MORE TALES OF ARCADIANS.

[Starzein]

I keep re-reading Theropoda's wow story (those that havent its on these forums) I am fortunate in that Thero is a guild-mate of mine so I can ask her directly if I can borrow (Plagiarize)
her wonderful ascension idea. I must also post here a huge thank-you to her not only for what Khe inspired (you know Starz owes it all to her) but for what her writing (dam you have talent girl) has inspired me to do,
This story is (I hope ) a little more polished than my ARCADIAN tale, more a study at character development than an event driven tome.Forgive me if its a little slow because of that
I am still searching for my voice,just whispering at the moment, stay with me though and together who knows we may find ourselves singing. I have again taken a few liberties like my first attempt (a forsaken pally?) but my excuse for this is lack of ability to spell (forsaken i didnt need spell-check for) and well because I am in reality a very lazy man. <<<did
ya see that an excuse for the lack of editing punctuation and correct spelling in one give a sh#t statement
Oh the ARCADIANS are real as well we are a guild of over 200 (though ALOT of them are alts), lvl 15 We are mostly Aussies and we are on the Oceanic realm Saurfang, drop in say hi
ARCADIANS could always fit another hunter or two in our ranks.


HOME IS WHERE THE HEARTHSTONE IS.

Starzein could only just make out a flickering of color in the distance a small spec of pale blue noticeable only due to the contrast it offered to the rich greens in the forest canopy but it was enough, after six months away the small flash of color through the trees was enough. She slowed her horse ,she had been moving at a canter ever since she entered Goldshire
but now she slowed, she had sent no word ahead and was not expected to return for at least another year but her final Ascension had come upon her early, she had tracked the mighty Loque sent the task of finding her lair and returning with a tuft of her hair for the Master Hunter. The quest like most given to Hunters in their final years of instruction was not meant to be completed the spirit beast loque was rare and quite shy and it was not even known by the High Master Hunter himself if she possessed a lair or if like the legends told simply walked the landscape drifting from the spirit world to our own at will. The quest was merely a riddle in which the hunter must learn that sometimes the hunt never ends,
some quests are not finished with ease but can take a lifetime to complete.
Starzein had returned to the Alliance encampment three weeks after she had been given the quest, she had not found loque's lair nor did she have a tuft of hair. When she was called before the masters Starzein had blown the whistle that hung around her neck calling forth her companion and after the excitement had died down she had been named Beast-Master.

The petite human looked across at the spirit leopard that flanked her horse "home" she said and turned the final bend in the path. The flag now seen as a rich deep blue blowing on top of the pole that stretched high above the guild-house seem to wave just for her as she took a deep breath and for the first time as a Master of full ascension announced her presence "I am Starzein, Master-Hunter of the ARCADIANS I seek entrance"
The door swung open before she had completed her call, the words still sounding strange coming out of her mouth even though she had practiced saying them since she first began training in the ways of the Hunter. The door swung open and Theropoda was upon her throwing her arms around her and screaming "your home your home, praise the Naru Starzeins back",
Theropoda like Starzein was Human but they both tended toward using the old Draenei slang Starzein had been raised by the Draenei Warrior Astralis and Thero had lived with Kheidu the Draenei Hunter for as long as Starzein could remember,
"how come your back so soon?, do you need help? are you on your final task yet? can i come with you ?how long you home for?"
The questions would have continued even without answers but Starzein could see her friends ears were finally catching up with her brain Theropoda went silent her eyes opened wider than Starzein had ever seen before and for just a moment the bubbly little sparrow was speechless, barely above a squeak she finally found some voice, "Oh for the glory of Velen, Master-Hunter, Oh Starz" the hugs got harder and Theropoda kissed Starzein on both cheeks before letting her go, "Master-Hunter Starzein welcome home my friend."

"so where is everyone?" Starzein finally got to ask when Thero's stream of questions abated for a moment,
"oh everyones here but somethings happening they all went into the War room for a closed door meeting 'bout half an hour ago."

The War room was at the very center of the Guild -House and served due to its size as the main room used for all the guild meetings get togethers parties and the like, A closed door meeting though was something a bit different, the door or rather two doors that closed together were a thing of beauty, when open they were rather plain off white slabs of marble with faint golden threads running like fine cracks just below the surface but when they closed the threads came alive sparking and firing in yellow and gold flashes. Astralis had told her years before how these doors when closed would allow none but the masters of the ARCADIANS to pass,that no rogue could get near to unlock them no mage could read a mind behind them, no warrior has the strength to break these doors down. They had been created by the Druid Thonolan and the War room of the ARCADIANS with its sentinal doors was often used by the leaders of the Alliance when secrecy is needed away from the capital.
"but its cool the doors will open for you Starz, your a master now",
Starzein looked at her friend, "They dont know, I mean no one knows just you, i mean should i?"
Theropoda took her old friend by the hand and led her into the depths of the house down to the start of the short corridor that led to the war room its doors sparking and spitting their strange magics.
The corridor was only short, five paces in all but two paces in there was a mark scratched into the floor, every young ARCADIAN knew what this mark represented, this was the point you could get to when the doors were closed, any further and you would be flung backwards the word NO reverberating in your head and every nerve ending tingling. Thero gently pushed Starzein closer, this was her moment but she hesitated, the thought of the doors throwing her backwards , the guild laughing at her being judged somehow not worthy,all the fears that Starzein had seem now to be resting on her
next step, without knowing she was holding her breath she closed her eyes braced for the shock and stepped forward.

"Welcome Hunter you may enter"
She felt the words in her mind rather than heard them and opening her eyes she saw the door now just once more marble begin to open in front of her,the butterflies in her stomach started to march double time as she realized inside the War room was not just the close friends she had in the guild but most if not all the high ranking ARCADIANS and even a few alliance high command.
They all seemed to be staring at her and she felt a blush begin to color her cheeks. She scanned their faces and then saw him, Astralis the mighty Draenei Warrior pushed his way passed the few between him and his young ward, Starzein could see a tear in his eye, as he bent and took to one knee, then with a slight gesture of his hand Starzein felt a wave of joy wash over her, The gift of the Naru which all the Draenei share is a gift never given lightly , in fact Starzein had only ever seen Astralis use the spell to ease wounds of a fatal nature to give a moments respite to the pain of a fallen but still alive soldier. Although not as spiritual as most Draenie Astralis did hold a deep respect for the naru This gift was his greatest compliment this done in front of all the ARCADIANS was more than she could ever have dreamed for.
"I got the news this morning"
the words breaking the silence created by Astralis's show of pride,It was Kheidu the Hunter, perhaps embarrassed by the emotion shown by another Draenei,
"but i didnt believe it, who would?, A young Human some prodigy shows up the whole hall of masters by strolling in and demanding to see the board, Un-judged she was and by her own admission unfinished with the quest set before her" Kheidu sipped from the tankard in her hand, all eyes now on her she continued
"Only a few short months into her final ascension but this girl batters the court page and insists she has obtained the highest skill, I will see the Masters now she yelled, and thanks to a slight Draenei accent giving a naturally most threatening tone to this girls voice" with this Kheidu looks at Starzein and winks, " the little page did indeed assemble the full board of Masters"
Kheidu then looked directly into Starzein's eyes, "Old Granger must have been foaming, hes no love for ARCADIANS, but Dam girl we showed em, The loque quest, Granger would have been hoping you would be in the basin for years before you gave up, as have so many before you" again she paused to drink,"I, no we" grunts from around the room in agreement,
"are so proud of you. Now master, may we see her?'

[Starzein]

Ringly gave the ARCADIANS half an hour before he pulled Fogone aside and politely asked to continue the King himself had asked the high priest to bring the partition to The guild and was waiting on a reply but Ringly who had been here many times had understood the situation when he witnessed Astralis the decorated Warrior of the alliance prostrate himself before this small human hunter,Her story was already being told in the court but it was not until she called her companion in a magnificent spirit beast that Ringly realized the latest round of heroic tales being sung by the bards
were true (although the last one called her a night elf male the song had described loque to a T).Fogone nodded at the Holy man and once again the great doors as though aware of the guild leaders thoughts
closed themselves.

The war room was at first only lit by the large fire was kept always burning in the hearth at the far end of the room but as the doors closed Starzein could see the veins which from outside were an angry yellow and gold against the marble of the doors begin to come alive, from inside the light from the cracks was a soft white at first just on the doors then spreading spiraling out like a crack running through a glass window across the walls and onto the roof even the floor was soon pulsing with a soft white glow Starzein finally understood why the walls in the war room were plain, almost every other
surface in the guild house was covered with trophies of guild raids.The rooms Starzein shared with Astralis were covered with gems and crystals from Azuremyst. Theropoda had raptors and huge dino prints covering almost every inch of her room. Even the common room had the Dragon heads all along one wall, but this room had always been left bare.As the light slowly penetrated the deepest corners of the room covering now every surface but still growing like an evermore intricate spider-web the Priest Ringly began to speak.

"The situation is sensitive as you can all imagine the Doctor is being kept well inside the horde territory and we cant been seen to be launching an attack now, the second part of course is the elusive Four-Hide this is the best information we have on the shaman general, its fresh coming in by mage at sunrise today,"
The elf that had stood silently by the side of the high priest now began to cast, a small portal almost like a travel port but in miniature appeared in the center of the room the swirling mists in the center of the port first cleared then color appeared and finally with a small sigh from the tall elf the images of The Tauren Leader appeared, Starzein watched as the elf took a drink from the mana bulb on his belt and begin to cast a second larger image below the first.She had heard of these Elves before but this was the first time she had seen one perform the blank features and the slack mouth (this one had a small trail of mana potion running unnoticed down his chin) were the signs The memory elfs were savants not capable of complex thought themselves they can be used to remember and display other people's thoughts, as this one had been used.The second image began to solve itself out of the mist and now in the middle of the War room was a map with the first image of Four -Hides floating just above it.

