INTRODUCTION

Finally, the Heroes have tracked down Elaut. However, he has been beaten and broken, near an entrance of a cave.

Elaut tells them that he believes he has finally found the cave where his father is being kept prisoner within a crystal. Given his injuries, he asks them to travel into the cave and destroy the crystal so his father can finally be freed.

Elaut does warn the Heroes that it was not a creature of the woods that injured him, but a dangerous foe that he was not prepared for.

Can the Heroes face this foe and defeat it?

HINTS AND CLUES

• This event will take place in Coerthas Central Highlands, Boulder Downs, just south of the Monument Tower.
• All NPC enemies are not part of the event. The cave is empty except for a large red crystal at the end of the cave.
• There will be an encounter at the end of the cave. Emotes will be used as the primary method of conflict resolution.

EVENT SUMMARY

The heroes, along with Elaut, enter the cave.

Inside the cave, a large red crystal sat in the middle of the room. The walls were dark, but the crystal gave off some light. The heroes spotted someone walking around the crystal.

From behind the crystal, a tall, female Roegadyn, Hellsguard appearance, steps out to face the heroes. She marvels at the crystal and what is inside.

Feeling cordial, she asks if they will do introductions. Some of the heroes introduce themselves, while others do not. She smiles and introduces herself as Machai, the Juggernaut of the Dark Haven.

As the heroes have not heard of the Dark Haven before, some where not impressed.

Machai claims she wishes to test the heroes to see their strength. She slams her ax into the ground. Around the cave, the walls grow darker as featureless figures emerge from the shadows. They have near black skin, with black eyes. They are strong but lumber towards their intended victims.

The heroes fight against these evil figures. After two waves, Machai seems impressed by the heroes skills and fighting capabilities. One hero tried to assault Machai, but the attack was deflected by some unknown force. When pressed to attack them, Machai speaks with something within the darkness. She expresses disappointment in this unknown thing in the darkness as she wants to fight them on equal footing, and not when they have already weakened themselves fighting the shadow creatures.

Machai steps forward, into more light. She stretches out and reveals her two large white wings. She tells the heroes that she will fight them, but on her terms, and when they are ready. She slams her ax into the ground once again, calling forth another wave of these creatures. She turns and walks away into the darkness, disappearing.

The heroes continue to dispatch the creatures, when Mylysia attacks the large red crystal, causing a large crack to form. As the crystal continues to break, the heroes defeat the creatures again.

The light within the cave grows as light leaves the crystal. The grows so intense that the heroes turn away from the light or shield their eyes.

The crystal explodes, sending harmless shards in every direction. In the back, having watched his friend fight off the creatures, Elaut says "Thank you." As the light fades back to normal, Elaut is gone. However, his sword remains in the ground, where he last stood.

In place of the crystal, a Hyur male lays, unconscious, on the ground. Several of the heroes move closer to examine the Hyur male. Mylysia, overcome by emotions, realizes who it is, McCay, her long lost brother. Ezrah and Sean work to build a gurney to carry the unconscious McCay back to the airship, while Nahli and a few others look for Elaut. No one was able to locate him.

The heroes, worn out and confused by what they encountered, head to the airship to return home.