(2021-07-18) Earthen and the Acceptable Variations of Uldaman, Blue Squad Log

Details

Author:	Athena
Summary:	Cobalt Company's Blue Squad ventures into Uldaman to uncover what has remained buried for thousands of years, and to recover a possibly cursed artifact for local gnome who is a DEAR DEAR FRIEND of Elohad Ference and Cobalt Company at large.
Rating:	T for Teen

Logging started on 07/18/2021

Oranna waves at Elohad.

[Auralind]: Ishnu alah, Oranna.

[Elohad]: Blue Squad's being debriefed inside.

Cressidha smiles. "Oranna, hello. Mr. Sharpgear is already inside."

[Oranna]: Elune-adore, Auralind. *she sounds a little breathless and her hair isn't quite tucked away properly* Righ'. I'll be righ' there.

Sandy runs up to the group. "Sorry I'm late! I missed my tram!"

[In HQ]

[Finn]: I'll not mince words, you Companions! You are about to embark upon something that is quite … dangerous. But fortune favors the bold, no?

Finn twirls his moustache and laughs.

[Niris]: Mm.

Ivri stands beside Dane who is sitting in the chair. Right there. Sitting.

Oranna arrives slightly breathless, and her hair is not quite braided properly. She waves at everyone, and smiles at Finn.

[Finn]: There is, however, one thing I'd like to add to your objectives, if you wouldn't mind.

Finn smiles and inclines his head towards Oranna.

Ivri waves. "Hey, Hexy."

[Hexera]: Hello Ivri. Keeping yourself busy?

[Finn]: Deep within the bowels of Uldaman lies a silver statuette. It may look meager, but I assure you, it holds immense power. Its properties are of high interest to me and some of my … friends, shall we say.

Niris arches an Eyebrow at Finn.

Ivri nods at Finnegan. "What does it look like?"

Jocoza nods agreeably.

[Finn]: It should look something like a dwarven priest, though incredibly ancient, and from what I gather … rather plain, aside from the material it's made out of!

[Niris]: What sort of 'immense power' are we talking of? Is it dangerous?

[Finn]: It is of *extreme* importance that you find this before the Dark Irons do, or hundreds, maybe thousands, will die.
[Niris]: … so that's a yes.

[Jocoza]: Titan thing? *Jo asks, darting a glance to Oranna*

[Niris]: Is it dangerous to -us-, if we find it?

Finn continues stroking his moustache, nodding towards Niris. "I would not recommend trying to open it or 'access' its power in any way while you are down there. It could prove most disastrous."

Niris nods wearily at Finn.

Finn chirps in the negative, shaking his head a few times. "Not terribly, no, not unless it's broken or damaged."

Oranna frowns a little and tilts her head. "A dwarven priest? Is it a new thing then? It wouldna be verra old, if it looked much like tha', I wouldna think. We've no' had priests fer all tha' long."

[Niris]: Very well.

[Jocoza]: We are always the right amount of careful.

Finn glances at Oranna. "While in reality it may not *be* a dwarven priest, that is how it should appear, based on my studies. It could be any number of things dating back to the old days."

Oranna nods thoughtfully. "All righ'. Somethin' tha' looks like a dwarf in robes then. We'll find it. No' many o' those, a' least."

[Finn]: In one, my dear! Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for the boldest among you, it should be located in the most secure area of the tunnels.

Ivri grins. "Oh goody."

[Finn]: …I pray to see each of you back, alive, and in good health.

[Niris]: Well, lucky you. They will be.

Niris smooths her robe again primly.

Finnegan smiles at Niris.

Jocoza smiles at Niris.

Oranna smiles at Niris, and pats Befound a little.

[Finn]: You are in good hands. Now! Do you have any inquiries for me before you embark on this *grand* expedition?

Finn pushes himself up.

Dane frowns in thought, grunting, before he slowly shakes his head.

[Oranna]: Did we e'er find out if those troggs an' th' Dark Irons are actually workin' together down there? Or jus' a coincidence an' no' attackin' each other?

[Finn]: It is likely they've formed some sort of symbiotic relationship. The troggs there, while larger, and slightly more intelligent than other breeds, don't seem to be particularly talented in diplomacy.

[Niris]: I suppose we'd better just get started. No idea how big a Lost City might be.

[Finn]: Navigation shall be treacherous. You all will be going further, and deeper, than anyone else has gone in recorded history.

Niris looks around at her squad again and counts heads. Including Atley's.

Oranna nods and blows out a breath. "Aye." She rolls her shoulders and looks to Niris for her lead.

Ivri backhands Atley's shoulder before he can laugh or smirk or do something stupid.

[Niris]: Are we ready, then, all?

Dane feigns gruff innocence with another grunt.

Ivri shakes her hand, having forgotten those dang shoulder guards.

[Finn]: Good fortune to you.

[Ivri]: Ready.

Niris tugs at her gloves.

[Niris]: Thank you, Mr Sharpgear.

[Jocoza]: Absolutely.

Finn smirks, tugging on his hood and mask, just waddling out this time.

[Oranna]: Aye, ready as we'll get, here.

[Niris]: You'll hear from us.

[Finn]: If you survive and succeed, it shall be *me* thanking *you.*

Finnegan bows before Niris.

[Niris]: You do enjoy instilling confidence, don't you?

Niris curtsies before Finn.

Oranna waits for the puff of smoke, hands ready to clap.

[Finn]: Oh, I have nothing but the *absolute* confidence in your abilities.

[Niris]: Mm-hm. All right, my Murder Ladies.

Finnegan winks slyly at Oranna.

[He disappears.]

Oranna claps at the disappearing act.

[Hexera]: *perks up* Hmm?

Ivri swears virulently. "I can never catch him!"

Jocoza giggles at Oranna.

Niris grins wickedly at Hexera.

[Dane]: Sure is keen on talkin', innhee'.

[Ivri]: Shh.

[Jocoza]: Give it a few years, I bet you will one day.

[Niris]: Don't burn down the HQ, Hexera, will you?

Oranna checks Befound over one more time, and gives her an extra fish, whispering something to the cat. Befound looks Profoundly Insulted somehow, and Oranna rolls her eyes.

Dane nods in farewell to Hexera.

[Hexera]: I make no promises, though I'll need to be running to a tailoring workshop shortly to work on some things. Everyone enjoy!

[Niris]: Thank you!

[Jocoza]: Or if you do. Replace the furniture? *smiles innocently at Hex*

[Oranna]: Is it jus' me…

[Oranna]: Or was tha' a new rug?

[Dane]: Dunno'.

[Niris]: Wait, was it?

[Oranna]: I coulda sworn it was a different pattern.

[They go to Loch Modan and make their way to Uldaman.]

[Jocoza]: Sorry I can't transport us right there. Mage rules, you know.

[Niris]: Well, I suppose it's a lovely day to tunnel into a lost city full of terrible magic.

Dane grunts, cracking his neck. "S'get to it, then."

Oranna mutters about ruins.

[Niris]: Let's.

Oranna looks over at Jo, as if gauging to see how she's doing, smiling warmly.

Dane glances between them with a bushy brow perked.

[Oranna]: Thank ye, fer all the bullets, Jo. They've been a real help, an' verra useful.

Jocoza smiles back, looking at Oranna with faintly luminous goggled eyes.

[Jocoza]: Glad it was a help. Sorry I got a little carried away on the amount. You know how it is, just start doing a thing and then it's been a lot of hours.

Oranna nods thoughtfully.

[Jocoza]: I brought a few extra, just in case you run out.

[Oranna]: Oh, ah, Bargrimm did much th' same. Jus' in case, I s'ppose. *she pats a Very Full ammo pouch*

[They come to a high perch that Dane obviously intends to jump off of.]

[Dane]: How's your legs?

Dane asks the group.

Niris lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

[Ivri]: Wow…

Oranna groans.

[Dane]: There we go, then.

