The woman bowed down and her cheeks were flushed. “I’m so sorry that I pulled you off the street, it’s just that-.” Lannia waved her hand and cut off the woman gently. She felt a tug on her robe, but didn’t pay any mind to it.

“They are busy. Many have gone to Northrend. I’m sure they did not mean to overlook you.” At another tug on her robe, Lannia turned down and picked up a small boy. “Yes, Daniel?”

“Are you going away, lady?” Lannia nodded and watched the boy’s eyes tear up. “I don’t want you to go away. No one comes to see us!” Glacing at the nervous matron, Lannia sat in a nearby chair with the boy in her lap. He looked up at her surprised, “Are you going to stay?”

She smiled gently. “I cannot, little one, for many reasons. I can stop by to check on you though. I come through here often.”

A few other children cluster about her and clutch at her robes. The matron spoke softly to one of them, but Lannia interrupted, “Please let them stay. They need to understand. I take it no one has really explained to them?” The matron shook her head quickly.

“Gather close, little ones.” The children stared up at her. “I’m going to treat you like I would an adult and explain why people aren’t around as much. Don’t be scared when I tell you because that’s why people like I and the matron are here, to protect you.” Lannia shifted Daniel so that he can see her face.

“There are things outside of our control in this world. Some of them are good, and some are bad. Right now, a very bad man that we call the Lich King, is trying to do very bad things to all of us. Sometimes… we lose those we care about. In some cases your parents, and in others… our brothers and sisters and so on.” A few of the girls began to tear up.

“There is no need to cry, because even though they have been taken away from us, they did it to protect us and let us smile. It may be hard at times, but all of them want the best for us. The reason I have to leave is to go help fight the Lich King. I’m a priestess and I can heal and help protect other parents that may have children. I even have my own little daughter that I’m helping protect by not letting the Lich King do bad things.” The children seemed to be thinking hard. Lannia smiled comfortingly at the twitchy matron.

A boy finally spoke up, “So… you take care of the people who fight the bad man, right?” Lannia nodded. “Why did our parents go away then? Wasn’t someone able to save them?”

Perceptive boy. It becomes harder to hold the smile. “Try as I might, I cannot save everyone. There are things that are beyond my ability. I am sorry…” Her vision became slightly misty and Lannia closed her eyes.

“Don’t cry, lady!”
“We knows you tried!”
“We love you!”

Lannia opened her eyes to the hugs and worried faces of the children. “It’s alright. I miss those that we lose as well. Thank you all. You are wonderful.” She set her hands on the children closest to her and one took her hand in their smaller grasp.

“I will go, but be assured little ones, that I will come back if Elune wills it.” She ruffled Daniel’s hair. “I just want to protect you. Do you understand?” A few of the older children nod in response. “Good, I must be on my way. I have my own child to check on. I try to visit her often.” Lannia grinned and tickled Daniel before setting him on the floor.

With much laughter, Lannia slowly stood and said goodbye to them. Finally, she was at the door, and the children surround the Matron.

“Lady, you’ll be okay, right?” Lannia nodded and smiled at them.

“Kick his butt for us, okay?” This one earned a chuckle.

“Be well, littles ones.” A warm glow emanated the room and everyone seemed to relax and smile. With a gentle rustle of her robes, the woman exited, but was not forgotten. A gentle night elf, blessed priestess of Elune. The unnamed woman has returned many more times, but they were always as brief as a winter storm.

Now, this is Lannia we’re talking about, a healer. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a bad guy, she has no problem letting Elune sort things out after he’s dead. But… it took me 5 times. And before you ask, it’s not because I’m bad at jousting. The jousting part is ridicuously easy, especially against the Black Knight.

The Black Knight has two phases. One where you joust, and when you knock him off then you fight him on ground. Kinda like in the instance (Trial of the Champion). I didn’t lose because I died, but because of… other difficulties.

