No. Take them captive and use them for Politics(TM). For instance, if we capture a chieftain's son, we can use him as bait to lure the chieftain himself into an ambush or something.
Dunno how I feel about sacrifices, tbh.
Orc Quest; or, A Critical Examination of Agency Through in Interactive Fiction (Warcraft)
- Thread starter FractiousDay
- Start date
- Fantasy
Dunno how I feel about sacrifices, tbh.
- Location
- United Kingdom
Would have been funny not to have mentioned that and wake up the next day to find your prisoners gone because everyone assumed you'd brought them as sacrifices.
But instead you're going with this diplomancing thing so that's fine
"Morning, guys. So, where is the Very Important Prisoner I brought back yesterday? I had so many questions~"
And everyone just looks at each other awkwardly for a second.
"You, uh... You mean he wasn't a sacrifice, Grok?"
[X] Plan: First Impressions
- [X] The Kolkar Menace: The Kolkar Clan have many bands about in the wilds of the Barrens, and several you know congregate about the oases and watering holes dotted through the land. You have little hope of catching any centaur bands which don't want to be caught, so you'll either have to attack their camps or somehow force them to attack you. Take your band and the warriors your father's given you out to locate one of these camps and see what can be done.
- [X] Filial duties, continued: You spoke extensively with your father and have begun to feel a lot closer to him. Spend more time with him again before he leaves for his various activities elsewhere.
--USE FILIAL HEIR BOOST IF POSSIBLE TO BE INVOLVED WITH WARLOCK/ELEMENTAL EXPERIMENTS
- [X] The Blademaster: Interact with Akinos to discuss his concerns, opinions and philosophy before he too departs for his duties in the north.
- [X] Blademaster training: Train your skill with the sword, tactical abilities, and your physical conditioning by sparring with Akinos. You feel you're at the limit of what you can achieve in simply training but perhaps it'll be useful.
- [X] Visit the Crossroads, the most significant Horde settlement in the Barrens.
- [X] Shamanism: Kardris Dreamseeker has begun your education as a shaman, seek out a teacher here to continue this curriculum and especially to subjugate the elemental Proudpeak.
~~~~~
Reasoning
We need to say Hello to the Kolkar, and this option gives us the chance to scout out their camps/do a bit of raiding ourselves. As our last actions with Scorn show, we need a bit more blooding before we have much to actually put into practice, so that action can be left till next round. I do enjoy the sacrifice gathering, but as the Warlocks are mucking about with elementals we should observe that instead.
Which is the point of hanging with Feldad now. He is going to go off in a bit, so we will have time to digest whatever he teaches while dropping what parts we do not like. I also hope this will teach us more about mucking with elementals ourselves, as we have one shiney un-usable and another that I wouldnt mind sacrificing if we learn we can make another Fire Sapta and do better later. At least to tie down another elemental if we cannot use it to bolster our connection to the plane of fire.
Also Akinos is cool, and can teach us stuff. Hopefully it will mesh with the Kolkar action well and lead to more options later.
Same with the blademaster. We have one right here, and we will not soon. Next round we can explore the Barrens deeper on our own, but its best to take a quick pit stop at the Crossroads too just to see what is what. I am tempted to take Alchemy here, but i think this action would lead to a better Alchemy action later on. Mostly due to finding teachers/people who live here and know what herbs are around and useful.
Shamanism is simply because I like magic, and its my favorite aspect of the character. So lets keep making our tiny orc more mystically inclined.
- [X] The Kolkar Menace: The Kolkar Clan have many bands about in the wilds of the Barrens, and several you know congregate about the oases and watering holes dotted through the land. You have little hope of catching any centaur bands which don't want to be caught, so you'll either have to attack their camps or somehow force them to attack you. Take your band and the warriors your father's given you out to locate one of these camps and see what can be done.
- [X] Filial duties, continued: You spoke extensively with your father and have begun to feel a lot closer to him. Spend more time with him again before he leaves for his various activities elsewhere.
--USE FILIAL HEIR BOOST IF POSSIBLE TO BE INVOLVED WITH WARLOCK/ELEMENTAL EXPERIMENTS
- [X] The Blademaster: Interact with Akinos to discuss his concerns, opinions and philosophy before he too departs for his duties in the north.
- [X] Blademaster training: Train your skill with the sword, tactical abilities, and your physical conditioning by sparring with Akinos. You feel you're at the limit of what you can achieve in simply training but perhaps it'll be useful.
- [X] Visit the Crossroads, the most significant Horde settlement in the Barrens.
- [X] Shamanism: Kardris Dreamseeker has begun your education as a shaman, seek out a teacher here to continue this curriculum and especially to subjugate the elemental Proudpeak.
~~~~~
Reasoning
We need to say Hello to the Kolkar, and this option gives us the chance to scout out their camps/do a bit of raiding ourselves. As our last actions with Scorn show, we need a bit more blooding before we have much to actually put into practice, so that action can be left till next round. I do enjoy the sacrifice gathering, but as the Warlocks are mucking about with elementals we should observe that instead.
Which is the point of hanging with Feldad now. He is going to go off in a bit, so we will have time to digest whatever he teaches while dropping what parts we do not like. I also hope this will teach us more about mucking with elementals ourselves, as we have one shiney un-usable and another that I wouldnt mind sacrificing if we learn we can make another Fire Sapta and do better later. At least to tie down another elemental if we cannot use it to bolster our connection to the plane of fire.
Also Akinos is cool, and can teach us stuff. Hopefully it will mesh with the Kolkar action well and lead to more options later.
Same with the blademaster. We have one right here, and we will not soon. Next round we can explore the Barrens deeper on our own, but its best to take a quick pit stop at the Crossroads too just to see what is what. I am tempted to take Alchemy here, but i think this action would lead to a better Alchemy action later on. Mostly due to finding teachers/people who live here and know what herbs are around and useful.
Shamanism is simply because I like magic, and its my favorite aspect of the character. So lets keep making our tiny orc more mystically inclined.
The Mak’gora
- Location
- United Kingdom
Remember to vote for the latest update's choices, or indeed for whenever you might be reading this.
Mak'gora
This is the infopost for the Mak'gora.
Firstly, I really want to emphasise that the Mak'gora is a social custom, not a codified rite, therefore what is and isn't allowed changes based on context, as well frankly on the effort Blizzard's writers go to when they're using it in their stories as I'm not sure they have a clear idea themselves. This also means I'm extrapolating from the mess of canon and the historical judicial and honour duels that inspire the Mak'gora.
