(2022-07-10) Convincing the Consortium (S6E10 Frog Squad)

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Seeking their own ethereal allies to counter the blood elves' operations, the Kirin Tor has Gwenivene enlist the aid of Dane and Tadget to earn the trust of the Consortium. Along the way, secrets are revealed about Padrick's mysterious past….
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 6

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Pregnancy

Gwenivene greets Tadget with a hearty hello!

Tadget greets Gwenivene with a hearty hello!

[Gwenivene]: Nice to see you again, Sergeant Slipshank!

[Tadget]: So.

[Tadget]: More mana stuff, huh.

[Gwenivene]: Yeah…something like that.

[Tadget]: I'm just here to sweet-talk ethereals.

Gwenivene giggles

[Tadget]: Did you know they used to have bodies? I wonder what they looked like.

[Gwenivene]: Really? I didn't know that!

[Tadget]: Yeah, I wheedled that out of one of 'em, but I didn't get to ask what they looked like because he got really touchy after that. Not in a fun way, I mean, like, sensitive.

[Gwenivene]: I'd speculate they were roughly shaped like us, give that they still seem to favor that shape in their wrappings. Do you know how they became energy beings?

[Tadget]: See, that's what I wanted to ask. But it seems like it's a REALLY sore subject.

[Tadget]: I guess whatever it was, it wasn't pretty.

[Gwenivene]: I can only imagine.

[Tadget]: They all insist that it's soooooooo much better now, being made of pure energy or whatever. And yet.

[Tadget]: Really touchy about it.

[Gwenivene]: If these negotiations go well, maybe we'll have a chance to learn more.

[Tadget]: Maybe! That's what I hope anyway.

[Tadget]: They are f a s c i n a t i n g.

[Gwenivene]: Aren't they?

[Atley]: They're … somming'.

Atley growls from his saddle.

[Tadget]: Atley.

[Gwenivene]: Oh! Hello, Mr. Atley!

Tadget salutes Atley with respect.

Atley nods gruffly. "Hullo', you two. Speaking on the ethereals, are we?"

[Tadget]: Yes sir.

Padrick croaks indignantly at being overlooked by Dane.

Tadget tells Tree Frog to be quiet. Shhh!

[Gwenivene]: Yep!

Padrick licks his eyeball in Tadget's general direction.

Tadget looks him in the eye and licks hers right back.

Atley lofts a brow and shoots Padrick a look. "Wager he'll be joining us then, as well —"

Atley cuts off and just deadpans in surprise.

Padrick nods in approval.

[Tadget]: So who has the agenda for today?

Gwenivene reaches up to the brim of her hat to pat Padrick's head. "Of course!"

[Atley]: From wot' I gather Gwen's got the gist of wot' we're up to today.

Atley inclines his head.

[Gwenivene]: Oh! I guess that's me, yes.

[Gwenivene]: Being the…um…representative of the Kirin Tor…

Tadget salutes Gwenivene with respect.

Atley stifles a faint look of amusement.

[Gwenivene]: Oh…uh…you don't have to do that…

[Atley]: I saw one of them to the west, just outside f'town.

[Atley]: A recruiter or somming'.

[Tadget]: I'll just… salute you both, I guess. I mean, however we slice it I am definitely the lowest person in the pecking order today.

Atley leans down in his saddle to firmly pat Hutch a few times as the horse patiently waits.

Tadget begins to unpack her mechanostrider.

[Gwenivene]: Okay! Well, then let's go talk to that recruiter and see what he has to say!

Atley grunts.

Tadget aims the exhaust away from Gwen and Atley.

[Atley]: Big fackers'…

Atley mutters towards the roaming elekks before riding off.

They spot the Ethereal Recruiter.

[Atley]: There he is. Or … It.

Tadget shoos Enraged Crusher away. Be gone pest!

Enraged Crusher becomes enraged!

Enraged Crusher becomes crushed!

Tadget greets Consortium Recruiter with a hearty hello!

The ethereal invites the group to meet with his Consortium comrades for further discussions.

[Tadget]: OooOOOoooOoooh.

Atley eyes the recruiter warily, but stands his ground. "Right then. We'll sync up with your 'mates.'"

[Tadget]: I'm very flexible, Mr. Ethereal. Morally and otherwise.

[Tadget]: Looking forward to meeting this Gezhe fellow.

Atley scoffs with amusement.

