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| Details |
| Author: | Luridel |
| Summary: | Lieutenant Dumont sends Blue Squad to negotiate with a troll about a route into Icecrown. Dane makes a blood pact. Azizia drinks some mojo. Don't try this at home, kids. ~6800 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Season 10
Dane grunts. "Wholesome. Filling. Good for traveling."
Dane and Caspis are sharing some jerky.
[Caspis]: It does look like it would keep a while. It's dried… hm, what sort of meat? I genuinely cannot tell.
Cressidha traces water-conjuring sigils in the air.
Dane squints at the meat. "Could be venison. She does much to keep herself busy."
Dane turns in place to look at Cressidha. "Hullo', then."
Caspis bows before Cressidha.
[Cressidha]: Good afternoon, Dane, Caspis.
[Dane]: You've my thanks for the bags you sent the two of us.
[Caspis]: Cressidha. Good fortune to you.
[Caspis]: Yes, thank you very much.
Cressidha passes out water. "Does it suit you?"
[Caspis]: Shaha lor'ma dula Luvas'alith.
Cressidha nods to Caspis. "You're welcome."
Dane grunts. "Certainly does. Don't suppose you'd care for a bit of Ivri's jerky."
[Cressidha]: I'm not hungry at the moment, but I could take some for later, perhaps?
Dane grunts and produces a tough strip of jerky, holding it out to Cressidha.
Cressidha takes it.
Dane holds another strip out to Caspis without looking.
Cressidha puts the jerky away in one of her bags for now. Future snack.
Caspis takes another strip of jerky and eats it immediately.
Caspis seems to have missed the memo about it being travel food.
Dane seems to have not shared it, chewing through another strip.
Cressidha says mildly, "The weather seems nice today."
[Dane]: Where've you two been staying since we've opened the portals?
[Cressidha]: My hearthstone is bound to Valiance Keep, and I've been manning the walls there during my free time.
Cressidha has been working during her free time. A classic.
Dane grunts. "Keeping yourself busy, then."
[Cressidha]: Well, yes. There's a war.
[Caspis]: I travel between here and Ashenvale, to see my daughter.
[Cressidha]: Is she well?
[Caspis]: Her life is… tumultuous at present. There is… a girl.
Dane nods slowly and grunts, gesturing to Caspis. "I'm constantly traveling myself. Either ranging through the lands we've captured here, or visiting home."
[Cressidha]: A girl?
Atley eyes Caspis up and down.
Cressidha cannot apparently put two and two together.
[Caspis]: Her first… mmm, what is the word… young love?
[Cressidha]: Oh!
[Cressidha]: Oh, how charming. Is it reciprocated?
[Dane]: Mm. How old is she?
[Caspis]: My daughter, or the girl?
Caspis may be buying him time for not knowing the answer to either question.
Dane grunts.
[Caspis]: We do not know yet if the girl returns Tirenda's feelings… she is… reluctant to reveal them.
[Colson]: Good afternoon, everyone.
[Cressidha]: I see.
Dane looks to Colson and Mordecai and nods. "Milords."
Mordecai mumbles, "Hello…"
[Cressidha]: Colson, Mordecai, good afternoon.
Cressidha hands out water.
[Caspis]: Good afternoon, Colson and Mordecai Aspenwood.
Colson accepts his with a gentle smile and ties it to his belt, as usual.
Mordecai smiles and gives Caspis a shy little wave.
Caspis smiles at Mordecai.
Caspis is briefly distracted by the steam hissing from the nearby forge.
Dane inhales deeply through his nose. "The air here is welcome. Crisp. Fresh. Weather for wrestling grizz—" he cuts off and looks to the druids.
[Dane]: Beasts.
Caspis runs a hand briefly down Thayreen's hair. They appear to need a Relationship Update.
Colson is as Neutral looking as always. Grizz Beasts, yes. Wrestling weather.
[Mordecai]: Do you know, um, where you'll be going today?
Dane turns his glare on Mordecai and lightly shakes his head. "We've to report to the commanding officer here, Lieutenant Dumont. I warrant we're not through with those jabbering sellswords down in the valley."
[Colson]: Hm.
Caspis gives Thayreen some of the water that Cressidha gave him. She doesn't seem to particularly notice his various gestures of comfort, but she doesn't reject them either.
[Dane]: So we ought to be prepared to deal with wot'ever mischief they've designed, but with level heads.
Colson doesn't look like he really has any other kind of head but level, but okay.
[Cressidha]: Our ultimate goal here is to secure a route north for the Alliance, yes?
Caspis nods absently at Cressidha.
[Dane]: 'Tis. We're to stabilize this land so the legions in bulk can have secured passage and supplies to wot' they call 'Icecrown.'
[Caspis]: Icecrown… it is named as though it were a world tree…
[Dane]: These roads aren't Stormwind paved, but they're broad and consistent enough to march armies. There's still much to do in breaking this wilderness to turn it into safe passage.
Colson nods.
Azizia descends from the sky on the back of a flying mammal-bird. "Hello, Blue Squad."
[Cressidha]: Azizia, good afternoon.
[Colson]: Azizia, good afternoon.
Dane looks to Azizia and grunts in greeting.
Mordecai startles a little. He turns and nods to Azizia.
