G'nathus Elaka

As Kupaka told them about Tortollan traditions and history, Zul'ra and the others arrived at a temple. It was made of stone and bore an unmistakable Troll style, with square projections around its doorway. A ring of purple magical light, however, shrouded the entrance.

"Kurtaki, bravely face the King of Beasts' trial!" Zul'ra said at once, looking at the ring of magic. He didn't give Kurtaki a chance to answer. Your turn. I'll cover you from here.

"G'hnir is fierce and swift, with sharp teeth and claws and a keen mind." Facing Zul'ra's goading, Kurtaki didn't falter. He recited the verse loudly, then knelt before the temple.

"He is skilled at lying in wait, and patient. His focus never wavers, and his steps are sure.

"Fools suffer—but not G'hnir. He is wise beyond measure, with a fiery temper.

"If you earn the Loa's favor, he will grant you power, and his will is just.

"He accepts those with boundless ability. If you have what it takes, face the trial."

The Troll poem vividly described G'nathus Elaka, the King of Beasts and Bane of Prey, the God of Tigers. Kurtaki devoutly recited the verse, then bowed before the temple and stood still with his eyes closed.

As Kurtaki faced the trial with his eyes closed in prayer, the Trolls who had come along to protect him and the Tortollans who had guided them—including Kupaka—also knelt. Seeing this, Zul'ra put aside his various thoughts and distractions, and knelt with the others, humbly beseeching the Tiger God to reveal himself.

"What do you seek?" A deep, unfamiliar voice sounded beside him, accompanied by a feeling of awe. Hearing it, Zul'ra responded in a low voice, already familiar with this sort of thing.

"I seek the Loa's guidance." He had come to find out why the Loa weren't answering, but it paid to be polite.

"What has the Leaping Tiger taught you?"

"Patience, focus, and the courage to act." Zul'ra thought briefly about G'hnir's hymn before answering. Every Loa had a different temperament and specialty. All he had to do was hit the right note and give an answer that was close enough.

"Where does your strength come from?"

"My wisdom." Zul'ra answered without hesitation.

"Think carefully about it again."

"My resolve." Zul'ra thought for a moment, then changed his answer.

"What is a life of happiness?"

"Glory."

"What do those with foresight see?"

"A vast world."

"Think again." The Tiger God's prompt made Zul'ra ponder. To a tiger skilled at hunting, the world before him was nature—a hunting ground of his own. But perhaps he should answer more humbly.

"I belong to nature."

"Come in. I am waiting for you." The voice answered. Zul'ra opened his eyes to find the Tortollans and his companions still kneeling around him. The ring of purple light over the temple entrance had vanished.

Was I the only one who answered the questions correctly? Looking at everyone kneeling on the ground, Zul'ra felt a cold sweat break out across his forehead. He didn't mind talking to a Loa, but to be honest, facing a living Loa alone was a little...

"Come in." The voice sounded beside him. Zul'ra's plan to call everyone in with him faltered, and he could only steel himself and step forward, crossing the doorway that had been shrouded in purple light. As soon as he passed through, the purple ring sprang back up over the entrance.

Zul'ra looked at the purple ring blocking the doorway and grimaced. It seemed the Tiger God wanted to speak with him alone and had no intention of letting the others inside. But why had he gone to such lengths?

Having entered the temple, Zul'ra had no chance to change his mind. He composed himself and walked farther inside. In the dark temple, he saw an idol in the voodoo style.

The voodoo-style idol was built around a stone stele covered in patterns, with a square golden tiger's head at its top. A stone slab sat in front of it, supported at either side. Usually, incense or magical dust was placed on such a slab, but before the King of Beasts' shrine, Zul'ra saw an orange glow hovering above it.

"A ring?" Zul'ra focused his gaze. Inside the flame-like orange glow was a ring.

"This is the Ring of Tides."

A deep voice came from behind the shrine. Zul'ra quickly looked up to see a giant tiger peering out from behind it, four or five meters tall at the shoulder. Fiery red fur ran along its back, waves rippled across its coat, and its chin and neck were snowy white. Its tail stretched out on the other side of the shrine, its fangs protruded past its lips, and a scar marked its right eye. Yet the shadow it dragged from the darkness and the gaze with which it surveyed everything made it seem like a king patrolling the jungle.

"King of Beasts, God of Tigers, G'nathus Elaka, Zul'ra pays his respects." Looking at the giant tiger radiating such an imposing presence, Zul'ra composed himself and showed his reverence. This wasn't his first time seeing a living Loa. Before meeting G'hnir, he had seen Rezan the King's Protector at a Zandalar ceremony. He had only one word for that Devilsaur: loaded.

"Your heart is full of cunning." G'hnir looked at the Troll with downward-curving tusks, five fingers, pale blue-gray skin, black hair casually tied behind his head, and a Zandalari sword at his waist. Then he shifted his gaze to the side and bared the sharp teeth beyond his lips.

"I don't know how to defend myself." Zul'ra searched his heart. These Loa weren't omnipotent gods, and no omnipotent god existed in the world. But they did possess certain special abilities: they could read people's hearts and emotions accurately, and their minds were more nimble than humans'.

"No need to defend yourself. You can take that as a compliment." G'hnir stepped out from behind the shrine, revealing his full length of nearly ten meters, tail and all.

"Then I should thank you!" Zul'ra followed the giant tiger's lead.

"I hear you. Now, I want to tell you about myself." G'hnir leaped lightly onto a small boulder, his agility at odds with his enormous body. He folded his four legs beneath him and lay down, his massive form rising and falling with each breath.

"I'll listen carefully." Zul'ra looked at the giant tiger lying on the ground, walked over, and sat cross-legged on a clean stone slab, ready to listen.

"That Ring of Tides was taken from a Naga named Mepgira several hundred years ago. She was a servant of a powerful being from the depths of the ocean. She came to Darkwood Beach and attacked Kupaka's village, slaughtering my warriors and many others." The giant tiger's voice sank lower, and his ragged breathing made his body shudder.

"You're furious!" From the giant tiger's reaction, Zul'ra could guess what had happened. The tiger hadn't accepted any followers for centuries. Was he feeling guilty for failing to protect the Tortollan faithful and their village?

"Yes. I had every reason to be angry. When I arrived, I saw blood everywhere. In my fury, I tore Mepgira apart and took her ring." The giant tiger rose from the boulder and turned around on its narrow surface. The whiskers beside his lips stood stiffly, twitching, but after a while they drooped again.

"But at the very moment I killed her, she cast a curse upon my warriors, trapping them in a battle they could never win."