(2022-05-29) Birds and Bones (S6E4 - White Squad Log)

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	White Squad resumes chasing down the source of the corruption among the arakkoa. Only one person falls out of a tree and dies. Cressidha and Ismene get hats.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

Arc: Season 6

Harbrooke fidgets and backs up behind Colson a little.
Bennarin nods respectfully to Cressidha.
[Gwenivene]: Hi! Is Sandy here yet?
[Cressidha]: Good afternoon.
[Bennarin]: Hey, Cressidha.
Cressidha offers Ben some water.
[Atley]: 'Ve not see him.
Bennarin accepts with a sidelong smile at her. His gaze is on the other group. "Thanks."
Harbrooke looks around for Sandy. No Sandy in sight.
Cressidha heads on over.
Gwenivene wrings her hands with worry.
[Atley]: Hullo', you lot.
[Bennarin]: Afternoon.
[Cressidha]: Good afternoon.
Aspenwood looks at Cress, a gentle smile on his face, and he salutes Ben as he gets near. "Cressidha. Ben. Good afternoon."
[Ismene]: I'm here! I'm here!
Cressidha hands Dane some water. It's water. And then Colson. Water!
Bennarin glances back and grins at Ismene.
Ismene briefly gets stuck behind a fence because she's pulling her tabard on and can't see for a moment.
Atley takes it with a grunt and immediately takes a sip.
Harbrooke gives Ismene a tiny little finger-wave.
[Cressidha]: Ah. Yes.
Aspenwood takes the water and briefly lets go of Mordecai to tie it to his belt. Hydration.
Ismene smiles brightly at everyone. Oh. Right. Everyone. Her smile fades and she shuffles a little in place.
Cressidha passes Mizzy some water as well and then goes to put her own tabard on. She didn't forget or anything. She forgot.
Ismene says softly to Ben, "I got caught up with a sewing lesson."
Nilunelle offers everyone a bright smile.
[Cressidha]: Nilunelle, Silvestere, good afternoon.
Nilunelle gives a little wave.
Bennarin raises an eyebrow at Mizzy and smiles again.
[Nilunelle]: Hello!
Aspenwood smiles faintly back at Nilunelle, and nods at Sil.
Gwenivene smiles. "Hello, Nilunelle."
Atley nods to Nilunelle. "Hello, then," he greets, making a few last adjustments to his armor.
Silvestre waves at Colson and thanks Cressidha for the water.
[Bennarin]: Hey, Nellie. Sil.
Cressidha looks at Gwen. "Miss Whittle, did you… try the water I gave you last time?" She sounds… a little shy about asking? That can't be right.
Harbrooke mumbles a greeting and inches further behind Colson.
[Atley]: We're just waiting 'bout for Sanders.
Bennarin leans back a little to peer behind Colson and give Mordecai a friendly up-nod and a smile.
Nilunelle grins aat Gwenivene but then tilts her head looking around. "Where is he? Sanders?"
Harbrooke catches that and smiles back at Ben.
Atley looks to Gwenivene at that.
Gwenivene nibbles her lip. "We don't know…"
Bennarin looks around, frowning.
[Atley]: S'bout. A moment.
Bennarin nods respectfully to Gavynn and smiles.
Gausanders waves.
[Gwenivene]: SANDY!
Cressidha smiles. "Sir Gavynn." She hands out more water.
Aspenwood glances behind him, and turns to Gavynn. "Sir Gavynn. Good to see you."
[Atley]: There he's.
Ismene tries standing on tiptoe and craning her neck, frowning a little at Colson. She hops a time or two. "Oh! Colson! Hello. I couldn't see you at all over those shoulder… pads?"
[Gausanders]: Gwen!
Nilunelle grins as Sandy sees Gwen and runs to her.
Gausanders smiles at her, then at everyone.
[Nilunelle]: Hiii Sandy.
Gavynn nods quietly to all the greetings in turn.
Gwenivene runs up to Sandy and throws her arms around him.
[Gausanders]: Hi Nilu!
Harbrooke has people coming up behind him now. He lets go of Colson's hand and backs up to the fence.
Atley faintly raises his brows.
Bennarin 's mouth twitches slightly at Mizzy's remark, and then he raises his eyebrows at the Sandy-Gwen reunion.
[Cressidha]: There you are.
Nilunelle goes around and places a mark of the wild on each person, ensuring that they will be protected from dangers to come.
[Gwenivene]: I was worried! We… we were worried!
Aspenwood moves back with Mordecai.
Gausanders hugs Gwen back, lifting her up a little. "Sorry!" he puts her back to the ground. "I had stuff to do in Ratchet!"
Nilunelle also sends a flood of green light to envelope Sandy. He wasn't looking quite at his best when he'd arrived.
Gausanders thanks Nilunelle.
[Aspenwood]: Ismene. *Colson smiles at her, his voice quiet.*
Cressidha waits until the hugging is finished to pass water over to Sandy as well.
Ismene sidles a bit closer to Ben. Not quite behind his arm, but basically behind his arm.
