(2023-03-27) Following the Leads
| Author: |
Alli |
| Summary: |
Nesselos, Mansia, Kaerix and Therald follow up what leads they have regarding the fate of one orc shaman named Kraz. Some answers are revealed! |
| Rating: |
T for Teen |
Some discussion of sad history and plagued lands
Therald reaches the gryphon master and spots Mansia. He pretends to not notice her and just stands there. Awkwardly. Leaning on a different wall.
Mansia smiles vacantly at Therald. "Good fortune~."
[Mansia]: Oh! Nessy!
Nesselos lands at the gryphon master in between the two of them and beams.
[Therald]: O-oh! Hi! Mansia, was it?
[Mansia]: Yes.
[Nesselos]: Hi Mansia! And Therald!
[Nesselos]: Kae should be here soon, too.
Mansia beams at Therald. She has probably forgotten his name, but at least Nesselos is on point.
[Therald]: Hi, Nesselos!
Therald smiles at Ness, then at Mansia, but his face look a lot more shy than it did right before.
[Nesselos]: I've done a lot of research on my own since we met up last, and I have uncovered some things!
[Therald]: Oh, really? That's good to hear.
[Mansia]: What research?
[Nesselos]: On, um, Kraz? And corruption, too.
[Mansia]: What are results of research? Or do you wait until Kae arrives to tell?
[Nesselos]: Oh, right, maybe I should wait till we're all together!
[Nesselos]: Kae!!
Mansia smiles as Kae arrives Right Then.
[Kaerix]: Oh hello!
[Mansia]: Kaekae!
Therald nods at Mansia, although he looks impatient to hear more about all this.
[Therald]: Hello, Kaerix!
[Kaerix]: How is everyone?
[Nesselos]: I'm great!
Mansia smiles. "I'm great!" she says, copying Nesselos.
Therald smiles and nods at Kaerix.
[Nesselos]: Okay, so the first thing is, there's an internment camp where they were studying the aftereffects of all the demony fel stuff on the orcs. I thought we could go there.
[Nesselos]: Then also, maybe stop by and have Therald help us ask the Argent Crusade if they know anything?
[Kaerix]: I am happy to go wherever you wish.
[Therald]: It'd be my honor to help with this.
Therald salutes you with respect.
Kaerix speaks in her usual slow, careful, unaccented manner.
Mansia slides off the crates.
[Nesselos]: Okay! Let's fly to Southshore then! And I have another research trip I can tell you about when we get there. *Ness smiles at all of them*
Therald nods at you.
Kaerix nods at you.
[Mansia]: Okay!
Mansia copies Nesselos again.
They all fly to Southshore.
[Nesselos]: All here in one piece?
Therald nods at you.
Mansia does a little twirl.
Kaerix nods at you.
Therald chuckles at Mansia.
[Mansia]: I am here.
[Nesselos]: Or I guess, four pieces. Not each of us, but we're not all one piece. I mean… *Ness shuts up.*
Mansia whispers to the elements.
[Nesselos]: Okay, so the camp is up north. One of the mages I talked to said there might still be records there. Apparently, no one really cared about the research after the camps ended. Or even before? I'm not sure.
[Therald]: Hm.
They mount up and ride north.
[Nesselos]: So also, I went up to the Scarlet Monastery with Xaafi.
[Mansia]: Red… what is monastery?
Therald feels extra small, surrounded by draeneis on elekks.
[Nesselos]: I think it's a place where they keep monkeys. But I didn't see any.
[Kaerix]: It is like Telredor.
[Therald]: Monkeys?
[Kaerix]: Telredor before the war.
[Mansia]: Ohhh.
[Nesselos]: Yes, I think they said. Monks. Wait, Telredor…
Therald doesn't know what a telredor is.
[Nesselos]: [Draenei] Monks?
Kaerix nods.
[Nesselos]: Oh, wow, now I feel silly. Why is it so similar to monkeys?
[Therald]: Monks and… monkeys?
[Therald]: Oh!
Mansia giggles.
[Kaerix]: Common is a very strange language.
