(2023-01-17) An Honorable Goal

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Nunuzac and Nesselos head to the deeprun tram tunnel to seek out Crim Ragefang, a potentially friendly shaman colleague. They have questions related to de-warlocking a person.
Rating:	T for Teen

It's fairly late in the night, and the shouts, laughter and talking in the Deeprun Tram tunnel's hidden fight ring are starting to subside as the crowd begins to disperse. Two people are just now arriving, however. A bright-eyed, blue and bulky draenei man with crests of horn covering his forehead is practically skipping ahead of his companion with excitement.

"This is perfect timing," he says over his shoulder to her, a big smile on his face. "I heard he heals during the fights, so I didn't want to distract… I bet he's still somewhere near the ring."

The second figure is also a draenei, but much narrower, a woman with a twiggy build, wide horns and light greyish complexion. She is dressed in a mix of brown and violet cloth with some incomplete ringmail that looks more ceremonial than defensive.

Nunuzac taps a finger below her lip lightly, her posture a bit reserved and uncertain. Her hooves make quick falls in a narrow line as her large curious eyes scan ahead. "Oh, does he know we will be here?"

"Noo…. unless he's a prophet," Nesselos says cheerfully, as if this might be a real possibility. "I didn't quite have the nerve to come somewhere like this by myself. But… he's a fellow shaman! He'll be friendly, I'm sure of it."

Nunuzac balls her fists beside her cheeks with elbows drawn in like a tourist in a mock-haunted house. An orc, who doesn't know them, who is also a brawler in a sketchy underground ring of some kind? How dreadful! How dangerous! But also it's too late now and probably will be some kind of exciting.

"I want to say there is some kind of fault in this logic, but we're both shamans and friendly." It just stands to reason.

Nesselos scans the crowd, the departing people of so many different races. Then, sure enough… there is an orc! By the ring! Nesselos gestures at Nunuzac and heads towards their quarry.

As the pair approach the orc, he is finishing with patching up a gnoll. Once he finishes he turns and notices the pair of draenei approaching him. He watches them calmly, but cautiously.

Nunuzac splays the fingers of both hands, more of a gesture of shock than a wave, and freezes in place when the orc turns. "Hi!" she quickly blurts out the casual Common, a little too fast and loud.

"Greetings." Crim replies in his deep, even voice, "If you came to see the fighting I'm afraid you just missed it."

"We've come to see you," Nesselos says in earnest Common. "You're a shaman, yes? Like she and I?"

"I am." Crim stands straight and crosses his arms, "What can I do for you?" His tone remains calm but he is clearly sizing up the two.

"We are… big fan?" she wrings her hands a bit while glancing quizzically to Nesselos, taking a moment to get a handle on her obvious nervousness and put on a politer smile. They did not actually see the match. "But mainly want to talk to shamans who are shamans for longer time. And maybe, aaah, different background. Learn!"

Nesselos just stares at him wordlessly for a moment, his mind blank now that the moment is actually here. Then he shakes out of it as Nunuzac speaks, and nods, maybe a little too vigorously. Then he stammers nervously, "I knew a shaman before. I mean before I was a shaman. On Draenor. One of your people. And I thought maybe to ask about… what's changed since then? If you don't mind talking about orc shamanism?"

"Hah!" Crim lets out a short laugh, "There weren't many shamans on Draenor back when I was still there. I'm afraid I have little to say on how things used to be."

"Oh, um, yeah," Nesselos looks down at his feet shyly, maybe an odd reaction for a rather large guy. "The one I knew, too, he turned into a warlock. That's sort of what we wanted to ask you about? If it's not too… sensitive? And if it is, we'd still like to talk about differences between our practices, I'm sure!" Ness looks over to Nunuzac for encouragement.

Nunuzac nods vigorously. "Oh, yes, we did not know how old! How silly." She lightly butts her palm against her forehead. "But it is how Nesselos say: we… have this thing the same, yes? And Azeroth has Earthen Ring? We all do shaman practice, and maybe you know any story from older orcs?"

Crim relaxes a little seeing they do not mean harm, "What do you want to know? How we commune with the spirits?"

"That, yes, but also…" Nesselos bites his lip nervously, and then says as if bracing to be punched in the face, "Have you ever known a warlock who became a shaman again?"

Nunuzac gives an intent peer that is also very curious about this question.

Crim ponders for a moment, "Hmmm… I suppose there were a few. But most succumbed to their powers…" He trails off and goes a bit pale, "Yes, there are some." He finishes gravely.

"So someone can come back from it," Ness's expression brightens. "Were they… relatively early in their fel studies?"

The woman's face also brightens with considerable delight, clearly focusing on the possibility rather than the rarity. "Wow, good news! Very very good. We just need to tell him then!" Because who would stay a warlock once they know they can be a shaman instead? This should be easy.

"Most were, yes. Ones with more experience did not typically fare quite so well." Crim slowly begins to regain his composure.

"We have… a friend who is in the early steps," Nesselos says, as if confiding. "Who might want to turn away from the fel. I was unsure if it was possible. Do they need cleansing in some way?"

"Fel magic does not go away so easily." Crim scratches his beard, "This friend may never be rid of it entirely. Hope lies in their own strength. They must build up themselves from within, struggling and growing until they learn that their spirit is far stronger than any demon's promise."

