Worgen Tales (Image Heavy)

[Varethyn]

Actually I didn't have anything planned D:
But you can have my last cookie!

[Azunara]

*blinks, shrugs.* Okay, I'll take that.

[Saturo]

You should name one of your pets Bieber.

[TygerDarkstorm]

Rofl.

[Varethyn]

NO! D:

[Varethyn]

((Haven't forgotten; Varethyn wanted to make Thunderfury. He was ever so excited I just couldn't pull him away ))

[Varethyn]

Apologies again for the delay. Between crafting legendary weapons, raiding a being ill I simply haven't had the will to get much done. Rest assured though I will get something new up soon.

[Corpsebryde]

Yay! Anxiously awaiting more adventures.

[Jelani]

Great read! Cant wait to see where your adventures take you!

[Varethyn]

((Whee finally sorted! For now...))

Dear diary

Despite my worries the previous night I actually slept quite well. Rather than a stalker Requiem feels more like a guardian. A creepy guardian, but a guardian none-the-less. I woke early to a mechanical racket. Headed downstairs Farmer Saldean greeted me grimly and motioned at the robotic monstrosities roaming the vegetable patch.



He reckons that the remnants of a organisation known as “The Defias” had sent them here to terrorise him. For what reason. He did not know. Those things are starting to give me a headache so I gratefully accepted the task of clearing them out. Before I left Saldean's wife, Salma beckoned me over. Saldean Farm has always been a safehouse for the passing homeless and she cooks for them. A group of hungry children was gathered by the fireplace.



I guessed her intentions well; they needed food but Salma didn't have enough for all of them and it was simply too dangerous to go out to collect more. Who would turn down a request like that? I gave the kids a wolfish grin, literally, then set out. Requiem silently greeted me outside.
Seeing a clear spot I charged out and picked wha okra I could find that hadn't been flattened by the reapers. A shadow descended upon us and I knew our peace was shattered. The bots were everywhere! While Requiem distracted them I fired arrows until I found a weak spot. Safe from that one, time to gather more food.



Something about the way some of these birds move make me feel the bots have been here some time; they swooped and circled like they were high on something, most likely an effect of the reapers' fumes. I daresay I hope the meat is unspoiled... Requiem didn't seem to mind killing his own kind either, although he gave the same moving squeaks whenever one died. Does he truly care? Or is it just my imagination?



Reapers, reapers everywhere. Trying to hunt down some boars for their flanks I was suddenly attacked from behind by one of the clunking pests. It startled me so much in fact that I misfired. I never misfire! A nearby coyote was almost hit by the arrow and decided to join in the scrum. Needless to say Requiem and I had a very hard time gathering enough food for the hungry children. Eventually we did, not without a few scrapes, and I returned to the farm.
As I passed a destroyed machine Requiem landed on its “shoulder” and began to peck at the chest. I took a look. Tearing away the sacking I found a small, metal object about the size of my fist. Maybe Saldean will know what to do with it. Requiem's still picking at loose threads on the machine so I'll leave him be.

((I wanted a picture of the kids around the cooking pot, but someone handed their quest in just before me and the pot vanished mid-shot ))

Leaving Farmer Saldean to ponder the metal thing I handed the meat over to Salma. I refrained from mentioning my fears of the fumes affecting it though. Either way it may well be these kids' best meal for a while. Salma was ever so grateful and I couldn't help but smile as the children tucked into a hearty stew. Salma saved some stew and wrapped it. Handing it to me she told me I might learn more from a yound woman named Hope, who currently resides over at Sentinal Hill. The stew is for her. Darn but it smells good. I hope Hope is worth it (see what I did there?) because I just remembered I haven't had breakfast yet!
Farmer Saldean caught me on the way out. Thankful as he was he'd figured out what the object is. Turns out its the heart of the reaper and can be used to reprogram other reapers to do my bidding. Saldean said he's in no condition to do it himself but told me there was a whole field of overcharged machines in the next field over. Looks like I'm going to have some fun.




