Pools, Peaks, and a Fall at Dreadmist
Across the Barrens from the Crossroads, I found new waters and a high peak, fell once in the dark, and came home with tasks finished and a cure begun.
The Road
The morning found me at the Crossroads, and the Gold Road took me out into the Barrens, where I came upon The Forgotten Pools and paused to take in the view before turning back to the Crossroads to rest.
In the afternoon I stood in Thunder Bluff, and the wind rider carried me to the Crossroads. Then I crossed Hunter Rise, the Golden Plains, Stonebull Lake and Galak Camp, and the Southern Barrens, Agama'gor and Lushwater Oasis passed beneath me before the Gold Road led to the Crossroads again.
Later I climbed to Dreadmist Peak and stopped to look at it. Later still I found The Stagnant Oasis and stood a while at its edge. By evening I was back at the Crossroads.
Battles
The morning was plainstrider work: six Greater Plainstriders fell to me, along with a Kolkar Wrangler, a Sunscale Screecher and a Fleeting Plainstrider. A screecher shrieked for help once, and the plainstriders tried to flee in fear.
The afternoon was far busier. In all I slew Sunscale Screechers, seven Zhevra Runners, five Lost Barrens Kodo, three Burning Blade Acolytes, three Burning Blade Bruisers, a pair of Savannah Huntresses, two Sunscale Lashtails, two Hecklefang Hyenas, a Kolkar Marauder and an Oasis Snapjaw.
At Dreadmist Peak a Burning Blade Toxicologist cried that I had "interfered with our plans for the last time, foolish druid!" Then something unseen struck me down and I fell into darkness. I woke as a spirit, and the Spirit Healer told me it was not yet my time and offered to bring me back, for a price.
Deeds
Tonga Runetotem took the water from The Principal Source and found it disgusting. He said it was polluting the northern Barrens and making the gazelles sick, but that it would help him make a cure. He asked for earthroot and kodo horns for "Gathering the Cure". Later, over The Stagnant Oasis, he was amazed that the dried seeds had come to life, and he sent me after oasis snapjaw shells. That evening he took what I brought for the cure and made enough salve for ten doses. He asked me to use it on the sickly gazelles of the northern Barrens, then to carry his thanks to Dendrite Starblaze of the Cenarion Circle in Moonglade.
Sergra Darkthorn thanked me for clearing the plainstriders and sent me after the zhevra for their hooves. When I returned with them she said I had some strength in me too, and asked for seven claws from the Savannah Prowlers.
Gazrog called me "a druid of worth" for driving off the raptors. He wants the stolen silver found in the Raptor Grounds south of Ratchet.
Mankrik, who stood scouring the horizon in his anger, gave me two requests. I am to find his wife, lost in a fight with the Bristlebacks, and bring him sixty Bristleback tusks.
Fellowship
The Crossroads was busy with strangers, and I kept to my work. A tauren druid saluted me and I bowed in return to Ennokosha Frostclaw. A Forsaken rogue asked for blessings more than once, and I let it pass. Others danced in the square and traded jokes about gnomes and Alliance raiders, and one orc hunter spoke of the Barrens as a harsh teacher.
Spoils & Craft
I found a Hunting Bow of uncommon quality in the afternoon. My skinning improved steadily, first in the morning and then again twice in the afternoon, as I worked the hides I had taken. At the Crossroads I worked leather into Light Leather and cured it into Cured Light Hide, and later made more of both.
Growth
At the peak of Dreadmist, I felt new strength settle into me, and my defense sharpened. Later my feral fighting grew keener. Pawani and Jornah of the Durotar Supply and Logistics company greeted me, and I now stand neutral with them. Dokimi asked me to return any lost shipments I might find.