(2024-02-10) News from the Nexus Front

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	A familiar dragon visits Cobalt Company HQ with news!
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Nexus War

Cobalt Company's new HQ is fairly peaceful, as the Company's squad are busy elsewhere preparing to depart for their new missions. Sunlight filters in through the windows, the yellow glass giving it a sense of warmth even in this cold continent. Copperworth paces back and forth, his keen eyes watching for anything out of place. Who can tell what might happen in a magical parlor? One of those stacked books might be a transmogrified intruder, after all.

And then, there is an intruder. Or, at least, a visitor. A dark-haired elvish woman in a soft blue robe materializes by the entrance portal, smiling a quick greeting at Copperworth. She settles in a chair at the table with the stacked books, and waits to see who else is going to be here today.

Some time passes before Atley materializes near the portal as well. He is wearing his full plate, a now red set, with a relatively crude but sturdy looking Hyldnir-made sword that glows a dull blue.

He wears no helmet, long brown hair swishing behind his shoulders, full beard recently groomed. Having met Copperworth in passing once before, he gives him a grunt and a nod, before looking to the strange elvish woman. “My lady,” he growls, before double taking. “Kirygosa?”

He faintly inclines his head as he marches over, brow knitted out of curiosity. “Wot’ brings you here?”

Kiry smiles when she sees a familiar face. "Oh, I just thought I'd come by to talk to my friends in Cobalt Company. A lot has been happening lately, all over the place, and I wasn't sure if everyone here might've heard the latest about how things are going in the Nexus War."

Prospector Brannagen Stillwall enters the HQ a moment later, humming a dwarven drinking song to himself, an exuberant and mostly on-key baritone.

"I thought that was you, Sir Dane Atley the Red!" he says cheerfully. "I wanted to— oh well hello there!" He belatedly spots Kirygosa and gives a deep bow.

Kiry gives a little wave, nodding her head slightly in acknowledgement of the bow. "I didn't mean to interrupt, of course. What were you here for, Brannagen Stillwall?"

"Spotted Sir Atley in the street an' followed him!" he says with a smile. "I've been assigned to heal him on Blue Squad, so I thought I'd do a bit of a meet and greet. But that can wait; if yer here, there must be a big reason, aye?"

"I'm not sure if it's a big reason, but… your Company's the one that went into the Nexus, isn't it?" Kirygosa looks at the two of them curiously. "And did what you could to ameliorate the damage from the leyline redirection?"

Bran looks to Dane, raising a bushy red brow.

Atley cranes his head as he listens, setting his jaw. “I’ll welcome any fresh news on that front. Light knows we’ve enough wars to keep track of these days.”

As Brannagen arrives he turns to the dwarf and lifts a bushy dark brow with gruff amusement at his buoyant demeanor. “Aye, hail,” he growls lowly in greeting.

He looks back to Kirygosa and nods. “Aye, that was us. I led our venture into the place, but the technical work was performed by Lady Cressidha Aspenwood.” He looks between Bran and Kiry. “From wot’ I understood, t’was a temporary solution. Somming’ of a stopgap to buy us time. Has it failed…?”

"As a stopgap to buy us time, it was very successful!" Kiry says brightly. "But… you know that wasn't a permanent solution, and it looks like, by now, our time is nearly spent."

Atley grunts, briefly looking to Bran before he peers expectantly at Kiry, cinching his thumbs into his belt.

"Can ye give me a summary o' the situation, Ms. Kirygosa?" Bran asks. "I wasna with a Cobalt squad at the time, and while I'm aware there was trouble wi' the ley lines I'm not entirely sure what Cobalt did t'remedy the situation."

A slight figure comes into view in the portal, and a moment later the freckled, red-haired sorceress steps through, mumbling to herself, "…with a matrix as the model, it's conceivable that a sophisticated array of quantum resonators could align it with the vibrational frequencies of the destination to ensure a seamless transition without-…" Gwenivene has inadvertently walked right into the midst of Kiry, Dane, and Bran, and she balks before literally colliding with them. "Oh! Hello! Golly, it's a party!" Of four.

Atley turns over his broad shoulder and scoffs with amusement, raising a hand to offer to stabilize Gwen just in case. “Just in time. Hullo’ then, Gwen.” he growls fondly.

"Drinks all around!" Bran answers Gwen cheerfully. "Should I? Get drinks? 'Lo, there, lass, do we know each other?"

Gwen gives Dane a beaming smile, then thrusts her hand toward Bran. "I know who you are. You're Brannagen Stillwall, explorer and scholar!" As if her thoughts just caught up to her, she shoots her attention back to Dane. "Just in time for what?"

Atley looks to Gwen and gestures to Kiry. “This here’s Lady Kirygosa, of the Blue Dragonflight. She’s friend to the Company and she’s come to update us on the Nexus war.”

