#thaelea

[numbaoneflaya]

PAPA....IF ITS OKAY...MAY I request some info about THAELEA?! WHATS THEIR RACE/CLASS/BUILD?! WHO IS THEIR BFF!?.. how do they get redeemed 🫂 ...🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤 I am brutally addicted to hearing about peoples tavs-oh god ESPECIALLYYYYYYYYYY DURGES- DURGES ARE MY FAVORITE👹👹👹 JBAVAV THANK YOU

SWEET GIRTHWORM U HAVE AWAKENED THE BEAST I AM AFRAID… MANY WORDS BELOW THIS POINT FOR THOSE WHO DARE

THISSSSS IS THAELEA she is a DROW BARD!!! She is around 6’1 and a real sweetheart if you discount the torture necrophilia rape and murder she has committed! She was born and raised in the underdark where murder and torture were normal and she didn’t fit in there even as a baby bcs at her base she is a sensitive soul 😔 read a lot about Drizzt as a kid and always wanted to one day escape to be a hero like him. Bookworm and music lover at heart no matter pre urge, post urge, post memory loss, etc. anyway when the URGE hit when she was around 12 she killed and ate her mother and siblings and best friends 😞 tried to kill herself afterwards when she got back to herself but her little butler bestie didn’t let her! Instead took her on a long journey to ‘acceptance’ to you know the place the bhaalspawn place. There she was remade and forced to embrace the parts of herself she’d been fighting.

She was reallyyyy good at bhaaling as we all know. Daddies favorite little freak type beat. She was also in love with Orin who’s only a few years younger than her. Orin is her half sister yeah and thealea was hopelessly enraptured by her and her artistry. Unfortunately Orin is the jealous type and we all know how that goes :/ finally invites thaelea to smash and then smashes her skull in and puts a worm in it. Major L moment for thaelea NGL.

ANYWAY she’s a bard who sings about the main things she’s always held onto besides the atrocities- the vague ideas of friendship, love, community and belonging. Since she’s had her memories wiped those are the only things she knows- the ideas of those things. And those are the only things that make her want to keep fighting when she didn’t know her name- the idea that those things exist, somewhere, somehow.

KARLACH AND WYLL are her besties… at least at first. Before the urge comes back and ruins her again. The three of them, although thaelea is pretty damn evil and always thinking about killing torturing and consuming, well, the three of them are the three main optimists with, ironically, the best morals in the group. It’s a whole other can of worms when you know… she tells them all about the urge. It’s a bit of a shock for everyone to learn that the giant sweetheart therapist of the group is actually you know. A monster.

[numbaoneflaya]

BTW thaelea immediately after defeating orin and rejecting bhaal is the world biggest cry baby literally cannot stop crying at everything now that the urge is gone. Sees a cat. Cries. Eats stew that’s pretty good. Cries. Sees a fabric color she really likes. Cries. Someone puts their hand on her shoulder out of concern and to see what tf she’s crying about. Cries harder. That puddle over there looks pretty. Cries. Had a good nights sleep without any nightmares. Cries. You get the gist

[numbaoneflaya]

God the temple of bhaal is so fucking try hard. Thaelea going in there with the gang and legit embarrassed not just for the whole used to be a intestines fucking murderer thing but also like :/ yeah so this is where I used to hang out :/ yeah all the string lights are in skulls and we actually had to make a bunch of bat houses to keep them coming back in for the aesthetic. Yeah. Yeah we actually had a full cleaning crew for cleaning up all the bat poop but leaving the blood stains. It was a whole thing.

[grimscale-mercenaries]

The Ring

Written by: Thaelea Solarsphere

A full moon shone over Duskwood that evening. The bright light from the celestial body was more than enough to make even the gloomy Darkshire look more pleasant. People were out and about in the city square, mingling and doing business. Thaelea had returned home early that evening, after once again being abandoned by Covie after she initiated a brief conversation. That woman will never tire of running away after a quick chat. Once she had procured some vegetables in the square, Lea returned to her modest manor on the outskirts of town.

“Saraena, I’m home” she called as she crossed the threshold and shut the door behind her. “Welcome home, mom” her daughter answered, but of course didn’t bother actually coming to greet Lea. The girl may be only four months old, but she behaved like a teenager. Thaelea didn’t make an issue of it, leaving Saraena to her own plans while she tended to some work. It had been a week since she had stumbled across a crate full of allegedly magically-infused objects. Though she had given everything within a cursory glance, the Ren’dorei  had little time or desire to fully investigate each one, apart from rooting out a few random trinkets that had no supernatural value at all. Now that she had some spare time, Lea chose to sit down at the desk in her private study, pick one of the items, and really examine it.

