Derrial looked up from his alchemical experimenting with a grumble as a knock sounded on the doorsill of his Sen'Jin dwelling. The stock of herbs he had gathered in Northrend was proving inadequate to the needs of the Browncoats in their adventures in Mt. Hyjal and other areas affected by the Cataclysm. Working with the new herb, Cinderbloom, was annoying, since it had a distressing habit of bursting into flame at precisely the wrong moment. However, several singed fingers later, he was just beginning to find some workable elixirs and potions. But he really hated interruptions when he was working, so he stomped over to the door and flung it open.
Standing in the doorway was a female troll, grinning at him. A very small portion of his mind noted the Browncoats cloak, but most of his attention was on his appreciative appraisal of his visitor's form.
"Well now, dis be a pleasant surprise!" Derrial grinned back at her, and politely motioned her to enter. "To what do I owe de honor of dis visit?"
"Just checking in with ya, Old Troll" his guest replied, settling herself comfortably in an armchair near the work area, putting her feet up on the edge of the worktable.
Derrial was taken aback for a moment, both by the greeting and by the familiar way she'd just made herself at home, as if she knew the place. He and his friend Bookh had always called one another "Old Troll" and "Old Bull" - come to think of it, he'd not seen Bookh for some time - but no, he shook his head, that wasn't possible… although, that WAS Bookh's favorite chair when he came to visit…
"Ya hadn't heard the news then, I take it," his guest said with a giggle. Derrial shook his head, perplexed.
"Let me see if this jogs yer memory. 15 seasons ago, just south-west of Crossroads, remember that little grove of trees right by the water…." the female troll's eyes twinkled mischievously as she paused.
Derrial's mouth fell open in astonishment. He knew his friend would never have told anyone else about that…situation…that Bookh had extricated him from. "By all de ancestors, BOOKH!" Derrial gasped. "What happened to ya? Not that I don't appreciate da changes, o'course, but…seriously." His confused questions were drowned out by Bookh's uproarious laughter.
"Pull up a chair, Old Troll, and break out a flask o' something strong - dis is gonna be quite a tale," Bookh paused for a moment, "and I guess ya won't be callin me 'Old Bull' anymore."
The stunned look on Derrial's face brought a fresh outbreak of giggles from Bookh. This was gonna be interesting…
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
A Family Visit
Tamashi couldn't keep still. Her well-traveled relative, the druid Bookh, was coming home to Bloodhoof for a family visit. Greatmother Windstar was determined that such an illustrious visitor should have a proper welcome. Tamashi was taking a day off from her training as a paladin to help get everything ready. Ever since the messenger had arrived telling of the upcoming visitor, the whole clan had been aflutter.
I wonder what cousin Bookh will think of my decision to become a Sunwalker? Tamashi pondered, as she pounded the last particle of dust from wall hangings. None of the Windstar clan had ever followed the path she now trod as a paladin. Druids, hunters, even shaman aplenty graced the clan's heritage. Bookh himself was unusual, however, in the wide amount of traveling he had done, so Tamashi thought he might be understanding of her choice.
She tweaked the last hanging back into place, and looked around the lodge with a satisfied smile. Fresh fruits filled a bowl to overflowing. A haunch of kodo sizzled over the cooking fire. She brushed off her tunic, making sure no stray dust clung to it, and straightened the brown cape that marked her as a Browncoat. She was proud to be a member of the same group as her famous cousin, and hoped to make him proud as well.
The soft sound of a throat being cleared made her turn around. A female troll stood in the doorway, and for a brief moment, Tamashi thought it was her friend Lith'atal. But, although she could tell the Troll was a druid by the markings on her armor, it was clear she was an older female. Her eyes twinkled good-naturedly, and she winked at Tamashi when she paused in recognition of the Browncoats cloak.
“Who is it?” Greatmother Windstar called from the next room.
