(2023-12-17) Drakes and Memorials (S12 E6 - Blue Squad Log)

Details

Author:	Luridel
Summary:	Blue Squad continues to aid Thorim in regaining what he lost: his old drake mount and the good opinion of the frost giants. It turns out that Cressidha's magic bags can hold eggs that are up to one Cressidha tall and half a Cressidha wide. Iphindra and Erixa learn about the existence of ponies. Everyone tours a great frozen battlefield. ~6000 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 12

In K3.

Cressidha exits the inn, bringing a sweep of warm air with her.

Velrin visibly relaxes from the warmth.

Erixa follows the sweep of warm air outside.

[Erixa]: Hello Cressidha, Velrin!

[Cressidha]: Good afternoon, everyone.

Dane approaches the pair, chewing on a piece of salted jerky.

[Dane]: Hullo', you lot.

Velrin nods to Dane and then Cress and Erixa.

Cressidha conjures up some water and offers Erixa some as usual.

Erixa thanks Cressidha.

[Dane]: How's the day, 'sides from this endless cold?

[Cressidha]: I'm well, thank you.

[Velrin]: I am… fine I suppose.

Erixa waves a greeting to Dane.

[Erixa]: Doing well. I think I like these Sons of Hodir. They seem kind.

[Cressidha]: Thus far, they do.

[Dane]: I've a mind to see them brought into our war against the Lich King. The lot of them, all the folks of these mountains.

[Dane]: Excepting the bloody 'snobolds.'

[Erixa]: They have their own problem, with Ulduar, but maybe when that is fixed. Once we help Thorim fix it.

Velrin nods "They would be welcome allies."

[Dane]: You lot read the newsletter? Muradin Bronzebeard, alive.

[Dane]: He's one of the greatest living warriors. Dwarf or otherwise.

[Erixa]: That is great news for the dwarven king, yes?

Dane nods. "Aye, I'm certain of it, and for the rest of us. We need heroes like him in these dark days."

Cressidha nods.

[Erixa]: I like Ironforge, one of first places I visited here on Azeroth. Cobalt brought us over by portal, showed around.

[Erixa]: Their king must be a good one, good city.

[Dane]: Ah, the Bronzebeard brothers come from a noble line. They've been great allies to my people for many years.

[Cressidha]: Indeed.

[Erixa]: Hopefully many more years to come.

Velrin nods.

Dane grunts. "I've a mind to see Muradin for myself, sometime."

[Erixa]: Speaking of seeing people, anyone seen Iphindra? *Erixa peers around*

Dane shakes his head. "Looks to be running late, today."

[Velrin]: I hope she is alright.

Cressidha looks towards the inn. "I wonder if she's asleep? The cold here seems to make many people tired."

[Dane]: I warrant she is. For us, let's mount up, and move off. We've got more work to do today.

[Erixa]: Maybe she waits us with the Sons of Hodir. She was having a fun time last time. Snowball fights. *Erixa grins*

Erixa whistles for Snowball, on that note.

Dane grunts and gestures to Erixa as he turns around and whistles for Thoras. The gryphon swoops down and kicks up sheets of frost with his landing before Dane climbs aboard.

[Cressidha]: I'll leave word. Just a moment.

Cressidha speaks with the innkeeper briefly to get him to pass on a message for Iphindra and hurries outside.

When they arrive at Dun Nifflelem…

Iphindra is sitting against a nearby crystal, covered in vines.

[Erixa]: This anvil is so huge. Iphindra! You were not far behind.

Dane eyes Fjorn's Anvil with a shake of his head.

[Dane]: Hail, Njormeld.

[Cressidha]: Good afternoon.

[Iphindra]: Oh, yes, sorry! *The vines retract.* I- I felt… called here a little earlier. I guess I… fell asleep.

[Iphindra]: Hello!

Njormeld says: Hail! Many thanks for your assistance with cooling the anvil.

[Cressidha]: It's quite alright. Here.

[Dane]: Hullo', Iphindra.

Cressidha gives her some water as usual.

Iphindra thanks Cressidha.

[Erixa]: How did reforging the armor for Thorim go?

Atley eyes Njormeld up and down.

Njormeld says: Perfectly! It would seem that I have refined my technique considerably. That, or the legends surrounding this anvil are true.

[Cressidha]: Oh?

Njormeld says: This suit of armor is superior to the last, and took less material to create.

[Velrin]: That is good to hear.

Njormeld says: With the excess, I was able to fashion you all a little something as payment for your assistance. You are all much smaller than Thorim, after all.

Dane grunts in thought, brow knitting.

[Dane]: You've our thanks.

