[Horde] Chapter Two: Session Twelve
July 28th (Evening)
Arthak approaches Azgadaan to speak, and in the process helps him do the dishes while doing so. Arthak comments on the encounter with Azgadaan and Onard. Azgadaan explains that he had noticed a sword on the ground and was then hit with a warhammer, which is effective in grabbing attention.
Arthak asks Azgadaan if he has an answer for Onard yet, and Azgadaan says he does not. He’s still asking himself the question.
Azgadaan: “On Argus, I fought because my family told me to.It was simple. During my training I even let the son of another lord die because my father wanted his son to pledge allegiance to our house. It was a way to get back at his father. Just because he hated the other eredar, I guess, and I thought nothing of it. I just did as he said.”
Arthak: “Now you stand against him. Why the change?”
Azgadaan: “Because I feel I can do something. I have some freedom here. Enough. But…”
Arthak: “But that’s not why you think you fight. I, we, all overheard what happened. What was said. “
Azgadaan: “How many of you?”
Arthak: “You were loud. Well... yes, no, you were both loud.”
Azgadaan: “So the entire clan?”
Arthak: “Yes. Probably. Those who didn’t hear were probably told by someone.”
Azgadaan sighs.
Azgadaan: “This is fun.”
Arthak: “Isn’t it? I… would you be interested in another perspective?”
Azgadaan: “Sure.”
Arthak: “I don’t understand you. I say that with no judgement, it’s just we have differences. But, in others we may have more in common than anyone else in our war band. If I interpret what I heard last night correctly. Onard asked you the most import question a warrior is faced with. Why do you fight? You mentioned someone. Wanting to… understand or follow in their footsteps, perhaps. That wasn’t the correct answer, but it’s the path to the correct answer. At least if what I’ve been through is any indication. Much of what I’ve done, mistake or success, has been motivated by attempted to justify or redeem the actions of family. To prove others wrong. But that wasn’t why I fought. It took… my grandfather and Remnii and… others to realize what I was fighting for, but again, with that, in my experience, Azgadaan, what you’re fighting for is a part of you. It’s something personal to you, but it has to be something larger than you. It can’t be just about your mother just as much as it can’t be just about my father. It can’t be about protecting the draenei. Does that make sense?”
Azgadaan: “Not exactly.”
Arthak: “What, um… what doesn’t make sense?”
Azgadaan: “I think I get it now. Sorry, focused too much on the last few words rather than the first part.”
Arthak: “Very well. Well… that’s all I wanted to say. The question you were asked is one I’ve asked myself, of late. We, at least at the moment, are walking similar paths, so…”
Azgadaan: “Thanks.”
Arthak: “We fought together. Thanks isn’t necessary. Besides I can’t offer answers, just something to think about. I look forward to hearing your answer.”
Azgadaan: “Once I figure it out.”
Arthak: “It’s there somewhere. You know it. You just need to realize how you know it.”
Arthak gets up and then heads off, muttering something about sounding like his grandfather.
0:20
The group settles down for the watch. The sky is almost purple through the clouds. Azgadaan approaches Samaara on the first watch.
Azgadaan: “Hello Samaara. Have you seen anything?”
Samaara: “Hello. No. Have you?”
Azgadaan: “No. Um. The other day when we were at the encampment, I got you something. While I was out shopping for my arrows, I… thought of you and got you a few special ones.”
Azgadaan produces the three whalloping arrows. Samaara looks at them and raises an eyebrow, and says he didn’t need to do so. Azgadaan counters that he wanted to. Samaara smiles slightly and accepts the arrows.
Samaara: “These are… a singularly unique craftsmanship. Heavy. But I believe I can do something with them.”
Azgadaan explains what they do, and Samaara thanks him.
Azgadaan: “I’m happy that I could help.”
Samaara: “I heard about what happened the other evening. Yrel informed me.”
Azgadaan: “Yeah… Still thinking on that.”
Samaara laughs softly.
Samaara: “I would not trouble yourself overmuch. Certainly he will find you more and will continue asking, but he will not tell you how long it took for Yrel to give him a proper answer. Everyone has a path to follow, Azgadaan, some are just more adept at finding theirs than others. Don’t lose hope. Ultimately that is at the heart of what it is to be. And regardless of the trials and difficulties you will face on this path, you will no doubt find the right answers. You may not like them, but you will find them. May the Light grant you the strength to endure through those. May the Light grant us all strength.”
