04 | Video

[highhealplz]

[ There's a scruffy, friendly-lookin dude front and center here, sort of recognizable as the slightly older, longer-haired version that used to go around being stuffy and formal. This sheepish smile is pretty uncharacteristic of him from back then, though. ]

Hello! I'm Ashraf. I was here a while ago, co-director of the transport-run clinic? [ He offers a wave. ] So hello again to anyone that knew me. I'm sorry in advance if I don't remember you very well, it's been about fifty years on my end! [ says the guy who doesn't look a day over 20 ]

So, anyway— I figured this could be a long shot, but... does anyone have a way with clothing?

[ Here's where the sheepish smile makes a triumphant return. He pulls up a pair of beautifully embroidered robes, obviously expensive, but currently full of violent-looking rips, tears, and a bullet hole or two. There's also some bloodstains left over from attempts to wash them out. ]

I tried, I really did. At this point, I think it's going to take magic to set these straight. Or a whole new set, maybe. So, um... any takers? I could pay!

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Quicklog works for me!

[thewhitepawn]

[And true to his word, within the hour he was waiting at the stairwell, looking around curiously. He was excited to be able to learn from another priest, just barely containing that grin behind a mask of calm.]

[highhealplz]

[ Ashraf arrives shortly, a little underdressed. He'd prefer to be in his Church-given high priest robes, but they're still in pretty bad shape. So it's just a simple white button-up and white pants, with a pouch at one hip for gem storage. He smiles as soon as Anduin is in sight. ]

Hi! Nice to meet you properly.

[thewhitepawn]

[Anduin had set aside his Azerothian robes for the time being for a simple white t-shirt and dark blue pants. As Ashraf spoke he turned, bowing politely to the other before breaking down and giving a more informal wave.]

It's a pleasure to meet you in person.

[highhealplz]

[ The bow amuses him, but -- he'll refrain from commenting. For now. ]

So, before we get started, what enhancing spells do you know already?

[thewhitepawn]

My training has been sporadic at best due to extenuating circumstances.

[You know, the whole getting kidnapped by Orcs and having a bell fall on you really puts a damper on training with Pandaren.]

But when I was back home, I learned how to temporarily fortify health and I an help heal wounds. I'm actually most adept with shields though...

[He lifted a hand, dropping a softly-glowing golden bubble around Ashraf to demonstrate.]

[highhealplz]

[ Ooh, interesting. He lifts a hand to the shield curiously, spends a moment examining it, and looks back to Anduin again. ]

Well, it looks impressive. Do you have any offensive magic?

[thewhitepawn]

I know ...a few. The Dwarven priests back home taught me about one they called smite, and there's another that calls down a pillar of holy fire.

[He pauses for a moment, studying Ashraf.]

There are other spells - there's an entire level of priest training dedicated to it. Shadow Priests, they're normally called, and I was taught a few of their spells for emergency use ...but I don't like to use them, not if I can avoid it.

[Because to Anduin there was just something about shadow that didn't sit right with him. It weighed heavy on him in a way that healing never has.

He's still guilty about mind-controlling Sully.]

But I have used them before. They are a bit different.

[highhealplz]

[ He nods, thoughtful. It sounds familiar. Though, that Shadow Priest thing is something new. He'd like to look into it, although, of course, later. He smiles again, waves that off. ]

We'll worry about that later.

[ He waves a hand first toward himself, then toward Anduin. He'll find himself blessed (glowing briefly blue to show for it), then with increased physical speed, and his finishing touch is a glowing shield of his own for Anduin. This one isn't a bubble, but more like a shimmering second skin around his skin and clothing. ]

Let's go see them. [ He pushes out through the door into the 7th floor proper, trusting Anduin to follow. ]

[thewhitepawn]

Oh ...that's beautiful...

[Trusting in Thassarian's friend, and eager to see what he could learn from a fellow priest. Just being in his presence and receiving that blessing soothed him in a way that he hadn't felt since his arrival, made him grateful for taking the opportunity to speak with him. ]

Alright.

[highhealplz]

[ There's nothing immediately past the door, as Ashraf had suspected there wouldn't be. Ghosts are never around when you're actually looking for them. So he starts in an easy stroll for the other side of the hallway, and glances over at Anduin. ]

This could be a while, actually. In the meantime... how old are you?

[thewhitepawn]

Ah - I'm fifteen, nearly sixteen.

