Tortaka's Tortollan

Just as Zul'ra was feeling out the hull of the Zandalari golden warship and making his own little calculations, the vessel successfully delivered him and Kurtaki to their destination: Darkwood Beach, located in the northeast of the Vol'dun desert on Zandalar Island.

Because the warship was too massive, it dared not approach too closely for fear of running aground, so Zul'ra and Kurtaki, escorted by a squad of Zandalari guards, took a small boat rowed by wooden oars to reach the beach.

The area of Darkwood Beach was not small, but a village is a significant target, and with the Zandalari guards in tow, the Tortollan village was soon located. However, Zul'ra and his party also stirred up quite a commotion because of their entourage.

Although Trolls and Tortollan lived in relative peace on Zandalar Island, the Trolls could not shake their notorious reputation. Zul'ra and Kurtaki arriving with a group of soldiers naturally terrified the local Tortollan, who mistook them for raiders, prompting the able-bodied men and women to grab their weapons in defense.

Despite the misunderstanding, Kurtaki quelled the agitation of his accompanying guards, and Zul'ra attempted to step forward to communicate in Common. Within two sentences, the misunderstanding was resolved. Upon learning that Kurtaki had come to make a pilgrimage to the King of Beasts, perhaps due to their shared faith, they even hosted the party.

"I am called Kupaka, an elder of the Tortaka tribe. Guests, as you know, we are also followers of the King of Beasts." Kupaka, the elder of the Tortaka Tortollan, received Zul'ra and Kurtaki, introduced himself, and acknowledged their shared faith.

"That is truly wonderful. Kupaka, do you know what has happened to the King of Beasts? He has not accepted any followers for many years." Kurtaki looked at the Tortollan and asked with some urgency. Since these Tortollan were also followers of the King of Beasts and belonged to the same camp, he wondered if they knew the situation regarding the Tiger.

"Pilgrim, I can understand your feelings, but I am disheartened, for Tortaka has not responded to our prayers for hundreds of years. He does not even allow us to enter the temple." Kupaka looked at the anxious Kurtaki and shook his head slightly.

"You cannot enter the temple?" Kurtaki looked at the Tortollan, stunned for a moment. The urgency on his face vanished, replaced by a heavy sense of suspicion—could these Tortollan have committed sacrilege?

"Ahem, Elder Kupaka, can you tell us where the temple of the King of Beasts is located?" Zul'ra looked at Kupaka with interest, examining him from head to toe. This was his first time seeing a Tortollan up close. He saw the yellow-skinned, beak-mouthed elder wearing a leather ear-flap hat, with glowing bottles hanging from his waist and several rolls of animal hide strapped to his back, including a glowing lamp post of unknown purpose.

"It is nearby; I can take you there." Kupaka stood up slowly and offered to lead the way.

"Perhaps on the way, you could tell us about the deeds of the King of Beasts." Zul'ra watched Kupaka stand up and could not help but speak.

"Of course, that is necessary. We are also very desperate to know why the King of Beasts has become like this!" Kupaka moved his thick, short legs, narrating as he walked.

Although the Tortollan's movement appeared slow, they did not walk slowly. Zul'ra and Kurtaki followed him with interest, listening to him recount the connection between the Tiger and the Tortaka Tortollan.

The Darkwood Beach where the Tortaka lived was not as peaceful as it appeared; it had originally been plagued by sea Nagas, Murloc, and various wild beasts and monsters. Under the threat of their environment, the Tortollan had established a connection with the King of Beasts.

When in danger, the Tortollan would call upon the King of Beasts for help. The followers of the King of Beasts, or even the King of Beasts himself, would strike down the invading enemies. But these days lasted until a few hundred years ago, when the King of Beasts suddenly lost contact.

Not only did the Tiger lose contact, but his temple was also surrounded by a kind of magic that no longer allowed any outsiders to step inside. When the Tortollan knelt in penance before the temple, only one sentence echoed in their minds: What are you seeking?

"That sounds like a question, a test, a riddle!" Zul'ra blinked and looked at Kurtaki beside him.

"Yes." Kurtaki listened to Zul'ra's words and abandoned the thought that the Tortaka Tortollan were sacrilegious, as the King of Beasts seemed to have rejected everyone, not just the Tortaka. But what was he testing his believers for?

"But why would the King of Beasts test us? We have never been disrespectful in any way!" Kupaka sounded somewhat resentful and confused. Hearing his words, Kurtaki looked displeased, but before he could speak, Zul'ra took over.

"Ahem, let us leave this question to our scholar, Kurtaki! Besides being a devout believer of the King of Beasts, he is also a knowledgeable scholar-priest who will find the answer we seek." Zul'ra sensed the faint resentment in Kupaka's words and, seeing Kurtaki's displeased expression, steered the conversation away.

"I will certainly pass the test of the King of Beasts." Kurtaki listened to Zul'ra, lifted his chin proudly, and thought, I am not like you impious Tortollan; I am a devout believer of the King of Beasts and a scholar to boot.

"I see arrogance in your expression. Are you looking down on us Tortollan? Let me tell you, the things I have seen could scare your shell right off." Kupaka looked at Kurtaki's expression, sensed his arrogance, and bristled.

"Kupaka, I mean no offense. We Trolls do not have shells." Zul'ra heard Kupaka's earnest words and felt a strange urge to laugh, but he kept a straight face and replied.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I just mistook you for one of my own kind, but I must also tell you seriously that we Tortollan are also seekers of knowledge. We roam the seabed, salvaging countless rare treasures, and have witnessed countless things you do not know." Kupaka maintained the good nature of the Tortollan but also very seriously corrected one thing.

"You still salvage on the seabed!" Zul'ra's eyes lit up at Kupaka's words. Seabed salvage sounded very interesting—recovering treasures from the quiet depths of the ocean.

"Forgive me for asking, but are these your salvage tools for the seabed?" Zul'ra suddenly remembered and pointed to the glowing lamp post behind Kupaka's head and the glowing long-necked bottles at his waist.

"Yes, that is correct. These are indeed our salvage tools from the seabed. We Tortollan also have a brilliant civilization. Our Stonehill Defender is like your Rastali guards, protecting our village. Our seers are like your priests, establishing connections with the spirits. Just like your totems, we Tortollan record inscriptions on parchment to create spell scrolls, and we have our own traditions..."

Kupaka nodded to confirm Zul'ra's guess and began to chatter incessantly about Tortollan traditions. Faced with his narration, even Kurtaki straightened his posture to listen carefully; Zandalari Trolls have always held history and tradition in high regard.