WoW Petopia Community

((Note in advance: I am not calling anyone here an idiot, it's just that just about everyone has to go through it before Outland because the other late zones are so damned short! I felt it would be fun to convey that through Laki
Plus the place is boring.))

Dear diary

Shortly after waking and eating breakfast we headed through the portal. Ballad didn't seem to mind the portal as much as I thought she would. Mind you we were technically still on the ground. We arrived directly inside the Keep, in front of the quartermaster no less, and reported for duty.

He told me many people here in Blasted Lands came from Silithus too. Finding a spot to fit into might be tricky. He was able to offer me something though; the Horde are proving to become pests despite all Nethergarde has done in these lands. Lungertz wants me to send them a clear message by killing a scout that has been spotted nearby. Not sure why they didn't kill the scout as soon as they were spotted, but oh well. Work is work. Other adventurers had also killed a scout each... makes you wonder about their security.

Just outside the keep a dwarf woman by the name of Enohar Thunderbrew flagged me down, saying she spotted shipwrecks carried in by a recent storm. She offered a few coins if I inspected them for her. Seems there's more work available than I thought. Except, again, pretty much everyone looked at them. Is this some kind of joke?

As soon as we set foot outside Nethergarde an orc attacked from the shadows. Had it not been for Ballad's ability to slow time I may well have had a dagger in my back. I reitorate however, servailance must be terrible here if so many scouts are wandering about.



I reported my findings to Lungertz. It was just a test, to prove my quickness. Bastard. He gave me something a bit more challenging next: remove the orcish artillery attacking the mines not far from Nethergarde. Leyon Stiltson, just across the table, ordered that I remove the head of the beast and kill the orcish leader. A gnome across the hall gave me grenades to blow up the orcs' supplies. They mean business. Or try to sound it. Security really is questionable: I'm certain I saw someone come out of the mines just a moment before. Perhaps they skirted their duties, killed one orc claiming it to be the leader and left again. After all, we're not being asked for proof.

Well that was more than a bit messy. Some of the grenades were duds and refused to explode on contact! Ballad remedied that by throwing rocks at them. Even if the grenades didn't explode finally, at least the supplies were damaged by the rocks.



Orcs, everywhere. Seriously, each one had three or more soldiers attacking them, human and dwarf alike, and they couldn't do anything! Add one worgen and her oversized, time-distorting lizard and they fell like a pile of bricks. Just who trained these people?! Ballad also helped me spot the leader. Or the potential leader. He was the only one riding a wolf and had a banner on his back.



Returning to the keep each quest-giver thanked me in turn and claimed that soon they'll retake the mines and drive the orcs out. I wonder how many other saps they said that to. Since they've all gone quiet I suppose I'd better “scout out” the “recently wrecked” ships.



Cursed! My people! The spirits of fellow worgen wandered around the shorelines as vultures pecked at the remnants of their corpses. I could not bear the sight. My people... By Greymane how did this happen? Enohar sympathised with me, though I doubt she knows my pain. She expects they were headed to someplace called Surwich. Despite how I'm currently equipped she gave me a bow and a quiver of arrows coated in something that will “give those vultures a surpise”. I can see where this is going. I'll release the spirits of my kin while I'm there. I cannot leave them like this.



Explosive. The arrows are explosive. I must interrogate that dwarf some, this concoction could come in useful. Some of the shots missed, but that served just as well; the buzzards came down for us and we killed them accordingly.
((Again I appear to have misplaced some of my screenies. Argh.))

One of the worgen held a strange crystal fragment. Perhaps that's what they were shipping with them? Regardless, I'm sure someone will want it. I'd keep it, but it only serves to bring back the bad memories. I stayed a moment to pray for my fallen brethren. Enohar greeted me sombrely when I returned. I sure could use some of whatever it is she keeps drinking. To help me take my mind off things she told me to report to Mahar Ba, a moody mage stationed in the tall tower here.

