From Camp Narache to the Claw
Nanaki left Camp Narache a green young druid and came home to Thunder Bluff a Druid of the Claw, with three falls into darkness along the way.
The Road
The day began at Camp Narache, which was crowded and loud with newly arrived tauren. I climbed to Red Cloud Mesa, then followed the tasks east into Brambleblade Ravine and on past Kodo Rock. Further along I passed Stonebull Lake and reached Bloodhoof Village. There I made the inn my home, and Innkeeper Kauth bade me stay as long as I liked.
The rest of the day was a long loop across Mulgore. I saw Palemane Rock, the Winterhoof Water Well, the Ravaged Caravan and the Bael'dun Digsite, and brushed the edge of the Rolling Plains. Then came Thunder Bluff itself, with Spirit Rise, the Wildmane Water Well, the Golden Plains, Red Rocks and finally the Elder Rise.
Turak Runetotem taught me a spell to step into Moonglade. I arrived in Nighthaven, walked out to the Shrine of Remulos and the shores of Lake Elune'ara, and returned the same way. Late in the night I crossed into the Southern Barrens and found Camp Taurajo, where I met the flight master. I rode his wyvern back to Thunder Bluff.
Battles
It was a long day of fighting, two hundred and seventeen foes in all. The Bristleback quilboar were the most numerous, eighteen of them, with a dozen Interlopers besides and seventeen Battleboars. I also put down fifteen prairie wolves, thirteen mountain cougars and nine plainstriders. Among the Palemane gnolls, thirteen Poachers, eleven Skinners and ten Tanners fell. Fifteen Venture Co. Workers, fourteen Bael'dun Diggers and eleven Bael'dun Appraisers fell as well.
Near Thunder Bluff I slew Enforcer Emilgund, a rare brute. I also hunted down Chakuyak, the wolf that stalked the trees west of Stonebull Lake. In the arena at Bloodhoof I sparred until Krang Stonehoof was satisfied.
The darkness took me three times. The first was out on the Rolling Plains, to something I never saw. The other two came in Nighthaven, both from unseen hands. Between those two falls I won an honorable victory over an adventurer of the enemy faction, though I will not claim the one led to the other. Each time I woke as a spirit and went to find the healer.
Deeds
Chief Hawkwind set me to my first humble task. His mother had gone for water and not returned, so I found Greatmother Hawkwind at the well, and she gave me a pitcher to carry back to him. He praised my willingness to help and sent me on to the Rites of the Earthmother. Grull Hawkwind wanted feathers and meat from plainstriders, then "mountain cougar pelts" for children's clothing, and later snouts and flanks from the Battleboars for a stew.
Seer Graytongue set me the Rite of Strength, and I brought the Chief his Bristleback belts. I also carried smoldering incense to the shrine of An'she and Mu'sha before it burned to ash. Brave Windfeather asked for the head of Chief Sharptusk Thornmantle, and thanked me for the justice of it. Chief Hawkwind sent me on to Baine Bloodhoof with a carved totem, and I delivered supplies to Kaga Wildhoof on the way. Antur Fallow asked me to carry his father's furs to the inn.
In Bloodhoof the work piled up, and I finished a great deal of it. Kaga's lessons on camping took me to every trainer in the village. Baine's tasks about the Palemane gnolls, the dwarven picks and Malah Longwind's fate were done, and Malah's report went from Brave Wildrunner back to Baine. I also finished Ruul Eagletalon's task on the Windfury harpies and the three hunts for Mull Thunderhorn, Maur Raincaller and Yaw Sharpmane. Ahab Wheathoof's lost puppy Kyle got his strider meat, and Morin Cloudstalker had me examine the ravaged caravan and drive off the Venture Co. goblins. Harken Windtotem's swoop quills and Lorekeeper Raintotem's Bristleback Interlopers at Red Rocks were done as well.
The Rites carried on. Zarlman Two-Moons brewed the Water of the Seers, and I followed the vision to Seer Wiserunner, who said I had passed the Rite of Vision. At Red Rocks the Ancestral Spirit named me worthy of the Rite of Wisdom. Cairne Bloodhoof received me in Thunder Bluff and set me one more hunt, for the horn of a kodo named Arra'chea. Then Turak Runetotem sent me to Moonglade, to Dendrite Starblaze and the Great Bear Spirit. Turak sent me last to the Moonkin Stone in the Barrens, and when I returned he said I had earned the strength of body and heart.
Fellowship
Several times I joined a party, and each time it broke up after a short while. They were fellow tauren whose names I never learned. I also joined the guild Blacktide as an Initiate, and a fellow guildmate hailed me warmly in Bloodhoof.
At Camp Narache I spoke aloud only to remark "lol too good" over how quickly my skinning was coming along. Near the end I waved to a warrior, who saluted me back with respect.
Spoils & Craft
My first trade was skinning, and it rose steadily through the day until Pyall's cousin in the craft taught me the journeyman's art. I also learned tanning, leatherworking, first aid, cooking and fishing, and each trainer showed me how to make a fixture for a camp. I cooked wolf meat, boar meat and baked eggs, and fished up smallfish. Linen bandages, light leather and light armor kits followed, and I made a camp chair, two campfire kits, a first aid kit and a camp tent.
In the goblins' camp I found an uncommon schematic for EZ-Thro Dynamite and a pair of uncommon tribal pants. I also found two pieces of uncommon malachite in the hills. Krang Stonehoof gave me healing supplies for the arena work.
Growth
I felt stronger with each rite and each fight. Gart Mistrunner taught me Mark of the Wild, and later Moonfire and Rejuvenation. After that I learned Thorns and a stronger Wrath, then Entangling Roots and a stronger Healing Touch. Nature's Grasp came with a stronger Mark of the Wild and Moonfire. Turak taught me Teleport: Moonglade.
At the end of the day Turak taught me what it means to be a Druid of the Claw: Bear Form, with Growl and Maul to use in it. My staff, mace and defensive skills all grew with hard use, and I learned to wield two-handed maces.