[He jumps off and makes the others follow him.]

[Oranna]: Really. Ach…

[Jocoza]: If any of the rest of you ever want a gun, or anything, do let me know.

Jocoza slowly drifts down, unperturbed by the drop.

[Dane]: Keep n'eye out for these shrooms, here.

[Dane]: M'starting to see the city now.

[Niris]: Troggs.

Oranna mutters about what she'd give to be back in her 30s again.

[Ivri]: Amazing.

[Dane]: These'ns *are* bigger.

Oranna pushes back her hair from her eyes, repinning it more carefully.

[Jocoza]: I think it's about time to try…

[Jocoza]: My death ray.

Jocoza smiles oddly.

[What does the Death Ray do? It does Death.]

[Jocoza]: They… do seem big.

[The troggs suddenly seem a lot bigger, as Murder Ladies get quite a lot smaller…uh, temporarily.]

[Niris]: Oh, Jo. What?

[Jocoza]: I uh… that was not intentional.

[Jocoza]: But it's not permanent.

Niris smiles at Jo.

[Dane]: This group, here.

[Ivri]: Ok, if I keep getting bigger and smaller, I'm gonna hurl.

[Jocoza]: I mean eventually I'm gonna get the settings right. Right?

[Niris]: Bless, they just swarm, don't they? I need a drink.

Dane glances around, squinting. "L'rest here."

[Niris]: … of water, I mean.

Oranna frowns and looks over at the weird dead body statue thing?

[There is a statue of what could be a large dwarf (?) man (?) that looks as though it fell over and was slowly dying—deliberately in that position.]

[Oranna]: Wha' is this?

Ivri hops up on the statue to peer at its face.

[Dane]: Statue, or sommat'.

[Jocoza]: That's an odd posture for a statue.

[Niris]: … is it?

[Ivri]: He must be someone. Ring on his finger. Big ol' book.

[Jocoza]: Why would you carve someone collapsed in a corner?

[Niris]: It's — yes. Why would you pose a statue like that?

Dane reaches down to tug at the ring.

[Oranna]: Tha'…look a bit strange fer a dwarf as well. Somethin' odd about it.

Niris peers uneasily at the stone figure.

[Jocoza]: Some kind of mood art?

[Ivri]: Or to remember a specific event.

[Dane]: S'get moving on.

[Dane]: Could be more.

[Ivri]: Just because we like to pose our heroes all standing tall and straight doesn't mean everyone used to.

Jocoza looks thoughtfully at Ivri.

[Dane]: S'that, then.

[Dane]: A corpse.

[Niris]: Oh, dear.

Niris kneels down.

[Niris]: … much too old to venture a resurrection.

Niris wrinkles her nose.

[Ivri]: Been here awhile. Though everything's so dry here anyway it wouldn't take long to get this dessicated.

[Dane]: Aye, s'proper rotten.

Oranna looks at the art on the walls, tilting her head at them a little.

[Niris]: There's a book. Oh, the gnome's gems?

Niris pages through the journal dubiously.

Dane scoffs darkly. "Must've been his last 'worker.'"

[Jocoza]: What does it say, Niris?

[Niris]: They're in three different places, naturally. A trogg … king? And two groups of dwarves. One is Shadowforge. The others are — just dwarves?

[Niris]: I wonder if those are the ones we're looking for.

[Ivri]: Remind me to join the Explorer's League if they get to do this stuff all the time.

Oranna scoffs, but says nothing.

Dane grunts thoughtfully, glumly peering up at the murals.

[Jocoza]: Can I read it? *holds out her hands to Niris*

[Niris]: If they are, this corpse can't be -too- old. Of course! *She passes the book.*

Niris takes her turn to crane up at the artwork.

[Dane]: Look like humans, aye. S'place is damned odd.

[Niris]: This doesn't look dwarven at all, no.

[Dane]: Big facker' there.

Jocoza flips through, face neutral. "Well."

[Ivri]: And now unfinished walls. Just rock and columns.

[Dane]: S'bit more back here.

[Niris]: Dwarves!

[Niris]: HELLO, GENTLEMEN! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

Dane squints before he looks around, seeing the dwarves himself.

[Ivri]: Explains the… ow! Equipment.

[Dane]: 'Lo there, lads.

Niris smiles at Olaf.

[Dane]: Secret *chamber* or sommat'.

[Niris]: Bless, how long have you -been- here?

[Jocoza]: Are you all stuck in here?

Oranna sighs. "If they're measuring it in beard growth, it's been a while, I expect."

[Dane]: Seem t'be hanging on fine.

[Niris]: What have they been eat— no, I don't want to know.

Dane states, glancing around.

[Oranna]: Oh, aye. We're sturdy.

[Dane]: L'clear out the rest for you.

[Ivri]: They've supplies, Niris. *She grins*

[Niris]: Ah. This is the urn from the journal?

[Dane]: Looks it.

Dane sniffs.

[Ivri]: It's beautiful.

[Niris]: I don't know that I'd call it -conspicuous-. It is beautiful, though yes.

[Dane]: Why'd all these old dwarves draw humans on all this shite.

[Jocoza]: It kind of fits the decor. In color, at least.

[Ivri]: The vase is taller than you are. It's a little conspicuous.

[Niris]: I'm surprised the troggs didn't shatter -everything-.

Niris wrinkles her nose at Ivrianna.

Jocoza kicks the trogg corpse as she walks by.

[Ivri]: Sorry. Got ambushed.

Dane looks back to Jocoza.

[Dane]: L' round 'em all up in one place. You blast 'em to hell, aye?

Oranna sighs and pats Boomstick.

[Jocoza]: Yes. Very effective. *smiles approvingly at Ivri*

Niris is staring at the tiny city.

Dane wipes some sweat off his brow.

[Dane]: Look'round for any spares!

[Ivri]: They don't seem to like to stay in one place.

[Jocoza]: Some of that was my fault. Teleporting around.

[Niris]: Oh, Ivrianna's found some

[Ivri]: Found some!

[The troggs die. There is a strange little almost-city that’s been set up inside a slightly recessed hole. The buildings are all green, and nearly as big as Jo.]

[Dane]: S'map then, or sommat'.

Dane gestures towards the little city with his sword.

Jocoza gives a short laugh at the miniaturized trogg corpse.

Ivri hops up to get a better look.

[Jocoza]: That's what it's supposed to do. Worked last two times!

[Ivri]: There's a stand over there. I bet the staff goes in it.

[Niris]: This is … who made this? Is it a map of -this- city?

[Jocoza]: Oh?

[Oranna]: A map o' wha' though? Seems strange ta do rather than jus' paper or such.

Jocoza walks into the center of the small city.

[Oranna]: Jus' some city? An' they're near as big as Jo an' I.

[Ivri]: A paper map can be copied. It's… a giant lock. Like the book said. Without the right key, the doors don't unlock.

[Jocoza]: Why would dwarves make a model city with buildings as big as they are?

[Oranna]: So…it's jus' a fancy lock, then? Fair strange.

[Ivri]: For fun?

[Niris]: Jo, look, you're a giant now.

[Jocoza]: Or who made this?

Niris grins wickedly at Jocoza.

[Dane]: Looks to be a lock.

[Niris]: Yes, Jo. Let's — are we all ready?

[Dane]: Aye. Might be a good deal f'coin 'hind those doors.

[Niris]: Like a vault?
[There are some fancy doors. The lock goes all wooo wooo special laser light.]

[Dane]: Bloody hell —

[Ivri]: Wow.

[Jocoza]: They're all carved up fancily.

[Niris]: Oh, bless.

[The doors open to treasure ?? NO. Instead! One Big Giant Statue Lady Comes Out yelling NO CREATOR SECRETS FOR YOU :< Murder Lady vs Murder Ladies]

[Dane]: …Shite.

[Ivri]: HOLY #*&!!!!!

[Niris]: Oh -bless-.

Jocoza's eyes widen.

