(2023-06-15) Journey to the Ghostlands

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Nesselos, Kaerix, Mansia, Nunuzac and Therald travel all the way to the Ghostlands looking for closure about Ness's old orc friend Kraz. Along the way, Therald also faces emotions about his long-lost and now lost-again son.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Nesselos's Missing Friend

+ Show additional content warnings

some discussion of emotional trauma, some innocent coarse humor

[Nesselos]: Hi, everybody! I think we have everything we need to travel through the plague lands?
Kaerix hugs each of the draenei in turn warmly.
Mansia hugs Kaerix back. "Hello!"
Nunuzac is about the hugs. Hugs for everybody!
Nesselos hugs Kaerix back enthusiastically.
Kaerix politely does not hug the human.
Therald stands back a little. "Hello, everyone."
[Kaerix]: Hello, Mr. Oakley.
Mansia claps her hands. "Nunu, this is Nessy's friend…"
Mansia pauses.
[Mansia]: …
[Nesselos]: Therald. Um. He's Sandy's dad.
[Mansia]: Therald!
Mansia says after Nesselos says it.
[Nunuzac]: Wow, this place… *she doesn't seem to feel a need to specify the comment further.* Oh, hello friend human.
Kaerix speaks Common with a… Stormwind accent. But very slowly, giving an impression of subpar intelligence. A fleeting impression once you remember this is not her native language.
[Nesselos]: Shall we get going? Our hooves will be aching by the end of it, I think!
Nesselos shoots a nervous glance at Therald for some reason.
[Nunuzac]: Dad of Sandy? Oh, we meet Mom too! So good Sandy has family looking… you must worry very much. We will find!
[Kaerix]: I'm ready.
They head out in the direction of Darrowmere Lake.
[Therald]: Yeah. Walking is our best way to travel here, you don't want to make too much noi— worried?
[Nesselos]: Has Sandy's alive mother talked to you yet?
[Therald]: … What's happening?
[Mansia]: Oh! Did he give you baby dragon?
[Mansia]: When we met, he had baby dragon to give you!
[Therald]: … Yeah. That was surprise. She's home, I didn't want to take her through here.
[Therald]: Left plenty of food there for her, too.
[Kaerix]: I don't remember who is Sandy? … Who Sandy is, sorry. Also… I'm sorry I don't remember.
[Nesselos]: Sandy's my warlock friend. And Therald's son!
[Nunuzac]: He is very nice. Too bad about the warlock-ness.
[Nesselos]: Nunu I think we have to say?
[Mansia]: Say what?
[Therald]: … Say what?
[Kaerix]: There is… a problem with Therald's son?
[Therald]: There is a problem with my son?
[Nesselos]: Yes, sort of…
[Mansia]: Oh no.
Nunuzac covers her mouth. "You do not know?"
[Nesselos]: So… the Captain of Cobalt Company sent around an alert because he's… missing.
Therald looks worriedly at all the draenei.
[Therald]: Missing? Since when?!
[Kaerix]: Oh no!
Mansia actually relaxes a little.
[Mansia]: Oh, just missing? I thought maybe something bad with the Fel.
[Therald]: What happened?
[Kaerix]: With so many friends… I'm sure… someone will find him soon.
[Nesselos]: Oh, as far as I know, nothing bad with the fel. I hope. It's been a few weeks, I think.
[Nunuzac]: I do not know the time because I have been in the up north. But mother of Sandy speaks with us soon ago. We do not know for sure.
[Nunuzac]: But maybe there are other warlocks less friendly.
Therald's looks of worry have turned to looks of terror.
[Therald]: A few weeks and no one told me anything?!
[Mansia]: I did not know!
[Nesselos]: I did not know till recently.
[Nunuzac]: I just meet you now. But now that I know you are family, when we find him we tell you for sure.
There are four shamans and a human. Without even coordinating, they take care of making the surface of the lake a walking path.
Mansia casually trots across the lake.
Therald sighs. "It is my fault, to be honest… I… kind of cut ties with him."
Kaerix murmurs something affectionate to the water in Draenei.
[Therald]: Don't worry, You won't be the only ones looking for him now.
[Kaerix]: It's a big world… so much to explore. Maybe he's… on an adventure?
[Nesselos]: I guess at first they thought that. That's why no alarm for so long.
Therald grows silent.
Therald wipes his face with his sleeve. He's not teary-eyed, u are.
[Nesselos]: But I have a lead I'm going to follow up! The warlocks at Ratchet. There's one that went missing, and Sandy was trying to help.
[Mansia]: Ratchet…
Mansia stares off into space. Oh no.
[Kaerix]: Don't worry, Mr. Oakley. Have faith that your son is safe.
They come to the other side of the lake, and walk back up onto a path that leads to a bridge into the Eastern Plaguelands.
Nunuzac sniffs the air. "This seems maybe not good for breath."
[Nesselos]: This place… no. Nunu, have you ever been here before?
[Nunuzac]: Oh no, this is a new place for me. There is a road… people live here!?
Therald nods silently.
