“Don’t be sad”, Morgg said quietly. Lith’jin shot him a glance from under the cloth tied around her forehead. The small red braids in which she had done her hair seemed the spikes of a very angry porcupine.
They had left the farm that very morning, after two days, leaving behind a very depressed woman, despite the bravery she had tried to show them.
Misha Tor’kren's only son had been missing for some time when they arrived. Morgg had volunteered to go searching for the young orc, who had apparently gone to hunt crocolisks on the bank of the nearby Southfury river. Lith’jin had been excited about the search at first. She had never seen a “river”, nor crocolisks and it all sounded like a promising adventure.
Soon enough though, they had made a grim discovery on the river bank. Torn clothing, remnants of a half chewed boot and a bronze medallion seemed to be all that remained of the young missing orc.
There could be no doubt that the hunter had turned into pray and the sight of the crocolisks lazily sleeping nearby – huge beasts with scaled backs and large, strong jaws – scared Lith’jin so badly that Morgg had only caught on with her halfway to the farm.
A coward, she berated herself afterwards, even though she told him nothing. She dreamed of seeing the world, being a hero, yet she had ran away at the first threat.
Mama Tor’kren had received the news as badly as expected. However, despite her understandable grief she had given them shelter for the night, plenty of food and even some clothing that remained from her son…He would not be needing it anymore, she had said, and it was a small consolation to her that someone would use those things - and maybe spare a thought for the deceased.
“Ah keep rememberin' tat woman…” Lith’jin said quietly. “Poor her…”
Morgg patted her shoulder, then, when she shot him another angry glance, pretended to be only arranging the straps of her backpack.
“Life’s like that”, he said and Lith’jin though she saw a faint trace of sadness in his eyes. “Well, let us increase the pace a little or we’ll be sleeping on the road!” he added briskly.
He started forwards and she trotted after him, coughing from the dust raised by their boots.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Monday, 9 February 2009
Road to Orgrimmar (1)
Asking for permission from the tribe elder to join Morgg on his way to Orgrimmar wasn’t exactly what Lith’jin had in mind as she told him to keep quiet about their plans, while she was doing the preparations.
Her parents were fishermen and rowing in their little boat – really their own wealth – all day long. They considered her oh-so-lucky to have been apprenticed to a Witch Doctor that on the rare occasions they gathered together in their hut, they could speak about nothing else. Lith’jin had two brothers and a sister as well, none as fortunate as her, the way they saw things. Well, let them fetch all day long for Master Miao’zan – she would have been happier at sea, for sure.
Sneaking around with the orc the previous day had been fun, in an exhilarating sort of way. And dangerous, true. Centaurs were not renowned for their kindness, and the remnants of her own tribe that inhabited the Echo Isles were long under with the vile magic they practiced. One had to step cautiously when dealing with the spirits. Very cautiously.
By morning, she was pumped full with adrenaline and her mind set. She would use the opportunity to get away from Master Miao’zan and his chores. This Morgg seemed trustworthy enough to hope he would safely take her to Orgrimmar. The thought of actually seeing Orgrimmar made her anxious and queasy at the same time.
With a fluttering sensation in the pit of her belly she packed up as fast as she could. Not much: some food and spare clean clothes – she added her white and purple apprentice robes almost as an afterthought.
Maybe they would prove in handy – surely there had to be greater Witch Doctors than Master Miao’zan in Orgrimmar and one of them might be willing to take her in as apprentice. She did like the things he had thought her about communing with the spirits and how to receive advice and strength for them. Or to avoid their anger – spirits were capricious at best. What she did not like was digging in the sand for crawlers, up to her elbows in mucus and other such fluids.
With a little luck there would be none of that anymore, Lith’jin thought hopefully as she stalked towards the edge of the village, where Morgg was supposed to be waiting her. As a supplementary measure of protection she stopped just long enough to cut a long branch from one of the trees bordering Sen’jin. Using her belt knife she fashioned it quickly into a staff. The orc might be sufficient protection, but she had proved to him the previous night that troll women knew how to fight as well. And with a little help from the spirits…
Lith’jin was humming as she saw Morgg sitting on a boulder of stone, a bulging bag by his side. Apparently the news of his deeds had been handsomely rewarded by Master Gandrig.
Hoping that no one had seen her so far, she ran to him.
“Ah be ready, mon! Come on – we do not be havin’ all day!”
Morgg eyed her askance as she prodded him on. “You did ask for permission, didn’t you?”
“Ya, sure mon…Sure ah did…did ask ‘em all…just be goin’ now…”
It was well before noon when they started north, towards Orgrimmar.
***
From what Lar Prowltusk had told them, Orgrimmar lay a good three days away, unless they grew wings; Lith’jin wondered why the older orc had seemed so amused at that.
She was used to walking and despite his armor and heavy bag, Morgg didn’t fell back either once they were set on the road.
The further they went from the sea though, a dry heat started to make itself felt; here and there a hot wind stirred small angry vortexes of dust making them cough until their eyes filled with tears.
