(2022-08-22) Kindred Spirits

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Author:	Saaron
Summary:	Nesselos and Therald accidentally meet in Southshore. Two weeks in a row, they spend a few hours working together to help the people of the region, while slowly learning about each other's past.
Rating:	T for Teen

Nesselos smiles in the bright sunlight, walking around the quaint little human town.
Nesselos spies the human standing by a building and peers curiously at him. "You look very familiar, sir."
Therald, who was walking, takes a second before turning around. Once he realizes the Draenei is speaking to him, it seems to be impossible for him to look straight into the stranger's eyes. "Oh, um. I get that a lot. 've got a pretty common face."
Nesselos frowns thoughtfully. "I don't think that's it. But, well, maybe it'll come to me. Do you have any… relatives?"
Therald seems to think for a short while. "Yeah. A… son."
Nesselos: Oh! Maybe I've met him! It's a small world, after all. *He considers* Bigger than Draenor now, I suppose, but still not that big.
Therald seems to beam for a second, then he catches himself and goes back to a more neutral expression, still not look directly at the draenei. "His name's Sandy. Maybe you have, he's been working in Draenor."
Nesselos: Sandy? Really? I met someone called Sandy in Stranglethorn Vale! He was bleeding on a dock! *Ness seems to realize he shouldn't have said that last part so excitedly, a little too late. He winces, and adds apologetically, "I healed him, he's fine."
Therald's eyes widen, and suddenly he's able to stare at Ness. "He got stabbed? How? What happened? Is he okay?"
Nesselos: Oh, he's fine. Just a bad bite. *Ness smiles reassuringly.* Very friendly guy! So, what're you here for? Find yourself in need of a healer? Any bites?
Therald: A… bite? *Therald shakes his head.* The Argent Dawn sent me here, I'm supposed to look into undead activity. I've been helping however I can while I'm here, though…
Therald: I wouldn't mind a helping hand. I can't really heal my wounds like a lot of guys in the Argent Dawn can. And with the undead especially, wounds can get nasty.
Nesselos: Oh yes, I'm very good at healing wounds from the undead, *Ness looks like maybe he should say more, but then he decides against it.* I'd be happy to help!
Therald: Appreciate the help. I'm sure the people here will, too. *He pulls out his map, looking at things he's annoted on it.*
Nesselos looks over his shoulder, casting a big shadow on the map.
Nesselos: Looks like there's an X just north of here…
Therald looks a little bit up north on the map. "Yeah, apparently people've seen some… suspicious undead activity around there."
Nesselos: Let's check it out! *Ness sounds like an excited kid*
Therald gets his horse from the stables.
Nesselos retrieves his giant elekk.
Therald stares at the elekk, impressed.
Nesselos: Definitely active!
Therald: And undead.
Nesselos: Look, a box!
Therald: Hm. Might be useful to bring it back to Southshore.
Nesselos: It looks like there's crystals inside. People love those.
Therald: They sure do!
Therald: I've heard your people, especially.
Nesselos: Oh yes, they're used for so many things.
Nesselos: Have you seen the Exodar?
Nesselos: Crystals! Everywhere!
Therald shakes his head. "I mostly stick to Stormwind, at the moment."
Therald: Do you think these belong to a Draenei, like you?
Therald stares at Huraan.
Nesselos points at Huraan.
Nesselos: There's one right there!
Nesselos: Hi, sir!
Nesselos: Are you looking for crystals?
Nesselos | He was, indeed, looking for crystals.
Therald: Glad we could help, sir.
You salute Huraan with respect.
Nesselos: Some of the others said murlocs are a problem.
Nesselos: Would you like to help clear murlocs?
Therald: Sure. I'm always happy to help!
Nesselos: My cousin Erixa thinks they're cute.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I do not really see it?
Nesselos looks to Therald to resolve this family quarrel.
Therald stares at the dead murloc. "… She's seen what these things do to defenseless people?"
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Oh, she always says, "You can think a thing is cute and still kill it, Ness. Light, you're so soft."
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: I guess she's right. Still wouldn't call these cute.
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Feels like calling a gnoll… majestic, or something.
Nesselos peers at the murloc. "Me either. I'm glad you're on my side with this."
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Wow, they like to swarm!
Therald: Yeah, that's the issue with these guys.
Therald: You never fight just one.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I hope they never get into the town. *Ness looks distressed*
Therald stares at the dead murlocs. Cute??
