((As background for what follows, Lyssira met with Brother Eto of The Hidden Path some time ago, along with Brenry. Eto was involved in an investigation and met, by chance with Lyssira. As they spoke Eto realized that Lyssira matched four portents of the coming "General".
Eto relayed this information back to Illiana, Sister of The Hidden Path and was soon after killed. Lyssira received certain information from Illiana, but after that, only silence. After some time had passed and Lyssira's message to Illiana went unanswered I enquired on the "FIRPing 101" thread if Eto/Illiana/Aquataine was still pursuing this story arc. In response, Sister Illiana posted the following in that thread (http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=5754667213&sid=1&pageNo=3 see post #54)
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I don't usually do this, but I've been "hearing" about your struggles, Lyssira, and I feel it important that you hear from me, in person, in a way that others can bear witness to.
The Followers of the Hidden Path have existed since the Time of the Prophecy, as was proclaimed by a Sister of Elune following the War of the Ancients. It has been the sworn duty of the Followers to preserve the Prophecy, and to remain steadfast until the day whence the Prophecy might come to fruition. It was Brother Eto's belief that his exodus from Kalimdor and chance meeting with you in Stormwind met with the Four Portents. It is the Followers' present understanding that before he could present this discovery to us, he met his untimely demise.
The Prophecy stated that there would come a General, identified by the Five Portents, and that she would lead the mortal races into a final war with the Burning Legion. The Fifth Portent has been lost to antiquity, and there is no way that we can guarantee that you are the General of the Prophecy unless what has become known as the Lost Portent is returned to us. I will say, with the authority of the Followers, that we have spent well nigh 10,000 years looking for the General, and you, Lyssira, are the only one who has matched the surviving Four Portents. Does this mean you are the General? Only destiny can tell.
For all of you in association with Lyssira, be warned. The Prophecy described a time where mortal would turn against mortal, and the empires of the ages would be reduced to rubble and ruin. The Followers, who were once known as the Guardians, would know persecution and betrayal in the days before the General rode out. I am certain Brother Eto made clear that he had been driven from our home. He spoke the truth. The Followers of the Hidden Path have been scattered to the Winds of Fate, and no greater Portent there is for us than this bare truth.
The Portents also spoke of the Defender, though our translation seems to obfuscate the old word of Defender, and some of our scholars debated that there might be more than one Defender, based on interpretation. Nevertheless, the Defender was to be the General's shield in battle, and her sword in conquest. Wherever the General took her war, the Defender was to be present as well. You would all do well to understand this.
The reason behind the Prophecy has been lost to Time. The Prophecy was proclaimed to those present on the eve of the Sundering, and it's call was to a Final Battle, in which all the peoples of this world would be put to the ultimate test, and through which those that fought for the General might win their ultimate freedom. But the Prophecy also stated that it would not be through the wiles of the Enemy, but through the wiles of the mortal races of the land that the General might know ultimate defeat. This cannot be allowed to pass. Even now, we can plainly see the mortal races aligned under two banners, and we know that they infiltrate one another ceaselessly. The Prophecy states that it will be the Mission of the General to unite the mortal races ...
... before it is too late.
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I do not know what to make of this, but, as Illiana says, only destiny will tell.
Lyssira
Lyssira considers carefully the information that has been conveyed to her. She does not understand what, if anything is expected of her. What is this lost portent? Lyssira wonders if she is somehow supposed to uncover the portent herself, or if she should be searching for clues to see what, if anything, might be revealed.
Lyssira shakes her head in dosmay. She supposes that there would be no harm in poking around a little during her normal travels. What with the new secret church organization now underway she expects to be called upon for more travel now than before, so opportunities to investigate will exist.
But, if the search has already gone on for 10,000 years, what could one warrior do? Probably nothing, but starting with an attitude of defeat could only lead to further defeat. She would take up the challenge.
Consadine
By the Grace of the Light
Elsewhere, as the shield maiden contemplated her destiny, a holy warrior prayed at the Lights Hope Chapel. He did not understand what role he had to play within the new order, but he knew that the Light would illuminate his and his new found allies paths.
Stewardship is what the paladin was called to, and he would act as a panacea for all those in his charge. With that thought, he slung the greatsword over his shoulder and began his journey. It would take the remainder of the day to travel to Westfall.
Sumain
Yet again Couyr is awakened from a troubled sleep; his prayers as dreams have been filled with visions of Potentials, the name given to premonitions divined through ceremony and mediation. Normally Potentials are vague… I hint of hope, an allusion toward a course of action, or a trace of fear. Couyr as a High Priest of the Amhartan, a Sect of the Order of Light charged with roaming the land and protecting the interests of the Church, has always been keenly attuned to Potentials.