By nightfall, they had managed to reach Razor Hill, topping a sudden rise in the barren fields around. The settlement was larger than Sen’jin Village – not enough to make Lith’jin’s jaw drop in awe but close. There was a certain hustle and bustle, with travelers coming in from south as they had and others from the north: a rag tag of fresh conscripts, soldiers from Orgrimmar, merchants selling everything Lith’jin could have imagined and spreading fresh news of what was going on…
No one paid too much attention to the two: a young orc warrior and an even younger troll woman trotting by his side, eyes as big as saucers. They spent their night at the inn – she had never seen one before. A huge (so it seemed to her) room, with a rounded roof and an impressive fire built right in the middle, directly on the floorstones. Tables stood lined across two walls and beds along the other two: mattresses and blankets set on the ground, one near the other. There wasn’t much privacy, but life was much the same as in Sen’jin and she slept soundly, after a good meal of roast beef and some boiled vegetables.
The next day though, after paying the dues for the night, it became obvious their meager amount of money won’t last for too long. It was nice to believe someone would take care of them and provide shelter and nourishment when they arrived in Orgrimmar, but most likely they would have to manage themselves. They journeyed on a little dispirited, leaving Razor Hill behind and heading into a canyon so tall that the walls seemed to come down crushing on the travelers. The sky and the burning sun remained only memories somewhere above their heads –not so the whirlwinds of dust which made Lith’jin tie a cloth over her face to stop from coughing.
Morgg proved once more to be a pleasant companion. He even offered to carry her bundle of clothes, should she feel too tired. Not that she intended to let him do it, but it was nice of him to offer.
Right after they finally exited the canyon, a farm appeared on the right side of the road.
“Mah be dey be havin’ somethin’ to eat for us?” Lith’jin suggested. Her stomach rumbled loudly, earning a vigorous nod from Morgg.
“We should go and see”, he agreed. Shifting the bundles on the shoulders, they approached the still distant farm, hoping for a warm dinner and a place to sleep in.
Her parents were fishermen and rowing in their little boat – really their own wealth – all day long. They considered her oh-so-lucky to have been apprenticed to a Witch Doctor that on the rare occasions they gathered together in their hut, they could speak about nothing else. Lith’jin had two brothers and a sister as well, none as fortunate as her, the way they saw things. Well, let them fetch all day long for Master Miao’zan – she would have been happier at sea, for sure.
Sneaking around with the orc the previous day had been fun, in an exhilarating sort of way. And dangerous, true. Centaurs were not renowned for their kindness, and the remnants of her own tribe that inhabited the Echo Isles were long under with the vile magic they practiced. One had to step cautiously when dealing with the spirits. Very cautiously.
By morning, she was pumped full with adrenaline and her mind set. She would use the opportunity to get away from Master Miao’zan and his chores. This Morgg seemed trustworthy enough to hope he would safely take her to Orgrimmar. The thought of actually seeing Orgrimmar made her anxious and queasy at the same time.
With a fluttering sensation in the pit of her belly she packed up as fast as she could. Not much: some food and spare clean clothes – she added her white and purple apprentice robes almost as an afterthought.
Maybe they would prove in handy – surely there had to be greater Witch Doctors than Master Miao’zan in Orgrimmar and one of them might be willing to take her in as apprentice. She did like the things he had thought her about communing with the spirits and how to receive advice and strength for them. Or to avoid their anger – spirits were capricious at best. What she did not like was digging in the sand for crawlers, up to her elbows in mucus and other such fluids.
With a little luck there would be none of that anymore, Lith’jin thought hopefully as she stalked towards the edge of the village, where Morgg was supposed to be waiting her. As a supplementary measure of protection she stopped just long enough to cut a long branch from one of the trees bordering Sen’jin. Using her belt knife she fashioned it quickly into a staff. The orc might be sufficient protection, but she had proved to him the previous night that troll women knew how to fight as well. And with a little help from the spirits…
Lith’jin was humming as she saw Morgg sitting on a boulder of stone, a bulging bag by his side. Apparently the news of his deeds had been handsomely rewarded by Master Gandrig.
Hoping that no one had seen her so far, she ran to him.
“Ah be ready, mon! Come on – we do not be havin’ all day!”
Morgg eyed her askance as she prodded him on. “You did ask for permission, didn’t you?”
“Ya, sure mon…Sure ah did…did ask ‘em all…just be goin’ now…”
It was well before noon when they started north, towards Orgrimmar.
***
From what Lar Prowltusk had told them, Orgrimmar lay a good three days away, unless they grew wings; Lith’jin wondered why the older orc had seemed so amused at that.
She was used to walking and despite his armor and heavy bag, Morgg didn’t fell back either once they were set on the road.
The further they went from the sea though, a dry heat started to make itself felt; here and there a hot wind stirred small angry vortexes of dust making them cough until their eyes filled with tears.
By nightfall, they had managed to reach Razor Hill, topping a sudden rise in the barren fields around. The settlement was larger than Sen’jin Village – not enough to make Lith’jin’s jaw drop in awe but close. There was a certain hustle and bustle, with travelers coming in from south as they had and others from the north: a rag tag of fresh conscripts, soldiers from Orgrimmar, merchants selling everything Lith’jin could have imagined and spreading fresh news of what was going on…
No one paid too much attention to the two: a young orc warrior and an even younger troll woman trotting by his side, eyes as big as saucers. They spent their night at the inn – she had never seen one before. A huge (so it seemed to her) room, with a rounded roof and an impressive fire built right in the middle, directly on the floorstones. Tables stood lined across two walls and beds along the other two: mattresses and blankets set on the ground, one near the other. There wasn’t much privacy, but life was much the same as in Sen’jin and she slept soundly, after a good meal of roast beef and some boiled vegetables.
