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Post by ferrea on Feb 16, 2012 14:17:27 GMT -5
These are the journal entries of a young female Druid who was just finishing her basic training when the Cataclysm happened. Young and inexperienced she is coming to terms with what it means to be a Druid, an Adventurer, a member of the Alliance, a Night Elf, and Mortal all at the same time.
Hope you enjoy.
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Post by ferrea on Feb 16, 2012 14:18:11 GMT -5
Lvl 12 Journal Entry #1 Dear Journal, I finished my training as a Druid Teldrassil a few days ago. The only way to connect with nature and help heal the scars wrought by Deathwing would be to travel the world. I thought I was prepared for my adventuring, I thought helping to cleanse the Teldrassil of the last remaining corruption by killing corrupted beings had prepared me for what lay ahead.
That however was a mistake, I was first sent to the village of Lor'danel in Darkshore which had become the staging area for all the rescue efforts as well as defense against things stirred up by the damage. I was sent there to render aid however I could; my first task upon arriving was to rescue as many survivors from Aubordine as possible. I hoped my grandmother was among the survivors since I did not see her among those who had already been rescued.
I headed south along the shoreline as directed until I came upon the bodies strewn everywhere on the sore, in the water, on rocks. The stench of death and rotting flesh was already horrifying as I approached, but when I turned over the first body I came to I found their face smashed in, and that image caused me to immediately expel the food I had eaten before my travel to give me the energy to rescue my kinsmen. After a few minutes to collect myself I continued on and found several survivors, but even more dead bodies. The dead at least I was able to drag to shore so we may give proper burials to some day. The worst cases were those who reached out to me as they saw me coming, but by the time I arrived they had passed away, mocking me as if, if only I was here a few minutes earlier I could save them. If I wasn't so weak as to throw up and stop for a minute those people might still be alive.
However the worst one was the one which has caused me to keep this journal during my travels. As I reached her, she said to me "So this is what it feels like to be mortal" before she collapsed. I also did not see my grandmother among any of the survivors, perhaps I will never know what happened to her.
Sentinels and medics took care of the wounded and dead, while I walked back to Lor'danel where I have spent the past week in the inn, spending my days in the pub and my nights having nightmares of the faces of those I couldn't save constantly wondering if the life of an adventuring Druid is really the right path for me in my life.
It is the female, whose name I never found out, who reminded me of night Elves own mortality that finally made me decide to at least keep this journal while I decide tonight to press forward or not.
-Ferrea
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Post by ferrea on Feb 16, 2012 14:19:09 GMT -5
Lvl 15 Journal Entry #2 Dear Journal
It has been a few days since I started keeping this journal. Writing my worries and feelings down has helped return my spirit and remind me why I chose the path that I did. I am a Druid, I have a connection to this world and a duty to help restore the balance that was destroyed by the destruction Deathwing brought. Even though I am still a young Druid, and unlike my Shan'do I may not be powerful enough yet to bring about great change, I can still travel the lands and help in the small ways that I can.
For example one of the survivors who I saved a week ago has been asleep and under the care of a priestess. He finally awoke yesterday afternoon; he asked to see me, thanking me for doing all I could to rescue him and the others. He then informed me of his pet bear Grimclaw who would have gone to a certain grove if he hadn't come here. He asked me to go find his bear because he was still too weak to go out himself, I agreed to go and that I would leave in the morning. Apparently one of the Sentinels overheard me because as I was finished packing my provisions and getting ready to head out I was stopped by a Sentinel who informed me that she was there to escort me to see several important people in Lor'danel.
The next hour was a whirlwind of activity as I was dragged from person to person who had found out about my rescue mission hearing their various requests or orders that were in the area around the grove I was heading to. They could not fulfill the requests themselves because they didn't have the manpower to spare, or they themselves were not adventurers and had neither the equipment nor the skill necessary for what needed to be done. Although why they asked me I don't know because I barely possessed the skill and equipment necessary for the tasks at hand. The one good thing to come of all of these requests was a free ride to near where I needed to be, where I got more orders from more Sentinels. Not only that but there seemed to be some warrior who had also been sent here to put to rest the spirits of the dead, in the ruins near by but was unable to, one of the towns folk had already requested I retrieve an amulet from one of the spirits in particular so I put the man to rest by telling him to rest easy that I would put to rest the spirits. I also fulfilled the other tasks that were requested of me.