[Atley]: As long as this lot keeps their word…

Atley mutters to his companions as he starts walking off on Hutch.

[Atley]: I've come 'cross a few in Shattrath. They barter like goblins.

[Tadget]: Not as ugly, though.

[Atley]: Too right.

[Tadget]: They're all the good stuff about goblins but SO much cooler.

[Tadget]: Traveling between worlds through the Twisting Nether… made of energy… Neato.

[Atley]: Mm. Aye. They certainly seem powerful enough to counter blood elves.

[Tadget]: For sure.

Consortium Nether Runner says: Hail, Gezhe! Seventeen more orders have been placed in the Hara'samid Sector. The markets of heavy veldarite have all but collapsed, as you predicted.

Gezhe says: Bribe who you must, but I need some inside information this week if I'm to make a profit and keep your lot employed. Off with you!

Consortium Nether Runner says: By your leave, sir.

The trio speak with a Consortium representative, an ethereal named Gezhe, who asks them to recover crystal fragments taken from Oshu’gun.

Atley nods crisply to Gezhe.

[Atley]: Right then. Let's get to it.

As they work, the group regards Oshu’gun, the enormous mountain of crystal.

[Tadget]: Speaking as a miner's daughter, I can see why they're interested in that thing…

[Gwenivene]: Isn't it fabulous?

[Atley]: That's not unlike the Exodar, innit'?

[Tadget]: Uhhh… *Tadget squints at the mountain.*

Atley peers at Tadget searchingly.

[Atley]: Have you seen it?

[Tadget]: The Exodar?

Atley grunts in the affirmative.

[Tadget]: Yeah. It's like… a city. A ship… city… thing.

Atley grunts emphatically in agreement.

[Tadget]: Is there a city inside that mountain?

Atley glances at the mountain, then looks to Gwen.

Gwenivene shrugs. Who knows?

[Gwenivene]: Not that I know of.

[Atley]: Time will tell.

[Tadget]: Then I would say it resembles the Exodar only in approximate size.

[Atley]: Giant crash landed stones.

[Tadget]: I can't decide which I like better: talking to these guys or killing them.

[Tadget]: Wait, that thing LANDED here?

Atley grunts. "I wager, aye. Lookit' the marks about."

Atley gestures around with his very pink axe.

[Tadget]: Yeah, I think I see what you mean.

[Atley]: Took a bite out'f the rock there, 'round its base.

[Tadget]: Yeah. Not recently, though.

[Gwenivene]: Pew-pew-pew!

Atley grunts in agreement.

[Atley]: That'll do for now. Let's ride back.

[Tadget]: Must've already fallen before this place went to hell.

[Atley]: Long before, aye.

[Tadget]: The grass in these parts is entirely too tall.

Tadget winks slyly at Gezhe.

Atley scoffs with amusement at Tadget. "I wager grass all over has the same problem, mm?"

Tadget eyes Atley up and down.

[Tadget]: Oooh, rogue ethereals.

[Atley]: Voidspawn, mm…

[Tadget]: This is going to be a fun day.

Atley 's eyes wander off to inspect the ethereal architecture with stoic curiosity.

Tadget makes small talk with Zerid. Or what passes for small talk with ethereals. Something about the adamantium market.

Atley perks a brow but otherwise seems content with listening in and catching the rare blurb.

[Tadget]: Ready when you are!

[Atley]: S'ride.

[Gwenivene]: Puh-puh-puh-POW!

[Tadget]: Let's see if poison works on these guys.

Tadget disappears into the tall grass.

[Gwenivene]: Uh oh…

Tadget giggles at you.

[Gwenivene]: I think we lost Sgt. Slipshank.

[Gwenivene]: Wait, I hear her!

Tadget pokes you. Hey!

[Gwenivene]: AIYEE!

Tadget cackles maniacally at Gwenivene.

[Gwenivene]: Sergeant?

[Tadget]: Don't worry. I got your back.

[Atley]: Not properly certain as to wot' these things are. Demons or somming'?

[Tadget]: Void creatures.

[Gwenivene]: Mmmhmm

[Tadget]: Demons are from the Nether, these guys are from the Void.

[Tadget]: Both places suck.

Atley grunts.

[Gwenivene]: Curiously, though, the Legion does make use of Voidwalkers…

[Tadget]: And both places are full of gross things that want to destroy Azeroth for some reason.

