Before long, Tian Sang had organized the various branches of troll voodoo knowledge. He also recalled how events were unfolding: the Amani Tribe he belonged to had accepted Orgrim Doomhammer's invitation under the leadership of Chief Zul'jin, and gone to war against the High Elves, humans, and Dwarves. His mentor, Kal'ma, had also set out with the army.
"This means I'll have to get stronger even faster." As Tian Sang mulled over his memories of the story, a bitter smile crept across his face. The Dark Portal had already opened, and the war waged by the Orcs and Forest Trolls was doomed to fail. He was too late to save it. All he could do was work hard to grow stronger and survive the High Elves' likely retaliation after the defeat.
"Voodoo magic." Tian Sang began to focus on browsing the voodoo knowledge in his mind.
Azeroth was a world of swords and magic, home to all kinds of spells and martial arts. Many of the races living on the continent had developed their own distinctive skills in both, and the Forest Trolls were no exception. Their magical knowledge came from the special discipline of voodoo.
Voodoo originated in the Trolls' worship of the Loa. Trolls used the term Loa for all beings that transcended death, whether they were tangible or intangible.
The Loa included dark, primal, animal-like spirits, the souls of the dead, and even certain unusual creatures. Some Trolls also believed that an enlightened Troll could become a Loa after death.
The Trolls worshipped the Loa, and every Troll family had its own patron. Some Loa were even worshipped by an entire tribe, a city-state, or even a whole nation.
As a Witch Doctor who had studied under a Watcher, Tian Sang had also taken part in rituals to communicate with the Spirit of the Black Raven, Oracle Maide, and Snake Goddess Ulatek under Kal'ma's guidance. None of them had ever responded to him, but he could at least call himself a faint believer.
Though he had yet to form a true connection with any Loa, Tian Sang had a favorable impression of the Spirit of the Black Raven. Under this Loa's influence, Kal'ma, his esteemed priest mentor, had rejected some of the Trolls' cruel customs and proposed reforms.
Kal'ma's ideas had never come to fruition, given the influence of Chief Zul'jin and the harsh conditions in which the Amani Trolls lived. But as his apprentice, Tian Sang was grateful. He had never eaten anyone or offered anyone in a blood sacrifice, and he had the Spirit of the Black Raven's influence on Kal'ma to thank for that.
Voodoo magic had grown from the complex, barbaric faith of the Loa. Its scope was vast: knowledge of the flesh and soul gained through blood sacrifices to the Loa was combined with the use of herbs, shadow, and the elements to create spells and potions.
Unlike other spellcasters, Witch Doctors could become capable healers and ranged magic users even without magic power, relying instead on voodoo potions they made with their own hands. Tian Sang happened to be a Witch Doctor without magic power.
"Damn it, so I'm a dud after all." When he realized he was still a Witch Doctor with no magic power, Tian Sang couldn't help cursing aloud.
He had thought he'd immediately be able to wield supernatural energy and become a wizard who could command the winds and rain. Who could have guessed he'd be a dud after all? Tian Sang felt a little dispirited. But when he realized that having no magic power meant he'd been spared the war levy and left behind in Zul'Aman, he couldn't help feeling conflicted.
After all, taking part in a war that couldn't be won wasn't a wise choice. If he lacked magic power, he could try to gain it. But once he lost his life, he wouldn't get a second chance.
Magic power was the foundation of all spellcasting ability: the body's mysterious force, the miracle of life, the mind's intangible power. There were many ways to gain it. Unlike the meditation exercises he'd read about over and over in novels, magic power could come from devoted faith, exposure to energy, the study of knowledge, or physical training.
"That's way too mystical." Tian Sang searched his memories for anything related to "magic power" and grimaced. The way it worked was just like religion in his previous life: praying to the gods required sincerity, and if your prayers weren't answered, you simply hadn't been sincere enough. But in the realm of magic, the bounds of "sincerity" seemed even less clear. It was as if you could use it if you felt like it, and if you didn't, then too bad.
"Forget it. I'd better study alchemy first!" After thinking it over for a while, Tian Sang decided to give up on exploring "magic power" for now. It was too hard to pin down, and he urgently needed strength to protect himself. He might as well start with something easier to understand.
The word "doctor" in Witch Doctor made their unique nature clear. Their voodoo potions were like traditional Chinese medicine: most ingredients came from nature, and plants, animals, and minerals could all be made into potions. These potions could provide medical support to allies, weaken enemies, or even harm them.
Tian Sang went through the potion recipes in his memories one by one and carefully wrote them down. These recipes had been developed by generations of Troll Witch Doctors. Though they were already established formulas, their full potential had yet to be unlocked.
Troll society was steeped in superstition. They believed Grave Moss was poisonous not because of its actual contents, but because it grew in graveyards and had been tainted by the aura of death.
It was like the traditional Chinese belief that eating an organ could nourish the same organ in the body. People believed pig kidneys could strengthen human kidneys, not because of their nutritional value, but because they were the pig's kidneys and could replenish the human ones.
Tian Sang's goal was to determine the actual effects of the ingredients in Troll potion recipes, then use that knowledge to develop new applications.
In the spirit of research, Tian Sang set out to sample every herb under the sun. He tried a little of each nontoxic potion, experiencing its effects firsthand, then examined the main and supporting ingredients in each formula one by one and sampled them as well.
Voodoo potions and some medicinal ingredients tasted awful. But effort brought results. Tian Sang quickly worked out the effects of many ingredients and developed several new formulas, including topical medicines that strengthened bones and stimulated muscles, which could effectively help correct his posture.
The Trolls' environment left them naturally prone to a certain degree of hunching. As a result, their bodies, which should have been lean-waisted and broad-backed, became hunched, with bowlegs. Their height, which should have been close to three meters, was generally only a little over two.
Tian Sang hated the Trolls' poor posture with a passion, so he forced himself to correct his stance. The process caused him considerable pain and injury, but the medicine helped heal the damage and ease the pain. It also helped him grow from 1.6 meters to nearly two meters tall.
While testing the medicines, Tian Sang gained more than knowledge and improved posture. His physique also grew stronger to some degree, and his body became sturdier and more agile. That was one of the Trolls' physical advantages.
Though Trolls had the same five internal organs as humans, their bodies were different in other ways. Troll blood was much thicker than human blood, and Trolls had a habit of using potions to strengthen their bodies. For instance, Headhunters could take berserker potions during certain rituals to become Berserker Headhunters, accelerating their regeneration and gaining the power of berserk fury.