Firstly, to go through the basics, the Mak'gora is a socially arranged fight between two parties. This duel primarily focuses on honour, and the name means 'Duel of Honour', however the definitions of honour change significantly depending on who you're talking to. Sometimes it is actually a duel of honour because one party has offended the other, other times it appears to serve as a violent political confrontation, and in other cases it stands in for leadership competitions.
The 'traditional' Mak'gora, as fought by the Orcs of Old Draenor was conducted with matched, shaman blessed weapons, without armour, and to the death, on even ground. A straight fight, no space for inequalities of equipment or similar. The Ogres also practice the Mak'gora and given their shared ancestry with the orcs we can assume they practice it in the same fashion. I'm not going to list all the different instances of duels, you can find them with a quick search. Generally we can assume the MG follows the same sorts of customary laws that real duels did, for example no dishonourable conduct like poison, using only equal weapons to your enemy and so on.
There are several inconsistencies with how the Mak'gorais portrayed. I'm aware of these so please don't cite them to me at some later date, some of the inconsistencies will be due to poor writing, some due to specific contexts. For example, to break down different parts:
There are some really bad points in writing in certain places that quite annoy me as someone who likes worldbuilding. For example, Saurfang (yes again, I really don't like him) challenges Malfurion to a Mak'gora to buy time to get Horde forces into the right position. According to most accepted Rules of War this would be regarded as a false ceasefire and perfidy, which when reading it on its face means that yet again Saurfang is pretending to be all honourable but completely failing to actually act like it. Happily Malfurion is wise to Saurfang's nonsense and ignores the challenge.
Similarly, Thrall felt guilty that he stomped Garrosh with magic in WoD, with the implication being he cheated because the Elements stopped responding to him afterward. This is nice and thematic, it demonstrates the narrative idea that 'Thrall failed Garrosh' which I like. However, then the audience come along and say 'Garrosh knew who he was fighting, if you challenge a magic user you should expect them to do magic', which is swiftly disproven when looking at the Durotan/Gul'dan MG where everyone starts shouting that Gul'dan is cheating when the later uses the Fel to kill Durotan easily.
I welcome any questions on this if you're thinking of challenging someone so I can weigh in on the likely outcomes as I wouldn't want you thinking one thing and then me merrily writing something else. I've had some specific questions, some of which are answered above but I don't mind stating explicitly here as well given these were the specific questions I got. Feel free to add more Qs and I'll expand this section.
What Mak'gora specifically can and cannot do for us.
Massively depends on circumstance. The most commons thing for it to do is violently transfer leadership (Doomhammer vs Blackhand) or prove your political cause to be the stronger in a society which values strength (Cairne vs Garrosh).
The MG is not some magic mind control option. It does not guarantee obedience, even among traditionalist orcs. Nor, generally speaking, does it appear to allow you to take over clans or polities you're not 'native' to and therefore to expand your holdings. This sort of thing happened in Norse duels irl, a duellist would go about insulting people and challenging them, killing them and taking their property but I think the Orcs would look poorly on this.
Will authority bestowed by winning a Mak'gora apply to all segments and races of this new Horde?
Depends what Mak'gora. If you challenge your superior for leadership of a military formation, that will likely be honoured by both the higher superiors, as well as inferior ranks. In the former case because they don't want to disrupt the culture, in the later because they perceive it as a legitimate transfer of power. Generally speaking all orcs, ogres, most trolls and most Tauren will accept the logic and legitimacy of a Mak'gora, though individuals obviously differ. Comparably do you think Sylvanus will care at all that one brute killed another brute? Humans and elves are a more mixed bag really depending on context. If Turalyon walked into Orgrimmar and declared a Mak'gora he'd have an excellent chance of taking leadership given he's a war hero and worthy warrior even to the Orcs. Similarly see Lothar vs Blackhand. Comparably, if the Lich King walked up instead his challenge would be ignored because he's an inhuman horror known to be evil.
Is there anything that disqualifies you from challenging people
It would be exceptionally dishonourable to challenge anyone who's weakened or incapacitated in some way. This would include pregnancy, injury, disability, great age or other 'weakness'. It would likely be nebulously less honourable to challenge individuals obviously weaker than yourself, such as men vs women, larger races vs smaller races, that sort of thing.
I would extrapolate that there's likely to be a prohibition on challenging shaman and other 'holy' personnel as there was a prohibition on killing priests irl. I can see shaman having 'shaman duels' between themselves, same for warlocks etc, but killing a shaman is likely to generally be perceived quite negatively, though again this depends on context.
You also appear to need to be at least proximate in rank, and challenge up or sideways. You can't be some peasant or someone with no name and try to take the Warchief, you'd have to have just cause to challenge. Similarly it would be expected to be dishonourable to challenge junior people, whether in rank, ability or age, though theoretically I can see someone being so rude the junior person has to declare a MG to salvage their honour.
What you can or can't do in the duel.
Depends on the rules, but most of these can be thought of quite easily. Mak'goras are public so everyone's going to see if you pull out a secret weapon or if your opponent is staggering bout because you've poisoned them. The conditions may or may not be decided beforehand, but you'll pick up most of it through social context.
Mak'gora
This is the infopost for the Mak'gora.
Firstly, I really want to emphasise that the Mak'gora is a social custom, not a codified rite, therefore what is and isn't allowed changes based on context, as well frankly on the effort Blizzard's writers go to when they're using it in their stories as I'm not sure they have a clear idea themselves. This also means I'm extrapolating from the mess of canon and the historical judicial and honour duels that inspire the Mak'gora.
Firstly, to go through the basics, the Mak'gora is a socially arranged fight between two parties. This duel primarily focuses on honour, and the name means 'Duel of Honour', however the definitions of honour change significantly depending on who you're talking to. Sometimes it is actually a duel of honour because one party has offended the other, other times it appears to serve as a violent political confrontation, and in other cases it stands in for leadership competitions.
The 'traditional' Mak'gora, as fought by the Orcs of Old Draenor was conducted with matched, shaman blessed weapons, without armour, and to the death, on even ground. A straight fight, no space for inequalities of equipment or similar. The Ogres also practice the Mak'gora and given their shared ancestry with the orcs we can assume they practice it in the same fashion. I'm not going to list all the different instances of duels, you can find them with a quick search. Generally we can assume the MG follows the same sorts of customary laws that real duels did, for example no dishonourable conduct like poison, using only equal weapons to your enemy and so on.
