(2023-03-19) Well, Northrend's Fun (S9 E9 - White Squad Log)

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	White Squad heads out once again, and this time discovers what it's like to have a quiet afternoon of bringing people good news, making friends, and picking up feathers. Naturally, talk turns to cannibalism.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 9

Ismene eyes Boozy Beernozzle with disfavor.

When Ismene Hazan disapproves of you, you might want to rethink your life.

Peppy Wrongnozzle says: Hey, bartender, another round!

Bartender Jason Goodhutch says: Peppy, I swear you could drink a dwarf under the table.

[Ismene]: Mr. Goodhutch, you really shouldn't encourage her. Her liver is tiny, it can only take so much.

Bartender Jason Goodhutch says: If I don't serve her, things explode.

Ismene sighs.

Ben jogs down the stairs, raking his hair back with one hand. He spots Mizzy by the bar and smiles.

Peppy Wrongnozzle says: That's a pretty dressh, Celeste. You're sho pretty. I love you guys …hic!

Innkeeper Celeste Goodhutch says: Thank you, sweety. We love you, too.

Ismene sighs again. "Really, Mrs. Goodhutch…"

[Ben]: Mizmain– hey, Mrs. Goodhutch.

Ben nods to the innkeeper.

Ismene turns to smile at Ben because Ben. "Good afternoon, Mr. Hazan."

[Ben]: Missus. Are you scoldin' Goodhutch again?

Ismene tries to look chastened. She doesn't. "Well, I don't want to have to help Peppy grow a new liver every week."

Ismene turns and… er… doesn't go on her tiptoes and turn her face toward Ben because now is Professional Time.

[Ben]: That is fair of you. But maybe Peppy is the one to take it up with. *Ben raises his voice at this last, eyeing Peppy Wrongnozzle. Then he stoops to kiss Ismene anyway. No one's looking.*

Ismene brightens as Ben is highly, if momentarily, Unprofessional.

[Ismene]: I tried that too. She threatened to ruin my herbal stores by putting them all in liquor. You can't put them all in liquor, most of them won't work!

[Aiseia]: Hey, there!

[Ben]: You'd think a 'prentice alchemist would know — oh, hey, Ace.

[Ismene]: Hi, Ace.

Paluuva descends the stairs, smiling to her companions.

Ismene smiles at Paluuva.

[Paluuva]: Archenon poros, friends.

[Ben]: Ma'am.

Ben nods respectfully to Paluuva.

The bartender hums a tune while working.

[Ismene]: Have I ever told you how nicely the tabard suits your skin tone, Ambassador? It's quite lovely.

Ben considers the tabard and Paluuva's skin tone. Huh.

[Ismene]: Blue looks nice on most people, of course. I wish I weren't pink. Everyone's pink.

Ismene holds out an arm, critically examining her skin.

Paluuva actually blushes softly, her skin turning a slightly deeper cerulean. "Thank you, Ismene. You are so kind. Such a compliment from such a beautiful young woman."

[Ben]: … everyone ain't pink. *Ismene's brown husband eyes her.*

[Ismene]: Well, besides you and Niris, all the humans I know are pink. And most of the dwarves. *She nods toward Ace.* And the gnomes, too.

Ben snorts, but he slides an arm around Ismene's waist to soften any sting in it. "Northern people."

Ismene muffles a giggle.

[Ismene]: Do they make skin dyes like they do hair dyes? I could probably whip up a blue…

[Paluuva]: We encountered a root on a world a few millennia ago that turned draenei skin a very bright pink. It was harmless, otherwise. It became quite the source of pranks among the youth.

Ismene laughs. "I'll see what I can make. Maybe you can startle everyone next time!"

Ben grins. He takes his silver watch from his belt and flips it open.

Ismene absently flaps a hand behind her. A wash of golden light settles over Peppy.

[Ismene]: Are the others outside?

[Ben]: I dunno. Better look.

Ben eyes the ghostly shadow in the doorway, and then Rae.

[Ben]: Hey, Rae.

Ismene shivers and hugs herself tightly. She whispers to Ben, "You see it too?"

Aiseia waves at Ralaea.

Ben nods to Ismene and then bends to murmur in her ear.

Ralaea is scribbling something down on a paper on top of the mailbox. She nods absently to the others.

Ismene shakes her head a little.

Lena walks out of the inn and waves at the assembled.

[Ismene]: Everyone ready?

Ben glances at Lena as she emerges. He nods to her and puts the watch away again.

Ismene takes a step back so she can see them all.

[Aiseia]: I'm ready.

Ismene casts a bajillion blessings.

[Ismene]: Whew.

[Ismene]: Now I need a drink myself! I'll go have some cider and see if I can't set an example. *She grins* Stay safe. Take care of Ben, please.

Ben smiles down at Mizzy.

Ismene bounces up quick to peck Ben on the cheek and scurries inside to the warmth.

Ralaea stuffs the paper into the mailbox and turns around. "Oh. We're all here."

[Ben]: We are all here. We ain't interruptin', are we, Rae?

[Ralaea]: Uh… no. We're… I mean it's time for work, right?

[Ben]: Yes'm it is.

[Ben]: Okay, this week we got two jobs: First, the expeditionary force is headin’ north into the hills from the Fjord, and they are establishin’ a northern base for that operation.

