(2023-11-08) Healing and a Keen Mind

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Jo and Paluuva meet up with Brannagen to invite him to be a team healer in the Storm Peaks. ~2200 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 12

Jocoza has a seat at the bench in the Dalaran beer garden and waves Paluuva over.
Brannagen ambles in 20 minutes late, seeming untroubled.
Jocoza looks over as Brannagen enters and smiles.
[Brannagen]: Lo there! *He seats himself where he can see them both.*
Jocoza straightens, so her head will be better seen over the table.
[Brannagen]: So wot ken I do fer yeh today?
[Jocoza]: We're gearing up to head out for a new mission here in Northrend, up north, and I had heard… well, you're a healer, yes?
[Brannagen]: I am! No' half bad at it when given half a chance. Was one o' the few in the League, so often I ended up the sole healer on an expedition o' forty men. Kept me busy, lemme tell yeh, especially given how — oh, let's say incautious — some o' me fellow Explorers tend ta be.
Jocoza winces. "Yes, I do recall that from Howling Fjord. A little bit incautious at times. And you and Luu know each other well?"
Brannagen smiles at Paluuva.
[Brannagen]: Well not well perhaps, but enough ta make me want ta know her better! *He smiles.*
Paluuva nods and smiles, "We met some time ago while both exploring Stranglethorn Vale."
[Brannagen]: Had some lovely discussions after!
Brannagen's eyes almost disappear as he beams a smile.
Jocoza stifles a little giggle. "Oh, I love that area. I have some good memories down at the bay town in the south."
[Paluuva]: Indeed. We discovered our many shared interests, and we have become dear friends.
[Brannagen]: Though I still know little about her on a personal level - tha's a failin' o' mine I've been told. Still, ye dinna seem too unhappy with the courses our conversations took, aye?
Brannagen smiles at Paluuva.
[Paluuva]: Not unhappy at all. I enjoy exploring a keen mind even more than exploring old troll ruins.
[Jocoza]: Oh, I wouldn't judge learning discussions! I'm all for that, though my bent is more towards science and tinkering.
[Brannagen]: Up all nigh' at least once, until we were both about to fall asleep droolin' on the pages of the books we were discussin'.
Paluuva chuckles at the memory.
[Brannagen]: Never drool on a book. Tantamount ta sacrilege, et es.
[Jocoza]: So yes, it's your healing and your keen mind that led us to invite you here. That, and I heard you might be interested.
[Paluuva]: We feel your healing skills and scholarly acumen could be a great boon to the upcoming mission.
[Brannagen]: Aye, I'd be interested! So what's the mission?
[Jocoza]: You probably know that we often assemble teams to head into a new territory, take on high priority missions. This time it's goblins that've requested aid, but we've heard interesting things about the Storm Peaks.
[Brannagen]: Goblins, aye? … Storm Peaks, aye? *At that latter, he sits up an inch straighter.*
Paluuva nods with a knowing smile.
[Jocoza]: As it happens, we have two openings for healers, and we thought you might be interested to fill one. Not both, obviously, as you are one person.
[Brannagen]: Are any of us, really?
Brannagen strokes his beard.
[Brannagen]: One might say we all contain multitudes.
[Jocoza]: Metaphorically, perhaps not, but physically until I get my splitter-translocator working, we most certainly are.
[Brannagen]: But then, no' the sort o' multitudes that can generally be in more than one place a' a time, aye.
[Brannagen]: That's the dream though… *He sighs.*
[Brannagen]: But aye, aye. Any difference between the two spots I should know about? Or do yeh have me in mind for one o' the pair already?
[Jocoza]: There's a gnome back in the Tundra who… No, no, sorry, that's really off-topic. Let me focus. We were thinking to pair you with… have you met Ben Hazan?
[Brannagen]: Aye! Hazan's boy, aye! He's a good boy.
[Jocoza]: Paluuva was his team's healer before. *She nods at Paluuva.* I was thinking to pair you with him. Luu, do you have any comments on the experience?
Brannagen peers at Paluuva searchingly.
[Paluuva]: Ben is a fine squad leader. I was pleased to serve as healer, as well as counselor from time to time.
[Brannagen]: I may not be so good at the counselin'. When I try an' give advice, people tend ta roll their eyes or nod off.
Brannagen laughs.
Paluuva chuckles. "It is not a requirement of the job."
Jocoza giggles. "Well, maybe they won't roll their eyes this time. I've got another dwarf on the team, a woman by the name of Ace. And Auralind, one of the kaldorei. We're still pinning down the final team member, but we should have it sorted soon enough.