Bennarin looks around, counting heads. "Okay. We all are here?"
Gausanders thanks Cressidha.
Gwenivene giggles a little at the lift.
[Cressidha]: I believe so, yes.
[Gwenivene]: I'm just glad you're here.
Atley nods. "Looks it. Lieutenant Gravelhammer's asked us to report to a Base camp, a ways south-west f'here."
Gausanders smiles at Gwenivene.
Harbrooke says quietly to Colson, "I love you. I'll be here later, when you're done."
Bennarin nods back at Atley. "We got some more arakkoa sh–tuff to look into."
Atley scoffs with amusement. "Right then."
Aspenwood nods sharply to Dane, and exhales slowly. "I love you. If you see Rosetto, pass on my regards," he says in a low voice.
Harbrooke nods.
[Bennarin]: Okay. White Squad, we are goin' north to check out one of them arakkoa camps. Let's get movin'.
Cressidha goes to fetch her horse.
Silvestre moves over to stand with his group.
[Atley]: Blue squad, s'mount up.
[Nilunelle]: Good luck, White Squad!
[Silvestre]: Hope they don't got any more kids locked up.
Bennarin smiles at Nilunelle.
Aspenwood calls for Tenacious, who was… just waiting there. READY.
Harbrooke mumbles a prayer.
Gausanders almost moves with White Squad, still not used to being Blue, now.
[Bennarin]: You too, Blue.
Gausanders whispers in demonic while holding out his hand. From below him, a dreadsteed 'claws' its way out of the ground.
[Ismene]: Good luck, Nilunelle!
[Silvestre]: Alright, so what're we after? More orbs?
[Bennarin]: Okay. There is some leaders in these camps we are lookin' for.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Silvestre]: Leaders, okay.
They reach Veil Shienor, in the northern foothills beyond Tuurem.
[Cressidha]: Would they be higher up?
Cressidha points at the trees.
Cressidha might have also been making a pun, but who knows.
[Bennarin]: I do not know. Look sharp for standin' out ones.
Bennarin surveys the camp.
[Silvestre]: Like… badges? Big feathers?
They climb one of the tree-ramps and proceed along the web of bridges to check the platforms.
Bennarin frowns.
Cressidha looks down.
[Bennarin]: Dead end.
[Silvestre]: I don't see any fancy ones.
[Ismene]: Next time, I'm jumping from the top.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, you and Cressidha can do that, right?
[Cressidha]: We can, yes.
[Silvestre]: I probably can too. It's all in the landing. *Sil seems confident about this.*
[Bennarin]: Let's head for them houses.
[Bennarin]: Big fellow.
Bennarin points at Ayit.
Missed something here.
[Ismene]: Or they're leaders because they're bigger.
Bennarin crouches to study the insignia on the arakkoa's robes.
[Bennarin]: Yeah. Reckon that's him.
[Ismene]: I can't read what's in the books.
[Bennarin]: Keep eyes up in case there's another likely. But let's head to the next, uh. Veil?
Cressidha nods.
[Silvestre]: Maybe they got like more Old God corruption, and it swells em up.
[Silvestre]: Like inflammation.
Bennarin blinks at Silvestre.
[Bennarin]: Uh. Maybe.
[Ismene]: Old God Bloat?
Cressidha wrinkles her nose.
They ride north to Veil Reskk.
[Bennarin]: Check them huts again.
[Silvestre]: In the hut, like last time?
Bennarin peers at a Shienor Sorcerer searchingly.
[Silvestre]: It looks non-swollen.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Bennarin]: Yeah, just dressed like the others.
[Silvestre]: Another hut.
Bennarin peers at the Shienor Sorcerer searchingly.
[Bennarin]: Nah.
Silvestre peeks inside.
[Bennarin]: Reckon that's it for houses.
[Silvestre]: Treehouses then?
They climb a rope bridge upward, and spot a Significant-Looking Arakkoa at once, on the first platform they reach.
[Bennarin]: Oh. Hey.
[Cressidha]: Different color outfit…
They kill the SLA.
[Silvestre]: That one was big.
[Bennarin]: Got writin' on his robes.
Cressidha looks speculatively down at her sleeve. "Hm."
[Bennarin]: Hm?
Ismene laughs a little. "Thinking of writing on your robes?"
[Cressidha]: Oh. I was considering the aesthetic, yes.
[Cressidha]: Or as part of an enchantment…
[Bennarin]: All right. One more.
[Gavynn]: I think it would've been easier to just say, "Go kill all the birds"
Bennarin laughs at Gavynn.
[Ismene]: I agree, Sir Gavynn.
[Bennarin]: I mean, we're workin' on it.
[Ismene]: I'd sew reminders in mine. "Don't forget to check under the bed for dead birds."
[Cressidha]: Don't… what?
Bennarin laughs at Mizzy.
[Ismene]: Oh! My cat keeps killing birds and hiding them.
[Cressidha]: Oh!
[Ismene]: Among other things.
[Bennarin]: Yeah. S' Hattie.
[Bennarin]: Wonder what she'd make of these birds.
