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16

The Campfire / Another Beautiful Day

« on: April 02, 2019, 07:57:20 PM »

The first rays of sunlight made their way over the horizon, making me squint my eyes due to the sudden brightness. I didn’t turn away though, merely closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun on my face. Light snoring was heard from beside me. My hand found Timurs soft fur without looking, gently stroking the soft fuzz on his ears while he slept. Uurekh was lying curled up between the front paws of the wolf. It had been a good choice to find a companion for him after Lian had passed away. There was just some level of company, of comfort that I couldn’t give either of them. Especially now we needed to get used to one another again, shift the bond a little after the recent events.

A true daughter of the wild, like me.

The words filled my head and made me smile. I wasn’t sure I deserved such high praise, but those words had stuck with me the most. I woke up some mornings, my thoughts filled with hunting memories, running through the woods with my pack…

I opened my eyes, looking over my shoulder towards Razor Hill.
My pack. The burdens on my shoulders had never been higher than now. I had taken them up willingly of course, but it was going to take some getting used to. How times change…
The talk yesterday between me, Nakobu and Gaar’thok had made me think about all that again. How I had started on my own, so unfamiliar with anything outside my little bubble that I grew up in. My life had been Qa’ajn, Lian and the jungle. The Troll had done his best to teach me at least some things, but I had lacked greatly in social skills with others, especially Orcs. Never did I have the responsibility over anyone besides Lian while we grew up together. Never did I actually care for someone else besides my little family there.

My gaze travelled over some of the orcs that were waking up now and went on their morning duties or practices, my hand still gently stroking the soft fur of the wolf beside me. He was awake now, eyes open. Perhaps sensing my thoughts. He’d been picking up on them more and more lately, yet had pulled away again slightly recently. I didn’t blame him. We’d work on it, all of us together.

Trakmar had changed my life. I had told him multiple times, but I still wasn’t sure how aware he actually was of this fact. Kicked out of camp by a Varog’gor after I just found the Red Blades, Trakmar was the one to find me and convince me to come back with him. He was the one who taught me how to balance my own nature with the orc traditions and history. How not to lose myself, but to become a proper part of it anyway.
And now, I was a Varog’gor. Keeper of the code. Protector of the Chieftain and the clan as a whole. Risen to a position and responsibility I had never thought of reaching, when first meeting the Red Blades. There was no way back anymore now.
It had changed everything. It had changed… me.

Yet I had never doubted the choice to start training as Varog’gor. Even knowing most had ended up dead or insane during the clans history. The burden was a heavy one, after all.

I looked back towards the now slowly rising sun and pushed myself to my feet, stretching myself out. A stab of pain shot through my right shoulder as I did so, but I ignored it. The wound I had gotten in Felwood had still never really healed, a very wide ugly scar taking up most my shoulder now. Perhaps I should’ve found a proper healer for it after all. Maybe let someone take a look at it still…
“Time for morning run, Timur. Coming along?” I spoke softly to the wolf. He raised his ears and stood up to stand by my side. Uurekh lazily just rolled over again. Doubt I’d be able to get him moving for the next hour or so.

There were things I needed to arrange. Plans to be made, orcs to speak to. Not many in the clan had seen the other side of me, and hopefully it would stay that way. But if needed, I would step up and be the one to catch the blows, the target, the one for people to direct their hate to if things are not going as they want and someone needs to interfere. And I’d be ready to defend myself or anyone unjustly targeted by others.

Stalker and Striker. Hopefully only Stalker had to show herself to the world, be that in full or not. But Striker would be ready if needed, I could feel it.

I set off on a jog, the wolf by my side. It was promising to be another beautiful day.

17

The Campfire / Everything Good Comes To An End

« on: January 15, 2019, 01:47:56 PM »

Everything Good Comes To An End




Running paws behind me. A dangerous low growl sounded and urged me to keep running. Keeping still now could mean my death, his nose worked far better than mine. Trickles of sweat ran down my neck and back, making lines in the dark brown mud that covered most of my skin. I was in my element, this was my life. The jungle was alive around me, huge colourful birds squawking in indignity as I chased them from their hiding place by running through the bush they were in. As I rounded a sharp corner around a tree, I was suddenly grabbed by the back of my neck and part of my hair, sharp fingernails digging into my skin uncomfortably. I let out a surprised gasp.

“’Oo ‘a. ‘A nee’  ‘a’efu’, ‘ii’e ‘oo.” A deep voice sounded above me, speaking in such bad Orcish that he garbled all the words.
Yet, seven year old me understood them perfectly.
“I was bein’ careful, pap! And dun call me little, I be seven already!” I pouted up at him as he was still lifting me in the air, but on his face was nothing but amusement, a large, wide grin visible around his long tusks.
Behind me, something small, orange and black came tumbling from the bush, growling in a very threatening way. As threatening as a few months old tiger cub could be, that was.
My ‘pap’ lifted up the squirming tiger cub in his other hand and without another word, started to carry us both back to our little home. He wasn’t much of a talker, my dear Qa’ajn. He was a slender, wiry Troll with very spiky hair going everywhere. His power could be felt though if you were nearby him. His connection with the living things around him. I’d seen him do his magic many times, life and death, the entire circle of life that he served. I looked nothing like him, of course. My skin was grey, my hair red. And the biggest difference, I was an orc and not a Troll. It didn’t seem to matter to him though, he had taken me in as his own child all the same.

We reached our little hut without any incident, both me and the cub sulking all the way, not happy to have been interrupted in our play hunting. Qa’ajn placed us down on the wooden floorboard inside and gave us both a little piece of raw meat before he turned around again and went to work on the herb garden outside the hut.
My anger forgotten, I focused on my food instead, snuggling close to the little warm tiger body that was beside me. “Ya nearly ‘ad me dere, Lian.” I snickered before stuffing my face with meat. My speech was a lot better than Qa’ajns. He actually did teach me to pronounce things mainly right, he just didn’t care to do it himself much. Even though that meant he also taught me a very heavy accent.
Lian only responded with some loud and messy eating noises, but I could feel his affection towards me. We’d been together a few months now, after Qa’ajn had found him as a newborn, sleeping next to his mothers corpse and had brought him home to me.

Now, more than twenty years later, I was sitting against the huge bulk of the same tiger body. The scenery was different, not a warm humid jungle but a forest. I was different. A grown woman now, nearing thirty years if I had kept my counting right, part of a Clan of Orcs. So much had changed during that time, so much had happened. But he’d always been there at my side. My protector, my best friend, a piece of my heart. And now he was dying.
The years had taken a heavy toll on him. His breathing was laboured, his eyes closed. My hand moved to gently stroke the ever so soft fur of his ears and they twitched in response, but he didn’t wake up.
“O’, Lian… It be a cruel t’in’, time… We didn’t ‘ave enoug’ of it toget’er, ya and me. But it be time, no? I ‘ave ta let ya go..” The words were thick with pain, tears streaming down my cheeks. I wasn’t ready to let him go. But he was declining fast. He couldn’t hunt anymore. He nearly only slept and he was in pain. It wasn’t a life I wished for him, it wasn’t worthy of the strong proud tiger he’d been through his life.
My hands trembled as I grabbed a little piece of paper and some coal from my bag and started to write. I wasn’t good at writing and my trembling only made it all the worse, but I was sure Arhnum would understand the meaning of the words, even if they were all garbled up and smeared out.

A few days. Maybe. A few days to say goodbye to the one who’d been there from the start. A few days to say goodbye to part of myself. It wasn’t enough. But I didn’t have a choice.

Because I knew all good things have to come to an end sometime.

18

The Campfire / The Five Elemental Forces

« on: June 26, 2018, 06:29:57 PM »

Part one: Water

Giver of life, the water which is the blood of all creatures. Cleanser, washer of doubt. Do not anger, because the currents that hold so much life, can also take it in a heartbeat.

All ways to describe the element of Water. Yet, looking at the blue shape that once again moved away from her, Rhonya couldn’t help but be somewhat annoyed. They should’ve added: curious, a danger to itself, has a strong own will, stubborn, doesn’t listen.
The She-orc sighed as once again she ran after the little blob of water that she had to protect. It was shaped like a droplet, with two little arms and a head. It even had two little eyes made of water, which right now curiously looked over the edge of the chasm in the Barrens, not even noticing that it was steaming due to the heat that the lava below was causing to rise up into the air.
For a thing without legs, the elemental was surprisingly fast.

“Oh come on, little one! Look, you’ve just lost half of yourself. Do you –want- to disappear?” Rhonya spoke, while trying to urge the small thing further back from the edge, back onto the cooler plains of the Barren land. Thankfully it followed, though reluctantly. The little thing didn’t speak, but it appeared to understand Rhonya’s words now and again. Or perhaps it felt her emotions more, she couldn’t really tell.
Rhonya decided to take a little break. She and the little thing had walked all night and morning already past the Crossroads, only taking a few hours for some sleep. Rhonya didn’t really dare to sleep longer, afraid the tiny elemental would go off on its own and leave her behind. With a soft grunt she sat down on a rock in the shade. As the waveling moved in front of her, she opened her waterskin and poured it empty over the tiny thing. The change was immediate, the waveling grew visibly and actually appeared to enjoy the shower, its form oddly shifting for a moment as it absorbed the added water.
Not able to help herself, Rhonya chuckled softly at the happy elemental. “There, much better, isn’t it?“
Rhonya took some food for herself, sitting on the rock. As she chewed, she counted the waterskins she had left. Apparently she had greatly misjudged how much she’d needed to take with her. Her pack was mainly filled with waterskins, as much as she could’ve carried, but more than half was already gone. And she still had a long way to go…


Later they finally reached the end of the lava chasm. Rhonya had taken a short detour towards the Forgotten pools, but didn’t dare linger long or fill all of her waterskins in the lake there, she didn’t feel safe at all, alone out there. So she only filled a few and continued on.

