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| Details |
| Author: | Athena |
| Summary: | Miles away from the twisting spaghetti hurricane of leyline ribbons, Blue Squad takes on the strange challenge on behalf of --Kerl-- The 7th Legion to untangle a completely different metaphor of the mystery of gnomes working like machines. It goes like clockwork, as Blue Squad dials back the Northrend Doom's Day Clock an hour in defiance of Daylight Saving's Time, and reduce all impending destruction crises to existential creation mythology ones. Back in Valiance, Ivrianna shares the news of her own latest creation. 9400-ish words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Season 9
Anareline walks out of the inn and up to Caspis, reaching out to slide a hand around his waist.
[Anareline]: I aman ni dorIni su mush'al anar tal shano shar.
Caspis startles and turns, then smiles slightly.
[Caspis]: Ah… I was miles away.
[Anareline]: Back in Ashenvale? *Ana smiles*
[Caspis]: Mm, yes.
[Caspis]: …Is it that time already, then…?
Anareline nods at the Aspenwoods who have totally not materialized around them.
Caspis looks around as though waking from a nap.
Mordecai gives them a small, shy little wave.
Caspis bows before Mordecai.
[Anareline]: Will you be working further with the dragons today, do you think?
Colson nods back politely. Maybe they did materialize. Probably not though. "Ishnu alah."
[Cressidha]: Ah, good afternoon.
[Anareline]: Ishnu alah.
[Caspis]: I do not know the plan for today. I hope we are finished with … arcane matters for the time being.
[Cressidha]: I am uncertain as well.
Cressidha traces some water-conjuring symbols in the air.
Cressidha passes out water to everyone, Anareline and Mordecai included.
Caspis thanks Cressidha reverently in Darnassian, using the customary phrase.
[Cressidha]: You're welcome.
Anareline also thanks Cressidha solemnly.
Mordecai puts his water away in a bag. "Thank you."
Cressidha nods.
Colson ties his to his best with a gentle smile. He drinks water, like a normal person, he's not on the whey.
[Colson]: Good afternoon, Dane.
[Dane]: Afternoon, Blue Squad.
[Cressidha]: Good afternoon, Dane.
[Anareline]: Ah, Sir Atley. Ishnu alah.
Caspis salutes Atley with respect.
Cressidha passes out water as well.
[Caspis]: We await your orders, shan'var.
Mordecai waves to Dane and mumbles, "Hello."
Atley nods at Anareline.
[Mordecai]: Do you know, um, where you're going today?
[Anareline]: I will leave you here, shalan. I wish good fortune to all of you in your work.
[Dane]: Milady.
Anareline bows slightly, and heads back into the inn.
Caspis watches her go.
Dane looks to Mordecai and growls. "We've a change of orders. We're being sent to an airstrip, north f'here, at the behest of the 7th Legion."
[Cressidha]: Oh?
[Dane]: Cressidha's work in the Coldarra's bought us some time to see to other threats.
[Cressidha]: Our work.
Mordecai nods and digs around for candles.
Colson smiles gently at Cressidha, before he turns his attention to Dane. "An airstrip?"
[Dane]: Aye. Gnomes seem to have established a foothold that way, and they've some bladework that needs doing.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
[Colson]: I see.
Airman Skyhopper stands nearby, muttering to himself and scribbling in a little book.
Mordecai mumbles his usual prayers, the candle in his hand catching with Light and burning away rapidly.
[Dane]: Right then. From wot' I gather Azizia's poking about with those wild druids out on the tundra.
[Dane]: Any questions?
Caspis's ears droop.
[Cressidha]: Not at this time.
Colson shakes his head in negation.
Caspis raises his hand tentatively.
Mordecai turns to Colson and says quietly, "I love you. I'll be out here, or-or inside if it gets too cold."
[Dane]: There's an airman here that'll see to our transport.
[Caspis]: What… is an 'air strip'?
[Colson]: I love you. I shall see you soon.
[Dane]: Mm… You'll know it when you see it, Caspis.
[Caspis]: I see.
[Cressidha]: It's a landing zone for aircraft.
[Cressidha]: Flying machines.
[Dane]: Contraptions.
Caspis's ears droop even more.
[Dane]: Aye.
[Caspis]: I see.
[Dane]: Let's get to it, then, you lot.
Airman Skyhopper says: Oh good, you're Cobalt Company, right? Kerlo — er, Siege Engineer Quarterflash — goes on and on about you people.
[Dane]: Airman Skyhopper? We're Cobalt Compa–
Mordecai waves to them.
Dane nods once. "Right then."
Colson looks back at Mordecai over his shoulder, raising a hand to wave one more time.
Mordecai smiles and waves more enthusiastically.
Airman Skyhopper says: We need your help up north at Fizzcrank Airstrip, like, yesterday! The magnataur, and the Scourge… and the pumping station! It's madness, I tell you, madness!
Dane lifts a brow at 'Magnataur.'
[Colson]: Magnataur?
[Cressidha]: What is a magnataur?
Airman Skyhopper looks from one to the other and then frowns. His frown deepens more at each one he looks at.
Colson reluctantly shifts his attention from Mordecai to the airman.
Airman Skyhopper says: Well, I expect you'll find out soon enough. But um…
Airman Skyhopper says: I flew all the way here to give you a lift, but er… I was expecting gnomes. The weight of even one of you would render my beloved Wenzee a useless pile of nuts and bolts.
Airman Skyhopper says: I'm afraid you'll have to ride up there yourselves, and talk to old man Fullthrottle ASAP!
[Cressidha]: Very well.
[Dane]: Fullthrottle? We'll head there directly.
[Dane]: Mount up, you lot.
Cressidha fetches Cinnamon.
Colson mounts up.
[Dane]: Let's ride!
Caspis's saber slinks out from… somewhere.
Mordecai waves again as they leave in a different direction.
Colson uses it as an opportunity to wave once more at Mordecai.
Dane squints in the distance.
[Dane]: Fackin' hell.
[Dane]: You see that?
Atley points over yonder.
Caspis looks utterly miserable.
Colson looks over yonder.
[Cressidha]: I do.
[Dane]: S'a fallen Necropolis…
[Caspis]: …hm? Where…
Cressidha points as well.
[Dane]: Past that refinery.
Caspis was staring at the smoke-belching tower.
Dane growls with amusement and shakes his head. "I wager gnomes had something to do with that."
[Colson]: It seems that they may have had some success then, with an aerial approach.
Caspis sighs tragically.
[Dane]: Let's go find out.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Caspis glares at every gnome they pass.
Dane nods to the spare gnomes.
Cressidha dismounts to go update her passport.
[Dane]: We're looking for –
Colson dismounts and kneels politely to get his passport updated.
Kara Thricestar says: Fullthrottle? Up in the tower! I've got to retorque all of this!
Caspis eyes Kara Thricestar up and down.
Caspis is the droopiest night elf who ever lived.
[Dane]: All aboard at once. These things are …
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Colson seems as mild and polite as usual.
[Cressidha]: Fast.
Caspis shudders.
[Dane]: There we are. Fullthrottle? We're Cobalt Company.
Colson is not, ordinarily, fast.
Atley salutes Fizzcrank Fullthrottle with respect.
Caspis bows before Fizzcrank Fullthrottle.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: I've got my hands full here at the moment. What can I do for you?