Therald chuckles softly.
[Nesselos]: I have to say, there were dogs, so it didn't seem strange at the time…
[Nesselos]: Anyhow, I heard they were really into cleansing corruption, so I thought they might have some particular insight.
[Mansia]: Hm hm…
Kaerix nods at you.
Therald looks to the Silverpine Forest, taking a deep breath.
[Nesselos]: I borrowed some books, but I don't think there's all that much useful in there.
[Nesselos]: I do not think they have the same idea of 'cleansing'.
They arrive at what was once the Lordamere Internment Camp. There are guards, and also some Forsaken milling around.
Nesselos waves at Dalaran Shield Guard.
[Kaerix]: Oh, what a sorrowful place.
Nesselos looks around nervously. "Is this the Lordamere…" he lowers his voice. "…internment camp?"
[Kaerix]: Windows like weeping eyes.
Dalaran Shield Guard says: It was, aye.
[Nesselos]: Mind if we take a look around?
Therald whispers. "We're awfully close to the Scarlet Monastery. I'm hoping it's not their idea of cleansing we're going to look into."
Mansia slides off her elekk.
The guard looks at all the draenei and the respectable-looking human. "If you like, though there's not much of value in there."
Nesselos shakes his head at Therald. "I think that's probably a dead end."
[Kaerix]: Value is, as you say, 'in the eye of the beholder.'
Therald glares angrily at Ricter.
Kaerix eyes Alina up and down.
[Kaerix]: What…. what is it…?
Kaerix points at Alina.
[Therald]: Forsaken. Undead.
[Nesselos]: Ooh.
[Nesselos]: Wait, are they imprisoned here now?
Kaerix stares, openmouthed.
Mansia looks confused.
[Therald]: Apparently.
[Kaerix]: Their… you can see their bones…
[Therald]: I don't know what good it's doing to keep rotters like this locked up here.
Therald nods at Kaerix.
The guard overhears. "What? No. They're deserters. Decent folk."
[Therald]: … Deserters?
Mansia wanders over to a cage and sniffs at it.
Kaerix nervously strokes one of her pigtails.
Mansia sticks her fingers through the bars and wiggles them.
Therald raises his eyebrow inquisitively at Mansia.
Dalaran Shield Guard says: From the Horde, aye. Not sure what's next for them, but they're hiding here for the time being.
[Therald]: …
[Kaerix]: But they are… they are not alive. They should… not … it should not be allowed.
Therald points at his Argent Dawn badge. "Not an expert, but I'd stay wary of these guys."
[Kaerix]: They must … be suffering.
Kaerix peers at Ricter searchingly.
[Nesselos]: But they're still people, right? Whatever happened… We could ask?
Nesselos peers at Ricter searchingly.
Kaerix touches her own elbows, which are decently covered with skin.
Mansia hums a song to herself.
Ricter says: Take a Super Snap, it'll last longer…
Therald stares at Ricter even harder.
[Nesselos]: Uh… should we ask him why he's Forsaken? *Ness asks in a hushed tone to the others* It's not… on task, but it's interesting?
Kaerix switches to stroking her other pigtail.
[Mansia]: Oh.
[Therald]: What do you mean, why? I don't think… they had a choice.
[Mansia]: Do you need healing? I can see bones.
Therald sees everyone approaching the forsaken.
Therald lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Ricter says: In one sense, yeah. But please don't. I'll find new parts when these wear out.
[Mansia]: I see!
Mansia clearly doesn't.
[Mansia]: Good health, long life.
Mansia turns back to the group.
[Mansia]: What are we looking for?
[Kaerix]: I tried healing but… his body… seems to… hm. His body thinks it is whole. This is… how his body thinks it should be.
[Nesselos]: Any records that might be here from before.
[Mansia]: They would keep records in building, yes?
[Nesselos]: Probably in the buildings. *Ness looks at Kae* That's… odd. But let's let him be himself.
[Therald]: I'd assume so.
Kaerix turns away from the creepy Forsaken and follows behind Ness.
[Kaerix]: More of them…
[Therald]: More of them.