[Iphindra]: Th- thanks! That's a wonderful gift.

Njormeld hands out a few armory trinkets to the team.

[Cressidha]: Oh? That's very kind of you.

Iphindra begins extracting the natural fire-y energies contained in the armor piece she received.

Njormeld says: It is a good start, but… It remains uncertain whether or not our people can ever rekindle the affection we once held for Thorim.

[Dane]: I have faith that the bonds can be reforged, like this armor. Together your people would be mighty, indeed.

Iphindra nods at Atley.

Njormeld says: I hope you are right. And may this armor, if nothing else, remind him of the days when we stood together in honor, invincible.

Dane inclines his head.

Cressidha smiles faintly.

[Dane]: Let's take this armor to Thorim, you lot.

Iphindra nods excitedly.

[Velrin]: Of course.

Dane climbs back aboard his gryphon.

Njormeld starts to hand Thorim's armor to Dane, then reconsiders. He hands a part of it to each member of the team. Thorim is big.

Cressidha loads hers onto the carpet.

Dane takes a moment to tie his piece to Thoras' saddle. He thwacks it with a hand before nodding.

Iphindra takes her part of the armor - the left leg piece - very ceremoniously.

Erixa ties hers behind her on Snowball's saddle.

They fly to the Temple of Storms.

Dane dismounts and unfastens his portion of the armor. With a grunt, he hefts it onto a shoulder and walks over to Thorim. "We've come with gifts."

As the squad presents Thorim with the reforged suit of armor, he is visibly stricken by its splendor.

Erixa walks towards Thorim with the team, holding her portion of the armor out with a smile.

Cressidha carefully unloads her portion from the carpet.

Velrin takes her piece and lowers it gently in front of Thorim.

Thorim examines each piece in amazement.

Thorim says: You have done well, but there remains much to be done.

Cressidha bows politely and proceeds to step back just so she doesn't have to crane her neck up quite as much.

Iphindra carries it, vines slithering along her arms to help her carry her part of the armor.

[Dane]: Wot'd you ask of us?

Iphindra bows before Thorim.

Thorim says: The armor is a good start, but if I'm to launch an attack against my brother's army, I'm going to need some way to get around.

Thorim says: I released my riding drake back into the wild years ago. Veranus was magnificent. The leader of her own brood — to whom she has now returned.

Atley eyes Velrin up and down.

Thorim says: Now that I have need of her, it's time to find her once again.

Dane raises his brows, imagining something.

Thorim says: I have been considering how you might do this, and perhaps there's a way. She keeps her old empty nest out of pure pride. She's a broodmother in name only, for she is beyond the age of breeding.

Velrin nods along with Thorim.

Erixa nods, with a faint smile.

Dane grunts.

Thorim says: I have my own part to play in this, but for yours… bring me small eggs from the other nests near Brunnhildar. Then I'll tell you the rest of my plan.

Iphindra raises her eyebrows.

Dane nods slowly. "We'll see to it."

[Cressidha]: It shall be done.

[Velrin]: We will return soon, Thorim.

Erixa bows politely to Thorim.

Cressidha bows and climbs back on her carpet.

[Iphindra]: We- we're… stealing eggs?

[Dane]: … Must be a bloody large drake to haul him about.

[Erixa]: Stealing eggs? I wonder what he has in mind.

[Dane]: Aye, seems that way. I reckon it'll put us into a fight or two.

[Cressidha]: I suspect he intends to give her a brood to raise herself.

[Erixa]: I hope the eggs will not be damaged.

Dane grunts.

[Iphindra]: Me too!

[Dane]: Five to each of us ought to do it.

[Dane]: Velrin, you start.

[Erixa]: They do value their drakes, so hopefully it will be fine.

[Velrin]: Understood.

Iphindra nods at Erixa.

[Dane]: S'good their mothers aren't about.

[Erixa]: We can get as many close together as we can. So the brother and sister drakes stay together.

[Dane]: Off to the next roost.

Cressidha measures one of the larger eggs: two Cressidhas tall.

Dane grunts.

[Iphindra]: That is a great idea, Erixa!

The second nest they come to is occupied.

[Dane]: Mm. Bit more lively, this one.

[Velrin]: That's five for me.

[Dane]: Cressidha, you start.

[Cressidha]: Iphindra, can you put the hatchlings to sleep?

[Iphindra]: Y- yes! I can do that

Dane grunts.

Cressidha smiles at her.

Iphindra blows flower petals at the young ones.

Cressidha waits until the way is clear and none of the little ones are going to attack before moving in to collect an egg.

[Erixa]: Let me try something…

[Dane]: I spotted other nests, lower.

