Hello all and to all I give you a new chapter. This one took me a little bit of working out and editing on the spot to get done, I tell you I do not know how many times I needed to think over how to do this chapter. And I think I did it to an 'okay' standard. Also this is my second longest chapter to date, just behind the Fortress Under Siege Chapter. So I got a nice big one for you, no innuendo intended.

Now be sure to look at the wiki for the changes and answers to your reviews. I thank you for your time.


Transcendence

Chapter 20: Grim Discovery

The lands of Mulgore were a lush and green refuge, flowing plains of green grass that stretched on for miles without end over flowing hills. The home of the Tauren was a stark contrast to the neighboring regions that surround the isolated paradise. It was one of the few remaining jewels that had remained untouched by famine and drought after the onset of the War of the Ancients ten thousand years ago. It was the massive mountain ranges that surrounded it, that protected the land from any harm or dangers that exist outside its embrace.

It was here that the tribes united under a single banner, following the Bloodhoof Tauren to the plains for the safety from the marauding Centaur. In time the many Chieftains and clans formed a united force, creating a union of all tribes that sought to protect the Tauren race as a whole rather than the clans fighting for survival on their own in the starch landscapes that they had been accustomed to for generations.

Therefore the United Tauren Tribes were formed, and as a symbol of their unity as a single united force a city was built. Built upon four great plateaus, that rose several hundred feet into the air, it was a place any Tauren was free to enter and find sanctuary. It was a place where every tribe could come together for spiritual and social callings, things that have not happened in generations.

This city was named Thunderbluff.


It was this city that Drekhve hoped to find the answers he sought, the evidence to prove the innocence of his warriors, as well as the Horde in the massacre of Shady Rest. His arrival was unnoticed by all, for many pilgrims travel from the barrens and abroad to the great bluffs where the city of Thunderbluff is situated upon.

By kodo he approached the massive plateaus, his eyes lifting as he took in the massive mountains that his people had built a city upon. They rose over two hundred feet from the ground, four all situated closely together and connected through intricate bridges.

Even from a mile away one could see the massive mesas, almost like a beacon to the Tauren people, a symbol of hope for all clans and tribes to gaze in awe upon. But to the closer eyes of the pilgrims at the base of these monoliths, they could see dozens of huts and tents, signs that the small mountains had life living upon their pinnacles.

Drekhve stopped his kodo at the base of the massive rise; large solid wooden totems rose up the side of these plateaus. These were the stands for the two lifts that would rise and fall, allowing the people to enter or leave without having the scale up or down the side of the bluffs. It is said these poles were brought here from Ashenvale, from a massive tree on the borders of the sacred forest of the Elves.

Drekhve dismounted from his kodo, tying it to a small post just at the base of the steps that led up to the platform for the lifts. He retrieved the soot covered shield and fastened it to his belt, before glancing up to the rising lift. Before taking one breath he scaled the stone carved steps and made his way up towards the lifts.

It had been two days since he spoke with Ichigo, his trip being as fast as he could allow it to be. Yet he had arrived ahead of schedule, he expected that he would not have arrived for at least another half day. But even so he need to hurry and find the answers to this mystery and also speak with the Chieftain.

If he did find evidence he would need to alert Cairne Bloofhoof of who had committed the act against the people of Shady Rest. Though accusation alone would not be enough, he knew his wise leader would still have the incident investigated and whoever possibly responsible questioned. Even if it did not prove that they were the culprit it would still allow for the Horde to take action and find those who would sully their honor.

But before that, Drekhve needed to find the manufacturer of this shield and also who he was supplying it to.

As Drekhve took his first step into Thunderbluff he was assaulted by the sounds of a bustling city, seeing hundreds of Tauren milling about the vast open areas within the center of the bluff. Dozens of shops and stands were selling their wares and merchandise to any who moved by, from food to new armor and weapons. No different than Ogrimmar in some ways, although a little more clean and less humid from the dry salty air.

The young and the old milled about almost aimlessly through the huddle of shops, showing no patterns to their movements from one place to another. Drekhve felt overwhelmed seeing so many of his kind in a single place, even in his own clan that was close a hundred head strong did not seem to match up to the numbers he saw here. It was a far cry from when he and his clan roamed and survived in the Barrens before the arrival of the Warchief and the Horde.

It was a reminder of what they had gained from their allies, what they had been saved from.

Shaking off the surprise and awe of seeing his people flourishing, for the first time in centuries, he moved to the closest weapon stand to see if he could find the location of the seller of this shield. He just hoped that the state of the shield would not prevent them from determining if it was their own.

"Greetings young warrior, may I interest you in some new weapons, I have Mithril and Thorium in stock if you have a preference," the merchant said, waving towards her many wears.

"Not today friend, I seek to know who would supply shields such as these," Drekhve said, giving the merchant the shield, she took it and furrowed her brow at the state of the piece of warped and damaged metal.

"I cannot say, I sell these goods, but this is not familiar to my shop, speak with the blacksmiths if you wish to know where this comes from," she said, handing back the piece of metal to the Tauren Youngblood. "Speak with my brother Karn in the center of the rise; he should be able to help you."

Drekhve was always proud of the civility that his people showed to one another, while they carried on like any other race in the world. It did not matter to them about protecting their own interests, for the betterment of their entire people was most important. Something that carried over to the shops and merchants, they would not flaunt their wares over another merchant or lie. They would say what was theirs, even direct their customers to better establishments if they wished it, all without an ounce of begrudging hesitation.

With a nod of gratitude the young warrior turned to find the blacksmith that was mentioned, and already he heard the sound of metal striking metal and the smell of burning coals in the air. He found the smith easily enough, passing through the crowds he located a smithy set up next to a small pool.

Drekhve could see the three that manned the forge were of the same clan, their fur having the same shade of white over their chests and arms opposed to the different shades of color on each of their hides. Stonehoof, that was their clan name, they were a tribe found in all corners of Tauren society. But with the unity between all the clans they had taken up a role of being miners and smiths, very prominent ones as well.

Without wasting a moment the young warrior moved forward and spoke with them.

"Excuse my presence Blacksmith, but I require some aid?" Drekhve said, speaking with the smith as he hammered away at a claymore, it was red hot and still in the process of being shaped.