[Tadget]: Yeah, they team up sometimes.

[Tadget]: To destroy Azeroth.

[Atley]: So there's not much of a difference to them afterall.

[Tadget]: Well, we're teaming up with ethereals.

[Tadget]: Does that make us like them?

Atley thinks it over for a time.

[Atley]: Like 'em enough to have similar goals, aye.

[Tadget]: Cool.

[Tadget]: I just need to get some magic bandages.

[Atley]: Wot' for?

Gwenivene giggles at Tadget.

[Tadget]: To be more like an ethereal!

Atley spots one of the mining ethereals and gets it. "Ah, aye."

[Tadget]: Pro tip: do not attempt to unravel those.

[Atley]: Not very keen of that, are they.

[Gwenivene]: Oh, I bet they don't like that.

[Tadget]: They really are not.

[Tadget]: It doesn't kill them though.

[Tadget]: Or at least one of them told me.

[Atley]: Wot' happens if they're entirely unraveled?

[Gwenivene]: I used to get so mad when Suzee Wilkins would untie my shoelaces.

[Tadget]: They just kind of expand into this … cloud.

[Gwenivene]: Imagine being ALL shoelace.

Atley growls faintly with amusement at Gwen.

[Tadget]: Or so the guy said who might have been lying.

[Atley]: So they just linger about then, do they.

[Tadget]: Kinda like shapeless ghosts or something.

Atley grunts.

[Tadget]: They prefer being able to interact with stuff.

Gwenivene portals her mount in and teleports into the saddle.

[Tadget]: But I think they've gotten used to the wrappings and for them it's like clothes.

[Tadget]: So it's like how you'd feel if someone started undressing you.

[Atley]: Almost a body or somming', then.

[Tadget]: Body, armor, clothes, all of it.

[Gwenivene]: Oh my…

Atley pauses for a moment. "Depends entirely on who's doing the undressing."

Tadget snickers at Atley.

Gwenivene blushes bright red

[Tadget]: I'm sure ethereals unwrap each other in private or whatever…

[Gwenivene]: SO WHAT'S NEXT?

[Atley]: Partially, aye. Or they just become one giant cloud, don't they.

Atley bites back his bottom lip. "Their leader… Ought to be around here, somewhere."

Tadget gets a little starry-eyed imagining…

[Atley]: Keep an eye out for a bastard who looks bigger n'more prominent than the rest.

[Tadget]: As if anyone cares how big Mekkatorque is.

[Atley]: Biggest's not always brightest, aye…

[Atley]: Or most fit to lead.

Atley squints, looking around.

[Tadget]: I'm glad you realize that. You're smart, for a human.

[Atley]: Mm, cheers.

Tadget giggles at Atley.

Atley answers wryly with feigned-offense.

[Gwenivene]: Hey!

Gwenivene giggles at Tadget.

[Tadget]: You're smart too I guess.

[Tadget]: About magic stuff.

[Atley]: We've our moments.

[Tadget]: Nice view!

[Atley]: … Hmm.

[Atley]: P'raps I was wrong. Those markings are sentient made.

[Tadget]: I see what you mean.

[Atley]: Where is that bugger.

[Tadget]: But the disturbed rocks around the base do look like impact.

Atley grunts.

[Tadget]: I think you're one of those guys who sees things without fully realizing what you're seeing.

[Tadget]: Like, on a gut level. Lot of warriors are like that.

[Tadget]: So you just look at that mountain and go, "That fell," and it takes you a bit to sort out why.

[Atley]: Sees things truly, or … ?

[Atley]: Mm. Aye.

[Tadget]: You pick up details, process them subconsciously.

[Tadget]: Very important in combat.

[Tadget]: You have to react before you reason things out.

[Gwenivene]: Mmmhmm. I would agree. You have good intuition, Mr. Atley.

Atley faintly clicks his tongue and cranes his head forward in a nod. "T'does sound like me."

Atley glances back at Gwen and peers for a moment before stiffly nodding.

[Atley]: You two are starting to make me blush.

[Gwenivene]: Look out!

[Tadget]: It took me a while of hanging out with humans and dwarves and all, but I've realized there are a lot of different ways to be smart.

[Tadget]: GOT HIM.

[Atley]: Bloody hell —

[Atley]: Lookit' that herd.

[Tadget]: Whooooa.

[Gwenivene]: Beautiful.