They could’ve been faster, if it hadn’t been for the elemental which literally took every opportunity to curiously approach things it didn’t know yet. Including predators. Rhonya now sported a few open claw marks on her arms. She had bandaged them, because when she’d tried to call on waters aid to mend herself… it hadn’t answered. Typical. Here she was escorting one of theirs, but they refused to help her in turn. It had made her be even more careful though. She’d been lucky that the lion that had attacked the elemental and her had been an old one and she actually managed to kill it by tricking it and having it fall off the edge of the lava nearby. Not a very honourable end. She’d just muttered a small prayer to Fire to apologize and accept her ‘offering’ … and left it at that.
Rhonya wasn’t a fighter, she had trouble enough already with small prey, let alone a fully grown lion.

The she-orc turned to look at the small elemental, which was now bobbing up and down, circling her legs. It did that at times, mainly when she was standing or sitting still, as if it just couldn’t stop moving. With a soft sigh she poured another of the waterskins over the tiny creature, watching it grow slightly again as she did so. “You need more than I thought… And we’re not even past the worst part yet.” Saying that, she looked towards the small edge they would need to cross to get into Stonetalon. It went right past the heat of the lava far below. The water orb that was still following her as well floated somewhere behind her, unphased by anything. It didn’t get smaller. It just hung there and followed her.

Her back had started to hurt from carrying so much water. She was dusty and tired and thirsty, as she only had taken a few sips of the precious water herself so far. Maybe she could stock up in one of the towns in Stonetalon, but she rather avoided any settlements in fear of losing sight of the elemental. It already happened a few times that she thought she’d lost it when closing her eyes for only a few moments, losing it in a town might as well mean its end. No towns, she decided.
“Right.. Let’s go. No use in delaying. The sooner we get there, the sooner I can get some sleep. I don’t even dare lose sight of you anymore.” She said, while standing up.

It took them another while to actually get past the worst heat. Rhonya had been forced to stop a few times to pour some more water over the elemental before they could continue. As night started to fall again, they entered the slightly more cool Stonetalon Mountains. Exhaustion pressed heavily on the female now, but she didn’t want to stop. She only had a few waterskins left to get her and the waveling to their destination. Her throat was dry and her voice raspy as she spoke.
“Just a bit further, little one…”
Rhonya’s pace was slower now, her feet slightly dragging as she stubbornly continued. Almost as if feeling her exhaustion and that they were nearly there, the waveling kept close to her. Yet it took her another few hours to cross some of the mountains and finally, when she reached the top of one, she could look down on where they were headed.

The forest below them was burning. She could feel the heat from here, rising up into the air. The ground was blackened and cracked, trees fallen over. Rhonya frowned. The Elemental that had given her task had mentioned a fire spirit going wild, but she hadn’t expected it to be this bad. The heavy smoke was making her cough, so she backed off a little to take a rough cloth shawl from her pack to wrap it around her head. Normally she would’ve made it wet, but… There was only one waterskin left. Without hesitation she poured it over the tiny elemental instead.
“That’s all I have..” Even the few words made her cough again, not from smoke but because her throat was so dry. She hadn’t drank anything for hours now. Her legs and hands were shaking and her head felt like it was about to explode any moment, but she didn’t give up.
Slowly she started her way down towards the blackened, burned ground. The closer she got, the more weakened she felt, as if the heat was also sapping her life energy away. Looking down beside her she noticed the waveling shrinking slowly, but steadily. Damnit. They were so close…

Shielding the elemental with her own body as much as she could, Rhonya continued down. Almost there! She could feel her lips burst of dryness and heat, the sharp tinge and taste of blood filling her mouth. Suddenly she tripped, her foot catching on a loose rock. With a cry she tried to grasp something to hold on to, but it was all sand and loose, hot rocks. In a cloud of dust and ashes she disappeared until she smacked hard on the ground down below.

The last thing she saw before the black spots took over her vision was the tiny waveling bobbing around her once before it disappeared into the flames, followed by the watery blob that had been behind them all this time.
And then the world went black.

[Spoiler: "Kozgugore Feraleye" •]

19

Game Related / Character Self View and View of Others, Part 2!

« on: May 12, 2018, 05:25:10 PM »

Seeing the former one is somewhat outdated, let's start anew with the recent people!

This thread is for fun, writing a character view. How would your character view themselves, and others of the clan that are close to them in one way or another? Of course you don't need to join in, no one will force you.
But it's fun to see either way! Views can of course be both positive and negative, keep in mind this is an IC character view and nothing OOC!

As I did in the former topic too, I'll start off with my own character!

Rhonya Steelheart

Self view:

Rhonya has grown. Not only to others their eyes perhaps, but also to her own. Her oldest son is nearing seven years, a stark reminder of how long she's been with the clan as well, as he was born not too long after she started to travel with them.
She finds herself a little lost though between all the new faces in the clan now. So many treat her as if she's allknowing, which makes her proud to see but also very unsure. She, the oathbreaker, the rule breaker, almost taking up the same role of advicer as before. Rhonya isn't entirely sure she wants that.
Her bond with the elements keeps growing at least, something she likes. But it also makes her feel a little more distant from the others. A bit of a crossroads at this point, not sure whether she should step forwards again or is happy on the place she is right now, rankwise.

Rhonya's view on others:

Spoiler: "Kozgugore Feraleye" • show

A lot happened between Rhonya and Kozgugore through the years. Their bond, so strong, once broken but remade again. One of the things Rhonya is most happy about, looking back on the past year. Even though she doesn't get to talk to him much recently, with him distancing himself from the clan a lot, she values him greatly. Yet she worries about him too, as always. The weight of command on his shoulders for such a long time already, can't be easy.

Spoiler: "Gashuk Soulfury" • show

Bloodbrother once, then dead. Then Rhonya risked her entire life in the clan to get him back, to save his soul. And in doing that, she actually also partly saved her own. Gashuk was like a missing piece of a puzzle in her life, filling that spot perfectly and without effort now. She'd die for him, without any hesitation. Her mate for a while already now, he keeps her upright, grounded. Even though she's not too happy with his lust for magic sources still, it's a lot better than when he still used to be addicted to fel. 

Spoiler: "Kogra Windwatcher" • show

Her bloodsister. The one that stood by Rhonya through happy times and hardships, one of her biggest supports the past years. They're like two peas in a pod, almost always agree and disagree on the same things, work together without any effort. Even after being seperated for a while, they picked right up where they'd left as if no time had been in between. Rhonya loves her dearly and would do everything to see her remain happy and healthy. It's not even awkward to Rhonya that her once student is now above her, rankwise. It didn't change anything between them, the respect and unity is still there, stronger than ever. 

Spoiler: "Srelok Grimtide" • show

It took quite a while for Rhonya to warm up to Srelok, due to their past together. As her cousin, he kept reminding her a lot of his father, the one who raised Rhonya. However, through the years and times spent together, a deep bond of trust has grown between them both. He has the uncanny ability to always feel and know how she's feeling and how she's doing, though he doesn't do it on purpose, it annoys her at times. Nothing much that can be kept secret from Srelok. She's very proud of the effort and care he's shown to the others of the clan, though she also worries he might've given a bit too much of himself up for others. He keeps his distance now and that only adds to these worries. She misses him. Srelok is also somewhat like a father for Rhonya's cubs and those not hers that she cares for, watching over them a lot of times.

Spoiler: "Trakmar Beastbane" • show

An unlikely bloodbrother. She didn't expect this to happen, but it did, and now Rhonya is actually glad about it. Trakmar has always been a pillar for Rhonya in the clan. Albeit not always one she could lean on, but he was there through hard times and good times, a familiar face, someone with a hard outer shell but once she got to know him, she saw the softer side of him. A side he doesn't show much in public, but she's happy that he trusted her enough to show it to her in private. Also once a student, now Rhonya's tutor. What worries her now is his visible decline. He's started to mean even more to her, she does not want to lose him so soon after finally getting to know him better.

Spoiler: "Noshmarak Ironclaw" • show

Once an enemy and prisoner, now a Rrosh'tul and commander. He reminds Rhonya a little of Gridish, they both share a certain kind of humour when things are calm in camp, but can be utterly ruthless and serious when time calls for it. He's a good leader, the orcs follow him well. 

Spoiler: "Vraxxar Wildmark" • show

Rhonya has seen a lot more of Vraxxar recently, though she still feels she doesn't really know him that well. Helping him with a piece left of his past recently made her glad. He looks on his place. Varog'gor suits him, though Rhonya thinks he'll need to harden his heart a bit more to fully be able to carry what will be asked of him in his current position. He is too nice to some orcs in her eyes, not firm enough. It may come to bite him in the ass eventually.

Spoiler: "Kyrazha Throatrender" • show

Rhonya doesn't like Kyrazha very much. She still thinks Kyra is angry at her for the choices she and Sadok made a few years ago. Plus the fact Rhonya is now taking care of Kyra's and Sadoks children, which Kyrazha doesn't want anything to do with. Kyrazha acts bitter to her, often simply outright ignoring her when they do happen to run into one another. Rhonya's afraid the female will become angry when pushed too hard about these matters though, so she doesn't discuss them. Instead she just tells Trakmar about it, he knows better how to handle his mate.

Spoiler: "Atarka" • show

A strong but silent personality, as far as Rhonya has seen at least. Atar'ka comes across as intelligent, though more one to watch a while first before giving her opinion on anything. Rhonya is curious about her, what drives her, what brought her to the clan and what happened to her before she joined them? She will not push the matter though, Rhonya is patient enough to wait and observe a bit more and slowly prod Atar'ka at times for some more details, if she's willing to share them.

Spoiler: "Karnna Blackfeather" • show

Rhonya lost her trust for this female after she brought the clan in danger in several ways, plus the effort Rhonya had gone through before to have her cleansed with Light. Her warnings about the Shadow were thrown into the wind and came back to bite the entire clan in the ass, so Rhonya is certainly keeping an eye on Karnna now, not trusting her shadow magics and affinity with humans.

