[Alliance] Chapter Four: Session Twenty-Nine

Appearing Characters: Aeolynn Treeflower, Aramar Thorne, Arthas Menethil, Delaryn Summermoon, Elissa Cross, Fandral Staghelm, Istaria Staghelm, Jarod Shadowsong, Kharron Treeflower, Leyara Staghelm, Locus-Walker, Makasa Flintwill, Remnii, Riff, Samaara, Seria, Tae'shara Sunwatcher, Thenysil, Tol'vas Moonshadow, Tyrande Whisperwind, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Zen'tabra

June 27th

The night is peaceful as the group settles into the mansion for the evening.

June 28th - July 7th

The next morning, everyone awakes and prepares to get on the road. They have a bountiful nine-course breakfast spread of anything they could possibly think of. Jarod goes out of his way to thank Vel for the food and they pack up and exit the mansion. Vel dismisses the spell.

Jarod looks to her.

Tol’vas and Seria work together to conjure some elk for those who are steed-less to ride. Uther and Elissa summon their horses as well.

Elissa greets Daisy happily. Vel snaps her fingers and casts [Seeming], transforming Radiant and Daisy into nightsabers and all non-night elves into night elves.

Remnii has a longer dress wrapped around her with pink skin and bushy white hair. Vel has white hair and pale purple skin but is much taller and bright blue eyes with purple leaves woven in her hair. Uther has a fuller beard with dark blue skin and white hair. Aramar looks like a very average night elf and is similar to Jarod, though Aramar’s hair is a deep purplish-black. Arthas resembles a slightly older version of Uther’s night elf form. Elissa looks similar to how she normally does with slightly pinker skin, and her hair is a pale green. Makasa has a deep plum skin tone and dark hair that is in a style similar to her own. Samaara is almost the exact same colors as she normally is, but she has altered to be a night elf. Tae’shara is still quite short for a night elf and has dark black-blue hair and deep ashen skin that’s slightly lighter than Makasa’s.

Jarod looks around the group.

Jarod passes a hand through Uther’s illusion for confirmation.

Tol’vas, in an elk form, honks in acknowledgement, and the group sets off. Before long, they find themselves wandering through the paths of Ashenvale. The air tastes clean and cool. It’s still the middle of summer, but because of the cover from the sun, it’s much nicer than it was in the scorching heat of the Barrens. They don’t see any other night elves immediately, but the road seems to be better kept than the road in the Barrens. The trees here are old, and very tall.

Remnii has a dumb smile as she looks around in awe.

This is the first time Tol’vas had been back home, and while he had been to forests since reawakening, there was something about returning here that could put his spirit at ease for even a brief moment.

About an hour or two of travel, they see the first signs of civilization. There is a small piece of wood with perfectly filigreed metal that forms a small lantern with a thin pane of glass tinted blue. The back side is open, and inside is a small flower that has glowflies resting around it.

Vel notes that the next one they see is about a mile away. And the next one is another mile, as if they also serve as mile markers.

Throughout the course of the week they are traveling, Seria tries to scry Zalazane at Vel’s suggestion, but time after time, the scrying is unsuccessful. Each time it fails, Seria upends the bowl in frustration. Either he’s incredibly lucky, or there may be something else blocking it.

By the end of the first day is the first time they see true night elven architecture, but there are not many actual night elves they encounter.

During the third day, they note a night elven man chopping lumber and he smiles at them and waves as he calls out a greeting in Darnassian. Jarod steps forward to speak with him, and the night elf man welcomes them to join them for a meal as it’s just him and his daughter right now as his wife is a Sentinel and is away at the moment. Jarod thanks him, but explains they have much distance to make, and the night elven man nods and sees them off.

One evening as Vel is creating the mansion, Elissa approaches Tol’vas--still in her night elven guise. She’s been pretty much in awe, and any break she had taken was spent trying to paint the scenery.

Elissa blushes.

Tol’vas nods with a smile.

Tol’vas pauses

Tol’vas smiles and pulls the scythe out.

She touches the top of the scythe with a finger.

Elissa continues to ask more questions and the conversation continues as they head into the mansion. A few days later, she grabs Tol’vas again when they are once more resting in the mansion.

She leads him into her room and shows him an easel with a sheet.

She pulls off the sheet and reveals a beautiful rendition of Goldrinn. It isn’t perfect, but it’s beautiful in her distinctively stylized way. It depicts him in a sunset, overlooking the trees behind him.

Elissa beams.

Tol’vas is a bit dumbstruck for words.

