Harpies, Hooves, and a Fall at Dreadmist
Three outings across the Barrens brought new strength, a fall into darkness at Dreadmist Peak, and a Crossroads ledger of tasks growing longer by the hour.
The Road
The morning found me at the Crossroads, and I walked the Gold Road out into the Barrens. Near the Forgotten Pools I stopped to take in the view of a place new to me, then turned back and rested at the Crossroads.
In the afternoon I stood in Thunder Bluff, where a wind rider carried me back to the Crossroads. Hunter Rise, the Golden Plains, Stonebull Lake and Galak Camp slid by, then the Southern Barrens, Agama'gor and Lushwater Oasis, and finally the Gold Road home. Later I climbed to Dreadmist Peak and paused at the sight of it. I found the Stagnant Oasis too, and stood a while at its edge.
At dusk the Dry Hills opened up before me, another new place to remember. I finished the day resting at the Crossroads.
Battles
The morning was mostly plainstriders: six Greater Plainstriders, a Fleeting Plainstrider, a Kolkar Wrangler and a Sunscale Screecher whose shriek called for help.
The afternoon was longer. Seven more screechers fell, along with seven Zhevra Runners, five Lost Barrens Kodo, three Burning Blade Acolytes and three Bruisers, a pair each of huntresses, lashtails and hyenas, and a Kolkar Marauder and an Oasis Snapjaw besides.
At Dreadmist Peak a Burning Blade Toxicologist cried out that I had interfered with their plans for the last time, "foolish druid". Moments later something unseen struck me down and I fell into darkness. I woke as a spirit before the Spirit Healer, who said it was not yet my time and offered to bring me back for a price. I paid it and came back to the Barrens, shaken but whole.
In the evening I hunted around the Dry Hills: seven Savannah Prowlers, seven Witchwing Roguefeathers, six Witchwing Harpies, three more hyenas, a Witchwing Slayer and another Kolkar Wrangler. The harpies shrieked that my head would make a fine trophy and that I would be easy prey. They were wrong.
Deeds
Tonga Runetotem took my report on The Principal Source soon after I woke as a spirit. He pronounced the water "disgusting", said it was sickening the gazelles and spoiling the northern Barrens, and added that something else was at work. He gave me Gathering the Cure, asking for earthroot and kodo horns for his salve. Later, at the Crossroads, I handed over what he needed. He said it was enough to make ample doses and gave me Curing the Sick: I am to use the salve on ten sickly gazelles in the northern Barrens and carry his thanks to Dendrite Starblaze of the Cenarion Circle in Moonglade. When I returned from the Stagnant Oasis he declared my findings amazing, since seeds that were dried and dead had come alive there, and he sent me after the oasis snapjaws for their shells.
Sergra Darkthorn was pleased with my work on the plainstriders and set me on the zhevra for their hooves. When that was done she said I had some strength in me and sent me after the savannah prowlers' claws. Once those were in, she told me to hunt Echeyakee, the white king of the savannah cats, whose lair lies northeast of the Crossroads.
Gazrog thanked me for ridding him of the raptors and called me "a druid of worth". Now he wants the stolen silver found in the Raptor Grounds south of Ratchet. Darsok Swiftdagger liked my harpy work ("Real nice") and asked for six lieutenant rings from the Witchwing Slayers in the Dry Hills.
Mankrik, who came to the Crossroads seeking help, gave me two burdens: to find some sign of his wife, lost in battle among the Bristlebacks, and to bring him sixty Bristleback tusks. Dokimi also asked me to return any shipments I find that have gone missing.
Fellowship
A tauren druid saluted me with respect in the evening, and I bowed before them in return. Later another druid danced with the innkeeper, and a tauren warrior danced with me.
At the Crossroads I listened to talk of Alliance raiders slipping in and out of the ruins and gnomes being chased from Ratchet. An orc hunter spoke of the Barrens as a harsh teacher.
On the Dry Hills a rogue and a shaman, both of the Windshaper company, joined my party for a few minutes. The harpies shouted threats at the shaman and at me, and then both left the party.
Spoils & Craft
I found a Hunting Bow of uncommon make in the afternoon and a Barbaric Loincloth of uncommon make in the evening.
At the Crossroads I crafted Light Leather and Cured Light Hide, first one of each, then three Light Leather and two Cured Light Hide. My skinning improved several times over the day.
Pawani, a seller of leather and hides, hailed me twice. Jornah of the Durotar Supply and Logistics company said they are always in need of new contractors.
Growth
Somewhere above Dreadmist Peak I felt a surge of new strength. The same moment my defence sharpened. Later my feral skills grew keener and my skill with two-handed maces began to take shape.
My skinning knife was steadier by day's end than at its start. Durotar Supply and Logistics now counts me as neutral.