(2023-04-21) Chapter IV: Twilight Tribulations, Part 2 (Cobalt Blade)

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	The Cobalt Blade descends into Blackfathom Deeps to further investigate the prophecy of the Seed of Eternal Endings and thwart the Twilight's Hammer plans involving Aku'mai's egg.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Cobalt Blade

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Sharpgear greets Vesyllah with a hearty hello!

Vesyllah greets Tadget with a gloomy gaze.

[Tadget]: Nice cat.

[Vesyllah]: This is Umbra.

[Tadget]: Hi, Umbra. My mount is called Tailwind, if you were wondering.

[Vesyllah]: I wasn't.

[Vesyllah]: You named a machine?

[Tadget]: How is that worse than naming a ship? Your people do lots of that.

Vesyllah considers for a moment, then shrugs.

[Tadget]: In fact the name Tailwind comes from nautical stuff.

[Tadget]: It's also a fart joke.

Vesyllah sighs at Tadget.

[Vesyllah]: Of course it is.

Tadget unpacks her mechanostrider.

[Vesyllah]: You're a paragon of comedic wit.

[Tadget]: See? Tailwind. Hehe. But also, you know, she goes super fast, like a boat with a favorable wind.

[Tadget]: Hey Ves. Maybe we should find somewhere better to hang out than right in front of the bank and mailbox.

[Vesyllah]: Yes, please.

[Vesyllah]: Let's get to Auberdine.

[Tadget]: Okay!

[Vesyllah]: I can't believe I just suggested that

[Tadget]: How was your flight?

[Vesyllah]: Fine…until I landed.

Sharpgear laughs at Vesyllah.

[Tadget]: I still don't get why you don't love this place. It's so gloomy and dour.

[Vesyllah]: I grew up here.

[Tadget]: So? I grew up in Gnomeregan and I'd still like it if it weren't, you know.

[Vesyllah]: Yeah well, I bet Gnomeregan doesn't smell like fish.

[Tadget]: It smells like toxic gases and death.

[Vesyllah]: Sure, NOW.

Vesyllah glares at Laird…the FISH vendor.

[Tadget]: Back then it smelled like… oil and metal and rat poop.

[Vesyllah]: I'll take it over fish.

[Tadget]: You just hate everything.

[Vesyllah]: Not true.

[Tadget]: Except me. You think I'm amazing.

[Vesyllah]: You're okay.

[Tadget]: For a definition of 'okay' that includes 'amazing.'

Vesyllah shrugs. It's not a denial.

[Tadget]: May I remind you that I killed a god and created three entirely new gnomes all in the space of a year.

Sharpgear flexes at Vesyllah. Oooooh so strong!

[Vesyllah]: Oooo. Wooow. Tadget you're soooo cool. Can I have your autograph?

Vesyllah rolls her eyes.

Sharpgear nods at Vesyllah.

[Tadget]: Certainly.

Tadget whips out some paper and a pen.

Tadget scribbles on the paper. "Here you go!" She hands it to her. It is a barely legible signature and a bunch of hearts and Xs.

[Vesyllah]: Look, Auberdine is just mostly bad memories, okay?

Vesyllah stares at the paper. She does not reach for it.

[Tadget]: Yeah, I can relate to bad memories. I just don't blame Gnomeregan for mine. That was all my mom's doing. *Tadget tucks the paper into Ves's bag.*

[Tadget]: Hey there, sir.

Sharpgear salutes Thalstan with respect.

Thalstan blinks at the two women as he ambles up to join them. "You two ready ta' fight some cultists?"

[Tadget]: Born ready.

[Tadget]: Sir.

Thalstan grins at Tadget.

[Tadget]: I got your maps here.

Tadget pulls out some folded papers.

[Thalstan]: Ach, perfect! I wouldnae want us ta be lost in th' caverns.

[Thalstan]: The ones in th'Barrens were windy enough.

[Tadget]: Copied from Cobalt Company's files. Should still be pretty accurate; caverns aren't known to shift around much.

[Tadget]: Because rocks.

[Thalstan]: Water though. Water can do a lot.

[Tadget]: Not in two years, though.

Sharpgear greets Zaara with a hearty hello!

[Zaara]: Cobolt!

[Tadget]: Booty!

Zaara beams.

Thalstan smiles at Booty.

Vesyllah nods grimly to Zaara.

[Tadget]: You will be shocked, I'm certain, to hear that Vengeance is in a bad mood.

Thalstan chuckles.

[Zaara]: Oh no!

[Zaara]: Wengeance, what is wrong?

Vesyllah glares…but it's hard to tell.

[Vesyllah]: This place is wrong.

[Tadget]: She grew up here, so she hates it.

[Thalstan]: Ah, right. She said sommat on that last time we passed through.

[Thalstan]: Well, there's Art! *Thal waves* So we can head down thataway?

[Vesyllah]: Let's leave as soon as possible.

[Tadget]: I think she should try coming back to find the whole place irradiated and full of crazed lepers. See if that shifts her perspective.

