The Balance of Nature WoW/Gamer

~~~

I knelt in the stillness of the deeper forest of the Shadowglen, bow semi-taut, studying the Nightsaber as it consumed the freshly killed Thistle boar. I had been kneeling here for an hour now, waiting patiently for a better shot. Many of my year mates would have long since threaded an arrow through the cat's eye socket, or approached unseen and slid a dagger into the animal's brainstem. Alternatively, they would have simply taken the same approach as I was sure my friend Rina would have and charged the animal with swords drawn.

I was not my year mates. I could shoot a bow, but I had to wait for my shot to avoid a gut shot or worse. I could move silently and stick to the shadows, but not seem to fade from sight as some could. And while I could wield a staff or short sword well enough to keep myself alive if necessary, I would not hold out hope that I would survive the encounter unscathed. My mentor hadn't seemed worried by any of this and had simply told me that I just needed to find my place in the world.

There had been a small hope that I could study the druidic arts, but when I was taken before Archdruid Staghelm by my mentor, he had taken one look at me and then told Ilthalaine that druidism required an "unbroken" connection to the ancient traditions of the Kalimdor Kaldorei and that my human father precluded me from initiation.

I had not until that point ever seen Ilthalaine truly angry, but that night, after we had returned to the dorm where my year mates and I were staying until our individual training was complete, he had openly raged against the archdruid and had promised me that this kind of thing would not have stood were Malfurion well.

But none of that would stop the work that needed to be done for the good of Teldrassil. The problem was an imbalance in nature, as my mentor Ilthalaine had explained it; the Nightsaber and Thistle boar population was outgrowing the normal culling and becoming more aggressive, it was putting nature and the Kaldorei at risk, and if left unchecked it could lead to even graver consequences, or so I had been told.

I focused back on the Nightsaber as it wrenched free a prized tidbit it had been worrying at. It quickly gulped it down and turned to try for another of the organs. Its side finally presented to me, I completed the draw on my bow and let myself sink into the semi-meditative state that Ilthalaine had taught me. One slow breath in, shot lined up, and as I slowly began to exhale, a clothyard shaft shot from the other side of the woods and impaled the beast.

I blinked and slowly released the tension on the bow as a group of two walked from the undergrowth across from my hiding spot. Caladon and Ralia were two leaves on the same branch, never far from one another. Ralia was extremely large by any standard, but she towered over the other girls of our year, tall and thick with corded muscle that would make anyone green with envy. She used a monstrous bow and despite her size was one of the quietest and most fleet of foot of our year. Caladon was the opposite of Ralia in every way: short, thin, and fine-featured. It was this combination that had led many a year mate to a quick beating in a duel of blade against him, confident in an easy win if Ralia could not intervene.

I stayed still and let them clean their kill, remove the hide and meat and bury deep anything left behind; better to let them move on their way. Not that they had been particularly unkind to me; every one of my year mates was polite and helpful in any of their interactions, but there was always some distance. Whether it was my origins, my failures or simply the community just following the example of the archdruid, I was unsure.

Honestly, if it wasn't for Rina and her seeming indifference to anything outside her blades and her dream to join the The Sentinels, the polite isolation may have driven me from Kaldorei lands in their totality.

Banishing bad memories from my head, I waited until I was certain they were gone before I stood and massaged the life back into my thighs. I would not be punished if I failed to return with six Nightsaber pelts, but I would not be shown how to craft my first set of archery gloves until I did.

Moving deeper into the more overgrown areas of the glen, I continued to try and slip into the shadows as I crept through the underbrush. My eyes scanned over the ground for anything that would give away a Nightsaber and allow me to get the drop on the animal as I moved deeper into the glen. The unfortunate truth was that surprise was my only advantage, and it was shared by the very animal I stalked.

I froze, one foot half planted, at the sudden stillness of the forest around me, slowly bringing my eyes from the ground. I concentrated as I glanced around the area around me and felt my heart stop as a Nightsaber faded into view on a tree branch along my path. Whatever it was about my eyes that let me see through stealth saved my life, at least for the moment.

I was outside its striking distance but well within engagement, and it stared at me with the same lazy arrogance of most young Nightsabers, still certain of its ability to remain unseen. I didn't have time to think or plan; I reached over my shoulder and pulled an arrow free as I stood, strung, and began to pull the bow taut as the Nightsaber jumped from the tree to the ground and charged me.

I barely had a chance to think, let alone aim the arrow shot from my bow, and it travelled the shrinking distance between us in an instant, hitting the cat in the space between its neck and collarbone and sinking to the plume.

I had dropped my bow and ripped the short sword from the sheath on my back before I realized I wouldn't need it; the Nightsaber was alive but only momentarily. I made my way over in its blind spot and put an end to the creature's pain as quickly as I could. It was a bad kill by my people's standards, but I lived, and that was something.

I yawned loudly with a confused expression flitting across my face, then sank to the ground. I hadn't realized I was so exhausted; maybe a small nap, then I could go back to the hunt…

I found myself floating in a void of stars all around me, and in the distance, what I instinctively knew was my home, a beautiful marble of greens and blues, and from the marble I felt a will, small, fragile, and alone, reach out to me, and a connection formed.

=========================================

CHARACTER INITIALIZATION

=========================================

NAME: Elandris

RACE: Half-Elf (Kaldorei/Human Variant)

-----------------------------------------

SELECT CLASS:

-----------------------------------------

[ ] Warrior

[ ] Hunter

[ ] Rogue

[ ] Mage

[ ] Druid


=========================================

I stared at the imprinted knowledge in front of me for a long moment as understanding flowed across the connection about what was being offered. Each option represented a path I would walk that would, with time, lead to great power and was offered by a being of order.

I stared at each option, allowing the knowledge to sink into me, each in turn. Some were obvious and things that my fellow year mates would surely be considered to be on the path to; Rina was a Warrior for sure, and Ralia a hunter with her loyal pet Caladon, the rogue, I thought with amusement.

Mage was equal amounts interesting and repulsive; what was being shown to me made it seem like a powerful and versatile power, but I had grown up hearing warnings of what the arcane had done to our cousins, and if I was being honest with myself, there was only one option that had called to me from the beginning.

There was that tiny sliver of excitement that had been so smothered by the archdruid but had refused to die. It was something I wanted for a number of reasons, some good and some admittedly less so. The first of which was one I was sure I shared with every Kaldorei: it was an honor and a privilege to serve Nature and the people of this land, but there was also the fact that Druids were honored amongst my people, and there was a desperate hope that if I could become one, then my people would warm to me.

In the end, it was no decision at all.

