Post by avaranightshade on Jan 20, 2007 15:27:32 GMT -5
Warning: Graphic Content
It was a good day at the summit of Mt. Hyjal when Avara awoke, the day of her one-hundred and thirty-fifth birthday, a turning point for her, as she would be officially inducted into the Sentinels.
She sprung from bed and bounding downstairs to where her mother and father were already awake. Tyriss and Vadlia Nightshade were good people, but they carried a slight air about them Avara could never pinpoint, she loved her parents and didn’t question them going to the moonwell almost daily, but she was hoping they wouldn’t today.
Her brother was already seemingly addicted to the well, he would stare into it for hours on end, sometimes not eating, and falling asleep near it.
but young Basti and her parents weren’t the only ones addicted it seemed.
Vaylre sat in the corner, huddled in a book, her eyes shimmering with an odd light. She was Queen Azshara's right hand, a great honor to her family, but Avara felt it was killing her. She looked on her sister with pity as she spoke “Good morning sistermine" she said with a smile, Vaylre barely looked up and muttered something to her about transcendence.
She walked over to her parents who were busy studying a book about the effects of different planting methods. "Morning Mother, Morning Father." she said, her eyes bright, and a smile on her face.
"Morning dear" they both said in unison, quickly returning to their book.
Avara lowered her head, began putting on her gear and grabbed some fruit from the table as she headed out the door to meet Tyrande, her instructor for the past thirty-five years.
Sentinel training was hard, but Avara enjoyed the challenge. She was already considered the best choice for a new scout team, and that made her happy.
As she walked, she looked about the city, her people waving as she walked by, she was by all means a popular girl, many men had tried to be her suitor, but were quickly turned down after they couldn’t best her in combat.
She was skilled with a blade, one of the few scouts to rely on two long blades instead of the standard moonglaives. Avara never believed the talk that a moonglaive was the best weapon, she preferred her twin swords and her bow, it was extra weight, but it was also less training she had to deal with.
As she rounded a bend in a road, she saw Tyrande, the still young priestess of Elune. She decided to test Tyrande's mettle and began moving through the shadows, closing in on her unsuspecting prey.
She drew her sword and placed it on Tyrande's shoulder "If I were an Assassin, you'd already be dead Tyra." she said with a chuckle. Tyrande turned to face her, quite perturbed for some reason. As she fumed Avara saw the reason she had somehow missed " Greetings Master Malfurion, I didn’t notice you there." she said with a quick bow and with a flourish, she stood, turned and sheathed her blade, calling back “Ill see you at the academy Tyra!"
********
Avara Entered the Academy, Its polished marble floors and archways gleaming in the morning sun. she stopped, taking a deep breath, after all, she was to be leaving this place today. She would miss it, she knew, but her graduation was a very important day for her. she just hoped her family would be there.
She sat down in her desk that Tyrande's long time love had made from the very roots of the earth. Malfurion wasn’t that interested in Avara, she knew it, Tyra and he had been together as far back as she can remember, and Avara was happy for that, for her friend was happy. What bothered her was Malfurions lack of willingness to know her, as if he knew that she wouldn’t be near him long and didn’t want to waste his time on a lost cause.
She envied the love the two shared, as well as Illidian’s love for Tyrande. It was misplaced, and it seemed he wasn’t sure of it, there were better women than Tyra for him, and Avara believed herself one of them. He was the only man that could best her, and that meant to Avara, they must be together. She knew it wouldn’t happen, for he sat at the moonwell constantly, doing Azshara’s bidding, and bounding about with her sister like a lost child.
She sighed once more, forcing her thoughts from her mind, concentrating on the day at hand, when suddenly the earth below her erupted in massive quakes, sending many of the students in the room to the floor and collapsing several marble columns, crushing a few who were unlucky enough to be caught under them.
Avara rushed out, grabbing two other students and leaping for a nearby archway, covering the younger students with her body as the academy roof began to crumble, the unfortunates below it letting out screams of anguish at their doomed fate.
Avara cringed as she pulled the two younger students behind her, seeing their horrified expressions. “Why can nothing ever go right?” She said, but not for the last time.
*******
Tyrande and Malfurion had gathered up all the surviving students and warriors in a few hours, as Cenarius stood before the group and spoke, Avara stood in Awe, never before seeing the god. She listened carefully as he spoke.
“Children of Elune… some of my greatest fears have come to pass this day…” he took a deep steadying breath. “The demons of the legion have found a way into the world… My children, we go to battle… against your own kin as well as demons…” he sped off toward the temple of Azshara, followed quickly by Malfurion and Tyrande and some of the remaining standing army of the Kaldorei.
