Orc Quest; or, A Critical Examination of Agency Through in Interactive Fiction (Warcraft)
- Thread starter FractiousDay
- Start date
- Fantasy
- Location
- St. Petersburg
[x] Remain in the village in the hope of improving your situation
Let's make it even more one-sided.
As far as I am concerned, I am playing Grok'mash, and it is his well-being and perspective I should be concerned about. This here is pure treachery at the behest of our political rival. I don't care that the situation may have been manipulated; I don't care that we may have been set up for a rivalry that neither of us wants. What I care about is the safety of our warband, because it dictates how ambitious our goals can be, and is a resource we can't replenish easily.
If some of the Frostwolves balk at the dishonor, and abandon their clan over this, good. Excellent, even, if they choose to join us as the aggrieved side.
If they refuse to stand aside, and incur heavy lossess... good, the weaker our rival's clan, the better.
If Best Dad uses it to chip at Thrall's authority and position back home, good, the strife will keep him occupied and make him think twice before next attempt.
I don't want to be known as the killer of the Elder Shaman -- the orcs still respect them, no matter what -- so I would stop Vark from dealing a fatal wound, if possible... but otherwise I am down to give them a beating here, and after Naxx, they don't look so tough.
Incapacitate him as the leader, though? Sure, I am down for that.
Let's make it even more one-sided.
As far as I am concerned, I am playing Grok'mash, and it is his well-being and perspective I should be concerned about. This here is pure treachery at the behest of our political rival. I don't care that the situation may have been manipulated; I don't care that we may have been set up for a rivalry that neither of us wants. What I care about is the safety of our warband, because it dictates how ambitious our goals can be, and is a resource we can't replenish easily.
If some of the Frostwolves balk at the dishonor, and abandon their clan over this, good. Excellent, even, if they choose to join us as the aggrieved side.
If they refuse to stand aside, and incur heavy lossess... good, the weaker our rival's clan, the better.
If Best Dad uses it to chip at Thrall's authority and position back home, good, the strife will keep him occupied and make him think twice before next attempt.
I don't want to be known as the killer of the Elder Shaman -- the orcs still respect them, no matter what -- so I would stop Vark from dealing a fatal wound, if possible... but otherwise I am down to give them a beating here, and after Naxx, they don't look so tough.
Incapacitate him as the leader, though? Sure, I am down for that.
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Hmmmmmm as um... iffy as the guy was getting when he accused us of death magic use I'm not sure we should count letting him live as a utility point. I'm concerned he's either gone senile or backlashed so hard against the fel he's gonna start making Whitemane look like a founding member of the hug a ghoul foundation.
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- Location
- St. Petersburg
Maybe. On the other hand, a dead shaman can't discredit himself. Who knows what has happened between us while we were here? But with his "senility" on full display and trying to defend the indefensible, I think it will strip him of authority and respect, and thus of the means to harm us.
If he calls on Thrall to back him up and implicates him in the attack, even better. It would be far more believable than a Light user casting death magic, or an orc known for his abstinence from Fel serving the demons.
If he calls on Thrall to back him up and implicates him in the attack, even better. It would be far more believable than a Light user casting death magic, or an orc known for his abstinence from Fel serving the demons.
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- Location
- St. Petersburg
There's a lot of angles to play here, and most of them are way above Grok's pay grade to think about, so I won't.
We may make the Burning Blade a clan where multiple magical traditions could be practiced. We ourselves are a Light user; there's warlocks and necromancers, and... I don't recall, does our warband have human-magic practitioners who themselves are not human? Sometimes I forget the characters who are not at the forefront of the story. It's easier to make a traditionalist society accept changes if traditions could be shown to be fallible.
I joked about playing into our father's narrative of Warlocks > Shamans. It's true that we are a shaman ourselves, but ours is an old tradition separated from the mainline enough to not suffer directly from the decline in shamanistic practices.
