genessia | [Video]

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[Video]

[When Thrall's video starts, he promptly sets the device down, taking a seat opposite it and picks up a hunk of wood and a knife as he starts to whittle the wood, concentrating more on that than his address to the device.]

Now that I have had some time to take in my surroundings and assess the situation here, I feel I should introduce myself properly. My name is Thrall. In Azeroth, I am Chieftain and head Shaman of the Frostwolf Clan of Orcs, and Warchief of the Horde. I know that means little here, with some not having even heard of Orcs. As such, titles like Chieftain and Warchief mean little with a clan or Horde of one, and I have set those claims aside.

[He pauses a moment to blow some splinters out of where he was carving, before smoothing a crease out with a green finger.]

The one title I cling to is that of Shaman. As a Shaman, I can perform a number of services. The elements bend to my call, and as such, can be used in a variety of situations from healing, to construction. I can call forth some spirits as well to see vast distances or aid me in combat. In combat... [He pauses again, jerking a thumb to where the Doomhammer sits next to him, glowing softly at the gesture.] ...I am a seasoned warrior, having survived being raised as a gladiator after my parents were assassinated. I would like to offer my services for free... however, given that I cannot simply take what I need to get by from the Horde's coffers, I will need to charge, based on the task.

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I'm glad to see that you are alright. I hadn't introduced myself before. I'm Princess Sakura. [She bows slightly and then smiles at the camera.]

It's nice to meet you Thrall.

Lok'tar Ogar, Sakura. I was hoping to speak with you again. I wish to thank you for your assistance earlier. I did not wish to linger in that place longer than needed.

I'm happy I can help.

[She isn't always able to help.]

It seems it's over but I still don't know what happened.

The important thing is that the spirits have been calmed. Why they do anything is often a mystery. We just have to hope that it is not something that happens again.

That's true.

[Sakura smiles.]

Now that it's over you can at least think of other things. I started working at a Cafe here.

[That smile gives Thrall pause for a moment. Not many humans her age would offer an Orc such a gesture.]

You'll excuse me if I do not come by your store. I'm sure it is a quality establishment, however... Orc diets are rarely the same as human.

Oh? Do you not like cake?

[Sakura's expression shifts for a moment before returning to it's radiant smile.]

What do you like? We make pastries and cakes but I'm learning how to make my own. I wanted to make an apple one. Apples in my world are a little different but they are still very good.

[That gets a small chuckle.]

On very rare occasions, it is a decent enough treat.

[He points to the tusks protruding from his lower jaw.] Orcs are mainly carnivorous however. Most of our dishes involve meat of some kind.

[That makes Sakura pause and think.]

I think I can make a meat pie...

[He chuckles a bit.]

Now that I would like to try.

[Sakura claps her hands together with a smile.]

I will do that then!

[She's going to need help from Fai but she's sure she can make the breading super crispy and yummy.]

So be ready to try it.

An Orc is always ready to eat.

[Sakura blinks.]

Should I make a lot then?

Perhaps not a lot, but just a big one.

[She giggles at that.]

Okay! I'll let you know when I have it finished.

[He seemed promising. Ted liked that he brought up healing and construction first, and violence last, and at least desiring to work for free was a plus. Still shamanism was tricky business. How delicate to suss out the issue?]

Hello, green one! Hopefully my welcome will do better than the one Genessia gave.

If you don't mind some probing, what are the central tenets of shamanism?

Oh, and what are your thoughts on the interaction between law and magic?

[Thrall arched an eyebrow. Humans unfamiliar with the concept of shaman arts was not unheard of. At one time, only Orcs, Trolls, and Tauren practiced it in Azeroth, but the Draenei taught the Alliance races. Perhaps someone from another world would be more open to the idea.]

My people have long since lived in harmony with the land. A shaman is the link between the people and the world around them. We commune with the spirits of Earth, Fire, Air, and Water, address any concerns they have, and in return they give us their blessing, allowing a shaman to wield the elements to the benefit of the people.

