(2022-05-08) The Forest Has Eyes. And Also Extraplanar Bombs. (S6E1 - White Squad)

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	White Squad detours from their Alliance mission to aid Gerhold with an investigation into the arakkoa. They make an explosive discovery.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

Arc: Season 6

[Cressidha]: Ben, Ismene.
Ismene stands near Ben, hat pulled way down, cape around her shoulders and pinned in front of her. It looks like it might have been a short cape on Ben.
Bennarin glances up and nods respectfully to Cressidha. "Miss."
Ismene looks over at Cressidha, panicked, then at Ben.
Cressidha dismounts from Cinnamon, hitching her to this brazier here.
Ismene whispers, "She still knew it was me."
[Bennarin]: Well, you were standin' by me.
[Cressidha]: I admit I did assume.
[Bennarin]: You look real anonymous, though, *Ben assures Ismene gently.*
Ismene hikes the cape up hgher around her ears and moves to stand by Cressidha instead.
[Cressidha]: Don't be nervous. We're all happy to have you.
[Cressidha]: Water?
Cressidha passes out flasks of water to Ismene and Ben. Ben definitely gets water even though warriors do not need water.
Ismene snakes one hand barely out of her heavy wrappings to take the water, murmuring a thank you.
Bennarin definitely accepts water, because hydration.
Atley walks up on Hutch, a bit of chewing tobacco tucked into his bottom lip. "Hullo', you lot." He eyes the back of Ismene's hatted head.
Bennarin glances up and nods respectfully again. "Atley."
[Cressidha]: Good afternoon, Dane.
Ismene pulls the cape up higher around her chin and peers at Atley under her hat brim.
[Atley]: How are we, then?
Silvestre waves.
[Bennarin]: Doin' good. Doin' okay. Good. *Ben grins.*
[Silvestre]: I am here. On time.
[Cressidha]: Doing all right. Good afternoon, Silvestre.
Bennarin nods solemnly at Sil. "You are. Good job."
Atley peers briefly at Ben before he nods. He turns to size up Sil before nodding again, shifting comfortably in his saddle.
Ismene hunches deeper and deeper in her cloak, sinking her head so mostly she looks like a coatrack with a big cape and a hat on it. A 5'4" coatrack, anyway.
Cressidha awkwardly pats Ismene's shoulder.
[Bennarin]: Atley, wanted a word with you about today. I know the orders generally was Allerian Stronghold, but I got a letter from Gerhold with a request from the Kirin Tor. Sounded important.
Bennarin tips his head up at Atley on his horse. "Reckon maybe I will take White to get that looked into and maybe circle up with y'all after?"
Atley furrows his brow out of light interest. "Urgent? Somming' to do with the Archmage?" he asks, gesturing backtowards towards Khadgar.
Fitzcairne greets everyone warmly.
[Bennarin]: No, to do with — uh.
Bennarin glances around. He nods politely to the dwarf on the enormous bear.
Ismene covers her eyes with her cloak. Nothing to see here. Just a big cloak and a hat.
Cressidha nods politely.
[Atley]: Aye, Ben, I'll take my lot to the Stronghold.
Atley looks to Fitzcairne, and his giant bear.
[Fitzcairne]: Don't mind Barry, just fed 'im.
[Bennarin]: Okay.
[Cressidha]: Goodness.
[Bennarin]: That sure is … some spikes he got on him.
Fitzcairne nods at Ben.
Atley scoffs with amusement and leans down to reassure his horse with a few 'gentle' smacks on the armored shoulder.
[Fitzcairne]: Cobalt Company.
[Fitzcairne]: I heard o' ye folks.
[Bennarin]: Have you? Good stuff, I hope.
Bennarin grins.
Fitzcairne smiles at Ben.
Cressidha looks down, seems to realize she's not wearing her tabard, and gets it out of a bag to put on in record speed.
Silvestre reaches out a hand curiously to poke of the bear's giant 'tusk' armor pieces.
Fitzcairne giggles at Cressidha.
Ismene sways. The cloak and hat looks like it might faint.
Cressidha puts a steadying hand on Ismene's arm.
[Fitzcairne]: Dinnae if'n ye folks heard, but there be a stuff brewin' on the Isle o' Quel'Danas
[Fitzcairne]: First wave o' mercs be headed there next week
[Atley]: Some sort'f trouble?
Fitzcairne nods at Atley.
[Cressidha]: Oh?
Bennarin raises his eyebrows. "I had not heard that, sir. I will put in a word with the Captain, see what she knows."
[Fitzcairne]: Aye, [SPOILERS REDACTED]
[Fitzcairne]: Anyhow, I dinnae mean ta interrupt.
[Fitzcairne]: Ye folks take care now.
[Bennarin]: S' all right, sir, nice to talk. But we do got to get to work here. Thanks.
[Cressidha]: Light be with you.
Fitzcairne bows down graciously.
[Silvestre]: You too, you and your cool bear!
[Atley]: Aye, travel well, dwarf master.
Gwenivene waves excitedly. "H-hi everyone!"
[Cressidha]: Miss Whittle, good afternoon.
[Fitzcairne]: Barry woah!
[Fitzcairne]: Barry!
[Fitzcairne]: Barry!
[Fitzcairne]: Relax!
[Gwenivene]: Beary….
Silvestre waves at Gwenivene.
Ismene peeks out to see what Barry's doing.
Gwenivene giggles
[Fitzcairne]: Barry!
[Fitzcairne]: Barry!
Ismene smothers a laugh.
Cressidha watches the bear go.
[Fitzcairne]: Gdmanit!
Atley smacks his lips a few times.
Gwenivene giggles.
The dwarf is dramatically (and fatally) ejected from his bear.
[Bennarin]: … whoa. Uh.
[Atley]: …That's why you bloody ride a horse.
Atley peers at Fitzcairne searchingly.
[Cressidha]: Ah…
[Gwenivene]: Are you okay?
A night elf priestess, apparently a colleague of the dwarf, arrives to investigate the commotion.
Yennera looks at Fitzcairne and covers her face with her palm.
She resurrects the dwarf.
Ismene starts to dis-cloak, but she sees it's taken care of and wraps her cloak tighter around her again.
Bennarin nods wide-eyed at the elf priestess.
[Fitzcairne]: I dinnae take the krumpets!
