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

The Tales of Rusty - 7

Interlude in Exodar

Some days later Elysia was done with the translations. Boron read the text and exclaimed: “Velen must know this! Rusty, please, take this text to Prophet Velen in the Exodar.” Now it was my time to loose my colour: “Me. The Prophet. Oh no. I can’t.” “And why not, may I ask,” was Boron’s gruff reply. “Are you not hale of life and limb.” I tried to tell Vindicator Boron that I felt unworthy to go before The Prophet, but he waved me off. “You’re the best we have, and also the only one. Get going already, lass!”

So off I went. I dared not trust my legs. This time I paid Laando his 99 coppers to rent a hippogryph. It was a nice ride. My hair flew in the winds and the view was just great. I passed the murloc encampment where Murgurgula’s minions had come close to costing me my life. And then the Exodar loomed ahead. I almost jumped off the hippogryph from shock as it flew inside instead of landing gently outside. The wings nearly touched the walls and I crouched low so as not to bump my head. The flight ended just outside the bank. I got my shaking legs to the ground. The hippogryph master noticed my white face and asked me if the going had been rough outside. I answered with a shaky smile and voice: “No, only inside. Laando did not tell me you flew into the Exodar nowadays.” He smiled and said that there was too much noise outside, what with pilgrim’s feast, Spring fling and all kinds of festivals, that had come to the Isles lately. “The hippogryphs have to sleep, you know.” I nodded agreeing and went on.

After this crazy flight the last thing I felt up to, was an audience with The Prophet. But I had to. I went up the shiny, golden stairs and asked one of the servants if I could speak with Prophet Velen. He eyed my worn outfit and my slender frame. Then his eyes fell on the hilt of my well-worn sword and I saw his looks change a bit. He told me that I could wait here for some minutes, while he saw to the details. Well there was no getting out now. I tried to polish my shoes by rubbing them on the back of my trousers, but to no avail. My whole gear was threadbare and dusty. The servant called my name and lead me on to the Prophet. I delivered my best bow and told him my name. He asked me to state my business and I held out the original missive together with Elysia’s translation, while giving the short resume of the happenings, which I had been practising all the way. The servant took the papers and handed them to him. He read, and I stood waiting. He made small, strange noises while reading, and re-read several passages. Then he turned away to his writing stand, wrote a short note and sealed it. “Rustypal, take this letter back to vindicator Boron. He will see to your reward.” Then the audience was over, I bowed and backed off like Matron had told us long ago. I bet I saw the Prophet smile at my antics.

Audience with Prophet Velen

After a short rest on a bench out of sight of anybody, I went to Yil’s armour shop. I really needed a new suit of mail. He had just the right thing for me, It fit like it was made for me and it was strong, yet flexible. My dream armour in short. But alas, my meagre savings were not enough for even half the armour, including the exchange price of my old, which admittedly was very worn. I bade Yil hide it so that I could have a chance saving up for it. He hung it in a dark corner of his shop, behind more colourful, but less functional gear. “Some go for bling,” he said smiling at me. I smiled back and left. On the way out a large shield caught my eyes. Yil saw me looking at it and told me the price. I’m sure he set it low enough to be a temptation to me. I bought it, and ran a caressing hand over its hard metal surface. Not a scratch, not a weak spot. “You’d like to see this customer return,” I teased Yil. “Yes,” he answered, “that and I like your spunk, gal. Stay alive out there.”

Trading with Yil.

In-game notes: Level 16

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 - 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.