![](http://cobalt-company.wdfiles.com/local--resized-images/writing:2023-12-29-letters-and-clues/style="margin:/medium.jpg) |
| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Annibeth, Ionala, Jonas, Maisha, and Mayellen meet to discuss the latest clues about the missing Heron and its secret cargo, and then they head to the Hillsbrad Foothills for more investigation. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Before the Cataclysm
Arc: The Missing Heron
The team begins to assemble in the Dwarven District of Stormwind to share what information on the Missing Heron they’ve uncovered since their last meeting. Maisha and Mayellen are first to arrive.
Mayellen greets Maisha with a hearty hello!
Maisha greets Mayellen warmly.
[Maisha]: Hey there, May. Yeh heard from th' others recently?
[Mayellen]: Well, Jonas of course.
[Mayellen]: He lives about ten feet from me.
Annibeth enters with a mechanical chicken.
Mayellen greets Annibeth with a hearty hello!
[Maisha]: Oh, Anni, hi!
[Annibeth]: Hey, ladies.
Maisha peers at the mechanical chicken.
Annibeth chuckles.
[Maisha]: Well, alrigh', but he's no' found anything new?
[Mayellen]: Oh, not that I've heard.
[Mayellen]: I thought Anni and Nala were doing most of the investigating this time.
[Mayellen]: I did send a report to Lord Ference.
[Maisha]: Oh, aye, but yeh never know if a clue will drop in on a lap.
[Mayellen]: Jonas has had other things on his lap, mostly.
Maisha chuckles.
[Annibeth]: I got some info from the agency. Figure I'll wait 'til the others get here. They comin'?
[Maisha]: Should be, aye.
Mayellen swivels immediately to pay attention to Anni.
[Maisha]: So they're trustin' yeh now, eh?
[Annibeth]: More'n they used to, anyway.
[Mayellen]: She represents Cobalt Company, which probably goes a long way with them.
[Annibeth]: They do seem to have a pretty high opinion of 'em. Of us. I mean…of Cobalt Company.
Ionala arrives, bearing a folio. "Hi! I managed to salvage quite a bit, actually."
Maisha turns to Nala and waves. "Hey, there! Oh, aye? Excellent!"
[Annibeth]: Hiya, Nala!
Mayellen waves at Ionala.
Jonas enters the room.
[Maisha]: Jonas, hello! So we're all here now.
Mayellen smiles and slips an arm around Jonas, giving him a side-squeeze in greeting.
[Jonas]: Aye, sorry.
Jonas smiles sidelong at Mayellen and puts his arm around her in turn.
[Maisha]: Nala, you find anything relevant in that pack o' letters?
Mayellen turns her attention to Nala.
[Ionala]: Some things. Here.
The letters are documented here.
Annibeth turns to face Nala…or rather turns her good ear in her direction.
Maisha looks curiously at the folio.
[Ionala]: First, a letter from Captain Correll to Admiral Jes-Tereth about securing the cargo. I think this means the forsaken informant.
[Maisha]: Oh? Did it say somethin' about it bein' one o' them?
Ionala hands out handwritten copies of the letter.
Maisha takes her copy carefully from Nala and starts reading through it.
[Ionala]: There's mention of a smell. The cargo was kept hidden, but crew members thought food was going bad.
Jonas takes his as well, frowning as he reads.
Mayellen looks like she wishes she had glasses she could push further up her nose as she reads.
[Maisha]: Huh. I suppose they would no' smell fresh. *Maisha comments as she reads.*
[Ionala]: The next one I copied from rather cheap paper, so I think it was a first draft of a letter that was sent?
Ionala distributes another set of copies.
Maisha takes this one, setting it on top of the first and reading through it, a furrow between her brows.
Mayellen has read ahead a little, and her brows draw together sharply.
[Jonas]: Just 'sir'? Do we suspect that 'sir' is…?
Jonas looks at Anni.
[Ionala]: Basically, the captain was instructed to be friendly to the cargo in order to pry information out of it, and also to encourage the cargo to write a letter to anyone they might want to send a last message to.
Annibeth shrugs at Jonas. "Might be. It all seems very spy-like."
Maisha raises her eyebrows. "The captain or someone else on the ship, aye. Sounds like… waylaid spy correspondence, mayhap?"
[Ionala]: I don't know who Sir is. It could be to anyone the captain considered a superior in rank.
[Ionala]: my assumption is that the letter writer is Captain Correll, and the recipient is admiral Jes-Tereth, but I am not sure I'm right.
