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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | A letter, at last! White Squad reopens communication with leadership in Borean Tundra and Ironforge with Lt. Ben Hazan's report on their activities in Howling Fjord. It is a totally normal letter from Ben. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Season 9
A thick packet arrives for Captain Jocoza Sparkwire at Valiance Keep; its exact duplicate arrives in Ironforge for Lieutenant Elohad Ference. Contained within is the below report from Lt. Ben Hazan regarding Cobalt Company's activities in Howling Fjord.
Although any number of anomalies have been reported with the mail recently, the below report appears intact. Surely there is nothing here that might seem out of the ordinary in a report from Ben. Much typical, very Ben.
FROM: Lt. Ben Hazan
TO: Capt. Jocoza Sparkwire
CC: Lt. Elohad Ference
RE: Cobalt Company Endeavors in Howling Fjord
DATE: 14 March 27
REGARDING THE INCIDENTS AT VALGARDE, WYRMSKULL VILLAGE, AND THE UTGARDE CATACOMBS, AS WELL AS DISCOVERIES PERTAINING TO THE VRYKUL
Upon landing at Valgarde in Howling Fjord, White Squad and associated specialist personnel found the place in poor order, due to the ongoing assault by a tribe of giants who had established themselves in an abandoned village nearby. It is not entirely clear why the Alliance was attempting to construct a brand-new port directly outside an intact and useable fortified coastal village, which would thus presumably have forestalled its subsequent re-occupation by giants, but that reasoning lies with the Alliance Vanguard command.
After our initial assistance in holding off an assault on Valgarde by the giants, we were enlisted by the Alliance Vice Admiral Keller to infiltrate the village (viz. Wyrmskull Village) for intelligence and to rescue Alliance scouts; a Mr. McSorf of the Explorers’ League requested that we ascertain what had become of several of his colleagues (and their research) in the village.
We were unfortunately unable to rescue a number of the Alliance scouts, as their treatment at the hands of the vrykul (as our subsequent intelligence revealed they are called) was sufficiently brutal that even those who had survived their wounds were so direly injured they were beyond healing and could not be moved. Some few Alliance personnel, however, had been taken prisoner within the village, likely for the vrykul rituals of live sacrifice. We were able to free these.
We were also unable to rescue two of Mr. McSorf’s colleagues, who were dead at the hands of the vrykul by the time we came across them. One of these had left directions to the catacombs beneath the village, however, and in these we found two of the Explorers still alive. Neither was interested in his own (or his colleague’s) welfare; both insisted only that we recover the stone tablets they had managed to procure for their research, but which the vrykul had taken from them. We performed this task successfully, including by means of a gladiatorial contest against several vrykul champions, but once we had done so, both Explorers insisted that we return with the tablets to McSorf at Valgarde in all haste, and neither could be prevailed upon to depart to safety with us.
I want my report to reflect officially that in my opinion Vice Admiral Keller displayed a lack of regard for the welfare of the soldiers under his command unbecoming of an officer of the Alliance. I would say the same of Mr. Beltrand McSorf, but it is not my place to comment on the practices of the Explorers’ League.
Mr. McSorf and his colleagues were attempting via their research to discover some history of a “missing link” in human ancestry. A draenei shaman in Valgarde, one Thoralius the Wise, advised that he had a more direct means of answering this question via shamanic spirit journey, which we undertook with his guidance. While in the spirit world, both in Wyrmskull Village and, later, at a vrykul settlement called Nifflevar, we determined that humans are in fact descended from the vrykul, who consider them to be some manner of aberrations resulting from a Titan curse. This belief caused them to turn away from their prior worship of the Titans to the worship of their “God-King” Ymiron, instead.
At some point, for reasons unknown, the majority of Northrend’s vrykul seem to have gone into hibernation or a period of dormancy. The current live sacrifice of prisoners is aimed at waking more of their people; they are aided in this effort by the Scourge, and seemingly for this reason have given their loyalty to the Lich King.
