Mind Games (Xondor's strange request)
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 1:12 am
"What?"
His thoughts quickly flowed from one direction to the other, without pause or consideration for what was around him.
"Yes, I know the enchantment is nearing Its end. I've seen too it obviously otherwise It wouldn't be failing."
The Kaldorei, swathed in royal red silk trimmed with black, slowly raised his arms to his sides, his palm upwards in a gesture of disinterest. Only now did he notice the cool stone beneath his feet. Cut precisely and evenly, time did little to dull the stone's edges or ruin the smooth flooring.
"It is once again time for me to leave my home."
He would swear that his heart was as dead as the rest of his body but seeing Myrilease standing in his door way, tears on her face after having regained what she lost long ago only to lose it once again... It made the void in his chest seem not as empty as he once thought.
Malkaris looked down a moment, unable to look her in the eyes. A second later, he feels her hand brush against his chin, lifting his gaze up towards hers, the hue of his skin already changing, his ears elongating, and for a moment he resembled his old self before the curse. She allows herself a brief smile before wiping her tears away. Her thumb slide across his cheek, and odd gesture before he noticed the wetness of one of his own tears on it, a crystalline looking tear, shining with the light of elune before it's hue turns a dark blue as if it were liquid sapphire.
"You hold no allegiance to my cause... Why are you still here, Myri?".
"You're a fool if you think I'm going to simply abandon you, after so long? All others that we've known have passed on, or have gone into seclusion. Should be obvious why."
Malkaris pondered for a moment, not what she meant but what he should do next. His shadow-like aura has once again encompassed him, and his skin color was no longer it's healthy hue, his flesh a little more death like in it's gauntness. He seemed much like the regal dead of his kind, with blue balls of lightning for eyes. He looked up, only seeing that she had once again disappeared. It only served to intensify the ache in his chest.
He would do what he had sworn to do, if only to finally find peace.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Kaldorei had only tolerated him by this point due to the coming of the Highborne once again, something he was distinctly aware of and intrigued by. Many of the others who swore by the druidic ways looked at him with distaste, his crimson silken robes floating about his form in an ghost-like fashion, waving slowly with the gusts of wind, giving him an air of highborne nobility despite his appearance now. Some of the other highborne regard him with curiosity, a relic of the past, while others still recognize him as a cursed one, a stain on their honor as one who helped defile the temples and priestesses while still under the influence of the Burning Legion. Some murmured as to his possible destination. Some were actually correct in their assumption but none were really sure as to his intent.
"You're returning to the horde, aren't you, Malkaris?"
He turned around to see who it was that had addressed him so casually. Living amongst his people for an extended period of time had caused his pride to swell with memories of what once was, and could be again with the return of the highborne.
He freezes as he sees, Tyrande looking at him, by herself. This didn't exactly mean much however as she was around the same age as, Malkaris himself was. Surprisingly his hatred for her had slowly cooled to a dull loathing.
"Yes. There are some things that must be tended to if I am to save Azshara from what befell her."
"She's been gone too long, Malkaris. She is better off lost beneath the seas...I do not wish unnecessary suffering on anythings but for the greater good of our people, she must remain lost to us."
"She is our Queen. She was corrupted as most beings have been since the Legion's coming. She deserves a second chance, just as others have been given a chance.
"At what cost? You will do as you always have done. I've tolerated your presence here because you are a reminder, a relic of our folly. And perhaps, you would return to us... your people and abandon your errand. But it does not seem like you will, will you?
"
Her face was thoughtful, though somewhat pained at the thought of losing another of her people to darkness that surrounded the past of their people.
"If I am wrong... then so be it. But I will not be remembered as the one that stopped hoping for the safe return of our Queen. She was not perfect, Tyrande. But I am no traitor."
"You slither like a serpent between the two warring factions, Malkaris. I pray that you are not punished for your fickle allegiences."
"My allegience has always been to the uplifting of our people. Yes, i've had to do things, horrible things, but we will be a power in our own right once again, able to stand against the tide without the help of the Humans or the Draenai and Earthen."
"And what of those you ally yourself with personally? The Grim? What will they make of your...intentions? Of your mercenary attitude?"
