(2023-11-06) Chapter X: Scarlet Subterfuge, Part 3 (Cobalt Blade)

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Brother Anton has sent the Cobalt Blade to Southshore in advance of their infiltration of the Scarlet Monastery.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Cobalt Blade

Tadget dozes in an inn chair. She snores softly, chin tucked to her chest as she leans back.

Thalstan waves. Then he notices the sleeping gnome and says, "Ho, Cobalt Blade!"

Vesyllah leans over the railing and carefully readjusts a few of Tadget's hairs to tickle her nose.

[Tadget]: *snf* *snrk* hhHCHOO

Tadget blinks.

[Tadget]: Yes sir! Ready sir!

Zaara comes trotting briskly in from outside, and narrowly manages not to trot straight into the wall where the entry passage opens into the common room.

[Thalstan]: Hello all, it's been a while.

[Arthur]: Hello! What do you think of this letter?

[Zaara]: A letter!

[Arthur]: oh heck! you mean you all came because i asked if you were all available at this time?

[Thalstan]: You got it, Trouble. So what's this letter about?

[Zaara]: Yes! I am available!

Tadget gently pats Arthur.

[Vesyllah]: I was bored and had nothing better to do.

[Tadget]: I was born available!

[Arthur]: Brother Anton sent me a letter. i'll read it.

Tadget thanks Arthur.

[Arthur]: The time has come for you to collect the final components you will need for the Elixir of Beginnings. Go to Southshore and seek out Brother Durham. He keeps a room at the inn there.

Tadget takes another micro-nap while Arthur reads. Standing up. It's weird.

[Arthur]: Brother Durham is in possession of a very special vial of holy water. Show him my enclosed letter of recommendation and surely he will give you the water.

[Arthur]: the letter is sealed, before you ask. i don't know what that letter says.

[Zaara]: Oh! We are in Southshore! This is convenient!

[Arthur]: The final item you will need is a book, Mysteries of the Old Gods, which will tell you exactly how to create and use the Elixir of Beginnings. There's just one little hitch. The book is in the Scarlet Monastery.

[Vesyllah]: I think that's why Art asked us to meet here, Zaara….

Thalstan chuckles at Zaara. "Almost like it was intentional."

[Arthur]: exactly. almost finished reading!

[Arthur]: There's one more thing: our faction disguised the book to keep it out of the hands of those that want to use the Seed. It has a false cover on it, so the title you're looking for is Inventory Records: Anti-Fungal Medicinals, Years 12-18.

Tadget wakes up in time to hear the title.

[Arthur]: Chances are you won't find the book properly shelved. The current librarian has been moving all "unnecessary" tomes out of the library to be put in storage. But the place was a mess last I heard. You might have to do some searching.

[Tadget]: I looooove searching.

[Arthur]: So I get we're on a wild goose chase!

[Zaara]: What? I did not hear the part about goose?

[Tadget]: The Scarlet Monastery is full of geese, Zaara.

[Tadget]: We might have to chase some.

[Thalstan]: Fer an anti-fungal book. I do hope it's real, an' it's not just Brother Anton havin' some problems with Desolace fungus.

[Zaara]: Oh?

[Tadget]: Vicious, predatory geese.

[Arthur]: it's a saying that means that we'll be very busy with this task that will be frustrating.

[Zaara]: Ooooooooh.

[Tadget]: Furry geese, with sharp teeth!

[Zaara]: Vicious geese.

[Tadget]: That make hyena sounds.

[Zaara]: And fun geese.

[Tadget]: They might be hyenas.

[Thalstan]: I wouldnae put it past the Scarlets, though, ta have vicious geese.

[Arthur]: if i were a goose kept by scarlets i might get testy too.

Tadget cackles maniacally at Arthur.

Thalstan raises a hand as if to adjust his mustache. He is not laughing at Zaara and Tadget, really.

[Tadget]: Looking forward to seeing the old place again. I have some great memories of it.

[Arthur]: you do?

[Tadget]: Admiring the architecture with Finn. Dying and then getting jolted back to life by Finn's thingamajig.

[Zaara]: Oooooooh

[Thalstan]: Yer husband, right? Or some such?

[Zaara]: Did the geese kill you?

[Arthur]: oh that's right, that's why i can't jumper cable you.

