The Windings of the Way

[Vaelitha Skysong]

As plans are set in motion to hinder the Naga and make another attempt on Thel'naxress, Celegil and Amplisa kill a Broken leader assisting the Naga, creating discord. They also disrupt the Controls on the lake containing the Reservoir, creating chaos.
Admist this, Karael and Caliyen travel into Coilfang, to a part unpopulated by Naga, but crawling with swamp creatures. Karael tells Caliyen that the Sporelings have agreed to help hamper the Naga further if they can collect for them some of a plant called Sanguine Hibiscus. They are able to collect a fair amount, and Karael leaves Caliyen at the lakeside as they exit, taking the plants to the Sporelings alone.

[Aldrannath]

Two groups of followers enter the Steamvaults, where Thel'naxress is overseeing repairs to the damage. Karael, Aldrannath and Shanna corner her, and find that away from her lair and the arcane shield installed there, she is far weaker; Karael is hurt, but they defeat the Naga. They take from her a ring which clearly carries some magical power; Karael shows an inordinate interest in it, but Aldrannath and Tenderleaf, their suspicions aroused, keep her away.

Regrouping with the others after their incursions, Karael suddenly casts blinding spores in Aldrannath's face and sets a knife to his throat. Threatening to kill him, she forces the others to unlock the box containing the ring, and give it to her. She then flees with the ring, leaving her hostage bleeding heavily and close to death. Karael escapes her pursuers, but Tenderleaf manages to save her brother's life, and the Druids are taken to safety in Moonglade.

In Moonglade, Kelenos and Malvor care for Aldrannath, who is still in a deep sleep, but slowly recovering; Tenderleaf has already regained consciousness after her exertions in saving him. The Sentinels agree to kill Karael if they see her again. A semi-feral Druid returns to her kin. Plans are made for a Rite of Tranquility for Serane as soon as Aldrannath is fit enough to walk.

[Kaylaneh]

Serane undergoes the Rite of Tranquility with flying colours. After the Rite, Aldrannath mentions that in order to defeat the Beast in the North, he would accept the aid of even mages, if necessary. This controversial remark sets a number of followers on edge, and an argument later ensues.

A few days later, a hunt is held to slay a large male Nightsaber in Ashenvale who is rumoured to have killed a lot of the male Nightsaber population. When the followers set out to seek the beast, Fëaron joins and is angered. He does not wish to slay the Nightsaber in the ritualised way. Celegil dismisses his comments and eventually Fëaron decides to leave after a short argument. In the end, the followers find the Nightsaber but it has already been hunted by the Satyr of Night Run. Tied to its tail with a rope hanging above a fire and its hair singed, the hunters have pity upon it and decided to take it back to Ashenvale. There, Serane decides to take the Nightsaber as her companion in an attempt to nurse it back to health. Cyrine is also told off for using explosives when she was instructed not to.

A few days later the followers meet at lake Elune'Ara again to discuss if they will agree with the Elder's unorthodox wish to call in the help of unlikely allies and even mages. After a heated debate it is decided by the majority that the Way will call in the help but will watch the mages with a close eye. Cyrine is once again told off, this time for preparing a bomb in the middle of their gathering.

Another few days later, some followers of the Way engage in combat against the Horde who had fortified themselves at the Lumber Camp. Through hit and run attacks, the hunters are able to slay some of the loggers, and injure some of the Orc defenders and their Blood Elf allies. Afterwards, the Elders praise their bravery and their success.

((Edited by Aldrannath for minor corrections.))

[Aldrannath]

Deliaris, having proved herself in combat against the Horde, celebrates the Rite of Tranquility in Darkshore, and becomes a Novice of the Way. During the Rite, Cyrine is reproved for her irresponsible use of explosives, but the differences between Serane and Celegil are, for the most part, resolved.

Deliaris sets out with Caliyen to be properly equipped for battle, and the followers begin their preparations to return to their mission in the North.

