(2023-05-21) It's Rainin' Trees Hallelujah (S10 E4 - White Squad Log)

Details

Author:	Jessa
Summary:	White Squad rides out to do battle with dwarves and giant trees and get helped by dwarves and giant trees and also their allies throw other, unallied, trees at them. Plus they find a book.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

Arc: Season 10

Meanwhile, at the Westfall Brigade encampment…

Bennarin pauses to warm his hands at the bonfire. He glances over and smiles at Sabitha.

Sabitha smiles back. "Hullo, Lieutenant."

[Bennarin]: Hey, Mrs. Lambert.

Sabitha laughs.

Bennarin's smile widens a little.

[Sabitha]: Do you think it will ever not feel awkward?

Bennarin shrugs. "I reckon, eventually. I mean, it's got there with most people. Always got to start with manners, though, yeah? You know."

[Sabitha]: Raelea's down by the larger bonfire. Shall we go down there, or are we all meeting here?

Bennarin glances down toward the other fire. "Oh, huh. She does like to kind of… keep herself to herself. Let's go an' see."
[Bennarin]: Hey, Rae. How's it goin'?

[Sabitha]: Hi, Rae!

Ralaea glances at the pair. "…Fine."

Bennarin raises his eyebrows. "Yeah, good. Okay."

Sabitha doesn't appear to notice there might be a problem with Rae's response. "That's good. Fine's better than it might be."

Ralaea turns back to the fire. "What's the plan today?"

Jocoza peers at the air in front he curiously. She adjusts her goggles.

[Bennarin]: Captain Stoutmantle's got somethin' for us. About a maybe-route into Icecrown they're workin' on?

[Ralaea]: Good.

Bennarin nods.
[Bennarin]: We'll go an' get briefed when the Ambassador's here.

Sabitha nods her understanding.

[Jocoza]: That was mentioned before. A long way around, but maybe faster in the long run.

[Bennarin]: Hey, Cap'n!

[Jocoza]: Hi, Ben!
[Jocoza]: You all been spending much time with the Westfall Brigade this week?

[Bennarin]: I been around some. But I went home a while, too. For the politics thing.

[Ralaea]: No. *She does not elaborate.*

Sabitha blinks, confused. She doesn't ask for clarification, though.

Bennarin glances at Rae again, and then at the other two. He raises an eyebrow.

Jocoza looks mildly around at them, and shrugs. "I was out too, for the 'politics' thing. It was a fun party." Her smile brightens a little with the memory.

Bennarin's smile widens again at Jo. "Your fellow seems pretty nice."

[Sabitha]: There's… a politics thing? Was I supposed to be there?

[Bennarin]: You should've got an invitation? Was for the Company. Sir is runnin' to be on the House of Nobles, so it was some kind of charity — hey, Ambassador.
Bennarin nods respectfully to Paluuva.

[Paluuva]: Archenon poros, friends.

[Sabitha]: Oh! That thing. I figured it was just… I mean, I get a lot of invitations since people realized I'm on a squad with Cobalt Company.
[Sabitha]: I just ignore most of them.

Bennarin grins at Sabitha. "You are a busy hero now, huh?"

[Ralaea]: If we're all here, we can get to work. *She heads towards the Captain without waiting for a response.*

Sabitha wrinkles her nose.

Bennarin watches Rae's back. He looks at Jo.

[Sabitha]: I… guess we're getting to work now.

Jocoza looks after Rae. "She alright?"

[Bennarin]: We got kind of a mood on our hands.
[Bennarin]: Sir.
Bennarin salutes Captain Gryan Stoutmantle with respect.

Paluuva looks over at Ralaea with concern.

Captain Gryan Stoutmantle looks up from his maps. "Ah! Cobalt Company."
Captain Gryan Stoutmantle says: Glad you're here. We'd like your help with… a bit of a survey.

Ralaea keeps her eyes forward, her expression serious.

[Bennarin]: Yessir?

[Paluuva]: Hello again, Captain Stoutmantle.

[Jocoza]: We can survey! People, or something else?

Captain Gryan Stoutmantle nods politely to Paluuva.
Captain Gryan Stoutmantle taps a point on his map. "Our best bet for moving our forces quickly to Icecrown Glacier lies with the network of tunnels beneath the ancient iron dwarf city of Thor Modan." Unfortunately, it's an Explorers' League dig site. Brugar Stoneshear and his boys aren't going to be happy, but orders are orders.

[Jocoza]: Ancient iron dwarf city. *Jo aims her goggles up towards Stoutmantle.* Maybe they won't mind us too much, we've helped the League with a number of things in the Fjord.

Captain Gryan Stoutmantle says: Stoneshear will know how to get you in there, but the news might go over better if you brought him a cask of that moonshine sold by that trapper, Hugh Glass, down at Redwood Trading Post.
Captain Gryan Stoutmantle says: Man's not right in the head, but you won't find better moonshine out here.

[Sabitha]: We're just scouting, right? Not blasting tunnels. Hopefully they won't mind too much.

Bennarin nods at Gryan Stoutmantle. Dealing in moonshine is the Westfall Way.

[Jocoza]: Alcohol is often a good bet for a dwarf host gift. *Jo nods* Not always but often.

