![](http://cobalt-company.wdfiles.com/local--resized-images/writing:2024-03-27-eye-of-eternity:the-death-of-an-aspect/style="margin:/medium.jpg) |
| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | A combined team of Kirin Tor, Cobalt, and other allies moves at the behest of Queen Alexstrasza to put an end to Malygos, Father of Magic. The team includes Anareline, Coriene, Jocoza, Colson, Roper, Celica, Cressidha, Pericleia, Mordecai, Wyriel, Caspis, Atley, Auralind, Gwenivene, Azizia, Oryena, Lode, Nunuzac ~11k words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
In the snowy, cliff-guarded island of Coldarra, the team to assault Malygos, the Father of Magic, assembles beneath a shimmering purple arcane shield. Dragon-friends, mages and others are in Transitus Shield in low conversation, waiting for some sign that the fight is about to begin. Raelorasz stands a bit apart waiting for some kind of signal.
Nunuzac was here earlier, but took off a bit ago on the back of a red drake companion, worried and searching the skies.
Wyriel waits in Kaldorei form, her hands clasped together in front of her.
Among the Kirin Tor mages is one red-headed sin’dorei woman in fashionable clothing, whose Kirin Tor tabard looks like maybe it’s a little too big. Coriene Bloodsong smiles serenely at Raelorasz.
Jo Sparkwire is there, her red robes and battle goggles on, ready to fight.
Gwenivene Whittle pulls her pointy hat down around her ears to fend off the cold. A muffled chirp alerts her to Padrick's protest from under the hat. "Sorry, Pad." She looks down to her right at her mentor. "I can't believe this is really happening, Jo."
Jo looks up at Gwen, with a faint motion of eyes blinking behind the goggles. "It's a shame it's come to this, but we have to trust the dragon queen."
Gwen sighs sadly. "I know. I just wish there was another way. Do you think there's any chance Malygos will listen to reason?"
"I haven't seen any sign of Kirygosa yet," Jo says, scanning the skies. "I have to assume it didn't pan out."
Cressidha traces water-conjuring symbols in the air and goes around passing out water to individuals that she recognizes.
"Thank you, Miss Cressidha," Azizia says, taking the water. She attaches the bottle to her belt, then begins stretching, getting ready for the big fight.
Lode is dressed for the weather, by being covered in shaggy hair and a healthy padding of bear-fat over a stout muscular frame. The fact that she's not hibernating, and a messy smear of white kaldorei war-paint over black furred shoulder, is the main indication that it's not actually encroaching wildlife.
Mordecai mumbles a thank you as he accepts a few bottles of water from Cressidha and puts them into his bag for later.
Colson waits patiently for the water, tying it to his belt with a smile to Cressidha. He's in his full plate armor, but he seems more outfitted for healing than fighting. His expression is calm and neutral. He greets anyone he recognizes with a polite good afternoon.
Roper, wearing a dark, skull ornamented saronite helm over his face, in his embellished saronite armor, waits impatiently for everything and everyone, his left hand tapping a rapid beat on his left leg. He's given his greetings to the people he knows, and done as much social niceties as he was able to manage. Hey, everyone.
Caspis wanders up.
Anareline is close behind him.
Lode grunts at Caspis, which might be bear talk for "yo old-timer."
Caspis notices Lode, and gives her a solemn old-timer nod.
Mordecai waves to Caspis and Anareline, smiling a little anxiously.
Caspis moves immediately toward Mordecai with a vaguely hovering air, searching him from head to toe for signs of injury or discomfort.
Mordecai does not seem injured. The discomfort is all on the inside. "Hello, Caspis," he says, smiling.
The shade-like Oryena floats inside a ritual circle from which purple energy emanates. Her lips sealed, she prays, sharing her dark blessing to both Horde and Alliance soldiers coming nearby. Fear and adrenaline rush through the veins of those who receive that blessing.
Caspis returns Mordecai's smile, very faintly, but by comparison to his usual grave demeanor he is downright beaming. "Are you warm enough?" he inquires softly.
Anareline drifts over towards Caspis and Mordecai.
Mordecai nods. "The cloak is enchanted for warmth," he says, fussing with the hood of his white cloak. "I'm fine. Thank you."
Azizia nods at Mordecai's cloak. "It is pretty, too. This is good." Still, she drops a warmth totem, protecting the group and nearby passersby from the cold.
Nunuzac lands close to the group, and slides from the back of the red-scaled drake, looking crestfallen. Ranvrastrasz also lowers his head, claws digging in the snowy ground.
Whatever the signal is, it has arrived. Raelorasz raises a hand, and the assembled fall silent. “Now is the time. We will be able to pass through the portal at the top of the Nexus complex, into the area known as the Eye of Eternity. The Key has been prepared by Queen Alexstrasza. Mages, will one of you will use it to open the Focusing Iris?”
Gwen hesitantly steps forward, instantly feeling as if everyone is looking at her. "If it pleases you, I believe I can do this."
Archmage Celica Harrow, a blonde quel'dorei woman standing with the Kirin Tor, nods generously at Gwenivene. "Go ahead."
Mordecai hurriedly scrambles to get out a candle and recite prayers for the assembled group.
“Good,” Raelorasz nods, and holds out the eye-shaped gem, its buzzing now dimmed somewhat. “The red dragonflight will assist you, though they will take a more… airborne approach. They will keep the other blue dragons away from your fight, and will enter the Eye with you as they can. Any questions?”
Gwenivene gives the Archmage a grateful smile and accepts the Key, cradling it close as if it were the most fragile and precious thing in all Azeroth right now. Maybe it is.
Coriene shifts her smile to Gwenivene, watching her with sharp green eyes.
Colson murmurs prayers of blessings for the group.
Roper mutters curses. They're just word curses though, not literal, actual curses. You have to specify in Azeroth.
Jo looks proud as a pumpkin.
Gwen smiles down at Jo, suddenly glowing like daybreak at her mentor's expression. That look is immediately burned into her memory. She'll wear it like a badge of honor forever and ever.
A wispy elf woman in hooded Sunreaver garb, in the company of some of the Kirin Tor present, watches the presentation of the key to Gwen with interest while the other mages go about preparations.
Nunuzac hugs Ranvrastrasz's neck. The drake assures, "We have Lord Devrestrasz and all of the best, don't worry about me."
Azizia almost claps for Gwen. She still hasn't grasped when people on Azeroth clap and when they don't.
Raelorasz nods, as no questions are raised. "Then I think it's time for you to head there. It will be through the highest portal within the central Nexus complex - you'll need to fly in under your own power." He probably means on gryphons and such, not by transforming into dragons.
Jocoza Sparkwire mounts her rickety home-made flying machine and leads the way towards the Nexus complex.
Nunuzac is aided along to the top by Ranvrastrasz. Then, he hops up into flight to join his brethren.
Caspis looks around vaguely for someone to autofollow. He looks somewhat adrift when he fails to spot an obvious candidate.
Coriene calls down her windrider, and follows after the gnome.
Anareline calls down her gryphon and does the same.
Azizia jumps on the back of her gryphon and waits for Cressidha to fly away, ready to follow her.
Caspis turns into a stormcrow and launches into the air, making great circles around the group.
