Invaria Veilheart lounged back upon her throne of flesh, the simpering moans of pain from those used to craft it like the sweetest music to her ears. Before her, supplicants bowed low, giving the highest reverence and showing the greatest fear in her presence. Some had only been there for days, others had endured months of her company, been slowly picked at like an uncooked stew, bits taken from them and savored both flesh and soul alike.
āAntomideas,ā she purred, her voice like soft honey as she brought her goblet to her lips, savoring the scent of the broth that had been prepared, a swirling black substance that the heamomancers had crafted for her, instilling it with the terror her subjects felt in every waking moment.
A heavily armored Orc emerged from the sickly black fog that surrounded the throne, quickly going down on one knee before her to prostrate his servitude. āMy lady.ā he rumbled.
āHow does father fare? His children were due to come here, to be at my side for mothers birthā¦ā
āAbsentā¦ā the Orc replied, his eyes fixed firmly on the ground.
Invaria snarled, baring her teeth as she grasped at the arm of her throne, a muffled cry of pain coming from beneath her. āAbsent? What mockery is this of our divine work!? Speak!ā
Invaria lashed out, slicing a finger though the air. A whipcord of void snapped though one of the bowing supplicants, a malnourished human that split down the middle, a shrill cry of pain dying away in moments before his body began to boil down to its base materials. The orc stiffened, trying to compose himself.
āA Child was born, but something went awry. I fear he has been destroyed and father has not stirred since.ā
āAnd what do you propose to do about this?ā She asked firmly, giving no room for a wrong answer, the orc well aware of the danger as he felt liquid human spill against his prostrated hand.
āI will head into the wilds, locate the child and learn what happened.ā
Invaria sipped from her goblet, closing her eyes as she felt the torment of her captives spill over her tongue and coarse down her throat. A pleasured sigh escaped her as she slowly opened her eyes again.
āDo not fail me, Antomideasā¦ i will know if you do, and i will find youā¦ā
āIn Mothers name i serve.ā the orc blustered before getting to his feet and bowing once more.
Invaria watched him depart, her purple gaze following his movements as he vanished back into the dark fog that lingered around her.
āNot long now, mother.ā she whispered, looking at the cowering supplicants before her. Without any need for instruction, one of the supplicants crawled forwards, taking the space of the human she had destroyed. Silent tears falling onto slowly roiling viscera that seeped into the ground.
āNot long nowā¦ā she uttered again as her lips broke into a cruel smile.
Antomideas dragged his fingers across the ash burnt stonework of the long since fallen ruins. The faintest presence of his masters work lingering in the very masonry, this was where the child was destroyed, he could sense it while no other mortal would even know what transpired.
Born fully formed, the child was to grow into a champion to fight by Invariaās side, but taken while his flesh was still weak, he had been bested. He removed his helm, revealing his pale flesh to the sputtering moonlight that broke through the high canopy. Dark set eyes glanced around, the faint whirl of void light in his pupils speaking of his devotion to Veilhearts cause. Where mortal eyes saw the remains of battle, Antomideas could see the forces that were used to destroy the child of such great promise. Could feel the necromantic energy wielded as both a weapon and a way of sustaining false life, he could sense the long since gone presence of forsaken,kaldorei and human alike. No other energy glowed as brightly as the childās did, the one who should have been so much more, victim to cruel circumstances.
His attention snagged on one of the energies, light, nature and arcane had been hurled in force against the forsaken and the child alike. But another was unlike the others, a faint trace of life-spirit itself. A mirthful smile spread over the Orcās features and he fixed his helmet back in place, he could follow the trail, find one who had been involved in such heretical acts as to strike at the Child.
Hours passed as Antomideas followed the trail, moving over fallen treeās and tracing with eyes alone as it seemed to move among the treeās before landing groundward again. Occasionally he passed charred earth, something that had once grown had been sundered and burnt, a similar trace of energy present but unlike the one he followed. They had clearly been busy.
Finally his passage broke him out into the open, the overgrowth giving way to open air, the distant shape of an elven temple in the far distance. He took a moment to check his equipment, his quarry was drawing close.
