As many of you know, I am Spokana Spikehoof of the Wolfmane. What some of you do not know is that I am also a Grand Crusader of the Argent Crusade. In my team with Argents, I have met many new and interesting souls of Azeroth. From the tiniest of Gnomes to the fluffiest of Pandaren… And very well versed in cooking, Pandaren I might add.
Once some years ago, I was stationed in the Eastern Plaugelands at Light’s Hope after the Northrend War had ended and the World Destroyer had been put down. It was the time of Pandaren coming to our lands and us going to Pandaria.
It was during this time that I was blessed with the story of the Great Turtle, Shen-zin Su. A story that I will relate to you lot this evening.
Centuries ago, a sea turtle hatched at Turtle Beach in the Krasarang Wilds, in the land of Pandaria, a place I have not ventured to myself only heard the stories that have been told. But I go off track.
This turtle presumably lived a normal everyday life, reaching adulthood and becoming a creature of noteworthy size. One fateful day, the turtle met and was befriended by a pandaren named Liu Lang. They would spend days together, Liu offering the turtle vegetation to eat while Shen-zin Su would take the Pandaren for rides along the coast.
One faithful day, Liu Lang made a decision that would change the path of his people’s history. Not content to simply spend his time on the mist-shrouded isle of Pandaria, Liu Lang sought to discover what had happened to the rest of the world beyond the mists.
Liu Lang spoke with Shen-zin Su about his plans to venture forth, but needed to craft a boat in order to do so. Shen-zin Su chuckled softly as a large turtle would and nudged the Pandaren with his snout before offering to be Liu Lang’s raft.
To that end, Liu Lang set out on the back of the giant sea turtle, as the turtle informed him that all of turtle kind could always find their way back to the place of their birth. A new plan formed that rested on this new information that turtles could find their way to their birth lands -- guaranteeing that Liu Lang could return.
The Pandaren and the turtle began their long travels from the Wilds’ shores, and Liu Lang watched the coastline shrink as Shen-zin Su swam into the waters. For a moment, a mere moment, the Pandaren considered what his life would be like if he remained. But the Wanderlust he felt was so overpowering that the thought fluttered away on the sea breeze.
Liu Lang made the journey back to Pandaria every five years, seeking like-minded individuals to accompany him on the quickly growing back of Shen-zin Su. Though many of Pandaria's natives thought the old fool mad, there were still those stricken with the same Wanderlust that wanted to accompany Liu Lang.
However as time moved on, those numbers eventually dwindled, until at last Liu Lang found that none were left. Shen-zin Su swam out to sea, leaving the mists of Pandaria one last time. And Liu Lang traveled to a sheltered part of the turtle's back, planted his staff in the ground, and became one with the land.
His staff sprouted into a curious tree, one which still exists today. As later elders of the Wandering Isle passed on, they too traveled to the same secluded wood, planting their staves, becoming one with the land, and creating a secluded forest now known as the Wood of Staves.
As for the rest of the Wandering Isle, its population thrived. And although all pandaren on the Wandering Isle came from bloodlines of pandaren with wandering souls, Shen-zin Su stopped visiting Azeroth's continents, both the turtle and its denizens content with sailing Azeroth's oceans, lost and carefree.
