(2023-03-13) Lending a Hand (or Four)

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	The Crimson Coterie Hands (Elowel, Gethennis, Kaszimir and Syarra) get to work in the Borean Tundra, starting in Taunka'le Village. Our heroes brave the horrors of speaking Orcish, gnomes, and the completely wrong kind of oil. Little do they know, they are a few steps behind the illustrious Cobalt Company.
Rating:	T for Teen

+ Show additional content warnings

light suggestive flirting/innuendo, light discussion of crushes and romance, in-game animal distress

Elowel and Syarra walk into the central room of the inn in Warsong Hold.
Gethennis strolls in fashionably late.
Syarra looks from Elowel to Gethennis and waves.
[Gethennis]: El, darling.
Gethennis air kisses her on both cheeks.
Elowel mirrors the air kisses.
Gethennis nods crisply to Syarra. "Syarra."
[Elowel]: Hello, darling. Hello, Syarra. Lovely to see you in this…dreadful place.
[Syarra]: Gethennis. *Syarra nods back. She turns to Elowel.* Yes, I try not to spend too much time in the Hold… are you keeping well, Elowel?
[Gethennis]: You're a poet and don't know it.
Syarra almost smiles at Gethennis.
[Elowel]: I wasn't referring to the Hold…but yes, I'm keeping as well as can be expected.
Kaszimir ambles over and surveys the rest. He smiles fleetingly at Geth, and nods to the group.
[Gethennis]: Kas, darling.
Gethennis blows Kaszimir a kiss.
[Elowel]: Kas! Looking rugged and handsome. How do you manage it?
Kaszimir smiles at Elowel. "Can't. Help myself."
[Gethennis]: Isn't he just a feast for the eyes all the time? So distracting.
[Kaszimir]: Tch.
[Gethennis]: So, what shall we do today, O Queen of My Heart? *He bats his lashes at Elowel.*
[Elowel]: So…
Gethennis arranges his hair.
[Elowel]: …you may have noticed that there is a new kind of strange, mutant tauren here…or something.
Gethennis lifts a feathery brow.
[Elowel]: I can't remember what they're called. Tonks? Like those toy war machines.
[Syarra]: I heard one of the taurens speaking of them, yes. Taun…ka?
[Elowel]: Oh…tonka? No, that doesn't sound right.
[Gethennis]: One of them was here having a drink not long ago. Pleasant enough, if a bit … fragrant.
[Syarra]: I think that was it. She only mentioned it in passing.
[Elowel]: Anyhow, one of them…eh…spoke to me…
Gethennis adopts a "how dare!" expression.
Syarra looks at Elowel with sharp curiosity. "What about?"
Kaszimir raises his eyebrows at Elowel. If you have never seen someone raise their eyebrows in sarcastic sympathy, now you have.
[Elowel]: Well, apparently he had heard tell of our great prowess.
Elowel flips her hair.
Kaszimir nods gravely.
Gethennis pulls his ponytail over his shoulder and pets it absently, as if it were a friendly creature perched there.
Syarra looks a little bit proud.
[Gethennis]: Yes, that's me, known for my prowess.
[Elowel]: He…I think it's a he…has been waiting for an audience with Hellscream, but he's getting impatient. He's hoping someone will go to his village and help with…I don't know, something.
Kaszimir eyes Gethennis up and down.
[Gethennis]: I'm curious about them, I'll confess. Let's go have a look.
[Elowel]: Honestly, anything sounds better than lingering any longer in this oversized outhouse.
[Gethennis]: I wouldn't look forward to them welcoming you with a hot bath and champagne, darling, but let's go.
Syarra nods.
Elowel lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Gethennis smirks slyly at Elowel.
[Elowel]: I can at least enjoy a few minutes of semi-fresh air.
[Gethennis]: Lead on, those of you with… prowess.
Kaszimir glances at Syarra, almost as if apologetically.
