No one seemed to notice the scarcity of Wildesana’s presence around Northrend’s Guild house. With the new threats of Outland and old threats still lurking in Azeroth, the citizens of the Northrend Commonwealth were not the only ones so busy. In truth, it seemed that the only time the Guild of Guilds saw each other was when they were fighting a new enemy or holding a strategy meeting to discuss an enemy. The times of merriment had indeed been rare.

It came as a shock when the well-regarded mage by the name of Frostraven took leave, sending in her place a shaman, Aerix. Frostraven was indeed an asset as a mage, but she was also a friend. Frostraven’s absence was, in fact, the reason behind the less frequent sightings of Lady Siwind, for they had been investigating a source of magic deep within a little known valley in Azeroth for almost two months.

To make a vial worthy of holding the magic within the valley, quite a few difficult materials were needed. First, four of the best elements were needed to make a mighty primal, and the vial needed twelve of these mighty primals, difficult enough with the length of time needed for resting between making each primal. Then Frosty, as Wildesana affectionately called her friend, had to let a mixture of Gron blood from the largest Gron, black lotus, root of a decaying blood tree (from Bloodmoon, of all places), and spores willingly given by a Sporregar sit in an iced cauldron for 22 days. The last was easiest, as, though both ladies had to become honored with the Sporregar, they were easy to please and quite friendly. So with much time and effort, Frostraven finally completed one small vial with which to capture their findings.

Wildesana and Frosty prepared to go into the valley that day, packing up bags, carefully rolling the vial in a cloth of the finest netherweave, and sending a message to the guild house explaining what they were bringing back.

“Ana!” Frostraven yelped.

Wildesana, startled to hear her name in such a way, knew there was something wrong. (You see, Frosty was one of two people who knew Wildesana’s given name was simply Ana. When Ana left Northrend to learn the ways of a mage, her parents did not approve. Soon, Ana became known around Northrend as Wild Ana. When Northrend perished, Ana was desperate for something of the place to hold onto, so she took her nickname and made it her own, so that a part of Northrend would always be with her. Frostraven only called Wildesana Ana when she was cross with her or needed her attention. But this is another story, shall we continue then?) “What is it?!” Wildesana ran to where Frostraven was crouched over the edge of the cliff.

“I think I see … something … stirring in the valley,” Frostraven motioned to what looked like a colony of ants gathering food. “What is that?”

Wildesana remembered her ornate spyglass was tucked away in one of her bags and pulled it out to get a better look. Far down in the valley, Ana saw some of the strangest creatures she had ever laid eyes upon. Their rotund heads were largely disproportionate to their small pudgy bodies. Their faces seemed continually in sadness, as their eyes were shaped like tears and their down-turned mouth had wrinkles all around it. They were naked except for what looked like a sagging mushroom on their heads, and a crimson band around their waists. It was true that Ana and Frosty had seen creatures like these before, but the oddity of them was still intriguing.

“Those are the lost Draenei from the looks of it, here, see?” Ana handed Frosty the spyglass and went to tend to the last of the packing.

“What are they doing here though? Living in the Swamp of Sorrows, sure, but the Stonetalon Mountains? Not only is it very unlike their old habitat, but it is infested with harpies and other creatures not likely to enjoy their presence. You know though Ana, this does explain a little more about that gas we found. Maybe they brought it with them?”

Ana kneeled and thought for a moment; “Well, if they are indeed the ones who brought this magic to Azeroth, maybe they can tell us exactly what it is. If we can talk to them, we would save time and resources on research later. Hand me a quill Frosty? I’m going to send another letter to Minister Aislinana to let her know it might be a few more days before we return.”

“We’ve already passed any mailboxes, Ana, how do you propose to send it?” But Frosty answered herself, “You’re going to send Emlyn, aren’t you?” Ana just smiled as she pat the snow colored gryphon and attached the letter to its back. “Well, I rather like flying better, but land travel is okay I guess.” Frosty helped send Emlyn off, and she and Ana made their way down the valley.

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“Minister Aislinana, a letter from Lady Siwind has arrived.” The gnome smiled.