[Vesyllah]: That would be amazing.

[Tadget]: Tailwind, ride!!

[Thalstan]: Is Auberdine verra diffrent from how yeh remember it?

[Vesyllah]: Not. At. All.

Sharpgear gloats over your misfortune.

Thalstan makes a Hmm sound.

[Thalstan]: Yeh didnae like yer youth?

[Tadget]: I can't imagine Ves not liking something.

[Vesyllah]: I spent a long time watching other people coming and going off to distant places, while I was stuck with my unbearable family, tending fishing nets.

[Tadget]: Well you sure showed them.

[Thalstan]: Been to a lot o' distant places now, at least.

Vesyllah glares.

[Thalstan]: Isn't that good? Now you're one o' them that come and go.

[Tadget]: And KILLLL.

[Thalstan]: Tha' too. *Thal nods*

[Vesyllah]: I was meant for more…and Elune knew it. She called me. It was my family that tried to keep me from my calling.

[Tadget]: Family sucks.

[Tadget]: Well, except my husband and kids who are amazing. Well two of my kids are amazing.

[Thalstan]: Maybe bad folk suck, whether they're family or no.

Vesyllah snorts. "Yeah…my parents thought my sister was amazing, too."

[Arthur]: It's terrible to be betrayed by your family.

[Tadget]: My family was garbage from the start.

[Thalstan]: Well I do no' know yer sister, but I think yer amazing.

[Tadget]: The one I grew up with anyway. My new one rocks.

[Thalstan]: That there's the stone, so the entrance as got to be somewhere near here.

[Tadget]: It's over in those ruins.

Sharpgear points over yonder.

Thalstan glances over at Art. "And sorry to hear it, if yer own kin turned on yeh as'well."

[Thalstan]: Let's go investigate.

[Tadget]: Art backstory!

[Thalstan]: Well, guess that's the end of that.

[Tadget]: This looks fun.

[Arthur]: you know how in some families, one sibling can't do anything right, and another one can't do anything wrong?

[Thalstan]: It's all sunk under water.

[Vesyllah]: Hmm.

[Tadget]: Guess we gotta swim for it.

[Tadget]: YES Art, that's my family exactly.

[Tadget]: Or was.

[Vesyllah]: How long can you hold your breath?

[Thalstan]: I dinnae know if there's air down there…

Sharpgear gently pats Arthur.

Arthur gently pats Sharpgear.

[Tadget]: Just gnome up and hold your breath.

[Zaara]: Oh! I can make air!

[Vesyllah]: Wait…

Sharpgear eyes Zaara up and down.

[Vesyllah]: OH?

[Tadget]: You can what now?

[Tadget]: Nice.

[Vesyllah]: Well…guess we don't need potions…

[Thalstan]: This is no' like, some reference to a fart?

Sharpgear thanks Zaara.

Arthur cheers at Zaara!

[Zaara]: What is fart?

[Tadget]: No, "Tailwind" is a reference to a fart.

[Thalstan]: Makin' air…

[Tadget]: WITH YOUR BOOTY.

[Thalstan]: But no, I see. Shaman magic.

[Zaara]: Oh. No, this is not tail wind. It is Booty air.

[Tadget]: I am too dignified to demonstrate for Zaara's education.

Arthur coughs.

[Vesyllah]: Riiiight…

[Thalstan]: Okay. Booty air. *Thalstan rustles his mustache in a chuckle.*

[Thalstan]: Yeh can refresh it, if we start drowning?

[Tadget]: Seeing as how I am already up to my ears in water, let's go.

[Zaara]: Yes!

[Thalstan]: Oh, that wasnae far!

[Tadget]: Still, cool spell.

[Thalstan]: Satyrs and naga…

Vesyllah curls her lip.

[Tadget]: I'll try to carve out their brain stems.

[Tadget]: It's hard though.

[Thalstan]: But on what yeh were talkin' before. Art, Ves, and Tadget. Yer my favorite o' yer siblings an' I don't even have ta meet 'em ta say.

[Vesyllah]: The worst corruption of my people in both forms.

[Tadget]: Weird that they both used to be night elves.

Blackfathom Tide Priestess attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Ves, d'you know why they went two different ways?

[Vesyllah]: Funny thing about elves. We seem to be real susceptible to corruption. Kinda like we soak things up like sponges.

Blackfathom Tide Priestess attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: They were changed by different bad guys.

[Thalstan]: huh. Odd, but ok.

[Tadget]: Sargeras changed the satyr, and Azshara changed the naga.

[Vesyllah]: Yeah. Satyrs were turned by the Legion. Naga…right.

[Zaara]: Sargeras!

Zaara spits.

[Tadget]: Yeah, you know him.

[Zaara]: I know, yes.

Tadget carves up brains cheerfully.

[Thalstan]: Dead end that way.

[Tadget]: One bouquet of two dozen long-stemmed brains, coming right up.

[Vesyllah]: NIce.

Sharpgear winks slyly at you.