Colson inclines his head politely to the gnome.
[Cressidha]: Good afternoon. We're here to be of assistance, actually.
[Dane]: We've been sent by Skyhopper.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: I see that Skyhopper finally got around to sending help. And none too soon I might add!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Welcome, brothers and sister, we need your help badly!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Now that you're here, it's time for me to tell you the full story of what's going on.
Caspis listens intently to Fizzcrank Fullthrottle.
Cressidha nods politely.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: After you've heard my tale, go outside and find my second-in-command, Jinky Wingnut. She'll handle everything from here on out.
[Dane]: Wot's going on out here, then?
Cressidha does not smile at the name of the gnome's second-in-command, but there's a slight twitch in her face.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Get comfortable. This might take a while.
Fizzcrank Fighter says: I'll blast those gnomish wannabes back to the scrap heap!
Cressidha looks around at the gnome-sized beds.
Colson kneels politely in front of the gnome. Comfy.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: When we first came to this frozen hell, General Arlos down in Valiance Keep gave my group of flying daredevils and I a special task…
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: To establish a forward airbase for Alliance operations.
Cressidha folds her hands on the table, leaning forward in a way that puts her closer to eye-level with the gnome.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: This airstrip is the result!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Let me tell you, it wasn't easy, what with all the nasty beasts and the ground rock-hard from being frozen!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: But we managed, and we did it quickly, too!
[Colson]: Well done.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Thank you! Anyway,, we needed to pump up lots of sand and oil for the machinery.
Dane grunts and nods.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: The nearby pools proved to be perfect for that.
Caspis growls softly.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle eyes Caspis nervously. "Some of the sand even proved to have magical properties… can you say possibilities?! But that's a different tale."
[Colson]: Hm.
Caspis looks mildly murderous.
Cressidha opens her mouth to ask a question and closes it again.
Colson just looks mild.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: So, we drained most of the water out and built the pumping station smack dab in the middle. Everything was going swimmingly until one day the main suction pipe got clogged.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Mind you, this part I learned later, because I wasn't out there at the time.
Dane cinchies his thumbs in his belt as he listens with a glare.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: When they ratcheted up the suction on the pump, up came pieces of a ROBOT that looked like a GNOME!!
[Colson]: I beg your pardon?
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Right???
[Colson]: A mechanical gnome?
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: So it seemed!! Of course the fools worked day and night to put it back together without telling us.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: This is when we lost communication with the pumping station.
Dane … grunts.
[Colson]: I see.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: After a couple of days of silence, I sent a scouting party out to the platform. They never returned.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: I sent another group the next day with the same results, and lost a couple of flying machines out on aerial recon.
Cressidha frowns.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: At that point I had one of my boys send to the 7th Legion for help, and we hunkered down to prepare for the worst.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: We turned all of our attention to making armor, weapons and robots so that we could head out there in full force!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: When we did a few days ago… we couldn't believe our eyes.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: My people were nowhere to be found, but in their place was a VERITABLE ARMY OF ROBOTS going about their business!
Dane squints.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle takes a moment to let that sink in.
Colson exhales slowly.
[Cressidha]: …ehm.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: The robots ALL looked like gnomes and they said that they'd been expecting us. In fact, in their own strange way, they acted like they… knew us?
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: We were surrounded and quickly taken to the top of the pumping station.
[Colson]: Do you have reason to believe that there is a relationship between the potential fallen, and these robots then?
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: I'm getting to that!! You're a sharp one.
Dane grunts.
Cressidha frowns more.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: So this is when we saw their leader and what he was doing to the surviving gnomes!!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: He called himself "Gearmaster Mechazod." When we arrived he was busy transforming the survivors into MECHANICAL BEINGS!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: This is where it gets implausible.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Are you ready to hear this?
[Cressidha]: Yes.
Colson frowns, but he inclines his head politely. "Please, continue."
Cressidha always looks ready to hear implausible things.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: He greets us as warmly as you please and tells us he was one of the first gnomes ever to be created by something he called "The Grand Architect."
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: This Architect is supposedly a Titan "keeper" from within the halls of a place called Ulduar?
Dane deeply furrows his brow and looks off to his left in thought.
[Cressidha]: Oh?
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Apparently he was the blockage that my team had accidentally sucked up from where he'd malfunctioned THOUSANDS of years ago! Oops.
[Colson]: A Titan? I thought those were the creator gods of the Dwarves.
Dane slowly looks back to Fizzcrank at that.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Us too! Or so the legend goes.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: We're sort of "cousins" of the dwarves, we've always said.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Because we share the same Titan legends. We just don't care as much; we're not so into the past and more about the future, hm?
Colson makes an eerily similar sounding 'hm' to Cressidha's a moment after that.
[Dane]: It's less of a legend and more f' a reality, sir. We were the company that delved into Uldaman.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Fascinating!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Aaaanyway, it was just our luck that we had built the pumping station right above this Mechazod fellow.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: The station's mechanics had put him back together, bringing him back to "life."
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: And now, by way of thanks he was going to return the favor by… wait for it…
Colson waits for it.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: CURING US ALL OF WHAT HE CALLED THE CURSE OF FLESH.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Dane lifts a bushy brow.
Colson's brows raise.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: According to Mechazod, it's a condition that eventually befalls all of the creations of the Titans! In other words, we all supposedly start out as robots of some kind, and over thousands of years, turn into fleshy beings!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Preposterous, I know.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: It didn't look like much of a "cure" to me, and I wasn't about to stand around listening to some crazy robot while he was BUTCHERING my people!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: We did what any sane gnome would do… we ran!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Well, actually, most of us parachuted off the side of the platform, but you get the picture.
Colson makes another 'hm' sound. "Of course." He sounds sincere.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Not many of us managed to make it back here, and we're still spread thin from having to deal with everything else too, like the magnataur to the north and the Scourge to the east.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: To make things worse, the Horde's set up shop to the northwest!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: And that's where we find ourselves now, brothers and sister.
Dane glares.
[Dane]: We're here to turn things 'round.
Colson nods slowly in understanding. "Ah. And they may not be willing to believe that the…mechanical gnomes are unrelated to your own people."
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: We can't possibly deal with all of this by ourselves, and quite frankly, I feel a little out of my depth. Jinky knows what needs to be done. You should go see her.
[Colson]: Understood.
Colson stands gracefully.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: I just hope you'll be able to get us out of this mess with our bodies intact!! I'm rather attached to mine.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle salutes them.
[Cressidha]: Where can we find Jinky?
Dane scoffs with amusement.
[Colson]: We shall do our best. Light be with you all.
Dane salutes Fizzcrank Fullthrottle with respect.
Cressidha straightens up.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: She's just outside! I'm sure she'll holler at you when she sees your tabards.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Colson passes a Blessing of Might over Fizzcrank.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Careful on the lift, tall ones.
Colson is careful on the lift.
[Dane]: Right then.
Caspis shudders again.
Jinky Wingnut says: This transmatter's the key to our survival. If we don't get it fully operational, we're goners for sure!
Mordle Cogspinner says: Jinkies, Jinky, I'm tryin' the best I know!
Jinky Wingnut turns to the heroes, resting a spanner on her shoulder. "Ah, you must be Cobalt Company."
Caspis bows before Jinky Wingnut.