None of the objects within the crate had seemed particularly unique or power, not enough to give her a reason to focus on that one specifically. Instead, Thaelea just dug her hand into the sack she had placed them all in and drew one out at random. It wasn’t the torn bear or the calcified horn, which she expected considering their size. No, Lea drew out a ring. The trinket was nothing special; a simple golden band with a minor diamond. It was lovely, in its way, but to an Elf of noble upbringing, it was unimpressive. Lea was poised to set it aside and draw again, but noticed an inscription on the inside of the band: “For the one whose love could not be bought.” A curious message. It wasn’t all that odd, really, but it was enough that Thaelea took an interest. 

The Ren’dorei placed the ring on a mat atop her desk. The mat itself, made of velvet, had a circle runes; the ring placed in the very center. With the ring in place, the runes began to glow a faint pinkish-violet. The arrangement was meant to nullify any native magic in the object beyond the circle, preventing, in theory, any harmful effects from getting out of control. From there, Lea leveled her hand over the ring, her palm and digits glowing a mix of purple and green as she probed the ring. There wasn’t a terribly large amount of magic in the ring, suggesting that its abilities were limited. Even so, there was still magic within the ring. Was it Arcane? No, Arcane had a more neutral feel, and this was most certainly not neutral. Fel? No, far too stable. Perhaps...Void. Yes, that was it. There was a core of void magic buried within the ring.

“Why would someone imbue a ring with Void magic?” she asked aloud to herself. Void was a curious choice of magic to use to amplify an object. Arcane, Fel, even Elemental magics provided a more direct and overt power-boost. Void was less pronounced, working more subtly rather than augmenting a person’s raw potential. Was someone trying to drive another mad, she thinks to herself.  Or maybe affect personality? Thaelea shook her head. “No, the inscription is the clue. ‘For someone whose love could not be bought’. Now what could that mean?” Void magic was not something that usually went hand in hand with love. In theory, it’s possible that the magic was imbued after the inscription, to affect someone after they had already become familiar with the ring. Possible, but the Ren’dorei was certain that the inscription and the Void magic went hand in hand. “Maybe-” a knock came at the door, not the study’s, but the house’s. 

“I’ll be right there!” Thaelea yelled. She took one more look at the ring, then turned in her seat to rise, only to find the face of her daughter directly in hers. “What’s that?” Saraena asked, eyes locked on the  ring. Thaelea jumped. It was bad enough that she had failed to hear her daughter enter, but to not sense the presence of her magic at atll? That was shocking. “Saraena, what are you-” The younger Solarsphere, not waiting for her mother’s answer, reached out and took the ring into her hand. “It’s pretty. Can I have it?” Lea’s eyes widened, beyond shocked. “Saraena! Put that down immediately!” The girl giggles mischievously and quickly darts out of the study. “What does it do?” She yelled back Thaelea leapt from her chair and ran after her daughter in a state of near-panic. Who knows what magic Saraena was exposing herself to?

The knock at the door repeated. This time, Lea ignored it. She was much too occupied trying to catch her daughter. “Saraena! This is not a game! Give it to me, -now-!” Of course, the child ignored her mother. She ran into the kitchen, putting the table between her and her mother. “Tell me what it does and I’ll give it back.” “You spoiled child, this is not a negotiation!” “Did Covie propose?” “SARAENA!” Thaelea made an effort to lunge across the table, hoping to grasp the ring from Saraena’s hand, but the girl is quicker on her feet. She dodged the grab, then sprinted out to the living area. “Mother, someone is knocking at the door! We can’t be rude, can we?” As Thaelea pushed herself off the surface of the table, she groans. Maybe father’s way was best, she thought to herself before chasing after her daughter. 

By the time Thaelea caught up to her daughter, Saraena had slipped the ring onto her finger. Lea froze upon the realization, momentarily watching her child for an effect. “Saraena...Take that off.” The girl rolled her eyes. “You worry too much, mom.” Ignoring Lea, yet again, she left the ring on her finger and opened the door. It was Mr. Cromwell, the grocer from the square. “Please pardon the interruption, Lady Solarsphere.” Though it was Saraena at the door, the middle-aged man spoke past her to Thaelea. “You forgot the apples you purchased.” The elder Solarsphere smiled, though it was clear she was nervous. “Thank you, Mr. Cromwell. That’s very kind of you to bring them. Saraena, go put them in the kitchen, alright?” The girl didn’t move. “Saraena?” 

