The World You Choose. Vol 2 - Prologue and Chapter 1
#10 of The World You Choose
Prologue; Two years after the Fall of Deathwing.
Liki couldn't sleep. He laid awake staring up at the ceiling of Drailsin's bedroom, upper body uncovered and eyes weary and tired. He wanted nothing more than to sleep, but his own head was keeping him awake. He'd recently started to have nightmares, creatures of such disgust that he was sickened just by seeing them. They toyed with him in his sleep, laughing and cooing at him. Even now he could hear that voice.
"You have no idea what you're messing with...do you really believe you can trust him? A being of the Void. They all hunger for power. Even him. He says he wants power to change people's outlook of him but that means he wants power all the same...When he's given the chance to get the power he's after...do you think it'll make him hesitate just because it costs a few lives? What if that life was yours? Can you say that he loves you more than power?"
Liki turned his head over to look at the back of the slumbering worgen next to him. Drailsin twitched in his sleep, the void dragon in disguise snoring a bit. He wanted to trust Drailsin to do the right things...but from the last several years working together with Drailsin he knew; if someone stood in the way, they were the enemy, and Drailsin would destroy them if need was there. Just like Wrathion, the young black dragon had been lucky to escape. With Liki there though, Drailsin had been able to stop and calm down, had done so multiple times. Drailsin did not wish to kill for the sake of power, Liki believed that.
Even now, a few years after that day they'd defeated Deathwing. The longer they went without any clues as to the whereabouts of The Spark of Beginnings was another day of questions and thoughts piled on top of another. The longer they went on searching for this ultimate source or power, the more questions Liki found himself asking and getting no answers. It was even worse given that since most of his time was spent in the Tower, the two years that had passed since Deathwing's defeat was more like ten to him...
What was the Spark? Why was it said to be all powerful?
Was it the Dragon Soul? It was very powerful, but it didn't match the description and it wouldn't have been where it had been first discovered since it was now in their possession, plucked from the moment of the Shunderring.
It must have been somewhere still deep under the sea.
But that was the issue. Their task was to find that Spark, and with no clues or information on its whereabouts, they had no leads. As such they'd been spending large amounts of their time in The Tower, doing...well, nothing. They trained, they talked, they created things and tested things, but they had no leads on where to explore in their search for the Spark. There was nowhere that Drailsin himself hadn't already scoured looking for clues, no other leads or hints to be found in any ruins.
So it was that the Searchers were now mainly being used as tools in rebuilding the world, and in keeping the Horde in check. With Thrall now the Aspect of Earth, he was neutral and leading the Earthen Ring instead. Garrosh Hellscream was now Warchief of the Horde, and while the Horde had worked alongside the Alliance in defeating Deathwing, now that two years had passed those old rivalries and hatreds were starting to boil once more. Just recently, Liki had heard about the attack on Theramore, where Garrosh had destroyed it with a large Arcane bomb, killing nearly everyone that lived there. The Alliance had been unable to retaliate properly, and thus the port was lost.
It was a travesty. Theramore had been a neutral port, it was not just Alliance people that had lived there. Theramore had been a thriving community showing that it was possible for the races of Azeroth to actually coexist peacefully. There had been no reason for Garrosh to attack yet attack it he did. Jaina Proudmoore was enraged by the act, she had arrived late and decimated the attacking force herself, but the destruction was already done, the bomb had already been dropped.
In just a few days, Jaina retaliated against the Horde for attacking her port town by using her influence in the city of Dalaran. Dalaran, and mages of it, turned against its Horde members. Like Theramore, Dalaran was a city of coexistence, both the Alliance and Horde had several high ranking members of their society and military living there and it was where their mages went to learn the more advanced magics.
Jaina used the attack on Theramore as a base to convince the people and major mages of Dalaran's Kirin Tor to kick out all the Blood Elf mages from the city. Thus, Dalaran became an Alliance held city. When the Blood Elves attempted to call for trial against Jaina for breaking the peace in Dalaran, she countered them by publicly showing the evidence which proved it was Kirin Tor Blood Elves who had made the Arcane Bomb that destroyed Theramore. This betrayal of the Blood Elves stung and the split of forces within the Kirin Tor froze the magical community. The evidence turned the Alliance into a rage of its own. The Night Elves once more called the Horde out for it's slaughter of innocent life, Dwarves and Gnomes began to work harder on making bigger, tougher siege engines and technology and humans who had started forgiving most of the Horde for the destruction of farms and their families began to cry for the Alliance to retaliate.
