Way of the Spirit Champion

[Nazkhur]

For many nights as the Orcs slept, Nazkhur had thought she had seen strange ghostly figures move before her eyes. She had seen spirits before around the great mountain of Oshu'gun in Nagrand but this was in the middle of Ashenvale. Night after night she returned to the same place and each time they would appear and each time she would manage to see more before they vanished again.

The spirit-figures were those of Orcs and Tauren. The Tauren had dark fur and this led her to believe that they were from the Grimtotem Clan, the Orcs with them didnt seem to bear any form of Clan markings and may have been Orcs that no longer served a Clan, but the Horde as a whole. They didnt seem to do anything other than wander slowly between the trees. For a time Nazkhur wondered if they were those that had been slain by Hellscreams Chaos Orcs, but this fact mattered little. The idea she could see them seemed to interest her more.

((to be continued..))

[Norv]

(( Oh, sounds intriguing! And I love the fine, clear writing of yours
     
   *brings popcorn* ))

[Nazkhur]

Filled with a mix of hope and desire that the spirits in Ashenvale were not the only ones she could see, Nazkhur gather some supplies and headed back to Draenor and once Bleeding Hollow Fortress of Auchindon.

The ruins had always been filled with the spirits of restless Draenei, so the sight of these was nothing for the Death Knight to take an interest in. Walking through the Ring of Observance, she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. Well aware that the Alliance still stalked the ruins, the Orc turned and grabbed the polearm from her back before letting out a mix of a snarl and gasp.

Before her eyes stood an Orcish spirit, but there was more to this Orc than just one of many of the Horde. This was Velgon Bloodspiller, in life one of Kilrogg's finest warriors and well known to Nazkhur. The ghostly Orc gave the Death Knight a cold stare, "So ye return to yer Clan at least." Nazkhur returned her polearm to her back. "I came back in hope of seeing me once brothers 'n' sisters in arms."

For the moment Velgon said nothing and Nazkhur feared that he would not say more to her, but as she was just about to turn and leave the spirit spoke again, "Seems that even in undeath ye do not have the time to listen." grumbled Velgon. The Death Knight turned and snarled back, "Just because all ye have is time doesn't mean that all me have." The ghostly Orc snorted and moved closer until his face was almost against her's, "If ye want to embrace tha past of yer Clan, go 'n' seek it."

He turned and pointed towards one of the once Draenei crypts, "There ye will find somethin' that will bind ye with yer Clan again." As the Orc turned to look in the direction of the pointing, the spirit vanished, leaving her alone again.

((to be continued...))

[Nazkhur]

Approaching the crypt it became clearer to the Orc, that it would take very little effort to enter, with only a fallen slab of stone blocking passage. With a firm push the stone gave way to expose a long passageway that by the looks of it had been long since surrendered to spiders and rats. For the Death Knight this was nothing new and she began to make her way into the darkness, pulling away the webs as she went.

At the end of the passage was a small chamber, its walls filled with ledges, each containing the remains of fallen Draenei. Wandering through this chamber Nazkhur could of sworn she heard the moronful cries of the dead and to this sound she felt drawn.

((to be continued...))

[Nazkhur]

Within the crypt's inner most sanctum Nazkhur was met by the sight of something she didnt expect. The sanctum had been clearly used by Orcs trying to defending their position in a battle, this was easy to see by the crudely made barriades and the Orcish remains scattered across the stone floor. Pulling away one of the barriars the Death Knight progressed deeper into the sanctum, but as she did a strange feeling of suffering started to fill her and it chilled the normally emotionless Orc to the bone.

With a shake of her head she let this emotions pass over her, but something still remained and with each step she took she could feel the bonds of her physical shell weakening. Finally her body dropped to the ground with a dull thud as she remained standing as a spirit alone.

Unshackled from the bonds of life, her eyes started to see more than they did before. Before her eyes appeared the spirits of the Orcs that fell fighting here, and by the markings on their armour these were Bleeding Hollow Orcs, some even familiar to Naz from her life before.

"What is this?" She questioned at the spirits gathered. "This is the path ye have come to take." an unseen voice replied.

((to be continued....))

[Nazkhur]

"Path? What path is that?" the Orc questioned. "That of our champion." replied the voice again. Then the spirits parted and a single one walked forward towards Nazkhur. He was old but well built in his form and she knew him in an instant as any of the Clan of her time would. This was Sha'mok, a great spirit champion in his life and loyal Bleeding Hollow.

"The great Sha'mok." she said as he strode towards and bowed in resecpt to the long dead Orc. "Ye have come along way since the days we fought together Nazkhur." his clear voice grumbled some what. The Death Knight returned to her full height again, "Ye know me?" she questioned. Sha'mok let out a hearty chuckle, "Aye I know ye. When ye fell at Dun Algaz I knew one day ye would return." The orc turned and gave a look of sorrow to the other spirits gathered.

