Isira Lure'mil

Battle for Azeroth

Shadowlands

Isira Lure'mil
Art In-game Sticker art by Jazcelest. Isira during Operation: Sandstorm. (Render by Keremos)
Race:	High Elf
Gender:	Female
Birth:	20 March, -41 L.C. (81) Quel'danil Lodge, The Hinterlands
Affiliations:	Grand Alliance Silver Covenant The Silverguard 812th Farstrider Battalion Highvale Brood Alliance-Horde Coalition Alliance of Lordaeron (Formerly)
Family:	Sisila Allure'millen (Ancestor) Galadean Allure'millen † (Ancestor) Larenthar Lure'mil † (Father) Valanzara Lure'mil † (Mother) Zaralfara Lure'mil † (Aunt) Tothelon Lure'mil † (Cousin)
Mentor(s):	Valanzara Lure'mil Lyraeni Sorrowsong
Status:	Alive

Isira Ereneda Lure'mil (born 20 March, -41 L.C.) is a High Elf archer of the 812th Farstrider Battalion in the employ of the Silverguard. She is the youngest of the Lure'mil Family, and currently a student to Lyraeni Sorrowsong.

Growing up in the Quel'Danil Lodge, Isira's love of the wilds and exploration was tempered by a fierce hatred of Trolls to conform to her family's traditions of old vendettas. As the last of her family, she feels even greater need to uphold this legacy to the utmost. Though confined to the Hinterlands for much of her life, she was recruited by the Silverguard following N'zoth's emergence.

Fulfilling her duty was not without hardship, for her first battles against N'zoth resulted in infection with an Aqir mutagen that progressively transformed her on a genetic level into a High Elf-Aqir hybrid. Though she was cured months later, the experience left her with an "enlightened" love of insects, tarnished by a burden to prove to her comrades that she will not become a liability.

Background

As a child of the Lure'mil family, Isira was raised with the same dreams many young elves have - to become a ranger. Much of her childhood was spent idolizing the Ranger-General, Sylvanas Windrunner in stories that she had been told. As a girl Isira dreamed of the craft of the Rangers, believing in the possibility of becoming one of the legendary Farstriders in her life. Though this is a common phase for elves to reach and ultimately outgrow, Isira never abandoned that dream.

Growing up in the Hinterlands gave her forests to play and learn in, where she learned to love the forest and know its layout like the back of her hand. She had been known to explore old ruins as well, sometimes delving into the mysterious remnants of Dun Deldor. Very sociable and prone to making friends, she very frequently visited the Wildhammer Clan in their capital of Aerie Peak, sometimes learning from them just as she learned from her elven kin.

While her parents raised her lovingly and with great care, Isira was also a Lure'mil, and she was born into a lineage of hate. She often joined her parents' warbands into the Hinterlands to hunt trolls, even at a very young age. At one point, while preparing for her cousin, Tothelon, and the ceremonial bloodying of his blades, she happened to meet Durnhir Craghammer, whose gryphon had been damaged by a Vilebranch hunting party. After a night of welcome and festivity, she and Durnhir became good friends as she matured.

Isira never lost her love of exploration, ever curious about Dun Deldor, but one sight always enraptured her interest: Seradane. The ancient ruins of a culture completely unfamiliar to her were perplexing enough, but she was more interested in what had forbidden her from ever entering Seradane. She took great interest in the Green Dragonflight that guarded Seradane, watching the dragons from far away, too far to even get a truly satisfactory glance of them. Nevertheless, she had seen dragons, and was awed by the knowledge of their presence, hoping one day to meet a dragon herself.

Isira's regular activity in the Hinterlands: hunting trolls.

During the Second War Isira fought with her family against the Orcish Horde as it invaded the Eastern Kingdoms. Her parents returned to the north when the Horde assaulted their homeland of Quel'thalas, however Isira herself remained in the south. This was, unfortunately, the last she would ever see of her parents, as she was later told that her parents fell in the defense of Quel'Thalas.

With the rise of the Undead Scourge, Isira was relatively sheltered from its true horror. As the Scourge was meant to sabotage the greater populations of the north, such as Lordaeron, their presence was hardly felt at all in the Hinterlands until well over the Scourging had begun. As Lordaeron transformed into the Plaguelands, the pass that joined the Hinterlands to the land later known as the Western Plaguelands became a narrow route that renegade undead periodically traveled, forcing the elves to take swift action in culling any wayward undead who entered the land.

Left alone in the Hinterlands, Isira only barely felt the calamity of the contamination and destruction of the Sunwell. Living so far from the homeland and having never truly felt nor channeled the magic of the Sunwell herself, for Isira it was akin to simply feeling great exhaustion for days on end. Unbeknownst to her at the time, the elves' birthright and lifeblood had been robbed from them, and her detachment from the regular practice of magic inadvertently disciplined her innate addiction to help her avoid the fate of the Blood Elves.

When she was finally informed of the catastrophe, Isira lamented the losses suffered by her northern kin, scarcely able to imagine what they must have endured. Details were learned primarily by stories told from what survivors might have come to the Lodge, messages delivered from the homeland to the southern settlements, and more. Knowing what the undead were capable of instilled a fear of the Scourge, but she lacked the true perspective of what the Scourge was capable of, which allowed her to foster somewhat more tolerance for victims of undeath down the line.

This discipline against magic was a rather strict practice, however; the elves of Quel'danil, in the wake of the Sunwell's destruction, detached themselves from the practice of magic wholesale. Isira's practice of magic was already minimal as it was, mostly confined to a minor enchantment or the imbuing of runes, and it took her little effort to acclimate to a life where every elf had put magic aside. However, without the Sunwell, she was constantly fatigued, and could feel the addiction gnawing at her, tempting her to seek out as a reprieve. She remained strong, resisting the inclination to find magic to sate her, up until the Sunwell was finally restored by the Shattered Sun Offensive.

The Silverguard

On an ordinary day, Isira was planning to do the same thing she had done for the past several decades, to scout out nearby troll settlements and hunt down trolls for sport. She typically hunted for troll tusks and anything worthy of trade with the local Wildhammer Clan in Aerie Peak. While she prepared for her hunt, she found herself met with a peculiar visiter.

An undead ranger had visited the Lodge following the incursion into Nazjatar. What she was searching for was not immediately apparent, but she took interest in the young Isira, referring to her as a ranger. The younger elf promptly denied the title, simply claiming to be an archer. The ranger introduced herself as Lyraeni Sorrowsong.

Isira expressed her fondness of elven rangers and her ambitions to one day become a ranger herself, though she also held firm to her belief that all trolls in the world should be exterminated. Lyraeni took a moment to explain to Isira that a ranger finds balance in all of nature, even in the existence of enemies such as trolls. Acts of culling were sometimes necessary, but never extermination. Dismissing Lyraeni's explanation, Isira departed into the Hinterlands to kill her share of trolls.

Isira is found and recruited by Lyraeni Sorrowsong.

She returned later to find Lyraeni still present. Though she had dismissed the ranger moments prior, she was curious as to why the ranger was present. Approaching Lyraeni, she inquired, and the ranger informed her that she was seeking aid in other threats, threats more important than trolls in the Hinterlands. Isira initially brushed off this explanation, questioning what would be more important.

Lyraeni revealed that N'zoth, an Old God of legend, had been freed from his prison during the battles of Nazjatar. Though Isira had never known the existence of Old Gods to be a confirmed truth, the thought and Lyraeni's own certainty gave her pause. The undead ranger eventually managed to convince Isira that the threat of N'zoth's return did outweigh her own vendetta against the local trolls. Isira knew she could ignore this to continue to pursue her hatreds, but reason had presented a very real threat that endangered all.

Isira offered to pledge herself to Lyraeni's services to aid in the coming fight against N'zoth. Lyraeni accepted, declaring that she would train Isira to become a ranger of the Silverguard so long as Isira never once hesitated in her decision, never questioned her path. With understanding, Isira agreed to these terms. For the first time in years, she set foot outside the Hinterlands, and for the first time in possibly her life, she departed the Eastern Kingdoms.

Shadow in the Sands

Isira during Operation: Sandstorm. (Render by Keremos)

Eventually, the time came for the battle that Isira was called upon. Operation: Sandstorm was beginning, and Ranger-Lady Sorrowsong deployed the Silverguard to Tanaris to meet with a force known as the Coalition. Alliance and Horde, working together under their armistice, had answered the call to do battle against the Old God, N'zoth.

The Coalition Gathers

Isira followed the Silverguard to Gadgetzan, the current staging ground for where the Coalition between Horde and Alliance would begin. Already Isira's patience was taxed - the presence of orcs and trolls caused rage to swell within the elf, rage that she was forced to suppress for the betterment of the mission at hand. To better combat her desire to fight the forces of the Horde, Isira set herself to task in finding new friends among the Coalition forces, getting to know people around her.

The elf took in the knowledge that she might have very well been the first of her family to set foot on Kalimdor for the first time since the exile of their Highborne ancestors, realizing the honor she was experiencing in coming to this fight. Furthermore, as she was finally returning to the world, she realized there was a lot more to learn from this campaign than she had originally thought. Now excited to learn, Isira consulted others in Gadgetzan, even making new friends in the process.