Try 1: Accidently Shadowmeld and he disappears because I lost aggro. I assure myself that I won’t do it again.
Try 2: You know that Shadowmeld button?… I hit it again. I grumble, a lot, and move the sucker. And my Fade, just in case.
Try 3: He makes the comment about facing him on the ground, so I switch weapons and it throws me off my horse. He runs away and resets. I glower trying to figure out what I did wrong.
Try 4: Same thing happens again. Between my husband and I, we guessed that I was being too pre-emptive and it was messing the fight up.
Try 5: I touch NOTHING when jousting is done. I let him speak and finally run up to me and start hitting me after it throws me off the horse. I only then switch weapons, shield myself, and kill the sucker.

5 tries…

Because of accidents with aggro, I almost wish he’d killed me, but he was super easy. I think I would have had to try to let him kill me.

Ever feel like you’re having one of -those nights- with a quest? Cause that quest was certainly my nemesis for the night.

Lannia:
This man was corrupted much like anyone else who has involved himself with the Burning Legion. He is a pawn that has gone out of control, but since he’s a distraction away from the Burning Legion, they allow it. There is very little that is left of the hero of long ago, if any. It is truly sad how vulnerable people are in the end, even me. *smiles sadly* Perhaps we can help him find peace so that he can finally rest. Free from his madness.

Serephim:
*snorts* You’re asking me about the Ice Prince of Azeroth. If you want my opinion, you must be a bit crazy yourself. I don’t really care about him. He’s just another crazy in this world. -What? Oh, of course he needs to be stopped. Oh! I see. You think that I might take some part in it. *shrugs* I dunno. Got enough problems to work out for myself, let alone trying to stop an insane prince. Geez, you act as if he can hear me. Ice Prince. There’s no way that I’m going to call him back the egotistal name. He’s lord over a freaking iceland full or dead people and bones. Doesn’t sound very kingly to me. Personally, I think he should just see how pitiful that is and just himself for us.

Araatris:
The Lich King. Sure, I’ve heard of him. He’s done terrible things. Sometimes I wonder if he thought they were truly best at the time, but what made him think that. Especially the whole thing with Stratholme. I’ve heard people tell me about how it burned with all those people inside. It’s terrible! *shudders* I only wish I could do more, but for now I’ll have to bide my time.

Jhaara:
The Lich King is a fool. Does he truly think he can unite us all under one banner? Even with his thoughts, groups were able to break free. My brother and I will see his downfall. No one is lord over us. My brother would just rage ahead, but he always was hot-headed. We shall wait until the moment when the Lich King is weakest and strike. Together he and I will stand over the body of our creator and watch his screaming deparature. You think that I am harsh perhaps? So, are the winters up here. They can drain the heat from your body until you lie dead in the snow. Only this time… I will bring even a colder winter to the Lich King than any has ever known and I will suck the life from his corpse. *the interviewer runs in terror*

Lannia cradled the tiny form in her arms. A small child wrapped in a blanket cooed up at her and grasped at her hand. “You should come for her more often. It’s not right that a mother leave her child like this.” Lannia smiled sadly at the child.

“We each do what we must and sometimes that comes with sacrifices. Kendra is doing well with you and I am very grateful. I cannot stay home while others fight. There are injured to tend to.” Durmeth’s mother huffed slightly.

Walking to Lannia, she handed her a bottle of milk. “Well, I know that, but she cries for you, you know. It’s only natural for a child to want their mother. She misses you.” Durmeth’s mother places a hand on Lannia’s arm. “Be careful out there. She needs you and Durmeth.”

Lannia nodded. “We will be.” She feed the tiny form and burped the little girl with practiced ease. “I will come back as often as possible for you, Kendra…”

Lannia and Durmeth have a half-elven daughter named Kendra. She is concerned for the child since she can’t be there, but leaves her in the safe care of Durmeth’s parents who are farmers. Lannia continues to work in Northrend and with the Netherbane, but her child is often in her thoughts.

For such a happy couple with a new child, the only bad thing is spending a bit of time away from their child, what RP can I come up with? The child is the source of their unity and their happiness. It is the one thing that could drive Lannia to new RP quickly and easily, but how?

