(2025-06-13) Desolace: A United Desolace

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Arric, Kenelly, Stelianna and Thaniel help to unite the centaur tribes and bring hope for a brighter future for the peoples of Desolace. ~3100 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Kalimdor Newbies

+ Show additional content warnings

brief presence of nausea and fainting, quest-usual violence

Arric, Stelianna and Thaniel converge in the Cenarion Wildlands of Desolace.

Stelianna waves to Thaniel and Arric. "Are you ready to win over another centaur clan?"

Thaniel blinks. "Hmm?" He slides off the ledge of the fountain.

[Arric]: Yes, I've brought my diplomacy rifle. *very dry*

[Thaniel]: Hello, Stella.

[Stelianna]: And I have my diplomacy hammer! *Stella's smile is earnest*

[Thaniel]: Should I have brought something else?
Thaniel checks his pockets. There are seeds.

[Stelianna]: Oh, I think your diplomacy self is just fine. And maybe the centaur khan will like gardening, too.

[Thaniel]: Is that different from my regular self?

[Stelianna]: I… don't know. Is it?

[Thaniel]: I'm confused.

[Stelianna]: Now I am too.

Arric laughs gently.

[Stelianna]: Um. We could go talk to Leh'prah.

[Arric]: Indeed.

[Thaniel]: Okay.

Thaniel waves as he approaches with the others.

Khan Leh'prah says: My friends, you have returned! Just in time - I have developed a brilliant plan for winning over the Gelkis.

Arric looks dubious, but says nothing.

Khan Leh'prah says: The Gelkis reside in southwest Desolace. They are just as stubborn as the Magram, and since they have not suffered war and relocation, they are considerably stronger.

Stelianna frowns.

[Thaniel]: That's good. Right?

Khan Leh'prah says: It will be good once they are on our side, but it means they may be harder to convince.

[Thaniel]: … Okay.

Khan Leh'prah says: But I know what will impress them - you must fight your way to their leader! Khan Shodo rules the clan, but he is aging, and suffers from old war wounds. He is never seen outside the Gelkis caves.

Arric pats his Diplomacy Rifle.

Khan Leh'prah says: Show him that he cannot evade our strength, and you may convince him to join our cause!

[Stelianna]: I suppose that's one way to do it.

The team heads out in the general indicated direction.

[Arric]: I had a strange feeling it would be something like this. Thus my 'diplomacy rifle' comment earlier. Do you understand now, Thaniel? *Arric smiles warmly.*

[Thaniel]: No.

Arric sighs sympathetically.

[Thaniel]: But when we find him, we can talk to him.

[Arric]: Yes, I do hope so.

[Stelianna]: Yes, and he'll be… impressed we found him, right? So he'll listen.

[Arric]: I'm even better at shooting than I am at talking, but I vastly prefer the latter, if I have a choice.

[Stelianna]: I think Kenelly said she was going out for some planting — hopefully we'll find her on the way.

Thaniel nods and drops down to all fours as he transforms into his worgen form.

Arric mounts his beloved Dancer. She's a sweet girl.

[Stelianna]: So we'll need to head to the southwest… and look for caves…

Arric 's condor, Singer, circles above them, keeping them in sight.

Stelianna rides a black horse, which seems to be a stallion.
[Stelianna]: Here's a camp, but he said cave.

Thaniel points to the south.
[Thaniel]: I see a cave over that bridge?

[Stelianna]: Let's see if we can work our way there.

Kenelly becomes visible, approaching from a distance, and then joins the group.

Stelianna notices Kenelly nearby and waves. "Leh'prah told you where we went? Glad you made it before we tried to talk to the khan.”

[Arric]: Lady Kenelly! Glad you could make it.
Arric beams at her.

Thaniel wiggles his fingers at Kenelly.
[Thaniel]: It's okay.

Kenelly makes her greetings and the team heads for the indicated cave.

Thaniel gestures at the cave with both hands. Ta-da. Cave.

Arric looks a bit nervous as they find themselves in a cave surrounded by centaurs.
Arric doesn't hesitate to shoot them, however.

[Stelianna]: He must be in here somewhere… I suppose if he's hiding, he'll be in the back somewhere. I probably shouldn't comment about him hiding. That might not work well for diplomacy.

[Arric]: Agreed.
[Arric]: So, Lady Kenelly, how is the druid work going?
Arric tries to distract himself, possibly?

[Kenelly]: Quite well, actually. It's a challenge here in Desolace, but I believe it will all be worth-…oh, is this the centaur we're looking for?

[Thaniel]: That one's old.

[Stelianna]: It might be him. Let's put on our best diplomatic faces?