[Nesselos]: Oh goodness, this building is full of Forsaken… *Ness whispers*
[Mansia]: Greetings!
Mansia walks right up to Alina.
[Mansia]: We look for records of past here.
Therald has his hand on the handle of his sword.
Alina says: Eh? Probably not much in the barracks. You'll want the main building.
Kaerix makes a wide berth around the Forsaken woman, wrapping her arms around herself as though cold.
[Mansia]: Other building…
[Nesselos]: Oh, uh, thank you.
[Mansia]: Thank you!
[Therald]: Let's go.
Mansia points. She has located another building.
They go to the other building.
Therald makes sure everyone leaves before he does.
Therald tries to take a peek at the book.
[Kaerix]: …Oh! *Her eyes fill with tears* Why did he call them "forsaken"?
Mansia gasps as she notices the Dalaran crater.
[Nesselos]: Are you alright, Kae?
[Kaerix]: The man, he called them 'forsaken' - why?
[Nesselos]: I think it's what they call themselves… which is terribly sad, in my opinion.
[Therald]: Ah, hm. Forsaken is… the name they chose.
Mansia blinks at Kae. "Oh…"
[Kaerix]: It is… it's so sad.
[Nesselos]: I wonder what they will do. They can't go to Stormwind, right?
Mansia latches on to Kaerix's arm like a huggy koala.
Kaerix hugs Mansia.
[Therald]: They're undead. Not the people they used to be. You don't have to feel bad for them.
[Kaerix]: They call themselves 'forsaken.' They must feel so alone.
[Nesselos]: But if we can accept the death knights, then surely if they want to be good people. To come and be with their living friends and family…
[Kaerix]: Perhaps someone will find a way to help them one day.
[Therald]: I… I'm unsure if they don't wear it as a badge of pride instead.
Kaerix considers this, lapsing into Deep Thought.
Nesselos nods at Kaerix. "I hope so."
You wave at Dalaran Theurgist.
[Nesselos]: Have you seen any old records around here?
[Kaerix]: I am sorry to… interrupt your search. Yes, please continue.
Mansia pat pats Kaerix on the head, between her horns, and releases her.
Kaerix smiles at her.
Dalaran Theurgist says: Hm? Probably, back in there is an old desk we've not cleared out since the internment days.
Kaerix gently pats Mansia.
[Mansia]: Yes, we find records now.
[Nesselos]: Hmm, maybe upstairs.
They all move upstairs.
[Kaerix]: Please excuse us.
[Mansia]: Messy, messy…
Therald sighs. "Not cleared out since the internment days…" he repeats under his breath.
Mansia kneels down.
Mansia looks under the bed with purpose. She sneezes.
Nesselos waves with uncertainty at the mage woman and the forsaken guy.
[Therald]: Apologies for… interrupting. *He says to Warden Belamoore.*
[Nesselos]: Have you seen any old records?
[Kaerix]: The earth here … whispers of … slow, tired steps … pacing. So many, caged. But… no fights. No escapes. Only… slow, tired pacing. Or sitting still.
[Kaerix]: As though already dead…
Nesselos looks at Kaerix as if he might cry.
[Kaerix]: But then…
Kaerix tips her head.
Therald looks worriedly at Kaerix.
Mansia rolls her sleeves up and reaches under the bed, feeling around for something. She comes back with her arm covered in dust, holding something in her fist, and brushes her arm off.
[Kaerix]: Then suddenly! A great rush - so many running, running away…
[Kaerix]: Steps pounding on the earth. … So says the earth.
Warden Belamoore says: Certainly. Kegan here's been going through them when he's bored. I can't say as I found the old records terribly interesting. It's all on a branch of research we abandoned.
Mansia gets up and presents the object she found to Nesselos. "Clue? Not clue?" It's… a copper that just rolled under the bed at some point.
Therald raises his eyebrow inquisitively at Kaerix.
Kaerix seems too overwhelmed by the place's Vibes to pay much attention to the errand they are actually on.
Nesselos looks seriously at Mansia. "It could be a clue. We investigate everything."