"What is it Youngblood?" Karn Stonehoof asked, still hammering away at the anvil with vigor, his muscles rippling and beads of sweat, several droplets of liquid cascading down his fur. "If you need something repaired, speak with Taur, he will work out an arrangement."

"I ask only you look upon this shield and tell me if you have seen it's like before?" Drekhve said, bringing the shield forward for the Tauren smith to look at it.

Placing down the hammer and sticking the metal mold back into the furnace, the Stonhoof smith took the shield from Drekhve's hands. He turned it over in his hands and rubbed his hands over the surface, scowling at the thick layer of soot that was over the slightly warped metal.

"Hmmmm, I have not made this, the design is not within my skills, and besides all smiths have a specific brand to their works," Karn said, handing the shield back to Drekhve. "Helps stop fools claiming that the works of others are their own, not like you would get that since most of our clan makes what is sold, but you can't be too careful."

Drekhve was very enthused with this little bit of information, that would improve his search immensely. All he needed to do was find the owner of the brand and he would be set, and if the brand was not made by someone in the Stonehoof clan then maybe it would be easier to locate the individual.

"Do you know who made this?" Drekhve asked, hopeful that he could finally find the person who made this piece and finally start getting some answers.

"No, the mark is covered in soot, also depending on the damage the mark may have been warped," The Smithy replied, before he thought it over. "You're going to need to remove the soot, but I wouldn't recommend scraping it off, you would destroy the mark for sure."

"How would I go about this without damaging the shield?" Drekhve asked, removing the soot without compromising the metal would be hard, especially without knowing how to do it. He couldn't risk losing the lead because he did not do something correctly, there must be someone who could do it a little more delicately than him.

"Try an alchemist; they are very skilled in this sort of thing," Karn said with a shrug, before pointing off towards a raised part of the rise just off in the distance. "Go to Bena Winterhoof, she is on the next rise, she will be able to help you."

Drekhve bowed in thanks to the smith before fastening the shield back to his hip. He quickly moved through the crowd for the massive totem tower in the center of the rise, the stairwell to the different rises on the bluff. Quickly he traversed it, walking up the winding stars within the hollow interior of the totem.

As he walked up the slight incline to the next rise he remembered something, a very important detail he needed to remember if he wanted to find the person responsible. Agasham, whoever that was is the one who had the caravan where these weapons came from, the same kind to the shield he now holds. It was more than likely that they had the motive to attack and destroy Shady Rest, although what drove them to that he did not know.

But in all likelihood this person was the one who was responsible for Shady Rest, either indirectly or directly, it didn't matter. If there was someone who organized the attack and also did it to secure their lost goods or even for revenge, they needed to be brought to justice. The fate of the Horde may rest in the evidence he finds, because if this escalates then war may be what comes of this. He just hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Exiting to the second rise of the bluff he found one oddly similar to the one below, although there were just a few less here than below. Quickly casting his gaze to the different shops and huts he looked for anything that could show him where his alchemist would setup shop. Easily he spotted the banner of the Winterhoof tribe, a clan dedicated the herbalist medicines and also alchemic concoctions.

Entering it he found a small interior with several potted plants, with many varieties of species. Each one labelled and fully grown, ready to be plucked and used to concoct whatever potion they would be used in. The herbalist in question was busy stirring up such a brew at the moment, mixing several different plants and roots together.

"Excuse me," Drekhve said, gaining the alchemists attention. "I require some help."

"Please, how may I help you," Bena said, putting down the grinding tool and speaking with Drekhve directly, placing her hands in front of her and offering a kind smile.

"I require the soot from this shield to be removed, without damaging the metal or any markings on it," Drekhve said, presenting the shield to the alchemist who looked it over for a moment with a frown before she smiled.

"Yes, I can do that, but it will take a few minutes for this to work, please have a seat, and some tea," Bena said, motioning to a small table off to the side where a fresh brew of herbal tea was sitting over a small smoldering fire pit.

Drekhve waited patiently as Bena worked on the shield, drinking the delicious tea she had brewed, it was quite nice actually. In fact he wouldn't mind knowing how she made it; maybe he could make some himself whenever he had the time. After all he was actually taught by his mother how to brew potions and pick specific plants and herb. Making this tea should not be so difficult.

Drekhve looked up to see Bena spreading a strange liquid over the surface of the blackened metal. For a moment he was concerned with her methods, seeing as the very steel seemed to be bubbling and also steaming from contact with the liquid. But a calm raise of the hand from the alchemist halted any questions, as she quickly wiped a cloth over the steel. Revealing a shining surface, devoid of any soot or discoloration.

"It is done, and I must say I am surprised, this is one of Mosarn's makes, you are very lucky to have one of his fine pieces in your hands." Bena said, smiling as she handed the shield back to Drekhve who took it almost like an automaton.

"Mosarn?" Drekhve said in surprise, truly it was not what he expected.

Mosarn was a famous smith to the Tauren, his skills in metallurgy and forging was legendary among his people. He was one of the first smiths to take up the hammer after his people were given the art by the Horde when they arrived on this continent. Mosarn took to the art of smithing easily, learning from many different smiths in the Horde and becoming a sort of master within only a few months of taking it on.

His weapons and armor were valued their weight in gold for their superb craftsmanship, easily outclassing his fellow peers, even those who once taught him. Not even the master smiths of the Stonehoof tribe could match up to his level of craftsmanship or skill. The thought of a valuable piece as his being in the hands of a butcher did not sit well with Drekhve, it was like spitting on the true value of his work.

But it also raised the question, who could afford to have so many of these pieces made? As well as the costs of transporting them to Thousand Needles.

"I thank you Bena, you have been a great assistance to me, I bid you farewell," Drekhve said, reaching into his pouch and depositing six silver coins into her hand.

As he exited the tent he looked for the closest guard, he needed directions to where Mosarn resided so he can question him and determine the person who wanted it. If the famous smith could determine the person and also their affiliation maybe then he could figure out who was responsible for Shady Rest.


"Keep that steel tempered while forging, do not cool it until your have worked out the impurities," Mosarn yelled over to one of his workers, one of eight in the shop that were helping him forge several new weapons and suits of armor.

