The Key Lay in the The Broken
Professor Emberlight made her nervous and she wasn't sure why. The raven-haired Mage was relatively new to the Academy but it seemed the Diviner gave the majority of her lectures when Vellissana was busy at the Hospice and that wasn't destined to change anytime soon. Shae, as the Professor insisted on being addressed was hospitable, as was her assistant, Liyarah. The women spoke slowly, their Thalassian flowing in the Shattrath dialact. Their small home in the City was comfortable enough and there was an abundance of fruit and wine - this last-minute visit was a respite of sorts despite the urgency behind it.
Vellis had gotten the idea to visit Shae upon looking at the schedule of upcoming lectures. The woman was to speak of Runes, but what struck Vellissana was the fact she did most of her teaching in Shattrath City - her home. House Emberlight never reinstated it's status in Quel'Thalas and as such, this travelling scholar might be able to tell her more than any of the books from the Scryers' Library and truth be told - she needed to unravel Master Bloodreaver's mystery illness so that she and the Doctors could get to the business of finding the cure. Perhaps both she and Azurick had been wrong to write-off a profession-related condition.
There was more though...in addition to Hospice business, there was the business of her late father and the late Lord Silverwind. Perhaps the mysterious woman (or so she seemed to Vellissana) had some insight on the matter.
She had arrived late Friday evening and barely slept. Shae had brought her a cup of chamomile at the sound of the music box tinkling as Vellis paged through volumes, "How bad along is this patient?" Shae sat quietly on the bed, her eyes catching the candlelight. "What makes you think it stems from this place?" She sighed, "The blood temperature... am I crazy?"
Shae sipped her own tea, "Perhaps start from the beginning?" Vellis sighed, "The patient came in after his second fainting spell and the length of time unconscious is shorter every time - the first spell lasted over a fortnight - I would say almost a coma! And I wish he'd come in then... the second spell lasted a few days, the third was hours. So the spells are getting shorter but closer together. The spells come without warning and he's fine outside of being frightened. The only outward symptoms are white gums and eyelids." Shae nodded, "Flower, I still fail to see why you think this illness originates here."
Vellissana began pacing the room, "We are able to look at the blood now. That was the reason you and others made donations a few weeks back. Well that, and we're looking into ways to use it for severe blood loss. I cannot discuss all the research I am doing, however, I got the idea to come back here when I discovered variances in the temperatures of the blood in accordance with other characteristics. For example you and Liyarah... were I to measure your blood temperature, I'd be worried if yours wasn't cooler than hers."
"The fel taint we all have is stronger in that of Priests of Shadow and Warlocks. Not only are the cells a more verdant hue, the temperature is warmer - I suspect because - and correct me if I am wrong - the use of Shadow and Fel magics actually hurts them physically and the warmer blood temperature is the body's natural adaptation. I plan to do a study of priests of both Shadow and Light. I suspect I would see it in action."
She sipped her tea, "That aside, my patient's blood pressure and white cell production has increased as time has progressed and his body temperature has lowered progressively. It's as though parts of his immune system are quarreling with one another. Normally temperature should rise when the white cells are fighting infection."
The Mage thought for a moment, "So...what you say to me is the body is harming itself by fighting this infection? And you know for sure it is not a poison?" The woman's eyes flickered, then squinted as though something had connected. Vellis shook her head, "No poison I have seen. I have a colleague that is an expert in poisons as well - it is nothing she has seen either, though his cells look almost as though they have some sort of...magical disease. The number of cells in his samples from the first week and from last week that have a light bluish aura around the cell walls has increased. Those cells seem to be freezing from the outside in. Light doesn't seem to help it either - in fact, it seems to make it worse in a very short time."
"I took two samples last week. One prior to a simple cleanse and one after. The one after the cleanse had a lower temperature and more cells with aura. While it wasn't long enough for more white cells to form, I suspect they have since. It is as though the body is trying to heal itself to death."
Shae stood up. "Get some sleep now. Tomorrow we travel. There is someone I want you to meet." And she was gone.
Vellis tossed and turned, her eyes finding the open book in the dark.
The following morning, the first striking feature of the place they called Netherstorm was the violet - she could see it even when they were still within the Twisting Nether, as the map called it, "A contradiction is the Twisting Nether...it holds the worlds together and apart but age, hunger, thirst, poison - even natural healing do not exist in that space in-between. Strangely enough, Arcane spells cast whilst in the Nether have extended duration, though battles there would be impractical. The mage smiled at the innocence of the silver-haired girl.
The second was the heaviness of the atmosphere. It was strangely warm when she inhaled. The air felt warm entering her lungs. The place felt unbalanced - the eco-domes out of place. "You feel it?" The mage smiled as they landed in front of Tempest Keep. "The structures we flew over are called mana forges. You are young but I will presume since the Academy are remnants of the former Sunfury that you know of Prince Kael'thas and his deeds." Vellis nodded, "I have read some... Father was here for a time before the Regent Lord restored order. That was before I was born"
The mage continued, "When the Orcs turned on the Draenei for bringing the problems of their home world, those that remained unbroken - and some not - led a raid on this place - it was the vehicle on which they had arrived more than one thousand years before." She pointed to the Mechanar, "The Exodar - like that wing there - was the only part secured - it is what landed in Kalimdor." She pointed to the large crystalline tubes, "You saw these attached to other structures. Manaforges produced pure energy - volatile energy that powered the keep and caused Netherstorm to become less and less stable. The Sunfury operated them and had they not been shut down all of what remains of Draenor would have been destroyed. Those working in the forges - and anyone that had any reason to be here then or now made the Ethereal organizations much gold from the need to detoxify in their Eco domes. That will be our final destination today."
