Augustine's Mission

Augustine continued forward on foot, carefully avoiding the Syndicate patrols that were everywhere. His warhorse had unfortunately been killed by a hail of arrows in the previous battle. Relying on the advantage of his armor, he had fought his way through and slipped into the grasslands to evade the enemy's pursuit.

According to the crude map Roderick had given him before his departure, he should now have been on a stretch of high ground called Boldergol, not far from Stromgarde's outer walls.

The cold winds blowing from the Arathi Highlands were far fiercer than those in Hillsbrad. The waist-high wild grass gave him cover, but it also made his progress much more difficult.

But to avoid the Syndicate soldiers patrolling the roads, he had no choice but to venture deep into the grasslands and go around them.

From time to time, the Arathi Highlands' native predators, Highland Raptors with sharp fangs and claws, appeared in his sight before swiftly vanishing into the grass. Augustine did not dare provoke such beasts. Highland Raptors moved like the wind across the vast plains, and they always traveled in packs.

Once one was stained with raptor blood, the vengeance instinct etched deep into their genes would drive the entire pack to hunt their enemy like wasps defending a hive, refusing to stop until the foe was destroyed.

The grass beside him began to rustle unnaturally. Having become extremely sharp-eyed through years of battle in Northrend, Augustine drew his longsword without hesitation.

With a hoarse shriek, the creature attacked. The prepared Augustine raised his shield before him and slashed backhandedly. Dark green insect blood instantly splattered across the shield. A huge Grassland Wolf Spider was cut in half and collapsed to the ground, its long legs still twitching faintly.

Before long, flocks of vultures and