[Cressidha]: Oswald doesn't… well, I suppose he stays indoors.
[Ismene]: So does Hattie, but we don't live in the nicest place now and they keep coming in the windows.
[Silvestre]: You all still up on Aldor tier?
[Bennarin]: Naw. Lower City.
[Ismene]: To be closer to people we can help.
[Silvestre]: Oh… yeah, a lot of the buildings down there've seen better days.
They have arrived at Veil Skith.
Bennarin nods absently, surveying the camp.
[Ismene]: He's pretty big.
Ismene points at Skithian Windripper.
Silvestre peers in the hut.
[Bennarin]: Dressed the same as these rest, though.
[Silvestre]: Don't think that was the one.
White Squad searches the ground and huts first and does a whoooole lot of bird-murder. They all appear to be ordinary birds, however. Well, ordinary giant malformed wingless bipedal birds with opposable digits and robes.
They proceed up to the tree-platforms. On the second one, across a bridge, Sil spots their victim.
[Silvestre]: What about that one stalking around?
[Bennarin]: Got a headdress on him.
Dead.
[Ismene]: I guess that's all the leaders.
[Silvestre]: What's next?
[Cressidha]: There was another 'Veil', wasn't there?
[Bennarin]: Want to go south of here an' check out that Veil Rhaze that Kirrik fellow wanted us to clear out.
[Cressidha]: Rhaze, yes, that's the one.
[Bennarin]: Miss Cressidha, you can make sketches if there's more runes and shit?
[Bennarin]: You are better at those than me.
[Cressidha]: I can.
[Bennarin]: Okay.
They ride south from Veil Skith to the edge of the Bone Wastes, where Veil Rhaze is alleged to be. What they find is not a treetop forest settlement but a haunted ruin among cobwebbed and petrified fallen trees.
[Bennarin]: … oh.
[Bennarin]: Ghost ones.
[Silvestre]: Are these like… ghost arrakoa?
[Gavynn]: Keep getting better
[Bennarin]: Yeah, looks like.
Silvestre peers at a Deathtalon Spirit searchingly.
[Bennarin]: Arakkoa plus undead.
[Silvestre]: Not only Old God shit, but yeah.
[Bennarin]: Not the greatest.
They fight their way through the eerie scene, battling ghostly arakkoa and their equally ghostly raven companions.
[Silvestre]: Uh…
[Ismene]: Handy to have a paladin around.
[Bennarin]: Yeah.
Among the decaying huts they encounter an enormous arakkoa totem, composed of rags and bones on a huge stake driven into the blasted earth.
Cressidha gestures to the giant arakkoa on a stick.
[Ismene]: Why do giant birds need a giant scarecrow? Maybe it's a… scareperson.
[Silvestre]: To scare off what? The ghost crows don't seem scared by it.
[Silvestre]: Scare us off?
[Ismene]: Yes? Though it doesn't seem effective.
[Cressidha]: I don't know.
[Cressidha]: I suppose I did think it might be an enemy at a distance, but…
[Bennarin]: Reckon it is some kind of, like… statue?
[Bennarin]: Like how we got giant Trollbane and whatnot in the Valley of Heroes?
[Silvestre]: To commemorate… scary dead arrakoa bones…
[Bennarin]: I will put it in my report to Gerhold.
[Silvestre]: There is not a single hut standing…
[Ismene]: It's all sort of sad.
[Bennarin]: Wrecked by whatever wrecked the rest of this place, I guess.
[Silvestre]: Maybe we ought to make drawings, show it to the other arakkoa.
[Silvestre]: "This could be you next, watch out."
Ismene tsks.
Bennarin laughs at Sil. It isn't a cheerful laugh.
[Ismene]: Is that one magical?
Ismene points behind Cressidha.
The totem they have approached this time has a strange veil of dark energy surrounding it.
Bennarin peers up at the totem-thing.
[Bennarin]: Maybe they all was, and the rest kind of… run out.
[Silvestre]: Same kinda glow as the birds.
[Ismene]: Or a… a ghost totem… scareperson?
[Cressidha]: I can't tell.
[Ismene]: Such an odd place.
[Bennarin]: Place gives me creeps. Let's go tell that Kirrik?
Cressidha nods.
They report to Kirrik at the Refugee Caravan to inform him that, as per his request, they have killed a bunch of… ghosts. He is grimly satisfied with their work, and asks them now to proceed further west and investigate the efforts of the arakkoa sorcerers of Veil Lithic to corrupt their people even before they hatch, by cursing the eggs in their nests.
Bennarin glances to the west.
[Bennarin]: Cursed… eggs? Okay.
[Cressidha]: That's… all right, then…
Ismene mostly hides behind everyone else.
[Silvestre]: That's… that's some devotion I guess. To mess up their own babies.
[Bennarin]: Devotion is a word, yeah.
[Silvestre]: It's still devotion if it's to somethin' awful, right?
[Bennarin]: Yeah. Just ain't seem right it should be the same word, you know?
[Bennarin]: Okay. Ready?
[Cressidha]: Ready.
