gorehowl | Second

Entry tags:

Second

[On Garrosh's first day he learned quite a bit. Not what the people of this enclosure seemed to want him or expect him to learn, but he learned all the same. The people here were powerful, but listless. Strong, but weak in spirit. Or perhaps, their spirit was not channeled properly. It was not focused. They were warriors, but they must be from soft worlds. Worlds which has not gone through the likes of his own. The Nexus War. The Lich King. The Shattering. Azeroth was a land of conflict, and it forged its people - particularly the Horde - towards one purpose: war. Those who he had talked to here clearly feared war, and that fear prevented them from making the logical conclusions he had beginning to draw. They had told him the situation was complicated or delicate even as they had begun to rot in apathy.

He would change them.]

[Action A]
[But he couldn't do that before he knew what he had to work with. It was the dead of winter, in a climate which he was in no way used to. Still, he had survived off the land as best he could and circled around most of the barrier on the village's side of the mountains. He'd traversed some in the mountains as well, and as a result of that (plus Saleh's knife) he now sported a crudely made pouch and cloak of hides and furs. The other item he took (Silver's journal) had since been discarded near the barracks.

Because he took one of their "teleporters" (a brilliant mage's invention, more sturdy seeming than a portal, but more jarring) to the beach. In his armor and the cloak, he walks the shoreline through the cold and snow, going up onto the (stone? He approves) docks to look at the various ships there. He contemplates taking one to take to the seas, but thinks better of it. He has no crew, and it is winter. Still, he'll probably be at least contemplating boarding them if no one stops him.]

[Action B]
[Probably on a different day from his farm adventures, and pulling his cloak tight about him, Garrosh is making his way towards the farmlands. Obviously, he does not expect anything to be in season in this cold and snow, but he wants to see with his own eyes what the operation looks like.

Perhaps meet a farmer and inquire what is grown, and in what amount. Go into the barns and see the livestock. He needs to know what infrastructure already exists before he knows if his army-to-be can be fed. After all, there's no mining operations as far as he can tell, so they will need some work. He can only hope it's less than he's honestly beginning to expect.]

[Action C]
[And finally, back to the village. He has no intention of staying, but as most of the possible soldiers (he has to keep reminding himself they are indeed that, what with it being so full of humans) live here, he needs to spend some time here to know them. Know their strengths, their customs, as deplorable as they already have proved themselves to be what with the apathy inherent in this village life.

So, on this night, he makes his way into Good Spirits, again following the map, and once inside sheds his fur cloak for a hanger. He does not get out of his armor though, and did not put Gorehowl away. Let the humans see the ax and Mannoroth's tusks on his shoulders. Let them be impressed. He'll just go get a drink. He intends to socialize (that's the point of being here) but the minute he steps inside the stench of the place insults him, putting him in a foul mood. It'll be an uphill battle.]

[Run into him in any places (the docks (A), the farmland (B) or the bar (C)) as it pleases you. the timeline of this post is sort of nebulous: feel free to assume any time between now and the start of fourth wall.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I simply came to check on the farmland, to see if anything can grow in these conditions. It doesn't seem like there's much available.

[He turns away slightly.]

So there's no need for me to linger. By all means, continue with what you were doing.

Do you know that little about farming, or would there be a reason to check now, when snow covers the ground?

[He stands his ground, watching Saleh turns with narrowed eyes]

Different worlds have different crops, some of which may thrive in the winter.

But that does raise the question of why you are here.

I've never ventured to these farms before, I wanted to see what I have to work with. [Simply. In the winter, it's not super clear,but he was hoping to find some indications in the buildings]

[Saleh nods.]

Fair enough. So you have adjusted well here then?

No. I have no intention of adjusting to this land.

[This land won't shape him, he'll shape it]

[Well, that takes him by surprise. But then again, there have been a number of new arrivals who had been indignant about accepting the situation.]

...Then what do you intend to do?

I intend to master it. There are bountiful resources here, more and enough to feed and fuel an army, come spring. And there are more than enough ample soldiers. [His voice raises in volume as his lips curl into a sort of smirk] We shall see how "complicated" this situation truly is when I have new soldiers for the Horde at my back!

[Yeah, Saleh doesn't approve of this idea.]

So you intend to build an army. And then what? You do realize that the Malnosso cannot even be reached from within this barrier, do you not?

Do you realize how cowardly you sound?

Does it matter? Courageous or cowardly, I merely speak the truth.

On the other hand, do you realize how foolish you sound? If you had any knowledge of this situation, you would know how foolish this plan is.

No. I understand this situation perfectly. It's you who has been blinded by cowardice and apathy. I should cut you down right now. Maybe death will jog your spirit, seeing as how even that is temporary.

I've already experienced death in this world, and I will not repeat it.

[So yes, death has already jogged his spirit.]

But by all means, tell me what you understand of the situation.

If I attacked you, you would not have a choice! Belittle me one more time, and you'll see Death once more! There is a war at play in this world! A war for the very world itself! A war that we in this enclosure can win!

[Then he'll have to see to it that the orc doesn't attack him again, though Saleh keeps the thought to himself.]

...Hmm. Somehow I doubt you're only speaking of the Third Party. So when you war for the world itself, does it mean your greater desire is to take over this world, rather than return to your own?

You said it yourself, didn't you? We don't currently control if we go home. A war - victory - will wrest that control from the dead fingertips of our enemy, and until then make this world a haven for those who'll be loyal to our cause.

So it's true...

[It makes sense now, to an extent.]

How do you intend to reach the enemy? The barrier cannot be broken with our own hands. Will you wait for a draft or a mission?

I don't accept the barrier cannot be broken, but if I must, then yes, I will wait. There's a difference between patience [though he barely has that] and inaction. Just like the difference between war and murder.

[At last the orc makes a little bit of sense, though Saleh can still sense the overall ignorance of the situation.]

And this has been a sore test of patience. We take every opportunity to fight back, although such opportunities are few and far between. But every chance we get, we learn a little more, and knowledge is the key to victory in any situation.

Have you, mage? And when was the last time you resisted anything. [It's not a question. He assumes months. He takes two steps closer, looming over Saleh] And tell me, did you eat the food they provide, this morning? Did you sleep in the housing they provide, this morning?!

[Saleh is undaunted as the orc looms over him.]

The last draft was back in October.

[And that's not something he likes to remember.]

There's no reason not to use what they provide for us. And you, Garrosh? How many of their animals have you roasted?

None. These are wild beasts I've hunted and herbs I've picked. And what about you, Saleh? How did you treat your last forray into war?

[He doesn't go any farther with the animal topic yet.]

Hmm. I fought to survive, in spite of everything.

[And those dreaded memories are returning.]

Hah. And to survive alone, of course! The will to survive is strong, a good reason to fight, but entering a war this important with only that behind you is weak in spirit.

So put everything in the past behind you and face forward. Fair enough.

What exactly is your plan for this war, beyond gathering all of your soldiers? Do you know who all you would recruit? There are some non-combatants within this enclosure as well.