Silver Circle

This thread will contain all relevant information on the Smoke on the Water Campaign, from IC NPC reports, to follow-up stories, and even images related to the campaign. Unless marked otherwise, everything posted here is considered IC knowledge to everyone in the Circle. Please do not comment or post here unless you've been given permission.



Misty Mountains
Members of the Silver Circle met up with Priestess Shimmerweave in Thal’darah Overlook, near Stonetalon’s peak. There they were informed of strange sightings in several areas of the Stonetalons, reports of dancing lights and thick, heavy fog. The Circle agreed to investigate, using a map given to them by the sentinels. During their investigations, they came across a tauren druid of the Cenarion Circle by the name of Dauro Spiritcreek. Dauro marks another spot on their map where there has been the same reports.

Before the Circle can investigate, Priestess Shimmerweave informed them she was already in the third area, searching for a missing child, with the help of two sentinels. The Circle rushed to meet up with her, only to find the ruins covered completely by a thick fog that was impossible to see through. Attempts to scout from within were difficult, as the fog continually immobilized the scouts, but eventually they found Shimmerweave, the sentinels, and the missing child. Unfortunately, by the time they find the others, something in the fog attacked the group, and made off with the Shimmerweave’s saber, Fariel. Afterwards, the Circle reconvened in Thal’darah Overlook to discuss their findings. Dauro promised to share with them any relevant information he finds, then bid them farewell.




A Foggy Fate
The Circle meet up in Lor’danel, as Sentinel Captain Rillis Voidstrike informs them that the glowing fog they encountered in the area has been seen here as well. Captain Voidstrike pointed out three areas in Darkshore where the fog had been seen, and the Circle agreed to split in three groups to investigate each one immediately. Priestess Shimmerweave leads the group that investigates Ameth’aran, Captain Voidstrike takes another group to the fog location to the north, and one of Voidstrike’s sentinels leads the third group to investigate the river location in the middle.

The group in Ameth’aran encountered a fog that behaved very similar to the one in Stonetalon; it immobilized most of them, and acted aggressively. It only disappeared after Elliistra began to bleed. The group that went to the river found that the glowing fog was actually created by a group of naga, using it as cover to disguise their movements to and from the ruins further in. After a brief, though difficult fight, they manage to slay the naga and take the treasures their foes had gathered from the ruins for themselves. The third group, to the north, found that the glowing fog in the area was caused by a geyser that formed during Cataclysm, and that had begun to worsen over the years. The glowing lights were from a moonstone deposit in the geyser.

The three groups reconvened back in Lor’danel, and the loot from the second group’s excursion was examined and put away. Of note among these objects was a tablet that detailed a magic ritual that would create an arcane barrier over the caster’s targeted location. The barrier kept anything from getting in, but as Keeper Feyawen noticed and was able to translate, it also kept anything from -leaving- the barrier, effectively serving as a trap.




The Interim
Months passed following their encounter, and agents of the Silver Circle began to wonder if the dangerous mists had vanished entirely. Priestess Nelysea Shimmerweave wasn't convinced, and continued the investigations in the Stonetalon Mountains in the absence of the mysterious mists.


The Starsurge Laboratory
Some months later, members of the Circle met with Priestess Shimmerweave in a small grove nestled within the western mountains of Stonetalon.

There she informed them of the letter the tauren druid Dauro Spiritcreek had sent her, and of her suspicions that whatever was inside this nearby cave could point to the source of the dangerous fog that lurked in Highborne ruins. The Circle then made their way inside a cave, and they soon found out that whatever had happened here was much more complex than they had thought.

The cave turned out to be a forgotten Highborne research facility, known as the Starsurge Laboratory. An opal sphere they found and later activated revealed the logs of one of the researchers working here, E’nyssa Thor’lys.



Between the woman’s recordings, and one of the still intact research rooms they searched, the Circle realized this place held several experiments that were being run for an indeterminate period of time. One of these experiments was a tortured and crazed lowborne woman, who had somehow been put in stasis and locked inside a ring. She attacked the Circle, severely wounding Isuldien Leafswift in the process.