Gwen goes to the edge of the gathering, where her netherwing companion, Amytheraku, waits. She gives the violet colored drake a hug around the neck before climbing up on her back. Amethyraku glares up at the Nexus and lets out a low growl, then launches into the air to carry her friend to the top.
Colson's aura shifts to [Zoomies] and a very fast white gryphon descends into the group. Colson barely has time to mount up before she hops back up into the air. Zoomies, time! Colson, meanwhile, looks back down to Mordecai, holding his gryphon in place to be sure he has a way up.
Roper pulls on the shadows, from inside them emerges a "gryphon" — at least, what used to be a gryphon. This one is made of bones and shadows, completely silent. The death knight mounts up, soaring into the air in defiance of the physics of lift. How is that thing flying? Magic, that's how. He follows in the dragon's wake like a dark, over-eager shadow.
Cressidha levitates up on her carpet, trying to keep up with Gwen.
Oryena climbs onto her purple netherwing mount and also follows the gnome. That gnome she doesn't know. With a flick of her wrist, she orders others to do the same.
Azizia tries to keep up with Cressidha who is trying to keep up with Gwen.
Mordecai looks around a little helplessly for someone he can ride with.
Wyriel approaches Mordecai. "I can carry you up," she offers.
"Oh. Um." Mordecai looks increasingly flustered the further away from him everyone else gets. "Please?"
He still startles when Wyriel then turns into a green dragon, and by the time he actually gets on her back, he is way behind.
Colson starts flying only once Mordecai does, following alongside Wyriel with that Aspenwood Calm of sure, she was a dragon actually.
Lode flaps along in someone else's slipstream.
Caspis seems to exult in the experience of flight; even without obvious facial expressions his body language communicates pure, almost religious rapture.
This time, the team flies into the upper reaches of the central structure, alighting on walkway engraved with by-now-familiar patterns. The portal to the eye is an elaborately carved stone structure, with a swirling vortex of energy contained just above an ornate petaled engraving.
Caspis lets out a single fierce, avian cry before his stormcrow form reluctantly alights and turns back into a kaldorei with long midnight blue hair.
“This looks like our way in,” Jo says, steeling herself. She turns to look at Gwen. “Are you ready?”
Gwen dismounts and gives Amethyraku a gentle pat. The two exchange a meaningful look of silent communication and press their foreheads together. Then the netherwing leaps from the platform, flying away.
Turning to Jocoza, Gwen nods firmly and takes the Key out from under her cloak. "I'm ready. Let's go." She approaches the vortex, swallowing hard.
Lode regains two legs near Caspis momentarily. "Someone's having a blast." It isn't long before the high altitude cold on her bare shoulders induces her to reformulate them into bear shoulders.
Caspis shifts yet again, becoming a large treant whose green leaves are lightly misted at the edges with the same deep blue shade as his hair. Having failed to find a more obvious candidate, said treant begins to autofollow Lode-bear.
Jo reaches up to take Gwen's hand, and walks together with her towards the portal.
Azizia approaches and stands behind Jo and Gwen. "I will be ready when you are." She cracks her knuckles.
Cressidha rolls up her carpet and puts it away for now.
Entering the Portal
On the other side of the portal, each combatant appears hovering a few feet in the air before they drop to the ground. Behind them, the portal exit shimmers transparently in the air.
Jo hastily traces a slow fall with one hand, not letting go of Gwen with the other.
Gwen reflexively casts a slow fall simultaneously with Jo. She squeezes her hand with a soft giggle as their feet lightly touch the ground.
The assault team is now on a circular stone platform ringed with blue glowing arcane tracery, which seems to be supported by four stone pillars. In the center is a transparent glowing blue orb on a four-footed stone platform, the Focusing Iris. All around the platform looks like nothing but the Great Dark Beyond, spattered with stars, this portal has taken them far past simply the heights of the Nexus.
Mordecai looks wildly around them and hastily traces a Fear Ward over his heart.
Dark Cleric Oryena doesn't land. She keeps levitating above the platform. She spots Mordecai Fear Warding himself, so she casts a dark blessing on him. No one remembers to bless the cleric.
Coriene lands lightly on her feet.
Ana lands heavily, but no less gracefully, and looks around for who to blame.
Gwen's jaw drops so hard it threatens to unhinge. She gawks at the vastness of the space they've entered. "Outstanding," she says breathlessly.
Caspis stares into space. Which is not unusual, except for the amount of space.
Auralind frowns in confusion, ears twitching this way and that. "What is it? What do you see?"
Caspis shifts back into elven form at Auralind's question. "Nothing," he says softly.
"It is… blackness… stars…" Anareline supplies.
Auralind arches an eyebrow. "So…literally nothing."
Wyriel remains in her dragon form, but she lowers down to allow Mordecai to dismount, which he does.
Colson steps into place next to Mordecai, as calm as always. If he is awed at all, it doesn't show, but maybe that's just his face.
Roper's helm hides whatever reaction he might be having, but he seems to be just facing in the direction of those out in front.
Azizia superhero lands from the portal. She gets up, ready to start punching. "Uh. Stars. Sky. Nothing new."
Pericleia lands softly thanks to the mages. She adjusts her shield on her arm and steps forward. "Where is Malygos?"
“They said we need to tamper with the Iris,” Jo says, moving towards the glowing orb. She gestures Gwen forward. “And then… Malygos will appear.”
Nunuzac peers up into the visible stars with a sense of acquaintanceship, closely following near Gwen and Jo.
Lode swats a paw against the platform testingly, a faint shimmer of moonlight emanating from the impact - the clear night skies and suffusion of energy seem to clarify druidic magic.
"I would appear if I got punched in iris. Do you want me to do this?" Azizia says to Jo.
Jo giggles at Azizia, but shakes her head. "No, no punching. Gwen has the Key to the Focusing Iris. She'll… try to open it a little."
Cressidha pulls up her ice barrier.
Caspis turns back into a treant.
Gwenivene clutches the Key firmly (but gently) in her hand as she approaches the Iris. She gives Jo a look of worry, nibbling her lip. Then she gazes out over the rest of the gathered forces. All of those faces, many frightened, but all so determined to do what must be done for Azeroth.
The young sorceress sets her jaw, nodding to her many companions. For a moment, all she can hear is her own slow breath. She holds the Key in one hand, toward the Iris. Her lips barely move as she murmurs arcane words of power, channeling her energy through the gem…into the Iris. Malygos, her thoughts echo in her mind, forgive me.
The Focusing Iris blazes with light. The power feedbacks through Gwen's form, but Queen Alexstrasza's blessing flows into her as well, strong and steady. No mortal mage will be obliterated by the Iris today.
Gwenivene's freckled face tightens with the strain of all that energy flowing through her. She grips the gem with both hands, crying out as she funnels more arcane power to force the Iris to open.
Archmage Harrow delicately draws an arcane symbol in the air and focuses some of her magic into Gwenivene.
Malygos Appears
Then, the initial surge of power is over. As predicted, Malygos appears in the air above. An enormous blue dragon, he hovers above the platform and surveys the team.
"Gwen, fall back!" Jo yelps, reaching out to draw her back to the crowd.
