status change

I think I've come to the point where I'm finally ready to admit it.

I'm a Casual. Not even a Casual Raider, but just a Casual. Not temporarily, as I once insisted, but permanently, at least for the foreseeable future.

How many of you are surprised? Perhaps you're wondering why I'm announcing it like it's a big deal. Didn't I already know that was the case?

Well, one has hopes, and one also has reality. Here I was, fondly awaiting the day I would transfer back to a US server, join a raiding guild, and raid three-ish nights a week for fun and profit. I hemmed and hawed about work and gym schedule, always keeping an eye on my weeknight raiding availability. But, as I happily discovered a while back, I have other hobbies I enjoy, like cooking and weightlifting. Not to mention I have spending money, which means I can actually go out with friends when I want to. As you can imagine, these sorts of activities cut into WoW playing time, especially the time necessary to gear up and prepare for raiding. If I'm not willing to put in that prep time, then I can't be a good asset to a raid team. Which means...no serious raiding.

Fortunately, changes to end game procedures mean that, should I find myself more free time as my schedule starts to cement itself, I may actually get to go into raids (assuming I can at least expend the effort to do dungeons for appropriate gear). And, if I don't, a server and guild change will ensure that I have an active guild in which to participate while I quietly do my rep grinds and achievement hunting.

There's just one more thing. I have to request that my name be made available on the new server. If the request is denied... what then? There are a couple of variants that might be acceptable (first of all Redcow, because who the hell would name their toon that), but could I handle a change like that??

#IntPiPoMo is here again!

I may have mentioned that Dah and I are hoping to do a bit more writing this November, but I'm afraid my schedule is not going to permit me to tackle something as intense as NaNoWriMo. Still, be on the lookout for more fic posts! We're hoping to finally bust out of the Sadness Forever that is Zhu's Watch and finally get into the rest of the Pandaria story.

1 Just kidding. I'm afraid it's all sadness, all the time in this fanfiction.

2 I'm still working on my quests so the plot can advance! Drink in my shirtless companion!

There is another way to get out 50,000 words, and that is through International Picture Posting Month, originally started by Angelya and this year spearheaded by Jojo of Admiring Azeroth. The premise is simple: if a picture is worth a thousand words, then 50 pictures (or in our case, screenshots) are surely worth 50,000 of them!

Sadly, with my new econo-lappy (names changed to protect those involved) I feel a lot less excited about taking screenshots, both because they don't look that great and also because taking them sometimes sends the graphics into a shame spiral requiring several minutes to recover from.

3 Look at that spectacular view distance. LOOK AT IT.

Still, I do have some news that I am happy to share! The other night, as I was moping around, extremely disappointed that I had NOT KNOWN that the Marionette pet had become permanent (spoiler alert: I didn't get one this year and they are being sold for like 800g WTF GUYS), and my very first GM whispered me. Yes, that's right, when Aka was but a wee calf still learning the ways of teh durids, a classmate invited me to her guild. When I moved abroad, I had to leave them behind in order to switch servers, and the guild eventually disbanded as many of the raiders left to do other things.

WELL they are back in business, and it just so happens that they do not have many raiding druids. Perhaps the sweetest thing he said to me, after I had disclosed that I had almost no experience raiding this xpac, was that he knows I'm a good player and could easily be caught up. Ahh, my bolstered ego.

omg. much heartwarming. very feels.

Sadly, I'm not financially ready to server transfer yet, so I started a bank toon to get into the guild and check out the atmosphere. As much as I love the new pandaren starting zone, I decided to go with a goblin because they can be guilded right from the beginning, and who doesn't appreciate their undeniable sass?

4 Running through the forest, feeling so FREE-HEE-hee

5 I will never get over how colorful and comedic this starting zone is. Not to mention the music is fantastic!

6 "All you have to do is climb on top of that huge pile of explosives" WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN

a love letter to guildies

The most recent couple of times I've logged into WoW and people have been on, the guild has gotten up to some fun activities. After having peaced out for so long, I was honestly worried that I would get a chilly reception. After all, I had said I would raid in Pandaria and ended up hardly logging in after I hit 90. Generally, I tend to stress over my own assumed punishment when in reality there's nothing to worry about.

My first night back, I decided on a little low-stress leveling. Writing Weipon's story makes it all the more apparent that she needs to get her ass to Pandaria post-haste. Of course, when I say low-stress, I mean I spent several minutes cursing at the shit quest chain in that stupid mine in Blasted Lands, but still. My guildies were online, we shot the shit, and everyone was friendly and chatty and nice. I reluctantly logged off only because I was exhausted, because I wanted to stay up late and keep talking.

A few nights later, there were enough of us online to attempt Firelands and finish the remaining quest to get our mage his legendary. I freely admit that I was mostly in it for the pet. I had a great time, despite the fact that I think I'm more or less the lovable screwup in our band of merry men. At least the raid was low pressure, so no one got too angry when I forgot some of the mechanics and wiped the group >_> Afterwards, we zapped to Org for the completion of the quest, only to discover that despite being a quest that requires a RAID, one cannot be in a raid group to complete it. Frustrating! We did start a nice tirade in Trade chat when someone was innocent enough to ask what all the blue dragons were doing in the city (answer: announcing the next xpac).

the majestyyyy

getting some celeb pics

more majesty

that gorgeous mount

and my just reward!

Then, a few nights ago I decided to improve my pandaren leveling + Supernatural watching with a solo drinking game. Which, well, undertake at your own risk. One of the criteria was "the bros have a serious talk" ffs. I was drunk after one episode. Anyway, we decided to smash ICC for some reason or another, so I put my TV on hold (but not my sweet, sweet Amaretto) and was pleasantly reintroduced to what it's like being tipsy on vent. Push to lol; I hope you like my Rotface impression. In case you were wondering, if there aren't enough people on the LK fight for the valkyr to pick up, they will actually queue up and grab you one after another before throwing you to your death. I rarely get nerd rage when raiding because stuff like that happens, and that's just hilarious.

There's little point in recounting the things we said and did, because it was just the things friends say and do when they are enjoying each others' company, and that's the important part. I may have taken some time away from the game and the people in it, but being able to jump right back into that warm fuzzy atmosphere was huge for me. Thank you, guildies old and new. I love you! <3

And now we gif:

I'll figure it out eventually

Is everyone level 90 yet?

Every expansion I read tons of posts about preparing for the coming content and think "Oh, yeah, I should stock up dailies and crafting mats." And then I don't. Of course, I know I'm not exactly in the running for realm first of anything. I'll get to max level eventually, probably soon after I start getting heckled by guildies to catch up and run dungeons with them.

This past week I started logging in more, and more regularly. Amazingly, stuff got done! I got to see the Theramore scenario, took care of the new Scarlet Monastery, finished up my last achievement in Tol Barad, and powered through the last few achievements I needed for my Cata heroic dungeon drake! Many of those were thanks to Rades filling out our guild group of four, and he got his drake too!

On Tuesday I was at school for most of the day, finally coming home late and playing way past my bedtime. Everything is so great!! I started my pandaren monk and was extremely surprised to see that the starting zone was pretty empty. I suppose by that time everyone was already level 30 or so. The music is much more varied than in the beta, and it's so good! I'm really enjoying listening to it while questing.

Earlier today, instead of making flashcards like I should have been, I instead logged into my main to start up ~pet battles~. If you haven't looked into it yet, I found what appears to be a great addon for that called PetBattle Teams, which does exactly what it sounds like. I hope you can name the teams!

In other news, for the two of you following the fiction updates on the blog, I've compiled the timeline on the Series & Resources page immediately under the Leatherworkers section. Hopefully it makes the progression clearer!

BUT FIRST:

The Horde Attacks [guest post ++]

The tauren's eyes fluttered open as Hadakha rose from his side, ready to make room for the next shift in the healing rotation. A callused hand reached out and grabbed his arm. He looked down at the ravaged form as the tauren's mouth moved, then bent down and offered a trickle of water to his patient. After moistening his lips, the tauren croaked "Thank.....you."