[Ben]: Quartermaster Brevin here has asked on Captain Adams’ behalf for us to head up there — Fort Wildevar, it is called — and check on the preparations, see if we can lend a hand with anything to keep the mission movin’.

Lena nods. "Will we be moving up there, then?"

[Ben]: I do not know. I would like us to, for sure, on account of — you know.

Lena darts a glance in the general direction of the gulch.

[Ben]: But from what the quartermaster is sayin', I ain't sure they are fit to house more people just yet.

[Ralaea]: Wouldn't be sorry to see this place go, so I hope so.

[Ben]: We will see what it looks like.

[Ben]: … an' if we can pitch in to get 'em ready for more people faster, I am happy to do it.

[Ben]: Anyhow. Second thing is, a fellow here in Westguard come to me confidential to say he’s been worried since the whole thing with the Whisper Gulch, on account of he got a daughter in the League who went north with a different excavation.

[Ben]: He wants us to check in with her. Since the place is north of here anyhow, I reckon we can stop off there an’ see they’re okay.

[Ben]: Okay?

[Lena]: Hope we got good news for him.

[Ben]: Me, too.

[Ben]: Okay. So let's get movin', then.

[Ralaea]: Long as there's no more evil gulches further north.

[Ben]: Well I admit I ain't happy about the Explorers diggin' more, considerin'… what we hear. But.

[Paluuva]: They are armed with knowledge now. But it is an Explorer's purpose to explore.

They ride north, crossing over Whisper Gulch in silence and without a glance. They haven’t gone very far before they spot cranes and archaeological scaffolding in the distance. They head for the site.

[Ben]: This looks like the place. Y'all see a dwarf girl?

Ben looks around.

Lena peers over the digsite. "This one's got gargoyles."

It does, indeed, have gargoyles.

[Ben]: Ah.

Ben points at Overseer Irena Stonemantle.

[Ben]: Ma'am? Miss Stonemantle? Your dad sent us up — uh, we're Cobalt Company. He sent us to check in on you.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: My father? Grrrr, he’s so overprotective! I’m an Overseer wi’ the Explorers’ League! This is so embarrassin’.

Ralaea keeps a wary eye on the gargoyles.

[Paluuva]: We do not mean to step on your toes, Overseer. But we are at your disposal if you require any assistance.

Lena looks from Irena to the site and says, "I see you got everything under control…?"

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: Under control? Hah — uh, actually… ?

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: We have got a few troubles of our own. As ye can see.

[Ralaea]: Just tell us what needs doing.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: The first problem is that although we’ve got flyin’ machines now to help us wi’ the excavation, things ought to be movin’ quicker — except we’re short on qualified pilots. And we need good'uns.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: As ye can see, the excavation's, uh. A bit dodgy for flyin' at the moment. I don’t suppose ye’ve an engineer among your lot who could pitch in?

[Lena]: Do they need to be gnomes? Only, I mostly see gnomes flying.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: Ach, we'll take anyone as can move a plane like they know how!

Ben looks at Rae. He raises an eyebrow.

[Ralaea]: That shouldn't be too difficult.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle surveys Rae hopefully.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: It’s just that wi’ these stories folk are tellin’ of the Gulch, an’ with things gettin’ worse in Rivenwood to the north of us, I would like to get things wrapped up here as quick as we can.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: I’d be obliged if ye could have a chat with one of my chief archaeologists. Ye’ll find him over on the platform by the flying machines.

Lena peers at a Steel Gate Flying Machine searchingly.

[Ben]: Sure. We can — we got our engineer, here. We can do that.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: Also, ah — before ye go, a personal request? My betrothed, Jaren, went down to the Chillmere Coast to investigate rumors of artifacts there.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: But he’s been gone a while, and there are all these stories, and murlocs down there besides….

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: If ye have the time, would ye be willin’ to see he’s all right? The way he took down to the beach is just to the southwest of here.

[Ralaea]: Oh, actual murlocs this time?

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: What d'ye — aye, actual murlocs.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle looks puzzled.

[Lena]: Are you hoping for murlocs? *Lena mutters.*

[Ben]: Just, we seen some… other ones, over to Borean Tundra. Is all.

[Ralaea]: Better than mouthlocs. Familiar, at least.

[Ben]: But yeah. We will check it out for you, miss.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle takes a deep breath and smiles gratefully.

Overseer Irena Stonemantle says: Thank ye kindly. Cobalt Company, was it? Thank ye.

[Ben]: Sir? You the archaeologist in charge over here?

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard says: Aye, that's right. Shovelbeard. Irena sent ye over, did she? Good! The more hands, the lighter the liftin’, aye?

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard eyes them dubiously. "One o' ye's a pilot?"

Lena points at Rae.

[Ralaea]: Shovelbeard. Is that like Shoveltusks?

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard draws himself up indignantly. "The Shovelbeards are Explorers goin' back… generations of minin', missy! And — oh, you're the pilot?"

Ralaea shrugs. "Yessir."

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard narrows his eyes. He shrugs.

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard says: Here’s the keys to the flyin’ machine. All ye’ve got to do is get in there and rescue the sacks o’ relics our lads down there have pulled up, and get them up tae the platforms here.

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard offers out some keys, and nods toward the crane-suspended platforms.