[Thaniel]: Is my best diplomatic face human or worgen?
Thaniel stays in worgen form.

[Arric]: Probably worgen, for centaur.
[Arric]: It looks tougher. I wish I could turn worgen for this…

The old centaur eyes the humans and worgen warily.
Khan Shodo says: What are you doing here?

Rica bares her teeth and hisses. "Calm, Rica," says Arric firmly.

Thaniel looks at Arric a little oddly.

[Stelianna]: We've come to ask your people to join with the Kolkar and the Magram!

Thaniel nods. He has already forgotten the names of all of the centaur tribes. And the Khan's name.

Khan Shodo stares at her.
Khan Shodo says: My daughter is gone… My clan is in ruins…. Were I in my youth, I would tear you limb from limb! I have nothing to say to you! Go now… kill me or leave me to mourn alone.

[Arric]: Your daughter…? What happened?

The old centaur looks close to tears.
Khan Shodo says: She is the one thing left in this world that might bring my old soul hope, and she's likely dead as well.

[Arric]: Likely? But not certainly?
[Arric]: I'm a gifted tracker. If she can be found, I will find her.

Khan Shodo says: Not… not certainly. My precious daughter, Kherrah, was taken from me by the Maraudine clan.

[Kenelly]: That's awful….

A flicker of hope comes into the old khan's eyes when Arric mentions that he's a tracker.

[Arric]: We can find her - and either return her to you or avenge her.

Khan Shodo says: If you can bring my daughter back to me safely… maybe I will consider this nonsense of joining clans you speak of.

[Arric]: You seem a very wise leader.
[Arric]: We can do this for you.

Stelianna nods earnestly.

[Thaniel]: It's because of demons. The joining clans.
[Thaniel]: Stella didn't say that part but it's because of the demons.

[Arric]: Yes. Together you can defeat the demons!

Khan Shodo says: Demons… I have seen the demons. But there is no point in stopping anything, if Kherrah is gone.

[Arric]: But first, we will prove that we have your interests at heart by returning or avenging your daughter.

Khan Shodo says: I will trust your deeds over your words, but on the strength of your words, you may leave here alive.

[Arric]: Then I think you will see the wisdom in this.
[Arric]: Thank you.
[Arric]: You will not regret this.

[Kenelly]: Thank you, great khan.

Arric bows before Khan Shodo.

Kenelly curtsies before Khan Shodo.

Rica trills.

Thaniel whispers into his cupped hands. Little mushrooms sprout from cracks in the cave wall.
Thaniel turns and walks away like that was a normal thing to do without explanation.

Stelianna bows nervously. She bites her tongue lest she say something that'll ruin this.

The team heads out of the cave.

[Stelianna]: He seemed honestly more reasonable than I expected, from what Leh'prah said.

[Arric]: Just a father who loves his daughter… I am surprised, too.

[Stelianna]: Surely anyone would be upset if their daughter was kidnapped by Mauradine centaurs. Maybe this will work out!

[Kenelly]: It's just awful to think of what she must be going through.

[Arric]: I hope she is alive at least, so that she can have better days ahead.

Stelianna nods at Kenelly and then at Arric. "I hope she's okay."

[Arric]: With such a loving father, surely he can help her recover.

[Thaniel]: Arric, was what you said about wanting to be a worgen just about wanting to be big and scary? You don't actually want to be a worgen, right?

Arric startles. "Oh, er…" He considers what is the least rude response.

[Stelianna]: It's really easy to become one, isn't it?

Kenelly's eyes widen. "Oh, Arric…you don't want this."

[Arric]: I can certainly admire certain aspects of the worgen, but I do not think it would suit me individually.

Kenelly breathes a sigh of relief.

[Thaniel]: So you just wanted to be big and scary.
Thaniel nods.

[Stelianna]: Sometimes if a person is big and scary, people listen to them more. But then again, sometimes they're scared, so they listen less.

[Arric]: I think the worgen likely present a more admirable aspect, from the centaurs' point of view. They admire size and strength.
[Arric]: I wouldn't mind being big and scary, but I'm not sure I would know how to adequately make use of it. I've spent thirty years being … non-threatening.

[Thaniel]: I know how you could be without being a worgen.
[Thaniel]: You can wear big clothes.
[Thaniel]: Big, pointy clothes…

[Arric]: That's actually not a bad idea. I've seen some shoulder armor that is downright menacing.

Stelianna nods. "The most intimidating people have REALLY big shoulders. Someone told me that once at the abbey."

[Arric]: Yes, the breadth of the shoulders is an instinctive sign of someone's general bone structure and strength, so if you create the illusion of enormously broad shoulders it implies more threat.
[Arric]: More so than say, boots.
[Arric]: Large feet do not indicate much in the way of threat.

