A Meeting in Tuurem

[Zazkiel]

Namuraan felt a pang of sorrow for the young elf sitting across the table from her, and she pulled out one of the few wholly-impractical things in her bag, a small flask of dwarven bourbon. After she pushed it over to his side of the table, she spoke softly.


"I lost my elder brother and my father on the flight from Argus, I was barely an adult. And then I lost my two younger brothers, twins actually, during the crash landing of the Exodar. My mother had never even made it off of Draenor. Despite all of this, and no matter how much I'd love to have them back, I still don't believe that becoming a death knight is something they would ever have wanted. Your brother may be different though, your race doesn't have the taboo on dark magics that we do."

 

[Blakie13]

Corec nodded in thanks, taking a swig of the bourbon. "It's been a while since I've had anything of dwarven brew... The embargoes following our falling out with the Alliance and joining the Horde didn't exactly allow for trading luxuries..."


The elf drummed his fingers on the table, thinking of a reply. "My condolences for your losses. I'm lucky to say a few members of my family yet draw breath. Not a common thing in Silvermoon. From the fact you remember Argus... You must be quite old, yes? No offence meant, of course," Corec corrected quickly. "It's just that, as far as I have been made aware, the flight from Argus took place long before the rise of the Kal'dorei Empire.... But before I stray too far off topic, I must say it's surprising that you should think that about the sin'dorei. We had similar feelings about shadow magic up until our near destruction and the subsequent... parting from the Alliance. Desperation does many things, even to a race as proud as ours. As it stands, darker magics are returning to the more obscure positions they once held. With the restoration of the Sunwell, desperation is slowly leaving. Slowly..."

 

[Zazkiel]

The huntress stalled, tracing a circular pattern on the table. The Azerothian races had different reactions to Draenic ages, and she hoped Corec wouldn't react like the Kal'dorei. Jealousy didn't suit his race's pretty features. "Oh, I'm not nearly as old as some of the Draenei you've met. Back on Argus we had a much greater population so we weren't considered adults until we were a thousand, and I already mentioned that I had reached majority. I think I'm around fifteen thousand? Give or take a hundred years, the flight from planet to planet tends to distort one's perception of time."

 

[Blakie13]

"Truly? Fascinating... immortality, or extreme longevity, always affect the psychology and perception of time in different ways for different races, I wonder what that must be like... I had only just reached my age of majority before the Scourge. I'm only a little over a century in age, barely more than an infant by your race's old standards, no?" The paladin chuckled easily, taking another sip of the bourbon. "This is a fine brew... Wildhammer, if my memory recalls the taste correctly... I assume when you say the age of majority was a thousand on Argus, it is younger now? We had to adopt a similar system. Eighteen, the human age of majority. And with their sudden loss of immortality, I assume the night elves will have to use such a system soon enough. If their race survives the fallout of ageing, that is..." He finished somberly. Another sip of bourbon, and he grinned. "Let's avoid that darker topic."

 

[Zazkiel]

Namuraan waved her hand at the flask, "It's actually Bronzebeard, but the family who makes it claims the recipe is Wildhammer. You can keep the flask, I have plenty."


"And on the topic of age, it's now as soon as a Draenei reaches physical majority, which is at some point in their twenties or thirties. Criminally young by my viewpoint, but I may be biased because I was a wild child." She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Oh, I can't imagine being burdened with training and procreation and the like at that age. It seems almost like we're robbing them."

 

[Blakie13]

Corec took another swig. "Hmm. Well, I suppose it has been a long time since I've done taste tests for dwarven brews... The Wildhammer continued trade with us longer than the Bronzebeards, I can at least say that much for them," the elf chuckled.


"Ageing is such a strange phenomenon.... My youngest siblings haven't even reached majority by your standards, although they've reached ours. Too fast, much too fast. Yet my sister is already doing well among the Farstriders and my brother is a prodigy of a mage. Who knows how far our civilisation could have advanced if we had always started things so young," Corec stated thoughtfully. Then he laughed easily, and grinned. "Although I daresay our civilisation is rather advanced for Azeroth's standards. Argus, I'm sure, still would have blown us out of the water. Tell me, what is it like going from a culture like yours to Stormwind? Is it not a culture shock?"