[Dane]: We've all assembled. Let's get underway.
[Cressidha]: Your bag is a bit of a work in progress, still.
[Mordecai]: Oh.
Caspis salutes Atley with respect.
Mordecai fumbles for a candle and drops it.
Colson bends to pick it up.
Mordecai reaches for it at the same time, blushes, and lets Colson do it. "Thank you."
Azizia doesn't make a move for the candle even though she's just. Right there.
Cressidha smiles faintly and shakes her head.
Colson hands over the candle with a soft smile. "Of course."
[Dane]: Let's move. Mordecai.
Mordecai holds the candle in both hands and mumbles a prayer.
Dane bows his head respectfully but gruffly in farewell.
[Colson]: I love you. I will see you soon.
Azizia bows before Mordecai.
Caspis autofollows his commanding officer.
[Mordecai]: I love you too. I'll be here.
Dane salutes Lieutenant Dumont with respect.
Colson salutes Lieutenant Dumont with respect.
Cressidha nods to Dumont.
Lieutenant Dumont briefly returns the salute with dark circles under his eyes. "Cobalt Company, good to see you again."
Azizia bows before Lieutenant Dumont.
[Cressidha]: Good afternoon, Lieutenant.
Caspis seems distracted. Try to contain your shock.
Colson contains his shock well.
Lieutenant Dumont says: I want you to return back to Granite Springs. Not to speak to Samir, again, but because there are reports that a troll Samir's people are holding has information he's willing to share regarding a route into Icecrown.
Dane knits his brow.
Lieutenant Dumont says: Go and find the prisoner, and get what you can out of him. Time is against us. I leave the specifics of this task to you people.
Atley salutes Lieutenant Dumont with respect.
[Caspis]: Hmm.
Colson glances at Dane at that, before he salutes Dumont again with sharp, military precision.
[Dane]: Sir.
[Cressidha]: Understood.
Cressidha just nods before leaving.
[Dane]: Mount up.
Colson mounts up.
Azizia massages the bridge of her nose. "I had managed to forget mercenaries of last time."
Mordecai waves to the others.
Azizia nods at Mordecai.
Colson waves back to Mordecai.
[Mordecai]: Be safe!
Dane grunts sympathetically at Azizia. "On me. Let's see to this prisoner."
[Colson]: We will.
Dane nods at Mordecai.
Colson is on Dane.
Caspis's saber still doesn't seem fully over the Great Worgen Chase. It keeps glancing around nervously, ears flattening at every slight sound in the woods.
Tenacious is also looking around, but he looks more eager. MAYBE HE WILL STOMP A WORGEN TODAY. HERO HORSE TO THE RESCUE.
Cressidha maintains her ice barrier along the road, her only giveaway as to her increased level of caution.
Azizia's elekk doesn't look around. He wasn't there for the Great Worgen Chase. He is as calm as ever.
[Dane]: Right then. I know this group's got its issues with torture.
Cressidha gives Dane a flat look. Yep.
Caspis dismounts and murmurs soothingly in Darnassian to his stormsaber.
[Azizia]: Yes. Methods of their torture brains of ours.
[Dane]: We proceed smartly, and with unity. Any dissension will be held away from these … mercenaries.
Colson looks like he always does.
[Colson]: Understood.
[Cressidha]: Understood.
Caspis peers at Drakuru searchingly.
Cressidha approaches the caged troll directly, ignoring Samir.
Drakuru slowly turns to the adventurers as they march up, otherwise having been as still as a statue. "Time was when I'd pull yer' hearts out ya' just ta see da look on yer faces…" he muses with a growl, before quietly cackling.
[Azizia]: You are welcome to try.
Caspis narrows his eyes at the troll.
[Dane]: We've not come to bandy words, barbarian.
[Caspis]: Brave words from someone in a cage.
Colson doesn't have any noticeable reaction to the threat. His face is just a wall of neutral.
Cressidha looks much the same as her brother.
Caspis shows the troll his fangs in what is not by any stretch of the imagination a smile.
Drakuru points a finger at the group. "Watch yerself, mons. Drakuru shrunk more human heads den' I can remember — even if I could remember, I couldn't count that high. Lucky for you I be stuck in dis cage or I'd be addin' a few more to dat list…"
Atley glares angrily at Drakuru.
[Azizia]: And yet you were fooled by human head behind mask.
[Caspis]: Yes, luck, and certainly not incompetence on your part.
Drakuru glares. "…But tings bein' what dey are mebbe we be puttin' our differences aside fer a time, eh?" He taps his temple. "Drakuru know things, mon. Tings dat will aid you in your struggle here."
Caspis narrows his eyes, but does not further insult the troll. For now.
Colson inclines his head politely.
Drakuru cuts the palm of his hand on one of his tsusk and extends it through the cage. "So, what you say mon…truce?" he inquires slowly, blood dripping onto the grass.
Colson's hand twitches slightly, as though a start of a heal was made in reflex and aborted.
Azizia takes a step back. "You are leader, Mr. Sir Dane. I let you handle hand-holding."
Dane tongues the inside of his cheek as he regards the troll with a disgusted grimace, before he tugs off a gauntlet.
Caspis's ears droop.
Cressidha winces sympathetically and takes a half step back.