After the woman was put to rest, the Circle approached the last room, sealed by a massive stone door. As they investigate it, the undead spirit of a highborne woman, soon recognized as E’nyssa Thor’lys herself, appeared. She spoke briefly to the Circle, her anger at Azshara’s evident abandon of this place driving her to make a bargain with them; she would open the door for them if, and only if, they swore to slay whatever lay beyond the door. She revealed that behind said door was the fog creature the Circle had been hunting, that it had, somehow, been trapped behind there since the great collapse, so long ago. The Circle agreed, and the shade of E’nyssa told her to give her one day, and to return prepared to face the fog creature, the failed ‘guardian’.




The Final Confrontation
The Circle prepared themselves in their camp before they headed once more into the depths of the forgotten Starsurge Laboratory. There, they found that the shade of E’nyssa had kept up her end of the bargain, opening the doors for them. Past the doors, they encountered a pristine set of skeletal remains, and the opal sphere they uncovered two days ago activated once more, showing one last log. The log revealed that this skeleton was the remains of Lord Sildraen Da’quelas, the Highborne researcher responsible for the creation of Falodreas. (tinyurl.com/SildraenLog).

Shortly afterwards, Falodreas appeared and began to attack the group. The Circle was hard pressed to fight back against an opponent they did not see, until Isuldien and Quorala realized what was empowering the creature’s fog, and led the Circle in destroying it. With that, their foe revealed himself. (tinyurl.com/Falodreas). Falodreas proved to be incredibly dangerous, knocking out, and severely wounding, Thinius Shadowfern, and later Isuldien Leafswift.

When things seemed truly dire, Dauro Spiritcreek, his thero’shan Talryssa Stonebend, and three Sunrock Braves made it past the door, coming to the aid of the Circle. With these reinforcements, the Circle was able to defeat, and kill, Falodreas, with Mythanil striking the final blow as she claimed the kill in Fariel’s name.

With that, the Circle made their way back to camp, the sunrock braves helping to carry their wounded. At the mouth of the cave, E’nyssa’s ghost appeared once more, covered in the volatile arcane magic she’d ripped from Falodreas’s corpse. Utilizing it, she collapsed the cave, ensuring no one could enter. Back at the camp, Dauro spoke briefly with Keeper Feyawen, speaking words of praise for the Keeper and her Circle, before he took his leave with his allies and his student. The Circle settled down to recover from a hard fought battle.

[[ IC Hook for the first event, tomorrow September 15,2017]]

((This is a hefty package, containing at least a dozen papers. The package bears Priestess Shimmerweave’s name, though she has chosen to share its contents with members of the Circle. The first of the papers in the package is a report that seems to have been written in a hurry.))

Captain,

Sister Thalas and I have seen strange activity for the third time in a row near Stonetalon Peak. We saw glowing lights as we approached the peak the first night, but by the time we got close enough to see what it actually was whatever caused it had disappeared. The second night we saw the glowing lights again, nearly the same time as the previous night.

This time, Sister Thalas and I raced to see what was causing it, and saw a faint grey mist in the area. We considered it odd, but not the cause of whatever lights were. However, Sister Thalas noted the area was much quieter than usual. The Peak is still recovering from its corruption, but even on bad days one could still hear the occasional sounds of wildlife. By the beginning of the third day, Sister Thalas and I decided to set up watch nearby. To see if we could finally find out what had been causing the strange lights.

The third night, Sister Thalas woke me up a little before midnight and pointed towards the center of the Peak, near the marble columns. Or at least where the columns should have been. They were almost completely enveloped by a thick, grey fog. Silver and blue lights moved quickly and erratically around the fog, following no discernable pattern. We watched the fog from a distance of about 80 yards, and it did not seem to notice us during this time. Sister Thalas claims she saw a humanoid figure moving within the fog, but I saw no such thing.

