Writings of an Anchorite

[Bovel]

14/3 -13

Swamphoof again
Initially I returned to the Dwelling of Light because of a growing uncertainty within me. I harbour no distrust towards the spiritualists of the Earthen Ring but I question our current goal. That seer did not even show enough decency to hide his doubts about the lost shamans having survived this long. Should I lead my flock towards in such a selfishly motivated quest when the chance of failure seems almost equal to the chance of success? I have to, for Nexariel I will strive against the odds.

I had intended to only visit the capital briefly but when I visited Breenia and the other children at the orphanage, the matron told me about a recent increase of swamphoof among the vagrants of Lower City. In turn I remained at the Infirmary to aid them during this curious event. It would seem that after talking with all afflicted that some hadn’t even visited Zangar in the last few lunar cycles, which still left two accounts when the less credible individuals were left out. Has this ailment somehow become a contagion?

But perchance today I met sister Andra and brother Gantrithor and they shared with me unsigned letters that had been left for both of them to find. I am uncertain about the purpose of these messages or the underlying agenda of the nameless author. The usage of ‘shadow & Light’-symbology leads me to believe that whoever wrote the letters has a strong religious ideology leaned towards the Holy Light of Creation. In the end all we could agree upon about these messages was that we all thought there would be more to come. Time will tell.
By the Light’s embrace.

[Bovel]

25/3 -13

Failure
I have failed. These days I devote myself to my anchoral duties fully and still I fail those that stand just beside me, within Light’ reach and yet I did not see. I keep trying to counterweight my original and constant error because the thought of a new child makes me think of Ahmat. It reminds me of the breathtaking pain of having her mother ripped from our lives and it reminds me of how I failed Ahmat as a father.

Shaman Kapre, it is my failing. I saw signs and I suspected. I try to teach the young elf of the plight of the Exiled Ones and I try to teach her about family. Did I merely deceive myself to lessen the truth? But paladin Cristovao, a human of great wisdom and honour which I placed faith in and who I thought understood our kind, our ways. Why? I have failed you too, Diawaata.

Life was changing; Nexariel rekindled something within me I never knew was extinguished in the first place. We would have embraced Breenia, we would have had our own spawn to be her siblings. Now she is lost to me in a way that is beyond both my understanding and my efforts. And yet again I fail at the most important duty of all Exiled Ones - secure a future for our kind and strive to uphold the Oath.
May the Light grant me the Courage I need in these times of struggle.

[Bovel]

30/3 -13

Different futures
Perhaps it is my devotion that has blinded me. I am unable to remind myself of a moment spent pondering on the nature of others’ vision of the Final Days. When sister Andra spoke about our people’s future to that one-handed orc I realized that mine was not absolute.

I have always believed that our final encounter with Sargeras and his ilk would happen upon the broken wastes of our homeworld. The reasons to why I hold this belief and so doubtless are some I cannot ascertain. Anchorite Uleen first told me and other spawn of the same age about our saviours the Naaru and our Oath to them. I believe it might have been his vision that we the Exiled Ones would come full circle with the Army of the Light and reclaim Argus.

This new realization has led me consider my kin’s place and purpose within the Army of the Light. We are the first and we are the foundation. I believe that the key to this riddle is what quality separates us the most from the races we have come across in our travels. Our greater lifespan that even overshadows that of races considered immortal. Which has blessed us with a dire perspective. The onslaught of the Burning Legion is swift and ruthless, it leaves nothing behind, not even the echo of life. It is ours to witness and it is ours to pass onto the races we meet during our exodus.

We the Exiled Ones have placed great faith towards the leadership of Velen the Prophet and equal faith in his blessed Gift. But I fear we have may let this security make us complacent and passive. We have let the divine words of the Prophet rule our lives so greatly that without them we do not act. The Final Days and the fate of our race and many others in the Army of the Light is fast approaching. Can we truly afford not taking action now?

I will gather my flock and speak of this tomorrow, here in Halaa. So I shall let these thoughts rest until then and I shall focus on sewing instead. Though it seems I might have misplaced some fabric I planned on using. I will have to procure some new cloth.
By the Light’s embrace.