Spoiler: "Okiba" • show

Someone who made his way quickly in the clan, and in Rhonya's eyes a good addition. His ways are somewhat strange, but that's always been such with those taught in the ways of the pandaren. He's not scared to take up tasks himself and teach others, which Rhonya is happy about. She feels a little guilty still though that he got hurt and she couldn't mend him properly, which meant he left for quite a long time to seek help with the pandaren menders instead. Rhonya is certainly somewhat intrigued by him though and appriciates his company and advice.

Spoiler: "Narthak Strongarm" • show

A good friend, is one of the first things Rhonya thinks when she's asked about Nar'thak. She doesn't know him very well, but would love to learn more of his past and present. He's her fellow mender and she's actually really proud of him and the way he made himself useful and needed in the clan from the first day onwards. She feels she can safely let him mend the others as well, that he won't mess up. They have a pretty good teamwork going on as well when working on something together, she can do things with her shamanism that he can't do with his chi, and visa versa. He's very well on his way in the clan in her eyes, making himself trusted more and more.

Spoiler: "Razaron" • show

The most unlikely Varog'gor she's ever seen. Rhonya isn't entirely sure she trusts him in that position. But she trusts Kozgugore in not picking his Varog'gor wrongly, so she's willing to see where this is going with him. Rhonya likes Razaron, he does make her laugh and brings some well needed lighter hearted moments in the clan as well. And who knows, he might surprise her, knowing how ruthless he can also be sometimes.

Spoiler: "Tahara" • show

Rhonya hasn't spoken to this one that much yet. Somewhat standing out a little though as not your typical orc, but that's something Rhonya can admire, actually. Especially as she chose the path of Wisdom while probably everyone expected the she-orc to choose Strength. 

Spoiler: "Urzoga" • show

A tragic story, this one. Rhonya really felt for the woman when she heard what happened and how she found herself with the clan all of a sudden. Yet Rhonya isn't entirely sure what kind of support she can be for Urzoga, because the she-orc doesn't seem entirely certain herself which direction she wants to go. This makes Rhonya a bit uncertain about approaching her as well, not wanting to chase her away or make things even more complicated for Urzoga. But should she ever come to Rhonya for advice or just for a talk, she's very willing to offer a listening ear or even a shoulder to cry on.

Spoiler: "Grarshak" • show

Someone Rhon thought of pretty highly at first. He came across as knowning what he wanted, certain of his ways, those of the blademaster. But after she helped him getinto contact with Krogon, he only appeared to have lost his way all of a sudden. She kind of avoids him now a bit, he's only gotten mad at her the past times they spoke, mainly because of his very close minded view on Nakobu and how the clan treats him and his inability to see past what happened in the past. She's lost a big chunk of respect for him.

Spoiler: "Kargnar" • show

Her cousins Bloodbrother. Rhonya can't say she really knows much about Kargnar. He doesn't really strike her as the kind of orc that wishes to tell a lot about himself. To her, he kind of blends into the background, which isn't a bad thing perse, but for a Rrosh'tul, he doesn't really come across to her as a leader figure. Especially because he nearly killed another clanmember in a simple spar not too long ago, going for lethal blows and then came asking Rhonya if she could mend the dying orc. This really hit a wrong note in her eyes, even more so when he insisted one of the she-orcs was his lifemate, broke up with her the week after and got bonded with an other one not even a few weeks after that. Her respect for him has gotten quite low after those recent events, but she's willing to keep an open mind and see where he goes from here, now having his rank back again.

Spoiler: "Gaarthok" • show

So far Gaar'thok strikes Rhonya as someone she can talk to and trust to a degree. He's very interested in learning about the clan and its ways, the spirits and everything, which is a good thing in her eyes!

Spoiler: "Nakobu" • show

Her newblood. Reminds her so much of herself years ago. Starting on the wrong foot in the clan, being looked at with disgust and mistrust. She's taken him under her wing and will be there for him when needed, he's eager to learn at least!

People outside the clan:

Spoiler: "Belthran" • show

A very unlikely friend that Rhonya didn't expect would be able to get so close to her. She doesn't see him as often as she'd like, but she's fond of him. Belthran has given her some advice and insights from a very unique perspective and point of view, seeing he's a Forsaken and not part of the clan. Often he's hit the mark a bit too well for her liking, striking true on some pretty sensitive topics. He is the only Forsaken in all those years she's learned to trust, which is even more a very rare feat because he's a shadow priest, the thing Rhonya used to fear and dislike a lot.

20

The Campfire / The Road of Honour

« on: April 11, 2018, 09:57:55 PM »

The First Few Steps

“No Lian, ya need ta stay. Go stalk Nos’ for a few days or somet’in’. I’ll be fine.” I said to the tiger who was staring at me with his surprisingly intelligent orange eyes. They were clouding over slowly, his sight lessening, which made me sad to see. I ran my clawed hand over his head and gave his ear a teasing tug. He snapped his teeth at my fingers in an irritated manner, before the big cat just turned and walked away, his large paws puffing up little clouds of sandy dust on the dry ground.
I sighed softly. He was getting more clingy each day, more protective. I knew he felt it in his bones, he was losing strength. He wasn’t as fast anymore as he used to be in his younger days, slowly the large cat was losing the battle against time.

I couldn’t take him though on my little trip. It’d require a few days, at the least. The scouting I’d done before on this task was useless now, too much time had passed. Packs changed hierarchy, position, dens.. I’d have to find them anew, keep my eye on them for a little while.
Time to go, at the very least. I’d packed light, no weapons at all, merely wearing a loincloth and a chest wrap that kept my bust tightly against my chest so I wouldn’t be hindered. I only carried a very light bag with some dried meat and a waterskin. The first part of the journey was simple, it took me north of the crossroads. I kept mainly to the side of the road to avoid travellers and stayed in the darkness of the night until I reached the border with Ashenvale a while later.
The sun was slowly making its way into the sky when I arrived, but as I passed into the woods the darkness surrounded me once more, the massive trees blocking out a lot of the sunlight above. First stop, the little water pool close to the path. It only took me a few moments to cover myself in mud from head to toe. The brown together with the greyish green of my skin made for a perfect camouflage, plus it’d mask my scent.
Second stop, the shrine of Lo’gosh.

My focus was mainly on my surroundings. Elves still lived in these woods, though often if I kept away from their main bases and didn’t bother anything in the forest, they didn’t bother me. Yet, I better be safe than sorry, so I kept alert and on guard. It wasn’t very far away and on the way there I managed to surprise two rabbits and snap their necks, bringing them with me. The shrine itself hadn’t changed much even though it had been a while since I’d been there last. I left the rabbits in front of the abandoned stone structure.
I spoke slowly and in a low tone, concentrating on forming the words correctly, closing my eyes just a moment as I placed my hand on the shrine.
“Honoured Lo’gosh, please accept my offerings as payment for the right to hunt in these woods. I will take only one life, or if I fail, it will take mine. “
It was all I said and without waiting for any sign or answer, I turned and left the clearing.

Not much time later I’d found one of the wolf packs. Now the waiting game would begin. I’d stay out of sight in the trees, downwind so they wouldn’t smell me. And I’d watch. Observe, learn, choose.
With my eyes following the shapes down below, of which most were sleeping now, I started to recite the code of Honour in my head.
Might as well make good use of my time.

21

The Campfire / On the Path to Redemption

« on: January 10, 2018, 04:17:24 AM »

“Raise your chin, Steelheart.”
Trakmar had said, before he had gone to rest.

So when the new day began, Rhonya set out. The sun was barely coming above the horizon, but she was up and about, collecting what she’d need. A chain, a very strong piece of rope tied to it. A piece of bloody raw meat. And her dagger. Her clothes consisted of leather pants and a simple shirt plus light leather boots, her hair bound back into a long braid.
The knowledge was there, how to hunt. The problem was more that she didn’t want to call on the spirits for this task to help her and well… there was no denying it, she just wasn’t the most strong orc around. Agile to a degree, but she’d never been strong. She pushed everything else out of her mind. Heart aches, hurts, insecurities. There was no room for them today. Today she had a task to do.

The barren lands made way for the red sands of Durotar as Rhonya made her way to the Southfury river. Thinking on a prey had actually been rather easy. Something that she felt a connection to. Something that was also a contrast to her, however. She had lived here in the Barrens and Durotar for quite a while now on her own and had gotten to know its inhabitants pretty well. She had learned to feel a certain love for the land, so that was already a start to the connection.

She followed the Durotar side of the river until she found a suitable spot. A palm tree, hanging to the side, several other palm trees surrounding it, giving the place some shade right next to the water. The little island was empty. Perfect.

Time to set up. This wouldn’t be so much a hunt of chasing something. No, this would be a test of patience and courage to a degree. It wouldn’t be easy.
The chain she brought went around the tree. It had to be firm. The rope at the end of the chain, knotted into a loop that would pull tight only one way. The bloody meat just behind the loop. 
She used the bushes to get the loop upright slightly, a little ‘path’ in between leading towards the meat. A trail of blood was made, starting in the water and leading the few steps towards the bushes.

And now she had to wait. And hope nothing else would be attracted by the scent of the blood and the slab of raw flesh.
Rhonya hid herself behind the other two trees nearby, dagger in her hand. Patience, now.. patience.

It took several hours. Several hours of the sun burning down on her shoulders and her head, several hours of watching, waiting… But finally something moved on the water’s edge. A dark shadow moving through the water, lured in by the blood. It didn’t take long for a nose to surface, followed by a long, flat head with large eyes. The jaws were enormous, teeth jutting out at odd angles, a spiny back now also visible as the creature stepped out of the water. Rhonya inhaled sharply as she saw the crocolisk step onto the land. It was.. slightly larger than she had expected. Maybe she should’ve chosen a different prey-.. No. It wasn’t meant to be an easy task and she’d always felt a certain understanding with these creatures already. It had to be this one. 
The Crocolisk took its time on land to sniff out the blood and meat, waggling with its six legs towards the bushes.
Rhonya held her breath.

