Interlude: Zathrian
Today I met Neria Surana, a lovely member of our tribe with exquisite arcane gifts that have been sorely underutilized. Had she been born in her rightful home, her abilities would have been such as to make her a fine Keeper. But as she was born among humans, instead she is seen as an abomination. A monster. A heretic. In fact, she is not even familiar with the culture of her own people. From speaking with her, I have gathered that she was taken from her family before she even knew them, forced into a life of servitude, a prison!, and made to become like her captors.
I feel sorry for her. There should be great shame among the humans to have forced one of our own into this sorry state. Particularly one with such skill in the arcane arts.
And what poor Neria Surana has come to! She was impatient and irritable when I spoke to her. Her identity seems confused. She told me that she is aligned with the Grey Wardens, rather than with her own people. Again, I blame her lack of upbringing. In her world, she has never been allowed to understand the sanctity of her heritage. She does not know about the near immortal legacy of the elves, and the sacred past that they cherish. No, to her, we are nothing more than a race of humans with pointy ears and slim figures. How I wish that I could have taken her from her group and forced her to listen to the history of her people.
As it was, she ignored us. Listened to me tell her about how the werewolves needed to be killed, then vanished off into the forest to kill them as though they were just game animals, rather than a dire threat to all of our people. I heard reports, as she made progress. About how she had killed just a few of the many werewolves that are plaguing us. Then proceeded to desecrate the graves of our ancestors.
It saddens me so much that things should come to this. To where one of our own would destroy the sacred resting places of those who have undergone Uthenara for the good of their people. To where one will loot the sacred ruins of our ancestors that should be maintained for generations, then carefully excavated by the most skilled of archeologists. My heart is in pain over the deeds of Neria. Did she know what these sacred artifacts meant, she surely would have treasured them as any true elf would treasure his or her heritage.
I blame the humans. Had she been raised among us, I am certain that she would have known better. Would be better. It is all the humans' fault that she is like this.
Still worse, tales filtered in from my tribe about what she had done while here. She had apparently chosen to corrupt Cammen and Gheyna with her lascivious nature, no doubt encouraged by humans who see elves as nothing more than exotic toys. She encouraged the death of a sick halla, without the faintest idea as to how sacred the bond between elf and beast is. Oh, and what she did to Arthas...after that, I fear that the poor man will never recover.
I hesitate to even trust any wood she brings back from the forest. Most likely, it will have come from a still living tree!
How this poor, delicate flower has been corrupted by man! I wish that we could take her among ourselves and reclaim her, somehow. Drive the taint from her, much as I wish we could save our own people from the curse of the werewolves.
How interesting. She seems to be returning. With...werewolves? This seems strangely unusual. Is she bringing them here to kill them in front of us and prove that she has eliminated the menace to our people? But why would she do that?
What? They're attacking us! What has gone wrong? Does she not understand that she was supposed to attack and kill Witherfang, not enlist her help in killing us?
Argh! Ugh. Gurgle. Can't speak. Jugular. Pierced.
Thanks again to Lyna, alrock, Arsinoe, spotted bunny, Prisoner, Nowshin, ginganinja, scampermax, Lollytron, badculture, milulu, Victoria, Enaid, Piceron, Sarah, Eva, Jenn, KimSmith, Draguna, retroswimsuit, Jessica, demonsshade, papillon, Holly, Lehni, Interesting, Meiran, Boredinclass, Golden Echo, Nithu and roxfox! You all continue to inspire me.