A shudder passes through Cas's branches, and even his crudely-chiseled treant face is obviously slack with awe.
Coriene watches the two mages near the Iris, glances at Harrow, and then traces a similar symbol, focusing some of her power on Jo.
Anareline's face is filled with awe. And yet, she draws her sword.
Gwen collapses to the floor as the energy leaves her. Her gaze slowly rises up to look upon the Aspect hovering over her. Long seconds pass before she can feel Jocoza's tugging, and she fearfully scrambles backward on hands and feet.
"I was never impressed by dragons and it will not start today," Azizia says, frowning at Malygos. "Come lower so you can try to fight us, winged-lizard!"
Mordecai whispers, "Shield," the Power Word louder than he would like it to be in this strange location. The Shield around Gwen gives her a small burst of speed for a few seconds.
“Lesser beings, intruding here! A shame that your excess courage does not compensate for your stupidity!” Malygos’s booming voice fills the air above the platform. “None but the blue dragonflight are welcome here! Perhaps this is the work of Alexstrasza? Well, then, she has sent you to your deaths!”
Roper scoffs. Been there, done that, got resurrected into an undying shadow fueled corpse.
Oryena's also been there, done that.
Coriene glances at Harrow again, and she turns back to face Malygos with a gaze as cold and hard as ice.
Cas is shaking like a leaf. Like several leaves.
Anareline moves in front of Cas, raising her sword.
"We are here by the will of the dragon queen," Ana murmurs. "She is the Life-Binder, she would not send us to certain death."
Nunuzac scurries back with the others retreating away from the rising dragon aspect, gawping up at the size of Malygos and his booming voice.
Pericleia draws her sword as well, Righteous Fury set in the grim lines of her expression. "You threaten Azeroth, home of many, which you were once protecting!"
Treant-Cas's gaze is fixed on Malygos as though nailed there, every line of his limbs a study in awestruck terror.
“I protect it still, you short-sighted fools! My patience has reached its limit. I will be rid of you!” Malygos moves closer to the platform, and then he flaps his wings to create a vortex of energy. Everyone is lifted bodily off the ground and above the center of the platform, breaking all of the mages’ concentration for casting any but spells that require only an instant.
Colson's [Hand of Protection] blooms instantly around Mordecai, as the paladin attempts his own [Divine Shield], to no other effect than that they're now invulnerable suspended above the platform.
Jo looks like she might take offense at 'short-sighted' for a moment, but then she's swept up into the air. She manages to fling one burst of fire at the dragon, for what good it does.
Gwen squeals in surprise as she is hoisted into the air! She quickly casts another slow falling spell on herself.
Azizia attempts to swim in the air towards Malygos. "Finally, you stop talking!"
Coriene's expression flickers in surprise, and then she also casts slow-falling on herself.
Lode's only reply is a rumbling roar that cuts off when she is surprisingly sent off the ground in a burst of wind strong enough to send a whole bear sailing upward, paws splayed to try to stabilize herself.
Nunuzac yelps and pleads for wind spirits to do something about this.
Ana pulls her sword in close, careful not to harm anyone else swirling by her.
Cressidha flicks a small bundle of feathers into the air to slow-fall everybody.
Mordecai looks very calm inside his safety bubble.
Wyriel maneuvers herself in the air so that Lode impacts her, a dragon, rather than any of the delicate squishy humanoids.
Oryena wordlelessly curses Malygos with a [Shadow Word: Pain] as she floats. She's used to floating.
Caspis turns into a stormcrow.
Roper spins wildly, and an attempt at sending out anything is impeded by the fact that he keeps squirming around trying to get unstuck. The flailing makes aiming impossible, and in the end, he does nothing but curse obscenities at Malygos for psychic damage.
Pericleia raises her shield-arm, and the Light forms a magical copy of her shield that ignores the vortex of energy, pinging off one of Malygos' wings.
Gwen orients herself to face Malygos as she gathers energy into her hands. "I'm sorry," she whispers, releasing the build-up of power into an arcane blast at the Aspect.
Nunuzac lashes out a small fistful of burning lava, all she can manage while tumbling. Malygos is quite huge, and it's debatable whether he can even feel it through the thick scales.
As suddenly as it started, the vortex ceases.
“What could you hope to accomplish? To storm brazenly into my domain… to employ magic… against ME?” Malygos laughs as the combatants drift together downward to the center of the platform, under the effects of slow-fall. Floating arcane runes appear in the blackness of space around them, drifting around in a slow spiral. “I am without limits here… the rules of your cherished reality do not apply… in this realm, I am in control… I give you one chance. Pledge fealty to me, and perhaps I won't slaughter you for your insolence!”
Mordecai Shields himself, the effect overlapping with his existing bubble of light around him. Double bubble.
Coriene laughs bitterly in response. "If you were worth pledging to, I would. But no, the time for you to be our mentor is long past."
Jo stares up at Malygos with determination. "You could have been our ally, great Malygos. You could still. You can end this."
Cas reluctantly returns to the platform and to his treant form. He is now autofollowing Ana.
Ana looks very solemn and sad, but she raises her sword once more and moves to place herself in front of the mages.
Oryena scoffs. She raises her hand, dark runes spinning around her. She doesn't look at Malygos as she cast, however. Instead, her dark magic seeps into the minds of those around her who may be considering Malygos's offer, shielding them from the fear that may be pushing them to do so.
"Please, Malygos! We all want to protect Azeroth!" Gwenivene's cheeks shimmer with tears as she pleads. "We don't have to fight!"
Azizia follows Ana, fists up, ready to protect her mage friends. "See reason or we will not care about killing you, dragon." Some people clearly do care, but she's speaking for everybody.
Nunuzac blinks up through angered unfallen tears at the gigantic dragon. "Your childs and kin are hurting. Where is Kiry!?"
Roper steps forward with a cold laugh of ha. "Not a fucking chance," he says. Does he mean to pledging loyalty or to being slaughtered? Maybe both. He's put himself between the more physical fragile robe wearers and the extreme danger dragon, but whether that's out of eagerness for the fight to come or to protect the weak is — no, it's clear, it's definitely the former.
Malygos snarls at the refusal to pledge, and lands on the platform. "Azeroth is hurting, and only I see how to fix it. I could ask you what you've done with my daughter, stealing her away from her flight. My traitor sister…" Malygos launches into attack on those closest to him.
Pericleia attempts to draw his attention to her with a flare of Light, bracing for the impact.
Anareline launches into the attack, smashing her shield into one of his enormous arms to get his attention as well.
Cressidha blinks away from the others so that they aren't all bunched together in the center of the platform and jogs so that she can stand closer to one of the wings rather than his head (danger breath!) or his tail (whack!). She knows the dragon rules.
Waves of healing energy emanate from Caspis in a large radius, releasing a feeling like a tree-shaded breeze and a faintly evergreen scent as well as the expected verdant glow.
Gwen creates a shield around herself as she tries again to reach the mighty dragon. "What you're doing will destroy Azeroth! The ley lines are a part of the world! Locking away its magic is like strangling its soul! Work with us and we can fix everything together!"
Jo moves a little away from the other mages, following the spread-out strategy, and grimly hurls fire at the mighty dragon.