The followers of the Way gather with their allies, including Lawrauleth and Adhenu, and the druidess Blueleaff, to enter the ancient Nerubian citadel of Naxxramas again. The Death Knight Imrasz meets them, and gives Amplisa an amulet which he says will allow them to enter the inner sanctum, bypassing the Death Knight sentinels. With this aid, they avoid the guards that had fought them off before, find the innermost sanctum of Thel'voros, and destroy the Lich. They find the complex traces of an elaborate ritual; Lawrauleth copies a few of the inscriptions before the Kaldorei leave, sensing unfriendly eyes watching them.

None of the Kaldorei are seriously hurt, but Amplisa has difficulty removing the amulet. Tenderleaf manages to destroy it, but not before it burns Amplisa, leaving a sinister mark.

((Edited to add the Naxxramas story))

[Aldrannath]

Having read and translated the mysterious signs of the rites of Thel'voros, Itharius of the Green Dragonflight writes to the Elders of the Way. He names the Beast they have fought for so long as Vez'kha, one of the minions of Yogg-Saron imprisoned in "the Pit" (Ulduar). He also warns the Kaldorei that they will need the guidance of the Explorers' League, and the assistance of the Kirin Tor, to reach the nethermost chamber of the Pit where Vez'kha is imprisoned. The followers are dismayed by the idea of seeking the aid of Mages.

The Elders engage the services of the Dwarf Ruta as a guide to Ulduar. With her help, the followers of the Way and their allies force an entrance to the vast Titan city, finding a pathway that Ruta promises will lead to the prison of Vez'kha. A few of the Kaldorei are hurt fighting the gigantic construct that guards the way to the prison chambers; they agree to withdraw for a time, to rest and heal their wounds.

While resting, some of the followers celebrate the Rite of the Hunt on their tranquil island off the coast of Northrend; they are joined there by the novice Druid Varedon.

The Kaldorei return to Ulduar, once again under the guidance of the Explorer Ruta and the command of Elder Vaelitha. They manage to destroy another of the constructs barring the way to the Pit, but before they can reach the Frost Giant Watcher, Elder Vaelitha suddenly collapses in a strange fit. The Druids become disoriented and irrational, and some of the Kaldorei feel hostile eyes watching them. Before long, Elder Shanna also collapses. The group falls into disorder and confusion; Celegil, recognising the danger they are in, struggles to keep the group together, and leads them back to safety as best she can.

((Edited to add the last paragraph))

[Kaylaneh]

The followers of the way go to Dalaran to ask for support in their fight against the beast. It is discovered that the followers can slay the beast without the help of the Kirin Tor. However, this would be a suicide mission due to not getting out after the kill. During the meeting, several followers openly speak out their disdain against the Arcane wielding humans to the point of spitting, coughing and angry glares. Caliyen and Celegil eventually get to talk with Professor DeBreton who promises his support.

During this meeting, it is also said that a Titan made weapon would be necessary in order to slay the beast. Caliyen learns from the Ebon Blade that such a weapon has been seen in the hands of the Scourge, and is probably being kept by the Forgemasters in or near Icecrown Citadel.

Grudgingly, Caliyen, Deliaris, Celegil and their human ally Derathon meet a few days later at Crusader's Pinnacle, one of the Argent Crusade's strongholds. Since the Kaldorei feel watched by their vile Highborne cousin Paladins, they quickly leave towards the Citadel. Here, they discover a deep pit beneath the structure which they investigate with their Hippogryphs.

Sadly, during the descent and as the pit narrows, the followers of the Way are knocked of their mounts and fall down in a deep, cold and dark place. They discover Faceless ones lurking at them and messing with their minds. As they explore the caverns the group finds an altar with skulls and a crystal. Caliyen decides to destroy the crystal which she hopes will create a way out. Indeed, as the crystal is destroyed, a portal and a small ghostly Human boy appear near them. The group watched in disdain as Caliyen, in their eyes, begins to act strangely and takes a skull with her through the portal. They later learn that the skull is that of the small ghostly Human boy near the portal and that Caliyen wishes to bury it.