Once those were done then I was finally able to search for Grimclaw. I found the grove easily enough, and Grimclaw was exactly where Volcor said he would be, however there was a Keeper of the grove and a Dryad standing over him attempting to heal him of some massive wound he suffered before he arrived. They informed me that their magic wouldn't be enough to heal him that they would need certain ingredients from the local animals but I wasn't to harm the animals themselves.
Get this they wanted me to... 1) Pluck 3 whiskers from sleeping cats. 2) Get 3 patches of fur from Grizzly bears. 3) Get 3 hairs from the local deer. All without attacking or killing the animals. I mean I know I am a Druid, and a night Elf, but that is going a bit too far beyond my skill level... or so I thought.
The deer were the easiest, they didn't do anything as long as you stayed away from the males. The sleeping cats were tricky. I would use my powers of a Druid, prowl up to them, grab their whiskers ever so gently in my mouth then yank and run away as fast as I could. I would always end up with a whisker, and at least the cat who yowled in surprise of being woken up by having their whiskers pulled. Eventually though they would lose track of me, and I would approach from a different direction and get another whisker from another cat, until I had all 3. The bears, oh boy the bears they were the toughest. They were awake and would attack you if you approached. However luckily they were also attempting to get their dinner and once they got it were more interested in eating it then having their fur yanked on. However it was boring waiting for a bear to catch a fish, only to have gulped it down by the time you got near him. At that point all you could do is meld into the shadows and let the current take you away from him. I did finally get the fur from the bears though and I went back to the glade dripping wet.
The keeper of the grove gave me a reward of accepting any of the spirits of the forest as my aspect, and I chose the stag. Since then my backpack feels lighter and I seem swifter on my feet. However Grimclaw ran off to town before I had exited my trance state, but luckily he made it back to town unharmed.
Unfortunately his master Volcor died shortly after his arrival, but had lived long enough to say goodbye to his life long friend. This loss however will not deter me from the path I know I must follow, because since Volcor thanked me for saving him and the others, I have not had any nightmares showing me the faces of the dead, only dreams of the ones I have saved. I suspect that even though Volcor is among the lost now he will still be in the dreams of those who I have saved, along with Grimclaw.
-Ferrea
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Post by ferrea on Feb 16, 2012 14:19:54 GMT -5
Lvl 20 Journal Entry #3 Dear Journal
It has been about a month since I last wrote in you. It has taken so long because I have been so busy. After my last entry I was immediately sent south to the Ruins of Mathystra; an ancient highborne temple long ago abandoned and turned to rubble. The shatter spear tribe of trolls were apparently attempting to find artifacts in the ruins before they launched an all out attack on what was left of the Night Elves in Darkshore with the aid of the Horde.
As a druid and able to prowl around in the shadows I was sent in to kill the guards, rescue a couple captured prisoners and get any relics I might find so that the horde couldn't have them. Killing the Trolls was easy, they were driven by the promise of power. The Orcs put up a fight, but I had no problems killing them morally as they were there and I could see the blood lust in their eyes they were there to fight, for any reason. The Tauren however looked sad. It was as if they didn't want to be there, but were because of the pact they had made with the Orcs. I decided to avoid killing the Tauren, as it was clear they wouldn't raise the alarm if they saw me and it was clear some of them did because my eyes met with one of them who simply gave me a nod, then turned away.
After I returned the artifacts I was sent to a tower in the east which was being pillaged by the undead to get any book I could recover. I had never seen an undead before, only heard tales of the Elves who fought in Hyjal. However nothing could prepare me for what I saw. When I set my eyes upon the forsaken as they call themselves, it truly was that. It was a mockery of life being inhabited by a soul. It was unnatural and sickened every Druid instinct in my body, but I pressed on. I ran through the tower looking for any scrolls or books that might be of use, found one then ran out of there before the smell of the rotting forsaken overwhelmed me.
When my mission was complete we received news that twilight cultists had been spotted north, and I was sent to take care of them. Which I did, but before I could make it back to town I was ordered further south to help figure out why animals were being corrupted. So went the next three weeks constantly being sent further and further south, running errands for people.
