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The delegation continued at a leisurely but controlled walk along the road, which was honestly little more than a broad, packed trail in the red earth. The two Exarchs, resplendent on their towering War Elekks, headed the group with stoic complexions and wary gazes. Behind them came the Ambassador on his own travelling Elekk, not nearly as heavily armoured but nevertheless suited with a lavishly embellished harness; Theluin consistently kept pace on his dark-spotted Stormsaber, making light conversation to pass the time. Finally, Eli and Tuan brought up the rear on their respective steeds, the Paladin intent on staying around the she-rogue in the event she would start getting insufferable. The Exarchs’ adjutants – four athletic, platemail-armoured Vindicator acolytes – covered the flanks on foot, keeping up with their mounted masters with little more than a light sweat coating their foreheads. Their role was to keep an eye on sideways movements, and to act as scouts and guards in the event the delegation would have to make camp in the open.
Tuan leaned back somewhat in her saddle, bracing herself with one hand on Sandy’s rear armour, and peered behind her. Far away at the horizon, the tell-tale dust cloud rose from the carrier column powering back to the Hold. “Took them some sweet time to get back on the road,” she muttered.
Eli glanced at her. “I dun think it woulda been terribly tactful to have us leave th’ temple grounds walkin’ through a giant exhaust cloud, Miss Tuan,” he replied with a degree of reprimand.
Tuan rolled her eyes and straightened herself again. “Whatever.”
Eli stole a quick glance forward. Thankfully the others hadn’t noticed – or didn’t indicate that they had heard. He sighed inwardly, likely for the umpteenth time so far. Still, he kept reminding himself that the she-rogue had all the potential to get much more intolerable if she would feel like it. The fact that she wasn’t could just as easily be a sign that her inherent discomfort was slowly receding, or that she simply wasn’t bored enough – yet.
They came over a natural ridge in the burnt-out, barren expanse, and found a wide, shallow basin stretching far before them. At the furthest edge of visibility, one could just make out a great mountain chain that apparently was the western-most section of the semi-circle that encapsulated that entire half of the peninsula. The road continued onwards into the basin, sloping downwards gently but noticeably.
Eli glanced forward again as he heard the Draenei suddenly exchange a few discreet but urgent words.
“<Ambassador,>” one of the Exarchs said in a low, pressing voice.
“<I know,>” the Ambassador replied quietly.
And with that, all three went silent.
Theluin made no overt moves, but it was clear that he was glancing with a degree of concern and faint understanding at the Ambassador, and although it was nigh impossible to read the Draenei’s unflinching backs, the Paladin could swear that a new edge of tension had entered the contingent.
Before he could raise his voice and ask, Tuan had suddenly turned her head and stood up in her stirrups, staring off to the right with narrowed eyes. “What’s that over there?” she blurted out in her typical ornery fashion.
If Eli hadn’t had his eyes on the mounted Draenei at that moment, he likely wouldn’t have noticed the momentary recoil the three representatives shared. He tore his gaze away. “What’s wha—“
His eyes widened to the point of popping out of his skull and his gauntleted hands closed around his reins, making Abolition snort and toss its plated head. “Holy Light!”
Far away, in the middle of the basin section ringed in by the northern mountains and the road cutting across the landscape, was a literally gigantic blood-red crystal securely wedged into the peninsula’s crust. The ground immediately surrounding the gargantuan outcrop had splintered and ruptured, indicating the tremendous force with which the crystal must have impacted onto its current resting spot. Eli wasn’t entirely sure if his eyes were deceiving him with imaginary heat ripples, but it almost seemed as if the entire crystal was pulsing excruciatingly slowly with a deep, disturbing glow.
“Huh.” Tuan’s casual voice jolted Eli back to the present. The she-rogue had sat down into her saddle again. “I could swear I’ve seen that kind of crystal before.”
Eli quickly glanced at her, noticing out of the corner of his eye how Theluin also turned his head to glance over his shoulder, a peculiar acuity in the Moon Priest’s eyes.
