Anoukisse, and the Quest for Fel Flames

Prologue

Whilst rummaging through some paperwork for her Guild, Anoukisse saw a dusty old book with Sealed Tome of the Lost Legion etched across the top. Curious, she reached for the volume.

"It's yours," said a gruff voice.

Startled, Anou looked up at Darger, the Guild Master. He and the hunter, Tenaz, had found the book and brought it back, realizing there was more to it. But being a warrior, he quickly understood he couldn't use it and thought of her instead.

Anou's warlock senses™ tingled with anticipation as she turned to the first page: "Combine with a Healthstone to bind the book to yourself." Without hesitating, Anou summoned a Soulwell—it was more dramatic—and selected a glowing green orb from within, fusing it with the Tome. But when she looked down, she was quite disappointed to see just another book. Yet it wasn't just another book, for when she picked it up, whispers of horrifying mysteries tantalized her ears...

Darger looked at her expectantly. All the pages were covered in some sort of Demonic script, yet even with her proficiency for languages, and all her studies, she was unable to decipher any of it. It was time to face her demons.

Part 1: The Interrogation

Any time she dismissed her demons, they returned to the twisting nether until they were summoned once more. To show her good will, she thought it best to go meet them on their turf, just this once.

Of all her demons, Anoukisse was certain the Shivarra would know the most. So off they went to the Temple, where Darger suggested Delersia would most likely be lording it over the sniveling concubines.

"What do YOU want, you miserable excuse for a Blood Elf?"
"What can you tell me about this tome?"
"I won't help your kind read an ancient Nathrezim text. Now, release me!"

With one glance, Delersia simply turned and left the pathetic Blood Elf to her begging.

Anou stood and muttered angrily to herself. "Just wait 'til I summon her back." She turned to Darger who had come along just in case. He was looking at her with amusement, but Anou just harrumphed at him and shook the dust from her skirts.

Through the Temple they went, until she spied her Succubus, Helvina, laying over a day bed covered in luxurious throw pillows. The Guild Master was getting quite an eyeful of all the concubines, and they seemed to be licking their lips in his wake. Anoukisse rolled her eyes.

"Hello Mistress... What kind of service may I provide today?"
Anoukisse heard Darger choke. Choosing to ignore him, she continued. "Helvina, what can you tell me about this tome?"
"What? You just want me to look at some dirty old tome? Ugh, how disappointing. This is the script of the Nathrezim, what you call dreadlords. They rarely use it outside of their home."
"Fascinating..."
She was about to ask another question, when all hell broke loose behind her. Anoukisse turned, the Succubus rushing forward with her whip brandished high, and stared in disbelief at the scene taking place...

Shutting her eyes tightly, Anoukisse rubbed her temples to ease the onset of a migraine, while what appeared to be the entire harem had launched itself at Darger, the Sisters trying to disentangle the mass of outstretched limbs. It was time to head out.

Azlikad would surely be at one the Forge Base camps, no doubt honing his skill with the massive blades he carried and testing his prowess against others of his own kind. After a bit of searching, she finally found him and confronted him with her fiercest disposition (she knew this particular demon had a soft spot for her, so he would talk no matter what).

The demon eyed her warily, "...what do you want?"
"What can you tell me about this tome?"
"Hmm... I recall seeing such a script on the Nathrezim homeworld. I cannot read it and I doubt any of your kind could either."
Anou held his gaze until the wrathguard shifted uncomfortably. Realizing he truly didn't know anything more, she turned on her heal and left him standing there awkwardly.

There were still quite a few minions to find if she was going to get the answers she needed.

Fiztok, they stumbled upon in Netherstorm, chasing after a Shivarra. He was hard to pin down, so Darger took care of the lady while Anou held the little demon's short attention span long enough to ask some questions.

"Fiztok!"
"...yeah? Sup, boss?"
"What can you tell me about this tome, Fiztok?"
Fidgeting as always, and looking over his shoulder half the time, Fiztok responded, "Hmm... I have no idea."
Anou was not impressed, but she supposed she couldn't be surprised.

In Hellfire, the exact same thing occurred with Dagrin, who could barely stop bouncing around long enough for his mistress to speak. Anou had to kneel down and look him in the eyes, actually shortening her sentences as much as possible.

The day seemed to be dragging on, and all this traveling was taking its toll on her now fraying nerves. She had yet to find 'The Void'—I mean, where the heck is 'The Void'??—and she highly doubted her Felhunter, Shaffenn, would be of any great help, considering she'd never heard him speak.

(As expected, Shaffenn looked at her blankly as she held the book out to him. Then he tilted his head and stared at her strangely. She didn't even bother asking.)

Flying back towards Netherstorm to speak to her Observer, Darger and Anou spotted a secluded cluster of Voids at the edge of a precipice. They landed, to have a better look, and low and behold, found both Thoglos and Kiltrax, whom Anou took aside and interrogated.

The Voidlord looked at Anou with as little expression as usual.
"You wish to speak with me...? Unusual..."
"Yes. What can you tell me about this tome, Kiltrax?"
"I cannot read the words... but the magic points to a world that exists no longer. It was destroyed by the Legion."
The warlock made a moue with her lovely heart-shaped lips. Before she could lose sight of him among the other Voids, Anoukisse flagged down Thoglos.
"Dismiss me... I wish to return to the void."
(Aaah. So this is 'The Void'.)
"What can you tell me about this tome?"
"Words are not the way of the void. I do not know... it appears to connect two... stars together..."
"Fascinating..."
The Blood Elf looked toward Darger leaning casually on his axe. She shook her head.

Shortly thereafter, discouraged, the two traveling companions landed in a remote area of Netherstorm, where strange looking creatures resided beneath the lightning-spattered sky. Here she found Bragrogg, speaking gibberish with other Observers. She waited politely for him to stop "communicating"...

"Ah, Mistress Anoukisse, how might I be of assistance?"
"Can you tell me about this tome?"
Bragrogg found a quieter spot to recount his knowledge.

"Of course! This codex is written in the ancient Nathrezim tongue. Nathrezim, or the Dreadlords, as you call them, were once an enlightened and powerful race. Their skill in summoning and gateway magic was unsurpassed by any in the Great Dark Beyond.
This particular tome contains instructions to open a gateway to another world. Sadly, I fear that world no longer exists. It was destroyed as a show of power during the enslavement of Xoroth.
The tome is useless, I'm afraid. No Blood Elf warlock could open such a gateway alone."
"Why, Bragrogg, I had no idea you were so well informed."
"It is the way of the Observer to bear witness to all things that come to pass. So many delicious magics have I tasted at your side, mistress."
"Fascinating..."

With some answers finally in hand, Anou and the Guild Master returned to Orgrimmar. She supposed she should bring the matter up with the Orc, Zevrost. He would likely know more about it.

[To be continued...]