[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Sixty
Appearing Characters: Altruis Shadowsong, Arthak Saurfang, Brakoss, Delas Moonfang, Ebonhorn, Fauna, Flora, Iskar, Kevo ya Siti, Kor'vas Bloodthorn, Lantresor, Legba, Levia Blackflight, Lukou, Mayla Highmountain, Merryweather, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Rak'Symma, Rexxar, Sol'chi, Thisalee Crow, Zar'Kaa, Zekhan, Zirazi
December 7th
The group headed to a place just outside Thunder Totem to try and commune with the spirits and the loa for guidance. They witnessed a huge mural that was being painted which seemed to be an artistic rendition of the warband’s adventures in Highmountain and what they did to help them.
Ebonhorn expressed that he didn’t know how it was going to work, but he and the other shamans would stand by and offer what spiritual power they could so that Zekhan could be bolstered to summon the spirits they needed. Zekhan said he would do his best, and Zar’Kaa said that he believed in him and wouldn’t have asked him along if he didn’t.
Zekhan took a deep breath and started to chant in Zandali. His eyes began to crackle with lightning and power.
He laid out several offerings to the various loa. Zar’Kaa took a deep breath and then exhaled as he clenched and unclenched his fist. But he joined in with chanting some of the names. Symma, meanwhile, offered some of Nisha’s raven feathers to the offerings.
They could feel the magic as it tangibly coated the entire area. They saw Zekhan jolt up, but those that could see into the ethereal plane watched as a spectral shell formed around him as if he was at the center of the manifestation of a spirit that he was wearing like a suit. It was the form of a long, lean troll with long violet hair and skull paint on his face and intricate tusks inlaid with gold. He had simple clothing with a tall black hat lined with troll skulls.
Zekhan’s voice took on an unworldly flange as Legba spoke through him.
He reached into the offering bowl of candy and popped one in Zekhan’s mouth. Zar’Kaa was visibly tense as he really didn’t want to interact with the loa, but he cleared his throat.
Zar’Kaa raised an eyebrow.
Legba leaned forward.
Zar’Kaa explained they were trying to reach a fallen spirit called Anzu, and he asked if Legba knew how to reach them. Legba admitted he didn’t know, but it wasn’t surprising he didn’t know everyone as there were a lot of people Zar’Kaa was hanging out with that weren’t from Azeroth.
Zar’Kaa mentioned they believed Anzu dwelled in the Shadow Realm and they were wondering how to find him there.
Zar’Kaa asked if he knew what doors they might find, and Legba said there were many doors and they wouldn’t know if they had the right one until they saw the other side.
Legba commented that he liked Rak’Symma’s skull, and she thanked him and said it was very dear to her, though she expressed that it was more than a spirit that was lost, and he was more a god from another world. Legba asked her to explain more about Anzu, and she offered what she knew about the great raven from another world.
Legba warned them to be careful. Zar’Kaa assured him he would, but Zar’Kaa said that Legba had not answered his question from before because they had never met.
Legba smiled.
Zar’Kaa’s eyes widened.
Legba started to cough and the candy he had swallowed was back in his hand. He tossed the candy at Zar’Kaa.
Legba bowed and took his hat off.
Zekhan coughed as Legba dispersed from him, and he assured them he was ready to keep going. He focused on channeling Kevo ya Siti and he withdrew a pouch and poured an offering out into the dish as he beseeched the next loa.
He started to cough again, and he coughed up jet black ink. His eyes were inky black. Those that could see the loa themself saw an androgynous figure with a mask with bright violet eyes. Zekhan’s voice had an underwater-sounding warble that had a wet and obscure sound to it.
Zar’Kaa introduced himself and his friends and explained they sought to traverse the Shadow Realm but they didn’t know how to do so. He asked for guidance so they could do so safely.
Kevo ya Siti offered a low, sinister chuckle.
They once again gave the loa the summary.
He turned to regard Rak’Symma and Brakoss.
Kevo looked over at the ink-stained wool that had been given as an offering, and he reached out and grabbed it.
He took the wool and squeezed it. The ink rippled with spiritual energy and dripped into beads on the ground. The wool returned to a pristine white color.
He flicked a bead over to Brakoss, who picked it up. His eyes widened.