Hadakha patted the hand on his arm and gently laid it back on the bed. "I'm glad to help, my friend." He stepped toward the door and, hearing the commotion outside, turned to appraise the tauren. "Do you think you can handle visitors?" he asked wryly.

The corner of the tauren's mouth lifted slightly in response. "Don't.....let her......get to....you. Not.....your....fault." Hadakha nodded soberly and strode out of the room, almost running into the orc standing right outside. They stared at each other for a long moment, Hadakha meeting her angry, bitter gaze calmly. He put his hand on her shoulder.

"He is awake. You can see him now. Try not to tire him out." The orc snorted, shrugged his hand off and pushed past him into the room. He exchanged knowing looks with the short, matronly troll woman who was his replacement shift, and strode out into the late morning sun.

He looked around lazily, wondering whether or not he should go down to the training pen for more healing practice. It was hard to get enthusiastic about it though – he had been dutifully putting in a couple of hours each day while waiting for Akabeko to return from wherever she'd disappeared to. He remembered the raid leader, Katza, grumbling about "sending her home to cool off", so maybe she was in Mulgore.....

Suddenly an arm linked through his, and he found himself walking alongside a very cheerful druid. Akabeko grinned at him. "Good morning! How's your energy? Feel like doing some real training?"

"You're certainly in a good mood today. Any particular reason?"

"I've just had a very relaxing break, now that you mention it! Although" she frowned, "someone defiled the grave of an old guild member, Dahakha – he was before your time. If I ever find them..... You okay?" Hadakha nodded as he recovered from his stumble. "So, let's go do some multi-target training! I'll just need to grab my kit from HQ first. You should probably bring some gear too."

Five minutes later, they entered the guild headquarters. As they headed for their rooms though, another guild member burst in, wildly looking around. "Quick! You guys gotta come see this! The Horde has assaulted Theramore!"

Hadakha and Akabeko looked at each other. As one, they bolted for the door, dashing out into the excitement that was starting to sweep Orgrimmar.

A goblin had set up a small podium and was speaking into an unnecessarily complicated megaphone. The druids pushed their way through the crowd, listening to her steady stream of reports.

"...framed as a mission to rescue a captured Horde spy ended with an aerial assault on the Alliance outpost Theramore. Through superior goblin technology and the might of the Horde, the endeavor was a success. Horde casualties were minimal, and Theramore lies in ruins. So far, the deaths of prominent Alliance members, including Jaina Proudmoore, are unconfirmed. For more news as it breaks or a commemorative plaque, please see one of my associates near the podium. For the Horde!"

The cry was taken up by her associates and some in the crowd. She began her spiel again.

"Early this morning, Garrosh Hellscream, Warchief of the Horde, directed a military maneuver framed..."

Around them, commotion surged as newcomers pushed forward to listen and those who had already heard retreated to talk amongst themselves.

Hadakha turned to his guildmate and found her stock still, gripping both of her braids with more force than necessary. "Aka?" he said, repeating himself to be heard over the hubbub.

She shook herself. "Why would Hellscream attack Theramore unprovoked? What news has there been recently that suggests it's a threat?"

"Maybe we're not privy to all the information the Warchief is." He wrinkled his nose. "Although you'd think there would be more prelude to a major event like this."

Akabeko opened her mouth as if to argue, then visibly wiped the concern from her expression. "Perhaps I should have been following current events more closely. Then again, I’m just a cog in the war machine. I’m sure the Warchief has his reasons. I'm...going to get one of those newspapers, and then we are going to train properly."

"Right," Hadakha agreed. He nonchalantly offered to carry the newspaper after watching the way she wrung it between her hands.

Training (guest post!!)

Once again courtesy of the talented Dahakha!

-----

Training. Hadakha sighed as he struggled to repair the wounds being inflicted on the pacified, desensitized deer in the enclosure before him. The savannah lion that was currently trying to dis - ooooo that will need more than just a regrowth - trying to disembowel the deer looked simultaneously confused and increasingly angry as the meal it was trying to bring down refused to die. He stifled a chuckle at the waves of frustration emanating off of the lion then cursed as he felt the deer weaken drastically. Scowling in concentration, he accelerated his casting. Swiftmend. Nourish. Rejuvenate. Healing Touch......Dammit!

He turned away in disgust as the lion's triumphant roar echoed through the air. Akabeko stood there, arms crossed, a disappointed frown on her face.

"What?! I kept it alive for at least ten minutes!"

Her frown deepened. "Then why did it die now? You should have had it under control if you'd been healing it for that long. What happened?"

Hadakha shrugged. "There was too much damage too quickly. I did all I could."

Now her eyes narrowed. Hadakha suddenly felt uncertain. It was not a trait he was familiar with. Years of covert, dangerous work for the Cenarion Circle had given him the utmost confidence in his abilities, yet this druid - this veteran of many battles, who had faced down some of the greatest threats Azeroth had known for centuries - was making him ask questions of himself. When he had accepted this mission, he had imagined that he would be the one teaching her, assessing her, questioning her. Yet it seemed that he had not known as much as he had thought.....he cracked his knuckles guiltily, grimacing as memories of those exact words came to him from the mouths of many an archdruid over the years.

"No." Akabeko was looking at him strangely. Then she shook her head and the frown was back. "You forgot Lifebloom. Again. At the end, it would have given you enough of a cushion to finish that Healing Touch. You would have had it stabilised."

Bugger. No wonder it had been a struggle for the last few minutes. He bowed his head in apology. "I will do better tomorrow." But Akabeko shook her head.

"No, I will be busy tomorrow. I have.....plans......to make. But that doesn't mean you can't practice on your own. When you can keep the deer stabilised for, let's say, an hour...", at that Hadakha's eyebrows rose in consternation, "...then you can try keeping two deer alive at once." Cocking her head to one side, she mused, "I still don't understand how you could be so strong and yet haven't grasped the basics of team healing....."

"My previous guilds were more survivalist than cooperative, I guess. I never had to look after anyone but myself."

"Hmmph. Well. As you will discover, keeping your comrades alive is a lot more difficult than keeping yourself alive. Once you grasp the basics," gesturing to the enclosure from which happy lion sounds were drifting, "then we can start the real training! Hubwahahahaaaaaa!" Hadakha shuffled back a step. "Sorry, I have had revenge on my mind a lot lately...."

As he turned to walk away, Akabeko called after him. "Hadakha? Something has been bugging me lately. I just have this weird idea that......well, have we met before?"

Hadakha's thoughts went back to his brother's funeral, the place he had first seen her. That was the main weakness of his mission cover, that she might have noticed him then. Just have to play it down, avoid the topic as much as possible.

He shrugged. "No."

Thunderlord Stronghold (guest post!)

Dahakha sped through the night, barely registering the receding lightning storms as he weaved his way between dragon corpses impaled upon the spears of stone that gave Blade's Edge Mountains their name.

His mind reeled. What in the name of Mu'sha had happened back there? Why the....the goblin...netherstorm.....ethereals.....it made no sense! He realised that he was automatically winging his way towards Evergrove. After thinking for a moment or two, he decided that although the comforts of a druid grove were tempting, what he really needed were answers. Banking south, Dahakha headed for Thunderlord Stronghold.

Flying in low over the moonlit treetops, Dahakha landed on the walls of the stronghold. He scanned the buildings.....there. The distinctive shapes of the windriders led his eye to the nearby hut. With a hop he glided down to the open doorway and shifted into his birth form. Inside was a young orc sorting through scrolls on the candlelit table. At Dahakha's sudden appearance, he gasped and shot to his feet, hand going to the handaxe at his belt. Dahakha spread his hands wide to indicate peaceful intentions, and as his tauren shape registered on the orc, the tension in the air dissipated.

