(2025-01-02) Adventurers, Fugitives and Peanuts

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Sil stops by Bruuk's Corner in Ironforge, running into the worgen sailor Eulysses once again there. It is not long before their table fills with Mansia the Cobalt shaman, Kehda and a fugitive, and Elston the paladin. Many things are discussed. ~2700 words
Rating:	T for Teen

Eulysses makes his way up the stairs at Bruuks and spots Sil, "Good day."

Silvestre glances up from where he was considering his own glass and sees Eulysses. "Oh, hey! Good to see you again. Reeve, right?"

Mansia wanders up the steps.

[Eulysses]: Aye. And you would be Silvestre, correct?

Mansia plops down in a chair without asking. "Hello hello."

[Silvestre]: Yeah, that's me, and - oh, hi!

Mansia mutters to herself, "Reeve and Silvestre…" Maybe she'll remember those names. Who can say. She points at herself. "Mansia."

[Eulysses]: A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Mansia. *Reeve bows slightly*

Silvestre glances between the two of them, and gestures at the open table. "If you're looking for company, care to join me? It's kind of a tradition to keep an open table here, meet new friends and catch up with old."

Mansia, who is already sitting, says, "I will join you!"

[Eulysses]: I will take you up on the offer. Thank you.
Eulysses sits in the chair across from Mansia.

[Silvestre]: Do you all want anything to eat or drink?

[Mansia]: Oh. Hmmm… what did I like… peanuts!
[Mansia]: The little ones.

[Eulysses]: I could go for a round, aye.

[Silvestre]: Peanuts and a round, sounds good. *Sil grins and gestures to Edris, who goes below to collect the order*

Silvestre looks between the two of them, considering where to start. "Mansia… I don't think we've met, but I do know a bunch of draenei in Cobalt Company."

[Mansia]: I think I've seen you before…
Mansia stares off into space.

Silvestre peers at her for a moment, and then just nods. Sometimes people stare off into space. "Eulysses, how're things with you? I recall you were a sailor, yeah?"

[Eulysses]: Aye. I've joined the Alliance fleet. I'm a marine lieutenant aboard the Achillea.

[Mansia]: Oh! You were in Deepholm. You were one of Therazane's favorites. I remember now. You and the other people.

[Silvestre]: Oh, that's great news, I bet they're glad to have - *Sil blinks, and looks back to Mansia* Oh, yeah! You were… were you that shaman who joined in the healing at the end?

Mansia looks down at her Earthen Ring Tabard and picks at it with her fingers. "Yes. And then the Stonemother kicked us out. But she also said Cobalt was welcome? So I do not know if I am allowed to come back or not. Because I also joined Cobalt."

[Silvestre]: I think so long's you've got a Cobalt tabard they won't question it. *Sil nods at Eulysses* She's talking about our work down in Deepholm recent. It's a place of airships, but not so much water ones.

Mansia smiles at Reeves.

[Eulysses]: I would imagine. I've heard of the work going on there, dealing with elementals and such. That's all well beyond me.

[Silvestre]: Yeah, the elemental magic's beyond me as well, but there was a fair amount of straightforward fighting to be done as well. Against the Twilights and troggs and such. You get many problems with the Twilights in the fleet?

[Eulysses]: Not much no. She's a new ship with a new crew. We've mainly been patrolling Baradin Bay to get more experience before heading to Tol Barad perhaps.

[Silvestre]: Ah, that's where Ben's team was headed, when they got took by the kraken. Good thing you're able to get out that way now, I've heard it needs defending.

[Mansia]: Fleet… My friend Kae went with them once. Do you know Kae? Kaerix?

[Eulysses]: I'm afraid I do not know this Kaerix. I do, however, have several draenei under my command. They all serve well, I am happy to report.

Mansia smiles. "Many of us are… our own kind of sailors."

Silvestre considers again, and says, "I think I know Kae - she was on the same ship as I was for a time, up in Northrend. Can't say I know her well, though."

[Mansia]: She's very smart. She speaks this language very well.

Silvestre smiles. "So do you, Mansia."