Captain Gryan Stoutmantle says: Just scouting, yes. We're trying to find the way through to Icecrown.

[Ralaea]: Bribery. Fine. Whatever makes it happen.

Somewhere in the distance, Ismene looks up and glares about corn liquor.

Captain Gryan Stoutmantle nods and waves them off.

[Paluuva]: Pardon my ignorance. What is 'moonshine'? It is a beverage?

[Bennarin]: It's kind of homemade liquor.
[Bennarin]: Cheap, an' strong.
[Bennarin]: Rae?

[Paluuva]: Ah, I see.

[Ralaea]: Hmm?

[Jocoza]: It's not bribery. It's a gift.

[Bennarin]: I don't know what you got goin' on today, but I am gonna ask you to pull the attitude back a notch. You ain't sass Captain Stoutmantle about bribery, yeah?

[Ralaea]: Yessir.

Bennarin nods curtly at her.
[Bennarin]: Let's all get goin'.
There are Giants roaming the earth. Big wooden ones.
[Bennarin]: Whoa.
[Bennarin]: More of them giants.

[Jocoza]: Oh… I read about that in your report.
[Jocoza]: Guess we've not stopped them.

[Bennarin]: And iron dwarves.

[Jocoza]: What is that?
[Jocoza]: The glowing disc thing.

Ralaea scowls at it.

[Bennarin]: Reckon they are up to some rune business again, *he says disapprovingly.*

[Sabitha]: Doesn't feel demonic.

Jocoza adjusts a setting on her goggles, looking at the disc.

Bennarin nods to Sabitha.

[Jocoza]: Seems arcane to me.
[Jocoza]: I'd have to get closer to learn more, though and… not our mission right now.

[Bennarin]: Explorer fellow might know, once we get him his moonshine.

[Bennarin]: Looks like a trade post to me.

Hugh Glass talks to a big ol’ bear sitting next to him and says: They'll never find us here, will they? We won't let them get us like they got Limpy Joe and Flannel McGee!

Ralaea eyes the bear warily.

Bennarin eyes the bear and the dude with the gun both warily.

Hugh Glass says: No, we escaped from those monsters! They're nothing like us, Griselda.
Hugh Glass says: We're hunters, you and I. No wolfmen here, no ma'am.

Jocoza peers at Griselda searchingly.

Hugh Glass says: Keep an eye out for them, girl! Don't let them get us!

[Bennarin]: … wolfmen, huh.

Ralaea keeps an eye on their backs.

[Jocoza]: Have you been having trouble with the wolf cult too?

Hugh Glass says: Limpy Joe, it's you! It's really you!
Hugh Glass is staring joyfully at Jocoza.

Sabitha backs away a little from the crazy dude.

[Bennarin]: Um.

Jocoza looks at him sympathetically. "I… I'm sorry."

Hugh Glass says: What do you need, Joe?

[Jocoza]: Oh, we just wanted some moonshine.
[Jocoza]: I… Limpy Joe… wanted some moonshine.

Hugh Glass says: You got it, Limpy Joe! Cask of the finest Howlin' Moonshine, coming right up!

Paluuva arches an eyebrow at 'Limpy Jo'.

Hugh Glass produces a little cask from beside his bench and hands it over to Jocoza.

Jocoza reaches out to take it. "Thanks, friend. Have you heard from Flannel?"

Hugh Glass sobers. "No. Not yet. You see him, you send him by, okay?"
Hugh Glass says: Griselda and me have been real worried.

[Jocoza]: I will, for sure. And watch out for those wolfmen.

Hugh Glass says: I will! I will. You too, Joe.

Bennarin backs away politely.
[Bennarin]: Let's, uh. Bring the dwarf his moonshine.

Sabitha mutters, "Wow."

Jocoza walks away, her lower lip trembling like she might cry.

[Bennarin]: … you okay, Cap'n?

[Jocoza]: Poor guy.

[Bennarin]: That was real sweet of you, ma'am.

[Jocoza]: I hope he comes out okay, after the shock of it.

[Bennarin]: Yes'm.

Jocoza smiles a little up at Ben.

Paluuva nods solemnly.

[Bennarin]: Sir? Mr. Stoneshear?

They drop off the moonshine with rather less a positive response than they expected when he hears the reason for the bribe. GIFT. The gift.

Brugar Stoneshear says: He wants me to do WHAT?
Brugar Stoneshear says: Well, he'd better keep the moonshine flowing if he wants my men to stop their research to serve the military's purposes!

[Jocoza]: Not stop. More like, pause?

[Bennarin]: Just… so we can — we got to get an army through, sir.

Brugar Stoneshear says: I hope Gryan knows I withdrew my men from Thor Modan when the battle began. There's no way we can excavate anything until that place settles down.

[Jocoza]: Think how much easier it'll be to excavate once the Lich King's dead, right?

Sabitha slowly looks over at Jo.

Brugar Stoneshear scowls. "Well. If Stoutmantle trusts you lot…." He sighs heavily.
Brugar Stoneshear says: Thor Modan is just to the northeast of us and the battle still rages between our Earthen brothers and the creations of those accursed iron dwarves.
Brugar Stoneshear says: Help our brethren to even the odds and I'll start figuring out how we're going to accomplish this survey of Thor Modan.

