(2022-09-07) Bruuk's Brothers in Telaar: Plagues and Battles

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Ben, Sil, Nunuzac and Paluuva meet up in Telaar, Nagrand instead of the usual Bruuk's Corner in Ironforge. Current events - the new plague and the recent battle - dominate the conversation.
Rating:	T for Teen

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Ben and Sil are in Telaar, due to the zombie plague in Azeroth.
Silvestre waves at Ben as he trudges up to the table.
Bennarín is leaning on the table with one elbow propped. He is dozing, but starts awake at Sil's arrival.
[Bennarín]: Hey. Oh. Hey. What time's it?
Bennarín looks around groggily.
[Silvestre]: I don't… *Sil looks around, a little blearily.* I am not real sure. It's evenin', right?
Bennarín gives a dry laugh. "Yeah, let's just call it. How're you doin'?"
[Silvestre]: Alright. *He stifles a yawn* It has been a week, I'll say that. You holdin' up? Everybody okay?
[Bennarín]: I am - I mean, here, yeah. You heard - from back home? The newsletter an' all, right? I mean I'm guessin'.
Nunuzac has dragged in a lumpy sack. She chatters in chipper draenic with the innkeeper, who seems to be trying to tell her something but can't get a word in edgewise.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, yeah. The zombie plague. On top of the battle.
Silvestre glances over. "Hey! Nunuzac, right?"
Bennarín snorts. He puts his elbow back on the table and starts to sort of sliiiide in that direction like he's just going to lie down right here, but then he blinks blearily at the chatter from the innkeeper's direction.
Nunuzac forgets her current conversation and perks, bounding over. It's kind of impressive, the stride those sort of legs can make. "Oh! Wow!" She blinks. "You humans get around."
[Silvestre]: Yeah, it's… you heard the news? Not real safe in Azeroth right now.
Nunuzac tilts her head. "What news? Something happens since I visit?" Isel sighs somewhere behind. "I have not been back to city since then."
[Bennarín]: Well, you should not ought to go, then, right now. It is a plague.
[Bennarín]: I mean, it is a whole assorted sh*tshow but right now also a plague.
[Silvestre]: People turnin' into zombies in the streets. Have a seat?
[Bennarín]: I will have to get back over there the next day or so I reckon to do … paladin stuff? I guess? But for now I am tryin' to make sure ours are over here out of the way.
Nunuzac rummages around in her sack, producing a grimy-looking stone with an unpleasant smell. "Shaman circle has place out here, yes-plague? Hmmm… bad sickness, yes? How bad."
Nunuzac trots over when suggested a seat.
Bennarín prepares to lie down half-on the table again. He is the I TAKE NAP RIGHT HERE meme child.
[Silvestre]: From our newsletter… minutes, then you explode into a zombie. So… pretty bad.
[Bennarín]: Killin' people. Raisin' 'em straight up again dead. They kill more people.
[Silvestre]: Not sure where it came from yet, or how it spreads.
[Silvestre]: And this after Light's Hope.. you heard about Light's Hope?
Bennarín squints at the rock in Nunuzac's hand.
[Bennarín]: What's that smell?
Nunuzac drops the weird rock back into the sack and ties it up, cutting off the stink, luckily. Her cheerful face goes through a few squints of perplexed displeasure as she sorts through what she's being told. "What-explode? What kind of sickness… Oh yes,
[Nunuzac]: I know Light gives you hope."
[Nunuzac]: Elemental core gone bad, I gather for circle.
Bennarín smiles faintly at this.
[Silvestre]: Good to help out like that.
[Silvestre]: And nah, I mean the city… outpost? The chapel. In the Plaguelands.
[Bennarín]: Chapel. Outpost. Argent Dawn got a post there, yeah.
[Silvestre]: Got attacked by the Lich King himself. And a buncha death knights and s***. Ben and me were there.
Nunuzac shrugs at Sil a bit apologetically. "Sickness in the land? Please forgive Nunuzac, I only mostly know night elf land. And dragon mountain."
[Bennarín]: S' fair. We only know pieces of this one.
[Nunuzac]: But… *she taps her palm against her collar insistently* I can fix sickness-whole shaman circle can. We tell them?
[Silvestre]: Yeah, I bet they'd welcome anybody helpin'. Gettin' this thing under control.
Bennarín raises his eyebrows. "… I mean. I reckon yeah. That'd be a hell of a help."
Nunuzac nods emphatically, looking eager to help. "Where should I go in your land, the Ironforge? And lich king… this sounds bad."
[Bennarín]: I got to admit I don't really know what all shamans can do? I only know, I think, Miss Azizia, an' she seems mostly to yell at rocks. Or yell at people about rocks.
[Bennarín]: F' you go to Ironforge, Cobalts there can direct you at people.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, we got people there. Ben, your Aunt Nir still there?
[Bennarín]: Yeah, with a clinic openin' up, too. And Mizzy's with her. Estel too.
Nunuzac brightens at Ben. "There is a totem we can call, it drives away sickness and poison, for a long time so you don't get tired. It works really good, just bring sick to touch."