The followers are not out of the woods yet. The portal leads the group to a high pillar which is too high to climb off. Derathon is convinced the pillar is in Sholazar Basin since he can see the Tundra south of them. To attract attention, Caliyen devises a plan to attach small notes to Celegil's arrows and shoot them down in the hope somebody will find them and come to their rescue.

((Large post, if I missed something, please do say)
Edited by Aldrannath to correct one small but important detail.

[sveraes]

Edited by Aldrannath to add: this post is out of sequence, and should appear after the following item by Caliyen.

Deliaris along with Amplisa woke up on a cliff side, After that the way scattered during the flight back to Wyrmrest,
Their gryphon had somehow managed to fly into a half broken branch, killing itself.
Neither of them really aware what was going on. Deliaris told that she was afraid that the beast had set her up to be its next home, as she had slowly kept growing larger, ever since she took the elixir. She told that the alchemist Zorsakara had made the potion, a human from stormwind.
Not really aware what to do they traveled back to kalimdor, in hope of finding the others there.

[Caranir Elmheart]

Entering Ulduar for the final time, the followers of the Way are drawn to the screams of a huge faceless one seemingly mortally injured. With Aldrannath in a daze and Celegil reluctant to lead, Caliyen tries to put an end to the Beast while Amplisa adds to the confusion by trying to prevent it. As the creature dies, Aldrannath and the other druids are struck by dark magic. Aldrannath manages to mutter the words "not... dead. Taken... new..." before falling unconscious.

Galapheral suggests that the creature seems to have possessed someone else in the room as a means of escape from the Pit. Unable to remain underground and so close to the other evil influences of the Pit, the Way resolve to travel to Wymrest at once in the hope of unmasking the Beast before it can settle in its new host. The hippogryphs and stormcrows are scattered by some unknown force on the way, however, and Amplisa, Caliyen, Deliaris and Tenderleaf all fail to arrive. The dragons are certain they can sense no taint on the six who do make it to the temple, but warn that it may now be too late to sense the Beast in the other four.

Aldrannath remains unconscious and is once again taken to Moonglade.

[sveraes]

In order to be of use in the struggles in Ulduar, Deliaris had cheated a bit with training and bought an experimental strength elixir from a human alchemist travelling through the lands. It did work, but Deliaris kept growing bigger until her body couldn't really handle it.

To save her, Amplisa and Caliyen sets out for Stormwind where they succeed in having the alchemist make an antidote. With the antidote Deliaris turned back to her old self, but still gravely injured, by the transformations.

[Aldrannath]

Gathered at Stonetalon Peak, the followers of the Way are startled by an immense earthquake; moments later, tentacles begin to thrust their way up from deep below the earth. In shock, the followers regroup, and agree to travel to Ashenvale to see whether the quake has affected Astranaar. Flying over the landscape, they see tentacles thrusting their way up from Lake Falathim, and the Horde swarming over western Ashenvale, attacking their kin.

The Kaldorei help to fight off assaults on Astranaar and Maestra's Post; during a lull in the fighting, some go to Lake Falathim, but are unable to stem the inexorable tide of dark forces from below. Confused and distraught, Aldrannath makes for Moonglade to consult with his brothers of the Circle.

[Vaelitha Skysong]

The followers of the Way move through Darkshore, disturbed greatly by the devastation. They reach what remains of Auberdine, aghast.
At the refugee camp set up just outside the ruin, Vaelitha catches up, just returned from Darnassus. She urges them to come with her to search the ruin for survivors.
They find the body of Shanna Tenderleaf, cold and lifeless in the waters flooding the ruins. There is nothing that can be done, and with heavy hearts they take her corpse back to the camp.
They then return to the broken buildings, and there they find disturbing proof of cultist activity. Strange rituals and symbols on the floor. They also find the body of one of Caliyen's family.
When they finally return to the small camp, Vaelitha recounts all she has learnt from her trip to Teldrassil: Deathwing has returned and with him destruction across the whole of Azeroth.

[Aldrannath]

Elder Shanna Tenderleaf is buried in Desolace; her kin celebrate the Rite of the Dream in her honour. Most of the followers of the Way then travel to Mount Hyjal, to join the defence of Nordrassil against the Twilight's Hammer.

