(2024-02-05) Interlude: Danger in Desolace, Part 1 (Cobalt Blade)

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Thalstan, Tadget and Vesyllah start a new mission for Cobalt Blade, one that involves a lot of problems that can all be summed up in the word 'Desolace'. ~4100 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Cobalt Blade

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discussion of romance, discussion of 7th Legion death requirements

The Cobalt Blade team - Thalstan, Tadget and Vesyllah this time - assembles in Ironforge.
Thal waves at Tadget.
[Tadget]: Sup.
[Tadget]: Just got back from giving Tailwind here a major tune-up. Hope your little goat can keep up.
[Thalstan]: Heh. Don't discount th' rams. They're tough creatures.
[Thalstan]: We've been summoned by an Archmage. Risin' up in the world we are.
[Tadget]: You're rising up in the world, maybe. May I remind you that I have killed a god?
[Thalstan]: Right, right. We're catchin' up to yeh, Mayhem.
[Tadget]: Enjoy breathing my exhaust.
[Vesyllah]: We all stopped your god's cousins from wrecking everything. I think that counts for something.
Thalstan nods at Ves. "Tha' we did, right enough!"
[Thalstan]: Anyhow, we've been asked to head t' Theramore and speak with this mage fellow Tervosh. There's some business afoot again in Kalimdor tha' needs Blade handling.
[Tadget]: Kalimdor eh? Good, I'm getting a little bored with this continent.
[Vesyllah]: Lead on, leaderman.
[Thalstan]: Reckon we can boat from Menethil - it'll be the three of us this time, far's I know. Zaara's not going to make it. Art might meet us there, with his teleportin' and whatnot.
They head to Menethil Harbor, where it is pouring rain, just in time to see the boat leave.
[Thalstan]: Ach, we jus' missed th' boat an' it's rainin'!
Tadget laughs at Thal.
[Vesyllah]: I like the rain.
Vesyllah is only happy when it rains.
Thalstan chuckles. "I don' mind it so much. Jus'… my beard looks better dry."
[Tadget]: I would say you needed a shower anyway, Valor, but the truth is you smell like pine trees and smoke and justice.
Thalstan laughs more deeply. "I smell like justice. I like tha'."
Tadget giggles at Thalstan.
[Vesyllah]: Is that what that smell is? Thought it was ram musk.
[Thalstan]: Ram musk does smell a lot like justice.
Vesyllah smirks.
[Thalstan]: How've yeh both been holdin' up since we stopped the eternal endin'?
[Tadget]: Pretty much the same old same old.
[Tadget]: Just another day ending in Y for the Doom Prevention Specialists.
[Vesyllah]: I've been fine. Spending time with my goddess.
[Tadget]: So what do you and Elune do when you're hanging out?
[Vesyllah]: We play a lot of Kalimdor Hold 'Em.
Tadget laughs at Vesyllah.
Thalstan chuckles.
[Thalstan]: I hope the recent nightmare business didn't hit either o' yeh too hard, either.
[Tadget]: I pretty much just ignored it.
[Vesyllah]: I'm used to nightmares.
[Vesyllah]: Still…felt good to take the fight to the Nightmare.
[Thalstan]: I might would ha', but my ma got stuck in sleep. I had ta manage the tavern alone fer over a week.
[Tadget]: Luckily I only care about one person, and he was also fine.
[Vesyllah]: Don't you have three children?
[Tadget]: Oh well, who can tell if babies are having nightmares? All they do is sleep and cry anyway.
[Thalstan]: I think I saw yeh in the Emerald battle, Ves?
Vesyllah nods solemnly. "Yes."
[Tadget]: Wait, you guys just… went to sleep when that random elf guy told you to? What suckers.
[Thalstan]: Oh, yeah. It was a call t'adventure! An' I met this lovely sniper lass, too.
[Vesyllah]: That 'random elf guy' was Malfurion Stormrage.
[Thalstan]: Was that his name?
Thalstan probably would have answered anyone.
[Tadget]: To me he's Random Elf Guy.
[Vesyllah]: He's kind of a big deal.
[Tadget]: Elfurion Stormrandom.
[Vesyllah]: Close enough.
[Thalstan]: Well, glad I listened. And my ma's up and about now. All's left is to find that sniper lass, see if she's alrigh'.
[Tadget]: Sniper lass?
[Vesyllah]: Honestly, I don't really care that much about his High Muckitymuckness. But when it comes to the Emerald Dream he knows his !@#$.
