OOC – 50 Characters to 90

I posted on Tumblr last night about getting 50 characters to 90, and thought I’d do a little breakdown of the classes here now that I’ve had time to get the screenshots sorted and pasted together.  Predictably, I have many hunters, mages and death knights.  I wanted to name this post “Many Elves, Handle It!”.  Anyway, here’s the visual list!

Seven death knights at level 90! Rinztok was my 50th character, so it was just six until yesterday.

Only four druids at 90. I have another alliance druid in my Stormstout groups so there will be a 5th soon.

Seven hunters, there will be a few more of those to 90 soon enough too.

I was actually surprised that I have seven mages to 90. Maybe because two of them are the same person IC (Sanimir and Hethurin) and two others are summoners, aka warlocks, IC. (Aeramin and Vallindra)

Only three monks to 90. I have a few others who are starting to get close, but none in Stormstout groups yet.

Only two paladins at 90. I realized after I put this together that if you say their names in this order, you get how I feel about pvp.

I thought I had more priests, but there are only three at 90. I have many more under 90 though.

Rogues are catching up to the death knights, mages and hunters.

I have a shaman.  I have a few others as well, but this is the only one at 90.

Five warlocks to 90, though they’re my favorite class now. There are a couple between 80-89 who will be joining the other 90’s soon!

And last is five warriors. I have a couple of these in my Stormstout groups too!

Currently, there are slightly more horde than alliance, though most of my current 85-89’s are alliance, so it’ll even up again!

Alt Appreciation – Priest Week

It is priest week in the alt appreciation thread at World of Lae.  Priests are one of my Goldilocks classes.  Not too many, not too few.  Just right.  Erm, well, they fall in the middle anyway.  Here’s my priests!

Isturon Lightmist is one of my older sin’dorei. He is father of six grown children, and the grandfather of Rylad in the stories. He lives in Silvermoon, and has his own practice which he runs out of the front part of his home. OOC – He’s a level 90 disc priest and may have a legendary cloak before the expansion ends if I can bring myself to do the pvp again.

Lanthiriel (Lani) Lightmist is Isturon’s second daughter. Until recently, she worked with him in Silvermoon. She is now one of the healers for the siege storyline, and is stationed outside Orgrimmar a ways. When she returns, she hopes to open her own practice in the Ghostlands. OOC – She just hit 90, and is also a disc priest.

Kelanori Summerleaf lives in Feralas with Ornasse and their son, Farahlor. OOC – She’s level 86 and Holy/Disc. Also, she was my first priest to max level ever, during Wrath of the Lich King, and I used to heal our alt ICC group with her.

Iselwen Moonflower has played a small part in some stories. She is a birthing priestess and helps bring babies into the world. She has her own daughter, Zhyra. OOC – She’s a level 81 disc priest.

Haani is a priestess in Shattrath and has also played a small part in some stories. OOC – She’s a level 80 shadow priest.

Colranos hasn’t had any part of any stories yet. He’s just looking for a place to fit in. Maybe someday! OOC – He’s a level 53 disc priest. I always burn out on BRD. Getting them past that dungeon is the worst!

Jaenzol still has her doomsday message from the pre-cata event quests. She has no part in stories and probably never will. She is a level 35 shadow priest.

And I have quite a few level 1 alts, but here are a couple worth mentioning:

Esladra Lightmist is Isturon’s fourth daughter. She lives in Silvermoon, and is still in her studies. OOC – Level 1!

Aalaa is going to be my disc priest alt on Stormrage. Vinhesla needs an alt. Aalaa is level 2 and needs a leveling plan yet. I haven’t been leveling a lot recently, but I have a feeling as SoO drags on, I’ll have more time!

 

Alt Appreciation – Paladin Week

A week almost as short as monk week, but not quite.

The first paladin. I wasn’t very interested in playing plate classes at first. Asharen was created off my main server, and leveled to level 5 before being forgotten about. During my last RaF, he gained another 8 levels, but time was almost up and I knew that team wasn’t going to make it to 80. So he sits, forgotten again, at level 13. He does have BoA pants though, so maybe someday!

