I Elhdras Winterleaf will start this journal so that my findings can be to some use if I ever get lost in battle. In this journal you will find the answers that I seek; answers, those are the purposes of my studies, the longing for the many questions in my head. I sense troubled times for which I do not have any answers of my own. Whenever a Brother or Sister of mine ask me «Sister why do you think the fish are sick? Why is the fel entangling so deep?» my face goes blank, for I do not know. A decision came thru within my soul, this journal of mine will aid anyone interested in the well being of the Elven lands.
In some months already, I and Manathon started to study the sick fish within the Mystral Lake; we attended to the strange and even more aggressive behavior of the Furbolgs; the increasing fel within the lands; the sudden and increasing earthquakes; and many more issues regarding the forests. The Cenarion Circle didn’t look upon our findings reason of worries for they had other troubles to attend to. Even so, I and my Brother decided to take these matters into our own hands. In this spirit we reached the Commander and the Lieutenant General with our concerns; we already had a plan in mind. I won’t be without answers anymore; I will seek for those within my studies, with a new purpose. Manathon and I schedule some travels through the infected areas of Kalimdor. The results of our studies and findings will be described here.
Ande’Thoras’Ethil, Elhdras
Journal entry 1:
While I headed to the Raynewood Retreat, the night was approaching. The forest grew silent and the moon appeared with most glowing light behind the high trees. The yellow light of a full moon contrasted in a most beautiful way against the darker blue sky. I will always keep close to my heart this images of the beautiful Ashenvale forest, for it is my home, my safe place.
Finally I reached the Retreat, Commander Aariam and Sentinel Atirian arrived shortly after. They volunteered to help placing at our service their skills and expertise. We ought to travel right way, the long journey ahead waited us. The sabers were ready and our moral was high. At most we would be away from Ashenvale for six days, for at least four days would be spent in travelling.
Manathon was the one with a map at hand, leading us through the Stonetalon Mountains and Desolace. Heading to the Stonetalon Mountains, passing through the Talondeep path, a most horrible sight was gazed upon: the cut and burned trees of these lands due to the work of Goblins; elementals made of fire roamed thru these lands flaming the nearby trees; ancient protectors gone mad and Bloodfuries everywhere. Samples were taken from future studies.
In a while the party reached Desolace, such empty place. In these lands we seized the opportunity to rest and feed the sabers before we soon be on run again. Although the landscape is arid and bare, the demons presence is something to be dealt with in a future time.
With only a few hours of rest the party soon head into travel once again. While on the run, it was decided then to go right ahead into Feathermoon Hold. Needless to say we were well welcomed; permission was granted to remain on the island and to further pursue our studies, also a house was put at our disposal so we could remain safe from the natural conditions. While writing this I can see my Brothers and Sisters resting for this was a very hard travel; tomorrow a long day of work wait us.
Elhdras Winterleaf (24-06-2010)
Journal entry 2:
This day was one of rain. The trees had in them a darker shade of green and the raindrops echoed thru the lake; as the rain would continue to fall onto Nighthaven it seemed as the flow of time had stopped.
With this weather, I ventured deep in Moonglade, near the lake Elune’Ara I looked for cover, finding it in a large hollow tree; this tree was tall, majestic, still showing such beautiful foliage. Near me was Or’l, my companion for many years now. Or’l was slightly sleeping, possibly lethargic by the weather, in trance with the mesmerizing sound of rain.
I decided to pick some parchments and a feather: and write this.
I am now at Moonglade and some days have already passed since I last wrote. Although I don’t have many findings to note down, one last thing was discovered. Manathon has studied the Elemental Ashes retrieved in Stonetalon Mountains and therefore, we can with most certainty tell, that such entity is not arcane but in fact spirit. Even if this finding is not what we would think of, there is still hope; despite the deep corruption within the Stonetalon Mountains we can for sure mend it and restore this land to its former state.