Finally, we can limit it to the political rivalry, framing a group for bad decisions rather than the whole institution. "Thrall is a poor leader, and his shamans suck."
We may make the Burning Blade a clan where multiple magical traditions could be practiced. We ourselves are a Light user; there's warlocks and necromancers, and... I don't recall, does our warband have human-magic practitioners who themselves are not human? Sometimes I forget the characters who are not at the forefront of the story. It's easier to make a traditionalist society accept changes if traditions could be shown to be fallible.
I joked about playing into our father's narrative of Warlocks > Shamans. It's true that we are a shaman ourselves, but ours is an old tradition separated from the mainline enough to not suffer directly from the decline in shamanistic practices.
Finally, we can limit it to the political rivalry, framing a group for bad decisions rather than the whole institution. "Thrall is a poor leader, and his shamans suck."
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Depends on what you consider human magic. Elves and humans both make extensive use of Arcane and light magic.
Necromancy/death magic is a bit of a wierd duck. There was an extensive, if somewhat dispersed, necromantic tradition among the humans that predates the more involved machinations of the dread lords, but how much modern necromancy is actually their work vs. gul'dan's vs. the legion's is difficult to sort out for us, much less the poor sods in universe.
Necromancy/death magic is a bit of a wierd duck. There was an extensive, if somewhat dispersed, necromantic tradition among the humans that predates the more involved machinations of the dread lords, but how much modern necromancy is actually their work vs. gul'dan's vs. the legion's is difficult to sort out for us, much less the poor sods in universe.
- Location
- United Kingdom
Probably the only tradition of this would be the Light, so you'd need Dwarves or Elves for that sort of thing, neither of which you have.
The Light emerged as a religion and form of magic among humans (and I suppose Draenei too?), and therefore spread out after that to the humans allies.
Presumably necromantic magic emerged independantly several times due to the actions of the old gods, and then was destroyed because of the backlash. There was some troll priest who started some void stuff when he was worshipping what he thought was a loa, so after he got killed then again there would have been more emergence of such traditions as the OGs try and get followers etc. The Scourge are probably the most advanced tradition of necromancy, but we know for example that Krasus can do some, presumably using his 'life magic'? Or possibly dragon power? Or his power over the arcane?
Kir the Wizard
The Sun King
- Location
- Ukraine
Orcs also had a necromantic tradition pre-Doomhammer: shamans concerned with funeral practices, like Ner'zhul, and then Gorefiend's necrolytes. In WC1 the warlocks and the necrolytes were even rivals, before teaming up to manipulate and strengthen the Horde. They were also described as "clans", with them probably being retconned to "the Warlock clan" being either Stormreaver, or Burning Blade, and "the Necrolyte clan" being Twilight's Hammer. That was all before the idea that necromancy was a separate magic resource, and not just the use of arcane or other magics for undead-creating purposes.
Rolen von Keng
Sleeping Green Bear
- Location
- The Wilderness
[X] Remain in the village in the hope of improving your situation
Kir the Wizard
The Sun King
- Location
- Ukraine
- Location
- United Kingdom
I've no memory of doing so actually, I think I meant the insightful reaction. I was going to write an info post about early horde necromancy but now I don't, so that would indeed be insightfulWhy are you guys laughing at this???
Also voting closed
- Location
- barking
cause most orcs lack sense (looks at grom drinking demons blood twice, garrosh just garrosh, everything ogrim did after gul'dan left the horde, guldan just guldan)
Let's see how much the hole has been dug.
Xilentxium
Existential Crisis Management
- Location
- Temperate Regions
Because they're straight forward. You expect the Dreadlord to screw with you so he does a double bluff and plays it straight. Meanwhile Orcs have to live in a society.
Alterac 8
- Location
- United Kingdom
Alterac 8
[X] Remain in the village in the hope of improving your situation
You had to remain. Move and you'd be trapped in the mountains. If the Frostwolf shaman didn't bring down snow and rock as their weapons, you'd still be stopped at the Iceblood garrison, and though small, that force would be enough to slow you so that the Frostwolves in their village could catch up.