Mansia giggles. "I have been working hard!"

[Silvestre]: Wish I could say I speak draenei, but… I've just got Common.

Eulysses nods, "I was impressed to see how well the draenei on the Achillea can speak Common. They have not had many years to learn."

Mansia waves at Edris when the woman returns with the drinks and a bowl of peanuts for the table. "Thank you."

Kehda, illusioning herself as a gnome, enters Bruuk's Night. The gnome looks extremely wary, her gaze going from one side of the room to the other while she hides behind CC's table.

Silvestre helps distribute the drinks. "Yeah, it's been what, three years now? They've been real adaptable for sure."
Silvestre peers down at the gnome curiously.

Mansia takes a handful of peanuts and starts cracking shells open.

Eulysses eyes the gnome and sniffs. He looks a bit suspicious of the newcomer.

[Mansia]: Hellooo.

[Kehda]: Sssh! She's coming!

[Silvestre]: Care to join us… uh, who?

Mansia shushes.

[Kehda]: The— The Draenei! The one looking for me!

Silvestre peers at the staircase curiously.

[Mansia]: You can hide behind my chair.

[Kehda]: Thank you!

Mansia scoots her chair in enough for the gnome to do so.

[Kehda]: I swear I had nothing to do with what happened, please don't let her take me back to Arcatraz! I'm begging you!

Mansia gives her a gnome's amount of space
Mansia's eyes go wide.

[Silvestre]: Uh. Let's just… you can just hide there? I'm sure it'll be fine.

Eulysses glances at Sil hoping he can shed some light on the situation.

[Mansia]: You're an escaped… prisoner?

Silvestre glances back at Eulysses, the confusion clear in his eyes.

Mansia looks considerably more wary the moment 'Arcatraz' is mentioned.

[Silvestre]: The Arcatraz is a prison ship over in Outland. I don't know if it's still exactly operational, or…

Kehda glances around fearfully. "No! I'm not supposed to be a prisoner! I'm innocent!" The gnome gasps loudly. "She's coming, I know it, I have to leave this place!"
Kehda jumps out the window.

Mansia doesn't have the reflexes to try and grab for her. She looks worried, though.

[Silvestre]: Oookay. *Sil looks at the window.* I can probably report that to one of the guards later?

Kehda calmly walks up the stairs. "Ooooh! You guys are here, hi! How are you all doing?"

[Eulysses]: What in the world was that? *he sniffs and turns to see the new draenei*

[Silvestre]: No idea, we get all sorts in here. Miss, you looking for a gnome?
Silvestre points to the window with a jerk of his thumb.

[Kehda]: I am, yes! How did you know?..
Kehda sits down at the table.

Mansia smiles brightly. "Kaykay! Hello."

[Kehda]: Mansia! It is good to see you… how have you been? *She smiles back.*

[Mansia]: I was distracted by peanuts and I didn't try to stop her in time, I'm sorry.

[Silvestre]: Peanuts can be distracting. *Sil nods*

Eulysses elects to remain quiet and observe the situation.

[Mansia]: I have been… somewhere very special. In Deepholm. But…
[Mansia]: Should I be… how are you tracking her? You just missed her. She went out the window.

Kehda gives Mansia a dismissive waves. "It's okay, I just need to find her to tell her Arcatraz realized they made a mistake and she is not wanted anymore…"
[Kehda]: I will find her eventually… it can wait… *She smiles.*

[Mansia]: Oh!
Mansia relaxes again.
[Mansia]: Kaykay, this is… oh…
Mansia looks at Sil and Eulysses helplessly. She has already forgotten their names.

[Silvestre]: Oh, that's good news. So she was right. *Sil relaxes.* I'm Sil, and this is Eulyssses.

[Mansia]: And this is Kehda!

[Eulysses]: Call me Reeve.

[Kehda]: Hi! Nice to meet you both, Reeve and Sil…

[Eulysses]: A pleasure to meet you.

[Kehda]: This is Cobalt Company's table, right?.. I don't mean to interrupt a gathering that has nothing to do with it…

[Silvestre]: Yeah, usually - I mean, it's not strict or anything. Reeve here is fleet.

