setting her maps up as Xibalbah took her time and later made herself a sandwich.

"I will summarize the details as to why ma'am. I mostly need to explain to you the main plan as per his request. Unless you ask me otherwise for the intent behind it, this is all you need to know right now." Drahna said respectfully as Xibalbah chewed thoughtfully on her food.

"A while ago I began tracking the Alliances holdings in the Barrens and thus in the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor. My idea was simply I wanted to end their occupation in the Barrens and the best way in my opinion was to take away their resources from the source" Drahna said pointing at the map where the siege engines were pointing at the gate near Mulgore. " She continued. Xi nodded and seemed proud to hear about this.

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"Dat's an admirable goal. What have you found out?" She asked the rogue.

"Well, I found out that once a week they do a large cash run of all the taxes they gather from all four cities including Gnomergan. They gather the money together and the move it from Ironforge to Stormwind via the Tram." she says. Xibalbah's eyes gleam with this news.

"What I have come up with is a plan to attack them after further testing. I took a few scouting parties with me before I spoke to him. I even went back over my research after talking to Krom'gosh to ensure the best way and have now a final plan." she explains and points at the map with the Tram.

"I like de way yer mind works Drahna" Xibalbah says and grins at the girl. Drahna taken slightly aback at the praise paused a moment as she shows her the map with its arrows and x's and other markings on it.

"Thank you ma'am. I do try to be useful." She admits.

"Well Ya doin a fine job as Raidah" Xibalbah says with pride. Drahna smiles under her mask now settling it on her high cheekbones.

"Thank you ma'am" She says warmly. She then clears her throat. "To start we would have to take our finest stealthing bodies into the tunnels. As a distraction I would recommend the Grots start the event off to move the extra guards away. " She points at a terminal.

"From here we take this entrance here and summon the large body of our party there." she says pointing at the cans where they gathered trash. "We then move from there to here where the docking terminal is in Ironforge. We would have to enter via this passage as this is where the chest comes. It has the fewest guards but the Dwarves react the swiftest. We must be quick" she stresses that importance.

"Xibalbah may be of some use on dis mission den" the elder Druidess says and merges into a cat. She chuckles at the Rogue. Drahna's eyes glitter. "Xibalbah could go wit de Raidin party. Da Goddess Bethekk grant her de stealth" she explains.

"We would be honored to have you in our shadows ma'am" Drahna nods. "Der are more dan one way into da shadows" Xi explains.

Drahna nods and feels heavy with that knowledge. "Most involve magic but, I am no fan of the arts" she admits. She clears her throat and continues on the plan.

"If we can take the chest quickly enough and port a few out with it, that will be a huge help. I know we will meet resistance and I'm certain of it. That small group can guard the chest elsewhere. Why? Well if they know we were there to rob them, diplomatic chaos would ensue. If however they thought it was just a normal Gromsday where we were raiding as normal, they would never get a full report. Also, I know those slimy Dwarves. They would cover up the loss." she smiles.

"The Alliance loses gold, the Dwarves look like fools for losing it, we end up with funds to improve our holdings and the best part is, we get some fight." Drahna finishes with a deep slow breath. "And that is the plan basically" she finishes. Tucking her maps away she watches the Druidess who morphs back to normal.

"You have proven yahself a patient and adept observah" Xibalbah says. "So Xibalbah have on more favah ta be askin of ya, Raidah" she puts her hand on Drahna's shoulder as the smaller girl comes to her feet again.

"I do enjoy being patient and watching. So yes, I would be honored to help you ma'am." Drahna salutes.

Xibalbah lets go and moves in a more reserved way. She moves her hand to quell any protest from Drahna.

"Da Mok'gun as ya may know, have been investigatin' de Overgrowth ta da North" she begins. "What we found has Xibalbah mighty troubled. Not about da Nightmare, do dat be more den troublin' enough. Xibalbah knows how ta deal wit' dat be sure. What troubles me..." she moves closer to Drahna and sighs. Drahna's long ears twitch as she listens quietly.

"While we were in de Wailin Caverns, we found and destroyed Naralex's bad voodoo. We also found somet'in more. Der was evidence of an Alliance Expedition" she said.

It was as if every light had come on in Drahna's head all at once. Her eyes widened. Why hadn't she thought of it before?

"Of course!" she interupts. "Of course I knew they were hiding supplies I... I just didn't know where and.."