"Get everyone together!" you said quickly.
You looked around.
You were at the head of the column to enter the village, but your force had been spread out over half a mile or more. Within the village there were isolated pockets of fighting and even now, down amidst the huts you saw a part of Frostwolves overcome a smaller force of your own warriors, bearing them down, fists flying more often that axes did.
With a thought and an outstretched hand you called Myzrael to bend the earth. The huts on either side of the band collapsed, sending a rain of stones down on the feuding group, stunning any who lacked helms and sending the rest sprawling, hands raised.
"Vark," you began, "Keep your Ogres controlled, lead them down the main road, smash any enemy force, but try not to linger, I want them disrupted, avoid deaths if you can…"
"I will if they do." growled the Mok'Nathal.
"Rescue anyone that's cut off, break through their lines, set them to rout but don't follow after, I need this warband cohesive and disciplined if we're to avoid a bloodbath. Scorn!"
The Captain looks up at you.
"Get our lines sorted here. I want three groups, one to guard our flanks, make it a fortress of shields and axes. The second to be a reserve. Sorek, you too, make a third group, and lead them down the road, in Vark's wake, show my banner, push any Ogres on who lag behind, and rally the rearguard to me here."
"Yes, Chief!" Scorn shouts, jogging away bellowing for the warriors to attend him.
You'll have words about that title later, you promise yourself.
You feel a hundred shifting feet in the immediate area around you.
You had to end it, but how?
"Kartha!" you called aloud, projecting your voice above the battle-sound. "Bring me Kartha of the Shattered Hand! Send word for her, bring her to me!"
Away orcs went, runners now, for many of the Warsong wargs lay slain amidst the ruins of the square.
The Frostwolves were pulling down buildings, trying to get past walls built more than a decade ago to gain some tactical advantage over your shieldbearers, but each time the lines reformed. You were under pressure, but not enough to buckle, and indeed under their assault your warband fell back in good order.
You spy purple through the throng and Kartha dodges her way past a whirling axe, skidding slightly in the bloody mud, "You needed me?"
"How is it back there?" you asked first.
The news from the rear of the column is both as bad and not so bad as at the front. Clearly the Frostwolves were unprepared, but it seemed they were most prepared in the front nearest to Drek'thar and his orders, whatever they'd been. At the rear therefore fighting had broken out in a confused manner, without proper direction on either part. It had been believed by some evidently that your warband had struck first, and therefore though chaotic, the response toward the rear was bloodier.
"Get me prisoners." you ordered Kartha, "I don't care how, I need messengers to send back to them," you said with a motion of your head, "That way-"
The coldest cold you'd ever felt blasted through the valley and you almost froze in an instant.
Your hands were tight on your blade, it was an effort of will even to move them, and you could see the small hairs standing on end, feel the ice around your lips and on your eyelashes, feel the frozen perspiration on your body.
"Come forth! Come forth, Ice Lord!" comes the keening call, and as if drawn by a snare you turn.
Upon the peak of the rise, before the keep's broken doors, Drek'thar stands, athame stained with blood, terrible sigils swirling in the air. Before him floats the body of his son, ropes of bloody oblation issuing from a dozen wounds.
"Come forth! By grief and sacrifice I summon you!"
Ice is swirling above the village, ice and stone, stone and wind, wind and snow, snow and ice.
It is not a spirit you have ever seen before, nothing marks it as anything more than a malevolent blizzard, but are those drifts of snow arms? Do you see a body of jagged hatred within? Do you see bones of ice and muscles of rime?
And above a crown, a crown of shards over two points of cold, the eyes of the storm.
"You dare to summon Lokholar? What of our pact, Drek'thar? You know the price, little shaman!"
The voice was as wind and howling, it spoke of deaths in the cold and the darkness of winter.
