RP!Log

Characters: IC!Mahaado, OOC!Mahaado, and some new NPCs!
Setting: Azeroth
Rating: PG
Summary: Mahaado and Mado travel through Azeroth to determine how best to stop Malygos. In doing so, they meet an undead mage named Meryl, one of the greatest spellcasters to ever have existed. And Mahaado proceeds to fanwand over the great sage. (yes, I think we have a new cracktionary term here.)




The two sorcerers arrived in the mage city of Dalaran, floating high above the Crystalsong Forest below. The large city contained many buildings and spires, some vastly different from their surroundings. Some spires (including the largest at the main building) had large purple stones circling around them. The city simply teemed with arcane energy.

Mahaado knew it would not be long before found themselves face to face with the dreaded dragon.

"It's fucking cold here," Mado commented, chafing his arms.

"I am not certain whether that is the wind, or merely the aura of this place that chills me straight to my bones." he agreed, walking alongside his other self. "Which way from here?"

"This way," Mado said, heading east. "The big guys we have to speak with are in the Citadel."

Mahaado nodded, quickening his pace towards the Citadel. Every mage could feel the uneasy aura in the air - as long as Malygos was alive, their days were numbered. "I pray to Thoth that the mages have not given up hope, and that they do wish to assist us. We will likely need it."

"I think they'd rather die than give up."

"Then this is a battle that we will win." Mahaado said with unwavering certainty.

They reached the Citadel rather quickly, and went inside.

The interior was dark and lit only by various arcane means. Even the candles weren't average candles. Inside the main room four individuals stood, evidentally conversing over something important.

Mahaado walked up to them and bowed politely. "We are at your service. I swear on the name of Thoth, Malygos will claim no more lives."

All four members looked over at the sudden arrivals, but only one bowed in return. "I bid you welcome to Dalaran, young mages. I am Archmage Rhonin, and though I do not know this Thoth I am certain you mean your words. There are few who walk so boldly into the Citadel without first being announced."

Their journey had already been long. Mahaado knew that time may be of the essance. "Please, share with us your strategy."

"Our strategy is simple; Malygos must be neutralized or destroyed," another mage answered. He was completely armored, but one could tell by his ears that he was a blood elf.

"Any Vulnerabilities? Weaknesses?"

"Unknown. If he has any, he hides them well. Somehow he is able to elude death itself - groups who barely survived an encounter with him and thought him slain return here only to discover him alive once again."

"The source of his power?"

"Azeroth itself," Rhonin replied.

Mahaado glanced at his other self. "Such power is almost infinite."

"No shit," Mado replied.

Rhonin nodded in agreement. "And it is already having dire effects. Malygos not only uses the arcane flows of Azeroth; he is literally ripping them from the world and sending them into the Twisted Nether, where they disappear forever."

"If that continues..." Mahaado dared not finish the sentence.

"If that continues there will be devestation across Azeroth," the archmage finished. "I dare not think of the damage."

"If this beast can absorb and destroy energy so easily, what attacks can be used against him?"

"Only a dragon would know," the female elf beside Rhonin answered. "There are few alive today who are old enough to hazard a guess as to what could be used against Malygos and have a substantial effect. It is said that his attacks are primarily frost based, but he is still a dragon..."

"So I guess it's off to the Dragonblight then?" Mado asked.

Mahaado nodded. "I believe so."

"Yes, but not yet," Rhonin answered. "I invite you both to visit the Violet Hold, just through those doors-" He pointed to his left. "Choose wisely any armor and weaponry you feel would serve you. Though I sense great ability in you both, you would barely be a stain on the floor of the Oculus were you to confront Malygos as you are."

"Of course." Mahaado bowed, gratefully.

Mado chose a set of armor mostly for the obvious warmth it provided. As a physical weapon he chose a staff with red stones glowing on the top.

Mahaado felt drawn to the purple armor of the grand marshal's regalia. It looked vaguely dark magician in nature. He armed himself with several spellbooks, summoning only his normal wand to his side.

"Ready to go?" Mado asked. "We can get a flight to the Dragonblight."

Mahaado nodded, reading through the books he had acquired. "I am."

"Ok well let's go up and see the dragonqueen then."

Mahaado nodded to his other self, and upwards they went.

They walked in and up to the top of Wyrmrest Temple. Standing at its peak was Alexstraza, the dragonqueen herself in humanoid form. Just behind her stood a male, though it would have been easy to tell such was not his real form either.

Mahaado could sense tremendous power in both of them. He bowed politely. "Dragonqueen, we intend to slay the foul beast Malygos, to stop the senseless deaths he has caused, and we come to you seeking answers."

"Though his crimes are great, he is no foul beast," she corrected him. "He is still my brother despite his madness. Unfortunately, I agree that the only solution is his death. What answers would you have of me?"

"Parties of two dozen warriors or more have been unable to bring him down. What weakness does he still possess? How do we fight that which uses this entire world as an energy source?"

"To challenge an Aspect, you must match an Aspect. He is a Spellcaster, and when fighting him you must think as one. There are few spells that a dragon doesn't know, fewer still that Malygos would not know. Your greatest weapon will be to outthink him. His protections are many and varied."

"I see..." Mahaado already had several plans in his mind, and he was narrowing them down. "Is there any more that you can tell us? Your wisdom is greatly aprpeciated, great queen."

"Nothing more, but I know of a mage who might be of assistance to you. His knowledge is vast, and his arsenal of spells may give you much aid. I shall send you to him myself - he is far in the eastern kingdoms."

"Thank you."

She held out her hand and cast a portal. "I am sure you will find them but mere annoyances, but mind the worgen here. They are thick in Brightwood Grove. Seek out Meryl, tell him of your quest. If he is willing, he will aid you."

