[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Forty-Six
Appearing Characters: Aerynn, Altruis Shadowsong, Arthak Saurfang, Bakaz, Driana, Elya Azuremoon, Farondis, Idri Nightwatch, Levia Blackflight, Norryn, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Okuna Longtusk, Rak’Symma, Sol'chi, Vaerux, Velameestra Windrunner (Simulacrum), Volo'ren, Xaroth, Xinthoss, Zar'Kaa
December 3rd - December 4th
Zar’Kaa, Bakaz, and the ghosts used the chaos to escape back across the low tide. Volo’ren commented that he didn’t know who Bakaz was or what his purpose was. He wanted to know what he was doing so deep in imperial territory. Bakaz commented that Volo’ren didn’t have to worry about him, and he had just saw a little fish swim into a canal and not come back out, but it seemed Zar’Kaa didn’t need saving after all.
Zar’Kaa explained that he had met them before beyond the borders, at least for now, they could be trusted. Bakaz teased that was the nicest thing that Zar’Kaa had ever said about him. Zar’Kaa retorted Bakaz shouldn’t push his luck.
Volo’ren explained that Bakaz’s kind wasn’t welcome in the area, but he wouldn’t mention any Zandali in his reports. Bakaz said that was generous, and he explained to Zar’Kaa that he and his men were poking around the area, as there was a lot the demons could teach them. Zar’Kaa said they should pool their findings later, and Bakaz grinned and said he would be happy to, but he commented Zar’Kaa should be careful as Sacrolash wasn’t someone to play around with.
Zar’Kaa explained their present objective was finding the Tidestone, which was being held in the heart of the city. He said he would find Bakaz at the Illidari Stand, as that was good enough a place to rendezvous. Bakaz agreed, and he said if he could help with the Tidestone, he’d be happy to lend a hand or two.
Bakaz called for the spirits to not fall into anymore traps, as he likely wouldn’t be around to save them, and he and his men departed. Volo’ren commented he seemed seedy enough, but he assumed they were likely freelancers, and if they were exiles he could at least appreciate the assistance. Zar’Kaa said his motives were less than pure, but he was at least useful.
They returned to the night elf camp to a chorus of cheers. The other spirits asked what happened as they had not seen Zar’Kaa in three days, and Volo’ren explained he believed he had been entrapped by a demonic sorceress much like he was, but they had managed to escape. Volo’ren also attributed credit to destroying the facility to Zar’Kaa, and he assured his men that the demonic contraptions wouldn’t threaten them for now.
Volo’ren thanked Zar’Kaa for helping them, as he had felt his spirit being worn away, but now they had a chance to continue fighting. Volo’ren raised Zar’Kaa’s hand up and proclaimed the gods had favored them that day with “Temkin’s” aid.
There was a celebration that night, and Zar’Kaa was able to return to the city the following day. He delivered a report from Volo’ren back to Idri Nightwatch, and she proclaimed that the accomplishments were more than enough to land himself a position as an officer in her own forces. But if he chose not to take it, she understood.
She headed to a cabinet in her office and she grabbed a spectral necklace that appeared to be a medal of sorts. It had a symbol of a spear that cleaved through a shield.
She presented the medal to Zar’Kaa, and it took a physical shape as it landed in the troll’s hands.
He latched it onto his sash, and he sensed there was a magic to it. He felt that it had an emboldening aura to it, and he had a feeling that Sol would be able to tell him what it did.
Nyxxa and Driana were heading out from the Darkfiend sect, much to the disappointment of the men, and Nyxxa informed them that as long as they stayed out of trouble, she would tell the demon hunters they weren’t a threat. A lot of the satyrs didn’t seem to know what those were, but Xaroth appeared to be familiar with the night elves wielding fel magic.
Nyxxa nodded and said they were like her, and she dropped her illusion. She apologized for lying, but it seemed they all were pretty okay. The satyrs all appeared to be shocked and afraid, but a satyr in the back asked which one was her favorite. Nyxxa laughed.
She asked if it was okay if she found them again, and the satyrs all looked at each other, but then cheered. But then there were some gasps as Xinthoss moved his way through the crowd. He lumbered over to Nyxxa and loomed over her and Driana. He was massive in his full height.
