[Alliance] Chapter Four: Session Forty

Appearing Characters: Aramar Thorne, Elissa Cross, Makasa Flintwill, Maraad, Medivh, Remnii, Seria, Tol'vas Moonshadow, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner

July 30th

The battle in the corrupted druid grove continues to rage on as one of the satyr thornbearers fires two shots at Uther. One of the arrows clinks off his chain mail, and the satyr ducks behind a tree. Another thornbearer starts to shoot at the rogue inferno spider as he curses, realizing the elemental is no longer an ally.

The satyr next to Tol’vas looks at Tol’vas with wide eyes.

He wails into Tol’vas with his scythe and tries to back away, but the massive wolf grabs him and shakes the demon like a chew toy before throwing his limp body against the thorny wall.

Remnii casts [Spirit Guardians], and the spectral naaru start to swirl around her--not affecting Tol’vas for now.

Another of the Axxarien satyrs grapples with Maraad and tries to slice into him with his scythe, but is deflected aside. The second succubus approaches and tries to strike Maraad with her whip, the weapon wrapping around his hammer. However, he holds tight and tries to pull her closer instead--an attempt that the succubus is able to resist.

Tol’vas turns his eyes on the alpha darkhound with a snarl. He casts [Swiftmend] on himself and then lurches over Vel’s head for the alpha’s throat, ripping it to the ground as he grabs the hound by the scruff. Tol’vas starts to maul into him with his claws, but the alpha growls defiantly as it tries to fight back.

One of the rimewings gets blasted with spirit guardians and takes off. A sootwing bursts in the holy energy. The remaining moths also take off in fear, completely dissuaded by the spell.

The inferno spider scurries back from the satyr it was engaged with and launches a burning web at the satyr, which dodges around the dripping, lava-strewn webbing as he struggles with the webbing already on him.

Uther deflects aside the strikes from another satyr and then channels energy as he grabs the Libram of Justice. There is the faint sound of chimes in the air.

There is a brilliant flash of light, and a coronet of light appears over his head. Maraad smirks.

Uther then runs for the thornbearer that had been outside the range of his channel divinity.

Seria casts [Wrath] on the darkhound behind the alpha, which yelps from the impact of the spell, but stays standing. She then drinks a potion. The darkhound lunges at Vel, but is unable to land a hit.

The rest of the pack is trying to catch up, but the magic of Vel’s slow is doing work. Elissa uses the ball lightning ability from her ring, killing the darkhound alpha and the other darkhound.

Maraad, noting Uther will be able to handle the last one, runs back to the rest of the group and mutters a prayer and casts [Mass Flash of Light] over the group--which doesn’t affect Vel. Vel darts toward the nearest slowed darkhound and Tol’vas lashes out at her, clamping on her leg. She scrambles, ripping her leg free.

Vel casts [Heart Strike] and slashes into the darkhound with two strikes. Another darkhound snaps at her, but misses.

The satyrs that are turned all start to flee. The thornbearer next to Uther growls and tries to attack him, but Uther headbutts him back and the satyr curses loudly. Vel whirls around and uses [Heart Strike] on another of the darkhounds, opening a gaping wound on a second one before she flips her blade around and worsens the gushing wound on the still-slowed darkhound. Thick ichor is coating the ground.

Remnii’s spirit guardians flares and hits Tol’vas as he had attacked Vel. He snarls and then rounds on Seria, and he grabs her up in his jaws. He leaps around, mauling her with his claws. Seria casts [Blink] to get out of Tol’vas’s jaws and reappears in the midst of a bramble of thorns. She then casts [Druidcraft] to imitate the sound of the snarling hellhounds, trying to draw his attention away from Remnii and the others.

The thornbearer entangled in the web shouts after Maraad and tries to shoot after him, but they miss.

Another thornbearer curses.

He shoots at his allies, but only one connects--one that Uther promptly uses [Righteous Defense] to claim so that the turning did not drop.

The darkhound that Vel had inflicted with severe bleeding drops to the ground and bleeds out. Remnii casts [Mass Flash of Light], healing her allies. She then uses [Mind Sliver] on Tol’vas.

One of the remaining darkhounds tries to bite Vel, but its fangs glance off her arcane [Shield]. Meanwhile, the inferno spider attacks the entangled satyr, poisoning it.

Uther slams his hammer into the engaged satyr, which bursts into dust. He then turns his attention on the other thornbearer that had tried to bring his allies to his senses. He swings his hammer into his jaw, also sending the second thornbearer into the Nether. Uther quickens a [Thunder Step] to return to the rest of the group, and he appears next to Remnii.