Finding the machines was easy enough and inserting the heart was just as. I noticed there was a hatch in the back of the reaper. Not only is it under my control, but I can make it do whatever I want it to! Requiem's giving me that look as I rub my paws together. Wait, he does that anyway. Its tight and warm inside here so I'll write more once I've taken out the trash.



Entertaining feels like an understatement! It was a wild ride to begin with as I figured out which lever did what and what buttons not to press. I even found the turbo boost! I hope I won't need to pay for that fence... Once that was sorted my reaper tore through the others with ease. Quite a sturdy little thing too; it withstood the beating of three other bots at the same time. The field is now a scrapyard. Saldean will be pleased.
And pleased he was. Lets keep the fence a secret for now though. Its time to head for Sentinal Hill and find Hope.



Well here we are. Sentinal Hill: a friendly, accepting... wait, something's wrong here. Why are all these homeless people being stopped at the gate? Shouldn't people look after other people? Back in Gilneas this kind of behaviour is frowned upon. I felt the eyes of hundreds of transients glaring at me as the guards let me slip by. The was a clank of some description and something large landed at my paws. A rotten apple, now with a dent from where it hit the guard. Something needs to be done and hopefully Hope (I'm so funny) will help me gain an answer.
Asking some of the somewhat tense guards found that Hope was up in the tower on top of the hill. As I scrabbled up there I was half surprised to see Horatio Laine talking to a very important-looking man. Next to them was a worgen in some stocks. Listening into the converstion -I was going to skip and find my quarry but I heard my name being mentioned- I learned that this one tempremental worgen, by the name of Ripsnarl, had been caught slaughtering sheep. At his mention Ripsnarl threatened to kill all of us and eat our hearts when he escaped. Horatio of course couldn't resist to make a pun about his bark being worse than his bite.



((Continued next post))

[Varethyn]

((Continued))

Even worse; as soon as I stepped outside one of the guards cried out a warning of a gnoll attack. Within moments the place was swarming with them. The guard told me to join in the fight to fend off the brutes. Also the impotant man, Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle of the Westfall Brigade, asked me to recover whatever attack plans the gnolls are responding to.



Gnolls, homeless people, delicious stew I'm not allowed to eat. Bah. Some of the guards didn't even need my help. For the most part I simply picked off any gnolls that tried to run. Requiem too could barely get a good peck in. Once most of the fighting died down, and Requiem was busy pecking at a gnoll's innards, I started searching the bodies. After a few fruitless searches -and one that actually had some fruit- I found a scrap of paper with writing far too neat to belong to a gnoll. Handing it to Gryan he told me it belonged to a goblin. That would explain the name: Helix.



Gryan attempted to get Ripsnarl to explain the situation. In reply the worgen spat “The dawning comes, and it comes with your end.” Stoutmantle passed it off as gibberish from a mad wolf, throwing me a sympathetic look as he turned away. The other guard also congratulated me on slaying the gnolls, even though I barely took part, and informed me that a camp had been located. Guess what? I've been told to go there and kill the gnoll leader. First though, time to get rid of this wretched, delicious stew.



Like moths to a flame. These poor people must be ravenous to want to rush so quickly over to the pot. Back in Gilneas we cared for each other. Okay, yes, we blockaded ourselves from the rest of Azeroth but that was because they insisted on using our resources and not give anything of worth in return. For every homeless bum I see, guilt wells up inside me. I want to give them some money, but I know I'd need it for later. To make a difference.
Upon returning Hope gave me her deepest thanks. Gryan then called me over explaining that an organisation called “SI:7” was operating in the area and that a representative is stalking Helix. I've been asked to find this man and find out what he learned.



En route to the meeting place I found the gnoll leader, Jango Spothide, and his pack. Not to give them a chance to also round on Sentinal Hill Requiem and I dispatched them quickly. Jango himself had tried to make himself look like a leader by dominating the ruin of a farm house. Obviously it didn't work on us.



