We are prepared

“Well hello to you too.” Illsalyn remarks her fel flame eyes trained on Needle as he walks over to her. “We have really got to get better at this whole planning to see each other thing. I know we’re both busy elves but.” 

The moons hung low in sickly green light that was the night sky as of late but that was of no concern to Illsalyn anymore, it had become a part of life the same way that  fighting for survival every couple of days had become normal. She gave her nightsaber a kick they were travelling much too slow she had a deadline to make and if that meant exhausting her mount then so be it. The rest of the Empire was burning and people had a right to know why, and those who had escaped the glorious capital like her may be the only information the others had.

She was riding up from the city into the providence of Azuna, she had received word from the rebellion that there was a camp of refugees and military personnel stationed not far from the now ruined city of Nar’thalas. She had been riding almost non-stop since then stopping only when  her saber could go no further or she needed to rest.  

A regiment of Sentinels marked the entrance to camp and Illsalyn nearly bowled them over as she pulled back on her reins to get the large cat to stop. “Sorry, wasn’t expecting that.” She apologised to  the ladies who looked rather unamused  and rightfully so.

She dismounted and straightened her robes emblazoned with the sigil and colours of House Shadewing she looked quite out place among the camp's inhabitants ...well more out of place than normal that is. Most of the elves here were civilians of course and they peered at the newly arrived highborne with looks of curiosity and she knew why. Their homes were being destroyed by the monsters and yet Zin'Azshari stood perfectly intact.

Among them she noticed that some of them were huddled under tents bearing the symbol of Hajiri, had even the most holiest of cities fallen to these beast. She walked on until she found the elf she was looking for, Aletharion her cousin and a Moon Guard Lieutenant  the one who had sent her the missive that had lead her here at all stood in front of a group of Sentinels and Moon guard a like. She approached briskly and saw one of the priestesses who had gathered  eyeing her with distaste but continued on to Aletharion’s side.

“Lt.Silverwing, I bring news from Zin’Azshari.” She said briskly. “ the city is overrun but the demons do  not attack the Highborne there. Something fishy is going on I think it’s worth looking into.”

Aletharion opened his mouth to speak but he was cut off by the angry looking priestess. “And why do you have any authority to speak on that Highborne?”

Illsalyn rolled her eyes really? Were they really debating if she had a right to speak. “I am on your side, the Lieutenant is of relation to me and I would think he wants to know what’s going on out there.”

“Let her speak Maiev.” Aletharion agreed raising a dismissive hand.

“All I’m saying is if she’s so sure Zin’Azshari is problem why did she not come sooner, how do we know  she is not a spy. And besides wherever you Sorcerer's go those magic eating hounds aren’t far behind. As far as I’m concerned you …”

Maiev was cut off by Illsalyn turning and punching her square in the face, sorceress or not Illsalyn was bigger than the priestess and she knew how to throw a punch. She got a sick sense of satisfaction watching the woman stagger backwards and took the opportunity to speak up finally. “Right so does anyone else want to question the validity of my statements or my loyalty?”

// Illsalyn in meta is actually just a Kaiju.

Illsalyn looked up from the book she was studying with an amused snort. “Lady Shanarra, you’re married to Illidan you can call me whatever you like, but Illsalyn is acceptable.” 

She smirks this truly is the first time the two women have spoken out of the confines business and she finds it amusing that now that Shan seems to be nervous around her. She tries her best to look as innocent as possible as she listens to Shan’s question.

“I did, hard to believe I’m really that old right?” She chuckles again and flashes Shan a smile. 

“He was studious, which should surprise no one. Other students wouldn’t leave him alone because of his eye colour of course which is how he feel into my company, because I don’t care what colour your eyes are so long as your a decent person. Just as well I didn’t want to date him like most girls did.”

“Speaking of which I think you’ll be surprised that while he was a charmer he wasn’t really that interested in going anywhere with that charm. He didn’t really date, they would ask him and he would say he had study even if he didn’t. I don’t know if it was because he always only had eyes for Tyrande or if he was actually nervous about the idea of dating.” 

“I never asked because it wasn’t my place. You could really tell when the pressure to do well started to get to him, he was great at Arcane magic but struggled with the other schools a bit for awhile....as I’m sure you know.” 

Kayn Sunfury stood on the high wall of a pit looking down into the ruins of what was once part of the Temple’s sewer system. He was not the only one perched on the outer ring as the pit now severed a new purpose, it was a gladiatorial area in which his fellows trapped demon and mad elf alike. Those with their wits about them would come here either to gamble  or attempt a fight themselves.

Today was different. Lord Illidan himself had requested his inner circle come down here, Kayn, Netharel, Varedis, Alandien, and a few others. They exchanged glances and shrugs with each other, nobody seemed to know why Illidan had summoned them here.

