Raedolf blinked, then raised his head and cleared his throat. “Let’s go for a walk, shall we? I’ll talk on the way.”
How much do you know about the worgen, really. Either of you?
Good, good. And also true, Clegayne. Their freedom is one of our many goals. Do you know how the worgen ‘curse’ came to be?
I’ll start at the beginning… it will help it all make sense.
More
Over ten thousand years ago, Kaldorei civilization grew so great they paved the earth, and turned from nature. Their greed and sorcery brought the attention of the Burning Legion.
Goldrinn was among the great gods to help fight off the demonic invasion, and died to save Azeroth. Seven hundred years later, Malfurion Stormrage came to lead the kaldorei as a druidic culture. Yet demons rose up once again, and began losing to these satyr.
Linetabe listened intently, walking at ease amongst the others.
Inspired by the memory of the wolf god, many druids turned to Goldrinn, who gifted them his four legged form. Yet as powerful and efficient as it was, Malfurion Stormrage grew scared and jealous of the form, and banned it.
[Linetabe] Typical elves, banning what they fear even if its natural.
To better control the wolf form, their leader - Ralaar Fangfire - set up a meeting. He had his followers bring the fang of Goldrinn, and the priestess a staff. The priestess prayed, and Elune herself forged the two into one, as a Scythe.
The Elves call it the Scythe of Elune. We call it the Fang of the Father.
Their prior form had been that of wolves, drawing purely from Goldrinn alone. Yet when they focused on the Scythe, they took not the form of wolves, or elves, but something in between. The perfect balance.
And so it was. They loved their new form, a literal gift from the goddess, and a blessing for use against the demons. In a single battle, they turned the tide against the Satyr.
Yet Malfurion did not thank them. He instead called them freaks, abominations, and war broke out between the two.
Malfurion took the Scythe, and used it to banish the worgen to the Emerald Dream.
[Clegayne] Must’ve failed, eh?
[Linetabe] A druid of Malfurion’s strength would not have failed.
Well, their ‘eternal’ banishment didn’t last forever, if that’s what you mean.
Nine thousand three hundred years passed, and the Scythe of Elune resurfaced in Ashenvale. Elune bestowed the scythe of a sentinel there, so the worgen may cull the demons of felwood.
At the same time, Gilneas’ wall was being attacked by the scourge, and Genn Greymane ordered his royal mage to summon the worgen with the spell he’d found.
This mage - Arugal - summoned the worgen, including Ralaar Fangfire, known then as Alpha Prime. Now finding himself in Gilneas, Alpha Prime would not be enslaved by the Gilneans, and took Shadowfang Keep as his own.
The sentinel heard of the Gilnean mage, and attempted to visit him to compare notes about the worgen. Yet she only made it this far, to Duskwood. When the Scythe was discovered here by the humans, they unknowingly unleashed more of the trapped worgen unto Duskwood, beginning the Nightbane Pack.
Linetabe had never really been beyond Elwynn and Stormwind so the native worgeness knew not of Gilneas or Arugal. These are names she didn’t know the significance of but that… that was interesting.
[Clegayne] Can worgen switch between packs? Seems uncommon.
Aye. And they did. Alpha Prime’s “Bloodfang Pack” and the Nightbane Pack here were quick to make contact, and both worked to grow in number by initiating humans, hoping to find the Scythe and free the rest of their brothers.
In fact, Alpha Prime’s pack grew so large, he lead them to attack Gilneas, aiming to bite as many as possible. To go slowly and initiate the willing is better, but the Forsaken grew stronger by the day, and Kaldorei had arrived in Gilneas to kill him.
His plan, bite as many as possible, get the Scythe and free his kin, and march on Darnassus to kill Malfurion Stormrage.
[Clegayne] Easier said than done.
This never came to pass. The Kaldorei arrived in Gilneas, and Alpha Prime fell in battle. Yet his teachings live on among his people, here in Duskwood and in the north. We realize the purity of the worgen form, all its gifts and benefits over human living.
[Clegayne] Arthas would’ve loved to have such a primal and powerful knight in his service. Instead, the bastard was stuck with the likes of me.
Linetabe snarled at the sound of that name. Even here she knew of his betrayal, the bells rang for a long time.
Well, you’re right. Tales of the worgen spread so far, that even the Lich King heard of their strength, and the Wolf Cult’s potential. He sent his death princes to Silverpine forest to retrieve Archmage Arugal’s body - who’d been killed by the forsaken - and those of several worgen.
[Clegayne] You don’t say?
Clegayne rolled his eyes.
But as for the Nightbane and Bloodfang… we live on in the wild. Not because we’re mindless, but because it’s better. Better than civilization’s pollution, disease, and poverty. Healthier for us, and for nature. It would be healthier for the world itself if all humans and elves were worgen. That is how strongly we believe, and why we share the curse… the Purity… with the worthy.
[Linetabe] There is a balance to it all, just as the humans build their cities on what remains of the wilderness, so too must it fight back through us.
This is true. It would not be the first time the wild has called on us for aid, to deliver justice upon those that pollute its waters or plow its trees.
[Linetabe] Though that would be a sight to see, all humans and Kaldorei bearing the Purity.
Aye. That is the end goal. Free the dreamers, share the gift, and purity the land. That is what we stand for.
Is that something you can get behind, Clegayne?
[Clegayne] Will the blood of those who oppose our creed flow like a never-ending river?
There is no mercy for any who threaten my people.
[Clegayne] My blade is yours to command, master.
Ooookay don’t make it weird.
[Linetabe] You have my blades, Alpha.
[Clegayne] Get your own phrases, pup.
Raedolf looked to Linetabe to ask the same, but had his answer before he spoke the question.
[Linetabe] Plural, deathless one.
[Clegayne] How shall we prove our undying loyalty to the pack?
Two rules I will say right now… no killing our own people, and no biting the unworthy and unwilling.
[Linetabe] I’ll be sure to use the flat of my blade then and thoroughly vet potential recruits.
Our rite of passage - we call the Righteous Kill - demands you prove your loyalty by killing a human enemy. Of which we have plenty, with the realm of Stormwind right next door.
[Linetabe] Any requirements as to this kill?
I name the target. And if you use your bare hands, I’ll give you a high five.
Clegayne waited patiently for his orders.
Linetabe nodded with a small grunt. No using her weapons, overly large and effective they may be.
I will consult Packleader Marus, see who’s next on his list that needs dead. I will get back to you two with your targets another night.
[Clegayne] Perhaps, in the mean time, we should pay a visit to that gathering in the woods.
Linetabe nodded, popping her neck a bit. "Assuming they are still around.
Clegayne perked his ears up as he stared at Raedolf, awaiting permission to move on the gathered group in the woods.
Raedolf hums in thought. "Are you going with him, Stormclaw?" he ask, looking to the warder.
[Linetabe] A large gathering in armor and weapons near our borders would need to be checked out.
Raedolf frowned, seeming unsettled, but relented and gave a nod. "Fine, but only approach as a pair, and do not start a fight you cannot win."
Linetabe nodded, “Don’t worry, Alpha. We got it.”
Linetabe went to all fours, digging her claws into the ground and bolting off. She knew exactly where they were…