~~~

My eyes fluttered open, the sun shining through the dappled leaves. I blinked in confusion as I sat up, my mind still full of the fog of sleep. Looking around me, my eyes fell upon the Nightsaber corpse, and everything rushed back to me.

I could feel it, just beneath the surface, a connection to something greater than myself, and beneath that, something else, a question, and when I acknowledged it, my vision was once again filled with knowledge.

STATUS

=========================================
=========================================

ELANDRIS

Level: 0

Class: Druid

Race: Half-Elf (Kaldorei / Human)

Experience: 0 / 1,000 XP

-- PHYSICAL STATE --

• Condition: Healthy
• Magical Reserves: Rested

-- RACIAL TRAITS --

• [Perception] (Active): Heightens senses to detect hidden or stealthed entities. (Induces minor sensory fatigue).
• [The Human Spirit] (Passive): Minor innate boost to the natural recovery rate of magical reserves.
• [Quickness] (Passive): Enhanced fast-twitch muscle response for physical evasion.
• [Nature Resistance] (Passive): Minor physiological resistance to botanical toxins and Nature-based magic.

-- CLASS SPELLS --

• [Healing Touch - Rank 0]: Seek training
• [Wrath - Rank 0]: Seek training
• [Mark of the Wild - Rank 0]: Seek training

-- WEAPON & ARMOR SKILLS --

• Staves: 5 / 100
• Unarmed: 1 / 100
• One-Handed Swords: 2 / 100 (Capped)
• Light Armor: 15 / 100
• Medium Armor: 5 / 100
• Archery: 15 / 100 (Capped)
• Athletics: 20 / 100
• Meditation: 10 / 100

-- PROFESSIONS --

• Primary: [Empty]
• Secondary: [Empty]

-- REPUTATION --

• Darnassus: Neutral (100 / 3,000)
• Stormwind: Neutral (0 / 3,000)
• Cenarion Circle: Neutral (0 / 3,000)
• =========================================

The information disappeared with a thought. I stared straight ahead, not really seeing anything around me, as a weight I had not known I was carrying fell from my shoulders. I didn't know why I had been chosen by Azeroth, but I knew that I had been given a chance to be something more, and I wasn't going to waste it.

I covered my mouth as a loud, relieved laugh slipped my control, and took a few minutes to get the joy trying to burst forth from inside of me under control, wiping the tears from my eyes. I looked up and froze at the incredulous sight of a Nightsaber flying through the air toward me.

I had just enough time to lift my left arm in front of my face before its front paws slammed into my chest and drove me backwards into the ground, driving the wind from my lungs. I was saved from instant death by the stupid luck of my arm being in exactly the right position, though as the jaws drove dagger-length teeth through the meat of my arm and shattered the bone beneath, luck was the furthest thing from my mind.

I desperately started to bash at the beast's nose and face ineffectually as its back feet began scraping against my hardened leather chest piece as it attempted to disembowel me. As my vision flashed black and red with pain, I tried to reach over my shoulder for my short sword, but it was pinned beneath me.

I felt it then, the same presence as before, a glance in my direction like a mother at a particularly dimwitted child. I felt it lean in, and it offered the last exchange it would give me. It would give me a nudge, but I would grow a bit slower.

My panicked mental agreement as I screamed in pain and fear seemed to be enough, as I felt knowledge fill my mind alongside a primal rage; my right hand slammed into the side of the cat's head, and I pulled deep upon wrath, both the world's and my own. My scream of hurt and fear turned into a roar.

The cat jerked its head back, mouth opening and green energy blazing from the inside of its head and eyes as I poured wrath directly into it until, with two sizzling pops, it spasmed and collapsed on top of me, unmoving.

Pushing the cat off of me with my good arm, I slid myself back away from it and against a nearby tree. A glance down was all the confirmation that I needed that I was in trouble. With my new power and knowledge, I could triage the worst of it… but my hardened leather armor had not held up as well as I had hoped, and the pain from my gored chest and stomach was only now reaching me.

Calling upon the green light inside of me again and forming it into the correct shape, I laid my hand upon my abdomen and channeled the energy into myself until I felt myself run out of the innate energy that I used to guide the energy of the world. Reaching into the pouch at my side, I pulled out the pot of salve that all trainees carried and started applying it as best I could to the worst of the wounds left over from the healing.