[Bovel]

20/4 -13

Fire in their veins
I have just received words of a massacre at the mag’har village near Lake Sunspring. I’m aware it has served as a shelter for the murkblood broken ones for quite some time. Their forceful conquest of the village was according to the scout a violent affair, similar to the recent one. Initially I imagined that the ogres in the hills were responsible when they had come down in search for food or water in the settlement. But the scout quickly shattered my preconceived idea when she continued with the report.

Orcs. A part of me wish that we had come so far that I’d be surprised, but I am not. The destructive fire of the Legion still burns in their veins, grasping at the edges of their minds. I have stood witness of their struggle against it and the tenacity of some greenskins have given me a measure of hope. But we have yet to progress enough, we cannot allow ourselves to trust the orcs have learned from their past. Until that day has come, we shall continue our penance and watch over the sons and daughters of Draenor.
By the Light’s embrace.

[Bovel]

22/4 -13

A time for actions
I assembled my flock of pilgrims once more and I was surprised to see orcs of both colourations present and open-minded. My intention was to expand on the previous topic of the Army of the Light but discuss from a more practical and present perspective. In summary my own thoughts were repeated in the words of the others.

The Exiled Ones need to be inspire the mortal races with our ways. Others will not unite with us if we cannot be united ourselves. Ever since we crashed upon the Isles of Myst have our kind wandered paths that wind further from each other with each passing solar-cycle. We need to reach out to our scattered brethren and lead them back to the path of our people.

I have written before how our agelessness offer us a unique perspective on the onslaught of the Burning Legion. As to how I remain unsure, but I am convinced that it is the key to our role in the Army of the Light and its beginnings.

The mag’har orc Gornok Demonslayer honoured the meeting with his presence and spoke up about the actual combat against the demons. During my brief time on Azeroth I met humans and gnomes to whom the man’ari was only figments of legend and tales to scare the young. I expect nothing less of those poor individuals to be overcome with terror when they are faced with a demon in unholy flesh. We will all share our knowledge about the demonic kin and how they are best combated and it will benefit the experienced as well as the ignorant.

Obedience and the duty to abide is not a concept that is solid among the general populace among the mortal races. It was pointed out that considerable numbers would be unable to overcome physical suffering to fight the Legion. It coincides with my own belief that there is no leadership without those that follow. We cannot only address the nations of Azeroth through their appointed leaders, we need also to aid the ones that will become the fighters. The hungry shall be fed and the weary shall be sheltered. We act exemplary through altruism.

Our path is coalescing.
By the Light’s embrace.

[Bovel]

3/5 -13

Growth
My duties as an anchorite has created a connection between me and the fungi-folk of Zangar. It was after a draenei presence close to their spawning grounds that I was reached by one of their odd messages. Their request was complex but I understood their need and called for appropriate aid.

When I first explained to the changer what Sporeggar had requested, she seemed hesitant or insecure and said that her abilities were weak compared to more elder nocturnal elves. Perhaps she was right but it did not affect my faith in her abilities even the slightest. And it was faith well placed.

I remain ignorant on the inner workings of what took place before me, but I understood that Lillee somehow connected with the Zangarmarsh itself. Together they changed the bog lords from within, brought life back into its essence through some miraculous process. I am filled with kindling pride when I get to witness her growth, the change of the changer. One day soon she will return to Azeroth as a guardian of the realm and her people. Guard-growth the primus named the gift it bestowed upon Lillee - a very fitting name.
By the Light’s embrace.

[Bovel]

8/5 -13

Unrequited reunion
Time and time again during our quest to further equilibrium between elemental forces have I been in the presence of the krokul seer that calls himself ‘Wellwaker’. At first his name passed me by without notice, but recently a dark memory emerged from the depths of my mind.

Uyendu was a harbinger that was fortunate to somehow survive the slaughter at our capital. He was a volatile and headstrong young draenei, although seemed unable to perceive a perspective larger than his own. It was the fiery zeal with which he faced me that allows me to remember him now. That and the circumstances of our meeting in Zangarmarsh.

Our latest meeting was much different. The flaming, unbridled passion of a young soldier was turned into the smoldering bitterness, and his inability to see beyond the moment has become forgetfulness and made him absent-minded. I mourn to see the body of such a young adult twisted into the withered husk of an elderly mortal.

