Episode 2: Foundations of Identity

Most mornings, I awoke inside a hay bale or up in the grain elevator at the Molsen farm. It was the first time that I could remember waking up in a bed in my life. The soft pillow was like heaven, and the heavy blanket gave me the most welcomed smothering sensation I could ever imagine. But what was unwelcomed was the high pitched squeak of my tiny new friend shouting "Wakey wakey!" I cracked my eye to see her excited face right in front of mine with her arm outstretched. "I brought a few apples from the trees in Stormwind yesterday. I thought you might want one!"

Never a morning person, I was reluctant to acknowledge her, but she and my new companions had shown me so much hospitality that I felt it might be rude to refuse. Either way, I had never eaten an apple before. There wasn't much growing in Westfall that wasn't completely covered in briarthorn or choked out by bruiseweed. The apple's deep red skin shined in the morning light. But when the first crisp bite gave way to a wash of sweet and tart flavor, I immediately regretted my initial feelings of annoyance for being woken up. "It's about time." Danivun's disapproving voice carried its way into the tent. Apparently, everyone else had been up for quite a while. I admired his seriousness and sense of duty, but this was not the time of day that I felt inclined to express such reverence. "If you're going to press on with us after VanCleef, then I'd suggest you help us get ready."

""I still don't know how I feel about this." Sister Lynette remarked from the other side of the tent. She sat in front of a floating mirror while brushing her long, golden hair. "She's just a wild child. She hasn't had any formal training, and all she has to fight with is that pickaxe she found."

Danivun nodded in her direction. "Exactly what Tethyros and I were just discussing. Ladies, we need to prepare for a long push into the Deadmines. While the boys and I are out getting supplies, you three can do some fishing so we aren't doing this on an empty stomach." Danivun made a sideways look of disapproval at Kaylee. "Or at least not a stomach solely filled with mana buns and other sweets.... In the process, you and our wild child here will need to clear the shore of some of those murlocs. I think that'll be ideal so long as you two can provide her some support."

"An' make it fast!" Tiernan's called from the entrance of the tent. "I'm on me last skin of ale an' me belly believes me throat has been cut."

When we parted ways, I couldn't help but feel nervous. I had once seen murlocs strip the flesh from a boar that wandered too far from Stendel's Pond before. The yellowing grass gave way into sand as we neared the plateau between the plains and the beach. Down below, I could see a handful of the purple and green fish-men scavenging from the corpse of a beached sea creature.

Sister Lynette murmured a word that I couldn't understand, which gave me a strange boost of vitality. I suddenly felt a vigor like never before, which gave me a sense of confidence for the fight ahead. The sense that I could take on all of those hideous murlocs by myself was too much to resist. After all, I had one of the best healers Danivun ever knew by my side. I started to charge. About two steps down the slope and I remembered that I was running on sand. My foot sank into it and I went tumbling down. I hit the shore with a mouthful of sand and looked up to see two enraged murlocs running up to me, one holding a scavenged boot knife that it had found and the other carried a pointed spear. Additionally, two others began channeling their water magics. Suddenly, the two closing in on me froze in place when Kaylee had finished giggling at my crash-landing and blasted them with ice. Beyond them, one of the mystics had disappeared and was replaced by a sheep. The other simply stood there dimwittedly. I turned back and saw Sister Lynette with her eyes closed and arms outstretched.

"I can hold it for a while." To my surprise, Sister Lynette's voice came came not from her but from the dumbfounded murloc. "Take a few swings while I have control of its mind."

Kaylee chimed in with a note of amusement. ""Its like hitting a target dummy! This way you get the idea of what its like to hit something without having another one of your famous little accidents."

I dusted myself off and grabbed my pickaxe with both hands, and then took a big swing at the mind-enslaved creature. The point drove deep into the side of the murloc's head. But my weapon had become lodged in its skull and wouldn't simply shake loose.

