(2022-08-25) Dire Maul's Haunted

Details

Author:	Luridel
Summary:	Briellen, Elohad, Vond, and Erixa venture into Dire Maul in search of a particular treant who is keeping an ancient horse spirit captive.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Holy Trials

Elohad is summoned!

Vond is without his hat and squint, presumably relieved by the forest shade. He's got a pair of plain spectacles and a dark argent tabard which is definitely there, and from which he brushes a couple of fallen leaves.

Erixa is also summoned! Hooray!

Elohad is wearing mismatched armor and a Cobalt Company tabard as per usual.

Edwin: Well, that worked.

Briellen: I did say it would.

Edwin: I believed you!

Vond lets his gaze stray upward often, climbing the unfamiliar ruins and dappled canopy. He looks much more at ease than last time.
Erixa is wearing attractive plate armor.

Elohad: I still remember when the mages started putting these things up all around. Ingenious.

Erixa: Yes, very helpful.

Briellen gives the others a polite bow. "I appreciate your assistance today."

Elohad: Anything for a sister in the Light.

Vond: I appreciate you bringing me out here. It's lovely.

Erixa nods firmly. "We are like family. Sisters, brother, dad…"

Elohad: Isn't it? We've only been here on horrible errands, but it was almost worthwhile every time just to see it.

Vond flicks a glance toward the direction of the inner ruin. "Though there's an odd feel about the place, isn't there?"

Elohad: I don't know much about what this place used to be, only that it was a kaldorei city before the Sundering.

Edwin hands Briellen a rolled-up map. "The scout from Feathermoon Stronghold's gonna meet you in the courtyard, to open the door. West door."

Elohad: Must've been a huge center of civilization, by the size of it…

Erixa: I can see it must have been amazing, before.

Erixa glances to Elohad, to get a sense if this is okay to say.

Briellen: It was called Eldre'Thalas, before the ogres moved in.

Elohad looks around, his eyes going unfocused and distant.

Elohad seems to be trying to imagine it.

Erixa: Ogres… that may be the odd feel?

Edwin: You all be careful in there.

Vond nods. "Right then, suppose we best meet that scout." As usual he seems to favor moving, though his stance looks like he wouldn't mind lingering.

Elohad: No, that's the odd smell. I sense restless spirits, I think. Inside.

Briellen clasps Edwin's shoulder. "We'll be fine."

Vond tilts his head. "Is that all…?"

Elohad: There may be more, and worse, inside… but not that I'm capable of sensing. I dunno why, but I've always been extra sensitive to ghosts.

Vond: I'm not sure what it is, either. Just somethin' weird.

Elohad: I can feel a ghost almost miles off, it seems, sometimes.

Vond: I feel ya there.

Briellen: We're looking for a corrupted treant. Perhaps a larger one?

Elohad: Okay, treants, those are the big walking tree guys, right?

Briellen: Yes.

Erixa: Corrupted tree… got it.

Vond: That'd be them. This must be thousands of years older than the night elf places I've been. But you can still kinda tell?

Briellen: Well, this must be the courtyard…

Elohad: Yeah. This is from the height of their empire, clearly.

There's a whistle from the northwest, and a door swings open.

Erixa looks around in wonder at the decorated stonework.

Elohad: I used to be scared snotless of ogres, heh.

Elohad greets whoever that was with a hearty hello!

Vond: Our thanks.

A kaldorei woman bows to the group and disappears through the door on the other side.

Erixa: Looking for trees…

There are trees everywhere. Some of them are even walking around.

Vond peers into the interior a bit cautiously.

Briellen looks fascinated, but alert.

Elohad: Damn, look at this place… Imagine it full of crowds…

Vond: Trees don't appear to be in short supply.

Elohad looks dreamy-eyed.

Erixa nods at Vond. "Many trees. Now crowds of trees…"

Briellen: Light, give us the wisdom to… identify the correct tree.

Vond glances back to Briellen. "You think it's one of these fellas?" He jerks his thumb toward a milling treant.

Erixa points at Ironbark Protector.

Erixa: That one is large!

Vond: Ope. Biggun.

Briellen: I suppose if they're all corrupted, it can't hurt to clear them out.

Elohad: May have to, just to get past.

Violence time. The big treant smacks Vond.

Vond goes sailing a few yards.

Erixa: More big ones coming.

Vond dusts himself off, giving his head a shake.

Erixa: Another! So many.

Vond: Wonder how long they've just been… circlin'.

Briellen: The old protectors of this place?

Erixa: They look kind of like trees I have seen in other kaldorei places.

