My early years
The life in Shattrath was a drab life. We could not leave the city, as wild beast wandered outside, ready to kill us. Only the cemetery was free from beasts, securely guarded by peacekeepers on pleasantly sturdy and faithful elekks. The town itself was a place of strife and split allegiances - Aldor against Scryers, Horde against Alliance, and bird people against everyone - and refugees. Darkmoon Faire that visited from time to time, with wonders and animals from Azeroth and beyond was the only real bright spot, and it lasted only until Silas Darkmoon found the magic isle of his dreams and left for good. I remember one of the last times. Silas had found a band of mighty warriors who did not fight, but sang. They were loud, but good. Only one of their songs were hair-raisingly unpleasant. I am Murloc. Even though I had never seen a murloc, not even heard of one before, their sounds made me want to run and hide under my blankets.
Not many of us Draenei ever saw our families again. Draenei are not very fertile, having none or at most two children in each family, and the death toll from the crash was high. I also learned that both my parents had died. Either during the crash or shortly after, but their bodies were not found until much later. I think I had guessed, as the living parents had been meeting with their children for some time by then.
When the Isles were somewhat regulated, children from my age group was taken back to Azuremyst Isles to learn a profession. Most choose sedentary skills, gem cutters, bowyers, leatherworkers, my best friend became a baker in the inn, and another became apprentice hippogryph handler in faraway Theramore. I met Baatun and was immediately drawn to serving the Light.
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| Rusty. Just arrived at Ammen Vale, Azuremyst. |
After studying for some time, I was sent to Ammen Vale to get some real life experience. I was sorry to leave Batun and the elekks, but we had fun in Ammen Vale. We young ones swam in the reddish water and dared one another to touch the crystal in the lake. I was sent on different easy missions like inoculating the peaceful owlbears. I learned my herbs, about picking the rigth ones for medicine; I cleaned debris from the crash, helping the crippled and suffering. We killed the abominations, mostly flutterers larger than us, and plants showing signs of wanting to walk. The elders told us that the propellant for The Exodar (our spaceship), which had largely been poured out over Ammen Vale, was a mutagen, not hurting us Draenei, but obviously not healthy for the animal and plant life of Ammen Vale.
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| Reaching the Red Crystal. |
On one of my errands, I met Tolaan, he was mortally wounded by Sunhawks! I revenged him, but was scared to find how bad my fighting skills were. I studied hard from then on and learned to use the powers of the Light to hit my enemies harder and make myself harder to hit. Easy and fun use of the powers I thought.
Shortcut to Mushrooms
After the skirmish with the Sunhawks near poor Toolan's body, Aurelon tried to learn me a way to heal with the power, but I did not succeed in grasping what he tried to teach me. In desperation, he sent me on to Azure Watch to learn the Furbolg language and in general be of use as a guard there. Trainer Tullas (a really nice lady) finally told me that the use of the power comes in different schools. I have taken to the fighting part of Paladins’ powers easily, both the aggressive and the defensive side of it. But I seemed to have troubles with the healing parts of it.
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| Studying Furbolg |
My linguistic gifts made it easy for me to learn Furbolg, and I was initiated to the Stillpines, the nearest and friendliest of the Furbolg tribes. Those big, badger-like humanoids had been carving out a meagre existence on the isles before our spaceship crashed there, and the elders tried to help and educate them in every possible way. They took me for a hero, but I did not feel like one. I was still on guard duty, and often picked out for running errands because of my youth and long legs.
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| Helping out at Azure Watch. |
One forenoon, I was sent out picking healing herbs, the use of which the Furblog had taugth us. I found a wounded lady in the woods. I bound her wounds, as my healing powers still was not anything to speak of. I carried her to Azure watch where and helped healing a strange lady, woo spoke wildly of Demons and Eredar. I was sent to Odesyus' Landing to find her kind, and there I was able to help him and the cook, McWeaksauce.
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| At Odeyus' Landing |
I bravely fought naga and murlocs, and learned more of the figthing powers of a paladin. I was slowly rising in their regards. In the end the leader of Azure Watch, Menelaous, told me in his own pessimistic way that they need one like me at Blood Watch.
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| Travelling |
The first weeks in Blood Watch were not that different from what I knew. I was hunting bears, picking flowers and training in the ways of the Light, but then the going got tough. Jessera of Mac'aree, an old patriarch of Azure Watch, sent me to pick some mushrooms for his collections. The first two were easy-peasy, and I began to think his warnings were just intended to take the fun out of the trip. But then, as I dived into the blood red river to get to the Aquatic Stinkhorn, my hand was torn by a thousand needle like teeth from an aggressive looking fish, also known by the same name. I clutched the mushroom carefully and swam onto land as quickly as possible. Luckily my mail shirt was tougher than fishys' teeth and I jumped back on dry land. Phew. Maybe Jessera was right after all.
And now for the last one, Fel Cone fungus, a drab, uninteresting one. I searched a long time, tiring in the glaring sun, then finally I saw one in a thicket with a lot of other equally drab mushrooms.
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| Fel Cone Fungus. |
I picked the largest of them and put it in my basket, when suddenly I was beset by some Sunhawks, who thought the isles were theirs alone. And those sneaky ones came two and two, not much honest combat in that. The youngest was not as good a fighter as me. After his first stab, I blocked his second dagger with my shield, and slashed at him with my sword. He fell to the ground, and stopped bothering me. The second one was a great fighter, bigger than me, with a longer reach. I could not block both of his long daggers with my sword, and the dagger in my shoulder impaired my shield arm. He hit me again and again, and I could not retaliate. I felt my vision blurring - there must have been poison on that dagger - I collected my wits and sent a prayer for help to the Naaru, and They had not forgotten me. I felt a healing wave run through me, and my sword penetrated the assassins' armour. I pulled out the poisoned dagger, bound my wounds, quickly picked up my mushrooms and other belongings and hurried home to Blood Watch.
On my complaining Jessera said he had warned me that mushroom hunting was dangerous business. As he is one of the immortal ones, I think he is more than 25,000 years old, there's no sense in arguing with him. He even hinted that he has more collectibles he want me to get for him. What's a poor girl to do?
More work!
Sometimes I feel like the only able-bodied person on the Isles. A few days after my mushroom-gathering adventure, Tracker Lyceon asked me to get some meat for the hungry population, I was not impertinent enough to ask him if a tracker was not some kind of hunter. He’s a big hunter, when I do the hunting, and he the cooking, but I swallowed my words. When I was about to leave, he asked me to kill some of the royal blue flutterers as well. He told me some high tale of them bringing the crystals’ contamination about. The crystals were a part of the Exodar's drive - the spaceship that is, not the city built inside the ruins of it. I don’t know of any harm the moths do, theyre not even overgrown as were the ones we used to train our skills in Ammen Vale. I think he just dislikes them for their beauty, but matron Mercy taught me to be obedient, so I just bobbed my head.
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| A friend of mine having a go at the Flutterers |
Anyway off I went, but when I passed his hut Anchorite Pathaeus waved me aside. He told me that since I had been around a lot and had been seen in the company of both furbolg and night elves, I would not be conpicious - as he himself would be. He asked me to deliver a letter asking for help from the people of Auberdine. I think pretty little help will be forthcoming, remembering the state of Auberdine and surroundings after Deathwing flew by. But who am I to debate with an Anchorite. I tucked the letter inside my tunic and left with his blessings. I toyed with the idea of buying a ride on a hippogryph, but when Laando told me it would cost me 99 copper, I declined.
I ran. As I came to Kessel’s crossing, Kessel called me. I thought he maybe had some more Sand pear pie for my sweet tooth, but no. He told, that the naga had started raiding his camp at night scaring the elekks. He asked me kindly, but I could sense his anger with the nagas, to kill as many of them as possible, and especially their leader Xiz. He even gave me a banner to plant in his dead body. He would pay me good for the deed, he said.
