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So, I'll tell you what has happened to me over the past few days. It has been hectic to say the least. As mentioned before, I encountered the Kalu'ak. To the far west of Howling Fjord there lies an island - the Isle of Spears. Settled on this island in the village of Kamagua are the Kalu'ak, a clan of Tuskarr. At the top of what is known as the Ancient Lift, one of their members, Orfus, greeted me. I'd never encountered this race until now. From what I can gather by talking to the locals, they are native to the colder regions of Northrend, making their homes along the southern coastline. Being so close to the ocean provides them with their main source of food and income - fish. Many of the Tuskarr are fearless fishermen, and whaling is an important part of their culture. They are strange creatures; bulky, with large tusks - a very peaceful, nomadic race. They have a penchant for using turtles as transport; either riding on their backs over the snow or boarding the larger one's shells to swim across the seas. I have a lot more to learn about the Kalu'ak, but they are the midst of a conflict with the pirate thieves of Scalawag Point and have been requesting assistance from anyone who happens to pass by. Curiosity got the better of me, and so, I obliged.
The Kalu'ak's hunting grounds have become rife with bloodthirsty undead rising from desecrated graves - from within, the most prized artifacts of the diceased - stolen. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who's to be held responsible, but replacement was necessary, or the Kalu'ak would be facing ever harder times. After Elder Atuik explained to me the current state of affairs he let me know of a Goblin pirate who goes by the name of Grezzix Spindlesnap. In return for food and shelter from the Kalu'ak, he offers them valuable information about the pirate's attack plans and other dealings. Elder Atuik suggested that I might ask him if he could get me in undercover on behalf of the Kalu'ak. I have to admit that infliltrating the Northsea Freebooters controlled port sounded appealing, albeit dangerous.
I travelled with Grezzix's cabin boy, Lou, to Scalawag Point where I went to scout out their leader - "Silvermoon" Harry. After explaining who had sent me, he had no qualms in sending me off on my first 'mission' which I assume was an initiation test - to reclaim 'his' Sin'dorei scrying crystal from a large Orca. The mere thought that he would take something so sacred from my brethren makes me sick to my stomach, but this was no time to complain about theivery. Judging by his nickname and remembering what Grezzix had told me previously (He's a freak... crazy for Blood Elves.
) it was hardly surprising he had no trouble trusting me with his business almost right away. After performing some tasks for the pirates around base, I asked him what had happened to the stolen artifacts - some armor, a shield, a staff and a frozen heart. He expressed his distaste in ever setting eyes on them again after he explained each dreaded series of events in turn. As it turns out, they were rather bad luck.
The ancient armor of the Kvaldir was taken aboard a ship that was ambushed by a Forsaken destroyer. The crew of the destroyer took the stolen goods for themselves and sunk the vessel. "Silvermoon" Harry escaped, of course, as did a few other shipmates, but many did not return. Harry's girl, Alanya, loaned me a bomber plane and sent me on my way to the docking point of the Forsaken destroyer to reclaim the armor. Many people were on board, but with the power of magic I pushed my way into the cabin containing the goods, loaded it up and hastily made my escape only a little worse for wear. I kept my promise to Harry - I did not return the armor to him, I went straight to Orfus who I knew could be trusted to keep close eye on the artifacts I recovered. The 'cursed' staff was to be found on an abandoned ship out to sea far north of Scalawag Point, and the frozen heart of Isuldorf was being held captive at the back of a deep running cave directly below the pirate's camp.
As for the shield, now that makes for an interesting ghost story. It was pilfered originally by the crew of a ship belonging to a Captain Ellis - all of whom were killed a short while ago. "Silvermoon" Harry notified me that the ship takes a certain path through the smaller islands that surround Scalawag Point in order to search for new crew members - the souls of the deceased. As I boarded the ship at the pirate's dock, cold shivers were sent streaming down my spine. With great trepidation I apporached Captain Ellis who explained that the shield was pilfered from him by the elemental giant, Sorlof. He couldn't get it back himself as he and his crew couldn't leave the spiritual confines of the ghost ship - nor did he want to get it back, it bought a curse upon them all. I agreed that I would help him blast down Sorlof and go out to retrieve the shield myself. Unfortunately, below deck, an undead mutiny was rising. I had to fend off the rebels as Captain Ellis and his remaining crew directed the ship to Sorlof's location at which point I loaded the artillery ready for fire by the ghostly cannoners. After some time firing, we succeeded in bringing the giant down. I didn't hang around to see if he was really dead. I scrambled off the ship, took back the artifact and returned swifly to Orfus of Kamagua who instructed me of the artifacts' replacement.