[Jonas]: I was thinking, you know. SI:7's "sir."
[Annibeth]: Pretty obvious spying technique, though, if you ask me. The cap'n is clearly not trained in this.
[Jonas]: Since it's talk of intelligence. And do they call Admiral Jes-Tereth '"sir"?
[Ionala]: I have no idea. The Admiral could be a woman for all I know.
[Jonas]: She is.
[Ionala]: Ah! So the letter probably was not to her.
[Maisha]: But may be from the Captain, a clumsy spy.
[Annibeth]: I dunno…don't navy folks always call superiors 'sir'?
[Jonas]: I'm not navy so I couldn't say. Perhaps the Vice Admiral could. But because it's talk of intelligence, I assumed Shaw. The Vice Admiral implied the navy didn't have a whole lot of details.
[Ionala]: Lastly, here is a letter from the cargo.
Ionala hands out another letter. "This one is interesting."
[Mayellen]: The letter certainly answers my question about whether they're people, unless it's all a ruse.
[Mayellen]: The last letter, I mean.
Jonas reads the last one and his brows draw together.
Maisha takes the last letter, and her eyebrows rise even further as she reads it.
[Mayellen]: But "stay out of Hillsbrad" is what concerns me most, and Lord Ference should be informed immediately.
[Jonas]: … so should Ben, aye? He and Ismene live in Hillsbrad.
Maisha shoots a glance at Mayellen. "A lot o' people live in Hillsbrad…"
[Mayellen]: I thought it was Lord Ference's land they live on out there? Sorry, I don't talk with Ben much anymore.
[Mayellen]: I just know Ference has land there.
[Mayellen]: And right now, Ben essentially lives in Northrend.
[Jonas]: Aye, that's true, but they've a lot of people on that land. I've been and visited.
[Ionala]: I think we should see Hillsbrad for ourselves.
[Maisha]: This is def'nitely somethin' we ought to report to Ference, even if we don't have all the details yet.
[Mayellen]: At any rate, it's clearly going to be the site of a Horde attack imminently.
Annibeth shrugs and examines the letter. "Hillsbrad. Welp, this collaborates what I got outta the agency."
[Maisha]: Aye, you had news! What'd they tell yeh?
[Mayellen]: Can you tell us?
Mayellen peers at Annibeth searchingly.
[Annibeth]: Just a lead, but a strong one. SI:7 was involved in this. One of ours-…uh, one of their agents organized the extraction of 'the asset'. Fella in Southshore, goes by Jaysin Lanyda. But I'm guessin' that ain't his real name.
Maisha nods sagely. "'Cause he's a spy, right."
[Mayellen]: Do you think we can find him? Talk to him?
[Jonas]: Would a spy talk to us? Would he talk to you, Anni?
[Annibeth]: Knowin' the agency, he'll be expectin' us. But I'm told he's about five ten with dirty blonde hair, kinda like mine.
[Mayellen]: And while we're there, Jonas, maybe you can warn… anyone you'd like to warn there…? *She studies his face*
Jonas 's face is carefully neutral. He nods at Mayellen.
Mayellen turns her face neutral and looks away from him. Reading the room.
[Maisha]: If he's in Southshore, could be a place to start? I agree with Nala, we should go see what's going on there. What we might do to stop it.
[Mayellen]: All right; what's the quickest way to Southshore?
[Annibeth]: Prolly the tram to Ironforge.
[Mayellen]: Do we all have flight clearance?
[Maisha]: Um. Might have to ride from Menethil?
[Mayellen]: Let's take the tram to Ironforge and check our flight clearances there.
[Jonas]: I should have flight clearance, as I lived there a time? But aye, we can always ride from Menethil if need be.
[Mayellen]: The gryphon master in Ironforge will be able to check our names.
Maisha nods.
The team heads towards the tram.
[Ionala]: I made copies because it was easier for us all to read them. I'm not sure we should keep them all, though.
[Maisha]: I'll feed 'em to my pet. *Maisha nods seriously.* Once I've got 'em memorized.
Annibeth nods to Ionala. "I been gettin' real good at memorizin' stuff! Turns out you can actually train to do it! Wild."
Jonas tucks his copies inside his shirt. "Plenty of places to burn them in Ironforge."
[Ionala]: Oh, good!
[Maisha]: I don't usually keep a lot written on me, what with the rain and th' weather. Anything I keep is usually up here. *Maisha taps her temple.*
[Mayellen]: I'll keep my papers on my person until I've had time to learn them. I'm not so quick at memorizing..