I told him yes, but I have urgent business in Exodar first. He told me “Then hurry, girl.” But he did not offer me an elekk this time. So off I ran. After crossing the bridge to Bloodmyst, the sun made me feel very hot. I jumped off the bridge and trudged along the water’s edge cooling my feet and enjoying the cool, tangy air. I went along deep in my thoughts when I suddenly heard a spear whiz past my ear. I looked up and saw the rickety stilt huts of Murlocs in front of me. A shiver ran through me. How many times had I heard of a stout warrior or crafty hunter being murdered by those filthy beasts. And now their war song Mgrgrgrgrgrgrlww sounded terrifying in my ears. I drew my sword and hacked my opponent down. It was surprisingly easy, which was a luck, as I was beset by many more of those strange creatures. When I was able to stop fighting, I looked over bloodstained sand and gore. Luckily not much of it mine.
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| Murlocs! |
I bound my wounds and searched the bodies. Nasty job, but I found a few coppers and one of the fellows even had a pearl and two smallish gems tucked in his pouch. Among the huts I also found some sacks of grain, and I remembered Gurf of the Stillpines complaining of the thieving murlocs when I last visited Stillpine Hold. I remembered something he said about his dignity being hurt. So I proceeded down the coast, gathering all the sacks of Stillpine grain I was able to find, mostly avoiding combat. But as I saw a small treasure chest in one of the houses I thought to myself: “This is my lucky day, maybe I can get enough for a whole new set of mail.” I sneaked up to the hut, and downed the sole guardian before he said more than Mgr... and opened the chest. Those murlocs sure are a strange lot. I found some cheese, half gone but still edible, 15 coppers, some clams and a strange elixir, which I will sell in Exodar. I then hurried on, but the a big, dark murloc stood in my way. He said “Murgurgula...” which I took to mean “Over my dead body!” so I killed him after a hard battle, he was tougher than his looks made me think, and in a pouch on a string round his neck I found a big tuft of Furbolg hair and skin. I cut the string and put the purse in a pocket, thinking that Gurf might want me not to know what was in it. He also had a great looking belt, which I thought Yil, the mail armour merchant in Exodar might be interested in.
I slept that nigth in a tree, shivering in the crisp nigth air, but the murlocs had delayed me and I was not sure I would be able to find my way to the Exodar in the dark.
The next morning I hurried to the Exodar, skirted it and found Kella Nightbow, she thanked me for the missive, and said she would see to it, confirming my suspicion, that people on the Isles have not heard of Auberdine’s fate.
Once inside the city, I went first to the auction house. I had heard that pearls and gems sold for more money there. Then I climbed the strange stairs to Yil’s shop. He inspected the belt, and sold me a whole, new outfit in exchange for that belt and my old armour. Now for a bath and a quiet corner in the inn. I ate sparingly from my bags and innkeeper Breel supplied me with leftovers and a mug of beer. Nice man Breel.
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| At the Auction House |
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| The inn in Exodar with Breel behind the counter |
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| My new suit of armor |
More work! - second installment
Next day at noon I left the Exodar again, I felt much better. Which was a luck seeing what this day held in store.
Outside I ate what I had in the company of the elekks and their masters, and I fed one curious elekk all the murlocs’ cheese. Aalun chided me for feeding her elekks, an old joke between us. I always feed what I have left to the elekks, especially Fant, a purplish calf to whom I’ve taken a special liking.
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| Feeding the elekks |
Well all good things have to pass, so I said my goodbyes and went east to find Kessel’s nagas. Shortly after having crossed the road, a weak voice hailed me in Furbolg. The princess of the Stillpines had been taken prisoner. I knocked out the nearest guards and searched their pockets for the key. When I reached the cage, The princess told me that High Chief Bristlelimb had the key himself and had sworn to offer her royal self to their gods at the next new moon. As the moon was full the night before, I had some time and promised her to return before then.
I then continued west and soon found tracks of Kessels fish people. Half eaten fish bones lay in the grass and there was a strange, fishy smell to the otherwise clean sea breeze. I sneaked closer. On the top of a small rise, I saw a broken temple, and crests of nagas over the walls. I saw a worn path through the grass leading up there, heavily guarded by blue naga warriors and paler magicians. I picked up several small stones and threw one on the warrior closest to me. He looked in my direction, and I made a rude gesture intended to make him charge me. It worked like magic, and in one to one combat I was able to best all of the naga. After fully catching my breath, I ate a bit of a sweet pear pie, emptied my hip flask and hid it with my back pack in the bushes.
I crept into the ruin itself. There he stood, Xiz. a head taller at least than his fellow nagas, watching over two treasure chests. His hair or whatever it was, was red as blood and his shining sword was half again as long as mine. “Maybe I can tease him as well? It worked nicely with the other nagas, and an angry fighter is a bad fighter.” I drew a slow breath, whispered a prayer to the Naaru and said the phrase intended to bring nagas in a frothing rage. It worked! He lashed after me with more anger than skill, and I was able to catch his sword with my shield. I feinted and parried a lot, dancing around, teasing him and making him even more angry and reckless. And finally I saw my chance. He barred his left side with an angry lunge for my head, and I planted my own sword squarely in his heart. After checking my cuts, none of them serious, I opened the chests and found an assortment of things reminding of the murlocs’ chest. I wonder if they are related in any way. I found some rusty armour obviously from a fallen warrior, some hard cheese (what’s with cheese in chests, don’t they have cupboards?), a freshly baked bread - strange things happen - some semi-precious stones and 3 pieces of leather. I took it all and retrieved the the banner from my back pack while doing so. I placed it firmly in Xiz’ dead body and sneaked off. It was high time, some of the farther away guards had heard our fighting, or rather Xiz’ yells, and were arriving to check on him. I ran head over heels through the woods until I was brought up sharply by the sight of hostile furbolgs. Not Stillpine ones obviously. Bristlelimbs. Like the ones who had kidnapped the princess! I sank into the shadows of the nearest tree. When the two Bristlelimb warriors were again turning their back, I crept away. Live to fight another day.
After fetching my pack in the bushes I went back to Kessel’s crossing without further inciden. I told Kessel that the Nagas would probably not bother him any longer, and received his praise and a token of his gratitude. I fed the cheese to one of the elekks, which gate me a good rubbing in exchange. Oh how I would like to own one of these faithful and merry mounts.
Gnawing on another of his sand pear pies, I returned to my rooms, where I rested and studied while my mail shirt was repaired.
The Princess of the Stillpines
A few days later, I was ready to keep my promise to the Princess. I crept througt the buhes, and stopped, as the camp came in sigth. My heart almost stopped as I saw two perimeter guards behind me. I almost melted into the ground and held my beath. I stood still until the guards had left, and my ragged breathing became normal again. I sneaked forwards, out of reach of the gurads and watched the camp, but detected no unusual activity. The guards walked the perimeter and inside the camp quite usual activities were going on. The only thing that gave me an idea that it was chieftain Bristlelimb’s camp, was the great number of shamans hanging around. From what they said, praise the Naaru and Arugoo for my fluency in Furbolg, I understood that he was nursing a hangover in his hut. Nothing could have sounded sweeter. I sneaked up behind a guard and after a short, intense fight, he bit the grass. Their guards were not formidable for a chieftain’s camp. I was able to lay out three of them cold before anybody noticed anything.
A couple of shamans tried to surprise me with their fireballs, but I am tough in that respect, so almost no harm dome there. Also I was able to stun them most of the time when they started on their strange gestures and chants. The only real bad surprise were their totems. Vicious little things, that grew up from the ground and spat fire at me. But a single broad sweep of my blade mostly made them tumble, so I made my way to the middle of the camp before Bristlepine high chief woke. As I had heard, he was in a bad way. He squinted in the sun’s sharp glare, and had trouble co-ordinating. Shortly I pitied him, but then my mind went to the princess and to Arugoo, my teacher in Furbolg back in Azure Watch, who also had suffered in the hands of the Bristlelimbs. I decided the most practical thing was knocking him out, and this migth also be the way leading to lesser trouble with the Bristlelimb furbolgs, I hammered the butt of my sword into his skull and he staggered. He must have a hard nogging for he even then tried to maul me with his paws and succeeded in making some long scratches along my legs. I gave him one more, and as he fell, I gave him one more for good measure.
The key was in his pouch belt together with some other stuff and another cheese! I hurried back to the Princess’s cage. Their guards were as sloppy there as in the rest of the camp. So I cut a clear path also for the Princess, and opened the cage. She told me to tell ambassador Frasaboo what had happened. I don’t know where the princess went, but she was armed with a giant staff, so I had no worries for her safety.