Thaelea could not see it, but her daughter stared at the man before her almost in awe. “Is...something wrong, ma’am?” Mr. Cromwell looked uneasy, The young lady just gazed at him. “Saraena? Are you ok? Thaelea moved closer to her daughter, the concern plain on her face. What is the ring doing to her? Before Lea reaches the girl, Saraena moved forward, thrusting herself against Mr. Cromwell in order to kiss him, and not just a small peck. Thaelea’s jaw dropped. “Saraena!” Poor Mr. Cromwell looked as though he had seen a ghost. He tried to step back, but Saraena would not allow it. When she finally peeled herself away, she gazed longingly up at the taller man. “You are such a kind man, a generous man. What more can a woman ask for in a husband?” That was enough. Thaelea abruptly stepped forward and pulled her daughter away. “My apologies, Mr. Cromwell. My daughter is...unwell. She’s been running a fever.” “Mother, let me go. You have no right to stand in my way.”

“QUIET!” “Mother, I love him! Let me go!” 

The Elves pushed and pulled at one another briefly. “Keep the apples, Mr. Cromwell. I need a word with my daughter.” Lea pushed Saraena back then swiftly shut the door. She’d have to deal with Cromwell, later. 

Saraena groaned her protest at having been forcibly separated. “It’s not fair, mom! You have no right to lecture me about the affairs of the heart!” There was no mistaking what had brought this on. Saraena had shown no interest in the man at any point before. As far as Lea knew, she had never even met the man. Her amethyst hues fell to the ring on Saraena’s finger. “Saraena...Give me the ring.” The young woman looked briefly at her hand, then stepped back. “No. It’s mine. He gave it to me. We’re going to be married.” Thaelea sighed. “Just...let me have it back for a moment. I need to look at something. I promise you can have it back.” It was a lie, but Lea couldn’t be burdened with rigid honesty at the moment. Even so, Saraena refused, covering the ring with the opposite hand. “Saraena!” Lea yelled, but her daughter still refused. “Saraena, I’m very sorry about this.” Lea nodded, but not to her daughter. It was obvious that her gaze was on something behind her. Saraena took note of Lea’s line of sight, and swiftly turned around. She found a succubus, one of her mother’s many servants. The demon looked into the girl’s eyes. “Shh, don’t resist, child. It is so much more enjoyable if you surrender.” It was a seduction spell, used by succubi to incapacitate their targets. 

The look in the demon’s eyes was mesmerizing. Saraena froze in place, caught in a trance-like state. Lea took the opportunity to quickly relieve her daughter of the ring. “Thank you, Fereya. Everything is fine now.” The succubus nodded and broke its hold over the younger Solarsphere before fading away into the shadows. Saraena blinked twice, confused at what had just happened. “Wh...what happened? Mom?” Lea stepped up behind her, placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “It’s alright, love. You were under the effect of an enchantment. You were….not yourself. Why don’t you go lie down for a while? We’ll discuss this further, later.” Lea turned to return to her study, pausing briefly to add “Along with the need for a child to show proper -respect- to her mother.” Saraena nodded with ears wilted. She may not have remembered exactly transpired, but her memory of seizing the ring was very clear. 

Upon returning to her study, Lea locked the door this time. She placed the ring back into the nullification zone on the mat. “So, you do have a use” she remarks aloud. The brief incident with Saraena and Mr. Cromwell, while troubling, had proved to be useful. Judging from the events that took place, the ring seemed to inspire feelings of love in the wearer. And not just love, but the impression that the wearer is engaged to be married. But there were still questions that needed answering. Saraena had taken the ring herself, it had not been given to her, yet she believed Mr. Cromwell had given it to her. Perhaps it has something to do with him being the first person she saw after putting the ring on? If nothing else, this explained why Void magic was chosen. No magic affects the minds of people like Void magic. Whether driving them mad, altering personalities, or even completely dominating a mind, Void magic is the go-to. 

Thaelea sat back against the chair, drumming her fingers on her desk as she stared at the ring. The effect of the object was interesting enough, but she found herself more intrigued by the story behind it. She mused aloud to herself, “You could not buy love, so you created and imposed it, instead. How devious of you.” The way she spoke was as if the ring’s maker was standing right beside her. As treacherous as such an object was, the Elf couldn’t help but admire the work that went into it. The amount of magic within was so small, and yet it had such a powerful effect. The corner of her lips tugged upward as Lea took on a lop-sided smile. She reached over to the bracelet on her wrist, opening a comm line to an individual, rather than the entire group. “Covie, darling, I have something interesting to show you. Are you busy tomorrow?” 