[Bennarin]: … Earthen?
Bennarin looks at Jo, wide-eyed.

Jocoza blinks. "We've got Earthen on our side? Am I understanding that right?"

Brugar Stoneshear says: Aye, y'are. It's us and them against… the other them! The iron dwarves.

[Bennarin]: Okay. Yessir. Okay.

[Paluuva]: Earthen…these are the beings encountered in the Uldaman ruins, yes?

Brugar Stoneshear says: Aye! And what are you waiting for? Get out there and pitch in, if we ever expect to get in there!

Jocoza nods. "The precursors to dwarves and… other things. But not gnomes, apparently. I always thought maybe they were and we just got overlooked. Again. But I guess not."

[Bennarin]: Yessir.

[Ralaea]: Are the iron dwarves with the Lich King, then? Or…just an unknown hindrance?

Jocoza nods at Brugar Stoneshear.

Bennarin does not make a joke about gnomes getting overlooked.

Sabitha mumbles, "Everyone's in a bad mood today, it seems."

[Paluuva]: An excellent question, Rae.

Bennarin nods at Rae.

Jocoza reaches out to pat Sabitha on the arm.

[Bennarin]: They kind of seemed so far to be off on their own… business? But no tellin' who's with him up here.

Paluuva overlooks everyone…but not on purpose.

[Bennarin]: Let's head over an' get a look at the battle.

[Jocoza]: In the Fjord, their top priority seemed to be preventing the dwarves from digging. So that something down there 'couldn't see' what they were up to.
[Jocoza]: I read a lot of reports. *Jo smiles apologetically*

[Bennarin]: I mean I reckon it's your job, ma'am.
Bennarin smiles back at her.

[Jocoza]: What exactly they are up to remains unclear, though we do have some clues.

They ride into the entrance to a city, buildings on either side and a trail leading up to the large entrance. Earthen Warriors battle giant golems all around.

[Bennarin]: Oh, damn.

[Sabitha]: … Wow.

Bennarin eyes an Earthen Warrior up and down.

[Jocoza]: They don't seem to be affiliated with the Lich King, though, from what we know so far.

Bennarin points at Runic Battle Golem.
[Bennarin]: Those is what we're after I guess.

[Paluuva]: Light protect us.

[Ralaea]: One on the ground there.

[Bennarin]: Sir? Hey, uh — sir?

[Jocoza]: Luu can you… heal him?

Paluuva kneels before Fallen Earthen Warrior.

[Jocoza]: Are they healable?

[Paluuva]: I will try.

The Earthen warrior's stone surface is covered with cracks and gouges. Although it is incapable of bleeding, you can sense that the warrior is near death.

Bennarin watches Paluuva uneasily.

A low, hoarse voice escapes from the dying warrior's mouth. "Find… Kurun… you must find… Kurun."

Paluuva reaches out, her hands surrounded in an aura of Light, placing them on the Earthen. Her faces tenses with a moment of profound sadness and she glances up to the others and just shakes her head.

[Jocoza]: They're so… different from us. Thank you for trying.

The Earthen doesn't seem even to notice the Light. "Our… leader… he stands on the… hill overlooking Thor Modan… commands us. Please… tell him… we cannot take… the city… "

The Earthen lies still.

[Bennarin]: Okay. So, uh.

[Paluuva]: Perhaps…if he were not so far gone. I do not know…

Jocoza puts a hand over her heart and lowers her head briefly in respect.

Bennarin squints up at the hills.

[Ralaea]: Which hill?

Paluuva murmurs a quiet prayer

[Bennarin]: I dunno. We are all ringed in with hills.
[Bennarin]: We can look after we clean this place out some.

[Sabitha]: Then let's take the one toward the city.
[Sabitha]: So many papers scattered around.

Bennarin salutes an Earthen Warrior uncertainly.
[Bennarin]: Yeah, what are those?

[Ralaea]: Is this a map?

[Paluuva]: Hmm

[Jocoza]: Anything useful?

Bennarin crouches to consider an old book on the ground.

[Bennarin]: Ma'am? *He hands it up to Paluuva.*
[Bennarin]: I reckon it is a diary? It is all handwrote and drawn.

Paluuva takes the book and flips carefully through it.
[Paluuva]: Yes, a journal…of an explorer, I think…oh, oh my.

[Bennarin]: Oh your?

[Paluuva]: This belongs to Brann Bronzebeard!

[Bennarin]: What? Naw.

[Jocoza]: What? The Brann Bronzebeard?

[Sabitha]: What's it doing out here?

[Ralaea]: Something important, then?

Paluuva turns the book to show where an entry is signed with his name…probably in the Dwarven language, but still.

Bennarin looks around wide-eyed, like Brann Bronzebeard might pop out from behind a boulder to wave at them.
[Bennarin]: So he was — damn. For real?

[Paluuva]: There are missing pages, though.

[Jocoza]: He must be out here somewhere. I hope he's not in trouble.

[Bennarin]: Reckon we better pick up pages for it. Explorers'll want to see 'em.

[Sabitha]: That must be what's scattered all over.