Cressidha puts an egg that is one (1) Cressidha tall into her bag. She collects her eggs by placing a bag upside-down on top of the egg and rolling it down over the sides, careful of the spikes. Somehow, this seems to work.

Dane looks to Erixa.

That sure is a bag.

[Erixa]: On the next we run into.

Dane grunts.

Erixa casts something on one of the drake hatchlings, and the little one goes peacefully still.

[Erixa]: There, he is meditating.

[Dane]: Mm? Wot'd you do?

[Iphindra]: To- together we can stop all the unnecessary fighting!

[Erixa]: Inspired meditation!

Cressidha smiles and collects more eggs.

Dane grunts.

[Cressidha]: Goodness, these are heavy.

[Dane]: Properly sized, aren't they.

[Dane]: These hatchlings are the size of stallions.

[Dane]: Erixa, you're up.

[Dane]: Let's double back. See if we've missed any.

Erixa hoists the last egg into her magical bag and grunts. "That's five."

[Dane]: Iphindra, your turn.

Iphindra nods hesitantly.

[Dane]: Mm. Not enough. Let's fly back.

[Erixa]: I wonder what proto-drakes feel like when they meditate.

Dane shakes his head at Erixa. "I wouldn't know."

[Cressidha]: Hm.

[Dane]: These drakes resemble wot' my people always thought of dragons.

[Erixa]: Or what they dream of, when Iphindra makes them sleep.

[Cressidha]: They're adorable.

Dane grunts dubiously.

[Iphindra]: Maybe they don't dream!

[Dane]: I've a mind to see the size of Thorim's mount.

[Dane]: Must be a bloody terror.

[Cressidha]: Large enough to carry him, I imagine…

Iphindra nods at Cressidha.

[Erixa]: It must be a massive drake, yes!

[Dane]: I've not seen any that large. Not yet.

[Velrin]: I was thinking the same thing. None of these drakes are large enough to bear him.

[Erixa]: These are hatchlings, though, yes? They are in the nests.

[Iphindra]: I- I have them!

[Dane]: Aye, but look to the wyrms, there.

[Iphindra]: The eggs, I mean.

[Cressidha]: Yes.

[Dane]: Even they aren't large enough.

Dane nods at Iphindra. "My turn."

Erixa nods.

[Erixa]: For us, even hatchlings would be big enough, if they had the strength.

Dane grunts.

[Iphindra]: M-maybe they're not that big, but they're strong enough? LIke the small horses I've seen humans have some time!

[Dane]: T'may be.

Iphindra blows flower petals at Atley, the scent bringing comfort and sweet whispers from nature spirits.

Dane starts wrestling eggs into his own magical bag, provided by Cressidha.

[Dane]: This'll do. Twenty-five eggs.

[Cressidha]: Ponies, they're called.

[Cressidha]: The small horses.

[Iphindra]: Ponies! Maybe he has a pony-drake!

Dane grunts.

[Erixa]: Surely this is enough for whatever he has in mind. *Erixa turns to Cressidha* Oh?

[Erixa]: I thought that was other word for horse.

[Dane]: He may. Let's return these to him.

[Cressidha]: No, a pony is a type of horse that only grows to a certain height at its maturity.

[Erixa]: Oh! Like a horse, but little and cute?

Iphindra nods at you.

[Cressidha]: Yes. Not a young horse, that's a 'foal'.

[Dane]: It's based on size. A pony's less than fourteen or so hands at maturity.

[Erixa]: Fole. *Erixa nods, comitting the word to memory*

[Dane]: Horse is taller at the same age.

They return.

Dane marches up to Thorim, without offloading his eggs yet.

Erixa holds out her own hands, and then looks quizzically between hers and Dane's. Measuring systems.

[Dane]: We've scoured the peaks.

Cressidha bows. "We have twenty-five eggs with us in storage."

Thorim says: Twenty-five! Yes… this is plenty. Let us hope my plan works.

Thorim says: Veranus is a great drake. I'd hate to settle for a lesser one.

Dane just nods, though he was about to say something.

Thorim says: She is proud like no other beast I've known. She still keeps her old nest and makes sure none of the younger proto-drakes takes it over, even though she is long past the age of bearing.

[Dane]: Old ways die hard.

Thorim says: Indeed.

Thorim says: My plan is simple. You'll take the eggs you've collected and place them on her nest. You'll find it atop a small peak, directly southeast of here.

Thorim says: She will swoop down immediately, assuming a trespass from another proto-drake.

Iphindra's eyes widen.

Velrin raises her eyebrows.