Elohad: It's not much more boring a life than most trees have.

Vond: Is that what they're here for? Suppose it makes sense.

Briellen laughs out loud. She clears her throat.

Elohad winks slyly at Briellen.

Briellen unrolls her map and examines it.

Vond plucks another fallen leaf from his tabard and slips it between the pages of his chained libram.

Elohad smiles, watching him.

Briellen: Tendris Warpwood is the one who holds the spirit captive. Apparently they have names?

Vond glances back to Bree's map.

Elohad: Huh.

Erixa follows a wisp, looking at it curiously.

Briellen holds it out for Vond to see. It looks like it was copied from an older map onto fresh parchment.

Erixa: Incoming tree.

Elohad: Those are night elf spirits, Erixa.

Vond: Erm, well, I mean. I'd ask this'n, but it looks not keen to converse.

Erixa turns to look curiously at Elohad. "Night elf ghosts?"

Elohad: Yeah, kinda.

Vond questions a tree as it batters against his shield. "Tendris? Any of ya?"

These killer trees are not inclined to answer him.

Elohad: We really are going to have to kill every tree in here, aren't we. Just to be sure.

Vond clatters against a pillar a bit when handily tossed by a branch, glimmering a bit before the impact. He's fine.

Briellen passes a Flash of Light Vond's way just in case.

Vond: All of them? Seems like there's plenty more where that came from.

There are more of them where that came from. A big tree approaches.

Vond: Speakin' of.

Briellen: Behind!

Elohad: I bet once we kill the right one, that horse spirit will appear or something? If it's the one holding it captive.

Briellen: I do hope so.

Erixa: So we keep up the killing until horse. Sounds like a good plan.

Elohad: Kill until horse!

Erixa nods happily.

Elohad: The placement of those animal head statues is just really odd.

Erixa: It almost looks like there should be a trough. For drinking.

Elohad: Right?

Erixa pats the animal on the nose gently.

Vond: Maybe it's one o' them ancients.

Briellen smiles.

Elohad: Let there be horse!

Vond: Tendris? That you?

The treant Vond questioned is probably not Tendris Warpwood.

Vond is wordlessly walloped by way of reply.

Elohad: Would be really nice if they wore name badges.

Vond: Those bright things're a little spooky.

Erixa: Spirit ghosts.

Briellen: I'm uncertain how Lord Shadowbreaker knew the name of the treant in the first place…

Briellen shrugs. One of those mysteries.

Erixa: Do you think they were friends, before corruption?

Elohad: I mean if you told me he went to a lot of treant parties, I wouldn't be surprised.

Elohad: That man always surprises me. If you expect to be surprised it stops being surprising.

Vond: Who knows what that guy gets up to, sending you all 'round the globe, knowing where all the worst horse problems are happening.

Elohad: Right? This is what I'm saying. Who knows what that guy gets up to.

Erixa: Treant parties, horse parties… *Erixa shakes her head, who can say?*

Vond: All I know is Stormwind paladins. Some of 'em are something else, and they all go through that fella.

Elohad: Sev likes him all right, but who doesn't Sev like? I won't tell anyone we spent the evening being beat up by trees if you don't.

Vond: I got no reason to doubt Sev's judgment. I just like giving the occasional stuffed shirt golden boy a hard time.

Briellen chuckles quietly.

Elohad: Hey, I used to be a stuffed shirt golden boy! On behalf of stuffed shirt golden boys, I object.

Satterly laughs at Petrified Treant.

Erixa: You stuffed your shirt? *Erixa looks baffled* For… looking like more muscles?

Elohad flexes at Erixa. Oooooh so strong!

Vond: I won't hold it against ya.

Erixa flexes at Elohad. Oooooh so strong!

Elohad: Damn, woman. Watch where you point those things!

Erixa laughs.

Erixa: I think that was all the trees? Are there more rooms?

Briellen: Oh, there are certainly more rooms. Perhaps further in?

Elohad: I see a tree at the end of the hall there, but it's not moving. I don't blame it, honestly.

Elohad: That's what I'd do in its situation.

Vond peers up at Erixa with a bit of slightly reserved amusement that turns briefly curious, before glancing back to Elohad. "Maybe that's the one."

Briellen moves towards it until she realizes it is, in fact, a literal tree. She laughs.

Elohad: Hey you!

Erixa: If you are tree, be tree abundantly. *Erixa nods*

Vond: Tendris?

Elohad pokes it.

Erixa: This one does not have a horse, I think.

Vond receives no answer.