[Paluuva]: Perhaps if we find them, it might give us a better idea where to find him.

[Bennarin]: Grab 'em as we go, yeah, if you see 'em.

[Paluuva]: This map you found, Rae…

[Jocoza]: He's the dwarven king's little brother. *Jo adds, in case anyone didn't know. She doesn't really follow human politics, after all.*

Ralaea nods.
Ralaea squints at the hills again. "That hill, maybe?"

[Jocoza]: That's the highest point, isn't it?

[Sabitha]: Over there.

[Bennarin]: Yeah, let's ride up around an' see if we can find that — over where?

[Jocoza]: He didn't say the highest hill, but that's a good place to start looking.

[Sabitha]: Up… Well, up there. *She points thataway*

[Jocoza]: From there we can see everything, I bet.

[Bennarin]: Road up there to the west.
[Bennarin]: Okay. City is down there, so if we go up around ….

[Sabitha]: Yes, see? It's higher over here.

Bennarin eyes Highland Mustang up and down.
[Bennarin]: These wild horses is somethin'.
[Bennarin]: They ain't — oh, hey.
Bennarin peers at Kurun searchingly.

Kurun is also a big wooden giant but…

[Jocoza]: He's like those runed giants, but…

[Bennarin]: Uh. Sir?

Jocoza waves at Kurun.

Ralaea watches the giant's feet carefully.

Kurun turns his head with a massive, stony grinding sound and peers at the tiny people. Yes, even Paluuva is a tiny people.

Jocoza keeps well back, indeed. Those feet are a menace.

Paluuva is unused to looking up at anyone these days.

[Bennarin]: Um. You're Kurun? A dwarf — a Earthen one down there told us to come up an' let you know they ain't winnin'.

Kurun says: They fight bravely, but he is right. We will not overcome the iron dwarves of Thor Modan without help. My giants and the Earthen have long struggled against iron's evil,
Kurun says: but our forces are not numerous enough to win the battle for Thor Modan. Will you aid us?

[Bennarin]: … okay. Yessir, we will.

Jocoza glances at Ben. "I think that's in line with our mission, yes."

[Bennarin]: We are here after the iron dwarves ourselves, yeah.

Kurun says: Beneath us is iron's ancient bastion, Thor Modan. Thousands of years ago, the stone giants tore the land asunder, collapsing part of the city and exposing much of the rest.

[Paluuva]: What can we do to help?

Kurun says: My giants fill the trench with boulders and debris, hoping to seal it off and kill the servants of iron as they work. Take up the boulders you see near the trench to the northeast, and help us put an end to their efforts.

[Bennarin]: … take up boulders, sir?

Kurun casts a spell. Suddenly everyone is HUGE.

See #Screenies.

[Jocoza]: Whoa.

[Bennarin]: …oh, damn.
[Bennarin]: I am a giant!

Ralaea does not look thrilled about being suddenly huge.

Kurun says: Go, now.

[Jocoza]: Is this what the world normally looks like to you tall folk?

[Sabitha]: This is fun. I should punch things, I bet I could knock someone a thousand miles!

Bennarin laughs at Sabitha.

[Jocoza]: Rae, are you okay? I reckon this is some… nature thing.

[Bennarin]: Oh, damn. Look at how it's all, yeah. Opened up there, below. Like a seam.
Bennarin glances toward Rae and Jo.

[Jocoza]: Titan magic? It doesn't feel arcane…

[Ralaea]: Might've been nice if he'd asked first…

Bennarin picks up a boulder, grinning.

[Paluuva]: It does not feel foul in any way.

Bennarin chucks a boulder into the crevice.

Jocoza giggles.

Bennarin eyes the giants standing around them.

[Bennarin]: They are not real big on aim, neither.

[Sabitha]: This is addictive.

[Bennarin]: I can see how they been havin' problems.

[Jocoza]: The city looks dwarvish, but… bright.

[Paluuva]: Well, this has been a fascinating experience.

[Bennarin]: Let's go tell the fellow. The, uh. Kurun.

They go and tell the fellow.

[Bennarin]: Sir?

Kurun says: What have you to report?

[Bennarin]: We chucked a bunch of boulders. Your, uh, fellows could use some work on their aimin', I reckon.

[Jocoza]: We disrupted their operations with strategic boulder placement!

[Bennarin]: … what the Captain said.

Kurun says: As quickly as we're able to fill the trench, the iron dwarves keep clearing it. Our assault from above will not take the city alone. You must aid the earthen fighting in the plaza below.

[Bennarin]: … we kind of was doin' that before.

Kurun shakes his head creakily. "The sons of iron have used their runes to enthrall many of my brothers and are using them to break the siege on Thor Modan. I wish we did not have to fight them, but we have no choice."

[Jocoza]: But… we can again!

Kurun says: My giants will not hold out long against them.
Kurun says: I have imbued this earthen shard with a blessing that will aid our allies. Take it with you to the battle in the Boulder Hills to the north, and use it to reassure and fortify my brethren.
Kurun holds out, you know. An earthen shard.

Bennarin steps forward to take it gingerly.

Ralaea nods in agreement with the giant's sentiments. "No choice. That's all we're left with. We'll do what must be done."

