From Camp Narache to the Claw
A long day carried Nanaki from Camp Narache through the Rites of the Earthmother, three falls into darkness, and Moonglade, until he learned the bear's shape.
The Road
The day began at Camp Narache, where the whole hillside seemed full of newly arrived tauren, all lowing and bellowing at once. I climbed to Red Cloud Mesa soon after, then ranged on to Brambleblade Ravine and Kodo Rock as the work took me.
By evening I had crossed Mulgore to Stonebull Lake and Bloodhoof Village. I set my hearthstone at the inn there, and Bloodhoof became my base for most of the day. From it I walked out to Palemane Rock, the Winterhoof Water Well, the Ravaged Caravan and the Bael'dun Digsite. I also strayed across the border into the Rolling Plains.
Later I came up into Thunder Bluff and saw Spirit Rise, the Wildmane Water Well, the Golden Plains and Red Rocks. Back in the city I climbed to the Elder Rise, where Turak Runetotem taught me to travel to Moonglade. I arrived at Nighthaven, then walked past Lake Elune'ara and the Shrine of Remulos. Near midnight I went down to the Southern Barrens and Camp Taurajo, and from there the flight master's mount carried me back to Thunder Bluff.
Battles
Mulgore asked a great deal of blood today. In all I put down well over two hundred foes. Eighteen Bristleback quilboar fell, and seventeen battleboars, fifteen prairie wolves and fifteen Venture Co. workers. I also slew fourteen Bael'dun diggers, thirteen mountain cougars and thirteen Palemane poachers, and a dozen Bristleback interlopers. Palemane skinners and tanners, Bael'dun appraisers and plainstriders fell in smaller numbers.
Near Thunder Bluff I also slew Enforcer Emilgund, a rare humanoid.
The day was not without cost. I fell three times. The first was in the Rolling Plains, to something I never saw. The other two were in Nighthaven, in Moonglade, again at the hands of something unseen. Each time I woke as a spirit and had to find my way back. Sometime in Moonglade I also won an honorable victory over an adventurer of the enemy faction.
Deeds
Grull Hawkwind asked for plainstrider feathers and meat, and later for cougar pelts, which he said would "make quite an impression on the elders." I filled both requests, and he gave me the Battleboars after: snouts and flanks for the young ones' stew. Chief Hawkwind sent me to check on his mother at the well. Greatmother Hawkwind sent me back with a water pitcher and a lesson that even "the most humble task" earns notice. From there the Rites of the Earthmother opened. Seer Graytongue set me to the Rite of Strength and to carrying smoldering incense to the shrine of An'she and Mu'sha before it burned away. I returned to the Chief with the Bristleback belts and passed the first test. Brave Windfeather wanted Chief Sharptusk Thornmantle's head, and I brought it back to him.
At Bloodhoof, Baine Bloodhoof received the Chief's totem and then gave me work of his own: the Palemane gnolls, whom he said had no use for words, and the dwarves' picks, which I smashed into broken tools. Kaga Wildhoof taught me the ways of camping, and trainers in the village showed me what a camp needs. Zarlman Two-Moons had me gather well stones and ambercorn for the Water of the Seers. I drank it by the tribal fire and followed the vision to Seer Wiserunner, who named the Rite of Vision passed. I carried Longwalker Malah's report from her body to Brave Wildrunner and then to Baine. Mull Thunderhorn had me cleanse the Winterhoof well with a totem. Morin Cloudstalker sent me to the Ravaged Caravan, whose crate held the Venture Co.'s papers, and I sent the goblins a message at their mine. I also finished smaller errands. I fetched Maur Raincaller's remedy parts, killed the wolf Chakuyak for Yaw Sharpmane, fed the runaway puppy Kyle for Ahab Wheathoof, delivered furs to Innkeeper Kauth, and took swoop quills, windfury talons and a sparring match.
At Red Rocks, Lorekeeper Raintotem begged me to drive the Bristleback interlopers from the graves. The Ancestral Spirit passed me through the Rite of Wisdom, and Cairne Bloodhoof received me in Thunder Bluff. Last came the druid's path. Turak Runetotem said it was time to take "a large step into a much larger world." Dendrite Starblaze in Nighthaven sent me to the Great Bear Spirit and back, and at the end Turak judged that I had earned the strength of body and heart.
Fellowship
I joined the guild Blacktide as an Initiate that evening. Later a fellow Blacktide shaman called out a greeting, which warmed me.
I joined and left several small parties through the day, tauren hunters, druids, warriors and shamans among them. Most of them were brief partnerships of the road.
On the mesa beside me, another druid had the same idea about skinning. I told them, "lol too good." At Camp Narache I answered the great chorus of lowing with a "Mooooooooooo." of my own, and in Thunder Bluff I played a few jokes on the folk I passed. Near the end a warrior saluted me with respect, and I waved to him.
Spoils & Craft
Among the finds were the schematic for EZ-Thro Dynamite, a pair of Tribal Pants and two pieces of malachite.
Most of what I made came from the new trades. I bound linen bandages and a first aid kit, charred wolf meat, brilliant smallfish and herb baked eggs. I cut light leather and made eleven light armor kits. I also made a camp chair and two basic campfire kits.
Growth
Strength came steadily through the day, and I felt it settle into me again and again.
My skinning ran from nothing to a journeyman's skill. I learned tanning, first aid, fishing, cooking and leatherworking at Bloodhoof, and each of them grew a little with use: cooking, first aid, fishing and leatherworking all gained skill. Camping tasks taught me to make a chair, a fish bowl, a first aid kit and a tent. My staff and mace work sharpened, and in Thunder Bluff I learned to wield two-handed maces. My defense grew sturdier from every blow I took.
The Earthmother's gifts came in turn. I learned Mark of the Wild, Moonfire, Rejuvenation, Thorns, Wrath, Entangling Roots and Healing Touch, then stronger versions of Mark of the Wild and Moonfire, and Nature's Grasp. Turak taught me to teleport to Moonglade. At the very end, after I proved myself, he taught me the Druid of the Claw's own gifts: Bear Form, Growl and Maul.