On another matter, in the last days we remain in Feralas, we seized the rest of the available time collecting more samples that could answer our doubts and questions. One of our main purposes was to venture into the Ruins of Eldre’Thalas, but certain circumstances wouldn’t allow. Commander Aariam Nightborne had to leave earlier since she was called with utmost necessity to Darnassus and Sentinel Atirian Whitesaber would be mapping some areas in Feralas. Therefore, in last minute, some changes were made: we would venture into the Ruins of Isildien.
While Manathon would gaze onto his map of Feralas, I stand by beach reckoning the findings we got so far: dragonkin roaming through ruins of old, imbedded in the aura of the close portal exuding the Nightmare influence; enraged and aggressive behavior that the beast in these lands showed, definitely beyond normal.
In time we head to the destination Manathon had suggested and, into the High Wilderness we ventured. Soon enough we reached the Ruins of Isildien and we were not prepared for the sight we would gaze upon: Ogres everywhere and their pestilent foul smell; the Temple of the Moon crushed and trampled; the Moonwell defiled and corrupted; slaughtered animals around! This was something I was not prepared to see. All I could think was my own Sister Serindë; I had already lost one Sister to the Orcs am I to lose another to Orgres or any kind of lesser race? Had the Sisters of Elune from this Temple been able to escape the destiny of death? Beyond worry I felt an anguish and wrath I can’t describe thru writing. I must say I do not comprehend fully the actions I would eventually perform, for I instigated unconsciously an open fight to the Ogres near me and purposely put in danger myself and my Brother’s life. Although we were to venture into the ruins without bringing any attention to ourselves, for we were alone, I derailed in an utmost erratic behavior. Since I was shape shifted in my Cat form, the animal instinct in me toke over; I would only want the blood of those beasts in my paws – in my mind their death would ease some of my pain. Brother Manathon hurried, running in my entail, trying to soothe me and ease this unpredictable behavior; a battle field that wasn’t supposed to be, had crashed. When I was able to hear his words, my fur was full of blood, claws and fangs dripping with this liquid, corpses all around. Although my mind returned I still wasn’t focused enough to change into my Elven form. Manathon kept by my side, mumbling words of reassurance, of ease; he lead me to my tranquil self allowing me to return to my own true form.
I have felt an uncontrollable rage and fury that I haven’t felt in centuries.
Later on, my mind would be centered enough so we could restore the Moonwell to its prior force; we prayed and voiced some incantations allowing the well to initiate its recovery. Manathon and I remained there for at least some hours more. When the dimmer light of the sun started to approach the horizon from afar we ventured home, Or’l guiding me through the harsh journey until Nighthaven.
In this day my spirit remains restless, my mind still tired.
Elhdras Winterleaf (30-06-2010)
Journal Entry 3
I am in the Silverwing Outpost for now, the calm night of this day is in many ways different from the hectic battlefield we have seen in the latest days. Today the window blows in a very soft whisper gracing my skin as it passes by letting me feel the ache from my tired and bruised body. Blessed by the Moon, I have not suffered any major wound but even in the most comfortable position I feel every hit made onto my body.
Ashenvale has recently been stage of innumerous assaults by the Orc forces; the call for battle has been sound and every soldier reported for duty. I do not have the time myself to study the land anymore as I wished to, my claws are worn and my fur is constantly full of blood; I am needed in battle. I have seen the arrows fly from the sky, their sharp noise rushing through the foliage and the armor of my fellow Brothers; every time I see a blade dig into the flesh of my own I hear their shout of pain, their anger following next as mad beast killing everything in sight. The battlefield is one of great turmoil of actions and emotions.