Perhaps the most terrifying errand that was requested of me was to enter a section of the Emerald Dream known as the Emerald Nightmare because it had been taken over by evil. I was to rescue a green dragon there and bring her to the waking world. Now in my training as a Druid I had been to the emerald dream on several occasions, however the Nightmare was totally different. Where the dream is peaceful, calming, and bright. The Nightmare is dark, oppressing and manipulative. While there I almost died to creatures of the Nightmare, and while I couldn't remember the exact rule of what happens to your physical body if your spiritual body is killed, I didn't want to take the chance of being killed. It took every trick I knew to stay alive, and even then I barely made it with massive wounds, and a broken femur. I crawled back to the Dragon with the reagents she needed to break free of the Nightmare and she carried us both free from the cave where the nightmare entrance was.
I must have passed out at some point because the next thing I know is that I am in a bed in the Cenarian Enclave in Darnassus, and a week has gone by since the incident in the Emerald Nightmare. The priestess who is attending me has informed me that I am not to leave the bed I am in for at least another couple days, and it was lucky that I hadn't died.
One thing I have decided is that after I am better I will train in Darnassus for a while to build up my technique before I venture out again. I was truly scared and I am not ready to die, I will need to learn new abilities from the Druids here if I am to survive the world beyond Darkshore.
But for now, I need to worry about surviving the boredom of bed rest.
-Ferrea
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Post by ferrea on Feb 17, 2012 15:02:37 GMT -5
Lvl 20 (still) Journal Entry #4 Dear Journal,
It has been 2 days of alternating agonizing pain and soothing calmness as both Priestess of the Moon and my Druid mentors stitched mind and body back together as both had nearly been ripped one from the other by the creatures in the nightmare, to the point the injuries caused manifested themselves even in my physical body after I left. The Priests and Druids had apparently been healing me the entire week I was unconscious, thankfully I was unconscious because I don't think I could have survived a full week of agony I have felt over the past two days, even with the far too short periods of rest given.
Whatever I did on my last mission must have been important because now that I am awake and allowed to leave my bed. I was taken to the Saber training grounds and I was told I had earned the privilege of being allowed to ride one of these majestic cats. I picked a Striped Dawnsaber, who was looking into my soul with turquoise eyes that reminded me of the color of my older brother's hair. My brother who had shipped off to the lands of Humans and Dwarves after getting into a fight with our mother. We haven't heard from him since; though I sometimes wonder what he is doing these days and if he is alright. It only cost me 85 silver for the custom saddle I would need, and a couple gold for the private training on how to ride a saber. I had traveled on the back of one before, but never been in control of one nor been responsible for the feeding and care taking of one, so the couple gold will be worth it.
It would take a few days to make my saddle, but I already knew the Dawnsaber accepted me when she walked over and rubbed her head against my arm which was on the railing which existed not so much to keep them in, but to keep things that did not wish to be eaten out. I will have to think of a good name for her in the coming days.
On my way back to my bed I stopped at the Druid trainer and worked out a deal for some training over the next month to improve my fighting style. Though the total distance I traveled today was short, I was totally exhausted and dragged myself back to my bed after working out the details of the training.
I dreamed of my older brother Ferrivirtus that night. In the morning I began really wondering how he was doing so far away from home, and why he even left in the first place. Not only that but I began to question the Alliance itself. Other then the Worgen, who lived here, where were the Dwarves, Gnomes, Humans, and even the Draenei to help take care of Darkshore? Night Elves from all walks of life heeded the Humans call and went to help them in their lands against the Forsaken, but why wasn't there even a token presence of the other races in Darkshore?
Perhaps things will have changed once I make it to Ashenvale after my training, only time will tell.
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Post by ferrea on Feb 18, 2012 14:23:40 GMT -5
Lvl 23 Journal Entry #5 Dear Journal,
The past week has been a whirlwind of activity. This is the first chance I have had to write since I left my hospital bed a week ago. Already I am preparing for the long journey to Ashenvale where I have been reassigned to help the fight against the Horde aggression in our forests. The Horde army doesn’t worry me so much as the paid Horde mercenaries, who are said to be roaming not only Ashenvale but the majority of the rest of Kalimdor. Paid to kill adventuring members of the Alliance. Well in this case it would be paid to kill Night Elves because I have yet to see a fighting force of any other race of the Alliance come to aid us, even as our young Adventurers travel to distant lands and aid them.
