12-16-2005, 05:38 AM
A dozen members of the Ironsong had gathered in Grommash Hold around the circle that had contained so many Ironsong Moots over the year just ending. Adamos Trask, Chronicler of the Ironsong, a male Forsaken clad in black and silver, stood at the head of the steps leading down into the circle as the Warlord of the Tribe, Sreng Skull-Claimer, crouched nearby and watched the proceedings through lidded eyes.
Grunts and Blademasters alike fell silent as Trask's precise voice cut across their conversations abruptly.
"Greetings, Ironsong. Thank you all for attending this gathering. Today marks one year since the founding of The Ironsong Tribe by Warlord Sreng. While there will be a celebration of this no doubt epochal event in the history of the Horde at this week's Moot, tonight I have been asked to seek your assistance in another, related, matter.
"As we have approached this anniversary date I have reviewed the history of the Tribe and have made a number of what I find to be interesting connections between some of the earliest battles Ironsong took part in and those we fight today.
"In light of this it has occurred to me that while the Tribe has been largely reactive in our efforts fighting the foes of the Horde we may be able to change this trend should we be able to foresee -- and thus plan for -- the future."
From a diminutive form in garish attire sitting cross-legged along the edge of the circle rose a distinctly childlike voice. "You want to plan what bad things will happen and make them better before they go boom?" asked Zarraema, child-Priestess clothed in an unliving while not quite Forsaken form.
Adamos nodded. "Indeed, Zarraema."
"Oh. Well, that would make sense if we could see what would happen tomorrow," she replied, trailing off for now as she pondered how exactly to manage that notion.
Adamos turned back to the group. "However, my information is incomplete. I was not awakened into the free-willed state I now enjoy until the Tribe had already been active for a time and some of the founding members have been unaccounted for since prior to my admission."
The Warlord frowned darkly at the mention of the continued absence of some of his old comrades but withheld comment for the time being.
"The Blademasters and Farseers of the Tribe, as well as Warlord Sreng himself, will be travelling through Horde territory on various tasks of their own. The rest of you I ask to aid me in completing this research.
"First, I have some information on the whereabouts of one of the lost founding members of the Ironsong Tribe. A Tauren Hunter by the name of Rygnar, he retired from active adventuring some time ago and was out of contact with us for a number of months. It is possible that he may have information useful to us, gleaned from his travels abroad in the intervening time."
Sreng's faraway drawl pushed aside the terse flow of information at this point, "Rygnar was a great hunter in 'is day. Me an' him, an' Akora, we went into Ragefire Chasm together de first time, along wit' Ooluhtek an' one other... who was dat again?"
"Bloody lecherous fool, that orc," Ironsong's Champion, the Fel Warlock Damoxian Dread-Caller, all but spat at the mention of Ooluhtek.
Without missing a beat, Adamos continued. "I ask you, Tribemates, to seek out Rygnar and find out what he may have learned that has kept him away from the Tribe for so long, if in fact there is more to the story. Even if not, I will be pleased merely to update my records with his recent travels. Should the latter prove true I will seek another avenue of investigation for your to pursue."
"Umm...what does he look like, Amamados?" piped the child-Priestess.
Damoxian affirmed the question. "Yes, I don't feel much like asking every tauren I meet for his name on the off chance of bumping into him."
The warrior Lucrey muttered darkly to himself, suspicious of what was sounding to him so far like a wild goose chase.
With a pointed look around the circle, Blademistress Merrina said, "This is important, Adamos, or you would not send the Tribe after this person." At once the skilled diplomat and counselor both defended and questioned Adamos with just a few words.
He bowed to her and continued. "Rygnar is a black-furred Tauren who as last account was accompanied by a wolf called Sharpfang. He also has a prediliction for firearms, I bel-"
The Chronicler was again interrupted. "A woof! What color of woof?!" Zarraema blurted out in sudden enthusiasm.
Troubled as she often seemed to be by events in the world, the Shamaness Valtrinity let out a sigh.
"It is a Mulgore prairie wolf, Zarraema; I believe them to be grey. My initial inquiries suggest that he was tracking one of the mightiest beasts known to the Tauren of Mulgore recently and may still be in that area."
