Cat Spirit, Cursed Keep, Nine Falls
From Moonglade's waters to the Barrens' dust, through the Ruins of Lordaeron and Shadowfang Keep, Nanaki earned new forms, new strength, and nine hard falls.
Witherfang
The Road
The day began in Thunder Bluff, where I took the gryphon to Orgrimmar and rested a while among its noise. From there the roads took me everywhere. I found Jaggedswine Farm, then Tirisfal Glades, the Ruins of Lordaeron and the Undercity, where I met the flight master in the Trade Quarter. Silverpine Forest came next, with the Sepulcher, and later The Dead Field, North Tide's Hollow, North Tide's Run and the Great Sea.
Moonglade I reached through the flight master's art. I flew home to Orgrimmar from there, and later made the crossing again to Nighthaven and the Stormrage Barrow Dens.
In the Barrens I found the Sludge Fen, the Merchant Coast, Northwatch Hold, the Raptor Grounds, Boulder Lode Mine, the Mor'shan Rampart and Bramblescar. Carrying reports for Kadrak, I went north into Ashenvale and found Nightsong Woods, Splintertree Post, Falfarren River, Raynewood Retreat, Astranaar, Maestra's Post, the Zoram Strand and Zoram'gar Outpost. I could fly from Splintertree and Zoram'gar after that.
Twice I went down into the old places with companions at my side: the Ruins of Lordaeron, and later Shadowfang Keep, which I found as I entered.
Battles
The Barrens asked for blood first. A long fight against the Razormane, elite Flesheaters and Berserkers, kept me busy, and I cut down well over a dozen Flesheaters alone. Chol'aruk the Ravener fell among them. Later I put down Gesharahan, a rare and fearsome foe, along with Venture Co. mercenaries, overseers and enforcers, snapjaws, Southsea pirates, thunder lizards, Ishamuhale the raptor, and a Thunderhawk.
In the Ruins of Lordaeron we cut through skeletons, ghouls, spiders and broodlings by the dozen. Six masters of the place fell to us: Witherfang, The Butcher, Viktor the Vile, The Abandoned, Bjork and Rath'mael.
Shadowfang Keep was crueler. We brought down Rethilgore, Razorclaw the Butcher, Baron Silverlaine, Commander Springvale, Odo the Blindwatcher, Fenrus the Devourer, Wolf Master Nandos, and at last Archmage Arugal. Darkness took me four times within those walls.
In all I fell nine times that day. Besides the four in the Keep, I fell in Thorn Hill, on the Merchant Coast, at Lushwater Oasis, and twice in Tirisfal Glades. Each time I woke as a spirit and went to find my body.
Deeds
Many tasks were finished. In the Undercity, Varimathras praised my work for the Dark Lady. I ran an unstable potion across the slime canal for Alessandro Luca to Doctor Martin Felben, who had given up on it arriving in time. I also finished Morbin Lightbane's request for limbs to knit the Forsaken together, and a request for Oran Snakewrithe and Owen Thadd, who thanked me for relics and for knowledge for the library.
The druid's road took me to Dendrite Starblaze in Moonglade. I won the Trial of the Lake, and Tajarri sent me on to the Trial of the Sea Lion. Back in the Barrens I cured sick gazelles, and Turak Runetotem rewarded me. Later I returned to Moonglade, met the Great Cat Spirit, and brought it three relics from the Barrow Dens. It judged me worthy of its blessing. Turak greeted me in Thunder Bluff afterward.
In the Barrens I helped Wizzlecrank get his stolen shredder to Ratchet. For Gazlowe I brought the fin of Bruuz and the head of Baron Longshore, and for Wharfmaster Dizzywig I took the emerald from the Boulder Lode, which he split with me fairly. I also finished Stolen Silver, The Angry Scytheclaws, Altered Beings and Report to Kadrak. Jorn Skyseer set me against Ishamuhale and the thunder lizards. For the tauren elders Tonga and Hamuul, I carried the strange shells, and Mura Runetotem in Silverpine marvelled at one. Nara Wildmane then asked me to bring the dream gems of the Druids of the Fang from the Wailing Caverns. In Orgrimmar I carried a lunch to a hungry boy, Migi.
In Silverpine, the Dark Lady's agents had work for me. Tabitha Heartweaver begged me to learn the fate of her husband Edward. The Deathstalkers in Shadowfang were found, though Vincent lay dead and still. Arugal died, and Dalar Dawnweaver said Silverpine was free of him. Keeper Bel'dugur received the Book of Ur. Master Apothecary Faranell took the Abominable Head and set me to gather ingredients for his potion.
Fellowship
Most of the day I wandered among strangers, and I mooed at a good many, as a tauren should. I greeted one Forsaken crowd with a plain "sup dawg". Parties formed and dissolved around me many times in the Undercity, and I called out for a tank more than once. At the Crossroads, while a group stood waiting for a lagging friend, I said, "wtf where is he". Another adventurer said he'd been away from the group. Later, when a task would not share, I told them, "won't let me".
I joined the guild Blacktide as a Grunt in Ratchet. Four others went with me into the Ruins of Lordaeron, and four into Shadowfang Keep. Over the long hours there I told them "k brb" when I had to step away. In Orgrimmar a crowd of strangers laughed and danced about me while I said, "Mine tail doth itch" and "Scratcheth it, wolves."
Spoils & Craft
The day's finds were many, and I cannot tie most to any one fight. In the first hours I found Dredgemire Leggings, Prospector's Mitts and a Flaring Baton, then a Big Bad Basher and a Veildust Medicine Bag. Turak gave me the Aquarius Belt and the Idol of Shifting Tides. After those came Rambling Boots, and a Jackseed Belt.
In the Ruins of Lordaeron I found Shadowgems, Tigerseye, Moss Agate, Jade and Malachite, then a Slain Baron's Signet and Spare Part Bindings. In Shadowfang Keep I found Rugged Spaulders, a Zircon Band of Regeneration, Tanned Shoulderpads, Forest Leather Bracers, the Baron's Scepter, Odo's Ley Staff, Superior Bracers of Power and Half-Eaten Boots. Edward's Knife came after Tabitha's gratitude, then the Seal of Sylvanas, and Grizzled Boots from the Apothecarium.
At my craft I made Light Leather several times and Cured Light Hide. My leatherworking and skinning both improved.
Growth
Strength came in waves. I felt new power after Tajarri's praise in Moonglade, again when Turak taught me Aquatic Form, and again in Silverpine when Mura thanked me. Further surges followed in the Undercity and after Arugal's fall.
Turak gave me Cure Poison and Aquatic Form, and then taught me better ranks of Entangling Roots, Nature's Grasp, Regrowth and Maul. I also learned Faerie Fire and Hibernate. In the Undercity, Feral Charge came to me. Later Turak taught me Mark of the Wild, Demoralizing Roar, Rebirth, Healing Touch and Starfire.
My skill with daggers, maces, defense and the feral arts all rose with use, and my skinning too. I became neutral with the Defilers and with Durotar Supply and Logistics, and honored with Thunder Bluff.