Starzein listened to the briefing and studied the map, three buildings The first housed the General and his four bodyguards outside would be between six and eight more guards the middle building a barracks would be only half full from the information the Priest had about thirty Tauren mercenaries most of them troops who had been at the massacre that had put the general at the top of the alliance most wanted list.the last building was the place the gnome Doctor was being held, Dr Deepstone worked with biologicals and due to his research with cows and the paranoia of the Tauren general he had been placed as far from the general as could be arranged even the guards on duty for him were a special detachment of ten orc Warriors working in split shifts to as they put it 'keep the meat fresh'
With the normal traffic that could be expected at any military camp Starzein figured 55 or more Horde. there were 50 or so ARCADIANS in the room now she thought when the priest finished and Fogone addressed the guild " We've Heard Brother Ringly let it be known he speaks with the tongue of our King" Starzein looked again at the Priest, Fogone had used the honorific term when dealing with one of the Kings Messengers, any Court official, and the Priest dressed as he was in long red and gold flowing robes with the Stormwind crest marked out in pink relief was most definitely a Court
official were said to be talking with the kings tongue. It was the Brother that had Starzein wondering This was something Fogone would call Kylandread or Astralis or Barantale. The ARCADIANS are brothers yet here was this priest who Fogone held in the same regard.
"sounds like the wilson farm job, with a quick snatch n run added for Dr moo-cow" Jalth one of the ARCADIAN death knights chimed in from where all the hooded raised heroes stood their runes glowing with the soft lights pulsating from the walls roof and floor.
"Snatch and run yes but we cant have a bomb drop like we did for wilson. Brass needs this one just between us and the top Warchiefs its personal and they want proof of Four-Hides demise"
"proof?"
"yes or more specifically they want his horns still attached to his skull but not to the rest of him"
" sooo" drawled Kylandread, "you need us to snatch the doc, Kill the big bull and keep it all hush hush for Si7 easy eh Ast we can blame it all on the murlocs"
"Not hush hush just explainable, the orcs maybe we can make it look like the orcs killed em all" this was from Barantale
"Its good but the Doctor why would they release the doctor, the average horde may be dumb but even they would find a murderous rampage but no dead Allie a bit odd"
"not if the Allie was the Murderer" Starzein had said it almost under her breath but with everyone's eyes on her she continued
"we make it look like like the doctor did it all, he's into bios and the horde already think he can change into some cow like thing, lets make it look like he did"
"Oh thats beautiful" said the priest "He grabbed the Doctor because he was scared we were making some sort of hybrid monster but with his killing of the whole village even his superiors think hes mad and its all a fantasy thats why we have this information, this gives us all we want, we come out clean the horde warchiefs look like like fools and the world is less one psychopath"
"Ok then" Fogone spoke up again, "what do you need Astralis?"
"3 teams" Astralis started fingering the crystal ring in his beard
"ill need Pol with me and Didi,you Kyl Thon an Exi can handle the mercs Fog but Shadis will need his own team for the extraction and for the cover-up"
Starzein was flawed, There must be 55 horde in their sites maybe more and her brother the great strategist, the battleground master wanted to meet them with a force of so far 8 she could only hope Shadis would speak up and make them see the odds they were stacking against themselves.
" You need to be quick Brother and it needs to look like the attack came from inside the cage yeah? like he broke out of whatever jail we find him in"
"5 minutes in and out Ast, me and Router but we'll need cover the whole way giving us Starz and Loque would be enough"and with a sinking heart she felt as if Shadis had sealed her fate.
The meeting was kept going for 15 more minutes as the list of weapons and incendiary devices was worked out the various potions and elixirs sorted The Priest was going to provide the transport mage, the very same mage that had imprinted the memory elf with the map and the portrait so the trip behind enemy lines would be the easy part, Astralis never one to be easily impressed had taken Ringly aside and requested this , maps even the printed ones hand-colored by the scribes and having names like Harrisons were known to lie at times, maps of the areas as far into the horde lands as this camp were even worse." She's been there" Astralis had said to the priest," its the only way to get it so clear she's been there and we need that we can get right In thanks to that mage of yours Ringly"

[Starzein]

Waking to the smell of freshly baked bread Starzein felt like a ten year old girl again, the day before with her pre-mature return followed by the honor of being involved in a closed door briefing and her inclusion in the strike team were still just thoughts in her mind a mere dream, this was reality, lying in her bed smelling Astralis's fresh baked bread and the raid timed to begin at sunrise because taurens didnt see well until the sun was fully up and orcs saw well in dark the raid was just her imagination.
"hey wake up little soft skin and wheres ya Kitty?" Kylandreads voice boomed into Starz her eyes poped open and she felt her heart skip a beat when she saw what Kyl had meant Loque, she wasnt there Starzein tried to sit up look around she couldnt there was something on her legs pinning her down and finally her sleep soaked brain kicked into gear, Loque would often go into stealth mode when she slept she could even do this when stalking prey sometimes.She slapped at the weight she felt over her legs and loque yawning and stretching her back was once more visible to the young Hunter.

Kyl came bounding back into Starz room he had a large mug in each hand and two pieces of Astralis's fresh bread sticking out of his mouth,
"Mrsmmmem, mememmy" Starzein laughed at the Hulking Draenei grinning at her from the foot of her bed,she reached out and took one of mugs from his hand.
" Master Paladin, I am flattered but im afraid i dont fully understand your strange customs, what is this mmmhmmm you speak of?" This retort by Starzein was not only said in perfect old Draenei but
her impersonation of Astralis with his soft spoken voice was as near as her Hunters ear could get. Kylandreads face went bright red then the bread went flying through the air and he landed on Starzeins bed laughter wracking his body his own mug now with half its contents spilled over his shirt The breakfast he had begun to eat had disappeared before it had hit the ground and Loque was watching attentive in hopes he would get another few pieces from this strange Draenei creature.

I'd really like any sort of feedback if theres anyone out there reading.The story goes on and im already working on the next part,the raid ive stopped here for now Im making alot of errors and yawning so its time for bed but ill be back to take your hand again and lead you into Starzeins world if youll let me the people there are a friendly bunch they call themselves ARCADIANS

[Starzein]

Im not sure if anyones reading this still, the lack of replies suggests no but here is the next installment anyway the story took a side track i didnt see coming and i cant stop now, im not writing this anymore its writing itself and im just along for the ride,


Kylandread was still giggling when they moved to the Kitchen where Astralis was just finishing the breakfast he had prepaired, all part of the ritual Starzein had seen played out a million times Astralis making the last meal, They would sit and eat and joke about then together they would walk to the War room to don their armor this was an ARCADIAN tradition the armor being fitted in the war room gave an opportunity for those who were not going to give blessings and see the heroes off. Starzein didnt think there would be many there today, the hour meant the guild house was still mostly asleep.
A knock at the door
"That'll be Fog"
"That'll be Fog"
"That'll be Fog"
The three of them talking in unison had Kyl erupting again into fits of laughter, Starzein jumped up and ran to the door to let in the leader of the guild.The Three Draenei men always ate together before a raid and they would share their first drink together afterward before any of them would even consider drinking with any one else .As they ate the normal back and forth of insults and put downs began Fogone and Kylandread were in fine form but Astralis seem troubled he was laughing along with Fogs story about some misfortune in their youth but Starzein could see the Warrior's eyes and they betrayed him, She thought it was just worry over her going with them for the first time, a full Master in her own right and she could understand the worry ,she knew the feeling from watching him go without her so many times in the past.
"kay kay lets do this thing then eh" Fogone stood as he said this last thing and touched the Amulet around his neck, "ARCADIANS"
"For the win" finished the other three together.

About 20 ARCADIANS were in the war-room when the group now numbering five after meeting Thonolan in the hallways walked in.The rest of the raid party were already in their armor and Starz shrugged her mail over her head as she moved to where Theropoda sat, eyes barely open and with huge bags under them in the corner. Thero was leaning with all her weight against something unseen Starzein concentrated and felt with her mind as all Hunters can do, Loque came to her first the feel of his shape his presence was such a part of her now she pushed further.Curious a caterpillar, hidden away in Astralis's pocket she smiled there it was a cat a large cat too a saber.
"Another Saber, what's his name?"
"Doesn't have one yet, just got him took all night but look at him Starz he aint just another Saber"
"Ah hon, I canne see what ye will not show" laughed Starzein giving this time an impersonation of the dirty old Gnome that had bothered both girls since they were young.
"oh yeah sorry here we go"and Thero reviled her newest companion, and as promised it was not just another saber.
Black-Gem Saber Starzein had never seen one before but she recognized it instantly large but not much larger than other sabers its feline features were hard as if chiseled out of the crystal that lends its name to the beasts, it was covered in a rich thick black coat of silky yet somehow still crystal fur. the cat sparkled it seem to both collect the light in swallowing it within the depth of its blackness and at the same time reflect the light away shining,radiant and yet as dark as night itself.
"so beautiful"
"He is Thero hes magnificent!"
"Yeah, but not him, Her" Thero nodded her head toward the door Starz turned and saw who Thero had been talking about Standing in the doorway was a Draenei Mage. Long flowing hair framed the woman's face she was slim dull purple skin with large chestnut eyes that made Starzein think of the Profit Velen, sad eyes beautiful but with a pain in them.Her voice when she used it came out angelic and full of power , even if her words didnt " You stubborn cold hearted rock."
Astralis puffed out his chest, "you bleeding-heart gullible little drama queen" and then wrapped the mage in his arms picking her up off her feet he twirled her around and around both of them whooping with joy.Astralis did not drop her hand as she greeted the others in the room most of whom seem to know this gorgeous woman.Astralis Starzein saw was beaming whoever this mage was and she was sure this was their transport whoever she was she seemed to have cured Ast of whatever had been worrying him earlier.

"How close can ya get us Saph ?"
"Oh you'll like this Big Bear" the mage replied to Fogone's question and set the portal, Starzein felt her stomach knot, this was it but before she could step into the portal hears running steps down the short hallway "STOP"
"Tarasinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn" the whole room had called her name everyone drawing out the sound as long as they could, this was always the reaction
to Tarasins entrance.This rogue, not yet of her full ascension the entire guild seemed to love the greeting and a level of acceptance no one else would be given were how the guild re payed her for the joy and fun she always bought to the guild parties.Tarasin walked directly up to Astralis and pulled a dagger big in her hand but tiny compared to the huge plate wearing Warrior she placed the blade next to the Draenei's neck.Nobody except Tarasin could or would ever try to do this to Astralis, but the cheeky rogue knew no bounds "You bring her back Warrior and just as pretty as she is now Y' hear me ,not one scratch on our little Starz's head or you know what it'll mean!"
"Stabby stabby?"
"Stabby stabbys Dam right Big fella"
The guild as one laughed, this was Tara if she had a job in the ARCADIANS that was it she eased their stress a bit broke the tension, Astralis kissed her on the top of the head "thanks babe"
he whispered to her as they all stepped into the portal.

