Meeting of the Magisters
Magistrix Sidori Silverspell (@inathia) Magister Vinlan Duskfury (@ronaestrider) Get to know <Phoenix Guard>'s new Magistry sponsors (NPCs) and what criteria they have set for reactivating the dormant military unit. Surely, they won't have to use this document and nothing will ever go wrong... (Cross-posted from our Discord server in case anyone is interested! We will be officially re-opening at the Midnight pre-patch.)
Magister Vinlan Duskfury triple-checks his timepiece before slipping it back into his phoenix-emblazoned robes, the purple cloth and silver thread dancing in the illuminated streetlights as the evening hour begins to settle. He nods to passers-by as he patiently waits, a product of his constant penchant for arriving quite early. As he glances up to the building before him, he is greeted by a luxurious domicile, one fitting for a Magistrix of Sidori Silverspell’s station.
His mind continues to wander as he paces patiently. His curiosity of the upcoming meeting grows as he thinks of Silverspell, her interests, and her current affairs. The Runesworn project is, of course, well-known and well-regarded, a scholarly mission of safety and security, but how that intersects with Vinlan’s militaristic interests is an item that weighs heavily upon his mind.
As the timepiece clicks closer to the 5pm hour, Vinlan straightens his posture and dusts off the front of his robes to ensure an impeccable display. He takes a few steps toward the ornate door of the Magistrix’s domain, knocking gently upon the wood to announce his timely arrival.
Magistrix Sidori Silverspell’s residence is near the Sunfury Spire, in a neighborhood of wealthy scholars that either never leave their homes or are never actually there due to research demands. Silverspell is among the latter, owing to the injuries she sustained during the Third War. An apprentice Runewarden answers the door when Magister Duskfury knocks, bowing his head respectfully as he steps aside to allow the guest entry.
Calling it a residence seems inaccurate when it feels more like a library. An enchantment makes the foyer of the apartment seem much larger than it actually is, with a large room lined in books and bewitched tomes flitting around like birds. The Magistrix sits at her desk in the middle of all the organized chaos and, with some effort, rises to greet him.
Normally seen with a hood in public, Magistrix Silverspell’s striking white hair is uncovered and her braid loosened. Her red and gold robes shimmer with their own enchantments and she regards her guest with a warm smile.
“Magister Duskfury, thank you for coming on such short notice. Do you prefer pleasantries, or getting right to the point?”
Vinlan bows in deep respect in response to her greeting. “Pleasantries are always appreciated, Magistrix, especially in such a beautiful spire. Though, please - do not rise on my account.” He unfolds the letter of invitation that Sidori sent for this meeting, tapping it with his fingers.
“I must say,” he begins, still holding himself fully. “I was quite surprised to have seen this come to my desk. It is no secret that we operate in somewhat differently-focused echelons within the Magistry.” He pauses to smile and bow his head once again in her direction. “It is an honour, but of course - I look forward to the potentiality of bringing our circles closer to orbit.”
He folds the paper in his fingers before gesturing to a chair near her desk. “May I?”
Sidori seems relieved to not have to fully rise, instead leaning back in her chair with a contented posture and expression. With a hand featuring numerous rings and enchanted tattoos, she gestures for Vinlan to sit opposite of her. With that same hand, she waves to an apprentice who scurries off to a side room. Said apprentice returns quickly with a porcelain tea set and begins setting out service for two.
“I would venture to say that we exist in completely different specialties, actually,” Sidori responds with a light chuckle, “But there have been times before and certainly times ahead that such opposite specialties must work together. Have you been keeping up to date on the reports from Khaz Algar and K’aresh detachments of Thalassian forces? There are Reliquary agents stationed in both places who have written concerning reports about Hallowfall in particular. K’aresh is, well… a vision of a future I hope does not come to pass.”
The elder Magistrix lets out a light sigh as her apprentice pours cups of herbal tea.
“Although I am a Runewarden without a Runestone to guard at this time, I still have a connection to the convergence of leylines here in Quel’Thalas. They shuddered with the re-emergence and subsequent defeat of Dimensius.”