[Annibeth]: Let's go, bomb chicken!
[Maisha]: Wonder who the person is. For the last letter.
[Mayellen]: They said a mercenary… do you suppose it's one of ours?
[Mayellen]: A mercenary who might've been at Wrathgate…
[Maisha]: Could be?
[Jonas]: There have to be a number of mercenary companies around.
[Ionala]: A woman, I think. But I don't think she's forsaken.
[Mayellen]: But at Wrathgate?
[Maisha]: Cobalt had a lot of folk there, aye?
[Jonas]: We can ask. Cobalt people would probably know if there were others there.
[Mayellen]: Yes.
[Mayellen]: So is your training going well, Anni?
[Annibeth]: Trainin'? Yeah…I guess it's been goin' good. Can be rough at times.
[Mayellen]: I believe in you, Anni.
[Mayellen]: You're going to be a legend.
Annibeth smiles at May…and suddenly hugs her.
[Mayellen]: Oof!
[Annibeth]: Thanks.
Mayellen giggles at Annibeth.
Jonas smiles at both of them.
They arrive in Ironforge and check with the gryphon master.
[Mayellen]: I've got clearance to fly there. You?
Jonas casually tosses the letters over the rail into the Great Forge's lava.
[Maisha]: Oh, looks like I've got flight clearance!
[Jonas]: Aye, still cleared.
[Ionala]: I do too!
[Annibeth]: Same.
[Maisha]: Alright, let's fly there?
[Mayellen]: Off we go then!
Jonas nods.
[Ionala]: off we go!
They fly to Southshore! Maisha lands amidst some kind of competitive conversation between May and Jonas.
[Jonas]: But I'm going to win anyway.
Mayellen giggles at Jonas.
Jonas grins wickedly at Mayellen.
[Mayellen]: So close.
[Mayellen]: I almost beat him.
[Annibeth]: Gawsh, you two are cute.
[Jonas]: I won by a feather.
Mayellen sobers as they arrive at their possibly doomed destination.
[Maisha]: Okay, we got ta find a blond fella.
Maisha peers at Southshore Guard searchingly.
[Annibeth]: Or he'll find us.
Mayellen looks around.
[Mayellen]: Nope.
Jonas nods to Micha Yance.
[Annibeth]: Taverns are usually a good place to look for folks.
[Annibeth]: Someone there'll know.
[Maisha]: Let's give it a look.
Jonas eyes Winter Reveler up and down.
[Mayellen]: Blond fellow at the bar…
[Annibeth]: Tha's a li'l too golden blonde I think.
[Annibeth]: Hey, innkeep!
[Mayellen]: Also blond…
[Annibeth]: We're lookin' for a fella named Jaysin. Think he's expectin' us.
Innkeeper Anderson says: What? Don't want a round, or a room for five? *He eyes the team*
Mayellen giggles at Innkeeper Anderson.
[Mayellen]: I wouldn't say no to a drink.
[Annibeth]: Oh, uh…yeah, we'll take a round.
[Jonas]: A room? For all of –
Jonas looks around at the four women he's standing with. He turns red.
[Mayellen]: We can't stay long, unfortunately.
Mayellen tries to un-weird it.
Innkeeper Anderson says: Alright, I'll get that set for your table down here, start you up a tab for the meantime! And Jaysin…. ah, he's round here somewhere.
Annibeth ponies up a handful of coins to pay for 'drinks'. Definitely not a bribe for information.
The Innkeeper happily takes the coin and points to the staircase. "Might try upstairs. Reckon you're looking to buy - he does a lot of dealing out of the inn."
[Mayellen]: Oh uh, no, just, visiting.
[Annibeth]: Huh…awright.
Mayellen looks certain she does not want to buy whatever this shady gent is selling.
Innkeeper Anderson says: Friends? Well, huh. Suppose everyone's got some of those. I'll get those drinks ready.
[Jonas]: Are we actually having drinks, or is that a — oh, a blond fellow.
Jonas eyes Jaysin Lanyda up and down.
Annibeth murmurs, "Looks like he's gone a little gray."
[Annibeth]: Lanyda?
[Mayellen]: Hello.
Lanyda looks them over and smiles. "Hello, customers, can I interest you in…" He looks more carefully at Annibeth.
Annibeth gives him a friendly grin.
Jaysin Lanyda says: Jansen, that you? This must be the team they told me about.
Jonas nods. They're a team.
