[A-RP] 🏛️ < Feralas Waykeepers > - Allies of Isildien

[Hedris-argent-dawn (Hedris)]

Hedris watched the portal close behind them as his group returned to Isildien. They had gone on a journey to a long lost temple, buried beneath the deep earth of Ashenvale and almost forgotten by time itself. Constructs of arcane and light still illuminated the ancient halls as statues of long forgotten Kaldorei watched over them. Winding pathways leading to vast chambers and halls, intricate moon designs marking all surfaces as tall windows stood muted where silver moonlight once shun though.

Their journey however had to be cut short, the depths of the temple were becoming more intricate and maze like. A decision by Sahoenna to bring them back home one that resting on concern they would not have time to complete their mission before becoming too ensnared by the temple’s nature. The highborne created an anchor point, a spot they could return too with ease, and took the group away to recuperate and reflect on what they had learnt during their expedition. About the ancient tomes, the vast glowing reservoir, the stolen eyes…

Without missing a beat, Hedris started his path towards the kitchen area in the upper level of the temple. “Whos hungry?” He asked, knowing full well that Maviel would already be following him, eager to try what new meal he could offer.

The start of a new adventure last night was very tomb raidery! loved it!

Things in the east are calm, for now. the Nobleman Ben Graham has gone silent, his paid-for guard now in the comfortable accommodation of the Silverbell estate as they have tea and defiantly not interrogate him and hold him prisoner.

Whats more, another new ally to the Temple was met, looking forwards to more adventures with Jul’s!

[Maviell-argent-dawn]

So after some hard negotiations the Waykeepers and friends managed to bargain with a sea giant and finally obtain the core that would allow them gain an elemental guardian for the temple.

Much fun was had and no sea giants were harmed in the process! A lot of thanks to Sahoenna from the Starweavers for getting us along on the adventure to the ruins of the sunken ancient temple!

[Daleshar-argent-dawn]

Da’leshar Mistoak gazed up at the grand temple of Isildien, the home of the Handmaidens of Elune and the divine orders that came before within the sacred walls. Warfare, Celebration and moments of love and friendship had been seen beneath the vaulted dome, it had also seen the parting of a Sisterhood that had been pulled to other purposes across the land.

Duty had taken Da’leshar far from Feralas with her companion, blades, arrows and spells ready to wielded against the foes of the Kaldorei. Forsaken Loyalists had been sundered and cremated, Void creatures had been shown the goddesses light and removed from existence while demonic presences thought long removed had burst their heads from hiding, only to find them promptly removed. Now, after months away from Isildien, she had returned to the place she once called home.

Her hands stroked across the entrance pillars as her eyes scanned the new banners that hung outside, banners created for her own brother to represent the new order, the Waykeepers. It had been some time since she had seen him too.

As she had many moons before the sentinel stepped up to the moonwell and settled on her knees, bathing in the divine energy of the Moonwell, feeling how much it had changed since she had last been there.

“I see what you mean, brother.” she said aloud, not giving her own blood any indication as to when he was spotted. Hedris slunk out from his place of meditation in the shadows and approached the woman with a soft smile.

“We are doing what we can, dear sister. Our new Allies have been key in aiding the temple since your departure, travelled with us to connect the well across Kalimdor and beyond.”

Da’leshar glanced over her shoulder at him, “It was your soul duty to protect the temple, Hedris. How did you let it get like this?”

His eyes darted a moment, “Uh… well i was somewhat… kidnapped, tortured and thrown into the well to be sacrificed… it kind of spoiled the energies of the well.”

Da’leshar sighed and shook her head, “Which you did not tell me about last we saw each other…”

“In my defence…” he paused, the silence dragged on for a moment. “Ok that’s fair…”, he had no defence for his omission. “I got better!”

Hedris stepped up to join her by the well, dropping to his knees in a similar gesture as he faced the waters. “I saw Val’thira, shes doing well with that Bow.”

Da’leshar smiled at that, “Well, i did train her.”

“That you did, and maybe one day she will get propper lessons too!” Hedris joked, Da’leshar replied with an elbow to the side.

“Git…”

“Got it from watching you!”

“Oh Hedris do shut up…”

Hedris just laughed, “She did damned good creating a… shiny ball too, to distract a Skrog.”

Dal started, her eyes going wide as she tried to work out what to address first. “Hold on… what happened?”