All around them were stacks of weapons and armor pieces, stacked almost haphazardly around the shop. Even along the walls was cluttered with dozens of different weapons, all of them giving of a pristine shine, as if freshly made. And with the speed in which the warriors were working it may actually be the case.

"Yes Master," the Apprentice said, nodding his head yet never letting his eyes divert away from the white hot steel he was hammering at.

Mosarn turned and grumbled under his breath, these shipments were getting harder to handle, especially when he was forced to make replacement ones for the previous ones sent out. He kept getting requests and demands for more arms, being told to supply the new stock to the clients in Thousand Needles. All because of raiders along the Gold Road that keep stealing from their caravans, it is not his problem they cannot protect them.

Mosarn understood their plight, but he could not continue working every day and most nights forging new weapons and armor for a customer that did not give him the funds to do so. He is trying to make a living, and with the workload being put upon him he had been forced to hire six new workers to get ahead. That was problematic alone with how much this was burning through his coin, he was losing money now rather than making it.

Even now he is still behind on the shipment they wanted, and losing coin because their mediator keep making demands and also threatening him into doing as they say. It was simply maddening that those damn mongrels were trying to pull this on him and get more out of him without paying for it. If he knew who they were he would report them to the Chieftain, but he couldn't unless they decide to speak with him directly.

He hoped this situation resolved itself soon, he was losing patience and money trying to maintain his business and the last thing he needed was someone either threatening it or his life.

"Excuse me?" Drekhve asked, appearing at the entrance of the smithing workshop. "Are you perhaps Mosarn?"

"Aye, I am, are you here to threaten me like the last brave?" Mosarn grumbled, crossing his arms and glaring at the Youngblood.

"Threaten?" Drekhve asked, confused with the master smiths questioning and hostility.

"I suppose not then, that is good considering the last few weeks I have been forced to suffer nothing but that," Mosarn replied, he said with a wave of his hand and before Drekhve could inquire he was asked. "What can I do for you young warrior?"

"I require your help, this shield here, I need to know who it belongs to," Drekhve said, presenting the shield to the Smith, who examined it and narrowed his eyes as the condition, it was in.

"Yes, I know this piece, one of my more common makes, I usually sell these to anyone," Mosarn said, moving the metal shield over around in his hands before handing it back to Drekhve.

"Do you know who this particular shield could have belonged too?" Drekhve asked, hopeful that this common shield hadn't just been passed off to some random stranger.

"Sadly I do not know who it could belong to, I sell these pieces all the time, and I couldn't even begin to tell you who I could have sold them to." Mosarn apologized.

"What about someone called Agasham? I believe that was the name of the owner of this piece," Drekhve said, hoping that it would ring some bells as the saying goes.

"No I am sorry, I may sell these items to mostly anyone but names rarely pass through here," Mosarn said, placing a sorry hand on the young warriors shoulder. "I am sorry I could not help you."

"Damn it," Drekhve cursed under his breath, scowling at the thought that this line of questioning did not reveal the possible identity of the owner or perpetrator.

He was so close, the shield was from Mosarn and made by him, his account no less. The fact that the shield was a common piece meant that Mosarn likely sold these in bulk to any person or group that came by. Wait, this shield was sold in large quantities and moved by caravan along the gold road, it would mean this was one of many.

Such a small shop like this would not be able to cater to a massive market, maybe only one client if he was lucky. All he had to do was ask.

"Wait; tell me have you been selling any large bulks of these recently, mainly to Thousand Needles?" Drekhve asked, and watched in some satisfaction as the smith's face lit up in recognition to the question.

"Yes, actually I have, although to whom I do not know," Mosarn said. "As far as I know he is a Cliffwatcher from Freewind Post in Thousand Needles and working as a go-between for his superiors, rude bunch they are."

"Where is he now? He may be able to help me with finding the owner," Drekhve asked, desperate to get this investigation on the way, he was starting to make some good progress now, all he needed to do was find this Cliffwatcher and then the person he worked for.

"He usually resides near the inn near the bridge to the Elder Rise, he should be there now, he has been hassling me to get the new shipment ready because of the raids on the caravans," Mosarn said, adding to Drekhve's conviction that this man is the one whom he sought. "I am sorry friend, but I cannot speak any longer, my workers are in need of some schooling in proper blacksmithing."

With a deep bow of gratitude Drekhve left the small shop, moving with conviction over the bridge and back to the central rise. The inn would be on the opposite side of the rise, and the inn there would hold the person he would be looking for. Several inns dotted the area around the central rise, but only one was close to the bridge leading to the Elder Rise plateau.


When found he quickly entered, looking around the wide open interior, there was little inside the open and expansive room but several cots along the wall and seats in the middle around a large pyre. Personal rooms were something the Tauren did not often have unless they had families. Even then an entire family would share a single tent, rather than each of them having their own room.

With that in mind the lengths of the walls were all fitted with cots for a weary traveler to lay their head and rest. With a small amount of space beside those cots where a person may place their belongings if need be. The Tauren were not very fickle with personal space, as they did not need much in a room other than bed to rest, anything else would simply be a waste of space.

"Excuse me Innkeeper, I am looking for a Cliffwatcher from Freewind Post, do you know whom I speak of?" Drekhve asked the owner of the establishment, who was busy piling fresh wood into the fire pit to burn for the coming night.

"I do, he is over there, just resting," the innkeeper replied before moving off to perform another chore.

Drekhve moved closer and found a maroon and dark brown armored Tauren, he was packing a small bag into his satchel. He had long horns that stretched out towards his shoulder, although one appeared to have been broken off.

"Excuse me; are you from Freewind Post in Thousand Needles?" Drekhve inquired, and waited as the Tauren rose up and faced Drekhve.

"That I am, Hruon Longhorn, Brave of Freewind Post, how may assist you young warrior?" The Tauren Brave asked, showing a pleasant smile as he waited.