Elohad pokes it again, this time with his sword.

Elohad: Okay, yep, that's a tree.

Briellen: Indeed.

Elohad pokes the others they pass, just in case.

Vond pats the elk.

Briellen: Well.

They go down a ramp and approach a giant treant all by itself.

Vond: Mn. 'Nother biggun.

Erixa: An even bigger tree!

Elohad: Biiiig guy.

Briellen: I can sense something faint.

Briellen looks at Elohad. "A… horse ghost?"

Erixa: All alone, he seems special.

Vond trails his eyes after a floating wisp.

Elohad: I can't. Huh. Guess I'm not attuned to horse spirits. … Shocker.

Elohad looks bitter, for some reason.

Briellen: It might be my imagination, honestly. I just feel like… hm.

Elohad: No, no, everyone has different sensitivities, even among paladins.

Vond: Well. Let's see if this'n has anything to say for itself.

Briellen nods and moves forward, drawing her sword.

Vond: Care to do the honors, vindicator?

Erixa: I cannot feel horse spirits, either.

Elohad: Go on. I'll keep you patched up if it goes bad.

Erixa: Sure, let's go!

Tendris Warpwood yells: You do not belong here! Ancients, rise against these intruders!

Elohad: It talks!

Violence ensues.

Ancient Equine Spirit breaks free of its spectral bonds with a tremendous crash of thunder!

Elohad: Whoa!

Erixa: I can see horse spirit!

Vond cinches his shoulders a bit as another spirit materializes.

Elohad: Say something to it, Dame Briellen.

The horse does a circuit around the room before coming to a halt in front of Briellen.

Briellen: Oh. Yes. I have—

Briellen scrambles to get her bag of enchanted horse feed out in time.

Elohad leaves the horse-whispering to the nice young girl.

Vond: It's almost acting like it were expecting you.

Briellen gets the barding out next and waits patiently while the horse eats the fancy horse food.

Elohad watches, fascinated, but with that odd resentful twist stealing back over his expression.

The Ancient Equine Spirit nudges at the barding. It seems to want Briellen to put it on?

Elohad looks dubious about this possibility.

Briellen: I… would be honored if you would bless this, ah…

Briellen sounds awkward.

Elohad shifts his weight, looking like he's resisting the urge to feed her lines.

Vond looks around a bit while Bree interacts with the ghost. He plucks a bit of bright green moss from between some stones.

The spirit's nudging gets more insistent.

Erixa smiles at the awkwardness. It's sweet.

Briellen puts the barding on the ghost horse as if expecting it to fall through, but it doesn't. She buckles up the straps carefully.

Briellen: There you go?

Elohad: …Huh.

Erixa: Very solid ghost.

Elohad: This is one of those "why ghosts don't fall through the floor" things, isn't it.

As the barding rests on the back of the Ancient Equine Spirit, it glows ever so slightly. The air is thick with power for a brief moment, and then the barding disappears from the back of the horse.

Elohad: Uh oh. Didn't we… need that?

Briellen: I… thought so.

Elohad: Your horse friend ate it.

The Ancient Equine Spirit nudges at Briellen's pack.

Vond closes his eyes momentarily as he raises the loamy fresh moss in his palms beneath his nose, distracted.

Briellen opens it up again. "Ah. It… put it away for me?"

Elohad: Oh wow.

Briellen: That, er… thank you.

Elohad: Considerate horse.

Erixa: Clever girl. Boy?

Fancy horse food now eaten, barding now blessed, the spirit seems to have lost interest in Briellen.

Elohad: Your paladin title should have something to do with horses. Lightrider? No, that's terrible.

Briellen: Oh, dear.

Vond: Truthjockey.

Elohad snickers at Vond.

Vond sets down the moss.

Briellen laughs out loud.

Erixa chuckles.

Briellen: Light, well, as ridiculous as that is, it beats other proposed alternatives.

Elohad: Lightspur! I dunno. Anything's better than "the Enduring," am I right?

Briellen: I haven't been given one yet.

Erixa: Do you all have titles?

Elohad: "Thanks Elo, thanks for… still being here."

Vond: Not me.

Elohad: "Good job not being dead yet."

Briellen reaches up and touches the scar that crosses her face.

Erixa: Enduring is important. If you do a thing and vanish, then it can be undone.

Elohad gently pats Erixa.

Elohad: You're a good girl, Erixa.

Elohad doesn't seem to mind that the "girl" is easily ten times his age, probably.

Erixa smiles at Elohad.

Erixa is more like 20 times his age…

Elohad would be so pleased to know that! He's a youngster!