There are several inconsistencies with how the Mak'gorais portrayed. I'm aware of these so please don't cite them to me at some later date, some of the inconsistencies will be due to poor writing, some due to specific contexts. For example, to break down different parts:
- Some parties clearly have far superior equipment than other parties, whereas other duels operate on the enforced equality method
- Sometimes the duel isn't to the death, and sometimes this is acceptable to all parties, but sometimes sparing an opponent can cause great shame on the spared party, the Warsong have a special duel which is explicitly not to the death
- Sometimes duels decide political outcomes, sometimes familial quarrels, sometimes leadership contests
- You can challenge upwards in rank/prestige/status, and sideways, but apparently not downwards, which would likely be perceived as dishonourable.
- Presumably people who try to do lots of duels end up dead quickly, either in said duels or because people won't put up with their nonsense
- Generally cross-species duelling appears to be acceptable, though in one case the receiver of the challenge tries to back out claiming that cross-species duels aren't allowed
- In said occasion a champion is used, but isn't used anywhere else and frankly seems to be rather against the spirit of things
- Following on from the 'equality' principle magic appears to be permitted if both parties are magic users, but not if only one party is
- If a duel is regarding a political dispute and the opposition party defeats the incumbent party this doesn't magically change everyone's opinions, only those who accept the validity of the Mak'goraand honour it
- Most cultures can at least comprehend the Mak'gora, with some cultures honouring it less
- Generally Mak'goras are declared publicly, but sometimes they're not explicit and are spontaneous fights which serve largely the same purpose
- Thrall canonically has tried to alter the conditions of the Mak'gora to make it less deadly, no doubt to prevent fights among his warriors, and to prevent needless death and strife. He may have attempted to ban it entirely
- MGs appear to be a sort of 'free action' where you can kill someone without the usual repercussions such as their family wanting to get revenge
- There appears to be some points about who challenges whom and the subsequent result of a duel but these would likely depend on context.
- The challenged party seems to be able to refuse challenges on certain grounds, specifically Ogres refuse Mak'goras from other races, because the challenger isn't an ogre or a member of the same ogre clan. We may assume that this is fairly flexible, but it does demonstrate legitimate grounds for refusal.
There are some really bad points in writing in certain places that quite annoy me as someone who likes worldbuilding. For example, Saurfang (yes again, I really don't like him) challenges Malfurion to a Mak'gora to buy time to get Horde forces into the right position. According to most accepted Rules of War this would be regarded as a false ceasefire and perfidy, which when reading it on its face means that yet again Saurfang is pretending to be all honourable but completely failing to actually act like it. Happily Malfurion is wise to Saurfang's nonsense and ignores the challenge.
Similarly, Thrall felt guilty that he stomped Garrosh with magic in WoD, with the implication being he cheated because the Elements stopped responding to him afterward. This is nice and thematic, it demonstrates the narrative idea that 'Thrall failed Garrosh' which I like. However, then the audience come along and say 'Garrosh knew who he was fighting, if you challenge a magic user you should expect them to do magic', which is swiftly disproven when looking at the Durotan/Gul'dan MG where everyone starts shouting that Gul'dan is cheating when the later uses the Fel to kill Durotan easily.
I welcome any questions on this if you're thinking of challenging someone so I can weigh in on the likely outcomes as I wouldn't want you thinking one thing and then me merrily writing something else. I've had some specific questions, some of which are answered above but I don't mind stating explicitly here as well given these were the specific questions I got. Feel free to add more Qs and I'll expand this section.
What Mak'gora specifically can and cannot do for us.
Massively depends on circumstance. The most commons thing for it to do is violently transfer leadership (Doomhammer vs Blackhand) or prove your political cause to be the stronger in a society which values strength (Cairne vs Garrosh).
The MG is not some magic mind control option. It does not guarantee obedience, even among traditionalist orcs. Nor, generally speaking, does it appear to allow you to take over clans or polities you're not 'native' to and therefore to expand your holdings. This sort of thing happened in Norse duels irl, a duellist would go about insulting people and challenging them, killing them and taking their property but I think the Orcs would look poorly on this.
Will authority bestowed by winning a Mak'gora apply to all segments and races of this new Horde?
Depends what Mak'gora. If you challenge your superior for leadership of a military formation, that will likely be honoured by both the higher superiors, as well as inferior ranks. In the former case because they don't want to disrupt the culture, in the later because they perceive it as a legitimate transfer of power. Generally speaking all orcs, ogres, most trolls and most Tauren will accept the logic and legitimacy of a Mak'gora, though individuals obviously differ. Comparably do you think Sylvanus will care at all that one brute killed another brute? Humans and elves are a more mixed bag really depending on context. If Turalyon walked into Orgrimmar and declared a Mak'gora he'd have an excellent chance of taking leadership given he's a war hero and worthy warrior even to the Orcs. Similarly see Lothar vs Blackhand. Comparably, if the Lich King walked up instead his challenge would be ignored because he's an inhuman horror known to be evil.
Is there anything that disqualifies you from challenging people
It would be exceptionally dishonourable to challenge anyone who's weakened or incapacitated in some way. This would include pregnancy, injury, disability, great age or other 'weakness'. It would likely be nebulously less honourable to challenge individuals obviously weaker than yourself, such as men vs women, larger races vs smaller races, that sort of thing.
I would extrapolate that there's likely to be a prohibition on challenging shaman and other 'holy' personnel as there was a prohibition on killing priests irl. I can see shaman having 'shaman duels' between themselves, same for warlocks etc, but killing a shaman is likely to generally be perceived quite negatively, though again this depends on context.
You also appear to need to be at least proximate in rank, and challenge up or sideways. You can't be some peasant or someone with no name and try to take the Warchief, you'd have to have just cause to challenge. Similarly it would be expected to be dishonourable to challenge junior people, whether in rank, ability or age, though theoretically I can see someone being so rude the junior person has to declare a MG to salvage their honour.
What you can or can't do in the duel.
Depends on the rules, but most of these can be thought of quite easily. Mak'goras are public so everyone's going to see if you pull out a secret weapon or if your opponent is staggering bout because you've poisoned them. The conditions may or may not be decided beforehand, but you'll pick up most of it through social context.
