(2022-06-26) Demon Hunters and Demon Debts (S6E8 - White Squad Log)

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	White Squad enforces some Nagrand zoning regulations and does a spot of freelance debt collection. They also meet a Demon Hunter. He seems nice.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

Arc: Season 6

[Gwenivene]: I pitched Telaar as a place to set up a Cobalt Company headquarters in Outland when Jo was looking for one. I don't know if she ever decided on that.

Ben ambles down from the flight point, still adjusting a gauntlet. He glances up at the gathered group, blinks at Cam, and grins.

Cambrin nods at Colson. "Took a trip up there with the Captain and Lord Ference a couple weeks back, looking for someone named Hex, I think."

[Cressidha]: Ben, good afternoon.

[Gwenivene]: Hi, Ben!

[Ben]: Hey, Cam. Nice seein' you out here.

[Aspenwood]: Ah, yes. Hexera Witchblood. She disappeared some time ago.

[Ben]: Aspenwoods, Miss Whittle.

Ben nods respectfully to the others.

Mordecai stops staring at the sky and smiles a little. "Hello, Ben." It's audible.

Aspenwood nods and smiles faintly at Ben. "Ben."

Padrick croaks respectfully.

Cambrin nods at Ben. "Howdy. Captain said you folks needed a back-up today."

Ben eyes Padrick like he isn't sure that was directed at him or not. Was he just … addressed by a frog?

Cressidha starts tracing water-conjuring symbols in the air.

Aspenwood nods respectfully at Padrick. "Padrick."

[Ben]: Uh. Oh. Do we? Well. Glad you can make it.

Ben smiles again at Cambrin.

Padrick stares at Ben. Or…seems to? Hard to tell with frog eyes.

[Cressidha]: I'm afraid I don't recall your name, if we've met. I'm Cressidha.

Cressidha offers Cam a flask of water which is not cinnamon rolls, it's water.

[Ben]: Oh, sorry. Cam Cooper, Cressidha Aspenwood.

Cambrin thanks Cressidha.

Cressidha nods.

[Cressidha]: A pleasure to meet you.

[Cambrin]: I think we met briefly at the keep in the Blasted Lands, before you all went through the Portal.

[Cressidha]: Ah. I apologize, that seems like so long ago.

[Cambrin]: No worries! It's been a busy few months.

[Ben]: Cam was in militia in Westfall with me.

Gwenivene gasps.

Ben eyes Padrick again. Is the frog watching him?

Mordecai is also looking at Padrick.

[Gwenivene]: Another Westfall kid!

Cambrin shakes his head. "Not originally. From Lorderan, back before."

[Gwenivene]: OH, well…in that case, thank you for your service to Westfall!

Cambrin dips his head in thanks.

[Cressidha]: Ismene, good afternoon.

Ismene runs up, smiling and mussed, smoothing her flyaway babyfine hair back where it belongs.

Ben glances down at Ismene. He smiles and reaches for her hand.

Aspenwood nods and smiles faintly at Ismene. "Ismene."

Mordecai manages to look away from the cute frog. "Hello, Mizzy."

Ismene smiles at everyone. "Sorry I'm late, I was in Azeroth." She stops smiling. "What an odd life I live."

Ben nods solemnly. Ain't that the truth?

[Cressidha]: Doesn't it sound odd, when you say it like that?

Aspenwood inclines his head to that.

Ben leans toward Padrick carefully, peering. He is respectful of Gwen's Personal Space, however.

Cressidha starts passing out water to the others.

Aspenwood nods to Sil with a faint smile. "Sil."

[Cambrin]: Howdy, Sil.

Ben manages to tear his gaze from the frog to up-nod at Sil over Ismene's head.

[Cressidha]: Silvestre, Dane, good afternoon.

[Sil]: Hey, Cole, *Sil smiles* and Cam… Cam? You're joining us today?

Cambrin nods at Sil. "Captain asked me to report here. I guess someone's indisposed?"

Atley stomps up to the group. "Hullo', you lot."

Mordecai mumbles a greeting.

[Gwenivene]: Hi, Dane!

Ismene leans around Ben to wave at Atley. "Hullo, Mr. Atley."

[Ben]: Mr. Atley, hey.

Aspenwood nods to Dane in greeting.

[Sil]: Hi everyone, so I don't list all the names. *Sil chuckles*

Atley grunts and nods.

Ben looks a little disappointed that Dane is now between him and the frog.

[Ismene]: Oh! Mordecai, we found out what the shadow in my shadow was.

[Mordecai]: You did?

Ismene nods at Mordecai. "Apparently a little shadow fiend followed me back after I died and got stuck. Estel unstuck it."

[Mordecai]: Oh.

Aspenwood blinks once at Ismene. Okay. Sure. That….happens to people. Maybe?

Cambrin blinks at Ismene. "Er… a fiend?"

[Ismene]: It was really very sweet, though. It curled up in Estel's lap like a little puppy. It was lost
and hungry and confused, poor thing.

[Cressidha]: That does sound rather sweet.

Cambrin boggles slightly at a fiend being described as 'cute'.

Ismene nods at Cressidha. "I haven't named it, though. What if it has a name? I didn't want to be rude."