Below them in the pit snarled a feral demon hunter, a night elf male. He was prevented from getting out by a  perforated metal grate placed higher up on the walls.  Kayn had a passing thought about how it was a it cruel to keep their former comrades in such conditions but then  again he knew what one of these things could do if kept unchecked. It was better this way.

After a few minutes of awkward standing around Illidan himself descended onto the path overlooking the pit. The gathered Demon hunters saluted their master in respect and Kayn made his approach.

“Lord Illidan, what have you summoned us here for exactly?”

“We are due for a new Slayer after the unfortunate end our last one met.” The half demon replied the gaze he cast to the Sin’dorei making him feel  very small.

“Who did you have in mind?”

Illidan gestured down towards the pit, the portcullis that served as the only way in or out  giving a metallic creak as it was raised.  The group all peered down and were astonished to see the newest graduate walk out of the entrance.

“You can’t be serious. Shadewing just passed the ritual and already you wish to send her to her grave my Lord?” Kayn asked raising an incredulous brow.

“She has a certain... spark to her. I think she can handle herself. Why don’t we see if my instincts are right.”

It didn’t take long for the rogue demon hunter to notice the new addition to his prison and with a snarl he pounced at Illsalyn, she dodged with enough time to reposition herself before he shook off his daze and tried again.

“She’s never even Metamorphosed before…” Someone whispered , Varedis mumbled something under his breath to Alandien but Kayn couldn’t take his eyes off the pit.

Illsalyn had managed to give the rogue a few good slices but none of them were inherently fatal and he clearly had the stamina to continue going even after receiving them. Wising up the rogue waited for her to come to him this time, he managed to grab her by the ankle and pulled her over to him.

Weapons clattered to the floor as the beast in night elven skin looked over his new plaything and Kayn was sure her fate was sealed.  The rogue brought his hands around Illsalyn’s throat  as she struggled and clawed at him.

Illidan said nothing only continued watching, he looked bored almost as if he were waiting for something to happen.

And happen it did.

Illsalyn was losing consciousness she could see the edges of her vision darkening under the grip of this monster. This was it this was the end, she’d come this far to die a failure. It was then that something primal tore through her, something ancient and  angry and unwilling to lose to these circumstances.  Her entire body rippled under the influence of the powerful magic that was stirred forth by these actions.

In a flash there was no longer an elf that stood in the grips of the rogue but monstrous towering creature, it was clearly felhunter based in nature but its skin was deep purple broken only by bright green tattoos carved into its flesh. This was no creature, this was Illsalyn.

Her long tail whipped the rogue sending him into the pit wall and she screeched with fury. Her bear trap like jaws closed around the rogues throat and sent a splatter of blood up the wall.

The tension in the air was broken and they all watched and waited to see if she too was lost to her inner demon. A few more seconds passed and the monstrous form disappeared leaving only Illsalyn who looked up through the metal grate and saw the glowing eyes of her audience.

“What the fuck was that!” She hissed through bared teeth and in a flash found herself teleported up to Illidan’s side by the Lord of Outland himself.

“A test and good news Shadewing, you’ve passed.” Varedis replied.

Illidan cast a sympathetic gaze to her seeing the confusion in her eyes. “I want you to become our Slayer, you have the necessary fortitude and that demon form is quite impressive.  It would be quite the promotion compared to what you’d be training for otherwise.”

Illsalyn looked at the group of demon hunters who were in her company, all of them high ranking and among the some of the first of their kind. They were well respected and feared, could she really come to be held in the same regard? She looked back to Illidan then knelt on the floor before his hooves.

// I swear like 90% of the photo’s I’ve been taking of my sassy lady lately  look like an album cover.

𝔗𝔞𝔤𝔤𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔶: @guardianshanarra 𝔗𝔞𝔤𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔤: anyone 

𝔊𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔯𝔞𝔩

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ — strength ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ — offense ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ — defense ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆  — speed ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆  — durability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆  — accuracy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆  — agility ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ — stamina ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ — teamwork ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆  — stealth

𝔖𝔭𝔢𝔠𝔦𝔣𝔦𝔠𝔰

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆  — close combat ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★   — bladed weapons ( swords, daggers ) ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆  — blunt weapons ( clubs, staffs, axes )   ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ — ranged weapons ( archery, guns ) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆   — superpowers / abilities ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★  ☆  — traps / setups ★  ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆  — medic  (To bridge the time until a Healer appears)

𝔄𝔫𝔶 𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔦𝔫𝔧𝔲𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔰 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔟𝔞𝔱 ?

As a demon hunter Illsalyn is adorned in many scars, but ones of note include one on her chin that starts under her lip and curls around to the under side of her chin that she got as an initiate ( some thought she talked to much).  Another is a two claw marks on her upper left thigh from her first run in with a rogue demon hunter. 

