#Strahm Vindalis

[theresolute]

Name: Odynae Dawnhammer

Nickname: Dyna

Gender: Female

Romantic Orientation: Bisexual, Biromantic

Preferred Pet Names: Chroi was one she was fond of, some years back.

Relationship Status: Single

Favorite Canon Ship: Definitely Dyna and Mykhael; though Dyna and Mayru was pretty good too

Favorite Non-Canon Ship: I don’t really have any? I’d maybe like to see her with another paladin or front-line fighter; preferably a lady. Let Dyna be Bi-na! Hrrm. I could have seen her engage in some form of confusing romantic interest with Ereleth Tremaine, but the appeal in that is that it would be a fucking disaster; there’s so many things wrong with it. It would be an interesting one, though.

Opinion on True Love: Dyna believes very strongly in love, romantic and otherwise; for Dyna, love of friends, of family, of the people around her is what guides her most. Love is truth, though the idea that love can only be had once is antithetical to how she views the world.

Opinion on Love at First Sight: This is not something Dyna places much faith in; infatuation at first sight, sure -- but love? No. To mistake the two is all but heresy, and dangerously immature.

Ideal Physical Traits: Honestly... there’s a lot that appeals to her; strength is one thing, though. She prefers a partner who can keep up with her, physically, even if that strength is more a mental trait than a physical one. She’s partial to a Gilnean accent.

Ideal Personality Traits: Kindness. Empathy. A desire to make the world a better place. A want to nurture the best in those around them.

Unattractive Traits: Hauteur. Cockyness. Overly flirtatious. A suck-up. Dishonesty. Wearing (proverbial) masks. Too many secrets.

Ideal Date: Shoulder-to-shoulder, fighting on the front lines!

Do they have a type?: A person who can be a partner.

Average Relationship Length: Two years-ish?

Preferred Non-Sexual Intimacy: Combat training

Commitment Level: ALL IN

Opinion of Public Affection: Embarrassing

Past Relationships?: Galeen - a month-long disaster which ended in his disappearance, but not before she left the Church for its judgment of his character as a ne’er-do-well. Galeen was exceptionally jealous of everyone she befriended, considering her too naive and believing everyone had ulterior motives with her. After he went missing, she ended up involved with Strahm Vindalis about a month later, at which point Galeen returned from his disappearance and promptly gathered his comrades to publicly shame her. Dyna ended up marrying Strahm, and the exact day of their wedding he was taken by the Apophan, and then killed a month later. She worked alongside others to bring him back from the grave, after which they mutually became involved with Mayru. When Strahm and Mayru both disappeared... Dyna came to believe that something had gone wrong with the resurrection, and by the time Strahm had resurfaced again a year later, she had annulled their marriage, believing the man she resurrected to have been an interloper wearing Strahm’s skin. (Spoiler alert: she was right.) Mykhael O’Donnelly was her last relationship, a single father with a half-orc son; initially, she hated him, thinking him a bit of a cad and a player, but she adored his son, and eventually came to love the father as well once his facade was lowered. Mykhael, too, went mysteriously missing, and in the time since, she’s lost a finger and gotten significantly uglier.

She’s pretty sure she’s cursed.

Also, for the moment, her brain is scrambled eggs so it doesn’t really bother her anymore. : )

Tagged by @wardennerd

[gevudan]

Fair bit going on Wednesday evening. Was a meeting, but got some time talking to Strahm before that, out front of the Cathedral. Sounds like he’s had a couple things keeping him busy lately. Had apparently been up in Lordaeron the night before, looking around for those worgen Kirge has apparently been trying to get on his side. Didn’t come across any while he was wandering ‘round up there, so no luck in that department. Also been looking to talk to this one group, the Dawnsworn I think he said. Didn’t got into much detail about them, just said they’ve got similar sorts of goals to our own. One of his little diplomacy projects he’s been helping Agnes out with. Not much luck there, either. Said the woman in charge is a high elf, pretty heavily pregnant, so guess I’ll try keep an eye out for her for him. Think he was a little surprised, hearing Agnes wanted to get in contact with them. Something about her not being the biggest fan of that kind of elf. Little surprised hearing that myself. Can’t say I would’ve picked her as being one to not like people on account of race, but guess it kinda makes sense, everything Aurric went through out in Krasarang.

Anyway, think that was about all we talked about before we headed down to the ship for that meeting. Had a pretty good sort of a group together for it. First time I’ve seen Argonas this side of the portal in a long time now. Good to see everybody there, not that there was too much to talk over. Got some, uh…slightly surprising news from Agnes. Turned out she’d talked to the authorities, arranged to keep Heldane on the ship up until the trial. Can see why she’d do it, considering a guy like him’s probably not all that popular down in the Stockades, but…still, would’ve been nice if there’d been a little consultation about it. Hell, if she’d at least told somebody before she went ahead and did it. Guess I’m not all that upset about it myself, but were definitely a few people who weren’t happy. Argonas walked off without saying much. Strahm was a little more vocal about the fact he wasn’t gonna be sharing the ship with a guy who killed innocent people, hasn’t given too much of an impression of being sorry about it. Guy wouldn’t say all that much when Agnes brought him out, lot he seems to be saving for the trial, but got pretty close to sounding like he felt justified  in what he did. Strahm wound up leaving as well, after Iadric’d taken Heldane and that trainee of his to talk privately up top. Think Agnes was gonna try talk him out of going, but doubt she will’ve had much luck. Probably a good thing the trial’s today, really…

Was a good thing we’d gotten the time to talk through that Norstone guy’s offer before people started leaving. Were a few doubts about it. Strahm got to worrying we were just being treated like mercenaries, wasn’t sure if we had the right people for the job. Think Kialthos was a little concerned there might be more to the whole situation than we’ve been told, thought we should do some kind of a background check on the guy who brought the offer to us. Did get at least one of those concerns dealt with, talking to Pensife a little later on. Seemed to think he’d be able to figure out some kind of cure just fine, long as he can get some samples. Said he already had some tablets on hand for a similar illness he might be able to get to do the job, with a little tinkering. Seemed to think he could do it pretty quick, too. Wouldn’t even need any new equipment. Guess that just leaves talking to this Norstone guy, finding out more about him, what the story is with this mining operation of his. Hope we can get through that fairly soon…course, is a lot of other stuff going on. Trial today, stuff out at Diamond Valley…amount of refugees that’re pouring into what’s left of Kadaar, guessing the latter could get to be pretty hard work from a humanitarian standpoint. Then again, we wouldn’t have gotten brought on if it was gonna be easy.

Speaking of Diamond Valley, did wind up doing some work yesterday towards it. See, talking about it with Kialthos Wednesday night, he mentioned water’s gonna be the big problem. Aren’t many decent sources in the immediate area, lot of people who need it, ‘specially with a lot of the refugees being sick. Got to thinking about whether I could set out some kind of pumping and filtration system out there, improve output from the local wells. Ended up spending yesterday getting some blueprints, picking up a couple old pieces of machinery, doing some tinkering. Wound up being pretty late at night by the time I got done messing around, but hopefully what I’ve ended up with’s a couple working pumps, some pretty basic filtration systems and enough old pipes that we should be able to throw them together, get down to the level where the water is. Throw in some basic explosives to clear debris away from the wells and I figure we could well have the start of a solution to Kialthos’ water problem. Know for a fact my work wouldn’t hold up against Pensife’s, or anybody’s for that matter, but hoping it’ll do the job. Good to get some practice in, working with machines and plumbing and all that. Actually, speaking of getting practice, meant to be heading to Anasella’s place some time this weekend to try fix this leaking faucet Kulara mentioned she had in one of her rooms. Should be good, being able to help her out like that. Well, long as I don’t break something, wind up flooding the whole place…

What else was there Wednesday…well, speaking of Anasella, she gave me this coin. Gold, diamonds along the edges. A gift from her and her workers, thanking me for trying to help them out, that night they got attacked. Figure it’d be worth a fair amount…wasn’t sure if I should accept it or not, to start off, but she seemed to think they could afford it. Pretty good of them, really. Figure I should be able to get good use out of whatever it does turn out to be worth, ‘specially if I’m gonna keep up fiddling around with pumps and that. Like I said, saw Kulara while I was hanging around with her, talked a little about some of the projects I’ve done fixing things up ‘round the place over the years. Saw Stehl too, actually. Not for long before I had to head home, not long enough to have a decent conversation with him, but was good to see the guy’s still alive. Or…seemed that way, anyway. Followed Kialthos and his people around, for a little while there. Wound up recruiting Parvaneh, actually, while I was hanging around. Wouldn’t have picked her as the ideal employee myself after what happened with her and Luxiwen in Lunarfall, but guess he sees something about her worth trusting. Guess it is just one time I’ve seen her be a problem, even if that one time was a little on the dramatic side of things. Oh, also nearly had a guard run me through for doing a little target practice with this one drunk guy who wandered up, started setting up some bottles. That was fun. Probably still better than letting him be the one to try knock them down.