Annibeth offers her hand. Not in any particular special handshake, for sure. "Oh, uh…so you are expectin' us." She withdraws her hand, blushing a little.
Jaysin does the proper handshake.
Jaysin Lanyda says: I got word you might be coming by to talk about an operation I set up a few weeks past.
Mayellen drops back to speak quietly to Nala.
Mayellen whispers to Nala, "How long do you suppose I can keep these papers safely before I should destroy them?"
Ionala leans back and murmurs, "A day? Or send them to HQ?
Mayellen nods at Nala, looking thoughtful. Then she murmurs. 'HQ, I think. They can keep them safe, and I can refer to them later if needed.'
Back to the louder conversation, Anni continues…
[Annibeth]: Yeah, s'right. You can speak plain in front of my friends. We're all investigatin' this.
Jaysin relaxes, just a little bit.
Mayellen nods, she is totally an SI:7 agent and didn't get rejected by them at all.
Jaysin Lanyda says: So you know what this is all about?
[Mayellen]: Yes.
[Annibeth]: We're puttin' pieces together. We know the cargo was bringin' some kinda important information.
Jaysin Lanyda says: Alright, so for my part of it, I came upon the Defector myself when I was doing my rounds outside of town.
Mayellen closes the door behind them.
[Annibeth]: What was it doin' that close? Was it already tryin' to deflect?
Jaysin Lanyda says: Defect, yeah. I guess he'd been looking for a way to come over, wasn't sure how to approach. Most possible traitors don't come with connections to SI:7 to start with, you know.
[Annibeth]: Wait…you ain't sayin' this one had SI:7 connections are ya?
Jaysin Lanyda says: No, no, just the opposite. Fellow wasn't sure how to make contact, I mean. Let me tell you, I didn't buy the story at first.
[Mayellen]: Understandable, sir.
Jaysin Lanyda says: The fear seemed genuine, though, and that's hard to fake in my experience.
[Annibeth]: What was the story?
[Mayellen]: I figured he meant, just, wanting to defect.
[Mayellen]: I didn't believe it either when I first heard it.
[Annibeth]: Those things can feel fear?
[Mayellen]: This one seems… unusual.
Jonas folds his arms.
[Mayellen]: Or maybe there are more like him than we realize.
Jaysin Lanyda says: Fellow said he had living kin in the Kingdom of Stormwind, that he didn't want to be a part of what the Forsaken were doing anymore.
[Mayellen]: In Stormwind, hm? Did he say where?
Jaysin Lanyda says: I don't think he knew. Said a sister or something that got to safety during the fall. But the fear… he said he'd seen what the Forsaken do to deserters, and it isn't pretty.
[Mayellen]: Also… did this man have a name? Or did his sister?
Jaysin Lanyda says: Yeah, told me his name right off. Common tactic, trying to get people more sympathetic, you know? Collin was his name.
[Mayellen]: Surname?
Mayellen is taking notes.
Jaysin Lanyda says: Wouldn't give it. He was really cagey about giving information. Said he'd answer all the questions once 'all his conditions were met'.
Mayellen sighs.
[Mayellen]: What were his conditions?
Jaysin Lanyda says: Not too unreasonable, to be honest. That we'd get him safely to the Kingdom of Stormwind. That he would not be harmed, nor his living kin.
[Jonas]: Why would anyone harm his living kin?
[Mayellen]: Suspecting them of Horde sympathies?
Ionala murmurs, "What did he know that merited this treatment?"
Mayellen nods slightly at Nala.
Jaysin Lanyda says: What he had to offer… that's the most questionable bit, but I sent word in to Himself via the usual channels and he said to go ahead with the deal.
[Mayellen]: I wonder what future he thought awaited him. Did he think his sister would just… take him in…?
[Jonas]: In Stormwind?
Jaysin Lanyda says: He said he had intel from inside the R.A.S., that he could help our alchemists put together a cure for that plague and… well, whatever else they had planned, which he would not elaborate on to me.
[Annibeth]: So…they're plannin' something nasty, then.
[Mayellen]: This was after Wrathgate! They're still planning something else?
Jaysin Lanyda says: And yeah, I'm not sure what sort of future he was imagining. I can't think any sister'd want anything to do with a creature like that. I think we'd have to keep him in cage, for his own safety.
Mayellen shakes her head slowly.
[Annibeth]: And he considers that better'n what the Forsaken'll do to him.
Annibeth shudders.