Eventually, an eagle flew too close to the fog. Whether it was tired or wounded enough to fly so low, neither of us could tell. But as soon as it flew into the fog, there was a loud shriek. Moments later, the fog vanished, and the eagle was nowhere to be found. We waited ten minutes before approaching the area, hoping to find something useful, but could see nothing. The only thing out of place was a faint smell of blood in the air, nothing else.

Sister Thalas and I are undecided as to what this could be; some new sort of predator, a magical creation, or a remnant of lingering void corruption in the Peak. Captain, please let the other Sentinels in the area know of this thing’s existence.

Signed,

Sentinel Nilrand Nightlance.


((The missive bears a few other, shorter reports. They all mention glowing lights by the peak, some also add the appearance of thick, grey fog in a ruined Highborne area in the Northwest mountains. There is also a brief message written by the Sentinel Captain who sent the missive. “Priestess Shimmerweave, we may not have spoken in nearly a decade, but I would ask your assistance once again. I do not know what is causing this, and the Sentinels in the area are spread too thin to properly investigate it. I heard you have taken up with the Silver Circle, and thus I would ask for your help and theirs in this matter.”


(The last message is in Priestess Shimmerweave’s handwriting)

In’elah, Shan’are.

To all who have read these reports and are willing, please meet with me tomorrow at Thal’darah Overlook at noon. I am already on my way to Stonetalon to learn more of the situation, so that I can properly brief you all tomorrow. We will get to the bottom of whatever is causing this.

Signed,
Priestess Nelysea Shimmerweave

((This missive is addressed to the Silver Circle, sent by one Sentinel Drocaria.))

To all members of the Silver Circle,

I have already reported to my superior the events that transpired last night in the Ruins of Eldre’thar, but I feel I should inform you as well. I, along with Sentinel Tarsis, are the ones who volunteered to go with Priestess Shimmerweave to look for the missing dwarf child, Haddvalla. We approached the ruins on our sabers, with Priestess Shimmerweave taking point atop Fariel.

As we reached the edge of the ruins, a fog suddenly formed in them, spreading quickly to encompass the area. Priestess Shimmerweave attempted to use the Gnomecorder to signal our Sentinel sisters in the Overlook and let them know of the situation, but all we could hear from the other end was static. After several failed attempts, we decided to brave the fog in order to find the girl. Tarsis and I were only a few feet in the fog when our sabers refused to go any further. We quickly decided to have them wait for us, and proceed on foot. Only Fariel, the priestess’s saber, remained beside us.

The fog soon grew to be incredibly thick, and we could barely see a foot in front of us. We must have been trying to force our way through it for at least five minutes before Fariel reacted to a sound in the distance. It was too faint for the rest of us to make out, but we chose to follow the saber’s lead.

In minutes, she led us towards a ruined archway, where we soon found the dwarven girl. She couldn’t move her legs, and try as we might to pull her, she would not budge. It was then that Priestess Shimmerweave saw something move in the fog, and bade us to be quiet. Tarsis drew her glaive, and must not have seen how close Haddvalla was to her, for one of the edges of her glaive cut the girl’s hand. Moments later, we heard a shriek. I still cannot say with any certainty what it was that attacked us, but it was only through luck that Tarsis and I deflected its blows. To be perfectly honest, it felt as if the fog itself had come to life, and was lashing out at us.

That was when two of yours, whose names I did not catch, finally found us. The unknown assailant continued to attack us, and neither Tarsis nor I were able to track its movements. One of your members pushed Priestess Shimmerweave out of the way of what I believe was another attack, and Fariel leapt towards it. We heard the sounds of fighting, saber roars and answering shrieks from whatever was that thing. I believe you all know what happened next. I thank you all for coming to help us, and I am sorry that this venture took the life of a brave soul. Elune be with you, Silver Circle. We Sentinels of Stonetalon will keep an eye out for any further developments of this fog, and will be certain to keep you informed.