The Blood Elves that had been removed from the Kirin Tor swore they had not made the bomb, and that Jaina had forged the evidence to implicate them in her lust for revenge over Theramore. Liki wasn't sure on this himself. Jaina was angry, rightfully so. Would she forge documents like that? In his time helping her during the march of The Lich King, she had never shown that she was that dishonorable. In the end it hadn't mattered, the Blood Elves could not produce proof of their own that it was forged and so 'The Sunreavers' were created. They rejoined Blood Elf society in Silvermoon and continued doing their own thing, now only for the benefit of the Horde. Now that Dalaran was an Alliance City, Jaina brought the full might of the remaining Kirin Tor into Alliance hands. In the end, there really wasn't a change in the amount of power each side held...
But now both sides were riled up and angry with one another, there was only a matter of time...In preparation for possible war with the Horde, King Wyrnn sent his son Anduin to study The Light under Prophet Velen. In truth, this was to protect Anduin from the potential war that may soon ignite between the Alliance and Horde...
Some of the effects of the Cataclysm still echoed through the world. There was occasionally an earthquake or two, and it seemed like the activation of Uldum's constructs were slowing spreading their activation signals to other parts of the world. With the activation of these places, the growth of Technology sped up, catching up to and somewhat surpassing the use of magic.
Goblins, Orcs, Gnomes, and Dwarves were having field days exploring newly emerging ruins, doors leading down into bright depths of ancient Titan technology. Finally the explorers were finding new clues to the origins of Azeroth.
The Searchers did look overs of these ruins themselves once the explorers were done with them. While they were indeed revealing of several many different secrets the world still held, the clues they wanted remained elusive.
Liki was pouring over books alongside Kat'ern and Drailsin, trying to find any kind of information hidden within their text, using them to double and triple check items already within their possession or on the many different pictures of ruins they had taken with Kat'ern's magic and a new recent technological invention called a 'Pictobox'.
Liki sat back in his chair and pinched the space between his eyes, growling softly. "This is impossible. If it really has fallen below the water, it'd be impossible to get down there to find it even if we did know where exactly down there it was."
"We've done the impossible many times." Drailsin said back. "We'll have a way to get to it, I already have that covered, I just need a way to find it."
Before anything else could be said, a portal opened up on the wall close by them. Neither of them moved, but when the individual coming through the portal walked briskly Liki sighed again. "Hey Tene, any news from the Keep?"
"Andiun is missing." Tenebrea huffed, the Worgen druid panting a bit. Apparently he'd been walking very quickly for some time.
Kat'ern and Drailsin both looked up at the same as Liki, and all three said in unison. "What?"
"King Wyrnn sent him by ship to The Exodar about a week ago."
"That kind of voyage would take a month...why not just take the portals there?" Kat'ern asked.
Drailsin clicked his teeth. "It was a trick. King Wyrnn knows things are about to explode between the Alliance and Horde, so he was sending Anduin off to The Exodar where he's disconnected from the rest of the world. By the time our Prince would find out about any war he'd be too far into his studies to do anything and put himself into any danger, or would just then be arriving at the Exodar, where the Prophet would keep him in place and safe."
"But he's gone missing?" Liki asked, standing up from his chair and grabbing his two katana swords and starting to latch them to his armor.
"Where?" Kat'ern asked. "They were travelling by boat!"
"True. What would have attacked him out there?" Drailsin wondered, rubbing his chin.
"Does that matter? We need to find him!"
Tenebrea nodded eagerly. "Yes, they are already assembling a task force, and we've been asked to join them."
"I take it you said no." Drailsin said while turning back to his books.
Tenebrea tilted his head before. "What are you talking about?" He asked Drailsin with a little anger and a small snarl. "I said yes. We absolutely need to find him."
"Why would you volunteer us?!" Drailsin growled back. "We don't have time to go baby sit a prince!"
"It's not just a prince! This isn't fucking Wraithion, this is Anduin!" Tene snapped back. Drailsin huffed and turned as the druid continued. "It's our duty to at least help in the search for him."
Liki nodded. "Tene's right, we have to help find him."
"Where was it that he went missing?" Kat'ern asked, producing a map onto the table.
Tenebrea hovered over the map and he quickly placed a finger in the middle of the great sea, on the southern edge of the map. "Here."
Liki narrowed his eyes, and Dralisin echoed his thoughts soon after. "That's not possible...there's nothing there."
Tenebrea looked up. "That's just it...there is now..."
Chapter One
"Can you believe this? A whole new land...untouched since The Sundering." Drailsin spoke in eager excitement as he and Liki were looking out over the ocean below them. They were aboard an Alliance flying vessel. Liki couldn't recall the name of it at the moment, it was the second of its kind after the first survived in its battle against Deathwing.
