(2023-08-20) We Got Some Zeal To Us (S11 E3 - White Squad Log)

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	White Squad builds a bomb, rides a giant, kills a San'layn prince and a Scourge Reaver, and passes out parachutes. They also contemplate the favor of the gods, compare deaths, and do not sign any autographs. Another time, perhaps.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

Arc: Season 11

The two squads set out from Light’s Breach, and separate at the road.

[Ben]: Oh, sh*t.

[Sil]: What is it?

Ben gapes at Thrym.

[Ben]: You see that thing?

[Sil]: Whoa.

[Caspis]: Mm.

Azizia shrugs. "Just fancy Fel Reaver."

[Sil]: Looks Scourge to me.

[Ben]: Yeah it is like the Scourge got their own Fel Reavers now.

[Caspis]: Scourge Reaver?

[Sil]: See the stitching that means they… *Sil looks a little sick.*

[Ben]: A Scourge Reaver. Yeah.

Ben watches the Scourge Reaver pass again, uneasily.

Azizia side-eyes the Scourge Reaver.

Hereinafter, a comic interlude for the mounts, as we wait for Sil to finish his homework.

Caspis's saber looks at Ben's horse and begins to drool.

Caspis says something to the beast sharply in Darnassian.

Azizia 's elekk notices the look the saber gave the horse. It shakes its head, sneakily hitting the nearby saber's head with its trunk.

Caspis 's saber startles at the trunkslap. It seems very disinclined to try to eat an elekk.

Interlude over.

Ben salutes Crusader MacKellar with respect.

Crusader MacKellar says: Cobalt Company! You're back. Reed's been working with the metal scraps you brought last time, though I'm not sure of his progress.

Caspis peers at Engineer Reed searchingly.

Engineer Reed looks up from his work. "Progress? Hah! This stuff's mostly useless."

[Sil]: Oh, well. We tried.

[Ben]: … oh. Uh. Well, we brung you some more of it?

Caspis sighs at Engineer Reed.

Ben gingerly lays down another bundle of scrap metal.

Caspis shrugs. Who knows?

Sil sets down his own scrap metal next to Ben's.

Engineer Reed eyes it despondently. "Welp. Thanks."

[Caspis]: Is there something else that would be more useful?

Engineer Reed says: Out here? Couldn't tell you. We're doing the best with what we've got. Don't get me wrong, either, I do appreciate it.

[Ben]: Uh. You mind if I ask you a favor?

Engineer Reed looks Ben over wearily, and straightens up. "Okay. What is it?"

[Ben]: When we was out there before, we run across a… Storm Giant? The Scourge got him caged up in a fu– very large cage, must be like a hundred feet.

[Sil]: He wasn't undead. Not yet.

Engineer Reed eyes them all dubiously.

[Ben]: He said if we could get him out of there, he could help us fight 'em? The Scourge? Seein' as you… uh, still ain't got a tank functional.

Ben sounds a little apologetic.

Caspis looms.

Crusader MacKellar says: A… storm giant? I… don’t know about that. It sounds… risky.

[Sil]: He seemed lucid an' all, though.

Engineer Reed eyes Ben and then Sil narrowly, and then gives a resigned shrug.

[Caspis]: It seems riskier to leave him in their care.

Engineer Reed says: I suppose that's fair. And… we are low on options right now.

Sil nods. "And anyway, I would not want us to end up havin' to fight a scourged Storm Giant without a tank."

Engineer Reed says: If you promise me that you’ll get your giant friend to help us deal with Navarius and his cronies, I’ll see what I can rig up.

[Ben]: I mean, he seemed pretty sincere. We are good judges of character.

Engineer Reed says: A 100-foot tall cage, you said? Hm.

Engineer Reed frowns thoughtfully and mutters to himself for a moment, counting something on his fingers.

Engineer Reed says: … yes, I suppose that — assuming my calculations are correct — we might at least weaken the hinges on the cage, giving the giant leeway to break out.

Engineer Reed says: For this to work, I’m going to need some plasticizers and some stabilizers. Fortunately, I think we have the local resources to stand in for my usual supplies.

Engineer Reed says: Banshee essence should do nicely for the plasticizer. Don’t ask — the technical details are no doubt over your heads.

Ben nods. That's fair.

Engineer Reed says: And to the southwest, near Ebon Watch, there are some rogue earth elementals. Some of their rubble will serve as a stabilizer.

[Ben]: Okay. Reckon we can handle that.

[Caspis]: Mm.

Sil shifts uneasily from one foot to the other. "Banshees and the Ebon Watch. Got it."

Engineer Reed says: Get a move on, if you want to free your giant!

[Azizia]: And really, you have not to worry about storm giant. First we will save him, and more… *Azizia calls lightning, orbs of electricity begin circling around her.* Storm giant will probably like storm draenei. Basically family.

Caspis nods at Azizia.

[Ben]: Let's handle the banshees first. Since they are right here.

Ben points at a Banshee Soulclaimer.

Caspis salutes Ben with respect.

[Sil]: So storm's your specialty Azizia?

[Caspis]: She is blessed by Aviana, goddess of birds and air.

[Azizia]: I work more easily with spirits of ai– wait, what?

