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| 2860 | INTRODUCTION, continued... The brazier itself functions just as the Brazier of Beckoning did. Simply place it within range of any of the five haunted loci and it will invoke the spirits of the dead. As a side note, because I know that you'll be interested in knowing, the Banner of Provocation can be used in similar fashion at the arena in Blackrock Depths. Be sure to teach Theldren and his goons a lesson for me every time you get a chance when you're there. Read on should you desire further enlightment. |
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| 2861 | ISALIEN Night Elven Priestess of the Moon When Isalien decided to take her leave of the company, she did so with the intention of making a pilgrimage to Dire Maul, the fallen, ancestral night elven city once known as Eldre'Thalas. Therein still stands a library of great knowledge, a sanctum that a small number of night elves have been able to hold back the tide from. She was intent upon finding answers both to her heritage and possibly concerning the amulet pieces. It should be noted that she was also a good friend of Falrin Treeshaper. |
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| 2862 | ISALIEN, continued... Unfortunately, as she and her companion hippogryph, Empyrean, were entering the city, they were assailed by Alzzin the Wildshaper and his minions. There she fell, never to rise again. Perhaps it is for the best that Isalien never unlocked any further secrets from the evil magic that Lord Valthalak put into containing a portion of his essence in the amulet. The open-aired chamber where Alzzin resides is one of these haunted loci. |
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| 2863 | MOR GRAYHOOF Tauren Druid and First to Fall Mor Grayhoof was ever a stalwart and trusted companion within The Veiled Blade. It is unfortunate that he was the first to fall to Lord Valthalak's evil minions. As we fled from Valthalak, we were being pursued by a veritable army of his spectral assassins and stalkers. The flight from Blackrock Spire was chaotic, to say the least. Unfortunately along the way, Mor somehow lost his footing, though I suspect that he was pushed. In any case, he fell down in to the recesses of the lower portion of the spire. |
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| 2864 | MOR GRAYHOOF, continued... Later, we discovered that Mor had actually survived the fall. But there was to be no happy ending for my good friend; he was taken prisoner by the trolls of Tazz'Alaor. Not long after, as he was being tortured by War Master Voone, a group of Valthalak's assassins jumped in and finished the job. Should you seek to raise the echo of Mor Grayhoof's spirit, War Master Voone's chamber is a haunted location. |
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| 2865 | JARIEN AND SOTHOS Siblings and would-be members of the Scarlet Crusade Jarien and Sothos were two of the most intolerant people that I knew. Yet their skills as combatants were exceptional, and they came from money, which I suppose is why Anthion, the leader of The Veiled Blade, kept them on. The siblings eventually found themselves enamored with the teachings and philosophy of the Scarlet Crusade. They had always exhibited a certain zeal in vanquishing any of the Scourge that we ran across in our travels, and it was suspected that their family had ties to the organization. |
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| 2866 | JARIEN AND SOTHOS, continued... So it was that they found themselves facing the trials that are required of those that seek to join the Crusade. Of particular interest to them was a position of knighthood within the ranks; something that required more difficult testing apparently. For it was later discovered that Sothos actually failed his final test. Jarien would not have it though, and in open defiance she insisted that he be able to join her amongst the knights. From what we have gathered, Grand Crusader Dathrohan slew them both right on the spot in the middle of his chambers. Thus it is that another of these haunted loci is The Crimson Throne inside The Scarlet Bastion at Stratholme. |
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| 2867 | KORMOK Two-Headed Ogre Necromancer What can be said about Kormok? He was a two-headed ogre of the caster variety who didn't used to be all that bad. When we first took him into the fold it was as a prisoner on some job we'd accepted in Burning Steppes. He proved himself invaluable in helping us to get out of a sticky situation we fell into there, however, and so he came on as one of the company's premier mages. The odd thing about him though was the completely different nature of his two heads. One was always cheerful if not a little foolish, while the other was sly, calculating and had an almost dead look to its eyes. Kind of creepy really. |
