Summoneyy

Don Carlos in Gadgetzan still had his unusual hat. Once, he had defended it from every hot-blooded challenger who wanted it. Now his younger self was waiting in Old Hillsbrad.

I took the job.

The Caverns of Time had errands first. Andormu sent me along the timeway, and I found myself seven years behind with Thrall's escape keeping the whole world from coming apart. Small stakes.

Erozion gave us incendiaries and told us about Taretha's diversion for Thrall. The Infinite had taken her. We would make the diversion happen again.

At Durnholde Keep, I danced with someone before the fighting started. Then I pointed us at the work.

“Pick up the bomb and talk to dragon.”

Corruption and Immolate went onto the sentries. Rain of Fire caught a rifleman and sentry together. I called Haaroon, made a soulstone and healthstones, and put everything I had on Lieutenant Drake. He stayed down. The lodges burned.

“{rt1} Questie: Internment Lodges Set Ablaze: 1/1 for Taretha's Diversion!”

I handed the work to young Thrall and realized I had not started whatever came next.

“Damn I missed it.”

So we kept moving. Rain of Fire covered a mage, a warden, and veterans, and Captain Skarloc went down in the mess.

At Tarren Mill, there was loot talk and somebody who did not speak English. I tried, “Hablas ingles domino?” Then I explained in Spanish that he would not need on the next item unless he thought he needed it. There was also an axe better than his level 60 epic. Important business, in the middle of saving history.

Epoch Hunter fell too. “Thanks everyone.” I repaired my things and left with, “Adios! Buen suerte.”

Back in Nagrand, I passed through Halaa and Sunspring to the Mag'hari Procession. Saurfang the Younger heard what had become of the missing war party. Elder Yorley heard about the procession.

Two old worries put down.

Saurfang wanted vengeance at Sunspring. Yorley wanted Warmaul broken for what it had done. I understood both jobs.

Warmaul Hill was harder work. Haaroon and I found warlocks, brutes, and prisoners in cages. I kept giving him my health when he needed it. A Mountain Gronn gave up an eyeball on the way, which was useful, though not pleasant.

One Warmaul Warlock got me. I came back. Haaroon was still there, and so was the work.

We finished it: the last warlocks and brutes fell, and every Mag'har prisoner got free. The elders rewarded me with Manacles of Remembrance. Loot with a story is nicer.

Then Yorley sent me after an ogre king named Cho'war. He has a head. I have time.

I had the last things Nitrin the Learned needed: a flawless Greater Windroc beak, a gronn's eyeball, and blubber from an Aged Clefthoof. He could make his tincture, and he sent me after Levixus the Soul Caller and the Book of the Dead.

That sounds like a proper problem. Later.

Before I left, I found Kilrath on the Terokkar border and settled Jorin Deadeye's errand. Kilrath has a plan involving Boulderfist Invaders and beating Unkor the Ruthless until he talks.

Another sensible use of force.

Then I had to go. “gtg sorry. GL”

The hat is still waiting in the past. Cho'war is still in his cave. Haaroon and I have plenty left.

Garadar had work piled high. Missing mourners. Missing younglings. Ogres. Wanted criminals. Hunters with hunting to be done. I took what looked worth taking and went to see the country for myself.

At the Abandoned Armory, Nitrin the Learned had grim news about Levixus and the dead around Auchindoun. He needed ingredients for a tincture. I brought out Haaroon, put on my armor, and kept moving.

At the safari, Fitz had windrocs for me. Harold had talbuk. Hemet had clefthoof. Nagrand does not lack for things that need killing.

Skysong Lake gave me a howling wind, one angry lake spirit, and wet boots. I took the wind to the Throne of the Elements, where Morgh and the others explained that the spirits of Nagrand were being pushed until they could not settle.

Lo'ap wanted beans from dung heaps. He also wanted lake spirits dealt with. Gordawg wanted tortured earth put to sleep. Everyone had something wrong with the land. I had Haaroon, curses, and time.

At the Ring of Blood, I asked, “whats up.” Then I was in Zangarmarsh for experience.

The Slave Pens had plenty. I soulstoned someone, ate every strange sweet I had, and let Rain of Fire fall where it would do the most good. Six at once. Then ten. Haaroon and I found a rhythm: fire, curses, tap, fire.

“good stuff.”

