Post by Ariana S. Verthas on Aug 10, 2013 10:04:01 GMT -5
The following entry is written in a compact and simple looking leatherbound book. Amongst various scraps of notes and other paperworks stuffed inbetween. The handwriting a neat and methodical scrawl.
Friday, twenty-sixth of the seventh month. Duskwood.
Perhaps this is a good time as any to pick up this old habit of mine. Allthough I can't seem to be able to recall where I left my older journals. Makes it slightly difficult to determine where I once left off and where I should pick up again. Quite some time has gone by since I was still regularly writing my daily progress and other activities down. It doesn't matter, no. My memories are my own and I need no recollection of every detail of what has been occuring.
Hence I shall start from the most recent days, or weeks perhaps. Afterall I have spent the years since my return in moderate solitude. Studying and travelling to places I wished to see with my own eyes. I had no more ties that kept me anywhere, no drive to seek out a purpose. It had died with my parents and then the return to Azeroth. A place so unfamiliar to me still, no matter how much I read about it. How much of it I see. It's the home of my parents and thus it should be mine too, but I am starting to doubt it will ever feel that way.
I suspect they watch over me still, from the Halls. To guide me and give me strength when I am not capable of finding it myself. And so I believe they may have had a hand in giving me the wisdom and will to enlist as I did. Their words and lessons have not died and still are part of me and who I grew up to be. The cause they died for and the bravery they've shown in following Prince Danath to Draenor, it flows in me. Too long had I been idle, too long have I stayed out of conflict and war even if the need to be active stirred more each passing week and month.
No more, no more sitting around. Waiting and watching, wishing. Looking back to the past. No, I'll always look back to my past. It is what forged me like steel in the smiths forge. Hellfire forged me in the heat of battle.
I enlisted in the [[Bayerleyn Retinue]], a decision many have come to question me about thusfar. A choice that has resulted in various frowns and low insults to be thrown my way. But I won't be swayed by them or anybody else, for I believe in what the retinue serves. And I believe in [[Shonn|Lord Bayerleyn]]. As I have said to plenty by now, I will follow a leader who stands strong and persistant in his will and word. Regardless of opposition and protest from those who shouldn't be concerned. Even from within the ranks, a true leaderfigure is not persuated by pressure around him. I saw what I needed to see in the lord's pressence, I heard the answers that left me without a shred of doubt.
My parents didn't hesistate to follow an unlikely expedition, they too had faith in the ones they trailed behind and pledged themselves to. I will not succumb to the pressure of others that will try and talk me out of the path I have chosen. For I know this is the right one, it is one I'll walk with pride and honour. It is the one that'll lead me to the Ancient Halls of my Ancestors, to my parents, the day I eventually die.
I am rambling, seems I am writing farmore than I intended about how I came to be here today. In Duskwood, I suppose it's only normal to just follow back where the events began for me.
We left Stormwind only yesterday and we didn't go far. Myself I hadn't been in Duskwood before and only possess a moderate knowledge about its state, but that is where the retinue had settled down. Our mission still left in the dark up untill tonight.
A Dark Witch was our target, who had -from what I presume- killed a soldier from an allied camp in the Dustwallow Marches. I did not worry when we were briefed, I saw plenty stood by my side whom I was meant to count on. And as any sensible soldier would, I did. There is no strength in a single person, but there is strength in a unit that works together like an oiled gnomish machine. Safety depends upon them, just as much as upon yourself.
These sort of adventures may be unfamiliar to me but I am not new to the essence of the entire concept. Chain of command, work together, be alert and be prepared. Perhaps in a way I should have felt more nervous, in a battlefield you are aware what you're facing most of the time. There are no surprises or investigations. Atleast not for me, those jobs were left to many others in the past.
Two handfulls of us set out, with the Spellweaver in charge and Priestess Plainfield as second in command. Most of us were of the accademic kind, be it of Holy Faith or a caster of the various schools of magic. Only a select few a ranger, scout or warrior. But the Lord assured us that there should be no immediate threat or fighting, not tonight. All we needed was some information to prepare ourselves to capture or end the Witch that had been the cause of this.
No questions, no doubts. Follow and obey.
Duskwood in itself for me is a breather, the dimmed lights and lack of colours are easy on my damaged eyes. Instead of having to squint to try and determine details around me as I usually have to. The dusky lights shrouding these lands prevent me from having colours and lights reflect into too many directions. But nothing prepared for the sudden fog when we arrived at the tower that was our location. Chokingly thick, impregnable fog, all around us. Thank the Ancestors that I had a torch with me.
Still, I felt at ease and calm. Too used to the wardrums and ferocious shouts of orcs and other alike ilk. This almost felt serene.
Untill the entire event unfolded into a more gruesome scene, keep your head cool Adenah. You're not new to this. Think, stay clearheaded. Don't act recklessly.
It was just a worm, now I've seen many things. But a worm capable of such distress...no. Never. It was rather literally devouring McGlade's helmet and seemed to be persistant to chew its way through the plate and towards his unprotected head underneath. By the time I was ordered to enter the tower to see what had been going on he had already gone into a state of near-despair in order to get the creature off.
