The Tales of Rusty - 6

Letters and missives

I made my way home to Blood Watch without further incidence, and was met by a scolding by our mailman, Hermesius. He had a letter for me, and now I had been away for so long! It was my first letter ever, so I sought out a quiet corner to read it. It was written by Admiral Odesyus, he had had a vision one night in a heavy sleep after eating too much of Cookies awful grub. An old sailing friend of his, captain Edward Hanes, had visited him in the dream and told him a strange tale about an island named Wyrmscar. Now he needed me to hear this tale and help him out. But this had to wait. The small community in Blood Watch had to rely on every person doing their share, and not running off chasing dreams on far off islands. At least that was how I saw the world then.

Well, next morning Tracker Lyceon came over and asked me how I was doing with those bear flanks of his. I tried to avoid the matter by asking him more about the blue flutteres, but he could not be distracted. I had to get out and get those bear flanks now! But it was not an easy thing to get out of the village. Jessera of Mac'aree grabbed my sleeve and entreated me to go and look for more mushrooms, this time on the same island where Odesyus’ vision was situated. I told him, that I would do it, maybe later, and certainly not rigth away, unless he wanted to go hungry. Lyceon had impressed on me the necessity for those bear flanks. Jessera told me a bit more about that island, Wyrmscar, that there be dragons. It made my willingness to go there even less.

On my way hunting Vindicator Aalesia stopped me: “I never thanked you enough for your job with gathering those strange Crystals for me. You did well, and now I would like you to look for one more strange stone near Nazzivian, where the satyrs live. And if you can, pick some more crystal samples from otu there while you're at it.” As Nazzivian was stituated in the same in the same general direction as where Tracker Lycaeon had told me to hunt for the small brown bears, I accepted the job.

I decided to go to Nazzivian for crystals first, following my motto take the worst when you’re at your best. So off I went. On my way I saw some of the small brown bears lumbering in the distance, but strangely no blue flutterers. I had taken to watching them and I was on the brink of believing Tracker Lyceon's theory. The were always gathered around bits and pieces of the faintly glowing crystals from the Exodar, and they tried to brush me with their antennae whenever I got close.

The road to Nazzivian was hardly more than a track, and soon it became bordered by palisades and lit up by torches stuck in mounds of sculls. I shivered, but I was determined to do my duty, I walked off the road where the palisades were broken and kept to the long grass. I saw something moving ahead of me. A strange being, it looked a bit like a hairy draenei, but it had long green horns, slim and twisted like the horns of a gazelle. It was beautiful in its foreignness. I walked slowly so as not to attract the satyrs' attention. I almost made it to an altar of sorts, where a strangely glistening stone had caught my attention. But one of the satyrs saw me and cast a strange spell on me. It made me feel cold and lethargic all over, It was all I could do to raise my sword and strike weakly at him. To my utter surprise he wore almost no armour, and my sword went through him as a hot knife through butter. When I stopped shivering from the spell, I grabbed the strange tablet together with a sample of the ubiquitous crystals.

Strange beings indeed.

Well that was one easy victory. There were as Lyceon had guessed, lots of the flutterers around the crystals, so I killed off some more for good measure.