Eventually the time came for the Coalition to set out and engage the enemy. Isira gravitated towards her mentor to lead her into battle, following Sorrowsong into a nearby Silithid hive alongside the rest of the Alliance forces. The mission was to find a team of goblins who had already gone into the hives, yet had not returned. Isira was eager for battle, but had no experience with the Silithid, let alone the ancient Aqir. As the Coalition delved into the hive equipped with flamethrowers, they came upon a lone survivor.

The goblin began to speak to those who approached, yet soon became bloated as her body exploded with the emergence of a swarm of insects that descended upon the Alliance. Isira herself was stung several times as reanimated Silitihd warriors emerged to attack the Alliance forces. After the shock of the Silithid tactics had passed, Isira let out an invigorated roar to use her flamethrower and help burn away the insect menace.

Isira is attacked by the swarm, and infected with the mutagen.

As the Alliance began to leave the hive, however, they were met with a new opponent. An Aqir hivequeen spoke to them in telepathic communication, reaching out and taunting the party before unleashing a swarm upon them. Isira herself went down underneath the swarm's onslaught, stung several times. What she did not realize, however, was that being sting had introduced something to her body, an experimental Aqir mutagen.

While she was briefly incapacitated, a nearby priest revived Isira and sent her into a Void-induced rage. Though the rage calmed, it lasted long enough that it gave the mutagen time to seize a hold on her mind, steering away from revealing a possible infection or seeking treatment. Anytime she thought of seeing to the medics in the hospital, she would seemingly forget and become distracted by something else.

Isira aids the Coalition in the invasions of the Silithid hives of Tanaris.

Over time Isira's behavior changed in somewhat bizarre fashion, becoming hyper social and eager to return to the Silithid hives. When the next mission to return to the hives was announced, she was excited and eagerly joined the operation. However, as the Alliance neared the hive, she abruptly darted into the depths without confrontation.

It was soon revealed that Isira had been held in the hypnotized grasp of a facestealing entity, the Dissector, who promised her destin to be grand. The millipede-esque insect wore the face of a goblin, staring deep into the High Elf's widened eyes. With the Coalition engaging the creature in battle, Isira was distracted from the Dissector's hypnotic control and able to regain control of herself. However, she remained stunned by the ongoing battle, especially as new enemies entered the fray.

These enemies were people like the Alliance, twisted by the Aqir into infested minions. Isira watched in horror at the sight, wondering if that was to be her fate had the Alliance not reached the Dissector before it could claim her, all the while confused by her sudden initiative to enter the hive. Nevertheless, the Alliance progressed deeper into the hive, where they discovered a stockpile of corrupted weapons, guarded by a lone and fearful Mantid.

Noting the Mantid's fear, some began to approach the creature in an act of diplomacy. However, Isira was still shaken by her encounter with the Dissector. In a panic and believing the Mantid to be yet another foe, Isira drew an arrow and fired it into the Mantid's head, killing it instantly in a gory display. The elf was promptly reprimanded, particularly by Gooldaro Chainbreaker, bringing no ease to her mind as the Alliance elected to move on from her actions and make use of the weapons found.

With the intrusion moving on, they eventually discovered the hivequeen, Shathra, once again. As battle was engaged, it did not take long for Isira's body to suddenly fall under the Aqir's sway through the Void. Unbeknownst to her, the mutagen coursing through her system had made her susceptible to the domination of her mind, turning her against the Coalition. Her manipulation was brief, however, as she was swiftly bound in roots by the druid Fladorath Everbloom.

Taken back to Gadgetzan by Lyraeni, Isira soon came to and discovered she had been taken under the control of the Aqir. She was given a run-down of the mission's success, and soon instructed to get her rest. Despite the harrowing experience of being seized in a state of mind control, Isira was oddly unfazed, her exuberance as strong as ever.

A healthy competition between archers Arc'ulerith and Isira.

Isira remained social, bonding with her fellow coalition members and even making some friends among the Horde, such as Syeris and Arc'ulerith. Yet all the while, a constant pain began to ache in her head, a physical pain as the mutagen's effects would seen reveal themselves.

The Metamorphosis

It was not until the coalition's arrival in Uldum that the mutagen finally reared its head in full force. With the exposure to the abundance of void in Uldum, Isira began to undergo a small but hardly insignificant transformation, a metamorphosis spurred by the mutagen in her brain. From the back of her brain, antennae began to form, growths not unlike what the Aqir possessed themselves. These antennae would serve to connect Isira to the Aqir hivemind, when they had completed their growth.

Isira stumbled and fell as she muttered incoherently, her motor skills impaired and her vision filled only with flashes of light as her brain transformed within the confines of her skull. She collapsed to the grass of the oasis, and with no means of relieving the agony she was in, ultimately fell into unconsciousness from the trauma of her affliction. It was not until some time later that she was found by C'thonia, who delivered Isira to the medical bay.

While she slept, Isira was visited by a peculiar dream, in which she found herself submerged in amber fluid. It was warm, and though she should have felt afraid, she found an odd comfort in her stasis, and was content to simply rest there, to enjoy her time in her chrysalis. Fortunately, Raelor Valeclaw had sensed the disturbances within the young elf's mind, and proceeded to enter her dreams, where he discovered her impending assimilation into the hivemind.

Raelor alerted the coalition to Isira's condition, prompting an immediate divide between those who believed Isira must be executed and those who believed she should be quarantined to ensure the Aqir learned nothing of their operations. Aelenicus Sunblade and Casylia were ultimately responsible for guarding Isira while she was chained in quarantine away from Mar'at.

As the coalition debated how to address Isira's condition, she once more lapsed into her dreams, even voluntarily. She found a bizarre eagerness in experiencing these dreams, where she flew among the swarm and tended to their broods. As she delved into these dreams, however, she soon found herself plunged into the abyss, where she ultimately stared into the eyes of the enemy, N'zoth.

N'zoth gently coaxed Isira into the swarm, offering her the comfort and security in a place where she felt she belonged. It was not untrue; Isira, who had struggled to feel like she upheld her family's legacy, and felt like a stranger to her own kin for never knowing what Quel'thalas looked like, found a sense of belonging in the hivemind. It was a perfect unity, devoid of suspicion and fear of one another, and she liked it.

Before she could lapse into N'zoth's control, she was awoken once again. From that point forward, Isira's dreams and growths were carefully monitored, as her antennae grew with each passing day, and her dreams became more and more concerning. Yet as Isira seemed to be ever worsening in her corruption, she assured Lyraeni that nothing had been forgotten. Her mission to fight the Old Gods and exterminate troll kind had not been forgotten, nor would she ever abandon the fight.

Quarantine was released after Raelor shrouded Isira's brain in a ward of nature magic, sheltering her mind from the Aqir hivemind. With her condition safe and ready for duty, Isira returned to aiding the front, though she frequently met with Casylia for secretive tests to evaluate her gradual transformation.

A Conflict of Identity

Unbeknownst to Isira, however, her affliction had drawn the ire of Rilennia Rimeshard, who was secretly infested by a parasitic worm in her brain that perceived Isira as a threat. Riley became spiteful towards Isira, stalking her and regarding her with hostility, even at one point briefly threatening to attack her with a portal. The truth behind Riley's aggression was unknown to Isira, and it discouraged the young elf as she feared she would be ostracized by others as well.

Worse, Isira was finding herself changing not only in body, but as a person as well. She found a new appreciation for the lives of the insects around her, taking interest in what she had once found mundane. She realized that a feeling of kinship had grown for these small creatures, a sense of likeness as though they were like herself. With that kinship came a reluctance to fight the Aqir, as Isira suddenly found the act of killing insects tantamount to murder.

Alexander Grayson visits a stressed and lonely Isira.

Isira's stress only grew as her obligations to the Silverguard and the coalition warred with her desire to help her insect "kin". In the midst of her stress, she was comforted by others, such as Alexander Grayson assuring her to find peace despite a growing sense of loneliness. She also looked to Raelor and Casylia for help, as they proved to be understanding of her affliction and confusion of identity.

Eventually Riley was cleansed of the parasitic worm in her brain, her own struggles revealed as her trauma nearly killed her, were it not for the quick action of coalition members. Shortly after, Riley came forward to apologize to Isira for her bitterness and hostility. Though she was tense, Isira was willing to welcome the apology and the offer of goodwill.

The coalition pushes the war against the Amathet.

Isira returned to the front lines and joined the conflict against the Amathet. When Lyraeni was incapacitated by an explosion caused by the Amathet forces, Isira dragged her mentor back to Mar'at. She joined a bombing run led by Zaria R. Blackmoore that later transitioned into a push on foot into the Amathet territory. Complemented by naval forces and an army approaching from another angle, the push was successful in thwarting the Amathet and routing them from their holdings. This left only one enemy left in the form of the Aqir.

