#prepatch questlines

[wolfaelans]

Long Away [Part Four]

A twig snapped before he struck, giving Liraelan scant time to react. She twisted to face and block the sin’dorei’s attack as he sneered up at her, a dark hunger in his eyes as he pulled out of her grapple.

“Your fighting is pointless, savage.” he taunted, his voice giving her chills as she snarled. 

Without a word she attacked, their daggers flashing in the moonlight as she barely managed to keep him at bay. He was almost as fast as Sebanti, quickly turning her to the defensive. Fatigue from the day made her struggle to keep up, small nicks from barely deflected swings marking her arms and slashing across her tattoos.

A rush of shadow moved him to flank her and she twisted around, wide open for the knife that plummeted towards her chest. Before she could throw herself backward a blur of dark violet blindsided him as a larger elf tackled the sin'dorei. Her heart stuttered as she met Daerodane’s angry gaze before watching him vanish off into the darkness.

Taking the opening he gave her, she did the same and escaped the murderous sin’dorei as he laughed into the night.

Hiding in the shadows, she rested against a tree as she tried to catch her breath. Too much... it was all too much and she just wanted to sleep. She heard a rustle and opened her eyes, too tired to tense. A deep red falcosaur stepped over and stooped down, butting its head against hers affectionately. Reaching up to pet him, she sighed as she saw the blood that marked him, too.

“I’m glad to see you in one piece, my friend.” she murmured, slowly standing. Another crimson figure joined them, blue eyes glowing in the darkness.

“There you are, Lira. I’ve been looking for you most of the evening. Climb up, I’ll get us to Lor’lathil. You look dead on your feet.”

Offering a tired grin to the death knight, she stepped over to rest her forehead against his chestplate. “I dunno, I think you still beat me out for ‘dead on your feet’, Gid.”

“Just get on the damn falcosaur.” he remarked, amusement in his tone as he pushed her back to the waiting beast.

[wolfaelans]

A Soft Glow [Part Two]

The assassin stood utterly still as she stared at the wall, her chest tight and cheeks wet, though she was completely unaware of the latter. Lira watched the wisps gather and form a barrier, pain and panic rising in her as she remembered the last time they had done such a thing.

Ashes drifted from the sky as the soft glow gathered into a cleansing fire, so many swarming that the massive eredar could do nothing to fend them off. Even from afar she could see their light, watching as the spirits of her kin perished in a mass effort to defeat the force that threatened them all.

“Not again...” she heard herself whisper. 

Suddenly moving into action, she made her way deeper into Darkshore. The Horde - and Sylvanas - was held off by the wisps for now and the kaldorei forces were regrouping in the woods. Lira already felt weary, blood drying on her skin even as she moved through the mindless, mechanical habit of repoisoning her daggers. So many emotions warred within her, leaving her numb and almost empty in the meanwhile.

A whistle warned her and she twisted to the side, an arrow nicking her ear before embedding itself into a nearby tree. Diving into the shadows and ducking behind the tree, she peered out to pinpoint the source. A dark ranger came into view and Lira scowled, knowing her shadows would only hide her for so long against that particular enemy. Before she could move to engage, however, a paladin sprang out from a clearing and unwittingly allowed the hidden elf another moment of reprieve.

Focusing out towards the water as she leaned back against the tree, the glint of something caught her attention. Narrowing her eyes, Lira set out towards the old naga caverns to investigate the odd reflection. Reaching the shore, her ears wilted back in dismay as she realized what the odd, pale spikes of rock must be.

Azerite, that substance in Silithus that the factions had been having a fit about.

“Fuck.”

[wolfaelans]

The Burning and the Pack

I wrote out Lira’s activities during the prepatch events, but what were the others up to?

Gidrael

Otherwise occupied by Ebon Blade tasks, he didn’t find out about the Burning until afterwards. Even now he has not gone to Stormwind, but that will change soon. He really didn’t find the act surprising and so long as he knows his people got away safely, he also doesn’t overly care.

What can he say? He’s a death knight. His limited compassion is bound to few.

Sebanti

As witnessed in Lira’s PoV, Sebanti is having the time of his awful, awful life. Killing freely, he’s gone down the shore and back up, claiming lives and staining his blades with the blood of the dead. He sat across the waters and watched the tree go up and only made his way there when he suspected that Lira might not get out on her own because of her ‘irritating hero complex.’

He’s now lounging in the shadier places of Stormwind, mostly at night and always masked, or lurking Duskwood. Guy’s still got a price on his head and with the remaining sentinels shacking up in Stormwind, it’s less free than it had been before.

Vae’riss

Vae’riss was one of the priestesses who kept to the Temple of Elune in order to help tend to the wounded of Darkshore. When the fires started she did her best to aid with evacuations. When Lira found her she had been close to unconsciousness, suffocating on the smoke. She’s recovering still in Stormwind, but she’s alive.

Loraelais and Luceris

Once Liraelan parted with them in Astranaar, they heeded her instructions and made their way to Ratchet to catch the first ship they could to Stranglethorn. They made it to Stormwind only a day ahead of the Burning and are in mourning for the great losses that were caused.

