The first story I wrote in here was a bit of a teaser leading up to the meeting where she would be named, and ever since she earned her name I've been tempted to go back, and write more about her actual journey into Dun Morogh, Elwynn, Teldrassil, and Asuremyst. The post would be way too long if I actually put it all in here, so I'm going to separate it into five stories. This one explains her plan in detail as she prepares to enter Dun Morogh. I haven't written the other ones just yet, so let me know if you want me to put them all together in here. Hope you like it!
Leppender wrinkled her nose at the foul stench of the swamp as she rode through it, ignoring the crocolisks that snapped at her horse's hooves. She urged her felsteed forward, stopping only as she reached a cavernous tunnel that had been lit with torches, the ornamental arched entry marking it as a humanoid construct. “This is it, the path to Dun Morogh home of the Dwarves and Gnomes.”
She dismounted, and smiled at her voidwalker Thantast who appeared out of the shadows to stand at her side. “I don't usually like your ideas, but I think I'm agreeable to this one. You could die very easily out here.” He said in his demonic tongue.
Leppender snorted derisively at him. “Yes yes, you want me dead so you can feast on my soul before it can depart for the next world. I assure you that will never happen Thantast. Even if I do die out here, you won't be able to touch my soul.” She looked up at the arched entrance and smiled. Besides it's not a worthy test of courage unless I am willing to face impossible odds.”
Thantast seemed to slump with disappointment. “Impossible odds indeed. You come here to acquire a sword?”
Leppender shook her head with a sigh, and pulls out a piece of paper. “No Thantast... let me explain it to you once again. After checking in the library at Shattrath I discovered four items that are carried frequently by creatures only found in the homelands of our enemies. First I shall slay Edan the Howler and take his cape, what's known to us as the Wendigo fur cloak, then I shall use my magical stone to return to Shattrath and take a portal to Orgrimaar. After that I take the zeppelin to Grom'gol base camp, and ride north through Duskwood to Elwynn forest. The koboalds in the mines there carry shovels that are unique to that area. Once a have found a kobald mining shovel I will use my stone once more, go through the portal at Shattrath into Orgrimaar, and head north for the greatest challenge in this journey.”
Thantast looked at her eagerly. “Darkshore... that is where you will meet your doom mistress, and where I shall feast on your blood!”
Leppender scowled at him. “Do not interrupt me Thantast. Yes, Darkshore. I am no match for the sentries there, so we will have to run through. Don't worry, I will be stealing a part of your own life force to shield me from their blows. I will not die.”
Thantast let out a low growl, but kept his mouth shut. Leppender continued, running her finger down the list in her hand. “Once we get to the dock we will take the boat to Teldrassil... I am grateful to whatever member of the Horde paid off the Alliance captains so that they will allow pups like me to come aboard without trouble.” She looked up at Thantast solemnly “This will be the most dangerous part of the journey. The sentinels in Auberdine are pups compared to the ones that guard the portal into Teldrasil.... and Darnasus.”
Thantast looked up at her in shock. “So it's true? You cannot get onto the island without passing through the elven capital? You will not survive this encounter.”
Leppender's brow wrinkled with concern. “If I am to die on this quest, it will be in Teldrassil. Nothing I do before or after it is quite as dangerous. Even so I must go! I must kill the vile little grell named Threggil that hides in a cave there , and take his keen machete! After that... well... we jump.”
“We... jump?” He said in a confused voice.
Leppender swallowed heavily. “According to my map there is a spot at the bottom edge of Teldrassil where one who is brave enough can jump off the cliff, and land near Ru'theran village, where they can catch the boat back to Auberdine.”
Thantast backed away. “You're insane! I may want you dead, but that's suicide! Sneaking through the elven capital just to kill a grell, then jumping off a cliff afterward?!”
Leppender let out an amused laugh. “Didn't I tell you that nothing on this quest will be more dangerous? I'm likely to be wounded, or even killed, but if I survive I will have earned my last name. To me nothing is more important than proving my worth to the clan. Bloodfury has given me a family again. I have many new brothers and sisters, all of which are brave and powerful. I long to do them honor.”
Thantast remained silent for a long time staring at her. She leaned against the arch that lead into Dun Morogh examining the paper in her hand. “So... If you survive your fall to the shore, where will we go from there?” He asked her finally.
She sighed and straightened up. “To Asuremyst my pet. We'll run past the guards in Auberdine to board the boat leading to Asuremyst Isle. Though the most dangerous part of the journey will be complete, this will still be the most difficult part. There are rumors that some of the Lich King's Blood Elf servents who crashed the Exodar remain in hiding along the roads, waiting to ambush young Draenei pups. Some of them wear Blood Elf Bandit Masks. I will have to use all my cunning to track one down, and kill him, so I can claim his mask.”
Her voidwalker snorted. “A cloak, a shovel, a machete, and a mask. You really think these four worthless items will earn you a name? That they are worth going after?”
Leppender put away the list, and climbed onto the back of her felsteed. “I am hoping that the items will be seen as trophies of the courage it took to invade the homelands of our enemies. Each one is unique, and can easily be traced back to the lands from which they came. It is not the worth of the item that matters here, but the worth of the deeds I have performed. That is what will earn me a last name.”
“You hope.” He said fading back into the shadows.
Leppender shook her head, and stared at the tunnel ahead of her. A calm smile formed on her lips. “No matter what happens, I think this is going to be one fun adventure.” With that she dug her heels into the side of her felsteed, and took off into the tunnel heading for Dun Morogh, and the beginning of her quest to earn a last name from the Bloodfury.
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Subject: Becoming Steelspine- the Journey Begins. 
Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:22 pm