[Tadget]: I hope Finn's seen this…

[Atley]: S'lot of power there.

[Atley]: Who's that, then?

[Tadget]: I like how they keep the little baby one in the middle.

Atley swings himself up on his saddle.

Gwenivene portals her mount in and teleports into the saddle.

[Tadget]: Oh Finn's — Uh, he's.

Atley suddenly grimaces.

[Atley]: That sort from the 'manor.'

[Tadget]: Yep.

Atley grunts.

[Atley]: Let's ride back.

[Gwenivene]: Manor?

Atley looks between Gwen and Tadgetzan.

[Tadget]: It's uh, it's probably in the Cobalt Company files somewhere.

[Tadget]: If it's not, I shouldn't say.

[Gwenivene]: Okay…

[Atley]: Somman' we came across a while back. Sneaky little —

Atley cuts off and eyes Tadget. "…Fellow."

Gwen boggles at Durn the Hungerer.

[Atley]: That's a proper giant.

[Tadget]: But he's kinda… my … partner or whatever. I guess.

Tadget gasps at Durn the Hungerer.

Atley peers at Durn the Hungerer searchingly.

[Atley]: Used to have those in Azeroth, they say. Ettins. No proper explanation for where they went.

[Gwenivene]: Holy sheep…that's the biggest gronn I've ever seen.

[Tadget]: What's a gronn?

[Atley]: Proper meat eater, innit'.

Gwenivene points after Durn the Hungerer. "That was a gronn. But a really big one."

[Tadget]: Pretty much all I know about this place is… it got blown up. Plus ethereals.

[Tadget]: When I get back to the 7th I'm sure they'll have all sorts of Briefings.

[Gwenivene]: They're giants in their own right, but…not usually THAT giant."

[Tadget]: That was… very giant.

[Atley]: Ought to avoid it, for now. Let's get back to the ethereals.

[Tadget]: I like how you say "for now."

Atley grunts almost slyly.

[Tadget]: You're absolutely planning to punch that thing in the face, aren't you.

[Atley]: It'd be quite the fight, wouldn't it? Bringing that thing down.

Tadget sighs in happy agreement.

[Atley]: Should be an easy task compared to how many dragons the company's done in.

[Tadget]: You guys have killed dragons? So jealous.

[Gwenivene]: I don't know…that thing looks like it could take on a dragon.

[Tadget]: Well, I helped kill one. I guess.

[Tadget]: I don't like to think about it.

[Atley]: You're mates with them, aren't you?

[Tadget]: It was actually super sad, the dragon we killed. It was one of the good guys.

[Tadget]: But he'd gotten all… corrupted by Deathwing or whatever.

Gwenivene pouts.

[Gwenivene]: That is sad.

[Atley]: Haven't heard that name in some time.

[Tadget]: I thiiiiink I killed some kind of evil dragons when I was working for the Bronzes, too, but they messed with my memory.

[Tadget]: Oh, I say "Deathwing" but I just mean like, the black flight in general.

[Tadget]: They're still around.

[Tadget]: And all caught his crazy, it seems like.

[Gwenivene]: We found their leader, Mr. Zerid! He attacked us, but…well…he's been taken care of…

Gwenivene grimaces as she says it.

Tadget salutes Zerid with respect.

[Atley]: He's dead.

Gwenivene winces.

[Atley]: Or, wot'ever your lots…

Atley just trails off.

Zerid nods in approval.

Tadget giggles at Atley.

[Tadget]: He's been… dissipated!

[Atley]: Mm.

[Tadget]: Also, Mr. Zerid, you should've seen how we tore through those void things.

[Tadget]: We're really good.

Zerid says: Indeed, you have been most effective. If you are still interested in work, speak with Gezhe again. I believe he has something in mind.

Atley reaches for a waterskin and uncorks it, pouring some out over his face before he drinks it from it.

Tadget cheers at Zerid!

[Atley]: Very well.

Tadget greets Gezhe with a hearty hello!

[Tadget]: Hello Mr. Gezhe!

[Tadget]: We're doing amazing at all of the stuff you needed.

Atley grunts in agreement.

[Tadget]: We would be pleased to be of further assistance.

Gezhe chuckles. "Is that so? Zerid certainly seems impressed. Very well, I do have something that needs attention…"

[Tadget]: You can count on us!

[Atley]: We'll take care of it.

