Origins: Simple Beginnings
The sun was hot, hotter than she had ever felt before. The young elf shielded her eyes the moment she stepped out of the portal that was opened from Stormwind. She had heard what the climate was like, but Tory still couldn't have been prepared for this heat. Her once long silver locks were now cut below her earlobes and had been mistaken for a boy a few times already.
Uldum. She was so excited, this was her chance to do something to make a name for herself, be her own person, instead of Rae and Arei's daughter. A smile played across her delicate lips, now all she had to do was to find a group that would hire her. An inexperienced, average at most mage, who had no real world experience! How hard could it be?
Tory hadn't even thought about about the hows, she knew what she wanted and why she wanted, and that was all she thought she would need. It didn't take long for her to become completely discouraged. The sun was starting to set on her first day and with no leads. She had tried a few groups. However, when it came down to 'What do you have to offer?'most didn't seem a basic idea of survival and the eagerness to learn, didn't seem to cut it.
The elf sat near the statue in the middle of Ramakahen, her back to the landmark. She sat with her knees to her chest holding them with the saddest look on her face. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she couldn't find any leads either. With a defeated sigh she pushed off of the ground, instantly starting to channel the mana to tear a portal to Stormwind.
"Going so soon?" She turned to face the direction of the voice, her eyes went wide for a moment as her eyes meet the ghostly blue glow of the man who spoke. She had never seen a human like him, he was so... different. His skin was deathly pale, his hair a frosty blue that matched his eyes, and an unsettling presence. Without thinking the elf took a step back, holding her hand over her face to attempt to hide the look of disgust as the smell took her.
"I... have no reason to stay." She spoke softly, her eyes not moving from him. She was unsure what to think, the magical energy coming from him just made her skin want to flee from her body.
"So, if my colleague has heard things right, you want to get into archaeology and have no skills. Like, nothing." His echoed words made Tory's heart sink. She had skills! Just, not many, it wasn't like she had the chance to. Her eyes suddenly light up as she dropped her hand.
"I have skills, just not many when it comes to this sort of thing, but if anything! I can carry things! Or, do the 'dirty work'. Or...." She didn't know what dirty work was, but she had heard someone else saying that they can do the dirty work. "Or... Please! I want to learn... I don't want to go back, that is the last thing I want."
"You seem to think that I have a group?" The man chuckled, the sound would chill her to her spine. "I have some friends, who are interested in what you can be taught, rather than what you know. Kjerstii could probably teach you anything you would want to know, but she is concerned you could be a liability."
"L....liability?" Tory's ears drooped down, this is the chance she needed. If she could just convince him. "Why did they send you? Why not come yourself!" Tory quickly snapped, she didn't really think of it before until right in that moment.
"Yes a liability. It is cut throat out here and you might be too.... Soft?" He gave a shrug, unsure if that was the right word, but it got the point across. "You can't be nice out here, what you find is yours. People will try to snatch things out from under you. Are you willing to fight for what you want?" He took a moment for Tory to crunch her nose, "As far as why it is me and not them? Most of their recent additions have left because of me. If you meet me first, it takes this." He motioned to himself, "Out of the equation."
Tory let out a light sigh, her eyes lowering, "Please, I want to join! I can do this! I want to do this! Please?!" Tory became excited, she no longer seemed to care about the man's appearance and smell. She needed this!
"Tomorrow, meet us here at the crack of dawn, dress light." He tossed her a key to an inn room for the night, "Sleep well tonight, tomorrow you will likely be sleeping in a tent." Tory caught the key right as he walked off, it was such a weird way for this to go, but she couldn't help but smile. Her adventure was starting just like you would expect a story. She opened her hands to look at the key to her future.