"Imagine what may be there...what wonders may await." The dragon in disguise visibly shivered and giggled. "Ohhhhh I'm so excited."
"Please try to remember what we are actually out here to do." Liki reminded his friend sternly. "And we have no idea what may be on this new land, we need to be careful."
"Oh sure sure, but don't you think I'm gonna ignore any chance at some ancient secrets if I get the chance." Drailsin responded with a grin still.
Liki sighed and rolled his eyes, but gave a grin of his own. The ocean below them shimmered and sparkled with the light of the sun.
"How much longer till we are on site with where Anduin went missing?"
"Another few minutes I believe." Liki said, reaching up over his shoulders to gently touch at his swords, making sure they were fastened properly. He had no idea what might be on site so he made sure that his weapons were ready.
"LAND!!!!" A shout from the front of the sky fortress rang out. "Land ho!"
Liki stood up and quickly made his way to the front of the ship, along with Drailsin. Tenebrea and Kat'ern were already there, looking out over the stern of the aircraft. In the distance, through a thick blanket of fog, there was undoubtedly land.
"I thought you said it was just a small island..." Liki breathed to Tenebrea.
The druid shrugged and huffed. "That's what they told me..."
Liki eyes had never beheld so much...green before. The edge of the land in front of them was a vast forest of huge bamboo stalks and green, healthy trees. PIllars of rock reached up through the trees and up into the sky, several feet high. On top of some of these pillars, were houses and archways of very strange design.
As the flying vessel drew closer several of the crew joined The Searchers at the front of the vessel, all purpose of flying all but forgotten as they took in the majestic land in front of them.
"All right! Here's the plan!" Sky Admiral Rogers shouted out across the deck of her ship, which was now hovering just a few hundred yards off the coast of the land.
"The Searchers are going to touch down first and make first contact with the locals." Rogers stated, giving a short nod to the group of four Worgen that were standing just off to the side of the rest of her crew. "The rest of us are staying up here to maintain our altitude until we are told by them that we can set down peacefully."
Rogers turned her head over to the green forest below them. They had found a small village on the edge of the bright green forest, and several of the residents were constantly milling about in the town, looking up at their strange visitors curiously. The people were Pandaren, Kat'ern informed them, a race thought long extinct as since The Sundering, only a few had ever been seen. There were like Worgen. A big, furry, sentient animal; except panda instead of wolf...and maybe some of them a little bigger around the middle.
Liki had spent some time watching them, and one in particular had caught his eye. This Pandaren wore dark colored cloth and leather, a large polearm on his back and wearing a wide round hat. Clearly a well trained warrior, he walked and moved with ease despite how large his body was. The way the other villagers acted towards him added to that theory, they seemed to respect him greatly.
When it finally came time to attempt contact, Liki joined his companions in a small boat, which was lowered into the water and they began to approach the shore. The residents of the town saw this of course, and came to the beachline to greet them, the mysterious warrior with them.
When they reached land and came aground, Liki jumped out first, followed by the others. The Pandaren watched them carefully, but Liki detected no hostility. Well, at least not from all but the dark clothed warrior, but he supposed as a warrior he would be far more cautious than the other Pandaren and didn't think anything about that.
"Greetings." Liki started, and he gave a salute, placing his paw on his chest and bowing a bit. "I am Liki of The Searchers...we have come here searching for someone." He looked across the gathered villagers. When he received no response, he grew concerned.
"Do any of you speak common?" He asked, and Kat'ern stepped up.
"Allow me." He coughed and then brought his paws up to his mouth a moment, spinning his fingers a bit in the air in front of his muzzle before he spoke, the words coming out of his mouth were something Liki had never heard before.
The villagers seemed to jump at the sudden fact that the stranger was speaking their language, and this made the warrior reach up and grab hold of his polearm. Liki responded by stepping closer, but not reaching for his weapons. Kat'ern continued to talk, and finally the warrior lowered his paw as the mage spoke and then stepped forward, motioning at his mouth.
Kat'ern nodded silently and he stepped up in front of the panda, and cast the same spell he had used on himself.
When he finished, the Pandaren spoke, the words understandable to them all. "I am Taran Zhu, leader of the Shado Pan. You say your name is Liki, correct?"
Liki nodded. "Yes."
"Why have you come to Pandaria?" Taran Zhu asked.
Liki blinked a moment. Taran Zhu's tone of voice was rather stern and hostile, he thought. "We come in search of our prince. His name is Anduin. We believe that his ship was attacked close to your lands, and we are looking for leads to his whereabouts."