 

[Zazkiel]

Namuraan considered her next words carefully, "The human city seems a bit new, I think. Compared to the other alliance capitals, I mean. And as for the culture, it's very loud. And fast. I suppose when your live such short lives things need to get done sooner. It's definitely grown on me, I'll admit I found Elodor frustratingly boring at times." Here, she lifted her bow from where it was leaning against the back of the chair, making its Ranagari design obvious.


"I almost joined the Rangari several times on Draenor simply because I was sick of the farmland and watching my little brothers have more fun than I did."

 

[Blakie13]

Corec nodded in agreement. "Stormwind is quite new, in a multitude of ways. Besides the Old Town, it's all recent construction after the orcs ravaged it. It is also the youngest of the human kingdoms, and the only one left with any presence. The last time I saw it in person it was still a backwater southern kingdom. Lorderon was the true human power. Still, it has its quaintness..." He trailed off for a moment, thinking. "The humans have such speed in their cities, they move almost like ants. The orcs of Orgrimmar operate in a similar manner. The young lived races are strange that way, I suppose."


The elf glanced appreciatively at the bow. "The Rangari are master craftsmen with their bows, it would seem. It reminds me of Farstrider craftsmanship, but with a size and thickness suited to your races strength and proportions. My sister would practically drool at the chance to study it. What stopped you from joining their ranks, may I ask?"

 

[Zazkiel]

Namuraan twisted in order to set her bow against the back of the chair, but in a way that she'd be able ot grab it with ease. No sense leaving herself defenseless, even with her claw-like nails.


"My youngest sibling, Esaale. I decided to wait until she became an adult before I began to travel more than a month or two at a time. She wasn't even six decades old before we were forced to flee Draenor, though." She shrugged, stiffening when she felt the vindicator pauldron clip against the back of her armor.


"And I know a little of the Farstriders, they have much in common with the Rangari! Aren't they a mix of scouts and protectors?"

 

[Blakie13]

Corec nodded in understanding, his armour clinking as he shifted in his seat.


"I see. An excellent reason, if ever there was. Light knows I didn't join the Blood Knights until my younger siblings could take care themselves. Is your sister... Hmm. I don't know how to word that question delicately.... My apologies," the elf finished with a grimace.


"On a lighter note, yes. That is essentially their roles. My sister is a proud member herself, youngest sworn in ranger in two centuries. Honestly, if it weren't for race and aesthetics, the Rangari and Farstriders are practically the same organisation. Although a notable difference is that until the death of Ranger-General Sylvanas Windrunner, the Farstriders were the primary military force of Quel'Thalas. Fulfilled the same function they do now, but they had more influence and funding from Silvermoon."

 

[Zazkiel]

Namuraan shook her head slowly, more out of disbelief than anything else. "It's a strange world, where you have to ask if someone's siblings are dead. She's not though, thank you for asking."


"And the Farstriders do seem a slightly more...prestigious organization than the Rangari. To be honest, they were viewed as strange upstarts when they founded themselves on Draenor. Up until this planet, we'd colonized and terraformed the worlds to our liking. Draenor was the first world that people decided to adapt to. It could simply be because of it's similarity to Argus, though."


Through the bond she had with her pet, Namuraan felt Rakkash settle down for the night. Light, she'd been talking to Corec for much longer than she'd originally planned if her rylak was already going to sleep.

 

[Blakie13]

Corec chuckled darkly. "Strange indeed... That is good to hear however."


The elf mulled over the draenei's words for a moment. "Prestigious, yes, I suppose so... I would like to learn more of your people's travels, some day. It sounds intriguing," Corec said. He glanced at the sky, frowning slightly before pulling out a pocket watch, a pretty little contraption of gnomish make and customised to fit Blood Elven art.


"It is rather late, and I need to get prepared for my trip to the Spires. Shall we call this meeting? We'll have to do something like this again sometime, I rather enjoyed it," the elf said standing and stretching.

 

[Zazkiel]

Namuraan stood as well, bowing her head gracefully. "I enjoyed our meeting as well! I hope you'll forgive any awkwardness in my words, I've only spoken to a few of your people. Hopefully we'll meet soon, off the battlefield of course."


Without further ado, she picked up her bow and slung it over her shoulder, waving Vandaam over. "Dioniss aca, Commander Duskwhisper."