"No" Xibalbah cuts her off. "Not supplies" she says sternly.

"Not supplies?" Drahna now was confused.

"Dey was gatherin" Xibalbah explains.

"So a ritual?" Drahna asks.

"Worse" Xibalbah's words were grave.

Drahna's eyes widen further. Then they level smoothly. "What in all of the fel could be worse than a Ritual" Drahna asked.

"Dey was gatherin spores from de Overgrowth. Deadly Spores." Xibalbah explains.

"Spores, so .. you mean to spread the Nightmare?" Drahna says softly.

Xibalbah nods then clucks under her breath. "I"m waitin on word from Orgrimmar Alchemy Labs. Dey be takin dey damn time der too" She grumbles.

Drahna blinks. As a user of many evil concoctions she was wondering why not go to the better Alchemists. "Why Orgrimmar? Why not Undercity? It would be that the Forsaken have a gift for chemicals more so then any Orc." She wasn't intending to be dificult but she knew where to get a good poison.

"I don' trust Sylvanas." Xibalbah shakes her head. "Dis be too much fer her ta be playin' wit, an ya know if she got her hands on another plague she wouldn't hesitate to be usin it." Xibalbah says gravely.

Drahna nodded. "Perhaps then a different approach. Do you have a sample? I have a contact in Undercity who researches poisons for my blades. Perhaps I can just have him scan it under the guise of that?" Drahna offered.

"If dis be what I t'ink it is, der would be no way to contain dat. Dis requires bot' safety and delecacy. I dare not allow ya to transport it wit'out da propah protection" she shakes her head. Realizing how tough it was Drahna nods her head.

"Xibalbah need ya to find out where de Alliance be workin on dis mo den what dis is." She says and looks at Drahna seriously. Drahna could now see where she was needed best.

"I would be delighted ma'am. Do you have any clues?" Drahna asks intently.

"De markins were not familiar to any of us. Which man mean its a new faction we be dealin with. I don' have a copy of it." She says.

Drahna nods and realizes she has little to go on. Then she remembered what Pikki said. "The Enclave is back" She mumbled.

"A splinta group?" Xibalbah asks. Drahna nods her head. "Dat may make mo' sense. Dis be too bold fo' any of da major cities ta be sanctionin" She says.

"No morso than other. But some have been known to pick up where Arthas has left off. I think giving a look at old plague Storage containers may be a better idea. I can head to Icecrown for a look" Drahna said as her mind was moving. "Ill take sketches and bring them back to you ma'am so that you can see if they match the symbols you saw" Drahna offers.

"Yes, da laboratories fo' somet'in like dis would not be housed in one of the major cities. I'm sure of it" Xibalbah agrees.

"I'll get right on it ma'am" Drahna salutes.

"Dis requires delicacy Drahna" Xibalbah urges. "We already lost our home ta de Nightmare and Xibalbah will not allow it ta take Desolation Hold from us as well. Donna be mentionin dis to dose Undercity Alchemists. Understood?" she cautions the girl.

"As you wish ma'am. I won't breathe a word of it" Drahna vows. "I usually just grunt at him anyway. He tells me what the poison is and I leave with the refined version" she smiles.

"Keep me posted Drahna" Xibalbah takes an apple from a nearby barrel and smiles before crunching and ascending stairs.

"Yes Ma'am" Drahna says and watches her leave. So this is what it came to? Nightmare and taxes. Drahna put her cowl back up. "Could be worse..." She muttered to herself. "Could be death and taxes" she smiled and vanished into the shadows of the basement as Xibalbah continued flirting with the kitchen staff.

The night had finally come and Drahna had confirmed the chest had gone from Darnassus to Theramore. She was following it and when she was sure that was the tax chest, she broke off and headed to the Gallows in Rachet. It was as usual a normal night for inducting the Grots.

Once the festivities and sharning were over, Drahna got Pikki's attention quickly. Pikki understood rather quickly what the situation was and got everyone's attention.

"Pikki" She started. "They are moving the Tax Box. I just found out. Its happening now" Drahna declared.

"HOLD" Pikki barked stopping everyone.

"Prepare for Battle" Thuugom bellowed knowing that something big was happening as Xibalbah came and nudged Drahna in the side. It was time.

"LISTEN UP" Pikki barked again. "Drahna tell 'em" she ordered. Once again Drahna was in the limelight and not comfortable but, she swollowed her discomfort and nodded.

