The Tales of Rusty - What now?

And then I left my fair Isles behind me. In search of new adventures, strange lands and beasts, new friends and fame.

-- ⏳ -- 🥇 -- 🥈 -- 🥉 -- 🕰 --

If yoy think the looks of my hero have been changing througout this story, there's two reasons.

1. It is not the same character. Many  re-incarnations died during the makings of this storyline.
Actually this is the conglomerate story of no less than 21 characters.

2. This achievement exists in game. You can have your hair dyed and cut - and beard to if that's relevant.

Since I began writing this tale in November 2013 (Oh God, is it really 5 years ago?) World of Warcraft has been going downhill for me. I complain in the tab My Rants that WoW has become far too easy, far too one way street-like, far too little demanding on brain and brawn.

The Ironman Challenge has been hit by several of the new patches: Forced specialization, scaling zones, stat squishes that have not been done thoroughly, leaving some NPC's ranged attacks still doing pre-squish damage, effectively one-shotting even my non-Iron main character.

I did not begin IMC because it was easy, nor to race others to max level, or even in the hope of ever reaching max level. I did it because it brought colour back to my surroundings, spring to my steps and and joy to my playtime. After several nerfs the fun has been spoiled. There's nothing to the challenge but an endless grind, often cut short by some oversight by the gamemakers.

But this summer Classic WoW will come out. I'll revive (a copy of) my oldest IMC, Moggi, who did not even know she was an IronManChallenger, as this challenge still lay in the future back in 2008 when she hit level 10 without ever having died.

 There were no rules against buffs, gear or anything, and I invented the rules myself out of irritation with this box on page 30 of the rulebook, that stated that you could not play WoW without dying.
  

13 July 2008 - first IMC to level 10 ever

I avoided dying until my smallest sons (then 5 and 3) both were clamouring for my attention just after I entered combat, and fell prey to a Strider in Darkshore at the tender age of 12. My then 5 years old son still plays this Druid - I later gave her to him in frustration over my death.

The tales of Rusty - 15

Vindicator's rest:
I took the north road going out of Blood Watch, walking slowly, savouring the world around me.  Exarch Admetius had said that he did not expect me to do the job, only to be an assistant. But I remembered my last visit at Vindicator's Rest, how they all had hinted at some unknown hero.

I felt a foreboding, and then a thing I had not felt for a very long time. Pure hatred. Sironas was ruining my world, she was poisoning the animals, the rivers and even the soil, we lived off. I would not be sorry to die, if only I knew that Sironas was dead as well. I could see, in my heightened state of awareness, that the trees, the soil, in short everything had taken a red tinge. Only the blue sky was unchanged. Today was the day to end this.
 

At Vindicator's Rest, some people were gathered. Vindicator Corin greeted me: "Perhaps you will be the one to deliver our people into a new age of prosperity and peace."
I felt them to be true, bowed deeply for everyone present and made my way to her. She looked squarely at me and said: "Only the most battle hardened, noble and positively fearless will follow Legoso on his mission. The exarch will not order anyone to take on the task of destroying the Vector Coil and dispatching Sironas. He refuses to send any draenei to their death - which is what the mission is: suicide..." She sighed. "Hopefully a hero arrives before they are able to call forth reinforcements to guard the area we just secured."

My courage and my voice suddenly failed me, and I could not tell her, I was that hero. I managed to croak: "I'll do my best!"

The Vector Coil
She lead me to a massive old man with an unruly mass of white hair: "This is Demolitionist Legoso.
Follow and protect him as he attempts to destroy the Vector Coil and slay Sironas. Return to Exarch Admetius at Blood Watch should you complete the mission."
Demolitionist Legoso looked at me, scoring up my still slender frame and lacking years. I had never in my life wanted more intensely to be older and bigger than in those minutes.
In the end he spoke to me in a slow, deliberate voice: "Don't accept this assignment if you value your life. You see that gigantic power core jutting out of the mountain side over yonder? Whoever takes on this burden will need to fight their way through that mountain, battling an army of Sunhawks while protecting me as I rig the core up for demolition. Sironas the eredar is somewhere up there as well. I won't think less of you if you just walk away, Rusty.
But maybe you're the one - the one to destroy the Vector Coil and take down Sironas. Well, are you?"

I found my voice, and said: "Yes, Demolitionist Legoso, I think I am the one."

He only looked at me, and said. "Follow me."

Together we walked the winding path to the Vector Coil. It seemed deserted but for some Bloodhawks coming two by two, but they were no match for us. We reached the plateau in front of the big, purple building where a lady stood with upraised arms, blue streaks of energy washing over her body. Demolitionist said: "Blessed Light! She's siphoning energy right out of the Vector Coil! Cover me, we have to do this quickly. Once I blow the support on this side, it will disrupt the energy beams and she'll break out! I doubt very much we'll make it out alive."
I could not care less. I now saw Sironas with my own eyes. She was hideous in her beauty. I could not stop looking at her. She was the master mind behind our suffering. I longed to sink my sword into her body. I knew this was what I was created for. If I survived the coming fight or not, was of lesser importance to me. But Sironas had to be stopped.

Legoso began his job. He had one bomb set and armed before anybody discovered us, but from then on I was busy protecting him from Sunhawks set on killing him before he could finish his job.
I was in a killing frenzy, almost out of my mind. The time seemed to slow down for me, and I killed Sunhawk after Sunhawk until I heard Legoso's basso voice "Take cover! And be ready for the fight of your life!"