Retracing my path I saw a shortcut through unknown land. I quickly, but carefully went down the unknown path, trodden by many feet.
 And suddenly it dawned on me, those were Sunhawk's tracks! Blood elves are slightly smaller and much lighter of build than us Draenei, and then they have small, dainty feet. And that as the exact beings that were using this path.
I was about to turn around and go back as I remembered the talk in Blood Watch that someone had heard something about there being a Sunhawk spy outpost near Blood Watch. This must be it. I stopped, now very cautious. I noticed the well trodden path now I had passed some distance from the normal roads. I saw lots of broken crystals up ahead, surely more wreckage form the Exodar.  But they were stood on their ends, connected by a luminous, chainlike substance. I carefully left the path, and went around to scout from the other side. The camp seemed almost deserted, four or five crystal structures stood at irregular intervals, but it seemed they were guarded only by two inexperienced looking youngsters. I stayed and watched them for half an hour almost, but nothing happened. No new guards came down the path. It seemed an ideal opportunity for an attack. I carefully went through the underbrush until I was behind the two youngsters. They had relaxed, talking and joking with one another. It must be nearing the end of their shift, and they had relaxed their normal vigilance, tasting the soon to come relief.
I sprang into action, Screaming like a madman, I jumped out from behind the bushes and stunned one of the guards before he even knew what hit him. I was not necessary out to kill, even though Sunhawks were evil, those two seemed so young and innocent. The other youngster came at me with his sword, screaming insults - or maybe orders - at me in Thalassian. My grip of that language was unfortunately not good, and I did not understand one word of this. But I understood his swordplay, inefficient and slow. I had no trouble besting him without hurting him.
I then gagged and trussed both youngsters with their own ropes, pulled them away form the camp, and threw a greenish camouflage blanket over them, which I found were they had been posted. It would not hurt them, except from their dignity, to stew for some time before they were found.  I then methodically searched the camp, and found a smallish chest like the ones missives are transported in. I broke the locking mechanism, and took all the papers inside the chest. I did not find any more, but I heard steps coming from the path, so I made myself disappear in the general direction of Blood Watch.

Upon my return, I gave the Sunhawk’s papers to Vindicator Boron. He gave the papers one short look, and passed them back to me. “This is written in Thalassian I think. Please bring them to Elysia, so that she might have a go on translating them.” As my Thalassian was limited to a few phrases, mostly insults and swear words, I had no chance to see if he was right. I took them over to Elysia immediately. She said that it was indeed Thalassian, and promised to treat them urgently. I looked at the wad of papers and told her I would return later.

I took a long soak in my tub, oh the luxury, and got hold of some of Lycaeon’s delicious food. That man might be a poor hunter, but he is one good cook! The next days I spent repairing my mail, it was rather frayed already, and I’m afraid I have not quite stopped growing yet.

In-game notes: Levels 15-17

The Tales of Rusty - 5

The Princess of the Stillpines

A few days later, I was ready to keep my promise to the Princess. I crept througt the buhes, and stopped, as the camp came in sigth. My heart almost stopped as I saw two perimeter guards behind me. I almost melted into the ground and held my beath. I stood still until the guards had left, and my ragged breathing became normal again. I sneaked forwards, out of reach of the gurads and watched the camp, but detected no unusual activity. The guards walked the perimeter and inside the camp quite usual activities were going on. The only thing that gave me an idea that it was chieftain Bristlelimb’s camp, was the great number of shamans hanging around. From what they said, praise the Naaru and Arugoo for my fluency in Furbolg, I understood that he was nursing a hangover in his hut. Nothing could have sounded sweeter. I sneaked up behind a guard and after a short, intense fight, he bit the grass. Their guards were not formidable for a chieftain’s camp. I was able to lay out three of them cold before anybody noticed anything.
A couple of shamans tried to surprise me with their fireballs, but I am tough in that respect, so almost no harm dome there. Also I was able to stun them most of the time when they started on their strange gestures and chants. The only real bad surprise were their totems. Vicious little things, that grew up from the ground and spat fire at me. But a single broad sweep of my blade mostly made them tumble, so I made my way to the middle of the camp before Bristlepine high chief woke. As I had heard, he was in a bad way. He squinted in the sun’s sharp glare, and had trouble co-ordinating. Shortly I pitied him, but then my mind went to the princess and to Arugoo, my teacher in Furbolg back in Azure Watch, who also had suffered in the hands of the Bristlelimbs. I decided the most practical thing was knocking him out, and this migth also be the way leading to lesser trouble with the Bristlelimb furbolgs, I hammered the butt of my sword into his skull and he staggered. He must have a hard nogging for he even then tried to maul me with his paws and succeeded in making some long scratches along my legs. I gave him one more, and as he fell, I gave him one more for good measure.

The key was in his pouch belt together with some other stuff and another cheese! I hurried back to the Princess’s cage. Their guards were as sloppy there as in the rest of the camp. So I cut a clear path also for the Princess, and opened the cage. She told me to tell ambassador Frasaboo what had happened. I don’t know where the princess went, but she was armed with a giant staff, so I had no worries for her safety.