Oranna 's mouth drops open and it takes her an extra second to get her gun up.

[Murder Ladies are Victorious.]

Ivri dodges as it falls.

[Dane]: …

[Dane]: Wot' the *hell.*

[Niris]: What -is- she?

Atley eyes Ironaya up and down.

[Dane]: S'a woman alright.

Oranna reaches out a hand to feel the body. "Tha's…stone though."

[Niris]: Jo, is this — this isn't a golem, is it?

Dane grunts, squatting to lift an arm up and drop it.

[Jocoza]: I've never seen anything like this before.

[Oranna]: Tha's no golem I've e'er seen.

[Jocoza]: It's like a statue.

[Niris]: But it was -alive-.

[Dane]: That one near the beginning.

[Ivri]: It's stone, for sure. … Right?

[Dane]: Must've been shagging this'n.

Niris sighs at Atley.

[Jocoza]: Just because there are -two- statues, doesn't mean they're…

[Ivri]: …

[Oranna]: It moved too much like a person, aye, but tha' is definitely rock.

[Jocoza]: Mechanical things, usually you see where the joints are, the gears.

Dane takes out his sword, casually tapping it against Ironaya's forehead.

[Niris]: This is the chamber the dwarves wanted explored?

[Ivri]: Well, let's go see what she was protecting.

[Oranna]: It's all one piece o' stone…

[Niris]: Well.

[Dane]: How long was that thing waiting to be found?

[The ‘treasure room’ is Empty.]

[Ivri]: A little anticlimactic.

[Jocoza]: There's nothing here?

[Niris]: That's a great deal of nothing. But yes, I suppose she — maybe -she- was the thing to find?

Dane grunts.

[Jocoza]: What'd she say? About the secrets of the makers?

[Dane]: S'hope this is the last one.

[Niris]: Something about stealing them.

[Jocoza]: I didn't see any secrets in there.

[Niris]: Who are the makers? The dwarves?

[Oranna]: None may steal 'em, aye. But, no' much o' a secret ta an empty room.

[Ivri]: I am definitely joining the Explorer's League.

Oranna rolls her eyes.

[Ivri]: How many jobs are too many?

Jocoza looks to Ivri. "As many as you like doing, I figure."

[Oranna]: Th' makers are th' Titans, s'pposedly.

Dane steps over the massive stone bicep.

[Jocoza]: Oranna, what do you think this is then?

[Niris]: I see.

Dane squints.

Niris glances at Oranna, her brows raised.

[Dane]: Well that's not a *Titan,* issit'.

[Oranna]: I'm no' sure wha' -tha'- is, *she gestures to Ironaya* But, aye. Th' makers are th' Titans who showed up, made us, an' then left fer mysterious reasons we'll ne'er know~.

Oranna 's voice is Very Sarcastic.

[Ivri]: Does the staff come out again? Can we keep it?

[Jocoza]: I can't… I can't get it out. It's jammed in there.
[Ivri]: I'd think a titan wouldn't be a big stone statue.

[Ivri]: Ah well. No harm leaving a big empty room open, I guess.

[Niris]: Well, damn. I'm sure Elohad or Mr Sharpgear would have liked to see it.

[Dane]: Dunno' wot' in the blazes a Titan would look like.

[Oranna]: No. Probably jus' old magic stuff, an' th' League readin' too much inta it ta sell folk on th' Titans myth.

Niris glances at Oranna again.

[Oranna]: Look, it's a nice story. But tha's all it is.

[Dane]: S'get moving.

[Niris]: Yes.

[Ivri]: Oranna will deny the existence of Titans while one is stepping on her.

[Oranna]: No, I wouldna.

Ivri laughs.

[Oranna]: But they're -no'- here ta step on anythin'.

[Ivri]: "Tha's jes' a really, really, really big dwarf, tha' is."

[Niris]: Well, basilisks are, evidently. Oh, and scorpions, very nice.

[Jocoza]: Ivri's got a point, Oranna.

[Ivri]: BUGS!!

[Oranna]: If we see a Titan, I assure ye, I will believe in a Titan.

[Jocoza]: I'm a mage and an engineer, and I'm telling you I never saw anything like that.

[Ivri]: Ew, gross gross gross… ew…

[Dane]: Had t'be magic.

[Oranna]: Jus' because we dinna understand it doesna mean there are magic gods tha' go around space makin' folk.

[Jocoza]: I'm not arguing it does. But it -might-.

[Oranna]: I dinna understand engineering, but I dinna say that there are wee little microscopic gods tha' make it happen.

Dane stomps a scorpid's 'skull.'

[Dane]: Think that giant thing tore sommat'.

Dane wrinkles up his nose, rolling his shoulder.

Niris peers at Atley searchingly.

[Ivri]: Are you all right, Dane?

[Dane]: M'well.

Jocoza glances to Atley, to Niris. "Is it fixable?"

Dane side-eyes Ivrianna with the faintest hint of softness.

[Dane]: S'better now.

[Niris]: I should think so. I've been healing. *Niris frowns anxiously.*

Ivri smiles gratefully at Niris.

[Ivri]: They just keep coming from somewhere…'

[Dane]: S'dwarves back there. Dark Irons.

[Dane]: *That's* a golem.

[Jocoza]: I was gonna say

[Dane]: M'chargin' it.

[Niris]: Oh, hell. WATCH YOUR SHOULDER.

[The big golem breaks off into wee little baby golems to fight. It is Cute.]

Ivri laughs in the middle of the fight.

[Dane]: Lo' there, lads.

[Ivri]: I mean, that wasn't cute but that was kinda cute.

[Niris]: What was?

[Dane]: T'was popping out little ones, wunnit'.

Oranna laughs a little at Ivri.

Niris grins.

[Oranna]: Like wee deadly babies, aye.

[Dane]: Barlowe, m'ere.

[Niris]: Baby golems.

ocoza giggles at Ivrianna.

[Dane]: You take a side.

Dane squints.

[Dane]: 'Nother way in, then?

[Ivri]: Well, at least there wasn't a giant stone lady behind this one.

[Niris]: Oh, look at that.

[Jocoza]: Yeah, I was expecting more.

[Niris]: It must lead back to the surface?

[Dane]: S'way out if we get swamped.

[Niris]: Well, let's don't get swamped. But good to know.

[Jocoza]: Good to know

[Dane]: Could get royally lost n'here if one's not keeping their wits.

[Jocoza]: The tunnels are nice. Bit too quiet, though.

[Niris]: Are the tunnels part of the city, or separate excavations by the troggs and Dark Irons?

[Dane]: Dunno'. But I do see proper soldiers.

[Jocoza]: I don't think this bit is part of the city. No carvings on the walls.

[Dane]: S'no way around 'em.

[Jocoza]: Looks like excavations though.

[Jocoza]: Troggs don't hang up lights and reinforce the walls.

[Dane]: Mm-mm. S'these holdouts.

[Dane]: Start with that'n. He looks in charge.

[Ivri]: Oops.

[Oranna]: Watch out!

[Dane]: Wot' you make of it?

Dane asks Oranna.

[Niris]: There's a chest here with — oh. Damn, sorry.

Atley eyes Niris up and down.

[Dane]: You 'right?

Dane checks Niris for injuries from afar.

[Jocoza]: Those guys came out of nowhere.

[Niris]: Might have known they'd be watching that. Yes, I'm fine, thank you, Mr Atley.

[Dane]: Lookit'.

Niris brushes her robe off breathlessly and smooths her hair, trying to look dignified.

[Ivri]: I hear stone falling but none's falling.

[Dane]: This looks a damn sight like the letters 've been getting.

[Niris]: Oh, bless.

[Jocoza]: I can't read it though.

[Niris]: It's not dwarvish?

[Dane]: S'not dwarvish?

Niris looks to Oranna.

Oranna looks at it closely. "No, I…I dinna think so? It's no' legible ta me, anyway. Migh' be in code, or too old. I canna tell."