Elissa smiles.

Elissa heads out of her room, and Tol’vas looks at the painting for a moment before he follows after her.

Later that night, and several nights during their travel, Vel asks Uther if he wants to spar and he handily agrees. Aramar also gets in on the action--as does Elissa periodically. Tae’shara, of course, eagerly tries to get the gambling scene involved and even manages to coerce Samaara into placing a wager--a wager that Samaara successfully wins.

Riff, likewise, wants to wrestle in his serpent form, and Uther happily agrees.

Vel makes a personal note that she’s pretty sure that Riff has been growing, and he’s been growing quickly. He’s at least a solid foot longer than he was when they left Gadgetzan--maybe even longer.

Later during several evenings, Vel had used one of the rooms of requirement to create an ice rink, and almost every night after most had gone to bed, she had started playing games with “herself” (though in actuality they were games she was playing against Kel’Thuzad).

Vel also notes that Remnii had started to get up pacing and praying a lot as they start to near Astranaar. Jarod also, similarly, had noticed Remnii pacing.

Remnii stops and a bead of silence passes.

Jarod nods.

Remnii gets a small smile.

Remnii massages her temples.

Jarod smiles.

Jarod smiles and heads into the kitchens and Remnii hears him greet Makasa, who was clearly in there getting spirits of her own.

Eventually the group passes a small fishing village and they cross over the Falfarren River. There are a few Sentinels in the area, but the town is mostly asleep aside from some day patrols. As they cross to the other side of the river, they catch sight of a moonwell. It’s bright waters are glowing in the perpetually dim light. It’s about 30 or so feet off the highway, and there are small motes of light flickering around it. There is also wildlife around, seemingly mostly unconcerned--at least until Vel veers closer on the path, at which point most of the time the animals choose to leave.

Predator and prey drink from the moonwell together, seemingly unafraid of each other.

She looks at Tol’vas, casting [[Spells/SpeakWithAnimals | [Speak With Animals]].

There are various offerings of flowers, nuts, and leaves, as well as abundant plantlife that flourishes around it.

Elissa looks over to Vel.

Vel briefly remembers the fountain of youth that Marin Noggenfogger had asked her to keep an eye on, and she files that thought away.

The group continues on and they pass by a guard tower. They then see something small in the middle of the road, and as they approach, a Sentinel drops down from a tree in front of them. She lands almost silently.

She looks backwards to the small thing in the road. Beyond the Sentinel, a small furry creature with tiny legs and very long arms with large claws is slowly crossing the stone.

The group waits, and Makasa crosses her arms and quietly mutters to Remnii.

The Sentinel’s eyes snap to Makasa.

She points up to two dark shadows in the trees, and they see two giant sloths wreathed in moss hanging from the tree.

Makasa puts her hands up in apology.

Elissa and Remnii are both endeared by how cute the creature is, and the Sentinel smirks, silently agreeing. There are a few other Sentinels around watching the situation. At one point, the small sloth starts to move towards the group, and the Sentinels whisper to each other and a satchel is tossed beneath them as one dumps some nuts and fruits on the ground to lure the baby sloth back in the proper direction.

Eventually, the slot gets to the edge of the tree, and there is a sigh of relief from the Sentinel. Two more night elves had stopped behind the group and had set up camp. As the baby sloth climbs up, there are silent cheers from a few Sentinels in the tree.

It had been about an hour and a half, and the Sentinel thanks the group and allows them to pass.

As the group continues on, Remnii eagerly asks what that creature was, and Tol’vas (through Elissa) is able to relay that it was a sloth. Tol’vas also recognized the name “Greenpaw” as being a tribe of furbolgs, which are peaceful, but can be territorial.

But Jarod is able to inform them they are a scarce few days from Astranaar.

On the evening of the seventh day, Vel had continued to send Locus-Walker.

She did not really expected anything back, as there had been no luck for the past two weeks she’d been trying. However, then she hears a response, and she shoots straight up from where she was sitting on the couch in the study.

Tae’shara--who had also been spending time in the study--looks over at Vel.

She immediately shuts her mouth and settles in, clearly listening and making it clear she’s going to pry into what’s going on after the sendings were complete.

Vel channels her mana to further expand the length of sending as she describes the creatures in what detail she could manage.

Vel glances over at Tae’shara as the sendings finish.

Tae’shara puts her hands up.

She holds up the hand with her ring on it momentarily.