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| Freeing the Princess. She's a mean figther. |
Then I took my weary self to Stillpine Hold where I was greeted with gratitude. Gurf received the pouch with an expression of disbelieving thankfulness. He opened the pouch without the slightest shyness and tried to put the patch back in place. I hid a smile with a yawn and accepted some coins and a new pair of pants, he just had the smith finish. I stayed in the Stillpine camp until their shamans were satisfied that my legs were healed again, I even got to see them stitching poor Gurf’s skin back in place.
Letters and missives
I made my way home to Blood Watch without further incidence, and was met by a scolding by our mailman, Hermesius. He had a letter for me, and now I had been away for so long! It was my first letter ever, so I sought out a quiet corner to read it. It was written by Admiral Odesyus, he had had a vision one night in a heavy sleep after eating too much of Cookies awful grub. An old sailing friend of his, captain Edward Hanes, had visited him in the dream and told him a strange tale about an island named Wyrmscar. Now he needed me to hear this tale and help him out. But this had to wait. The small community in Blood Watch had to rely on every person doing their share, and not running off chasing dreams on far off islands. At least that was how I saw the world then.
Well, next morning Tracker Lyceon came over and asked me how I was doing with those bear flanks of his. I tried to avoid the matter by asking him more about the blue flutteres, but he could not be distracted. I had to get out and get those bear flanks now! But it was not an easy thing to get out of the village. Jessera of Mac'aree grabbed my sleeve and entreated me to go and look for more mushrooms, this time on the same island where Odesyus’ vision was situated. I told him, that I would do it, maybe later, and certainly not rigth away, unless he wanted to go hungry. Lyceon had impressed on me the necessity for those bear flanks. Jessera told me a bit more about that island, Wyrmscar, that there be dragons. It made my willingness to go there even less.
On my way hunting Vindicator Aalesia stopped me: “I never thanked you enough for your job with gathering those strange Crystals for me. You did well, and now I would like you to look for one more strange stone near Nazzivian, where the satyrs live. And if you can, pick some more crystal samples from otu there while you're at it.” As Nazzivian was stituated in the same in the same general direction as where Tracker Lycaeon had told me to hunt for the small brown bears, I accepted the job.
I decided to go to Nazzivian for crystals first, following my motto take the worst when you’re at your best. So off I went. On my way I saw some of the small brown bears lumbering in the distance, but strangely no blue flutterers. I had taken to watching them and I was on the brink of believing Tracker Lyceon's theory. The were always gathered around bits and pieces of the faintly glowing crystals from the Exodar, and they tried to brush me with their antennae whenever I got close.
The road to Nazzivian was hardly more than a track, and soon it became bordered by palisades and lit up by torches stuck in mounds of sculls. I shivered, but I was determined to do my duty, I walked off the road where the palisades were broken and kept to the long grass. I saw something moving ahead of me. A strange being, it looked a bit like a hairy draenei, but it had long green horns, slim and twisted like the horns of a gazelle. It was beautiful in its foreignness. I walked slowly so as not to attract the satyrs' attention. I almost made it to an altar of sorts, where a strangely glistening stone had caught my attention. But one of the satyrs saw me and cast a strange spell on me. It made me feel cold and lethargic all over, It was all I could do to raise my sword and strike weakly at him. To my utter surprise he wore almost no armour, and my sword went through him as a hot knife through butter. When I stopped shivering from the spell, I grabbed the strange tablet together with a sample of the ubiquitous crystals.
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| Strange beings indeed. |
Well that was one easy victory. There were as Lyceon had guessed, lots of the flutterers around the crystals, so I killed off some more for good measure.
Retracing my path I saw a shortcut through unknown land. I quickly, but carefully went down the unknown path, trodden by many feet.
And suddenly it dawned on me, those were Sunhawk's tracks! Blood elves are slightly smaller and much lighter of build than us Draenei, and then they have small, dainty feet. And that as the exact beings that were using this path.
I was about to turn around and go back as I remembered the talk in Blood Watch that someone had heard something about there being a Sunhawk spy outpost near Blood Watch. This must be it. I stopped, now very cautious. I noticed the well trodden path now I had passed some distance from the normal roads. I saw lots of broken crystals up ahead, surely more wreckage form the Exodar. But they were stood on their ends, connected by a luminous, chainlike substance. I carefully left the path, and went around to scout from the other side. The camp seemed almost deserted, four or five crystal structures stood at irregular intervals, but it seemed they were guarded only by two inexperienced looking youngsters. I stayed and watched them for half an hour almost, but nothing happened. No new guards came down the path. It seemed an ideal opportunity for an attack. I carefully went through the underbrush until I was behind the two youngsters. They had relaxed, talking and joking with one another. It must be nearing the end of their shift, and they had relaxed their normal vigilance, tasting the soon to come relief.
I sprang into action, Screaming like a madman, I jumped out from behind the bushes and stunned one of the guards before he even knew what hit him. I was not necessary out to kill, even though Sunhawks were evil, those two seemed so young and innocent. The other youngster came at me with his sword, screaming insults - or maybe orders - at me in Thalassian. My grip of that language was unfortunately not good, and I did not understand one word of this. But I understood his swordplay, inefficient and slow. I had no trouble besting him without hurting him.
I then gagged and trussed both youngsters with their own ropes, pulled them away form the camp, and threw a greenish camouflage blanket over them, which I found were they had been posted. It would not hurt them, except from their dignity, to stew for some time before they were found. I then methodically searched the camp, and found a smallish chest like the ones missives are transported in. I broke the locking mechanism, and took all the papers inside the chest. I did not find any more, but I heard steps coming from the path, so I made myself disappear in the general direction of Blood Watch.
Upon my return, I gave the Sunhawk’s papers to Vindicator Boron. He gave the papers one short look, and passed them back to me. “This is written in Thalassian I think. Please bring them to Elysia, so that she might have a go on translating them.” As my Thalassian was limited to a few phrases, mostly insults and swear words, I had no chance to see if he was right. I took them over to Elysia immediately. She said that it was indeed Thalassian, and promised to treat them urgently. I looked at the wad of papers and told her I would return later.
I took a long soak in my tub, oh the luxury, and got hold of some of Lycaeon’s delicious food. That man might be a poor hunter, but he is one good cook! The next days I spent repairing my mail, it was rather frayed already, and I’m afraid I have not quite stopped growing yet.
Interlude in Exodar
Some days later Elysia was done with the translations. Boron read the text and exclaimed: “Velen must know this! Rusty, please, take this text to Prophet Velen in the Exodar.” Now it was my time to loose my colour: “Me. The Prophet. Oh no. I can’t.” “And why not, may I ask,” was Boron’s gruff reply. “Are you not hale of life and limb.” I tried to tell Vindicator Boron that I felt unworthy to go before The Prophet, but he waved me off. “You’re the best we have, and also the only one. Get going already, lass!”
So off I went. I dared not trust my legs. This time I paid Laando his 99 coppers to rent a hippogryph. It was a nice ride. My hair flew in the winds and the view was just great. I passed the murloc encampment where Murgurgula’s minions had come close to costing me my life. And then the Exodar loomed ahead. I almost jumped off the hippogryph from shock as it flew inside instead of landing gently outside. The wings nearly touched the walls and I crouched low so as not to bump my head. The flight ended just outside the bank. I got my shaking legs to the ground. The hippogryph master noticed my white face and asked me if the going had been rough outside. I answered with a shaky smile and voice: “No, only inside. Laando did not tell me you flew into the Exodar nowadays.” He smiled and said that there was too much noise outside, what with pilgrim’s feast, Spring fling and all kinds of festivals, that had come to the Isles lately. “The hippogryphs have to sleep, you know.” I nodded agreeing and went on.