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- Location
- PA
...Thought:
The thing about cheating to me makes a degree of sense- trying to say that your strength is in killing others explicitly says you'd consider it fair for such means to be used on you-it's on you to avoid getting poisoned.
I also suspect it's for practicality reasons-the focus on strength is in the classic 'strength to provide for my family/clan' sense. I like the idea that being the core 'reason' for strength, even if the orcs may or may not actually think to say it aloud, which is how they turned to Fel in the first place, because the shamans lost their strength and could no longer provide.
But the idea of proving your strength is to show you can provide for those who join up with you. And Fel, as I understand it, leans more towards 'Power upfront, price paid...later' in a way that I think undercuts the core idea behind the Orcish ideal of strength.
Like, between the Blademasters, and the Shamanistic ways, it feels like there's some solid stuff that wasn't happy with the initial transformation into the Horde, that had to be silenced before that could happen. Yes there's stuff like the Firekeeper traditions, of when something dies, you burn it to ashes, and later you can burn the ashes to get a last gasp of glory from that original something....
I think what it is, is that my impression of the plan to make Orcs go Fel and go Full Demon, was based on sucker-punching it's rivals and quickly charging down to Demonhood before they could be stopped. Like a President getting elected and then quickly passing bills that put him in power permanently while his legitimate term in office is still going.
So, when Grom axes Mannoroth in the face and breaks the pledge, Orcs now can groggily shake themselves out of the nightmare and go 'okay that was bad, let's not do that again!'.
The thing about cheating to me makes a degree of sense- trying to say that your strength is in killing others explicitly says you'd consider it fair for such means to be used on you-it's on you to avoid getting poisoned.
I also suspect it's for practicality reasons-the focus on strength is in the classic 'strength to provide for my family/clan' sense. I like the idea that being the core 'reason' for strength, even if the orcs may or may not actually think to say it aloud, which is how they turned to Fel in the first place, because the shamans lost their strength and could no longer provide.
But the idea of proving your strength is to show you can provide for those who join up with you. And Fel, as I understand it, leans more towards 'Power upfront, price paid...later' in a way that I think undercuts the core idea behind the Orcish ideal of strength.
Like, between the Blademasters, and the Shamanistic ways, it feels like there's some solid stuff that wasn't happy with the initial transformation into the Horde, that had to be silenced before that could happen. Yes there's stuff like the Firekeeper traditions, of when something dies, you burn it to ashes, and later you can burn the ashes to get a last gasp of glory from that original something....
I think what it is, is that my impression of the plan to make Orcs go Fel and go Full Demon, was based on sucker-punching it's rivals and quickly charging down to Demonhood before they could be stopped. Like a President getting elected and then quickly passing bills that put him in power permanently while his legitimate term in office is still going.
So, when Grom axes Mannoroth in the face and breaks the pledge, Orcs now can groggily shake themselves out of the nightmare and go 'okay that was bad, let's not do that again!'.
- Location
- Texas
[X] Plan: Preparation is Key
Yeah it's time to actually do things, not going to get respect otherwise. On the job training, let's go.
Yeah it's time to actually do things, not going to get respect otherwise. On the job training, let's go.
- Location
- United Kingdom
Ok so plan prep seems to be the most popular, voting closed, I'll use this for rolls.
Kolkar attack, leaders
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Orgrimmar 4 Results
- Location
- United Kingdom
Putting the bonuses up here so they don't ruin the ending tension. Minor advancements to various skills, but you need a big jump rather than this incremental training stuff to advance them more. Basic Leadership>Leadership though.
Kolkar attack = 70, leader capture = 61
You find yourself rather puzzled by the centaur. You've heard that they enjoy alcohol and indeed several of them you've fought seem to have bloodshot eyes, yet you can't quite imagine them in a brewery. The specifics of where they get their drink from aren't really relevant but as you encounter and successively defeat a few of their bands you find more questions piling up that you can't really answer.
You find yourself wondering why they fight the Horde. If you had come to Kalimdor for the first time, escaping as the Horde did across the sea on the Eve of the First War which party would you have picked out of the Tauren, Centaur and Quillboar? If you came to a battle between the three enemies which would you aid? As it turned out the Tauren happened to be a noble race which were very compatible with your own people, but didn't the centaur and quillboar have a similar culture, affected by spiritualism, with a connection to the land?
You have space to consider such things as you wander across the Barrens with your warband, largely untroubled by the fights you have. Your enemies are disorganised, or perhaps unorganised would be a better term and you've specifically noted that several of their bands wear different metal and ornaments, likely belonging to different clans within the 'Great Clan Kolkar'. You've questioned a few of them but then released them to warn others, planning to allow them to rally and attack your band. You don't have an army, only those you took from Darkstorm and some warriors your father left you but forty orcs are still a formidable force and you've even picked up a couple of troll hunters who were active in the area and decided to tag along with you.
In the end you don't actually make it to the oasis you were heading for as your strategy came into place before you arrived. For the last week you'd been fending off minor attacks and releasing the prisoners, knowing they'd go back to the main force. Meanwhile you marched between the rocky formations that dotted the northern Barrens, sheltering between them during the night. On the sixth day the centaur finally seem to organise themselves and respond to your provocations, rallying a force of two hundred or so led by three champions. Many of them appear poorly armed except for the bondsmen of the leaders who hang back, allowing their clansmen to probe your defences.
But the sons of Grond will never be broken.
The rocky ground halts their charge, the boulders put your axes and spears level to their faces and many a centaur is felled in a single blow as you and your warriors cut down any who try to climb up the rocks or barge their way through. The first day is a bloody one and almost a quarter of their force is killed or maimed for only a few losses on your side.
The second day is worse, for you and for the centaur. More blood, more death. They don't even try to remove their dead before they're back again, trampling on their comrades' corpses to reach your formation, eyes bulging in fury, muscles taught on wiry bodies, weapons raised with warlike cries.
Is this the power of the Fel?
Or rather was it the power? Is this how the Alliance felt when the Horde surged out of the Dark Portal, green fire burning in their eyes? Is this the rage the knights of Stormwind faced?
Or is it a more mundane hatred? The fury of a land stolen and a race broken and driven back to desolate places as invaders take their pastures and hunting grounds, as your people stride forth, banners high?
The commanders on both sides stay aloof as the first day goes on, you staying in reserve, bearing no shield and therefore having little place in the shield wall. But at noon on the second day the first of the champions comes.