[Brannagen]: Ace! Aye, I know the lass. An absolute gem. I think I've met Auralind too. Blind sentinel type? White lion?
[Jocoza]: Yes, blind sentinel, white… *Jo's face falls.*
Paluuva sighs softly, "Her lion companion, sadly, fell at the Wrathgate."
[Brannagen]: Ach!
[Brannagen]: Well tha's… Wha' a damned bloody shame. The pewr lass.
[Brannagen]: Tha' lion was damned iconic.
[Paluuva]: Yes…it was devastating. But she has rallied and proved quite valuable in Zul'drak.
[Jocoza]: That lion will be missed. *Jo nods.* Last I saw, she had another companion now, a kind of… spirit… or wild-godish… animal…?
[Brannagen]: Fascinatin'. Well I look forward to meetin' it.
[Paluuva]: Yes, as I understand it, some kind of cat spirit affiliated with the wild gods.
[Brannagen]: Color me intrigued!
[Brannagen]: So it's me an' Hazan's boy an' Ace an' Miz Auralind?
Brannagen starts taking some notes.
[Jocoza]: You'll probably see the other team from time to time. It's Sir Atley, Vindicator Erixa, Lady Cressidha, and I have my eyes on a few people to fill out the final spots.
[Brannagen]: Well I'm glad I'm workin' wi' Hazan's boy. That Sir Atley strikes me as a man who is a bit allergic to a good time.
Jocoza giggles. "He's not that stern. He liked my clockwork soldiers."
[Brannagen]: Get a few drinks in him an' he's all righ' sometimes though.
[Brannagen]: But I imagine he'll be terribly sober on the job.
[Jocoza]: I would expect so, yes.
[Brannagen]: An' who could resist clockwork soldiers?
Jocoza grins.
[Paluuva]: I would expect similar sobriety of demeanor from Sentinel Mistwalker. She takes her duties very seriously.
[Brannagen]: Aye, I doubt we'll be best friends. But I'll try not ta offend her too desperately.
Jocoza glances at Paluuva. "I suppose we should mention the odd hints we've been hearing about the Storm Peaks?"
Paluuva looks to Jo and nods.
[Brannagen]: Aye, an' maybe tell me more about what the goblins are up to as well.
Brannagen's pen remains poised and ready over what appears to be a relatively new journal.
[Jocoza]: Right, so the first we heard of this place was actually checking up on your… cousin, I think?… at the Explorer's League camp in the Fjord.
[Brannagen]: Walt.
[Jocoza]: Yes. So the Iron Dwarves were trying to bury the dig, and our people saw some kind of projection talking about work up in the 'Storm Peaks'.
[Jocoza]: I believe a place called 'Ulduar' was mentioned then, or perhaps it was later, which sounds awfully titan-like.
[Brannagen]: That dastardly bawbag, he didna tell me a theng about tha'. Probably still mad I sent people out lookin' fer him.
Jocoza giggles again. "From what I hear the team was helpful, so I hope he wasn't too mad."
[Paluuva]: You might recall the mention of Ulduar from some of the messages I sent you. Though, that came later.
[Jocoza]: Yes, so later, the team was working in the Grizzly Hills, trying to clear a path through Thor Modan. That's when they came across Brann Bronzebeard's… Paluuva, maybe you remember more than I do?
[Brannagen]: Mm hm… mhm…. *He writes.*
[Paluuva]: We found a journal. I mentioned this in my messages.
[Brannagen]: Aye!
[Brannagen]: Excitin' stuff.
[Brannagen]: Would love to get me hands on tha' journal meself.
[Jocoza]: The contents implied that he might've headed north as well, in the direction of this Ulduar place. There's no guarantee he's up there, of course, but it's a clue all the same.
[Paluuva]: The journal is in the hands of the Explorers League now. You might be able to request a viewing.
[Brannagen]: It does seem like the sort o' place he'd be…
Jocoza nods. "I think we're all on good terms with the Explorer's League, they may let us have a look."
[Brannagen]: I dinna think the Explorers' League is too keen on doin' me any favors just now. Best wait fer 'em ta cool off.
[Brannagen]: I said a few things in a meetin' that I shouldna. It'll blow over. Eventually.
[Jocoza]: Oh, I didn't realize… I could ask for it? Or Paluuva could?
[Brannagen]: That'd be brelliant.
[Paluuva]: I have a positive relationship with them now. I'll request an opportunity to transcribe it.
[Brannagen]: Ach, yer nice.