He juxtaposes himself between Remnii and Tol’vas.

Elissa fires a lightning blast at the remaining bleeding darkhound, and it yelps as it crumbles to the ground. She then runs to Vel's side to firm up the back line.

Maraad reaches out and uses cleansing touch on Tol’vas. He starts to see clarity, but the madness is fighting against it.

Vel tries to use [Heart Strike] on the remaining dark hound, but it bites her blade. She scoffs, and drives the blade into its mouth as she wrenches her blade free. Meanwhile Uther swings into Tol’vas twice with his hammer.

The inferno spider continues to bite the struggling satyr, and is summarily devoured. There is a blast of energy and an explosion of brambles as Medivh comes barreling in, somewhat scuffed.

He sees the inferno spider and casts [Banishment]. The spider disappears in a shower of sparks. Medivh claps his hands together, looking around for the group.

Remnii casts [Mind Sliver] on Tol’vas and knocks him out of his pack form.

It’s muffled to his ears, as he’s still lost in the mire of madness. Remnii casts [Soothe], and the frantic panting Tol’vas is still doing starts to subside. Elissa and Vel are able to finish off the last darkhound.

Remnii goes to support Tol’vas, who is twitching as if he’s waking from a nightmare. He almost feels a hand trying to drag him back into the rage and the quiet, but he is able to pull himself free of the mire, and he awakens. He feels uneasy and unsettled, like after a terrible nightmare that he cannot forget no matter how hard he tries.

Tol’vas tries to get to his feet, shakily.

Tol’vas nods and scrambles for the exit, accompanied by Seria as he goes off to collect himself.

Remnii groans with a mixture of exasperation and relief, and she points north.

The remainder of the group heads through the carnage. As they get to the center, they see a font--similar to a moonwell--but this one is broken with the contents spilling out. It’s a twisted mockery of what was in the Wailing Caverns, the waters rancid and bright green. Everything was defaced in eredun and blood. The bones of deceased night elves are scattered about, and Ash’alah’s bones are within the water--about 20 feet in.

Maraad wades into the water and disappears beneath the waters for a moment. He emerges a few seconds later, carrying a blackened and eaten-away skull of a frost saber as well as some other pieces of major bones. The [Protection from Evil and Good] spell he had cast protects him as he returns.

Remnii nods.

The group quits the area to rejoin Tol’vas and Seria, who are a good few hundred feet away.

Tol’vas looks back at the corrupted grove and casts [Call Lightning], bringing bolts down on the grove. However, it does not break all the way through. Tol’vas frowns.

Elissa puts a hand on Tol’vas’s shoulder, and they head off, traveling for about 45 minutes to an hour. They find a secluded area in the surrounding forests that seems not quite so twisted. They rest for a moment to patch up wounds.

Remnii nods.

She looks at Seria and Elissa.

Medivh smiles and puts his hands out to his sides.

Near the end of the short rest, Vel approaches Remnii.

Remnii starts to actually chuckle heartily.

Vel casts [Magnificent Mansion] and then takes the time to set up a silent [Alarm] spell around the entrance before she follows the rest of the group inside. Vel takes a brief moment to show Maraad to his room, and he looks around.

He points at the pull-up bar.

Vel seems content that he was pleased with his accommodations, and she opted to retreat to the workshop off the study--leaving the door open so she could be peripherally involved as the group starts to unwind and relax for the evening.

Remnii retreats to her own room after a bit, but soon after there is a knock on her door.

The door opens, and it’s Maraad. He nods.

Remnii is sitting on a pile of pillows on the floor and she gestures to one of them.

She hugs a pillow.

Remnii inclines her head.

Remnii offers a sad smile.

She contemplates for a moment, braiding a piece of her hair.

Remnii takes a heavy breath.

Remnii gathers up her knees to the pillow at her chest.

Remnii sighs.

Maraad nods.

Maraad considers for a moment.

Remnii sighs and falls quiet for a moment.

Remnii goes into explaining what happened on the Vitiator and her second days with Shaspira, as well as the Path of Glory and the opening of the Dark Portal and the escape from Shaspira and the death of Onard and the capture of Yrel.

Remnii smiles.

She chuckles.

Maraad puts a hand on Remnii’s arm.

Remnii puts a hand on Maraad’s and squeezes it as she gives him a warm, soft smile.

Maraad gives a nod and a smile, and then stands up.

