(2024-01-07) Is There Any Refuge, Really? (S12 E8 - White Squad Log)

Details

Author:	inkie
Summary:	White Squad returns to Bouldercrag's Refuge to help the Earthen in the final face-off with the Iron Colossus of the stormforged. Bran really, really, really needs a nap. Wait, no, not like that.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

Arc: Season 12

Brannagen waves at Oranna.

Brannagen rubs at his eyes; they're a bit puffy and shadowed, despite his as-ever cheerful expression.

Oranna looks the same as always, but her expression goes worried as she looks over at Bran. "Bran? Are ye alrigh'? Not stayin' up too late or — no' that ye canna! I mean, of course ye can, if ye…I mean, yer a grown…" She clears her throat.

[Brannagen]: Lo there, Mistwalker.

Brannagen stifles a yawn with his fist.

[Oranna]: Hullo, Auralind.

Auralind chuckles.

[Brannagen]: Kind of ye to point out how haggard I must look, Boomer, hehe. Just havin' a bit o' sleepin' trouble lately, not sure why.

[Brannagen]: Mistwalker, I look as handsome to ye as I ever did, aye?

[Auralind]: I have no words for it.

Brannagen laughs at Auralind.

[Ben]: Hey, y'all. Afternoon.

Brannagen waves to Ben with a tired smile. He's got zombie-eyes, a bit.

Oranna chuckles, but she still seems a little worried. "Is it the mountain colossus keepin' ye — Oh, hullo, Ben."

[Auralind]: Elune adore, Ben.

Ben eyes Brannagen up and down.

[Ben]: You got kind of zombie-eyes there, Bran. You doin' okay?

Brannie are you okay?

[Brannagen]: Ef one more person tells me I look tired, I swear t'the — *He cuts himself off with a monstrous yawn.*

[Ben]: Uh-huh.

Brannagen laughs heartily despite his slightly zombie-esque appearance.

Oranna fidgets with her hands a little. She's not looking at how tired he is! He's…he's totally fine. Definitely. You can tell that she thinks so. Well, no, you can tell that she's worried about how tired he is, but what are you gonna do.

[Ben]: Okay, well hopefully we will nip this colossus thing in the butt today an' you can take a nap.

Befound rumbles a loud purr. Do it, Bran. That's her plan for the day.

[Brannagen]: Nip it in the — ehehehehe.

[Auralind]: Bud. I believe the phrase is "nip it in the bud". It is horticultural.

[Ben]: … is it? Huh.

[Brannagen]: Dinna correct him, Mistwalker! It's better tha' way!

Brannagen laughs.

Befound is pretty sure it's nip in the butt. She's with Ben on this one.

[Ben]: I mean, I reckon nippin' somethin' in the butt would hurry it the hell along.

[Ben]: But I will take your word, ma'am.

[Auralind]: Listen… this is the one human phrase I understood the first time I heard it. I stand by my correction.

Ben nods gravely, which Auralind cannot hear.

Oranna is thinking about it. Huh.

[Brannagen]: Never ye fear, Mistwalker. Ye had it righ'.

Auralind gives an 'of course I was right' nod.

[Ben]: Anyhow. Let's go see what Mr. The Rockshaper has got for us today.

Brannagen rubs at his eyes vigorously, then gives his head a brisk shake.

[Brannagen]: Mr. The Rockshaper. Aye.

Ben nods to Bouldercrag the Rockshaper.

[Ben]: Sir.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Cousins, you return.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: As you can see, the Earthen have stood fast against the stormforged onslaught in the wake of Valduran’s fall. We have you to thank for that.

Brannagen sits down next to Befound.

[Ben]: That is Cobalt Company for you, sir.

Oranna gives Mr. The Rockshaper a warm smile, and glances over at Bran.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper bows his head respectfully.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Now we must turn our attention to the iron colossus.

Befound sits next to Bran. They're sitting buddies. She yawns in solidarity. Or feline attitude. Hard to tell.

[Ben]: Yessir. We are ready.

Oranna nods at Bouldercrag the Rockshaper.

Brannagen 's eyes drift closed, and he inadvertently leans on the huge predator.

Brannagen is not doing a great job of looking ready.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Foolishly, I had thought Valduran’s project at Narvir’s Cradle to the south was no more than a grotesque monument to “Keeper” Loken’s cruelty.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Since your discoveries last week, we now know the truth: That it is meant to be used as a weapon against us and our allies.