Caspis peers at Azizia searchingly.

[Ben]: Oh yeah? I did not — 'scuse my ignorance but I did not know birds had a goddess.

[Caspis]: My goddess seems to have adopted you.

[Caspis]: She perished in the War of the Ancients, but her spirit is still active.

[Ben]: … huh.

Azizia looks entirely confused. "When? Why? Where?"

Ben ponders the dead bird goddess to whom Caspis evidently belongs.

[Sil]: And Aviana's for storms, too?

[Caspis]: Winds, storms, that sort of thing. Though they are not her domain alone.

[Caspis]: But I saw her communicate with Azizia in the tundra.

[Ben]: Oh yeah?

Caspis nods solemnly.

Sil looks at Azizia curiously.

[Ben]: Damn. How she communicate?

[Sil]: Did you talk to her?

Azizia looks back at SIl, just as curiously. First time she's hearing about this.

[Caspis]: A flock of birds surrounded her in an attitude of affectionate blessing.

[Sil]: So like, through the actions of birds.

Caspis nods.

[Caspis]: Sometimes Aviana's will can be read in the behavior of flocks of birds.

[Ben]: What is — 'scuse my ignorance — 'an attitude of affectionate blessing'? Like, how can you tell if birds are doin' affectionate blessing?

[Caspis]: If one is a devotee of Aviana, one can read the signs.

[Ben]: Huh.

[Caspis]: Though this was fairly straightforward even to a casual observer.

[Ben]: Reckon that is pretty interestin'. To know what birds are thinkin' about.

[Caspis]: The birds hovered all around her as though paying homage to her.

Ben eyes Azizia respectfully.

Not Respectfully. Just respectfully.

[Azizia]: … I do not know. I do not feel blessed by goddess. I just helped birds.

[Caspis]: I believe Aviana was grateful for Azizia's efforts at healing the area where the oil had spilled.

[Caspis]: Many birds were harmed, there.

[Ben]: And y'all fixed that? Azizia did?

[Caspis]: We did our best. Azizia was already working there when we arrived.

[Sil]: Maybe you don't get a say on whether or not a goddess thinks to bless you.

Caspis points to Sil, as if to say 'what he said.'

[Ben]: I heard it was some trouble out there, with the mechanical gnomes an' all.

[Caspis]: Yes.

[Azizia]: Yes.

[Caspis]: I am hoping to earn back Aviana's blessing myself. I seem to have done something to anger her.

[Ben]: For serious?

Caspis nods.

Ben eyes Caspis up and down.

[Sil]: What do you think it was?

[Ben]: What makes you think it?

[Caspis]: I can no longer take the form of the bird.

[Ben]: … huh.

[Caspis]: I discovered it when I attempted to leap from a wall and transform in midair.

Ben winces. "I am sorry to hear of that."

[Sil]: You could do that before, then? Like whenever you wanted?

[Caspis]: Yes.

[Azizia]: That sounds dangerous. Do not jump off walls before trying to grow wings.

[Caspis]: It used to be very easy for me.

[Sil]: I mean if it always worked before, it makes sense to assume.

[Caspis]: Yes.

[Caspis]: I have trouble with the other forms, at times, but the bird always came very naturally to me.

[Ben]: I been a bird once.

[Caspis]: Isn't it marvelous?

Azizia blinks.

[Ben]: It was. Fucken amazen.

Caspis sighs wistfully.

[Ben]: I would do it again all the time.

[Ben]: If I could I mean.

[Caspis]: As would I, Ben. As would I.

[Ben]: Well, I hope you and your goddess get patched up soon.

Azizia throws one of her weapons in the air and puts a flaming hand on a Banshee Soulclaimer's face before catching her weapon again.

[Caspis]: Eventually she will speak to me and tell me how to make amends.

[Sil]: Maybe… maybe she just wants to make sure you pay attention. Easy to not see the details of the land, up in the sky?

Caspis ponders Sil's words.

[Ben]: … huh.

Ben ponders too.

Azizia nods. "It is possible, then, if she likes me and blessed me that she very much enjoy details, like I do. They are what make great outfits."

Caspis seems to consider Azizia's words seriously.

[Ben]: … I mean, birds do, like, plumage an' all, right?

[Caspis]: They do.

Caspis eyes Thrym up and down.

[Azizia]: If it can see and does not just move automatically, once it sees camps, it probably will destroy. That would indeed be big problem.

Caspis observes the giant undead thing's movements.

[Sil]: Already got a lot of 'em. *Sil looks around the field.*

[Ben]: You reckon that thing is what Nefarious is buildin'? Like, more of 'em?

[Caspis]: Mm…

[Sil]: One is bad enough, we can't get let 'em get more.

[Azizia]: Well, if he builds more I think we are !#@^%.

[Ben]: Then we gotta hold a line and make sure he can't.

[Ben]: Hopin' this giant can help us.

Sil nods at Ben.

Sil looks down as they pass another orc body. "Horde and Alliance still fightin' together here against the Scourge."

[Ben]: Yeah, the Argent Crusade seems to have its sh*t together.

[Azizia]: It is Argent Crusade after all.

[Caspis]: There are Forsaken in the Argent Crusade.