Colson inclines his head politely.
[Cressidha]: Jinky Wingnut, I assume?
Jinky Wingnut says: The old man sent you to me, huh? He tell you everything that's going on out here?
[Cressidha]: He did.
Caspis nods gravely.
Jinky Wingnut says: Good… let's take care of business then!
Jinky Wingnut says: If you listened to the old man, then you know that we have gnomes out there that were changed. Gearmaster Mechazod infected them with something that reversed the "Curse of Flesh", and now they're robots!
[Cressidha]: So we were told.
Jinky Wingnut says: We think we have a way to re-curse them back to normal. We want you to take this re-cursive transmatter injection and use it on the corpses of any mechagnomes you come across.
Colson's brows raise again.
Jinky Wingnut says: We're hoping this stuff will cure them and allow us to lock onto them to port 'em out of there.
Cressidha accepts the re-cursive transmatter injection from Jinky.
Jinky Wingnut hoists the device up towards Cressidha. "Whaddaya' say, heroes?"
Caspis looks a little green. Green + purple, whatever color that makes.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
[Colson]: You believe then that they are still alive, in some way, with the…robotics? *Colson says it like it's a foreign word he's trying to pronounce correctly.*
Jinky Wingnut says: We do! We can't just let our people clank around out there! Besides! We're way behind schedule and need the warm bodies back! Ehm … literally.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
Caspis frowns with disappointment at Jinky Wingnut.
Colson inclines his head. Is he convinced? Unconvinced? Unsure? Who can say.
Mordle Cogspinner looks up at the heroes, unprovoked.
Mordle Cogspinner says: What? Can't you see that I'm busy here? You think this transmatter is going to fix ITSELF?!
Atley raises his eyebrow inquisitively at Mordle Cogspinner.
Colson looks back at Mordle Cogspinner, inquisitively provoked.
Caspis blinks at Mordle Cogspinner.
Everyone is very inquisitive.
Mordle Cogspinner says: There're spare parts strewn all over to the east in the Scalding Pools, and the Geyser Fields… heck, probably even up on the pumping station still, too. Bring back a whole bunch.
Caspis growls softly.
Mordle Cogspinner says: Maybe then I'll be able to get outgoing teleport on this thing working, not to mention getting the incoming transmatter ports aligned.
Colson seems accustomed to requests as orders, but he looks to Dane to confirm.
Mordle Cogspinner pales at Caspis. "I'd, heh, hate to see another accident…"
Cressidha studies the transmatter device as if she might be able to determine what's missing.
[Dane]: Right then. Let's move out on foot, you lot.
Colson moves out on foot.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Attention all units, human inside the perimeter.
[Dane]: Cressidha, we'll start with you.
Caspis autofollows. GRUMPILY.
Cressidha gathers a part and then removes a screwdriver from inside a sentry bot.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Dane]: Wot's it.
Colson murmurs prayers. In the middle of them, he heals Dane automatically, purely on auto-pilot.
[Cressidha]: Someone may have lost this.
[Colson]: It does seem to be of a rather …fancy gnomish engineering.
[Dane]: Mm. Hold onto it. They can't afford t'be short on tools.
Cressidha holds it up. "It's a screwdriver," she says, like that should be obvious.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Dane stares blankly at Cressidha before he just slowly nods.
Caspis makes a pained sound.
[Dane]: There's one.
[Cressidha]: Caspis?
Fizzcrank Mechagnome says: The flesh is weak. We will make you better, stronger… faster.
[Cressidha]: Ah…
Atley eyes you up and down.
Cressidha leans down and injects the gnome with the RE-CURSIVE TRANSMATTER INJECTION.
It works flawlessly. The mechanical gnome is transformed back into a flesh gnome.
[Cressidha]: Are you all ri—
Fizzcrank Survivor says: Thank you so much! I thought I'd never wake up from that nightmare!
Colson passes a heal over the gnome before he goes.
The gnome is very rapidly teleported away to the transmatter device.
Caspis is busy staring mournfully at oil-covered birds.
[Dane]: Well. T'works.
Cressidha clears her throat.
Dane side-eyes Caspis. "The gnomes are an odd folk. But they've bled on battlefields along us since I was a lad."
[Cressidha]: That worked…
[Colson]: So it would seem.
Dane looks to Cressidha and nods. "Let's find some more."
[Colson]: He appeared uninjured, as far as I could detect.
Cressidha injects another gnome.
[Cressidha]: Even with the transmatter device, er, in need of repai—
Fizzcrank Survivor says: Oh no, not the transmatter… it'll probably malfunction!
The gnome vanishes.
[Cressidha]: Oh dear.
Dane grunts after a moment.
[Cressidha]: Perhaps we… might find those missing parts?
[Colson]: That seems wise.
[Dane]: Aye.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Activate counter-measures. Repel intruder.
Caspis hits the machines with unnecessary force.
Atley eyes Caspis up and down.
Caspis bares his teeth and snarls at Scavenge-bot 004-A8.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Warning: night elf incursion detected!
Sentry-bot 57-K yells: Warning! Warning! Intruder alert! Intruder alert!
[Dane]: Wager that's enough for you, Cressidha.
[Cressidha]: Perhaps I might drop these off so they might begin repairs?
Caspis nods at you.
[Dane]: Caspis, I shall need you to haul pieces. They need as many as we can carry.
Caspis stiffens but nods.
[Dane]: A sound plan, aye.
[Caspis]: Yes sir.
[Cressidha]: I'll, er…
[Cressidha]: I shouldn't go places alone.
[Colson]: I shall go with you.
[Dane]: Colson —
Caspis nods at Colson.
Colson nods to Dane.
[Dane]: We'll wait here.
Cressidha nods. "Thank you. We won't be long."
Fizzcrank Mechagnome says: The flesh is weak. We will make you better, stronger… faster.
[Caspis]: Sir Atley and I will be fine.
Cressidha and Colson split off to return the parts.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Attention all units, human inside the perimeter.
Cressidha begins removing spare parts from her bag.
There are a LOT of spare parts in the bag.
Colson empties out the few he collected on the way back.
Mordle Cogspinner says: I'll get to work rightaway!
[Colson]: We hope that will aid in the repairs.
[Colson]: The two that we found, did they make it back intact?
Mordle Cogspinner quickly attaches a piece to the side of the transmatter. It stops sparking alarmingly.
Mordle Cogspinner says: They did! Safe and sound!
Colson eyes the machine as though looking for evidence of gnomes who didn't make it back…intact, and nods to Mordle. "Light be with you."
Cressidha nods.
Colson gives Mordle a Blessing of Wisdom.
The twins begin heading back to the others.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Activate counter-measures. Repel intruder.
[Colson]: I confess, I am a little more at ease.
[Cressidha]: Indeed.
[Cressidha]: It's a short-range teleportation, it should be safe.
[Colson]: It is unrelated to the portals?
Cressidha follows the trail of broken things.
Caspis bows before Cressidha.
Caspis bows before Aspenwood.
[Dane]: Hullo', then. Have they done wot' they need to?
[Colson]: Yes. It seems more stable.
[Cressidha]: It's similar to the hearthstone situation, Colson, in that… since we're quite close to our destination, we only travel along a singular ley line—
[Caspis]: We should clean this area regardless. These… parts… do not belong here.