[Aspenwood]: That does sound rather like Estel.

Ismene says proudly, "Estel's wonderful." Why she's proud of that, who knows.

[Aspenwood]: Indeed.

Cressidha looks around, trying to figure out who's missing. "Nilunelle? Sandy? Sir Gavynn?"

[Atley]: Sanders's here.

Gausanders waves.

[Sil]: There's Sandy!

[Cressidha]: Sandy.

Gwenivene squeals! "Sandy!"

Mordecai mumbles a hello and gives a tiny little wave to Sandy.

[Gausanders]: Hello everyone! Hi Gwen! *He beams.*

Gwenivene lunges into Sandy's arms!

Aspenwood nods hello to Sandy.

Ben eyes the whole Sandy-Gwen situation dubiously. More dubiously than he'd eyed the hat frog, even.

Gausanders hugs Gwen and lifts her off the floor slightly.

Gwenivene giggles, her feet kicking in the air as she's lifted.

Gausanders puts her back on the floor, then waves at Padrick. "Hi, you!"

Padrick licks his eyeball in greeting to Sandy, perched up on the brim of Gwen's hat.

[Ben]: So we are missin' Sir Gavynn and Nilu. But Cam is here in place of … someone?

Atley nods and gestures to Cambrin. "He'll be with us today. Hope you've packed your sword arm, lad."

Cambrin grins at Dane. "Still firmly attached to my shoulder."

Ben looks from Atley to Cam. He smiles at Cam.

[Aspenwood]: That is the preferable location.

[Atley]: Squared away, then.

Ismene pats Ben's arm. "He's always a little late. He'll be here."

Cambrin adjusts his gear and now carries a much bigger sword.

Ben grimaces at Ismene and nods.

Cressidha passes out water to everyone else except Gwen.

Gausanders thanks Cressidha.

Ismene tries to think of other news to share. "I'm not pregnant."

Cressidha blinks at Ismene.

Ben shifts awkwardly, glances at Ismene, glances at the sky.

Aspenwood looks mildly at Ismene, inclines his head, and turns his attention to Dane.

Yessir, that is some sky.

[Mordecai]: Oh.

Cambrin 's head snaps towards Mizzy and then he quickly looks away. At literally anything else.

Ismene stops sharing.

Sil tries very hard to act like Mizzy's statements are totally ordinary and expected.

Ben puts his arm around Mizzy.

[Atley]: …Aye, that's well then.

Atley remarks stiffly and somewhat uncertainly.

Ismene smiles brightly at Mr. Atley.

Atley settles in his saddle for a moment as he eyes Ismene.

[Atley]: Right then. Blue Squad's all here. Let's bugger off.

[Cambrin]: Ready to roll.

Mordecai turns to Colson. "I'll be… here?"

Aspenwood turns to Mordecai, pulling up his hand to Colson's heart. "Yes. I love you," Colson says quietly. "I will see you soon."

Mordecai looks over at Dane. Oh no they're leaving. "I love you, be safe," he says very quickly to Colson.

Gausanders puts on his own hat because Gwen likes hats.

Aspenwood steps away, for Tenacious. "I will."

[Gwenivene]: Oh? Where are we… um… bug-swatting off to?

Gwenivene portals her mount in and teleports into the saddle.

Gausanders whispers in demonic while holding out his hand. From below him, a dreadsteed 'claws' its way out of the ground.

Ben shifts his weight and looks around again.

[Sil]: I guess we can wait a bit for Gavynn?

[Cressidha]: I'm sure he'll be here soon.

Ben relaxes slightly at the sight of Gavynn. He nods curtly to him.

[Cressidha]: Sir Gavynn, good afternoon.

Mordecai looks around the group. "Um, be safe."

[Cressidha]: Of course.

Ismene smiles brightly at Mordecai now. "We will."

Ben nods to Mordecai and smiles.

Mordecai smiles back.

[Sil]: Find your way to Telaar alright, Sir Gavynn?

[Gavynn]: Eventually, but it's a maze.

[Cressidha]: Where will we be headed today?

[Ben]: Okay, well. We got to find our way out west of here today. There is a fellow come through here a day or so ago said somethin' about campin' out to keep a eye on a Forge Camp goin' up out there.

[Ben]: Asked for backup if there was any.

[Ben]: We are backup.

[Sil]: A Forge Camp? Well that's bad news.

[Cressidha]: Ah.

Ben nods at Sil grimly.

[Sil]: Guess they want to make this whole place look like Hellfire.

[Gavynn]: One of those Legion bases we saw in Hellfire?

[Ben]: That's right.

Sil nods at Gavynn.

Mordecai takes a couple steps back. And then keeps going.

[Ben]: So let's get a move on before they do it.

[Sil]: Bye, Mordecai!

Cressidha fetches her horse.

Ismene has Runaway brought over.

[Mordecai]: Oh – goodbye!

Ben waves at Mordecai.

Mordecai waves.

Ben pauses for an Adorable Clefthoof Family to cross the road.

White Squad rides west past Oshu’gun. As they cross the river and approach the foothills, they spot a Nether Drake perched at the side of the road, and a shirtless Kaldorei gentleman armed with a pair of enormous glaives standing nearby.