“Agadai. I need to speak with your master immediately.”

The orc's face creased in confusion. “Have we met?”

“What do you mean, have we met? It's me, Dahakha!” At the orc's blank look, he sighed. “I helped you with that windrider problem last year! You said that you would be in my debt for eternity!” Still no flicker of recognition. He twitched. “I brought that little orphan boy to see you a few weeks ago? You showed him how you look after windriders? No?” He threw up his hands in exasperation. “Is Unoke here? I need to speak to him urgently.”

Agadai looked uncertain, but as he caught the dangerous glint in Dahakha's eyes he quickly nodded and motioned for him to wait. Disappearing upstairs, there was thumping and grumbling which resolved in the clump of hooves on wood as a tauren climbed down the ladder-like stairwell.

Unoke turned and froze at the sight of Dahakha. His eyes darted around the room, to the doorway, out into the night. Seemingly satisfied, but still very wary, the tauren inspected Dahakha carefully. Uncomfortable under this unexpected scrutiny, Dahakha found himself cracking his knuckles nervously. With a mental shake he stilled his hands, and spoke to the windrider master.

“Unoke. You do recognise me, right?”

“I.....am not certain.”

Dahakha twitched, frowning. “What is that supposed to mean? We trained together back in Mulgore! How could you not know who I am?!”

Unoke was still regarding him suspiciously. “I know who you look like. I know who you claim to be. But I do not believe it.”

“Gahhhhh! This is ridiculous! First Agadai pretends to not know me, now you doubt your own eyes? You know I am Dahakha! Why would you think otherwise?”, he bellowed in frustration.

Unoke met his eyes calmly. “Because Dahakha is dead.”

Dahakha gaped at the windrider master. “What. Are. You. Talking. About.”

“I watched Dahakha die, in the Orgrimmar arena. Hundreds of others saw it as well. You – he – Dahakha was slain. There is no doubt about it.”

“But here I am!”

“But here you are.”

He twitched again. “Okay, I don't know what the fel is going on here, but I need some answers. What is this I hear about Cairne being dead and Baine becoming Chief of Chiefs? Who is this Hellscream pretending to be the Warchief? It had better not be that young idiot Garrosh.....”

Unoke looked at him strangely. “You really don't know, do you?” At Dahakha's low growl of frustration he waved to the table. “Okay, okay. Sit down. I will get us something to drink. Then we can try to sort this out.”

Dahakha's Return (guest post!)

What did I tell you about needing to read more? Are you guys freaking out as much as I am?? (Previously from Dah: Dahakha's Finale, The New Recruit)

=====

Purple lightning flashed across the sky as the ethereal camp buzzed with activity. In the centre of the clearing was a large machine, covered with strange writing and sprouting cables and wires which led to all manner of diagnostic devices and....a power source the likes of which Blazzit had never seen before nor since. He thought that he had wired everything up properly, but that was not a reliable indication of anything in goblin engineering. Especially goblin engineering interfaced with ethereal technology! Still, no goblin ever invented anything by not experimenting, and Blazzit was determined to bring something back to Area 52 that would make his bitter rival, Grendrel Frazzlenut, as jealous as Blazzit's engineering schoolmates had been when he demonstrated his combination cigar-lighter/decanter to them. Well, after he had overcome that unfortunate open-flame-and-alcohol problem that may have been responsible for his lady friend leaving him.....how was he to know that was her most expensive toolkit? With a shake of his head he brought his mind back to the machine in front of him.

The ethereals had no idea what the machine was for, and so he had been contracted to find out. Nobody knew anyone who could identify, let alone read, the alien writing, so Blazzit had resorted to the tried-and-true experimental methodolgy of turning it on and seeing what happened. Unfortunately there was no obvious switch or power source, so here they were, about to find out what happened when enough power to fuel every machine on Azeroth (so the ethereals said, anyway) was fed into it.

With one last glance over his work, he yelled "Clear!" and began the countdown. All activity ceased as the ethereals stood by with whatever precautionary measures they had devised. Blazzit contented himself with pulling his shaded goggles over his eyes as he reached one. He threw the switch.

The machine exploded.

Blazzit's eyes widened as something metallic and sharp hurtled toward him. Then, just as he was about to flinch, time seemed to slow. The shard came to a halt mere inches from his long green nose, then started flying back in to where the machine had been. There was a massive, horrifying ripping sound, and the debris - which a moment before had been exploding outward – was sucked into a tear in the fabric of reality.

Blazzit could feel it tugging at him too, and he saw in his peripheral vision others starting to stagger against their wills towards the tear. Suddenly a shape appeared at the centre of the vortex, and the rift closed violently, sending shockwaves in all directions. Blazzit was knocked off his feet and even turned a few backwards somersaults before his momentum faded.

As he picked himself up he became aware of a struggle taking place in the camp. Ethereals were doing their best to shackle something....a.....tauren? He gingerly moved closer, testing all his limbs and checking that everything was present and accounted for. Finally he had a clear view of the creature. It was a tauren, huge and black and very very angry. An ethereal raised his weapon to club the captive, but Blazzit halted it with a cry.

"Who are you? What are you doing here? And what did you do to my machine?!", he finished indignantly. The tauren glared at him. "Do you even understand me?". More glaring. "Bah! Fine then." He turned to the ethereal in charge of the camp. "I will need you to hold him until I can fetch some help from Orgrimmar. I hope Chieftan Baine can lend me some of his people....I bet he would be pleased to have news of another tribe of tauren!" Blazzit lost himself in daydreams of the grateful tauren leader rewarding him with riches....

"Chieftan Baine?" The gravelly voice was hoarse and alarmed. "Baine Bloodhoof?"

"Heh, so you can understand me. Yes...wait, you know the Chieftan?" Blazzit's face fell as his dreams of riches faded.

"What happened to Cairne? There was no talk of him stepping down last time I was in Thunder Bluff!" The tauren looked, as far as Blazzit could tell, almost panicked.

"Er....Cairne has been dead for months. Don't tell me you never heard of his duel with the Warchief?!"

The tauren looked stunned. "Dead? But...why would he duel Saurfang?"

"Saurfang? Hellscream! You think I am an idiot? I know who my Warchief is!" Blazzit was starting to lose his temper. "Give me your name, tauren! I have things to do!."

The tauren stared off into the distance, numb with shock. "I am Dahakha. Known as the Insane to some. Maybe I have finally lost it...."

"Right." Blazzit turned away, flicking his fingers at the ethereals. "Take him somewhere secure. I will-", he broke off as a screech sounded behind him. He whirled just in time to see a bird of prey clear the camp and fly off into the Netherstorm wilderness. The tauren was gone.

=====

You guys, he won't even tell me what's in store!

Downtime

"I think we should say something," Katza muttered, peeking at Akabeko around a display of frosted cupcakes. The shopkeeper glanced at her and irritably rearranged a plate of cookies decorated with the Darkmoon logo.

Mauren shook her head, not trying to be subtle. "We shouldn't. She can handle herself." They watched as Akabeko made some notes on a stained sheet of parchment before drinking deeply from her beer stein.

Iharu sniffed. "She clearly isn't handling herself. We should go over there."

"Fine, but leave me out of it." Maurene stalked away, presumably to play Whack-a-Gnoll again.

Katza gathered her skirts in her bony fingers and made a beeline for her tauren guildmate. Iharu followed close behind, and the shopkeeper gave an audible sigh of relief as all three stopped loitering.

Akabeko looked up from her document, remarkably sober for the amount they had watched her drink. "Katz, Iha. I didn't realize both of you were into the faire games."

"I'm not," Iharu replied brusquely. "And to be honest, I didn't realize you were either."

"Of course I am! In fact, the Darkmoon Faire hold me in high regard. Except for, well..." She grimaced, shook her head, and gestured to the other side of the picnic table. "Will you join me?"

