Blood and Thunder Chapter 1: The First World War (Open RP)

[Tomoyo]

It has come to my attention that Hinik, the so-called King of the group of self-serving Alliance ruffians who proclaim themselves the "Kingship of the East", intends to approach our Oracle Aitana in the near future with "terms of surrender" regarding our present war with them.

To give a pre-emptive reply, I am pleased to be the vessel through which our Dark Lady has chosen to communicate.

*Tilting her head back and raising her arms out wide as if in supplication, Tomoyo's eyes glaze over and glow with an inner fire, the spirit of the Lady Nyx channeling into and infusing her from afar, her body seeming to increase in size and stature until her imposing presence becomes almost tangible*
Hear this, so-called Kingship, for this one before you is an Oracle of the Lady Nyx, and an instrument of my will on this world of Azeroth

Thy insult to our self has gone on for far too long. I rebuke you, I rebuke your followers, and I rebuke your "terms" as the pathetic yapping of a contemptuous foe that they are, and as making the scrap of paper they were written on worth less than if it had been blank. Azeroth will run red with the blood of those who stand in our way, and none, not the least your petty self proclaimed king and your hordes of unwashed, mindless slaves, shall hold back our wrath. Rise up, my champions, and let loose the dogs of war. We shall swoop down on them, and we shall show no mercy, until this stain upon our honor is reduced to a mere bloodstain on our blades!

To our Brothers and Sisters of the Horde Assembly, we invite you to join us in this glorious slaughter. Not their men nor their women nor their children shall we spared our righteous vindication. No longer shall we suffer this indignation. The so-called Kingship seeks to divide and conquer, to force all those who would dare to stand against him to capitulate. They understand not honor, nor true friendship, comradeship and loyalty. This Kingship underestimates the conviction and pride that dwells in all our hearts, but we will show them, mark our words, we shall show them. They will know us, and they will fear us, and when they lie bloodied and broken at our feet, we shall not even grace them with our spittle, for that would imply that they were worthy of our disgust. This is not revenge, this is not anger. This is pest extermination. They are but a plague of rodents, and this is a plague on our Azeroth that must not and shall not be permitted to exist any longer.

Heroes of the Horde, we must purge this plague. Blame not the misguided followers of the foul king, they have merely fallen under his thrall. But let that not stay your blade, for they have fallen beyond redemption, their minds long since poisoned by this silver-tongued false king and his delusions of a kingdom of a thousand years. The greatest mercy we can give them all is a quick death. May the light have mercy on their souls, for our Warlocks shall not.

[Nastrik]

As time and events passed on throughout Howling stirred, attempting to wake from the cursed prison. This Nightmare spell of sleep. As of late Nastiarh could feel his spell weakening. This spell from ancient magics long lost always kept his family sleeping when he desired. This is the ending, and at this very moment, Silmeria the awakened sister had dropped to her knee's, feeling her head throb in pain.

"Take her to our place." Nastrik's voice echo'd inside Silmeria's head.

"Nastrik!? Where are you?!" She looked all around the inn, a few Dalaran mages looking at her oddly as she held her head, rising slowly to her feet, instantly feeling the urge to do as Nastriks words had echo'd in her mind.

"Take her with you."
"Please sister.."
"Hurry!"

Silmeria heard the voices of her family members, Father..Howling..Nastrik. Each one hurt her mind, nearly unbearable pain, it reminded her of the whispers from C'thun. being near the old god had caused her great pain as he whispered into her mind madness and suffering.

"I'm GOING STOP DOING THAT!" she said out loud uncaring that none of them were in plain sight, she assumed they were near her fathers scrying crystal. First she had to find her.

After exiting the inn Silmeria saw her, standing at the mailbox as always, of couse they did not say how to bring her there. Smiling somewhat through the pain Silmeria had drove up and parked her bike beside the blood elf, opening the sidecar and moving to her front, grabbing both her arms and shoving her into the tiny seat.