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard says: And be sharp about it! Overseer Stonemantle wants this moved along quick!

[Ralaea]: Sure thing. Shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

[Ben]: … Rae's got it, sir.

Ben eyes the dwarf sternly.

[Paluuva]: Light be with you, Rae.

Ralaea inspects the machine, then climbs in.

Ben moves to the edge of the platform to watch warily, his arms folded across his chest.

Aiseia yells: Wooo! Go, Rae!

Ben grins at Ace.

Aiseia cheers at Ralaea!

Ben claps for Rae.

[Ralaea]: Wasn't that bad.

[Paluuva]: Well done!

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard eyes Ralaea up and down.

Lena smiles. "Plane held together well!"

Ralaea eyes Shovelbeard back. Maybe wondering if beards can be used for shoveling.

Chief Archaeologist Shovelbeard says: Well, a fine job, I must say. And we’re grateful for the help — this’ll put us ahead of schedule enough tae get us out of here soon.

[Ben]: Good news. An' good work, Rae.

[Ralaea]: Yeah. Thanks.

Aiseia peers at Ralaea searchingly.

[Ben]: That ain't take too long, thanks to Rae's expert pilot skills, so I reckon we can see about Miss Stonemantle's fiance?

[Ben]: Murlocs shouldn't be much a problem neither, if murlocs is what he's up to.

Lena nods, looking at Rae with a bit of concern.

Ben glances at Rae too.

[Aiseia]: Sure. Let's go!

[Ben]: … we all good?

Paluuva nods.

They mount up again, and head toward the southwestern bluffs.

[Ben]: Oh. A proper path.

[Ralaea]: A bit steep in places.

[Ben]: Yeah. Not a great path for horses. Made for rams, maybe?

[Aiseia]: Rams would be perfect.

Ralaea squeezes Widow's reins.

Ben glances at Rae and Widow and smiles faintly.

Lena scans the grass. "I don't see murlocs, just a bunch of crabs."

[Ben]: Yeah. I see crabs too. Anyone see a dwarf, more to the point?

Ben peers around, searchingly.

[Aiseia]: Tree.

[Lena]: Oh, wait, yeah. By the tree.

[Ben]: Yeah, I see trees too. I– oh. Yeah.

There is a dwarf crouching behind a nearby tree. The gang approaches him.

[Ben]: Sir?

Explorer Jaren says: Oh, hullo! What brings you lot?

[Ben]: Your fiancee? Miss Stonemantle? She got worried about you.

Explorer Jaren beams.

Explorer Jaren says: Irena was concerned about me? She gets that from her father, you know.

[Ben]: … ah. Yeah. I can see that.

Explorer Jaren says: Originally I came down here to investigate rumors about artifacts to be dug up. I knew there were murlocs along this stretch of coast, but never in a million years expected to see this.

[Lena]: See what?

The explorer pokes his head out to peer around the tree.

Lena peers after him.

Explorer Jaren says: The Scourge are out there! And they’re changing murlocs, of all things, into the walking dead! I think it’s our duty to do something about this, but I didn’t come armed with much more than survey maps and a trowel.

[Ralaea]: Uh. What?

Ben 's attention sharpens immediately. "What?"

[Aiseia]: They made murlocs worse?

[Paluuva]: Scourge murlocs?

Paluuva frowns, shaking her head.

[Ralaea]: Does that make them Scourgelocs?

Explorer Jaren nods earnestly. "Scourged — um." He eyes Rae.

[Aiseia]: Sometimes I hate this place.

Ralaea eyes Explorer Jaren back. She is serious.

Explorer Jaren says: Well. Er. Think you could take out a chunk of those Scourge?

[Ben]: Yessir, we can.

Lena nods.

Explorer Jaren eyes Rae like he's a little worried about something. He clears his throat and nods absently to the group.

[Lena]: I guess you had a point. Asking about whether they were actual murlocs, Rae.

[Ralaea]: Well, it's Northrend. I guess what did we expect if not Scourge.

[Ben]: Okay. Let's go find some… Scourgelocs.

[Lena]: Oh, crystals. Like in the invasion.

[Ben]: Oh, hell. That is for sure Scourge. Yeah.

Ralaea frowns at the necromancers.

[Lena]: Let's protect the murlocs, then?

[Ben]: … protect the murlocs. Uh. Sure?

[Lena]: Never thought I'd see common cause with them.

They make their way out toward the beach; it isn’t long before they’re swarmed with Scourge necromancers and strange wraithlike creatures. Which they kill.

The fallen creature had a strange device in its clutches. It has a jewel set in it that resembles the shadowy crystals atop the Scourge pedestals.

[Ben]: … what's it got there?

[Aiseia]: It's a… gizmo. Bad magic edition.

[Ralaea]: Agreed.

Aiseia shrugs. "Best I can guess."

[Lena]: Looks like a crystal set in it? *Lena peers at the device.*

[Ben]: Lena? You got magic thoughts?

Ben picks it up gingerly and offers it to her.

“Seems like maybe a portable version of what they got set up here. Something like,” Lena says after taking it and looking it over.

[Ben]: Huh. Well. We can take it back with us, see if the Explorer knows.

[Ralaea]: It's not going to Scourge us, is it?

[Lena]: We'd best not leave it to the Scourge, for sure. *Lena turns to Rae and shakes her head.* It's not that sort of thing, Rae.

