The troll stepped upon the broken ceramic disc, gazing up at the temple before him. The crisp, humid air surrounded him and enveloped his body. He stepped forward, beginning to make his way into the entrance of the temple, the lit braziers on both sides of the doorway heated the way into the jaws of the tiger.
This is where he became who he was, he was born by exiles, imprisoned by Sethrak, and fought his way out of their wretched grasp. Every decision he made in the past had lead him back here. Heād traveled from filth and muck, and became the Chosen of the Loa.
"Handuzo." a booming voice came from the center of the temple, a strange mist surrounding the troll as he raised his gaze from the ground to lock eyes with his Loa.
"I see you have answered my call, as per usual."
"Of course, great one. What have you called me here for?"
Kimbul sat, tilting his head at Handuzo with a slight frown sewn across his face.
"That can wait, for now - I see that something troubles you."
Handuzo scratched his head, averting his gaze from the Loa, he frowned behind his mask, attempting to divert the conversation.
āDāere is notāing dāat troubles me, great one, I have only come to answah your call.ā
āMy ācallā includes this, now tell me.ā
āI- it-- it is notāing.ā
Kimbul extended his hind legs up from his seated position, walking down the steps of his elevated platform as he slowly began walking toward Handuzo.
"There is a reason I chose you to become the greatest amongst your kind. You showed great promise, courage, knowledge, honor, and strength." He paused in front of Handuzo. "Now, I see your hope fading, what is it that troubles you?"
Handuzo dropped wearily to his knees, placing his hands on the strings of his mask as he dipped his head low, sliding the mask off of his face as he looked up to the great tiger god, the spirit fire globules fading from his shoulders.
Handuzoās face had changed drastically over the course of just a few months, his left eye had become dim, the flesh surrounding his eye was soft and darker in color than the rest of his skin. He dropped the mask to the floor, the eye sockets of the mask dimmed, a blue flame still slightly noticeable within the circles. The veins of his arms were unnaturally colored, the same spirit fire that had lit his mask was coursing through his veins. Of course, it wasnāt as visible, and one would have to look closely to realize. He felt himself grow weaker as the seconds ticked by slowly. Kimbul sighed deeply, sitting in front of Handuzo with a look of sympathy.
They were in this exact position before, twenty-two years ago. The two sat, Handuzo in a state of weakness,just like heād felt after escaping the Sethrak.
āIād hoped this wouldnāt happen to you.ā Kimbul spoke, āYou were not the first.ā
Handuzo frowned, unsure of what he was hearing, he picked up the mask, looking into the eyes of his gift.
No, not a giftā¦ a burden.
āWhat do you mean by dāis?ā
āThere was another like you, but he hadnāt shared the same goals. The mask you hold once belonged to another. He was my prized follower before the Naga attacked my temple. The fateful day when Iād returned to see my temple in ruin, I stumbled across the mask.ā Kimbul looked down at the mask Handuzo held. āHe was slaughtered, not only by the Naga, but something else.ā
Handuzo continued listening, focusing intently on the eyes of the mask.
"The mask hadnāt contained the immense power it did now, only my own. He wasnāt the chosen of the Loa like you, but rather the individual Iād picked to become my most prized follower. Heād told me days before the attack that he felt weak, he felt as if the power he held was tearing his soul asunder. There wasā¦ nothing I could do for him. When the sea witch Mepjila cursed my followersā spirits to stay within the world, I could not find his - I only found fragments of his soul, shattered by the power heād held.ā
Handuzo closed his eyes, hearing whispers in his ear from a mysterious force. He shut them out, raising his head to Kimbul.
āSo dāat is all.ā He let go of the mask, the whispers ceased. āI am doomed to dāis burden?ā He said in a flat voice.
āMortals live and die, it does not mean they are devoid of purpose.ā Kimbul placed his massive paw over the mask, covering it. āYours, Handuzo, is greater than most. I am afraid thereās nothing I can do for you, you will eventually die - as all mortals do. So tell me, before this happens, what do you hope for?ā
The corner of Handuzoās eyes began becoming wet, tears. Heād thought about this for countless hours, yet he was not sure.