Ben eyes Altruis the Sufferer up and down.

[Ben]: That our fellow?

[Cressidha]: Well, they certainly stand out…

[Ismene]: Did they say anything about a dragon?

[Sil]: Has he got a dragon there?

[Ben]: She did say, actually. Yeah.

Ben urges Dare forward cautiously.

Sil is looking more at the dragon than the guy.

Ben eyes the dragon even more cautiously.

Ismene waves. "Hello."

Ben nods at the night elf and then startles a little at the whole Blindfold Situation.

The shirtless gentleman is wearing a black blindfold across what appears to be some rather grisly burn scarring where his eyes would, you know, be. If they were.

[Ben]: Uh. They sent us from Telaar, sir.

Sil finally glances at the guy, and then looks curiously at his blindfold.

[Sil]: Lotta eye injuries in Outland, seems like.

[Sil]: Demons go for eyes in particular?

[Gavynn]: Maybe when the place exploded it blinded everyone.

[Sil]: Maybe? Everyone who was lookin' the wrong direction.

[Altruis the Sufferer]: What do you see when you look to the west, mortal? Do you know what I see? A precursor to invasion. Aye, the master was wise in sealing the portals, but has since lost his… how shall I put this? The master has lost his focus. Yes… focus. With this loss, the Legion has seized opportunity. They seep out now, growing in number day by day.

Ben knits his brow. "The … master?"

Altruis the Sufferer does not dignify this question with a response. You know. The master.

[Altruis the Sufferer]: I see demons as clearly as you can see your own hand in front of your face. That is, I used to be able to see them clearly. With the Legion's return come new machinations. Under normal circumstances, I am able to sense the presence of a demon from a thousand paces.

Altruis grimaces.

[Altruis the Sufferer]: But now they elude me. I cannot see past their defenses. They have put in place wards to prevent detection.

Altruis points westward. “They fear my kind because they know that we fear nothing. The cost for such power is great, the sacrifices many.”

His kind? Kaldorei? Much grimdark, very grit. White Squad is not totally clear what he’s on about.

Ben glances from the blindfolded elf to the distant Forge Camp.

[Altruis the Sufferer]: We must stop them before these forge camps are able to complete whatever it is that they are building. The Legion have employed the mo'arg and gan'arg to build weapons of mass destruction at these mobile forge camps. Let us not find out what it is that they intend to build here in Nagrand!

[Altruis the Sufferer]: You will be my eyes. Your weapons will be my fury.

[Ben]: Okay, then.

Altruis the Grimdark wants them to ride a nether drake to survey the camp’s fortifications. Ride a nether drake? He does not have to ask White Squad twice.

Cressidha readies her notebook.

THEY RIDE FUCKEN NETHER DRAKES WOOOOO oh and there is a whole bunch of demonic engineering and whatnot going on below them also.

Ben looks like he just got off the coolest roller coaster ever and immediately wants to go again. He tries to look instead like a Professional who has just done Serious Recon.

Sil reaches out as if to pat the dragon, then pulls back his hand. Maybe that's too familiar after just one ride.

Ismene happily pats the glowing, crackling, possibly void-powered dragon.

[Ben]: Yessir, they are building up like hell out there. Cannons an' portals an' all, and dug in way back into the hills.

[Sil]: Oh, yeah, it looked awful. *Sil nods at Ben's description*

Cressidha tries to describe the big gate-like thing she saw in a way that will be helpful to somebody who is blind.

Cressidha doesn't show him her sketch, for obvious reasons.

[Altruis the Sufferer]: This is what I have gathered from the information that you collected from the survey. There are two primary forge camps: Forge Camp: Hate, directly west of where we stand and Forge Camp: Fear, directly southwest. Each camp has a Legion transporter, one forge, and several spell warding towers. Additionally, the camps are guarded by wrathguards manning fel cannons. Lastly, each camp has a pit lord overseer.

Yes. Yes, that is totally the information they collected. Especially the part about the camp names, which were posted on signs at the entrances to each. WELCOME TO CAMP HATE.

[Altruis the Sufferer]: Right then, this should be no problem at all…

Altruis laughs.

Altruis asks them to take out the Wrathguards maintaining the perimeter defenses, and kill the engineers working on the portals. He warns them to stay away from the eredar overseers, who are Big Bad News. Apparently he is not familiar with White Squad’s previous work

[Ben]: Okay. Engineers. We will take 'em out, then. Let’s ride.

[Gavynn]: Looked like they were trying to summon in one of those big guys we saw at the Portal.

Ben nods grimly at Gavynn.

[Sil]: Which sort?

[Ben]: Pit thing, yeah?

Gavynn nods at Ben.

[Sil]: Ohh, yeah that's bad news.

[Ismene]: Not exactly subtle.

[Sil]: Reckon he'd’ve seen it right off. If he wasn't blind.

[Ben]: Watch the cannons. They got eyes on us, too.

[Ben]: Ready?

[Cressidha]: Ready.

[Ismene]: For demons? Always.

[Sil]: All set!

Ben pries a Fel Armament off the corpse of a gan’arg tinkerer.

