Musings of a Thaumaturge

I think the most often asked question I get, beyond, “What do you do?” is “Why do you do it?” The answer’s always the same, and always just as simple. The world needs to be learned, and I don’t know it all yet. I never will, really, but that’s part of the fun. There’s always, ALWAYS, going to be something new to discover. So I tell people, go for a walk. That fork in the road you pass every day into the city? Take the other path for a few minutes, see what you see. Whether you see just another tree with a branch curved a different way, or nothing but the same field of grass like the others around it, you’ll find something new. You’ll learn something. And you know what? You’ll feel better, because you tried. Like this morning. I’ve never gone for a swim in Krasrang on the coast. This morning I did.

The forest in the Wilds is impressive, don’t get me wrong. The trees there are so thick with vines, and brush that even Stranglethorn looks like a weed beside it. But the view under that water was beyond compare. Clear water is a rare thing, so when you have a chance, go and swim in it. There was an entirely different forest under those waves. Barnacles, seaweed, shells for miles, and the smattering of aquatic life. It was it’s own world. Beautiful, and a bit haunting. There’s always going to be a tickle in the back of your mind that’s afraid of the deep dark ocean. Suppose I feel that a bit more than most, but it’s something I always face with a smile. And that’s a trick you can credit me fore. Don’t care what it is. Sha, Demon, Scary mentor, the baker in Silvermoon arguing that you stole a crescent roll. Just smile. Eventually they’ll either relent, or chase you with a rolling pin until you escape.

Those hurt, by the way. Just so you know. So I made my way out of the water, thankful for the morning sun and took to sketching. Dawn breaking through trees is one of the more picturesque visions you can be lucky enough to see. If you get up early enough, stare out a window, or again go for a walk. Krasarang was no different. Trees as far as you could see, canopy as thick as a kodo’s hide, but the sun is always so stubborn that it finds its way through. Sometimes, even Eversong pales in comparison.

But enough about that. I had a mission. I’d already visited the breweries and stocked up on my mead, and a few gifts for my friends, so I needed to find my mark. Following a rose had pointed me to a particular spot, somewhere between the anglers, and the red crane temple. Between cast net, and stones of the temple. They were actually pretty clear directions, I’m just a blind fool when it comes to actually LOOKING for something. I’ve stumbled across more artifacts than I care to admit, if I’m to be honest. Anyhow. I decided to check the shoreline while I was there, and low and behold something struck me. There was an over sized piece of driftwood strewn in the sand. Had probably been a tree once, knocked over by the wind or some other force. I felt like I was looking at it for the first time though. Because I was thinking…where would I leave my bag if I didn’t need it anymore. Somewhere safe, where I could hang it, and maybe be protected from the elements…perhaps except the water. Anyhow.

I put a hand on the wood, and just stared at the tree for the longest time. I always do that, when I notice some new detail about the land I’m in. I put my hand on it, and try to understand how it came to be. How did that crack form in that cliff face. Where’d that crater come from. What left those foot prints in the sand. Why am I standing hip deep in quick sand. You get used to life’s little intricacies. I took a closer look, and found the reason. They were old, but scorch marks littered the top of the tree, and when I pried a bit loose, I found a few scraps of rusted metal still embedded in the wood. Probably an explosive round from back during the Horde invasion. I studied the bit of metal, and like the pack rat I am stowed it away. I’d clean it up later, maybe fashion it into something. Never know. I tore my sight away and looked around a bit more closely until I saw something curious. Leather. There was a strap sticking up out of one of the hollow joints in the wood. I reached in, and scared off some squirrel who’d been trying to sleep I suppose. He exchanged some rather irritated chattering at me, but returned to its covey once i’d pried the pack loose.

I carried it back into the angler’s village, and studied it. It was old, probably had already been there a few years, and the leather was horribly cracked and faded. I was almost afraid to touch it, but curiosity is one of those things like breathing. You can try and hold it, but life just isn’t the same without it. So I slowly pulled the straps open, and sadly one of them did break. I’d have to apologize for that when I saw her. Still I pressed on, and pulled the musty leather flap over, and peered inside. There was another leather binding, almost like a portfolio case. I thought to myself that was a bit odd, but I picked it up with the lightest touch possible, and opened it up. And then my jaw literally hit the floor.

Four drawings, hand sketched years ago. I could tell, because they were of the Jade Dragon Statue that still to this day lay in ruins in the jade forest after the armies clashing had toppled it over. They were stylishly done, and the vantages seemed to change rapidly from one to the other. A bit weather worn, and sadly I could only see the remnants of the signature as age had deteriorated most of it. Only two were left unfinished, likely abandoned in lieu of a better angle. Still, though, they were, like she promised, a treasure. I stared at them, and studied each and every single detail so closely I could likely have retraced them in my steps. I was careful to put them back, because you can’t just leave that sort of stuff laying around, obviously. I don’t know how much longer I spent staring at the case before I finally got called away. The boat was boarding, and I was due to get on it or get left. I didn’t fancy the latter.

THE ORCHID QUEEN’S CROWN

“Dear Arialys, 

Congratulations on being crowned the Orchid Queen. I personally was most envious of your lovely gown and how well it suited you. I would like to formally thank you for attending our Masquerade and we from the Marigold Ball wish you a wonderful evening.

Sincerely,

Aristelle Manathorn of the Marigold Ball”

Never in her life had she been titled or voted into anything, let alone something like this. Granted...the title and crown would be silly to most, but for this elf...? It was something she was going to cherish the rest of her years, and would probably be something that she passed down to her lovely little lady Evienne once the child was old enough to understand such things.