At this point, time in the coalition proved stressful for Isira. The mad worgen alchemist, Lewin, had taken keen interest in Isira's mutations, hounding her time and again to assess her condition since Gadgetzan. Meanwhile, Lewin's companion, Mordrime, had taken his own interest in Isira, noticing her Lure'mil crest as she vocalized her discomfort with killing Aqir. Though he was unaware of the crest's significance, Mordrime rightly brought forth the hypocrisy in Isira's beliefs; she was willing to massacre trolls to extinction, yet could not be asked to fight their enemy, the Aqir.

The dissonance only worsened Isira's struggles of identity, to the point that she was even paralyzed during a mission into an Aqir hive, struggling to fight. Finally, her will reached its breaking point when she heard the coalition's plan to bomb one of the Aqir hatcheries and cull their population. Internalizing her fury, Isira formulated a plan to steal an egg, and cultivate it on her own.

Isira on the operation to the Aqir birthing chambers.

Volunteering to participate in a stealth operation organized by Zaramy to plant bombs in the Aqir birthing chambers. The goal was to detonate these bombs and cripple - if not destroy - the swarm's continued reproduction. Isira, however, regarded this as cruel and inhumane, tantamount to the murder of unborn children. With this in mind, she was determined to save at least one egg to help save the swarm.

Unnoticed in her secretive act, Isira claimed an Aqir egg while setting up her own bomb. To her surprise, and great pleasure, another had stolen an egg as well, a human named Aering Ashton. Giving her a knowing smile, Isira journeyed with the rest of the coalition to depart the hives and destroy them.

Though Isira hated her involvement in the birthing chambers' destruction, she found solace in her work and reveled in her success. Confiding in Lyraeni and Casylia, Isira planned to care for the egg and raise it with the same love she would devote to her own child.

Bloody Your Blades

To the misfortune of the Coalition, however, destroying the Aqir's birthing chambers - and much of their hives - would only be a kick to the hornet's nest. The next day, a completely unprecedented assault came for the Coalition's establishment. Isira, away from the battle, prepared to join the conflict before realizing that fighting could place her egg in harm's way.

Caught between the choice of fighting for the Coalition or protecting her egg, Isira weighed her odds. As citizens in Mar'at screamed for help within burning homes, Isira knew that to enter the fray would offer little to change the course of a lost battle. Meanwhile, she knew that if she was to prove that her belief in redemption for Aqir was well-founded, she could not risk the egg which she had grown attached to. As such, she reluctantly deserted the battle, instead taking to the dunes of Uldum.

Yet in that moment, Isira cursed herself and condemned her decision to flee from the battle. Already she felt herself tarnished by her dishonor, even if she had justified it. Taking shelter in a cave with the egg, Isira resolved to make amends by killing her share - specifically she had to kill the hundred foes she had killed to bloody her blades in her youth. When Lyraeni contacted Isira to request her location, Isira explained what she needed to do to regain her honor.

Isira spent the next couple days hunting down adherents of N'zoth, K'thir and, reluctantly, Aqir. She killed any she came across, leaving a trail that Raelor and Casylia would ultimately follow to find Isira and bring her back to Ramkahen. Unbeknownst to Isira, her protection against the Aqir Hivemind was waning day by day, and would soon begin to dissolve. For a brief moment, Isira almost lost herself to the Aqir before Raelor came to her protection, convincing him that a new step would need to be taken to protect her.

While surveying the damage of the battle in Mar'at, she found comfort in the sight of nature already recovering from the catastrophe, the life of the oasis returning with the aid of Coalition druids and more. However, an item piqued her interest - caught upon a tree was a strange fabric, the color of the sky and barely noticeable against it. Isira retrieved the fabric and brought it down to the earth, and it transitioned to a color that mirrored that of the sand. Realizing the item to be a cloak of Thalassian make, she became curious about it, and decided to hold onto it to explore its history, as well as her own unfamiliar heritage.

A New Side

Aftermath

With Isira still at risk of lapsing into the Old Gods' machinations, Raelor and Casylia took the task of keeping her safe while ensuring her egg would also remain safe, as per her wishes. Casylia offered to raise the egg in the facilities of her home, Light's Dominion, based in the Hinterlands. Though Isira agreed, Raelor decided to bring Isira to Nordrassil for a boon, and travel through the Emerald Dream to reach the Hinterlands.

The two walked through the Dream, leaving Isira in awe of such a natural world and the creatures that inhabited it. Arriving at Mount Hyjal, the two ascended to the peak, where they overlooked the land. Eventually, their gaze settled upon the transformed Azshara, and from their altitude they could make out the Horde symbol that had been carved into the land. Isira swelled with rage at the sight, cursing the Horde's existence and their acts upon the world, only for Raelor to calm her and direct her attention to the World Tree.

Raelor spoke to Nordrassil, beseeching the tree for a boon to protect Isira from the Old Gods' influence. In response, the World Tree extended a branch to their pair, yielding a small medallion fashioned from its bark. In the center of the circular medallion was an emerald gem, surrounded by a ring of vines to symbolize the trinket's protective properties. Raelor gave the medallion to Isira, and the medallion served to permanently bolster the protective measures in Isira's mind, keeping her safe from the Aqir hivemind as long as she wore it.

With their work finished, Isira and Raelor now traveled to the Hinterlands to reunite with Casylia, who brought Isira to Light's Dominion. There, the egg was now kept in a den to incubate until it was ready to hatch. The nutritional royal jelly was being artificially synthesized, and Isira continued to be evaluated by Casylia. While under Casylia's care and hospitality, Isira was overjoyed when the egg finally hatched, giving birth to an Aqir larva. A worm-like, spiny creature, Isira took the larva with her into the world to let it "hunt" - in other words, she fed it the flesh of what she killed, from wolves to trolls.

Eventually, the Alliance held an awards ceremony in Stormwind City, to commemorate the valorous and the selfless who had fought in Uldum. Though she felt an internal sense of shame for her desertion of the battle, she attended out of respect to those who had fought to the bitter end where she had not. Lyraeni, who had also attended the ceremony, eventually requested to meet with Isira in private. When she did, Lyraeni gave her the Grand Alliance Ribbon of Sacrifice, as she personally believed that Isira had, in fact, endured much with an affliction that could possibly never leave her.

Isira was grateful, but later broached a more disconcerting topic with Lyraeni by revealing her desire to cultivate a new swarm of Aqir. This swarm, she idealized, would be raised separate from the Old Gods, free from their evil and able to evolve as the Nerubians had, ultimately independent of the Yogg-Saron. Knowing that Ashton still possessed an egg of her own, Isira posed the request, to which Lyraeni ultimately agreed to allow. Enthused, Isira began her new personal ambition with almost unforeseen pasion.

Remaining in Stormwind to locate Ashton, Isira attending an ongoing job fair out of curiosity, where she encountered the organization United Aegis. A conversation with Volhellian Duskwhisper revealed that the World's Faire Carnival would soon take place in Uldum, intended to celebrate the ongoing fight against N'zoth. Though she had extreme reservations about a carnival in an active war zone, Isira decided to attend and see what it had to offer.

To her delight, Ashton was also attending the job fair, and Isira requested a secret discussion with her to broach the subject of Ashton's stolen egg. In a quiet, isolated discussion, Isira explained her plan to cultivate a new breed of Aqir. Aering hesitated, but agreed to permit Isira to take her egg into safekeeping, if Isira only promised that the Aqir would never come to harm. Isira made that promise, and was determined to stand by it.

World's Faire Carnival

When the time for the Carnival arrived, Isira arrived alone to spectate the opening ceremony, but was soon joined by Mavissa and Lyraeni. They initially traveled as a group through the Carnival, sampling its offered activities, purchasing curious wares, and enjoying what the festivities brought. However, the Carnival meant less to Isira as a materialistic venture, and more as an opportunity to revisit the relationships she had built in the Uldum campaign not long before the Carnival.

She was fortunate to reunite with Arc'ulerith, and she and Mavis began to travel alongside him in exploring the Carnival. At one point, Isira and Mavis met with a young elf named Aeriden, who seemed to be depressed or upset for reasons Isira could not discern, even though she readily identified his apparent disappointment. She quickly worked to bond with him and alleviate his concerns, offering friendship to one she believed needed it most.

Isira during the World's Faire Carnival (Art by Irishmoo).

The Carnival came as a welcome reprieve from the stresses of war, and from the insecurity she felt in her mutations. It was not entirely easy, however, for Isira soon learned that the Ashen Sun Accord had attended the Carnival as well. Recalling mention that the Ashen Sun had plans to study and use the Aqir as well, she approached their booth to speak directly to Illindrà Dustbearer, the Magistrix of their order, and discuss the Aqir.

What Isira learned shook her to the core, hearing details of plans she interpreted as an attempt to enslave the Aqir. Though Isira tried to mask her true feelings, she brimmed with fury in knowing what the Void Elf was planning, deciding she would one day try to stop them and free the Aqir under their control. However, the Ashen Sun would not be the only confrontation Isira endured at the Carnival.

Isira's hate for trolls was thinly veiled even at neutral occasions such as the Carnival. Though she refrained from open hostility, spiteful behavior and commentary still leaked through into her interactions. People were attentive, however, listening in on her actions with disgust for her racist behavior, even confronting her. The most vocal of these confrontations came from Ela'thias Everbloom, who thoroughly believed that Isira's hate was unjustified and that his troll friend did not deserve her spite.