My arm was last, and the best I could do was wrap it and put it in a sling; the bones were still broken. I ended up having to cut the string of my bow, being unable to unstring it with one arm and no core strength, but using it, I was able to climb to my feet and start in the direction of the main glen.

I finally dragged myself from the deeper section of the Shadowglen what felt like hours later; the sun was hidden behind the trunk for the night, and I was feeling fairly faint from pain. I looked up from my feet at a shout and started in surprise as my good arm was draped over a broad shoulder. A glance showed a concerned Ralia gingerly taking my weight as Caladon sprinted ahead of us, screaming that he needed a healer.

~~~

I blinked up at the ceiling of the healer's hut, unable to remember how I had gotten there. The last I could remember was telling Ralia that it wasn't as bad as it looked, so I assume I must have fallen unconscious not long after… Which was admittedly embarrassing. The healer's hut was a place I was somewhat familiar with, at least as much as anyone who spent time training with training swords with other novices did.

It was a vaguely oval building constructed in a natural knot hole inside of one of Teldrassil's many branches. It smelled strongly of herbs and the various alchemical concoctions that the healer Aluril worked on. The far wall was filled with books and notes on the subject. I had at one point thought to approach him about an apprenticeship, but his current apprentice, Lorel, jealously guarded his time and attention and had made it abundantly clear that she would make my life hell if I slowed her already glacial advancement through the ranks of herbalism and alchemy.

A look out the window showed it to be deep into the night. Judging by the familiar taste in my mouth, Aluril had used one of his potions to speed my recovery. I was still tender but by morning I should be able to return to light duty… assuming that Ilthalaine or, Elune forbid, the Archdruid decides that my injuries have proven that I should be removed from my group of year mates altogether.

I closed my eyes, intent on getting some sleep, but before I let sleep take me, I pulled up the Vision of Knowledge to see what changes my deal had brought.

STATUS

=========================================
=========================================

ELANDRIS

Level: 1

Class: Druid

Race: Half-Elf (Kaldorei / Human)

Experience: 20 / 1,000 XP

-- PHYSICAL STATE --

• Condition: Lightly Injured
• Magical Reserves: Rested

-- RACIAL TRAITS --

• [Perception] (Active): Heightens senses to detect hidden or stealthed entities. (Induces minor sensory fatigue).
• [The Human Spirit] (Passive): Minor innate boost to the natural recovery rate of magical reserves.
• [Quickness] (Passive): Enhanced fast-twitch muscle response for physical evasion.
• [Nature Resistance] (Passive): Minor physiological resistance to botanical toxins and Nature-based magic.

-- CLASS SPELLS --

• [Healing Touch - Rank 1]: Accelerates natural cellular repair to mend physical wounds. (Draws heavily on reserves; requires 3 seconds of somatic focus).
• [Wrath - Rank 1]: Hurls concentrated Nature energy. (Moderate drain per cast; requires 2 seconds to channel).
• [Mark of the Wild - Rank 1]: Imbues target with the wild's resilience, hardening the skin to deflect glancing blows. (Low drain; lasts roughly 30 minutes).

-- WEAPON & ARMOR SKILLS --

• Staves: 5 / 100
• Unarmed: 1 / 100
• One-Handed Swords: 2 / 100 (Capped)
• Light Armor: 15 / 100
• Medium Armor: 5 / 100
• Archery: 15 / 100 (Capped)
• Athletics: 20 / 100
• Meditation: 10 / 100

-- PROFESSIONS --

• Primary: [Empty]
• Secondary: [Empty]

-- REPUTATION --

• Darnassus: Neutral (100 / 3,000)
• Stormwind: Neutral (0 / 3,000)
• Cenarion Circle: Neutral (0 / 3,000)
• =========================================

~~~

Staring up at the leaves of the tree above me, I shifted slightly on the tree branch I was lying upon, legs and one arm hanging bonelessly off each side of the branch; I couldn't help but sigh deeply at life in general. It turned out I had been wrong about a lot of things in my moment of jubilation after I had been granted my path.

The druids of the circle had not jubilantly invited me into the fold when I explained that I had been gifted power and knowledge by nature; they had, in fact, not believed me at all to begin with, and it had taken me directly proving it through demonstrations of wrath, healing, and finally enhancing to turn skepticism to astonishment.

That is, until Archdruid Staghelm had spoken.

My ears still felt red with shame as I thought of the condemnations he had heaped upon me for accepting and bringing what must be a corrupting influence upon the balance of the land; by the end of his tirade, he had even called for a vote for expulsion from Teldrassil, but when the vote was cast, it had failed by some margin.

That did not mean I escaped unscathed; I had been removed from my year mates and been forbidden from using the abilities I had demonstrated until they could be confirmed to be free of taint and truly a blessing of the land.

Word had spread quickly through the glen, and I had quickly escaped to the upper boughs far above where most tread to escape the narrowed eyes and quickly hidden frowns of the glen's residents.

Reaching up, I gently plucked a leaf from the branch above mine and, with a twist and a fold, brought it to my lips between cupped hands and began to play the song my mother had taught me as a child, the haunting melody echoing off the foliage around me pleasantly.

I opened my eyes as a shadow stole my patch of light to see Rina staring down at me from one branch up, elbows resting on bent knees as she crouched lightly on the thin branch. Rina was a bit of a contrast: her bright white hair was short, chopped down with a dagger whenever it got long enough to bother her; even her eyebrows were not spared that treatment, much to everyone's consternation. Her features were sharp but fine, and her eyes were the glowing orbs of our people, hers in a soft white. Much to her displeasure and best efforts, she was exceedingly lovely, though the last person who had pointed that fact out had spent the day in the healing hut, so anyone with sense kept that fact to themselves.