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: My cousin has… peculiarities. She is an excellent Vindicator, though.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: We should be fine. I don't think these guys often attack settlements.
Therald: At least… not as a full-blown army.
Nesselos: Whew, okay. That's good to hear.
Nesselos: That's probably enough for now? We could head back.
Therald: Yeah, no one will accidentally stumble upon them.
Therald: And for your cousin… I get the peculiarities thing. Everyone has them.
Brewmeister Bilger says: Hiccup!
Therald: Sometimes, when I hear what Sandy think is cute I worry a little.
Therald: Pretty sure he'd say murlocs are cute, too.
Nesselos laughs just a little too loud.
Nesselos: Maybe I should introduce him to my cousin.
Nesselos: More murlocs then?
Therald: Yeah, maybe you should. Do you think they'd try to adopt one of these, if we put them together in front of murlocs?
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Maybe they would. Do you think a murloc could be raised to be a nice creature?
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I think most things can.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Everything is born with the potential to be good, right?
Therald: Hm. I don't think so. I'd think the opposite, actually. Most things cannot be made into nice creatures.
Therald: Sometimes… things just are bad.
Therald: No matter how much you think they can change.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos looks sadly at Therald. "I hope that's not true."
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: But well, you're speaking with a guy who's mostly helping protecting this world from the undead and the Legion. Find someone with a nice life path, they probably won't agree.
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Oh, I don't know, I haven't had a very nice life path for the last few decades. But still… even the Eredar were good, once.
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Hm. I guess that's of the opposite of this question, then. Can a good thing turn bad.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Oh, definitely. *Ness's eyes look sad for a moment*
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I think I'm going to need to take a break. Too many murlocs!
Therald: Sounds good. I'll probably go back to that tower, see if we've missed anything.
Nesselos: Maybe we can work together more sometimes!
Therald: I would like that, yes. This… elemental magic is really handy.
Nesselos grins. "I'm relatively new at it, but I think I'm a quick study!"
Nesselos bows politely at Therald, nearly smacking him in the head.
Therald: I'm not an expert, but I'd say you're using it like a pro. *He gives Ness a small smile and a wink.*
You salute Nesselos with respect.
Nesselos salutes you with respect.
Therald dodges out of the way, avoiding being smacked in the head by horns.

---

A week passes.

---

Nesselos waves at you.
Nesselos: Danashj ticHar zila tiros
You salute Nesselos with respect.
Nesselos: Oh, sorry! Common!
Nesselos: Good to see you!
Therald: Um, I don't- yeah!
Nesselos: I was just heading down to do another round of murloc fighting. What are you up to today?
Therald: Good to see you too. A lot can happen in a week in this world.
Nesselos nods. "You never know if you'll see a person again. But we both lived!"
Therald: Just came back from fighting some of the Forsaken, up-north. I can unwind with a little murloc fighting!
Nesselos: I bet they're easier than the Forsaken.
Therald: Depends on which ones.
Therald: Some, uh, break easy
Nesselos winces.
Nesselos: Do you think they might be healable, someday?
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Hm. Seems unlikely. They're not much different than the ones in the Plaguelands.
Nesselos: But they have free will, right? That makes a difference.
Nesselos: They can seek healing.
Therald: Maybe, but after a while you don't really heal from death.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: I mean. Maybe if they seek help just as soon as they are raised. And that's a big 'maybe'.
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I don't mean to bring up… I mean, I know it is personal for some humans.
Therald: Nah, don't worry about it. No one close to me is undead.
Therald: They all died just a little too early for that.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos opens his mouth like he's going to say something, then decides against it.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald raises an eyebrow at him.
Nesselos tries again. "Do you get to talk to your son much, these days?"
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Currently, not really. He's back to his job in Outland. *He looks very proud as he says that.*
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos smiles. "It's a difficult place, but it's amazing that people are still trying to help there."
Therald: Hopefully one day it'll be more hospitable.
Nesselos: I hope you get a chance to talk to him soon. I bet he has a lot to tell you. *Ness smiles*
Nesselos: I loved Draenor… what's now Outland.
Therald smiles. "He always has."
Therald: Hopefully one day it'll be more hospitable.
Nesselos: I hope you get a chance to talk to him soon. I bet he has a lot to tell you. *Ness smiles*
Nesselos: I loved Draenor… what's now Outland.
Therald smiles. "He always has."
Nesselos: It was such a beautiful, peaceful place back then.
Nesselos: I hope he gets to see some of the good parts that are left.