Signed,
Sentinel Drocaria Whitebloom of Stonetalon

[[IC hook for tomorrow's event]]

((This missive was sent to Keeper Nightfury and Priestess Shimmerweave, from Sentinel Captain Rillis Voidstrike, based in Darkshore. The owl that carried it looks exhausted from its flight.))

Early this morning, two of my sentinels came in with a report of a glowing fog spotted near the ruins of Ameth’aran. They watched the fog for an hour, during which nothing of note happened, before it finally disappeared. I’m bringing this to your attention because not a few hours ago, some of my girls caught wind of something that went down over there in Stonetalon. If it’s true, then it looks like whatever that is decided to move into Darkshore. So far it’s only been seen near Ameth’aran, and Goddess willing it won’t pop up anywhere else. If you all can make it back to Lor’danel, I can give you a more detailed report. And maybe we can work together to hunt down whatever is causing this. Elune be with you, sisters.

Signed,
Captain Rillis Voidstrike of the Razorshade sentinels.

Keeper Nightfury, in this document I’ve gathered the three major versions of the tale surrounding this fog in Stonetalon. Of course, being passed down primarily in an oratory fashion, each version would have slight differences. However, these two are the most common versions known to Kaldorei. The third was sent to me by Dauro Spiritcreek, the druid you met, via his thero’shan, a Kaldorei named Talryssa. I have already begun making copies so that the other members of the Circle can study these tales, to see what clues we can gleam from them.

Signed,
Priestess Shimmerweave.


Northern Stonetalon: ‘This is the version I grew up knowing, Priestess Nightfury.’

“Do you know why the wyverns do not fly at night?
Do you know why the eagles avoid the fog that shines?
It comes down from the mountains, clinging to the ancient homes.
It comes down from the mountains, rolling across fields of bones.”

“It swallows whole all living things,
From eagles, to spiders, to paupers, to kings.
And yet, its favorite prey above all,
Are children that do not heed their parents’ call.”

Southern Stonetalon:

“It rises from the earth, every five hundred years.
It follows the trail, a path marked by a mother’s tears.”

“You may think it silly, my child. You may laugh and look away!
But do not dismiss my words, or you’ll be it’s next prey.”

“Stay away from hungry sabers, from mages, and liars!
Stay away from grave robbers, from forbidden desires!”

“Heed my words, or when the fog comes,
Your family will mourn you, for it will consume you.”




Sent by Dauro Spiritcreek. The missive he sent with it reads as follows: “This is an excerpt from the Tale of Ahanu and Zonta. They were famous warriors, who helped lead their tribe to safety in Stonetalon. This part of the tale recites their end.”

“Ahanu took Zonta’s warm hand,
Her strong hand, her sword hand,
And pressed it to his lips,
Pressed it to his heart.
‘Come with me’, he said.
‘Come with me to battle,
My love. Tarry at my side.”

“She went forth with him
Into battle.
She went forth with him,
Into the ancient home of the stars.
She went forth with him,
When others bade them to return.”

“ ‘The earth shies away from it,
What hope do you have?’
His mother warned.
‘Where it goes, life flees.
Learn from nature’s wisdom.’
Her father lectured.”

“But they would not listen.
The earth warned them,
But they would not heed it.
The winds shrieked at them,
But they turned the other way.
Their families begged them.
But they carried on.”

“Ahanu took Zonta’s warm hand,
Her strong hand, her sword hand,
And pressed it to his lips,
Pressed it to his heart.
‘Come what may, my love,
We will win this day, together.
Come what may, my love,
We will banish this fog, together.”


“She went forth with him,
Into its home.
She went forth with him,
Into the grey.
She went forth with him,
Into her death.”

“Ahanu took Zonta’s cold hand,
Her strong hand, her sword hand,
And pressed it to his lips,
Pressed it to his heart.
‘I’ll follow you,’ he said.
‘I’ll follow you into the night,
My love. I’ll tarry at your side.”