She also looked annoyed and had split knuckles that I had a sinking feeling involved me. "You are a fool," she finally said. "First you get yourself gutted in the deep woods instead of just waiting for me to join you. Then, when you are saved by the very land itself, you run directly to that T'lara who kicked you once and expect him not to kick you again?"

I sat up quickly, looking around, dropping the leaf whistle in the process. "Easy, you're not wrong, but you shouldn't speak about the Archdruid like that. Not out where someone can hear."

Turning and spitting aggressively off to the side, Rina sneered. "Let him or his lackeys try. I will test their resolve myself, and even if I do fail, I am bound to Lady Whisperwind; let us see how far Staghelm's bluster takes him when she brings him to task."

Collapsing back onto the branch, I couldn't help but smile up at her. "You, my friend, are incorrigible. So aside from giving me a dressing down, what brings you up here to my neck of the woods?"

"I do not understand your insistence on repeating your father's joke; it has not grown more humorous with repetition." Shaking the thought away, she laid a hand on the hilt of her sword and leaned forward. "I came to find you so that we could go somewhere to train. If the old fools think I will let a friend's sword rust for no good reason, they are wrong. I will run you through the same training you would and should be getting with Ilthalaine."

I felt a rising dread grow in me as she spoke. I had 'trained' with Rina exactly once before, and she had left me such a shattered sack of bones and despair that I had avoided a repeat like my life depended on it, because I feared that it might. "Now, Rina… while I really appreciate the offer, I really should be… uh… communing with nature, yah know, uh I'm a druid now and all of that."

I didn't even get to finish my excuse before she rolled her eyes, twisted on the branch, swung down, and kicked me off of mine, then grabbed my foot as I fell and tossed me head over heels into a thankfully soft bush at the base of the branch.

I flinched inside of the bush as I heard Rina's boots thump down onto the ground. "Up, you layabout. We already have one Malfurion; we have no need for another."

Pulling myself out of the bush, I jumped to my feet and ran. Hearing a laugh and then thumping feet behind me, I picked up speed.

"Good! We'll start with a good run to get the blood pumping; this is a good pace for the warm-up, and when I catch you, we will start drills!" the insane woman behind me shouted as I mentally begged Elune for a respite that never came.

~~~

I lay on the ground in a boneless heap, aching to the center of my very being, and watched incredulously as Rina did sit-ups while hanging from a tree branch. "Monster…"

Pausing her exercise mid-crunch, she twisted her torso to look back down at me. "Stop being such a baby. I took it easy on you today because you're still recovering; I suppose you can be done, though."

I stared into space, unable to stop the look of confusion that crossed my face as knowledge flooded my mind.

=========================================

DAILY CONDITIONING COMPLETE

=========================================

Skill Increase: One-Handed Swords +0.3

Skill Increase: Archery +0.2

Skill Increase: Light Armor +0.4

Skill Increase: Athletics +0.2

Incremental daily limits reached for physical and martial conditioning.

=========================================

"Don't look so surprised, I'm trying to keep yah on par with the rest of the year mates, not kill you, and you did well enough. Your mentor isn't training you to be a sentinel; he's training you to be well-rounded." Nodding to herself, she finished the crunch she had been holding and backflipped out of the tree, walked over to her backpack, opened it, grabbed two packages out of it, made her way over to me and sat down.

"Alright, I have Kaldorei Spider Kabobs or a Thistle Boar Sandwich. I've got some Spiced Onion Crunch to munch on as well either way. Which one do you want?" she asked and laid out two leaf-wrapped packages, then opened a pouch of Spiced Onion Crunch between us.

"I'll have the Sandwich," I said, reaching over for a handful of the onions and tossing them into my mouth.

"I don't know what it is with you and spiders; they taste great," she said, having handed me my food. Grabbing her own, she ripped a chunk of the Kabob off and began to chew happily.

"I'd eat them if I had to; it's just there's no middle ground with spiders. They're either cute or weird, and neither one of those things makes me want to eat them." I shrugged and took a large bite of my sandwich, enjoying the mixture of fatty boar meat and the acidic bite of Darnassian Kimchi.

"Well, I mourn for any future girl you end up with if you ever get the courage to approach one of our year mates because they will certainly have to be one of those things and maybe the other if you're lucky."

"The last time I approached one of my year mates, she ended up 'taking a walk in the forest' with you, and when I approached Ayleal a couple of months ago, she spent the whole conversation either asking about you or making moon eyes in your direction," I said as I jabbed her lightly in the ribs, making her jump slightly and swat at me.

"That was the one time, and she does not… hunt as freely as I do; she was not interested in what you offer. And Ayleal is a silly waif, and the both of us are better off for avoiding her altogether; she only wants what she cannot have. Asha and Oben have both given you considering looks, though, not that you noticed. It's a shame you have no interest in Oben. He seems like he would be fun to get to know better. What about Asha?"

Feeling a slight blush creep up my neck at the direction our conversation had gone…again… I cleared my throat and made an attempt to steer it elsewhere. "Anyway. When is your next training session with Lady Whisperwind?"

"Not for a while yet. We spoke recently, but she informed me that she was not going to be available for some time." Looking around our clearing, she leaned in close, dropping to a whisper. "She left with Broll Bearmantle. She did not inform me of the details, but I will be responsible for my own training until she returns." Voice returning to normal volume, she gave me an evil grin. "Which means I have plenty of time for your own training; after all, the best way to advance can be to teach!"

Rolling my eyes at my friend's antics, I took another bite of my sandwich. I contemplated the knowledge I had gained earlier; there was a lot to unpack from such a simple message. I would need to meditate upon it later when I didn't have an exercise demon breathing down my neck.

