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Orc Quest; or, A Critical Examination of Agency Through in Interactive Fiction (Warcraft)

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Jasten said:
especially as I doubt even a very inclusive crusade would be overly cool with our Forsaken buddy.
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Do you mean that guy from Dreadmist? Because he got squashed and hasn't been mentioned since

Also remember Tirion Fordring is in the area and likes or at least knows orcs so could speak for you. I'm not going to offer an arc and then just have them say 'no thanks orc go away'
Jasten said:
Plus, if Jubithos is Scourge there is nothing like fighting their forces full on to bring him down on our head.
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On the other hand, having a polity of people dedicated to combatting the Scourge who have experience fighting death knight would be exceptionally useful
Jasten said:
But we can do more things if we can throw a few warlocks to study the dead Night elf language and give us quest hooks later down the line. Or have a place to send strays we pick up, and help foster a neutral port like Theramore. There is always going to be things to do. But its cool if we have more chances to direct things rather then be wholly responsive.
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Keep in mind that although you're the clan heir and can command more resources more reliably, you're still subservient to Feldad. If you said 'Can I have a load of warlocks who don't read night elf and have them look at rocks' he's going to refuse because that's not a terribly helpful thing to do. Additionally while yes there's a decent argument for building a base on the Broken Isles to look at some of the demon stuff there and the various Highborne junk scattered about, keep in mind it's a pretty hostile place and the Orcs don't really have a tradition of 'research' per say. I think I've noted in the narrative before that the Burning Blade are unusual in that they actually use books and stuff where eveyone else is stuck on oral tradition.

The Broken Isles option (or the option that is currently shaping up) would indeed place you in a leadership role and would involve you supporting various scholars, however it wouldn't award greater personal power very much at all given you don't have a scholarly background, don't speak any other languages, haven't ever dabbled in multiple forms of magic and so on.

Jasten said:
So technically we are a shaman, as we can channel elemental power. However, you are right in that we are really just a dabbler.
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w34v3r said:
Ok the idea that we're a competent shaman feels off to me,
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Keep in mind the chargen choice was warrior+elemental connection, not shaman. You can do like 1 thing well which is setting your sword on fire. You can do a bit of seeing but not much and you're definitely not a shaman in the traditional sense. I think you'd taken like 2 actions worth of tuition with that.



Also in general with this discussion I'm keeping my input fairly hands off. So far the discussion seems to be fine so @ me if you've got a specific query, but as ever I'm open to using reasoning in the posts. The action reads just as going to the Broken isles and having a look for the Stormreavers, but if you want it to be base building too that can also happen. Alternatively if you don't want it to be base building you could just delegate to Scorn or something. The main caution I'd emphasise now is whether this is a project you should take on right now. You'll be far from support in the middle of a hostile ocean full of Naga among other things. I can certainly see it being a project for future arcs if you want to do that, but I don't think there's the urgency to set up a base for no particular reason at ruins that aren't going anywhere when you could be directly benefiting events with some of the other actions like the Crusade one.
 
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Jasten said:
Yeah, and just supporting yourself is different then trying to become a major player in a universe filled with behemoths. While a skilled orc is helpful, a skilled orc leading many other skilled individuals is always able to do more. And as inclusive as the Crusade is, its still the Crusade. One of the draws of The Plaguelands is learning more about/fighting the Lich King's power/necromatic power in general along with Light. That is something easier done if we are able to be more our own player, especially as I doubt even a very inclusive crusade would be overly cool with our Forsaken buddy.

Plus, if Jubithos is Scourge there is nothing like fighting their forces full on to bring him down on our head.
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Dude we are not going to be building ourselves into that sort of mover and shaker and how do you know? I very much doubt that Fractious would go out of his way to say "go help the scarlet crusade" and do a bait and switch to "nah not really" unless it turns into founding the Argent Dawn, which is an organisation that very much accepts the Forsaken.

+ more our own player? In what possible universe is building a tent camp becoming our own player.

If you want to become your own player pick something that gives us the power to become that.

Because as it stands Grok is a fiveteen year old exile, now is the time for prioritising personal growth and friendships not building a bleeding empire.