Ismene eyes Ben carefully. "Don't keep that too long, please."

[Ben]: Ain't got plans to.

Ben points at a Mo'arg Engineer.

[Ben]: Let's clear them out from around that portal.

Cressidha panic-blinks away when the engineer magnetizes her in.

[Ben]: You okay? Cressidha?

[Cressidha]: I'm fine. Didn't even break my ice barrier.

[Cressidha]: Just startled me.

Ben smiles at her. "Okay. Good girl."

Ismene eyes the Big Demon in the distance.

[Ismene]: I'd guess he's in charge.

Cressidha opens her mouth to say something and closes it. It's fine.

Ben backs away carefully from Demos, Overseer of Hate.

[Ben]: Uh, yeah. I guess let's go around him, like the fellow said?

[Sil]: That big red guy. Looks sorta like they described Eredar, yeah? Big red draenei-type fella.

[Gavynn]: Red draenei.

[Cressidha]: Definitely.

[Ismene]: Rather tall, though.

[Sil]: Draenei are pretty tall. But not that tall.

[Sil]: Wonder if that's what the Legion offered.

[Sil]: “You will be so tall.”

Another engineer uses his magnet ray thing, this time to yoink Ismene.

[Ismene]: Goodness, that is startling.

Ben cranes his neck at the engineered structure.

[Ben]: What is this?

[Ismene]: I don't know. But I do know if they're building it, I won't like it.

[Sil]: Looks sorta like those water pumps, but there's no water here?

[Sil]: Like it's pumping somethin'.

Ben squints at it unhappily. "Yeah."

Ismene looks up. "Draining life from the land, maybe."

[Ben]: ‘Nother cannon.

[Ben]: Okay. Let's report to him.

Cressidha nods.

Ismene doesn't look pleased to leave Big Giant Red Guy there, but ok.

Altruis the Sufferer takes their report and dispatches them for a second time, now to kill the Master Planner he suspects must be lurking in one of the camps, presumably behind the forges.

[Ben]: … could've had us do this last time.

He could have. But it’s not like disrupting the Burning Legion is urgent or anything.

[Cressidha]: Behind the forges. Forges! That's what it was.

[Sil]: OH! Right! The pumping was like a bellows? *Sil looks to Cressidha for confirmation.*

[Cressidha]: Yes, it was.

[Sil]: Think the Eredar guy is the Master Planner? Or a different guy?

[Ben]: He was not behind.

[Ismene]: He didn't look much like someone who creates anything.

[Ben]: Miss Cressidha, while we are there again, you think you can do a quick sketch of them forges? I would like to show the Captain.

[Cressidha]: Very well.

[Ben]: Thank you.

[Gavynn]: One of these engineers, you think?

[Sil]: If one looks more special than the others?

[Ben]: Maybe? I dunno. Maybe just a cannoneer. He said check behind the forges for a plann– shit.

“Shit” is because a whole swarm of gan’arg have just ambushed them. It’s fine, it’s no problem.

[Ismene]: That was so … interesting!

Sil looks to Mizzy in surprise. "What was?"

[Ismene]: Cressidha, your shield just absorbed that whole ball of fel.

Ben glances at Cressidha, impressed.

[Cressidha]: As it's intended to.

Cressidha calls up a fresh ice barrier.

[Ben]: They are on alert now. Go careful.

[Ismene]: The shield versus felball thing was fascinating to observe, from the outside.

[Cressidha]: So if that was the forge…

Cressidha gets out her sketchbook.

[Sil]: There is a guy behind!

[Sil]: Literally behind.

[Ben]: Big fellow.

[Ismene]: With building things.

[Cressidha]: Ah. Him first, then.

They kill the big fellow behind the forge. Ben inspects the corpse.

Ben rises with a sheaf of papers in hand.

[Sil]: What're those papers? That what we're after?

Cressidha walks in a slow circle around the forge, sketching.

[Ben]: Looks like? I cannot make heads of 'em. But they do look like plans, yeah.

Cressidha calls, "Another engineer."

[Ben]: I see him.

They murder him.

Ben glances at Cressidha.

Cressidha gets a better sketch from a better angle.

[Cressidha]: How precise– I'm a designer, not an engineer.

[Ismene]: Enough so she gets the idea, I'd think. If she wants a closer look, she'll come see. Hopefully she'll ask someone to come with her…

[Sil]: Yeah, probably put that in a note. Not a good solo travel location.

[Ben]: It don't have to be perfect, yes'm. You have done neat sketches for us before, I reckon what you got will be fine.

[Cressidha]: Very well. In that case, this should do.

[Sil]: Wonder what they're makin'. Those fel reaver things, maybe?

[Ben]: I do not know. Maybe that fellow will tell us. If not, reckon the Captain can figure it out.

They return to Altruis the Sufferer.

[Ben]: Sir. We got the … plans.

Ben starts to hand the papers over, then considers the blindfold.

Altruis, for obvious reasons, cannot examine the plans himself. He tells them that he has a mo’arg friend, a former Legion engineer, who can decipher them to help the Squad formulate a plan of attack. This mo’arg friend hangs out at the World’s End Tavern in Shattrath.

[Ben]: … you got a friend was a Legion engineer?

