From Camp Narache to the Bear's Claw
A long first day took Nanaki from the tents of Camp Narache through the Rites of the Earthmother, Thunder Bluff and Moonglade, and ended in the shape of the bear.
The Road
I began the day at Camp Narache, on Red Cloud Mesa, in a camp crowded with young tauren all bellowing at the sky. From there the road ran east to Brambleblade Ravine and on to Kodo Rock. After that came Stonebull Lake and Bloodhoof Village, where I set my hearth at Innkeeper Kauth's inn. Palemane Rock, the Winterhoof Water Well, the Ravaged Caravan and the Bael'dun Digsite came in the long hours that followed. At one point I wandered into the Rolling Plains.
Later I climbed to Thunder Bluff and saw Spirit Rise, the Wildmane Water Well, the Golden Plains and Red Rocks. I came back up to the Elder Rise and cast the spell Turak taught me to carry me to Moonglade. I saw Nighthaven there, then the Shrine of Remulos and Lake Elune'ara. Near the end I crossed to the Southern Barrens and found Camp Taurajo, where I met the flight master. I flew from there back to Thunder Bluff, and I am writing this by candlelight in the city.
Battles
By the end of the day my count stood at two hundred and seventeen foes. Bristleback quilboars led it, with Battleboars, prairie wolves, Venture Co. workers, Bael'dun diggers, Palemane gnolls, mountain cougars and Bristleback interlopers close behind, and plainstriders too. Near Thunder Bluff I also brought down Enforcer Emilgund, a rare brute.
I fell three times. The first time was in the Rolling Plains, to something I never saw. The other two were in Nighthaven, in Moonglade, again to something unseen. Between those two I won an honorable victory over an adventurer of the enemy faction. Each time I woke as a spirit and walked back into the world.
I also won my sparring match at the arena in Bloodhoof, and I faced Lunaclaw at the Moonkin Stone near the end.
Deeds
Chief Hawkwind set me to a humble task first, to find his mother at the well. Greatmother Hawkwind sent me back with a water pitcher and a reminder that "even the most humble task can gain the recognition of elders." That began the Rites of the Earthmother.
In Narache I brought Grull Hawkwind plainstrider feathers and meat, then mountain cougar pelts, then battleboar snouts and flanks. I carried smoldering incense to the shrine for Seer Graytongue and passed the Rite of Strength with a pile of Bristleback belts. Brave Windfeather asked for Chief Sharptusk's head, and I brought it.
At Bloodhoof I ran errands for nearly everyone. I delivered furs to the innkeeper and supplies to the adventurer Kaga Wildhoof, who taught me camping. I put down Chakuyak, the wolf who stalked the trees west of Stonebull Lake. I fed Ahab Wheathoof's runaway puppy, found Longwalker Malah, and carried her report to Baine Bloodhoof. For Baine I also smashed the dwarves' picks into broken tools, and I drove back the Palemane gnolls. I cleansed the Winterhoof well for Mull Thunderhorn and brought the Mazzranache remedy to Maur Raincaller. I killed Windfury harpies for Ruul Eagletalon and gathered swoop quills for Harken Windtotem. I examined the Venture Co. crates and drove the goblins from their mine for Morin Cloudstalker.
Zarlman Two-Moons brewed the Water of the Seers, and I followed the vision to Seer Wiserunner. At Red Rocks the Ancestral Spirit declared the Rite of Wisdom passed, and I drove the Bristleback interlopers from the graves for Lorekeeper Raintotem. Cairne Bloodhoof greeted me in Thunder Bluff as one who "found your way to my doorstep," and he asked for the Horn of Arra'chea. I have not yet brought it.
Turak Runetotem sent me to Moonglade, where Dendrite Starblaze sent me to the Great Bear Spirit. Back in Thunder Bluff Turak sent me out again to face Lunaclaw. When I returned he said I had "finally taken your large step into a much larger world."
Fellowship
I joined the guild Blacktide as an Initiate this evening, and later a fellow Blacktide member hailed the guild aloud. Through the day I joined a few small parties of tauren, and each broke up after a while. One adventurer at the arena told me to take my ease and sit by the fire for a full minute until the camp's rest settled on me.
Spoils & Craft
Under Kaga Wildhoof's guidance I learned to cook, fish and work leather. I made bandages, charred wolf meat, brilliant smallfish, herb baked eggs, light leather and eleven light armor kits. I made a camp chair, two campfire kits, a first aid kit, a fish bowl and a camp tent.
I found a schematic for EZ-Thro Dynamite and a pair of tribal pants near the Venture Co. camp. Two pieces of malachite turned up on the digsite road. The warriors at the arena handed me bandages for my wounds, and Brave Windfeather gave me a reward for Sharptusk's head.
Growth
Skinning was my great pleasure this day. The skill rose steadily until I could learn the journeyman's craft. My first aid, cooking, fishing and leatherworking began from nothing and grew steadily. I took up the two-handed mace and grew in staff and defense too.
Gart Mistrunner taught me Mark of the Wild and Moonfire, and later Rejuvenation. Thorns, Wrath, Entangling Roots and Healing Touch came as I grew stronger, and I felt that new strength at the end of each lesson. Nature's Grasp and the spell to travel to Moonglade followed. At the end Turak taught me Bear Form, Growl and Maul, and with them I have the Claw.