The March of Forneus 11
[x] Refuse the Fel
You refuse the Fel. You speak nothing of it to your father and he doesn't bring it up either, though you see him speaking with Sesk and Ishi over the next few days.
You consider the two blademasters' words and wonder if you've made the right choice, but are swiftly distracted from such thoughts by the arrival of visitors.
While your father's given orders than none by permitted to enter the Cleft without his approval, from your position you can see the entrance and a small party gathered outside. You make a sign and the guards permit them to enter.
"You got into a battle without me, little brother!"
Vark is first among them, the massive grinning orc striding toward you, hesitating slightly as he sees your injuries and decides not to pull you into an embrace.
The others are all familiar faces, Kartha of the Shattered Hand, Sorek of the Blackrock, the Darkspear Vok'fon and finally Scorn the Outcast.
You smile as you renew your acquaintance with each, calling for food to be brought to you as they sit down beside you.
While at first the conversation is light, there's a tension in those who didn't stand at Dreadmist with you and eventually you find yourself recounting the story of the battle, Kartha or Scorn pitching in occasionally.
Vark and Vok'fon say little apparently surprised at the scale of devastation you describe, Vok'fon in particular being shocked, perhaps due to his greater awareness of spiritual matters given his father's position.
Sorek however has a dark look on his face.
"We know of Jubei'thos." he remarks, "He led out people in Alterac, resisting the Alliance for many years while others had been captured. He had dealings with demons they say and didn't heed Thrall's call to sail across the sea."
"I've spoken with a few of the other blademasters." you say, "They say he served with the Blackrock for a long time, even going back to Draenor."
It wasn't uncommon for orcs of some clans to effectively join others, while some clans kept to themselves and their own traditions, the bonds between others were strong in kin and otherwise. The chiefs of the Thunderlords and Frostwolves had once been brothers as one example, and of course there was the close association between the Blackrock and your own clan, both favouring discipline and being more technologically advanced than other clans.
"And Akinos identified him? Even though he wore a human's face?"
You nod, "Jubei'thos didn't deny it either, he recognised Akinos as well."
"That is evil indeed." Sorek replies to general agreement.
The Blackrock expresses a strong desire to avenge Akinos, one apparently shared by many of the other aspirants who trained under the blademaster. "And besides this," he continues, "clearly much has happened in Alterac since the Horde left that we know little of."
"It had crossed my mind…" you remark, "But what are the rest of you up to?"
Vark describes his journeys and battles among the Warsong, opposing the tribes of Quillboar in the southern Barrens, hinting at a reconnaissance in force against the Centaur of Desolace that had apparently been planned.
Vok'fon claims he's also going to go into a sort of exile, either a mission to the Zandalari trolls or to the jungles of Stranglethorn. Apparently while his politics had been acceptable on his return to Sen'jin previously, now the village is stronger again some of the old tensions have cropped up and he's resolved to head off again to avoid weakening his people.
Kartha just shrugs, "I'll go where I'm sent.", though she also describes tensions on the Merchant Coast to the south which her clan have apparently been watching.
Scorn just huffs and gestures with one hand toward you.
You talk a little more before they all depart again, promising to inform them once you've decided where you're going to go.
Your next encounter is less comfortable, though your rank and clear standing in the clan make it less unpleasant then it might be.
"My son, tell them of Jubi'thos specifically."
Your father has gathered a small conference in the privacy of your tent, composing himself and a few of the warlocks of the clan known for their particular experience and expertise. Sitting listening to your story is Drek the Firecaller, the pyremaster and priest of fire, Keldran the Necrolyte, the clan's expert on Gul'dan's death magic, as well as Ureda, one of the only female warlocks and one trained in the human tradition of arcane magic.
"What was the manner of this disintegration?" asks Keldran, and in turn you describe how Jubei'thos seemed to flicker and weaken as you fought, then grow stronger, motes of him fluttering away and black ichor dripping from his mouth.
"A warding perhaps? Some sustaining enchantment?" Ureda murmurs, considering your words.
But Keldran shakes his head, "A binding, the form fades but the binding gives it power, or so I guess."
Drek makes his own observations and over time the three experts and your father puzzle out the mystery, trying to draw together the various clues to find out exactly how Jubei'thos, a blademaster associated with the demon-worshipping portions of the Blackrock clan, had come to inhabit a human's body as some sort of shadow creature. They seem particularly confused regarding the nature of the shadow magic the former blademaster wielded, comparing it with several sources you're not familiar with.
"We know that the Scourge were active in the area once we left." points out Keldran, "But it almost sounds like this is another Gorefiend."
This ignites another debate. "I watched Gorefiend being made." your father strikes back, "Jubei'thos wielded a blade of shadow not a jewelled truncheon."