[alterac]

i wasn't going to post these because i thought i had some sense of self respect but then i remembered it was 4am and i just ate an entire box of macncheese so 

strahm getting chased by a horde of agnes's relatives

stehl and his aggressive nipple fondling  (actual rp that actually happened) and the face alwynn seems to make 70% of the time she's around him

mumble is a horrible place to be im sorry

[gevudan]

Let’s see, Wednesday…well, got a new name for the wards, apparently. Don’t know exactly how it came up, but Sarah and Iadric must’ve been talking to them for whatever reason, had them or her or whatever pronoun you prefer prompt them to assign some kind of an alias, just for convenience’s sake. Discussed it a little over the signets. Ended up settling on Laurel. Figured that was pretty appropriate, although don’t think Kialthos was all that keen on the idea of choosing a name at all. Hard to tell whether he was joking or not, but he kept going on about how naming a synthetic intelligence like that was the first step towards them rising up, rebelling against us, killing us all and stealing our internal organs. Or something like that, anyway. That sort of thing was apparently a really popular topic for fiction authors, back on Argus. Machines or what have you starting to do things more than what they were built for, running amuck. Not really sure how worried about that sort of thing I am myself…I mean, don’t know how things were back on Argus, but not exactly like we’ve got robots all over the place ‘round Azeroth, and most of the ones there are don’t exactly strike me as the most fearsome of things. Lot’re just old buckets of bolts that happen to be able to move around on their own. Not exactly what you’d describe as the heralds of the apocalypse or anything.

Thought of the wards turning against us must not’ve been occupying his mind too much, ‘cause I found him not all that long after bothering these couple of gnomes. Was pretending to be some kind of an official investigating them claiming their particular division of the military had double the rum ration of everybody else. Seemed to be having fun with it, didn’t seem to be doing any harm, so figured I’d leave him to it, let it run its course. Strahm showed up, not all that long after Kialthos’d gotten done having his fun there.  Said he was wanting to head up to Northrend, pay the Haethons a visit. Something about finishing what he’d started, going after Rhett back when he was still with the GSI. Kialthos and I figured we’d tag along with him, try keep the guy from getting himself into trouble or anything. Had been worrying about what exactly he might’ve had in mind, but turned out I didn’t really have much in the way of cause to. Unnerved me a little, way he went stepping out of my shadow ‘round a pretty decent sized group of people, but soon as he’d done that he just started apologising. Told Rhett he was sorry for trying to kill him. Told Mirianda he wasn’t gonna worry about giving her the names of the people who’d tortured him, that he was ready to let it go, wanted to apologise for the trouble it’d put her house through. Don’t know for certain what I was expecting him to do, but sure as hell wasn’t that…definitely a pleasant surprise, at least. Figure it’ll take a fair few worries off a few people’s shoulders, if he did mean all of what he said.

Mirianda asked if we’d like to stay for supper, so figured I’d hang around a couple minutes, once Strahm got done saying his piece. Wasn’t there that long. Just long enough to have a cup of tea, hear about how Mizzen got herself shot out of a cannon a couple nights back. Got myself a portal back to Stormwind, after that. Wound up wandering through Cathedral Square just in time to run into this whole big group of gnomes having some sort of an argument. About lunches or something, according to Izzy. She was there, Hisalla with her. Was also that gnome with the blue-ish hair, one who asked me about taking care of direhorns. Flameforge is the name. Not sure I’ve ever run across a gnome with one like that before. Wonder if she’s got dwarf in her family, somewhere along the line...anyway, seemed to be really getting into the fight. No idea what it was she was saying about it, but sure seemed to be saying it loudly, least until everybody involved got teleported off somewhere. Ended up hanging ‘round with the three of them for a while, after all that business got cleared up. Can’t recall that there was really anything much of note we ended up talking about. Told Izzy how Gloria’s been getting on since last she saw her, but didn’t spend all that long on that topic. Just spent a while joking around, mostly, about various things. For some reason, that Flameforge woman seemed real keen on the idea of Izzy and Hisalla going out on a, uh…friendship date, I think was what she said. Not quite sure what her motivation there was…

[gevudan]

Ran into Anasella while I was running some errands on my lunch break, few days back now. Was wearing black. Got me wondering if she might’ve been mourning or something, considering I’d only ever seen her in colours up until then. Wonder if it was a good idea on my part to say as much…anyway, wasn’t the case. Sounds like she’s been doing alright lately, talking to her for a little bit. She’d had this trip planned to Draenor to help out a little ‘round there with the medical side of things, but didn’t end up making it. Something about figuring there were already people out there with more in the way of skill and experience and that than she does. Figure she still would’ve been able to do some good over there, but considering she didn’t seem all that disappointed about not being able to make it, guess it may not’ve been too high of a priority for her. Guess she does still have that business of hers in the Mage Quarter keeping her occupied, although don’t know how much longer that’ll be the case for. Mentioned she’s looking for somebody to take over for her there, isn’t having all that easy a time of finding a successor. Can’t imagine it’d be an easy thing to do, finding somebody’s who’s up to running a business of that kind. Did ask me if I’d be interested. Didn’t think I was, somehow. Don’t judge her or anything, know she’s a hell of a lot more ethical about what she does than a lot of people in that same industry, but…well, still doesn’t exactly come across as what you’d call savoury.

Think that was…Wednesday? That was about all that happened that day, really. Well, for me anyway. Considering Agnes and Strahm had a baby with them the evening after, guessing it was a little more the noteworthy side of things for them. Little baby girl. Hadn’t made a big announcement or anything, I guess on account of not wanting a big group of people all coming by to visit at once. Makes sense. I mean, childbirth’s not exactly what you’d call easy at the best of times. All went smoothly, no complications or anything like that, just the fact that Agnes decided to go without pain relief making it worse on her.  Don’t think I got the exact reason for it, talking it over with her. Just something about it being important, I think she said. Whatever the reason, hope it was worth the hell it must’ve been for her. Anyway. Helena’s the name. Named for Heliorn. Think she might’ve mentioned she was thinking about going with that when we were talking about it a little, good few months back now. Can’t remember whether or not that was before she was with Strahm…definitely before we found out Heliorn’s not exactly dead anymore. Name comes across a little different now than it did then, that being the case, but still a good way. Anyway, here’s hoping she and Strahm manage to settle into being parents alright. Figure it’ll be one hell of a change for the both of them, but then again, think it is for everybody. Guess they will’ve been thinking over it enough to have some idea how to handle it. Worst case scenario, other parents in the Sigil I’m sure’d be happy to help out.

Would’ve stayed talking to them about things longer, but heard some, uh…worrying stuff from Heldane over the comms. Something about how he’d gone chasing a friend of his off into the Hinterlands for some reason or another, wound up running into some of the undead up there. Got himself wounded. Last we heard was something that sounded like swords clashing, then nothing. Got going pretty quick, after that. Headed home to grab a couple weapons, got on the first gryphon headed up that way I could. Didn’t achieve much. Spent maybe half an hour or so flying over the place trying to figure out where he might’ve ended up once I’d gotten there, but no luck. Wasn’t the most thorough search I could’ve done, but considering I didn’t run into any other Sigil headed in the same direction and those simulacrums’re still wreaking havoc up there, figured it was best to pull back, save people from having to make it a rescue mission for two instead of one. Got caught up with work yesterday, didn’t get the opportunity to head up in that direction again, but…well, hoping either somebody did or Heldane managed to sort himself out, crawl back to Aerie Peak or something. Know he’s a healer and all, might’ve been able to patch himself up a little bit, but still, way things are up there right at the moment, figure it’s not a good place to wind up getting stuck.