Why am I not surprised I'm not the first to meet the mage? He explained, poutily, about the cultists skulking around the cave to the south of here. He'd sent several people out to deal with them but there seems to be just as many as there were previously. He told me to bring back the foci they carry. Ballad's hissing. I think she's picking up on the sheer idiocy of this place.

Before I set out someone told me a “lost one” - whatever that is - was collecting crystals like the one the worgen merchant held. They didn't stay longer than to tell me where to find him. Fair enough, I don't seem able to sell it to any of the local vendors.

As I sought out the “lost one” I was attacked by a giant reptile. No I don't mean Ballad, as playful as she is. No it was a basilisk, one much bigger than any others here in the Blasted Lands (emphasis currently on “blasted”. Eesh.) and with scales like coal. We killed it with ease thankfully. I was surpised to find it in possession of a crystal sphere not unlike the fragment I'd picked up. Perhaps the “lost one” would like this too?



I was right. The lost one – a highly mutated draenei apparently – disregarded the fragment vehemently. Others brought him shards but he declared them useless. It didn't go without reward though. The sphere was a different story. He took that with reverence and asked that I bring him more should I find any. He'd called it Dreanethyst. I now know what I'm looking for, despite his claims of it being unlikely to find any more like this.

Back to the task at hand. The cultists must be as dense as the soldiers of Nethergarde, or as bored as I am havig no end of people out to kill them. Either way I managed to catch some of them sleeping. I also noted how the vast majority of the cultists were forsaken. I hope they suffered. Especially the one that dared to turn into a demon!



Mahar peered into a focus I gave him and looked at me in horror. Jeez, what did the last adventurer miss this time? Whatever it is, the mage told me to make my way into the cave nearby where I found the cultists and speak to someone by the name of Kasim Sharim. I bet, diary, that someone else has aleady been there.

Kasim claimed that he didn't need the letter Mahar told me to give him. Of course not, he's being pestered day in and day out by other stupid idiots! He said he could use me though, so I listened. First he introduced me to a quick and mostly painless way to move between his cave and outside. I say mostly because it required blood to attune myself to it. I had to run some of Ballad's blood on it too and let me tell you, she did not like me cutting her one bit. Blood mages. Ever wondered how they earned that title? Now you know. Anyway. Despite most claims, blood mages are not vampires. They work with blood, but not drink it. His first request was that I bring him meat from the boars that wander the land. Secondly he needs the blood of hyenas and basilisks. I won't ask what for, but we can safely cross drinking off the list, eh?

Ballad and I were both more than a little surprised when the boars took on a semi-demonic look. Had the cultists done something to them? Then again there is a large portal said to be connected to a world of demons. Maybe that's given them that effect? Fel residue? I hope Kasim likes his meat demonic.



Baslisks and hyenas roamed in large enough quantities to get all the blood necessary for the mage. If only I'd met him earlier, I'm sure that massive, black basilisk's blood would have been worth something.



We ended up with a little more hyena blood than necessary so Ballad helped herself to it. She seemed really satisfied after. Huh. Anyway we returned to Kasim who hurridly took them meat from us, even pausing to eat some there and then. He then explained what the blood is for. And as it turns out this isn't the first time he's done this either, as he's become somewhat a professional at giving the short version. Surprise. Cultists plan to summon a powerful demon into the world. A powerful demon or aNOTHER powerful demon? Either way Kasim wants to summon the demon first so we can kill it.

After performing the ritual, which I thought was what would summon the demon given his words, he explained that he can now sense the objects we need to actually summon it. Brilliant. Three amulets, one of which is nearby. The others... not so. Let's put it this way: I'm probably going to get wet again.

The first amulet was easy enough, it was inside a chest just at the entrance to this cave. Warp out with the teleporter, grab it, warp in again. Simple as.



The next one, however, is on one of the wrecked ships on Shattershore, where the spirits of my people lingered. This would be a good opportunity to become human again.

Gruesome. What did this “Grol” do to wind up as a head on a stick? He wasn't happy with it either, as his spirit attacked as I reached for his amulet. May he rest in peace. Assuming he was good. Kasim didn't speak highly of him but then Kasim is mad.



