Oh Auberdine!

I can't believe that over 3 years have passed since I last wrote in here about saving up for my epic flight form. So much has happened in that time that it's not worth trying to fit it into here, but now with more time and a little more experience I feel I have so much more to say and I'll be continuing here with my tale.

All the talk in Azeroth at the moment is about the strange events of the past month or so - elemental invasions in Stormwind and Ironforge, purple-robed cultists roaming the streets and ground tremors shaking the world to its very foundations. What it portends I cannot say for certain, rumours abound, not least of which is the prediction of a cataclysmic event in the coming days that will change the face of Azeroth forever. There is a sense of expectation and fear from all around me.

Although Stormwind and Ironforge have been at the centre of these attacks, I have grave concern for my homeland of Teldrassil and Darkshore. I have been to Auberdine a few times recently, ridding it of its own infestation of furious elementals, and wondering what is to become of the place in which I began my journeys as a druid so long ago. Five years have passed since I spent time in Auberdine, but I will always remember it fondly. Staying there taught me so much about my place in this world of ours.

Tonight I will be holding a vigil at the moonwell there - praying to Elune for guidance and imbuing myself with the moon goddess' spirit to bolster me for the coming days. Elune adore!

Savings

I need 5000 gold before I am able to start the quest for my epic flight form. I only have 1900 gold at the moment, making it a daunting task. Luckily my alchemy profession means I can make Primal Might, which sells for around 125g each, but I still need to make at least 24 of these! Still, spending time in the nice quiet atmosphere of Nagrand, collecting motes from the elementals is peaceful enough.



I do love Nagrand...the floating islands in the sky are like little havens, where you could make your nest and stay in flight form forever. I dream of these specks, their spiralling waterfalls and curiously twisted trees echoing and soothing my nightmares. Me, a campfire and a significant other, atop a floating island in Nagrand...what heaven!

Rinse and Repeat

Hmm, I am getting to know Blackrock depths quite intimately now - went again with several guild members last night but still didn't manage to get to the end. It takes such a long time we were all exhausted before we got there.

We really needed a proper tank, as the enemies were all over the casters and healers most of the night and that is what got us in the end. Next time will look for a big tank with a bit of common sense to go in with us...

Blackrock Depths

Oh how I hate this place! The dark caverns under Blackrock mountain echo with the screams of the slaves and captives. Twisted dwarves patrol the corridors, flanked by their stonewrought battle constructs and everywhere the red glow of the molten lava dances across the walls.

Not a niceplace for a druid to spend time, but I went to help Xanaral out. The group we went with all knew what they were doing and we made fairly easy work of it, my moonkin form casting shiny starfire criticals, which I always enjoy. The trees got a few outings, but with so many enemies so close together I daren't let them out too much or they would cause mayhem; not very easy to control those trees, they get a bit over-excited and pull everything in sight.

One of the party left, however, just before we got to the bar, and after that we all died, although it was quite unnecessary and if I had been watching health more closely and not admiring my starfires I could have battle-resurrected Xanaral. As it was we were all too tired to carry on. Poor Xanaral still has three quests to do, I hope she finishes them soon as spending too much time in that place is bad for your spirit.

New Friends

I have joined a new guild, Shadow Masquerade. Everyone seems very friendly and has made me very welcome. No one has been able to explain where the guild name comes from yet; perhaps I must perform some kind of initiation before I am entrusted with that knowledge.

I went adventuring with Zeneluve and Bronghar, helping out on the harder quests in Hellfire Peninsula. We made short work of the Overlord and the red-crystal giants and they were both pleased.

Penitence has been begging me for money again. Why are humans so vain? This time she wanted to make some silk boots. I gave her what she wanted of course. In a way she reminds me of myself in my earlier seasons as an adventurer, and her past makes me pity her in her quest for redemption.

Flashback Part 1

I am crouching in the grass, the sun is casting dappled light through the trees around the clearing, and the deer I have been visiting are just starting to make their way into the forest for the night. Noticing a flash of red through the grass stems, I crouch down to collect some mageroyal, the grass tickling my arm as I wrestle with the root; my skill at gathering herbs is growing but I need more practise yet.
My mind is elsewhere, the forest and the animals which dwell there speak with my soul and I share my energy with them as I walk home through the forest. When I get there I am to tell my parents my decision and today I have finally made up my mind. I have made my decision to become a druid, it seems there was never any other path for me. I have always known that this was my destiny, from a tiny child I have felt one and the same with nature, been able to communicate with and draw strength from that life force. Tomorrow I will travel to Aldrassil to the Druid trainer to begin my long apprenticeship.
The thought fills me with excitement and apprehension. Tales of adventurers have often been told around the moonwells at night, the exploits filling my mind with wonder and delight, but the prospect of joining those adventurers in the world outside Teldrassil makes me nervous. Do I have it within me to make my way out there? All I know is that I have a mighty mountain to climb and I hope I will learn to use the power of nature to guide me and give me strength.
I reach the entrance to the valley as the sun begins to turn its autumn amber hue. Suddenly I sense something on the breeze, within seconds it turns from a mere suggestion of a certain taint, to a sense of chaos, an upheaval, an earthquake, a torrent of evil...I run down the valley to the stream, to see the spot where I have hopped across the crystal waters each evening in my life running with a red river. A vile and tortured sense of unnatural force is suddenly overcoming me and smothering me and I fall to my knees, the sensation of a rip, a tear in the fabric of Elune's dear land runs through my head as I gasp to bring out the bile which rises in my throat...I look up and see the amber glow has been replaced by a blood red sunset, casting dark and sombre shadows through the valley and silhouetted against this scarlet sky is a grotesque figure. As it approaches I desperately try to meld into the surface of the stream, but my mind is too filled with horror and all I can do is watch as it gets nearer...