Dreadmist Peak and a Day Around the Crossroads
Nanaki grew stronger beneath the Barrens sun, fell in the shadow of Dreadmist Peak, and returned to the Crossroads with a long list of tasks done and new ones waiting.
The Road
The morning began at the Crossroads, and I walked the Gold Road out into the open Barrens. Near the Forgotten Pools I stopped a moment to take in the view, then wandered back to the Crossroads to rest.
In the afternoon I was in Thunder Bluff, where the wind rider master Tal spoke of the strength and speed of his mounts. I flew from there to the Crossroads. I then traveled on to Hunter Rise, the Golden Plains, Stonebull Lake and Galak Camp in Mulgore. From there I went through the Southern Barrens, Agama'gor and Lushwater Oasis, and up the Gold Road to the Crossroads again.
Later I came upon Dreadmist Peak and paused to look at it. At the Stagnant Oasis I did the same. In the evening I found the Dry Hills, which were new to me, and I stood a while there as well. By dusk I was back at the Crossroads.
Battles
The day's work was mostly in the plains. In all I brought down sixty-nine creatures. There were plainstriders, Sunscale Screechers calling for help with their shrieks, zhevra runners, savannah prowlers, hyenas, and five Lost Barrens kodo. A Kolkar wrangler fell to me in the morning, and a Kolkar marauder later.
At Dreadmist Peak a Burning Blade toxicologist called me a foolish druid who had interfered with his plans for the last time. I fell in the darkness, slain by something I never saw. I woke as a spirit and the Spirit Healer said it was not yet my time, and that my return would cost a price. I came back to the living in the Barrens.
In the evening, in the Dry Hills, harpies jeered at me and my companions. They promised easy prey, a fine trophy and shredded flesh. I dealt with six Witchwing Harpies, seven Witchwing Roguefeathers and a Witchwing Slayer, along with seven more prowlers and three hyenas.
Deeds
Tonga Runetotem took my report on The Principal Source. He found the water disgusting, and said it polluted the gazelles. He asked for earthroot and kodo horns for a salve, and later accepted them in Gathering the Cure. He then asked me to use the salve on ten sickly gazelles, and to carry his thanks to Dendrite Starblaze of the Cenarion Circle in Moonglade. At the end of the afternoon he praised what I'd found at the oases in The Stagnant Oasis. He then wanted the shells of oasis snapjaws for Altered Beings.
Sergra Darkthorn welcomed me back from Plainstrider Menace and sent me after the zhevra for their hooves. When I returned with the hooves, he called me strong and set me on the prowlers. When the prowlers were done, he set me on Echeyakee, the white king of the savannah cats, whose lair lies northeast of the Crossroads.
Gazrog thanked me for clearing the raptors, called me a druid of worth, and asked me to recover the stolen silver from the Raptor Grounds south of Ratchet. Darsok Swiftdagger was pleased with my Harpy Raiders work and asked for six harpy lieutenant rings from the Witchwing Slayers.
Mankrik, who is full of rage, gave me two requests. One was to find his wife, lost in battle against the Bristlebacks. The other was to bring him sixty Bristleback tusks.
Fellowship
On the Dry Hills road a rogue and a shaman of the Windshapers joined me in the party. The rogue asked me to share a task, and then said not to mind it and thanked me. Both left soon after.
At the Crossroads I met many travelers. One tauren druid saluted me and I bowed to Ennokosha Frostclaw. Others danced, slept in the shade, talked of gnomes and Alliance trouble near Ratchet, or asked for blessings. I mostly listened.
Spoils & Craft
I found a Hunting Bow and a Barbaric Loincloth, both of uncommon quality. At the Crossroads I worked leather, crafting Light Leather and then curing it into Cured Light Hide. I did this twice. My skinning grew to 100, then 105, 110 and finally 115 over the day.
Growth
By the third hour of the afternoon I felt a new strength rise in me, a sign of growing stronger as a druid. My defense improved, as did my Feral Combat, and my two-handed mace skill began to grow. I became Neutral with Durotar Supply and Logistics. Pawani, Jornah and Dokimi each greeted me with offers of work and trade.