Jasten said:
Well, in the same way that having the Crusade being offered means that Day is having it be a fleshed out option, I am assuming that there is going to be more to find there then just bones. The Twilight's Hammer were also with the Stormreavers on the Isles when the Blackrock orcs came, and enough of the clan slipped away to be under half the rocks in Azeroth. Having multiple smaller groups of survivors is likely, while larger groups at this earlier stage are not out of the question. Along with that, I doubt Maeve got every dead/tormented soul bound to the islands. So its dabbling in necromancy without running

I agree with you completely about the fact that this Gul'dan dimensional invasion was more the result of Blizzard needing a plot for their expansion then a long running plot coming to fruition. However, as this story is being written at a point where we know that is a Canon plot point, its safe to assume that things were working behind the scenes to make it happen. That means there is likely more then enough chance that we would directly interact with a living breathing Guldan in that case. Which again, could be a big bad confronted in multiple arcs in this story. We are just picking the next place to start to explore, not determining the entire shape of the story.

Except in the fact that this is the next step in the story, but that is a level of meta that nothing gets accomplished.
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No, they did not. Cho'gal was sending out moles into other races and converting them, but the Twilight hammer's orcish components were obliterated on the isles. Ever wondered why despite being ostensibly an orcish clan it has almost no orc members up to one of their strongest shamen being a human?

That's why.

Either she destroyed enough of them to fulfill her oath or she failed and Drek'thar told her nothing, which I dobut.

We know it is a canon plot point, in a canon that is already being derailed, and this is more than multiple story arcs in the future this is potentially decades in the future.

Jasten said:
And a matter of weeks is a couple of months give or take. You are correct about the zeppelin of course, but thats another silly Blizzard thing. I assumed we would take a boat, but if zeppelins are an option my point of a middle of the world outpost is even more useful.

Because functionally I agree with you, my main drive is to do all the things. And the best way to do that is to start finding ways to delegate. One budding magic swordsorc is a force whereever you send them. One who can command dedicated magical support, has research staff, and a safe point to return and rest is a more compelling way to do all the things then being a glorified mercenary.

We do not have to sit around doing Basebuilding things. Arguably you wouldn't even have to worry about that, as it would be an extra bit added onto exploring the isles. Though I get the worry, and would also want to avoid anything bogging it down.

And the potential to be a founder of the Argent Dawn is cool. I wouldn't mind that, though I prefer directing things via the quest rather then work as a junior partner with a ton of more experienced folks, alot of whom have Orc-shaped baggage.

But we can do more things if we can throw a few warlocks to study the dead Night elf language and give us quest hooks later down the line. Or have a place to send strays we pick up, and help foster a neutral port like Theramore. There is always going to be things to do. But its cool if we have more chances to direct things rather then be wholly responsive.

Besides, we could call it Akinos's Legacy and base our Pro-Azerothian all racial blademaster school there later down the line. And laugh at the ghost of Guldan with a life well lived to show how little we care.
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If the dwarves can build a tram line, the goblins can have Zepplins. Besides they're not exactly new tech as I understand they've been a thing at least since the second war :p and Thrall has good relations to a lot of Goblins.

No not really. There are better places, not over run with daemons.

And this isn't a CK2 quest, if that has to happen I don't want it to be more than "its happening" I want to be an Azerothian adventurer who has an actual personality.

That's not the point of the quest! We have to in the bloody effort to earn the right to direct things, they are the elders for a reason. In time we can potentially go all to war chief, but at the moment again we're a fiveteen year old exile who doesn't have a clue we need to learn, to grow and explore, not try to kingdom build and investigate guardian level magic!

Which we can do by embracing the fact we have some choice not by shackling ourselves to a bunch of islands in the middle of nowhere, trying to build a base surrounded by enemies with no fucking resources for a project we are no where near to mastering on a personal level never mind for anyone else.

A lot of my other points were just ninja'd.

TLDR: Please consider what we can do.

I agree its a fun idea, for a Grok who is older, more experienced, commands resources and doesn't the risk of being turned into pate by any passing Felguard!

None of this is stuff Grok should be considering now, its all future Grok stuff. Current Grok gives no shits about the potential economic boons of setting up a trade hub in the middle of the ocean, or a ship yard, and current Grok currently needs to figure his own blademaster shit out long before he considers taking students never mind creating a freaking hub for them!

Your reach vastly exceeds your gasp!
 
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[X] The Scarlet Crusade

I've had my heart set on Lordaeron for a while and I still want to see if we can perhaps find the light.
 
