Walking With The Spirits

An RP Story with dialog mostly (though not entirely) directly quoted from the Heritage of the Shu’halo questline. You might want to skip this story for now and come back later if you intend to play through this questline yourself.

Kamalia awoke on a hard, cold, damp, sandy rock floor with the taste of brine on her lips. For a moment, she struggled to recall what her purpose for returning to the Maelstrom had been. Then a pair of greenish-blue webbed feet flip-flopped past. Oh, right. Nazjatar. With a portal open to Dazar’alor, the real question was why had she chosen to sleep here instead of going somewhere more comfortable? A better question than that might be had she really helped Saurfang, Thrall, and, of all people, Jaina Proudmoore and Spymaster Shaw rescue High Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof from imprisonment by Sylvanas Windrunner in the chambers Garrosh Hellscream had built underneath Orgrimmar? Or had that just been a dream or a vision, seeing through the eyes of someone else who was actually there?

When Kamalia returned from her morning scouting & foraging run with one of the Kelfin, she noticed that Spiritwalker Ussoh was not sitting in his usual place by the bonfire. Had he been there earlier in the morning? She wasn’t sure. She asked Regent Lord Theron where Ussoh had gone.

“He said he had urgent business in Mulgore,” Lor’themar replied, “and he requested that you join him as soon as possible. He also asked that you stop by the Embassy in Orgrimmar first, however, to meet with a colleague of his. I think this is probably a genuine request, but still… Go with caution, champion.”

Kamalia took the portal to Dazar’alor, and from there to Orgrimmar. She approached the Embassy with trepidation… Why was Ussoh needed so urgently back home? Was Sylvanas already beginning her punishment of the tauren for Baine’s actions regarding Derek Proudmoore and his subsequent rescue? She relaxed a bit when she saw another Spiritwalker standing outside the Embassy.

“Ah, I’ve been expecting you”, the woman said as Kamalia approached. “You must be Kamalia. I am Isahi. Chieftain Bloodhoof asks that you join him in Thunder Bluff at once. I will leave it to our leader to explain why you are being summoned. But I will say that Baine has met with the other Spiritwalkers and your name was spoken with urgency.”

Kamalia took a chartered wyvern flight to Thunder Bluff. As she approached the High Chieftain’s tent, Baine bowed to her. “I thank you again for your part in freeing me from the Warchief’s dungeon,” he said. So it had been real.

“As you know,” the High Chieftain continued, “the Spiritwalkers commune with our ancestors and maintain balance within the spirit realm. It is a sacred duty that links our present to our past. But lately, the Spiritwalkers have been troubled by visions of chaos and turmoil. Of a rising darkness. They tell me that the spirits have whispered your name. We are unsure why, but Spiritwalker Ussoh means to find out. Seek him on Fargaze Mesa to the south. Good luck, Kamalia. I believe you may need it.”

Kamalia whistled for her own wyvern to fly the relatively short distance across Mulgore to Fargaze Mesa, which stood close to Camp Narache. She found Spiritwalker Ussoh there, sitting in the ritual circle.

“Hmmph,” Ussoh grunted as she approached, “I expected you sooner.” He rolled his shoulders. “No matter, have a seat.”

Kamalia sat.

“The ancestors have whispered your name, Kamalia.” said Ussoh. “Now it is time for you to reach out to them. Here, in this sacred place, we Spiritwalkers commune with those who came before us. Sit within the circle and light the incense. If you open your heart, a spirit guide will present itself to you. Let us hope it will lead you to the answers we seek. Light the incense, then center yourself and slow your breathing.”

Kamalia lit the incense, then sat down again next to Ussoh. She began the meditation process that helped her commune with the elements.

“Focus on the smoke as it swirls around you,” Ussoh continued, “Let it fill you and lighten your spirit. Breathe in… and out…”

As Kamalia let the sweet-scented smoke fill her senses, the physical world around her dimmed. A spirit appeared in the form of a majestic swoop.

Before it could approach her, a hand formed of some eldtrich substance reached up and grabbed it.

The swoop screeched, and both the swoop and the hand disappeared. The dimness cleared, and Kamalia found herself back in the physical world again.

