From Camp Narache to the Claw of the Bear
A long day took Nanaki from a fresh start at Camp Narache through the Rites of the Earthmother, Thunder Bluff, and Moonglade to the shape of the bear.
The Road
The day began at Camp Narache, where I stopped to take in the view before doing anything else. The camp was loud with tauren calling out and mooing to one another, as if the whole tribe had come home at once. From there I climbed Red Cloud Mesa and then went east to Brambleblade Ravine. Later I passed Kodo Rock and the shores of Stonebull Lake, and I came into Bloodhoof Village. Baine's people made me welcome there. I asked Innkeeper Kauth for a bed and made the village my home.
I saw a great deal of Mulgore after that: Palemane Rock, the Winterhoof Water Well, the Bael'dun Digsite and the burned Ravaged Caravan. I wandered out into The Rolling Plains for a short while. Thunder Bluff came into view in the evening. I walked Spirit Rise and the Wildmane Water Well, then crossed The Golden Plains to Red Rocks.
The Cenarion Circle's teacher on the Elder Rise taught me the spell to travel to Moonglade. I arrived in Nighthaven and later walked the shores of Lake Elune'ara and the Shrine of Remulos. Near the end I found Camp Taurajo in the Southern Barrens and met the flight master there. A great bird carried me back to Thunder Bluff.
Battles
Mulgore gave me plenty to fight. By the end of the day I had cut down well over two hundred foes. The Bristleback quilboar were the most numerous, eighteen of them, and seventeen battleboars and a dozen Bristleback Interlopers fell near them. Fifteen prairie wolves, thirteen mountain cougars and nine plainstriders fell too. The Palemane gnolls were many: thirteen poachers, eleven skinners and ten tanners. Fifteen Venture Co. workers fell to me, with fourteen Bael'dun diggers and eleven appraisers.
Near Thunder Bluff I slew Enforcer Emilgund, a rare humanoid. In Moonglade I won an honorable victory over an adventurer of the enemy faction.
I fell into darkness three times. The first was in The Rolling Plains, and I did not see what struck me. I fell twice more in Nighthaven, and again I never saw the cause.
Deeds
Chief Hawkwind began it with a humble errand to check on his mother, who had gone to fetch water. She told me that even the most humble task can gain an elder's notice. Grull Hawkwind sent me after plainstriders, then cougar pelts and battleboar snouts and flanks to make "stew for our young." Brave Windfeather wanted the head of Chief Sharptusk Thornmantle, and I brought it to him.
The Rites of the Earthmother ran through the whole day. I passed the Rite of Strength under Seer Graytongue and carried smoldering incense to the shrine of An'she and Mu'sha. I took the Rite of Vision by drinking the Water of the Seers at the tribal fire. At Red Rocks the Ancestral Spirits blessed me with the Rite of Wisdom. Cairne Bloodhoof greeted me in Thunder Bluff and asked for the Horn of Arra'chea. That task is still open.
In Bloodhoof I did many smaller tasks. I finished the Palemane work for Baine, smashed the dwarves' picks, hunted swoops and harpies, and put an end to Chakuyak. I fed Ahab Wheathoof's runaway puppy Kyle. I brought the dead Longwalker Malah's report back to the village, and Baine's reply was to send me against the centaur; that task is still open. I also tended the Venture Co. trouble for Morin Cloudstalker, and I helped cleanse the Winterhoof Water Well for Mull Thunderhorn. Kaga Wildhoof taught me the ways of camping, and I finished each of her lessons.
Last came the druid's path. Turak Runetotem sent me to Moonglade, where Dendrite Starblaze sent me to the Great Bear Spirit. Back in Thunder Bluff he set me against Lunaclaw, and Turak declared that I had earned the strength of body and heart.
Fellowship
I joined the guild Blacktide as an Initiate, and a fellow member later greeted me warmly as one of the guild. Short-lived parties formed around me and then broke up through the day. I said aloud, to those standing near, where a campfire could be set. Most of the day I worked alone.
Spoils & Craft
I took up Skinning and soon found it paying handsomely. The skill rose steadily until I trained as a Journeyman. I also learned First Aid, Cooking, Fishing and Leatherworking, and each rose a little with practice. I made linen bandages, charred wolf meat, brilliant smallfish, herb baked eggs, light leather and light armor kits. I also made a Camp Chair, Basic Campfire Kits, a First Aid Kit, a Fish Bowl and a Camp Tent. In the field I found a schematic for EZ-Thro Dynamite, a pair of Tribal Pants and two pieces of malachite.
Growth
New strength came as I climbed. I learned Mark of the Wild first, then Moonfire and Rejuvenation, then Thorns and Wrath. Entangling Roots and Healing Touch followed, and later improved Mark of the Wild and Moonfire, and Nature's Grasp. Teleport: Moonglade came from Turak. My skill with the staff, with maces and in defense all rose, and I learned to use two-handed maces.
The finest gift came at the very end: Bear Form, with Growl and Maul. Ten times I felt a new surge of strength through the day.