Tuan suddenly snapped her fingers in the air as if a stroke of inspiration had just hit her. “Riiight. The Bloodmyst crash debris. Though that thing over there’s gotta be the size of the Vector Coil.” She leaned back with supreme nonchalance, bracing a hand against Sandy’s rear. “Makes you wonder who must’ve dropped it.”
Again, Eli glanced forward. The Draenei delegates had voiced no indication whatsoever that they had heard the she-rogue’s blunt observations, but judging from the stiffness that had crept into their spines, Eli harboured a likely highly qualified guess that the giant crystal’s presence was deeply unnerving to them.
He steered Abolition to the opposite edge of the road and leaned out to catch a glimpse ahead. “… if I’m not entirely mistaken, we might have sum people ov’r there who might know a thing or two ‘bout what happened here.”
Indeed, a few hundred paces further down the path was a small outpost; a tight group of windshelters fashioned from broad sheets of canvas stretched over flexible but sturdy wooden frames. A few individuals could be seen wandering to and fro in the camp, some of them tall and lithe – others towering and broad as oak trunks.
The two Exarchs immediately checked their War Elekks’ reins and pulled to a halt, the great beasts snorting and rumbling as they swung their massive, plated heads from side to side. “<Those are Horde,>” one of the Exarchs snapped, literally spitting the word out between clenched teeth.
The Ambassador turned and gave Theluin a probing look.
“They are Tauren Druids, Your Excellence,” the Night Elf replied smoothly. “While the Cenarion Circle originally included Night Elves exclusively, we admitted the Shu’halo into our ranks when it was discovered that they too practice the druidic arts, and with no small degree of expertise.” He smiled lightly, turning his face back towards the outpost. “Just as nature makes no difference between political factions, the Circle makes no difference between Alliance and Horde. By entering the Circle, we put the disagreements of our leaders aside for the betterment of nature and its creatures.”
The Ambassador raised his eyebrows, visibly and genuinely impressed. “That is quite a feat, reverend. I take it you have been part of their community once?”
Theluin nodded slowly. “I was a Druid before the Battle of Mount Hyjal. In its wake, I came to accept that my heart truly belongs with the Priesthood of Elune … but that hasn’t stopped me from maintaining my old contacts.”
The Ambassador smiled in return. “One does not need to part with others on negative terms only. Is this Circle the only organization in fair Azeroth that has this kind of openness?”
“Not quite, Yer Excellence,” Eli chimed in, having steered Abolition over to the Ambassador. He picked lightly at his own tabard, resplendent with the silver emblem of the Argent Dawn. “Th’ Dawn does a similar thing. It’s pretty much taken on isself ta be Azeroth’s first line o’ defence ‘gainst the Legion an’ any of its machinations, an’ to that end the Dawn accepts anyone willing ta fight fer its ideals. We even have some Forsaken among us, who’ve split with their original loyalties to combat evil an’ save what’s still worth savin’.”
The Ambassador regarded the Paladin and Priest with equal measures of surprise and renewed respect. “It is a heartening prospect indeed that in a world so riven by conflict as yours, there are still those who believe in a greater good for all.” He inclined his head, and the Night Elf and human returned the gesture.
Riding up between his still obviously mistrustful kinsmen, the Ambassador relayed in Draenic the information he had been given. The Exarchs were noticeably dubious about the prospect of approaching the outpost, but relented with a bit of gentle cajoling from their ward. It was nevertheless clear that they weren’t terribly happy about the idea.
As they came near the post, one of the Tauren – a massive, dark-furred male bedecked in ceremonial leather armour – noticed the delegation’s presence and raised a broad, three-fingered hand in greeting. On cue, Theluin took the lead on his Stormsaber.
“Welcome to the Cenarion Post,” the Tauren announced in Common with the slow, rolling accent of his native tongue. “I am Mahuram Stouthoof.”
Theluin dismounted. “I am Theluin Moonwhisper,” he replied simply, bowing to the Tauren.
Mahuram bowed in return, gesturing to the other representatives and watchers residing at the outpost. “My kinswoman here is Thiah Redmane; she studies the animals and plants of the region.” The other Tauren – a sinewy, reddish-coloured female, likewise wearing sturdy leather trappings and no less tall than her kinsman – smiled and approached with a nod and a light bow. “She has garnered quite the collection of indigenous herbs.”