I only just made it behind a protecting crystal before his bombs exploded and the blue flames died down. As the energy streams stopped Sironas grew to four times her normal size and yelled for us to be ready to meet the Light.
In an overwhelmed voice Demolitionist Legoso exclaimed: "Holy Mother of O'ros!" I said a quick prayer and jumped between Legoso and Sironas' sword.
From there it was an all-consuming battle, Demolitionist Legoso placed many of his small healing and supporting  totems on the ground. I could see their energy battering at Sironas' shields and reinforce my feeble powers. Powers that were of almost no avail against her wicked, purple shields, but my sword made small dents in her defences.  The Naaru must have been helping us, for just as The Demolitionist started sagging and almost fell to the ground, Sironas began shrinking. We had worn out her tapped powers. I threw my sword upwards with a desperate prayer to the Light. It hit, Sironas dropped her sword and crumpled to the ground, now once again her normal form and size. I finished her off, and turned to Legoso.
He looked at me as if awakening and said: "I... I can't believe it's over. You did it! You've destroyed the blood elves and their leader! Let's get back to Blood Watch" Slowly, holding up each other, we made our way back stumbling over rubble and burning embers. When we finally made it back, we were at the end of our powers.


Blood Watch and beyond
Exarch Admetius came out of his house and had us carried inside. After he had us fed and washed, he gradually pieced the story together from our telling.
We slept. For how long, I did not know. But I awoke to a dazzling day. I felt empty, but good. Nothing hurt, nothing ached. and I stretched luxuriously. I was in Adnetious' sumptuous guest suite and I could see Legoso in bed in the next room, and the Exarch talking with him. As they realized I was awake, Exarch Admetius came to me: "You have saved the whole of Bloodmyst and Azuremyst, securing the way of life on Azeroth, Rusty!
For this, there can be no amount of thanks, no reward, nothing large enough in scope to truly express our appreciation. Yet, there are still so many that were left behind who cannot be here for this historic event. You must find your way back. Find your way back to our origin, Hero of Argus. Bring our people to this new home. Home to the land that you saved. Home to Azuremyst ...

Now rise and dress, the Prophet has come in person to thank you."

I dressed in the simple, yet beautiful clothes laid out for me. My sword was black, almost shrivelled, I dared not touch it.

As I left  Exarch Admetius' home and walked into the dazzling sunlight I saw that not only the Prophet had come. Everybody was there. I walked toward the Prophet through a sea of people. I saw the Princess of the Stillpines, the Chief of the Stillpines, and many of their people, Admiral Odesyus, The Cook, the wounded Elven princess pale but happy, traders and blacksmiths, Gurf, Morae, Exarch Menelaos, smiling as I'd never seen him smile beofore, in short everybody.

Prophet Velen himself stood at the end of the ranks beaming at me. I slowly made my way down to him and knelt in the sun. He bade me stand and spoke to me: "These islands will serve as the home to thousands. Most of these people will remain here their entire lives. If you so desired, you could do the same. But that's not what you want, is it, Rusty?"
Silently I shook my head no.  He looked me straigth in the eyes.
"You will do many more great things before you pass. You must embrace your destiny and meet it head on!
Before you leave, I present you with two gifts: This tabard is worn by only the most revered of the Hand of Argus and this signet ring worn by our wisest sages. Wear them both with pride, Rusty."
He pulled the tabard over my head, and everybody clapped and made happy noises in my honour. I was deeply moved, almost to tears.

Then I saw Kessel turning towards me. Laughing he told me he'd brought a friend. I looked up and saw Fant, my favourite elekk. "Yes, Rusty, she's all yours. Remember to keep her out of the water." Then we all began laughing and hugging. The party lasted long into the night.

The Tales of Rusty - 14

More Sunhawks
Once again I was put on Sunhawk cleanup duty. During pauses and mealtimes Vindicator Kuros told me more of Sironas, and when it finally dawned upon me that Sironas was the one who perverted both Saruan, and an unnamed lady, probably Kuros' sweetheart as well as mentor, I began to understand his fervour in exterminating the Sunhawks, and the anger, that led him to strike down Mattis, as he alluded to what he'd done for Sironas. One thing was a wonder for all of us. Where did all the Sunhawks come from? We had shut down the portal in the north, surrounded the Cryo-core, and their camp. Now we made daily forays in the hilly zone where the Vector Coil -- another important part of the old Exodar -- had fallen and still they came. Even better armed for each passing day.

I was sent to Vindicator's Rest, where the Vindicator, Aesom, had a thing or two to tell me. The Sunhawks' latest invention, Sun Gates, was a movable portal. The implored me to destroy it. Which was rather an easy task. After my long training I was able to finish off any Sunhawks in a efficient manner. I found the Sun Gate, held up by four crystals. I broke the crystals one after one, and the gate simply stopped to be. We still had many Sunhawks to fight and I did my share of the dirty job, but their number was lessening.

But as I fought Sunhawk I felt more and more listless. I caught myself in thinking that Exarch Menelaos was right when he felt like just waiting for death to come. It was foolish to fight always fight. It was not necessarily a loosing battle. but the numbers of fights were overwhelming. In the end Delenn noticed my quiet manners and I told her of my thoughts.
She reminded me that even if a paladin's powers come from the Ligth, they come in schools in the same way magic does. There was a way of keeping a balance of power, that I clearly had forgotten. I was doing too much fighting and not much healing with my powers. I should try to limit my use of the powers of the Light to the most mundane when fighting.
I found it ridiculous that I should not use the powers to eradicate my enemies as quickly as possible, but promised to give it a try. The next couple of days I used only minimal output of Power for fighting, and accordingly I had to use more Powers in healing myself. And it seemed to help. It was as if things regained their old colours. I told Delenn that she seemed to be right. And she made me promise to go on like that. I made the promise, but with a heavy heart.