Therald: Right, now I'm the one potentially being insensitive! I was speaking of your home right there.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Yeah, I hope he does. I hope I get to too, one day.
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos shakes his head. "No need to worry. I try to remember the good things, the happy things.:"
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Must have been. Um, how- Since when-
Therald: How much time did you spend there?
Nesselos: Oh, my whole life.
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Till now!
Therald: And uh… I know you guys live long lives, so… do you mind me asking how long that was?
Nesselos: I am really young for one of my people.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: After the first few years on Draenor, people started to feel safe, I think? So… children! You know how that goes.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I'm only just a little over two hundred.
Therald laughs. "Yeah, I guess I do- what did you say? Over how many?"
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Two hundred? *Ness looks a little self-conscious* I know I'm really young, but I promise, I will watch your back. I've trained really well with shamanism in the past year!
Therald: No, no, that's the oppositve of what surprised me, sorry! I would -for sure- not consider anything that's… more than 50 years old "young", even if you tell me they live extremely long lives.
Nesselos chuckles. "We have long childhoods, then, if you think 50 isn't young."
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I was… how you might say… a teenager?… when things started to go bad.
Therald: Yeah! For us we're childrne up until twelve, then teenagers until we're 18 or 21 - depends on who you ask.
Therald: I see. I'm sorry you didn't have to live your full youth in a better Draenor.
Nesselos: Wow, so fast! Your people must be incredibly intelligent, to learn so quickly!
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: I- I wouldn't say so. We just don't really have a choice. If I was born on the same year as you, I'd be long gone, now.
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos nods sadly. "Sort of like the orcs. They grow similarly.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Yeah, sort of.
Therald: I wouldn't recommend comparing us to orcs in front of most people, though.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: They're a people who made a lot of mistakes. *Ness sighs* I suppose they hurt your kind, too.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: They were kind of a… shy people? Up until the day they went wrong.
Therald: Yeah. I don't personally have a big problem with orcs, though, the Argent Dawn works with some. I believe we've got bigger problems than war in-between our people.
Therald: Shy? The orcs? That's hard to imagine.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos nods. "We traded with them some, but they were… nervous of us?"
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: We tried to be gentle, friendly…
Therald: Hm. These guys aren't big on the Light like we are. I guess that made us grow closer a lot more quickly than you ever could with them.
Nesselos: That might be so.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: But then one day, they just started attacking us. Everything went bad from there.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Torn Fin Oracle attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: The legion's doing, right?
Nesselos: We know that now, yes.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: At the time, it was… confusing.
Therald: Wait, there was a time when you didn't? You just thought they'd… decided to attack?
Therald: Yeah. Must have been.
Nesselos: Exactly, yes.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Our leaders tried to make peace, because we couldn't even see what the quarrel was?
Therald: That's terrible.
Nesselos: It seems the Legion convinced them they needed to kill us all. Every last one.
Torn Fin Tidehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: I can't imagine how it must have felt to see an- well maybe not allies, but a people with who you have cordial relationships suddenly… targeting you all.
Nesselos: Yes. I would have called them friends.
Therald: Can't even imagine how that must have felt.
Therald: I've had… one person betray me. But a whole people? Never.
Nesselos: One person is bad enough!
Nesselos: And I suppose I did not know the whole people… so for me, too, it felt like one person.
Therald: Oh? You were close one specific orc, then?
Nesselos looks a little furtive. "I was not supposed to… maybe mess up diplomatic relations… but yes, I had a friend. When I was younger."
Nesselos: So… naga?
Therald: Yes. Basically bigger murlocs.
Nesselos: We had them in Draenor, near the end.
Therald: And… they were controlled by the Legion too, eventually?
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Naga, I mean. I suppose that was after it became Outland.
Nesselos: But my friend, yes. He was… a shaman.
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: Well, everywhere they can find a lake or a sea, you'll find those.
Therald: Was it… the one who taught you?
Nesselos laughs. "Oh, no not really. I had no skill for it then."
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: To be a shaman, the elements have to want to speak to you.
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: He told me about it, the different spirits, how to work with them…
Nesselos: But I never heard them until Azeroth.
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: So he kind of inspired you to do this, right? You just had to wait for the spirits?
Nesselos: I think you could say that? But maybe not around other Draenei.
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald chuckles. "All right, no mentions of orcs, not around Draenei, and not around humans."
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I think it helps me to remember what he was like, before, when I work with the elements.
Nesselos: And I want to remember him like that, not like… after.