[Fitzcairne]: Woah.
[Cressidha]: Are you all right?
[Fitzcairne]: That bear needs some trainin’.
Fitzcairne thanks Yennera.
Fitzcairne hugs Yennera.
Yennera was happy to help Fitzcairne.
Ismene pulls her hat back down, too.
[Fitzcairne]: Alright, Sharpbeak it is.
Fitzcairne pats Sharpbeak on the neck and shouts:
[Fitzcairne]: Let's take to the skies!
Silvestre waves at Fitzcairne.
Fitzcairne waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!
Bennarin glances back at his squad and counts heads.
[Bennarin]: I am missin' one.
Cressidha traces the water-conjuring sigil in the air again.
Aspenwood walks with Mordecai's hand clasped in his, as he smiles gently at Cress, nodding to Ben and then Dane. "Good afternoon."
[Silvestre]: I see eight of us.
Bennarin smiles at Colson and nods to Mordecai.
[Cressidha]: Colson. Mordecai.
[Harbrooke]: Oh, I'm– I'm not… I'm just here to…
Atley briefly shakes his head before nodding to the newcomers.
[Atley]: Hullo'.
[Harbrooke]: Hello, um.
Gwenivene searches faces… her expression falling a little.
[Gwenivene]: Has… anyone seen Sandy…?
[Cressidha]: We're expecting… Sir Gavynn to be assisting us? On White Squad?
Ismene looks (if you can see her eyes in the little space she leaves) at Mordecai and Colson.
[Bennarin]: That's right.
Harbrooke does not seem to have recognized Ismene, so perhaps her hat and cloak disguise is working.
Gausanders waves.
[Cressidha]: Ah! Sandy.
[Silvestre]: There's Sandy now!
[Gausanders]: Hi, every– Gwen!
Bennarin nods. "Sanders."
Gwenivene lights up like a Winter Veil tree! "Sandy!"
Aspenwood turns as Sandy runs up, and smiles faintly. "Sandy."
Ismene relaxes a little, which is noticeable because the cape gets a little thinner.
[Atley]: Blue seems to be missing the young one.
[Bennarin]: Miss Nellie. An' we are missin' that Gavynn.
Gausanders has his backpack full, wearing it backwards again. He walks and stands next to Gwen. "I'm so happy to see you! I've got a gift for you!"
Harbrooke shuffles his feet.
Aspenwood frowns slightly. "Hm. I know of Sir Gavynn that he has intended to remain, ah. There he is."
[Bennarin]: We will wait a couple more. Maybe Mordecai — oh, hey.
[Silvestre]: That's him, right? The guy in all the red?
[Cressidha]: Ah. Sir Gavynn.
Aspenwood inclines his head to Gavynn.
[Atley]: That'd be him.
Bennarin nods respectfully to Gavynn.
Atley nods at Gavynn.
Gwenivene beams at Sandy. "A… a gift? For me?"
Gavynn nods quickly, sliding on his helmet. "Where is the team off to today?"
Ismene shuffles around to look at Gavynn. Presumably. The hat turns that way a bit, though the cloak makes it hard to be sure.
[Bennarin]: White is headin' to Lower City, to start. Got a errand to look into for Gerhold.
[Bennarin]: You're with us.
[Atley]: Blue Squad will be ranging south-east, to Allerian Stronghold.
[Atley]: The road'll be perilous. We'll be riding hard.
Harbrooke mumbles, "Be safe."
[Bennarin]: … ain't like Miss Nellie, is it?
Bennarin looks around again.
Aspenwood gently squeezes Mordecai's hand, just once, as he looks to Dane with a nod.
[Gausanders]: Oh then if we're riding in dangerous areas, my gift for you, Gwen, is even more perfect for today! Close your eyes!
Bennarin seems to have just noticed … whatever is happening beside him. He blinks at Sandy and Gwen.
Atley nods with agreement towards Ben before he eyes Sandy warily.
Gwenivene shuts her eyes tight, holding her hands out.
Cressidha leans down and whispers to Ismene.
Ismene 's hat turns toward Cressidha.
Gausanders chuckles. "Wait, no, I'm not just handing it to you.” He walks up behind her and places an [Infallible Tikbalang Ward] around her neck.
Bennarin raises his eyebrows at Sandy.
Atley furrows his brow at the charm.
Gwenivene nibbles her lip, her freckled cheeks going pink. "Can… I look now?"
Silvestre peers at it curiously. "Is that for protection?"
[Gausanders]: Yes, of course!
Aspenwood smiles faintly at Sandy and Gwen, his eyes lingering on the Tikbalang Ward with professional interest.
[Gausanders]: Don't ruin the surprise, Sil! But yes, it is!
Cressidha puts a hand on Ismene's shoulder.
Ismene trembles, if the motion of the cloak is any indication.
Cressidha leans in closer to the hat, smiling.
Bennarin clears his throat, smiling a little. "Well, uh. White Squad, we are mustered, so let's get — oh, an' there's Miss Nellie."
Atley nods firmly after looks he around.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Atley]: Right then, that'll be all. Let's mount up, you lot.
[Bennarin]: White Squad with me.
Gausanders nods at Atley.
Aspenwood nods, and turns to Mordecai, pulling his hand up to Colson's heart for a moment. "I love you."
[Harbrooke]: Love you. See you later?
[Aspenwood]: Yes. *With obvious reluctance, Colson lets go of Mordecai, and grabs for Tenacious' reins.*
Cressidha fetches her horse.
Gwenivene opens her eyes and looks down, holding the beaded necklace in her hand. "Oh, thank you, Sandy! I'll treasure it!"
Atley eyes Gausanders up and down.
[Atley]: That thing's got more spikes on it now, hasn't it.
Bennarin looks around for Ismene, nearly missing her. Because hat.
Silvestre grins at Ismene. "Hello there, whoever you are. Mysterious priest."
Ismene takes a minute to figure out how to get up on her horse, but it involves actually letting go of the cloak, getting up, and then wrapping the cloak around her again.
White Squad proceeds down the ramp to Lower City, and into the arakkoa quarter.
[Bennarin]: Okay.
Bennarin peers around.
Bennarin spies Rilak the Redeemed.
Silvestre peers around the arrakoa area, as if he's looking for someone. Whoever it is, he doesn't see them.