Azgadaan thanks her, and Samaara leans against the supplies around the fire again. She examines the arrows more, getting used to the weight. They go back to keeping watch.
Onard does, in fact, once again find Azgadaan and asks the same question, but Azgadaan does not yet have an answer for him. Yrel is typically standing nearby.
Second watch goes by with Remnii and Sorak, but there is nothing of note that occurs. Wintermaw is happy to be back and rolls around in the snow.
On third watch with Arthak and Spinyl, far to the north, the pair hears some rumbling. There is a volcano not too far away, and they see a soft gout of smoke. Through the silhouette of the smoke, they see two rylaks flying through the night sky. They appear to be fighting in the distance.
However, in that moment, Spinyl realizes they may not be fighting.
July 29th
0:33
The next day is a cool day, below freezing, but it isn’t frigid. Several individuals work to thaw ice for water.
Gramgrun is complaining loudly about the conditions, and is clearly not pleased with the situation. Sagaz, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to have all the furs he was given, but is doing alright, though he’s cold. Thura seems to be fine.
Arthak had seen Azuka in fleeting moments as a roiling ball of fur dashing from snow bank to snow bank. There are tiny orc snowball fights, and at least one orc comes back with a tiny cut on their forehead because there was a rock in a snowball. Spinyl also plays. Azuka beams Spinyl at least once with a snowball. Spinyl tries to use her soothe ability on her, but it fails.
After about three hours of travel, they see something made of stone and wood peeking out of the corner of a large snow bank. Rising up, they see a mast. It seems to be an ancient galleon rising out of the snow. Perhaps, at one point, this area was warmer and had a lake of some sort.
They discuss going to investigate, but Gramgrun is very against the idea.
Gramgun: “I know a thing or two about ghost ships, and believe me, we should stay far away from that thing.”
Spinyl: “Do you know any good stories then?”
Gramgun: “Do I know stories? Lass, I know stories that would turn your boiling blood cold.”
He continues on, emphasizing the haunted nature of such places. Spinyl relents that Gramgun is the resident expert on ships.
Dranosh: “He may be the expert on ships, but we are nowhere close to a harbor. I think it merits looking into.”
Gramgun: “Alright. Feel free to go get yourselves possessed, but I am not going to be the second in command when our chieftain gets himself killed.”
Azgadaan: “Seeing it involves a ship, our resident ship expert should come with us.”
Gramgun: “Oh no! You can take that ship’s mast and shove it up your arse, demon prince.”
They have some discussion about whether or not they should go. They decide not to, and continue on. Gramgrun breathes a sigh of relief.
0:52
Several hours later, the ground begins to shake again. Azgadaan face plants into the snow, and they spend some time unburying one of the carts that got buried by a minor avalanche off a snow dune.
However, the other members of the party see two orcish figures in the distance, their bodies shrouded with white and cream furs. The figures watch for a bit, and then leave. Nothing more seemingly comes of it.
They continue on, and then settle down to camp for the evening.
0:59
Arthak goes to talk to Sorak while the clan is getting settled. Arthak greets him, but Sorak just stares at him for a moment before greeting him in return.
Sorak: “What do you need?”
Arthak: “I want to continue our conversation from the other night.”
Sorak rubs his eyes.
Sorak: “What is left to discuss?”
Arthak: “Plenty seeing you didn’t say hardly anything. You’re the one that said there shouldn’t be secrets between us. You’re holding things back. You’re not saying… things. I want to hear your opinions, Sorak. No more silence. No more… rolling your eyes and keeping going. No more hiding from whatever the hell your problems are. Just talk. You don’t have to like it.”
Sorak: “I’m still trying to figure out what the problems are and how far they spread.”
Arthak: “Maybe I can help.”
Sorak: “Maybe you could. I don’t know. When I sort my thoughts out, I’ll be sure to share.”
Arthak: “Will you? There hasn’t been a lot of sharing of late, Sorak.”
Sorak: “I haven’t had a lot to share, of late, Arthak. You come to me, you tell me you’re more or less hunting my people, you’re bringing them--all of them--to… Shaspira. Doesn’t exactly bode well for the future.”