Kevo ya Siti chuckled again.
Brakoss nodded and thanked him.
Brakoss nodded.
Rak’Symma asked if there was a way to protect themselves from the shadow.
Zar’Kaa grunted.
Kevo ya Siti faded and Zekhan coughed up more black ink. But he said he still had more in him. This time he called upon Mama Lukou to speak through him, and the clear water that he poured in a bowl had started to bubble as the flowers blew around them and swirled through their hair.
The figure that formed around Zekhan shifted between the visages of a child, a maiden, a mother, and an elder.
Zar’Kaa started to introduce himself, but she said that they knew all that had been born of their children, and all that they had died of their children. She knew Zar’Kaa well, and Zar’Kaa again explained what they were trying to do.
She smiled and said that Legba filled them in. Zar’Kaa resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but Symma smiled.
Lukou expressed that not every disease or affliction could be healed, but if Anzu had devoured the cursed creature known as Sethe, the treatment could be as simple as throwing it up. However, Symma admitted she was reluctant to take that advice given what the bile could be.
Lukou asked what led Anzu to devour Sethe in the first place, and Symma explained the tale of the three Draenor gods and the fall of Rukhmar. Lukou advised to follow Anzu’s heart, as it seemed he sought to find a place where the cursed blood could harm no one else.
Symma said he deserved better than to drift alone in isolation, and Lukou agreed everyone did.
Zar’Kaa said what Lukou offered was vague, and asked if there was any further guidance. Lukou considered and admitted that if Anzu sought to devour Sethe that may have been the only answer, but that was a burden not many could take.
Zar’Kaa retorted one more burden wouldn’t kill them.
Zar’Kaa asked if they could not bring Anzu back if they could bring a sample back instead to concoct a treatment. Lukou said it wasn’t so simple, as similar plagues had torn through the Zandali, and all it took was a single drop to wreak havoc on nations. But the difference between the poison and the antidote is in dosage.
Lukou’s face grew dark.
Lukou warned him that they could not help another if they gave their all to help the first. Lukou faded, and Zekhan looked fully drained, but he said he could keep going.
Zirazi said that was likely good for now.
Zar’Kaa thanked everyone for their cooperation and assistance. Ebonhorn said that he hoped they got the information they needed, and Zar’Kaa said it was vague, but it was a direction. Rak’Symma agreed they had more than when they started.
Zar’Kaa then looked down at the candy Legba had given him, but he decided not to eat it. Rak’Symma observed the expression he made at the candy, as it became clear he was trying to deflect, and she pointed out that sometimes their friends knew them better than themselves.
Zar’Kaa rebuked that Legba wasn’t his friend.
Sol spoke up that Legba seemed to be talking about a shared experience. So he wasn’t talking about himself, but seemed to be implying he wanted to show him something Zar’Kaa forgot.
Zar’Kaa cited that the loa had never helped him, and Sol said that it was unreasonable to expect a being to dote on one person and they likely helped where they could and they likely became gods through a menagerie of different reasons. Gods were also known for being fickle.
Symma sighed and moved her skull helmet back to her back.
She turned and walked away.
Sol followed after Symma. Zar’Kaa, however, returned to the ritual site and set the candy down to stare at it and reflect on the things that had been said. He debated leaving it.
But then he sighed and picked it up to take it with him.
Meanwhile, Sol followed Rak’Symma to speak to Ebonhorn, and Ebonhorn promised Rak’Symma he would catch up with her later.
Sol explained there was something about black dragons he wanted to talk to him about, specifically the phenomenon of the black dragons going mad. He had a spell that might give them answers on whether it’s tied to the blood of Neltharion or if it’s all black dragons.
Ebonhorn smiled.
Ebonhorn laughed as Sol shared the colors of dragons he had already turned himself into. Ebonhorn thanked Sol again for offering to help him, as he had a good heart.
Sol smiled and added there was no way to say it delicately, but he wanted Ebonhorn to know he looked very good in his dragon form. Ebonhorn chuckled and thanked him.
Later on, Rak’Symma sat with Ebonhorn and Mayla to talk about what had happened, and she gave them the overarching rundown. Mayla asked what that all meant, and Ebonhorn smiled and said that Rak’Symma’s soul had a long journey to get where it was.