Xinthoss reached out with a massive hand toward her head. Then he placed it on her head.
Xinthoss pat her head and then walked away back to his post. The other satyrs all watched in shocked amazement, having clearly expected him to crush her head. One of the satyrs asked Driana if she would come back too, and Driana hesitantly said she didn’t know. She told them to be on their best behavior and she would see.
Then she teleported her and Nyxxa out in a shower of sparks.
As they appeared in Nar’thalas, Driana started to laugh. Nyxxa joined her.
They gave each other mutual affirmation, as Nyxxa was grateful that she had been able to see Driana as herself. Driana asked if she thought they could have become friends before everything, and Nyxxa said she thought they could, which caused Driana to muse on if they had ever passed each other without knowing it. However, neither of them really could say if they did or not. Driana liked to think they did, even if it was just something silly like passing each other in the market. Nyxxa agreed and added that she was glad they were able to meet again and smooth things over.
Driana and Nyxxa embraced.
Rak’Symma spent one last night in the harpy’s camp, and when she awoke in her dreams, she found herself at the great tree. However there was a cool wind in the air, and she heard an echoing, beautiful song. Rak’Symma looked for the source of the song, and she flew as she searched through the glittering twilight of the eternal forest. Amidst the cold air, she saw floating golden motes of light that rained from the sky like snow. The flecks landed on the tree, and the tree seemed to drink them up.
There were creatures flitting in the air in various colors as they gyrating through the sky like wind and dust. They had the faces and bodies of kaldorei or harpies, all of them beautiful women, but their lower halves had avian front claws and horse-like rear hooves. They were dancing through the sky, and at the center was one that danced and sang as she seemed to lead the procession.
The central figure was awash with the same golden glow, and the energy was passing through her body and dancing through the sky. There were tears streaming down her face with a smile of hope and fear on her lips. Without realizing it, a tear had started to fall from one of Symma’s own eyes.
Symma shouted at them to stop.
Her command rippled through the sky with a power that not even she meant to put behind it. The auraiads stopped and gasped. The one in the center looked to the others.
She looked over at Rak’Symma, but then her eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness. Rak’Symma flew toward her as fast as she could, and she channeled her magic to cup the plummeting auraiad in a safe veil of magic. The auraiad’s eyes flickered open again, and she looked up at Rak’Symma. It was evident her energy was diminished, but she was not dying.
Rak’Symma landed the auraiad on a branch.
She reached up and brushed away a tear.
Rak’Symma cried harder.
The auraiad offered a small, sad smile.
Aerynn took Rak’Symma’s talons in her hands.
She ran a hand across the bark beneath her.
Rak’Symma bowed her head and put her forehead against Aerynn’s.
The auraiad got back to her hooves and claws and she looked up at her sisters. She called an apology and said she was ready to continue. She looked back to Symma and told her that she would see her again someday, before she took off into the air and flew back into formation. The song resumed, and the magic began once again.
There were tears, but there was no more fear on her face. Her body glowed brighter, brighter, and brighter as if her soul had ignited with magic. And then her form exploded into a shower of brilliant sparks. Rak’Symma could feel the bark beneath her drink in the energy, and the patterns between the bark glowed as Aerynn’s strength and essence fortified it and bought it as much time as she could manage.
And the cries of the rest of the auraiads were heard as they bid farewell to their sister. They looked down at Rak’Symma with sorrow, understanding, and hope. They flew down amidst the falling motes, and one of them thanked Rak’Symma for trusting Aerynn and being there with her. She hugged Rak’Symma, as did the others as they all collapsed into a pile of mourning amidst weeping tears.
When Rak’Symma awoke in the morning, she felt a strength in her that was not there before: Aerynn’s strength.
The group started to reconvene in the morning where they met in private with Farondis. Arthak reported that they had sea giants now.
He gestured to Okuna as the large, tusked man entered. He spoke in Zandali as he expressed it was an honor to meet all of them, and he added he was from Moa’ki of the Kalu’ak tribe. He explained he had come to the isles on a sacred quest, and he was the only one that had survived the journey. He asked if any of them had seen hints of great shelled beasts, like turtles or tortoises.
