Moos, Murlocs and the Wailing Caverns Road
From Orgrimmar's roads to Undercity's sewers, Nanaki learned to swim, hunted raptors and thunder lizards, buried four falls, and stepped into the Ruins of Lordaeron.
The Road
I woke in Thunder Bluff and the gryphon... no, the wyvern carried me to Orgrimmar before the sun was properly up. I rested there, then wandered until I came upon Jaggedswine Farm. From there my path wound across the sea of the world: Tirisfal Glades, the Ruins of Lordaeron, and Undercity, where I met the flight master at the Trade Quarter. Silverpine Forest followed, and I met the flight master at The Sepulcher. Later I walked The Dead Field, North Tide's Hollow, North Tide's Run and the shore of the Great Sea.
Moonglade drew me for my druidic trials, and I met the flight master there too. The Barrens took much of my day: the Sludge Fen, Ratchet, the Merchant Coast, Northwatch Hold, the Raptor Grounds, and later Boulder Lode Mine, the Mor'shan Rampart and Bramblescar. A long run north took me through Nightsong Woods to Splintertree Post, then Falfarren River, Raynewood Retreat, Astranaar, Maestra's Post and the Zoram Strand, where I met the flight master at Zoram'gar Outpost. By evening I was back in Undercity's sewers, and at last I entered the Ruins of Lordaeron with four others.
Battles
The Barrens were hard on me. Razormane Flesheaters and Berserkers, eighteen and ten of them, fell before my claws, and I felled their ravener chief, Chol'aruk, among them. I also cut down Venture Co. mercenaries, overseers and enforcers, a handful of Oasis Snapjaws, Southsea brigands, thunder lizards, and a thunderhawk. I slew Gesharahan, a rare elite, and Ishamuhale, the great raptor. Ninety-eight foes in all.
But four times I fell into darkness: in Thorn Hill, on the Merchant Coast, in Lushwater Oasis, and in the Tirisfal Glades. Each time something unseen struck me down, and each time I woke as a spirit and found my way back. I don't like the count.
Deeds
In Undercity, Varimathras was content with my service to the Dark Lady and bade me return in the future. Alessandro Luca thrust a potion at me and told me to hurry it to Doctor Martin Felben in the Apothecarium; the doctor said the last six had spoiled en route, but mine arrived in time. At the Sepulcher I laid a pendant on a grave for Yuriv's Tombstone, and a cold breeze passed. Tabitha Heartweaver asked me to learn what became of her husband Edward in the Ruins of Lordaeron.
In Moonglade, Dendrite Starblaze taught me of the aquatic form. I found a Shrine Bauble, and Tajarri praised me for the Trial of the Lake. She then sent me for the two halves of the Sea Lion pendant, and Starblaze accepted the finished pendant. Dendrite also thanked me for curing the sickly gazelles of the Barrens.
At the Crossroads I helped Wizzlecrank's Shredder find its key, then guarded the machine until it was wrecked; Sputtervalve promised a salvage team. Gazlowe paid for the shark Bruuz and for Baron Longshore's head, then asked me to slay Southsea Freebooters, which I began. Wharfmaster Dizzywig took the Cats Eye Emerald and promised me half. Gazrog and Sergra Darkthorn were pleased with the stolen silver and the raptor nests. Tonga Runetotem took my shells and sent me to Hamuul, who sent me to Nara Wildmane. She asked me to bring the dream gems of the Druids of the Fang from the Wailing Caverns. Jorn Skyseer accepted Ishamuhale's fang and later the thunder lizard blood, then set me after a thunderhawk. Kadrak sent me with reports toward Ashenvale. Dokimi of Durotar Supply and Logistics took my shipping label and the sealed crate. Back in Orgrimmar, Borstan and Migi shared a lunch errand, and Migi's glee made me smile. Finally, Mura Runetotem was delighted by the glowing shell.
Fellowship
Parties came and went all day, and most were fleeting. In the sewers of Undercity I called out for a tank for hours, and at last gathered four others and went into the Ruins of Lordaeron. Earlier, in the Barrens, I stood in a band of strangers waiting for a laggard to return, and then pressed on with them.
At midday I joined the guild Blacktide as a grunt. I said little of consequence aloud: a casual greeting, a question, and a jest about my itching tail. And once I mooed.
Spoils & Craft
Dredgemire Leggings, Prospector's Mitts, a Flaring Baton, a Big Bad Basher, a Veildust Medicine Bag, Rambling Boots, and a Jackseed Belt all came into my pack. Turak Runetotem gave me an Aquarius Belt and an Idol of Shifting Tides. I crafted Light Leather and Cured Light Hide several times, and my leatherworking and skinning improved. Coin came with the rewards for my tasks, from Tonga's coins to Dizzywig's half of the emerald.
Growth
The Trial of the Lake brought a surge of strength. Another came in Thunder Bluff, and another in Silverpine. Turak Runetotem taught me Cure Poison and Aquatic Form. Then I learned Entangling Roots, Faerie Fire, Hibernate, Maul, Nature's Grasp and Regrowth, each improved or new. My skill with daggers grew by long practice, as did my defense, feral combat, two-handed maces, and skinning. Thunder Bluff now holds me in honor, and I am neutral with the Defilers and with Durotar Supply and Logistics.
Musings
At one point I said aloud, "i fel myself fading...." Another time I said, "really?"