Katza slid onto the bench immediately. She shot Iharu a look before lacing her fingers together with a dry rasp. "Listen, Aka, we've been wondering. What exactly have you been up to since Deathwing was destroyed?"

Iharu sat down beside Akabeko, who in turn looked back and forth between the pair. She casually placed an arm across the notes she had taken.

"I'm beginning to think this isn't a social visit."

"It is, because we are your friends and we want to be social with you! We're just a little...concerned. About your well-being." Katza's hands twitched apart, and she began to nervously click her finger joints.

"What, exactly, is concerning you? I've been fishing and visiting the faire. Relaxing. It's nice!" Akabeko made a show of nonchalantly rolling up her parchment.

Iharu shook her head vehemently. "That's just it! You aren't one to just sit around! There have been dozens of minor raiding parties leaving Orgrimmar each month and you haven't joined a single one!"

Before Akabeko could whisk away the paper, Katza snatched it out of her hands and unrolled it again. Akabeko made a grab for it, but the forsaken woman was already reading aloud.

"'Ways to Eliminate Dubenko. One: fireworks "accident." Two: Gun or crossbow misfire "accident." Three: "Accidentally" leave cage door open. Four--' Aka what the fel is this?" She slammed the parchment to the table.

Iharu looked incredulously at her friend. "This is what you've been working on? You want to kill the Faire's prize turtle?"

"You don't understand!" Akabeko bellowed in response. "He's so fast! Turtles aren't supposed to move that fast. The whole system is rigged! The ring toss game is a sham!"

Katza shook her head, disappointment plain on her face. "You've been out of the raiding scene for too long. Without goals to aim for you start making up your own!"

Iharu was nodding in agreement, but Akabeko wasn't having any of it. "You two just don't understand because you never play the ring toss! That turtle is up to something! I won't let you stop me!" There was a puff of air and suddenly a storm crow was perched on the bench.

Before she could fly away, Katza leaped across the table, upending Akabeko's beer and tackling the druid to the ground. There was a flurry of feathers, and then Katza stood up with a squirming crow in her arms.

"We should get her back to Orgrimmar and onto the Moonglade healer rotation. Then--ah, ow, she's pecking me!" Katza turned her face away from her guildmate's sharp beak.

illustrated by the wonderful Kamalia!

Iharu gently took the druid and stuffed her under her arm. "I'll take her; I'm wearing plate." She tapped her chin thoughtfully while Akabeko pecked at her side with a useless clang. "That new guy Had could probably help us set her up with some proper druid pursuits. Maybe she could mentor him?"

Katza created a portal to Orgrimmar, and together they stuffed their protesting friend back into respectable society.

Next: Plans, Causing trouble, Devious Design

The New Recruit (guest post!)