[Bennarin]: Uh. Rilak? Kirin Tor sent us.
Rilak the Redeemed says: Ah, humans. We were promised the aid of some of your kind.
Bennarin nods respectfully. "That's us. Cobalt Company."
Gavynn bats away the smaller birds circling around the arrakoa.
Cressidha bows her head. She has angled her horse to block Rilak's view of Ismene just slightly.
[Bennarin]: You all need … a hand with somethin', yeah?
Rilak the Redeemed says: Indeed. Those of my people you see here, we are the Skettis Outcasts, exiled from our race of exiles. We were called to this city by the Light at its heart.
Rilak the Redeemed says: Our leader, Kirrik the Awakened, was granted a dream by the naaru, and saw that the ones who follow our shadowed King Terokk follow no prophecy but madness. They are led into a darkness deeper than shadow.
Bennarin shifts in the saddle. "Gerhold suggested somethin' like, yeah."
Rilak the Redeemed says: You must help us, outlanders. We see this darkness spreading in the forest. We must know its plan and purpose. We must put a stop to it before our people are lost to evil.
Silvestre nods very seriously. He is taking this very seriously.
[Silvestre]: We do not want to see your people lost to evil, no sir.
Cinnamon, Cressidha's horse, swishes her tail and shuffles her hooves impatiently.
[Cressidha]: How may we be of assistance?
Rilak the Redeemed says: Bring me the two enchanted scrying orbs from the Veils to the east.
[Bennarin]: The Veils?
Rilak the Redeemed tilts his head and eyes Ben.
Rilak the Redeemed says: Camps.
[Bennarin]: Oh, sure. Okay.
[Cressidha]: Understood.
[Cressidha]: I believe I should be able to detect a scrying orb, if I can get close enough to it.
[Bennarin]: Okay, good.
Ismene relaxes once they're out of the city. Which mostly just means she doesn't fight to keep the cloak closed.
[Silvestre]: This is like what you all normally do? Go into veils and find magic orbs?
[Cressidha]: We found a magic orb in a tower once.
Cressidha shrugs.
Silvestre nods seriously. "So yeah, it's like a regular squad thing."
As they follow the road east, they spot a tauren druid standing in the middle of it, beside a laden pack kodo.
[Bennarin]: … hold up.
Bennarin peers at Earthbinder Tavgren searchingly.
Earthbinder Tavgren says: Ho, travelers! Will you aid the Cenarion Expedition? Some terrible ill has befallen the thicket.
Bennarin eyes the misty thicket ahead, and then the tauren again.
[Bennarin]: The Expedition, sir?
[Gavynn]: We fought ogres with the last group. More Cenarious out here in the forest, is it?
[Silvestre]: The Cenarion Expedition! They're in the Zangarmarsh too!
Ismene near-whispers, "The m-moths look wrong."
Cressidha makes an inquisitive noise.
[Bennarin]: We worked with yours in the marsh. We will help how we can.
Cressidha says back to Ismene in a low voice, "They're a native species, I believe."
Earthbinder Tavgren says: Something has killed all of the druids in the thicket. If you are willing, I need aid in investigating.
Silvestre looks at the Earthbinder in alarm and dismay.
[Cressidha]: Goodness.
Bennarin glances back at his squad, and then at the misty buildings ahead. "Okay. Let's have a look. Y'all can wait here if you want."
[Silvestre]: I better get my poison on.
Bennarin kneels before a Fallen Druid.
[Bennarin]: Damn.
Ismene kneels by the druid.
[Silvestre]: Is it glowing to everybody else, too?
[Silvestre]: Whoa. Everyone's glowing.
[Bennarin]: Yeah. I ain't like it. Nor this … mist? Is it a mist?
[Gavynn]: Ugh.
[Cressidha]: Something's strange about this place.
[Bennarin]: These moths is vicious.
[Silvestre]: Mizzy… uh, Mysterious Priest. Are we okay?
Ismene giggles a little. "You can call me Mizzy out here. But… I'm not sure. Everyone's … off a little."
Bennarin peers up the slope.
Silvestre grins quickly at Mizzy and then sobers.
[Silvestre]: Keep an eye on us? In case it changes?
[Bennarin]: Look for survivors, too.
Ismene is just a bit insulted. "Of course I'll keep an eye on you."
[Gavynn]: It feels off being in this area. Weaker, somehow.
Ismene nods at Gavynn emphatically.
Bennarin raises his eyebrows at Gavynn.
[Cressidha]: Moonwell seems off.
[Cressidha]: And there's a corpse in it.
Silvestre peers at Warden Treelos searchingly.
[Silvestre]: A survivor!
Warden Treelos rants at them for a while about the eyes of something or other watching from the tower.
[Bennarin]: … the eyes of what, now?
Bennarin peers at Warden Treelos searchingly.
[Silvestre]: Napthalwhat?
Bennarin glances up at the tower uneasily.
Ismene eyes the bear-druid-person.
[Bennarin]: I don't — are we bein' watched?
[Cressidha]: Could it be the scrying orbs we're looking for?
[Cressidha]: I'd need to be closer to tell.
[Silvestre]: Is this the one the other guy mentioned? *Sil whispers* The one who lost it?
Ismene eyes Gavynn, as the closest.
[Bennarin]: Oh, hey. That's a thought. Let's have a lo– hm.
[Bennarin]: I dunno. But maybe somethin' in this tower happen to him an' the rest. Worth lookin'.
[Gavynn]: He's mad. What was he even saying?
There are a lot of druid corpses. Like, a lot.
Ismene shakes her head. "I can't help this one either." She looks angry about it.
They climb the tower of alleged eyes.
[Silvestre]: A BIG MOTH!
[Cressidha]: Big moth!
Big dead moth.
Silvestre looks at its eyes. "It does sort of look like it's watching you…"
[Bennarin]: Don't see a orb. Or anything but the moth.
Cressidha chuckles to herself and shakes her head.
[Ismene]: And nothing's fixed now that it's dead.
[Silvestre]: No bird folk round here either.
Ismene checks every druid they pass, however briefly.
[Silvestre]: I guess they've been gone too long to resurrect?
[Cressidha]: Can… can any of them be brought back? Or is it–
Cressidha smiles at Sil.
Silvestre smiles at Cressidha. "Same thought."
[Cressidha]: Indeed.
