Mourne's Stuff

It really is an ending.

It really is.

It is odd to write now, so much later after events- ah, I suppose you who are reading this (likely one of my children, I am sure).. well. The war of the Everlight was won, to start, and the realm of the dead saved- unrelated.

I cannot write all of the details, of course, due to safety reasons, but there was once upon a time, many times, and uniquely this time that the forces of Light and Shadow tried to control our world, and the strands of destiny of those bound to this war met and twined. And as they did in so many, many might-have-beens and times and times and times... in this one, in this time. Our side won.

The ancient cults and evils were slain, were cleansed, were put to rest forevermore and a peace can walk among the peoples of our homeland. We can rest now.

We had gathered the items of prophecy, and the battle was won dearly, and admittedly to reduce the price, I made horrible deals that I am yet paying, but...

And as the war ended-

The Shadowlands, the very realm of Death itself was open.

It is quite an odd thing, of course, but it seems each cosmic force likely has their own planes of reality, and ours is the mingling of them all, and there are cycles within cycles within cycles and layers upon layers of creators, and patterns upon patterns upon patterns. I am sure those that travelled and returned like I have will spend lifetimes and beyond writing about death and the Shadowlands.

It was broken, at first. 

Souls went to a realm of suffering unjustly. Or consumed. It was not the peace and the healing and the rest that I had dared hope, but something else.

It was fixed, later. The being that judges the dead and sends them to the infinite afterlives now has compassion, and for that- I am grateful, knowing the one before and what they are now, well, it seems enough.

Zereth Mortis- a realm that is the engine of creating afterlives.

There are infinite afterlives, and it takes time to ponder what even a fraction of that means... but it does mean there is one just for me, now, my long-hidden goal achieved, and for those I love- if they wish to go. I hope those I love can find peace, and healing and comfort there, and we can spend eons together. Eternity is a strange thing.

This realm is the culmination of all my longing.

And yet, I hope even then there is something beyond even that afterlife, where we may be what we were always meant to be. But it is enough.

But I am not dead, not yet, and not for a long time.

The sun still glimmers on the golden spires of Silvermoon. My cat Sausage, purring on the pillow. A bouquet of white jasmines sent from my dearest officemate. All the good things of this world linger in my mind, stretching across the days like golden ribbons of Light.

My beloved family is safe. More little ones on the way. I am a humble knight-lord, I train my students, I serve my people and my home. And though I ache for old love, there is a new one, however long it may be. There is still life.

For so long, I have gone by ‘Mourne’, for I had much to mourn for. But I can say now, finally...

We went to the Embersong wedding- between Geth and Tal. It was wonderful and beautiful (at first), it was easy to see they are quite in love with each other.

Garret had crafted the rings, somehow, and when they were brought together in first clasp, two phoenixes arose in the air and merged into one. It was beautiful. The Light truly shone upon their union...

...until the skies went dark.

This... ‘Maker’, a necromancer who had troubled the 122nd for some time now- decided to attack. The others do not know he speaks to me each time- him being a fan of my past work....and said at least he had given them the chance to actually get married first.

The fountain was used as a focus, full of dark magic- I was able to blow up the entire thing to cease that- but before that- hundreds of undead had attacked. The wedding party and guests fought them off... and some had gone to face the Maker himself. There were losses...

Sharlestra was slain- or soul stolen? I am unsure. Someone else went missing... and two were nearly dead, but I was able to bring them back with healing.

Zozha was there at my side, though. I am heartily glad I am able to trust her so much- enough to leave my friends behind under her protection.

I went to visit the Argent Crusade again, for I was once part of their group- back in the days of the first assault on the Citadel. Of course, back then- I was a priest, I was part of Catalyst, it was before they all died, save us three left.

But something was different. The sky above was shattered still, that something was behind the sky where there should not BE a behind. Winged figures, skulls for faces, they bring back old enemies. Undead ones, so far. The magic is ...new, darker and different...still familiar. I will have to study this in depth.

And another issue- time to time, chill winds. Stronger, colder than before. I am unable to fly the Shrieking Barracuda, my rocket, in the chill. 

I called upon Akhlys, my old frostwyrm companion from those days. I called, and she answered, and we have been feasting upon the undead since. 

I used to be able to roam for weeks and weeks wrapped in shadows, so the chill never bothered me. The Light keeps me warmer, but I have to keep it away from poor Akhlys, who was rather cranky to start with. Now she is crankier, but the undead have paid for it. She said that she had a reputation in the north.