They ride west across the Bone Wastes, pursued by a lot of stuff. They stop to kill some of the stuff.
Bennarin consults his map.
[Bennarin]: Okay. Should be a way into the forest around that ridge.
[Bennarin]: Lookin' for eggs, this time. Like, the opposite of ghosts.
They discover Veil Lithic among the trees. This one seems to be mostly a collection of huts on the ground, no overhead bridges and platforms.
[Silvestre]: This one still looks like a village, at least.
[Bennarin]: Holler if you see a nest.
Silvestre nods at Ben.
[Silvestre]: That an egg over there?
[Silvestre]: With the spikes?
[Bennarin]: I do not like the color around that egg.
[Silvestre]: I saw it glowin', sorta.
[Bennarin]: C'mere.
[Cressidha]: That's certainly an egg.
[Gavynn]: Looks like some plague spreader situation
They smash the egg. To everyone’s mild surprise, a whole-ass bird emerges screeching from the egg-mess and attacks them in their faces. They kill the angry bird.
[Silvestre]: So I think the eggs are birds, not arrakoa. That wasn't real clear to me.
[Ismene]: Birds don't normally just hop from the egg flying, do they?
[Bennarin]: I do not think so.
[Cressidha]: No.
[Bennarin]: Not chickens, anyhow.
[Silvestre]: Maybe it's the curse making them grow unnatural fast.
[Bennarin]: Okay. So let's check around more houses.
On their way between houses, they kill an arakkoa sorcerer they find standing over a rune circle on the ground. This circle glows a bilious green, in contrast to the purple ones the squad has encountered previously.
[Bennarin]: That's a different rune thing.
Cressidha stops to take a sketch of the circle.
[Silvestre]: Maybe it's the one they use for the eggs?
Ismene puts her hands over her ears and backs up.
[Bennarin]: Speakin' of the eg– Mizz? You okay?
Silvestre glances to Mizzy. "What is it?"
[Ismene]: What a sound.
[Bennarin]: What sound?
Ismene eyes Ben. "The rune."
[Ismene]: You don't hear that high-pitched whine?
Cressidha grits her teeth. "I don't care for it either."
[Bennarin]: It's makin' a sound?
[Cressidha]: It is.
Ismene sighs in relief. "Oh good, I didn't want to go mad at the start of the day. There's too much to do."
Bennarin looks between the two of them.
[Silvestre]: I do not hear anything.
[Bennarin]: … huh.
Bennarin frowns.
[Cressidha]: You may need to get closer?
[Silvestre]: Maybe you all have better ears, and Ben and I lost the high pitch?
[Bennarin]: I'll put it in my report too.
[Ismene]: Do you hear it, Sir Gavynn?
[Gavynn]: I'd sooner keep away from malevolent rune circles.
Ismene giggles.
[Bennarin]: Eggs there, though.
This time when they smash the egg, the bird that emerges is snowy white, and flies away without mauling anyone.
The Redeemed Hatchling flies up through the trees, free of Terokk's corruption.
Bennarin blinks.
[Silvestre]: Oh! That one's little and white.
[Cressidha]: Oh. I see.
They move from house to house and nest to nest, in search of more eggs. A majority of those they smash yield more extremely vicious red-and-purple attack birds.
[Bennarin]: Empty.
[Silvestre]: Lot of empty nests around.
Another egg, another white bird.
The Redeemed Hatchling flies up through the trees, free of Terokk's corruption.
[Ismene]: Bye, bird!
Bennarin smiles at Mizzy.
The Redeemed Hatchling flies up through the trees, free of Terokk's corruption.
Silvestre waves.
Cressidha smiles a little.
[Ismene]: Hard to believe they turn those pretty white owls into these horrible things.
[Silvestre]: Glad we could rescue some of 'em. They didn't deserve what happened to 'em.
[Bennarin]: Nice they ain't all rotten. Yeah, they're pretty when they ain't gone bad.
Silvestre nods at Ismene.
[Bennarin]: Eyes up for more, but let's report in.
[Silvestre]: Maybe the arakkoa were kinda rotten, so they just want to rot everything.
[Gavynn]: Wonder if they were also a different type of bird at some point.
[Bennarin]: I mean I don't think they was all rotten? The ones we are dealin' with ain’t.
[Silvestre]: No, but the ones we're dealin with aren't doing that to the birds.
[Bennarin]: No, yeah. But I mean, I think they were okay people until whatever Old God shit or whatever.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, I get you. I think so, too.
[Silvestre]: Like the birds were good, before.
[Bennarin]: Yeah.
Back at the Refugee Camp…
Bennarin salutes Kirrik the Awakened with respect.
Kirrik again thanks them. To the east, he tells them now, closest to the enclave of the cursed Terokk himself, is Veil Shalas, whose denizens communicate with Terokk by means of enchanted signal fires. Kirrik wants the signal fires extinguished, to cut off their line of communication with their dread master.
[Bennarin]: Signal fires.
[Bennarin]: Okay. We can put out some fires.
Ismene tries to feed the redeemed avians. They are not buying it.
