The Book of Trials

From the Templar’s Journal: Everything Changes

I have always been alone. And that is well and fine. Hardest though I find is the transition between the realization of this fact, again as it comes, and the times when I do, for moments in my long life, feel connected.

As compared to my people, it seems I am an oddity. I remember what others forget; in dreams; in the green ways. I have an impression of all of the Kaldorei; like a hereditary instinctual memory of who we are and where we came from. The only sense of belonging I have had. I name myself Kaldorei; child of the stars; I hear the Tree and I walk the dream.

Yet I look at the other of my people and I am left bereft and confused. Little do they resemble our noble past anymore. Most live now in the human lands and take on their petty and apathetic attitude toward our land, our birthright, and our sacred trees. How many have I seen daily, cavorting about unclothed and laughing? No dignity, no respect nor care. How many more have lost their will for battle and flop about helplessly in the face of our enemies. This is hard for me to bear.

And so, in coming to Ashenvale; I eschewed this trend by allying with the Templars. Many and many moons I fought with them and took pride in the safety of our forest with my brothers and sisters and again, for a time I belonged. And then, as such things happen, jealousy, betrayal and treachery. Cast out, I note the madness of my former master and his cowardice as he watches Horde come and does little to nothing unless I come to take to the fight first. And the young elves that wear the bear paw…all open faced and complacent; neither fight nor ferocity in them at all.

I still fight; and if I must, I fight alone. I always will.

And so, I hold to a new banner; belonging again in a sense to a strong fighting company that I fought with on retainer while I was yet still wore a Templar tabard. I believe the Highguard is probably the best group of Alliance folken to hold to. They are fiercely loyal to each other, which is good. I trust in my new master, the druid Kerius, and I fight for them in many dark places. They make me feel welcome and will come to my aid in Ashenvale from time to time and fight well. And I am grateful, for, other than a few Templars that followed me to their ranks, they hold no ties there other than their support of me.

Yet, everything changes and recently, the portal is opened and my guild mates hurtle through it somewhat heedlessly. Adventuring and seeking what may be found while I hesitate to follow, not so much afraid of what lies within but more concerned that under that strange and violent sky, cut apart from the earth of my home and far from the song of the Tree, I would forget and wither and cease to be Kaldorei.

And so, isolation and worry comes again. I grow wild, intemperate, and give more and more to the tiger within me. They welcome the blue ones in and give them Highguard banners with no question. I do not like the Dranaei. All hooves and tails and horns, from the portal they come and I am told they hold to an island frightenly close to Darkshore. All we have is their word that they be true and not enemies. They look like demons and they smell wrong and I will not suffer them if I can help it.

In this too, it seems I am apart. I have not spoke with another, be they Kaldorei, Human, Dwarf or Gnome that is not enamored of them. Gods, what is wrong with people? How can they trust so blindly?

My sword brother tells me that it saddens him, my lack of faith. In the same breath that he says that he has allied with a faction of Sin’dorei, by Elune! Sworn as I am to his side, he takes me not with him to fight; regardless of what hunts him in the darkened portal lands.

I say it is that I have too much faith mayhap, in ways long lost that is the trouble. What is holy and what is fell is a determination I make by my heart and I will follow it as I always have done.

Elune help me to be strong; to choose wisely my path and tread it well. Elune bring my lovely Alizon home. I am tired of being alone.

The Templar rises to his feet with the sun high in a fantastically blue sky over the rolling plains of Nagrand. Standing on a strangely suspended chunk of earth that spins free in the air, he stretches and squints at the Kurenai holding of Telaar spread out below him. The small hunting village is quiet as most of its inhabitants are out seeking game. A few travelers, pausing to trade, make up most of the activity.

Tamlin makes a shrill cry, an eagle’s screech, and almost immediately, a great black feathered gryphon falls out of the sky. Tamlin takes a running leap from his perch, free falling to catch the gryphon’s back in mid air. He rides its spiraling descent to the ground and dismounts. The gryphon pauses not a moment with its claws on the earth and takes to the sky again. Ciuolo meets him at the door to the inn. The shadow wolf nips at his hands playfully and makes a play bow; turning to dash into the inn ahead of him.

The hunter follows and offers a respectful nod to the inn keeper, a Draenai woman that smiles at him and says in halting common, “A letter is come for you, Ohtar.”

Tamlin takes the sealed note carefully, avoiding touching the hand of the Draenai, as they still unsettle him.

He takes the note outside, collecting his packs and assembling his gear for a days worth of hunting and fighting. A meager meal of talbuk meat and aged cheese he eats slowly, in the shade of the building; sharing bits with Ciuolo who begs shamelessly at his feet.

As he eats, he unfolds the letter and reads the brief message written in Darnassian.

Honored Templar

It is with regret that I must inform you, the one you name sword brother, Tanas Enerai is fallen in battle.

I beg you make haste to Sylvanaar and I will tell you all I have seen.

Elune Adore, brother Kaldorei

Greenwarder Aeiliana

Sylvannaar

Tamlin reads this twice through. He makes his screeching eagle cry again, hurriedly strapping his packs to the gryphon’s saddle and crushing the note tightly in his fist. Cursing softly, he remembers to whisper to his wolf where to go before the gryphon carries him into the sky.

As the land flies by beneath him, he prays and holds off panic. Whatever is happened, one thing is certain, his brother is strong, moreso than any other he has ever known.

There will be light if Elune wills it.