When Kamalia explained to Ussoh what she had seen, the Spiritwalker’s face and posture became uneasy.

“I believe your guide was delivering a warning,” Ussoh said. “The unrest within the spirit realm may be even more dire than first feared.” He set his shoulders. “We must cross over at once, from a place with a strong bond to the spirit realm. In ages past, tauren made pilgrimages to Sun Rock Retreat to engage in such a ritual. It is said that long ago, An’she himself kissed the mountain where the retreat now stands. Meet me there, and we will begin the crossing.”

Sun Rock Retreat had always been one of Kamalia’s favorite stopping places along the annual migration circuit when she was a child. She had been immensely relieved that, unlike other locations in Stonetalon Mountains, it had been left largely untouched by the conflict between the Alliance and the Horde during Garrosh Hellscream’s tenure as Warchief. She still loved to return there.

When she and Ussoh arrived, they were met by Spiritwalkers Isahi and Akule, who had already prepared for a ritual. Ussoh and Kamalia seated themselves on the unoccupied rugs on either side of the fire.

“We are ready to begin,” said Ussoh. “You will be crossing into the spirit realm. Take caution, for it can be a place of both tranquility and danger. Make contact with your spirit guide. There must be a reason it was in pain when it revealed itself to you. When you are ready, raise this vessel to enter the spirit realm.”

Kamalia accepted the vessel and returned to her place. Calming her mind, she raised the vessel over her head.

As the smoke of the incense burning within it rolled down over her, she again felt the physical world dimming. For a moment, she still saw Ussoh, Isahi, and Akule — and then she was fully in the spirit realm, alone.

Looking around, she wondered what to do next. The cries of distressed animals in the distance caught her attention. She left the tent and saw the majestic swoop spirit hovering just outside. When it saw her, it bobbed its head toward her, then began to fly off, over the ancient elven bridge across the small lake.

As it led her up the path to the small plateau that overlooked the main portion of the camp, she heard more animal calls of fright. When they reached the top of the path, the spirit was attacked by a group of creatures that looked somewhat similar to small sha, though they seemed to be formed of the same eldritch stuff that had made the hand she’d seen in the first vision. Behind them, she saw one of the hooded, chain-wrapped beings that she had previously encountered while helping Princess Talanji, Rokhan, and the spirit of Vol’jin investigate the cause of Vol’jin’s unusual spiritual condition. The disturbance in the spirit world seemed to be quite widespread…

After Kamalia had defeated the attacking creatures, the swoop transformed into a tauren wearing distinctive armor that she recognized from descriptions in tales told by her tribal elders.

“Chieftain Hototo!” she blurted. “I love the stories about you!”

The spirit smiled. “Oh, young one. How I wish we could have met under different circumstances.” His expression sobered.

“There will come a time for us to speak, but first you must warn our people of this threat.”

The spirit of Chieftain Hototo faded away, the air around Kamalia brightened, and she found herself in the physical world again. She scrambled back down the path to the tent to tell the Spiritwalkers what she’d seen.

“Your guide is a chieftain ancestor?” Ussoh sounded amazed. “That is a great honor. But if your guide was under attack, then I fear balance has been lost.”

“Yes, that is what Chieftain Hototo said,” Kamalia replied, and explained both what she’d just experienced and, as briefly as she could, her previous experiences while assisting the spirit of Vol’jin.

“This is worse than I feared,” said Ussoh. “The people of Bloodhoof Village are in grave danger. Even the brave young tauren who train there are woefully unprepared for the danger that is coming. Do what you can to stop this threat. I will go to Thunder Bluff to warn the High Chieftain.” He stood up. “Isahi. Akule. We must make haste to Thunder Bluff. Kamalia will aid Bloodhoof Village.” The three Spiritwalkers ran out.

As she flew over the mountains into Mulgore, Kamalia saw that the whole valley was filled with a thick, unnatural fog.

Overhead, the sky was a swirling vortex of crackling aether.

