(2022-04-20) Places Left Behind

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Erixa talks to Ben about Plaguelands, Westfall, and Draenor, and associated anger.
Rating:	T for Teen

+ Show additional content warnings

censored cursing

Erixa trots down the stairs to HQ, pausing to smile when she sees Ben. "Hello! I have not seen you here in so long."
Ben is standing by Jo's desk, perusing some papers. He turns around, slightly startled, and then grins.
[Ben]: Hey, Miz Erica. I been in Outland a while. How're you doin'?
Ben turns back to lay the papers down on the desk.
Erixa 's expression freezes at the mention of 'Outland', but she says, "I guess it is not Draenor anymore. But I am good. Fighting monsters in your plague lands, these days."
Ben 's grin drops away. "Oh, I beg your pardon, miss. Should I — I mean, is it better f' I call it Draenor? I'm sorry if that was… I'm sorry."
Erixa shakes her head. "It was Draenor before it was shattered. Maybe new name is good. I should not be so attached, there were many other worlds."
[Ben]: And the plaguelands, huh? That is… yeah. A whole place. Any better, since we was up there a few months ago?
Erixa looks at Ben, puzzled. "I can not say, since I was not there a few months ago. It is full of monsters, though, so maybe the same."
Ben drags a hand through his hair. "That's too bad, I guess. I was hopin' we made a dent in it."
[Ben]: And that's a bit the same thing, I reckon, for humans? Northern ones. It was all called Lordaeron and the Eastweald, before. Now it's … plaguelands.
[Ben]: I dunno if that's easier for them, to hear it called somethin' different now that it is like it is, or whether it's worse.
Erixa shrugs. "Usually Legion destroyed what we ran from. I did not think we might go back. Is that harder, for humans? That they are still there, but not as they were?"
[Ben]: I could not really say, myself — not fairly, anyhow — since I wasn't a northerner and wasn't up there before. I never saw it how it was. Reckon you'd have to ask some of the northern folks.
Erixa considers this, and how little she actually knows about Ben. "So is your homeland still beautiful?"
Ben grimaces. "I… it's still there, I guess. But it ain't as pretty as it was, no. Defias come through and literally salted fields an' !@#$. Drove farmers an' families out. Moonbrook's all but abandoned, fields are dead an' full of buzzards and coyotes."
[Ben]: Reckon we got better odds of comin' back from it, though, than the plaguelands seems to right now.
Erixa nods, and moves over to place a hand on a chair. "So you understand, some. You must hate them, yes? These Defias creatures who came through with salt and buzzards."
[Ben]: Yeah. Yeah, I %^&*en do. They're people, the Defias. I mean, sh*tty people, but people. Ain't, like, ghouls or monsters.
[Ben]: Which I reckon just means they got even less excuse. Sorry, you want to sit?
Ben takes a seat himself, comfortably.
Erixa relaxes into a chair herself. "I have been traveling much, so yes. Could rest the hooves. It is just a thing I think of more lately. Hatred. Anger?"
Ben raises his eyebrows. "Why's that, miss?"
[Erixa]: The Legion always were an evil at our heels, so of course I want to fight them. To kill them. Then the orcs… they were people. And then… *she grits her teeth*
Ben watches her. "And then monsters, too?"
[Erixa]: Monsters, instead. *She shakes her head* You must have seen some of their work. And here, too.
[Ben]: Oh, hell yeah. I mean — I did not see a lot of it personal, originally. I was real little when they come through. I know they were the first tide of sh*t washed over Westfall, burnin' and razin'. Probably made the Defias's work easier.
[Ben]: But my aunt, and Mr Ference — they was there for it all. My aunt has a long grudge.
[Ben]: And I seen some of 'em around Blackrock and whatnot now, pockets of 'em up north. And then out in… Draenor? Outland. They're… yeah.
Erixa nods, acknowledging the fairness of this grudge.
[Erixa]: They're -everywhere-. *She shrinks in against the chair* I do not understand why their world is the one that did not die. Why they get more chances and more chances.
Ben leans forward to prop his elbows on his knees, regarding Erixa with earnest gravity. "I am sorry, miss. I really am."
Erixa looks back at him, a weariness around her eyes. "And I am sorry for your Westfallers."
[Ben]: Your people got a new chance here, yeah? I mean — some of 'em did. Which ain't seem all that fair. But some of 'em. And we will help, yeah?
Erixa nods. "It was enough. At first. I thought we could make a stand here, defend this place. Prophet Velen said this was the end. But then… the Portal…"
[Erixa]: I do not understand what we are meant to do.
Ben shrugs a shoulder. "Like I said. Westfall ain't got it half as bad as a lot of people. Yours included. I could go back to the farm, f' I wanted. I mean, if it hadn't burned down. But the land's still there, could be good again someday." He laces his hands together. "And in't we? Makin' a stand here? They can open a Portal, but we ain't let 'em through it. We took the fight back to 'em."
Erixa takes a breath and lets it out slowly. "Maybe. We could slow them there, maybe."