Thorim says: You just… try to hide, perhaps. I'll be nearby. I should be able to get control of her before she kills you in a fit of rage. Hopefully.

Dane frowns in thought and itches his jaw.

[Dane]: Out of the pan and into the fire. We'll get it done.

Atley bows before Thorim.

[Iphindra]: Ho- hopefully?

Thorim says: True, it is not without danger, but she is an old friend. I do not think this will end in injury or death.

Cressidha nods. "Iphindra can soothe the little drakes. Perhaps it will work on her as well."

Dane grunts mildly.

[Velrin]: I… w-we'll see it done. *Velrin's faith is being tested*

[Iphindra]: Y- yes! I can try this!

[Dane]: Let's head out, you lot.

[Iphindra]: I ca- can make her sleep, or soothe her mind so she is less likely to attack!

Cressidha nods. She seems confident.

[Iphindra]: Ho- hopefully…

[Dane]: T'may come in handy.

Dane growls at Iphindra.

[Erixa]: Yes, that should help! *Erixa smiles*

Dane glances around with a frown. "'Roomy.'"

They land in an empty nest.

[Iphindra]: It- it's this one, we think?

[Cressidha]: Can anyone help me roll these eggs out?

[Dane]: I'm more of a mind to kill monsters than I am to trap them, but such is our work today.

[Iphindra]: Yes!

[Erixa]: I think so… yes, I will help!

Iphindra goes to help Cressidha.

Erixa joins Iphindra in helping roll out the eggs.

Dane starts to yank his own eggs out with grunts of labor. "Spread them out a bit, you lot."

Iphindra is very careful with the eggs. Extremely so.

Cressidha opens her bag to its maximum width. The eggs are spiky, but they do roll.

Velrin gets in position to defend if things go south.

Erixa is very careful with the eggs.

Dane frowns and briefly knocks on one before he presses his head against it.

[Erixa]: Hear something?

[Dane]: No, just testing.

Iphindra looks curiously at Dane.

[Dane]: But I warrant we're ready.

[Dane]: Be ready for anything. Iphindra, be wary.

[Erixa]: Then we… hide somewhere?

Cressidha climbs into a conspicuous piece of shrubbery.

[Iphindra]: I will be weary, yes!

[Dane]: Not –

Erixa kneels behind a tuft of old straw.

Iphindra hides, disappearing into the snow.

[Dane]: … Lass.

Atley eyes Veranus up and down.

Cressidha begins to vanish.

Thorim yells: “Look out below!”

By the time Veranus lands, Cressidha is fully invisible.

Thorim says: Easy there, girl! Don't you recognize your old master?

Dane steps out with a grunt of relief as Thorim appears.

Iphindra soothes Veranus with flower petals.

Thorim calms Veranus down in time to let him mount up.

Thorim says: I will see you at the Temple of Storms. Looks like I'm going to have to break her in again.

Erixa stares up at Veranus, holding her breath.

[Dane]: … Aye.

[Iphindra]: We- we will meet you there!

Thorim and Veranus ride off into the sky.

[Dane]: As big as she is, it does look like he's on a pony or somming'.

Erixa emerges from her hiding place.

Cressidha reappears shortly after Thorim gets on the drake's back.

[Dane]: Thorim's not skipping any meals.

Erixa chuckles at Atley.

Cressidha covers her mouth to hide a smile.

Iphindra comes out of her hiding place. She shakes snow off of her hair like a dog.

[Erixa]: That worked well, then?

[Erixa]: No harm?

[Dane]: Aye, smooth as can be expected.

[Erixa]: …what do we do with the eggs?

[Dane]: Let's return to them.

Dane glances around. "Leave them. They're hers now, I warrant."

[Cressidha]: I believe she will raise them.

[Iphindra]: Y- you think so?

[Dane]: Aye. Naturally instinct will return to her.

Cressidha nods. "She will not be a riding drake all the time."

Erixa looks around at the soon-to-be twenty-five drakes. "Big family. Much bigger than draenei family usually are. I hope she is good with twenty-five small ones."

[Iphindra]: There are animals who take other's eggs and don't mind, b- but not all…

[Dane]: She's raised whelplings before. She'll do it again if she finds them in her nest.

[Cressidha]: I doubt Thorim would have suggested this plan if the proto-drakes were not the type.

[Iphindra]: I- I hope so…

[Erixa]: Yes, they do seem to care about the drakes.

Cressidha climbs back onto her carpet.

[Erixa]: Thorim and the Hyldnir.

Iphindra nods at Erixa.

[Cressidha]: Indeed. Even in the Drakkensryd, the drakes were not to be harmed.

[Dane]: Let's ride.