I had done what was asked of me by the Kalu'ak, but to avoid suspicion, I returned later to Scalawag Point where I was notified that a suspected traitor had infiltrated the island. I tried not to let on to my true position. I spoke to Zeh'gen, a Witch Doctor, who was convinced that "Crowleg" Dan was the traitor and asked me to confront him. I did so, and it turned out that he was working for the Southsea Pirates. I was off the hook! Other pirates soon noticed what I had been doing for the camp and referred me to Annie Bonn - second in command.
She saw right through me, my intentions were crystal clear to her. I wanted to stop all attacks on the Kalu'ak by the Northsea Freebooters and if that meant destroying their leader, that is what I would aim to do. I did not admit this to her at first, but then something strange happened - she offered her help. She explained to me how Jonah's leadership threatened their operation. His tactics were suicidal and disasterous at best. If we could stop him from making a mess of things, she vowed to take over command and stop all attacks on the Kalu'ak.
After explaining to me where Jonah's hideout was, I set out with a few allies to assassinate him. We made it to his lair and commenced attack. Before we could even succeed in our goal, victory was ours. His bear, Hozzer, picked him up and ruthlessly consumed him - his flesh was ripped, torn and pulled from the bone before our very eyes. His spyglass clattered to the floor as he was thrown about, and I picked it up to return to Annie Bonn as evidence of his demise. The Kalu'ak shouldn't be getting any more trouble. I am spending the night with one of the families here as I write. I have heard reports from the Horde base over at Borean Tundra - this is where I will head next, only after a good night's sleep.
Friday November 21, 2008 Comment
If you can recall, I originally arrived in Northrend at Vengeance Landing, a military outpost inhabited by the Hand of Vengeance - a group of Forsaken. Amongst them, members of the Royal Apothecary Society. When I arrived I had a chat with Apothecary Lysander who explained to me the purpose of Sylvanas' latest task force. They are trying to develop a new plague - one to counter the Lich King's efforts, something that can destroy not only living beings, but also the Scourge. Work on this new plague has been ongoing by the Royal Apothecary Society for some time but with little success until recently. Problems arose when they tried to carry the concoction across the icy seas to deliver it to its destination of Northrend. In doing so, the plague was weakened, causing mild sickness at best.
Apothecary Lysander asked me to take a sample of the weakened plague to Chief Plaguebringer Harris at a settlement called New Agamand in the South of Howling Fjord. Of course, I had taken a detour in order to help the Taunka with their crisises at Winterhoof Camp - looking back, I consider it foolish to have kept the plague in my posession for so long, epsecially during battle. I guess it wouldn't have done much harm had it leaked, anyway. I did eventually make my way to New Agamand.
They were also aware of the Vrykul threat I had worked hard to fight against on the behalf of the Taunka, and were already trying to infect them with the new plague to no avail. Chief Plaguebringer Harris was keen to recruit me to contribute to the refinement of the new plague, and sent me out to fetch new ingredients and taught me how to mix them. I now posess a greater understanding of the intricate workings of the new plague but it still took a lot of time to create a solution that could be successfully used to infect and consume the Vrykul.
Now all that was needed to be done was to infect the Vrykul en-masse with the new strain. Harris referred me to 'Hacksaw' Jenny who was willing to create an abomination carrier of the plague to deliver to nearby Vrykul settlements. They would be infected through the method of self destruction. Any living creature in the vicinity of the eruption of the abomination's plagued flesh was sure to contract the deadly disease. After collecting a few of the parts that Jenny needed to create our vessel I delivered him myself and sure enough, it worked! The plague was successfully deployed, and Howling Fjord is one more step towards becomming free from the Vrykul's grasp, and my work at New Agamand is done - for now. Plaguebringer Harris presented me with a vial of the plague to deliver to other Apothecaries around Howling Fjord and neighbouring Dragonblight but I have other business to attend to - in passing, the Kalu'ak have requested my assistance. Don't worry - the vial is in safe hands. Plus, it may come in handy under dire circumstances...