[Lena]: Far's I know they'd still have to kill us first.

[Ben]: Still, on the safe side — you want we go back an' ask him now? Let's do that.

Explorer Jaren blinks. "Scourge all dead? That was damned fast work!"

[Ben]: Oh, uh, not yet, sir. We found a thing.

Ben gestures to Lena.

Lena holds it out. "Seems like connected to their crystal setup."

Explorer Jaren says: What? What’s that, then?

[Paluuva]: Do you have any idea what it might be?

Explorer Jaren accepts the device.

Explorer Jaren says: Ah! I know what this is! I’ve seen those necromancers wield the like! It’s a controlling device for the scourging crystals!

Explorer Jaren nods at Lena.

Explorer Jaren says: I bet anything that it can be used to shut them down, too. Hmm.

[Ralaea]: The heck is a scourging crystal?

Explorer Jaren says: Did you see those great dark crystals out there? Those are the scourging crystals. They're foci for the necromancers' magic. Helps 'em spread it faster.

Ralaea crosses her arms. "That's… a straightforward name for them I guess."

[Aiseia]: It's a crystal that… makes the Scourge spread faster.

Aiseia sighs until all the air is gone from her lungs.

Explorer Jaren turns the device carefully in his hands. His eyes light up.

Explorer Jaren says: Look! Look at the button here on the side. I bet if you get close enough to one of those things, this could be used to power down that force field protecting it.

Explorer Jaren says: Then it would be a simple matter of destroying the crystal before its shield goes back up.

Explorer Jaren says: What do you say? It seems like the least we can do to keep the Scourge from making more of their own kind.

[Lena]: Oh, that sounds easy enough.

[Ben]: We will take care of it. Yeah.

Explorer Jaren holds the device out to Lena again.

Lena takes it back. "I can use it for us, so nobody else gets any, you know, fel or whatever."

[Ben]: Okay. 'preciate you.

[Ben]: Hey, speakin' of. You know Missus Lambert's up here?

[Lena]: I think I saw her earlier? She might not have seen me, though.

[Ben]: Oh, huh. She's s'pose to be talkin' to you. Per me an' the Captain.

Lena turns to the others. "Warlock I met once. Didn't realize she was up in Northrend."

They’re approaching one of the Scourge crystals. It is conveniently unguarded. (Because White Squad has just murdered all the necromancers standing around it, for convenience.) It is, however, projecting a strange beam of violet light at a nearby murloc. The murloc does not look at all well.

[Ralaea]: Hey. That beam…

[Ben]: Uh. That looks like a Scourge murloc over there.

[Ralaea]: That how it works? They get close and it just… zaps them?

Ben shrugs at Rae.

[Lena]: Okay, device time…

Lena walks up to the crystal and hits the button.

True to the Explorer’s speculations, the glimmering shell of energy around the crystal evaporates. Rae steps in immediately and smashes the crystal. A moment later, the entire pedestal crumbles away.

[Ben]: … he was right. That ain't too complicated.

[Lena]: Probably they got more of them around.

[Ben]: Okay, let's get any others, then.

[Lena]: Doesn't seem to have hurt me any, not that I'd notice.

[Ben]: Reckon Paluuva would.

[Lena]: Paluuva, I seem alright?

Paluuva peers at Lena.

[Paluuva]: You seem healthy to me, Lena.

[Ben]: Okay, then.

[Ralaea]: Those murlocs look alive still. Some of them.

[Ben]: Yeah, ain't seem to get all of 'em yet.

[Ben]: Wouldn't like to see what happens if we leave those Scourged ones loose with 'em though.

[Lena]: You know how murlocs spread… plagued murlocs… *Lena shudders.*

[Ben]: 'Nother crystal.

Chillmere Oracle attempts to run away in fear!

Necrotech attempts to run away in fear!

[Lena]: Looks to be all the crystals?

[Ben]: I did not see others. Anyone else?

[Ben]: See any?

Ralaea shakes her head.

[Paluuva]: I believe we've finished them off.

They ride back along the now-empty beach, and then over to the stand of trees at the foot of the hill-path where Explorer Jaren remains concealed.

[Ben]: Sir. We seen to the Scourge an' their crystals.

Explorer Jaren says: Nice! Ha ha! Well done, friends!

Explorer Jaren says: If you don't mind, I'll hold on to that device. For academic purposes?

Explorer Jaren holds a hand out to Lena questioningly.

[Lena]: I… was gonna break it. But yeah, in case they come back?

Explorer Jaren nods.

Lena reluctantly hands over the device.

Explorer Jaren tucks it carefully away in his prospector's pack. He pats the bag and straightens again.

[Ralaea]: Long as it doesn't summon the crystal things, it's probably fine.

Explorer Jaren says: All right, I’ll be all right on my own to make my way back up the cliff to the excavation and meet Irena there. If we run into each other at Westguard later, I’ll buy you all a round, aye?

[Ben]: Sure. Sure thing. Get back safe, sir.

[Ralaea]: Don't go through the gulch, is all.

[Paluuva]: Light be with you, Explorer.

They make their way back up the steep switchback trail to level ground.

[Ben]: Okay, now. Fort Wildevar. North… east.

Ben consults a map.

Off they go.

Ralaea eyes the tower in silence as they pass.