Initially, Isira was unfazed until she and Mavis were both generalized as being racist towards trolls, to which Mavis defended herself, claiming she was not nearly sadistic enough to enjoy a troll's failure or suffering. Isira was shocked, taking this statement to be an implicit assertion that she herself was a sadist in Mavis' eyes. Mavis, regretting her words, fled the scene, leaving Isira to the final scathing words of her opponents, condemning her as they left her alone.

Though it was a blow to her enjoyment of the Carnival, Isira reconciled with Mavis, determined to still enjoy the last few days of the event. She introduced Mavis to Aelenicus, who had also come to attend the Carnival. However, Isira expressed her newfound fondness for insects and arthropods, leading Aelen to a realization that not only was Isira changed by the mutagen, but she kept the changes as well. Horrified, Aelen abruptly vomited at the news that Isira still remained an Aqir hybrid, much to the latter's great dismay.

By the time the Carnival ended, Isira felt only weariness. She returned to the Hinterlands during the night, worn down by the repeated confrontations, ill news, and hurtful comments against her. She wanted nothing more than to return to the comfort of her swarm.

Dissonance

Following the Carnival, Isira continued to work on cultivating her swarm, especially as Ashton's egg soon hatched into its own larva, and the first larva had spun its cocoon, awaiting a metamorphosis. Isira was pleased with progress, but found herself deeply concerned when she received a letter from the sinister worgen, Lewin, delivered with a mangled Aqir that provoked fury from Isira. Remembering Lewin's obsession with her mutation, the letter requested her presence in Uldum, in order to perform "tests" regarding her mutations.

Hesitant, Isira contacted Lyraeni to receive her input. Lyraeni was similarly suspicious, ordering her to be careful and remain wary to the worgen's intent. Fruitful knowledge, while useful, may not be painless, to which Isira asked if she should attend to the worgen's request. The Ranger-Lady left the decision to Isira's prerogative, and the latter ultimately decided to see what Lewin wanted.

While preparing for her meeting with Lewin, the Aqir progressed. Her first larva had emerged as a swarmleader, a large wasp, while the second had now spun its cocoon. Waiting eagerly, she was delighted when the larva emerged from its cocoon as the hive queen she had wanted. The queen, unlike most Aqir, was sentient and thinking, as part of their small, personal collective. Isira lovingly named the queen Lvuru, and Lvuru soon began her work to repopulate the hive.

Eventually Isira and Lewin met in Uldum, and Isira was furious at what she saw. She beheld an Aqir, kept in a cage, lobotomized and unable to rejoin its kin in the hivemind. Initially Isira threatened Lewin for the damage he had caused, but the worgen was unfazed, offering to spur on her mutations and change her further. Isira refused, initially, believing that her changing could endanger her place in the Silverguard. The worgen conceded, seemingly, before baiting her with guilt over abandonment of the Aqir, wondering what Isira's motherly feelings towards the Aqir really wanted.

Frustrated at having her insecurities so easily picked, Isira reluctantly conceded and agreed to let Lewin inject her with additional mutagen, for the sake of the Aqir. Lewin was delighted, and eagerly injected her where she was believed to have been stung beforehand, with the advice that she start keeping a journal to document her changes. Though she had a dangerous feeling about the consequences of her interaction with Lewin, Isira ultimately accepted it and moved on, beginning to return to Ramkahen.

Yet Lewin's frequent companion, Gabriel Mordrime, was also in Uldum. The crusading warrior tended to the battlefield, disposing of the fallen who had perished against the Aqir. Isira initially prepared to take arms against him, fearing for his judgment and not fondly remembering his opinions of her back in the Uldum campaign. To her shock and dismay, Mordrime also recognized her, and immediately revealed his awareness that she had deserted the final battle of Uldum.

finds Mordrime in Uldum, talks about hate and prejudice

comes to Lyra, promises to never take mutagen again

learns a lesson about hatred, protect, don't exterminate

Discovery of the Self

Isira during the defense of Duskstone.

On a day when free time was available to Isira, the young archer had been attempting to record an audio sample of bees swarming in their hive. Due to her bizarre affliction, her love for insects also came with a sense of peace and contentment when listening to the sound of insects buzzing, which she thought could be useful for easing her into sleep. However, when Volantus Dawnseeker found Isira, he chose to mock her love of insects by slamming his tower shield into the tree where the hive was situated.

The hive fell, crashing into the dirt and destroying it entirely. Enraged, Isira immediately interrogated Volantus as to why he had so callously destroyed the bees' hive. In response, he set what remained of the hive alight, combusting it and reducing it to ashes in moments. Furious and distraught for the insects' destruction, Isira violently tackled him before she left for the barracks, sobbing. Word got out about the incident over the beacon, which the Council took note of.

Word eventually reached the Silverguard about troll assaults upon the small town of Duskstone, within the duchy of Quellorian. With the Silverguard deployed to lend aid and defend the town, the elves were promptly put to task in helping optimize the town's defenses before the trolls ultimately returned for another attack. These trolls evidently served a "Lady of the Night", who seemingly empowered them, but ultimately were defeated.

After the battle, Isira set herself to work creating a war banner that was customary of her family's conquests. She was visited by Lyraeni while she worked, who inquired as to what the incident from before had entailed. Isira apologized for her part in the violent exchange, but explained in full how the event had taken place. Understanding, Lyraeni advised Isira to take care in how she expressed her new side given by her mutations, as eccentricities would earn her skeptical looks.

The Silverguard rallies for battle.

The next mission involved a departure from Duskstone itself to further investigate the trolls' dark magic. There, they found a lone High Elf in distress and in need of rescue. However, when the Silverguard went to aid the woman, they were all struck with foul magic that caused them to succumb to a deep sleep.

Together, they awoke in a veritable nightmare realm, which was cautiously explored. There, a text in Eredun was discovered and translated before the Silverguard found and killed a giant, grotesque, and malevolent heart.

Soon freed of the nightmare realm, the Silverguard regrouped in Duskstone once more. With time free to them until the next departure, Isira was approached by her superior, Ranger-Captain Liara. Liara, also realizing there was significant tension between Isira and Volantus, asked for her side in what was wrong. The two conversed, with Liara helping to try and mediate the conflict between the two elves with a promise to speak to Volantus just as she had spoken to Isira.

The final incursion into the Shadowpine village involved a charge into the trolls' ranks to fight their way to their leaders' position. During the battle, however, Volantus was inflicted with a temporary curse that compelled him to attempt a lethal strike with his glaive towards Isira. Nimble on her feet, Isira dodged the strike before sweeping his legs and pinning him to the earth. Though she successfully subdued the controlled spell breaker, her antennae slipped out of her hair and into view.

Isira was suddenly apprehensive about incoming judgment, especially when Volantus glared at her with palpable fury. Nevertheless, it was agreed that the Silverguard needed to press on in their objective, and that Isira's antennae could be addressed later. Together, the elves fought their way to the "Lady of the Night" - a satyr who had been acting through the Shadowpine trolls, as well as a succubus that held a High Elf named Calitherno in her thrall.

Isira plants a Silverguard war banner to mark their victory over the trolls.

The elves were ultimately victorious, slaying their foes and capturing Calitherno. Isira reveled in their triumph, and planted the Silverguard war banner she had made atop a cliff overlooking the village. There, anyone who entered the village would see who had conquered its people. By Isira's side was Caedori Morrowsky, a ranger Isira had yet to meet. The two exchanged greetings, respecting one another for their combat prowess and fervor in battle, before the elves returned home.

Interactions between Caedori and Isira grew in frequency. It began primarily through their shared missions, hunting trolls and demon insurgents together, often working side by side on scouting duties and combating local troll threats. Caedori was especially affectionate towards Isira, though the latter seemed convinced their relationship would remain platonic.

During a day of levity, the Silverguard enjoyed a night of drink and games. Among these games was a classic game of truth or dare, during which Isira was dared to kiss Caedori. Initially, Isira took the challenge as meaning nothing, and was quick to act upon it. However, much to her surprise, the kiss did mean something to her, and she felt more than just the fulfillment of her dare. In an instant, Isira realized an attraction to other women - specifically, she realized she was now enamored with Caedori.

Overcome with the stress of the dare, Isira lapsed into a panic attack and abandoned the game. Caedori did so as well, coming to lend the confused Isira a comforting presence. Rather than reject Caedori's presence, Isira instead chose to welcome it and keep the ranger close, and the two spent some time alone together in the local inn of Dalaran.

Still, the experience of their kiss lingered on Isira's mind, and could not go on without further discussion, or perhaps exploration. Meeting in Quel'danil, Caedori and Isira struggled to converse about their dared kiss and what they experienced, before Caedori suggested they simply try to kiss again and see what came of it. Though the experience was awkward, their second kiss was ultimately shared, and their new relationship began.

Visions of the Vale

Raelor meets with Isira before the deployment to Pandaria.

Raelor suggests that Isira sees the monks to investigate her spirit, to find truth in her personal turmoil

Isira, Lyraeni, Arianiie, Zevorreva, and Rease gather outside the Engine of Nalak'sha.

