Arathi ((Story))

[Telemid]

((Having just read Dracula, I became inspired to copy the narration style into a story about my character. For those unfamiliar with the book, it's told though a series of journal entries, without actually placing us in the action itself. In other words, there's no constant narrator telling us the story, instead we get the entire story though a series of different characters involved in the action though their journal entries. I thought it was a fascinating way to tell a story, so I'll attempt to copy it here.

As always, comments and questions are welcome. Enjoy!))

The Journal of Sergeant Jonathan Harker

September 10th – My unit, or whatever’s left of it, has been resting back at Trollbane Hall for the past three days. Private Ezger’s leg is finally beginning to show signs of healing, and surprised the surgeons when he was actually able to extend it earlier. Unfortunately the morale of the rest of my squad, Private Jace and Corporal Lightbeard, remains low. It seems the only thing that can get us to smile is the fact that Lightbeard’s beard is actually black and night. “Ain’t my fault me father boinked a black-haired barmaid!” he would shout, which only made us laugh more. Although I laugh along with Ezger and Jace, a part of me feels hopelessly depressed that my best source of joy is to insult my own corporal. I doubt the other two feel the same, but they also don’t depend on him like I do. The dwarf has saved my life, and theirs, more than any of us realize.

Although it’s only our third day back from the front, I got new orders that we’re being called back up in two days time. Shockingly enough, I was also told there’d be a new band of recruits to replace the old batch we lost on that damn hill. I pray for the newbies while the old soldiers haunt my dreams. I hope they got the Archbishop’s blessings before leaving Stormwind, because Arathi Basin is a place more chaotic than the Nether itself. Light have mercy on us all.

[Telemid]

The Journal of Sergeant Jonathan Harker (Continued)

September 11th – Light bless them… four new recruits dropped in on our tents this morning. With the conscription shortages, it’s amazing that we’re getting any new recruits at all. Even more amazing is that we actually scored a medic. Unfortunately, a draenei wouldn’t have been my first choice. Even the other men who rode the wagon up here with him were keeping their distance, but so long as they all pull their weight, I’m happy to have any new additions to our squad.

The one that caught my eyes immediately was Private Peert. I may be just a boy from Old Town, but even I knew the Peerts were high class nobility. Although to be honest, she didn’t catch my eye because of her family, she caught by the simple fact of being a woman. By the way the rest of the unit was staring at her tunic, I can safely say morale has improved since yesterday. Even Ezger stopped complaining about his leg, which was a welcome change. Unfortunately it won’t be enough to get him back on the front lines with us, so while we gained 4 today, we’re losing another to injury. My guess is that Ezger will never rejoin us, and will either get sent with another unit, or shipped back home to Stormwind. Even though we need all the men we can get, I pray he gets the latter.

The second newbie is a farm boy from Westfall, Private Lombard. Not much to say about this one. Heart of gold that joined up to do his part in the war, and got stuck here… a tale I’ve heard a hundred times. Shiite with a sword, but great with a bow and arrow; says he could hit a boar 100 yards away. We’ll see how he does against orcs come tomorrow.

Then there’s our new medic… a white-skinned draenei that I can barely look at during the day because his skin is like snow in the winter. And thank the Light he’s a medic, because it’s obvious he isn’t in shape to do anything else. He can’t lift a sword, he can’t carry plate armor. It’s a miracle he can handle a shield. I can already tell that we’re going to have to keep him further back than our last medic. Pontifus was a good priest, but eventually even an orc learns to kill the healers first. This new medic, Telemid, has some big shoes to fill.

There’s no doubt in my mind that our last addition is a convict. He has the scars on his forearms, the unshaven chin, and the look of anger in his eyes. I won’t even bother to learn his name. I pray the Light takes him tomorrow in battle, and that Stormwind stops sending us criminals to replenish our ranks. I’d rather have an empty line than a man I can’t trust in my unit. Should he die tomorrow, I’ll be all too happy.

Even now I can imagine the red bandana covering his face.

[Telemid]

The Journal of Sergeant Jonathan Harker (Continued)

September 12th – We set off at the break of dawn, and to my surprise, Ezger was able to join us. Apparently our medic, whose name I’ve had no choice but to memorize because it keeps being said over, and over, and over, got to work on Ezger after I dismissed them yesterday. It seems the others went to enjoy their last day off before going into battle, but this Telemid dove straight into the business of healing. He seems like a well-enough fellow. Dedicated to his work, if nothing else. Unfortunately Lightbeard doesn’t trust him, which could be a problem in the future. We first discovered our medic tending to Ezger when the soiled bastard started cheering and shouting from the rock that’s been his bed the past three days. Damn near scared the entire camp. At first I thought it was an orc cheering, but when Lighthammer and I ran over to tend Ezger, we saw the pale-skinned draenei hovering over the leg, spilling green sparkles into the area under the bandages. I had no idea what to make of it, but the trouble with Lighthammer already started.

“Ye ain’t a priest?” my corporal asked pointedly. “No, sir,” the medic responded as he rose to his fee-… hooves, “I am a shaman.” You’d have to be blind to miss the sneer on Lightbeard’s face. I don’t trust the draenei, but as long as he keeps healing my men, I won’t complain. I can tell it’s going to take some work to make Lightbeard do the same. It’s never a good thing when you’re fighting with your own medic.

