A/N: Shorter than the others, but it adding in more stuff would make it TOO long, for what is planned next. I think. I didn't want to say or do much with the tauren yet, because I wished for them to merely be introduced and to get started on their adventures, for now. They'll return. As for the NE, yes, Mor'Ladim. I'm fond of the character/mob, and mourn that he's been lowered in level. This is my own personal RIP to him, and probably one of the few WoW-character to be really dealt with in my story. (As in, my characters won't be downing Illidan or anything :P They may reunite families or something, on those few quests that touched me in one way or another, but that's it.) As for Stitches, I didn't want them to kill him, but I wanted to at least mention him; you can't do Duskwood without Mor'Ladim and Stitches.
I've also gone back and made breaks between parts, for both time changes and perspective changes. (double spacing apparently not working.)
The next story will deal with the sisters and Anana again, as well as a few others. After that, things should start picking up and storylines connecting; I have it mapped out. Haha, for staying up all night with a restless mind. Anyways, as I always say, I appreciate those that read, and I hope I entertain you, in the least. Reviews are much loved. Please, Read... Review... Enjoy...
The Bonds We Make
New Journeys, and Mor'Ladim – Urslie, Ciarda, and Mokar; Senkara, Sorina, and Anana.
Eyes closed, the orc listened to the sounds around him. Hooves stepping on dirt, the Great Lift bringing people to and from the city, the sky and earth meeting in this grand mesa-city. Turning to his companion, his eyes opening, he saw the dark blue-haired troll was heading towards the Elder Rise. Moving to catch up with him, he looked around him, seeing friendly faces in that of the mighty tauren. "Jang'Ai, wait up," he called to his friend. The troll paused to look at him.
"Ya mon? We got ta be gettin' ta meet Corran, rememba?" the troll reminded him. The orc nodded; of course he remembered. He just wanted to go slower than his hunter-friend. Always on the move and ready to go, Jang'Ai rarely stopped to listen to the world around him unless he was tracking and hunting a target. The orc wished his friend would slow down, but he had learned long ago that Jang'Ai followed his own rules, and wouldn't listen to that of others.
"Who is this Corran we're meeting, Jang'Ai?" a young male tauren asked from behind them. The orc looked at him, smiling. Jang'Ai, for all his faults, often took younger fighters out to travel and train with him, even if they studied a different art from him. This tauren was no different; a warrior met in the Barrens one day, Jang'Ai had been taking him throughout the Barrens and Ashenvale, and temporarily down into Thousand Needles. He wasn't sure why Jang'Ai choose to aid others when he could very well go hunt equal prey to his strength, but Jang'Ai was a mystery, even to him. And he had grown up with the troll.
"Ask Agorim," Jang'Ai said as they crossed the rope bridge.
"Ha, ask me. Corran is an elder, a druid. He's also an old friend," the orc told the tauren, who nodded.
Reaching the Elder Rise, they saw two young female tauren locked in battle, one swinging a large ax, the other setting down her totems to slow her while she cast a spell at the first female. They paused to watch the battle as the warrior managed to hit the shaman after the lightning struck her. Pulling out a mace, the shaman tried to repel the warrior. An elderly male tauren approached, and stepped between the females.
"Enough, Urslie, Ciarda. Gaining strength, the both of you," he said. Turning to the young shaman, he smiled at her. "You can keep casting spells even when under attack, if that is your strength, and you should gain more affinity with the elemental spirits, to gain better spells and totems some day." Turning to the warrior, he embraced her. "And you, my strong Urslie, you did well..." he paused as he saw the three standing at the bridge. "Ah! Jang'Ai, Agorim! How good to see you again! And who is this strong young tauren?" he asked.
"Dis be a new friend, Corran. His name be Mokar, and he be my newest friend," Jang'Ai said as he approached the tauren. Mokar was staring in awe at the two females, especially the warrior, impressed with her strength. He knew he was stronger than her, as she was still in training, but he was still fascinated with her. She as well seemed interested, and was whispering to her shaman friend. "And is dat little Urslie? I ain't seen ya in awhile. A warrior now, ya be?" he asked.
"Yep! Still training, but I'll be a powerful warrior one day, Jang'Ai!" she exclaimed. Her friend laughed.
"And I'll be behind her keeping her healed the entire way," she said, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, and helping her fight, but I'm not exactly all that strong."