So what have I been doing this past week? Well first things first I have been learning how to ride my Dawnsaber, Iron Dawn. A name she picked out for herself, by flatly refusing the name I wanted to call her by snorting in my face, then shaking her head. I swear she is more intelligent then some of the men who have tried to court me. Anyways I mounted up on her, and continued trying to think of names she would accept while I practiced walking around Darnassus with her, until we were near the Blacksmith and she bolted up the ramp and grabbed a piece of iron in her teeth before looking back at me. She wanted to be called Iron. Not just Iron though; Iron dawn.
My practice with my Druid masters taught me many new things. New maneuvers to use in cat and bear form to stop spell casters, how to use my claws to swipe multiple opponents at once, and how to call upon the power of earth and moon better to increase the powers of my spells. It was a difficult training that left me drained at the end of the day.
The days I wasn't training I ended up doing messenger service for the locals both for a few coins and as extra riding practice. While I am sure the sender and recipient appreciate my speedy deliveries, I can't say the same for those who I nearly knocked over as I ran at top speed around the city. One of the parcels I was asked to deliver was to my own home, or should I say my mother's home. I reluctantly agreed, and delivered the package to my little sister Viresarcus, before all hell broke loose when my mom stormed to the front door yelling and screaming about how I was a disappointment like my brother choosing the wrong path to follow, and how at least my younger sister was going to grow up to be a proper Sentinel. It was at that point that I left with her continuing to scream and rant about things I had heard before and didn't want to hear again. It was my life and my path to follow.
Over the week though I began to notice a distinct change in the Sentinels and others involved in the defense of our homelands. Nobody would talk about it, but I heard whispers that Azshara was back from the depths, and had already confronted Malfurion. Not only that but an old god was being unearth in Darkshore itself until another adventurer put a stop to it with help from the guardians of nature. However the whispers continued of a threat further south in Ashenvale, but nobody knew what it was. I however was finally summoned and asked to go down to aid, as my services in Darkshore had been instrumental in keeping the land from being torn asunder.
I won't lie, I am afraid, afraid of dying. The very thought of going to Ashenvale to fight the Horde terrifies me, along with the fact that people will be there especially trying to kill me. Hopefully this isn't my last entry and I actually make it to my post in Ashenvale safely.
-Ferrea
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Post by ferrea on Feb 20, 2012 15:07:52 GMT -5
Lvl 23 Journal Entry #6
Dear Journal,
It has been three days since I was ordered down to Ashenvale. Though I have faced many challenges in Darkshore, I was still apprehensive about going down to the front lines where we were fighting to keep the Horde at bay. While my instructors in Darnassus were helpful in giving me some insight, they suggested I head to the Moonglade and seek deeper answers from the spiritual center of the Cenarion Circle itself. Closing my eyes I Channeled my energies focusing my thoughts and entire spirit on the fountain at the top of the hill in Nighthaven that all Druids were taught to focus on when coming to Moonglade. When I opened my eyes I found myself in Nighthaven, the only town in Moonglade, mostly comprised of Druids, but also containing some other people who wished to learn the natural ways or had need to see answers from the large library of books kept here.
I spent the next two days conversing with various Druids about my fears of dying, my fear of war, if I had really chosen the right path and various other topics that were leading me to question my own worth and ability. Rabine Saturna gave me perhaps the greatest advice when he told me on the second day as I was getting ready to go still without having found the answers to the questions I sought. He told me “Don't listen to the hearts of the world- the answer lies within. You know the truth.” and with that I was on my way out of the Moonglade teleporting back to Darnassus using the same technique I had used to get to the Moonglade in the first place.
Gathering Iron dawn and my supplies I rode south to the boarder of Darkshore and Ashenvale where I sit now. I have finally realized that Rabine is right, I am the only one who will ever know if I am ready. If the Druid path is the right one for me. Whether or not I can accept the fact that at some point all of us must walk the Dream with Ysera for all eternity. Whether or not I can accept these things will determined by whether or not I can cross the boarder into Ashenvale.
After thinking about it long and hard I will cross into Ashenvale at dawn tomorrow morning, Iron dawn and I are both tired and hungry from our journey this past day. We will ride to the post we are assigned which is a three or four hour ride over the border, but for now we rest and sleep.
-Ferrea
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