Freeing the Princess. She's a mean figther.

Then I took my weary self to Stillpine Hold where I was greeted with gratitude. Gurf received the pouch with an expression of disbelieving thankfulness. He opened the pouch without the slightest shyness and tried to put the patch back in place. I hid a smile with a yawn and accepted some coins and a new pair of pants, he just had the smith finish. I stayed in the Stillpine camp until their shamans were satisfied that my legs were healed again, I even got to see them stitching poor Gurf’s skin back in place.

In-game notes: Levels 12-15.

The Tales of Rusty - 4

More work! - second installment

Next day at noon I left the Exodar again, I felt much better. Which was a luck seeing what this day held in store.

Outside I ate what I had in the company of the elekks and their masters, and I fed one curious elekk all the murlocs’ cheese. Aalun chided me for feeding her elekks, an old joke between us. I always feed what I have left to the elekks, especially Fant, a purplish calf to whom I’ve taken a special liking.

Feeding the elekks

Well all good things have to pass, so I said my goodbyes and went east to find Kessel’s nagas. Shortly after having crossed the road, a weak voice hailed me in Furbolg. The princess of the Stillpines had been taken prisoner. I knocked out the nearest guards and searched their pockets for the key. When I reached the cage, The princess told me that High Chief Bristlelimb had the key himself and had sworn to offer her royal self to their gods at the next new moon. As the moon was full the night before, I had some time and promised her to return before then.

I then continued west and soon found tracks of Kessels fish people. Half eaten fish bones lay in the grass and there was a strange, fishy smell to the otherwise clean sea breeze. I sneaked closer. On the top of a small rise, I saw a broken temple, and crests of nagas over the walls. I saw a worn path through the grass leading up there, heavily guarded by blue naga warriors and paler magicians. I picked up several small stones and threw one on the warrior closest to me. He looked in my direction, and I made a rude gesture intended to make him charge me. It worked like magic, and in one to one combat I was able to best all of the naga. After fully catching my breath, I ate a bit of a sweet pear pie, emptied my hip flask and hid it with my back pack in the bushes.

 I crept into the ruin itself. There he stood, Xiz. a head taller at least than his fellow nagas, watching over two treasure chests. His hair or whatever it was, was red as blood and his shining sword was half again as long as mine. “Maybe I can tease him as well? It worked nicely with the other nagas, and an angry fighter is a bad fighter.” I drew a slow breath, whispered a prayer to the Naaru and said the phrase intended to bring nagas in a frothing rage. It worked! He lashed after me with more anger than skill, and I was able to catch his sword with my shield. I feinted and parried a lot, dancing around, teasing him and making him even more angry and reckless. And finally I saw my chance. He barred his left side with an angry lunge for my head, and I planted my own sword squarely in his heart. After checking my cuts, none of them serious, I opened the chests and found an assortment of things reminding of the murlocs’ chest. I wonder if they are related in any way. I found some rusty armour obviously from a fallen warrior, some hard cheese (what’s with cheese in chests, don’t they have cupboards?), a freshly baked bread - strange things happen - some semi-precious stones and 3 pieces of leather. I took it all and retrieved the the banner from my back pack while doing so. I placed it firmly in Xiz’ dead body and sneaked off. It was high time, some of the farther away guards had heard our fighting, or rather Xiz’ yells, and were arriving to check on him. I ran head over heels through the woods until I was brought up sharply by the sight of hostile furbolgs. Not Stillpine ones obviously. Bristlelimbs. Like the ones who had kidnapped the princess! I sank into the shadows of the nearest tree. When the two Bristlelimb warriors were again turning their back, I crept away. Live to fight another day.

After fetching my pack in the bushes I went back to Kessel’s crossing without further inciden. I told Kessel that the Nagas would probably not bother him any longer, and received his praise and a token of his gratitude. I fed the cheese to one of the elekks, which gate me a good rubbing in exchange. Oh how I would like to own one of these faithful and merry mounts.

Gnawing on another of his sand pear pies, I returned to my rooms, where I rested and studied while my mail shirt was repaired.

In-game notes: Levels 12-15.