[Mayellen]: I can imagine. Or at least… partially imagine.
[Ionala]: I think I don't want to know what they could do to him.
Jaysin Lanyda says: That's what I gathered, yeah.
[Mayellen]: The worst of them are… monsters beyond comprehension.
Jaysin nods.
[Mayellen]: All the coherence and independence of one of us… but without even a fragment of conscience.
[Mayellen]: This Collin though… it seems he had… a bit more soul. Or had some reason to fake it and was very clever at it.
[Annibeth]: We found some letters. Maybe there's somethin' in 'em that'll mean more to you?
[Mayellen]: Yes, perhaps we should let him see.
Annibeth nods. "Nala?"
Jaysin Lanyda says: I can have a look if you'd like? Really my part of it ended with organizing the extraction. I didn't see any sign of anything going amiss there.
Ionala hands over a set of her copied letters.
[Mayellen]: I assume you're aware the ship sank?
Jaysin scans over the letters, and nods.
[Ionala]: These were the documents I could salvage. The pouch they were in had an adventure.
Jaysin Lanyda says: It sounds to me like someone got word of the operation, but I don't know how. All the usual communications went without a hitch.
Jaysin Lanyda says: Shame what happened to Captain Correll. This one looks like a draft note to Himself, though it was probably meant to have been destroyed.
Jaysin Lanyda says: And this last… yeah, that sounds like Collin. He was so suspicious, but I guess it makes sense. He knew we were iffy on trusting him at all.
[Annibeth]: Maybe someone on the ship got word out.
[Jonas]: Himself? He was writing letters to himself?
Jonas is not up on the Lingo.
Maisha | Jaysin Lanyda says: No, not himself. Himself. You know.
Mayellen murmurs to Jonas. 'It's what they call Shaw.'
[Jonas]: I — oh.
[Annibeth]: Capital 'H'.
Mayellen tries not to giggle.
Maisha is listening quietly to all of this.
Jaysin Lanyda says: Could be someone on the ship, but… midship? I suppose magic is always a possibility.
[Mayellen]: And you're absolutely sure you can trust everyone who was involved in the extraction.
[Jonas]: Someone on the ship? A traitor?
[Annibeth]: Or jus' someone who saw somethin' they shouldn't have and got scared.
Jonas frowns.
Jaysin Lanyda says: None of the common sailors should've known anything, and Correll's done work with SI:7 before. He's solid.
[Mayellen]: It's possible that even someone who wasn't pro-Horde might have sent word to them just to stop a Forsaken from infiltrating Stormwind.
Jonas's frown deepens.
[Maisha]: Somebody who thought they were bein' patriotic, but didnae know the whole story.
[Annibeth]: If they did, they prolly got themselves killed.
[Mayellen]: Indeed.
Jaysin Lanyda says: Everyone else who knew should've been SI:7, and surely no one could get a traitor in there.
[Mayellen]: Edwin Van Cleef was SI:7 once.
Annibeth twitches.
Jaysin winces. "Okay, but he wasn't by the time Cobalt took his head."
[Mayellen]: Just saying - even people personally trained by Himself sometimes turn.
[Mayellen]: If they feel passionately enough about something.
[Mayellen]: And I can picture someone feeling passionately indeed about a Forsaken coming to Stormwind.
[Mayellen]: Mere speculation, of course. But it might be worth checking into everyone who was involved in the extraction.
Jaysin nods his head grimly. "Then everyone is a suspect. Though I'll have to trust you, to some extent. And you me."
Jaysin Lanyda says: If I'm the traitor, you don't have a case. Because anything I tell you could be a lie. But it isn't, so you're good.
[Jonas]: We have to trust that's not a lie as well, aye?
[Jonas]: Saying "I'm not a liar" isn't much assurance if you might be.
Jaysin flashes a smile at Jonas and mimics his speech, responding, "Aye."
[Annibeth]: We're gettin' into the weeds here.
Jaysin Lanyda says: If you want my advice, you should try to find the path. There must have been a ship that attacked the Heron. Where did it sail from? If they recovered the Defector, where would they take him?
[Maisha]: You got any ideas on that?
Jaysin Lanyda says: The coastline outside of town is pretty treacherous here, so I don't usually patrol that way alone. You're all in a team, though, might be able to do a little investigating.
[Mayellen]: All right.
[Jonas]: Treacherous how?
[Mayellen]: I'm going to assume murlocs.