[gevudan]

Still Life with Oranges, Jars, and Boxes of Sweets, Luis Egidio Meléndez

Looks like Kialthos is gearing himself up for some kind of a competition. Was talking about it when I met him and a few other people after dinner Monday night, ‘round Cathedral Square. Don’t think I was around to hear exactly what kind of a competition it was going to be, but wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out to be that jed’hin thing. Guess we’ll find out soon, considering it’s meant to be in three days or so now. Figure he’s gonna need to put in some pretty serious training before now and then if he’s looking to come out in top. Hopefully he’ll be alright without his armour long enough for that…think he gets to be a little paranoid being out in public without it. Shame…might not go through so many slow patches as he seems to if that wasn’t the case. Then again, could be that his problem’s more that he’s really got high standards for what he considers attractive. Would say that he’s got time to wait, hold out for someone who does meet them, but don’t know that’s quite the case with the amount he talks about needing to get some action. Ah well. Guess it’s his call, really.

Had this, uh…interesting worgen guy show up, while we were hanging around there. Think the name was Durith or something…didn’t say he was a worgen, to start off. Just said the he was a farmer from just outside Duskwood, came up to us on account of wondering if Kialthos’d mind helping him out with some ploughing work. Started getting kinda concerned when he started talking about how he’d tamed these ferals, showed off this bite he got from one of them. Was trying to tell him it’d be a good idea to see a doctor about that, changed forms just to show him I knew what I was talking about. Turned out he was allergic to worgen fur, changed forms whenever he sneezed. Just glad he didn’t turn out to be feral as a worgen…actually more intelligent, funnily enough. Not often you see that. Issue is that while he was a human, he couldn’t remember anything being a worgen, just thought he’d blacked out. Like a split personality thing. Wonder if it might’ve been something off about this corn mush he was mentioning to blame for it. Doctor Brooks was there, so we had her come over to have a look at him. Headed down to the ship myself to grab something for his allergies, but he’d run off before we’d gotten a chance to help him out too much. Weird guy, really…

Did get onto talking for a little bit about gnoll and quillboar society after that, but think the main thing for the evening’d be this, uh…well, heated’d be an understatement. Mizzen showed up with this bodyguard of hers, is how it all got started. Guy claiming to be with SI:7. Strahm took it as an opportunity to start prodding at the guy about some of the Haethons’ less admirable actions in the past, way he tends to do whenever the opportunity comes up. Lav didn’t take too kindly to it. Basically escalated from there, ‘specially once Rhett made an appearance. Ended up with Lav looking like she was about ready to take a swing at Strahm over what he was saying, Kialthos getting involved, basically calling her out for defending the Haethons, talking to Strahm the way she has done a couple times lately. Good thing her uncle was there, had something he had to drag her and Rhett off to help out with. Don’t know what would’ve happened if the conversation’d carried on any longer, angry as they were both getting. Lav got in a last comment over the signets after she left, said she was gonna be staying in Arathi indefinitely. Figure Strahm and Kialthos probably would’ve carried on the argument there if I hadn’t told them to just shut the hell up about it.

Don’t think she’s actually gonna stay up more than a couple days, talking to her briefly over the comms after she left. Figure a break might not be all that bad of an idea for her. Might give the three of them time to cool down, I guess think about why it is they’ve been riling each other up as much as they have been lately. Don’t think anybody’s completely blameless in it. Guess I blame Kialthos a little less than the others, but only on account of last night being the first time he’s jumped in, and that was after Lav’d already gotten pretty angry. Know Strahm’s got reason not like the Haethons, don’t want to step in every time he starts airing things, but think he picks at it more than he has to. Can’t take any kind of slight without jabbing right back hard as he can. That and that he seems to have a hell of a lot more against Lav than just the Haethon thing. Was calling her a barbarian after she left last night. On the other side of things, know Lav likes the Haethons and all, but even she has to admit there are some pretty legitimate grievances about them. Can’t always act like Strahm’s got no reason to be unhappy about things, take any criticism of people she’s close to personally. Issues I’m guessing we’ll need to do some pretty serious thinking about, ‘specially if Strahm makes a formal complaint about Lav the way he said he would. Wouldn’t like to see either of them stop being around, much as it seems like they can’t be around each other.

Anyway, that was my daily dose of worry at the end of what was otherwise a pretty good day. Well, wasn’t quite the end. Did talk to Belindlice for a little while, after I’d just about said everything to Kialthos and Strahm I felt I needed to. Did talk to her a little about what the fight’d been over, considering she’d been there to catch the tail end of it, but talked about other things for the most part. This box she gave me to give to Gloria, to start off. Pretty neat little thing, really…interior’s still raw, but the outside’s all neatly carved. Figured it might be a good place to keep any stones and twigs and whatnot Gloria digs up. Turns out she’d been carving it on account of what would’ve been her son’s seventh birthday coming up, felt she needed something to take her mind off it. Must be one hell of a rough time of year for her, really…must be even worse having people ‘round the Cathedral and that who don’t seem to think she actually misses her son, I guess on account of the way she can come across a little on the icy side at times. Hope business up north helps keep her mind off it as well. Not she hasn’t coped all the years up until this point, but…well, can’t imagine it’s the sort of thing that ever gets easier. Did mention she wouldn’t mind making some barrels as an anniversary gift for Eunie and myself, so guess that’ll be one other thing to keep her mind busy. Pretty good of her to offer that, really…not like it’d be easy for us to have too many of those.

[gevudan]

Strahm apparently didn’t go home after that argument Wednesday night. Agnes said as much over the comms just before we got going with pancakes last night, asked if any of us might’ve seen him or had any idea where he was. Couldn’t help much more than to say what he’d said before he left, guess that he might’ve gone to see the GSI or something. Had no idea he was that upset about what got said…I mean, wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d decided to avoid the rest of us for a couple of days or something, but never would’ve expected him not to go home. Did at least seem to’ve shown up again by the time the evening was out. Pretty sure I saw him and Agnes on the ship’s deck when I wandered down in that direction once things’d mostly quietened down for the evening, but didn’t stick around to hear what it was they might’ve been saying. Hope Agnes was able to do something to settle him down…doubt it’ll turn out well if he’s still riled up about when he’s around people next, ‘specially considering he’s not the only one upset about how things went. Sarah seemed to still be pretty angry about the way he went off at her when the whole thing got brought up last night, much as she said she is planning on apologising for it. Agree with Leper saying the guy does have a point, that the fact so many Samaritans’ve died fighting beside us is worthy of respecting, but all the same, don’t think Sarah phrasing things a little wrong’s worth all the hurt feelings that’ve come out of this.

Anyway, went ahead with doing the pancakes, in spite of all that. Pretty glad we did. Would’ve been the first time in a good while now. Know we haven’t done it since the war against the Iron Horde started, and I think we’d stopped for a good few weeks at least before then. Didn’t have as big a turn out for it as some pancake nights I’ve been at in the past. Would’ve had…what, four, five people show up looking for food? That’s including Devoner and Rhett, when they made an appearance for a minute or two there. Still, figure that’s busier than some nights we’ve had, not at all bad for our first night back at it. Had a pretty good number of Sigil along as well. Just Lassair and myself there, right at the start, but didn’t take too long before other people started showing up. Would’ve been a good half dozen or so of us hanging ‘round there by the time things got all wrapped up. Couple other people we knew who wandered by. Leper, for one, and this gorilla of hers. Interesting sort of animal, really…seemed pretty docile, more than some of the things you see people dragging around behind them ‘round the city. Seemed like it had a pretty solid sort of appetite too. Come to think of it, not sure if I’ve ever seen one of those ‘round the city before…not nearly as much as wolves and cats and that, anyway. Like I said, also had Devoner and Rhett show up, even if they didn’t stick around long. Not a bad sort of first night back at it, really…

Hung around there for a good while after we stopped serving food. Had this friend of Heldane’s show up, while we were there. Anneve, I think she was called. Think she’s a co-worker of his. Get the impression they’ve known each other a fair while now, going off the fact she seems to have a fair few embarrassing stories to tell about them. One about how he got in a drinking competition or something with this draenei who stole his arm after he passed out. Another about how he got himself banned from the Argent Tournament jousting somebody while he was drunk, stripped off to try wrestle them Arathi style after they knocked him off. Hope we wind up seeing more of her…wouldn’t mind hearing one or two more like that. Trying to think what else happened that evening…saw Mizzen, briefly. Only for a minute or two before Mirianda showed up and Lav took the two of them off elsewhere to talk about one thing or another. Was around long enough to say she’s apparently a fully-qualified nurse now. Good to see her doing well. Hopefully means she’s able to lend a helping hand here and there, wherever it is the Haethons are now. Considering her parents’re dealing with three kids now, figure they probably need whatever help they can get. Anyway, that was about it really, ‘part from talking to Lumenar for a little bit. She’s hoping the two of us might be able to do a little sparring today, before she has to head back through to Draenor in the evening. Kinda hope the same myself. Been a little while now since last I did much fighting up close, ‘specially against someone as good as she is.