SMOKE ON THE WATER RECAP

Leadup to Part 1: http://tinyurl.com/HookEvent1

Part 1

Members of the Silver Circle meet up with Priestess Shimmerweave in Thal’darah Overlook, near Stonetalon’s peak. There they were informed of strange sightings in several areas of the Stonetalons, reports of dancing lights and thick, heavy fog. The Circle agreed to investigate, using a map given to them by the sentinels (http://tinyurl.com/y8gt3c83). During their investigations, they come across a tauren druid of the Cenarion Circle by the name of Dauro Spiritcreek. Dauro marks another spot on their map where there has been the same reports (http://tinyurl.com/CombinedMap, red for Dauro’s marking).

Before the Circle can investigate, Priestess Shimmerweave informs them she is already in the third area, searching for a missing child, with the help of two sentinels. The Circle rush to meet up with her, only to find the ruins covered completely by a thick fog that is impossible to see through. Attempts to scout from within are difficult, as the fog continually immobilizes the scouts, but eventually they find Shimmerweave, the sentinels, and the missing child. Unfortunately, by the time they find the others, something in the fog attack the group, and makes off with the Shimmerweave’s saber, Fariel. Afterwards, the Circle reconvenes in Thal’darah Overlook to discuss their findings. Dauro promises to share with them any relevant information he finds, then bids them farewell.


Leadup to Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/HookEvent2

Part 2

The Circle meet up in Lor’danel, as Sentinel Captain Rillis Voidstrike informs them that the glowing fog they encountered in the area has been seen here as well. Captain Voidstrike pointed out three areas in Darkshore where the fog had been seen, and the Circle agreed to split in three groups to investigate each one immediately (http://tinyurl.com/FogLocations). Priestess Shimmerweave leads the group that investigates Ameth’aran, Captain Voidstrike takes another group to the fog location to the north, and one of Voidstrike’s sentinels leads the third group to investigate the river location in the middle.

The group in Ameth’aran encountered a fog that behaved very similar to the one in Stonetalon; it immobilized most of them, and acted aggressively. It only disappeared after Elliistra began to bleed. The group that went to the river found that the glowing fog was actually created by a group of naga, using it as cover to disguise their movements to and from the ruins further in. After a brief, though difficult fight, they manage to slay the naga and take the treasures their foes had gathered from the ruins for themselves. The third group, to the north, found that the glowing fog in the area was caused by a geyser that formed during Cataclysm, and that had begun to worsen over the years. The glowing lights were from a moonstone deposit in the geyser.

The three groups reconvened back in Lor’danel, and the loot from the second group’s excursion was examined and put away. Of note among these objects was a tablet that detailed a magic ritual that would create an arcane barrier over the caster’s targeted location. The barrier kept anything from getting in, but as Keeper Feyawen noticed and was able to translate, it also kept anything from -leaving- the barrier, effectively serving as a trap.

((IC HOOK FOR TOMORROW (November 25, 2017) EVENT))

This letter is written in thick, slightly slanted Darnassian. The messenger who delivered it was Talryssa Stonebend, the Kaldorei Thero’shan, and had its contents inspected by several sentinels before it was passed to the Circle.



To the Circle:

I am grateful that our two peoples were able to work in peace to help protect this land. You have given me much to think about, and have also given me hope for, perhaps, a day where Kaldorei and Shu’halo can be at peace with each other. But that is a matter for another day. I write to you because I wish to share with you, in good faith, important information that our scouts have discovered. By the western mountains of Stonetalon, near the ocean’s edge, three of my people discovered the mouth of a cave nestled in a hidden valley. It had been cleverly hidden by surrounding trees and a magical ward that cast a minor illusion over the entrance. The ward’s magic have been depleted, however, which allowed my people to find it.

I spoke to one of our shamans, and she bade the earth elements to look deep inside the cave. But they could not make it past the doorway. There is some twisted arcane magic lingering in the area that blocks the elements’ sight. She reports that the elementals felt something else in the cave, however, something similar to the creature that lurks in the fog that haunts Stonetalon and beyond.

On the backside of this paper are the coordinates for this cave. You will know you are close when you see a small totem erected by one of my scouts as a landmark. What you do with this information is up to you, but know that in three days time I will take a group of scouts to investigate the cave myself. May the Earthmother guide you, children of the stars.