The thought had been brought up to me that maybe Kendra could be kidnapped. However, since a similar storyline for another RPer is already on the guild forums right now, I am loath to use that idea. Another idea struck me though… what if the dream of Ashen was a premonition, but one that she has a chance of changing.

The Dream

The child is slowly changing and Lannia must find the cure or else risk the dream coming true. A gift from Elune to change the future.

What are your thoughts? Any other ideas?

There have been times that I’ve been frustrated and even tired of healing, but I know why I do it. I want to help move my group forward. I don’t just play for myself. I play for my friends and with my friends and all the people I meet. Lannia, the warpriestess, is the epitome of that role. I have attempted to DPS with her even, but to me… nothing felt more wrong than going shadow. That definitely isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with shadow, but it’s not for Lannia or for me, her player.

Last night in Naxx 10, I was pleased when we only wiped once and that was on Heigan (a pain in the butt). We made it through even the Military wing without a wing. I was proud… not only of myself, but of our entire group. I feel as if we were growing up as a raid. Now, I’m not a hard core raider by any stretch. Only Naxx 10 so far and only once a week. However, I love learning about my party members, their play styles, and progressing with them. No deadline. No stress. Just us, once a week.

Recently, I’ve been looking at Lannia in a new light. Seeing how far she’s come and how precious she is to me as a character, I wondered why I’d been neglecting her for alts. She doesn’t even have Epic flying. She doesn’t have the rep to get head or shoulder enchants. The only thing I grinded rep for… a penguin. That’s it. That doesn’t do the Warpriestess of the Netherbane justice.

It is time to wake up and look at her once more. Why did I step away from her? Was the RP boring? As a friend of mine told me, sometimes if everything’s all too good and happy to have a story… then break something. I plan on it. Lannia’s waking up and I can hear her muse once more. She says that she’s ready to come back and kick some ass. Was I truly tired of healing? Well, I decided to mix things up and get healbot. That has helped me so much. I’m going to work on Power Auras and a few other addons to really scale up my healing. There’s no reason for me to just sit back and say… meh, it works. Why can’t I push that extra little bit? There isn’t one, so that’s my goal.

Perhaps, I just feel better today, but I can tell a difference already. I’m spending hours doing dailies and quests (I had to open up the Hodir dailies). I’m working towards dual spec and that epic mount. If I want something in game… I’m going to reach for it.

Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to neglect my alts. In fact, this will help them. If I can get and epic mount on Lannia, then she can earn gold to help Serephim get her epic mount. Then between Lannia and Serephim I can fund my other alts more. If I raid more then I can get BOA gear for my alts. My alts will not be forgotten, and will still play roles when I need a break from playing a character. They will still have RP and I will still love learning about the class. All of my characters are enjoyable.

I just realized that I didn’t want to leave Lannia behind, just to be logged onto when I absolutely had to. I felt that her presence was fading and honestly, I had no idea what to do. So, I’m going to ‘wake’ her up. RP-wise and playing-wise. She deserves it. She’s the character that began everything I do on WoW. My figure-head. And I’m going to make her worth being the center of this webpage.

I am Lannia, Warpriestess of the Netherbane, and I will protect the Netherbane til my last breath. Hunt me, threaten me, torture me and I will fight, but touch my family and I will bring the wrath of Elune down upon you… and I will make sure there is nothing to resurrect.

I thought I would take a few moments and go over what some of my characters like to wear. This week, I’ll go over Lannia Winterstorm. Her style changes often., but she almost always wears a dress or a robe. Above is the image that I use on her information page. I created it to represent what she actually looks like rather than what I would like her to look like. Even now her style is changing in game.

Lannia is my level 80 priestess and her gear shows it. Many of the pieces she uses in from the later levels in the game about 70-80.

Head: Headdress of the Potentate

Shoulders: Merciless Gladiator’s Mooncloth Mantle

Chest: Shroud of Spiritual Purity

Waist: Hierophant’s Sash

Boots: Seafarer Boots

Weapon: Epoch-Mender

“Tell them to get their asses out of the acid! If they don’t move it, then I’m going to let them go down and let Elune sort it out until I can’t ressurect them!” Lannia glared down at her dear husband and tank from the platform that Heigan had been standing on.