PLEASE FILL THIS PAGE OUT OH MY GOD

Isira and Caedori clear the air

Paratrooper drop into Zouchin Province, feck you dumb mogu

Generic airship goes down

Overhear talk between Lyra and Zaria

Join mission to the Engine of Nalak'sha

New sword get from Tybalt's event

Helped Caedori lead the caravan of refugees back to Halfhill from Stoneplow

Isira is cornered by Yosu and Urak.

Isira and Lioriae vs Yosu and Urak, heavily burned and stuff

Recovery, drowning dream

Dreams of becoming Mantid, actually likes it

Immediately j'accused hard of being a liability, determined to prove it wrong

Isira joins the strike team to assassinate Empress Shek'zara.

Joins the assault on the "empress" to claim the head as proof that she did her duty

Final Battle Happens

Risaela Dawnsong, Isira Lure'mil, and Caedori Morrowsky during the final battle.

Bolantus MCd, Isira tries to kill him, Mali hated that

Isira helps to destroy pillars

The day is won, they had back home

N'zoth feckin DIES and Isira is knocked unconscious

While asleep, Isira is visited in her dreams

The battle won, speeches given, everyone wants to remove the faction barrier, blah blah, time to go home

Between Two Worlds

Isira is summoned by the Silverguard council following the Pandaria campaign.

With N'zoth dead and the Ny'alotha expelled, now was a welcome respite from war for those who fought in Pandaria and Uldum. Isira returned with the Silverguard to the Eastern Kingdoms, but for her, rest would have to wait.

Isira's actions against Volantus had not been forgotten, and she soon called to the council's chambers to face the consequences of her decision to lethally attack the spellbreaker. She was lectured accordingly, and agreed with the council's assessment. Furthermore, it was revealed that though she was on the path to a promotion to the rank of Ranger, this act had set her back and required that she be placed on probation for a month.

The topic of Isira's antennae also came up, prompting Lyraeni to interject. With N'zoth dead, Lyraeni asked what the status of Isira's Aqir currently was, an inquiry that came to the surprise of the rest of the apparently uninformed council. With the shift in topic, Isira took the opportunity to explain her motivations for raising her own swarm. Not only did she wish to offer the Aqir a new future away from the Old Gods, she also believed that the swarm could offer their might to the Silverguard, different from other orders who sought to enslave the Aqir.

The Council agreed to deliberate on the matter and discuss the Aqir among themselves, dismissing her for the time being. Not long after, Malithanore Vanyali contacted her in the Hinterlands, requesting to see the Aqir for himself. Isira obliged, leading him to a destroyed troll village in the forest situated in the hills, which the Aqir had destroyed prior. There, in the caverns, the Highvale Brood made their home, working to expand and protect their hive. As Malithanore made his inquiries, Isira introduced him to Lvuru, who explained that under their "mother's" guidance, they were free, and they would survive.

Isira Lure'mil and Zora'cardia Windseeker scout the Altar of Zul.

Yet as Isira made her case for the Aqir's acceptance, she struggled greatly with a new sense of identity. During her time in Pandaria, the dream in which she transformed into a Mantid stuck to her mind, causing her to dream of herself in a new, favorable form as a humanoid Aqir, a form she soon began to crave. She began to crave sleep in order to dream further while despising her waking hours, at some points threatening to alter herself to be less elven. Wracked with guilt and frustration, Isira attempted to confide in Arianiie Andros.

Meanwhile, the stress piled on as a sudden resurgence of Forest Trolls in the Hinterlands began to threaten Isira's home, keeping her on edge as she tried to defend the home front. Enraged at the news that her own comrades had helped the Witherbark rather than just killing them, Isira was even further incensed to discover that the Vilebranch were attacking across the region, and resolved to stop them.

Though the battle against the Hakkari Vilebranch was finished with the trolls' defeat, relief did not come easily for Isira. Her dysmorphia only worsened, caught between her elven identity and her desperate yearning to become Aqir. The conflict came to a head when Lyraeni reached out to Isira and requested that they meet in the Quel'danil Lodge. Upon arrival, Lyraeni pulled them to a private conversation about Isira's mutations, in which she revealed a completed cure for Isira's partial transformation.

Immediately Isira rejected the cure out of fear for her Aqir, to which Lyraeni revealed that there were plans in the works to facilitate Isira's dream to help the Aqir without bloodshed. Proposals such as moving them to Outland or even a Pocket Dimension were made, with suggestions to tailor the environment to allow the Aqir competition and survival without risk of annihilation. The hope was that, once the Aqir were independent of Isira's maternal control, then Isira herself would take the care and return to normal.

Though comforted by the explanation that bloodshed might not be the Council's first option, Isira still could not confidently accept the cure. She revealed to Lyraeni her struggle and her inability to feel comfortable in her own body, a pain that was quickly attributed to the mutations. Lyraeni explained that she wanted to allow Isira a choice in her changes because she saw a parallel between Isira's mutations and her undeath; both had been afflicted with a painful burden that they had never chosen. The difference was that Isira now had the choice to leave that burden behind.

Harboring reservations about leaving the Aqir without her control, Lyraeni suggested speaking to Coriena Nightcaller about the possibility of retaining psionic connection or control after the change. Still struggling to determine what she wanted, she chose to comply and begin with reaching out to Coriena. Isira revealed her actions thus far, how she had secretly been tending to an Aqir hive and helping them reproduce and survive in the Hinterlands. When asked why, Isira reluctantly confided in Coriena about her deeper troubles of identity, caught between Quel'dorei and Aqir.

Isira meets with Coriena.

Though it was certainly a concerning subject, Coriena could not afford a simply answer or solution to Isira's crisis. Instead, the pair agreed to focus on what Isira had come for - a way to commune with the Aqir in the event that she lost her mutations. Coriena assessed Isira for the possibility that she had latent psionic potential as part of her development, even her youth, but the results were ambiguous. Isira was an empathetic person, but whether she was a hidden empath or simply compassionate was unknown.

Still, regardless of Isira's inherent potential, there was no doubt that Isira's mutations had granted her a significant opening to the possibility of delving into Psionics, which could lend her the potential to perhaps commune with the Aqir without changing further, or even control them.

However, there was another troubling subject that would soon weigh on Isira's mind. After joining Miralyne Valetender on an expedition to Outland to retrieve Khorium, the Silverguard deployment was suddenly thrown into a war between the defenses of Shattrath City and the Arakkoa of the region, bound in a completely unprecedented union. These Arakkoa used a wide array of magics, including magics that corrupted the local ancients and bent them to their will, driving them into agonized madness. Isira was deeply perturbed by the sight of the ancient that assailed the Allerian Stronghold, knowing full well the wrongness of what she witnessed.

Wishing to spare other ancients from such pain, Isira came to Rhenawedd Meadowsong, an Everwarden of the Silverguard. Isira informed Rhenawedd of the pain the ancients suffered, how the Arakkoa wracked nature with such agony, in an attempt to spur the Everwarden into taking action. She even asked the Everwarden if she could at least be taught something to help resolve the problem herself, if need be, requesting some level of tutoring in the ways of Nature magic. However, though Isira had convinced Rhenawedd of the severity of the problem in Terokkar, there was more to be said.

Isira still could not reach her own decision of her identity. Still caught between her place as an elf and her kinship among insects, she decided to revisit what Raelor had suggested - introspection of the spirit. Though Rhenawedd was no monk, the Everwarden still delved in matters of life and spirit, and Isira asked for guidance from the Everwarden, to help her discover what it was that she truly wanted to pursue and become. Rhenawedd agreed to help, and set out to identify the reagents needed for such an experience.

Isira participates in the Trial of Vigor at the Tournament of Ages.

Meanwhile, the Silverguard's deployments into Terokkar yielded success, pushing back the Arakkoa and unveiling their plots led by High Arakkoa, eventually allowing the offensive to be taken against their holdings in Skettis. With these victories came a reprieve, and that reprieve was turned towards a most celebrated festivity - the Tournament of Ages.

Having never been to such an event, Isira was quick to join the rest of the Silverguard in attending the Tournament, even signing up for the Trial of Vigor, a series of sparring matches in a tournament to lead up to a final clash. Though Isira made it to the final battle, she ultimately lost the fight, yet walked away proud of her participation.

The Tournament was fruitful in other ways, including meeting and befriending a fellow High Elf, Kaina Duskstrider. The two were quick to bond over their shared skills in archery, until Kaina took note of a suspicious presence following Isira. That presence was Lewin, returned to taunt Isira as he always had, hinting to her mutations and her secret desire to further transform herself. Though Isira spurned the Worgen, he tauntingly held the offer before Isira, assuring her that if she changed her mind, she knew who to turn to.

Isira and Caedori converse at the Tournament.

With temptation looming over Isira again, she turned to her greatest confidant - her lover, Caedori. Trusting Caedori to have a vested interest in her happiness and her well being, Isira confided in her about her feelings and secret desires, but also with the full intent of asking Caedori for her thoughts and feelings on the matter. Though Isira could guess where Caedori's advice would lead, she braced for any advice the ranger may give.