Bennarin scans the clearing.
[Ismene]: Well, some of them are already decaying. And there's something in the way anyway.
[Silvestre]: In the way?
[Ismene]: Mostly there's something in the way, though.
They make their way into one of the buildings.
Bennarin eyes the littered corpses. "Damn."
[Cressidha]: There's quite a few of them in here.
Warden Treelos wanders through.
[Bennarin]: Oh. We got your … moth, sir.
[Silvestre]: What's that ball? It looks fancy. Is it an arcane thing?
Cressidha crouches down by what is definitely a round ball to examine it.
Bennarin looks at Cressidha. "What is it? Scrying orb?"
[Cressidha]: No. It's… I think it gave off a burst of energy of some kind. Like a container. A bomb.
Cressidha gestures around the room.
[Bennarin]: … a bomb? Sh*t.
[Cressidha]: Right now it's just an empty capsule.
[Gavynn]: And a Broken. Didn't that druid say something about one?
Bennarin steps back and spits on the ground. He eyes the corpse of the Broken.
[Cressidha]: An engineer might be able to determine something more about what it did, but. I don't know.
[Silvestre]: Whatever it had in it, I guess that's what's making us all glow?
[Cressidha]: There's certainly something lingering in the mist here.
[Silvestre]: Maybe that's what's in the way, too. For Mizzy.
[Bennarin]: Well, hell.
[Ismene]: Notice how many of them are shapeshifted into the cat forms?
[Ismene]: In here, anyway.
Bennarin nods at Mizzy.
Silvestre nods at Mizzy. "Think they were trying to run?"
[Ismene]: Or attack.
[Cressidha]: … Should we tell the survivor about it?
[Bennarin]: Yeah. Prob'ly. Let's thin these moths some.
[Ismene]: Though most of them are facing away.
[Cressidha]: Understood.
[Silvestre]: Maybe running then. I think spotted cat is running-druid, right?
[Bennarin]: Yeah. Looks like they was tryin' to run.
[Bennarin]: Reckon whatever it was turned these moths mean?
[Ismene]: They're not really mean. Just confused.
[Silvestre]: You'd think druids would be hardier than moths.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Bennarin]: Hm?
[Silvestre]: What kind of thing would kill a bunch of druids, but just confuse moths?
[Gavynn]: Unless these moths are the other druids.
[Bennarin]: … oh hell.
Bennarin looks wide-eyed at Gavynn.
Ismene makes almost the same expression at Gavynn.
[Silvestre]: Though I guess the moths did a lot of the druids in, too …
[Cressidha]: I'm wondering what Nilunelle would make of this. Or if this area would be harmful to her.
Silvestre peers at Vicious Teromoth searchingly.
[Bennarin]: Can druids do moths?
[Silvestre]: They can do crows, right?
[Ismene]: Are we killing druids?!
[Cressidha]: I… doubt it.
Bennarin prods a dead moth with his boot.
[Cressidha]: I genuinely doubt it. Their forms aren't randomly chosen, they're… mm…
[Cressidha]: I suppose I don't know about the tauren druids. But.
[Gavynn]: Find it odd that everyone near the device were shapeshifted the same way.
[Silvestre]: I never saw any druid turn into a moth, but really I only ever saw Rissa messing around at Bruuk's and stuff.
Bennarin eyes the moth.
[Cressidha]: The impression I always got from Nilunelle was that she had to study for each form of hers.
[Silvestre]: So unless the druids here were really into moths.
[Silvestre]: The surviving one would know, right? And he didn't say anything about moth form.
[Bennarin]: Well, they are vicious at us.
[Gavynn]: Or whatever happened here forced this change.
[Ismene]: Obviously coming in after the… the bomb went off isn't deadly. But it confused the druid, too.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, the one wasn't here when it happened, right?
[Bennarin]: Let's get back to the fellow.
Cressidha explains her suspicions about the bomb to Tavgren.
Earthbinder Tavgren listens to Cressidha's explanation about the bomb with concern and scratches his chin thoughtfully. “I will think on this. Bring me samples to compare from uncontaminated moths, and perhaps I will know more.”
[Bennarin]: … oh, regular moths? So I am assumin', sir, that the vicious ones wasn't druids.
[Gavynn]: –that would be an awful lot of them, I suppose. Better as just bugs.
Earthbinder Tavgren confirms the moths are just bugs. The gang sets off to kill more of them. Regular, uncontaminated moths, this time.
[Silvestre]: I am glad to hear they weren't druids. *Sil smiles with relief.*
[Silvestre]: It seems rough we've got to kill the harmless ones. But I guess it's to help figure things out, right?
The first moth they attack casts some kind of pacification on Ben, rendering him unable to attack. Ismene dispels it reflexively.
[Bennarin]: … it did a thing to me. The hell was that?
Bennarin shudders and looks at Mizzy.
[Cressidha]: Hm?
[Ismene]: I didn't even check. I just fixed it!
[Bennarin]: I dunno. I couldn't attack all of the sudden.
[Ismene]: And very glad I could, I note.
[Bennarin]: Just standin' there.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Silvestre]: Like the poison those lost ones used?
[Silvestre]: Back in the marsh, that is.
[Bennarin]: … yeah, kind of. But not poison. That I could feel.
[Ismene]: It felt to me more like a drug, not a poison.
[Bennarin]: Hm.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Ismene]: Not that drugs can't be poisons!
Ismene turns pink, which probably looks weird in the green light.
[Silvestre]: Drug like medicine?
[Bennarin]: Moth-drugs.
[Cressidha]: A defense against predators.
Silvestre looks at Cressidha and goes, "Ohhh."
[Bennarin]: … again. Damn.
Ismene takes a second to examine Ben more closely before fixing it.
[Silvestre]: That makes sense. It's not to hurt, it's to stop a predator so they can run.
[Ismene]: I'd advise trying not to breathe in the dust from their wings.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Bennarin]: Uh.
[Bennarin]: Hard to fight 'em without, y'know.
Ismene almost, but not quite, giggles at Ben.
[Ismene]: I'll keep you safe.
Bennarin coughs and makes a face at Mizzy.
[Bennarin]: Yes'm.
Cressidha smiles.
[Silvestre]: Practice no-breath fighting, Ben. *Sil quirks a grin.*
[Bennarin]: Ha ha.