Mansia giggles. "I used to come here many times before I found Cobalt's building."

[Kehda]: Phew… good! Fleet? What fleet?..

[Mansia]: The Alliance has many water ships.

[Eulysses]: The Alliance Fleet.

[Kehda]: Oooh! Great! Were you on the boat with the kraken?..

[Silvestre]: Yeah, the one Fallon's building? It's still building up, I think, but getting stronger, yeah, Reeve?

[Eulysses]: No, that ship set sail before I joined with the fleet. We have been making more progress, though, yes. The ship I serve on is new and there will more more yet.
[Eulysses]: I've been meaning to introduce the Admiral to my sister to see if any of our ships might be of use to him.

[Silvestre]: Oh? You've got your own fleet?

[Eulysses]: The remains of one. *he says gravely* My family operated a successful merchant company.

Mansia eats her peanuts.

Kehda listens to Reeve attentively.

[Silvestre]: Back in Gilneas?

[Eulysses]: Aye. We had eleven ships before the war and the cataclysm, but now it's only four.

Mansia blinks. Finally things are simple enough for her to understand. "I am sorry."

[Kehda]: That's still more than most people… That's good!

Silvestre looks split between the two responses, but finally says, "Sorry for your loss, the ships and the sailors both."

Elston heads up the stairs, following the sound of voices, and comes in at…not quite the right moment.

Eulysses nods and sips his drink, "We lost a lot of fine men in the civil war."

Elston murmurs, "War is always hungry like that."

[Mansia]: Oh, hello.

[Elston]: Hello. Are you - do you know anything about a group called Cobalt Company?

Kehda looks a little saddened at the story. She turns to Elston. "Oh, hi..! Are you looking for Cobalt Comp- yes, that is us!"

[Mansia]: Yes, yes!

[Silvestre]: Yes, we're… well, I'm Cobalt! Welcome, pull up a chair?

[Elston]: I heard that you haunted this place, but I'd nearly given up.

Eulysses flashes Sil a quick grin, "Your reputation preceeds you it seems."

Silvestre flashes a grin back to Eulysses.
[Silvestre]: Yeah, I used to come here once a week, host a little Cobalt evening with my friend Ben. These days… I mean, I've only just come back up from Deepholm."

[Mansia]: Their building is in Ironforge by a fountain. It can be difficult to find!

Elston drags a chair from another table and sits in it. It's a terribly comfortable chair, honest.

[Kehda]: Yes… they are easier to find here. But once you find them, it is always a fun time…
[Kehda]: Like when I will eventually find that gnome escapee…

[Elston]: I have heard the stories. They talk about you up in Icecrown.

Mansia looks at Sil. "Oh, are you famous?"

[Silvestre]: Uh, maybe? Probably not. Mostly I just know a lot of people, it comes from hanging out a lot in places like this, I think.
[Silvestre]: You're from Icecrown? *Sil looks to Elston*

[Kehda]: Oooh, but Cobalt Company as a whole *is* famous… Plenty of stories about you all going around…

[Elston]: Until recently. I spent a little more time in Zul’drak with the Argent Crusade.

[Silvestre]: Oh yeah? I did some work with the Argent Crusade up that way, back during the north campaign.

[Elston]: That's the place. Cold, rotten with undead, full of trolls…and a fight promoter, of all things.

[Kehda]: Zul'drak and Icecrown… You have visited some of the most dangerous places in this world…

Silvestre nods. "Bit of a rough place, yeah, with the fall of the Drakkari."

Eulysses does his best to follow along. He's had a lot to catch up on.

Silvestre blinks, and maybe realizes that. "Oh, gosh, you all were all locked away during the whole Northrend situation, yeah? What was it you said, having a civil war?"

Mansia looks like a lot of this is going right over her head. Fortunately, she has peanuts.

[Elston]: It's just, I knew Sir Elohad Ference, from a long time ago. A long time. And I thought I'd…see how he was faring.

Silvestre glances back to Elston. "Oh yeah? He's doing pretty good. He adopted my friend Ben, got married, has a new little boy."