From the mouth of the temple, a long figure strode out, making quick progress down the steps as he looked around, seemingly searching for something. Antomideas watched him a moment, not breaking his stride as he zeroed in on his prey. The energy he had traced from the death site of the child led directly to him, and he would suffer for what he had done. With a gesture, a rip of void energy coiled around the Kaldorei and another moment later, he stood before the Orc as he drew his sword.
āMurderer!ā Antomideas bellowed, already swinging his blade to try and behead the elf.
Hedris ducked below the strike, watching him with curious eyes, āSorry do i know you?ā
The orc slashed again and the Kaldorei bounded to the side.
āWhy are you trying to harm me? Your kind of falling into a stereotype here. Not a good look for an Orc.ā
āSilence, dog! You killed the Child!ā, he roared as he brought the sword crashing down at the elf, he reacted a moment too late, knocking the blade away but not before it cut a deep gash down his arm.
āI killed no child! I donāt go around burning cities down like some disgraces to existence itself!ā
Antomiedeas roared again and planted a boot in the elves gut and pushed him away.
Hedris bounded to his feet, his training letting him block the pain, the sting on his arm and the pain in his stomach. He focused on the Orc, clearly this wasnāt going to end by peaceful means. He focused his chi, drawing it to his center and drew on pleasant memories to harness their positive emotional energy, already stemming the blood. As the Orc charged him again, he sunk low and performed a simple Kata, striking the Orc in the leg, paralysing the muscle for a moment and sending him to the ground sprawling.
āLook, I didnāt kill any child, I donāt know who you are or who you think youāre helping here, but you picked the wrong night! Iām trying to feed people you know, I cooked Fish!ā
āShut up Blathering!ā the Orc roared in rage as he struggled to his feet, one leg refusing to cooperate. āYou have offended Father, you have slain his child, and you will be penitent!ā
āFather?ā, Hedris muttered a rush of realisation coming to him, the words spoken by the aberration he had helped destroy, the sicky creation that he had burnt the remains of. The moment of reflection cost him as he felt the orcs blade stab into his side.
āYou son of a-ā Hedris growled, cutting himself short as he thrust an iron palm strike into the Orcās throat. The beast staggered back, gasping for air and clawing at its neck, its armored gorget dented against his wind pipe. Hedris focused on his Chi as he slid the blade free from his side, a golden healing aura stemming the flow of blood that spilled down his side.
āI tried to warn youā¦ā Hedris said, āI didnāt want to fight.ā, he stepped forwards and lowered his frame, shifting into a deadly Kata to make the killing blow against the Orc, slamming both fists
into his chest. Striking at the heart at full force.
As his hands cut the air, his negative chi channeled into the attack, a whirl of dark energy filled the air and two elegant hands grasped his wrists, inches away from striking the Orc dead.
āI said i would know, Antomideasā¦ā Invaria purred, looking at the Orc with thinly veiled disgust.
āAnother one?ā Hedris asked.
With a simple gesture, Hedris was tossed to the ground at force, landing with a wet snap his arm was jammed free from his shoulder socket. He pushed himself up again, not so easly beaten as he pulled on his positive chi. āDo we have too? I super have to get backā¦ā he said. Invaria just stared at him passively.
Not one to stand down, he slid forwards in fluid motions, his fists lancing though the air at great force, the negative energy pushed into the attack still fresh from his injury. Invaria just glanced aside, the attack passing her by the thinnest buffer of air. As he turned to redirect his strike, she slashed her hand against his back. Blood flecked the air as too sharp nails shredded his skin and Hedris collapsed to the ground. Dark energy sparked against his skin like fire, the positive chi he had built up quickly fading away, old wounds starting to reopen and bruise once more.
Invaria savored the blood on her hand, looking down at the stricken monk as her dark energies bested him.
āYour Orders?ā Antomideas asked, finally free of his gorget, cheeks flushed with humiliation.
āTake him back to campā¦ I will deal with the othersā¦ā she uttered, turning her attention back to the temple. āI have business hereā¦ā
Without another word, she strode off towards the temple, ready for what awaited her.
The skies over Feralas had never seen such activity as the night Azsurie Daywing relocated her flock.
