Therean kneeled as he coughed up some blood. He was bested.
"Finish it," he said, as he looked up at Bryii. The darkness which had hold of her faltered for a moment.
"If it is my life you seek, you have it, in fair and honorable combat. Why do you hesitate?"
In the wake of the disastrous rescue of Dazul which had left Nyali violated and scarred, Bryii was thirsting for justice. Unwilling to sugarcoat it, Therean had admitted the failure of the operation was down to his own recklessness in opposition to Nyali's urges for caution. When Bryii expressed that were it not for the mandate, she would strike him down where he stood Therean took her up and challenged her to a duel. At least, he had thought, he would die honorably as a Grim, and perhaps even in dying ameliorate some of the wrong his misstep had caused. Moreover, should he stand at inquest, it could be possible that he would at the last be stripped of this tabard he had worked so hard to earn.
"Take your satisfaction. Just... bury me Grim." Therean again looked to the Paladin; she wasn't even listening to him. "It is not the way of the mandate," Bryii muttered as she turned to walk away. Not two steps beyond Therean's outrage she dropped her axe and collapsed. Rising, Therean paced before her. She was trembling, clearly in pain.
"You dishon-" Therean was interrupted by his shock when the blood elf looked up at him. A dark energy gripped her veins, and the tattoo under her eye pulsated angrily.
"The curse... ugh," her eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed into the dirt.
"T'rean!" sounded a cry from overhead. Above him he saw the scarred tuskless troll Nyali borne on the back of her drake. He looked back down at his feet, Bryii was still writhing in pain. The drake pulled in and landed next to them.
"Wha joo doin' mon?!" She seemed upset, understandably "Where's Bryii".
Blind, that's right. Not waiting for an answer Nyali continued, "I 'eard ya gon tellin 'er i was yer fault. Joo wanna die?"
"It was my fault, we are both adherents Nyali, you are not responsible for my mistakes." Therean sighed, "Bryii is here, right before me. She seems to be suffering from some kind of curse".
"Nyali... my mother... she-", Bryii whispered.
Therean offered his hand as the troll dismounted from her drake to attend Bryii's side "'ow bad she dis time?"
"It's bad. The tattoo on her face is inflamed, the pain she feels paralyses her, I think."
Nyali reflexively looked up to Therean with blind eyes, hesitating for a moment "I need ya 'elp T'rean- i' ya be willin' ta give"
"Of course," he nodded, "What wouldd you have me do?"
"Com' wit me ta Moonglade, carry Bryii wit ya," Nyali stood and and called for her drake.
***
Mother's bequest
Re: Mother's bequest
The entourage landed in moonglade, Nyali in proto-drake form and Therean on his manticore with Bryii slummped before him unconscious.
"How do you manage to fly when you can't see?" Therean asked.
Transforming to her regular form, Nyali pointed at her nose before gesturing to nearby tunnel, "Dis be da Barrow dens. Da dream i' strong here. Togeda we gun' enter Bryii's mind, an' pry out dis sickness"
Therean nodded as he dismounted, lifting Bryii's limp form and following the troll into the Barrow dens.
The path spiralled downward, then opened into a maze of organic paths. Crossing a natural bridge, Nyali lifted her head as if listening, then gestured that they stop, "Lay 'er down, T'rean. We do i' here." A bright green fire possessed her empty sockets, and she seemed to have her sight back as she looked him in the eye.
"Your eyes..." Therean said as he lay the elf down.
"Dis be a place o' great powah; were de druids com ta sleep." Nyali took a knee over the unconscious elf, and began channeling verdant energy. Without a word, she lifted a light sheathed hand toward Therean. Taking a knee, Therean took it, feeling a rush of vitiality as he did so. The barrow dens melted away as ethereal vines wove all around, dispelling reality and finally receding, leaving him in darkness.
"Hey mister," it was the voice of a small girl. Therean looked about, he was in the eversong woods. He felt somehow younger, and as he looked down he saw his hair was long, his skin smooth and unwrinkled, his arms draped in fine silk robes, his hands untwisted and soft. Behind them, there was a little girl with a big grin, clutching a voidwalker plushie. "Mister! Are you listening? Hee hee. Come play!" The little girl turned and bounced away toward the nearby lagoon, waving him after her. "Hey, stop that! This is no time for fun and games," Therean snapped reflexively. Though aware of the semi-real nature of his situation, he was only partly in control; his response came as an urge difficult to resist.
