The Jade Hunters The Jade Hunters . " Queen - Regent Moira Thaurissan requests yer presence . Immediately . " Fenella Darkvire lingered before the massive oak door to the royal chambers , repeating the words in her head . She licked dry lips , wiped sweaty , soot - stained hands across her metalworking tunic . She ' d been hammering at an anvil in the heart of Ironforge when a royal advisor delivered the message . She wished she could ' ve had time to change into something more presentable . But one did not make Moira wait . Fenella knocked . " Enter , " a muffled voice replied from within . " Stay here , Koveth . " Fenella turned her head slightly , enough to see the enormous golem looming behind her . A mountain of metal , sorcery , and Dark Iron ingenuity . " Affirmative , " the construct rumbled . The door creaked as Fenella pushed it open . She ' d never set foot in the royal chambers . Very few had . Fine dwarven tapestries depicting historic events covered the walls . Moira sat , back straight , behind a wooden table that looked big enough to pass for a merchant ship . Broken quills and scrolls lay scattered across its surface , the casualties of battles waged with promises , threats , and half - truths . The war of politics . Fenella swallowed , wondering whether she should be the first to speak . She had met Moira on a few occasions . Once was after Fenella had finished construction of the now - famed Ruby Crystalarium in Shadowforge City . Still , being in the queen ' s presence made her nervous . " Fenella , " Moira finally said , donning a relaxed smile . She cradled a small object in her hands : a statuette of deep jade , carved into the shape of a spiraling serpent . " Yer Highness . " " Thank you for coming . I presume you know these lads . " Moira gestured to one side of the chamber . Fenella had been so focused on the queen that she hadn ' t noticed the other dwarves in the room . One was a Bronzebeard — a freakishly large Bronzebeard , two heads taller than the rest of his kind . The second was a burly Wildhammer with tawny skin marred by dozens of blue tattoos . A giant hammer hung from a strap on his back . He grimaced when he saw Fenella . " Can ' t say I do , Yer Highness , " Fenella lied , more to spite the other dwarves than to deceive her queen . Of course she knew them . Ever since the Wildhammer , Dark Iron , and Bronzebeard clans had reunited , Ironforge had become oversaturated with masons and smiths , most of them megalomaniacs who believed they were destined for fame and glory . Every day , she saw these two roaming the Great Forge as if they owned the place , belittling everyone else ' s work . " Then introductions are in order , " Moira said . Unease flitted through Fenella . Why had she been called here ? Why were they here ? " This is Carrick Irongrin . " Moira gestured to the Wildhammer . " A blacksmith and miner of legendary strength . I ' ve also heard that he can speak to the stones . That is true , Carrick ? " " Course it is . " " And here we have Fendrig Redbeard , the ' Hand of Khaz . ' " Moira turned to the Bronzebeard . " A member of the Explorers ' League . He has mined the depths of Uldaman , the Borean Tundra , Bael Modan , and many other dangerous locations . By all accounts , his bravery is without equal . " Fendrig let out a long sigh , as if his presence here were an utter waste of his time . " Lastly , Fenella Darkvire of my own Dark Iron clan … " Moira paused . " A mason , a smith , an engineer , and an accomplished architect . " And the daughter of a traitor . She had skipped that part . Not that it mattered . Everyone knew Fenella was the offspring of Fineous Darkvire , the late chief architect of the Dark Iron clan . A dwarf reviled for how he had cheated his way into the coveted position . That , at least , was the story . Carrick muttered something under his breath . Fenella ignored him . Being both a Dark Iron and the daughter of Fineous , she was accustomed to scorn . It did not bother her . She had learned long ago that she worked better alone . It made things easier for her and for everyone else . " You ' re wondering why I have called you here . " Moira twisted the statuette in her hands . " I have handpicked all of you for a special team — a job that requires the best masons in Ironforge . " " A team ? " Carrick exploded . " With these two ? " " Ye expect me tae lead them ? " Fendrig guffawed . " No . " Moira nodded to Fenella . " I expect her to . " Fenella ' s stomach tightened . She nearly shouted in protest before biting her tongue to hold the words back . Nothing good would come from openly disobeying her queen . " A Dark Iron ? Out o ' the question ! " the Wildhammer bellowed . " On that I agree . " Fendrig shook his head in disgust and made his way for the door . " I ' ve got better things tae do than waste me time as part o ' this fool ' s errand . " " I ' m sure Muradin will be interested to know what you think of this idea — an idea he wholeheartedly supports , " Moira said . Invoking the name of the Bronzebeard clan ' s leader brought Fendrig to a halt . He turned slowly . " The Council of Three Hammers has unanimously agreed to this venture , " Moira continued . " I have been tasked with overseeing the details . " The queen carefully set the serpentine statue aside and then unfurled a long roll of parchment . She beckoned the masons forward . Fenella and the others crowded around the desk , jostling for position . The seals of Muradin , Moira , and the Wildhammer clan ' s leader , Falstad , were clearly marked at the bottom of the paper . So were the three masons ' names , written in thick , black , permanent lines . " Me name … I didn ' t agree tae anythin ' . " Carrick scowled . " What ' s this nonsense ? " " This is a chance to prove our greatness to the Alliance , to show that we are no longer a nation of bickering rivals but a people united . And if you refuse … " Moira leaned forward . " This decree will be a record that you opposed the council ' s struggle to forge a new future for all dwarves . " Fendrig crossed his arms and drew his brows together . " Stinks like blackmail tae me . " " Blackmail is a gamble . A tool used by the desperate . " Moira smiled wider , but her eyes were daggers of ice . " I deal in absolutes , lad . I included your names because I knew that you would not be foolish enough to put your own petty animosities over the greater good of our people . " The queen ' s gaze moved between Carrick and Fendrig , daring them to prove her wrong . The Wildhammer shifted on his feet but stayed silent . So did the Bronzebeard . Moira then looked at Fenella . As much as the idea — the very thought — of working with a Bronzebeard and a Wildhammer sickened her , what could she do ? Moira was her queen , her clan ' s guardian . Fenella forced herself to nod , all the while hoping this " assignment " would be a quick one . " Good . Now that we have that settled , we can move on to the specifics . " Moira plucked the jade statuette from the table as she leaned back in her chair . " How much do you know about Pandaria ? " " A pandaren acolyte of the August Celestials once asked , " Did the land give birth to the celestials , or did they breathe life into the land ? " " " Her master chuckled knowingly , for he had pondered this very question . Yet time had granted him wisdom . " I have a much simpler question to consider — a question whose answer will solve this riddle of yours , " he replied . " Which came first , sunrise or sunset ? " " — The Scrolls of the Celestials The job was simple : rebuild the Serpent ' s Heart statue . Any apprentice mason with a lick of talent could have finished it up in no time . Fenella had been in the Jade Forest for three weeks with nothing to show for it . The pandaren masons she worked with moved at a snail ' s pace , but the Dark Iron hesitated in pushing them . She was , according to Moira , an " ambassador . " " Make me proud , " the queen had ordered before Fenella left Ironforge . Fenella mulled over the words as she marched to the construction site , a clearing on the eastern side of the forest . Foreman Raiki , the lead pandaren mason , had called a meeting . What this entailed was beyond the Dark Iron . She just hoped things would get moving . The pandaren were there en masse when she arrived . Promisin ' . Fenella squinted to ward off the blinding sunlight as she settled back against a boulder . The Jade Temple reached skyward in the distance , heat waves shimmering off of its tiled green roof . Raiki slowly made his way to the center of the gathering . " You all know the task ahead ! " he bellowed , gesturing to a debris field nearby . An immense , circular stone pillar towered behind him . Around it lay the broken chunks of the Serpent ' s Heart . The statue had been built in the image of the Jade Serpent , one of the four legendary August Celestials . They were , from what Fenella could remember , godlike beings native to Pandaria , but she had yet to see any of them in person . The Serpent ' s Heart had been destroyed when the Alliance and the Horde had gone to war in the region . According to the story Moira told her , once the masons finished the reconstruction , the Jade Serpent would transfer her life essence into the statue and be " reborn , " although Fenella wasn ' t exactly sure what that meant . " We need more jade to rebuild , " Raiki continued . " That is why I propose a Great Jade Hunt ! " A murmur rippled through the crowd , but the excitement was lost on Fenella . Her eyes drifted over the masons until she spotted Fendrig , standing out like blood on new winter snow . The Bronzebeard stared right back at her , smug and condescending as always . On another side of the construction site , Fenella found Carrick , watching her , anger twisting his face . The last time they had spoken was on the sea voyage to Pandaria . The bastards just couldn ' t cope with the fact that Fenella was in charge . For all the talk in Ironforge about equality , it wasn ' t so easy to wash away old hatreds . Being led by a Dark Iron was a mountain too high for them to climb . " Simpler this way " , Fenella told herself . " Finish the job an ' get on with life . " " The hunt will begin at sunrise and end at sunset . The use of carts is prohibited ; bags and satchels , however , are permitted . Good luck ! " Raiki adjourned the meeting to a round of applause . " Fenella ! " The foreman plodded over to the Dark Iron as the pandaren masons mingled , forming into teams . " Do you have any questions about the hunt ? " " No , " she replied . " I ' ve got it . " " I wouldn ' t take it too seriously . It ' s something of a tradition to get the spirits up . " " A Dark Iron never takes a minin ' challenge lightly , lad , " she stated matter - of - factly . Raiki gave a good - hearted chuckle . " So I ' ve heard . That ' s why I ' m looking forward to seeing those famous dwarven skills in action . " He glanced back at Fendrig and then at Carrick , neither of whom had moved . " Do you and your team need any advice on mining spots ? " Fenella discerned a note of hesitation at " team . " The tension between the dwarves wasn ' t lost on the pandaren . They were just too polite to prod her about the problem . " I ' ll manage . " " Good hunting , then . Jade Serpent watch over you . " Raiki bowed deeply and then departed . Before returning to her camp , Fenella shot a glance at Fendrig and Carrick . They were dwarves . Formality or not , this Great Jade Hunt had stoked the fire of competition in their blood . The Dark Iron gave each of them a long look , eyes narrowed . She cracked her neck from side to side . Fendrig yawned . Carrick spat on the ground , kicked grass in her direction , and then stormed off . Game on . Koveth was waiting back at camp , guard protocols initiated . Fenella rummaged through her things until she found a stack of maps marked with well - known mining locations . Raiki had given her the bundle when she had first arrived in Pandaria . She pored over the scrolls , circling promising spots with a stick of charcoal , calculating travel time , necessary provisions , and — " Hello . " A pandaren cub in a blue dress , obsidian hair tied up in two buns , stood at the edge of the camp . " Och . " The Dark Iron laughed nervously . " Gave me a fright . " " You are one of the dwarves . From Ironforge , " the cub said , curious . " Aye . " " The three of you seem pretty angry at each other . " " You ' ve a lot tae learn about dwarves , lass . " Fenella left it at that . She turned back to her maps , hoping the child would leave her be . " Teach me . " " What ? " " Teach me about dwarves . " Fenella sighed . What was there to say ? " A long time ago , we all lived in Ironforge . Then we got into a scuffle o ' sorts an ' went our separate ways . Now , we ' re all back in Ironforge . " She decided to leave out the more " controversial " parts , such as how the Dark Irons had , until recently , been enslaved by the elemental lord of fire , Ragnaros , and pushed inexorably down a path of evil . " But you ' re not really together . " " We ' re different , " the Dark Iron replied , her anger getting the best of her . " Always will be . " " So you won ' t be going on the hunt with them ? " How many questions was this girl going to ask ? " They can come with me if they want . Dinna matter . I ' ll pull in more jade than the two o ' them could mine in a week . " The girl ' s brow furrowed . " I see . " She cautiously stepped toward the dwarf and gestured to the map in her hand . " In that case , you should avoid all those locations . They will be crowded with pandaren . And the jade there has been mined very low . But I know a good place where no one goes … " " That so ? " " There . " The girl pointed to a spot on the map , northwest of the Serpent ' s Heart . " The entrance is covered in weeds and stones , but you will find it if you keep looking . It is an ancient mine , filled with jade more beautiful and pure than anything the others will bring in . " Fenella marked the location . " If it ' s so special , why dinna the rest o ' the miners go there ? " " You ' ve a lot to learn about pandaren . " The girl grinned . " They go to the places they know . Routine is comforting . " Fenella nodded . " Watch fer me come sunset , lass . Maybe — " She stopped short when she looked up at the girl , noticing her eyes for the first time . They were strange , red eyes — eyes ancient like elementium . Out of place on this small , innocent cub . The Dark Iron recovered and said , " Maybe I ' ll save some jade fer ye . " " I hope you do . " After a polite bow , the girl scampered off . Fenella shuffled through the maps for the next hour , but she kept returning to the one she had marked on the cub ' s advice . Jade more beautiful and pure than anything the others will bring in . She didn ' t like taking mining instructions from strangers — especially children — but she was a foreigner in this land . This could be the edge she needed . Nothin ' great comes without a little risk . " Koveth , " Fenella called out . " Ye ready tae do some diggin ' , lad ? " The golem ' s eyes flared violet . " Affirmative . " Fenella set out while it was still dark . The rules stated that the hunt began at sunrise . Whether that meant preparations and travel or the actual mining was something she deemed open to interpretation . Near sunrise , she found the mine . Rocks and a tangle of thick thorny vines partially covered the entrance . A small green shape skittered across one side of the opening . Shale spider . Fenella grimaced . The pandaren had an apt nickname for these nasty little critters : " nibblers . " They could chew through and gulp down solid stone . The creature stopped and reared at Koveth . Its mandibles furiously clicked together . " Analysis : It wants to devour Koveth . " The golem was to the point as always . " Aye . But we aren ' t gonna let that happen now , are we ? " Koveth answered by lunging forward , crushing the spider to pulp with a precise punch . " Lead the way . " Fenella was happy to have Koveth by her side . The golem was the only " team " she needed . He was dependable , unquestioning , and could mine more stone than ten masons . The golem cleared the rest of the