āI do not know, great one. I have made many mistakes, ones dāat I cannot cover up. Serving deā Loa has been my greatest honor, and my greatest burden. I feel deā essence of my soul crying out for aid, I have been deā chosen for long, yet only recently I feel dāis burden weighing on me.ā
Months ago, Handuzo had met with Akunda and a few other Loa, they had told him about the encroaching threat of the Naga, knowing that the threat has already come to Zandalarās shores. This was a meeting that had a drastic effect on Handuzoās life, as it is what started the decay of his body and soul.
A Month Ago
Akunda stepped around the circle of his temple, accompanied by his most devout followers. Handuzo stood in the middle of a circle, empowered by strange runes, crackling with the power of lightning.
āAre you prepared to take this burden, Handuzo?ā Akunda said, his deep voice echoing throughout the small temple. The Loa of Storms stepped into the circle with Handuzo, channeling his power throughout his scales.
āI am always ready, great Loa.ā
āThen let it be finished, once we complete this ritual, you may never be the same, you will become one with me for a small time, so that I may grant you clarity of the world we are on.ā
Handuzo prepared himself, he hadnāt thought it would be that bad.
The followers of Akunda waved their arms and chanted in Zandali, thunder crackling inside of the temple, a small storm cloud forming on the ceiling, crackling with power. After a short moment, the clouds struck down with lightning, Handuzo rose in the air, a strange mist and crackling lightning enveloped his body, his eyes glowing with power. Instantly, Handuzoās mind surged around the world, he saw the entirety of Azeroth for a short moment, channeling in on a certain spot in the ocean. His mind went under the water, the depths shining brightly as his mind expanded, showing him a vast, destroyed empire. He saw legions of Naga surging with weapons, various creatures heād never thought possible of existing, strange rituals, and the one known as Queen Azshara. The empire was destroyed, yet more powerful than any mortal army heād ever seen.
Handuzoās mind snapped back to reality, dropping several feet back onto the floor, gasping for air as he felt his body weaken. He felt as if he was being choked from the inside, his mask surged with power heād only felt a few times, but this time it felt as if it was killing him. He scratched the hard stone ground with his nails, gasping and holding his chest, he threw off his mask, the spirit fire of the mask continued to surge within his eyes, he was nearly going to pass out. The followers of Akunda ceased their chanting, Akunda turning to Handuzo - his followers rushing to him with sustenance.
āHanduzo, speak to me.ā Akunda said, the lightning in his scales fading. Handuzo could not speak, he was still gasping for air in dry, raspy breaths, the hot desert air from the outside filled his lungs, he felt as if he was made of clay, drying to become a motionless creation.
āHanduzo.ā Akunda said again, the voice booming through his ears, yet nothing was being understood. Handuzo attempted to hold onto reality, but he passed out, into a state of nothingness.
Present
āOn dāat day, I felt my soul tear out of my body, and I became weak, weaker dāen I have evah felt in my life.ā Handuzo looked up to Kimbul, his eyes filled with tears, tightening his hands into fists. āI wish for notāing but deā accursed Naga to be slain, wiped out from deā world. I will do anytāing in my powah to avenge your fallen followahs, even if I must slay legions of dāem myself. Only dāen, will I have fulfilled my purpose, and only dāen, will I peacefully die.ā
Kimbul looked at Handuzo with pity, raising his paw off of the mask, the spirit fire had faded. āYou cannot do this yourself.ā
āI know dāat, I have my organization to help me.ā
āYou are not strong enough in your current state, Handuzo, nor is your organization.ā Kimbul slid the mask over to Handuzo. āThe strength of your organization lies with you, you are the leader, and while you are weak, they are weak. You may have some of the Loa on your side, but they will not be there in the flesh. I have a proposition for you.ā Kimbul turned, going back up to his elevated platform and sitting, looking back down to Handuzo. āYou will need to accept them.ā
Handuzo looked shocked, he knew what Kimbul meant, he slid his hands over to the mask, picking it up.
āBut dāey are not like us! Dāey cannot worship deā Loa like we canā¦ā
Kimbul grinned. āBut they can learn. They may not be able to do it to the extent that the trolls can, but they will aid you, so long as they respect us, they hold a place in your organization.ā
Handuzoās face flushed, he felt as if he was wrong his entire life. āVery well dāen, I will consult deā trolls witāin my organization.ā He looked up to Kimbul with a face of determination. āDeā Naga will know deā wrath of deā world."
Handuzo slid the mask over his head, the spirit fire exploding brighter than it had in months, he stood up, walking over to the wall heād placed his sword at. "Dāey will falter beneatā deā might of deā Loa.ā