[Ben]: Oh. Uh.

Oranna nods. "You really canna tell sometimes with art. It's like that."

Ben nods uncertain agreement with Oranna. Is it, though?

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: We must not allow the iron colossus to reach completion, surface dwellers, for it will mean the end of the refuge.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Go to Narvir’s Cradle, find the lightning forges the stormforged artisans use, and sabotage them.

Oranna nods. They're great at sabotage. Ben SMASH.

Bruor Ironbane says: Friends, another request —

Ben glances over at Bruor. He looks back at Bouldercrag, who appears to be done talking, so okay.

[Ben]: Yessir?

Befound rumbles. It might be inadvertently soothing. She then licks across Bran's face. With an extremely rough large feline tongue. It is definitely not soothing.

Brannagen lets out a soft cry of alarm and jumps to his feet, hand on his mace. It takes him a moment to realize where he is, and then he immediately looks sheepish and catches up to the group.

Oranna reaches out to pat Bran on the shoulder. There, there.

Brannagen smiles at Oranna.

Bruor Ironbane says: Bouldercrag’s plan to stymie the efforts of the stormforged is a good one. I have something a little more… direct in mind, though. Work on the colossus will come to a halt if there are no workers.

Bruor Ironbane taps his temple. Clever guy.

[Oranna]: Oh, ah.

Bruor Ironbane says: While you’re in Narvir’s Cradle, slay any of the stormforged artisans in your path. We may be kin of a sort, but they have shown the Earthen no mercy, nor will they if their colossus is finished. Show them none, either.

[Ben]: Okay, sir. I mean, probably we would do that anyhow, in the way of sabotagin' the forges, but. Okay.

[Auralind]: I have never been very good at mercy. Have no worries.

Bruor Ironbane smiles grimly at Auralind. She probably can't appreciate it.

Oranna looks like she's probably good at mercy, but she can't argue that if they're Evil Artists that they and their art probably need to be stopped.

They head outside to collect their gryphons.

Brannagen has the look of a man who is trying to look Super Awake! and Cheerful!

[Ben]: You sure you are okay, there, Bran?

Oranna doesn't look like she buys it, Bran, but she's trying to.

[Auralind]: Are you going to be well enough to fight, Prospector?

[Brannagen]: Ye can count on me, ser, dinna worry.

[Ben]: Okay.

[Brannagen]: Long as we don't sit still too long.

[Oranna]: Oh, ah.

[Ben]: Let's get goin', then.

[Brannagen]: Then ye might hafta kick me.

They fly south along the mountain’s face in search of Narvir’s Cradle and the colossus. It is, uh. Hard to miss once they spot it.

[Ben]: Oh. That is the — yeah.

[Ben]: Pretty colossal.

[Oranna]: An' pretty arty.

[Ben]: … I guess. Dwarf art is a lot like… yeah.

[Auralind]: The wind blows strangely along this mountain. Are you saying that is the colossus?

[Ben]: Yes'm.

[Auralind]: Elune's light…

[Oranna]: An' it's right fancy, it is.

[Brannagen]: We canna accuse them of namin' it inaccurately.

[Ben]: Yeah it takes up, like, the whole side of the mountain. With scaffolds an' shit.

Ben squints up at it.

They land outside the stormforged enclave and prepare for battle.

Brannagen casts his protective prayers with no problem.

They murder a bunch of stormforged dwarves on their way through the camp.

[Ben]: I reckon that's a stormforge. Like we seen in the other place.

[Oranna]: Aye, the head things.

[Auralind]: Destroy i–

Ben’s already on the case!

Oranna looks impressed.

Auralind winces at the explosion.

[Ben]: … okay so. That takes care of that, I guess.

[Brannagen]: One to go. Just mind the tentacles, there…

[Ben]: Tentacles, sir?

[Oranna]: The… wha'?

[Auralind]: Tentacles?

Ben looks around, baffled.

Oranna is looking for tentacles. She's not seeing any tentacles.

Brannagen points at the tent pole. It looks normal.

[Ben]: The… oh, you said 'tent poles'. Okay.

[Ben]: Sorry, thought you said 'tentacles.'

Oranna looks at the tent pole. She looks back at Bran. Did he though.

[Brannagen]: I did, see the — oh, they've gone.