[Nesselos]: Once, they did.
[Kaerix]: This is… one of the places where the Scourge… ruined things.
[Nesselos]: We're going to a happier place through here. Quel'thalas area.
[Mansia]: … I remember Ratchet! Small town. Near where water shaman lives.
Nesselos nods at Mansia.
[Nesselos]: I volunteered to ask there, because we know the shaman. She was so kind.
Nunuzac makes a face of recognition. "The dead Scourge, I fight some of them. Fearful!"
[Mansia]: Very sad, still.
[Mansia]: Oh, oh dear…
[Therald]: Only gets worse.
[Nesselos]: Therald is a guard here, right? *He looks at Therald* He fights the undead things so much.
Mansia offers Therald a triangular handkerchief.
Therald nods. "At the Light's Hope Chapel."
They head into the Eastern Plaguelands. It only gets worse.
[Nunuzac]: Wow yes, looks worse than Feeords. Even the Dragonblight, it breathes nicer.
[Nesselos]: This place does not seem healthy. So… Northrend is better?
Therald takes the handkerchief without looking at Mansia, he wipes his tears with it.
[Kaerix]: When I leave here… I always wash my hooves three times. Only two, and… I can still feel the dead earth.
Mansia scrapes her hoof on the path.
[Therald]: Imagine working here.
Kaerix is clearly imagining, as Therald suggested. Her expression is rather bleak.
Nunuzac perks her smile back up a bit. "Some of the Northrend I see is very pretty. There are many dangers, but you can go journey in a group and see many awe-ful things."
[Mansia]: Like what?
[Kaerix]: I hope to see Northrend someday.
[Nunuzac]: Like tall cliffs that are very green, and ice plates that float on the sea and shine like crystal, and holy bones of oldest dragons.
[Nesselos]: Oh wow. Those do sound like awe.
Kaerix sighs rapturously at the description.
[Therald]: … Yeah. That sounds beautiful.
[Nunuzac]: And great… big… turtle! That you can drive on like a boat!
Nesselos looks suspiciously at Nunuzac. "Really? You're not just trying to see what we'll believe?"
Nunuzac shakes her head innocently. "I never lie."
Nesselos says thoughtfully. "Giant turtle…"
[Nesselos]: I took Therald to see… Draenor.
Mansia pulls moisture from the air to create a floating ball of water that circles her protectively.
[Kaerix]: Draenor was so beautiful. Outland is… not Draenor.
Nesselos then nods reluctantly at Kaerix. "Half the time I am not sure what to call it. Remnants of Draenor."
[Mansia]: Signpost.
[Mansia]: Therald, can you read?
Mansia points at the signs.
[Therald]: Yeah.
[Therald]: This way. Andorhal, we skipped it by walking on water. Really dangerous.
[Therald]: That way, Darrowshire. Not a good place to go.
[Therald]: Corin's Crossing, and Stratholme that way. Stratholme's the worst place to go to here. The whole city is filled with undead.
[Therald]: It's also the way to Light's Hope Chapel, the only safe…ish place here.
[Nesselos]: Is Corin's Crossing okay?
[Mansia]: Why is that not on sign? On the sign?
[Therald]: … Full of undead. We'll get to see it soon enough.
[Therald]: I… don't know why it's not on the sign.
[Nesselos]: Oh.
[Nunuzac]: Chapel, that is like temple yes? With anchorites? They must keep safe.
Kaerix nods.
Therald nods at Nunuzac.
[Therald]: Priests and paladins, yeah.
[Nesselos]: So we follow this way. And maybe stay out of all the towns listed.
Therald nods at you.
[Therald]: Towns are full of people. Once towns are attacked by undead, and then brought back, well… *He sighs.*
They carry on, and return to the previous conversation.
[Kaerix]: You never lie? Never?
Kaerix peers at Nunuzac searchingly.
Nunuzac sighs gently, hand at her heart. "Draenor…" She peers consideringly at Kaerix after a moment. "Well, not that I can think of."
[Kaerix]: Nunuzac, what if… I come to you with… my hair ruined. And I smile, and I say… I just got my hair cut! Isn't it beautiful? And you can see… I am so proud. But it's so ugly. What would you say?
Therald blinks at the question about hair.
Mansia , even though the question wasn't asked to her, looks at Kaerix like she has presented her with a real moral dilemma that requires great consideration.
[Mansia]: Hmmmmmmmm.
Kaerix smiles at Mansia.
Nunuzac blinks at Kaerix, a bit taken aback by the question. "Wow, Orachi has a test for me!" She teases, fists going to her hips.
Nesselos considers the question himself.
Kaerix smiles wider.
The group trails to a stop.
[Kaerix]: I didn't mean for us to stop.
They resume hoofing it.
[Nesselos]: What would you say, Nunu?
Kaerix continues to smile, obviously pleased by the conundrum she has created.
[Nunuzac]: Difficult. I want to just say the truth. But it depends on the person what they will hear.
They come up to Corin’s Crossing. It is full of undead abominations.