"Perhaps you may consider that your prince is dead at the bottom of the sea." Taran Zhu returned, his steely eyes never leaving Liki's, despite how the other three Worgen narrowed their eyes at the Pandaren warrior.
"You'd understand that we'd prefer not to think that." Liki returned softly. "We only wish to ask if we may search for him."
Taran looked up into the air. "With a warship hovering over our lands?"
"That is just how we got here. It is the fastest ship of our lands and time was of the essence."
The townspeople began to murmur quietly to each other. Zhu stepped forward while pointing a finger directly in front of Liki's face.
"You and your people will bring your wars to our shore. You will bring about destruction and chaos in your wake. We remember the atrocities of the world beyond our shores. You are NOT welcome here."
Before Liki could think up a response, the Mayor of the town stepped forward and placed his hand on Zhu's arm. "Those atrocities happened thousands of years ago Zhu. These people in front of you are not responsible for them."
Zhu turned a short glare at the other Pandaren, before returning it to Liki. "Perhaps, yet they seemed to have not learned from it." He sniffed at the air and then scrunched up his nose. "Wolfmen..."
"We are Worgen." Liki said. "How...how long have you been separated from the rest of the world?"
"Pandaria's last emperor shrouded our lands in the Mist, protecting us from the Sundering and keeping us hidden from the world. Recently, the Mist has started to fade, and just recently cleared."
"Perhaps it is time for you to rejoin the rest of the world." Liki offered.
"No." Zhu said sternly, again pointing a clawed finger at Liki. "You will bring your wars here, and bring the Sha upon us."
At the word 'Sha', several villagers around them started to whisper and seemed to shrink back.
Liki looked around at them all as he questioned. "Sha? I do not know what you speak of. Besides, we bring no conflict, we merely want to find our Prince. If you wish to be left in peace, I will see to that we do after that."
"You have already brought your struggle to our lands! Those ships that were before fighting off our shore! There have already been stirrings-"
"So you did see the ships! I bet he's hiding Anduin." Kat'ern growled angrily.
"I have seen no ships!" Zhu shouted back.
"You just said-!"
"Enough!" The Mayor shouted and he grabbed Taren Zhu and turned the other Pandaren towards him. "As Mayor of this town I will take responsibility for our visitors."
"The Shado Pan are who will deal with intruders on our lands!"
"Correct! Intruders, of which these people are not. Not until the Celestials declare as such. Until then, they are visitors."
This made Taren Zhu pause, but his anger didn't seem quick to abate. He snorted, his breath puffing out in front of the Mayor's face. "Do as you wish then. I will be returning to the summit to report this to Xuen; and once he announces them as intruders I will bring down the full might of the Shado Pan to protect our home..." He glared at the Mayor as he walked around him and then slowly stalked away.
Liki gave an appreciative nod towards the Mayor. "Thank you. I swear we only want to search for our Prince."
"I understand your worry. It would not be well of us to greet the outside world with hostility. However." The Pandaren took a breath. "Taren Zhu's way of thought is not dissimilar to others of our land. You will find that not all Pandaren are welcoming to your visit here..."
"Perhaps it is best that only some of us remain here." Drailsin commented, the first he had spoken since arriving on the shore. He had been looking down at the ground the entire time.
Liki turned to look at his companion. "Do you sense something?"
Drailsin looked up, turning his gaze at the distant hills and mountains that Taren Zhu had mentioned, and at the bright green forest in front of them. "The beauty of this land hides something, I can't sense what exactly, but it crawls deep within its very soil."
"Pandaria reacts to the actions of those living upon it." The Mayor said humbly. "If you want to learn more, I would suggest seeking out Lorewalker Cho. He lives in the Jade Forest alone, conducting self meditation and control."
Liki nodded. "Thank you. Do you also have any insight regarding the ships Zhu had mentioned?"
The Mayor shook his head. "I witnessed them shooting their cannons in the Mist during the night, but I only saw the flashes of those cannons. I saw no ships themselves, and know of no survivors."
The Worgen nodded sadly and sighed. "Very well." He looked over his shoulder at the flying fortress that was waiting for them to return. "We will speak with our companions and work out what to do next, I promise that we will not be any more than a small group."
The Mayor gave a bow then. "Welcome to Pandaria."
_________________________
Getting King Wyrnn to allow only the Searchers to conduct the search was a bit of a struggle. Thankfully though, with their unique capabilities, other members of the King's court made their case for them. Drailsin had very unique sensory abilities, Tenebrea was very powerful and had the highest ability of understanding any strange ecosystems the new land held, and Kat'ern could teleport with Anduin and bring him right back to Stormwind without a moment's delay.
