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| Xamari, Blood Elf Hunter |
Her long platinum blond hair ticked her cheek as a chilly gust of wind blew; ruffling the long, sleek gray robe she wore. She was thankful she had this to keep her warm. Normally it wasn’t what she preferred to wear, but she looked fierce in it. Still, she was out of place here. Her hair that normally sparkled in the light of the sun that shines relentlessly in her homeland looked dull and bleak. Her normally rich, golden skin looked ashy and cold. Despite the weapons she had to protect her, she still felt vulnerable. She longed for the familiarity and safety of what she knew. All she wanted was to get back to Silvermoon. To walk through the warm breeze on the fields of Evergreen Woods, with grass tickling her legs while the sun blinds her, reflecting off of the gleaming spires of buildings and the colorful, shiny windows that adorn them.
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| Xamari alone in The Sepulcher |
Xamari was scared. It was dark. It was unfamiliar. She had the creeping feeling that she would never get out of here. No one was around and she had just lost her only companion. She stood alone on the hill in The Sepulcher of Silverpine Forest, looking past the slate grey tombstones of the graveyard and along the path leading into the foggy unknown. Could she try leaving again? Last time she was brutally attacked and injured. Just like the time before that. And the time before that. Bloodfang Stalkers and Giant Rabid Bears roamed the land surrounding the area. Would it be any different this time? She felt trapped. For sure she’d be attacked again and she couldn’t handle these beasts without some help. The first time she ventured out, they had killed her beloved pet Dragonhawk. She needed him. Without him now, she was weak and alone.
She was alone in general. Almost no one was here. The Sepulcher was deserted and desolate. Normally she considered herself an inexperienced but brave blood elf, yet now she was nervous. What on earth can I do? she wondered. She couldn’t leave by foot and she couldn’t use her Hearthstone. She couldn’t ask for help but she needed to get out. Where was she? Where was everyone? Who could she talk to? How was she going to get home? Could she even get home? Just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, it started raining.
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| Entering the Undercity with Licha, Eloj, and Maurician |
Xamari didn’t even know how she ended up here. She was originally in Brill to work with her companions Eloj, Maurician and Licha on some quests. But once they had done what they intended, they went their separate ways. Feeling ambitious, Xamari thought she’d take a stab at exploring the land and seeking out some new quests on her own. When she couldn’t find much, she attempted to go back and find the portal to Silvermoon City but got lost in the Undercity. Now Xamari was all for adventures, so she explored a little, but with no purpose in mind she soon grew bored.
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| Xamari and the Orb of Translocation |
Eventually she found her way back to the Orb of Translocation and to Silvermoon. She had followed Licha from Falconwing Square to the portal and was sure she could backtrack. She ran through vaguely familiar areas, the Court of the Sun, Murder Row, and The Bazaar. She couldn’t remember exactly but she thought she was on the right track. However, once she got to The Bazaar she hit a dead end. She wandered around for a while, completely perplexed. After walking in and out of all the buildings and around the whole area, she couldn’t even find the way she had come in! She was completely and utterly lost. Disheartened, she gave up and used her Hearthstone to return to the inn in Tirisfal Glades, where she had last set it.
Back in Brill, Xamari was left with nothing to do but explore. Maybe if I go on a few quests and explore the land a little I could get used to this place, she thought to herself. Or even better, maybe I’ll have an easier time finding home. She still had an unfinished quest waiting for her back in Silvermoon. She hated letting her people down and knew that no matter what, she’d return to finish it. She couldn’t – and wouldn’t – let them down. She’d be back. The question was just when and how.
Xamari started on a fresh quest to take up her time, but thanks to her unreliable sense of directional intuition, she quickly got lost during her venture. Injured shortly after, she found herself resurrected in a new and completely unfamiliar place, The Sepulcher.