On the way east they are attacked by vultures, which cause Sil’s horse to shy. They stop to murder some vultures.
[Silvestre]: Oh come on, Sturdy. You're better'n that.
[Bennarin]: Speakin' of asshole birds.
As they approach the path into the foothills where Veil Shalas is located, they encounter a white-and-purple bird flying in distressed circles.
[Bennarin]: What's that bird there?
Bennarin peers at Skywing searchingly.
[Ismene]: He's white… Mostly.
[Cressidha]: Flying awfully low-down.
[Silvestre]: Like a grown up white bird?
[Ismene]: Maybe he's nice.
Bennarin approaches warily.
[Silvestre]: Seems nice.
The bird becomes further agitated at the squad’s approach, but rather than fly away from them, he circles and returns, circles and returns, as if he wants them to follow him.
[Bennarin]: … huh. You want to see where he goes?
[Ismene]: Can we, Ben?
[Bennarin]: Okay, yes'm.
Skywing squawks and heads toward Veil Shalas. Hurry and follow!
[Silvestre]: Bold one.
[Ismene]: And fast!
[Bennarin]: Bird. Damn.
The bird is in a hurry, and did not come to play.
Skywing pauses briefly before the tree and then heads inside.
In pursuit of their bird, they pass an eerily-colored signal fire.
Cressidha pauses by a fire and makes a quick, sharp gesture, dousing it with a column of ice.
Skywing seems to be looking for something. He wants you to follow.
The bird is occasionally attacked by groups of guards, requiring the squad to spring to its aid.
[Bennarin]: You would get in a lot less trouble if you'd wait on us.
Ismene laughs. "I like him."
[Cressidha]: Are… you a druid, perhaps?
Cressidha asks the bird.
[Ismene]: Now you all know how I feel, running after you.
Cressidha puts out another fire.
Having made a circuit of the high platforms and not, evidently, found what it was looking for, the bird simply … flies down to a platform below, as one does. If one has wings.
[Bennarin]: Are you serious?
Bennarin sighs at Skywing.
Cressidha jumps down easily.
The squad descends, more or less gracefully in their turns.
[Silvestre]: I like this little bird.
[Ismene]: Yes, this is exactly like running after Sil.
[Silvestre]: Knows how to pick a good path. *Sil grins.*
[Gavynn]: Druid stuck in an animal form like those Cenarions?
[Ismene]: I hope not, Sir Gavynn. I like him this way. Very practical bird.
Skywing bellows a loud squawk!
Luanga the Imprisoner yells: Skywing, I will free you from your curse over my dead body!
[Cressidha]: Skywing?
[Silvestre]: BIG ARRAKOA!
They leap, once again, to the bird’s aid, this time against the Big Shouty Arakkoa. When the BSA is dead, a cloud of white feathers swirls on the breeze and suddenly a new arakkoa stands where the white bird was a moment ago.
Silvestre gasps at Skywing.
[Cressidha]: Oh!
[Gavynn]: Oh–
Skywing says: Free at last from that horrible curse! Thank you! Please send word to Rilak the Redeemed that I am okay. My mission lies in Skettis. Terokk must be defeated!
[Gavynn]: I guess he was.
You blink at Skywing.
[Ismene]: Oh! Oh… *sad*
Skywing wanders off into the distance.
[Bennarin]: … okay, sir.
[Ismene]: … bye.
[Bennarin]: Huh. That was… a thing, I guess.
[Ismene]: Oh well. I suppose it's still a good deed done well.
[Silvestre]: Good pal while it lasted, that bird.
[Cressidha]: Well. Not quite a druid, but still an intelligent creature, I suppose.
[Bennarin]: Eyes up for that last fire.
They climb to the final platform and find the last fire. What they do not find is Sir Gavynn, who appears no longer to be with them.
Cressidha puts out the final fire.
Ismene looks down. "Gavynn?"
[Silvestre]: Did we lose him?
[Ismene]: There he is!
Ismene levitates herself down to where Sir Gavynn has fallen out of the tree and, uh, down the mountains below. It is not looking good for the flat knight. The rest of the gang, not being priestesses, takes off in pursuit on their regular legs.
[Silvestre]: Stairs here.
Ben is the first to reach the pair below.
[Bennarin]: Uh. Sir Gavynn?
Gavynn holds the sides of his head.
[Bennarin]: Y'all okay? What happened?
Ismene says calmly, "Mechanical failure."
[Silvestre]: You alright down here?
[Silvestre]: That looked like a long fall.
[Bennarin]: Mechan–
Bennarin blinks at Mizzy.
[Gavynn]: Those treehouse boards are less sturdy than they look.
[Bennarin]: … ah. You doin' all right now?
Gavynn nods at Ben.
[Bennarin]: Need a minute?
[Gavynn]: Should be fine
[Bennarin]: Okay.
Ismene looks a little insulted. "I was here. Of course he's fine.”
Gavynn thanks Ismene.
[Bennarin]: I know, I know. But sometimes I need a minute, you know?
[Bennarin]: But I know you are on the job.