The next day though, after paying the dues for the night, it became obvious their meager amount of money won’t last for too long. It was nice to believe someone would take care of them and provide shelter and nourishment when they arrived in Orgrimmar, but most likely they would have to manage themselves. They journeyed on a little dispirited, leaving Razor Hill behind and heading into a canyon so tall that the walls seemed to come down crushing on the travelers. The sky and the burning sun remained only memories somewhere above their heads –not so the whirlwinds of dust which made Lith’jin tie a cloth over her face to stop from coughing.
Morgg proved once more to be a pleasant companion. He even offered to carry her bundle of clothes, should she feel too tired. Not that she intended to let him do it, but it was nice of him to offer.
Right after they finally exited the canyon, a farm appeared on the right side of the road.
“Mah be dey be havin’ somethin’ to eat for us?” Lith’jin suggested. Her stomach rumbled loudly, earning a vigorous nod from Morgg.
“We should go and see”, he agreed. Shifting the bundles on the shoulders, they approached the still distant farm, hoping for a warm dinner and a place to sleep in.
Friday, 6 February 2009
Sen'jin Village
“Here be Sen’jin”, Lith’jin said with a grin on her face. “Ya do be wantin to help, do ya? Than go talk to Master Vornal”
It looks kind of peaceful and I don’t think there are many things to do here. I’m going to help them with some stuff and then be on my way to the outpost up-north.
“Good evening Master Vornal. How can I be of service?”
“Evenin’ orc. Me coud use som crawler mucus and some eyes fro tha beast’ around an’ Vel'rin Fang do be needin’ som tiger furs. Master Gadrin wan a word wit ya.”
“Thank you Master Vornal. I’ll be on my way first thing in the morning.”
Heading towards Master Gadrin, an troll approached me.
“Hey, warrior, come here.”
“Who are you and what do you want with me?”
“I’m Lar and I’m an emissary from Orgrimmar. I have something to do but I can’t leave the trolls here. Since their empire has been reduced to dust, they came to us for help and protection.”
“Ok, I’ll help. What do you need me for?”
“I saw some centaur activity out there. I want you to go and have a look at what they’re doing and bring back anything that you think is out of place. And thank you for doing this.”
Finally reaching Master Gadrin I saw Lith’jin eyeing me questioning.
“Evening Master Gadrin. How may I be of service?”
“Welcome warrior. It pains me to ask this of you, but I still have to. On the big island near here, there is a part of our brethren that did not escape when our empire crumbled. I need you to go there and kill them and bring back the skull of my brother. I know it sounds like revenge but I assure you it’s not about revenge. They are vile and the magic they use has corrupted their souls beyond salvation.”
“How fast do you want this done?”
“As fast as possible, even tonight if you can.”
“I shall do it, and come to you as soon as I’m finished.”
I’ll go ‘visit’ the centaurs and the trolls tonight to see what they’re up to.
The rest of the day passed with me hanging around Sen’jin Village and cleaning up my weapons and armor. As dusk came, I was looking for ways to get into the centaur camp unnoticed and how to make my swim for the island as fast as possible.
It’s god darn hard to sneak around with this weapons of mine, but when I come to think that all the warriors I know are all in plate, I’m wondering if I can sneak in plate…
While sneaking around I saw a troll following me around. From the looks it was the troll that brought him in the village. She made as much noise as a boulder falling down. I’d better stop her, or she’ll get us both in trouble and maybe killed.
Stopping dead in my tracks I waited for her to approach. She passed by me, searching in the dim moonlight for me. I jumped her from behind, put her on the ground and covered her mouth with my hand.
“I’m sorry, but the time and place do not allow words and soft touches. I’ll let go of your mouth if you promiss me you won’t scream.”
She nodded and I eased my hand from her mouth.
“What ya do that fo?”
“Well, sorry, but you were following me and the place where I’m going is not fit for a ‘lady’.”
“I can take care of me. An me wan to com wit ya.”
“I should be sane in the head to say no, but I’m not sane. I could you somebody to keep my back covered. You can come with me but stay close, keep your mouth shut, you eyes open and the noise to a minimum. Tonight we’re hunting centaurs.”
Sneaking in the centaur camp, were only guards were still up and pretty far from the fires, we started searching. She was moving pretty well after she learned and she learned fast. Signaling me to come close she pointed at a parchment on the ground near the fire. I can’t read this very well, but it looks like they are attack plans of some sort. I’ll copy them and burn the original with their own fire. After copying the parchment we proceeded with the rest of the camp and found two more parchments. By the time we were done with the centaur camp, the night was almost half past.
“You need to get back into town with these parchments and get them to Lar. I still have some errands to do until I can get back.”