The ancient warrior woman, decked in full plate armour the colour of the Cloudwing upon who's back she rode; glistening, hypnotic blues, purples and yellows, whistled to signal to the hippogryphs, banking left, right and every which way, until they lowered the tree-line. the humidity of the Feralas rainforest clung to feathers and skin alike until the landing was made, at which point hundreds of avian cries were heard of discomfort and unusual curiosity.
"Yes yes, hush, we're here now. New home!"
A cacophony of caws sound out; some excited, some apprehensive, some scared, she makes a caw back, a comforting, mothers caw, to settle down, it is ok children.
"No no, it will be ok. The Waykeepers will take care of us all, and, we of them, my flock."After a tense encounter at the temple, that saw friends turned against eachother and promises of damnation given to all present, Invaria left empty handed, the sword she coveted for reasons unknown laying within the templeās possession still.
The Stonework of the west wall told the tale of a heavy blow, streaks of black ichor being tended too by one of the Priestesses as she sought to burn away the void presence.
For part of the night, blood listed across the surface of the moonwell, the huntress impaled by Invariaās claws as a final insult before taking her leave.
She would be back, she had promised so, her work far from doneā¦
Had a fun encounter last night, what do you do when your enemy is your friend? more story and RP to come tonight! Shenanigans!!
Thanks to everyone who came along! 
An early silence hung over the temple following the events of the night before. Black smudges marked the stonework leading up to the temple, tales of void flame occasionally revealing themselves in violet embers that drifted in the humid forest air. Various other dark stains marked the stonework, signs of an arcane inferno as corpses were burned away with highborne wrath, evidence of the various terrified slaves and the twilight drake, now ash in the wind.
The luminosity of the moonwell, once shining the very moonlight that had been captured within, had gone. Shadows lingered across the watery surface, the plantlife that grew within, wilting away. All but a single flower remained undamaged. Once more blood marked the surface, the deep crimson by now spread throughout the pool.
Invaria had corrupted the well, her aim to use Hedris as an offering to her dark master but she had been cut short by the templeās defenders and anihilated before her designs could be completed.
The Sword remained within the templeās possession once more, the mystery of why she coveted it so much remained.
The following takes place at the same time of last nights encounter at the temple
Keldaria and Maviel sprinted through the thick brush of Feralas, keenly following the scent that the Worgen had managed to pick up. Treeās flew past them as they maintained their furious pace. āHe isnāt far!ā Maviel barked, bounding over a moss covered boulder and sliding beneath a low hanging branch, her motions almost liquid from years spent as a feral, rampaging through the untamed depths of Gilneas. Keladira had less luck, having to calculate her motions more carefully due to the spear she hauled on her back, the vast Osmenite weapon slightly reduced her mobility, forcing her to duck lower and make more calculated bounds.
As the duo leapt across a small creek that snaked through the forest depths, the unmistakable sting of void caught them both at the same time. A briefly exchanged glance confirming it to them both.
Maviel sniffed the air once more, it seemed weaker now. She frowned slightly, taking another step forward.
āWrong turn?ā Keladira asked, her breathing already calmed, a state of zen flooded though her.
āCanāt tellā¦ itās likeā¦ā
Kel felt a sudden shift in her surroundings, a change that she could barely feel, but its presence stole her attention. Acting fast, she drew on her chi and thrust her palms at the worgen, a sudden burst of energy sending the lupine human tumbling back. A second later, a blade slashed through the air where she once stood.
āSpry thing you are-ā rasped Antomideas, the orc announcing himself as he stood before them, wisps of shadow being cast away from his form. His face was exposed, his helm now taking the form of a cruel crown of spikes that pressed into his scalp. As he grinned at them, his lips were torn and ragged, a gap in his cheek revealing taut muscles. Invaria had tortured him for his failings, dark liquid slowly seeping from the various scenes of punishment. āBut you fall for the trap like any other dumb beastā¦ā
ā
Almost a heartbeat later and the fight erupted, Keladira drawing her spear and bringing it crashing down to the orcās head, Maviel already charging forwards with teeth bared and hands extended with cruel claws ready to rip into flesh. Antomideas worked frantically to defend against their combined strikes, his blade catching the polearm as he hoped his armor would defend against the worgens attacks. But as he felt the metal dent across his arm, the worgenās druidic magic bringing extra ferocity and sharpness to her attacks, he found himself doubting for but a moment.