"I seek some aid, you know of the Smith Mosarn do you not?" Receiving a nod Drekhve continued. "I have come into possession of this shield, I seek to know who once carried it, their name is Agasham,"

The Brave picked up the shield and examined it closely, his eyes travelling along the surface but he passed it back to the Tauren. His eyes lingering on it for several moments as he examined each piece of it, as if trying to find something of note on its surface. But he let out a deep breath and passed the shield back to Drekhve.

"I am sorry, I was sent by Rau Cliffrunner to acquire new arms for our warriors in Thousand Needles, Centaur attacks have been increasing as of late," Hruon said, dashing away Drekhve's hoped that this was the one he was searching for. "Also, that name I am unfamiliar with, it doesn't even remotely sound Taur-ahe, are you sure you are pronouncing it correctly?"

"No, I heard it from another sadly, but this shield belonged to a warrior and I do need to know who it was," Drekhve said, but was only met with a shake of the head from the Tauren Brave. "I was told it was from a caravan from the Gold Road, one that was lost, I hope to find the owner and return it."

"I am sorry young one, I cannot help you, I have only been here for a few days and am working to get a single shipment of weapons to Thousand Needles. Maybe you should speak with another Blacksmith or Trader, if this was in the possession of another caravan then maybe they could determine which caravan or possibly the owner," Hruon said, trying to give Drekhve some hope.

"I fear I do not have the time," Drekhve said, before bowing his head and taking his leave. "Thank you for your time Cliffwalker Longhorn."

"It is no trouble, may the Earthmother watch over you," Longhorn replied, giving a bow of his own to the young warrior.

Drekhve nodded and left, going to see if he could speak with Mosarn again, maybe see if there was someone else who he had dealings with. Maybe only one convoy or trader was attacked; meaning only one convoy had resulted in the attack on Shady Rest. But still he found it odd that he did not mention anyone else, and who this Agasham could possibly be.

Longhorn watched the young warrior leave, but he scowled in clear annoyance on his features as he thought over the conversation they had. Quickly he turned and moved to the exit at the back of the inn, he would need to speak with someone, urgently.

He quickly traversed the bridge leading to the Elder Rise, bringing a hood over his head he moved for the small secluded area near the back portions of the Rise. He knew that the people he searched for would be here, not because they congregate in this dark little corner, but because they would come to him.

He was proven correct when two large black furred Tauren approached him, red war paint over their faces and bodies easily identifying their tribe.

"We have a problem, someone is asking questions about Agasham," Longhorn said, his words low and quiet, his gaze shifting from one place to another to search for unwanted guests, that name was never meant to be spoken outside of a secure location.

"Who?" The large dark furred bull asked, stepping forward and whispering a quiet demand.

"A Youngblood, he carried a shield made by Mosarn, he seeks to know the owner of the name and also the shield, claiming it came from a convoy off the Gold Road." Longhorn replied.

"How did he come to claim it?" The second asked.

"I do not know, but it seems through someone else, he seemed quite eager to find the owner of the shield and the person who sent the convoy," Longhorn replied.

"He must know, he must be searching for the Elder Crone," one of the dark furred Tauren said.

"Yes, we must find him and see what he knows; if he is aware of Shady Rest we cannot let him leave knowing our involvement as well as the Elder Crone, discretion is important," the second Tauren said. "Where is he now?"

"He moved through the Central Rise, find him there and do what you must, but do not arouse suspicion, blood on these bluffs would warrant too many questions," Longhorn said.

"I know what to do Longhorn, do not question me,"

"I would do no such thing Rahauro, I leave this in your hands, may the Earthmother see your work done," Longhorn replied, quickly scurrying off to finish his objective given to him by the Elder Crone, getting those damn weapons to Darkcloud Pinnacle.


Drekhve was sitting down on a small bench near the edge of the bluff and thinking over his next move, he was well outside of his element. He was not one to investigate and gather information, he was better at striking with a sword than hammering out the details on who bought this shield and carted it off to where.

His attempt to speak with Mosarn again was met with failure; his shop was busy with the latest delivery that needed to be out by the end of the lunar month. Meaning that he was too busy to speak with Drekhve on where the many different shipments of his goods were going. With a sigh Drekhve knew that he was in over his head on figuring out this mystery. He should have brought someone with him, someone who knew how to be quick on their feet and figure things out, Besuma would have been a perfect choice.

With a groan of defeat Drekhve got back to his hooves to see if he could speak with the guards, see if they could direct him to a trading post. He had been told by a goblin trader not long ago that each city had a trading post where goods were shipped out and into the city. If there were shipments going out of the city they should know what was being traded.

Since the Tauren were in the process of creating their own economy, something also given to them by joining the horde. Their resources would be catalogued to see the current value of their little paradise and the riches the tribes still held. It was standard after all, even before this trade and gold were still a valued commodity for their people. If Drekhve was able to look over the logs, maybe he could find something regarding caravans transporting weapons and armor to Thousand Needles.

But also he needed to speak with Cairne Bloodhoof and see about alerting him to the situation with Shady Rest and the possible action the Alliance could take if they suspect the Horde. He knew the wizened leader would help him if he asked, especially if this kind of news came to him. Cairne would not allow his people to suffer for the actions of a possible few, if anyone could be trusted to bring those to justice it would be the High Chieftain.

Drekhve turned to move back into the bustling center of the rise, yet he was forced to a halt, he felt a large hand on his shoulder stopping him from taking a single step. Drekhve looked over his shoulder to see a large black furred Tauren with three others of similar appearance behind him. Immediately Drekhve saw the red war paint on their faces and recognized them as Grimtotem.

The Grimtotem were a powerful tribe within the Tauren, although their clan was one of the few that does not stand with the United Tribes or the Horde. Their tribe stood as an aggressive extreme to the usual calm and peaceful tribes of their race, even the Steelrage and Ragetotem do not stand to match the fury of the Grimtotem.

They are well known for unprovoked attacks, slaughter and mayhem, in great contrast to the peaceful, spiritual nature of the other Tauren clans. Something that has brought great embarrassment to the rest of Tauren society that continues to this day.

Looking down Drekhve saw that the Grimtotem was holding a small crossbow in his hand, a sharp tipped arrowhead that was glistening from a strange liquid that coated it. Drekhve didn't need to think twice about what was on that arrowhead, or the intentions of the four Tauren that were currently standing in front of him.