[gevudan]

Talked to Jorath yesterday, out back of the Cathedral. Had seen him there a few days back, but didn’t end up talking to him then on account of there being this fairly big group of people there with him. Didn’t end up talking to him all that long, only about twenty minutes, maybe a half hour, but long enough to catch up. Sounds like he and the family’ve been getting on pretty well lately. No major issues or anything that he mentioned. Filled him on how we’ve been doing ourselves, whole situation with the ship and the simulacrum and that. Didn’t go into too much detail about that, just mentioned we were dealing with an evil clone of Agnes, that there’d been blood magic involved. Also told him about Balderos being back. Shame it doesn’t seem like he’s brought any information about Sha’naar back with him. Gather Jorath’s family is around there, that he hasn’t had any word of them or what’s going on ‘round there since we got to Draenor. Do hope they are still out there, for his sake. I mean, has to be something of a chance. Even with everything the Iron Horde’s been able to do, there are still a hell of a lot of people alive in that timeline who died in ours. With any luck, his family’re among them.

Ran into Leper after he headed off. Spent a good while talking to her, about a few things. Asked her how she gets on with Kialthos’ daughter, for one. Been kinda wondering about that since I met her, considering the two of them’re ‘round about the same age and all. Turns out they don’t really seem to get along all that well. Think Leper thinks she’s a little on the bratty side. Maybe hasn’t got quite so much in the way of experience. Guess it’s not all that much of a surprise, considering the sort of work Leper’s been doing with Kialthos. That and whatever it is she’s been through in her life that’s made her think it’s a good idea to go eating pigeons and rats and that…think Kialthos said something about her growing up in poverty when I brought that up, but don’t think I’ve gotten any specifics on that. Trying to think what else there was we talked about specifically…manners, for one thing, mostly on account of her saying out loud this half-elf woman we passed by looked strange. Don’t think she’s a big fan of those, somehow…also wound up telling her about that night elf woman down at the harbour, one who had those couple friends of hers try take Gloria that one time. Mostly told her on account of not being comfortable with her touching Gloria. Nothing personal or anything, just that I don’t really know her all that well yet and that there are a whole lot people in this city I don’t want getting anywhere close to my kid.

We’d moved to Cathedral Square by that stage in the conversation, had a fair few other people start showing up. Three resident Stroms, Sinafay a little after. Got onto talking about having ourselves some kind of a celebration, now that we’ve got the ship back. Didn’t sound like all that bad of an idea to me, really, although we didn’t get quite as far as talking over any specifics. Got distracted from that topic before too long, between Sinafay telling people about the Argonas situation and Heldane showing up with this new ride of his. Motorcycle. ‘Bout the fanciest one I’ve ever seen at that. Body’s sleek as anything, hell of a purr on the engine. Whole thing looks more like a weapon than a vehicle, looking at it from the front. Fuel efficiency’s apparently not the best, but guess it’s built more for power in the short term than being the sort of thing you could take on a long journey. Not much in the way of room you’d be able to strap gear or spare fuel tanks or anything. Still, it’s pretty damn impressive…I’d be almost tempted to ask the guy where he got it if I had a little more money saved up, wouldn’t feel like I was stealing his thunder getting something similar. Might have to ask him if he’ll let me take a look at the engine for him one of those days…

Spent a little while joking around. Strahm showed up, started talking about setting Heldane up on some kind of blind date. Didn’t take all that long to get serious, though. Heldane made some sort of comment about how he thinks he’ll probably die in battle, led to Sarah saying that nobody dies on our watch. Know she meant Sigil by that, but guess it came across pretty disrespectful to Strahm, all of the Samaritans that’ve died now fighting beside us. He got pretty ticked off by it, kinda started chewing Sarah out. That got her upset as well, which started getting Lav angry. Went downhill pretty quick from there, Strahm being Strahm. Not exactly good at deescalating, when arguments start happening around him…wound up taking his signet ring off, looked for a minute there like he was gonna throw it away. Didn’t, in the end, but didn’t put it back on either.  Did at least manage to get things partially resolved, before he left. Heldane basically shouted the two of them down, talking about how we need to stick together through all this. Shut the two of them up, at least. Meant I got a chance to try sort things out a little more calmly, explain the situation to Lav, I guess try get Strahm feeling a little better about it. Did seem to get Lav on side, but didn’t go quite so well with Strahm. He walked off after he said something about how the Sigil’s not a family for everybody in it. Didn’t quite know how to take that…I guess that he just feels like he belongs more with the Samaritans than the Sigil, maybe. Not sure. Whatever the case, best I could really think of to say was sorry.

[gevudan]

Like I said, spent the evening yesterday hanging ‘round Cathedral Square. Pretty quiet when I first got there. Just Tecwyn there, to start off. Let him know about the pancake night we’re meant to be having tomorrow. Figured that’d be a good opportunity for him to help us out a little, seeing as he still seems to be pretty keen on that. Also filled him in on the situation down in Stranglethorn, though I kinda figured that wasn’t gonna be the sort of thing he’d be interested in helping out with, considering it doesn’t sound like he’s much of a fighter. Did hear a little more about that yesterday, actually. Turns out all the fleets’re pretty much just sitting right where we left them right at the moment. Bloodsails seem to be hoping Icegrill and the Corsair King’ll take each other out so they can sail in and claim the spoils, so they’re still waiting off the coast, then the other two fleets don’t seem to be able to start negotiating on account of not having anybody there to mediate. Looking like we might have to be the ones to do that, least if we’re hoping to get that fourteenth any time soon. Anyway, we got onto talking about this translation project Tecwyn’s been working on when this dwarf joined in on the conversation. Val Cinderbraid, I think her name was. Mage. Haven’t seen many dwarven mages, come to think of it…didn’t talk to her too much myself on account of other people turning up, but did seem like she had some interesting things to say. Talked a little about using arcane fire for forging metal. Said it can apparently make it more receptive to enchantment. Might have to look into that some time myself…

Think Heldane was the first other person to show up. Iadric a little after, Strahm after him. Guy seems to be making a joke lately of telling people not to touch his dog, not that she seems all that keen on the idea of playing along with him. Ran right over to that Brooks woman when she sat down not all that far from us. Seemed to be having a pretty decent go at ruining her gloves, from where I was standing. Good thing she didn’t seem to mind too much…had a bit of a talk to her, while I was there. First I think I have done, at least since the day with the statue. Turns out she kept some of the seeds from this flower that was growing on it. Tried growing them herself. Not sure if I’d consider that all that good of an idea, really…doesn’t sound like anything bad happened the first time around, but if I were her I’d be keeping the things under lock and key, way she has been doing since. Had a couple other people show up. Devoner, for one, although he didn’t hang around all that long. Makes sense, considering the fact that he and Mirianda’ve apparently got twins at home now. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s keeping him pretty busy…I mean, that other kid of theirs is about the same age as Gloria, so guessing he hasn’t stopped being a handful just yet either. Don’t know I’d want to be looking at having kids again quite as soon as that personally, but I guess it’s their call. Guess they’ve probably got nannies or something, being nobles and all. Actually, speaking of the Haethons, that sellsword guy of theirs showed up for a little bit. Stayed just long enough to start irritating Lav. She wound up offering to beat some sense into him, old Arathi sort of style. It’ll be interesting to see if he winds up taking her up on that…

Not sure we talked about all that much, after that stage. Well, least until it was just myself, Strahm and Lav left and we got onto talking about Agnes being pregnant. Told Strahm what I’ve been thinking a little since we found out about it, that it wasn’t a good idea keeping it secret that long, ‘specially considering Agnes was right there with them when they headed through the portal. He didn’t seem to think I had much of a leg to stand on, saying as much. Started off basically saying that it was none of my business, went on to say that he’s got some complaints of his own about some of the decisions Eunie and I’ve made. Got kinda heated there for a second, before Lav stepped in, helped calm me down a little. Taking a little more time to think it over, I think what bothered me most about the whole decision’s that it sounds like Agnes decided looking like a capable leader was more important than being open with us. That she was treating us like employees, not like friends or family or anything like that. Exact same sort of thing as happened back when she was keeping her and Strahm under wraps. I mean, know it’s a Gilnean thing and all, being pretty on the private side of things, but…I don’t know. Still want to talk to her about it, next chance I get. Told Strahm as much. Feel a little better about it, having put everything out in the open, but guess last night shows it’s uncomfortable enough to still be worth talking it over with her, hearing her side of things, I guess letting her know why I’m not on board with the decision. Hope it sinks in this time around.