[Ralaea]: Colder up here.

Ben makes a face at the snow.

Ben eyes the skeleton structures rising ahead.

[Lena]: That the fort over there? Different kinda style.

[Ben]: Reckon that is the place.

[Ben]: Alliance colors.

They ride through the makeshift barricades that currently serve as the fort’s outer defenses and into the bustling fledgling outpost. Apart from the sentries who wave them through, no one pays them much attention; the place is much too busy.

[Ben]: We are lookin' for a… Gil someone.

[Lena]: Just… someone who looks like a Gil?

[Ben]: That is all the quartermaster said. "Gil."

[Ben]: Let's get flight clearance while we're at it.

[Ralaea]: Looks like a lot of civilian types here.

[Ben]: Yeah. Huh.

They approach the flight master, James Ormsby, to get their passes stamped.

Ben nods to James Ormsby.

[Ben]: Sir, I don't s'pose you can point us at Gil?

James Ormsby squints. "Gil Grisert? He'll be over by the bonfire."

[Ben]: That's the fellow. Thanks.

[Lena]: By the fire? Oh good.

[Ralaea]: There's a bonfire?

Lena happily sidles up to the fire, stretching out her hands for warmth.

Lena looks at the three men by the fire. "One of you all Gil?"

Gil Grisert glances over warily. "That's me."

[Ben]: Ah. Cobalt Company, sir. Sent up from Westguard by Brevin to check on progress here?

Gil Grisert says: So the quartermaster sent you?

Gil Grisert looks relieved.

Lena nods.

Gil Grisert says: To be honest, we’re running a bit behind and we’re going to need some help making our goals if we’re to get the northward operation launched on time.

[Lena]: Buildings look like they've gone up pretty well. What're you missing?

Gil Grisert says: The vanguard of our forces will be arriving within days. The soldiers will be expecting their winter gear to be prepped, but we’ve still got coats and cloaks to make.

Gil Grisert says: We’ve been using spotted hippogryph down for warm linings, but our stock won’t last and our people are working their fingers to the bone getting everything else in order. Buildings and such, as you see.

Gil Grisert nods at Lena.

[Lena]: So you need… what, feathers?

Gil Grisert says: We do. I know it may seem trivial, but if our soldiers aren’t outfitted, frostbite’ll get us before the Scourge has a chance.

Gil Grisert says: The down is dropped by the molting hippogryphs all around the fort. If you collect all you can while you’re out there, you’d be doing us a huge service.

Ben furrows his brow. "We can… collect feathers for you, sure."

Paluuva chuckles softly, murmuring, "Not every important mission is slaying undead dragons."

[Ralaea]: If we had to kill undead dragons all the time…it'd be exhausting.

[Lena]: Anything else, while we're out collecting 'em?

Gil Grisert says: As a matter of fact… Operations in our mine seem to have stalled, and we’ve got weapons and armor to make. Can you have a word with Foreman Colbey up by the gryphons, and see what the holdup is?

[Ben]: Okay. Will do.

Lena smiles reassuringly at Gil.

Gil Grisert smiles back at Lena hopefully.

[Lena]: At least we got something definitely good to do.

Ben nods at Lena.

[Ben]: Dunno how soon before this place can house. What you reckon?

Ben looks around.

[Ralaea]: They've got…some stuff up?

[Lena]: Don't even have to kill the hippogryphs, just pick up feathers. And yeah, I dunno, buildings look pretty sturdy?

[Ralaea]: I'd still take a tent to where we're at now.

[Ben]: Guess the more pressure we can take off 'em with the other stuff, the faster they get housin' to spare for people like us. Ah. Sir?

Foreman Colbey is berating a nearby sentry, who is endeavoring to ignore him.

Foreman Colbey says: What's a guy gotta do to get some help around here? The Alliance needs that ore!

Foreman Colbey says: Are you deaf?! I'll be there when Captain Adams is flogging you for holding up the Alliance's advance!

Ben peers at Foreman Colbey searchingly.

[Ben]: Sir? Gil Grisert sent us up to check on the holdup with the mine.

Foreman Colby says: What’s the holdup? What’s the holdup? I’ll tell you what the damn holdup is — there’s a giant yeti in the mine, blocking our tunnel!

Foreman Colby says: He’s a cunning bastard, hides out in our adits and ambushes our men. We’ve tried laying traps and smoking him out, but nothing’s worked.

Foreman Colby says: I’m thinking maybe we could lay some bait to draw it out, and then if we had some proper fighters to handle it….

Foreman Colby looks around at the group.

[Lena]: Huh. They got yeti down in Hillsbrad, but I never heard of 'em causing that much of a problem.

[Ben]: How big can it be?

Foreman Colby says: GIANT! Giant! Enormous!

[Lena]: Five of us ought to be able to handle one yeti, however big it is.

Foreman Colby says: Like I say, first you'll have to find him. I recommend luring him out before he gets the drop on you, like he's done too many of my crew.

[Ben]: We can do that, I reckon.

[Ralaea]: Well. Alright. As long as he's not Scourged.

[Ralaea]: Not sure I want to see a Scourged yeti. What would we even call that?

Foreman Colby says: A Scourged — uh.

Foreman Colby looks unsettled.

[Lena]: Scourgeti?

Ben snorts.