While we were in the spirit world in Wyrmskull Village, we had a disturbing direct encounter with the Lich King. He informed us that he could tell we had traveled there (viz. into the spirit world) via shamanic means, as he himself had once been a shaman. He proceeded to kill me, but I was subsequently resurrected by Lt. Paluuva.
On subsequent missions to the vrykul settlements on the bluffs above Valgarde (the aforementioned Nifflevar, e.g.) we were able to sabotage their harpoon guns after using same to inflict substantial damage on their fortifications in Wyrmskull Village.
CONFIDENTIAL REGARDING GUR YBFF BS GUR NFUOEVATRE:
Juvgr Fdhnq jnf rayvfgrq ol Ybeq Vehyba Gehroynqr bs gur Netrag Pehfnqr gb erpbire “n eryvp” bs gur Pehfnqr ybfg va gur pngnpbzof orarngu Jlezfxhyy Ivyyntr. Guvf eryvp cebirq gb or gur Nfuoevatre vgfrys. Rivqragyl vg jnf qvfcngpurq gb Abegueraq frcnengryl sebz Ybeq Gvevba Sbeqevat sbe ernfbaf bs frphevgl, naq gur cnynqva vagb jubfr pner vg jnf tvira haqregbbx na hanhgubevmrq fbyb zvffvba vagb gur pngnpbzof, jurer vg jnf ybfg. Juvgr Fdhnq jnf noyr gb erpbire gur oynqr, jvgu gur crefbany tengvghqr bs obgu Ybeqf Gehroynqr naq Sbeqevat.
N Pbasrffbe bs gur Netrag Pehfnqr, bar Rgbar Terraabgr, pnzr gb Inytneqr fhofrdhragyl gb vairfgvtngr guvf vapvqrag. V jnf vagreivrjrq naq rkcynvarq gur pvephzfgnaprf nf orfg V haqrefgbbq gurz, ohg qb abg xabj jung pbapyhfvbaf uvf vairfgvtngvba lvryqrq.
REGARDING THE MISSION INTO UTGARDE KEEP
At Vice Admiral Keller’s request, White Squad entered the vrykul stronghold of Utgarde Keep, wherein we ascertained further proof of their collaboration with the Scourge. Present there was an undead sin’dorei of a type known as “San’layn,” according to subsequent research; these are lieutenants of the Scourge, and this one appeared to be directing some strategy of the vrykul. We killed both him and his vrykul attendants.
The leader of the Wyrmskull vrykul was one called Ingvar the Plunderer. White Squad killed him as well; he was resurrected by one of the Lich King’s “val’kyr” and returned to battle, but after killing him a second time, we beheaded him to ensure he would not rise, and returned his head to Vice Admiral Keller as proof of the deed.
On a side note, we encountered in Utgarde Keep a great many of the dragon-like creatures the vrykul ride. Lt. Paluuva has determined that these are called “proto-drakes” and are perhaps primitive forebears of the dragons themselves. I find it interesting from an academic standpoint that we are encountering in Howling Fjord ancestors of both humans and dragons, as well as potentially dwarves. (More on this latter below.)
REGARDING THE EXPLORERS’ LEAGUE INVESTIGATION
A small party led by Specialist Nunuzac and comprised of Silvestre Silentstep, Oranna Stormbreaker, Pericleia, and Lucille Moore assisted in an Explorers’ League investigation on the bluffs east of Valgarde. This investigation was aimed at learning more about a newly-discovered faction of apparently native, dwarf-like beings composed entirely of metal (the “Iron Dwarves”). These appeared following some Explorers’ League archaeological efforts and seemed intent on re-burying the Explorers’ digsites for cryptic reasons.
Cobalt’s party was able to ascertain that these Iron Dwarves are part of a more widespread population extending into a region called the “Storm Peaks,” and that their northern brethren are in the process of attempting to waken a “Father” in order to neutralize the defenses of the “Pantheon.” They also made reference to attempting to cover up the Explorers’ site so that “the earth would not see what [they were] doing.” (More on this below.)