"H..HEY!! Sil..OoFF!" the elf commonly called Lah blurted out as Silmeria took off for the Undercity portal. As they rushed through it Lah cut off at something about a battlemaster being angry. Upon exiting the other side Silmeria shot Asarelah a dirty and stern look.

"Oh yea? You want your Beloved "Battlemaster" to save you? What a sad excuse for a woman! Hah!" Silmeria taunted the female.

"He is not my Beloved! He never touched me!" Lah snapped back at her.

Silmeria laughed almost sinisterly, with a slight echo of a Deathknight, as they rode into the Eastern Plaguelands, only stopping at the front of DarrowShire a brief moment.

"Why did we stop?" Lah asked with a confused look.

Silmeria smiled and stared at the entrance to the family crypt, she could see it, but not sense any of her family near it at all.

Silmeria dispacted the vehicle and led Lah over to the front of the cave. The illusionary wall dispelling as she approached it.

"Now what..." She thought, "I know you wanted me to come here, why? Why are none of you here?"

"Well? Now what?" Asarelah asked impatiently, unruffling her gown as she stood there, her eyes widening as she noticed Silmeria in front of her, grasping her head, as if trying to smash her skull with her own hands.

"Silmeria? Whats wrong?!" She asked in horror as she saw Silmeria start coughing up blood as she held her head.

Inside Silmeria's head she heard the voices again, each echo becoming more and more painful as they spoke.

"Your turn is over Daughter.."

"st..op.."

"Suimin..I'll always be here for you, Howling its time to wake up!"

"STOP IT!"

Asarelah watched vividly as Silmeria's form started to shimmer, her aura becoming visible a bright Warm Pink, violently changing to an Earthly Orange, to a Horrible Purple, and finally to a Cold Blue. The Orange she had seen before, it was the shape of a tauren, with lightning wrapped about him, the purple never seen before it gave her horrible chill of death. Blue.. was a familiar color, warm but stern, it was another tauren.. Howling.

Silmeria struggled with herself and the flux'ing aura's about her own body grinding her teeth in pain, Howling's aura outlining her body.

"Lah..Come, sleep..." Howlings voice echo'd , the phantasm aura reaching out to her.

Lah winced, wanting to go but afraid at the same time. Silmeria digging her nails into her face, causing wounds to spring up over her cheeks, blood running down her neck. Inside her mind the struggle was already happening. Howling was trying to take control.

Stop it Brother! You wanted to sleep!! You have nothing left here!" with that statement Silmeria stopped all tourturous activites, feeling the pain slip away, realizing Lah was here. She was wrong.

At that moment Silmeria's frame was engulfed in a black and red mana, flowing outward, fogging the area around the two elves.

A coughing hack came from the darkness, Lah could here what sounded like a Lich of those in Naxxaramas.

"Apologies, you must be Asarelah.." a forsaken stepped close to Lah, inspecting her from head to toe.

"Wh..Who are you? Where is Silmeria? Was that Howling?!" Lah stammered, pulling away slowly in her confused state.

"Howling, Silmeria, Nastrik. They are all right here." the forsaken touched his chest. Watching the elf's eyes widen in fear.

"That doesn't make sense... Explain yourself!" Lah snapped at him.

Nastiarh smiled and as he explained himself a warlock, inside his mind's eye he could watch his proverbaly children sleeping inside thier respective soul shards. Sleeping.

"Ever since I had fought and killed people, monsters, for the shards necessary for casting my demonic spells I would occasionally come across some that were indeed to strong to use for normal use. Silmeria, I found her an orphan of 120 and when I was to put her down for being such her spirit was so great that it overtook my body for a moment or two. Ever since then I have decided to sleep, and let these beings be in control. Each walking their own path.. Even now I can hear them.." the warlock pointed to his head, tapping it with a talon.

"Whoever is in control, they will take this body, and with their immense spiritual power form it to who they were before they died." He explained with a sigh.