She had just recently used her Hearthstone to return to Brill, so that was not an option. Xamari was restless to get home or at least somewhere she knew, but she would just have to wait. Looking to waste time, she explored the area. But unfortunately it was relatively small. No one was around but a Hunter Trainer named Matt Bruxworthy. With time to spare, she learned the Concussive Shot from him, a new skill to add to her arsenal. Inside one of the buildings, she raided the jack-o-lantern a few times, getting some Tricky Treats. Outside, she looked around again. Surrounding The Sepulcher there were rolling hills. She could leave, but which direction would she go? Her map was of little help. It didn’t matter though, because despite her attempts to leave the area, those vicious creatures roaming these lands always stopped her…
…As Xamari stood here, on the hill of The Sepulcher, looking out into the unknown, the events of the past few hours haunted her. Her stomach ached. She longed for the company of Dragonhawk and the sight of familiar lands. If only she waited a little longer, at least she could get back to Brill…
…Xamari opens her eyes as the Hearthstone transports her back to the inn in Brill. It isn’t exactly where she wants to be; yet it is much better than the place she had just been. It is late and the sky is a dark eerie shade of green. The streetlamps flicker in the brisk night air, sending chills down her spine. Ready to get out of here, she is determined to succeed in finding her home and sets out on a mission.
On her way to the Orb, Xamari agrees to go on a small quest for Magistrate Sevren. She stops briefly to speak with Deathguard Linnea at Death’s Watch Waystation in Tirisfal Glades, earing herself 55 copper in the process. In a stroke of luck, she also runs into Shelene Rhobart, a leatherworking trainer. Eager to start begin a profession, Xamari asks her to teach her some new skills. She learns how to create light armor kits, hand-stitched leather boots, cloaks, bracers, and vests. As a hunter, this knowledge could come in handy for making leather armor.
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| Xamari in the Court of the Sun in Silvermoon City |
Xamari continues eagerly, running through the Undercity and the Ruins of Lordaeron, where she finds the Orb of Translocation. She arrives in Inner Sanctum in Sunfury Spire. As she emerges into the Court of the Sun, even in the dark of the night she is comforted by the warm colors and friendly sight of rich reds and golds. The sky gleams a majestic purple, welcoming her back.
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| Xamari's map of Silvermoon City |
Once again she begins her trek through Murder Row. She quickly makes a pit stop into Silvermoon City Inn to transfer her Hearthstone by speaking with Innkeeper Velandra. On her way out, she grabs a handful of treats from the pumpkin. Eventually, Xamari winds up in the Walk of Elders where she stops to take a look at her map. She isn’t sure where to go and unfortunately her map is not really any help. Pocketing it again, she trusts her instincts and continues to follow the path to The Royal Exchange. Not remembering this area from her trip before, she looks at map again, realizing that she is going opposite way. Figuring it is too late to backtrack, she might as well explore. Entering into Farstrider Square, Xamari walks around and soon finds that it loops back into Court of the Sun where she once started. Frustrated, she starts again, this time making sure she goes from Walk of Elders to The Bazaar. Yet when she gets there, she is once again faced a giant door she remembers from her last visit. She can’t get through but thinks that the other side might lead her across The Dead Scar, past the Ruins of Silvermoon, and back to where she wants to be. She can see it in front of her, but she can’t get through it. Perplexed, she waits…
…Her eyelids, heavy with sleep, open slowly as she hears footsteps coming nearer. She quickly scrambles up from the spot against the wall where she was resting and looks around. A male blood elf comes near, hurrying quickly and purposefully. Sensing that this may be her only shot for help getting exiting the city’s winding walls, she calls out to him.
“Hold on a second!” she says eagerly, but he continues on.
“Wait! Please! I need your help!” she yells loudly. He stops abruptly in his trail and turns around sharply.
“Yes, what do you need?” he asks disinterested, as if she has bothered him.
“I’m so thankful that I’ve run into you! I’m terribly lost and so ashamed but I can’t seem to find my way. I’m dying to get back to Sunstrider Isle to finish a quest I am working on, but can’t seem to find my way out of Silvermoon City! Do you happen to know the way?”
“I didn’t need the life story, but yeah, of course I do. I know these streets like the back of my hand. I practically have the map memorized. Just follow me!”
