Norssina Whitebranch

> "*I began my journey on the stone slabs in Aessina's Shrine. The last memory I recall is that of my dryad sisters waking me from a profound sleep and taking me to their retreat before the horde could take my life. From there, I travel the forests of Ashenvale aiding my sisters in protecting our homes, and tending to the wounds of battle. As the Horde approaches, war drums echo through Ashenvale. I vow to protect our forests, because my answers...my origin...lies within them."*
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## Information

### Title(s)

Druid of RaynewoodHerald of the Hammersong

Laughing Sister

### Affiliation(s)

Clan HammersongThe Silverwind Enclave

Keeper of the Grove

The Dryads

## Biographical Information

### Residence

Raynewood RetreatAerie Peak

Shrine of Aessina

### Known relatives

Keeper Ordanus (Mentor)Halannia (Adopted Sister)

Limiah Whitebranch (Cousin)

## The Beginning

The shrine is where it all began. Built ages ago by the night elves, this ancient shrine dedicated to the wilderness spirit Aessina lies in the midst of a forest glade in Ashenvale's heart. The shrine is a clear forest pool with a statue of Aessina standing beside it, clothed only in ivy. Norssina was found sleeping on a stone slab in the shrine when the Dryads were offering flowers and clear water to the great forest spirit Aessina when a group of Horde attacked the Shrine. The Dryads woke Norssina and attempted to fend off the scouts attack but Norssina was wounded and two of the three dryads staid behind to preoccupy the Horde while Norssina fled for the dryads retreat. When it was clear to return, Norssina vowed:

> "*I have has always felt connected to the Shrine of Aessina. I do not know where I came from but when I stand on the floor bed of the shrine and touch the stone statue of the great spirit I feel incapable of moving...as if at any moment I could shapeshift into the stone myself. I have not yet discovered my connection with the shrine. One day when my dryad sisters are safe from the Horde that plagues our lands, I will begin my search for answers to my origin, and my connection to the eternal spirit, Aessina."*
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## Personality and Abilities

Norsinna is a quiet being. She does not let herself be defined by simple words, she believes the actions she takes is the strongest device of communication. Through this ideology, she tends to wounds of her sisters, cultivates the land, and prepares her and her families territories for times of war. This may give the impression she is a gentle spirit but it is actually quite the opposite. Her time with the dryads have taught her to be caring when the time allows, but when war approaches and disquiet ensues she will fight with the force of Aessinas spirit behind her.

Norssinas abilities are that of the teachings of Keeper Ordanus, Keeper of the Grove, and the dryads. She is proficient in alchemy, herbalism and potion making. She can tend to wounds over time. Her healing abilities are unmatched in her grove but outside the borders of Ashenvale, she has not faced an opponent of the Horde she could defeat alone...though she does not need to. When Dryads are caught in a disadvantage in battle, a few preoccupy the enemy...waiting for allies to arrive or for their own to escape. Dryads poisons slow their enemies focus and give ample time for allies to come. Norssina has learned this technique and infused this tactic with her healing abilities.

"*Before you decide to attack the dryads of Ashenvale...first decide if you have enough strength to last the forests night..."*

## The Dryads of Ashenvale

"*Ally to the dryads, I hear the silver winds that thread through the forest…they will call for aid."*

### **Raynewood Retreat**

Norssina's residence is Raynewood Retreat which is located in north-central Ashenvale, east of Shael'dryn's moonwell and west of Night Run.

The retreat is an alliance outpost lead by a keeper of the grove named Ordanus. The druids and keepers here oppose the corruption that spreads through their beloved land.

Raynewood Retreat is a great tree populated by Cenarion Protectors, Blink Dragons, and Laughing Sisters. From that outpost, they watch over the path leading north to the corrupted land of Felwood. Ordanus stays at the retreat, guarding his home from the Horde.

### **Keeper Ordanus and the Dryads**

Ordanus is one of the eldest sons of the forest god Cenarius. In the time of the Long Vigil, he roamed the forests of Ashenvale, helping the weary Sentinels to safeguard their homeland. With his father dead, the keeper returned to the forests, seeking to rebuild what Cenarius had established. He is the leader of the Raynewood Retreat.

The enchanted Keepers of the Grove are the progeny of Cenarius. Like their dryad sisters, the keepers appear to be half night elf and half stag. They have enormous antlers and manes of leaves that flow down their backs. Their right hands are disfigured and twisted — as if they had become like the gnarled root-claws of a treant. Keepers possess many strange powers over nature and can be counted among Azeroth's best healers.