"Will you let Howling out please.." Asarelah asked softly.

The forsaken smirked and nodded, "That was my plan.. He has been calling for you quite fervently lately, even when I first started to sleep I called for you..."

Lah saw Howlings form overtake the undead's, and smiled as his body took its place, opening his eyes and reaching for her, smiling himself as he noticed his ring hanging from a chain on her neck. Sweeping her up in his arms he took a step towards the cave, to sleep with his mate.


"Azris corsaia inetervalia...."

[Warzen]

*warzens begins to write in his war journal*

Today the war continues as always the living argued amongst themselves fighting for land and armor that will do them no good in time. For when they die in old age i shall take what they worked so hard to obtain. After collecting my bounty on a pushy female human priest who i found gardening the landscape in hopes she would find some rare plants. After on my return to my crypt last night i recieved a letter that came from a elven and payment in advance for this next bounty.

The letter is written in a elegant form that reads,

Asarelah, has ran away i am asking you to bring her back alive unharmed and untouched she has gotten cold feet and must be found before any harm can come to her. I know the tactics you use on your victims are crued but they are effective but when handling and transporting her you will use the bare minimum of force while escorting her to the gates of Silvermoon city. If you have to use this item i have given you to make her sleep, I assume you know how to use it already and i exspect the device back after the job has been completed. If you are not able to capture her the location of her where abouts will suffice.

Sincerly, Aitana

The job was hard it took me three days but i found her in a cave gaurded by the Deathknight Howling, i assumed she is safe for now, but i cannot engage him without permission or for free for that matter. i then decided to give aitana the news and location of where i i found her.

[Loistradyn]

Loistradyn stood on the deck to the Fairbreeze Inn overlooking the vast expanse Eversong Forest.

The night was lovely; the full moon shown brightly. The children of the Slithering Mother were no doubt on the hunt as well. With these thoughts on her mind, she pulled her hood back, allowing her short white hair to flow in the light breeze and letting the moonlight gleam oddly off her multitude of facial and ear piercings.

The half-elf took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. As of late, her followers had grown bitter from the lack of action taken by the Assembly. No matter how often she pressed the issue to them, it was as though they could not grasp that the very essence of their way of life was in peril. The Mad King desired nothing but the eradication of the entire Horde she knew. Formalities like motioning to vote and awaiting a second, then bickering over this and that, wasted precious time that would be better spent planning the eradication of their enemies.

Then the episode of forcing their Nightwarder Lah, who fraternized with the enemy, to marry her champion. To her, such actions were illogical. It was not as though marriage was a guarantee of loyalty. Married or not, she could still fraternize with Heimdel, and most likely still would. A servant of Ula'Tek would simply have mounted her head upon a spear and posted it outside of Orgrimmar to send a stern message to those who would follow in her foot steps. Alas, that was not the way of things with in the clan of Lady Nyx.

She opened her solid blue eyes again and looked down at her feet. Several snakes had gathered around her feet and coiled lovingly against her, an omen she knew. The Slithering Mother was watching. Soon, she would have to commune with the goddess herself, but the Serpent Queen was not so easy to gain direct access to.

No, she required payment. The goddess required the suffering and death of a heretic. Then once appeased, she would have ingest the poison of a Sholazar Cobra in order to project herself to the realm the goddess lived in order to beseech her for her wisdom. It was a dangerous process, but she was the Mother of the Slithering Way. She knew that the weak perished and the strong survived. If she died during the ritual, then it would simply be the death of a person too weak to be worthy of serving the Serpent Queen.

She walked back into the inn of Fairbreeze Village and laid on her bed, two dozen snakes following her in tow. She laid down and the creatures slithered up and into the bed with her. Some were under the covers, some on top, a few more on the nightstand and around the bed. The Serpent Queen blessed her this night with many of her children. With that thought, she drifted off to sleep, snakes and all.