Ben eyes Bran again.

Auralind squints skeptically.

Oranna’s worry meter jumps another notch up.

This one goes to eleven.

[Brannagen]: Never mind, dinna fash… *He rubs at his eyes vigorously.*

Oranna looks like she's minding and maybe even fashing.

[Ben]: That takes care of it for here, looks like. Let's… get back to the refuge.

Ben eyes Bran again with concern.

[Brannagen]: Is there any refuge, really, though?

[Ben]: Um.

[Ben]: I mean, y'know. The Earthens' one?

[Brannagen]: Ha ha, just a little dark humor there, never ye mind.

[Ben]: Okay. Pretty dark, sir.

[Brannagen]: Light an' shadow! It's a priest theng. *He yawns.*

They return to Bruor Ironbane.

[Ben]: Sir. We took out the artificers like you asked.

[Auralind]: No mercy was asked, nor given.

Bruor Ironbane nods heavily, and not just because his head is a rock.

[Brannagen]: …asked nor given… *Bran murmurs drowsily.*

Bruor Ironbane says: There was once a time when I could never have asked someone to do what I asked of you, but my experience with the iron dwarves has extinguished those feelings.

Bruor Ironbane says: We have bought time against their advance. It is my hope that we can weather this storm, so that others of my people will survive to hold the ideals I once did.

[Ben]: I — yessir.

Oranna nods. There goes the local art scene and their evil plan to gentrify the neighborhood.

Moving on.

Ben salutes Bouldercrag the Rockshaper with respect.

Brannagen 's eyes glaze over; he gives himself a few light smacks on the cheek to bring himself back to alertness.

[Ben]: We took out the lightning forges, sir.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Excellent work. We haven’t yet stopped them, but it will take them precious time to rebuild those forges. We must work quickly in the meantime.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Even now, they are bringing in fresh laborers, and their overseers will push them to the limit until their work is complete.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Return to Narvir’s Cradle and find the documents that detail the colossus’ offensive and defensive abilities, so that we can plan a counterattack.

[Ben]: Okay, sure. We could maybe have done that while we were — never mind.

Oranna blinks. They were just… there. They could have… it's fine. It's fine.

[Brannagen]: The flying keeps me awake! Let's go.

Oranna looks over at Mr. The Boulder. Don't worry, Mr. The Boulder, they are all awake! Ha ha. Any way.

[Brannagen]: It's when we get in here in the warm an' everyone stops movin that I — yyyyyyawnnn.

[Ben]: Bran, if you are all that tired, you want to just… rest up here a little?

[Ben]: Reckon we could grab a few papers no problem.

[Brannagen]: No, fine now! Nice an' brisk, the movement helps.

[Oranna]: Or some… coffee or… I dinna know that anyone has any but.

[Brannagen]: All good.

[Brannagen]: Dinna fash I said! Let's go go go.

[Ben]: Okay. Oh, I got coffee. A thermos of it. Brung it with my sandwiches, if anyone wa– okay.

[Brannagen]: Oh, I wunna say no to some coffee later though.

[Ben]: Okay, sure.

[Auralind]: What does 'fash' mean?

[Brannagen]: Oh, sorry, dwarf slang, lass.

[Brannagen]: It's like, worry or trouble.

Auralind nods with a grunt.

[Brannagen]: More properly said dinna fash yerself but mostly we leave that off.

They are by this point back in the stormforged encampment, wandering around murdering things as they go.

[Ben]: There's some papers here.

[Oranna]: Oh, Bran, can ye read this?

Ben pages through them, frowning. He looks to Bran.

Brannagen perks up a little.

[Brannagen]: Ohhhh attack specs!

[Brannagen]: This… this we do not want.

[Oranna]: What's it say that it does?

[Brannagen]: Bad thengs. Dinna fash, we're gonna stop it.

Brannagen gently pats Oranna.

[Ben]: Okay, well. Look sharp for any more papers.

Oranna is very much fashing now.

[Brannagen]: I'll leave the sharp-lookin' to Boomer.

[Brannagen]: As always.

Oranna is looking.

[Ben]: He sure was right, they got new fellows to work in here real fast.

And White Squad is retiring them just as fast.

[Oranna]: Oh, aye. There's more papers at least, tha' way.

[Oranna]: I dinna know that they're no' just lunch orders, but.