[Elowel]: Someone lead me out of this awful place. Kas?
[Syarra]: I begin to think my dulled senses might be a blessing here.
Gethennis fetches his magnificent birb from wherever magnificent birbs are stabled.
Gethennis's birb is purple, btw.
Syarra fetches her undead horse from whatever shadows undead horses come from.
They proceed out of the Hold.
[Gethennis]: Still riding that bear, hm?
[Elowel]: How…charming.
[Gethennis]: I suppose it endures the weather better than Deb here.
Gethennis's violet hawkstrider gives a long-suffering SCRAAAA.
Kaszimir glances back.
Gethennis scritches the bird's head.
Syarra looks at Kaskala as they ride by.
[Gethennis]: Oh, look at the… kite…? Things?
[Elowel]: Hm
[Syarra]: That's Tuskarr, not Taunka. I do not know the significance of the kites.
[Gethennis]: I'll ask them. I have reason to stop by their territory on occasion.
[Gethennis]: A girl, since I know you want to ask.
They arrive at Taunka’le Village.
[Elowel]: This must be Tonk'lala Village.
[Gethennis]: …Not a Tuskarr girl.
Syarra glances at Gethennis. "I spend a fair amount of time in Kaskala. Not for a girl."
[Gethennis]: Taunka'le, precious.
Gethennis dismounts and strolls in like he owns the place.
Syarra eyes the Taunka as they go by.
[Elowel]: Yes, yes…same thing.
Gethennis bows before Omu Spiritbreeze.
Kaszimir hangs back, his expression alert but pleasant.
At this point, everyone begins to speak in Orcish.
[Gethennis]: We're with Crimson Coterie. You let us fly?
Gethennis's orcish is… to the point.
Kaszimir eyes Geth with amusement.
Gethennis gives the wind rider master their names and information.
Omu Spiritbreeze says: You are the ones from Warsong Hold, yes? You may fly here, if you come to aid us.
Gethennis looks around.
Gethennis thanks Omu Spiritbreeze.
[Elowel]: Yes. We come you aid.
Omu Spiritbreeze says: You'll be wanting to speak with Sage Earth and Sky. He will tell you our troubles.
Gethennis nods at Omu Spiritbreeze.
[Gethennis]: We go now. Thank you.
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] Ugh, I feel like I need to gargle every time I finish speaking Orcish.
[Kaszimir]: Hm.
Gethennis bows before Sage Earth and Sky.
Syarra bows before Sage Earth and Sky.
Kaszimir nods to Sage Earth and Sky.
[Gethennis]: Lok'tar. We bring help.
[Gethennis]: We are Crimson Coterie.
Sage Earth and Sky peers at the elves with some wariness.
Sage Earth and Sky says: Did Garrosh Hellscream send you, then?
Gethennis hesitates.
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] Just tell him yes.
[Gethennis]: Yes.
[Gethennis]: We are Horde, special group. Crimson Coterie
Sage Earth and Sky says: Ah, I am surprised! I had thought the orc chieftain would have no time for our troubles.
[Gethennis]: We solve big problems.
Elowel smirks.
[Gethennis]: Problems chieftain has no time for.
[Gethennis]: We help you.
Sage Earth and Sky says: I am pleased that the Ambassador's efforts were not mist blowing in the wind. Let me tell you our troubles.
Gethennis listens intently to Sage Earth and Sky.
Sage Earth and Sky says: The gnomes have run into some trouble in the pools to the west. It serves them right as they have been fouling up the land with their so-called inventions.
Gethennis blows hair out of his eyes without breaking eye contact with the sage.
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] Gnomes. This should be hilarious.
Sage Earth and Sky says: I want you to go out to their pumping station and observe what has befallen them. Return to me after.
Syarra nods slowly. "Gnomes."
Sage Earth and Sky says: You do not need to kill them right now, just tell me what they're doing.
Kaszimir frowns, turning his head in the direction of the pumping station.