vines and rocks with a swipe of his iron hand and then disappeared into the yawning darkness . Once inside , Fenella pulled a small violet crystal from a pouch on her belt and knocked it against the wall a few times . The gem , fashioned by a Dark Iron sorceress back in Ironforge , rattled and flared to life , illuminating the passageway . She found nothing remarkable as they picked their way through the tunnel , and her mind began to wander . Why was she here ? The Dark Irons had recently won respect in Ironforge by playing a major role in fending off a brutal troll invasion , saving a number of dwarves — members of the other clans . After such a victory , Fenella was perplexed why Moira had chosen her — a Darkvire , of all people — to lead the expedition . Was she missing something ? " Jade . " Koveth pointed to the ground . A dozen small objects were scattered on the floor , covered in a layer of dust . One was a figurine of the Jade Serpent . The others were the rest of the August Celestials : Xuen , the White Tiger ; Niuzao , the Black Ox ; and Chi - Ji , the Red Crane . She picked up the Jade Serpent statue . Heat radiated off of the carving . A strange heat , warm enough for Fenella to feel through her leather gloves . " Sorcery " . Some part of her screamed to leave . Warned her she did not belong here . " Just like a Dark Iron … " Fenella leapt back . Koveth crouched into a defensive position . Ahead , Carrick emerged from the shadows , a single flame burning on his steel helmet . " What are ye doin ' here ? " Fenella asked . " I would ask ye the same question , ' cept I know the answer . Ye followed me ! " " Hostile intent detected , " Koveth growled . " Shall I obliterate him ? " " Your little friend takes one swing at me , an ' I ' ll turn it into scrap . " Carrick drew his hammer to make good on the threat . A pale blue energy crackled around it . Most miners used pickaxes or rock picks to do their work . Fenella knew Carrick was different . He had a pointed stormhammer , imbued with the power of lightning . A weapon like what many members of his clan carried . " Stand down , Koveth , " Fenella ordered , and then she said to the Wildhammer , " I found this place on me own , stubborn bastard . " " That so ? Well , the word o ' Fineous the Fraud ' s daughter is worth about as much tae me as straw stuck tae a gryphon ' s arse . " " Quit yer yappin ' . Neither o ' ye found this place on yer own . " Fendrig ' s gravelly voice echoed from back the way Fenella had come . The enormous Bronzebeard casually strode forward until he loomed over the other dwarves . " Looks like all three o ' us had a visit frae that pandaren lass . " " The girl … " Carrick smashed his hammer against the wall . " What ' s her angle in this ? " " She was tryin ' tae help , " Fenella said . " Doesn ' t understand the bad blood between us . " The three dwarves lingered in silence , glaring at each other , faces scrunched up in thought . Fenella knew they were all wrestling with the same dilemma . " Jade more beautiful and pure than anything the others will bring in . " To leave would be to give in — to concede . None of them made a move . " Well ? " Carrick sneered . " Ye can both go now . " " We ' re all foreigners in this land , " Fendrig retorted . " Ye got nae more claim tae this mine than we do . " The veins on Carrick ' s sweat - sheened temples bulged . " If the two o ' ye want tae follow , that ' s yer choice . Just dinna get in me way ! " he shouted , and then he stomped down the tunnel . Fenella caught a hint of unease — of fear — on Fendrig ' s face , like dark soil peeking through late - winter snow . When he noticed the Dark Iron watching him , his features hardened again . " Might be worth a laugh tae see the two o ' ye struggle with minin ' . " He plodded forward . The Dark Iron stood alone with Koveth , gnawing her lip . It was past sunrise now , she figured . It could take a few hours to even find another suitable mine . If she was lucky . " Come on . " She motioned to Koveth . The golem filed after her as she walked down the gullet of the mountain . " A dark chapter hangs over pandaren history — the mogu empire . It is difficult for us to imagine how much our ancestors suffered during that era . The terrible mogu trampled pandaren culture beneath their feet . They banned all worship of the celestials . Merely speaking their names was punishable by torture and death . In time , even those who had known the celestials best forgot their wise teachings . " — The Scrolls of the Celestials " Should have ignored that girl ' s advice , found a mine on me own , " Carrick fumed . The heavy silence around him only stoked his anger . When he was young , his parents had recognized his gift — his ability to speak with the stones . A Wildhammer elder had requested that he undergo shamanic training , but it wasn ' t the life for Carrick . He was a miner at heart , and his innate connection with the elements made him one of the best in the clan . One of the best in the world . At least , it had , back when he could still hear the stones . Their silence now was like a sharp object jammed between his ribs , a constant and painful reminder of how far he had fallen . Carrick mulled over these thoughts as he continued forward , emerging into a large circular room . The flame on his helmet sent a wash of light to the far side of the chamber . Cracked and faded murals covered the walls , all depicting Xuen , the White Tiger . In one mural , Xuen was battling a giant armored mogu whose body crackled with lightning . In another , chains bound the White Tiger atop a mountain peak . The creature was struggling against his shackles , roaring in fury , his face twisted in uncontrolled rage . The mogu brute watched from afar , arms raised in victory . " What is this place ? " Fenella asked as she and her golem blundered into the room . The Dark Iron waved around the gem in her hand , casting a sickly purple hue over the chamber . Fendrig followed close behind . " Neither o ' ye thought tae do a little research before comin ' here ? Figures . " The Bronzebeard sighed and walked over to a series of Pandaren runes etched into the wall . He pulled out a long scroll tucked into his belt , the worn paper marked with similar - looking symbols . Next to those were Dwarven letters . Carrick eyed the cipher . " What ' s it say , then ? " " Ye want tae know , ye do the legwork yerself . " Fendrig turned his back on the Wildhammer and then continued examining the runes . Carrick opened and closed his hands in quick succession . A pleasing image came to mind : his fist slamming into Fendrig ' s oversized maw , wiping away that smug smile . Fenella cursed and clicked her tongue . She was standing across the room . A monstrous stone , chiseled into the shape of a snarling mogu face , blocked what looked to be the only passageway that led deeper into the mine . " The lass didn ' t say anythin ' about this . " " No one ' s been in here fer generations . Probably didn ' t want folk snoopin ' around , " Fendrig replied . " We ' ll have tae break through . " Carrick inspected the boulder . Solid . Sturdy . He drew closer and placed his palm on the rock to give it a testing shove . When his skin touched the stone , a painful jolt of energy raced up his spine . The air in the room suddenly grew warmer , crackling with a force akin to magic . Before his eyes , the mogu face slowly morphed into something else . A hideous , scarred visage . A Dragonmaw orc . Carrick stumbled back and shook his head . The orc remained . Seeing it there , his enemy staring back at him with beady stone eyes , challenging him , made Carrick ' s heart race . He twisted his neck and stretched his arms . Muscles popped . He took his great hammer in his hands and swung it forward , putting all his strength into the blow . Metal hit stone with a thunderclap of sound and a blinding flash of light . Carrick lost his grip on the hammer , and it went flying . Fendrig chuckled . " I can ' t tell if ye hit the stone or the stone hit ye . " The Bronzebeard casually hefted his pickaxe . " Let me show ye how it ' s done , lad . " " Ye won ' t break it either . I ' ll handle this . " Fenella beckoned that infernal golem of hers . Carrick grabbed his hammer and whirled toward the other dwarves . " Back off ! " He didn ' t wait for their reply before taking another swing at the Dragonmaw . Then another . And another . He didn ' t make a scratch , but this fact was lost on Carrick . His anger roiled within , molten hot , reshaping everything around him . Before long , he found himself back among the green hillocks . Back in Northeron . The smell of smoke filled his nose ; the sounds of battle , his ears . Dwarven gryphon riders soared through the ash - choked skies , trading blows with orcs riding on their cursed enslaved red dragons . Carrick watched as a swarm of Dragonmaw descended on a smoldering village just down the hill . His village . He had replayed these memories in his head a thousand times : rushing out of the mine when he received word of the attack , racing down the hill to his blazing home . But no matter how quick he ran or what shortcuts he took , he could never make it back fast enough . This time , however , seemed different . The memory was more visceral than previous ones , filling him with confidence . " Ho there , " a small voice said . A young Wildhammer in a white tunic , a plume of brown gryphon feathers sticking out of her red hair , approached Carrick . Can ' t be , he thought . He rubbed his eyes , but the girl was still there . " Rhona ! " Carrick picked his daughter up and squeezed her tight . In some corner of his mind , he knew this was an illusion . She had never appeared in his other dreams or memories of this day . But he could feel her now . He could smell the hill daisy pollen in her hair . " What ye doin ' ? " the girl asked after he had set her down . Carrick looked to the base of the hillock , at that burning village . " Tryin ' tae make it , " he said . " It ' s too late . " Rhona took a feather from her hair and twirled it in her fingers . " No . It ' s different this time . I can feel it . " " It ' s the same . " Rhona laughed innocently , as if this was all some kind of game to her . Something in Carrick snapped — something deep within that he had no control over . " Dinna say that ! " he roared . The fury quickly ebbed , and guilt came rushing in to take its place . Rhona slowly backed away , tears welling in her eyes . " I … I ' m sorry . " Carrick kneeled and stretched out his hands . " Please , lass . Fergive me . " " If ye promise me somethin ' . " " Anythin ' . " Rhona came close and wrapped her arms around her father ' s neck . The smell of hill daisy pollen vanished . The pungent odor of death , of burning flesh and a dream turned to ash , enveloped Carrick . His daughter ' s tiny voice whispered , " Stop comin ' . There ' s nothin ' left fer ye here . " Rhona kissed him on the cheek and then danced away . The wind suddenly picked up , blowing the feather out of her fingers . She laughed and chased after it down the hill . " Wait ! " Carrick shouted . He started after her , but hands grabbed at him from behind , pulled him away . He blinked , and Northeron disappeared . He was back in that damn hole beneath Pandaria , writhing on the ground . Pain blossomed up his arms . Blood was pouring from his knuckles . His hammer lay a few feet away . " Oi ! " Fenella said . " Ye gone soft in the head ? Tryin ' tae punch through stone ? " " What ? " Carrick managed to say through the fog of confusion that had settled over him . " What was that business about the Dragonmaw ? " Fendrig asked . " Ye were screamin ' at ' em like they were here in the room , " Fenella added . Carrick considered waving them off , considered shouting a retort . But when he looked down at himself , sitting on the dusty floor , bloody and bruised , all the fire left his veins . The mighty Carrick Irongrin . There was no hiding how pathetic and useless he had become anymore . He hadn ' t told anyone about the Dragonmaw attack in years , but when he opened his mouth to speak , the words forced their way out , and he was too exhausted to stop them . They had , he realized , been held in for far too long . Like water in a dam , they wanted to flow free . So , he let them . " Ever since that day , I haven ' t been able tae hear the stones , " he said when he finished the story . The other dwarves were unreadable , but they didn ' t belittle him as he had expected . " Just wait there , " Fendrig sighed . " I ' ll take care o ' the boulder . " " Hold on . " Carrick dusted himself off and approached the rock . The snarling orc was still there . He met its stony gaze , wondering how much longer he would let this anger consume him — how many more friends he would drive away due to his temper . For all his talk , the truth was that he had built nothing of worth since that day in Northeron . He didn ' t have the patience for it anymore . He could blame the Dragonmaw all he wanted for that , but in the end , it wouldn ' t change a thing . Carrick took a deep breath , tried to calm his nerves . He put his palm against the stone and stared hard at the orc . The Dragonmaw ' s sneer widened . The anger returned , the smoke filling Carrick ' s nostrils . The urge to wrangle those memories , to make them into something better , like stone quarried and prepped for shaping , overwhelmed him . He shut his eyes , fighting the desire , and let the memories run their course . " I ' m through with ye . " Something moved against his skin . The boulder was vibrating , that old , familiar sensation of the stones singing to him . The pure rush of excitement and relief almost caused Carrick to pull his hand away , but he kept it steady . He opened himself to the elements , let them guide him as they once had . Every rock , every mountain , had a weak point . That was what they showed him . When Carrick opened his eyes , the mogu stared back at him . His palm was touching a spot to the right of the carving ' s nose . There ye are . The Wildhammer swung his hammer , biting his lip from the pain in his hands . " CRACK . " Rather than crumbling , the giant rock rolled sideways , revealing a dark passage beyond . Carrick let the other dwarves go through the opening first . When they were gone , he leaned against the wall for a long time , every muscle in his body violently trembling . It felt as if he had been carrying a sack of iron on his back and , finally , had found a place to set it down . " Some pandaren wished for revenge . They built their strength for the day when they could strike at the mogu . Anger was the motivation for every breath . But what is strength without control ? These poor slaves soon became instruments of wrath , turning their hatred on everything and everyone . They had forgotten Xuen ' s most fundamental lesson : " The only enemy is yourself . " " — The Scrolls of the Celestials Beads of sweat slowly trickled down Fendrig ' s neck . The fear was creeping back , churning in his guts , roaring like distant thunder . Down in the depths of this Light - forsaken mountain , he wondered if the storm would finally overwhelm him . He could only hold it at bay for so long . Dark thoughts rattled around inside his head . Who knew how stable this place was ? What kind of safety measures did the pandaren take with their mines ? Maybe none , when these tunnels had been built . Maybe that was why the pandaren masons avoided them . Fendrig cursed himself for not staying back at the camp , but what good would that have done ? The Dark Iron and the Wildhammer would have returned and seen that he hadn ' t mined a thing . And then , perhaps , they would discover that the " Hand of Khaz " hadn ' t gone into a mine in over a year . " Another chamber ahead ! " the Dark Iron called out . Relief flooded through Fendrig . The jagged walls had been growing narrower , squeezing in tighter around him . Making it hard to breathe . He took a moment to compose himself , to erect that cool mask that he had become such a master at keeping up day in and day out . The long rectangular room was much larger than the last one . Fortunately , there was a doorway at the other end , and it was open . The ceiling and walls were unnaturally level — finely crafted . Despite his research , Fendrig had not discovered the purpose of these chambers . Clearly , the pandaren had built them in honor of the celestials . But why ? The runes carved on the walls didn ' t provide an answer . They were cryptic and vague . Mostly old pandaren proverbs . A flat carving of Niuzao ' s head , the size of a warrior ' s buckler , was embedded in the floor at the center of the room . The ox ' s sapphire eyes glittered , reflecting light from the open flame on top of Fendrig ' s helmet . Fenella stepped on the disc as she crossed the room , the golem stomping behind her . Carrick entered the chamber and , after a brief inspection of the surroundings , followed after the Dark Iron . Fendrig barely noticed them . His attention was on one of the intricate murals worked into the chamber ' s walls . It depicted Niuzao , the Black Ox . Fendrig had read about this creature on the sea voyage to Pandaria . He was a mighty being , capable of standing against entire armies . It was no surprise to him that the pandaren worshiped the ox , hoping to mirror his fortitude . Yet in this mural , Niuzao was anything but fearless . The Black Ox cowered atop a hill , surrounded by throngs of mogu warriors . On closer scrutiny , Fendrig realized the soldiers were fake — statues made of clay . The real mogu looked on in delight at the scene from the borders of the mural . The air suddenly crackled with energy , an energy that coiled in the pit of Fendrig ' s stomach . This place was unnatural . He wondered if he had overlooked some detail while doing research . Perhaps the mogu had found these tunnels . Perhaps they had cursed them . A shiver went through Fendrig when he noticed he was alone . " Oi ! Where are ye two ? " " Down the tunnel ! " Fenella ' s voice echoed from the doorway . The Bronzebeard hurried toward the opening . His foot hit against a groove in the floor . He looked down and discovered he was standing on the emblem of Niuzao . The face of the Black Ox , once stoic , had taken on the same terrified visage as he had in the mural . Fendrig leapt back as the disc turned and made a full revolution before stopping . The roar of stone grinding against stone shook the room . From behind the walls , Fendrig heard what sounded like wheels and pulleys — the creak of old wood and the strain of strong rope being pulled taut . " What was that ? " Fenella yelled from the tunnel . " It ' ssss … " Fendrig couldn ' t get the words out . The rumble grew deafening . Slabs of thick rock descended over the chamber ' s two openings with alarming speed . He took a step , his legs like anvils . He tripped and slammed into the ground . His mining helmet clattered to the floor , the impact blowing out the flame that burned atop it . " Bronzebeard ! " Fenella shouted . Fendrig raised his head and saw the violet light of the Dark Iron ' s gem . The stone slab continued sliding down . Fenella was crouching along with Carrick and the golem , their faces barely visible in the distance . All three of them were struggling to keep the doorway from closing , but to no avail . He could have run for it . Instead , he watched like a helpless newborn lamb as the door shut . Darkness swallowed him . But in his mind , the din of grinding stone remained . It took on a different sound . The sound of the world breaking , of a mountain and its ancient wrath crashing down . " Fendrig ! Where are ye , lad ? " an unseen voice called . He recognized it . He hadn ' t heard it in over a year . Not since — " CAVE - IN ! " someone else cried . Fendrig tried to stand , but his legs failed him . In the dark , he lost all sense of direction . A wave of nausea made his head spin . His lungs filled with an icy chill , and he knew exactly where he was . Coldridge Pass . " No . Nae here … nae here … " Fendrig muttered to himself as he glanced about . It was still dark , but he sensed a new enormity to the chamber . He wasn ' t in Pandaria anymore ; he was in that cavernous mountain tunnel tucked deep within dwarven territory . He had been working there with twelve other miners when the Cataclysm struck , when earthquakes shattered his world . Torchlight flickered around the room , the source indistinguishable . In the brief moments of illumination , he saw giant shadows falling , stones the size of wagons raining from the roof . " Where ' s Fendrig ? " That voice again . Louder . A chorus of other familiar speakers followed it . " Still in there ! I ' m goin ' back ! " " I ' m with ye ! " " No . " Fendrig choked the word out . " Save yerselves ! " They didn ' t listen . Their torches grew brighter . Closer . " This way ! " one of them howled . " He ' s — " A sharp , sickening crash silenced the voice forever . Still , the others continued on , calling Fendrig ' s name . One by one , he heard the great stones fall . He heard the miners scream , watched the glow from their torches slowly fade into nothingness . And through it all , Fendrig remained frozen in place , too afraid even to stand or seek out the dead and dying . Shivering but safe in a natural void formed by the falling stones . Dumb , shameful luck . As suddenly as it had begun , the earthquake stopped . All was silent . Fendrig blinked , telling himself that this was just a dream . But nothing around him changed . The air was still bitter cold and dry in his throat , the dust of pulverized stone still thick on his tongue . " Oi . " A boot kicked him hard in the ribs . Fendrig looked up , expecting to see the rescue party that had found him in the rubble of the pass . Out of the thirteen miners who had entered that day , only he came out alive , and not even on his own two feet . The rescuers had carried him to safety because he lacked the strength to walk . This , however , was not the rescue party he remembered . A group of vaporous forms , glowing with a faint , iridescent light , encircled him . There were twelve of them in total , all adorned in mining gear . The twelve bravest dwarves Fendrig had ever known . " Enough , Koveth . " Fenella leaned back against the tunnel wall , sweat pouring down her brow . Her golem backed away from the stone door leading into the sealed chamber . He ' d been hammering at it for some time , to no avail . All the while , Fenella and Carrick had scoured the tunnel , searching for a way to open the door . They had found none . " Fool … " Carrick mumbled from nearby . " Why didn ' t he run when he had the chance ? " Fenella shook her head . She and Carrick had been forging ahead through the tunnel when the door had started closing . By the time they ' d made it back , the rock slab was already halfway down , and even with Koveth ' s brute strength , they hadn ' t been able to keep it from shutting . There was nothing else they could do for Fendrig right now , Fenella realized . They would need to return with blasting powder , or with help from the pandaren , before the air in the chamber ran out . The Dark Iron motioned for Koveth and started off down the tunnel . " Ye just gonna leave him in there ? " Carrick asked . " We need help tae free him , an ' we won ' t get that until we find our own way out o ' this place . " Carrick lingered for a moment in front of the door , head down , and then followed after Fenella . Fendrig stared at the ghosts of the miners , wondering if they had come here for revenge . After all , what had he done to honor their sacrifices ? Until Pandaria , he hadn ' t ventured into a mine . He ' d lied to get out of such assignments . He ' d spent his days telling stories of his past mining exploits , struggling to uphold his façade of fearlessness . It was the only thing he was good at anymore . " What do ye want with me ? " Fendrig hissed . The phantoms didn ' t respond . They drew closer . The Bronzebeard took a wild swing at them . " We ain ' t gonna hurt ye , lad , " the ghosts said in unison . " We ' re here tae help ye up . Ye been lyin ' down there fer far too long . " Fendrig took a deep breath to calm his nerves . He let the shadowy forms grab him , the sensation like eddies of air pushing against