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| 2868 | KORMOK, continued... Later, through the course of our travels, Kormok became exposed to the necromantic side of magic. Unfortunately the creepy head exhibited an affinity for raising dead spirits, and took a perverse pleasure in it, especially in summoning forth the exiled spirits of Purgation Isle to do his bidding. After the company disbanded, Kormok enrolled at the Scholomance to further his 'education'. The spectral assassins found entrance to the school all too easy, and slew him right there in front of his new master, Ras Frostwhisper. This makes Ras Frostwhisper's chamber one of the haunted locations where the brazier can be successfully utilized. |
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| 2869 | LORD VALTHALAK Draconid Noble and former General of Blackrock Spire Before General Drakkisath, there was Lord Valthalak, a draconid warlock of immense power. It is common for the leadership of the Spire to change hands, and unfortunately for us, we were going to play a part in the latest shift in power. We'd been commissioned by a goblin smuggler-wizard out of Booty Bay, Gremnik Rizzlesprang, to steal Valthalak's spellbook. We don't know if he wanted to study it or sell it (or both), and it doesn't matter now. What does matter is that we infiltrated the upper reaches of Blackrock Spire and slew Lord Valthalak in his lair. That's when the fun really began. |
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| 2870 | LORD VALTHALAK, continued... We had no idea of the depths of Valthalak's magical knowledge where soul-manipulation was concerned, or we probably would never have taken on the job in the first place. But take it we did, and it proved to be the last job we ever would take. Having slain Lord Valthalak, and taken his spellbook, Kormok must have sensed something about his amulet. He insisted on taking it as his share of the loot, which quickly devolved into a heated argument, and almost a fight, over the thing. We didn't know at the time that the amulet actually housed a good portion of Valthalak's spirit; we found that out later, much to our displeasure. |
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| 2871 | LORD VALTHALAK, continued... Splitting the amulet into pieces, we fled from the newly risen ghost of Valthalak, as well his army of spectral assassins. And the noise we made fighting over the amulet had roused a number of the Spire's remaining defenders! Almost all of us made it out of Blackrock and thought we were safe. But, even from the beyond, Valthalak sent his minions at us no matter where we hid. The Veiled Blade soon broke apart after that mission, and then we were really easy pickings. As you must know, this makes Lord Valthalak's abode, what is now The Beast's chamber in Blackrock Spire, the last of the haunted locations. |
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| 2872 | To all able-bodied men and women: The Scourge have returned and we must set aside our squabbles to face this threat. The Argent Dawn will turn away none who wish to take arms against the Scourge menace. Those who would defend our lands are mustering at Light's Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands. Together, we shall prevail. Keeper of the Rolls The Argent Dawn |
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| 2878 | My Emily, A few short days ago, we broke camp in this Light-forsaken place, operating under the King's orders to return home. My heart was light despite my bleak surroundings, for I knew that after the frigid trek to the shore and long, grueling voyage, I would find solace in your arms. We reached the shoreline today to find our ships, our means of return, nothing more than charred husks; we cannot leave, and have no choice but to press on into the heart of this abysmal wasteland. I have gone to the very end of the world to keep you safe, Emily... and now... I wish with all my being that I had remained in Lordaeron with you. Thoughts of you fill my every waking moment. You are my warmth in this frozen land, beloved, and no one can take that from me. Maxwell |