Thalstan laughs. "Tha's disgusting."

Blackfathom Oracle attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: So Art were you the good sibling or the bad one? I was the bad one.

[Zaara]: Mm-hm.

[Thalstan]: At leas' it's no like a maze. Just short dead ends an' one path.

[Arthur]: My mother was the good one.

[Tadget]: Oh I see.

[Vesyllah]: I was definitely the bad one if you ask anyone in my family.

[Thalstan]: I'm th' only one, so…

[Tadget]: Yeah that's what I meant. I'm way better than my brother.

[Tadget]: But he was the favored one.

[Arthur]: My Aunt was the bad one.

Blackfathom Oracle attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: So was she really bad or just the one her parents hated?

Blackfathom Oracle attempts to run away in fear!

[Arthur]: first the one, but…i guess it became the other.

[Tadget]: Yeah.

[Tadget]: That checks out.

[Thalstan]: This looks like the entrance proper.

[Tadget]: Ready and able, sir.

[Thalstan]: So what's yer aunt's story, if yeh'd like to say? If no', I'll leave it.

[Tadget]: I'm curious too and definitely gonna pry it out of you eventually.

Murkshallow Snapclaw attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: I'm suddenly hungry for lobster.

Sharpgear nods at Vesyllah.

[Zaara]: LOB-sterrrrr

[Arthur]: always bring butter to the deeps.

Sharpgear giggles at Blindlight Murloc.

[Thalstan]: Cave murlocs!

Blindlight Murloc attempts to run away in fear!

Skittering Crustacean attempts to run away in fear!

[Zaara]: Ah, the crab, he is so full of anger.

[Tadget]: Really?

[Thalstan]: Aren't they normally a bit crabby?

Vesyllah looks at Thalstan and covers her face with her palm.

[Tadget]: What does a crab have to be—- UGH

[Zaara]: Yes?

Sharpgear sighs at Thalstan.

Blindlight Murloc attempts to run away in fear!

Murkshallow Snapclaw attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Time for Booty Air!

Blindlight Murloc attempts to run away in fear!

Arthur hugs Healing Stream Totem.

[Thalstan]: Well I hope the other crabs are a bit more cheerful and less snappy.

[Zaara]: It was because you hurt him.

[Vesyllah]: Oh Elune…staaahp.

[Thalstan]: I didnae mean to.

[Zaara]: And then he was so angry.

Murkshallow Snapclaw attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I had no idea crabs had feelings.

[Zaara]: It is the way of things. But oh! So angry a crab.

Sharpgear gently pats Zaara.

[Zaara]: A good thing he could not make storms or fire.

Thalstan nods, stroking his wet beard in thought. "I'll be more careful."

[Tadget]: Well now I have some more nightmare fuel…

[Thalstan]: I think we're goin' to have to jump for it here.

[Tadget]: I am very nimble, you'll find.

[Thalstan]: Yeh all can jump, yes?

Sharpgear congratulates everyone.

[Tadget]: We did it!

[Zaara]: I hear the air, yes.

[Thalstan]: Hah! We're not an elite team fer nothin'!

Murkshallow Snapclaw attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Oh no, a crab!

Murkshallow Snapclaw attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I bet I'm real close to being able to pass my 7th Legion physical.

Skittering Crustacean attempts to run away in fear!

Murkshallow Snapclaw attempts to run away in fear!

Vesyllah frowns with disappointment at Tadget.

[Vesyllah]: Face the agony of your sins!

[Thalstan]: There's a swarmin'.

Murkshallow Snapclaw attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: What does that mean? You're leaving us?

Blindlight Murloc attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I mean, eventually.

[Thalstan]: I hope no' soon. We're a good team!

[Tadget]: But they aren't giving fitness tests right now anyway, because War.

[Tadget]: They're a bit busy.

Thalstan peers at Ghamoo-ra searchingly.

[Thalstan]: Yes, like Cobalt is, up in Northrend.

[Tadget]: Whoa, that's one supersized turt.

Vesyllah glares. Maybe. Or just resting glare face.

[Thalstan]: Do you think it's the… seed… egg creature?

[Tadget]: It's just a turtle.

[Zaara]: Turt.

[Tadget]: I was expecting something more tentacly.

[Vesyllah]: No…Delaryn's letter said the seed and the egg aren't the same thing. He thought so at first, too.

[Tadget]: Huh.

[Thalstan]: So it could be one o' them.

[Tadget]: The seed is whatever got the cult excited enough to hatch an egg.

[Vesyllah]: Right. We need that manuscript to learn more about the seed. Or at least the prophecy about it.

[Vesyllah]: Face the agony of your sins!

[Tadget]: Damina Krawse. I couldn't find anything on her.

[Vesyllah]: Yeah, never heard of her, either.

[Tadget]: I guess Cobalt hasn't had run-ins with her.

[Thalstan]: So we'd best kill the creature, just in case.

[Tadget]: I say we kill everything in here.