What we know
Some time later Vindicator Aesom summoned me. He told me that as I was one of the best fighters and at least as good at learning new languages, I was the perfect Draenei for the job. I must have looked fairly puzzled. He told me to fetch us some tea and be at ease. And then he began at the beginning. "We know that the Sunhawks, and indeed all the Blood elves on these Isles are led by Sironas herself ... Yes Rusty?" My surprise in learning that Sironas was a she must have shown.
"Yes she's a she, and the worst of our nightmares come true. She and her allies seek to enslave O'ros and control Exodar and the Isles. Light be praised, you've stopped their feeding lines by destroying the Sun Gate.  but unfortunately, they continue to use the mutagen -- that's what you, Morae and Lycaeon was talking about the other day, and it fits with what we knew. We suppose they're using the Vector Coil as a base for the poisoning of the Isles, using the mutagenic properties of the debris and crystals to their advantage.
Exarch Admetius has devised a desperate plan. Go, seek him out."

And what we like to know
I took my leave of the Vindicator and went in search of Exarch Admetius. It was no problem finding him, actually he was just outside, waiting for me. He invited me home -- he lived next door -- for even more tea. With almost no preamble he told me of his plan.
"I am in need of your services, Rusty. I have a plan, but before we can get any further, we need some vital information." He smiled at me, but far from calming me, he conferred much of his own anxiety to me.
"We need to know the if there's any weakness in their defence of the Vector Coil. We have not been able to get close enough to to really gather useful information. But we have a prisoner.  If we could get the prisoner to talk, we could get the information, we need to get through their lines and destroy the Vector Coil once and for all. Yes, you heard me right. I want to blow the damned thing up."
"But how can I  ... I mean, I don't speak Thalassian apart from a few choice insults..."
"I have an idea, or rather a plan, Rusty. Please listen."
I nodded, and he continued: "All attempt at interrogation have failed miserably, Rusty. Torture is out of the question. That's not how we do things. Not even in an extreme situation like this. But as said, I have a plan. What we need is the right man or rather Draenei in the right place. I am, as you might know, well versed in magic. I can cast a spell upon you that would make you look like a Sunhawk yourself, and even teach you the language for the duration. I think that the Blood Elf out there is almost ripe; due to the long time of loneliness and insecurity concerning his future, he might be willing to spill the beans to a fellow prisoner. Of course we'll have to treat you like we would a captured Sunhawk. Hell, the guards will even think you are a newly captured Sunhawk agent, and treat you accordingly. I excuse on beforehand for any rough handling.
In the end of course I gave in. When the Vindicators want something they can be rather convincing.

The next day I met Sxarch Admetius and tracker Lycaeon in a deserted spot near Blood Watch. I ha dressed in Sunhawk clothes beforehand, and wore a nondescript sword.   Exarch Admetius said the words, I felt my tail shrinking and my ears grow. Soon I looked like a real Sunhawk. I drew my sword and traded a few mock blows with Exarch Admetius. Trackre Lycaeon blew his whistle and soon I was captured by  the rangers coming to his aide. They were going to kill me, but the Exarch stopped them, under the pretence of wanting to interrogate me.
I was beaten up, and roughly thrown into a cage already containing the other prisoner and left alone there.
After some time I returned to my senses. I gingerly felt my head, felt the long eyebrows and ears and remembered my mission. I softly swore, careful not to startle, as the unwont syllables left my lips.
 The captured Sunhawk agent eyed me suspiciously: "Good morning, new one. Who are you? I never say you before?"
"I'm a prisoner, that's what I am," I said, hoping for time and the fog in my head to clear. "I saw these
draenei filth kill our portal controllers and destroy the gate. The Sun King will be most displeased with this turn of events. I attacked a Draenei out of anger, but it seems he was some sort of sitting duck, and I was captured."

The captured Sunhawk agent smirked. "Don't you worry, new blood, there are many more portal controllers and many more suitable locations for portals. I am certain that Sironas will have a new gate up very soon. These blue skinned dogs are not long for this world. Sironas and the abomination will clean up whatever the Sunhawk forces leave behind."

Now we were getting somewhere. I tried throwing a lure: ""Ah yes. Sironas. I had nearly forgotten that Sironas was here. I served under Sironas back on Outland. I haven't heard of any abominations, though; those damnable draenei captured me before I had chance to learn anything here."

The Sunhawk smiled a dreamy smile. "It was Sironas all along. Any attacks against the Vector Coil will most certainly result in failure as long as that abomination is around."

"Incredible." I said.  "How did Sironas accomplish such a thing?"

"Sironas claims that certain eredar possess the ability to transform themselves or other into man'ari. Savage demonic beings. Draenei were supposedly once eredar and Sironas is a powerful eredar,"
the agent laughed. "Can you imagine? These pathetic, blue creatures once were mighty demons. What kind of fool rejects such power?