Dane grunts.

[Niris]: Hm. All right.

[Dane]: Wot'ever it is, s'good the Dark Irons don't have it.

[Jocoza]: See? Ismene's isn't that bad. It's clearly common.

[Ivri]: The tablet's next to the doors, but not set into a wall. And all the braces here are wooden, put in by the Dark Irons or the Dwarves. So.. .this must all be part of the city and the entire thing is buried. Just some places didn't completely collapse.

Dane grunts, shoving his shoulder into the door.

Ivri winces. "Careful, love."

[Niris]: Oh, interesting. Yes, I think Ivrianna's right.

[Dane]: No giant's coming out'f that.

Niris frowns at Atley.

[Jocoza]: Hm, I think you're right. So it's not just digging through, it's digging through a city filled with dirt.

[Niris]: Do stop taxing that shoulder.

[Dane]: I need it. Stay 'bit back, you lot. Gonna' round 'em up.

Dane kicks one of the trogg's heads.

[Dane]: They're not missin' any meals.

[Ivri]: Sorry, that fireballing #@*&! didn't seem to want to join his friends.

[Niris]: Hell, these are huge.

[Oranna]: Is it jus' me or are they gettin' bigger th' deeper we go?

Jocoza looks at the pile of troggs and mutters, "Just like old times."

[Niris]: They are, I think.

[Dane]: Bloody massive, aye.

[Niris]: Which I do not care for.

[Jocoza]: Yeah. Not a fan. So we should kill them.

[Oranna]: Aye, an' yer no' e'en jus' comin' up ta their kneecaps.

Dane starts chugging some random, brightly colored potions.

[Jocoza]: Doesn't matter how big they are. They burn, they bleed.

[Dane]: Barlowe… Easy.

Dane slowly points up at the statues.

Niris watches Jocoza with a sympathetic, worried line between her brows.

[Dane]: D'not like to wake either f'these fackers' up.

Niris shudders.

[Dane]: S'get in there.

[Jocoza]: Not even I can fit through there.

[Dane]: Wait 'till they're at me, then hit 'em.

[Jocoza]: Now that's better sized.

Dane growls with amusement.

Niris laughs. "Jo, I will never be tired of that."

Jocoza grins.

[Dane]: Ivri, m'ere.

Ivri goes there.

[Dane]: Check 'round that corner, will you.

[Dane]: Wot's it, then.

[Ivri]: Big silver one with a weird lizard pet. Otherwise, about five of them.

Niris frowns.

Dane squints in thought, nodding. "Aye."

[Ivri]: He's at the far end, looking important.

[Dane]: When we get to it, kill the beast first.

Jocoza nods at Atley.

[Ivri]: Wait a moment

[Jocoza]: Want a sheep?

[Ivri]: All set.

[Dane]: Aye, the runty one.

[Dane]: Soon as y'do, I'm charging the basilisk.

[Niris]: Wait, hold on.

Atley peers at Niris searchingly.

[Dane]: Wot's it.

[Niris]: That's all the gems, I think. We should — use the gnome's bottle thing?

[Jocoza]: Oh, right. He asked us to do that.

[Dane]: …Cheeky.

Jocoza mutters, "King. Like they have such a thing."

Oranna looks at the swirly water bowl with interest.

Niris sighs.

[Dane]: Just the biggest n'meanest one, innit'.

Dane asks, glancing back at Jocoza.

[Ivri]: Uh…so there better be a bigger one than the giant stone lady.

Ivri frowns. "I can't believe I just said that."

Niris grimaces.

Ivri runs around exploring.

[Dane]: S'go find it and kill it, then.

[Niris]: We still need to find Mr Sharpgear's relic, also.

[Dane]: Dark Ir—

Dane leans forward, squinting.

Niris lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

[Dane]: Wot's all this, then.

[Niris]: .. what?

[Jocoza]: They're working on something.

[Oranna]: Those are no' Dark Irons.

Niris blinks.

[Dane]: Wot' are *they.*

[Ivri]: They're digging. But… no I don't think they are.

Oranna looks through her scope and frowns hard.

[Jocoza]: And they're… not dwarves?

[Jocoza]: Are they golems?

[Oranna]: They…no', they're….dwarves…but

[Ivri]: They look like dwarves to me.

[Ivri]: Let's go get a look!

[Oranna]: They look….like they've gone Stoneform.

[Dane]: Lookit' the skin.

Niris peers at them.

[Oranna]: But….they shouldna be able ta hold it tha' long.

[Jocoza]: Oh, like you did that one time.

Jocoza falls back, looking alarmed.

[Ivri]: Dang it, Dane, I was looking!

[Dane]: They're not bloody *friendly* wot'ever they are.

Niris kneels down.

[Jocoza]: I can't freeze them in place. It just… didn't work. I can -always- freeze things in place, except maybe like ice elementals or something.

[Ivri]: Check out this one.

[Niris]: What -are- they, though?

Oranna looks at the bodies uneasily.

[Oranna]: I…I dinna know.

Niris blinks at Earthen Sculptor.

[Dane]: S'got proper hair. But nothing else.

Atley kneels before Earthen Sculptor.

[Niris]: But it looks … unfinished.

[Ivri]: Did anyone read that letter that the assistant sent?

Atley tells Ivrianna NO. Not going to happen.

[Niris]: Oh, I have it with me, hang on.

[Oranna]: Ye….ye think they're Earthen?

[Ivri]: It said that the earthen left and became Dwarves, Dane.

[Dane]: Wot's that, then.

[Oranna]: Tha's…well.

[Oranna]: Well, supposedly we're all Earthen. Dwarves, tha' is.

[Jocoza]: So these are like… unfreezable proto-dwarves?

[Ivri]: So… . yeah, maybe they're earthen. That got stuck or left behind or something.

[Oranna]: S'why we can go Sto-

[They are Rudely Interrupted by a Very Large Golem Earthen.]

Oranna dusts herself off from where she'd been blown back.

[Jocoza]: I thought that was like a thing a long time ago.

[Dane]: The League. They say the Titans made earthen, n' they became dwarves?

[Ivri]: I wish they weren't so aggressive. It'd be fascinating to talk to them.

[Niris]: Well, Miss Callis does her research.

[Oranna]: Aye. S'…s'pposed ta be jus' a legend.

Atley eyes you up and down.

[Oranna]: But, aye. It's fair ta say tha' part a' least is true.

Niris tucks the letter back into her pocket. And her reading glasses, discreetly, which she put on when no one was looking.

[Ivri]: Well, they eat bread.

[Oranna]: 'Though I dinna know why they're still….Earthen.

[Dane]: Those were the rations from the dwarves.

[Dane]: The…proper dwarves.

[Ivri]: Oh.

[Ivri]: Darn.

[Niris]: None of them is very friendly.

[Jocoza]: At least they still burn. *Jo says contemplatively*

Oranna shudders a little.

Ivri giggles when it shrinks.

[Dane]: S'this mean s'all real, then?

Dane asks without pretense.

[Dane]: The Titan's n'all.

[Oranna]: Well. A' least th' Earthens are.

Jocoza nods at Oranna.

[Oranna]: But jus' because there were Earthen doesna mean magic gods made 'em.

Niris peers up at the wall art again.

[Dane]: L'right, you lot.

[Dane]: M'bringing them over.

Niris nods at Atley.

[Ivri]: Fetch, boy.

Ivri grins.

[Jocoza]: So I guess if you got attacked by a lot of Earthens, you'd believe in them.

[Oranna]: O' course I do! I believe in th' Light s'well. There's proof o' it!

[Dane]: I don't think King Bronzebeard a liar, but I believe in wot' I see, s'well.

[Oranna]: There's ne'er been any proof o' a Titan. No one has e'er seen one or heard one. Jus' written down in tablets tha' someone said there were Titans an' they're all gone now fer some reason.