[Sil]: Wait, there's a defected demon?

Ben has a lot of questions about this guy.

[Sil]: Can they do that?

Cressidha raises an eyebrow.

Gavynn shrugs. Who knows?

[Cressidha]: I was not aware. Hm.

Ben looks to Gavynn. He shrugs when the paladin does.

Ismene calmly pets her horsie…'s mane. Stupid armor.

[Sil]: I never met a good demon before.

[Ismene]: Anyone can see the error of their ways and find a new path.

[Sil]: But like, the Legion? I thought that was a whole mind control thing.

[Cressidha]: Well, I can portal us to Shattrath, of course.

[Ben]: I would be obliged, Cressidha.

[Ben]: Let's, uh, see what this fellow's about.

Cressidha does a quick circuit, tapping everybody's horses gently on the forehead with a portal stone for future access.

They step through Cressidha’s portal into Shattrath City.

[Ben]: He said World's End.

[Cressidha]: Indeed.

Ben scans the tavern's interior.

Every now and then, a grape drops from above.

Cressidha looks up.

Ben points at Sal'salabim.

[Ben]: That looks like a def–

Ben looks up too.

Sil 's mouth twitches in a smile, but he does not look up.

[Gavynn]: How's he hold his drinks?

This is a good question. The guy has a drill and a pincer thing for hands.

[Ben]: Uh. Maybe they …

[Cressidha]: Very carefully?

[Ismene]: Maybe he gets someone else to do it.

Ben tilts his head. He nods at Mizzy, and then shrugs.

Sil peers at his pincers and shrugs.

They approach the mo’arg cautiously.

[Ismene]: He's wearing so much Fel, I can't tell if he's tainted by it.

[Ben]: ‘Scuse me, fellow. We got some plans here. Your blind friend point us at you.

Sal'salabim says: [Demonic] Ka kalix!

He has perhaps defected from the Legion, but he still has the manners of a demon. He attacks them.

[Ben]: … dammit.

[Sil]: Some friend.

In the middle of a barroom brawl between the demon and a handful of humans, Kylene the bored-looking barmaid wanders over and asks whether anyone here is actually planning to buy a drink.

Gavynn looks at Kylene.

[Gavynn]: –yeah, just a dwarven stout, ma'am.

Sal’salabim rubs his head. “Calm down, bright eyes! Sal’salabim will help.”

[Cressidha]: Wait, do you speak– ?

Ben looks back at the others. He assumes "bright eyes" is Cressidha or Ismene.

Sal’salabim reviews the plans Ben has handed him. He laughs.

[Sal’salabim]: This Sal'salabim design.

Sal'salabim points to the architecture and formations on the blueprints.

[Sal’salabim]: Look at towers. Demon hunter no can see, yes? Poor, poor Altruis. He cry if he had eyes, yes?

[Ben]: Demon … hunter. Is that what that fellow is?

[Sil]: Huh. *Sil looks thoughtful.*

[Sal’salabim]: Yes, Sal'salabim help but first you help Sal'salabim.

Sal'salabim produces a grubby note, and hands it to Ben.

[Sal’salabim]: These creatures owe Sal'salabim golds. Many golds. Go collect for Sal'salabim and come back. They no give you Sal'salabim gold easy. Have to fight, but you strong. You defeat Sal'salabim!

[Ben]: … why does everyone in this damn city think we are here to do 'em favors?

Ben grimaces at the grubby scrap of paper.

[Gavynn]: Because you keep doing them.

[Sil]: I mean, we do, normally. Or are we not gonna do it this time?

Ismene frowns. "Tell me we are not going to go break someone's kneecaps for this…this thing's money."

Ben eyes Gavynn dourly.

Sil mutters. "Could just pay you."

[Cressidha]: I beg your pardon… you want us to retrieve you– how much money, precisely?

[Cressidha]: We could just pay you.

[Cressidha]: It isn't about the money, is it.

[Sal'salabim]: No. You handle it! Like you handle Sal'salabim. Make them think twice next time.

Sil sighs.

Sal'salabim cackles.

Cressidha looks at Ben.

Ben stuffs the grimy paper in his pack. "Well. There is a forge camp goin' up in Nagrand. I reckon we will just get this done."

[Sil]: Greater good an' all, huh?

Cressidha grits her teeth and nods.

[Cressidha]: Very well.

[Cressidha]: I dislike playing their games, but we may not have time to be picky.

Ismene sighs. "Fine. But when this is done, I'm coming back here and adjusting his attitude."

[Sil]: Can you do that to a demon? With Light powers?

A grape narrowly misses falling into Kylene's cleavage. Such a big target, too.

Sil tries not to laugh.

[Ben]: One of 'em is here in the tavern, he says.

Ben eyes Raliq the Drunk up and down.

[Ben]: Only one ogre in the place.

[Ismene]: Hey! You owe money to that person back there.

[Raliq the Drunk]: Raliq teach you lesson now!

[Ismene]: How dare you hit me!

Raliq the Drunk would no doubt regret this life choice, were he still alive to do so.

[Ben]: How fucken dare.

Ben spits.

[Gavynn]: Ugh. I don't think… you're trying to kill them are you?