his body . They lifted up the Bronzebeard until he was standing . " There we go . " " I ' m sorry , lads . " Fendrig cast his eyes down , too ashamed to look at the ghosts . " I should have come tae ye in the pass . I should have done somethin ' . Anythin ' . I … I was afraid . " " So were we . Difference was we didn ' t allow the fear tae stop us . High time ye did the same . We ' re gonna let go now . " The phantoms loosened their grips , and a pang of terror spiraled through Fendrig . " No ! " The word leapt out of his mouth . " I ' m trapped in here . I dinna know the way out . " " All we can do is get ye tae yer feet , lad . Whether ye lie back down or stay standin ' is up tae ye . " Fendrig swallowed , his throat raw from the frigid mountain air of the pass . " I … " He tried to think of something to say , but he knew it was just an excuse to keep the ghosts at his side . " Time tae start livin ' again , " they continued . " Ye ready ? " Fendrig ' s heart thumped in his chest . His breathing quickened . When his time came and he passed into the realm beyond this one , what would he say to the ghosts of the twelve ? He had often pondered that question . Would he tell them he ' d lived the rest of his days in fear ? Or that he ' d lived a life of purpose , eyes open , fire burning hot in his blood ? And now , here they were . He cleared his throat . " Do it . " The ghosts let go . Fendrig sank slightly and then stumbled back , struggling to keep his balance . He found his footing , found that part of himself still locked away under the stones in Coldridge . He was tired , and his leg muscles burned and ached from the effort . But the pain felt good . It felt real . A faint blue light began shining from somewhere in the room . Fendrig saw the Niuzao carving nearby . The ox ' s sapphire eyes were glowing fiercely , brighter and brighter . Without looking back , he stepped forward , planting one foot firmly on the disc . Fenella was a ways down the tunnel when she heard stones grinding behind her . She rushed back with Koveth and Carrick in time to see the doorway to the Niuzao room slide open . Cautiously , the Dark Iron crept into the chamber , glow gem in hand , and saw Fendrig . A wicked grin stretched across the Bronzebeard ' s face . " What happened ? " Carrick rushed into the room . Fendrig laughed from deep in his belly . " Wish I knew , lad . " He pointed down at the engraving of Niuzao , where he was standing . " It ' s a trigger o ' some kind . Must ' ve tripped it when I came in . " Fenella eyed the disc with suspicion . She remembered stepping on it when she had walked through the room , but nothing had happened . The carving looked no different than it had at that time . It was simply an engraving of the Black Ox , his features stoic , unyielding , and fearless . " Ye fine , then ? " she asked . " Ye froze up in here . " " Aye . Just … lost me way fer a bit . " Fendrig met the Dark Iron ' s eyes . His earlier coldness was gone , replaced by something else . Something real . " There ' s magic in this place . That ' s a fact . " The Bronzebeard glanced at Carrick , who gave a short nod . " But it ' s alright now , " Fendrig said . The giant dwarf struck flint , reigniting the flame on his metal helmet , and then , his head held high , led the way deeper into the mountain . " Other pandaren were stricken with terror . Merely hearing the name of their tormentors paralyzed them . This fear seeped into all aspects of life . They became afraid of every shadow , of every sound . They became afraid of life itself , content to waste away in a prison of their own making . If only they had remembered the mantra of Niuzao : " Fear seeks to diminish you . Instead , let it reveal you . " " — The Scrolls of the Celestials On and on the tunnel wound . Murals of Chi - Ji , the Red Crane , shimmered on the walls to either side . The celestial — a symbol of hope , Fendrig explained as they walked — flew over throngs of rejoicing pandaren slaves in the first few murals . But as Fenella continued down the tunnel , the depictions grew darker : mogu warriors capturing Chi - Ji , binding his wings with chains , and then parading the Red Crane among the pandaren , all of whom cast their eyes down and wept at the sight . The number of mosaics gradually lessened , giving way to a sea of sparkling gems . Ruby crystals blanketed the walls and ceiling , reflecting the glow of the dwarves ' lights . " Wonderful , " Fenella said under her breath . This was true beauty , not the forests and flowers that grew topside . These crystals , these stones , these were things that lasted the test of time . She noticed a dark green spot on the wall and moved closer . A large stone was wedged between two crystals . Fenella shone her glow gem across the ceiling and found more of the strange , almost perfectly shaped rocks . She had seen these somewhere before … Curious , she reached out to touch one . It shrieked . Fenella lurched back as spindly legs unfurled from beneath the shale spider ' s body . Its carapace rattled . A cluster of green eyes gleamed in the darkness . The commotion roused the other nibblers . Dozens of them sprang to life on the ceiling and walls , their legs clicking and clattering . " Koveth ! " Fenella shouted . " Engage ! " " Affirmative . " The golem struck the nearest clump of spiders , splattering them against the wall . But there were more . They rained down on the dwarves , sinking razor - sharp legs into skin . Part of the ceiling crumbled , and a group of giant spiders , half the size of Fenella , plummeted to the ground . " Too many ! " Carrick swung his hammer , splitting the carapace of one of the larger spiders . " Run ! " He and Fendrig fled back the way they had come . Fenella tried to follow , but the seething mass of spiders blocked her . A portion of them broke off and chased after the Bronzebeard and the Wildhammer . Fenella looked in the other direction ; the path ahead was clear . " Koveth , " she hissed . " Defensive retreat ! " Fenella sprinted , the sound of the golem ' s footsteps thundering behind her . She didn ' t stop to think of where she was going or how long she ran . She continued until she reached a fork in the passageway . A statue of Chi - Ji had been set high into the crystal walls . The Red Crane ' s wings were bound , and the celestial ' s head was turned toward the right tunnel , tears pooling in his eyes . Fenella stopped to catch her breath . Nothing followed her save for Koveth , his iron body marred by jagged gouges . A shrill cry rang out from the direction they had come from . A dwarven cry . Fenella ' s hairs stood on end . The air in the cavern suddenly grew warmer , tinged with a hint of sorcery . Can ' t do anythin ' fer them . The thought welled up in Fenella , crawling out from some dark part of her . If I go back an ' the three o ' us die , I ' ll bring shame tae me clan . Moira put me in charge . Folks in Ironforge will whisper about how I botched the job , how I led a Bronzebeard an ' a Wildhammer tae their deaths . But if I go on me way an ' live , a Dark Iron will have succeeded where the others failed . The more she considered it , the more logical this line of thought seemed . Carrick and Fendrig would do the same to her if given the chance . They hated her . It was something branded onto the cores of their beings , something that neither time nor experience would ever expunge . Fenella looked toward the forking passageway . " Make me proud , " Moira had said , to her in particular . This was what she meant , wasn ' t it ? Why else would she have asked the daughter of Fineous Darkvire to lead this team ? Movement caught Fenella ' s eye . On the walls , reflected on each facet of the crystals , were images of herself . They were waving at her , calling to her , urging her to take the rightmost fork in the tunnel . Fenella followed the reflections , scarcely aware that Koveth was matching her strides . The tunnel spiraled steadily downward , growing colder . She nearly tripped over something scattered across the ground — bones . From the shape of the skull , it looked like the skeleton