Archmage Harrow repositions herself as well. She sends out a test barrage of arcane missiles to check whether Malygos can even be hurt by her magic.
He can. The arcane missiles strike and absorb into his scales, but he flinches as if they have harmed him.
Azizia is pushed up by air spirits as she jumps and hits one of the dragon's tooth before it closes its mouth.
Colson sets a [Beacon of Light] over Pericleia, and begins casting quick flashes of [Holy Shock] and [Flash Heals] over those dealing with the dragon head.
Roper does not have enough experience fighting dragons, and too much experience fighting as a rogue. He makes an attempt at striking from behind, and is promptly whacked away by a lashing tail. He's flung several yards away before he comes to an iced force stop. He growls something unprintable about Malygos, and rushes back in for the side, aiming for the softer bits, and now really fighting like a rogue — and by that I mean fighting dirty.
Malygos snarls and opens his mouth to breathe shining, devastating magic onto Gwenivene. It not only hurts but clings, settling on her flesh and then shimmering brighter as it builds to a delayed explosion.
Gwen screams as her shield shatters under the intensity of Malygos's breath. She curls up, trying to expel the arcane energies building up in her…but the Aspect's power is too strong.
Nunuzac looks highly alarmed at the shimmering arcane that refuses to dissipate from Gwen, trying to shield her face with her arms from emanations but being staggered and flung back. Her sign of the naaru glints brightly, a glimmer of Light over Gwen trying to aid in the effort to protect her.
Mordecai folds his hands together in prayer, whispering to the Light. "Don't let her die."
There's a shimmer of gold in the air above Gwenivene, almost invisible with all of the other magic crackling around her.
The clinging magic on Gwenivene explodes, blasting anyone nearby.
Cas's regenerative magic is still glistening greenly around Gwen, but it can do nothing against one massive sudden blast.
Mordecai's protection comes too late, the magic already infused into her body. Gwenivene's howl of agony as it erupts suddenly cuts off. As the glare of the explosion fades, she can be seen crumpled on the floor…still as stone.
Malygos does not wait for anyone to surrender from his brutal attack on the peaceful Gwenivene, but immediately launches an array of targeted arcane magic directly at Colson.
"Gwen!" Jo cries, rushing to her after the blast. She doesn't care about the dragon now, only Gwen.
Oryena briefly loses her shadow quality, her feet finally reaching the ground as her right hand moves to the left side of her face, the Light shielding her from Gwen's explosion.
Azizia instantly turns around at the sound of the explosion - remembering her own arcane explosion. She looks in alarm at Gwen's body on the ground. "Fuck!"
Colson begins healing himself steadily, as a [Sacred Shield] forms around him. He doesn't seem alarmed, but that might just be his face.
Atley, who has definitely been here this whole time, flown up on Thoras, and glared at the Great Beyond, raises his shield and rushes in from the opposite side of their foe, and attempts a slashing strike, bellowing, “Gwen!”
Gwenivene does not respond to Jo's voice. When Jo reaches her, she can see her student's eyes are open, but somehow faded and expressionless.
Malygos laughs. “Watch helplessly as your hopes are swept away!”
Jo screams something incoherent.
Caspis turns his attention toward Gwenivene, channeling all his focus into an attempt at drawing her soul back to her. Luminous green energies surround her still form as he concentrates.
Jo sobs.
Mordecai Shields Colson, his own Shield temporarily broken from the impact of the detonation.
"You are not funny," Azizia screams at Malygos as she turns back to face him and rushes at him, ready to break the dragon's scales with her fists.
Wyriel puts herself in between Gwenivene and Malygos, shielding her with a wing to give Caspis time to work.
Nunuzac's healing is also of the small and slow variety, and the sight makes her pull back, arms hugging her own middle with tail coiling beneath her. The heavy lashing of Malygos's great mass quickly snaps her out of it, and she rushes to plant a totem, face still pained as she summons crackling lightning.
Lode launches through the air in full bear-bulk, charging wildly for dragon snout with a roar and fearless jaws.
Coriene also moves in front of the fallen mage and Jo, standing next to Wyriel and channeling arcane power at the dragon. He won't get an easy shot at a distracted ally.
Gwenivene remains unmoving. Caspis can feel her spirit, it is not entirely untethered. But it is chaotic…in turmoil.
Anareline redoubles her efforts to attack.
Malygos stares on, uncaring. He launches another arcane assault, this time the torrent flowing into Azizia.
Cas at last gives up, collapsing back into his native form to cry out, "I cannot hold onto her…"
He tries to focus on keeping Azizia standing, but he is still in elven form, and tears are streaming down his face.
Mordecai Shields Azizia, looking stricken. "We should spread out."
Azizia protects her face from the arcane with her arms. She closes her eyes, attempting to breathe steadily and enjoying some respite from Mordecai's shield before it breaks.
Colson shifts his own [Sacred Shield] and healing to Azizia, holding the [Beacon of Light] on Pericleia.
Jo staggers to her feet, her face pale.
To no one but Malygos, Oryena grows taller and taller, taller than him, even. Her bones crack as her limbs contort in unnatural ways. Now, in the dragon's eyes a slender shadowy figure stands above the rest of the army. Whispers reach his ears, creating pain and fear inside his mind.
To everyone else, the Forsaken is just standing among the crowd, her arms stretched wide to the side, her glowing yellow eyes turning purple, casting [Mind Blast].
Pericleia fights with a greater awareness of her companions after Gwen falls, watching Malygos' movements and magic.
An arcane spark appears at the edge of the platform and begins drifting towards Malygos.
Coriene eyes it. "He's drawing power to himself. One of his followers died to create that spark… don't let it reach him."
Roper's head turns at Coriene's instruction, and steps away from stabbing the dragon's underside to attack the spark with ice and shadow, and no small amount of undead cold rage.
Archmage Harrow reaches out, attempting to pull the spark towards herself with her own arcane magic. But playing tug-of-war with the literal Aspect of Magic is not easily won.
Nunuzac blinks at Coriene, a bit unmoored, then stares across at the approaching spark. She whistles and ambient dust and debris begins to coalesce into an earthen elemental, ambling out to approach the path of the glinting magic as the shaman encourages it in draenei.
The attacks from Roper, Harrow, and Nunuzac destroy the spark. The power seems to dissolve, leaving a small glimmering patch on the floor.
Atley squints at the patch and rushes over it, only to turn on a dime and sprint back towards Malygos. “It’s over! Kill him!” He growls, feeling slightly less merciful and understanding towards the Aspect given the circumstances.
The Archmage pulls some of the residual arcane essence to herself, smiling.
Malygos Takes Flight
“I had hoped to end your lives quickly, but you have proven more… resilient than I anticipated. Nonetheless, your efforts are in vain. It is you reckless, careless mortals who are to blame for this war. I do what I must, and if it means your extinction…. then SO BE IT!!” Malygos sweeps up into the air, out of reach.
Roper stretches out his left runeblade, and a twisting hand of shadow stretches out for Malygos, attempting to grip him and drag the dragon back down. Let's keep it fair, Malygos. His swords can't reach up that high.
Azizia headbutts [No Target] trying to hit Malygos.