The Tales of Rusty - 3

More work!

Sometimes I feel like the only able-bodied person on the Isles. A few days after my mushroom-gathering adventure, Tracker Lyceon asked me to get some meat for the hungry population, I was not impertinent enough to ask him if a tracker was not some kind of hunter. He’s a big hunter, when I do the hunting, and he the cooking, but I swallowed my words. When I was about to leave, he asked me to kill some of the royal blue flutterers as well. He told me some high tale of them bringing the crystals’ contamination about. The crystals were a part of the Exodar's drive - the spaceship that is, not the city built inside the ruins of it. I don’t know of any harm the moths do, theyre not even overgrown as were the ones we used to train our skills in Ammen Vale. I think he just dislikes them for their beauty, but matron Mercy taught me to be obedient, so I just bobbed my head.

A friend of mine having a go at the Flutterers

Anyway off I went, but when I passed his hut Anchorite Pathaeus waved me aside. He told me that since I had been around a lot and had been seen in the company of both furbolg and night elves, I would not be conpicious - as he himself would be. He asked me to deliver a letter asking for help from the people of Auberdine. I think pretty little help will be forthcoming, remembering the state of Auberdine and surroundings after Deathwing flew by. But who am I to debate with an Anchorite. I tucked the letter inside my tunic and left with his blessings. I toyed with the idea of buying a ride on a hippogryph, but when Laando told me it would cost me 99 copper, I declined.

I ran. As I came to Kessel’s crossing, Kessel called me. I thought he maybe had some more Sand pear pie for my sweet tooth, but no. He told, that the naga had started raiding his camp at night scaring the elekks. He asked me kindly, but I could sense his anger with the nagas, to kill as many of them as possible, and especially their leader Xiz. He even gave me a banner to plant in his dead body. He would pay me good for the deed, he said.

I told him yes, but I have urgent business in Exodar first. He told me “Then hurry, girl.” But he did not offer me an elekk this time. So off I ran. After crossing the bridge to Bloodmyst, the sun made me feel very hot. I jumped off the bridge and trudged along the water’s edge cooling my feet and enjoying the cool, tangy air. I went along deep in my thoughts when I suddenly heard a spear whiz past my ear. I looked up and saw the rickety stilt huts of Murlocs in front of me. A shiver ran through me. How many times had I heard of a stout warrior or crafty hunter being murdered by those filthy beasts. And now their war song Mgrgrgrgrgrgrlww sounded terrifying in my ears. I drew my sword and hacked my opponent down. It was surprisingly easy, which was a luck, as I was beset by many more of those strange creatures. When I was able to stop fighting, I looked over bloodstained sand and gore. Luckily not much of it mine.

Murlocs!

 I bound my wounds and searched the bodies. Nasty job, but I found a few coppers and one of the fellows even had a pearl and two smallish gems tucked in his pouch. Among the huts I also found some sacks of grain, and I remembered Gurf of the Stillpines complaining of the thieving murlocs when I last visited Stillpine Hold. I remembered something he said about his dignity being hurt. So I proceeded down the coast, gathering all the sacks of Stillpine grain I was able to find, mostly avoiding combat. But as I saw a small treasure chest in one of the houses I thought to myself: “This is my lucky day, maybe I can get enough for a whole new set of mail.” I sneaked up to the hut, and downed the sole guardian before he said more than Mgr... and opened the chest. Those murlocs sure are a strange lot. I found some cheese, half gone but still edible, 15 coppers, some clams and a strange elixir, which I will sell in Exodar. I then hurried on, but the a big, dark murloc stood in my way. He said “Murgurgula...” which I took to mean “Over my dead body!” so I killed him after a hard battle, he was tougher than his looks made me think, and in a pouch on a string round his neck I found a big tuft of Furbolg hair and skin. I cut the string and put the purse in a pocket, thinking that Gurf might want me not to know what was in it. He also had a great looking belt, which I thought Yil, the mail armour merchant in Exodar might be interested in.

I slept that nigth in a tree, shivering in the crisp nigth air, but the murlocs had delayed me and I was not sure I would be able to find my way to the Exodar in the dark.