[Tadget]: Yeah! That's where we fell in love. Or I fell in love. He's a demon-beast who doesn't love.

[Tadget]: No, the Scarlets killed me. So many.

[Vesyllah]: Lucky you…

[Tadget]: Even Finn's whirling blades couldn't dice and slice them all fast enough.

Tadget thanks Arthur.

Zaara thanks Arthur.

[Thalstan]: I bet he's a nicer demon-beast than yer makin' it sound.

[Tadget]: He can be very nice, yes.

You bow before Arthur.

Vesyllah bows her head reverently to Arthur as she accepts the Gift of Water. "Shaha lor'ma dula Luvas'alith."

Arthur bows before you.

[Thalstan]: Anyhow, shall we to Brother Durham?

[Tadget]: Yep!

[Zaara]: So we go to fight the vicious geese and find a book about fun goose.

[Tadget]: Got my punkernickel, I'm good to go.

Tadget snacks.

[Thalstan]: You got it, Zaara. *Thal says entirely deadpan.*

[Tadget]: That's exactly right, Zaara.

Zaara nods gravely.

Brother Durham looks up from what looks like folding laundry. "Ah hello. Can I help you?"

[Tadget]: I sure hope so!

[Thalstan]: We were directed to yeh by one of yer friends.

Tadget greets Raleigh the Devout with a hearty hello!

[Arthur]: Brother Anton. He sent a letter along. We're to find a certain book.

Zaara beams in Brother Durham's general direction.

Brother Durham says: Shhh, keep your voices down. These locals do not realize my allegiances, and it is better kept that way for now. Yes, I understand how my order is perceived. The situation is…complicated.

Arthur hands over a letter stamped in scarlet wax.

[Tadget]: I like complicated.

Thalstan nods at Arthur. "An' to ask from you a thing fer a particular elixir."

Brother Durham opens and reads the letter from Anton before burning it. "I see. I would like to help, but unfortunately I no longer have the holy water."

Tadget pats Zaara's calf.

[Thalstan]: What d'yeh mean? What happened to it?

[Tadget]: Did it evaporate?

Brother Durham says: Before I left the monastery, I was commanded to relinquish my vial to the new High Inquisitor Blacklocke.

Brother Durham says: She then split it into four vials, giving three to her most trusted inquisitors: Houndmaster Skyloe, the armory captain Judean, and Scarlet Commander Leswheat. If you want the water, you'll need to take it from the four of them.

[Thalstan]: And yeh actually did? Fella, there's a time for a white lie and a little vial o' normal water…

Tadget giggles at Thalstan.

[Tadget]: I love seeing you grow up, Valor.

Brother Durham says: I had little choice in the matter. Blacklocke is not one to cross.

[Tadget]: This sounds like a job for… THE COBALT BLADE.

Thalstan grins briefly at Tadget, and then sobers, turning back to Durham.

[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!

[Vesyllah]: What's so special about this particular holy water, anyhow?

Tadget cheers at Zaara!

Zaara strikes the poster pose.

Tadget does too.

Brother Durham says: Legend has it that it was blessed by Mereldar herself. I cannot speak to the validity of that claim, but I can attest that the water quite literally glows with the Light, and the power one feels from it is undeniably palpable.

[Tadget]: Nice.

[Thalstan]: Alrigh', we'll just have to collect the quarters an' put 'em all together. Are yeh sure we can't just make the elixir with a quarter of it?

[Tadget]: I love palpable power.

[Zaara]: Pappable!

Tadget giggles at Zaara.

Tadget palps Zaara.

Zaara gives a little shriek of glee.

[Zaara]: Hee!

Brother Durham says: The entire original amount would be necessary, I'm sure. Blacklocke split it up to prevent it from being used without her knowledge.

[Thalstan]: Well, okay. It does sound like a job for Cobalt Blade, so… we'll handle it.

[Tadget]: Yep.

[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!

Tadget cheers at Zaara!

[Zaara]: Experts at goose.

Tadget nods at Zaara.

[Thalstan]: Thank fer yer help, Durham, even if you didn't have the water.

Brother Durham says: You'll have to enter the Scarlet Monastery to reclaim those vials. Good luck, Cobalt Blade, and Light be with you.

[Tadget]: You can count on us!

[Tadget]: Great to be back with the gang.