Signed,
Dauro Spiritcreek of the Cenarion Circle


[True to the Tauren's words, written on the back of the paper are the coordinates.]

Following the druid's letter is a short missive written by Priestess Shimmerweave's hand.


In'elah, shan'are.

This could be the break we have been waiting for. Our own sentinels have confirmed these coordinates, and the description of the cave they found matches the one within this letter. Please, meet me east of the area marked on the map I've included with this missive tomorrow. Be prepared for anything.

Signed,
Priestess Shimmerweave


((ICly this location is in Stonetalon, but we will be meeting up in Azuremyst Isle.)

E’nyssa’s Logs

Log 1:

/rw [the Sphere lets out a faint pulse of light, then floats up to be about five feet in the air. A single beam of light emerges from the sphere’s center, and an image of a Highborne woman, the fine features in her face a little too hazy to make out, appear before you. From what you can tell, she seems to be dressed in a long-sleeved tunic, though you can only see her from the chest upwards. She is staring directly at you, the angle making it look like she is looking down at you from above]

/rw Mysterious Woman: “Alright… you should be wo- Oh! Good, you’re working just as intended. Looks like Colteron was right about that third line inscription.” [The woman clears her throat. The image moves away, granting you a full view of her.]

/rw Mysterious Woman: “Log 1, Date 1. This is Lady E’nyssa Thor’lys, working for Lord Sildrean Da’quelas. It has been… two months since the laboratory construction started, and yesterday it was finally completed. Today we are going to actually start -using- it. The other researchers have already moved into their wings, we’ve got our shipment from Pandaria, and now I’m just waiting for Lord Sildrean to arrive from celebrating his son’s birthday so we can get to work.”


/rw [She then looks directly at the sphere, and in essence, all of you. She reaches out with a hand to grab the sphere, and the image goes dark. But you can all still hear her.] “I wonder if I can make it so you can capture more details… Or should I improve the quality of sound?” [She lets the sphere go, and is once more visible. Afterwards, she leans against a pedestal and presses a yellow crystal then traces a symbol over it. There is a faint rumble of stone sliding against stone.]

/rw E’nyssa: “E’nyssa, things are looking up for you~” [The beam of light suddenly shuts down, and the sphere becomes inert, returning to float barely two feet above the ground. It begins to move past you all, down the path.]


Log 2:

/rw [The sphere jumps up to five feet above the ground once more, and this time the beam of light it emits scans the area. As it moves around, it reveals a marble table with several arcane implements on it. Eventually you see E’nyssa show up, putting away some scrolls as she speaks.]

/rw E’nyssa: “Log 21, Date 17 since we started. Lord Da’quelas still won’t talk to me. I understand that he’s still… grieving. Losing a child isn’t easy. I get that!” [She groans loudly.] “But if he keeps this up, shutting himself in with his research, barely eating, talking only to his experiments… We’re going to run out of supplies before we even have one working prototype. He promised the the Overseer that he’d have this perfect Guardian ready for her in a few months.”

/rw [E’nyssa puts away the last scroll, and now looks directly at the sphere, and in a way, you. There is a high pitched shriek, though it sounds far away. E’nyssa sighs.] “At least I’m not with Colteron’s group… Yesterday he told me their experiments on those wretched lowborn is supposed to perfect some sort of interrogation technique... Cruelty for the sake of cruelt-”

/rw [The beam of light once again suddenly fizzles out, and the image disappears.]


Log 3:

/rw [This time, the sphere floats up in the air a little more slowly. The image of E’nyssa is of her standing with her back against the wall, hand pressed to her head as she looks to the ground. Her shoulders are slumped]

/rw E’nyssa: “Log 91, date…. Oh, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to lose everything. Sildrean is obsessed with his pet experiment. I’ve heard him talking to it, calling him Falodreas! His own son’s name!” [She looks up sharply at the sphere] “He’s clearly going mad, but he won’t listen to me!”