The last amulet is in the hands – claws? - of a murloc. A murloc of all things. Well, killing it wouldn't be a problem if it's anything like the other fishmen I've faced previously. Or not. This murloc, and his tribe, aren't about to attack. In fact in a change of tides (possible pun?) he asked for help as his people had been attacked by naga. Well, I demanded the amulet first. While he gave it to me and I could easily return to Kasim to get this foolishness done with I felt compelled to aid the fishman. This one cannot speak common very well and directed me to another. Swift lagged behind, he wanted to play with the tadpoles.

What... What is going on here? I thought naga and murlocs often worked together. Yet this... this is slavery. Neptool, or rather the ghost of, told me the story. The Rockpool murlocs and Bloodwash naga used to coexist peacefully but one day the snakepeople turned on the murlocs violently, either killing or enslaving them. Even now they're forced to do the naga's dirty work.



Neptool implored that I kill the naga, regardless of whatever past they had. This cannot stand. And I cannot stand the naga anyway. As long as there's water the naga have more often than not been a thorn in my side. At least I can remove the one embedded in the murlocs'.



Each time a naga struck a murloc I flinched. So I slaughtered them. What the fel caused them to turn to such atrocities? Neptool was thankful and pointed me further up the beach, explaining how the murlocs and naga once worshiped Neptulon together. The naga though turned there scaly backs to him and now focus on Azshara. The serpent bitch. Neptool told me to find her idols and destroy them, and kill more of the naga while I'm at it. No amount of naga deaths will bring back the tribe but damn is it satisfying.



While I was fighting the naga I happened across an abandoned crate which three tiny tadpoles were using as shelter. The poor things were scared, hungry and close to drying out but didn't dare move. I took it upon myself to help them to safety. For the future of the Rockpool murlocs. I simply pray it doesn't come back to bite me later.



That was worth getting wet for. The babies are safe, the idols destroyed and the naga sufficiently beaten. Neptool thanked me as only a ghostly murloc chieftan can. The rest of the Rockpools here may well be enslaved and killed... but at least they know there are some out here who care. Besides, those tadpoles still have a future now.

I think we've earned ourselves a break. Write again soon.

I'm actually glad you did Blasted Lands. When I did it on Sol, it timed out on me, so I lost about half of the Blasted Lands content (I do it all as I go).

Very amusing read, well done. XD I kind of like the effect of Laki being like "wtf people have already been here." The screenshots of Ballad fighting where she's like coiled up kind of made me giggle too with the way she's all hunched up. Almost like an angry cat.

Success
I didn't notice before but now that you mention it, Ballad does seem kind of cat-like in that pose doesn't she? I just tossed those ones in for variety from the stretched-out-bite x) I'm really loving her right now; I get the feeling once this is over Bal will be Laki's go-to tank. Shame she's going to be replaced soon story-wise

Yeah, warp stalkers are pretty freakin' awesome. It is a shame she'll be getting replaced soon in the story though.

Dear diary

I returned to Kasim with the other two amulets. The gnome decided to be less than useful by telling me that while we can now summon the demon, we cannot kill it. Figures. He then drew a rune in the air and told me to give it to Watcher Grimeo by the Dark Portal. Apparently he can help.



Isn't that a sight, diary? Just standing here fills me with dread. The sickening scent of fel magic is prominent here, but I must force myself to endure it. I doubt I'll last as well as I did in Felwood in my human form. I located the Watcher and gave him the rune, explaining the troubles Kasim had put me through. Once again I'm not the first to do any of this. Grimeo writhed at the mention of the gnome, saying he'd be removed from the watch if they found out. Regardless he told me what to do: gather granite and demon blood. What they are for, we'll find out later. Assuming this hasn't been done hundreds of times by now.

The crater around the portal was thick with demons and the granite was everywhere. Needless to say it was fairly easy to gather the stone and blood quickly, though not without hindrance; every time I turned to pick at the rocks a felhound jumped us from behind. Thank Greymane for Ballad.



Finally gathering enough of what we needed... Grimeo sent me back to Kasim. That's it? Why didn't the stupid midget just tell me to get the things himself? My head hurts...