The smell hit her first, foul rotten like the stables at the guild-house after a long rain, a wet animal smell and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness she could see why. The mage Saphrist had placed them on the roof of the middle building Starz had seen on the map the day before, there were four chimneys one at each corner of the barracks and with their backs against one of these the small team had the stench of a Tauren war camp assault them. No body spoke until the mage with a gesture cast a spell that caused the smell to lift slightly and the air about them to twist and swirl.As great full as they were for the lessening of the stench it was not for this reason the mage had moved the air, this spell a small one easily cast would carry any noise the party made any words spoken or any accidental clash of weapons and lift the sound up carting it away from ears they didnt want to have hear them.
Starz began to ready her gear, it was full dark and still two hours at least before the dawn that would be the moment they planned to strike but preparations needed to be made.

[Starzein]

Shadis was the first to speak,"reco" was all he said then was gone slipping over the edge of the building
"This doesnt smell right Fog" Thonolan mused,
"I feel that too ware ARCADIANS theres an unseen player in this game" Saphrist placed her hand on Astralis's shoulder as she said this after a few minutes Shadis came scrambling back onto the roof he also looked agitated and then added his bit "you were right Thonolan, unless theres been a huge change in the horde and they've finally learned some discipline this is a setup"
"the place is only half full but have you known these cows to stay sleeping on top o one another? when theres beds on the ground un-used?" he continued
"so theres what 30 in there and almost all of em are on top, beds are neat too this isnt a place they been too long, two maybe three days tops"
"top beds are for grunts lower beds are the champions,now why are the best fighters not here? this is not right but i cant see it yet, may I Starz?"Astralis had picked up Starzeins bow, with the scope she had made herself and it was the scope Astralis now used he scanned the entire area taking along time before he lowered the bow and began talking.
"Thats Four-Hides,"he pointed at the smaller structure of to their left "i recognize his men, they are trained well trained not the sort of soldier made to sleep on top,they would have their own beds, on the ground in there. Thats a jail too of sorts "he gestured the other way
"12 guards, and hes there Ast i saw him the guards are orcs like Ringly said the'd be, the docs here the Shamans here its a big effort must be high up,very high up"
"It couldnt be Thrall, he wants this finished its personal for him" the mage added
"Thats it "Ast spat, "personal, this whole thing is personal and just too dam neat"
"Im not following Brother whats on your mind" Fogone knew Astralis well he was aware that if he didnt push the big Warrior, force him to speak then he would not and if Astralis had worries Fogone wanted to know.
" Think about it Boss Ringly an me we been after this guy for what 5 years? an how close we ever get huh? never get anything from our sources we hear of him but his careers been in the toilet for years no real command he been doing admin last we heard then this"
"the village though he raised the whole village Ast killed near a hundred civilians, Draenei civilians it was him too thats confirmed by the both sides now"
"Its what i mean,he did it but on whose orders,and why now ? the story about the Doc and him being paranoid,its not his style hes a Shaman a dam powerfull one not some superstitious country grazer hes a pawn in this as we are, Its there Fog i can almost see it wheels within wheels mate, the head too why do they want his head?"
Starzein spoke up she had been following along letting the words enter her head without thinking let the story find its own way as Astralis had taught her
"They want you Ast, they ask for a head so you have to be here to take it no assasin's bullit assasins can get away, they make it so YOU had to come. Four-Hides, they know you have unfinished business there, and how do they make you insist?, Draenei get slaughtered and who do you think would demand to see justice?, You said you and Ringly had been after this general, is it coincidence he was the one to bring the petition?The whole thing is Personal and its addressed to you brother"
"The Doctor?"
"icing on a cake, just the general and you would have seen through it hell you did anyway and he fits he works with cows,I mean for the glory of the Naru Ast thats the sort of humor We would add, its clever but too cute, if Thrall wants him dead hes dead, end of story no coverup no second chance,thats how they work and we all know that.Its a sham, someone set up Four-Hides but just as bait"
"wheels within wheels, Didi if this was you how'd you play it?,
" I'd wait forgive me Ast but your methods are pretty well known, orcs n taurens means sunrise, Id wait but away not near here you, we are too care full to get caught easily, na let you get started forfeit the shaman sure but during the scuffle i'd have you surrounded the rabble they left here aint much but mopping up gives great cover for the real troops I'd bet the plan is get us started then use our attack to cover the move.there'll be mages about with portals ready i'd mix em with the grunts here, we gotta hit the two ends of the camp theyll hit us from the middle split us up yeah thats how I'd
do it alright, so how do we spring this trap then Astralis?"
"Simple we go now, get the bloody head and the doctor then we'll play them off at their own game, they will go at sunrise fine we will be behind them, ARCADIANS...."
"...for the win" they all finished together.
A little more discussion and Astralis bent and grabed Polly.The Death-Knight at full height stood all of two and half feet tall and the roof they were on would be hard for her to get down from, Astralis sat her on one of his large shoulderpads and she grabbed his helm before he leaped, Didi in close behind their plan originally had all three teams going together, that had not changed but a few of the finer points of the operation had, going in near full darkness required more care be taken, the first priority Astralis had insisted on was that no horde be spared they could not afford to have whoever had set this in motion be tipped off the attack had started the plan was to get the job done but make it neat clinical."In and out no bodys left where they can be seen if they run you cut em down Starzein nobody gets out of this camp, nobody. 10 minutes we regroup"
Starzein followed Router through her scope, she had started to track Shadis who had Loque with him but he had faded into the darkness as rogues do her glorious spirit beast had faded with him, so she followed Router. There were four orc guards outside Starzein was sure they had a patrol a line they were supposed to walk but at this hour and probably due to being in a tauren camp not one their own meant the four were standing around chatting.There was no signal worked out Router was hiding himself two feet away, he and Starzein would attack when Shadis moving in stealth began The trick was silence, there were more guards inside but the plan was to sneak by them get the prisoner and fight their way out, this way explained Shadis the guards would be moving backwards,they could push them and with Starz on the roof still catch them in a cross-fire.
The first guard dropped and she was ready ,one two then a third arrow she had them all in the air before the first one hit, by the time the third one reached its goal the orc was already dead,
Loque had taken a third orc and the fourth quick enough in his reactions made to flee only to meet Router he did make it two steps but he didnt make a sound as Router relieved him of his life and lowering the body down so that even in death he could make no sound.
Four minutes passed before Starzein saw movement again two orcs running out of the small building being used as a jail they both took positions at the door one to each side, professional, trained their backs against the building they had just exited they were taking short peeks around the door but not giving away cover for more than a second, to Starzein they had no cover,she had the full chest of both orcs to hit, and hit them she did, one more orc had run from the building, this one full speed he had no intention of stopping to give a fight head down he was running for his life, she braced to fire then saw Loque as fast as the orc was he was no match for the speed of the spirit leopard loque pounced on the orc and in a second it was over.
Six minutes no more and Shadis had a the little gnome doctor on the roof, Router was still below now moving the bodies of the fallen orcs and pilling them out of site.
Sounds of battle could be heard from within the room Starzein was on top of but there was nothing she could do to help she looked across the camp to where Didi Polly and Astralis had gone,
the guards she had seen earlier were gone so she scanned around with her scope and she saw them, three figures a long way off under a water tower she had seen a flash , that was what had drawn her attention she saw it again too far away to know what they were up to Starzein nudged the mage and showed her what she had seen but before she could ask her opinion on what it was a door slammed below her and three terrified Taurens bolted into the night.

[Starzein]

Orcs can move fast at full speed they run faster than a human Taurens can make orcs look like they are standing still,and the three that ran from the building were moving Kylandread a Draenei could match them for speed and then some he caught up with them dropping one immediately and throwing his huge mace at a second knocking him off his feet but not doing much more. The Paladin didnt stop he jumped on the now down tauren and using nothing but his hands finished him.The third tauren was still running and his direction was towards the water-tower too far away for Starzein to do much her arrows would be useless againsed the thick hide at this distance ,but maybe ,She notched an arrow and shot, she aimed not at him but just ahead and as his foot came down to meet the ground the arrow shattered into his ankle the tauren tripped, a minor wound but the time it gained Kylandread was used by the Paladin to close the distance enough two three then a fourth throwing knife and the soldier was gone.

A large object bumped into Starzeins leg looking down she saw the long tongue of the Shaman laying out between the jaws of the severed head that had been thrown up on the roof, Ast covered in blood with Didi likewise but Polly strangely as clean as ever her armor shining now . Starzein was impressed she had read the reports heard the songs she had even seen them fight before but this what she had helped do still astounded her they had done it all rescued the Gnome assassinated the general and cleaned out the camp, some 50-60 horde and it had taken the ARCADIANS 10 minutes,no more, none of them had taken an injury, unless Astralis had and she knew if he did nobody apart from Fogone the Healer would ever know, part of the aura that was Astralis, He cultivated this never complain never back down a warrior must always be a warrior, never a patient never a casualty a Warrior fights or dies there is no middle ground. It was one of his more common sayings and one Astralis lived by.
"get him out of here Saph, we got more work to do, strait to Storm Wind if you dont mind rather not have him wandering the guild house" Fogone obviously still angry at the situation "and the Shammy too dump this piece of meat in the middle of the dam court if he wants it so bad!"Angry but Starzein knew he meant this, she wondered if Saphrist would actually port the head into the court, if it were an ARCADIAN fog had said this too thats what would happen but this mage she didnt know until she answered
"better than that Fogone this is going to his private rooms, he'll wake to see his orders were taken literally" and she kicked the head into the port she had cast , the doctor white with terror practically jumped through the next port she created, these people may have saved his life but they are crazy,he thought and he wanted to get as far from them as he could.