Jaysin Lanyda says: We've got naga one way and murlocs the other. The military is forever pushing them back from our dock here in Southshore. *Jaysin nods*
[Mayellen]: Naga! Goodness.
[Annibeth]: Ugh…murlocs.
[Mayellen]: Shouldn't be a problem for us.
Jaysin Lanyda says: That's the best place I can think to look. And I'll keep my ears open here for any new leads.
[Mayellen]: Appreciated.
[Annibeth]: Thanks, Lanyda. Uh…sael'ah.
Jaysin grins at her. "Sael'ah, Jansen."
[Maisha]: What do you all think? Can we trust him?
[Mayellen]: I think so.
[Jonas]: I trust Anni.
[Annibeth]: The Man With the Plan sent me to him. So…yeah, I trust him.
[Mayellen]: I think I won't even bother summoning 'help', with you all here.
[Maisha]: Alright, then. The traitor's elsewhere.
Maisha nods at Mayellen. "I might though."
Maisha whistles.
[Jonas]: Do you really call Shaw 'Himself'?
Mayellen giggles at you.
A raptor comes bounding up, then stops obediently by Maisha.
[Mayellen]: AAAHHH!
Annibeth deploys bomb chicken.
Jonas jumps back from Bael.
[Jonas]: Oh. That's not — a cat.
Mayellen looked about ready to immolate the thing.
[Annibeth]: Whoa, what the…
[Maisha]: Oh, right! I've no' introduced yeh to Bael!
[Mayellen]: Maisha, please do not surprise us with random wild predators.
[Maisha]: Raptors are righ' intelligent creatures, yeh know.
Maisha blushes a little. "Sorry, I didnae think."
[Mayellen]: Usually they intelligently try to eat my face every time I meet with that warlock in the Barrens.
[Mayellen]: Ahem. I'm fine.
[Jonas]: I thought they were related to chickens.
[Maisha]: Ach, well, I was poking around the Wetlands shoreline, and this one took a likin' to me.
Mayellen eyes Bael up and down.
[Maisha]: As a friend, not a meal.
Jonas has qualms about chicken intelligence.
Maisha pats the raptor on the head affectionately.
[Mayellen]: They adorn themselves, even in the wild.
[Jonas]: Huh.
[Maisha]: See, lookit 'is feathers? *Maisha grins*
[Annibeth]: Sorry, but…chickens?
[Mayellen]: I'm not seeing chicken, really.
[Annibeth]: I know chickens…and that ain't no chicken.
Mayellen agrees with Annibeth.
[Jonas]: I've never hunted near raptor grounds, though their hides can fetch good money.
[Jonas]: And you may not see chicken in that, but look at a chicken sometime and you'll see that in it.
[Jonas]: At least, chickens seem to think so.
[Maisha]: I hope yer not plannin' ta take Bael's. I like 'is hide where it is.
Maisha glances at Anni. "Does yer clockwork chicken like 'im?"
[Annibeth]: Dunno…but I wouldn't let Bael get too cozy with the chicken. It'll blow up eventually.
[Mayellen]: I suppose I shouldn't complain about anyone's choice of hunting companion.
Annibeth laughs.
[Mayellen]: Anyhow. Investigation.
[Ionala]: And smiting.
[Mayellen]: Yes. Smiting.
[Maisha]: Right, right. And Bael'll be good. Won't you, li'l buddy?
Bael nods. Or maybe he just moves his head. Hard to say.
Annibeth lights the fuse of a bomb, "Might want to plug your ears!"
[Mayellen]: These are strangely resistant to my spells. So… demon it is.
[Mayellen]: Or, hm. Voidwalker today I think.
[Annibeth]: Oh gawsh…not the imp-….oh good.
[Mayellen]: Did you know voidwalkers are not demons?
[Annibeth]: Uh…what?
[Mayellen]: They're void creatures, as the name would imply.
[Mayellen]: But sometimes the Legion uses them.
[Annibeth]: What's the difference?
[Mayellen]: Oh, well, fel and void are entirely different spheres of magic.
[Mayellen]: We used to call them both "shadow."
[Annibeth]: But…you can use 'em both?
[Maisha]: So yer a shadow master?
[Mayellen]: I can't use void so much, really.
[Annibeth]: But…
Annibeth points at the voidwalker.
[Mayellen]: Well he's the one using the void magic.
[Mayellen]: It's like… Just because Maisha calls a raptor, she doesn't suddenly have scales.
[Annibeth]: I ain't never gonna understand all this magic stuff.
Mayellen giggles.