Dane removes a dull carving knife from a nearby tree stump and promptly runs it along his palm without so much as a wince. He steps forward to take the troll's much larger hand, which is saying something. Their blood mixes. "Truce," Atley growls with displeasure.
Caspis sneaks Dane a healing spell once the shake is completed.
Caspis does not heal the troll.
Cressidha watches with a neutral expression.
Drakuru grins and pulls his bloody hand away from Atley's. Dane's red blood bleeds onto leaves at his boots. "Dere. Now we be connected by blood, mon. A true bond we be havin'."
Colson waits, pausing for a long moment, before there's a movement of his hand glowing brightly and briefly with the Light in a [Flash of Light] for Drakuru.
Drakuru says: You lissen carefully to Drakuru mons. There be much to do.
Colson listens carefully to Drakuru.
Drakuru says: First tings first, mon. There be some preparatory work that need doin'.
Drakuru says: No tellin' how long dey gunna keep me here. Ya be needin' a powerful elixir so we can be keepin' in touch.
Drakuru says: Lucky for you, I know just the ting. And the ingredients all be close by.
Drakuru says: I need a vial from the pretty little troll over there, some waterweed from the lake just north of here, and a few haze leaves around the camp here.
Drakuru says: Hurry now, mon, before dey be haulin' me away.
Dane grunts, looking displeased as he slides his now healed hand back into his gauntlet.
[Dane]: Let's get to it then, you lot.
Caspis salutes Atley with respect.
Colson nods to Dane.
Cressidha nods slowly.
Cressidha walks over to purchase some vials. Very normal. Nothing to see here.
[Dane]: Oi. That native said you've somming' for us.
Ameenah shakes her head with disdain. "Drakkari… So uncivilized. I got what'cha want, mons."
Cressidha counts out a couple of coins. "Five vials, please."
[Dane]: Each of us.
Ameenah rummages through her wares and provides the vials.
Caspis does a bit of shopping while he's here, since she has Useful Druid Items.
Cressidha pays her and passes the vials out.
Azizia thanks Cressidha.
Colson accepts his vial with that same very neutral expression. "Thank you."
Dane's look of disgust lingers on Ameenah before he looks to the north. "Now, for the herbs."
[Dane]: Caspis, Colson, I'll rely upon your keen eyes.
[Azizia]: I used to know plants very well. I could have helped… if we were still on home world of mine.
Caspis sighs.
[Dane]: We'll gather enough for each of us. Starting with Caspis.
[Colson]: It is a bush. There.
[Cressidha]: Is this safe to touch?
[Dane]: If this is some sort of trollish voodoo, I'll gut that prisoner.
Caspis picks some leaves and does not die.
Colson gestures with an open hand to it. "Yes, as far as I know. I am not familiar with its alchemical properties, however."
Caspis greets Tallhorn Stag warmly.
Dane nods to Caspis.
[Azizia]: I am good at making potions and elixirs. That I can help with. Does he have recipe?
[Dane]: Memorized, I warrant.
[Dane]: Cressidha, you're up.
Cressidha takes cuttings with a pair of scissors.
[Colson]: Oh, tiger lily.
Dane tosses a glance to the troll ruins with disgust and curiosity.
Caspis admires the wandering stags.
[Dane]: Get it.
[Azizia]: Who?
[Dane]: Colson, you.
Colson ignores the troll temple as he carefully plucks a few petals of the tiger lily.
[Colson]: Yessir.
[Dane]: Azizia.
Caspis gently pats Tallhorn Stag.
Colson doesn't even blink as Azizia goes wolf.
Tallhorn Stag seems completely at ease around Caspis.
Azizia turns into a spirit wolf to go faster.
[Azizia]: I have mine.
[Dane]: Can you do much fighting in that form, Azizia?
[Azizia]: A bit, but no call of elementals. Knuckles of mine are better than claws.
Dane tucks the leaves away.
[Colson]: The water weed will be, well. On the water, as the name suggests.
Dane grunts.
[Dane]: Caspis, you'll fetch it for us.
[Caspis]: Yes, sir.
[Cressidha]: Ah. Ruins.
[Dane]: Return to the surface directly if there's trouble.
[Caspis]: What… does it look like?
Atley eyes Aspenwood up and down.
[Caspis]: I am, as I believe I have mentioned, no herbalist.
[Dane]: I'm no herbalist.
[Colson]: It should be a green kelp like plant, growing from a near single point into many fronds.
Cressidha glances at Colson and then resumes staring at the lake.
[Colson]: And near the bottom of the lake.
Caspis nods. Walrus time.
[Colson]: It has small sort of nubs on the ends.
[Cressidha]: I don't see any naga, for once, but the threshers in the lake might be dangerous.
Dane grunts.
Dane squints at the surface of the water.
Caspis is almost immediately attacked by threshers.
[Dane]: In!
Caspis points to the threshers.
Colson casts a heal quickly before jumping in.
Cressidha surrounds herself with her ice barrier before diving.
Dane and the others leap into the water to defend Caspis from threshers.
Caspis wrings out his hair and frowns.
Dane stomps out of the water, wringing his tabard.
Cressidha takes a deep breath of air and raises her hands, calling a wave of heat to dry the others off.
[Dane]: We've all got a piece then, have we?