Why do I feel like I'm going in circles? “Get this, get that. Now we have that, we need this.” Kasim said he's going to make a knife out of the granite and blood, fel knows what for, and in the meantime I need to find some body. No, not somebody: some body. I need to recover the pieces of a corpse belonging to a demon hunter named Loramus Thalipedes. Kasim said it would be fun. If by fun he means “mauled by ogres” then sure, I'm having lots of fun.


((Two rare spawns not far away from each other? And directly after two other people did this quest? Thanks!))

Blissfully most of the ogres were asleep, so aside from that one that rolled over on top of Ballad's tail we pretty much gathered all the pieces of the body unharmed. Turns out Loramus is a rather rugged, tattoed night elf, minus the eyes. Thankfully he still had his legwear, saving us both embaressment.

I thought Kasim said he'd be able to resurrect Loramus. So why the fel am I doing it? And how can the only way to do it be through demon and blood magic? Sigh. Very well, I'll cart the dead elf over the the demon altar. Kasim's got hell to pay if the demonology affects the process.

The path leading to the Altar of Storms was patrolled by the Twilight cultists. Was. Not anymore. Strange energy had enveloped the body barely as soon as I'd laid it on the altar, carrying it into the air where it hovered, absorbing the demon energies.



As this occurred various demons – imps, felhounds, voidwalkers and succubi – materialised around the altar attempting to sap the magic. Ballad and I did a good job defending Loramus I feel. It wasn't long before the body began to speak; he's alive again! Except he didn't sound particularly please. He seemed to understand what was happening though, and headed to the cave first. “What have you done?” His words ring accusingly in my ears. I do hope Kasim will explain.

Nope. Once again the gnome simply gave me the knife he'd made, acknowledging the demon hunter's presence and sent us out to complete the ritual and kill Razelikh, the demon. Mental note: punt that flipping gnome about the cave some once we're finished.

Loramus told me to meet him at the top of Defiler's Rise where we confronted the demon Razelikh. Or rather, Rakh'likh. Every now and again the sod used his magic to throw Ballad and I off the rise, but Loramus was able to use his own to pull us to safety. Thank the Light Swiftwing can fly. When we thought the demon was finished he lashed out, grasping the demon hunter. As I thought, resurrecting him at the Altar of Storms made him suseptable to demonic possession, which Rakh did. It felt awful having to fight the defiled body of Loramus but we had no choice. When he was weakened the part of Loramus still intact made me strike him with the knife, binding him, and Rekh, inside. His last words were to return to Grimeo.



The draenei seemed to understand everything that happened. I wish I could say the same, I feel like I got beaten around the bush more than necessary. He then gave me a signet ring from Kasim as thanks but my rest was short-lived. One of the commanders stationed by the portal ordered that I kill three demonic lieutenants before they encroach on our well-claimed terrirtory. He also mentioned the presence of black dragons...



No black dragons to report, but we did sniff out and kill the three lieutenants with ease. I hadn't imagined one of them to be a giant, two-headed dog-like creature. Whatever's threatening I suppose. Speaking of threats, the human commander believes the orcs stationed nearby, while neutral now, seem to be plotting something around a particular barrel. Since I'm new and unrecognisable as yet I'm obviously the one to go check things out.



It took a few false starts before I could get close enough to see without anyone getting suspicious, but I managed. And guess what? It was all harmless stuff. I can understand the commander's jumpiness around the Horde but sometimes you've just got accept these things. Unless forsaken are involved. They can fall down a pit and die. Since there apparently anything worthwhile left to do here I've been sent down to Surwich, a small village some of my people had managed to set up nearby. That must be where those ships had been headed...

This place reminds me so much of the swampland around Gilneas. But many of those who'd come here hadn't come for the fishing and scenery. A druid had believed he could revive the Tainted Scar, a part of the Blasted Lands ravaged by demons. However, while he succeeded in growing a forest it was quickly corrupted by the taint. Charlton Connisport, the mayor of Surwich, thinks that we may be able to clear the taint to allow the forest to grow properly. We'll soon find out.