The group had not, and Okuna explained that the turtles in question were great sea turtles that were held in high regard by his people, but they had been taken from them. Unfortunately he didn’t know who had taken them. The village was attacked by a strange ship that seethed with a great fel flame, and was manned by great giants and feathered creatures and someone at their head.
Vel was able to confirm he was talking about a human leader, and after some discussion they were able to likely confirm it was the crew manned by Captain Malus, who was present on the Broken Isles. Nyxxa said there was someone she knew that would be glad to help him in his quest for rescuing his sacred beasts.
Okuna excitedly expressed he was so happy to have met them as they already knew some much.
Sol asked if Okuna had been able to recover any of his people, and Okuna said he could not, but they had fallen into the depths and had rejoined the Inua. Vel asked if the Inua were their gods, and Okuna confirmed they were, a combination of gods and ancestors that watched over their people.
Sol further explained that they managed to convince the headmistress to allow everyone with them to examine the Tidestone as well. Levia joked that they had some serial brown-nosers which helped them out a lot. She elbowed Vel and Sol.
Levia chuckled, and explained they all got gifts for graduating. Vel had gotten some cool ink, Sol got a book of ancient magics, and she herself had managed to get a book herself, which was an ancient text of dancing in the rites of Elune. She presented it to Nyxxa, who was touched, as that was a gift for Levia, not for her. Levia assured her that she saw it and thought Nyxxa would like it, and she thought it would have been a nice gift.
Nyxxa got up to hug Levia.
Levia then asked Symma how the meeting with the harpies went, and Symma returned a somewhat hollow look.
Nyxxa said that things would move in a positive direction if she could aid that situation. Arthak agreed things like this were always going to be messy. Rak’Symma said the Cliffclutch was, in this context, a surprise given how swiftly they were willing to lend their aid.
They all agreed that, regardless, it was all valuable information. Zar’Kaa mused if the mysterious fel user could be a satyr, and Rak’Symma parroted back what she had gotten from those that were freed, which did not seem to indicate a satyr.
Nyxxa offered the information that she got about the fact the satyr sects seemed to be splitting. She had found the listless satyrs that were not wanted by the praetors. The strong had seemingly been recruited for things up north.
She said that the satyrs were preparing for Xavius’s return. There was a call that was going out to the strong, and Vaerux had shared with her that he had also received the call. Xavius, however, had been missing for 10,000 years. The most concerning thing of all was that Vaerux had heard the call in the Dream when she had been accidentally pulled into it.
Vel asked if it could possibly be related to the Nightmare, and everyone stopped and looked at her, having clearly not heard of such a thing before. The simulacrum explained the Nightmare was a type of corruption that had been noted in the Dream and that was presently being investigated by the green dragons and some druids, though her own exposure to it had been when they had aided a group of druids on Kalimdor that were seemingly under its influence and had gone mad.
She suggested the druids and the green dragon that was presently in the moon grove would likely be able to offer more, but it was a phenomenon that had been noted and if Xavius’s call was heard in the Dream, there was ample reason to have concern for a correlation.
Nyxxa also stated that she had met with the naga and was able to confirm they were after the Tidestone, however it was in multiple parts. She said Vashj was present as well, and was at least more straightforward. Nyxxa explained that, because of the Legion’s involvement, they were now trying to recover the Tidestone as it appeared the Legion had stolen the other pieces of it.
Nyxxa confirmed, and Arthak mused that very few people actually stayed dead on Azeroth. Farondis expressed a sad laugh.
She looked at Farondis, who furrowed his brow.
Farondis’s conviction faded.
There was more back and forth, and Levia suggested using the hammer. However it was unclear what that would do. Driana suggested there may be answers she could find in the Temple of Elune. Sol joked about just sending it to the Elune, and Vel commented he might as well just stick it in a demiplane while he was at it.
Driana suggested that they might be missing the right gear to prevent the hammer from being dangerous, but she could maybe look into something. But then she asked Zar’Kaa, before they go to the academy, if he saw anything with the demons.
Zar’Kaa nodded and crossed his arms. He said there wasn’t anything related to the Tidestone, but he gained some important information about the Legion’s operations. He explained that the Legion had managed to secure one of the spectral captains and they had been hoping to extract something from him. He had attempted to rescue him, but he then fell into a trap.