"I said 'almost'." Keldran notes, his tone slightly less respectful than one should use toward a clan chief, and he averts his eyes after a brief glare from your father, "Besides the Scourge raised human knights and paladins, not transferred the souls of orc warlocks into humans. I'm fully aware the two are different."
And the conversation continued.
You followed it quite well given your relatively little knowledge on the subject. You were aware of many of the aspects of demons and the Burning Legion than might be necessary to summon or slay such creatures, but the undead you knew less of.
It started out, as far as you know, with the Shadowmoon clan. Gul'dan had joined them and learnt their magics, and in turn he'd used the necrolytes, an order of auxiliary spellcasters, to strengthen the Horde's invasion of Azeroth. The necrolytes had used the magics of shadow and death to set curses on their foes from afar and raise the dead, but in general they'd proved less powerful than the warlocks. Then Orgrim Doomhammer had become Warchief and slaughtered the Shadow Council and Gul'dan had only managed to save himself by pointing out that without warlocks the Horde lacked magical support against the human magic users.
Gul'dan had taken the souls of the dead warlocks and bound them in the bodies of fallen human knights, equipping each with a crystal that bound them to their bodies which many mounted in staves as you father had pointed out. These had been the first Death Knights and Teron Gorefiend had been their chief, serving the Horde loyally through the wars.
That had, as far as you were aware, been the first use of death magic on Azeroth, but in time the Scourge had risen, sometimes quite literally from the grave.
As you'd heard it told, the Burning Legion had adopted a new strategy after the failure of the Horde to conquer Azeroth. They'd turned to subversion again, this time promising eternal life and great power to various human wizards and nobles, chief among them the crown prince of Lordaeron, the most powerful of the human kingdoms. Arthas Menethil had cut his way through his kingdom, raising those that fell before him into undeath, an unthinking, ever faithful army that couldn't betray the Legion like your people had.
However as the conversation touched on these issues Keldran once again noted that Arthas had raised his peers, knights and lords, to stand at his side in a sort of unholy nobility of Death Knights, the second generation of their foul kind. To raise an Orc seemed an inversion of such a tradition.
Eventually though they depart, though you realise after they leave that you forgot something.
"I didn't ask them about why Jubei'thos seemed to weaken as he got closer to me but could defeat Akinos." you remark, sharing an evening meal with you father.
He frowns, "I assumed it was the Bloodstone."
"The what?"
He jabs a spoon at you, indicating the amulet you wear, perhaps the only possession of yours to survive the Battle of Dreadmist.
You reach down, fingering the dark stone, "What do you mean?"
Your father's eyebrows raise. "You mean you've been wearing it all this time without knowing what it was?"
Your cheeks flush, "What indication did I give otherwise?"
Your father's eyebrows rise further, his expression of disbelief rather out of place consider his tusks and the demonic glow in his eyes, he puts down his spoon and holds up both hands, giving an exaggerated look at the ceiling, "May the Spirits spare me from impetuous children." Then he looks down, "You arrived here having read the Tome, apparently independently prepared and consumed two Saptas, bound one Elemental and managed to break an artefact of our clan and captured a separate Elemental. I assumed you weren't wearing Bloodstone simply because it was shiny."
Your blush only darkens, "I took it off Baneshadow but it didn't seem to do anything!"
You go to sleep that night rather embarrassed, but more knowledgeable about Bloodstone, a substance apparently favoured by warlocks which had various properties, among them the absorption of magic for various purposes.
The next day you rise, sitting on your bed as you consider your next steps. Your father has given some indications of what sort of activity might be going on and you've investigated a few things, but you've yet to indicate a firm preference.
You consider several matters when thinking on the subject, firstly, you've rather strayed from the path you set yourself when you set out from the Valley of Trials. You'd intended to set yourself against the Burning Legion and fight for Azeroth, rising above the petty squabbles among polities and taking battle to the true threat to the world, yet you'd still gotten embroiled in the internal politicking of the Horde.
Secondly, despite your father's protestations, it seemed clear to you that you were being pursued, hunted… Even if you disagreed with some of what Sesk and Ishi had said, you knew they were right in one thing, if Jubei'thos met you again you would die, and likely die quickly. While you might find safety in numbers, it isn't in your character to use others as shields. The way to secure yourself and others seemed to be to get far away from Jubei'thos, far enough that he couldn't reach you easily.
Thirdly, regardless of your father's scornful nature, you were an exile, or shortly to be one. Such a judgement is inherently subjective, but you know Thrall will likely try to enforce it, especially against your clan if they aid you openly. You must get away from the Horde and anyone who might recognise a small Orc with a burning sword.
Wherever you go you'll likely have companions. You suspect from the amount Sesk and Ishi have been hanging about you recently that they might be dispatched to look after you, but in any case you suspect your father will probably send a small force with you of warriors and you know that Scorn at least still intends to hold you to the bargain you struck with him, service for status. Kartha was sent to spy on you at the Peak and Vark needs little excuse for a fight so perhaps they might accompany you.