Remnii stands up with him to see the other draenei to the door.

He embraces her, and Remnii holds on tight for a moment before releasing. She palms at her cheek, and she has glassy eyes.

Maraad leaves Remnii’s room and glances at her with a smile before heading over to his own room next door.

Elissa asked Tol’vas what color Ash’alah was as she was trying to make a painting of her during the night. Tol’vas makes a small minor illusion to show her.

Meanwhile Vel had retrieved one of Ash’alah’s bones to run some diagnostics on it with an [Identify] spell. Effectively what the satyrs were trying to do was use a ritual with the corrupted moonwell to destroy the remains to make it impossible to resurrect Ash’alah outside true resurrection or wish. The ritual would have also made a true resurrection difficult.

As people had started to head to bed, Vel had emerged from the workshop into the main study. Only Medivh remained, packing up his things so he too could go off to bed.

He glances in Vel’s direction.

He looks back to one of the mana wyrm servants that would normally be maintaining the bar in its humanoid form, which was just sitting around as it had nothing else to do. It gives a nod before drifting over to float in its now unoccupied position. Vel chuffs.

He chuckles lightly.

Medivh grins and laughs.

He picks up Atiesh from where it had been leaning against the wall.

Vel nods.

Medivh continues to grin.

He pauses.

Med: Ooo…

Medivh winces.

Vel chuffs.

Again, Vel chuffs.

Vel gets up and turns to head out of the study, but she stops, her fingernails tapping on the open doorway as she glances back over her shoulder.

She passes through the doorway into the dimly lit corridor, heading towards the glow of the portal that would take her down below. Medivh had paused and watched her leave--caught somewhat off guard--but she overhears him talking to himself after she left the room.

Vel continued to her quarters and disappeared within them. About ten minutes pass before she hears the sound of the portal to her chambers activating, and she turns to look at Medivh, who had now entered. He cocks his head to the side and looks around.

Medivh’s mouth flaps.

Vel smirks.

Medivh chuckles.

Meanwhile, Uther finds himself in a dream about the Libram of Justice. Which seems to be able to talk, and it offers him advice and a reminder that it was the day of its creation. It was a largely benign dream, but still, Uther awakens in a cold sweat and finds his eyes drawn to the book that is sitting on his bedside table.

There is a long pause as he looks at it, waiting for it to do anything, but he opts to whisper.

There is no response, as the libram just sits in silence.

He settles back down into his bed.

He closes his eyes and goes to sleep.

Seria and Tol’vas fall into a deep slumber. Tol’vas seemingly awakens in the same garden-area he had fallen asleep in, but Seria was not there.

In Seria’s dream, Tol’vas was not there.

But they both sense something in the chamber. Something behind the central tree… which is covered in brambles and spines that had twisted around the trunk of it. They reach for their staves, but they aren’t there.

They hear laughter.

They see a shadow move. Tol’vas grabs for his staff, but it’s gone. He tries to fire off a spell.

Seria lights up the grove with the command word, and it ignites in bright red. Veins of crimson wind through the garden, and the water glows with a malevolent, twisted color.

AS Tol’vas’s [Wrath] spell strikes into the shadow, the lights ignite in his dream as well. A figure tumbles out of the shadows. It’s Seria, with a wide, wild grin on her face. Her legs are twisted and bent--covered in thick black fur. There are two long horns at the top of her head, and her tusks are even longer.

A figure comes from behind Seria in her dream, and leaps at her. She turns to face them, and casts [Shadow Protection] on herself. The aura washes over her, and the figure swipes at her with a massive, thorny claw. She grabs the hand, and she sees bright golden eyes, his body covered in shaggy fur. He has long horns, and cloven hooves. He laughs maniacally.

They look around, and they see the satyr form of Uther--broken armor covered in vines and torment. Vel appears next, her body misshapen, and contorted into a creature more bat than anything else. Remnii is a massive goat-like creature with hoof-like claws. They see Elissa, mostly the same, but her eyes stained blood red. Medivh is a corrupted, monstrous raven, and Maraad is sitting on Remnii’s back, crystals impaling his twisting body.

But something is wrong. They both concentrate and push through. They come to, and they find themselves in the grove outside the mansion in the Emerald Dream. They see malevolent nightmares taking the shape of their friends.

Tol’vas and Seria are back to back now in the dream, and they promptly eject themselves from the Dream and isolate their minds.