𝔉𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔰𝔱𝔶𝔩𝔢 ? ( bold any that apply. )

The events of the Nighthold and realisation that had occurred left Illsalyn wanting some time alone. Though really she wasn’t alone, it was more that the people she was watching didn’t know she was there. Her fel bat had dropped her off in Val’Sharah where he was more content to hang from the  gnarled branches of Shaladrassil than bother his mistress.

Illsalyn was also up a tree but not quite for the same reason, no she was up a tree to avoid being seen. Below her was the pond in the grove of Cenarius and on the small island a group of druid stood talking. They came here a lot she had gathered, she had been watching this group of druids in particular as they worked over the course of several weeks and they were none the wiser.

She had had to ask Illidan to pull a favour for her and ask Malfurion if the name Ornthalas Shadewing was one that was known among the druids and she had been both surprised and relieved when she learned there was a druid that matched her brother to a tee. She had then gone about the task of hunting down his location and spying on him, not out of any malicious intent  but more because she was too nervous to confront him directly.

She feared he would hate her for what she had chosen to do in moment where there had been no time for hesitation, that she had been selfish and chosen her own life over the one she was supposed to protect. It had deterred her even further to see the long claw marks down his face, had her actions been responsible for the maiming of the one member of her family she had actually cared about.  

Today they didn’t seem to be doing anything particularly interesting so she had let her mind wander as she thought over her worries and why she had yet to approach him. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed but when her thoughts cleared and she peeked back at the group they were gone.

“You won’t find any demons here, Illidari.” A voice spoke from a branch above her and she hissed in surprise ready to hop off the branch and glide. In a flash of logic she scanned the branches and saw that above her lay a large Nightsaber with a clawed face sat, its head tilted toward her as she hissed.

“I’m not looking for demons, I was just….passing through.”  She countered.

“Perhaps, but I know this isn’t your first time following us around. A demon hunter of all people I would think wouldn’t been surprised with how observant the blind are.”

Illsalyn swallowed hard it was so strange to hear Ornthalas’ voice after all these years, she knew her own had changed quite a bit it was rougher now. Did he know who she was?

“You know. There’s a reason Ann’da was always able to catch you when you tried to sneak out Illsalyn. You weren’t very quiet but I suppose that the Slayer of the Illidari is a position that doesn’t require stealth.” “How long have you know?”

“Known what? That you were following me, since the time you watched us at the temple of Elune. That you’re my sister, well Illsa maybe you don’t realise but news travels fast around here and from what I’ve heard up until recently you were leading in your master's stead.”

Ornthalas hopped down from the tree landing on the soft ground below. He returned to his elven form and beckoned her down. She hesitated for a minute before gliding down like she had originally intended. She smirked as they stood next to each other now, she was still taller than him even now.

“So Illsalyn tell me why the shady behaviour? You’re my sister you could have approached me at anytime, I’m a bit upset you didn’t. I thought you were dead all these years only to find out you live through gossip.” He said crossing his arms. He looked upset and that made her upset, realising that what she thought she was doing to protect him by hiding from him when in reality she had only hurt him again.

“I thought you wouldn’t want to see me. I thought after all these millennia you would hate me, or even if you didn’t revile me for what I’ve become. I know what most people think about my kind and my Master, but I couldn’t just not know if  you still lived or not. I thought I left you to die and I never forgave myself for it. We lost our home, our parents, and I shouldn’t have left you to the demons but I did.”

“Illsa….” Ornthalas tried to calm his sister who was clearly getting worked up about this.

“I’m sorry and I know that that’s not good enough. I should have done more, you’re my little brother I was supposed to protect you with my life and I didn’t. I’ve been selfish my whole damn life and the time I could have changed I didn’t!”

She was cut off by a sudden hug from her brother and she stopped her spell of self loathing  and hugged him back. He was safe and alive in the end wasn’t that what mattered most. She had been so worried she had lost him forever and now that she hadn’t she needed him to know she never meant to just leave him.

“Illsalyn, we were still just young adults and our world was falling apart I don’t think anyone can fault you for not thinking clearly at the time. I thought the demons took you too I thought it was my fault that you were dead. I never thought you were selfish though, not once. I was more upset that there was nothing of you to even bury. You’re my sister, I know you wouldn’t have sacrificed me to the demons.”

She sighed in relief for so long she had carried the guilt of what she’d done and it was all for a misinterpretation of information. She also couldn’t deny that there was some stress towards this because of what she knew of druids as time went on and what they thought about mages and demon hunters.

Illsalyn was glad to be back in friendly territory after the events at the Nighthold, she couldn’t blame her fellows for being excited that Illidan was back she was glad too. 

However she was more upset that the younger more arrogant   version of their master had dared to take the authority from Illidan just because his little Prietsess thought it was the right thing to do.

She looked over at Needle as he nudged her and sighed.