There seems one obvious choice, many matters seem to come together and push you toward Lordaeron. The remnants of that once mighty kingdom had sallied forth to retake their lands from the undead and you have it in mind to join them in battle against this worthy foe. You've bloodied your blade against less deserving targets, now you could head across the sea to offer your sword to this Crusade. Additionally, Alterac isn't far from Lordaeron and visiting that wrecked kingdom will allow you to learn more about Jubei'thos and perhaps find any secrets of your clan he kept before his death, or rather undeath. You recall Akinos once noting that Jubei'thos was one of the few who knew how to forge new blades rather than merely work with ones already made. Sorek has noted his desire to journey on such a mission and perhaps he and the other aspirants will join you. Additionally they say the warriors of Lordaeron follow a figure with a fiery sword, could this be an omen?
You could of course continue as you have been in the clan, involving yourself in the various events and politics of your father and the warlocks. You're certainly less inclined toward this option, and you'll have to move with more subtly, but your father has indicated that he'd be happy to keep you, or perhaps send you east toward the other stronghold of your clan in Desolace, or even send you to join the blademasters he's assembled in whatever war they've been given.
Lastly, you could join one of the others who'd spoken earlier such as Vok'fon on his expeditions among the trolls.
After considering the matter carefully, you decide to devote yourself to the following mission:
[ ] The Scarlet Crusade
Journey to oppose the Scourge, investigate Jubei'thos, and perhaps even conduct some diplomacy with the humans in the same manner as your mentor Akinos had once done.
[ ] Go East
Set out for Desolace and the other stronghold of your clan in Kalimdor. You've heard evil whispers about Thunder Axe Fortress, what might you find there? Might you aid the Warsong expedition Vark mentioned?
[ ] The Bloody Thorns
The Blademasters are gathering for some assault on the Quilboar of the southern Barrens. You'll be far away from most Horde settlements and you want to learn more of their art. Having said that, you also realise this will be a bloody affair and can you accept such a use for your sword after your experiences at Dreadmist?
[ ] The Merchant Coast
Journey south toward Theramore, the Kul Tiran settlement on the coast of Kalimdor. Once again you consider whether you might continue Akinos' work in diplomacy with the humans of the city-state, or perhaps the settlements of the Merchant Coast. Then again what would you say if some bedraggled outcast wandered up to you and asked for hospitality? What can you expect from the humans? Furthermore, if you decide to accompany Kartha might the Shattered Hand have something less than honourable planned for the region?
[ ] The Golden City
Vok'fon intends to take adventure among the other troll tribes of the world. First he's mentioned he intends to go to Dazar'alor, the capital of the Zandalari, the most powerful of the troll peoples. After that he's mentioned perhaps going on to Stranglethorn Vale.
[ ] The Broken Isles
You once considered that the Stormreavers, the old clan of Gul'dan, might somehow be salvageable and persuaded to serve the Horde again. Journey toward the Broken Isles, a place of great mystery and danger and seek them out.
[Write in] The Wide World
You decide to journey to some other place. Write ins must broadly follow the conditions set out above in Grok's thoughts of 1, altruistic action against evil forces, 2, stuff away from Jubei'thos, 3, stuff away from the Horde.
Right so we're at the end of the arc now, here are your choices for the next arc, and possibly after that. If you're unsure or want more information on any of these ask me. Assume that Grok has gone about asking people stuff and therefore has a decent general knowledge, but obviously hasn't read the wiki. You can ask me stuff and I'll give an indication of your IC knowledge.
Assume that you actually get to these places, not that you get blown off course and land in Northrend or something. Also assume that you'll be staying in the broad area of these locations for a reasonable time. For example, in this previous arc we were in the Durotar/Barrens area, with an extended patch of time at Dreadmist. These are arc locations, not stepping stones, though if you want you could travel somewhere after the arc, or possibly during it if relevant.
If you want anyone in particular to come with you note that, Scorn is the only guaranteed companion, however others are either interested in particular places or might be sent for various reasons. For example, Sorek+aspirants+Keldran the Necrolyte would all be interested or ordered to the Lordaeron mission. Kartha and Vark might come too for their own reasons, Vok'fon might even be interested if you noted the Amani were around in that area, the visiting of which would fall under the general 'troll stuff' motivation Vok'fon has.
Also consider what sort of amenities might be found in these various locations and missions. The Scarlet option wouldn't have many opportunities to learn shaman stuff because there wouldn't be many shaman about, but there would be paladins and mages guaranteed.
No moratorium on voting, but discussion highly encouraged.
For this vote you may vote for more than option and express an interest in multiple options if you want. I don't know how the SV counter will count this but I'll just do it manually if necessary. Voting will be open for a couple of days.