"You'll get there. It isn't about strength, young friend, it's about having faith in the elements, and working with them," Agorim told her. She looked at him curiously. "We're both shamans; perhaps I can help train you?" he offered. She nodded enthusiastically, and Corran now laughed.
"Ah, good, good! Come now, Jang'Ai, let us visit properly..." he said as he led them towards his tent.
Hours later, Morak turned towards Jang'Ai. "I want to travel with Urslie and Ciarda," he announced. Jang'Ai looked up at him.
"Okey dokey," he said. Morak blinked.
"That's it?" he asked. Jang'Ai nodded.
"You don't want to continued travelin with Jang'Ai?" Agorim asked the tauren male. He shook his head.
"I do, but Urslie and Ciarda want to travel too; they're about ready to explore the world anyways, I'll go with them. I can be of help, and Jang'Ai needs to go on his own again, right?" he asked. Jang'Ai shrugged nonchalantly. He honestly didn't care if he hunted alone or with friends, nor did he care much about whether he hunted weak or strong prey; he wanted only to continue traveling and hunting, to explore and search. For what, he wasn't sure, but he felt compelled to search for something.
"Long as dey wanna go wit ya, and Corran don' mind, den ok," he told him. Corran nodded.
"I think it a fine idea, for the three young ones to travel and grow together," he said.
Agorim looked at Ciarda. "Will you be leaving soon, then?" he asked. She nodded and grinned sheepishly.
"We planned in the morning, if we had permission. Maybe I can get training from you later, Agorim. If that's alright with you," she asked. He smiled.
"Of course, that is fine. Whenever you are ready; good luck on your travels."
Early the next morning, the three young tauren stood waiting for the Great Lift to carry them down to the plains of Mulgore. The two warriors had begun talking about different weapons, and defense and offensive combat. Ciarda tuned them out and closed her eyes, as Agorim had done the day before. The wind, the earth, she felt them both around her, and relished the harmony of the elements.
The lift arrived, and they stood on it, Ciarda turning to look at her dark-furred companions. She grinned slightly; her fur was a paler, almost gray-white than theirs, especially the black-furred Urslie. Opposites, yet best of friends. She was glad that they would get to journey and learn of the world together, however, she did worry over the presence of Mokar. While she liked the male well enough, she saw the spark between him and Urslie.
Reaching the bottom, the three stepped off and began the long hike to the Barrens. As they passed through Bloodhoof Village, where the two girls had played in their recent childhood, Urslie turned to Ciarda, a large grin on her face. "We're going to have so much fun, Ciarda!" she exclaimed. Ciarda grinned as well; her friend was always so cheerful and enthusiastic, versus her own calmer, quieter composure. She nodded.
"Yes, we are. The whole world out there, ready for us to explore. We can help drive back the centaur... We can help our allies in their battles," she said. Mokar spoke up.
"And there's strength for you two to earn. You can learn more about your spirits, Ciarda, and Urslie, you will learn more ways to fight. I've seen some of the world, with Jang'Ai. It's... it's wonderful, and frightening. There's... a lot that's still good about it, but there's also parts where things have gone wrong," he said. The girls frowned at him.
"Like what?" they asked. He paused, scratching his head to think.
"Like... like Jang'Ai says one area run by the centaur is a wasteland. There's a forest tainted by fel magic. There's weird bugs in a desert, south of here. The world isn't all a giant wonderland... we aren't traveling on a big picnic," he told them. Urslie tilted her head.
"Yeah, we know. That's why we want to travel; we want to help fix what went wrong, even if it's just fighting off things," she said before continuing walking. Ciarda turned to Mokar, grinning.
"That's Urslie-speak for she wants to take down the centaurs, help cure that forest, and squash the bugs. And I want to help heal the land too, Mokar. I hear Corran talk about how damaged it is in some places. We didn't ask to come out here to have fun... We came looking to work and help with what we can," she said.
They continued going, passing through the lush green plains of Mulgore, and reaching the dry plains that made up the Barrens. Mokar glanced at Ciarda as she winced, seeing the land. "Did something happen here to make it like this?" she asked. Mokar shrugged as they walked.
"Not that I know of; I'm told it was like this for a long time, even the elders say so."
"Well, it's different. But different is good, Ciarda, even if the land doesn't look perfectly healthy. If everything looked the same, that'd be boring," Urslie said. They stared at creatures the two girls had never seen before as they walked, from the hyena to the raptors, before finally reaching the Crossroads.