Avara looked to another scout, she closely resembled Avara, but was of no relation, with long white flowing hair, Moonglow was her name, yes Moonglow. She smiled and charged after the rest drawing steel on her way, whispering a prayer to Elune for the safety of the others whom she fought with as well as her family.
********
The trek to the temple took little time, what was left of her scout team, numbering only eight was gathered about her, communicating with hand signs so as not to alert their enemy to their presence. Avara peeked from behind the bush she was in, looking at the large temple of the Kaldorei queen.
Her gaze caught something that truly terrified her… Her young brother Basti was standing at the temple steps, stroking the mane of a strange beast, Its body like that of a nightsaber which hadn’t grown while it aged, its hide seemed Chitinous, and its long horns curved toward its front, massive jaw dripping with a strange green liquid.
What disturbed her most about the beast was its eyes… or lack there of, the beast stood on its four legs, snarling and sniffing in their direction. Avara ducked down and tapped the nearest person to her, a young druid by the name of Vaure, quickly signing “We’ve been noticed” and gesturing to the beast.
The mix of Kaldorei on the scout team quickly began to draw their weapons, Young Vaure shifting into the form of a nightsaber and rushing back toward the main army to report.
Young Basti stood then, looking over at the bushes, leading the creature toward them, drawing a wand from his belt. He lowered the wand, a sudden flash of fire catching the bushes aflame as the remaining seven members of the team rolled away, Avara leapt the flaming bushes, charging the creature and plunging both swords into it. The beast let out a maddening howl, the sound causing Avara to reel as a blast from her brother’s wand threw her to the side, the beast falling over writhing and howling in pain.
The other scouts were on the beast, finishing it off, their presence was already known. Avara pushed herself from the ground, springing up, she quickly took in her surroundings, Basti cackling with a mad glee as he set one of the scouts ablaze.
Circling around behind her younger brother she lunged, tackling her brother to the ground in a mad rage, pummeling him with her fists.
Vaure returned in time to pull Avara from her younger brother, the male Kaldorei lifting her with ease, trying his best to restrain her.
“Captain Nightshade… calm yourself…” his soothing tone made her stop struggling for a moment, until she saw one of the other scouts raise a blade to Basti.
“NOOOO!” She screamed as she broke from Vaure’s grip, putting herself between the two and receiving a look of confusion from her team. “He is my younger brother… Ill have no further harm come to him”
The scout nodded, and lowered her weapon in time for Malfurion and the rest of the standing army to appear. Malfurion gave her a disappointed look and then was off up the stairs, his two handed club rising and falling , felling demons as he went, Tyrande falling in behind him, he bow string never seemed to stop moving as she felled demon after demon, only wounding her fellow Kaldorei. What took Avara’s breath away was the god Cenarius, not even using his club, simply trampling all who were in his way, tossing aside Kaldorei to avoid his deadly hooves.
*********
The battle to the summit of the temple took little more than an hour, many of the demons cleared from the area, the wounded were being tended to. Cenarius looked about and spoke with Tyrande and Malfurion, his eyes shifting from the soldiers not wounded and back to the two lovers. His voice Rang out above the sounds of crackling fires and the din of the many battles still being fought throughout the city.
“Captain Nightshade, Captain Moonglow, Captain Razorleaf, and Captain Oakenveil, come forward”
The four captains wasted no time in making their way to the god, kneeling before him. He looked them over and shook his head for a moment.
“You four pick the best of your teams and go with Tyrande and Malfurion, The rest of you will come with me to clear the city of the demons.” His voice left no room for argument, though Avara had always wanted to argue with a god, she decided now was not the time.
She turned and looked about her team, selecting young Vaure, Tempest, a young warrior, and Moondrop ,a priestess of Elune, for her team, the others picking a few more, but she had picked the best of her team and would not have had it any other way as she made her way to Malfurion.
“This is good, I wish we could have more to spare, but those who you have chosen will do nicely” the Arch druid said.
“Permission to speak Master Stormrage” Avara asked as she saluted.
“Yes Avara?”
“ I wish to know the condition of my younger brother , Basti”
“He was no where to be seen after the battle, I fear he has joined the rest of your family inside the temple.” His voice was dry, as if a sudden grief had overcome him.
Avara’s throat tightened. Her whole family was now the enemy… how could this be… She sighed heavily, drawing her swords and checking her brace of throwing knifes on her wrists, then gave the order to move out.