[Ismene]: You'll notice Sir Gavynn hasn't been affected, Ben.
[Gavynn]: Hm? What by, the spores?
[Cressidha]: I'm still not sure who you were hiding from, in the city.
[Silvestre]: Everyone *Sil says as an aside to Cressidha*
[Bennarin]: Mizzy is bein' the Mysterious Priestess.
[Ismene]: I am not!
[Ismene]: I'm not mysterious at all.
[Cressidha]: Sir Gavynn is wearing a helmet.
[Bennarin]: She is afraid she might get famous now that she is on a squad.
[Cressidha]: Oh.
[Bennarin]: We will protect her identity.
[Cressidha]: I haven't had that problem yet.
Ismene huffs a sigh. "Next time, I am letting you just stand there and get beaten up by a moth."
Bennarin grins at Mizzy.
[Cressidha]: But I understand your concern.
[Ismene]: It's not happening to Sil, either, Ben. Maybe they're in better shape?
Ismene grins.
[Bennarin]: Excuse you.
[Ismene]: Well, you know, they don't pant and run out of breath, so… less dust.
Ben does not pant and run out of breath either. Just, you know, for the record.
[Gavynn]: Giant moths, giant spiders. Why is everything on this rock overgrown?
[Silvestre]: Maybe all the fel or whatever that broke it up?
[Cressidha]: To be fair, we have plenty of giant spiders back home.
[Gavynn]: Oh I am more than aware of that.
Gavynn agrees with Cressidha.
[Cressidha]: Are you not fond of spiders, Sir Gavynn?
[Gavynn]: Not undead ones with shadow magics, no.
Ismene nods. That's fair.
Cressidha smiles.
Bennarin peers at the ruins ahead.
[Bennarin]: What's that place?
[Silvestre]: My sister used to be scared of 'em, when she was younger. The little spiders.
[Ismene]: The little ones are scarier.
[Ismene]: The little ones can crawl down your back.
[Ismene]: You can see the big ones coming.
[Silvestre]: You think? But they're so useful.
[Silvestre]: And they got clever little poisons.
Cressidha smiles fondly. "Colson hates any sort of creepy-crawlies."
[Cressidha]: I used to have to get rid of them for him.
Bennarin smiles crookedly at Cressidha.
Cressidha puts a finger to her lips. Shh. Secret.
[Bennarin]: He did not like the worms in that Sunken Temple none. Though to be fair I ain't real big on worms neither.
[Cressidha]: I suppose he'd be glad to hear that.
[Silvestre]: I would guess you'd be more anti-moth, Cressidha. Aren't they bad for fabrics?
[Cressidha]: I certainly don't want them in my house.
They have collected enough moth samples! It is a lot of moth samples.
[Silvestre]: Whew, okay, now we can see what happened to the confused moths.
They return the Many Moth Samples to Earthbinder Tavgren, who observes that the samples from the contaminated moths appear to have been corrupted by an explosion of pure mana.
Bennarin nods at the tauren and then knits his brow.
[Silvestre]: Pure mana?
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Bennarin]: S' that why it hit the druids but not the moths the same way?
[Ismene]: I wonder why that would interfere in healing. Or make us all … off.
Earthbinder Tavgren suggests that the Broken corpse in the ruins near the bomb remnants might have something to do with a Broken merchant who travels this road.
Bennarin nods at Earthbinder Tavgren. "We did see that Broken, sir, yeah."
Bennarin looks down the road.
[Bennarin]: C'mon. Let's have a word with this trader.
[Silvestre]: I bet he'll tell us if we ask nicely.
[Silvestre]: Do the Arcane and the Light interfere with each other somehow?
[Ismene]: Not that I ever knew. *She looks to Cressidha.*
Cressidha looks thoughtful. She isn't speculating.
Silvestre looks ahead. "Ooh, ruins!"
[Silvestre]: Ruins for later.
[Bennarin]: There.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Silvestre waves at Empoor.
[Cressidha]: Excuse me!
[Bennarin]: Hey, sir.
[Cressidha]: Sir, might we have a moment?
Silvestre smiles at them in a friendly way.
Empoor declines to give them a moment. He declines emphatically, with his bodyguard and a hammer.
[Silvestre]: AHH!
[Bennarin]: Damn!
It was not a pro call on Empoor’s part to attack the fully armed-and-armored White Squad. The dispute is settled pretty quickly.
Gavynn looks at Empoor and covers his face with his palm.
Ismene giggles softly at Gavynn's expression.
[Bennarin]: Hey, we just wanted to talk.
[Silvestre]: No need for fighting!
Empoor says: Fine, fine … I'll tell you what I know, but it's not much!
Empoor explains he’s been moving crates of goods in and out of Shattrath for some Ethereals, and gives them the name of one Wind Trader Lathrai in the city from whom they might learn more.
[Silvestre]: Sent by Ethereals, via Broken, to Cenarion druids…
[Cressidha]: Hm.
Bennarin steps back and glances at the city.
Cressidha says, "I apologize for the misunderstanding, sir," even though it was entirely his misunderstanding.
Silvestre glances to Cressidha and tries to suppress a laugh.
Bennarin does not apologize for the misunderstanding.
[Silvestre]: And it made like… a manasplosion?
[Bennarin]: We can talk with that Ethereal when we head back. Let's see about them scrying orbs first, yeah?
[Cressidha]: Ah. Yes.
[Cressidha]: The Veils, then.
[Bennarin]: Yes'm.
[Cressidha]: Indeed.
[Bennarin]: Tree houses.
[Silvestre]: Oh, neat!
Bennarin eyes a Shienor Talonite up and down.
Please assume that for the next several units of time, many arakkoa are being slaughtered. Because they are.
[Bennarin]: You reckon the orbs is in the trees?
[Silvestre]: Prob’ly safer up there, for something important?
[Bennarin]: Yeah. Makes sense.
[Cressidha]: Likely, yes.
Bennarin eyes the rope bridges.
[Silvestre]: You see a way up?
[Bennarin]: Yeah, think so.
[Silvestre]: They don't fly, right? Even though they're kinda birdlike?
[Bennarin]: No.
[Gavynn]: A curious sort.
Bennarin nods at Gavynn.
[Ismene]: Well they're sort of all bent over and… crooked.
[Silvestre]: If they all are, maybe that's just their shape?