The little girl frowned and ran to a graceful woman, "Mommy, that man is mean." The woman glared angrily at Therean but said nothing.
"Is this your daughter?" Therean asked impatiently, "She is terribly behaved and most disruptive."
"Stay away from her," the woman said with slow deliberateness.
"You need to practice your magic, child. There'll be plenty of time for fun and games when you grow up." Therean said admonishingly.
The little girl cracked a smile, despite his tone, "When I grow up, I wanna help people! If I practice magic can I help people?"
"Stop it!"
Therean betrayed a thin smile, "Sounds like we have a future apprentice of the light. Yes, little one, if you practice everyday, one day you will be able to help lots of people"
"SILENCE"
"Mommy doesn't like it when I say that though... she wants me to learn about him" The little girl jiggled the voidwalker plushie. Therean suppressed a scowl, and leant toward the little girl, "You know, sometimes grown ups can be silly. They-" He was interrupted as the little girls started to cry, "My Mommy is NOT SILLY!"
"GET OUT!" A surge of dark energy knocked him back, and the scene dissipated, leaving only darkness, the blood elf woman, and her child. The woman glowed with fel power as she levitated above him, unleashing a furious wave of corruption. Reflexively Therean cast blink, which to his surprise actually worked. He looked down at his hands as he watched the shimmers of light drip off his fingers, "My magic, it works..." Suddenly remembering the malevolent woman he spun around all to late to see she had unleashed a crackling ball of hellfire at him. Bracing, Therean felt a cool sensation of organic essence wash over him, instead of the horrible grip of flames.
"Therean. We are within Bryii's consciousness. I am going to attempt to call upon the one inhabiting this place", the voice seemed to come from all around him, and though spoken in the familiar timbre of Nyali's voice, it had no accent whatsoever.
"Nyali? What-" Therean was interrupted by another torrent of dark energy from the presence.
"Begone from this place, you meddling fools! You will not take my daughter away from me," Streams of dark violet coalesced to a point, revealing the shady form of a female blood elf, "If you value Bryii's well being, you will leave her be- I have it in my power to increase this malady tenfold."
"Stop it, stop fighting!" The little girl called out through tears. Therean ducked and rolled, panting as he did so, "Don't worry little girl. Sometimes adults can be a bit silly, and they have disagreements."
"Now Therean!" Nyali said, as vines shot up around the Woman and entangled her.
Turning on his heel Therean cast a bolt of arcane energy at the woman, then sprinted after it, drawing his twin hatchets.
"Fools!" the woman boomed as a burst of fell energy threw off the lashing vines for a second, long enough for her to materialise a dark spear and brace it against Therean's charge. Therean leapt through the air planting his knee and hatchets into her midsection as he landed upon the spear. "Aagh"
The woman and the girl flickered away and Therean fell to the ground, bleeding. Nyali's verdant light filled him and mended his wound, "I can still sense her. I don't think we can rid her from Bryii with force. Not so long as her subconscious wants her here."
"Who is she?" Therean asked, getting up.
Faeriel. She was once Bryii's mother, but has become something else.
"I AM Bryii's mother, and forever will remain so. You will not take her away. She is mine" Faeriel's voice rang out, from nowhere in particular.
Therean thought for a second. Though he was no warlock, he knew enough about demonkind to know there was one thing they loved, "Demon. You like deals, no? Perhaps we can come to some kind of arrangement"
"Why do you torment her? Let us be, let her cease her pathetic adulation of the light"
"She is my mate, and she is not pathetic. I love her, and you are harming her."
"She has become a proud hero of great renown in the light. She saved my life. Why can't you let her be?"
Silence.
"Very well, we shall make a deal. If you can bring me the thing she desires most in the world, I shall harm her no more."
"How do you manage to fly when you can't see?" Therean asked.