As with the immediate area around the Dark Portal this place was swarming with demons. I took the liberty of shooting down every demon and dreadlord I spotted and Ballad helped pick out the corrupted treants from the non-corrupt. I was surprised to see Swift fly up with an odd mushroom, only to find strange, plant-like creatures roaming where he'd found it. The entire place reeks of corruption and sickness. I hope Charlton is right and clearing out the demonic taint will cure the forest.



Nothing is ever that simple. Ever. Charlton believes that, given the activity I reported, the demons are using the great-tree Wormthorn, the druid, had grown as a focus. Which means Wormthorn must have been corrupted too. The mayor pointed me to a night elf, a Cenarion Observer, telling me to see how she thinks we should proceed with felling the great-tree.

The Observer was both shocked and relieved that this was happening. She feels Wormthorn is in some kind of trance. Whether druidic or demonic she believes a vessel of tainted animal body parts will gain his attention. Guess what I need to do now diary. Ugh.



It took a lot of trial and error, but I finally decided that the best way to make this vessel was to use the bear hide to make a pouch and crush some bat brains and spider legs into a paste and place that inside the pouch. The result? Disgusting. I pray this works. And that I do it soon, I do not want to run around with this thing in my pack. Who knows what it would attract?!

Connisport was reluctant to follow through the entirety of the plan; his people believe so much in the druid's actions that finding out what we've done may throw them into turmoil. But what choice do we have?

Marl Wormthorn lies dead beneath his twisted tree. The entire time we fought he swore he was doing good, that I was interrupting. Had the Taint clouded his vision? Could he really not see what had happened? I feel terrible for killing a fellow Cursed, but as Mar'alith over in Silithus said, I must do what I must. Rest in peace, Marl.



There is nothing more to do here but pray the inhabitants of Surwich understand what has happened. Connisport informed me that a message was sent from the command post by the Portal; I'm needed on the other side. I'm exhausted, truth be told. I will stay in Surwich for the night. If I'm to step through the Portal I should at least spend my last night on Azeroth in someplace familiar. Goodnight diary, tomorrow will be filled with more demons.

Excellent read as always, Varethyn. I really liked the Surwich bit as I've never quested through that particular area.

Really like this idea!

Thanks, glad you think so Though it's hardly an original concept. Several others, including Azunara, TygerDarkstorm and LupisDarkmoon have made journals like this and it all started when Kurasu got bored while sick one day a few months back.

Sadly the longer we worked with them the more they started to drag on. I'm intent on finishing mine some day, but Outland is being... well, outlandish and I am very reluctant to part with Laki's current pet, Ballad. I promise an update soon though

Yeah. Outlands is killing it for me, and I'm loving my worgen.

Yup, Outlands killed Brakara. :-/ And Northrend, which I also hate.

Er, OT, great update as always!

((What's this? An update? Preposterous!))

Dear diary

Before I went to Outland proper I of course had to check on my other pets. And without flying this time, believe it or not! Indeed, a patient mage stationed at the Dark Portal not only offered me a portal to my pets but stayed with me, porting us to each in turn until I was ready. They all seem well enough, and got on well with Ballad. Some of the homeless Westfall people claim to have spotted a bird much like Requiem roosting in the hills behind Moonbrook. It is good to know he is alive and well.

With Ballad at my side I crossed the threshold into Outland. Immediately we were greeted with a heavy battle between soldiers - both Horde and Alliance - and an almost literal swarm of doomguards lead by a towering pitlord. I did not hang around. I handed over the message I was given and was swiftly put on a gryphon to Honor Hold. The flight inspired me; I really should invest in my own gryphon one day.

Shortly after landing I was set on the usual game of contanct ping-pong. Go here, go there, talk to this person about that problem. Wait. Is that...? No. No, it can't be. I must be seeing things.



Eventually I got to do something constructive; we have orc problems at an abandoned battlefield. While I'm over at the siege site where they're scavanging the debris I was asked to collect some wood and metal myself. Resupply has been... slacking. I notice that Ballad has been acting odd since we arrived here.