[Sil]: Yeah, which, if they're good ones, I bet they're havin' a rough time too.

[Ben]: There was a Forsaken at Light's Hope Chapel was a paladin.

[Sil]: Really? Can they do that?

[Ben]: I did not think so, but yeah. He could, anyhow.

[Caspis]: I suppose they would have reason to hate the Scourge.

Sil nods at Caspis.

[Sil]: They got killed by the Scourge. Then used by 'em.

Caspis nods thoughtfully.

[Ben]: I mean, seems like they all do hate the Scourge. Those ones just… hated all the rest of us, too.

[Caspis]: Some of them have an intense hatred for the living. This I do not understand.

[Ben]: Me neither.

[Azizia]: They despise living because we have what they lost.

[Caspis]: I have seen such extremes of good and evil among my own people that I am never surprised by outliers in other peoples.

Caspis nods sorrowfully at Azizia.

[Caspis]: Often when one does not know how to grieve, it turns to anger and hatred.

[Sil]: I'd say we could try to make them feel more welcome, but… *Sil shrugs.*

[Ben]: But they was us, and they still got kin and all among us.

[Sil]: You ever heard anybody making contact with their old kin, after?

Ben shakes his head.

[Ben]: Apart from those fellows in Plaguelands who were fightin'. The Barovs.

[Caspis]: Sometimes transformation of that kind makes kinship irrelevant. Some of us might have brothers or sisters who are now satyr, or naga.

[Sil]: I hadn't thought about that. They were all elves before, then?

[Caspis]: Yes.

[Sil]: But none of 'em ever came back looking for old friends and family?

[Caspis]: No.

[Caspis]: Their loyalty is to their new masters rather than their old kin.

[Ben]: I would.

[Azizia]: It is just like us Draenei and Man'ari.

Caspis nods.

[Sil]: That's just… weird. I can't think of anything would change me so much I wouldn't come back to my friends.

[Caspis]: The touch of Sargeras is…

[Caspis]: … permanent.

[Caspis]: Nor do I know what it is to be changed by Sargeras, but whatever it is, there is no coming back from it, and it entirely changes one's priorities.

[Sil]: I guess you're not really you anymore, after.

Caspis nods at Sil.

Ben stands still for a moment, concentrating.

[Ben]: … y'all, I think we have cleaned up all the banshees.

[Ben]: I ain't sense nothin'.

[Caspis]: You can sense them?

[Sil]: Then we got to head over near the Ebon Watch….

[Ben]: Undeads, yeah.

[Ben]: On account of paladining.

[Caspis]: Interesting.

[Azizia]: I can also sense them.

[Azizia]: I have nose.

Sil chuckles at Azizia.

[Ben]: I gotta concentrate pretty hard, I ain't a great paladin yet like Sir Elohad or Cole.

[Caspis]: Perhaps that is why I never noticed him doing it.

Caspis doesn't notice much, if we're being honest.

[Sil]: I think the Light chose you just as much as anybody else, Ben.

Ben points at an Icetouched Earthrager.

Sil stares at the Ebon camp in the distant and shivers, then turns back to the fight.

[Caspis]: I have not seen elementals in this form before.

[Sil]: No? What's different about 'em?

[Caspis]: They seem to be mimicking armed and armored warriors.

[Sil]: Maybe they've been around too much war.

[Azizia]: I have not seen elementals like this either before. I am not surprised that they take different shapes in different places.

Caspis nods at Azizia.

[Azizia]: Or perhaps it may be even sinister than just seeing wars.

[Ben]: More sinister how?

[Sil]: You think maybe the Scourge's using them?

[Azizia]: Us shamans work with both spirits of elements and spirits of deads. They may not be too different, after all. Perhaps those elementals have entered in contact with fallen soldiers. Absorbed powers, or become them.

Caspis 's eyes widen in alarm at the idea.

Sil looks uneasy.

[Sil]: Then they're like… ghosts. And elementals.

[Ben]: You reckon the Scourge can use… the earth? The elements?

Ben frowns.

[Sil]: If they're folks fell in the war against the Scourge, maybe they think they're still fighting.

[Caspis]: We have certainly seen many examples of other elementals becoming corrupted in various ways…

[Ben]: … the Lich King said somethin' to us in Howling Fjord about bein' a shaman before.

Caspis blinks.

[Caspis]: The Lich King… was a shaman?

[Azizia]: I do not know if they are corrupted, here. Just that perhaps spirits can mix in spirit worl– he was what?

[Ben]: That's what he said.

[Sil]: But he's a human? They can't be shamans.

[Ben]: I know.

[Caspis]: Was he not your human prince, Arthas?

[Ben]: He was, yeah. But it was a shaman sent us into the spirit world where we seen him, and when we seen him he said, 'Oh I recognize shaman magic on account of I was one.'

[Sil]: Do you think he like… takes the memories of people?

[Sil]: The ones he raises?

[Caspis]: Hmm…

[Sil]: If he's controlling them, he's in their heads, yeah?

[Caspis]: If so, he must know a great deal indeed.

[Ben]: Bran had a theory about it.

[Ben]: Y'all know Bran?

[Caspis]: I do not.

[Azizia]: No.