"I'll warn you two right now... members of the Alliance like to attack here often, so I suggest watching out while you're here," Mokar told them. The two girls frowned at each other.
"But, why? I thought we were at a truce with the Alliance," they asked. He stopped and looked at them.
"Officially, there is a truce. But there are often individuals that don't care for such, that would prefer a war. You'll also find... some members of our faction attempting to undermine the truce. Just because there isn't an official war, doesn't mean there aren't battles. You can't trust everyone out there," he said, his brow furrowed as he thought of his own travels with Jang'Ai. Of the lessons he'd already begun learning, and of the attacks he'd witnessed.
He also remembered Jang'Ai's story, of why he'd been late the first time they'd made plans to travel together, and he smiled at the girls. "There are some, though, that you can trust. You just have to be cautious about it," he told them.
An hour later, after having been told by many how they could help – everything from killing animals and creatures to recovering lost items or exploring the oases – Mokar regrouped with them as they headed north. They would work on those services and bounties later; first, he wanted to show them Orgrimmar.
It was dark, gloomy, and very spooky in the graveyard, but neither girl would say to the other that they were scared. They both stalked the outskirts of the dark hill, searching for their prey. Two animals crept near them, one a black raptor, the other a white tiger. Both girls looked nearly identical, dark blue, long hair, even their faces and blue-purple skin was the similar. The only difference were the markings on their faces, surrounding their silver eyes. One held flame over her eyes and marks over her cheeks, the other had three marks over each eye extending down from her forehead. Both held bows and a quiver, and both carried swords. And both kept a wary eye on the skeletal warriors of Raven Hill.
They sought a specific undead, however. They had traveled here to assist their human allies, as well as uncover what had happened to one of their own, and while fighting in the graveyard, had discovered an odd grave. After much asking around, they had come to learn the story behind the cemetery's most famed skeleton; Mor'Ladim.
Everyone knew him. Those that had fought here had been sent scurrying away from him, or calling out for a healer to bring them back to life. Even the Night Elven sisters had fled from him when they'd arrived. After hearing his story, they pitied him and were now prepared to slay him, to both put his soul to rest and help later adventurers.
A paladin, he'd once been. He had seen the Order of the Silver Hand disbanded, but had valiantly kept going, hoping to see his family when he returned home. Only to come back to this. The older of the sisters, slightly taller and more lithe, paused to look around the forest. Cursed, she felt, this place was cursed. Then again, after that story of Velinde Starsong and the Scythe of Elune being the cause for the worgen here in Duskwood, the land was indeed cursed. No wonder the paladin had been driven mad at the loss of his family, when he had found their graves.
No excuse for the murder of three innocents, though, the younger sister felt. Grief was no reason to kill others, not when they had done nothing wrong. She pitied those souls as much as she did that of Morgan Ladimore, now in his restless undeath called Mor'Ladim.
The older sister suddenly pulled an arrow from her quiver and took aim. Releasing the arrow, she motioned for her sister to move back as the undead, powerful compared to the others in the land, stopped midstep and ran towards them, sword swinging. Both sent their pets out to meet him, and he turned his attention to them. He seemed confused, however, over which to attack; reptile or feline. Both sisters took aim and again fired, keeping their distance in case he chose them over the pets.
He did, finally growing angry at the younger sister and slashing his sword at her as he charged forward. Bow put away, she pulled out a sword and met him blow for blow while her raptor leapt at the undead. The older girl continued firing at the undead, prepared to charge in to help should her beloved sister need her. It was unnecessary, as she twisted around and sent her sword down into him, cleaving his rotting chest in two.
They stepped back as he collapsed and twitched. "We need his skull, Senkara," the older girl said. Senkara nodded and used her sword to decapitate the fearsome warrior. "You can take it to the town; I'll stay here and... look around some more," she said. Senkara looked at her.
"Are you sure, Sorina?"she asked. Sorina nodded, and with a shrug, Senkara and her raptor darted off towards Darkshire. Sorina knelt down next to Mor'Ladim's corpse. After several minutes passed, she began dragging what as left of it towards the graves. Several times she was forced to stop as skeletal warriors and healers attacked, hungry for flesh and wrathful towards the living. Each time, she twisted upright to fire off arrows at them as the ghostly white tiger dashed towards them. Finally, she brought him to the grave he'd originally been in. Hastily dug, and shallow, she used a broken shovel nearby to make it deeper, and to properly bury him.