Kurun says: Kill any iron dwarves who would stand in your way.

[Bennarin]: Yessir.

Jocoza cuts another worried glance toward Rae.

The squad sets about killing iron dwarves and runed giants, all while waving a little earthen shard that seems to perk their allies, the un-runed giants, right up.

Ralaea glances at the slain runed giant. "No choice."

[Bennarin]: Look at that machine.

[Jocoza]: A burrowing machine!

[Sabitha]: Did you ever attend Brewfest?

[Bennarin]: They are comin' up out of the ground like — oh yeah. The Dark Irons got things like that?

Sabitha nodnodnods.

[Jocoza]: Yes, I think I remember that. When they tried to disrupt…
[Jocoza]: More similarities between irons and dark irons.

[Bennarin]: The irons — Bran was sayin' the irons is maybe protocursors of the Dark Irons.
[Bennarin]: Yeah.

Ralaea glances around at all the enemy giants, and is probably seeing something else.

[Bennarin]: Okay. Let's let Kurun know.

They ride back to Kurun.

[Bennarin]: Sir.

Ralaea salutes Kurun with respect.

Bennarin offers the earthen shard back.
[Bennarin]: We have rallied the giants and killed the Dar— uh, the irons.

Kurun says: You have given our allies the strength to fight on, and for that you have my thanks. Even so, we must begin planning a way to end this battle before we are overrun.
Kurun says: If we can't overcome the defenders inside Thor Modan, the iron dwarves can hold out forever. The Earthen are bravely taking on the constructs built by the sons of iron, but they cannot break into the city.
Kurun says: The tunnels narrow too quickly for my fellow giants to be of use, so our options are few. Would you be willing to venture into the city and kill the dwarf commanding the resistance?

[Bennarin]: Uh. We can fit, I reckon. But we might want to… report back to our own people, first.

[Jocoza]: It's a quick ride, it would not be much of a delay.

[Bennarin]: On account of, y'know. It bein' a dig site and us bein' after the tunnels and whatnot in it.

Ralaea looks way too invested suddenly. "But we are going, right?"

Kurun peers at them all, and nods ponderously. "Very well."

Sabitha smiles at Rae. "Seems like."

[Jocoza]: I would imagine so, yes. *Jo looks worriedly at Rae*

[Bennarin]: … I mean, yeah, Rae, I hope. We will see what Stoneshear has got to say. But Captain Stoutmantle wanted us in there eventually, so.
Bennarin does what Captain Stoutmantle says.
[Bennarin]: Let's report.

[Ralaea]: This is the perfect opportunity to kill an enemy commander. I hope the Captain agrees.

[Jocoza]: Is that what you're eager about?

[Sabitha]: It would save some time if we could just take out the leaders.

[Bennarin]: Sir. We have done what you asked with the battle. We also run into some giants out there helpin' the Earthen, or — I dunno, the bosses of the Earthen? They asked us to help 'em get into the city and take out the iron dwarf leader?

Brugar Stoneshear frowns. "Well. Stoutmantle does want a way in. But we're hoping not to have to storm the gates. Those tunnels would be our best bet, if we can find 'em."
Brugar Stoneshear says: The first place we'll search for entrances to the Thor Modan tunnel system will be the outlying buildings.
Brugar Stoneshear says: As I left the site myself with my men, it looked like the iron dwarf defenders were taking refuge inside the buildings. Be careful as you explore them.
Brugar Stoneshear says: Any tunnel entrances are likely to be toward the back of the buildings. I'm not sure what Stoutmantle thinks we're going to find down there, but I doubt the iron dwarves will make the search easy.

[Bennarin]: … okay. Yessir. We will see what we can find.

[Ralaea]: Fair enough, a full assault would be risky. If we can find a back way, that'd be ideal.

Bennarin eyes Ralaea up and down.
[Bennarin]: Let's get movin', then.
[Bennarin]: Building this way.

Inside the building are a few dwarves that need killin’. Also some nice furniture, clean lines, very organic modern.

[Bennarin]: Huh.

Jocoza looks around the little room.

[Jocoza]: This is nice.

[Ralaea]: A bed. They sleep?

[Paluuva]: So it seems.

[Jocoza]: I don't see any tunnels, but…

[Bennarin]: Anyone see anything? I'm with the Captain here, don't look like anything to me.

[Jocoza]: A double bed.
[Jocoza]: I wonder what iron dwarf marriage is like.

[Sabitha]: Plenty of other buildings to check.

Bennarin eyes Jo.
[Bennarin]: Uh.

[Ralaea]: Ale or oil you think in there?

[Jocoza]: I hadn't thought of them as… well… people like that.
[Jocoza]: Do you think they drink ale?

[Bennarin]: Metal casks, or I'd hack one. Reckon oil, my guess.

[Jocoza]: And the table…

[Ralaea]: Doesn't matter what they are. They're the enemy.

Bennarin eyes Rae.

[Jocoza]: But just, their homes look so much like ours.

[Bennarin]: You kind of woke up on the wrong side of yourself this morning, huh, Rae?

[Jocoza]: I hadn't thought of them having the same emotional range…

[Ralaea]: Then maybe we can use them when they're driven out.

[Jocoza]: …or we could make peace someday.