[Sil]: He's great.

[Sil]: He was my mentor, when I started getting interested in the Explorer's. Knows loads of stuff about loads of stuff.

[Ben]: Brannagen Stillwall, he is a priest with the Company an' also he is with Explorer's League. And yeah, he knows all kind of sh*t.

Sil nods at Ben.

[Ben]: Anyhow, he said, like, the original death knights was orc souls in paladin bodies.

[Ben]: So he wonders if there is a orc soul in Arthas now somehow?

Caspis blinks. This is clearly news to him.

[Sil]: So… wait… *Sil considers this.* Was he saying maybe Arthas hasn't got Arthas's soul in him anymore?

Azizia frowns.

[Caspis]: I wonder if there would be a way to find out. The more we know about the Lich King the better we can fight him.

[Ben]: I mean, I dunno. He seems pretty Arthas-y, too, but ain't like I known Arthas.

[Ben]: Can you get more than one soul in you?

[Ben]: Probably I should know that. I bet it's theology.

[Sil]: There anybody still around who did? Maybe they could say.

[Sil]: Know him, I mean.

[Azizia]: … Perhaps he has two, yes. Maybe they are one.

[Azizia]: Spirit world is mystery for all of us. This is not theology, it is mystery.

[Sil]: I know some ways it can happen. Like a person can have a demon soul in them. That's two souls.

[Ben]: I mean, ain't gonna lie, a lot of theology seems like mystery too.

[Caspis]: Sir Dane Atley was at one time under the command of Prince Arthas.

[Ben]: That is correct, yeah.

[Sil]: Does he think the Lich King still acts like the prince?

[Caspis]: We never discussed that.

[Ben]: He would have seen the Lich King at Light's Hope an' Wrathgate. We should ask him.

[Azizia]: And on troll empire castle, too.

[Ben]: Troll empire castle? Oh.

[Ben]: The place y'all — yeah.

[Azizia]: Yes. The place.

[Sil]: How did y'all get away from him?

[Caspis]: He left.

[Azizia]: He let us leave.

[Caspis]: He did not seem concerned with us in the slightest.

Sil blinks.

[Ben]: He done that with us too, in the spirit world. Well, not me, he killed me.

Caspis blinks at Ben.

[Ben]: But he said we wasn't ripe yet, or somethin'.

[Azizia]: I guess it would have been ungrateful to kill us after we made servant of his much stronger.

[Caspis]: You were killed by the Lich King?

[Ben]: So he would come back later for us or — yeah.

[Azizia]: He killed you?

[Ben]: I got better, though.

[Ben]: Paluuva brung me back.

[Caspis]: Perhaps it is good, then, that you are not yet a powerful paladin. He might have raised you himself.

[Azizia]: Good for orachi Paluuva being there, then.

[Ben]: … yeah, maybe.

Sil's face pales.

[Sil]: I don't want to think about any of you folks getting deathknighted.

[Ben]: It was just in the spirit world, so maybe he could not actually grab me that far, I dunno. I dunno where he was for real at the time.

[Azizia]: I would also like to not think about being deathknighted.

[Caspis]: It is unlikely to happen to me.

[Azizia]: So you went to spirit world?

[Sil]: With a shaman ritual you said.

[Ben]: Yeah, a shaman at Valgarde sent us in.

[Ben]: To find out about the vrykuls.

[Ben]: That is how we learned they are proto-humans.

[Ben]: Humans was, like, mutant baby vrykuls.

[Azizia]: Ah yes, proto meaning before.

[Ben]: Yeah! Proto means before.

Ben nods sagely.

[Azizia]: Hm. Maybe going there might help me become better shaman.

Caspis shudders.

Sil glances over at Caspis. "You alright?"

[Caspis]: …I was remembering my own journey to the spirit world.

[Ben]: Yeah?

[Sil]: Did you see the Lich King too?

[Caspis]: I did not.

[Azizia]: So everyone is going to spirit world except me? I am shaman!

[Sil]: I haven't gone in the spirit world either, Azizia.

[Ben]: You should ask the shaman at Valgarde, Azizia. He had, like, a incense?

[Sil]: I've got these goggles that let me see spirits, but I've never like gone to the spirit world.

Sil pulls his [Spectrecles] out of his bag to show.

[Caspis]: But I… forgot myself. If not for Sir Dane Atley I might have simply…

Ben eyes Caspis sympathetically.

Sil looks back sharply at Caspis.

[Caspis]: I wish you had been there, Azizia.

[Azizia]: I do not know if I would have been of much help inside of spirit world itself, to be honest.

[Caspis]: You would likely be much more at home in that world.

[Caspis]: Than we were, I mean.

[Ben]: I mean I do not recommend it too much but that is on account of seein' the Lich King there. Reckon I had a poor experience.

[Caspis]: I cannot remember much of what we saw.

[Azizia]: Maybe going there, but away from Northrend might help.

[Caspis]: Yes, the spirit world must be very tainted here.

[Sil]: Maybe you got to go with someone you're attached to strongly, so you don't forget yourself.

[Caspis]: That was how Sir Atley helped me.

[Caspis]: All I remembered was that I was meant to follow him.

[Caspis]: So he led me out, eventually.