"I do not know. If the worst happens, I will simply wait a few decades till they die, then continue on as I always have. Though... I've grown somewhat fond of some of those short lived animals."
"People, Malkaris. You are old, but not so old that you may disregard life in general as mere things beneath your gaze. Even....even cenarius fell to the Orcs, Malkaris. And you are less than he was. Remember that."
Malkaris regarded her warily before rolling his eyes and sighing. He stared at her for a moment after, then nodded a farewell and boarded a smaller boat with Horde markings.
Tyrande watched as he sailed away, her white mooncloth robes dancing about her frame with the wind and the rustling of leaves, before returning to the temple.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Malkaris sat on the port side of the ship, staring out into the sea as he went over a checklist of things he would have to remember for the Inquisitors. He took in a few deep breaths of the ocean air before sitting down to work.
So began his writing:
"Many things have transpired during my infiltration of the alliance. Most of which is not important enough to place in this report.
Upon arriving, I swiftly placed myself within the human city of stormwind, acting as one of the lesser ambassadors to the Kaldorei and to a lesser extent, a Leiason to the high elves that still remained loyal to the Alliance.
As I had thought, their focus was more on the undead onslaught than the horde itself though it continued to fight and appropriate resources to keeping it's own holdings out of horde hands.
A push was made before the human King, Varian could bring his attention to the citadel, and the assault force consisting of myself and a large number of other members of the alliance managed to fell the Lich King.
I was never privy to exact details but I was made aware of battle strategies in regards to the Citadel that proved effective.
My experience was, for all intents and purposes, a scouting mission to bring back useful information though as with most plans, what works for some, may not work for others simply due to composition and mindsets.
After my mission was essentially over and my disguise was due to fall, I left and returned to Kalimdor where I stayed hidden for a time near Azshara.
That sums up the most important aspect of my experience. Anything else...well. Ask and you shall recieve."
So ended his report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malkaris wasn't entirely sure if that was enough, but he was no pup, and while he was able to bring himself this low, to induldge in another's request, anymore than this, would have to be asked for in person, not out of malice, but out of habit, a habit established and only strengthened by millenia of apathy.
His thoughts quickly flowed from one direction to the other, without pause or consideration for what was around him.
"Yes, I know the enchantment is nearing Its end. I've seen too it obviously otherwise It wouldn't be failing."
The Kaldorei, swathed in royal red silk trimmed with black, slowly raised his arms to his sides, his palm upwards in a gesture of disinterest. Only now did he notice the cool stone beneath his feet. Cut precisely and evenly, time did little to dull the stone's edges or ruin the smooth flooring.
"It is once again time for me to leave my home."
He would swear that his heart was as dead as the rest of his body but seeing Myrilease standing in his door way, tears on her face after having regained what she lost long ago only to lose it once again... It made the void in his chest seem not as empty as he once thought.
Malkaris looked down a moment, unable to look her in the eyes. A second later, he feels her hand brush against his chin, lifting his gaze up towards hers, the hue of his skin already changing, his ears elongating, and for a moment he resembled his old self before the curse. She allows herself a brief smile before wiping her tears away. Her thumb slide across his cheek, and odd gesture before he noticed the wetness of one of his own tears on it, a crystalline looking tear, shining with the light of elune before it's hue turns a dark blue as if it were liquid sapphire.
"You hold no allegiance to my cause... Why are you still here, Myri?".
"You're a fool if you think I'm going to simply abandon you, after so long? All others that we've known have passed on, or have gone into seclusion. Should be obvious why."
Malkaris pondered for a moment, not what she meant but what he should do next. His shadow-like aura has once again encompassed him, and his skin color was no longer it's healthy hue, his flesh a little more death like in it's gauntness. He seemed much like the regal dead of his kind, with blue balls of lightning for eyes. He looked up, only seeing that she had once again disappeared. It only served to intensify the ache in his chest.