[grimscale-mercenaries]

Midnight Madness

Written by: Thaelea Solarsphere

So much had happened this night. It began with a rather cordial conversation with Svarr, then to a few tense moments with Covie, and finally tears, again with Covie. The Grimscale Collector had abruptly resigned from the company. No one saw it coming. Daegan was shocked, and poor Dusty nearly succumbed to a panic attack. Thaelea, upon hearing of the outrageous event over the comm line, set off to talk some sense into Covie. Or, failing that, slap some sense into her. 

Things between Covie and Thaelea had been tense since the latter’s ejection from the company. Even after her return, matters had not settled. There was stubbornness and pride on both sides,  as well as a bit of awkwardness, given the open and admitted affection the Elf held for Covie. But when the news of her resignation from Grimscale came, Lea abandoned the ‘game’ that the two had been playing. Some things were more important than who was right or who apologized first. 

Daegan informed the Ren’dorei that Covie had retreated to Tol Barad, her favored locale of late. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lea followed, meeting Daegan at the inn on the island. After a few snippy remarks in the form of Daegan blaming Lea for this mess, and Thaelea resenting it, he led the woman across the island to a predetermined location. There was some magic at work, as Daegan placed on rune on the Elf’s hand before allowing her to go after Covie. Once found, Lea discovered Covie toying with Blood magic, as evidenced by a poor rabbit that exploded, showering both of them in blood and gore. Such an affair would have been shocking...any other time. For now, more important matters. 

Thaelea, ever her entitled, fiery self, demanded answers, going so far as grasping the collar of Covie’s dress. At first dismissive, Covie eventually made reference to Lea’s firing, which only enflamed the Elf further. After a heated exchange between the two regarding what had happened, who betrayed who, and whose hurt was greater, the standoff came to an end after Thaelea tearfully apologized, eliciting an apology from Covie as well, albeit an unnecessary one. With the tension rapidly disintegrating, Lea felt certain that Covie would come back to the fold. But to her horror, the woman refused to return. She assured Lea that she would not leave her, which admittedly, is what the Ren’dorei was most concerned with, but Covie still refused to return to Grimscale. Why?

In the moments after Covie’s refusal, Thaelea’s mind raced with thoughts. So many emotions raging within.  Why is she doing this?

Is this my fault? Another burden to bear?

Why now?

What could be-

And there it was. A single thought took hold in the Elf’s mind. Covie had been spending a great deal of time with Svarr, the ‘barbarian’ as Lea called him. He’d been showing her things, teaching her things. Rituals, visions, ideology, who knows what else? Yes, that must be the answer. Grimscale was Covie’s life, her family. That bond was the very thing that had enraged Covie so much at Thaelea, the elf having called the company ‘treacherous’ and ‘unreliable’. Yes, this explains it all. Svarr twisted and warped her. It’s his fault. 

After their emotional exchange, Covie politely suggested that Thaelea leave. The Elf was reluctant to go, but she did all the same. There was nothing more she could get from Covie tonight. But as she turned from the woman, she already began to simmer with rage. An idea had taken root in her mind. Svarr had to pay. This was all his fault. His teachings, his rituals, his damned visions. At no point did Covie even suggest a connection, but so desperate was Thaelea to explain what had just happened, her mind latched onto the only thing that made sense. A wretched barbarian had manipulated Covie into doing something horrible. This could not stand. 

Walking through the woods of Tol Barad, Lea’s blood boiled. A trail of dead animals, mostly stags, deer, and assorted small creatures, but no cats, of course. The poor things looked shriveled and lifeless. Thaelea had been draining their life essence right out of them. In her rage, she did to each of these things what she wanted to do to Svarr. Even a few stray demons, escaped from the prisons below, were drained of their essence and left to rot. Any living thing larger than an insect that had the misfortune of crossing the woman’s path at that time was felled by her magic. This proved most unfortunate to a particular group of Orcs. 

Tol Barad had largely been abandoned by the Alliance and Horde. No longer of strategic significance, the island was vulnerable to raiding parties, from both sides. One such raiding party, Orcish outriders, stumbled across Thaelea as she wandered down the main road. What easy prey she must have seemed. A singular Elf, alone on the road, with no apparent means of defense. They must have thought themselves fortunate. They were not. Thaelea was a woman easily underestimated. She herself said frequently that she was no fighter, and she wasn’t. But she didn’t need to be. 