So it was that the group of four returned to the lands of Pandaria and were greeted once again by the Mayor, given some nominal food supplies as a show of good faith, and entered the forest to find Lorewalker Cho.
The Jade Forest was a dense jungle, huge stalks of bamboo that extended high into the sky and filled with tangled vines and several forms of wildlife hanging in them. It was humid yet the ground and trees wet, dew clinging to the foliage, the jungle too dense for sunlight to evaporate it. There was a stone path that led through the forest, but the Mayor had informed them that the Lorewalker lived in a secluded area somewhere on the edges of the forest where it was thick and hard to traverse. There were no signs to indicate where exactly Cho was.
"I really wish the locals were more accommodating to us." Liki growled as he brushed through a patch of thick leaves to clear the way for them. "We'd be out of their hair as soon as we find Anduin."
"If Anduin is alive." Drailsin started, and then continued to explain before anyone could jump his case. "The residents of this land would have no reason to hide anything from us, they simply want to be left alone. If Anduin had survived, wouldn't he have gone to the nearest village he could find?"
"Unless he got lost in the jungle..." Tenebrae noted thoughtfully.
"Then we better keep on moving." Liki agreed as he slashed through the jungle in front of them with his swords.
For a few hours they continued to hack through the undergrowth of the forest. The sun rose up high and at the noon hours it seemed that was when sunlight could finally peirce down into the jungle. After another hour, this was causing it to get extremely hot and they had to pause a moment to rest and wait for it to fade.
"Holy fuck! Having fur in this heat sucks!" Liki panted out while trying to avoid the heat in the shade of a large tree.
"We could easily change form to our human selves." Kat'ern chuckled.
"I haven't changed back to my old form ever since Gilneas, and I don't intend to ruin that streak. I have to stay in tune with Goldrinn so that I can eventually regain his form."
"Something you've only managed to do while having sex so far." Kat'ern playfully pointed out.
This made the druid blush, but before he could retort, a voice shouted out in the distance.
"Help! Someone help! These Hozen are after me!"
"Oh-Oh! When I catch you, your dook is ooked!" Another voiced followed it.
Without even needing to say anything, the group of four Worgen pushed their way through the dense jungle together as quickly as possible towards the voices, as the first continued to call out for help.
Finally they entered onto a jungle path just as the owner of the first voice came into view. Both the individual and the group paused as they took in the sight of each other. Liki tlited his head in confusion. It was a Jinyu, a soft of bipedal fish. Their scales glimmered in the sunlight while they were wearing nothing but a small bit of cloth around the waist. There were several scars and gashes around their body. The Jinyu panted rapidly while it seemed flustered, now caught between the four beastly wolfmen and whatever was chasing them.
Whatever it was though, it seemed he was willing to take his chances with the Worgen over it as he held out his hands to them and pleaded. "Help me please! A Hozen is after me!"
"Slow down." Liki said. "What is a Hozen?"
Before he got an answer, the jungle behind the Jinyu rustled and shook, and he scurried around the four Worgen to hide behind them as a large ape like creature burst through the brush, wielding a long spear with a sharp looking stone on the end. It was wearing absolutely nothing and smelled terrible. This was a Hozen, Liki sumizzed.
The Hozen brandished it's crude looking spear at the group and seemed ready to charge, but it seemed to rethink that when it noticed the weapons the four Worgen had already, and instead demanded. "Who the dook are you hmm? Hand over the dooker behind you."
"What strange speech patterns..." Liki heard Drailsin's voice between the shared mental connection the four of them had.
"Do we help?" Kat'ern asked. "Can we afford to get distracted?"
"Perhaps they will be able to help us in locating the prince. The Jinyu I mean. This 'Hozen' seems more of a brute than anything else." Tenebrea added.
Liki had to agree, and so he stepped up while unsheathing his swords. He didn't take any kind of defensive posture, but the sharpness of his weapons was not ignored by the Hozen, who gripped his spear tighter and barked.
"You dooks want fight I'll ooking give ya a fight."
"No one has to fight." Liki growled firmly. "Leave."
For a moment, the Hozen just glared at Liki. The ape bared sharp teeth at the four Worgen before turning and bolting back into the brush, shouting back. "Hozen gonna be all over your dooks before the day over Fishman!"
Liki turned towards the Jinyu, and the others spread apart so that Liki could see him. The Jinyu stepped forward, clearly very relieved. "Oh thank the waters. I thought for sure I was going to be recaptured..."