/rw [She suddenly grabs the sphere, and the image the sphere projects changes sharply. You now see, in the distance, another Highborne, male. Presumably this is Lord Sildrean Da’quelas, and he seems to be talking to a tall, humanoid, bipedal creature. The sphere’s imagery has a hard time properly depicting it. Sildrean is talking animatedly to this creature, gesturing with his hands, and the creature seems to nod. The sphere turns back to a close up of E’nyssa’s face.]

/rw “You see? He’s talking to the beast as if it were his friend. They chat all the time, as if… as if it were his -equal-. Preposterous! If this goes on much longer I’m go-” [The image disappears as the sphere turns inert once more.]


Log 4:

/rw [This time, the image the sphere depicts is… shaking. The light fixtures on the ceiling move violently, and E’nyssa, standing near the front of the sphere, seems to be having a hard time standing straight. There is a male Highborne figure rapidly approaching her.]

/rw E’nyssa: “Everything’s going to shit! All these earthquakes, and none of our outside contacts are answering our messages! Most of our portals have suddenly shut off, and one of our entrances have caved in!”

/rw [She unsteadily makes her way to a nearby desk, the other figure finally approaches her. It is Sildrean.] Sildraen: “E’nyssa, get me the orb! I’m taking Falodreas above to help our people!”

/rw E’nyssa: “You must be joking! We haven’t tested it in live combat!” [Falodreas appears from behind Sildrean. Again, something about the creature is preventing the sphere from truly capturing its appearance. From what you can tell, it is very tall, and made of thick, gnarled wood. It places a long, sturdy arm on Sildrean’s shoulder in what can only be a reassuring gesture.]

/rw E’nyssa: “Lord Da’quelas, I cannot allow you to let this creature go up there untested!”

/rw Sildrean: “He is not a creature! His name is Falodreas, Lady Thor’lys, and you would do well to remember that!”

/rw [There is a loud rumbling, something seems to fall from the ceiling. The two highborne scream, but Falodreas grabs Sildrean and pulls him away. For a few long moments, there is nothing to be seen. Eventually, Sildrean stands up with the help of Falodreas. E’nyssa is nowhere to be seen. The image cuts off.]

Colteron's unauthorized log entry


/rw Male Highborne: “Colteron Thuldremar, day 6 since the collapse. I have not seen any other surviving researcher still, and thus am continuing my documentation of the trapped experiments. As always, should a rescue team find this log, and I am unfortunately deceased, I ask that you use the notes contained within to continue our work. Too many people have died for it.”

/rw Colteron: “My experiment is still alive and well! I- [He cuts off. The image begins to shake violently. For several seconds he seems to fade in and out of existance.] “Another tremor? It’s already been 6 days, there shouldn’t b-” [There is the sound of rocks falling, and Colteron turns to look behind him, into the room.]

/rw Colteron: “Oh no…. No no no no NO!” [There is a low, hissing sound that amplifies into a scream.] “The circle- [Another ear piercing shriek, drowning out Colteron’s voice.] -is key!” [Colteron dashes into the room, disappearing from sight.The image abruptly stops. The sphere returns to hover two feet above the ground.]

Recap for Event 3 of Smoke on the Water

Members of the Circle met with Priestess Shimmerweave in a small grove nestled within the western mountains of Stonetalon.
There she informed them of the letter the tauren druid Dauro Spiritcreek had sent her ( https://tinyurl.com/DauroLetter), and of her suspicions that whatever was inside this nearby cave could point to the source of the dangerous fog that lurked in Highborne ruins. The Circle then made their way inside a cave, and they soon found out that whatever had happened here was much more complex than they had thought.

The cave turned out to be a forgotten Highborne research facility, known as the Starsuge Laboratory. An opal sphere they found and later activated revealed the logs of one of the researchers working here, E’nyssa Thor’lys (https://tinyurl.com/EnyssaLogs).
Between the woman’s recordings, and one of the still intact research rooms they searched, the Circle realized this place held several experiments that were being run for an indeterminate period of time. One of these experiments was a tortured and crazed lowborne woman, who had somehow been put in stasis and locked inside a ring. She attacked the Circle, severely wounding Isuldien Leafswift in the process.