The leader of the Orcs approached her, shouting something in Orcish. The language was familiar to Thaelea, thanks to her time with the Horde, but she paid him no heed. He shouted again, dismounting from his riding wolf and placing himself in Thaelea’s path. Only now did the Elf acknowledge this brute’s existence. The green-skinned beast smiled at her, flashing large, rotting tusks. Lea just stared back with half-lidded eyes. There was no expression on her face. She was totally blank. It didn’t seem to trouble the Orc, any. He reached for the axe he kept on his back, preparing to cut down the Elf without a second thought. 

When the Orc reached for his weapon, Thaelea immediately began muttering something. It was...demonic? The Orcs took it for gibberish and ignored it. That was a mistake, for they failed to realize that a portal in reality had ripped open behind them. They also failed to realize the twelve-foot Wrathguard that stepped out of the portal, summoned to Azeroth by his mistress. The Orcish leader seemed poised to strike Thaelea, but was interrupted by the frenzied howl of one of his comrades. The other Orcs turned back to see Khillikad holding the rear-most Orc up by his head. The remaining two Orcs readied themselves for a proper fight, though not soon enough to save their comrade. The massive demon crushed the Orc’s skull in his grasp.

Two of the three remaining Orcs howled in rage at the loss of their friend, charging forward without a moment’s hesitation. Had they been a bit more caution, they might have noticed two more portals opening. A pair of felhounds lunged at the Orcs from the flank. They missed the first entirely, but successfully tore the rightmost Orc off his wolf. The felled Orc roared, intent to fight on, but he was lost as soon as the hounds had him. The creatures had no eyes, but a sense of smell that almost equated to vision. Their powerful jaws and jagged teeth snapped repeatedly at the Orc, biting, slashing, gnarling his forearms as he frantically tried to block. In the end, one of the felhounds scored a fortunate strike to the Orc’s throat. The strike, and the following rapid loss of blood, stopped all resistance. The demons devoured the Orc while he was still partially alive, but powerless to save himself.

Meanwhile, the Orc that had avoided the hounds went straight for Khillikad. The demon swung its massive axe. While the Orc managed to dodge, the wolf beneath her was split in two. Thrown from the beast, she recovered quickly and made another run at the titanic demon. Khillikad, for all his strength, was not invincible. But to most races of Azeroth, he’d be close to it. To an Orc, who favored frontal attacks that emphasized strength and ferocity, Khillikad was a near undefeatable foe. The Orc could not hope to overpower the demon, nor would her axe, small compared to the demon’s, have a chance at inflicting deep enough wounds. Yet, she charged all the same. For a fleeting moment, the Orc seemed as if she had gotten through, that she could slay the demon. This hope was dashed when the beast whirled around, striking the Orc with its spiked tail and knocking her into a tree. Khillikad did not even get close to her to finish the woman off. He hurled his axe towards her, imbedding it deep into the tree, as well as splitting the Orc’s skull from jaw to scalp. 

Now, only the ring leader remained. With the arrival of Lea’s demonic defenders, he had forgotten the Elf, focusing his attention on the savage creatures. But Lea had not forgotten him. With his attention focused elsewhere, she raised her hand and touched her palm to his back. An eerie, green glow enveloped him; his life essence was being ripped out. It didn’t take long to incapacitate the Orc. By the time he realized what was happening, it was already too late. He fell to his knees, then onto his side. His once impressive physique began to dwindle. Thaelea stepped around him, approaching the Orc’s face, and crouching down beside him. “Shh.” She says, just above a whisper. “You cannot die so long as your soul endures.” The woman spoke in Thalassian, while the Orc likely did not speak. “You’re a barbarian, like him.” She continued. “You look different, you fight for different things, but you’re just like him. You have your own ideas of honor, would infect others with your vile ideology, turn good women against their families…” The Elf’s hand fell to the Orc’s exposed chest, gently pressing her palm to him as the creature struggled to breathe. “You’ll never harm anyone ever again.” Her hand began to glow a pink-violet. The Orc, already weak, struggled, in vain, to move away from her hand, but it was no use. “And when I’m done with him, neither will he.” Lea pulls her hand away from the Orc slowly, tendrils of energy stretching between the two. It’s clear the Orc is suffering as he writhes. But a moment later, the energy stream stops, all light centering around Lea’s hand. The Orc? Motionless. No movement, no breathing. In the Elf’s hand was a gem, pink-violet in color. 

Thaelea looked down at her memento with a strange sort of smile, almost unhinged. “Yes, that’s the only way to deal with people like him, isn’t it?” She didn’t speak to anyone in particular, only musing openly to herself. “You did this to Covie, Svarr. You made her abandon us. I will never forgive you.” Her fingers closed around the newly-acquired gem as pale-violet eyes turned towards the sky. The little smirk grew into a wide, positively cheerful grin. “You took Covie from us. Now I’ll take your soul.” 