"Recaptured? You were already a prisoner?" Drailsin questioned.
The Jinyu nodded. "Yes...the Hozen routinely capture or kill my people out in the jungle. Our Warriors are strong and our village itself is safe from their attacks, but the jungles beyond are dangerous. They keep those like me in cages and delight in tormenting us."
"That's terrible." Liki growled again. "Why do you not ask the Panderen for help?"
"We have, but the Shado Pan will not help us with our own problems. The Pandaren prefer to avoid conflict, and only fight those who threaten their own freedoms. The Hozen are indigenous to Pandaria like them."
"So just because they are not affected by the injustice, they sit back and let things happen." Liki shook his head. His respect of Taren Zhu was falling quickly. "Where is your village? We will help you get back to them."
The Jinyu nodded eagerly and shouldered past the Worgen into the thick jungle. "It is this way, please follow me. Our elders will want to thank you."
______________________
A few hours of pushing their way through the thick jungle floor later, and the Jinyu led the Searchers to a rather magnificent looking pool of glistening water. It was crystal clear and Liki could see the multitude of fish, turtles, and crabs within. There were even several clams, their shells wide open and a few of them housing huge gleaming pearls. On the other side of this bountiful pond, was a small village of Jinyu.
The warriors that greeted them gave their own thanks for rescuing the lost Jinyu, and while escorting the Worgen to the Elders, gave them a little bit of information about the village. While there were many other Jinyu in the world, the people of this village called themselves "Pearlfin". This was because of the abundance of clams and large pearls at the bottom of the lake. Their village was adorned with these pearls, used as magical energy focuses by their sages, and sold to the Pandaren in exchange for goods that they themselves good not get.
The elders of the village thanked and welcomed them to stay for as long as they wanted in Pearlfin Village, to which Liki thanked them for hospitality after telling them they were on Pandaria looking for Anduin then stated he only wanted to ask a few questions.
"Ask, and we shall answer to the best of our ability." The head of the village smiled at them.
"Do you happen to know where Lorewalker Cho is within the forest?" Liki asked. "We have been told that he may be of assistance to us and wish to find him."
"The Lorewalker often visits us, and sometimes helps fend off Hozen when they get too bold in their constant attacks on our borders. He lives in a small camp of his own to the southwest of here, the area there is more swamp than jungle. You will know when you are close when you start to see crocodiles. Be weary of the beasts lurking under the waters though, those are more fearsome than the reptiles."
"Why in the world would he live in such a dangerous area?"
"We do not attempt to question the Lorewalker on his decisions. He is...odd but wise." The elder chuckled lightly.
Liki nodded. "Has he ever given you other assistance with the Hozen? For someone so well respected, surely he has some pull with the Shado Pan?"
"He has none. We are not completely familiar with the order of Pandaria, but we keep to ourselves, and our problems are our own. We came to this land thousands of years ago to escape the Naga. If given the choice, I will fight a Hozen over a Naga anyday."
"I see..." Liki furrowed his brow. "Then...who does lead the Pandaran people?"
"The August Celestials watch over Pandaria. They have temples in the west, north, east, and southern ends of the continent. However, they have never tried to tell us what to do, they only guide and advise us. Anyone can go to their temples and request an audience."
"The August Celestials..." Drailsin's voice whispered in Liki's head. So this is where they were..."
"You know them?" Liki asked back, his ear flicking back once towards the Warlock.
"Very old spirits, they're like the Wild Gods." Drailsin answered.
"Like Goldrinn?" Tenebrae spoke hopefully. "Would they be able to help us find the Prince?"
"Maybe. They probably wouldn't take to kindly to me, Warlock and all... but since we're close to the Emerald Dragon, might be worth the visit."
"Is it possible to get an audience with them?" Liki asked the Jinyu Elders.
The chief looked to the sides towards his fellows, getting brief nods from them before answering. "It is, but we cannot take you there, we don't venture past the camp lines. Hozen are everywhere and while they don't mess with the Pandarans, they attack a Jinyu on sight."
"They see us as sport." Another Elder interjected, but before he could continue on, the chief took back control.
"We can't burden you with such a request...but saving any of our people you see would be very helpful to us both. If the Pandaren people don't allow you to stay in your search for your Prince, then the Pearlfin Jinyu will allow your forces a base of operation within the country."
"That's strange...and rather militic of them..." Kat'ern thought.
"Does this put at war with the Hozen? With monkeys?" Tenebrae followed up in disbelief.
