Volume 1
Episode I : One long Day
Chapter 1
A gentle breeze swept quietly across the dry fields of the barrens, as a young plainstrider leaned over picking at a patch of peaceblossom. The odd looking bird slowly consumed its breakfast completely oblivious to the fact it was about to be breakfast. A large cougar laid low in the browning grass, his eyes narrowing as he studied his prey. With its mouth salivating and muscles tensing the powerful feline prepared to ravage the unsuspecting avian. It was at that moment the golden fur on the cougar's back straightened and its ears perked as it heard a sharp but distant whistle. In immediate response to the sound, it leapt up and charged toward the sound at full speed, leaving the startled plainstrider unharmed and vaguely aware of its incredible luck. This new awareness was cut short, as its head slid from its body and dropped to ground. The body of bird fell at the feet of troll fading into sight. The troll crouched and retrieved something from the dead animal's body and disappeared without a trace.
Xyanka Pucklepot swept the floor of the Broken Keel Tavern. The little goblin rarely spoke; he just simply went about his work. He frowned at the mess the night crowd had left him. The Keel 's usual crowd normally got a little rowdy, however, that particular night things had gotten completely out of hand. Some young bucks from a vicious guild of assassins were celebrating the completion of a difficult quest when a group of alliance arrived and began to take advantage of the young ones. This group of Alliance was apparently new to the area because most regulars would have known better. Before the Ratchet guards could react, a large Tauren sprung from the shadows and commenced to do things to the alliance that the goblin hoped he would soon forget. Hours later, the goblin still got sick to his stomach at the thought of that Nightelf being snapped in two. Xyanka shook his head as if trying to jar the image out, when he found himself in the shadow of an immense figure. The Tauren from the night before had awakened from his slumber and was now standing before him in the doorway of the tavern. The Mighty Tauren stood with his back to the goblin. Xyanka was surprise to see him out his usual armaments. Instead the Tauren simply wore a dark finely crafted silk shirt and Hand stitched woolen leggings and fuzzy bunny slippers, made from the hides of four very unlucky bunnies.
Xyanka almost jumped out his boots when the menacing cougar approached the Tavern's front doorway and growled. The Tauren seemed unafraid as he slowly reached back toward the sword on his hip. The cougar hungrily licked his lips and watched the Tauren intently. Xyanka remained frozen in place, too scared to move. The Tauren carefully moved his hand passed the sword and dug into a deviant skin pouch, retrieving a slab of bear meat and tossed it into the air toward the cougar. The cougar snatched the meat out of the air and moved off to eat it in private.
"Looks like I interrupted breakfast. Sorry my friend, Felonius gets cranky if you get in the way of a meal." The Tauren spoke in a deep and powerful voice.
"th..tha.. That's ok Mr. Baaradon sir. I.. I..I wasn't scared at at at all. That kinda thing happens all the time." Xyanka managed to say fear dripping from every word.
"Fear is nothing to be ashamed of little one. Fear comes to us all it's our ability to control such fear that separates the mighty from the weak." By this time Felonius had finished the meal provided by his master and was in a much better mood, which to the untrained eye looked very much like his more fowl mood. The moods of cougars are actually quite distinctive. A happy cougar could rip a man to shreds in seconds where as an angry cougar would take slightly longer and smile less. Of course, a cougar in a fowl mood though not smiling would kill in half the time of a happy cougar but, enjoy the kill much more. Baaradon secured his harness and packs to rather large Kodo. As soon as he was satisfied that that everything was in order he mounted the beast and rode out towards the southern Barrens, followed closely by his faithful companion Felonius.
The harsh temperatures and bright sunlight across the Barrens was no match for the Tauren and his two animal companions as they made their way down the golden road. Though Baar missed the scent of healthy grass and the feel of the gentle breeze along the Mulgore landscape, he found the Barrens to be quite comfortable. He even smiled to himself thinking what a beautiful day. That was when he caught a glimpse of something glittering in the distance. Leaving the road was a risky proposition for the inexperienced but Baar was far from inexperienced and felt confident he could handle anything Barrens had to offer. As he approach glittering object he saw it to be exactly what he had surmised. A large copper vein sat nestled atop a small hill. Baar brought his Kodo to a stop at the bottom of the hill; that was when his beautiful day took an awful turn.
The blow came so swift it caught the Tauren completely unprepared. The world became swirling blur and it was all Baar could do to keep from puking as he tumbled off his Kodo. Felonius became enraged as he watched his master fall. The cougar smelled at least four attackers approaching. Driven by pure instinct and rage, he charged Pilfer. Felonius opened his mouth to let out a menacing growl meant to strike fear in hearts of any enemy. It might have worked if that had been what happened instead all that came out was a very unimpressive "Baaaaaaa". Baar, his head beginning clear watched his friend pace back and forth in udder confusion unaware it was now a sheep. Baar tried to stand but was quickly cut in both legs and across his back. The wounds were not life threatening and Baar easily pushed pass the pain and again tried to stand. That was when the poison began to take effect. Amazingly enough the mighty Tauren manage to get to his feet. He staggered back and forth as tried to focus on his attackers. The Tauren drew his sword but immediately dropped it to the ground. Shortly there after he followed it.