Rak’Symma admitted that was the nicest way it could be phrased, and Ebonhorn said that it explained a great deal about her gifts and how protective Blaithe was. After all, if he suspected the situation, Ebonhorn could understand why he treasured her so. He was glad that she got to say farewell to him.
Rak’Symma admitted she was now trying to figure out what to do with moving forward, and Mayla pointed out she was already on a path, as the harpy roosts had started to change. And all of that was because of her.
Mayla got a sorrowful look.
Mayla chuckled and Ebonhorn ruffled her hair.
Rak’Symma chuckled under her breath.
They assured her that Rak’Symma could always come back home to Highmountain, even many years later. They all embraced and Rak’Symma joked about the size of the mural. Mayla admitted she had wanted to make it bigger.
December 8th - 12th
Rak’Symma went out to survey the other harpy roosts. The Cragtalon roost she found abandoned. There was evidence of an evacuation, and they didn’t all seem to go in the same direction.
She then went up to the Stoneblood roost and found about half of the Cragtalon had arrived there.
It seemed the Cliffclutch were also on high alert as they had been conversing with some of the other roosts. They were able to confirm a large flock of harpies flew from Azsuna in the direction of the Deadwood harpies of the Azuregale Cove. Which was in the region under the Legion control.
Animal messengers that Symma had sent out did not return, meaning they either didn’t make it or were killed on the way back.
Symma had a meeting with the other harpies to make a few strategies, as it seemed the Cragtalon were not loyal to Infazzar, but they could simply not oppose them, and if given the opportunity, it was quite likely they would be willing to turn on him.
Rak’Symma also apprised them that she had spoken to the Illidari and they were willing to try and teach the Cragtalon to better harness the fel if they were willing to learn.
Thisalee had been traveling with Rak’Symma until she was called elsewhere, and one morning she did spy Thisalee with three young harpies: a red one, a green one, and a blue one. As they saw Rak’Symma, the feathers of the harpies furled out in excitement.
Thisalee called Symma down and she mentioned that Symma had seen them before. She wished to formally introduce them: Flora, the green one, Fauna, the red one, and Merryweather, the blue one. They had something they wanted to show her.
Fauna stepped forward and explained they were from the Skyheart roost and they wanted to thank her for saving them and stopping the High Crawliac, as she was not a good leader. But the three harpies all agreed Rak’Symma was a good leader.
Fauna explained that Thisalee had helped them make a gift for her, and she held out a small figurine in her talons.
All of them told Symma they hoped she liked it.
It was the small raven figurine she had seen Thisalee working on. The tips of its feathers were painted with silver, and its eyes were tiny violet beads. She took the gift.
Rak: It’s extremely kind of you.
Fauna encouraged Rak’Symma to try it out. Rak’Symma looked at Thisalee for guidance, and she explained it would ensure Symma always had a messenger on hand. She focused on the magic in the item, and it seemed it was tied to a word: Swiftwing.
The raven came to life and Symma was startled for a moment, but she whispered a message for it to relay. The raven flew over and repeated “thank you” to Thisalee and the harpies before flying back to Symma.
Thisalee asked what she thought, and Rak’Symma said it was beautiful and she thanked them. The young harpies gripped their talons happily and danced around, excited she liked it.
Rak’Symma told them to get home safe, and they all nodded and took off. Merryweather toddled a bit, but her sisters helped her get into the air.
Thisalee smiled.
She conjured her own wings and took off into the air, with Rak’Symma and the raven following.
Rak’Symma informed the group she was going to contact Iskar as she wanted to have a dialogue about his interest in her. The group supported her, and simply warned her to be careful as they didn’t know much about him.
Zar’Kaa warned her he had similar thoughts with Gul’dan, and he simply advised that she should know what she wanted from him.
They wished her luck.
Rak’Symma sought Iskar out in the dream that night, and she admitted she had a deal for him: stories for stories and dreams for dreams. She offered to tell him about Blaithe like Iskar had told her about Anzu.
She went into an abridged history of Blaithe, and eventually she got to the point where he died protecting what he had loved, which was the reincarnation of that who he had loved in another life.
She explained she couldn’t bring back Blaithe, and even if she could, he was at peace. Anzu, however, she could possibly bring to Azeroth.