"It's like this. The Alliance is moving a lot of money tonight that they have collected as taxes" she said. "I've spent months tracking it, timing it and finding out how to do this. We are going to take it and then we are going to fight them to distract them from what we are doing. They do not need to know this is just a robbery. They need to know we mean to kick their teeth in too." Drahna explained.

She then turned and saluted Thuugom. "Toothbarer, I need you to do me an honor and call our targets while I take the shadow benders into the tunnel to summon you there. We go to their Tram." she explains to very interested mumbles and discussions.

"Yes I can" He said and bellowed "LISTEN UP GRIN! SHARPEN YOUR WEAPONS AND PREPARE TO STRIKE THE ALLIANCE WHERE IT HURTS! THEIR POCKET BOOK!!" he rushed to group the whole together.

While they prepared Drahna got everyone who was into the shadows and using them to hide together. "We go to Theramore. We get on the ship and fly to Ironforge. There we summon the group up and from there we can take out the tax collectors." She explained and showed her map. "They come in from here and this is what we need to control. It should be 20 guards and 12 SI from what I understand" she explained.

Everyone knew their roll, and when they got into Ironforge it was on. However Drahna was surprised. There were 2 guards. Not 20, and no SI. Confused sure, but it was the tax chest they used all the time so Drahna went for it. A small group, including Pikki, Lizzardrat, Xibalbah, Dakini and more quickly killed the guards and grabbed the chest. Drahna strapped it to her back. Sure that this was going to be easier than normal she covered it in her finest cloak and kept it tight. She would deal with it later.

Now came the fight. Once the main body of the group was in the fight was interesting. They headed to Stormwind first, and again Drahna was surprised. No guards met the chest car. They just met a few stunned Alliance heroes and then the Enclave showed up.

They did have a fight and one hell of a fight, but after being overwhelmed by the sub groups of the Alliance, Drahna and Thuug realized it was time for a distraction. They headed up the tunnel to Ironforge again and quickly. Gathering everyone back and allowing them to heal they then headed into Ironforge.

"We have to make them think this is a normal invasion party" Drahna stressed to Thuug. He nodded and having Graz work, they headed into the forge and onto Muradin, Moira and Falstad. They were not really going to kill the king, more like make the distraction look good while the injured and those that could headed to Desolation Hold.

Once the signal was given all of the Blacktooth Grin left Ironforge and was pulled back into Desolation Hold. Drahna held her prize and uncloaked it.

"We did it" she said and opened up her cloak and then fiddled with the lock. The smell got her attention but she thought at first that just was the lock.

"How much did we make out with?" Thuug asked eagerly.

"Xandru playin in some gold Tonight!" came Xandru's comment.

"We got the.... wait" Drahna said as she opened the chest and began moving her hand into the gold. She wore fingerless gloves, she always wore fingerless gloves.

So when the gold foil crinkled on the little 'gold coin' bundles and the black spores were exposed, they took her hand and fast. "Oh... no ...wait..." she gasped as the spores formed long chains of fungus and burrowed into her hand.

"SPORES" she screamed as the nightmare crawled up her arm under and over her glove, her leather chest piece and into her neck. It spread fast and then spread on the ground around her as she collapsed on the ground shaking in misery.

"Get... away" she gasped as her eyes shut. The black and green webs of fungus took over her face and over her shoulder like a leach. Her actual skin was turning purple green.

"HEALER" Thuugom bellowed as Pikki quickly danced away from the spreading pool of black spores. The symbols on the crinkled gold foil was an exact match to what Xibalbah found in Wailing Caverns. So were the spores. And they had such a strong hold on Drahna now that she wasn't talking anymore. She was breathing, but her blood came out of her masked nose and mouth in black gasps.

"Get...away" she croaks before she passed out.

The grots quickly took her cloak and carted her into the nearest tent so someone could work on healing her. She was lost. The spilled chest melded into the ground and the 'coins' spread in eerie green puddles as the spores spread.

"Alliance scum!" Aroniel bellowed.

"What is this stuff" Thuugom asked?

"I don' know what dis be Thuug" Grazz shook his head.

"Wah is it? On da gold? Or is dat gold at all?" Pikki asked utterly confused.

"Spies" Dakini said.

"Dey knew we was comin an boobie trapped it" Pikki barked.

"Or, they were transporting something else entirely" Thuug said gravely.