Theluin noticeably lit up at the mention of herbs, and he turned to the Tauren female with a little bow. “If it is not too much trouble, may I have a look?” Thiah’s smile widened with pride and she motioned to one of the windcovers where several satchels and crates were stood.
The Ambassador had by now caught up and dismounted from his Elekk as well, letting one of the Exarchs’ adjutants hold his steed as he approached the camp with diplomatic grace, attributing Mahuram. “My greetings, Master Stouthoof. I freely admit that I am intrigued by the tales I have heard about the Tauren and their communion with the land.”
Mahuram smiled gently. “No need for formalities, good Draenei,” he replied in his deep resonant bass. “In the eyes of the Earthmother, we are all equals.”
The Ambassador continued to make light conversation, and Eli duly recognized from his own diplomatic training the many and discreet key questions being bounced back and forth. He gave himself a moment to glance at the Exarchs, who had – somewhat demonstratively – stood themselves, still mounted, at a safe but not overtly insulting distance, keeping their watchful gazes on their immediate surroundings rather than the outpost itself.
Tuan trotted Sandy over to him. “Them Draenei do have their ‘opinions’ after all,” she remarked in her typical caustic manner, though she thankfully kept her voice down this time.
Eli cracked a lopsided smile. “Y’ doan’ notice it much with their officials, no. But yeah, they do.”
Tall as the Draenei were, even the Ambassador was dwarfed somewhat next to the Tauren’s tremendous stature. Finishing his diplomatic excursion with Mahuram, he went on to approach the Night Elf representatives, continuing to explore at a glance the sentiments and motives of the Circle and its structure. Theluin had clearly gotten thoroughly caught up with Thiah’s herb collection, and so Eli took the opportunity to approach the Tauren as well.
Eli walked Abolition up to Mahuram, the elevation of his steed enabling the Paladin to almost look the Shu’halo straight in the eye, and made a light salute as way of welcome. “Ishnu’porah,” he greeted.
Mahuram looked over at him with sudden surprise, before relaxing and chuckling low in his broad throat. Eli fidgeted lightly, trying to stomp down the creeping embarrassment.
Mahuram shook his head slowly, but he was smiling when he looked up at the Paladin again. “No need to be that formal, little Light-wielder,” he replied in Common. “That greeting is typically reserved for our high chief.”
“Eh …” Eli raised his hand and rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Jes’ tryin’ it out, I guess. Baby steps.”
Mahuram nodded, still smiling warmly. “It’s a rare occasion indeed when a human deigns to learn the language of their sworn enemy. Is it a hobby of yours?”
Eli smiled in return, relaxing somewhat. “You could say that, sir Stouthoof. I like learnin’ languages. Got quite a few under my belt by now, tho’ I haven’t really had much opp’rtunity ta really get into Taur-ahe.”
Mahuram gazed back at him. “The tongue of Taur-ahe is not one easily acquired, as it is a representation of our people’s spirit as much as a way to communicate among ourselves. It takes a certain mindset to truly fathom its depths.” The Tauren peered a little curiously at the Paladin. “I take it you’ve met others of my kin through the Dawn?” He indicated the man’s tabard.
Eli looked down at the glittering sun emblem and nodded. “Th’ Dawn’s had a few representatives from the Earthen Ring joining their top counsellors. A good-natured fellow called Rimblat, I think.”
“Rimblat Earthshatter.” Mahuram nodded sagely. “He is wise and resourceful for his years. It surprised few among us when it became known that he had volunteered to step up as the Earthen Ring’s ambassador within the Argent Dawn.” The Tauren looked Eli over again. “… I hope that you’ll find the opportunity to study our culture further. May I ask your name?”
“Eleazar, but you can call me Eli.”
Mahuram blinked and chuckled quietly again. “You humans and your strange sounds. Eli, then. It is an honour to make your acquaintance.” The Tauren stepped back and saluted the Paladin with respect. Eli returned the gesture in kind.
“I suppose I will let you back to the company of your travelling friends,” Mahuram concluded. “It was a pleasure, young Light-wielder.”