At one point the Iron Dwarves were addressed by the holographic figure of what appeared to be a Watcher, akin to the Stone Watchers in Uldaman, whom they addressed as “Loken.”
For more information on any of this, please speak directly with any member of the expedition or with Prospector Brannagen Stillwall.
REGARDING OPERATIONS AT WESTGUARD KEEP
White Squad and attendant Cobalt specialist personnel were transferred at this point to Westguard Keep, a joint fortification by the Alliance Vanguard and 7th Legion in the northwest of the region. We have operated under the direction of Captain Adams of the Alliance Vanguard.
After efforts to contain a local ecological problem instigated by the vrykul, we focused on sabotage of the Winterskorn vrykul clan, disrupting their intended assault on Westguard. From there we were dispatched north to the vrykul stronghold of Gjalerbron (pronounced “Shalerbron”), where the Scourge necromancers were working in close concert with the vrykul to awaken more of their kind. We freed a number of prisoners intended as sacrifices, substantially cut back the numbers of the Scourge, and assassinated the leader of the necromancers present. We also thwarted an attack by an undead frost wyrm on Westguard Keep.
We were additionally able to interrupt the effort by the vrykul queen Angerboda to awaken her husband, the “God-King” Ymiron, but were not able to kill Ymiron himself; the Lich King appeared to us once again and spirited Ymiron’s body away to Utgarde Pinnacle, presumably located within Utgarde Keep. We reported this incident to Captain Adams and requested Alliance sanction to re-enter Utgarde Keep in pursuit. As yet we have had no word on this.
REGARDING SQUAD OBJECTIONS
I wish to note that while we were engaged in our operations at Gjalerbron, we performed a task requested of us by Mage-Lieutenant Malister. The Mage-Lieutenant asked us to interfere in the vrykul awakening by using the necromancers’ ritual implement to awaken a number of the dormant vrykul without the requisite sacrifices. His hypothesis was that this incomplete version of the awakening ritual would prove fatal to the dormant vrykul.
White Squad carried out this request and found the Mage-Lieutenant’s hypothesis borne out; we were able to kill several of the dormant vrykul in this manner. However, two members of the squad expressed reluctance on moral grounds, as they felt we were killing sleeping — and thus defenseless, and potentially innocent — people. My own view was that as the vrykul as a group seem aligned with the Scourge and the Lich King, and since their proper ritual awakening demonstrably (per the operation’s results) requires live sacrifice of human and other prisoners, the operation was justified.
I would like my peoples’ reservations noted for the record, however, in case Cobalt leadership feels that my own judgement in the matter was incorrect. I would also like to note that despite their voiced concerns, both squad members carried out their field orders respectfully and as directed.
REGARDING A FORSAKEN PLAGUE
We were further tasked at Westguard Keep with investigating Forsaken activity near a vrykul village to the south. We were able to determine that the Forsaken were in the process of developing a new strain of plague. The plague had not yet been “perfected,” in the words of one of their own apothecaries. Alchemist Ismene Hazan, working in concert with a journeyman alchemist of Westguard, concluded that the finished version of the plague was intended to “dissolve the internal organs” of a living organism.
This latter fact — the apparent targeting of living organisms — suggests it is unlikely this plague is meant as a weapon against the Scourge. Whether or not the Forsaken meant to confine its use to the vrykul, Captain Adams felt it was too great a risk to allow the Forsaken possession of such a weapon, and White Squad destroyed their stores of it.
REGARDING THE INCIDENT AT WHISPER GULCH
It was requested of us by Westguard personnel — acting on Captain Adams’s orders — that we descend into the mines opened in the gulch behind Westguard in search of a party of Explorers’ League miners who had vanished therein. Subsequent would-be rescuers had evidently likewise disappeared.