Fortunately he’ll have a couple more days to earn that trust. We’ve been assigned to stable-duty, since command still thinks Ezger’s not with us. Of course Lightbeard was none too happy about it, but it’s a lot better than getting thrown right into the mines or mill with a mostly new unit. Hopefully we’ll find a scout or two coming up from the blacksmith to give the newbies some real training. I’m curious to see how they’ll end up in a fight.

[Telemid]

The Journal of Sergeant Jonathan Harker (Continued)

September 13th – I can barely understand a word that draenei says. Whenever he speaks, his accent reminds me of Redridge gypsies, only worse. We spent our first day at the front gathered around a fire sharpening weapons, polishing armor, and talking. Standard operating procedure is to talk whenever the Horde isn’t attacking. Unfortunately that means it was another day of Ezger going on and on about nothing at all. And after our medic got him up and running again, the draenei is all he’s been talking about. Not only is it starting to try everyone else’s patience, but I’m starting to think that even the draenei is getting annoyed. One thing I’ve learned is to never annoy the medic. Hopefully Ezger doesn’t have to find out why.

However, despite Ezger’s ramblings, the draenei really is fascinating. I’ve seen one or two around Stormwind when I was on leave, but I’ve never actually talked to one, or fought with one. Amelia seems to have the most experience with the draenei, and being a noble that isn’t surprising. I spent most of the day talking to her, since it isn’t often that a noblewoman actually enlists and serves under a peasant son like me. I wouldn’t call her arrogant, but there’s definitely a formal air about her. She would talk about how her father would have diplomats and clergy over for supper, and I would pretend to know what she was talking about whenever she mentioned “tea time”. I have no idea why nobles try to make even the most remedial tasks something important. I’ve had chilled tea countless times back home, but I don’t ever remember setting aside a part of the day for it. I guess that’s why I’m not a noble.

Lightbeard sat uneasy all day. I voiced my concerns about the convict-addition to our unit, and he said he felt the same. “Picked ‘im out as soon as he strolled up, I did!” It’s reassuring to have a corporal who’s on the same page as I am. When we finally make it into an action zone, I’ll put him at our center. Certainly I’m not going to do anything to intentionally get him killed, but someone has to take most of the blows, and I’d rather lose a criminal than an innocent.

Innocent… heh…

[sonechka]

(( I -really- enjoy journal entry style stories. The limited 1st person is a viewpoint I am personally very bad at so I am always very impressed by people that use it well. Enjoying this!!))

[Telemid]

((Thank you.

It's interesting to try and tell a story about your character from the eyes of another person. I find myself walking a fine line between giving my character too much attention, and not giving him enough. But it's also interesting to take a different approach to character development. Instead of being an omniscient narrator, I have to restrict myself to only the thing that other people would notice about my character. Which really only limits me to the important stuff anyway. After all, you never learn about a character's thought process in a conversation.))

The Journal of Sergeant Jonathan Harker (Continued)

September 14th – Amazing. Simply amazing. I have seen gnomes land killing blows against tauren, and I have seen priests throw victims off a cliff, but never before have I seen anything like what I saw today. Today I’ve found someone who actually enjoys field rations, and learned that draenei really are amazing creatures. Our medic, normally left to himself became the center of attention when we were allowed to retire for lunch. Not only did he actually enjoy eating the food, but he ate three portions! Personally, I don’t understand it, and neither does anyone else, except maybe Lightbeard. But even Lightbeard traded away his food for our medic’s drink. That’s another fascinating thing about the draenei; he eats like a glutton, but doesn’t drink alcohol. Normally I find myself drinking strong ale just to get the stuff down.

While we were behind the lines for our meal, we were also told that come tomorrow, we’d be marching up against the blacksmith with 14th Arathi Battalion. Apparently our smiths are running low on supplies, and command is hoping that if we can take the blacksmith by surprise, we can pick up the tools and ore the Horde would have left behind for us. Still, no matter what the hope is, it’s never a happy moment when you have your unit fill out their wills.

At least our medic will have plenty of energy; he’s going to need it.

[Telemid]

Lord Neil Peert,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of your daughter’s death. She fought valiantly upon the fields of the Arathi Basin, but the orcs have no sense of virtue. They are nothing more than violent killing machines, and your daughter fell victim to their onslaught. Again, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform of all this, but as a member of Stormwind’s nobility, I pen this note with my own hand, a symbol of my service to the people and the lords of Stormwind City.

Her body was, regrettably, not recovered from the enemy. I can only express my regrets and apologies for this failure, and I cannot hope to know the pain this news brings you.

In her will, she left all of her possessions to House Peert, and as current lord of said house, all that is hers is now yours. Although I’m sure gold and possessions are the last thing on your conscious right now.

Rest assured, my lord, that the Horde will pay for the death of your loved one.

Light go with you.

<Signed>
Sir Maximus Adams
September 15th

<Fin>

((I've decided to cut this story shorter than I originally intended, but only because I've turned my attention to a bigger and in my opinion better RP project. So I hope you enjoyed the little snippet of a story here, and the experiment with a new story-telling method. But rest assured, this will not be the last you hear of me! As always, feel free to leave comments and questions. ))