From Camp Narache to the Claw
A long day carried Nanaki from a humble errand at Camp Narache through the Rites of the Earthmother and Moonglade, and ended with the shape of the bear.
The Road
The day began at Camp Narache, crowded with fresh arrivals who yelled and mooed at one another until the whole place rang. I climbed to Red Cloud Mesa, then went on to Brambleblade Ravine and Kodo Rock. Later I saw Stonebull Lake, Bloodhoof Village, Palemane Rock and the Winterhoof Water Well. At Bloodhoof I set my hearthstone at the inn, so that is home now.
The road wandered farther, to the Rolling Plains, the Ravaged Caravan and the Bael'dun Digsite. Then came Thunder Bluff itself, with Spirit Rise, the Wildmane Water Well, the Golden Plains, Red Rocks and Elder Rise.
Turak taught me a spell that carries a druid to Moonglade, and I arrived at Nighthaven. I walked on to the Shrine of Remulos and Lake Elune'ara. Late in the night I found Southern Barrens and Camp Taurajo, met its flight master, and flew by wyvern back to Thunder Bluff.
Battles
The count of the fallen was long: eighteen Bristleback Quilboar, seventeen Battleboars, fifteen prairie wolves and fifteen Venture Co. workers. Fourteen Bael'dun Diggers fell, then thirteen mountain cougars, thirteen Palemane Poachers and twelve Bristleback Interlopers. Beyond those came eleven Bael'dun Appraisers, eleven Palemane Skinners, ten Palemane Tanners and nine plainstriders. That makes 217 foes in all.
In the hills near Thunder Bluff I also slew Enforcer Emilgund, a rare brute.
I fell three times. The first time something unseen took me in the Rolling Plains. The other two times it happened in Nighthaven, in Moonglade, and between those two falls I won an honorable victory over an adventurer of the enemy faction. Each time I woke as a spirit and had to find my way back.
Deeds
It began small. Grull Hawkwind wanted plainstrider feathers and meat, and Chief Hawkwind asked a humble task of me: to check on his mother at the well. Greatmother Hawkwind sent me back with a water pitcher, saying that even the most humble task can gain the recognition of elders. Back in Camp Narache the Chief thought I might make the tribe proud in Thunder Bluff someday, and he set me on the Rites of the Earthmother.
I brought Grull his feathers and meat, then ten Mountain Cougar Pelts for the children's clothing and the tents. After that I brought snouts and flanks from the Battleboars for his stew pot. A note from the druid trainer Gart came through Grull's hands, and Gart said to expect little welcome from the night elves. Seer Graytongue gave me the Rite of Strength, and I carried his smoldering incense to the shrine of An'she and Mu'sha. Then I took Bristleback belts back to the Chief. Brave Windfeather asked for the head of Chief Sharptusk Thornmantle, and that deed was done too.
At Bloodhoof, Baine Bloodhoof and the Rites of the Earthmother led me through the Rite of Vision. Zarlman Two-Moons brewed the Water of the Seers from well stones and ambercorn, and Seer Wiserunner told me I need not be afraid. The Rite of Wisdom followed at Red Rocks, where the Ancestral Spirit passed the duty of protecting Thunder Bluff to me. Cairne Bloodhoof then asked for the Horn of Arra'chea, and I have not yet finished that.
The village had many other requests. I delivered furs to Innkeeper Kauth and supplies to Kaga Wildhoof, who taught me the ways of camping. I found Longwalker Malah, carried her report to Brave Wildrunner and then to Baine, and Baine asked me to drive out the centaurs and bring him the head of Herak the Pillager. I did not finish that. I also finished the tasks on the Palemane gnolls, the dwarves' picks, the Windfury talons, swoop quills, the tainted Winterhoof well, Mazzranache's remedy, the wolf Chakuyak, the missing puppy Kyle, the sparring match, the Ravaged Caravan crates and the Venture Co. workers. Morin Cloudstalker also wanted Supervisor Fizsprocket's clipboard, and Mull Thunderhorn wanted claws for another cleansing totem. Both are still open.
Last came the druid's own road: Gennia Runetotem's word, Turak Runetotem in Thunder Bluff, Dendrite Starblaze in Nighthaven, the Great Bear Spirit, and the test of Lunaclaw at the Moonkin Stone. Also finished were a sacred burial at Red Rocks and the task of the Bristleback Interlopers.
Fellowship
A tide of new tauren filled Camp Narache, and it was mostly mooing, shouting and joy at being home. I joined in with a long "Mooooooooooo." of my own, and I said "lol too good" when a fellow druid and I seemed to have had the same idea about skinning. Another druid answered that it was easy coin.
A hunter and a fellow traveler joined my party for a short while at Red Cloud Mesa and then left. At Kaga's campfire a shaman told me to sit and relax for a full minute. Warriors joined me in parties twice in the evening and left again. Later a hunter, two druids and others came and went before I reached Red Rocks.
At Bloodhoof I joined the guild Blacktide as an Initiate, and a shaman of the guild greeted fellow Blacktide in the village. Near the trainers I shouted a tip: set up a campfire inside the tent where the druid and shaman trainers stand. In Thunder Bluff I told a few jokes. A warrior there saluted me with respect after I waved.
Spoils & Craft
I found the schematic for EZ-Thro Dynamite and a pair of Tribal Pants, both uncommon, and two pieces of malachite.
The skinning knife was busy. My skill rose from the first scrapes all the way to Journeyman, which the trainer taught me. I learned First Aid and made linen bandages and a First Aid Kit. In Cooking I made charred wolf meat, brilliant smallfish and herb baked eggs, and I learned to set a basic campfire. I took up Fishing and Leatherworking too. I made light leather, light armor kits, a Camp Chair, a Camp Tent, a Fish Bowl and basic campfire kits.
Krang Stonehoof gave me bandages as reward for the sparring match.
Growth
My strength came in steps through the day. The Earthmother's gifts began with Mark of the Wild, and later I learned Moonfire, Rejuvenation, Thorns, a stronger Wrath, Entangling Roots and a stronger Healing Touch. After that I learned stronger forms of Mark of the Wild and Moonfire, and Nature's Grasp. Turak gave me Teleport: Moonglade.
At the end of the night Turak said I had taken a large step into a larger world, and he taught me what it means to be a Druid of the Claw. I learned Bear Form, Growl and Maul. Along the way I picked up skill with my staff, with maces and with two-handed maces, and I got better at defending myself.