“Me know, ya go kil trolls. Me wan to com. Me can help. An if ya don’t take me I follow.”
“OK” I said with a sigh “come, and stay close. I don’t want to die because of you, and I don’t want you dead either. Let’s go.”
The water was cold and the swim took longer than expected but we got to the island. There were trolls all-over, and the skull was on a little hill near the camp.
Daybreak caught us on island with the skull in my pouch and half the camp dead. We barely had a scratch. She was a fierce fighter.
“We’re kind of finished here. Let’s go back to Sen’jin Village.”
Back in the camp, we took the skull Master Gadrin and presented to Lar the copies of the parchments from the centaur camp.
“Very well you brought this to me. They really are attack plans for the Valley of Trials, for the Sen’jin Village and for Orgrimmar. What have you done with the originals?”
“We burned them. It’s not like we could have taken them. We made them burn as by accident near the fires in the camp.”
“Smart of you. Now they’ll suspect one another and give us time to organize ourselves. And since I can’t leave, you, warrior shall have to travel to Orgrimmar and report this.”
“Me wan to go too”
“From my part you can go with Morgg” Lar said, “but I can’t vouch for you to your tribe. Finish up your business here and be on your way warrior. I’ll stay here and organize a little surprise to the centaurs.”
It looks kind of peaceful and I don’t think there are many things to do here. I’m going to help them with some stuff and then be on my way to the outpost up-north.
“Good evening Master Vornal. How can I be of service?”
“Evenin’ orc. Me coud use som crawler mucus and some eyes fro tha beast’ around an’ Vel'rin Fang do be needin’ som tiger furs. Master Gadrin wan a word wit ya.”
“Thank you Master Vornal. I’ll be on my way first thing in the morning.”
Heading towards Master Gadrin, an troll approached me.
“Hey, warrior, come here.”
“Who are you and what do you want with me?”
“I’m Lar and I’m an emissary from Orgrimmar. I have something to do but I can’t leave the trolls here. Since their empire has been reduced to dust, they came to us for help and protection.”
“Ok, I’ll help. What do you need me for?”
“I saw some centaur activity out there. I want you to go and have a look at what they’re doing and bring back anything that you think is out of place. And thank you for doing this.”
Finally reaching Master Gadrin I saw Lith’jin eyeing me questioning.
“Evening Master Gadrin. How may I be of service?”
“Welcome warrior. It pains me to ask this of you, but I still have to. On the big island near here, there is a part of our brethren that did not escape when our empire crumbled. I need you to go there and kill them and bring back the skull of my brother. I know it sounds like revenge but I assure you it’s not about revenge. They are vile and the magic they use has corrupted their souls beyond salvation.”
“How fast do you want this done?”
“As fast as possible, even tonight if you can.”
“I shall do it, and come to you as soon as I’m finished.”
I’ll go ‘visit’ the centaurs and the trolls tonight to see what they’re up to.
***
The rest of the day passed with me hanging around Sen’jin Village and cleaning up my weapons and armor. As dusk came, I was looking for ways to get into the centaur camp unnoticed and how to make my swim for the island as fast as possible.
It’s god darn hard to sneak around with this weapons of mine, but when I come to think that all the warriors I know are all in plate, I’m wondering if I can sneak in plate…
While sneaking around I saw a troll following me around. From the looks it was the troll that brought him in the village. She made as much noise as a boulder falling down. I’d better stop her, or she’ll get us both in trouble and maybe killed.
Stopping dead in my tracks I waited for her to approach. She passed by me, searching in the dim moonlight for me. I jumped her from behind, put her on the ground and covered her mouth with my hand.
“I’m sorry, but the time and place do not allow words and soft touches. I’ll let go of your mouth if you promiss me you won’t scream.”
She nodded and I eased my hand from her mouth.
“What ya do that fo?”
“Well, sorry, but you were following me and the place where I’m going is not fit for a ‘lady’.”
“I can take care of me. An me wan to com wit ya.”
“I should be sane in the head to say no, but I’m not sane. I could you somebody to keep my back covered. You can come with me but stay close, keep your mouth shut, you eyes open and the noise to a minimum. Tonight we’re hunting centaurs.”
Sneaking in the centaur camp, were only guards were still up and pretty far from the fires, we started searching. She was moving pretty well after she learned and she learned fast. Signaling me to come close she pointed at a parchment on the ground near the fire. I can’t read this very well, but it looks like they are attack plans of some sort. I’ll copy them and burn the original with their own fire. After copying the parchment we proceeded with the rest of the camp and found two more parchments. By the time we were done with the centaur camp, the night was almost half past.
***
“You need to get back into town with these parchments and get them to Lar. I still have some errands to do until I can get back.”
“Me know, ya go kil trolls. Me wan to com. Me can help. An if ya don’t take me I follow.”
“OK” I said with a sigh “come, and stay close. I don’t want to die because of you, and I don’t want you dead either. Let’s go.”
The water was cold and the swim took longer than expected but we got to the island. There were trolls all-over, and the skull was on a little hill near the camp.
Daybreak caught us on island with the skull in my pouch and half the camp dead. We barely had a scratch. She was a fierce fighter.
“We’re kind of finished here. Let’s go back to Sen’jin Village.”