Vinlan nods as he listens intently, his eyes tracing the ornate patterns of the teacups as the offering is poured. His mind turns over her topic of conversation while he nods slowly. “Yes, indeed,” he admits softly, measuring his words with care. “The whisperings of the Void’s machinations have spread throughout most circles, both magical and otherwise.”
His features darken momentarily. “I do not believe it to be a mystery that Dimensius’s defeat was crafted by the Harbinger - another twisted step up her spire of games.” He shakes his head with an audible sigh. “You know I’ve spoken heavily on the subject of Thalassian martial defenses, but do permit me to make myself plain, Magistrix - it is not that I see weakness in the Magistry or our magical abilities as some would suggest. I only mean to assist in unifying Silvermoon’s collective abilities by ensuring that our individualized talents are collectively focused on defense.”
He takes a moment to pause, releasing his reflexive grip upon the wooden armrests. As the apprentice steps away from the pair, Vinlan breathes deeply to inhale the steaming aroma to permit the tea to calm the subject. “It may be bold of me to say so, but I have a suspicion that such a desire for unification is of interest to you as well.” He smiles warmly over the desk to Sidori before gesturing to the tea. He waits patiently for Sidori to take up her cup first.
“Is that a hint of wintersbite from Alterac I detect? You must be in the very good graces of Botanist Nathera, I take it. Truly, I am flattered by the offering.”
The Magistrix keeps her gaze leveled on Vinlan as the tea is poured, measuring the darkening of his gaze as if she can read his very soul and intentions. Her scrutinizing gaze is redirected as she lifts the teacup to her lips, taking a sip that is followed by a contented sigh.
“You are a man of good taste, Magister Duskfury,” Sidori comments with a smile, which is tempered by the severity of the discussion at hand.
“My pursuits and interests are largely of a scholarly nature, but it would be foolish of me not to prepare for war when I feel that one is on the horizon. What happened in Khaz Algar, I fear, may be but a taste of what may be visited upon Quel’Thalas. The Void consumes, Magister, and we are keepers of a most sacred fount of power.”
With a pause for another sip of tea, she continues.
“Knight-Lord Dawnblade was the head and organizer of the Runesworn. Her talents, while vast, are much more suited to martial endeavors — I asked her about the Phoenix Guard. And I asked her, in turn, to ask her former Lieutenant Commander about it. They are willing to wear the mantles of leadership again if needed. And if the Phoenix Guard is to be reborn, we will need a sponsor within the Magistry with more military knowledge and influence than I.”
Sidori bows her head politely to Vinlan, suggesting that he is, in fact, that Magister.
Vinlan lifts the secondary teacup to his lips in a moment of brief contentment. As he looks to the steaming liquid before him, the comforts dissipate quickly as the aroma of Alterac is replaced by one of acrid smoke. The gleaming spires of Quel’Thalas shudder beneath the onslaught of the Void’s machinations as the people scatter and scream. He blinks as the tea swirls slowly in his cup before him, the vision a glimpse of the fears he too holds.
“I admit that I share your concerns, Magistrix,” he replies softly as he places the delicate china down before him. “Alleria, powerful as she may be, is a lesser pawn compared to the forces that may descend upon Quel’Thalas. If the Sunwell had such an adverse reaction to her visit, I can only imagine what else may be possible.”
He lifts the teacup again for another sip, settling into the comforts of militaristic conversation. “Ah, the Phoenix Guard - well-known for its willingness to leave nothing to chance. A shame it was eaten by the Windrunner war machine those years ago. I admit that I was surprised of your selection of Knight-Lord Dawnblade for the Runesworn project - seems an…interesting fit, if you’ll permit my opinion.”
He sits back slightly and lifts his cup for another sip, his posture one of a Magister preparing to enter a discussion in which he knows he holds value. He says nothing of offering a sponsorship yet, preferring to continue to hunt and needle. If there is anything these high-level members of the Magistry were capable of, it is posturing.
Sidori lets out a light sigh as the subject of the Runesworn project and her unorthodox choices in leadership are brought up. With a dismissive wave, she again reaches for the teacup to bring it to her lips.