Mansia nods and hands the copper over.
[Therald]: Ah it's- *He looks at the copper in her hand. He stays silent.*
Nesselos examines the copper carefully, and then tucks it away for now.
[Kaerix]: What did you find, dear friend?
[Therald]: … Where can we find these records?
Mansia smiles. She's helping. "Kae, you are best at reading. Or… Nessy's friend." She stares at Therald. What's his name again…
Kaerix peers at you searchingly.
The Warden raises one eyebrow, but then turns and gathers a sheaf of papers. "If this is what you're interested in, have a look. Just give them back. Someone may want them, someday."
Mansia 's expression goes distant. Now loading…
Nesselos looks at Kaerix and says quietly, "A copper, but maybe from back in those days. The papers, though…" He reaches out to take them.
[Nesselos]: Kae, do you want to check them or shall I?
Therald nods at the warden. "Thank you, we will."
[Kaerix]: What language are they?
[Kaerix]: If they are in Common… we have a human with us. I … may make mistakes.
Nesselos looks over the notes. "Common. Looks like human mage wrote them? Antonidas?"
Nesselos offers the papers to Therald.
Kaerix repeats the name "Antonidas" softly and thoughtfully.
Mansia exclaims suddenly, "Therald!"
[Therald]: A-ah- I'm somewhat of a slow reader, especially out loud.
Mansia smiles at him. "I remembered name."
Kaerix looks surprised at Therald's admission.
[Therald]: If someone else think they can get through these faster, that might be better.
[Kaerix]: I could try.
[Kaerix]: I am sorry if I … made you … uncomfortable. Therald. I should not… presume that all people can read.
Kaerix says "presume" with the air of one who has just mastered this word and really likes it. Again, no accent whatsoever. Just… so sloooow.
[Nesselos]: Oh, uh. Then I could try? Or do you want to Kaerix?
[Therald]: Oh, no, that's not it, I can read I just… *He grows silent. He is being too much in the spotlight right now and he no likey.*
[Kaerix]: I like to read. I can try.
[Mansia]: Kae, you read!
[Kaerix]: It's good practice for me, as well.
Therald smiles awkwardly at all the draenei, as he did when Mansia remembered his name.
[Kaerix]: Oh… it is… observations? And Nesselos, 'Kraz' was the name, was it not?
[Nesselos]: Yes! Is it… in there?
Mansia tilts her head. Another name. Uh oh.
[Kaerix]: Shall I read the whole thing or … make a summary?
[Mansia]: Yes, read whole thing! I will listen.
[Kaerix]: Yes, there is a list of names. it includes Kraz. And then…
Therald nods, looking from Kaerix to Nesselos.
Mansia clasps her hands together and stares at Kaerix.
[Nesselos]: Or… um… summary… *Ness glances nervously at the pacing Forsaken guy.*
[Kaerix]: Conclusions: Orcs have been under demonic power and warlock magics for… generations, granting the… brutes… unnaturally heightened strength, endurance, and… aggression…
Nesselos nods.
[Kaerix]: …perhaps even before the first invasion of Azeroth.
[Nesselos]: Yes, we can say that is a yes.
Kaerix continues…
[Kaerix]: The orcs'… oh, dear… mmm. The orcs'… communal… lethargy…
[Kaerix]: leTHARgy?
[Kaerix]: LEthargy?
[Kaerix]: What does it mean?
[Nesselos]: Communal leTHARgy… *Ness repeats thoughtfully*
[Therald]: Sleepiness.
[Nesselos]: They got sleepy?
[Therald]: More or less.
Kaerix nods and continues.
[Therald]: Well… it is more of a, um… lack of energy.
[Mansia]: Oh. I know this feeling.
[Kaerix]: … is not actually a disease, but… a long term racial withdrawal from the … volatile warlock magics that filled them with… bloodlust.
Nesselos looks at Mansia in alarm. "You are not under demonic influence?"
[Mansia]: No, no. Sleepiness.
[Kaerix]: Though the … symptoms are clear, there is no known cure for the orcs' present condition.
[Mansia]: Sometimes I am sleepy.