[Sil]: That's good, then. And you got to stay attached to us three, too, in case we ever have to do something like that. Right?

[Ben]: I was with Rae an' Paluuva an' Lena an' Ace, and I remember mostly wantin' to fight back to keep them safe, so that is probably how come I ain't get — well, I did get killed.

[Ben]: But apart from that.

[Caspis]: And you came back.

[Ben]: Yeah.

[Caspis]: Not all will even answer such a call.

[Caspis]: You have strong will and attachments.

Ben nods firmly.

[Sil]: Oh, I guess in that sense I did visit the spirit world once.

[Caspis]: Oh?

[Sil]: But Mizzy called me back. And I don't really remember it at all.

[Caspis]: You were killed?

[Ben]: Oh, yeah, bein' dead.

[Sil]: Yeah, back in Outland.

[Ben]: Yeah we done that together, in fact.

[Azizia]: …

[Ben]: Bein' dead I have done a few times.

[Caspis]: I have never been killed. Unless the ritual we did to enter the spirit world counts.

[Sil]: Over thousands of years? Not once?

[Caspis]: Not once.

[Ben]: Damn.

Ben looks impressed.

[Ben]: I would for sure have got killed so many times.

[Caspis]: I have been… very good at staying out of trouble, until now.

[Ben]: I mean, I been killed several times in twenty-four years, so.

[Caspis]: I have only recently been exposed to battle with any frequency.

[Sil]: That's real impressive, cause there's been a lot of trouble to get into.

Caspis's ears droop slightly.

[Azizia]: I have never died either yet. I do not plan to.

[Ben]: I mean, recent, I guess, yeah.

[Ben]: Kaldoreis had long peacetimes, ain't they?

[Caspis]: We did.

[Ben]: But we — humans, I mean — we been at war since around I was born.

[Sil]: But there was that thing with the silithids? That was a long time ago, and then again recent.

[Caspis]: I was too young to fight during the War of the Ancients, and the War of the Shifting Sands was… largely secret.

[Caspis]: Many of us never even knew it was happening.

[Sil]: Yeah, I guess the secret kind of came out with the sequel.

[Caspis]: Yes.

Azizia raises her eyebrows. Her Azeroth History is not good enough just quite yet.

Ben waves at Engineer Reed.

[Ben]: Hey, sir. We got the, uh, parts you was after?

[Caspis]: A challenging request, but we have succeeded.

Engineer Reed nods approvingly. "Excellent work. Putting together some jumbo seaforium charges should be no problem now."

Engineer Reed accepts the sack of junk from Ben. He turns away and begins to tinker, muttering to himself again.

Caspis mouths 'jumbo seaforium' silently.

Engineer Reed says: Have you worked with seaforium before? It’s a highly volatile explosive, so be careful. I’m giving you a plasticized form of it.

[Sil]: A bit. Not often.

[Ben]: I cannot say that I have, sir.

Engineer Reed says: Due to its malleable nature, you’ll be able to fill in the hinges and cracks of the cage for maximum damage.

Caspis looks around at the others with a Not It expression.

Engineer Reed turns back and offers Ben a giant wad of plastic explosive. That seems fine.

[Ben]: Uh. Okay.

Ben accepts it gingerly.

Sil looks around at the others. "I could do it if you want? I'm good with fiddly dangerous stuff."

Ben nods and hands it to Sil, still gingerly.

Caspis backs away a little.

Azizia nods. Azizia and Caspis both said they'd never died. They jinxed it. She knows it. She's not holding the big explosives.

Sil tucks it in his bag next to the wide array of poison vials. It's safe now.

Engineer Reed says: Return to your giant and set him free. Let’s hope he honors his bargain. At this point, he may be our only hope.

[Ben]: We're on it.

Ben points at Gymer.

[Ben]: There's our fellow. We will clear the Scourge out around him and then get him out.

[Caspis]: That is, indeed, a very large cage.

They pause to wait for Sil to catch up.

[Sil]: Sorry, I rode slow on account of the explosives.

[Ben]: We respect that.

Gymer is still being tormented by vargul, and yelling at them.

Gymer says: Ugly little monsters, pray I don't get out!

Gymer says: I will crush you all!

[Ben]: Hey, fellow, we are back! Give us two shakes an' we will get you out of there.

[Ben]: Hold up, trouble comin'.

Vargul Runelord says: I'll eat your heart!

[Sil]: Everyone ready?

Caspis nods at Sil.

[Sil]: One sec, let me get it in the cracks and all.

Ben looks around warily.

Gymer crashes free of the cage with a roar.

Gymer bellows, “FREEDOM!”

[Sil]: HaHA!

Gymer says: Do not be afraid, little ones! Gymer is an honorable giant.

Gymer says: Like you and your people, I too wish to see the Scourge driven away from this land and the Lich King destroyed. I will help you, as promised.

Caspis bows.

[Ben]: 'Preciate you, sir.

Gymer says: My own people have been decimated by the Lich King. The Scourge now use the corpses of storm giants to create mindless flesh giants, or worse, stitched-together abominations like Thrym.

Gymer says: Have you seen it? Thrym is the mighty monster that patrols the road running east and west.