[Thalstan]: Real impressive hair, she had, in the rain… the rain at the harbor brought it t' mind.
[Tadget]: Do you have a crush on someone you met in a DREAM, Valor, sir?
[Tadget]: That's so you.
[Vesyllah]: Oh, goddess…Thal's getting mushy.
[Thalstan]: Well… I suppose you could say we met once upon a dream.
Tadget sighs at you.
[Tadget]: What kind of lass was she?
[Tadget]: Besides great hair. Gnome? Human? Goat?
[Vesyllah]: Gnoll? There were gnolls there.
Tadget laughs at Vesyllah.
[Tadget]: A gnoll with great hair.
[Thalstan]: I've no' met her in reality! Who can say wha' she's like here? *Thal considers* In the dream, though, dwarf lass. Long dark hair. Stormbreaker, was her name.
[Tadget]: Wait whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.
[Tadget]: Oranna Stormbreaker???
[Vesyllah]: You know her?
Thalstan gasps in genuine shock. "Yeh know the sniper lass?"
[Tadget]: Yeah, she's totally in love with me.
Vesyllah rolls her eyes.
[Tadget]: Practically proposed to me on our first date.
[Tadget]: Our only date. I wasn't into her.
[Thalstan]: In love wi'… *Thal stares at her* I'll… I'll have ta be delicate about tha', then, when I meet her.
[Vesyllah]: Oh gawd…you people. I can't take any more of this lovey-dovey crap.
[Tadget]: She does have great hair, though, you're right. Just a little… I dunno… fragile for my tastes.
[Tadget]: She was supposed to marry some guy I heard, but then he kicked the bucket.
[Vesyllah]: Tadget needs someone who doesn't mind being stabbed now and then.
[Tadget]: Yeah exactly, Ves.
[Tadget]: She's probably a big ol' mess you ain't got time to clean up.
[Thalstan]: Seemed tough enough, takin' out shadow after shadow wi' that gun o' hers.
[Thalstan]: Well, I'll have ta meet her fer real. Anyway, we're here. *Thal points at the Archmage.*
[Vesyllah]: Tadget can introduce you. Have a double date.
Tadget tells Vesyllah to be quiet. Shhh!
Vesyllah smirks slyly at Tadget.
The Archmage was waiting patiently for dream crush discussion to conclude.
[Thalstan]: Hello, sir! Cobalt Blade here to help!
Tadget waves at Archmage Tervosh.
Archmage Tervosh says: Oh, you're quite punctual! I'm delighted you're here already.
Vesyllah stifles a yawn and nods.
[Thalstan]: What seems ta be th' problem, sir?
Archmage Tervosh says: There's a number of problems, but most of them can be summed up in one word, 'Desolace'.
[Tadget]: Name says it all.
Vesyllah seems to perk up a little.
Archmage Tervosh says: A desolate place, yes. We had thought it would recover, once the corrupting influence of the earth elemental was handled, but any recovery seems much slower than we expected.
[Vesyllah]: There are enough flowery places in the world. Leave Desolace alone.
Tervosh blinks at Vesyllah. "I'm not certain it will ever be flowery, but it could certainly be much nicer than it is now."
Vesyllah grumbles, "S'fine the way it is."
[Tadget]: I haven't spent a whole lot of time there, but it was too much time there.
[Tadget]: Not to say I'm not willing to help you, Mr. Archmage sir.
Archmage Tervosh says: Yes, well, gnome, many people do share that sentiment. This would, naturally, be Cenarion business, but they've got their hands full with the problems in the Plaguelands and Felwood.
[Tadget]: And their recent change of leadership.
Archmage Tervosh says: And that, yes, though I'm given to understand it was rather welcome.
Archmage Tervosh says: In any case, I'm not asking you to flower Desolace right now. At the moment, I am offering my arcane expertise to study the location.
[Vesyllah]: Oh no…Stormrage will probably try to turn Desolace into some kind of paradise.
[Tadget]: I'm better at deflowering than flowering anyway.
[Vesyllah]: Alright, fine. What do you want to study?
Tervosh chuckles at that one.
Tadget winks slyly at Archmage Tervosh.
Archmage Tervosh says: I was hoping you could collect some of the crystals that grow in the complex where the earth elemental lived. I would like to see if the corruption is lessening at all.
[Tadget]: I love crystals.
[Thalstan]: I've heard o' that place, though. Is it safe? Is it no' like some kind o' sacred labyrinth?
[Tadget]: Since when does 'safe' matter to the Cobalt Blade, sir?