The second paladin, and one of my few humans. Janey was leveled to 75 at the end of wrath. She has since made it to 80, thanks to tagging along with RaF teams.

Daanus is my first paladin to make it to max level during Cataclysm. He is currently leveling in Pandaria and is level 86. In stories he lives in Feralas.  He is one of two male draenei that I play, the other being Jamos.

 

The Dwarverlord, Olaffe. I started him out as a way to learn how to play holy. I still haven’t figured it out, but he’s level 62 and has healed some outland dungeons. No one died, so I guess maybe it’s okay if I don’t figure it out.

But then there’s Sorrahn. I leveled him as ret, also to learn how to play it. Janey and Daanus are both prot pallies. Sorrahn is level 90 now, and I’ve given him a second spec, Holy. I still don’t know it, but now people die. I thought the Proving Grounds feature would be a great place to learn, but unfortunately it doesn’t really do much other than show me how fast I can oom on him. Maybe he’s better off as ret.  In stories, he’s Raleth’s jerk brother.  Raleth has him to thank for his invitation to Orgrimmar.

 

 

Alt Appreciation – Mage Week

With two more days left for mage week, I’ll admit I was a bit behind on getting this one done.  It’s also patch week, so I’ve been busier in-game with the Timeless Isle, and the new raid.  Anyway, here’s another long list of characters.

Sanimir Lightmist is my second horde character to level from 1-90 entirely as horde, and the first one to do it all on the same server. He plays a big part in our current mage storyline as the headmaster of his school, Fairsong Academy. He’s also fairly well-geared, and I often take him to LFR. I am running out of bank space on him though. In character, he has a huge weakness for buying robes. Out of character, he’s a tailor. Time to start working on those bigger bags!

Sanimir’s double, Hethurin Fairsong. In stories, they are the same character. In game, Hethurin is level 85 while Sanimir is 90.  I’m still working on his robe collection.

 

Ellorian Melith’enddare, the Highborne mage with the stupidly long last name. He’s played a part in our night elf and mage stories. He is Jaeyn and Jaellynn’s father, and currently lives in Dalaran. He’s another character with two in-game options. One just hit level 90 a couple of weeks ago, and the other is still sitting at level 85.

Ellorian’s level 85 copy.

Vallindra Embersun is the oldest sister of Sanimir. She currently is in hiding in Shadowmoon Valley with her husband, Xanaroth. She’s also one of my more recent 90’s.

 

Latahlali Ashclaw, Raleth’s apprentice and wife.  She is currently living in Shattrath with her infant son, Naraleth, while her husband is off being a battle mage. Her rogue version is 90, but her mage version is still 85. I hate questing in Pandaria or more of these 85’s would be done and 90 already.

Cybill, my first mage to make it past level 10. She’s currently level 80, and is not a part of any stories because I don’t think her name sounds very draenei.

 

Cyannah is also one of my early attempts at mage. She’s on a pvp server and level 80.  She currently does all my banking/auctioning on that server.

Aeramin Firewind. See? He really is a fire mage! Oh fine, he’s a copy of warlock Aeramin. He’s level 84 and is on a quiet RP server. I’ve been working on leveling him, and it’s been fun because on this quiet RP server, people sell things dirt cheap in the AH. You know those Pandaria blues that are ilvl 450? He has a few of those and picked them up for like 300g each.  Not a bad deal!  One fun thing about being the guild master of your own guild that you’re the only member of is that you can make your tabard match your outfit.

Estare, another Highborne mage. She’s level 80 and has no story.

Zarellina is level 40 and handles mage Aeramin’s auctions. She does actually have a background and all of that, but she’s never had a story. Maybe someday!

Kerediir was my first ever Night Elf mage. He’s still sitting on my old main realm, lonely and forgotten. He does have BOA’s which I had completely forgotten about and found on my banker there about a year after I moved servers. He is level 27.

Verisna Lightmist is level 12 and not a mage in character. She has had some basic classes, decades ago, before she was married and had children. She is Vallindra and Sanimir’s mother.

