Trials of Azeroth

Chapter 15

           

Wind swept across the vast northern vista as the intrepid adventurers made their way through Grizzly Hills. The scent of the redwood pine wafted through the air and the early evening sun was disappearing through the gaps in the tree line. The group of adventurers trundled up one of the many mountainside paths that crisscrossed the Grizzly Hills. Fatigued, footsore and weary, they struggled on, mile after mile, eventually making their way to the Amberpine Lodge. It was a hard slog, but after half an hour at a good pace, the lads finally arrived outside of the humble mountainside structure. Outside, by the side of the road, stood a lone Alliance soldier, shivering in his plate armour as he greeted the motley crew.
"Evenin' gents." Greeted the sentry.
"Good Evening." Nodded Hwinion.
"Evening, mate." Smiled Codin.
"Salutations." Hailed Fizzbiscuit.
"Keep it up, lad." Grinned Belmin, patting the lone guard on the spaulder as he passed.

The men made their way inside of the Lodge and out of the cold, being greeted by the comfort of a warm fire and a sturdy roof over their heads. The Amberpine Lodge, whilst looking humble from the outside, turned out to be better than the men had expected. Large and spacious, with two floors and a blazing hearth at each ends of the room, it was everything they needed. Making their way past the group of off-duty guards, frontiersmen and women, miners, trappers and whoever else found themselves here, they made their way over to an empty table next to the fire and planted themselves down in the comfy seats.
"Ohhhh, I needed that." Sighed Codin, as he planted his feet on the spare chair.
"How far must we have walked?" Panted Fizzbiscuit, wiping the sweat from his old, wrinkled brow.
"I don't even want to think about it pal, all I need now is-" Stated the Dwarf.
"Something to drink?" Smirked Hwinion as he took off his hood.
"Yes, exactly." Replied Belmin, setting down his mighty Warhammer at his feet. They took their time to relax, with the general consensus being that they had certainly earned it, and after having filled their bellies with good food and good ale, they then decided it was time to set about on finding any lead that they could. Having reached the decision that it would be for the best, the group split up and began to move their way through the Lodge, talking and chatting with anyone that they could. The dwarf and gnome headed off to the bar, to see if the innkeeper or her colleagues had anything to say. The elf went over to conduct civilised small talk with a group of hunters and trappers who seemed equally as unskilled in the field of chit-chat as he was, and Codin himself approached a night elf hunter clad in rough garb who had posted himself by the window.

"Well met, friend. Having a fine evening?" Greeted the warrior. The elf stood up straight and gave the human a confused and startled look.
"Ishnu Alah." He coldly greeted.
"Fancy a drink, friend? Or even just some fine company?" Asked Codin, with a broad smile on his face. The elf replied swiftly with some complicated and drawn out darnassian phrase that left the human lost for words.
"Uhhh, should I take that as yes?" Laughed the warrior, awkwardly. The hunter did not look amused, and quickly followed up with a blurt of his native tongue that seemed to be of an offensive nature. It was clear his didn't speak the common tongue. Indignant, Codin tried again. He kept at it, trying to illicit a response for whatever reason. But the more he tried, the more he wound up the elf, and the more wound up the elf got, the more Codin tried to diffuse the situation with awkward laughter and nervous jokes that the hunter simply didn't understand. Eventually the hunter snapped and collapsed into a fighting stance.
'Oh dear, what have you done now, Codin?' Sighed Codin, internally.
"Bandu Thoribas!" Snarled the night elf.
"Uhhh, Hwinion! HELP!" Hollered the warrior, trying to calm the hunter.
All conversations in the Lodge ceased, and all eyes were in the man and elf. Quick as a flash, the friendly hunter made his way over to his companion's side and began to diffuse the situation.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Codin what happened here?" Asked Hwinion, stepping in between the two.
"Well, one minute I'm trying to have a nice conversation with the chap, then the next, he's challenging me to a bloody duel!" Explained Codin.
"Wait, wait." Interrupted Hwinion. "Does he speak common?"
"No, I guess not." Replied Codin.
"Then that's why, you moron!" Sighed the elf, placing his head in his hand.
"Fine, fine!" Grunted Codin, through his teeth. "Just apologise and ask him kindly not to kill me, please."

Suddenly, just as he low lull of conversation returned, it was shattered once again as a ruckus could be heard by the bar. The two turned their heads in the direction of the uproar, to find the red-headed innkeeper punching dear Belmin in the face and sending him flying back off of his bar stool. The gnome rushed to his side and helped him back to his feet. A loud roar of laughter erupted throughout the lodge, rendering the dwarf red in the face with embarrassment. The two then returned to their table, followed by the warrior. Having retreated back to their holdout in the corner, the group began to examine their evidence.
"Well, it has been a fruitful evening, hasn't it." Frowned Codin, nodding at Belmin's injury.
"Certainly." Agreed the gnome, who was equally as tired and fed up.

"How did you piss her off this time?" Questioned the Warrior. Belmin looked back with a surprised and startled look on his face that was new to both man and gnome.
"I just asked her if she knew any information about any shady blokes operatin' in the area." Replied the dwarf, nursing his wounded eye.
"I somehow doubt that that was the full extent of the conversation, Master Dwarf." Stated Codin. The Mountaineer went to open his mouth to give his reply, but the embarrassment was too much and he fell back into silence.
"It's best left unsaid, I believe." Explained Fizzbiscuit, shaking his head. Codin's expression dropped even further, and after he gave a disappointed look to his dwarven companion, his head dropped into his palm and he let out an audible exclamation of his disbelief.
"For the sake of all that the Holy Light touches..."
It was safe to say that Belmin Hammerbrand, for once, had nothing to say.
  Hwinion, having finished his conversation with his fellow elven brother, sat back in his seat with a look of achievement on his face.
"Well, chaps. Guess which lovely gentleman had just the right information we need." Stated the elf, proudly.
"Let me guess, the chap who I was having that civilised talk with just a moment ago." Sighed Codin, running his fingers through his hair and scratching his beard.
"How could you tell?" Replied Hwinion, with a smile growing on his chiselled face.