Transforming to her regular form, Nyali pointed at her nose before gesturing to nearby tunnel, "Dis be da Barrow dens. Da dream i' strong here. Togeda we gun' enter Bryii's mind, an' pry out dis sickness"
Therean nodded as he dismounted, lifting Bryii's limp form and following the troll into the Barrow dens.
The path spiralled downward, then opened into a maze of organic paths. Crossing a natural bridge, Nyali lifted her head as if listening, then gestured that they stop, "Lay 'er down, T'rean. We do i' here." A bright green fire possessed her empty sockets, and she seemed to have her sight back as she looked him in the eye.
"Your eyes..." Therean said as he lay the elf down.
"Dis be a place o' great powah; were de druids com ta sleep." Nyali took a knee over the unconscious elf, and began channeling verdant energy. Without a word, she lifted a light sheathed hand toward Therean. Taking a knee, Therean took it, feeling a rush of vitiality as he did so. The barrow dens melted away as ethereal vines wove all around, dispelling reality and finally receding, leaving him in darkness.
"Hey mister," it was the voice of a small girl. Therean looked about, he was in the eversong woods. He felt somehow younger, and as he looked down he saw his hair was long, his skin smooth and unwrinkled, his arms draped in fine silk robes, his hands untwisted and soft. Behind them, there was a little girl with a big grin, clutching a voidwalker plushie. "Mister! Are you listening? Hee hee. Come play!" The little girl turned and bounced away toward the nearby lagoon, waving him after her. "Hey, stop that! This is no time for fun and games," Therean snapped reflexively. Though aware of the semi-real nature of his situation, he was only partly in control; his response came as an urge difficult to resist.
The little girl frowned and ran to a graceful woman, "Mommy, that man is mean." The woman glared angrily at Therean but said nothing.
"Is this your daughter?" Therean asked impatiently, "She is terribly behaved and most disruptive."
"Stay away from her," the woman said with slow deliberateness.
"You need to practice your magic, child. There'll be plenty of time for fun and games when you grow up." Therean said admonishingly.
The little girl cracked a smile, despite his tone, "When I grow up, I wanna help people! If I practice magic can I help people?"
"Stop it!"
Therean betrayed a thin smile, "Sounds like we have a future apprentice of the light. Yes, little one, if you practice everyday, one day you will be able to help lots of people"
"SILENCE"
"Mommy doesn't like it when I say that though... she wants me to learn about him" The little girl jiggled the voidwalker plushie. Therean suppressed a scowl, and leant toward the little girl, "You know, sometimes grown ups can be silly. They-" He was interrupted as the little girls started to cry, "My Mommy is NOT SILLY!"
"GET OUT!" A surge of dark energy knocked him back, and the scene dissipated, leaving only darkness, the blood elf woman, and her child. The woman glowed with fel power as she levitated above him, unleashing a furious wave of corruption. Reflexively Therean cast blink, which to his surprise actually worked. He looked down at his hands as he watched the shimmers of light drip off his fingers, "My magic, it works..." Suddenly remembering the malevolent woman he spun around all to late to see she had unleashed a crackling ball of hellfire at him. Bracing, Therean felt a cool sensation of organic essence wash over him, instead of the horrible grip of flames.
"Therean. We are within Bryii's consciousness. I am going to attempt to call upon the one inhabiting this place", the voice seemed to come from all around him, and though spoken in the familiar timbre of Nyali's voice, it had no accent whatsoever.
"Nyali? What-" Therean was interrupted by another torrent of dark energy from the presence.
"Begone from this place, you meddling fools! You will not take my daughter away from me," Streams of dark violet coalesced to a point, revealing the shady form of a female blood elf, "If you value Bryii's well being, you will leave her be- I have it in my power to increase this malady tenfold."
"Stop it, stop fighting!" The little girl called out through tears. Therean ducked and rolled, panting as he did so, "Don't worry little girl. Sometimes adults can be a bit silly, and they have disagreements."
"Now Therean!" Nyali said, as vines shot up around the Woman and entangled her.
Turning on his heel Therean cast a bolt of arcane energy at the woman, then sprinted after it, drawing his twin hatchets.