Foreman Colby stares at them all.

[Lena]: Anyway, we got this.

[Lena]: Don't you worry, sir.

Foreman Colby says: Fantastic. *The foreman looks deeply relieved.* The snowy areas around here are full of frosthorn rams. If you can hunt a few of them for their meat, that ought to lure the monster out.

[Ben]: Ram meat. Ram meat an' feathers. Okay.

[Ralaea]: We're not feeding him mine.

[Lena]: For sure, no. Yours is yours.

[Paluuva]: Forgive me… what exactly is a yeti?

[Lena]: They're like… *Lena gestures size vaguely.* Hairy? Big claws.

[Ben]: Big. Big like, uh. You seen gorillas, ever?

[Paluuva]: I have, in Stranglethorn Vale.

[Ben]: So it is kind of like — would you say, Lena? Gorilla… ish?

[Lena]: Gorillaish, yeah. But maybe like twice as tall?

Paluuva 's brow lifts.

[Ben]: Yeah, like… real big gorillas. In the snow. With horns.

[Ben]: Anyway.

They ride back out through the barricades.

[Ben]: Eyes out for feathers.

[Lena]: Guess they got elementals up here too.

[Ben]: Be pretty as hell up here if it was not so damn cold.

[Lena]: Actually, yeah. The trees are real pretty.

[Lena]: Rams are where, up in the mountains?

[Ben]: He said 'snowy.'

[Ralaea]: It's all snowy.

[Ben]: It is all snowy. Rams maybe more to the mountains?

Aiseia points at Lurielle.

[Lena]: Oh!!! Is that a dryad? *Lena whispers.*

Ben peers at Lurielle searchingly.

[Ben]: Looks like, *Ben whispers back.*

[Aiseia]: I think so!

[Ralaea]: Pretty flowers near them.

Lena says in a hush, "They're so graceful."

[Paluuva]: They are quite beautiful.

[Ralaea]: What's the difference between them and centaur?

[Ben]: They ain't, like — the centaurs are like wild… beast folk? The dryads are, like, druidy somehow?

[Ben]: Like nature spirit people.

[Lena]: Centaurs are like… not so graceful, and smelly, and mean. From what I hear.

[Ben]: An' vicious as hell.

[Aiseia]: Centaurs are druidy too, sometimes.

[Ralaea]: Huh. Okay. I'll take your word for it.

[Paluuva]: I believe this would be a question for the likes of Caspis, for an educated answer.

Ben nods at Paluuva. "Fair."

[Ben]: … hey, now we can ask that kind of thing, too.

[Lena]: We can, now, right? He's just a boat ride away.

Lena smiles at Ben. "Yeah."

[Paluuva]: Indeed.

[Ben]: Anyhow. Let's let these ones be. Dryad business, prob'ly. We got work to the Fort.

Ben points at a Spotted Hippogryph.

[Ben]: Them hippogryphs are handsome.

[Ben]: Wonder if you could ride on one, like the night elf ones.

[Lena]: I see a ram.

[Ben]: Feathers.

Aiseia points at a Thornvine Creeper.

Ben peers at the Thornvine Creeper searchingly.

[Ben]: What the hell?

Ralaea points at a Blacksouled Keeper.

[Ralaea]: Is that a centaur?

[Lena]: I don't… I don't know.

[Ben]: Oh. Uh. I mean, it looks like — yeah. I can't tell.

[Paluuva]: Hmm… that, I believe is a creature more closely related to dryads.

[Ben]: I don't know if there's boy dryads? Wait, no, Cenarion was one, wasn't he? So, yeah.

[Ralaea]: Are they called something else? Or just boy dryads?

[Ben]: Boyads.

Please note that Ben said the above in lieu of the off-color thing he wanted to say instead. Admire his self-restraint.

[Aiseia]: No idea!

[Paluuva]: Cenarius was the father of the dryads, and those beings. Sometimes called keepers.

[Paluuva]: But again, I do not wish to speak too authoritatively on this subject. I have only barely scratched the surface of what Caspis knows in unfathomable detail.

[Ben]: I can see why they want all the feathers they can get. *Ben is clearly trying not to teeth-chatter.*

[Aiseia]: Stuffing a pillow with hen's teeth would be faster, too.

Ben laughs at Ace.

[Ralaea]: T-teeth?

[Ben]: She means the feathers is pretty scarce.

[Ralaea]: …Oh.

[Ben]: Maybe they picked the place over pretty good already.

[Ralaea]: Can also see why the Scourge picked this place. They don't get cold, do they?

[Ben]: Guess not.

[Lena]: Don't reckon. Guess we could ask some of the ones on our side, if they'll talk and not make plagues.

[Paluuva]: I imagine they thrive in the cold. It would slow any decay they might suffer.

[Ralaea]: It slows decay?

[Ben]: Cold? Yeah.

[Ben]: S'why you put meat an' all in ice-houses. Or mage boxes.

[Ralaea]: Hmm…

[Lena]: Hmm?

Ben pauses to look back at Rae. He looks like he wants to ask her a question, but then changes his mind and looks ahead again.

They have, speaking of meat, by this point collected sufficient ram meat to create a lure for the yeti. They head back in through the barricades, and ride up to the mine road.

Ben nods to Foreman Colbey.

[Ben]: Goin' in, sir.