They enter another building, no beds in this one but with the same level of decoration and dead real dwarves.

[Paluuva]: It matters very much what they are. Understanding your enemy is important for both tactical and diplomatic reasons.

[Bennarin]: … dead one? Dead real dwarf?

[Jocoza]: Looks like it…

[Sabitha]: This is some kind of workshop. Or… I don't know, but that's a big ugly saw.

[Bennarin]: That is a big ugly saw indeed.

[Jocoza]: Let's hope for workshop.

[Bennarin]: Still no tunnels.

[Jocoza]: Looks like another home here.
Jocoza fiddles with some kind of milling machine.

[Sabitha]: Still no tunnels, though. Maybe in the big building?

Bennarin thumps a wall with one gauntleted fist. It is solid stone. He grimaces and shakes his hand out.
[Bennarin]: The big one there? I reckon that is the city proper.
[Bennarin]: We better let Stoneshear know.

[Jocoza]: We might need to come up with another plan.

Bennarin nods grimly.

They ride back. They do this a lot.

[Bennarin]: Sir.

Brugar Stoneshear says: I don't suppose you managed to find the tunnels, did you?

[Bennarin]: Uh. We did not, sir. All the buildings was just… buildings.

Brugar Stoneshear utters a stream of foul dwarven words.
Brugar Stoneshear says: No entrances? None?
Brugar Stoneshear says: No, of course it couldn't be that easy. Well, I suppose there's no avoiding a foray into the city proper. My boys'll never get back to their real work.

[Ralaea]: We can handle it. The giants are offering support from above.

Bennarin glances at Rae and nods.

[Sabitha]: As long as they don't hit us.

Brugar Stoneshear says: Aye, well. The trouble is we don't know how sturdy the blasted ruins are, and if the giants are heaving boulders and whatnot in…
Brugar Stoneshear says: When we began excavating the city, I sent Surveyor Orlond to check the stability of the tunnels in Thor Modan.
Brugar Stoneshear says: I didn't see him escape when we withdrew at the beginning of the battle, and I worry he may still be trapped inside the city.
Brugar Stoneshear says: If we're going to get an army through Thor Modan, we'll need the information he was collecting. Stoutmantle and his superiors would have my hide if the tunnels collapsed on one of their brigades!

[Jocoza]: Oh goodness. We should find him.

[Bennarin]: Yeah, okay. We got two objectives in there now.

[Ralaea]: A rescue mission too? Got it.

[Jocoza]: Rescue and kill. *Jo nods*

[Bennarin]: We will find your surveyor, sir, and also take out the, uh. Iron Thane fellow.

Brugar Stoneshear nods. "Aye, good. Off ye go."

Ralaea whispers, "Finally…"

[Jocoza]: Rae is there something specific about Thor Modan you're interested in?

Ralaea blinks. "Thor…oh. It's a path to Icecrown, maybe. Right?"

[Bennarin]: Yeah. That's what Captain Stoutmantle said.

[Jocoza]: Yes, that's the idea. Just impatient to get there?

Bennarin studies the collapsed walls ahead.

[Bennarin]: It don't look… real stable.

[Ralaea]: Faster we do it, faster the war ends, yeah?

[Paluuva]: That is the hope.

[Bennarin]: You got big plans on Friday or somethin'?

[Sabitha]: You don't?

[Bennarin]: Nah I am just havin' a quiet night in with my wife and a war goin' on.
[Bennarin]: I mean I am jokin', to be clear.
[Bennarin]: We all want to get into Icecrown faster the better, an' get this war won.

[Jocoza]: That looks pretty unsteady, in the doorway.

[Bennarin]: Just, we got to be some patient about it.

[Ralaea]: I'll go first then.

[Bennarin]: Lemme go firs— Rae

Rae does not let Ben go first. She goes first.

[Ralaea]: See? Safe.

[Sabitha]: Wow… This is a lot of people.

Rae attacks people first. She in trouble now.

[Bennarin]: Ralaea Marie Westwind.

[Jocoza]: It reminds me a lot of Ironforge in layout.

[Bennarin]: You hold your f*cken horses, you understand? That ain't how we do things.
[Bennarin]: We will get it done fast as we can, but we will get it done right.

[Ralaea]: If the squad leader gets crushed by rocks, we're out a leader. It's better this way.

[Jocoza]: Rae, you're not expendable.

[Bennarin]: Squad leader's a paladin. You make a bubble?
[Bennarin]: … sh*t. We got a body here.

[Ralaea]: Think our rescue has turned into a body recovery.

Jocoza sighs sadly.

Paluuva kneels before Surveyor Orlond.

Bennarin kneels down by the body. He looks up at Paluuva.

Paluuva sighs. "He is gone."

[Bennarin]: Damn.

[Ralaea]: Has he got what we're here for at least?

Bennarin rifles among the corpse's belongings, as one does.
[Bennarin]: … notes.
[Bennarin]: He had a thing with him. Seismograph? Captain Jo, you see one around here?

Jocoza looks around.

[Jocoza]: Not in sight, no. And trust me, I would recognize a seismograph when I saw one.

[Bennarin]: Yes'm, okay. He ain't read for the eastern end of the tunnel yet. And he — hm.