Wyriel carefully wraps one of her forelegs around Gwen's body, lifting her up.
Mordecai attempts to maintain Shields on as many people as he can, a Prayer of Mending chiming as it weaves between members of the group.
Cressidha continues to hurl frost and flame at Malygos, but she's bracing for whatever he does next.
The Iris portal suddenly flashes brighter, and a massive form bursts through! Amytheraku lands heavily on the platform, bellowing pure rage. MALYGOS! Her telepathic roar broadcasts to every nearby mind.
Wyriel flaps towards the entry portal. "Little sister, here, take her to safety," she calls to the netherwing drake.
Looking around frantically, Amethyraku spots Gwenivene in Wyriel's care. Bounding toward the other dragon, her wing buffets aside one of the hovering mages to clear the area. Her thoughts enter Wyriel's mind as she rises up on her haunches to reach out with her forelimbs for Gwen's body. Make him suffer. She glares up at Malygos. I must go, or he will absorb me as he did my kin. Cradling Gwen like an infant, she beats her wings, launching herself toward the portal and vanishing to safety.
Once Gwen has been safely passed off, Wyriel circles around the battlefield and lands next to Caspis.
Cas is continuing to send regenerative nature magic out in a certain radius around himself, but he seems to have lost his treant form, or forgotten he is not in treant form, and his magic has lost some of its intensity.
From all sides, a dozen mages on flying disks swoop into the air above the platform. These must be former Kirin Tor who allied with the Father of Magic. They duck and spin, casting bolts of arcane at the combatants.
Atley’s strike goes wide as Malygos ascends. With an audible growl he backs up, spinning his sword, shield raising as the additional mages appear.
Jo still seems dazed, but she turns wearily to this new threat.
Azizia tackles one of the mages off of their disk, landing on top of them. She begins punching again, her hands covered in rocks.
The mage screams and tries to fight back. Hand-to-hand combat is not their strong suit.
Atley unleashes a battlecry at one of the mages to get their attention. If he gets it, and is attacked, he uses the spell reflect capabilities of his shield to physically swipe it through the air and ricochet it back to the mage to try and knock them off their platform.
The mage confidently shoots their strongest arcane volley at Atley. It rebounds back on them and they fall off the disk, howling. The disk settles to the platform.
Atley first rushes over to thrust his sword into the fallen wizard’s chest before he claims the disc, hopping aboard, glare set on Malygos as he tries to make the device rise.
Coriene carefully gathers arcane power in her hands and shoots a blast at a passing mage. They tumble off the disk, which settles at her feet. She smiles and climbs aboard.
"Ally, don't attack me," Coriene calls as she goes airborne.
Archmage Harrow narrows her eyes at one of the mages. "Olivier Percival Madison, I taught you better than this!"
The mage on the disc goes a little pale. "You can still swear fealty!" he cries out to her. "You can still be saved!" He has missed the part of Malygos' speech where they did not swear fealty.
Archmage Harrow turns the mage she was scolding into a sheep.
Lode snarls and lopes beneath the mages flying out of reach of her teeth. The buffeting arcane thwarts her efforts to shift and flit after them.
Roper curses as his shadow hand fails to drag down the literal Aspect of Magic, and in frustration, turns his attention to the living mages. Oh, good, and here he was just thinking how if he could just kill something he'd feel better. He takes one of the mages at a run, driving runeblades into them. He was probably going to leap off and go for another, but as Coriene goes airborne, Roper starts stomping on the disc. Fly, thing. Fly. Get him up to the big dragon so he can hit the thing with swords.
It works! Looks like you don't have to be a mage.
Roper'll take the win. And this neat disc to fly up. Unlike with living animals, he seems to find his footing on how to make it go where he wants relatively quickly. His tactic seems to be go at max speed, charge into dragon. It's a method.
Anareline turns, following the mages with her gaze. She waits for one to come in range of her sword-arm.
Pericleia sends the Light-afterimage of her shield ricocheting amongst the mages.
That takes out another mage, their disk now un-personned.
Pericleia kicks the body of the mage into the void and takes their place on the disk, flying closer to Malygos.
Malygos snarls again, and shoots a torrent of arcane energy at Pericleia.
Caspis suddenly seems to realize he is not in his treant form and therefore not channeling healing magic as powerfully as he might be. He lifts his arms toward the sky. Slowly his skin browns and hardens and cracks, becoming bark, and his hair begins to coil up and turn green… but the process stops there. Then it abruptly reverses, leaving him an elf again, and a winded, trembling one.
He makes a small, lost sound and then continues healing as best he can in his native form.
Anareline's gaze crosses Caspis, and she no longer has attention for the mages. She moves over to him, and says in a rush, "Love, we are still here. We will endure."
"We will endure," Caspis repeats, first in Common, then in Darnassian. He continues to murmur the Darnassian phrase to himself, again and again, as he casts his healing spells in elven form.
Anareline stands by his side, sword raised, daring any mage to harm her shalan.
One of the mages stops right in front of Oryena. From their eyes, the shadow priestess grows tentacles from her back, reaching towards them. Her rotten neck extends to face the mage. From her sealed lips, she whispers. "You fear me more than you fear him."
The mage shivers and flies their disk towards Malygos and begins casting arcane bolts at the dragon.
From an outsider's perspective, Oryena just looked very intensely at that one mage before they decided to switch sides.
Coriene joins the team trying to attack Malygos.
At least half a dozen mages are still attacking those on the platform.
Nunuzac rubs her palms together with residual arcane power from the fragmented spark, and looses skipping chain lightning across several of the attacking mages.
Another mage down to crackling lightning, falling from their disk and twitching on the platform.
As the team fights the mages, Malygos drops pink, glowing zones of anti-magic on the platform, nullifying the magic of any who are inside but otherwise not hurting them.
Colson recognizes those anti-magic zones. "Do not stand in those fields! They will dampen your spells, and healing," he shouts, in a voice that carries.
Cressidha rushes out of an anti-magic zone.
Azizia gets up from beating that one mage senseless, cracking her shoulders. She spots Caspis's failed attempt at shapeshifting. "Mr. Caspis! Now is not time to doubt abilities!" she screams. "You have been tree before, you can do it again!"
Caspis narrows his eyes at Azizia. Her words seem to have annoyed rather than bolstered him, but the end result is the same, in that it disrupts the circuit of his self pity. A moment later, Treant Caspis stands rooted once again, waves of balsam-fresh healing energy emanating from his branches.
Unfortunately he is right in an anti-magic zone.
Anareline shifts her shield and reaches out to one branch, trying to guide him out of it.
Caspis, luckily, autofollows.
Jo rushes out of an antimagic zone, and summons up a pyroblast, taking out one more mage. She still seems a little out of it, and doesn't rush to take the flying disc.
Lode launches aggressively for a clattering disk, which is, shockingly, bear-operable. She is soon zooming after an enemy mage that thought she was safe from mauling and thought wrong.
Another mage mauled.
Lode looks viciously delighted to have some air power, as a bear. It's not a rocket pack but it is close, and it's not something any chewy mages are likely to be happy to see on their six. Her jowls flap in the wind resistance as she motors on teeth first.