"Oh...maybe he went home and decided to go fishing for a long long time," said Zarraema.
Ronx, a relatively newer member of the Tribe, spoke his mental question aloud, "Mazzranache?"
The warlock Draxan, clad in his Shadow-woven armor, nodded. "Or perhaps that Kodo..."
"I am not certain which of the legendary beasts he was pursuing, but that is the lead I possess," Adamos said.
"Soooo....he's hunting! With a woof!" Zarraema clapped her hands in childish glee. "Fun. This is like hide-and-go-seek!" Zinthas, the warrior Zarraema ever referred to as Father, pat her on the head. "Um, except that he doesn't know we're looking for him..."
"Or does he?" Merrina offered.
"...and I'm not counting to ten!" Zarraema giggled.
Adamos smirked at him. "Aye, Zarraema. Just so."
"I have many doubts about this," Valtrinity said, "I spent many weeks searching for Tybrious when he went missing. What makes you so certain we'll find this lost tauren?" Lucrey nodded, sharing her concern.
"If I were certain I would have gone myself, alone, and be done by now," Adamos replied coolly.
Ronx grinned broadly. "A logical solution would be to send a message to him through mail."
Jahir, a trollish youth new to the Tribe, mused, "Hmm. Well, if he isn't actively trying to hide, he shouldn't be dat hard t'be findin'. Trackin' in Mulgore is not too bad. Assumin' dat we find him, where should we be askin' him to go? I guess de tribe leaders will be wantin' ta speak with 'im, right?"
"Nay, simply gather the information he possesses yourselves. He is still a member of the Tribe and indeed a former Blademaster of the Ironsong, his loyalty is not in question. As I mentioned, all of us will have our tasks, and I do not expect this matter to be fully resolved this evening."
Zarraema clapped again, giggling, "Hide-and-go-seek and tag...without spells... and get stories!"
"OK," Jahir said, "I've not much time this night misself, so I'm gonna head dat way now. I'll be lettin' ya know if I find anything."
"Indeed, any who wish to involve themselves feel free to do so now. I have other matters to attend to as well. My thanks for your attention and patience. I wish you good fortune in the Hunt." Adamos stepped fully out of the circle as the Tribe began to buzz with talk, anticipating the search for Rygnar, former Blademaster of the Ironsong Tribe and founding member as well.
Grunts and Blademasters alike fell silent as Trask's precise voice cut across their conversations abruptly.
"Greetings, Ironsong. Thank you all for attending this gathering. Today marks one year since the founding of The Ironsong Tribe by Warlord Sreng. While there will be a celebration of this no doubt epochal event in the history of the Horde at this week's Moot, tonight I have been asked to seek your assistance in another, related, matter.
"As we have approached this anniversary date I have reviewed the history of the Tribe and have made a number of what I find to be interesting connections between some of the earliest battles Ironsong took part in and those we fight today.
"In light of this it has occurred to me that while the Tribe has been largely reactive in our efforts fighting the foes of the Horde we may be able to change this trend should we be able to foresee -- and thus plan for -- the future."
From a diminutive form in garish attire sitting cross-legged along the edge of the circle rose a distinctly childlike voice. "You want to plan what bad things will happen and make them better before they go boom?" asked Zarraema, child-Priestess clothed in an unliving while not quite Forsaken form.
Adamos nodded. "Indeed, Zarraema."
"Oh. Well, that would make sense if we could see what would happen tomorrow," she replied, trailing off for now as she pondered how exactly to manage that notion.
Adamos turned back to the group. "However, my information is incomplete. I was not awakened into the free-willed state I now enjoy until the Tribe had already been active for a time and some of the founding members have been unaccounted for since prior to my admission."
The Warlord frowned darkly at the mention of the continued absence of some of his old comrades but withheld comment for the time being.
"The Blademasters and Farseers of the Tribe, as well as Warlord Sreng himself, will be travelling through Horde territory on various tasks of their own. The rest of you I ask to aid me in completing this research.
"First, I have some information on the whereabouts of one of the lost founding members of the Ironsong Tribe. A Tauren Hunter by the name of Rygnar, he retired from active adventuring some time ago and was out of contact with us for a number of months. It is possible that he may have information useful to us, gleaned from his travels abroad in the intervening time."