[Cressidha]: They have begun repairs.
[Colson]: The two we sent arrived safe and sound.
[Dane]: And I warrant they can use some spare pieces.
Cressidha nods.
[Dane]: Caspis is nearly loaded up.
Colson looks at Cressidha with a nod.
[Cressidha]: Indeed.
[Caspis]: I cannot carry anymore.
[Dane]: Colson, let's load you up, now.
Colson inclines his head.
Caspis cannot? Or will not?
Cressidha holds open a bag. "Here, Caspis…"
Caspis peers at Cressidha searchingly.
[Cressidha]: I emptied mine out earlier.
Dane glances between them.
Caspis reaches out briefly, impulsively, to touch her cheek, then hands her his bag.
Colson kneels at the Mechagnome's side, examining them with a faint frown.
[Colson]: Cressidha? The injector?
Cressidha sets Caspis' bag inside her presumably magically larger bag and smiles at him.
[Cressidha]: Ah! Yes.
Cressidha injects another gnome.
Fizzcrank Survivor says: It was horrible! They've all been changed!
Colson hovers a hand over the gnome as they pop back up.
[Cressidha]: What an experience that must have been…
[Colson]: It is strange…
[Caspis]: I cannot help but pity them, fools that they were.
[Dane]: Aye. Can't properly fathom.
[Cressidha]: No one deserves to have their body mutilated into machinery without their consent.
Caspis nods at Cressidha.
[Caspis]: The punishment in no way fits the crime.
[Dane]: I prefer the strength of warm flesh, curse or not.
Colson steps in front of a Scavenger bot that goes for Cressidha.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: You have been detected. You will be assimilated or eliminated.
Fizzcrank Mechagnome says: We can decurse you, we have the technology.
[Caspis]: Do you believe it is true? That gnomes originated from… this 'robot' form?
Dane squints at Cressidha.
[Caspis]: It would… explain a great deal.
[Dane]: Were you there, in Uldaman?
[Dane]: T'was ages ago, now.
Cressidha kneels by the gnome to inject it. "You'll be fine…"
Fizzcrank Survivor says: I'm flesh and blood again! Thank you, mage!
[Colson]: I cannot say, except that…even like this…I can sense something I could heal.
[Cressidha]: I was not.
Dane shakes his head. "We uncovered a tomb. Fought a number of these 'Titan' watchers."
[Dane]: T'make a long tale short: aye. I believe it's real.
[Caspis]: It makes a sort of sense.
[Caspis]: Explains why they've no regard for nature.
Cressidha snaps a counterspell out towards a construct and cuts off a laser.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Attention all units, night elf inside the perimeter.
[Colson]: I cannot heal a machine, but I believe I could heal one of the mechanical gnomes. That suggests…there is still something more than machine.
[Dane]: Have any of us encountered the earthen?
[Cressidha]: Easy, there…
Colson kneels again at one's side.
[Caspis]: I have.
Cressidha de-curses, or perhaps re-curses, another gnome.
[Caspis]: When I was a child.
Fizzcrank Survivor says: It was horrible! They've all been changed!
[Cressidha]: The earthen?
[Caspis]: They fought beside us during the War of the Ancients.
Dane grunts.
[Colson]: Earthen? Not dwarves?
[Dane]: They're dwarf-like stone men. Living stone.
[Caspis]: Earthen, yes.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
[Dane]: Simple, from the ones we came 'cross.
[Dane]: Like these mechagnomes, but, stone.
[Caspis]: I did not know, until recently, that dwarves were descended from them. My memories of the earthen are dim at best.
[Dane]: Wot' were they like in your time? The ones we came 'cross in Uldaman were simple.
Caspis's gaze goes distant as he tries to remember.
[Caspis]: …rows of them… unnaturally rigid and even… marching to war…
[Dane]: Not too bloody talkative, aye?
Cressidha stays on guard for any bots moving towards Caspis.
[Caspis]: Short squat men made of stone…. I only saw them marching past.
[Cressidha]: Two of them…
[Caspis]: I was terrified of them.
[Dane]: Were they on your side?
Cressidha injects two mechagnomes. They speak simultaneously.
Fizzcrank Survivor says: But… but… I was perfect!
Fizzcrank Survivor says: But… but… I was perfect!
They vanish.
[Cressidha]: What…?
[Caspis]: Yes… the Moon Guard marched with them.
[Colson]: What?
Dane blinks back at the former mechagnomes.
[Cressidha]: They…
Colson looks at the mechagnomes with a mild surprise.
[Dane]: They say wot' I think they said?
[Cressidha]: 'But I was perfect'… yes.
[Colson]: I believe I heard so, yes.
Dane growls quietly and shakes his head. "S'no way to live."
[Colson]: I…I suppose we cannot judge them for their beliefs but…
[Caspis]: It does not surprise me that at least some gnomes would prefer this state.
[Colson]: If they wish to return to it, I suppose it seems…reversible, in either direction.
[Dane]: I'd not take their words for true. Their minds must be touched.
Caspis gives Atley an odd look.
[Colson]: We cannot be sure. Time will tell.
[Dane]: I cannot fathom why even a gnome would want to be wot'ever those are.
[Cressidha]: Why someone might want to be made of metal instead of flesh?
[Caspis]: There is little about gnomes I comprehend.
[Colson]: That it is not our preference does not determine whether or not another may wish for something else.
Dane grunts at Cressidha.
[Cressidha]: Well, two of you are wearing metal right now…
[Caspis]: If it was their original state, it makes a kind of sense that it might feel natural to them.
Cressidha shrugs. "It's more resilient."
[Dane]: Aye, but I'd never become a suit of armor.
[Dane]: I'm a man first and foremost.
[Caspis]: Your ancestors were not robots.
[Dane]: Too right.
[Cressidha]: I suspect Ivri might have a problem with you becoming a suit of armor, yes.
[Caspis]: For them, it may feel different.
Dane grunts.
Colson seems almost bemused at that, but he insists, "What we wish is not always what another would."
[Caspis]: I can only speculate - as I say, their minds are as alien to me as… well, as metal.
Colson kneels again at the mechagnome's side.
Fizzcrank Survivor says: He called it the Curse of the Flesh. Mechazod is deranged!
[Dane]: Let's return to the airstrip and report back.
[Caspis]: Later, if it is all right with you, shan'var, I would like to gather some druids and return here to help those wolves and birds who have been fouled by the gnomes' pollution.
Dane looks to Caspis before he squints in the distance.
[Dane]: Aye, s'well enough. Do not go alone.
[Dane]: Let's have a closer look at them.
[Caspis]: As you wish, shan'var.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Colson nods.
[Colson]: Yessir.
There are quite a few birds and other animals covered in oil hanging out in one of the pools. Azizia is helping them.
Atley peers at Azizia searchingly.
Colson looks over at the Elekk. It sticks out.
[Cressidha]: What is that, oil?
[Dane]: Mm, looks it. And that looks to be Azizia.
[Caspis]: They said they were drawing it from beneath the pools for their… work.
[Colson]: Azizia, good afternoon.
[Cressidha]: Azizia!
[Azizia]: Oh, Blue Squad, hello!
Caspis bows before Azizia.
[Dane]: How're you, then?
[Caspis]: Yluviel is well, I trust?
[Azizia]: … Is it… Blue Squad day?