After this crazy flight the last thing I felt up to, was an audience with The Prophet. But I had to. I went up the shiny, golden stairs and asked one of the servants if I could speak with Prophet Velen. He eyed my worn outfit and my slender frame. Then his eyes fell on the hilt of my well-worn sword and I saw his looks change a bit. He told me that I could wait here for some minutes, while he saw to the details. Well there was no getting out now. I tried to polish my shoes by rubbing them on the back of my trousers, but to no avail. My whole gear was threadbare and dusty. The servant called my name and lead me on to the Prophet. I delivered my best bow and told him my name. He asked me to state my business and I held out the original missive together with Elysia’s translation, while giving the short resume of the happenings, which I had been practising all the way. The servant took the papers and handed them to him. He read, and I stood waiting. He made small, strange noises while reading, and re-read several passages. Then he turned away to his writing stand, wrote a short note and sealed it. “Rustypal, take this letter back to vindicator Boron. He will see to your reward.” Then the audience was over, I bowed and backed off like Matron had told us long ago. I bet I saw the Prophet smile at my antics.
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| Audience with Prophet Velen |
After a short rest on a bench out of sight of anybody, I went to Yil’s armour shop. I really needed a new suit of mail. He had just the right thing for me, It fit like it was made for me and it was strong, yet flexible. My dream armour in short. But alas, my meagre savings were not enough for even half the armour, including the exchange price of my old, which admittedly was very worn. I bade Yil hide it so that I could have a chance saving up for it. He hung it in a dark corner of his shop, behind more colourful, but less functional gear. “Some go for bling,” he said smiling at me. I smiled back and left. On the way out a large shield caught my eyes. Yil saw me looking at it and told me the price. I’m sure he set it low enough to be a temptation to me. I bought it, and ran a caressing hand over its hard metal surface. Not a scratch, not a weak spot. “You’d like to see this customer return,” I teased Yil. “Yes,” he answered, “that and I like your spunk, gal. Stay alive out there.”
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| Trading with Yil. |
Go north!
When I was rested after the exertions and felt confident with my new powers, Vindicator Aalesia came to me. The Sunhawk missive had spoken of a portal to Outlands through which the Bloodhawk seemed to get new reinforcements. He wanted me to find its location. It had to be in the north, in the parts of the isle where almost none of our people ever came. He warned me that as the portal crossed the Nether, there might be strange, dark creatures about. I had to look out for anything unnatural. We went outside and he pointed northwards. Also he said, to find out the full scope of the crystals’ effect on the original population at the Isles, I had to get him a last crystal sample from the northern part of Bloodmyst to supplement my other finds. He had learned that a group of satyrs and many owlbeasts lived up north. “And one last thing, Rusty, if you find the legendary red waterfall, You’ll have to take a sample for Aesom, he is interested in that kind of marvels.”
Morae had recovered her interest in all things growing after I brought her her husband’s amulet, and as she overheard the last part of our conversation, she wanted me to get some bark from the living trees up north as well.
“Are you going North?” Nachlan asked me. He was an old red bearded dwarf, one of the very few non-draenei to be living north of the Exodar. “It is babysitting we are, you know. Outrageous, I’m an explorer, not a babysitter. And now this here gnome joined Explorers’ League almost a month ago. The last I heard from him was three weeks ago, when a scout told me that he had seen a gnome in an old turtle shell on the northern shore, surrounded by murlocs. He had a thing with murlocs that one, just like our Morae here. Could you check on him, please?” My curiosity awoke. I had never seen a gnome before, but it should be easy enough to find a strange being in a turtle shell, or maybe his earthly remains. If only it was not for the murlocs. Their name alone sent a shiver up and down my spine. Already twice had I almost lost my young life to those strange beings. But I promised him to have a look.
Next morning at the break of dawn I went north. In the beginning the land looked normal enough. I hunted a bear to have provisions for my trip, as Tracker Lyceon had already used up almost all my previous kills. I stuffed my meat bag and went on northwards. The overgrown path took me to hilly country, and soon I caught sight of owlbears. They looked like the ones in Ammen Vale until I noticed their eyes. They were stark raving mad. I circled them, regretting what the crash of the Exodar had done to wildlife here. Maybe the crystals really were tainted, and slowly - or not so slowly really - changed all life forms with which they came in close contact. And I often found small pieces of the crystals in the stomach of my prey. I had to tell this to Vindicator Aalesia on my return. The satyrs had made their dwellings on top of a hill. I went into their camp and found the crystals and killed a few for the parts Aalesia and Morae were so interested in.
As I wandered on a strange smell reached my nose. Nothing like I ever smelled before. A threatening smell if a smell can be described that way. Pungent and heavy, a bit like bad incense with ... I don’t know ... dung or blood or ... some evil element for sure. I kept my eyes peeled for anomalies. And anomalies I soon found. Big shadow-things, like the abominations warlocks summon to do their fighting. Only much bigger, clad in shoulder pads and nothing more, but shrouded in swirling mists from the dark nether. I kept a wide berth, but got a peep into the part of the Exodar they seemed to be attracted to. There was some sort of swirling darkness inside, probably the portal Vindicator Aalesia asked me to look for. I felt stupid for not having asked what a portal looked like. I left the place after noticing its place on my map.
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| Figting blue abominations. The portal was inside the building to the right. |
Inside sat a strange character. The Gnome. He was a smallish humanoid with a large, white beard and green goggles. He hushed me and told me that he was known by the name of Clopper Wizbang. He told me to lay low as he tried to study the murlocs. Nachlan had given me the impression that the gnome did not know what he was doing, but he came over as sane and coherent to me, if a bit talkative. No wonder when he was living alone and far away. I spent the night in his turtle shell and left all my meat and bread at his place. He was a wee bit tired of clams and fish as he put it. I promised to return when opportunity arose to provide him with a change of fare. He gave me an old treasure map, he had found, admitting that it might be a hoax, but it looked old and authentic to me.
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| Clopper Wizbang in his turtle shell |
At the end of the beach was the blood red waterfall. I filled up a flask and made for the return. Suddenly a growl of immense proportions reached my ears and the biggest, meanest looking bear I ever saw came trotting in my direction. I had only just time to pick up shield and sword before he reached me. Belatedly I remembered the hunters’ warnings of Deathclaw. He was big, but luckily for me he was as stupid as he was big. He came charging downhill and I had no trouble making him almost impale himself on my sword. He tried to get up on his hind legs to swipe me, but then I was so far beneath him that his claws only scraped my horns before my sword was lodged squarely in his shaggy midriff. The wanted posters told of a reward for bringing home his paws, so I cut them off along with the good meat. Then I made for home.
A Treasure Island
In the following weeks I was busy. Sunhawks kept popping up at the most unlikely places, and I was sent to scout and harass them as best I could. An important part of the old Exodar, the Vector Coil, had fallen in very hilly country.
The Sunhawks were there as well, trying to find a way to turn it into a portal, I suppose. In my scouting, I also ran into Cornelius. He had taken an expedition up behind Vector Coil, it was a total failure due to the giant spiders living there. They had caught all of them, and only Cornelius himself had succeeded in getting out of the cocoons, they were spun into. He had tried several times to free his companions, but to no avail. He was almost killed every time. Now he was weak with hunger and the after-effects of spiders’ poison. I gave him some of Lycaeon’s meat, and promised to look after his fellows. It was not easy. The expedition members were wrapped up together with satyrs, flutterers, owlbeasts and an occasional sunhawk. And they had no gratitude left for me when I freed them, they were all quite angry and attacked me the second arms or claws were free. And the spiders did not do anything to help. They tried to spin me in as well, and bit and stabbed at me with their venomous fangs. In the end I had freed all 5 members of the expedition, and they left for Blood Watch immediately, limping and lurching from the poison, but grinning with the happiness of being alive after all. I slept in Tel'athion's Camp, a small hut near the river, it was rumoured that a madman lived out here alone, making strange potions with the red water, but I found nobody and the hut seemed deserted.
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| Near Tel'athion's Camp |
After weeks of being on my guard with every step, I started seeing Sunhawks all over, even in my sleep. I needed to do something else. I then remembered Clopper Wizbang’s treasure map, and decided to go and see what was in there. I asked Exarc Admetius for some days on my own, as I needed to study and meditate and generally collect my thoughts. He was very forthcoming and gifted me with his spare elekk as a reward for all my working. I could also count on help in reading the fine script on the map. Delenn had dug out some more books for me to study, and even an old scroll on healing and the Light as seen by the Naaru.