Shara nods and opens up her book again, though Vel catches her glancing at her a few times over the pages. However, before long, Vel leaves the study to head to the top floor and report to Tol’vas and Seria.

Finding both of them there--as well as Remnii nearby--Vel quickly informs them of what she had found, and Tol’vas also provides her with the name of the “Emerald Nightmare,” which is what the druids had started to call the disturbance.

They agree that it would be wise to get the information to the druids, and Seria opts to try and get through to Zen’tabra in the Grove of Cenarius.

With some aid, Seria is able to punch through to Zen’tabra via [Spells/Dream | [Dream]]]. She finds her sitting in a circle with some dryads drinking something out of a wide bowl.

Seria explains to her everything that Vel had informed her of.

Zen’tabra nods and Seria awakens, able to confirm that she got through.

July 8th

The group continues on their way on the day they are supposed to make it to Astranaar. There are more signs of civilization.

He explains that Astranaar is one of the larger night elven cities. It has a population of a few thousand, and it’s located on an islet in the middle of a lake by the same name. There are marshes that seem to be cultivated, and dwellings started to become more common as they near the city.

Suddenly, something flies in front of Seria’s face, and she sees a small, bright blue light that spins rapidly around her. It then spins around Tol’vas and Vel, and another one joins, and another one. Four wisps had appeared, chattering in sylvan.

Fortunately, Remnii has [Tongues] up.

Tol’vas immediately starts to follow, and the group hurries after.

They follow the wisps, flickering in and out of sight. The rest of the group are able to follow Tol’vas and Seria in their elk forms, and they travel for about five minutes beyond the path. Then there is the sound of humanoid whimpering.

The wisps circle around the grove and then flicker out of existence as the group enters the grove. There is a small night elf that is easily no more than five years old. He is sitting on the ground, the edges of his trousers torn up. He has a scrape on his knee, and his ears are bloodshot with tears. He has blondish-purple hair. He immediately looks up at the two elk that had appeared first.

Tol’vas immediately transforms back to his humanoid form, and the boy’s eyes go wide.

The boy sniffles and nods as the rest of the group catches up.

Tol’vas holds out his hand, and the young boy takes it and gets up.

The boy looks up at Seria.

Seria looks at Tol’vas, unable to understand.

He pets Seria’s snout.

Tol’vas picks up the child as Seria kneels down and Tol’vas sets him on Seria’s back. The child pats Seria’s back.

The child looks to the rest of the group.

The child waves at the rest of the group.

The group starts to make their way back, and Jarod approaches with a smile.

The child nods.

The child nods again.

He pulls out a berry.

The child takes the berry and eats it.

The group makes it to the main road, and a few of the less-distracted people note the wisps reappear briefly.

They vanish again, and the group continues on to Astranaar. The child periodically looks around and starts to introduce himself while asking for other names.

He then looks at Vel.

He continues to ask random questions of people the entire way, but as they approach they start to hear some commotion. There are patrols of Sentinels heading outward, seemingly on the look for something.

Three women approach with a raised hand.

She then sees Kharron.

The Sentinels go to report to back and they see a night elf woman in a night gown of sorts who seems to be beside herself. There is another Sentinel with a bright green cloak that is comforting her.

The night elven woman looks up as the captain turns to acknowledge, and the mother hurries forward. Seria bends down to let Kharron hop off and run into his mother’s arms, who scoops him up.

She looks to the group and bows.

The woman nods.

Her eyes flicker to Tol’vas, and then up to his scythe. She tilts her head to the side slightly.

The Sentinels go about their duties, muttering amongst themselves.

Kharron is already out by the time they reach the woman’s house, which is small and simple. The town is somewhat reminiscent of the towns of Quel’thalas. Nature is everywhere, and there are animals that wander freely around--including tamed nightsabers.

She heads in and comes back a few moments later with a small bundle which she hands to Tol’vas.

Tol’vas unwraps it and finds three healing potions inside, two regular ones and one greater. He hands them over to Vel, who notes the glass is very intricately blown. The glass is clouded, as if to block light.

She bows to them and heads back into her home. Jarod smiles.

Jarod heads over to what appears to be an inn. The entire first floor is completely open, and there is another night elf woman with shoulder-length green hair and a dress standing at the desk.

She guides them up to the upper floor where they are given four rooms to share between them. Seria had changed into a night elf disguise, which has dark dusky blue skin and black hair with blue streaks within them.

The hours drag on forever, and they can hear the town start to awaken outside.