"Follow us, Young Blood."

Drekhve did not argue, at the moment he was at their mercy. His sword was taken along with his shield, before he was pushed forward and down the small path along the edge of the bluff. He could do nothing but let them lead him to whatever fate awaited.

Drekhve was led around the edge of the rise, avoiding all in their way to reaching the second set of lifts that were situated on the opposite end of the bluff. Quickly traversing down the rarely used lift they found themselves near the base of the cliff near the Golden Plains.

The plains were named after the brilliant golden and green grass that stretched all the way towards Red Rock, the resting place of their buried dead. Drekhve walked down the steps, gazing out over the brilliant expanse of hills and grass that had nothing upon them. It was truly a beautiful sight to behold, one he hoped he would see again in the future. But that would require him escaping his current predicament.

He was forced to focus on the four Tauren that held him as a hostage. He could see the one in armor was only holding a crossbow, small and likely using a poisoned barb. The other three had an assortment of weapons in their hands, from a large two handed sword, an equally large axe and one with a hatchet and shield. He could see his shield and sword being held by the one with the hatchet and shield, but he was the furthest from the group, meaning claiming his weapons would be impossible unless he took out the one with the crossbow and the two with larger weapons.

"Now, why are you here Young Blood?" The lead Tauren asked, raising his crossbow and levelling it with Drekhve's head.

"I am here to sell some wares," Drekhve said, his tone calm and devoid of any emotion, all the while his eyes were continuing to shift between the three warriors that stood a few feet behind their leader. If he disarmed their leader then he could deal with the rest without the risk of a bolt striking him in the back.

"Like a particular shield? One made by Mosarn?" The Grimtotem inquired.

Drekhve narrowed his eyes wondering how this one knew about that shield and why he was interested. After all, Drekhve doubted he was spied on, nor did he think that someone would be keeping tabs on the blacksmith. Also it did not explain why the Tauren were so interested in his dealing with Mosarn, nor why they were interested in the shield he was carrying.

"Where did you get it?"

"I found it," Drekhve replied, but his response was met with obvious hostility.

"You lie! Who did you take it from? Where did you get it?" The Grimtotem assassin demanded, taking a few steps forward and allowing the shine of the poison tipped barb to be seen by Drekhve.

"Shady Rest, from the body of a Tauren," Drekhve replied.

"Really, did he look like us?" The Grimtotem asked, and watched as Drekhve hesitated to answer, in truth Drekhve had no idea who it was that Ichigo took this shield from. It may have been a Grimtotem and it may have not been.

But he could guess that the way these assassins were acting could only mean that they knew about the incident and likely were part of it. It would make a lot of sense actually, the Grimtotem were bloodthirsty and looked down on all other races, seeing them as nothing. In fact rumors have been circling that their clan has even murdered other Tauren, seeing them as traitors for allying with other races and giving away their ancestral homeland to them.

"So, the Grimtotem then? You were responsible for that massacre," Drekhve said, narrowing his eyes and finally seeing that he had found his quarry and the innocence that proves the Horde was not involved.

"So you know little then, and I suspect you are not here because you know of the attack, someone else sent you here," the Grimtotem assassin said. "Who is it?"

"None of your concern, I have what I need now, even if it is just words, the mere mention of you will be enough to warrant investigation," Drekhve replied, he had what he needed, it wasn't much but the fact that the clan had a reputation even among the Humans left little doubt it would make them prime suspects. Especially once he reports that the caravans likely belonged to the Grimtotem.

"You will not live to speak sadly, now who else knows someone attacked Shady Rest?" The assassin demanded.

"Many more," Drekhve replied, quickly ducking to the side.

The assassin flinched at the sudden movement and attempted to fire, but he did not adjust his aim quickly enough to follow the young warrior. His bolt missed Drekhve by a steep margin, allowing the young warrior to quickly move up and take out his first target.

Covering the short distance between the two he grasped the Grimtotem's wrist, before punching up with his other arm. With a resounding crack Drekhve broke the limb. As the assassin fell to a knee in pain grasping at the broken appendage, Drekhve turned and faced the other three, whom had only just prepared to charge in and attack.

Drekhve charged forward, moving for the closest opponent, being the large axe wielding Grimtotem on the far right. As Drekhve drew close and saw the motion of the warrior's swing he slowed himself down quickly, avoiding the lethal edge and remaining out of its range until it passed him fully. When the weapon swung and was hastily stopped by its wielder Drekhve attacked, moving forward he slammed his fist into the Grimtotem's snout and tried to wrestle the weapon from his grip.

The struggle did not last long, Drekhve glanced up to see the second Grimtotem was lining up his sword to spear him while he was fighting to steal the axe. Quickly strafing around Drekhve dragged his larger foe with him, right into the path of the sword, he watched in satisfaction as the sword speared through the Grimtotem's chest.

Pulling the weapon from the mortally wounded Grimtotem's slack hands and then shoving him aside, preventing his accidental killer from pulling his blade free. Drekhve swung up and gathered some momentum to his swing and struck the defenseless Grimtotem in the stomach. Attempting to reeve the weapon free was difficult, the strong arms constricted around the shaft of the axe and also the head was buried deep into the Tauren's side.

As Drekhve continued to struggle and pull the weapon free he did not notice the third Grimtotem charging forward and swinging down his hatchet. The strike hit the young warrior along his unprotected joint, cutting through the steel chain mail easily and into the muscle. Drekhve let out a pained groan before he turned and stopped a second swing, using his bracer to block the axe.

Drekhve shoved the axe aside and moved in, grasping at the side of the shield and pushing it aside and creating an opening to strike. He reared back his fist and swung it up hard, striking the Tauren right in the chin and actually lifting him off the ground by a few inches. Mimicking the same move Ichigo used to defeat Teranol just a few days ago.

As the Grimtotem fell to the ground, Drekhve lunged forward to finish him; raising his hoof he brought it down onto his neck and broke it with an audible crack. Drekhve turned back to the last one, and found him missing, the crossbow discarded with its owner no longer present. Quickly glancing around to see if he was still within sight, and finding that it was not the case.