“All of my years of strictly academic pursuit of such a project yielded little in the way of results. Hints, here and there, without the necessary force to take it across the finish line. The Knight-Lord is well known for taking orders and getting an assignment done. Sadly, I overestimated how many scholars she had in her retinue…”
The Magistrix trailed off into silence for a beat, then flicked her gaze up to meet Vinlan’s with a playful sort of annoyance.
“Oh, Magister Duskfury, must I really beg?”
Vinlan chuckles at that, leaning back as the proverbial ball lands on his side of the court. “I would never deign to make someone of your station do anything of the sort,” he quips, taking the final sip of his tea. He places the gentle cup down upon the edge of Sidori’s desk, leaning in slightly to turn the topic of conversation quite serious.
“Tell me, Magistrix,” he begins, his voice slightly lower. “If we are to lift the Phoenix Guard up once more, pull it from the ashes as it were, do you believe it can slough off the stains of the past? It is no mystery that there were some…unsavory events in its history. Suncrown, notably, but also their penchant for running directly into the jaws of the beast. While some would call that bravery, it can also be foolish.”
He pauses a brief moment to regard her expression, but decides to press onward regardless, embracing the opportunity to have the floor. “You know more than anyone that I am keen on shoring up militaristic defenses, there is no reason to hide such wishes any longer - I know that such desires are no longer uniquely my own, especially now. I just wonder if bringing forth an old contingent once again is the better move compared to birthing a new one.”
He sits back a touch, looking to Sidori curiously. “I suppose my question is ultimately simple, though I want to make a point to not question particular military dossiers as we know many of the Guard are abundantly capable. But, why them instead of something new?”
Magistrix Silverspell watched Magister Duskfury from over the rim of her teacup as he jested about not making her beg for his help. Her incredulousness was skillfully hidden behind her pleasant features, even offering him a smile as she set the teacup down in its saucer, then the saucer down on the table next to her. Sidori’s long, thin fingers steepled together just below her chin as she thought on her answer.
“To critique just the Phoenix Guard for unsavory moments in the face of insurmountable odds would be unfair to critique our people as a whole of our lapses in judgement when we faced survival or annihilation. You and I both know that we, as members of the Magistry, had a direct hand in some of those unintended outcomes,” she gives him a pointed look with her fel green gaze, using the very corruption of her own features as a way to underscore her point.
She leans back in her chair again, bony elbows poking prominent depressions in the plush armrest of her chair. Her fingers still remain steepled at her lips. Finally, she rests her hands in her lap.
“The Phoenix Guard is the most logical choice because they made a name for themselves fighting those insurmountable odds and surviving. By being the sword in campaigns outside our borders, they kept Quel’Thalas safe. If they are called upon to be the shield in a time of need, they will fight tooth and nail to fulfill their oath of service,” Sidori’s voice, normally gentle and measured, becomes a touch more impassioned with each point she’s made.There used to be stories of her delivering such speeches at Magistry gatherings or lectures at the Academy; most thought that she had lost her fight after the war.
“I don’t mean to be fatalistic or even nihilistic about this, Magister Duskfury. But you and I both understand the enormity of cosmic powers and related horrors from Karesh that could very well be waiting to converge upon us. What is the nature of the void?” she asks in a tone not unlike an Academy professor, and answers her own question. “The void’s nature is to consume. Where is the brightest spot of its antithesis on all of Azeroth? Right here. The Sunwell.”
Finally, the Magistrix sighs.
“...I can’t lose it again, Vinlan,” she murmurs, foregoing formality in the name of vulnerability. “None of us can. It’s up to us to stack the deck in our favor and use everything in our power to help make sure that doesn’t happen again. I believe the Phoenix Guard to be a part of that.”
Vinlan removes his formal guard, his defenses lowered with the veritas of the subject matter. He allows a lengthy pause before taking a long, soft sigh, looking up into her fel green eyes with his own. He manages a soft smile, a genuine one.
“You know,” he begins, his tone markedly different as he drops the guise of a conniving Magister. “There are so many who would say that we operate at opposite sides of the spectrum. That your penchant for academics and my militaristic interests are to be at odds.” He sits a little straighter, shifting his body to face her fully.