“Well, we went back to Lathar’Lazal, got a bit lost, found a… water… shrine… and then the Skrog came along.”

“And what happened with the Skrog?”

“Oh, well. It wanted the elemental Core we were after, so I convinced it that it didn’t actually want it and Val’thira made an illusionary… Duplicate.``

Da’leshar just gestured for him to continue.

“Well, then it threw anchors at us as a gift, and a dragon turtle, and a giant squid. Tried to throw a ship at us but we distracted it and legged it out of there.”

Da’leshar slowly shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. She was no stranger to Hedris’s antics, she still recalled the time dressed two gnomes up as Voodoo constructs to lure some trolls into an ambush. His methods were unconventional but frustratingly efficient.

“Aslong as my Thero’shan is safe and didn’t come to harm.”

“She is safe, probably upstairs right now.”

The Sentinel nodded, glancing to the waters as she held a hand over them, feeling the moonlight energy dance across her skin. A silver glow emaciated from her palm and gently eased into the water, the energy of the water flaring a moment as it was invigorated.

“Welcome home, Falore.” Hedris said, keeping his eyes shut as he felt the well react to her. “Nice having the Handmaidens back home again.”

Fun Adventure returning to that sunken temple! (not that one)

And also a return for Da’leshar! Back from her adventures!

[Hedris-argent-dawn (Hedris)]

Hedris gazed at the great Moonwell of Isildien, watching his reflection ripple across the surface as the reinvigorated energies of the well reacted to his presence. For a moment he caught a glimpse of the Elemental Core, skirting through the bottom of the well before vanishing again, the defender of the waters no doubt inspecting him before returning to its dormant stasis. Isildien had a protector even when they could not be there in person, a being that can wreck untold havoc on any foe that would dare attempt to defile the temple.

He closed his eyes, holding his hands out as he sunk into a meditative pose, gently lifting from the stone that girded the waters. He hadn’t truly recovered from Invaria’s attack, he could still feel the faintest shadow in his soul, it had taken the visions he had witnessed in Desolace at the hand of the Sayaad and amplified them giving him more restless nights than he cared to count. At the same time, however, he had not sought out a remedy for his plight, only meditated and shirked off the pain that threatened to dominate his senses if not for his regular meditation and drinking.

Perhaps its due time to tend to this… he mused the well was growing stronger by the day, Elunes light shun within the waters, the essence of Elune, Arcane and the Wilds hummed within the depths of the waters, he could already feel the mild pain that crept at his fingertips slowly recede just by being near the waters. It was time.

Hedris turned his palms, feeling the ancient energies of the temple and drawing on the healing mists of the waters. Vapour slowly lifted from the surface of the well and drifted up into a slipstream that whirled its way around the monk. Circling and dancing around him like a wind serpent in flight, growing longer by the second as it encompassed him. He felt himself become invigorated, felt the subtle aches of his body melt away as he directed the healing energies into his core, focusing them into his body to help scrub away the tiny remnants of shadow that still lingered inside.

He shifted his perception, following his training as he pictured a garden, full of life and vibrance, flowers blooming in various colours and shapes and sizes. Hidden in the shadow of a great lotus plant, a wilted plant sat, sickly and dying, the soil at its base slowly spreading to the other plants as flecks of rot started to form at the tip of the lotus. He focused on the wilted plant, the representation of the lingering shadow, and directed the healing energies into it. It started to lighten, green returning to its flesh as the lotus too recovered. Leaves sprouted and slowly the flower started to lift up and emerge from its sepal, its petals dark but slowly turning a bright blue. He could feel the remains of the shadow slowly leave him, feel the weight lift from his body. His revelry was short-lived as he noticed the walls of the garden change, he had conjured the mindscape to better direct his healing, following the training of his mentor, it should of been impossible for such a shift to happen. Where once ancient elven walls stood, only a blinding white light greeted him. He tried to withdraw, to open his eyes in the waking world and ground himself, but found the feat impossible.

As the flower fully blossomed, everything faded to black, in the waking world he slumped back, collapsing off the stone of the well, cracking his head on the hard ground as he crumpled into a heap. His mind was assaulted by memories and visions, of places he wasn’t sure he had been, of moments he didn’t think were his. Argus burst into his minds eye, of the battles he waged alongside other brave souls of their respective orders, of the fight he took to the Pitlord of who he would not name. Eldre’thalas assaulted his vision, fighting Ogres and Demons, slaying ill fated incursions of green skinned savages. Deep caverns of glowing crystals that hummed with a song of their own that became deafening the deeper the cave went. A stream of pure water that crashed upon sandstone rocks, slowly wearing them down to one day reveal the sacred ores inside. More and more visions of the unknown assaulted him with such force and speed he could only roar in pain, feeling his head would burst open if he saw too much.