Anyway, that was about it for that conversation. Strahm headed off not all that long after that point. Did hang around a little while longer, on account of Lav wanting to get something off her chest. Guess with all the talk about being open and that, she figured it’d be a good time to let me know that whole cleansing thing Lassair did hasn’t really worked out. That she’s still got the fel magic running through her system. Doesn’t sound like she’s so keen on the idea of getting rid of it anymore, either. Talked about how she’s been finding it hard not being able to use her magic the way she normally would do. Guess more than anything else she was wanting to get my thoughts on whether it’d be alright for her to go back to it. Guess I can’t answer for everybody in the Sigil, but…well, way I see it, shouldn’t be too big of a problem. I mean, guess there’s no amount of fel magic that’s completely safe, but as long as she doesn’t go messing around with demons, keeps on being careful with what she does use, don’t see it being anything of an issue. Only time it really has been’s when people were getting worked up over the Kirge situation. Hopefully we’ve gotten used to it enough by now that’s not a problem anymore.

[gevudan]

Had dinner with Lumenar on Wednesday night, way she’d mentioned doing when I saw her for that little bit Sunday afternoon. First time I’ve been over to her place in a fair while now. Little dusty, but didn’t look like it’d started falling apart or anything while she’s been away on Draenor. Just her back there, so far. Izzy apparently took some leave a little while back now, but she’s back there now, same as Mitta. Drawbacks to being signed on with the military I guess, only being able to come back from there when they let you. Makes me glad I wasn’t helping out in any kind of an official capacity, really…much as I’m sure the money would’ve been good, glad I was able to come back when I did. Anyway, had some soup, just spent a while talking about things. Filled her in on how I’ve been getting on lately, how things’ve been at home, what’s been happening with the Sigil while she’s been busy handling Alliance stuff. Fact that Balderos is back, that we’ve started talking a little about making plans to get the ship back. She mentioned she could maybe see about bringing that ship of hers along to help out. Thought it might not be a bad sort of vessel to get a stealth team in there, in case we wanna have a few people heading in that way while the rest of us’re getting lined up with the big guns. Figure that might not be a bad idea…like I was saying to Kialthos last the two of us were talking it over, if we can get on the ship and get control of the wards, we’ve pretty much got it. Just a matter of figuring out how to do that, way Agnes’ simulacrum seems to be able to mess with them, ‘specially considering our Agnes isn’t likely to be able to come along. Lumenar suggested it’d probably just take a sufficiently attractive middle aged man to distract her long enough to pull it off. Shame Aurric’s not around to do that job…going off what Lumenar said, sounds like he’s quite the looker when he takes that mask of his off.

Spent long enough talking there that we wound up missing the Medical Association meeting, but got to thinking it might’ve been a good idea to wander on over in that direction anyway, see if anybody was still hanging around. Turned out to be a fair few. Strahm, Balderos, Sinafay. Sarah and Kulara as well, but they were having their own little conversation off to one side, ���bout how to handle things with Gwenelle. Hadn’t been there all that long before the rest of us decided to head off, go find a bar. Sinafay’s idea, mostly. Was looking pretty down, for some reason…not sure why. Figured it wasn’t a good idea to go asking about it in a group like that. Mentioned she could come talk to me if ever she wants to, so hopefully I’ll found out what the story there is eventually. Hope it’s not something to do with her dad…think she mentioned last I heard from her that she was heading out to Nagrand to try track him and his unit down. Mood was fairly positive for a decent while, in spite of that. Think Balderos was pretty happy just being able to sit down with friends again, enjoy a good drink, not have to worry about orcs doing whatever it is they’ve been putting him through in that prison. Other people happy just seeing him. Kialthos and Lav both showed up after a while, saw him for the first time since he’s gotten back. Just talked casually for a good while there, didn’t discuss a whole lot of much importance I can think of, but enjoyed it all the same. Now that he is back safe and sound, nice to be able to just chat occasionally in between talking about more serious things.

Was some of that to go over. Hadn’t heard about it up until then, but turned out Sarah and Iadric’d headed up to Arathi the night before. Sarah was wanting to do some scrying ‘round the elemental circles up there, see if she could find out anything about Kirge or those weapons he’s looking for. Did end up finding something. Can’t recall exactly what it was they said, but there was something about seeing a whole bunch of mages gathered ‘round looking for something, then there was a cat with a hat on that seemed to be wanting them to follow it. Led them to this crate, ‘bout half the size of a person. Think they were meant to be getting people together to open it last night, but still hadn’t taken a look inside it last I saw them. Considering they found it not all that far from the circle that’s got to do with wind, can’t help but wonder if it could be another one of the weapons. That Windscale thing, maybe. Know it’d be pretty unlikely to find something as powerful-sounding as that just lying around, but…well, guess it could happen. Don’t know. Guess I’ll probably find out talking to people about it today, assuming they did go ahead with opening the box last night. We filled Lav in with a few of the details she’s missed, while we were talking it over. What happened with Mustang at the date auction and then out in the Blasted Lands, stuff about the weapons we learned digging around down in the directors’ vaults afterwards, whole plan with the tree Balderos’ simulacrum told us about. Didn’t look to be a moment of sudden clarity or anything for her, hearing all of it, but hopefully having that extra information on board’ll helpful to her. Her and her clan. Guessing it’ll be just as handy for them knowing what they’re dealing with as it should be for us.

That was about it for the night really, ‘part from this conversation between Kialthos and Strahm about Liotuse and Vandrin. Stayed out of it myself, for the most part. See, Balderos has mentioned a couple times now he didn’t see or hear anything of the two of them while the orcs had him. Strahm’s taking that as cause to start saying we should stop looking for the two of them completely, call off any search efforts we might’ve had in mind. Then again, not like he hasn’t been saying that for a while now already…Kialthos isn’t too keen on taking his advice. Still planning on being out there looking when he’s got the time. Said he wouldn’t go putting himself at too much risk, but always gonna be some danger involved in something like that. Didn’t take too kindly to it when Strahm called him an idiot for thinking that way. Sounded like that, anyway, even if he maybe didn’t put it quite that way. Said he was just gonna be chasing ghosts. Something in there about losing what respect he might’ve had for the guy. Think a part of it’s him being worried about Kirge. Seems to want us all to be working together to deal with that quick as possible, doesn’t seem to like the idea of people going off tending to their own causes while it’s still an issue. Can see the merit in that, I guess. I mean, agree with the two of them that we do want to think about taking the fight to Kirge, wanna deal with him quick as we can, but…at the same time, we aren’t military. We’re humanitarians. Not sure how comfortable I’d feel telling people where they can and can’t go, much as we do want as many people fit to fight as possible. Knowing Kialthos, doubt telling him to stay put’d do much good anyway.