Jocoza smiles at Paluuva. "So those are our interests in the area, but what we've been asked to do is help some goblin outposts out with some local trouble."
[Brannagen]: Trouble with what exactly?
Brannagen beckons Coira Longrifle over.
Brannagen buys a drink off her.
Brannagen raises a drink in the air before chugging it down. Cheers!
Jocoza watches Brannagen curiously.
[Brannagen]: Ahhhh. *He looks at the two of them expectantly, awaiting a response to his query as though he didn't just chug an entire mug of something.*
[Jocoza]: I'm honestly not entirely sure? I'll have a better briefing before we actually go there, which won't be for at least three days.
[Brannagen]: Well, et's goblins - wha' could possibly go wrong? He said ironically. *He does say the last part, out loud.*
[Jocoza]: It was a request that came through the Alliance channels, and I figured it was a great opportunity to cement our ties with the goblins. And anyway, what could it possibly be that Cobalt Company couldn't handle?
[Brannagen]: You lot do seem more competent than some much larger organizations I could mention.
[Jocoza]: So on that, you are willing to be fully Cobalt Company for your time on squad, right? Just asking, in case the Explorer's League comes calling for you.
[Brannagen]: I dinna see that happenin' anytime soon.
[Brannagen]: But aye, I'm yers.
[Brannagen]: If they come sniffin' around they can bugger off.
Jocoza nods. "That's good to hear. I'll be happy to have you on board." Jo looks to Paluuva.
[Brannagen]: *mutters* buncha feckless bampots…
[Jocoza]: Can I ask… what it was you said?
[Brannagen]: Hm? Oh I didna mean you o' course. Just still sore at the Explorers.
[Brannagen]: It was a wonderful organization back when Brann Bronzebeard was in charge, but now it's constant chaos and calamity.
[Jocoza]: I mean, maybe I should know, so I know what bruises not to press when I'm talking to the Explorers?
[Brannagen]: Oh ye mean ye wanna know wot happened?
[Brannagen]: Well it was just, I lost me temper at a meetin' - I blame the family hair - an' called the leadership some very colorful names. I dinna know how ta translate exactly; it was all in dwarven, but some of it was … anatomically improbable.
[Brannagen]: I was told I was in 'contempt' o' the proceedin's an' they put me on probation.
Paluuva briefly covers her mouth. She's not snickering, you're snickering.
[Jocoza]: Oh. Anatomically… *Jo looks like she might be trying to think of what those insults might be in gnomish.* And what brought that on?
[Brannagen]: Good luck with your healin', ye dangleberries.
[Brannagen]: Oh just… all the mess in Northrend.
[Brannagen]: All the men we lost to incompetence.
[Jocoza]: Ah. *Jo grimaces* Yeah, we've had a lot of complaints. Things could've been handled better, but then… at least none of our leaders burned all the boats and went after a cursed sword.
[Brannagen]: I'm generally a patient man, but when I heard they were still plannin' on maybe sendin a team into the Whisperin' Gulch I lost it.
[Jocoza]: Oh, gosh. I saw the report from Ben. Nobody should be going down there.
[Brannagen]: The good news es, despite kickin' me out fer the way I delivered the message, I hear they did cancel that mission. So.
Brannagen smiles, satisfied.
[Brannagen]: Kickin' me out o' the meetin', mind. Still a member.
[Brannagen]: Just er… on a break. Fer now.
[Paluuva]: Perhaps your time serving on a Cobalt squad will demonstrate to them just how valuable you are.
[Brannagen]: Aye! Especially if we manage to bring 'em back their real leader.
[Brannagen]: I feel sure we'll find 'im. I know the way 'is mind works.
[Brannagen]: I'm sure he en't dead, he's just found somethin' interestin' an' forgot ta report back.
[Jocoza]: I hope you're right.
[Jocoza]: And we're good for reputations. *Jo nods.* Just look at me! Nobody even knew who I was when I came out of Gnomeregan! Except, of course, Elo.
[Brannagen]: Aye, I imagine I could use a bit of a Cobalt Company makeover, reputation wise.
[Jocoza]: Well, I'd probably better go see about those last few team members, but I'll be seeing you all soon I hope!
Jocoza stands up from the table.
[Brannagen]: Thanks fer lettin' me tag along! I'll keep Hazan's boy an' Ace an' Ms. Auralind in one piece.
[Brannagen]: An' take real good notes.
Paluuva smiles. "Good. I expect to hear from you!"
Paluuva winks.
Jocoza smiles. "I'll look forward to the reports."