"Fools!" the woman boomed as a burst of fell energy threw off the lashing vines for a second, long enough for her to materialise a dark spear and brace it against Therean's charge. Therean leapt through the air planting his knee and hatchets into her midsection as he landed upon the spear. "Aagh"
The woman and the girl flickered away and Therean fell to the ground, bleeding. Nyali's verdant light filled him and mended his wound, "I can still sense her. I don't think we can rid her from Bryii with force. Not so long as her subconscious wants her here."
"Who is she?" Therean asked, getting up.
Faeriel. She was once Bryii's mother, but has become something else.
"I AM Bryii's mother, and forever will remain so. You will not take her away. She is mine" Faeriel's voice rang out, from nowhere in particular.
Therean thought for a second. Though he was no warlock, he knew enough about demonkind to know there was one thing they loved, "Demon. You like deals, no? Perhaps we can come to some kind of arrangement"
"Why do you torment her? Let us be, let her cease her pathetic adulation of the light"
"She is my mate, and she is not pathetic. I love her, and you are harming her."
"She has become a proud hero of great renown in the light. She saved my life. Why can't you let her be?"
Silence.
"Very well, we shall make a deal. If you can bring me the thing she desires most in the world, I shall harm her no more."
Re: Mother's bequest
***
Therean dashed into Bryii's room. Startled, she turned to face him, "What is it?". She was not in her armour as is typical, and Therean had to double take to recognise her. "Forgive me, Bryii, but it is a matter of the utmost urgency." Therean leant against the door and panted.
"Therean, what's wrong?" said Bryii as she came over to him. Snapping up Therean waved her concern away, "The Alliance, they're here!"
"Here, what? In Orgrimmar?!" Bryii was stunned.
Therean nodded gravely, "Stormwind has launched a surprise attack with devastating force. Orgrimmar will fall by sunset. Ashenfury calls you to the front lines- you are sorely needed. We need to hold off the Alliance while we evacuate Orgrimmar."
Bryii tried to mouth a response but nothing came. How could this happen? "Bryii, please, to the armory. As I am not yet combat ready I have been commissioned with destroying anything that might be of use of value to the alliance in these Halls, almost everything. Is there anything of particular value you need me to keep for you?"
Bryii shook her head, still stunned.
Therean rubbed his chin for a moment, frustrated, then looked up, "Bryii, I'm not going to lie; a lot of warriors have fallen, many of them Grims. Today might be the day you die. As much as I'd have it the other way around, I am likely to survive if you do not. Is there anything you want me to bring to you for your final battle- or bury with you if I am too late?" Therean looked at her interrogatively.
"I.. I can't die in battle without him. My..." Bryii stopped short, unwilling to continue.
"Him? Your what?" Therean pressed, but Bryii shook her head as she started putting on her armour, "It's nothing ."
"Your sword? Your Armour? An old friend?" Therean's questions fired quicker than she could dismiss them.
"Therean, forget it. It belongs in the past anyway..."
"It..." Therean pondered, what belongs to her, can be considered a 'him' and an 'it'. Bryii hauled her self to her feet, fully clad in plate mail. Walking out the door she looked over her space within the Halls of the Grim one last time before her eyes fell to Therean. "Peace through Annihiliation", she said, grasping his shoulder before moving at pace for the door.
"The voidwalker plushie!" Therean shouted after her.
The sound of full plate in flight halted, and Bryii stopped in her tracks, finally turning and removing her helmet, "H-how did you...?"
Interrupting her, Therean looked up at the ceiling and called out at the top of his lungs, "Nyali! I have it."
Bryii faded away, still with a look of confusion and surprise, and the Halls of the Grim twisted and turned into a lattis of writhing vines. Pulling away into darkness, the vines left Therean into Darkness. Reeling with dizzyness, he fell to his side. Opening his eyes he saw earthen walls, and the rich scent of dry dust and damp soil hit his nose; he was back in the Barrow dens. Beside him, Bryii lay still unconscious, and over her Knelt Nyali, who made the finishing touches to an ominous druidic chant and rose, offering a hand up.
"Voi'walkah plushee?" She asked.
"The toy, from her childhood. I see the art of the Demon's deal now- how will we ever find it now?"