Searching around, she found a stone to place over the grave, and a piece of chalk buried in her bag to write on the grave, in Common; Here lies Mor'Ladim, once a brave paladin, then a feared elite of Raven Hill. RIP, Mor'Ladim. Kneeling down, she bowed her head, and murmured, "Ande'thoras-ethil. May Elune be with you, Mor'Ladim." she said. She leapt to her feet as Senkara appeared behind her.
"'May your troubles be diminished', Sor? He killed innocents, and you wish him peace?" she asked. Sorina nodded.
"Grief, sister, causes one to do horrible things. I do not condone his actions; I pity what happened. ...What is that in your hand?" she asked. Senkara held out a ring.
"He has a living daughter, she asked me to... give this to him," she said. Silent for a moment, she knelt down, Sorina following, and placed the ring on the grave. "...Elune-Adore" she said, repeating the Darnassian term for what her sister had said. Both bowed their heads in silence, only to hear a ghostly whisper behind them. Whirling to their feet, swords in hand, they saw the ghost of Mor'Ladim.
"This is...? Sarah? Could it be she's still alive? The weight is removed from my shoulders... Sorina, Senkara. Take my sword, Archeus. As my soul is put to rest, I have no more need for it. It was forged to do good, and though I have proved myself unworthy to hold it, perhaps you will carry on the Light through it. Lys, my love... " he said, his voice a mere whisper in the wind as he faded away. In his placed was a two-handed sword. Senkara knelt to pick it up, examining it. Both stared in awe at both each other and the sword, before Senkara spoke.
"Do you want it, Sor?" she asked. Sorina shook her head.
"I like to dual wield, remember? You do two-handers." Then, she grinned. "Besides, maybe you'll come to understand his lesson," she said as she turned towards the road back to town. Senkara frowned, then followed after her, strapping the sword to her back. Her usual sword was at her side, and while it was heavy to carry both, she dared not leave behind either; one now carried emotional value, the other her beloved weapon.
They talked quietly together as they walked to the town, then stopped as they heard loud footsteps behind them. Turning, they stared in horror at the abomination crashing through the trees towards them. Both turned and began running to town, calling upon the cheetah aspect to help them run faster as they passed the Night Watch. The guards began attacking the monster as he turned upon them, smashing them into the ground. They stopped to watch in horrified fascination, and it wasn't until a cloaked figure stepped past them that they awoke from their terror.
Tall and long-eared like them, a female elf pulled the cloak off of her head, revealing her long white hair and pale blue skin. As the creature turned towards her, she flicked a hand and shadow magic surrounded it, and they saw pieces begin to fall off. She again used her magic, now attacking its mind as it slowly approached her. As its weapon fell upon her, the two sisters reaching for their arrows, holy light surrounded her and the blows failed to strike her. She weaved dark magic around her hands, and send a blast at the monster as more pieces of dead flesh fell off. Rather than attacking again, it stopped and retreated, being recalled by it's unknown master.
Turning towards the girls, the priestess regarded them coolly, her silver eyes looking over them both. "You would have been safer to continue running to town," she said calmly to them. Before they could reply, she held her hands together and bowed, "Ishnu-alah," she greeted. They bowed and returned the wish for good fortune. She walked towards them, and towards the town, and they fell in step behind her.
"Why did you not kill it?" Senkara asked. The priestess turned to look at her.
"I had no cause too. An abomination, yes, but not mine to slay. I merely repelled it until someone else came along to slay it. And I only did such because the two of you were in danger," she said.
"Thank you," Sorina said, again bowing her head to her. The priestess waved it off.
"We watch out for each other, although it is surprising to find a fellow elf out here. I am Anana," she said. The sisters introduced each other, then asked why she was there. "Ah, wandering and giving aid where it is needed. While I specialize in the shadow magics, I can heal quite well. In places such as this... the aid of a priestess is often quite necessary," she said.
"Are you staying in Darkshire?" Senkara asked. Anana nodded.
"For now. I planned on returning to Darnassus soon, however; do you care to join me?" she asked. The girls looked at each other, and needed no words to speak; both longed for home, and now that their quest was over, they had no reason to stay.
"Yes, Anana. We will join you, and return home," Sorina answered for them.