"Try knocking it loose after your swing connects." Kaylee suggested. "It should give you some extra leverage and push it off quicker if you do like a stompy-kick thing! Its what Danivun does when his axe gets stuck."

"A 'stompy-kick thing,' Kaylee?" Sister Lynette sassed her comrade. "You couldn't think of a better description?"

Nonetheless, I gave it a try. Surprisingly, my pickaxe slipped free and practically hoisted itself right back into my original awkward fighting stance. Sister Lynette dispelled the sheep effect from the other murloc, and I gave my attack another try. With a heavy sideways swing, my pick sunk into the creature's chest and I kicked it loose in an almost fluid motion. After only my second attempt, I felt like I was getting the hang of it. "That was great!" cheered Kaylee. "Now try fighting one that fights back. Don't worry, I'll polymorph one again for you."

The ice holding the murloc wielding the boot knife gave way and it began to charge me as its friend transformed into another sheep with a small puff of purple smoke. The murloc made a loud gurgling growl, and flailed its knife. I felt the sting of the blade cut into my forearm. Syster Lynette waved a hand in my direction and a golden light like when she healed my bruise last night danced across my arm. The fresh wound began to close almost immediately, and the stinging sensation was replaced with a soothing warmth. The initial pain was more of a nuisance than anything else anyway, so I responded with an arced swing of my own. My attack pierced through the murloc's shoulder, and I kicked it loose once again. The attack wasn't enough to kill it, but the kick seemed to stun it long enough for me to dip the pickaxe and drive it upward into it monster's face. I had finally gotten a handle on how to fight. My initial fears melted away as excitement came over me with the new ways that I had begun learning to wield my weapon.

After the fourth murloc was dispatched, we moved up the coast a bit more to find another group of fish-men. With a few more pointers, we defeated the murlocs and moved to the water where we spotted a school of fish. I had never been on the beach before, and it was exhilarating to have finally reclaimed more of the lands of Westfall for the people. I looked around for another one of the stick-spears that the murlocs fought with to try to use as a harpoon, but Kaylee seemed to have a different plan in mind. "Oooh, firefin snapper!" She gleefully squealed. "These are so yummy on the grill. I can't wait to have Tiernan cook these up for us."

She approached the waters and waved her arm in a slow arc, finishing with a flourish. The school of fish bobbed in the water as a frozen bubble. Kaylee then lifted her arm, which caused the fish bubble to hover over her head, and walked with her fresh "catch" back toward the camp. I couldn't help but notice that everything seemed to be a pageant for her. I began to wonder if all mages were like this, until I noticed Tethyros was perched atop the plateau overlooking us as he fletched a new supply of arrows while Shadowclaw guarded his blind side.

Tethyros commended me as we approached him. "You fought well, wild child. Still in need of refining, but you have a natural ferocity that will serve you well if you feed into it."

I regarded him and his compliment with gratitude. "It felt right." I told him. "They terrorize the people here in Westfall and now I know how to take back these shores."

The subtle, yet unsaid reminder that I had no family hung in the air like Kaylee's fish bubble. The danger of mucking up the spell to bring it crashing down on top of me in a wave of negative emotions was palpable, so I chose not to say anything. The night elf seemed to sense my emotions and cut through it with poise.

"My people have a strong connection to nature, young one." The night elf Tethyros said in his curt and calm voice. "It is said that our parents are whispered our names when they give birth to us through the call of the Wilds. Given that you are not a child raised by parentage, but by your own nature, I believe that our referring to you as a "wild child" may be more fitting than we thought. Perhaps we could simply call you... Wild."

We returned to the camp to find Danivun and Tiernan using stones to sharpen their weapons. Everyone seemed to take quickly to my new name, with Tiernan joking that he was happy to have fewer words to say. Danivun handed me a stone and bade me to sit next to him in order to learn how to sharpen the blade. Tiernan and Tethyros began gutting and cleaning the fish, while Kaylee and Sister Lynette mixed herbs that Tethyros had gathered. Shadowclaw lightly scratched at her master's leg, which Tethyros met with a simple hand motion to indicate that she sit and wait patiently. The great cat obediently sat, but continued to intently stare at the pile of fish. Finally, Tethyros tossed a fillet to his companion, who deftly caught it in the air and chewed vigorously. Tiernan put together a portable grill over the campfire using two metal stands and a grate that he kept in the camping supplies.