ā
Antomideas drew on his teachings, bringing a pulse of darkness to his core before letting it erupt around him, snakes of void coiling around his person as the two assailants were knocked back. The Monk took a moment to force away the dark flames that seared across her body, too quickly however, the Worgen was on her feet again, charging to run behind him. He couldnāt act in time, the spear was brought down towards his head and he brought his sword up to defend. Claws sunk into his flesh, the worgenās nails slamming through his chest armor as teeth sunk into the back of his neck. He roared in pain, pushing the monkās spear back and slashing the sword across her chest, a dark rivet of blood splashing across the ground as she stumbled away. The Orc roared once more as he grasped the Worgenās wrists and heaved himself forwards, flipping her over his head and onto the ground for him to deliver a series of blows to her face, blood quickly spilling from the worgens snout as she yelped and snarled in pain.
āFools!ā he roared, staggering back as he pressed a hand to the back of his neck, dark blood came away on his gauntlet, he could already feel it seeping down his back.
āYou thought you could come running in, save your blithering idiot monk? Only death will be found here!ā
ā
Maviel moved ready to pounce, but Keladira grasped her shoulder and pulled her back, the wound on her chest grievous, blood marking her front in deep streams of blood. She whispered in a low voice and Antomideas frowned at them.
āWhat? Think you have the strength to best me together? Planning are we? You are weak! I have the Motherās blessing!ā
Antomideas laughed and slammed a fist to his chest, darkness burst around him and he vanished into the shadows.
ā
Maviel and Keladira got to their feet, standing back to back, ready to engage. The monk closed her eyes, letting her senses expand around them, feeling the eb and flow of life and the power of her own chi and that of her companion. She could sense the dark presence, the shimmering of void as the Orc shifted in the darkness around them.
ā
āHold-ā Keladira breathed, hands tightening around the heft of her spear.
ā
Silence hung around them, Maviel spat blood on the ground, her maw crimson with her own wounds as much as the one she delivered to the Orc.
ā
A sudden shift was all Keladira needed, she turned and thrust her spear into the air, a moment later the Orc appeared and the blade slid into its chest, breaking the armor and leaving a wide expression on its face. The monk sank low, heaving the spear as her arms flexed with the effort as she lifted the orc up, bringing him over her head and slamming him to the ground. One last grunted press and the spear sank into the ground beneath it, the orc roaring in agony.
ā
āWhere is he!ā Maviel barked, leaping atop the Orc and baring down at him, teeth exposed, blood dripping against his face.
ā
āHe was never here-ā the orc laughed, the motion of doing so sending fresh pain through his body.
ā
āI get it now.ā he grunted, the realisation dawned on him. Invariasā disappointment in his actions were immense, he was a distraction, a decoy. She had sent him to die.
ā
āWhere is your camp? Where did she take him?ā Keladira asked, stepping to stand besides Maviel.
ā
āI will tell you nothing, meatā¦ā the Orc groaned back, the dark energy that sustained him quickly draining away.
ā
āThen you are no use to us alive.ā Keladira replied, then gave Maviel a small press on her shoulder and moved away.
ā
Maviel bared her teeth in a cruel smile, she had him now, he was powerless and at her mercy, and he had harmed Hedris. She bared her teeth, held her claws ready as stonebark flashed across her. She would savor every moment of the orcs undoing.
Melileron Coldgazerās legs ached, lactic acid coursed through his burning muscles as he continued to run, not wanting to stop, not wanting to turn back. Others were with him, fleeing from the camp that had fallen into chaos. He had promised a human woman he would see her to safety, get her away. Something dark grasped her as she ran, she had collapsed to the ground with a terrified scream. He didnāt have the courage to stop and aid her.
Once word started to spread that Invaria had been destroyed, it didnāt take long for the thralls that kept order to be overcome by the sheer mass of unwilling supplicants as they tried to make their escape. Fights erupted, but it soon became clear that the thralls had the power as bodies were cast to the ground in burning balls of void fire.
Melileron stumbled out onto one of the roads in Feralas, crashing against a tree and slumping to the ground as he grasped his chest, struggling for breath.
