Call of the Wild

[NorthFace]

A note, posted in the Auberdine Inn, as well as key points along the road through Darkshore, states simply:

"TRAVELERS BEWARE!"

There is evidence that a new predatory beast prowls the forests of Darkshore, Ashenvale, and Felwood. Animal and humanoid carcasses have been found savagely mauled, and in some cases, partially consumed. Conflicting reports claim the beast is either feline or ursine in nature, and investigations as to it's whereabouts are underway. All travelers are urged to excersize extreme caution. If you have any information regarding this matter please provide it to Keeper Remulos in Moonglade, the druid enclave. Be assured that humane metholds will be used in dealing with this new threat.

[Kurohane]

(( oooo~ Is this an open RP? ))

[Longcat]

(( ; ; Has Jack gone crazy feral? Poor wolfie ))

[NorthFace]

((Yep pretty much open... I mean, if your char ever visit any of those areas you'd see these signs posted. I do intend on following up with it though. :D))

[Longcat]

(( There's a sign on the entrance to Deadwind Pass from Duskwood that says

ABANDON ALL HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE

Or something like that :D Classic signpost. )

[zamji]

(( There's a sign on the entrance to Deadwind Pass from Duskwood that says

ABANDON ALL HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE

Or something like that :D Classic signpost. )

((Yeah, I love it. Its a reference to the Divine Comedy in which that sign marked the entrance of, I believe, Purgatorious.))

[NorthFace]

"Beware the allure of your shapeshifted forms, young druid, for there have come those before you lost to the wild."

He could hear the words of his mentor echo in his mind as he rode. The temptation was certainly there... he'd tasted the power his feral forms provided if he focused his energies on amplifying them. Enemies in the contested land of Alterac Valley screamed in anguish as he'd emerged from the shadows and assaulted them, crying out for a lost diety as their lives ended in swift, brutal savagry. He'd craved the taste of blood heated by conflict, relishing each killing blow. This was not the true way of a Druid, he knew, but he'd heard tales of others who had honed their forms and were all the more formidable for it. It was this balance of power and wisdom he sought.

Reining in his Stormsaber mount, Northface slowed pace and approached his destination. High in the Stonetalon mountain range was a trusted advisor, one of the few remaining Keepers of the Grove, Albagorm. He'd spent a good deal of time here, training alongside the last of Cenarius' sons and daughters, fending off occassional raids from the nearby horde settlement, and helping tend the grove that grew on Stonetalon Peak. Slowly he came up on the druidic stone circle in the center of the grove, offering a friendly wave to Centrius, a Cenarian Son he'd known in his early time here, who was busy tending a treant's roots. As he closed on the moonwell outside Albagorm's home, lost in the beauty of this place, he suddenly became aware of a swift moving shape to his right, heading right for him. Before he could react, the druid was bowled over and knocked off his mount, his fall broken by lush foliage.

His head swimming, the form standing over him was dark against the bright sky, a spear in it's hand, the tip dripping with a thick, obviously poisonous substance. With exhuberance, the creature reared up on what appeared to be hind legs and... giggled? He couldn't be sure if he'd heard that right, but he could have sworn he heard peals of high pitched laughter coming from his assailant. With a confused look on his face, he shook off the dizziness and squinted his eyes against the light to see better.

"Northface! Welcome back!" the form cried, and backed off, allowing him room to sit up. In doing so he could not help but smite at the familiar face.

"Alloria!" he chuckled back "You always have been somewhat of a troublemaker." Northface leapt to his feet, appraising the beautiful young dryad standing before him. "How have things been? You look well, and strong." It was true, he could easily see finer definition within her form, with the lower half of a doe, the upper half that of a night elf.

"Oh I am! I've even been allowed to join the sons and their treant soldiers in defending the grove! The keeper awarded me this spear so that I may defend myself better, and I've been training to use it." Her face went somber a bit with darker thought "I never imagined it would come to this, but I am certainly happy to do my part. We have lost several sons and daughters since you were last here."

The druid nodded in reply, placing a hand on her shoulder to provide a comforting touch with a knowing sigh "I can imagine. I only wish I could stay here and help. Unfortunately I've come primarily to consult with Albagorm... is he here?"

Alloria smiled to him, nodding enthusiastically, any darker thought erased with his touch and a change of subject "Yes, he is here. You should be able to find him by the lodge." She surged forward and clasped him in an embrace "It is good to see you again, Dream Warder." she pecked him on the cheek and giggled "Give my best to Ysera!"

Laughing, Northface headed for the lodge, lightly smacking the dryad on her haunches as he moved away, which drew a surprised gasp followed by a laugh. He chuckled as Alloria stuck her tongue out at him before smiling and bounding away. Traveling the familiar path through the grove, he listened to hear the quiet song of the wisps. This placed his mind into a state of peace as he neared the lodge and the moonwell just outside it. This was the true state of the druid... calm, tranquil. Still... he could almost hear the strong beat of a feral heart within him. Nearing the lodge, he began to quietly search for the keeper.

[NorthFace]

((BTW I apologize for my slow iterations... I typically have a lot to juggle at work and often end up working overtime, so when I get home I just sink into the game itself. I'm trying to be a more consistent contributor.))