[Gethennis]: We can observe. Yes.
[Gethennis]: We go now.
Gethennis bows before Sage Earth and Sky.
Syarra bows before Sage Earth and Sky.
Gethennis makes a faint gargling sound.
Kaszimir nods again to Sage Earth and Sky.
The Sin’dorei switch back to speaking in Thalassian.
[Syarra]: I am not a fan of Orcish either, but it is useful.
[Gethennis]: I am so thrilled that we agree on a thing, Syarra.
[Syarra]: At last, we find common ground, Gethennis.
[Gethennis]: Yes, I'll break out the champagne.
Kaszimir looks wordlessly between Geth and Syarra.
And now, someone hails them in Orcish! Back to Orcish it is.
Greatfather Mahan says: Elves! Do you feel the earth shake?
Gethennis nods at Greatfather Mahan.
[Gethennis]: Not just me, mm?
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] That isn't normal?
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] I mean, that often happens to me when I see Kas…
Elowel rolls her eyes.
Gethennis winks slyly at Elowel.
Kaszimir squints at the sky.
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] Get a room, darling…and wait until I arrive with snacks.
Gethennis blows Elowel a kiss.
Greatfather Mahan says: This is no laughing matter, you peacocks! It's the Scourge's nerubians! Underground! If you see sinkholes, please mark them so we'll know where they'll emerge.
[Gethennis]: Of course.
Gethennis bows before Greatfather Mahan.
Syarra bows politely to Greathfather Mahan.
Kaszimir nods to Greatfather Mahan.
They begin to head out, but then Syarra notes a non-Tauren/non-Taunka oddity.
[Syarra]: [Thalassian] Is that a goblin? What's he doing here?
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] They're like cockroaches. They turn up everywhere and they're surprisingly resilient.
Gethennis peers at Fezzix Geartwist searchingly.
Maybe they don’t need Orcish this time? Gethennis tries Common.
[Gethennis]: *in Common* Please tell me you speak Common.
Fezzix Geartwist says: I do, I do! And did I hear you were about to hassle some gnomes?
Hooray! Common it is.
[Gethennis]: Yes, it's a pastime of mine.
Fezzix Geartwist says: Awesome! I want their technology. Steal it for me, will you?
Syarra blinks at the goblin.
[Gethennis]: If you'll pay well, certainly.
Gethennis grins wickedly at Fezzix Geartwist.
[Elowel]: Steal what? Gnome technology could be any piece of junk.
Fezzix Geartwist says: You don't even have to dirty your pretty little elf hands. Just take this whistle and my mule Jenny'll show up to carry it all!
[Gethennis]: Perfect.
[Gethennis]: You get me.
Gethennis bows extravagantly to the goblin.
[Elowel]: A mule. Delightful.
On the way out, they spot a Tauren woman in a hut.
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] Oh, who's this lovely vision?
Kaszimir peers at Greatmother Taiga searchingly.
Time for Orcish again!
Greatmother Taiga says: Do I hear visitors outside?
Gethennis bows before the old Tauren lady.
Elowel preens, until she realizes Geth isn't talking about her. Then she frowns.
[Gethennis]: Lok'tar, grandmother. Do you need help?
[Elowel]: Oh, this one isn't a tonk. Hmm.
Greatmother Taiga says: Perhaps… if you happen to go north, can you look for one of our sages, Highmesa? She went with only one longrunner to the Dens of the Dying.
[Gethennis]: Yes. We will help.
Greatmother Taiga says: Thank you, young ones.
[Kaszimir]: [Thalassian] Dens. Of the Dying.
[Gethennis]: [Taurahe] Wind be at your back.
Gethennis bows before Greatmother Taiga.
Elowel salutes Greatmother Taiga with respect.
They move off, switching back into Thalassian.
[Gethennis]: That means "wind be at your back." I think it's pretty.
[Gethennis]: That's all I know how to say, though.
Kaszimir nods.