He asked if any of them knew of an eredar named Sacrolash.
Sol said that she had very high standing and she was notable for her relation as a sister-in-law to Shaspira and an aunt to Aracyra. Nyxxa was able to add that she was the twin sister of Grand Warlock Alythess. Both were very well known and very powerful. Sol knew further that Sacrolash was a skilled assassin, agent, and torturer for the Inquisitorius. There was a popular rumor that she was the leader of the inquisition. She and her sister both had an uncanny charisma that not even the most powerful demons were able to resist. Alythess was also likely an instructor at the Conservatorium for the Arcane.
However, if Sacrolash was there, so was Alythess.
Zar’Kaa sighed heavily.
Zar’Kaa tapped his finger absently on his arm, near where he had the medal placed. He explained Idri had given it to him. Sol asked to take a look, and Zar’Kaa handed it over.
Sol was able to assess the amulet of victory was also a magical item that could automatically cast the [Heroism] spell on whoever wore it when they were frightened. However, the charges it had were finite.
Nyxxa recognized the symbol on it, because she had just seen it in the book Levia gave her. She opened to the proper page, which detailed another god of the kaldorei pantheon: one of victory and war, Martylliss. It was not uncommon for his iconography to appear on items that venerated the victory of soldiers.
Sol also recalled reading that the kaldorei’s gods were false gods, at least in Legion texts. In the studies Arthak had been doing, he wondered if the month of March was a corruption of that name.
Zar’Kaa wasn’t sure what Sacrolash was trying to do, and Vel suggested they may have been trying to use Volo’ren as a means to uncover more about the curse itself by analyzing his very essence. Nyxxa agreed that there was talk at the Hold about the fact the Legion might have tried to use the spirits, either to hijack the curse or otherwise.
Zar’Kaa also relayed Bakaz was in the area scouting, and he was going to circle back to him to see what he discovered.
They prepared to head toward the Nar’thalas Academy, but then Nyxxa got a message through the sending stone that had been left with the rogue agents.
Nyxxa used illusion magic to transmit the sending.
There was a moment of silence, but then she got another message.
They headed toward the Nar’thalas Academy. Levia put up her hands and expressed it felt like just yesterday she was roaming the halls. Sol joined in on the joke, and they all headed into the main hall.
They were stopped and the caretaker, who was a bit bothered by the irregularity of the situation, but Sol stepped forward and smooth-talked him into signing a book as it was thanks to him and the rest of the school he had attained tier nine spells. It continued through the trend with other teachers, and Norryn also arrived to greet Sol and chat with him. He hoped that he would be able to graduate soon like Sol, because it was amazing that he was able to graduate sooner despite arriving after he did.
Norryn was incredibly touched that Sol asked him to sign his book as well, and Sol introduced everyone else. Norryn bashfully greeted Nyxxa, Sol’s mom, and he thanked her for letting his best friend attend. Arthak was introduced as Broxigar, and Norryn was amazed as they had heard he was the guy that was imprisoned. They exchanged some good-natured chatter, and Sol offered to drop off some messages to his parents if they saw them because Norryn said he had sent a lot of letters about Sol to them.
They saw Elya Azuremoon heading over to them and Norryn made himself scarce. She greeted them all warmly and once again congratulated the three graduates before she addressed the others. She said there was something about them that was different from the others, and she felt something special about them, so she felt like she needed to show them the Tidestone even despite the irregular nature of the circumstances.
Sol also offered Elya the book, and she happily wrote a little message that expressed she felt like she had been waiting for them for a long time.
Sol also asked Elya if she would be willing to allow Prince Farondis to accompany them, and Elya seemed outraged at first, but then she thought about it and she couldn’t remember why Farondis had been banned from the school grounds.
Sol promised her they would hide him in a bag of holding, and Elya blinked, and then laughed that it may be worth it just to see him crawl out of a bag of holding. Sol messaged Farondis and they met up with him. Farondis asked if he could just walk in through the front door, but Sol said they had told her he would be in a bag of holding.
Farondis relented with some amount of exasperation, as if it was what he needed to do for his people, he would do it. Farondis climbed into the bag and asked Sol to at least make it quick.