[Therald]: See? Corin's Crossing.
[Nesselos]: Monsters…
[Mansia]: Oh, what a big… shape.
Kaerix considers the conundrum, rather than the monsters. It almost seems that she is deliberately giving herself other things to think about.
[Therald]: An abomination.
[Nesselos]: Let's go south and around.
Therald nods at you.
Nunuzac looks disgusted by the abomination.
[Therald]: Safest road.
They are now safely away from Corin’s Crossing, passing south of it.
[Kaerix]: There is a way… I think… you could answer… both truthfully and kindly.
[Mansia]: How?
[Kaerix]: You could smile back at your happy friend and say… 'You are beautiful!'
[Mansia]: Oh! This is a good way.
Nesselos lights up. "That is the perfect thing to say!"
Kaerix beams.
[Nesselos]: I cannot imagine hair making someone I love not beautiful.
They pass by another lake, but don’t cross this one.
Mansia whispers a few words for the water spirit.
Kaerix gives Nesselos heart-eyes.
Nesselos smiles warmly back at her.
[Nunuzac]: Oh ho, not bad. A friend always beautiful. But can be beautiful and still have, eh.
[Nunuzac]: Less or more… hair potential.
Mansia fluffs her own hair a little.
Nunuzac , for her own part, has a hair full of static and finds it simply amazing.
[Nesselos]: But isn't happy more important than hair potential?
[Kaerix]: People are more beautiful when they're happy.
Nesselos runs a hand through his short, spiky hair.
Kaerix runs a hand through Ness's hair too, and giggles.
Therald , if he wasn't currently thinking about stuff, would get embarrassed that the hair talk is about him. He passes a hand on one of his two braids.
Therald guides the group through the woods. Because he knows the place.
They arrive at Light’s Hope Chapel.
[Nesselos]: Oh! Is that the chapel?
Nunuzac seems mostly glad for conversation to distract from the creepy environment. "I think you are right. Happy is lovely. Oh, we are here?"
[Therald]: Yeah. We can take a short break there.
Mansia seems at the ready to protect the group at a moment's notice, blasting incoming plaguebats with the elements.
Therald stands at attention and salutes.
[Kaerix]: Has anyone seen the Cobalt Blade posters? Did you see Zaara?
[Nesselos]: Yes! They have them up all over Ironforge!
Kaerix beams and turns her attention to the business at hand.
Mansia wanders off…
[Nunuzac]: Nnn, even the temple has hard times here.
[Therald]: It's a terrible place.
[Therald]: And a big battle took place here, recently.
Mansia wanders back.
Kaerix smiles at Mansia.
[Nesselos]: I heard about that. It sounded very painful.
[Nunuzac]: I believe this.
[Kaerix]: Did you see the book?
[Therald]: … yeah. ANd now we're allies with the people who attacked.
[Kaerix]: There is a book that… tells the name of all the soldiers. Describes the whole battle.
[Nesselos]: The book by Hazan? *Ness nods*
[Kaerix]: Yes, Hazan!
Mansia registers with the flight master.
[Kaerix]: I've read it seven times.
Kaerix turns a little darker blue, for some reason.
[Nesselos]: Wow! The names are very hard to read sometimes.
Mansia sits down and dusts off her hooves.
[Nesselos]: Because you think they are words, but then they're names.
[Kaerix]: They are hard for me to read, too. But not for that reason.
Therald doesn't ask if his name was in the book.
[Nesselos]: Many of them lived. We have to remember that.
Kaerix nods at Nesselos and smiles.
[Mansia]: Humans have so many names. My memory does not like that.
[Therald]: So many? I only have… three.
[Nunuzac]: True, three names, four, five. Many times also regular words.
[Mansia]: You have three?!
[Nesselos]: I have only the one! Wait, what is your third?
Mansia looks at Therald with more interest than she has ever shown in him before.
[Therald]: Therald Archibald Oakley.
[Nunuzac]: Regular name, lineage name, job name, special prize name…
[Mansia]: Therald Archibald Oakley…
[Nesselos]: Why bald?
Mansia counts on her fingers. Yep, sure is three names alright.
[Therald]: … No, not… bald.
[Therald]: Archibald. That's… the whole word.
Nunuzac domes her hands over her head. "Archy-bald. It is one of those two words together names."
Therald passes a hand through his hair.
Mansia hops down.
[Mansia]: I am ready to go!
[Therald]: I don't think that's….
[Kaerix]: It is just a syllable.
[Nesselos]: Let's go!
Argent Dawn guards chuckle at Therald, the Archy-bald.
They head north from Light’s Hope Chapel.
[Nesselos]: I'm a little nervous. We're months after him, though, he may not even be there.
Mansia stares off into the distance.
[Kaerix]: Therald, what is the meaning of your name? Any of them.
[Therald]: … You'd have to ask my parents for most of them.
[Kaerix]: Oh, they're not in Common?
[Therald]: No, I don't think… Archibald has anything to do with baldness.
[Kaerix]: Draenei names are mostly Draenei. But I think some … borrow names … from other worlds.