[Azizia]: That is what this thing is made of, then…

Gymer says: I will stop at nothing to see them all driven from this world. Come with me, and we will work together to destroy the Scourge that threaten these lands.

[Caspis]: We saw this abomination. You have our sympathies.

[Sil]: That's terrible. I'm so sorry for your people.

Gymer says: Thank you, friends. Together we will end it now. Climb up on my shoulders. We will kill them all: Navarius, Algar, and Thrym!

Caspis climbs up nimbly onto the giant's right shoulder.

Sil climbs gracefully up onto the giant's shoulders.

Ben also clambers up, if a little dubiously.

Azizia climbs onto the giant and stands on his arm, holding onto one of the horns on his helmet.

[Sil]: Let's do it!

Gymer the Storm King lumbers out into the Dead Fields, wearing the four most fashionable accessories in Azeroth on his shoulders. This is pretty hard to miss, as landmarks go, and the Scourge forces begin to swarm to the attack.

Vargul Runelord says: I'll eat your heart!

Gymer yells: I will crush you under foot!

One of those guys was correct, and it wasn’t the Vargul Runelord.

Circling under Voltarus is a death knight mounted on a frost wyrm. Gymer grapples them both out of the air and crushes them. White Squad, from their various giant-perches, hurl Light and/or lightning and/or knives and/or bees! at the swarms of lesser Scourge.

Gymer trundles south toward the camp of Prince Nefarious Navarius, crushing more Scourge underfoot as White Squad goes pew-pew from his shoulders.

Gymer yells: Tiny creatures, I trample you!

Gymer yells: Taste Gymer's size 600!

Gymer yells: I'll wipe you off of my boots later!

Prince Navarius yells: Oh, you freed him, did you? No matter, his death and reconstruction will only be slightly delayed.

Actually the delay is going to be a pretty long one, as it turns out the Scourge is going to have to find a whole new San’layn prince to oversee the business.

Prince Navarius yells: Thrym… Av– avenge me…

Thrym yells: MASTER! NO!

[Ben]: Oh sh*t! Here he comes!

Thrym yells: THRYM CRUSH!

I think you meant ‘Thrym crushed,’ buddy. Because he is.

Gymer carries his tiny crew over to the Crusade Forward Camp and sets them down in front of the gaping Crusader MacKellar and Engineer Reed.

Gymer says: Farewell, friends. May we meet again under better circumstances. I'll never forget what you did for me!

[Azizia]: We will not forget you either, Storm Giant.

Azizia already forgot his name.

Ben is laughing.

Caspis looks wild-eyed and exhilarated, but still Very Serious.

Sil's hair is wind-ruffled and he's grinning.

Crusader MacKellar stares, wide-eyed.

[Sil]: He was trustworthy, Mr. MacKellar!

[Azizia]: Very much so.

[Caspis]: And very courageous.

Crusader MacKellar says: Unbelievable! This will be a story for the ages, Cobalt Company! A ragtag squad of Azerothian heroes riding on a storm giant, rampaging through the ranks of the Scourge!

Crusader MacKellar says: And to think I was here to see it all happen…

[Ben]: You are a party to history, sir.

Crusader MacKellar says: Incredible.

Caspis has more leaves in his hair than ever. Leaves that were on trees.

Crusader MacKellar says: I’m afraid I can’t keep you here signing autographs, however. A short while ago, Reed and I saw an Argent distress signal go up in the west.

Crusader MacKellar says: I believe it was from our comrades at the Argent Stand. Since Reed and I are holding this position alone — though we probably have things under control now, thanks to you — can you head that way and see what they need?

[Ben]: … a distress signal? Yessir, we are on it.

[Sil]: I bet we can help them, too!

Caspis nods.

Crusader MacKellar says: Be sure and tell them it was Crusader MacKellar who sent you!

Caspis is already mounting his saber.

Ben salutes Crusader MacKellar with respect.

Caspis salutes Crusader MacKellar with respect.

Sil salutes Crusader MacKellar with respect.

Azizia bows before Crusader MacKellar.

[Azizia]: If only we could bring storm giant with us. I am sure he would help much there, too.

[Sil]: Yeah, but I reckon he has to see to his own people.

[Ben]: Kind of feel like killin' Prince Nefarious is a pretty big deal, y'all.

[Ben]: Good work.

Caspis salutes Ben with respect.

[Ben]: Not to mention the fucken Scourge Reaver.

Azizia nods at Ben.

[Sil]: Another San'layn down thanks to Cobalt!

[Ben]: We are like a whole San'layn cleanup crew.

And then they arrive at the outskirts of the Argent Stand, where a battle between Crusaders and Scourge is raging that kind of puts a damper on the general mood.

[Ben]: … oh.

[Ben]: This ain't look good.

Argent Stand Defender yells: The Scourge are breaching the western wall!

[Azizia]: …

[Azizia]: Not at all.

Ben salutes Commander Falstaav with respect.

[Ben]: Sir? Crusader MacKellar sent us.

Azizia bows before Commander Falstaav.

Commander Falstaav says: Ah! You have come in answer to our signal? Thank the Light.

Sil bows before Commander Falstaav.

Caspis bows before Commander Falstaav.

