Shadow Trails in Azeroth

After some supplies at the military camp in Lakeside Town, Blake and Nathanos embarked on a journey to the Dusk Forest to complete the Pope's instructions.

“This is my first mission as a Templar Assassin, and I don’t want to end in a bad failure, thus leaving a bad mark on my work resume.

So you'd better take me seriously, my chief ranger general, Nathanos. "

The pirate was riding on his hell horse, and while throwing a piece of cheese to the little fishman, he said to the ranger riding an Alliance war horse next to him:

"By the way, this may also be my last trip in the Eastern Continent, and then I will return to the sea that belongs to me. Do you want to follow me for a spin in the Endless Sea? Maris.

I am planning an exploration outside the civilized area. What’s great is that I can also meet an elf lady. "

"I am seasick."

The human ranger, who was carrying a golden phoenix battle bow, turned around and made a poor excuse.

Just kidding of course.

He will be busy now.

From the moment he entered this dark forest, the ranger spread out his senses and vigilantly observed every sign of movement. His pet dog, Barren, also kept running, not sparing every bush.

That is to drive away possible "prey" for the owner.

Of course Black knew what Nathanos was doing. He yawned and said without interest:

"You can't find it like this. The soul beast's perception is several times stronger than that of ordinary beasts. It has already noticed you before you see it or hear it.

This creature can switch between virtual and real forms, like the most advanced stalker.

If it doesn't want to be seen by you, you won't be able to find it. "

"Do you have any idea?"

Maris asked.

The pirate winked, showed a controlled smile, and said in a sinister tone:

"Get down to business first. I have a way in this dark forest. After we save Archbishop Natalie Serling from corruption and darkness, I will ask the eyes in the darkness to help you.

Believe me, there is nothing in this place that it cannot sense. "

"it?"

Nathanos whistled, calling back the desolation that was hiding in the bushes, and asked in a low voice:

"A beast?"

"Well, maybe 'He' is a more appropriate word to describe it."

The pirate changed his name, making the ranger wince.

He immediately looked around cautiously and said:

"I have never heard of any indigenous gods here in Stormwind Kingdom, and there are no trolls here. There are many in Stranglethorn Valley, but they are separated by a whole mountain range.

I have read "The General History of the Kingdom of Stormwind". Ever since King Baratheon defeated the gnolls and wiped out several troll clans more than 80 years ago, the barbarians from Stranglethorn Vale have never harassed the borders of the Kingdom of Stormwind. . "

"So, you all have the wisdom of mortals."

Blake snorted and said proudly:

"It didn't exist before, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist now. Speaking of which, the last time I came here was more than a month ago. I don't know how my friends are doing here."

"Shh!"

Nathanos suddenly made a silent movement on his horse, moved his ears, and whispered:

"There is movement in the forest. Some people are approaching. Fifty yards away, there are about five or six people hiding behind the trees. They are observing us. They are not wearing armor or carrying weapons."

"Your perception."

The pirate raised his eyebrows for a moment.

This Nathanos is amazing, his perception is almost as good as that of a humanoid radar.

By the way, when he was hunting the Burning Blade Sword Master in the Hillsbrad Hills, he seemed to be the first to discover the orcs hiding in the Wind Steps.

"Everyone has something they are good at."

The ranger smiled and held the bow in his backhand, but the pirate held his wrist.

Blake had no intention of hiding the surprise attack, but was very straightforward and took out a pistol specially used to fire flares from his arms.

This was something he got from the dwarves in the Valley of the Kings.

Well, I came here for free, no money was given.

He raised his hand and pulled the trigger in the direction indicated by the ranger. A dwarf-made flare roared into the darkness, and then burst into light the next moment.

It illuminated the dark woods dozens of yards away and startled a few humans in tattered cloaks hiding there.

The ranger whistled, and Desolation roared and rushed towards the group of people, but faster than the obedient dog was the ghost wolf Frostclaw who appeared from the edge of the light and darkness of the flare.

Two canine creatures, one behind the other, blocked the retreat of the five or six people, forcing them to stop where they were and not dare to move.

"There's something faintly powerful about them."

Nathanos jumped off his horse and followed Black towards the group of people. He put his left hand on the battle ax at his waist and whispered:

"The sound of their footsteps and breathing was weakened in the darkness, as if covered with a layer of gauze. If they hadn't whispered just now, it would have been difficult for me to detect them from this distance."

"Um."

Blake nodded without saying much. As he approached the group of people, he noticed an old man in rags holding an obviously carved cane.

The carving on the top of the wooden staff was clearly a poor image of old Garni.

When the two of them approached, the old man, although he was also very scared, still opened his arms and bravely protected the companions behind him. The pirate also noticed that these people made holy symbols for themselves out of wood.

It was made very roughly, like a round badge with different advice engraved on it. It was pinned to the tattered clothes on the chest and placed in the most conspicuous position - which meant that they were proud of it.

"Old Ghani is developing well. It is indeed the Loa of the poor."

"Don't be afraid, we are friendly forces."

Black waved his hand to call back the ghost wolf, Frostclaw took a few steps back, and the virtual and solid body disappeared into the darkness like the gradient of light.

The pirate took something out of his bag, put it in his hand, and showed it to those people. It was an authentic statue of Old Garni, brought from Zandalar Island.

The carving craftsmanship alone is much more exquisite than the things handmade by these followers of Old Ghani.

Of course, Old Garni hates luxury goods, so this statue is made of a piece of rotten wood. Although it is beautiful and can be called a work of art, it is actually still garbage.