Huh, I'd never have thought that orcs came in “spiky strawberry” flavour. Mindless brutes mostly too. Thankfully metal and wood was in great abundance, and with Ballad's help we gathered as much as we could carry. Next I was sent to help with a bunch of demons skulking over the nearby ridge, though Sergeant Altumus, the woman I'd been sent to, would've preferred a whole batallion instead of a single worgen and her pets. Well, given some of the circumstances I've been stuck in I'm better than any battalion you'll ever find around here.



Immediate threat out of the way it's time to close the portals they keep flocking out of. Altumus sent me down to Expedition Point to receive primers from Commander Kingston which, when combined with demonic rune stones, should cause a good enough explosion to destroy the gates. We'll see.



That was the explosion? It wasn't particularly interesting, but Kingtson's adamant they it'd disrupt the portals enough. Besides, he now wants me to take some even more powerful bombs at toss them at other gateways patrolled by elite demons too strong to face on the ground. This should be interesting.



And indeed it was, I can still see the flames from here! Pleased with my prowess with a gryphon Kingston sent me to a place known as Shatter Point. Sadly it is based on a floating rock that can only be reached by air, so I was forced to leave my beloved warp stalker behind for this mission. Ballad wasn't happy, I'll make up for that later. She still seems oddly lethargic however. I was told some pretty concerning stories once I arrived about the place flipping upside-down or floating away from the mainland. I hope I can get this next bombing run done and get off quickly.



While the fireworks were spectacular from the air I was glad to get back to ground level and with Ballad. Though I feel I know now what she is suffering: homesickness. Warp stalkers originate from Outland, I heard, so she can no doubt sense her hatching grounds. I decided it was best to head back to Honor Hold to report and hand over the salvaged supplies. Maybe find someone who knows more about warp stalkers and take Ballad back home. A sober thought truthfully; we've grown so close. Besides, I can tell that more flying was yet to come. I'd rather not subject Ballad to that. Sad though it is this does grant me the option of purchasing my own gryphon. I'll do that tomorrow. I'd like to spend a little more time with Ballad before we part.

A nice update although it felt a little...odd. Almost like I was reading one of my own since there wasn't as much text as usual between the pictures. It'll be sad to see Ballad go although I am curious as to what you'll tame next.

I'll do better next time
I'm partway through the next part but we all know how Hellfire is, plus I'm having difficulty bonding with the next pet. I decided to leave it at a good spot before introducing him.

You write these however you want; it just felt odd not to see as much text as you're usually pretty detailed with Laki. And yes, Hellfire sucks; taking Rose through there was such a drag.

I liked the update! Though parting with Ballad is going to make me very sad indeed. I do look forward to seeing your next pet, though!

Yay! Prelude lives!

I'm going to miss Ballad too--you obviously really connected with her. Wondering what the next tame's gonna be.

Aaah, if that'll lead up anymore, I was right. Prelude was shipped off to Outlands. Hurray!

And man, Ballad. I'll miss her too.

((I said I would finish this, and finish this I will. Or at least continue it. Woo!))

Dear diary

I don't think I slept very well, truth be told. I do not want to part with Ballad, but she's determined to see her homeland again. After finding someone to keep the warp stalker company and possibly guide her home, I pooled together all of my reward money to learn how to fly and received my new mount: Golden Majesty.



Out of the corner of my eye I keep seeing it. I can't help myself. The creature or whatever it is flying around the tower is bothering me, I need to find out what it is. It's probably just some enchanted orb or some such. Defence, observation... who knows, I just want to see it. Now that I know how to fly and have Golden Majesty on hand, that is now possible.

I... I cannot believe it. Prelude! It's really Prelude! But how? Why? Oh who cares, I'm just glad he's okay! He remembers me too, and doesn't seem the least bit cross for what happened. Oh my dear Prelude. Oddly he doesn't want to come back with me. Not yet anyway, he tells me. Perhaps the mages inside the tower have something to do with it. I'll find out later. As long as my spirit owl is happy I'm happy.



