Shupashupa
This morning I returned to the Throne of Elements to collect the sapta. I had spent the last couple days, living at Golth’s house; meditating, trying to find inner peace and striving to listen to the elements and spirits around me.
As the day wore on, heading toward sunset, Gorezug and Mayune appeared at the entry, rapping on the door frame. I motioned for them to enter the house, “Welcome Gorezug and Mayune! Thank you for offering to do this.”
“Lok'tar, sister. It is an honor.” His deep voice reassuring.
I turned to Mayune, "It was very generous of you to offer up this house. I can understand why Golth chose this location.”
“You honor his memory sister by being here as you begin your journey. Golth also walked two paths as you are. I think he would be pleased. And we are glad to share these first steps with you.”
"I have the sapta, a mat to lie on; is there anything else we should do to prepare?"
The Spirit Champion thought a moment, “Hmmm, some incense wouldn't hurt. Although, it is only a rumor that incense helps at all.”
Gorezug looked sideways at me, keeping the conversation light, “Are you eager, sister? This is a noble and proud thing you are doing.”
“Dabu, and a bit nervous as well. I am glad to have you here. I hope my ancestors are pleased.”
“That is natural, but I assure you everything will be alright. Your ancestors obviously have a purpose for you.” Gorezug looked thoughtful a moment, “There used to be incense stored in the main building. We should be able to get some from the matron there.”
“I do not know that I will ever fully be able to follow this path...But I must try.”
“Dabu Shupa. Just hear out the ancestors. They will contact you tonight. And when they do, you must find out their purpose."
Gorezug picked up a clay bowl from the table. Putting the incense into the bowl, he continued, "It could simply be that they are honored by your battle prowess and they wish aid you during combat. Or it could be that they have a specific calling and path for your life; some task that can only be completed by you. Face them with boldness and pride, sister. They do not choose any Orc.”
I listened intently, thinking on Gorezug's words. The time was approaching. I took a burning branch from the fire and lit the incense in the bowl; then took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, “I guess it is time, brother.”
“Dabu. Drink the sapta. If it is bitter, you might want some water.”
I shrugged, grinning inwardly, “It cannot be worse than my poisons.” I tilted the flask, drinking down the sapta with a grimace before lying down on the mat.
Mayune had been mostly quiet up to that point, leaving it to Gorezug to provide guidance, now she spoke, “Gorezug, I will watch over her body; you keep an eye on her spirit.” Mayune took a position sitting at the table, beyond my head while Gorezug hunkered down beside me, “Dabu, Sleep well, sister.”
I laid down in the center of the main room, closing my eyes and calming my breathing; using my assassin’s training to find that calm, still place. Slowly I could feel my awareness of the room fading, only to return suddenly. Looking about me, I could see the room and my clan mates, though through a watery filter. Mayune stared at my body, though Gorezug’s eyes flickered toward my spirit and gave me the briefest nod.
I looked out the southern doorway and saw an older orc, standing patiently as though waiting for me. I headed out the door, trusting my clan mates to watch over my body.
Once outside the orc spirit did not so much speak to me as motion for me to follow. He led me around Garadar, and as I looked I realized that there were more spirits walking throughout the town, watching their living counterparts; sometimes smiling, other times frowning. At one point, I saw a very elderly looking woman approach a young mother who was intent stitching leather, very gently touching her cheek and patting her shoulder. The young woman, her deep concentration broken, looked about and a sudden look of concern crossed her face. She left her stitching and moved toward the lake crying out. Her child had fallen into the waters, above her head and was thrashing about. And I understood! Though our ancestors cannot speak to all of us, they are still with us and at times will guide us, provided we take a moment and listen.
My ancestor guide moved on, out of Garadar and into Nagrand. I could see the tormented elementals, angered and agitated at the great damage done to Draenor, trying to fix what could not be undone. Before I had thought I felt their pain, but it was only whispers and echoes. Here in the spirit world it was a palpable thing, the very air crying out the ground trembling.
The spirit, ever patient watched me as I took it in. In time he indicated that we should move again. This time, his face looked more concerned his eyes sadder. We began to travel faster and faster, the scenery moving past in a blur until suddenly I was floating above a frozen waste, signs of blood and combat spread out before me. The wreckage of Wyrmrest in the distance; we were in Dragonblight. I searched about myself, but I was alone, slowly dropping to the ground. As my feet touched down I was gripped by a gut wrenching pain, doubling me over. Gritting my teeth I tried to look up and saw a huge spirit wolf charging at me. I threw up my hands trying to ward it off but the wolf locked its mighty jaws on my arm and began dragging my spirit body. My surrounding became a blur once again as my pain increased.
When I could see again, I was looking up into Gorezug’s face, his expression a mix of battle readiness and concern. His arms were pinning me to the ground. I tried to sit up but only managed to double over coughing up blood; my hands were sticky with it and my nose filled with the copper scent of it.
“Lay back sister. Mayune, can you heal her physical wounds now? Her spirit has returned…it…has fled.”