[gevudan]

Liebespaar bei Vollmondnacht am Flussufer mit Ruinen, Jakob Alt

Had Agnes and Strahm’s wedding this past week. Monday night, out in Shadowmoon. ‘Bout time really, considering they’d been engaged since at least November. Come to think of it, considering when Agnes wound up getting pregnant, figure it would’ve been a fair bit earlier than that. Guess it’s been tough for them to find the time to get everybody together, everything that’s been needing to be done out in Draenor, everything that’s been going on. Wasn’t a massive ceremony or anything. Just about half a dozen guests up at Moonwillow Peak, Lassair leading things. Pretty special, all the same. Good to see the two of them happy as they both looked, in amongst all the thinking about our missing people and the GSI and everything that’s been going on lately. Vows were good. Agnes talked about how she always used to say she’d never belong to any man but that she’s managed to find one she’s happy to be with. Strahm talked a little about how he’s not exactly truthful with most people, her being the big exception to that. Took it as an opportunity to confess how he’s been lying about coming from Stromgarde all this time, actually the son of merchants from Alterac. Not too sure how I feel about that…know Torhas wasn’t too happy about it, but wasn’t exactly the time or place to express as much. Ceremony didn’t get started ‘til mid-evening, so wasn’t time for much in the way of a reception. Quick speech from Agnes thanking us for being there, then we all gave our gifts and left the two of them to it. They didn’t say anything about honeymoon plans, but figured they’d be going on one somewhere. Guess I’ll find out the details whenever it is they end up getting back. Not all that sure when that’s gonna be, but considering how long it’s taken them to get to this stage and everything that’s been going on lately, can’t say I’d blame them if they make it a longish one.

Week so far’s been pretty quiet, apart from that. Only other thing worth mentioning’d be the Medical Association meeting in Ironforge Wednesday night. Eunie and I wound up heading along, leaving Gloria with a sitter for the evening. First one of those I’ve managed to make it to in a fair while now. Last would’ve been…I think maybe the one about undeath? One Kialthos and I went to, maybe a week or so after that first big push through to the other side of the portal. Don’t know how many of them there’ve been since, but haven’t been able to go along, being on the Draenor side like I have been. Am glad I managed to make it along to this one. It was pretty interesting stuff. Talking about dragons, this time around. Time was divided about half and half between talking about treating the sorts of injuries a dragon might wind up with and how to properly take care of a whelp. Little bit of general physiology stuff, on top of that. Got caught up talking to somebody over by the forges on the way there, so got there a little late in the end, didn’t manage to catch the lecturer’s name. Think I might’ve heard Hawkins or something, at one stage. Whoever she was, really seemed to know her stuff. Can’t say that I’ve ever actually found myself in the position of having to take care of a dragon or anything like that, ‘part from that little while I kept the twilight drake around. Not all sure how likely it is in the future, but guess if that ever does wind up being the case, information seems like it could come in pretty handy.

Spent a while hanging around after the lecture and question time and all that’d gotten wrapped up. Khaalia ended up coming along close to the end, so spent a little while talking to her, hearing about how she’s been getting on. Doesn’t seem like the pregnancy’s been slowing her down too much just yet, ‘part from while she was dealing with the morning sickness earlier on. Still been travelling ‘round a fair bit. Did say she’s been taking a bodyguard with her lately, although doesn’t sound like that’s kept her from having to fight completely. Mentioned something about a run-in with a group of orcs, few days back now. Doesn’t sound like the best situation to be in, her condition being what it is, although has been taking precautions. Said she’s been using her chi to create this bubble sort of thing around the baby. Not too sure on the specifics of it, but I guess the idea’s to just add another layer of protection, mean there’s less risk of something going wrong. Interesting sort of trick, really…don’t know how much it’ll help her once she starts getting aches and that, but I guess if it means she can keep active until then, should be good for her mental health. Way she’s already talking about leaving the kid with Jack for a little while after they’re born, running off to go adventuring, don’t know how well she’d handle having to settle down for the whole seven months or so that’re left. Like Eunie was saying after she headed off, she’s a bit of an interesting character sometimes. Then again, considering what Draenor’s like, guess it’s understandable she’d want to keep on being out there, seeing as much of it as possible, even if half the plants’re out to kill you and it’s got more dangerous animals wandering around than you can shake a stick at.

[gevudan]

Moved back to Stormwind Saturday. Spent most of the day just shifting things out of the inn room we’ve been staying in while we’ve been in Stormshield. Think it’s safe to say the move’s been coming for a while now. I mean, we’ve been in Stormshield…what, past two months, maybe a little more than that? That whole time, don’t think any of the three of us’ve ever felt all that settled there. Way things ended back in Shadowmoon, think Eunie’s been worried about the possibility of something similar happening again, even with as many military types wandering around as there were. From my perspective, place has just never felt all that friendly. ‘Part from the couple times I’ve run into Sigil people out there and maybe one or two occasions aside from that, it’s always felt like everybody’s just there to do their jobs, aren’t interested in talking much. Guess that’s fair enough, considering we’re at war and all, but doesn’t really put you in the best mood being ‘round that sort of atmosphere all the time. Guess I never really felt all that useful there either, or useful enough to justify staying at least. I mean, had the blacksmithing work, but there’s no reason I couldn’t have been doing that in Stormwind instead. Am going to be, now that I’m back. Wasn’t like in Shadowmoon where I was able to be out hunting or trading, getting to know the locals, all sorts of little things here and there to help the cause. Think Gloria’s what settled it for me. Took her through with me Friday when I went to do the first supply run of the day, took her for a wander down towards the cottage. Should’ve seen the way her face lit up once she’d figured out where we were. Between seeing that and the doubts Eunie and myself’ve been having lately…well, let’s just say coming back wasn’t a tough decision to settle on.

Did manage to make time in between shifting things to head to Lunarfall for the interrogations. Even dressed up for the occasion. Brought along this set of armour a couple of the blacksmiths in Stormshield gave me as a sort of going away present. Figured it might’ve come in handy if any of the orcs’d taken exception to Agnes poking around inside their heads, although between the number of people we had there and the soldiers Torhas had on hand in case things got messy, don’t know I would’ve gotten much chance to test out its capabilities. Didn’t have occasion to use it, in the end. Whole process ended up going pretty clean, really. Worried we might’ve had an issue on our hands when Torhas’ people started dragging this one big guy out of the cells, that the chains might not’ve held, but they managed to restrain him alright in the end. Good thing, too. Rest of the prisoners we brought back didn’t seem like they had too much in the way of information to offer, but thanks to him, we’ve got ourselves a lead to go off. Guy who captured out people is an Iron Horde bounty hunter called Borumugg. Blackrock, I think Agnes said. Guessing he’s the one with the kukri we had a couple run-ins with, out in the Blasted Lands. Made it sound like he’s something of an independent operative, kept on a pretty loose rein, but apparently he got assigned to Shattrath a little while back. There was a meeting yesterday at Lunarfall to talk things over, decide based on the information we got what our next move’s gonna be. Wasn’t able to make it myself, but unless some other information came up Saturday night, Sunday morning, I’m guessing we’re gonna be heading to Shattrath. No guarantee the guy’ll still be there waiting for us, but figure it’d be worth a shot. If anybody’s likely to know where our people are, sounds like it’ll be him.

Not much else going on that day, ‘part from those couple of things. Eunie and I did run into a few people in Cathedral Square in the evening, not all that long before we headed home for the night. Saw this new puppy of Strahm’s. Victoria, I think he’s calling her. Meant to be a play on the name of that cat of Agnes’, one he doesn’t like on account of it reminding him of Aurric. Think he said she was a birthday gift from Agnes. Cute little thing, really. Isn’t house trained yet, but I’m sure Agnes’ll be getting onto that pretty soon, once more immediate concerns’re out of the way. Amount the two of them’re gonna be getting up and down in the middle of the night in a couple months’ time, wouldn’t be the best having unpleasant things get left lying around in the middle of the floor. Think Strahm’s gonna have himself plenty of fun with the thing. Already seems to’ve been getting attached. Already has this harness of some kind or another on her so it can carry his tea for him. Think that’s what I heard, anyway. Been talking about teaching her to hide things around the place, figuring out how to train her to irritate all the other animals ‘round the house as much as possible. Kinda funny, really. Did also see Kialthos and Ibaalin. Two of them seemed to be getting ready to launch into some kind of argument just as I was heading off. Think she might’ve said something about the arakkoa that rubbed him the wrong way. Not sure, really. Guess I just hope they figured things out, whatever it was.