Now I cannot help but to think that he was unfortunate to survive. And I hold no pride that I feel relief that he has yet to recognize me, the one that denied refuge to him and others tainted by the red mists. Worst of all is that their condition still strikes fear within me, to loose the Holy Light of Creation would rob me of any peace. I pray that we one day can remedy the curse they carry as a sign of their sacrifice.
By the Light’s embrace.

[Bovel]

13/5 -13

Speak farewell into fire
It has been quite a large number of cycles that I have carried the notion that I would come to meet Nexariel again. Though deep down something bridled my growing hopes and I had not realized until now. Never during our quest to aid her and her fellow spiritualists have I expected that they would return nor have I imagined it, despite it being contradictory of our motives. I was shielded from expectations of such grandeur that would they not have been fulfilled it would have become my ruin. Perhaps it was her all along? Our bond strong enough to span the worlds.

The instant flames coalesced into the shape of horns I knew that it was Nexariel that I witnessed stride out of the fire. I harbour no blame upon her wish to fight or to have her comrades’ lives be in vain, rather opposite I am proud that she has made a choice. But there was something she said that quaked the ground beneath my hooves and stung like an icy dagger at my core. She said that never would she know motherhood. I am the one who denied her fulfillment of her duty and the realization of a lingering dream. In the end it was I who drove my beloved away from this world.

I dislike the thought of the moment when I have to enlighten Breenia about her favourite’s shamaness choice. I cannot allow my sorrow to spoil the essence of these events. Nexi is still alive and she is certain that there can be a future for our kin upon Draenor. She is willing to make the greatest of sacrifices to secure a sanctuary for parents now, parents to be and future generations. Nexariel reminded me that I am a father still. My beloved daughter is out there and the time has come...

Light that I embrace, now I beseech thee.
Bless those that seek restoration so they may persist, I bed.
Bless them and allow not the lives lost be sacrificed for naught.
By the Naaru, may it be so.

[Bovel]

21/5 -13

Into our embrace
It brings me such profound joy and hope to watch upon the faces of new parents, and to welcome the miracle that is new life into our society. Me embracing Aaral into the Exiled Ones was the first time since I took my anchoral oaths that I have performed the ceremony as sole anchorite present. Our Prophet Velen joined in on the ceremonious celebration and his presence added a silver-lining of awe to the moment, and it was an honour to announce Shat K’ure in the presence of the Ageless One. And it was of great symbolical importance that we could make our oaths to a child, the key to the draenic future and the end of the Legion.

When I look upon Allira motherly cradling her son I cannot help but to think it could have been Nexariel and a son of my own. And that is why it is so bittersweet, an image of a future that will never be and a joyous past lost. I have yet to tell my flock what I learned from the beholder demon about my daughter, I’m unsure if I can ever tell them. But I feel drawn to explore this knowledge. I would pass crippling self-judgment upon myself did I not.

When we return to the Dwelling I shall seek council from both old and new faces and hopefully some kind of answers can be discerned.
By the Light’s embrace.

[Bovel]

Returning home (1/3 -14)

It is with a gaze aimed high, towards crumbled spires and crystalline domes long shattered, that I once again tread within the halls of Karabor. Through my interactions with the mortal races of Azeroth I have gained an understanding of the concept of home. I am a child of an exodus and the notion of belonging is tied to my kinsmen, not a location nor a realm beyond Argus. But in my mind it is this temple that holds most semblance of a home. In here I had a wife and child, from here nothing seemed unattainable. Memories, that were recently forged yet have been so distant, now seem within my reach. Once it was the sister-shard of Spirit’s Song that I was honoured to carry through the sacred grounds of this temple. It was at a time when I saw Karabor as eternal, virtuous and incorruptible. Now the entire valley is besmeared with fel blood and malicious sacrifices to false divinities. Occupation of the once blessed temple by anything but the Holy Light itself stands as an affront to us Exiled Ones. I was wrong, for these qualities were never those of the shrines and temples my kin erected. It is we that carry them within us, each and every one. It is far I have come from the cycles of my youth. In my past it would have brought me shame to admit I could not see such a simple truth. Today it rekindles my hope that I can gain new insights and keep reaching for complete enlightenment. We are pure and together, we remain stalwart against innumerable odds. By the Light’s Embrace.