Step by step, it came closer. Poked its head right through the gap in the bushes and the loop of the rope. It gobbled up the meat like it was nothing and when it turned to leave again after not finding anything more to eat, the loop tightened due to the movement.

Immediately a loud angry roar sounded as the crocolisk felt the rope around its neck pulling tight, making it struggle even more. Snapping jaws tightened around the chain, but it didn’t break. It rolled over, trying to get loose. But to no avail. Rhonya had made a good knot, had chosen a good rope.

She waited.. and waited. Patience.

Eventually the beast ended up on its stomach again. The rope wasn’t strong enough to choke it, the hide too thick.
This was her sign. It was getting tired. But a beast pushed into a corner was only more dangerous.
 She had to be fast. One chance was probably all she’d get.
Making use of her small form and her agility, Rhonya leapt from the side, dagger in her hand. Her aim was perfect, she landed right on the beasts neck and stabbed the dagger down. She had no time to see if she had aimed it well, because the moment she touched the beasts back, it reacted and rolled again. A sharp pain flared up near her leg where one of the claws managed to rake open her skin. But she had no time to cry out.
Keeping a hold off the dagger, she let the movement of the large reptile fling her to the side, pulling the dagger out of its flesh again.
Rhonya rolled a few times through the dust, ending up a little bit away, luckily for her out of reach of the crocolisk, which was still stuck to the rope. And now bleeding.
A large puddle of blood started to form under the beast.

She waited.

Her own leg was bleeding, but for now she only quickly bound a piece of cloth around it. Patience. If she had gotten a good hit, the beast should bleed out in not too long. If she hadn’t.. She would have to try again, as not to make it suffer too long.
Luckily it only took a few moments of thrashing before the reptile lay still. Her aim had been well, the main artery in the neck severed. Luck had been with her today, indeed.
With a huge sigh of relief, she quickly got to work. Time to skin. And make this totem.

22

The Campfire / Broken

« on: January 08, 2018, 03:02:02 PM »

“You have regained one of your blood brothers through this ritual. I would say that I am happy for you, were it not for present circumstances. Through it, however, you have also lost one. You have cast my personal advice as blood brother to the wind. As such, you have shown to me exactly what my own opinion matters to you. Though it grieves me greatly, I call upon the Great Spirits. Under their eyes and judgement, I wish to absolve my blood bond with you, Rhonya Steelheart.”

The words and the image of Kozgugore slicing his own palm open while uttering his wish were burned into her mind. Again and again they played in her head, and every time she felt her heart breaking. With his action, he hadn’t just absolved their oath. He had also ripped a piece from her heart and left a deep, black hole in its place.
There was a pain in her chest, physical and real, as Rhonya sat there wedged between two crates. She hardly fit in between but she didn’t care. The pain was there, keeping her company. It made breathing hard, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her hands pressed against her chest.
How long had she been sitting there? Time had become a bit of a moot point by now, as she hadn’t opened her eyes since sitting down here. Some Orcs had come by in the beginning, speaking to her, touching her. The words had been a blur mainly, the touches had only annoyed her. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?
The voices. Karak, Gashuk, at first. A hand was laid on her shoulder, she felt it but it just made her angry. Couldn’t they see?
One voice left. Another joined. Her sister.
The one who got punished for the fact she had helped Rhonya. The one that didn’t deserve to be punished.
The first thing to come through clearly was a voice in her head. Gashuks voice. It had startled her but not surprised her. It only reminded her more of the pain though so she shut him out. She just wanted silence, a few moments to herself, why didn’t they understand…

Eventually she was alone. Her whole body was screaming by this point, hurting because of her balled up position between the crates. It was pitch dark around her, the only sounds those of the nightly creatures nearby. Finally, silence.

Yet, it didn’t comfort her much. Now she had no distractions, the image returned again. Kozgugores voice in her head, speaking those words.
“I wish to absolve my blood bond with you, Rhonya Steelheart.”

It was the worst punishment he could’ve given her, knowing how much she valued her bloodsiblings, how much she loved him and respected him. She had wanted to tell him that before he spoke her punishment, but he hadn’t allowed her to. Thus her chance had been taken from her and he had publicly cast her aside, breaking her heart in the progress.

It hurt. It hurt her so much.

The ritual had been something bad, she accepted that. But it had been the least bad choice, considering the alternatives that she had gotten. But no one seemed to understand that aside from Gashuk himself and Kogra. No one wanted to understand. They wanted someone to blame, someone to point the finger to and say it was her fault for bringing an ‘abomination’ in their midst. Orcs fear what they don’t understand. So she couldn’t blame them for taking the easy way of condemning her for something they couldn’t wrap their minds around.
But it hurt so much.

Years, she had given to the clan. Years of self-sacrifice, years of pain and joy, years of her own sweat and blood to keep them safe, to keep them healthy. Years so easily forgotten by most of them, it felt like.
Rhonya had been faced with an impossible choice. No matter what she would’ve done with that stone, it would’ve condemned her one way or the other.
But it still hurt so much…
Destroying the stone hadn’t been an option. She didn’t know how, it was protected plus she’d have to live with the knowledge she probably would’ve wiped out the entire existence of her bloodbrother. No afterlife.
Leaving the stone alone hadn’t been an option. That meant Gashuk would be forced to spend the rest of his days in nothingness and eventually emerge as a broken, tortured spirit, seeking for redemption and closure. She wouldn’t put that fate on anyone.
So the only option left had been to put the soul back into a body. Rhonya had been careful to avoid anything fel related, to reduce the damage as much as possible to the spirits.

But no one understood. They had seen Gashuk and made their minds up about what happened, throwing accusations at the three of them from all sides, her and Gashuk in particular. He took them without backing down.
But for Rhonya, every harsh word felt like a lash of the whip. Like they were clawing at her very flesh. Trust broken.

It hurt so much…

Tears started to stream down her face again, the image of Kozgugore once more flashing in front of her eyes.
“I wish to absolve my blood bond with you, Rhonya Steelheart.”

Her heart broke all anew. He meant so much to her, even now. She loved him with all her being, all those years they had supported one another, trusted one another. Gone. Gone with a few words, with one action. She didn’t know how to fix this.

It hurt. So very, very much.

23

The Campfire / Ancestor of Old

« on: December 14, 2017, 06:55:45 PM »

Red dust flew up around the paws of the large wolf running at high speed through the Barrens. Rhonya was holding on, for now, but the expression on her face betrayed the pain she was in. Riding Keren all the way from Razor Hill to the harpy woods in the neighbouring lands with her bruised and cracked ribs had really not been a good idea. But what choice did she have?
Sadoks face re-appeared before her mind’s eye. Thin, sunken eyes, a face she hadn’t even recognized at first and she had seen him in a lot of horrible conditions through the years. None as bad as this. His very essence, his very soul was withering away and it broke her heart. She’d been shocked to see him in that state, mainly also because it had been unexpected.

She’d gone to the water for some privacy to change her bandages, but she hadn’t expected to find the water moving when she looked down into it, shaping slowly into the reflection of a face looking back at her. And not her own reflection.
Sadok had even sounded different. Gone was the mostly jovial and joking personality. This had been … a shade. A shade of his former self, barely anything left of him anymore. He even appeared to get distracted easily, as if his mind wasn’t fully there, his thoughts disappearing, going into memories of the past.

He wasn’t on the Eternal Planes. He was in an empty world, a reflection of a world, an abandoned world. And he was slipping away. Disappearing. Together they discussed what might’ve caused this abnormality, what caused his spirit to be thrown someplace else.
Eventually they remembered the Sceptre. The artefact that he had been holding that day, that saved the cubs and Sukeenah, but cost him his own life as he couldn’t move away from the onslaught, couldn’t avoid the entire building collapsing on him when he ran out of energy to fuel the sceptre that was protecting him but also killing him at the same time.

The only one who could answer things about the Sceptre though, was its original maker and owner. An orc, Ancestor of the Red Blade clan.
And he was one of the most difficult to work with.

The woods came into view. Rhonya steered Keren in the direction of one particular tree before she left the wolf, climbing off the saddle with a painful grunt. Her chest was on fire, pain searing white hot with every breath, but she needed to do this.
She didn’t have much to work with right now, but the most important thing she needed was right there.
Rhonya softly placed her hand against one of the trees, closing her eyes to focus. The earth below the tree roots started to move, pushing something up. It looked like a long, spiked mace. Nothing special. But she knew better than that.
She prepared a bowl of incense and sat herself down in front of the sceptre.
It was time for some improvisation.

"Right-.. Ghrm. " Rhonya cleared her throat gently before closing her eyes once more.
"Mruthgor, Shaman King. Oh high and mighty spirit, honoured ancestor, I beg for your attention. I kneel before your Sceptre, before you, to ask for your aid, your guidance. Only someone as amazing as you can aid me, Shaman King."
Maybe a little thick on the compliments.. but if she remembered well, that's what he enjoyed hearing. It was worth a try? She focused entirely on the sceptre in front of her, of the connection it probably still had to the previous owner of the damned thing.

It didn’t take long, as she expected. A brilliant blue light flashed and the image of the Ancestor appeared inside of it. He pointed at her with a potent finger, his booming voice letting out a lengthy boast as was common among the great warriors of Old Draenor.

“I AM IMPORTANT, I AM MIGHTY. THE VALIANT ORC WHO HAS NO EQUAL AMONG THE WARLORDS OF THE FOUR QUARTERS OF THE WORLD.
THE WONDERFUL SHEPHERD WHO IS NOT AFRAID OF BATTLE. THE GREAT FLOOD WHICH NONE CAN OPPOSE. THE SHAMAN-KING WHO MAKES THOSE WHO ARE NOT SUBJECT TO HIM SUBMISSIVE. THE GREAT WARRIOR WHO TREADS ON THE NECK OF HIS ENEMIES, TRAMPLES DOWN ALL FOES, AND SHATTERS THEIR ARMIES.