Kaylee emerged from the tent with a wooden rack of glass tubes filled with colorful liquid. "I'm minoring in Alchemy at the academy. I figured we could use these potions as a backup just in case. Oh, and here's a little pouch for you to put them in!"

She helped me fasten the small red pouch as she went on to explain the interesting usage of her concoctions. "These two red ones are for an extra bit of healing like when Sister Lynette does her holy stuff. Except this might taste kind of funny and there won't be any of her fancy light up effects. This black one makes it so it hurts a little less when stuff hits you. It lasts for like an hour or so, so does this yellow one that makes you a little bit stronger. Sister Lynette and I will be needing these blue ones. They're called mana potions and they're for people who use magic."

Kaylee turned to everyone and handed the rest of her potions out. Tiernan eyed her sternly as he flipped over the fillets on the grill. The delicious aroma wafted through the light breeze, and my stomach suddenly felt emptier than ever.

"Did ye leave enough fer me poisons?" He asked her with a tone of irritation.

Kaylee chuckled dismissively and replied "Yes, I didn't forget this time. I promise!"

Tethyros tossed another uncooked fillet of fish to Shadowclaw, who purred from within the tent. He then took the discarded scales and bones a few paces from the campsite and dug a hole to bury them.

Once all of the fish was cooked, Kaylee conjured plates for us and Sister Lynette said a prayer:

"May the Light bless this bounty that it may nourish and strengthen us.

May the Light bless and keep us. May the Light make its glory shine upon us and be gracious unto us all. May the Light look upon us with kindness, and give us peace. And may the blessing of the Holy Light descend upon us and remain forever."

My companions answered in unison. "Amen."

Only Tethyros and I remained silent. It seemed that we were the odd ones out in this ceremonial situation, but I imagined that it was due to him having some different beliefs.

I had not heard much of the Light, but would occasionally hear it referenced at Sentinel Hill when Mrs. Saldean would give Westfall Stew to the hungry.

"What is the Light?" I asked inquisitively.

Sister Lynette seemed more understanding of my lack of knowledge on the subject than expected. She spoke to me about the Light as if she were speaking about a loved one.

"It is the Light of Creation." she began, her voice soft and affectionate. "It is like an endless, shimmering sea of living energy just outside the bounds of our understanding of reality. It transcends space and time, flowing across all existence. It created this and countless other worlds in an explosion of holy light, forming planets from its shards and giving life through its sparks.

"It is the source of all life within the cosmos, surrounding and penetrating us and granting us its blessings. We are all bound by the Light, and must one day return to it. The Light wards away the darkness and protects us from the evils of this world."

Sister Lynette looked up at Tethyros, and then back at me as if to seek his approval. "For some cultures, like Tethyros's people, the Light is a loving energy bestowed upon her children by their moon goddess known as Elune. Though his beliefs may differ, Light is Light, no matter what the source. Always look to the Light for guidance and protection."

"In other words, lass," Tiernan said with his mouth full. "It's holy hocus pocus."

Tethyros spoke in his calm monotone, which gave him a strange air of wisdom. "He is not wrong. I have seen many who follow both the priestess's faith and mine that can wield it to smite their enemies. Although, I much prefer a more tangible power that I can feel in my hands."

"You guys are kinda weird though." Kaylee blurted out. I had quickly gathered that Kaylee seem incapable of not speaking her mind. "Don't you also believe that, like, grass and stuff can talk or whatever? The Light at least follows the same astral laws as arcane energies." Tethyros seemed unaffected by the comment, and answered her with one of his own. "I'm more confused by how you can grasp the teachings of the Light when you're not even tall enough to reach it."