On a platform at the end of a series of rope bridges, Cressidha spies An Thing.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Bennarin]: Ah?
[Cressidha]: Well.
[Silvestre]: Now that looks like a magic orb.
Cressidha gestures at the scrying orb, which has a literal eye on it.
[Bennarin]: Ah.
[Cressidha]: Ta-da.
[Silvestre]: A real case of 'you'll know it when you see it'.
Bennarin laughs.
[Cressidha]: Just so.
[Ismene]: Not subtle, no.
[Gavynn]: –so who's carrying it?
[Ismene]: …
[Cressidha]: I can.
[Bennarin]: I will.
Bennarin looks at Cressidha.
Cressidha produces a netherweave bag.
[Ismene]: Let Cressidha. She's magic.
[Bennarin]: You … okay.
[Bennarin]: Yeah.
[Bennarin]: Better at magic stuff.
Cressidha pulls the drawstring out to widen the opening.
Cressidha just fits the entire orb into the bag. It's bigger on the inside.
Cressidha ties the bag shut again.
[Silvestre]: Now that looks like useful magic.
[Bennarin]: I need one of them for carryin' sandwiches.
[Silvestre]: Does it get heavier, when you put more in?
[Cressidha]: Not by much. I can make you both one, with the right materials.
[Cressidha]: It takes quite a bit of netherweave, and some silk from the spiders here…
[Bennarin]: Okay, yes'm. Can get you some of that.
Ismene tucks her hat away.
[Cressidha]: However much netherweave you think I need, it's likely more than that.
[Silvestre]: I will keep an eye out for magic bag materials.
[Bennarin]: Okay, let's check for that other orb. Other … Veil?
[Cressidha]: Indeed.
They ride along the forest’s northern edge until they reach the next arakkoa outpost.
Bennarin reins in and surveys the camp.
[Bennarin]: Look out for another bridge thing.
They interrupt a group of arakkoa channeling some kind of spell. (When I say ‘interrupt,’ I mean ‘murder.’)
[Bennarin]: … what the hell are they doin'?
[Silvestre]: Is that like a mage thing? Or a warlock thing?
[Cressidha]: It looks active, but…
Ismene sends a shimmer of light over everyone. "And shadowed."
[Gavynn]: Lots of ritual equipment here.
[Cressidha]: This may be a 'warlock thing'.
Bennarin grimaces.
[Silvestre]: Pile of glowing skulls in the middle, yeah.
[Bennarin]: I see bridges from tree to tree but none up, yet.
[Silvestre]: Got to be one somewhere, since they can't fly.
[Bennarin]: Hold up.
[Bennarin]: Door in the tree.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Bennarin peers.
[Bennarin]: I could do with less bones and purple fires.
[Ismene]: That was a little dizzying.
[Silvestre]: Purple light's kinda eerie in there, yeah.
[Bennarin]: Hey.
[Silvestre]: There it is, just like the other one!
[Cressidha]: Can anyone guess what this is?
Cressidha says dryly.
Silvestre laughs.
[Ismene]: I'm going to go with… lamp.
[Cressidha]: Correct. Definitely a lamp.
Silvestre chuckles at Ismene.
Ismene smiles happily.
Cressidha opens up the same bag and puts this giant scrying orb in there too.
[Bennarin]: All right. Let's go get this to that Rilak, an' then find that Wind Trader fellow.
[Cressidha]: Ben.
[Cressidha]: Shall I portal us back?
[Bennarin]: Yes'm? Oh, shit, yes ma'am.
[Silvestre]: Wow!
Cressidha totally gets their horses too.
[Gavynn]: Oh, that's handy
Cressidha flicks a portal stone up into the air, and it cracks open.
They step through and are back in Shattrath.
[Ismene]: Goodness, that's convenient.
[Bennarin]: Way easier.
[Cressidha]: Just so.
[Silvestre]: Right from the middle of danger!
They return to Rilak the Redeemed in Lower City.
Bennarin gestures to Cressidha.
Cressidha reaches into the bag and takes out the orbs, one at a time.
Rilak accepts the scrying orbs, and gives them a letter to bring to the leader of the Skettis Outcasts, Kirrik the Awakened, in the Bone Wastes.
[Bennarin]: … Kirrik. Okay, yessir.
Bennarin scans their surroundings for an Ethereal.
[Bennarin]: Let's see about that Wind Trader.
Bennarin points at Wind Trader Lathrai.
Silvestre peers at Wind Trader Lathrai searchingly.
[Bennarin]: Hey. Got some questions.
Wind Trader Lathrai does not have answers, unless they are interested in doing him a personal favor, first.
[Bennarin]: … a favor.
Ismene is offended.
Bennarin eyes the Ethereal flatly.
Silvestre narrows his eyes at the Wind Trader.
[Bennarin]: We got a whole village of dead druids an' he wants …
Bennarin grimaces.
The favor involves killing a whole bunch of arakkoa. In for a penny….
[Bennarin]: All right. We'll do his f*cken favor. Double time.
[Gavynn]: –was that thing just a walking pile of bandages?
[Gavynn]: Or am I crazy like that druid?
[Bennarin]: Yeah, they are weird as sh*t.
[Bennarin]: Got to wonder what's in there.
[Cressidha]: The bandages are meant to show its form.
[Cressidha]: It's… the light inside it.
[Silvestre]: THE Light? Or just like, light?
[Bennarin]: Or maybe they just give it a form. That's more like … people.
[Bennarin]: So we will talk to 'em.
[Ismene]: It can't just wear a robe?
[Cressidha]: Just like light.
[Cressidha]: I believe.
Cressidha glances over at the Darkmoon Faire briefly.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, robe and hood would look more human.
Bennarin peers ahead.
[Ismene]: Ben.
[Bennarin]: Tree houses — yes?
[Ismene]: Can I go pick up that terocone?
[Bennarin]: You can, missus.
[Ismene]: Niris would probably like them.
[Bennarin]: A baby gift.
Bennarin laughs.
Ismene smiles apologetically at everyone.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Cressidha]: When is the baby due, do you know?
[Bennarin]: … oh, sh*t, I ain't even said! The baby came.
[Cressidha]: Oh!
[Cressidha]: That's wonderful.
[Bennarin]: On Wednesday!
[Bennarin]: He is pretty amazin'.