Consortium Nether Runner says: Word from Netherstorm, sir. Stop all bloodgem imports; client has reneged payments. The nexus-prince will buy out our stock at full price as compensation.

Gezhe says: As expected. Very well, dismissed.

Tadget peers at Consortium Nether Runner searchingly.

Consortium Nether Runner says: By your leave, sir.

Gwenivene sighs reservedly. "So…more ogre hunting." She forces a smile toward Gezhe.

Tadget subtly angles herself so that Gezhe can see the swords she looted from the Consortium's rivals.

Atley grunts. "Just have to mind the smell is all."

[Tadget]: Oh boy. I am… not up to face-kicking ogres today. Gonna have to kick lower down.

[Gwenivene]: I suppose we should…get to it.

Tadget nods at you.

Atley grunts. "We know the place."

[Tadget]: I'm assuming you know the place.

[Tadget]: I don't know Nagrand from my left buttcheek.

[Atley]: You'll smell it first.

[Atley]: Then you'll step in it.

[Tadget]: My buttcheek?

[Atley]: The ogre den…

Tadget giggles at Atley.

[Tadget]: whooof

[Tadget]: You weren't kidding.

Atley grunts emphatically.

Tadget tries to scale one's back, but slips down halfway up. "Dammit."

[Atley]: Mind the grease on them.

[Tadget]: Trying so hard not to be sick right now.

[Gwenivene]: Ewww

[Gwenivene]: Puh-puh-puh-POW!

[Atley]: Mm. Wot's it?

[Tadget]: The STENCH, it seems worse than usual. Probably hormones.

[Tadget]: Mine, not theirs.

[Tadget]: Pregnancy stuff.

[Gwenivene]: Oh, right, because…

Atley blinks.

[Gwenivene]: Yes!

Gwenivene giggles…trying not to make a big deal of it and failing terribly.

[Atley]: You're pregnant?

[Tadget]: Yeah. So?

[Gwenivene]: Isn't it great?

Tadget stands straighter so her bump is a bit more obvious.

Atley eyes Tadget. "Shouldn't you be resting or somming'?"

[Tadget]: Eh, eventually.

Atley spots the tiny bump and nods slowly.

[Tadget]: I'm okay for today.

[Tadget]: But I can definitely feel my joints complaining a bit more.

[Tadget]: Stupid center of gravity…

Atley briefly peers at Gwen before getting back to work.

[Tadget]: I think gnomes are a little tougher than humans when it comes to that.

[Tadget]: Well, when it comes to everything.

[Atley]: You are a hardy folk.

Tadget grins wickedly at Atley.

[Atley]: I wager you know wot's best and wot' you're capable of.

[Tadget]: Yep.

[Tadget]: I figure after this I'll slow down a little.

[Tadget]: But keep me posted on this ethereal stuff okay?

[Atley]: Aye, I'll.

[Tadget]: I've got a lot of reasons to wanna know what they're up to.

[Tadget]: One or the other of their factions is involved in the disappearance of my friend Inkie.

[Atley]: For the 7th?

[Tadget]: No, all unofficial.

Atley grunts.

[Atley]: We'll keep you in the loop.

[Tadget]: Inkie's you guys' lawyer, you know.

Atley nods. "Right. She's her own company, hasn't she."

[Tadget]: Yep.

[Tadget]: So seriously Gwen, what's up with the frog?

Atley peers at Tree Frog searchingly.

Gwenivene blinks

[Gwenivene]: I don't understand the question.

[Gwenivene]: No spell for you, Boulderfist Mage!

[Tadget]: I mean it's going with you into battle and stuff.

[Gwenivene]: Yeah…?

[Atley]: Is it a person?

[Tadget]: And it's really judgy.

Atley blurts out.

[Tadget]: Can mages do that? Can they turn people into frogs?

[Gwenivene]: Okay…true, Padrick can be a little opinionated.

[Tadget]: See, most frogs are not opinionated.

[Tadget]: This is why I am asking, what is up with the opinionated frog that never leaves your side.

[Atley]: Opinionated…

[Tadget]: Like, what's the story, there.

Atley grunts in support of the inquiry.

[Gwenivene]: He's sort of like a familiar…I guess? He's my friend.

[Atley]: And it's a real proper frog?

[Tadget]: Okay, I think I've heard of familiars.

[Atley]: Not some sort'f magical thing?