"Not us." Liki said before speaking aloud. "Thank you, we will remember your offer, but we do have our own mission. We shall seek out Lorewalker Cho to the SW. Should we need that base or if freeing your people ends up becoming part of our path, then we shall talk again."
The chief seemed noticeably saddened by the answer, but accepted it. "Very well Seekers. We hope to see you again."
The group of four Worgen left Pearlfin village to the Southeast, trudging through a few more miles of thick jungle before suddenly the tall bushes and reed like forest gave way to a small marsh. The trees here were still pretty tall, but left them see more of the sky above them. The distant forest was covered in a layer of mist that fogged up most of the marsh.
"Looks like the place, now we just need to find his camp." Liki started to say.
"Looking for someone?" A new voice suddenly asked the group, and all four of their heads snapped up to see a Pandaren posing at the top of a thin piece of bamboo stalk. Despite his rather ample midsection, he was poised perfectly there, unmoving as he looked down at them with a grin.
"How did we not see him up there? We had just been looking up..." Kat'ern grumbled.
"We've come here looking for Lorewalker Cho." Liki said, stepping forward and tilting his head. "Are you him?"
"Come looking for someone you are likely to find someone else." The male panda lowered his arms from his pose, then jumped from the Bamboo pole. He landed in front of them softly, barely rustling the ground he landed on. "Why are you looking for him?"
"We seek his assistance in finding out prince."
"Hah!" The panda laughed, turning and waving his hand to signal the group to follow. "You've come to speak with a lost man to find another lost man? Come. I know how I can help you."
The Pandaren led Liki and the others through the Marsh, following a distinct pathway until the reached an archway which led into a rather well kept campground. There was a small table with a tea set in the middle of the camp, and along the fringes of the camp was a small hut with a bed.
It seemed this Pandaren lived a very minimalist lifestyle. At least it seemed like that, until the group had a giant, striped tiger jumping towards them!
The four Worgen all drew their weapons, but the Pandaren threw his arms wide. "Sasha!"
Liki and the others stood stunned as the huge jungle tiger tackled their host to the ground, who started to laugh as the tiger assaulted him with licks to his furry face.
As the wolfmen relaxed, the feline eventually pulled off her master, giving rumbling purrs. The big beasts eyes locked on the four of them for a moment, but the male panda gently stroked her fur. "Relax Sasha, they are guests."
In response to this, Tenebrae stepped forward, shapeshifting himself into his travel form, a large lion with a thick mane of fur, though with distinct wolfish ears instead of rounded ones. He growled softly towards Sasha, a gentle rumble that got her attention.
Sasha bounced away with him, seeming to be thankful to see another Feline.
"Hah! I like you four already! Sasha does not make friends easily."
"You haven't actually answered our first question. Are you Lorewalker Cho?" Liki asked, to which the Panda turned towards them.
"Would it matter if I was or not? I have told you I can help you, would you accept that help?"
Drailsin frowned. "Accepting the help is based on weather you are the Lorewalker or not."
The Panda shrugged, still grinning. "Titles and names are just those my friend." For a small moment, he stared at Drailsin. "I think you of all people would understand that better than most," both Liki and Drailsin tensed a little, "being Seekers and all. But, if confirmation of your goal is what you want then yes, I am Lorewalker Cho."
Cho turned away from them, pointing his paw at Liki. "You, come with me."
Liki narrowed his eyes, but he followed readily. To his surprise they didn't go very far. Cho stopped and sat down on the opposite side of his tea table, several bowls of herbs and other ingredients in front of him.
"You and I will brew tea together."
Liki was confused. "Uh...okay..." He started to sit down on the opposite side of the table.
"Clear your mind." The Lorewalker stated, his paws on his lap and fingers pinched together in a meditative pose. "Don't think about the colors of the herbs, use what calls out to you."
"What do you mean? I know nothing about mixing tea." Liki growled in annoyance.
"You must be at peace with yourself while on Pandaria. The Sha are attracted to negative emotions. Anger, fear, despair, doubt, hatred. You must rid yourself of all negative thoughts."
"Perhaps the villagers should be the ones to rid themselves of them." Liki said back. At the same time, the rogue reached out and took a small pinch of blue herbs, adding them to the teapot.
Cho grinned, not even opening his eyes to see what Liki choose. "You mean the ones who welcomed you to the land and then offered you supplies as you went on your way?"
"You say to remove yourself from doubt and fear, hatred and anger. The people of this land doubt and fear us because we are from the mainland."
"They fear you bringing your war to Pandaria."
"There is hatred and anger between the Hozen and Jinyu."
"They help each other by keeping each other strong."