[Silvestre]: I need to go by and meet him soon.
[Ismene]: He's so cute!
[Bennarin]: Yeah! Yeah, I reckon they will send out a announcement or somethin'.
[Silvestre]: I just figured, wait till he's a little tougher. They're real fragile when they first come out, right?
[Ismene]: He has the littlest tiniest fingernails you ever saw.
Bennarin grins at Mizzy.
Please note that while this whole conversation is taking place, arakkoa are being mowed down like chaff. Just dead bird-people everywhere.
[Cressidha]: I've provided the first several years of his baby clothes…
[Bennarin]: Aww.
[Cressidha]: They outgrow them so quickly.
[Bennarin]: Well, I still ain't got his first pair of socks right, so.
[Silvestre]: That was the thing you were knittin' on?
[Bennarin]: Yeah.
[Cressidha]: Oh, you knit?
Cressidha smiles.
[Bennarin]: I do. Kind of. I ain't good at it yet.
[Ismene]: To be fair, most of the booties end up toys for the cat.
[Silvestre]: Still useful things, then!
[Ismene]: Exactly!
[Cressidha]: I used to drop stitches all the time when I was just starting.
[Ismene]: Ramp?
[Bennarin]: Yeah.
[Bennarin]: Gonna be honest, these are pretty excellent tree-houses.
[Bennarin]: Just, like, as tree-houses go.
[Silvestre]: Ben was bringing the yarn an' stuff to Bruuk's for a while. I dunno if the beer helped with dropped stitches or not.
[Bennarin]: … hey.
Cressidha chuckles.
Ismene laughs.
[Ismene]: Sir Gavynn keeps trying to take rear guard, and I keep wanting everyone in front so I can keep an eye on them.
[Ismene]: So we end up fighting over who's slowest.
Bennarin eyes Gavynn up and down.
[Ismene]: It's kind of funny.
[Bennarin]: He is a paladin, so I am okay if he keeps behind you for rear guard, Mizz.
[Gavynn]: From the other group, I'm used to trying to pull things off the elves who kept stopping to pick flowers.
Bennarin laughs at Gavynn.
Cressidha laughs.
[Ismene]: Some flowers are very useful!
Silvestre laughs.
[Bennarin]: Well, Mizz picks flowers too, so.
[Ismene]: I normally don't ask, either.
[Silvestre]: And so do I.
[Ismene]: But I was trying to be more… um… squad-like.
[Bennarin]: Okay, well as your squad leader, ma'am, I am tellin' you it is okay to let Sir Gavynn take rear guard.
[Bennarin]: … is that how you want to be called? Sir Gavynn?
[Ismene]: I meant normally don't ask if it's ok if I go pick up a terocone or a flower.
[Cressidha]: About the flowers? You don't need to ask permission, but I imagine it's worth letting Ben know if it's off of our path.
Ismene looks worried.
[Ismene]: Oh! Should I not have said?
[Cressidha]: No, that was fine. I didn't even see that terocone.
[Bennarin]: Mizz, no, you ain't need my permission to pick a flower. Just make sure someone's got a eye on you.
[Gavynn]: Doesn't much matter to me, as long as I can see who's about to get attacked.
Ismene smiles in relief at Sir Gavynn.
[Gavynn]: Was escorting refugee caravans for years after all.
The gang stands knee-deep in a field of arakkoa corpses, basically.
[Silvestre]: Think that's enough of a favor?
[Bennarin]: Well. Let's give that … fellow his sh*t.
They ride back to the city to give Wind Trader Lathrai his sh*t.
Bennarin scowls at Wind Trader Lathrai.
[Bennarin]: There's your goods. Where's our information?
Ismene whispers to Ben, "When we live down here, I'm not healing him at all." Clearly Lathrai is on Mizzy's bad side.
Wind Trader Lathrai tells them that sealed crates of goods were being delivered to Tuurem.
[Cressidha]: … Tuurem? Is that a person or a place?
[Silvestre]: Must be a place, if they were delivered there?
Wind Trader Lathrai says: A ruined village to the east.
[Bennarin]: … oh. Them ruins we saw? Okay.
They head east along the road out of the city again.
Bennarin consults a road sign.
[Bennarin]: Yeah. Okay.
Cressidha shoots Empoor a suspicious look as they ride past him again.
They arrive on the outskirts of Tuurem. It is overrun by Broken and Lost Ones.
[Bennarin]: Lost fellows.
[Silvestre]: Think the ones sent here manasploded too?
[Ismene]: Maybe they're nice?
[Bennarin]: Hey. Fellow?
[Cressidha]: Pardon me, we're here to inquire about a deliv–
[Bennarin]: Nope.
Ismene eeps, ducks, and flinlgs a shield up at the same time.
Cressidha sighs.
[Gavynn]: There were also a couple of blood knights that passed us along this road earlier. We'd best be careful.
[Bennarin]: … okay, good to know. Look sharp, all.
Ismene wrinkles her nose.
[Bennarin]: Flower, Mizz.
Silvestre looks across the water. "Look, Mizz, it's your favorite."
[Bennarin]: The kind you like, yeah.
[Ismene]: Mean people with bows, Ben.
[Bennarin]: I got the bow people.
Ismene picks the flower happily.
[Bennarin]: You got the– sh*t. Blood elf.
[Cressidha]: Well, that crate's glowing.
Bennarin points at the Firewing Courier.
[Silvestre]: Uh, something glowing in there. with a blood elf.
[Ismene]: That's what Cressidha said.
The blood elf attacks them, and shouts something about how they can’t have the crate because it belongs to Firewing Point.
[Bennarin]: Firewing Point?
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Silvestre]: This is not Firewing Point.
Bennarin prods the crate.
[Gavynn]: Didn't the crazed druid mention that name?
Ismene stands back and watches everyone gather around the thing that might explode.
[Silvestre]: Why's she here?
Cressidha crouches down near the thing that might explode and examines it.
[Bennarin]: What's in it?
[Cressidha]: It's sealed. I'm not certain it's wise to break the seal.
[Cressidha]: But it should be safe to transport, at least.
[Cressidha]: Shall I?
[Silvestre]: Maybe the ones in the Thicket broke the seal.
[Bennarin]: Yeah, go ahead then.
Ismene goes a little bit nuts with the healing.