Caspis sighs at Azizia.
[Cressidha]: It is.
[Dane]: …'Tis.
[Azizia]: … Oh. I have been very busy with DEHTA. Helping many animals, like this!
Colson inclines his head, as he watches the hawks swarm Azizia, attempting to get her to help them.
[Dane]: Well, there's much to be done.
[Dane]: We're in the midst of a situation here with some gnomes. Come along with us.
Blue energy emanates from Azizia’s hands as clear water passes over the hawks.
[Azizia]: Okay, I can come back later!
Dane grunts.
[Dane]: Let's return our spare parts.
[Azizia]: I will follow you. Gnomes are very important too!
The hawks sigh pitifully and wander away. Freed of oil…for now.
Cressidha nods. "Caspis wanted to assist as well. But now… you should know."
[Caspis]: Thank you for helping the birds, Azizia.
[Cressidha]: They, ah…
[Cressidha]: The gnomes… dug up… a mechanical gnome.
[Dane]: Ah. Aye. S'bit of a tricky situation.
Caspis lets the humans explain this nonsense.
[Azizia]: No worries, it is my pleasure to help DEHTA druids and— they dug up what?
[Cressidha]: And the mechanical gnome began turning other gnomes into mechanical gnomes.
[Azizia]: …
Caspis gestures to Cressidha like, "right??"
[Dane]: And the mechanical gnome claimed t'be an ancestor of the gnomes we know.
[Azizia]: I am very surprise by information. And yet not.
[Cressidha]: Their leader is called 'Gearmaster Mechazod'. He says he was one of the first gnomes ever to be created by 'The Grand Architect'.
[Cressidha]: Thousands of years old. Supposedly.
Azizia nods at Atley. "Of course."
Caspis sighs, his gaze going distant.
[Dane]: Watch this.
[Colson]: We have been able to reverse the process of the mechanized gnomes, *Colson says it again like it's a foreign word he's trying to get right.*
[Cressidha]: Supposedly, or so they claim, all gnomes are inflicted by the 'curse of flesh'.
Cressidha kneels before Fizzcrank Mechagnome.
[Azizia]: Curse of flesh.
[Cressidha]: See how this one is mechanical? They've developed a, well, it 're-curses' them with the Curse of Flesh, supposedly.
[Cressidha]: They used to be gnomes from the airstrip, there.
Cressidha injects the gnome.
Fizzcrank Survivor says: It was horrible! They've all been changed!
[Azizia]: Of course.
Colson passes a heal quickly over the gnome before he vanishes.
The gnome vanishes, teleported back.
[Dane]: That's the gist of it. We're here to turn the situation around.
[Cressidha]: More spare parts…
[Dane]: We've sent as many back as we could find, Wingnut.
Caspis heaves a heavy sigh, returning more or less to the here and now.
Azizia nods. "It is much difficult to understand compared to 'animals are dripping in oil.'"
Jinky Wingnut says: You did it … it worked!
Cressidha empties out the bag Caspis gave her of machinery parts and returns the bag itself to Caspis.
Caspis bows before Cressidha
.
Colson empties out his bag, placing the parts carefully to the side of the gnome.
Jinky Wingnut says: I can't believe you were able to save so many. We're fortunate to have you around here!
Cressidha glances over at Jinky and smiles faintly.
Caspis was happy to help Jinky.
Colson might seem pleased. It's hard to tell.
Jinky Wingnut says: Okay, I think we're ready for the penultimate assault… before you can bring down Mechazod, you're going to have to dismantle his lieutenants first!
Jinky Wingnut says: You'll find … Twonky, ED-210, Max Blasto, and The Grinder at the West Point, North Point, Mid Point, and you guessed it, South Point stations, respectively!
Caspis blinks slowly.
Jinky Wingnut says: To get them to show up, just turn up the valves at the stations to mess up whatever they're trying to do out there.
Jinky Wingnut says: You can't miss the places, they all have spinning lights.
Colson inclines his head politely. Sure. The Grinder at South Point. Where else would it be.
[Cressidha]: Do you happen to know whose screwdriver this might be?
Cressidha holds up the ultrasonic screwdriver.
Jinky Wingnut says: Hmmm. That looks to be one of Crafty's! At least, I think. She's been going on and on about misplacing one.
[Cressidha]: Crafty…
Cressidha looks around.
Crafty Wobblestep waddles off. Doing crafty things.
[Dane]: …Right then.
Dane unloads his spare parts on the ground in front of Mordle.
Fizzcrank Fighter says: What? You're sending me back there?!
[Azizia]: Crafty is very appropriate name for gnome. Too appropriate.
[Azizia]: Is it nickname or name of birth?
Mordle Cogspinner says: It's going to take a lot of spare parts to keep this thing running. Please tell me you've returned with everything we need…!
Caspis shrugs at Azizia. Who knows?
Mordle Cogspinner overlooks the delivered parts. "That's great! These parts look like they're in serviceable condition. Now, if I could only figure out how to fix the blasted thing…"
[Cressidha]: The outgoing function is still damaged, isn't it?
Colson looks at the blasted thing with an expression so mild that mild dwarven looks sharp.
Mordle Cogspinner nods as he scrambles, getting to work. "Yes, yes, slightly. For now. With these pieces I can make adjustments…"
Azizia nods at Cressidha. Yes the outgoing function. She knows what this is, as everyone should.
Cressidha holds the screwdriver up. "Crafty?" she asks, looking around. Which gnome is Crafty.
Crafty Wobblesprocket turns around. "Did someone say 'Crafty?' That's me! And my birthname, conveniently."
[Cressidha]: Yes, here. Is this yours?
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: Hey!
Cressidha hands the screwdriver over.
[Azizia]: Birthname, hm.
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: My screwdriver… you found my screwdriver! I'd been wondering where that thing got lost.
[Cressidha]: It was, ah, lodged inside one of the constructs.
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: Hmm… You found it inside one of their robots, you say? That gives me an idea…
[Caspis]: Perhaps her parents gave her the name… aspirationally? As sometimes we name our children things that mean "Courageous" or "Blessed."
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: Yes, indeed! Wobblesprocket was the name I earned, for myself!
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: At any rate, the Ultrasonic Screwdriver is the ultimate tool. It can do anything to mechanical stuff!
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: Head back into the pools and dismantle a number of Mechazod's robots. THen all you have to do is use the screwdriver on their remains, and I'm betting that they'll turn to our side, for a short time anyway.
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: I'm pretty sure it won't work on the mechagnomes, so don't even bother with them.
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: Oh, and if you want to take anything from the robot's insides, you'll want to do so before using the screwdriver!
[Cressidha]: Very well, if you don't mind me borrowing that…?
Caspis blinks at Crafty Wobblesprocket.
[Caspis]: Why would we— *he just shuts his mouth*
Colson inclines his head politely.
Crafty Wobblesprocket blinks. "Oh. Yes!" She waddles over to Cressidha and holds it up and out to her.
Cressidha takes it.
[Cressidha]: I'll get it back to you when we're done.
[Dane]: Right then. Back to the fields we go.
[Azizia]: We use little tool on tiny robots, I understand this. Are we ready?
[Cressidha]: Yes.
Dane grunts.
Colson goes back into the field.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: You have been detected. You will be assimilated or eliminated.
Dane gestures to Cressidha.