Mansia says, "Compound words!" all of a sudden.
Kaerix taps her nose and points to Mansia.
[Therald]: They might be borrowed from other languages too, or old languages people spoke before we decided to all speak the same language.
[Nunuzac]: Hmm, okay, so it is just sounds the same. Like two-number and too-also.
[Therald]: Yeah.
[Therald]: I just know Oakley comes from oak trees.
[Kaerix]: Oh! I love oak trees!
[Nesselos]: So it means you're strong and healthy like a tree!
[Therald]: I… not sure about that one.
[Kaerix]: Oaks are… marvelous. Such strength in them.
[Mansia]: People do not always need to act the way their name means.

Therald is constantly being ridiculed for being smol. Not very Oak Tree like.
[Kaerix]: I try to live my name.
[Therald]: Do you all know what your names— name mean?
Nunuzac peers at Darrowshire Spirit searchingly.
Kaerix wouldn't know that Therald was any smaller than most smol humans.
[Mansia]: Oh! I did, but… I forgot!
[Kaerix]: I know mine. The best translation is… inspired by love.
[Nesselos]: It is a good name!
[Kaerix]: 'Ka' as a… prefix… means that it… brought into being whatever comes after it. Erix is love.
[Kaerix]: Mansia's name, I think, is not draenei? It has no meaning, at least to me.
[Therald]: Kaerix the… Lovebringer?
Kaerix laughs at Therald.
[Nesselos]: It is like a paladin name!
[Kaerix]: More, brought by love. Love-Brought.
[Nesselos]: Kaerix, Love-Brought
[Kaerix]: Most babies are, though.
[Mansia]: Oh, yes! If you were a paladin with a title, what would your paladin name be?
[Therald]: Most.
[Kaerix]: Good question, Mansia!
[Kaerix]: We have mine. What are yours?
[Mansia]: Hmmm…
[Nesselos]: Hmm, my name… to translate it is something like a stone in a river. Unchanging in change.
[Kaerix]: Nunuzac's name should have Storm.
[Mansia]: I want my paladin name to be about water. Mansia the Wet? Oh, no, that is too short.
They pass through an archway into the Ghostlands while discussing paladin names.
[Kaerix]: Also I think it has to be about virtue.
[Nesselos]: So no Mansia the Moist.
[Nunuzac]: Eeeh? All our paladin names sound like shaman names.
[Mansia]: Oh, about virtue?
Therald doesn't comment on Mansia's suggestion. Nor Ness's.
Therald, clearly, wouldn't tell a friend about the ugly hairstyle.
[Nesselos]: Mansia the Silent Pool. For where you keep all your memories.
Mansia giggles.
[Mansia]: But is that a virtue?
[Kaerix]: A virtue is a good quality.
[Kaerix]: Honestly, generosity, kindness, courage.
[Nesselos]: Mansia the… what is a Common word? Stoic?
[Kaerix]: Paladin names are things like Lightbringer, Shadowbreaker.
[Kaerix]: Or a virtue like the Pure, the Enduring.
Kaerix eyes the blood elf architecture warily.
[Mansia]: Oh, I like the Pure. I can be Mansia the Pure.
Nesselos comes to a stop. "I think we are in the elf lands now."
Kaerix smiles at Mansia.
[Mansia]: Like clean water. Oh!
Therald nods at you.
[Nunuzac]: Oh I know. I want to be The Flashy. Because if I am a paladin I can do that.
[Nesselos]: Mansia the Pure, Kaerix the Love-Brought.
[Nesselos]: Nunuzac the Flashy.
Kaerix giggles at Nunuzac.
[Mansia]: Nunu the Flashy!
[Nesselos]: If I go by my name, then… Ness the Unchanging?
[Kaerix]: There is a colloquial use of flash, Nunuzac.
[Mansia]: How will we find your friend?
[Nunuzac]: Big gatehouse. Is this more dead in this place?
Therald nods at Nunuzac.
[Nesselos]: It looks healthier, I think?
Kaerix looks around.
[Nesselos]: My friend is supposed to be at a… troll city? To the east. Sacred troll city.
[Therald]: They call this place the Ghostlands. The undead army also passed through here.
Nunuzac tries to mouth the word colloquial.
[Kaerix]: Colloquial. Do you know the word? It means, how regular people talk. Not being formal.
[Nunuzac]: Plain talk. Okay.
[Kaerix]: Yes, plain talk!
[Kaerix]: And often not… quite correct.
[Kaerix]: So to 'flash' someone… that is colloquial Common for… to show them quickly what is under your clothes.
[Mansia]: Oh! Oh, no!
[Nesselos]: Really?!
Kaerix giggles.
[Therald]: … yeah.
[Kaerix]: Flash of naked lightning!
Mansia laughs, delighted.
[Nesselos]: Is that a thing people do often here, so it needs an easy name?
Nunuzac blinks widely. "That is the same word as make lights?" She thinks for a moment and bursts into a giggle while trying to connect the two images.
[Kaerix]: It must be!