[He follows at his side, glancing up at Ashraf curiously for the question, but shrugging it off.]

So ...what will we be doing here amongst the ...ghosts, then?

[highhealplz]

[ He nods, thoughtful. He didn't graduate from acolyte to priest the first time until he he was 19, but his second life moved a little faster, and he had it at 14. Anduin seems right on track, then. ]

We could try exorcizing them. Do you know any spells for that yet?

[thewhitepawn]

I believe so. It's worth a try to help put them at peace, right?

[He glances up, studying Ashraf curiously for a few moments before turning his attention away, wondering about the ghosts.]

[highhealplz]

[ Thoughtfully: ] I don't think it'll work. As far as I know, no one here has been able to lay any of them permanently to rest, they just pop back up again.

[ He shrugs, looking a little amused. ]

So really, it's just one more training room. If you can find any of them when you're looking for them, anyway.

Sorry about the wait!

[thewhitepawn]

...How terrible to be trapped here even in death.

[He's sullenly quiet for a moment or two before glancing up to Ashraf once more and nodding. Perhaps later he'll try and do more research on them, find a way to dispel them permanently, to bring them peace. But for now he would listen and he would learn and he would train at the side of someone who was experienced with true combat, and not just a few spells used to get out of scrapes when he had no bow or knife to suffice.]

I think that I could purge them, even if fits only temporary. There is holy fire as well...

[He added, giving Ashraf a curious, sidelong glance.]

[highhealplz]

Whatever you think will work...

[ He trails off, slowing, and puts a hand out to stop Anduin. Priest senses are tinglin, there's something unholy nearby. And in fact, the hallway ahead of them looks darker than it should. ]

We're in luck. Get your spell ready.

[thewhitepawn]

[He stopped as the hand slipped out to hold him back, turning his head slowly. There was a strange feeling, something murky and dark that made him balk. Quietly, he sucked in a breath, whispering a prayer to the Light as he summoned his own magic.]

I'm ready.

[highhealplz]

[ And as if on cue, there's something shadowy and twitching down there, near to the wall. Must be one of the creepier manifestations. It seems not to have noticed them yet. Ashraf steps to the side, away from Anduin, although he has supportive spells ready to be used in a moment.

He also has his own exorcism spell ready if needed, with the requisite blue gemstone clutched in one hand. ]

Go ahead-- show me.

[thewhitepawn]

Alright.

[He felt Ashraf slide away from him, but his gaze was trained on the wall and the shadow there. He took a single step back, casting a shield over himself with softly-murmured prayer. The golden lights glinted around him as he lifted his hand, sending a pillar of holy fire down on the shade. It was followed with a thin arc of light, slicing at the shadow in a smiting spell.]

[highhealplz]

[ The ghostly thing wails, flickering in and out in what might be pain. It isn't easy to tell. But it doesn't seem to have been dropped, and starts in a shuffling, jerky gait toward them. ]

That was good.

[ Ashraf isn't sure he wants to let it reach them, though. Not feeling much beyond pity, he draws the hand and its gem out of his pocket. He crushes it in his palm to a fine blue dust, and begins a low, murmuring chant under his breath. Light flares under his feet, and a wide circle of gently glowing runes begin to cycle through the hallway. The ghost draws nearer. ]

[thewhitepawn]

[He managed to stop himself from jerking overmuch at the wail that came from the spectre. This wasn't the proper time to worry about any feelings it might still have. He can puzzle about that later, perhaps find a way to free them-]

Thank you.

[He spared a single glance towards Ashraf, hiding a boyish grin at the praise. The soft murmuring helped to re-center him, and when added with the glowing runes cycling through the hallway he felt himself grow more determined.

Another arc of smite shot from his hands, and a second later another followed.]

[highhealplz]

[ It jerks and wails again, low and mournful, but doesn't stop. And just a few seconds after it steps within the circle of runes, the glow under Ashraf's feet begins to spread. It crisscrosses the floor in rapid glowing light, searingly bright. It concentrates underneath the shape of the spirit, pulsing and blinding in its intensity. The wail rises to a shriek, and in waves, the light tears apart the darkness.

The entire process takes about 15 seconds, but by the time the light in the hallway fades, it takes the spirit with it. Ashraf smiles a little. ]

There's no record of them hurting anyone, as far as I know, but I don't want to take the chance yet. We should probably start somewhere a little more contained.