of a pandaren . " Nothin ' fer ye this way , lass . You ' ll end up runnin ' in circles down here . " The voice was barely audible , a ghost of a whisper . Fenella whirled , her heart pounding . " Who ' s there ? " " Och . Ye dinna remember yer own pops ? " Then she saw him . Fineous Darkvire , reflected on the surfaces of a dozen crystals . The infamous mason wore his favorite monocle and suit , dressed to impress , as had always been his way . He lit a pipe with flint and took a long pull . The sweet smell of smoke drifted up from memory . The last time she had seen him was years ago , just before a band of outsiders invaded Dark Iron territory , slaughtering the more nefarious members of her clan . Including her father . Nae real . Fenella shook her head , but Fineous remained . " Ye gonna leave those two fer dead , lass ? " he prodded . Fenella ignored him . She trudged onward . Her reflections were still waving , but their movements had grown more frantic and urgent — almost manic . Hurry . " I gave ye a second chance , an ' this is what ye do with it ? " Fenella spun in anger , opening her mouth to curse Fineous for his hypocrisy . But he was gone . In the crystals where he had stood , she saw a younger version of herself , fire - orange braids hanging down to her waist . This other Fenella crept through the corridors of Shadowforge City , a bundle of schematics under her arm . She had stolen them from a number of prominent architects and forged her father ' s seal on them . Fenella watched her reflection slither through the Dark Iron capital and present the schematics to the emperor , Thaurissan . The clan ' s ruler had been so taken with the work that he quickly appointed Fineous to the rank of chief architect . Rumors surfaced that he had not personally created the schematics . Thaurissan launched an investigation . Yet no one had ever been able to prove anything . Fenella had been sure of that . Her crime had been as solid and minutely honed as a thousand - cut diamond . And she had done it all of her own volition . Fineous had not been angry when he found out , but she remembered seeing something flash in his eyes . It was not specifically regret , guilt , or sadness . It was an amalgamation of the three , some mixture of emotion that had clawed through the darkness that ruled his heart . " Never told anyone what ye did . " Fineous ' s reflection reappeared . " Took the blame an ' the scorn . In the end , I died a villain . I ' m nae complainin ' . I wasn ' t a good dwarf ; ye know that . But fer a moment , a part o ' me was . I had it in me tae do somethin ' good . Tae give ye a future . " Fenella couldn ' t meet Fineous ' s eyes , even if he was just a reflection or some product of sorcery . The truth was , a day never passed when she didn ' t think about what she had done , what he had done for her . Whenever she heard talk of her father around the anvils , his name dragged through the muck , the guilt would hit her full force . She would realize , once again , that she had done nothing to change herself , nothing to honor his noble act . But what alternative was there ? To try was to open oneself up to failure . To try meant she would need to put her trust in others and have faith they would put their trust in her . There didn ' t seem to be a point to that , when in the deepest part of her , she knew that no matter what she did , she would always be that thief slinking through Shadowforge , ready to deceive a nation . " I ' m a Darkvire , " she said . " Name ' s nae an excuse . Thing is , I never had much o ' a choice tae change . Ye do . All it takes is one step , lass . Strange that ye can ' t do somethin ' so simple , when ye ' ve accomplished so much else . " Fineous upended his pipe , dumping out the contents . Ghost embers vanished among the crystals . " Well , that ' s about all I ' ve got tae say , lass . It was good seein ' ye again . " Slowly , he faded away . When he was gone , Fenella could still smell smoke in the air . Dead end . Fendrig put his back against the crystal wall . Hot blood pumped from the wounds on his arms and soaked deep into his leather gloves . Carrick stood nearby , teeth bared . Fendrig had never been too fond of Wildhammer dwarves , but the lad at his side was a good one . Brave and fiery . " Here they come again ! " Fendrig tightened his grip on the pickaxe . Ahead , a wave of shale spiders rolled toward them . Carrick hurled his hammer at the creatures . Jagged strands of lightning trailed off the weapon as it slammed into a particularly large spider , reducing it to a smoldering husk with an explosion of light and sound . As the spots in Fendrig ' s vision cleared , he saw the hammer arc back through the air , returning to Carrick ' s hand . But the spiders didn ' t pause in their mindless attack . No matter how many the dwarves killed , more and more of the critters crawled out of the nooks and crannies in this place . A brief flare of violet caught Fendrig ' s eye . A monstrous shape emerged from the darkness . The Dark Iron golem charged through the spiders , crushing scores of them beneath his feet , smashing others with gigantic hands . The nibblers converged on this new threat . They scrambled up the golem ' s legs , chewing through his iron hide with ear - shattering screeches . Fenella shouted from behind the construct , waving her glow gem . " Move , lads ! " Fendrig and Carrick sprang into action , leaping over the spiders and chasing after Fenella . They followed her down the passageway , eventually stopping to rest at a fork in the tunnel . A giant carving of the Red Crane towered above them , wings stretched over the two paths ahead . Chi - Ji ' s head was turned to the left , his slender beak open wide as if he were singing . " What about the golem ? " Carrick asked , concerned . " Can ' t risk waitin ' or goin ' back . " Fenella ' s voice was strong as steel , but Fendrig caught a glint of moisture in her eyes . " This is our only chance . " Carrick lowered his head . He made a fist and placed it reverently on his chest , in what Fendrig took for some kind of Wildhammer salute . " Didn ' t think ye were comin ' back fer us , " Fendrig said to Fenella through heavy breaths . She regarded him for a long moment . " I didn ' t either . " The Dark Iron gave no other explanation for what that meant , but Fendrig wasn ' t looking for one . He realized , surprisingly , that he was glad to see her . " Well , ye did . That ' s all that matters . " " We ain ' t outta the fire yet , " Carrick said . " We dinna know which passage tae take . " " I do . " Fenella stared at the carving of Chi - Ji , then down the right tunnel . Fendrig followed her gaze but saw nothing strange — just violet light from her gem flickering across the crystal walls . " This way , " she said , as she took the left path . " Still other pandaren saw the mogu as an undefeatable enemy . They lost all ambition . They became numb to every emotion , wrapped tight in a chrysalis of self - loathing . It is said that these slaves even lost the power to dream . For what would be the purpose of dreams , when their doom was already decided ? But they had only to open their hearts — to believe in the power of themselves — to see that this was not so . As Chi - Ji is wont to say , " Hope is the sun behind a stormy sky . Ever in the heart but veiled to the eye . " " — The Scrolls of the Celestials The narrow passageway gradually ascended , the slope steep but steady in its inclination . There were few twists and turns ; the way was relatively straight . Before long , the three dwarves came to a threshold . A coiled Jade Serpent , carved in stone , framed the doorway . Fenella passed through first , entering a vast cavern . Her breath caught in her throat . Deposits of jade sprouted from the floor and walls . Even unworked , the stone was lustrous and deep green . It glittered in the heavy darkness as if it thrummed with a life force all its own . A trail of glowing sapphire arced across the ceiling in a jagged pattern that resembled lightning . Carrick whistled . " That little lass wasn ' t lyin ' , was she ? " The three