********
Her team moved to the right, their job to clear that wing of the temple, Captain Moonglow the left, and Malfurion, Tyrande, Captain Razorleaf, and Captain Oakenveil were charging up the front lines, towards the queen herself. The left wing was quiet with the exception of a few large demons wearing metal armor and wielding wicked looking greatswords.
As they approached the last stretch of hall, Avara stopped suddenly, as her family stood before her, young Basti, Vaylre, her mother and father…
Then the chaos started… Her sister casting spells of Elune’s darker half upon young Vaure, sending the young druid to the ground before he had time to scream, he lay dead, a shriveled husk.
Young Tempest charged her father, only to be beheaded by her father’s blade of arcane energy, as Moondrop cast spell for spell with Young Basti and her mother.
Avara looked into the eyes of her family… and realized they weren’t themselves.
Something had overtaken them, some fel spirit invaded their bodies and was controlling them… She had to free them… And death was the only way.
Avara charged her brother first, driving her offhand blade into his throat, her main hand slashing viciously toward her mother, slicing her midsection open, her innards spilling forth behind the razor sharp blade. She turned to her mother, mouthing the words “I’m sorry” as she beheaded her, tears raining from her eyes as a bolt of fel energy slammed into her left side, causing her to slam into a nearby wall, where she lay, staring into the face of Tempest, the young kaldorei’s face twisted in agony.
She began to rise and heard a scream of terror erupt from young Moondrop. She turned to watch in her horror as her father cleaved the young priestess in twain.
With a scream of rage she set upon her father, stabbing him through the back and ripping in either direction, spinning about on her sister as her father’s torso slumped back, the sound of his spine cracking as he fell in on himself.
He sister cackled with a sadistic glee “Oh Avara…. You know you can’t touch your dear sister…I’ve always been better than you… you know that.” Vaylre smiled, her lips turned in a sadistic glee. “And you know I’ve won over your beloved Illidian …”
Her hands worked furiously as a shadow bolt erupted from her palms, causing Avara to roll to one side, her blades coming up in an arc, and a splash of blood.
Vaylre looked in horror at the stumps where her hands once were.
“Impossible… You Bitch! You’ve not beaten me! You’ve not! I’ll not allow it!” As she begun muttering the words to a spell.
“I’m Sorry Vaylre…” The last words she spoke to her sister as her blades flashed once more, her sisters head flying from her body a large splash of blood fell over Avara’s body.
“Why can nothing ever go right?” She said as she slumped to her knees, sobbing.
It was a good day at the summit of Mt. Hyjal when Avara awoke, the day of her one-hundred and thirty-fifth birthday, a turning point for her, as she would be officially inducted into the Sentinels.
She sprung from bed and bounding downstairs to where her mother and father were already awake. Tyriss and Vadlia Nightshade were good people, but they carried a slight air about them Avara could never pinpoint, she loved her parents and didn’t question them going to the moonwell almost daily, but she was hoping they wouldn’t today.
Her brother was already seemingly addicted to the well, he would stare into it for hours on end, sometimes not eating, and falling asleep near it.
but young Basti and her parents weren’t the only ones addicted it seemed.
Vaylre sat in the corner, huddled in a book, her eyes shimmering with an odd light. She was Queen Azshara's right hand, a great honor to her family, but Avara felt it was killing her. She looked on her sister with pity as she spoke “Good morning sistermine" she said with a smile, Vaylre barely looked up and muttered something to her about transcendence.
She walked over to her parents who were busy studying a book about the effects of different planting methods. "Morning Mother, Morning Father." she said, her eyes bright, and a smile on her face.
"Morning dear" they both said in unison, quickly returning to their book.
Avara lowered her head, began putting on her gear and grabbed some fruit from the table as she headed out the door to meet Tyrande, her instructor for the past thirty-five years.
Sentinel training was hard, but Avara enjoyed the challenge. She was already considered the best choice for a new scout team, and that made her happy.
As she walked, she looked about the city, her people waving as she walked by, she was by all means a popular girl, many men had tried to be her suitor, but were quickly turned down after they couldn’t best her in combat.
She was skilled with a blade, one of the few scouts to rely on two long blades instead of the standard moonglaives. Avara never believed the talk that a moonglaive was the best weapon, she preferred her twin swords and her bow, it was extra weight, but it was also less training she had to deal with.
As she rounded a bend in a road, she saw Tyrande, the still young priestess of Elune. She decided to test Tyrande's mettle and began moving through the shadows, closing in on her unsuspecting prey.
She drew her sword and placed it on Tyrande's shoulder "If I were an Assassin, you'd already be dead Tyra." she said with a chuckle. Tyrande turned to face her, quite perturbed for some reason. As she fumed Avara saw the reason she had somehow missed " Greetings Master Malfurion, I didn’t notice you there." she said with a quick bow and with a flourish, she stood, turned and sheathed her blade, calling back “Ill see you at the academy Tyra!"