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| Riding my Elekk. |
My first priority was to learn how to handle my elekk. His name was Mingus, and bigger by at least 3 hands than Fant, the only elekk I had ever ridden. Slowly I walked down to the low ground trailing him after me. Once down there I mounted the elekk. He was surprisingly agile for his size and almost threw me before I got hold of the reins. But then I got the grasp of it, and after some days my behind was sore, but I had grasped the beginnings of elekk riding. The next weeks I dozed in the sun reading Delenn’s books and trying to read the letters in the old scroll on healing. Lycaeon had provided me with some of his delicious food, I needed not hunt or do anything before I felt like it.
Treasure Island part 2
The inactivity did me good, but I needed to keep in shape, so I dug out the gnome's treasure map and went looking. As I reached the ruins mentioned on the map, I tethered Mingus to a tree, and climbed the low hill. The place swarmed with nagas, but I was quite happy to kill a couple of those. It was not too difficult, and a nice change from the Sunhawks. When I had cleared the small structure of nagas. I started searching. It was some kind of temple, now in ruins. Behind a pillar lay an old book, battered and weather beaten, but still readable. The small temple was ideal for living in for some days. I cleared out all the nagas, there were no more living ones around, and found a path for Mingus to get up there, it was not easy, but we made it.
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| Figthing nagas in the smallest temple. |
My days studying old scrolls had given me an insight in the healing powers of the Light, but also a fair reading skill when it came to old scribbling. I was able to decipher parts of the book. It was a diary by a night elf - I think - named Nolkai. Another one most probably a human, Andrew Clementine, had scribbled in the book, counting his drinks and drunken exploits. Not a nice read, but Nolkai's diary was something else entirely It ended abruptly with the words: "The enemy is nearly upon us. We've gathered up all the survivors and retreated to the temple to the east. It's the last ground we truly hold on the island, and there is a sense among the survivors that we will make our last stand here. I've taken care to bury my last few possessions on the grounds of the temple, with the hope that someone will find them and know what happened here." I looked to the east, and saw an even smaller structure. I left Mingus in the bigger temple and walked to the easternmost structure. Even more nagas were living there, but they were more of training objects for me, an irritation rather than a threat. It was not easy to find the place, Nolkai had spoken of, but in the end my digging hands found a smallish chest. I brushed the dirt away and opened it, Inside was a slim, golden band with the inscription: "A token for my love to remember me by. May Elune watch over my dear Nolkai." a lantern and some old coins. I did not understand how these items were supposed to tell me, or anybody what had happened. I decided to show the items to one of the anchorites in Blood Watch.
I spent some more days in Nolkai's temple, reading scrolls of healing, teaching Mingus and fighting an occasional naga. One day I found a crumpled letter in a pocket. "Oh yes," I exclaimed, "Odesyus' letter. I got to go to Wyrmscar Isle." From the top of Nolkai's temple, I could see the Island to the northeast. Elekk handler Kessel had said something about keeping his elekks out of water, but I wanted to bring mine to Wyrmscar.
Wyrmscar Isle - a ghostly experience.
Early next morning I left Nolkai's temple and set out for Wyrmscar Isle. Mingus was a great swimmer, so I take it that Kessel was only joking when he told me to keep his elekks out of the water. When I could clearly see the shore of the isle, I also saw lots of small dragons flitting around. All stories I had heard of dragons, had led me to figure them bigger.Those ones were hardly bigger thanbig dogs.
I followed the coastline looking for captain Edward Haines. By an old ruin, I saw a ghost! He did not look like a sea dog to me at all, and as I came near I saw my mistake. He was an elven prince of old. I heard his ghostly voice speak to me. In sorrowful tones he told me of the days when he, prince Toreth, was the green dragonrider and blessed by Ysera. The green dragons were all killed by Deathwing and his kind, as he could not stand Ysera's kindness. Her cursed broodlings still inhabited the island, and the bones of green and black dragons, still littered the earth. Prince Toreth asked me to help him find his eternal rest by freeing the isle of the shadow of Razormaw, one of Deathwing's lieutenants, whose ghost still hung around circling the summit. Ilooked up, and heard the rustle of his batlike wings. This was more what I had imagined dragons to look like.
I was to kill as many of the Ysera's spirit broodlings as I could. And then gather bones from long dead dragons and place them on the pyre on top of Wyrmscar. This would provoke Razormaw and his anger would help me overcome him.
I picked up the bones, they were easily big enough to come from dragons the size of Razormaw and even bigger. Luckily they were not mssive, and not as heavy as they looked. Many of them had been dragged off to the mainland by wild beasts. But finally I had a nice bundle. I hauled the bones past the attacking broodlings, up a narrow winding path to the summit. Up there I killed off all Ysera's ghostly broodlings and threw the bones on the pyre. I could see Razormaw soaring around the summit, but he did not seem to be looking my way. My nervosity gave way to impatience, but finally, as my patience was almost worn thin, I saw him coming towards me. He was big! I backed up so that I stood with my back against the only big part of the old building up there. Then we engaged. My big sword was to almost no avail, as he was a ghost, but my paladinish bolts of Light hurt him more. He started to breath fire at me, and I was suddenly scared. I thought of fleeing, but he blocked the narrow path I had come by, and behind me the ruins blocked the access to the sloping part of the summit. I had to stay and fight to the end. His fire rolled around me once more, but I realized that it was almost as ghostly as himself and did not hurt much. I once again grabbed my sword tight and called on the Light. Bolts of power shot out from my sword and Razormaw fell to the ground, even more transparent in death.
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| Mourning Razormaw - a grand dragon. |
The last of the small islands
Captain Edward Hanes when I finally found him, was a real ghost as well as a real sea dog. And his only concern was his crew. He told me of the ancient Bloodcurse, haunting the island. He spun tales of Aszhara and the the shadows of the long dead elven people who like Prince Toreth once populated these islands and who somehow had turned into bloodcursed nagas who then turned the crew of sailing ships - and among those his crew - into ghosts. My head started spinning. Maybe ghosts are not good storytellers, mixing past, present and bits of the future into one tall tale.
Anyhow, at the end he bade me put an end to the Bloodcurse, by putting the sailors to rest, and kill as many nagas as I could possibly manage. Then maybe finally he - and Odesyus - could sleep in peace again.
I did as he bade, but first he cast a ghastly spell upon me, making me partly undead myself and able to go without breath for long periods of time, that was needed, as I would probably have drowned from all the underwater fighting necessary, but nonetheless it was an unpleasant experience. When the unappetizing job of finishing off undead sailors and many, many bloodcursed nagas was done, The Captain asked me for one last favour. On the Island some way off - known as Bloodcursed Isle - lived, or rater unlived, the shadow of a being named Atoph the Bloodcursed he was in some ways that went straight over my head responsible for this mess and also worshipped as a god, or demigod, by the nagas. After a rest, i went over to the Bloodcursed Isle, again killing many nagas and finally fighting my way to a statue on top of the steep sided island. There I put some kindling to an effigy and called forth the Shadow of Atoph. I had learned much about fighting with nagas already, so it was relatively easy to finish him off, especially as the burning of the effigy made him angry. An angry fighter is a bad fighter, my old teacher said, and he was right.
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| Saying Farewell to Captain Hanes. |
Captain Hanes bade me farewell forever and told me to dig in the sand nearby. Down there I found a shield in the form of a ship's wheel. It was very beautiful, but magic. And as I belong to the Order of Iron, I cannot use such. I'll keep it in a safe place as a souvenir.
Galaen's secret
At my way over to the smith’s place, to pick up my armour, Morae, our herbalist, got hold of me.
She stated the fact that surely all who could be found alive after the crash was found by now. Her husband was still not found.
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| Morae, the widow turned herbalist |
All this went through my head as I patted her shoulder and tried to still her tears. She showed me her amulet and told me that her husband had one just like it, a very special one, indeed. They were gifts from her sister and looked like a resting insect, made in gold with wings of semi-precious stones.
Some days later my huntings brought me near a big part of the Exodar. Rotund and purplish it lay before me. Could it be the Cryo-core? I finished off the bear I had been tracking. Unwilling to carry it when looking at the strange construct, I tucked the meat inside the pelt, ate and drank stretched in the sun for a short while and the I went exploring.