"Very well," the Winter roared in your ears, "I drink your suffering, for great it is, if you summon me now when the blood of a thousand enemies could not!"
You cannot permit this.
The elemental will continue to grow in strength, it will cover the whole land in snow and ice. Drek'thar must be mad to call up such a thing.
But if the summoner is struck down, the bargain is broken, the elemental will fail…
You are the only one who can reach Drek'thar in time, only you have the speed, the skill to strike once you reach the Elder Shaman.
But besides that, you are a powerful shaman in your own right, and you have only a few of magical ability in the warband. What good is striking down Drek'thar, if this 'Ice Lord' will rampage through the valley afterward. Would it not be better to summon your own strength, call upon the powers of Myzrael, and set the titans to battle? The other shaman will aid you, but it must be done immediately…
Choose 1:
[ ] Kill Drek'thar before the binding can complete, dispelling Lokholar.
[ ] Prepare a response to the Ice Lord, calling upon the other magicians in the warband and using Myzrael to defeat the other elemental.
[X] Remain in the village in the hope of improving your situation
You had to remain. Move and you'd be trapped in the mountains. If the Frostwolf shaman didn't bring down snow and rock as their weapons, you'd still be stopped at the Iceblood garrison, and though small, that force would be enough to slow you so that the Frostwolves in their village could catch up.
"Get everyone together!" you said quickly.
You looked around.
You were at the head of the column to enter the village, but your force had been spread out over half a mile or more. Within the village there were isolated pockets of fighting and even now, down amidst the huts you saw a part of Frostwolves overcome a smaller force of your own warriors, bearing them down, fists flying more often that axes did.
With a thought and an outstretched hand you called Myzrael to bend the earth. The huts on either side of the band collapsed, sending a rain of stones down on the feuding group, stunning any who lacked helms and sending the rest sprawling, hands raised.
"Vark," you began, "Keep your Ogres controlled, lead them down the main road, smash any enemy force, but try not to linger, I want them disrupted, avoid deaths if you can…"
"I will if they do." growled the Mok'Nathal.
"Rescue anyone that's cut off, break through their lines, set them to rout but don't follow after, I need this warband cohesive and disciplined if we're to avoid a bloodbath. Scorn!"
The Captain looks up at you.
"Get our lines sorted here. I want three groups, one to guard our flanks, make it a fortress of shields and axes. The second to be a reserve. Sorek, you too, make a third group, and lead them down the road, in Vark's wake, show my banner, push any Ogres on who lag behind, and rally the rearguard to me here."
"Yes, Chief!" Scorn shouts, jogging away bellowing for the warriors to attend him.
You'll have words about that title later, you promise yourself.
You feel a hundred shifting feet in the immediate area around you.
You had to end it, but how?
"Kartha!" you called aloud, projecting your voice above the battle-sound. "Bring me Kartha of the Shattered Hand! Send word for her, bring her to me!"
Away orcs went, runners now, for many of the Warsong wargs lay slain amidst the ruins of the square.
The Frostwolves were pulling down buildings, trying to get past walls built more than a decade ago to gain some tactical advantage over your shieldbearers, but each time the lines reformed. You were under pressure, but not enough to buckle, and indeed under their assault your warband fell back in good order.
You spy purple through the throng and Kartha dodges her way past a whirling axe, skidding slightly in the bloody mud, "You needed me?"
"How is it back there?" you asked first.
The news from the rear of the column is both as bad and not so bad as at the front. Clearly the Frostwolves were unprepared, but it seemed they were most prepared in the front nearest to Drek'thar and his orders, whatever they'd been. At the rear therefore fighting had broken out in a confused manner, without proper direction on either part. It had been believed by some evidently that your warband had struck first, and therefore though chaotic, the response toward the rear was bloodier.
"Get me prisoners." you ordered Kartha, "I don't care how, I need messengers to send back to them," you said with a motion of your head, "That way-"
The coldest cold you'd ever felt blasted through the valley and you almost froze in an instant.