"I was totally taken by surprise and blurted: "Sironas is an eredar ..." I quickly amended: "I man, yes, obviously, that totally explains everything."
The agent did not seem to have noticed my lapse, but continued: "Obviously. How else could she infiltrate their ranks and pass as a draenei? She has been living among them for a very long time."
 "But," I said, "The Vector Coil is huge. I hope we have more than one abomination guarding the numerous weak points."
He eyed me suspiciously: "Numerous? It has only two weak points: the base of the structure on the west side and the base of the structure on the east side. Hey, wait a minute. How would you know anything about the Vector Coil? Didn't you say that you were captured before you had a chance to learn anything?"

That was it. The agent had smelled something fishy. Time to get out. I dealt him a blow to the stomach and opened the lock with the key, Exarch Admetius had given me.
"Treacherous whelp!" he groaned. "Sironas will destroy you and your people!"

Shaken I returned to Exarch Admetius who called Morae in to dress my wounds. After my tales and some nourishment he ordered me home to bed. "Return tomorrow for your orders, Rusty," was his parting words.

Next day he asked me it I was ready to eradicate the blood elf menace from our island forever.
I only nodded, and he continued. "I do not expect you to take on The Vector Coil and defeat Sironas single -handedly. But you could be of great help to the person taking on this dangerous assignment. Go back to Vindicator's Rest. There you'll find Demolitionist Legoso. He's a great fighter and an even better sapper, he'll be able to destroy the Vector Coil with your help.

Rationalizations of the limitations of Mists of Pandaria.

The Tales of Rusty - 13

More crystals
Some days later, I got a message that Harbinger Mikolaus wanted to see me. He asked me abou the spy post and especially the crystals there. He wanted to compare them to the samples from the crash site, I had provided him with earlier. Could I get him a sample from those chained crystals?
I ansvered that this should not be impossible and he handed me a special minimg pick, esigned to break any and all effects from the chain like force fields.
I went off at once, and went through the foret back the way I had ran fleeing the new guards at the spy post.
As i got there, I was surprised to find everything almost the same as I left it. I suspected a trap and went around the camp in a big circle. I found no trakc leading out from the camp except on the half hidden path, and even there the activity seemed to have only lessened sligthly sinse my last visit. I was afraid that my thumping at the crystals o break loose a sample would disturb the guards - agani there were only two, a bit older, better armed men. Then I saw the animals, abominations, what do you call them, I think they have developed from the giant praying mantisses, we brougth along in crates,  together with the Elekks and the other animals from the menagerie. But they have mutated, short lived insects like the Blue flutterers ans mantisses are more prone to mutatins, at last that's what Botanist Taerix told me. Anyway, I goaded some of the creatures to the edge of teh camp opposite of where the best looking crystals were situated. I left some food in the camp with a trail of small bites leading to the ravagers.  Not enough to sate them, but enouhg to whet their apetite. And a hungry ravager was not a nice thing to have in your camp.
Then I sneaked back waiting for the hungry ravagers to figth over the food. And not long after harrowing shrieks and sounds of figth came from the other side of the camp. The two Sunhawks looked at one another, jabbered in Thalassian for a short while, drew their swords and ran to the fracass.
Quickly I used the mining pick on the spot I had been loking at. Lightning struch the pick, but notheing happened to me. After a few strokes a piece of teh crystanl fell to the ground. I put it in my pocket and was gone before the guards were back from clearing the mess the ravagers had made. Now my hands were semlling of Ravagers and their favourite food, I daresd not reutrn the same way, but took the long way home, skirting Vindicator's Rest.
 
As I came near Vindicator’s Rest a Sunhawk on a horse with fiery hoofs tried to ride me down. He jumped off the horse, as he did not suceed, and came after med with his longsword. I pulled out my sword as he sprang from his horse and ran towards me. Suddenly recognition dawned Matis! I ripped the flare gun from my belt and shot into the air before he reached me. As we engaged, the undershrub came alive and a handful of rangers jumped out. They did not kill Matis, but took him in custody and brought him to Blood Watch.
At their insistence, I followed. Back at Blood Watch. Kuros praised me, saying that Matis was an arch-criminal and would receive his sentence shortly.

Kuros' vengeance
The Triumvirate with some Blades of Argus and me trailing had Matis kept prisoner by some magical means.  The Triumvirate gathered around the strange projection device on the Town Square. A projection of the Prophet came alive and interrogated Matis.
The Prophet called him a lieutenant of the Sunhawks, and accused him of killing off the Draenei. "Genocide" was the word he used. Then The Prophet told Matis that he would be executed at light's dawning. And whether he had anything to say for himself? Matis just spit at the image of Velen.
The prophet then bade the Light have mercy on Matis' soul.

Matis then began laughing and snared; "The Light? ... I am a Blood Knight, mongrel. I do not serve the Light, the Light serves me. If mercy is to be granted, it will be by me." He laughed som e more and continued: "You seek to martyr me - so be it. Strike me down, another will rise in my place and the suffering of the Light - of the conquered - will continue uninterrupted."
Vindicator Kuros interrupted him, stating that this was blasphemy and that the Light never would allow such an aberration!
Matis countered in an arrogant voice: "The Light has no choice. It does as it is commanded. Just as the naaru you hold at the core of your vessel will do when we capture and enslave it... Do my words surprise you, blue blood? Yes, we know... We know everything."
The Prophet to my big surprise spoke in a pacifying tone, asking the guards once more to take him away.
Even as the Blades of Argus put their hands on Matis' arms, urging him to move, he spoke again: "Draenei dog! Did you know that one you call Saruan wept like a babe as I beat him? A feeling of euphoria coursed through me, knowing that I had a member of a high rank in my grasp. Were it not for Sironas' plans for him, I would have tortured him to death... As I do to all draenei that I capture. Alas, I am certain that you will see him again soon ..."