He grunted as they dodged yet another wall of acid. “I’m…” He heaves his sword at Heigan. “Working on it! Move it people! Double-time!”

Sweat poured down their brows as the group worked at a ferocious pace dancing around their enemy. Diving off the platform as necessary to avoid Heigan’s insidious magic, even Lannia had to dodge the acid. No one was safe from its affects.

Yet, even when exhaustion seemed ready to kick in, watching the magician finally fall filled them with energy. “Yes! That was great work!” Lannia’s work wasn’t done even now. She made her rounds checking for injuries, diseases, and other maladies. She gave them the blessing of Elune. Despite all of her talk during the battle, they knew she would be right there for them during and after the fight.

Such is the life of a priestess…

“Durmeth? Aloren’na?*” Lannia pushed herself gently to her feet while a hand subconsciously rested on her stomach. Her feet paced the paths of their temporary home in a daze. Pausing at their bedroom, she calls out again, “Durmeth?” The sound echoes back as she stares into the empty room.

A faint sound comes to her attention. It was a metallic sound, similar to a bell. Lannia’s lips pursed slightly in thought. That didn’t make sense. Maybe he was fixing one of his weapons. She suppressed a slightly uneasy feeling as if something more was missing than Durmeth’s presence.

The path to the backyard seems to last much longer than she remembered. The footsteps almost echoed her heartbeat as Lannia began to speed up. Even though she sped it seemed that she was unable to reach the door in front of her. It was the sound of a voice as familiar to her as her own that stopped in her tracks.

“It’s lost to you, little one.”

Lannia snapped around in fright as she stared at Tyrande… Mother Tyrande. One of the many mothers that had cared for her when her biological mother had left. “I don’t understand, Mother Tyrande! What’s lost?”

Tyrande’s smile was sad and mocking at the same time. “Mother… mother… When will you ever grow up, little one? In your naïveté’s you’ve tainted everything you thought you were.” The scene shifted and Lannia found herself outside the house. The ringing sound was closer and sharper out here. Tyrande lifted her finger towards a full moon. “*SHE* won’t hear you anymore, little one.”

Realization settled in and Lannia narrowed her eyes. “They are not tainted!”

“Human… Demons… What have you become? What have you done to yourself?” Tyrande turned away and the moon seemed to move away as she did so.

“No… no… it’s not like that! They’re my friends! They’re trying to protect…” Lannia’s clutched at a stomach that was beginning to realize was much flatter than it should have been.

“Protect…” Tyrande scoffed. “See what has come of your friends.”

A finger pointed into the direction that the metallic sounds were coming from. “No…no…” Tyrande didn’t move and Lannia threw herself at the sounds. As she ran, it seemed as if the forest she entered was drenched in blood. It reminded her of a morbid version of a familiar emblem in the moonlight. Tree after black tree drenched in red from the sky.

A cough caught her attention. The dranei, Zhuriel, lay barely alive. It looked as if some animal had torn him apart. “Zhuriel… Let me…”"The others…” Lannia’s mouth set in a grim line, but she nodded. “I’ll be back. I promise!” She attempted a brave smile that the dranei attempted to mirror, but it came out as more of a grimace. “On my watch, I swear no one will die. Just rest.”

Lannia rose from the ground and dove forward once more. Blood made her footsteps slick and she paused for a moment by a tree that was covered in blood. A thought occurred to her that it looked as if someone had been pinned to it recently. A scrap of fabric caught her attention. Brother Taldarion…

Even as she continued down the path still slick with blood, her heart skipped a beat. The next sight next froze her heart. “Tharion!” The half-transformed demon-hunter sat at the base of a tree with blood trailing down from his mouth. Four great gashes marred the tattooed chest. His sightless eyes turned towards her and Lannia noticed with terror that only a tiny bit of the great fire remained.

“Lannia…Durmeth is,” A cough spilled more blood from his mouth.

