Legacy of Oblivion

Ahh, Summertime. The long hot days of summer where air conditioning is an imperative, picnics are commonplace, and everywhere you see buff bronze bodies exhibiting the results from tireless hours spent in the gym to get the perfect look.

Or in our case, you see Curil.

We here at LoO would like to remind you to be careful before fall arrives. Please be sure that if you must be outside in the heat, be sure to drink plenty of liquids.

Of course, the management doesn’t recommend drinking anything that Matelda gives you. Ever.

As tends to happen during this time of year, someone you know may venture forth from their place of residence to embark upon something known as a “vacation”. When this happens, they may ask that you watch over their precious belongings to make sure no harm comes to them. If you are ever asked to do this, it is a great responsibility and care must be taken so that nothing is out of place when the homeowners return.

Be sure that if you must bring items into the home, be sure to clean up after yourself and not leave any trash behind for the owners to have to pick up when they return. They will be returning with many piles of dirty laundry and purchased items, and any work you do not leave for them will be appreciated!

As homeowners may treasure their furniture (some of which may be priceless antiques), be sure to take care if you must move something in the house. Attention to detail is always important!

Of course, if your neighbors own animals, additional complexity is thrown into the mix. You must spend valuable time befriending the animals to ensure them you do not mean any harm.

As always, when housesitting, be sure to ask advice from those you know as respectable individuals. This will ensure that you have happy homeowners upon their return, and will earn their trust and respect.

Of course, during a Loony summertime, love may flare….

Or tempers may flare….

But if you keep your cool, you will be able to survive yet another Loony summer. And who knows, you may just survive without Zug training you.

Or not.

And now, your moment with Zug.

The zeppelin had taken a strange route from Undercity, almost doubling the expected travel time. Stormwind and Ironforge, cities of the enemy Alliance, were given an even wider birth than usual, then the craft turned sharply, cutting straight across Duskwood to the coast. When asked, the zeppelin operator could only offer the little he knew: Increased security was being enforced throughout the Horde for unknown reasons, and zeppelins were forbidden to take the same route twice in a day. It was not a cause for too much concern; this happened from time to time.

All mounts and pets tethered to the deck were restless by the time they docked safely at Grom’Gol Base Camp on the western shore of Stranglethorn Vale, and the tropical heat did nothing to help the mood. Relieved passengers and animals ran down the zeppelin ramp as if someone had announced the craft was about to explode. Sabe and Thundrax did likewise, leading their mounts to the crowded outpost below.

On the ground, an angry mob had gathered. Curious, they led their animals over to the outskirts of the group, trying to figure out what the commotion was all about. Thundrax could hardly help but notice the two chimera curled up in a nearby nest, eyes darting about wildly over their massive paws. Reaching out, he placed his hand on one’s head. It shuddered at his touch but did not pull away, looking up at him wide-eyed. A low howl reverberated eerily from its throat.

“That’s odd. Something has frightened them,” Thundrax said, scanning his eyes over the other wind riders. Every nest was full of chimera huddled together.

A troll standing nearby overheard his remark and turned around to face them. His hands gestured angrily. “They’re not letting anyone go out on the wind riders today,” he told them.

Before they could ask him about it, a familiar female voice called out angrily above the murmurs of the restless crowd.

“What do you mean, you cannot give us passage north?” The voice said incredulously. “It will take weeks to get anywhere!”

Sabe and Thundrax exchanged a look.

The exasperated voice of the wind rider master shot back above the crowd. “I’ve told you, I can’t let you go out on them today. You’re just going to have to figure out another way to get to your destination.”

Angry shouts from the crowd erupted at the master’s words and they could no longer hear the conversation over the din.

Thundrax handed the reigns of his mount to Sabe and forced his way to the front of the commotion. Some of the shouting had died down when he reached the front and he worked his way over to the female who was still trying to negotiate with the wind rider master. Ancient arcane magics kicked up the dust around her feet, swirling her robes angrily. A male priest stood behind her, glowering over her shoulder.

“These are your animals,” the priest was protesting. “How is it that you can’t control your own animals? Bat Handlers don’t have these problems.”

The wind rider master narrowed his eyes. “Listen, Holy Man –”

“I am Forsaken!” The priest shouted back his offense.

“Fine then, Unholy Man,” the master sneered, “the chimera won’t go no matter what I do. An hour ago, one of them reached Burning Steppes, bloody and riderless. Two more came back the same way, completely spooking the rest of the brood. We don’t know what attacked them and, even if it were safe for you to go, I couldn’t convince one of them to take you any farther than the Stranglethorn border.”

(more…)