THE SHAMAN-KING WHO RULES WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE GREAT SPIRIT-GODS, WHO COMMANDS SUPPORT FROM ALL LANDS, WHOSE HAND HAS CONQUERED CREATURES OF THE ICY MOUNTAINS AND THE SEAS, FASHIONED THEM IN WHITE LIMESTONE AND ALABASTER, AND PLACED THEM AT MY GATES. I HAVE ADORNED MY SETTLEMENT OF KRAAG’GOL, AND MADE IT GLORIOUS.
I HAVE TRANSCENDED DEATH, AND I GO WHERE I PLEASE AMONG THE LANDS OF THE LIVING AND THE LANDS OF THE DEAD.
I AM MRUTHGOR, THE CELEBRATED SHAMAN-KING. WHO DARES SUMMON ME?"

Rhonya kept her head bowed low while he spoke, though there was a little tired frown on her face. She’d forgotten how bad it was with him. She needed his help though, so time for some acting. She wouldn’t let him see how much pain she was in, how direly she needed his help. She’d just play along. And get him to give her what she wanted. Hopefully.

She realised she had tuned him out a little and he was done speaking, looking down at her expectantly. Oh, right, he had asked who she was.
"Eh-.. Oh mighty Shaman King, I am but your humble servant, in need of aid. My name is Rhonya Steelheart, we met before, though I am by no means important enough to be remembered. But perhaps your brilliant mind can still call upon the memory. "

Mruthgor scratched his chin, before nodding.

"I DO NOT FORGET MY FAITHFUL SERVANTS. I AM THE ORC THAT DOES NOT FORGET. MY MEMORY IS RENOWNED AMONG ORCS. I AM MRUTHGOR THE GREAT, MRUTHGOR WHOSE MEMORY STRETCHES BACK AEONS UNTO THE FOUNDING OF THE WORLD, WHERE SPIRITS AND FURIES SHARED THE LAND WITH MORTALS."
He continued.
"WHAT IS IT YOU REQUEST OF THE MIGHTY SHAMAN-KING, HE WHOSE ABILITY IS GREATER THAN ALL OTHERS?"

"I am humbled you remember me, mighty Shaman king."  Rhonya bowed her head a little deeper, suppressing a hiss of pain. Keep up the act. Even if it's entirely humiliating.
"As you can see, I have your sceptre here. Against our will, it has been.. activated in the past, causing Sadok Sharptongue to get stuck and eventually be crushed by rubble. Entirely his own fault of course, but now his spirit appears to be stuck between plains. I sit here before you to ask you for any aid with this. "

Mruthgor heared Rhonya's words with an attentive if patronising expression, then he laughed. And laughed. And laughed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. HOHOHOHOHOHO. FOOLS! FOOLS.
DID YOU NOT HEED THE WARNING? DID YOU NOT HEED THE WORDS OF MRUTHGOR THE CELEBRATED, MRUTHGOR THE VENERATED, MRUTHGOR THE WISE? DID YOU NOT LISTEN WELL TO HE WHO COMES FROM THE MISTS: THE MISTS OF TIME, OF LEGEND OF MYTH. HE WOULD COMES FROM BARREN LANDS OF ICE AND SNOW, TOO ARDUOUS FOR ANY OTHER CLAN. A PLACE WHERE THE MIGHTY FIRES OF MY GREATHALL, DEN OF THE WOLF CLAWS, BURN LONG INTO THE FREEZING NIGHT.

HARK NOW AS I REPEAT WHAT WAS SAID TWENTY-ONE SEASONS PAST, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE THAT WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT LISTEN, SUCH AS THE SMALL-MINDED SHARPTONGUE.
IN MY MANY FRUITFUL YEARS AS CHIEFTAIN AND MIGHTY SHAMAN-KING, MY TALENT AND POWER OVER THE SPIRIT-GODS HAD BROUGHT MANY BOONS TO MY CLAN. LO, HOW THIS POWER BROUGHT THE THUR-RUK ORACLES TO END THE LINE OF THE WOLFKINGS WHEN GRUTHGAR THE RAGGED PASSED WITHOUT HEIR.

YET AFTER MANY YEARS OF WALKING AMONG THE SPIRITS, A COST HAD BEEN EXACTED. A COST THAT EVEN THE GREAT MRUTHGOR THE SHAMAN-KING, CHAMPION AND GENERALLY EXCELLENT PERSON MUST PAY. SO THAT IT WAS WITH AGE AND STRIFE THAT MY SPIRITUAL COMMUNION BECAME UNFOCUSED AND FRAGMENTED. YET I WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SOURCE OF MY POWER TO SLIP FROM MY MIGHTY CLAWS, THE POWERFUL CLAWS OF THE SHAMAN-KING, HE WHOSE CLAWS ARE GREATER THAN ANY OTHER CLAWS IN ALL MANNER OF CLAWLIKE THINGS.

INSTEAD SO IT CAME TO PASS THAT THE THUR-RUK ORACLES PLEDGED THEIR POWER TO MINE, EACH PLACING A PORTION OF THEIR SOUL WIRTHIN THE SCEPTRE OF THE SHAMAN-KING, THE GREAT AND POTENT WEAPON THAT YOU HAVE LAID BEFORE YOU, A WEAPON THAT HAS LAID WASTE TO ARMIES BEYOND YOUR RECKONING. WITH THIS SACRIFICE MY FORMER POWER WAS RESTORED AND I CONTINUED TO RULE CLAN REDBLADE WITH HONOR, WISDOM AND STRENGTH. TRULY I AM AS HONORABLE, WISE AND STRONG NOW AS I WAS THEN, AND EVER WILL BE."

Rhonya tried to keep listening, a large frown on her face. She had to shift her hand to help herself keep her balance, placing it in front of her on the ground while trying to make it look as if she was still humbly paying attention while he kept talking.

“AS I PASSED UNTO THE REALM OF SPIRITS, THIS MIGHTY WEAPON WAS KEPT AS AN HEIRLOOM OF CLAN REDBLADE, THOUGH NONE COULD WIELD IT -- FOR NONE ARE THE EQUAL OF MRUTHGOR THE SHAMAN-KING, HE WHO IS MIGHTY IN ALL WAYS. YET FOLLOWING THE TREACHERY OF AKESH THE POISONER, STONEBROWBANE AND LEGION SNAKE, IT FELL BEYOND THE RECKONING OF MORTALS AND SOON INTO THE HANDS OF THE TWILIGHT'S HAMMER CULT.

TRULY THEN I HEARD THE SPIRIT-GODS CALL OUT WITH A VENGEANCE, WITH PAIN AND WITH ANGER. THEY CURSED THE SCEPTRE, CURSED THE SHAMAN-KING, CURSED CLAN REDBLADE AND ALL OF ITS DESCENDENTS. THESE DARL FPRCES PERVERTED ITS INTENT TO CALL UPON THE SPIRITS AND INSTEAD SHACKLE THEM INTO SERVICE, A TRULY DEPLORABLE ACT (THOUGH MRUTHGOR IS OF COURSE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DO SO IF HE WANTED, HONOR FORBIDS HIM EXERCISING THIS GREAT POWER).

LO, THOUGH THE SCEPTRE WAS RECOVERED, IT WAS NOT PURIFIED. LO, THOUGH IT ENTERED INTO THE SAFEKEEPING OF HONORABLE ORCS, IT REMAINED A DISHONORED WEAPON DEDICATED TO A GREAT EVIL. SO THAT IT WAS WHEN THE ONE YOU CALL SADOK WAS IN MORTAL PERIL, THE WEAPON SEIZED UPON HIM AND ENSNARED HIS VERY SOUL. YES, THE SHAMAN-KING HAS KNOWN THIS, THOUGH NONE WOULD ASK HIM. HOW FORGOTTEN THE GREAT MRUTHGOR IS BY THE CHILDREN OF REDBLADE, HOW ASHAMED THEY MUST FEEL.

SO, THIS IS YOUR BIND. YOU HOLD BEFORE YOU A SCEPTRE CONTAINING THE SOUL OF THE ONE YOU SEEK TO SAVE, WHICH THE WEAPON HAS CONSUMED SLOWLY. IF YOU WISH TO SAVE WHAT REMAINS, THE SCEPTRE MUST BE CONSECRATED. IF YOU WISH YOU DESTROY THE WEAPON, SO TO WILL YOU DESTROY THE SOUL WITHIN. THE CHOICE IS YOURS."
Mruthgor nods mightily.
"MRUTHGOR HOPES YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION. THE MIGHTY SHAMAN-KING WILL NOT REPEAT HIMSELF AGAIN."

Rhonya looked somewhat impressed when he finished talking. She had a great urge to tell him what she really thought of him, but.. he was still an Ancestor and she needed his help. So she’d play her part. Like an obedient little shaman.

"I heard you and I will remember, mighty Shaman King. And I ask you now, because I didn't know about this curse. I apologize if you had to tell the clan this before already. We'll try to do better." She winced a short moment, inhaling with a sharp hiss before continuing.
"Pray, do tell me, how does one ..consecrate such a mighty object?"

Mruthgor looked down at Rhonya as if she was the stupidest person alive.
"HOW DO YOU CONSECRATE A CORRUPTED OBJECT? ARE YOU NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A SAGE OF YOUR CLAN, COUNCIL IN MATTERS OF THE SPIRITS? TRULY, HOW STANDARDS HAVE FALLEN IN THE MANY YEARS SINCE MRUTHGOR THE MIGHTY SHAMAN-KING TRANSCENDED MORTALITY.
YOU MUST ANOINT A VESSEL OF CLEANSING WATERS BLESSED BY THE ELEMENTAL SPIRIT-GODS OF THE ABYSSAL MAW. YOU MUST PREPARE A WHITE FLAME OF PURITY BY SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF THE ELEMENTAL SPIRIT-GODS OF THE FIRELANDS. YOU MUST CRAFT A STICK OF INCENSE AMONG THE FOUR WINDS ATOP A MOUNTAIN-PEAK, BLESSED BY THE SPIRIT-GODS OF THE SKYWALL. YOU MUST GATHER SOIL FROM THE TWO ENDS OF THE EARTH, HALLOWED BY THE BLESSING OF THE SPIRIT-GODS OF THE DEEPHOLM.

