Chapter Text
The room was dimly lit. Small, circular, a few oddly shaped bookcases clung to the walls, holding not only books, but numerous other items. The table in the middle of room held papers, a few open books, a map of Azeroth with many marks on it, and one candle which served as the only light for the underground room.
Inside were five people. None of them spoke.
They were waiting.
There was nothing to identify any of these individuals. They all wore black robes, and all had their faces covered with plain, white masks, and their heads covered with a black hood. All adornments such as rings were to be left with personal effects in the rooms they had rented in the tavern above. It would be easy to discern the members of the group, but the first rule of it, was to not seek information about the others involved. Word of what they were up to could not get out, secrecy was their ultimate weapon.
The door opened and another figure stepped in. This one smaller than the others.
The small figure approached the middle of the table. “They have made no connection,” a woman’s voice came out. “We can find another sacrifice tonight.”
“Forgive me, my lady,” a male voice said, stepping forward. “But isn’t it a bit too soon—they may have made no connection yet, but if we increase the frequency of the attacks it will draw attention.”
A few others voiced agreements. People went missing frequently, but too often and it would arouse too much suspicion. The woman turned to the doubting group. “We just need to change our methods, be careful not to leave a trace,” she paused. “We can try and take criminals from the Stockades, no one will miss them.”
“Or,” another male started, stepping forward. “Take from outside the city, find weak travellers. They go missing all the time—bandits, wolves, orcs, defias—there’s no reason to suspect foul play with them.”
“That is also a good point,” the woman said.
“I will add,” a fourth voice spoke, one who had been questioning them before. “Of my time in the court-“ he bragged, as he so often did to the ire of those present. “There have been no words of this, no utterings of anything out of the ordinary.”
“If they have figured out magic is involved, then they don’t know either,” the woman said, closing her eyes. “We’ve been careful, as long as we don’t slip up, then our plan is going to succeed.” There was a murmur of agreement with her male counterparts. “The horde and the alliance aren’t going to know what’s hit them when we’re done with them.”
It wasn’t a threat, no, her words were more of a promise. Her fist clenched at her sides. No one questioned her, no one calmed her. They all shared the sentiment, even those involved who were not currently there. They had started slow but grown large enough that their plan was moving faster than ever.
They wouldn’t even have time to react.