dwarves wandered the cavern in awe . In the center stood a large circular pillar , etched with pandaren symbols . A long cut of bamboo , thick as Fenella ' s arm , rested against it . Fendrig picked up the bamboo , eyeing it curiously . He reached inside and pulled out a roll of scrolls . The Bronzebeard sat down on a nearby rock and carefully unfurled the parchment , revealing rows of elegant Pandaren script . Fendrig removed his cipher and closely studied the runes . " What is it ? " Fenella asked . " " The Scrolls o ' the Celestials , " " Fendrig replied . " Shall I read it ? " " Aye , " Fenella said . Carrick nodded as he took a seat on the floor near the Bronzebeard . Fendrig read in a halting voice , checking his cipher intermittently . The scrolls told of the history of the celestials , of the rise of the mogu empire , and of how , when that terrible era occurred , the pandaren had become broken , lost to anger , fear , despair , and doubt . " The celestials , each in their own way , tried tae help the slaves , " Fendrig said . " But this drew the fury o ' the Thunder King . One by one , the mogu emperor overpowered the meddlesome celestials until only Yu ' lon , the Jade Serpent , remained . She ' d begun spreadin ' her wisdom tae the miners o ' the Jade Forest , causin ' some tae abandon their duties fer the pursuit o ' knowledge . Durin ' one o ' her journeys tae a slave camp , the Thunder King hurled a bolt o ' lightnin ' through the sky , piercin ' her side . Yu ' lon crashed down into the thickets o ' the forest an ' knew no more . " When she awoke , she found herself deep below the world . Pandaren miners had spirited her away tae their most sacred place — chambers hidden frae their mogu overlords . Inspired by Yu ' lon ' s recent teachin ' s , these pandaren had built a refuge tae worship the celestials in secret . The Jade Serpent , so moved by what she saw , imbued the place with her magic tae help the miners find the wisdom , hope , fortitude , an ' strength they had lost in life . Then , she made a request — " " Tae build a statue o ' her … " Fenella interrupted . Her hand traced along the stone pillar . It was beautifully worked , almost identical to the one at the Serpent ' s Heart construction site . " Aye , " Fendrig said . " Fer a hundred years , generations o ' miners toiled . All the while the Jade Serpent , still wounded frae the Thunder King ' s attack , drew closer tae death . At the moment when the work finished , she breathed her last breath . The miners wept . They thought they ' d failed tae save her . But just then , the statue moved . Its eyes opened . Its tail coiled . It had become a new Jade Serpent . This reborn Yu ' lon looked out over the weepin ' miners an ' said tae them , ' There is but one certainty — every end marks a new beginnin ' . ' " These miners would go on tae spread the wisdom o ' Yu ' lon , instillin ' in other pandaren the great traits o ' the August Celestials — enough , at least , fer them tae survive until the day when the legendary slave Kang , the Fist o ' First Dawn , rose up an ' led his people tae freedom . Many years later , when Emperor Shaohao taught all pandaren how tae overcome their fear , doubt , despair , an ' anger , the offspring o ' the miners would build immense temples in honor o ' the celestials an ' found an order dedicated tae upholdin ' their teachin ' s — the order o ' the August Celestials . " Fenella closed her eyes and let everything sink in , let the ancient air of this place envelop her . The silence stretched on until Carrick chuckled . " Y ' know , I expected tae come here an ' show the pair o ' ye up . Instead , I only made a fool o ' meself . " " We all made fools o ' ourselves , " Fendrig replied . " We ' re just three washed - up masons . What I dinna understand is why the council chose us fer this job . " Why indeed ? Fenella wasn ' t sure . Part of her wondered if this was all some political gambit by Moira and the council . Throw the most rancid of Ironforge ' s masons in a crucible , and hope that they made it out in one piece . If they failed , it would merely be another example of unfortunate tension between the clans . If they succeeded , the victory would be priceless . Then another thought came to her . The truth was , the three of them had accomplished great things in the past . Maybe , just maybe , everyone still believed they would again . Everyone but themselves . " Who knows what goes through their heads ? " Fenella said . " But here we are . " " Probably nearin ' sunset , " Carrick added . " Nae enough time tae mine . " " I ' m nae concerned about that anymore . " Fenella extended her gloved hands , one toward each of the seated dwarves . " We ' ve got a statue tae build , if ye lads are up fer it . " Carrick and Fendrig stared at her open palms for a moment , then at each other . With a slight shrug , the Wildhammer gripped Fenella ' s arm and raised himself up . The Bronzebeard did the same . " Let ' s get buildin ' then , " Carrick said . Fenella walked over to an outgrowth of jade , sizing it up . She swung her hammer down , deftly breaking off a piece as big as her fist . " We can start with this . " She tossed the chunk to Carrick . The Wildhammer slipped the jade into a pouch at his belt . " Let ' s hope gettin ' out is easier than gettin ' in . " " Dinna think that ' ll be a problem , lad . " Fendrig was still holding " The Scrolls of the Celestials " , scrutinizing something . " Says here another passage was built directly into this room . " The three dwarves quickly spread out , examining the walls in search of any opening . " Here ! " Carrick shouted from one end of the cavern . Fenella and Fendrig rushed to his side . A circular slab of stone , twice the height of the Dark Iron , was set into the bedrock . Fenella removed one of her gloves and held her bare hand near the edge . A soft current blew against her skin . The boulder itself was featureless , save for a small etching of Yu ' lon in the center . Carrick sighed . " Would ' ve been nice fer the lass tae tell us about this . " " I ' ve only seen mention o ' it on those scrolls . " Fendrig shrugged . " Come on , lads . " Fenella braced herself against the stone . Carrick spit on his bruised hands and placed his palms on the rock . Fendrig squatted , pressing his massive upper body squarely against the boulder . " Three … two … one … " Fenella said . " Ho ! " The boulder gave slightly . " Ho ! " The rock slid back into the tunnel with a groan . A torrent of air gushed into the room , washing over Fenella . Up ahead , daylight glimmered in the pitch - black passageway . The contest was long over by the time the dwarves returned , and night had set in . A team led by a pandaren named Hao Mann had won , hauling in five bulging bags of jade . From the way the masons celebrated , however , it was impossible to tell whether there had been any winners or losers . Foreman Raiki was speechless when he saw the rock the dwarves had brought . He gathered the other pandaren around , and the revelry stopped momentarily . The masons gawked at the lustrous jade , mouths agape . None of them had ever seen a stone so beautiful . Amid the congratulations that followed , Fenella spied the pandaren girl across the camp . " Lads . " Fenella nudged Fendrig and Carrick . " It ' s the lass . Figure we should thank her ? " " Aye , " the other two dwarves replied . As they made their way toward the girl , she scampered off to the north . " Oi ! " Fenella shouted . " Wait ! " The dwarves wove through the pandaren masons , but when they reached the edge of the construction site , the girl was gone . Only an empty hill stretched out before them . " Where ' d she go ? " Fendrig asked . Fenella was opening her mouth to speak when she saw something flit through the air overhead . The Jade Serpent peered down at the dwarves . Fenella briefly met her gaze and found herself lost in Yu ' lon ' s strange eyes — eyes ancient like elementium . The Dark Iron stood next to the other dwarves for a long time , silently watching the celestial ascend higher and higher , a vein of jade against the diamond sky .