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

you accept omakes here too
Sure yea feel free

thinking about the case for a direct assault go how would it work? With siege ladders and battering rams?
you can blast your way through the gate becauase you've got a cool sword, or use your mages etc, and then you can get through subsequent areas in the same way, you don't need a battering ram. You have grappling hooks and stuff but again, dont need them because you can go through the gates. The Warband's main advantage is the speed you can do stuff, emphasised with the blademasters who can pretty easily blast their way through walls etc.
 
you can blast your way through the gate becauase you've got a cool sword, or use your mages etc, and then you can get through subsequent areas in the same way, you don't need a battering ram. You have grappling hooks and stuff but again, dont need them because you can go through the gates. The Warband's main advantage is the speed you can do stuff, emphasised with the blademasters who can pretty easily blast their way through walls etc.
Hmmm....

The blademaster aspirants do need target practice.

When you mentioned the cool sword I kept thinking Grok would go revengeance and chop the gate in half.

[X] Blood in the Streets
 
[X] Blood in the Streets

I'm really not sure about this decision but given we have some increased numbers to blood and we can always maybe do an Elemental summon later if we flop hard here maybe this is the easier path of resistance?
 
From the vote tally,
7 people have voted
[X] Rouse the Spirits

5 people have voted
[X] Blood in the Streets

C'mon people, we can do it!

 
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I'm really not sure about this decision but given we have some increased numbers to blood and we can always maybe do an Elemental summon later if we flop hard here maybe this is the easier path of resistance?
So Grok is pretty confident that he can win, that's less of a concern, really the Blademasters could take out the fortress on their own, they can go invisible and fly etc, but they aren't going to do that because that's not their job, they're there to protect Grok. The concern is more whether you prefer to do elemental stuff, or you prefer to risk the warband etc.
 
So Grok is pretty confident that he can win, that's less of a concern, really the Blademasters could take out the fortress on their own, they can go invisible and fly etc, but they aren't going to do that because that's not their job, they're there to protect Grok. The concern is more whether you prefer to do elemental stuff, or you prefer to risk the warband etc.
Well we're not here to baby the orcs. And killing humans will make the morale slightly more positive I guess...
 
[X] Blood in the Streets
Make a direct assault, smashing through the gates and seeking out any within

Well, I've been convinced, I guess as Droman said we can always try the spirits in the event of failure.

And on review, the whole potential friendly fire thing as a result of the elements would go against the whole honour-bound schtick Groks got going. So let's see how the warband fares.
 
Rouse still slightly leading, but I'll leave it open for any further votes. I'll probably close it sometime tomorrow, but open to leaving it open for longer etc.
 
Just considering that the city is held by multiple groups, the direct assault is possible when they're not united.
 
Grok Helljumper
"So your heir now seeks to test his blade against the scourge?" Rahjak asked skeptically to the burning apparition that was his clan leader, "And with barely more than two hundred he took a cursed city of more than thirty thousand not even the human paladins in their prime could've taken it?"

The manifestation even if it was an illusion gave off sparks as it grinned horrifically at his offspring completing a rite of adulthood at a very impressive record.

"Quite so. Sesk and Ishi accompanied him but he carried out the killing blow, a scourge death knight and one of their finest necromancers a lich controlling the garrison that was distracted by his warband it was a perfect Lok'tra." Neeru continues, "You have been away for some time Rahjak in the Eastern kingdoms which bodes well for what I need your blade for, our clan's fortunes have been in jeopardy with our warchief nearly singling them out as renegades." at a brief pause he continued his tale "I'll show our warchief what our clan can do what he can't. My son's choice of adventure in his exile will help the humans far more than he can har har!"

At the mention of their current warchief, both of them glowered. Renegade he maybe but they agreed on Thrall's leadership being less than stellar in the direction he wanted before he replied "I have been waiting for a chance of a worthy fight and as your son is on the frontlines against the scourge under the banner of these Scarlet humans, I will follow."