FractiousDay said:
I mean at least it's on theme for grok's personality so far :D
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Now dat is slanderous :p

However, while I am all for reaching beyond one's means, I do think there's also limits to how far we can go before we push our luck off a cliff. Colonising the isles is a good idea, just for a Grok who has access to more resources, like say Paladins/Priests of the Argent Dawn and Warlocks/Blademasters of the Burning Blade working together to cleanse the tomb and create solutions to problems.
 
@Doomed Wombat

Well yeah, having thought about all that's possible is exactly why I think its such a cool option. If I was a 15 year old with as much damage as Grok, a thrilling island adventure seeking a myth that went seeking a myth with the possibility for helping Dad get more warlocks would be alot more compelling first stop then joining a group of religious crusaders of a religion I am not a part of, fighting an undead horde. But again, thats just me.

Plus, I brought up the fact that nothing bonds folks together quite like a rousing trip to the wilderness together. We can potentially win Vark over for a larger adventure, even if we cant bring him along forever. But being in a "PVE" situation for awhile would be a good bonding experience for Scorn and any other people brought along too.

I guess I don't see any compelling reason to choose now to go poke to Plaguelands->Alterac box now compared to later, but alot of reasons to poke the place that has alot of plot threads I find interesting. Then make sure they will keep being poked while we go off and Adventure, returning back and checking up after arcs for a break. Because I'm assuming the exile is likely to last more then a few years. And again, I feel like planting some small roots somewhere would make more sense as a first step then jumping into a literal Crusade against a potential world destroying foe. We technically already have one with the Legion. Because even after we wrap up whatever arc we are choosing now, that will inform our next arc options. Working against the Lich King will likely keep bringing us in on more fronts. Which I want to eventually, after said power base has at least started developing enough to give some comfort. DP said that due to our lack of scholarly credentials means that the Isles would likely yield more leads then active power, and I like that. Because the Burning Blade are also one of the few clans to use books, and the best way to get scholarly credentials is to start. Or at least give some willing nerdy orcs space and time to study .

Unless you stumble into power, becoming a mover and shaker takes work. Given that Canon timeline gives us 6 years till Legion, and it seems like this timeline is being more sane so likely longer, it would be totally possible to grow something to prevent/help prevent another Legion invasion. All the while we are potentially learning more about The War of the Ancients, Orcish demonic corruption, etc. And a decent chance of that stuff to happen passively as Grok goes from battlefront to battlefront as things change. It would just make it more likely that it would be a 16 or 17 year old Orc looking to throw himself at the biggest problem in town rather then a 15 year old fresh exile.
 
Jasten said:
Well yeah, having thought about all that's possible is exactly why I think its such a cool option. If I was a 15 year old with as much damage as Grok, a thrilling island adventure seeking a myth that went seeking a myth with the possibility for helping Dad get more warlocks would be alot more compelling first stop then joining a group of religious crusaders of a religion I am not a part of, fighting an undead horde. But again, thats just me.

Plus, I brought up the fact that nothing bonds folks together quite like a rousing trip to the wilderness together. We can potentially win Vark over for a larger adventure, even if we cant bring him along forever. But being in a "PVE" situation for awhile would be a good bonding experience for Scorn and any other people brought along too.

I guess I don't see any compelling reason to choose now to go poke to Plaguelands->Alterac box now compared to later, but alot of reasons to poke the place that has alot of plot threads I find interesting. Then make sure they will keep being poked while we go off and Adventure, returning back and checking up after arcs for a break. Because I'm assuming the exile is likely to last more then a few years. And again, I feel like planting some small roots somewhere would make more sense as a first step then jumping into a literal Crusade against a potential world destroying foe. We technically already have one with the Legion. Because even after we wrap up whatever arc we are choosing now, that will inform our next arc options. Working against the Lich King will likely keep bringing us in on more fronts. Which I want to eventually, after said power base has at least started developing enough to give some comfort. DP said that due to our lack of scholarly credentials means that the Isles would likely yield more leads then active power, and I like that. Because the Burning Blade are also one of the few clans to use books, and the best way to get scholarly credentials is to start. Or at least give some willing nerdy orcs space and time to study .