Sand lashed violently in a storm, crashing against the walls of ancient troll buildings

A veiled figure huddled in a cave, clutching something it should not as the bones of its companions littered the ground around it.

The skeleton of a drake clutched a moss-covered secret.

Sand roared in a vortex of unknown power, tearing the flesh from a lone traveller.

The figurehead of a troll warship crashed to the bottom of the sea.

A knife sunk into the back of a kaldorei mage.

Finally, Hedris saw himself standing in the desert of Tanaris, nothing but sand to be seen around him as his lips moved wordlessly.

The visions faded, almost as quickly as they came. Hedris found himself face down before the well of Isildien, blood marking his features as it wept from his head. He grew dizzy as he tried to get up, darkness quickly claiming him once more.

A Door has been unlocked.

A little story to start off the coming storyline for the Temple and its Allies. what on Azeroth could it all mean?

[Daléshar-argent-dawn]

Da’leshar reclined back against the stones of the Moonwell, feeling its energies sooth her soul. Things had been peaceful in Isildien, a welcome change from the more volatile times it had faced in times long gone. The Guardian surged unseen around the temple grounds, detering any curious Ogres that got too close, those that didnt know better soon found themselves barraged with shards of ice.

Suraia had returned to the temple breifly to check on the sabers they had had to leave behind, taking them with her with her companion, Brother Mistmoon. Their visit however brought another vail of Well Water, the sacred gift from across the seas was soon added to Isildien’s waters and the well sung once more with divine energy.

She glanced around the temple, taking in the more sparse interior. The banners were gone bar the great one that hung above the Moonwell, for any visitors it might seem in poor repair, but carefully woven magic sealed away its secrets while powerful wards protected the Moonwell’s waters.

Isildien was at peace.

Far from the calm of the Temple, Hedris levitated above one of the beds in Windsheer hold, focusing on his zen and keeping himself centered. His discussion with Sahoenna had raised more questions about the nature of the things he had seen, she could assertain that they were indeed false memories, far from the skills he knew. At the foot of the bed, a small basin of well water sat, its silvery glow lighting his features as he pictured the garden in his mind once more, drawing on his training to self heal.

Once again, the flowers took form, the ancient stone walls birthed to life around the mindscape and a soft wind brushed the dancing petals and ferns all around.

In the waking world, the water from the basin raised into a mist, started to swirl around him as he drew on its healing properties. Sparks of silver light danced in the air around him before he collapsed to the bed once more.

The Visions turned to utter darkness, the garden not even a thought in his mind as he began to feel the oppresive darkness and press of the deep earth. A feeling tugged at him, a push to find something, to gather something once lost. The feeling was not his own will but he was powerless to ignore it fully as the vision shifted and a deep cave system was revealed before him. A dark figure loomed in the pitch black, only discernable by a preternatural glow to its flesh in the otherwise dark scene. Beyond it, something lay clutched in a skeletal grip.

The vision faded, and Hedris lay still on the bed.

He shifted slightly, rolling onto his back as he did often when he slept, this time, a handprint revealed on either side of his temple.

Not been doing much due to this damned heat, but had a little RP sesh last night with Suraia and Zarn before the livingroom got too damned hot to sit in! due to cool this week, so the show will go on!

[Hedris-argent-dawn (Hedris)]

In the depths of the wilds, three figures stalked along the overgrown brush of green vegetation that claimed most of the land. Mostly bald heads caught the occasional glint of moonlight as glowing undead eyes scanned the area.

A small loyalist scouting party had been dispatched to find the source of so many disappearances, while some suggested that sending sylvanas loyalists to a region where both the full strength of the Sentinels would be waiting for them, but also the Tauren who would wish to crush them with equal determination was a foolish errand, they had been sent regardless.

Rain hammered down as lightning burst the air, the resolve of the scouts remaining strong despite the feeling that nature itself was striking out against them.