[Ben]: Oh? Where at?

Oranna points at Stormforged Artificer.

[Brannagen]: We'll just step around the, er…

Brannagen gestures vaguely in front of them.

No one steps around anything, real or imagined. One (1) stormforged murder ensues.

[Brannagen]: …or nae…

[Ben]: What you make of these ones, Bran? Lunch orders, or?

Brannagen rubs his eyes like he's trying to juice them.

[Brannagen]: Oh this'll be useful!

[Brannagen]: This is its defenses an' such.

[Brannagen]: This should be all we need to get the advantage.

[Auralind]: Excellent.

[Ben]: Nice. Okay. Let's get 'em back to the refuge. Bouldercrag's refuge, I mean, specifically.

Ben eyes Brannagen up and down.

[Brannagen]: Nice work all!

Brannagen shakes himself vigorously as they enter the warm refuge.

Ben gestures for Bran to hand the plans over.

[Brannagen]: Mm? Oh, aye.

[Brannagen]: Here y'are ser.

Befound helpfully (?) licks Bran's hand.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper accepts them gravely. He nods to Bran and begins to read.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper 's eyes widen.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: I had no idea the stormforged were capable of this! Our men will have no chance against this behemoth if it’s completed.

Brannagen startles and yanks his hand away from Befound when she licks it, his eyes wide with a sudden terror — then he seems to realize belatedly what touched him and once again looks sheepish.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Fortunately, it looks like they’re still lacking a key part: the Heart of the Storm.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Without it, the colossus’ weapons would be much weaker than the design predicts.

[Oranna]: Oh, that sounds poetic.

[Auralind]: Do you have an idea how to acquire the Heart of the Storm?

[Oranna]: Is it like a stone. Or… or is it like ta be literal. Do… do storms have hearts?

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper looks up from the papers. "An overseer called Narvir has traveled far to the south, to a titan facility called Uldis, built into the side of a mountain overlooking the Bor’s Breath River."

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Go there, and stop him from getting the Heart.

[Ben]: Narvir. Like the cradle. I get it.

[Brannagen]: Usually ye hear it 'eye of the storm.' An' it's quiet. Deceptively so.

[Oranna]: Is it his cradle because it's his, like when he was a wee babe, or his like, where he's making his… babies?

[Ben]: … I dunno.

[Brannagen]: I suspect it's bein' used in the sense of, place where thengs are born or made?

[Ben]: That is probably right.

They fly southward through the mountains. It’s very scenic. The music is nice. I mean, if they could hear phantom music playing for some reason while they flew, it would probably be nice.

[Ben]: This is Bor's Breath River, yeah?

[Brannagen]: Aye.

[Oranna]: Oh, ah… mm.

[Ben]: Look out for a titan facility built into the side of a mountain.

Oranna doesn't know but she's looking for the mountain facility at least.

Brannagen points over yonder.

[Oranna]: There's tha part of the road… bridge thing.

[Ben]: You reckon it is the ruins?

Ben frowns.

[Brannagen]: Hmmm.

Oranna tries to shrug. It's hard to tell with the way she's gripping onto her grphon.

[Ben]: Don't seem like a safe place to store a Heart of a Storm.

Auralind 's ears twitch. "The wind has a low whistle…"

Ben glances at Auralind.

[Auralind]: Do you hear it? It's louder this way.

[Oranna]: Oh, there's… an odd entrance there.

[Ben]: Yeah. That looks more like —

[Brannagen]: Well that's somethin.

Ben peers in.

[Ben]: It's huge an' there's runes everywhere.

[Oranna]: If this started up, we'd be…

[Auralind]: Started up?

[Brannagen]: Hard to tell what they say when they're writhin' aroun' like tha'.

Oranna looks nervously up around them. "It's like a gear of a wheel, like a clock or…"

[Auralind]: Writhing? What are? The runes?

[Ben]: It is kind of like a giant clockworks — what? Bran?

[Ben]: Who is writhin'?

[Brannagen]: The runes.

[Brannagen]: Can't get a read on 'em.

Brannagen says this very calmly, despite the fact that the runes are not writhing.

Oranna looks at the runes, squinting at them.

Auralind arches an eyebrow of concern.

Ben blinks and eyes the runes again. Maybe you have to be a dwarf to see it? He looks at Oranna.