Dane stomps forward to bask in the heat.
Colson steps free of the water looking as neutral as ever. "Are you well, Caspis?"
Caspis nods grimly, not meeting Colson's eyes.
Azizia steps away from Cress's wave of heat.
[Dane]: Let's get these back to that jabbering tusker.
[Cressidha]: Very well.
Colson nods at Dane.
[Azizia]: We have not talked to Tuskarr. Troll.
Dane grunts and waves a hand at Azizia.
Drakuru says: Eh-ey mons!
Drakuru says: Good ta' be seein' ya again… Cobalt Company, right? Yes, yes, of course…
Drakuru says: You and I gunna be real good friends. Drakuru -know- dese tings.
Colson places a hand to his breastplate as the prayers from Mordecai fade.
Caspis glowers.
A grin slowly spreads across the troll's painted face.
Atley glares angrily at Drakuru.
Drakuru rubs his hands together. "You got da stuff, mons…?"
[Dane]: Aye. We've it.
Cressidha nods.
Dane growls exasperatedly. "Hand it all to him, you lot."
[Azizia]: We give stuff to you, and you promise no funny business?
Drakuru makes grabby hands between the bars. "Me? No, mon, Drakuru be doin' no funny business. We friends, mon." he muses slyly at Azizia. "Blood bond, eh?" he asks, looking to Dane.
Caspis sees nothing funny about any of this business, clearly.
Colson either doesn't see anything funny or that's just his face, but it's probably that it isn't funny.
Azizia hands the stuff. Still, she seems to expect funny business.
Drakuru says: A legendary set of artifacts, lost for tousands' of years, were created ta make Drak'Tharon Keep impervious…
Drakuru says: Most tink they be myth, but Drakuru knows better, mon!
Caspis doubts Drakuru.
Drakuru says: I nearly discovered where one be, but got captured while interpreting hieroglyphs. Ya gotta summon my soul back dere so I can finish readin' em!
Caspis slowwwwly raises a brow.
Drakuru says: Use my elixir, at da brazier on Drak'Zin Ruins, southwest of here. You'll hafta' mix in da frozen mojo my bruddas be holdin'. I hate ta see my bruddas fall, but it be for the greater good…
Caspis peers at Atley searchingly.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
Dane grunts. "We'll do it."
Colson frowns faintly, making that same Aspenwood 'hm' sound.
Brend, near the campfire, raises a hand. "Ho there! Cobalt Company. A moment!"
Dane stomps over, displeased. "Wot'."
Caspis picks some lakeweed out of his hair.
Brend says: A couple of our companions, fellow members of Samir's company, headed east some time ago to look into the Drakil'jin Ruins. If that barking mad troll sends you that way, it might be worth comparing notes with Harkor and Kraz.
[Dane]: Right then.
[Cressidha]: Thank you. We shall keep an eye out for them.
[Dane]: Move out, you lot. To the southwest, first.
Colson moves out.
An orc in one of the tents is taking a nap.
Atley glares angrily at Turgore.
Dane growls something along the lines of 'hard at work.'
[Dane]: Right then. Azizia, you'll use the elixir. You're well versed in the spirit world.
Caspis takes a deep breath of the crisp, evergreen-scented air.
[Azizia]: Well, we have druid and paladin, they also have some connection to spirit world but… Okay. I will do thing, this once.
[Dane]: They do. Though you commune more directly. If you're not fit for it I'll have Caspis see to it.
[Cressidha]: It's just pouring a vial of whatever on a brazier, how hard can it be?
[Caspis]: Druids do not, on the whole, interact very much with souls, except to call them back when they pass untimely.
[Dane]: I've seen enough trollish voodoo to know we ought to tread lightly.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Azizia]: But you work with souls of animals, no?
[Dane]: If we've a shaman, we're to use it in this work.
[Cressidha]: I suppose it's true that I've seen rather little.
Caspis looks at Azizia, puzzled.
[Caspis]: Animals do not have souls as we do.
Dane looks to Caspis in faint surprise.
[Azizia]: Well, maybe not but.. Animal spirits. They are from spirit world, too.
[Dane]: If there are no horses or hounds in the next life, I'm not going.
[Caspis]: There are animal spirits, yes.
Colson heals neither himself or Dane in combat, going from troll to troll as they get near the temple.
[Caspis]: But they are… separate.
Dane grunts.
[Caspis]: An animal spirit is a sort of force that governs all animals of its kind.
[Caspis]: The greatest of these being the Wild Gods.
[Dane]: Such as Ursoc.
[Caspis]: Yes.
Dane gestures to the brazier. "Azizia."
[Cressidha]: So… we need 'frozen mojo' to mix with the elixir, he said.
[Azizia]: Yes, as shamans we borrow from wolf spirit to turn into spirit wolf. But it is only one we talk about.
Azizia nods at Cressidha.
Caspis nods at Azizia.
[Azizia]: We are missing reagent.
Dane looks to Azizia.
[Azizia]: I need some more, to be safe.
Dane grunts.
They kill some more trolls.
[Azizia]: And now I am ready!
Dane casually ransacks troll bodies.
[Dane]: Let's move.
Colson moves.
[Caspis]: I am quite curious how shamans manage to interact so peacefully with wolf spirits.