Cressidha kneels and makes some adjustments to this robot. She doesn't seem to have any clue what she's doing - the screwdriver is just pulsing colors and making noises. But it seems automated.
Reprogrammed Sentry-bot 57-K says: Sentry-bot 57-K reporting for duty, ma'am!
[Cressidha]: Oh…
[Cressidha]: It's so polite.
Dane grimaces. "S'going to follow us about, innit'."
Colson smiles gently at Cressidha.
[Azizia]: I do not trust it.
Caspis gazes absently at Cressidha.
Cressidha smiles at the robot.
Reprogrammed Defendo-tank 66D says: Defendo-tank 66D reporting for duty, ma'am!
Azizia's head and horns are covered by rocks as she headbutts Scavenge-bot 004-A8.
[Cressidha]: And a big one…
[Azizia]: I was not right when I said tiny robots.
Reprogrammed Scavenge-bot 004-A8 says: Scavenge-bot 004-A8 reporting for duty, ma'am!
[Dane]: There's all sorts about.
[Cressidha]: Oh, they're all polite…
Azizia's head and horns are covered by rocks as she headbutts Fizzcrank Mechagnome.
[Azizia]: … Robot gnome.
Cressidha injects the gnome with the re-cursive serum she totally still has.
[Dane]: Wager this is one of the valves.
Caspis prepares himself.
Dane barely even touches the valve and an absolutely GIGANTIC robot shows up.
Twonky says: Twonky!
[Cressidha]: Whoa—
[Colson]: Right is tight, left is loose.
Caspis boggles at Twonky.
[Dane]: Bloody hell —
[Caspis]: Bloody hell.
[Dane]: Right then. Let's press on.
Colson presses on.
Reprogrammed Scavenge-bot 004-A8 says: Scavenge-bot 004-A8 reporting for duty, ma'am!
Cressidha looks oddly delighted each time a robot calls her 'ma'am'.
Colson smiles at Cress each time.
Caspis studies Cressidha.
Cressidha injects the mechagnomes with the serum as usual.
Fizzcrank Mechagnome says: We can decurse you, we have the technology.
Cressidha is being followed by a small parade of robots.
Dane double-takes the small army of robots.
Another valve, another ABSOLUTELY GIGANTIC robot.
Max Blasto says: I am the herald of Mechazod. You will be decursed!
[Dane]: Properly sized, these.
[Dane]: Ought to be one this way…
[Colson]: Yes, it seems they are not skipping any of their meals, *Colson deadpans.*
The individual robots don't seem to last too long - they fall apart in battle shortly after Cressidha converts them.
Dane grunts inquisitively.
Cressidha laughs quietly.
[Dane]: One more of these giant bastards should be clanking about.
[Dane]: Fine work, Cressidha.
Caspis sighs at Atley.
Cressidha nods.
[Colson]: To the south, I take it?
Dane grunts.
[Dane]: I'd expected leper gnomes.
[Colson]: For The Grinder.
[Colson]: Leper gnomes? I thought they were from the…radiation?
Reprogrammed Defendo-tank 66D says: Defendo-tank 66D reporting for duty, ma'am!
[Dane]: Aye. Just the only gnomes I've fought 'sides from these mechanical folk.
[Colson]: I see.
[Caspis]: Cressidha Aspenwood, you seem very inclined toward mechanical matters.
[Cressidha]: Do I?
Caspis nods at Cressidha.
[Cressidha]: I'm no expert. I simply think they're cute.
Reprogrammed Defendo-tank 66D says: Defendo-tank 66D reporting for duty, ma'am!
[Azizia]: Hm.
[Dane]: I'd not exactly call these big fackers cute.
[Colson]: Well.
Reprogrammed Scavenge-bot 004-A8 says: Scavenge-bot 004-A8 reporting for duty, ma'am!
Azizia nods at Atley.
[Dane]: Azizia, wot' do you make of these contraptions?
Cressidha shrugs. She apparently would call them cute.
Colson might disagree. They seem kinda cute following Cress around.
[Azizia]: I do not like them and I do not like when they are polite.
Caspis looks like he is trying to figure out how to reconcile "robot" and "cute".
Dane scoffs with amusement.
Cressidha injects another mechagnome. The gnome is fine.
[Azizia]: Why is robot needing to be polite? It has no need to be polite.
The Grinder is exactly where it was predicted to be. SO BIG.
The Grinder says: Your meddling is at an end. Mechazod will relieve your curse once I am done with you.
[Azizia]: We do not ask crystal on Exodar to be polite.
[Dane]: Servants, or … somming'.
[Colson]: There is always a reason to be polite.
Colson says politely.
Azizia's head and horns are covered by rocks as she headbutts… something.
Caspis is mentally elsewhere, but still follows Atley obediently through the magic of peripheral vision and muscle memory.
Reprogrammed Sentry-bot 57-K says: Sentry-bot 57-K reporting for duty, ma'am!
[Dane]: Wager that's enough, then. Let's mount up and return.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
The swarm of tiny robots tries to keep up with the horses. Some fall behind. Some fall apart.
Dane glances over his shoulder, lifting a bushy brow.
[Dane]: We've returned.
Cressidha returns with far fewer robots than she had in tow before.
Dane growls as Cressidha arrives with robots.
[Cressidha]: Here's your screwdriver, miss Crafty.
Crafty Wobblesprocket says: Woo hoo! And you brought back the screwdriver intact, too!
Crafty Wobblesprocket reaches out and takes it. "Reprogramming those robots is going to turn out to be a huge advantage in our favor in the fight against Gearmaster Mechazod!"
[Dane]: Let's return to to Wingnut.
[Cressidha]: Just so.
[Cressidha]: We've eliminated the four lieutenants.
Jinky Wingnut blinks. "Wow. You survived. You really are Cobalt Company…" she exclaims, lips parted.
Caspis nods at Jinky Wingnut.
Jinky Wingnut shakes her head. "I guess all that's left to do now is to deal with Gearmaster Mechazod."
[Azizia]: And then we can all go help animals in oil!
Jinky Wingnut says: Gearmaster Mechazod is insane! He says that he offers us immortality by removing this so-called 'Curse of the Flesh,' but what he's really making are robotic slaves!
Jinky Wingnut says: Cobalt Company, we're pretty certain that he's still at the pumping station out in the middle of the pools to the east. The last we saw of him, he was in the command hut up top. Go up there and research his stuff.
Azizia shrugs. "Immortality is not that good of trade-off."
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Jinky Wingnut says: You must confront Mechazod if gnomes, everywhere … no, everyone everywhere, are to stay alive!
[Colson]: Understood.
[Dane]: Let's go save gnomes.
Cressidha gets off her horse to inject another gnome with the serum.
Fizzcrank Mechagnome says: The flesh is weak. We will make you better, stronger… faster.
Dane has no problem smashing the non-sentient robots to bits and pieces.
Cressidha still has the injector. No mechagnome uninjected.
There are two ghouls.
[Cressidha]: Ghouls.
[Dane]: Scourge…
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Activate counter-measures. Repel intruder.
Azizia's head and horns are covered by rocks as she headbutts Festering Ghoul.
[Colson]: There are not many of the ghouls here.
[Azizia]: Thankfully.
[Dane]: Wager these mad robots've held them off.