[Syarra]: It means for your path to be easier, then.
Gethennis nods at you.
[Gethennis]: I just adore metaphors.
[Elowel]: Wind at my back musses my hair. No thank you.
[Gethennis]: But you look so gorgeous with your hair blowing all around your face, darling.
[Elowel]: You always know the right thing to say.
Gethennis winks slyly at Elowel.
[Syarra]: So, shall we go and observe some gnomes? Possibly rob them?
[Gethennis]: Someone in plate mail please lead the way.
[Elowel]: Yes, let's.
Syarra takes that as a cue. She's wearing plate mail.
The team heads out together.
[Gethennis]: It's nice following Syarra, because her evil horse leaves a nice evil glowing trail to follow.
Kaszimir grimaces at the smell of oil on the wind immediately.
[Kaszimir]: Ah. Sinkhole.
[Elowel]: Oh, this is lovely
Syarra pauses to look over the geyser field. "I see their machines. And my horse isn't evil. Just undead."
Elowel wrinkles her nose.
Gethennis frowns with disappointment at Steam Rager.
They find an obvious sinkhole, surrounding by Nerubians.
Syarra glances at Kas. "Do you think this is the kind they wanted marked?"
Kaszimir nods. He's watching the taunka brave fight below.
[Gethennis]: Oh fabulous.
Gethennis eyes Nerub'ar Tunneler up and down.
The team fights a few Nerubians.
[Gethennis]: Such drama. You'd think spiders would at least die quietly.
[Syarra]: It's better when they… *Syarra blinks* …die quietly.
Gethennis shivers beside you. Chilling!
[Gethennis]: El always takes us to the nicest places.
[Syarra]: At least I don't see any more sinkholes.
[Kaszimir]: The smell.
Kaszimir looks pained.
Gethennis lays a hand on his shoulder briefly.
Syarra sniffs, looking around.
They approach the oil-slicked area full of machines.
Kaszimir eyes Sentry-bot 57-K up and down.
Kaszimir peers at Fizzcrank Mechagnome searchingly.
[Kaszimir]: What.
[Syarra]: I… don't see any gnomes.
Kaszimir points at Fizzcrank Mechagnome.
Elowel does not actually skin anything herself. Rather, she releases a magical knife that performs the task for her, neatly folding the skins into a convenient (and magical) pouch. Clean and tidy.
[Kaszimir]: It looks — but.
[Syarra]: That is a machine?
Kaszimir nods, still watching the mechagnome narrowly.
[Gethennis]: Well this is just a whole gift basket full of kittens and rainbows, isn't it.
[Kaszimir]: Could they — be mistaken? Not gnomes. But — machines?
[Syarra]: It seems to be fixing one of the other machines.
[Gethennis]: Of course they aren't gnomes.
[Gethennis]: It's some sort of construct.
[Kaszimir]: But he said. Gnomes.
[Kaszimir]: So a mistake. Perhaps.
[Gethennis]: He's a giant cow.
[Kaszimir]: Bull. Technically.
[Elowel]: It looks gnome enough to me.
Gethennis laughs at Kaszimir.
[Syarra]: It does not look gnome to me. Just metal.
Fizzcrank Mechagnome says: Maintenance initiated.
[Gethennis]: Ugh, am I agreeing with Syarra again?
Syarra nods at him with a slight smile.
[Elowel]: It's gnome shaped, alright?
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Activate counter-measures. Repel intruder.
They are not repelled. In fact, they destroy the machine and the nearby mechagnome.
Syarra nudges the mechagnome with her boot. "Still seems to be a machine."
They see the pump station in the distance.
[Syarra]: That structure, though. Could a machine build that?
[Gethennis]: Well obviously there must be some people around somewhere.
[Elowel]: You know, it would make sense if gnomes were machines under the skin. They certainly don't act like real people.
[Gethennis]: Some of them do.
[Gethennis]: Cobalt Company's captain is remarkably personlike.