Artahk: “I told you those were my orders. I still don’t know what will happen, or what will happen when we meet Go’el, but I’m not taking any action until I hear what your chieftain has to say.”
Sorak: “Then we’re currently of the same stance. However, if you wish to be kept in the loop, I do intend to commune with the elements. I’ll be taking some of Remnii’s companions who seem to be gifted and potentially a child who could be gifted.”
Arthak sighs.
Arthak: “That’s… good to know. And yes, I would like to be kept in the loop.”
Sorak: “Anything else?”
Arthak: “Do you have a problem with me, Sorak? Not with my orders. With me.”
Sorak: “That remains yet to be seen.”
Arthak: “I find that doubtful. You and I seem to have some… problem that you aren’t telling me about. Why don’t you just speak up and say it. Then we can move on.”
Sorak: “I do believe we have discussed the problems we have had in the past. As far as I know, they haven’t changed.”
Arthak: “Perhaps my memories are off. Remind me. Enlighten me to these problems.”
Sorak: “Well, there was the incident shortly after we began our journey together in which you were so… actually. I’ll sum it up like this. You seem to have an apparent bloodlust you can’t ever sate.”
Arthak: “Even with the corruption gone? The bloodrage.”
Sorak: “Yes. The bloodrage.”
Arthak: “That’s passed. At least for now. I wasn’t in control of myself then. Now I am.”
Sorak: “Doesn’t change the things that have happened..”
Arthak: “It doesn’t.”
Sorak: “Yet you’re so obsessed with being the vanguard. Killing yourself to a higher position.”
Arthak: “There we are. Blackhand gave me the role. It’s something I can use, and not exactly something I can refuse. Yes, with how the Horde is now, that is my best chance to do the things I intend to do. I don’t enjoy it. I’m not going to enjoy it. But I can either choose to feel self-righteous, or actually, maybe, change our people’s future.”
Sorak: “We’ll see.”
Arthak: “I do wonder, Sorak. When the time comes for you to make these kinds of decisions, where will you land? We’re not that much different at this point.”
Sorak: “So you say, Arthak.”
Sorak then just walks away.
It’s a quiet night, with the cool winds blowing a soft dusting of powder across the tundras.
1:18
Sorak goes to get Remnii and approaches the Ati-Kaso. The Ati-Kaso all freeze, and Dornaa looks up at Sorak and greets him happily. The two shamanic broken, Thelamis and Kaviir, look a bit hesitant, but Kaviir offers a hand to Sorak, which he shakes.
Sorak mentions he has come to ask a bit of a favor.
Sorak: “Remnii has informed me of your past training.”
Thelamis: “I see.”
Sorak: “I’m hoping to get your assistance in figuring out why the ground insists on ripping itself out from under us. Earthquakes are one thing, but this is far too common.”
Thelamis: “Oh. Neither of us are particularly adept at this, but we would be happy to help if you think we can.”
Kaviir: “Certainly. Do you need any help up, my dear?”
Kaviir and Dornaa both help Thelamis to her feet.
Dornaa: “I guess I’ll go find someone else to hang out with.”
Sorak and Remnii, at the same time: “Actually.”
Sorak defers to Remnii, and Remnii’s mouth flaps like she was going to defer to Sorak.
Remnii: “Dornaa I believe you should come with us. I hope that perhaps you may glean something as the farseer may very well, well, I heard he was tough on his lessons.”
Dornaa: “Alright. I would like to learn some things. I will come with you.”
They go a small distance away from camp, and begin to start to try and communicate with the angry earth. They discuss how to go about doing this.
Kaviir leans down and draws a circle in the snow. In the very center of the circle, a flickering fire appears as he uses create bonfire to create a ritualistic flame. He clasps hands with Thelamis, and Thelamis clasps Sorak’s hand as well. Kaviir gestures for Dornaa, and pats the ground next to him.
Dornaa comes over to him and kneels on the ground next to them, taking Kaviir and Sorak’s hands.
Kaviir guides her to close her eyes and reach deep into the earth and hear the earth. Perhaps together they will find something if they focus.
Together they focus. The moments begin to blend as they try as hard as they can to focus deep down into the earth. They don’t know how much time passes, but Remnii knows they are there for about an hour. She just prays on her own in the meanwhile.