[Colson]: So it would it seem. They do not seem aligned, at the least.
Dane growls.
[Dane]: M'not seeing the leader…
[Dane]: Poke about.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Azizia flips a table.
Cressidha reaches out for a book and turns.
A giant mechanical gnome appears in the doorway. He’s big enough to block the door.
Colson spins around in place at the sound behind them.
Gearmaster Mechazod says: You were looking for me, child? Why do you come to kill me, Cressidha? I only wish to help.
Colson steps in front of Cressidha.
Atley blinks at Gearmaster Mechazod.
Gearmaster Mechazod says: Now that I have been reassembled, we can return to a time of perfection… the time of the Titans!
Gearmaster Mechazod says: But, I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your pulse rate. You would destroy me despite my offer of immortality!
Caspis blinks at Gearmaster Mechazod.
Azizia summoned him by flipping a table.
[Cressidha]: Excuse me?
Gearmaster Mechazod says: Very well. It saddens me that it has come to this. I look upon all of you as if you were my children. I will slay you if I must!
Caspis staaaaaaaaaares.
Caspis is just … speechless.
[Dane]: He's not missed any meals.
Azizia nods at Atley.
Colson smiles at Dane.
[Cressidha]: Goodness.
[Dane]: Cressidha, you've room in your bag for a gigantic gnomish head?
Dane removes his sword.
[Cressidha]: I do.
Cressidha holds a bag open.
Colson kneels to hold the shoulders of the gnome for Dane to yank off the head.
Dane promptly starts hacking away at Mechazod's neck, rending metal. He stuffs the giant head into the bag.
[Dane]: Cheers, Colson.
Caspis is trembling slightly.
Cressidha grimaces. The head is dripping oil.
[Dane]: T'was larger than I thought.
[Dane]: Let's mount up and return directly.
[Azizia]: I do not like these gnomes.
Dane grunts in agreement.
They return to the airstrip.
Cressidha stops in front of Jinky. "It's done. Should we report to your superior?"
Jinky Wingnut perks up. "You're alive again, so — yes. Yes I think so." She exchanges a shocked look with Mordle.
Cressidha opens the bag a little, holding it low to the ground to show Jinky and Mordle.
Jinky Wingnut and Mordle look to each other before nodding.
[Azizia]: It was tough fight.
[Dane]: Let's not keep the man waiting.
[Dane]: Mind this lift, Azizia.
Caspis stumbles.
Colson reaches out a hand for Caspis.
Caspis curses under his breath in Darnassian.
Caspis thanks Colson.
[Colson]: Of course.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle perks up. "I heard you speaking with Jinky… is it done?"
Cressidha sets the bag on the ground. "Dane, would you give me a hand with the severed head, please?"
Dane grunts and bends over to help Cressidha remove the giant, metal gnome head soaked in oil.
Azizia seems fine with the elevator.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle stares at it and breathes a heavy sigh of relief.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: It is done then… you have saved us! If you hadn't stopped him here, then who knows how far his madness would have spread?
Cressidha inspects the inside of her bag and sighs. "This will need to be cleaned."
Colson gives Cress a sympathetic look.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: With the threats from the blue dragons and the Nexus War, not to mention the Lich King, the last thing we need is a mad creation of Titans running loose!
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle says: Thank you Cobalt Company!
Azizia nods at Fizzcrank Fullthrottle.
[Colson]: It does seem excessive, yes.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle taps his nose. "One criss at a time, I always say."
[Colson]: Or three, as the case may be.
[Dane]: Right then, you lot. Let's return to Valiance Keep. The situation here's been tamed, for now.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle bows once. "Again, you have my thanks!"
[Colson]: You are welcome.
[Azizia]: What next? Oil spilled in water? That would be big problem too.
Fizzcrank Fullthrottle awkwardly clears his throat at that.
[Dane]: To Valiance, you lot.
They fly back via gnomish planes.
Colson has no control over the fumes of his plane. By the sacred laws, whoever smelt it, dealt it.
Meanwhile, back at Valiance Keep…
Ivrianna fidgets.
Mordecai fidgets more.
[Ivrianna]: One of these days, I'm going to trail those three footmen and convince them that drinking on duty is a very bad idea.
Ivrianna cranes her neck but can't see a thing.
[Mordecai]: Should we, um, it must be close to time, right?
[Mordecai]: We could wait outside?
Ivrianna hops up from the table. "Let's go!"
Ivrianna starts to hop the bannister. But doesn't.
Mordecai looks up consideringly at the cart. Hmm. Does he want to sit up there?
Ivrianna sinks down on the cart, looking north, then south. In case.
Ivrianna has been sitting for 5 whole seconds, and rises to stand.
[Ivrianna]: This fidgeting can't be good.
Ivrianna continues to fidget.
Mordecai sighs.
[Mordecai]: I'm sure they're fine.
[Ivrianna]: Me too. But they're also slow.
Ivrianna looks down. "You mean that's what you worry about? Him being harmed?"
[Mordecai]: I mean…
[Mordecai]: I worry about basically everything, Ivrianna.
Dane shakes his head and rakes a hand through his hair. "Bloody hell."
Dane turns back to do a headcount.
Colson smiles faintly as he sees Mordecai, stepping forward.
[Ivrianna]: Good lord, the man's six feet of muscle, wrapped in armor, blessed by the L—
[Ivrianna]: DANE!
[Ivrianna]: And…everyone else. Hi. DANE.
Cressidha smiles and nods.
Azizia bows before Ivrianna.
Colson approaches Mordecai. "Ivri. Good afternoon."
Caspis bows before Ivrianna.
Azizia bows before Mordecai.
[Ivrianna]: Guess what?
Mordecai holds a hand out for Colson.
Dane's eyes soften at Ivrianna. "I know you."
[Azizia]: I can guess!
[Cressidha]: Hello, Ivri.
Colson takes it happily, bringing it up for a polite kiss.
[Dane]: Mm?
Ivrianna hops a little. "Yeah yeah, love whatever. Guess!"
Mordecai smiles, but his attention flickers between Colson and Ivri.
[Caspis]: Good evening, Ivrianna Atley.
[Azizia]: You have received many of my leaflets with meals ideas!
Dane blinks and looks around.
[Dane]: Somming' with Mattias…?
[Azizia]: And you have brand-new menu for us— you do not cook anymore, I believe?
Ivrianna leans around Dane to eye Azizia. "That was you? I'm not sure what I did with the one about the rice, but… Um… it was creative!"
Mordecai says quietly, "Everything went well?"
[Azizia]: DEHTA has many, many good ideas!
Ivrianna grins at Atley. "Oh yeah. No! I'm pregnant."
Dane blinks.
[Colson]: Congratulations.
Caspis audibly gasps.
Cressidha blinks. A few times.
[Dane]: You are…
Colson says automatically.
[Cressidha]: Goodness. Congratulations, Ivri.
[Azizia]: And that is— excuse me?
Dane's eyes expectantly fall to her stomach.
[Ivrianna]: With child. Hence all the not-eating. Mordecai said!
[Caspis]: El— The Light has blessed you indeed.
Mordecai clears his throat. "I checked, yes."
Dane briefly looks to Mordecai before he turns to Ivrianna, clearing his throat a few times.
Ivrianna seems unaware she's made it sound like he went 'Hey Ivri, how are you besides pregnant?'