[Mayellen]: For whatever reason, voidwalkers are susceptible to the same sorts of summoning spells as many fel creatures.
[Mayellen]: And can be controlled in a similar way.
[Maisha]: I suppose tha' much is true. I do no' have scales.
[Annibeth]: Hope not! That'd be somethin' to see a healer about.
Maisha laughs.
.
[Mayellen]: We happen to have one along!
[Mayellen]: Everyone show Nala if you start growing scales.
[Maisha]: Nala, if I ever grow scales, I'll come to ya straightaway
[Annibeth]: Gah! I don't want no scales!
[Mayellen]: Then moisturize.
[Mayellen]: Euch. Not my favorite spell.
[Maisha]: Which one?
[Mayellen]: I can "heal" the voidwalker, but.
[Mayellen]: I have to channel my own life force to do it.
[Jonas]: What?
[Maisha]: Oh, wow. Does tha' hurt? Channeling life force inta void?
[Mayellen]: It doesn't hurt exactly but… have you ever lost a lot of blood?
[Annibeth]: Yeah…
[Maisha]: Oh, aye.
[Annibeth]: Bleh. That feels awful.
[Mayellen]: It's temporary!
[Maisha]: Yeh start ta feel unaccountably weak, an' like the worlds movin' around on yeh.
[Mayellen]: No lasting harm done, I promise. *She looks at Jonas as she says this.*
[Jonas]: I disapprove nonetheless.
[Mayellen]: Fine, I'll just let the voidwalker die next time.
[Maisha]: Can't yeh jus' bring it back?
[Maisha]: Or is it.. a difrent one?
[Mayellen]: I can, but it costs a soul shard.
[Mayellen]: Everything in demonology is like that. Trade this for that. Bargains. Contracts.
[Maisha]: Not o' yer soul, I hope?
[Mayellen]: I suppose that's why goblins are good at it.
Annibeth lights the fuse of a bomb, "Might want to plug your ears!"
[Annibeth]: Deployin' boomsheep!
[Maisha]: D'yeh see something over there in the distance?
[Jonas]: A murloc?
[Maisha]: I mean, besides that.
[Mayellen]: So many.
[Jonas]: Another murloc.
[Mayellen]: All the murlocs.
[Annibeth]: Ah, a chance to use this freshly sharpened blade.
[Maisha]: Might be I'm wrong, but let's get a closer look. Seemed like somethin' in the water.
[Annibeth]: Where?
Jonas peers.
[Mayellen]: Past forty-seven murlocs?
[Maisha]: Up here, by the little village. That a rope in the water?
[Mayellen]: I see it. What of it?
[Maisha]: What's it connected to. Saw it running into the water.
[Mayellen]: Oh, I thought it was just detritus.
[Jonas]: Sharp eye, Maisha.
[Annibeth]: Let's find out!
[Maisha]: They got it tied up to the murloc hut, but it runs right down there…
Annibeth dives in.
[Mayellen]: I am already tired of looking at this voidwalker.
Mayellen dismisses it.
Annibeth giggles.
Maisha tugs on the rope experimentally, and something shifts under the water.
Mayellen backs up. Swimmingly.
[Jonas]: … what's that?
[Maisha]: I'm no' sure.
[Maisha]: Somethin' stuck under th' water.
[Mayellen]: Aren't there a thousand children's cautionary tales about pulling the mysterious ends of ropes and strings and so on?
[Ionala]: Or buried.
[Maisha]: Are there? No' in the Hinterlands.
[Maisha]: Here, help me pull on it.
[Jonas]: Fortune favors the cautious.
Mayellen lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Annibeth ignores the cautionary tales and YOINKS.
[Mayellen]: I think I'll watch you pull from back here.
Maisha blinks at Jonas and Mayellen. "Or yeh can swim down and… ah!"
With the hard pull from Anni, something dislodges, and a large shape begins
drifting up to the surface of the water.
[Jonas]: … careful.
[Mayellen]: What is that?
Annibeth surfaces. "Ooh, found somethin'!"
[Mayellen]: And attracted all the murlocs.
They dispatch the murlocs. All forty-seven of them.
[Mayellen]: So what is it?
It rises until it bobs above the surface of the water, and proves to be a structure made of some kind of wood. Almost like a portable dock.
[Mayellen]: Okay, that's… what is that?
Mayellen is not really a boat person.
[Jonas]: Oh! It's a floating dock.
[Maisha]: Oh, a what?
Maisha is a dwarf, also not a boat person.