The place literally swarmed with Sunhawks. They seemed strangely unorganized, not like the vigilant pairs, I had met previously. They just walked around gossiping opening crates, and not keeping the sharp look-out, I would have expected. I circled the dome-shaped structure, and found the right spot for a daring move. Only a few Sunhawks were to be seen; not close to me and deeply immersed in conversation. A lone guard stood by a small door, looking in the other direction lost in his thoughts. I practised my Thalassian, threw a stone and whispered: "Illidan eats shit." That brought me the wanted attention. His face turned white, and he charged me. I tackled and bound him and pulled him over behind a tree.
Then I crept closer to the structure. I was lucky, this door was only guarded by a single guard at the inside. I jumped through and engaged her quickly. Either she was not as loyal as her comrade, or maybe she was smarter, Anyhow my studied insult did not make much of an impression on her. She fought with a cold determination, and I had to use all my skill to overpower her.
When I looked around in the strangely glowing room, I saw a lifeless form on the ground behind my fallen enemy. As I came in, he looked up, I heard him whisper Morae's name and saw his eyes open. I hurried to his side, only to realize that he had expired.
A book lay close by. with a paper sticking out of it. The paper bore Vindicatore Boros' name. I opened and read the words:
I watched as they beat him without mercy. Their ruthless lieutenant acted as if such cruelty was an act of normalcy. Through the savage beatings, I could feel myself breaking ...I read no further, but with trembling hands tucked the book inside my tunic. Vindicator Boros had to read this. But first I had to find Galaen's amulet for Morae. I looked, carefully searching Galean's body, but found no amulet on him. But as his clothes were cut and torn, I reckoned they had taken the amulet together with his coins and other valuables.
As I watched Vindicator Saruan take their blows, I began to weep. Not out of fear... I wept out of sadness. To see a draenei of the Triumvirate treated in such a manner. If only I could have broken free of my bonds. If only...
Galaen revenged
My next idea was to tackle the Sunhawks one after another until I found the one wearing Galaen’s amulet . I looked cautiously out of the door, and right outside another guard stood ready. I whispered my phrase and he came running in, insistent upon killing one impertinent Draenei. I quickly bested him, and bound him hand and mouth. In his pockets were a wad of papers full of strange signs. But no amulet.
Outside I was met by two Sunhawks. They must have heard suspicious sounds and had come to investigate. I tackled one and hit him in a sore spot whereupon he crumbled. The other one was a she, so no go, I had to kill her. I finished her as quickly as possible and hit the moaning man over the head with my sword. Then I bound him as well. I checked them both, and - oh luck - the lady had Galaen’s medallion hidden inside her red tunic on a string round her neck. That was my proof and I circled back to the place where I left the boar flanks
Upon my return, I gave Galaen's amulet to Morae. She cried some more when I handed her the medallion, and told me that my finding only confirmed her suspicion. But it seemed to give her some comfort to hold Galaen’s amulet at last.
Matis revealed.
I gave Galaen's writings to Vindicator Boron, not knowing what this would lead to.
He looked once at the paper slip, then he began reading, the colour slowly draining from his face. He turned the first page, and began reading aloud:
After what seemed an eternity, the Vindicator lost consciousness. The torture was too much, even for him. The cruel one - Matis as I found out he was called - attempted to wake Saruan by splashing contagion laced water across his ravaged body. But Saruan did not wake.He looked up, tears streaming down his face, and let the book droop, I could see the writing abruptly stopping and a long line trailing off the page. Galaen had not been allowed to finish his writings.
I wanted to scream but only a low gasp escaped my lips. I was promptly beaten for this act of rebellion. As I lay on the ground, I could see Matis pacing in front of Saruan's body. He seemed visibly concerned. He stated that Sironas or Sirona or some such entity would have his flesh flayed from his bones if Saruan had perished in the beatings. That the Sironas entity had plans for Saruan...
"Saruan was my master" he said with a shaking voice. "He was ... my teacher... my mentor... I took his place among the Triumvirate only recently - after we had given up searching for him."
He looked up. balling his hands into fists. I could see his jaws clenching. "Matis!" he said in a voice filled with cold rage.
He pulled a strange looking gun from his pockets, and I was afraid he would tear off for Matis that very moment. But such was not his idea. "Rusty," he said. "This is a flare gun. Whenever it is fired, by day or nigth in the hills, in the woods or even at sea, Trackers and defenders of the Hand will come rushing to the place it was fired from. I give you this gun. From now on you're free to roam the isles, looking for Matis. You may take up jobs for all who ask you, but your main and most important job is to find Matis and have him brought to justice. He's an easy one to recognize. Blood elf, red hair, rides a horse with fiery hooves. Arrogant and conceited to a T. Find him, Rusty."
I promised him I'd do my very best.
And from then on, whatever my errand was, I was first and foremost on the lookout for Matis, the flare gun always handy in my belt.
More crystals
Some days later, I got a message that Harbinger Mikolaus wanted to see me. He asked me abou the spy post and especially the crystals there. He wanted to compare them to the samples from the crash site, I had provided him with earlier. Could I get him a sample from those chained crystals?
I ansvered that this should not be impossible and he handed me a special minimg pick, esigned to break any and all effects from the chain like force fields.
I went off at once, and went through the foret back the way I had ran fleeing the new guards at the spy post.
As i got there, I was surprised to find everything almost the same as I left it. I suspected a trap and went around the camp in a big circle. I found no trakc leading out from the camp except on the half hidden path, and even there the activity seemed to have only lessened sligthly sinse my last visit. I was afraid that my thumping at the crystals o break loose a sample would disturb the guards - agani there were only two, a bit older, better armed men. Then I saw the animals, abominations, what do you call them, I think they have developed from the giant praying mantisses, we brougth along in crates, together with the Elekks and the other animals from the menagerie. But they have mutated, short lived insects like the Blue flutterers ans mantisses are more prone to mutatins, at last that's what Botanist Taerix told me. Anyway, I goaded some of the creatures to the edge of teh camp opposite of where the best looking crystals were situated. I left some food in the camp with a trail of small bites leading to the ravagers. Not enough to sate them, but enouhg to whet their apetite. And a hungry ravager was not a nice thing to have in your camp.
Then I sneaked back waiting for the hungry ravagers to figth over the food. And not long after harrowing shrieks and sounds of figth came from the other side of the camp. The two Sunhawks looked at one another, jabbered in Thalassian for a short while, drew their swords and ran to the fracass.
Quickly I used the mining pick on the spot I had been loking at. Lightning struch the pick, but notheing happened to me. After a few strokes a piece of teh crystanl fell to the ground. I put it in my pocket and was gone before the guards were back from clearing the mess the ravagers had made. Now my hands were semlling of Ravagers and their favourite food, I daresd not reutrn the same way, but took the long way home, skirting Vindicator's Rest.
As I came near Vindicator’s Rest a Sunhawk on a horse with fiery hoofs tried to ride me down. He jumped off the horse, as he did not suceed, and came after med with his longsword. I pulled out my sword as he sprang from his horse and ran towards me. Suddenly recognition dawned Matis! I ripped the flare gun from my belt and shot into the air before he reached me. As we engaged, the undershrub came alive and a handful of rangers jumped out. They did not kill Matis, but took him in custody and brought him to Blood Watch.
At their insistence, I followed. Back at Blood Watch. Kuros praised me, saying that Matis was an arch-criminal and would receive his sentence shortly.
Kuros' vengeance
The Triumvirate with some Blades of Argus and me trailing had Matis kept prisoner by some magical means. The Triumvirate gathered around the strange projection device on the Town Square. A projection of the Prophet came alive and interrogated Matis.
The Prophet called him a lieutenant of the Sunhawks, and accused him of killing off the Draenei. "Genocide" was the word he used. Then The Prophet told Matis that he would be executed at light's dawning. And whether he had anything to say for himself? Matis just spit at the image of Velen.
The prophet then bade the Light have mercy on Matis' soul.
Matis then began laughing and snared; "The Light? ... I am a Blood Knight, mongrel. I do not serve the Light, the Light serves me. If mercy is to be granted, it will be by me." He laughed som e more and continued: "You seek to martyr me - so be it. Strike me down, another will rise in my place and the suffering of the Light - of the conquered - will continue uninterrupted."
Vindicator Kuros interrupted him, stating that this was blasphemy and that the Light never would allow such an aberration!