You guys, I have amazing friends. Anytime someone is like "people you know on the internet totes aren't really friends" you smack 'em and show 'em the posts and post ideas I've gotten from my guildie buddies. Like this week! Here I am flipping my shit over visa paperwork and my friend Dah comes up with some lovely guest posts about his tauren toons to help me out. And you had better hope this becomes a regular thing because THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME. (Previously from Dah: Dahakha's Finale)

~~~~~

Hadakha nodded to the tauren as he brushed aside the curtain covering the doorway. The sounds of Orgrimmar faded a little as the heavy hide fell back into place. The tauren grimaced, pushed himself to his feet and tugged a rope near his workbench. A soft chime sounded above, on the upper level of the building, and a moment later footsteps clumped down the ramp. The orc checked herself as she caught sight of Hadakha, then sighed and descended to the floor.

"I don't suppose the Circle has a moderately.....what's the word I'm looking for....uneventful request for us this time?" she asked half-resignedly.

Hadakha gave her a wry grin. "I would never presume to make your lives boring,", he said, "but the fact is that you have proven yourselves to be very resourceful in the past, and as such the Circle has come to rely upon the ingenuity of leatherworkers of your calibre. Of course, since this armour has never been made before, you have complete freedom of design. We are interested only in the results."

"Of course you are..." The orc turned to the tauren. "Well? Once more into the thick of it?" As the tauren grunted his assent she looked sharply at Hadakha. "You have a suitable commission for us, naturally?"

Reaching into his tunic, Hadakha pulled out a large pouch, which he tossed to her. It tinkled as she caught it and passed it to her partner. The tauren spilled out a small pool of gems, perfectly cut and glittering in the light. He met the orc's eyes, and they grinned at each other.

"Here are the Circle's requirements." Hadakha handed over a sheaf of tightly bound scrolls. "Any other concerns?"

The tauren stared at Hadakha's tabard thoughtfully. "That looks familiar.....we had a customer a few weeks ago wearing one. Druid....wanted us to fix some old armour of hers....I thought you were an agent of the Cenarion Circle. Since when have you joined a guild of adventurers?"

"Ah yes, Akabeko mentioned the good work you had done for her. And yes, I am still a representative of the Circle, however I am on a mission that requires my presence in this guild. I can rely on your discretion, I trust." It was not a question.

At their nods, Hadakha gave them a slight bow and turned to leave. "Good hunting", he said as he pulled the hide back and stepped out into the bustle of the city. He did not envy them their work.

Sweet sweet poetry

I turned to twitter for today's post and was rewarded with many ideas from current friends/former guildies. Thanks ladies!

Once upon a time I liked to beg for /RW capabilities in raid. In the unfortunate case that I received them, I would proceed to compose haiku and share them with the raid mid-fight. It then turned naturally into a forum thread and tonight I will present you with the results.

(me)
Some haiku from raid
I wrote them to raise morale
Got any to add?

Dahakha can type
It just takes him forever
Such a travesty

Tough but fair RL
Ruling with an iron fist
My Princess Dragons

Friggin Ruby Sanctum
Halion is going down
Let's make it happen


(Dah)
Haiku are awesome
Want to see more, please
Back to you, Beko


(Grae) 
Transition phase 3
Melee dps slow down
Ok hit bloodlust


(Rhet)
Don't stand in the fire
Healer can't heal through stupid
See, now you are dead

Cutter beams sweep left
The Warlock runs to the right
Beware the shadows


(Dragons)
Akabeko is awesome
Tree form then kitty
Healing our arses


(me)
From tonight's Sunwell
Sorry if you have seen them
I like to make lists:

You don't need two heals
I think Sunwell is for noobs
I solo'd that shit

Equipping gear now
Are you ready for awesome?
This is super fun

Who the hell is that?
The tree jumping in the back
Is she gonna heal?

Will you heal LK?
Why won't you tank the shambling?!
Oops! Ninja DC.


(Thysan)
Where is Thysan's haiku?
Does no-one love her anymore?
This makes her saddest.


(Dah) 
Too many instances
Frustrated Beko is frustrated
Damn you Guard Slip'kik!

Herb herb herb herb herb
Herby herby herby herb
Thankyou Thysanotus!


(Grae)
Only one keeper
Pull your collective fingers
out of your arses


(Thysan)
female tanks are rare
we tank as well as the boys
even in high heels.

don’t look so smug, I
know what you’re thinking, but it
was just a set-back!

spell leather keeps dropping
RNG wants me to boomkin
i cry for more stam

i love you so dragons,
when you misdirect to me
gaining aggro is wonderful.


(me)
Oh Thysanotus
My favoritest tank ever
How are you today?

You're herbing for Dah?
Why not give your herbs to me?
I love you much more~

Carry me to loot
Please tank all of the bosses
I don't want to work


(Thysan)
the LK is sulky
his valkyrs won't play with him
they don't like his lootz.

thysan learnt tonight
that you can measure attack speed
from your character.

yogg-saron is tricky
there are too many tentacles
thysan is disturbed.


(Grae) 
/rw
Shouldn't be left in the 'care'
of Akabeko

So I did this quest
for the Harvest Festival
and received a book

In The Horde's Hellscream
there are, believe it or not
pages of haiku!


(Thysan)
invites for weekly
sing out if you want one please
although em leads.

summon thysan please
and she will tank monsters for you
with her big bear butt.

please share the weekly
thysan does not have this quest
she wants the gold coins.

thysan will be back
she needs to get a jumper
melbourne is very cold.

there is a whole kan-
-garoo on my head right now
at least it is warm

watch out for choppers
kill the dwarves and the spiders
take down the towers!

on the edge of our seats
as EM figures out raid
let's kill the LK!


(Grae)
A witty retort
But what say you to a bear
dual-wielding sharks?


(me)
That's not a problem
Cuz all loot is hunter loot
Already got those

She'll take out that bear in style
PS: She's a dragon, bitch

Bonus lines from tanka poetry ( 5 - 7 - 5 - 7 - 7 )


(Grae)
Thirteen Jin'do kills.
Still no Mandokir's Tribute.
Chicken Splitter Blues.

Edit: A fourteenth triumph.
Dagger, Shield, a Chaos Orb.
My patience wears thin.

Kill number fifteen.
Same loot, same blue bow in hand.
I blame Beko's Nuts.


(Mojo)
Why play a hunter
Don't you know they're ranged rogues
Stabbing stuff is fun


(Grae)
Precisely, Mojo.
All the range of a warlock
but plays like a rogue.

I can do ranged deeps
as long as it is faceroll.
Inb4 "frost mage".

For some DERP reason
the whole cast bar mechanic
doesn't work for me.

Give me instant spells,
instant shots, instant attacks
and I will melt face.

The Land Down Under

Well, it's been a month since I actually went to Australia and met my amazing guildies, but I am going to talk about it and it will be wonderful! Have you ever met your guildies in person? I realize that not all guilds, or people, really inspire that sort of longing, but I'm happy to say that Cadence is the kind of place where I want to hang with my guildies in meatspace, too.

sup cuties

I left on Saturday at 4PM, after bagels and coffee in Namba Parks. I arrived at Guangzhou, waited for 4 hours, then hopped on another plane to Melbourne. As an aside, do not fly China Southern Airlines! They didn't once replace the paper in the toilet on a nine hour flight. That, and not all of the flight attendants speak Japanese, and they look annoyed when you talk to them in English. Gaahhh! Just give me a glass of shui please.

I arrived after lunch on Sunday and was picked up by my former guildies Dragons, Thysan, and her husband Pern. It was perfect, in that there was basically no awkwardness with meeting in person. They even made me a little welcome sign, although I missed it because I came out of another doorway! We drove back to their house and talked and relaxed. I was extremely jetlagged, so when they offered to show me some fun TV they had...acquired, I was really glad to take it easy. We watched Sherlock (I am a convert) and an episode of Eureka, and then ate meat pies and chips (not fries!).

The following day we met my RL Grae, his girlfriend Bel, and Dahakha. Yay!!! We got burgers (with chips - not fries) and I had about 30 seconds of “where are my potato chips” before I remembered IT IS A DIFFERENT THING. Then we went to the beach, but because the weather hates me it was bitterly cold and windy and we stood there for about 5 minutes before deciding to go inside and eat some ice cream.

From there, me, Dragons, and Dah had quite a drive to get over to the penguin parade! There is a small, adorable, huggable colony of Little Penguins living in Melbourne, and if you sit on the beach at sunset you can see them come home for the evening! The park has a building to sit and wait with not one but two gift shops and a restaurant. I got a Three Penguin Moon thermometer magnet (too funny to pass up) and ate fish (and chips! ...not fries). Then we bundled up and went to sit on towels in the sand and wait for it to get dark. A nice park ranger came out and talked to us about penguins and despite the fact that I hear Aussies and Kiwis talk all the time, I couldn't help but think “Teehee! Accent!” What is wrong with me? And as an aside, is there anyone in the world – native English speakers, that is – who actively likes, or fetishizes American English?

Anyway, once it got dark we started to see masses of penguins gather at the shoreline and make their way across the beach. Sometimes they get cold feet, and halfway to the grass turn around and scamper back into the water. We weren't allowed to take pictures because the flash scares them, which sucks because they were so cute! After the march across the beach, you can stand on the wooden path above the dunes and watch them toddle back into their huts. I think it's human nature to narrate the actions and thoughts of adorable animals, so we did that for a while.

I should add that on the way to the penguin parade we came across a real life chocolate factory and stopped there for great justice! All the things I bought there were either given away as gifts or eaten within days of returning home. It was delicious.