There was time to cheer, dance with a Wastewalker Worker, and congratulate people. I told the group, “i might be down for another after.” When the next pull looked crowded, I said, “lets try.”

The Pens became messy. Rokmar the Crackler and Quagmirran went down. I brought Aelthea out for a while, and somebody cried on my shoulder afterward.

One Rain of Fire caught another player instead of only the Coilfang lot. I said, “im so sorry.”

Before that, I had said, “just a little unlucky there.” I still stood by it. A little unlucky can be very loud.

We went in again. I could not stay for another after all. “i wish i could go again but i gtg after this,” I told them. Mennu the Betrayer went down, and I got “good stuff though got like 2/3rd a level in xp” out before I left. In Shattrath, I said, “Ty! good luck everyone.”

Back in Nagrand, Lo'ap took the caracoli beans and gave me a Nagrand Cherry. I finished the twelve lake spirits too. The Pens had left me a shield, a shiv, and a pearl among the clutter; Matron Tikkit was happy to take most of it.

Then Lo'ap gave me living fire for the huts at Windyreed Village. The Eastern Hut went first. Then the Southern Hut. The Western Hut and the Large Hut followed.

Windyreed Wretches killed me twice during the job. A little unlucky. Every hut still burned, and Lo'ap had another spirit problem waiting afterward.

The Laughing Skull Ruins were less delicate. I chased warbeads and Warmaul around Zorbo the Advisor’s territory until the shaman and reaver work was done. Zorbo himself remains for another day.

The ruins got their turns too. A Warmaul Reaver, a Scorching Totem, and a Warmaul Shaman each put me down once. Haaroon stayed with me through it.

Warden Bullrok took the warbeads in Garadar. I reached level 66 there. It felt better than paying Osrok’s repair bill.

I ended in the Cleft of Shadow. Kurgul had new pages for the small demons: Firebolt, Blood Pact, and Fire Shield. I bought them all. I learned Incinerate and Searing Pain too.

Haaroon had worked hard. Gelqua had new pages to study. Arthas is still far away.

Nagrand was only a little unlucky.

I left Shattrath and paid 30s 60c to get to Spinebreaker Post. Revenge has travel expenses.

I put on Demon Armor, called the Dreadsteed, and rode for Zeth'Gor.

The first Bleeding Hollow Grunt received Curse of Agony, Corruption, and Immolate. Two Shadow Bolts made the point more firmly.

When it was over, I drew out what soul I could, made Soul Shards, and turned out two Major Healthstones. Useful little comforts.

Then I called Haaroon, my Felguard, and kept moving. A Bleeding Hollow Tormentor gave back some life through Drain Life. A Bleeding Hollow Riding Worg did not improve the evening.

The Skeletons and Necrolytes needed the wand. Haaroon needed a Health Funnel, so I gave him one. He has his own expenses.

I sent one more Grunt away in fear. Zeth'Gor gave up a little coin for the trouble.

Not Arthas. Still, shadow and fire are patient teachers. He will learn.

Khadgar had his servant show me Shattrath. I gasped at it. It seemed polite.

I waved to Zahlia in Lower City, then went back to hand in City of Light and Allegiance to the Scryers. Khadgar pointed me toward Voren'thal the Seer. I greeted the group too.

“hi.”

The Underbog was less welcoming. I summoned Haaroon, put on Fel Armor, and made a Major Soulstone and Major Healthstone before the underbats came in.

Rain of Fire caught three at once, then four. Another adventurer needed a Soulstone Resurrection, so I gave it. Haaroon and I kept moving.

Hungarfen took the Shadow Bolts and fell.

“grats!”

I found Ranger Armguards of the Bandit and Vindicator Gloves of Frozen Wrath. The gloves stayed with me. Ghaz'an went down after that, and I cheered for another adventurer. The armguards did not make it home.

We found Windcaller Claw while looking into the missing friends. I asked the group, “Where is Earthbinder Rayge?”

An Underbog Lord gave us trouble first. Then came The Black Stalker. I said, “ohh i missed him.” The next Shadow Bolts found him often enough.

The Stalker fell. “Thanks!!”

At last, there was my answer: Earthbinder Rayge.

I took the news to Watcher Jhang and received a Cenarion Ring of Casting. Back in Shattrath, I reported to Voren'thal in the Seer's Library.

At Arodis Sunblade's counter, I sold the armguards and the rest of the unwanted haul, paid 1g 40s 77c for repairs, and still earned 9g 64c.