The flaming manifestation grinned as Neeru finalised the meeting with the renegade, "Good good Rhajak. My son is about to take the scourge's floating fortress called Naxxrammas and while his warband has grown, it would do glory to the clan if more of adepts of the burning blade partake in such a momentous battle." the apparition began to fade into embers, "A zeppelin will come to you already laden with our clansmen before heading for my son's warband. He may... appear off having found some artifact to adorn his eyes but he's all but capable of leading."

*********************************************************************************************************************

Rhajak started to doubt his fel chief's words. Grok'mash the heir to the Burning Blade received his father's reinforcements warmly and with but a brief meeting was a very daring plan.

The success of the blademasters in anti scourge operations led to a decision of the use of flying machines to transport them to drop them from above the floating scourge fortress under the cover of Scarlet cannon and magic fire which one of them was piloted by Grok'mash's sworn brother of the Warsong oddly enough. With a manic concentrated look with one eye covered by some fine glass as he fiddled with the controls before at the flick of a switch, the machine dropped it's cargo onto the floating fortress that followed with a resounding boom for an opening to his passengers to follow upon.

"Brother we are clear! Get ready to jump and Lok-tar ogar!" barked Vark as the battle waged on. Nodding Grok'mash with his curious set of eyewear addressed the blade masters accompanying him.

"Welcome to Naxxramas, Blademasters!" the heir to the clan began, "I will not lie the chances of your survival are small!" the mood among the burning blade dropped, "Some may even turn against your friends as living corpses!" with each word the assembled blademaster started having doubts about such a grim outlook on the battle they will enter until his next oration, "But you have my word that I will use my elemental gifts" raising his own blade that ignited, their owns swords began to glow and blaze into flames restoring their courage at the symbol of their clan being imitated on their blades, "to ensure your blades and bodies are given unto the fires of Oshu'Gun!" he continued as the battle outside raged on and the light of the combined fires reflected off of his dark eyewear that served to give off an impressive aura, "This is the greatest reward, more than even honor and glory as the fate of your soul is an eternal concern!" with a raised fist as he prepared to be the first to jump he said "Now come follow me! Strike down the undead that rise against us!" the words initially grim grew to be intensely charismatic at facing the jaws of death, "Allow me to put an end to their presence here! I ask not for my own selfish adventurism since my exile, but for the good of the HORDE AND AZEROTH!!!"

Raising his burning blade he jumped and his fellow followers of the blade followed suit jumping off the flying contraption onto their final target of the campaign of the Scarlet humans their chief's heir pledged his blade to as he uttered their clan's motto.

"A blade, a blade!" Grok'mash Fireblade cried out in free fall.

"A Burning Blade!" the blade masters replied together as their blades all burned as brightly as their orcish fighting spirit relished the coming fight below them.

"We go feet first! Lok-tar ogar!"


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhOHWoz2fQA&t=37s

Soon after the battle of Naxxrammas, the Burning Blade clan especially the warband lead by Grok'mash Fireblade was referred to as the Helljumpers by the leader of the Scarlet Crusade as a nod to their ability to commit deep strikes into enemy strongholds against enemies twice their number they might as well be capable of jumping into hell and back the name stuck Grok'mash Fireblade was also referred to as Grok Helljumper.

"Any corpse that runs is an Undead Scourge! Any corpse who stands still is a well-disciplined Undead Scourge!!" - Grok Helljumper

This is totally a parody I did for fun after watching too many videos of Gelt going psycho.
 
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So it's a tie but Netos has voted twice so Rouse actually wins. I will however reflect the close vote in character as I also use these sorts of things to gague opinions for Grok's characterisation.
Scheduled vote count started by FractiousDay on Apr 28, 2022 at 5:22 PM, finished with 38 posts and 11 votes.
 