Nyali's finger ran across her tuskless lips as she though for a moment, "Ah tink ah kno' were i' mah be"
With green fire in her eye sockets, she looked down and gestured to Bryii, "Brin' Bryii, T'rean, we gon' take a trip ta evahsong."
"I 'tink we be neeedin' da help o' our newest supplicant, too," Nyali added, Reaching for her hearthstone, "Lila.. wha' choo doin' mon?"
***
Therean dashed into Bryii's room. Startled, she turned to face him, "What is it?". She was not in her armour as is typical, and Therean had to double take to recognise her. "Forgive me, Bryii, but it is a matter of the utmost urgency." Therean leant against the door and panted.
"Therean, what's wrong?" said Bryii as she came over to him. Snapping up Therean waved her concern away, "The Alliance, they're here!"
"Here, what? In Orgrimmar?!" Bryii was stunned.
Therean nodded gravely, "Stormwind has launched a surprise attack with devastating force. Orgrimmar will fall by sunset. Ashenfury calls you to the front lines- you are sorely needed. We need to hold off the Alliance while we evacuate Orgrimmar."
Bryii tried to mouth a response but nothing came. How could this happen? "Bryii, please, to the armory. As I am not yet combat ready I have been commissioned with destroying anything that might be of use of value to the alliance in these Halls, almost everything. Is there anything of particular value you need me to keep for you?"
Bryii shook her head, still stunned.
Therean rubbed his chin for a moment, frustrated, then looked up, "Bryii, I'm not going to lie; a lot of warriors have fallen, many of them Grims. Today might be the day you die. As much as I'd have it the other way around, I am likely to survive if you do not. Is there anything you want me to bring to you for your final battle- or bury with you if I am too late?" Therean looked at her interrogatively.
"I.. I can't die in battle without him. My..." Bryii stopped short, unwilling to continue.
"Him? Your what?" Therean pressed, but Bryii shook her head as she started putting on her armour, "It's nothing ."
"Your sword? Your Armour? An old friend?" Therean's questions fired quicker than she could dismiss them.
"Therean, forget it. It belongs in the past anyway..."
"It..." Therean pondered, what belongs to her, can be considered a 'him' and an 'it'. Bryii hauled her self to her feet, fully clad in plate mail. Walking out the door she looked over her space within the Halls of the Grim one last time before her eyes fell to Therean. "Peace through Annihiliation", she said, grasping his shoulder before moving at pace for the door.
"The voidwalker plushie!" Therean shouted after her.
The sound of full plate in flight halted, and Bryii stopped in her tracks, finally turning and removing her helmet, "H-how did you...?"
Interrupting her, Therean looked up at the ceiling and called out at the top of his lungs, "Nyali! I have it."
Bryii faded away, still with a look of confusion and surprise, and the Halls of the Grim twisted and turned into a lattis of writhing vines. Pulling away into darkness, the vines left Therean into Darkness. Reeling with dizzyness, he fell to his side. Opening his eyes he saw earthen walls, and the rich scent of dry dust and damp soil hit his nose; he was back in the Barrow dens. Beside him, Bryii lay still unconscious, and over her Knelt Nyali, who made the finishing touches to an ominous druidic chant and rose, offering a hand up.
"Voi'walkah plushee?" She asked.
"The toy, from her childhood. I see the art of the Demon's deal now- how will we ever find it now?"
Nyali's finger ran across her tuskless lips as she though for a moment, "Ah tink ah kno' were i' mah be"
With green fire in her eye sockets, she looked down and gestured to Bryii, "Brin' Bryii, T'rean, we gon' take a trip ta evahsong."
"I 'tink we be neeedin' da help o' our newest supplicant, too," Nyali added, Reaching for her hearthstone, "Lila.. wha' choo doin' mon?"
***
Re: Mother's bequest
***
Nyali had indeed known the location of the toy- a quaint, run down abode in eversong, right by the Blackened woods, or the Ghostlands as they have since become known. Now, Lila, Nyali and Therean kneeled in a circle about Bryii in Zul'Aman. Nyali had chosen the place for it's connection to the Loa, and had already begun the incantations for the trio to enter Bryii's mind and call forther the malevolent spirit of her mother, Faeriel.