Eli smiled and bowed his head. “Same ta you, sir Stouthoof.” And with that, he trotted Abolition over to the Ambassador and Theluin, who had engaged in a slightly more in-depth discussion with the individual who seemed to be the post’s resident leader; a tall, imposing Night Elf Druidess.
“So you have been able to deduce the nature of that crystal, Earthbinder?” Eli heard Theluin ask just as he drew near. The Paladin noticed offhandedly that Tuan pulled Sandy over beside him.
“After a fashion,” the Druidess replied with an even face. “Ever since the Portal was officially established to the public, we’ve had a steady trickle of adventurers coming this way. My so-called assistant—” She discreetly indicated a male Night Elf standing idly against one of the wooden supports of a nearby windcover. He looked decidedly bored and unoccupied. “—has been quite content with sending hapless dupes into the slaughter mill up on Fallen Sky Ridge.”
“Slaughter mill, lady Galandria?” the Draenei Ambassador chimed in with an eyebrow humorously raised.
“Mountain colossi. That crystal up there fell from the sky not long ago, causing a massive earthquake – hence the name we’ve given the area. When we came out here to investigate the disturbance, we found all these colossi that weren’t previously here, wandering about. ” She turned around and glared with no small resentment towards the abnormal monument. “The moment we arrived, I felt that there was something strange about that crystal and the energies that it kept emanating, but thanks to Tola’thion’s insistence on dealing with those aberrant mountain giants first and foremost—” She threw a poorly disguised derisive glance at the male Night Elf, who cringed away lightly. “—we’ve had few clues to work with … until about two weeks ago, when a group of adventurers managed to wrest a shard of the crystal from the colossi they were tasked to take down.”
The Ambassador immediately perked up, and the Druidess nodded in turn. “Mind you, that was a ‘shard’ for anything colossus-sized. They brought it back here and luckily stayed around while I performed some simple tests with it – as it almost immediately lured a colossus right over to our position.” Galandria made a face. “Suffice to say, it gave me ample proof that the crystal itself has a significant malignant effect on the colossi. It summons them and drives them insane.”
“What have you been able to accomplish so far?” Theluin inquired.
“Since those adventurers seemed keen on pulling their weight – unlike others I could mention—” Tola’thion cringed again. “—I instructed them to perform a ritual of reinvigoration at the crystal, as they luckily had a fellow Druid among them. Suffice to say, they were successful, and the colossi’s numbers have declined … but they also brought back some highly disconcerting evidence.”
“Such as?” the Ambassador continued on cue.
Galandria looked between them with resentment and frustration in her eyes. “While carrying out the ritual, the adventurers were accosted by a projected image of some Blood Elf magus calling himself Pathaleon the Calculator. He went on to taunt them, the details of which elude me now, and proceeded to summon a particularly dangerous colossus – purportedly the king of the colossi himself – to assault the adventurers. They were fortunately able to defeat the colossus and complete the ritual, interrupted as it was.” She shook her head angrily. “To think that he would stoop to such depths …!”
“Who, lady Nightbreeze?” Theluin ventured gently. Eli stole a glance at the Ambassador; the Draenei’s calm countenance had faltered ever so slightly at the mention of the “Calculator’s” racial identity.
Galandria drew a deep breath and met the Moon Priest’s gaze. “It would seem that the one responsible for this dastardly display of pointless destruction is none other than Kael’thas.”
The Ambassador stepped back, visibly shaken. Theluin’s eyes took on a new edge. “Do you have any indication on how he was able to do this, Earthbinder?” the Kaldorei inquired in a low voice.
Galandria shook her head. “None. I have sent word to our main base in Zangarmarsh and to the Circle itself to step up the campaign against this wayward Prince – and wayward he is, for I see no other reason than sheer insanity for what he has done!” She gestured furiously at the distant crystal. “Dropping giant crystals from the sky and decimating the land can only be the work of a madman!”
Eli didn’t look aside, but he could nevertheless sense the aura of razor awareness shielded behind casual nonchalance that the she-rogue next to him suddenly exuded.
“We will put our faith into the Circle,” Theluin concluded cautiously. “Affairs in both Moonglade and Silithus have kept its members occupied, but I am sure they will do their outmost to send the necessary resources.” Galandria nodded, minutely mollified.