Words came to him, Darnassian words in a cruel tone, he looked up to see three mounted Sentinels baring down on him, two with arrows drawn already as the other held her glaive ready to strike.
āPlease-ā he wheezed, reaching a hand out in desperation.
āI said, state your businessā¦ā
Melileron looked up at them, his body ached and his vision started to blur, he had no idea if he had found salvation, or a new form of damnation. he wanted to tell them what happened, lead them back to where he had been held but he drew a blank. the memories were stolen from him.
Hedris stood on the balcony above the well, resting against his cane with his back to the chambers. The wall of seemingly solid stone, a spell woven by a skilled arcanist that hid the sanctuary behind it.
The Moonwell had been healed once again, the void drawn from it by an unlikely trio. A Zandalari with loyalties to a Frog Loa, a Vulpera with a bubbling water elemental as a companion and human with faith in mother moon above the eastern ideal of the Light. Together, the darkness had been drawn out and destroyed, the shadows that once drifted like water serpents inside the pool had gone entirely. While the plant life would need time to recover, the waters would need longer. The soft silver glow of moonlight was absent, a sight that hurt him to the core. He had taken stewardship over the temple and promised to be its protector, only to find himself cast into it and moments away from death as the waters were defiled.
His hands grasped at the cane, the wood creaking slightly under the new strain.
With the void removed, the Vulpera took the opportunity to aid in his wounds, the corruptive nature of the waters removed meant that his body was more receptive, the bruises and cuts that lay beneath the numerous bandages slowly starting to fade as her healing waters washed over him.
Once more the wards were in place, repaired by Suraia as she worked long into the night before collapsing to bed again, still in desperate need of rest after the ordeal.
He took his hip flask and had a quick sip, the mead starting to give him the boost of energy he had been denied when his injuries were more severe. He closed his eyes and tried again to draw on his chi, his last attempt leaving him in a bleeding agonised state. He felt the negative energy that filled his body, like a fever that rushed around beneath the skin, a small smile came to his lips. It was a start.
An hour later, he found himself secluded in the wilds, levitating off the ground before a body of water as vast trees loomed above, leaves and twigs floating across the waters surface as small bodies moved beneath. His eyes were closed, three empty mead bottles on the ground beneath him. Grass bobbed and weaved around him, the gentle energies of the wilds moving to greet him as a faint mist lifted from the water to circle around him. It would be a long process, but with his chi awakened, he was on the road to recovery.
The Well is recovered from its corruption, drawn away by a trio of helpers. But the gentle moonlight that once lay beneath is gone, returning it to a normal well.
More work was needed to bring it back, and Hedris has a plan on how to do itā¦
A big thanks to our helpers who came along, was most unexpected, but I always welcome cross faction RP that isnāt about fistie cuffs!
Re: Hedrisās recovery, he has gone off to meditate and centre his chi, he is far from recovered, but he at least wont need his cane, eyepath is going to be a thing for a bit!
The Moonlight shun within the moonwell once more, the vibrant life affirming energy that had once been stolen away had been returned to Isildien. The night before, the combined efforts of Priestesses, a Druid and an Arcanist drove their power into the waters, Hedris himself sharing his own energy to those gathered to keep them strong, to embolden their hearts and strengthen their backs.
The plantlife that once wilted from the void corruption the water had been subjected too, stood tall once more, flowers blooming in vibrant colours as the gentle glow of moonlight danced across their flesh.
While its energies had been restored, its power was faulted, not at the strength it once was. The despoiling of the waters had severed its bond to the other wells across Kalimdor, its connection via the leylines muted and weak. To continue its road to restoration, a new pilgrimage would start, taking the Waykeepers and their allies, united under the banner of Isildien, away from Feralas and into the greater wilds of Kalimdor. Water would be collected from the other pools and brought back home to the temple, strengthening its bonds and imbuing it with greater power.
Invariaās sacrilege would be undone, and the allies of Isildien were prepared to face her again if she returned once moreā¦
Great RP last night, good to get the band together from so many groups to work on healing the well. the aftermath was just as great, not sorry for those low rolls!