[Stelianna]: One of the girls at the abbey also told me that if a guy has big feet… Uh…
[Stelianna]: It's impressive.

[Arric]: Oh?
[Arric]: Should I look into large boots as well, then?

[Stelianna]: Right, um. *Stella blushes* Maybe so!

[Kenelly]: I'm so sorry, friends. I think I might have eaten something I shouldn't have. I probably ought to return to the Glade for now. Will you be alright?

[Arric]: Oh dear.

Thaniel nods.

[Arric]: Yes, and I'll check on you when we've finished with the centaurs.

[Stelianna]: Oh no! I hope the druids can help. We'll be back soon, I'm sure.

Kenelly smiles gratefully to Arric. "Thank you."

Rica trills.

[Kenelly]: I just need some rest. Please, don't worry about me. Good luck out here!

[Thaniel]: Mmhm. I'll bring you something later.

[Stelianna]: Thanks! I'll find you some flowers, to cheer you up later.

[Arric]: Travel safely!

Kenelly gives Rica a head pat before shapeshifting into a bird and soaring away.

Rica comes running up to Arric with something in her mouth, after nosing around one of the dead centaur.

[Arric]: Ohhhh what do you have there?

Thaniel smiles toothily at RIca.

Arric takes it from her mouth. Rica turns to smile toothily back at Thaniel.

Stelianna looks over curiously.

Arric looks over the paper. "From what I can tell around the toothmarks, this seems to be a map of sorts… I think this shows where they're keeping the Khan's daughter!"

[Stelianna]: Oh! Where is she?

[Arric]: This looks like Maraudon, don't you think? *He shows the map to them, pointing*
[Arric]: Do you know of it? Cobalt Company has been in there before.

[Stelianna]: Ooh, I think you're right. That looks like that door over there.

Arric nods.

Thaniel looks at the map. He looks up at the entrance to Maraudon itself, along the road.
[Thaniel]: That's easy to check.

[Stelianna]: If they have her marked on a map, that might mean she's still alright!

[Arric]: Yes, they probably have plans for her.

Stelianna stares at the stone door. "Maybe we can open it together."

Arric heaves with all his very average might.

Thaniel shoves at the door. He's a worgen, he's a strong boy.

Stelianna heaves with all her indelicate might. Still Thaniel probably carries most of the strength.

[Arric]: That's got it!

[Stelianna]: We're walking in Cobalt Company's steps…

[Arric]: Look out, a guard.

A guard attacks!

Arric cocks his rifle.

Stelianna raises her hammer.

The guard stands no chance.

Stelianna comes up to a ledge and looks around the corner. "Look, a cage!"

[Arric]: Good show, well spotted.

Thaniel hustles over to it.

Arric hops down off the ledge - something cracks softly in his knee. He winces.

Thaniel whispers to the Light and sends a soft renewing spell out to Arric.

The female centaur in the cage looks at the humans and worgen warily. It's eerily like her father.

[Arric]: Hello, miss. We're here to help.

Kherrah says: You are here to help a centaur? Why?

[Arric]: We spoke with your father.
[Arric]: He told us of your terrible mistreatment and how much he misses you.

Kherrah says: I will not turn down any help that comes my way, but what brought you to my father?

[Thaniel]: There's demons and the clans need to unite.

Arric nods in agreement with Thaniel.

Thaniel gets to work on taking this cage apart.

Kherrah says: Ah… those are wise words. I agree. I have said as much to my father in the past.

[Arric]: If you are returned to him, he will consider joining forces with the other clans to defeat the demons.
[Arric]: And then our people will be safe, too.
[Arric]: It helps all of us.

Kherrah says: The time for ancient grudges is over. It is a shame that it has taken a demonic crisis to unite the tribes. If you free me, I shall return to my father and convince him to join your cause.

[Arric]: Wonderful!
[Arric]: I believe Thaniel almost has you out of there…

Thaniel rips wooden bars out of the cage. Should've made them metal, Maraudine.

Kherrah says: You need not return to my father. Simply return to your own allies and assure them we will be ready to join them.

[Thaniel]: Okay.

Arric blinks as the freed centaur gallops off on her own. "Well, clearly she wasn't hurt…"

[Stelianna]: Think we can trust her?

[Arric]: She seemed eminently reasonable.

Thaniel blinks. "Yes."

Stelianna nods. "Okay. Then we should."
[Stelianna]: We've… done it then! We reunited the tribes!

[Arric]: Honestly, I think she probably ought to be in charge.
[Arric]: She's been trying to talk them into this, she said.