"But not soon enough to save us from our defeat." he continued. "From yer honourable deaths." Nazkhur replied with a grin as the spirit champion turned to face her. "Ha! That is the spark I saw in ye in life." Facing Nazkhur fully he stared into her eyes, "Speak no more of the past, yer fate calls to ye."

[Nazkhur]

"My fate?" questioned Nazkhur, "Aye! to replace me as Spirit Champion." anwsered Sha'mok in a somewhat raised voice. "For years we have stole as guard over my mask and now ye have returned to us again." With a small pause the spirit let out a sigh. "Return to your body, take the mask from my remains and we shall talk more." As the words drifted to the Orc, Sha'mok and the other spirits began to walk away.

Rejoining her body in the land of the living again, Nazkhur no longer felt the pain of the fallen anymore, as if they were now at peace having for filled their duty. Striding forward she began to search through the dead Orc remains until finally she came across one that was little more than bones now, but upon his head rested Sha'mok's mask. Carefully removing it from the body placed it upon her head.

There was a sudden rush in her mind as if her senses became sharper, but this soon past and as promised Sha'mok appeared again. Looking more alive than spirit now and this made the Death Knight gasp slightly much to his amusement. "Fear not young one, I have not returned from the dead." he told her with a chuckle. "The mask you wear allows you to see spirits as they were in life, as soild forms."

With a  small nod of understanding Nazkhur adjusted the position of the mask before looking back towards Sha'mok, "Now what must be done?" she asked him. "Now ye must tell me of all that has happened in the land of the living." with that he settle down on the ground and so did Nazkhur. Over the next hours she would tell him of all the events after the Second War; the rise of the Scourge, the changes to the Horde, the return of Draenor, the invaison of Northrend.

After she had finished, Sha'mok said nothing, thinging on all that he had learned. "Seems there is much to do." he finally grumbled. "This 'New' Horde, as ye call it seems nothing but the outcasts of the Alliance. The son of Durotan seems more a coward, to busy with his Human female...Jaina." This made the Death Knight chuckle, but Sha'mok continued, "For all her talk of peace with the Horde I doubt Jaina would allow the Horde into her city. The Warchief may believe in honour but not in War, that new Human King seems more a warrior than him."

The talking between the two Orcs went on and on until finally Sha'mok new what had too be done. "There are many enemies to slay and ye are going to help see it done." he demanded at Nazkhur, which earned a large grin from her. "Ye the Son of Durotan needs to know what it is to be an Orc, not some scheming wannabe Human. The Son of Hellscream needs to be destroyed that is clear. He might be a warrior, but like his father he is a danger to all foe and Orc alike. If what ye say 'bout the Lich King is true, that Ner'zhul lives within him, he must also be destroyed. Ner'zhul betrayed us as much as Gul'dan and must die." Nazkhur went to speak but was silenced by Sha'mok as he raised his hand,"The Human King must die. He seems a master of war and with him leading the Humans, we have a worthly foe."

Sha'mok got to his feet, closely followed by Nazkhur. "With my mask ye will be able to see the true spirit of the living. No one should be able to betray you. Go, spread bloody slaughter and I shall guided your hand." Now bearing the mask of Sha'mok, Nazkhur left the crypt to plan her next move.


The End

[Morgeth]

((Truly, truly epic. You have a real knack for this, muh dear. Very lovely writing, that only makes me want to wallow in the creamy goodness of it. <_< Okay, maybe I should stop writing now.))

[Norv]

(( Oh, nice! And interesting! Thanks for the reading, curious to see the development in-game! ))

[Nazkhur]

((Glad you enjoyed it. This means that Naz might be found talking to herself at times or even fighting out of hand under Sha'mok's advise and shouldnt be easy to be caught off guard for having someone watching her back all the time.))

[Nazkhur]

After the outburst in the Highlands, Nazkhur returns to Hammerfall and waits for the sun to go down. As it does she sneaks out of the once internment camp and finds a place in the hills where she can be alone.

Sitting down in the grass she lets out a small snarl, "Ye have some explainin' to do." she grumbled as Sha'mok appears before her eyes. "I was doin' what ye hadn't the courage to do." he stated coldly. "Norviskrall is dangerous, but me will not let him be the victim. If he had admitted to tha Chieftain's death, me would of ended him there, but he didn't." she replied as Sha'mok drew closer. The Death Knight stared at the spirit through her mask, "Now he will be on his guard around me." The Orc spirit laughed at that comment,"Ye sounds as if ye are afraid to fight him." he told her, still chuckling to him.

"Me will fight him when I choose 'n' on my terms. Not when he has members of the Tribe to defend him." she said with a snarl.