Placing the paper down she’d lean forward and gingerly take the crown into her grasp, looking it over as tears welled in her eyes and her lips pulled into a smile.

“It’s pretty, just like you Momma!” Chimed the voice from behind her, little arms wrapping around her shoulders in as tight a hug the young boy could muster. “Are you going to wear it and be the Queen of Silvermoon?”

A soft laugh left the woman’s lips as she shook her head, fingers tracing over the intricate details of the crown before she placed it down onto the table once more. 

“Only if we can get you a crown just as lovely and make you my little prince. Prince Cethin of the Eternal City.”

“And Evienne can be the princess and have a crown too!” The boy spoke gleefully as a soft kiss was placed against his cheek by his mother. “Then we can make little crowns for Solas, Da’lore, Waz’luk, and even Shien!”

“My my, crowns all around hm? Go ahead and get ready for bed, my little lord. I’ll be up to tuck you in shortly.”

Watching as the young boy ran upstairs, his pet raptor Waz’luk roaring excitedly and following behind him the woman smiled before looking to the crown once more, just watching it as if she expected it to disappear from sight. Looking to her left she’d wave her fingers, levitating a piece of paper to her as well as an ink well and quill. Dipping the quill into the ink she’d begin writing:

Dear Aristelle Manathorn ,

Thank you ever so kindly for your gracious compliments and even more so for the enchanting evening that you hosted. I would also like to thank you for your kind words in regards to my dress, your own ensemble was breath taking! Should you ever find yourself in need of entertainment, I formally extend an invitation to see if the House of Flowers would suit your needs. We all look forward to your next affair, with great anticipation and eagerness.

Sun guide and shadows protect,

The Madame Rose

Arialys Bloodblade

When she sat down at her makeup stand to pin her hair up, she felt strange. Elsewhere in Silvermoon, she knew that some of the Lilies would undoubtedly be going through similar rituals, transforming into living works of art. Some of them probably felt excitement, others nervousness. But for Lyriah, those concepts were vague and fuzzy at best. They belonged to others, but they wre out of her reach. Usually she didn’t even bother to think about it. She’d become to used to emulating a depth of feeling without actually experiencing it– from teasing laughter to play-offense to feigned yearning, all tricks that an entertainer was supposed to know. She had to know when a client wanted a woman to blush prettily with embarrassment at his bawdy jokes and when he wanted a woman to press lightly against his arm til he could smell her perfume and tease him right back. And over the years, she’d become quite adept at fulfilling those acts as needed.

But tonight was different.

Lyriah applied her power to her face, contouring subtly here, highlighting there just so– and she felt something foreign prickling in her belly, something that made her feel tense and nearly sick when usually she felt nothing. It wasn’t until stopped and looked, really looked at the woman in the mirror that she realized why.

The House’s Lilies, a bevy of younger girls with no proper training to speak of, were the ones attracting all the attention and requests from the House’s clients. Girls who didn’t understand the art of conversation or how to dance properly or the best way to seat themselves beside a man so as to “accidentally” brush against his thigh for a moment or how to light his cigarettes for him and draw attention to the shape of their lips or the slender curve of their neck– they were the ones who’d drawn nearly all the individual notice at the previous dinner they’d attended.

Suddenly, Lyriah felt old. She’d never felt that way before, and she certainly didn’t look it. Even by elven standards, she wasn’t old. And yet it prickled at her til apprehension filled her belly like a nest of vipers. 

What if… what if she was no longer wanted?

What would she do?

As she turned the thought over and over in her mind, she grew so uncomfortable with it that she had to hurriedly shove it away. Tonight would be better, she reassured herself. She would have fun. She would enjoy herself.

And, as she began applying her lipstick with smooth, steady brushstrokes, she resolved that she wouldn’t worry about her future until after @themarigoldball was over. She gently, carefully boxed all those worries up and locked them away to be dealt with later.

It’s only been a week since I returned from Pandaria, and I’ve already turned back around to return. I thought I’d make it a full week this time around, but seems my feet just won’t sit still. As though such a thing were possible. I could have taken a portal, or some little inter-dimensional translocation thing, but I always loved the sea. The open air, the water hitting your face when you crest a wave. Nothing beats that feeling.

It didn’t take long to reach the shores of the Jade Forest. The tail winds sped us along, and I wondered it that wasn’t a sign I’d made the right choice. One week, and I’d already made at least seven new acquaintances, at least two friends, and offers to stay put from two very different groups. I didn’t know what to do, so I did the only thing I’ve ever been good at. I traveled. I can always clear my head, and gather my thoughts the farther I am from everything.

This time was a little different though. Sure I’d take my trek through the Valley, and visit the breweries like I planned. However, I had a little detour to see to first. Krasarang. A Rose gave me a missions, a tidbit really, and I felt compelled to find out just what lay hidden away in that forest. I’d walked it a hundred times by now, but still there was always something new to discover. Now, though, I had to actually go look for it. I took my time, though, and enjoyed the Jade Forest. The temple grounds were already awash in the cherry blossoms. Not that they ever -weren’t-, but I liked to think I’d arrived right after a fresh fall.

There are wonders scattered around the world that, if one just takes the time to look, they’d find beauty in everything. Even the dark places of the world have merit if you’d just open your eyes to see it. I’ve been through hell, and back more times than I’ll ever admit, but through it all I keep a smile. I keep moving, and keep my feet firmly planted where they can walk. Whether that’s down a busy street, over a mountain, or trekking across a desert. It’s all the same in the end. Another adventure waiting to be had. Another story waiting to be told.