Ismene sighs.

[Ben]: Well. The rest of 'em don't go at Mizzy, then we won't.

Ismene gestures and revives the stupid ogre who hits her.

Ismene is a more generous soul than her husband.

[Sil]: Leastaways we got a great priest.

[Ben]: Yeah. We do.

Ben glances at Mizzy.

Ben checks the grubby paper again. "Okay. Up the road to Zangarmarsh just a ways."

They ride up the road to Zangarmarsh a ways.

Ben squints at Coosh'coosh.

[Ben]: Fellow over there.

[Sil]: Is it a sporeling?

[Gavynn]: This the guy? Spore-thing?

[Ben]: I dunno. Paper doesn't say. Let's ask him?

[Sil]: Oh man, I don't wanna rough up a sporeling.

Ismene lets someone else ask this time.

[Ben]: Hey, uh, sir? Sorry to bother.

[Gavynn]: Do you owe some Legion goon money?

Coosh'coosh says: F'woooroonn! Coosh'coosh pay nothing! Die!

[Ben]: Oh come on.

[Sil]: Come on, we don't wanna….

[Ismene]: Listen, if you don't want to pay your debts, don't take them on!

[Ismene]: Honestly….

Ismene revives him a little less. She's getting annoyed and he'll have a nice headache later.

[Cressidha]: Oh! So he did have gold, after all.

[Ben]: That could've gone a lot easier for you, fellow. Sorry.

[Ben]: S'pose I should not be surprised a demon has got some shit friends.

[Ismene]: Hmph.

[Ben]: Well. Two down, one more. Down to the Bone Wastes, I guess.

[Ismene]: Just… It might be difficult for me to raise someone in the Bone Wastes. There are a lot of someones there, and half of them are halfway to being raised already.

[Cressidha]: What did he write about this one?

[Ben]: Didn't say anything about this one, just "Floon." Is that a word? "Floon, Bone Wastes."

Ben shows Cressidha the paper.

[Ben]: That's a "n," right?

Cressidha leans over and squints.

[Cressidha]: Floor…

[Ismene]: I'm unsurprised his handwriting is terrible.

[Sil]: Any other letter make more sense? Floof?

[Ismene]: Floom?

Ismene can't see, she's just guessing.

[Cressidha]: No, Floon, you're right.

[Ben]: Floon. Damn. Floof would've been good.

[Ben]: Okay. Let's find a Floon.

They proceed southward, in search of a Floon in a bonestack.

Ben eyes a Shadow Council Abjurist up and down.

[Ben]: Probably not a Floon.

[Cressidha]: So… how do we find a Floon?

[Ben]: FLOON? ANYONE?

He is asking the Shadow Council encampment in general. No one here appears to answer to “Floon.”

[Ismene]: I'd not suggest asking for directions.

They ride on.

Ben peers at a Lost Spirit searchingly.

[Ben]: Floon?

Not Floon.

[Sil]: Maybe somewhere in the Veil?

They continue into the Veil of ghost arakkoa. Which seems an unlikely place to find a debtor, but, you know. Weirder things have happened?

Ben eyes a Deathtalon Spirit up and down.

[Ben]: Hey, uh. Fellow?

[Sil]: ARE YOU FLOON?

Sil seems to think ghosts are hard of hearing.

Cressidha smiles a little.

[Ben]: Fl– no? Okay.

The Deathtalon Spirit has taken offense at being addressed.

[Cressidha]: Excuse me, Floon?

[Ben]: Floon?

Still nope.

[Ismene]: Do you suppose we'll know Floon if we kill him? Re-kill him?

[Cressidha]: Well, I suppose if the ghost is carrying money somehow…

[Sil]: Some of 'em are.

[Ben]: 'Scuse me?

They find Floon! He is indeed a ghost arakkoa. They offer him one of two options: pay up, or get beat down.

Floon says: I choose the third option: KILLING YOU!

[Sil]: That was not one of the options, dude.

[Ben]: … I do not feel bad about killin' a ghost, I guess.

[Gavynn]: This is just getting silly, now.

Cressidha looks mildly puzzled to find that in fact the ghost WAS carrying money.

[Ismene]: Well, at least we know it's him.

[Cressidha]: Hm.

[Ismene]: And he was already dead. I don't have to do anything.

[Ben]: Let's, uh. See a man about some plans.

[Sil]: That demon'll have to help now.

[Ismene]: We've got all his money. If he wants it, he'll have to cooperate.

Cressidha mutters, "Floon…" under her breath.

Ismene giggles.

They return to Shattrath, and the tavern, and head toward the back in search of Sal’salabim.

Ben looks grim.

[Ben]: Okay, fellow. We got your damn money. Tal–

Ben blinks at Leatei.

Leatei, the draenei barmaid in a low-cut dress, has stopped before the group and begun to do a dance that involves a lot of complex hip gyration.

[Ismene]: Oh dear.

[Ben]: Uh.

Ismene keeps looking at the dancer and turns the color of Gavynn's armor.

Cressidha doesn't seem to have trouble ignoring Leatei. She sets a pile of gold on the table before Sal’salabim.

[Ben]: Oh, right. Plans, now.