Well I didn't end up getting very far at all. I'd picked up several quests involving killing ghosts and recovering lost books from an abandoned armoury and snagging trinkets from more strawberry orcs, but my next assignment lies beneath Honor Hold where it turns out demons are mining. So those are the tremors I'd felt, their explosives are rocking the very foundations of the Hold! But I can't go down there alone, surely... Oh how I yearn for Ballad and Prelude.

And I didn't have to. Before I went inside I heard a cry from nearby and saw a soldier being massacred by a boar... covered in spikes. Much like the demonic form of the ashmane boars in the Blasted Lands. It seemed almost to revel in the soldier's death. I don't know why - rather than shoot the cretin, I made a bond with it. Bloodthirsty though he is, Dirge here will be my means of getting around safely. I hope. He looks like the type to gore me in my sleep.


((She says, sitting calmly next to him.))

Back to the mines, Dirge in tow. Well, almost. Each “gan'arg”, as they apparently are called, I shot at the spiny beast literally threw himself onto the demon, goring it with his tusks. I can't remember the last time I saw such a vicious creature. I'm glad he's with me. Swiftwing spent most of the time hiding behind the abandoned mine cart tracks. Can't say I blame him really.



I thought I'd spotted something else while we were down there, other than the succubi and the various unidentified demon organs now spattered about. I'd paid it no mind at the time but now Foreman Biggums is convinced there's a leader-type down there. Back into the depths. I hope we get this done quickly; I really don't like the looks Dirge gives me. I'd much rather be on the surface so I at least have some chance to escape if he has second ideas.



The leader of the demons, a “mo'arg” now also lies in various corners of the mine. Biggums thanked me for clearing the demons out only to point me in the direction of giant worms. The area needs to be made safe so more patrols can run through safely, so I now need to exterminate a few of these pests.

When I heard “giant worms” I was expecting actual worms, or maggoty things. Not these armour-plated monstrosities! Look at those teeth! What worm has teeth? Regardless, Dirge sniffed the worms out with ease and dug them out of the ground so I could shoot them from a safe distance. I know the place needs to be made safe but I can't help but feel sorry for those bursters that got torn to pieces.



Swiftwing got excited over something and dashed off. I found him playing with pebbles that were bouncing around under the effects of a tremor. At first I'd thought the demons had gotten back below Honor Hold but this tremor was constant, like something burrowing underneath us. Probably just another worm, so just to grab Swift and- HOLYFELREALLYBIGWORM


((Yay achievements!))

That was... totally unexpected. I just about had a heartattack. Also, while we were trapsing about chasing worms I spotted a small camp next to a broken zeppilin. Two goblins had been shot down mid-flight. Legassi, a chef of sorts, was more concerned about food supplies than anything else, and asked that I gather ravager eggs. Ravager? Do I want to know? Screed, the captain, asked that I keep an eye out for zeppilin parts so they could rebuild the airship.

Not far away though was the haunted armoury I learned about, where unyielding spirits roam. And a book lays gathering dust. With Golden Majesty's help the book was easy enough to spot form the air: on the doorstep of a ruined building behind the main armoury. Dirge waited impatiently while I collected it. Damn pig-thing can't keep quiet. That was pretty much the only place not filled with the ghosts of dead soldiers. Otherwise they were everywhere, and weren't exactly friendly, putting up a heck of a fight for something incorporeal. Dirge hates them too; while they put up a good fight for spectres they don't have blood or guts to spatter. I both pity and envy those ghosts.



With that mess cleared up it's time to visit Zeth'gor, a village or outpost of the fel orcs'. One of them will surely have the talisman Lieutenant Amadi was blathering about. Why she wants me to take it to an outpost nearby to the orc place and not back to the Hold was odd though. What, did they send all their forboding item experts over there? Whatever. We need that talisman at any rate. I was able to salvage many parts useable for the zeppilin on the way which was a bonus, though they weight Majesty down somewhat. Maybe I should've turned them in in sessions.