[grimscale-mercenaries]

Tears & Treason

Written by: Thaelea Solarsphere

A fire burned in the hearth of a modest manor on the outskirts of Darkshire. It wasn’t that cool in the dreary forest, but Thaelea certainly felt a chill. It had been trying day and night. So much lost in so little time. And for what? Pride? Stubbornness? A sense of self-righteousness that she, herself, was always railing against? As she sat before the fire, pale, half-lidded eyes staring into the flames with a complete lack of expression, the Ren’dorei replayed the events of the past twenty-four hours over and over in her head.

Her emotional state was something of a mess. Lea had gone from anger, born from a sense that she had been ignored or marginalized, to sorrow, owed to a feeling of betrayal, and finally to...nothing. She felt nothing. Since Dusty, the ever-pleasant Worgen Druid had tried to console her earlier in the day, Thaelea had been blank. She’d been staring into the fire with an uninterrupted stare for the better part of two hours, a small note clutched lightly in her right hand, when Saraena felt the need to speak to her mother. 

“Is everything okay, Mom?” She asked. The newest addition to the Solarsphere line, Saraena, had the appearance of an eighteen-year old Human, yet was scarcely four months old. The accelerated aging her mother had employed on the girl just recently completed, leaving her physically mature, and mentally mature...enough. “You’ve been sitting here for a while.” The concerned daughter’s words went unanswered. She was nervous. Lea had never seemed quite so off, though she had been prone to emotional instability before. She tried again. “Mom…?” “What is it, Saraena?” At last she answered. “I was worried. You haven’t said a word since you got home.” “I’m...thinking, love. It’s been a rough day. I’m sorry if I’ve neglected you.” “Of course not. I’m a big girl; I can take care of myself.” She smiled and approached her mother, taking her free hand. “Can I get you anything?” “No, thank you.” Lea’s gaze turned to her daughter. The first, genuine smile in two days spread across her face. “You know, you are the only thing I’ve done right since my exile. I can’t imagine life without you.” The elder Solarsphere squeezed the hand of her daughter and drew her in for an embrace. “Can you keep an eye on the house tonight? I need to take a trip overnight. I’ll be back tomorrow.” “A trip?” The concern in Saraena’s tone was evident. “Why don’t I come with you? You’re not yourself, Mom. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” “I’ll be fine, love. I just need to see someone.” Lea took her daughter to her chest in yet another hug, ensuring that her child did not see her throw the parchment in her right hand to the flames. 

After a few preparations and gathering of provisions, Lea called for her demonic steed and set off into the night. After leaving the city limits of Darkshire, the supernatural beast left the ground and took to the skies, flying while looking as though it were running on thin air. Lea headed north, through Elwynn Forest, and finally into the Burning Steppes. Even flying, the trip took hours. It was past midnight when the Ren’dorei finally reached her destination, landing about a mile West of Blackrock Mountain. Apart from the wandering Dragonkin and a few fire elementals, the immediate area was devoid of life and structure. But Thaelea would not have come here idly. There was a reason.

Lea spent roughly an hour at the location in the Burning Steppes, waiting in utter silence. But for what? What could have enticed her to take an unplanned journey to the Burning Steppes of all places? Why would she- “Well, hello, my errant daughter.” Thaelea froze. The voice was unmistakable. It was the first time she’d heard it in over a year, and it still sent an ominous chill through her body. Reluctantly, the woman turned to face the source of the voice. And there he was, Thaeleon Solarsphere, a lord of Silvermoon and the patriarch of House Solarsphere. “Father…” She answered, the nervousness plain in her voice.

Thaeleon did not come alone, nor did he arrive by similar methods. As Lea laid eyes on her father, she saw the portal closing behind him, and cast her violet hues on the small retinue he brought with him. Six men, in all: two Farstriders and four Blood Knights. Being a noble of influence meant that Thaeleon went nowhere without a guard. The man drew his arms behind his back and walked towards his daughter. Thaeleon was her father, but even so, his presence always unsettled her. He dressed in greens and blacks, wore epaulets with spikes protruding from them, and gave off an aura of Fel so strong that Lea’s own aura could go unnoticed in his presence. Thaeleon was a Warlock with some six hundred years experience, and not to be trifled with. 