Ismene slants a How Very Dare look at Ben, but she's smiling when she does.
Ismene curtsies before Gavynn.
[Silvestre]: I mean, still a hell of a fall. Even though you made sure he's okay.
[Cressidha]: Do you need a minute, Ben?
[Bennarin]: Oh sure, I will take a minute. Sandwich, anyone?
[Cressidha]: I suppose if you have extras again?
Bennarin fishes in his pack and produces a paper-wrapped sandwich. He hands it to Cressidha.
[Bennarin]: Anyone else?
[Cressidha]: Thank you.
[Gavynn]: Just having a swig of water and I'll be good.
[Silvestre]: I'll take a sandwich!
[Silvestre]: They got fish in 'em?
Cressidha unwraps part of the sandwich and eats very carefully, holding a hand out to catch crumbs, as if that matters out here.
Bennarin passes one to Sil. "They do not. Ham. From Ironforge."
[Silvestre]: Oh, good. *Sil takes his sandwich and unwraps it, taking a big bite. While he chews, he says,* I wa'n't sure what a fiss san'wich'd be like.
[Bennarin]: Mizz? Ham sandwich?
[Ismene]: Oh! I know. We could start sending dried and salted fish to the farms!
[Ismene]: So they have variety this winter.
[Cressidha]: …What farms?
[Bennarin]: That is a great idea. As per usual, Mrs. Hazan.
[Ismene]: We started a small farming community on Ben's holdings in Southshore.
Bennarin offers a wrapped ham sandwich out to Gavynn and raises an inquiring eyebrow, just in case.
[Cressidha]: I see.
[Ismene]: Mostly sheep while the pear orchards grow.
Gavynn shakes a hand. "Thank you, but I'm fine for now."
[Bennarin]: Okay, sir.
Bennarin tucks the sandwich back in his pack and rises again. "Minute over. Ready to head back?"
[Cressidha]: I am.
Silvestre finishes up his sandwich, and packs the wrapping in his bag.
On their way out of the woods, they encounter a big fucken spider.
[Bennarin]: That is a big fucken spider.
[Silvestre]: Big spider, watch out.
[Ismene]: Wow.
[Gavynn]: Menacing
[Ismene]: Bennnnn don't you–
[Bennarin]: I'mma fight it, Mizz!
Ismene sighs. "Dare."
Bennarin grins over his shoulder at Ismene.
Giant spider deceased.
[Silvestre]: One less giant spider in the world!
[Bennarin]: We got to clear out the giant spiders for Sir Gavynn.
[Bennarin]: In his honor.
[Ismene]: What?
Cressidha covers her mouth to hide a smile.
[Silvestre]: You did say you don't like 'em.
[Bennarin]: He don't like giant spiders. Remember?
[Ismene]: Don't you dare blame Sir Gavynn for your murderous impulses.
[Gavynn]: I don't think these are Scourge beasts
[Bennarin]: It is not murder if it's a spider.
[Ismene]: Maybe if it's a sufficiently large spider, it should be.
Bennarin salutes Kirrik the Awakened with respect.
Kirrik thanks them once more, but warns them that retaliation from Terokk’s minions will not be long delayed, and they should report back to Rilak in Shattrath to warn him.
[Bennarin]: Okay. We will let him know.
[Cressidha]: Ah. Portal, anyone?
[Bennarin]: Oh. Yeah, maybe more efficient.
Cressidha flicks the portal stone up in the air.
[Silvestre]: Thanks!
Cressidha leads Cinnamon through the portal.
[Ismene]: So much easier.
Bennarin nods appreciatively at Cressidha.
[Silvestre]: Much shorter ride from here. *Sil grins at Cressidha.*
Rilak the Redeemed is grateful for the help they’ve shown his people. He offers them hats.
Cressidha accepts the hat. "Ah…"
Ismene plops the hat on her head.
Cressidha puts hers on as well.
[Ismene]: I feel like Gwen.
Bennarin blinks at Ismene.
Uh-oh. Terokk’s promised revenge is inbound.
Defender Grashna points to the sky above.
[Cressidha]: Ah!
Defender Grashna says: Minions of Terokk are coming!
Terokk’s revenge appears to be like four parrots. White Squad handles them.
[Bennarin]: Birds? That is the best he's got?
[Ismene]: Not much of an offensive.
[Silvestre]: Few birds here and there.
Defender Grashna says: The invaders persist! Hold them off!
Oh no. More parrots.
Cressidha looks around.
[Ismene]: Don't hit the little white one, that one's mine!
[Bennarin]: Like we ain't just clean out a shitton of birds.
Defender Grashna says: An Avatar of Terokk!! To arms!
[Silvestre]: We got this, Mr. Redeemed. Don't you worry.
[Gavynn]: BIG bird.
Indeed, An Lorge Parrot. Still just a parrot.
Defender Grashna says: The Avatar of Terokk has been defeated! Death to Terokk! Death to Skettis!
[Silvestre]: Fell just like the others!
[Cressidha]: You– you don't think that's all, do you?
Cressidha looks doubtfully at Rilak.