[Ivri]: I really hate killing these guys. What if they're all that's left?

[Dane]: Wot' of that giant tart we put down?

[Niris]: That's … true, Ivri.

[Jocoza]: They don't seem intelligent though. I don't think we can reason with them?

[Ivri]: They're using tools.

[Jocoza]: I could make a clockwork dwarf that swings a hammer.

[Jocoza]: It wouldn't be intelligent.

[Dane]: Don't mind. They seem like right bastards.

[Oranna]: Well. We're in their home, aren't we?

[Oranna]: As far as they know, we're jus' more o' th' invaders.

Dane tilts his head back and forth, balancing Oranna's point.

[Dane]: Aye.

[Jocoza]: Reflectives hides are not my favorite things. Thanks, Niris.

[Niris]: Oh, is -that- what that was.

Jocoza gives a sidelong glance at Niris. "That time, yeah."

Niris blinks at Annora.

[Dane]: We've a survivor! You injured, lass?

[Jocoza]: All alone in here?

[Niris]: Were you here with the dwarves? Did you get separated?

Atley eyes Annora up and down.

[Dane]: … L'right then. Reckon you know the way out.

[Oranna]: Probably an Explorer's League lass.

Atley peers at Jocoza searchingly.

[Dane]: You'right?

[Jocoza]: Yeah, I'm here. Need something?

[Dane]: You lot hear that? Aye… May well be the last f'em. S'you reckon…These lads are the city's real people.

[Niris]: … oh.

[Jocoza]: But this is an ancient city. Were they just like… stone? Till somebody dug em up?

[Dane]: S'no women.

[Ivri]: How do you know?

[Dane]: None f'those have got tits, have they.

Niris purses her lips at Dane.

Jocoza snorts at Dane. "Maybe their women haven't got tits."

[Dane]: I know why they're angry, then.

Oranna looks down at her chest.

[Oranna]: Dwarven women ha'…those.

[Jocoza]: If they're made of stone, they wouldn't need to nurse, I figure.

[Dane]: That *giant.* She had a right pair.

Niris sighs at Atley.

[Ivri]: Wait. Let Jo catch up.

[Jocoza]: Gosh your legs.

[Ivri]: Too easy to get lost in here.

[Jocoza]: Thanks, Ivri,.

[Niris]: Awful things.

[Dane]: Don't care for the smell.

Dane kicks a corpse, laying it out.

Befound appears to consider it a viable litter box

[Jocoza]: Who would?

[Dane]: Other troggs, reckon.

Niris makes a face.

Oranna makes a tsking sound at Befound, who looks Unconcerned by this opinion.

[Jocoza]: More of those doors. What do you think? Giant lady? Exit?

[Dane]: Could be either.

[Ivri]: I'm kind of sad that Jo was the one who had the cool map key.

[Niris]: Oh, the suspense, *she says dryly.*

[Jocoza]: Yeah.

[Dane]: Let me open it.

Niris nods at Atley.

[Jocoza]: I guess that was an Earthen city map, then.

[Dane]: C'mon up, you lot.

[Jocoza]: Unless it was titans? And the Earthen just worked there?

Ivri sighs. "More city."

Atley points at Earthen Stonecarver.

[Dane]: Those ones. They're casters. They die first.

[Jocoza]: Oh wow. Columns!

[Niris]: Oh, bless.

Oranna mutters about Titans getting credit for -everything-.

[Dane]: You lot stay here. L' bring 'em to you.

Niris nods.

[Dane]: Stay 'hind this corner, here.

[Ivri]: I have a bad feeling about this.

[Dane]: Charge in 'fter me.

[Ivri]: Um…

[Dane]: Maintain the same targets.

[Niris]: They look like someone made dwarves out of clay but didn't bother firing them.

Atley eyes Ivrianna up and down.

[Dane]: Wot'.

[Ivri]: I think there's a trap in the middle of that… those columns.

[Dane]: L'cross that road when we get'it.

[Ivri]: So… no one go in there just yet.

[Jocoza]: The golems do seem to be poised around it.

[Dane]: M'no historian. But that door ought to open when these die.

[Jocoza]: What do we do? Just touch it?

[Dane]: Wake these bastards up. S'time to play.

Oranna looks at the runes on the top of the Altar.

[They mess with an Altar in the center. It wakes up the golems.]

[Niris]: I — oh, all right.

[Jocoza]: Huh, this is weird

[Jocoza]: Whoa!

[Ivri]: This… feels… so weird.

[Dane]: C'mon, you bastards!

Dane grits his teeth

Oranna clacks her teeth together a few times like they feel a little funny.

[They defeat the Golems.]

Dane wipes some sweat off of his brow, hopping off the altar.

[Dane]: There's the door, then.

[Ivri]: They don't seem to care that the door opened.

Niris plops down, exhausted, to drink again.

Jocoza shakes her hands out, like magic might still be clinging to them.

[Dane]: How smart are these things *really.*

[Oranna]: They dinna seem ta really…ha' much more than a response ta figh' off an invader, aye.

[Niris]: Hold on. I'm blessing you lot again before we go in there.

Niris rises wearily.

[Jocoza]: That's what I'm wondering. If they're proto-dwarves, are they like… missing the part that makes dwarves people?

[Oranna]: They migh' no' be fully…dwarven-like. More Golem than anythin', aye.

[Ivri]: But they wear clothes, carry weapons….

[Oranna]: Well, ye can dress a golem up as s'well.

[Ivri]: That's a lot of dress-up dolls.

[Dane]: S'down 'em.

[Oranna]: Aye. I'm no' sayin' I understand it. Jus'…tha' they dinna seem like…people exactly.

[Jocoza]: And they don't really react or talk.

Oranna frowns in thought a little.

[Jocoza]: I mean, they react like a guard machine. Not like a person, shocked at the invaders, running away, or whatever.

[Oranna]: [Dwarvish] We're not here to hurt you, if you’ll stop and talk to us for just a minute!

[Dane]: May s'well be golems for how talkative they are, innit'.

[Oranna]: [Dwarvish] Do you understand anything I'm saying?

[Dane]: I doubt these are proper people.

[Oranna]: Well. Dwarvish didna work.

[Dane]: Wot'd you say, then?

[Jocoza]: What'd you say to em?

Dane asks, loading his crossbow.

[Oranna]: Jus' askin' if they understood me.

[Oranna]: An' tha' we didna want ta hurt them, if we could stop ta chat.

[Jocoza]: You'd think we'd hear them talk to each other.

[Oranna]: Maybe they know an older dialect?

[Dane]: S'bloody endless.

[Niris]: Interesting.

Ivri keeps an uneasy eye on the grabby golems against the wall.

Jocoza follows Ivri's gaze. "They do look like the others."

Dane walks by the golems, tapping them on the 'face' with his sword. "Don't mind us, lads."

[Dane]: Just a bit of tomb robbing.

Niris sighs at Atley.

Oranna sighs at Dane.

[Jocoza]: The ones that attacked us.

[Ivri]: I don't see any traps on them though.

Dane squints.

[Ivri]: Whoa. Found 'er boyfriend.

[Dane]: Aye…

Dane strokes his chin in thought, squinting.

[Jocoza]: So, not that slumped over guy at the beginning.

[Niris]: Oh, -shit-.

[Niris]: Er, bless.

[Ivri]: Niris Hazan!

[Jocoza]: Maybe he was the ex.

Niris grins wickedly at Ivrianna.

Oranna looks through her scope at it, frowning a little.

[Oranna]: There's somethin' odd about it.

[Dane]: Wot'. Easy, Jocoza.

[Jocoza]: Are it's eyes glowing?

[Oranna]: I dinna know. Somethin'…seems odd ta me.

[Niris]: Another of those … trap-altar-things.

[Dane]: Stay 'bit back while we put t'gether the plan.

[Jocoza]: Sorry, curious.

Dane dismissively waves a hand, squinting in thought.