Unless you stumble into power, becoming a mover and shaker takes work. Given that Canon timeline gives us 6 years till Legion, and it seems like this timeline is being more sane so likely longer, it would be totally possible to grow something to prevent/help prevent another Legion invasion. All the while we are potentially learning more about The War of the Ancients, Orcish demonic corruption, etc. And a decent chance of that stuff to happen passively as Grok goes from battlefront to battlefront as things change. It would just make it more likely that it would be a 16 or 17 year old Orc looking to throw himself at the biggest problem in town rather then a 15 year old fresh exile.
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Then I think we've a very different definition of what a myth is and an extremely different definition of what "thrilling" is. The echo isles are many things, but they are not thrilling. Neither would the plague lands, but at least we wouldn't be functionally all on our ****ing own, trying to get into a ruin that's at the bottom of the ocean which we do not even know about.

Dude Vark is explicitly only coming along for battle, conceivably we can convince him to come along for friendly bonding time killing zombies, not for talking to ornery evil warlocks and again spelunking for a tomb we do not know exists. The same for everyone else, we can get good if not better bonding experiences with our companions else where that isn't the broken isles!

And you've yet to give me a single compelling reason to do the Broken Isles, all of those are plot threads that will be sleeping for six bloody years minimum! The Scarlet Crusade by contrast is now and we have a genuine compelling reason that tried to give us an impromptu proctology exam, and is the being most directly responsible for pissing off the Kolkar to attacking the peak and killing our master!

That's one pretty compelling reason to do it now even setting aside Grok's various feelings of morality on the subject!

And roots, roots what roots we're putting down roots in a matter of months in the middle of no where with practically no support have some perspective! You cannot put down roots with no seed, water or even ****ing soil. For goodness sakes have you considered that maybe building your power base might be actually doable if we have people who like and will support us in this venture beyond the father who cannot let it be known publically we're even in contact with! We build roots there, then we can branch out!

Like I don't understand this you are treating this like a zero sum game, that if we don't make "our own" we don't get help instead of looking at it that helping a different organisation helps us! I don't understand how you can be so stubborn on the issue of "we must make our own power base" its redundant it all helps us in the end, the difference is wanting to go about in the abjectly inefficient way possible when waiting even a little would ameliorate the issues at hand and be of benefit to other people and Grok, by letting him be a hero for a change instead of the buttmonkey!

And I don't go through an entire arc for ****ing leads right now leads we cannot investigate because we were just told fel dad cannot lend us the people who you want to do the research!* We. Can. Come. Back. For. Them!

But not going to say the Scarlet crusade risks that avenue being shut off, not by the undead, but by a demon!

*You know who could do it and doesn't risk bringing down the wrath of a giant hammer on the blade

1. Kiren Tor mages.
2. The Explorers league
3. The Church of the light

1 and 3 we are guaranteed to meet with the crimson crusade and 2 we are very likely to meet as well.

Yeah no kidding it takes work, but it also takes common sense!

We are a kid with no resources and no people, what you want requires resources and people.

Right now you are effectively saying "Ehh I can do it anyway" when that is not the case. if you want to get this done, get access to the means to make it possible! I know I've joked about Grok being foolhardy in the past, but that's not an excuse to not learn from his mistakes!

Which he abjectly needs to do.

Cause here's what your plan currently calls for.

A couple peons that fel dad sends, + Scorn, in the middle of the ****ing ocean, surrounded by aggressive Naga and giants, atop the most fel rich location in the entire ****Ing world, with no support, no infrastructure, no nothing while we galavant off somewhere else and you're expecting them to succeed? The only way to make that venture work as it is right now is to pour all our efforts into it, if we do that it might work...might. But I don't want to do that, I didn't come here for "yet another build uper" quest like that I came here to be an Azerothian Adventurer with the ability to actually affect the world I want to do that.

I'm sorry I am very tired so I'll just be as blunt as I can you have fallen in love with this idea and you are not thinking about this at all. Not even a little.

Now I'm going to bed, please I beg you think about what you're proposing cause currently it is basically condemning a whole bunch of people to death with no gain.
 
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Wasn't the scarlet crusade an anti-forsaken faction that is actively harassing and attempting genocide against a horde subfaction?
 