[Syarra]: Captain Sparkwire? *Syarra raises an eyebrow*
[Gethennis]: Yes.
[Elowel]: Darling, you can't see past the stars in your eyes. You have a crush.
[Gethennis]: I have a useful source of information is what I have.
[Elowel]: Both can be true.
[Syarra]: You have a crush on a gnome?
[Syarra]: I suppose I have never met her.
[Gethennis]: Oh please, El, you know that all my crush-parts are withered and mummified.
Elowel smirks.
[Gethennis]: I am a heartless cad. It's well known.
[Gethennis]: She does have a crush on me, though, how could she help it?
[Elowel]: I didn't say you were in love. Please…that's something else entirely..
[Syarra]: So you've been… courting Cobalt Company's captain?
[Gethennis]: In a manner of speaking.
[Gethennis]: Ow.
[Gethennis]: Elowel, aren't you a healer or something?
[Syarra]: Did the machine hurt you? *Syarra looks at him curiously*
[Elowel]: Hm? Oh yes. Are you hurt, dear?
[Gethennis]: Shattered.
[Elowel]: I'm afraid I cannot heal wounded pride, sweetness.
[Gethennis]: Then what good are you, light of my life?
[Elowel]: I'm not 'good' at all, precious.
Elowel grins wickedly.
[Syarra]: Should we look for more sinkholes? Technology? Before we report back.
Gethennis sighs dramatically.
[Gethennis]: Yes, let's check off their whole to-do list.
[Gethennis]: Good publicity.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Warning: blood elf incursion detected!
They demolish a few more machines, and continue to look around.
[Gethennis]: I'm enjoying getting some combat practice, if we're being honest.
Gethennis flexes and shakes out his hands.
Syarra nods. "I do not do well with idleness, either."
[Gethennis]: There's a certain balance to channeling arcane energies powerfully without frying your nerve endings, and I am rusty at it.
They come to another sinkhole.
[Syarra]: Another sinkhole.
[Kaszimir]: Here. And at the quarry. How many do you think. Are below us?
Gethennis shivers beside Kaszimir. Chilling!
[Syarra]: Hopefully not many more.
Kaszimir shrugs a shoulder.
[Kaszimir]: Erupting everywhere.
Gethennis quietly snickers to himself.
Kaszimir eyes Geth direly.
They see animals slicked with oil, in a field of broken and less broken machines.
[Elowel]: Oh disgusting.
[Gethennis]: The poor thing.
Kaszimir makes a pained sound.
[Elowel]: Dont' bring it closer!
Kaszimir kneels down.
[Gethennis]: Normally I approve of putting oil on things, but this is a bit much.
[Syarra]: There's a different kind of machine here, too.
Kaszimir glares angrily at Scavenge-bot 005-B6.
[Syarra]: It may be that they leak.
Gethennis follows Kas's gaze, then unleashes arcane hell.
[Kaszimir]: Then we should. Get rid of them.
Kas, Geth and Syarra wade out into the pool of geyser water.
[Elowel]: What are you doing? Is that water…clean?
Kaszimir smiles slightly at Geth.
[Kaszimir]: No. But cleaner if these things — are gone.
[Gethennis]: I'm being helpful, El. It's a whole thing.
[Syarra]: It's barely ankle-deep.
Elowel lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
[Gethennis]: It's a thing that tends to make people famous and rich, if that helps.
Gethennis winks slyly at Elowel.
[Kaszimir]: Like. Cobalt Company?
[Gethennis]: Mm hm.
[Kaszimir]: They were here.
[Gethennis]: …They were?
Kaszimir points over yonder.
[Gethennis]: Was the Captain?
Elowel scowls.
Gethennis 's brows draw together.
[Kaszimir]: North of here. By the gnome… tower.
[Elowel]: What…was Cobalt Company doing here?
[Gethennis]: Good watching, Kas.
[Gethennis]: Yes, could you tell what they were after?