Sil looks at the dancer and nods appreciatively. He looks sort of like he might want to give her some of Sal'salabim's gold. But she leaves.

Kylene the blood elf barmaid returns to address Sir Gavynn discreetly.

Gavynn nods at Kylene.

Sal'salabim points to the blueprint. “You see where fel cannons are?”

Sal'salabim draws an arrow denoting a change of direction. “You turn fel cannon around and use on structures.”

[Ben]: … I feel like we could have sussed that out for free, f' we killed enough stuff there.

[Sil]: Yeah, sorta seems like somethin' we could've figured out.

[Sal’salabim]: Wait! Don't be mad! One thing you not know. Overseers have key to turn cannons. You need key first! One from each overseer! Not so easy, eh?

[Sil]: Right, so. What're we doin'?

[Ben]: We're goin' back to the Demon Hunter fellow to explain we gotta get some keys and turn some cannons.

Ben nods to Leatei. Respectfully.

[Ismene]: Back to kill the um… big red not-a-draenei. Finally!

[Cressidha]: Eredar.

[Ismene]: Thank you.

Gavynn tells Kylene NO. Not going to happen.

Gavynn covers his face with his palm.

[Cressidha]: Ismene, if you ever go to the Exodar, they have a tour there, with these… projected image displays of demons.

[Sil]: It's very informative. The Exodar place.

[Ismene]: What'd she offer you, Sir Gavynn? Do I want to know?

Ben glances at Ismene dubiously. Does she want to know?

[Gavynn]: Let's be on with the task at hand.

Ben 's expression flickers briefly with a smile. He nods.

[Cressidha]: If we take the flight path, Ben, I can summon our horses back on the other side.

[Ben]: Okay, yes'm. Most efficient.

Back in Telaar …

Cressidha flicks a portal stone up into the air. It cracks open and spits out some horses.

Ben nods respectfully to Cressidha. Not the same kind of respectfully as he'd nodded at Leatei.

[Sil]: Thanks, Cressidha. That's real handy.

They head west again.

Ben stops again to let more cute clefthoofs cross the road. Place is just full of 'em today.

[Ben]: Can see the forge camp smoke now.

Cressidha grumbles under her breath, "Just turn their own cannons around? Seriously…"

Ben regards Altruis the Sufferer flatly.

Altruis the Sufferer seems to think that using the Legions’ own weapons against their camps is a stroke of genius. Wow, that is a super great idea, perfect in its simplicity!

[Ben]: … yeah, no kiddin'.

[Sil]: It's a great plan. *Sil says, as if trying to comfort him.*

[Cressidha]: We will see it done.

[Ben]: Okay. So we're goin' for the eredars, finally. Let's clear 'em out. Keys an' cannons.

Ismene mutters, "Finally."

[Ben]: Take out as many as we can.

[Cressidha]: Understood.

Ben points at Demos, Overseer of Hate.

[Ben]: There's one of 'em.

[Ismene]: Hah! One down.

Ben studies the cannon.

Cressidha holds up the key. "Shall I…?"

[Ben]: Go on, sure.

Cressidha uses the overseer’s key to unlock the cannon on its platform, and uses its control mechanism to swivel it around and fire. The portal and forge at the rear of the camp both collapse in flames.

[Sil]: That's done it!

[Ismene]: Now there's a pretty sight!

[Cressidha]: Well, then.

[Ben]: Nice. Okay. One down.

[Sil]: There was another camp, he said?

[Ismene]: Not for long, there isn't.

Cressidha twirls the key in her fingers.

[Cressidha]: Maybe this will work on the other one?

Cressidha sounds hopeful.

[Ben]: Yeah. Worth a try.

[Ismene]: I'm rather hoping we get to punch another one of those eredar.

[Sil]: Bet the draenei'll be happy to hear about that.

[Ben]: We take out as many as we can regardless.

[Cressidha]: Understood.

They take out many demons en route to Camp Fear. Which is probably like the third worst summer camp, after Hate and Annihilation.

Ben points at Xirkos, Overseer of Fear.

[Gavynn]: There's the one.

[Ben]: Pit thing. Yeah.

[Ben]: Let's clear our way round to him.

They clear their way around to him.

Ben sizes Xirkos, Overseer of Fear up.

[Ben]: We ready?

[Ismene]: Want me to punch him first?

Ismene grins.

[Ben]: … not really.

[Sil]: One sec.

[Sil]: Think my poisons wore off.

Ismene sits and drinks water too.

[Sil]: Good now.

[Cressidha]: Ready.

A nearby patrol spots the squad just as they engage the Overseer in combat, and suddenly they are fighting six demons instead of one.

[Ismene]: Ben!

[Ben]: … we're good, we're good.

[Cressidha]: Indeed.

[Cressidha]: Well done, Ben.

[Ben]: You all too.

[Sil]: Wow, that guy was a whole thing.

[Ben]: Let's get that cannon.

Ben watches the portal explode with grim satisfaction.

[Sil]: Okay, let's run?

[Sil]: Before reinforcements.

[Ben]: Yeah. They felt that, I reckon.

Cressidha seems a little disappointed that the first key didn't work.

They return to Altruis.