[Asarelah]

Something penetrated her smoke filled mind; someone yelling. “I come. I come for you, Lah. You are mine! None other shall have you.” Jeriden?? Was it Jeriden she was hearing?

Asarelah woke in a daze, surrounded by dozens of followers of Lady Nyx, Hand of the Phoenix, Assault on the Alliance, and more... The Horde Assembly was here...

Kneeling before her, and standing above her, were the familiar faces of some her champions…Jeriden… Perten... Tsaphaan… Her friends, her family, all seemed to be pressing in around her. She carefully tried to sit up, but was still to dizzy and dazed to see everyone hovering around her.

She could hear Aitana trying to rouse her, but was still muddy in her thinking as she tried to wrestle sense back into her grasp… Someone handed her a drink. Others were calling for the area around her to be cleared so that she could breathe.

“Asarelah, wake up! What are you doing here?” Aitana’s concerned voice finally penetrated her smoke filled brain.

“Where, what… Where is here???” Lah asked, looking around herself frantically. “Silmeria…”

“What about Silmeria?” the Oracle demanded.

“Silmeria pushed me in to her chopper and dragged me here… then she... she changed some how… in to Howling… Howling…” Asarelah’s eyes nearly rolled back into her head; her vision blurred and tears coursed freely down her face, as thoughts of her love for the great shaggy beast overwhelmed her. But that was in another time, and she had left him long ago.

“Ohhh, Howling...." and with that cry of anguish Asarelah's weeping took on a wracking control, shaking her frame. "He brought me in here and induced me to sleep… It seemed the best for everyone, so I did not fight him as I might have… to just go to sleep… do nothing more than dream beside him...” she tried to speak, a look of extreme anguish marking her face, as she shook her head. “I just don’t… remember…”

“None of that matters now, so forget about it. All that matters is that we found you and you are safe.” Oracle Tallbear looked thoughtful, then grabbed Asarelah’s chin, lifting it so that their eyes were deeply connected. The tears running across the Oracle's hand seemed not to bother her at all.

“Hear me, Asarelah. And listen very carefully, for I will not repeat myself. You have two choices. Either return with us now, under protection, for your own good, and serve Lady Nyx. Or you are done with the Tribe, and we leave you here for all time. But know this, Nightwarder. IF you do not follow us now, and obey me at once, Lady Nyx has ordered a bounty on your head. And I personally, along with all the might that the Horde Assembly can bring to bear, will hunt you across the face of all of Azeroth. You shall never have one moment’s peace. Ever!! Lady Nyx does not tolerate betrayal. Am I very clear on your choices?”

Aitana’s molten gaze finally penetrated Lah’s fog filled brain and made the Nightwarder gasp for breath, such was the heat and passion smoldering in Tallbear’s eyes. “And Asarelah, this IS for your own good... your own protection... whether you recognize that right now, or not. I will not loose you, Nightwarder. And most certainly not to the Kingship. Not if I can help it!!”

“Yes, Oracle. Very clear. It seems I have no choice in the matter, and will bow to your judgment. Say what you would have me do, and while my heart may be heavy, I will follow your orders as best as I am able.”

“Good. That is settle then. When I first proposed it, you objected to marrying your champion, Jeriden Dawnbringer. Perten has volunteered to marry you if you would have him instead, as have others present. Choose between the two of them or name another of those standing here. All of these men are all willing to lay down their lives to protect yours, and have asked for this privilege. The time for the wedding is now.” Aitana said with a firm voice of command as she ordered those gathered to aid Asarelah and move on to Light’s Hope Chapel with all dispatch.

Asarelah looked at the faces before her, and made a choice, forced though it was.

“Dawnbringer has been my champion for some time, and I trust him. He has always done me much honor, and I believe he would die a thousand deaths before causing a single tear of mine to fall. I will give him my hand, in trust and in faith, and with time perhaps he can also win my heart. I do not know. But this is the best I can do," she said as tears continued to course down her stricken face, swollen as it was now, with absolute grief.