[Mansia]: When you see light very quickly…
[Nesselos]: Therald, have you ever flashed?
[Kaerix]: You can flash a light, and that isn't naughty. But if you flash a person… that is the colloquial use.
[Therald]: … No.
[Mansia]: I see, I see.
[Nesselos]: Have you ever been flashed?
Therald sighs regretfully. This is his answer.
[Kaerix]: I have!!
Kaerix giggles.
Kaerix waves at Sentinel Infiltrator.
[Nesselos]: Really!
Nesselos looks around. "How nice! It's a kaldorei place!"
[Kaerix]: A man in a park. Opened his coat. Flash!
[Nunuzac]: This what hooves are for.
[Nesselos]: Was there any light?
[Kaerix]: No.
[Mansia]: Did he have anything interesting in the coat?
[Kaerix]: I did look. Then I asked him if all humans were that small. He closed his coat.
Kaerix looks around.
[Kaerix]: These trees are beautiful!
[Nesselos]: Humans are very small. It is a fair question. He must have looked smaller without clothes.
[Kaerix]: Yes, very.
[Mansia]: But it is okay to be small!
[Kaerix]: It is!
[Mansia]: Small things are cute.
Therald doesn't comment.
Nesselos nods. "They are!"
Mansia smiles at Therald.
They make it to the entrance of Zul’aman.
[Nesselos]: I… think this is the place…
Nesselos takes a deep breath. "The air seems better here."
[Therald]: Looks troll-ish, yeah.
[Mansia]: I was very cute when I was small…
[Kaerix]: I like these buildings. The… designs.
[Mansia]: Oh, are we here?
Kaerix points to the embellishments.
Mansia focuses only a little bit.
Nunuzac looks up at the… bone mobiles?
Nunuzac throws Therald an apologetic look. There is a human right here.
[Nesselos]: Oh! There's a camp!
[Mansia]: Nessy, are you nervous?
[Nesselos]: Yes. Yes, I am.
Kaerix gently pats you.
[Kaerix]: It'll be all right, Ness.
[Nesselos]: Who do we ask? *Ness clasps his hands together.*
Therald smiles at Ness. This is a forced smile, he is not in a very smiley mood but He Tries.
[Mansia]: We'll find him. Um…
[Mansia]: Maybe we ask… someone who is in charge?
A human woman looks up as the Draenei + Therald approach.
Donna Brascoe says: Draenei? Here? Why are you here in the Ghostlands?
[Mansia]: Hello! Good fortune!
[Nesselos]: Um…. we're looking for someone. An Orc. What's… going on here?
Therald stands silently. In a human way.
The woman looks the group over warily and then shrugs.
[Mansia]: Yes! An orc named…
Kaerix smiles warmly at Donna.
Mansia stares off into space.
[Nesselos]: …Kraz.
Donna Brascoe says: Oh. Wow. Yeah, you should probably hear what's been going on.
Therald raises an eyebrow.
Donna Brascoe says: I'm Donna. I'm from the Shattrath Peacekeepers, which I was trying to keep a bit quiet, but after everything…
[Kaerix]: …oh!
Kaerix bows before Donna Brascoe.
Therald looks at the others, unsure of what a Shattrath Peacekeeper is.
Donna Brascoe says: I came here to keep an eye on things, after we got word that the troll leader was trying to harness the power of the loa to bring the Amani to power again.
[Therald]: Hm.
[Nesselos]: That… does not sound like a good thing.
Donna Brascoe says: Yeah, it's not. But what I found here was this group of treasure hunters, led by a guy called Budd Nedreck.
Donna Brascoe says: They were determined to get at the treasure inside the Amani capital, Zul'aman.
[Therald]: Did they… find it?
[Mansia]: …Kraz!
Mansia is late.
[Therald]: …
Kaerix giggles at Mansia.
Donna Brascoe says: Yeah, you could say that. There was eventually an expedition into the city, and the leaders were stopped, but… Budd got a little cursed as a result.
[Kaerix]: This often happens to treasure hunters.
Donna Brascoe says: He and some of the others left here, headed up north, last I heard.
Nunuzac touches her chin thoughtfully. "Okay, Amani is troll with big city. What is this thing of power, loa?"
Donna Brascoe says: Hm, loa. That's sort of like their gods.
Donna nods at Nunu. "Yeah, they have loa based on different animals, different concepts…"
[Mansia]: But what about Kraz?
Mansia leans over and whispers to Kaerix, "Did she already say?"
Donna Brascoe says: As for your Kraz… his son's still here, I think I saw him over on one of the smaller ziggurats.
Therald looks at Ness.
Donna Brascoe says: It was before they managed to get in, Budd had a habit of trying to trick people into giving it a try. Kraz came looking for his son, who was out at the moment, and Budd convinced him to go into Zul'aman.
Kaerix frowns in concern.
Donna Brascoe says: Poor old guy just about died, I think. Would've, if he hadn't been rescued in the nick of time.
[Therald]: …
Mansia twists some of her hair around her finger.