Then Sorak hears a rumbling deep in his spirit. It’s a tenuous connection. He can ask a single question of it.
Sorak: “Is someone forcing the elements up north to force the ground to roil with ill intent?”
The rumbling trembles through Sorak’s very soul.
Elemental: “Yes”
Sorak hesitates, wondering if he should try to force it a bit more, but then he recalls that Thelamis seems to be a bit ill. He ends the communion there.
Dornaa is amazed, expressing she felt like she was vibrating.
Sorak: “You’re very talented.”
Remnii: “Good work, everyone.”
Sorak: “Well, someone is riling the elements up north. Which makes sense considering the rumors we heard.”
Thelamis: “That is concerning. I hope that we were able to help.”
Thelamis gets a bit lightheaded, and Kaviir braces her.
Sorak: “You were a great help. Thank all three of you, very much. I could not have done that alone.”
Thelamis: “That was truly eye opening. Thank you for showing us this.”
Sorak: “Perhaps there will be more chances in the future under less dire circumstances.”
Dornaa hops up and yawns, expressing she is tired. Remnii expresses that she feels Dornaa has a bright future.
Dornaa asks Remnii if she heard the rumblings, and Remnii said she did not, but then she asks Sorak. Sorak, of course, heard. Dornaa offers to tell Remnii what they heard.
Remnii then looks to Thelamis and Kaviir and says she wishes to speak with them.
Sorak then looks to Dornaa and puts a big hand on her shoulder.
Sorak: “It is very important, beyond the five of us, that you share this with as few people as possible. It’s a great gift, but it’s a dangerous one.”
Dornaa: “Alright, but only under one condition. You have to give me a piggy back ride back to the camp. Mister Raluhi is too weak to do it.”
Sorak: “If you keep your word, I will give you a piggy back as many times as you want.”
However, exerted from his spell, Sorak is surprised at how heavy Dornaa is, and he ends up falling into the snow.
-Dornaa: “Okay, fine. It’s alright. I didn’t know you were as weak as Mister Raluhi.”
Remnii: “Dornaa!”
Sorak then calls Wintermaw over, and he gives her a ride instead. She thoroughly enjoys herself.
1:50
Remnii leaves Dornaa with Sorak., and follows after Thelamis and Kaviir. Remnii: “I will not take up too much of your time, but I wanted to discuss with you for a moment how you’ve been feeling lately.”
Thelamis: “I’m sorry, I’m sure it’s been quite the inconvenience for everyone.”
She looks ashamed, and Remnii scoots closer. She places her hand on Thela’s.
Remnii: “After spending some time with you, I believe I may know the source of your ailments.”
Thela: “Oh?”
Remnii: “Thela… you are… I believe you are pregnant.”
There is a look of dumbfoundedness on Thela’s features.
Thela: “What?”
Remnii: “You are a draenei, and you’re symptoms are spot on for any of our kind.”
Thela: “That can’t be. How is that possible?”
Remnii: “Well I believe you know how it is possible in one way…”
Thela blushes and stammers.
Thela: “That’s not what a meant-”
Remnii: “I know, I’m attempting to lighten the mood, but there was not a precedent that broken cannot-”
Thela: “Wait, Remnii, there was. I could not have children before.”
Kaviir: “We tried to have children a hundred years ago, and physicians said that she would not be able to bear a child.”
Remnii sits back.
Remnii: “Obviously, I would like to monitor the situation closely as I don’t know what news this could bring one way or another. Pardon me talking about it as it could be a sore subject, but upon the change, your breaking, when your physiology changed, perhaps… it is not something that has been studied whatsoever, given the time.”
Thela: “I don’t know what to say. This is… Darling. We’re going to have a child. We could be parents.”
She looks at Kaviir, and it processes through his mind for a moment, and Kaviir then kisses Thelamis’s hand and he begins to sob happily into her hand. He pulls Thela into his chest and is holding her. Thela is just repeating that she is going to be a mother.
Remnii holds it together, and Thela gives her a hug too.
Remnii: “I am glad you are happy, but I want to take this one step at a time. I do not know what it means to be a krokul and also pregnant. With that in mind, I don’t know what will happen. Either way, this is a wonderful first step, but you have ten months to go.”
Thela: “Yes. Probably. What if it’s longer? Or shorter?”
