Warcraft: Twilight Grove
Year 25, Day 3
The dragon woman clearly knew that something was strange about the four of us. She was clearly grateful for our help, but there was still a note of warning in her tone. She wanted answers and would probably be a lot more helpful if we were willing to give them to her.
There was…probably no real harm in humoring her. Unless she’d had some really bad experiences with Planeswalkers in the past like Jinn, she was unlikely to turn hostile after Kent had helped her fight off whatever that strange dark smoke had been. Even if that did happen, I already had my land bound, we all had our emergency portkeys, and she was clearly significantly weakened compared to how she’d been when we’d come across her initially. I doubted she’d be able to seriously hurt us before we managed to flee or subdue her.
Still, it was best to choose my words carefully. “It was not. Nor was it arcane, necromantic, fel, or shadow. My companions and I are not from around here, so to speak. We’re just visiting.”
She frowned minutely. “You do not look like those who came through the dark portal. Nor does your magic smell anything like theirs. Their practices were strange, but called upon familiar forces.” She crossed her arms under her chest, her gauntlets clicking together softly. “I have been removed from mortal life for some time, but I would have heard through the Dream if another portal was created. Particularly one that produced such familiar-looking but foreign-smelling mortals.”
I wasn’t sure what the ‘dark portal’ was, but I was suddenly very interested in finding out. Had someone here managed to open a physical gate between two different planes? But no, she’d said that they used the same sort of magic. Perhaps just a very far-off point in this plane? Or maybe it was because the two planes were similar that someone had managed to open a portal? Was that the work of the Planeswalker whose bird I’d seen in Stormwind? Something to look into.
I smiled politely. “You misunderstand. We did not come through any sort of portal. I do not need such a thing to travel between worlds. I came myself, and then called some of the friends I’d met in my travels to join me. Luckily, we saw that something was wrong and my friend Kent’s magic was powerful enough to help you.”
Though I couldn’t see her eyes through her blindfold, it felt like she was staring straight through me. “Fascinating. It is incredible that one so young as you could venture through the airless cold between worlds. Though I had not realized that there were other powers beyond the six out there. My mother, the Aspect of Dreams, taught me much of the world, but she never mentioned such things.”
The airless cold between worlds. That certainly wasn’t how I would describe the Blind Eternities…but it did describe space. The muggles of Zatanna’s world had spent a lot of time exploring what lay beyond Earth’s sky, and I’d in turn learned about it from some of the movies and books I’d consumed with Zatanna. That was interesting, but disappointing.
“Hmm, not quite, I think. Your mother was probably right, but there is more to the multiverse than just this world. I come from a lot further away than probably anyone you’ve ever met. Beyond not just Azeroth, but this Plane as a whole. There are countless worlds out there, each with their own people and magics. Azeroth is just one of many, though I’ve only barely scratched the surface when it comes to learning about this place.” I smiled deprecatingly. “I’ve only been here for a few days now, and this is one of the first places I decided to explore. I’m glad fortune brought us here before it was too late.”
The dragon looked rather floored by my words. She fell silent, her body oddly motionless in a way that was decidedly unnatural. Only the continued thrum of magic beneath her skin told me that she was anything but a hyper realistic statue.
“That is…a rather unbelievable claim, and yet the proof of it stands before me.” She said eventually. She took a deep breath, studying each of us in turn. “You smell of different magics, and none are familiar to my senses. Your tale is disconcerting and far-fetched, and yet I can think of no better story to explain what my own senses tell me.”
She took another deep breath, then unfolded her arms. “You and you,” she pointed to Glynda and Cinder, “come from the same place, but practice different arts. You,” her hand moved towards Kent, “share only the barest trace of their scents. You come from a different place entirely. And you,” she pointed at me, “you bear the smell of all of them, though less potent. A student of many arts among masters of few.”
That was a very keen magic sense. Especially since Kent’s spell that was supposed to hide such things was very much still active around us. I was glad the dragon had been both asleep and distracted while I bound this land, because there was no way the stealth magic we’d used could have fooled it if it was actively looking for us.
“Well said. You’re completely correct. Cinder and Glynda here both come from a Plane called Remnant, one of the first I ever traveled to. Kent on the other hand comes from a Plane rather similar to my own, and a world called Earth. I’ve been learning the magics that they practice, but I’m still a rank amateur.”
“I see…” she trailed off, once again falling completely still. This time, she shook herself after barely a few seconds had passed. “And why––” she cut herself off. “Ah, my apologies. Where are my manners? You have told me your names, but I have not shared my own with those who have aided me greatly. I am Ysondre, lieutenant of the Green Dragonflight and Daughter of Yesera.”
She inclined her head briefly, a tiny show of respect that spoke of her familiarity with human gestures. “I am grateful for your aid, travelers. For many centuries I have guarded this gateway for my Aspect, but I fear that in my watch, I encountered a darkness lurking with the Dream. I did not see it for what it was until it was far too late. Not until the poison had already found my heart and my mind and tainted me with its whispers.”
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I inclined my head back, dipping exactly as far as she had. I wasn’t sure what the local customs were, but that seemed like a safe bet. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Ysondre. My name is Hydrys Black, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. I’m glad that we were able to help you.”
She smiled serenely. “I am sure you are. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Please, indulge my curiosity a moment longer. What brings one such as you and your companions to this place?”
“Do you mean this grove or…”
She shrugged. “This Grove, yes, but also this…” she rolled the unfamiliar word over in her mouth, “plane. I’ve found that humans do little with no goal in mind. Least of all travel great distances and delve into unknown dangers.”