They ride. The squad returns to the Temple of Storms to meet up with Thorim.

Dane lands and marches up to Thorim. "Seems you two have been reunited."

For the first time, Thorim seems downright cheerful.

Atley eyes Thorim up and down.

Thorim says: It's good to have my old friend back. It appears that my luck is finally starting to change… and it's all thanks to you, my little friends.

[Dane]: We aim to serve.

Velrin smiles and bows, "You are most welcome, Thorim."

Thorim says: Only one task remains before I can reclaim my home at the Terrace of the Makers.

[Iphindra]: We- we are happy to help!

[Dane]: Wot' is it?

Thorim says: My hammer, Krolmir, must be found.

Dane cinches his thumbs in his belt as he looks wayyyy up at Thorim.

Thorim says: On that fateful day, I threw it to the earth with all the power and rage I possessed. A mighty explosion followed.

Thorim says: I've thought it lost for these many years, but now I must be certain.

Erixa raises her eyebrows.

[Cressidha]: Would there be a crater, perhaps?

[Velrin]: Surely the blast site would be a good place to look.

Iphindra nods at Velrin.

Dane grunts.

Thorim says: This land has seen its share of upheaval since then - it's been so long. I am honestly uncertain how to start the search.

Thorim says: I was hoping you could return to King Jokkum and discover what, if anything, he knows of my hammer's fate.

[Dane]: We'll meet with him and see wot' he knows.

Cressidha nods.

[Dane]: Let's move, you lot.

Cressidha moves.

[Iphindra]: M- maybe like his drake, his hammer looks tiny for him? It may- It may be a little hard to find!

Erixa whispers, "Do you think he does not remember?"

[Dane]: Mm. I warrant it'll be bloody massive.

Dane looks to Erixa and lowers his voice.

[Dane]: Maybe. Thorim's bloody old.

[Dane]: Nearly as old as these peaks, if not the same age.

Erixa nods, but doesn't seem so awed. Paluuva is probably as old as these peaks.

Atley bows before King Jokkum.

Velrin salutes King Jokkum with respect.

[Dane]: King Jokkum. Thorim's sent us to look for his hammer. He said you may be of some aid.

Cressidha bows as well.

Iphindra bows before King Jokkum.

King Jokkum says: I do not trust you enough to speak of such things.

[Dane]: We've been sent for Krolmir.

Dane stops, and nods slowly, features stern.

King Jokkum says: You must respect the trials our people have endured, the burdens we have borne…

King Jokkum looks over the team, not unkindly, and then adds, "Perhaps, if you were to bring great honor to Dun Niffelem, I would be inclined to share with you the knowledge of our people."

[Cressidha]: I understand. We are newcomers here, representing someone who has done your people great harm in the past.

Dane looks to his teammates with a bushy brow lofted, some ice encrusted in it. He looks back to Jokkum. "We'll earn your trust."

Iphindra nods at Cressidha.

[Cressidha]: Is there anyone we might speak to who might suggest a means of doing so?

King Jokkum nods at Cressidha, seeming relieved that the interlopers understand.

King Jokkum says: I can think of a task that can go a long way towards earning our trust.

[Dane]: We would see it completed.

King Jokkum says: Surely Thorim has told you of the tragedy that divides us. The death of Sif, the mistaken blame.

Cressidha nods.

Dane nods once.

Iphindra nods solemnly.

King Jokkum says: It was in Thunderfall, northeast of here, that these events unfolded. The frozen fossils there are a reminder of that dark day, as are the spirits that haunt that place.
Velrin places a hand on her heart.

King Jokkum says: If my people are to forgive Thorim, something must take the place of those images. A memorial must be constructed to bring our hearts peace.

King Jokkum says: I would ask you to collect the fragments of Hodir's Horn, which was shattered that day.

Dane inclines his head, more exaggeratedly than normal, as if to make sure that Jokkum can see it.

[Iphindra]: I- it will be an honor to help with your deads!

[Dane]: To the northeast, you say?

Cressidha bows to the king again before stepping back on her carpet.

King Jokkum says: Yes, you'll see the tableau that was frozen when Thorim threw his mighty axe.

Iphindra bows before King Jokkum.

Dane … grunts. "We'll see to it."

[Dane]: Let's fly, you lot.

[Erixa]: Oh, yes. This is definitely it.

[Cressidha]: …ah.

[Iphindra]: Dwarf ghosts, too…

[Dane]: An entire battlefield frozen solid –

[Erixa]: Did he seem to say Krolmir did this?

The landscape is full of frozen statues and ghosts of giant and short stature alike.

[Dane]: Aye.