They entered the portal. There was little time to lose.

Brightwood Grove was nothing like its name. The wood itself seemed locked in nighttime, everything on this land that had once been a farm dead. A haunting feeling was in the air, and like Alexstraza had said there were worgen everywhere. Half man and half wolves, they were always in search of their next meal. Mado snorted. "Nice place. Can you sense this guy anywhere?"

Mahaado closed his eyes and scanned the area. He was not far. "This way, follow me." Mahaado pointed.

Mado followed. The worgen eyed them and didn't hesitate to investigate the sudden new arrivals.

"And we are not alone." Mahaado sensed the worgen too, and kept his wand at the ready.

The worgen pounced. A dark magical blast, and they were quickly taken down.

A sudden charge went through the air, and a protective shield suddenly went up around the abandoned cabin they were heading towards. It was clear that this Meryl did not know whether his visitors were friend or foe.

"Think that's his way of saying hi?" Mado asked rhetorically. "Or should we knock?"

The energy surrounding it was intense. Mahaado was unsure if he could despell the barrier, but he might have to try. "We come seeking the aid of a mage known as Meryl." he called out. "We are not your enemy."

A few moments passed before someone stepped out from the house. He had clearly once been a man, but looked very much like a walking corpse though he showed little outward sign of decay. His robes were simple and surprisingly new-looking. "Who is looking for Meryl, and how did you come by that name?"

"We are sorcerers from another world. We came through Dalaran, and the dragonqueen. We are here to help the archmages slay Malygos and end his slaughter of spellcasters." Mahaado bowed politely. "I am Mahaado, and this is Mado."

He snorted. "Somehow I am not surprised she knows of me. You are not the only one of another world - we have at least that in common." He waved a hand and the barrier disappeared. "I am Meryl. You might as well come in then."

They did just that. "Thank you."

The presence of this spellcaster was nothing short of awe-inspiring. His heka was tremendous, his aura ancient and serene. There was no mistaking it... he was a sage!

The inside was just as decrepit as the outside, with cobwebs and broken furniture. However straight ahead was a small table still intact, with a few chairs sitting around it. A small fire was going in the fireplace. "Would you like something warm to drink?"

"Yes, Thank you." Mahaado finally found his words and answered.

Meryl filled a kettle with some water from a barrel inside the house and set it on the fire. "You'll have to forgive me, but I won't be joining you with tea." He glanced over at Mahaado. "You all right boy?"

Mahaado actually blushed, and he knew his other self was barely restraining some laughter at that. "Forgive me, Master Meryl. I... have trained in sorcery my entire life, but never have I actually stood in the presence of that which I seek to become... One of the great sages, I mean..." Boy did that sound dumb... "I mean - Until now..."

"So you aspire to be a mage like me," he turned back to the fire, stoking it with a rusted poker. "I sense your power - I daresay it could be possible for you. Consider yourself fortunate - or unfortunate, depending on your view. I have yet to meet another like me."

Mahaado didn't even notice his other self's obvious snickering. "I have heard of mages such as you only in legend, of tales from my masters. It is an honor to meet you, an honor."

He took the kettle off the fire and proceeded to make the tea. "Hn. Well I suppose I can see how they would come to that conclusion. Mortals are funny things sometimes. I'm not sure I'd want to be a legend - legends have a tendacy to fall out of the realm of realism. And as you can see, I'm very much real."

Even Kafele was laughing his head off now, and Mahaado did hear THAT. He shook these thoughts out of his mind for the time being. And then returned a stern glare to the ready-to-burst Mado. "Yes, of course... We come this way on our quest to defeat Malygos. The dragonqueen said that you could be of great assistance in this matter."

"Well I suppose I should for being around for five thousand years."

"Very few dare to stand against Malygos now, that we have been told. If he succeeds in killing off all the mages in this realm, he will move on to others. Many lives are in danger. We wish to put a stop to this as quickly as possible, but know not how we can defeat such a creature. What do you know, great sage?"

"It is not surprising that Malygos has proved difficult to defeat," Meryl placed the two steaming cups on the table. "I know that he and I share the same fate, in that our abilities allow us to succeed death. Though I wonder if Malygos has managed to keep his shell looking far better than my own. Something you must realize, Mahaado: I have had five thousand years to perfect my mastery over the arcane arts. And I was a spellcaster of the highest mortal order when my body expired. Malygos has had over ten thousand years. He likely has great command over the arcane - he was not appointed the Spell Weaver for nothing. If you wish to end him, it will not be done by rushing headlong into battle. You must find spells that he either wouldn't know, or wouldn't expect."

"I was told that he draws on the power of this entire realm. Is that true?"

Meryl nodded. "I can feel the disruption he is causing in the arcane flows. There may very well be nothing left of Azeroth once he's done with it."

"Then we must separate him from that source..." Mahaado glanced at Mado. His other self was there when Mahaado tried such a tactic on Marik. "It may be the only way to sufficiently weaken him."

Mado's laughter died down. "...ah hell. Not that again."

"Dedication through light and darkness..." he explained the spell he had invented. "It was strong enough to rip the clone of Marik out of space and time itself, blinded him to his heka. But against a foe of this caliber... The principle is the same. But the energy necessary would undoubtedly increase."

"There might be some answers in one of my tomes," Meryl said. "If you are willing, we shall look through them. You will need all the spells you can muster, and though I don't doubt you consider yourself an adept mage, your knowledge is but a drop in a bucket compared to mine. Arming yourself takes more than armor."

Mahaado nodded. He knew that if he were able to muster that particular spell again, it would be the only one he would have the strength to use. But at the same time, spells from his realm, unknown to Malygos, may stand the greatest chance of not being deflected or despelled. Better still - to build upon them, creating something even more unsual that Malygos could not predict...