Dane glances between Azizia and Caspis.
[Caspis]: Druids have had trouble with them, historically…
Azizia shrugs. "It is spirit like any other, at end of day."
[Azizia]: We do not have same relationship with animal spirits. We do not become them like druids.
Caspis nods. "Perhaps that was where we erred."
[Azizia]: I do not… start sniffing people or… purring?
Azizia doesn't know much about wolves.
[Dane]: Bit different, then.
Cressidha folds her arms over her chest.
[Azizia]: Anyway… ritual.
Dane grunts.
Azizia nonchalantly throws the frozen mojo and Drakuru's elixir into the fire.
Caspis loses himself as thought as Azizia does troll soul things.
Drakuru 's form appears in the fire. "Ahh, yes. Ya done good, mon. I be readin' the walls just fine from here…"
Caspis eyes the ghostly form up and down.
Drakuru says: I've got it, mon!
Caspis looks dubious.
Drakuru says: To da north, on da Ziggurat at Zeb'Halak, be a stone head with ruby eyes. One o' dem be da Eye of the Prophets! Bring it to the brazier there and drink my elixir.
Dane looks to Azizia at that.
[Azizia]: … Drink it?
Drakuru says: Again, ya be needing some mojo for my elixir to work - dis time from da warlord, Zim'bo. He be hidin' in one of da huts in Zeb'Halak.
[Caspis]: How much of that is it safe for her to drink…?
Drakuru's translucent form grins. "All of it, mon. We friends, remembah?"
Caspis looks very dubious.
[Cressidha]: You swore a blood oath to him.
Cressidha gestures to Dane.
Dane glares. "If this brings harm to any of my squad mates, troll, I'll skin you like an elk."
Drakuru sobers up briefly. "Eyy, da squad man and I are bound by honor, mon. I bring no harm ta your peoples."
Dane 's gaze sets in stone. "Then wot'."
Colson looks as bland and neutral as ever at the threat of skinning a sentient person.
Drakuru says: It be a shame to kill Zim'bo, mon, but he swore da blood oath to defend Drak'Tharon and he done failed. Now at least his mojo be helpin' us to reclaim Drak'Tharon.
[Dane]: The warlord.
Drakuru nods once.
[Cressidha]: What happened to Drak'Tharon?
Drakuru's look darkens as he turns on Cressidha. "You'll see. We be havin' more in common den you tink."
Drakuru slowly fades away into the embers.
[Caspis]: The Scourge, then…?
Dane glares at the embers for a moment.
Cressidha opens her mouth to retort and closes it when Drakuru's spirit vanishes.
[Colson]: Hm.
Atley peers at Azizia searchingly.
[Dane]: Can I count on you to do this?
[Azizia]: I have water totem removing poison and disease. And I have drinked worst drinks before. *She whispers, as if one of the people she's going to criticize could be there.* Gnomes really have to take advice from dwarves cousins for beers they make.
[Dane]: It's foul business, I know it, but as shaman you're the best suited for it.
[Caspis]: You drank gnome brew…?
Dane grunts.
Cressidha folds her arms.
Caspis shudders at the very thought.
[Dane]: Those folk are not known for their great ales. Let's bugger off.
Colson buggers off.
[Azizia]: I will be fine with elixir. It does not smell too bad. I just do not know what mojo is and do not wish to know, if I am going to drink it.
Dane grunts.
[Colson]: Undead.
[Dane]: Hold fast…
Dane nods to Colson.
[Dane]: Rotters.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Colson nods. "At least…a dozen around us."
Dane grunts.
[Caspis]: I believe we now know why Drak'Tharon fell.
[Dane]: These ruins are freshly made, then.
Dane grunts at Caspis.
[Dane]: Up we go, then.
[Dane]: Necromancers…
[Dane]: Slay them all.
[Azizia]: Happily.
[Colson]: Yessir.
[Cressidha]: Ah. Ruby eyes in the sockets. Hm.
Dane outright shoves one Deathspeaker right off the pyramid.
Cressidha climbs up on the statue.
[Dane]: Caspis.
[Dane]: Clim—
[Cressidha]: Hm?
Dane eyes Cressidha and nods.
Caspis stares at the baleful red eyes of the statue, lost in thought.
[Caspis]: Mm?
Cressidha climbs back down.
Dane glances between them, lifting a brow. "One of you climb up there and grab that eye."
Caspis gestures to Cress.
Dane grunts.
Cressidha nods and climbs up there to grab that eye. It's not a difficult climb on this statue.
They feel a strange presence as they stand before the ancient idol, almost as if they're being watched.
Cressidha has a bit more trouble prying it out of the socket, but she manages.
Caspis watches the smol robed human climb.
[Dane]: Good. Secure it.
Cressidha flicks a feather into the air and jumps down, floating.
[Dane]: Here's another brazier.
[Azizia]: I have… bad feeling.
Caspis peers at Azizia searchingly.
[Dane]: And I share in it. Let's do wot' we need to do then be free of this wretched place.
[Dane]: Savages.
[Cressidha]: Was one of those Zim'bo?
Atley spits on the ground.
[Azizia]: I do not think so. I did not see mojo from them.
Dane grunts and perks up, looking to Cressidha. "I doubt it…" He looks out over the village.