Cressidha crouches down and tugs at the drawstring to get the bag's opening wide enough for the box. "… It's heavy."
[Cressidha]: If one of you could give me a hand…?
[Bennarin]: Yeah.
Bennarin steps forward to help lift the crate gingerly.
Silvestre comes over to help as well.
Ismene just assumed Cress didn't mean her.
Cressidha holds the bag open. "Thank you."
Silvestre helps support one side of the crate.
[Bennarin]: Easy now.
They set the crate carefully in the bag.
[Bennarin]: Okay. Let's get that to the Earthbinder.
[Bennarin]: Careful gettin' clear of here.
[Cressidha]: Indeed.
They return to Earthbinder Tavgren outside the Cenarion Thicket.
[Bennarin]: Sir. We found somethin'. Engineering parts. An' a blood elf with 'em.
Bennarin gestures at Cressidha again.
Cressidha gets the box out of the bag mostly by turning the bag partially upside-down.
Ismene backs up.
The Earthbinder examines the contents of the crate — peculiar engineering parts of some kind? — and wonders what they might be.
Silvestre listens to the Earthbinder. "We were kinda hoping you knew what they were."
[Cressidha]: Ah. Well.
The Earthbinder suspects they’re dangerous, and suggests they take them to Jenai Starwhisper at Allerian Stronghold to consult her.
[Bennarin]: … yeah we figured dangerous. Okay. Well, Allerian Stronghold was where we meant to get to eventually anyhow.
Cressidha packs up the parts and looks at Ben and Sil for help. Heavy box.
Bennarin dismounts to help Cressidha get the crate back in the bag.
Silvestre dismounts to help as well.
[Cressidha]: Thank you.
[Bennarin]: There we go. Let's get to the Stronghold an' see what they know.
Cressidha cranes her neck to watch an absolutely giant moth with wings twice her size as they pass.
[Bennarin]: Damn. Look at that tower.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Bennarin salutes an Allerian Horseman with respect.
Ismene hastily jams her hat on her head and struggles pull her cape up.
[Silvestre]: Very liony place, this.
They report to Jenai Starwhisper.
[Bennarin]: Ma'am. Got somethin' from the Earthbinder for you to take a look at.
Bennarin gestures at Cressidha again.
Cressidha dismounts and once again pours the heavy crate out of her bag.
Jenai Starwhisper is deeply concerned. The contents of the crate are indeed engineering parts; they appear to be components for a bomb, of a type recently being imported by Ethereal traders from some extradimensional plane through which they travel.
Bennarin knits his brows at the news.
[Silvestre]: Bomb parts. I mean, we kinda guessed as much?
[Bennarin]: Yeah, but — other dimensions? What the hell kind of — okay.
[Silvestre]: Otherdimensional bombs.
[Cressidha]: Well, then.
[Cressidha]: Do they have a flight path here?
Jenai Starwhisper says: Yes, behind the mill wheel.
Gavynn points over yonder.
[Cressidha]: Thank you.
[Cressidha]: It's almost like a normal little town.
Aspenwood nods. "Yes. And who they are allied with…" Colson shrugs his right shoulder.
Atley walks over.
Cressidha waves to the others.
Bennarin nods to Atley.
Ismene hides behind Ben.
[Bennarin]: Blue Squad.
[Atley]: So they're just letting in any old rabble here, are they?
Atley inquires with some gruff amusement at White Squad.
Gavynn eyes Atley up and down.
Bennarin grins at Atley and eyes him.
[Gavynn]: Yes, it'd seem so.
Atley grins out the corner of his mouth.
Silvestre waves at Aspenwood.
Gausanders waves.
[Atley]: How's the day been, you lot.
[Bennarin]: Okay. Got some sh*t done. Y'all?
Aspenwood smiles gently at Cressidha.
Cressidha smiles back. She may be communicating telepathically with her twin. Or maybe it's just a twins hello.
Aspenwood smiles a little wider and then does not disappear into thin air.
[Atley]: Aye, just finished up a bounty on some birds to the west. You seen that land, yet?
[Bennarin]: What part's that? Ain't think so.
[Silvestre]: We saw a lot of bird people veils. Camps.
[Atley]: They're calling it the 'Bird Wastes.'
Gausanders nods. Dane is absolutely right. The Bird Wastes.
[Bennarin]: Oh, we got a appointment with a fellow in some Wastes.
Atley eyes Sil with interest. "Bird folk? Like the ones romping about Shattrath city?"
[Cressidha]: The arakkoa?
[Bennarin]: I got to write some of this up for the Captain an' Gerhold, first, though.
[Silvestre]: Yeah! We're helpin' em out. The ones in Shattrath.
Ismene may or may not be hiding in here with the nice man in robes.
[Bennarin]: Yeah, that was Gerhold's thing. He, uh —
Bennarin glances around again and steps closer.
Bennarin lowers his voice. "He thinks they are f*cken around with Old Gods."
[Atley]: Old Gods… here?
[Atley]: Draenor's Old Gods, or our own?
[Silvestre]: And then we found a mana bomb that'd gone off. So a lot of sh*t.
[Bennarin]: But then, yeah. A mana bomb kind of distract us. So a busy day, all in.
[Bennarin]: I dunno. That's why I got to report back.
Atley grunts.
[Bennarin]: See what he thinks.
[Cressidha]: Would you care for a portal to anywhere in particular?
[Atley]: Right then. Sir Aspenwood wants to poke 'round here a bit, wanted me to pass that along to you lot.
Cressidha nods to Dane.
[Atley]: I'll be returning to Shattrath.
Bennarin nods as well and looks around.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, I better get back to Shattrath, too.
[Bennarin]: I'm gonna go … I have misplaced my wife, I guess.
Gausanders turns to Gwen at the portal question and doesn't answer Cress.
[Bennarin]: So I am gonna find her.
Atley growls with amusement at Ben.
Cressidha flicks a portal stone into the air and it cracks open. "Shattrath."
[Silvestre]: See you all!
Cressidha nods.
[Atley]: Farewell, you lot.
[Atley]: And cheers, Cress.
[Gausanders]: Bye! *He waves.*
Atley ducks his head and trots through the portal on Hutch.
Gwenivene glances to Sandy.
Atley pauses, turning to peer at the two of them.
[Atley]: … You lot fare well.