***
Back in the camp, we took the skull Master Gadrin and presented to Lar the copies of the parchments from the centaur camp.
“Very well you brought this to me. They really are attack plans for the Valley of Trials, for the Sen’jin Village and for Orgrimmar. What have you done with the originals?”
“We burned them. It’s not like we could have taken them. We made them burn as by accident near the fires in the camp.”
“Smart of you. Now they’ll suspect one another and give us time to organize ourselves. And since I can’t leave, you, warrior shall have to travel to Orgrimmar and report this.”
“Me wan to go too”
“From my part you can go with Morgg” Lar said, “but I can’t vouch for you to your tribe. Finish up your business here and be on your way warrior. I’ll stay here and organize a little surprise to the centaurs.”
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Trolls
“No problem in helping you. How many do you need?”
“No tat man’.”
“But I think you should come with me if you want the plants, for I do not know them.”
“I com.”
She bagged the plant that I pulled out from the ground and set off to find the next one. She found it quite fast, and pointed it to me. Reaching for the plant I couldn’t stop eyeing her and noticing the mace that was strapped to her belt.
“What are you doing with that mace here in the wilderness? I think that a nice axe might do the trick here.”
“Ya do be thinkin`? Coul` no tel. Maibe ya think ‘bout tat plant.”
As I was pulling the plant from the ground she kept looking at me. She was nice for a troll, at least from the trolls I know, and maybe if we hang around one another for some time I can teach her some proper orcish. “I’ll help her for as much as I can, but I don’t intend to stay my whole life in her village.”
We kept on picking plants until her bag was filled, and started to Sen’jin Village. The road was not long, but I think that she might want to get out of her village.
“No tat man’.”
“But I think you should come with me if you want the plants, for I do not know them.”
“I com.”
She bagged the plant that I pulled out from the ground and set off to find the next one. She found it quite fast, and pointed it to me. Reaching for the plant I couldn’t stop eyeing her and noticing the mace that was strapped to her belt.
“What are you doing with that mace here in the wilderness? I think that a nice axe might do the trick here.”
“Ya do be thinkin`? Coul` no tel. Maibe ya think ‘bout tat plant.”
As I was pulling the plant from the ground she kept looking at me. She was nice for a troll, at least from the trolls I know, and maybe if we hang around one another for some time I can teach her some proper orcish. “I’ll help her for as much as I can, but I don’t intend to stay my whole life in her village.”
We kept on picking plants until her bag was filled, and started to Sen’jin Village. The road was not long, but I think that she might want to get out of her village.
Witch doctor in training (2)
“Heya! Hey!”
“Are ya tryin’ to scare meh ta death?” Lith’jin yelled back on top of her lungs, sucking on her bloodied finger. The knife had sliced cleanly through the skin instead of the thorny plant she was struggling to cut. The orc that had caused all the mess gave her an apologetic look.
She wasn’t too fond of orcs – maybe because she simply hadn’t met many – but she thought this one seemed a bit lost. He just stood there and eyed her quietly. Not much older than her, he carried a massive war axe that fit nicely with his stature. Well, maybe it could use a bit of sharpening and polishing.
A ragtag armor completed the sight: a rusty mail jacket over a shabby brown shirt and some obviously too large leggings, only held up by a stout belt. Lith’jin gave him a sniff. She had seen the kind before, passing through Sen’jin on their way to Razor Hill. Razor Hill was an orcish outpost somewhere at a day’s march north.
She had only been there once – and as far from home as she had ever got. They claimed to be going to do “war for the clan and the Horde”. Something to do with muscles and no brain, Lith’jin was sure of that.
“Wat would ya be doin’ starin’ at meh?”
She resolved to sheathe the knife more forcefully that she needed to, and glared at him, hands on her hips.
“Maybe you need help?”
It was not a question, but a hopeful statement.
“I’ve been sent by my teacher to help around the village”, he continued, very politely, if a little gruffly. Lith’jin gave him another appraising look. Well at least he seemed large enough to get the job done...
“Help, ya say? Ah be havin’ some business fo’ ya, orc. Pull ‘tis out fo’ meh”.
And then, maybe she could talk him into collecting that horrible, gooey crawler mucus she had to fetch for Master Vornal. He was the elder of the village and a very nasty old troll to deal with…He must have been taking a sadistic pleasure to harry younglings around to do his chores. And he was never content with what they did, either…
Stifling a laugh, she set to observe the orc more carefully, as he tried to find a way to grip the thorny bush she showed him, without stinging his fingers too much.
“I am Morgg”, he said. The plant roots gave a loud “crack” and then he lifted it carefully, earth and pebbles showering down from the tangle. “Where do I put this?”
“Ah be Lith’jin”. She nearly rubbed her hands together. “Ya don’t mind help meh wit some othe’ stuff, no?”
“Are ya tryin’ to scare meh ta death?” Lith’jin yelled back on top of her lungs, sucking on her bloodied finger. The knife had sliced cleanly through the skin instead of the thorny plant she was struggling to cut. The orc that had caused all the mess gave her an apologetic look.