[Vesyllah]: Fine by me.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: And definitely everyone in here.

[Tadget]: Do naga count as an everything or an everyone?

[Tadget]: Either way, kill 'em.

[Thalstan]: May be a question fer Ves.

[Vesyllah]: Doesn't matter. Kill them.

[Tadget]: We are so in sync.

Vesyllah nods at Tadget.

[Tadget]: Hey, by the time I'm ready to rejoin the 7th, maybe you can all join too!

[Thalstan]: Hah, then we could be like… the 7th Blade!

Sharpgear cackles maniacally at Thalstan.

[Arthur]: That would be cool!

[Tadget]: I was actually in the 7th for months before I found out why they're called that.

[Vesyllah]: Ehh…I've got enough bureaucracy with just Cobalt Company. I don't think the 7th Legion is gonna give me the freedom I need to follow my mission.

[Thalstan]: I figgered the first through sixth failed?

[Tadget]: It was just the name of the Lordaeron army legion Wyrmbane was in charge of, and they were extra super good?

[Thalstan]: Ah, hmm, that makes sense.

[Tadget]: So they got made into a whole new thing, but he refused to change the name.

[Thalstan]: No reason ta fix a thing ain't broken.

[Tadget]: He was PROUD and stuff.

[Tadget]: They kinda had a reputation already, see.

Thalstan nods at Tadget.

[Tadget]: Okay, let's make some turtle soup.

[Thalstan]: Yes!

[Zaara]: Soup!

[Tadget]: On your word, sir.

[Zaara]: On your word, sir!

Thalstan starts to charge.

Sharpgear gently pats Zaara.

Zaara beams down in Tadget's general direction.

[Tadget]: That wasn't so hard.

[Thalstan]: I dinnae think that's it. Went down too easy.

[Thalstan]: Unless we got it afore it grew big.

[Thalstan]: Alrigh, I think it's time for booty air.

Sharpgear giggles.

[Thalstan]: Looks like errything's underwater from here.

[Zaara]: So nice! I like to under water.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: blblblblbl.

Sharpgear points over yonder.

[Tadget]: Blblbl?

[Vesyllah]: Blrlbl?

Thalstan burbles, shoving his beard out of the way in the water. "blblbl!"

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Blbl.

Thalstan points at a lockbox. "blrblrl!"

[Tadget]: blb blblbab lblablbbl!

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: B bl blb blbbl!

[Thalstan]: Brlsb brlslr

[Arthur]: glrrrrrglglglg!

[Tadget]: I think that's it!

Thalstan surfaces. "Was tha' a paper in th' box?"

Vesyllah peers at Arthur. "Was that…murloc?"

Zaara laughs. "So funny, all blub blub blub."

[Arthur]: I couldn't resist.

[Vesyllah]: Ugh.

Thalstan chuckles at Art.

[Thalstan]: Got an author on it?

[Tadget]: Let's get it to dry land and look.

[Tadget]: Welp, this is pure gibberish.

[Tadget]: Must be some kind of code.

[Thalstan]: Ah, so it is a cultist text!

[Thalstan]: I jus' thought, all their stuff is gibberish.

[Tadget]: Wait wait, look, there, it does say "Krawse" though.

[Tadget]: Wow, that is not how I was spelling it in my head.

[Thalstan]: Migh' be it!

[Thalstan]: We should take it back. But first… findin' that agent and the cultists.

[Tadget]: Yep.

[Vesyllah]: So…this is what we're looking for. Damn. I was hoping we wouldn't need to take it back to that dwarf.

[Thalstan]: Ready fer more swimmin?

Sharpgear salutes Thalstan with respect.

[Zaara]: Always!

[Thalstan]: He wasnae so bad, as far as world-endin' cultist dwarves go.

[Vesyllah]: Ugh

[Zaara]: Ugh.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

Tadget easily wriggles out of the ice.

[Thalstan]: A litt'ler cave!

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Best clear it of naga.

[Tadget]: I am never gonna get the naga smell out of my hair.

[Tadget]: Stupid fishshakes.

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Now you know what it's like living in Auberdine. Fish smell. Forever.

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

Tadget dutifully carves up all their brains.

[Thalstan]: I worry sometime abou' fish in Ironforge. Loch Modan is no' that far, but it's fer sure not right fresh.

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Frost magic can help preserve them.

[Tadget]: We had to use that a lot in Silithus.

[Tadget]: Nothing stays good out there otherwise.

Vesyllah helps out with brain carving. She isn't quite as precise as Tadget, but she's rather skilled with a knife.

Tadget gives Vesyllah pointers. Get it? Because knife. Pointy.

[Tadget]: Cool sword.

Thalstan hefts it. "Yeh know, I like it? Naga sword, but…"

[Zaara]: Cooooool.

[Tadget]: Looks kinda culty.

Zaara cannot see it.

[Thalstan]: Maybe new life as a naga killin' sword.

[Tadget]: But I bet it's good for killing cultists also.

Sharpgear laughs at Thalstan.

