Chapter 2:
The End of Nightflame
Magister’s Report
Archmage Sunreaver,
Over the last few days, your people helped the guardians of the Algeth’era Academy rebuild their telescopes and other scrying devices. Following an extensive search, it became apparent that something was brewing on the island known as the Veiled Ossuary, sacred to dragonkind and final resting place of their ancestors. As quickly as we could, our unit travelled there to investigate.
Local guards told us of a blasphemous attack: arcane guardians roamed the grounds, syphoning the lingering arcane essences from the remains of deceased dragons, and asked us to find and deal with the culprits while they worked at warding the sacred remains. We pledged our aid and ventured into the Ossuary.
The arcane guardians were easily found, and almost as easily dismissed. Our concerted and coordinated attack allowed us to down several of them without suffering too many casualties. We watched, however, as their essences were recalled to a tower on the highest levels of the grounds, and thus, we proceeded to climb.
Then, we encountered now all too familiar mirror images of Nightfire herself. These foes were more challenging, and quickly began channelling the raw arcane power we know Nightfire has learned to wield to some degree of success. Thankfully, our amulets worked as intended, absorbing the raw power and enhancing our own abilities. One by one, the images fell.
We made haste to the central temple chamber, where we found Hilda Nightfire herself, for the first time since her fall from the bridge to Thaldraszus months ago. Her face, arms and hands were horribly scarred from that arcane explosion, and I imagine her unsafe channelling of raw arcana. She turned that raw power onto us, but again our amulets prevailed.
The ferocity of our counter attack startled her, and she began to channel more energy than she could handle. We watched as her body was overwhelmed and disintegrated, the arcane storm calmed by our amulets, now spent.
Nightfire’s body was no more, yet her essence, much in the same way as the dragons’, lingered. Until a kindly spirit, one donning a troll visage, came to claim her, committing to make amends and aiding her in her transition.
The Forbidden Reach has been left in less turmoil than we found it all those weeks ago. Now, with your permission, we shall return to Dalaran. I shall give leave to your followers that they may spend the next few weeks enjoying the high holiday and some well deserved shore leave.
Yours,
Magister Axiann Sungazer
Valdrakken