She wasn’t too fond of orcs – maybe because she simply hadn’t met many – but she thought this one seemed a bit lost. He just stood there and eyed her quietly. Not much older than her, he carried a massive war axe that fit nicely with his stature. Well, maybe it could use a bit of sharpening and polishing.
A ragtag armor completed the sight: a rusty mail jacket over a shabby brown shirt and some obviously too large leggings, only held up by a stout belt. Lith’jin gave him a sniff. She had seen the kind before, passing through Sen’jin on their way to Razor Hill. Razor Hill was an orcish outpost somewhere at a day’s march north.
She had only been there once – and as far from home as she had ever got. They claimed to be going to do “war for the clan and the Horde”. Something to do with muscles and no brain, Lith’jin was sure of that.
“Wat would ya be doin’ starin’ at meh?”
She resolved to sheathe the knife more forcefully that she needed to, and glared at him, hands on her hips.
“Maybe you need help?”
It was not a question, but a hopeful statement.
“I’ve been sent by my teacher to help around the village”, he continued, very politely, if a little gruffly. Lith’jin gave him another appraising look. Well at least he seemed large enough to get the job done...
“Help, ya say? Ah be havin’ some business fo’ ya, orc. Pull ‘tis out fo’ meh”.
And then, maybe she could talk him into collecting that horrible, gooey crawler mucus she had to fetch for Master Vornal. He was the elder of the village and a very nasty old troll to deal with…He must have been taking a sadistic pleasure to harry younglings around to do his chores. And he was never content with what they did, either…
Stifling a laugh, she set to observe the orc more carefully, as he tried to find a way to grip the thorny bush she showed him, without stinging his fingers too much.
“I am Morgg”, he said. The plant roots gave a loud “crack” and then he lifted it carefully, earth and pebbles showering down from the tangle. “Where do I put this?”
“Ah be Lith’jin”. She nearly rubbed her hands together. “Ya don’t mind help meh wit some othe’ stuff, no?”
A warior has been born - part 2
“Wake up, it’s time.” My teacher told me this morning
“Time for what?”
“It’s time to prove you’re a warrior, not a worthless peon.”
“But I am a warrior…”
“I know you are. I trained you to be a warrior, but now it is time to prove you are on in front of the clan. It is customary to have your parents present you to the testing, but things being as they are, I’ll present you to the clan.”
“I thank you my teacher, but what do these tests be?”
“I am not allowed to tell you. The clan chief will give you your tasks. Now you must present yourself to Gornek, the chief here. You shall go up to him and introduce yourself. Mark my words, customary is to address chief Gornek as follows I am Morgg and I am ready to be tested. Now take this axe of mine and go and prove yourself a warrior”
I went on and faced Gornek with my heart in my throat. I knew that this trial would mark my place in the word, either an expandable peon, or a warrior of the clans.
“I am Morgg and I am ready to be tested” I said facing chief Gornek.
“Welcome Morgg, the one without a clan. Your teacher talks highly of you, but you are to prove yourself as a warrior of the clans. First things first, we have to see if you are able to hold and use that axe that you have. You are to clean some of the boars in the area since they are attacking the camp. Second we are to see if you are good enough with your hands; you are to bring me ten scorpion tails and not die in the process. Now be on your way for time is wasting.”
He wants me to kill boars and handle scorpions, he must be mad. I’ve done this since being ten, but if these are the tests, these are the tests.
As I was heading out to get the boars and the scorpions for my tests, Galgar, the cook of the camp yells after me.
“Morgg wait, wait… since you’re going out to get the boars for you test would you mind bringing back some cactus apples. Don’t look like that at me, I said cactus apples. And before you go out there you might want to talk to Zureetha Fargaze she wants some stuff killed and she wants it fast.”
“Morgg, since you’re out there, would you mind killing some imps… they’re tainting the air around here.” Zureetha Fargaze said approaching.
“Ok, I’ll do that since I’m going to go out there anyway, I’m going to get those apples of yours and the imps you want.”
“I’m done with the boars, the scorpions and the apples. Let me go get the imps and head back to camp. Hope I’ve proven myself.”
Heading for the imps, I saw a cave and went in to explore. Leaned on the wall of the cave a saw a pick, but nobody around to claim it, and there was nobody outside. “I’ll take this with me and give it to the chief. He’ll know whom this belongs to. Now let me get out of here and finish the imps and head back to camp for it has been already a long day.”
Back in the camp, I presented the scorpion tails and the pick to chief Gornek.
“I can see you have done well, the boars stay back since you reduced their number, and I value the scorpion tails; as for the pick you should go and talk to Foreman Thazz'ril near the sign. It’s his pick and I know he does not remember where he left it. By the way, you passed your courage test.”
Heading to Foreman Thazz'ril to give back his pick, I stopped by the cook that gave me some cooked apples in exchange for the apples that I brought back. “I call the test of Providing passed”, cook Galgar said.
Zureetha Fargaze stopped me to thank me for doing the ‘clean-up’ as she called it, and asked if I could do something more for her. “Please head out to the cave up north and get me the medallion that can be found there. It’s magical and it controls the imps that you encountered. You may need to ‘subdue’ the fellow that guards it.”
As I finally reached the foreman he was very happy that I found his pick.