The next morning I hurried to the Exodar, skirted it and found Kella Nightbow, she thanked me for the missive, and said she would see to it, confirming my suspicion, that people on the Isles have not heard of Auberdine’s fate.

Once inside the city, I went first to the auction house. I had heard that pearls and gems sold for more money there. Then I climbed the strange stairs to Yil’s shop. He inspected the belt, and sold me a whole, new outfit in exchange for that belt and my old armour. Now for a bath and a quiet corner in the inn. I ate sparingly from my bags and innkeeper Breel supplied me with leftovers and a mug of beer. Nice man Breel.

At the Auction House

The inn in Exodar with Breel behind the counter

My new suit of armor

In-game notes: Level 12-15.

The Tales of Rusty - 2

Shortcut to Mushrooms

After the skirmish with the Sunhawks near poor Toolan's body, Aurelon tried to learn me a way to heal with the power, but I did not succeed in grasping what he tried to teach me. In desperation, he sent me on to Azure Watch to learn the Furbolg language and in general be of use as a guard there. Trainer Tullas (a really nice lady) finally told me that the use of the power comes in different schools. I have taken to the fighting part of Paladins’ powers easily, both the aggressive and the defensive side of it. But I seemed to have troubles with the healing parts of it.

Studying Furbolg

My linguistic gifts made it easy for me to learn Furbolg, and I was initiated to the Stillpines, the nearest and friendliest of the Furbolg tribes. Those big, badger-like humanoids had been carving out a meagre existence on the isles before our spaceship crashed there, and the elders tried to help and educate them in every possible way. They took me for a hero, but I did not feel like one. I was still on guard duty, and often picked out for running errands because of my youth and long legs.

Helping out at Azure Watch.

 One forenoon, I was sent out picking healing herbs, the use of which the Furblog had taugth us. I found a wounded lady in the woods. I bound her wounds, as my healing powers still was not anything to speak of. I carried her to Azure watch where and helped healing a strange lady, woo spoke wildly of Demons and Eredar. I was sent to Odesyus' Landing to find her kind, and there I was able to help him and the cook, McWeaksauce.

At Odeyus' Landing

 I bravely fought naga and murlocs, and learned more of the figthing powers of a paladin. I was slowly rising in their regards. In the end the leader of Azure Watch, Menelaous, told me in his own pessimistic way that they need one like me at Blood Watch.

Travelling

The first weeks in Blood Watch were not that different from what I knew. I was hunting bears, picking flowers and training in the ways of the Light, but then the going got tough. Jessera of Mac'aree, an old patriarch of Azure Watch, sent me to pick some mushrooms for his collections. The first two were easy-peasy, and I began to think his warnings were just intended to take the fun out of the trip. But then, as I dived into the blood red river to get to the Aquatic Stinkhorn, my hand was torn by a thousand needle like teeth from an aggressive looking fish, also known by the same name. I clutched the mushroom carefully and swam onto land as quickly as possible. Luckily my mail shirt was tougher than fishys' teeth and I jumped back on dry land. Phew. Maybe Jessera was right after all.
And now for the last one, Fel Cone fungus, a drab, uninteresting one. I searched a long time, tiring in the glaring sun, then finally I saw one in a thicket with a lot of other equally drab mushrooms.

Fel Cone Fungus.

 I picked the largest of them and put it in my basket, when suddenly I was beset by some Sunhawks, who thought the isles were theirs alone. And those sneaky ones came two and two, not much honest combat in that. The youngest was not as good a fighter as me. After his first stab, I blocked his second dagger with my shield, and slashed at him with my sword. He fell to the ground, and stopped bothering me. The second one was a great fighter, bigger than me, with a longer reach. I could not block both of his long daggers with my sword, and the dagger in my shoulder impaired my shield arm. He hit me again and again, and I could not retaliate. I felt my vision blurring - there must have been poison on that dagger - I collected my wits and sent a prayer for help to the Naaru, and They had not forgotten me. I felt a healing wave run through me, and my sword penetrated the assassins' armour. I pulled out the poisoned dagger, bound my wounds, quickly picked up my mushrooms and other belongings and hurried home to Blood Watch.