“Heldmas, we are approaching the drop point, prepare the infractor…” Yangillan, the leader of the party, looked back to his alchemical expert. Heldmas nodded and drew out an oddly shaped device, a series of pipes with sensor valves and a central panel that was lined with arcane sigils and an embedded crystal. He glanced around, turning with the infractor until the crystal started to glow lightly. “This way…”

Yangillian nodded, stepping aside as he pressed his back against one of the great trees. For a moment a feeling of doubt washed through him, he had heard tales of how people vanished in the forest and not just from the elves who lived in it. He had heard of plants that consume flesh, of vines that snare prey and drag them into the ground itself. Heldmas stepped past him, slowly starting to lead them towards their quarry.

“Vartist?” Yangrillan said, trying to snare the attention of the last of their party, a Deathstalker. He turned to look at the leader, looking over the shielding that covered most of his face below the eyes. He spun the blades in his hands and took a step forwards before stopping, an arrow protruding from his chest.

“We have been Sight-” Vartist started, an arcane blast erupted from the arrow-head and the Deathstalker was sundered across the greenery, smoldering heaps of viscera and entrails the only thing that remained from the blast.

“Move!” Yangrillian called, Heldmas sprung into action, frantically trying to navigate through the thick rainforest as he tried to follow the infractor’s directions. Yangrillian started to run behind him, drawing his long-pistol from its holster and baring his rapier in the other, for a moment he saw movement in the canopy above and flung the firearm towards it. It was gone already, he withheld the shot and kept running.

Their destination was a camp that had been established to help loyalist efforts in the region, there had been too many setbacks, their forces being crushed with brutal counter attacks across multiple regions. Sylvanas willing, the camp they sought would still be intact, its supplies of blight and weaponry still bountiful and able to help them with their attacker. Yangrillan stumbled over some foliage, crashing to the ground as an arrow landed in the earth inches from his head. He pushed himself up, Heldmas was nothing more than a smoldering husk pinned against a tree. He snatched the Infractor and kept running, the crystal glowing brighter every moment as he drew closer to his destination.

High above, leaning against the trunk of one of the great tree’s of Feralas, violet eyes followed the Forsaken’s desperate rush, scrambling up the hills and pushing through thick bushes as he approached the encampment. She stowed her bow, it wasn’t needed now, she flipped her arrow back over her shoulder into the quiver and waited patiently. She had been trained well, her Shan’do showing her everything she knew about being a Sentinel, part of that training was to never get in your enemies way when they were abouts to make a mistake.

Yangrillian crashed through the rock lined path and ducked through a low hanging branch, collapsing on the other side as he slid face first down a dusty incline.

“Finally!” he cried in relief, looking at the encampment before him. His relief quickly soured when he saw the desolate condition of it all. It had been smashed and burned, the stock of weapons and tools ransacked. A few charred bones on the ground showing signs of what had happened to his kin, they had been found.

He snapped to his senses, he was being hunted. He ran forwards, hoping to reclaim something that would aid him or atleast help him defend against his hunter. A vine caught on his foot and he stumbled, he tried to shake it away but it constricted against his leg. His previous thoughts rushed to the surface of his mind, of plants that would feast on flesh. He stabbed his rapier down at the vine, green oozed from the cut but another vine lashed against the weapon, pulling it from his grip as more started to snare his legs. With a defiant cry he fell to the ground, boney fingers frantically trying to pry the plant life away from himself. With each passing second, more vines reached up to bind him, slowly starting to pull him along to a central point in the camp. Slowly, thick thorns started to grow from the plant, stabbing deep into his flesh and slicing as the vines constricted.

The hunter watched from above, watching the Forsaken’s struggle get weaker and weaker until the vines could only bind against themselves, their job done.

She bounded down from the tree and stepped towards the camp, watching what remained of the forsaken’s head as it blinked up at her. She pulled down her hood, revealing her arcane features, the glowing tattoos that marked her flesh and the curve of her ears. Confusion wracked the forsaken for a moment as he looked up at the Shal’dorei, a confusion that would not last long.

“I would say find peace in the arms of the Goddess…” She said to him in a cold voice. “But that is not the comfort your ilk deserves.”

With a single gesture, purifying flames burst to life across the remains of the Forsaken, scouring and divine as the undead creature was purged away, reduced to bone and dust in Elune’s name. Feralas was protected, Isildien was safe. Elune willed it.