[Cressidha]: The troll said he would be hiding in a hut.
[Azizia]: We need Zim'bo mojo.
[Dane]: Aye. He ought to be skulking about here.
Cressidha casually puts the Eye of the Prophet in a containment box and offers this box to Azizia.
Azizia nods. "Thank you, miss Cress!" She smiles at her.
[Cressidha]: Of course.
[Caspis]: In the large hut, if he is a leader.
Atley points at Warlord Zim'bo.
[Dane]: That mongrel looks to be in good health.
[Azizia]: … Anybody know what mojo is?..
[Caspis]: Call his name and see who answers.
[Dane]: Sold out his own village.
[Dane]: Oi! Zim'bo!
[Dane]: Come die!
Caspis nods at Atley.
Colson does not offer if he knows what mojo is. Maybe he doesn't know.
Warlord Zim'bo says: For Drak'Tharon!
Warlord Zim'bo says: Zim'bo must live to slay our betrayer!
Warlord Zim'bo says: You be dyin' along with all dese scourge!
Warlord Zim'bo says: Betrayed by one of our own we were. Disgraced….
Atley peers at Warlord Zim'bo searchingly.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Colson]: Hm.
[Caspis]: Hmm.
[Dane]: … Mm. P'raps he wasn't a traitor, afterall.
Dane stomps forward to roll Zim'bo over and rifle through his gear, before he produces a bottle of mojo. He holds it out to Azizia.
[Colson]: He was not undead.
[Azizia]: … thank you. Still no idea what it is?
[Dane]: I've … come 'cross it before. In the wars.
Cressidha shrugs.
[Dane]: Could be any measure of foul substances. Best not dwell on it too much.
Azizia lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Dane grunts.
[Dane]: Back up the pyramid.
[Caspis]: Trolls seem to believe they gain power from it, whatever it is.
[Cressidha]: Hm.
[Dane]: Could be some bastard mongrel ale for all I know.
Dane dons a stern expression as he looks to Azizia.
[Azizia]: Well, here goes not one thing… *She puts what's left of the elixir into the mojo bottle, then shakes the bottle like she's making a cocktail.*
Atley eyes Azizia up and down.
Azizia takes a deep breath, placing her totem on the floor.
[Azizia]: … One…. two… three! *Azizia chugs the drink.*
Image of Drakuru says: You get da Eye of the Prophets, mon?
[Dane]: She's it.
Dane points at Azizia.
Azizia staggers back a little. "PHEW! That is… strong."
Image of Drakuru says: You like da voodoo, mon…?
Caspis lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Cressidha puts a hand on Azizia's arm, just in case she falls down the stairs.
Image of Drakuru asks Azizia with a cackle.
Image of Drakuru says: Dat be da eye. It be even more precious than I hoped. Dis be sure to bring mah people hope in dese dark times. No time to waste, now. Let's be seein' where da next artifact be hidin'.
Azizia shakes her head. "Not strong in good way." She blinks a lot, as if trying to hold back tears from the Bad Drink.
Image of Drakuru makes grabby hands towards Azizia. "Gimme da eye."
Dane looks between Drakuru and Azizia.
Azizia looks at the others.
[Dane]: Go on, lass.
[Cressidha]: Hold it up for him to see through, I suppose?
Azizia hands the stone to the troll.
Image of Drakuru says: Secrets of da ages, be revealed to me now!
Caspis eyes the troll suspiciously.
Image of Drakuru peers through the Eye of the Prophets. "Ahh, great be mah destiny, mon. You be lucky to know me…"
Dane glares.
Cressidha looks like she might be getting ready to catch the ruby when Drakuru vanishes from the flames.
Colson still has that relentless neutrality to him
Image of Drakuru points at the Eye. "There! I be seein' it, mon. The Heart of da Ancients! Bah, dis be toooo easy!"
Caspis narrows his eyes.
Image of Drakuru says: You gunna find da heart lyin' near da corpse of a goblin ease of here. He be up in a chamber, near a river of broken trees. Hurry, mon, before someone else be findin' it!
Image of Drakuru does disappear. The Eye falls to the ground, unless caught.
[Caspis]: The corpse of a—
Cressidha catches it.
Caspis lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
[Colson]: Hm.
Dane grunts.
[Caspis]: River of broken trees…
[Azizia]: What happened to poor goblin?
The Eye of the Prophet is HOT. Cressidha does a bit of a hot-potato toss as she pulls up her fire ward.
[Dane]: If this troll means to betray us, we'll see that he regrets it. Until then, I'm relying upon his willpower to free his kinsmen from the Scourge.
Caspis peers at Cressidha in concern.
[Azizia]: Are you okay, Miss Cress?
Colson looks at Cress, waiting.
Cressidha puts the Eye of the Prophet back in its containment box and holds her burned hands out to Caspis to be healed.
Atley eyes Cressidha up and down.
Azizia summons a fire resistance totem.
[Cressidha]: If you would, please.
Caspis heals her with a slight smile.
Cressidha smiles back and nods. "Much better. Thank you."
Caspis heals her with a spell, I mean, but also smiles a little.
[Dane]: If I were a sneering greenskin, I'd be be near those logging grounds we passed some days ago.
[Dane]: We descend and ride.