[Kehda]: Aaah, Sir Elohad… *She says, wistfully.*

Elston smiles. Nods. And stays quiet so the Gilnean gentleman can answer.

[Eulysses]: Well during that time it was more the worgen situation. The civil war was before that.

[Kehda]: I wish I could stay to listen to all your wonderful stories… But I have a fugitive to catch and pardon… I must away.
[Kehda]: I will see you all soon. Very, very soon.
[Kehda]: Bye, for now!
Kehda blinks out of the room.

Silvestre waves after the disappeared Kehda.

[Mansia]: Bye, Kaykay!

[Silvestre]: Civil war before? So that was like… back when we were in Outland, maybe? Or before that? I guess I don't really know what was going on behind the wall.

[Elston]: No one did.
Elston looks a bit haunted as he says it.

[Eulysses]: A bit before that I believe.

Silvestre considers. "We lost you all for like… 7 years, I think? It's good you're back now, though I'm sorry for what all happened on the way."

Eulysses nods thoughtfully, "I am only glad to know that my fight wasn't for nothing. We are part of the Alliance again at long last."

Silvestre nods. "So that's what side you were on in all that? Wanting to come back and rejoin?"

[Eulysses]: Aye. We are stronger together.

[Silvestre]: We are. Now if we can only get Kul Tiras back. That'd be the day.

Mansia nods along. Sure are a lot of words everyone is saying today.

[Elston]: Is that where you're from?

[Silvestre]: Me? Oh, no, I'm a Stormwind City lad, myself. Never really saw much of the world till I joined the mercenary company. But Fallon - the one involved with the fleet - his family's from there. They're sailors there, right?

Eulysses nods.

[Silvestre]: Any of you all ever been there? Back before all the wall and everything, I mean.

[Elston]: Kul Tiras? Never. I've hardly even been on a boat! But some places even the stoutest horse can't take you.

[Eulysses]: A few times, yes. My family's company did quite a bit of business there. I've sailed all across the Eastern Kingdoms as a young man.

[Mansia]: Hmhmm…
Mansia sets some coins down on the table to pay for her peanuts and stands up. "I think I will go now. Goodbye!"

[Elston]: Safe Travels, Ma'am.

[Eulysses]: Farewell.

[Silvestre]: It was a pleasure, Mansia! Good luck with the elements.

Mansia waves and trots back down the stairs.

[Silvestre]: Wow. That must've been something, seeing all the world. *Sil smiles, and turns to Elston* And where do you hail from, then?

Elston hesitates before answering. "I pulled coal wagons as a boy, until Sir Milan came to—well, save us isn't exactly right, even if it's what happened."

Silvestre looks at Elston curiously. "Sir Milan? Don't think I know the name. What happened?"

Elston shrugs. "War. Sir Milan chose to come to the mines and deprive Perenolde of some key peasants."

[Eulysses]: From Alterac then.

Elston nods. "The same."
[Elston]: People still look at us sideways, all these years later.

[Silvestre]: Ah… I see. Yeah, Alterac has… a rough reputation. Probably good you got out when you did.
[Silvestre]: I hope most folk know a king's decisions are not always the ones of its people, for both Gilneas and Alterac.

[Eulysses]: Hear hear.

[Elston]: Indeed!

[Silvestre]: Well, I reckon it's about time I headed back out, but… pleasure to speak with the both of you. I hope I'll see you around more often. *Sil glances to Eulysses* And you never know, maybe I'll end up on your ship one day, if I contract with the fleet again.

[Elston]: good to meet you both.

Eulysses nods, "I'll look forward to it. Perhaps by that time I'll be a captain again."

[Silvestre]: Best of luck, Reeve. And to you, too, Elston - oh, should I give you Sir Ference's address?

[Elston]: I'd like that.

Silvestre bends to write it on a napkin. "He's a busy guy, but always one happy to make time for people."

[Elston]: Thanks. I'll write to him!

Silvestre waves farewell.

[Elston]: And I'll stop here next week. Safe Travels!