[Tadget]: Thanks for summoning us, Art!

Vesyllah snorts…but hides a little smile.

Arthur just about dances as he walks.

[Thalstan]: Let's just get our mounts and ride north!

[Zaara]: What makes a holy water pappable? We can not just make such a water ourselves? I can make water.

[Vesyllah]: And who the fel is Mereldar?

[Tadget]: Human Light prophet.

[Thalstan]: We can all make water, if yer talkin' euphemism. But not holy water.

[Arthur]: it's been blessed. it's the blessing in the water.

[Vesyllah]: Ahh.

[Tadget]: AHAHAHA, nice, Valor.

[Tadget]: You're such a dwarf sometimes.

Thalstan chuckles.

[Tadget]: Sup Kirin Tor.

Tadget waves at Dalaran Mage.

[Thalstan]: Guess they left some ta watch the old place.

Vesyllah admires the atmospheric environs.

Tadget takes a nap in the saddle.

[Thalstan]: Th' old worgen place should be back there a ways.

[Tadget]: Mangy dogs!

[Thalstan]: Seems they've sorted tha' problem in Northrend, at least, the worgens.

Tadget sighs wistfully.

[Thalstan]: Yeh want ta go north?

[Tadget]: Yeah.

[Tadget]: That's where the real soldiers are.

[Thalstan]: We're real! Yeh can pinch me, an' I'll yelp.

[Tadget]: I will test that theory momentarily.

[Vesyllah]: Promise?

Vesyllah does not specify who she was responding to.

Thalstan chuckles a little nervously. "Pinch doesnae mean with a dagger."

[Vesyllah]: I know some places to pinch you that might make you prefer the dagger.

[Tadget]: Ves!

Vesyllah smirks.

[Tadget]: Save it for the Scarlets!

[Thalstan]: An' here we are.

The Cobalt Blade reaches their destination. The Scarlet Monastery looms ominously atop a hill.

[Thalstan]: Reckon we should look fer th' book first off?

[Thalstan]: This doors locked, so I guess we start wi' where we can get to.

[Zaara]: What is this smell? Is it goose?

[Thalstan]: Everyone ready ta fight? I see Scarlets ahead, an' they don't look friendly.

[Thalstan]: Scarlet goose…

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Gallant says: The light condemns all who harbor evil. Now you will die!

[Vesyllah]: No mercy for the wicked!

Scarlet Adept attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: No' friendly a'tall.

[Arthur]: at least we don't have to be fake about it.

[Thalstan]: I suppose not. I don't see any books yet, though.

[Vesyllah]: Face the agony of your sins!

Tadget slips into the shadows.

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Let's just hold righ' about here an' clear 'em out.

[Tadget]: Sir, yes, sir!

[Tadget]: Geese!

Scarlet Beastmaster attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: These are those furry toothy geese I was talking about that make hyena sounds.

[Zaara]: I think you are pulling on me, Mayhem.

[Tadget]: Am I?

[Thalstan]: I've got ta say, they sure look like hyenas.

[Tadget]: Smell a bit like em too.

Scarlet Beastmaster attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: I think we're clear ta come in the courtyard,

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: With all these dogs about, I'm betting we're close to the Houndmaster. Skyloe.

[Thalstan]: Hm… Houndmaster in here? Tha' or goosemaster.

Tadget giggles at Thalstan.

[Tadget]: Goosemaster Skyloe!

[Thalstan]: Let's see if he's got any water on 'im.

[Thalstan]: Oh, did anyone see anything lookin' like holy water?

[Thalstan]: A vial or somethin?

Arthur peers in the font.

[Zaara]: There is a singing water.

[Arthur]: what's it singing?

Thalstan kneels down to investigate Skyloe's corpse.

[Zaara]: It sings like —

Zaara tilts her head and listens intently.

[Zaara]: It is not a sound for mouths. A water-singing.

Thalstan looks up at Zaara, puzzled at that.

[Zaara]: Listen, do you not hear? It is so strong and good.

Zaara drifts toward the body.

Thalstan backs up to let her look.

[Vesyllah]: What?

Zaara kneels down.

In a padded pouch on Skyloe's belt is a small vial of clear liquid. A shimmering light emanates from within it.

[Tadget]: I don't hear nothin'.