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| 2880 | Reuben, I write this letter knowing you may never see it; I simply can't remain idle, listening to the constant pounding against the Hearthglen walls. The undead are outside our village, unceasing in their assault, and we have been charged with defending the townsfolk until reinforcements arrive. My leg was broken in the last charge, and so I sit, useless, with my sword at my side should there be a breach in our defenses. There is no idle banter... only the sounds of fighting and death. The air is thick with fear. Prince Arthas is here, fighting on the front lines with the men. Were he not present we would have fallen long ago. His love for this land and its people is infectious; I gladly serve under him, and will to the end of my days. The fighting grows more intense; broken leg or not, I cannot sit here. Every sword is needed. I hope these words find you in happier times. Your friend, Leagrem |
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| 2881 | Heliana, I, Vargus, yet live, despite your wishes to the contrary. I despise traipsing about the countryside in this ridiculous armor. Our latest orders have us heading towards Andorhal after grain or some such nonsense. Why should I care about the food stores in Andorhal, of all places? This entire notion of being in the army is ludicrous. Rest assured, Aunt Heliana, that I will return for your inheritance; even if I become sorely wounded and am left without food, pure spite will drive me ever onward. Vargus |
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| 2882 | Dearest Amelia, Tonight I have seen things that will haunt me to the end of time. Stratholme is aflame... and we are responsible. Our Prince led us into the streets of the city tonight; he ordered us to break into the homes of the townspeople and... kill them in their sleep. They were plagued, claimed Lord Arthas, and had to be killed before they killed us. It was a slaughter. Hundreds died silently to the swords of those sworn to protect them. I could stand it no longer; I fled. Deserter I may be, but I could not commit such atrocities. In every home I could not help but see your face, or those of our children, upon the victims as they died. If standing against that means being a traitor, then so be it. I hope to find my way back to you in time, but the roads are unsafe. Give our children my love in my absence. James |
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| 2883 | Samla, As we follow our Lord Arthas north, ever north, my heart grows heavy. While he once shined with the Light, I now sense a darkening of the young paladin's spirit. His zeal is shadowed by a brooding, over some nightmare in his soul that I cannot divine... We will soon make landfall in the frozen wastes. Although many of his men grow sick from the chill and from battles against putrid beasts, Arthas tells us that what he seeks in the ice will turn the tide of battle. But I took no comfort from his words, for after he said them... the grim smile planted on his curled lips chilled me deeper than any blizzard could. Pray for us, Samla, and pray for our world, Torgal |
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| 2884 | Dear Pamela, Tomorrow we make our stand in Andorhal, and I fear this will be my last letter to you, my love. The undead are unfatigued and we, I fear, are only human. We cannot hold against them. But fret not, for although we are sure to perish, our hope stays strong. The Light will prevail! And, my dearest, I take comfort knowing that, as those dark terrors storm our walls and crash over us, my last thoughts will not be of death. I will think of you in my arms, and I will know peace at last. Christoph |
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| 2885 | Hello, <name>. As it turns out, I've unearthed a bit of information from that note. On James, I could find little, I fear. However, I did uncover a bit of family information on Amelia. While neither she nor her children survived the war, her brother did, a man named Alexander Calder; you can find him in the Forlorn Cavern within Ironforge, studying the dangerous magic of the Burning Legion. She also had a cousin to which she was close, a woman now known as Deze Snowbane, who promotes the battle for the Arathi Basin within Orgrimmar. You should visit one of them when next you're in the area. I'm certain they'll be interested to hear of their lost Amelia, if nothing else. |
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| 2886 | Greetings, <name>. I thought you might be interested in the results of my research. As it turns out, both Reuben and Leagrem are survived - so to speak - by family. Even if they're already aware of the lost soldier's fate, visiting one of them may prove a worthy venture. You can find Reuben's ex-wife, Joanna Whitehall, in the Undercity's War Quarter, where she spends most of her time. I'm unsure how receptive she'll be to the news, mind. As for Leagrem, his aunt became the Orphanage Matron in Stormwind, an admirable position to hold. No matter your path in life, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. |