The ground stopped crawling as Drahna was moved. Rode adn Babe were concerned and made sure that someone was trying to heal Drahna. Though there were cleansing spells going off like mad, the spores had taken the rogue and she wasn't coming out of it.

"Friggin green stuff all ova' da place" Pikki growled.

Chaos. There was chaos, and off in the distance unseen by the grin a small group bearing the same symbols that were on the gold foil that was now dissolving into the ground with the spores, watched.

"We got her. That meddlesome rogue is not going to be a problem anymore." one said pointing at the hut that Drahna was being shoved into. "Now, we move to the next plan. The Grin has been removed from the Swamp. Now we remove them entirely." The other said as the skulking figures vanished into the nothingness around them.

((Author's Note: Al'arr has numerous specialised equipment scattered throughout her hole, and since the terminology can be quite boggling sometimes... "Chironasium" is her enchanting section; "Lustratorium" her alchemy lab; "Praxographical center" the spell-making and testing area. Also, since microscopes have existed since medieval times, I have taken the liberty to assume that they do in WoW as well.))

Al'arr rubbed her gloved hands gleefully as she danced her way across her enlarged grot hole.. Tests, tests, tests, oh so many tests to preform! Finally, she had an opportunity to prove herself useful to the clan.

First, to her lustratorium. She carefully isolated each of the dozen or so samples she hand taken, both from the ground and within the chest. Acquiring samples from Drahna herself would probably be a good idea as well, but that would have to wait. Hopefully Al'arr would get there before the healers did too good of a job... and that was surprisingly optimistic of her. That was assuming they'd be able to do anything in the first place...

"Betriana, some... rats please. Yes, rats will do quite nicely." While the sucubus fetched some test subjects, Al'arr used a pair of elongated tongs to handle of of the fake coins. Interesting... a thin skin of fool's gold encasing a colony of the... stuff. A very technical term indeed. It did appear to be organic, at least at a cursory glance. Scraping away some of the contagen, she noticed more. Beneath the colony was a small lead disc. Clever... the lead gave the fake coins the same weight and appearance of the originals: anyone simply glancing at the chest or its contents would have been fooled. "Good thing we didn't all rush and grab handfulls," she thought out loud.

Bertriana returned, carrying three small cages, each with a rat scurrying about inside, and set the on an empty table. "Thank you, dear. Now go find me some..." Al'arr trailed off as she thought about how best to go about the first test. "Some what, Mistress?" "Oh! Yes... some mana cookies. Go find a mage, I've this craving for them."

Some time later, Al'arr was happily absorbing mana as she ran the first test. Rat One was to be sprinkled with the green growth she had collected from the ground. Rat Two was to have an unblemished coin placed within the cage. Rat Three would have the same as the second, only the coin's gold covering was to be flaked off.

Stars twinkled in the clear night sky as Xibalbah paced, the Barrens earth still warm on the pads of her paws and the moons bathing her with their light. Far below, Desolation Hold was still buzzing with activity in the aftermath of the Stormwind Tram heist. What had started as an ingenious plan to lighten the Alliance coffers of their much-needed tax revenues had turned into a nightmare—or, more specifically, the Nightmare.

The gold had been infected with some kind weaponized spores that reacted when touched, feeding off the organic material of skin, and Xibalbah was certain that they somehow connected to the Overgrowth and the spores they had found in the Wailing Caverns; she just wasn’t sure how yet. Pikki and Thuugom had reacted quickly, isolating the infected rogue and cordoning off the area around the chest of gold. Xibalbah had done what she could to slow the spread of fungus, but each time she thought she’d cleansed Drahna’s body, the fungus had mutated—almost as if it were learning and absorbing the power of the magic Xibalbah had used. She had finally been forced to settle for a variation on a simple hibernation spell, slowing the spread of the fungus and preventing any further mutations for the moment.

Once again Xibalbah found herself pacing back and forth, replaying the events of the past days in her mind, willing herself to make the elusive connections that hung just out of her reach. She needed more information, and that was hopefully just what she was going to get.