"Then why should we be the ones to 'Clear our minds?'" Liki growled as he took another pinch of herbs, this time a bowl of bright red leaves. The teapot was starting to rumble and shake. "I am here only to find my prince and bring him home, all because my king decided to hide him away from the world instead of telling him straight up that 'Hey, we're probably going to war again-'"
Suddenly the teapot burst open. Yards away, Sasha yowled and the other three Worgen turned towards where Liki had been sitting with Cho. Liki was blasted backwards by the explosion, as suddenly a gooey, dreadful looking creature was on top of the table, the herbs and tea had been scattered across the ground.
"Hate..." Bright white eyes focused onto Liki. "Fools of the world..." Liki shivered, the chilling voice of the creature froze the blood in his veins it felt like. His ears pinned back as he crawled backwards along the ground. The other three frozen in the background.
"Why should I listen to someone so stupid?" The gooey creature's voice growled, and Liki now heard his own voice mixed into it.
"Nobody is perfect my friend...not even your king." Cho's calm voice broke through the chill.
Cho's fist punched through the body of the organism, glowing a soft green. The creature shrieked in pain, it's shrill yell like that of a banshee. It's body started to disintegrate, falling apart and fading into the air. As it's inky body faded, so too did its horrible yell. Cho pulled his fist back. He hadn't even stood up, he was still sitting exactly where he had been.
"Do you feel better?" Cho asked Liki.
Liki took a moment, patting himself with a paw to make sure that first, he wasn't injured. Second, as the shock of seeing the creature passed, he realized that he felt warmer. "I...yeah. I do."
"You had been carrying Sha within you. Here on Pandaria, negative emotions - doubt, fear, hatred, anger, despair, violence - become Sha. Eventually, they would take you over if you hold them long enough. You must rid yourself of those emotions."
Cho now stood up, and he moved to pick up the teacups and kettle. He placed them back onto the table. "Now that you are freed from those thoughts, focus on your prince, and make tea." Cho waved his paws around at the now scattered leaves across the table.
Liki slowly came forward and he sat himself down again, this time wearily searching through the tea leaves as if they too would spring up and attack him.
"Do not fear. They are just tea leaves. There is no right or wrong choice." Cho chuckled. "Keep yourself calm and focused, like you do in battle, keep your focus on your task. Finding your prince."
"Finding Anduin..." Liki nodded as he reached and took hold of a pawful of random leaves. The tea kettle began to boil with the leaves inside it.
"Good, keep your mind clear and focused on that task. Relax your body, close your eyes and focus. Feel Pandaria under you..."
Liki did as he was told this time, heeding Cho's words and warnings now that he had seen a 'Sha' himself. He closed his eyes, blocking out the visuals of the world and focusing instead on what he felt and heard.
Sasha was purring in the background, snuggled around Tenebrae who was still in his travel form. Drailsin was watching the scene between Cho and Liki with great interest, curious about the magic that Cho had just used, and Kat'ern was...visibly annoyed and wishing he was back in The Tower.
"Breath deep of the aroma of the tea."
Liki took a deep breath, the scent of the calmly brewing tea in front of him now smelled of mint and a hint of cinnamon.
"Now," Cho said, his voice fading and calm, "cast your energy onto Pandaria, and let the land show you...where... your prince is..."
Liki exhaled, and allowed himself to be taken. In his mind, it the magical brew took Liki's gaze up into the sky, over the great expanse of the Jade Forest. For a moment, he took in the magical beauty of the land like he had when he had aboard the Alliance ship, before he felt himself tugged along. He allowed the tug to pull him, and it dashed him through the air and then through the forest at a rapid speed.
This continued on until the forest cleared out onto a majestic field in front of a large palace, made of marble, stone, and adorned with green Jade statues of a serpent of some kind. In front of the gate, Liki saw a group of three Pandaren, two of them were helping someone else walk, while the third walked in front of them leading the way.
"We are here..." He said, his voice soft while Liki was in his vision.
"Please be all right..." One of the other Pandaren whispered to the figure he was hefting up between himself and the other Pandaren.
"Get him to the healing pools, the Jinyu will help him. I will speak with the Jade Serpent regarding him."
"Please..." The fourth figure hanging between the Pandaren moaned, "The Alliance..."
"Relax friend...you need healing first."
"Father...need to tell...The Alliance...The Horde is here already..." The figure finally seemed to manage to lift their head.
Suddenly Liki was rushed back to his own body, his eyes snapping open and standing up in a rush.
"Found him have you?" Cho asked with laughter in his voice. "Go on then, you know where he is, let Pandaria guide your feet."