Vindicator Kuros jumped at Matis with his sword drawn, screaming: "Breathe your last breath, heathen." and stabbed him before anybody could do anything.

Then Vindicator Kuros spit on the corpse of Matis. And simultaneous The Prophet gave voice to the anger and outrage we all felt at Matis' words. In a voice as cold as the stars and ad old as time itself he said: "Find their source of power and tear it down. Tear all of it down!" 

 
This is a revision of parts of older chapters. They will be removed from there, as I haver realized that they fit in here. That is part of the trouble with writing over several years, you become wiser 😉   

The Tales of Rusty - 12

Galaen's secret
At my way over to the smith’s place, to pick up my armour, Morae, our herbalist, got hold of me.
She stated the fact that surely all who could be found alive after the crash was found by now. Her husband was still not found.

Morae, the widow turned herbalist

“Could you please keep an eye out for my husband, Galean, he was at the cryo-core as the ship crashed.” She cried and told me to please, please, please look for him. I remembered my own uncertainty after the crash, while I was at the orphanage in Shattrath, and my muted sorrow when Matron Mercy told me that except for my mother’s younger sister and her two children, I was the sole survivor of my family. My aunt lived in far away Stormwind, and wanted nothing to do with the Draenei ever again, so I went to live with Baatun, the paladin-trainer in the Exodar.
All this went through my head as I patted her shoulder and tried to still her tears. She showed me her amulet and told me that her husband had one just like it, a very special one, indeed. They were gifts from her sister and looked like a resting insect, made in gold with wings of semi-precious stones.

Some days later my huntings brought me near a big part of the Exodar. Rotund and purplish it lay before me. Could it be the Cryo-core? I finished off the bear I had been tracking. Unwilling to carry it when looking at the strange construct, I tucked the meat inside the pelt, ate and drank stretched in the sun for a short while and the I went exploring.

The place literally swarmed with Sunhawks. They seemed strangely unorganized, not like the vigilant pairs, I had met previously. They just walked around gossiping opening crates, and not keeping the sharp look-out, I would have expected. I circled the dome-shaped structure, and found the right spot for a daring move. Only a few Sunhawks were to be seen; not close to me and deeply immersed in conversation. A lone guard stood by a small door, looking in the other direction lost in his thoughts. I practised my Thalassian, threw a stone and whispered: "Illidan eats shit." That brought me the wanted attention. His face turned white, and he charged me. I tackled and bound him and pulled him over behind a tree.
Then I crept closer to the structure. I was lucky, this door was only guarded by a single guard at the inside. I jumped through and engaged her quickly. Either she was not as loyal as her comrade, or maybe she was smarter, Anyhow my studied insult did not make much of an impression on her. She fought with a cold determination, and I had to use all my skill to overpower her.

When I looked around in the strangely glowing room, I saw a lifeless form on the ground behind my fallen enemy. As I came in, he looked up, I heard him whisper Morae's name and saw his eyes open. I hurried to his side, only to realize that he had expired.

A book lay close by. with a paper sticking out of it. The paper bore Vindicatore Boros' name. I opened and read the words:

I watched as they beat him without mercy. Their ruthless lieutenant acted as if such cruelty was an act of normalcy. Through the savage beatings, I could feel myself breaking ...
As I watched Vindicator Saruan take their blows, I began to weep. Not out of fear... I wept out of sadness. To see a draenei of the Triumvirate treated in such a manner. If only I could have broken free of my bonds. If only...

 I read no further, but with trembling hands tucked the book inside my tunic. Vindicator Boros had to read this. But first I had to find Galaen's amulet for Morae. I looked, carefully searching Galean's body, but found no amulet on him. But as his clothes were cut and torn, I reckoned they had taken the amulet together with his coins and other valuables.

Galaen revenged
My next idea was to tackle the Sunhawks one after another until I found the one wearing Galaen’s amulet . I looked cautiously out of the door, and right outside another guard stood ready. I whispered my phrase and he came running in, insistent upon killing one impertinent Draenei. I quickly bested him, and bound him hand and mouth. In his pockets were a wad of papers full of strange signs. But no amulet.

Outside I was met by two Sunhawks. They must have heard suspicious sounds and had come to investigate. I tackled one and hit him in a sore spot whereupon he crumbled. The other one was a she, so no go, I had to kill her. I finished her as quickly as possible and hit the moaning man over the head with my sword. Then I bound him as well. I checked them both, and - oh luck - the lady had Galaen’s medallion hidden inside her red tunic on a string round her neck. That was my proof and I circled back to the place where I left the boar flanks
 
Upon my return, I gave Galaen's amulet to Morae. She cried some more when I handed her the medallion, and told me that my finding only confirmed her suspicion. But it seemed to give her some comfort to hold Galaen’s amulet at last.

Matis revealed.
I gave Galaen's writings to Vindicator Boron, not knowing what this would lead to.
He looked once at the paper slip, then he began reading, the colour slowly draining from his face. He turned the first page, and began reading aloud:

After what seemed an eternity, the Vindicator lost consciousness. The torture was too much, even for him. The cruel one - Matis as I found out he was called - attempted to wake Saruan by splashing contagion laced water across his ravaged body. But Saruan did not wake.
I wanted to scream but only a low gasp escaped my lips. I was promptly beaten for this act of rebellion. As I lay on the ground, I could see Matis pacing in front of Saruan's body. He seemed visibly concerned. He stated that Sironas or Sirona or some such entity would have his flesh flayed from his bones if Saruan had perished in the beatings. That the Sironas entity had plans for Saruan...

