Prelude to Battle for Azeroth
"Knock his ass out! Finish him!" the crowd cheered. It was a typical night in the underground fight scene. Alcohol was flowing, courtesans had their marks under their spell and gold and debt was changing hands with every blow.
In the makeshift pit, Railick squared off with the reigning Tanaris champion - a large orc who rumor had it, had pummeled more then one opponent to death. Most of the time those stories were just bluster to bring in wagers on a sure thing but after almost 4 rounds Railick was beginning to wonder if they were true.
CRACK! The orc connected with a solid right to Railick's ribs, knocking the air from his lungs. The crowed went wild watching Railick back pedal, their champion closing in on the outsider for the kill. In full flight mode, Railick dodged and blocked the worst of the blows, closing in and tying up the frustrated orc as the round ended.
DING! The orc uncerimonusly dumped Railick face first on the ground before heading into his corner. "Wont escape next round elf."
Railick groggily got to his feet, and stumbled to his corner. Svvindle sat him down, waving smelling salt under Railicks nose to bring him back to his senses. "You know, you don't have to take EVERY punch."
"You said make it look - gOOO - FUCK" Railick groaned. Svvindle pressed on the broken ribs one more time, ignoring Railick's discomfort. "Yep. Broken. Well, good news is Squander has you winning in the 5th and the action isn't going to get any better. You can quit fucking around now and get us paid."
The glare from Railick brought a smug grin to Svvindle's face and more then once Railick thought about wiping that exact look off the goblin's face. "That's the spirit."
The ref shouted out the 30 second warning and the corners began clearing out. It had been a few months of Svvindle, Squander and Railick jumping from brawl club to brawl club to make coin. Gradually as clubs caught wise, it forced the trio more underground into shadier clubs to keep making a living and Railick briefly wondered how the hell he got here.
"Ema." he muttered under his breath, the name having a calming effect and allowing him to push aside the pain and focus on the orc across from him.
DING! The round started, the crowd roared as the orc came rushing forward looking to finally put away his challenger. The champion lead with a haymaker, looking to knock Railick out cold but found nothing but air, he followed it with a left uppercut but again found nothing.
Railick dodged the first two blows working around to the side of the orc, landing two quick strikes to the kidney. As the champion swung back round, Railick used the orcs momentum to buckle his knee, the orc screamed in pain as he felt his knee pop. There was no time to recover, the orc exposed and prone left his head vulnerable and Railick took full advantage landing a knee to the temple sending the orc crashing to the ground out cold.
The crowd was silent and stunned. Railick calmly began unwrapping his hands, making for the exit leaving the rest up to Svvindle and Squander. "Uhh...unbelievable! The champion has been defeated for the first time in 3 years! You saw it here folks." the announcer did his best to keep the crowd from revolting and their minds from the gold they lost.
Railick had lost count how many times they had run this scam. They would find a fight club, challenge their champion and Railick would play the outmatched challenger until Svvindle and Squander gave him the signal to finish the fight. Normally he would have no interest in business with the duo but he needed their help and this was the cost.
The war against the Legion left both him and his beloved Emalise completing missions for Sub Rosa all over Azeroth and as of a few monhs ago - he could no longer contact Emalise. He had tried searching out Xarriel but it appeared she had gone underground as well leaving him to try and track Emalise blindly.
The goblins had offered their help in exchange for his services. He provided shake downs, intimidation, whatever they needed while they used their contacts to try and locate Emalise but to date, none of the leads had panned out and he was beginning to wonder if they were actually holding up their end of the bargin.
Right on que the brains of the operation, Squander, entered the room. "Not a bad haul tonight. You should have dragged it out a bit longer. The bookie won't have you back...thats for sure. We need to find a new spot."
Railick gritted his teeth, "Maybe you should get in the ring then."
The goblin raised his gaze from the purse of gold in his hand to Railick, "Well with that attitude I don't even know if I should give you your cut."
In a instant, Railick had the mage by the collar "I am not in this for your coin in case you have forgotten. You told me you could find Emalise or at the very least Xarriel - I am getting tired of making you rich while I get no answers."
"Easy...I was just getting to that." Squander responded, the elf was growing more and more irritable with every passing week. Railick released the goblin and let him continue. "I have word of some...interesting developments in Silithus. There is a new compound bleeding from the wound Sargeras left...extremely powerful and volatile."
Really? Silithus? The place was a graveyard. No one went there. The goblin was leading him on. Railick got up and began packing his things. "Fuck it. I am done with you. I will find her myself."
Squander pulled a shiny ore from his pocket holding it out to the elf. "Its true! Look! Azurite they call it. And it is going to shape this world's future. Already the Alliance and Horde are at each other's throats to control it and who do you think will be right in the middle of that arms battle profiting from both sides? I have already heard rumors of the Lady pulling strings from the shadows."
If what the goblin said was true, that would make sense. Tensions since Varian fell were at an all time high and it would not take much to push the world into a war that no one would escape and tradtionally...Sub Rosa thrived during these times. "She is back then? You have confrimed it?"
Squander shrugged, "As much as I could so early on. Rumor is a mysterious benefactor is stockpiling the resource, siphoning it off in secret to develop weapons the likes Azeroth has never seen. Oh...and a rose has been her calling card. Sound like anyone you know?"
"Find her. Or someone who has seen her. I need to speak to them." Railick ordrered.
Squander smiled what he hoped was reassuringly, "Of course! Already on it. You can trust me - you will be the first to know."
Trust. At least a little while longer. What choice did have.