Before she could answer, Tamashi's uncle peered around the corner. When he saw the Troll, he snorted disgustedly and said to Tamashi, “Tell the creature we don't want her kind here,” as he turned around and left.
“Uncle!” Tamashi cried, scandalized, but the Troll simply chuckled. Tamashi, flushed in embarrassment, politely motioned the Troll to enter and seat herself by the fire.
“Uncle Arlo has always been a bit closed-minded” the Troll said, as she settled down cross-legged on the rug. Tamashi, at a loss for words, moved to pour a cup of the tea brewing over the fire. Whoever this guest was, she seemed totally at ease and confident in Tauren tradition. Perhaps this is a friend of Lith's father? Tamashi wondered as she shyly handed the tea to the guest. How did she know Uncle Arlo's name, though? Tamashi hoped this unexpected visitor would not stay long. She was eager to meet her cousin Bookh, and didn't want to be distracted having to be hospitable to a stranger.
A gasp came from the inner doorway as Greatmother Windstar entered the room. The Troll rose, and made a respectful bow to the elder. Tamashi stood silently as the gazes of the elder and the Troll locked. Volumes of communication seemed to pass between them, and then both sighed – the troll in apparent relief, and the elder in...regret?
Surprisingly, the Greatmother opened her arms and enfolded the Troll in a warm, long hug. Tamashi was stunned. Her clan was usually accepting of other races, with some exceptions, like her Uncle Arlo, but this kind of open affection was unheard of.
“Oh my child, my child, you are traveling an unexpected road,” Greatmother said sadly. “You will have many challenges you never could imagine, but will also do more good than you ever dreamed.”
The Troll gently kissed the cheek of the Greatmother, in what was a familiar gesture for a Tauren, but seemed odd for a Troll.
“I knew of anyone in the clan, you would understand, dear Greatmother,” the Troll smiled broadly as she settled to the rugs in a place of honor next to the Greatmother's own place.
“Come Tamashi, greet your Cousin Bookh properly,” Greatmother Windstar's eyes twinkled as Tamashi's mouth fell open in surprise.
I wonder what cousin Bookh will think of my decision to become a Sunwalker? Tamashi pondered, as she pounded the last particle of dust from wall hangings. None of the Windstar clan had ever followed the path she now trod as a paladin. Druids, hunters, even shaman aplenty graced the clan's heritage. Bookh himself was unusual, however, in the wide amount of traveling he had done, so Tamashi thought he might be understanding of her choice.
She tweaked the last hanging back into place, and looked around the lodge with a satisfied smile. Fresh fruits filled a bowl to overflowing. A haunch of kodo sizzled over the cooking fire. She brushed off her tunic, making sure no stray dust clung to it, and straightened the brown cape that marked her as a Browncoat. She was proud to be a member of the same group as her famous cousin, and hoped to make him proud as well.
The soft sound of a throat being cleared made her turn around. A female troll stood in the doorway, and for a brief moment, Tamashi thought it was her friend Lith'atal. But, although she could tell the Troll was a druid by the markings on her armor, it was clear she was an older female. Her eyes twinkled good-naturedly, and she winked at Tamashi when she paused in recognition of the Browncoats cloak.
“Who is it?” Greatmother Windstar called from the next room.
Before she could answer, Tamashi's uncle peered around the corner. When he saw the Troll, he snorted disgustedly and said to Tamashi, “Tell the creature we don't want her kind here,” as he turned around and left.
“Uncle!” Tamashi cried, scandalized, but the Troll simply chuckled. Tamashi, flushed in embarrassment, politely motioned the Troll to enter and seat herself by the fire.
“Uncle Arlo has always been a bit closed-minded” the Troll said, as she settled down cross-legged on the rug. Tamashi, at a loss for words, moved to pour a cup of the tea brewing over the fire. Whoever this guest was, she seemed totally at ease and confident in Tauren tradition. Perhaps this is a friend of Lith's father? Tamashi wondered as she shyly handed the tea to the guest. How did she know Uncle Arlo's name, though? Tamashi hoped this unexpected visitor would not stay long. She was eager to meet her cousin Bookh, and didn't want to be distracted having to be hospitable to a stranger.