Xamari follows the strange blood elf, who is obviously much more familiar with the layout and intricacies of Silvermoon City than she, as he effortlessly leads her out of the Bazaar, across Shepard’s Walk, through the South gate of the city, and onto the rolling green hills of Eversong Woods. Xamari is elated as her feeling of homesickness subsides and relief floods her body.
Eager to get back to the quest lingering on her conscious, she begs one more question of him, asking the quickest way she can return to Sunstrider Isle. He takes her to meet a Dragonhawk Master, where she purchases a ride on one of them. Almost immediately after arriving back on the Isle, Xamari finds the Orb, the last object she needs, and finishes the quest. She can’t help but beam with pride for her actions. She is overwhelmed with emotion as feelings of elation consume her from her accomplishment, her excitement to be home, and her appreciation for the strange elf’s help.
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| Xamari in Eversong Woods |
With the task at hand now complete, Xamari takes a second to look around and admire the beauty of her homeland of Eversong Woods. Rolling emerald green hills envelope shimmering gold buildings, ornamented in beautiful jewel-toned colors. The sun reflects of every surface, enveloping her in warmth…
…Crossing the dreary gray Ghostlands has been a challenge. Everywhere she turns is a vicious creature, waiting to attack her. Luckily Xamari has her pet spider, The Duchess, along for companionship and protection. After assisting Apprentice Vor’el by getting rid of some of the Greater Spindlewebs and Ghostclaw Ravagers roaming the fields, Xamari looks for a new challenge. She runs into Ranger Belonis, a hunter trainer. In no rush, she decides to learn the Ranged Attack that will allow her to disorient targets, causing them to be unable to move or attack for four seconds; a helpful skill if she needs to get away quickly. After trading 15 silver and 56 bronze for her lesson, she continues on.
When crossing the Tranquillen area, she comes across High Executor Mavren who may have something good to offer her.
“It’s an honor, really,” he says, explaining a new quest to her. “Windrunner Spire is the original home of Lady Sylvanas Windrunner, queen of the Forsaken and former ranger-general of the elves. But now it’s been overrun by the mindless Scourge.”
“What would I have to do?” Xamari asks, skeptical about taking on any task, honorable or not, if she doesn’t have the skills to complete it.
“You will need to slay eight Deatholme Acolytes and ten Fallen Rangers before returning to me.”
“I can do that,” she responds with confidence. “Where do I find them?”
“Take the road south until it branches,” Mavren directs. “Follow the right fork and after crossing the Dead Scar continue southwest. You can’t miss it.”
“Sounds great, I’ll be back in a flash!” Xamari says with a smile before darting off into the distance with The Duchess by her side.
As she runs in the direction of Windrunner Spire, she isn’t surprised that the rest of the Ghostlands is riddled with obnoxious, aggressive creatures. Xamari and The Duchess work side by side to battle Arcane Devourers and Mana Shifters, reminiscent of the wormlike creatures she battled in her days on Sunstrider Isle, as they travel through Sanctum of the Moon. Avoiding the trap of the Dead Scar, they wade through the Elrendar River to evade the Risen Hungerers.
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| Xamari and The Duchess slaying a Zombified Grimscale |
When she comes to Windrunner Village, she continues to the edge of the village, where the coast meets the water. Here she finds various cooper veins to mine for ore. Minding her own business, she is promptly surrounded and attacked by Withered and Zombified Grimscales. These hideous creatures are not difficult to destroy, but small and annoying in their large numbers. The bent over tan creatures with spiky red hair vaguely resemble small Gargoyles. Xamari and The Duchess work together to take out as many as they can, picking up some copper loot along the way. Turning back to the inland, they follow the inside of the cliff lining the beach. On the way, Xamari is bombarded by Phantasmal Seekers and Stonewing Slayers, but has no problem in taking them down in conjunction with her pet. These creatures are ugly too. Especially the Slayers, who look like large gray gargoyle bats with creepy, yellow eyes. Yet, they provide a pretty hefty loot of copper. At the edge of the cliff, she finds the path leading up to Windrunner Spire. She heads up, nervous and unsure of what awaits her.