[Therald]: We- well, not everyone who's lethargic is-
Nesselos relaxes, then turns sadly back to Kaerix.
Therald goes back to listening to Kaerix.
[Therald]: Hm.
[Kaerix]: Research in this direction has now been… discouraged by the Alliance and the Kirin Tor. It appears the only cure may be a… spiritual one.
Kaerix hands the paper back.
[Mansia]: Long-term withdrawal… hmm…
[Nesselos]: Withdrawal… that's like when you pull away from something.
Kaerix nods.
Therald frowns. "Spiritual one?"
[Mansia]: Or you do not have enough of something.
[Nesselos]: But withdrawal is better than not withdrawing, right?
[Kaerix]: Context… suggests… that here 'withdrawal' means… a bad reaction to having a thing taken away.
Therald nods at Kaerix.
[Nesselos]: But the thing was demon blood. They needed that taken away if they were going to have any chance to go right again.
[Mansia]: Oh… like…
[Kaerix]: Yes. One sees this sometimes. Even a bad thing… taken away suddenly… causes pain.
[Mansia]: [Draenic] Withdrawal?
Kaerix nods at Mansia.
Mansia brightens up. She understood something.
Nesselos makes a long 'ohhhhh' sound.
[Nesselos]: And then they look for a spiritual cure.
[Therald]: Yeah.
[Kaerix]: Like Nobundo.
[Therald]: Nobundo?
[Kaerix]: He was cut off from… that which gave him strength. The Light.
[Nesselos]: The first of us.
[Kaerix]: He suffered until he … connected to the elemental spirits.
[Therald]: Of… us?
[Kaerix]: Shamans.
[Mansia]: Nobundo is Krokul, severed from the Light. He became the first Draenei shaman.
[Kaerix]: Not the first shaman, but first… among draenei.
Kaerix nods to Mansia.
[Nesselos]: Now, we are not Krokul, but we can also hear the elements.
[Therald]: Oh! Right, you all are… shaman, right. *He nods.*
Mansia smiles. "We are!" she says proudly.
[Kaerix]: Draenei are very good at… learning new types of magic.
[Therald]: Kro-kul. *It doesn't sound like a question this time. He is just repeating it, confused.*
[Mansia]: Yes. What is Common word?
[Kaerix]: It means 'broken'.
[Nesselos]: If you see the ones people call Draenei, but they do not look like us.
[Mansia]: Yes, yes. The broken ones.
[Kaerix]: A sad name, like Forsaken.
[Therald]: Oh, I… yeah, I think I heard of them.
[Kaerix]: The orcs gave them … a disease.
[Nesselos]: They do not have…. *Ness gestures over his horn crests* It is very sad.
[Kaerix]: It… twisted their bodies… and broke their connection to the Light.
[Kaerix]: But Nobundo found a new way… to be spiritual.
[Nesselos]: These orcs, though, they had Nobundo's way, and they lost it.
[Nesselos]: Maybe they would invert, try the Light?
[Therald]: Broken their connection to the Light, uh…
[Therald]: I've never seen an orc use the Light. *He shakes his head.* Even those who work with the Argent Dawn.
[Nesselos]: Hmm… we could ask them, maybe? If any have tried?
[Kaerix]: Humans connect to the Light… so easily. It's beautiful.
Therald nods at you.
Therald he tries to put an hopeful smile on his face. "I- the fact I haven't seen this doesn't mean much, yeah. I haven't seen a lot of things."
[Nesselos]: I think maybe we have found what we can here? There is an Argent Camp not far… we could ask? You could introduce us?
[Therald]: Absolutely!
[Kaerix]: Please do not… give up hope, dear friend.
Nesselos gives Kae a grateful look.
Nesselos notices he's about to walk out with the papers and hastily sprints back up the steps to give them to the warden.
[Nesselos]: Okay, time to leave the place of sad windows. I hope those forsaken people turn out okay.
Mansia hums as they ride.
[Nesselos]: We will need to be careful ahead. We come close to a Horde town.
Mansia nod nods.