Another mage falls before Lode the toothy disk-flyer.
Malygos watches the mages fall with obvious frustration, and once again launches an array of targeted arcane magic, this time directly at Dane.
Colson shifts his attention to Dane, the [Sacred Shield] on him as he keeps the [Beacon of Light] on Pericleia. He calmly steps aside as a dampening field drops near him, and keeps casting on Dane, healing both as he focuses.
Atley grits his teeth, crouches, and raises his shield while simultaneously trying to dodge the arcane blast. Nevertheless, it hits him, and he’s blown off of the disc, head over heels. He manages to grasp onto the ledge of it at the last moment, hanging over the boundaries of the giant platform with the Great Beyond glittering infinitely below.
He bites down on his sword and uses both hands to slowly pull himself back up with a guttural growl of exertion, empowered by Colson’s concentrated healing.
Jo rushes over to help pull Dane up. She is not particularly helpful, but the intent is there.
Atley accepts the help, nonetheless, and retakes his sword. Spying the vacant disk, he reaches for Jocoza. “I must get back up there!”
"Be careful!" Jo says almost frantically, but she moves out of his way so he can get to the disk.
He grunts and nods, turns and gets a running start, leaping from the main platform to land on his disk just before it can drift away into eternity. Twisting it sharply in place, he zooms back to Malygos, sword ringing.
Oryena's mind control fades from the mage. He stops attacking Malygos, and decides to attack her instead.
Coriene sees the mage spin away to attack Oryena, and takes the mage out with an explosion of arcane mage.
Oryena turns to look at Coriene intensely. She raises a hand, blessing her with her dark prayer, as a thank you.
Coriene raises a hand in acknowledgment, and turns back to Malygos.
A disk containing a sheep continues to zip around the platform.
Mordecai makes a noise of alarm as a pink anti-magic zone forms around him, and he rushes out of it. He is unharmed.
Auralind darts around the battlefield, firing a storm of arrows on the enemy. Thaeru'kal bounds along at her side, unleashing devastating blasts of raw spiritual energy.
Azizia smiles proudly at Caspis. "Good job!" she screams again. She almost immediately gets blasted by one of the mage's arcane blasts. She sends rolling backwards, almost off the platform.
Cressidha forms a spear of ice along her arm and flings it. It lands between Azizia and the edge of the platform like an emergency stalagmite. The ice thickens, freezing into more of a pillar.
Azizia grabs onto the emergency stalagmite. She gets up, stabilizing herself. Her hair is a mess. "Where is one who attacked me? Where?"
A final remaining un-sheeped mage eyes the situation, and turns to speed-disk away. No mauling today, thank you very much.
Cressidha points at the escaping mage.
Azizia shakes her fist at them. "You try to run but it's useless! I will find you again!"
Malygos seems entirely displeased with the way things are going.
And Now We Fall
“ENOUGH! If you intend to reclaim Azeroth's magic, then you shall have it!” Malygos rears back in the air, a vortex of sheer magical energy coiling around him. He takes a deep inhale.
“Everyone, hide IN the anti-magic zones,” Jo calls out desperately.
Coriene navigates her disk back to the platform, diving somewhat inelegantly for safety.
Anareline grabs Caspis by a branch and tries to guide him back into the anti-magic zone.
Jo waddles over to a nearby pink anti-magic bubble.
Atley crashes his disk into the ground and hits running, letting the device clatter and bounce around as he too rushes for safety.
"INTO THE ANTI-MAGIC ZONES!" Archmage Harrow yells to the Kirin Tor, just in case anybody didn't hear Jo's order. For a frail elven lady, she sure can yell.
Nunuzac huddles under a barrier, no argument about this at all. She fades somewhat, going translucent as her body partially shifts into another plane…
Azizia breaks the pointy bit off of the emergency stalagmite and throws it like a javelin at Malygos, before rushing to an anti-magic zone.
Roper doesn't bother making a run for it. He's got his own. In the meantime, he can hit this dragon with his swords while the dragon is distracted trying to kill everyone. Win-win.
Colson rushes to Mordecai, moving for one of the anti-magic zones, as he looks for those either too stubborn or too distracted to seek shelter.
Cressidha blinks closer to an anti-magic zone and steps inside.
Auralind follows the sounds of her allies to huddle with them in the safety of anti-magic.
Oryena doesn't get into an anti-magic zone right away. With commanding gestures and intense looks, she orders her more reckless allies into the anti-magic zones.
Pericleia calls up her Divine Shield as she flies her disk, just in case the disk doesn't get her there in time.
Wyriel huddles inside an anti-magic zone, tucking her tail carefully around her legs.
Lode is just zipping after Malygos above on her disc in a bristling fury that can only be sated by further biting, blind to safety concerns.
"Lode! Hide!" Jo cries from within her anti-magic zone.
Colson is watching for just that, and just as the blast begins, a [Hand of Protection] blooms in a shield of the Light around the giant zoomies disc bear, as the Light was always meant to be used. Enjoy your invulnerable time out, Lode.
After ordering people around, Oryena floats menacingly to the closest anti-magic zone.
Malygos unleashes his power on the platform. The anti-magic zones hold against the blast, but then the entire platform beneath shatters into pieces, leaving all the combatants drifting down through the air surrounded by nothing but wreckage of stone and flying disks, floating arcane runes, the stars and the dark.
Lode thrashes against the containment of paladin protection measures, frothing at Malygos as her disc disintegrates beneath her. Let me at hiiimmmm.
Caspis turns into an elf, then a bird, then an elf again, in an obvious panic.
Anareline reaches for Caspis. If they fall, they fall together.
Caspis wraps his arms around Anareline in midair.
Colson immediately grabs onto Mordecai as they start falling.
Nunuzac shrieks into the starry skies all around.
Cressidha once again tosses out a handful of feathers to slow fall the group.
Jo frantically casts slow fall on herself and everyone she can reach.
Coriene does the same, a little less frantically.
Roper remains in his anti-magic shield bubble, on the little flying disc, as he watches as his allies start to fall slowly into the endless void. "Well. Fuck."
Wyriel swoops underneath them, wings spread wide, trying to catch whoever she can.
Oryena gets caught by Wyriel. She looks at them, nodding her thanks, then blessing her. All of Luri's characters are getting Oryena's blessing today. Cress is next.
Wyriel is now carrying this shadow priestess around.
Pericleia has a disk. And a sword. Get stabbed, Malygos.
The Red Dragonflight Arrives
Just then, a familiar voice calls out, one recognizable as Alexstrasza the Life-Binder. “Champions! My children blessed with my power shall aid you in your fight!”
Azizia runs a hand through her hair as she makes her slow fall into the void. "I cannot die agai— Oh!"
"Thank you!" Mordecai shouts, politely, as he drifts through the void, clinging to Colson's arm.
Red dragons swoop in through the black, each darting in to take a combatant on their backs. The red dragons form up against the Father of Magic once again.
In a poignant tone, Caspis cries out, Minn'do! at the sound of Alexstrasza's voice.
Anareline doesn't let go of Caspis. A larger red dragon approaches to take them both on its back.
A very small drake swoops beneath Jo.
