Prior Knowledge-
It has been some time since I've uploaded a story, so I figured I'd catch new readers up to speed as well as refresh older ones before anything else.
These are the continuing stories of the tauren Paladin now known as Starshock, and his ambitious project to end hostilities between the horde and the alliance. With the support of a repentant benefactor, he was able to make that dream a near reality by founding the City of Miracles, an enormous research facility with the explicit goal of designing technology and magic that could combat the burning legion, and the implicit goal of forming a seamless connection between the two factions and their people. But in the war-torn land of Azeroth, he has had to keep the CoM a secret from his leaders, working to change the world from the inside out...
But after a year of working in the shadows, Starshock will return to the World of Warcraft and face countless new perils, with the help of many new allies, learning many new things about this changing world, and even a few things about himself.
"Today is a great day for Azeroth. With Garrosh Hellscream on trial for his atrocities against Azeroth's people, and the prospect of a ceasefire on the horizon, we are an enormous step closer to uniting Azeroth. Our work is not yet over, for only when the individuals of Azeroth are at peace with each other, just as their leaders are, will we be able to stand together when the time comes..."
Musing over his recent journal entry, Starshock, less ambitious than he used to be, but still hopeful, sighed contently, knowing that his dream could soon be a reality. He put his pen back in his desk and turned to the window, gazing down at the city that made this hope possible. The blue glow of the roads and the violet hue of their sky set his mind at ease even on his toughest days, but looking at it on its own, he couldn't help but smile.
"The City of Miracles has grown so much over the past year...
I've been cooped up here in this tower for too long. Maybe I should head down and see what awaits me-"
His thoughts were cut short when he heard something banging on his door. Before he could yell back about his office being closed, the door opened on its own, revealing an old friend of his.
"Malygos, it's been so long..."
The tall elven figure just smiled back at him.
"Well, what brings you here? You've never come by until now."
"I've never had to." He responded, "You've done very well leading this place on your own. But as for why I'm here now, well...
Perhaps I should just take you with me..."
He opened up a portal in front of him, leading Starshock through it. When he stepped through, he ended up in a strange looking cave. Malygos came in behind him and began talking.
"Within this cave lies a powerful magic, one never seen by the world of mortals or dragons...
I have a hunch that you and your City of Miracles can help me unravel its secrets."
Starshock just looked confused and nodded, following him through the cave. As they wandered deeper into the cave, it became more apparent that they were wandering into a titan engine of some kind as rock gave way to machine, culminating at the end of the cave, if he could even call it that. Whatever Malygos had described appeared to be contained within a locked chest, and a strong looking one too...
"Stand back, Malygos. I still have some lock busting equipment on me."
He pulled out a very small explosive charge from his pack and attached it to the chest's lock. Then without warning, he struck it with his axe, setting off the charge and breaking the lock. Malygos was shocked at this crude method, but soon shrugged it off as Star opened the chest up, revealing a small assortment of gems. Each of the 5 shining stones varied in shape and color, and they all stood out very clearly, but the one that had caught his attention most of all was a small star-shaped gem with a brilliant yellow shine. Taking the gem in his hand, he felt something different about him, like he was becoming stronger.
"Maly, what kind of magic was in those stones again?"
Not long after finding the gems, Starshock returned to the City of Miracles and immediately ran off to the magic studies center. As he had expected, the city had changed quite a lot as he wandered towards the main building. The plain box-like buildings that the city had started with had taken on new life and more elaborate designs, with many strong colors standing out to him, and a strange feeling of awe washed over him throughout. As he wandered into the main research center, a dome-looking structure with a tile roof, he was approached by a blood elf wearing plain but colorful robes.
"Boss! I wasn't expecting to see from you today. Would you care for an update on the temporal-"
"Thanks, but, I know how the project is doing. I would like to actually reassign focus to a new project. I need an expert at the magic research center to study these gems I've found..."
He placed all but one of the gems on the table, holding onto the star shaped gem.
"Starshock, do you plan to study that particular gem on your own?"
"Yes. Yes I do. But first, I'd like to go back to Kalmindor to see how things are going for myself..."
With these parting words, Starshock reached into his bag and pulled out his favorite pair of goggles, placing them on his head. He then pulled out his old Hearthstone, using it to take him back to Orgrimmar.
As Starshock disappeared in front of her, the elf, a bit confused by her boss's decision, took the gems from the table and went looking for an active researcher. Unfortunately, after a short look around this portion of the city, she realized that every magical researcher in the city was either on leave or occupied with another project, except for one...
After a moment of thought, she went back to the magic research station's main building and inscribed something on the holographic screen in front of her.
"Attention, David Jeffrey, pseudonym, DJ GotYa, report on the MSC office of assignment for a new mission."
Within only a minute, the individual in question, a young but ragged looking human with fairly long but well kept blonde hair, had arrived at the office.
"So I see the MSC has need of my assistance. What do I owe this new work to?"
"Save the lip for your songs, DJ..." the elf sneered back. "Anyway, boss found these weird magic crystals and he wants us to figure out what they are and how they work."
DJ took one of the crystals in his hand and declared, "These crystals appear to be channeling instruments of some kind. Perhaps we should visit the firing range to see what they are capable of..."
The two went down to the CoM's weapon testing field, and decided to test an attack on their strongest target, a dummy built to resemble a pit lord.
DJ channeled a powerful surge of energy, clenching one of the gems in his hand, then unleashed a powerful bolt of chaotic energy at the target, which impacted with devastating effect. Though it seemed to work, DJ doubled over, the blast having taken a lot out of him.
"No good. I still can't channel that attack without losing most of my energy...
I can tell though, these gems can channel energy, but I don't know how..."
The elf pondered the situation, and realized that maybe Starshock could tell them more about where he found those gems, which could explain how to tap into them. She then spoke to DJ again.
"DJ GotYa, your work is done here. Thanks for your assistance, but I can take it from here."
As the elf opened up a portal to Orgrimmar, taking the gems with her, the ambitious human, realizing he was now unsupervised, decided to travel back to the MSC to continue his own project...