Remnii: “We will find out, but in this time, I need you to keep your head about you. I will be… checkups will be regular. But in the meanwhile, down one pregnancy, up another. Please don’t have six. I wanted to leave you with some good news after your hard work today.”
Remnii informs her that if anything changes, she is to be gotten, even if it means waking her.
2:01
First watch has already begun and is halfway over. Remnii and Sorak are exhausted, so they decide to trade out their watch. Spinyl takes over for them, so Arthak and Thura take third watch.
It’s much colder now than it was at early nightfall. The wind picks up in a bad way.
Arthak gathers the group on watch together for warmth. Arthak bares the brunt of it, and takes a level of exhaustion. He’s able to keep an eye out on the camp, saving Thura from getting lost in the Blizzard. Morning breaks and the blizzard subsides.
2:18
July 30th
WE CONTINUE ONWARD
Food is good for a couple days, but they will need to restock their food supplies soon. Sorak knows there is an outpost nearby.
They have just over a week until they reach their destination. They travel for most of the day without any encounters.
About 7 hours in, they spy something in the dunes. There is a campsight. An Orcish campsite. A Blackrock Banner hangs.
Spinyl sees colors and shapes. They aren’t moving. Spinyl reports that they look dead.
Dranosh and the Warband go to check out the camp.
These orcs come from several different clans and died at different times. The group takes this as a bad sign, and they should leave. Dranosh finds a bunch of gems and a spell scroll.
Sorak casts primeval awareness. And finds that they are being followed by 11 orcs(?).
As Spinyl says they should be going, Spinyl drops from the sky unconscious. Yrel catches her, and Spinyl snaps awake. Arthak yells that they should leave. And something they are unable to see starts attacking them.
One by one the warband starts to fall asleep.
Yrel uses divine sense, and points to a corpse in the center of the camp. All bodies are ordered around this corpse. Sorak tries to catch it on fire. It crawls to fight the group. She rales into it with her divine smite.
Remnii tries to turn undead twice. Though it doesn’t work the first time but the second time the creature is turned.
Yrel and Sorak finish it off. In its death throes it calls out for names.
3:36
Those who are sleeping are roused.
Phaedra tells the group that this can happen with souls who were left behind or abandoned. She kneels before the corpse and tells it they can rest now.
The group grabs the supplies and leaves the camp.
Sorak once again does primeval awareness, seeing the 11 people are still there.
Raluhi tells Remnii that she might be better at identifying it then he is.
It’s a Scroll of Silence.
They make camp.
3:53:
Sorak reports to Arthak about the various things he’s noticed. The 11 people, the trouble up north, and the corpse’s dying words.
They rest for the night and it’s an uneventful evening.
JUly 31st
The 31st comes and goes. It’s uneventful, and there are two more days until they leave the drifts.
That evening!
Azkadaan doesn’t even need to make a perception check. There is a loud howl.
It’s Garm, legendary wolves that are bigger and badder.
Sorak tells everyone to be on guard. The group notices that they are far away.
The night passes. And they are not attacked.
August 1st
Food is getting low and the camp goes to half rations.
It’s eerily quiet. Then there is another earthquake.
A fissure opens in front of the cart and it spills into it. Some water is lost, but as a whole it is unharmed.
4:21
During the first watch, Azkadaan sees lights bobbing toward them. They’re torches.
Azkadaan tells him to go get the chief and Gramgun gets Arthak.
The new orcs approach, it’s the 11th orcs. They wear furs with tusks big cats. They have brown skin.
They greet each other and introduce themselves. The lead orc woman is named Zagarra. Arthak says he’s come on orders of Hellfire. One of them pipes up “As patsies of the legion”.
Zagarra silences him. She warns them that they are about to go into the Garrm territory. She witnessed them taking care of the Undead, and offer them passage around the terriory.
Arthak asks their clan. And Zagarra says they are clanless. Arthak, however, identifies them as the Whiteclaw clan. The clan was once prevalent, but their last chieftain’s early death caused the clan to disintegrate over 40 years.
The watch is chill and nothing bad happens.
And finally they head off.
August 2, 3 pass quickly.
4:43 At the end of August 3rd, they see (GOOD) fire. It’s the first Frostwolf settlement. Stonefang outpost.
Sorak is home. Also his mom is there!