Massive, brutish and stinking he comes forward bellowing to the adulation of
his warriors, "I am Jagutu Kurak, I will eat your heart!" he cries in the Orcish tongue, then rears back on his hind legs and charges.
Behind him his bondsmen jostle for position, their armour and weapons of far higher quality than those of the previous centaur who've attacked, and they demonstrate at least basic tactical skill as they take to one of the steeper slopes, helping their leader up before following him.
Kurak thrusts his lance and an orc dies, body falling aside as the Kolkar fights on, making more room for his warriors. This is the moment you'd waited for and you swiftly make your way to the breach, Kurak seeing your raised sword and hefting his own spear in a static block that should halt any but the strongest stroke.
The strongest yes, but not an attack empowered by the Rage of the Firelands.
Again you channel the hatred, and though you know you're departing further from the path of the Blademaster as your sword comes down the burning blade cleaves through the centaur's lance, then down, opening his chest as he screams.
The bondsmen panic, orcs all around them, trolls hurling javelins from the rocks and Baneshadow and now Darkstorm's bane among them, your cuts searing bloody gouges in their flanks.
Some prefer to leap down rather than be cut down, and though some escape, many others lie injured at the bottom of the rocks around the smouldering body of their leader.
You took casualties, but they were minor enough and your slaying of the centaur champion has brought you honour among the warband. The next dawn sees the rest of the centaur retreating and you returning, prisoners in tow back to Dreadmist Peak, some simply clan warriors of the Kolkar, though a few among them are Kurak's bondsmen and higher ranked within the centaur hierarchy.
General knowledge gained from conflict with, and interrogation of centaur, particularly regarding the Kolkar forces in the northern Barrens. 16 Prisoners acquired.
Sacrifice = 88
You have cause to reflect on the nature of sacrificial magic as you observe the work of the elder warlocks when presented a dozen low ranked warriors.
"These will make good sacrifices." one remarks in a brief aside to you, "Elementals cannot die because they don't truly live, there's little to sacrifice."
The Trolls use sacrifice when they give offerings to their Loa, the shaman use sacrifice as a sign of respect, even the human kingdoms use a form of symbolic sacrifice by giving up gold or certain things precious to them to demonstrate their piety. The sacrifice of the warlocks is different. Fire burns in their hands as they fall on the sacrifices in a perverse gluttony before one of their chiefs strides in and pulls them away, giving orders that the prisoners are to remain for some ritual later. They slink off after that and clan warriors carry the remaining centaur off to a holding pen, one of the ones which had been attacked by the warlocks dies later and you see his body hauled out, emaciated, eyes sunken, armour suddenly too large, pathetically swaddling him like a babe.
Your father later speaks to you regarding it, saying that only those with the Burning Wish could truly understand the feeling a warlock feels when he takes the life from a creature. He describes it as a dark joy, the feeling of power swelling inside you and his eyes glint in the darkness as he speaks. You speak a great deal to him and you feel the sacrifices have made a positive contribution to the elders' work, but personally though you don't get much further in understanding how the actual power works…
Elders = 6
The elders of the Burning Blade mock you. They mock you and your father both. When you draw close they switch to a demonic tongue that seems to cut the air, when your father comes and speaks that tongue to them they switch again, speaking in Kalimag, the elemental language, which even your father in his learning doesn't understand. In this minor thing, and in many others the elders of your clan mock and belittle you both, your father, for though he's powerful he doesn't have the breadth of knowledge the elders do and they're all at least a generation older than him, and you for a number of things, seemingly as they please from your smaller size to your interest in the Blademasters. It is offensive and while you might have been able to tolerate the insults if they were only against you, the elders disrespect your father, and though his office as chief, the rest of the clan. Your father is unwilling to challenge them for a variety of reasons, and you know you'd be unlikely to win if you tried it yourself as you have little defence against their magics.
Your father doesn't stay as long as he planned to and after a couple of weeks makes ready to leave. "They mock you yes," he remarks as you assist him in his preparations, "But they do so to offend me, or so I guess. Things may be different when I'm away. Be wary, learn well. If something mischances… there's a smith by name of Traugh at the Crossroads, he'll help you if necessary. I plan to be back by the first snows, I would not return to Orgrimmar before then, but if you do, stay away from the Cleft, it may not be safe for you."
With those ominous words he sets out on his own business, clasping your shoulder before doing so, "You represent the clan here while I'm away, be safe, but do not dishonour us. Be well my son."
Scorn = 59
Your sergeant has been a great help in organising your warband and has deputised for you, leading it while you've been busy with other affairs. You've given him wide authority, but also bound him to commanding the Burning Blade warriors your father's lent you, as well as the trolls who've decided to stay a while at Dreadmist. This has two purposes, firstly to integrate Darkstorm's warriors into the Burning Blade and secondly to force Scorn to be more positive about serving you, diminishing the possibility he'll just walk off one day with 'his' warband. You have several discussions with him and he seems to have warmed up to the idea that he'll lead while you're gone and through service to you reach a higher rank. As a subordinate he's capable, strong and cunning, though has a tendency toward independence that you'll have to watch carefully. You haven't yet found out much about him personally but you feel you've been successful, and your warband certainly performed well in the battles against the centaur.
Blademaster = 74
"I have shown you the Two Fires and the One Sword, the Twelve Cuts and the Wind Steps. More than this I cannot teach you at this time. I have shown you what you must learn, but you must now learn it."
You stand with the Blademaster atop one of the rises on the peak, looking out over the wide plains of the Barrens.
"The Path is long and difficult, and you may stray, but you must walk it for your own reasons, not because you wish to be like me." he continues, looking to you as you both kneel in meditation, swords before you. "What is the Lesson of Steel?"
"That my sword and I must be one." you reply, this being one of the core tenants of the philosophy Akinos has discussed with you.
"And yet that is a broken sword not made for you, not sized appropriately to your frame, not adequate to your needs, nor you to it's." the Blademaster replies, "Your sword is borrowed, as, for the moment, are your ideals. You have the foundation, it's up to you to build on it."
The words do not satisfy you but he's ultimately correct. You've successfully learnt how to fight like a Blademaster, the different cuts and footwork, the philosophy behind their actions, but you also know you've been using Baneshadow's sword as a tool and ultimately haven't been following their philosophy, particularly Akinos' personal interpretation that largely seems see war as a personal conflict rather than your own view of strategy and politics.
Shamanism = 32
"Good morning."