[Nesselos]: Kraz didn't die, then?
[Nunuzac]: Mmn, a being then. I see.
Donna Brascoe says: Yeah, he survived. Might have gone north with the rest? You can ask his kid.
[Therald]: The rest?..
[Mansia]: What is the name of his son?
Donna Brascoe says: His name? Torm.
[Mansia]: Oh! Speaking of sons! Have you seen a human that looks like this one?
Mansia points at Therald.
[Mansia]: But a little different?
[Therald]: Ah, well… he… doesn't look like me.
[Mansia]: His hair is brown…
Donna looks at Therald. "I don't think so. You missing a son, too? He's probably not in an ancient sacred troll city. Just saying."
[Therald]: … Hope so.
Donna Brascoe says: You can look around, see if he's in the camp? We still do a little treasure-hunting. Which means, I'm still on assignment to keep an eye on Zul'aman.
[Therald]: I'll… yeah.
[Nesselos]: Should we go look for the son?
[Mansia]: Yes!
Kaerix nods at you.
[Kaerix]: This place is so beautiful.
[Nesselos]: In one of the little ziggurats, she said. I think she might mean those buildings?
Therald nods at Kaerix.
[Nesselos]: It is, isn't it?
[Nesselos]: Trolls may be mean, but they have a lovely home.
Nesselos peers at each orc they pass.
Kaerix laces her fingers together, looking a bit nervous now that they're actually about to talk to an orc.
They climb up the stairs and find a young orc there, keeping guard duty.
[Nesselos]: Um. Are you Torm?
Kaerix peeks from around Ness's shoulder.
The orc looks up, puzzled. He grows even more confused when he sees that it's a group of draenei + Therald.
[Mansia]: Good fortune!
Nunuzac makes an effort at a reassuring smile to the orc, though it's a bit tense.
Torm says: That's my name. How d'you know my name?
[Nesselos]: I'm a friend of your father's… wow, you're not a kid at all, are you?
Torm chuckles nervously, looking around for a way out. "Nope. Haven't been called a kid in years. I don't think my dad knows any draenei?"
Kaerix says in unaccented but halting orcish, "We come in peace."
Torm answers in Orcish, "Whoa, you know my language? I had to learn Common for these bozos."
Kaerix says in unaccented, halting orcish, "I learned… many years ago."
Therald blinks at Kaerix.
Mansia whispers to Kaerix, "Did he just call us something rude?"
[Kaerix]: No, I told him we come in peace, and explained why I knew orcish.
[Kaerix]: He asked.
[Mansia]: Oh.
[Nesselos]: Does he talk much about… Draenor?
Mansia smiles and stares off into space.
Torm blinks, and switches back to Common. "Oh… Draenor. I was born here, on Azeroth. I didn't… I wasn't part of… you know."
[Kaerix]: You are so young!
Torm says: I'm not that young!
Though anyone who protests that probably is that young.
Mansia giggles.
[Kaerix]: The orcs came to Azeroth… only twenty-seven years ago!
Torm says: Then I could be twenty-seven! That's nice and old.
He is not that old.
Kaerix giggles softly. "But you are not, are you?"
Torm says: No, I mean… I'm an an adult. My dad didn't need to come after me. I was going to find treasure.
[Kaerix]: Also twenty-seven is a draenei child. But that is Neither Here, Nor There.
Kaerix says this proudly, as though it is a recently learned colloquialism.
Torm says: Neither here nor there. *Torm agrees*
[Therald]: He looks like an adult to me. *Therald says, not very loudly.*
[Nesselos]: Did your dad ever talk to you about Draenor?
Torm says: I know… bad stuff happened there. He gets really sad sometimes. And he couldn't be a shaman anymore.
[Kaerix]: Is he all right?
Torm says: Yeah, he's got to be. He has mom, right? And he said he was starting to be able to hear spirits again. Maybe not elemental, but maybe something was coming back?
[Therald]: Hm.
[Kaerix]: Where is he now?
Torm says: I told him I was going to stay here, find more treasure. Or, you know, any at all. I can't go home empty-handed. He said there was a war up north, though.
[Kaerix]: Oh… he went to Northrend?
Torm says: Yeah, I think so. Unless mom talked him out of it.
Torm says: Are you… really his friends? With all the nightmares and… does he have draenei friends?
[Therald]: Nightmares?
Torm says: About the bad old days.
[Kaerix]: Nesselos is his friend… and so I care about him.
[Nesselos]: We were young together, on Draenor. *Nesselos looks at Torm sadly*
Torm says: You were…? But you look my age!
[Kaerix]: Draenei age very slowly.
[Therald]: So you don't know what… the bad old days are, exactly?
Torm says: The bad old days are… before the Portal. When everything went wrong.
[Nesselos]: And I am still young, yes. *Ness nods at Kaerix*
Therald puts a hand on Ness's shoulder and whispers. "Should you… do you want to tell him, about what happened, with his father?" He pauses. "This is… like the bad haircut discussion."
Nesselos whispers back to Therald. "Then maybe a nice truth?"