Kearnan, the one waiting for us, had set herself on a fallen log, sniper rifle in hand trained at the guards outside the tower. She informed me they were strong and I wouldn't be able to hold them off so she shot them as I approached. I was also given an invisibilty potion, which even worked on Requiem although it took a lot of cajolling to make him take it. Stealthily -Requiem perched on my shoulder to avoid giving us away with his feathers- we made our way to the top of the tower.



That shadowy figure again! Helix had indeed been behind the gnoll attacks but this woman appears to be behind everything. Again this “Dawning”, and something about an admiral to be freed. Most importantly Helix is going to rally the people at Moonbrook tonight. Gryan will want to hear of this.
The marshal told me of a camp set up near Moonbrook and that I should report there and learn of anything they may have found out. Once there Captain Alpert, the leader of the operation, asked me to investigate the town for any sign of what could possibly be riling them up so much.



Both the pamphlet and propaganda I found were signed by someone known only as “V” and both were attempting to unite the homeless people against those of us who serve the Alliance. A diary I picked up mentioned a brotherhood that intends to help them. But this issue of the Moonbrook Times... they're blaming me for everything! “Was a female hunter. She looked like she may have been onto something. She slaughtered the poor bums in broad daylight while shouting obscenities and proclaiming her love for Stormwind and King Varian Wrynn.” I can't believe this. I haven't even met Wrynn! It took everything not to tear the thing to shreds.
Also, while I was collecting everything I was attacked by thugs. Someone really doesn't want me here. After reporting the -slightly crumpled- finds to Alpert the captain told me to join the rally and learn the truth behind the matter. As I turned I heard him mutter something about “VanCleef”, whoever that is.



The shadowy woman appaeared atop a hay-cart. I admit her voice was powerful but the speech, for all it was worth, sounded like she wanted to make an army out of the transients and overrun Stormwind! Why? Why would anyone want to do such a thing? Alpert told me to ask a shaman in camp to help define the identity of this woman so we can finally put a stop to this nonsense.
What a... strange creature. Tall, blue skin, goat-like legs and horns and fleshy tendrils on his face. He, Thoralius, introduced himself as a “Draenei”. I was bemused and didn't catch every word he said. Something about a place called “Northrend”. I snapped to attention when he said he'd help, but the idea of rubbing incense over myself isn't overly appealing. Whatever it takes I suppose.



A vision. A boat inside a cave. Five people shouting to someone in the shadows of the cabin. Edwin VanCleef emerged and fought, claiming the ways of the Defias Brotherhood to be righteos. The Alliance group killed VanCleef and shortly after they left a little girl appeared from the cabin, tentatively approached the corpse. A name; Vanessa. She cried for her father... I'd awoken in tears. Could this girl possibly be the woman I'd seen? The blue goat-man-thing comforted me before sending me back to Sentinal Hill via gryphon. He said nothing more than to report to Gryan Stoutmantle.



Gryphons. Not quite as beautiful as hippogryphs but still majestic. I appreciated the flight too; I had so much on my mind, or perhaps it was the after-effects of that blasted incense, I doubt I could've concentrated. Requiem flew close behind, relishing the wind in his feathers.



No sooner had I reported my finds were we attacked! Hope Saldean... lying wench was Vanessa VanCleef all this time. Her new recruits assaulted us at the tower, freeing Ripsnarl in the process. Vaness said she only let me live because I'd helped in her plans. Then she and her crew left, setting Sentinal Hill ablaze. Gryan yelled at me to get to Stormwind and tell the King everything while he and the others put out the fire and route the Defias. I was dumbstruck at first; Requiem had to peck me between the eyes to make me move.



I admit I have little experience dealing with royalty. Genn Greymane is an exception as we'd met when Gilneas was under siege. At that point, and when we both revealed we'd suffered the Curse, we were equals. I could talk to him like any other man. I respected him because he deserved it. But Wrynn, he feels as if he demands respect. I didn't like the look he gave me as I made my way over to him; he probaly would have sent me away had I not blurted my story in as much detail as I could provide. The king will deploy troops to Westfall to assist in its defence against the Defias. I'm to return and let Gryan know this.