[Vesyllah]: Do you remember Uldaman…?
[Thalstan]: Heh, I don't mind danger. I do no' like bein' lost, though, if I can help it.
[Vesyllah]: Okay fine. Lost sucks.
Archmage Tervosh says: Ah, yes. I would not send you in with no intel. As it happens, we have acquired a… local asset. Please do not laugh, but it is a centaur.
[Tadget]: You're a dwarf, sir. Don't you have some uncanny sense of direction in caves and tunnels and whatnot? Wait, a what now?
[Thalstan]: Well, in some ways, but I… *Thal blinks* A centaur?
[Vesyllah]: This should be good.
Archmage Tervosh says: Yes, a centaur by the name of Leh'prah, who has agreed to supply you with a map of Maraudon.
Tadget digs through her bag. "Please tell me I have nose plugs in here somewhere…"
Archmage Tervosh says: He has some concerns about the future of Desolace, as it happens. Concerns we in the Alliance share.
Archmage Tervosh says: Have the three of you ever heard of a group called the Shadow Council?
[Tadget]: Duh, we weren't born under a rock. Except for Stouthammer, who was born under a whole mountain.
Vesyllah nods grimly.
[Thalstan]: But it was a verra informative rock I was born under.
Archmage Tervosh says: Well, you may have heard that the Cenarions have recently undertaken action against them in Felwood. But that is not the only place they're active - as you may have guessed by now, they have a presence in Desolace.
Archmage Tervosh says: Their active agents in Desolace are a clan called the 'Burning Blade', and they seem to be working with the satyrs and the other demons in the region. In general, we would prefer demons to have no foothold in Azeroth.
Archmage Tervosh says: Not even in Desolace.
[Thalstan]: Desolace is a bit attached to th' rest of us, aye.
[Tadget]: We'll find them and put an end to them, sir.
Archmage Tervosh says: Well, demons… any thinning out you can do is welcome, but as long as there are summoners alive, they'll be back.
[Tadget]: True, true.
Archmage Tervosh says: As it happens, this 'Leh'prah' fellow has an idea to unite the centaur clans and defend their land against the Shadow Council and their demons. If he can manage that, then the Alliance can simply leave them to it.
Archmage Tervosh says: To that end, if he asks you for help - within reason, of course - I would encourage you to give it.
[Thalstan]: So… we're collectin' crystals an' helpin' centaurs?
[Vesyllah]: Sure. Whatever.
[Tadget]: Yes, sir.
Archmage Tervosh says: Well, a centaur. But only within reason. Thank you, Cobalt Blade!
Archmage Tervosh says: You should be able to find him in the far south.
Tadget was happy to help Archmage Tervosh.
They head down to the gryphon master.
[Thalstan]: Teamin' up with centaurs. I would no' have expected it.
[Tadget]: Wizards and their stupid towers.
[Thalstan]: They do love their stairs.
[Thalstan]: T' Nijel's Point?
[Tadget]: Yes sir!
They fly to Nijel’s Point.
[Thalstan]: To th' south, he said. I guess we jus' go lookin'?
[Tadget]: Sure, what could possibly go wrong.
[Vesyllah]: Death. Dismemberment.
Yeah, sure, whatever. Anyway, they head out.
[Thalstan]: It does look right desolate still.
[Tadget]: Miles and miles of miles and miles.
[Thalstan]: All greys an' browns.
[Vesyllah]: It's quiet…and mostly empty. Peaceful.
[Tadget]: I hate peace.
[Thalstan]: Th' demons I bet would no' like to keep it that way.
[Tadget]: Thank the Titans for demons! *She considers this* Literally, I guess, um, because, Sargeras.
[Thalstan]: I am no' the biggest fan o' the demons…
[Tadget]: If not for demons and Old Gods I would have absolutely nothing to do.
They come by the place with the giant skeletons.
[Thalstan]: Oh, look!
[Thalstan]: It's th' place where we collected the bone dust!
[Tadget]: Wow, so worth revisiting.
[Vesyllah]: I'm not sure how I feel about the Titans, either. I didn't much care for the sound of that Nullification Protocol in Uldaman.
[Thalstan]: Heh
[Tadget]: I mean from their point of view it makes sense. If you're working on say, a pie or a sweater or something and it gets effed up beyond repair, you just throw it out and start over, right?
[Thalstan]: They seem real eager ta just turn over th' board if they're goin' ta lose the game.
[Tadget]: That's exactly what I do when I play games.
[Tadget]: So I get it.