Ranvrastrasz scoops Nunuzac from her descent, shouting, "We've got you!" through smoke-trailing jaws. She clings tightly around the drake's neck, trembling a bit.
Another drake scruffs Lode with fore-talons and teeth, dangling her and struggling to bear (yes) her weight.
Coriene finds herself a dragon companion as well, a very prim and proper one.
Azizia finds a dragon companion. It is a fashionable but angry one. It flies up to breathe fire prettily at Malygos.
Caspis settles Anareline more securely in front of him on their shared drake, keeping one arm locked around her waist and remaining in Elven form.
Caspis, his face as grave as it has ever been, murmurs something in Darnassian in Anareline's ear that only she can hear.
For the record, it is Darnassian for We fall together.
Cressidha gladly pairs up with a dragon.
Roper will stick with his non-living disc that he stomp and direct around without having to ask please, thank you very much.
Pericleia looks at Roper and grunts. Disk solidarity. She flings the trailing Light afterimage of her shield at Malygos again.
Colson speaks politely to the dragon who has rescued him to get him within range of healing, using the extended range of the [Beacon of Light] to bounce his heals across the space.
Mordecai ends up on the same dragon as Colson. It might not be very comfortable. He holds on to his husband for dear life, peering out from behind him at the fight.
Oryena looks at Wyriel, pointing at Malygos with a hand cloaked in shadows. She's out of spell range, and Wyriel can fly.
Wyriel flies her in closer obligingly.
Malygos laughs, a deep, echoing sound. “Now your benefactors make their appearance…But they are too late. The powers contained here are sufficient to destroy the world ten times over! What do you think they will do to you?”
Malygos pulses with magical power, singing anyone nearby with arcane energy.
Wyriel tilts in the sky so that she takes the blast for her rider. Vines bloom along her limbs as she heals herself.
Simultaneously, Oryena forces the Light to shield Wyriel, her own arm twitching in pain as she does. Right after that, Oryena turns back into her shadow-form, definitely more elven, or rather, banshee-like, ready to attack.
“The powers at work here exceed anything you could possibly imagine!” He spins to focus on Anareline and Caspis and their dragon, expelling a flood of power directly at them. The dragon roars and puts up a flickering flame shield, partially blocking the energy and causing it to splash to nearby combatants and their mounts.
Atley widens his eyes and grunts in surprise at the sudden fall, only to land on a red arcing low. “Let’s get back to the fight!” he growls, looking to see that his comrades have been saved, before he rushes back in, swatting away a flash of flame with his enchanted shield.
“Don’t fall,” Jo cries out, looking at the abyss beneath them.
Pericleia looks at Roper and grunts. Disk solidarity. She flings the trailing Light afterimage of her shield at Malygos again.
Roper, caught in some of the blast, curses loudly, as the power crackles over his saronite armor. He closes in nearer to Malygos, ice and shadow sinking into the dragon as Roper attempts to carve his health out of the Aspect.
Malygos turns towards Cressidha next, and a staticky blue orb encircles her. Lines of deadly arcane power arc inward towards her.
Azizia, from her dragon, turns to Cressidha. "Oh no!"
Cressidha immediately surrounds herself with an ice block, and the dragon carrying her on their back tries to weave between the lines to escape, pulling up their own flame shield.
Cas continues to try to heal anyone who comes within range of him with an injury, but it is clear from his general demeanor that he is certain he is witnessing his last glimpses of this world.
Ranvrastrasz wheels up from the crackling arcane magic left by Malygos. "All you have to do is hold on!" he shouts. "Lifebinder, strengthen me!"
Soft pulses of healing power emanate from the young drake, bearing traces of fiery cinders, much as Alexstrasza's cleansing breath. It slowly intensifies, mending surface wounds seared by arcane as the drake swoops near other dragons and their cargo, radiating from close proximity to Ranvra.
As the fight goes on, the tide turns. The combination of the Kirin Tor, other allies, and the red dragonflight proves to be too much for Malygos. He strikes out more and more wildly, with arcs and bursts of arcane. Finally, he is struggling to keep aloft.
Jo is clinging to her little drake. As Malygos starts to fall, she just huddles here, tears trickling out of her goggles.
Coriene keeps up the fight, flinging arcane at the Father of Magic.
Anareline has switched to her bow, and loose one more arrow at the dragon.
Roper, having learned his tail lesson earlier, weaves around Malygos' wings, ripping into them wherever he can find an opening.
Caspis suddenly realizes that victory is in sight, but if anything his expression only becomes more anguished. In Darnassian he cries out, audibly but to no one in particular, What becomes of us now?
Azizia summons Rex, the earth elemental, on top of Malygos himself, and throws lighting at him as her drake breathes fire.
Atley swoops in between wild attacks from Malygos to apply his sword to the combination of his own red dragon’s claws.
Oryena, from Wyriel's back, curses Malygos and his descendants for three generations.
“UNTHINKABLE! The mortals will destroy… everything… my sister… what have you-” Malygos chokes out, starting to fall.
In dragon form, Alexstrasza descends into the group of red dragons and says sadly, “I did what I had to, brother. You gave me no alternative.”
Malygos succumbs to his injuries and falls into the blackness. Where Malygos once was, a small blue gem in the shape of a heart hovers in the blackness of space. This gem, the Heart of Magic, pulses with power once, and reaches out to those present, a final touch of the soul of Malygos.
Atley sniffs, still breathing heavily, and wipes sweat from his mouth as he looks between Alexstrasza and the gem, hovering in his red dragon.
You feel memories begin to seep into the corners of your mind. It feels as if they were your very own. Cast out from your fellow aspects. The great Malygos left alone to protect Azeroth from mortals. The others do not understand what you've been through. You were at the forefront against Neltharion. You lost everything. Sindragosa, your flight… your very mind. Yet you still sought to save Azeroth from itself. And for that, your once beloved sister helped lead a band of people to slay you.
The memories fall away, and the glow in the heart-shaped gem subsides. Queen Alexstrasza takes it gently in her claws.
Jo continues to cry quietly.
Atley blinks and retracts his head. He exhales and works his jaw as he processes the memories with a heavy sigh, looking all around at the others and the Great Beyond with grim triumph etched onto his features.
Anareline murmurs in Darnassian to Caspis, It had to be done. We have to believe that.
Colson bows his head, speaking in solemn, quiet prayer, holding onto Mordecai's arm around his waist.
Roper scoffs, mutters something, and sheathes his runeblades, waiting impatiently for what happens now.
Caspis breaks down into tears, silent but whole-body shaking, his eyes closed.
Azizia doesn't feel compassion for the Aspect, not after today's fight. She looks at the Heart of Magic. She considers taking it to have someone turn this into a necklace.
Mordecai bows his head, hiding his face in Colson's cape.
Ranvrastrasz slowly hovers with long flaps of his wings, head bowed low with exertion and solemn grief, as the pulsing magic healing around him slowly subsides. Nunuzac simply clings on.
The drake carrying Lode is rotating downward in a slow gliding spiral like a maple seed, giving off a few strained hisses. They'll probably reach an Oculus platform after a while.
Atley looks to Caspis, then Mordecai, and to all the others, his own drake’s head lowered.