Kaerix nods at Therald. Perhaps there was method in her madness?
Therald keeps whispering. "I didn't tell my son about what happened with his mother and, well… I think she's hurt him again. Maybe knowing at least some truth could be… good."
[Kaerix]: I can try?
Nesselos looks at Kae uncertainly. "Do you want to try?"
Kaerix nods. "If you don't know what to say."
[Mansia]: I haven't met him.
Mansia says at a normal volume.
[Mansia]: But he was important to Nessy, before…
Mansia waves her hands vaguely.
Nunuzac folds her hands. "I have not yet met Kraz, but I am friend of Nesselos, who knew him. Us all have interest to hear more about as you say, that things become more good for your father when it is farther away from those bad times."
[Nunuzac]: We want to know if spirits come to him again, and maybe heal some in own hearts.
Kaerix smiles at Nunuzac.
Nunuzac lightly touches Nesselos' shoulder guard.
Nesselos smiles gratefully at Nunuzac.
Nesselos looks to Kaerix curiously.
[Kaerix]: If your father has bad dreams about the past… that means, for him the past is a nightmare. That says, he wants more. Better. For orcs and draenei. It might… do him good… to see his draenei friend still loves him.
Nesselos nods eagerly. "And I do. He was… not himself, when he started using the fel. But if he is himself again, then I do."
Torm says: Yeah, a lot of the old-timers turned away from that stuff. My dad does not use fel these days, though I think it's hard.
[Kaerix]: You could help, Nesselos.
[Kaerix]: Remind him why it's important.
[Nesselos]: I could. Do you think he'd want to talk to me? If you tell him.
Therald looks at the ground.
Kaerix clasps her hands together, her eyes full of hope as she looks at the young orc.
Torm says: I could… write to him? Tell him I ran into an old friend of his, who wants to be a friend again?
[Kaerix]: Thank you so much!
Nesselos beams. "Thank you, son of Kraz! Torm!"
[Mansia]: Yes! His old friend's name is Nesselos. That's N-E-S-S-E-L-O-S.
[Kaerix]: Nesselos *she says again for good measure.*
Mansia has just proven she does in fact know Nessy's full name. Wild.
The orc smiles uncertainly at the team, who is apparently indeed not going to ambush and kill him. "I'll tell him, then. And maybe you can tell him I'm grown up now, and he doesn't need to worry so much."
Kaerix smiles at the orc.
Nesselos looks like he just won an amazing prize. He smiles at his friends.
Therald smiles sadly.
[Kaerix]: He will always worry. He is your father.
[Therald]: Yeah.
Kaerix lays a hand gently on Therald's shoulder.
Torm chuckles. "Maybe. But I'm tough. I'm a warrior."
[Kaerix]: Warrior and worrier. Hee hee.
Nesselos gives a deep laugh.
Nunuzac nods, looking pleased. "Many thanks to you. Also maybe father wants to hear from you even if you are good and strong in your self. Maybe a specially so."
Kaerix agrees with Nunuzac.
Torm says: Okay, okay, maybe you're right. Maybe I should write him and mom more often.
[Mansia]: Yes, yes.
[Kaerix]: Yes.
[Therald]: Yeah.
[Kaerix]: I still write to my parents every week… and they are dead!
Therald takes out the handkerchief from out of his pocket and blows his nose into it.
[Kaerix]: It is the only way… I can be sure they don't worry.
[Therald]: That's… beautiful.
Kaerix smiles at Therald.
Nesselos turned a concerned and sympathetic glance to Kaerix. "I hope their spirits can watch your life in peace."
[Kaerix]: I feel sure they do.
Mansia blinks a couple of times.
Kaerix smiles warmly.
[Therald]: All of it is beautiful… And a lot. Excuse me. *Therald walks very fast to hide behind one of the pillars.*
Torm nods at the draenei, blinking a little bit. He's not tearing up, he's a tough guy.
Kaerix follows him.
[Mansia]: Thank you, Torm! Bye bye!
Kaerix murmurs softly to Therald, "It is all right to… feel things strongly."
[Nesselos]: Bye!
Kaerix gently pats Therald.
Mansia doesn't seem to want to crowd Therald, so she moves over to the steps.
Nesselos leaves Therald to Kaerix, she's good at this.
[Therald]: I… *He wipes his tears again.* Haven't felt much in twenty years.
Mansia whispers to Nesselos, "Did I know Kae's parents were dead and forgot?"
Nunuzac is leapfrogging onto another thought already. "I want… to see inside troll city."
Mansia definitely knew and forgot.
[Kaerix]: It is good to feel. And to cry. A river washing clean a dry land.
Kaerix gently pats Therald.
[Mansia]: Oooh, what is inside troll city? Treasure and curses?
[Kaerix]: Please do not get cursed!!
Nunuzac looks eagerly to Mansia. "Oh I hope so."
[Mansia]: I am just wondering!
Therald is bawling now, facing the troll city and not the draenei. Loud sobs and everything.
Kaerix continues to pat him gently, nodding in approval.