The Dryads, daughters of the demigod Cenarius monitor the health of Ashenvale, and all of Kalimdor's forests. They are peaceful by nature and despise violence; however, like ancients, night elves, and their brothers the keepers of the grove, dryads fight to protect the forests and their allies. Norssina is counted as one of their own, a Laughing Sister, to the Raynewood Retreats dryads. Norssina and her dryad sisters patrol the stretch of forests from the Raynewood Retreat to the Shrine of Aessina and bring offerings to call upon the forest spirit Aessina for her wisdom and protection.

### **An Allegiance Forms - The Silverwood Alliance**

Norssina Whitebranch met Keeper Ordanus and the Laughing Sisters of Raynewood Retreat very early on in her time in Ashenvale. Norssina was wounded from an encounter with the Horde and a group of horde attacking the Shrine of Aessina in Ashenvale. Ordanus and his laughing sisters took Norssina to their retreat and patched her wounds. Norssina's wounds were deep and severe, she would need time to rest. She stayed at Raynewood Retreat until Therysil healed her wounds, and when Norssina was ready, Keeper Ordanus introduced her to the Sentinels of Silverwind Refuge and the Silverwind Enclave. From there an allegiance formed with the Silverwind Enclave from the south, Ordanus and the Dryads and Keepers protecting the northern borders. This alliance, called the Silverwood Alliance was created with the intent to become the safeguard and protector of the Kaldorei's ancestral homeland Ashenvale, from the Horde invasions.

Norssina was taught how to cultivate the plants of the forest. She learned the importance and power of medicine, herbalism and healing. Norssina vowed from these teachings to use them to protect the inhabitants of Ashenvale. With these techniques she will venture out to southern Kalimdor, and the Eastern Kingdoms and assist her allies and other dryads and keepers who need help against the Horde's armies.

Keeper Ordanus promoted Norssina Whitebranch to be the representative and an emissary of Raynewood Retreat.

(The Silverwood Alliance ended due to The Silverwind Enclave's dissolution (While some members are still under the banner of the Silverwind Enclave, their presence has diminished). Norssina Whitebranch still guards Raynewood Retreat and Ashenvales forests.)

## The History and Dissolution of the Silverwind Enclave

### **The Silverwind Refuge**

Located deep in Ashenvale, Silverwind Refuge is an elegant lodge on the north shore of Mytral Lake. The refuge is the garrison of the Silverwind Enclave.

To its north is the furbolg settlement of Greenpaw Village and Norssina's home of Raynewood Retreat. To the south west is the Talondeep Path, which leads to the Stonetalon Mountains. To the south east lies a Horde territory, Bloodtooth Camp. To the east lies a moonwell, as well as a forward outpost for Silverwing Sentinels, and to the far west lies the city of Astranaar, and the Shrine of Aessina.

### **The Founding of the Silverwind Enclave**

The Warsong Clan has always posed a threat to Ashenvale Forest, and the Silverwing Sentinels specifically were formed to fight against them.

The Silverwind Enclave is an arm of the Silverwing Sentinels, led by Commander Tasandra Morindel, a veteran of the War of the Ancients. Their duty is the same as the rest of the Silverwing Sentinels, to defend Ashenvale and the surrounding Kaldorei territories.

The difference between the two is that while the Silverwing Sentinels are primarily based in Astranaar to guard the city itself, the Silverwind Enclave calls the Silverwind Retreat its home, a forward operating post closer to the Orc settlement of Splintertree Post.

The Silverwind Enclave operated on their own under the direction of Commander Tasandra Morindel, though they can be brought back into the fold of the Silverwing Sentinels at any time if the need arises.

### **Norssina Whitebranch joins the Silverwind Enclave**

Norssina was first introduced to Commander Tasandra Morindel and her members of the Silverwind Enclave through the dryads involvement with the Silverwind Refuge. Norssina agreed to join the enclave and assist in protecting their homes, The Silverwind Refuge, Raynewood Retreat, and the Shrine of Aessina, from the increase in horde activity in Ashenvale. Norssina joins their ranks as a healer of the Enclave. Using her druidic teachings of Keeper Ordanus, she will fight with the Enclave in Ashenvale and all Kaldorei territories until her home is safe from the threats of the Horde.