The Underbog answered my question eventually. It had its own idea of a short answer.

I came into Shattrath and found Haris Pilton there. I gave him a wave. A small start, but a warm one.

In Lower City, I called my Dreadsteed.

“I miss my old sexy pants...”

Silmyr Lake was new to me. A Dampscale Basilisk was there to welcome me, so I gave it Agony, Corruption, and fire. Fear unsettled it. Shadow Bolt and Drain Soul finished the work.

One basilisk. One Soul Shard. Loot is loot.

Back in Shattrath, the Haggard War Veteran sent me to A'dal, leader of the Sha'tar—the ones who drove the demons from the city. I went down to Lower City, completed the errand, and bowed before A'dal.

Some people earn a bow.

Then I made a rude gesture at Khadgar in Lower City.

Some people earn the other gesture.

I paid 7s 47c to leave Orgrimmar and flew to Valormok. There I called my Dreadsteed, and we crossed Azshara together: the Ruins of Eldarath, Bear's Head, Timbermaw Hold, Ursolan, and the Legash Encampment.

I kept us moving until we found the Thalassian Base Camp.

At the Thalassian Base Camp, I reached level 63.

Quietly done. Still done.

There is a long way between me and the best Warlock in Azeroth. One less level stands in it now. Arthas can wait.

A Blood Elf Surveyor made the camp less quiet. I answered with Arcane Torrent, Curse of Agony, and Corruption.

The Surveyor stopped surveying.

Afterward, Steed and I found the Shattered Strand, then returned to the camp. I opened a Dark Portal and stepped through to the Terrace of Light.

A small ride. We did not stand still.

Hellfire began with my old auction things coming home: Dreamfoil, Felcloth, a Runecloth Belt, and the Starfire Sandals of the Owl. I made six Bolt of Runecloth, took the clutter to Fallesh Sunfallow, and let him have it.

Then I found Hulking Helboars for Thiah Redmane’s samples. Curses, corruption, fire, shadow, and a little wand work got me six. I giggled at one of them. It had been that sort of boar.

Thiah Redmane, a Cenarion worker studying Hellfire’s changed creatures, took the blood and gave me an antidote to try. I tested it on Dreadtusk, brought back the result, and kept Big H—my Felguard Haaroon—patched up while we worked.

Thiah’s reward was a Helboar Carving Blade. It was sharp enough.

At the Ruins of Sha’naar, Akoru the Firecaller sent me to find Naladu, another captive Dreghood elder. Naladu needed a key. I found it, brought it back, and used it to free Akoru, Aylaan, and Morod the Windstirrer. The Illidari made a nuisance of themselves. Big H and I kept moving.

A fleeing warrior received a wave and my best mercy: “its all good g. be on your way dawg.”

Morod got a wave too.

I had given Arzeth the Merciless a rude gesture earlier. Later, with the elders free, Naladu gave me what I needed to strip the traitor’s power away.

I laid Curse of Agony and Immolate on him, called on the Fury of the Dreghood Elders, then finished with shadow and soul. I spat on the ground. “You miserable worm.”

Before leaving, I remembered the important part. “Where's my gold Naladu?”

He had it.

Back at Falcon Watch, Apothecary Azethen took the demonic essence I had collected in Sha’naar and gave me the Ring of the Slain Anchorite.

“oooo a nice ring!”

Much better than returned mail. After another visit to Fallesh, I went to Mag’har Post, called the Ancestral Spirit Wolf, greeted it properly, and asked, “Where are you leading me?”

It led me to Gorkan Bloodfist, the Mag’har leader.

The wolf’s trail became a message for the Mag’har. At the Pools of Aggonar, I stopped the cleansing work by bringing down a Draenei Anchorite. I waved to another adventurer along the way.

There was also a Terrorfiend, the Overlook, Northern Rampart, and one bad meeting with a Shattered Hand Guard. I reached Thrallmar eventually. Nazgrel accepted Gorkan’s message and sent me onward with one for Thrall.

After Thornfangs and a short trip through Hellfire, I used the Dark Portal and carried Nazgrel’s word into Grommash Hold. I gave it to Thrall myself and knelt before him.

Then he sent me back to the Mag’har to offer whatever service I could.

So that was where the wolf had been leading me: back again. Big H and I knew the road now.