I could hear the song from the north again. It was strong, where in the past, as I peered into the spirit realm- oh, I could hear notes and tinny little warbles- but now? 

In our days of old, of my time among the Seven Veils so long ago... it was our duty to prevent the veils that protect reality from all that encroaches. Yet when our Second went mad, and our Fifth was lost and his heir never found, when the Sixth betrayed... they tore and tore and tore and tore. Our old duty failed, I should never call myself proudly the Fourth again. After Deathwing, after time, after portals to worlds and alternate lines and the Dream... now to Death.

The sky is shattered, the way to beyond death is opened.

That which was beyond my sight is now...

Well.

The musings will have to come later.

I had gone with Anara to see if the rumors of problems in Northrend were true.

Knight Master Sunflare has amnesia, from an injury in Northrend. Her stubborn personality was now very unsure and worried. I was able to explain things to her, a bit- and get her a place settled in the barracks. And bought some clothing for her that was NOT armor.

I seriously wonder at the lacking of records and ...that she has no home or belongings? What? There is very little to go on, like she just slept out in the forest or something. Going to have to figure out something, I guess.

Garret changed his family name to Goldencrown after finding out more of his ancestors. This fits, given his crown of Light that hovers over him. It acts like a sort of... ancestor... totem? But for elves? For him? It smacks him when he is bad, he says.

He and his (are they married?) wife had their twin children a few days ago. He showed me one of them! A blessing for sure. We already had the talk about being careful and smart in battle for sake of one’s family.

The wedding for the Embersongs is coming up! Zozha said she would go.

Ah, this one... most people do not know much of my amnesia that happened during the Fall. Most of my memories never quite came back.

I wish I could meet my past self, if that is cheating- his legacy still haunts me to this day. I wonder what we would think of each other. In some circles his name has become an ideal, whispered among the faithful. Something larger than any one being. What would he think? Am I the stronger one because I have taken his place?

He had a lover, too, who died during the Fall as well. Sometimes I ache over the loss of someone I do not remember, and I wonder why it is so.

I know I said I would stay away. That I was angry. I am. Still am.

But I must eradicate this cult from the world. They have harmed and slain me and mine, and will if they are not stopped. 

It did not have to be this way. They have chosen to stand against me, and so I shall be their end.

There were two mogu, one of light, one of dark, in this prophecy about defeating Doubt. The light one gave a weapon, and it is held by another. Then the battle to the past, stealing away a weapon from a former Primarch and- well, whatever weird magics it was. She was holding the weapon of dark, too. A cursed flail.

A few days later, she asked me to carry it. Easier, perhaps, due to my history of shadows.

Cur’hanguis. Also known as Cur’daehyr. A flail, sentient, from my understanding of a congealed void leftover from the time of creation itself. Given my history of devouring hearts of each Aspect, enough of their magic within me lingers to make wielding this weapon easy, with -so far- no ill effects.

Garret had his trial to ascend to the blood knight rank of Adept. 

At this point I thought he was quite ready, already stronger than a typical initiate in battle, and in Light use... and he mentioned he hated getting stabbed. Heh.

So, of course, when I used ye olde ‘poison them to make them cleanse or heal themselves with the light or they die’ part of the trial, I made him stab himself in the neck with a super poisoned dagger- crepsuscular powder poison, even. I was worried for a few moments, but he pulled through.

Then he had to fight the giant undead that had slain Knight Goldenoak so long ago. No one asked how I managed to get Goldenoak’s old insignia buried into the rotted, undead heart- or how an undead got to be that size AND full of acid blood. Heheheheh.

Of course once he was trapped in a tiny barrier with it, the fight began. Happily he passed. Got bit pretty badly, but gave it back to the undead, which used the stump to try and smack him. Ha! It was great!

Of course the poor blood knight pavilion absolutely reeks now, and has damage to the roof (from the giant undead hitting it) and the floor is pitted and marked from the acid blood and Knight-Lady Bloodseeker is FURIOUS with me. I am getting a hell of a fine and got quite a chewing out.

Why undead, one might wonder?

I have remained on break, or vacation or me staying away because I am still mad and tired of whatever this is.

Though I did end up talking with Drimmari a bit. He probably has a year before his curse gets him and that means defeating the Eye utterly to fix things. Bloody hell and damnation.

I spent my time in Silvermoon, with family for most of it.

Met more new new blood knights, new students. Not mine but still good to see so many interested in joining.

I checked on last preparations for Initiate Garret Bartholomew’s trial for Adept. The amusing thing is that I ended up catching him sparring with a champion who I did not know, and holding up decently enough.