[Vesyllah]: Yeah…can't say I'm fond of the world being compared to a pie.
[Thalstan]: Heh. That does sound like Mayhem…
[Vesyllah]: There's a lot more at stake.
[Tadget]: Whatever you say, blueberry.
Vesyllah mouths 'blueberry?' and wrinkes her nose.
Thalstan points at a centaur.
[Thalstan]: Look, a centaur all alone. Maybe it's our fella!
[Thalstan]: Leh'prah, that you?
[Tadget]: Sup, flypile.
The smelly centaur looks at them suspiciously.
[Thalstan]: Are you expectin' someone Alliance-like?
Leh'prah says: Are you the team that's seeing to Maraudon?
[Vesyllah]: That's us. The Alliance-like team.
[Tadget]: I don't suppose he's seen the Cobalt Blade posters…
[Thalstan]: Do yeh… have somethin' for us?
[Vesyllah]: Thank Elune someone hasn't seen them.
Leh'prah says: I do not have time to look at posters! Also, there are few posters out here.
Tadget giggles at Leh’prah.
Leh'prah says: But yes, I have prepared for you a map… if you help me.
[Tadget]: That's what we do. We help people. Also centaurs.
[Tadget]: Apparently.
Thalstan sighs. "Yep, an' we were prepared for this."
[Thalstan]: What seems ta be yer trouble?
Leh'prah says: I have been plagued by the most vivid nightmares lately. I am certain they have the strength of prophecy… but I refuse to let it happen.
[Tadget]: Uh did the nightmares by any chance stop very recently?
[Thalstan]: Uh… have yeh heard much about recent news…? *Thal nods at Tadget.*
[Vesyllah]: There was a Whole Thing.
Leh'prah says: I have not had one in a few weeks, but they will return.
[Tadget]: Are you a betting man? Horse? Horseman?
Leh'prah says: I think I know prophetic nightmares when I see them. In any case, these prophesied the fall of Desolace to demonkind!
[Tadget]: Well that could definitely happen, I suppose.
[Tadget]: Demons do like falling things.
[Thalstan]: I can… see how that'd be a thing yeh might have nightmares about. If, like, there were a Nightmare Lord makin' yeh have nightmares.
Leh'prah says: Pshaw. There was no lord, only demons. But I must prevent it. And for that, I must unite the centaur clans! For this, I need your help.
[Tadget]: Yeah, I suppose we shouldn't talk our way out of a paying job.
Vesyllah groans.
[Thalstan]: Sure, sure.
Leh'prah says: What I have in mind is a symbol. Something to show the khans what cooperation between the clans would look like.
[Tadget]: Okay, so what do you need us to do, exactly.
Leh'prah says: Since you're heading into Maraudon in any case, I wanted to ask you to collect an artifact, a gem, from a spirit of each of the clans in that sacred space.
Leh'prah says: I will bind them all together, and show the result to the clans. I am a master of diplomacy, it cannot fail.
[Tadget]: Uh huh.
[Thalstan]: Uh… master of… well, I s'pose yeh are more diplomatic than any centaur I ever met.
[Vesyllah]: So, you want us to rob your people's sacred place to prove to them they should work together. You sure it's not to make us a common enemy?
Leh'prah stares at Vesyllah. "I'm giving you a map. I'm helping the Alliance."
[Tadget]: You definitely do not want the Cobalt Blade as an enemy. Some of us have slain gods.
[Thalstan]: An' all of us ha' stopped Nullification Protocols.
Leh'prah says: I don't know what that means.
[Tadget]: We're Doom Prevention Specialists.
Leh'prah says: Ah, well, then you're perfectly placed to help me prevent doom!
[Vesyllah]: It means we're dangerous and competent people. So this better not be a double-cross.
[Tadget]: What she said.
Leh'prah says: It will not be. You'll see!
[Tadget]: Okay.
[Vesyllah]: Fine. Whatever. Give us the map.
[Tadget]: We'll collect the heck out of those gems.
Leh'prah offers them a crudely drawn map. He is not that skilled. It's reasonably easy to follow, though.
[Tadget]: Question, how important is it that we get ALL of them? If one were to be missing, what would happen?
Thalstan takes the map in hand. "Thank yeh. An' I hope we'll stay allies."
Leh'prah says: Hmm… the clan concerned might feel slighted, which is very likely to start a war…
[Tadget]: Okay, war is bad. Got it.
Leh'prah says: Yes, war is bad, unless you win. But this time, I'd like to skip the war entirely and go straight to an alliance.