[Ben]: You see– uh, heard the explosions, I guess?

Altruis did indeed hear the explosions. Good work, White Squad! Enjoy this money and some spare clothing.

[Ben]: Yessir, okay. We will let 'em know in Telaar.

Cressidha nods.

[Ben]: Ready?

[Cressidha]: Ready.

Warden Moi'bff Jill says: New posting going up! Adventurers and heroes, gather round the
bulletin board!

Ben salutes Warden Moi'bff Jill with respect.

[Ben]: Sir, we seen to the Forge Camp thing.

Cressidha looks at the posters on the board.

[Ben]: Bounty on ogres? Reckon we can take a bounty on some ogres.

Ben squints at the sky, and then at the rest of the group.

[Ismene]: Pity the one we already beat up doesn't count.

[Sil]: Yeah, sure, always in for some ogre fights.

[Cressidha]: Very well.

[Ben]: Okay. Let's go.

Cressidha watches the clefthoofs cross the road.

White Squad brakes for cute clefthoofs.

[Ben]: Camp here.

[Sil]: Ogre cave over there.

[Sil]: Any of you all hear what Blue Squad was up to last week? Newsletter was kinda vague.

[Ben]: Yeah it was somethin' to do with … time.

[Cressidha]: I never got details.

[Gavynn]: I heard they took their time getting back.

Ben eyes Gavynn.

Ismene groans. "Ugh, Gavynn."

Cressidha laughs and covers her mouth.

[Sil]: Like how to do with time?

[Ben]: Like bronze dragons how.

[Sil]: Ohhh.

[Ben]: Like don't mention to Gerhold how.

[Sil]: That's pretty cool, though. Talkin' to dragons.

They are, at this point, in the ogre cave. Fightin’ ogres. Supes cazh.

[Ben]: Damn, they are packed in here.

[Gavynn]: Crawling out of the cave walls.

[Sil]: We're losin' people.

[Cressidha]: Seems very easy to get lost in here.

[Ismene]: It's a small cave, we'll find them again.

[Cressidha]: It's a small cave?!

Cressidha is just lost.

[Ismene]: It is! Just twisty.

[Sil]: These big guys barely fit.

[Ben]: I would say you can tell from how eye-waterin' the smell is, but that's any size ogre cave.

[Ben]: Let's get out in some air a min– there goes Mizzy.

There goes Mizzy.

Cressidha is lost in this cave forever. It's fine.

[Ben]: Let's get out in some air, I was sayin'.

[Sil]: Won't say no to that

Cressidha looks up. Sweet, sweet sky. "Oh!"

[Ismene]: See? Just twisty.

Ben takes a deep breath.

Cressidha also takes a deep breath. It still smells like ogres out here, only a little bit less worse.

[Ben]: Okay. We can go back in if y'all want. Or we can look for some … less cavey ones.

[Sil]: Yeah. Maybe not in caves?

They do not have much luck finding ogres not in caves.

[Sil]: Guess they are not big on fresh air.

[Ben]: Least they keep their fires outside. Can you imagine? The smoke, too?

Ben eyes the cave mouth reluctantly.

[Sil]: Air is just thick in there.

[Ismene]: I think he was wrong about who had beads.

[Sil]: Yeah, I haven't seen any yet.

[Ben]: Well. Let's ride out again, then.

They head north and ford a river. Well, most of them ford the river. Sil rides right out into it and comes off his horse in the deep water.

[Sil]: Water's deeper than it looks here.

[Ben]: You just wanted a swim after that cave.

[Sil]: I mean, don't you all?

[Sil]: Ogre smell all over.

[Ben]: … yeah. But armor.

[Ismene]: Oh, it's so pretty here.

[Ben]: Oh good. More cave.

They enter another cave. It’s about as nice as the first one. Many ogres die stinkily.

[Ben]: I am about done of ogres, y'all.

[Cressidha]: Indeed.

[Cressidha]: I didn't want to be the first to say it, but. Yes.

[Cressidha]: I am also about done with ogres.

[Ben]: Let's give in our bounty and then have like six baths.

[Cressidha]: Oh, yes, please.

[Sil]: If that's okay.

They return to Telaar.

Ben salutes Warden Moi'bff Jill with respect.

[Ben]: Ogres killed, sir.

Cressidha hands in the beads she collected and bows.

Ben glances at the sky again.

[Ben]: Okay. I reckon I will call it here, I want to report to the Captain about that Forge Camp.

Cressidha nods. "Good work today."

[Ben]: You as well, Mis– Cressidha.

[Ben]: As always.

[Cressidha]: Just so.

Cressidha takes Cinnamon's reins and leads her horse towards the stables.

[Cressidha]: Mordecai.

[Mordecai]: Hm?

[Cressidha]: Has the other squad returned yet?

Ben glances down the slope at Cressidha and Mordecai.

[Mordecai]: Not that I've seen.

[Cressidha]: Well. Will you tell my brother, should you see him soon, that I am perfectly fine but desperately needed to take a bath?

Mordecai nods. "I can, um. Do that."

[Cressidha]: Ogre cave.

[Mordecai]: I, I see.

Cressidha nods to Mordecai and heads towards the inn.