Doomed Wombat said:
Then I think we've a very different definition of what a myth is and an extremely different definition of what "thrilling" is. The echo isles are many things, but they are not thrilling. Neither would the plague lands, but at least we wouldn't be functionally all on our ****ing own, trying to get into a ruin that's at the bottom of the ocean which we do not even know about.
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Yeah, I think most of this now is just a difference in perspective. I have given alot of reasons why I think its a fun next stop on this Quest, and will stick with most of them. And I appreciate you providing counterpoints to make exploring the option more fun. Beyond that, I guess I'm just someone who likes having long term projects and short term projects. You are absolutely right that all the biggest shineies would be best tackled with alot of help. I also think that running up to that as an obstacle would be a fun and organic way to make wide ranging exploring fruitful.

The best part about gardens is that you do not have to constantly monitor plants once they put down root. They grow with just check ups. And if those check ups are linked with coming back after winning the support of the Argent Dawn/getting a ally detachment, or helping Zandalar to return with Loa Priests/settlers. Then its a new round of exploring/metabolizing new knowledge before back to the world.

Its something to grow into, but thats aspirational things in a nut shell.


Also I guess following the footsteps of Jubithos is less compelling then Guldan. Even if he had a more personal connection due to the killing of our mentor, he is still just one more piece in the bigger game. But I'll also admit that I just am not super interested in Hillsbrad/Alteric.


w34v3r said:
Wasn't the scarlet crusade an anti-forsaken faction that is actively harassing and attempting genocide against a horde subfaction?
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In Canon yeah. They are mostly zealous Lorderon survivors so they have general Undead PTSD. This iteration seems less xenophobic then the mainline, but it remains to be seen how they will get along with Sylvanas and the Forsaken.
 
Jasten said:
The best part about gardens is that you do not have to constantly monitor plants once they put down root.
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Jasten said:
Its something to grow into, but thats aspirational things in a nut shell.
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And my counter is the same. (Side note have you ever had to work on/with a garden? Plants are ****ing devas who shrivel up and die if you're not trying to constantly maintain them. This comes from someone who in the freezing snow had to go outside and tie plastic bags around some of ours because they'd die. Point is gardening is hard and takes an excessive amount of maintenance even if its pretty.)

To keep with the gardening metaphour, while in theory you can pop em down and let them grow, in practise you need a lot of stuff first and we're missing the basic of basics. Like seeds.

Jasten said:
Also I guess following the footsteps of Jubithos is less compelling then Guldan. Even if he had a more personal connection due to the killing of our mentor, he is still just one more piece in the bigger game. But I'll also admit that I just am not super interested in Hillsbrad/Alteric.
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Not being interested in em is one thing, but until now we've no real reason to be interested in Gul'dan beyond he's a part of the orc's evil past nor is he in anyway a player at the moment, what with being categorically dead.* He casts a long shadow, but the only way said shadow has fallen over us directly is via our father and Jub. I could see investigating Jub as a jumping point too Gul'dan, hell investigating the scourge could be as well considering who half of the Lich King is.

*I'd have said his skull might have been relevant since at least something of his consciousness was in it and twisted Ner'zul even after death, but well...Illidan ate it.

w34v3r said:
Wasn't the scarlet crusade an anti-forsaken faction that is actively harassing and attempting genocide against a horde subfaction?
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Jasten said:
In Canon yeah. They are mostly zealous Lorderon survivors so they have general Undead PTSD. This iteration seems less xenophobic then the mainline, but it remains to be seen how they will get along with Sylvanas and the Forsaken.
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TBF the subfaction they're harassing is the Forsaken, the most out and out evil of any of the factions.

Nor does Varimathras help at all combined with his brother taking over the Crusade in disguise.

However, most of the Forsaken are ex Lorderan people and if Arthas's sister is really back then it opens up options as long as Sylvanas is content to get her revenge.
 
w34v3r said:
Wasn't the scarlet crusade an anti-forsaken faction that is actively harassing and attempting genocide against a horde subfaction?
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I've not decided what to do with them yet. Presumably they've either fled or have turtles up in the undercity. I don't imagine the horde particularly cares about them, it's not like they do much after all.

