passage to the past

[Gridish]

The blistering, dry and overwhelming heat of the blasted lands rages on as Gridish makes his way to the dark portal. "The soul link still doesn't work. It probably will if I go through the dark portal" Gridish thinks to himself, not paying any attention to what is happening ahead of him. "You, Orc! Who are you and what are you doing here?" A strange voice yells torwards Gridish. Even before Gridish could look up and react, he is stopped in his tracks by two heavily armoured orcs. "I asked you a question." One of the two said. The two guards certainly weren't joking around. Their body language was tense, strict and clearly ready to beat someone to death that gave them the wrong answer. Gridish however noticed very little of their intimidation. Instead, he was inspecting the events that were occuring around the Dark Portal, checking to see if he could find a single familiar face in the masses. "I'll give you one last chance to respond before I kick your arse, orc." Said one of the guards. That did get Gridish's attention and responded hastily, yet certain "I'm searching for members of the Red Blade tribe. Have you heard or seen any orc with this tabard?" Gridish plucks at his tabard to draw attention to it. "Never heard of them. Now get lost. You've got nothing to do here." Said the guard again and the two guards reached out to grab an arm each until a familiar voice arose from the masses. "Stop! That orc is with me. Touch him and I'll have both of your heads." The guards and Gridish peered in the direction of the voice. The sight of Gridish' elderly teacher brought a smile to his face. The two guards slowly acknowledged the man and let Gridish go.


"Gridish. You're up and well.. I'm filled with joy to see you. Did I miss his message?" Gridish's teacher asked as he gave the orc a firm handshake. " Ye haven't missed a word my old friend. He betrayed us both with lies for the simple cause of revenge. He told me my tribe had died by an ogre attack and told me that you were too busy to visit." Gridish growls lowly and continues to look around. Troops polishing armour, sharpening blades and preparing supplies. "what is going on..? Are the Red Blades alright?" Gridish turns his sight to his teacher. His teacher explains the recent events to Gridish, how the iron horde came through the Dark Portal, how they were fended off and how the Dark Portal on the other side was destroyed. Gridish sighs and looks around again. His eye catches orcs training combat scenarios and nods slowly, still confused with what is going on. "what are these troops doing here if the portal has been disconnected?" Gridish asks as he looks at his teacher. "every now and thwn, archmages on the other side are able to open small portals for a short period of time for reinforcements to join the fight." Gridish folds his arms and nods slowly. "how do I get the permission to go through one of those portals?" Gridish asks and peers at his teacher again. "Concider it taken care of if you are certain on this decision, Gridish. My tent is not to far from here. Get a decent weapon and some armour and I'll get you access to one of those portals. I can't promise you that the next one will be any time soon. So all I can tell you is to be ready." His teacher says and Gridish nods slowly, giving his teacher a firm handshake once more and walks off to the tent.


There isn't a single moment of silence within the camp. Training sessions, drunk singing and smithing make sure of that. Exactly how the preperations of war should sound like. Searching through his teacher's tent, Gridish finds his old robes from his stay in Dalaran and a decent blade that he can use as well as a set of daggers. As he continues searching, he gets startled by a familiar, high pitched, squeeky and bloody annoying voice. "GRIDIIIISHHHH!" Before Gridish can turn around, he gets 'bodychecked' by a speeding book. "You're stil alive! I can't believe it! Well.. i can. I never doubted you.. ever!". Gridish snickers as he pats his lost pal Lofty. "It's good to see you Lofty, but what are you doing here?" Gridish peers at Lofty as he sheathes his blade. "well.. I followed the tribe all secretly like until here. They were in a huge fight and thats where I hid- I MEAN FOUGHT BRAVELY! By the time I looked around, they were gone. So I stayed here and that's when your teacher found me." Gridish nods slowly and continues to look around for some supplies. "Would you be up for joining me in search of the tribe?" Gridish looks torwards Lofty, questioningly. "well.. I don't know. I'm pretty busy.. but then again, someone needs to keep you alive..... Well.. hmmm... SURE!" Lofty bumps against Gridish again and snickers. Gridish snickers as well and finishes up on getting his suplies ready.


A few hours later Gridish and Lofty are joined by Gridish's teacher. "Ah! I see you two have reunited again. Gridish, everything has been taken care of. You will be able to join the troops on the next portal out." His teacher smiles at the two while Gridish nods and shows his gratitude with another firm handshake. "However, there is one thing you need before you leave." Gridish looks at his teacher questionably as his teacher pulls out a smoothe stone and hands it over to Gridish. "You have encountered one of these before on your trip to Nagrand. It's a communication stone. As always, I have someone watching over the tribe.. at your request. Once you go through the portal, you'll be able to contact him and find your brothers and sisters easier." Gridish looks at the stone, takes it and puts it in his pocket and gives his teacher a tight hug. "thank ye for everything. I owe ye my life and then some." His teacher smiles and pats Gridish' back. "It's been a true honour. May our pathes cross again some day, Gridish." The conversation quickly gets interupted by loud shouting "REINFORCEMENTS. MOVE! THE PORTAL HAS BEEN OPENED!" Gridish and his teacher look torwards the yelling. "off you go Gridish. Lofty, take good care of our friend here." Gridish and Lofty nod before they head off to the portal to continue their journey.