On Tuesday was the Melbourne Cup. My friends actually live fairly close to the grounds where it's held, but we got together at their house for eating and drinking. We met Thysan's boss and their mutual friend Shan. Dragons introduced him to me in what I think was the defining phrase of the week: “He's our people.” It was good. We ate cheese and crackers, delicious burgers and sausages grilled by Pern, and dove headfirst into sugar comas with pavlova, lammingtons, chocolate ripple cake, and jelly squares. Dragons and I split cider, which is fortunately an acceptable beer substitute. I just got weird looks when I said I liked to drink chu-hai...

On Wednesday we went to the zoo by tram. We were joined by Katz and Dah, and spent the day harassing the poor creatures gathered for our viewing pleasure. Some of the animals I had already seen at the Tennoji Zoo, but there were others that even Japan didn't put on display! The insect display was the worst. Why are stick bugs so awful? So hideous? So terrifying??

Afterwards we met up with the greater group, including Spanky, at a pub and scarfed some stew-in-bread. I've had bread bowls at Panera before, but this was seriously a freaking loaf of bread filled to the brim with beef and sauce. I got about halfway through mine before declaring it a loss, but Pern not only finished his, but even ate the layer of mashed potatoes hidden under the bread! Hard mode stew-in-bread! People gradually peaced out as the night wore on, and in the end it was me, Dragons, Spanky, and Katz drinking in a booth. At some point the bartender came by and threw a free tshirt at us, which I got because it was a small shirt. Beer shirt! We stumbled back to Dragons' place, then watched The Castle. It's such a sweet movie! Spanky giggled through the whole thing in anticipation of his favorite jokes. He's a cute drunk :P

The next day was really nice, in that we woke up late and spent the day idly window shopping downtown. There are so many little shops and boutiques! It reminded me of Winter Park in FL. I was introduced to the completely perfect concept of a chocolate cafe, where you can go to get some hot chocolate, or maybe some chocolate on a plate, or other form of heavenly sustenance. We visited Dragons' local comic shop, and I got volume 3 of Gunnerkrigg Court! (If you aren't reading it, get your ass over there noooow) For dinner, we went to the Veggie Bar and I had a burrito. You guys. Burrito. It was incredible.

We were joined at dinner by Bek, her brother Mattid, and Mr. and Ms. Mojo. They aren't actually married, and Ms. Mojo doesn't play WoW, but the name sticks! Mojo is one of the regular raiders, so it was nice to finally put a friendly face to the voice. From dinner we went to the Mana Bar, a gamer-friendly bar. The walls were covered in flatscreens, each with a different Sonic game and the accompanying controller on a nearby table. The menu was all puns (I had a health pot!). Even the bathroom was covered in nerdy graffiti: “The cake is a lie!” “Thralls balls!” and the like.

The following day, I hit up the Queen Victoria markets with Dragons, Thysan, and Katz. We had delightful jelly donuts for breakfast, then wandered the stalls looking for gaudy silver rings for Katz. After a delicious lunch of pizza (REAL PIZZA. YOU GUYS.) we parted ways with Katz and continued on to the Botanical Gardens. The first thing we saw was an arch straight out of Throne of the Four Winds. Dragons is the boss, Thysan is the tank. Several hundred flower pictures later, we met Katz again in Chinatown for dinner, then went to the Old Melbourne Gaol for a ghost tour!

It wasn't all that scary, but it was appropriately eerie and the history was very interesting. The tour guide was a really good spieler and had sharp comebacks for his audience participation. I was surprised to learn about the fine art of hanging (it involves equations – important if you don't want the head to pop right off) and creeped out by the death masks made after executions.

The last day started off right, with pancakes and bacon, courtesy of Pern. We were joined by Mojo and a very hungover Spanky. Then, we piled on the tram to go to the ~guild meetup~!!! We had a proper lunch in the restaurant side of the pub and were joined by Sas and EM. Sas I didn't know when he was raiding regularly, but he brought his kids and Dragons christened his infant son Arthas. Appropriate? You tell me. EM is our Kiwi RL. I had chicken parma (with chips!) and drank more cider. When we moved into the pub, we were joined by Cyo and finally Scorp, who showed up 30 minutes before I had to go to the airport! At least I got to talk to him for a little while.

Dragons took me to the airport, and I was so sure I would cry! I managed to get my eyes satisfactorily dry by the time I hit the ticket counter. The guy did not believe I was returning home to Japan so I flashed my visa and all was well. Then I got frisked because I only had the one carry-on. Learn to travel light! On impulse, I got some gummis and chewies for my Aussie friends in Japan, and they loved it. It's weird to me, because I've always gravitated towards chocolate when it comes to candy, but they were so pleased!

I know that there are still outdated ideas about what sort of people are playing video games, but it's stories like this that will hopefully help to change that stereotype. My guildies are my friends, and they are just as balanced as I am. I think I got really lucky to find this guild, and I'll be so sad to leave it when I go back to the US. Being able to visit them, and see a part of Australia at the same time, was the best possible outcome. Even my mom was totally cool when I told her I was going to visit my friends from WoW!

I didn't just feel comfortable being with my friends, either. I've become so used to being stared at when I go out that it was honestly surprising to not have that happen. There were times where I felt almost stealthy, walking around in plain sight without anyone realizing I was there! Contrastingly, I was reminded of just how small I am. In Japan I fit in height-wise, and am typically wider and rounder than other people, but in Australia I was positively petite! Grae even picked me up (for which he will never be forgiven =_=).

So I'm home again, 300 pictures, 600gig of TV, and innumerable good experiences later. Have you ever met your WoW friends in meatspace?

The Funeral

After this post, I had to write some sort of response. Many thanks to Kamalia for her very comprehensive insights into tauren funerary rites.

ooooo

Akabeko handed the missive to the banker, who barely glanced at it before leading her to the appropriate vault and unlocking it. "Let me know when you're finished," he said sleepily. She heard his hoofsteps move away but didn't look up from the name on the door.

The inside of the vault was tidy. There would not be much to attend to. In one corner stood a dummy outfitted in a complete set of druid leathers. As she looked, she saw them on the bull himself, looking proud, bright, confident...

"I'm glad you could make it," he said with a grin. His electric blue shoulders looked completely out of place in the molten realm.

Akabeko fanned herself ineffectually against the heat. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."
"Listen up!" called the leader, a snarky, green-skinned goblin. "We will soon be entering Beth'tilac's lair."

She blinked, and the feathers were once again dull and unmoving. She packaged the gear in a ceremonial bag and moved further into the vault.

A trunk along the wall revealed engineering paraphernalia in relatively good condition. She catalogued each spanner, widget, and lockbox before sorting them into neat piles for guild use, auction house, or donation. At the bottom of the chest, she found a tome that made her throat constrict painfully. Although completely illegible to both of them, its magical enchants kept it eternally free of dust and age.

Akabeko watched with interest as her friend lugged a bulging rucksack across the floor. "What do you have in there, rocks?"

"Better!" He looked very pleased with himself. "I have something that your shady friends at Ravenholdt will like."He pulled open the bag, revealing a huge collection of battered junkboxes. 
Akabeko gasped.

"Just don't try to open them yourself," he cautioned. "They get suspicious."

Three months later Akabeko was dragging her own bag through the guild hall. 

"Don't tell me...bricks?" he said when she reached the bar.

"Much better. This should make your moody Shendralar smile."She opened the bag, and colorful, glossy books spilled onto the floor, each looking as if it had just come from the printing press.

The book she neglected to write down, and instead slipped it into her pocket. It was completely worthless now anyway, seeing as the Shendralar had emerged from their hiding place in Dire Maul and pledged themselves staunchly for the Alliance.

She moved on and found a box of ore and gems too heavy to move, labeled it as "guild" and moved on. A small chest of drawers contained some extra shirts, a festive winter hat, and a collection of tabards. Each was folded carefully into a ceremonial bag, but she saved the guild tabard for last.

"There's talk that our favorite bear will be retiring before long," he said conversationally.

Akabeko shot him a look. "Who told you that?"

"She did herself. Says it's too much to keep doing week after week." He shrugged at Akabeko's resulting glower. "You were in the same place for some time, as I recall. I myself pulled you out of a few drunken brawls, did I not?"

"At least I got over it," she muttered.

Some people never do." He stared into the fire. "The cataclysm, Deathwing's return, Cairne's murder...some people may never move past it."

The material was smooth with age. She traced the crest on the front before closing it in the bag.

Last was a small set of shelves covered with knickknacks. Akabeko found keys, trinkets from archaeology, dungeon spoils, and a crusty handful of preserved hops among the myriad of things she transferred to a ceremonial pouch. She hesitated when she came across a stone of Elune.

"I'm going to Moonglade for the ceremony of Cenarius. Will I see you there?"

He met her gaze. "As much as I just LOVE those druid gatherings...I have to go and talk to some people in Thunder Bluff. Important people."

She rolled her eyes. "Is it a new quest or something?"

He gave her a wry half-smile. "Yes, you could say that."