Jymjii watched Xibalbah pacing from the shadows of the wall surrounding Desolation Hold. She had witnessed the spore...attack, and had refrained from an "I told you so", when she actually hadn't. The ancesters had been strangely quiet on the matter. Other than the incessent bickering and whining, they had had little to say. When the spores appeared, all had gone quiet, watchful, as though they knew something, but were afraid to speak on it. Jymjii didn't trust the Nightmare, she didn't trust the new age of "druidism" among those that had stayed hidden during the hard times. She felt that they were all following blindly into danger - to a place that should be avoided. She felt for the affected blood elf, but didn't hold much hope that they would discover what it was, or how to save her from the infection. She knew, deep down that the enemy also had no idea, truely what they were dealing with. She made to move from the shadow, to confront the Ha'gosh with some of the thoughts running through her head, but backed off again...would it really do any good?

Al'arr paced her quaters irritably, nervously, thoughts bouncing all around her mind. It was difficult to concentrate, to say the least. That being said, it was nigh-impossible when everyone was looking over her shoulder, asking - no, demanding - for results.

For once, she had actually thought of others when voulenteering - what a ridiculous idea! - to examine the fungus. An attempt to emulate their philosophy of "clan first" and whatnot, to perhaps isolate herself from the others less. Instead, Al'arr now found herself in the middle of some petty faction power-struggle. A clash of egos, how... juvenile.

And such an obession with control! That... troll... that mystic, with her head filled with druidic mumbo-jumbo, ordering her to work in some dank cavern. Hardly a suitable place for a laboratory... not that her grot-hole was any better, but at least here Al'arr had all the equipment she needed, not to mention she knew exactly where everything was. She was comfortable here, and to one such as herself, it made all the difference in the world. Did the Ha'gosh care? No, of course not... instead, everything was to be controlled, monitored and - in all likelyhood - distruped, contaminated, and possibly even sabatoged.

What would be next? A "team" of lesser incompetents to "assist" her and do nothing but get in the way? She could always arrange for some achemical accident, but considering how everyone was on their toes, something as innociuous as disfigurment might very well mean the end of the whole project.

Al'arr turned suddenly, her etheral gaze falling on her desk, where two seperate reports lay. The same report. actually, just identical copies. An amusing thought crossed her mind: how did they both expect to be "the first to know," especially when it would always be her, since it was Al'arr running tests and deducing their results. Not that she really had much to report at the moment, but it was better than nothing. The spore, as she'd explained earlier, reacted to organic tissue, the catalyst being the oils in the skin. Reproducing at an astonishing exponetial rate, it quickly made its way into the respiratory system of the host, then into the bloodstream and finally to the brain. This final stage induced a deep coma... although any further study would require more test subjects. She'd had to kill the rats to examine their organs, which made further tests... problematic.

It was most tempting to have Betriana go out and "fetch" some of the hapless Alliance footsoldiers on the other side of the battlescar but... somehow she doubted that would be met with much approval. Not by the Ha'gosh at least. That made her wonder what exatly her overlods in the Lak'gora wanted her research for... although she could hazard a guess. Judging from her so far short experience with the faction, it couldn't be good. She knew better than most the dangers of combining genius and power-hungry recklessness.

"You know, Betri..." she thought out loud to her succubus and assistant, "I'll be quite relieveed when this is all over." "Yes, Mistress." "Perhaps I'll just... go somewhere." "But where, Mistress?" "Somewhere with lots of books, a telescope... and no-one to bother me."

((Author's Note and Disclaimer: this post does not constitute a personal attack on anyone or any Grin unit, it's just the way the character percieves things))

He sat in his tent planning for the scouting party and yet he couldn’t get out of his mind what had happened to Drahna. The spores taking over her body and placing her into coma. He was not happy at all that the rogue had be duped by the alliance, 'but maybe it wasn’t the alliance' he thought to himself.

The memories of the Swamp returned to him and he stopped planning. “Too much coincidence!” he said aloud.

“Sir?” One of the Desolation Grunts asked through the opening of the tent.

“Too much coincidence…Did I stutter?...NO…get back to watch!” He snapped back at the grunt.

The grunt snapped back around and whispered to the other guard “Thuug is in a bad mood.” The other grunt nodded and faced forward.

Back inside the tent, Thuugom paced around. ‘Who is planning this? This Narlex that the Ha’gosh and the Gol’kosh is hunting or someone else?’ he thought to himself. ’It was bad enough of the Ha’gosh to order members of the Lak’gora around without going through the Gar’mak first, but that is settled and she did Stubbornly’ a grin came across his his face. ‘But this had to be a planned attacked no reason for the Alliance to sabotage their own gold. The reports say they can’t afford it. What if they were onto our search of Gul’dans lost weapons. To distract us!’ he let the thought subside and decided to work on the present.