Sentinal Hill lays in fire, Defias henchmen taking advantage of the chaos to strike at those attempting to control it. Stoutmantle overlooked the destruction with grim vigilance. I explained Varian's plan to the marshal and he nodded gratefully. There is nothing more I can do. Its time to move on. I pray these people will be safe.

Tune! What if those people at Furlbow's Pumpkin Farm are in league with Vanessa too?
Thankfully she is safe. Despite what had happened the transients here are friendly enough, possibly because of my kindness. Tune too is settling in well, and doesn't seem to mind Requiem. In fact the pair are outside singing. The others think its a racket, but I can hear the music between them. I will spend the night here, and in the morning I will head to new lands.
Good night diary.

[TygerDarkstorm]

Well done as always.
I like Requiem, he seems like a pretty awesome bird. I look forward to your next adventures!

[Azunara]

Awww, Westfall...One of my favorite pets were here. I liked it quite a bit. Love this journal.

[Corpsebryde]

I really love your adventures; I hope you'll keep up the great work til 85

[Varethyn]

((Guess who's back. Back again. Var is back. For the- *shot* Well ya missed, but I can take a hint How long has it been since I did anything with this? O_o Anywho...
Varethyn casually tosses a [1p coin]!
It lands tails-up for Kalimdor!
Of course at this level I can't yet start in Ashenvale effectively, so have some Darkshore.))

Dear diary

Tune has settled in with the homeless people well. We shared a final hug before Requiem and I set off. We did so eagerly, all the faster to escape Mama Celeste's “cooking”. I'd decided to return to Darnassus for a while to check up on Nocturne. Thankfully he is doing well and one of the other Gilnean huntsmen offered to home him while he was mending. I am grateful to know he is in safe hands. In the meantime Requiem and I have work to do here in Kalimdor: the Night Elven lands of Darkshore and Ashenvale required assistance desperately. I hopped on a hippogryph (oh how I love these beasts!) and set off to a place called Lor'danel, Requiem following suit.

Even before we fully touched down I knew something was wrong. The scent of death hung heavily in the salty air and I could see elves fighting water elementals along the beach. Directly in front of me as I landed were two elven priestesses tending to an injured man... except he wasn't injured.



One of the elves stood and turned to me at my approach. As it happens another village called Auberdine had been destroyed in the cataclysm. Many fled but others stayed... and most of them, including this man, paid the price. The priestess asked that I locate any survivors that may have washed up on the shore nearby, as this is where they would have headed. As I made my way down to the beach a ranger caught my attention. While I am aiding the survivors I need to dispatch as many water elementals as possible, so future survivors would have a clear path.

<Several pages have been torn out where they got wet from spary. The writing on the next is spaced out to avoid water stains.>
No sooner had my pads touched the rough sand did Requiem give a piercing shriek. So loud. Surely he knows I have sensitive hearing? Anyway I could tell he was distrought yet appealed by the death around us. I had to struggle to keep him from eating the elven corpses strewn here and there. Although the first “corpse” coughed and stared at me. A survivor! Requiem's insatiable appetite had found one. I signalled to a nearby sentinal who was patrolling for signs of elemental trouble. She thanked us and took the injured elf back to the village.



I hate the beach. This one anyway. It is raining, I'm surrounded by the injured and dying and the water itself is attacking! I am soaked. My fur is sticky. There is wet sand stuck between my toes. And I'm now half-deaf no thanks to Requiem's incesent squawking. Ugh. Had there only been a few dead elves he'd surely let out one of his beautifully haunting requiems. Regardless, thanks to his ability to tell dead from injured we were able to locate and secure several washed-up refugees.



All the while we assisted the elves in removing some liquid pests. I admit, I am amazed any of our attacks did anything to them. Maybe whatever forces that hold them together make them more prone to physical attack? I'm no mage and I doubt I'll ever know.



Once I returned with the news the second priestess asked that I collect clams for her. I did a double-take before she fully explained that they contained an ingredient used for healing salves. Brilliant, time to go diving. Well why not? I'm already soaked to the bone as it is. I need a bath. A proper one, with soap and soothing salts. Or at least a warm fire and a fresh set of clothes. At least Requiem's quiet now; I made him join me.