Theluin immediately shifted track. “You mentioned that this expedition is based in Zangarmarsh?”
“Ah, yes.” The Druidess seemed to come to somewhat. “The Cenarion Circle’s main expeditionary force in Outland is known, quite simply, as the Cenarion Expedition. Though it began as a small venture controlled directly by the Circle, it’s become a large and fairly autonomous body.” Galandria turned and gestured towards the mountain pass that led out of the fel-scorched peninsula. “Our leader, Ysiel Windsinger, resides at the Cenarion Refuge in eastern Zangarmarsh. Just take the main path to the west and it will lead you directly there.”
“A fortuitous twist that our journey lies in that direction,” the Ambassador pointed out with a light smile – he appeared to have overcome his previous discomfort. “We will certainly pay a visit, lady Galandria.” The Druidess inclined her head graciously.
Exchanging a few more diplomatic phrases and farewells, the travellers bid the outpost adieu and returned to their mounts. Tuan sidled Sandy over to Theluin as the latter mounted up onto his Stormsaber and leaned down towards him, crossing her forearms over the saddle pommel.
“Kael’thas,” she mumbled very quietly. He looked up at her, the same edge in his eyes as earlier. She simply returned the elderly Kaldorei’s gaze. “As in, Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider.”
Theluin swung himself into his ornate saddle, adjusting his robes accordingly. Then he turned back to her, discreetly producing a tiny, glimmering object that he just as discreetly handed over to her. She never shifted her posture, simply grasping the offered gift in one hand, but she did glance down at it, a slight furrow in her forehead.
“The Earthbinder had managed to hold on to a few remaining fragments of the original shard retrieved from the crystal after the adventurers helped her shatter it to diffuse its effects,” Theluin explained in a low, even voice. “I was able to procure a specimen.”
Tuan glanced briefly at him, spinning the tiny crystal between trained fingers before letting it vanish into an invisible pocket somewhere. She remained quiet.
Eli found himself briefly held back by Mahuram. The Tauren had a cautious look in his face.
“Something th’ matter, sir Stouthoof?” Eli ventured.
“If you are headed west, then it is only prudent to warn you,” Mahuram began. “We've been fighting an ongoing battle to keep the pass through Thornfang Hill to the west clear of ravagers, to avoid being completely cut off from the refuge in Zangarmarsh. We’ve done our best to avoid displacing the creatures, as they are native to the area, but their attacks on travellers have become more aggressive. I’ve sent many an adventurer to clear the most obviously territorial of the ravagers out, but there’s always the possibility they might attempt to ambush you nevertheless.” Eli raised his eyebrows in understanding, and Mahuram nodded grimly. “Stay alert.”
Eli saluted silently as thanks, and spurred Abolition back to the gathered delegation.
“Slowpoke,” Tuan quipped as he thundered past Sandy. He ignored her, approaching the Ambassador who was once more securely ensconced on top of his Elekk.
“We might want ta keep an eye out fer the wildlife up ahead, Yer Excellence,” Eli announced. “Sir Stouthoof let me know there’s some pretty nasty ravagers in these hills, an’ they might try ta make the trip difficult fer us. He’s done his best to clear the worst of ‘em out, but you never can be sure.”
The Ambassador nodded soberly and relayed the information to the Exarchs, once again at the front of the company. They made the odd grimace of distaste at the mention of the Tauren Druid, but instructed their adjutants accordingly to keep a tight formation while crossing through the mountain pass.
Thornfang Hill certainly made its name justice; gargantuan, gnarly thorn bushes lined the pass on either side, branches as thick as an elekk’s girth arching in twisted shapes over the travellers’ heads. As they passed into the partial shade of the towering mountain sides, the unearthly aurora of the nether-riven skies behind them faded into a bluish, almost phosphorescent dusk.
Tuan glanced discreetly from side to side, never moving her head. Sandy gave a snort and tossed his head, but the she-rogue’s firm hands on the reins kept him from attempting anything excessively stupid. Eli glanced over at her.
“… they’re tailing us,” she explained in an even voice.