Vel renews the [Seeming] spell on them, and they head downstairs and make their way across the town. They see another moonwell--much larger than the other one they saw--and there are three night elven women kneeling before it. Another attendant greets the group casually as they head by. A market is starting, but there is no talk of currency--just offers of hospitality and casual trading.

Sentinels dot the area, and they are vigilant but not unkind. Many of them greet various townsfolk as if they are friends, and it seems very rare that any female night elves don’t have some sort of weapon on their person. Few of the men have them, but some have some hunting knives. The women also seem to readily outnumber the men.

A few people cast curious glances at the group, and a few younger Sentinels giggle as they note the attractive strangers, but they largely leave them to their own dealings.

A Sentinel at the outskirts wishes them safe travels but notes that they should be cautious, as there have been sightings of demons in Darkshore.

It doesn’t take them long to find the druid grove about a quarter of a mile outside of town. It’s a peculiar grove off the bank of lake Astranaar. A lot of the trees seem to be the same size, and they seem to be organized in a very deliberate pattern. There is a presence, as if they are being watched.

As Vel is looking around, she notes that the roots are visible, but they seem to be in patterns that are atypical. They curl in ways that are crafted, and she starts to realize something: it’s almost like a graveyard. There are no headstones to be seen, however. Only trees.

Tol’vas knows that’s exactly what this is, as trees are frequently planted over the bodies of deceased night elves and their roots are crafted into symbols in druidic to indicate the identities of those that rest there.

Tol’vas also notes treants are present, and the group steps into the center of the grove where there are three other night elves. One is pacing--tall, imperious, and broad of shoulder with green hair. He is before one of the trees, which is the same height of the majority of the trees in this place.

His eyes flicker to the group. He has a simple mantle with a long cloak, and he has a bare chest other than the mantle. He is wearing a kilt made of thick moss and vines, and bare feet are visible beneath it. Next to him, leaning against a small stone with a druidic symbol is another woman--another druid. She has the same shade of green hair with a shade or two darker, and gold eyes. Her hair is in a braid, and she is wearing simple leathers, and has a moonglaive that seems to be fashioned out of sharpened wood.

Last-but-not-least, and kneeling on the ground, is a woman with a mostly bare torso aside from a leather covering over her chest. She also has wild green hair, and she seems to be in some sort of meditation. She seems to be the youngest of the group, and she has other armor piled next to her--which Tol’vas recognizes as the armor of the Wardens. Her weapon, an umbral crescent, is also resting before her.

The man stops and looks at the group.

His eyes flicker over the group.

He switches to common.

Fandral’s eyes widen.

Fandral rolls his eyes.

Remnii steps forward and curtsies.

With little effort, Fandral’s hands go down to a pouch in his kilt. He draws some powder and throws it into the air. He casts [Spells/Truesight | [Truesight]]] on himself, and his eyes narrow.

Istaria is up on a knee, her weapon in hand.

Istaria nods, but she is watching Remnii like a hawk. Fandral then looks to the group, seeing a few high elves, a few humans, and a multitude of other curious individuals--though some, Remnii included, are blocked from the divination magic.

Remnii explains that they had journeyed from the other side of the world in the Eastern Kingdoms and most people in the group had offered to help her. She had not come through with the other draenei.

She also mentions she brings news of the Broxigar and the Traveler--things she would like to present to Tyrande directly.

Uther also speaks up, removing his amulet so that Fandral could see his true form.

As Vel observes, she notes the man’s mannerisms, and that Fandral does not like Tyrande. At all.

Remnii holds out the stone she got from Naralex and holds it out. Fandral takes it.

She then offers the ivy from Lunara.

Fandral’s brows go up.

His eyes flicker as he uses some sort of magic to detect the magic on the ivy, and Leyara looks at it in surprise.

Fandral combs his beard with his hand.

Fandral looks at Tol’vas.

Fandral holds his hand out. After a moment’s tense hesitation, Tol’vas hands it over. Fandral takes the weapon.

He approaches a tree and casts [Transport via Plants].

Istaria grabs her armor and crescent, still watching Remnii as she awaits the rest to go through first. The bark of the tree shimmers with life energy and opens into a portal. Fandral steps through. Everyone follows, and they see a verdant green on the other side.

They walk out of another tree miles and miles from where they were. The weight of the air is heavier, and they see massive, spreading roots. They note a corridor, and a lattice of rootwork weaves through the entry points around a massive lake with a small island and a small tree beneath the biggest tree they had ever seen. It reaches the cloud-cover, as they are standing in the shadow of Nordrassil.