Of course I should have simply acted to aid a comprade but the repercussion of scorching something stuck to a plate helmet is not easily looked over. With no other means at hand and no progress being made by Perseverance the options weren't really plenty. All in all I can say that this first occurance went fairly well, all things considered. McGlade doesn't appear to have any severe injury, nor does Perseverance. Who had the still squirming worm attached to her gloves after I got it off from McG.
Fire didn't seem to be the best of tools, sadly the only one I have at my disposal other than the minor knowledge of arcane arts itself. And perhaps the herbs.
It were the herbs I was about to scan when others tried to determine what to do, Pers was already smashing her arm into the wall in panic and the suggestion of stabbing it had come into the fray as well. Not that I ever came to searching my herbs. The stabbing seemed to have done the trick, but ontop of that I was distracted. A whisper, faint to be heard yet prominent enough to make out the voice of [[Elesh|him]]. Something I should mention to Lord Bayerleyn for certain, even though the intentions were to offer me guidance and suggestions how to deal with the worm.
We were here for a Witch, not for an ex (Is he an ex though?) cult-member.
I can feel the fatigue of the evening catch up with me. All in all we didn't get as much as we possible had hoped for. Many ended up injured due to the spell that threw around the corpse of the soldier that was within the tower, alongside all the rubble and debris of the ruined construction. Myself I fell off the ramp outside and hit the ground harshly. Others have been hit too if I can recall the cries or grunts of impact correctly.
I got to say I'm genuinely glad to have various priestesses by my side to tend to those who may require it. Riversong aided me when I struggled to get a proper footing with the impact of both stone and falling. Plainfield and Everheart both appear to be very efficient in their doings just as much.
The others? I believe more like these deployments will be needed for me to fit into the system of the retinue as another cog. it might be my upbringing or just a case of varying personalities but discipline is not as strict in each of us. It's yet to see if this may be a problem in severe matters of war. Supposedly we all have to get accustomed to one another afterall.
We didn't obtain that much more information, the Witch was watching and I have no doubt that the spells were the fabrications of her maicious mind. Something Opscuritas appears to be relishing in, the woman is mad. But if I keep in mind the conversation I had with the Spellweaver during my interview, I may only have to add up two parts of information to figure out why. This is perhaps the one thing I'll find difficult, to work with those who practise arts that have been used against me for most of my life, corrupted the very orcs that slaughtered friends and family. But I will manage.
All of us returned in a solid enough state without troublesome injury, perhaps bruised and beaten. A little roughed up, but nobody in a severe state of wounds or other effects. All in all a bigger success than I initially thought, survival is key to success.
Friday, twenty-sixth of the seventh month. Duskwood.
Perhaps this is a good time as any to pick up this old habit of mine. Allthough I can't seem to be able to recall where I left my older journals. Makes it slightly difficult to determine where I once left off and where I should pick up again. Quite some time has gone by since I was still regularly writing my daily progress and other activities down. It doesn't matter, no. My memories are my own and I need no recollection of every detail of what has been occuring.
Hence I shall start from the most recent days, or weeks perhaps. Afterall I have spent the years since my return in moderate solitude. Studying and travelling to places I wished to see with my own eyes. I had no more ties that kept me anywhere, no drive to seek out a purpose. It had died with my parents and then the return to Azeroth. A place so unfamiliar to me still, no matter how much I read about it. How much of it I see. It's the home of my parents and thus it should be mine too, but I am starting to doubt it will ever feel that way.
I suspect they watch over me still, from the Halls. To guide me and give me strength when I am not capable of finding it myself. And so I believe they may have had a hand in giving me the wisdom and will to enlist as I did. Their words and lessons have not died and still are part of me and who I grew up to be. The cause they died for and the bravery they've shown in following Prince Danath to Draenor, it flows in me. Too long had I been idle, too long have I stayed out of conflict and war even if the need to be active stirred more each passing week and month.
No more, no more sitting around. Waiting and watching, wishing. Looking back to the past. No, I'll always look back to my past. It is what forged me like steel in the smiths forge. Hellfire forged me in the heat of battle.
I enlisted in the [[Bayerleyn Retinue]], a decision many have come to question me about thusfar. A choice that has resulted in various frowns and low insults to be thrown my way. But I won't be swayed by them or anybody else, for I believe in what the retinue serves. And I believe in [[Shonn|Lord Bayerleyn]]. As I have said to plenty by now, I will follow a leader who stands strong and persistant in his will and word. Regardless of opposition and protest from those who shouldn't be concerned. Even from within the ranks, a true leaderfigure is not persuated by pressure around him. I saw what I needed to see in the lord's pressence, I heard the answers that left me without a shred of doubt.
My parents didn't hesistate to follow an unlikely expedition, they too had faith in the ones they trailed behind and pledged themselves to. I will not succumb to the pressure of others that will try and talk me out of the path I have chosen. For I know this is the right one, it is one I'll walk with pride and honour. It is the one that'll lead me to the Ancient Halls of my Ancestors, to my parents, the day I eventually die.