Dane seems somewhat mystified. He stomps forward to examine them closely.

[Dane]: Right in the midst of combat.

[Erixa]: They were fighting dwarves?

[Dane]: S'not somming' you see every day.

Iphindra runs a hand on the "fur" of a frozen bear.

Cressidha carefully picks up a wedge of shattered stone. "Hmm…"

[Erixa]: This is what started fight with Hyldnir, so I suppose it was another war.

Iphindra pats its head.

[Velrin]: More likely the earthen or something like that.

[Dane]: The spirits seem to be the frostborn dwarves. White Squad's encountered them.

[Dane]: I've yet to.

[Iphindra]: Lo- look!

Cressidha loads it onto her carpet. "I see part of a pattern along this smoother edge. Part of a horn, perhaps?"

Atley eyes Iphindra up and down.

[Dane]: Mm?

[Erixa]: I… I guess we have now, in a way.

[Iphindra]: Even the spears are stopped in time, frozen in the air!

Cressidha looks at a floating frozen spear. "Goodness."

Dane glances up at the frozen projectile.

Erixa stares at it in amazement.

[Dane]: A scene of chaos frozen in time. Forever.

[Dane]: Cress, you say you saw a fragment?

[Cressidha]: Indeed.

[Dane]: Aye, here. Velrin.

Dane points at the fragment.

Cressidha gestures to the one on her carpet. "Look for stone like this."

Erixa nods.

[Dane]: You'll collect first.

Dane says to Velrin.

[Erixa]: I can see it is hard to move past when memory is literally right here to look at, all time.

Velrin picks up any pieces she finds.

Dane knocks on a passing statue with his sword.

[Iphindra]: They- they look like very strong warriors…

[Dane]: This one met a painful end.

[Cressidha]: Dwarves… or Earthen?

[Dane]: Dwarves, I'd say.

[Dane]: They've more weapons.

[Erixa]: They look dwarves to me, but I do not know earthen.

[Dane]: I've rarely seen earthen so well armed.

[Iphindra]: For me too! They seem like dwarves, but I don't know earthen.

Iphindra walk in-between statues, losing a few flower petals.

[Dane]: Here. A crater. T'must be where it fell.

[Cressidha]: I don't see any of the vrykul here…

Cressidha looks at the obvious lack of hammer. "Hm."

[Erixa]: It seems they were not fighting them back then. Maybe before they were woken?

[Dane]: Cressidha, you'll carry the next fragments.

[Cressidha]: Were the Hyldnir asleep as well? Hm. Understood.

Dane grips a sword frozen in mid air and tugs on it with gritted teeth, to no avail.

[Iphindra]: Th- these dwarves were thrown in the air, and they still stand there!

[Dane]: Aye. Must be the frostborn.

[Erixa]: I am not fully clear on how Hyldnir and other vrykul are similar. If the same, they must all have been asleep till recent.

[Dane]: Earthen have no siege weapons.

[Dane]: Vrykul seem more mortal, like my folk. Men, women, children.

[Dane]: The hyldnir don't seem to have any men. They seem more magical in nature.

[Cressidha]: The more I learn while here, the less I feel like I know.

Dane grunts emphatically at Cressidha.

[Erixa]: There are many mysteries in Azeroth. It is… happy though, for me, to have time to learn them even a little.

Cressidha smiles at Erixa.

Iphindra nods at Erixa.

[Dane]: How they're frozen in mid air …

Dane trails off and shakes his head.

[Dane]: Erixa, your turn.

Cressidha's carpet has begun floating lower to the ground, weighed down by the stone.

[Dane]: We've still not enough for a proper horn.

Erixa grabs a fragment and puts it in her magical bag.

[Dane]: Load up Cressidha's carpet.

Erixa peers at the ghosts with sympathy.

[Dane]: Whom among you traveled through Zangarmarsh?

[Cressidha]: I did.

Erixa tenses.

Iphindra shakes her head.

[Velrin]: I did for a time.

[Erixa]: Lived there, for a while. When hiding.

[Dane]: This strange place reminds me of the Dead Mire.

[Dane]: Likely the crater.

[Cressidha]: Hm.

[Erixa]: That was… mostly after my time.

Dane grunts.

[Erixa]: I wonder if there is something to be done here, though, besides dispersing the spirits. To bring peace.

Dane looks over the battlefield, nose pink with the cold.

[Erixa]: I am more a battle vindicator, not a spirit vindicator.

[Dane]: The dwarves seem to have been on the cusp of losing.

[Dane]: Iphindra, your turn.

[Cressidha]: Well, perhaps the memorial we are constructing is a step.