“Morgg, thank you for finding my pick. Now for your next test… you are to go and wake five peons that are supposed to chop wood for the camp. Go now and thank you again.”
Heading back into the cave I managed to find the medallion. While I was taking it, the guardian came out.
“What are you doing with that pendant?”
“I’m taking it.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Have it your way.”
It pained me to kill a fellow orc, but there was something vile in him. Even the pendant is not a good thing. “Better get this as fast as I can to Zureetha Fargaze”.
Walking out of the cave I kept my eyes open for the peons and found plenty of them slumbering in the shade of the trees.
“Very good you’re back. I haven’t heard any complaint from the peons that you aggressed them, thus you pass the test of Fair Justice. You should get back to the chief and tell him that.” The foreman told me.
Facing Zureetha Fargaze I gave her the pendant. “Thank you for bringing this to me. You have done a great dead for the world in fighting the evil. I call the test of Honor passed. Head back to the chief.”
Heading to the chief’s den, one of the guard calls: “Here comes Morgg, Warrior of the Horde!”
“Welcome Warrior Morgg. I am glad that you have passed all tests, and I am proud to call you a warrior now. Go out there in the word and make the Horde proud!”
“I am now a warrior of the Horde!” I said to my teacher.
“You now are a true warrior, but before you head out to help out troll friends, there are some things that I should teach you.”
Over the next few days, I have learned how to improve my charge as to still an enemy doing so, and how to make deep wound to my enemy.
When my training was over, my teacher told me head out to the troll village nearby and keep my eyes and ears open.
“Time for what?”
“It’s time to prove you’re a warrior, not a worthless peon.”
“But I am a warrior…”
“I know you are. I trained you to be a warrior, but now it is time to prove you are on in front of the clan. It is customary to have your parents present you to the testing, but things being as they are, I’ll present you to the clan.”
“I thank you my teacher, but what do these tests be?”
“I am not allowed to tell you. The clan chief will give you your tasks. Now you must present yourself to Gornek, the chief here. You shall go up to him and introduce yourself. Mark my words, customary is to address chief Gornek as follows I am Morgg and I am ready to be tested. Now take this axe of mine and go and prove yourself a warrior”
***
I went on and faced Gornek with my heart in my throat. I knew that this trial would mark my place in the word, either an expandable peon, or a warrior of the clans.
“I am Morgg and I am ready to be tested” I said facing chief Gornek.
“Welcome Morgg, the one without a clan. Your teacher talks highly of you, but you are to prove yourself as a warrior of the clans. First things first, we have to see if you are able to hold and use that axe that you have. You are to clean some of the boars in the area since they are attacking the camp. Second we are to see if you are good enough with your hands; you are to bring me ten scorpion tails and not die in the process. Now be on your way for time is wasting.”
He wants me to kill boars and handle scorpions, he must be mad. I’ve done this since being ten, but if these are the tests, these are the tests.
As I was heading out to get the boars and the scorpions for my tests, Galgar, the cook of the camp yells after me.
“Morgg wait, wait… since you’re going out to get the boars for you test would you mind bringing back some cactus apples. Don’t look like that at me, I said cactus apples. And before you go out there you might want to talk to Zureetha Fargaze she wants some stuff killed and she wants it fast.”
“Morgg, since you’re out there, would you mind killing some imps… they’re tainting the air around here.” Zureetha Fargaze said approaching.
“Ok, I’ll do that since I’m going to go out there anyway, I’m going to get those apples of yours and the imps you want.”
***
“I’m done with the boars, the scorpions and the apples. Let me go get the imps and head back to camp. Hope I’ve proven myself.”
Heading for the imps, I saw a cave and went in to explore. Leaned on the wall of the cave a saw a pick, but nobody around to claim it, and there was nobody outside. “I’ll take this with me and give it to the chief. He’ll know whom this belongs to. Now let me get out of here and finish the imps and head back to camp for it has been already a long day.”
***
Back in the camp, I presented the scorpion tails and the pick to chief Gornek.
“I can see you have done well, the boars stay back since you reduced their number, and I value the scorpion tails; as for the pick you should go and talk to Foreman Thazz'ril near the sign. It’s his pick and I know he does not remember where he left it. By the way, you passed your courage test.”
Heading to Foreman Thazz'ril to give back his pick, I stopped by the cook that gave me some cooked apples in exchange for the apples that I brought back. “I call the test of Providing passed”, cook Galgar said.
Zureetha Fargaze stopped me to thank me for doing the ‘clean-up’ as she called it, and asked if I could do something more for her. “Please head out to the cave up north and get me the medallion that can be found there. It’s magical and it controls the imps that you encountered. You may need to ‘subdue’ the fellow that guards it.”
As I finally reached the foreman he was very happy that I found his pick.
“Morgg, thank you for finding my pick. Now for your next test… you are to go and wake five peons that are supposed to chop wood for the camp. Go now and thank you again.”
***
Heading back into the cave I managed to find the medallion. While I was taking it, the guardian came out.
“What are you doing with that pendant?”
“I’m taking it.”
“Over my dead body.”
“Have it your way.”
