Kruss Cragshot

Kruss Cragshot (almost always followed by the homicidal crab Irritant) is a 19 year old orc huntress. Priding herself on her skills with a bow, the youth inherent in her makes her a very agile, talkative, and high-spirited orc. She has very deep-rooted observations of the world, and her primary goal in life, other than to serve the Horde the best she can, is to stay happy. It seems that spending so much time in trees, waiting for enemies to come by, has given her a lot of opportunity to think about life, and underneath the jokey exterior, lies a thoughtful, and determined mind. Sharp and intelligent, she's quick to devise personal tactics for herself, and to get out of difficult situations that her witty tongue gets her into. She's by no means a disrespectful grunt, and indeed the clan she serves in, Dagger and Totem, is a target of her devotion. It's believed that one day, she may become a well respected member of the Horde, but for now, she's just serving like the rest of the younglings.
==Appearance==
Looking at the young orc, Kruss, one could tell her path in life easily enough. Though her muscles are broad and strong, they are not strong enough to be those of a warrior. Her manner is too relaxed for her to be a shaman, and she smiles genuinely too much to be a warlock. Everything from the way she walks, the clothes she wears, and the accessories about her body make it clear that she is a huntress.
Her appearance is one attuned with nature. Dark green, almost emerald seaweed mixes in with her brown hair, as if just as natural and as part of her body as her mane. A tight bark choker circles her neck, and braclets and bands made of leafs, grass and twigs are abundant on her arms. She has marked her body, scribbled her identity all over it. Her tusks are engraved with tiny symbols, which seem to be of no purpose, or pattern. 
The spear she carries has been dented, and appears rusty. A brilliant white crusaders' aura covers the tip, which seems to be the only redeeming part of the weapon. Her bow and arrows are in much better condition. It seems they've been lovingly cared for, although she is often spotted with only a few arrows, due to her bad memory.
The tabard that adorns her chest is very well kept, and she wears it with pride. Often she can be seen gripping it, and tugging at the material. It's the least natural part of her attire, yet it seems to get the most attention.
This tabard is matched by a black choker, tightly wrapped around her neck. The short spikes running around it are red in colour, except for the frontal two - which are, seemingly the fangs of wolves, slightly bigger than the iron spikes themselves.
Glinting brown eyes look out at the world searchingly and with an amiable stare. Occasionally, when excited or focused, her tongue lolls out.
Kruss rarely is anything other than excited or focused...
==Background==
Kruss was born in the bad old days of Internment. Like many of her fellow pups who were brought into the world under the same conditions, she was separated from her parents very quickly. Indeed, even before she was two weeks old, she was at another camp entirely, being nurtured by a combination of human midwives and older orc women. Her young childhood was a lethargic, if curious, one. Whilst most Orc pups rarely played together in the camps, and spent most of their time lowly growling to themselves, Kruss picked up an early habit of talking incessantly. She'd talk to anyone. Other pups, adult orcs, and even a few guards. Of this latter group, she received mixed reactions. Some humoured her, if only for a while. Others scorned her, and told her to keep quiet. Some others showed no restraint at all, and favoured punching her in the face, gauntlets and all.
Because of this, her early optimism for life was cut short. Where there had been a spark of youthful optimism, she now only looked down at the ground. It was a confusing time for Kruss, being born in imprisonment. She didn't really know who her people were, or why they were forced to endure the humilation and strife of Internment. The elders sometimes told tales, but these were only snapshots, far from the full picture that Kruss wanted to know. She had a life, but it didn't feel like hers. She was a spectator to a world she did not understand.
And she had to go through this early life largely by herself. Nobody was there to love her. Most of the other orcs held the view that she talked too much, and smiled too much. Even in her quieter years, when she couldn't find anything to enthuse about or be interested in, the stigma held. She couldn't even take part in communal misery. She was confined to the outskirts.
But when the rumours started going round that someone was freeing the orcs in the other camps from oppression, Kruss began to cheer up. Her happiness returned in nervous leaps and bounds, and only continued to surge when older orcs tried to dismiss this as twaddle. It was hope, and she grabbed it with both hands. She wanted freedom, even if she didn't know what it tasted like. She started to wonder what the great Orcish heroes she had been told about would think, if they knew she, in times of misery, was still thumping her heart. Thoughts like this elated her.
And so, at the age of ten, Kruss had the happiest, most joyous moment of her life. She knew it had been coming, but she had no idea when. It came as a complete surprise to see her fellow orcs laying siege to her prison camp, led by a mighty, bellowing figure. This figure, whom she would later know as Warchief Thrall, was able to control Earth, using the very rock itself to smash down the walls of the stronghold. Kruss grinned and laughed and cheered throughout it all, ecstatic to the point of exhaustion. She knew that her people were capable of great feats, even if she'd seen precisely none. But this here, this was proof.
==Involvement==
Kruss Cragshot is a trusted grunt within Dagger and Totem, where she fills out the role of huntress and alchemist. As she was taken directly from the orphanage by Gremkarc of Orgrimmar when she came of age to aid in the war efforts, she's never had the chance to become an affiliate with any other organisations. She's assisted a few, such as the Emerald Circle (based in Felwood), and the Argent Dawn/Crusade, but it's always been because of orders given to her by her clan.
== Companions ==
Asides from Irritant, Kruss has had a few friends and companions in the past.
She was, for example, the one who got Nelai to join Dagger and Totem, after a long and dangerous night "hunting" giants on the cliffs of Azshara. They share friendly chats together, and, as they're both young, their interests are quite similar. The difference being, Kruss is normally more entertained if someone gets their head chopped off in the process. Nelai is good friends with Irritant too, for some indecipherable reason.
==Strategy==
Kruss is an archer, and of course, her strategy is focused on picking enemies apart at range.
==Quotes==
"Geez, Irritant. Do you want me to throw ya off Hellfire, huh?"
"I thought at that moment that not even an ogre sitting on my head could make me feel any different. We cheered and cheered. I’ve never settled since then. Never. You’re right. I’m an optimist. Why aren’t you?" - on being scolded by a brooding grunt in The Barres, about being too uplifted. The incident she refers to is breaking out of Internment.
== Trivia ==
Coming soon!
==See also==
Training with the Chieftain - An early story about Kruss, wherein she undertakes some unconventional archery practice. 
Hear It In The Rain - A story about Kruss in Un'Goro, during heavy rainfall.
Stream of Relief - A story about Kruss in Sholazar Basin, not during heavy rainfall.
==External links==
* External link
Category:Characters
Category:Horde
Category:Orc
Category:Hunter
Category:Archive
Category:Female