[Kurohane]

((I'm just glad you're writing this at all! I'm loving it so far~ ^_^ I still might add a little insert about the signs posted and such, dealing with my own little druid. Hehe. <3))

[NorthFace]

As he searched for the keeper, his mind began to wander through the memories of his earlier days in this place. He'd arrived at the bidding of yet another keeper of the grove, Ordanus. It was Ordanus who had witnessed Northface emerge from the emerald portal in Ashenvale, and brought the disoriented druid to his home of Raynewood Retreat. Here Northface had first been shown a map of Kalimdor as it currently existed; shattered in twain, an extent of destruction for which he had not been prepared. The emerald dream was a perfect world; An Azaroth bereft of the influence of evil, the world as it would have been without the influence of magic, industry, or "progress". Though he had been told of the cataclysm that was the Burning Crusade, and the evils of the Sin'Dorei, he could not fully accept the scope. Azaroth, however, was nothing like the dream. Even in the very boughs of Ashenvale there was an orcish lumber camp ignorantly destroying the forest. This initial perception of the orcs was certainly not positive; He observed first hand as they clear-cut the nearby trees.

Sleep was one of the few places that held solace for the young druid. He had only been in this land a few days, and had endured many shocks to his system with new information. The wonton violence that existed, unbridled hatred, and above all, the swift pace of life. His time asleep was the only time which he could return to the emerald dream, the only time he truly felt at home, but this night would be different. At first he heard the shouts, ripping him back to conciousness. Throwing off silken covers and leaping to his feet, Northface ran to the only window within his quarters. Looking down through the verdant bows of the tree that the structure was formed of, he could see a small band of torch-bearing creatures just as they cut down one of the dryads that accompanied Ordanus. It was then that he heard the deep familiar voice of the keeper. At his magical command, treants grew from plants near the party of raiders, taking them by surprise. He watched as the treants leapt at the party of mauraders, who reacted quickly, cutting one of the treants down with swift brutality before turning to the others.

The leader of this band was clear. He was an orcish warrior with deep green skin, shouting commands to the others as he brandished a large double-edged battle-axe. The others, another orc, with lighter skin and adorned in mystic raiment, he guess what was called a shaman, as lightning crackled around him as he cast spells of healing. There was also a female troll, with bright golden hair that contrasted her skin who seemed to stand out, along with an undead woman brandishing daggers that flashed quickly in the moonlight. He watched as they finished off the treant and entered the tree-home in pursuit. As the last of them disappeared into the doorway below, the keeper burst through his chamber doors and Northface spun to face him. There was fear in Ordanus' eyes, but not for himself. Moving swiftly, the keeper clasped him by the shoulders and spoke clearly "Young druid, my time on this plane is not long, as I am sure you have heard the assault. You must go. Travel to Stonetalon peak and seek out another of Cenarius' sons, Albagorm. Though I shall return to this life in time, I fear you would not fare as well if they found you. Go, now. Out the window... I will hold them as long as possible."

The trip from Raynewood to Stonetalon was not an easy one. He recalled being forced to hide from patrolling orcs, evade the hungry local wildlife, along with a particularly nasty pursuit by a band of corrupted furbolgs when he was caught gathering food near their village. Eventually making it through the mountain pass, he again had to take care in passing through the logging camp set up by what he would come to know as the Venture Company. The overwhelming pain radiated by all the felled trees made him retch several times on the way, nearly giving him away several times. Eventually, through all danger, he arrived at Stonetalon peak, clothes rent and torn, form gaunt from malnutrition. It was here that he first met Alloria and Albagorm, was slowly nursed back to health, and learned of the Blood Elf residing in the horde encampment nearby of Sunrock Retreat that held spite for those at the peak, and who had recruited those to kill Ordanus.

Shaking these memories from his mind, he ventured to the gardens surrounding the night-elven structure in which Albagorm resided, a smile spreading across his lips upon seeing the keeper's form. "Good evening, Keeper." he said softly and watched as Albagorm raised himself up from his work, smiling before turning to face the druid. "Welcome back, young druid." he spoke, voice deep and earthy, his mane of living plantlife rustling as he turned. Looking him over, the keeper raised his eyebrows and chuckled "I see you have distinguished yourself among the alliance military... Lieutenant Commander?" The druid laughed and nodded "Yes.. I have been fairly busy. It was this that brought me here, in fact. You see, in my battles, I have gained an affinity for the more beastial natures... I wished to heed your advice and seek council." He could not read a reaction... perhaps this was a mistake? After an impossibly long moment of thought, Albagorm finally responded "I am not sure there is much I will be able to help you with in this matter. My original warning stands... your forms make you strong, let your wisdom temper that strength and give it purpose. Perhaps in losing yourself, you will find what you seek."

This was certainly not the response he expected. After spending some time discussing his exploits in the battlegrounds fighting the horde, and recent plights threatening the peak, the time to go had come. With adequate promises to return sooner rather than later, and a playful pout from Alloria at his departure, he cast the spell that would return him to Moonglade. Perhaps in the Barrow Dens he could spend some time in silence and make sense of the keeper's words.