~~~

I sat cross-legged underneath a tree on the outskirts of the clearing Rina and I had claimed as our own for the day, slowly going through the breathing exercises I had been taught as I watched Rina inch slowly through her sword forms, each attack and block moving as if through sap. As I felt my thoughts slow, I slowly closed my eyes and willed knowledge to the forefront, ignoring the overview for now. I looked beyond it at another layer that I had not examined yet but was attached to the daily task I had received earlier.

=========================================

[ ACTIVE TASKS ]

=========================================

-- DAILY DISCIPLINES --

[COMPLETED] Physical Conditioning

• Potential Rewards: +0.2 Athletics, +0.2 to +0.4 for active combat/armor skills (Staves, Light Armor etc) One time daily.
• System Note: Daily physical skill cap reached. Resets at dawn.

[ACTIVE] Whispers of the Canopy

• Objective: Sit in uninterrupted meditation and attune your senses to the natural leylines (The Green) of the forest.
• Condition: Must be performed in a natural environment free from arcane or mechanical interference one time daily.
• Projected Yield: +[Nature Lore] Skill, Accelerated recovery of Magical Reserves
• First completion reward: ???.

-- LOCAL REGION (SHADOWGLEN) --

[ON HOLD] Balance of Nature

• Context: The local predator-prey equilibrium in Shadowglen has been disrupted. You must cull the overpopulated fauna before they strip the local ecosystem bare.
• Objectives:
  • [ 1 / 6 ] Young Nightsabers Culled
  • [ 0 / 6 ] Thistle Boars Culled
• Status Note: Suspended. Pending preparation for deeper forest excursion and sanction from Circle leadership.
• Projected Yield: +100 Character XP, +[Cenarion Circle] Reputation. =========================================

I contemplated the new information. I had assumed that my druidic powers were the totality of what I had gained, until the information I had gained following Rina's exercise regimen had appeared. It was more than just power and knowledge; it was the ability to grow and to know the shape of that growth, and these… quests would give direction if I so chose.

Rina would take care of the first task, the one that could be repeated; the second was something I would have to do on my own; perhaps I would attempt it after I set aside this knowledge and retired to my normal meditation.

The final one was more interesting, as it was the task Ilthalaine had given me. It was unfortunately out of reach for the moment, but the ex pe reward was intriguing; my instinctive knowledge told me it was a direct representation of my growth as a druid, and that increasing it would eventually lead to increases in the druidic powers I could call upon.

It was a way around a direct mentorship with one of the members of the circle, a way to grow without having to rely on the Archdruid suddenly deciding to intervene if I could somehow convince an individual druid to train me.

Brushing away the knowledge for now, I took a deep breath and prepared to sink deeper into my meditation, my thoughts misting away as I opened myself up to the world in an attempt to locate the energy of nature.

My eyes blinked open as the repetitive noise next to my ear finally pulled me from the depths of my meditation to see Rina crouched in front of me, her hand next to my face snapping her fingers. "There he is, welcome back. I would have left you to it if we were closer to the glen, but I have to head back, and it would be embarrassing for us both if you go and get yourself eaten while deep in meditation after everything you went through to avoid it yesterday," she said, then stood and offered her hand down to me.

Taking her hand, I let her pull me to my feet, then stretched the stiffness from my body and finally shook myself out. "Good call, I'll need to find a knothole room that's open to sleep in for the night anyway. I'm not to 'chance spreading any possible corruption' by sleeping with my year mates in the dorm, so I'll need to send for my stuff and get used to sleeping in a room alone again, at least until the circle decides I'm safe to be around."

Snorting, Rina shook her head. "Fools them for believing that it's necessary and fools you for not finding one earlier; luckily for you, I am no one's fool, and I claimed a knothole for you before I kicked you off your pouting branch."

"It is not my pouting branch; it's my introspective brooding branch… my pouting branch is higher up so that people know at a glance how upset I am."

Reaching over to shove me, Rina led me through the glen and to a door hanging, poking her head in, then nodding to herself. "Good, no one tried to snag it. This is you for now. I have to get over to the temple, but I will see you bright and early for exercise, so be ready." That said, she turned and jogged off toward the temple. Walking inside, I paused as I got in; all of my stuff from the dorm was in the room. Bags, clothes, knickknacks, all set up as close to how I had them around my bunk in the dorm room.