Bennarin counts his gold reward dubiously and squints at the sky.
[Ismene]: They sent six or seven birds…
[Silvestre]: Surely there'll be more, yeah?
[Bennarin]: That was, like… a handful of birds, yeah.
[Ismene]: That would barely do for dinner.
[Cressidha]: Ben, I'm going to get to high ground and have a look.
[Bennarin]: Okay.
The whole group, in fact, troops up the rope bridge after Cressidha, to the platform above.
Ismene pushes her hat back from her eyes. It may be a smidge big.
Cressidha squints up at the sky. She looks around, tilting her hat back.
Bennarin eyes Mizzy’s hat. He eyes Cressidha's identical hat.
[Silvestre]: I don't see any right now?
[Bennarin]: Me neither.
Bennarin may have followed Cressidha up because of the whole does-she-need-spectacles? situation from Hellfire.
[Silvestre]: Sky's clear.
[Cressidha]: Hm. It does look clear…
[Gavynn]: This Terokk they keep going on about seems to be the one causing all this trouble.
[Ismene]: Which, in my opinion, should be where one starts, not ends.
[Ismene]: But I'm not a tactician, I suppose.
[Bennarin]: Okay. Let's report in at the Stronghold about the three leaders, then.
[Bennarin]: We can fly out there.
[Ismene]: Who is the leader, then? Can we just go kill him?
[Cressidha]: Terokk?
[Bennarin]: This Terokk fellow is the big leader, yeah.
[Cressidha]: …I don't suppose they named him after the forest, did they?
[Bennarin]: I reckon they named the forest after him.
Cressidha sighs.
[Cressidha]: That's worse, that means he'll likely be deadlier.
[Bennarin]: Yeah.
[Bennarin]: I mean, he sounds like real bad news.
They arrive in Allerian Stronghold and report in regarding the three dead arakkoa chiefs.
Bennarin nods respectfully to Thander.
Ismene pushes back the brim of her hat.
Thander says: If you wouldn't mind, you should probably report back to the caravan. They're having more trouble with the Shadow Council out there.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Bennarin nods to Thander. "Okay."
[Silvestre]: Sure thing!
Ismene feeds her little bird a piece of sandwich.
Bennarin waves at Mordecai.
Mordecai waves at the others as they ride by.
They return to the Refugee Caravan.
Bennarin salutes Mekeda with respect.
[Bennarin]: Sir. You still got Shadow Council harassin' the caravan?
Silvestre nods, listening to Mekeda.
[Bennarin]: We'll take care of 'em.
[Silvestre]: Sounds straightforward enough.
Cressidha experiments with rotating her hat around like Gwen does, but she doesn't seem to know exactly which angle to wear it at. What are your secrets, Gwen.
Ismene keeps having to push her brim back off her eyes.
[Silvestre]: Shadow Council banners?
Bennarin peers down the ramp.
[Silvestre]: This their HQ?
[Gavynn]: Another tomb with more raiders.
[Bennarin]: This whole place is just all tombs underfoot, yeah?
[Ismene]: These things never go well for us.
Cressidha sighs.
Bennarin nods at Gavynn.
[Silvestre]: Maybe they made a tomb their HQ.
[Bennarin]: Chest there.
[Silvestre]: Well, that's one of the relic things.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Ismene]: It's like Warlocks. Do they really always need to be in the dark, dingy basement or graveyard? Really?
[Bennarin]: So we got ethereals and Legion after these relics.
Silvestre shrugs as Mizzy. "They got banners and tents and shit, seems like it."
Cressidha retrieves another item from another box and packs it carefully away in one of her bags.
[Cressidha]: Another.
At the far end of this chamber, they encounter a spit over a fire. There is an Extremely Large Poultry on the spit.
[Ismene]: They do seem to know what to do with a really big bird.
[Bennarin]: … oh shit.
[Silvestre]: Whoa.
Bennarin stares at the giant carcass in morbid fascination.
[Bennarin]: I hope that ain't, uh–
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Gavynn]: Yeah, looks like it could be an arakkoa, even.
[Bennarin]: One of the arakkoas.
[Ismene]: Oh!
Bennarin grimaces at Gavynn.
[Silvestre]: That'd feed an army.
Ismene looks queasy.
[Ismene]: Oh that's…
Cressidha turns away.
[Ismene]: Oh dear.
[Silvestre]: I figured a big bonelasher?
[Bennarin]: Maybe. I would rather figure that, I guess.
[Silvestre]: Just… tryin' to be less morbid.
[Bennarin]: ‘Preciate it.
[Gavynn]: I don't think those vultures look like that–
[Ismene]: Please pretend, Sir Gavynn. For me.
[Gavynn]: Hmm
In the next room, a Shivarra is shouting at her Shadow Council minions.
Hathyss the Wicked yells: Incompetent fools! Auchindoun should've been ours… look at yourselves scrambling like rats!
Bennarin eyes Hathyss the Wicked up and down.
[Gavynn]: That the one leading this excursion?
[Bennarin]: Reckon so.