A gasp came from the inner doorway as Greatmother Windstar entered the room. The Troll rose, and made a respectful bow to the elder. Tamashi stood silently as the gazes of the elder and the Troll locked. Volumes of communication seemed to pass between them, and then both sighed – the troll in apparent relief, and the elder in...regret?
Surprisingly, the Greatmother opened her arms and enfolded the Troll in a warm, long hug. Tamashi was stunned. Her clan was usually accepting of other races, with some exceptions, like her Uncle Arlo, but this kind of open affection was unheard of.
“Oh my child, my child, you are traveling an unexpected road,” Greatmother said sadly. “You will have many challenges you never could imagine, but will also do more good than you ever dreamed.”
The Troll gently kissed the cheek of the Greatmother, in what was a familiar gesture for a Tauren, but seemed odd for a Troll.
“I knew of anyone in the clan, you would understand, dear Greatmother,” the Troll smiled broadly as she settled to the rugs in a place of honor next to the Greatmother's own place.
“Come Tamashi, greet your Cousin Bookh properly,” Greatmother Windstar's eyes twinkled as Tamashi's mouth fell open in surprise.
New Troll Here (Part 3)
The first thing that could be sensed was light - soft, greenish light. Not the sickly green of the fel-cursed Scourge plague, but the green of newly growing plants. Then a gentle warmth suffusing Bookh's body, soothing away the burning pain of mortal wounds. Was this some new unexplored facet of the Emerald Dream? Bookh wondered, pondering this unexpected aspect of the afterlife.
Or was it the afterlife? The sounds slowly becoming audible to Bookh's ears seemed depressingly familiar. Screams, shouts and muffled explosions of the elemental attack on Thunder Bluff continued unabated, though sounding oddly different.
How in the world did I survive that? Bookh wondered, cautiously gathering strength, and beginning to stir. Bookh's limbs didn't seem to be responding quite correctly - everything felt strange.
"Don't move too quickly, mon...I mean... FEL!" Ka'puna sounded distraught, and Bookh felt the gentle restraint of hands on shoulders. Ah, that explains it, Bookh thought. Ka'puna must have found a healer from the Browncoats to come and pull Bookh from the very jaws of death. It was certainly well beyond her capability to cast a proper healing spell.
Bookh's eyes opened, blinking, finding focusing a chore - especially since Ka'puna's face was filling Bookh's vision. They were virtually nose to nose. Bookh lifted a hand to gently push Ka'puna away, but froze, mid-motion. Where there should have been a large, Tauren hand was now a much smaller three-fingered one. Ka'puna sat back, eyes wide, and shaking as she stared at her teacher.
"Whaa...?" Instead of the normal baritone, a mellow alto voice came out of Bookh's mouth. Bookh turned a penetrating stare on Ka'puna, who shrank back into the corner.
"I couldn't find any of da Browncoats, mon...uh...Bookh," Ka'puna looked crestfallen. "After I dragged ya in here, I tried, I really did try to find 'em, but everyone be busy with dese elementals." She cleared her throat nervously as Bookh's silent scrutiny urged her to continue. "Well, I remembered what ye be tellin me 'bout healin, how healthy bodies be in proper balance with nature and all. But then ya stopped breathin, so I tried to bring ya back into balance. And, well, I kinda used myself as a model of healthy balance..." Ka'puna trailed off again, waiting for this to sink in.
Bookh's eyes closed in a silent prayer for patience to the Earth Mother. Opening them again after a long moment, Bookh began a brief self-examination. Hands: three-fingers, much smaller than before. Feet: In place of hooves, three broad toes. And where did my lovely tail go? Bookh thought with a sigh. Streching, hmm, body feels a bit stiff, but not bad, certainly healed up, but not quite...right.