It was easy to forget when walking through a sea of politely disinterested faces that one really good friend could be more than enough.

~~~

STATUS

=========================================
=========================================

ELANDRIS

Level: 1

Class: Druid

Race: Half-Elf (Kaldorei / Human)

Experience: 20 / 1,000 XP

-- PHYSICAL STATE --

• Condition: Healthy
• Magical Reserves: Rested

-- RACIAL TRAITS --

• [Perception] (Active): Heightens senses to detect hidden or stealthed entities. (Induces minor sensory fatigue).
• [The Human Spirit] (Passive): Minor innate boost to the natural recovery rate of magical reserves.
• [Quickness] (Passive): Enhanced fast-twitch muscle response for physical evasion.
• [Nature Resistance] (Passive): Minor physiological resistance to botanical toxins and Nature-based magic.

-- CLASS SPELLS --

• [Healing Touch - Rank 1]: Accelerates natural cellular repair to mend physical wounds. (Draws heavily on reserves; requires 3 seconds of somatic focus).
• [Wrath - Rank 1]: Hurls concentrated Nature energy. (Moderate drain per cast; requires 2 seconds to channel).
• [Mark of the Wild - Rank 1]: Imbues target with the wild's resilience, hardening the skin to deflect glancing blows. (Low drain; lasts roughly 30 minutes).

-- SKILLS --

• Staves: 5 / 100
• Unarmed: 1 / 100
• One-Handed Swords: 2.3 / 100 (Capped)
• Light Armor: 15.4 / 100
• Medium Armor: 5 / 100
• Archery: 15.2 / 100 (Capped)
• Athletics: 20.2 / 100
• Meditation: 10 / 100

-- PROFESSIONS --

• Primary: [Empty]
• Secondary: [Empty]

-- REPUTATION --

• Darnassus: Neutral (100 / 3,000)
• Stormwind: Neutral (0 / 3,000)
• Cenarion Circle: Neutral (0 / 3,000)
• =========================================

I awoke to a sharp whistle from outside my door, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I stood and walked towards the door covering, wondering who would be visiting. It wasn't Rina; she had stopped bothering to announce herself a week after we had met.

Pulling the covering aside enough to stick my face through, I blinked sleepily at the sentinel. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Giving me an extremely disinterested look, she cleared her throat briefly and started speaking as if from rote. "Initiate Wisp, you are called before the circle. I will wait for you to get ready, but I do not recommend making the circle wait."

I held back a grimace at the name; Wisp was the surname that had been assigned to me after my mother had left me to travel the human lands with father when I was a child. They had always been wanderers at heart, never long in telling me of some adventure they had gone on. They had resisted the temptation to return to that life until my twelfth year and decided that I would be better off as a ward of my mother's people than wandering into the dangers they faced in their travels.

For a time I had used my mother's name, privately, but I had soured on it as I had gotten older; now I was Elandris only, and when I finished my training and stepped fully into what my people considered adulthood, I would fashion a new surname for myself.

"I should only be a moment," I said, before stepping back into my room, grabbing and pulling on a clean set of clothing, and running a hand through my hair to get it as in order as it ever seemed to be.

Stepping out of my room, I walked over to the waiting sentinel and motioned for her to lead the way. The sentinel nodded to me and started to briskly walk in the direction of Aldrassil. We made our way down the branch where my knothole room was located and onto the glen proper.

People were out in force this morning, moving between each of the homes and temporary stalls set up throughout the glen for the open market. Hunters took hides to leatherworkers, gatherers with large baskets upon their backs brought their bounty to the bakers and cooks, and various crafters sold or traded their own wares either centrally or by taking their goods directly to the buyer in exchange for goods, service, or coin.

I let the familiar, comforting noise of trade wash over me; no one yelled, but they made themselves heard over the crowds of their peers. Each extolled the virtues of their specific ware while subtly undercutting their peers. It was controlled chaos, or at least as close to it as the Kaldorei ever got. From what my father had said, the markets of Teldrassil were downright tame compared to the ones found in the human capital of Stormwind.

Making our way through the last of the crowd, we finally entered Aldrassil and moved into the closed market, which was to my mind a somewhat misleading name; both were open to anyone with the coin or goods to trade. The closed market was where things of higher value ended up, things that exposure to the elements outside could lower the value of.

Imported jewelry from the dwarven lands, books, scrolls, documents of all kinds, and even expensive dried herbs used in high-end potions all ended up inside the closed market in individual shops made to suit the items' specific needs.

It was quiet inside the closed market, at least comparatively, due to the items involved being of lesser use to the general population of the Shadowglen. Passing the final store, we walked into the stairwell corridor and began slowly winding our way up the interior of Aldrassil.

Fingers lightly dragging on the banister, I stared at the outer wall as we climbed, watching as the scene carved into it slowly told the tale of the birth, life, and death of nature. Each scene was painstakingly detailed in its carving and staining. It was now and had always been a wonder to me, and I still remember the first time I had realized as a child that the story was circular in its telling, so that it told the same tale regardless of whether you started at the top or the bottom of the stairwell.

The sentinel stopped at the doorway at the top, moving off to one side. Moving past her, I walked into the meeting chamber. It was a fairly small, unassuming room and was used for a number of different things. I had heard there had been talk of making the Circle a permanent room somewhere in Aldrassil, but given that they spent most of their time in the Cenarion Enclave in the Capital, it had never become a reality.

The representatives of the Circle all sat on comfortable cushions in a half-circle on the far edge of the room, and in the center was the knee cushion. I made my way over, kneeling down and getting comfortable. There were only nine members of the Shan'do present this time, and I was very conscious and internally very relieved to see that the Archdruid's position in the middle directly across from me was unfilled.