 He looked up, tears streaming down his face, and let the book droop, I could see the writing abruptly stopping and a long line trailing off the page. Galaen had not been allowed to finish his writings.

"Saruan was my master" he said with a shaking voice. "He was ... my teacher... my mentor... I took his place among the Triumvirate only recently - after we had given up searching for him."

He looked up. balling his hands into fists. I could see his jaws clenching. "Matis!" he said in a voice filled with cold rage.

He pulled a strange looking gun from his pockets, and I was afraid he would tear off for Matis that very moment. But such was not his idea. "Rusty," he said. "This is a flare gun. Whenever it is fired, by day or nigth in the hills, in the woods or even at sea, Trackers and defenders of the Hand will come rushing to the place it was fired from. I give you this gun. From now on you're free to roam the isles, looking for Matis. You may take up jobs for all who ask you, but your main and most important job is to find Matis and have him brought to justice. He's an easy one to recognize. Blood elf, red hair, rides a horse with fiery hooves. Arrogant and conceited to a T. Find him, Rusty."

I promised him I'd do my very best.

And from then on, whatever my errand was, I  was first and foremost on the lookout for Matis, the flare gun always handy in my belt.

The Tales of Rusty - 11

Wyrmscar Isle - a ghostly experience.
Early next morning I left Nolkai's temple and set out for Wyrmscar Isle. Mingus was a great swimmer, so I take it that Kessel was only joking when he told me to keep his elekks out of the water. When I could clearly see the shore of the isle, I also saw lots of small dragons flitting around. All stories I had heard of dragons, had led me to figure them bigger.Those ones were hardly bigger thanbig dogs.

I followed the coastline looking for captain Edward Haines. By an old ruin, I saw a ghost! He did not look like a sea dog to me at all, and as I came near I saw my mistake. He was an elven prince of old. I heard his ghostly voice speak to me. In sorrowful tones he told me of the days when he, prince Toreth, was the green dragonrider and blessed by Ysera. The green dragons were all killed by Deathwing and his kind, as he could not stand Ysera's kindness. Her cursed broodlings still inhabited the island, and the bones of green and black dragons, still littered the earth. Prince Toreth asked me to help him find his eternal rest by freeing the isle of the shadow of Razormaw, one of Deathwing's lieutenants, whose ghost still hung around circling the summit. Ilooked up, and heard the rustle of his batlike wings. This was more what  I had imagined dragons to look like.
I was to kill as many of the Ysera's spirit broodlings as I could. And then gather bones from long dead dragons and place them on the pyre on top of Wyrmscar. This would provoke Razormaw and his anger would help me overcome him.

I picked up the bones, they were easily big enough to come from dragons the size of Razormaw and even bigger. Luckily they were not mssive, and not as heavy as they looked. Many of them had been  dragged off to the mainland by wild beasts. But finally I had a nice bundle. I hauled the bones past the attacking broodlings, up a narrow winding path to the summit. Up there I killed off all Ysera's ghostly broodlings and threw the bones on the pyre. I could see Razormaw soaring around the summit, but he did not seem to be looking my way. My nervosity gave way to impatience, but finally, as my patience was almost worn thin, I saw him coming towards me. He was big! I backed up so that I stood with my back against the only big part of the old building up there. Then we engaged. My big sword was to almost no avail, as he was a ghost, but my paladinish bolts of Light hurt him more. He started to breath fire at me, and I was suddenly scared. I thought of fleeing, but he blocked the narrow path I had come by, and behind me the ruins blocked the access to the sloping part of the summit. I had to stay and fight to the end. His fire rolled around me once more, but I realized that it was almost as ghostly as himself and did not hurt much. I once again grabbed my sword tight and called on the Light. Bolts of power shot out from my sword and Razormaw fell to the ground, even more transparent in death.

Mourning Razormaw - a grand dragon.

As I came back to the beach, Prince Toreth thanked me profusely with his ghostly voice, and with a big sigh his spirit left this world. I knelt down and commended his spirit to the Light.

The last of the small islands
Captain Edward Hanes when I finally found him, was a real ghost as well as a real sea dog. And his only concern was his crew. He told me of the ancient Bloodcurse, haunting the island. He spun tales of Aszhara and the the shadows of the long dead elven people who like Prince Toreth once populated these islands and who somehow had turned into bloodcursed nagas who then turned the crew of sailing ships - and among those his crew - into ghosts. My head started spinning. Maybe ghosts are not good storytellers, mixing past, present and bits of the future into one tall tale. 
Anyhow, at the end he bade me put an end to the Bloodcurse, by putting the sailors to rest, and kill as many nagas as I could possibly manage. Then maybe finally he - and Odesyus - could sleep in peace again.
I did as he bade, but first he cast a ghastly spell upon me, making me partly undead myself and able to go without breath for long periods of time, that was needed, as I would probably have drowned from all the underwater fighting necessary, but nonetheless it was an unpleasant experience. When the unappetizing job of finishing off undead sailors and many, many bloodcursed nagas was done, The Captain asked me for one last favour. On the Island some way off - known as Bloodcursed Isle - lived, or rater unlived, the shadow of a being named Atoph the Bloodcursed he was in some ways that went straight over my head responsible for this mess and also worshipped as a god, or demigod, by the nagas. After a rest, i went over to the Bloodcursed Isle, again killing many nagas and finally fighting my way to a statue on top of the steep sided island. There I put some kindling to an effigy and called forth the Shadow of Atoph. I had learned much about fighting with nagas already, so it was relatively easy to finish him off, especially as the burning of the effigy made him angry. An angry fighter is a bad fighter, my old teacher said, and he was right.

