The Wailing Caverns

Back to Crossroads

I quickly returned from the Forgotten Pools to talk to Tonga about what I had discovered. Arriving at Crossroads, I passed by Helbrim's tent to deliver his spores. As I left the tent, I spotted Tonga walking and called out to him.

“Tonga!”

He turned and, as soon as he saw me, replied:

“Broomn! Glad you're back!” Tell me, how was the investigation into the Forgotten Pools?

“I found a strange fissure at the bottom of the lake. Bubbles come out of it, as if something is breathing inside it. I also felt the energy emanating from below, but I couldn't clearly identify what kind of energy it was.

“A rift at the bottom of the lake?” That's interesting! We have to investigate this energy further. Come, let's go to my tent. I have to get some seeds.

We walked over to his tent and he started fiddling with a shelf that was all dusty and full of things that hadn't moved in a long time. He found a jar, quickly pulled out some more of the dust with his hands, removed the lid, and picked up some seeds from inside. He put them in a small bag and handed them to me.

The Investigation

“Pay attention, Broomn. First, head to the Stagnant Oasis to the southeast and see if there's the same kind of fissure emanating energy there.” If any, place some of these seeds in the crack and wait a few minutes. While you wait, kill a turtle and take samples from its shell. Repeat these experiments at the Lushwater Oasis to the southwest. Then bring me the seeds and samples taken from the turtles. I need to identify at least whether this energy is beneficial or harmful. If there are no fissures in these oases, I ask you to do the experiments in the Forgotten Pools fissure.

“Leave it to me, Tonga,” I replied. “I leave right now for the Stagnant Oasis."

I took the seeds and set off quickly in the form of a leopard. I arrived at the Stagnant Oasis and, as I already knew what to look for, I soon found a fissure very similar to that of the Forgotten Pools. I did as Tonga asked and went to the Lushwater Oasis. In this one, something special caught my attention: the very beautiful entrance of a cave that, upon receiving gusts of wind, emitted sounds that seemed like people wailing. The scenery was eye-catching, but I couldn't be distracted. I went to the lake and also easily found a fissure. Experiments conducted, I returned to Tonga's tent at Crossroads.

“Tonga, here are the seeds and the turtle samples. By the way, I had never seen turtles so big and the shell so hard."

“Sit here, Broomn, while I examine this further."

After a few moments analyzing the seeds and samples, Tonga concluded:

“That's not possible, Broomn! These seeds were dry and dead when I gave them to you, but now they are alive and twinned. The turtle samples, on the other hand, show an undeniable corruption that caused them this exaggerated growth. That's already out of my league. If my suspicions are correct… we have to report our findings to Hamuul immediately."

We hurried out of his tent towards the manticore master, but found Helbrim on the way.

“Broomn, my dear Broomn. I need your services again, is it possible?"

“I'm going to Thunder Bluff, my friend. Is it something that can wait for my return?"

“Ah, lucky me! Actually, I want you to take something to Thunder Bluff. I analyzed the spores you brought me and prepared an elixir. I want you to take him to my colleague, the apothecary Zamah."

"Of course, give it to me here and it'll be delivered soon," I replied.

I went in such a hurry to the manticores that I already looked like an expert at it. Within minutes he was again in Thunder Bluff, in Hamuul's tent. After hearing Tonga's reports, Hamuul told me:

“Now I think we have an idea of what's going on. Let's go to the tent opposite. We have to talk to Nara Wildmane. She is a young druid who is working with me on another investigation, Naralex's sleep."

And he told me the story of Naralex:

"Naralex is a powerful druid of the Cenarion Circle who tried to regain the nature of Barrens after the end of the Third War. He went to the Wailing Caverns, initiated a ritual, and entered the Emerald Dream to channel magic from there to the Barrens."

Wailing Caverns, I thought… it could only be the cave I saw at Lushwater Oasis. As I digressed, Hamuul continued.

“However, the Emerald Dream has been corrupted and Naralex has become trapped in his sleep. Nara and I entered the Emerald Dream to try to understand what happened and rescue Naralex, but the corruption was so great that we couldn't make much progress. She did, however, continue the investigations."

Arriving at Nara's tent, Hamuul went straight to the point.

“Nara, Broomn has brought news from Tonga and our suspicions are apparently confirmed: the mutations in the Barrens are coming from an energy emanating from the oases. It can only be the ritual of Naralex."

“I don't know if it's just him,” Nara said. “After we entered the Emerald Dream and discovered the corruption, I was plagued by evil spirits that invaded my dreams. They may be connected to Naralex, but I'm not sure yet."

She continued:

“We must go to the Wailing Caverns and rescue Naralex. Only by interrupting his ritualistic sleep can we stop the progress of corruption."

At that moment, I remembered the elixir Helbrim had asked me to deliver. My horns almost fell off!

“Wait! Before we leave, I need to deliver something to the apothecary Zamah. I'll meet you in a few minutes at the flight tower."

I ran out. I even switched to the leopard form. I went to the Spirit Rise, where the cave of the apothecary Zamah is located. I handed the elixir to him, who made sure it still worked. I was relieved! I rushed back to the flight tower. Surely Nara and Hamuul would already be waiting for me.

The Wailing Caverns

Nara was already waiting for me at the flight tower. We flew to Crossroads, to meet with Tonga. When we arrived, Nara tried to explain everything to him and added:

“Hamuul wants us to make an expedition to rescue Naralex. You, me and Broomn.

'I'll get Darsok to come with us,' Tonga added. “I'm sure his skills can be very helpful.” Broomn, while I talk to Darsok, go talk to Helbrim. He is waiting for Zamah's answer about the elixir you took and can provide us with some elixirs for the expedition.

So we did: Tonga went to summon Darsok and I went to give the good news of Zamah to Helbrim. He really did have some interesting elixirs to provide us: one that increased healing power, another that increased agility, and a third that made the skin almost as hard as stone.

We met at the south exit of Crossroads and set off for the Wailing Caverns. Arriving there, I could confirm that it was indeed the caves I saw in the Lushwater Oasis. We soon went into the cave, in search of Naralex.

Can we rescue him? Find out from me on our next date. :)

See you there,

Broomn.