Sreng's faraway drawl pushed aside the terse flow of information at this point, "Rygnar was a great hunter in 'is day. Me an' him, an' Akora, we went into Ragefire Chasm together de first time, along wit' Ooluhtek an' one other... who was dat again?"
"Bloody lecherous fool, that orc," Ironsong's Champion, the Fel Warlock Damoxian Dread-Caller, all but spat at the mention of Ooluhtek.
Without missing a beat, Adamos continued. "I ask you, Tribemates, to seek out Rygnar and find out what he may have learned that has kept him away from the Tribe for so long, if in fact there is more to the story. Even if not, I will be pleased merely to update my records with his recent travels. Should the latter prove true I will seek another avenue of investigation for your to pursue."
"Umm...what does he look like, Amamados?" piped the child-Priestess.
Damoxian affirmed the question. "Yes, I don't feel much like asking every tauren I meet for his name on the off chance of bumping into him."
The warrior Lucrey muttered darkly to himself, suspicious of what was sounding to him so far like a wild goose chase.
With a pointed look around the circle, Blademistress Merrina said, "This is important, Adamos, or you would not send the Tribe after this person." At once the skilled diplomat and counselor both defended and questioned Adamos with just a few words.
He bowed to her and continued. "Rygnar is a black-furred Tauren who as last account was accompanied by a wolf called Sharpfang. He also has a prediliction for firearms, I bel-"
The Chronicler was again interrupted. "A woof! What color of woof?!" Zarraema blurted out in sudden enthusiasm.
Troubled as she often seemed to be by events in the world, the Shamaness Valtrinity let out a sigh.
"It is a Mulgore prairie wolf, Zarraema; I believe them to be grey. My initial inquiries suggest that he was tracking one of the mightiest beasts known to the Tauren of Mulgore recently and may still be in that area."
"Oh...maybe he went home and decided to go fishing for a long long time," said Zarraema.
Ronx, a relatively newer member of the Tribe, spoke his mental question aloud, "Mazzranache?"
The warlock Draxan, clad in his Shadow-woven armor, nodded. "Or perhaps that Kodo..."
"I am not certain which of the legendary beasts he was pursuing, but that is the lead I possess," Adamos said.
"Soooo....he's hunting! With a woof!" Zarraema clapped her hands in childish glee. "Fun. This is like hide-and-go-seek!" Zinthas, the warrior Zarraema ever referred to as Father, pat her on the head. "Um, except that he doesn't know we're looking for him..."
"Or does he?" Merrina offered.
"...and I'm not counting to ten!" Zarraema giggled.
Adamos smirked at him. "Aye, Zarraema. Just so."
"I have many doubts about this," Valtrinity said, "I spent many weeks searching for Tybrious when he went missing. What makes you so certain we'll find this lost tauren?" Lucrey nodded, sharing her concern.
"If I were certain I would have gone myself, alone, and be done by now," Adamos replied coolly.
Ronx grinned broadly. "A logical solution would be to send a message to him through mail."
Jahir, a trollish youth new to the Tribe, mused, "Hmm. Well, if he isn't actively trying to hide, he shouldn't be dat hard t'be findin'. Trackin' in Mulgore is not too bad. Assumin' dat we find him, where should we be askin' him to go? I guess de tribe leaders will be wantin' ta speak with 'im, right?"
"Nay, simply gather the information he possesses yourselves. He is still a member of the Tribe and indeed a former Blademaster of the Ironsong, his loyalty is not in question. As I mentioned, all of us will have our tasks, and I do not expect this matter to be fully resolved this evening."
Zarraema clapped again, giggling, "Hide-and-go-seek and tag...without spells... and get stories!"
"OK," Jahir said, "I've not much time this night misself, so I'm gonna head dat way now. I'll be lettin' ya know if I find anything."
"Indeed, any who wish to involve themselves feel free to do so now. I have other matters to attend to as well. My thanks for your attention and patience. I wish you good fortune in the Hunt." Adamos stepped fully out of the circle as the Tribe began to buzz with talk, anticipating the search for Rygnar, former Blademaster of the Ironsong Tribe and founding member as well.