Menrim’s Journal – West Pandaria

I sailed for a long time today, seeing no land. Indeed, the South Seas are wide and islands are sparse, especially in these parts. Since I left Uldum the only land I passed in the distance was two unoccupied islands. Bearing nothing of importance to me, I quickly left them behind. I heard that once adventurers sought out something or someone in there, but whoever it was, he was long gone. After that, there was nothing for hours. Just a wide, calm sea with nothing but fish and an occasional murloc to accompany me. Oddly, the murlocs were all swimming alone, though I was informed they always swarm their enemies. Perhaps they did not expect anyone in these waters and were not ready to attack. I began to fear they would inform others and follow my boat, but I did not have to.

Before long, I stumbled upon rocky islands right in my way. I consulted my maps once again to check that there is truly nothing in these parts of the sea and I should have days more before I reach the Eastern Kingdoms, but it was then that I realized that I failed to account for the recent rediscovery of Pandaria. There was nothing in this part of the maps because no one successfully sailed through these waters. And had I embarked upon this journey several months ago, I would have met only thick mist that would force me to turn back. I decided I would have to swim around Pandaria, but with little knowledge of the land, and nothing on my maps, I had to land and contact the locals. The few pandaren who visited us in Uldum were very kind people. A toast to you, Chen Stormstout, if you’re reading this.

Little did I know that Pandaria is hardly united under the pandaren. Upon docking to the island and getting through a lone road up its cliffed coasts, I realized I entered an ant-hill. Not a literal one, but it was close enough. The island was swarming with aggressive mantis-like creatures that had to an off-shoot of the Aqir my people had fought in prehistorical times. I do not know if these mantid recognized me as a tol’vir, since they weren’t very talkative, but I do not think it would have mattered. They immediately accosted me with blades and some corrosive fluid they spat out and only when I noticed the pit filled with eggs laying nearby I knew why. I quickly got back on the boat and swam away as fast as I could.

I tried to avoid the other islands as well, especially one that seemed to have a giant, ruined structure upon it – for all I know, it could have destroyed and taken over by the mantid. I landed again near the mainland, where the coast was again far too steep to climb, especially if you can’t use a climbing rope as bipeds can. I found another path up and to my disappointment, found another hostile camp. It seemed as if dead spirits and some tauren off-shoot had taken over that part of the land. After warding the evil spirits off with the few basic charms I was taught as a cub, I headed back to my boat.

Rest of today wasn’t looking very promising. As far as I could see, the shore was filled with mountains that could not be climbed by one of my kind. Truly, the Sundering shattered this land to the bone. At one point, I barely missed and island that was covered in a never-ending storm. Although its shores seemed more accessible, the storm troubled me. I did not want to risk my boat or my own safety, for who knows what kind of monstrosities might dwell there. I simply continue along the shore, hoping tomorrow will be more fruitful.

To be continued