The mission was over they had done everything asked of them but as they all watched the three figures Starz had seen in the distance she knew it would not be left here.
"Warlocks " The answer to the raised eyebrow Starz had shot at Astralis,
"Three locks thats smart" Didi commented "Summoning stones, they take 3 dont they ?"
" three to activate yeah interesting hey Didi, why Locks ya think?"Astralis Starzein was sure knew the answer but this was his way let the story tell itself
" Think lad, why not mages"
Starzein thought as well, she couldnt see any reason Warlocks had summoning stones but that was just another way to port someone,then it hit her,Warlocks could summon, mages could port but to use a port the mage had to be there to cast it then you had to enter it to get transported a summoning stone there was no entering, you could summon anyone from anywhere if you had enough power,no need to be there,
anyone or anything .Anything....................................................................................................................................................


And with that ominous thought we leave them here, I really would love any feedback good or bad, I also take requests and can do a passable lindy hop if dancings your thing, Ill be back so will Starz and Ast and Fog i do hope you'll join us....

[Starzein]

"Supplies, Astralis we use locks when we need to move alot of supplies anything we cant carry we summon in , but im not right eh?, what could they need? this is their camp any supplies should be here, could it be another H K team perhaps not a trap at all but allies from another house?"
"Another Hunter killer group, now thats thinking Didi, but no my friend those are horde Locks out there" Starzein wondered how Astralis could know that, at this distance the figures were barely visable but he would not have said it if he didnt know, Astralis didnt guess he was always sure he knew or he didnt know and if he didnt he'd find out Astralis took risks, but he never took chances.
Eximis silent up to now helped Didi by adding "it was good thinking, we do use locks for supplies but we keep supplies at home too remember, last year though we had seven summons active at once ran em most the day too"
" the fire, the cats Kheidu's cats,"

The ARCADIAN guild house as large as it was being four stories high and covering vast amounts of space (they were growing all the time too, the latest construction the new Death Knight wing, not really a wing as it didnt connect to the main house yet, was a prime example) but as big as it was in area it would be dwarfed by the Stables. All large guilds boasted large stables they need them just for the ground mounts they rode,add to that the ability Hunters have to bond with thier pets and the need to house the beasts, and youll understand the need for space.
They never found how the fire had started but once it got hold it did alot of damage, a full third of the stables had burned down and they had to re-locate the animals that had been housed there, Kheidu's cats mostly, when the stables were rebuilt They had used the summon stones to bring them home, cats large cats dont travel well in cages no intelligent animal does Starzein thought.
50 cats took along time to bring home even with seven summon stones It had taken most the guild just to arrange the logistics made easier thanks to Snezzy and his team of ARCADIAN warlocks.

"Animals, they are bringing in animals, dam of course thats why they are there too the smell" Starzein hadnt considered this but it made sense The taurens did smell offensive and not just to her she could feel when she pushed her mind,to most animals, Big fast and predatory and their smell warned all of nature an apex species is here beware.
They didnt bring the animals through first, from the rooftop the ARCADIANS and the mage watched as the officers missing from the barracks, filed through the stones, they came in organized lines together and once through they stood at attention, Soldiers rather than the mercenarys they had taken on earlier.Forty by Starzeins count. A mix of Orc Tauren and Blood elf. Then came the animals, from here they looked like elekk the noble creatures used in Azuremyst, bigger than horses they could carry a Draenei and gear and still not be slowed by the weight,
Ellekk werent quite this large though These were kin to the azuremyst creatures but kin removed by hundreds of years of adaption and mutation, these were Mammoths from the frozen planes of Northrend,
they had long sharpened tusks and carried armor. Plate like Astralis wore but thicker, attacking these beasts would not be easy, seven of the huge beasts, One would be formidable to see this many proved one thing, whoever wanted Astralis meant business.
"Behind em, Didi we will come from behind, Kyl your with us, Exi Router youll go from here, Thonalon we need noise big noise if it goes bang brother use it. Polly you know what to do wheres the best spot?"
" above em Ast, can you get me onto the water tower?"
"yeah if i get close i can, need a distraction so they dont see ya, but yeah no probs Polly"
" Starz your the Beast Master, what do you think?"
" surely you dont want me to try to tame one Ast these are war mammoths trained to hate our kind,they only just tolerate the handlers they have" This was true Starzein had heard of these mammoths turning , one step away from wild kept that way because they would be meaner better weapons.
"not exactly what i had in mind love in fact just the opposite, you think you can de-tame one, make it go rogue?"
That had merit the more she thought about it the more she liked the idea, if she pushed here then pulled here, "You know Astralis i think maybe i can if not de-tame at least piss one off enough to make him stop following orders,"
"all we need is confusion to start one turning around, but no one attack them directly we cant hurt em not with what we got but they can hurt the horde, if you attack one he'll come for you so dont give em the chance, they are like Elekk stubborn if we can get them to decide they wont play or better to play their own game... "
They could all see the two rogues that came from the front of the new threat trying to sneak up close to see if the trap baited had caught the fish they were after, Shadis would ensure the rogues delivered the right message, the horde would have to assume when they dont return that the ARCADIANS got them that they were inside somewhere, they would attack then the timing was right Starz could see the first rays of the sun break the horizon when Thonolan created the distraction a flare shot strait up, so close to the horde it would be assumed one of thier own ranks set it off, every soldier turned to see it and behind them hiding
in the shadows Astralis acted he threw the tiny Death-knight. Stars could see her in the air from here just a dot in the slowly brightening sky, Poll landed on the top of the Water Tower, drank a small potion and waited.
The mammoths began to march behind them the soldiers of the Horde, They had designated a point about 40 yards from their current position, if Starz didnt have one of the beasts turned by then the plan was for all of them to still on this side to fall back to Astralis's position at the rear of the army,If Starz couldnt turn one Astralis was planning on doing it himself, with force.His plan was to enrage one make it charge him it would have to go through the entire body of the horde army to do so but Ast had seen these beasts before they will charge through a wall to get to the one who hurt them.
Starzein closed her eyes and with her mind she searched, they were easy to find the big beasts she chose the Center one a great grey animal as soon as she felt the mind she recoiled, this was wrong evil, the beast was in so much pain, corruption madness, the animal was only just there pain and anger all it had on its mind.
She hated this this foul act no hunter had done this this was something else, Starzein felt Loque so pure so right with a purpose his sense of self secure The mammoth was imprisoned, a lifetime of whips and chains but the real damage was the mind, twisted corrupt She was sickened but she delved deeper, I will free her Starz thought if its the last thing I do I will see this beast gets freedom, deeper and deeper she went further into the diseased mind than she had gone before no other Creature would survive this Starz thought, they are truly noble beings, sentient that was the real crime this animal Knew, it remembered something else
it was a tiny memory, the image Starz got was of a cone a single cone in a Forrest of pines, the animal had offered this to her mind, he was reaching out as she tried so hard to reach in.

The Mage was staring at Starzein, she had been still her eyes closed a lone tear traced its way over her cheek, sweat poured of the young Human but Saph stared as did Router and Exi, Starzein was glowing power welled up in her and she, pretty at the worst of times was so radiantly beautiful at this moment so full of power so pure so right, but still the beasts kept coming.

Starzein went deeper and deeper still and she found it, small oh so small but there a piece a small pocket in its mind untouched A lone feeling "I am ME" trapped behind the corruption locked into a prison in its own mind. She had found something not enough not nearly enough, Starzein again felt Loque, not just an image this was loque, she had felt her mind so many times but never like this, loque had felt the pain too this would not be tolerated, Loque's mind her essence showed Starzein the way, here it showed and here, now here, The beast stopped, Starzein opened her eyes, her hair wet through sticking to her scalp, she did not know she spoke but she had "NO MORE"
And The great mammoth was free Starzein didnt bond with him, he was quite mad she (loque)had just shown him a way out He was still in pain but now he was free to feel it now the great mammoth had a place "I am me" to everyone else on the field it was just a trumpet sound Just like the smaller elekks did but it reared up on its hind legs and called again, the mind was week not much more than the though I am me i am me, and a memory of the years in bondage, Free now for the first time, the beast raged and seeing the horde dressed for war the colors screaming pain pain pain these were the creatures that did this and a lifetimes worth of torment fulled the old bulls need for vengeance.

[Starzein]

My god she did it, turned a great war Mammoth, Astralis didnt think the plan would work, never had he heard of a hunter doing this it wasn't possible! Kheidu he knew had tried many times to heal broken minds of beasts badly tamed always it was the same they are lost she would say, lost but Starzein his Starzein she had done it. The Mammoths trumpet was met and joined the battle shout of Astralis all the ARCADIANS felt adrenalin flood their bodies,
The cry a Warrior talent had two effects it boosted all around Astralis making everyone quicker more precise in their movements at the same time it chilled the enemy pure terror coupled with Astralis at full flight.

The mammoth had carved a path into the horde Astralis and Kyl coming from the other way carved another path, many of the horde had lost the discipline they showed earlier and broke ranks.
The earth under the water tower started to smoke than bubble, the very ground boiling steam smoke and the cries of the horde drifted outward,Polly could not be seen she was sitting in the very center of the water tower the ground underneath boiled The few burned but not badly now doubled over vomiting, Polly had hit the area with disease,her own version of corruption.
Chaos ensued at the rear of the column but the head of the army was still moving only 6 mammoths now but Starzein was already into the next mind, Loque came to help again, his physical body was darting in and out of the horde group rush in bite rush out but his mind was helping Starzein, two more beasts free one of them a dark chocolate color died where it stood its last thought Freedom Thankyou. the great body fell crushing horde underneath, the last four mammoths now also stopped Starzein had not tried to turn them, what Astralis had said was right, they would no longer play this game.

The last of the horde to stay in formation broke when the last of the mammoths stopped with two of the war beasts now attacking them and the ARCADIANS hitting from three sides as well as from above it was only a matter of time before
the odds had shifted, horde were now running without purpose at all, some were screaming few were offering resistance, Router signaled to Starz on the roof, back west his signal went but he wasnt sure if the Hunter had seen him she may still be in trance He whistled, not as loud as the war cry of Astralis but still shrill enough to get her attention, Starz looked toward Router who was signaling and then crack, she could hear it from up here router now on his knees two orcs readying to finish him off , Starz could see the blood so much blood soak Routers armor, She didnt think she just ran her hands working at speed loosing arrows as she charged then swan dives off the edge of the building flipping a full 360 landing in a crouch her bow singing the arrows hadnt stopped even wile she saluted of the roof, she made it to Router he was pale on his knees but he was alive, she gripped him under her arm and shuffled him back to the relative safety of the roof, she could get up herself but Router barely conscious now very pale through loss of blood, she had no way of getting him up there, she stood over him protective and saw three taurens focus on her,
seeing the wounded ARCADIAN the horde came , Starz fired one arrow then two both into the heart of one tauren then snap, and her bow string went. The two Taurens saw the chance they pounced.