BATHE THE SCEPTER IN THE WATERS OF THE VESSEL AND PRONOUNCE THE WORDS 'AQUA, EGO EXCITO ELE.' PASS THE SCEPTER OVER THE WHITE FLAME. 'IGNEM, EGO EXCITO ELE." PASS IT OVER THE RISING SMOKE OF THE INCENSE STICK. “VENTUS, EGO EXCITO ELE.” AND BURY IT WITHIN THE SOIL OF PURITY. “TERRA, EGO EXCITO ELE.”
FINALLY, TAKE THE SCEPTER IN BOTH HANDS AND RECITE THE FOLLOWING WORDS SEVEN TIMES: "I CONSECRATE THIS WEAPON BY THE POWERS OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS AND THE SPIRITS THAT BIND THEM. MAY THE SPIRIT-GODS WITNESS THIS HALLOWING OF ITS MATTER -- IN MY HANDS SHALL IT SERVE TO WEAVE THE POWERS OF THE SPIRITS. AS I WILL IT SO IT SHALL BE."
YES, THE SCEPTER’S POWER WILL BE MADE ANEW AND YOU MIGHT RELEASE THE SOUL WITHIN, TO ITS FINAL REST IN THE ETERNAL PLAINS.

MRUTHGOR THE SHAMAN-KING HOPES HE HAS BEEN SUITABLY CLEAR ABOUT THIS MOST SIMPLE OF RITUALS."

Rhonya now did look up at him, blinking. Surprised. She opened her mouth a little, but didn’t find the words at first.
"Eh-... What? I'm sorry, but that's.. not simple at all. There is no other way?"
For a moment forgotten that she was supposed to be humble and submissive, a light expression of anger crossed over her face.

Mruthgor stared down Rhonya, an unimpressed expression beneath his ancient wolfmask.
"FOR A RITUALIST AS POWERFUL AND KNOWLEDGABLE AS MRUTHGOR THE CELEBRATED SHAMAN-KING, TRULY IS IT SIMPLE. YET WHAT IS SIMPLE IS NEITHER EASY NOR FAST. YOU MUST DECIDE WHETHER YOU WILL CLEANSE THE SCEPTRE AND FREE THE SOUL OF THE ONE ENSNARED WITHIN, OR TO SIMPLY DESTROY IT AND WITH IT DESTROY THE SOUL. THE CHOICE IS YOURS, FOR THE SHAMAN-KING MAY COUNSEL BUT IT IS FOR MERE MORTALS TO ACT."

"I can't.. get to all those places you mentioned, as ... mere mortal. Someone as powerful as you must be able to help me, no?"
She could try, at the very least..
"I am but a mere mortal, after all." Rhonya said softly, lowering her head a bit more.

Mruthgor laughed.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. HOHOHOHOHOHOHO. DO YOU THINK MRUTHGOR THE SHAMAN-KING IS SO EASILY SWAYED BY THE BASEST FLATTERY?"
He snorted.
"A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR THEN. I WILL USE MY GREAT POWER TO ACQUIRE THE ITEMS YOU REQUIRE FOR THIS RITUAL, BUT YOU MUST DO SOMETHING FOR ME."

Rhonya sighed softly, grumbling to herself before answering: "Favor for a favor. The great Shaman King is very generous. What would you ask of me, Mruthgor the almighty?"

"I AM DISAPPOINTED AND DISHEARTENED THAT SO FEW ORCS OF CLAN REDBLADE HONOR OR CALL UPON THE GREAT MRUTHGOR THE SHAMAN-KING. IT IS A GREAT INSULT TO BE IGNORED. MRUTHGOR DEMANDS RECOGNITION. YOU WILL HOLD AN EVENING'S CELEBRATION AMONG THE CLAN IN HONOR OF MRUTHGOR, WHERE STORIES WILL BE TOLD, ALE WILL FLOW AND ALL WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST OF SPIRIT-WALKERS.

MRUTHGOR WILL BE WAITING AND WATCHING. WHEN THE EVENING'S FESTIVITIES HAVE CONCLUDED, AND IF THE MIGHTY SHAMAN-KING IS SATISFIED, YOU WILL FIND EVERYTHING YOU REQUIRE FOR THE CONSECRATION WITHIN YOUR VERY HOME. SUCH IS MY POWER."
Mruthgor nodded grimly. He was clearly very serious about this.

Rhonya noded slightly. Well, what else had she expected.
".. I can do this. Very well, you have a deal, oh Almighty Mruthgor. I will hold to my end of it and I expect you to hold to yours then."

Mruthgor returned her nod, more firmly.
"MRUTHGOR THE CELEBRATED SHAMAN-KING ALWAYS HONORS A BARGAIN. WHEN THE CLAN'S VOICES ARE UNITED IN PRAISE FOR MRUTHGOR, YOU WILL HAVE WHAT YOU NEED. THIS WILL MY COVENANT, AND MY SWORN WORD."
He stared Rhonya down, folding his arms.
"WILL THIS BE ALL? MRUTHGOR'S TIME IS VERY VALUABLE."

"Wonderful.. That will be all, mighty Shaman King. I thank you for the time you spend on this humble shaman, and I will honour your memory together with the clan."
She just puts her head almost on the ground now, again suppressing a grunt of pain. She could barely focus now, the pain in her ribs making her see black spots before her eyes.

"EXCELLENT. FOR THE BLOOD OF CLAN REDBLADE. FOR MRUTHGOR THE SHAMAN-KING. FOR ME."
Mruthgor's bright spectral form faded away in a matter of moments, leaving Rhonya alone in the dark.

She fell over instantly when he was gone, wrapping her arms around her chest.
A party… Very well. If she had to do this.. All that she had to make the orcs do was eat, drink, tell some stories and raise their tankard in his honour.
She really really hoped he would keep his end of the promise. Deals with spirits were often rather risky. But she needed to help Sadok.
And thus, she got back upon her feet slowly, made sure the Sceptre was hidden again, and started her trip back to Razor Hill, the pain in her chest a constant fire burning.
Time to plan a party.



((I applaud all of you who actually read this all through.))

24

The Campfire / Aid from Beyond

« on: December 02, 2017, 06:32:32 PM »

The trek up the mountain was a long and tiring one. Step by step, Rhonya got higher and higher, but her breathing also got heavier and she started to feel the ache in her legs. Almost there.. she was almost there!
It was utterly dark around her and she had swapped her bright armour for dark brown tinted pants and a simple shirt with long sleeves, her hair bound up in a long ponytail that hung heavy on her back. She risked a glance over her shoulder, smiling as she watched the small puffs of wind clear out her footprints, blowing the sand around where she stepped. Srelok had aided her with that little trick when she’d gone to update him about the former evenings happenings, to make sure she couldn’t be followed that easily.

Finally, she reached the top. The air was clear here, the night sky stretching out all above her. Her hair moved as the little wind spirit twirled around her before disappearing. It’d probably be back later. With a deep sigh Rhonya sat herself down, taking a moment to catch her breath and drink a little. The bag she’d been carrying was gently set aside.
The place was abandoned for now, but not empty. Large totems towered over drums that surrounded a ritual circle. The circle in turn was filled with items, bowls and offerings, various carved wooden idols and painted rocks.


Rhonya stayed away from the circle. It wasn’t hers, the Tauren had made it long ago, and she wouldn’t use it. But this mountain had a ritual circle on it for a reason, the Tauren believing it brought them closer to their spirits, their sun and their moon. Perhaps the veil between the worlds was thinner here. It was worth a try.
So she started to set up her own little circle, a respectful distance from the larger one.
It was a circle of several bowls, one filled with earth, one with a burning stick of incense in some sand, one with water and one with a feather. All representing the four elements. In the middle she placed a small rabbit carcass, freshly killed, on top of some wooden sticks.
She herself remained sitting inside the circle, in front of the rabbit and made herself comfortable, closing her eyes. Her soft voice filled the quiet night air.

“Air, fire, earth, water, wilds.. I call on all of you. I plea for your aid, to help me find and thank a certain spirit.
A spirit that aided us in times of need, that aided us without being asked to by any of us. A spirit I don’t know, but would like to know…
Dear spirit, if you can hear me..”

With a small flint and tinder box and a small mutter, Rhonya set the wood and rabbit in front of her on fire. First the smell of burning fur filled the air, but moments later it started to smell of burned meat.

“I offer to you, spirit of the windroc, this rabbit. I offer to you, spirit , my blood. “
With those words she grabbed her ritual knife, slicing it across her palm, letting some of her blood drip into the fire.

“You saved my blood. My family, so I gift you mine as a sign of trust, as a thank you. Please, accept my offerings, accept my thanks…”

Rhonya remained quiet now, her eyes closed, her bleeding fist still hanging above the fire as she waited patiently, hoping for an answer, a sign, anything.

A few moments, nothing. No sound at all aside from the still slightly burning rabbit, the sizzling of the drops of blood falling into the fire and evaporating into the air. No movement of anything, no change in light as far as she could notice with her eyes closed.
Then, suddenly, something softly brushed along her cheek, down her neck and over her shoulder. For a moment Rhonya thought the little air elemental had returned, but it disappeared again and it hadn’t felt the same as the one Srelok had asked to accompany her. 
Again, a light touch. This time different. Warmer, softer, making the hairs on her arms rise and goose bumps appear on her skin. Just as fast as the first one, this one disappeared as well. 