Keyalenn Goldbrand is a new character and is level 5. He’s one of the new students at Fairsong Academy. I’m including him here despite his low level, as he has had some stories already, and I do hope to level him some.

Youbuycat is my gnome mage banker on Hyjal. He is level 1. I also have another gnome mage banker by the same name on Antonidas, but he is level 2 and doesn’t have the investment that Youbuycat-Hyjal has had. As you can see, he dresses well for a level 1, and that noble title? He had that before flying was available in Azeroth, which was way before account-wide titles! He has experience turned off, and did die a few times on the way to Un’goro to lay his egg. Because of that, I’m including him here despite his level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alt Appreciation – Hunter Week

Many images, long post.  Hunters!

My main, or my main alt? I honestly don’t think I know what a main is anymore. I keep trying to raid on him, and wind up just hating focus more and more. This expansion, talents were made really good and all the other shots feel like I’m hitting things with wiffle balls. I’d love active talents if they weren’t part of my rotation. I have this same complaint about mages, but mages get it to a lesser degree. I can only pray they overhaul the talent system once again, since it seems to be the thing to do every single expansion. Oh, what was I doing? Hunter post, right. This is Jaeyn. He’s kind of my main and not an alt, depending on your definition of main, but he’s here. He’s been part of our stories too, and currently lives in Outland. The spore bat is not an IC pet, but is the one I’m forced to use for everything else. =P

 

Theronil Whitemorn is my second hunter to 90, and my first ever horde character to max level (85 at the time!) I originally made him pre-Cata to experience the low-level horde quests before everything was changed. In game, he’s geared enough to do Vaults, and while I take him once in a while, I’m not urgently gearing him up. In stories, he’s getting ready to fight in Kalimdor while his pregnant wife frets about him in Shattrath. He’s been made the captain of a small group of rangers who will be left to watch the supplies, healers and portals.  Most of the group aren’t really rangers so he has his work cut out for him.

Avanniel Windblade. She’s still level 85, but she has max blacksmithing. She’s appeared in some of our Ashenvale stories. Vaelarian Ashclaw has a crush on her. She spends most of her time on duty at the Spire.

 

Sourabhi was my third character to 70 during BC. (Jaeyn was first!). I had a love of hunters early on. ICly, Soura likes messing with blood elves and stealing from them. Like her dragonhawk?
She has made a few appearances in stories, but has so far only been a very minor character.  She’s level 85 for now.

Beroleth “Bear” Morningdew is level 85 and has bear pets. He’s also been part of the Ashenvale stories. Here, he’s pictured with his oldest bear, Norr.

 

Sunashe is level 80, having been part of a RaF team. He was originally created when I first started playing, and forgotten about shortly after as I was busy leveling Jaeyn. I do like the way he looks, so maybe, someday, he’ll reach max level. He has not been part of RP or had any stories.

Faestirah was my first blood elf hunter. She got to level 28 or so on her own, then had a RaF boost to 80. She’s my only horde character with the olympic tabard. I’m still mad about not getting the pet during that time. I tried!
Again, no stories for this one.

 

Another RaF character, Jamos is level 80. He’s one of my few male draenei. He had a small part of a story, so we know he lives in Shattrath and has a sister named Haani!

Another RaF hunter, Noradra. Level 80 and no stories, but she has a cool white serpent!

RaF… AGAIN! This is Ithorel. He ICly works on a hawkstrider farm and is currently training to go to Kalimdor soon.  When he comes back, he wants to go to Silvermoon.

Molsonetta and her cat, Biere. She’s level 30 and I don’t think I can RP her with a straight face with a name like that.  She’s on a pvp realm and doesn’t have any stories, and probably never will.

Jaen. Jaeyn was originally Jaen. When I transferred from Antonidas to Hyjal, I grabbed my old name. He’s level 24 now.

 

Jaene, the level 15 female dwarf on Icecrown, the home of <WHU>. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to dedicate to her to keep her in the guild. I’m still in the chat channel for <WHU> on that server though.