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| Xamari in Windrunner Spire |
Along the way, she finds the Deatholme Acolytes and Fallen Rangers. Ahh, so these are what he was talking about, she thinks to herself. How eerie. They look almost ghostlike. But she doesn’t have time to think much more. Before she knows it, a Ranger is upon her. Xamari and The Duchess work their way to the top of the Spire, taking them down one by one. At the top, a round circular platform overlooks the ocean. A gorgeous view, Xamari doesn’t have time to take it in because four creatures surround her at once. Fighting as if it was her last shot, Xamari gives it all she’s got. But unfortunately, combined they are too strong for her and it’s not enough. In an attempt to save her life, she jumps off the platform and onto the rocky shore below…
…The waves lap the shore, breaking over the stony sand and boulders lining the beach. From the cliffs overtop, Xamari looks up at the dark gray ominous sky and watches the clouds move across the gloomy horizon. It is almost nightfall. She had been working all day to cross the terrain to come here, to this spot, and accomplish her quest. The moon, hinted with a blue hue, casts a glowing light over her fair skin. Isn’t it beautiful? she mutters to herself as she glances at her surroundings. Despite being here for a while, now is the first time she has had a chance to appreciate the prominent and stunning coast of the Ghostlands. Looking down, she sees the rocky ground she had some short time before jumped onto. It was a long way from the platform and she was lucky to survive the fall. Heck, she was lucky that she was able to come back and finish killing off the Deatholme Acolytes and Fallen Rangers. The Duchess didn’t fare so well, but luckily she was able to revive her. Ending her reflection, Xamari realizes it is getting late and it will only get darker from here on out. She heads back down Windrunner Spire and through the hills to report the success of her quest to High Executor Mavren…
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| Xamari and Eloj at the Ziggurat |
…Back in Tranquillen, Xamari runs into her old companion Eloj and his pet Dragonhawk. Hoping for some help in another quest she ropes him in to joining her.
“Eloj! How good to see you again! Are you interested in helping me out with some trouble at the Underlight Mines?”
“Sure, why not! I could use some learning experience. What do we have to do?” Eloj responds.
“Deathstalker Maltendis told me that the mines to the southwest have been overrun by a clan of gnolls, the Blackpaw. The mines are an important strategic asset for the ongoing campaign in the Ghostlands so we need to take them back. He wants us to kill eight Blackpaw Gnolls, six Blackpaw Scavengers, and four Blackpaw Shaman.”
“Alright, where do we go?” he asks.
“It’s outside of town to the south, right past the Ziggurat. Follow me!” Xamari says with excitement…
…The job in Underlight Mines is done, but Xamari doesn’t feel the same sort of satisfaction she normally does. In the process of their battle, Eloj got killed. She feels somewhat responsible for dragging him into the whole mess in the first place. It wasn’t even really that important. She got caught up in trying to impress the people of the Ghostlands and prove that she could really live up to her reputation. Returning to Tranquillen alone, she reports to Maltendis.
“That’s a fair job of butchery you managed there, hunter,” he says, congratulating her and rewarding Xamari with six silver.
But somehow, the money just doesn’t seem quite worth it…
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| Level 17 Xamari |
…As Xamari travels to Orgrimmar to meet up with some old friends, she thinks to herself. She doesn’t want to be arrogant, but she can’t help but be proud of her accomplishments. In just a short time, she has come so far. Still not an expert hunter, she has gained numerous skills and a newfound confidence. Always up for adventure, she isn’t one to turn down a challenging quest. With The Duchess by her side, she has little to fear. Her weapons arsenal has multiplied many times over. As a skilled marksman, she is progressing along nicely. She traded in her profession of leatherworking to become a miner and a skinner. Still at the apprentice level, she has a lot to learn, but the motivation to do so. Her outfit is better too; she even has a cape! Yet at the same time, none of this really matters in relation to what she has learned in her heart. Xamari has come to appreciate the value of one’s friends and companions. It has been a tough road for her. She has lost several pets and one friend because she was blind sighted by her drive for success. But, learning from her mistakes, she realizes now that life is all about balance. From here on out, she vows to not take those around her for granted or to sacrifice loved ones for something that matters less than they do.
