Re: Brakara's Journal of Beasts ((Very Image Heavy))
Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:37 pm
Agreeing with Tyger - very touching. I love Masha's namesake. It suits her. 
Journal Entry 6
Drakka is recovering well, and Brosk's wound is closing. It was in a good mood that I left Orgrimmar, Masha perched comfortably on my shoulder. The journey to Souther Barrens was easy on the back of a windrider and I was soon under the command of an orc. He was stationed at a small tauren camp in the mountains, overlooking an alliance base. At one point it was a Horde tower, but it had been taken over. He explained the situation to me: I was to enter the area, find the tower the humans were using as a prison, and re-arm the prisoners. On my way, I was to kill any human I saw and leave the bodies to be found by guards. Terror tactics.
The prison tower was fairly well guarded, but Masha made short work of them, clawing their hands so savagely that they dropped their weapons. We entered the tower to find it completely filled with orc prisoners.
Many of them were quite ashamed of themselves, and for good reason - most of them had been captured out of cowardice. However, my respect for them was raised when they eagerly took up arms to get revenge against the humans. Only one of the prisoners refused, an older, blind orc. He explained that the captain of the tower, a cruel, vicious man, had been practically torturing them and had to die.
I gladly accepted the challenge, expecting the human to be stronger than the others... I was mistaken. He was the cowardly sort that only attacked helpless prey, and he could stand pain no more than any other. I'm surprised the entire ordeal didn't attract even more guards.
The old orc was quite pleased with the deed, though he refused to be a burden and remained at the tower. I returned to the mountainside camp and was sent to kill a surveyor named Zykes. He was wandering near the road.
He was frail and I was quickly on my way to Una'fe, a tauren encampment nearby. To my surprise, it was filled with wounded and grieving refugees.
There were even a few young tauren children in a tent, being cared for by a tauren woman.
When I asked why they were all here, I was told about the sacking of Taurajo. They explained with passion how the camp, made up of only a few hunters and many innocent civilians, had been mercilessly attacked and burned to the ground by the Alliance. There had been no reason for it, and it was only by the graces of the spirits that some of the civilians had been able to escape. Many had died.
I know that the Horde committed a similar act with the bomb, but the Alliance didn't seem to care that such an act had happened. At least we had the spines to punish ourselves.
To make matters worse, fleeing civilians had been captured by nearby Quillboar. As if I hadn't delt with enough of them before!
Then I was sent to kill their leader, in supposedly "one on one" combat.
Apparently he didn't understand the meaning of "one on one" and called upon the "Boarpocalyps".
Many dead boars and one dead quillboar later, I was sent to hunt the nearby tallstriders. I've never seen such... bright... creatures. Despite that, they were fairly strong. Masha showed her true skill here, which I suppose is fitting. Her namesake was a huntress, after all.
We attempted to cure a few of the tainted wildlife as well, having been directed by a druid... But it didn't work out as planned.
Thankfully most of them were only enraged - a couple of them simply exploded in a cloud of gore! Poor Masha won't be clean for weeks.
After that, the druid had us accompany him to a rift in the Emerald Nightmare. Apparently that was keeping the area so lush and tainted. He tried to close it while Masha and I killed the escaping Nightmare monsters. The first and second waves weren't bad...
The third one was disturbing, though. I hope I never have to see such a beast again.
((Argh, I hate damage numbers.))
The tauren in Una'fe then sent us to a camp right by the ruins of Taurajo. They then sent us to defend a hill against the Alliance. It was quite the fight, and I was surrounded by a pile of human corpses by the end. I have Masha to thank for getting out mostly unscathed - humans can do little damage when their hands are bloody wrecks.
On the way to Taurajo we took some time to demolish a few war machines. They were aimed at Mulgure, and I will never let the Alliance into that land. They've done enough, burning Taurajo to the ground.
The area was a wreck, swarming with thieves and looters. The thought of them defiling the lost camp made my blood rise to a boil.
To spare the spirits of the fallen any more time trapped, I released them. They said a few words before departing, mourning the loss of the camp.
After cleaning up the wreckage of the camp, my anger had already risen - it only got worse when I was told of another corrupt leader in the Horde. A warlord this time. I was sent to the stronghold to the south to warn him that Bloodhilt, the competent orc, was coming.
I learned something about the inner workings of Horde politics. When Bloodhilt came, he fought the corrupt warlord. The opponent tried to yield, a cowardly act, and Bloodhilt threw him out of the window of the tower. Good riddance. Bloodhilt is a powerful and tactical leader.
He sent me to the battle scar to the east, where I was to find the alliance banner and burn it. It was replaced with a Horde banner, and I must admit it was impressive.
Nearly his first task was one I was dearly wishing to complete - ambush and slay General Hawthorne, the Alliance General that ordered the attack on Taurajo. The Butcher of Taurajo. I met up with a few orcs near the road to wait.
It didn't take long for him to appear on the horizon, escorted by two guards. The orcs with me attacked the guards, and I was left to kill the General - a task I was rather glad I didn't have to share.
This world will be a better place without the Butcher. We left his battered corpse swaying in the wind for the Alliance to find. Even Masha seemed to enjoy the task, screeching loudly. I can't save the spirits of those lost at Taurajo, but I can avenge them.
After reporting to Warlord Bloodhilt of out success, I headed back to Una'fe to tell them that the General was dead. A strange sight awaited me - one of the pink tallstriders bravely attacking a writhing vine. Such vines usually strangled even raptors.
The vine was cut in half by the determined Tallstrider. Impressed, I challenged it myself - but I didn't want to kill it. After a fairly short fight, it kicked me away and stopped the attack.
A new respect shone in its eyes. He will be joining me, and Masha will stay in the Barrens for a while to act as my eyes. Gol'Kosh, named after the orcish saying "By my Axe" and fitting the mood of this area quite well, will go with me to Dustwallow.
