The Way Of The Wanderer

[Ned Lud 1260]

The Way of the Wanderer

The words of Apprentice Shaman Lud’Gorkil have been transcribed by a servile, eunuch scribe whose tongue has been removed and whose name is not important enough to mention. These writings have been secured within a tome, kept in the shaman sanctuary behind Sanhar. ((Book is not physically in-game yet.))

Slaying the Wanderer:

As an Apprentice Shaman, initiated by Elder Shaman Nel’thok and currently training under Elder Shaman Mogroka, I, Ned Lud’Gorkil have taken it upon myself to study the ways of the wanderer, commonly known throughout this land as the Enderman. There is a strange power in these creatures and their ability to teleport in combat with the use of the enderpearl which I believe would serve the shaman well if harnessed properly. They are also a cunning foe in combat, something which I have put an abrupt stop to with a method you will find as you read further. Let it be known across the land that the orcs have begun to master these wanderers and are not afraid.

I first noticed the presence of these strange beings as our land began to die. They appeared in the dark of night and began wandering our land in silence. They struck me as timid and feral, lashing out violently when confronted, refusing to pay tribute and speaking not a word. Naturally, I sought their destruction and immediate expulsion from Krugmar, yet my every attack was evaded as they seemingly teleported into and out of combat. Seldom did my axe connect with their strange, dark flesh, and on that rare occasion my blows were often repelled with a magical force, which gashed at my own flesh, leaving me wounded and in anger.

Battles were lost, but my war had just begun. I tempered my bloodlust and took a more methodical approach to these wanderers. I ranged out far into the wilderness, beyond the reach of man, where I observed them day and night.

During the day, I found my approach to be met with immediate evasion. I would walk up to a wanderer and upon reaching a certain proximity, it would simply teleport away, avoiding me altogether. At night, however, the wanderer often allowed me to get in close enough to strike, before teleporting away. I noticed that during a rainstorm, day or night, the wanderer would begin teleporting eradically and uncontrollably, making an attack impossible. From this I learned that the wanderer must be fought at night when there is no rain.

It seemed that rainwater harmed the wanderer in some manner, or disrupted its magic. I tested this, striking a wanderer in the night and leading it to water. Upon making contact with the water, it howled in pain and teleported away. From this I learned that water offers protection from the wanderer.

I fought many wanderers in the night, chasing them as they teleported to and fro, and ultimately slaying them. However, I grew frustrated with their evasiveness. I thought to myself, there must be a way to fight them head-on without them fleeing. It struck me that my gaze seemed to startle them, provoking them to flee. Or perhaps it was their own gaze; perhaps their eyes could see into my own eyes and predict my violent intentions. Either way, if I could break this link between the two of us, somehow mask this connection and conceal my eyes, perhaps this would calm the beast and allow me to slay it in a proper fight. I took a pumpkin and hollowed it out, placed it on my head and charged into the nearest wanderer during the night, slaying it immediately. It never saw me coming, never had a chance to flee. I tried this during the day, however, and was met with evasion. From this I learned that wearing a pumpkin on one’s head prevents the wanderer from fleeing at night in close combat.

From that moment forth, I began slaying wanderers with ease, cutting through them like the parents of children. I would simply gear up in sufficient armor; diamond armor with a diamond axe, although iron would likely suffice. I would hunt them only at night and wear a pumpkin on my head during both my approach and during the actual fight. They fell like leaves to the wind.

The Enderpearl:

The wanderers, when slain, often drop a strange, lustrous orb, commonly known as the enderpearl. In my early days of studying these beasts, I knew in my gut that this strange device must have something to do with their ability to teleport. I carried a sack full of them for some time, not knowing quite what to do with them.

One day while scouting the north and looting through the ruins of Winterfell, which had been recently destroyed by the Undead, I came across a strange man in robes, standing over a grave. Curiousity overwhelmed my suspicions and we spoke in depth of the recent attacks and the state of the land. He claimed to be among the last of the survivors of the attack, as well as a doctor of medicine, and showed me what he believed to be an inactive portal to the nether. I noticed that he held an enderpearl in his hand and that he possessed the ability to teleport by tossing it to his desired location. He gave me a few of his own and instructed me in their use. We parted ways from there. From this I learned that enderpearls, when thrown, grant one the ability to teleport.

Teleportation Magic:

It seems that this teleportation magic has recently been outlawed by the gods, Aenguls and Daemons of this land, and its use is rumored to lead to one’s banishment. But I have begun to theorize on the practical application of such a reagent and how it may be applied to shaman magic in the future as we learn to harness it's power.

I believe that the enderpearl opens a passage when cast, tearing gently at the fabric of the spirit world and allowing shaman that are properly trained and in tune with this realm to pass through to the other side, concealed from the natural world. To the common observer, it appears that the shaman has teleported, when in fact, they have merely walked along a spiritual path to their chosen location.

A true shaman would not wish to create rifts in the spirit world in vain, but only out of necessity, for defense of one’s home and the protection of one’s people. It is for this reason that I believe the intended use of the enderpearls spirit-walking magic is for defensive purposes. The wanderers only use this magic when threatened, when attacked or confronted by someone that wishes them harm. I believe a shaman would be wise in restricting their use of such magic in this way as well. From this I learned that although enderpearls are currently outlawed, their use might be considered in the future, but only for the purpose of a shaman defending one’s home or protecting one’s people.

This is just a portion of my studies on the subject, a study which I refer to as “The Way of the Wanderer”. I felt compelled to share these findings with fellow shaman and warriors of the War Nation that wish to hear them. Feel free to contribute your own wisdom on the subject.

The transcription ends there and trails off into an absurdly written recipe for halfling.

[Lykos 276]

((just a friendly piece of advice from one hunter to another, if you want to take out an ender without them teleporting away, look at their legs. Just Slice at their feet. They will not evade you.))

[Ned Lud 1260]

((Interesting, might add that later, thanks. The pumpkin helm works great for now though and factors in with the orcs as something ridiculously cunning that they would figure out. I'm really just trying to build up some reasonings and lore behind our interactions with the Endermen and Enderpearls hoping to eventually work them in as a legitimate magic reagent of the shaman.))

[Lykos 276]

((i understand, and great writing, by the way :D. And they dont evade if you look at their feet, but they attack quite normally... And i made your 60th plus one :P))

[Danny 2232]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.