Ben nods respectfully. "Cobalt Company, at your service."

[Sil]: What's happened? I mean, Scourge, but what exactly?

Commander Falstaav looks grim. "Despite our successes in the lower third of Zul’Drak, we still face the unrelenting onslaught of the Scourge. Such is the way in this frigid hell."

Commander Falstaav says: Their numbers are inexhaustible, and my men badly need rest. If you are willing, we could use your aid in reinforcing our numbers.

Commander Falstaav says: Below in the courtyard, the fighting never ceases. Dispatch the Scourge there with all the zeal you can muster.

[Ben]: We can do that.

[Sil]: We got some zeal to us, yeah.

Commander Falstaav says: In addition, though —

Commander Falstaav says: The sky terrors out there are destroying my men and women! They snatch them into the air and then drop them. It is a terrible death.

[Azizia]: Oh…

Caspis looks like he can think of worse ways to go…

Commander Falstaav didn't say it was the worst, in his defense.

Commander Falstaav says: You have to get these parachutes out to them. See that they all equip one. At least then they'll have a fighting chance to survive.

[Ben]: Okay. Should — uh, should we equip 'em? Too?

[Sil]: That's a good idea.

Commander Falstaav says: Oh. Uh. I… suppose that is reasonable.

Ben nods.

[Caspis]: Since none of us can fly. *Very bitter*

[Ben]: Okay. Let's go rescue some Argents.

[Azizia]: Armors and shields make them even heavier. Fall is so much worse like this.

Sil equips one parachute himself.

Ben shrugs into a parachute awkwardly in his armor.

[Sil]: I think the Captain said something about making cloaks that work as parachutes.

[Ben]: Oh yeah?

[Sil]: Maybe we could produce some for these guys.

Caspis nods.

[Ben]: That'd be handy. Reckon they'd 'preciate it.

Meanwhile, Scourge are being dispatched with zeal, and parachutes tossed to hapless nearby Crusaders.

[Sil]: We've got a lot of tinkers in Cobalt, right? Bet they could pitch in.

[Ben]: Yeah, for sure. I know we got Tibbs, too? An' others.

[Sil]: Rae, too, right?

[Ben]: Yep.

[Sil]: Probably more I'm not recalling just now.

[Azizia]: And draenei engineer might be of help too.

White Squad, their parachutes distributed and the Scourge numbers thinned, return to the Argent Stand.

Ben salutes Commander Falstaav with respect.

[Ben]: Sir. We broke through the Scourge ranks an' also distributed your parachutes.

Commander Falstaav says: Truly, you were sent by the Light. Or Crusader MacKellar. Or whoever.

Commander Falstaav says: Report to Commander Kunz, Cobalt Company. I am sure he will want to meet you, and have further orders.

Caspis salutes Commander Falstaav with respect.

Sil salutes Commander Falstaav with respect.

[Ben]: Commander Kunz is which one?

Ben looks around for big shoulders.

Commander Falstaav says: The human standing behind me looking important.

[Ben]: Ah. Yeah.

Ben salutes Commander Kunz with respect.

Sil notices that he does have very large shoulders.

[Ben]: Sir. Commander Falstaav sent us over. After Crusader MacKellar sent us to — uh, yeah. Anyway, we are here. Cobalt Company.

Azizia bows before Commander Kunz.

Caspis bows before Commander Kunz.

Commander Kunz says: Ah, yes. I had heard you'd joined our ranks out here. Good, very good.

Commander Kunz says: Make yourselves at home here, but don't get too comfortable. As you can see, we're not out of the woods yet. Far from it.

Caspis looks around at the… woods.

[Sil]: Seems endless, the Scourge.

Commander Kunz nods wearily. "The place is a damned factory for the things. As many as we kill, they raise hundreds more."

Caspis sighs at Commander Kunz.

Commander Kunz says: In fact, I need to recall some of our troops that were deployed recently to help the Drakkari. We need them back here against the Scourge.

Commander Kunz says: Take these orders to Sergeant Stackhammer in the north and tell him he and his people are redeployed. Get them back here, double-time!

Caspis nods at Commander Kunz.

Commander Kunz says: Oh, and get your flight clearances, while you're here.

Caspis salutes Commander Kunz with respect.

Sil looks a little troubled, but nods.

Caspis wanders toward the flight master.

[Sil]: How're we going to make friends with the Drakkari if we abandon them?

[Azizia]: … That is good question.

[Ben]: I mean, we ain't gonna make friends with 'em if we are all dead of Scourge, neither.

[Ben]: Got to priorities.

[Sil]: Also a good point.

Azizia nods at Sil.

[Sil]: But I mean, if they fall to the Scourge, then they're more Scourge against us, right?

[Caspis]: If we fall to the Scourge, we are also more Scourge against us.

Ben nods at Caspis.

[Ben]: I reckon it is kind of a balancin' act. But they got Drakkari here, looks like.

Ben points at Hexxer Ubungo.

White Squad sets out along the northern road. In the distance, a troll temple looms. On the steps before the temple’s plaza, a detachment of Argent soldiers holds a position behind barricades. They’re being commanded by a dwarf in medium-sized pauldrons.

[Ben]: Sergeant Stackhammer?