Such advice was as Isira anticipated. Caedori was not supportive of Isira mutating herself further, but her reasons were more compassionate than most others'. She revealed that she had noticed Isira's behavior change significantly since her mutations had begun - Isira had become withdrawn from others despite her normally warm demeanor, and her dreams were plagued with violent intent and desire. Most of all, Caedori knew full well of the pain caused by her bodily dysphoria and dissatisfaction with her form. Caedori explained that Isira's suffering due to the mutagen meant that it was better discarded than preserved, especially for the sake of her future as a ranger.

Though these were not the words Isira wished to hear, there was no one she wished to hear them from more than her lover, and she took them close to heart. The two enjoyed the rest of the tournament together, though ultimately failed to share the Wonderlight Ball together. They instead made up for it through a series of romantic ventures, from Quellorian to Elwynn Forest to Loch Modan, deepening their relationship together even further.

Eventually, Isira was called to the Silverguard's infirmary by Rhenawedd, who revealed she had prepared a concoction that would introduce her to a Dreamscape to help her find a resolution to her struggles with the Aqir and her changes. Rhenawedd was to guide Isira through the Dreamscape, helping her to reaffirm her sense of identity and determine what it was she really wanted.

The dream began in the Hinterlands, but a version of it that had yet to be shaped by mortal presence. It was very much akin to an image out of the Emerald Dream, and soon Rhenawedd joined her in the open forests to help lead her on her journey. Rhenawedd began by asking Isira where her dreams to become a ranger first began, and how she set foot on her path.

As a result of Isira's memory, the dreamscape shifted to a night around a bonfire in which all of the Lure'mils had gathered, in a night of story and song before a hunt to take place in the morning. Isira identified this moment, spent as a child on her mother's lap and regaled with stories of heroism among rangers, as the moment she was certain on her path to become a ranger.

Next came a question of how long Isira had served the Silverguard. When Isira answered that almost a year had been spent in the Silverguard's service, the scene changed again, this time to one of the battles in Pandaria. This battle specifically was one of evacuation, in which the Alliance had been tasked with evacuating a village close to the Serpent's Spine and in danger of coming under attack by the Mantid.

When asked why she placed such an importance upon this battle, Isira looked to the citizens she helped to escort to safety, taking pride in her role in helping others. Another factor, however, was who she protected the caravan of civilians with - Caedori. She cherished every battle by her lover's side, and felt stronger for it. Rhenawedd understood the importance of the deployment to Isira, then asking her how she felt about her comrades.

At first, Isira praised her comrades in the Silverguard, saying that she trusted them. However, her tone gradually became less optimistic as she revealed that she did not feel as if they trusted her in return. She confessed to feeling judged and harassed for her changes, and that she felt hurt by her allies for it.

Rhenawedd reassured Isira that no one in the Silverguard meant her any harm, but instead they felt concern. Their concern may have been harsh, but it was concern that prompted their ire towards the continued harboring of the Aqir. Safety was the priority of the Silverguard - safety for Isira, but also safety for the Alliance. As such, Rhenawedd revealed a painful truth that if she wished for one choice, the other would have to go.

Isira was presented with two scenarios. In one scenario, she had taken the cure, remaining among the Silver Vanguard by Lyraeni's side, even helping her to strategize and plan. In the other scenario, she turned down the cure, living with her brood with freedom to as she pleased, yet entirely alone. Isira desperately waited to find companionship in the latter scenario, waiting for her mentor or her lover to appear as well. They did not.

With the visions observed, Isira withdrew, painfully aware of what she had always suspected by never wanted to believe. If she was to choose the Aqir's survival, it would undoubtedly mean throwing away everything she cherished most in her service to the Silverguard. Rhenawadd encouraged Isira to do as her heart felt was best, but the visions cemented what Isira needed to do.

Of Death and Dragons

The Bloodmoon Heist

Content is in reference to ongoing roleplay and may be subject to change.

Months after her death, those closest to the late Valythra Bloodmoon had not forgotten her. Valythra's mentor, Kora Deathwhisper orchestrated the return of her lost squire, stealing the San'layn's corpse from the care of the Silverguard's leadership, now conspiring to claim her soul. Lending aid to this nefarious plot was Alytheria Bloodmoon, queen of the Bloodmoon Dominion.

The two agreed that the best way to acquire Valythra's soul was to kidnap Isira and ransom her to her mentor, Lyraeni Sorrowsong, in exchange for the soul. So while Kora trained herself to mask her identity as a Dominion soldier, Alytheria scouted out Isira's itinerary, routes, behavior, and more, until they finally agreed upon a plan to attack. With her spiders stationed in the forests of the Hinterlands, Alytheria had Kora ambush Isira in the thicket of the Hinterlands.

The battle between the two was brief, but Kora swiftly disabled Isira and disarmed her. Isira resisted, spitting in the face of her "vampire" captor, provoking Kora's rage. Though she was eager to kill Isira, she swiftly incapacitated her with a fist to the fist, rendering her unconscious and ready for transfer to Banu Alyca.

Ongoing roleplay ends here.

The Veil, Shattered

After Isira was successfully retrieved by the Silverguard, she was quick to report for duty. It was prudent, too, for shortly after she was returned to service the veil between life and death was shattered. As the way to the Shadowlands was opened above the skies of Icecrown, a flurry of activity came from the seemingly dormant Undead Scourge. The most immediate call to arms came from Miralyne Valetender when she warned the Silverguard that Windrunner's Overlook had come under attack by the Scourge.

The Silverguard swiftly deployed to the Overlook, with the primary objective of keeping the Overlook out of Scourge hands. However, the deployment did not account for the sheer numbers the Scourge had delivered, and when the battle swiftly turned into one of survival, all focus was instead shifted towards evacuation. Holding off the Scourge long enough for the Silver Covenant to escape, the Silverguard were the last to depart the Overlook, leaving it to the Scourge's "control".

The Silverguard defend their keep from invading Scourge.

The Scourge threat did not apply to Northrend only, for soon the duchy of Quellorian came under threat as well. The Silverguard was called to defend the keep, and prepare for yet another rampant attack, with Isira taking position atop the ramparts alongside Caedori Morrowsky and her fellow members of the Vanguard.

Initially an assault of naught but ghouls and magi proved easy to repel through magic and blunted arrows. Even the ground assault from within the keep, tunneled by Nerubians, was swiftly dispatched by the line of Spell Breakers. However, an unprecedented blow came in the form of a risen Frost Wyrm that assailed the keep with breath like a blizzard and wings that beat with winds like a hurricane. Despite her best efforts, Isira was unable to hold her position on the ramparts, and plummeted to the courtyard below.

To Isira's great misfortunate, she landed on her left arm, the fall and the impact of her weight crushing it and breaking the bones. Her legs were weakened as well, and she was unable to escape as the Silverguard began to retreat into the keep proper, and the ghoul horde began to descend upon her. Caedori fought through the horde to come to her lover's rescue, but aiding Isira's escape did not come without cost. As Isira was carried, she was bitten and scratched by the horde, and lapsed into unconsciousness.

Treated by Ylandra Nightstar and Miliel Sunblade, Isira was able to recover from her gravest of wounds, though she would need time to mend her broken arm. With her arm in a sling, she awoke not long after, but was pale and rife with a fever, indicating an infection to the ghoul attack she had suffered. With her bow missing as well, on top of her wounds, Isira was deemed unfit for battle and transferred to the Dalaran infirmary to recover, while the rest of the Silverguard fought for the liberation of Quellorian.

Lyraeni and Isira transport the Aqir to a new home, and cure Isira of her mutations.

Days after the final battle for Quellorian and the Scourge were routed, Isira soon made enough of a recovery to be let out of the infirmary, even though her arm remained useless. Not long after her release, Isira was summoned by Lyraeni to address a matter still left unresolved: the Aqir. Though Isira was still struggling to decide what she wanted, and still resistant to the Aqir's transport to another realm, she ultimately conceded that it would be for the best to see the Aqir to a safer location.

The two journeyed to the Hinterlands, where Isira led Lyraeni to the mouth of the cave where the Highvale Brood lived. Using a means designed with assistance from Malithanore Vanyali, Lyraeni opened a portal to a pocket dimension with the instruction to issue all of the Aqir beyond its threshold. Obeying Isira's command, every Aqir exited the cave as a swarm to go beyond the portal to the pocket dimension, until only one remained.

Lvuru emerged last, slowly and deliberately, uncertain of the intentions behind sending them away. She bluntly declared that Lyraeni feared the Aqir, having listened to the conversation through the telepathic link shared with Isira, knowing that they were to be moved due to a belief of security risks. Though Lyraeni reaffirmed it was necessity, and not fear, that warranted the Aqir's transport, Lvuru remained suspicious. She was especially wary knowing that Isira had no intentions of going beyond the portal with them.

At that, Lyraeni confirmed that Isira had a different place to be, and that her place among the Aqir had not been a fate she chose. It was inflicted upon her through mutations, and that the time had come for her to return to her original state and be among her own kind. Confused, Lvuru understood that if this happened, Isira would no longer be able to stand amongst the Aqir, or be considered like them. Lyraeni disagreed, acknowledging that Isira would still be as strong, valorous, and passionate for battle as all in the Brood craved.