[Dane]: Right. Barlowe, you're with me on the big facker. Joczoa, Oranna, keep an eye on those bastards in the wings.

[Ivri]: Got it.
Oranna nods at Atley. DAMN STRAIGHT.

Jocoza salutes Atley with respect.

[Dane]: F'they wake up, s'on you to put 'em back to sleep.

[Jocoza]: By burning them to death. Got it.

[Dane]: S'it.

Ivri chuckles.

Niris adjusts her gloves grimly.

Dane glares up at the statue.

[Dane]: I know 'yer awake in there.

[The statue comes to life fully, yelling like he’s mad that there are no Earthen with properly stacked lasses.]

[Dane]: There's a lad.

Niris shudders. "-Shit-."

Oranna yelps as the door shuts behind them.

[Dane]: Them! Get 'em!

[Dane]: Barlowe —

[Jocoza]: more!

[They defeat all the Stone Things.]

Dane collapses to a knee, breathing heavily.

Ivri pants and bends over to breathe.

[Niris]: Oh. Another … room.

[Niris]: -That- looks like a vault?

[Oranna]: Dane! Ye all righ'?

[Jocoza]: Archaedas. *Jo looks down at the big statue thing*

[Dane]: M'well.

[Oranna]: Tha' was…large.

Dane grimaces tightly, rolling an arm.

[Dane]: We all in one piece, then?

[Ivri]: What's Befound doing?

[Befound is Stuck halfway inside and halfway outside the door.]

Niris exhales in relief at Dane, and then murmurs another spell at him.

[Ivri]: Did one of them run out?

[Jocoza]: Is that like a housecat thing?

[Oranna gets Befound out of the door.]

[Dane]: That bastard hit like a fackin' horse.

[There is a room filled with gold.]

Ivri jumps onto a pile. Ivri Scrooge McDucks. Ivrianna lies down.

Niris jumps back from the discs and gasps.

[Ivri]: WHOA!

[Niris]: Oh. Er.

[Jocoza]: What the…

Niris curtsies before Lore Keeper of Norgannon.

[Jocoza]: It's like the Exodar!

Jocoza runs around behind the see-through figure.

[Dane]: They've bloody stone *ghosts* now, have they.

[Jocoza]: But it's not on a plinth thing.

Niris stares round-eyed at the Lore Keeper as it speaks.

[Jocoza]: Oh. A ghost? I was hoping it was a hologram.

Ivri's jaw sags lower and lower as she listens.

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] Salutations. My function is to offer access to and, when permissible, insight into information regarding the Creator’s synthesis of the Earthen on the world designated as Azeroth. I am ready to share this information with you now at your leisure. The Earthen are a synthesized race engineered by the Creators, functioning as one of the seed races in the initial population of the world designated as Azeroth. The Earthen were created to aid the Creators’ efforts in shaping the deep regions of this world. They are a modification of the standard subterranean being matrix used on other words that the Creators have seeded. The construction of this prototype race created various anomalies that were observed after initial synthesis.

[Niris]: I — oh.

Niris puts a hand on the plinth beside her weakly, still staring.

Jocoza looks up at the Lore Keeper, shocked.

[Jocoza]: Subterranean being matrix…

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] It is one of the synthesis matrices the Creators use when seeding a world. Each synthesis matrix is used to achieve the Creators’ goals. For Azeroth, a subterranean being matrix was modified to create a being with increased durability with an affinity for deep region shaping; the Earthen are the product of this modification. After the Earthen had been put into service for the Creators, unforeseen anomalies were discovered that affected their synthesis matrix due to high-stress environments.

Dane squints, itching his sweaty temple with the tip of his sword.

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] To understand the anomalies of the Earthen, it is first important to understand what the Earthen represent in their design intent. The Earthen represent the Creators’ attempt at improvising the survivability paradigm of the standard subterranean being matrix. This was done by incorporating a resilient foundation of construction inherent to the world into said matrix. This is the baseline material used in race synthesis. A cross-section of Azeroth’s crust was used as the foundation for the Earthen’s synthesis rather than the typical biomass construction foundation used by the Creators. Research on the world’s composition led the Creators to theorize that an enhanced being could be synthesized that would epitomize the resiliency of this world’s essence. This was accomplished by choosing to use a blend of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds as the foundation.

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] The Earthen’s physical features are that of a smaller stature humanoid, though their composition is that of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds. Their design maximizes strength and stamina without sacrificing cognitive processing power. Their skin and musculature are nearly impervious to physical damage, and with very minor modifications the Earthen display a remarkable resiliency to unwanted magical forces. It is integral to the assimilation of this data that it is understood that the Creators wanted to synthesize a race that would long be an integral part of this world’s development cycle after they had departed. This race would be instrumental in fulfilling the Creators’ long term development objectives for Azeroth.

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] The Earthen’s only anomaly in synthesis is the tendency for matrix destabilization while being utilized in high-stress environments. Addendum: deep earth sculpting was naturally suited to the new matrix design and thus never met the qualifications of duplicating a high-stress environment. Destabilization was not discovered until well into the Earthen’s primary service cycle for the Creators. The Creators began work on post-synthesis modification, rather than recall and re-synthesis.

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] There are two potential results when the Earthen’s synthesis matrix destabilizes. Initiating visual aid representation number one. *the hologram lights up with a trogg* The first variant matrix is a degenerative product of synthesis, hereby designated with the common nomenclature of “Trogg.” This variant maintains strength and stamina comparable to the Earthen, but its cognitive processing power has been almost completely compromised. Force of will and a strong sense of cunning are the only driving factors in the psyche of the trogg. The trogg retains some composition of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds, but the loss of the cognitive power makes this variant unacceptable to the Creators. The trogg procreates as per standard biomass. By default it consumes stone and anything else it can acquire, including other troggs. Cannibalism is considered unacceptable by the Creators.

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] Initiating visual aid representation number two. *the hologram lights up with a dwarf* The second resultant variant of the Earthen matrix retains many desired elements when compared to the standard subterranean matrix. The common nomenclature for this variant is “Dwarf.” This variant retains strength and stamina inherent to the Earthen. In some cases, the dwarf even exceeds the cognitive powers of the Earthen’s matrix. The dwarf, however, retains none of the physical composition of Azeroth’s various stone core compounds. The dwarf maintains an affinity for the stone composition of Azeroth, but due to the high-stress environment anomaly within the Earthen’s synthesis matrix, the dwarf reverts to a default biomass composition as seen in the standard subterranean matrix. Ergo, the dwarf variant does synthesize from the degeneration of the Earthen creation matrix.

[Niris]: The … troggs? And the Dwarves? *Niris's voice is very faint. She glances toward Oranna uneasily.*

Oranna seems shaken, and rubs her hands over her arms repeatedly.

[Lore Keeper of Norgannon] Though the dwarf maintains most of the Earthen’s mental attunement to Azeroth’s stone composition, the reversion back into living biomass remains the main degeneration of the matrix. Dwarves eat and procreate through means typical to other standard biomasses. The Creators view the dwarf as an acceptable variant, worthy of genesis in its own right. The Creators are the Creators. They are the beings that seeded and shaped this world by their own design. They are the reason for this world’s existence, as well as many other worlds. They are the wellspring from which Azeroth flows. The Creators are cognizant of the magnitude of information housed in this repository. Subsequently, a portable copy of the data stored here will be made available to you once you are attuned with the Discs of Norgannon. Please consider your cursory requirements for the assimilation of this knowledge to be complete. At your leisure, access the Discs of Norgannon to begin synthesis of your discs.

Niris steps away and stares blankly around the chamber.

[Dane]: S's real, then. All f'it.

Dane states gruffly, but he's clearly stunned by the information.

[Niris]: I don't — oh. Dear.

[Oranna]: It's….it's like the draenei. Some sort o'…advanced technology.

Oranna shakes her head, looking a bit pale. "They….they made us like…tools."