Oranna shakes her head at Ben, the worry written larger than the runes on her face.

Ben knits his brows and looks at Bran again.

[Oranna]: They're no'… I canna read them, but they're not… they're not movin'.

[Oranna]: Bran, ye sure ye dinna want some of tha' coffee?

[Brannagen]: Oh aye? Ach, I must be more sleep deprived than I thought. Heh. sorry.

[Brannagen]: Aye, maybe some coffee.

Ben nods and dismounts from his gryphon to fish around in his pack.

Oranna looks marginally relieved. Yeah. Some coffee will fix this. Maybe.

[Brannagen]: Didna think it was so bad or I'd have called in sick, heh heh. At least my healin' has been workin fine, aye?

Ben produces a thermos of black coffee and offers it to Bran.

[Oranna]: Oh, aye! No, ye've been, ye're doin' great.

Brannagen gives him a grateful little nod and drinks coffee as fast as he can without causing blisters.

[Ben]: You want a sandwich, too? Could be hypoglycemic.

[Brannagen]: Sure!

Oranna nod nods. Yes, good, good. The worry meter might drop down to a mere 10.

Ben produces a slightly-smashed paper-wrapped sandwich. It is ham and pickle on rye with mustard.

[Brannagen]: Sorry fer the delay. This is a new theng fer me, I normally keep in very good health!

[Oranna]: It's alright.

Brannagen eats the sandwich in record time.

[Ben]: There some reason you ain't gettin' sleep, Bran? I don't mean to get personal, but.

[Brannagen]: There we go. Things seem a little steadier. Oh, just been havin recurrin' nightmares, past few nights. Just awful stuff.

[Brannagen]: Makes a man want to stay awake, though.

Befound yawns in her carrier. Either in solidarity with Bran or because she wants out of this carrier now. Hard to tell.

Ben knits his brows again. "Shit, I am sorry to hear that."

[Brannagen]: Not hearin' any whispers or anythin' though, if ye were gonna ask. Just dreams only.

Oranna frowns, the worry meter ticking up again. She was, in fact, going to ask that.

[Oranna]: But it started after the… super saronite?

[Ben]: Maybe Aunt Nir could do you a potion? You could send to Ironforge for it. There is a one she does for… dreamless sleep, or somethin'?

Oranna nods. Good thinking, Ben. "Good thinking, Ben."

[Brannagen]: Ah, that'd be great, I think I'll go see her.

[Brannagen]: But aye, at this point I seem of sound mind other than the usual sleep deprivation stuff. Seein dream-things from the corner o' me eye a bit. But no whispers.

Ben nods solemnly. Aunt Nir will fix it.

[Brannagen]: I'll get one o' them potions an' be good as new.

[Oranna]: Niris'll know what ta do, aye.

[Ben]: Okay, well. Hope that coffee has got you warmed up, for now. Let's go find a Heart of a Storm.

[Brannagen]: Aye!

[Brannagen]: Feelin better.

Auralind remains stoic, but keeps an ear on Bran.

[Oranna]: Oh, it's the gnomes type of – ah

There are mechagnome workers in the broad corridor they are following. The mechagnomes are no happier to see them than the ones on the Terrace of the Makers were. Some Jo Nightmare Fuel ensues.

[Ben]: Well. This must be the place.

Ben points at Stormforged Artificer.

[Ben]: They got one patrollin' there. Reckon he is guarding somethin'.

[Ben]: Oh.

’Oh’ is because they have arrived in a chamber at the corridor’s end which contains only a luminous translucent orb resting on a runed plinth.

[Ben]: Damn. Look at it.

[Oranna]: It's sort of pretty. Oh — it's like those, ah, Loken gifts.

[Oranna]: A shiny orb.

[Brannagen]: Wonder what its purpose is…

[Brannagen]: Or was meant t'be.

[Auralind]: Is this the Heart of the Storm?

[Oranna]: It might be, aye. Seems likely ta be. It's… ah… it's like a storm inside.

[Brannagen]: Should we smash it?

[Ben]: Yeah? I mean, to keep them from gettin' it, I reckon.

[Brannagen]: Wait, lemme sketch those runes ferst…

Brannagen whips out his sketchbook.

[Brannagen]: I dinna recognize all of these…

[Ben]: Lemme know when you are done.

Brannagen quickly sketches the runes on the inside of it. "Okay. Smash away!"