********
Avara Entered the Academy, Its polished marble floors and archways gleaming in the morning sun. she stopped, taking a deep breath, after all, she was to be leaving this place today. She would miss it, she knew, but her graduation was a very important day for her. she just hoped her family would be there.
She sat down in her desk that Tyrande's long time love had made from the very roots of the earth. Malfurion wasn’t that interested in Avara, she knew it, Tyra and he had been together as far back as she can remember, and Avara was happy for that, for her friend was happy. What bothered her was Malfurions lack of willingness to know her, as if he knew that she wouldn’t be near him long and didn’t want to waste his time on a lost cause.
She envied the love the two shared, as well as Illidian’s love for Tyrande. It was misplaced, and it seemed he wasn’t sure of it, there were better women than Tyra for him, and Avara believed herself one of them. He was the only man that could best her, and that meant to Avara, they must be together. She knew it wouldn’t happen, for he sat at the moonwell constantly, doing Azshara’s bidding, and bounding about with her sister like a lost child.
She sighed once more, forcing her thoughts from her mind, concentrating on the day at hand, when suddenly the earth below her erupted in massive quakes, sending many of the students in the room to the floor and collapsing several marble columns, crushing a few who were unlucky enough to be caught under them.
Avara rushed out, grabbing two other students and leaping for a nearby archway, covering the younger students with her body as the academy roof began to crumble, the unfortunates below it letting out screams of anguish at their doomed fate.
Avara cringed as she pulled the two younger students behind her, seeing their horrified expressions. “Why can nothing ever go right?” She said, but not for the last time.
*******
Tyrande and Malfurion had gathered up all the surviving students and warriors in a few hours, as Cenarius stood before the group and spoke, Avara stood in Awe, never before seeing the god. She listened carefully as he spoke.
“Children of Elune… some of my greatest fears have come to pass this day…” he took a deep steadying breath. “The demons of the legion have found a way into the world… My children, we go to battle… against your own kin as well as demons…” he sped off toward the temple of Azshara, followed quickly by Malfurion and Tyrande and some of the remaining standing army of the Kaldorei.
Avara looked to another scout, she closely resembled Avara, but was of no relation, with long white flowing hair, Moonglow was her name, yes Moonglow. She smiled and charged after the rest drawing steel on her way, whispering a prayer to Elune for the safety of the others whom she fought with as well as her family.
********
The trek to the temple took little time, what was left of her scout team, numbering only eight was gathered about her, communicating with hand signs so as not to alert their enemy to their presence. Avara peeked from behind the bush she was in, looking at the large temple of the Kaldorei queen.
Her gaze caught something that truly terrified her… Her young brother Basti was standing at the temple steps, stroking the mane of a strange beast, Its body like that of a nightsaber which hadn’t grown while it aged, its hide seemed Chitinous, and its long horns curved toward its front, massive jaw dripping with a strange green liquid.
What disturbed her most about the beast was its eyes… or lack there of, the beast stood on its four legs, snarling and sniffing in their direction. Avara ducked down and tapped the nearest person to her, a young druid by the name of Vaure, quickly signing “We’ve been noticed” and gesturing to the beast.
The mix of Kaldorei on the scout team quickly began to draw their weapons, Young Vaure shifting into the form of a nightsaber and rushing back toward the main army to report.
Young Basti stood then, looking over at the bushes, leading the creature toward them, drawing a wand from his belt. He lowered the wand, a sudden flash of fire catching the bushes aflame as the remaining seven members of the team rolled away, Avara leapt the flaming bushes, charging the creature and plunging both swords into it. The beast let out a maddening howl, the sound causing Avara to reel as a blast from her brother’s wand threw her to the side, the beast falling over writhing and howling in pain.
The other scouts were on the beast, finishing it off, their presence was already known. Avara pushed herself from the ground, springing up, she quickly took in her surroundings, Basti cackling with a mad glee as he set one of the scouts ablaze.
Circling around behind her younger brother she lunged, tackling her brother to the ground in a mad rage, pummeling him with her fists.
Vaure returned in time to pull Avara from her younger brother, the male Kaldorei lifting her with ease, trying his best to restrain her.
“Captain Nightshade… calm yourself…” his soothing tone made her stop struggling for a moment, until she saw one of the other scouts raise a blade to Basti.
