Deception (a World of Warcraft Fanfic)

Thar'ga, the Hero

It was nice to see Baine again. Though I had visited him in Thunder Bluff less than a full moon ago, seeing him made my discovery a little less upsetting.

He didn't seem himself today. Baine is not one to try and snuff my fiery ideas. As a surrogate brother, he does all that's in his power to protect me. As chieftain of the Tauren, he has a lot of power to protect me with. Unfortunately for him, anyone who knows me knows I take care of myself, and typically stay out of me way despite his orders.

Not that his opinion didn't matter, he's the wisest person I know. It was Baine who helped me master hunting, conducting tests to see how many I could fight at once, how much aggro Fluffy could hold, and how to improve my accuracy. His wisdom made the difference between life and death every battle.

Today, though, he was a stubborn old bull. I don't understand his resent to the orb. When we were younger, I had shared my daydreams of acquiring one, and he never opposed it once. Was it different now that I had one? I'm unsure of his reasoning, but for the first time, I didn't care what Baine had to say, the trinket would come in handy on this voyage. Once I learned how to use it, I might be able to sway his opinion.

Now came the task of learning to operate it. I needed to find someone who might have knowledge on its magic. I wouldn't find them in the drag, it was full of simple merchants trying to make a living. The demonic not even I would work with. That left me to search the slums. Some of the goblins were shady, but not like the demon worshipers. Those who keep secrets are those who know ones worth keeping.

At the beginning of the slum was a packed makeshift bar. The surrounded area was dotted with barrels repurposed as tables. The poor barmaid was sweating like a pig. The only shade they had were short, ragged tents that were no use to a person of my height. I moved along.

As I walked the tents became better quality and began to vary in sizes. The one that caught my eye was a purple canvas tent with a paper stuck to it that read "Thar'ga's enchanting"

I slid through the narrow opening. before me were assorted barrels- chairs I presume, and a large wooden table covered in vials and glistening stones. From the ceiling hung dozens of potted herbs. Behind the table sat a short, crippled, Orc looking figure. She was no Orc, she was too short and had more goblin like features, perhaps a bizarre half bread. Her eyes fell on me, they were a chilling purple, like the frost bitten hands of the dead in Northrend.

"Ah, a Tauren are you? don't se much of those in here. Why do you seek the elderly Thar'ga?"soon after acknowledging me her attention wandered to a fly buzzing around one of her potted plants.

"You are Thar'ga, are you not?" I asked in fear this creature had done something to the enchantress I seeked.

"Who else would I be? Come, sit child. Whichever stool you like. What do you need?" She was the strangest thing I had ever seen, but something about her... it made me trust her.

"I have acquired an orb of deception from a friend of mine, not the brightest, mind you. He gave it to me because it's seller claimed it no longer worked and was of no use. I feel I can do great things with it, I've always wanted one. Alas I have no idea how to use it, could you perhaps-"

She gasped and held out her hand, where I placed it. "I've seen only one other, but the owner was a blind old fool. You, on the other hand, I sense a cunning mind. These things are disappearing every day, crushed by displeased masters, little do they know it is their fault entirely that it does not work. What you must do is hold the orb in your hand and think then of what you truly want, more than anything else. Only then will the orb connect you with your alternate faces. I advise you do not experiment and keep one face. Only using one strengthens your connection and allows you to hold your form as long as you wish. Each additional form will critically injure your connection with your orb until there is none at all. This is why many give up on these orbs, they abuse its ability until its broke."

I saw Thar'ga in a whole new way now. Worn by age, with a face she did not chose, she was perhaps one of the wittiest in all of Orgrimmar. "So if it no longer worked for the previous owner, will it work for me?"

"It is reset unless crushed in rage and disappointment, then it would be lost forever. It's in tact, so you're good to use it whenever you desire. Don't test it here, though, if it's an alliance face you choose, I'm near certain these soldiers could track your scent to as far as the barrens."

"Thank you, you are awfully wise to be here. why are you here?"

Her dark green forehead furrowed as she went in deep thought, to a time before the present. "I was once a hero, I fought well, too well. When a hero runs out of opponents, a hero becomes their own." She recalled.

"I see. I must go, I have people expecting me to meet them for dinner." I said, turning towards the exit, but I wasn't done, "Thar'ga?"

"Yes"

"I respect you."