Rhonya remained sitting for a little while longer, slowly opening her eyes. The rabbit wasn’t burning anymore and she actually didn’t know how long she had been sitting there. Her wound had stopped bleeding and she now felt the muscles in her arm were entirely cramped because she had been holding it forwards all the time. A small smile appeared on her face though.

“I’m glad you came.. Thank you.” She whispered, before standing up slowly, giving her body the chance to get the blood flowing properly again through her legs before she turned to the edge of the mountain.
Now some sand moved close to her feet again in weird patterns and Rhonya recognized the somewhat cheerful presence of the little air elemental. “Welcome back..” she said softly, her smile growing.


Leaving all the things she brought behind, she started her trip back down the slope of the mountain, pondering on what had happened. So there were two, at the very least. Two different ones, keeping a close eye on the orcs and what they were doing. The touch had been very faint however, something Rhonya found odd, seeing most spirits liked to make themselves known a bit more by showing what they could do. Especially because she had seen the windroc very clearly before and according to Nosh’marak, the spirit helping them the day before had actually given him the strength to stand up again and withstand the mist. There was power in them, that was for sure.

Now the questions remained.. Who or what were they, and why were they helping the orcs?
Rhonya sighed softly. She was happy though for now. If she had pried too much they might’ve taken it as an insult, so for now a ‘thank you’ and an actual acknowledgement had to be enough. At least she could tell the others with a certainty now they were watched over by something, aiding them along the way… It made her feel better.

Perhaps hope wasn’t lost yet.

25

The Campfire / Reflections

« on: November 12, 2017, 10:55:55 AM »

The sun was just disappearing behind one of the dusty mountains, the last rays still shining down on a tiny hut that was lodged between the trees in the northern part of the Barrens. Bare feet made their way over the reddish sand, the ground still holding the warmth of the day. They moved north, past the barricades into the deep, dark woods of Ashenvale forest. The grunts stationed here knew her by face and name, greeting her as she passed. She was a common sight after all, living nearby and sometimes even aiding them with food or mending.
One of them spoke up as he noticed her, his deep voice clearly used to giving commands, but to her he spoke gently.
“You chose a nice evening, Steelheart. All is quiet. Be careful though, some elves were seen passing by here a few days ago but they have not been sighted since. Better to be safe than sorry, at least, “ He said, while giving her a rare smile.
The she-orc in question returned the smile with one of her own, her red and blue eyed gaze resting on his face for a moment before her mass of black hair hid her expression again as she turned her head to the woods ahead.
“Thank you, Strongarm. I won’t be long, hopefully.” She spoke, her voice soft but determined. With a nod Strongarm waved her on through.
“Spirits guide you then, Steelheart.”

Without another word Rhonya moved on, her bare feet almost making no sound on the soft mossy earth. Clad in one of her simple garments, she also blended in pretty well against the deep greens and browns of the ancient trees. Spirits guide me indeed.. she thought as she made her way to her destination. The pool nearby. Something was pulling on her, a tugging, barely noticeable but to her it was like a bright shining beacon. Rhonya could not resist this pull, just like someone starving for food would do anything to find their next meal. She had to answer.


She reached the silent waters without issues, nothing disturbing her aside from the normal things. Animals scurrying around in the trees and undergrowth around her, birds singing their last tunes to the ending of the day. Rhonya chose a quiet spot away from the path, a spot she used often, sitting down and folding her legs under herself. The waters in front of her were as clear as a mirror, no ripples, no disturbances. Her eyelids closed and she focused, reaching out with her entire being, opening her mind.
“Spirit of water, of life and growth, spirit of my heart.. I’ve heard your calling. I accept your guidance, I am here to serve. Please answer me.”
It was a regular plea, she knew if it really was this urgent, they would be there. They were calling for her after all, not the other way around.

As she opened her eyes again, a small ripple broke the water’s surface. Soon more followed, all starting from the point where her knees were almost touching the water’s edge. She leaned forwards, looking down into them.


Rhonya Steelheart…

The whisper was barely there. If she didn’t know any better, she could’ve sworn she had imagined it, but she was used to water’s voice by now. If you could call it a voice. It was more of a feeling forming words, like hearing spring waterfalls coming down, a music in its own right if one took the time and effort to listen.

Look.


And she did. Rhonya saw herself, her own reflection. Long, black hair framed a friendly but worried looking face. The roundness of it was still there but it had gotten less over the years, time and experiences having hardened her features somewhat. The oddest things were still her eyes, the black pupils surrounded by a red rim, the rest of them blue, making her eyes almost look purple from a distance. No scars were visible on her skin, the only jewellery being her earrings, several necklaces and one small, silver ring in her nostril. For a few moments she merely looked at herself, not entirely sure what else she was supposed to be seeing, or what the message was if there was nothing else shown. But water required patience, so she showed it.

As Rhonya thought, it didn’t take very long. Ripples appeared again out of nowhere, outwards away from her reflection. As she looked, other figures started to appear in the water. Vague outlines, dark shadows of people. She squinted, trying to make out their features…
At her shoulder was Kozgugore. Her bloodbrother. Her Chieftain. There was no mistaking that wolfmask, the strong jaw coming from underneath and the broad shoulders. His image came slightly better into vision but remained blurry, the ripples distorting his features slightly. She began to recognize others now. Srelok on her other side. Gashuk beside him, Trakmar, Kogra, Nosh’marak, even Krogon and all the other faces she hadn’t seen in a long time.


Her throat tightened and she closed her eyes a short moment, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes and slowly making their way down her cheeks. Why were they being shown? Were they all gone, dead? Did it mean they passed over and were now all on the other side…? Or did it mean something else?
Rhonya opened her eyes once more, looking at the faces of those she loved, those she had cared for for such a long time. A tear fell from her face, adding its own little ripples to those still moving over the water’s surface.


Remember.


“Oh, I do remember…” she said softly, her voice a mere whisper as she reached  a hand to the water, so very lightly touching the surface close to where Kozgugores cheek was. As she did, the image changed. Brown. Mountains, cliffside passes and the sun shining down. Stonetalon. She recognized it easily. To her surprise, soon after, the water turned red and a feeling of dread filled her. A sign of danger?


Go.


Without further warning, the images disappeared and Rhonya was left looking at her own reflection once again, alone with a deep blackness around her. She sighed deeply, sitting back straight. It didn’t take long before she felt a sharp pang of pain coming from her hand, the burned rune in her skin there almost feeling as if it was on fire.


You are not alone. We will stand with you. Go.


This voice was different. Harsh but warm, almost painful but comforting, direct and commanding. Fire..
“Very well… I will go. For whatever reason it is, I will go. I trust you.” She spoke softly, lifting her chin and wiping her hand over her cheeks. Rhonya would need some time to prepare, tell the children, Sukeenah.

But she would go. Her family needed her.

26

The Campfire / On Ones Own Way

« on: January 09, 2017, 03:39:14 PM »

The light of the candle flickered, making shadows dance over the piece of parchment lying on the table in front of her. She had moved the usual contents of the table to the side, fruits and vegetables, knives and other cooking utensils. For a few moments the she-orc stared at the empty parchment, quill and ink jar at the ready. What would she write? It hadn’t been an easy decision, but Belthran had convinced her it was the right one, so she really wanted to go through with it. Her talk with him had been a real eye opener. He was honest. A bit harsh at times, but honest. He had made her realise that she was clinging on to memories, to her past, instead of looking towards the future and what she still had. Her children, her legacy and Sadoks clutch as well that she had sworn to care for. They needed her.

She pushed some strands of long, black hair back behind her ear and started to write.

“Dear Kogra,

First of all, I’m sorry you have to hear this from me in this way. There is no easy way to tell this though, so I’ll just get it over with.
I have decided to, for the time being, move to Orgrimmar and spend some time with my children. After Sadoks death, I’ve not seen them and as they’ve lost their father already, I don’t want them to feel they also lost their mother. I need to be there for them, more than that the tribe needs me at this point. Karak actually made me realise as well, together with Belthran, that the orcs I once knew well and deeply cared for, have all gone. Some their own ways, some just temporarily, and some we’ll meet again on the eternal plains. You are my last sister left and it breaks my heart to leave you for the moment, but I know you will be alright. Nereesa will be a better sister for you than I could ever be, you don’t need my issues to worry over as well. You seem really fond of her.
I’ll be gone before this letter reaches you, probably. If you do want to send me something back, I can be found in Orgrimmar. Stay safe. Please watch over Tamrah for me too. Tell her it’s not her fault I need to leave, and she can always come visit me.
Love, Rhonya”

Wiping her hand across her eyes, Rhonya sniffed and signed the letter before closing it off with a blob of wax from her candle. She didn’t like leaving the tribe like this, but it was for the best. Kogra would be well looked after, she and Nereesa had seemed inseparable anyway, she didn’t want to get in between of that. So she had no more need to stay, no one else she was promised to protect, and the tribe could always call on her in Orgrimmar.

With a deep sigh Rhonya walked outside of the hut she used in Nagrand, making her way towards a nearby orc. “I have the letter… You remember who to read it to?” she said, the male orc looking towards her as she spoke. He nodded, taking the letter and tucking it into his vest. “Kogra Windwatcher, black and white hair, blind. Shouldn’t be too hard to find. I’ll make sure I’ll read this to her personally, don’t worry, Steelheart.” He actually smiled to her before making his way to the gate, a worg awaiting him there. Rhonya watched him go before turning to her own wolf standing nearby, packed and ready.

Softly brushing her hand across the nose of the animal, she spoke softly. “Well, Keren.. Time to go.” Keren let out a soft huff of breath and nuzzled her hand with her nose, a sign of affection and trust. A gift from another orc who was gone. Krogon had given her the pup, years ago, with the words that he was tired of her riding on a Talbuk. She wondered if he was amused she still rode the wolf he once gave her. There had been a lot more heart and care in that orc than she had expected, eventually.
Checking the straps one last time, Rhonya pulled herself on the back of the wolf, turning her head towards the road leading to Shattrath, setting her in motion.

