#mannfredsjournal

   It was a damp, cold morning in Shattrath. It had rained through the day, and the night.. Things were soggy all around. Gandrell awoke like any other, going to wash and then putting on his clothes and armor. He stepped out onto one of the balconies of the Scyer’s Tier. A note was in his hand. 

 “Son. I have received urgent news from Acherus, I must go and report to Darion. I will be back in less than a days time. Do your best to be careful.

                            Your Father, Zyyraxx Bladerunner.”

    The man would grit his teeth slightly. It had not been the first time his father would leave him, nor the last, but he didn’t think it would be too bad by himself. He knew that Erlei would also be coming soon, so he would take the elevator down to the Lower City. He made good friends with the fruit vendor there, and would have a decently fresh breakfast this morning. Gandrell did not make it to her. When he took the ramp down he was unaware of what was to come.. A shrill cry was heard in the air, followed by that dark laugh he had heard before. 

   “The young pup Bladerunner, all alone in a rough city!” Felena would scream, The demon would crash down into his back, knocking him off balance and tearing at the shield that was there. An alarm was raised as she dropped to the ground, being surrounded by the defenders of the city. Gandrell would stand up and draw arms, taking his stance behind that door of a shield. 

   “You won’t escape this time, demon. You made a crucial mistake attacking me in broad day light. Seize her!” Gandrell would cry, “Anar'alah belore!” Shattrath’s defenders would lunge at the woman to try and detain her, but the few that tried were would be sundered by her talons. She would only smile, drawing her staff. In moments the rest would descend on her to kill, swinging with blades, shooting arrows.. It was all ended with the slam of her staff into the ground, black fire and green lightning exploding out from her. They had all been launched back, except for one. Gandrell peeked out from behind the somewhat smouldering face of his shield. 

   “Try again, you demon filth.” He said with the same grin his father would take. This would alight Felena in rage, lunging towards him, claw and staff at the ready, the two would clash over and over, his shield meeting almost every blow. Gandrell would meet her in force. “You will never prevail as long as I live! As long as the Bladerunners live!” They would crash their weapons together in a power struggle, looking into each other’s eyes.. “Not as long as the Fel Ravens live.” He slammed his forehead into the woman’s, sending her reeling back into the dirt. When he jumped for his final blow, she sprung from the ground like a frog, tackling him and flying to the north. She would laugh, slow and soft at first as Gandrell tried to fight his way free, slamming his hands into her back, his shield. He went to stab her before he felt the claws in his back, throwing him at the mountain top. In desperation, he would call on his power over the light, allowing him to summon a pair of wings for only one beat. It would at least be enough to allow him to miss the mountain, but have to bring his shield down to break the fall. His shield would hit hard like a sled, being torn apart by the terrain in moments, mangling his arm afterwards. Gandrell would tumble and roll untill he moved no longer, spitting out blood onto the ground. He struggled to get up.. his right arm was useless, and the rest of his body was broken.. He couldn’t even focus enough to lay all of his light into his body. He rolled onto his back, coughing blood and pulling his broken armor open to make sure there was no punctures.. “Shit..” He looked up at the demoness.. She was holding a massive ball of fel fire into the air.. Ready to strike the final blow.

  “You should have known this would happen, boy. You are strong, but out here in the Outlands? I have access to my full power.. I have access to a unlimited source of power! Now die, Die like your father will, your uncle, your whole wretched family!” Felena would cackle as she threw the ball down at its target. Gandrell couldn’t do anything.. he couldn’t lift his arm to even try to defend himself. He cursed again and closed his eyes. He had failed his family. He failed his city. He failed Erlei.. This would be it.

  The next thing he felt was being lifted off the ground in a split moment, he watched as the ball crashed into the mountain side and caused so much destruction. That could have been him. He looked to his saviors.. it was Taccion and Zyyran. They had made it in time. He could barely hear them between the sound of the explosion, and his delirium from blood loss.. He nodded his head at what he was sure was “Everything will be all right.” Everything he knew faded into black. 

                                    Three Month’s Later.

   “How is he?” A concerned voice would ask.. He only stirred.

   “We have done all we can.. we are concerned he will not fully heal because of the Fel taint in his wounds. What should I do, Sir?” A formal, older voice would answer.

   “Take him to the Crimson Pool.. I will not lose my son.” He was being carried away now.. He knew that in that room, in that well, he was in his father’s care. By the morning, his eyes had opened for the first time in so long. He looked to his father, sitting on his bed and looking at him. Zyyraxx would smile softly. “You are lucky to be alive... I am sorry that I had left your side, my son..” He hung his head with guilt. Gandrell laughed weakly.

    “Father.. it is okay.. You saved me. I have been asleep for a long time, haven’t I?” Gandrell said, reaching out to his father.

    “We both have, my dear boy.. It will not happen again.” He took his son’s hand. “We will find that demon.. We will kill her once and for all. For now, There are some things I want you to do. One, you will recover in safety. My magic will heal your wounds faster than you think, but you need rest. Two, you will bolster the Ravens.” He nodded at his father in understanding. “Three. You will enjoy yourself.. Allow me to take care of things. And your Uncle too. He will do fine. I have to go to Roe now and tell her the news. Do you think you will be okay for the night?” Gandrell would nod his head. Zyy stood up and would head for the door before he heard his son.

   “Father.. Wait. Have him tell the Ravens.. That I have returned. That we will destroy this demoness when the time comes.” He gave a grunt as the pain stung him.