Bennarín whistles at Nunuzac, wide-eyed. "Sh*t. Wish Lordaeron had shamans a few years ago."
[Paluuva]: Ah, Cobalt Company! Archenon poros.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, for sure. You could meet up with them, help cure people? Make like a totem curing zone.
Silvestre waves at Paluuva.
Bennarín blinks and sits up straighter again. He nods respectfully to Paluuva. "Ma'am."
[Silvestre]: Archenon poros to you too! *Sil says, trying to smile*
Nunuzac blinks a bit, not really knowing the significance but perhaps piecing together a little bit by the look of her wincing smile. "This settles that. I go to Ironforge right away. There is… work I am able to do here, but not as…" she searches for a word.
Nunuzac blinks up at Paluuva and hops to her hooves.
[Silvestre]: You two know each other?
Bennarín gets up wearily too, and offers Paluuva a wan smile. "You want to sit, ma'am?"
Paluuva smiles. "That is very kind of you, sir. Thank you."
[Nunuzac]: Paluuva? You are here too? Wow, I don't see for so long. Oh yes, she teaches me when I am younger.
[Silvestre]: Oh cool! *he looks to Paluuva* What did you teach her? I haven't run into any of my teachers from when I was a kid in years.
Paluuva 's smile warms toward Nunuzac. "It is wonderful to see you again, Nunuzac. Yes, I have returned to Draenor - at least for a time - to aid the Aldor."
Nunuzac looks quite pleased. "And I help when we land and meet the Azeroth people, have to learn new words." She smiles at Sil. "There are only so many of us that went on the ships."
[Paluuva]: When it comes to the children, I teach many things. Art, language, science, history, and so forth.
[Nunuzac]: When you see other draenei, it is a good chance to be a happy once-again meeting.
[Silvestre]: That's sad in a way, *Sil says, considering* But also nice that a lot of people you meet are already your friends?
Paluuva chuckles and nods to Nunuzac. "I agree. It is especially joyous for me when I get to see the women and men my pupils have grown into."
Nunuzac giggles a bit. "Most everyone from Genedar took a class with Paluuva at one time or another. She is very well thought of." She nods at Sil.
[Bennarín]: Miz Paluuva, d'you reckon you could teach not draenei people to speak draenei language?
Silvestre perks up at this, to hear the answer.
Paluuva glances to Ben. "Certainly. It is a complex language, but far from impossible to learn."
Bennarín nods thoughtfully.
[Silvestre]: I am not a language expert, but it could be fun to try to learn.
[Bennarín]: Always kind of want to learn another language. Dunno if I should get Common sorted out first, though.
[Paluuva]: Oh…are you having difficulty with Common?
Bennarín blinks at Paluuva and then smiles wryly. His ears have turned a little red.
Paluuva looks at Ben with a patient smile.
[Bennarín]: Uh. I do not talk the best. I ain't got a great education myself. But, I mean. S' kind of just a joke, too.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, I am pretty sure Ben's fluent in Common. *Sil chuckles*
[Bennarín]: I just ain't - am not all that grammatical an' whatnot.
[Bennarín]: I been workin' on my spellin' though. For like a year now.
Paluuva chuckles. "Yet, you are well understood, yes?"
[Bennarín]: Hope so? I mean I do think, yeah.
Nunuzac sits back down again for a spell, jostling her sack of cores-she looks a bit antsy, though, as if her thoughts were straying. "So you were both attacked…?" she questions with a note of worry. "Did you hear of this, Paluuva?"
[Silvestre]: Never had a problem on my side. Understandin' you, I mean, Ben.
Bennarín looks back at Nunuzac, and then Paluuva.
Paluuva nods to Ben, seemingly satisfied with the answer. She turns her attention to Nunuzac. "You are referring to the new plague outbreak?"
[Bennarín]: The Lich King. The battle at Light's Hope. Now the plague.
Nunuzac nods. "I was out in the plains and did not hear of it until…" she scans the two humans. "Why does this king attack you?"
[Bennarín]: Not us personal. People, in general. The livin'. He is -
[Silvestre]: Uh, he's evil.
Bennarín looks at Sil. "I … ain't all clear, yeah. On what his problem is. Apart from evil."
[Bennarín]: He used to be alive an' a prince of Lordaeron. Then he kind of - went all to hell.
[Silvestre]: He makes armies out of… people who died… *Sil looks down at his table, as if looking for his usual beer.* It was real bad. They wiped out this whole region of people before they came on Light's Hope.
Bennarín nods grimly at Sil.
Nunuzac pinches her chin with a thinky frown. "Did he send ambassador first at least? Sounds like a bad king. Which land is his again?"
[Silvestre]: Uh, Lordaeron? But it's not a land anymore. It's.. the Plaguelands, mostly.
[Bennarín]: Lordaeron. Was his. That's the one he wrecked. Six years ago, with plague an' … killin' people an' whatnot.
[Bennarín]: And now he's back. With new plagues and …
Bennarín sways on his feet a little.