Hunters are not given hand to hand combat training their weapons guns and bows are to be used at range.Alot of hunters would not even carry another weapon Starz did a small dagger in her belt but her bow, even with no string was her choice
The outer edge of her bone longbow had been sharpened to a razors edge, she slowly described a figure eight with her bow, swapping hands she twirled the bow again, Starzein began to move faster and faster, her bow was the same length
as a common quaterstaff and Starzein who would never be a warrior was an expert on stick twirling she only ever did this for fun sometimes lighting the two ends of a quarterstaff and fire-twirling to amuse the younger ARCADIANS, Only for fun , till now the first horde was cut across the cheek opening a flap of skin and hitting deep, the next pass she cut through his throat, spinning her body and going low she took the legs out from under the last enemy and stopped
twirling driving the point of her bow into the chest of the one who was lying his leg almost severed through, The blood cleared from her eyes, more horde they haddnt seen her but they would, she felt for loque, he was there always there but too far away to do her much good then the Mage the beautiful Saph was there, bending to grap Router she cast and the two women with the now limp body between them were safe on the roof. The mage blinked again and Fogone came though the portal a minute later he dropped next to Router and began to heal, the blood stopped immediately the color began to reappear in his face, he would be fine but she had got to him just in time.

Five more minutes and she heard Astralis whistle, it was over, loque was running ahead of the ARCADIANS, and was back licking Starzein all over by the time Astralis climed back onto the roof, Saph had blinked one last time to collect Poll from her perch, Router now halfway to being healed the only one who had taken an injury, The drinks would be late today she knew the guild leader would not relax untill Router was one hundred percent, he was the healer he was also guild leader and when one ARCADIAN felt pain Fogone felt pain.They were all lost in their own thoughts as the final portal was set for the heroes return to the Guild-House "Home" said Starzein to loque and together they stepped into the portal.



Ill leave it here There's more to Starz story of course but we've met her now and seen a little of she can do, for now its enough but fret not Saph and the relationship she has with Ast the odd little caterpiller Astralis had in his pocket, these things still bounce around my head, ill let the story go again soon thanks for hanging there !

[Kauqilla]

that was awesome

[Starzein]

Its been only a short time since I finished the last ARCADIAN story but i sort of need a break from my routine for a bit
(yeah like I really work that hard, its like saying a cat needs more sleep)so what could be better than to return to the
place my friends are. So here we go may I take your hand and lead you there i cant promise there wont be monsters but i
can promise shiny heroes to save the day.



Starzein was bored, her back ached from sitting in the same spot all day she longed to stand and stretch move around a bit.
She wouldn't though not until this was done, she wont give Astralis the satisfaction of seeing her quit, or worse cheat. So
she sat still and stared waiting as she had been for the last 12 hours.
The whole thing the challenge and the bet, the reason Starzein now found herself sitting in the kitchen staring intently
could be traced back a few weeks well before the conversation with Saph long before the cocoon was even created. The cocoon
that Starzein could easily use her hunter abilities on to find when it was ready, could but wont be giving Astralis the
satifaction. The whole story if it be told from the beginning and all good stories should begin there, really starts when
Starzein and Astralis returned from Starzeins first raid with the ARCADIANS.
The War room was empty when the raid team had returned this was another of the guilds traditions, a way of ensuring
dignity for those who may come home injured and a way of preparing relatives if there were some not coming home at all.
The first to speak once they were home was Fogone "two hours Kyl, to clean up then we'll meet at Ast's, the guild celebration
will be tonight at Dinner, Saphrist I'd like you at both little get togethers can ya hang around?"
The mage nodded looking almost too tired to actually speak
"Take her to your place Starz, and I want you to stay awake for our drinks too.Router lets go to the referm, well done people
im proud"
Astralis Kylandread and Didi, began their usual post raid talk as they slipped of their heavy armor, the discussion about
the battle would probably last for the two hours they had before the first drinks, a tradition that belonged more to Astralis
Kyl and Fogone as Draenei comrades than the guild itself and so Starzein took Saphrist the mage by the hand "lets go they'll
be ages"and headed out.
"you dont remember me at all do you Starzein?" Saphrist started as the two walked back through the long halls of the
guild-house. "but i suppose you were pretty young, only about 6 or 7 as far as we Draenei could tell when you an Ast left the
Excodar, and you did have about a thousand of us 'aunties' there looking after you"
Starzein did remember the Excodar, although she was very young still when Astralis moved into the guild-house the six years
they had lived in the Draenei home city were dear to her, and she smiled now as she remembered her Aunties, yes she thought
there were quite a few.
The Uniqueness of a young Human child in the Draenei capital would have been enough to make Starzein a popular attraction
Humans themselves were rare this far from the settlements of the Eastern Kingdoms or Kalimdor. Human children, well Starzein
was the only one, the only human child many of the Draenei woman had ever in fact seen, add to this the fact that she was
Astralis's human child, the already decorated young soldier the Ambassador with the ear of Valen. The mighty Warrior, famous
for his bravery, wealthy ,connected but perhaps most importantly to the ladys of the Excodar, Single and very eligible, yes
Starzein had a lot of attention lots of people always ready to help look after her.
Starzein looked up at the Draenei mage, an Auntie and although she did have so many recognition was slowly creeping in
the memory of one very special 'Auntie'. When she had first seen Saph in the war room she had thought of Valen but now it occurred to her it was not Valen's eyes she was reminded of the other day no but someone close to her it was Valens pupil, the Auntie the young child Starzein was perhaps most fond of (next to Valen herself of course) an Auntie with a name that the human child had such trouble pronouncing that she had taken to calling by another one that Astralis had unwittingly provided for her.
"Auntie Tear, oh I remember now Auntie Tear i would never forget you, but your a profit not a mage".a profit always covered
except or her eyes by the long wispy orange robes of that special cast.
"long story little sand crawler" she said, using the nick-name only Astralis her or Valen would use the name given to her because
Astralis had been looking for the small sand crawler crabs on the shores of Azuremyst the day he had found Starzein, naked alone
crying in the sand barely two months old (although none of the Draenei had the experiance to know this, to them she was mearly an infant)
"but tell me why did you always call me Tear, i never did know, even though truth be told i loved having a special title "
Starzein laughed "well you know I couldn't pronounce Saphrist, and till now i had forgotten that was your real name, Tear though,
i was sure you knew,You Saph were.." Starzein now went into her impersonation of Astralis, switching to old Draenei
"So beautiful she would bring a tear to the eye of Valen,"switching back her own voice she finished, "you still are Auntie, Valens
tear" and seeing the mage blush "The big fella thinks so too, he always has y'know i should have remembered when i saw how he
looked at you".
The two women were sitting in the lounge still chatting about Starzeins early years when Astralis finally walked in, seeing
the girls occupied he slipped past and went strait to the kitchen.Starz had noticed him and slipped quietly into the doorway
and was from here that she saw Astralis carefully take from his pocket a little caterpillar, stroking it gently with one large
finger he muttered "Thankyou, you delivered them both I am in your debt" and he placed the small insect on the window sill.
Starzein had lived her whole life with Astralis and knew the Draenei Warrior as well anybody but he was still in so many ways
a mystery even to her, it was the little things like this that always reminded her of that.
"She's a Filiotion moth, or at least she will be Starz, very special very rare" Said Astralis, Starz had been quiet and didnt
think the Warrior was aware of her in the doorway untill now,
"She stays like this in her pupal stage for longer than any other of her kind, but when she decides to change, she will be
the most stunning of all the moths, not large like the teros tiny no bigger than your hand but she is the Queen none the less"
He again very gently traced a finger over the caterpillar,"The males, two of which are in the avery now, are plain brown looking
specimens and they wont begin their own change till after this one does even if we keep them apart separate them by miles
they will know when she is ready and they will wait till then as well.Such loyal beings these if she were to die before her
time came the two boys would perish as well, but three eggs would hatch somewhere and from them a queen and her two consorts
would be born again, We dont know how many of them there are but we do know its always the same amount, two males for every queen and three to begin where three have ended always."



Ill break here, but the next installment wont be long away I'm glad i got the Saph and Ast connection worked out and the caterpillar as promised came back , no monsters yet but well this tale is but a young en and theres growth to come.
Oh i apologize for the formatting as well it was written using notepad, (long story) and seemed to copy and paste in a rather odd way, ill try to get it looking better next time.

[Starzein]

