AunarÃa Brightohoenix stepped gingerly across the lifeless rock that was the Telogrus Rift. It seemed to be drifting through the nether, reminding the high elf of her time spent in the Netherstorm and Shadowmoon Valley of Outland. The chaotic, fel energies of the nether there roared across the zones and threatened those who resided there with constant destruction; in the rift, however, the inescapable darkness seemed to reach for you in an unending hunger. The deep twilight skyline was filled with what appeared to be dark, shifting tendrils that fluttered about haphazardly, sporting erratic and jerky movements.
AunarÃa had to fight to keep her wits about her. Despite her best efforts, she found her skin crawling with dread. She didn't know where to look to escape the growing despair. Thoughts began filling her head, and the monk had to use all her training to maintain her inner balance. It was the only thing she could do to keep from losing herself. She reminded herself that she had to stay focused. With a deep breath, AunarÃa forced the encroaching whispers from her mind and continued her searching.
She had entered the rift mere moments ago against her own better judgment in pursuit of her long lost brother, Ezekiel. She had lost him shortly after the Third War. Their foolish prince, Kael'thas Sunstrider, had lead most of her surviving people down a dark path...one that AunarÃa could not willingly follow. She had made the difficult choice then of exile; a choice her younger brother did not have the strength to bear. While she made the treacherous trip from Quel'thalas to Theramore Isle, her brother swore allegiance to her traitorous prince and remained in Quel'thalas to aid in the rebuilding. She had not seen him for years since then, but he was never out of her thoughts.
Then the news of the rebellious void elves reached Stormwind and eventually to AunarÃa herself. Among those few named was her dearest brother, Ezekiel! Without hesitation, AunarÃa booked her long awaited pilgrimage to her ancient homeland. It was a treacherous trek, but she had succeeded. Through the days of travel and rumor tracking, she had found her way to the portal and then inside the Telogrus Rift.
"Still haven't decided if that's a good thing or not," the elven monk thought to herself. She had not yet found any of the rumored void elves, but she had also only been in the rift for mere moments. AunarÃa realized the futility of standing around and picked a direction and started walking, scanning the area around her as she went. She could find no trace of any elves as she continued on.
Only the tendrils. They kept shimmering in and out of reality. At times they seemed to not even witness the monk, while at other times they seemed to be darting straight towards her with murderous intent. The tendrils never struck her though, as they would veer off after having been noticed by the high elf. AunarÃa found them strange and unnerving; she worked to make sure none ever snuck up on her and caught her off guard.
What was even more unnerving than the tendrils of shadow were the whispers. They too, came and went without consistence as they invaded the high elf's mind.
You will die here.
You belong to us.
We will have our way with you soon.
There is no escape.
AunarÃa shook her head violently, driving the thoughts from her. They were dark and sickening, and she had no place for them among her thoughts. They went as fast as they came, but they still unnerved the monk greatly. It took all her concentration to keep her chakras balanced and her Chi flowing.
After what felt like an hour of searching, AunarÃa's mental fortitude was fading; she reasoned that she had to meditate. She found a clear patch of ground, sat down crosslegged, closed her eyes, and began to reach within herself to find answers about her missing brother. But, as she meditated, shadows about her began to grow. Unbeknownst to the monk, the tendrils she had bore witness to began to solidify in mass around her, no longer things of shifting cosmic energy.
YOU WILL BE OURS! The scream erupted between the high elf's ears and shattered her concentration. Her eyes snapped open just in time to see a shadowy tentacle shoot out towards the monk. Years of training had made AunarÃa extremely agile; she quickly rolled out of the way of the tendril and jumped to her feet. The tendril refused to give up. It readjusted it's trajectory and dived in the direction of the monk once again. In what seemed like a blur, the monk sliced down at the oncoming tendril with the tips of her fingers and slashed through the living darkness. A scream of pain filled her mind with such ferocity that it forced the elf to her knees, momentarily stunned by the outburst. The tendril had shrunk back because of the attack, but unfortunately it was not the only tentacle that had manifested.
Attempting to regain her compuse, AunarÃa began to rise once again to her feet, banging on her head lightly as she rose in an attempt to drive out the voices. Still slowed by the mental assault, another tendril shot in, this one finding its mark. The tendril snaked in around AunarÃa's left arm and tightened fiercely around her wrist! The high elf yanked against the tendril, but it held firmly. The monk desperately reached for the sword hung at her back with her right hand, but as if anticipating this, another tentacle wrapped itself around her free hand, holding her tight.
"What in the-" the monk began, but found her tongue swallowed as she was hoisted into the air with quick motions. She was now about two feet off the ground, dangling from her wrists. The monk kicked violently with her legs. It was in vain. She lacked the range and momentum to strike out against her bonds. Two more tendrils seemed to appear out of the gathering darkness surrounding the entangled monk; these both found their ways to her. The two each took a leg, and then forced them apart.
AunarÃa saw her options dwindling by the second and began to panic despite her best efforts to remain calm. Both her arms were held by a tendril, each holding them above her head in a Y formation. Her legs were held by the two other tendrils, one wrapped around her right thigh, the other holding her a few inches above the ankle. The monk struggled desperately against her living bonds, but only caused the tentacles to tighten their grip on her further.