Today’s post comes to you from Zhaane and was inspired by the letter writing prompt over at Too Many Annas. He sprang it on me almost out of the blue and my first response was “Well shit, someone’s drinking tonight…”
A package arrives addressed to:
Master Sgt. Loreli Tymara
c/o Stormwind University
City of Stormwind
Elwynn, Eastern Kingdoms
The Return address is:
The Office of High Commander Halford Wyrmbane
7th Legion HQ
Wintergarde Keep
The Dragonblight,Northrend
It is a medium sixed box about 2 feet long by 1 foot wide by 6 inches deep. There is a Letter attached to the exterior of the box imprinted with the Seal of the High Commander of the 7th Legion.
Loreli feels her heart grow tight as she reads the return address and sees the seal upon the envelope. She already knows what it will say and considers not opening it. It’s late enough as is… And she’s already back as a Deathknight. I guess the Scourge is more efficient with their administration than the Alliance! But she takes a deep breath and decides she might as well open it and see.
With trembling fingers, she carefully breaks the seal and pulls out the parchment and reads the following:
Master Sgt. Tymara,
It is my understanding that you are the Legal Guardian of Cpl. Channi Woods. It is with the deepest regret that I pen this letter to you.
I know I do not need to inform you what a talented young lady you had raised. It was with great surprise that someone so young was recommended by SI:7 for service with the 7th Legion. By our records, she was the youngest ever inducted to Our Ranks, and be it known that she fully earned her place with us! From day one we knew she was special and talented. It is a tribute to how well you raised her that we were fortunate enough to have her in our ranks.
As I am sure you have already been informed, your daughter is Missing In Action and Presumed Dead while in service to The King and the Alliance, here in Northrend. What you may not have been told is that it was likely her actions that saved her patrol, and even members of a Horde Expedition caravan. On the night in question, she and a small force were ordered to probe the lower tiers of Zul’Drak and bring back any information regarding Scourge forces that may be about. Her sergeant reported that she was on point and detected a Horde Expedition Caravan to their front under attack by Scourge and rapidly heading their way as the Horde escorts were scrambling to regroup for a counter attack.
Her warning allowed her patrol to stage an ambush on the Scourge forces as the Horde Expedition units passed through their lines. The Horde rallied around Cpl. Woods’ patrol and both units were able to finish off the Scourge together. The Horde Expedition forces and her patrol exchanged salutes and Unit Souveniers and parted ways on friendly terms.
One can only hope that this experience will pass through the Horde ranks and help ease the tensions between the Horde and Alliance in the future.
Cpl. Woods was credited with 8 total Ghoul Kills (3 solo), as well as a Solo Abomination kill. Very impressive for anyone of ANY age! Further investigation revealed that it was her quick thinking and plan that allowed the execution of the ambush to work so well. She was reported as in excellent shape and high spirits in the after action report.
What happened after that is still a mystery. Again, she was on point for the return trip to Wintergarde, when there were sounds of a disturbace to the front of her patrol. The patrol stopped as a precautionary measure and waited for the all clear from Cpl. Woods. The disturbace stopped and after a short moment, there was a small flash of light and what was described as a ‘shortened scream.’ The patrol raced to the scene but were unable to find her. What they did find were three Troll bodies that had evidently been infected with the Scourge Plague, and the enclosed daggers that were also identified as Cpl. Woods’. An examination of the wounds upon the trolls determined Cpl. Woods had dispatched them in her usual efficiency.
What happened to her after the fight with the trolls is unknown, and is still under investigation.
For her actions in the field, above and beyond the Call of Duty, in service to The King of Stormwind, Varian Wrynn, and to the Alliance, I hope you will accept this (Posthumous) award of the Silver Star to Cpl. Channi Woods, on her behalf.
Please be it known that we share in your sorrow, and you have our deepest sympythies in your loss. You have lost a daughter. And we have lost a sister. But it is in remembering our fallen bretheren that we may gain the strength to overcome.
We are 7th Legion.
The letter is signed in a flowing script that reads, “Sincerely, High Commander Halford Wyrmbane, 7th Legion”.
After cutting the string that wraps the box, it lifts open to reveal a small award case containing a large silver star hanging from a ribbon depicting the crest of the Alliance. But what dominates the interior of the box is the pair of daggers (Channi’s), freshly cleaned and polished in a new set of leather sheaths. The sheaths are embossed with the crest of the 7th Legion on one side, and the shield of the Alliance on the other. Closer examination of the leather reveals eleven small stars, hollow, six of them with circles around them, and one larger star, solid, also with a circle around it. Kill markers from her last known action in the field.
Loreli drops the paper, and reaches across and under the bar to pull out a bottle of something, ANYTHING… as long as it’s got alchohol in it… and a lot of it…