### **The Menethil Accord**

Having received a letter from the leader of the Crimson Dawn, Tasandra, Norssina and their guild made their trip to the Eastern Kingdoms to Menethil Harbor. There she met with the leaders of the Crimson Dawn, Starborne, Clan Hammersong, and Clan Battlehammer to formally enter into a pact of mutual defense and support, hereby known as the Menethil Accord. Keeper Ordanus and Norssina's Keepers and Dryads of Raynewood Retreat pledged their support to the Menethil Accord.

(The Accord at this moment in time has been dissolved.)

### **Norssina's Students**

"I have taken on two new students. As the Silverwind Enclave grows in numbers, so must Raynewood Retreat. We both must maintain a strong defense against the increasing Horde threat. I have taken the forest rogue, Don "Husker" Valewood, and Sentinel Donatra Valewood to Raynewood Retreat where they will now call home. From there I will teach them all I know, and nurture their growth so they can help defend Ashenvale's Forests."

(The Valewood students followed Norssina Whitebranch to Clan Hammersong.)

### **Diminishing Presence**

The Silverwind Enclave was an arm of the Silverwing Sentinels, led by Commander Tasandra Morindel, a veteran of the War of the Ancients. Their duty was the same as the rest of the Silverwing Sentinels, to defend Ashenvale and the surrounding Kaldorei territories. The success of the Silverwind Enclave came at a grave cost. The hordes focus turned to drive out the Silverwinds from Ashenvale and slowly break apart out control of the land. The Horde pillaged and raided our Refuge and only a small excerpt of our records survived to show the tact that was the Silverwind Enclave:

> "*Commander Tasandra Morindel met with a large Alliance army led by Syr, who sought to march to the Crossroads and required Astranaar as a stopping point for rest. Concerned about the presence of such a large force, she called for the Sentinels and Legionnaires of the SIlverwind Enclave to gather at the Refuge. Soon after, a horde army descended on Astranaar and laid seige to the city. Leaving the defense of the city to the proper Sentinel army, as well as the Alliance army that had arrived, Tasandra made haste to the Refuge to ready her forces.*
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> Upon gathering at the refuge, Keeper, the leader of an organization known as Starborne, informed Tasandra of an elite Horde unit attempting to use the chaos of the attack to cause disruption upon other Kaeldori settlements in Ashenvale. To prevent this, the forces of Starborne, the Silverwind Enclave, and others from the Kul Tiras Marines, marched to Splintertree Post to head them off. Unfortunately, as they marched they ran into the main body of the Horde army headed for Astranaar.
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> Tasandra ordered a retreat to the Refuge and began setting up defensive positions. Norssina Whitebranch arrived with reinforcements from Raynewood Retreat. Norssina took control of the healers and guided their assistance in preparation for the battle to come. The Elite horde forces known as the Redwood Tribes emerged from the Talondeep Path and attempted to assault the Refuge. The Silverwind Enclave and their allies were ready however, and they routed the army. The Silverwinds moved back to Astranaar and attacked the horde forces from the rear and defeated them.*"*
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Azeorth has evolved and grown from these times...but the members that pledged themselves to the Silverwinds, and the defense of Ashenvales forests, continue their presence in the world. There are still members under the banner of the Silverwind Enclave, though their presence has diminished. Norssina Whitebranch continues to carry the legacy of the Silverwind Enclave and the Silverwood Alliance. The two might have been overrun in Ashenvale and forced to spread thin across Azeroth, but each Sentinel will always carry the same dedication they learned together to defeat the Horde and protect their lands regardless of the banner they stand behind.

### **An Invitation to Clan Hammersong**

> "...Clan Hammersong has invited me to join their guild. It is an honor to be able to join the Dwarves and Gnomes of Hammersong...yet I am hesistant. So few elves are accepted in to their ranks...I wonder if some members will resist the idea. I never surrounded myself with my Kaldorie brothers and sister as much as others have. I call the Dryands and Keepers of Ashenvale my family so finding myself with a clan of Dwarves and Gnomes does not phase the nomadic life I've lived. Regardless, Clan Hammersong has been so supportive of me after what has happened and have extended an invitation to me that so few receive...I must accept. I have been loyal for their Clan and their Thane, it is only right to join with them under one banner.
> After what has happened to the Silverwind Enclave, no harm will come to anymore people and not just the Elves, Druids, or Sentinels of Azeroth but to all of those in the Alliance. I will join with the Dwarves and Gnomes and maybe together we can take back the forests I pledged to defend...I sing the Hammersong..."
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