The rest of the evening was a blur as Aitana took control of the proceedings. Then finally whispers reached her hearth stone, from an unfamiliar voice…

“The Battlemaster sends word, my lady. Either come to him now, or he is done with you. Once I release this bird to carry word to him, his heart will harden. Understand me Lady. He will show you no mercy, and he will hunt you to the ends of the earth for all eternity for betraying him. He will kill you, first and foremost before any other, and shed not a single tear for your betrayal of his heart. Shall I release the bird, or no?”

Asarelah cried out her anguish and fled back in to the shelter of unconsciousness which Howling had granted her, from which none could awaken her.

[Tasera]

The evening was well underway, and Tasera sat at the edge of a bed. Instead of her home, she had taken refuge at an inn to safely rest off the liquor she had gorged earlier on. As the alcohol’s grasp began to drag itself away from her mind, Tasera’s mood returned to bitter, hurt, and angry. She was not angry at the situation so much, to her, relief had fallen over her to see Asarelah married off to Jeriden. Beyond that though, she was still enraged at Lah.

She felt betrayed. Plain and simple. To her, Heimdel was an evil, horrible beast. She wanted to see her blade forcefully stabbed between his rib bones and into his heart. She loathed that human creature, perhaps even more then she loathed Hinik. He made countless attempts on young Shidomae to take her life. And although Shidomae and Tasera often crossed ideals, the young shaman was still one under her house, and an attack on her, was an attack on Tasera directly. The sheer thought of Asarelah and Heimdel made Tasera curl over and clench her fists tightly.

At her feet, Despara looked up at his huntress and whimpered.

Lah had been like a mother to Tasera, since day one. She had always been there as guidance. For the longest time, before Warburn came into the picture, Asarelah was the only one of Nyx who could truly quell that temper of hers. She helped around her home, and she helped to care for her stabled beasts. In fact, Tasera’s pets trusted Lah almost as much as the hunter who tamed them. She was that close to Tasera’s home…or at least was.

Now, even with her married off, the troll hunter wanted nothing to do with her. Even when they found her in the cave and the other breathed a sigh of relief. Her hound had to bite at her heal and hold tightly to keep Tasera from running forward in a rage to demand answers.

That tie felt completely severed, for Lah knew how much she hated Heimdel, she knew how much she wanted to sever his head from the shoulders up and display it out her home proudly.

Tasera curled over again over the bed and pouted, hurt confused, and unwilling to forgive.

[Asarelah]

Asarelah tossed fitfully in her enforced sleep, something pulling her from Howling's deft touch, snatching her back to the reality side of the Emerald Dream.

Ugly whispers were assaulting her ears, and as she came slowly back up from her dark slumber of mortal distress, she could taste the bile that had risen in her throat.

".... he has sworn to hunt you, to kill you as he would any mangy cur sniffing at his heels. You are nothing more than a trophy to him, and he will skin your hide to hang upon the Kingship walls, for all to see, and to stroke at his leisure...." the sibiliant voice hissed.

[Jeriden]

A single day had passed since the hastened wedding between Lord Dawnbringer and Nightwarder Asarelah.

He was paying attention to the Oracle as she explained how Asarelah was acting under the orders of Lady Nyx, to try and found sound Diplomatic relations where and how she could in the most honorable, noble means possible. He understood the careful nature of the work, and had deepest respect for his beloved's tasks. He also knew it was in Lady Dawnbringer's very nature to care - even for the Battlemaster who stood on the opposing end of the banner.

Her heart was so much larger than many Lord Dawnbringer had encountered, seeing beyond the masks of Horde, Alliance, Elf, Dwarf, Man, or Orc: she saw him as another sentient soul, not as a juggernaut of death and destruction. There were days when he wished he could see past these differences too. What a world it could be.

Jeriden knew, however, that such was not the reality, and he had his Orders, both from the Assembly and from Thrall. He also knew, keenly, that his beloved would never willingly, or intentionally, betray a single soul.