Then Bookh placed a hand on a chest was that no longer wounded, but also decidedly feminine.
"Oh my!" Bookh winced slightly as her new voice grated on her ears. She turned and looked at Ka'puna, who grinned tentatively back at her.
"What is da Cap'n gonna say to dis?" Bookh wondered out loud...
Or was it the afterlife? The sounds slowly becoming audible to Bookh's ears seemed depressingly familiar. Screams, shouts and muffled explosions of the elemental attack on Thunder Bluff continued unabated, though sounding oddly different.
How in the world did I survive that? Bookh wondered, cautiously gathering strength, and beginning to stir. Bookh's limbs didn't seem to be responding quite correctly - everything felt strange.
"Don't move too quickly, mon...I mean... FEL!" Ka'puna sounded distraught, and Bookh felt the gentle restraint of hands on shoulders. Ah, that explains it, Bookh thought. Ka'puna must have found a healer from the Browncoats to come and pull Bookh from the very jaws of death. It was certainly well beyond her capability to cast a proper healing spell.
Bookh's eyes opened, blinking, finding focusing a chore - especially since Ka'puna's face was filling Bookh's vision. They were virtually nose to nose. Bookh lifted a hand to gently push Ka'puna away, but froze, mid-motion. Where there should have been a large, Tauren hand was now a much smaller three-fingered one. Ka'puna sat back, eyes wide, and shaking as she stared at her teacher.
"Whaa...?" Instead of the normal baritone, a mellow alto voice came out of Bookh's mouth. Bookh turned a penetrating stare on Ka'puna, who shrank back into the corner.
"I couldn't find any of da Browncoats, mon...uh...Bookh," Ka'puna looked crestfallen. "After I dragged ya in here, I tried, I really did try to find 'em, but everyone be busy with dese elementals." She cleared her throat nervously as Bookh's silent scrutiny urged her to continue. "Well, I remembered what ye be tellin me 'bout healin, how healthy bodies be in proper balance with nature and all. But then ya stopped breathin, so I tried to bring ya back into balance. And, well, I kinda used myself as a model of healthy balance..." Ka'puna trailed off again, waiting for this to sink in.
Bookh's eyes closed in a silent prayer for patience to the Earth Mother. Opening them again after a long moment, Bookh began a brief self-examination. Hands: three-fingers, much smaller than before. Feet: In place of hooves, three broad toes. And where did my lovely tail go? Bookh thought with a sigh. Streching, hmm, body feels a bit stiff, but not bad, certainly healed up, but not quite...right.
Then Bookh placed a hand on a chest was that no longer wounded, but also decidedly feminine.
"Oh my!" Bookh winced slightly as her new voice grated on her ears. She turned and looked at Ka'puna, who grinned tentatively back at her.
"What is da Cap'n gonna say to dis?" Bookh wondered out loud...
Going Home (Part 2)
Bookh smiled as they stood at the railing of the zeppelin, watching the lush, green plains of Mulgore unfold beneath them.
“There is my birthplace," he pointed as they flew over Bloodhoof Village. He turned to look at his student, Ka'puna. He was looking forward to showing her many of the places he'd explored in his youth. He hoped that the peacefulness of his home would have a calming effect, and help the young Troll learn more focus in her druidic studies.
"I've never been so far from da Echo Isles before" Ka'puna muttered. "Orgrimarr was awful excitin' - what about 'dis Thunder Bluff place?"
The zeppelin was just beginning to dock at Thunderbluff Mesa, and Bookh chuckled softly. "Thunder Bluff is much more peaceful of a place, little one. You will find it a quiet..."
Bookh's words trailed off as his eyes widened in amazement. The normally silent mesa top was awash with clusters of elementals and Tauren defenders locked in combat. Elemental rifts dotted the entire city, as far as Bookh could see. As they cautiously disembarked from the zeppelin, a loud rumbling behind them caused them to turn quickly. A rift had formed virtually on top of them, and earthen elementals surged towards them.