Once our feast had concluded, Danivun insisted that we head into the mines. It was just past noon, and he was eager to press on before the Defias had the time to prepare for an attack. We marched back around the hill and through the abandoned barn that hid the underground tunnels. There wasn't a person in sight, as Kaylee's frost barrier seemed to have done the trick. It was astounding to me that it had not melted away, but I assumed that the ice would never melt due to some magical means.

"Alright Kaylee," announced Danivun, his commanding tone had increased with the anticipation of battle. "Bring it down."

Kaylee raised a hand and the wall shattered like a falling rock pile, the shards vanishing as they struck the floor.

Beyond the narrowing of the cave where Kaylee had built her wall was a small bridge over a minor gap in the mine's floor. It was barely high enough to drop down from without the risk of breaking an ankle, and there was a gentle slope down to the lower section on the other side of the bridge. I could see a small tunnel on the lower section of the mine that a group of Defias seemed to be guarding. They had either seen us or heard the shattering of Kaylee's ice wall and were preparing to engage us. Just then, a tall woman stood among them and raised her hand over her head. In a flash of purple and white, they all vanished and reappeared to the platform that we stood on, blocking our path to the bridge.

"You will go no further, lapdogs of the crown!" the woman shouted. Much like the average Defias bandit, her clothing was mismatched, but the red bandana seemed cleaner and made of silk as opposed to the average member of the criminal operation who wore cotton or linen. She held a sword in one hand, while the essence of frost swirled in the other. Her hair was orange and yellow like a sunrise. Among her companions were three more Defias members wielding hatchets and daggers, and a well-dressed man without a mask holding a staff. His face was covered in bruises and small cuts as if he had been battered for days.

Danivun addressed the man who seemed to be out of place. "Sir! I'm Lieutenant Danivun of the People's Militia. We can get you out of here and back to Stormwind." The man's speech seemed slow and confused. "I. Am right. Where I belong."

"He's from the House of Nobles." murmured Sister Lynette. "And his mind is in fragments... He's been brainwashed!"

The woman laughed menacingly. "That's right. Just like all lapdogs of the crown, you will either bend to the will of the Brotherhood, or be slain. Destroy them!"

The three Defias bandits in her party sprang into action. A female bandit with a pair of daggers lunged at Sister Lynette, who cowered in place. Danivun rushed in front of the priestess and knocked the bandit away with the slam of his shield, then drew his axe. I hesitated as the other two male Defias with hatchets ran at me with their weapons raised overhead. In a blur, Tiernan sprinted past me and crouched low to drive his shoulder into the knees of one as Shadowclaw leapt over me and onto the chest of the other bandit. The great cat bit deep into his shoulder and the Defias struggled to free himself from the beast's fangs. I swung my pickaxe at the bandit Tiernan had knocked down, but he rolled to the side and rose from the ground with a spinning kick to my back. The kick knocked me toward the ledge and I nearly fell off.

I looked up to see that Kaylee had teleported herself to the other side of the bridge and was building up a massive fireball. At the same time, the female leading the group and her brainwashed noble channeled her frost-powered magic along with his purple and white colored magics to launch back at her. All at once, they fired off their incantations and an explosion of energy knocked everyone backward.

The blast managed to send me falling off of the platform under the bridge. I landed hard on my stomach and had the wind knocked out of me. The whole world seemed to be ablaze as the pain coursed through my body. As the pain abated, I looked up to see that I was not entirely wrong. A ring somehow comprised of both frost and fire encircled the bridge where Kaylee and the woman still were. The noble had flown over the railing and fallen down beside me, his neck had been broken. The rest of our fighters were stuck outside of the ring, unable to enter and help their powered companions. A male voice roared from the other side of the fire along with the clang of steel as the fight raged on.