Trying his level best not to make any sudden movements, Eli looked around. Indeed, he could spot alien, insectoid shapes, festooned with bristling spikes, scuttling back and forth along the sides of the pass. He fidgeted nervously at the sounds and calls the ravagers kept making; something between a hiss and a growl, given additional resonance through the foreign predators’ peculiar carapaces.
Theluin closed his eyes briefly. “… territorial claim, nothing more,” he concluded calmly after a few heartbeats. “Albeit ramped up quite high in terms of sheer aggressiveness.”
The Ambassador looked around with a mixture of wariness and remorse. “Altered behaviour. A typical consequence of forced mutation. We observed it often enough on Bloodmyst, where the contamination due to the Exodar’s crash was the most widespread.” He sighed quietly. “The ravager is an indigenous species of Draenor; a formidable predator in its own right, heightened further by these nether-induced alterations.”
As if on cue, one of the adjutants flinched noticeably and scooted closer to the Exarchs when a particularly loud snarl was heard among the jagged cliffs making up the mountainsides within the pass.
Tuan arched an eyebrow disparagingly. “Sheesh. Already getting jumpy, are we?”
Eli glanced up the cliffs with a decidedly nervous expression. “… I dun think he’s bein’ cautious without good reason, Miss Tuan.”
Tuan glanced the same way – and was rewarded by the glimpse of a ravager that was significantly larger than the ones they had spotted so far.
Significantly larger.
“Well crap,” the she-rogue concluded matter-of-factly. “It’s an alpha.”
“Do not make eye contact,” Theluin intoned carefully, his own gaze firmly riveted on the road ahead. “He is attempting to frighten us, testing our resolve – even the slightest eye contact right now will be interpreted as a direct challenge.” The ravager interjected the elderly Kaldorei’s words with another deafening hiss.
“‘He’?” Tuan wondered with a crooked smirk and an eyebrow impishly raised. “What makes you so sure it’s not a ‘she’?”
The Moon Priest didn’t turn his head, but an ironic smile crept onto his lips. “Alpha females are primarily concerned with the safety of their offspring, while an alpha male is primarily concerned with the entire territory of his pack. Since we aren’t passing directly through any hatching grounds, it is only logical that this is an alpha male making the typical territorial statement.” This time, he did glance back at Tuan. “To put it another way … he is ‘showing off’.”
“Oh is he.” Tuan stole a quick glance sideways, reaching around her utility belt. “Well I for one isn’t about to suffer a testosterone-brimming spikybug pestering me all the way to this supposed refuge we’re headed towards.” She pulled out what looked suspiciously like a patterned metal sphere, deftly plucked out a small pin from its side with two fingers, juggled the grenade for a moment and then pulled Sandy to a sharp stop, standing up straight in the stirrups. “Fire in the hole!”
And with that, she tossed the grenade high in the air towards the skulking ravager alpha.
The grenade flew in a graceful arch, tailing sparks behind it – and exploded in mid-flight mere feet from the cliff wall.
The alpha let out a high-pitched screech, accompanied by the other ravagers as the entire colony jumped for cover. Tuan sat back down in the saddle with a distinctly satisfied grin, while Sandy snorted crossly, chewing sullenly on the bit in his mouth.
The rest of the delegation had already grasped their respective reins tightly by sheer impulse when the she-rogue’s warning cry rang out, and now Eli levered a half-amused, half-incensed glare at her. “Miss Tuan!”
“Whaaaaaaaat.” She grinned back at him in that supremely infuriating way only she could manage. “Problem solved.”
The Ambassador was actually chortling out loud. “… I say, lady Tuan, you certainly have a unique sense of diplomacy methods.”
The incorrigible woman snickered in return. “Engineering diplomacy at its finest, Your Excellency,” she retorted wickedly. “I’m glad you enjoyed the fireworks.”
It was all Eli could do not to facepalm in defeat.
“I swear, miss Tuan, ye’re goin’ ta be the death of my nerves,” he muttered.
“Only to keep you on your toes, Lightbulb,” came the immediate and roguish reply.
This time, he couldn’t keep himself from facepalming.
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Originally written by Tuan Taureo
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