He looks to Kiry, and gestures to Gwen. “Ms. Gwenivene Whittle, of the Kirin Tor.” A beat as he raises a hand to scratch his bearded chin with a default frown. “Aye. That Gwen.” He adds emphatically with a nod.

"Oh, yes, of course I know Gwen," Kiry smiles. "We were all of us together to free the spirits of Crystalsong Forest. What good fortune I should run into so many people I know, and even some who helped with the interdimensional refabrication in the Nexus! So… let me start at the beginning. You know about the conflict with my father, and how he was redirecting all the ley lines to the Nexus, right?"

Gwen nods, quickly sobering with visible concern.

Atley grunts again and nods, looking to Kiry.

"Yes, well, to my understanding, what Cobalt did was to stabilize the primary rift this was causing in the middle of the Nexus. Thus, giving us some time to stop the Blue Aspect before something drastic happened." Kiry sighs. "And he thinks your spellcasters are causing problems, but then he goes and does something like this." She looks curiously at Bran. "Is this the sort of situation that calls for drinks, among your people?"

"Among my people," Bran says with faux solemnity, "all situations call for drinks. Parties. Weddin's. Funerals. Winter Veil. Runnin' inta a few friends within a half mile of a tavern. So aye."

"Oh, there are several taverns in Dalaran," Kiry says, taking the solemnity at face value. "Gwen, do you want to conjure something, or shall I? What sort of drink does this call for?"

“Milk,” Atley growls, before clearing his throat. “For me.”

"I could…um…well, the best I can manage is water. It's really good water, though! But um…" Gwen gestures to the butler, "I'm sure Copperworth can get us whatever we like."

Copperworth looks down his nose at them all, and then nods. "Shall I secure a pitcher of fresh milk?"

Gwen nods, "Oh yes, milk sounds lovely. Thank you Copperworth!"

Atley grunts at Copperworth.

A tall stilty figure nonchalantly veers around from the balcony, sipping a cup of juice from a straw and wide eyes fixed sidelong at the sources of the increasing chatter. Nunuzac is dressed in light traveling leather, her staticky hair more or less tucked into a pair of buns, and she wears a look of curiosity that is trying to be casual about how long she might have been out there just, you know, innocently overhearing.

"'Blue dragonflight?" She repeats, questioningly. "Here? And every one knows each other? How nonusual." The draenei helps herself to an ottoman as a perch.

"NUNUUUUUUUU!" Bran bellows delightedly as he makes himself comfortable on the nearest seating. "How's it hangin', Sparks?"

The butler shoots a curious glance at Nunu and Bran, then disappears through the portal in search of milk.

Atley raises his brows at the sudden volume, turning and clanking in place to see the cause of the alarm. He up nods slowly upon seeing Nunuzac and briefly raises a hand in greeting. “My lady.”

Nunuzac beams at Bran, crossing her legs beneath her, which is a bit of a whole affair to see gangly digitigrade limbs that long arrange themselves so. "Oh you know! I just rest between go here and there. It is good to see you." She gives a light laugh and wiggles her fingers at Dane's address. "Hello!"

She twists a bit toward Kirygosa and rests her hand against her collar. "I am Nunuzac. I some times take message for Wyrmrest and Cobalt. I will like to hear about Nexus news also."

Bran beams at Nunu.

"Pleased to meet you, Nunuzac," the blue dragon says with a friendly smile. "I'm Kirygosa. Don't worry, I'm an ally. Not all of us fell in line with the ideas of the Aspect, though I regret most did. I imagine you've met Kalecgos at the Temple? Or maybe my partner Jarygos?" She touches her waist lightly at that last, an unconscious gesture. "In any case, yes, back to the Nexus. We had hoped, or at least I'd hoped, that we might use the time to find a peaceful solution. But I'm afraid there's been too much blood spilled on both sides by now."

Atley’s eyes discreetly follow her hand, and he faintly knits his brow before he nods in agreement. “Aye. That point’s long passed us by.”

Nunuzac nods vigorously at the mention of Kalecgos, then only a tilt of her head at the next name - perhaps not. Her brow wrinkles. "There is a change now? Blue loses many dragons to fighting in all the time they attack." Her voice is gentled and sympathetic to Kiry rather than simply matter of fact. "Fighting Red, fighting Kirin Tor. They will not become weak and stop out of have-to? Or another ley line problem?"

"Malygos is very proud and very determined," Kiry says sadly. "And one of the fallen was his consort, for thousands of years." She pauses. "My mother. I do not see a way to convince him to back down. So… they have continued redirecting the ley lines, sending the power up into the Twisting Nether. This, naturally, cannot be permitted to continue long-term."

Gwenivene frowns in sympathy at the revelation about Kiry's mother. "I'm so sorry," she whispers. But it is followed by a firm nod. "The Kirin Tor is determined to stop them. But we don't yet know how."