[Bennarin]: The way she's bitchin' at the others.
[Ismene]: She's … tall.
[Ismene]: Like those demons around the gates in Hellfire.
[Silvestre]: And flamey.
Cressidha flexes her fingers, frost forming on the backs of her hands.
Hathyss the Deceased.
[Ismene]: Not very impressive.
[Bennarin]: Not so tough for a boss one, yeah.
[Silvestre]: Big, but weak, yeah.
Cressidha gathers up a scroll, which she tucks away in a case.
[Bennarin]: You got the relics, Cressidha?
[Cressidha]: I do.
[Bennarin]: Okay.
There is a draenei cowering in an alcove, between a pair of Shadow Council interrogators. The squad dispatches the interrogators.
Bennarin crouches by Akuno. "Sir? You okay?"
Akuno says: Let us leave this place. I've had enough of these madmen!
[Cressidha]: If you can move, we can help you back to the camp.
[Silvestre]: What were you doing in here?
Bennarin looks impressed by the chain lightning.
[Gavynn]: Doesn't seem to need our help
Cressidha pauses at the door, looks back at the unidentified bird carcass, and incinerates it with a snap of her fingers from all the way across the room.
Ismene whispers to Gavynn, "The bird was much faster."
Akuno says: Beware! More cultists come!
Akuno says: I can find my way from here. My friend Mekeda will reward you for your kind actions.
[Bennarin]: We ain't done with them cultists though.
Cressidha nods.
[Bennarin]: Let's finish our bounty on them.
[Silvestre]: Maybe more of 'em towards the center?
[Gavynn]: The two on horseback rode this way
[Bennarin]: Okay.
[Bennarin]: Yeah. 'nother outpost.
Gavynn points at a Cabal Skirmisher.
[Bennarin]: There's them horseback ones.
[Cressidha]: Something huge flew over us a moment ago.
[Bennarin]: I saw a shadow. You catch what it was?
[Silvestre]: Was it a dragon?
Bennarin peers up at the sky uneasily.
[Cressidha]: It looked like a skeletal dragon.
[Ismene]: Probably a giant bird.
Gavynn cranes his neck to scan the skies.
[Silvestre]: Like a undead one?
[Ismene]: Like a… ?
[Cressidha]: Yes. It was moving rather quickly, though.
[Bennarin]: … oh. Okay. Sure.
abal Skirmisher says: I do as I must!
[Silvestre]: Huh, okay.
Meanwhile, like so many Shadow Council cultists are dying all around. The squad spots some kind of ritual taking place at the top of a flight of stairs.
[Ismene]: What are they doing up there?
[Bennarin]: Uh. They got a whole-ass demon up there.
[Silvestre]: Binding a demon or some sh–thing?
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Silvestre]: Do we kill the ones with the demon? Or leave it?
Cressidha looks at Ben.
[Bennarin]: I mean I reckon we should not leave demons standin' around.
[Cressidha]: Understood.
[Ismene]: Oh good.
They kill the orcs binding the demon.
Enslaved Doomguard yells: Prepare to die!
Enslaved Doomguard dies.
[Silvestre]: Much better.
[Cressidha]: Just so.
[Ismene]: If they can't play nicely with their demons…
[Bennarin]: Okay. Let's report back to the caravan and tell him we got him a bonus demon, too.
Cressidha nods.
[Bennarin]: Sir.
Bennarin salutes Mekeda with respect.
[Cressidha]: Excuse me.
[Bennarin]: Miss Cressidha has your belongin's.
Cressidha begins carefully taking relics out of her bag and passing them over.
[Bennarin]: Okay, thank you, sir.
Bennarin steps back and looks the others over.
[Bennarin]: Reckon we are done here for today.
[Cressidha]: Ah. Would anyone care for a portal back, in that case? I need to ask one of the children at the camp about this…
[Ismene]: I would, thank you.
Cressidha takes a [Battered Steam Tonk Controller] from her bag and holds it up with a blank expression.
Bennarin smiles crookedly at Cressidha.
[Bennarin]: Good luck with it.
Gavynn thanks Cressidha.
Silvestre lets out a hearty chuckle.
Cressidha flicks a portal stone into the air and it cracks open. "Have a good afternoon."
[Bennarin]: You too, miss. Thanks.
[Silvestre]: Is that all we got for today, Ben?
[Bennarin]: Yeah, that wraps us up. I am gonna write a report to Gerhold.
Bennarin salutes Gavynn with respect.
[Bennarin]: Thanks, Sir Gavynn.
Ismene smiles at Gavynn. "I suppose next Sunday, then. Take care."
[Gavynn]: Just that Terokk fellow and the Shadow Council in the tombs to take care of, then.
Bennarin nods at Gavynn.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, hope we can help out there.
[Ismene]: And we shall make short work of it!
[Bennarin]: Hope so.
Silvestre nods at Ismene.
Bennarin smiles at Ismene.
Gavynn wishes everyone good luck.
[Silvestre]: See you all next time!
Ismene curtsies before Gavynn.
Bennarin waves goodbye to Gavynn. Farewell!