Sarilus is the first of the Forsaken you've spoken to. He's unusual, both because he was once a human and because he's undead and he explains a complex scheme he's involved in to use the leylines that run across Azeroth to disrupt the water Elementals of Ashenvale. He's an alchemist, artificer and mage of the tradition of Dalaran and has been creating large metal bracers to bind Elementals with to serve the Horde. You're surprised this project is supported by the Horde but he's got a few crates of steel in a cave at the top of the mountain so he's obviously getting support from somewhere and he demonstrates a few pieces of his magic to you.
You don't learn anything specific from him, you're not a mage and he's not an orc so while you talk a great deal it's difficult to find mutually understandable metaphors to discuss the vagaries of magic. He does give you a few tips though…
"It occurs to me that you don't have anything, well anything but your sword, to actually oppose Elementals with. The first arcanists were primitive trolls using intuitive magics to will magic to happen, in particular to bind minor elementals to create effects. Over time these evolved into communal ritual practices which later became codified with the magic of the Highborne and through them down to my own tradition in Dalaran. You need something to compel Elementals and if you're not using other elemental power, water against fire, that sort of thing, the precision and binding of the Arcane or the entropic power of Fel or Void you won't have much success. This shaman in Orgrimmar you spoke of has a good idea of the character of Elementals, it's their nature that I'm utilising here to direct them at the Night Elves, but you'll just have to learn if you want to master a tradition, that's what I did."
Sarilus has described how he spent many years studying in Dalaran so the thought of taking so long to become more powerful doesn't fill you with pleasure.
??? = 2
Far out across the Barrens a figure rides into the camp of the Kolkar. Krom'zar, warlord of the clan and master of many warriors greets him, clasping fist to chest. "You have come Dark One." the centaur remarks, eyeing the discomfort his shaman show at the rider's presence. "We are ready."
"Kill any you wish." the shadow's voice is an gasp through dry lips, blackened by his evil speech, "You shall have your vengeance, and I my prize."
Kolkar attack = 70, leader capture = 61
You find yourself rather puzzled by the centaur. You've heard that they enjoy alcohol and indeed several of them you've fought seem to have bloodshot eyes, yet you can't quite imagine them in a brewery. The specifics of where they get their drink from aren't really relevant but as you encounter and successively defeat a few of their bands you find more questions piling up that you can't really answer.
You find yourself wondering why they fight the Horde. If you had come to Kalimdor for the first time, escaping as the Horde did across the sea on the Eve of the First War which party would you have picked out of the Tauren, Centaur and Quillboar? If you came to a battle between the three enemies which would you aid? As it turned out the Tauren happened to be a noble race which were very compatible with your own people, but didn't the centaur and quillboar have a similar culture, affected by spiritualism, with a connection to the land?
You have space to consider such things as you wander across the Barrens with your warband, largely untroubled by the fights you have. Your enemies are disorganised, or perhaps unorganised would be a better term and you've specifically noted that several of their bands wear different metal and ornaments, likely belonging to different clans within the 'Great Clan Kolkar'. You've questioned a few of them but then released them to warn others, planning to allow them to rally and attack your band. You don't have an army, only those you took from Darkstorm and some warriors your father left you but forty orcs are still a formidable force and you've even picked up a couple of troll hunters who were active in the area and decided to tag along with you.
In the end you don't actually make it to the oasis you were heading for as your strategy came into place before you arrived. For the last week you'd been fending off minor attacks and releasing the prisoners, knowing they'd go back to the main force. Meanwhile you marched between the rocky formations that dotted the northern Barrens, sheltering between them during the night. On the sixth day the centaur finally seem to organise themselves and respond to your provocations, rallying a force of two hundred or so led by three champions. Many of them appear poorly armed except for the bondsmen of the leaders who hang back, allowing their clansmen to probe your defences.
But the sons of Grond will never be broken.
The rocky ground halts their charge, the boulders put your axes and spears level to their faces and many a centaur is felled in a single blow as you and your warriors cut down any who try to climb up the rocks or barge their way through. The first day is a bloody one and almost a quarter of their force is killed or maimed for only a few losses on your side.
The second day is worse, for you and for the centaur. More blood, more death. They don't even try to remove their dead before they're back again, trampling on their comrades' corpses to reach your formation, eyes bulging in fury, muscles taught on wiry bodies, weapons raised with warlike cries.
Is this the power of the Fel?
Or rather was it the power? Is this how the Alliance felt when the Horde surged out of the Dark Portal, green fire burning in their eyes? Is this the rage the knights of Stormwind faced?
Or is it a more mundane hatred? The fury of a land stolen and a race broken and driven back to desolate places as invaders take their pastures and hunting grounds, as your people stride forth, banners high?
The commanders on both sides stay aloof as the first day goes on, you staying in reserve, bearing no shield and therefore having little place in the shield wall. But at noon on the second day the first of the champions comes.
Massive, brutish and stinking he comes forward bellowing to the adulation of
his warriors, "I am Jagutu Kurak, I will eat your heart!" he cries in the Orcish tongue, then rears back on his hind legs and charges.
Behind him his bondsmen jostle for position, their armour and weapons of far higher quality than those of the previous centaur who've attacked, and they demonstrate at least basic tactical skill as they take to one of the steeper slopes, helping their leader up before following him.
Kurak thrusts his lance and an orc dies, body falling aside as the Kolkar fights on, making more room for his warriors. This is the moment you'd waited for and you swiftly make your way to the breach, Kurak seeing your raised sword and hefting his own spear in a static block that should halt any but the strongest stroke.
The strongest yes, but not an attack empowered by the Rage of the Firelands.
Again you channel the hatred, and though you know you're departing further from the path of the Blademaster as your sword comes down the burning blade cleaves through the centaur's lance, then down, opening his chest as he screams.
The bondsmen panic, orcs all around them, trolls hurling javelins from the rocks and Baneshadow and now Darkstorm's bane among them, your cuts searing bloody gouges in their flanks.
Some prefer to leap down rather than be cut down, and though some escape, many others lie injured at the bottom of the rocks around the smouldering body of their leader.
You took casualties, but they were minor enough and your slaying of the centaur champion has brought you honour among the warband. The next dawn sees the rest of the centaur retreating and you returning, prisoners in tow back to Dreadmist Peak, some simply clan warriors of the Kolkar, though a few among them are Kurak's bondsmen and higher ranked within the centaur hierarchy.