Akabeko stood and looked around the room. With everything packed away, it looked lonely. Ready for its next occupant. She called the banker and instructed him on what to do with the sorted piles. The personal items she carried out herself.

The next day dawned clear and crisp. Akabeko had helped the crew build the bier and arrange the quilted ceremonial bags that contained the possessions of the deceased. She now waited quietly with a host of other guild members, friends, and family. She glanced at the elderly tauren leading the ceremony, who was flanked by Hamuul Runetotem and Baine Bloodhoof himself.

"Today, we honor the life of our departed brother Dahakha," said the woman, and four tauren carried his body to the bier. It was swaddled in a blanket embroidered with symbols denoting his clan, class, and rank. A guild flag had been draped across his midsection. "He died in service to his people, honoring justice as he knew it." The tauren move to light the kindling at the base of the bier. "We recommit his body into the arms of the Earthmother. May his spirit fly to her swiftly; may the winds carry him gently; may the grass whisper his name. Let him look down on us with joy, through the eternal gaze of An'she and Mu'sha, until we too join him in death." The fire sprang up around the quilted bags.

"It's not right," he said angrily. "He's not the true Warchief. Any fool can see that." Some orcs from a nearby table looked up sharply.

"Would you keep it down?" Akabeko hissed. "If Thrall thought he was worthy, what more proof do you need?"

He raised an eyebrow at her over his drink. "Do you really believe that? Do you really believe that an aggressive, warmongering..." he struggled to find a word, "butcher is fit to lead the Horde?"

"He's done some things to redeem himself! You remember what happened in Stonetalon."

"Does that make up for what's become of Ashenvale?" he cut in. "Someone has to do what needs to be done."

She faltered and couldn't meet his eye. She knew he was right, but she wouldn't lift a finger.

A gray-furred hand gripped her arm just above the elbow, bringing her back to the present, and she smiled.

"For we are all born of you, Earthmother, and shall all return to you," they chorused.

The fire was raging across the offerings now. A gentle breeze blew the smoke into the valley. Voices carried faintly on the wind. "We know you, Dahakha. You are welcome at the hearth of the ancestors." For an instant, she could see an outline in the smoke: a tall bull in full regalia, bowing to his chieftain...

Dahakha's Finale

I mentioned that many of my guildies had left the game. One of them is my Insane buddy, who you will recall from basically every post I ever wrote about that achievement. He has written a lovely piece to honor his druid Dahakha, which I am pleased to share with you now!

*****

I can't open my eyes.

The only sound is a faint roaring. Distant, but I can feel it thundering through me. It presses me down like a physical weight. I struggle to move, but it is too much. I am too heavy.

As I struggle against the weight, barely able to breathe, I become aware of another sound under the roar. It is...familiar. I have heard it's like before....but where? Oh yes.....

His hands clenched the rail before him, and Dahakha was unsure whether he was bracing himself against the wall of noise created by the crowd around him, or holding himself up as his world dropped away. He stared in disbelief as below him, on the arena floor, Garrosh Hellscream raised his axe and, turning away from the body at his feet, screamed out his triumph to those looking on.

“No....”

Dahakha had seen many things since the Cataclysm had torn Azeroth apart. Deathwing's return had caused untold suffering for all races, not just the tauren, yet Dahakha had made it his personal mission to visit the new settlements and revisit the old, extending his help wherever possible and wreaking vengeance when grief overcame compassion. This was Cairne's way as well, and Dahakha had followed his chieftan's lead in trying to heal the wounds of the shattered world. He had heard with growing disquiet of the widening breach between Cairne and Garrosh, and was almost relieved when the challenge of honour came. Garrosh had led the Horde away from an honourable future, undermining or rejecting much of the work Cairne and Thrall had begun both before and during the Northrend campaign. It was time to correct that, and if his chief saw no other way to do so than single combat, so be it.

Cairne had been right. He had been true to his people, to his honour, and to the Horde. Yet, as he faced Garrosh and – clearly in control of the fight - moved to finish it, he had faltered. It was unbelievable. The acting Warchief, though, had not hesitated, and Dahakha's true leader, Cairne Bloodhoof, was dead. How could this be?!

Though most of the crowd was shouting its approval of the spectacle, the pocket of tauren around Dahakha was more muted. Many, like him, were silent, staring at their chieftan's body in stunned amazement. Some, however, had joined in their voices to the crowd's. The deep tauren bellows were filled with grief, and here and there, with anger and suspicion.

Dahakha had spent months moving around Azeroth, dealing with the many problems faced by the Horde in the new, devastated world. But as he gazed down at Cairne's lifeless body, he experienced his own personal Cataclysm......

The weight lessens slightly. I force my eyes to crack open, though all I see is a blurry light. Then shapes slowly form in my sluggish mind, faces. Many tauren faces, far off. I fix on one....I know it.....Cairne! But, Cairne is gone?.....no, his son.....

After Cairne's death, and the Grimtotem uprising, Dahakha was busy with his duties both to the Horde and to the Cenarion Circle, but he still found time between these missions to journey back to Thunder Bluff. The mood in the tauren city was changed greatly. While the revelation of Magatha Grimtotem's betrayal had calmed things somewhat between Thunder Bluff and Orgrimmar, resentment and lingering suspicion remained among many tauren. Baine Bloodhoof, the new chief, worked tirelessly to hold the Horde together, despite urging by many young braves, and a few older advisors, to avenge his father.

Dahakha sought to gain his chieftan's ear, but after the first meeting he was dismissed as another troublemaker, and Baine would not spare more time for him. He asked to be appointed as the Cenarion Circle's representative in Thunder Bluff, but the Archdruids assigned him other duties, more 'suitable' tasks. While these duties were in fact important, Dahakha could not help but feel that he was being deliberately blocked from Baine's council.

So he spent his time in Thunder Bluff speaking to the braves, young and old alike, gauging their sentiment and loyalty to their people and to the Horde. Slowly he became acquainted with a number of tauren who felt, like he did, that the Horde was losing its way. Plans were made and discarded, each more fantastic than the last.

Finally, he returned to Thunder Bluff to be met with restrained excitement. They had a chance, at last, to make a difference.

My gaze shifts slowly, up to the sky. The clear blue is unbroken, except for a lone hawk circling lazily above me.....

Dahakha drifted through the air high above Mulgore, lazily spiraling around the path his quarry was expected to take. As he instinctively sought the warm air currents, his mind went back over the plan he and the rest of the malcontents had hammered together over the previous days. Satisfied that they had taken every precaution, he allowed his attention to be drawn back to earth. Spying a large and brave, if foolish, rabbit in the grass, he aligned himself with it and prepared to stoop.

There! At the edge of his vision, he caught movement on the path. Aborting his strike on the fortunate rabbit, Dahakha drifted toward the group that had appeared in the distance. After a few minutes of observation he was sure, and casually changed course towards a copse of trees.

As he landed and shifted, Dahakha was met by low greetings and questions from the braves gathered. “They are coming. Now we wait for them to pass.”

A veteran of many a campaign, he rested with his back to a tree trunk, quietly letting the peace and harmony of life fill him. Soon enough, the sounds of booted feet, clinking of mail and creak of leather grew easily heard, and he flowed into lionform, padding to the edge of the copse and settling in amongst a thicket.

Approaching along the path, a group of orcs. Garrosh and his entourage. Interspersed with them were tauren soldiers, tribal markings and armour identifying them as the guard of the Chief of Chiefs. There was Baine, striding back to speak to a guard, then making his way to Garrosh's side again, pointing out various landmarks.

Dahakha growled, low at first, but building strength until his roar echoed around the hills. The group stopped, hands going to weapons and looking about with care. As time passed, slowly they relaxed, and started moving again. A pang of worry went through Dahakha – that had been the signal. Why were his colleagues in the guard not acting? He looked more carefully.....it was difficult to tell from here, but at least one of the guards he had been assured was going was missing from the escort. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Behind him, he heard agitated whispering, questioning the delay. He crawled back to them.

“This is not good. Our guards are not there. We cannot proceed, not with Baine at risk.”

This was met with exclamations of dismay and outrage. Confusion.

“We did not come here to fail, Dahakha. We must try!”

“No. We must wait. There will be other opportunities.”

He went back to the thicket, ignoring the low arguments behind him. Sharp disappointment – another chance like this would be a very long time coming. Suddenly he became aware that the arguments had stopped. He glanced back and found the braves gone. Alarm turned to shock as a cry went up from around him, the braves bursting out of cover towards Baine and Garrosh.

“Nooooo!”

In desperation he dashed after them, barreling into legs to trip them, but most continued unchecked, bellowing warcries, not least among them “For The Horde!” and “Cairne!”. Baine and Garrosh stood together, weapons ready with their guards ranged about them. Garrosh laughed at the oncoming braves, roaring his own challenge.