They see buildings--another town of sorts--that surrounds the lake. One of them is a temple. It’s not the biggest temple they had ever seen, but it’s an ornate one. However, further investigation reveals this town is more like a military base. There are weapons about, and barricades, and watchtowers. There are a lot of Sentinels on patrol, in formation, doing drills, and more.

High up in the sky are shadows of flying creatures that are weaving in and out of the boughs of Nordrassil. There are creatures Tol’vas recognizes as hippogriffs, and there are the calls and cries of beasts all around them.

Everyone follows the archdruid upon breaking themselves out of the awe. Elissa remains motionless, but Vel grabs her hand and snaps her from the stunned silence. Two Sentinels are standing watch, each of them wielding immaculate moonglaives with shields at their sides. They note Fandral, and the group following him.

The Sentinels exchange glances.

There is a moment of tension, and one of the Sentinels disappears inside for a moment before returning. She speaks with Fandral, and he nods and steps inside.

The group waits for a moment.

And then another.

Ten or fifteen minutes later, the group is still standing there. The guards are watching them, and there are other people watching them as well. Then Fandral reemerges with a huff. His face is flushed with annoyance.

He speaks briefly to the Sentinels. Istaria and Leyara are still waiting.

She looks at the group.

She shoots a look at Remnii.

The two share a moment and press their foreheads together.

Istaria and Leyara share a moment and Leyara disappears through the tree again as Fandral and Istaria head off.

The Sentinels, meanwhile, lead the group up the stairs of the temple.

She holds a hand out and the group disarms themselves.

The group steps into a simple chamber--a two-tiered atrium. There is a statue of a female night elf with a found draining from a basin she holds aloft. The water is glowing. There are no seats or pews. It’s just a garden with stone that invites natural moss and grass in patches in a fusion of nature and reverence.

It’s also dark. There are no sconces, but there is a soft glow that emanates from the water, as well as the natural light of the moon.

A woman stands before them, closer in height to Remnii than not, and she has her back to the group. Her deep blue hair catches in the moonlight, and specks of silver ripple in it like teardrops. She turns to the group, her head tilted slightly upward. Her expression is serious, but not unfriendly.

Seria and Samaara notes they are not alone. Like shadows in the night, there are figures lurking in the upper tier. There is just the faintest flicker of steel in the darkness.

Her eyes stop on Tol’vas, and her brow furrows.

Her eyes stay on Tol’vas, and then flicker to Remnii, and Jarod.

Her eyes shift back to Tol’vas.

Tol’vas shrinks.

Tyrande smiles.

Remnii nods.

Tyrande’s jaw tightens.

Tyrande nods.

Vel drops the seeming.

Tyrande’s hand goes to her heart.

Tyrande nods.

Remnii nods.

She gestures to Uther, who’s eyes are now bigger than anyone thought they could get, and his mouth is open.

Arthas coughs.

She smiles fondly.

Remnii shakes her head.

Tyrande nods, pain clear on her face.

She pulls out a heap of diamonds.

Tyrande smiles sadly and puts a hand on Remnii’s and closes it around the diamonds.

Remnii nods in understanding.

Tyrande considers and smiles, then looks over to Uther.

Tyrande looks back to Remnii.

Remnii nods.

Remnii searches Tyrande’s face, and it’s clear she isn’t telling her something.

Tyrande is still not telling her something. Remnii sighs.

Tyrande considers.

Tyrande waves her hands out, and a spell ends. There are three crystals hovering around her, one blue, one violet, and one orange. Remnii gasps.

The crystals disappear again.

Tyrande considers and closes her eyes.

Tyrande looks to the rest of the group.

No one has any objections, and Tyrande smiles sadly.

She nods, and two more Wardens come forward in full armor.

Tol’vas nods.

She nods again, and the Wardens flank the group. Jarod starts to follow.

Jarod looks back to the group, and then to Tyrande again.

Jarod looks conflicted

Jarod nods.

He looks back to Tyrande.

She pulls a headband from her head.

Jarod nods, and takes the headband.

She feels something in her hand, and it’s one of the berries. Jarod smiles as he steps away.

The Wardens flank the group and take them from the Temple and head across the heart of the base. Dozens of night elves watch the group, muttering amongst themselves quietly--eyes especially on Remnii. Istaria joins the group, and there is a keystone raised, revealing an entrance to the Barrow Deeps.

They head inside, and the door closes behind them.

This page was last edited on April 26, 2023, at 05:37 PM

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“What can I say? We're wise sons of bitches.”