Lannia quickly knelt beside him. “Hush… Let me tend to you.” A hand with more strength than she would have thought pushed her away.

“Go… to… him.” The hand slowly lowered back to his chest as he coughed once more. Lannia nodded shakily and stood up. “I will be back, brother. Do not doubt it!” Tharion managed a nod and seemed to smile at her from beneath the mask as if to say he understood.

The ringing sound was so close it was almost deafening now. Her feet carried her forward once again. Step after step into a forest that seemed to thrive on blood. She stumbled into the clearing with her chest heaving. Lannia’s breath caught in her throat at the sight before her.

Durmeth lay gutted before her on the ground with a small form crouched over him. Her daughter. There was no doubt in her mind that this was her daughter. Two blazing red eyes rose from the corpse its clawed fingers were dug into. A toothy mouth grinned at her from a face with light blue hair and pointed ears. “Hello mother. I was just playing with father… would you like to play?”

The tiny female form stood and smeared away the blood on her face. Two small wings flapped and adjusted themselves on her back. “No…” Lannia barely managed to find her voice. “You aren’t…”

“Oh, I’m real mother. Quite real.” The figure approached her steadily. “And mother… please stop with all of that Elune nonsense. It seems that she doesn’t think you’re worth the trouble anymore.” Her daughter, no *IT*, grinned at her ferally. “Play with me mother.”

A clawed hand grasped her hand and tugged her towards Durmeth’s corpse. “Come Mother. Join me.” Lannia smiled sadly down at the girl.

“I can’t, little one.” Lannia shifted the child, whose expression changed to surprise as she lifted her into her arms. “I have to fix things. Goodbye, little one. May Elune grant you mercy.” Tears ran down her face as a strange power shimmered around them.

“No… Mother! No! But Elune…!” A hand gently ran through the child’s hair.

“Not all power is found by looking outward, little one. Elune gave us the gift to survive on our own. We acknowledge her gift each time.” Lannia’s eyes burned with a silvery light that lit up the clearing and a bright light in the shape of wings burned out behind her. Even as the child in her arms was burned by the light, she could feel it reaching out and healing the others. Slowly her vision blacked out and she felt herself falling.

Lannia suddenly sat up gasping in the darkness of a bedroom. Durmeth’s arm rested about her waist. It was several minutes before she laid back down. Two hands, one masculine and one feminine, rested protectively on her stomach as she drifted off.

As each piece dropped to the floor, the weight lessened and I was reminded more and more of the farmboy turned soldier that I had met so long ago. Even as I stood behind him, this thought brought a grin and a smothered chuckle. I could never tell him that it was harder to take him seriously in only the white leather undersuit. My hands found his shoulders and began a steady kneading and his head rocked forward with a grateful sigh. I wanted him to be relaxed before I told him my news.

I spoke softly as to not startle him, “I made sure that a hot bath is ready. Why don’t you take a soak and I’ll talk to you when you get out.” I ruffled grimy and dusty hair. “It looks like you could use one.”

Durmeth chuckled and caught my hand in his. After lightly placing a kiss across its back, he stood and released my hand. “Anything for you, Mi’lady.”

I swatted at his back playfully and shoved him towards the washroom, “Go already! Before the stench stays in the house!” Giggling, I stepped past him and head towards kitchen to keep myself busy. I felt a moment of nervousness at knowing the time to tell him was nearing. We’d never really spoke about the possibility before now, so I had no idea what his reaction would be.

Laughing at my antics, Durmeth hurried to the washroom knowing that he would suffer my displeasure if he dirtied anything besides the floor and the washroom in the process of coming home. I took this time to take a deep breath and calm myself. It seems that it was easier to enter battle than to just speak with him, especially about something important.

I ran through the motions of cleaning, but my mind was elsewhere going over many different possibilities for the outcome of our conversation. In the end, I took another calming breath and repeated to myself, ‘Durmeth doesn’t over complicate things. Elune will guide us down our path. I have nothing to worry about.’ Hearing something fall behind me, I whipped around to see an embarrassed Durmeth standing in a simple blue tunic with worn brown leggings. My eyes followed his to a bucket that I’d set near the doorway earlier to clean.