Letting out a slow breath, I folded my hands in my lap and stared straight ahead with unfocused eyes, ready for a long wait. Patience was a virtue when dealing with the Shan'do; they moved at their own pace and were rushed only with great care.

I had sunk halfway into meditation some time later when one of the Shan'do finally cleared her throat and looked directly at me. "Initiate Wisp, unfortunately, Archdruid Staghelm could not join us today, but it felt necessary to complete proceedings with as much haste as is advisable in matters such as this. We are aware that words have wings and do not wish to do long-term harm to you by leaving you in limbo for so long that confusion becomes something with a sharper edge amongst your year mates and… others."

Another Shan'do picked up where the first had left off. "Therefore, we have called you here today for one final test. We will require you to draw deeply upon the green, and while you do, we shall examine your connection closely for any signs of corruption. This is unfortunately not an easy or comfortable process for anyone involved, which is why it was not immediately used at your initial hearing."

I looked back over to the other side of the room as again a new voice took over. "This shall be… uncomfortable, young Elandris, and for that we are sorry, but this was the only compromise we could force from… other parties. Just know that we will share in your discomfort, and when you have been cleared, you will be above reprisal and free to study under a member of the circle when you are ready."

Another short pause and another new voice. "We shall prepare. You will know when it is your time to act. You will feel our attention upon you; pull then on the green as strongly as you can, in the same way you would if you were to heal, harm, strengthen, or change, but do not shape it."

Nodding once, I let my eyes go unfocused again as I prepared myself; the Shan'do did not exaggerate. If they said it would be uncomfortable, then I had to prepare myself. A slow breath in through my nose, a pause to hold it, and then a breath out through my mouth; I let myself sink deeper and deeper into oneness, thoughts drifting unanchored and a feeling of connection to the nature around me slowly suffusing my being.

I did not freeze, my breath did not hitch, and I was not ripped from my meditative state, but it was a close thing; it was like a wave of attention had slammed into me. A billion eyes and ears and noses, one for every creature, taking me in, knowing me down to the marrow.

Giving myself a single moment to recover from the stormy seas I had just found myself inside, I looked deep inside of myself to the well of power inherent inside of me, and then, using that, I reached out and pulled.

I did not scream… I do not think, but I felt myself arch, muscles taut, jaw locked, and sweat suddenly streaming down my face as if someone had taken a lightning bolt and connected it directly to my mind. It was pain, but more than that, I could feel power pouring into me, and I could feel billions of senses weighing, measuring, taking me apart and putting me back together.

I could feel them, feel what they felt in the same way that I knew they could at this moment feel me; it was a cocktail of emotions: curiosity at what had happened to me, boredom at the need to complete this farce, irritation at a recent overstep by someone else, but then it changed focus as each disparate set of emotions narrowed to one shared: agreement.

My internal power sputtered and died, my connection to the green ending with it, and I felt myself slumping forward, only to be caught. Looking up, I saw the first elder to speak, an older woman deep into her final years, having crossed the distance between us faster than I would have guessed possible.

Keeping me steady until I could pull myself back into my kneeling position, she offered me a kind smile and turned to the other members of the Shan'do. "We are in agreement; there is no corruption upon this youth or his connection to the Green?"

Each member nodded once in turn, and she continued. "Then let this nonsense be at an end. Initiate Wisp, you are cleared of all suspicion. From now into the future, let none bring punishment on this issue down upon you again. You may return to your year mates and complete your basic apprenticeship under Ilthalaine; you may also move back into the dorm room, or if you wish, you may, of course, remain in the knothole room if you prefer the privacy afforded."

"I now call an end to this meeting of the circle. Do any dissent?" she asked. I watched as each member shook their head, then shifted into some avian form and flew out of one of the open windows. I moved to stand and leave myself but was stopped by a hand on my shoulder from the woman who still sat next to me.

She waited until everyone had gone before turning to me. "Now just one more thing and then you can be on your way. I would recommend finding a druidic mentor sooner rather than later. Even if you have some kind of gifted natural talent and the ability to pull on an impressive amount of the green, a mentor will have a lot to teach you and can also act as a political shield. Now, the druids around the Shadowglen will unfortunately be quite cowed by outside interference, so my recommendation to you, young Elandris, is to finish your basic studies here and move on. There is a small town not far from the Shadowglen, and if that fails, then come to the capital."

"I… of course, Elder Farcaller. Thank you for taking the time to educate me and for the Shan'do's time in settling this matter," I said, finally forcing myself to my feet and giving the elder a deep bow.

"Feh, none of that now. Be on your way, young druid, finish your studies under Ilthalaine, and go from there." Giving me one last decisive nod, she twisted into a massive old owl, hopped over to the window, and then out, dropping from sight.

=========================================================

[ SPONTANEOUS TASK COMPLETED: THE SHAN'DO'S JUDGMENT ]

=========================================================

You have submitted to the scrutiny of the Cenarion Circle elders, exposing your connection to the Green and successfully channeling unshaped magic without breaking under the pressure.

-- YIELD --

• Experience: +30 XP
• Skill Increase: Meditation +1.5 (Level 11.5 / 100)
• Reputation Gained: Cenarion Circle +150 (Neutral 150 / 3,000)
• Spell Unlocked: Unshaped casting

The roots hold firm. You are officially recognized as untainted by the tenders of the grove.

=========================================================

I let the information flow over me and, with a thought, dismissed it: a small, unexpected boon and another piece of the puzzle. For now, I needed to get to class, but given the location of the sun, I could probably get away with grabbing something to eat from the Open Market outside first.