However, these recent Potentials are much clearer and more intense than any he has experienced. Full images of beings come to sharp focus; a child of Elune, a protector, conflict, beings on both sides vying for dominance, others who have not decided their roll. Their clarity is disturbing to the High Priest. The fact they come unsought in his sleep is even more disquieting.
Couyr, now awake, starts his morning rituals and contemplates the Potentials he has seen; promising himself to seek the advice of those who are more knowledgeable in such matters….
Lyssira
The message arrived like any other message, and Lyssira had not expectation when she read it. What she read though was a prayer and blessing that affected her profoundly. It was from someone she did not know, someone named Consadine, a Paladin. In his letter he told how he had been in player and for reasons unknown felt compelled to contact a warrior name Lyssira. He recognized the guidance of The Light which he often felt, but usually that guidance was not so explicit.
Reading Consadiine's explanation, Lyssira realized the working of The Light on her behalf as well and first sent a thankful response and then, after consideration of the matter, felt that Consadine should be one with whom she would share what she knew. which wasn't much, at least, not so far as the lost portent was concerned.
At a meeting deep within the catacombs under the Cathedral in Stormwind City, Lyssira showed Consadine the several writings that she possessed, the prophesies of "The General" and "The Defender", the letters from Eto to Illiana and from Illiana to Lyssira, and finally, the prophesies of apocalyptic events that would take place only after The General was revealed.
Lyssira shared her many misgivings of what seemed to be written of her. She even shared how she sometimes wanted nothing more than to run and hide from the events that had begun to unfold around her. Consadine, in his wisdom provided much comfort and pointed out that prophesy has a way of being fulfilled whether we like it or not.
By the end of the meeting Lyssira felt stronger, more able to cope with her new reality and Consadine had vowed to stand by her throughout the ordeal, come what may. They also decided together that their only clear course at this time was to search for the last portent, as futile as that seemed to them both. After all, if the keeper of the four know portents could not find the one missing, how could they?
But then, what choice was left to them, really?
Afterward: As Lyssira pondered recent events she wondered, was anyone else out there? Praying for her? Seeking her? Had The Light called yet others to her side as the prophesy suggested?
P.S. As Consadine and Lyssira were about to leave The Cathedral, they happened across Brenry. Consadine took Brenry aside and brought him up to date while Lyssira prayed at the alter, for guidance.
Lyssira
Lyssira sat in the room deep underground, the space around her lit only by a crude torch and read again the note in her hands, hands that trembled slightly if she did not make a conscious effort to quiet them.
"Greetings from the Exiled.
The Mortals have been freed of their Souls.
The Followers have been removed from their Hidden Path.
The General knows her Defender.
The Protector has become the Destroyer.
The Dark Star is revealed by the Covenant of Light.
This is the Potential Lost.
General Lyssira Smithford, you have been marked by the Exiled of Drak'thul. We will not rest until you cease to dream. We will not sleep until you never awaken. By the blood of Drak'thul, we so swear. You are marked by the Black Tabard. The war begins. We are coming.
~ Zortunda of the Darkspear Tribe, Rogue Officer of the Exiled."
Lyssira wondered what it all meant. She would have sworn that Darkstar was not wrapped up in all of this, but this message seemed to indicate that he was. Could Lyssira trust the other members of the Covenant team? Why was Darkstar calling the team together anyway? Lyssira shook her head, confused.
She hoped that Consadine would arrive soon, things seemed so much clearer when she spoke with him. Surely he would be here soon! Surely.
Lyssira
From her hiding place deep within the catacombs of Stormwind's Cathedral, Lyssira goes over for what seems like the hundredth time, the grisly scene at the bank that day, the day when they discovered the unidentifiable remains of that poor night elf woman.
For what seems like the hundredth time she unfolds and rereads the blood stained note that was found with the dismembered head:
Greetings from the Exiled.
The Mortals have been freed of their Souls.
The Followers have been removed from their Hidden Path.
The General knows her Defender.
The Protector has become the Destroyer.
The Dark Star is revealed by the Covenant of Light.
This is the Potential Lost.
General Lyssira Smithford, you have been marked by the Exiled of Drak'thul. We will not rest until you cease to dream. We will not sleep until you never awaken. By the blood of Drak'thul, we so swear. You are marked by the Black Tabard. The war begins. We are coming.
~ Zortunda of the Darkspear Tribe, Rogue Officer of the Exiled.
Lyssira has made a habit of leaving and entering Stormwind City only under the protection of darkness, and spending much of her time away from her home in an attempt to keep herself out of reach of these "Exiled", however they were.
At the same time, Lyssira was working on a disguise so that she would be able to walk the streets of Stormwind again unmolested, and without having to fear what lies around every corner.
Perhaps not today, but soon she would be ready and she would emerge from her place of hiding.
One question remained though, what would the "new Lyssira" call herself? Perhaps she would call herself "Shai", she had always liked that name, so, Shai it would be.