Wildervar Miner says: If we don't expand the mine, there's no way we'll get all the ore we need. Captain Adams'll have our hides!

[Ralaea]: They all seem to have an… opinion of our good Captain Adams.

[Ben]: Yeah. You got that impression of him? I ain't got that impression. But.

[Ben]: Okay, quiet now.

They venture cautiously into the mine. As they near the end of the current excavations, a low growl reverberates, and suddenly a pair of enormous eyes gleams down at them from a side shaft. Like, way down at them.

[Lena]: And… that is a big yeti.

[Paluuva]: That is much larger than a gorilla.

[Ben]: Rae, you want to lure him out of there?

Ralaea places the lure on the ground.

Shatterhorn smells the meat and roars in anger!

The yeti lumbers out of its refuge. It is so big. Really I cannot overstate the bigness of this yeti.

[Ben]: Well.

[Ralaea]: I don't think I've ever seen a yeti that big.

[Lena]: And yet. Seems we can handle it.

[Ben]: Once we got the fellow out, not so bad.

[Ben]: But yeah. I never seen one that size. Lena? Down to Hillsbrad?

Lena shakes her head. "They never get all that much bigger than a person."

[Ben]: That's what I seen too. Huh.

[Ralaea]: Yeah, ones I've seen were more like… ogres?

[Paluuva]: I have seen some very large ogres.

[Lena]: Vrykul, proto-dragons, Scourge, kvaldir… why not add giant yeti to the list?

[Ben]: Well. Northrend's fun.

Wildervar Miner says: Didn't the foreman say he was going to bring some guards? Where are they?

[Ben]: Sir. We found your yeti, an' took care of the problem.

Foreman Colbey says: You’ve done it? By the Light, you lot are a walking miracle! I was beginning to think I’d personally have to explain to Captain Adams why our weapons weren’t ready in time!

[Ralaea]: Not a Scourgeti, you'll be happy to hear.

Foreman Colbey says: I — uh. Yes.

Foreman Colby clears his throat. "I am happy to hear that."

Ben nods gravely to him.

[Lena]: And I didn't get the impression Adams was all that unfair? You could try explaining, if you got problems.

Foreman Colby eyes Lena despondently. "How long have you served under him, miss?"

[Lena]: Maybe a month?

Foreman Colby nods again, even more despondently. "That explains it."

[Lena]: But I guess, also we're technically under Cobalt, so I don't know if that's the same…

[Ralaea]: I imagine he'd get in trouble if he tried… uh. Flogging us?

[Aiseia]: Dinner first.

Ben snorts at Ace and tries to look away before he laughs. He's not altogether successful.

Aiseia smirks.

Lena giggles at Ace's comment.

Foreman Coleby eyes them suspiciously.

[Ben]: Well. Anyhow. Good luck with it, sir.

Foreman Coleby nods.

[Ben]: We are back to feathers now, I guess.

Aiseia sighs again.

[Lena]: Not finding all that many of them.

[Ben]: No. Not.

[Ralaea]: They ever thought about catching one? And then waiting for it to shed? Be faster than trying to pick them up as they fall…

[Lena]: Or using gryphon feathers. They got plenty of grypons.

Marrod Silvertongue says: Welcome to Fort Wildervar, brave homesteaders! There's a whole continent out there just waiting to be claimed!

Marrod Silvertongue says: True, Northrend is a hard land, but our people are strong, hardy, and equal to the task!

Marrod Silvertongue says: We will win this land with the sword, and break it with the plow! You are the men and women who will be remembered for taming the wild continent!

Marrod Silvertongue says: But, you will not be alone out there. My men and I have prepared pack mules carrying the supplies you'll need most.

Marrod Silvertongue says: Axes, picks, seed, nails, food, blankets, water… it's all there, waiting for you. I think you'll find my prices quite reasonable, too.

Marrod Silvertongue says: Now, my loyal custo… err, friends, go forth and conquer this land for our people!

Aiseia eyes Marrod Silvertongue up and down.

Brune Grayblade says: How much'll it cost me to get my mules shod?

Eldrim Mounder says: We don't shoe no mules here. 'Sides, it's strictly expedition business right now.

Brune Grayblade says: You don't understand! If I'm not ready to go soon, all the good homesteading land will be taken!

Eldrim Mounder says: Not my problem! If yer so antsy to get yerself a house built, do it 'ere in the fort and quit yer whinin'!

Eldrim Mounder says: Now, if you'd be so kind as to get your ass away from my forge…

Brune Grayblade says: That, sir, is a mule!

Lieutenant Maeve waves wildly. "Cobalt! Cobalt Company?"

[Ben]: Who's — ah.

Lena perks up, looking around.

Lieutenant Maeve beams breathlessly. "THE Cobalt Company?"

[Lena]: That's us. *Lena smiles broadly.*

[Aiseia]: They are. I'm new.

[Ben]: Yes'm, that is us. I mean, we’re a part of — what? Naw, Ace, you are too.

[Ralaea]: You got in, you're Cobalt too.

Ben smiles at Rae.

Lieutenant Maeve nods happily. "I've heard what you've done with the Kalu'ak down by Westguard, and I think we might be able to use some of that here."

[Ralaea]: What we've… done with them? We didn't cook them.

[Lena]: We uh. We made friends, right? Is that what you want?