[Gwenivene]: Um…probably?

[Tadget]: Familiars are sort of a magical thing.

[Tadget]: He helps with your spellcasting somehow?

[Atley]: Is that wot' it is?

[Gwenivene]: Well…no. That's why I said he's sort of like a familiar.

[Tadget]: That's like saying something is sort of like a tree, but doesn't have a trunk.

Atley grunts.

[Tadget]: I mean, I get the concept of a pet, but…

[Tadget]: Pets don't normally tag along into ogre dens.

[Tadget]: Unless they're pets with very large sharp teeth.

[Tadget]: Does… does the frog have large sharp teeth?

[Atley]: Aye, s'it fight?

Gwenivene sighs. "Okay…there was another apprentice at the Sanctum named Padrick who disappeared…and I found this frog on his bed the same day."

Atley stares at Padrick.

[Tadget]: Oh, gosh.

[Tadget]: Well, I get the vagueness then.

[Atley]: Why didn't you want to tell us?

[Tadget]: Nah, I get it.

Atley eyes Tree Frog up and down.

Atley shakes his head.

[Tadget]: Because like, she doesn't even know, really.

[Gwenivene]: I don't.

Atley grunts.

[Atley]: Aye, but … That's got to be him, innit'.

[Tadget]: Could be.

[Tadget]: I mean, that's best case scenario for a disappeared guy.

[Tadget]: So we'll go with that.

Atley grunts.

[Gwenivene]: Plus…it happened right around the time we were learning about polymorphing, and I kept screwing up, and I KNEW people would just assume I'd done it, and…well…I’m 97% positive I didn't. But still…

[Tadget]: Oh, wow.

[Tadget]: The plot thickens.

[Gwenivene]: But he's a super smart frog and he's been really loyal…

[Tadget]: But you feel responsible for him. I get it.

[Gwenivene]: Yeah…I do.

[Tadget]: See, this is why I'm glad I don't care about people.

Atley peers at Tadget for a moment before pressing on.

[Gwenivene]: And I know it sounds weird, but he looks out for me, too.

[Tadget]: His eyes do go all the way to either side.

[Atley]: Does it — he — follow orders?

Gwenivene giggles

[Gwenivene]: Follow orders? Padrick? Heh…

Atley scoffs with amusement.

[Tadget]: Hey Padrick! Be slimy!

[Gwenivene]: He might…take suggestions.

[Tadget]: He obeyed me perfectly.

[Atley]: Mm, fancy that. Sharp work.

Gwen giggles at Tadget.

Tadget nods at Atley.

[Tadget]: I'm a natural leader.

Tadget gently pats Atley.

Atley takes a moment to chew on some jerky.

Atley grunts.

[Gwenivene]: If I MISSILE try again.

[Tadget]: Do you guys have my address yet? My Shattrath apartment?

[Gwenivene]: You need to chill, Boulderfist Warrior.

[Atley]: Not I, unless it's listed.

[Tadget]: Very very much unlisted.

[Tadget]: I'll give it to you later.

[Gwenivene]: You want ice with that, Boulderfist Mage?

[Tadget]: So you can send Ethereal Updates.

[Atley]: S'unique place, Shattrath.

[Atley]: I'll pass it along to the Captain to keep you updated.

[Atley]: You know her, aye?

[Tadget]: Yeah, she's like my best friend.

[Tadget]: Unless Finn's my best friend.

[Atley]: Mm, figgered'.

[Gwenivene]: She is?

[Tadget]: She's uh, my best friend that I'm not having babies with.

[Atley]: So he's —

[Gwenivene]: That's amazing! I'm her apprentice!

Atley peers at the small bump and nods.

[Tadget]: Oh, lucky you! *For once she doesn't sound sarcastic.*

[Gwenivene]: I am lucky! Jocoza is the greatest mage on two worlds!

[Atley]: She's a good captain for us, s'well.

[Tadget]: I'll bet.

[Atley]: Let's ride out.

Tadget nods at Atley.

[Tadget]: But yeah, Finn's the cause of my current condition.

Atley slowly grunts.

[Tadget]: And also my partner in crime, my buddy, that sort of thing.

[Tadget]: Really? Usually folks can't spot us.

Tadget grins wickedly at Atley.

Atley grumbles.

[Tadget]: We made a biiiig mess at that ogre den.

[Atley]: Too right.