Sergeant Stackhammer says: Aye? What's this? I've no time, we're in a fine mess here!

[Ben]: Uh, we got new orders for you, sir. From Commander Kunz.

Ben offers out the paper.

Sergeant Stackhammer quickly reads through the orders, a frown coming over his face.

Sergeant Stackhammer says: Look, laddie, I'd love to just up and leave, but take a look out there. All of my people are fighting.

[Sil]: Yeah, we can see that.

Sergeant Stackhammer says: Tell you what, since you've come this far. You may as well head out there and round up as many of my soldiers as you can, to make this faster. We'll get some, you get some.

Sergeant Stackhammer says: Tell 'em the sergeant orders them to report back immediately.

Corporal Maga says: Hold up! We can't overlook the fact that we have a job here.

Corporal Maga says: While you're out there rounding up the soldiers, maybe you can help us put some of these followers of Sseratus out of their misery?

Sergeant Stackhammer says: A fine point, Corporal.

[Sil]: What's a Sseratus?

Caspis peers at Corporal Maga searchingly.

[Azizia]: Why is 's' sound so long?

Caspis points at a Prophet of Sseratus.

Prophet of Sseratus yells: I see you, insects! Come closer.

Sergeant Stackhammer says: Sseratus is the troll wild god this temple belongs to. He was imprisoned by the Scourge, and his followers corrupted.

Azizia squints.

[Ben]: Ah.

[Azizia]: Hm.

Caspis 's ears droop.

[Ben]: A troll wild — okay.

[Ben]: We will do what we can.

White Squad rides out into the battle raging before the temple, cutting down maddened trolls and searching for Argent soldiers

Prophet of Sseratus yells: Drink deep my brothers!

Prophet of Sseratus yells: With the power of the wild gods burning in our veins, none, not even the Lich King, can stand in our way!

[Ben]: … ain't many Argent soldiers still out here.

Ben sounds grim.

Azizia throws one of her weapons in the air and puts a flaming hand on a Priest of Sseratus's face before catching her weapon again.

[Azizia]: I see someone.

[Ben]: Sir? You got to report back in. New orders.

Argent Soldier says: Right. I'd better get back to the sergeant then.

(Another) Argent Soldier says: Watch your back. These Drakkari are a nasty lot.

[Ben]: Hey, miss! Sergeant wants you to fall back. New orders.

Argent Soldier says: Careful here, paladin. These trolls killed their own snake god!

(Another) Argent Soldier says: These Drakkari are just bad news. We need to leave and head to Justice Keep!

[Ben]: Reckon we done what we could here. Let's get movin'.

[Azizia]: We warn all we saw.

The squad returns to the barricades.

[Ben]: Sir. We rounded up all we could.

Sergeant Stackhammer says: All right, then. We'll head back to the Stand. Let Commander Kunz know we're coming.

[Ben]: Will do.

Corporal Maga nods. "Thanks for the help."

Corporal Maga yells: Fall back!

[Ben]: Let's head back, Cobalts.

Ben salutes Commander Kunz with respect.

[Ben]: Sir. Sergeant Stackhammer's people are comin' back now.

Commander Kunz says: Excellent. A fine day's work. Take a break, you've earned it. I just heard a story about… a storm giant?

Commander Kunz looks the group over.

Sil grins.

[Ben]: … yessir, that's right.

Caspis gazes at the Sky Terrors with cold rage in his eyes.

Commander Kunz says: Huh. Well. You've bought us some time, it seems, in shutting down the Scourge operation to the west.

[Azizia]: Storm Giant did all work. We just climbed on shoulders. Nothing very impressive.

Commander Kunz says: … I mean, it's pretty impressive. You got a Storm Giant to let you ride on his shoulders. And took out Prince Navarius.

Azizia shrugs. "If you say so."

[Sil]: We did, yeah. *Sil tries to look modest, but is still grinning.*

Commander Kunz says: Anyway, I won't ask for your autographs, Cobalt Company. Every new day is a new occasion to prove yourselves.

Caspis is gazing into the clouds now…

Commander Kunz says: I'll see you back here sharp, next time. For now, dismissed.

Ben salutes Commander Kunz with respect.

Sil salutes Commander Kunz with respect.

[Ben]: Yessir.

Azizia looks at Ben like 'can he dismiss us?'

[Ben]: Okay, y'all. You are dismissed. By me.

[Sil]: Yes, sir. *Sil nods at Ben*

[Azizia]: Good. Thank you!

Caspis looks back at the group as though he forgot where they are and why.

[Ben]: Damn good work today.

Caspis salutes you with respect.

[Azizia]: We did, yes.

[Sil]: It was a good day. We needed a good day.

Caspis peers at Ben searchingly.

Ben nods respectfully to Caspis.

[Azizia]: I will go back to Dalaran for now. I have letter to send.

[Ben]: Good work.

[Caspis]: We are… dismissed?

[Ben]: You are, yes.

[Sil]: Yep. Good working with you, Caspis.

[Azizia]: Yes. Mr. Ben said we are.

Ben grins at Azizia

Caspis wanders off….

[Ben]: See y'all. Be safe.

Azizia disappears through the twisting nether.