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| 2887 | <name>, I hope this letter finds you well. After some digging, I've discovered some information on those who wrote that note you recovered. Samla's father leads the Forsaken and Trolls who make the pilgrimage to Thunder Bluff in the ways of his faith. His name is Miles Welsh, and you can find him with his fellow undead in the Pools of Vision. Torgal, meanwhile, is survived by his cousin, Elissa Dumas. She is a reclusive sort from what I've come to understand; she spends her days in the Temple of the Moon in Darnassus. I urge you to visit whomever you can, <name>. They may never have learned of Torgal or Samla's fate. |
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| 2888 | The Keeper passed on the letter you discovered, <name>, and I thought you might appreciate an update. The last surviving family member of the "Vargus" mentioned has been tracked to the desert of Silithus, dwelling in Cenarion Hold. He goes by the name of Garon Hutchins. You should speak with him during your next excursion to the wastes. He may be interested to hear what we've learned. |
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| 2889 | Salutations. I've at last found the time to look into that missive you found on the Scourge. Though it took some doing, I believe I have discovered a living relative of the deceased. Maxwell's sister, one Zarena Cromwind by name, runs a small weaponsmith shop out of Booty Bay. I'm unsure how close she was to her brother, but if you find yourself passing through, you should arrange a meeting. Closure on these matters is precious and rare in this day and age. |
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| 2890 | I've finally unearthed some information on the former soldier you fought. The trail was difficult to follow, as this particular family tree was not properly documented, but I've found a blood relative at last. Would you believe Caretaker Alen at Light's Hope Chapel is, in fact, Christoph's son? It might ease his mind to hear of his father. If ever you find yourself in service to the Argent Dawn within the Plaguelands once more, please, speak with him. It would be a kindness. |
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| 2945 | <HTML> <BODY> <BR/> <BR/> <H1 align="center">THE GREEN HILLS OF STRANGLETHORN</H1> <BR/> <H3 align="center">by Hemet Nesingwary</H3> </BODY> </HTML> |
2946 |
| 2946 | Our first day went as well as one can expect first days to go. Most of our time was preoccupied with making the necessary arrangements to establish a base camp. I located an ideal setting by a freshwater river inlet. Judging by the old, abandoned docks nearby, this site was inhabited sometime ago. As for the original inhabitants, only time can tell that tale. | 2947 |
| 2947 | For this expedition I have assembled Ajeck Rouack and Sir S. J Erlgadin, along with my trusted servant, Barnil Stonepot. I fought alongside Ajeck's father's side in many battles in defense of the Alliance. Seeing her grown is quite special. Her father schooled her well in the ways of weaponry. Her skills with a bow make me wonder if there is elven blood running through those veins. | 2948 |
| 2948 | Sir S. J. Erlgadin comes from human aristocracy. His father, Count Erlgadin, was renowned for his generosity. It was the Count who lobbied for improved working conditions for the Stonemasons' Guild during the restoration of Stormwind after the Second Great War. | 2949 |
| 2949 | In the years that followed, after Stormwind betrayed the Stonemasons' Guild, Sir Erlgadin grew bitter about the role of the nobles within the Kingdom. He no longer wished to uphold the position that his father's bloodline had earned for him in the House of Nobles. But I digress. The purpose of this story is not to act as a political treatise or a biography. This is the account of my experiences hunting big game in the green hills of Stranglethorn.... |
2950 |
| 2950 | We rose with the sun. Barnil began to prepare the morning meal. I noticed Ajeck's attention was somewhat distracted. The day's trek would be long and our hunt would bring us close to danger. A lack of focus could easily lead to an errant mishap. Yet Ajeck seemed unable to divert her gaze from Barnil who stood by the edge of the river rinsing out his mess kit. | 2951 |