Chuckled, his voice was soft, mimicking mine from earlier, “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to startle you. You said you wanted to talk?” While he was making light about it, I knew he had hurried because of me. It’s not often that I told him that I needed to speak with him, but when I did Durmeth always took it seriously.

“Let’s get settled in the family room and then I’ll tell you.” Nodding, Durmeth walked to the family room as I followed closely behind. He sat on a rug in front of the lightly burning fireplace and reached up and took my wrist in his hand. A quick tug had me sitting in front of him and he wrapped his arms about my shoulders.

I realized that I could no longer delay, and that Durmeth, being the direct man that he was, would probably appreciate me not beating about the point. “I… I am with child. I found out when I last went back to Darnassus.”

I tensed as I awaited his reaction, and almost laughed at his simple response. “That’s possible?”

“Y-yes. There’s a man that’s often found at the tavern in Honor Hold that’s a half-elf like this child will be. I think that’s it’s very rare though.” I couldn’t help the blush that arose on my cheeks as his arms tightened about me.

“Eh. Doesn’t matter anyway. I think it’s great. So, a half-elf, huh? Wow.” Durmeth chuckled, obviously fascinated by the idea. “Oh yeah, I’ll need to find someone to cover for you. You’re insane if you think I’m letting you out on the battlefield with me.”

I turned slightly and raised an eyebrow, “I will go where Elune needs me. We will protect the child.” A finger pressed to his lips forestalled any further protest. “With child or not, I still have duties and I will fulfill them, although I promise to be cautious.” I smiled softly.

A sigh and grin followed and Durmeth removed my finger from his lips. “Fine. I don’t suppose I can stop you anyway. You’ll find a way even if I tried.” He hugged me tight against him and the fire and our breathing became the only sounds. That was enough of acceptance for me and inwardly I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed. Another day, I would tell the others… my brothers and sisters.

I began gathering energy to heal him only to be tossed to the side by a large armored skeleton. Now he turns, sword arm ready despite the injury to his other arm. “Lannia, are you okay?” He shouted as he swung towards the skeleton.

“Of course!” I began gathering energy to heal once again, but it didn’t have much of any effect as they were quite intent on taking him down. I struggled to keep up the brutal pace but I felt weaker with each healing wave.

Each time it seemed like it might be over, there was just one more to finish. Would it ever end? At last, it seemed as if we would make it. One more heal, I could do it. Finally, the armored skeleton that Durmeth was fighting began to ignore him and saw me. Step by step getting closer as Durmeth continue to beat away at it. It was just a few feet away and I forced myself not to flinch or break concentration as the blade swung, but suddenly Durmeth was in front of me blocking it. He was not able to block the next attack though and the swift blow to the head knocked him back into me and we fell to the group. “Durmeth!”

He wasn’t moving. I raised both hands to the skeleton above me, ready to finish me off, and a blast of holy light crashed down from the heavens burning it away. The stench of burned bone brought me back to my senses as I looked at the battered body of my guardian. “Durmeth…”

Pulling forth reservoirs of strength, I called to his spirit. Closing my eyes and reaching out my hands, I felt the rough calloused hands of a warrior grasp them firmly back. Opening my eyes I saw the ghost shimmer of Durmeth and began to lead him back to his body.

While doing so, I talked quietly to myself as this part of a priest never became any easier. “Foolish humans… always trying to do too much. I can take on that army over there…” I gently eased his spirit into his body and soothed the wounds. With a startled gasp, he opened his eyes, alive once again. I can only imagine the shock to the mind to be alive and dead within such a short period of time, but he never complained.

However, one day I know that my prayers will become weak and my ability to bring the spirits back diminish, but I am still young and that is at the end of the long path before me. Until then, I will bring them home, no matter how frightful the shadows might seem.

Walking in the shadow
The void sings its song
The nether swallows its melody

The soul shines bright
Within the never ending night
Bringing home that which is lost