[Thalstan]: Got it. We'll let yeh know if we get all th' gems.
They leave the centaur, and start to make their way towards Mauradon.
[Vesyllah]: Oh thank Elune we're done with him. The smell.
[Thalstan]: Hate ta say it Ves, but we're about t' go into a sacred centaur place.
[Vesyllah]: %^&*.
Tadget giggles at Thal.
[Thalstan]: Yeah.
[Tadget]: Take a deep breath now and hold it for like an hour.
They head up the path towards Mauradon.
[Vesyllah]: Ugh, it already smells like centaur.
[Tadget]: That's because of all the centaurs.
[Vesyllah]: Do you think?
[Thalstan]: An' we're not even in the enclosed space yet.
Vesyllah lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
[Tadget]: It's like the filthiest horse smell combined with the filthiest hairy dude smell, all at once.
[Vesyllah]: That's…so accurate.
[Thalstan]: Looks like th' entrance up here.
They enter the sacred place.
[Tadget]: Sacred places are weird.
[Tadget]: Gnomes don't really do "sacred."
[Tadget]: Gnomes are so not spiritual we don't even have spirits.
[Tadget]: Ever seen a gnome ghost?
[Vesyllah]: Huh…can't say I have.
[Thalstan]: Uh… they must exist, no?
[Tadget]: Do they, though?
[Vesyllah]: Ghosts usually linger for unfinished business. Gnomes are pretty damn efficient.
[Tadget]: I know we have souls, but I guess we just efficiently go on to whatever's next instead of hanging around being conflicted.
[Thalstan]: I dinnae think I've ever seen one, but… I've no' seen a lot of ghosts.
[Tadget]: I've seen a LOT of ghosts, and not ONE gnome one.
[Vesyllah]: Same. I've encountered plenty. Never a gnome.
[Tadget]: But we definitely have souls. Even if we, apparently, started out as robots.
[Thalstan]: We started as earthen.
[Thalstan]: An' we've got souls, too.
[Vesyllah]: That just boggles my mind.
[Tadget]: I can't speak for dwarf souls. Or I guess, all gnomes, either. But I know I have a soul, because for a minute I was nothing but.
[Vesyllah]: You died?
[Tadget]: That time I died, in the Scarlet Monastery, on me and Finn's… sort of date thing.
[Vesyllah]: Hmm.
[Tadget]: I've died a few times, but that was the time I found out I had a soul.
[Tadget]: Because I was just sort of… hanging out looking at Finn attach stuff to my body and shock it back to life.
[Thalstan]: Tha's a nice thing ta have confirmed.
[Tadget]: It messed me up for a while, because I had not figured I had one.
[Vesyllah]: Seems to me if you can come back, that's evidence of a soul. Otherwise, wouldn't you just…cease?
[Tadget]: Have you ever died, sir?
[Thalstan]: Me? I do no' think so.
[Tadget]: Only some souls can come back.
[Tadget]: If you can't, you can't join the 7th Legion. So you might wanna find out.
[Thalstan]: Uh… maybe I'll jus' let it happen naturally. Yeh know, naturally dying in a fight and finding out.
[Tadget]: 'Kay.
[Tadget]: If you change your mind, I'm really good at killing people.
Thalstan eyes Tadget a little nervously.
Tadget smiles at Thal.
Luckily, an attempted change of subject presents itself. A cavern full of crystals!
[Thalstan]: Oh, look, crystals!
[Vesyllah]: You're very keen on this 7th Legion idea.
[Tadget]: I am!
Attempted change of subject - failed. Nice try, Thal.
[Tadget]: I'm going back either way, but it'd be nicer to have you guys with me.
[Thalstan]: We'll jus' see how it goes.
[Thalstan]: What do they do if yeh've never died? Jus' 'no entry' or do they kill yeh?
[Tadget]: You just aren't allowed in.
[Tadget]: You gotta provide proof you've been resurrected, like a witness name, on your application.
[Vesyllah]: Hmph. And if your only witness is the goddess who resurrected you?
[Thalstan]: Well, let's jus' wait an' see if it happens first.
[Tadget]: We're nowhere near ready anyway.
[Vesyllah]: You're right. I still have a mission to fulfil.
[Tadget]: And we've got to be max level.
[Thalstan]: We'll get there one day.
[Vesyllah]: Max…level.
[Thalstan]: We're already gettin' reputation as heroes.
[Tadget]: Yeah, you haven't heard of max?
[Tadget]: One of the first 7th Legion heroes.
[Vesyllah]: I haven't.
