Chapter Text
Journal entry, Mist extrinsic (primary temporal rail extrinsic - Iron Horde exigency) 23/05 22:05 Draenor time
Wake early. Use local stream, wash dust from fur, hair. Tweak Air totem for drying; works too well, fur now fluffy. No time to fix. Gorgrond unforgiving, work to do.
Laughing Skull displaced. Iron Horde entrenched. Most moved on to Talador operations, still work needed here. Check with Kaz, still eccentric. Head out, northwards along stone path.
Lunchtime, brew still good, local oranges acceptable substitute. Evidence of Iron Horde raiding crew, follow trail to village sized camp. Fire signal gun, spend minute fanning flare embers from fur. Still fluffy. Wait two hours, Kaz and Draka arrive during afternoon meal.
Discuss situation. Iron Horde ongoing threat, too close to displaced Laughing Skull. Kaz eager for assault, Draka advise waiting till evening, reinforcements, scouting. Not sure how Kaz won over; fear to ask.
Approach camp. Several buildings, not short term camp. Backed against mountainside cliff. Suitable for repurposing. Sneak behind prisoner barracks, hide totem against wall. Estimate three dozen total Iron Horde. Nearly caught on escape; unsure what Iron Horde would make of Pandaren, but not eager to find out.
Return to Draka, Kaz. Two pawfuls of Frostwolf, one of Laughing Skull. Draka, Durotan, Kaz in argument; cut off on approach. Report findings, discuss plan. Prepare meal, open brewkeg for dinner. Laughing Skull drink, Frostwolf do not. At first. Prepare for battle. Check gear. Finally no longer fluffy. Note down lyrics from songs orcs sing. Wait for sunset.
Circle around camp, stealth approach while Laughing Skull and Frostwolf prepare attack at front gate. Iron Horde patrol competent, can only get close, not inside. Thank Celestials for earlier scout. Also Drek’thar for pointers on Draenor elemental spirits. Activate buried totem. Wait for long seconds. Hear crunching sounds from barracks, patrol moves to investigate. Sound of scuffle. More seconds. Laughing Skull prisoners finally skulk out of barracks, lead two armed with appropriated axes. Earth elementals evidently successful in breaking cell doors. Fire signal gun. Hear songs again from front gate. Prisoners hear too, are immediately alert, move towards presumed command structure en masse. Iron Horde forces move towards front gate. Pick off stragglers with lightning, drop fire elemental in guardhouse doorway. Iron Horde reinforcements particularly slow, lose three to elemental before deciding to stay inside.
Check on front gate. Draka, Durotan, Kaz victorious. Most forces routed. Follow to command structure. Kaz moves to discussion with ex-prisoners. Draka checks for commanders. Discovers one Lieutenant escaped when lieutenant uses hidden Iron Star in mountainside cave to fire on camp. Stable building aflame. Prisoners charge to attack lieutenant. Throw Air totem to smother fire; unfortunately still set for drying pandaren. Fire is extinguished, but fur now fluffier than ever. Kaz makes sound not unlike laugh.
Camp taken intact. Kaz declare suitable as new base for Laughing Skull, since Deadgrin fallen. Durotan sets up Frostwolf patrols, Draka arranges supply. Make cooking fire, prepare stew and more brew for everyone for supper. Meals always make place more homely, even for orcs.
Prisoner barracks now makeshift quarters. Nice to have bed not made of blanket on ground. Nicer for Laughing Skull to have home. A good day.