As Ben hoists his mace overhead to smash, he is suddenly seized by a whirlwind — and so are the other three. And the two cats. They hang suspended and helpless in the churning air as a stormforged iron dwarf strolls into the chamber.

Overseer Narvir says: You didn't think that I was going to let you walk in here and take the Heart of the Storm, did you?

Ben flails in the whirlwind.

[Ben]: HEY.

Auralind roars in frustration as the winds buffet her about.

Overseer Narvir says: You may have killed Valduran, but that will not stop me from completing the colossus.

Overseer Narvir casually picks up the Heart of the Storm, and then vanishes. The whirlwinds cease and the squad is free again.

[Brannagen]: Well, tha's one way t'wake me up.

Befound is four times her usual size, maximum fluff.

[Brannagen]: Boomer, ye'll have ta redo me beard.

Oranna looks like she might have to redo her own braid as well. She's pale, and a little shaky, but relieved once her feet are back on solid ground.

[Ben]: SHIT. Shit. He got the thing! He got it.

Ben drags a hand through his hair and stares in despondent frustration.

[Brannagen]: Er… where'd he go? Anyone see?

Oranna shakes her head. "No. The wind was… my eyes were all over tears."

[Ben]: He teleprompted away.

[Brannagen]: Sorry fer makin ye wait to smash it.

[Ben]: That's okay. It's okay. We will have to — we better let the Earthens know fast, though.

[Brannagen]: Aye!

They wing northward again in grim silence, though as they pass Narvir’s Cradle they can see the massive, runed colossus still stands among scaffolding against the mountainside.

[Ben]: Looks like it ain't active yet, at least.

They land at Bouldercrag’s Refuge.

Ben smooths his tabard and looks grim as they approach Bouldercrag.

Brannagen tries to smooth his whirlwinded hair.

Oranna is worrying at her lip, her hands twisting together in front of her.

[Ben]: Sir. We have bad news.

[Ben]: We got to the place an' found the Heart, but before we could do anything with it, the fellow showed up and whirlwinded us all. He took it and teleprompted away.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper listens gravely. He is silent for a time and then heaves a sigh.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: I know that you did all you could, heroes. No one could have done more or better, and the Earthen are grateful to you.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: It can’t be helped, though. Even now, they are waking the colossus. With the Heart in the hands of Narvir, it will have achieved its full power. We have no choice but to fight it.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Bruor has devised a plan to exploit its only weakness.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: No matter how tough the colossus’ armor is, it is still vulnerable to a jormungar’s acid.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Our jormungar handlers use taming orbs to control the beasts. Go to the northern edge of the Snowdrift Plains and use a taming orb to summon jormungar to your bidding. Use them to battle the colossus.

[Ben]: … ooookay.

[Ben]: I mean, yessir.

Oranna nods. This sounds like a very reasonable plan. "Aye, tha' sounds like a good idea."

[Auralind]: Nature always provides.

[Brannagen]: Good thing we got our beast tamers.

Brannagen rubs at his eyes.

Oranna smiles at Bran. "We'll be fine, aye."

[Brannagen]: Ach.

They head to the northern edge of the Snowdrift Plains, where Earthen carrying glowing control orbs stand among a group of swaying jormungar.

Ben eyes the jormungar dubiously.

[Ben]: We are gonna ride those?

[Auralind]: Easy now…

Auralind holds up a hand toward the worm. "We're friends."

Brannagen lets the beast-tamers handle it.

The two beast-tamers handle it, which means everyone does, in fact, get a Friendly Jormungar to ride on, except that jormungar even when ridden prefer to travel underground, and even when dissuaded from fully submerging due to the presence of a rider, there is still quite a lot of churning along through snow and surface dirt in a broad spray of both. It is kind of like riding on the blade of a snowplow.

Nonetheless, the four jormungar close on the iron colossus and, thanks to the power of acid spit, the giant is felled.

[Brannagen]: Everyone all righ'?

[Auralind]: Dirty and cold…but fine.

Oranna nods. "Aye, tha' was not so bad."

Brannagen looks exhausted.

[Ben]: … I do not think I want to do that again.

Auralind smirks slyly. "I rather enjoyed it."

Hunters are a breed apart, y’all.

[Ben]: But look. We knocked that big fucker right over.

Brannagen cheers, a bit feebly.