[gevudan]

Sarah had herself some fun Friday. There was this draenei guy standing out front of the Cathedral trying to block people from getting in. Something to do with claiming it for this god of his, Solare I think the name was. Never really found out what the deal with that was. People were getting pretty agitated with the guy by the stage I got there, raising voices and all that. Ended up chasing him into the Cathedral, chaining him up when they cornered him down in the crypts, although I think they may’ve decided against dragging him off to the Stockades in the end. Think Sarah ended up joining his cult somehow, before that stage, although don’t know she had any more idea what was going on than I did. Ended up with glowing yellow eyes on account of it, all the same. Think she said it was just some kind of mana disturbance, sort of thing a lot of Kirin Tor apprentices could pull off without much effort. Whatever it was, good to see her having some fun. Think she’s gotten to be pretty worn lately, dealing with things out on Draenor. Plenty of draenei around for her to ogle, but guess she’s not really keen on that, situation with Matthes being what it is. Engagement’s off, apparently. I’d kinda had an inkling, way she seemed to have something she wanted to say last I brought it up over the comms, plus the way she was talking Friday about having to find herself a new place to live. Guess she figured the disappearances were more than she was gonna be able to handle in the long run. Shame, really…much as I can’t say they struck me as the most stable of couples all the time, did seem to make each other happy.

Spent a while hanging ‘round Cathedral Square after that whole thing with the Solare guy got cleared up, not that it was the last disturbance to happen there over the course of the day. Confrontation a little later on between this whole big group of paladins and this one warlock who was sitting out front of the Cathedral on this horse that may or may not’ve been demonic in some way or another. Couldn’t even call it an argument. Just them saying over and over again that demons’re forbidden within the city and that people dragging them around’re supposedly kill-on-sight and her just either ignoring them or saying her horse didn’t qualify. Think Strahm enjoyed himself, making the odd jab at them here and there. Think he probably got more enjoyment out of that than out of the conversation we’d been having earlier. Basically about how he doesn’t really seem to trust a lot of people in the Sigil, doesn’t feel comfortable showing anybody other than Agnes who he really is. Afraid of putting his emotions out in the open, getting hurt on account of it. Don’t know he’s really got any right to be surprised if people don’t read him right on account of it, don’t immediately start questioning it when they hear less than positive things about him the way Argonas must’ve done talking to the other version of Sinafay. Guess it’s his call, though. Long as it doesn’t get anybody other than himself into trouble. Speaking of trouble, just about got himself dragged up to Acherus later on in the evening, messing around with this one deathknight who wandered past wearing a mask like Aurric’s. Could well’ve had to spend the night there if it hadn’t been for that body-splitting trick of his. Always seem to forget he can do that…then again, considering Agnes seems to do the same even with the amount she’s around him, guess I shouldn’t feel too bad about it.

What else happened that day…met this one draenei friend of Kialthos’. Or…something like a friend, anyway. Employee, if nothing else. Ibaalin. Been with him a while, apparently, ever since Draenor. Think I’d seen her before, heard her having it out with Cuthben this one time when RBM were having a meeting on the ship. Didn’t really end up talking to her all that long that night. Briefly discussed Draenor, fact that she’s not really keen on spending much time on the other side of the portal. Sees it as not a whole lot more than a reminder of everything she lost when things went to hell in our timeline. Also talked about what it’s like to be a worgen, although didn’t get all that in-depth on that before she had to head off elsewhere. Did also see Agnes in the evening. Got a chance to talk to her for a little after that whole thing with the deathknight got wrapped up. Think the big thing to come out of that conversation’s that she knows I know she’s pregnant now. Strahm mentioned she might like to let people know about her condition before the interrogations, otherwise he might’ve had to go telling people for her, probably not in her preferred fashion. I chimed in a little, mentioned it might be for the best for her to do it her way, or as close to her way as possible. Bit of a weight off my shoulders, having that out in the open, not that I’m at liberty to go spreading it. Way she talked about still being a Gilnean lady, I’m guessing she wouldn’t exactly be too pleased with me if I went spreading the news any further than Eunie. Not that I would’ve been inclined to anyway, considering it’s kind of a delicate topic for most people, but guess I’ll consider the implied threat there something of an encouragement.

[gevudan]

Sunday was the day Erathur picked for us to headout into the desert out in Gorgrond, try hit this Iron Horde war camp him and his people’d managed to track down, been keeping an eye on. Hadn’t been sure if we’d find anything like that, after what Tylaana’d said, but guess it’s a good thing that we did. Had a decent-sized group heading in there. Torhas brought a few mages on top of his commandos, then we had maybe a half-dozen Sigil along. Sylaess, too. Hadn’t been expecting to see her out there, but am glad she managed to make it along, way things ended up going. Started out alright. People on the ground managed to use magic to disguise themselves, pretty much just walked straight into the place. Idea was to trick their leader into going with them, capture her and maybe a few other people, drag them through the portal the mages’d gotten set up back to Lunarfall. Didn’t work out that way. Not sure exactly what it was that happened, but didn’t take all that long for fighting to break out. I was pretty focused on the snipers, trying to either take them out or just suppress them a little, so didn’t see all that much of the fighting in the main camp, but from what I’ve heard it didn’t go all that well. Did get the prisoners we wanted, but came at a hell of a cost. This timeline’s version of Sinafay took a hell of a beating, enough that she’s pretty damn lucky she was still breathing when we got back to Lunarfall afterwards. Few other injuries here and there among the rest of the Sigil group. Torhas’ people got the worst of it, though. Out of the thirteen commandos he’d brought with him, think only about five of them made it out afterwards. Happy we’re hopefully one step closer to finding our missing people, but…well, just hope the orcs we brought back’ve got some pretty decent information to give. Much as I do want to get Balderos and everyone back, thought that we might’ve just traded eight lives for three ain’t a pleasant one.

Been back in Stormshield full-time since then. Couple brief trips back to Stormwind, but nothing too worth mentioning. Have to say, is nice not to be heading into the jungle every day like I was while we were still camped out there. Much as I’ve got my complaints about Stormshield, nice not to spend a few hours of every day wondering if that’s gonna be the one when the genesaur finally decides to take notice. Not sure Strahm’s liking it quite so much, talking to him Monday night. Guess with the situation with the Samaritans and still not knowing who that deathknight from the Badlands was, makes him a little edgy being around as big of an Alliance presence as there is here. Did actually talk about that a little bit, whether it’d be worth heading out to whatever’s left of the facility in the Badlands to see if there might be any clues left behind. Maybe something for when we’ve recovered from Gorgrond, got some idea where we might be headed next. Anyway, much as he might not feel too comfortable here, figure it’s not all that bad of a place for him and Agnes to be right now. ‘Part from the Horde to the north, it’s pretty stable. Not many people wandering around looking to cause trouble or anything. If the situation with the Samaritans hasn’t gotten cleared up by then, might not be all that bad of a place for him to settle into fatherhood without having to look over his shoulder all the time. Is a little worried about how he’s gonna adjust to it. Much as it is something he wants, being a father, seems to be afraid of what might happen if he lets his guard down in the process. Understandable, considering how that worked out when he first got married. Apparently made it a day before people came after him and his wife. Hope things work out better for him this time around.

Apparently hasn’t got nearly as long to plan things out for when the baby arrives as I’d thought. Thought when I first heard the news that Agnes might’ve been a few weeks in or something, but turns out she’s already at the six month mark. Had to take a couple stiff drinks to get my head around that one. Honestly…don’t know I wanna call the two of them out over it or anything, but not sure I approve of them keeping it secret for that long. Do have their reasons. Guess Agnes didn’t like the idea of anybody coddling her or worrying after her health while she still had a job to do, leading the Sigil amongst other things. Gonna be the one to interrogate those prisoners we brought back from Gorgrond, whenever Erathur’s ready for that to happen. All the same, can’t help but think back to the way she was back when she and Strahm first got together, how she didn’t really feel comfortable telling anybody about the two of them or about her and Aurric on account of worrying it’d make people think less of her as a leader. Then again, might only sound that way on account of only having heard things second-hand. So far, she still doesn’t know that I know. Figure it’ll stay that way until either she tells me herself or Strahm says it’s alright to mention he let the cat out of the bag. Much as I want to do what I can to lend a hand, offer advice or to help out here and there, don’t want to throw him under the wagon or end up making her upset over it. Guess for now I’ll just offer him what advice I can, maybe talk to Eunie about getting some stuff together they might need. Toys, clothes, all that kind of thing. Tools, too. Strahm’s gonna need them if he’s wanting to make the cot himself the way he said he is. Don’t know he knows anything about carpentry, but I guess he’ll figure things out, if he decides to go down that path. Got a couple months still to get some practice in.