Colson descends and rides.
[Cressidha]: A river of broken trees. Ah, yes.
Caspis sighs sadly for the poor trees.
Dane glares at Silverbrook as they ride past.
[Dane]: Hold fast. Horde.
Colson holds fast.
Caspis beholds the logging camp the way some might behold a slaughterhouse.
[Dane]: We round it northward. They've likely a garrison here that we've no interest in combating today.
[Colson]: Understood.
Azizia looks in the distance for the Poor Goblin.
Azizia conjures and throws an ethereal shawl on her shoulders, transforming into a spirit wolf in the process.
Cressidha follows Dane carefully.
[Dane]: When I say, we make a dash for the water. That's our passage…
[Dane]: Now!
Colson makes a dash for the water.
[Dane]: That bugger ought to be 'round somewhere…
Cressidha looks around for an actual way up.
[Dane]: Fighting, up above!
[Azizia]: Maybe in water?
Azizia conjures and throws an ethereal shawl on her shoulders, transforming into a spirit wolf in the process.
[Dane]: We'll seek a vantage point here.
[Dane]: The camp's neither fully ours nor theirs…
[Colson]: Ah.
[Azizia]: And clearly, cohabitation is not working.
[Caspis]: Mm.
[Azizia]: … Oh no.
Dane seems unbothered by the stench of the goblin corpse.
[Dane]: Looks to be a few days old.
Cressidha looks at the absolute wall of levers and timers and wheels and buttons with faint curiosity.
Colson starts to kneel for the body to attempt a resurrection, but the state of decay makes it obvious it's much, much too late.
[Caspis]: Strange that no one has retrieved this large… gem.
Cressidha kneels down.
The unfortunate, rotting goblin must have unearthed the Heart of the Ancients during his excavations in the region. It's doubtless he had no clue as to its nature.
Cressidha uses her containment box to scoop up the Heart of the Ancients.
[Azizia]: … It cannot be that long, I would smell it, if goblin had been dead here for days.
[Dane]: I warrant that gem went underlooked in the chaos about.
[Dane]: Look at the botflies.
Azizia sniffs the air really hard. "I do not… smell anything."
Colson does not inhale deeply. "Hm."
[Dane]: Warrant that may be the mojo, lass.
Cressidha might be holding her breath.
[Azizia]: … Mojo might be a blessing for today, then.
Drakuru's voice fills their minds. "Hey, mon! Dis eye of da prophets be great! I been usin' it to watch ya and I see ya got da heart now! Not bad…"
Caspis looks around warily.
Dane narrows his eyes, jaw set.
Cressidha looks sharply at the two gems in her containment box, which is, to be fair, a glass cube with clear sides.
Drakuru continues. "Now ya just gotta bring it to my brazier at Drak'atal Passage, a short walk east of ya."
Colson's face looks like a mask of neutrality has snapped over it with an almost audible click.
Drakuru says: Ya must drink my elixir at da pedestal to summon me there. DIs time, ya need ta mix in some desperate mojo from the defenders there for it ta be workin'.
[Azizia]: Desperate mojo?..
Dane grunts and stiffly says. "We'l… see to it, then."
[Cressidha]: Hm.
Azizia keeps sniffing the air. "Nothing… no smell."
[Caspis]: You cannot smell anything?
Caspis peers at Azizia searchingly.
Atley eyes Azizia up and down.
[Caspis]: Perhaps someone else should drink the elixir this time…
[Colson]: Hm.
[Dane]: You feeling right, Azizia?
[Azizia]: Nothing! I hope it comes back soon…
[Azizia]: Well… Apart from not smelling thing, I am, yes.
[Dane]: Let's move.
Colson moves.
Cressidha looks at the two gems in her containment cube like she's trying to see the troll spying on them from within.
[Dane]: Cressidha.
[Dane]: Can you grant us passage off this ledge?
Cressidha readies her feathers. "Remember, be careful of the angle you jump at."
Dane grunts.
Caspis gazes tragically at the sky.
They reach a pass where a large group of trolls is fighting back the Scourge. Some are tending to wounded refugees.
[Dane]: Bloody hell. Properly fortified, aren't they.
[Cressidha]: They're fighting off the Scourge here.
[Colson]: Hm. There's undead…but the trolls are not.
Dane grunts. "We've a decision to make…"
[Dane]: These trolls, while wretched, share our enemy, the Scourge.
[Dane]: But Drakuru's plan'll likely be greater fruits.
[Dane]: We kill them and gather the mojo.
[Azizia]: If Drakuru plan ends well.
[Dane]: I trust it shall. These artifacts are powerful.
[Colson]: I am not certain that we have any other choice for diplomacy at this time. I agree with your decision.
[Cressidha]: Dane—
Dane grunts.
Dane looks back to Cressidha.
[Dane]: Wot's it?
Cressidha gestures at the closest pack. "Can we steer clear of the wounded and the healers, when we do?"
Drakkari Witch Doctor says: Da scourge don't know who they be messin with!
Dane squints at the refugees.
[Dane]: … Aye.
Colson murmurs prayers.
Dane squints and shakes his head.
[Dane]: The rotters are coming from Zul'drak.
[Colson]: Hm.
[Colson]: If they are in there, they are deep below the earth. I cannot feel them.