After the woman was put to rest, the Circle approached the last room, sealed by a massive stone door. As they investigate it, the undead spirit of a highborne woman, soon recognized as E’nyssa Thor’lys herself, appeared. She spoke briefly to the Circle, her anger at Azshara’s evident abandon of this place driving her to make a bargain with them; she would open the door for them if, and only if, they swore to slay whatever lay beyond the door. She revealed that behind said door was the fog creature the Circle had been hunting, that it had, somehow, been trapped behind there since the great collapse, so long ago (The Sundering). The Circle agreed, and the shade of E’nyssa told her to give her one day, and to return prepared to face the fog creature, the failed ‘guardian’.

Final log from E'nyssa's log sphere. This was recorded by Sidlraen Da'quelas in his final moments.

Log 5:

/rw [The sphere suddenly activates as Nelysea approaches the skeletal remains, rising up and out from her satchel from where she placed it last night. It activates, a beam of light shooting out. An image appears over the skeleton. It is Sildrean, gaunt and disheveled, and wheezing with every breath.]

/rw Sil’drean: “I hid Falodreas and myself behind these doors after the collapse. The escaped experiments were too volatile.” [He coughs, weakly, into his hand.] “But, in my bid to protect him… I fear I have doomed us. I cannot open the doors from this side, and the wards I built to keep intruders from teleporting in… now also keep me from teleporting us out. Falodreas has kept me company these dark, hungry weeks. But…”

/rw [Sildrean weakly turns his head to look at something to his right as you all hear a garbled, hissing screech, then he turns his attention back to the sphere.] “I worry for my dear friend… One of the other experiments managed to hit him before I closed the doors, and he has been acting strangely since. Which is why-” [he coughs. This last for several seconds..] “I am sending this sphere to find a way out of here, and send a message... It is too late for me, but please… If anyone finds this and listens to this message… Help Falodreas.”

/rw [The image fades as Sildrean slowly stops breathing. The sphere goes inert, falling to the ground once more.]

Smoke on the water FINALE RECAP

The Circle prepared themselves in their camp before they headed once more into the depths of the forgotten Starsurge Laboratory. There, they found that the shade of E’nyssa had kept up her end of the bargain, opening the doors for them. Past the doors, they encountered a pristine set of skeletal remains, and the opal sphere they uncovered two days ago activated once more, showing one last log. The log revealed that this skeleton was the remains of Lord Sildraen Da’quelas, the Highborne researcher responsible for the creation of Falodreas. (tinyurl.com/SildraenLog).

Shortly afterwards, Falodreas appeared and began to attack the group. The Circle was hard pressed to fight back against an opponent they did not see, until Isuldien and Quorala realized what was empowering the creature’s fog, and led the Circle in destroying it. With that, their foe revealed himself. (tinyurl.com/Falodreas). Falodreas proved to be incredibly dangerous, knocking out, and severely wounding, Thinius Shadowfern, and later Isuldien Leafswift.
When things seemed truly dire, Dauro Spiritcreek, his thero’shan Talryssa Stonebend, and three Sunrock Braves made it past the door, coming to the aid of the Circle. With these reinforcements, the Circle was able to defeat, and kill, Falodreas, with Mythanil striking the final blow as she claimed the kill in Fariel’s name.

With that, the Circle made their way back to camp, the sunrock braves helping to carry their wounded. At the mouth of the cave, E’nyssa’s ghost appeared once more, covered in the volatile arcane magic she’d ripped from Falodreas’s corpse. Utilizing it, she collapsed the cave, ensuring no one could enter. Back at the camp, Dauro spoke briefly with Keeper Feyawen, speaking words of praise for the Keeper and her Circle, before he took his leave with his allies and his student. The Circle settled down to recover from a hard fought battle.