Erixa gives a tentative smile. "I am sorry. So much anger today. I just like to know what I am meant for. I do not like uncertainty."
Ben nods at her. "You ain't got to be sorry, miss. I know how it's like, I really do. I been… a lot angry. About the same kind of things, I reckon, if not exactly the same."
[Ben]: Can I ask, if it ain't unpleasant — where you from? Out there, I mean. In Out- Draenor?
[Ben]: If that is a bad question, pretend I never asked it.
Erixa shakes her head slightly. "It is not a bad question. I was a Vindicator, and I traveled much. But mostly in a town not far from Shattrath. Telmor? It is… probably ruins now. It was, before."
Ben knits his brow. "I do not know Telmor. I could look around for it. In the forest? Terokkar? I been in Shattrath now, f' course — it's where I'm livin', at the moment — and out in the forest some."
Erixa blinks at that. "Shattrath stands? But it fell. I know it fell, they made me run to live."
[Ben]: It is… I mean, it probably don't stand the way you remember. A lot of it is fallen down, a lot of rubble and whatnot. Lower City is mud and rubble and full of refugees. But the city's still there. A'dal — the naaru? — is in the middle of it.
Erixa is surprised into a smile. "A'dal? And there are still refugees. That is good."
Ben nods at her.
[Ben]: They got draenei in the city callin' themselfs Aldor, and some blood elfs who come over with Kael'thas but rebelled against him, callin' themselfs Scryers. They each got set up in separate pieces of the city.
[Ben]: Me an' Mizzy are livin' up in the Aldor half of it.
Erixa raises her eyebrows. "Blood elfs. I would not trust blood elf traitors, but maybe if A'dal said they are safe. Aldor sounds better."
[Erixa]: Telmor was… *she pauses, her hands moving slightly as if trying to remember a map.* By the forest, on a mountainside. But we lost it early.
[Erixa]: They had started attacking hunting parties, so I was out, defending. We did not think they would go so far as… *she trails off, and then adds* There are not really people from Telmor, anymore. Maybe the handful who were not there.
Ben nods slowly, digesting this grim information. "I am sorry. I can ask around, f'you want. I ain't seen a lot of the forest and whatnot yet, like I said."
[Ben]: Only been out in Hellfire Peninsula — reckon it was called somethin' different when you was there — and Zangarmarsh.
Erixa frowns. "The map has changed, and I did not explore much, after. We hid and then we escaped. If you find it, maybe I would like to see the ruins."
[Ben]: I will let you know. Maybe if I find other Telmor people around, too.
[Erixa]: There is Gaakhed at least, so two of us. He was also away. I do not know if you met him - he wanders alone often.
Ben tips his head and considers. "I dunno. The name's familiar, but could just be from — is he in Cobalt? Could just be from records. I am… I'm sorry to admit it, but I ain't real good at draenei names yet." He looks embarrassed.
Erixa nods. "He joined Cobalt, but I think has been mostly in Kalimdor."
[Erixa]: I… *she frowns* I thought I did not want to go back, but speaking of it…
[Ben]: Speaking of?
Ben raises his eyebrows.
[Erixa]: Hearing about how things are now… *she hesitates* I try to forget a place, when it is dead. But I remember Draenor. And it sounds like it is not dead, not yet.
[Ben]: It is in a hell of a shape, ain't gonna lie. But it ain't dead, neither, and I got to say — for a thing to be in the shape it is in and still not dead, that is… I mean, it is hangin' on to life as hard as I can imagine any thing doin'. Tougher'n anything.
[Erixa]: I do not know if it is repairable. Like your plague lands. But… I still fight there. You fought there. Maybe also Draenor…
[Ben]: Maybe Draenor.
[Erixa]: I will have to talk to O'ros again. *She smiles at Ben* The Naaru are good guides.
Ben nods at her.
[Ben]: A'dal is… yeah. O'ros is the first one I met. They are really somethin', huh?
Erixa nods. "They saved our people, in the beginning. That was before me. But still they protect us, guide us. You can trust them."
[Ben]: I do. I mean, I did not - know much about the Light, before? But the naaru, they kind of… you really feel it.
[Erixa]: Yes, they gave us Light. I felt it here *she taps her chest* from when I was a small child. Always guiding.
Ben nods respectfully. "That must've been - yeah. Reckon growin' up like that must be somethin'."
Erixa stretches her arms. "And that guide tells me now, more work to be done in plague lands. And I should let you to your work, Ben."
[Ben]: Oh, yes'm. I should get back to it. You be safe up there, yeah?
Ben gets up and stretches.
[Ben]: You got Cobalt people up there with you? Argent Dawn lookin' out?
[Erixa]: Argent Dawn, yes. No other Cobalt with me.
Ben frowns a little. "Hate for Cobalt people to be workin' alone. Maybe we will find someone to head up there with you. Argent Dawn's okay, though."
[Erixa]: But it is good work, and I am safe. *She grins.* The monsters are not safe.
Ben grins back at her.
Erixa nods at Ben. "If you send anyone, I will keep them safe, too."
[Ben]: Okay, well. And they would watch your back, I hope. Meantime, you keep safe.
[Erixa]: You too. Do not fall off any edge.
[Ben]: Do my best, miss.
Erixa salutes Ben with respect.