Landing in Bloodhoof Village, she found it overrun by the sha-like creatures and more of the hooded, chain-wrapped spirits. Kodos bellowed in terror as eldtritch hands immobilized them. Frightened townspeople cowered under the eaves of the tents and buildings, too paralyzed by fear to make it the last few feet to the entrances.

Kamalia raced from one site of trouble to the next, freeing kodos, helping the Braves of the village destroy packs of creatures, helping townspeople get to safety inside the buildings. No sooner had the last of the malicious spirits been cleared from the village than a magically-enhanced warhorn sounded throughout Mulgore: Baine Bloodhoof’s voice, calling, “Braves, prepare for battle! Thunder Bluff is under attack!”

Soaring into Thunder Bluff on one of her personal flyers, Kamalia saw a large group of the hooded, chain-wrapped spirits descending on the city like a flock of crows.

“To me!” Baine roared from the upper rise, “This spirit is the one who leads them!”

“You heard the horn, Kamalia!” Baine exclaimed, a note of relief in his voice, as she alighted near him. “We are in dire need of your help. It is fortunate that Spiritwalker Ussoh passed along your spirit guide’s warning. We were able to evacuate most of the citizens.” He didn’t say to where, but he didn’t have to. There were several old campsites in the mountains surrounding Mulgore that had been designated as emergency retreats when Thunder Bluff was established — information that was shared only among the Shu’halo.

Baine gestured toward an enormous malevolent spirit that hovered in the center of the upper rise. It seemed to be waiting for something, as neither it nor the other spirits circling around the city had yet attacked.

“This cursed spirit is full of malevolence and hatred. It must be destroyed, Kamalia!” He nodded deferentially toward her. “We attack on your command.”

The lesser spirits fled as soon as they attacked the large spirit. As they fought, ancestral tauren spirits appeared, granting them extra strength. As Kamalia was currently attuned to the Elements, she stayed close to Spiritwalker Ussoh, who set down Spirit Link Totems that kept everyone at equalized health.

At length, the malevolent spirit weakened and began to falter. “We must destroy the spirit before it is too late!” Baine cried. As he moved in to finish it off, a spirit prison sprang up around it and two tauren spirits appeared before it. Kamalia gasped as she recognized them.

The spirits of Cairne and Tamaala Bloodhoof faded away, taking the captive malevolent spirit with them. The sky above Thunder Bluff brightened as the spirit world receded from the physical world.

Baine stared at the bonfire, where his parents had appeared, for several long minutes. Heaving a great sigh, he turned back toward Kamalia.

“You have saved not just me, but also Thunder Bluff, Farseer. I see now why it was your name that the spirits spoke so urgently. However, the spirit realm is growing more restless and the balance is tipping. We have restored it for now. But how long until the scales are moved again? And what is causing it? I do not have those answers.” He sighed again.

“But I do have another favor to ask. The balance has been restored, and Thunder Bluff is safe. Thank you.” Baine saluted her. “We owe our victory to your spirit’s guidance. We must honor the old ways by giving thanks to the ones who came before us. To the south lies a beautiful vista where my father once took me. It would be a fitting place to reflect upon all that has transpired. Please take this offering there to honor our ancestors.” He handed her a set of small ceremonial baskets of corn.

As the civilians began to return from the emergency retreats, Baine activated the the magical enhancement that allowed his voice to resound throughout the city and shouted, “Tauren of Thunder Bluff! We are safe, thanks to the deeds of Farseer Kamalia! Long will we remember this day. Let us pay tribute to our ancestors. Let us honor our tribes!”

The people of the city cheered.

Kamalia took the ceremonial baskets, whistled for her personal wyvern, and flew around the cliffs ringing Mulgore until she found the location Baine had described. It was indeed a magnificent view of Thunder Bluff.

She placed the offering and lit the ceremonial fire. The swoop spirit descended and transformed again into Chieftain Hototo.

Kamalia wiped tears from her eyes as the ancient chieftain disappeared. As she turned back toward the view of Thunder Bluff, she discovered a set of ceremonial tauren vestments and a ceremonial totem resting against one of the drums. Carefully unfolding the clothing, she found that it was a replica of Hototo’s own distinctive armor.