Weylyn, also my only worgen left. I had a few others but I couldn’t stand the sniffing. I only level him with sound off.  He doesn’t get much play time but he is level 32 now!  I love his braids! He had a “copy” for the Tangle of Brambles storyline, Weylenn, but I just really couldn’t handle the sniffing when trying to level them. Weylenn was race changed, along with his two brothers. They are now Avanniel, Beroleth and Xyliah.

I decided to include a few who are under level 10 because of their roles in the stories. Xyliah is listed here, despite being level 88, because I wanted to list her with her dad. 🙂

Thavron Amberlight, level 1. He makes and sells furniture in Silvermoon. He has three grown children.

Xyliah Amberlight is Thavron’s oldest child. She’s staying in Pandaria with her husband, Berwick. OOCly – She’s level 88, and will probably be next to 90!

Vessen Amberlight (level 5) is Thavron’s middle child and only son. He is currently preparing to go to Kalimdor. He is Rylad’s father, the baby in the mage stories.

Yara Amberlight (level 1) is Thavron’s youngest daughter. It took me forever to find a server where that name was available!

Nessna Amberlight (Lightmist) is Vessen’s wife and Rylad’s mother. She is one of Sanimir’s sisters as well, and also will be going ICly to Kalimdor soon!  IC only, as she’s level 5 in-game.

 

 

Screenshot of the Day

This morning, at 6:45 AM, I was doing my daily check of the unborn val’kyr spawns.  I freaked out when I found one wandering around the southern Grizzly Hills spawn point!  She’s poor quality, and I was afraid of killing her, especially when she healed just enough that I had to hit her again with her at almost low enough health to capture.  It all went well, and capturing went off after a few tries!  Now to find a stone for her!

Random Screenshot of the Day

The netherdrake snuck up behind its unsuspecting prey…

RaF Round Up

Instead of a random screenshot of the day, I’m summarizing my RaF experience over the past three months.  There are two days left, but that won’t be enough time to hit 80 on anyone else.  As you can see, I have been busy, and have used the bonus experience and granted levels to get as many new level 80’s as possible.  (Totally explains why I’ve been slacking on writing!)

The Teams:

Bartlan and Mondevonse, my evil dead guys. Warlock and rogue.

Cadellus and Tik, monk and rogue. I love Tik’s name. Low pop servers ftw!

Cyannah and mage Aeramin. More mages! Cyannah was the first mage I made, ever. Then she was level 2 for like, 6 years. She’s finally 80 now.

Estare and Gwilendil. Two non-traditional nelf ladies. Mage and monk.

Haani and Jamos, priest and hunter. I need more draenei.

Ithorel, another hunter, and Pimzoz, the troll druid.

Lanthiriel and Ethirdir. Ethirdir is the first warrior I’ve managed to keep from equipping a shield. We’ll see how long that lasts when I start leveling him without bonuses!

Noradra and Jaedra, hunter and rogue. I leveled a lot of belfs this time which is fine. I have a disproportionate number of nelfs to even it out!

Orledin and Mokthaki. Death knights. I don’t have many orcs.

Saethala and Rinztok. More death knights, for the hell of it.

Sunashe, one of my oldest hunters finally leveled. I teamed him up with Hethurin, Sanimir’s double.

Vinhesla and Widge, aka Shrimps with Imps.

The granted levels:

For every two levels you get, you can grant one level to the referring account.  There are more than the ones below, but these are the ones who hit 80 from it.

 

Cybill, my first attempt at leveling a mage, was stuck at 48 for the past 3 years or so.  Now 80 thanks to granted levels.

Faestirah, another one of my oldest hunters, and one of my first attempts at a horde character, has been level 25 for a good 5 years. She is my only horde character to have the olympics tabard. *grumbles quietly about not getting the pet.

Kanedama, my only goblin, and guild master of My Banker

Sorrahn was the only one able to receive levels on my Wyrmrest Accord.  My character select screen is full there!