I am rambling, seems I am writing farmore than I intended about how I came to be here today. In Duskwood, I suppose it's only normal to just follow back where the events began for me.
We left Stormwind only yesterday and we didn't go far. Myself I hadn't been in Duskwood before and only possess a moderate knowledge about its state, but that is where the retinue had settled down. Our mission still left in the dark up untill tonight.
A Dark Witch was our target, who had -from what I presume- killed a soldier from an allied camp in the Dustwallow Marches. I did not worry when we were briefed, I saw plenty stood by my side whom I was meant to count on. And as any sensible soldier would, I did. There is no strength in a single person, but there is strength in a unit that works together like an oiled gnomish machine. Safety depends upon them, just as much as upon yourself.
These sort of adventures may be unfamiliar to me but I am not new to the essence of the entire concept. Chain of command, work together, be alert and be prepared. Perhaps in a way I should have felt more nervous, in a battlefield you are aware what you're facing most of the time. There are no surprises or investigations. Atleast not for me, those jobs were left to many others in the past.
Two handfulls of us set out, with the Spellweaver in charge and Priestess Plainfield as second in command. Most of us were of the accademic kind, be it of Holy Faith or a caster of the various schools of magic. Only a select few a ranger, scout or warrior. But the Lord assured us that there should be no immediate threat or fighting, not tonight. All we needed was some information to prepare ourselves to capture or end the Witch that had been the cause of this.
No questions, no doubts. Follow and obey.
Duskwood in itself for me is a breather, the dimmed lights and lack of colours are easy on my damaged eyes. Instead of having to squint to try and determine details around me as I usually have to. The dusky lights shrouding these lands prevent me from having colours and lights reflect into too many directions. But nothing prepared for the sudden fog when we arrived at the tower that was our location. Chokingly thick, impregnable fog, all around us. Thank the Ancestors that I had a torch with me.
Still, I felt at ease and calm. Too used to the wardrums and ferocious shouts of orcs and other alike ilk. This almost felt serene.
Untill the entire event unfolded into a more gruesome scene, keep your head cool Adenah. You're not new to this. Think, stay clearheaded. Don't act recklessly.
It was just a worm, now I've seen many things. But a worm capable of such distress...no. Never. It was rather literally devouring McGlade's helmet and seemed to be persistant to chew its way through the plate and towards his unprotected head underneath. By the time I was ordered to enter the tower to see what had been going on he had already gone into a state of near-despair in order to get the creature off.
Of course I should have simply acted to aid a comprade but the repercussion of scorching something stuck to a plate helmet is not easily looked over. With no other means at hand and no progress being made by Perseverance the options weren't really plenty. All in all I can say that this first occurance went fairly well, all things considered. McGlade doesn't appear to have any severe injury, nor does Perseverance. Who had the still squirming worm attached to her gloves after I got it off from McG.
Fire didn't seem to be the best of tools, sadly the only one I have at my disposal other than the minor knowledge of arcane arts itself. And perhaps the herbs.
It were the herbs I was about to scan when others tried to determine what to do, Pers was already smashing her arm into the wall in panic and the suggestion of stabbing it had come into the fray as well. Not that I ever came to searching my herbs. The stabbing seemed to have done the trick, but ontop of that I was distracted. A whisper, faint to be heard yet prominent enough to make out the voice of [[Elesh|him]]. Something I should mention to Lord Bayerleyn for certain, even though the intentions were to offer me guidance and suggestions how to deal with the worm.
We were here for a Witch, not for an ex (Is he an ex though?) cult-member.
I can feel the fatigue of the evening catch up with me. All in all we didn't get as much as we possible had hoped for. Many ended up injured due to the spell that threw around the corpse of the soldier that was within the tower, alongside all the rubble and debris of the ruined construction. Myself I fell off the ramp outside and hit the ground harshly. Others have been hit too if I can recall the cries or grunts of impact correctly.
I got to say I'm genuinely glad to have various priestesses by my side to tend to those who may require it. Riversong aided me when I struggled to get a proper footing with the impact of both stone and falling. Plainfield and Everheart both appear to be very efficient in their doings just as much.
The others? I believe more like these deployments will be needed for me to fit into the system of the retinue as another cog. it might be my upbringing or just a case of varying personalities but discipline is not as strict in each of us. It's yet to see if this may be a problem in severe matters of war. Supposedly we all have to get accustomed to one another afterall.
We didn't obtain that much more information, the Witch was watching and I have no doubt that the spells were the fabrications of her maicious mind. Something Opscuritas appears to be relishing in, the woman is mad. But if I keep in mind the conversation I had with the Spellweaver during my interview, I may only have to add up two parts of information to figure out why. This is perhaps the one thing I'll find difficult, to work with those who practise arts that have been used against me for most of my life, corrupted the very orcs that slaughtered friends and family. But I will manage.
All of us returned in a solid enough state without troublesome injury, perhaps bruised and beaten. A little roughed up, but nobody in a severe state of wounds or other effects. All in all a bigger success than I initially thought, survival is key to success.