Pumpkins, Zeppelins, and Five Falls into Darkness
A short, restless morning carried Alexander from Brill's tasks to Stranglethorn's shore and Duskwood's gloom, where darkness claimed him again and again.
The Road
I woke the day in Gallows' End Tavern, Tirisfal Glades, with the dark still thick before dawn, and walked the short way to Brill. I stopped at the Town Hall, then returned to the tavern to rest, and to Brill again before setting out across the glades. My road took me through the Ruins of Lordaeron, where Zapetta spoke of her brother's trade route and begged me to bring her something to eat from Orgrimmar if I came back by zeppelin. Hin Denburg, at the zeppelin, boasted of his flying machine and asked whether I would walk to Grom'Gol or ride in style.
I passed Balnir Farmstead, and then, by the zeppelin, I came to the Savage Coast of Stranglethorn Vale, past the Vile Reef, and into Grom'gol Base Camp. I took in the view there and rested. I met the flight master, Thysta, and learned I could fly from that camp. Soon after I set foot in the wider reaches of Stranglethorn Vale, a new land to me.
Later I came to Duskwood, another land new to me, then Raven Hill, and Raven Hill Cemetery. At last I was back at Gallows' End Tavern in Tirisfal, then Brill, and rested at the tavern again.
Battles
The day went badly in the wild places. In Stranglethorn Vale something unseen struck me down, and I fell into darkness. I woke as a spirit before the Spirit Healer, who said it was not yet my time and offered to aid my return for a price.
Duskwood was worse. Three times something unseen slew me there, and twice more near Raven Hill and its cemetery, so that five times in all the darkness took me. I never saw what killed me. Only a few foes fell to me by my own hand: two Cursed Darkhounds and two Greater Duskbats.
Deeds
In Brill, Executor Zygand loaded me with work. In his dry way he asked me to slay 10 Scarlet Warriors to prove my service to the Dark Lady, and to gather the reports of his overdue Deathguards (Dillinger, Kristof, and the abomination Gordo), and he told me to punish five Deathguards, threatening to add my name to his ledger if I dawdled. Apothecary Johaan wanted 5 vials of darkhound blood for his new plague. Carolai Anise, glad of a friendly face, asked me to bring 8 bottles of Whispering Elixir from the ruins of Shadowvale. Magistrate Sevren asked me to cut down the Rot Hide gnolls at the Mass Graves and Garren's Haunt and bring back 8 Embalming Ichors. All of these I took up and have yet to finish.
One task I did finish. Johaan gave me a laced pumpkin for the Captured Scarlet Zealot held in the cellar of Gallows' End Tavern. The zealot cried, "By the Light! Finally some food! Sweet, sweet pumpkin," and then began to whisper that he did not feel right, that his mind and flesh were rotting.
In Duskwood I also finished "An Unfortunate End." A Night Watch guard had pointed me to a Night Watchman lying mauled, with deep gashes, and I pried an unlit torch from his stiff fingers.
Fellowship
I travelled alone. I heard greetings from Executor Zygand, Apothecary Johaan, Carolai Anise, Zapetta, Hin Denburg and Thysta, but no one walked beside me. In Duskwood, Stitches and Watcher Cutford shouted strange cries in the dark. Nurse Neela offered to train me in First Aid when I came home.
Spoils & Craft
From the dead Night Watchman's hand I took a Night Watchman's Torch, an uncommon find.
Growth
My only gain was in knowledge of the land: I discovered Grom'gol Base Camp, Stranglethorn Vale, Duskwood, Raven Hill and Raven Hill Cemetery, and learned I could fly from Grom'gol Base Camp.