Caspis looks slightly awed.
[Ivrianna]: I told him he could pick a middle name.
[Ivrianna]: For the BABY!
[Cressidha]: Goodness.
[Dane]: You're going to be a mother, and —
Colson seems as mild as ever with this news, as he looks to Mordecai.
[Dane]: Ours?
Ivrianna blinks.
Dane shakes his head, the rugged lines of his face smoothing out.
[Ivrianna]: OF COURSE OURS!
Ivrianna punches Dane in his armor. Ow.
Mordecai startles faintly at the punch.
Dane chuckles and steps forward to wrap Ivri up in his arms, only slightly remembering he's in full plate.
[Dane]: Light, Ivri — that's. Fackin' hell, are you — You've been eating? Is she healthy? How long's this been about?
Dane immediately starts interrogating Mordecai.
Ivrianna grumbles but lets him hug her. She grins at Caspis and Cressidha and Azizia and the rest of the world. "Thank you!"
Dane seems suddenly laser focused.
[Mordecai]: Oh, um.
Colson's hand tightens slightly on Mordecai's hand, his expression as mild still as it was a moment before.
Azizia opens her mouth. Azizia Closes her mouth. Azizia decides to open her mouth again. "You chose place like this to be waiting for baby?"
[Caspis]: Congratulations, and may good health follow you throughout.
Caspis bows before Ivrianna.
[Ivrianna]: Two months, Mordecai said. Since we've been here! This is what happens when you get bored on boats, I guess.
[Azizia]: … and yes, congratulations.
Caspis wanders off, eyes vague and still slightly awed.
Dane growls with amusement at Azizia and sets Ivrianna down, leaning in to kiss her on the lips.
Ivrianna grins at Azizia. "Yeah, because screw Arthas."
[Mordecai]: She's healthy, um. Should eat more.
Mordecai looks down at his feet.
Cressidha averts her eyes politely.
Azizia chuckles at Atley.
[Ivrianna]: Ugh… I don't wanna eat more until this place stops smelling like last week's catch.
Dane's eyes stay on Ivrianna as he adds to her remark. "Wot's a better way to defy the lord'f death than to bring about little ones."
Colson clears his throat slightly.
Ivrianna does keep talking through the kiss, yes.
Dane suddenly leans back.
[Dane]: You'll eat more, and do wot'ever else Mordecai says.
Dane blinks slowly, still stunned.
Ivrianna turns to Mordecai, winking at Colson. "He's just the worst doctor, so yell-y and demanding."
Colson doesn't seem amused at that. "Mordecai is an exceptional healer."
Mordecai clears his throat. "She's been having difficulty with the scent of fish," he warns Dane. "It's making her nauseous."
Dane gently smooths a massive armored gauntlet over Ivrianna's stomach.
Ivrianna grins at Cressidha. "Wanna be an auntie?"
[Dane]: We're having a little one…
Mordecai pats Colson's hand and smiles at him. "I know she's teasing, it's all right," he says softly.
[Cressidha]: What?
[Cressidha]: Er, does it work that way?
Colson smiles faintly back at Mordecai.
Ivrianna calls over her shoulder to the Aspenwood males, "Cai loves me. It's inevitable."
[Ivrianna]: And I'm the mom, anything I say is how it works.
Ivrianna leans against Atley.
Dane tugs Ivri in closer to kiss her forehead, still processing like a giant grizzly bear.
[Cressidha]: Well, certainly.
Azizia suddenly gasps. "We need to find you new clothes to prepare for this!"
Cressidha looks at Azizia and snaps her fingers. "Yes!"
[Ivrianna]: Oh no.
[Cressidha]: Oh yes.
[Azizia]: Miss Cress! This is our new important mission!
[Colson]: Congratulations to you both. *Colson passes a blessing over the others.*
[Ivrianna]: Um… we should go… celebrate. Alone.
Cressidha holds a hand out solemnly for Azizia to shake.
Dane rubs Ivrianna's back as he nods, stroking his chin in thought.
[Dane]: You'll need furs… Food that's not fish…
Ivrianna spins about again.
Azizia goes to shake her hand, and then… pauses. "… After I go help animals in oil. This is very very important too."
[Cressidha]: Ah. Yes, of course.
[Ivrianna]: And with any luck, a new base of operations that's not a fish factory.
[Dane]: We've got to get the portals opened.
[Ivrianna]: I wouldn't be too eager. You should see the letter I got from Amory.
[Dane]: Eager? Wot'?
[Ivrianna]: It's backwards.
Dane distractedly shakes his head. He looks at her stomach again.
[Dane]: B-backwards? Wot' are you on about?
[Ivrianna]: All the letters, the words, the whole thing is ba— Oh, I'll just show you.
[Cressidha]: Oh! Yes, ah, mail should be…
[Cressidha]: I quite forgot.
Dane growls with affection and squishes Ivrianna against his tabard.
Azizia raises an eyebrow.
Ivrianna is happily squished.
[Cressidha]: I wouldn't mail anything you're too attached to, just in case, but it should be mostly reliable with some, er, potential side effects.
Dane grits his teeth and adds a bit of pressure before he looks around. "Cheers to you lot."
[Ivrianna]: She dropped it in the mail, saying she didn't know if I'd ever get it, then it just showed up. Backwards.
[Colson]: Good afternoon, Dane. Well done, today.
[Cressidha]: Congratulations.
Mordecai smiles at Ivri and Dane.
[Dane]: Aye, thank you. Cheers to you all.
[Dane]: M'going to go smother my wife.
[Dane]: I — cheers.
Ivrianna hastens to add, "Figuratively."
Colson clears his throat.
[Dane]: Mm, aye.
Mordecai nods.
[Colson]: Ah, yes.
[Colson]: Well.
Dane squeezes Ivri's shoulder.
[Dane]: The magical shite, that'll not — ?
Dane looks to Cressidha, pointing at Ivri's stomach.
[Cressidha]: She will be safe using her hearthstone if needed.
[Cressidha]: As long as her hearthstone is bound in Northrend.
[Cressidha]: None of us should be taking portals out of Northrend at this time.
Dane protectively clamps a hand down on the back of Ivri's neck, massaging her tenderly.
[Dane]: Mm… no, certainly not.
Azizia lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Dane clears his throat. "Blue Squad's dismissed. Fine work today."
[Ivrianna]: I asked Cai about proximity to our former prince, but he said he'd keep an eye on me.
Cressidha nods.
[Cressidha]: Yes. Good work.
Azizia nods.
Cressidha smiles at them and makes her way into the inn. She doesn't look tired. She might be.
Colson doesn't look tired. He could stand here all day. Except he says, "Then, if you shall excuse us." Colson starts to walk towards the inn.
Dane grunts and nods. "M'going to…"
Mordecai waves over his shoulder at Ivri.
Ivrianna waves everyone off. "Later!"
Dane looks to Azizia and nods.
Azizia clears her throat, now the only one with the couple. "I will go too."
[Ivrianna]: Azizia, you'll pick out something comfortable, right? Right?
[Dane]: Good luck with the beasts. Caspis wanted to head there s'well.
[Azizia]: Yes, yes, of course! Always take comfortable into account for fashion!
[Azizia]: But not too much.
Dane grunts and nods before tugging Ivri away.
Azizia bows down graciously.