There is still fear and great uncertainty among the followers of the Way as to which of them was consumed and replaced by the hidden Beast, Vez'kha. The three remaining suspects - Amplisa, Caliyen and Deliaris - are regarded with great suspicion, and constantly watched. A series of clues begin to point the finger of suspicion to Deliaris, but the Elders, in discussion with the Cenarion Circle, agree to watch and wait rather than take precipitate action, on the basis of guesswork, that might only serve the unknown plans of Vez'kha.

A Kaldorei and a Tauren, believed to be Twilight cultists, abduct a Shen'dralar scholar from Nighthaven, where he was advising Kelenos of the Circle on recent events. Kelenos frantically sends a group of the followers after the kidnappers, who fled on hippogryphs. A trail of abandoned campsites, slaughtered hippogryphs, and one imperfectly burned map, lead the pursuers to Darkshore, where the kidnappers have been spotted by the Sentinels of Lor'danel. The pursuers eventually find the scholar in a cave, under the guard of cultists - but he is quite mad, and his abductors are nowhere to be found. The scholar, Venyas, reacts with terror on seeing Deliaris, and has to be knocked unconscious before the Kaldorei can take him to safety.

[Aldrannath]

Hints in the ravings of the insane scholar Venyas, including mention of "the command of Tash'naxress," lead the followers of the Way to hunt down the Naga allies of his kidnappers. They find a letter from the Twilight cultists, which mentions a meeting "in the shadow of Ethel Rethor"; travelling to Desolace, they find the meeting place, but the Twilight and Naga allies are long gone.

The Kaldorei capture a Naga witch, and torture her for information. The captive tells them that Tash'naxress "does the will of the Mournful General", that she is "thirsty for vengeance", and "awaits them in Vash'jir". They learn little else, and slay the captive. Some of the Kaldorei are disturbed to discover that Deliaris understands and even speaks a little of the Naga tongue.

[Aldrannath]

After heated debate, the Elders of the Way conclude that Malorne is sending them to face Tash'naxress in Vashj'ir, despite the obvious dangers. Aldrannath leads a small group of volunteers to the East, including the three (Amplisa, Deliaris and Caliyen) still suspected of being the concealed Vez'kha, Celegil, and the human Derathon. In Vashj'ir they follow the trail of Tash'naxress into the Abyssal Depths, and manage to slay her.

During the battle, Caliyen is apparently taken prisoner by the Naga, who take her to the Faceless Ones for sacrifice in some rite of dark magic. As the group attempts to rescue her, Derathon unwittingly completes the spell; "Caliyen" begins the horrible transformation into the true form of Vez'kha, who swats aside the Kaldorei and swims away into the Abyssal Depths. Caliyen's comrades realise at last that the magic of Vez'kha had slain her months before in Ulduar, and that he had taken her lifeless body as his own.

The grieving Kaldorei gather at Karnum's Glade to celebrate the Rite of the Dream in Caliyen's honour; several of her former comrades travel from the East to bid her farewell. Some followers of the Way begin to doubt Aldrannath's leadership; the group becomes directionless, and riven with tensions. A few new seekers join, but the future of the Way of Malorne hangs in the balance.

Karael returns voluntarily returns to Moonglade, to face the consequences of her crimes - but refuses to speak. She is imprisoned in the Barrow Dens, pending a hearing.

[Aldrannath]

Following the signs of Malorne, the followers of the Way go to war against the Horde; they set up camp at Talrendis Point, at the suggestion of the Sentinels. On reconnaissance, they rescue Blueleaff's human student, Isance, from imprisonment at the hands of a band of Satyr. Meanwhile, the Druids detect traces of some powerful magical force "with death in its wake", that seems to have passed along the road between Orgrimmar and Bilgewater Port.

The Warden Caranir leads a group to infiltrate the Port, but the Druids quickly ascertain that the thing, whatever it is, is no longer there. Not long after, Aldrannath becomes confused and irrational, apparently due to the influence of this unknown magical force.