This was slightly more dangerous territory, but I was still willing to entertain her questions. The more she spoke, the more I wanted her Blueprint, and the more it sounded like she could be an extremely valuable ally to have for the rest of my time on this plane. I shrugged back. “You’d be right. Mostly, I do it to find new magics. I’ve only visited a scant handful of planes, but I’ve already learned so much more than I could have if I stayed home. Then there are all the people I can meet and help, the places I can go. There’s nothing like this grove in my home plane, nor anyone like you.”
“That is not all.”
I smiled ruefully. “I have a child on the way, and her mother’s world is filled with dangers far beyond my ability to face. I want to give them both the best, safest lives I possibly can.”
She smiled back. “That is a good reason. I have born no small number of eggs in ages past, and there were few lengths I would not have gone to protect them. My children are long dead or grown now, but I oft wonder if there was something more I could have done for them.” She folded her hands behind her back. “I am grateful to those who have aided me, and I see your desires in your hearts and eyes. Ask, and if it is in my power, I will strive to assist you. And, if you are willing to assist my flight in turn, my Aspect can grant you even greater boons.”
Direct. A lot more direct than I had been expecting, but then again, shapeshifter or not, this was a dragon that I was talking to. I closed my eyes, mulling my options over in my head. Well. No risk, no reward. And there were a few things I wanted to confirm.”
“I guess, first of all, a question. I’ve read a bit about some of the magic that is available in this plane, and I…have a number of concerns. Some of them, well, all of them, they seem to have a number of side effects.”
“You would be correct. To channel the forces of creation, the fundamental powers of reality, comes at a cost. Sometimes a lesser cost, others a greater one. Shadow and the Fel bear the greatest dangers, but no magic is fully free of risk. Is it not the same with your own abilities?”
This time Kent answered. “Not to the same extent, no. My magic can be dangerous, but only to my health and only if I misuse it. There’s certainly no risk of demonic corruption or whatever else.”
“Fascinating, truly. We dragons are more resilient than mortals, but even we are not fully free of such things. It is rare, but in times long past dragons have fallen to the whispers of the Void or the allure of demonic power.”
It was what I had expected, but it was still annoying. “Thank you, Ysondre.”
“You are welcome, Hydrys Black. Now, what more do you dream of?”
“The magic you have here is powerful, some of it in ways that my own abilities aren’t. However, I’m not really willing to risk learning a lot of it. Instead, I was hoping to meet people here who have already mastered those abilities and may be willing to help me in the future.”
“I am not certain how much I would be able to assist you. Few masters of their craft would be willing to leave this world behind. Chains of duty bind dragons and mortals alike.”
“Oh, that isn’t an issue at all. See, Kent, Cinder, and Glynda aren’t fully here. They’re still back in their own homes, doing their normal jobs, but they’re also here with me.”
“Ah, I see. Like my dream avatars. A powerful ability, indeed. And are those you call harmed or lessened?”
I shook my head. “Absolutely not. I just need a bit of time to familiarize myself with the person, and then it doesn’t weaken them or hurt them at all. Even if the ‘avatar’ dies, the original will be completely fine.”
“In that case…yes. I do believe I’d be able to assist you, at least in part. I fear that I know no necromancers, warlocks, nor shadow priests who would be willing to aid you. But there are some druids, mages, and wielders of the light whom I can call upon for aid. And of course, I would be happy to assist as well. Though, I do insist you demonstrate the process for me first.”
Outwardly, I did my best to keep smiling normally, but behind my occlumency I was dancing with glee. Jackpot. I’d been expecting to settle for random experts, not the sorts of people an ancient dragon went to for help.
“I’d be happy too. It shouldn’t take long.”
“And is there anything else? A few introductions are a paltry reward, and I do believe that my Mother would welcome your aid against the hidden danger that lurks within the Emerald Dream. I fear some of my peers are already too far gone to be helped, but there is still time for some.”
“Your offer is already greatly appreciated, but if you’re offering…I’d appreciate a chance to visit some of Azeroth's more notable locations. I’ve only been here and to Stormwind so far, but I’ve read about all sorts of wondrous places.” I paused momentarily. “And I’m always interested in acquiring or just examining magical artifacts if you have any.”
Ysondre laughed, “Now that is more like what I’d expect from a human, but I do believe such things are well within my power. I will have to think of what would make for a suitable reward, but for now…” she reached into a hidden pocket of her skirt and withdrew a faceted green jewel glimmering with an inner light and shining with magic. Then she extended her hand, the gem resting on her palm. “I do not know if such a treasure will work on your own magical arts, but if not, consider it a mere curiosity. It is something I created many centuries ago deep within my hibernation, and is meant to briefly empower spells cast through it. Consider it a token of my thanks while I consider other options.”
I stepped forward and she deposited the crystal in my hand. It was warm to the touch, and I could feel its magic tingling against my hand, just waiting to be used. I bowed my head. “Thank you, Ysondre. I will treasure it.”
“I am glad. Do let me know if it works with your own spells, will you? I admit, I am curious about such things. Magic has always fascinated me.”
“I will,” I promised. “I completely understand.”
“You would, hmm. Well, I must leave soon. My Mother must be warned of what lurks within the Dream. But I shall return in…” she paused, mumbling under her breath in what I assumed was draconic. “Human lives are short, but how short…A few weeks? Months? Best not risk it.” she switched back to whatever ‘mortal’ language we’d been speaking. “two days' time. First however, demonstrate to me this familiarization of yours.”
I was more than happy to oblige.