Dreadmist Peak, a Fall, and Harpy Talons
Between the Crossroads and the wild Barrens, Nanaki found new ground, fell once in the dark at Dreadmist Peak, and closed out a string of tasks.
The Road
The day began at the Crossroads in morning light. I took the Gold Road out into the open Barrens and stopped at the Forgotten Pools to take in the view, then turned back and rested at the Crossroads.
In the afternoon I was in Thunder Bluff and boarded the wind rider to the Crossroads. Tal, the wind rider master, remarked that from the back of one of the beasts you see how well its fame for strength and speed is earned. We passed over Hunter Rise, the Golden Plains, Stonebull Lake and Galak Camp, then the Southern Barrens, Agama'gor and Lushwater Oasis. We came down by the Gold Road into the Crossroads.
After that I found new places on my own feet. I climbed to Dreadmist Peak and stopped to take in the view. Later I came to the Stagnant Oasis and did the same. In the evening, past the Forgotten Pools, I reached the Dry Hills, a place I had not known, and paused there too before heading back to the Crossroads.
Battles
The morning's hunting was mostly Greater Plainstriders, six of them, with a Kolkar Wrangler, a Sunscale Screecher and a Fleeting Plainstrider besides. Plainstriders tried to bolt in fear, and one Screecher shrieked for help.
The afternoon was the heaviest work. I put down seven Zhevra Runners, seven more Sunscale Screechers and five Lost Barrens Kodo. Three Burning Blade Acolytes and three Bruisers fell to me, along with a pair each of Savannah Huntresses, Hecklefang Hyenas, Sunscale Lashtails and Greater Plainstriders, and a Kolkar Marauder and an Oasis Snapjaw.
At Dreadmist Peak a Burning Blade Toxicologist cried out that I had interfered with their plans for the last time, calling me a foolish druid. Within a minute I was struck down by something I never saw, and I fell into darkness. I woke as a spirit and the Spirit Healer met me. It said it was not yet my time and offered to bring me back for a price.
In the evening, in the Dry Hills, I fought seven Savannah Prowlers, seven Witchwing Roguefeathers, six Witchwing Harpies, three Hecklefang Hyenas, a Witchwing Slayer and a Kolkar Wrangler. The harpies shrieked that I would make easy prey and that my head would make a fine trophy.
Deeds
Tonga Runetotem took my report on The Principal Source after I came back from the spirit realm. He called the water "disgusting" and said it explained the sick gazelles, then asked for earthroot and kodo horns to make a cure. Later he accepted my work on The Stagnant Oasis. The seeds he gave me had been dried and dead, and he marveled that whatever lies under those oases can bring life from nothing. He set me on Altered Beings, to bring back snapjaw shells from the Lushwater and Stagnant Oases. When I brought him the earthroot and horns for Gathering the Cure, he said it was enough for ample doses of salve and gave me Curing the Sick. I am to use the salve on ten sickly gazelles in the northern Barrens and then carry his thanks to Dendrite Starblaze in Moonglade.
Sergra Darkthorn was pleased that the plainstriders were gone and sent me after the zhevra for their hooves. When I returned with the hooves she asked if I was ready for a real challenge, and handed me Prowlers of the Barrens. Once the prowler claws were in hand she asked if I thought it was time to face a champion, and gave me the hunt for Echeyakee, the white king of the savannah cats. His lair lies northeast of the Crossroads, and I carry a horn to blow there.
Gazrog thanked me for ridding him of the raptors, calling me "a druid of worth." He still wants the stolen silver, which he thinks lies in the Raptor Grounds south of Ratchet, so I took Stolen Silver. Darsok Swiftdagger looked over my Harpy Raiders work and said it was "real nice." Then he sent me after six of the harpy lieutenants in the Dry Hills, the Witchwing Slayers who carry rings.
Mankrik, a grieving warrior at the Crossroads, gave me two tasks. In Lost in Battle I am to find some sign of his wife, last seen holding off Bristlebacks at a small tauren camp. In Consumed by Hatred I am to bring him sixty Bristleback tusks. Dokimi also asked me to return any lost shipments I come across.
Fellowship
In the evening, in the Dry Hills, a rogue and a shaman joined my party, and a few minutes later both left. I fought the harpies in that time but cannot say what they did.
At the Crossroads a fellow tauren druid saluted me with respect, and I bowed in return. Later a tauren warrior danced with me, and I watched another druid dance with the innkeeper. I overheard talk of Alliance raiders and gnomes near Ratchet, and an orc hunter who bid us farewell and safe travels.
Spoils & Craft
I found a Hunting Bow of uncommon quality in the afternoon and a Barbaric Loincloth, also uncommon, in the evening.
I turned hides to leather at the Crossroads, working Light Leather and Cured Light Hide, and again later in a larger batch. Skinning improved as I worked, from 100 to 105, 110 and finally 115.
Growth
In the afternoon I felt a new surge of strength, a clear step up in my power as a druid. Defense came on to 70 and my feral fighting to 70 as well. Two-handed maces came to 25 in the evening. I am now neutral with the Durotar Supply and Logistics company.