Characters: see subject line
Rating: PG
Setting: Mahaado's shop
Summary: Mado returns from his journeys with some bad news.
Mado arrived back at the shop, grimacing slightly as he walked. His injury only seemed to get worse - then again, his heka was quite depleated.
Mahaado noticed this instantly, and was by his side before Mado could even call for him. "Other me. What happened?!"
"Shit happened," Mado replied. The back of his shirt was completely soaked with blood, his back completely ripped up by what must have been powerful magic.
"Come, rest." Mahaado teleported them both upstairs. He put his hands on the wound, studying it for a moment before beginning his healing spells. "I have not seen an attack leave a wound of this nature in a very long time. Who attacked you?"
"Where do I start," Mado thought a moment. "First it was a black dragon I pissed off. Then a whole bunch of undead. Then I found myself in the midst of this domain completely run by blue dragons - and then they attacked me."
"Now you know why I detest almost all dragons." he focused on the healing spells, but these burns were severe, and the claw marks quite deep.
"The others aren't bad," Mado pointed out. "But we've got a problem with regards to these blue ones. They're seeking out spellcasters and killing them off. All spellcasters, even those who don't reside in Azeroth."
"That is certainly something to be highly concerned about. Were you followed?"
Mado shook his head. "Not like it matters. They already know about us and where we are."
"It matters if I do not have time to finish healing these wounds by the time we are attacked." he added, tearing off what was left of Mado's shirt.
"Well lucky for us we're not that high on Malygos' shit list," Mado said. "His first goal - or so the Dalaran mages and the red dragons told me - is to rip every last ounce of arcane energy from Azeroth. And kill every spellcaster alive. Then he'll move on to other worlds."
"That is not the only problem coming from Azeroth. There are deathknights threatening war with new plagues. Several archmages have requested my assistance already. This will make their battle far more dangerous. Have you heard of this while you were scouting for them?"
Mado nodded. "Yeah. They're few, but deadly. When I stopped in Stormwind, I learned that a large group of death knights turned on their former master and are now fighting against him. But he still has a fair sized group still loyal to him. I saw one, and what she was able to do was insane."
He continued his healing spells, slowly but surely. "I have one of their spellbooks, and have been studying their magic. Their curses are terrifying, even from a sorcerer's standpoint."
"Fuck Mahaado, curses are the least of our problems."
"And when the least of our problems is terrifying, we know we have a very serious problem on our hands, is that not correct?"
"Especially when one death knight summons a small army of undead to do her fighting for her."
"The likes of which you ran into."
"More like got pulled into."
"Were they fighting with or against the dragons that first attacked you?"
"Not sure, they seem to steer away from blue dragons. Everyone else they fight; they assault the shrines all the time. I don't know why the black dragons are there though, no one trusts them."
"Surely the blue dragons would want them, a spellcasters, dead too."
"Everyone wants the death knights dead."
"So I have learned. Hold still for just a little longer."
Mado tried to hold still as best he could.
"Tell me more about the blue dragons. If they go after the wicked deathknights first, that at least solves one problem. However, we cannot let them harm innocent spellcasters, no matter what kingdom they belong to."
"I'm not sure what their plans are for death knights. The mages and archmages are the most obvious users of magic, and they're targeting them first. Some mages have abandoned their old alliances and joined Malygos in hopes of retaining their access to power and their lives. Alexstraza fears what will happen if he succeeds in what he's doing."
"Joining with him is not the answer. The stronger his allies are, the more difficult it will be to take him down."
"Well that's desperation for you."
"What are our options? You have been studying the dragons for several weeks now."
"Well before we do anything we have to go to Dalaran. The wizards there have been trying to figure out what to do about Malygos. He's too powerful to stop so far as anyone's currently concerned. Groups have gone in there to try and kill him - no success."
"We must try." Mahaado finished with his spells. "There, it is healed. Were there any other injuries you sustained in battle?"
"Nah, that was it," Mado answered. "Took almost every ounce of heka to keep from dying. Seems like no matter where you turn you run into trouble in that stupid place."
"Then rest and meditate. You need both before we are to depart." Mahaado added, a potion bottle appeared in his hand. "This will ease the fatigue."
"I'd rather have vodka right now."
"You and me both. Drink."
"Yes mother," Mado replied sarcastically, taking the bottle and heading to the couch.