They pass by the wandering goblin salesman.
You wave at Zixil.
Mansia twists halfway around in her saddle to stare at the goblin and the machine.
[Nesselos]: Okay, then we just follow this river north.
[Mansia]: Oh, a river.
Mansia reaches a hand out towards it and waves vigorously.
Kaerix appears Deep in Thought.
[Nesselos]: I like rivers. So happy with their course.
[Kaerix]: Yes!
Mansia giggles. "Me too!"
Kaerix smiles at you.
Therald blinks.
[Kaerix]: I heard the most beautiful Common expression. About rivers.
Nesselos smiles.
[Nesselos]: Oh?
[Kaerix]: "One never steps in the same river twice."
[Nesselos]: Aha! Because the water flows, so it is different water?
[Mansia]: I heard… a Common joke about rivers.
[Kaerix]: It is true of rivers… but also of life.
[Kaerix]: Oh, I want to hear the joke!
[Mansia]: Why is river lazy?
[Nesselos]: Lazy? Why?
[Kaerix]: Yes, why?
Mansia looks at the others and announces gleefully, "It never gets out of bed!"
[Kaerix]: Ha!
Therald laughs at Mansia.
Nesselos laughs.
[Nesselos]: Oh I missed a turn.
Therald realizes he laughed out loud and clears his throat.
Mansia giggles at her own joke.
[Kaerix]: Poor river. Always moving… but never out of bed.
[Kaerix]: Wait… that could be fun, also.
Kaerix laughs.
[Nesselos]: Rivers do wiggle sometimes, like children. Change their paths a little.
[Mansia]: Well, it is human joke.
[Kaerix]: But then they… are only making a new bed.
[Mansia]: Perhaps they do not live long enough to see river change.
Mansia isn't even two hundred. Gosh.
[Kaerix]: Wherever the river goes… it takes its bed with it.
[Nesselos]: True, new bed.
[Therald]: Always moving but never out of bed is how you end up with a ki- aah. *He grows silent again.*
[Kaerix]: That sounds comfortable.
Nesselos chuckles, but then quietens at Therald's silence.
Kaerix looks around, frowning.
They arrive at Chillwind Camp.
[Nesselos]: Here we are! The camp. It's not a happy land up here. Not yet.
[Mansia]: Oh, the earth is very sad here.
Mansia pats a tree stump.
[Kaerix]: And quiet.
[Therald]: … I've heard this place is… difficult for people in your profession.
[Nesselos]: I think it is still sick, from what happened recently.
[Kaerix]: It feels… like an old man… taking his last breaths.
[Therald]: We can end this fast, if you want… I- I mean our research no- not the old man.
Mansia smiles. "Yes, let us research."
[Therald]: Just… follow me. *He is RED in the face.*
Therald nods at Anchorite Truuen.
Mansia stops to give Anchorite Truuen a friendly hug.
Mansia turns back to Therald.
Kaerix smiles shyly at Anchorite Truuen.
Therald nods at Mansia.
Nesselos waves at Anchorite Truuen and waits for Therald.
Therald salutes Argent Officer Pureheart with respect.
Mansia dips a little curtsy.
[Kaerix]: What beautiful tabards.
[Kaerix]: A light shining in darkness. But jagged, like a weapon.
Argent Officer Pureheart returns the salute.
Argent Officer Pureheart says: Guard Oakley, is there something the matter?
Officer Pureheart looks over the group curiously.
[Therald]: No. Yes, yes, there is. Not… an urgent matter.
[Therald]: I mean it is personally urgent and uh…
[Mansia]: Not urgent! A slow matter.
Therald shakes his head. "These fine people wish to speak with the Argent Dawn."
Therald steps behind the Draenei.
Argent Officer Pureheart says: Personally urgent, but not… professionally? Or slow? Well, here we are, either way. Happy to help with personal urgent matters.
Kaerix peers at Argent Officer Pureheart searchingly.
[Nesselos]: Have you ever heard of an orc using the Light?
Kaerix slips an arm around Mansia's waist while she listens to the two talk.