The battle was brief, but violent. The two druids stood back to back in bear form, battling the stone elementals. Swipe, maul, growl, the two of them efficiently turning the hulking rock-like creatures into sprays of pebbles. They had defeated nearly all of them with swipes of their great furred paws, when a unlucky blow from the last, dying elemental sent Bookh flying backwards, even as the elemental burst into fragments. Ka'puna let out a roar of protest and ran to her fallen teacher.
Bookh faded in and out of consciousness as Ka'puna, still in bear form, dragged his bleeding body to shelter in a nearby tent. Tears ran down the young Troll's face as she vainly attempted to staunch the bleeding, but it was no use.The wound had torn through Bookh's armor and deep into his chest. Bookh shook his head slowly and struggled to speak one last time.
"Seek out the Browncoats, little one," Bookh gasped, the blood from his ghastly wound beginning to choke his breathing. "They will....protect you."
His last fleeting thought as he slipped towards death was a prayer to the Earth Mother that Ka'puna would survive this madness...
“There is my birthplace," he pointed as they flew over Bloodhoof Village. He turned to look at his student, Ka'puna. He was looking forward to showing her many of the places he'd explored in his youth. He hoped that the peacefulness of his home would have a calming effect, and help the young Troll learn more focus in her druidic studies.
"I've never been so far from da Echo Isles before" Ka'puna muttered. "Orgrimarr was awful excitin' - what about 'dis Thunder Bluff place?"
The zeppelin was just beginning to dock at Thunderbluff Mesa, and Bookh chuckled softly. "Thunder Bluff is much more peaceful of a place, little one. You will find it a quiet..."
Bookh's words trailed off as his eyes widened in amazement. The normally silent mesa top was awash with clusters of elementals and Tauren defenders locked in combat. Elemental rifts dotted the entire city, as far as Bookh could see. As they cautiously disembarked from the zeppelin, a loud rumbling behind them caused them to turn quickly. A rift had formed virtually on top of them, and earthen elementals surged towards them.
The battle was brief, but violent. The two druids stood back to back in bear form, battling the stone elementals. Swipe, maul, growl, the two of them efficiently turning the hulking rock-like creatures into sprays of pebbles. They had defeated nearly all of them with swipes of their great furred paws, when a unlucky blow from the last, dying elemental sent Bookh flying backwards, even as the elemental burst into fragments. Ka'puna let out a roar of protest and ran to her fallen teacher.
Bookh faded in and out of consciousness as Ka'puna, still in bear form, dragged his bleeding body to shelter in a nearby tent. Tears ran down the young Troll's face as she vainly attempted to staunch the bleeding, but it was no use.The wound had torn through Bookh's armor and deep into his chest. Bookh shook his head slowly and struggled to speak one last time.
"Seek out the Browncoats, little one," Bookh gasped, the blood from his ghastly wound beginning to choke his breathing. "They will....protect you."
His last fleeting thought as he slipped towards death was a prayer to the Earth Mother that Ka'puna would survive this madness...
Lessons (Part 1)
Bookh was perplexed. He normally loved working with younger druids…but this new one…
He frowned slightly as he examined the cloudy alchemical mess in the vial before him.
“Well, mon? How’d I do? Is it…” The young Troll’s voice faltered to a stop. Ka’puna’s face still beamed with innocent enthusiasm, but she recognized that look on her teacher’s face – all too well.
Bookh cleared his throat, his frown deepening. He looked sternly into Ka’puna’s eyes. “You must focus, young one. The forces of nature are not to be toyed with. This….” he lifted the vial of what should have been a healing potion, “…is more likely to turn your patient into a frog than to bring them wholeness.”
Ka’puna stifled a giggle, but nodded obediently and under Bookh’s continued scrutiny, began working with a fresh batch of herbs.