Atley remarks proudly.

[Tadget]: I think this has the makings of a mutually profitable relationship!

After slaughtering many, many ogres and collecting their obsidian warbeads, the trio returns to the Consortium outpost.

Tadget smiles at Gezhe.

Gezhe says: Nice job, etc., if it’s ethereal rivals of the Consortium you’re interested in — and you are, if you want to be buddies with the Consortium —

Gwenivene | Gezhe says: — then the place you’ll want to go is Toshley’s Station, and the guy you’ll want to talk to is Toshley.

[Tadget]: Toshley, eh?

Atley peers at Tadget. "You know him, do you?"

Consortium Nether Runner says: Hail, Gezhe! Seventeen more orders have been placed in the Hara'samid Sector. The markets of heavy veldarite have all but collapsed, as you predicted.

[Tadget]: I've heard the name, but I've not had the pleasure yet.

Gezhe says: As expected. Very well, dismissed.

Consortium Nether Runner says: By your leave, sir.

[Atley]: Let's make for it.

[Tadget]: Looking forward to meeting him.

Gezhe says: You will find the station in Blade's Edge Mountains to the north.

[Tadget]: Oooh. Haven't been up there yet.

[Gwenivene]: I think I know roughly where it is. I've sort of been through there. Didn't do much sight-seeing, though.

[Atley]: We ought to fly 'cross Zangarmarsh.

[Tadget]: I'm so glad I get to see a bit more of Outland before I get all cooped up gestating.

[Tadget]: Meet up at Orebor?

Gwenivene nods. "Let's head back to Telaar. We can fly to Orebar Harborage from there."

Tadget nods.

[Atley]: A sound plan.

[Atley]: Ready to shove off, are we?

[Gwenivene]: I think so!

[Tadget]: Oh, this looks like a really pleasant little pathway.

[Atley]: Charming, innit'…

[Gwenivene]: Yeah…I usually just fly over this these days. But um…I'll ride with you this time.

[Tadget]: The echoing of spider legs on stone is music to my ears.

[Tadget]: Check out those bats!

[Atley]: S'longer tunnel than I thought t'd be.

[Atley]: Let's try and get through it, now.

[Tadget]: Maybe we can just blast on past them.

[Atley]: Mind the mother…

[Tadget]: That is a very large spider.

[Gwenivene]: Eeech….

Tadget spots the end of the tunnel.

[Tadget]: Light!

[Tadget]: It's a metaphor.

[Atley]: Cheeky.

[Atley]: I see why you and Barlowe get along well.

[Tadget]: We get along?

Tadget grins wickedly.

Atley stares Fey Drake down.

[Atley]: I've seen these.

[Tadget]: Oooh, pretty.

[Atley]: Those aren't from here.

Tadget smiles at Fey Drake.

[Atley]: Bloody big, too.

[Tadget]: Yeah, they're like the ones in Feralas.

[Tadget]: Wonder if elves brought 'em.

Atley trots over and knocks on a lantern, swinging it.

[Atley]: Aye. Looks to be proper elf work.

[Tadget]: Super elfy.

[Tadget]: Yep.

[Tadget]: Giant walking tree.

[Tadget]: Bad kitty!

Tadget greets Commander Skyshadow with a hearty hello!

[Atley]: Commander?

Tadget remains quiet. She seems less eager to chat with night elves than ethereals.

[Atley]: Let's meet the flightmaster here 'fore pressing on.

Tadget nods at Atley.

Atley eyes Daranelle up and down.

[Atley]: Always did find that lot interesting.

[Tadget]: Which lot?

[Atley]: Dryads.

[Tadget]: Oh, yeah. I don't know too much about 'em.

[Atley]: Like centaur, but more tolerable.

[Tadget]: Ha!

[Tadget]: Smell way better.

[Atley]: Properly.

[Tadget]: Wow, look at that.

[Atley]: Wot' would cause that…?

Atley squints up the countless spikes.

[Tadget]: I wonder if that happened when the world exploded, or if it was always like that.

[Tadget]: This world might have had different geological processes.

[Atley]: It cannot be natural.

[Tadget]: You'd be surprised what kind of craziness is natural sometimes!

Atley grunts.

[Tadget]: Yeah, they have a bunch of those… things. Siege weapons. Blister things.

[Atley]: Ballistae, aye.

[Atley]: Lookit' that.

