Chapter 1 - Whispers of the Past

[Trehmar]

The Banepaw Fellowship

Chapter 1
Whispers of the Past

Sianhu Frostfeather, druid of the Cenarion Circle has heard whispers in the wind, calling her to Mulgore for the first time in ages.

Karonak Embermaw, aged battle shaman of the original Banepaw Tribe was gifted with a dream of a tree in the Desolace, speared down by the Kolkar.

Wolfsister Telomwe, a young hunter of the Wheathoof Tribe, was walking the barrens when the spirit of Trehmar Banepaw came to her, telling her she was to unite the Banepaw Tribe and carry out their legacy. Excited, she told her lifelong friend (and full-blooded Banepaw) Hrukh Windchanter.

Hrukh was hesitant at first, even angry that the spirit had not told him of this reuniting. But, softened by his love for his tribe-sister, he agreed to help her seek out the mysterious 'helpers' Trehmar's ghost referred to.

Meditating on his dream for a week, Karonak finally left the Desolace, where he has been fighting Kolkar for 56 years since the destruction of his tribe at the hands of the Kolkar Centaur.

These four Shu'halo came together, pulled to one another by unseen forces, in the tauren city of Thunder Bluff. Agreeing that they each held a piece of some puzzle, they discussed the spirits and their ancestors' will. In the end, they decided they should go to the barrens; to the place where the Banepaw Tribe was destroyed, and learn what they can there.

Keeping their hearts open, the four sleep peacefully tonight in the sacred birth land of the tauren people.

[Trehmar]

Many long months have passed since the gathering of the four tauren in Thunder Bluff. As they have been about completing their business and growing as people, much has changed in the world. Yet their goal remains the same. Now accompanied by a young druid named Ceares Stormsinger who is interested in their ideals and a shaman (called Ashwind) who's tribe suffered the same fate as the Banepaw, the Fellowship readies itself to journey deep into the barrens in just two days time.

What they will find there is not known to any of them. The ancient Banepaw Raptor Grounds have been unattended by mortals for over fifty years. Even so, they hope to find something to stir their hearts and give them guidance.

The Banepaw Fellowship has much ahead of it, more than they can possibly predict.

[Trehmar]

Journeying into the barrens, the Banepaw Fellowship gathered several tauren along the way who were interested in their cause. One among them was Brekken Proudhorn, a tauren who had been in the first Fellowship.

Mahola Mournfeather was greeted by the large gathering. They insisted she come along. Though hesitant, she followed into the barrens.

Along the way, a raptor of the Banepaw named Akal came to greet Telomwe. She had been following Telomwe in the barrens during her journey back to Thunder Bluff and lead the group to the grounds.

There, Telhak the Endless greeted Karonak, and told him the Banepaw had his blessing, and would again be their allies if they could prove themselves. Akal proceeded to dig up the horns of ancient, deceased raptors. The horns were empowered by the raptors and given to all in the Banepaw Fellowship. Mahola was also given one, and asked to join the Fellowship.

Though they are unsure what is next, the Banepaw are bound now by the raptor horns and their sacred duty to Telhak and his pack.

[Trehmar]

The past continues to whisper in the ears of the Banepaw. New tribe member, Ashwind of the Vale, has led the tribe on a spiritual and physical journey from Camp Taurajo into the Stonetalon Mountains. Brekken and Roshne of the Black Wind (both friends of the Fellowship) joined the Fellows as they traversed a pass from the barrens into the windy mountains of Stonetalon, following Ashwind's talk of a calling he had in a dream.

During the journey Ashwind told our heroes of his people; the Vale Tauren. They lived in what is now the Charred Vale. They fought the centaur at the bottleneck of the Desolace, and were eventually defeated, much like the Banepaw. The Banepaw and their friends arrived in Sun Rock retreat after a long day of hiking on hoof. The Horde welcomed the travelers with open arms. Before they could settle in, however, Ashwind quickly took five among the travelers with him to the Vale.

Sianhu stayed in Sun Rock, representing the Fellowship with a soft voice and calm manners. Meanwhile, a young shaman who found his way into the journey by the name of Kuo'tae joined Elder Karonak, Ceares, Telomwe and Hrukh as they followed Ashwind to a cliff overlooking the blackened Vale.

The ritual is sacred and cannot be spoken of, but it resulted in the joining of the Vale ancestors with the Banepaw. Now the bearers of the entire spiritual pantheon of the Vale tauren, the Banepaw Fellowship's identity has grown from the practitioners a philosophy to the last Shu'halo to uphold the honor of the tribe of the Vale.

To uphold and fulfill this identity, the Banepaw will have to show great nobility and wisdom. They now camp in Stonetalon, a place with many wounds (some obvious, and some more subtle) to be tended to.

Will the Banepaw Fellowship be the People to notice and heal these wounds? Or will the dark forces at work corrupt Stonetalon forever?

Only by listening to the whispers of the past will the Banepaw tauren learn the answers.