“Let’s go, Keren. Before I change my mind.”


((Drawing made by Belthran! <3))

27

The Campfire / The Next Step

« on: December 01, 2016, 04:35:58 PM »

-A few weeks ago-

Val’sharah. It was a beautiful place. I hadn’t really known what to expect when I heard it was like the Emerald Dream, or as close as the druids could get it to the actual thing without being in the dream itself. It had colours beyond comprehension, wildlife all around. New and unknown smells filled my nose at every turn and for a while I simply wandered over one of the main paths, taking in the sights and just experiencing a calm I hadn’t felt in quite a while.

The tribe was here somewhere too, but I had left them for the moment to focus on the task I had gotten a while ago from Chieftain Feraleye. At the moment I’d gotten the task we were under attack by the Legion however, so I couldn’t just have run off and leave everyone while they needed every weapon available. Something started pulling at my being though when we got here. I had to go. It was like an invisible string that connected me to something inhabiting this land and it was slowly reeling me in like a fish caught on a hook.
Lian wasn’t with me. Where he was at this point, I only had a general idea but I knew he was alright and would find me again when I would come back. Or when I needed him. But this task, I had to do alone. No weapons, no armor, just… me.

I stepped off the path into the high grasses of a plain, the trees gone for just a short opening in the woods. This way I had to go. There was no question about it, the feeling pulled me here, over the grassy plains and towards the cliffs beyond. I could see the sea now and some very black, big and threatening garrison like structure. I decided quickly to avoid getting in sight of that, it felt wrong and it looked very menacing. Even so, the pull brought me closer still. A large equine looking animal with a horn on its head followed my movements with large eyes but didn’t flee when I passed it. It was beautiful in its own way and I let it be, it wasn’t my target.

My mind kept wandering, thinking back on the first signs of the invasions. The green sky, the noise, the screams. The trembles of the ground as the infernals came down and shattered everything that happened to be under them. The deaths. My jaw clenched in anger as I remembered hearing Sadok hadn’t made it. The cubs had been safe, so at least that was something, but I hadn’t expected him to die. He’d just always been there. It was hard imagining the tribe without him and sometimes I still expected to just hear his voice and see him sitting at the campfire, making horrible puns to newbloods and giving them tasks that would have them regret ever picking him as tutor in the first place. But he was gone, and he wouldn’t come back.
I hadn’t seen Mozrogg in a while either, our interests taking us both in different directions. Which was fine, the oath we’d both sworn had been one of loyalty while it lasted, not wanting to bind ourselves blindly to one another for an eternity. So if he wanted to go his own way, that was alright with me. I’d miss our easy talks and the comfort, but he was his own orc and I wouldn’t stand in the way of how he wanted to live his life.

A branch snapped in my face and brought me back to reality, just stopping me in time before I would’ve stepped off a rock and tumbled down a cliff. I snarled softly to myself for being so careless and took a step back, not wanting to risk the rocks crumbling under my feet and dropping down anyway. I took a moment to look around. Close to the sea now, cliffs below… I sniffed and smelled a familiar smell. Pack. There were wolves down here. So that’s why I had been drawn this way, the time for the hunt had come.

Very carefully I made my way down the steep cliffside, using some larger rocks as stepping stones and finding cracks I could put my fingers and toes in, using them to get down safely. I wasn’t wearing much clothes, just some simple leathers and a belt to carry the big empty waterskin I’d taken with me. The wind was in my back, meaning the wolves wouldn’t be able to smell me just yet, their own scent strong in my nose. I jumped down the last bit, landing with a soft thud on the rocks below. I slowly made my way over to a puddle of mud resting in between of the rocks and dipped my hands in, picking up the muck and simply smeared it all over me, covering my skin and my hair, slightly hiding my scent. I could use every advantage I could get, in this case.
The next hours were spend observing and learning, the sun slowly going down over the sea, dawn setting in. This didn’t bother me much, my eyesight was fine in the dark. Sadly for me, a wolfs eyesight only improved during the night, not to mention their noses worked a million times better than mine. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had noticed me already. They were nearby now, I could see them from my hiding place. A pack of five and some pups tumbling around, playing. One of them was bigger than the others, a deep black ridge of hair going over his back towards his tail. The alpha.

He turned his head and actually looked right at me, our eyes locking. He was the one, the one I had been drawn to for weeks now, the one who called me here. He was beautiful, deep brown and red with the darkest black fur at some points. I stepped out, raising my chin and walking towards the animals. It was no use hiding, they all knew I was here. Heads turned and growls resounded around me, amplified by the cliff and the rocks surrounding us. It sounded threatening, angry, not a welcome, clearly. The alpha however stood there, his orange eyes still on me. He knew it, just as much as I did. This was our fight, just us, and one of us wouldn’t make it.
The wolf let out a low growl, but it wasn’t directed at me. The others slowly grew silent and took a bit more of a distance. They wouldn’t interfere, I hoped. I stood no chance against five wolves that worked like a pack. I didn’t even know if I stood a chance against this Alpha on my own, but I had to try. Our eyes still locked, we stepped closer to one another, a low growl building in the back of my throat as I readied myself.

Without warning, I saw him hunch back and jump and in an instant he was on me, his heavy weight actually throwing me back on the hard rocks. My arms went up and instinctively grabbed his mane of hair, the scruff of his neck, to keep his snapping jaws away from my throat. I couldn’t see anything, stars blinding my vision from the hit my skull had gotten on the rocks, but I could feel, smell and hear him only inches from my face. His teeth scraped the skin of my neck and skin tore, but I didn’t feel it. With a snarl I put my feet under his belly and heaved him off, throwing him to the side. His jaw now closed around my arm and he started to shake his head, keeping a very tight grip. I screamed out, the pain now very overwhelming as he literally was trying to rip my arm off. I had to do something, quickly, or this would be over way sooner than I expected.
My own sharp nails raked his snout, drawing blood. It distracted him for only a moment as he tried to tug me down still. My arm made a loud snapping noise. Time was running out. My fingers locked around a rock close to my feet and with all the strength I could muster I slammed it against his forehead, time and time again. His jaw loosened… and my vision returned. I was looking straight into the orange eyes, only inches from my own. The light was slowly fading from them as blood ran down his snout, mingling with his fur.

The fight had only lasted a minute or so, but it seemed like an eternity in my own mind. My arm was shattered, hanging limp. I don’t know what was wrong with it, perhaps dislocated, broken, it didn’t matter. I looked at the rock in my other hand. It was ragged and very sharp, perfect. The other wolves erupted into howling, the haunting sound surrounding me as I opened my water skin and cut a major artery in the neck of the now dead wolf, filling it to the brim with steaming hot blood. Closing it up properly with my teeth again, seeing I couldn’t use my other hand, I hung it back on my belt and got to work. Painful, slow work.

A few hours later I was staggering through the woods, carrying a skin on my back, completely covered in blood. My own and his. I walked until I could go no further and simply let myself fall over. The world went black around me and for a moment I regretted killing this majestic creature only to die out here myself shortly afterwards…

Something warm covered me. A soft groan escaped my lips and a deep voice sounded nearby, melodic and soft. Surprisingly, he was speaking in orcish.
“Rest, friend. You’re safe here. Your arm will be fine, though it will take a few weeks to properly heal.”
I opened my eyes slowly and squinted against the soft light surrounding me. There was someone standing next to the bed I was lying in. Deep purple skin, softly glowing eyes and long ears marked him as one of the night elves. I could see the wolf skin and my belt with the water skin lying on a chair nearby, carefully displayed.

So I wasn’t dead… yet. I still had to get back to the tribe though and present my catch to the Chieftain… But that would come in time. For now, I could rest. And try not to get an urge to turn on my hosts.

28

Game Related / Stepping down

« on: September 18, 2016, 07:26:16 PM »

Hey you lot!
Well, as the title says, I have some 'bad' news, so I'll just put it simple. Both me and Srelok will be leaving the officer team as of today.
The past few months we've been in a bit of an odd position here at home together, juggling with wellfare being a bitch, Sre starting a new job which apparently confuses the government so much they mess everything up even more, and me starting a new course which is mandatory or they'll cut our payment.
Sre's job is a nighttime job, parttime, which means he works 3 nights every week. Seeing these are not 3 nights after one another, he's having serious issues with constantly changing sleeping patterns.
We've begun to notice that things in the house got more and more tense, we'd start arguments about little things also to do with officer stuff, becoming more and more snappy.
Simply said, the workload of being an officer (who often deal with a lot more than you know behind the scenes!) together and combined with job and wellfare and course and stress isn't working for us at the moment.
Thus we have decided after a long discussion to stop at this point now the bucket isn't overflowing yet. No, we will not leave wow, we'll still be there and RP, we'll just not be taking any officer responsibilities anymore. So no worries, you'll not be rid of us yet completely anytime soon!
I found it fair at least to tell you lot the what/why/when etc, so there you go.

29

Notice Board / Clean up the leftovers

« on: August 13, 2016, 03:17:15 AM »

Clean up the leftovers

Objective:

I got word today there are still a few demons left around demonfall Canyon, though most have gone away. Might be time to clear out the remaining few for now, the less we have nearby camp, the better. Be careful though. Don't stray too far into the canyon, and don't stay too long, that place is so corrupted you'll feel it in your bones after a while.

Rewards:
1 Fang per orc.

Additional notes:

3 or more orcs!



Status:
Incomplete

30

Notice Board / Herbs herbs herbs!

« on: August 13, 2016, 03:08:07 AM »

Herbs herbs herbs!

Objective:

Most of our medical supplies got squashed or fel infected in the ramparts. Now we're in the woods, a good time to try and resupply on some useful herbs. Can even try trade for some with some of the neutral druid elves, if you get something to trade. (Don't try meat, I'm not sure they even eat that...)

Rewards:
1 Fang per orc.

Additional notes:

3 or more orcs at all times. Be aware of the Satyr and their totems.


Status:
Incomplete