@Jasten and @Doomed Wombat I think you've both presented arguments how and not sure further discussion would be massively useful, so for now I'd say just leave it and see how the vote turns out. For now we're at
Adhoc vote count started by FractiousDay on May 1, 2021 at 4:52 AM, finished with 54 posts and 10 votes.
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I'll leave it up for the rest of the day a time least in case there's a big swing
 
Yeah, the last thing I want to do is to turn this into a CK2-like endeavour of building your castle. We don't even have the settlers.
Jasten said:
Also I guess following the footsteps of Jubeithos is less compelling then Guldan.
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Gul'dan is more of a legendary figure, for sure, but Jubei'thos is more important for the MC, and brings an actual mystery to solve (how did he become the way he is, why does he pursue us, etc.). Guldan was the Big Bad that led all the Horde into becoming servants of Chaos the Burning Legion, pretty omnicidal if you ask me, I see no mystery here lol.

idle chat:
Doomed Wombat said:
Again its not going to take that long to cross the freaking ocean!
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If this were the Berserk manga, crossing the ocean would take many months in-character, and several decades IRL. Don't tempt fate XD...
Doomed Wombat said:
Near as I can tell Arcane magic's big downside is complexity and expense in learning.
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In Dark Souls terms, Arcane magic requires very high Intelligence, whereas shamanism is more balanced between Int and Faith. Typical requirements for an Arcane spell would involve 45 INT, and for shamanism 12 INT 18 FAI

My opinion is still perfectly balanced as all things should be (not votes though) between the Merchant Coast and the Scarlet Crusade.
I may change it. But for the sake of being contrarian, and because not everything in a story needs to be about fighting:
[X] The Merchant Coast.
 
Ah should have remembered if we should give logic for why characters should or should not come with us.
 
For that matter it occurs to me...Is that Burning Blade sword of the Heir we're using now Fel-powered? That seems like the kind of thing the Scarlet Crusade might respond too...
 
Zaealix said:
For that matter it occurs to me...Is that Burning Blade sword of the Heir we're using now Fel-powered? That seems like the kind of thing the Scarlet Crusade might respond too...
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Given that its apparently made out of the spine of a titan forged super elemental, I think its probably about as elementally oomphed as you can get.

It also feels like trying to alter that would cause it to explode or be significantly more noticeable than it is.

If the sword we first had is any indication the blade seem to have not really cared how their swords were on fire so didn't bother trying to change the enchantments.
 
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Doomed Wombat said:
If the sword we first had is any indication the blade seem to have not really cared how their swords were on fire so didn't bother trying to change the enchantments
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Also they'd largely lost the knowledge of how to make them when they respeced as a clan into warlocks. AltJubeithos uses Fely abilities so presumably it's possible.

On your point about character reasoning, you've got sorek confirmed, I generally get the reasoning for the others but if you have reasoning for anyone not mentioned then feel free, whether named characters or not. For example, you're not going to have any Tauren along unless grok (you) can think of a compelling reason
 
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Read through the posts. Great quest. Interested to see how the Horde part of the northern Barrens will develop with the Kolkar of the region wiped out and the possibility of a wave of orc settlers from Orgrimmar and Durotar. Though the settlers is just my speculation.
 
FractiousDay said:
On your point about character reasoning, you've got sorek confirmed, I generally get the reasoning for the others but if you have reasoning for anyone not mentioned then feel free, whether named characters or not. For example, you're not going to have any Tauren along unless grok (you) can think of a compelling reason
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mmm.

Was considering Vark, since fighting the scourge is both hard and unambiguosly good/honourable/glorious, but its far from the rest of the horde and with humans, Cartha potentially to investigate the current ??? of the crusade, but again would be unsurprised if that's a stretch, Vok'fon well I'd say we ironically have more options with him, arguing that he could go from Zul'aman then head down to Stranglethorn, but well the Zandalar are still the biggest troll civilisation.

As for a Tauren, well I can't think of a compelling reason for one to travel with Grok, but I can think of reasons for some to be travelling in the same direction.
1. As an ambassador, since on most levels a Tauren is a better person to send to make contact with most humans.
2. Druids to see if they can investigate how to help the ravaged plague lands, something Malfurion makes clear he wants to do during the Frozen Throne. In fact I could see Night Elves and Tauren doing so.

So I'd say there are reasons we maybe on the same boat, and can try to chat to em, but wouldn't be companions at this stage.
 
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Doomed Wombat said:
So I'd say there are reasons we maybe on the same boat, and can try to chat to em, but wouldn't be companions at this stage.
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"Hey dude when you said you'd found us a ship I didn't think we'd be getting the demon boat, let's wait for the next one."