General knowledge gained from conflict with, and interrogation of centaur, particularly regarding the Kolkar forces in the northern Barrens. 16 Prisoners acquired.
Sacrifice = 88
You have cause to reflect on the nature of sacrificial magic as you observe the work of the elder warlocks when presented a dozen low ranked warriors.
"These will make good sacrifices." one remarks in a brief aside to you, "Elementals cannot die because they don't truly live, there's little to sacrifice."
The Trolls use sacrifice when they give offerings to their Loa, the shaman use sacrifice as a sign of respect, even the human kingdoms use a form of symbolic sacrifice by giving up gold or certain things precious to them to demonstrate their piety. The sacrifice of the warlocks is different. Fire burns in their hands as they fall on the sacrifices in a perverse gluttony before one of their chiefs strides in and pulls them away, giving orders that the prisoners are to remain for some ritual later. They slink off after that and clan warriors carry the remaining centaur off to a holding pen, one of the ones which had been attacked by the warlocks dies later and you see his body hauled out, emaciated, eyes sunken, armour suddenly too large, pathetically swaddling him like a babe.
Your father later speaks to you regarding it, saying that only those with the Burning Wish could truly understand the feeling a warlock feels when he takes the life from a creature. He describes it as a dark joy, the feeling of power swelling inside you and his eyes glint in the darkness as he speaks. You speak a great deal to him and you feel the sacrifices have made a positive contribution to the elders' work, but personally though you don't get much further in understanding how the actual power works…
Elders = 6
The elders of the Burning Blade mock you. They mock you and your father both. When you draw close they switch to a demonic tongue that seems to cut the air, when your father comes and speaks that tongue to them they switch again, speaking in Kalimag, the elemental language, which even your father in his learning doesn't understand. In this minor thing, and in many others the elders of your clan mock and belittle you both, your father, for though he's powerful he doesn't have the breadth of knowledge the elders do and they're all at least a generation older than him, and you for a number of things, seemingly as they please from your smaller size to your interest in the Blademasters. It is offensive and while you might have been able to tolerate the insults if they were only against you, the elders disrespect your father, and though his office as chief, the rest of the clan. Your father is unwilling to challenge them for a variety of reasons, and you know you'd be unlikely to win if you tried it yourself as you have little defence against their magics.
Your father doesn't stay as long as he planned to and after a couple of weeks makes ready to leave. "They mock you yes," he remarks as you assist him in his preparations, "But they do so to offend me, or so I guess. Things may be different when I'm away. Be wary, learn well. If something mischances… there's a smith by name of Traugh at the Crossroads, he'll help you if necessary. I plan to be back by the first snows, I would not return to Orgrimmar before then, but if you do, stay away from the Cleft, it may not be safe for you."
With those ominous words he sets out on his own business, clasping your shoulder before doing so, "You represent the clan here while I'm away, be safe, but do not dishonour us. Be well my son."
Scorn = 59
Your sergeant has been a great help in organising your warband and has deputised for you, leading it while you've been busy with other affairs. You've given him wide authority, but also bound him to commanding the Burning Blade warriors your father's lent you, as well as the trolls who've decided to stay a while at Dreadmist. This has two purposes, firstly to integrate Darkstorm's warriors into the Burning Blade and secondly to force Scorn to be more positive about serving you, diminishing the possibility he'll just walk off one day with 'his' warband. You have several discussions with him and he seems to have warmed up to the idea that he'll lead while you're gone and through service to you reach a higher rank. As a subordinate he's capable, strong and cunning, though has a tendency toward independence that you'll have to watch carefully. You haven't yet found out much about him personally but you feel you've been successful, and your warband certainly performed well in the battles against the centaur.
Blademaster = 74
"I have shown you the Two Fires and the One Sword, the Twelve Cuts and the Wind Steps. More than this I cannot teach you at this time. I have shown you what you must learn, but you must now learn it."
You stand with the Blademaster atop one of the rises on the peak, looking out over the wide plains of the Barrens.
"The Path is long and difficult, and you may stray, but you must walk it for your own reasons, not because you wish to be like me." he continues, looking to you as you both kneel in meditation, swords before you. "What is the Lesson of Steel?"
"That my sword and I must be one." you reply, this being one of the core tenants of the philosophy Akinos has discussed with you.
"And yet that is a broken sword not made for you, not sized appropriately to your frame, not adequate to your needs, nor you to it's." the Blademaster replies, "Your sword is borrowed, as, for the moment, are your ideals. You have the foundation, it's up to you to build on it."
The words do not satisfy you but he's ultimately correct. You've successfully learnt how to fight like a Blademaster, the different cuts and footwork, the philosophy behind their actions, but you also know you've been using Baneshadow's sword as a tool and ultimately haven't been following their philosophy, particularly Akinos' personal interpretation that largely seems see war as a personal conflict rather than your own view of strategy and politics.
Shamanism = 32
"Good morning."
Sarilus is the first of the Forsaken you've spoken to. He's unusual, both because he was once a human and because he's undead and he explains a complex scheme he's involved in to use the leylines that run across Azeroth to disrupt the water Elementals of Ashenvale. He's an alchemist, artificer and mage of the tradition of Dalaran and has been creating large metal bracers to bind Elementals with to serve the Horde. You're surprised this project is supported by the Horde but he's got a few crates of steel in a cave at the top of the mountain so he's obviously getting support from somewhere and he demonstrates a few pieces of his magic to you.
You don't learn anything specific from him, you're not a mage and he's not an orc so while you talk a great deal it's difficult to find mutually understandable metaphors to discuss the vagaries of magic. He does give you a few tips though…
"It occurs to me that you don't have anything, well anything but your sword, to actually oppose Elementals with. The first arcanists were primitive trolls using intuitive magics to will magic to happen, in particular to bind minor elementals to create effects. Over time these evolved into communal ritual practices which later became codified with the magic of the Highborne and through them down to my own tradition in Dalaran. You need something to compel Elementals and if you're not using other elemental power, water against fire, that sort of thing, the precision and binding of the Arcane or the entropic power of Fel or Void you won't have much success. This shaman in Orgrimmar you spoke of has a good idea of the character of Elementals, it's their nature that I'm utilising here to direct them at the Night Elves, but you'll just have to learn if you want to master a tradition, that's what I did."
Sarilus has described how he spent many years studying in Dalaran so the thought of taking so long to become more powerful doesn't fill you with pleasure.