Dane grunts.
They kill a lot of trolls.
Dane directs the team towards able bodied fighters
[Dane]: Properly fortified indeed.
They kill even more trolls.
[Dane]: Right then… We've properly put them to the sword.
[Dane]: We'll need to wait for them to reinforce. 'Sides, I warrant you've drank enough of that shit today.
Dane growls at Azizia.
[Dane]: Do wot' you lot can in the mean time to gather wot' we need for when we return.
Azizia nods. "Well, if it temporarily takes away sense of smell I'd rather do it at all at once than spread it in time but… Maybe it will have other side effects if I drink more."
Cressidha looks at the cube of artifacts, frowning.
Colson nods. "It may be for the best. Azizia, if your symptoms persist, we may need to consult with someone more familiar with troll tonics."
[Dane]: Keep an eye on your health. And you keep an eye on those.
Dane growls at Cressidha.
[Dane]: You lot are dismissed. Except Cressidha. I'd have a word with you alone.
[Cressidha]: Understood.
[Azizia]: If you are worried he will spy with you with artifact, I can keep them.
Colson nods sharply at Dane. "Well done today, Dane." He gestures to Tenacious. "I will be returning to Amberpine Lodge. Light be with you."
Dane glances between Azizia and Cressidha. "I leave that 'tween you two. I trust you both."
[Cressidha]: Oh, I am certain he is watching right now. I just wonder whether or not he is listening.
[Dane]: Cressidha, you've more experience containing powerful and dangerous magical artifacts.
Cressidha offers the cube to Azizia.
[Cressidha]: Ah. Hm.
Dane looks to Colson and nods. "Ride well."
[Cressidha]: Be safe.
[Azizia]: It is troll magic after all, no? So more close to shaman magic.
Dane nods once. "Take it."
[Azizia]: I will keep, for Miss Cress's peace of mind with spying.
Cressidha passes it over to Azizia.
[Dane]: Mind yourself in Dalaran, Azizia.
[Cressidha]: Indeed. Dane, you wanted a word?
[Dane]: I do.
Azizia takes the box. "I will. I have no discussions that are very important to hide, his spying will do nothing to me."
Dane peers sternly at Azizia.
[Azizia]: I leave, I leave. *She begins fading into the Twisting Nether, back to Dalaran.*
Atley stares Cressidha down.
[Cressidha]: Should we go somewhere safer?
[Dane]: Aye.
[Dane]: The tower, yonder.
They go to the tower, yonder.
[Dane]: Right then.
Atley stares Cressidha down.
[Cressidha]: What is it?
[Dane]: I'm grateful for the influence you've had on Azizia. And the example you've set.
[Dane]: It's not gone unnoticed.
[Cressidha]: Oh?
[Dane]: Aye.
Dane maintains his usual gruff glare. "It's aided in group cohesion. You are eager, and obedient."
Cressidha nods, neutrally, awaiting a 'but'…
Dane continues staring her down. "That's all," he growls.
[Cressidha]: Ah.
Cressidha smiles faintly. "Thank you, Dane."
[Cressidha]: I do admit that I have my doubts about this particular troll's ambitions.
Dane nods a few times, grimacing as he glances around. "As do I," he confesses. "But if he betrays us, we've the power to make him regret it. If you'd told me when the Company began we'd be working as closely with these mongrels, I'd have hardly believed it."
[Cressidha]: Fighting the people who themselves are holding out against the Scourge… seems counterproductive.
Dane grunts emphatically. "And there's that. I'm less certain about slaughtering these savages, though savage they are, they are holding this pass against the Scourge."
[Cressidha]: I am uncertain whether he has his own people's best interests at heart. The warlord we killed mentioned a traitor.
Dane grunts, and strokes his beard with his metallic gauntlet. "He desires power for himself. That much is certain. But the Scourge stands in his way as much as it does ours."
[Dane]: So he'll use us, and we'll use him.
[Cressidha]: I believe when I return to Dalaran I shall see if I can find any of this mojo for sale, rather than…
Cressidha waves a hand vaguely.
Dane grunts. "It may be available in a city like that. Let me know if you find a more peaceful means of acquisition."
[Cressidha]: Although perhaps the mojo needs to have been kept near the location his spirit is being summoned to? I don't know.
[Cressidha]: Truthfully, the whole procedure is a mystery to me. Why pour the first elixir into a brazier, but drink the second and third?
[Dane]: T'may be specific, aye, but you may be right. P'raps the specific brand we need here's available in Dalaran.
[Cressidha]: Well, I'll use the sample I have and ask around.
Dane's glare darkens. "Troll magic isn't like wot' you do. It's riddled with superstition, and dark tendencies. Hardly as reliable, but twice as vicious."
[Dane]: Proper tribal magic. Backwards, in many respects.
[Cressidha]: Ah, yes. I do have a portal to Dalaran available, now. They have finally processed my paperwork.
[Dane]: Next time I may accept it. For now, I'll range about.
Cressidha nods. "Understood. Light be with you, Dane. Good work today."
Cressidha sounds a whole lot like her brother.
Dane grunts. "You've my thanks, once again."
Cressidha nods and takes out a portal stone, because she does have a horse to portal along with her.
Dane turns Hutch around and rides off.