[Vesyllah]: Is it weird that I find naga women both kinda hot and disgusting?

[Tadget]: Yes.

[Vesyllah]: Fair.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Yeh thought the san'layn was hot, Vengeance. I'm past tryin' ta make sense
of it!

Vesyllah shrugs.

[Zaara]: Hot?

[Vesyllah]: Sexy.

[Zaara]: Ah!

[Tadget]: If you say someone is 'hot,' Zaara, it means you want to — yeah.

Zaara nods gravely.

[Zaara]: To f*cken.

[Thalstan]: Or maybe jus' yeh like their whole attitude. Seems. With Ves.

[Vesyllah]: Well, no. I don't wanna bang the naga.

Sharpgear cackles maniacally at Zaara.

[Vesyllah]: They're still gross.

[Tadget]: We're all hot.

[Tadget]: brlblb!

Thalstan bounces gently in the water, his beard flowing out in all directions

Tadget brblbls a giggle.

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Another cave, with… Oh!

[Tadget]: Argent tabard.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: Help arrives at last…

[Zaara]: Oh. No.

[Vesyllah]: The scout?

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: Ah, reinforcements at last. Thank Elune, I thought my injuries might be the end of me. I really must stop getting myself into this situation.

Argent Guard Thaelrid sits up carefully.

Argent Guard Thaelrid is sitting up, I promise.

Zaara passes a wave of cooling mist across the night elf. It shimmers and settles on him like dew. Not much else seems to happen.

[Thalstan]: Are yeh alrigh'?

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: Thank you… I feel a bit better now.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: As I'm sure you know by now, the Twilight's Hammer is back to their wicked ways in this place.

Vesyllah kneels down.

[Thalstan]: Tha's what we heard, yeh. You know anythin' about a seed or an egg?

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: An egg? Yes…

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: For those of you that may not know the history of Blackfathom Deeps, long ago this was a great temple of Elune.

Vesyllah lays her hands gently on Thaelrid, trying to bolster Zaara's healing with the light of Elune in this dark place.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: It fell to ruin when the corruption of an Old God seeped up from beneath the earth and tainted the sacred Moon Well.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: Ahh, thank you, sister.

[Thalstan]: Bad news, those Old Gods.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: The Twilight's Hammer now considers this place 'sacred' to their vile masters and occupy it through an alliance with the naga.

[Vesyllah]: They can all get f***ed.

Argent Guard Thaelrid eyes their tabards and perks up yet further.

[Thalstan]: If yer well enough ta swim, we cut yeh a way out. No naga behind us.

Argent Guard Thaelrid The Hammer once guarded a beloved pet of the Old Gods here, a mutated hydra called Aku'Mai. They would feed it sacrifices. Thankfully, your Cobalt Company slew the beast.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: The Hammer once guarded a beloved pet of the Old Gods here, a mutated hydra called Aku'Mai. They would feed it sacrifices. Thankfully, your Cobalt Company slew the beast.

Thalstan straightens proudly, as if he were involved. (He wasn't.)

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: But they seem to have found an egg of Aku'Mai, according to a report I was given. I last saw it in the possession of the new master here, an orc called Twilight Lord Kothral.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: He spoke of a ritual to hatch the egg and imbue it with all the strength of its predecessor. That was a week ago. If he has been successful, the Spawn of Aku'Mai may already have been born!

[Thalstan]: Ahh… then we need ta put a stop to it!

[Vesyllah]: These guys aren't real big on original ideas, are they?

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: Yes. Kill Kothral and bring his head to Selgorn in Darnassus. If he has completed his dark task, you must also destroy the Spawn of Aku'Mai.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: If that beast grows to full strength and is released upon the world, we are all in danger.

[Zaara]: Not cool.

[Thalstan]: We'll see to it, like Cobalt did b'fore!

Argent Guard Thaelrid carefully tests his arms and legs to see if they will move and bear his weight.

[Zaara]: I will make you air.

Argent Guard Thaelrid says: I think I can make it out, if you have indeed cleared the way. Thank you.

Zaara raises her hands to summon the water-breathing spell, and a little breeze briefly plays in the night elf's hair.

[Thalstan]: Yer welcome, sir. Take care on yer way out!

Argent Guard Thaelrid gives Zaara a little smile, which she of course cannot appreciate, before saluting the lot of them and heading for the water.

[Thalstan]: Now I guess we keep headin' in? Find this egg, or th' monster if it's hatched?

[Thalstan]: we need more brains, in any case. Or do yeh have a full bouquet yet?

[Tadget]: I think we could stand to pick a few more brains.

[Arthur]: chilling your blades helps with dissection.

[Tadget]: Good note.

[Thalstan]: With this water, probably all our blades are a bit chilled.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Bllbl, blibb blbb Blbghblubbmm Mrrbbblbb blbb blrr blbbliblb bllbb!

[Vesyllah]: Blbb bll blblb bl blrr blbb!

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Suffer the pain you have inflicted!