[Bennarín]: I got to get some rest. Before I head back over there.
[Bennarín]: Sorry, y'all.
[Nunuzac]: Hmm… dead army. Strange.
Paluuva nods solemnly to Ben.
Nunuzac seems to be trying to envision what this might entail with limited contact with the undead, then looks worriedly over Ben. "Ah, yes, must be very tired. You go."
[Silvestre]: Don't worry about it, Ben. You get some rest. *Sil looks pretty tired himself*
[Bennarín]: You too, Sil. All y'all be safe, okay?
[Silvestre]: Yeah, we'll stay away from the zombies.
Bennarín claps Sil heavily on the shoulder as he passes by.
[Bennarín]: Good call.
Silvestre looks back at the two ladies. "It's kinda weird really, because the… dead people… I guess are on our side now?"
Paluuva arches an eyebrow.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, it's like… they were… they call them death knights. You ever heard of that?
[Paluuva]: Ah yes…I read it in the newsletter. You mean this 'Order'…
Silvestre nods. "But they were for sure not on our side in the battle. It was… *Sil trails off, not really able to articulate what it was like*
Paluuva 's brow knits in sympathy. "You were there…?"
Nunuzac stands and throws her sack over her shoulder where it gives her twiggy frame an overt tilt. She wrinkles her nose. "Your dead cannot make up their minds. I guess you do not have the Auchenai to look after." She blinks a bit. "I guess we don't either."
[Silvestre]: Auchenai? They did not seem like they were mindin' the dead. Except like, in a bad way.
[Nunuzac]: They used to do a good job keeping the dead spirits at peace.
[Paluuva]: The true Auchenai are a trusted order of priests.
[Paluuva]: What has become of those in Auchindoun now…
Paluuva sighs sadly, shaking her head. "They are no longer Auchenai."
Nunuzac nibbles on a nail a bit anxiously. "We still have any more? Good death priests." she asks, as if unsure.
Silvestre frowns. "That's rough, then. They did not seem very trusted. Except the one guy we met."
[Silvestre]: There was one, who helped us see spirits and stuff. I think he was probably a good guy?"
[Paluuva]: I know of whom you speak. Ramdor.
Silvestre nods. "Yeah, him. So there's some good ones left?"
[Paluuva]: In…a manner of speaking.
Nunuzac trots over to Paluuva and stretches her free arm wide, telegraphing a friendly hug while keeping her loaded sack balanced. "Is good to see you. I must go find out if I can help fix sickness."
[Silvestre]: I don't think we have death priests in Azeroth, exactly. And these death knights… I think it's more their king abandoned them than they changed their minds.
[Silvestre]: Good luck! I hope you and the priests can knock it right out!
Paluuva rises to embrace her former pupil. "Be careful, Nunuzac. This plague is very dangerous. Good health, long life."
Nunuzac pats Paluuva warmly on the back then releases her, waving rapidly as she turns off with an energetic bound. "Dioniss acaaaa!"
Silvestre waves farewell to Nunuzac.
Paluuva watches Nunuzac go with a fond smile.
[Silvestre]: But yeah, that's what we were talkin' about. Probably not safe in Azeroth for now, 'less you want to help cure folks.
[Paluuva]: I have spoken with my superior in the Aldor about returning to Azeroth for a time for just that purpose.
[Silvestre]: That's good. Sometimes I wish I could heal. After the battle it was just… *Sil shrugs* …things kept going but I couldn't really help anymore, you know?
[Paluuva]: Not all healing is done with spells or medicine.
[Silvestre]: I guess it was my first actual battle. So now I know how it goes… *he looks at Paluuva* Yeah?
[Paluuva]: Were you able to offer any succor to the wounded? A drink of water. A kind word. The presence of another so they know they are not alone.
[Silvestre]: Maybe? I hope so. *Sil thinks back* I didn't move for a while I think. I wasn't really hurt, I don't know why I felt like that. Then Ben was there, and I started goin' around, trying to see who all was still around.
[Paluuva]: Perhaps you were in more need of healing. The mind has difficulty accepting pain and death on such a scale. Such a shock can injure it just as the body can be wounded.
[Silvestre]: Is that… healable? Like, with priest magic?
[Paluuva]: I do not deal much in the way of magic of the mind, as that is the realm of Shadow. But again, not all healing requires spells. In this case, I do not believe magic is the best solution.
Silvestre nods slowly. "Okay, yeah. I don't think I need more shadows in my head right now." He smiles at her. "Maybe I better be gettin' on too, try to get some sleep."
[Paluuva]: If you ever want to talk about what you experienced…especially if you feel haunted by it, wounded by it…please do not hesitate to seek me out. Or if not me, someone that you trust. Just talking about these things can be greatly beneficial.
[Silvestre]: …Okay. *He stands, stretches.* If things don't get easier, I might take you up on that. And good luck with the plague. I bet you all can get it sorted.
Paluuva smiles softly. "I will do what I can. Rest well."
Silvestre smiles back and waves at her, then ambles off out of the inn of Telaar.