With a final conversation with Isira, Lvuru decided to go beyond the portal into the lush jungles that awaited the Brood. Isira gave Lvuru a sorrowful farewell, trusting the hive queen to remember everything she had been taught and to lead the Brood well in her stead. Finally, the sole Goliath of the Brood emerged from the earth, and joined the rest of the Brood beyond. The Aqir had officially departed Azeroth.

Isira despaired, pained by the goodbyes she had been forced to make. Lyraeni empathized with her, understanding that such goodbyes were never easy. With only one final task remaining, she asked if Isira was ready for what was next to come, producing a syringe containing the cure to the Aqir mutagen. Resigned, Isira agreed that she was ready, and Lyraeni distracted her from the pain - physical and emotional - by discussing Isira's youth, and growing up in Quel'danil.

As Isira told the story of the First Enemy, and how the Lure'mils came to loathe Queen Azshara millennia ago, Lyraeni successfully injected Isira with the cure, completing all they had come to do. When she suggested that Isira return to her fellow rangers, the latter dejectedly refused, claiming she was no ranger. In an effort to raise Isira's spirits, she offered to change that; her mutations by the Aqir were a security risk, but they were also the only thing barring Isira from being the ranger she longed to become. Time and again had she proven that she was everything Lyraeni wanted in a ranger.

Yet as she was offered the promotion, Isira was not convinced. Instead of welcoming the gesture, she pried to understand why Lyraeni offered the promotion only now. After learning that her mutations were all that held her back and kept her from progression, Isira was shaken, and insulted. She saw the offer to become a ranger as nothing more than a reward for conformity to the Council's norms, and rejected Lyraeni's offer. Isira claimed that she had dreamt of becoming a ranger her entire life, and would not have it tarnished with the knowledge she earned it for conformity.

Isira asked the Ranger-Lady to leave her, and opted to spend some time alone before the cave her Aqir once inhabited. Lyraeni agreed to her request, but pleaded for her not to lose herself to despair.

In Death's Shadow

With the call to arms sounded, Isira's arm was healed enough to remove her cast and clear her for duty once more. She departed to Menethil Harbor with quiet and reservation, still suffering her depression from the loss of the Aqir. As others of the Alliance gathered, Lyraeni soon arrived and offered Isira a new warbow, this one of Thalassian make, using Eversong heartwood and mithril, materials Isira herself had never fashioned a bow. With uncharacteristic neutrality, Isira simply accepted the weapon with gratitude, now prepared for the battles to come.

Isira confides in Gabriel Mordrime before deployment to Northrend.

After the Alliance was briefed on the campaign that was to be Operation: Valiance, Isira withdrew into solitude once more. She was noticed during the late hours by Gabriel Mordrime, a recurring companion during recurring campaigns, who mostly sought to catch up after their last meeting. He took note of her seeming despair and inquired as to what troubled her. Isira revealed that her mutations had been reversed and that the Aqir had been removed from her custody, seemingly not by her choice.

Though Mordrime had no love for the Aqir, he and Isira discussed what she defined as choice. Isira revealed that she felt wronged and cheated by the Council, forced to push away her Aqir to preserve herself and her station, and even moreso frustrated knowing that the Aqir barred her from becoming a ranger. Though Isira blamed much on Lyraeni and the Council, Mordrime denied this, recognizing that Lyraeni had no ill intent, and that most were likely trying to protect Isira rather than push her down.

Isira walked away from that night with renewed clarity and even appreciation. Though she still felt the sting of her loss, she reconsidered the severity of Lyraeni's seemingly unkind gesture. Resting in Menethil, Isira awoke the next morning ready for the journey to Northrend, where the Alliance would help stave off the undead threat. Gathering upon a fleet of ships, Isira rallied under the command of the designated leaders of the offensive, and joined the ground assault on the Forgotten Shore of Dragonblight.

Lyraeni Sorrowsong and Isira during the landing on the Forgotten Shore.

Landing, the Alliance ground forces were met with a dense mist that obscured all they could see. Traversing the beach to make their way to land, they were met with sounds, voices, cries of despair and rage from entities who spoke of wanting to return home or see their family once more. It was soon revealed that these voices came from the spirits of the soldiers who had once journeyed north with Arthas Menethil in his quest against the Scourge. They gathered upon the beaches before ships that still continued to burn, without end.

As the Alliance landed, they attempted to help the soldiers in dousing the flames that consumed their ships, but to no avail. The spectral soldiers cursed the Alliance, believing them to be the very mercenaries that Arthas had hired to destroy their passage home to begin with. Furious, the dead turned mortar fire, steel blades, and magical spells on the Alliance and engaged them in battle.

The Alliance pushed back with swift retaliation, forcing a retreat. However, these two sides were not alone as a voice mocked the invaders from beyond their perception, hidden within the mist. The spirits retreated to the hills leading up into the mainland, their mortars setting up on a ridge where the majority of the fighters could not reach them. Seeing this, Isira proceeded to take advantage of the mortar team's focus, darting around the side of the battle and climbing the ridge until she could begin to snipe the dwarves from behind.

With the spectral remnants of the Alliance of Lordaeron defeated, the true orchestrator of the chaos revealed his hand: a Lich, alone yet radiating his power, threatened the invaders personally. The Alliance swiftly engaged the Lich, who employed a cunning tactic of sowing discord by polymorphing several soldiers into mindless, flesh-craving ghouls. Though the effect was temporary, it successfully disorganized the Alliance until, finally, the Lich's body was destroyed, his soul fleeing to his phylactery.

With the Lich vanquished, the Alliance were free to begin their march into Northrend, delivering them to the fortification of Wintergarde Keep, still within the shadow of Naxxramas. The sight of the necropolis startled Isira, who had never before witnessed such a structure, just as she had never once known of a Lich in the flesh. The realization of her misinformation led her to finally consider doing proper research on her enemies for the coming battles, once she had found a tavern to remove herself from the biting cold.

Isira keeps watch as the Alliance burn the dead.

The next day, the first series of missions were doled out, with Isira being assigned to a mission to burn away the corpses of those who had been slain outside of Wintergarde, to prevent their reanimation in an impending assault by the Scourge. While the Alliance did the grisly deed, burning corpses upon a pyre, Isira herself took to a dilapidated building, situating herself upon the roof to keep watch for any threats that may approach.

And such a threat did approach; undead began to rise from the corpses not yet burned, converging upon the Alliance on the ground. Though they were easily dispatched, nothing prepared them for what came next: from the mists, a massive Vrykul warrior charged with unprecedented speed, an axe like a slab in his hands. With it he completely ripped a human soldier apart, but was swiftly destroyed. Death was not the end, however, for this entity seemingly corrupted his killer with his death.

The Alliance only had a momentary reprieve before the Sea-Scourge charged once again, eager to kill none but his previous murderer, and anyone who made the mistake of barring his passage. The Sea-Scourge died again, and again, but the Alliance began to notice that the Vrykul was an entity cursed hundreds of times over. With each death he would return, and the only way to put a stop to his rampage was to remove the curses. They were successful, reducing the Sea-Scourge to a still figure, but retreat was still deemed the wiser course of action.

Battle of the Crystal Vice on cavalry

Isira takes up Ashor'iena's reins.

Isira meets Ashor'iena and decides to take her

Isira apologizes to Lyraeni for what she said, and Lyra says she cares about Isira

Blessings of the Dragons

Next day Lyra takes everyone to defend the Ruby Dragonshrine

Isira fights alongside the Red Dragonflight to defend the Ruby Dragonshrine.

Isira meets dragons for the first time, wowee

Alliance stops a lich from corrupting the tree, dragons offer blessings

Isira goes to the Green Dragon Verikus for a blessing

Returns to Wintergarde to enjoy dwarves fighting until she gets in a fight with Arash

Arash spits on Isira, Isira punches Arash

Next day the Alliance has to deal with necromancers trying to raise a dead skeleton

Alliance kills em, Isira fights on horseback

Voice of the Necrolord raises part of the dragon to fight, but the dragon is beaten

Dragons give blessings from the dragon's remains, Isira gets a quiver

Isira passes out asking Verikus about the dragon and the dream

Mission to fight Jaxus the Necrolord atop the Nexus

Cerugos gives everyone a dragon to fly on

Isira meets Remsera

Isira fights with the Green drake, Remsera.

Dragon fights happen

Cerugos shot down, but lich is beat by Ylandra

In thanks, Remsera gives a scale to Isira and takes her home

Next day is hunting Jaxus to the Obsidian Dragonshrine

Big barrier, dragons try to break it, Jaxus drains them

Alliance bust in, follow Jaxus

Necrolord Jaxus possesses the corpse of combined dragons, becoming the Dragonlord.

Jaxus takes the body of a flight amalgam, becomes Dragonlord

Lucine kills him, releases power to people

Appearance

Isira is a woman of average height and athletic build, quite often seen in the garb of a marksman. She will frequently be seen dressed for war in an archer's outfit, wearing light-fitting cloth and leather, from an elven tunic to boots and gloves that lend to her nimble movement and ability to traverse terrain. At all times she wears the Cloak of the Prismatic Huntress, which camouflages her through a magical enchantment.