[Jonas]: They use them in Southshore sometimes. To extend the docks or to put one where there isn't ordinarily.
[Ionala]: You pull them up on the beach when you don't need a place to fasten your boat.
[Maisha]: Oh really? I though they were all anchored right to th' harbor.
[Mayellen]: Okay, so nothing out of the ordinary?
[Jonas]: Well, a little odd to put one out here.
[Maisha]: But this one wasn't pulled up on the beach was it?
[Ionala]: What's it doing here? Murlocs don't sail.
[Maisha]: It was like… wedged down underwater, under somethin'.
[Mayellen]: What do you suppose it means?
Annibeth sighs soflty…mildly disappointed the thing on the rope didn't blow up.
[Jonas]: I wouldn't think a lot of boat traffic along this stretch.
[Jonas]: And it was secured underwater….
[Mayellen]: Why?
[Ionala]: to hide it maybe?
[Annibeth]: Under somethin'?
[Jonas]: Aye, to hide it I expect.
Jonas nods at Nala.
[Maisha]: We're uh… a bit close ta Silverpine this far out from Southshore… but o' course folk don't come out this way on account of the murlocs.
[Mayellen]: So the Forsaken might have been using it!
[Mayellen]: From Silverpine!
Maisha 's eyes widen. "Tha's… tha's not a convenience. Tha's a fortification."
[Mayellen]: Should we have an SI:7 agent or someone watch this area?
[Jonas]: I'd say yes.
[Maisha]: We should report, aye. What if they're sneaking things in an' out by boat, this close ta Southshore?
[Mayellen]: Anni, you should let your people know right away.
[Maisha]: Or stoppin' by to pick up spies…
Annibeth nods. "This is Lanyda's post. I'll let him know what we found."
Maisha nods.
[Jonas]: Do you think there are humans who spy for the Forsaken?
[Mayellen]: Why on earth would they?
[Jonas]: I don't know.
[Jonas]: But why so close to Southshore?
[Ionala]: They were cousins.
[Maisha]: Stay outta Hillsbrad, it said. The letter.
[Maisha]: Trouble by sea?
Ionala shrugs. "Forsaken were once human, with families."
[Annibeth]: I mean…money. Some people are desperate. Or greedy I guess.
Maisha nods at both Anni and Nala.
[Mayellen]: I can see why a Forsaken might help us, if they still sort of feel human inside.
[Mayellen]: But it's just really difficult to imagine one of us helping them.
[Maisha]: If it is Forsaken, that means they got both the town to the north, Silverpine to th' west and some kinda setup here to th' south. Not a good sign.
[Jonas]: A lot of things people might do are difficult to imagine, if you're a good person yourself.
[Mayellen]: Well, we'll head straight back and report, and maybe someone will have an idea about what to do next.
Well, straight through the horde of murlocs, at least.
[Mayellen]: Damn murlocs!
We do eventually make it back to Southshore.
[Mayellen]: All right. I'm going to stay here and write up a report to CCHQ.
[Annibeth]: I'll go chat with our friend upstairs.
[Maisha]: And I'll have that drink, finally.
[Mayellen]: Okay. Let's all stay in touch about next steps, hm?
[Jonas]: And a letter to the Vice Admiral?
Jonas has not forgotten how into that hat Mayellen was.
[Maisha]: Aye. I imagine a new lead will turn up sooner rather than later. Oh! Who should write that one? May?
[Mayellen]: I mean, I can, if you want.
[Mayellen]: I'm already writing one report. We could divide up the work…?
[Jonas]: He did hire us and ask to be kept apprised.
[Maisha]: Oh, if yeh like. Mayhap I could write to the Admiral? Or if you'd rather Admiral, I can do CC HQ.
[Mayellen]: You can write the Admiral. Or Jonas can!
[Mayellen]: Since he brought him up.
Mayellen wants it very clear that she did not bring up the Vice Admiral at any time.
Maisha nods at Jonas. "We can draft it together over a pint?"
Jonas shrugs. "If you like."
[Mayellen]: And I'll write to Lord Ference, in hopes of getting on his good side. Still.
[Maisha]: Nala, care ta join?
[Annibeth]: Ugh, he's still bein' a butt about you, May?
[Ionala]: Oh yes, I will make copies for you. Speeding the process.
[Mayellen]: Thank you!
Mayellen has a seat at a table and gets out her brown-nosin' paper.
Maisha grins, and finds the table with five fresh beers set. The Innkeep was as good as his word.