Erixa tucks a last piece in her bag.

Iphindra nods at Atley.

Erixa nods.

[Iphindra]: Y- yes! To bring them peace!

Dane stops by a group of six frozen dwarves in formation.

[Dane]: A shield wall…

[Dane]: Well fought, lads.

Dane taps a frozen dwarf with his sword.

Velrin mostly remains quiet in the battlefield.

[Erixa]: I wonder if it would have held, against the foot.

[Dane]: Mm. I'd say not. Valiant, nonetheless.

[Dane]: Bloody fearless, this lot.

[Dane]: And fierce.

Iphindra seems to be treating her role as a fragment-hunter as if she was partaking in an egg hunt.

[Iphindra]: I see some poking from the snow, there!

[Iphindra]: And there!

[Dane]: Sharp eye.

[Erixa]: I could ask other paladins, who are better at spirits, if they have advice. *Erixa glances at Cressidha* Or you could ask brother? He is a skilled healer.

[Dane]: Some more and we ought to have a completed horn.

[Iphindra]: I- Is it okay to put on your carpet?

Dane eyes the stomped dwarf.

[Cressidha]: Ah, go ahead.

Iphindra puts the fragments she found on there.

Cressidha nods to Erixa. "I can mention it to him, yes."

[Cressidha]: I do not know that he would have a solution, though.

Erixa shrugs. "Maybe not. But he was first person who explained to me how Light works for Azeroth vindicators."

Cressidha's carpet is touching the snow at this point. Cressidha reaches into her bag and pulls out… another carpet, an older one. She ties it to the first by the tassels and shifts some of the weight over.

Velrin tenses up a little with the talk of Colson.

[Cressidha]: Is it different? For you?

Dane starts tossing fragments onto the new old carpet.

[Dane]: I've a mind to…

Erixa stares at the mid-air dwarves for a moment, and then back at Cressidha. "Ah? Ah, yes. We are blessed by the Naaru, all of us."

[Velrin]: Do the Naaru… give you power or something?

[Dane]: They certainly gave the blood elves power.

Iphindra looks curiously at Erixa. What are Naaru, anyway?

Dane growls disdainfully as he finishes the pile.

Cressidha frowns very faintly.

Erixa looks over to Velrin. "Yes, a gift. I can share, though I am no healer… just a touch of Light, in the heart."

[Velrin]: The kaldorei are Elune's chosen people, but even our priestesses must study long to wield her light.

Erixa's hands glow for a moment, and a gentle light settles on Vel.

[Iphindra]: Th- that sounds nice!

[Iphindra]: Not the- the priestess thing.

Dane clears his throat. "We've enough fragments."

[Erixa]: To use it well, yes, we must train. But to have it, it is a gift.

Dane looks to Cressidha. "Can you return this to the King?"

[Cressidha]: Of course.

[Dane]: Let's return.

[Dane]: I warrant we've all we need for the horn.

Cressidha returns.

Cressidha's two-carpet vehicle floats sluggishly, laden with stone fragments. It'll be a hell of a lot of work to reassemble them.

[Dane]: King Jokkum, we return with the fragments.

Atley bows before King Jokkum.

Iphindra bows before King Jokkum.

King Jokkum says: Thank you. Bring these fragments to Njormeld. He will use the pieces of that sacred relic in the construction of a mighty monument.

King Jokkum says: May it soothe the pains and heal the scars my people have borne these many years. May its presence help to bring about a new age that sees us once again in glorious battle at Thorim's side.

[Dane]: Aye, may it be.

Dane says sincerely with a growl, inclining his head.

Velrin nods at King Jokkum.

Cressidha bows to the king and her carpets lift off the ground again.

[Dane]: Let's see to this horn, you lot.

King Jokkum says: Go now. Njormeld awaits you.

[Cressidha]: Njormeld, hail. These… are fragments of Hodir's horn.

[Dane]: We've the fragments, Njormeld. The king would see the horn repaired.

Njormeld says: The fragments of Hodir's Horn? The King mentioned you might be doing this.

[Cressidha]: Yes. He wishes a monument to be crafted.

[Iphindra]: And we- we are! For your fallens!

Njormeld's eyes become noticeably moist as he lifts the fragments over to rest on the anvil.
Dane remains stern as ever.

Njormeld says: The Horn of Hodir… This was a sacred gift to our people from Hodir himself. It is a relic of great importance to us.

Iphindra looks curiously at Njormeld's eyes.

[Velrin]: We are glad to see it returned to you.

Njormeld says: I will do as you ask, as he asks, indeed.

Iphindra nods at Velrin.