Now, the journey goes on, we will be travelling to Desolace 2020-06-23T23:00:00Z where nothing bad will happen whatsoever!
Good people in general. Not very good Arcwine though. I am working on improving that.
Your such a Highborneā¦
Hedris awoke with a start as the sound of the Centaur warhorn blasted though the canopy of Karnums glade. He quickly scrambled to his feet, balancing with the upmost care on the branch he had slept on, quickly clambering higher up until he could bound into the air. A swirl of energy swept around him as he levitated himself higher with his Chi, eyes scanning the horizon.
He had heard the warhorn before, on various battlefields throughout the years. Heard it in the days leading to bloody conflicts as far south as the Thousand Needles and pressing north onto Durotar long before the Horde settled there.
War was coming.
Once again Desolace would be thrown into chaos, a familiar pattern for the scarred region, possibly the reason why the Glade had no expended for so long, the forces of Void, Fel and pure fury had whittled away at the encroaching wilds. Down below he could already see the Guardians of the Glade react, weapons ready as rotations were called early, rested Tauren and Kaldorei replacing those that have been on duty. If battle came to the small slice of paradise in the barren land, they would be ready for it at full heart.
The Monk bounded down from the treetop, there was little chance the others of the group had missed it, that they would not be prepared. He strode into the Inn, moving to the chest in his quarters to take out his alchemy set. He started to shake his head as he tried to run though various recipes to bolster people for the coming fight, but old wars snuck though the surface. Images of the blood soaked waters after the Battle of Southfury where he stood with Kaldorei and Tauren alike, the dead massed on both sides.
He recalled the leader, Khan Kiyat of the Kiyat Centaur. Standing across the waters with the hide of a dead tauren chieftain draped over its body, the once proud tauren;s antlers now hanging around its neck as an ornament of victory. āThe Centaur always win!ā he bellowed at them, stamping his feet as he brandished the crude longsword that was still slick with tauren and kaldorei blood alike. āEven if i die this day, another will take my place!ā
The battle was won and Kiyat was slain, true to his words, another Khan took his place years later. The cycle continued of wanton bloodshed and destruction until a combined assault scoured the clan from the land, the last of their kind backed into a cave that was sealed shut, leaving them to their fate.
Like back then, the cycle of war had returned, the war horn in Desolace could only mean more blood would be spilt on the land. Be it other Centaur or those struck down in their path, he would be ready.
The Waykeepers and Friends arrived in Desolace last night for a casual visit to the Moonwells, but something is certainly happening that might keep us around a bit longer!
I cannot wait to RP with you guys im loving this concept. Itās so good to see people using all of Feralas. Lets just hope we can draw more people here.
Cheers Cyrintra! We are just trying to hold up the Legacy the Handmaidens made, we get random visitors to the temple often and its been a nice spot for the less war minded characters to come visit. were working on a plotline that is going to take us far from our temple home, so plenty of chances for us to cross paths!
We are currently in Desolace for a small campaign with a few other guilds, if your in the area, come visit!
Two attacks against two different groups by Centaur coming from two different directions, demon presence massing in the old fortress that had seen more occupations than the distant prison island of Tol Barad. Trouble was brewing, that much was already established. His last visit to the region saw the overbearing powers of Void pressing down against them, leading him into a pitched battle inside a system of tunnels with his sister and a Renādorei as companions.
Akule of the Spiritwood tribe and Astran of the Blazing Phoenix had both been assaulted on their journeys, one venturing from Stonetalon while the other took a mountain pass from Mulgore.
It was all starting to ramp up quickly, a council needed to be held. Members of the Curators of Kalimdor would need to put words into action and plan something to prevent the growing situation from worsening.
Hedris opened his eyes, watching Thenell make her return to the glade, naga blood slick against her armor from her recent venture to the coastline.
War had come to Desolace once again.
The Combined Effort of Tauren and Kaldorei had marched onto the Gelkin tribelands with the goal of aiding the assailed Centaur. Sinādorei of the Blazing Pheonix had accompanied them, but on Hedrisās own suggestion they had taken to scouting the fel scarred canyons leading to the labyrinth of Muradon.