Reaching down he took back his sword and shield, fastened them in place and made sure they were secure. With that done Drekhve turned and took off running, moving at full speed towards the great pass. He couldn't stay in Mulgore anymore, not with the Grimtotem on his trail. If he stayed in the city they would eventually kill him, as they would in any other city. He needed to be outside of their sphere of influence and the only place that was is in the Barrens.

If he trekked across the Golden Plains he should be safe, they wouldn't be able to track him easily over it nor would they expect it of him. They likely would think him to go to Bloodhoof Village before going to Camp Taurajo; it would keep him safe until he reached his brothers in the Barrens. He just hoped nothing appeared that would halt his journey.


"Elder Crone," Gor said, moving into the tent and cradling his broken arm.

Despite the pain he kneeled before the tall and imposing form of his mistress and leader, Magatha Grimtotem. She was the leader of the Grimtotem Tribe, one of the most powerful Shamans of the Tauren if not the entirety of the world. She wore the finely stitched hides of several animals that were dyed many different colors and shades. Dark black fur that was only a shade lighter than her dark and unforgiving eyes that gazed into the very soul of any she looked upon.

"You have returned, and scathed, the Tauren best be dead," Magatha Grimtotem seethed, her dark eyes narrowing and her fist clenching tightly around her staff.

"He escaped, I came to gather others to hunt him down, he likely moves for Bloodhoof Village," Gor said, trying to speak his piece and make sure this failure on his part did not result in his execution.

"What of the other three that I sent with you?" Magatha asked, genuinely curious how four of her warriors couldn't kill one simple recruit in training.

"Dead I believe," Gor replied, after all he watched them all die while he rode back up the lift, the speed in which that boy had killed them defied that of someone his age.

"Incompetence, I expected more from you, regardless tracking him and killing him are impossible at the moment," Magatha said, turning away from Gor and moving to sit. "Should he die while our warriors also litter the ground, we may be suspected of foul play, no, we need to send assassins outside of Mulgore to eliminate him."

Magatha thought on this, she couldn't allow for a major force to move out of the city unnoticed or without the permission of Cairne, the stubborn old fool. Doing so would arouse suspicion and with the bodies that needed to be removed it would likely cause a stir. First she would dispose of those corpses; it was her only option within the region, while she needed someone to deal with the single person that had potential knowledge regarding Shady Rest.

More than likely he would escape from the region and move back to wherever he was stationed, as a Youngblood he was more than likely part of a warrior band. Meaning he had allies that could protect him, and also if he was close to the region of Shady Rest that means he was well out of reach from the settlements in the North. Meaning disposing of the body in the desert wouldn't be a major issue.

But first she needed someone to carry out the deed, something that was hard as she had few forces in the region that could track the warrior down. She only had forces in Stonetalon and Thousand Neeldes, those being the closest regions to the barrens that could possibly reach him in time. Sadly Thousand Needles is too far south for a message to reach them and also send a war party to kill the boy as he travels the Gold Road. Stonetalon was the same as it is near the base of the mountains and they would need to travel an even further distance to reach the Tauren.

Magatha needed someone close by, someone who could reach the boy or intercept him before then. Then she remembered, the warband that sacked Shady Rest would still be in the area. After all she had ordered that their movements remain concealed as they made their way back to Stonetalon. Since the attack was only two days ago, they wouldn't be too far from where she needed them, they likely would be staying in the Lushwater Oasis.

It was perfect; from there they could easily track him as he left through Camp Taurajo and kill him in the southern Barrens. A message sent to them would be all she needed to do, telling them their instructions and also the consequences to make them put the effort into killing him. But she would need to punish their leader as well, that damn girl left loose ends behind. Something Magatha did not like having.

"Leave me Gor, your usefulness ends here, I will take care of this myself," Magatha said dismissively, while summoning a wind serpent to deliver her orders.


It took several hours to reach Camp Taurajo from Thunderbluff, he had run through the evening and most of the night to reach the settlement. It was approaching dusk when he departed from the quaint hunting village, but the coming light of dawn did little to burn away the dark fears that crept into his heart. He did not once believe he was completely safe.

Drekhve rode hard, forcing his Kodo to its limits as he moved out into the southern reaches of the Barrens, the light of day was slowly beginning to appear over the massive eastern mountains. But he did not slow down for a single moment, not with the hounds that were on his tail. The Youngblood knew he was being followed, every time he turned his head he could see the feint shadows in the distance. As the sun slowly rose over the hours he could make out the familiar shapes of Kodo and dark riders on their backs.

How they were able to follow after him and know his movements he did not know, how they were able to get ahead of him still made him wonder. But none the less he knew his pursuers were Grimtotem, there was no question, they were the only group he had earned the ire of. Something to be afraid of, they were not merciful warriors and they would stop at nothing to tear him limb from limb.

But all was not lost yet, he was close to reaching his brothers and sisters. He could already see the small plateau that they had setup their small camp upon, the small nearly invisible trail of smoke moving into the sky showing that they were still there. All he needed to do was keep ahead of these assassins and he would be fine, nothing would be able to harm him as long as he stayed ahead.

His hopes along with his mount were brutally forced to a halt; Drekhve was thrown from his kodo when a ball of fire connected to his trusty mount. Thrown off by the explosion, Drekhve's armor saved him from severe burns and physical harm as he sailed through the air and crashed. Ploughing through an insect mound, before hitting the ground hard and rolling to an eventual stop.

Drekhve was slow to get back onto his hooves; a groan escaped his lips as he stood talk and grasped at his still wounded arm. His gaze turned back towards the road, and to his dismay and growing dread he saw that his pursuers had finally caught up with him. Two dozen of them were on the road that just sat on a slope above the area dubbed as the field of giants. Among them was a cow in dark robes of red and brown, but it was unmistakable to see she was a shaman.

The flames coiling around her fingers and arms were the clearest signs she was the one responsible for killing his kodo and depositing him in the insect hive. Drekhve took a wary step back, the chance of him winning against a Shaman with such skills was near impossible. In his current physical state, a lacerated arm and also having not rested since his arrival in Thunderbluff, he wouldn't last a heartbeat. Let alone the two dozen other Grimtotem warriors she had on her side.