Nesselos is standing close enough to hear Therald, and is smiling. It is good to let feelings out.
[Kaerix]: There… you have a large heart. It has held … too much, too long.
[Mansia]: Nunuzac, do you want to adventure in troll city soon?
[Nesselos]: We could probably go into the troll city sometime…
[Nesselos]: They said it wasn't quite as dangerous now, didn't they?
[Kaerix]: Soon you will begin to… feel joy again.
Kaerix gently pats Therald.
[Nesselos]: But today, today has been a good day.
Kaerix agrees with you.
[Nunuzac]: I would go right now! But let us make sure the human is okay. That is a lot of rain from one face.
Kaerix giggles at Nunuzac.
Therald chuckles in-between sobs. "It's been like this for months, now… I've caught up on my twenty years, now."
[Kaerix]: Big storm. It will pass.
Kaerix gently pats Therald.
[Kaerix]: If you hold back tears… the same gate closes to laughter.
[Therald]: … but I can't feel joy again. *He sobs louder. WHAT MUST TORM THINK OF HIM THE STOIC WARRIOR NOW*
Nesselos nods at Nunuzac.
[Kaerix]: It takes time.
[Kaerix]: Joy will come. I promise you.
[Kaerix]: First, tears must… clean your wounds.
Nesselos steps closer to Kaerix and Therald.
Kaerix slips an arm around the poor broken human.
[Therald]: No, no, you don't get it. *He shakes his head, still crying.*
[Kaerix]: Then help me understand.
Therald wipes his tears. "I died, twenty years ago, if I'm here it's because I took my wife's… soulstone thing. I'm here because of a warlock's magic. It shouldn't be. I shouldn't feel anything."
[Kaerix]: You seem alive to me…?
Kaerix peers at Therald searchingly.
Nunuzac hops up on some stone to sit patiently while emotions happen, then blinks a bit at Therald's explanation.
Mansia is now obviously listening in after all.
Nesselos peers at Therald. "And if someone like Kraz can turn away, can feel again. Being touched only once should not destroy you."
[Kaerix]: I don't know what is a soulstone…
Therald wipes his face into his sleeve again. "It's not… I'm just— I'm sorry. You were talking of going into the troll city?"
Therald turns to the group.
Kaerix pulls out a handkerchief and offers it to Therald.
[Mansia]: Some time! For fun. Maybe I need to prepare for curses first.
[Kaerix]: I'll bet it's beautiful in there.
Therald nods, taking the handkerchief and blowing his nose into this one too. Very loudly. Dad style. "Y— yeah, trolls do like curses."
[Nunuzac]: We bring food and presents, maybe they take guests instead of make curses.
[Kaerix]: What do trolls like to eat?
[Nesselos]: One can always hope!
[Nesselos]: Maybe they like casseroles!
[Mansia]: Hmmm…
Mansia wanders down the steps.
Kaerix keeps an eye on her.
Nunuzac tilts her head a bit at Therald. "You have humans to talk to? At temple maybe?" She looks a little concerned. "Many things are heavy on you."
[Nesselos]: Therald, I'm glad you feel, even if you think you shouldn't. And you'll see your son again, I feel certain.
[Kaerix]: You can talk to me any time, Mr. Oakley.
Kaerix smiles at Therald.
[Nunuzac]: This is a good idea if you have no anchorite.
Kaerix nods.
[Therald]: Thank you… *He forces a smile at Nunu and Kaerix.* I'm fine. Really.
[Kaerix]: Talk to someone, hm?
[Nunuzac]: Okay to speak even if fine.
[Kaerix]: We are all stronger together.
[Nunuzac]: We will be friends.
[Kaerix]: Yes.
[Nesselos]: Yes, I think we are stronger friends for all the journeys, aren't we?
Kaerix smiles warmly at all of them.
[Therald]: Yeah, we are. *He smiles again.*
[Nunuzac]: I look around camp here, okay? Ask more about troll city. Soon I go back to Northrend. But I come here again sometime.
[Kaerix]: I will come see you sometimes, Mr. Oakley.
[Therald]: Yeah, well… I've got work to do. I think Sirie has something to do with… what's happening to Sandy. I've got to go back to tracking her.
Nunuzac has no trouble on a stone slope. Nimble hooves.
[Nesselos]: Yeah, maybe I'll talk to some of the others, see their stories.
[Kaerix]: Let me know if you need help, Mr. Oakley.
Therald nods at Kaerix.
[Nesselos]: I will always help you too, friend.
[Nesselos]: Please don't go after Sirie alone, she bites.
Nunuzac barks. Woof woof!
[Therald]: She can try. *He looks oddly serious.*
Nesselos reaches out to clasp Therald firmly on the shoulder in encouragement, and then turns to go talk to some more treasure-hunters.
Therald smiles at you.
[Therald]: I'm glad we found your friend's son. One step closer to seeing him.
[Nesselos]: One step closer! And I feel… lighter. Less afraid.
Therald takes out a hearthstone from his backpack. "Good." He smiles. "I'll see you soon."