The Battle had been a frantic and bloodied one, the Mauradon Centaur showing a rabid determination and thirst for blood with a trail of destruction deeply seeped in crimson. Hedris had aided how he could, snatching a flying spear from the air before using it against the demented Centaur, but his lack of vision, his half-blindness he still suffered from his torture at the hands of Invaria had cost him deeply. A blast of fire struck his side, totally unseen until it was too late. Assailed again with a series of strikes from stamping hooves, his allies rallied against their foes and he took a moment to meditate and recover his injuries. His state of zen lingered on and before he knew it, his companions had already pressed into the Gelkis caverns.
*Reunited back at Karnums glade, Hedris let the events of the nite unravel as poisoned words were spat by members of the Horde who had come as allies. It was a disappointing turn of events, one that went against the purpose of the allegiance that had been formed between Kaldorei and Tauren alike. *
Now, alone with his thoughts. Hedris gazed down at the reflective surface of the greater moonwell in Karnums glade, watched as moonlight broke though the canopy high above in the reflection. He unbound the eyepatch he wore and pulled it away, resting it on his lap before taking a breath before gazing at his own reflection.
Scarred flesh gazed back at him, his eye a swollen purple mess from where Invaria forced dark energies into him to try and sunder his mind, to break his willpower. While the shadow had been purged from his body, the damage that lingered was deep. Slowly and carefully as he did before, he closed his eyes again and meditated, letting a mist rise from the moonwell to embrace him, to ease his pain and sooth the injuries gained both tonight and in days gone by.
ā
ā
ā
Far away from his moment of zen, demonic forces were at work once again. Green eyes peered down at unsuspecting prey, a deceptively lithe hand moving to stroke across an unguarded cheek. It was all that was needed.
Smashing night of RP with Akule and Friends! Had to duck out in the middle and eat pizza with the wife, so wins allround from last nights RP!
A Level of calm had returned to Desolace, for now. The Demonic grasp that had snared the Maraudon Centaur had been destroyed, the clans had been liberated from their oppressors and the clans had begun their slow journey to recover from their various grievous losses. Hedris and his companions, lead by Rethion, had ventured to the Magram compound, keen to aid the centaur in their plight against the demonic powered Maraudon. Pyres had been erected where the bodies of the fallen had been cast, but a greater threat lingered still. Fel energy had addled the Magram, a presence that could be felt throughout the gathered people.
An Ambush was devised, a plan to separate one of the Centaur from the rest to purge the corruption and find the source of the evil that had dominated them. When words of the āShe Demonā were spoken, the presence of the Succubus was made clear.
The group struck quickly, moving through the mountains so not to destroy too many of the innocent mind slaves. A battle erupted with a Demonic Centaur that was soon cut in twain, the succubus, without her minions to aid her, was finally destroyed and the people liberated.
The battle, however, had taken a toll on Hedris, the Succubus attacking the mind as well as the body, sending horrific visions to those that would see her undone. Horrific unending visions and sounds of horrific mutilation and hedonism, sights that only the corrupt likes of the sayaad would find pleasure in. but as the corrupting visions stabbed into his mind, he found that he too desired to engage in them.
Hedris shook his head, pushing the images away. A scar of the mind he would need to keep an eye on. Kaldorei detested violence and suffering, they never tortured and never took delight in unnecessary casualties. He would resist the demons lure, he would remain zen, he would abstain from the seed of bloodlust that had been planted in his mind. It was un-Kaldorei.
He opened his eye, taking in the sight of the distant ocean as he meditated among the boughs of the glade once again. It was time to return home, the Tauren had taken east to Orgrimmar on the trail of Goblins bandits who had stolen sacred stones. It was time for the Waykeepers and the allies of Isildien to head home too, to put proof to his theory and have a much-earned recovery session.
Wrapped up a small campaign alongside our friends amount the Spiritwood tribe! Took a slight change in DMing to create a more Dungeons and Dragons puzzle-solving angle, think it went well! had to adjust to a new DMing system, but got the knack of it eventually. looking forwards to working with peeps again in the future!
Cheers to Akule for organising things!
Over the last few days, violence has been erupting across Desolace, which would seem like the usual cycle of Centaur uprising would suddenly be shattered by the scent of sulfar and fel on the air.