Kaszimir shrugs at Elowel. "Something gnomish. I stayed out of the… oil fields and machines."
Gethennis nods.
[Gethennis]: Maybe we'll find some clue if we poke around more.
[Kaszimir]: Not the Captain, though. Humans and a kal'dorei.
[Elowel]: Let's do it quickly. I can already feel my feet getting oilier.
Gethennis laughs at Elowel.
[Gethennis]: I'll massage them for you later.
[Elowel]: Yes, you will…with proper oil.
[Syarra]: Or you could ask, since the Captain likes you so much.
[Gethennis]: It's a bit difficult to get a safe audience with her, Syarra.
[Gethennis]: But yes, if I ask her, she will tell me.
[Gethennis]: I'm already getting intel on her squad here.
[Elowel]: I bet if you massage her feet she'll tell you more.
Elowel smirks.
There’s a crashed gnomish pilot lying on the ground not far away.
Kaszimir points at Crashed Recon Pilot.
[Gethennis]: Oh.
[Gethennis]: goodness.
[Syarra]: An injured person!
[Gethennis]: Now that is not a construct.
[Syarra]: Or dead…
Kaszimir kneels before Crashed Recon Pilot.
[Gethennis]: [Common] Are you all right?
[Elowel]: A gnome…
[Gethennis]: He is… not all right.
Kaszimir rifles through the dead gnome's possessions. He holds up a toolkit with a questioning look.
[Syarra]: Definitely dead.
[Gethennis]: Well, he won't be needing that, yes. Could be useful to the goblin.
[Syarra]: Is that the kind of technology the goblin wanted?
[Elowel]: Probably? Who knows.
[Gethennis]: I have no idea, but if I don't understand it I assume goblins would like it.
Kaszimir nods and gets to his feet.
[Gethennis]: Let's see, what else was on our to-do list… how are we doing?
Gethennis checks his notes.
[Syarra]: And the thing crashed in the water. We could see if the mule can drag it out. It's probably also… oily.
[Elowel]: Ew.
Kaszimir points at Fizzcrank Recon Pilot.
Gethennis gently pats Jenny.
[Gethennis]: Come on you smelly old thing.
Syarra looks over the pool. "There are so many things wrecked in here. What are they doing?"
[Syarra]: I see another sinkhole ahead. Let's mark it on our way?
Gethennis nods at you.
[Kaszimir]: Yes.
[Gethennis]: This place has more holes than a Rosa Knack novel.
Kaszimir eyes Gethennis up and down.
Gethennis winks slyly at Kaszimir.
Syarra shoots a puzzled glance at Geth.
A Nerubian spits on Gethennis.
[Gethennis]: It SPAT on me.
[Kaszimir]: Rude.
[Syarra]: Could do worse things.
[Gethennis]: But the disrespect.
[Syarra]: We are talking about the mule, aren't we?
[Gethennis]: No, that horrible bug thing. Spat venom at me.
[Kaszimir]: The nerrrrub. Ian.
[Syarra]: Ah.
[Syarra]: I would not worry too much about their feelings of respect.
[Gethennis]: I'm glad that others' respect doesn't concern you.
[Syarra]: I am not concerned with the respect of the Scourge. I should think you would approve of that.
[Gethennis]: Does my approval concern you?
Kaszimir regards Syarra.
Elowel observes quietly.
[Syarra]: Maybe I will answer that one day, if I come to think it may be possible to have.
[Gethennis]: I think that if your sort is capable of any feeling, then it might be best for you to deprioritize my opinion of you.
[Syarra]: I am.
[Gethennis]: I'm sorry. *But he says it like, my condolences, rather than, i apologize*
They re-enter Taunka-le Village and head to Greatfather Mahan, who was interested in sinkholes. Time for everyone to speak Orcish again!
Gethennis passes a map he's been drawing to Mahan.
Greatfather Mahan says: These are the sinkholes?
[Gethennis]: Yes.