On my complaining Jessera said he had warned me that mushroom hunting was dangerous business. As he is one of the immortal ones, I think he is more than 25,000 years old, there's no sense in arguing with him. He even hinted that he has more collectibles he want me to get for him. What's a poor girl to do?

In-game notes: Levelling to level 10 then at level 11 fighting two Sunhawks lvl 12. Levelling to 13 at  Bloodmyst Isle.

The Tales of Rusty - 1

My early years

I was just a toddler aboard the Exodar as it sailed the skies, and only remember the crash vaguely as a big confusion, people screaming and me getting lost. After the crash I was brought to the orphanage in Shattrath together with almost all the Draenei children from the Exodar. I suppose it was better to have us out of the way while people died and were buried, while people sought after family and friends, and while liveable dwellings were made from the broken starship. The Matron Mercy were nice to us all, but she was overworked and underfed, like all of us. Only from time to time did people have time for us. I remember once a paladin in shining armour came and offered one of us a ride on his wonderful horse. Doorna, the most courageous of us, got the honour. She stayed away for a week, and came home full of stories of wonderful places and strange beings she had seen. She had even met the Prophet in the remains of the Exodar, and visited her older brother at the Ethereal‘s place in green and peaceful Nagrand.

The life in Shattrath was a drab life. We could not leave the city, as wild beast wandered outside, ready to kill us. Only the cemetery was free from beasts, securely guarded by peacekeepers on pleasantly sturdy and faithful elekks. The town itself was a place of strife and split allegiances - Aldor against Scryers, Horde against Alliance, and bird people against everyone - and refugees. Darkmoon Faire that visited from time to time, with wonders and animals from Azeroth and beyond was the only real bright spot, and it lasted only until Silas Darkmoon found the magic isle of his dreams and left for good. I remember one of the last times. Silas had found a band of mighty warriors who did not fight, but sang. They were loud, but good. Only one of their songs were hair-raisingly unpleasant. I am Murloc. Even though I had never seen a murloc, not even heard of one before, their sounds made me want to run and hide under my blankets.

Not many of us Draenei ever saw our families again. Draenei are not very fertile, having none or at most two children in each family, and the death toll from the crash was high. I also learned that both my parents had died. Either during the crash or shortly after, but their bodies were not found until much later. I think I had guessed, as the living parents had been meeting with their children for some time by then.

When the Isles were somewhat regulated, children from my age group was taken back to Azuremyst Isles to learn a profession. Most choose sedentary skills, gem cutters, bowyers, leatherworkers, my best friend became a baker in the inn, and another became apprentice hippogryph handler in faraway Theramore. I met Baatun and was immediately drawn to serving the Light.

Rusty. Just arrived at Ammen Vale, Azuremyst.

After studying for some time, I was sent to Ammen Vale to get some real life experience. I was sorry to leave Batun and the elekks, but we had fun in Ammen Vale. We young ones swam in the reddish water and dared one another to touch the crystal in the lake. I was sent on different easy missions like inoculating the peaceful owlbears. I learned my herbs, about  picking the rigth ones for medicine; I cleaned debris from the crash, helping the crippled and suffering. We killed the abominations, mostly flutterers larger than us, and plants showing signs of wanting to walk. The elders told us that the propellant for The Exodar (our spaceship), which had largely been poured out over Ammen Vale,  was a mutagen, not hurting us Draenei, but obviously not healthy for the animal and plant life of Ammen Vale.

Reaching the Red Crystal.

On one of my errands, I met Tolaan, he was mortally wounded by Sunhawks! I revenged him, but was scared to find how bad my fighting skills were. I studied hard from then on and learned to use the powers of the Light to hit my enemies harder and make myself harder to hit. Easy and fun use of the powers I thought.

Notes: The first couple of levels (Ammen Vale). This story has been a long time in writing. I began playing an Ironman Challenger - always Paladins, female Draenei and Human males -  way back in  March 2012. Cataclysm was the newest expansion, Silas Darkmoon had only recently opened up Darkmoon Island, Raid finder and Transmogrification were brand new features. Yes long ago.