Not even Heimdel's.

Many things were brought to the fore during this meeting in the Filthy Animal, such as Jeriden's feelings. He had loved Asarelah in secret for many months, and would never had forced her into anything. He recalled vividly when Aitana laid down her ultimatum at the Assembly Officer's meeting.

Jeriden would shield his much-loved, protected charge to the absolute best of his ability, and if wedding him would prove her loyalty to the others, then so be it. It was his duty, and most sacred honor, to do so. This was a moot point, however: Jeriden would've sought her hand in marriage regardless, at his own pace, thousands upon thousands of times for his love of the priestess. The Oracle simply... sped up the process.

He was even prepared, when Perten offered himself nobly as an 'alternative choice', that if it came right down to it Jeriden would fight an army to secure his right to seek his beloved's hand. Even if it were his own subordinates and brothers-in-arms.

While he was following Aitana seeking her out when Asarelah was missing, Jeriden knew that Asarelah was noble, honest, and forthright in all things. Between the compass he was provided, and Aitana's map (Miracle that she was able to decipher it) he found she he had claimed, and told her so: His, and His alone.

His anger was carefully directed towards those who sought her harm. He hoped the patron of the Filthy Animal was understanding when he broke the table in one firm downward strike from his gloved hand. He would protect his wife from all sources of harm. Even if he had to mobilze the entire might of the Assembly to do so.

He finished penning his letter to the Oracle, explaining to her his take on a great many things in his thoughts on things following the meeting. He was glad Tasera, and indeed his new adoptive children, were at least now more accepting of him. He had been vilified enough for seemingly 'forcing' the marriage, even though he knew it was in her best interests. The paladin knew she was loyal to Lady Nyx.

Resting his glasses on the nightstand, he gently kissed the dreaming Lah on the cheek, blew out the candle, and at long last went to sleep.

Tomorrow, the small respite of peace he had found would have to be set aside for war.

[Oneille]

A giant glob of blue paint flew across the living room landing with a resounding splat against a lush throw back chair. The blue paint glob stuck then trickled down unto a puddle at the foot of the chair. As the paint began to soften and dry there was soon an identical glob incoming to the same location, if off by a few milimeters. Green this time. Young oracle Roo made a curious croak as he lifted his webbed foot glanced at the large parchment before him deciding where the next color should go.

Roo made an even more delightful discovery as his paint dried the more annoyed he was making Kim the worg pup now teenager. Kim held his head between is paws has he laid there watching his mistress's ward fling one color of paint then other in any direction possible. Roo became elated and Kim, well let's just say he was eager to leave the critter to his own devices.

Kim hung his head low as he sauntered off to find his mistress least she would be able to stop this ruckus and make things normal again.
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Oneille Brightgrove adopted daughter of Aserelah Trueheart and consort to Leothiel Frosthawk gripped the pillow in her grasp tighter. Already the day passed since she awoke from a fitful sleep. Tears stained her eyes as new ones kept streaking down every so often. The fresh water fell from her eyes, down her cheeks, streaking down her neck till all that was left was trails of red and the bitter saltly taste. What has over come the warlock? Oneille only managed to leave her bed but once, just to check on her ward see him entertained then drug herself back to her bed.

Several hours have passed since then. Oneille's tears were not from saddness but of anger and disgust. Earlier in the morning she became witness to her mother becomign wed to her champion but at what cost? Oneille would never go against the tribe but the whole senario was wrong...more than wrong it was damnable to her. How can someone in a tribal family say they love one another yet force the notion that you marry against your will! Who?!? The ringing thoughts of the each event from the plagueland to the Light's Hope Chapel caused Oneille to toss over. Lingering doubt pushed to the forefront of Onei's mind. In a flust the young elven woman drew the pillow about her face and screamed repeatedly. At least a full minute she screamed and cried.