In the middle of the night, Remnii emerges from her bedroom. She sighs and smooths out her nightgown then clops over to Maraad’s door. However, she hears something. It’s a flutter of wings. She looks over and sees a raven, which then transforms into Medivh outside the door of his room. He sighs, taking his staff as he whistles a jaunty tune, and enters his room.

Remnii waits until his door closes, as he didn’t seem to notice her, and then knocks on Maraad’s door. Before long, Maraad opens the door. He is shirtless with a concerned look.

Remnii’s eyes are puffy.

Maraad cocks his head to the side.

Maraad’s mouth flaps and he blushes.

He steps back to let her enter, and Remnii enters. She looks a the pull-up bar with a smile.

She sits down on the bed and pats the side.

Maraad clears his throat.

Maraad goes over and gives her a hug.

Maraad crawls into bed with her and gives her her space, but Remnii nuzzles closer, and Maraad hesitantly wraps his arm around her and holds her closer. Remnii cries for a bit, and Maraad pushes the back of his forehead against the back of her head.

They both fall asleep.

July 31

Tol’vas wakes up in the morning and immediately goes to Medivh’s room. He knocks on the door. He waits for a moment, and then the door opens. Medivh seems to be talking, his lips are moving, but Tol’vas doesn’t hear anything.

Tol’vas blinks.

Medivh steps through the doorway.

Tol’vas describes the nightmare.

Tol’vas notes Medivh seems to covered in scratches, some of which are somewhat visible beneath his tunic.

Tol’vas looks very interested.

Remnii wakes up next to Maraad.

There is relief on Maraad’s face as he laughs. Remnii lingers.

Maraad smiles and looks down with a chuckle. Remnii notices he’s not saying something, but she gives him another soft smile.

Remnii pushes her hair behind her ears and she goes to leave.

Maraad doesn’t get up or stop watching Remnii until she leaves. Remnii opts to go and soak in the bath for a bit.

They leave their rooms at the same time.

Maraad nods and furrows his brow.

Maraad stumbles over his words and then gives a resigned sigh. Remnii chuckles softly.

They all collectively head down to the dining room, where Vel is already there sipping her coffee with her spellbook--going over her spells.

Medivh walks in with Tol’vas.

He bows at her, and she looks up and nods with a small raise of her mug, and Medivh goes right back to talking to Tol’vas. They all get food, and Remnii starts to ask about where they should do the ritual.

Remnii looks at Seria and Tol’vas.

Remnii nods.

Remnii’s eyes go wide.

Vel looks up to catch a look at the wound, and she notes strands of dark hair around it.

She points to the hairs.

Remnii casts [Remove Curse], and the hairs fall out as the wound knits over.

They leave the mansion and Vel dismisses the spell.

One of Elissa’s brushes lands on the ground.

They head back towards Ash’alah’s former grave site. They go through the orc camp, and they see one of the ogre corpses covered in the white moths. It doesn’t take them long to find the site where Ash’alah had been dug up.

Seria nods, and Tol’vas arranges them in a neat triangle around Remnii and the bones. The three of them focus and concentration, and reach into the collective nature magic between them, causing new life to sprout beneath Remnii and Ash’alah’s remains. Sprigs of catnap, plants, daisies, and grass leap up from the ground, and the grove starts to return to a new life.

Remnii smiles warmly.

Remnii arranges the bones, and she kneels beside them. She starts to incantate, diamonds in both palms which start to float above her in an arc--functioning as a clock as the light moves through the shimmering diamonds, shattering each one at each 10 minute interval.

It’s a protracted ritual. Each diamond shattering one by one. But there’s something wrong. Something preventing it from happening. She feels Ash’alah’s spirit, and she knows it’s able to return. But the spirit doesn’t seem to be willing. Remnii can sense overwhelming sadness, and tears start to stream down Remnii’s face.

Vel nods and quickly scrambles for her notes on the spell that she had been working on, quickly reminding herself of key incantations for [Commune with Dead] as her tattoos alight and she begins to channel magic.

Wisps of ghostly magic waft through the air, washing out the color of the immediate area as the wispy, blue energy begins to coalesce in one of Vel’s hands.

More magic begins to manifest, and it coalesces in Vel’s other hand. The air shimmers as shadowy, amalgous forms flicker in and out of existence--dark figures seen through a sheer, seamless curtain rippling in an unseen winter breeze.

Vel’s eyes alight with icy blue light, wisps of magic flowing around her as a large, shadowy, feline form reaches out a massive paw. The paw presses against the seamless veil, which pulls taught against it, giving it form as it transitions into a beautiful, translucent, shimmering facsimile of the great cat in life.