[Dane]: To the King. See wot' else he needs from us.

Atley bows before King Jokkum.

[Dane]: The monument is being constructed, King Jokkum.

[Dane]: How else may we serve your folk?

King Jokkum says: I am pleased to hear it. And there is much more you might do to earn our trust.

King Jokkum says: One of my people has brought me a task that is perfectly suited to your talents.

Dane grunts inquisitively.

King Jokkum says: It has to do with the jormungar that are spreading in the Hibernal Cavern.

King Jokkum says: The jormungar are a nuisance best dealt with quickly. If given any quarter, they breed like hares and spread like fire.

[Cressidha]: Ah! I believe we've been there before.

King Jokkum says: Ah, then you know what a nuisance they are. If their spawnmother is not slain soon, they will gain a foothold in our region.

[Dane]: We'll slay the spawnmother.

[Velrin]: You would have us cull them before they cause too much damage then?

[Velrin]: We should have no trouble in accomplishing this.

King Jokkum says: Yes, if you take care of the spawnmother, that should stop their growth in the area. Take this knife and get the flank of meat from an animal in their cave. Place it near her crater and kill her when she comes to feed.

The cave that used to contain bears which were then hunted to near-extinction. That cave.

Dane steps forward to collect the knife.

[Dane]: On we go, then.

Cressidha looks impressed that the king had a roughly Dane-appropriate knife on hand.

Iphindra was also about to step forward to collect the knife, just to show how MOTIVATED she is. When she sees Dane doing it faster, she steps back, sighing of relief.

Dane scoffs with faint amusement at Iphindra's eagerness.

[Dane]: This one's still fresh.

What animal is it? Sure can't be a bear, they were all but gone weeks ago.

Dane promptly goes about sawing off some flesh.

Dane slices off a partially frozen flank.

[Dane]: This must be where the wretch resides.

[Dane]: Ready.

[Velrin]: On your mark.

Dane tosses the meat onto the shattered crater.

Immediately, the broodmother erupts from the ice and attacks.

Erixa gasps.

They kill her.

[Dane]: … S'done then.

[Dane]: Let's return to the king with the news.

[Iphindra]: Th- that was fast!

[Dane]: Aye.

[Cressidha]: Indeed.

[Velrin]: All too easy.

Cressidha snaps off one of the spines as proof and tosses it onto her carpet.

[Dane]: Curs.

Atley scowls at Roaming Jormungar.

They fly back to the king.

[Dane]: King Jokkun, we've slain the beast.

King Jokkum says: I believe you. We have heard the screams of Jorcuttar as they echoed from across the valley. You have done our people a service this day.

Cressidha lowers her carpet to the ground and bows.

[Velrin]: I am glad to hear it.

[Dane]: Have we earned enough favor in your eyes?

King Jokkum says: I am inclined to give you the answers you seek. Leave here, and return after I have had a chance to think it over.

[Cressidha]: I hope to see the monument complete when we return.

Iphindra beams.

[Iphindra]: Me- me too!

[Dane]: Sets his jaw and nods. Very well.

[Dane]: Blue Squad, on me.

King Jokkum says: As do I, they are hard at work on it as we speak.

Iphindra bows before King Jokkum.

Cressidha bows to the king again and follows Dane.

[Dane]: Fine work today. Remember, we ventured in this place to gain the favor of a mere goblin encampment.

Erixa hurriedly bows and then follows the squad leader.

[Dane]: And now, we've the favor of King Jokkum, and Thorim.

[Dane]: Well done. You are dismissed.

Erixa nods at Atley.

[Cressidha]: Would anyone care for a portal?

[Iphindra]: An- and the goblins like us too!

Velrin nods, "Very well. Until next time, Sir Dane."

[Dane]: Aye. The goblins are allies worth keeping… Here.

Dane nods at Cressidha. "I'll take a portal to Stormwind."

[Iphindra]: Than- thank you, but I think I'm going to… to go see the wolves here, now that the people here trust us!

Cressidha tosses a portal stone up in the air. It cracks, revealing Stormwind.

[Cressidha]: Of course.

[Dane]: Do as you will, you lot.

[Erixa]: I think I will stay in K3. It is close enough, and they have beds.

Iphindra nods at Erixa.

[Iphindra]: I- I will do that too!

[Dane]: I shall return here later in the day to see wot' else needs doing.

[Dane]: Farewell.

Cressidha activates a teleportation stone for herself.

[Iphindra]: Goodbye!

Dane steps through the portal.

[Velrin]: I shall go back to Dalaran and see what work needs to be done for me there.

[Erixa]: Till next time!

Iphindra runs to the wolves.