Kaylee rose, sluggishly to her feet and peered across the bridge after her combatant. The woman knelt across the bridge, holding her side while she looked back at the wall of blue and orange flames behind her. Shakily, she brought herself to her feet and brushed the hair from her face. The flames had partially singed the mask she wore and it fell in tatters, causing Kaylee to gasp in shock. "Marissa du Paige!" Kaylee shouted in astonishment. "But you used to be my lab partner! You dropped out of the Academy to side with the Defias? How could you!?"

"Because you are all weak!" Marissa screamed back at her. She summoned a huge icicle which she threw at the gnome, who dodged out of the way. "The rich live in decadence while the common people suffer. We slave away and starve, and for nothing!" Marissa swung her blade through the air and a blue fan of frost launched at Kaylee and struck her in the shoulder.

"Well, now I am no longer nothing. I train the Defias on the magical arts you bookworms waste on decorations and flare." Marissa continued. "I am here because the Defias stand for the under privileged and the poor. We fight in defiance of the fat bastards who bade our families to build their city and refused to pay us our fair wages." Another icicle flew from her outstretched arm as Kaylee deflected it with a blast of fire. "The city will be brought crumbling down by the hands of its own makers, and justice will be served. We are no longer the Stonemasons, we are the stones that the builders refused."

The crackling frostfire emphasized the seething heat of her rage and the ominous chill of her words. Marissa drew her arms out wide and then quickly brought them together. An ember appeared in her hands.

"What's that old expression?" She taunted, mockingly. "Fight fire with fire?"

She threw the ember to the ground, which grew into a living fire creature. It floated after Kaylee who slowed it with a cone of frost. Hurriedly, Kaylee summoned a floating tabletop with drinks and food. Kaylee pushed the table at the living fire and knocked over the conjured water, dousing it into smoke. Just then, another icicle flew inches past Kaylee's head, and she responded with a wave of heat that struck Marissa and staggered her.

"You know what's wrong with you, Marissa?" Kaylee squeaked as slyly as her tiny voice could manage. "You've always thought you were too cool for school."

The image of a dragon's head appeared over Kaylee's head as the gnome roared as fiercely as her little voice could manage. A blast of flames burst from the dragon's gaping maw, which seemed to disorient Marissa for a moment. Kaylee began to channel another massive fiery boulder like the one that caused the explosion, and then threw it at the Defias mage. Marissa's senses came back to her and she quickly threw a wave of frost to deflect the massive ball of fire Kaylee had created, but it wasn't enough. The flaming ball struck Marissa and completely engulfed her in flame. She screamed in agony and then fell to the ground in a pile of ash.

The wall of frost and flame died down and I could see my allies again. One of the Defias laid bloody and broken on the floor, attempting to crawl toward his axe. Tiernan knelt down beside him and lifted his head by the hair, then slit the bandit's throat.

"Ye done well, lass." He said to Kaylee, wiping the blood off of his blade onto the back of the dying bandit. "Ne'er 'ave I seen a fight between a pair o' mages before."

Danivun looked at Kaylee with a newfound respect. "I have to admit, I've very impressed with you."

"Thanks!" Kaylee replied in a half-cheer, beaming at Danivun as if his approval were all she ever wanted.

Danivun turned to me, and I looked at the ground in shame. I was completely useless in the fight and I knew I had let the team down. Danivun placed a hand on my shoulder and asked "Are you alright? You took a hell of a fall."

"I'm fine," I said, unable to make eye contact.

Tethyros cut a section of the dead noble's coat and placed it in his pouch. "He's definitely dead, but we can use this to report what we've found. Chances are, he isn't the only one." The night elf looked up and spoke to me. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Wild. Just like we were unable to help Kaylee, some times there are situations where you are forced to sit out of the fight. There will be more chances for you to prove your courage."

Sister Lynette mended everyone's wounds, and we checked the bodies for gold pouches. Kaylee found a pair of gloves on Marissa's ashen corpse that seemed to withstand the fire.

"Is everyone ready to press on?" Danivun proposed, which we all responded to with murmurs and nods. He adjusted his shield and marched forward with my new friends and I in tow, as we entered the Defias stronghold known as the Deadmines.