[Tadget]: Right, that's the word.

[Tadget]: That ogres, down there?

[Atley]: Aye. Makes orcs look like … Well, dwarves.

Tadget laughs at Atley.

[Tadget]: You know, the more I look at those spikes the more I think it might be natural. Just some very foreign geological process.

[Atley]: S'number of dragon skulls on those structures.

[Tadget]: Oooh, neat.

Atley sighs lightly and shakes his head. "Aye, could be. Seems there's no logic to this place more often than not."

[Tadget]: The whole place is like a dream. Some bad dreams, some good dreams.

[Atley]: Aye. And a number of nightmares.

[Tadget]: Yep.

Atley stops and yanks Hutch to a stop.

[Atley]: That'd be orcs.

[Tadget]: Yep.

[Tadget]: Watch out.

Tadget points at Thunderlord Dire Wolf.

[Tadget]: Where there's orcs, there's wolves…

[Tadget]: Aaaand whatever the hell that is.

Tadget threatens Bladewing Bloodletter with the wrath of doom.

[Atley]: Looks almost like a chimaera.

[Atley]: But it's all buggered up or somming'.

[Tadget]: Wow, it's like one head wasn't ugly enough, it needed two of those things.

Atley scoffs with amusement.

[Atley]: Packed a spare.

[Atley]: This ought to be a way…

Atley nods at R-3D0.

[Atley]: Wager this means we're on the right track.

[Tadget]: What is that?

R-3D0 says: WARNING! WARNING! AWAY HOSTILE BEINGS! DO NOT HEAD UP THE RIDGE TO TOSHLEY'S STATION!

Tadget cringes away from R-3D0.

[Tadget]: Yiiiiikes.

[Tadget]: Well, now that it's told me not to go, I want to go even more.

Atley grunts.

[Atley]: You said you knew this Toshley…? Or knew of him?

[Tadget]: Just heard the name floating around. Curious to meet him.

[Atley]: Why'd anyone build an outpost up here?

[Tadget]: Because it's awesome?

[Atley]: S'a blasted land.

Atley leans back in his saddle and peers at the sky.

[Tadget]: Blasted awesome.

The squad finally reaches Toshley’s Station.

[Tadget]: Ohhh Toshley's been busy.

[Atley]: 'Tis a relief to see gnomish work this far out.

[Tadget]: I gotta say, it does warm the shriveled raisin that's where my heart ought to be.

[Atley]: S'just good to see allies for me.

[Tadget]: Hello! Important gnome coming through!

[Atley]: Lads. We're friendlies.

[Tadget]: They're with me.

Staton Guard screeches. "Hurry, quick! Before the next WAAAVE!"

[Tadget]: Wave?

[Atley]: L'right, ease up on it, will you…

Atley looks around. "They seem primed for … somming'."

[Tadget]: Wave of what, I wonder…

Tadget looks around warily.

[Atley]: Nothing good, knowing this place.

Atley leans forward to settle Hutch down with a few firm pass once the horse starts to become unsettled by the machinery.

Station Technician says: This is going to hurt in the morning.

[Tadget]: This place is amazing.

[Atley]: The view as well.

[Atley]: Wot'ever 'tis they're doing here, they're holding on.

[Tadget]: Of course!

[Tadget]: That's what gnomes do.

Tadget sits up straight and proud.

[Atley]: I know't.

[Tadget]: Oh, oh, that must be him…

Tadget introduces herself to Toshley.

Atley follows up behind Tadget.

[Tadget]: Sgt. Tadget Slipshank of the 7th Legion. I'm aware you probably don't know what that is.

[Tadget]: Nice place you've got here.

Atley glances back and forth between Toshley and Tadget.

[Tadget]: I'll be happy to do some work for you anytime, sir. Keep up the good work!

Toshley says: Ah yes, the Consortium patsies, er, liaisons?

Tadget frowns with disappointment at Toshley.

Atley knits his brow.

[Tadget]: We are definitely going into it with open eyes, sir.

Toshley says: Right, yes, well … I have some ethereal work for you all, sure. But as you can see, the station's been hit pretty hard. I think that takes priority!

[Tadget]: Well, if you're not here, you can't very well help us with the ethereals, so yeah.

[Tadget]: I'm gonna take a nap.

Tadget falls asleep. Zzzzzzz.

[Gwenivene]: Sweet dreams, Sergeant!