Niris puts a hand on Oranna's shoulder.

[Oranna]: But tha's…I mean, tha's no' righ'. We're real.

[Niris]: Of course you are.

[Oranna]: I'm no' jus'…some sort o'…golem or somethin'.

Dane growls. "You're no bloody golem."

[Niris]: I suppose … everyone is created from somewhere. Something. You're not a golem, dear heart.

Oranna coughs and rubs her arm harder.

Jocoza finishes listening to the hologram? ghost? and looks over at Oranna, face neutral.

Oranna nods distractedly, and steps away from the display.

Dane eyes Oranna for a moment.

[Dane]: 'Ranna, 'mere.

Oranna walks over to Dane, sniffling just a little.

Ivri casually shovels some of the gold into her pack, hefting it again and again.

Dane gnashes his teeth uncomfortably.

[Dane]: Get some of these treasure.

Dane shrugs off his pack and starts shoveling it in.

Niris watches Oranna unhappily, her hands bunched in her skirts.

Oranna absently scoops some gold coins into a pouch, and startles back a little.

[Oranna]: Wha'—

Ivri eyes the giant sword wistfully.

Oranna pulls out a silver statuette, holding it like it burned her with two fingers.

[Niris]: What is — oh!

Ivri looks over. "Hey! Master Sharpgear's statue."

[Dane]: *That's* it?

Oranna frowns at it, and sighs. It's clearly a Priestly Looking Thing.

[Jocoza]: That's the thing. That might kill us all. If we're not careful.

[Niris]: Oh, bless, I'd nearly forgotten. What with — everything.

[Oranna]: Aye. Aye. Probably.

[Dane]: Ought to make him pay f'rit, wot' we've done.

[Ivri]: Well, it's silver. Right? And a statue. And portable. I haven't seen anything else like it.

[Niris]: Well. Yes. And I suppose that means — we've finished here?

[Ivri]: Are you kidding? *She gestures at the piles of gold.* We're GETTING paid for it.

[Jocoza]: We don't have to carry it out the hard way, either.

Dane glances back at the gold, grumbling in thought.

[Jocoza]: Portal, after all.

Ivri grins at Jo. "Right!"

Oranna nods vigorously.

[Dane]: You're just as real s'you were 'fore you stepped in here, 'Ranna.

Niris pockets a few gold coins demurely. She considers the pile, and pockets two more, judicious.

Dane holds no such reservations.

[Oranna]: Aye. No' o' course…o' course I am. I'm real.

Oranna says this like she's reassuring herself, and her words are a little wobbly.

[Jocoza]: I always figured dwarves were related to gnomes somehow.

[Jocoza]: Not troggs.

Niris stoops and hugs Oranna.

Oranna hugs Niris back, a little too hard.

Ivri blinks at Oranna. "Of course you're real. Everything was created somehow. You just get to know how. We still have no idea."

[Dane]: Ought to get that one back to Bargrimm.

[Ivri]: Or.. not even how. Just why.

Oranna sniffles and nods.

Dane side-eyes Ivri with a look of almost warning.

[Dane]: Help get more f'this.

Niris oofs and straightens. She smiles sadly at Oranna and pats her shoulder.

Jocoza smiles at Oranna. "Yeah, doesn't change anything about who -you- are, right?"

Dane kicks open a chest and just starts shoving piles inside.

[Ivri]: Look, Man With Arms Like Bull, not all of us can lift three times our body weight in gold.

[Oranna]: Jus'…*she looks over with horror at Jo*

[Oranna]: An' I'm nothin'—NOTHIN' like a Trogg.
[Oranna]: Nothin'.

[Niris]: No, you aren't.

[Ivri]: No, you're not.

Dane slowly looks up, but he doesn't stop, only slows.

[Niris]: Jocoza, I think — perhaps we should get back. To the city.

[Jocoza]: I would never have thought.

[Dane]: For wot's it worth, 've heard humans were apes, once.

[Ivri]: Explains your muscles.

Oranna gives Dane a wobbly smile.

Jocoza blinks at Dane. "Seriously? Like, apes in Stranglethorn or wherever?"

[Ivri]: I have been known to call you a gorilla from time to time.

[Dane]: Aye, well, m'bit apish.

[Dane]: You cheeky tart.

[Niris]: Well, speak for your own ancestors then, Mr Atley.

Dane smirks darkly at Ivri, before nodding at Jocoza, and then Niris.

[Dane]: Well *I* didn't bloody come up with it.

[Ivri]: Niris was clearly descended from one of those giraffes.

[Dane]: Somman' else did.

[Niris]: … well, certainly, a giraffe. I will tell Elohad. He likes giraffes.

Dane sniffs, slamming the chest shut. "You're more f'a gazelle, really."

Oranna gives a weak chuckle, holding onto one arm with a hand gone white knuckled.

[Jocoza]: And Oranna was descended from somebody who broke a storm. That matters more.

Niris hears a noise and steps back to peer through the open door.

[There are Many Enemies Coming.]

[Niris]: Oh, -hell-.

[Jocoza]: Okay, portal time.

[Jocoza]: Ironforge?

[Niris]: Yes, go go!

Ivri draws her weapons. "Faster!"

[Jocoza]: Grab your gold and go, or you're fighting your way out.

Dane growls, and grunts, hefting the chest against his … chest, his face growing red.

[Jo opens a Portal, and Blue Squad TEN HUT heads into Ironforge.]

[Niris]: Jo? Jo!

Oranna holds her stomach a little like it hurts, but straightens quickly.

Ivri eyes Dane. "Where's Jo?"

Dane staggers forward after abruptly stepping through, grunting and rumbling.

[Niris]: Where's — oh, Light be praised.

Ivri sighs in relief.

[Dane]: She's just 'hind me — there.

[Jocoza]: Yeah, I always go last.

[Jocoza]: If it closes on me, I can make another

[Niris]: Let's get to … HQ.

[Ivri]: I need a nap. And a bath.

[Jocoza]: If it closes on -you- though.

[Oranna]: Does…anyone mind if I go set off some fireworks?

[Ivri]: Right. HQ. Report in. *She sighs.*

Jocoza smiles at Oranna.

[Jocoza]: Go for it.

[Niris]: No, Oranna. Of course not.

[Dane]: Barlowe — get a hand on this.

Oranna doesn't really stop to hear an answer and lights off two fireworks quickly.

Dane growls, gnashing his teeth.

Ivri walks right into the water.

Oranna seems to calm a little, watching the blue sparkles, before closing her eyes and nodding.

Jocoza laughs at the fireworks, smiling at Oranna.

[Oranna]: We….we should get this statue back ta HQ.

Ivri splashes some on her face, scrubbing it clean.

[Dane]: *And* the treasure.

[Jocoza]: You okay, Ivri?

[Ivri]: Just feeling like I've got sand everywhere.

[Jocoza]: Hah, yeah, could use a nice soak

[Dane]: Innit' — innit' that a holy font or sommat'?

[Ivri]: And I am NOT giving up my disks.

[Jocoza]: Holy?

Dane lumbers laboriously up the landing.

Elohad puts his arms around her. "Hey… you okay?"

[Ivri]: No, it's for humidity.

[Jocoza]: Pretty sure it's just decorative.

[Ivri]: Isn't it?

[Niris]: You would not -believe- — Light, it was —

[Oranna]: I've seen mages using it for magic.

[Jocoza]: And that maybe. Humidity.

Dane staggers in carrying a massive golden chest.

Elohad steps back to peer down into her face.

Niris shakes her head and then lowers her voice. "Oranna is very upset."

Jocoza clears her throat. "Yeah, and that."

Ivri flops into a chair.

[Elohad]: What's wrong?

Elohad peers at Oranna searchingly.

Auralind's ears quiver tensely.

[Niris]: We got — we got Mr Sharpgear's trinket at least.

Oranna enters looking a little pale, and Befound is so close to her that she's almost tripping the Hunter.