Erixa: Is it a thing other paladins decide, and then give to you?

Elohad: Yep.

Briellen: Yes.

Vond: She's right though, Enduring isn't bad. We all better.

Elohad: Well, it is a thing I'm good at. But yes, Erixa. Other paladins name you based on something about you.

Vond: I think if I were offered one I'd prefer to keep my regular name. Not that I'm, uh, expecting that.

Erixa: Is it always complimentary?

Elohad: Uther was the Lightbringer, because he was bringing it whether you wanted it or not, heh heh.

Vond quirks his jaw a bit at the mention of Uther.

Briellen checks her map. She pulls a lever on this side of the door to open it.

The group fights their way out through a bunch of ogres, talking as they go.

Elohad: Sev refused one, of course. Doofus.

Vond: Of course he would. Now I'm certain of it.

Briellen: Enduring's a good title.

Elohad: My only other option was to modestly refuse, and I mean, have you met me? Modest isn't really my thing. He said, modestly.

Briellen chuckles.

Erixa: At least it was not Elohad the Immodest.

Elohad: I think they're not allowed to insult you. Though I wonder sometimes about Katherine the Pure.

Erixa laughs.

Vond: Usually paladins try to put a positive spin on things.

Elohad: I think that might've been some of the guys being a little snarky.

Vond: Oh dear.

Elohad: Certain high ranking paladins I won't mention may have been refused a few times for dates.

Erixa: Well good on her, standing up for self.

Briellen opens her pack to check that the barding's still there. It is.

Elohad: Honestly Shadowbreaker is a hell of a title. Little jealous. I wonder if draenei will start doing paladin titles once they settle in?

Briellen: Would you like one, Vindicator Erixa?

Elohad: Maybe not, as they don't even do surnames?

Erixa: I would be interested in what it would be! Though maybe also nervous.

Elohad: Erixa the Nervous!

Erixa laughs.

Briellen looks like she might be thinking hard about this one, now.

Erixa: Now that would be an awful title.

Briellen: Erixa the Bright?

Elohad: Erixa the Disturbingly Muscular?

Erixa chuckles at both.

Vond: Nothing wrong with a good shield arm.

Erixa: Bright means a lot of things in Common, yes? And I am very muscular.

Briellen: Yes.

Erixa: Also not modest. *she darts a grin at Elo.*

Elohad: You could pop my head like a grape.

Gordok Ogre-Mage: Raaar!!! Me smash Human!

Elohad: Not you.

They return to the summoning stone.

Edwin: Hey!

Vond: Suppose everything went about as expected with the spirit? Or are you gonna find that out.

Elohad: We lived!

Edwin rushes down the ramp to the others.

Briellen: We did. I believe the barding has been… successfully blessed?

Elohad: Shame you didn't get to see the horse spirit, Edwin. You'd have appreciated it.

Edwin: Did you pet it?

Erixa: It was a pretty horse.

Vond opens his libram to check if the saved leaf is still there. It is.

Edwin: Was it, uh, tangible?

Briellen: I… didn't exactly pet it?

Edwin: Bree, you met an ancient ghost horse and you didn't even pet it?

Elohad: It was sort of tangible, apparently. It wore armor for a minute.

Erixa nods.

Elohad: Really no excuse for not petting it.

Briellen clears her throat. "It did let me put the barding on it."

Vond: A little fuzzy around the edges, though.

Elohad: Fuzzy sounds even more pettable.

Briellen: I, ah, it didn't seem… hm. I suppose I could have tried. It didn't feel… appropriate?

Elohad: I'll trust your judgment on horse feelings.

Erixa: She was very proper.

Edwin does not seem like he trusts Briellen's judgement on horse feelings. "A horse is a horse, Bree. Gotta show them love."

Elohad's eyes tighten at the corners.

Briellen says a little defensively, "I gave it that entire bag of magic oats!"

Erixa: Love is not always pets.

Vond glances between Edwin and Bree with a curious tilt of his head, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

Edwin nods to Erixa. "Yeah, that's fair."

Elohad: I accept love in the form of food, as well.

Erixa grins.

Vond: Sound approach.

Elohad: Lucky for Ben! Uh, my son. Who cooks.

Vond: Oh, right, tall fella. We didn't get the chance to speak, really.

Erixa: He is a talented boy.

Elohad beams.

Briellen: If we can make our way to Feathermoon Stronghold, we can probably obtain a portal back to Stormwind.

Vond: I'd love to see Feathermoon.

Elohad: Happy to ride with you.