As for law and magic in general, the Horde takes a very open stance on magic. Magic serves the people, and must be kept in control. To that end, the capital cities of the Horde offer the best training in the arcane arts that can be found. The only magics that are restricted in any form are the magics employed by warlocks.

To be honest, I would ban the research and practice of demonology wholesale if I could. However, the power the warlocks wield has become a necessary evil against the forces that assail our world.

[That's good, that he makes a distinction between dark magic and the rest, which is what Ted guessed at the mention of warlocks.]

"Necessary evils...had to deal with a bit of that myself. If you don't mind, two more questions spring to mind:

What are your thoughts on fortune tellers, or diviners?

Oh, this one's important. Now that you've had some time here, what are you thoughts on...this world? If you had to choose one, would you wish its destruction, or its protection?

[Thrall ruminates for a moment on the subject of diviners before making a response.]

In my world, fortune telling is largely a superstitious practice, with no actual way to tell the future. Generally. However... the future is known to some.

There are five dragon flights in Azeroth, each governing an aspect of the world. The Red Dragons governed all life on the planet, Blue oversaw the growth and usage of magic, Green served as a bridge to the Emerald Dream - a sort of... dream that the planet itself generates as it sleeps, Black conversed with the Elementals and kept balance in the very earth, and the Bronze oversaw time.

The patriarch of the Bronze flight, Nozdormu, Aspect of Time, was shown all of time laid out before him and all the paths it could take upon his birth, including the moment he died. That knowledge eventually drove him mad, and some speculate that the Infinite Flight that emerged in the Caverns of Time were the spawn of one of Nozdormu's alternate possibilities that sought to rewrite history.

I suppose the moral of all this is that knowing too much about the future can stifle your choices in the moment. It is a lesson I have endeavored to take to heart.

As for this world, I bear it no ill will. I have not been here long enough to really form an opinion on it. This world is like any other life, in that it deserves a chance to grow and make its own choices. What becomes of those choices, however, is anyone's guess.

Ted listened in rapt attention. Hearing stories from other worlds was always a treat.

"You're the kind one would like around a campfire, I bet. By the sound of it, you're looking for employment. Assuming you don't turn to writing—I'd probably buy every book, by the way—, I might have something for you. But only if you'd like to have a stake in the continued protection of this place."

[That earned an arched eyebrow from Thrall as he momentarily put his whittling aside.]

I am very familiar with the stories passed around the campfire, but those are usually fiction. However, about this job of yours. It is my turn to ask a question.

I am not very trusting of humans, my name - Thrall - is no coincidence of language. I was raised as a slave of humans after my people lost a war - a long convoluted story in itself - and I came to my position and titles after escaping and waging a war of independence against humanity that has lasted nearly a decade now. My question is simple, however. Why should I trust you?

"Another war against humanity. Yours is the third I've heard of." He wasn't sure how to feel about humanity's omnipresence throughout the multiverse, much less the the acrimony that surrounded them. Ted guessed that if you're made in God's image, there's not much reason to deviate.

"Ah, sorry. Moving back to the point. Well, I could try and round up some of those I've met here, and they might vouch for me. Some human, some not, but if you've a mind for conspiracy, you might reckon all of them 'in on it'.

So, the plain answer is just benefit of the doubt. I don't know if that concept exists in Orc thought, but in case it doesn't, it just means that trust is the default until one gives a reason against. Not foolproof, but in practice it's a lot easier than the alternative.

Oh, I'd nearly forgot! It is a government position, meaning subject to the peoples' approval. If my conduct isn't righteous, you'll probably read about me swinging from a lamp post. So there's that keeping me honest."

[Again he pauses before answering.]

I'm familiar with the phrase, and I will keep your offer in mind. For now though, I am unsure as to what I should be doing aside from attempting to contact the elements of this place. Once that is done and I have heard their concerns, I may have an answer for you.

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