Matis countered in an arrogant voice: "The Light has no choice. It does as it is commanded. Just as the naaru you hold at the core of your vessel will do when we capture and enslave it... Do my words surprise you, blue blood? Yes, we know... We know everything."
The Prophet to my big surprise spoke in a pacifying tone, asking the guards once more to take him away.
Even as the Blades of Argus put their hands on Matis' arms, urging him to move, he spoke again: "Draenei dog! Did you know that one you call Saruan wept like a babe as I beat him? A feeling of euphoria coursed through me, knowing that I had a member of a high rank in my grasp. Were it not for Sironas' plans for him, I would have tortured him to death... As I do to all draenei that I capture. Alas, I am certain that you will see him again soon ..."
Vindicator Kuros jumped at Matis with his sword drawn, screaming: "Breathe your last breath, heathen." and stabbed him before anybody could do anything.
Then Vindicator Kuros spit on the corpse of Matis. And simultaneous The Prophet gave voice to the anger and outrage we all felt at Matis' words. In a voice as cold as the stars and ad old as time itself he said: "Find their source of power and tear it down. Tear all of it down!"
More Sunhawks
Once again I was put on Sunhawk cleanup duty. During pauses and mealtimes Vindicator Kuros told me more of Sironas, and when it finally dawned upon me that Sironas was the one who perverted both Saruan, and an unnamed lady, probably Kuros' sweetheart as well as mentor, I began to understand his fervour in exterminating the Sunhawks, and the anger, that led him to strike down Mattis, as he alluded to what he'd done for Sironas. One thing was a wonder for all of us. Where did all the Sunhawks come from? We had shut down the portal in the north, surrounded the Cryo-core, and their camp. Now we made daily forays in the hilly zone where the Vector Coil -- another important part of the old Exodar -- had fallen and still they came. Even better armed for each passing day.
I was sent to Vindicator's Rest, where the Vindicator, Aesom, had a thing or two to tell me. The Sunhawks' latest invention, Sun Gates, was a movable portal. The implored me to destroy it. Which was rather an easy task. After my long training I was able to finish off any Sunhawks in a efficient manner. I found the Sun Gate, held up by four crystals. I broke the crystals one after one, and the gate simply stopped to be. We still had many Sunhawks to fight and I did my share of the dirty job, but their number was lessening.
But as I fought Sunhawk I felt more and more listless. I caught myself in thinking that Exarch Menelaos was right when he felt like just waiting for death to come. It was foolish to fight always fight. It was not necessarily a loosing battle. but the numbers of fights were overwhelming. In the end Delenn noticed my quiet manners and I told her of my thoughts.
She reminded me that even if a paladin's powers come from the Ligth, they come in schools in the same way magic does. There was a way of keeping a balance of power, that I clearly had forgotten. I was doing too much fighting and not much healing with my powers. I should try to limit my use of the powers of the Light to the most mundane when fighting.
I found it ridiculous that I should not use the powers to eradicate my enemies as quickly as possible, but promised to give it a try. The next couple of days I used only minimal output of Power for fighting, and accordingly I had to use more Powers in healing myself. And it seemed to help. It was as if things regained their old colours. I told Delenn that she seemed to be right. And she made me promise to go on like that. I made the promise, but with a heavy heart.
What we know
Some time later Vindicator Aesom summoned me. He told me that as I was one of the best fighters and at least as good at learning new languages, I was the perfect Draenei for the job. I must have looked fairly puzzled. He told me to fetch us some tea and be at ease. And then he began at the beginning. "We know that the Sunhawks, and indeed all the Blood elves on these Isles are led by Sironas herself ... Yes Rusty?" My surprise in learning that Sironas was a she must have shown.
"Yes she's a she, and the worst of our nightmares come true. She and her allies seek to enslave O'ros and control Exodar and the Isles. Light be praised, you've stopped their feeding lines by destroying the Sun Gate. but unfortunately, they continue to use the mutagen -- that's what you, Morae and Lycaeon was talking about the other day, and it fits with what we knew. We suppose they're using the Vector Coil as a base for the poisoning of the Isles, using the mutagenic properties of the debris and crystals to their advantage.
Exarch Admetius has devised a desperate plan. Go, seek him out."
And what we like to know
I took my leave of the Vindicator and went in search of Exarch Admetius. It was no problem finding him, actually he was just outside, waiting for me. He invited me home -- he lived next door -- for even more tea. With almost no preamble he told me of his plan.
"I am in need of your services, Rusty. I have a plan, but before we can get any further, we need some vital information." He smiled at me, but far from calming me, he conferred much of his own anxiety to me.
"We need to know the if there's any weakness in their defence of the Vector Coil. We have not been able to get close enough to to really gather useful information. But we have a prisoner. If we could get the prisoner to talk, we could get the information, we need to get through their lines and destroy the Vector Coil once and for all. Yes, you heard me right. I want to blow the damned thing up."
"But how can I ... I mean, I don't speak Thalassian apart from a few choice insults..."
"I have an idea, or rather a plan, Rusty. Please listen."
I nodded, and he continued: "All attempt at interrogation have failed miserably, Rusty. Torture is out of the question. That's not how we do things. Not even in an extreme situation like this. But as said, I have a plan. What we need is the right man or rather Draenei in the right place. I am, as you might know, well versed in magic. I can cast a spell upon you that would make you look like a Sunhawk yourself, and even teach you the language for the duration. I think that the Blood Elf out there is almost ripe; due to the long time of loneliness and insecurity concerning his future, he might be willing to spill the beans to a fellow prisoner. Of course we'll have to treat you like we would a captured Sunhawk. Hell, the guards will even think you are a newly captured Sunhawk agent, and treat you accordingly. I excuse on beforehand for any rough handling.
In the end of course I gave in. When the Vindicators want something they can be rather convincing.
The next day I met Sxarch Admetius and tracker Lycaeon in a deserted spot near Blood Watch. I ha dressed in Sunhawk clothes beforehand, and wore a nondescript sword. Exarch Admetius said the words, I felt my tail shrinking and my ears grow. Soon I looked like a real Sunhawk. I drew my sword and traded a few mock blows with Exarch Admetius. Trackre Lycaeon blew his whistle and soon I was captured by the rangers coming to his aide. They were going to kill me, but the Exarch stopped them, under the pretence of wanting to interrogate me.
I was beaten up, and roughly thrown into a cage already containing the other prisoner and left alone there.
After some time I returned to my senses. I gingerly felt my head, felt the long eyebrows and ears and remembered my mission. I softly swore, careful not to startle, as the unwont syllables left my lips.
The captured Sunhawk agent eyed me suspiciously: "Good morning, new one. Who are you? I never say you before?"
"I'm a prisoner, that's what I am," I said, hoping for time and the fog in my head to clear. "I saw these
draenei filth kill our portal controllers and destroy the gate. The Sun King will be most displeased with this turn of events. I attacked a Draenei out of anger, but it seems he was some sort of sitting duck, and I was captured."
The captured Sunhawk agent smirked. "Don't you worry, new blood, there are many more portal controllers and many more suitable locations for portals. I am certain that Sironas will have a new gate up very soon. These blue skinned dogs are not long for this world. Sironas and the abomination will clean up whatever the Sunhawk forces leave behind."
Now we were getting somewhere. I tried throwing a lure: ""Ah yes. Sironas. I had nearly forgotten that Sironas was here. I served under Sironas back on Outland. I haven't heard of any abominations, though; those damnable draenei captured me before I had chance to learn anything here."
The Sunhawk smiled a dreamy smile. "It was Sironas all along. Any attacks against the Vector Coil will most certainly result in failure as long as that abomination is around."
"Incredible." I said. "How did Sironas accomplish such a thing?"
"Sironas claims that certain eredar possess the ability to transform themselves or other into man'ari. Savage demonic beings. Draenei were supposedly once eredar and Sironas is a powerful eredar,"
the agent laughed. "Can you imagine? These pathetic, blue creatures once were mighty demons. What kind of fool rejects such power?
"I was totally taken by surprise and blurted: "Sironas is an eredar ..." I quickly amended: "I man, yes, obviously, that totally explains everything."
The agent did not seem to have noticed my lapse, but continued: "Obviously. How else could she infiltrate their ranks and pass as a draenei? She has been living among them for a very long time."