It seemed that even the lesser peons carry these talismans. That certainly made finding one easier rather than being forced to find the one-and-only high-magic-wielder of the camp and hope it had one. Next stop, Expedition Point to find out more about this piece of scrap. Hey, I'm hardly the one to ask when it comes to arcane stuff thanks.



What the fel is a Fel Reaver? Never mind, judging by the piles of twisted metal laybing around here I don't want to know. Wait, damn! The “piece of scrap” I picked up earlier is actually the insignia of a soldier from Honor Hold, cut down by those damned orcs. And now those badges are not only being flaunted but are being imbued with dark magic. Bastards. Corporal Ironridge has the right idea: cut those orcs down themselves and take back those talismans.

Not yet though. I seethe at the thought of leaving those brutes to mock us but other things must be taken care of. The guys at Expedition Point will keep an eye on Zeth'gor. In the meantime I've been asked to... cleanse the bones that make up the Path of Glory? Those sick... Ugh! I'm no priest but there's no way in fel I'm letting those orcs walk across what used to be perfectly good, probably innocent, people! Of whatever species! It's just disgusting.



When I'd flown over the Path of Glory on the way to Honor Hold I'd thought it to be grey stone or something along those lines. Not skeletons. And of course the spiky freaks insisted on trying to stop the cleansing. They failed. I hope the spirits of those who were slaughtered for... for this rest in peace.

Wait, are those blade throwers up there? Horde blade throwers? They look disused but, what if those lousy fel orcs get their grimy mitts on them? Then there'd be hell to pay. I picked up a torch from one of the orcs that attacked just now, better get rid of those weapons before we're in much more trouble.



Fel orcs were already scrounging the area, so I feel I made a good choice at a good time. Time to head back to Honor Hold and boast my exploits. I received good reception from it all, though it is now believed that simply killing those ghosts from before wasn't enough. Maybe they're more tied to their leaders than the ruins? Honor Guard Wesilow thinks so. He reckons I should seek out and kill two leader-y people and hope that calms the spirits.

Dirge is getting anxious and it's annoying me. He wants to tear something else apart, and those ghosts wouldn't do. Perhaps now I should pay a visit to the ravagers Legassi mentioned and collect their eggs. Come to think of it, when was the last time I ate? The thought is making me hungry. So let's go see these ravagers.



Ah, those things. So those spiky things in Mazthoril were ravagers then. Fierce creatures, though not as firece as Dirge. While the deranged spike-pig stomped on the insect-things I gathered as many eggs as I could. Those things are big! Collecting the eggs wasn't exactly a pleasant experience. Not just because of the mothers being annoyingly defensive about them but because they keep shaking. Non-stop. It felt like they would hatch at any given time and a voracious ravager hatchling is not something I want. I don't think Legassi can cook them either.

I dropped off the debris I'd collected so far and gave Legassi his eggs. The goblin was kind enough to give me a few samples too, which weren't half bad considering. Now though he's spotted the felboars roaming close by. Extermination is in mind, but he also wants me to gather some of their meat too. Seriously? He gave me a mixture to help purify the meat for tenderising later, though it wasn't meant for pork so anything could go wrong. Not to mention they're likely toxic. At first I was worried Dirge would turn on me for this, but he seems happy enough tearing up his own kind.



Easily done. Most of the meat came out fine too, much to the goblin's delight. Once more he gave me free samples – this time I might pass them up, feed them to Dirge perhaps – and asked another favour. This time buzzard wings from the vultures in this land. I believe I saw a flock when I was salvaging the zeppilin pieces earlier which helps. Didn't they have two heads? Weird.

On the way I flew over the armoury again. What the heck, while we're here we should look for whoever's in charge. Dirge can suffer for a while. Besides, he just had a good roll about in the felboar guts earlier. Yeesh. Thankfully the two most leader-y types I located, an archmage and a lieutenant of sorts, went down quickly enough.



I think I'll take a quick break now, rest a bit and give Majesty a chance to recover. Dirge... I'll let him murder something. Nothing seems to sate his bloodlust. I wish I tamed a ravager instead.

Yay for updates! I love that you're continuing this, great job as always