[Ben]: Like bringin' down a mountain.

[Oranna]: Aye.

[Ben]: Good work, White Squad.

[Ben]: Let's go tell 'em, in case they ain't hear it fall.

[Oranna]: Or worry we were on th' wrong side of the fall, an' crushed inta paste beneath it.

Oranna would be worrying about that.

[Ben]: … yeah that is a thing.

Brannagen trudges along, zombie-like.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Champions! We heard the colossus fall! I am glad you were not crushed to paste beneath it.

[Auralind]: Yes. Do not…fash.

Oranna laughs at Auralind.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper looks briefly nonplussed. He bows to Auralind. "We shall not fash."

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: But you have done it, heroes. You’ve really done it! The refuge is spared and the stormforged defeated!

[Brannagen]: woo hoo ~

Oranna smiles warmly at Bouldercrag.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: We must warn Branbronzen before Loken attempts to rebuild his forces. It is for the best that you helped him wrest control of some of the forges from Loken’s hands, but there are more he yet commands.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: The only way we will secure the victory you have won today is to go into Ulduar itself and defeat Loken for all time, but such a mighty endeavor is beyond even your mettle. It will require an army.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper says: Let your commanders know the Earthen stand with them when the time comes.

Ben salutes Bouldercrag the Rockshaper with respect.

Brannagen salutes Bouldercrag the Rockshaper with respect.

Oranna nods at Bouldercrag the Rockshaper.

[Oranna]: Damn straight.

Auralind salutes Bouldercrag the Rockshaper with respect.

Bouldercrag the Rockshaper salutes the group in turn.

[Brannagen]: All righ'… now I just need t'… *Bran wobbles.* 'Scuse me just a sec..

Brannagen heads for the exit.

Oranna hurries after him.

Ben steps away from Bouldercrag to eye Bran nervously.

Brannagen doesn't make it to the exit, and faceplants on the steps.

[Ben]: … oh, shit. That look like it hurt.

Oranna makes an attempt at a catch, trying to keep his head from hitting stone at least.

[Auralind]: We need to get him to a healer. He is not well.

Oranna nods, worriedly. "I think we need ta get him ta Niris, now."

Brannagen murmurs restlessly, but doesn't wake.

[Ben]: You reckon Aunt Nir? Maybe someone closer, in Dalaran?

[Oranna]: I dinna know. At least in Stormwind, he'd be closer to his ma, in case he needs someone ta look after fer a few days.

[Auralind]: If Niris can help with his sleeplessness, we should go to her. We can take the portal from Dalaran.

Ben nods.

[Ben]: Okay.

Brannagen is not as heavy as most dwarves, but he's still not the easiest to move.

Oranna pets his hair a bit, not unlike how she might soothe Befound.

Ben stoops to try to hoist Bran up. He grunts and staggers a little.

Oranna tries to help, but her short arms aren't super effective past a certain point.

[Ben]: Damn, y'all got like lead bones.

[Ben]: How you go swimmin'?

[Oranna]: Oh, ah. I dinna really…I don't, really.

Brannagen mutters something in Dwarvish about eyes, sounding mildly distressed, which for Bran is the same as panic.

Oranna frowns, looking at his eyes. "He's sayin' something…his eyes?"

Brannagen's eyes look fine.

Ben makes his way toward the exit, lugging the sleeping Bran cradled like an extremely hairy, dense infant.

[Auralind]: We'll lash him to a gryphon and fly close.

[Ben]: C'mon.

Brannagen clarifies in his dwarven murmuring, "So many eyes…"

[Oranna]: Oh, he's seein' eyes. Like tha' nightmare, maybe. When everyone's looking at ye.

[Ben]: Oh, when you are naked in the schoolhouse?

Oranna nods. Sure. "Oh, aye. Better than fallin', probably."

Auralind tilts her head. "What? Naked in–"

[Oranna]: At least it's not the whispering.

[Ben]: C'mon, let's take the direct gryphons.

Ben pays the flight master extra to help lash Bran to a particularly sturdy-looking gryphon.

[Auralind]: Oranna… keep the gryphon calm while we tie him down.

Oranna is a professional at this. Calm gryphon. Extremely worried dwarf.

Ben clambers up on the gryphon behind the dwarf, and urges it toward Dalaran. The gryphon looks like it wishes someone had paid it extra as well.