[Vesyllah]: Elune, smite this Blackfathom Myrmidon with your punishing light!

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Looks like this is the way on.

[Vesyllah]: Death to satyr scum!

Tadget agrees with Vesyllah.

[Thalstan]: Is it alrigh' we've got satyr and naga brains? Are yeh keepin' 'em separate?

[Tadget]: Yep.

[Tadget]: To do otherwise would be very unscientific.

[Thalstan]: I'll leave the science to yeh, then. *Thal grins*

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Zaara]: A satire!

[Thalstan]: Surprise satyrs are the worst satyrs.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: This is your penance!

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: These caves are so deep.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Well…it's in the name.

[Vesyllah]: Suffer the pain you have inflicted!

[Thalstan]: I suppose.

[Tadget]: Yeah it's not Blackfathom Shallows.

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Wonder if we're gettin' a reputation as cavers.

[Tadget]: Well we are led by a Bronzebeard dwarf, so.

Blindlight Muckdweller attempts to run away in fear!

Blindlight Oracle attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I'm pretty good with caves. Probably get it from my dad.

[Thalstan]: Yeh, well, guess I can see why.

[Vesyllah]: I like a nice, deep, wet cave, myself.

[Tadget]: EW!

[Zaara]: Satire!

Vesyllah smirks.

[Thalstan]: They're popping out everywhere!

[Thalstan]: I dinnae know if these murlocs are connected.

[Thalstan]: But. They are murlocs.

[Tadget]: If you can't tell it's a satyr, it's not a very good satyr.

Blindlight Muckdweller attempts to run away in fear!

Sharpgear eyes Blindlight Oracle up and down.

[Thalstan]: Good call, Art.

[Thalstan]: Looks much better as a sheep.

Blindlight Oracle attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: STOP THROWING SPELLS AT ME.

Blindlight Oracle attempts to run away in fear!

Blindlight Muckdweller attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: What is tha' on the altar? Is it a seed?

[Tadget]: Ummmm

[Vesyllah]: That would be convenient.

[Tadget]: It's an… orb?

[Thalstan]: Better kill that fella and take a closer look.

[Tadget]: …fella?

Sharpgear eyes Gelihast up and down.

[Thalstan]: Is it a girl murloc? Can yeh tell?

[Tadget]: I mean… it's a… murloc.

[Thalstan]: I dinnae know much about murloc society.

[Tadget]: Society??

[Tadget]: They're murlocs.

[Tadget]: Rlglglglggl.

[Thalstan]: They got little huts and things?

[Tadget]: Who wants to poke the orb?

[Thalstan]: Okay, let's see what this is…

[Arthur]: looks like a pearl!

Thalstan pokes it.

[Tadget]: Welp.

[Tadget]: He didn't explode.

[Thalstan]: I feel… smarter *He rustles his mustache*

Sharpgear giggles at Thalstan.

[Tadget]: That's not alarming at all.

[Thalstan]: Maybe it’s a pearl o' confidence.

[Vesyllah]: Elune doesn't seem displeased…so I think we're okay.

[Tadget]: Let me know if you start hearing weird whispers.

[Thalstan]: Nothin' yet, but I'll let yeh know!

Tadget whispers weirdly, immediately.

[Vesyllah]: Behind!

[Thalstan]: Popping up outta nowhere…

[Thalstan]: So Mayhem, didya eat much fish in Silithus?

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: A little. Whatever rations they sent us.

[Thalstan]: I'm jus' a bit curious. What all things were like, you know. Fer my da.

[Tadget]: It was actually pretty cool. Half the Alliance was working together to send care packages to us.

[Tadget]: They had boxes set up in Ironforge or something.

[Thalstan]: Aww, that's nice. I remember we did that. Me and ma. Wonder if yeh ever ended up with one o' ours.

[Tadget]: Sent us all sorts of donated supplies.

[Tadget]: Maybe!

[Tadget]: We sure appreciated it, I'll tell you that.

Blackfathom Sea Witch attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I wonder why they aren't doing that for the war in Northrend?

[Thalstan]: Maybe they ought to? We could make a peition or sommat.

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Probably because everyone who might be making packages has enlisted. Seems like everyone's gone.

[Tadget]: I know wha tyou mean.

[Zaara]: We should do this thing, yes!

[Tadget]: I miss Captain Tyrrell. *sighs* And Snowdrop… and Blackale I guess. The rest I can do without.

[Zaara]: We do not go to the north, but it is very nice for good deed doers to send good things.

[Tadget]: Yes!

[Tadget]: We could make it a whole PR thing.

[Thalstan]: And in line with th' point of Cobalt Blade, yeah!

[Tadget]: Cobalt Blade Helps the War Effort.

[Zaara]: To say "we are doing your jobs at home!"

[Tadget]: Yeah!

[Zaara]: Do not worry, you are not missed!

[Thalstan]: An' maybe your Snowdrop will get one!

[Tadget]: Uh, maybe not that last bit, Zaara.

[Zaara]: No?