[Elohad]: Ah, good.

Niris clears her throat and looks toward Oranna.

Oranna shows him the statue. "I got it."

Ivri eyes all the food and drink ready at the table.

[Jocoza]: And… a hologram ghost thing that had some really weird stuff to say.

Ivri sighs.

[Ivri]: Right.

[Jocoza]: Weird and upsetting.

[Niris]: We learned … yes. Some things about Dwarves?

Oranna presses her lips together hard.

[Elohad]: Upsetting things?

[Auralind]: A hollow…what ghost?

Dane sways in place before he finally loses control, staggering to the corner. He throws the chest down with a grunt, and as it lands it takes a chunk out of the wall.

Elohad puts a hand on Oranna's shoulder.

Ivri manages to get herself upright and plops into a chair at the table instead.

[Oranna]: Like th' Exodar.

[Oranna]: Like tha'.

Elohad startles and eyes Dane.

Elohad sighs.

Jocoza rubs her temple and takes her goggles off.

[Niris]: … and Mr Atley managed to collect a great deal of gold. Before we were nearly ambushed a final time.

[Dane]: Aye. T'was some sort'f… giant stone spirit.

Oranna sniffles again, and shoves a hand back through her hair, moving her mouth back and forth.

[Niris]: We got out by the skin of our teeth, thanks to Jocoza.

Auralind shakes her head, brow furrowed in confusion.

Ivri helps herself to what looks like thick slabs of ham and cheese, stuffing bites in her mouth along with a couple of grapes.
Elohad strokes Oranna's hair gently.

[Jocoza]: It's… about the origin of the dwarves.

[Elohad]: I'm sorry, sweetheart, Bargrimm ran off to make something for me; I wish he were still here.

Oranna looks up at Elo, her eyes a little too wide. "I'm no' a trogg. An' I'm no' a tool. No matter wha' they said."

Dane nods, flattening a palm on his chest as he takes turns rolling each shoulder.

[Elohad]: Of course you're not!

Jocoza nods at Oranna.

[Elohad]: Who would say a thing about you like that?

[Niris]: You're not a trogg, dear heart. You aren't. Nor a golem.

Elohad puts an arm around her.

Jocoza bites her lip and looks down. "And I shouldn't have… I didn't mean I thought -you- were…"

Oranna makes a gesture in the vague direction of what she probably thinks Uldaman is.

[Niris]: You're a -person-.

[Oranna]: Tha's wha' it said.

[Elohad]: The… hologram… thing?

[Dane]: The 'thing' there told us where — how dwarves came t'be.

Niris wrings her hands gently and looks wide-eyed at Elohad.

[Oranna]: Tha' they made us like tools an' we were an anomaly like troggs who eat each other an' we didna so we were acceptable an' tha' we were jus'…

Oranna's voice is a little too high pitched and she's talking too fast.

[Dane]: 'Ranna, you ought to sit.

[Niris]: Shh, shh, yes. Please sit, Oranna.

Oranna sits on the ground.

Ivri swallows and makes a go of explaining. "They made the earthen. Then under a high-stress environment, the earthen went two ways. One became troggs and they weren't approved of. One became dwarves and those were approved of."

[Niris]: We -saw- Earthen. Fought them.

Jocoza sits next to her, looking at her anxiously.

[Ivri]: Or so the giant-see through whatever it was said.

[Elohad]: Who made the earthen? Titans?

Befound curls up against Oranna, purring gently.

[Niris]: They looked like … clay dwarves, unfinished.

[Dane]: The 'Creators' or sommat'.

Ivri drinks from a mug of ale.

[Jocoza]: Whatever they said, your folk are a lot more like gnomes.

Niris nods firmly at Jocoza.

[Elohad]: You couldn't be -less- like a trogg.

[Ivri]: Smarter too. Which explained why the earthen didn't talk.

Oranna looks over at Jo gratefully, and rubs a hand over her face repeatedly, like she's reassuring herself that she's made of skin and not stone.

[Niris]: And there were two — giant things. People? Stone giants. They talked.

[Dane]: They died, too.

Dane states mildly, still stretching.

[Elohad]: A lot of things change into something better than what they were. Even if the story's true, it doesn't mean you're the same as what your ancestors' ancestors used to be.

Ivri frowns. "Hey, wait. Niris is right. How did they speak common?"

Niris looks helplessly at Ivrianna.

[Elohad]: I know there are magics that translate. Mind stuff.

[Dane]: Aye.

Jocoza looks up at Elo. "Like the others were saying. Some people think humans came from monkeys and stuff."
[Ivri]: Maybe… *she gets more ham and some bread*

[Elohad]: Yeah, we have no idea what humans used to be, but I'm sure it's nothing like what we are now.

Dane grunts, marching over to pick off of Ivri's plate.

Ivri smacks at his hand belatedly.

[Jocoza]: But that doesn't mean Elo and Ivri and Dane and Niris aren't people, right?

Dane doesn't seem to notice, persisting unless she resists.

Ivri grabs more ham off the table and shoves it at his mouth.

Oranna nods weakly, both her hands on Befound, petting the leopard like a lap cat.

[Elohad]: Think about how a tree starts as a tiny little seed. Maybe people are like that too. You start with something really simple, and then it grows and gets better and more complicated.

Dane growls faintly, snatching it out of her hand and rounding the table to return to the others, eating quietly.

Elohad continues stroking her hair paternally, even though she's more than twice his age.

Jocoza moves to put a comforting hand on Oranna's shoulder.

[Oranna]: Only e'en a tree is no' a tool. Jus' a livin' thing. From th' start.

[Ivri]: Besides, it sounded to me like dwarves were a vast improvement that their creators hadn't planned on.

[Elohad]: Yeah, you… found your own way.

ocoza nods at Ivri.

[Oranna]: But they meant ta use us. Fer somethin'.

[Dane]: N'the earthen weren't … exactly the smartest sort'f folk I came across.

[Elohad]: But you became something different and better, even your creators apparently thought so.

[Oranna]: It's jus'…I've ne'er thought about. How quiet e'erthin' gets when yer — when yer — *her eyes fill a little with tears* Stoneform.

Elohad gently pats Oranna..

[Ivri]: No, Oranna. They meant to use the *earthen* for something. Dwarves became something different, and weren't used. The Earthen are still the earthen.

Oranna twists her hands around themselves.

[Jocoza]: And still exist, clearly.

Niris kneels before Oranna..

[Dane]: Aye, dwarves are sommat' else.

[Ivri]: Yeah. That's why there were still earthen down there. They're still tools.

[Oranna]: But I can do it, too. Stone. I can be stone again, e'en if it's jus' fer a little bit. I…*she clears her throat*

[Elohad]: But it's your -choice.-

[Oranna]: I…should probably…I think I should go home. *she stands up a little wobbly*

[Jocoza]: So you have a heritage. It doesn't mean you're -like- them.

[Ivri]: Yeah, because you came from the stone. That's what dwarves have always said anyway, right?

[Dane]: S'Bargrimm at, then?

[Elohad]: I hope Bargrimm will be home soon. I'm sorry I sent him off.

[Niris]: And the rest of the time you run around the wide world, exploring and learning and loving and having friends and being clever and skilled.

[Elohad]: He's making a… well, that's not important right now.

Oranna nods and brushes a hand at her face.

[Ivri]: Setting off fireworks…

Elohad glances toward a locked chest in the corner with a very alarming note tacked to it.

[Niris]: Oranna, did you give Elohad — do you want to give Elohad the statuette?

[Elohad]: Thanks I'll put it in the Corner of Doom over there.

Oranna hands it over like she's forgotten it exists already.

[Oranna]: Sounds fine.

[Oranna]: I'll….I'll see e'eryone…later.

Elohad watches Oranna with concern as she goes.

Jocoza waves at Oranna.

[Elohad]: I can't even imagine finding out how humans were created…