[Tadget]: He's considered the absolute template for a 7th legion soldier.
[Tadget]: We're nowhere near max level yet.
[Thalstan]: Well, I bet we'll be max level some day! We've got ta be at least halfway there.
[Tadget]: I used to be.
[Tadget]: Sometimes I feel like I'm not even the same person anymore.
[Vesyllah]: There's only one authority I need to prove myself to. If she decides I should be in the 7th Legion, it will be so.
[Tadget]: Oh jeez.
[Tadget]: And how will you know if she decides that?
[Thalstan]: Does she talk to yeh?
[Vesyllah]: She does. With omens. Signs. Sometimes visions.
[Tadget]: I'm sure glad I don't have some goddess telling me what to do.
[Thalstan]: But no' words, so yeh have ta interpret.
[Tadget]: Oooh, I like these crystals.
[Tadget]: The worms, not so much.
[Vesyllah]: Sometimes the vision have words. Though they're rarely direct and clear.
[Thalstan]: Oh, speaking o' spirits an' all. I think I see one now.
[Thalstan]: Let's see if he's got a gem on 'im?
He does! Also he’s fighty.
Gelk says: The Gelkis clan will never be defeated!
[Thalstan]: Ah, yep.
[Tadget]: So that's the Gelkis spirit. Huh.
[Thalstan]: Wonder which clan our fella's from?
[Thalstan]: I didnae ask.
[Vesyllah]: Be cautious. He's likely going to reconstitute. Eventually.
[Thalstan]: We'll be moved on by then.
[Thalstan]: That's got ta be enough crystals fer a sample.
[Thalstan]: Let's see if we can find any more o' those spirits?
[Tadget]: They're so pretty. I wonder if I could keep a few…
[Vesyllah]: War, Tadget. War.
Thalstan peers at the map. It's really hard to see the levels.
[Thalstan]: Is there really no ramp up here?
Tadget wipes worm spit off her armor.
[Vesyllah]: You'd think Centaurs would be more into ramps.
Thal wanders off to find a ramp, and Ves and Tadge follow.
[Thalstan]: So… what's the last time Elune talked to yeh?
[Vesyllah]: Depends what you mean by that.
[Thalstan]: Like wi' a vision or somethin'.
[Vesyllah]: I commune with her nightly. But she doesn't always have something to say to me.
[Vesyllah]: The last certain vision I received from her, she guided me to accept Ference's offer.
[Vesyllah]: So I have to assume I'm still on the path she wants for me.
[Thalstan]: Ah, tha's nice an' clear, yeah.
[Tadget]: How did she guide you?
[Vesyllah]: No, she said, 'ooOOOooo go keep an eye on the psychotic gnome.'
Thalstan gives a booming laugh.
[Tadget]: Pfft, no one keeps an eye on me.
[Tadget]: I am INVISIBLE
[Thalstan]: Ooh, I see another spirit!
Kolk says: The Kolkar are the true heirs of Theradras!
He is also de-constituted and his gem taken.
[Thalstan]: That must ha' been the Kolkar.
[Vesyllah]: She gave me a vision. I saw two paths. Ference walked on one bathed in moonlight. On the other I saw only myself.
[Tadget]: Did the moonlight glint off of his scalp?
[Thalstan]: Ah, that is pretty clear. So she does no' make things a puzzle.
[Vesyllah]: Though I was cloaked in shadow, at her core the Night Warrior is still the Moon Mother. To me, the message was clear.
[Vesyllah]: It isn't always so clear, but that time I had no doubt.
[Vesyllah]: And yes…his scalp was shiny.
Tadget giggles at Vesyllah.
[Thalstan]: Maybe when the time comes to it, she'll have somethin' ta say about the 7th.
[Thalstan]: Ach, another spirit!
Magra says: Theradras will set the Magram over all!
[Tadget]: Cool.
Cool or not, we destroy the ghost and take another gem.
[Thalstan]: Tha's three gems, but I think we've explored this whole outer area.
[Tadget]: We should get back-up before going further.
Vesyllah nods.
[Thalstan]: I think we'd best get back to Tervosh with the crystals, yeah. See what he thinks.
[Tadget]: Yes sir.
[Thalstan]: Fastest way might be hearthstones? And meet up wi' him next time.
[Tadget]: Sure.
[Vesyllah]: Whatever.
[Thalstan]: Good work, Vengeance and Mayhem.
Tadget stands at attention and salutes.
Vesyllah slouches, bored.
They all vanish in the green glow of hearthstones.