Alias said:
Read through the posts. Great quest. Interested to see how the Horde part of the northern Barrens will develop with the Kolkar of the region wiped out and the possibility of a wave of orc settlers from Orgrimmar and Durotar. Though the settlers is just my speculation.
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Glad you liked it, do let me know if you have any suggestions.

On settlers, probably yea. Though Forneus squashing Orgrimmar was devastating, in a single incident it's far more notable emotionally than in actual casualties than the years and years of intercene warfare between the orcs and the centaur while they expanded out into the Barrens.
 
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    • Orgrimmar Final

    This is your wrap up chapter for the arc with a couple of choices. The first set will improve your capabilities during this arc immediately, though you'll have chance to improve them over time as things go on. Some are essentially guaranteed in their outcome, others will provide benefits which might be readily apparent and fairly easy to achieve, while others will provide less. In the second choice you'll select another reflection as you've done previously. Here you can reflect on what impedes agency rather than what facilitates it, and your choice will provide a limited degree of immunity to that impediment because Grok has thought it over and considered matters.

    [x] The Scarlet Crusade

    You sit looking out over sun and sea, the prow of the Thundercaller breaking through clouds as the goblin airship floats through the sky.

    The air is chilly with damp, though when the sun shines you at least feel a ghost of warmth on your skin.

    The voyage is peaceful, the Goblins know their work and the sky-sailors, a few trolls and orcs, even a couple of humans, work without complaint, largely keeping away from your party except to provide food each day.

    Your father accepted your choice without comment other than a nod and it was soon after that he sent you off through the secret passages of Durotar only known to the Burning Blade, emerging at a formation known as Skull Rock. You didn't see why it has that name, the sky was black when you emerged, but in that blackness the sleek form of the airship waited and your new warband boarded it swiftly, the goblins chivvying you along into your berths. Apparently the Thundercaller had previously run a semi-regular service between Durotar and Lordaeron to provide communication and some small amount of trade between the Horde and the Forsaken, yet now the Undercity is supposedly surrounded and covered in a deadly mist, the Forsaken nowhere to be found and thus the airship's captain has lost his employment.

    Though he complains at the number of orcs he's taking on the little green fellow welcomes you with a sneer, asking for more gold which you refuse, knowing your father (or rather his contacts in the Shattered Hand) have already paid the creature.

    Your friends are with you, Vark, Kartha, Scorn, Vok'fon and Sorek. Each had their own reason to accompany you, some more selfish than others and when you think about it it's only Sorek who's going purely out of obligation. The Blackrock wants to find out what happened to those of his clan in Alterac and begin to avenge Akinos, the rest though have their own motives. Vark wants battle, Kartha is spying on you, Scorn wants status, Vok'fon seeks information and passage to the trolls of the Amani. Nevertheless, you're cheered by their company and begin to spend nights with them on deck at meals, talking of stories and tales from your different clans.

    There are several others who've come though, these rather less friendly, and more self-serving. Keldran the necrolyte has been dispatched by your father to study the necromancy of the Scourge and Sesk and Ishi have also been dispatched as your bodyguards. You weren't that surprised by the later but the explanation of the former for his presence opened your eyes somewhat.

    Sesk had grunted when you asked him why he'd even agreed to your father's request, "Every Orc in the Horde knew not to cross Gul'dan unless you wanted something bad to happen to you, I'm not stupid."

    The comparison to your father is… displeasing to say the least but as you think about it you can see the comparisons, just as Thrall surely had.

    Regardless they're with you now, and to an extent at your command, as are the hundred or so other orcs, composed of roughly fifty of your own clan, a score of aspirants following Sorek and others of low status and prospects who seek glory in your service, attracted by the Burning Blade's new prestige.

    There's not much to see at sea, but you spend time following some of the ships before they head out of sight, seeing a few islands and other minor curiosities. You'd been told you'd pass over the Maelstrom, that gaping chasm of water in the centre of the sea, but as it turned out it was cloudy when you passed over it and the goblins had to navigate special instruments, their compasses turning every way and spinning endlessly as you crossed the midpoint of your journey.

    The voyage is weeks long and you spend it as best you can. You rest for the first part, learn of your new command, speak extensively with the others who know aught regarding Lordaeron and even pick up a few words in the human tongue from Kartha. The cast over your shoulder and arm comes off on the third week though the limb remains stiff as you take light exercise, familiarising yourself with your new sword.