“You’ve been ignoring my letters.” Thaeleon’s eyes, like two small embers of Fel-fire, weighed heavily on his daughter. “I’ve been busy. I joined a group that-” “Yes, I know. Relic-hunters and mercenaries. Very disappointing.” “How did-” “You should know by now that nothing escapes my sight, Thaelea. I’m told you were cast out recently. Still having trouble fitting in, I see.” “It wasn’t...like that.” Lea stood there, like a child being lectured. She held her hands, one over the other, before her, and stood with slouched shoulders and a bowed head. “They’re good people.” “Then why are you no longer among them?” “I…” She winced. The wound was fresh. She didn’t want to talk about it. “That’s not what this is about.” “Thaelea.” When his daughter lifted her gaze, she was greeted by a sharp slap to her right cheek. “I asked you a question.” Lea grabbed her face and stroked the stinging flesh. “I...Made mistakes…” “Yes, you did. Thinking that you would find comfort in Human kingdom, believing for a moment that you’d ever be one of them.” “What would you have had me do?! I was banished! I had nowhere to go! And you let-” Another slap was delivered to the already-damaged cheek. Even now, a bruise began to form. “You should have died. Instead you sully our House by joining the enemy. I should end your misery right here and now. Fortunately for you, my dear, I am a merciful man.”

Much of the day had been spent in tears. Only Dusty was permitted to see Lea in such a state, and even that was embarrassing for her. Now, Lea was on the verge of tearing up again. ‘Haven’t I suffered enough?’, she thought to herself as her father paced around her, like a vulture circling its next meal. ‘Isn’t it enough that I live in anguish? That I’ve suffered for over a year in exile?’ Such thoughts were kept to herself, as any further protest would surely have earned her another slap, or worse. Thaeleon Solarsphere was not a man who enjoyed debate. 

The Ren’dorei stood in silence for several moments, waiting for her father to speak again. All the while, she looked to the retinue that had accompanied him. They were armed in the usual fashion for their military branches, though each of them bore the silver emblem of House Solarsphere on their arms. They may have served Quel’Thalas, but they served Thaeleon -first-. “I have a use for you.” At last, he spoke. The wait had seemed like an eternity. And the words gave Thaelea a strange happiness. “You...need me?” She asked, eyes wide in surprise. “Yes. And by a strange twist of fate, you are ideally placed to assist me.”

Thaelea very nearly trembled at the prospect. If her father wanted something of her, it would not be good. It may very well lead to her death. However, she knew her father long enough that when he said he had a use for her, he wasn’t asking. He was commanding. “What do you want?” Thaeleon halted, now positioned behind her. “Do you know why they cast you out?” This again. Why did he have to speak of this? “B-because I...made mistakes.” “Yes, and what were those mistakes?” “I..” This was perhaps more tortuous than his slapping her. Forcing her to admit to him, to his entourage, and to herself that she had done wrong was agonizing. “I was prideful...I didn’t respect my colleagues. I wasn’t consider-” “No.” “...No?” “You are an Elf. These pitiful creatures have no right to presume themselves your equal. Pride, dignity, superiority, these are the things that make Elves who we are. Your mistakes were not to hold yourself above them, but to think them your friends.” “But...They are...They were…” “They’re nothing. Your sentimental nature caused you to latch onto lesser beings to replace the connections you lost in Quel’Thalas. That’s all they were. They should have understood you were better than them. Even diminished as you are, you are still an Elf. You are a goddess among ants.”

Perhaps Thaelea had spent too much time around Humans. There was a time when such words would have made sense. But to her ears, they were wrong. Even as smug and superior as she acted, it was a far cry from the person she used to be. As her father tried to re-integrate such ideas into his daughter, they just wouldn’t take root. ‘No. This is wrong.’ The words rang in her mind. ‘They were...good people. Covie was not..is not beneath me.’ 

This was a mistake. Thaelea should never have accepted the invitation to meet. The impulse to flee rose in her. Eyes began darting around. Maybe she can get to cover long enough to use her hearthstone. But as the thought occurred to her, one of the Farstriders, bow in hand, just shook his head. He could see in Thaelea’s eyes what she was thinking. He’d have an arrow through her heart before she took two steps...No, through her ankle. Her father wouldn’t let her off that easy. Lea was trapped. She had dug her own grave on this one. 

“There is something that I want.” Thaeleon’s voice interrupted her inner thoughts, pulling her focus back to reality. “It is in Human hands. You, and the insects you surround yourself with, will retrieve it for me.” Thaelea blinked at her father. “I don’t work for them anymore.” “So rejoin them.” “They’ll...never take me back.” “They will.” “Father..There’s no-” She was struck again, this time so forcefully that it sent her to the ground. Lea winced as she hit the ground, staring up at her father from the dusty, ashy soil of the Steppes. “I can’t go back! They won’t forgive me!” “I don’t care. You will find a way to ingratiate yourself back into their graces, you will induce them into procuring this relic, and then you will give it to me.” The Solarsphere patriarch threw a wrapped parchment onto the ground beside his daughter. “When you have it, contact me, then conjure a gateway within the city, somewhere discreet. I will come to claim it.” “You...You’ll come to Stormwind?” “I thought I’d take one last look before Sylvanas burns it to the ground.” The assembled Elves behind him chuckled. “You will see this done.”