[Nazkhur]

As Morgeth took off on her Red Drake and disappeared into the cloud above Warsong Hold. With her sister gone Nazkhur was once again left alone with Sha'mok who's voice crawled into her mind again.

"So ye think ye can think me with your schemin' do ye?" he grumbled. "Ye can not stop what will happen!" The Death Knight snarled knowing full well she was helpless. "Me daughter will not be used by you!" she snapped back. "Ye don't even know if she is of the Deadeye blood or not 'n' yet ye plot to make her Warchief!"

Before her rage got the better of her, Nazkhur thought clearly for a moment. "Me'll make a deal with you. You find the spirit of Nazkhan's father 'n' bring him to me. Me want to see what he has to say. If he agrees me won't stop ye." Sha'mok thought and felt sure enough to agree. "Fine! I'll find him 'n' then we shall begin the slaughter."

Hours past and Sha'mok had grown very silent. Feeling glad to be free of him, Nazkhur started to relax but as soon as she did, his voice grumbled into her mind again. "Here is Nazkhan's father." The Orc eyed the spirit as it appeared before her eyes. It was of an Orc in finely crafted armour and carrying a pair of hammers. At first, Nazkhur wasn't sure if it was him, then the memory of that night during the First War flooded back into her mind.

"Yes, I remember ye." she said finally and was met by a nod from the Spirit. "Will ye tell me yer name now or still claim to be a son of Kilrogg?" the question brought a look of shame from the spirit. "I am sorry for misleading you. I am no son of Deadeye." he told her in a deep tone. "My name is Gomsha Ashforge, a master blacksmith and warrior of the Bleeding Hollow Clan."

In her heart Nazkhur wanted to yell at him for lying to her, but she held back her rage, "Why did ye lie to me?" she asked. Gomsha said nothing for the moment and stared coldly at her, "You never noticed me and become the mate of that Shadowmoon dog. When you needed someone I took my chance and become someone you wanted. A famous warrior with good blood."

With that Gomsha faded from sight. She wanted him to wait but knew it was pointless. Turning her thoughts to Sha'mok she now knew something that might change his plans. "So ye want tha New Warchief to be the daughter of a Blacksmith 'n' a humble Warrior who is the daughter of a peon?" Sha'mok said nothing, but still gave an answer. Nazkhur felt a rush of pain flow through her body and she dropped to her knees in pain with a snarl. The pain however was nothing now that she knew she had angered the spirit that sort to use her.

[Morgeth]

((I really love this story, with the entire Nazkhur-plot. You have a knack for bringing lore into things, and keeping them interesting and relatable at the same time. It's like rich cream filling in a good package! Sha'mok is quite the bastard. I say we get rid of him *fistshake*))

[Nazkhur]

Months passed and both word of Nazkhur and Nazkhan faded from memory...

However deep within the Grizzly Hills word is spreading among the Alliance soldiers of a wild creature that hunts for flesh around the Blackriver falls. Wisely they have choosen to stay away for the most part, unlike a young a arrogant Blood Elf that thought the river would make a nice place to rest.


Fensei sat down on the bank of the river as the sunlight shimmered on its surface. It had been a long days hunting and tracking but overall sucessful. She had just finished returning her kills to the near by Horde outpost and was now determined to enjoy the sun.

As Fensei sat their she removed both her heavy leather hunting boots and gloves before dangling her toes in the cool water with a small sigh. Everything seemed so peaceful, after so much bloodshed, but from the bushes something was watching.

Two yellow eyes peered across the river towards where the unsuspecting Blood Elf relaxed. Surpressing the want to snarl and roar the creature watched it's prey as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun.

Sure that the advantage was in her favour, the creature burst out from the bushes into the sun. Bounding across the space on all fours and pouncing at Fensei, the Blood Elf had little time to do anything other than scream before the creature dragged its claws across her chest.

Fensei tumbled from the creatures grasped, her silk shirt torn away, leaving five fresh claw marks on her pale skin. Quickly recovering from the shock, Fensei looked over her attacker; she was Orcish in form with dark leather armour that hugged her figure. From her hands had grown sharp nails that had been cut into deadly weapons, but most shocking of all was the mud covered tabard she wore round her chest, bearing the colours of the Red Blade. The Orcs face was covered with a strange looking wolf mask, that looked far older than she does.

Sure she was outmatched, Fensei tried to run but as she turned the Orc pounced at her again and this time made she that she wouldnt live. The Orcs claws sliced cleanly through the Blood Elves neck and she dropped to the ground with a dull thud.

As the creature approached her kill something caught her attention in the distance. The scent was Orcish, maybe even familiar, but this was not the time to meet old friends. Leaving her kill she quickly ran for the cover of the trees once again.

[Kozgugore]

(( It's le feral Nazhkur! Nice to hear from you again! Does this mean we've got another tasty orc coming back to us again? In any case, tasty story! Uf widdem elf 'eads! ))