Tuesday November 18, 2008 Comment
Life here in Northrend is not as glamorous as I would have hoped. The Vrykul seem to be an aggressive race and I have had to perform such tasks as slaying and dismembering their bodies to deter further attack. I have also met a group of Taunka at Camp Winterhoof. Greatmother Ankha and Chieftan Ashtotem have been concerned about the goings on at Gjalerbron - a Vrykul controlled fortress just to the east of Camp Winterhoof. Apparently they had been performing living sacrifices in some kind of twisted awakening ritual to turn fallen Vrykul into Scourge warriors.
I ventured over there and managed to find cage keys on some of the Vrykul I killed and used them to free the prisoners - many of them Taunka. I'm glad that I managed to spare them their lives but I don't think it was enough. The Vrykul continue to capture their living sacrifices regardless. Deep inside the main building at Gjalerbron The necrolords are looking over dormant Vrykul that I believe can be awakened using a strange kind of wand-like device. I found one of them in the hands of a dead Scourge, but I haven't managed to use it successfully - the Vrykul that I apply it to keel over and die. I suppose I shouldn't be concerned - who knows what would have happened had I been able to re-activate them.
From one of the slain Vrykul I found a tattered and bloodied scroll detailing an attack on Camp Winterhoof by Glacion, a Frost Wyrm. I hastily took the plans to Celea Frozenmane who advised me that I should figure out a way to call down the Frost Wyrm and destroy him before it was too late. Upon investigation of the eastern side of Gjalerbron I noticed that there was a Wyrmcaller performing strange rituals around runic circles on the floor. With the aid of some nearby allies, we ambushed him and took a cold horn from his body - a device presumably used to summon forth his undead dragon. We used it to call Glacion from his position circling above and managed, with some effort, to slay him. Hopefully the attack on Camp Winterhoof has been temporarily averted but I don't think this will mean that the Taunka can live in peace. They are planning to push into the northern parts of the continent soon, where it is safer. I'm not convinced this is the best plan of action having heard stories about the fates of previous expeditions, but this land has been their home for a long time. As a spiritual race, they can sense the danger around them.
Apart from the Vrykul threat, there have been many other strange happenings around Howling Fjord. The delicate nature of the area has been disturbed and I can't help but feel that the Horde and Alliance expeditions are partially responsible, even though we wouldn't be here if it weren't for the Lich King and his Scourge armies.
The area has gradually been thawing and as a plea for help the secretive Frost Nymphs of the Frozen Glade have allowed themselves to be seen by outsiders for the first time. Their sisters from the Vibrant Glade have become twisted and violent due to the recent change of habitat. There are a few Taunka looking over the activities at a Dwarven dig site south of Camp Winterhoof. One of these Taunka, Sage Mistwalker, asked me to infiltrate Rivenwood (using a disguise) in order to help Ulfang - a distressed worg that had lost his alpha male status to an impostor. I have also taken a trip up Frostblade Peak to meditate at Frostblade Shrine - indeed, everything has been preying on my mind. It did help me to calm down a lot just by looking out over the world.
Saturday November 15, 2008 Comment
Early this morning I set off via zeppelin from Undercity to the continent of Northrend. Northrend is the continent from which the Lich King reigns and sends showers of Scourge over Azeroth to corrupt and destroy its inhabitants' bodies and souls. This is the first time I have ever set foot on lands north from my home of Quel'Thalas, and the air is very cold here. I flew to Vengeance Landing in the Howling Fjord and was greeted by the Forsaken. The people residing here all have one common goal - to destroy the Lich King and protect Azeroth from further destruction.
If I am to aid them in their plight, this is where I will be stationed for the forseeable future. I have met a few people here now, including Pontius, a plaguehound breeder whom I helped fetch meat for his pets. High Executor Anselm is leading the expedition and at his command I am currently looking into threats posed by the Vrykul - a clan supposedly unheard of for some time, up until the point that Horde moved into Northrend.
Thursday November 13, 2008 Comment