[Gethennis]: Here, here, there.
Greatfather Mahan takes the map, but for some reason doesn't examine it.
Greatfather Mahan says: We'll use this information later.
Greatfather Mahan says: Now that we know the locations of the sinkholes, we can collapse them. Wind Tamer Barah will do it, but she'll need the hearts of frozen earth elementals.
[Gethennis]: We can do that.
Greatfather Mahan says: Thank you. You can find them to the southeast.
They head to Sage Earth and Sky, to report on the gnomes. Still in Orcish.
[Syarra]: We did not find gnomes, but we did find gnome-shaped machines. And other machines.
[Gethennis]: And dead gnomes.
Sage Earth and Sky says: Troubling news indeed. My people will be leaving this place soon, to break through the Scourge lines and get to our capital, Icemist, in the Dragonblight.
Sage Earth and Sky says: But before we go, you must handle what these gnomes have wrought.
Sage Earth and Sky says: In order to deal with these creatures of metal, I must ask you to eat a storm.
Kaszimir blinks.
[Gethennis]: I… what?
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] Is he… is he hitting on me?
Gethennis looks like he is prepared to Take One For the Team.
Sage Earth and Sky says: The storm will come to the totem behind me. You must master it and take its essence into yourself. Then you can deal with the metal creatures.
[Gethennis]: I can do this.
[Gethennis]: I'm good at taking essence into myself.
Elowel snort-smirks at Geth.
Kaszimir makes a 'hm' sound.
[Syarra]: That kind of… okay.
[Syarra]: Then Gethennis, after you?
Syarra looks perfectly happy to let him eat a storm.
Gethennis takes a deep breath.
Gethennis leads the way to the storm totem.
Storm Tempest says: You will not master me, puny blood elf!
Gethennis masters it.
Syarra looks faintly disappointed.
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] Oohhhhh that tingles.
Elowel smacks her lips.
[Syarra]: [Thalassian] This is both more and less strange than I expected.
They report back to the Sage.
[Gethennis]: I ate a storm.
Elowel giggles.
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] I could get used to this.
Gethennis salutes Sage Earth and Sky with respect.
Sage Earth and Sky says: I feel the power of the storm coursing through you! You are ready!
Sage Earth and Sky says: You now have the storm within you! This lightning rod will give you the means to focus that power and weaken the robots in the pools.
[Gethennis]: Good.
Sage Earth and Sky says: Do not bother with the mechagnomes, we have other plans for them.
[Gethennis]: I see.
[Syarra]: The what? Mecha…?
Sage Earth and Sky says: Oh, that is what the gnome-shaped machines are called. Perhaps I should have told you earlier.
[Kaszimir]: Ah.
[Gethennis]: We understand.
Sage Earth and Sky says: Go now, while the storm still rages through your bodies!
[Gethennis]: I obey.
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] Speak for yourself. I can barely understand a word this tonk is saying.
They move out towards the oil fields, sizzling all the way. They switch back to Thalassian.
[Syarra]: You don't think this is permanent, do you?
[Elowel]: I hope so! I feel fantastic.
[Kaszimir]: No.
[Gethennis]: The electricity usually fades eventually.
[Gethennis]: It feels… quite different from the arcane. Primal.
[Kaszimir]: Yes.
[Syarra]: It does not feel how I remember the arcane.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Attention all units, blood elf inside the perimeter.
The blood elfs zap the crap out of that sentry-bot.
[Gethennis]: I may do something quite savage if this goes on long.
[Kaszimir]: You would. Muss your hair.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Warning: blood elf incursion detected!
Zap zap zap go the blood elves.
[Gethennis]: I look even better mussed, honestly.
Kaszimir smiles faintly.
[Gethennis]: It's just impossible to keep me from being beautiful.
[Syarra]: Much longer with this and it will begin to stand on end.
[Gethennis]: The little hairs on the back of my neck already are. So strange.
[Gethennis]: I've never channeled anything quite like this.