[Sabitha]: There are threshers in the water, look!

[Bennarin]: Yeah, he tried — oh.
[Bennarin]: He was tryin' to hide in the water from the irons, I think?

[Jocoza]: Oh, no. That must be what did him in, then.

[Sabitha]: I didn't know they lived in caves. Sorry, I didn't mean to be … Sorry.

[Bennarin]: What are the odds we find a seismograph down there?

[Jocoza]: Maybe a thresher could have eaten it by accident?

[Bennarin]: Sabitha, you give us some breathin'?
[Bennarin]: We can take a look.

[Jocoza]: I might have to do some emergency engineering to get it working…

[Sabitha]: Oh! I can!

Sabitha casts waterbreathing on everyone for the 2 seconds they’re going to be in the water.

[Ralaea]: I don't need it.

[Jocoza]: Or Rae can.

Bennarin grins at Sabitha.

She does it to Rae, too.

Ralaea looks a bit irritated.

They hop in the water and kill a thresher. Amazingly, the one thresher the kill has the goober. Also, Sabitha gets to skin something. There is a brief cheering moment in Party chat.

[Bennarin]: Okay. Cap'n? You know what to do with that thing?

Jocoza pulls a device from the body of the thresher. "I should, yes."
Jocoza tilts it this way and that, pokes a few places.

[Bennarin]: … watch for them boulders. The giants' aim has not got any better, I notice.

[Jocoza]: It's actually far more intact than I thought it would be, after the water and the thresher.

Sabitha touches Rae's arm lightly. "Easy," she whispers.

[Jocoza]: I bet I can get it working, if we get to the place he needed to read.

Ralaea nods to the fallen dwarf. "We'll finish what you started."
Ralaea jumps at her arm being touched.

[Bennarin]: HEY. WATCH WHERE YOU DROP A F*CKEN TREE.

[Paluuva]: OH!

Bennarin cranes his neck irritably.

Paluuva is nearly crushed by a boulder

[Sabitha]: There was a door back there, barred with runes.

Ralaea does not look up, and seems to have absolute faith in the giants.

[Paluuva]: Stay close to the wall…

[Bennarin]: Have a look down there.

[Jocoza]: Let's keep note for later.

[Bennarin]: Fellow with the fiery hammer.

Bennarin eyes Iron Thane Argrum up and down.

[Jocoza]: Finish this as quick as we can, with all the boulders.

[Ralaea]: That's the one?

[Bennarin]: Yeah.
[Bennarin]: Sabitha, where you see that rune-door?

[Sabitha]: Back behind us.

[Jocoza]: This must be the spot for the seismograph. Let me get this going really quick.

[Bennarin]: Okay. Once we get our readin, let's see if we can get a copy of those runes real quick.
[Bennarin]: For the Explorers, in case of a tunnel.

[Sabitha]: Like this one!

[Bennarin]: Paluuva, ma'am? You can get a copy?

Paluuva examines the runes.

Sabitha dodges a tree.

[Bennarin]: … close to the wall, y'all.

Paluuva nods and takes out her notebook, quickly reproducing them on the page.

[Ralaea]: They won't hit us. They're allies.

[Paluuva]: Done, let us move.

[Sabitha]: They're trying to hit the irons and keep missing them. I'm not fond of their aim.

[Jocoza]: Allies who haven't got the best aim.

[Paluuva]: They have already nearly flattened me once. I do not want to give them a second opportunity.

[Bennarin]: Let's go tell Kurun and then report back to the Brigade, yeah?

[Jocoza]: Yeah.

Yadda yadda with the riding back.

[Bennarin]: Sir?

Ralaea salutes Kurun with respect.

Kurun says: Were you able to kill the commander?

[Ralaea]: Mission accomplished.

[Bennarin]: We did, sir.

Paluuva nods solemnly.

Kurun says: Well done. The loss of the iron dwarf commander should be enough to break the remaining defenders. The Earthen should be able to deal with the survivors.

Ralaea seems satisfied with this outcome.

[Bennarin]: I am glad to hear it, sir. Happy to be of help.
[Bennarin]: We better let 'em know at the Brigade Camp.

Jocoza nods.

They ride back to the Westfall encampment.

[Bennarin]: Sir.

Brugar Stoneshear says: What did you find? Where's Orlond?

[Ralaea]: Fallen in the line of duty.

Bennarin nods once. He gestures at Jo.

[Bennarin]: We recovered his data though.

[Ralaea]: He served well.

Jocoza holds out the reading and sets down the seismograph next to Stoneshear.
[Jocoza]: Does it look like we'll be able to get through?

Sabitha jumps a little, startled. She eyes Rae, lips pursed.

Brugar Stoneshear accepts the reading from Jocoza and frowns at it, scanning the data.
Brugar Stoneshear sighs and mops his brow.
Brugar Stoneshear says: This isn't good at all. Even if we could excavate the tunnels behind the blockage, there's no guarantee they wouldn't collapse again. It looks like some of these areas haven't been used in generations.
Brugar Stoneshear says: I'll have to give Captain Stoutmantle the bad news.

Bennarin looks slightly crushed at the idea of having collected bad news for Captain Stoutmantle.