[Mansia]: Hello! I am Mansia. This is Kaerix and Nesselos.
Mansia does the same. Cozy.
Kaerix waves at Argent Officer Pureheart.
Officer Pureheart blinks at all of them. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Argent Officer Pureheart."
Therald briefly looks at the orc Argent Defender standing literally right there.
Officer Pureheart also glances at the orc standing next to her before she answers. "I have fought alongside many noble orcs, but no. I have not yet known one who touched the Light."
Kaerix strokes her left pigtail thoughtfully.
[Nesselos]: Oh, well. *Ness looks crestfallen.*
Nesselos | Argent Officer Pureheart says: May I ask why you want to know?
Mansia smiles vacantly and stares off into space.
[Nesselos]: I… used to know one, and I thought he might be looking for… a spiritual cure, you know, for the… *Ness blushes*
[Therald]: Warlock…ism.
Nesselos | The orc nearby turns to look at the group of draenei and humans more directly.
Orc Argent Defender says: You could ask an orc.
[Nesselos]: Hi. *Ness says in a small voice* I'm Nesselos.
Orc Argent Defender says: Rulka.
Orc Argent Defender says: What is it you really ask? What do you want to know?
Therald salutes Argent Defender with respect.
Orc Argent Defender meets his eyes bluntly.
[Nesselos]: Pleased to meet you. Um, I'm looking for a particular orc, so I thought… wait, maybe you know him?
Orc Argent Defender says: Because we all know each other.
Orc Argent Defender says: There are about a million orcs. What clan?
[Nesselos]: No, that's not what I meant at all! Um. Shadowmoon.
[Therald]: To- to be fair, all draenei do know each other.
Mansia tilts her head, looking baffled by this concept. "All draenei know each other."
Orc Argent Defender says: …Oh. Shadowmoon huh? … Maybe then.
Orc Argent Defender shifts her weight.
[Nesselos]: His name was Kraz, when I knew him. It was…. a few decades ago?
Orc Argent Defender looks at him with wide eyes.
Therald looks at the orc Argent Defender with wide eyes as her own eyes widen.
Orc Argent Defender says: This is a crazy… what's it called. When something happens that was a long shot.
Orc Argent Defender says: There aren't many Shadowmoon orcs left. Not with working brains anyway.
[Nesselos]: I always thought he was gone. *Ness nods*
[Mansia]: Do you know Kraz?
Orc Argent Defender says: I know he made it through the war. We weren't close.
[Nesselos]: Until someone mentioned him recently, and then… I had to find out.
[Mansia]: Oh!
Mansia smiles. "Nessy, he made it through the war!"
[Therald]: Do you… happen to know where he could be, now?
[Nesselos]: But you knew him? *Ness's eyes were wide* Was he okay? I mean, was he all… bloodlusty?
Orc Argent Defender says: I'm not sure what to answer first.
Therald shakes his head, taking a step backward. "Answer Nesselos first, please."
Orc Argent Defender says: We ended up in the same camp. He married a Blackrock girl. Sort of. Then we all got free… everyone scattered.
Therald raises his eyebrow inquisitively at Argent Defender.
Orc Argent Defender says: But I am pretty sure I saw him passing through here a while back.
Nesselos looks hopeful. "So he must have gotten better… wait, here?"
Orc Argent Defender says: I can't be sure. He looks different now, but I think it was him. I didn't see the girl though, so I don't know.
Orc Argent Defender says: Must've been… three months now, I saw him. Or thought I did.
[Nesselos]: What was he doing here?
Orc Argent Defender says: I'm not sure. But he was asking about conditions north of here, trying to find a route somewhere.
[Therald]: Somewhere… north?
[Nesselos]: Hm… did he say why?
Orc Argent Defender says: I was listening pretty close because I was trying to figure out if it was him. Or if his girl was dead or what.
Orc Argent Defender says: I know he didn't mention what he was looking for exactly.
Nesselos looks at his friends excitedly.
[Nesselos]: He was here! Three months ago!
[Mansia]: Oh! That is very close by!