Dripping wet I took the clams to the top floor of the local inn where a third priestess was tending the injured survivors we had rescued. Requiem's none too happy that I took him underwater and chose a perch to glare at me angrily. Well while he's simmering I need a change. But as is the norm these days a tiny creature – a gnome – called me over and asked that I collect crab meat for his “Buzz-Box”. What in the world? He says it is to analyze things, in this case the crab flesh as he fears they've been corrupted. By the way, guess where all the crabs are at? That's right. Underwater.



After dragging Requiem back underwater he gave me a rather hard peck on the forehead. I've refused to feed him for a while for that so now he's back to glaring again. I wonder if he realises that giant snail he's perched on is slowly taking him further down the beach... Stupid bird. I located the “buzz box” and stuffed the meat in it. The gnome, Wizbang, contacted me through the box and confirmed that it was indeed corrupted, possibly by something they've been eating. So now I need to find a rotting bear carcass. I get all the lovely jobs in the world, don't I?



Disgusting. I've never known crabs to be meat-eaters anyway. I'd lopped off a slab of meat from the corpse. It. Felt. Awful. So soft and gooey and decomposing. And don't get me started on the smell! It was also too big for the box and since I'd rather not fiddle with it any longer than I need I took it to Wizbang directly. Again, corruption. And now I need to find out how the bears are getting the corruption by analising their guts. Bear guts. I think I'm going to be sick. No way I'm doing this just yet... I'm going to dry off.



That was distressing. Cutting open the bears and pulling out the guts. Ugh. At least Requiem was enjoying himself with the steaming innards. I have noticed though, he hasn't been singing for the dead recently. That must be a sign. I just noticed something else; some of the bears were attacking rats that emitted a foul gas. Any bears that ate those critters died almost immediately. There is definitely something sinister at work here. Worst of all, some of these bears have cubs. Thankfully they don't appear to carry the corruption. But who can say how long they will be safe?

I dumped the entrails in a second buzzbox. Wizbang concluded my theory; something was wrong with those rats. Apparently there is only one place where they congregate in large numbers, and that was a cave in the east. I need to search that cave and find out just what's going on here. There are a number of cages lined along the path leading to the cave. A male night elf by the name of Tharnariun Treetender greeted me just short of the cave mouth, explaining that he'd been talking to Wizbang about the situation. He's figured out that the cause of all this could well be a satyr called Zenn Foulhoof. Even if he isn't the direct cause he is still a threat. I'll make sure to stick an arrow in his eye while I'm in there.



I'd managed to slay a few demons inside the cave system, including a satyr. Sadly it wasn't Zenn, however it did drop a key. I immediately put that to use by freeing the captive bears and duskrats around.



<There is a slight scorch mark here and the page is darkend by soot.>
Forsaken! I thought I was through with these bastards back in Gilneas. No matter where I go they'll terrorise me it seems; a forsaken apothecary and his pet imp had set up a bench in here too! Requiem bombarded the apothecary, battering him with his great wings while I shot from behind. As for his imp? Let's just say I need a pedicure. The stuff on this bench is just awful. I'm sure Tharnariun will want to know about this. But first I feel it would help all the more if this were destroyed.



Mission complete, we slew the satyr Zenn Foulhoof. Before the finishing blow he screamed that he'd have his vengeance. Good luck with that buddy: as far as I'm concerned, you're dead. All the bears and rats I freed have escaped unharmed. It appears Tharnariun returned to Lor'danel so I guess that's where I shall head.



Tharnariun and Wizbang were delighted at the news of my success, and the gnome is now tinkering with a foul substance I'd picked up from the forsaken's bench in hopes of making an antidote. I shall leave him to it, I need rest. And that bath. See you in a while diary, this may take some time.

[TygerDarkstorm]

That was a fun read! Well-written as well. I like Requiem, he's got a lot of personality.