Iskar cackled for a moment.
A smirk crossed Iskar’s beak.
Rak’Symma regarded him with scrutiny, and Iskar held out his talon to her. Symma sighed, and took his hand to give him control over the image of the dream. G’Hanir faded to a pitched battle of a horde of catlike humanoids and at the center was a tall, brave arakkoa warrior with bright purple and red feathers. He had two wing blades he was using to fight back an army of enemies.
The image flashed to great cities built on the mountains of the ancient spires, and then images of other arakkoa, and then a golden orb in the depths.
Iskar explained the relic was the Eye of Anzu, one that was in the custody of Terokk and was eventually turned into a cudgel after he fell. It was turned into a beacon for the Outcasts.
Iskar dismissed the image and they returned to the dream. He believed that with the Eye of Anzu, they could return Anzu to the world.
Rak’Symma asked how Iskar knew everything he did, and the arakkoa smiled.
Iskar folded his talons together.
Symma put her talons on top of Iskar’s.
Rak’Symma looked at him, and the world shifted to a vision of Azeroth to show the vision Elune had given her. There was peace and symbiosis in everything. It zoomed in on one of the foothills of Highmountain where there was a small village. It was calm. The shu’halo and kaldorei were walking around, with harpies flitting around along with one or two arakkoa just existing. It was night, and the moon was full, with a shadow of Anzu eclipsing the light momentarily.
They stood on the outskirts of the vision.
Rak’Symma smiled and the vision shifted to the before times when civilizations were new. They passed hundreds of years as civilization grew and continued to grow. Trees with effigies were cut down, but Aviana and other harpies told the people to stop.
Other ancients protected the fringes of civilization. And then the druids did the same. And then it shifted to the present where idols lay in ruin.
At the mention of balance, Iskar scowled. But in spite of his own ideals, he saw the vision. And it gave him pause.
Iskar bowed and left the vision.
December 13th
The group returned to Black Rook Hold. Sol had finished reading the book he had retrieved from the Academy, and it rapidly became evident that even the Legion couldn’t fully erase the ancient knowledge that had once been had, for it was penned before the Sundering.
Nyxxa also finished the book of ancient dances alongside her dates with her lovers. She felt connected, not only to her own body, but to what it was before and what it might become in the future. She also felt connected to those that created the dances she read about and learned.
Nyxxa and Sol had made arrangements for a winter hot-pot, with Sol using his magic to conjure a large popup tent decked out with servants in the form of creatures Elune was fond of. She also enlisted Delas to create an enchanted bonfire in homage to the moon so that those who could not be bathed in holy water could cleanse in another way.
She explained it was the Stars’ Rest Festival was upon them when the kaldorei reflected on the year with prayer, song, and dance and went through a cleansing where they considered what they had done and what they could do next. There had been old rituals she had read about she believed they could use instead.
Nyxxa danced around the fire first and at the end she leaped through it. The fire was hot, but not enough to burn.
Rak’Symma tentatively approached and put her talons into the flame. The fire leaped onto her hand and crawled on it, but it didn’t hurt her. She extender her wing feathers into the flame and took off into the sky, spiraling up and up, carrying as much as smoke as she could up toward Elune.
Lantresor set his blade on silver flame and did his own flaming sword dance that was ended by tossing his sword over the flame and flipping through the fire and catching it on the other side.
Altruis allowed the flame to crawl up his arm and he allowed his own fel fire to flicker around him. The bright green and silver flames intermingled and danced before he drew back.
Sol sang and slowly immersed himself in the fire as he cast metamorphosis to create a light transformation as he was covered in flame.
Zar’Kaa looked at the fire introspectively as he burned his bandages and walked into the flame. The scarring didn’t magically go away, but it was almost as if the flames acknowledged them and saw them. He felt a weight lifted from his heart.
Levia clumsily jumped through the fire and almost knocked it over. Kor'vas jumped through as well. Rexxar and Thisalee were there and also participated. Many others joined in the ritual for their own reasons.
Arthak informed the group that he would not be joining them in the descent into Theryn’s dreams as he had other groundwork to attend to. He asked Zar’Kaa to ensure reports were delivered to him. Nyxxa also delivered sending stones to Rak’Symma and Zar’Kaa.
