A Hex-woven Path

 

The forsaken scrivener sat, perched over the parchment, quill in hand.  The troll Awo stood over him, pacing nervously, describing the events of her visit to the Echo Isles.

She had heard much of Zalazane in the time since arriving back in Durotar; the shadow of his actions looms over much of troll society.  She describes a flashpoint in a confused confrontation with some of the Pale Riders in Dustwind Ravine, a moment where she reached out for power, which she calls voodoo, and placed a hex on the Pale Rider Animus.  The effects she describes as brief, but with consequences far more significant than that minor display of power.

Mi foun' dat der be a mem'ri, unlocked by callin' on de voodoo.  No much, jus' braidin' mi hair in a town mi no know, from be'fo ah was dead.

In an impulsive mood, Awo decided to head across the narrow straits to seek out and observe the minions of Zalazane, to try to learn more about this voodoo.  His infamy as a hexxer, and necromancer are known even to one so unfamiliar with modern Troll society as my client.  She describes that she saw Zalazane himself casting a hex on one of his minions; the effects were dramatic, with the victim screaming in agony as their blood erupted.  Moving away from the village, she stumbled upon a lone inhabitant of the Isles, taking him unawares.  Mimicking the gestures of Zalazane, and drawing upon the voodoo she already knew how to wield, she too was able to make the blood of the unfortunate troll boil.  It is difficult to tell if she is elated at this development, regretful, or even scared; I'm not sure that she knows herself.

Mi snuck back inta Zalazane' camp at night, an' mi took someting dat belong ta 'im, a skull, dat glow like a lil' fiahfly.  Mi tinkin' dat dis 'elp me practice mi hexes.

One final sentence she said seems to have struck a chord with her.  She says that memories aren't always pleasant, and they can be used to hurt, as well as to heal, and that memories are like dreams that have happened.  I'm not sure what she means by this, indeed, I don't think she fully comprehends, but I get the distinct impression that she will be investigating this further.