Zaara hums to herself, swaying a little, as she extracts the radiant vial from the pouch and lifts it.

Tadget gently pats Zaara.

[Tadget]: I support your hallucinations.

[Thalstan]: Well, yeh found it, looks like.

[Zaara]: Do you hear?

[Thalstan]: Seems like palpable light ta me.

[Tadget]: Nope.

[Tadget]: It's shiny though, yeah.

Zaara turns to show Tadget the vial. Her eyes are bright with tears.

[Thalstan]: I bet that's it. Let's go see if we can find th' other ones?

[Zaara]: So lovely.

[Tadget]: Does it sound like naaru?

[Tadget]: I can't hear them either.

[Thalstan]: Yeh can't? *Thal sounds shocked* I mean, I've never met one, so I can't say if I can or no'.

[Zaara]: Yes, it sounds somewhat like song the naaru sing, but… wilder. Watery.

Tadget gently pats Zaara.

[Tadget]: Neat.

[Thalstan]: Glad we got you here ta listen to the Light-water.

[Tadget]: Maybe it'll serenade you the whole time, Zaara, like your own personal bard.

Zaara tucks the vial reverently in her own belt pouch.

[Thalstan]: Wonder if it'll be louder when we got the other three.

[Thalstan]: Maybe then we can all hear it.

[Tadget]: Maybe they'll sing together. Like a choir!

Thalstan brightens and nods at Tadget. "Light-water-choir!"

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Gallant says: There is no escape for you. The Crusade shall destroy all who carry the scourge's taint.

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Now tha' was a right ambush.

[Thalstan]: Looks lke some kinda treasure chest in 'ere though.

[Thalstan]: Maybe th' book inside?

Zaara hums to herself.

[Thalstan]: Anything, Art?

Tadget greets Scarlet Diviner with a hearty hello!

[Arthur]: cheese. and bruiseweed.

[Thalstan]: No antifungal books, then.

[Tadget]: Cheeseweed!

Scarlet Diviner attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Monk attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Chaplain attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Hall's clear ahead.

[Thalstan]: I see manuscripts, but no books yet.

[Arthur]: there are books in there.

[Tadget]: What's the difference?

[Thalstan]: Difference I meant was th' binding.

[Thalstan]: I jus' see pages unbound.

[Tadget]: Oh. I'm not really a book guy.

[Tadget]: Books in here…

[Tadget]: Just boring history stuff.

[Thalstan]: No fun gooses?

[Tadget]: No fun geese.

[Arthur]: the war of the three hammers.

[Zaara]: I think Mayhem is pulling on me about a goose.

[Tadget]: Cool story but i've heard it.

Scarlet Monk attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: When isn't she, Zaara?

[Tadget]: I like pulling on you, Zaara!

Tadget gives her tail a gentle tug.

Thalstan gives a deep laugh.

[Zaara]: Hmph.

Tadget gently pats Zaara.

[Tadget]: I wish I had a tail.

[Zaara]: Yes. Everyone should have tail.

[Tadget]: I would look very cute with one.

[Tadget]: I would like it to be long and barbed though.

[Thalstan]: I'm no' sure what kind o' tail I'd like. Maybe one yeh can hang from branches with.

[Vesyllah]: More books scattered around.

[Thalstan]: Let's look for the anti-fungal one.

Tadget giggles at Thalstan.

Tadget rummages.

[Tadget]: A cookbook? Who cooks in here?

[Tadget]: Oh hey! Here it is!!

[Vesyllah]: Guess even Scarlets gotta eat.

[Vesyllah]: Hm?

[Thalstan]: Found it?

[Vesyllah]: You sure? Is it the right years?

[Tadget]: Of course.

[Thalstan]: What do th' contents look like? Or are they hidden too?

[Tadget]: Gnomes are always accurate.

Tadget hands the book to her superior officer, a.k.a. Thalstan.

Arthur pauses to read about the second war.

Thalstan takes it from Tadget and flips through to see if it actually looks like an anti-fungal book.

The interior of the book does not match the cover. Inside seems to be treatises and accounts about the Old Gods.

[Thalstan]: Think this is our book.

Arthur closes the book and sighs.

[Thalstan]: It's all Old God stuff inside.

[Tadget]: Say anything about C'Thun?

Thalstan flips through a few more pages.

