Deep beneath the Great Sea, the abyss is profound and silent. As one descends, the sunlight fades until all is swallowed by an ink-black darkness. The crushing weight of the water makes every movement a struggle; it is a realm of constant, unspeakable pressure.
To escort Shandris to Pandaria, Sivara had deployed the elite Naga Royal Guard and a specialized corps of Naga mages. These were reserve forces, typically held back as a strategic contingency for the Vashj'ir campaign. Unlike Queen Azshara, who favored issuing commands without involving herself in the minutiae of governance, Sivara, as a military commander, had to account for every variable.
The siege of Vashj'ir was only one front; she also had to maintain shipping lanes and commit troops to the competition in southern Kalimdor. Coupled with various aquaculture quotas, Naga manpower was perpetually stretched thin—mostly because their territory was simply too vast.
With the Queen's explicit decree, Sivara personally oversaw the escort. Exploring Pandaria had long been a matter of chance; the continent was swathed in mists that confounded the senses, rendering compasses useless and leading most travelers to their doom.
However, the Naga had thrived in the depths for ten thousand years, evolving from land-dwellers into true creatures of the ocean. They had ways to bypass the "mist mechanism" from below. The mists generally dissipated at a depth of roughly five thousand meters.
The Naga navigated through the abyss beneath that threshold, a place teeming with powerful undercurrents and jet-streams. Even for them, maintaining formation was difficult, as the rushing water threatened to sweep them off into the unknown. This current acted as a natural defense, but for the inhabitants of Pandaria, was it not also a kind of gilded cage?
The mists had stood for ten millennia, predating even the Sundering. But today, the power maintaining them was waning. Even a spell cast by the strongest of demigods is not eternal.
"Princess, the currents protecting Pandaria are just ahead. We must be extremely cautious," Sivara commanded. "Warrior Naz'jar, take the lead. Use the mage circle to stabilize a corridor. It must be secure."
"As you command, Marshal."
Naz'jar, the commander of the Vashj'ir operations, had been abruptly reassigned to this task. Though confused at first, her confusion turned to fervor when she learned she was serving the Princess under the Queen's direct order. Like Sivara, she was part of the Queen's inner circle—favored with the gift of shifting between Highborne and Naga forms and granted near-eternal longevity.
Shandris found the deep-sea environment oppressive. The sudden flickers of bioluminescence in the dark were jarring. In a realm where danger lurked in every shadow, the mental strain was exhausting.
The Naga, however, were professionals. They tested the direction and force of the currents before erecting a magical corridor.
"Current speed verified."
"Current force verified."
"Constructing passage."
With an elite mage corps, things moved quickly. These were casters who, when united, could force even Neptulon the Tidehunter to keep his head down. Navigating the complex, counter-rotating layers of the current was child's play for them.
Passing through the final layer of repelling force, the group finally breached the surface. Behind them lay a wall of impenetrable white mist; before them, the water was a vibrant, clear azure, with the silhouettes of islands appearing in the distance.
"Princess, we have arrived. This is a region of Pandaria," Sivara said, sounding relieved. "Our previous knowledge of this land was based on fragments and luck. It is likely some of our kin have already settled here. Shall we head to the mainland to establish a teleportation array?"
As the morning fog thinned, the overwhelming greenery of the Jade Forest burst into view. Shandris touched the hanging aerial roots of a massive tree; through her elven senses, she could feel a restless yet vigorous life force flowing through every leaf.
As a demigod with both Night Elf and Human blood, her connection to nature had reached a new summit. This land was untouched by industry, yet she sensed a faint, loathsome aura—one that felt like an Old God, but weaker, perhaps a lingering echo of their servants.
"Princess, there is combat ahead!" Sivara signaled. The Royal Guards fanned out as the mages raised their shields.
Shandris moved through the shifting shadows of the trees. Ahead, a group of agile, green-scaled Pandaren hunters were clashing with a pack of invading Quilboar. The Pandaren moved with a rhythmic, grounded grace, wielding bamboo blades.
Shandris recognized the style—it was the "Way of the Monk" that Chen and Li Li used, powered by a spiritual energy called Chi.
"Ignore them. Circle around," Shandris commanded. "Find a secure high ground to establish our base."
As they moved, the air grew thick with the scents of bamboo and the musk of conflict. Further ahead, they saw a group of Pandaren being besieged by Hozen—agile, monkey-like creatures harrassing the defenders with stones and bamboo spears. The Pandaren were protecting wounded comrades and could not easily maneuver.
"Help the Pandaren. Kill the Hozen. Leave none alive," Shandris said coldly. She loved peace, but she knew peace was won through strength, not words.
Sivara gestured. The Naga mages began their work. Water droplets coalesced into arrows and froze into jagged ice under their magic.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
A volley of ice bolts struck fifty Hozen dead instantly, each pierced through the head mid-leap. The Naga mages used magical marks to ensure no two mages targeted the same enemy—a display of terrifying efficiency. Within two minutes, hundreds of Hozen lay in pools of blood. Any survivors were quickly dispatched by the Royal Guards. As Arthas taught: a dead enemy is the only good enemy.
Xia Wu, the lead Pandaren, gripped his bamboo spear and stared at Shandris as she approached. He was momentarily dazed by her beauty—a blend of Tyrande's elegance and human softness.
"Who... who are you?"
"I am Shandris Menethil," she replied. "We have just arrived and seek a place for a base. You are Pandaren, yes? Chen Stormstout and Li Li Stormstout are dear friends of mine. They told me how to find this place. I have come to help them find their way home, and to establish a foothold here."
She raised a hand, and natural energy flowed into the wounded Pandaren, closing their gashes and mending bone.
"This is... miraculous! Better than the village doctor!" Xia Wu stammered. "We are from Paw'don Village. Please, come with us. You'll need the village elder's permission, but I'm sure he'll help. I am Xia Wu."
In Paw'don Village, they met Elder Keppo. Though the Naga were intimidating, the presence of the beautiful "Highborne" elves put the villagers at ease.
"I am Elder Keppo," the old Pandaren said. "Thank you for saving my grandson. The Hozen have grown bold. Tell me, do you plan to stay temporarily or long-term?"
"Long-term," Shandris said. "We intend to establish a trade hub to purchase local materials and bring in goods you need. Elder, could you provide a map of the surrounding area?"
Keppo hesitated, sensing the weight of the newcomers' power. "I am sorry, but we have no maps. we have lived here so long we know every path by heart. If you wish, I can arrange for someone to guide you in a few days."
It was a stalling tactic. The Elder felt that, despite their help, these newcomers carried a shadow of ambition.