A combined offensive of both Horde and Alliance races came together and did battle to aid the assailed Magram and Gelkis from the oppressive advance of the Maurdon Centaur.
Back in Isildien, Hedris and Suraia added the well water from Desolace to the greater well in the heart of the temple. as the pair watched with held breaths, the water of the well resonated and increased in power once again, its bonds with the leylines growing stronger after Invariaās despoiling.
Fearing possible repercussions from the void addled Kaldorei, protective wards around the well buzz with life. while Invaria had been destroyed, she was no stranger to resurrection. some dark design that had yet to be discovered- the risk of her coming back again was a clear and present one. The allies of Isildien would not let the well be despoiled again.
Keladira rose from her meditation on the upper levels of the temple of Isildien, a gentle hum of energy rose up to meet her, like a hand reaching up to gently hold her still, the caring embrace of a loving mother. She could feel Eluneās light shine brighter in the moonwell, feel the restorative energys hum through her body.
Down below, Hedris and Suraia chatted amongst themselves, the bottles of well water they had used sitting by their feet. She smiled softly, she had come to the right place, Isildien made a fitting home to rest her spear, to take recount of where life had taken her and the things she had done while in service to the 7th Legion.
āA Legionnaires Duty is never done.ā her Legion commander had once told her, standing on the ramparts of a makeshift blockade in Stormheim, bracing for another onrush of battle. Like then, she would defend this temple, see its inhabitants kept safe and protect her ideals, that the innocent should not see harm when peace is already at hand.
The Waykeepers are back in Isildien, their duties done in Desolace.
The Moonwell grows stronger once more, the waters of Desolaceās Moonwells added to our own, strengthening its connection to the Leylines.
More Adventures await!
As Hedris Meditated in the temple, working to help his recovery and taking the chance to get to know Keladira, the Allies of Isildien investigated a strange wave of arcane that came from the temple grounds. what followed would lead them far from Isildien, to places some of them have never been to discover a lost soul and to give him final rest.
Some could say, they had an out of this world Adventure!
No, I couldnāt help myself I had to make that pun.
Lots of fun as always, and opens us up to another exciting chapter!
Yesā¦ Many many more adventures await this lovely bunch of people and friends!
A Small commotion stirred in the trade district of stormwind early in the morning. A Dreanei dressed in all white argued with a series of laborers about a postponed delivery of goods. Crates of clothing, dried foods, medicine and other goods were left aside as dwarves, humans and half-elves argued about a reported blockade at their destination.
One of the heavier crates, one guarded by two dwarves, bared the mark of Mistoak Breweries. A stamp that could be found across azeroth in all territories.
āNo Delivery, no pay.ā the Draenei said, stamping her hoof in a determined tone. The arguing got louder until a punch was thrown.
It only took a matter of moments for the guards to take away the troublemakers, leaving the Draenei with just the young Half-elf Laborer and a stack of crates. āWe waitā¦ blockade no last forever.ā she sighed, taking a seat on a box and conjuring a bottle off mead.
Tonight, we start a new chapter. Something is amiss for one of the Waykeepers Council, a blockade at a refugee care centre in Stormwind is going to raise some eyebrows and get a few people some meaty punches to the chops!
Ive also added my Discord ID to the main post here! feel free to gimme a prod on there if ya cant reach me in game, Iāve been enjoying some Timewalking of late in BEST EXPANSION content and leveling some alts!
One of many commotions in Stormwind the night before included a Kaldorei trying to get someone to take ownership of three bodies so they could be buried. The bodies were that of hired blades that the Kaldorei had dispatched two of, the other by her associates. A slight misunderstanding with the local guards however saw her in poor light, her understanding of the process of self defence vastly different in the human city.
Back in the Trade district, the Dreanei and Half-elf got word that the blockade had been lifted from their destination, and the Half-elf was dispatched to gather some help to transport the goods, the previous group still in custody after the fight that had broken out. Finally the goods for the refugeeās would be delivered to their destination and peoples lives would be made just a little bit easier.
Had a nice Ruckus last night, Nat 20 saw a man dead in a single blow to the heart, very nice!
Was joining by a potential new ally to the temple, Vorruul, hope for more adventures going forwards my friend!