Saying Farewell to Captain Hanes.

Captain Hanes bade me farewell forever and told me to dig in the sand nearby. Down there I found a shield in the form of a ship's wheel. It was very beautiful, but magic. And as I belong to the Order of Iron, I cannot use such. I'll keep it in a safe place as a souvenir.

The Tales of Rusty 10

Treasure Island part 2

The inactivity did me good, but I needed to keep in shape, so I dug out the gnome's treasure map and went looking. As I reached the ruins mentioned on the map, I tethered Mingus to a tree, and climbed the low hill. The place swarmed with nagas, but I was quite happy to kill a couple of those. It was not too difficult, and a nice change from the Sunhawks. When I had cleared the small structure of nagas. I started searching. It was some kind of temple, now in ruins. Behind a pillar lay an old book, battered and weather beaten, but still readable. The small temple was ideal for living in for some days. I cleared out all the nagas, there were no more living ones around, and found a path for Mingus to get up there, it was not easy, but we made it.

Figthing nagas in the smallest temple. 

 My days studying old scrolls had given me an insight in the healing powers of the Light, but also a fair reading skill when it came to old scribbling. I was able to decipher parts of the book. It was a diary by a night elf - I think - named Nolkai. Another one most probably a human, Andrew Clementine, had scribbled in the book, counting his drinks and drunken exploits. Not a nice read, but Nolkai's diary was something else entirely It ended abruptly with the words: "The enemy is nearly upon us. We've gathered up all the survivors and retreated to the temple to the east. It's the last ground we truly hold on the island, and there is a sense among the survivors that we will make our last stand here. I've taken care to bury my last few possessions on the grounds of the temple, with the hope that someone will find them and know what happened here." I looked to the east, and saw an even smaller structure. I left Mingus in the bigger temple and walked to the easternmost structure. Even more nagas were living there, but they were more of training objects for me, an irritation rather than a threat. It was not easy to find the place, Nolkai had spoken of, but in the end my digging hands found a smallish chest. I brushed the dirt away and opened it, Inside was a slim, golden band with the inscription: "A token for my love to remember me by. May Elune watch over my dear Nolkai." a lantern and some old coins. I did not understand how these items were supposed to tell me, or anybody what had happened. I decided to show the items to one of the anchorites in Blood Watch.
I spent some more days in Nolkai's temple, reading scrolls of healing, teaching Mingus and fighting an occasional naga. One day I found a crumpled letter in a pocket. "Oh yes," I exclaimed, "Odesyus' letter. I got to go to Wyrmscar Isle." From the top of Nolkai's temple, I could see the Island to the northeast. Elekk handler Kessel had said something about keeping his elekks out of water, but I wanted to bring mine to Wyrmscar.

In-game notes: Level 20

Thr Tales of Rusty - 9

A Treasure Island

In the following weeks I was busy. Sunhawks kept popping up at the most unlikely places, and I was sent to scout and harass them as best I could. An important part of the old Exodar, the Vector Coil, had fallen in very hilly country.
The Sunhawks were there as well, trying to find a way to turn it into a portal, I suppose. In my scouting, I also ran into Cornelius. He had taken an expedition up behind Vector Coil, it was a total failure due to the giant spiders living there. They had caught all of them, and only Cornelius himself had succeeded in getting out of the cocoons, they were spun into. He had tried several times to free his companions, but to no avail. He was almost killed every time. Now he was weak with hunger and the after-effects of spiders’ poison. I gave him some of Lycaeon’s meat, and promised to look after his fellows. It was not easy. The expedition members were wrapped up together with satyrs, flutterers, owlbeasts and an occasional sunhawk. And they had no gratitude left for me when I freed them, they were all quite angry and attacked me the second arms or claws were free. And the spiders did not do anything to help. They tried to spin me in as well, and bit and stabbed at me with their venomous fangs. In the end I had freed all 5 members of the expedition, and they left for Blood Watch immediately, limping and lurching from the poison, but grinning with the happiness of being alive after all. I slept in Tel'athion's Camp, a small hut near the river, it was rumoured that a madman lived out here alone, making strange potions with the red water, but I found nobody and the hut seemed deserted.

Near Tel'athion's Camp

After weeks of being on my guard with every step, I started seeing Sunhawks all over, even in my sleep. I needed to do something else. I then remembered Clopper Wizbang’s treasure map, and decided to go and see what was in there. I asked Exarc Admetius for some days on my own, as I needed to study and meditate and generally collect my thoughts. He was very forthcoming and gifted me with his spare elekk as a reward for all my working. I could also count on help in reading the fine script on the map. Delenn had dug out some more books for me to study, and even an old scroll on healing and the Light as seen by the Naaru.

Riding my Elekk.

My first priority was to learn how to handle my elekk. His name was Mingus, and bigger by at least 3 hands than Fant, the only elekk I had ever ridden. Slowly I walked down to the low ground trailing him after me. Once down there I mounted the elekk. He was surprisingly agile for his size and almost threw me before I got hold of the reins. But then I got the grasp of it, and after some days my behind was sore, but I had grasped the beginnings of elekk riding. The next weeks I dozed in the sun reading Delenn’s books and trying to read the letters in the old scroll on healing. Lycaeon had provided me with some of his delicious food, I needed not hunt or do anything before I felt like it.