Oryena looks at the scene, standing tall and proud from the back of Wynriel. Her face, however, shows a form of compassion towards Malygos.
“And so ends the Nexus War,” Alexstrasza says. “This resolution pains me deeply, but the destruction, the monumental loss of life had to end. Regardless of Malygos' recent transgressions, I will mourn his loss. He was once a guardian, a protector. This day, one of the world's mightiest has fallen.”
"Minn'do…" Caspis says, quietly, his voice broken.
Alexstrasza turns to the combatants and addresses them directly. “The red dragonflight will take on the burden of mending the devastation wrought on Azeroth. Return home to your people and rest. Tomorrow will bring you new challenges, and you must be ready to face them. Life… goes on.”
Oryena scoffs at that last part.
Roper scoffs with her. Ha. Life.
Anareline reaches down to rest her hand on Caspis's, at her waist.
Caspis clings tightly to Anareline with both arms now that the fight is over. It seems as though she is all that is keeping him upright.
Azizia pats the drake she is riding's neck. "Thank you for help. Not bad, for dragon."
"I… I should go to Gwen," Jo says, and her little drake takes her towards the exit portal.
Atley shifts his grim gaze to Caspis and stares, unblinking.
At the Transitus Shield
Wyriel lets Oryena dismount before taking on her kaldorei form again. Her lower lip quivers like she's trying not to cry.
Oryena puts her bony fingers on Wyriel's shoulder comfortingly. She blesses her once again, attempting to turn that sadness into something more productive (fear. Her blessings bring a sense of dread.).
Colson guides their red dragon friend to the Transitus shield, before he dismounts — a white gryphon high above shrieks loudly, and Colson winces faintly — before he offers up a hand to Mordecai to help the priest down.
Amethyraku stands vigil outside the small tent at the edge of the camp, shoulders tense in a protective stance. Within the tent, lain in repose upon a cot, is Gwenivene's lifeless body, the color already fading from her. As allies begin to appear through the shield, Amey's translucent wings spread defensively over the tent, but (for those who can read a dragon's expressions) there is a glimmer of desperate hope in her eyes.
On a small table beside the cot is Gwen's trademark hat. A little tree frog clings to the brim, eyes fixed on Gwenivene as if in worry.
Azizia runs to the tent. "Oh no, she has not woken up yet… Is there healers nearby?" She says, although she's been practicing as a healer.
Atley’s own look is grim as he frowns at Gwen’s lifeless form. He draws near, but keeps a distance so as to not interfere with any healers as he peers at her.
"Yes," Mordecai says, dismounting from the red dragon with Colson's help. "Yes, I can, um."
"We will do what we can," Colson says, and he's using the Paladin Voice now, calm and reassuring, as he offers up an arm for Mordecai to use. It's still snowy and icy here.
Azizia steps back and lets them do the healing.
Wyriel shivers, like a chill just went down her spine, and pats Oryena's hand.
Mordecai takes Colson's arm. "Excuse me," he says politely to Amethyraku as they approach the tent. "May I - would you mind if I tried a resurrection?"
The netherwing drake looks down at Mordecai…hungrily? Happily? Who can say? But then her voice echoes in his mind: Save her. Bring her back to me. Then she moves her wing aside and lowers her head. Please.
Mordecai bows his head. "I'll do my best," he promises, and enters the tent. He kneels next to the cot, clasps Gwen's lifeless hand in between both of his, and quietly recites a prayer of resurrection. He continues speaking directly to her, after, as the Light gathers around her body. "The fight is over now, and you're safe. Your friends miss you. Just follow my voice."
Colson remains nearby, a calm presence, a hand — freed of his gauntlet — on Mordecai's shoulder.
Jo stays at Gwen's side, constant tears leaking down her face. They may have filled her goggles.
Cressidha remains outside the tent, so as not to crowd the healers.
Atley briefly eyes the netherwing and looks back to Gwen and Mordecai.
Somewhere, beyond the veil, a frightened soul huddles in the dark. It's safe in the dark. No one can find her. No one can hurt her anymore. The pain has passed…it's peaceful.
She feels the call of that other place. The Shadowlands. The next world. It is open to her. But her memories are strong. Friends. Adventures. New discoveries. Love. The thought of giving all of that up is also frightening.
Through the veil, she can hear…a voice. Distant. But its warmth permeates…filling her, reminding her that life is not always cold. The fight is over now, and you're safe, it says. Your friends miss you. The soul misses them, too. But the veil is thick, and the way back growing dimmer by the moment.
Follow my voice. That voice…the soul remembers that voice. Mordecai. Sweet Mordecai, so full of compassion. Maybe…maybe she could follow. Maybe he could bring her back to…Sandy…to Amey…to Jocoza.
…
A little gasp as Gwenivene struggles to fill her lungs with fresh air…with new life. Her eyes, respectfully closed by the Kirin Tor, now crack open again. She winces at the intensity of the light. Too bright…everything is a blur.
"There you go," Mordecai says, smiling gently. "Welcome back. It's all right now. Jocoza, look, see?"
Atley stands up straight and raises his bushy brows, peering down at Mordecai.
Jo pushes back her goggles to look down at Gwen, hope in her eyes.
Gwenivene's bosom rises rapidly as she manages a few more rejuvenating breaths. She blinks hard, trying to clear her vision. Her eyes dart around at faces that become more familiar. Then quite suddenly she jerks up and flails at herself, brushing violently at her body as if trying to wipe off a horde of ants. "Get it out, get it out! GET IT OUT!" She screams in panic. Outside, Amethyraku growls protectively in concern.
Mordecai lets go and quickly casts a [Dispel Magic] on her, whether there's anything to catch or not. "Um…"
"You are alright, Miss Whittle," Colson says in that same deeply calm voice. There is no sense of either urgency or panic to him. "You are at the Transitus Shield, and you are safe. Malygos has been defeated."
Gwen's thrashing settles to a twitching tremble as the moment of trauma passes. She looks from Mordecai to Colson, then to Dane. Friendly faces. Safe faces. Safe. Then her eyes find Jocoza, and she throws her arms around her, clinging tight. The floodgates open and she sobs into Jo's shoulder. She tries, but she can't words. Only uncontrollable crying seems to express her feelings properly.
Jo holds her tight.
Mordecai stands and backs up a little to give Gwen and Jo some space. He takes Colson's hand, smiling.
Once again, Mordecai can hear Amethyrakku's voice in his mind, and an overwhelming sensation of warmth and gratitude. Thank you. I am in your debt, human.
Mordecai bows his head and tries to think You're welcome back at her as hard as he can.
Gwen isn't sure how much time has passed in Jo's arms. It feels both like an instant and an eternity. When she can finally stop choke-sobbing, she lifts her head, looking up to the others. "Did we-…. Is…is Malygos…?"
Mordecai looks down, squeezing his eyes shut. "Gone," he says softly. "We won." He doesn't sound happy about it, just resigned and tired.
Gwenivene hangs her head. For a moment it seems she might start to cry again. But she just leans into Jocoza, murmuring quietly, "Take me home…please."
Atley sets his jaw and inclines his head, but his eyes stay on her.
"Yes, let's get back to Dalaran," Jo murmurs back.