[Zaara]: Ah. So not this, no.

Sharpgear giggles at Fallenroot Shadowstalker.

[Tadget]: I mean I don't care, mostly.

[Tadget]: But I shouldn't say that out loud.

[Thalstan]: Maybe they wanta be missed a bit. *Thalstan smiles at Zaara*

Blackfathom Myrmidon attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: I'll talk ta Lord Ference about it, once we've destroyed the Aku'mai creature.

[Vesyllah]: I am vengeance!

[Zaara]: I AM BOOTY!

[Tadget]: I am mayhem!

[Thalstan]: I am valor!

[Vesyllah]: Ugh…

[Thalstan]: Ah, now this has the look o' a temple.

[Tadget]: You don't get to be the only one with catchphrases, Ves.

Sharpgear sighs at Twilight Acolyte.

[Vesyllah]: It's…not a catchphrase…

Vesyllah sighs.

[Tadget]: Gnomes.

[Vesyllah]: Face the agony of your sins!

[Tadget]: Like there are SO many of us that half of us should go join cults…

Twilight Reaver attempts to run away in fear!

Tadget grumbles.

Twilight Loreseeker attempts to run away in fear!

Twilight Aquamancer attempts to run away in fear!

Twilight Reaver attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Whoops, I cut off her tail.

[Vesyllah]: I am the night!

[Vesyllah]: This is your penance!

[Tadget]: Backstabbing Tauren is problematic.

[Vesyllah]: Face the agony of your sins!

Twilight Reaver attempts to run away in fear!

Tadget gets smacked in the face with Tauren-tail.

[Tadget]: I think I'm just gonna fight Tauren from the front now.

Twilight Loreseeker attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Bad view from behind?

[Vesyllah]: What if they're male tauren?

Twilight Loreseeker attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: The problem is the tails. They swish them a lot.

[Vesyllah]: RIght, so…guy tauren. Same problem?

Sharpgear cackles maniacally at the situation.

[Tadget]: They keep their front-tails in their pants

[Vesyllah]: Let's hope so.

Sharpgear cackles maniacally at the situation.

Twilight Acolyte attempts to run away in fear!

Twilight Reaver attempts to run away in fear!

Twilight Aquamancer attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Antagonize them more. Maybe another will show up and we can kill it, too.
Twilight Aquamancer attempts to run away in fear!

Twilight Loreseeker attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Anyone need a shower?

[Thalstan]: Goal is ta get 'em all. Never seems ta work.

Twilight Aquamancer attempts to run away in fear!

Twilight Reaver attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I think we're doin' okay.

Twilight Loreseeker attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Feel the vengeful gaze of Elune, Twilight Acolyte!

Twilight Acolyte attempts to run away in fear!

Twilight Reaver attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: C'Thun ain't 'returnin' from where I sent 'im.

Twilight Acolyte attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: This looks like the main complex.

Twilight Shadowmage says: The Old Gods will be restored. You will not be allowed to interfere!

[Tadget]: These guys definitely have a complex.

[Tadget]: ew, a dead one

[Tadget]: Those are so gross.

[Vesyllah]: This used to be the center of the temple. Look at how they've defiled it.

[Tadget]: Ew, I can see her spine.

[Tadget]: I bet it was pretty before.

[Tadget]: These guys ruin EVERYTHING.

[Tadget]: This is some truly excellent tilework. I wonder if Finn has seen it…

[Tadget]: What am I saying, of course he has.

[Thalstan]: Is this the bit that used ta be for Elune?

Vesyllah curls her lip. "They've put up a statue of Azshara!"

[Tadget]: That's Azshara???

[Vesyllah]: Blasphemy….

Twilight Elementalist attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: In an old Elune temple. Damn shame.

[Tadget]: I thought she was supposedly hot.

Vesyllah's eyes briefly go dark…literally black.

[Zaara]: Hot!

[Vesyllah]: I will rend your minds to dust!

Twilight Elementalist attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Another damn gnome.

Twilight Elementalist attempts to run away in fear!

Sharpgear threatens everyone with the wrath of doom.

[Tadget]: You hate to see it.

[Vesyllah]: It's not a gnome anymore. It's just another tentacle of the Old Gods.

[Tadget]: Yeah.

[Tadget]: Well I'm doing my best to replace all the ones who have become lepers and tentacles.

Vesyllah 's voice is cold as ice. "Kill them all. No mercy."

[Vesyllah]: This is your penance!

[Tadget]: GNOMERCY.

[Vesyllah]: Feel the vengeful gaze of Elune, Twilight Elementalist!

[Thalstan]: That looks like a leader. Ready ta take 'im out?

Vesyllah glares at the orc. "That must be Kothral."

Sharpgear salutes Thalstan with respect.

Sharpgear cheers at Twilight Lord Kothral!

[Thalstan]: Some kinda meditation magic? He hit you with it too, Mayhem?

[Tadget]: Sorry for the brief nap there.

[Tadget]: Must've been magic.