Big elemental vs Stromgarde 66, objective acheived
Warband clear up vs response 67, objective acheived
Stromic sally? 9, collatoral damage
Prisoners? 37, executed
FractiousDay threw 4 100-faced dice. Reason: 4 Total: 179
66 66 67 67 9 9 37 37
 
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So that happened.

If it went direct with those rolls the prisoners may as well be executed too.

I mean its irrelvant right? Either they're both counted or they're both not, but either way rouse wins by 1
I changed my mind to vote for the direct one and Netos advocated the direct one though I don't remember why the vote went like that for Netos.

So it should've been direct by one vote but I'm not too bummed about it. Can't say the same about the friendly fire but it's war.
 
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Well, this appears to be dormant again; I am thinking of a couple of things:

1) I (we) hope you are ok; like in "I have different priorities" and not in "I'm dealing with a ton of bad stuff right now"
2) Maybe this quest became too long and not that interesting. I get the feeling that early Grok'mash in the troll village was easier /more fun to handle. Like in Knights of the Old republic 2, troll village = Peragus asteroid, with fantastic detail, while ending=missing
3) Who knows, maybe the Warhammer setting (Saemund etc.) is more compelling, so we could provide votes for something else, even the "Vark tries to start an Orc revolution in Mordor" thing
 
Big elemental vs Stromgarde 66, objective acheived
Warband clear up vs response 67, objective acheived
Stromic sally? 9, collatoral damage
Prisoners? 37, executed
Darn, sounds like after this the Stromgardians will be your typical: "Damn you, Americans Orcs, you suck at saving cities without bombing them!!!"

My biggest question actually goes to Dathrohan. Describing the issues in Arathi, he said that "this is rightful Lordaeronian land, we won't suffer Orcish settlements in our hegemony, so you might be interested in making sure they move away". Problem is, this is STROMGARDE'S land, not Lordaeron's. Why is the Crusade even bothering with this? Why didn't Grok notice?
A) Balnazzar is unaware of the Lordaeronian/Stromic border, and didn't expect any humans other than his or the Syndicate's to be an active faction in the region at all.
B) Balnazzar knew of the Galen issue and hoped we accidentally destroy him too.
He honestly could have been more honest here. Smashing Galen's small entourage and claiming the Arathi for Crusade-aligned "Horde" in its entirety could have been another option here, instead of convincing Hammerfall (which, as we've been informed, has grown to the size of a large settlement in this universe) to pack up and leave.
 
Darn, sounds like after this the Stromgardians will be your typical: "Damn you, Americans Orcs, you suck at saving cities without bombing them!!!"

My biggest question actually goes to Dathrohan. Describing the issues in Arathi, he said that "this is rightful Lordaeronian land, we won't suffer Orcish settlements in our hegemony, so you might be interested in making sure they move away". Problem is, this is STROMGARDE'S land, not Lordaeron's. Why is the Crusade even bothering with this? Why didn't Grok notice?
A) Balnazzar is unaware of the Lordaeronian/Stromic border, and didn't expect any humans other than his or the Syndicate's to be an active faction in the region at all.
B) Balnazzar knew of the Galen issue and hoped we accidentally destroy him too.
He honestly could have been more honest here. Smashing Galen's small entourage and claiming the Arathi for Crusade-aligned "Horde" in its entirety could have been another option here, instead of convincing Hammerfall (which, as we've been informed, has grown to the size of a large settlement in this universe) to pack up and leave.
Off topic but didn't you do the quest for the Illidari?
 