Her armaments would suggest a fondness for war. A bow slung over her shoulder and a quiver of arrows at her hip, completed by a war horn crafted from the tusk of a troll and a knife kept in its sheathe. Always seen on her person is a braid of fiery red hair, usually looped where it is conspicuously seen. Around her neck is also a necklace upon which carved troll tusks are strung. On anything Isira wears, she will carve or sew on the crest of the Lure'mil family - a troll skull with twin daggers driven through it, crossing one another.

Her brown hair was often kept in a long ponytail that drapes over her chest, but is now usually worn loose. One can find that her sky-blue eyes are often wide with curiosity and a generally optimistic outlook. Despite her family's reputation for hatred, she seems to be a rather happy young girl. Her canines are actually somewhat more pointed, suggesting that she has retained a hint of the fangs of her Kaldorei ancestry.

Thanks to Caedori Morrowsky, Isira also has a very intricate tattoo inscribed onto her back, two pairs of insect wings. The innermost pair is a pair of bee wings, representing Isira's honesty and compassion, while the outermost pair are wasp wings, representing her profession and skill in combat. Joining the two is her family's crest in the center.

At one point, Isira possessed four Aqir antennae that grew from the back of her head, roughly a foot in length, covered in dark segmented chitin. They have since been removed.

Possessions

Cloak of the Prismatic Huntress: Found after the climactic battle in Mar'at against the forces of N'zoth, this silken elven cloak shimmers and changes with the light and setting. Somehow, its beauty is never compromised. This cloak was partially damaged by the Ordon Yaungol in Kun-Lai, but still remains functional.

Nordrassil Medallion: A boon given to Raelor Valeclaw when he beseeched the World Tree Nordrassil for help in shielding Isira's mind from the Aqir hivemind. An emerald gem is encased in the circular item, surrounded by a ring of protective roots.

Mantid Axe: During the incursion upon the palace of the new Mantid Empress Shek'zara, Isira retrieved an axe forged with amber. She felt it a beautiful work of art that should not be insulted in being left to waste away in a tribute chest, and so she claimed it with the intention of ensuring such a weapon saw battle.

Pandaren Sabre: Discovered during the efforts to cleanse the Valley of the Four Winds of Void corruption, this discarded weapon was found without a wielder. Though Isira had intended to return it to its owner, said owner was nowhere to be found, and so the blade remains in her hands. The weapon is enchanted, and seems to offer its own benefits even without actively being used.

Personality

Still young in her years, Isira is a rather ambitious individual with a penchant for wide-eyed optimism and curiosity. Contrary to her Lure'mil heritage, she is a very inquisitive individual who always seeks to learn more, especially to make up for how limited her knowledge can be after decades of being confined to the Hinterlands. She is very friendly and caring towards others, and demonstrates this most through a keen abundance of empathy. Isira is usually able to empathize with another's pain if she senses it, and often mirrors positive emotions.

She tends to be traditionally inclined, and often adheres to the norms of the community she is closest to. Due to her rather simple lifestyle of surviving in the forests and off what one can hunt or gather, she has a preference for a more "hands on" approach to living over the convenience of magic. This is bolstered by the widespread detachment from magic following the destruction of the Sunwell, after which Isira's willingness to use magic has become minimal, often restricted to smaller, benign displays. With such a lifestyle as hers, Isira is often bothered when visiting cities and is uncomfortable with abundance of magic.

Isira is a born and raised Lure'mil, taught to never forget her grudges and always kill the object of her hatred. For this reason, her hatred of Orcs and Trolls borders the genocidal, escalating to an extreme that some elves might not even possess. She is capable of suppressing this hatred if it is practical, though she does it begrudgingly. Isira sometimes struggles with questions of identity, as she has often failed to live up to the name she was born to. This struggle with identity made Isira more susceptible to control by the Aqir hivemind, as a secret yearning to belong and find a certainty of self made it easier to find peace in the Aqir unity.

After being subjected to an Aqir mutagen, Isira developed a few unique - if somewhat bizarre - traits in her personality. The most notable change was that Isira developed a unique kinship with all insects, finding a new fascination in what she had once considered mundane and beneath her notice. She sees them as more than a subject of interest but almost as something close to her, perhaps even somewhat like her own kind.

Despite her determination to become a ranger and follow in the footsteps of her warrior family, Isira is not a perfect soldier, guilty of her share of mistakes and hesitation on the field of battle when contending with more supernatural forces. She tends to compensate for this shortcoming with a refusal to give up and salvage a bad situation, preferring to make the best of her failures over dwelling upon them. Furthermore, though Isira can empathize with negative feelings, she actively speaks against using negative experience as fuel for poor treatment of others.

Relationships

Color Key: Family Friendly Unfriendly Neutral Romantic

Larenthar and Valanzara: Isira's relationship with her parents was one of unconditional love and respect. Along with her main source of inspiration in Sylvanas, Isira idolized her parents above all and looked to them as her guide. They nurtured her with great parental care, but also exposed her to the Lure'mils' lineage of hate. Though Isira largely enjoyed a prosperous childhood, she grew to adopt their belligerent racism towards trolls.

Quel'danil Lodge: Though they may not be family by blood, the elves of Quel'danil Lodge are the closest kin Isira has known, and a family to her when she had none otherwise. She loves her fellow Highvale elves dearly and is closely conforming with their lifestyle. No matter where life in the Silverguard leads her, Isira always finds her home in Quel'danil.

Caedori Morrowsky: Two women of the battlefield, Caedori Morrowsky and Isira were quick to bond in their shared love of the wild, combat, and the death of trolls. Initially only an awkwardly physical relationship, the two have since grown to care for one another, a commitment that has only strengthened in every battle they share. Despite the abundance of confusion on Isira's part - from her questions of sexuality to her bodily dysphoria - she trusts Caedori to support her and ensure she remains on a path towards their shared well being.

Lyraeni is a strong influence to Isira as her mentor.

Lyraeni Sorrowsong: Isira's mentor and even somewhat of a maternal figure, Lyraeni has helped to take Isira from an otherwise lost and uncoordinated state to put her on a path of true purpose to help her excel in her lifelong dream to become a ranger. Isira holds Lyraeni in the highest respect - especially after Sylvanas' fall - and looks to her as an example of what a ranger should aspire to be. Even in matters of secrecy, Isira finds herself able to trust the Ranger-Lady.

Isilirae Sundancer: Isira and Isilirae were friends in the Quel'danil Lodge for some time prior to Isilirae's departure to Nazjatar and subsequent death and raising. Saddened by Isilirae's darker outlook on life, Isira is doing the best she can to brighten her friend's spirits.

Coriena Nightcaller: When faced with the dilemma of deciding the fate of her Aqir and whether or not she would cure her affliction, Isira found a companion in Coriena Nightcaller, who took interest in Isira's condition and the psionic potential it brought to her. Presenting a possible route to commune with her Aqir without being plagued by transformation, Coriena has become something of a friend to Isira, as well as a teacher of much that Isira has missed in her isolated life.

Raelor Valeclaw: As Isira mutated, the first person to realize what was happening to her was Raelor. Since then, Raelor has taken an active role in keeping Isira's mind sheltered from the Aqir hivemind, while offering a new source of knowledge as well as sympathy for her affliction. In many ways, Raelor has even become a guardian to Isira, often protecting her when she is vulnerable.

Casylia: Initially Casylia's interest in Isira was purely out of an interest to study her mutations. However, the two gradually developed a legitimate friendship as Casylia performed tests to evaluate Isira's progression into her mutations. Since then, Casylia has become one of the more trusted individuals Isira can turn to.

Aelenicus Sunblade: The relationship between Isira and Aelenicus has been a consistent up and down. Though they were initially amicable towards one another, Aelenicus' prejudice against Isira's Aqir mutations and frequency to cast doubt upon her as a liability in war wore Isira's fondness for him thin. Her patience for him was especially tested in Pandaria, when she forced herself to kill Mantid in a grueling process solely to prove she was not a threat as he suggested. Furthermore, his affiliation with the Horde has made it more difficult for Isira to find a relatable friend in him.

Volantus Dawnseeker: Initially, the poor relationship between Volantus and Isira began with an act of harassment, the former mocking the latter's love of insects. However, since discovering Isira's mutations from the Aqir, Volantus has held Isira in significant contempt and regarded her as a threat, animosity that Isira has been quick to reciprocate.

Companions

Valan'zafu: WIP

Ashor'iena: WIP

Lvuru: WIP

Stories

An Encounter with the Lure'mils: Durnhir Craghammer of the Wildhammer meets the brutal Lure'mil family on the eve of an important tradition.

Isira's Nightmares: Subject to the Aqir mutagen, Isira is subjected to nightmares of the Old Gods, every night during the foray into Uldum.

What She Fears: The Old Gods twist Isira's fears in Pandaria, in an attempt to turn her to their service.

Waiting: In the wake of Pandaria, Isira is plagued with turmoil over her changes.

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