For many months, Kelyar El’niath, Elder of Andu Falah Dor, had been missing in the wilds. He spoke not of his purpose but of his urgency before he left, vowing to return within the lunar month. He did not.

Ralingor El’niath, Shan’do of Andu Falah Dor, at the behest of Ceanah Thyn’tel, its founder, marshalled a small group of the society’s members and set off into the forests of Ashenvale, hot on the tracks of Kelyar that led into the barren lands of Azshara.

They met in mid-afternoon, in the usually quiet village of Astranaar. Today however, the Kaldorei of the village were being hassled by outlandish vermin from the Eastern Kingdoms seeking to make their mark in our lands.

With Ralingor went his Thero’shan, Amren “The Troll”, named for his wild beliefs regarding the Kaldorei and Troll-kind, Rhylian Jadefist, a new member in the society and looking to do his part, Karnu Stormshine, a mercenary from the Shar lo Dor Stormshine, and last of all came Devote Kal’faith, a huntress of the forests and friend of Ralingor.

Long they travelled beneath the boughs of the great trees, fighting feral bear and poisonous spider before they were challenged by a river crossing. Its current ran swift and there was no crossing point in sight. Behind them the great mills of Warsong roared and upon the other bank the stench of demons lingered in the air.

After a quick discussion, Ralingor led the group northward along the river until they found a safer point to cross, and moving swiftly and quietly they reached a safer haven in the forest, and rested there for a while.

Eventually the trees of Ashenvale began to shorten, and soon they had left the safety of Ashenvale behind...heading into Azshara itself.

While there they encountered Highborne which knocked Amren out cold with a deadly spell (though he later came around) and fierce Naga. Further on, Devote was ordered to move ahead and scout...while they rested; they heard a yell in the forest. Ralingor chose to put himself forward as the one that would find its source, taking the form of a saber and moving off into the shadows. He did not return, and so the others followed – prepared for whatever met them.

To their great surprise, they found Kelyar himself, uninjured but weary. He told that that Ralingor had gone on ahead, to save Kelyar’s companion. Karnu seized control of the group, though none contested it, and wishing first and foremost to escape Azshara while they could rather than stay and talk.

Eventually, they made it out of the forests, crossing the great bridge linking Azshara and Ashenvale together, and made camp in Forest Song refuge.

There, Kelyar told them everything about his journey. How he had left, knowingly to Ralingor to find Ralingor’s own son, Taeryth, who had long ago become obsessed with the idea of the Arcane. He assured them though, that he had never obtained it, and it remained a wild ambition for him alone.

Packing their effects, they continued westward through Ashenvale when deadly coincidence struck. They had ran into the path of a Warsong hunting party, and were immediately chased down. Kelyar and Karnu fled southward to the Silverwing Refuge and upon looking back, found that they were separated.

Amren found them shortly with Rhylian, he deciding that the Refuge would also be the safest place; for they had hidden in the undergrowth by the side of the road as the Horde hunting party ran by.

Eventually, they made it back to Astranaar and caught hippogriffs back to the relative safety of Darnassus (for it had been attacked by the horde not long ago). They breathed a sigh of relief as they walked its cobbled paths, none more so than Kelyar.