Short Story: The Great Question

[Idros-arathor]

Hello all. I wrote this story at the start of Battle for Dazar’alaor and thought I would share it here. It is loosely based on the events of the Alliance war campaign.

Enjoy!

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“Is everything prepared?”

“Yes, I think so”.

Grong stood on the mountainside, overlooking the little tribe. To think they had come this far. They had build a peaceful society here, at the edge of the jungle, and the mere thought of it warmed Grongs heart. This place was his home.

This place was worth protecting.

Yikkit stood impatiently by Grongs side and looked at him. “Are you done posing melancholic upon this rock?” he humoured. Grong simply smiled and patted him on the shoulder, after which they climbed down the green cliffs. When they reached the village Grong decided to do one last round and check the preparations.

“Do you not trust my evaluations?” Yikkit sighed. “I’ve already done the rounds three times; everyone is accounted for, the barricades are ready to be deployed and we have stocked up on food. I really see no reason to go through it all again”.

“I know, I know Yikkit. And fear not, I do trust you. How could I not?”. Grongs voice was warm and friendly, and Yikkit knew Grong did not intent to annoy him. “I just want to say goodby to everyone, one last time. I am going to miss this place”. Yikkit silently nodded and through the village they walked.

The new huts were coming along nicely, and soon there would be enough shelter for all families. Families whose children were the first generation after the great event. The first generation since the apes expanded their intellect. When the little ones saw Grong they came running and excitedly announced his presence, which simply attracted an even larger crowd. Every gorilla, old and young, came to say goodby and to wish Grong the best of luck. He had done so much for them, they said. He was a hero for choosing this sacrifice, that they all agreed on, and they declared that they would honour his name and do their best to live up to his ideals. Yes, they truly loved Grong and he loved them so. They were his people, his friends, his family. They were everything good in this world and so, though he eventually did, it was hard to pull himself away. “Goodby my kin and thank you for all that you have done, all that you do and all that you will ever accomplished. Remember our ways, through hardship and golden ages and be at peace. I… must go now. Our friends await me. Thank you”. And with those words Grong turned away from the crowd, walked out the village and took the first few steps toward his fate.

“Grong, wait” Yikkit shouted, as he came running down the road. Once he reached Grong he stopped and took a moment to catch his breath. When he finally looked at Grong he had an intensity and sadness about him which Grong had never seen before.

“Why must it be you?”. Grong was not entirely unprepared for the question, yet his answer came of as shallow and dismissive. “Because the device converts intellect to raw strength. While any creature with a high intellect to muscle ratio would do, I am so lucky to posses both great intellect and strength right now, which allow for a better starting point. I am simply the most qualified candidate”.

Yikkit shook his head, while looking at the overgrown pavement. It was clear that he was not satisfied with the answer. “Why must it be you?”.

At first there was silence. For a while Grong simply stood there and looked at Yikkit. Then he let out a low, nervous chuckle, and sat down. “What are we, Yikkit?”.

“We are apes. More specifically, we are gorillas”. Yikkit spoke with confidence in his voice, a confidence that mirrored so many young of his kin. Grong, without even looking at Yikkit, responded: “Yes, you are right of course, but are we only gorillas? We were gorillas before the great event but now we are something more, would you not agree?”.

Yikkit did not answer. Not at first at least and Grong did not blame him, for such a question requires more than a simple answer. It require time to think and think Yikkit did.

“Yes, I suppose I would agree” he finally uttered.

“Ahh, but you see, therein lies the problem. Are we truly something more or are we simply smart enough to think we are?”. Confused, Yikkit sat down and gave Grong a befuddled look. Grong sighed. “Look, down there”. He pointed at a group of Zandalari trolls and their direhorn mounts. “Ever since the great event I have observed the Zandalari and their relationship to the beasts.I tried to understand why they would force them into slavery. The trolls worship the great spirits, yes, but the lesser creatures are used as little more than beasts of burden or war”. For the first time in minutes Grong looked Yikkit in the eyes, yet Yikkit were still unsure what the point of this conversation was. “I made the hypothesis” Grong continued; “that great intellect comes at a price. And that price is your bond with the world, with your fellow creatures. Before the great event we were sometimes hunted, yes, but we had no desire to rule over beings. We were equal with all beasts of the jungle. Then, when the Horde and Alliance arrived at our shores and brought their own beasts of war with them I reached my conclusion”.

“What… did you conclude?” Yikkit asked slowly. Grong chuckled once again, this time with greater confidence and warmth. “That the question is not scientific but rather one of ethics. I don’t want to use my intellect to force other creatures into servitude because I think it is wrong”.

Yikkit nodded. He was starting to understand Grongs reasoning.

“It must be me because I helped make the device. The Alliance are our friends, yet I have no desire to see them use the device on any creatures of the jungle, for I know what a terrible fate that being might have to endure. To become a mindless beast of war. I made the device knowing what it could do, in the hopes of securing the future of our tribe, and now I must bear the burden. I must, because I should”.

Yikkit was silent. Tears had long past filled his eyes and it was clear that he was trying not to cry. “Are you not afraid?” he asked. “Of cause am I afraid” Grong responded. “But I would do anything to protect those I care about”. Then he gave Yikkit a long, much needed, hug before asking one last question; “You have always said I am the smartest person you have ever met, right young one?”.

“Yes”.

“Then maybe, just maybe, I am smart enough to not lose myself entirely during the trials ahead”.

Grong smiled, patted Yikkit on the head and they parted ways. As Grong walked down the road and out of sight, Yikkit could not help but fear he would never see his dear friend again.

And little did he know… that he was right.

[Moothilda-aszune (Moothilda)]

The things you do to protect the ones you love

I love the bond between them, and that makes this so sad

[Dulvarinn-moonglade (Dulvarinn)]

Thank you for sharing such beautiful and sad story, Idros.

‘It was duty killed the beast.’