Nunuzac looks troubled by Kiry's words, and perhaps there is a kind of understanding there that is more than an abstraction that a shorter-lived person might effort to conjure. She grips her cup in both hands and tilts her head down in a slow nod. "Dragon aspects, they have very deep ties to every thing in this world. The life and earth and magic every where. There is any thing we can do?"

"I suppose that's where I have some news to share," Kiry says, looking around at the gathered Cobalts. "In addition to the Kirin Tor, the Flights have been trying any number of things, as you've probably heard, Nunuzac. Recently, one of the leaders of the forces assaulting Wyrmrest Temple — one Varos Cloudstrider — was pulled back to Coldarra, so we suspected something ominous was in the air. The Reds sent a team into the upper tower of the Nexus, but…" she spreads her hands helplessly.

"Varos Cloudstrider?" Bran interjects. "That dinna sound like a dragon name."

"Not a dragon, exactly, but dragonkin," Kiry confirms. "From what I've heard, he's been behind coordinating a number of attacks against the Wyrmrest accord, so I worry what he may be up to now."

Atley knits brow as he listens, giving a half nod of condolences.

He grunts and shakes his head but in agreement with Bran’s interjection before he looks back to Kiry.

"Fly out to attack Nexus, very different from defend own temple," Nunuzac says sadly. "If red dragons did not come back, then news of what they see did not come back either?"

"Yes, that's the trouble," Kiry nods. "Raelorasz is hopeful that if they were caught, they might be kept alive… for some time, at least."

Nunuzac's large eyes widen at that, and she sits up straighter, the wideswept span of her horns giving a slight incline to one side as she turns her head in interest. "Truly this is possible?" She blinks a bit, glancing around the other Cobalts present. "Time becomes costly just now."

"I'm happy t'tag along an' help with a rescue mission," Bran says enthusiastically. Then he glances at Atley and amends, "Presumin' squad duties allow."

"I'm sure the Council would approve my involvement. I'd like to go and try to save those poor dragons!" Gwen speaks of the red dragons as if they were lost puppies in need of rescuing.

Atley eyes Bran and nods. “I warrant they shall. Though I don’t speak for them, this is a priority for the Company and its officers.”

He nods at Nunuzac and looks to Kiry. “Wot’ reason would they have for keeping the Reds alive?” he asks.

"We are at war," Kiry says with a low sigh. "There's often information to be gained from… prisoners."

"Kirygosa, there is any more you know about what happens at the Nexus? For sure we will talk to Cobalt Captain. And fast. We know now to expect unstable ley line, and blue leader Varos Cloudstrider."

Nunuzac looks over to Gwen, thoughtful. "Nexus is a place built out of magic as much as stones and mortar. A clever mage helps move around more safely."

Gwen nods to Nunu. "I'm familiar with the Nexus. Though, I've never been inside. I hope I can be a clever enough mage. And moving around is my specialty!" She beams proudly, then settles, silently chiding herself for being proud.

Bran just beams at her, seeming to have no problem with her self-confidence.

"That all sounds excellent," Kiry nods. "And I'm sure everyone would be delighted for Cobalt to help once again. As for what else you might encounter…" She pauses to think for a moment. "Gwen, I'm sure you're aware that just as some of the Blues came over to join the Wyrmrest Accord, some of the Kirin Tor followed Malygos. There may be some of your own in there."

Gwen sighs. "I'm not looking forward to fighting anyone. But this is too important. Maybe they can be swayed back to reason. I…hope so."

"I wouldn't count on it, but maybe," Kirygosa says, looking sadly at Gwen. "Part of me still expects them all to show up at the Wyrmrest Temple one day and say they've realized they had everything all wrong, but… given everything, I know it's unlikely. Aside from that, I expect the Aspect will have left someone powerful in charge of the ley line project, so you'll likely clash with whoever that is. If you can stop them, then maybe that will set them back."

"If Red is at the place of going on attack - they know this matter closer than any one." Nunuzac shifts a bit then hops to her hooves. "Wise to help, if there is any chance to keep their mission from falling all the way. I find officers. Gwen may speak to Kirin Tor. Sir Dane and Bran, they may find who is good to fight, yes? We go fast! Kirygosa, will you speak to Wyrmrest that we go, or do I?"

Atley knits his brow once the subject of the coat wizards arises, and merely looks between Kiry and Gwen.

Atley flicks his gaze to Nunuzac as she hops to. He nods and growls, “Right. I’ve a few names already in mind for this job. Folk with experience in Coldarra.”

"I can tell them at Wyrmrest," Kiry says firmly. "And send word ahead to Raelorasz at Coldarra. Like you've all said, time is of the essence, and I don't think we'll be able to convince the Bronzes to give us a do-over. Not with how chaotic magic's been lately."