In-game notes: Level 18-20

The Tales of Rusty - 8

Go north!

When I was rested after the exertions and felt confident with my new powers, Vindicator Aalesia came to me. The Sunhawk missive had spoken of a portal to Outlands through which the Bloodhawk seemed to get new reinforcements. He wanted me to find its location. It had to be in the north, in the parts of the isle where almost none of our people ever came. He warned me that as the portal crossed the Nether, there might be strange, dark creatures about. I had to look out for anything unnatural. We went outside and he pointed northwards. Also he said, to find out the full scope of the crystals’ effect on the original population at the Isles, I had to get him a last crystal sample from the northern part of Bloodmyst to supplement my other finds. He had learned that a group of satyrs and many owlbeasts lived up north. “And one last thing, Rusty, if you find the legendary red waterfall, You’ll have to take a sample for Aesom, he is interested in that kind of marvels.”

Morae had recovered her interest in all things growing after I brought her her husband’s amulet, and as she overheard the last part of our conversation, she wanted me to get some bark from the living trees up north as well.

“Are you going North?” Nachlan asked me. He was an old red bearded dwarf, one of the very few non-draenei to be living north of the Exodar. “It is babysitting we are, you know. Outrageous, I’m an explorer, not a babysitter. And now this here gnome joined Explorers’ League almost a month ago. The last I heard from him was three weeks ago, when a scout told me that he had seen a gnome in an old turtle shell on the northern shore, surrounded by murlocs. He had a thing with murlocs that one, just like our Morae here. Could you check on him, please?” My curiosity awoke. I had never seen a gnome before, but it should be easy enough to find a strange being in a turtle shell, or maybe his earthly remains. If only it was not for the murlocs. Their name alone sent a shiver up and down my spine. Already twice had I almost lost my young life to those strange beings. But I promised him to have a look.

Next morning at the break of dawn I went north. In the beginning the land looked normal enough. I hunted a bear to have provisions for my trip, as Tracker Lyceon had already used up almost all my previous kills. I stuffed my meat bag and went on northwards. The overgrown path took me to hilly country, and soon I caught sight of owlbears. They looked like the ones in Ammen Vale until I noticed their eyes. They were stark raving mad. I circled them, regretting what the crash of the Exodar had done to wildlife here. Maybe the crystals really were tainted, and slowly - or not so slowly really - changed all life forms with which they came in close contact. And I often found small pieces of the crystals in the stomach of my prey. I had to tell this to Vindicator Aalesia on my return. The satyrs had made their dwellings on top of a hill. I went into their camp and found the crystals and killed a few for the parts Aalesia and Morae were so interested in.

As I wandered on a strange smell reached my nose. Nothing like I ever smelled before. A threatening smell if a smell can be described that way. Pungent and heavy, a bit like bad incense with ... I don’t know ... dung or blood or ... some evil element for sure. I kept my eyes peeled for anomalies. And anomalies I soon found. Big shadow-things, like the abominations warlocks summon to do their fighting. Only much bigger, clad in shoulder pads and nothing more, but shrouded in swirling mists from the dark nether. I kept a wide berth, but got a peep into the part of the Exodar they seemed to be attracted to. There was some sort of swirling darkness inside, probably the portal Vindicator Aalesia asked me to look for. I felt stupid for not having asked what a portal looked like. I left the place after noticing its place on my map.

Figting blue abominations. The portal was inside the building to the right.

 Then the clean smell of sea hit my nostrils. I could not get further north, but could see the beach ahead. I smiled. That crazy gnome was up here somewhere. I scanned the surroundings, and found out that a kind of no man’s land existed where the murlocs did not venture too far inland and the bears kept their distance. Only the flutterers went there. Following that small strip of land, I progressed quickly along the beach. And I easily found a huge turtle shell lying alone on the beach. I fought my way down there, cautiously killing as few of the murloc people as possible. And then I looked into the shell.
Inside sat a strange character. The Gnome. He was a smallish humanoid with a large, white beard and green goggles. He hushed me and told me that he was known by the name of Clopper Wizbang. He told me to lay low as he tried to study the murlocs. Nachlan had given me the impression that the gnome did not know what he was doing, but he came over as sane and coherent to me, if a bit talkative. No wonder when he was living alone and far away. I spent the night in his turtle shell and left all my meat and bread at his place. He was a wee bit tired of clams and fish as he put it. I promised to return when opportunity arose to provide him with a change of fare. He gave me an old treasure map, he had found, admitting that it might be a hoax, but it looked old and authentic to me.

Clopper Wizbang in his turtle shell

At the end of the beach was the blood red waterfall. I filled up a flask and made for the return. Suddenly a growl of immense proportions reached my ears and the biggest, meanest looking bear I ever saw came trotting in my direction. I had only just time to pick up shield and sword before he reached me. Belatedly I remembered the hunters’ warnings of Deathclaw. He was big, but luckily for me he was as stupid as he was big. He came charging downhill and I had no trouble making him almost impale himself on my sword. He tried to get up on his hind legs to swipe me, but then I was so far beneath him that his claws only scraped my horns before my sword was lodged squarely in his shaggy midriff. The wanted posters told of a reward for bringing home his paws, so I cut them off along with the good meat. Then I made for home.

In-game notes: Level 17