| 2951 | Just as I was about to question Ajeck's lack of interest in the day's hunting strategy, she reached for her quiver, drew an arrow and unleashed a shot right towards poor Barnil. But it was not Barnil that Ajeck was shooting at. For when Barnil stepped aside, mouth agape, a large river crocilisk floated to the surface with Ajeck's arrow perfectly placed between his two large eyes. | 2952 |
| 2952 | We set out toward the west, through the thick overgrowth of the tangled jungle. Moving with slow, deliberate steps we paced through thick foliage in search of prey. The morning passed in frustrated silence. Nothing was stirring in the Vale, not even a breeze. By the afternoon, the expedition had grown restless. Barnil no longer strode with the cautious steps of a predator tracking prey. Rather he clumsily clomped along the path often stepping noisily on dried leaves or fallen branches. | 2953 |
| 2953 | During one such misstep, Erlgadin laid a heavy hand on Barnil's shoulder. Ajeck and I gave a casual glance, assuming the man was simply giving Barnil a much-needed scolding for his carelessness. Erlgadin, however, gestured slowly with his head toward a nearby fallen tree. Gazing back at us were two piercing black eyes just above a mouthful of razor sharp fangs. | 2954 |
| 2954 | The beast was a male Stranglethorn Tiger. Before I could cock my rifle, Erlgadin raised his crossbow and fired upon the beast. The bolt missed its mark and caught the beast heavily in the left flank. The tiger made a futile attempt to flee but its wound was too grave. The beast stumbled for a few tragic seconds until Barnil finished the kill with a thrown axe. | 2955 |
| 2955 | The kill brought about a festive mood amongst the expedition. Barnil poured mead for all to enjoy. But our festivities were short-lived. As we were preparing the corpse for transport back to base camp we were all caught off guard by a horrendous growl. In all my years I have never heard anything so blood curdling. | 2956 |
| 2956 | On a rocky precipice above, silhouetted by the setting sun, I could make out the largest cat of prey I have ever laid eyes upon. I was able to loose one clumsy volley with my rifle, but the cat held his ground. He growled once again, this time louder than the first, and vanished. We gathered our belongings and headed solemnly back to camp. |
2957 |
| 2957 | I had promised the expedition that we would spend the next day hunting panthers, as their furs are in high demand throughout Azeroth. It only makes sense that such demand should exist with all of the able-bodied hunters, trappers and fur-traders off giving their lives so valiantly in the name of the Alliance. | 2958 |
| 2958 | Ajeck and Sir Erlgadin were anxious to learn how to hunt effectively with a Dwarven Rifle. I had the two humans leave their primitive range weapons at base camp. Barnil and I outfitted them with some of Ironforge's finest firearms. | 2959 |
| 2959 | On this day we ventured to the south, following some fresh panther tracks. Soon we reached a ravine spanned by a tremendous rope bridge. I could not help but to think of Brann's descriptive writings of this region when I saw the engineering marvel. So often it was assumed that the native Trolls were a primitive and uneducated race yet as I gazed upon the master craftsmanship of the bridge I was able to recognize the skill with which the Troll builders overcame the seemingly impossible feat. | 2960 |
| 2960 | Before long, Ajeck tracked the panther to the southwest. We walked quietly, guns at the ready, in anticipation of our prey. A snapping of twigs from a nearby copse of trees drew our attention immediately. Something was in there. One stern glance at Barnil was enough to convey my thoughts. Barnil slowly lowered his rifle. This kill was not for us; it was for our Human companions. Countless panthers had lost their lives in front of our smoking barrels. This kill would be for the Humans. | 2961 |
| 2961 | Both Ajeck and Sir Erlgadin stood poised, guns leveled at the bristling overgrowth at the base of the swaying trees. The midday sun beat heavily upon us. A slow trickle of perspiration trailed down from Elrgadin's temple as he pulled the pin back. Upon the sound of the click, the thick flora parted and a large black panther -- a beautiful specimen -- darted out onto the plain. | 2962 |
| 2962 | The Humans trained their sights on the panther as it ran along the edge of the tree line. The barrels of their guns moved in perfect parallel tandem. Barnil gave me an urging glance but I shook my head no. This hunt was for the Humans, not Barnil or me. Erlgadin fired a booming shot, missing the panther altogether. Apparently he was unprepared for the violent kickback of the rifle blast. | 2963 |