"But," I said, "The Vector Coil is huge. I hope we have more than one abomination guarding the numerous weak points."
He eyed me suspiciously: "Numerous? It has only two weak points: the base of the structure on the west side and the base of the structure on the east side. Hey, wait a minute. How would you know anything about the Vector Coil? Didn't you say that you were captured before you had a chance to learn anything?"
That was it. The agent had smelled something fishy. Time to get out. I dealt him a blow to the stomach and opened the lock with the key, Exarch Admetius had given me.
"Treacherous whelp!" he groaned. "Sironas will destroy you and your people!"
Shaken I returned to Exarch Admetius who called Morae in to dress my wounds. After my tales and some nourishment he ordered me home to bed. "Return tomorrow for your orders, Rusty," was his parting words.
Next day he asked me it I was ready to eradicate the blood elf menace from our island forever.
I only nodded, and he continued. "I do not expect you to take on The Vector Coil and defeat Sironas single -handedly. But you could be of great help to the person taking on this dangerous assignment. Go back to Vindicator's Rest. There you'll find Demolitionist Legoso. He's a great fighter and an even better sapper, he'll be able to destroy the Vector Coil with your help.
Vindicator's rest:
I took the north road going out of Blood Watch, walking slowly, savouring the world around me. Exarch Admetius had said that he did not expect me to do the job, only to be an assistant. But I remembered my last visit at Vindicator's Rest, how they all had hinted at some unknown hero.
I felt a foreboding, and then a thing I had not felt for a very long time. Pure hatred. Sironas was ruining my world, she was poisoning the animals, the rivers and even the soil, we lived off. I would not be sorry to die, if only I knew that Sironas was dead as well. I could see, in my heightened state of awareness, that the trees, the soil, in short everything had taken a red tinge. Only the blue sky was unchanged. Today was the day to end this.
At Vindicator's Rest, some people were gathered. Vindicator Corin greeted me: "Perhaps you will be the one to deliver our people into a new age of prosperity and peace."
I felt them to be true, bowed deeply for everyone present and made my way to her. She looked squarely at me and said: "Only the most battle hardened, noble and positively fearless will follow Legoso on his mission. The exarch will not order anyone to take on the task of destroying the Vector Coil and dispatching Sironas. He refuses to send any draenei to their death - which is what the mission is: suicide..." She sighed. "Hopefully a hero arrives before they are able to call forth reinforcements to guard the area we just secured."
My courage and my voice suddenly failed me, and I could not tell her, I was that hero. I managed to croak: "I'll do my best!"
The Vector Coil
She lead me to a massive old man with an unruly mass of white hair: "This is Demolitionist Legoso.
Follow and protect him as he attempts to destroy the Vector Coil and slay Sironas. Return to Exarch Admetius at Blood Watch should you complete the mission."
Demolitionist Legoso looked at me, scoring up my still slender frame and lacking years. I had never in my life wanted more intensely to be older and bigger than in those minutes.
In the end he spoke to me in a slow, deliberate voice: "Don't accept this assignment if you value your life. You see that gigantic power core jutting out of the mountain side over yonder? Whoever takes on this burden will need to fight their way through that mountain, battling an army of Sunhawks while protecting me as I rig the core up for demolition. Sironas the eredar is somewhere up there as well. I won't think less of you if you just walk away, Rusty.
But maybe you're the one - the one to destroy the Vector Coil and take down Sironas. Well, are you?"
I found my voice, and said: "Yes, Demolitionist Legoso, I think I am the one."
He only looked at me, and said. "Follow me."
Together we walked the winding path to the Vector Coil. It seemed deserted but for some Bloodhawks coming two by two, but they were no match for us. We reached the plateau in front of the big, purple building where a lady stood with upraised arms, blue streaks of energy washing over her body. Demolitionist said: "Blessed Light! She's siphoning energy right out of the Vector Coil! Cover me, we have to do this quickly. Once I blow the support on this side, it will disrupt the energy beams and she'll break out! I doubt very much we'll make it out alive."
I could not care less. I now saw Sironas with my own eyes. She was hideous in her beauty. I could not stop looking at her. She was the master mind behind our suffering. I longed to sink my sword into her body. I knew this was what I was created for. If I survived the coming fight or not, was of lesser importance to me. But Sironas had to be stopped.
Legoso began his job. He had one bomb set and armed before anybody discovered us, but from then on I was busy protecting him from Sunhawks set on killing him before he could finish his job.
I was in a killing frenzy, almost out of my mind. The time seemed to slow down for me, and I killed Sunhawk after Sunhawk until I heard Legoso's basso voice "Take cover! And be ready for the fight of your life!"
I only just made it behind a protecting crystal before his bombs exploded and the blue flames died down. As the energy streams stopped Sironas grew to four times her normal size and yelled for us to be ready to meet the Light.
In an overwhelmed voice Demolitionist Legoso exclaimed: "Holy Mother of O'ros!" I said a quick prayer and jumped between Legoso and Sironas' sword.
From there it was an all-consuming battle, Demolitionist Legoso placed many of his small healing and supporting totems on the ground. I could see their energy battering at Sironas' shields and reinforce my feeble powers. Powers that were of almost no avail against her wicked, purple shields, but my sword made small dents in her defences. The Naaru must have been helping us, for just as The Demolitionist started sagging and almost fell to the ground, Sironas began shrinking. We had worn out her tapped powers. I threw my sword upwards with a desperate prayer to the Light. It hit, Sironas dropped her sword and crumpled to the ground, now once again her normal form and size. I finished her off, and turned to Legoso.
He looked at me as if awakening and said: "I... I can't believe it's over. You did it! You've destroyed the blood elves and their leader! Let's get back to Blood Watch" Slowly, holding up each other, we made our way back stumbling over rubble and burning embers. When we finally made it back, we were at the end of our powers.
Blood Watch and beyond
Exarch Admetius came out of his house and had us carried inside. After he had us fed and washed, he gradually pieced the story together from our telling.
We slept. For how long, I did not know. But I awoke to a dazzling day. I felt empty, but good. Nothing hurt, nothing ached. and I stretched luxuriously. I was in Adnetious' sumptuous guest suite and I could see Legoso in bed in the next room, and the Exarch talking with him. As they realized I was awake, Exarch Admetius came to me: "You have saved the whole of Bloodmyst and Azuremyst, securing the way of life on Azeroth, Rusty!
For this, there can be no amount of thanks, no reward, nothing large enough in scope to truly express our appreciation. Yet, there are still so many that were left behind who cannot be here for this historic event. You must find your way back. Find your way back to our origin, Hero of Argus. Bring our people to this new home. Home to the land that you saved. Home to Azuremyst ...
Now rise and dress, the Prophet has come in person to thank you."
I dressed in the simple, yet beautiful clothes laid out for me. My sword was black, almost shrivelled, I dared not touch it.
As I left Exarch Admetius' home and walked into the dazzling sunlight I saw that not only the Prophet had come. Everybody was there. I walked toward the Prophet through a sea of people. I saw the Princess of the Stillpines, the Chief of the Stillpines, and many of their people, Admiral Odesyus, The Cook, the wounded Elven princess pale but happy, traders and blacksmiths, Gurf, Morae, Exarch Menelaos, smiling as I'd never seen him smile beofore, in short everybody.
Prophet Velen himself stood at the end of the ranks beaming at me. I slowly made my way down to him and knelt in the sun. He bade me stand and spoke to me: "These islands will serve as the home to thousands. Most of these people will remain here their entire lives. If you so desired, you could do the same. But that's not what you want, is it, Rusty?"
Silently I shook my head no. He looked me straigth in the eyes.
"You will do many more great things before you pass. You must embrace your destiny and meet it head on!
Before you leave, I present you with two gifts: This tabard is worn by only the most revered of the Hand of Argus and this signet ring worn by our wisest sages. Wear them both with pride, Rusty."
He pulled the tabard over my head, and everybody clapped and made happy noises in my honour. I was deeply moved, almost to tears.
Then I saw Kessel turning towards me. Laughing he told me he'd brought a friend. I looked up and saw Fant, my favourite elekk. "Yes, Rusty, she's all yours. Remember to keep her out of the water." Then we all began laughing and hugging. The party lasted long into the night.
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