Hovering in the center of the ritual is the ghostly form of Ash’alah, her translucent paws touching the earth without touching it.

The specter’s eyes open, and she roars, those with speak with animals able to translate.

Tol’vas’s eyes go wide as he translates.

The beast’s head looks at Remnii.

As the words reach the massive tiger, the sadness in the creature’s eyes begins to fade and is replaced with shock and anger. Ash’alah’s spirit rears its head back and releases a massive roar of anger and anguish.

Her voice echoes as the spirit fades into the magic swirling around Vel, and the diamonds that had cracked but not broken, repair themselves. Remnii continues to focus on the ritual, and each diamond shatters, the time passing seemingly instantaneously, and with the length of a lifetime. Then the ritual comes to an end and the final diamond shatters.

The magic of the Light, and Vel’s own death magic swirl together, and motes of light drift from the plants and join the swirling chorus of life, light, and death. Remnii’s hair flies back, and the energy glows around Ash’alah’s remains. The plants grow up and around the bones, making a tiger out of flowers and leaves and plants. It glows a brilliant blue, silver, and gold. And then it fades, and fades, and fades.

The last wisps of magic disappear, and there is a beautiful white coat of fur stretched out in the same place where the bones were. Ash’alah opens her eyes and takes a breath.

The tiger sits up and throws her head back and roars. Birds from the nearby tree take to the sky, the resurrection ritual now complete. The tiger looks at Remnii, her massive face right in front of the draenei’s. She closes her eyes and nuzzles against her forehead.

Remnii puts her hands on the side of Ash’alah’s head and pushes her forehead to hers.

There is recognition in the tiger’s eyes and she nods, and then turns to the rest of those present.

Medivh, in no small amount of awe, comes to.

The tiger chuffs in acknowledgement, and Remnii launches into an explanation.

Ash’alah nods and closes her eyes as Remnii casts [Detect Thoughts].

Ash’alah allows Remnii to delve into her memory, and Remnii sees the battle. Faces aren’t there, but the battle seems off. There are demons and fel fire erupting amid the draenei. They are no draenei Remnii had ever seen. They would never summon demons. There is a felhunter that Ash’alah rears back and decimates. Tyrande releases hails of arrows and magic. And then there’s a shadow. The battle continues, and the shadow remains.

Eventually the shadow peels Tyrande off Ash’alah’s back with a massive claw. There are massive, broad wings, and a vaguely humanoid form. There are horns. There is a voice, cool and low, speaking in eredun.

Tyrande spits back at the demon, flinging magic. The vision starts to fade, the mortally wounded Ash’alah fading. The last thing there is Tyrande impaled by claws, and her essence pulled from her.

The high priestess’s body goes limp, and then burning green eyes turn to Ash’alah. There are two prominent horns, and many smaller ones covering a bald head. There is a chinstrap of spikes, pointed ears, and a devilish grin of sharp teeth. It stalks towards Ash’alah, and then the image fades.

Remnii comes out of the vision sweating.

Tol’vas looks at Ash’alah suddenly.

The tiger shakes her head.

The draenei looks at Ash’alah.

Elissa nods.

Tol’vas expresses he can open a portal with transport via plants.

Elissa happily strokes the massive saber cat’s fur.

She looks at Vel.

Ash’alah bows her head to Vel and says nothing more, but then looks at Tol’vas.

Ash’alah looks him up and down.

Ash’alah bows her head, looks at the rest with a fondness, and then looks at Elissa.

Tol’vas casts [Transport via Plants] to send them back to Timbermaw Hold.

Ash’alah looks back.

There is a hint of amusement on Ash’alah’s face.

Tol’vas laughs. Ash’alah nuzzles him in a small gesture, and then she and Elissa step through the portal. Suddenly, someone comes spilling through from the other side and crashes into the grass. It’s Aramar.

Makasa follows after.

They fill him in on everything.

Tol’vas and Seria cast [Wind Walk] over the group, and there’s a look of satisfaction and Vel looks at the plant grove--pleased that her theories on the spell that she was working on were correct.

They fly over the forests heading towards the Azure Watch, and as they pass over the Shadowridge they see something swimming in the ocean near the mouth of the river. It’s a dark shadow. And then another one. They are over a few dozen feet long. Seria is pretty sure they are gigantic blue whales.

The group lands in Azure Watch without incident.

This page was last edited on June 18, 2023, at 11:46 AM

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