[Aeladrine]

Way cool!(:

[Azunara]

I still love your screenies. Seriously.

And I'm liking Requiem. I'm a huge fan of my carrion bird currently. Love my Tira. <3

[Varethyn]

Thanks all. Good to know you're still enjoying this
As for the screenies, I like action shots to try to make things more interesting. Of course this usually means I end up fighting more things than I need to in order to get the shot I want. A lot of the above needed that... it's not easy to time a shot on something liable to die in 2 hits Most of them required a lot of prt scr spamming and then sifting through to find the best looking. Others were a case of, "Wait I need to get a shot of this! *jabs prt scr button* Oh wow I like that!" I especially love how Req turned out in the clam pic :3

[Varethyn]

Dear diary

I am clean and refreshed at last. But my work is far from over. Not long after I awoke and had daymeal did I learn that a few of the survivors I'd saved yesterday wanted to speak with me. While both shared their utmost gratitude they both require my help again. One of them, Volcor, looked in agony despite his treatment. He had a bear friend by the name of Grimclaw but fears greatly that his pet is not with him. Volcor asked that I find the bear. I understand his pain, as a hunter is a great blow to be seperated from our pets. No matter how annoying they can be.

The other night elf, Cerellean Whiteclaw, asked that I venture to a place known as Bashal'aran. It too used to be a great night elven town but was ravaged a long time ago and is now haunted by spirits of those who perished there. Including his wife, Anaya. Cerellean wishes his wife to be free from the force binding her to the ruins, but lacks the strength to do so. I hate having to deal with things like this, but what must be done, must be done.

As I was leaving Lor'danel another sentinal waved me over. As I explained my urgency to assist the other elves she held up a hand. She simply wants me to free the spirits of the highborne while I'm at Bashal'aran by extinguishing “the final flame”. I agreed and she told me to meet with a nightsaber rider down the path, she would give me a nightsaber to ride to my destination. Free transport? How could I say no?



The beast I was given to ride was simply amazing. So graceful and fast. And well-trained. It knew the roads well and took me straight to where I needed to be. Another rider greeted us and took the saber's reins while I set about my work. A scout by the name of Arya Autumnlight also hailed me from within the trees, explaining that she'd been observing the area. The spirits are tormented. She wants me to ease their suffering at last.



Liches and banshees. The tormented essences of those long past, still suffering in the living plane. This whole place makes my fur stand on end. Anguished cries of desperation and anger still ring in my ears as I attempted to give the spirits peace. Requiem's singing again. So sad. I haven't cried since I left Tune back in Westfall and this place, with Requiem's voice, is simply tear-jerking. A soft voice floated on the light breeze and led me to the ghost of a female night elf standing alone by a tree.



The pendant around her slender neck matched Cerellean's description; this is – or was – his beloved Anaya. At first she didn't acknowledge our presence and I stood back, simply watching as she stared over what was once a great civilisation. I bowed my head in respect, but I know my task must be completed. Anaya will not know peace until I defeat her.

It took me a while before I could continue here, diary. I ended the girl's pain but I feel odd. I should be happy that I freed her, but the tone in her voice as she revelled in her freedom, and the knowledge that her husband will be all alone... I simply cannot describe this feeling. Happy remorse? Does that even make sense? Oh, now Req's cawing again. He want's to show me something to the north.



No words can describe this place. A pale purple light surrounds a brazier that has been burning for maybe centuries. The final flame of Bashal'aran. A great burden feels like it has been placed on my shoulders. This is like a shrine, a beacon of this lost age, and it demands reverence. Even Req's gone quiet. There. I did it, diary. The final flame has been extinguished. It felt like the entire forest leaned in to watch me do it. All is at peace now...

I was about to take a nightsaber back to Lor'danel to give my report, and hand over Anaya's pendant to Cerellean, but something made me stop and look southward. The ground here has been twisted and shattered by the cataclysm but I can sense peace and suffering at the same time. There; a glimpse of something white and furry. And covered in blood.