| 2963 | His gun tossed back violently in his arms. The barrel swooped sideways and came up beneath Ajeck's rifle. Ajeck had chosen that exact moment to pull her trigger. The rifle, the aim now knocked clumsily toward the tree line, went off with a distinct boom. A flock of birds screamed out of the canopy, scattering in every direction. A plume of smoke rose from the tree. We watched in awe as a tremendous branch fell squarely on the fleeing panther, breaking its back | 2964 |
| 2964 | As the weeks passed our stockpile of panther and tiger skins grew immense. I decided it was time for the expedition to shift our focus to a new challenge: Raptors. The Humans, while appreciative of the training Barnil and I offered, decided to refrain from hunting with firearms. Ajeck was much more comfortable with a finely strung bow and Sir Erlgadin never left camp without his sturdy crossbow. |
2965 |
| 2965 | We set out at first light, heading south past the Tkashi Ruins. Barnil voiced concern that we might encounter members of the Bloodscalp Tribe. I reminded Barnil that the Bloodscalps were more concerned with destroying their tribal enemy, the Skullsplitters. Needless to say, Barnil was not comforted in the least. I, however, had a loaded rifle, a satchel full of gunpowder and three deadly hunters with me to ease any concerns of an unfriendly ambush. | 2966 |
| 2966 | I've stood before a towering Infernal on the battlefield, the army of the Burning Legion advancing from all directions. An unruly band of Trolls seems as harmless as a jackrabbit in the hills of Dun Morogh. We passed the Tkashi Ruins without event, much to Barnil's relief. The party proceeded to head westward, toward the Great Sea, skirting the Ruins of Zul'Kunda just to the south. As we ascended the high sea bluffs we spotted our first Raptor. |
2967 |
| 2967 | The beast never so much as detected our presence. In fact, the only greeting he received from the expedition was a bullet between the eyes. Sir Erlgadin let out a hearty *hurrah* as Ajeck nodded toward me with keen approval. I sifted through my pack in search of my pipe, hoping to enjoy a celebratory smoke. Barnil began to scurry up the hillside to retrieve the Raptor's corpse. I stared at the fallen beast with the satisfaction that accompanies every big kill. |
2968 |
| 2968 | But I could not bask in the glory of the kill for long. For when I turned my eyes toward the horizon, several silhouettes appeared cresting the hill, just above poor Barnil. *Flee, Barnil!* I shouted. Ajeck, Sir Erlgadin and myself loosed a volley of bullets, arrows and bolts over Barnil and toward the pursuing raptors. One of us landed a kill amidst the confusion. |
2969 |
| 2969 | Our hastily aimed shots were enough to buy Barnil's escape. Barnil clamored back down the hill and rejoined the party. We scurried off into the jungle; a pack of ferocious Lashtail Raptors stalking our every move. The hunters were now the hunted. |
2970 |
| 2970 | I led the party toward the sea, hoping the shoreline would provide refuge from the Raptors. In our haste we had drifted too far north, to a precariously high elevation. The mistake was made. The fault was mine. We stopped just short of a sheer cliff, the Raptors just a few paces behind. | 2971 |
| 2971 | I stepped slowly forward, gun raised. I had led these brave hunters to their death. I would die defending them. Lashtail Raptors are particularly fierce, known for their unrelenting blood-thirst. They far outnumbered us. But I would be damned if I let them kill me and my comrades without shedding some of their own blood first. | 2972 |
| 2972 | Ajeck and Sir Erlgadin readied their weapons, flanking me on either side, our backs to the sea. Barnil let out a defeated sigh and drew his axe. The Lashtails were almost upon us. Their steady stride had slowed. They were stalking their prey now for they knew they had us trapped. | 2973 |
| 2973 | And then something miraculous happened. From off to our side we heard the distinct and terrifying roar of the great white tiger. Despite their numbers, the Raptors turned and scattered in all directions. We saw but a brief white flash as the tiger darted past us and pounced on one of the Raptors. No command needed to be given. All four members of our party knew it was time to run. | 2974 |
| 2974 | We sprinted all the way back to base camp, never slowing. Later that night we sat quietly around the campfire, knowing our lives had been saved by a bizarre twist of fate. Such are the risks of the big game hunter. We toy with fate by delivering it. Yet each of us, at some point, will face fate's razor sharp teeth. This Dwarf is just glad that moment did not come upon the green hills of Stranglethorn. --The End-- |
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