Locating a convenient index, Thalstan does find a few entries for C'Thun.

[Tadget]: That's the one I personally slew.

[Tadget]: Stabbed it right in the eye!!

[Thalstan]: Ah, yeah… here it is!

[Tadget]: Is there a picture? See how gross?

[Vesyllah]: Did you slay an Old God? You should probably mention that from time to time.

[Tadget]: One time, Vesyllah, I killed an Old God.

Vesyllah mock-gasps.

Thalstan shows a page with a mention of C'Thun.

[Tadget]: Haha, suck it, ex-old-god!

[Thalstan]: There's like… an artist rendition… that look like yeh recall?

Tadget makes stabby motions at the air. "Yep, that's him! More or less."

[Tadget]: He had more tentacle things.

[Thalstan]: Maybe they grow more as years go by.

[Vesyllah]: So…you stabbed it in that enormous eye that makes up, like, half its body.

[Vesyllah]: Very impressive.

[Tadget]: Pretty easy target, true.

[Tadget]: Very hard to miss.

Thalstan tucks the book in his satchel. "One and a quarter success already. Let's keep fighting our way through."

[Vesyllah]: I am the night!

[Vesyllah]: Maybe we'll find more vials further in.

Scarlet Diviner attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Diviner says: There is no escape for you. The Crusade shall destroy all who carry the scourge's taint.

Scarlet Diviner attempts to run away in fear!
[Thalstan]: Oh, can yeh open this one, Mayhem?

Scarlet Monk attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Chaplain attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Monk attempts to run away in fear!

Arthur looks irritated and holds hi book in his left hand while casting spell with the other.

Scarlet Monk attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Looks like a dead end in here, but we should check it out.

[Arthur]: I am TRYING to read, you red-garbed illiterates!

Tadget watches the tall girls' backs.

Tadget cackles maniacally at Arthur.

[Thalstan]: Think I see a chest in there. Might be somethin' important.

Vesyllah peer at Arcanist Doan searchingly.

[Vesyllah]: The librarian, perhaps?

Thalstan holds up a key.

[Thalstan]: Wonder if this is ta get through that locked door we saw.

[Thalstan]: Let's go try that door? See if we can find the other holy water parts?

Tadget salutes Thalstan with respect.

[Tadget]: Sir, yes, sir!

[Arthur]: but the books…there are so many!

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Gallant attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: Ah, yes! It fits!

[Tadget]: that's what she said…

[Zaara]: Who?

Scarlet Soldier attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I'll explain later, Booty.

Thalstan laughs.

[Thalstan]: On that note…

[Thalstan]: So how're you all spending our time between missions?

[Tadget]: I'll draw you some diagrams later, Thal.

[Vesyllah]: Hunting the wicked.

[Tadget]: oh jeeeeeeez.

[Thalstan]: P'raps both what I could ha' expected.

[Zaara]: Fucken!

Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.

[Vesyllah]: Does my holy mission bother you, Tadget?

Tadget gives Zaara a high five!

[Tadget]: Everything about you bothers me.

[Vesyllah]: Liar.

[Tadget]: Your left eye is okay I guess.

[Thalstan]: Did yeh catch any wicked in th' last month?

[Tadget]: She didn't catch meeeee…

[Vesyllah]: You're not wicked, Tadget.

[Tadget]: Sure, sure.

Scarlet Soldier says: The light condemns all who harbor evil. Now you will die!

[Vesyllah]: I am vengeance!

[Tadget]: I am mayhem!

Scarlet Soldier attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: I am valor!

[Zaara]: I am booty!

[Arthur]: I am Trouble!

Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.

[Vesyllah]: You all suck.

Tadget nods at Vesyllah.

[Thalstan]: An' I've been mostly helpin' out at my ma's tavern. So no wicked vanquished by me.

[Tadget]: That's so you, sir.

[Tadget]: Momma's boy.

Thalstan smiles.

[Tadget]: Shoulda known.

[Tadget]: Art sure knows how to put out their fires…

[Thalstan]: Used ta help when I was a kid, less since I was a guard.

[Tadget]: Wittwe baby Thalstan, helping his mommy.

[Tadget]: I helped my mom with her experiments, though not voluntarily.

[Thalstan]: I'm sorry ta hear that, Tadget.