Off topic but didn't you do the quest for the Illidari?
It's in my signature, isn't it showing up? I'd love to continue it someday, when I'm not swarmed with work, or dodging cruise missiles.
If I ever revive it, I will probably just ignore loads of post-Chronicle lore and make it my own AU. As in, I don't like the changed magic system, the whole planets-Titans concept, the "One Legion in all realities", the Lich King retcons, even the Illidan retcon, - heck, that whole quest was my response to "Warlords of Draenor" and how it retconned all the pillars of WC2 lore that, while altered, still remained set in the various depictions of Outland, before they decided to craft whole new identities, cultures and regions in place of the ones that were there before (which is why some of us whiners on Scrolls of Lore forums called the whole thing #NotOurDraenor). I'll still try to read up on the new lore books, but I'll pick and choose what to adapt. For example, I'm definitely not making Old Gods just agents of effin Voidwalkers (that certainly came out of nowhere), at best connected to Shadow on a primordial level, before resurfacing as separate and hybrid "Twilight" gods - like, it's in the name already, and it fits with how the OGs have been shown as patrons of scary and ugly, but still -natural- horrors, like turning stone to flesh, growing insectoid and arachnid creatures, "polluting" stone and metal structures with flesh, tentacles etc. With their connection to the elements, I believe that the WC3 design, in which they were the prior rulers of a "wild world", before the Titans came to order it, fits their themes better, than being agents of Void set to corrupt everything Titanic and destroy all Light. As in, they should have been a "rival platform" of how life must develop in the universe (organic vs synthetic, natural mutation vs selective breeding, chaotic society vs ordered life, warring heralds vs watchers etc.) rather than just another force of anti-life, when we already had the Burning Legion and the Undead for that.

Sorry for the off-topic.
 
It's in my signature, isn't it showing up? I'd love to continue it someday, when I'm not swarmed with work, or dodging cruise missiles.
If I ever revive it, I will probably just ignore loads of post-Chronicle lore and make it my own AU. As in, I don't like the changed magic system, the whole planets-Titans concept, the "One Legion in all realities", the Lich King retcons, even the Illidan retcon, - heck, that whole quest was my response to "Warlords of Draenor" and how it retconned all the pillars of WC2 lore that, while altered, still remained set in the various depictions of Outland, before they decided to craft whole new identities, cultures and regions in place of the ones that were there before (which is why some of us whiners on Scrolls of Lore forums called the whole thing #NotOurDraenor). I'll still try to read up on the new lore books, but I'll pick and choose what to adapt. For example, I'm definitely not making Old Gods just agents of effin Voidwalkers (that certainly came out of nowhere), at best connected to Shadow on a primordial level, before resurfacing as separate and hybrid "Twilight" gods - like, it's in the name already, and it fits with how the OGs have been shown as patrons of scary and ugly, but still -natural- horrors, like turning stone to flesh, growing insectoid and arachnid creatures, "polluting" stone and metal structures with flesh, tentacles etc. With their connection to the elements, I believe that the WC3 design, in which they were the prior rulers of a "wild world", before the Titans came to order it, fits their themes better, than being agents of Void set to corrupt everything Titanic and destroy all Light. As in, they should have been a "rival platform" of how life must develop in the universe (organic vs synthetic, natural mutation vs selective breeding, chaotic society vs ordered life, warring heralds vs watchers etc.) rather than just another force of anti-life, when we already had the Burning Legion and the Undead for that.

Sorry for the off-topic.
I mainly use my phone which doesn't show your quest on sig.

Just wanted to say I liked what you wrote. Sucks about well you know what when you wrote where you're from. Not sure what else I can say other than wishing you luck.

If I want to talk more about your quest do I just PM you my questions and thoughts about it?
 
I mainly use my phone which doesn't show your quest on sig.

Just wanted to say I liked what you wrote. Sucks about well you know what when you wrote where you're from. Not sure what else I can say other than wishing you luck.

If I want to talk more about your quest do I just PM you my questions and thoughts about it?
Sure, though my replies may come later than expected.

Anyway, all that collateral damage on the way is sure to influx on Grok's GUILT. And the implication that "Stromgarde guys will try to stop you" might mean a fight against "our own" cavalry coming up? Anyway, Galen's mission accomplished, if he wanted no collateral damage, he should have asked nicer. Dead civilians or not, this is the biggest success for his cause in a long time.
 
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