(2022-09-07) Hoofbeats in Ironforge

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Author:	Jessa
Summary:	Ismene finds Jocoza, and they have a brief discusson that hits the high (low?) points of what is known so far.
Rating:	T for Teen

The ring of steel-shod hooves on rock (safety issues aside; metal horseshoes slip on rock like a lot) is about as common a sound in Ironforge as the great forges themselves. On a busy day in the dwarven capitol, that sound may even be louder when the location is as distant from the central hub as Cobalt Company headquarters is.

What isn’t as common is the short, sharp whinny of a distressed horse, and hooves that take the stairs of HQ at as much speed as can be demanded from them. By the time Ismene, flustered and windblown, pokes her head over the railing, one can also hear the sound of said horse drumming its hooves before managing to get itself turned around and scrambling down the stairs.

“Captain?” Mizzy calls. At least her booted feet are relatively quiet when she takes the internal stairs down. “Captain Jocoza?”

The captain in question is sitting at a table, reading steadily through a stack of reports. She looks up, bewildered at the sound, and then with more alarm as the usually-quiet Cobalt assistant yells for her.

“Ismene?” Jo says, setting the papers aside and standing up. “What’s gone wrong? Is it Ben? Is it Elo? Or the baby?”

“Plague,” Ismene says with unusual succinctness. “Have you heard?”

“In the Plaguelands?” Jo asks, stepping toward her. “I just came from there…”

“No. Here.” Ismene drops into a chair and rakes a hand through her hair. “Here, Stormwind, Duskwood…” She looks around. “I don’t suppose I could trouble you for some water? I’ve been running for hours now.”

Jo raises one hand and takes a bottle of water out of empty air with little arcane fanfare. She hands it over to Mizzy. “Here, Stormwind, Duskwood… that’s all over. How could it spread so fast?”

With a look of pure gratitude, Mizzy opens the bottle and takes a long drink. “No one knows. But it’s the same effect everywhere. Someone contracts it – no, we don’t know how yet – and then they sort of… burst and become a zombie. I saw it happen, and I’ve seen the… the bits on the roads and in the towns of Duskwood. I saw nothing in Westfall, but the plains make it hard to do a proper survey of course.”

Finishing the bottle takes another few gulps, and Mizzy licks her lips as she sets the bottle aside on the table. “To clarify, I was in Hillsbrad at our farms. Most of the farmers we have were relocated from Westfall and Duskwood. At least two of the families had letters saying there was a sickness, so I promised to investigate immediately. I didn’t stop long in Ironforge, but went straight to Westfall, then to Duskwood, then to Stormwind. I found the most evidence there, likely because of the population density. The Argent Crusade has healers here and there – perhaps you’ve seen them? – but…”

She shakes her head. “I’ve tried to cure some people who seemed sick. It has worked sometimes and not others. The problem is that once someone is visibly sick, it’s not long before they die and rise. Sometimes it infects people around them, sometimes it doesn’t. I suppose that makes it better than the plague that took the entire North, but it’s hard to call it anything but horrible. I sent a letter to Ben immediately with some of the details, and told him that I couldn’t call it safe for anyone to come to any city in the Eastern Kingdoms. I’ve no idea how Kalimdor fares.”

Forgetting it is empty, Mizzy picks up the bottle of water again and starts to drink, then puts it down.

Quickly, Jo summons another bottle. Looking at Mizzy again, she summons another handful, and offers them to the healer.

“And I thought the battle was bad,” Jo says, her face paling. “I’ll need to send a newsletter right away. Have you had any reports from Outland? How is it there?”

Mizzy shakes her head as she drinks, with predictable results. She swipes a hand across her mouth and chin. She really has been with Ben too long. “Haven’t heard,” she says. “I’ve only just sent a second letter to Ben letting him know Niris is well. Oh! I stopped in to see Niris first. She had only heard a few vague rumors, but is now making plans for us to open the clinic a bit early so we can help. Niris, Estel, and I, that is.

“I mean… It really isn’t spreading so much quickly as it is widely? No, I suppose it’s rather quick too. And wide in the terms of geography, but given how quickly it seems to kill and how little it spreads from person to person, I can’t imagine how it’s spreading so fast.” Mizzy frowns and drinks more, thinking it over.

Jo frowns, tapping the table with her fingers. “Mages? Teleportation? I could easily make my way from city to city, and if I were an evil mage carrying… pouches of plague…dust? I really don’t know what the mechanism is here.” She shakes her head. “However it’s spreading, the important thing is to get people aware, and to get them out. The clinic is a good idea.”

Ismene sighs and opens a new bottle, sipping at this one. “People aren’t panicked yet, at least. The lack of contagiousness seems to be keeping them calm. Some are even dismissive that there is a plague, and suggest more sinister reasons for the presence of the Argent Crusade. I’m glad, I suppose, that rumor control is not something I must tend to. Though if Ben is telling the Outland contingent, our Night Elves would be glad to have news of Darnassus. Do you think you could see? I could come with you, to keep you free of disease if it is there, but you can travel more swiftly than I.”

“I expect you’re eager to get back to Ben, and I’ll be fine,” Jo smiles. “And I know to trust the Argent Crusade, at least. I’ll just pop over to Darnassus and then send around a letter to everyone.” She pulls out a rune of teleportation and tosses it into the air, where it hovers. “Be careful, Isemene.”

“Ben will know I’m staying here. He’d be glad to have me in Outland, but… With the problems in the North already, I can’t leave our farmers unprotected. They’re still getting established and even a small attack will devastate them entirely.” Mizzy grabs a couple of the bottles and drops them in a pouch at her side. Naturally, being of Cressidha’s make, they fit easily.

“I’ll go back to Niris, then, and discuss tactics. Be safe. See us if you feel the least bit unwell!” Ismene raises a hand in farewell.

Jo raises an answering hand in farewell, and then turns it into a conjuring gesture. She disappears with a small pop.