It pained me to kill a fellow orc, but there was something vile in him. Even the pendant is not a good thing. “Better get this as fast as I can to Zureetha Fargaze”.
Walking out of the cave I kept my eyes open for the peons and found plenty of them slumbering in the shade of the trees.
***
“Very good you’re back. I haven’t heard any complaint from the peons that you aggressed them, thus you pass the test of Fair Justice. You should get back to the chief and tell him that.” The foreman told me.
Facing Zureetha Fargaze I gave her the pendant. “Thank you for bringing this to me. You have done a great dead for the world in fighting the evil. I call the test of Honor passed. Head back to the chief.”
Heading to the chief’s den, one of the guard calls: “Here comes Morgg, Warrior of the Horde!”
“Welcome Warrior Morgg. I am glad that you have passed all tests, and I am proud to call you a warrior now. Go out there in the word and make the Horde proud!”
***
“I am now a warrior of the Horde!” I said to my teacher.
“You now are a true warrior, but before you head out to help out troll friends, there are some things that I should teach you.”
Over the next few days, I have learned how to improve my charge as to still an enemy doing so, and how to make deep wound to my enemy.
When my training was over, my teacher told me head out to the troll village nearby and keep my eyes and ears open.
Witch doctor in training
“Ya be careful, girl!”
Lith’jin gave a guilty start and managed to drop the vials she had been holding, A couple of them shattered on the wooden floor and she scrambled to gather the rest as fast as she could, on knees and elbows. Master Miao’zan let out a disapproving sniff while she clumsily crawled around.
“Ah told ya to be careful!...Ya’ been good for nuthin’ today, girl!”
“Ahm sorry…” she pleaded, presenting him the salvaged vials. True, she had not been attentive at his explanations about the potion that could make flesh grow back on wounds. Hopefully he was not going to ask her now to name the ingredients…or for how long the potion had to be brewed.
Sun rays slanted through the hanging curtains at the hut entrance and beyond that she could see hard packed dust and children running around. Solid palm trees framed the village from all sides, providing a pleasant shadow, in contrast with the burning sky. Sen’jin Village wasn’t big.
One day, she promised to herself quietly, she would be the most respected witch doctor of their tribe, no matter what master Miao'zan said now. And then she would leave to see more of the world…maybe even go to see the largest city of all…Orgrimmar. So far south, news came scantily, but she had heard from a traveler that one could walk for a day and not manage to get from the southern gate to the northern wall...and there were stone buildings high enough their top was lost in the clouds...
“Ya listening to meh, girl?”
Master Miao’zan threw his hands up in despair as Lith’jin jumped again startled and nearly dropped the vials once more.
Lith’jin gave a guilty start and managed to drop the vials she had been holding, A couple of them shattered on the wooden floor and she scrambled to gather the rest as fast as she could, on knees and elbows. Master Miao’zan let out a disapproving sniff while she clumsily crawled around.
“Ah told ya to be careful!...Ya’ been good for nuthin’ today, girl!”
“Ahm sorry…” she pleaded, presenting him the salvaged vials. True, she had not been attentive at his explanations about the potion that could make flesh grow back on wounds. Hopefully he was not going to ask her now to name the ingredients…or for how long the potion had to be brewed.
Sun rays slanted through the hanging curtains at the hut entrance and beyond that she could see hard packed dust and children running around. Solid palm trees framed the village from all sides, providing a pleasant shadow, in contrast with the burning sky. Sen’jin Village wasn’t big.
One day, she promised to herself quietly, she would be the most respected witch doctor of their tribe, no matter what master Miao'zan said now. And then she would leave to see more of the world…maybe even go to see the largest city of all…Orgrimmar. So far south, news came scantily, but she had heard from a traveler that one could walk for a day and not manage to get from the southern gate to the northern wall...and there were stone buildings high enough their top was lost in the clouds...
“Ya listening to meh, girl?”
Master Miao’zan threw his hands up in despair as Lith’jin jumped again startled and nearly dropped the vials once more.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
A warior has been born
I am Morgg, the orc without a clan.
My teachers told me that I was born in Dustwallow Marsh, a marshy place, where big animals roam free, animals that are able to bite your head off if you're not attentive.
I am the one without a clan since I never had parents to claim my name in front of the clan. My trainer Frang, told me that when he found me, he found also the remains of my parents and the sight wasn’t pretty. Over a mug of ale he told me that when he found the remains of my parents, there were murloc marks on them and on me.
Now my home is Durotar, a rather dusty place. My trainer took me in and now I always have a blanket near his tent to lay my head on. We are now camping in the Valley of Trials, where all orcs come when they reach the age of adulthood.
My teachers told me that I was born in Dustwallow Marsh, a marshy place, where big animals roam free, animals that are able to bite your head off if you're not attentive.
I am the one without a clan since I never had parents to claim my name in front of the clan. My trainer Frang, told me that when he found me, he found also the remains of my parents and the sight wasn’t pretty. Over a mug of ale he told me that when he found the remains of my parents, there were murloc marks on them and on me.
Now my home is Durotar, a rather dusty place. My trainer took me in and now I always have a blanket near his tent to lay my head on. We are now camping in the Valley of Trials, where all orcs come when they reach the age of adulthood.
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