[Stelianna]: She does seem to be the most level-headed centaur we've spoken to.
[Stelianna]: Let's get back to the Wildlands and tell them it's time to stop the demons!

Thaniel nods.

Time Passes

Khan Leh'prah raises a hand in greeting as we arrive at the battlefield.

[Arric]: Greetings, great Khan!

Khan Leh'prah says: My friends! For untold generations, the centaur clans have fought against one another, but no more.

[Arric]: We have done a great thing together.

Khan Leh'prah says: We have! Because of your deeds, we stand here together fighting a common foe. We shall win our ancestral lands back from these demons, or we shall die as brothers.

Thaniel stares past him at a Doomguard in the distance. Big.

Stelianna swallows nervously. She'll take option 1.

Arric looks slightly less enthused about the dying as brothers option.

Khan Leh'prah says: What of you? You have earned the right to fight alongside us. I have a group of my best centaurs for you to lead into battle. Will you take up the spear?

[Thaniel]: I'm a healer.

[Arric]: I will take the spear!

[Stelianna]: Me too, I'll fight!

[Arric]: Thaniel's mighty magics will keep us safe.

Khan Leh'prah says: Wonderful! You will win the day, and safely with your healing powers! Let us finish this!

[Arric]: Tally ho!

The three of them venture into the demon battlefield with their centaur brothers and sisters.

Arric is surprised when one of the centaurs offers to let Arric ride. How… awkward!

Arric yells "attack!" and is surprised when several centaurs do.

Stelianna eagerly clambers up on a centaur and starts the spear-fighting.

Arric is not as good with a spear, but he is very good at waving it around and getting centaurs to do things.

[Stelianna]: Look! One with a buncha arms!

It’s a Shivarra, Stelianna. Spend more time in the Exodar. Anyway, the combined force takes out the Shivarra.

Khan Leh’prah says: Our goal is within sight! We can break the will of this demon army by bringing down the one who leads them. If we can succeed, Desolace will be ours!

Khan Leh’prah says: When you are ready, lead a group of centaurs through the pass to the south, into Shadowbreak Ravine. Find where Agogridon hides! I will gather the other khans and meet you there to face him in battle.

Thaniel nods. He's riding on the back of a centaur that is following Arric.

Stelianna rides with the centaurs back into battle towards Shadowbreak Ravine.

Arric's centaur asks him why he smells like flowers. Arric has no response.

Thaniel raises a hand. "Because I grow flowers," he says.

The centaur looks between the two men and seems to draw Conclusions.

Arric turns pale at the sight of the massive doomguard, but his aim doesn't waver.
[Arric]: I've never even seen some of these types of demons before… I mean, outside of the tutorial in Exodar.

Then, they arrive at the ravine where Agogridon awaits them.

Stelianna gasps at the sight of the pit lord.

[Arric]: Is that…?

[Stelianna]: It must be their big boss!

[Arric]: That's a pit lord.

Thaniel seems generally calm, as usual.

[Stelianna]: That sounds scary. Are we ready to fight?

[Thaniel]: Okay.

[Arric]: We must.
[Arric]: They're terribly dangerous.
[Arric]: We must eliminate it.

Khan Leh'Prah yells: Sons of Cenarion, UNITE!

Stelianna cheers as the centaurs rush in to fight by our side.

[Arric]: TALLY HO!

Arric uses sheer adrenaline to get through the fight, his aim true.

Thaniel's friendly centaur helpfully stays back and lets Thaniel heal people from a safe distance.

Stelianna's centaur darts around, giving her openings to swing her hammer.

Before long, Agogridon the pit lord falls.

Arric falls immediately after the pit lord. That is, off the centaur. Face first, into the mossy dirt.

Khan Leh'prah says: Agogridon is no more. The demons shall never again take hold in our lands!
Khan Leh'prah turns to Arric, Stella and Thaniel and smiles.
Khan Leh'prah says: Let us hope this peace between the centaur clans will be lasting. Thank you, my friends, for making this possible.

Thaniel slides off his centaur and picks Arric up in his arms.

The centaur who made the flowers comment smiles at the lovely couple.

[Thaniel]: You're welcome.

Arric slowly comes to again, and gets to his feet, embarrassed, with Thaniel's help.

[Stelianna]: I'm so glad we could help! *Stella says, reluctantly dismounting her centaur*

Thaniel was about to sling Arric over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, so it's a good thing Arric revived in time.

[Stelianna]: With this, I bet Desolace will spring to life like never before!

Thaniel smiles. "I'm going to pick some flowers for Kenelly."

[Arric]: What a wonderful idea. *Arric smiles weakly but sincerely.*
[Arric]: I'll help.

[Stelianna]: Me too!