(story from last night’s Tall Tales and Epic Fables)
I will tell a story; I am sure is more from Highmountain than from Mulgore.
We do not hear much about the Sky Father, only the Earth Mother, and Mu’sha and her brother An’she. Some here may not know of the Earth Mother at all, but the Shu’halo revere her and know that it was she who gifted the Shu’halo with life with a mere wave of her arms. But of the Sky Father, there is hardly any knowledge or story…. Or is there?
Lohkawas closes his eyes briefly and gathering himself then softly begins to speak
One day, the Skyhorn Tribe gathered on one of the highest summits of their land. It was a time of great strife, despite the unity under Huln Highmountain after the Legion was vanquished in the War of the Ancients, with Deathwing roamed the skies of the Sky Father and caused volcanoes and disruption to the lands below.
I am sure you know of the Skyhorn’s love of their Great Eagles and their love of aerial combat. It should not surprise any that we think of the Sky Father as much as we praise the Earth Mother. As the Skyhorn Tribe stood atop the summit, their Great Eagles close at hand, all were ready to fight again as soon as any spied the enemy.
Chieftain Skyhorn, not Lasan Lohkawas grins knowingly for this is a story long in the past, gazed out and breathed deeply of the fresh air all around. “Sky Father keep your lands clear that we may see the approach of our enemy,” the Chieftain sighed and on either side his braves nodded and murmured in agreement. Some traced the blue warpaint that was a sign of their love for the blue skies they dominated while others caressed gifts and relics of good fortune and protection that hung from necklaces or their belt; woven by loved ones to keep them safe in the coming battles.
“We barely survived the Legion, Chieftain. With our numbers, what more can we do?” asked one brave.
“We do what Highmountain asked. We watch for The Destroyer. We send word to him with our swiftest riders and we stay alive,” Chieftain Skyhorn replied. He ordered the swiftest Eagle-Riders to mount and stood solidly before his braves, with no sign of weakness or fear.
It did not take long, and the size of the mighty Deathwing was such they saw him from afar with ease. A swift chop of the Chieftain’s hand was all it took for the two messenger riders to take to the air, flying to the newly founded Thunder Totem.
The rest of the riders followed their Chieftain’s lead and mounted their eagles, and such was the speed of Deathwing the Destroyer that they barely had time to take to the air when he came upon them already in pursuit of the messengers.
The Chieftain flew straight for into the path of the mighty one, trusting his Eagle’s swiftness to keep them both free of the claws. They flew so close; the Chieftain felt the heat of the molten heart and felt a drop of magma and fire land and sizzle on his forearm. The Chieftain looked aghast at the metal plating now affixed to the beast and Deathwing was slowed momentarily, allowing the messengers to fly free.
The Skyhorn scattered to give the Destroyer more targets, trusting in their Eagles and all calling to the Sky Father for fast winds…. And giving thanks when they felt the wind at their backs, though the winds could not possibly blow in that many directions at the same time
The wizened Chieftain knew it would not be enough though, and his Eagle beneath him answered his commands with impeccable precision, dancing in front of Deathwing, dodging and ducking talon, teeth, and blasting heat. Soon, the Chieftain and his Eagle were all Deathwing cared about.
The rest of the flight made it safe to Thunder Totem, falling in as Highmountain, himself, came down from Snowblind Mesa wielding the Hammer of Khaz’goroth and followed by Drogbar freed from Deathwing’s dominance. He was given an Eagle immediately and as Highmountain leapt into the air, the Skyhorn followed as one, heading straight for their Chieftain and Deathwing.
It is said among the Skyhorn that Sky Father himself reached out a hand and slowed Deathwing’s advance, confusing the Destroyer with changing winds and allowed Highmountain and all those that followed him to reach the massive dragon swiftly, but not swiftly enough as a claw finally batted their Chieftain from the skies…
The rest of the story is well known. Huln Highmountain used the Hammer of Khaz’goroth and defeated Deathwing causing him to settle in a deep slumber. But he needed time to free the Drogbar slaves, who had built the armor Deathwing wore.
The Chieftain’s body was burned, and his ashes scattered to the winds so that he would be one with the Sky Father ever more.
And now you know what blood runs through Chieftain Lasan Skyhorn, that he never backs down and is always ready to take to the skies, as are all of us from the Skyhorn Range. We will fly the winds of our Sky Father and he will look after us.