During these days I have tended to my fellow soldiers, mending their wounds: carved arrows, inflicted poisons, deep cuts from axes and swords; I might add I have seen it all. The few able to stand alone fit for any small encounter, are requested to scout the surrounding areas once again. Earlier in the night, I have also left to the dark forest of Ashenvale seeking my prey as a hungry beast for its flesh. Although I was to seek the groups of Orcs, I came across with an assembly of undead cultists lurking in Ashenvale, the same that Sister Shaelyssa had pointed some moons before. While closing in on their tents a foul stench came from within their own bodies, fel alchemy practiced by every each of them. Taking an advantage of the shadows surrounding me, I waited for the best opportunity to retrieve a sample of such blasphemous poison; the corruption within such liquid could probably be the answer of the corruption growing in Ashenvale. To easily retrieve a sample of such poison I needed to kill one of them first, if I was ever caught I could be without doubt outnumbered. Either way, I eventually climbed a tree and leaped to an undead near a bottle of such foulness; with my claws I rapidly cut this abomination’s throat before he could even let out any kind of sound.
Next to me resides such bottle and the only answer I do know so far is that such liquid is indeed a disease. To why these abominations keep and produce this kind of disease I do not know; it might be a plan or scheme into letting Ashenvale perish into the same state as Felwood or to conduct experiments on our own kin. Although without any proof or cause, I do feel they might be conducting experiments on our own and indeed they should be stopped. In due time, I will return to Nighthaven and seek help into finding a cure to this strange and corrupt disease. May the Sentinels deal with their physical threat for their alchemy worries me further.
For now I will leave myself into resting, the night has been far too long.
Elhdras Winterleaf (19-07-2010)
Journal Entry 4
In the latest week I have been in the Stonetalon Mountains. This area has suffered enough with the Orcs’ presence and the heavy population of Goblins, infecting all the living things. In an utmost effort to cleanse the area, not only Druids but members of the Sentinel Army have put to their skills into mending such assaulted area. One of the highest threats seemed to be the liquid infesting the lake; it turned out to be “oil” that the Goblins have been producing for some moons now and it would harm the fauna and flora alike with consequences we cannot fully grasp so far.
After studying the samples brought from this lake, I was able to find a practical cure to the “oil” infested lake in this heavily polluted area. Although the cure seemed to be easy enough to create as it only evolves some herbs and concentrated snake poison, the incantations we do cast onto the lake seem effortless. Therefore we can indeed conclude that this “oil” threat isn’t work of any special magic or fel taint but a corrosive liquid linked to their kind of technology.
In this past week I have been placing the elixir in the water itself, gazing from up close its possible effects during this time. My conclusions follow next: we have indeed succeeded to remove this “oil” taint from the lake and found the elixir strong enough to remove the taint without damaging furthermore the surroundings but, nevertheless, the Goblins do continue to place the barrels containing this liquid in the water neutralizing the effect of the elixir; the results of the elixir do depend on the amount of the “oil” already in the water. Therefore, I believe that if we ever do eradicate the Goblins’ presence in the area we are to be truly victorious regarding this threat.
On another topic and regarding the earliest travel to Feralas, I have already found some answers. In fact, despite the Ogre presence in the ruins of the many temples of the Moon, I believe we might be able to mend the tainted moonwells to its former state with the passing of the moon; the menace the Ogres symbolize in these ruins might be dwelled in time and perhaps the Sentinel army can even rebuilt these former ruins to new constructions in due occasion. May our beloved Elune bless us with the strength to follow her wishes. Also, I have asked the Sentinels in the Feathermoon Hold to send an owl to me if they ever find the earthquakes to be menace enough to their safety; no word has reached me. Perhaps the restlessness of the earth has decided to travel somewhere else to far way lands. Either way it would prove right to be ever vigilant.
In the matter concerning the taint of the Nightmare, if we eventually do find a way to remove its grasp in the lands of Feralas, it might proven worthy to assemble a party of elves to travel to this luxurious forests once again; the dragonkin residing there are long due to be removed from there. We may only hope there is in fact an answer for such corruption. For now I can only gaze my Brother’s own studies and as well help him. May my next entry be of good news.
Elhdras Winterleaf (20-07-2010)