Orc Argent Defender says: I wouldn't bet my life on it, but… I'd bet maybe… five or ten gold.
[Nesselos]: Like yesterday!
[Therald]: Um.
[Nesselos]: That's a lot of gold. I only have two hundred and some myself.
Orc Argent Defender says: Like I say, he looked different. Had some meat on his bones, more hair.
Orc Argent Defender says: But I'm pretty sure it was him.
Orc Argent Defender says: So many of us dead and that moron's still kicking around. Pffft…. Blackrock girl…
[Therald]: Five or ten gold… out of your Argent Dawn salary? *He looks impressed. Those are big odds!*
Orc Argent Defender says: What can I say, I'm a gambler.
[Nesselos]: It sounds like maybe he's himself again. I'm… I'm glad. I wonder if we should go after him?
[Therald]: I- The roads north of here are not safe at all.
Orc Argent Defender says: I mean. I hooked up with a human organization. Obviously I am not afraid of long shots.
Nesselos looks suddenly uncertain. "I wonder if he would want to see me again."
[Mansia]: Yes!
[Mansia]: Probably.
Therald nods at Mansia. "I'm sure he would, if he is truly back to himself."
Orc Argent Defender says: It took me … a while to get used to working with draenei and humans. But … you know. Big picture.
[Therald]: We are glad to have you with us, Rulka.
[Nesselos]: Yes, thank you Rulka!
[Nesselos]: You have no idea what it means to me, to know.
Orc Argent Defender says: Glad to help, I guess.
Orc Argent Defender says: I'm one of the good guys now.
Orc Argent Defender shrugs.
Mansia smiles at Rulka. "Thank you~."
Orc Argent Defender says: Travel safe.
Nesselos nods eagerly. "Your people were good neighbors, before. I remember. And I hope it will be again."
Orc Argent Defender says: Me too, kid, me too.
[Therald]: If… if you're interested, I can ask for us to switch places. I- I'm a guard at Light's Hope Chapel. I'd be my honor to have you in a place with more… accommodation.
Orc Argent Defender says: No, I'm where I'm meant to be.
Therald nods at Argent Defender.
Orc Argent Defender says: I mean, obviously. You guys coming through here, asking about Kraz…
Orc Argent Defender says: Fate's funny.
[Nesselos]: May we all be able to say so. *Ness smiles.*
Orc Argent Defender salutes.
Therald takes another step backward, nodding again. He steps very close to the fire and jumps to the side.*
Therald salutes Argent Defender with respect.
Orc Argent Defender says: Aka'magosh. Blessing on you and yours.
[Nesselos]: Aka'magosh. *Ness replies, and his accent is actually not that bad*
Nesselos steps back to confer with his friends.
[Kaerix]: The Light truly guides our path.
Mansia sways happily from side to side. "A lead!"
[Nesselos]: It does! *Ness smiles at them*
[Therald]: Yeah!
[Nesselos]: North is… through the Plaguelands.
[Mansia]: Oh, very dangerous.
[Therald]: Yeah.
[Kaerix]: I am not ready.
[Therald]: The path north of here goes directly through Andorhal which…
[Nesselos]: I cannot ask you to journey with me through the Plaguelands with no warning.
[Kaerix]: With enough time… we can prepare.
[Therald]: I wouldn't recommend it, no. Not unless we are prepared. Even if we go around it, the whole land is cursed.
[Mansia]: Oh, yes. There must be food of our own, not food from here.
[Therald]: Tha- that's just my opinion, at least.
[Kaerix]: I agree with Therald.
Therald nods at Mansia.
[Kaerix]: Preparation is necessary.
Nesselos nods. "I do not know how long it will take to travel through."
[Kaerix]: Keep in touch. I'll… check my mail often.
[Mansia]: Yes!
[Therald]: Me too.
[Nesselos]: I will! Therald, you will help me plan the journey? You know this place.
[Therald]: I would be honored.
Therald salutes you with respect.
Nesselos salutes everyone.
[Nesselos]: I will see you all again soon, then!
Mansia waves cheerfully and wanders away.
Therald nods, patting Ness's shoulder.
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