Feralas has been pretty quiet of late, but with prepatch around the corner, the Allies of Isildien will be heading off on a new adventure to delve into the History of our people! Starting tonight, we are hitting the road once more! Guests always welcome!

[Azareal-argent-dawn (Azareal)]

@Hedris-argent-dawn

Guests always welcome!

You say that, but what you really mean is “Guests always welcome…as long as you are Elves/Worgen”

[Hedris-argent-dawn (Hedris)]

Not in the slightest, no. curious to where this assumption comes from. your welcome to join us on our next adventure if you like, if Kaldorei history is something your Warlock is interested in?

[Azareal-argent-dawn (Azareal)]

@Hedris-argent-dawn

if Kaldorei history is something your Warlock is interested in

Last time he was, a certain group of Kaldorei in ashenvale tried to execute him…no appreciation for the dark arts.

[Hedris-argent-dawn (Hedris)]

Hedris here aided the fight against the legion, he knows that’s fighting the good fight comes in many flavours, aslong as the dark arts are pointed in the right direction then he has no big issue with it. He is very “Modern” for a Kaldorei who doesn’t go to the east much.

[Hedris-argent-dawn (Hedris)]

Necromancy

He had come across it so much in the last few weeks he was starting to grow concerned that there was a pattern, that Sylvanas had spread her influence further than expected and was now probing into the Kaldorei’s history, prying at ancient heroes to try and raise them like she had done with the Proudmoore child.

The thought angered him, and anger was an emotion he had long since sought to bottle away, to contain and only ever express in combat. For years he had been guided by rage, leading his kin against the foes of Kalimdor, joining the Alliance to find further battles to sate the bloodthirst of his blade. Hedris Mistoak was once a commander of a small force of fighters who would sow desolation in their wake, now the shadows of the man he had long left in his history were starting to stroll in his path.

Twice now he had fought alongside Sahoenna and her Thero’shan, twice he had battled against the undead and then been dumped back in Isildien to deal with issues on his own.
“She doesn’t do it out of disrespect, brother.” Da’leshar had said after picking him up off the tiles and helping him move to the moonwell, his composed demeanor lasting only until the highborn duo departed.
“Intent or not, dear sister. Blood spills from my flesh and my wounds heal slower each day… i am finding it harder to meditate the longer this issue goes on, whatever is going on, im finding it hard to gain my focus and these dreams… these visions im having…”, he had replied, staring across the water of the well. He resigned with a sigh and closed his eyes, letting Da’leshar heal him as she called upon the blessings of Elune, Val’thira joining soon after with food and drinking, knowing well that the monk would be keen on both.

Days had passed since then and Hedris had taken refuge in his quarters, spending time in meditation with Maviel and sending her on herb gathering excursions to try and find a more direct method of soothing the rising flames in his heart.

Da’leshar and Val’thira had seen to the temple’s defences, any evidence of an attacker removed from existence as opportunist warmongers were reduced to ash from blade, arrow, arcane and Elune’s judgement.

Isildien was secure, the temple was safe, but it did little to still Hedris’s mind as he waited for Sahoenna to return with the next step of their plan. For her research into the evil they were following and where it would lead them, where the Necromancer they had confronted in the depths of Suramar’s underbelly had vanished too.

Hedris returned to his chambers once more, opening a plain unsuspecting crate on the shelf and retrieving a delicate Shal’dorei silk pouch. He retrieved a translocation beacon from inside, and vanished.

Hedris is popping off to focus on some work until the next leg in our adventures. a lot of unrest lays in the wake of a mysterious necromancer, what is she doing? why is she doing? How many punches to get to the goey insides? time will tell!

[Azareal-argent-dawn (Azareal)]

@Hedris-argent-dawn

How many punches to get to the goey insides?

Best way to annoy a Necromancer? Send in the demons. They make such a mess of her minions AND they cant even be raised as undead if defeated!

[Orithiel-argent-dawn]

A friendly bump and a boop for the friendly stewards of the Temple! I hope it is still standing

[Hedris-argent-dawn (Hedris)]

I think it is! we have a few extra people living there at the moment, old Handmaiden members.

actually been in Northrend for a bit, worked alongside Ashwinter! Currently in Icecrown! who knows why!

[Wildclouds-argent-dawn]

With the coming expansion, might be looking to redirect the guild a bit. make them more Azeroth wide. thankfully while I been not about as much of late, the lovely Nightblades and Glaivewings have been keeping the temple safe, so its in good hands!