The caterpillar had remained on the window sill pawed over not just by Astralis but by Saphrist as well, Starzein had also seen Fogone whisper to the creature, Draenei and the moths of Azeroth share a common heritage bought to this land together in the Exodar, this one that Astralis had called a Filiotion seemed to have a special significance and so she was not too surprised when a few weeks later the caterpillar started to weave its cocoon and with all reverence for the fragile husk Astralis had placed it in a box and traveled to the Draenei capital
He had taken with him just one of the males, now also spinning a cocoon but the second male had taken a place on the windowsill and it was this second male Starzein so carefully watched. The conversation she had with Saph that had resulted in Astralis making the bet was earlier this morning, now just as the day was ending Starzein yawned and watched.
"its a test really, we cant cage them that would be cruel that's why we need you Starz, if you can bond with this one, he may stay here, then to be together the others would have to travel.They have a long journey and the females normally dont move much, but they always get together and we want to see just how long it takes before they decide this one wont be coming to them"
"I can do that now, just because hes in their changing doesn't mean i cant bond" Starz had said and Astralis had cut her off
" No they may be the same to you dear child but to us no, I dont believe you could bond with the pupal stage but even did you its not our way"
"but i could tell you when..."
"thats why Starz, this moment when they break out and show themselves for the first time thats their own gift, its not for us to know when they choose to bestow it, we will see when they are ready"
"so when i notice the little guy flying around you want me to bond and ask him to stay?"
"Yes please but dont let him fly for long he will as his first act try to get to his brother and his queen"
"ill have him tame before he takes off for his virgin flight Astralis, he will spread his wings and test them then he will use them to fly to me"
The bet came soon after, Astralis knew how fast the moth would appear the crack in the cocoon would be the start but it would be seconds after this sign and he would be in flight.
Ast had bet Starzein that she couldn't do it, he knew she could easily bond with the moth but she didn't have the patience to watch that cocoon for as long as it would take, he knew he didn't
The crack appeared, she thought about reaching but not yet she had agreed to wait but it was so quick, she was quick as well the moth may have been special to the Draenei but to her it was still a very simple mind, with her new 'pet' on her shoulder she finally stood giving herself the stretch she had so needed cracking her back with satisfaction she walked into the lounge
"you owe me a month of cooking and washing the dishes brother" she said then turned and went to her bed, the moth totally in love with the hunter now slept next to her on the pillow, he had something he was meant to do but it had gone from his tiny mind replaced by the love for this human.
Starzein had only been asleep for 15 minutes before she was awoken by Saphrist's scream, standing over her and quietly laughing with Astralis about the moth, they had seen the flash much like a firefly at sunset it was this that had caused the cry.The scream an exclamation of joy, she didn't mean to wake Starzein but this was just so unexpected.
Starzein opened her eyes with a start but before she could speak she saw it . Flying above her, with a plain brown moth flying around it was the most stunning butterfly she had ever seen its colors metallic and somehow leaving a trail behind it were incredible, never remaining the same for more than a second they flowed through the rainbow red through purple into blue, yellow through green. flowing mystical, this must be the queen thought Starzein and it made sense the devotion the Draenei had shown to her wile she was merely a caterpillar oh she was wonderful thought Starz and in her mind she could feel her moth drawn as well 'go' she thought, the moth though bonded wasn't capable of complex instructions, her loque she could almost converse with but the bug was simple, he understood this though and flew to his queen, he loved her as much as his human, maybe even more. The queens colors intensified now glowing the cloud of color left behind was thick the room took on the appearance of a barber shop pole with the colors not red and white but all the colors of the rainbow radiating from this one tiny butterfly being reflected across the walls and over their faces, all three of them silent except for the whispered "oh " from Saphrist.
She had managed to stay awake for another hour after that, the butterfly's display had toned down back to the level it was when she had first spied it the whole story had been given to Sixx the animal specialist at the exodar.(only after Sixx had excitedly given his own news, "she just poof disappeared, right before me eyes")Kylandread Fogone and Kheidu had also come to see the new wonder. The last thing she did before returning to her bed was to release the moth break the bonding she had made, she had asked both Astralis and Sixx, and they seemed pleased almost proud it had been hard for Sixx to agree in the first place with the plan, having someone bond with one of these,he had assented because it was Starzein and he like most who lived in the Exodar with her as a child knew she looked like a human but Starzein had the heart of a Draenei.


Its a really short addition, just enough to finish the ideas left over from last time, the next installment is underway and ill endeavor to make it more exciting, less butterfly more blood, as it were, but till then Shh Starzeins asleep she's got a big journey ahead of her with lots of perils on the way so let her sleep, she's gunna need her strength.

[Starzein]

Being called into the war-room was the best news Starzein could have had, after spending most of the last day in one position unmoving staring at a cocoon her wild side yearned for adventure her body still stiff from the hours of immobility, a body so used to exorcise needed to be run she felt, a mission then a call to the war room was great news.
Only four ARCADIANS were there when Starzein arrived but the doors closing behind her were enough to suggest this would be all invited to this small meeting Polly Fogone and Kheidu chattering away with Bara drinking from a large mug and warming himself by the fire.
"we are talking 'bout the Lights of Freedom guild Sis " Bara had told her once the mighty doors had closed the light from them now giving the war room its illumination, the light which seem to make it easier to think, to plan.
She had shrugged at this and Bara laughed "you were right Polly there is someone in this world who has not heard of them" he shook his head.
"They are a young Guild Starz, not much for you to know really bout 30 of them but they are slowing gaining power and they want to join in an allegiance with us"
The description of the guild went on their various affiliations and the political maneuvering over the last few years, It all bored Starzein to death, The game of politics was not her domain,but she still listened, they wanted her here so she would sit it out.
The meat of the issue seemed to be this small guild who had already joined in allegiance with a few other small guilds that ARCADIANS supported had asked for an allegiance, a house as large as theirs could ignore such a request ARCADIANS got many petitions like this every-day, they guarded their rights not just due to the possible cost of an alliance but also because their own
position in both the courts of Stormwind and the Draenei government bring with them a level of influence better kept in as few as possible hands.This guild though had earned at least in Fogone's opinion the right to be heard, they had helped protect the guild-house of a small group the ARCADIANS used as a strike force on occasion. A guild that had cultivated an allegiance with
the ARCADIANS that was now almost 10 years old.
"we want you to go Starz they cant really impress you with their deeds,you don't follow that court rumor stuff anyway and though they will try to impress you with their wealth they aint in Astralis's league. Turning your head wont be easy, we want to know if they are what they say, and if their worries about the threat at there door are real enough" Fogone had asked by saying
we want, not you will but Starzein had already decided this what just what she needed.
"We have three choices here, we take an allegiance and they have our full protection, we also gain a full trained team who work well together,Two We refuse but still lend our help, money arms whatever they may need but we do so under their banner not our own, or we thank them and watch from afar, it may be all a game they created to gain favor of the Naru"
And so the meeting continued, the threat Fogone had eluded to was not mentioned again Starzein could read between the lines though this was the real purpose of sending her, she needed to investigate what ever it was that threatened them, and see if by joining with them it also threatened ARCADIANS.
There were no mages in the guild who had been to the Lights of Freedom house so instead Starzein was being ported to the house the young guild had helped saved, from there it would be a two day ride and Starzein was itching to get started, she had a new mount a young stallion Theropoda had given her who she had yet to really let have his head. Jet black and heavily muscled, he looked fast Starzein wanted to test just how fast he was.Loque as well seemed to be ready life in the guild-house was full of pats and stolen treats but she longed to hunt really hunt with Starzein not for the elk around goldshire but for bigger tougher prey.With Theropoda away gone in the middle of the night with seven black clothed riders all of whom would bow to her and keep their faces drawn low, as though Thero were a mighty Lord and they just ants, odd but expected by the guild, (all but Starz and Thero they had never been told this could happen). With Thero gone and the task before her being a quiet one the only people to see her off were her "family" Astralis and (since she now seemed to live with them, even though Draenei never talk of such things so it'd never actually been said) Saphrist. It was Saph she asked "what did Fog mean Saph he said they would find it hard to turn my head"
"Ah its a diplomacy thing hon, it means they wont be able to buy your favor by offering you a life beyond your station, Ast has the same power he cant be bought, but if he could who the hell could afford the price?" she winked at Starzein "They will have the crystal out for you my girl you will see the finest they have, but Fogone is correct how does one impress the girl who dines with Valen, the hunter who eats her very breakfast off a table reported to have come in-tack from the homeland, surviving the war the journey and even the crash" Saphrist sighed,
"some people Starzein value these things more than you or Astralis, many men have gained fame power even respect not through being good but through being successful, money unfortunately is how they judge themselves, this Guild they own a mine a large one and it has gained them alot of wealth"
"Dont be fooled though child" Astralis now added "do not judge them because of this they should not be blamed for becoming wealthy nor castigated for using their wealth in that way,"
"just understand it is all, they will try to turn your head, act like its worked , be impressed but look into their hearts judge not the tools they use but the machine they want to build with them"
As usual thought Starzein, one question answered another two to ponder, such was life with the big Warrior,"and keep yourself self safe whatever you do" she hugged the two Draenei and led her horse with loque just behind them into the portal.
Something itched her nose she felt a sneeze coming on not her loque then the spirit leopard sneezed, they had ported into a pile of sawdust The Watsonias Guild house and its stables where they had landed were still being re-built after (going by the amount of work being done) what must have been quite a large battle.
"welcome welcome Starzein or might i say Master Starzein, sorry 'bout the mess" came the friendly voice of Dwultry, the Watsonias guild leader.Starzein knew Dwultry he was an old friend of the ARCADIANS she was hoping he could give her some insite into the guild she was off to meet.What had happened here seemed more important now after walking around towards the front of the house, she could see the outer walls were new fresh cut timber, thick well built they could withstand a siege. If the old walls were like this Starz thought and they got in still...
"What happened here?"She finally asked,
"oh, well the walls, the ones we had small wooden thing's had burned down a month before. We haven't had any trouble these parts for ten years, so we didn't think, when they came they were already inside before we even noticed we fought em out of the keep but they held us in this courtyard,"he shook his head "So many of them, we had our mages ready Starz so we could leave we
almost let em have it all "he cast his arms about "But then the Light came, they saved us just in time came in from behind and together , well you can see we are still here, we will stay here"
Touring the new works going on all around had Starzein feeling a little uncomfortable after awhile, she could understand the Watsonias had been caught with their pants down, but the defenses they were building seemed a little extreme Walls to survive sieges towers were going up with catapult engines built into the tops, a moat had even been marked out to be dug on the outside
of the new walls.This place now, could survive attack from an army.With little more use full information to be gained from Dwultry, (apart from praise) about the Lights of Freedom, she saddled and gathering the map that would lead her to the escort she was to meet a days ride away she finally had the chance to do what she had wanted to do all morning. Kicking her heals into the flank of her horse and feeling loques joy as he ran beside her Starzein rode.
The horse underneath her was fast but the real joy was the ride itself, Theropoda had raised and trained the stallion and under Starzein it felt like a dream, just the slightest movement of her knees and the horse would respond,left right even jumping over obstacles with the slightest nudge, it enjoyed the gallop as much as she did Loque who was running alongside perhaps more so.
So seeing the smoke from the signal fire and knowing this was her escort she felt a little let down and she walked the last few miles, Loque still excited was running of into the forest on either side of the road to keep running more than any other reason. Starzein knew how she felt, the horse under her wanted to run still, she wanted to run as well.
Not knowing really what to expect coming up on the meeting point one thing was certain this what not it. After all the warnings she had been given she had mentally prepared herself for a carnival, not a single young night elf, dressed all in black, he had no noticeable clues as to class or station, no great mount all set out in the fine bejeweled style of the young rich. No retinue of servants
as would be befitting. She almost stumbled over her words, it seemed silly to announce ones self like this, and Starzein would never really feel comfortable doing so