He would do what he had sworn to do, if only to finally find peace.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Kaldorei had only tolerated him by this point due to the coming of the Highborne once again, something he was distinctly aware of and intrigued by. Many of the others who swore by the druidic ways looked at him with distaste, his crimson silken robes floating about his form in an ghost-like fashion, waving slowly with the gusts of wind, giving him an air of highborne nobility despite his appearance now. Some of the other highborne regard him with curiosity, a relic of the past, while others still recognize him as a cursed one, a stain on their honor as one who helped defile the temples and priestesses while still under the influence of the Burning Legion. Some murmured as to his possible destination. Some were actually correct in their assumption but none were really sure as to his intent.
"You're returning to the horde, aren't you, Malkaris?"
He turned around to see who it was that had addressed him so casually. Living amongst his people for an extended period of time had caused his pride to swell with memories of what once was, and could be again with the return of the highborne.
He freezes as he sees, Tyrande looking at him, by herself. This didn't exactly mean much however as she was around the same age as, Malkaris himself was. Surprisingly his hatred for her had slowly cooled to a dull loathing.
"Yes. There are some things that must be tended to if I am to save Azshara from what befell her."
"She's been gone too long, Malkaris. She is better off lost beneath the seas...I do not wish unnecessary suffering on anythings but for the greater good of our people, she must remain lost to us."
"She is our Queen. She was corrupted as most beings have been since the Legion's coming. She deserves a second chance, just as others have been given a chance.
"At what cost? You will do as you always have done. I've tolerated your presence here because you are a reminder, a relic of our folly. And perhaps, you would return to us... your people and abandon your errand. But it does not seem like you will, will you?
"
Her face was thoughtful, though somewhat pained at the thought of losing another of her people to darkness that surrounded the past of their people.
"If I am wrong... then so be it. But I will not be remembered as the one that stopped hoping for the safe return of our Queen. She was not perfect, Tyrande. But I am no traitor."
"You slither like a serpent between the two warring factions, Malkaris. I pray that you are not punished for your fickle allegiences."
"My allegience has always been to the uplifting of our people. Yes, i've had to do things, horrible things, but we will be a power in our own right once again, able to stand against the tide without the help of the Humans or the Draenai and Earthen."
"And what of those you ally yourself with personally? The Grim? What will they make of your...intentions? Of your mercenary attitude?"
"I do not know. If the worst happens, I will simply wait a few decades till they die, then continue on as I always have. Though... I've grown somewhat fond of some of those short lived animals."
"People, Malkaris. You are old, but not so old that you may disregard life in general as mere things beneath your gaze. Even....even cenarius fell to the Orcs, Malkaris. And you are less than he was. Remember that."
Malkaris regarded her warily before rolling his eyes and sighing. He stared at her for a moment after, then nodded a farewell and boarded a smaller boat with Horde markings.
Tyrande watched as he sailed away, her white mooncloth robes dancing about her frame with the wind and the rustling of leaves, before returning to the temple.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Malkaris sat on the port side of the ship, staring out into the sea as he went over a checklist of things he would have to remember for the Inquisitors. He took in a few deep breaths of the ocean air before sitting down to work.
So began his writing:
"Many things have transpired during my infiltration of the alliance. Most of which is not important enough to place in this report.
Upon arriving, I swiftly placed myself within the human city of stormwind, acting as one of the lesser ambassadors to the Kaldorei and to a lesser extent, a Leiason to the high elves that still remained loyal to the Alliance.
As I had thought, their focus was more on the undead onslaught than the horde itself though it continued to fight and appropriate resources to keeping it's own holdings out of horde hands.
A push was made before the human King, Varian could bring his attention to the citadel, and the assault force consisting of myself and a large number of other members of the alliance managed to fell the Lich King.
I was never privy to exact details but I was made aware of battle strategies in regards to the Citadel that proved effective.
My experience was, for all intents and purposes, a scouting mission to bring back useful information though as with most plans, what works for some, may not work for others simply due to composition and mindsets.
After my mission was essentially over and my disguise was due to fall, I left and returned to Kalimdor where I stayed hidden for a time near Azshara.
That sums up the most important aspect of my experience. Anything else...well. Ask and you shall recieve."
So ended his report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malkaris wasn't entirely sure if that was enough, but he was no pup, and while he was able to bring himself this low, to induldge in another's request, anymore than this, would have to be asked for in person, not out of malice, but out of habit, a habit established and only strengthened by millenia of apathy.