[gevudan]

Spent a fair bit of Saturday scouting. Consideringwhat’d happened the night before with the saberon and that I couldn’t find Torhas around camp to ask him what he’d planned in terms of a new campsite, figured it’d be worth heading north, taking a bit of a look around to see if I could find any good spots to get ourselves set up. Found a couple interesting things while I was out there. For one, managed to find that Deadgrin place again, plus this other outpost that looks like it’s getting used by our Horde. Camp-looking sort of area north-north-east of where we’ve had ourselves set up, right at the foot of the mountains that seem to run the length of the border between the forest and the desert. Standard Horde banners out the front, but looked to be a few Laughing Skull inside of it. Interesting thing about both sites is that they seem to have a look of braziers and torches set up around the edges. Trying to ward off the botani and their kind’d be my guess. Maybe something to keep in mind in our next camp, although I guess we can’t afford to make ourselves visible to the same extent as they can. Speaking of camp, did find a new spot to get one set up. It’s right on the border with the desert, off to the side of what looks to be a pretty main road leading north. Just past this ruined stone wall, I’m guessing Gorian architecture. It’s tucked away up in the hills, have to climb up some rubble and some rocks to get to it. Got ogres not all that far to the north, but with being the hidden and up out of the way like we are, shouldn’t have to worry about them. Terrain’s got the same disadvantages as the last site did, but I figure we can work around them, just like we have been doing up until now. If nothing else, should make a decent spot to store supplies and keep the portal going until we find out what Erathur’s plans are.

Spent that evening going back and forth between there and the first campsite, getting supplies all brought over to the new one. Did a real number on my back, hauling that number of packs on my own, but at least it’s all over and done with now. Found out while I was getting the last bag ready to go that Strahm’d been at camp the whole time. Shame he didn’t make himself known earlier. Could’ve used the help, though did turn out he wasn’t exactly in the best position to be offering it. Turns out the injuries he wound up with after that fight with the botani were a fair bit worse than he’d been letting on. Some pretty nasty internal damage, from the sounds of things. Bad enough that he’s been pretty much just sitting still these past couple days, just doing what he can to heal on his own. Probably could’ve done with getting a medic to take a proper look at him, but I guess he figured that with other people being hurt, he’d just do what he could to take care of himself. Don’t know I’d necessarily call it the smartest of decisions, but guess he’s not wrong in saying that there have been plenty of other wounds needing to be looked at, and that’s without us having met a single member of the Iron Horde since we got here. Seems to’ve left him feeling pretty pessimistic about the whole rescue mission, not that he was sounding all that positive even as we were heading out of Lunarfall. Can’t really blame him for feeling a little worried, condition Agnes is apparently in. Pregnant. He said I’m the first to find out, ‘part from the two of them. Know I’ve had my doubts in the past about the two of them becoming parents together, but talking it over with him, get the feeling they’ll get on just fine. All the same, between the war and the missing people, they could’ve picked a better time for it.

Don’t know I’d want to be out in Gorgrond if I were in his position, but guess he feels like he doesn’t really have all that much of a choice about it. Guess with what happened to him out in Silithus, he wouldn’t feel right going home while people’re still out there searching, risking their lives doing as much. Other thing’s the situation lately with the Samaritans, them being hunted by somebody. Long as he’s out in Gorgrond, he figures that’ll keep Agnes from being in danger on account of somebody going after him. Still don’t know for certain who that somebody’d be. I’d been thinking it was K’s people, but I’m not so sure after talking it over with him last night. Like he said, K’s forces weren’t exactly all that big in terms of numbers when we tried raiding his holdings down in Stranglethorn that one time. Weren’t all that well equipped, either. Makes him think it could well be the Alliance behind things up in Dun Morogh, out in the Badlands. Don’t know why they would’ve decided all of a sudden to try wipe the last of the Samaritans out, but they’d definitely have the sorts of resources you’d need to throw that kind of opposition at us. Talking it over, thinking our best bet’d be to try identify that death knight who seemed to be in charge of things in the Badlands. Weapon she was using’s unique enough that I’d bet somebody in the Ebon Blade could identify her using it, assuming she’s one of theirs. If she’s not and it turns out she’s a renegade of some kind or another, that’d mean the odds’re pretty low of her ending up in a high rank in the Alliance. Whichever one it turned out to be, we’d definitely be taking a pretty big step in the right direction. Thinking I’ll write to Heliorn, see what he can do. With any luck, won’t take too long to get a result. Long as all the Samaritans that’re left’re in Draenor, guess it’s not all that urgent, but I figure getting an answer of some kind or another might help put Strahm’s mind at ease.

[gevudan]

Hasn’t really been a whole lot going on these past few nights. Not that I’ve seen, anyway. Might well’ve been something going on in the Badlands, going off what I heard the other night. Think it was the Badlands and not the Blasted ones…hope I put the right one down when I was writing to Agnes about it. Anyway, I’d been talking to her and Strahm for a little bit when his earpiece started going off. GSI, wanting to talk to me of all people. Don’t quite know why it is they picked me to pass the information onto rather than him…anyway, story is that there’s some kind of facility somewhere out there that’s meant to be opening up pretty soon. Has a spear in it, something to do with that Sphinx guy. Didn’t really get all that much in the way of information on exactly what it is, but wouldn’t surprise me if it’s somehow connected to those rod things he was using when we were fighting him. Anyway, think Cortex was wanting us to send some people out that way to help out the couple of Samaritans she’s got there already, try track the place down before K’s people do. Apparently nobody’s got any solid idea of exactly where it is, so figure there’s a decent chance of pulling it off. Told Agnes as much when I was writing to her about it. Figured that with things being what they are, people still being missing this side of the portals, sending even a small group back over to lend a hand’s a big enough call it should probably be left up to her, ‘specially considering I’m not all that sure if I’m gonna be able to help out personally.

Like I said, had been talking to Agnes and Strahm for a little bit before that whole conversation with Cortex popped up. Couple bits of news there. For one thing, Heliorn and his mentor are apparently gonna be helping out with tracking down our missing people. Have to get around to sending a letter his way, come to think of it…anyway, figure that should be pretty helpful. Not sure the Ebon Blade’s the first group that’d spring to my mind thinking about scouting and tracking and all that, but figure any help we can get’s plenty welcome. Other thing’s that they’ve started officially inviting people to their wedding. Don’t know they’ve decided for certain on a date yet, but seem to be getting pretty heavily into planning, thinking about what to wear, venues, all that kind of thing. Seems like they might end up having it in Stormwind, if it’s not gonna cost too much to get the number of people back to Azeroth who I’m guessing’ll want to be there for it. Portals may’ve gotten a little more stable if the wedding doesn’t wind up being until some time next month. Don’t know I’d pick the city for it personally, but guess there are worse places. Is home, after all. Might be nice to pop back for a little bit, if it does wind up working out, check on the cottage and that. Course, don’t know we’d be able to stay there long if people still haven’t been found by that stage. Not too confident they will’ve been, considering I haven’t heard anything much new for a while now. Much as I know Agnes wants to head through and get the ship back, figure it’s still not our priority as long as we’ve still got people this side who need our help.

Didn’t do much the couple days after that. Wound up spending some time talking to Sina…Tuesday evening, I think? First time I’ve seen her in a little while now. Probably the first time anybody but Osbern’s seen her for a couple weeks, considering the punishment it sounds like she took during that mission out in Talador. Said something about wearing herself out keeping a building held up, then took some pretty heavy damage to one shoulder from some shrapnel on top of that. Seemed in good spirits, though. Keen on getting back into fighting the orcs soon as she’s able. Invited me to come along with her and Osbern hunting some of the ones to the south of here. Figure it might not be all that bad of an idea, at some stage. Don’t really know all that much about the ones ‘round these parts, ‘part from the bits and pieces I’ve heard talking to people since I got here. Could be good to get some first-hand experience, just in case we ever do wind up having to fight them while we’re based here. Talked to her about the military, is the other thing. Mentioned I’d been thinking about getting in contact with them personally, seeing if I might be able to get some supplies and gear that way. Been putting some thought into it since the topic came up last I was talking to Lumenar. Seems like it might help me do my job a little better, but guess my concern’s that they might want more in return than I’d be interested in offering. Could wind up getting obligations or restrictions thrown my way. Kinda hard to put it into words, but think Sina got my meaning. Think we’re a little alike when it comes to taking orders. Not opposed to it per se, but prefer to be able to choose who we’re taking it from, whether to follow them or to take a step back from the situation. Not generally the sort of option that gets presented when you’re dealing with military types.