"Like what the Silvermoon Hospice provides, the Ethereals provided hospice protection and respite from the damage caused by continued exposure to the pure Arcane energy here and medical care to those intolerant to the pure void energy. One might liken it to your or other healers' need to rest between healings to allow the Light to cleanse you of all you have purged from others."
The inside of the Dome reminded Velissana of Kharnum's Glade - the odd little oasis maintained by the Earthen Ring amidst the deserts of Desolace except for the buildings. These were of a style she could only guess was of Draenor itself. Shae led her through a lush, forested area to a small building with only one Ethereal guarding it, whispering into the being's ear.
The two women were no sooner seated before a strange man approached them, "Achal hecta, I am Dr. Izhar... please...no need to stand for me." He poured from a pitcher as Shae introduced Vellissana, "You must both be tired from your journey. How may I be of service?" Vellis looked first to Shae, then to the shriveled man, recounting her story once Shae nodded as though giving permission. The doctor listened, rubbing his chin. He appeared otherworldly, with the tentacles and hooves of a Draenei but lacking in height. He was stooped and weak and she wondered if this was what her disease would do to Azurick Bloodreaver. He nodded when she finished.
"Ms. Emberlight, you were good to bring me the young one...I believe I have your answer." He first pointed outward to the dome surface itself, "This place is the most lifeless and fragmented of what remains of Draenor. Above the ground is a state of constant storm though not of wind or rain but magic. Arcane lightening streaks the skies through the void clouds and pure arcane gusts. Even today the storms rage, leaving the broken region in a state of constant deterioration."
He looked at the young Paladin, "Do you know what I am?" She shook her head, "You don't look like the drawings I have seen... are you Draenei?" "I suppose I am still that... though I am not welcomed by those at Exodar. Broken Draenei were kept in the holds as slaves. The Fel Orcs caused this condition," He motioned to himself, "This condition you describe - I believe to be the opposite of the Affliction of the Broken."
"You mention the blood of your patient growing colder... my own blood has grown warmer - this I know, however I have never been able to view it." They discussed the symptoms some more as fresh fruits were served, and hypothesized. Vellissana didn't know how she felt about him, but he was all she had. She showed him her drawings of the slides - he seemed impressed with the technology, wryly commenting the Ethereals likely had something better but for whatever reason couldn't be trusted.
"These eco-domes - there are three of them, were integral to the survival of the Elves and Humans fighting the Netherstorm conflict. The rare Elf that did not pay to recuperate in the domes from time to time usually wound up dead via unknown circumstances." The ancient-looking man drummed his fingers on the tome in his lap, "Ms. Emberlight may borrow and translate my own writings on the matter for you to use in Quel'Thalas. You see, as the Draenei are not loyal to my kind - even shun me... I see no harm in helping your kind."
"I thank you.... and appreciate your willingness to put old conflicts aside." Vellis smiled, "I must ask, is a cure or a treatment within those pages?"
"That, I am afraid, there is not," He stopped, sipping some wine himself before handing Shae the journal. "Adverse reaction to the environment here - eventually caused coma for the Draenei and the Elves afflicted by what I call Arcane Necrosis. As the Broken Draenei such as myself lost abilities to use the Light, Light seemed to aggravate this condition, which began with dizziness and passing out, discoloration and eventual loss of Arcane abilities despite the higher concentration of Arcane Energy suspected to be present.
Suceptible Elves (there were only three) were generally Warlocks with an already higher corruption level in their systems. One must remember the Fel-taint is unnatural, moreover Mages and Priests seemed unaffected, but seeing their comrades fall took refuge here in the Domes after periods of time exposed to the raw Nether-energy. It was unknown at the time why, but your theory of blood temperature makes sense and perhaps will aid you in combating the illness."
Vellissana nodded, making noted as the Doctor spoke, "Why do you surmise it affected only Elves and Draenei?"
"Neither you or I is native to this place. I would imagine Humans could get it as well but I saw no instance in them. In Elves - the only cases I saw were the Warlocks. In Draenei that were unbroken - it could be anyone, but with exception of a few otherwise healthy Draenei, it was the Broken we attempted curing that were afflicted - and this only a handful. You see, dear girl, until you came asking, I had not seen or heard of such symptoms since the days of the Legion." His eyes grew solemn. "And back then it was less than twenty cases."
Her heart sank. "Arcane Necrosis...based on what his blood is doing this makes sense."
"Your drawings tell me the name was accurate. With Light and Arcane measures seemingly worsening the condition, I had an afflicted Alchemist friend try concocting a cure. It seems none of the herbs that survived from Old Draenor prior to the Legion proved successful. I wish you luck, dear girl. And I hope you will share your findings. Dioniss aca."
As the old Doctor shuffled from the room, Vellis and Shae made a plan. Shae would do the translation over the next day or so while Vellis traveled to obtain every Outland herb she could find for Elly to experiment with. Her mind raced, toying with the possibilities of Shadow magic. Time was of more essence than ever.
Shae Hospice Azurick Kyla Azuriann Lytendrah Kairos