[Starzein]

"hail "She started "I Am Starzein, Master-hunter of the ARCADIANS"
"Ah yeah, wow hey" the night elf stammered as he rose and turned, he seemed as taken back by the formal introduction as well, Starzein noticing liked him already "Um, gee I'm um..Pesotime, I suppose.."as if even this his own name he wasn't sure of
"um Guild-master of Lights of Freedom, Starzein, your not that Star...."
He was cut off by Loque who finished with his running had finally joined Starzein, now dismounting and tying her horse to a tree,the Leopard normally cautious of strangers now padded up towards the night elf She sniffed and much to Starzeins surprise sat giving a loud purr, at the same moment in her head Starzein felt the connection and the message loque had sent her.
"she remembers you, you have met before"
"Oh yes" replied Pesotime, "I not surprised she remembers me, I owe her my life" He looked away from the spirit beast now and cast his eyes back to the small hunter "and i see you are that Starzein, I must apologize, we were not expecting um, well anyone really but especially not , well um... you, I'm afraid i have little in the way of comforts if we had known..."
"comforts, dear sir as long as that coffee I smell brewing on the fire has not burned too badly, all the comforts i require seem to be here, "with that she sat and relaxed a little, Guild master she thought, this funny night elf, slipping and stumbling over his words now almost clumsy as he pours the coffee steaming into to cups, he had none of Fogone's presence none of the surety and determination always ever present in her own guild master. None of the puffed chest none of the self important attitude, earned in Fogone's case but present in many others without the qualifications,that she had thought would belong to the leader of a guild, her own friends had assured her had earned already a ferocious reputation.Starzein liked this guild master "So " she said, trying to break the silence, created a little uncomfortably, unwarranted by the night elf's embarrassment at being unprepared "How precisely do you and loque know each other?, "Loque so relaxed it seemed with the night elf she had curled up resting beside where he now settled himself sitting on a log facing the fire he had built.
"I was very young, this is going back quite a few years" Starzein smiled, the night elf was hardly old, quite a few years she thought would mean something different if Fogone were telling the tale.
"I had found myself in the employ of a nasty piece of work, and the job he has us doing was quite unsavory, but as i said I was young, inexperienced and the lure of a quick pocket full of gold held more of attraction than the longer term benefits as yet unimagined by me, that a more moral lifestyle would bring" He chuckled now, amused by his own ignorance as a younger man or perhaps amused by his perceived wisdom now. "We were poaching you see, our prey the coats of the great black and white leopards that call the high mountains of the storm peaks home...."
Ten minutes later and with her Loque still yet to make an appearance in the story, Starzein was openly laughing along with Pesotime, gone from his speech were the stumblings of earlier now Starzein could see how this young man could lead a guild, He spoke well the story animated by his whole body was amusing and cleaver she had been relaxed by the informal though unexpected welcoming she had, now she was actually quite enjoying herself.
"Thats when i first saw her, I didnt think she was the one who had been stalking us i still felt that was the rangers come to arrest us even though not a single trap had caught so much as a rabbit but i could see she was watching me and y'know i think thats why i did what i did, something about the whole thing felt dirty after seeing her.The fact it was illegal didn't faze me, part of the adventure almost and I hadn't killed anything yet but with her watching me I knew I wouldn't be able too.I could be a criminal in my own mind but i didn't want something as pure as her seeing me in that way" Loque had snorted in her sleep at this point, and both of them had laughed, yeah thought Starz real noble, real pure this girl is." so anyway she started watching but be dammed if everytime i got a good look she'd disappear again almost like she could just go invisible y'know"
"oh yeah she'll do that" Starz added, only now realizing Loque who would often sleep in stealth hadn't done her little trick all day, she had remained visible even now as she slept.Her companion at the fire Pesotime had not seen loque stealth-ed and from his story it was obvious this was something he did not know the spirit beast could do, as could alot of the larger cats.
"So i started to trip our traps, everytime i could get out of site i would spring them and every time we came back to check our luck i acted as surprised as the others at our lack of success.Now don't get me wrong i couldn't get to every trap, i wasn't even aware of all the positions they had been set but every time we checked they would be empty, Loque I believe was behind the others
the ones i'd missed,.I was aware the idiots i was with hadn't seen her im pretty sure i only had because she wanted it that way,the more i sabotaged the group the more i would spy her of in the distance, just for a moment before she'd be gone again.
"They caught me of course, our leader may have been gruff and stupid, but he hadn't been born in the last rainfall, he had followed me and now with his rifle aimed at my chest had explained before i could offer my pre-thought out excuse (just fixing the trap, giving it more tension)how he had watched me for an hour, the hour I had been quite busy dismantleing four of the well made complex traps built to capture the as yet unseen Black and white beasts who's pelt would receive 1200 without question in the shadier back allies of Darnassis, where still even today great cats and their coats will still exact large prices.I was trussed up they gave me quite a beating and left me unconscious but alive tied close to the trap now re-built the plan was that I would make a great meal for one of the leopards and could still help in capturing one my body being the bait used to draw them."The last of the days light was fading now Pesotime casually threw a loose sticks onto the fire then reached for a lute he had perched against the back side of the log they sat on, he faintly plucked and adjusted the pegs tuning quietly as his story continued.
"It worked, the beating had left me bleeding quite badly i could only see out of eye when i did finally come too but the blood must have been what drew them five big leopards they were smart enough not to come too close, but they looked hungry and i was tied even if i were not injured, tied well I could move my head a little but nothing else,.The big cats just circled me at first but after awhile the biggest of them gained in courage enough to make the first strike, i had a large chunk taken from my arm, the new wound, my inability to defend myself and i suppose the smell of fresh blood bought the others in as well, i can remember seeing jaws large enough to swallow my head in one open before me, I admit now i closed my eye the one i could still see from my own death is not something i need to witness, so it was the sound that ill remember most, Loque smaller than the leopards readying themselves for a free meal This beautiful spirit beast here " he patted her now fast asleep beside him" She
rawed as she leaped into them, it was like a warrior cry only coming from this cat (Loque wasn't strickly a cat, she appeared to be and carried the genes of the leopard within her but loque was a spirit beast, the shape merely an old one used for convenience) She was wonderful Starzein, she killed two of them but she let the others go i have no doubt she could have continued but she is noble
this beast of yours, she even fed me over the next two days, rabbits she had caught and bought to me, I had hidden myself in a small cave, the smart little cat knew enough to chew through the bonds that had held me but with the beating and the damage done by the sun cooking my skin during the time i was tied i couldn't hunt for myself, she kept me alive until I had the strength to do it myself, I did not see her after that but i did find the remains of the crew i had been with. She had found them before I had and they would not be profiting from any pelts that year or indeed ever again."

Wont be long before the next installment, things have been quiet up to now (almost too quiet.....) but it wont remain that way i feel for too long, If you can wait and come back soon i'd appreciate it, still we have no monsters (night elves may be a bit effeminate but they are hardly monsters, I know) but they are there, just around the corner, waiting hungry like the leopards who stalked Pesotime, and they will be fed.....

[Starzein]