    You feel more energetic in the second half of the trip though, and have time to dedicate yourself more closely to particular activities. In the second half of the trip you concentrate on…

    Choose 1:

    [ ] Learning Tirassian
    The human kingdoms maintain a common language and though some of the kingdoms like Kul Tiras have slightly different dialects, Kartha knows the main tongue well enough to give you an education in it.

    [ ] Swordplay
    Your skill has atrophied in the weeks spend in recovery after your injuries, and you've lost muscle mass which you'll need to build back up to be as effective as you once were.

    [ ] Speaking with companions
    You spend the time socialising with your friends and the others aboard, learning more about them and their activities since you last saw them.

    [ ] Studying the region
    You speak with the relevant people to learn more about Lordaeron than you already do.

    [ ] Training the warband
    You work with Scorn to train and organise the disparate elements of your warband.

    [ ] Meditation
    You spend your time in meditation, trying to rebuild your shattered connection to the Spirits.

    Finally as you pass over the islands of Kul Tiras where once Orcish dragonriders destroyed the human fleets you consider your situation. When you trained in the Valley of Trials you thought much on strength. You remember sitting in meditation before the gates of Orgrimmar and contemplating the different ways strength could appear. You were unsure of yourself then, convinced of your own weakness and worried about the possibility of your father denying you and sending you into exile.

    It's rather ironic that the opposite has happened, you're honoured above all others save your father, and instead exiled by the Horde and Warchief. You find yourself saving your clan not through physical power, persuasion or even your limited magical ability but rather through the strength which you identified a year ago, the ability to discern the unity of spirit in others, the insight into the actions and motivations of other people. You'd been contemplating it during your time in Orgrimmar, particularly in relation to the many intrigues your father and the Warchief played against each other and it's only through this contemplation, through this strength, that you were able to save your clan in the aftermath of the battle and Forneus' march.

    Now again you consider the matter of strength, yet this time you approach it from the other direction. What impedes strength? Not what is weakness but what prevents strength from being used? Thrall could have brought the Doomhammer down on your head but he didn't, your father could have fought the elders of Dreadmist but he didn't, there are many such issues and you find yourself contemplating the issue.

    You seek to be strong, yet if Thrall can't accomplish his aims for all his strength how can you match him? If you're able to identify these strength-sapping forces you can work against them. No doubt there are many, but which do you consider now?

    Choose 1:

    [ ] Willpower
    Strength is well enough, yet a weapon needs the will to be wielded before it can be used. Undirected strength is likely to turn back against its keeper. The Kolkar had few weapons, truly little of anything except their unbridled will to stand against you.

    [ ] Resources
    An orc could smash his fists against rocks and achieve little, yet armed with a pick and hammer he could take wealth from the earth. Resources are necessary to best utilise strength and without them such power is wasted. Your new sword is superior to your old one, and while a Blademaster isn't only their blade, the weapon still benefits them greatly.

    [ ] Public opinion
    A warrior may have strength, yet a strong warrior will become a leader, perhaps even Warchief and to such an Orc mere strength isn't enough. A leader must understand and manipulate public opinion to best utilise strength as Thrall did before the assembly at the chasm where he tried to throw your tribe down.

    [ ] Obligation
    Your people are a people of complex society and obligation. You don't have the fixed laws of the humans or the strange customs of other folk, but a warrior's strength may be swayed or suborned by obligation. Vark fought with you because he's your brother, not especially because he believed or supported your cause.

    [ ] Purpose
    Strength, the resources to utilise it, the will to wield it, all was useless without a reason to actually step forward and strike. The Blademasters have searched long for such a reason, and have yet to find one, their swords and strength blunted against minor strife as their tradition fades.

    [Write in]
    You consider a different impediment to strength...

    You crest the hills of Silverpine, sighting the immense Greymane Wall that closes off the nation of Gilneas. Over forest you go to darkened plain and gloomy woodland, towns abandoned below you. The Thundercaller sinks, the captain shouting orders.

    Lordaeron lies before you, you have arrived.
     
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    • [X] Learning Tirassian

    Communication is essential in both making alliances, giving/recieving orders, spying or interrogation.

    [X] Purpose
     
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