[wolfaelans]

Lira’s Path of Thorns Masterpost

Now that all the bits are out I’m gonna link them here for easier access to those who are interested.

[Part One] [Part Two] [Part Three] [Part Four] [Part Five] [Part Six] [Part Seven] [Part Eight] [Part Nine] [Part Ten]

[wolfaelans]

Howling at the Moon [Part Nine]

The Stormwind Keep was in an odd sort of ordered chaos as people were sorted out upon exiting the portal. Liraelan felt gentle hands usher her over toward the makeshift infirmary. She felt her mask untied, canteen pressed to cracked lips, the young king’s assuring voice trying to bolster some semblance of hope as the elves escaped into his home.

The seed of anger started to crack as Lira’s mind cleared, listening to the chatter around her, quietly gathering information as her eyes searched. Relief filled her as she spotted Vae’riss sitting up at a cot, her mooncloth robe singed but the elf shrouded within whole and healthy. She saw Sabrieal helping to guide civilians through the mess, and then she saw Tyrande.

She ignored the protests as she got up and pushed away from the healers, ducking through the crowd. Across the way, dark amber eyes followed her movements and Sabe only just saw her sister and her target in time to intercept, grabbing her arm.

Lira was stilled, but not silenced. “TYRANDE!”

Ignoring those who turned to look, Lira’s focus was solely on the High Priestess. At first confusion marked the woman’s features before she recognized the fury upon Lira’s and turned defensive.

“Lira, no, you need to re-” Sabrieal protested, pulling Lira back as the assassin tried to lunge out of her grip. Luckily, the sentinel’s grip proved far more stubborn.

“YOU LEFT US BEHIND. WHAT KIND OF LEADER ARE YOU THAT YOU LEFT YOUR PEOPLE TO BURN!?” she yelled across the chamber, singed hair falling into her face as she continued to struggle against her sister.

Voice cold and almost ethereal, Tyrande scowled at the furious elf. “What would you have me do, assassin? Leave Malfurion to die?”

A growl lodged in her throat, eyes narrowing to silver slits of anger. “You had options. Anyone could have helped you transport him while you came to assist evacuations. And even if that wasn’t so, you chose ONE individual over ALL of our people. WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF ELUNE, AND YOU ARE HER CHOSEN. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO PROTECT US OR FUCKING DIE TRYING!” Her voice broke as she yelled across the silence, a myriad of faces turned to watch her and the High Priestess.

“You would be well to watch your tongue. You cannot fathom the choices I must make -”

“FUCK YOU!” Tyrande looked as if Lira had smacked her as she interrupted, no longer trying to escape her sister as she shook with anger and grief. “We all make choices every fucking day. If you had stayed, we still wouldn’t have saved everyone but we could have saved more. And if you had died, you’d at least have a shred of respect to your name, Tyrande. Elune’s Chosen? I bet Elune is fucking disappointed.”

Before Tyrande could retort, Lira felt a hand on the back of her head, the scent of druidic power cutting through the stain of smoke on her skin. Before she could register the voice, sleep and tranquility claimed her.

[wolfaelans]

A Flicker of Hope [Part Eight]

(Yes I know the quest names are in the opposite order I AM DOING MY BEST)

Lira flew over the burning boughs of Teldrassil, swooping low on the hippogryph to soak a long cloth in the lake before lifting back up. Her eyes already burned from the smoke, but she could lengthen how long she could breathe until she found her lover. Tying the cloth around her mouth and nose, she moved the beast to land in a clear area as she caught a panicking civilian and stopped another.

“Get on! He will carry you to safety!” she yelled over the crackle of flames. She helped them get on and grabbed his antler gently, looking him sternly in the eye. “Do not tire yourself, but rescue as many people as you can. Elune guide you, friend.”

Turning away as he took flight, the coughing civilians clinging to him, she moved through the streets and helped to redirect people toward the temple. Lira ran as she went, picking up fallen elves and guiding them to those who could carry them to safety. 

A flash of white caught her eye and she took off running, lifting her weak and coughing priestess from the grass. Vae blinked and squinted, grabbing Lira’s vest. “Lira... they’re trapped in... the house.” she rasped, her voice hoarse from the thick air. Following Vae’s weak gesture, Lira saw the door with a fiery branch blocking the way. 

Turning back to the path, Lira caught the eye of a sentinel as she raced back towards the temple. Intercepting her, Lira pressed Vae’riss into her arms. “Get her to the temple! I’ll follow behind soon!”

Lifting the small priestess in her arms, the sentinel only nodded and continued on her way with her new burden. A small twinge of regret spiked in the assassin’s heart as she watched the white braid move out of sight. I didn’t say I loved her...

Face stern and determined as she moved back toward the house, she maneuvered between the wall and branch before dropping, pushing out with her legs to scoot the burning wood out of the way. Wincing as she felt the heat press through the soles of her boots, she lashed out with a few solid kicks to finish the distance before scrambling to her feet and kicking open the door.