Mayune knelt close and with her hands above me she began to sing a quiet song. I began to feel the warmth of her Light working to stitch things together inside me, filling me and pulling the wounds closed.
Gorezug’s grip loosened a bit, becoming more caring than binding. Still he held me down when I again tried to sit up, “Easy sister, you are very injured. Mayune is healing your body.”
I took my bloody hand from my belly, raising it to my face, “Is it like this every time, brother?”
I could see the Spirit Champion’s eyes crinkle as he grinned, “No sister, It is not. Let Mayune finish and we will tell you what happened.”
Mayune charged her hands with Light, pressing them to my abdomen, trying to knit my flesh, “You are going to be sore for some time…but your injuries are now minor. How do you feel?”
With a few grunts, gritted teeth and a little help from Gorezug, I managed to sit up, “I...feel...better, sister. Thank you. Did something go wrong?”
Gorezug frowned deeply, “Something went very wrong on this side.”
“There was something here,” Mayune picked up the retelling, “a presence that spoke about, er, Bwonsamde? I think that was it.”
“Whoever or whatever it was, it possessed your body and attacked me!” the Spirit Champion growled. “Soon after your spirit left, the presence showed up and started talking about you dropping your guard and leaving yourself open. Do you never sleep?”
I laughed a bit despite the pain it caused, “I am a very light sleeper”
“The strange thing was,” Mayune interjected, “that I could hear it as well. The voice was definitely Trollish. He went on about having talked to Bwonsamde about you; that you have been marked or somehow sworn to him. I didn’t fully understand.
“I don’t know much about them,” the paladin continued, “but Bwonsamde is a…a loa. That’s Voodoo, primal spirits, not those of the elements. This…thing said you were marked by Death; that you would not have family, friends or Clan.”
“Mayune confirmed it was no ghost or haunting,” Gorezug picked up. “So I shifted to ghost wolf to split my vision between here and the spirit plane. That was when I saw it, like a vapor. Before I could move it entered your body, Shupa. Took you over like a puppet and drew your weapons on me.
“I regret that I had to damage you so much to make you go down, but there was no way that Mayune could purge or exorcise that thing with you swinging axes in here. He…it said something else before it vanished.” Gorezug looked troubled, “It said the more you try to walk with the spirits the more you will open yourself, giving him opportunities to possess you again.
My brow furrowed as I listened to Gorezug, "Bwonsamde?"
Gorezug grunted and continued, “I could only see it, at best, as an ethereal type being in the spirit plane; but not spirit or elemental…something dark.”
Mayune gave a small nod. “It was a follower of the Loa. Although why it used arcane and fel is beyond me... the Loa is nature, and is primal. This thing was twisted, corrupt.”
“Enough of that for now,” Gorezug looked at me, “How did your visit go with the ancestors? That could give us a clue as to what might be going on.”
"I...think it went well." I went on to tell them about what I had seen during my spirit walk. Mayune 's eyes widened a bit at the mention of my spirit guide. 'It… wasn't an orc, was it? Outside the hut?" It did not occur to me in my pain and confusion. I must ask her what Golth looked like.
When I was done telling them, Mayune smiled, “I'm glad... then it seems your journey wasn't affected by this... well… odd presence."
“My thanks to you both for watching over and protecting my body.”
“Of course, Shupa,” Mayune smiled, “but, if this thing is really after you, you shouldn’t do any more saptas or try to spirit walk…unless Gore and a healer are there. I’m curious, have you been to the Gurubashi homeland recently?”
“No, I have had little to do with trolls of late...” my voice drifted off as memories of my last contract’s companion filled my head. The Troll, Ail’drik, “…I suppose you are right. I will have to figure out who or what this…thing is. I think I also need to find this place the spirit showed to me, understand what is going on. Perhaps a trip to Northrend.”
Mayune looked momentarily concerned, “But... the trolls up there, the Zukkari... they are vicious. And some are tainted by undeath. Hmmm…But if you require help, I'd be honored to join you”
“I would not decline your offer, sister. I would be glad to have you by my side.”
Beside me Gorezug folded his arms concentrating on a thought. “We may also want to talk to Sufjanste. He knows about Loa.”
Mayune raised an eyebrow at Gorezug, "Sufjanste? I forgot about him. Insein also knows much of the Loa. It is her religion. Although I think hers is more of the primal gods of Gurubashi, but she would be familiar with the pantheon up north. Although... to be honest, I would be hesitant of her involvement. She seems to... get injured and provoke spirits a lot.”
Unease filled my already aching stomach at the mention of Insein and Loa.
For his part, Gorezug grunted, "Insein? The Chieftain's Crow is full of surprises."
I agreed with Mayune, “Yes, perhaps I will leave Insein out of this for now. I will see about speaking with Sufjanste in the next few days. For now, I think I need to rest.”
I thanked them both one last time as they headed out the door, looked at the bloodied floor and dragged myself to the loft before passing into a troubled sleep.