[Gethennis]: The closest was the time I let a— mm, never mind.
Syarra glances at Geth curiously.
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Warning: blood elf incursion detected!
Lightning elves!
[Elowel]: Geth, my everything. Conjure me up something to drink, would you?
[Gethennis]: Of course, my adored.
[Syarra]: Is water safe, with the… *she gestures at the lightning*
[Kaszimir]: We are. The — lightning. It shouldn't harm us. More than it is doing now.
[Elowel]: We're in metal armor. If that's safe, I'm trusting the water will be.
Geth conjures up water.
[Gethennis]: There you are, my darling.
Elowel sits to have a drink, sizzling all the while.
[Elowel]: Thank you, darling.
[Syarra]: It's fine for me I was just concerned. For you.
Kaszimir smiles a little at Syarra.
Gethennis glances between Kas and Syarra.
[Gethennis]: Splendid work, everyone.
[Syarra]: Should we go back? It doesn't seem to be fading. Maybe the sage can do something.
Kaszimir makes a wry salute to Geth.
Gethennis sighs mournfully.
Another mechagnome attacks them. They kill it. Dismantle it?
[Elowel]: Wretched little imp. Just die.
[Gethennis]: I'm still unclear why someone is making machines that look exactly like gnomes.
[Syarra]: When you would expect if they had a choice, they should look like you?
Sentry-bot 57-K says: Warning: blood elf incursion detected!
Zap zap go the elves.
[Gethennis]: Well, wouldn't anyone?
[Gethennis]: But no… I'm going to have to hike down to the Tuskarr village. Again.
[Gethennis]: Because Sparkwire will know why. Guaranteed.
[Elowel]: Not before you rub my feet, you're not.
[Gethennis]: Time to break out the Kirin Tor seal again.
[Gethennis]: Of course not darling.
[Gethennis]: I always attend to the lady first.
[Syarra]: I do have contacts as well. Though I can't say how much they might tell me.
They head back to Taunka’le and saunter up the Sage. Orcish time again.
[Gethennis]: Finished.
[Syarra]: We do not need the storm anymore, thank you.
Sage Earth and Sky says: Ah, just as well. I feel the power of the storm waning in you.
Gethennis lifts his chin defiantly, how dare anyone assume him impotent.
Sage Earth and Sky says: But we move on now to bigger prey, and I think you've proven yourself capable enough to handle it!
[Gethennis]: Yes.
Sage Earth and Sky says: We move now to the mechagnomes. It is known that their leader, Gearmaster Mechazod, has four sub-chieftains.
Sage Earth and Sky says: We must put an end to them! I ask you to fiddle with their machines. That will bring them running!
[Gethennis]: The… machines… have leader?
Sage Earth and Sky says: Yes, yes, very terrifying leaders. Their names are Twonky, ED-210, Max Blasto and the Grinder.
Syarra tries not to laugh.
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] I haven't been this confused since my first pyromancy class.
Kaszimir says, "Twonky," under his breath. It costs him some effort.
Elowel giggles at Kaszimir.
[Gethennis]: Terrifying. Yes.
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] I… should consult with Sparkwire before we continue down this path.
Sage Earth and Sky says: Can I trust you to put an end to their reign of machine terror?
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] This is quite fun. Gnomes are comedic gold.
[Gethennis]: We… think, then come back.
[Syarra]: We will devise a plan. *Syarra smiles, a friendly gesture*
[Gethennis]: [Thalassian] All right El, meet me back at Warsong Hold. I'll warm up the oil.
[Syarra]: [Thalassian] Until next time.
Elowel grins.
Kaszimir nods to Sage Earth and Sky.
Gethennis nods crisply to Syarra.
[Elowel]: [Thalassian] Well done today, Hands.
Gethennis mounts up again and prepares to ride back with Kas.
Kaszimir salutes Elowel with respect.
The four of them ride off in the direction of Warsong Hold.