They went back in, and Sol showed Elya the prince stuffed in the bag. Elya laughed and then led them down some of the ruined hallways and she laid her hand on a piece of stone between two arches. The stone opened a secret passage, and then she guided them through several layers of magical defenses.
Nyxxa was keeping an eye on the ethereal plane, and she didn’t see anything that would indicate the place was compromised. However, the air started to grow heavy, almost like before a rainstorm. There were no signs that any break ins had happened, but there was something about the magic that threatened to make their lungs feel like they could collapse. The magic was stronger than anything else Nyxxa could see as far as defenses.
They all felt the sensation. Even Vel, who did not breathe, and Farondis, who relayed it felt exactly like the day the city was drowned. It appeared that the chamber was very likely the epicenter that they had suspected.
Sol asked Elya when the last time she checked on the Tidestone was, and Elya admitted she didn’t know. She had kept the key to keep it hidden. There was something about the chamber that she didn’t like.
Sol cast a [Beacon of Hope] over the group, and Farondis mentioned the curse had become almost oppressive. Farondis was allowed out of the bag, and he expressed that it was good to see Elya again. She said that she wanted to say the same.
They were on their guard as they entered a large antechamber with a massive door that looked to have been sealed for a long time. There was iconography bordering the arches, and it was likely a depiction of the various old pantheon gods.
Elya took a deep breath and extracted a piece of stone from her robe. She held it in the air, and a stream of light issued from the key to the door. The door opened, and water streamed into the chamber, bringing the water up to their knees.
It felt like tides rolling in and out, and they saw a tall chamber with pillars cracked and broken. They were likely a fair bit beneath Nar’thalas Academy. There were states holding up their hands that were worn away as if they had been battered by the tides for years.
At the center of the room, hovering just above their heads, was a black pearl about the size of Arthak’s fist. It was drenched with water that was thick and murky and almost looked like blood. It was constantly dripping.
Arthak felt a deep-seated fear, deeper and darker than what they all felt. There was something very wrong about the pearl. It was not supposed to look as it was. As Rak’Symma looked upon it, she heard a voice in the back of her head warning her that she was far from the sky and what they were witnessing was deeper than they could see, but “she” didn’t see like them, and maybe “she” could see something that they couldn’t.
Arthak started to walk cautiously toward the stone, but Symma put a hand on his shoulder.
Nyxxa saw something reflected inside the pearl, but she could not see what it was at the distance she was at. She relayed there was something inside it, but no one else could see it.
Elya’s eyes glazed over, and she stood in place, staring at the Tidestone. Farondis tried to shake her out of it, but he was unable to. Farondis said the reports were right, however. The tablet was gone, and only the pearl remained.
Nyxxa, Arthak, and Zar’Kaa started to approach. As Nyxxa drew closer, she saw a tavern that was so familiar and yet so unknown. It was empty with only one person inside, his back to her. He had messy, gray-white hair, and he was clutching an empty glass with a calloused hand.
Vaerux asked her what she saw, and Nyxxa said she saw a man in a bar, and she asked if it was him. However, Vaerux couldn’t see through her eyes. Nyxxa decided to call out the name “Nerus”.
The figure in the bar turned back to Nyxxa, and she felt herself being pulled. Suddenly, Nyxxa vanished, her form dissolving into water. She appeared in the same bar, next to the grizzled veteran.
The figure looked at her and she saw a kaldorei man with a scraggly beard that was more of a large goatee. He was wearing old armor and an old blade. His eyes were pitch black.
However, Vaerux was silent.
Nerus said he’d offer her a drink, but everything dried up a long time ago. Nyxxa sat down next to him and asked why he was in the pearl, and Nerus said it was because he agreed to be there, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.
Nyxxa smiled.
Nerus slapped his knee and stood up.
He grabbed his sword.
He spun his sword and dropped into a combat stance.
Meanwhile Arthak reached up and touched the pearl. A surge of water blasted Arthak backwards. It started to roil upwards, and water spilled out of Arthak, Zar’Kaa, Rak’Symma, and Sol’s throats. They were able to catch their breaths, but the pearl raised into the air and the water started to swirl around it. An immense creature of spikes and fins and rippling water formed around the pearl.