Dear Aislinana,

Frostraven and I have been investigating a source of magic we found in a valley in the northern mountains on Stonetalon. We were able to discover what kind of vial was needed to carry the gaseous magic, and have transmuted the vial. I must tell you Aislinana, I am a little worried. Frostraven and I wore protection masks when we first entered the valley, but the gas seemed to want to permeate even that. It is a resilient magic, and we are still unsure as to what it will do. We should be back soon, please tell Gradar that Frostraven is doing well.

Light Guide,

Wildesana Siwind

Aislinana looked at the letter for a moment and thought. This gas sounded familiar, where had she heard something like this before? Aislinana got up and went to a bookshelf. "Mmhmm, aha, Mmhmm." She perused the book then shut it loudly. "Oh dear. Not good, not good at all." Aislinana went to the door and called for one of the young mages training across the hall. "Barock, send a memo to all the mages of the Guild of Guilds. I need to meet with them about a dangerous situation that has come up." The little gnome ran off to do as he was told as Aislinana went back into her office and shut the door. She would need some potions.

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There was blood everywhere. She sat up still dizzy and gazed at the gruesome scene. What had happened here? The last she remembered, she and her friend were entering the cave behind the leader of the Broken tribe in the valley. There was a flash of blue light and then a dream. She dreamed of her family and how they were killed. It was all so real, and her worst fear was seen as she saw her parents walking mindlessly toward her, obviously under scourge control. She awoke just as they were about to reach her.

“Frosty,” Ana whispered as she crawled toward a nearby tree. But Frostraven was nowhere to be seen. Wildesana sat under the tree and stared blankly into the distance. She didn’t want to move. She glanced down at her waist and noticed an empty ring on her belt where the vial had been. She could feel despair coming over her. Frostraven was gone, Wildesana was not even sure if she was alive. The vial that took so long to make was gone. The gas that had earlier seemed to permeate every inch of the valley even seemed to float away and thin. Wildesana was slipping into a state of hopelessness.

“No.” Wildesana willed her mind to think instead of how to find Frosty and the vial, and get the gas back to the Ministry. She thought of the stories of survival she had heard from General Legius, she thought of her family…Her family. She had had that dream about them and it seemed so real, so horrible. Wildesana had vowed to fight for them, hadn’t she? So why stop now…

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“I received the second letter just this morning. I think the ladies may be in grave danger. I have heard of a gas such as the one they describe. Why they didn’t ask me first I don’t know, but I do know that if it is the substance I have heard about, and those Broken are the ones who brought there, then we will need more than weapons to save them.” Aislinana looked at the magi in front of her with hope in her eyes. Friendship, she said, was needed in times like these.

“I have permission to utilize each of your abilities to get the ladies back here safe. Tiblet, your talents with the arcane will be needed most when we get to Ladies Siwind and Raven.” Tiblet nodded. “Vordar and Garainla, I will need you two mainly for defense, but I know that you’ll do what you need to do when the time comes.”

“Well, I feel special.” Chesible spoke up from the doorway.

“Glad you came, Chesible,” Aislinana smiled. “I was worried no one from Alligare would make it.”

“Well, you give me a chance to throw spells around and destroy things, and I’ll be there. Just got back from fishing, had to catch that last one you know!” The mages laughed.

“We’re going on a mission, I feel like a spy! So exciting.” Garainla tinkered with some metal in her bags. “Oh oh oh! We should have a name!”

“A name? We’re just mages going to rescue a fellow mage. It’s not like we’re forming some ‘Order of the Elite Mages!’, or something. I mean, after this mission, we go back to killing enemies and training.” Vordar raised his arms and flexed his muscles. “Though I must say, I am rather a stud. Being in an ‘Order of the blah blah blah’ would be good for getting the ladies.”

“Well,” Aislinana looked around at the group, “We’re all wearing red and we’re mages, how bout the ‘Order of the Crimson Magi’?” Aislinana let out a burst of giggling.

The group laughed and got their things together. Vordar jumped up and down with Garainla singing, ‘We’re in a mage order, we’re in a mage order!’ This was sure to be an interesting adventure.

…..