"Come forth, dark spirit, we have what you asked" said Nyali, again without her accent as seemed to be the case when speaking in realm of thought and spirit.
"You have it? Do you see, then, what it is that she most wants?" Faeriel asked triumphantly.
"Aye, she wants her mother, deep down. That does not mean she wants the corrupt embrace of fel, or the curse you have put upon her"
"Bryii has become a shining brand of justice and honor, you should be proud of her, not resentful, you beast" Therean added.
Joining to the chorus of praise, Lila chimed, "Bryii has become like a sister to me. She is a true friend and a good person. Why do you torment her so".
Faeriel paused, "She is my daughter, I love her. Ever has she pushed me away. I wish only to be close to her, to protect and watch over her."
Nyali considered that perhaps Faeriel was not so bad, misguided perhaps, but not utterly beyond redemption, "So it is a mother's love that drives you to this extent? Had you not considered the harm you were doing?"
"I had hoped that by forcing her into the brokering with fel powers I could better aid and protect her, with my own experience in that area"
"Enough," Therean said, unconvinced, "You made a deal, now stick to it. We have the item, now relent and begone."
"My girl is a hero, and loved by many. This brings me happiness. I shall lift my affliction and keep my word. I ask only that you give this toy to her as a memento of my love. I will invest myself within, so that I might ever watch over her and be close." Faeriel said, the harshness in her voice gone.
"No. That was not part of the-"
"Therean, though your intentions are well, you dismiss the power of motherly love to easily, and it's importance to Bryii." Nyali interrupted with forceful serentiy, "Faeriel as her mate I accept, so long as you swear to trouble her no further"
"This I swear. I lift my curse from her soul and Bryii shall be renewed. Tell her that henceforth she shall be called 'Dawnsorrow', and is the beginning of a new line of daughters watched over by me. Forgive me, my daughter, you will forever be my dearest one. I depart"
***
Nyali had indeed known the location of the toy- a quaint, run down abode in eversong, right by the Blackened woods, or the Ghostlands as they have since become known. Now, Lila, Nyali and Therean kneeled in a circle about Bryii in Zul'Aman. Nyali had chosen the place for it's connection to the Loa, and had already begun the incantations for the trio to enter Bryii's mind and call forther the malevolent spirit of her mother, Faeriel.
"Come forth, dark spirit, we have what you asked" said Nyali, again without her accent as seemed to be the case when speaking in realm of thought and spirit.
"You have it? Do you see, then, what it is that she most wants?" Faeriel asked triumphantly.
"Aye, she wants her mother, deep down. That does not mean she wants the corrupt embrace of fel, or the curse you have put upon her"
"Bryii has become a shining brand of justice and honor, you should be proud of her, not resentful, you beast" Therean added.
Joining to the chorus of praise, Lila chimed, "Bryii has become like a sister to me. She is a true friend and a good person. Why do you torment her so".
Faeriel paused, "She is my daughter, I love her. Ever has she pushed me away. I wish only to be close to her, to protect and watch over her."
Nyali considered that perhaps Faeriel was not so bad, misguided perhaps, but not utterly beyond redemption, "So it is a mother's love that drives you to this extent? Had you not considered the harm you were doing?"
"I had hoped that by forcing her into the brokering with fel powers I could better aid and protect her, with my own experience in that area"
"Enough," Therean said, unconvinced, "You made a deal, now stick to it. We have the item, now relent and begone."
"My girl is a hero, and loved by many. This brings me happiness. I shall lift my affliction and keep my word. I ask only that you give this toy to her as a memento of my love. I will invest myself within, so that I might ever watch over her and be close." Faeriel said, the harshness in her voice gone.
"No. That was not part of the-"
"Therean, though your intentions are well, you dismiss the power of motherly love to easily, and it's importance to Bryii." Nyali interrupted with forceful serentiy, "Faeriel as her mate I accept, so long as you swear to trouble her no further"
"This I swear. I lift my curse from her soul and Bryii shall be renewed. Tell her that henceforth she shall be called 'Dawnsorrow', and is the beginning of a new line of daughters watched over by me. Forgive me, my daughter, you will forever be my dearest one. I depart"
***