Nunuzac's eyes widen with something like recognition, then she goes thoughtful, scanning the ground. "If that is, it is like other things that are hard to let go, just very strong. He must believe it first. That he can do with no fel, and that there is reason to do the harder way."

Crim nods, "Nothing of true honor is ever achieved without blood and toil."

Nesselos nods reluctantly. "He'll need to do it himself then. He'd need to want enough to do it himself. And we can't help by taking the fel influence away. I was sort of hoping there was a technique for it, like a special cleansing totem."

Nunuzac stares at Crim a little longer than is probably necessary at his last comment, seemingly blanking out, before the mention of the totem stirs her out of her stillness. "Hm? Oh, but it is a good maybe. Like if he thinks it works then believes more? Wait, this turns around bad again somehow. Or count on something not all the way working." She immediately reconsiders while trying to come up with ways Sandy in particular would find ways to make a white lie or a crutch backfire.

Crim raises an eyebrow at the pair of Draenei's musings.

Nesselos looks back over to Crim and blushes dark blue. "Oh, listen to me going on, when you must be tired at the end of a work da- night, and I didn't even introduce… I'm Nesselos, and I've been a shaman for about a year now, and this is my friend…" He pauses to let Nunuzac introduce herself however she would like.

Nunuzac palms her cheeks at a similar realization. "Oh no! Forgive, we are just in worry about friend. I am Nunuzac. When I talk with Nesselos, I think: I know many shamans, but not orc. I hope it is not trouble."

“Crim Ragefang.” Crim replies with a salute, “Well met. And no, you aren’t troubling me.”

"Pleased to meet you," Nesselos says, taking in a relieved breath. "And as you can tell, we were worried about a particular person. But it's also true that I'd like to learn more about my colleagues in other traditions. I never did speak to the spirits of Draenor, for instance. Did you?"

Nunuzac looks aside toward Nesselos. "If not many shamans left when Crim was there, it is maybe they already… maybe more is known of Azeroth than of Draenor." She seems to stumble a bit while dancing around what might have tied up all the shamans.

Crim nods, “It’s true. I was born on Draenor, but I left with my family through the Dark Portal when I was only a few years old. I have never spoken with the spirits there.” Crim gestures vaguely about himself, “As far as I’m concerned, Azeroth is my home.”

"I was born on Draenor, too," Nesselos says, seizing on the point of commonality. Then he thinks it through. "Not too long ago. About two hundred years. Azeroth is my home now, too. So… how do you call the spirits?"

Nunuzac nods quickly with a slight forward lean and interested peer. "Here and Draenor, elements seem much alike, but what ancestors rest there very different."

“Well I try to clear my mind, put aside all of my doubts and worries and call out to the earth for guidance.” Crim strokes his beard while he speaks.

Nesselos considers this and nods. "I think that's similar to what I do. But I always feel closest to water. Flowing, changing, adapting to any surroundings. That's what I want to be like."

Crim nods in return, “Each element has its place. It is the work of a shaman to know how to harness the strength of each one as their own.”

Nunuzac laughs lightly, "Besides, if you play favorites, they maybe get jealous of each other."

"You just have to treat them all really nicely," Nesselos grins. "Same as people. But Crim, I hope we can keep in touch? It'd be good to build bridges. Like the druids do."

"Oh yes! My first way to try to get them to tell me things, I try to be easy to talk with. It works maybe?" She nods as well. "Because we are new to this world, Earthen Ring is new. When we talk here with you, I already think of some questions to ask other Azeroth people also. Like the druids. Different people, same practice. We learn together."

Crim smiles ever so slightly, “Your goal is an honorable one.”

"Would you be interested, then?" Nesselos's expression lifts. "Maybe we could come visit sometime down here in the tram tunnels, or… or other places? Nunuzac and I could even talk to some of the others. Expand the shaman circle."

"Have more thinks to put together if hard trouble happens?" Nunuzac pipes up and taps the side of her head, then folds both hands together before her, shoulders pinched in. "And… make better friends between draenei and orc, and others."

"Perhaps." Crim responds, "I still have at least a few lost souls here that could use some help." He gestures behind him at the fighters packing up their things.

"We could help?" Nesselos offers. "In exchange for your patience. I am also a healer."

"Me also!" Nunuzac then hedges a bit, making a minimizing gesture between thumb and forefinger pinching together. "Well."

Crim eyes them, "Not all ailments can be cured with magic." He says with a slightly worried expression.

"I was a hunter before I was shaman," Nesselos, glancing to Nunuzac. "I can help some of the harms that come from fighting, without the elements."

Nunuzac gives a reassuring smile. "If it is heart matters and they know you better, I understand."

Crim smiles back at Nunuzac, "I've seen far too many proud warriors lose their way after the defeat of the Second War. It is my goal to help as many as I can to learn that it is our darkest hours that truly test us."

"Ahh, I see," Nesselos nods, stepping back. "Then we should leave you here. I hope your patients mend, heart and body."

"Archenon poros, good fortune," Nunuzac adds with a wave from one side of herself to the other that seems more symbolic than salutory. The symbol of the naaru's favor briefly shimmers at her forehead. "May your words give them strength."

"Thank you." Crim inclines his head to them, "Strength and honor, friend."