Tadget pulls out a sword and lops off the guy's head.

[Thalstan]: Yeah, I got stuck in it for a bit too.

[Vesyllah]: It's fine. Elune pulled you out.

[Tadget]: That should discourage him from further magic.

Vesyllah glares angrily at Twilight Lord Kothral.

[Thalstan]: I wonder if these braziers got somethin' to do with the ritual they're plannin?

Tadget stuffs Kothral's head in her enchanted bag.

[Vesyllah]: I don't see the egg…

[Tadget]: Let's light one and see what happens.

[Arthur]: what are those doors?

Thalstan nods at Tadget. "Couldn't hurt. I like your plan."

[Tadget]: Be ready for anything.

Thalstan reaches out to light the brazier on fire and see what happens.

Tadget looks around warily.

[Tadget]: …oor multiple anythings.

[Vesyllah]: Hmm.

[Vesyllah]: Those seem like guardians.

[Tadget]: Let's kill 'em all then.

[Thalstan]: This like a trial thing? Pass th' trials, meet the monstrosity?

[Zaara]: Angry water! Terrible things are done here.

[Tadget]: Yeah, I can see why the water is pissed off.

[Thalstan]: Or guardians. Hmmmm.

[Thalstan]: Let's light another one.

[Tadget]: Either way, killing them seems like the answer.

[Tadget]: Killing is often the answer.

[Vesyllah]: Let's find out what they're guarding.

[Tadget]: TURT

[Tadget]: TURTS

[Thalstan]: It is for sure doing something.

[Tadget]: Wonder what it'll be next time. Murlocs?

[Thalstan]: I say we try the others.

[Tadget]: LIGHT EM UP.

[Tadget]: CRABS. I guessed wrong.

[Tadget]: ANGRY CRABS

[Tadget]: Next time murlocs I bet.

[Thalstan]: Elementals, turtles and crabs…

[Tadget]: five copper says murlocs

[Tadget]: Whoa.

[Tadget]: Wrong again but this is better, frankly.

[Thalstan]: Lobsters!

[Tadget]: Ooooooooooooh

[Vesyllah]: The doors.

[Tadget]: THE DOOR OPENED OMINOUSLY.

[Zaara]: Ah! Something terrible behind the doors!

[Thalstan]: That's cool!

[Tadget]: KILL IT.

[Tadget]: WITH OR WITHOUT FIRE.

Thalstan moves excitedly to see what is uncovered.

[Vesyllah]: Let's see what's inside.

[Vesyllah]: Is this place on the maps?

[Tadget]: So uh.

[Tadget]: Don't look now, but.

[Zaara]: I will not!

[Vesyllah]: Shit.

[Tadget]: I think we found the Spawn of Aku'Mai.

[Thalstan]: Is tha' a three-headed sea monster?

[Tadget]: Um, yeah.

[Vesyllah]: I guess they hatched the egg.

[Zaara]: But I feel a dark in the water.

Arthur smiles, and tries to hide it.

[Tadget]: Three very long necks, Zaara. And very ugly faces.

Zaara nods sagely.

[Tadget]: And a spiky tail.

[Zaara]: It feels ugly.

[Thalstan]: No matter, just means we're fightin' a monster not squashing an egg.

[Tadget]: That's more fun.

[Vesyllah]: A monster possibly imbued with all the strength of its parent.

[Tadget]: We'll be fiiiiiiiiiiiine.

[Zaara]: We are fine and cool.

[Tadget]: Fine and cool.

[Zaara]: Yes.

[Thalstan]: Quick! Kill it!

[Tadget]: Quick, he says.

Tadget dodges the huge tail.

[Thalstan]: Those are three heads o' sharp teeth!

Sharpgear cheers!

[Tadget]: We ruuuuuuule.

[Thalstan]: We do!

[Zaara]: We rule! Fine and cool!

Vesyllah stabs the Spawn of Aku'Mai a few more times in each head for good measure.

[Thalstan]: And I see another altar back there.

Zaara bursts into dance.

[Tadget]: Look, another altar.

[Tadget]: Maybe we can get even smarter.

[Thalstan]: I still feel smart from that last one!

Sharpgear eyes Morridune up and down.

Morridune says: Speak with me to hear my tale.

[Tadget]: Nah, we're tired.

[Tadget]: We got places to be.

[Tadget]: Can you just get us out of here?

Thalstan looks over at the skeleton. "Tha' must be the one Cobalt killed."

[Tadget]: Must be! Cool.

[Vesyllah]: The original Aku'Mai…

[Zaara]: Coooool.

[Vesyllah]: She's a big girl.

Random dwarf says: I… suppose I can teleport ye out, sure.

[Thalstan]: It's a skeleton, Zaara. *Thal provides helpfully* A monster skeleton.

Random dwarf looks disappointed that no one wants to hear his tale.

[Tadget]: Cool, thanks, make it snappy if you would, we've had a long day.

[Thalstan]: We just made a tale o' our own.

[Zaara]: I have brought my own tail.