Your hands were tight on your blade, it was an effort of will even to move them, and you could see the small hairs standing on end, feel the ice around your lips and on your eyelashes, feel the frozen perspiration on your body.
"Come forth! Come forth, Ice Lord!" comes the keening call, and as if drawn by a snare you turn.
Upon the peak of the rise, before the keep's broken doors, Drek'thar stands, athame stained with blood, terrible sigils swirling in the air. Before him floats the body of his son, ropes of bloody oblation issuing from a dozen wounds.
"Come forth! By grief and sacrifice I summon you!"
Ice is swirling above the village, ice and stone, stone and wind, wind and snow, snow and ice.
It is not a spirit you have ever seen before, nothing marks it as anything more than a malevolent blizzard, but are those drifts of snow arms? Do you see a body of jagged hatred within? Do you see bones of ice and muscles of rime?
And above a crown, a crown of shards over two points of cold, the eyes of the storm.
"You dare to summon Lokholar? What of our pact, Drek'thar? You know the price, little shaman!"
The voice was as wind and howling, it spoke of deaths in the cold and the darkness of winter.
"Very well," the Winter roared in your ears, "I drink your suffering, for great it is, if you summon me now when the blood of a thousand enemies could not!"
You cannot permit this.
The elemental will continue to grow in strength, it will cover the whole land in snow and ice. Drek'thar must be mad to call up such a thing.
But if the summoner is struck down, the bargain is broken, the elemental will fail…
You are the only one who can reach Drek'thar in time, only you have the speed, the skill to strike once you reach the Elder Shaman.
But besides that, you are a powerful shaman in your own right, and you have only a few of magical ability in the warband. What good is striking down Drek'thar, if this 'Ice Lord' will rampage through the valley afterward. Would it not be better to summon your own strength, call upon the powers of Myzrael, and set the titans to battle? The other shaman will aid you, but it must be done immediately…
Choose 1:
[ ] Kill Drek'thar before the binding can complete, dispelling Lokholar.
[ ] Prepare a response to the Ice Lord, calling upon the other magicians in the warband and using Myzrael to defeat the other elemental.
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Doomed Wombat
Let's go Darling!
- Location
- Dancing on wires!
[X] Prepare a response to the Ice Lord, calling upon the other magicians in the warband and using Myzrael to defeat the other elemental.
I think this is our best option over all. The impression I'm getting is that it won't necessarily banish the ice lord, and in theory we can beat the elemental if we stop its ramp up now.
I think this is our best option over all. The impression I'm getting is that it won't necessarily banish the ice lord, and in theory we can beat the elemental if we stop its ramp up now.
[x] Prepare a response to the Ice Lord, calling upon the other magicians in the warband and using Myzrael to defeat the other elemental.
I voted to defuse tensions. What I got was a Kaiju battle.
I am both elated and disappointed.
I voted to defuse tensions. What I got was a Kaiju battle.
I am both elated and disappointed.
[X] Prepare a response to the Ice Lord, calling upon the other magicians in the warband and using Myzrael to defeat the other elemental.
On the one hand, I appreciate that Grok is trying to reduce casualties on both sides and I can see how he has earned Scorn's respect by looking after the warband and facing the problem head-on. However, looking at both options provided, I can't but feel that the Elementals, whether by spite or by collateral, will kill most mortals that are present in their struggle.
On the one hand, I appreciate that Grok is trying to reduce casualties on both sides and I can see how he has earned Scorn's respect by looking after the warband and facing the problem head-on. However, looking at both options provided, I can't but feel that the Elementals, whether by spite or by collateral, will kill most mortals that are present in their struggle.
Rolen von Keng
Sleeping Green Bear
- Location
- The Wilderness
[X] Prepare a response to the Ice Lord, calling upon the other magicians in the warband and using Myzrael to defeat the other elemental.