Erixa: Feather-moon. *Erixa puzzles out the word* I will come with.

Briellen mounts up on her borrowed horse, as does Edwin with his own horse.

Elohad: This is a gorgeous part of the world.

Briellen: It truly is.

Elohad: Mostly Cobalt Company was out here dealing with silithid drama, so some of the memories aren't so great, but man, there's this waterfall….

Erixa: It is so alive, here. Green and growing.

Vond looks a bit wistful as he takes a deep breath of the forest air.

Elohad: Yeah. And the silithids are under control now, more of a nuisance than a menace. No more Old God pulling their strings.

They approach a bridge with an excellent view of a beautiful waterfall.

Elohad: Here, here it is! My favorite part.
Elohad points.

Briellen: Oh, that is lovely.

Elohad: I could stand on this bridge for hours. …But I won't.

Edwin admires the waterfall.

Erixa looks up at the falls with delight.

Elohad grins at Briellen wickedly.

Erixa: Can you imagine, shield and slide down the water…

Briellen: Ah, yes. I do need to bring this back to Lord Shadowbreaker.

Elohad: Very romantic place to take someone, if you ever have someone you want to take somewhere.

Elohad winks slyly at Briellen. Elohad also winks at Edwin, for some reason.

Briellen: Ah. Hm.

Vond strays looks up above to hanging lianas.

Edwin gives Elohad a thumbs-up.

Elohad: Nir and I have spent some time there. Conversing.

Erixa: Conversing. *Erixa says, raising an eyebrow*

Vond: You're definitely right. Maybe I will sometime.

Elohad: Yes! Conversing! Believe me, getting that woman to converse is the ultimate trophy. She kisses me half the time just to shut me up.

Erixa laughs.

Vond quirks a bit of a grin.

Elohad: But every word you can get out of her is pure gold. *He gazes out over the water with a wistful smile.*

Briellen: I would like to meet her one day.

Erixa glances at Edwin and Briellen, quirking a smile.

Elohad: You should. Everyone should. Baby's just so little right now… Still eating 'round the clock, you know how it is.

Briellen: Of course.

Vond: That's funny you'n Sev got 'em around the same age now.

Elohad: Right? Gotta arrange a marriage somehow.

Vond laughs.

Erixa: I would be scared to hold a human baby. So tiny.

Elohad: I don't care if you don't like men, Dane, you are marrying Simon and that's that. Then Sev and I can really be family!

Vond blinks.

Elohad smiles.

Elohad: I'm kidding. Dane can marry whoever he wants.

Erixa: That is one way to do it.

Briellen: Excuse me, is Zipsy still here?

Elohad: Or not marry. Or whatever.

Innkeeper Shyria: The gnome? I have not seen her leave.

Briellen: Thank you.

Elohad: Oh, a gnome portal. Those are always exciting.

Briellen bows before Innkeeper Shyria.

A blonde, pigtailed gnome drops down from the ramp above. "I heard my name!"

Elohad: They have such a casual approach sometimes. "What's wrong, Mr. Ference? Most of your clothes came with you…"

Elohad immediately stops bad-mouthing gnome portals.

Zipsy is a fashion disaster to rival Elohad, and that's saying something. Zipsy also has a ridiculous hat about half as large as she is.

Vond has lapsed quiet again for a spell, apparently thoughtful on something.

Elohad looks delighted! Probably by the hat. He likely doesn't notice the fashion disaster.

Erixa: I like your sense of style! *Erixa says. She sounds sincere*

Briellen: Yes, ma'am. I would be most obliged if you could provide us with a portal to Stormwind. I will pay for the reagents, of course.

Elohad smiles at Briellen.

Zipsy winks at Erixa and nods to Briellen, holding out a hand.

Briellen counts out some silver coins and passes them over.

Elohad: I'll close my eyes when we go through. Just in case.

Zipsy removes her hat and pours the money into it, then puts the hat back on her head. Nothing falls out. She produces a portal stone, sets it on the ground, and then sets the stone on fire.

Edwin takes a step back.

Vond sniffs a bit. Is something burning?

Elohad: I… you know, I might just use my hearthstone.

Erixa: A unique procedure! I will take burning gnome portal!

Elohad: A pleasure as always, friends!

Elohad does, in fact, use his hearthstone. Chicken.

A portal appears above the flaming portal stone.

Vond: Oh, uh— Light keep—

Elohad is already gone.

Briellen: Er— yes.

Erixa steps through the portal above the flaming stone confidently.

Vond lingers a long look out into the thriving trees before slipping into the rift.