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: I can understand that. It must be hard to lose someone like that. To corruption.
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: Yes… *he sighs*
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: That's what I meant earlier when I said we had more important things on our plate than a war between Alliance and Horde.
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: The Legion will never stop corrupting, the undead will never stop rising if we don't work together.
Therald: At least… that's what I think.
Nesselos nods. "I agree!"
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: And at least orcs are starting to turn back to the elements, away from demon-summoning and the like.
You nod at Nesselos.
Therald: They're right to. I've know enough warlocks to know that this knowledge shouldn't be put in anyone's hands.
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: I think I agree.
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Daggerspine Siren attempts to run away in fear!
Therald: That one naga lady, she looks stronger different from the other.
Therald: Should we try fighting her?
Nesselos: Hm.. maybe!
Nesselos: A leader?
Therald: Probably.
Therald: There's something about her.
Lady Zephris attempts to run away in fear, because she was too weak for the incredible Therald/Nesselos team!
Therald: Well. Maybe she wasn't -that- special.
Nesselos: I expected a more difficult fight.
Therald: Probably just a… scale color mutation or something.
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Daggerspine Shorehunter attempts to run away in fear!
Nesselos: One of the people here said their dog caught something weird.
Nesselos: It sounded kind of… Scourgey?
Therald: Hm. Around undead territory, too. That's suspicious, yeah!
Nesselos: All the way over in Arathi…
Nesselos: I hope this is not some new thing.
Therald: Yeah. All for a rumor about the Scourge, too.
Nesselos: We have enough old things.
Therald: Me neither, I'm sorry to this dog, but I hope it's just sick.
Therald: What did they say the dog had?
Nesselos: It… enlarged?
Nesselos: And became aggressive.
Therald: …
Therald: Doesn't sound like it's just sick.
Therald: Unfortunately.
Nesselos: But Forsaken do not enlarge?
Therald: Yeah they don't. Might just still be some mage doing… some kind of experiment that went wrong. That'd be the best case scenario.
Therald: I see people there!
Nesselos: We can take out a Forsaken patrol, for sure!
Nesselos: Like you said, some of them are just falling apart.
Therald: Yup.
Nesselos: got to be along the road somewhere….
You nod at Nesselos.
Nesselos: Just ahead!
They crushed these five Forsaken so easily, all the raptors cowered in fear, probably.
Nesselos: Let's go tell them what we found!
Therald: See? Not that tough.
Kinelory says: Well then, let's get this started. The longer we're here, the more damage the undead could be doing back in Hillsbrad.
Kinelory says: All right, this is where we really have to be on our paws. Be ready!
Therald: Paws?
Nesselos: I have no paws…
Therald: Me neither.
Nesselos: Are hooves okay?
Therald: The two of us will have to improvise, here.
You smile.
Apothecary Jorell says: You will never stop the Forsaken, Kinelory. The Dark Lady shall make you suffer.
Therald: Always on about their Dark Lady…
Nesselos: It IS a Forsaken thing!
Kinelory says: Watch my rear! I'll see what I can find in all this junk…
Kinelory begins rummaging through the apothecary's belongings.
Kinelory says: I bet Quae'll think this is important. She's pretty knowledgeable about these things-no expert, but knowledgeable.
Kinelory says: Okay, let's get out of here quick quick! Try and keep up. I'm going to make a break for it.
You nod at Kinelory.
Kinelory says: Attack me if you will, but you won't stop me from getting back to Quae.
Kinelory says: We made it! Quae, we made it!
Kinelory hands her pack to Quae.
Nesselos: Not the news we hoped for… but at least we know!
You nod at Nesselos.
Nesselos: Shall we head back and let that fellow with the dog know?
Therald: We'll handle it.
Therald: Yeah!
Therald: I've got something to report to the Argent Dawn, that's for sure now.
Nesselos: I'm sorry, this was supposed to be restful!
You laugh at Nesselos.
Therald: It is, with someone as competent as you around.
Therald: Someone competent… for his age. *He grins. This is very Sandy-like.*
Nesselos laughs at you.
Nesselos: I guess I should go report to my people in Stormwind. Let them know as well./
Therald: Yeah, I'll stop here. Rest for real this time!
Nesselos: Goodness. We say rest and assassins appear!
You laugh at Nesselos.
Nesselos: Anyway. Now we rest. *Ness laughs*
Nesselos: No more assassins. *He looks around, to be sure.*
Therald salute Nesselos, a smile on his face.
Nesselos salutes you with respect.