There was no hope. Dahakha watched in despair as the guards met his braves, orcs mowing them down with ruthless efficiency, tauren aiming to neutralise rather than kill. Baine waded in, clubbing braves to the ground, whilst Garrosh leaped forward with abandon, clearly relishing the opportunity to fight. Dahakha did what he could, healing the worst of the injuries, but he was not as attuned to the tree of life as many of his fellow druids, and his efforts were only enough to prevent some deaths. Tears blurring his vision as the battle raged about him, he never saw the strike that turned the world black.

The weight comes crushing down on me again, and this time with the pain. Ah, but this pain is welcome, for it drowns out the pain I have carried for so long. The pain of betrayal, the pain of loss, the pain of grief.....

As consciousness returned, Dahakha groggily became aware of someone standing over him. Slowly his vision cleared, and in the firelight of the tent he saw Baine's sad face before him. He started to rise, but the clink of metal brought awareness of the weight of chain at his ankles and wrists. The instincts of the wild, the fear of being trapped and caught, took over and he shifted into catform – or tried to. Something blocked him....the chains were enspelled, locking him into his tauren shape.

After a moment of panic and struggle, with great effort he calmed himself and focused on his chieftain once more. Baine sighed.

“What did you hope to accomplish, Dahakha? Why risk splitting the Horde with such a foolish action? You had to have known that the orcs would never rest until they had vengeance for such a betrayal.”

“We only planned exile, my chief. We never wanted to kill anyone.”

“And yet many were killed. My people. Your people.”

“Yes. I could not stop them....I wanted to abandon the plan. Our people were not in place, we needed you kept safe – wait. You knew. That is why the guards were changed. How long?”

“Long enough, Dahakha. I tried to talk Garrosh out of continuing with the tour, but he insisted on drawing the rebels out so he could crush them at once. I had hoped that by changing the guards you would see sense and not do anything stupid. I share your responsibility for these deaths, I'm afraid.”

“I am sorry that we caused you such pain, my chief. It was our hope that a new Warchief would be more like Thrall, if he could not come back. More like your father.”

“Garrosh was appointed by Thrall himself. Do you doubt his wisdom?”

“Then why did Cairne challenge Garrosh, if not to save the Horde, to stop the descent into savagery that we are seeing with the new Warchief? You know that we are losing our honour, our chance at peace with the Alliance by being a part of such a Horde. We can only guess how long Thrall will be needed by the Earthen Ring. What if he comes back to find a Horde as merciless and destructive as it was before Mannoroth was destroyed? Can we afford to wait until that happens before we act?”

“Even so. But your way was not the right way. We cannot prevent that by becoming it ourselves. You will be judged tomorrow.”

With another sigh, Baine left Dahakha alone with his responsibility and failure.

It is hard to breathe. I seek Baine again, slowly...everything is so slow. Finding him, For the first time I notice my spiritual leader next to him. Archdruid Hamuul......his face is impassive. I do not regret defying you, Archdruid, only that you must be witness to my failure......

Before they took him to face the council that would judge him, Dahakha was visited by Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem. The old tauren said nothing for a long while, regarding him solemnly. Dahakha remained silent, patiently waiting for the remonstrations, the disappointment and shame that he had already taken upon himself. After a time, as he looked at the floor between them, the Archdruid spoke.

“I am to sit on the council.”

His head jerked up with shock and, as little as he deserved it, hope.

“Yes, Archdruid.”

“I am not here to plead your innocence. I am here to determine your punishment. You have caused major diplomatic conflict within the Horde, Dahakha. This is not a thing to be treated lightly.”

“Yes, Archdruid.”

“Not only that, but the Warchief's trust in the Cenarion Circle has been dealt a blow as well. A member of the Circle does not, can not, become involved in the internal politics of either the Horde or the Alliance. You know this, it has been a part of your training from the beginning. Has our faith in you been so misplaced?”

“No! Archdruid, Garrosh does not respect the Circle like Thrall does. He resists any counsel that could slow the spread of the Horde, even though it destroys the wild places, the sacred places. His relationship with the goblins of the Bilgewater Cartel is a foreshadowing of the future! He allows them to pillage the forests and destroy the wildlife, leaving nothing behind. If he has his way, Ashenvale Forest will be felled to fuel the Horde war machine. Where will it stop? When the Alliance is defeated? When the Horde is defeated? When he has conquered all of Azeroth? What of Draenor? No, Archdruid, I am convinced that Garrosh Hellscream is – or will be soon – an enemy of the Circle.”

“So. You took it upon yourself to determine what is best for the Circle.”

“Archdruid, my people – our people – revere nature and the elements. Where we see life, to be tended and cultivated, the goblins see only profit. Garrosh only sees fuel, war materials, and enemy hiding places. I do not deny that I did what I did because I feel the Horde is losing its nobility and honour, but I also cannot see any other way to avoid the undoing of the Circle's work than by replacing Hellscream as Warchief.”

The Archdruid studied him intently. Then he nodded to himself and turned away.

“Archdruid?” He stopped and looked back at Dahakha, bound and chained. “I do not regret what I tried to do. I did not have murder on my mind.”

“So be it.”

My mind drifts.....I laugh as I remember the look of shock on the faces of the council, only the laugh is more of a gurgle now.....

They let him appear before the council unbound, undoubtedly due to the Archdruid's influence. It was a short hearing, with the guard who had confessed the plan to Baine standing witness against Dahakha and the surviving braves. To his credit, he did emphasize that the plan had been to take Garrosh alive, not to assassinate him. Dahakha understood the guard's embarrassment at admitting his betrayal, but he had forgiven him even before he knew who the 'spy' was. After the initial burst of anger and shock, he had to ask himself, was I not also betraying those around me to do what I thought was right? Can I judge him for doing exactly what I did?

Garrosh leaned forward. “If I had my way, you would be summarily executed,” he growled. “But since you attempted this cowardice in Mulgore, I have decided to allow Bloodhoof to set your punishment. I am assured that it will be very, very unpleasant.” He flashed a nasty grin. “But if I don't think it is unpleasant enough, I will have your head!”

Dahakha looked to Baine. The chief of chiefs sighed again before he spoke. “Dahakha, you have breached the trust of members of the Horde, but also that of the Cenarion Circle. Archdruid Runetotem and I have discussed the matter, and the decision we have come to is this: you will be taken to Moonglade, never to return. Your presence outside of that sanctuary is upon pain of death. All Horde commanders will have orders to that effect.”

With visible effort, Dahakha choked back a groan of anguish. Then the Archdruid added, “Your rank within the Circle will be revoked permanently. You will be be required to serve, to meditate, and – perhaps, in time – to teach new druids. If you leave Moonglade, you will be forever outcast, and all Circle members will be empowered to hunt you down.”

Garrosh had been following this with impatience, his face growing more and more thunderous as the sentence was revealed. Clearly about to intervene, his outrage slowly faded as he noticed Dahakha's obvious distress. A smug smile appeared. “I hope you do decide to run, Dahakha. I will enjoy having you hunted down like a dog.” A gesture to the guards. “Take him away.”

“Wait.” It came out as a croak. “I have one request.” A little stronger.

“What is there to say? You have been sentenced, worm. Unless you would like to beg for death?” Garrosh laughed at his own joke.

“No. Just what I should have done from the start.” Standing tall, gathering what pride and dignity he had left, Dahakha looked into Garrosh Hellscream's eyes. “You killed Chief Cairne through treachery, though most believe it was not your own.” The Warchief roared to his feet, and the room was filled with tension and rage. Dahakha raised his voice to be heard over the noise.

“Garrosh Hellscream, I challenge you to an honour duel.”

The orc's eyes gleamed, as his fury turned to anticipation. “To the death?”

“To the death.”

Now the roar of the crowd has gone – is it quiet or am I unable to hear? But no, I hear the crunch of boots on sand as Garrosh approaches. My bane. I see his feet and legs at the edge of my vision as I look to my true leaders. “You fought well, tauren.” Grudging. He can afford to be magnanimous in his triumph. “Maybe you deserved this death after all. At least you weren't a coward.” I ignore him, lift my arm – so heavy, so slow – to point at Baine and Hamuul......

The duel is held in Orgrimmar. Dahakha uses every trick of the wild, every part of his druid training, every skill he has learned throughout his campaigns in Draenor and Northrend as well as against the Twilight's Hammer. Yet it is not enough. Garrosh anticipates most of what he does, and the rare occasions that he is surprised, he reacts with lightning speed. Slowly, Dahakha weakens. In a last, desperate flurry of attacks, he launches himself at Garrosh. But this was anticipated as well. The axe that, so long ago now it seems, killed his beloved chief, is buried in his chest. With a twist, the Warchief rips the weapon out, and Dahakha slumps to the ground. Through the roar of the crowd, Dahakha hears the Hellscream howl of victory.

I clench my fist. Bring it back across my ruined chest, a salute to Baine Bloodhoof, Chief of Chiefs, and Archdruid Hamuul Runetotem. For our people, for the Horde...

I try to shout my last words, but I can't tell whether anything comes out or if my mouth is moving silently....

Strength...

and....

Honour........