??? = 2
Far out across the Barrens a figure rides into the camp of the Kolkar. Krom'zar, warlord of the clan and master of many warriors greets him, clasping fist to chest. "You have come Dark One." the centaur remarks, eyeing the discomfort his shaman show at the rider's presence. "We are ready."
"Kill any you wish." the shadow's voice is an gasp through dry lips, blackened by his evil speech, "You shall have your vengeance, and I my prize."
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Annatar
Lord of Gifts
- Location
- Pittsburgh
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
I am too, but the power that can be gained from it is too much to ignore at this juncture.
- Location
- United Kingdom
This is exactly the sort of discussions that will inform the character's perspective so just be aware of that.
Also if y'all are uncomfortable with it just... don't take actions to go about sacrificing people? I'm not (currently) forcing you to do it.
Also any guesses as to the last scene?
- Location
- Singapore
I still prefer focusing on Shamanism and Blademastery.
Blademastery needs no explanation, constantly challenging difficult opponents to grow.
Shamanism, given how the Elementals are combative thanks to the influence of the Black Empire; we conquer them and bend them to our will. But use Shamanism in the style of the Blackrock tribe as utility to forge weapons for Blademasters.
Blademastery needs no explanation, constantly challenging difficult opponents to grow.
Shamanism, given how the Elementals are combative thanks to the influence of the Black Empire; we conquer them and bend them to our will. But use Shamanism in the style of the Blackrock tribe as utility to forge weapons for Blademasters.
Last edited:
Annatar
Lord of Gifts
- Location
- Pittsburgh
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
There are certainly alternatives but uh, we kind of suck ass at them. Like Shamanism or maybe even Druidic teachings. Blood magic Ala the trolls is the ultimate form of sacrificial magic especially if we could get a Loa to help but for now the Fel will do until we can amange to not be terrible at appeasing spirits or nature.
In general, foreboding stuff coming up it seems. Still wish we nosed around the crossroads, but it will be time to do that next round.
In general, blood sacrifice is indeed morally icky. However, Centaurs sorta suck in this universe so I find it hard to care overly much. Then again, Shamanism also comes with fewer random body maluses as Feldabbling. Probably will not vote for whatever that Fel-Kiss/Gaze of Sargaras is to awaken as a Warlock.
Blademaster man is right, we need to own our stuff more. The blade as a token is weighing us down, as we need a blade as well as general magics. So maybe sacrifice that and Proudpeak to get a new mixed totem. But that also might super backfire so who knows!
In general, blood sacrifice is indeed morally icky. However, Centaurs sorta suck in this universe so I find it hard to care overly much. Then again, Shamanism also comes with fewer random body maluses as Feldabbling. Probably will not vote for whatever that Fel-Kiss/Gaze of Sargaras is to awaken as a Warlock.
Blademaster man is right, we need to own our stuff more. The blade as a token is weighing us down, as we need a blade as well as general magics. So maybe sacrifice that and Proudpeak to get a new mixed totem. But that also might super backfire so who knows!
- Location
- Singapore
Pale orc
“I have encountered evil in many places. Even deep within my own soul, I have seen dark shadows of what could be. However, the evil within the hearts of the Pale defies explanation. It is dark, loathing, and miserable in a way I have never encountered.”
wow.gamepedia.com
Becoming a Pale Orc if we mess around too much with Void.
A Dire Orc due to blood sacrifices.
Fel orc
Fel orcs (also known as chaos orcs and blood orcs)[1] are corrupted orcs created by the continual consumption of pit lord blood, which has caused them to be completely consumed by madness and bloodlust.[2] Most could be found in Outland as members of the Fel Horde, loyal to the Illidari. After...
wow.gamepedia.com
Fel Orc due to doing Blood of Mannaroth 2.0
Sacrificial Magic can work with Shamanism given how Pyroth was sacrificed to Smoulderon I think.
[/URL]
In chapter the Warlock said elementals cannot be sacrificed because they cant really die. But I guess we would just have to try harder.
Also another idea for getting Proudpeak to work with us/serve. That centaur looked pretty rough post drain, a threat/experience of draining power off our earth elemental could make it more willing to bow in order to preserve its majesty rather then be slowly laid low and waste away in obscurity.
- Location
- PA
This is something that I've been mulling over.
How DO we negotiate with Proud Peak?
Yes, we need to wail on him some to get him to properly pay attention but there's also the angle of the Elementals being angrier here then on Draenor.
There's also the angle of fighting enough to develop the skill to be a Blademaster...
Hrrm.
Stupid thought, but what if we swapped Blademaster...Hrrm. Shields are more an Alliance thing. Drumaster?
Nah...
How DO we negotiate with Proud Peak?
Yes, we need to wail on him some to get him to properly pay attention but there's also the angle of the Elementals being angrier here then on Draenor.
There's also the angle of fighting enough to develop the skill to be a Blademaster...
Hrrm.
Stupid thought, but what if we swapped Blademaster...Hrrm. Shields are more an Alliance thing. Drumaster?
Nah...
- Location
- Singapore
The Elementals have their own politics and drama right? I suggest finding and contacting his rivals and sacrificing him to them for power.
- Location
- United Kingdom
Warlocks find them difficult to sacrifice because the Elementals are inherently linked to the rest of the Elemental Plane they're from. 'Grounded' elementals like proudpeak are different because they 'live' somewhere, their power is 'terrestrial', comparably unbound elementals are 'ephemeral' because they sort of just float about. The Warlocks are trying to get power for themselves here, comparably the forsaken guy comments that you can play elementals off against each other, so sacrificing a fire one to get power from water elementals, this is another sacrifice, its just there's a sort of power broken involved.
- Location
- United Kingdom
It really depends on your philosophy of interacting with the elementals. If the elementals know youre a decent, honourable guy who respects them etc they'll be more inclined to help you, your reputation will proceed you and that'll mean you can rely on 'credit' with the elementals in general rather than have to make deals/fight each one for power. Comparably if they hear you've been going around eating their friends they'll be less pleased
- Location
- St. Petersburg
"released them to warn others"
Something is missing.
"only those with the Burning Wish"/"only with the Burning Wish could one truly understand" etc.
The second "though" is probably unnecessary.
Missing dot.
Something looks wrong about the phrase. Missing an article and a comma, perhaps?
"It". Not sure what was meant there at the end. Perhaps a different connecting word was meant instead of "than"?
"its"
Either "shows", or "shamans" if they have more than one.