Sancha

Sunlight fills Cathedral Square, it's quiet enough to hear leaves rustle in the occasional breeze and prayers and hymns echoing out from the white stoned cathedral which dominates the immediate surroundings like cliffs of chalk. One of the few people occupying the square is a solitary Draenei woman. She is sat upon a stone bench and hunched over a blank paged book, quill in hand with a frown on her face. There is currently only a single thing written on the first page, and the Draenei is staring at it hard, as if trying to will the words to do something. It says;

Who and What am I now?

She grips the page, tears it from the book in frustration and leans back, stretching to try to relieve the cramp that had been slowly creeping into her muscles. 'Start with something simpler' she thinks and looks around the square, tilting her head back to take in the whole of the cathedral, then looks back down at the page and starts writing.

What was I?

You were a priestess, of sorts at least. You were part of the archivers, a small sect dedicated to maintaining and updating the accumulated stored knowledge of the Draenei race, a task they took very seriously, it was almost a religion of their very own. You had been brought there at a very young age by your parents. They are both soldiers and could not look after you, though they would visit whenever they could. You grew up in this strict, antiquated environment largely cut off from the outside world, there were only a few other children there and they were all orphans, making you the outsider as your parents were still alive. So it was basically you, alone. You were taught by whichever of the elders wasn't busy, and once you had learnt to read well, you continued your own education outside of this.

The Draenei pauses and re-reads what she has put down several times. It was strange seeing something personal written down and she struggles to keep her mind clear under a flood of memories. Before now she had only really read, and annotated archive entries, maybe the occasional adventure story that had been smuggled in somehow or given to her by her parents. She continued on, feeling that she was atleast getting somewhere with this.

There were no doubts even then, that it was a dull and quiet life, except for the occasional hurried packing and shipping of materials when the legion, or later on the orcs were getting too close for comfort. But you had always liked it that way, when you heard bits and pieces of news regarding the outside world, you pitied the poor souls that were suffering yet another misery while you were safe in your little haven. Finally during your entire time there, you never really made friends. This wasn't uncommon. Archivers tended to be very solemn, serious people who were much to busy with important things for friendship. You were a dull, quiet and lonely priestess, leading a duel, quiet life that you liked.

She looked down at the text that barely filled two pages of the book and sighed softly. This was the majority of her life neatly summed up on two small pages. It confirmed a lot of thoughts and feelings she'd been having recently.

The Draenei turned the page to a fresh, blank one. She swiftly inks a new heading and chews gently at the end of the quill while arranging her thoughts. Her brow creases into a frown and she spits out fibres as the delicate tip breaks between her teeth, then lowers the quill to the page and begins scratching it delicately over the paper.

What happened?

Well, I don't know the finer points behind the decision making. Only what I was told by the elders in that meeting. I had been dreading the day ever since the secretary to the elder council had informed me of the coming meeting. I hadn't a clue as to what it was about. Even when I was standing there infront of the impassive faces nothing further had been said and I wasn't informed of their decision until they began talking. They started with the opening of the Dark Portal and the effects it had, had on the sect. It made sense, such an event would effect even a largely inward looking group like the Archivers, even if it had happened over half a year ago by then. They had already sent some members to the Exodar to help salvage and restore what they could from the data banks there. But they needed someone they felt they could trust to travel to this world, and start recording information about it. To add too the archives...

She paused. This is what this book had been intended for, why they had provided her with it. It's thick, rich and deep Burgundy cover and the high quality paper pages showing that it had probably cost more then her journey here. There were the exquisite inks and quills they had provided as well. She felt a twinge of guilt for violating the elders trust but bent down to continue nonetheless.

They told me that they had already arranged my passage on a goblin trade caravan and that I had a few months to learn enough common to get by. So, I dutifully started learning the language with the materials provided and found the written form a lot easier to grasp then the vocal. I concentrated heavily on this, and learnt quickly, it kept me from thinking about this major change to my life, one that I didn't paticularly want. No matter how much of an honour they made it out to be.

All too quickly the time to leave had come, and I was shoved uncomfortably in among the trade goods and cargo. The goblins had been quick to take advantage of the remoteness of the sects current base, bringing supplies and information with them, leaving with bulging pockets. There had been some rather rude entries about them that had needed to be toned down. The journey was long, unpleasant and uncomfortable. I didn't get too see much, the Goblins said they had to keep me out of sight or their neutrality, and therefore their position as traders could be jeopardised. I started thinking of a lot of rude archive entries of my own.

All too slowly did the caravan reach Elwynn. I was dropped off in Goldshire and given vague directions to the Northshire abbey. Something I was thankful for as I think the short time I spent in that ratty little village has left a still healing mental scar.

She smiled, it was only two weeks ago almost, but it felt like a lot longer then that. She had changed a lot since then, and learnt a lot too. The Draenei peered up at the cathedrals clock, the day was slowly creeping towards the afternoon, and she felt ready to tackle that original question.

Who and what am I now?