As he thought about what to do and proceed on next, he decided it best if the minion Alarr to move her lab from her grothole to somewhere more suitable. ‘Yes, the Shadow Hold would suffice for this.’ he grinned.

He summoned forth his familiar, a useful tool that the previous Gar’mak had the Lak’gora achieve. “Bring me the Minion Alarr and then report to the Soul Flayer, that I need to have counsel with her.” The familiar responded “Yes master.” Then shimmered into thin air.

He returned to planning of the scouting, the spores issue would wait until he talked to the Soul Flayer.

(A week prior to the event) As he sat there planning the scouting party a thought came to him. ‘If these attacks are done purposely, then we need to show the Alliance what it means to Fear The Grin. And to lead them in a different direction so they are wounded enough to follow us for the weapons of Gul’dan.’

He laughed out loud ‘We will go kill the heads of Exodar and Darnassus.’

He posted a sign saying only one thing, ‘The Grin goes a hunting.’ Just in case of Alliance spies, no one would know where we would be hitting.

(Day of the Event)

A small contingent gathered in Desolation Hold, around 15 Blacktooth Grin all hungry for Alliance blood. None had an idea of where they were going or what they were after.

“We go hunting for Alliance scum killing their men, women, and children. Especially the children, we don’t want them grow up. We will show the Alliance what it means to Fear The Grin!” He said and the Grin roared up with cheer and battle cries ‘FEAR THE GRIN!’ could be heard all throughout the Southern Barrens.

“The summons is incoming, take it when it arrives.” He said then roared “Fear The Grin!” as everyone began to disappear into thin air.

They arrived at the Exodar, some were saying “Exodar? We are hitting this?”

“Yes” Thuugom replied “Tonight we go after the heads of Exodar and Darnassus.”

Everyone cheered with excitement, their adrenaline pumping through their blood, the Shamans giving blessings and Grymhorn giving the blessing of An’she. They rode into the Exodar on their Worgs and went straight for the Vault of Lights to take out the Prophet Velen.

The battle was long and blood was flying everywhere, the proved to be a bit tough, but not tough enough for the Blacktooth Grin. Afer 30 minutes of fighting the Prophet went down.

Everyone cheered in excitement as Thuugom kneeled down and cut the head of the Prophet off, put it into a bag, and tied the bag to the side of his Worg.

“GRIN, WE RIDE!” They rode out of Exodar to the boat dock. “Where to know Thuugom?” Questions were asked.

“Just wait and you’ll see.” Thuugom said knowing what the next target was.

The boat arrived into Teldrassil, everyone Grinned. “We are hitting Darnassus.” Someone in the back said.

“Yes and we have flying mounts here to take us up and above so we don’t get guard intervention to High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwinds quarters. We will kill her while her husband Malfurion just stands by and watches.” He chuckled and grinned.

They mounted up and flew to the Darnassus, avoiding most guards until they reached the Temple of the Moon. The ran in killing any civilians and guards they saw, then they came upon the High Priestess. Thuugom looked upon her and yelled “We killed the Velen of Exodar.” Holding up the head of Velen “We come for yours now!” With that the High Priestess screamed in rage and attacked the group.

She called upon her bird to fite for her and the bird went down with ease. The fite lasted only 20 minutes as the High Priestess went down in her blood and Malfurian only stood by watching. Everyone cheered as Thuugom cut the head off the High Priestess, put it into a bag, and tied it to his Black Worg.

“GRIN.” He yelled “We return to our home.” We adrenaline still pumping through their veins, someone had mentioned making the trip Ironforge and going after the council. Thuugom thought about it “In due time, for now we have the Alliance on the run and I’m sure word has gotten to Ironforge and Stormwind of our attacks here and are now buffing up their defenses in those two cities. We will hit them in due time as they slacken their defenses, thinking we will not attack them. For now, we go home.” He ordered.

They returned back to the Hold, Thuugom held up the heads of Exodar and Darnassus “GRIN WE ARE VICTOURIOUS! FEAR THE GRIN!” everyone roared and cheered. “DISMISSED!” he yelled and everyone went about their business.

Thuugom went back to his tent, he still had more planning to do. ‘The heads of Exodar and Darnassus, The Chief will be proud of the diversion we set into place to have the Alliance think we are after their heads of state.’ He thought. He placed the heads onto the table, planning to present them to the Chief at the next inductions after he had to do something else first.