#All this to explain to my satisfaction why I main sentinel spec as a dwarf

[sirdolraan]

Blessings

((DWC Feb 2025, Day 2, Cage/Power, @daily-writing-challenge CW: None ))

Shortly after the battle of Cinderbrew Meadery

Lorellai grunted and stretched after removing her mail hauberk, sore and ready for rest after the battle. The Nerubian advance had finally be stopped, their general slain, thanks to the sacrifice of Baelgrim. Dolraan had told everyone to get some rest while the Earthen advanced their plans to restore coreway access; tomorrow would probably be just as busy.

Lorellai flopped down on the surprisingly comfortable bed provided by the inn, thankful to whatever strange travelers had come to Dornagal before to necessitate their construction. Earthen beds didn't look particularly comfortable to dwarves made of flesh and blood like her. She closed her eyes, and sighed, before a flash of light got her attention.

Opening one eye in irritation, and then both in surprise, Lorellai stared into the unblinking, and somewhat judgmental gaze, of a sentinel owl.

The owl stared at her for a few moments, then with its talons, pulled at the silver moon pendant that was atop the dresser. It clinked as the owl dragged it across the stone, and the owl's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hey, I'm not a thief, I'm going to find the owners now that things are calmer, it's just been a whole war going on that was taking priority. I should be able to track that priestess down tomorrow," Lorellai said, stubbornly putting her head back down on the pillow.

The owl tilted its head to the right, and the inner radiance of it intensified, filling the room with moonlight. Lorellai scrunched her eyes closed, but it was no good. "You aren't going to let me sleep first, are you?" she asked of the owl, who just dragged the pendant across the stone again. "Alright, -fine-, sleep is for the weak I guess," Lorellai grumbled, throwing on a fresh shirt and vest before lacing her boots back up and heading out into Dornagal, pendant in hand and owl flitting ahead.

The sentinel silently flapped from building to sign to tree, leading her on. Irritated, she called out to it. "If you know where they are, why don't you just bring it back to them yourself?" she demanded, earning her another cocked head before it flew to another building across the way. It led her into the middle tier, where several empty homes had been converted to house the refugees of Dalaran, before landing in front of one specific door, and waiting for Lorellai to catch up. "I take it this is the place?" she asked, as the owl hooted, then disappeared in a flash. Sighing, Lorellai knocked on the door. Moments later, it opened, revealing a bandaged and healing Kaldorei man, who looked down at her and smiled.

"Oh, I recognize you! Elune Adore, champion Lorellai, to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Lorellai scratched the back of her head awkwardly. She still wasn't used to being referred to as one of the champions, no matter what she'd achieved in the Dragon Isles. "Uh, hi, sorry t' bother yeh, but remember when I pulled yer partner and yeh from th' wreckage? I found this pendant after you cleared out, and figured it should be returned."

"Ah, where are my manners, I am Nylas, please come inside, my beloved will be most happy to see her pendant, and I would be honored to prepare you some tea." the man responded, gently steering her inside the earthen home.

"Well, I can't stay long, but some tea might be nice to help me get some sleep once this errand is done."

"Of course, we have been hearing tales of what you and your fellows have accomplished thus far. I will make sure the tea will help you find your rest when the time comes." Nylas answered. "Beloved! We have company!" he called, as Lorellai stepped down into the common space and saw the priestess, laying comfortably on an earthen couch that had been covered in cushions, her face beautiful despite the bruising from her experience. Her right arm sat in a sling, and it was clear she had much more to recover from than her husband. Still though, she smiled at Lorellai.

"Ishnu-alah, my friend. I am glad of this opportunity to thank you in person for saving my husband and I from our peril. I am Jira'rel, servant of Elune. Please, take your ease," she said, motioning to a nearby chair, before adjusting herself to sit up a bit more.

"Oh, yer most welcome ma'am, and don't push yourself on my behalf, I just came by to return something of yours." Lorellai said, laying the pendant in the woman's hands, before taking her seat. "I was planning to seek you out tomorrow, but I had a very insistent visitor."

"Oh, did you now? Nuri'thor, did you harass this young woman into returning you to me?" she asked, as the pendant glowed and the sentinel appeared, perched on her knee and hooting. The woman turned her gaze back to Lorellai. "I apologize for my companion, he has ever been headstrong, for as long as we have been bonded."

"Well, at least he's back where he belongs. I didn't know they were bound to items?" Lorellai asked as Nylas entered the room with a tray holding a teapot and three cups, setting them on the table and pouring the drinks.

Jira'rel gently stroked the glowing owl's head and smiled. "Not always, but there was a time when those of us who were not as magically talented as our sisters were given relics to aid in the bonding with our sentinels." Her look took on a pensive tone as she accepted the tea from her husband. "As it so happens... miss Lorellai, Nylas and I owe you more than we can say. Thanks to you, we are alive and together. I would like to repay you for that."

Lorellai started to protest, but was cut off by Jira'rel's gaze, now bearing an almost otherworldly strength. "It would be a boon to us as well as you, champion. My husband has ever been a gentle soul; my service among the priesthood and the sentinels is a burden we have carried together, but in the wake of this tragedy, and the extent of my injuries, I feel my best path forward is to focus on my healing, and my beloved, and how we may best help others as civilians. That said, Nuri'thor is not built for a quiet life; his path is ever to stand against darkness. A path, I feel, that you are destined to take as well. Would you take my dear friend into your care, and let him stand with you? At least for a time."

Lorellai blinked. "I... I don't know what to say, uh, I'm not exactly a worshipper of Elune..."

"Be that as it may, you fought on the front lines in defense of our new home, alongside my sisters at Bel'ameth. You need not kneel in Her temples to serve Her designs, my young friend. And Nori'thur seems to have taken a liking to you." Jira'rel smiled as the owl flitted over to land on Lorellai's head, before bending over to hoot in her face. "I am sure we will be reunited in time, but for now, I would be most pleased to know he is at your side. Tell me you'll accept him?"

"I suppose if you put it that way, I can't rightly refuse. I guess we're buddies now, Nori, as long as you can understand that I prefer to sleep when it's dark out." Lorellai said, eliciting a laugh from the kaldorei couple.

Lorellai emerged into the cool air of nighttime Dornagal, the moonlight shining down and glinting off the silver pendant now hanging down from her neck, the silvery owl hooting softly as it guided her back to her bed. And inside the home behind her, Jira'rel and Nylas prayed to Elune to watch over the young woman as she journeyed into the darkness below.