Ducking as smoke poured from the frame, she heard faint coughing. Her eyes burned against the press of the heat but she dove in anyway, grabbing blurred shapes that looked like people. They moved with her urgent pulls, herding them back out through the door.

It felt like she had been there forever already, in this hell. Tears she couldn’t feel dried on her face and she brushed away an ember that caught in her hair as she continued through the city, making her own way toward the temple as she guided as many as she could see to safety. Spotting a crying child near the gates, she moved toward her until someone grabbed her hand tightly.

Turning to look, she saw a masked and hooded elf glaring down at her with dark amber eyes. “You’ve been here long enough, Lira, let’s go.”

Scowling through her makeshift mask, she tried to yank away from him. “Let go, Sebanti. I’m getting the child.”

“I don’t care about the kid, Lira, I care about you. You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“I would rather die than leave a child behind.” She moved to stab him with her belt knife, his grip releasing immediately. She turned and sprinted over to the child, lifting her up like a doll as he moved to catch up.

“You are impossible, Bladesinger.” he hissed, dragging both elves back to the hippogryph he’d claimed from Rut’theran.

Flying them low as he held onto Lira and the child both, he pulled them off the beast and half dragged them into the temple. Civilians were being ushered through as a pair of mages struggled to keep a portal to Stormwind open. Lira blinked through the chaos, feeling like something was missing.

“...Where is Tyrande?” she asked, feeling the rasp in her throat.

“She’s already evacuated to Stormwind.” 

Letting him push her through the portal, Lira felt a seed of anger burn in her chest as magic swept them away.

[wolfaelans]

From the Ashes [Part Seven]

“Lira.”

Daggers dripping with blood as she moved from fight to fight, blending with the shadows only to leap out and surprise another combatant with flashing daggers. She lost count in how many fights she had turned the tides in, felling a warlock before they could strike down a priest. Somewhere deep within she felt a spark of guilt when she cut down a nightborne, one of the people only a short span ago she worked tirelessly to save.

Why had it come to this?

The blue and black blur moved to intercept a shaman when something grabbed her arm, hidden as she was. Lira moved to lash out with her other hand, fangs bared and eyes feral before her opposite wrist was caught and she looked up at a familiar face.

“Lira, we’re losing ground, we have to retreat back toward Lor’lathil. We have to move quickly before we’re surrounded by Horde.” Saeriyn said, slowly releasing his hold on her as he gestured toward his hippogryph.

“After Lor’lathil, where are we supposed to move back to?” she snapped. “The sea? We cannot give ground -”

“Don’t make me drag you backward, Bladesinger. We’re going back to the village to regroup.”

“Where is there to regroup, Saer!?” she cried before he could silence her. “They already attacked it! They’re already there! We ha -” Her words stopped as her gaze drifted past him, her heart plummeting as silver widened and the ground seemed to fall away under her feet. “No...”

He turned to look as she gripped his arm to keep from letting her knees give out, his own eyes widening at the horizon. 

Teldrassil was aflame, the smoke pouring from the great tree and shrouding the sky in thicker night. 

Her near shriek pierced the sudden silence as she rushed forward, grabbing the hippogryph’s reigns. “Vae’riss!”

[wolfaelans]

A Threat From the North [Part Six]

Lor’lathil was alive with Alliance forces and occupied healers. Lira’s tired gaze searched for the sight of her priestess, the pale elf nowhere to be seen. Ears drooping wearily, she slid off the bloodgazer as they reached the inn and made her way inside. Just a few hours of sleep... and maybe some food.

Gid only left her side once he ensured she’d found someplace to sleep, curled up between resting sentinels and other Alliance warriors. Body sore and exhausted, the sleep she dearly needed quickly claimed her.

Hair disheveled where it wasn’t caked with dried blood, Lira made her way down from the inn and looked for Gidrael. Pausing as another figure caught her attention, she rushed across the building as she dodged around people, the sting of relieved tears pricking her eyes.

The other illidari tensed as they saw her coming, Lira’s target smiling warmly as she braced for the assassin’s tackling embrace. “Mother! Thank Elune you’re alright. There’s been so much going on. Have you seen Sabe?” 

Ashirae hugged her daughter tightly before pulling back, her head shaking. “Not since I departed from Darnassus. She and the young Nightwhisper were gathering supplies and more sentinels when I left.”

“What about Vae? Is she still in the city?”

“Yes, helping to tend to the more grievously wounded. She’s perfectly fi-”

Piercing cries from outside interrupted them and a warrior burst into the inn, panic on his face. “The Horde went through Felwood! They broke through the line!”

Everyone seemed to freeze and then move all at once, weapons in hand as they rushed outside. Lira moved with them, the illidari close behind, as she wet her daggers with fresh poison. Horde forces were already breaking toward the village. Grim expression set on her face, she adopted the cold poise of her profession.

As she leaped across the bridge, daggers singing through the air toward the enemy, Liraelan the assassin came alive.