[Tadget]: It's cool, she's dead now.

[Thalstan]: My ma's experiments were more like… is this a better sauce fer the lamb?

[Tadget]: I could get behind that./

Scarlet Soldier attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: This looks like an armory. Be on the lookout for the armory captain, "Judean".

[Vesyllah]: I am vengeance!

Thalstan nods.

Scarlet Soldier attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Protector attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: That is not how anything works.

[Thalstan]: yeh got yer evils mixed up, fella.

Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.

Scarlet Guardsman attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Protector attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: As far as these guys are concerned, everyone who isn't them is in league with everything else.

Scarlet Myrmidon goes into a frenzy!

[Tadget]: Really tiresome.

[Vesyllah]: Ass-hats.

[Thalstan]: They all seem ta be human, too.

Scarlet Defender attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Myrmidon goes into a frenzy!

Scarlet Defender attempts to run away in fear!

Tadget slips into the shadows.

Thalstan wipes sweat off his forehead. "This is a right dangerous fight."

[Thalstan]: An' after we get this, we still got to find the Seed.

[Tadget]: We got this.

[Thalstan]: I jus' hope we're no' too late.

Tadget salutes Thalstan with respect.

[Tadget]: mmmmMMMAYHEM!!!

Scarlet Evoker attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Myrmidon goes into a frenzy!

Scarlet Defender attempts to run away in fear!

[Vesyllah]: Suffer the pain you have inflicted!

Scarlet Myrmidon goes into a frenzy!

Scarlet Defender attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: We are a death machine.

[Thalstan]: But fer the Light!

Scarlet Defender attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: From a gnome, that is the highest compliment.

Scarlet Myrmidon goes into a frenzy!

Scarlet Defender attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Oooooh, a big locked door.

[Tadget]: I think we're onto something.

[Thalstan]: Maybe so. Think this Judean is inside?

[Thalstan]: Certainly an important lookin' fella.

Tadget greets Judean with a hearty hello!

Judean says: At last.

[Zaara]: An echo!

[Thalstan]: At last?

[Zaara]: …oh, I hear the water.

Judean says: Come, insects. Face me! Face your deaths!

[Tadget]: You were expecting the Cobalt Blade?

[Tadget]: NO ONE EXPECTS THE COBALT BLADE!

[Zaara]: NO ONE EXPECTS THE COBOLT BLADE!

[Thalstan]: Don't have ta ask me twice!

Herod goes into a frenzy!

[Tadget]: i love guys who yell out their attacks.

[Thalstan]: It'd be more effective if yeh'd look where yer whirlwindin'.

Tadget laughs.

[Tadget]: Whoa.

Scarlet Trainee attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Trainee attempts to run away in fear!

Scarlet Trainee attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: Poor slobs.

[Tadget]: Zaara heard water.

Zaara approaches the body slowly, her expression full of reverent light.

[Zaara]: I hear.

Zaara kneels down.

Thalstan steps back to let Zaara do the honors.

Tadget can't help but smile at Zaara a little.

In a pouch similar to the Goosemaster's, Judean has another vial of glowing water.

Zaara finds and extracts the vial again, humming. She lifts it to show the others, her face aglow.

Tadget pats Art's shin.

[Thalstan]: Halfway there.

[Tadget]: Nice work Zaara!

[Tadget]: I'm pooped though. Spent too much time with the kids and not enough exercising. Maybe we could get the other water later?

[Thalstan]: Yeah, reckon it'll get harder from here on in

[Arthur]: I'm glad you found it!

[Thalstan]: I don't want ta lead yeh all into battle exhausted.

[Arthur]: i think we should take a break, yeah.

[Zaara]: I will keep the song with me. We will come back for the rest?

[Tadget]: Yes.

[Vesyllah]: They will be more prepared when we return.

[Tadget]: I'll wait for word!

[Tadget]: And work out more in the meantime.

[Vesyllah]: Surely now they'll know we're after the water.

[Zaara]: We are COBOLT BLADE. They are not prepared!

[Tadget]: What she said.

[Tadget]: Okay, then. Stay fresh, cheesebags!

[Thalstan]: They may fortify, but so will we. In a manner of speakin'.

[Thalstan]: Stay fresh!

Tadget bounces.

[Zaara]: Be cool, cheese geese!