“They would be wrong,” he says firmly with an accompanying pause for emphasis. “And I am most glad to see it. You are right, and we all, myself included, know it. The Sunwell must be defended at all costs by any, and every, means necessary - our very continued survival depends on that. I don’t think any of us can lose it again - I would fear for what we would become.”
“To reflect on my earlier points,” he continues, “I mean not to criticize the Guard, truly. I only posit potential lines of questioning that others within our ranks may consider. I cannot and will not deny their potential, their strength, their courage, or their merits - their dossiers speak fully upon all of that.”
He relaxes somewhat, still continuing his thoughts as they swirl from one to the next. “Ultimately, that you chose the Knight-Lord to lead the Runesworn project speaks to your trust in militaristic affairs, something that most assuredly piqued my interest. While unexpected, your summons this evening has laid bare your plan, your vision, and your goals, and I am humbled by your openness on the subject.”
He leans forward, glancing across the desk to see if any documentation had already been drafted while returning his voice to one of formality. “Magistrix Silverspell, it would be my honour to offer my support of recommissioning the Phoenix Guard in an effort to strengthen the defenses of Quel’Thalas. I believe our co-sponsorship could send an important message to the Magistry at large, and I do thank you for the trust and the opportunity.”
Sensing the discussion reaching a favorable conclusion, one of Sidori’s attendants brings in a leatherbound file folder with a formal declaration having already been drafted. With a bow, the attendant presents the file folder and Sidori shows the new charter for the Phoenix Guard.
Proclamation for Circumstances Regarding Reactivation of the Phoenix Guard WHEREAS, the mixed military entity known as the Phoenix Guard shall be considered for reactivation should the following criteria be met: • Military action taken against Quel’Thalas, the Sunwell or other territories belonging to the Kingdom. • Defense of existing Runestones or minor Runestone fragments discovered through the Runesworn project. • Existential threat to Quel’Thalas, regardless of nature of aggressor. • Any other emergency requiring decisive military action for defense or stabilization. WHEREAS, should the Phoenix Guard be reactivated for duty, it shall be overseen by the undersigned officials: • Magistrix Sidori Silverspell • Magister Vinlan Duskfury Both of the Sunspire, reporting to the Regent-Lord and Grand Magister. WHEREAS, should the Phoenix Guard be reactivated for duty, it shall be commanded by the named individuals: • Knight-Lord Ina’thia Dawnblade, of the Blood Knight Order •Ranger Captain Ruthar Ronaestrider, of the Farstriders The undersigned members of the Magistry sign this document understanding the responsibility of the defense of Quel’Thalas, and do so willingly and without hesitation. Should the time come for dire measures to protect the kingdom, both Magistry officials will activate the below enchantments on the parchment. HEREBY SIGNED by, 𝑀𝒶𝑔𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓇𝒾𝓍 𝒮𝒾𝒹𝑜𝓇𝒾 𝒮𝒾𝓁𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈𝓅𝑒𝓁𝓁 (The rune intended for Sidori is an elegant circular pattern with four circles within it, referencing the Runestones of Quel’Thalas and penned in glowing blue ink.) 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔙𝔦𝔫𝔩𝔞𝔫 𝔇𝔲𝔰𝔨𝔣𝔲𝔯𝔶 (The rune intended for Vinlan is a more geometric representation of a phoenix and the sun, referencing his preference toward militaristic strength and penned in glowing red ink.)
Sidori waves an enchanted feather quill over to her hand, which she snatches out of the air. Without any fanfare, she signs her name in large and flowing script next to her rune. Once satisfied with her signature, she floats the parchment and quill to Vinlan.
Finally, she offers a kind – but weary – smile.
“I hope that we do not need to use this.”
Vinlan takes his time reading the document with deep scrutiny before taking the quill in kind and affixing his signature.
“I couldn’t agree more,” he adds after added the final filigree of his signature. “Though I believe I speak for many when I offer that I’d rather be prepared than surprised.”
He places the quill down next to the document and looks upon it, the swirling official text glinting with the power of their combined signatures. “The Sword and Shield rings out from the Spires once more, Magistrix Silverspell. I thank you for the opportunity to see it so. May this partnership bear much fruit in the time to come.”