We entered the gulch as directed, and made a deeply disturbing discovery: The missing dwarves were present, and still engaged in mining a strange metal — dark and oily — but they were entirely mad, and attacked us despite our offers of aid. They ranted about some sinister “it” that could see thoughts and would not allow us to leave.
As we proceeded further into the mine, and began to collect ore samples (as also requested at Westguard), White Squad ourselves began to hear persistent and insidious whispers, each of them individually directed and seeming within our own minds. They were disquieting in the extreme, and suggested such things as imminent betrayal by our comrades or our own betrayal of them. I am grateful to report that White Squad cohesion and loyalty was such that we escaped the mines as a group and with our minds entirely intact, but we were all profoundly shaken. None of the dwarves could be saved.
I recommended subsequently to authorities at Westguard that access to the gulch should be closed off entirely, and that the ore samples White Squad had retrieved should be dropped over the edge and not examined further. To my knowledge, this latter task was carried out. Captain Adams had put forth a request that we return to the gulch with the objective of eliminating the leader of the former Explorers’ team, as precursor to a full-scale assault by Westguard soldiers. I told him that I would not be leading Cobalt personnel back down there and that it was my strongest recommendation that no one from the Keep should have anything to do with the place. Again, to my knowledge, this protocol has been observed.
URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL REGARDING THE WHISPERS IN THE GULCH
Sbyybjvat gur nobir riragf naq fbzr pbafhygngvba jvgu Cebfcrpgbe Oenaantra Fgvyyjnyy, vg vf bhe pbapyhfvba gung gurer znl or na Byq Tbq cerfrag orarngu Abegueraq. Va pbairefngvba jvgu Fvyirfger Fvyragfgrc ertneqvat gur Rkcyberef’ Yrnthr vairfgvtngvba vagb gur Veba Qjneirf, jr pbafvqrerq jurgure gur Veba Qjneirf znl or njner bs fhpu n cerfrapr. Guvf pbhyq rkcynva gurve erznexf nobhg uvqvat gurve npgvivgvrf sebz “gur rnegu,” naq gurve qrfver gb pybfr hc inevbhf qvfgheonaprf bs gur rnegu; bar zvtug vasre gurl zrnag obgu gur Rkcyberef’ nepunrbybtvpny qvtf naq gur zvar va gur thypu.
Nf sne nf V nz njner, ubjrire, ab Veba Qjnes cerfrapr unf orra rapbhagrerq va be nebhaq Juvfcre Thypu.
Va pbafvqrengvba bs jurgure be abg cbffrffvba ol na Byq Tbq be fbzr bgure sbepr zvtug nppbhag sbe Cevapr Negunf Zrarguvy’f genafsbezngvba vagb gur Yvpu Xvat, Cebfcrpgbe Fgvyyjnyy bofreirq gung gur bevtvany Qrngu Xavtugf jrer perngrq ol chggvat bep fbhyf vagb uhzna (fcrpvsvpnyyl, cnynqva) obqvrf. Bepf cenpgvpr funznavfz; vs Cevapr Negunf haqrejrag n fvzvyne Qrngu Xavtug genafsbezngvba, guvf pbhyq rkcynva uvf erznexf gb hf va Jlezfxhyy Ivyyntr ertneqvat uvf sbezre funznavp cenpgvprf.
Cyrnfr abgr gung gur nobir vf nyy gurbel onfrq ba gur rivqrapr ng unaq, naq abg nfpregnvarq snpg. Cyrnfr abgr shegure gung V nz xrrcvat gur znggre nf pbasvqragvny nf cbffvoyr ng cerfrag gb cerirag jvqrfcernq cnavp (va gur znggre bs na Byq Tbq) be shgure vasynzzngvba bs Ubeqr-Nyyvnapr grafvbaf (va gur znggre bs Cevapr Negunf’f cbffrffvba) jura jr gjb snpgvbaf ner zrnag gb or pbbcrengvat va gur renqvpngvba bs gur Fpbhetr.