~~~

Threading through the crowded market, I spotted the food stall I wanted and made my way over. Sitting on the attached bench, I set one silver and 30 copper in front of me and waited as Mr. Rainoak finished with another customer, then watched as he piled boar and peppers onto flatbread, and finished it off with a coarse-ground mustard sauce, before setting it in front of me with a nod while gathering the coin for the meal.

I had been coming to Mr. Rainoak's for years now, and after a half-dozen times of me ordering the same thing, he had decided to just expedite the process. I sighed in contentment at the first bite. I wasn't sure what Mr. Rainoak did to his mustard, but it was miles above anywhere else I had found in the glen, and it kept me coming back.

Food quickly finished, and a good long pull off of a waterskin to wash it down, I started towards the training fields. I would probably be running laps and other calisthenics for a while before Ilthalaine was satisfied that I was ready for forms and sparring, but at least it wasn't as bad as Rina's 'light warm-ups'.

Reaching the older hollowed-out bough where the training field was located, I walked into the opening, thick walls of bark and aged wood opening into a round field. The bough had broken off at some point, leaving the sky open, and the sun shone down on the well-maintained grass as my year mates moved throughout.

The group was split: a large group running laps around the inside of the field; another in the far-right corner of the field was going through a number of exercises; a third was in the far-left corner slowly going through weapons forms of various types; the rest and the majority were paired off and sparring at various speeds depending on how advanced Ilthalaine thought the pair were.

Ilthalaine himself stood in the middle, hands tucked casually into his pockets, scanning the yard. If he found something not to his liking, he would tell one of his three direct assistants, and they would sprint to the group to relay his words to them.

Walking up to him, I placed my fist over my heart and gave him a shallow bow. "Initiate Wisp reporting. I have been cleared to rejoin the group, Ilthalaine, and hurried over to join my year mates. Which group do you wish me to join?"

Ilthalaine glanced at me, his eyes scanning me before settling on my face. "Hmmmmm, hurried over, did you? I suppose that isn't Silaar's mustard you are so fond of in the corner of your mouth, then?"

Quickly reaching up, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and then stared at the still-clean back of my hand before looking back up at Ilthalaine with a frown.

"Elune's tits, boy, when will you stop falling for that? I either need to break you of it or invite you to the barracks on card night so I can afford more mead come weekend." With an amused grin on his face, he leaned over to one of his assistants and whispered something into his ear, nodding once the man sprinted over to the group of sparring Kaldorei.

"As for where you'll be, I think it best to give it a day or two. Fortunately, I was just speaking to someone this morning, 'two trees from one seed, if you will.' Besides, she keeps sending her year mates to the healers in the sparring circle," he said, pointing over my shoulder.

A sinking feeling was building inside of me. I looked back to see the assistant running up with an ecstatic-looking Rina in tow. "I see," I muttered, already regretting the heavy meal I had eaten.

~~~

I pushed against the ground, arms shaking and breath ragged. 'One more, just one more,' I mentally chanted, ignoring the stinging in my eyes from the sweat beading off of my face, but then I felt it: my arms began to give, and as I slowly lost the battle against the force that pushed us against Azeroth, a boot gently pushed me over onto my side and then back.

I lay gasping on my back, staring up at my tormentor. "Well, I suppose that's your limit. Nothing wrong with that, mind you; it's good to find it so that we know what to measure you against in the future," she said, crouching next to me, elbow on knee and chin in hand. "Get some water in yah, start with sips so you don't spew. Once you've got your legs back under yah, we can do forms. From what I saw yesterday, you're probably better off with staves than wasting your time with swords." Giving me a terrifying grin, she leaned in closer. "Unless you want to double up, I would be happy to increase the exercise routine."

Shaking my head weakly, I pushed myself up into a sitting position and took a sip of water from my waterskin. "Just staves is fine…," I said once my breathing had evened out, then pushed myself to my feet, grabbed my staff, and settled into the ready position.

"Good, master one before moving on to a second," she said, stalking a circle around me, stopping to straighten my shoulders or nudge my foot with hers until she was satisfied. "Form one."

~~~

STATUS

=========================================
=========================================

ELANDRIS

Level: 1

Class: Druid

Race: Half-Elf (Kaldorei / Human)

Experience: 50 / 1,000 XP

-- PHYSICAL STATE --

• Condition: Healthy
• Magical Reserves: Rested

-- RACIAL TRAITS --

• [Perception] (Active): Heightens senses to detect hidden or stealthed entities. (Induces minor sensory fatigue).
• [The Human Spirit] (Passive): Minor innate boost to the natural recovery rate of magical reserves.
• [Quickness] (Passive): Enhanced fast-twitch muscle response for physical evasion.
• [Nature Resistance] (Passive): Minor physiological resistance to botanical toxins and Nature-based magic.

-- CLASS SPELLS --

• [Healing Touch - Rank 1]: Accelerates natural cellular repair to mend physical wounds. (Draws heavily on reserves; requires 3 seconds of somatic focus).
• [Wrath - Rank 1]: Hurls concentrated Nature energy. (Moderate drain per cast; requires 2 seconds to channel).
• [Mark of the Wild - Rank 1]: Imbues target with the wild's resilience, hardening the skin to deflect glancing blows. (Low drain; lasts roughly 30 minutes).
• [Unshaped Casting]: Power over precision, endless possibilities (Extreme drain; variable results).

-- SKILLS --

• Staves: 5 / 100
• Unarmed: 1 / 100
• One-Handed Swords: 2.3 / 100 (Capped)
• Light Armor: 15.4 / 100
• Medium Armor: 5 / 100
• Archery: 15.2 / 100 (Capped)
• Athletics: 20.2 / 100
• Meditation: 11.5 / 100

-- PROFESSIONS --

• Primary: [Empty]
• Secondary: [Empty]

-- REPUTATION --

• Darnassus: Neutral (100 / 3,000)
• Stormwind: Neutral (0 / 3,000)
• Cenarion Circle: Neutral (150 / 3,000)
• =========================================