Lea took the parchment, then returned to her feet. “Why?” She asked. A sudden silence fell upon the group. Thaeleon turned his gaze on his daughter, Fel energy burning in his eyes. “What did you just say?” Lea bowed her head, not meeting her father’s gaze. “What you ask…” He interjected quickly. “I don’t ask.” She winced. “What you...command, it will require much on my part...I deserve...something.” The idea of compensating his daughter for her service actually caused Thaeleon to laugh. “And what is it you want? To come home?  Very well. Do this, and I will-” “No.” Lea’s gaze raised to meet her father’s. “You’ll betray me...That’s what you do. Family is treacherous...unreliable.” “Is that so?” He chuckled again. “You’re probably right. Who can resist the temptation?”

Thaelea shut her eyes. She wanted to cry. Things kept going from bad to worse to worst since the previous evening. But this was no time for tears. Showing vulnerability before a serpent ready to strike will only encourage it. “I want...Saraena to go home.” The chuckling from her father stopped. He grew irritated. “You want me to take that bastard child of yours to Quel’Thalas? She’s just another piece of filth from your new-” Thaelea howled. “NO!” Her skin grew dark, becoming Void-like. The Elven retinue drew their weapons, prepared to defend their lord. “You may berate me, insult my friends, even strike me...But you will NOT speak ill of Saraena.” 

In that moment, Thaelea had found courage. But she was also petrified. Her expression was ferocious, but hid terror in her heart. Thaeleon watched his daughter in silence. It wouldn’t be surprising for him to kill her right there and then. He was spoken of among the nobility in Silvermoon as the ‘lord of Fel-flame’. Thaeleon could incinerate his daughter in moments. And she was ready for it. Lea wouldn’t go down willingly. She’d lose, but she would fight. “Very well.” The Ren’dorei was gripped by shock. Did he just…? “I will arrange for your daughter to be taken to Quel’Thalas. I’ll even enchant something that will allow her to appear as Sin’dorei, rather than spending the rest of her life in the dungeon.” Though she had resolved to not cry in front of her father, Lea could not hold back the single tear that ran down her cheek, born from the relief of knowing that her daughter could go home. “Bring me what I seek. And I will give you this...gift.” 

Can he really be trusted? He admitted not five minutes ago that he would betray his own daughter; how can Lea trust him to honor the agreement for his granddaughter? “How can I trust you?” She asked, eyes focused on her father. “I’ll bring the item that will allow her to assume Sin’dorei form with me when you summon me. You can arrange her own way north and not entrust it to me.” That was the best she could hope for. Even so, she was certain he would betray her. Thaeleon turned on everyone. He was well known for his treachery, and Lea had seen him betray others numerous times. But...what choice did she have? 

“Alright...I’ll do it.” Lea conceded. “What is it you need?” Thaeleon shook his head. “I’ll inform you of that once you’re in a position to get it. Start with rejoining your little company.” A soft sigh slid out of Thaelea’s lips. “I don’t know how. They’ll never-” “Give them what they want. They think you are prideful, arrogant. Return to them in submission. Beg, plead, cry, do whatever you must.” “How...How can you expect me to do this? It’s so undignified…” “For me, yes. For you? What does it matter? Your status is less than dirt. So crawl through it, kiss the feet of your so-called friends, and see it done.” “Yes father...As you wish…”

Lea’s father moved away from her, without so much as an embrace, a kiss, or a single kind word spoken. “You have one month.” He added as a portal opened behind his group. “Find your way back into their company by then, or my granddaughter will pay for your failure.” Lea’s eyes widened “Wait...That’s not-” Thaeleon held up a hand, calling for his daughter to silence herself. “We are done speaking, daughter. Return to your rat’s nest in Duskwood. You have much to do tomorrow.” He turned and stepped into the portal with his guards and he was gone as easily as he had arrived. 

Thaelea was left alone. She fell onto the ground, propped up on one arm with her legs bent at the knee. “I’m sorry, Saraena...This is the best I can do…” Her eyes shut, and tears again streamed down her face. It had been that kind of day. “Forgive me, Covie…”