[Jocoza]: Maybe there'll be something we can do, shore up the weak points or something like that.

[Ralaea]: Either way, it might not be the quick go around we were hoping for.

Brugar Stoneshear says: Aye. And you've done well, friends. I'll go over this myself with Stoutmantle and see what we can figure out.

[Ralaea]: That is unfortunate.

Brugar Stoneshear says: Any time you feel like bringing round more moonshine, I won't say no.

Bennarin glances at Rae, and then back at the dwarf and smiles faintly.

[Bennarin]: You let us know what we can do, sir.

Paluuva smiles.

[Bennarin]: Oh, hold up.

Bennarin fishes some crumpled pages out of his pack and offers them to Paluuva.
[Bennarin]: You reckon we can get some of that book back together? One of the fellows here might want a look.

Paluuva nods and takes the pages.
[Paluuva]: Let's see…yes, I believe this is the order.

[Bennarin]: Anyone else got pages?

[Paluuva]: Anything you have will be helpful.

Jocoza pulls out a few crumpled pages and hands them over to Paluuva. "If these are from the same document. I picked up everything I saw."

Ralaea offers one of the maps. It is neatly folded.

Paluuva looks over the various scraps and maps. "Marvelous…yes, I think this is all from the journal. This is an important find."

Torthen Deepdig pipes up. "Ye recovered some documents? What is it ye've got?"

Bennarin glances over at the dwarf.

Paluuva Yes, that's right. We have discovered a journal left behind by Brann Bronzebeard.

[Bennarin]: Oh. In Thor Modan, yessir.

Torthen Deepdig reads through the most recent entries in Brann's journal.

Torthen Deepdig's eyes practically bug out.
Torthen Deepdig says: Astounding! It says here that Brann discovered a mysterious runic plate deep in Thor Modan!
Torthen Deepdig says: Brann writes that he was working on a guide to these runic symbols when the giants and their allies attacked.
Torthen Deepdig says: He reports deciphering part of the writing on the runic plate, but it doesn't look like he recorded his translation.
Torthen Deepdig says: By Magni's beard, we've got to reconstruct the runic key he used to read the plate. We could be right on his heels!

Jocoza hops in excitement. "Could those be the runes you noticed, Sabitha? That you copied, Paluuva?"

[Sabitha]: Oh! The doors, yes.

[Paluuva]: Perhaps so.

Torthen Deepdig says: This is incredible! What a find! The league hasn't gotten a report from him in some time, and we began to fear he may have been captured or killed. We may be — this is vital information!
Torthen Deepdig does a little jig.
Torthen Deepdig says: Ach, let me finish going through these, and when ye come back I'll have a job or two for ye, I expect, Cobalt Company!

Paluuva takes out her own journal and shows the copied runes to Torthen. "I would be happy to assist in the translation efforts."

Torthen Deepdig nods happily at Paluuva. "We'll just — let me look into the keystone business, aye?"

[Bennarin]: Yessir.
[Bennarin]: Maybe we can get our people through that place after all.
Bennarin steps away.

Paluuva nods to Torthen. "As you wish."

[Bennarin]: All right. Not the outcome we would've liked best but. We got some good work done, and maybe good news next time, yeah?
[Bennarin]: … also we found Brann Bronzebeard's journal.

[Jocoza]: Yes, maybe it's not final bad news on the possible route here!

[Ralaea]: We made some progress, at least.

[Sabitha]: Lieutenant, can I speak to you privately sometime soon? Not… not right now, but soon?

Bennarin nods.

[Paluuva]: Significant progress, yes.

[Jocoza]: I do hope Brann's okay out there somewhere.

[Bennarin]: Oh. Yes'm, M— Sabitha.

[Paluuva]: Oh, I must write to Bran about Brann.

[Bennarin]: I got to go put in some reports an' all, but I will catch you soon?

Bennarin peers at Sabitha searchingly.

Jocoza giggles at Paluuva.

Sabitha nods, but doesn't clarify. "I'll be back at Amberpine."

[Bennarin]: Okay. I will find you there.

[Ralaea]: Dismissed, then?

[Bennarin]: Dismissed, all.

[Paluuva]: Dioniss aca, my friends.

[Sabitha]: What's your plan for the rest of the day, Rae?

[Ralaea]: Further assisting the war plan, of course.

Sabitha nods. "Stay safe."

[Ralaea]: You as well.

Sabitha shakes her head a little.

Jocoza looks over at Sabitha. "She's not doing alright, is she?"

[Sabitha]: Captain, I thin— I think I should talk with Ben first, then let him decide if it's a Captain thing.

[Jocoza]: Okay. I'll trust you.

Sabitha smiles, if a little shakily. "I just want to be sure first. I appreciate the trust."

[Jocoza]: Alright, just… let me know if I can help. I worry about her. And you, and everyone, but…
[Jocoza]: She's the one who seems most off-kilter, at the moment.

Sabitha laughs, steadier now. "Well if you didn't worry, you'd be a bad captain."

Jocoza smiles. "I'll keep worrying, then. I'll be heading on then, unless you need anything?"

Sabitha shakes her head. "No ma'am. Thank you, though. Stay safe."

[Jocoza]: You too.