Bookh’s mind wandered as he supervised the young Troll druid’s efforts. His face softened slightly as he remembered another young druid, his adopted 'sister’ the Night Elf Kitsubi, from so very long ago. Although in the Cenarion Circle race was supposedly not an issue for those who followed the druidic way, it had been unusual for a Tauren and a Night Elf to bond as closely as they had. Kit had faced similar struggles with focus as Ka’puna was now facing, to the point of nearly fainting every time she tried to heal someone. A proud smile fleetingly crossed Bookh’s face as he recalled the last message he had received from his little ‘Firey Fox.’ She and her companions had celebrated a number of victories in the battle within Icecrown Citadel, and she had finally come into her own as a healer, easily keeping her friends healed and fighting strong.
He sighed deeply, thinking sadly of the long grueling conflict in Northrend, of friends fallen or turned by the unholy evil of the Lich King into walking abominations. He was proud of the Browncoats and their role in the defeat of Arthas, but he was more than ready for a time with less conflict. That didn’t seem to be coming any time soon, however. The defeat of Zalazane during the battle for the Echo Isles, which also brought the surprising revelation of Troll druids, was still causing waves throughout the Cenarion Circle. There was unrest within the Horde, and the elements themselves seemed to be in rebellion…
A puff of smoke from the worktable in front of him brought his thoughts back to the room with a sudden jolt.
“Hmmm. Dat shouldn’t have done dat.” Ka’puna’s thoughtful frown was obscured by the ashy residue from the exploded potion, turning her normal bluish features into a solid mask of grey.
In spite of himself, Bookh began laughing…
He frowned slightly as he examined the cloudy alchemical mess in the vial before him.
“Well, mon? How’d I do? Is it…” The young Troll’s voice faltered to a stop. Ka’puna’s face still beamed with innocent enthusiasm, but she recognized that look on her teacher’s face – all too well.
Bookh cleared his throat, his frown deepening. He looked sternly into Ka’puna’s eyes. “You must focus, young one. The forces of nature are not to be toyed with. This….” he lifted the vial of what should have been a healing potion, “…is more likely to turn your patient into a frog than to bring them wholeness.”
Ka’puna stifled a giggle, but nodded obediently and under Bookh’s continued scrutiny, began working with a fresh batch of herbs.
Bookh’s mind wandered as he supervised the young Troll druid’s efforts. His face softened slightly as he remembered another young druid, his adopted 'sister’ the Night Elf Kitsubi, from so very long ago. Although in the Cenarion Circle race was supposedly not an issue for those who followed the druidic way, it had been unusual for a Tauren and a Night Elf to bond as closely as they had. Kit had faced similar struggles with focus as Ka’puna was now facing, to the point of nearly fainting every time she tried to heal someone. A proud smile fleetingly crossed Bookh’s face as he recalled the last message he had received from his little ‘Firey Fox.’ She and her companions had celebrated a number of victories in the battle within Icecrown Citadel, and she had finally come into her own as a healer, easily keeping her friends healed and fighting strong.
He sighed deeply, thinking sadly of the long grueling conflict in Northrend, of friends fallen or turned by the unholy evil of the Lich King into walking abominations. He was proud of the Browncoats and their role in the defeat of Arthas, but he was more than ready for a time with less conflict. That didn’t seem to be coming any time soon, however. The defeat of Zalazane during the battle for the Echo Isles, which also brought the surprising revelation of Troll druids, was still causing waves throughout the Cenarion Circle. There was unrest within the Horde, and the elements themselves seemed to be in rebellion…
A puff of smoke from the worktable in front of him brought his thoughts back to the room with a sudden jolt.
“Hmmm. Dat shouldn’t have done dat.” Ka’puna’s thoughtful frown was obscured by the ashy residue from the exploded potion, turning her normal bluish features into a solid mask of grey.
In spite of himself, Bookh began laughing…
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