Then, if that wasn’t enough…

The tag-alongs:

These characters were not on the linked accounts, but, through the wonders of multi-boxing, followed along on the dungeon runs with some of the teams.  Again, there are more who didn’t hit 80 (mostly my lowbie off-server Alliance characters!)  Here are the ones who did.

Aranae used her monk powers and BoA’s to go from level 30-80, just tagging along with the linked accounts.  With the monk quests, she gained more levels than any other tag along.

Hernester went from 63 to 80 fairly quickly. He was one of the first to tag along!

Janey, the only off-server tag along went from 75 to 80 with 0 bonuses, not even the guild experience bonus.

Rohau was already 76 when he started tagging along. He kept following until he hit 82.

Vallindra’s warlock double went from about 70 (I forgot!) to 80.

And that’s all. Now to get them all to 90…

 

 

The Search

“A missing blood elf.  That’s just what Draenor needs.”  Jamos scoffed to himself as he walked down the ramp leading to the lower city.  If one can go missing, why can’t they all go missing?  He knew why, because his sister would send him after each and every single one.  Haani had a way of caring for things that most wouldn’t, that included everything from flayers to the small, long-eared vermin that had moved into the city a few years ago.  If the naaru could forgive them, he supposed he could tolerate them.  His sister went further and forgave them as well.

She had found out about this one from the elf’s sister, she had apparently been talking to V’eru.  Jamos had to admit, he didn’t know many elves who did that.  This one was a priestess, his sister had told him, or no, a priestess in training.  Of course she was drawn to the naaru.  From what Jamos could tell, they were drawn to magic, and the light was a type of magic.  Just as mice are drawn to crumbs, blood elves are drawn to magic.

He had tried the tavern earlier that afternoon.  He had found a slightly inebriated mage there.  The mage had sat in back, watching another table where some trolls were sitting.  Trolls.  In Shattrath!  Jamos hoped they would go back to their outpost in Zangarmarsh soon.  He wasn’t sure why they were in the swamp either, but he wasn’t curious enough to ask one.  However, Jamos did make his way to the back and had taken a seat at the elf’s table.

Jamos asked as soon as he found out the elf was a mage if he could make portals.  The mage had nodded and tipped back another drink.  They spoke a bit longer.  Jamos asked the questions.  He thought the blood elf was almost scared of him, but he did continue answering.  Yes, he made portals for other people.  Yes, sometimes rangers and archers.  No, no one with a cat.  About the oddest thing he had seen in the past months was a scruffy elf wanting one to the newly discovered land on Azeroth.  Yes, he was blond.  Scruffy?  Yes, very.  That’s odd for an elf.  They had both agreed on that, but he couldn’t tell if that was the one he was looking for.

That’s the problem, they all look the same.  The mage didn’t remember the other elf’s name, or if he even said it, but without the cat, it probably wasn’t the one Haani wanted him to look for anyway.  He’d keep looking and make sure he mentioned it to her anyway.  Maybe the elf’s sister would be able to provide more clues if they spoke again.

Holidays

Vallindra Lightmist frowned, “What do you mean, you can’t tell who they’re from?”

“I’m just an imp, Mistress.  I don’t know how to find out who sent them.  Did you ask the postman?”  Volnar cowered behind one of the boxes.

“Useless”  Vallindra scowled.  She looked over the gifts again.  Who would send things like this?  Why didn’t they send them before she condemned herself to solitude by summoning?  She kicked Volnar out of the way as she picked up the gifts.  Hopefully her admirer wouldn’t take too long to reveal himself to her parents so that she could stop him before he got too hung up on her.  She gave the imp one last hateful glance before taking the gifts to the other room.

She had no choice but to be alone now.

*****

Sorrahn Dawnstrike sat on the ledge overlooking the Lower City.  He knew the holiday had come again.  That dwarf holiday, or was it goblins?  He wasn’t sure.  Either way, the decorated trees and lights had been put up.  Then again, there were so many refugees in the lower city, it was hard to tell what was a decoration and what was normal there.  He had seen the decorations up in the rest of the city though, so he was certain it was the gift giving holiday.