"Ah, the companion of the god of the poor! Our companion."

When the leader of the old man saw the statue, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. The fearful people behind him also recited one of the long list of shameful priests of Old Gani in a low voice.

"Yes, I am a fellow traveler of Old Garni."

Blake made a gesture and said:

“It also said before that it would give me the honorary title of ‘Great Scavenger’, but as you can see, I am a person who is indifferent to fame and wealth, so I declined this honor.

Are you all followers of Old Ghani? "

"No, we are the humble ones who are protected by the God of the poor."

The old man leaned on his rather badly carved cane and corrected him seriously:

"Lord Garni does not need believers to serve it. It is a benevolent and kind god. It protects us, and we praise Lord Garni's kindness."

While talking, the old man was also looking at Blake's attire.

When he noticed the pirate hat on his head, the eyepatch on his left eye, and the evil-looking skull flask on his waist, the old man bowed and said:

"Your Excellency, the Great Scavenger, I have heard from the kid Morgan about the kind-hearted pirate who led him to find Lord Garni.

You should be the good person in the divinely inspired story.

Please allow me to humbly express my most sincere gratitude to you on behalf of all the refugees in the entire Dusk Forest. "

"I accept your thanks, but as I said, I am a person who is indifferent to fame and fortune."

Blake also corrected him seriously:

"So just call me Pirate, or Black. Don't use the glorious title of 'Great Scavenger'. My actions are not worthy of such praise."

"You are indeed as gentle and approachable as Morgan said. You are worthy of being a warrior praised by Lord Garni, and a protector and guide for all poor people."

The old man praised again, and the pirate smiled and nodded.

This damn conversation left the ranger next to him stunned.

The refugees in Dusk Forest have a new faith, which is surprising enough. This is the traditional parish of the Holy Light Church.

The strangest thing is that this group of refugees believe in a god of the poor who sounds unfair. And from what they heard, the God of the Poor and Black were still very good friends.

A mortal friend of a god?

Nathanos looked at Black with strange eyes, and a strange thought came to his mind: Black and the God of the Poor are friends, and he and Black are friends.

So rounding it off, it’s equivalent to him being a friend of the God of the Poor?

Emmm

Although it feels good to have a relationship with a god.

But thinking about it carefully, I always feel that this matter itself is a bit weird, and it doesn't seem to be something to be happy about.

During the time that Maris was thinking, Black had reached a consensus with the humble people protected by Garni, and they invited Black and Nathanos to rest in their "Scavengers' Holy Land".

By the way, I summoned Old Garni there to ask about the current situation in the Twilight Forest.

"This is all the blessing of Master Togani. We searched for garbage for it in the forest as a tribute, and Master Togani accepted the tribute and guided us on the way to obtain the supplies."

The old man, who was holding a badly shaped wooden stick, enthusiastically introduced Blake to what had happened in the Twilight Forest during the month.

He said in a joyful and gratified tone:

"Lord Garni has divided a dangerous area in the forest, where terrible things are entrenched. It guides us away from danger, and established three prosperous settlements in Crow Ridge, Rotten Orchard and here.

Ah, since the orcs invaded this land, we have spent several years in the dark and hungry, but those pains are over.

For the first time in several years, we had enough to eat and found abundant supplies that could be used in the forest that had become dangerous.

Our children no longer have to fear the dark, and we no longer have to endure displacement. "

"everything will get better."

Nathanos looked at the haggard and miserable appearance of these refugees, and he comforted them in a gentle voice:

"The orcs have been defeated by the Alliance. King Varian Wrynn will return to the Kingdom of Stormwind soon. The lords of this place will also return. You will be safe, you will get your land back, and you will live in peace. .”

The ranger's words were made with good intentions.

But after he finished speaking, he found that his eyes were cold.

Whether it was the pirates or the humble people whom Gani protected, they all looked at him with strange eyes. Blake even reached out his hands in despair and covered his eyes.

Probably because he thought Nathanos said something stupid and stupid.

"What's wrong?"

The ranger asked without knowing what was going on:

"Did I say something wrong? Isn't it a good thing that the king and lord are back?"

"Haha, it's a good thing, it's all a good thing."

The old man holding the wooden stick smiled perfunctorily.

The moment they turned around, Blake and Nathanos clearly heard the old man curse the local "hometown dialect" softly.

The refugees didn't say a word on the rest of the way until they came to their "holy place."

In the ruins of the manor that was burned by the flames, a crude village prototype has been built out of wood. The most eye-catching thing is that in the center of the village, there is a large garbage dump.

Although there are all kinds of garbage piled up, there is no smell at all.

In front of the garbage dump, there is also a shabby shrine made of sawn wood.

Black stepped forward, took out a large bag of gray garbage that he had stolen from the Dark Iron Dwarfs in Shadowforge City, and summoned Old Garni with ease.

In the familiar yet strange, long-pitched cheers, Old Garni appeared on the garbage heap, raised his paws, and greeted the pirates:

"Hey, my most powerful scavenger is here again, and this time he brought such a strange sparkle to old Garni. Well, it exudes a burning smell. It seems that you recently went to explore the volcano. lock up.

Um?

Why did you bring new people?

Look at the gorgeous gadgets on his body, look at the confidence and pride radiating from his face and heart, and look at the silly curiosity in his eyes.

He is different from you. He and old Ghani are not from the same place.

He does not belong to this holy land of humble people. "