Epilogue (one month later)
Even under the grey stone dome of the tavern, the howl and hiss of the sandstorm outside could be clearly heard. Travelers from across the eastern Tanaris desert had rushed here, to the Goblin-run town of Gadgetzan, when the news of the storm had hit. It was said to be the worst weather to hit the area in decades.
It was great news for the Goblins, of course. Their town acted as the primary gateway into the desert, and having dozens of adventurers and travelers stuck in town for days on end was a tremendous boon to their coffers.
To those adventurers and travelers, however, the delay was less enthusiastically received. There were constant arguments and fistfights as frustrations and tempers flared. The Goblin bruisers - surprisingly scrappy for such small folk - were kept busy.
Against the far wall of the tavern, as far away from the drunken chaos as possible, sat a solitary female Blood Elf. She was dressed in a conservative robe, and before her lay an open tome, to which she was busy adding notes.
"May I join you?" The feminine voice was unexpected, and a startled line of ink scratched across the page. The writer glanced up to see another Elf, like herself, but dressed far more elegantly.
The standing Elf's voice was perhaps a little louder than it needed to be. "My apologies for startling you. You've chosen the quietest corner, and I could really use a place to get away from the drunken idiots." As if on cue, a table in another part of the tavern crashed to the floor under the weight of a thrown Orc.
"Certainly," the seated Elf gestured politely at the chair opposite.
"I'm Saraband," the newcomer smiled as she sat.
"Talemma," the writer replied, after a moment's hesitation.
"Thank you." The two Elves eyed each other cautiously for a moment. Saraband then spoke again, her tone lightly conversational. "I'd heard that there was someone putting together an expedition to the Caverns of Time."
Talemma's eyes snapped back up to regard Saraband more intently. Like all Elves, her frame was lithe, but she carried herself with the grace and poise of long experience. Her cloud-grey robe and cloak were both elegant and practical in design, and showed signs of being highly enchanted.
Information about the expedition had been left with the only Goblin who Talemma trusted, an alchemist and trader by the name of Pestlezugg. The small folk were notoriously cunning and excellent judges of character - which is why they often ended up running banks and auction houses.
"That would be me, yes. I'm heading there to study the warping effects that are said to occur at the bottom of the cavern. I've heard stories that time itself is fluid, there."
"But does not the bronze dragonflight control the area?"
"I am no enemy of dragons." Though it was with some guilt that Talemma remembered using Dragonbone Dust in her enchantments, long ago.
"Then I would like to accompany you. I am a mage of no small ability, and also interested in the phenomena in the Caverns."
Talemma nodded in relief and closed her book. "I accept your offer. Come, then. You can meet the other who will be accompanying us."
The two Elves stepped out into the fury of the sandstorm, making their way toward a smaller building some yards distant. It would prove to be the first stop on a grand adventure through time and across all the lands of Azeroth.
.
.
Edit 3/13/2015: If you play WoW and ever find yourself on the Cenarion Circle (US) server, please drop Necri a message to say hi! And to all those who wanted a sequel... there may be something in the works. Stay tuned!