“NOOOO!” She screamed as she broke from Vaure’s grip, putting herself between the two and receiving a look of confusion from her team. “He is my younger brother… Ill have no further harm come to him”
The scout nodded, and lowered her weapon in time for Malfurion and the rest of the standing army to appear. Malfurion gave her a disappointed look and then was off up the stairs, his two handed club rising and falling , felling demons as he went, Tyrande falling in behind him, he bow string never seemed to stop moving as she felled demon after demon, only wounding her fellow Kaldorei. What took Avara’s breath away was the god Cenarius, not even using his club, simply trampling all who were in his way, tossing aside Kaldorei to avoid his deadly hooves.
*********
The battle to the summit of the temple took little more than an hour, many of the demons cleared from the area, the wounded were being tended to. Cenarius looked about and spoke with Tyrande and Malfurion, his eyes shifting from the soldiers not wounded and back to the two lovers. His voice Rang out above the sounds of crackling fires and the din of the many battles still being fought throughout the city.
“Captain Nightshade, Captain Moonglow, Captain Razorleaf, and Captain Oakenveil, come forward”
The four captains wasted no time in making their way to the god, kneeling before him. He looked them over and shook his head for a moment.
“You four pick the best of your teams and go with Tyrande and Malfurion, The rest of you will come with me to clear the city of the demons.” His voice left no room for argument, though Avara had always wanted to argue with a god, she decided now was not the time.
She turned and looked about her team, selecting young Vaure, Tempest, a young warrior, and Moondrop ,a priestess of Elune, for her team, the others picking a few more, but she had picked the best of her team and would not have had it any other way as she made her way to Malfurion.
“This is good, I wish we could have more to spare, but those who you have chosen will do nicely” the Arch druid said.
“Permission to speak Master Stormrage” Avara asked as she saluted.
“Yes Avara?”
“ I wish to know the condition of my younger brother , Basti”
“He was no where to be seen after the battle, I fear he has joined the rest of your family inside the temple.” His voice was dry, as if a sudden grief had overcome him.
Avara’s throat tightened. Her whole family was now the enemy… how could this be… She sighed heavily, drawing her swords and checking her brace of throwing knifes on her wrists, then gave the order to move out.
********
Her team moved to the right, their job to clear that wing of the temple, Captain Moonglow the left, and Malfurion, Tyrande, Captain Razorleaf, and Captain Oakenveil were charging up the front lines, towards the queen herself. The left wing was quiet with the exception of a few large demons wearing metal armor and wielding wicked looking greatswords.
As they approached the last stretch of hall, Avara stopped suddenly, as her family stood before her, young Basti, Vaylre, her mother and father…
Then the chaos started… Her sister casting spells of Elune’s darker half upon young Vaure, sending the young druid to the ground before he had time to scream, he lay dead, a shriveled husk.
Young Tempest charged her father, only to be beheaded by her father’s blade of arcane energy, as Moondrop cast spell for spell with Young Basti and her mother.
Avara looked into the eyes of her family… and realized they weren’t themselves.
Something had overtaken them, some fel spirit invaded their bodies and was controlling them… She had to free them… And death was the only way.
Avara charged her brother first, driving her offhand blade into his throat, her main hand slashing viciously toward her mother, slicing her midsection open, her innards spilling forth behind the razor sharp blade. She turned to her mother, mouthing the words “I’m sorry” as she beheaded her, tears raining from her eyes as a bolt of fel energy slammed into her left side, causing her to slam into a nearby wall, where she lay, staring into the face of Tempest, the young kaldorei’s face twisted in agony.
She began to rise and heard a scream of terror erupt from young Moondrop. She turned to watch in her horror as her father cleaved the young priestess in twain.
With a scream of rage she set upon her father, stabbing him through the back and ripping in either direction, spinning about on her sister as her father’s torso slumped back, the sound of his spine cracking as he fell in on himself.
He sister cackled with a sadistic glee “Oh Avara…. You know you can’t touch your dear sister…I’ve always been better than you… you know that.” Vaylre smiled, her lips turned in a sadistic glee. “And you know I’ve won over your beloved Illidian …”
Her hands worked furiously as a shadow bolt erupted from her palms, causing Avara to roll to one side, her blades coming up in an arc, and a splash of blood.
Vaylre looked in horror at the stumps where her hands once were.
“Impossible… You Bitch! You’ve not beaten me! You’ve not! I’ll not allow it!” As she begun muttering the words to a spell.
“I’m Sorry Vaylre…” The last words she spoke to her sister as her blades flashed once more, her sisters head flying from her body a large splash of blood fell over Avara’s body.
“Why can nothing ever go right?” She said as she slumped to her knees, sobbing.