Drained and sore the pillow grew damp from tears, "Enough!" Rage winning over Oneille grasped the pillow and threw it across the room till it hit a nearby painting. Hands balling into fists Oneille forced herself upright and then out of bed. Outside the bedroom was Kim whos keen ears detected danger and with great speed he came rushing to his mistress. Reaching the scene in a state of feral rage Kim was shocked to discover his owner now kneeled over hands firmly pressed to the floor her body shaking. Kim whimpered at the sighte he was confused. He wanted to console her but all he could do was bark, "Kim?"

The wolf pet noticed his mistress turn her head only to see the sadness in her fel tinged eyes, "I don't understand this..none of it. This morning I witnessed my mother wed and like some damned fool I stood there clapping, rejoicing, we all did...dammit we had power to stop it but how could we? Does one simply state to the oracles 'I find this all a farce enough!' Never! They'd rather soon dismiss us."

Oneille choked back another sob, "Mother Lah married her champion the man she loves but at what price? Maybe I should see the point to the manner. She is a mother, a mother who cares for her children. In spite of all the suffering she is going through I cannot help her. Mother's protect their children in good and bad times...and," Oneille's sentence stopped.

"Mother Lah was just protecting us from danger, harm...it's the divine right of a mother to protect her family no matter the cost..just like me protecting Roo.." Oneille found her voice again. Her hands reached to her face and wiped away the tears as she sniffled.

As if on cue the small finned head of a one Roo popped about the corner gazing with concern at the scene unfolding. Roo seemed uneasy but before he could decide on a retreat, gentle hands scooped him up. Struggling some the little orphan growled only to see the now smiling countence of Oneille beam at him, "Little one as your mew mother I am here for you, I would never harm or hurt you. I know that as my 'son' you're worth the sacrifice. I am my mother's daughter. I am a valiant, a lioness, a true believer that the heart shall win out."

Roo croaked in confusion, "Listen to me Roo I am your mother and I refuse to let someone hurt you or Kim." Kim heard his name and perked up. Padding over the black wolf nudge his owner's hand with his nose whining, "Kim and Roo I love you my children and as your mother I refuse to let anyone harm you. I have a divine right to protect my tribe, my love, and my mother but I've a higher duty to my family...and I love you all...and I will protect you till my last breath."

[Leothiel]

It was a night of triumph and of grief. The Oracles called the tribe together for a special meeting. Promotions went to four of their number. Filarius and Tsaphaan found themselves as Umbral Champions before the night was out. Hristoforos had accomplished great leadership in the assaults against the Scourge and making inroads against Yogg-Saron. Leothiel had his focus on his consort Oneille when he heard his name called. He slowly made his way forward, presented his sword to the Lady as she promoted him to Nightwarder. Leothiel was proud of the promotion but it told him something: Set the standards higher.

After the promotions, Nightwarder Asarelah's whereabouts became the talk. Leothiel had always admired Lah for her courage in parlaying with the Alliance in hope of a truce with Kingship. Evidently, Heimdel fell under her enchantment and she nearly fell under his. She was charged with treason at the first meeting of the Horde Assembly. She was to either be executed or be wedded with one of her handful of suitors. Heimdel showed up lovesick outside of Serpentshrine Caverns. A couple of days later, Howling spirited Asarelah into hiding. Leothiel had to leave before they could go rescue her. He went to bed with her welfare on his mind.

The following day, the followers of Nyx brought an end to Illidan Stormrage. After that, Leothiel and Oneille went their own way to a secluded spot in Outland to picnic, talk, and for him to spread out his wings. Oneille delivered the news to him that Lah was rescued from hiding in the Eastern Plaguelands and become Lady Dawnbringer immediately after: She gave her hand to Jeriden, her champion. Leothiel was surprised that the wedding was so soon and was unable to attend. After the discussion, the couple turned their attention to the beauty of Nagrand. Afterwards, they both retreated to Silvermoon, then to her apartment where they fell asleep in each others' arms.