"Get down there, finish him quickly, we do not need to waste any more time on this," the Shaman ordered, glancing down at Drekhve and quickly sending another condensed ball of fire at him.

Drekhve quickly leaped away from the oncoming projective; saving himself from being incinerated as the very sand he once stood upon turned to glass on contact. He hid behind an insect mound, only for a moment to try and figure out an escape route, before it exploded with a climactic boom as fire threatened to singe the hairs on his face. Drekhve took off running into the field of Giants, weaving through the many hives and avoiding those who were trying to kill him.

Focusing and clearing his mind he tried to move to the south, trying to reach his brothers in the warband. They were outside the field of giants, if he could get there, there was a chance he would be safe and they could fight these treacherous curs off. All he needed to do was keep out of sight and also make sure he wasn't wounded again, his arm was still giving him trouble and he felt dizzy from time to time. With lack of sleep he was likely one hit away from collapsing and simply blacking out from exhaustion.

So he needed to stay out of a fight and he would be home free.

His hopes were dashed away when he found himself knocked to the ground, a shield slamming into his face before he could react. Drekhve shook off the wave of surprise and pain to see an axe coming down right for his head; it was the only lucky thing to happen in the last few minutes since he was first attacked. Drekhve twisted to the side and avoided the hit by a narrow margin, had it been a strike to the chest he wouldn't have been unable to evade it.

Grasping his sword Drekhve pulled it free from his sheath and slash at the hunched over Tauren above him. His claymore met the chest of the Tauren, but sadly his blade did not cut through the Grimtotem's chestplate. The blade scraped across the silver armor of the warrior, something that made this fight all the harder to finish quickly.

Thinking quickly Drekhve kicked his opponent away, forcing the Grimtotem back far enough so he would recover. With a quick roll to the side Drekhve got back to his feet and grasped his shield, preparing to defend himself.

Drekhve waited for the warrior to come to him, and without having to wait a moment longer the Grimtotem charged in swinging his axe hard. Drekhve quickly blocked the strike with his shield before knocking it aside with his claymore, and retaliating with a returning swing from the same weapon. Aiming for the warrior's neck Drekhve met resistance again as a shield narrowly intercepted his blade.

The shield was solid steel and looked freshly made from a forge, Drekhve knew that this shield was one of Mosarns. The design was nearly the exact same as the shield he had brought to Thunderbluff, meaning that the caravan of weapons with Mosarn's weapons did get into their hands. That only added more proof that they did have an involvement in the massacre of Shady Rest.

Drekhve stepped back, groaning slightly as he realized that his sword arm was still not in perfect condition. That hit he back in Mulgore must have broken the joint, even holding his sword sent a sliver of pain up his arms. He would need to finish this quickly and move on; he couldn't risk being caught between more than one foe. But again the Earthmother did not hear his pleas and instead decided to dump upon him more bad luck.

Glancing behind him he saw three Grimtotem approaching quickly, covered in armor and hefting a variety of weapons that would inflict significant harm upon him. With a small curse the young warrior charged forward, moving to the far left, appearing to be trying and move around the Grimtotem's side to escape.

In an attempt to stop him the Grimtotem raised his axe and swung it wide, trying to at least clip him. Something the Youngblood was counting on, and he quickly ducked under the swing and moved up just outside of the Grimtotems peripheral vision. As the Grimtotem stumbled with his quick and unbalanced swing Drekhve moved in for the kill.

Raising his sword up, he stabbed it down and pierced the Tauren's neck through the opening around the neckguard. Drekhve quickly withdrew his blade and ran, not bothering to see the body of his defeated foe hit the ground and his comrades stampede past after his killer.

Running as fast as he could the young warrior could see the very edge of his camp in the distance, even the barely visible figures of the sentries. He was so close, all he needed to do was run a little further and they would almost certainly see him. As he drew closer he could taste the freedom on his tongue, but then the sourness of having that taken from him surfaced.

Again he was ambushed, a ball of flame exploded in front of him, fierce enough to knock him onto his back. Drekhve sat himself up and looked around, finding his sword on the ground, he grasped it tightly and ignored the pain, but froze when he heard a voice just ahead of him.

"A good attempt, but it did you little good," Drekhve looked up to see the Grimtotem Shaman standing in front of him, the ground beneath her shining like glass.

"I am not dead yet," Drekhve said, rising to his feet, turning briefly to see the rest of the Grimtotem had arrived and taking up a small formation around him.

"That will change shortly, kill him," the shaman said, and let the warriors advance on the Youngblood while she casually stood by and prevented Drekhve from escaping while letting her warriors hack him apart.

Drekhve raised his sword and shield; the first two opponents came forward. Stepping close to the first he easily countered the attack, blocking the sword strike with his shield before forcing him away with a wide swing. Allowing him to defend against the second who held his shield forward and swung his axe around, Drekhve again blocked with his shield. The risk of him losing his sword by using it to block was too high, he couldn't risk losing his only weapon.

Drekhve pushed the axe away and slashed up at the Tauren, feeling his arm sear with pain as it met the shield of his opponent. But none the less Drekhve moved forward and slammed his shoulder into the Tauren's shield and pushed him back. But he had little time to take breath as he was forced on the defensive by the first opponent, who was already in motion with his sword. Drekhve saw a chance and took it, stepping forward and seemingly in the path of the swords downward swing.

Raising his shield Drekhve deflected the blow to the side, allowing it to harmlessly strike the ground beside him. But this left the Tauren open, his body was angled to far inwards and his shield was completely out of Drekhve's way. A perfect chance for him to deliver the final strike, Drekhve drew back his claymore and stabbed it upwards. Aiming for the base of the Grimtotem's jaw, he planned on skewering his head.

But before he could make contact Drekhve was brought down to a knee, an arrow being what forced him down as it struck him along the hind joints. Drekhve looked up and saw the Tauren attempting another swing; instinctively he raised his shield and saved himself from meeting the brutal edge of the sword.

"Damn fools, you can't even execute a damn youth! We don't have time for this!" The shaman yelled.

She raised her hand to finish it herself, not wanting to let this little fight continue any further. Had that idiot with the crossbow not actually shot the youngblood when he did, the other warrior would have been killed. Why was it she was always surrounded by incompetent idiots?