He had no one to give gifts to.  Well, he had a wife somewhere in Silvermoon, but he wasn’t planning to go home to see her any time soon.  He had a brother somewhere in Dalaran, but if what he had heard about Dalaran was true, then he might not have a brother in Dalaran.  His parents were in Silvermoon.  He had received a letter from his mother asking if he had heard the same things about Dalaran.  He’d have to write back, but it could wait a few days.  There were the trainees.  They were here in Shattrath.

Maybe he’d treat them to a round at the tavern after their training exercises.  Maybe the tavern would be having a holiday special so he wouldn’t have to spend much on them.

*****

Thalien never returned.  Xyliah Amberlight had sent the dragonhawk back for Berwick. That had been a few days ago.  She had taken Ember and went to search the ground along the route Thalien would have taken.  Of course, she couldn’t get too close to Dalaran.  Even the forest below was too close for her comfort, but she had to check as far as she could.  She had seen no trace of the dragonhawk or Berwick.  She had returned to the spot where Thalien would know to go and waited, but now, two days later, she knew something had happened.

She tried not to think about it as she climbed down from her hiding spot.  If something had happened to just Thalien, then maybe Berwick was somewhere else waiting for her.  Maybe he was looking for her.

Or something had happened to him too.

Had help been sent?  She cradled the corehound pup in her arms.  Ember was almost too big to carry anymore, but she managed.  She had to find the nearest outpost for help.  She couldn’t wait any longer.  She prayed there was someone left to help.

*****

Alinash Brightblaze pushed aside the curtain and peeked outside.  Snow.  There was a light dusting of it now, covering the cobblestone streets below.  He had never seen so much of it before.  He wasn’t sure what to think of it yet.  It was cold, but it was, in a way, calming to watch.

He had been going most nights to pick up the things the others had left for him near the window.  He especially liked it when they could find the meat pies he liked.  He had been puzzled when he received the note from the other elf.  He would have joined him but he had no guarantees that he would be able to get back into the city.  I hate no guarantees.

He got up from his chair and put another log on the fire.  It was warm inside.  He was safe inside.  Outside was neither.  After Theramore, and people were saying something happened in Dalaran now too, tensions were higher than ever before.  Still, he felt safer in Stormwind than in Silvermoon.  He grabbed his blanket and wrapped up in the chair next to the fireplace.

*****

Ithorel stuck his pitchfork into the dirty hay pile.  Someday he wouldn’t have to muck out the hawkstrider stalls.  He was saving up.  He’d get to the city soon.

The family he worked for had lost the kid they were supposed to be watching a couple of weeks ago.  He supposed if he hadn’t been returned to the farm yet, they still hadn’t found him.  Ithorel hoped they wouldn’t.  They treated the hawkstriders better than they had that boy.  He wasn’t sure what the kid had done, but it must have been something horrible.  Even then, Ithorel didn’t think he deserved his punishment.  No one should be treated like that.  There hadn’t been anything he could do, but the theory was the new farm hand had helped the kid escape.  They both had disappeared at the same time.

He looked up, and out the door of the barn.  He hoped that wherever they had gone, they were happier where they were now.

*****

Dear Sanimir,

I know it may be too soon.  You may not want to read this.  You may not read it at all.  You may burn it without second thought, but if there’s a chance that you may pause and open this letter, then I must try.  My son, I am sorry.  I am sorry I didn’t listen to you.  I should have heard you.  I should have done something.  I fear I am too late.  I have spoken with Lanthiriel, and Isandri, and I realize now how bad it was for you, and I am second guessing what I saw.  I believe you now when you say it didn’t happen.

I would like to talk to you if you will let me.  Please write to me at this box.  Your mother doesn’t know I have it.

Light watch over you,
Isturon

*****

Haani sat on the overlook on the Aldor Rise.  There had been a large number of blood elves entering the city again in the past few days.  She frowned, glancing towards the Scryer’s Tier a level lower.  The majority of them had moved there.