As I suspected! I found Grimclaw, the bear that belongs to Volcor. He's badly wounded but is being treated by a pair of the strangest creatures I have ever seen, Half elf, half deer, and covered in leaves. Dryads. I've only ever heard of them in children's fairy-tales. Grimclaw apparently had been attacked by poachers who'd mistaken the bear as a walking trophy. Grimclaw got his revenge but not without a price, and now his life hangs in the balance. The dryads are friendly enough and seem keen to help the bear recover, but they daren't leave him. I came at a good time then, its time to go reagent farming. Mushrooms, moonstalker whiskers and deer and bear fur specifically. Before I set out however the female dryad informed me of creatures called “naga” that have appeared along the river, possibly attracted when the submerged ruins were brought close to the surface by the cataclysm. They are a danger and need to be dealt with.



The cats were sleeping peacefully under the nearby trees so the whiskers were easy enuogh to gather. Or they would have been if Requiem hadn't spotted a rat and made a huge fuss of it. By that I mean, as soon as I'd gotten the whiskers and was creeping quietly away, he squawks so loudly that the entire pack wakes up. I was lucky to get away in one piece. I'll never understand this buzzard.

<There is a small spattering of blood here.>
Deer herds were all over the place to the east. The does were extremely docile! I did not expect the usually timid creatures to allow a 6-foot wolf-girl with a tempremental bird get so close, let alone pluck some fur off their rumps. The same could not be said for the bucks. They were highly aggressive and I got chased off a few times. One even caught me with those big ol' antlers of his. Only a scratch, nothing a bandage won't hold.

Wet again. Bears like their fish, so obviously the best way to get close was to wait for them to catch something. The bad part? The easier-to-reach ones were on small inlets at the base of a cliff which were only big enough for the bear that stood on it. I had two options; wait in the water for the inlet bears to make a catch and wind up stinking of wet dog again, or climb the cliff and make my way to those beyond the rapids and risk breaking something. Which one did I choose? Yep, I waited in the water. Why? Truthfully I don't know either. I'm just glad its done.

So, those snake-things are the naga. The dryad said they may be here because of something in the ruins. Can't say I noticed anything of worth. Then again its hard to check when you have a few dozen tridents being waved in your face. Requiem and I managed to make short worth of most of them, but the rest of the work was done by an item the dryads had given me: a petrified root of sorts that summoned treants. Treants! Living trees! Well, I know trees live anyway but... you know what I mean right? Animated? Walking. Walking trees that kill the snake-things. That'll do. With their aid I battled up and killed their leader.



Did I mention this is where the mushrooms are too?



Finally everything is sorted. Except me, I'm wet again. I told the female dryad that the nagas were dead and gave the male his stuff. This is where things got interesting. Only the mushrooms were needed for Grimclaw's recovery, the rest of the items were ground into an incense that I was to breathe in and talk to the spirits of the forest with. Something about a savior come to end the corruption and evil that had befallen the land. I think they've got the wrong person, but hey who doesn't want to be blessed by a giant ghost cat, stag or bear?



As it turned out I'd been in my trance for long enough for Grimclaw to recover. The dryads explained that he simply bolted off for Lor'danel the moment he had the strength. It's about time I got back to report my deeds and congratulate Volcor on the return of his now healthy pet. I made my way back up to Bashal'aran and accepted another nightsaber from the saber rider. This one was different to the first in colour, but was just as graceful.



<Tear stains dot the page here.>
Oh diary, we were too late. Volcor is dead. The priestess tells me that he, and the others, had been suffering from some kind of toxin that she'd been unable to cure. However there is some good in this. I think. Volcor clung to life just long enough to see his pet return and died happy. But diary, why couldn't I simply have been able to do something? That poor bear. He refuses to leave his dead master's side and keeps nudging his hand. Volcor... I'm so sorry.



The elves were grateful for my work at Bashal'aran. As I'd left Cerellean to his mourning an image of Anaya appeared before us. One last chance to speak their love before she vanished. I cannot bare to continue, diary. How can I when there is so much suffering? Maybe I'll change my mind after a bath and good rest. But I don't know how much longer I can go on.