Lieutenant Maeve looks shocked at Rae, and turns red. "No, no, I meant — befriending, yes! Allies!"

Lieutenant Maeve says: When we first scouted locations for the fort, we encountered hostile creatures at two of the glades here in the north.

Lieutenant Maeve says: But when we passed the snow-covered one directly south of the town, the dryads there watched us with interest, but did not attack.

[Ben]: Oh. We seen them, yeah.

Lieutenant Maeve says: We were tired and worn down by the weather. They could've easily killed several of our men, but they didn't. Perhaps, in reaching out to them, we might discover unexpected allies. Are you willing to travel to the Frozen Glade and make contact with them?

[Paluuva]: Of course.

Lena nods. "We like making friends with non-hostile people."

[Ben]: Ambassador Paluuva here is on it.

Ben smiles.

[Ralaea]: Okay. Good. Is it cannibalism to eat a fellow humanoid? Even if they're not a human per se?

Lieutenant Maeve beams. "Thanks! We can use all the help we can get, and Captain Adams would be so impres–" She stares at Rae.

[Lena]: I… would not want to? I don't know that it matters what it's called.

[Ben]: Uh. Yeah. Anyhow.

Ben offers Lieutenant Maeve a charmin’ smile. She eyes his broken tooth uneasily.

The squad heads for the road out of the fort.

[Paluuva]: Eh… yes, Rae. It is cannibalism to consume another sapient being.

[Ralaea]: Right. Okay. Thought so.

[Ben]: What you reckon is the most persony thing it’s okay to eat?

[Lena]: I don't think I could eat anything I could have a conversation with.

[Paluuva]: Well, there are permutations for — ah.

Paluuva gets distracted by violence.

Violence accomplished.

Ben looks to Paluuva with interest after the elemental shatters. "Permutations?"

[Ralaea]: It's okay if it mutates?

[Lena]: Probably then you wouldn't want to eat it for other reasons, depending on why it mutated.

Ben nods at Lena.

[Paluuva]: Well, there are sapient beings that will consume other sapient beings by nature or culture. Whether that is considered cannibalism is arguable, depending on one's cultural perspective.

Lena hushes as a dryad wanders by curiously.

The dryad eyes this whole conversation askance and picks up her pace.

Lena shivers as they wade through the water.

Lurielle peers at the group expectantly.

[Lena]: Oh wow, you're tall. *Lena says under her breath.*

[Paluuva]: Archenon poros. I greet you. I am Ambassador Paluuva of the Alliance, and we are Cobalt Company.

Lurielle smiles at Paluuva. "My sisters and I welcome you, friends. I am Lurielle, of the Frozen Glade. What has brought you here?"

[Paluuva]: As you have surely seen, others of our Alliance have begun a settlement nearby. We have come to represent them in the hope of establishing a friendship with your people.

Lena looks up hopefully.

Lurielle smiles warmly. "It is good to meet you, then. We have long hoped the newcomers might send representatives. We don't often venture beyond the borders of our glades, especially amid the changes this land is going through."

[Ralaea]: Changes?

Lurielle nods sadly at Rae. "The ice elementals surrounding our glade were once our companions, but a volatile and destructive force has swept through the land, turning them against us!"

Lurielle says: This is but one of the horrors my sisters and I have endured. We have revealed ourselves to you in the hope that you will help us stave off the decay that has crept into our glades and poisoned our sisters!

[Lena]: That's awful. Is it the Scourge?

Paluuva frowns sympathetically.

Lurielle says: The Scourge? I do not know that word. Only that a terrible corruption spreads.

[Paluuva]: What can we do to help?

Lurielle says: We've been gathering the cores of the ice elementals and keeping them safe so that one day, we might be able to restore them. Will you assist us with that?

[Ben]: Of course. Yes'm.

[Ralaea]: So… elementals. Those are a shaman thing, yeah? Lich King really is a shaman? Or… was?

Lurielle peers blankly at Rae.

[Lena]: And maybe now he's a corrupt shaman, corrupting the elementals?

[Ben]: Yeah. We got theories on that, yeah.

[Ralaea]: As if he needed more things to corrupt…

[Ben]: … anyhow, Miss Lurielle, we are happy to help.

Lena looks back to Lurielle. "We can help, and talk more about ideas later." Lena nods.

Lurielle nods at them all and smiles wanly. "Thank you, friends."

Ben squints up at the darkening sky.

[Ben]: Here's my thinkin'.

Lena listens attentively.

[Ben]: I don't love none of us wanderin' around out here, up here, after dark. I reckon we head back to the fort, catch birds to Westguard, recruit some more of our folk to come up an' pitch in up here.

[Ben]: Sooner we help 'em get done, sooner we move on up here ourselves.

[Lena]: I'd like to move on up here, so yeah.

[Aiseia]: I think you're right. there's a lot to do up here.

Ben nods at Lena and Ace.

[Ben]: We can get back to it tomorrow at first light, along with more hands besides. Yeah?

[Ralaea]: More help collecting feathers, huh? Not a bad idea.

[Lena]: Got to scour this forest, seems like.

[Ben]: Yeah. Okay. So let's get back, I will let the quartermaster know we are gettin' a handle on it, an' I will put the word out for the rest of our lot.

[Ben]: We will have 'em in shape in no time.