(2024-11-02) The Realms Below

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Auralind speaks with Anderas in a quiet moment in Deepholm.
Rating:	T for Teen

☾ Conversations With the Mist ☽

In this strange place, I cannot help but be reminded of our childhood games, kal anu'lathar. I wish I had half the imagination we did back then. Do you remember our adventure into the Realms Below? That tiny cave of ours became so many fantastical places, but the Realms Below was one of my favorites. I loved the grand tales you would weave about the imaginary villains we faced.

The one that stays with me most vividly is the story of the Stone King, hoarding all the worlds gems and crystals. I think that was the first time we extended our play into several sessions. Only, now I can't remember how we finally defeated him.

Deepholm feels much like how I pictured the Stone King's realm. Perhaps it is because I can no more see this plane than I could our fantasy world. Both live only in my mental visualization. But I know this place is enormous: a seemingly endless subterranean world, teeming with singing crystals.

Oh yes, they sing. All crystals do, to some extent. I am told is has something to do with how they vibrate. But the ones here are like a chorus, each resonating in response to the others. The stones here are both familiar and alien. It isn't quite as unsettling as Outland was. That was a world coming apart at the seams. Though this place suffers as well. The World Pillar has been broken, and if we cannot repair it, this realm and Azeroth will suffer greatly…perhaps as greatly as Draenor did.

Worse, the Twilight's Hammer is here, undoubtedly trying to ensure further catastrophe. It seems their skulduggery has sown further discord between the Alliance and the Horde present here, even as we were trying to work together to repair the Pillar.

They pitted two airships against each other. The Horde ship was downed, and the Alliance vessel is close to it. We found a single surviving member of the crew — the First Mate, a human man called Moody. I'll never forget him. Rarely have I encountered such heroism. Even now, his life is slipping away from him due to wounds suffered at Twilight hands. Yet he clings to the ship's wheel, keeping it aloft lest it crash and cause further devastation. He knows he will die, but he refuses to give in to despair, performing his duty until his final breath. My admiration for the man cannot be properly expressed in words. May Elune embrace him.

Even now, I await Cressidha's return. She has used her magic to travel to Stormwind in search of a pilot who can bring the ship down safely. Our ultimate mission is to prevent the ship from crashing, but I confess my priority is honoring Moody's bravery. The end result is the same — honoring him means completing his mission — but I find greater motivation in doing it for him.

Can you see it, anu'aloris? Can you even hear me? Have I travelled too far for you to follow? I cannot see the stars. It saddens me to think yours cannot reach me here. But if that is true, at least I know you still shine over Nilunelle.

Watch over her, and pray for me. If we fail here, there may be nothing left to return to.