As he finished his story he struck a chord on his lute and jumped to his feet, it was doing this that saved his life. The arrow that was aimed at his heart now found itself entering into his upper thigh, where his heart had been moments before, standing with the intent to sing Pesotime now felt himself falling. Starzein was already in movement she grabed her bow and took five strides away from the fire, hitting a tree she plastered her back against it and then scanned the area she thought the shot had come from, nothing. She checked on Pesotime he had managed to scamper over the log they had been sitting on giving himself some cover but he was signaling to Starzein now urgently, 20 yards he hissed, that way and pointed, She raised her bow and searched again, thirty degrees further to the left than she had looked before and there he was.She noticed two things as the goblin came into her sites, first that her back to the tree gave her no cover at this angle at all the second thing was that the goblin was about to shoot but then so was she.
Both combatants shot at the same time, the Goblin from one knee where he had propped and carefully taken aim among the undergrowth around the clearing, Starzein's arrow was loosed as she moved diving to her right. The goblins arrow ended its flight harmlessly traveling through the air past the point Starzein had been and lodged into the bark of a tree fifteen feet further back. Starzeins arrow finished its flight two inches behind the heart of the goblin, the heart it had shattered getting there. Starzein had dived to her right, firing then tucked her shoulder rolled and sprang back to her feet, she fired again, now just at the area her first arrow had gone, and moved slipping behind the log next to Pesotime.
Loque awake now moved into stealth and Starz sent him behind searching for any partners the goblin may have she closed her eyes and using her mind searched the forest in front of them. Hunters do not have an ability that allows them to feel the minds around them, unlike a mage or warlock her ability stopped with the animals, she could not feel if there were any more horde hiding directly she could though feel the animals about, all the animals about. Although hiding ones self from prying eyes is easily done by many classes, hiding from nature is not so simple a rogue may disappear from site but they never actually disappear, she could not see them or feel their minds but Starzein knew how to look in a different way. She used her mind to seek the animals, what she was looking for was the pattern left by a hidden foe, a group of mosquitoes excited about a new found source of warm blood or the lone wolf waiting patiently for the bigger smarter predator to finish using his lair for short term shelter, the insects disturbed by feet walking over their carefully laid trails. Her eyes may not see a well hidden enemy , nature though cant be hidden from It will always know.The trick is not seeing the person but seeing the impact they have on the environment, an impact that is always felt by something. Loque had found nothing her own search had found nothing she was sure their attacker was alone and now dead but she still held her bow as she went to riffle through the body taking everything from the pockets and small pack he had strapped to his back, nothing that held any meaning to her but maybe useful to Pesotime.
He was sitting on the log as she came back, one hand covering the area on his thigh the arrow had hit, the arrow itself now rested in two halves blood still on its tip next to him. In his other hand he held a small staff, wooden at the point he held it but sleeved in silver for most its length and topped with crystals almost haphazardly arranged at its peak. The staff glowed and hissed with enchanted power, the silver of its length carved with the intricate designs found on all the Shadow Priest Wands.
"Well it appears that wound wont be killing you then, there was only the one i assume hes from the horde group that got the Watsonias, here's his papers" And she dumped the goblins belongings in the dust
"Horde group? what? no the watsonias weren't attacked by horde,um, give me a minute we'll head off tonight I dont guess youd mind riding late and ill show you on the way, just give me a minute, this legs still a bit stiff" He started to stretch his leg and rub as if nothing more than a slight cramp had disabled him, through the rip in his pants Starzein could see the area was bruised badly still but of the wound there was no sight, no punctured skin. The shadow priest is the warrior arm of the holy cast, the magics they use for offense are formidable but like their pure healing cousins they can use their magic for defensive purposes, they could not commit to healing four or five soldiers in the midst of combat like Fogone could but minor wounds like this one suffered by Pesotime were not likely to do more than slow any of the shadow masters.
After some two hours of traveling, Starzein on her deep black stallion and Pesotime on his mount also black but a more stout horse stocky and wide with large hooves bred for the hard mountain trails rather than the open plains of Goldshire they came to the lookout. Their path had been taking them up since the meeting spot not steep but noticeably climbing and now here Starzein could see the trail they had followed was carved into the side of the beginnings of a large mountain range, the lookout a spot they could see into the valley bellow a large area surrounded on three sides by the mountain range and dotted with wooden structures. Starzein recognized the dwellings she had seen their like before but there was something odd about this valley.
"looks like an ogre village but...."
"But where the hell are they , I know" This is not what Starzein had meant the valley did look like an ogre village but ogres were not social creatures, a group of ten or twelve ogres would be normal their clans were small made up of family groups.Not too far from the ARCADIAN guild house was a site that they discovered a large clutch of ogres thirty in all and that was considered at the
time to be as big a group as any had seen, here in this valley were dozens and dozens of ogre houses enough for hundreds of families. The walls and siege defenses Starzein had seen at the Watsonias Guild-house now made sense.
"How many are there?" She asked
"We dont know for sure we have only really been watching them since the attack, they are normally quiet but just of late their numbers have swelled at least two thousand,but maybe two hundred three hundred more we watch but its hard to get close to get a real figure. We do know they are being armed from somewhere large shipments of shields and weapons have been intercepted"
"two Thousand, surely not" she could see though the size of the village did lend itself to a large population two thousand ogres, she would not have thought there were that many of the creatures in all of Azeroth.
"Normally we'd see them from here, even at night there should be hundreds down there visible but i see a few a dozen perhaps" Starzein saw the same maybe a dozen small dots moving through the trees at this distance not recognizable as ogres just as large shapes in the night.
"We'd better go, at the top of this range we should get a better idea from there, maybe see how far they've gone, or where dammit they were all here this morning I checked on my way to you"
Pesotime took off, driving his mount not at full speed but faster than Starzein would have attempted at night on such a rough track, she needent have worried her horse was quick but he was also agile and the darkness seemed to offer no barrier for his sure feet.At the top of the rise the view opened up another valley shaped like a large horseshoe cut into the mountain, with a vast plain a few sparse trees but more like a meadow a huge area, filled now by hundreds of camp fires small groups of four and five ogres sitting by each one, hundreds of fires and with a quick count made difficult by the haphazard way they arranged themselves, no lines or squads or battalions just small groups milling about Starzein guessed a thousand Ogres, at the far end of the valley where the mountains curved around was a spot walled off a large building stood here behind the walls that stretched from one side of the mountain range to the other lit up now bright like a beacon, the building and the walls the ogres were camped outside of laying siege to The guild house and grounds of the Lights of Freedom.

[Starzein]

"How many do you have in there?"
His answer when it came gave the young hunter another glimpse into the heart of the shadow priest, they way he answered showed what was important to him.
"we have 30 and a further 23 who have talent and of them 19 are full masters"
Thirty people who he cared for, she would not have been surprised if he had of only mentioned the guild members those of the military class, those with talent but the Night elf's thoughts were with the 30 who no doubt filled the other roles in the guild, the animal handlers the kitchen staff. ARCADIANS were not a guild that had many support people, most of them were involved in the military sections but even they had a hundred or so non classed people ,children and staff. The lights of Freedom it seemed were more balanced in the way most guilds were,only this guild had a leader that didn't consider any role any less important. She thought her own guild house nestled deep in alliance territory had no need for even walls for protection but if they did find them selves under siege, Starzein was sure Fogone would move the non-talented, those less able to protect themselves away as his first act.
"We got to get them out, that wall its a visage, it'll hold for a bit but our defenses are built around subterfuge,we have weak spots made to crumble, we set large traps just behind them and the ground between wall and house its crossed with holes, hidden spike pits, we are set to fight and it'll take great numbers to get to the house but we are not set for a siege we have no mages and are not a defensive house despite our position. We can win a battle for the land but this many, we will suffer casualties.I cannot ask you to join me Starzein but i must get inside myself, my people need me."
"You cannot ask, but i am with you anyway, just how do we get through an army of ogres and over that wall?"
"Well ARCADIAN we dont we go in through the back door, I hope ya not claustrophobic" And he turned his mount again and began to ride away from the valley further across the small peak and after a few minutes down again but on the other side of the mountain away from the valley and the Guild house.

Another short update, i did have more ready to post but i had an accident with my computer and lost most of it.It'll be re-done and ill post soon just thought id put this bit up in case I lost it as well.

[Starzein]

Its been a little wile so here is a short update, im doing the rest now so ill probably post again in the next few hours till then a couple of paragraphs that have been sitting waiting for a few days.


The path on the back side of the range was steep and narrow dropping off one side in a sheer fall and being hugged on the other by the wall of the cliff Before they had got back down to level land at the bottom Pesotime halted and pointed at a crack in the rock face, a small opening like a crease running the length of the wall no wider than a man at the bottom and closing at its top to mere inches.
"We go in here, the horses we have to leave but I think Loque could make it"
Starzein climbed of her horse she would miss this beast he had carried her well and she had enjoyed the balanced ride he gave but it was a smart animal, trained by the best so Starzein knew it would try to get itself back to a warm stable, the last they had been to was the Watsonias and she hoped her black steed would have little trouble finding its way there.
Walking up to the crack she could see it was a cave of sorts and it was into this hole they now went, first walking strait but after a few meters they were forced to turn sideways as the crack narrowed their path twisting and turning tight so tight thought Starzein that any of the Draenei should they have been there would be stuck and were it not for the fact that she was a small woman and Pesotime was like most elves quite lanky and thin they themselves would not be able to use this tunnel. It became fully dark after a few turns the moon now hidden she could still feel the cold walls of rock pressing against her Loque seemed to be better adapted to the low light levels , it was his mind that gently soothed Starzein who was now feeling the first small signs of panic, the walls so close about her were beginning to feel as if they were moving closing even tighter to hold her.Before the panic could take to much of a hold she felt the tunnel open out and Pesotime's voice echoed in the darkness.
"This will help a bit" he said then he cast and light began to pierce the darkness Starzein could see their tunnel had bought them to an anti-chamber carved into the centre of the mountain, a cavern littered with stalactites dripping from the roof a few meters above them and a river flowing fast just below the ledge they found themselves on. As Pesotime
passed his light around they saw the cavern was pockmarked with holes like the one they had come out of, some with trickles of water flowing into the little underground river.
"There " he pointed at a small hole a meter around maybe, it appeared to be no different to the many other holes and cracks about
"It gets tricky we have to crawl most the way then at the end we need to be careful, ill tell you when but it comes out at a spot about two meters up, Loque could jump the river comes out there too but we should be careful its a big drop if you aint ready for it.." From the look on his face in the cool light being sent out by the crystal in his hand Starzein guessed this warning came from experiance.
She sent Loque first even the spirit beast had to crouch scraping her belly along the rocks as she squeezed into the hole, Starzein who had felt the panic before was now sweating crawling along with rock all about her, Loque still soothing her mind as best she could. Pesotime who had attached the glowing crystal to his head bought up the rear, and they crawled occasionally the tunnel opened out a little, never for long but thankfully to Starzein it didnt get any smaller or narrower than at its beginning. After half an hour of slow going on all fours the sound of water began, and rocks about them began to feel wet at their hands and knees a little trickle of water ran every few meters the trickle got larger stronger, fed by the moisture that now ran in obvious lines and dripped incessantly from above them, the trickle soon became a rush and the tunnel opened again the water now four or five inches deep around their hands and knees flowing fast, one more twist in the tunnel and she felt the edge and stopped. When the light from Pesotimes crystal illuminated the spot they found themselves in She opened her eyes in wonder.
They were sitting a few meters above a huge underground lake, from their cave and from dozens of other holes flowed water a myriad of Waterfalls flowing roaring into the lake Hidden so deep within the mountain.
"We have to jump from here but its deep enough, follow me" As soon as Pesotime hit the water below the light on his head went out throwing Starzein into darkness again, she took a deep breath and following her spirit beast jumped into the cold herself. The water seemed to wash all her fears away where she had felt trapped before now under-water she felt free and as she did so often as a child she took time to enjoy and swim around for a bit before she surfaced and opened her eyes to find the lake now lit up bright the glow coming from the far end where a group of people stood cheering, Pesotime already swimming that way was half way there Starzein lowered her head and swum as well.
Five people were there to meet them two dressed as Pesotime all in black, this was Starzein would learn the style adopted by all the lights of Freedom fighters but the other three dressed more appropriately for the underground. It was the three miners that had heard them coming hidden alarms built into the 'back door' ensured that even in times of siege like this the Keep and perhaps more importantly the mine was always monitored and the path they had taken, the only way into the labyrinth of caves and holes that comprised the large mining works of the guild from outside of their walls was never forgotten. The alarms in place would ring throughout the mine, as they had done and also ring in the Keep. An army could not be bought in through the small crawl space but neither could a single assassin gain entrance without the notice of the Guild.
The closed in feelings of before had left Starzein, on this side of the underground lake with bright lights and now a towel to dry herself she could breath normally, the passage through the rocks was hard on her and she would not have managed to avoid even greater anxiety if Loque were not there to help her, to mentally hold her hand.The passage into the lake area from the mine side was man made large and smooth walled, a short walk and they came out to another tunnel this one with tracks laid into the ground and a hand driven mining cart that would take them after another half hour of pumping the handles, a task shared by all except Starzein, to the surface again, they had stopped three times on the way up. Each stop had had them dismount from the cart and push closed large metal doors each of these glowing with enchants the mine itself was being sealed behind them.

[scottyy]

Good stuff I don't usually read these but it was really good!