The large hands tickling from behind interrupted her thoughts.  “Jamos!” she yelled.  She knew it was her brother.  No one else would dare.  “I thought you were still in the forest?”

“I missed my sister.  You know I like coming back for the different holidays.  What do you think about this one?”

Haani shrugged, “I’m not too concerned with it.  The lights are pretty.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.  I got you a present.”

She turned and looked at him, raising a brow.  “You did?”

He handed a small wrapped box to her.  She took it and began to open it.  Inside was a small statue of a priestess praying.  She smiled.

“I thought of you when I saw it.”

“It’s lovely.  Thank you.” she kissed him on the cheek and went inside to put it away.

*****

Aeramin Firewind retched as he leaned over the side of the couch, instantly thankful that he had the presence of mind to place a bucket beside it before passing out last night.

He hated being drunk.  He hated hangovers too, but not as much as he hated himself for drinking that much in the first place.  Of course, it had its desired effect at the time.  It numbed the pain.  His lover had left him.  His mother had died.  All in the same morning.  Now the hangover served as a distraction from the pain.

He would have to make more arrangements later.  His mother was to be cremated and he needed to be able to take her ashes home.  Home to Eversong.  It was where she had grown up.  It was where Aeramin had been born, although he remembered very little of the time he had lived there.  He remembered where it was.

He glanced at the table where the gifts that Sanimir had bought for their friends still sat.  He’d have to deliver them now.  He hoped he wouldn’t have to talk to them too long about where Sanimir had gone.  He could think of nothing worse than having to tell everyone one at a time that Sanimir had left him again.

Then there was the present left for him.  Aeramin wasn’t sure he’d be able to open it without the mage.  Maybe Kestrae was right and he would come back.  Aeramin hoped that she was.

*****

Bear unhooked the fish from his line and tossed the still flopping fish to Norr.  The bear could catch his own, but Bear didn’t mind sharing, and it wasn’t like he had much else to do.  He was still in the town, or more accurately, at the edge of town.  He could see the inn from here.  The colored lights at the entrances showed brightly through the light fog.  He wasn’t quite sure what they were there for, other than it was some holiday or another.  As long as it didn’t disturb the biting fish, it didn’t concern him.

He wondered if the fishing was half as good in Darnassus or Winterspring.  Of course, it was a lot less exciting to run away when you were allowed to.  The old man had insisted they could leave if they wanted to.  The sentinels just didn’t want them alone in Ashenvale.  They were free to run off and be alone somewhere else.

Bear’s home was Ashenvale.  He wanted to stay here.  He baited his hook and recast his line.

*****

Magister Hethurin Fairsong scrunched up his nose as he worked the hook through the worm.  He couldn’t help but empathize with the worm.  It had no control over its fate.  It writhed as Hethurin slid the hook into it further.

Hethurin was free for now.  When he returned, his sisters, his parents, his lover and his friends would all take turns telling him what he had to do.  He wondered if they would choose for him another time.  They would silence him and give him no other choice.  He would be the worm once more.  He would be Sanimir again.

He cast out his line while glancing back at the seaside home he had purchased just yesterday.  He had a really good price on it.  It was apparently haunted, but it came with its own grounds keeper.  The old elf had a deal with the previous owner that Hethurin decided to honor.  There was no need to displace the older elf, especially if Hethurin decided to make frequent trips or have long absences from the residence.

He wasn’t sure about that.  He didn’t like being the worm.

*****

Jaeyn Summerleaf drew his bow back and aimed for the orc’s ankle.  He had found the outpost a few days ago, and thought it would be the perfect place to find orcs to populate the islands.  Vassanta had went to Shattrath for something.  Shoes, did she even wear shoes?  It was fine.  It gave him the chance to get an orc, and he thought that would be a good surprise if he could disable it and get it to the island for her to hunt.  He was pretty sure Sketch would like it too.

The work on the islands was coming along a lot slower than he thought it would.  No one would be able to visit them at this rate.  Maybe that was okay though.  He rather liked sharing them alone with Vassanta.

And Sketch.  And Dog.  And Tumbles.

He smiled and let loose the arrow.