"May the Earthmother take you, little fool," the shaman said, raising her palm to shoot the kneeling Tauren before he could escape.

But fate intervened, this time in the favor of the youngblood. Drekhve looked up and watched as the shaman stumbled forward, a spear jutting out of her shoulder, a scream of pain on her lips as she grasped at the barbed spearhead jutting out of her shoulder. Behind her he saw his fellow warriors charging forward, ready to meet them in open melee.

With a quick jump Drekhve twisted around and quickly beheaded the closest Grimtotem warrior as he looked at the approaching warband. Quickly running forward Drekhve raised his sword and impaled it through the heart of the shaman ahead of him, pushing her to the ground and then continuing forward. He couldn't risk her taking part in the fight, not even when she was wounded.

Drekhve turned and raised his shield, crouching low and tight, and he was rewarded for this effort when he saw a metal bolt just punch through his shield. He was saved again when his fellow braves and warriors appeared and attacked, shielding Drekhve from the brunt of the Grimtotem force.

"You're back, what took you?" Yureel inquired as he stood beside Drekhve, making sure his fellow youngblood was protected as the rest of the warriors fought.

"The investigation took a bad turn, I was nearly assassinated by these Grimtotem," Drekhve stated, rising to his full height and planned on jumping into the fight.

"You are lucky youngblood, I could strip you of your sword and shield and let you walk back to Bloodhoof Village for abandoning your post and brothers," the gravelly voice of Teranol drew the youngblood's attention. "Lucky for you I was stayed such action."

Drekhve was surprised, he did expect to be reprimanded for his actions but to actually be cleared of them was not within his expectations. As if to answer his question on who was the one that had allowed his desertion to go unpunished a massive form walked forward and stood beside the brave that was Drekhve's superior.

Large was the first thing to come to Drekhve's mind, for the massive beast before him stood nine feet in height. He has long black horns that curve forward and up. He has a golden nose ring and two long braids down either side of his head which are held by two sets of three golden bands. He wore thick robes of red and gold, along with similarly colored plate over these robes. Two large pauldrons that have a large glass sphere imbedded within that churns with elemental fire sat upon his massive shoulders. Around the spheres are spikes that protect it from attack from the sides so the glass is not shattered.

"Greetings young Drekhve, I am Mairne Ragetotem, the spirits tell me that you have something important to speak of," the large Tauren asked.

The battle was over before it had started, the Grimtotem retreating as soon as their leader had been killed and the warband had descended upon them. They were allowed to flee with their lives; they were no threat to them anymore.

Quickly they retreated back to their camp; their actions would likely rouse the insects that call the fields their home. It was best not to be present when the massive creatures roamed their territory, for they usually killed trespassers before they eat them. It was a kinder fate than being taken alive.


Drekhve sat in a small tent; he was being treated for his wounds, mainly herbal medicine and magical aid from the shaman Brine. But he and the orc shaman were not the only ones present, for there were several within waiting to speak with him on his findings and the reason for the Grimtotem's attack.

"What did you find Drekhve?" Teranol asked, he was truly angry the boy had left, but after learning of the incident and the reason for the departure he could understand the need for it.

"The Grimtotem are responsible for the attack," Drekhve stated, making several murmur as the implications of such an attack on an Alliance settlement, and a possible reprisal.

"How so?" Mairne inquired.

Drekhve was still surprised to see the venerable Tauren before him, the name he knew but never before had he met the one who carried it. Mairne Ragetotem was a legend among the Tauren clans, some thinking his tale but a myth despite his very real presence in the world. For he was the greatest Shaman of his generation, maybe even of this present generation he still held the force and power to be considered the greatest.

"The Grimtotem seem to be acquiring arms and armor from Mosarn in Thunderbluff, and he has been recently making large quantities," Drekhve replied. "Also the Grimtotem seem to be wearing his armor and using the same weapons, also the shield given to me by Ichigo was made by Mosarn."

"That is not definite proof," Teranol said.

"No, but we both know how the Grimtotem react to slights against them, an attack on a caravan is more than enough for them to seek retribution. Also the fact I was pursued by them within hours of my arrival in Thunderbluff is proof enough they did not want me asking questions," Drekhve said. "I did not even mention the incident in Shady Rest yet they still saw reason to remove me, searching for the creator of the shield and also the one who had sent it to Thousand Needles."

"It is substantial and conjecture, but it may be rooted in truth," Mairne said, brushing his chin in thought. "Is there anything else?"

"I do not wish to speak ill of a brave, but I was quickly found after I spoke with a warrior who was organizing caravans to Thousand Needles, and Mosarn says that he has been preparing the shipments of large quantities for only one person," Drekhve said. "That must be the same shipment and it was said he was working as a medium between Mosarn and the client, by the name of Agasham."

"Hmmmm, that name I have heard before, used often by the Grimtotem, the name is a fake, used as a phrase of another to show who it really is." Mairne stated.

"You know of this?" Teranol asked.

"I have heard it before, many years ago," Mairne replied, looking very thoughtful. "I will speak with Cairne Bloodhoof personally on this matter, I think it is best you go and bring this news to Theramore."

Many were surprised by this, there was no way they could go to the coastal city nor would their actions we sanctioned to allow Drekhve to go there.

"I would not be allowed within a league of the city, I would be killed well before I could deliver my message," Drekhve said.

"I know of someone who may be able to help, she is quite neutral and can help you, but I suggest that Teranol and his warriors accompany you," Mairne said, looking over to the brave who raised his eyebrow.

"Who is she?" Teranol asked, thinking she may prove to be a potential threat, but a low chuckle from the elder Shaman only confused him.

"She is a simple hermit in the swamp," Mairne replied with a smile.


Nice chapter right? Well let me know.

This one required a lot of study to get done, getting the right characters and also setting up how the Grimtotem knew about Drekhve's snooping around. I actually found Cliffwatcher Longhorn by accident, I didn't realize he was actually a traitor until I looked up a little bit on the Grimtotem Clan and found he was a member and also a spy for them in Thousand Needles.

Pretty cool how things work out doesn't it?