(2024-02-23) Cobalt Interviews: The Short and the Tall

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Elohad, Paluuva, and Jocoza interview two new applicants to Cobalt Company - Anareline Evensong and Niksi Knockfathom. A secret is revealed! ~4900 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

[Elohad]: Paluuva. How's it going?

[Paluuva]: Quite well, thank you, Elohad. And for you?

[Elohad]: Oh, busy, busy. But I can't complain.

Paluuva chuckles. "You sound like me. If I am not busy, I don't know what to do with myself."

[Elohad]: Exactly. So even though "can't complain" is human slang for "I'm doing all right," I also mean that I can't complain, because I'm the one who volunteered for three jobs.

Paluuva smiles. "If you decide you would like to complain, nonetheless, I shall lend my ear."

[Elohad]: If I started, I'd probably never stop.

Paluuva let’s out a hearty chuckle.

[Elohad]: And we have an interview to do!

[Paluuva]: Perhaps the interview could be a test of patience.

Paluuva winks.

[Elohad]: Ha, as if the House of Nobles doesn't test my patience eno— oh, you mean for the interviewee.

[Elohad]: So who's first up… *He scans his papers.*

Jo blinks down the stairs and heads over to boost herself up into a chair. "I'm not late, am I? At least, I don't see any applicant. But sometimes they're invisible."

[Elohad]: Hm… well, our first applicant can shadowmeld probably… but unlikely.

Elohad passes Jo Anareline's application.

Jo nods. "Oh, kaldorei then. Anyone we've encountered before?"

[Elohad]: She's worked with us quite a lot. She just went to the uh, the thing.

Elohad gestures vaguely. "Magic thing. Sorry, it's been a whole year all month."

Jo reaches out to take the application, and raises an eyebrow. "Okay… I've met her before. And yes, she was fighting on point with Dane in the Oculus."

Jo passes the application to Paluuva.

[Elohad]: Oculus, that's the one.

Paluuva takes the application, scanning it quickly.

Paluuva arches an eyebrow at the attached extra page of Anareline's Cobalt contacts.

[Elohad]: I'm kind of surprised she hasn't applied before now. But maybe it doesn't seem strange to you, Paluuva? Just to an impatient human?

Elohad grins wickedly.

Paluuva chuckles.

[Paluuva]: Indeed. What has it been? A mere two or three years?

Paluuva gives Elo a sly grin.

[Elohad]: Yes, in which I have remarried, had a son, and joined the House of Nobles. Just sayin'.

[Paluuva]: Human efficiency will never cease to impress me.

[Elohad]: Efficiency is a nice word for it. It's almost like you're a diplomat.

There's a light, regular step on the stairs, and Anareline comes into view on the staircase.

Anareline clears her throat quietly. "I hope I have not kept you waiting."

[Elohad]: Ah, hello there!

Elohad bows before Anareline.

Anareline bows politely back to Elohad.

[Paluuva]: Welcome. Please, come in and take a seat.

[Elohad]: Come on in and take a seat.

Elohad chuckles as he and Paluuva speak at once.

Anareline nods and silently moves over to sit in a chair.

[Elohad]: We'll have to go over the script again later, Paluuva, I think that was my line…

Paluuva laughs.

Jo giggles.

Anareline glances at the application, and seems a little relieved. Maybe she thought they wouldn't read it, so all that writing would be wasted.

[Paluuva]: Anareline Evensong. Am I pronouncing that correctly?

[Anareline]: Yes, you have the pronunciation correct. And I'm assuming you are… Lieutenant Paluuva?

Paluuva nods. "I am, yes. But please, just Paluuva is fine."

[Elohad]: And of course you know Captain Sparkwire, and of course I'm Lt. Ference, or Sir Elohad, or what have you. So! First thing I gotta ask is, what made you decide to join Cobalt Company?

Anareline straightens a little at his directness. "I suppose that is something of a… long story. You've read my application, I take it?"

[Paluuva]: Indeed. Your curriculum vitae is most impressive.

Anareline shrugs slightly. "I am very old, so I have done many things. And you can see that I have spent considerable time just adjacent to your company."

[Elohad]: I suppose that was why I was curious. Why now?

[Anareline]: Perhaps to answer, I could clarify… why not before?

[Paluuva]: Please.

[Elohad]: Mm, I suppose that's all part of the same answer.

Elohad listens with interest.

[Anareline]: Around ten thousand years ago, I was a soldier.

[Anareline]: I followed a leader who was beloved, but I became… disillusioned.

[Elohad]: Ah.

Elohad glances at Jo and Paluuva to see if they are getting who this leader might have been.

Paluuva nods with an empathetic crinkle of her brow.

[Anareline]: After that breach of trust, I vowed to myself that I would never again be a soldier. That I would never place my life into the hands of someone who might decide to throw it away. No matter how charismatic they seem.

Elohad tries not to seem charismatic.

[Anareline]: And yet… I came to a realization the other day, in the Oculus.

[Elohad]: Oh?

[Paluuva]: Interesting. Do go on.

[Anareline]: It has already happened. My life, such as it is, is in your hands.

[Elohad]: How so?

[Anareline]: You might have noted the list of contacts I have in your company?

[Elohad]: Ahhhh.

[Paluuva]: Quite so.

[Elohad]: Your son, your daughter, your… shalan. *Eh, pronunciation is close enough.*

[Anareline]: My daughter, my son, my shalan, and… I could widen the circle.

Anareline nods.

[Anareline]: Caspis could have been slain by the Mage Lord in the Oculus, and he was there by the order of Cobalt Company. I was not there by any orders but those of my heart, but that seems to have been binding enough.

Paluuva smiles warmly.

[Elohad]: By all reports, you had no trouble deferring to Sir Atley's orders, even though it wasn't him you were there for.

Anareline shakes her head. "I knew I was the outsider. And his orders were not unreasonable. He cares for those who follow him. I noticed as much in the campaign in the Blasted Lands."

[Elohad]: I don't make people squad leaders lightly.

[Elohad]: He's been with us since the beginning, and he has overcome a great deal, and never failed us.

[Anareline]: He is very young, but he fights fiercely for what he believes is right.

[Elohad]: Yes.

[Paluuva]: As admirable a soldier as any I have encountered.

[Anareline]: So… for your why now, that is my answer. I realized my objections to formal membership had been rendered irrelevant.

[Elohad]: So I guess now we get to the questions about what sort of assignments you will and won't take.

[Elohad]: You've more than proven yourself, so we can skip all that.

Paluuva nods in agreement.

Anareline smiles, for the first time, and inclines her head in respect at the officers.

[Anareline]: May I ask if this is a… weeding-out question or a preference question? My answer may be different in each case.

Elohad chuckles.

[Elohad]: I want you to answer honestly.

Elohad glances at Jo, giving a slight 'wait for it' gesture.

Anareline considers. "I have been traveling alongside Caspis, so I do prefer to work somewhere in geographic proximity."

Elohad nods.

Jo clasps her hands together and nods back to Elo with a grin.

[Anareline]: We can be apart for a time, if needed, but I am answering as to preference.

Elohad nods.

[Elohad]: And what sorts of people in general do you work best with - and what sorts are likely to be a problem?

[Anareline]: As to what kind of work, I have not known Cobalt Company to engage in objectionable work.

[Elohad]: Our hearts are always in the right place, yes.

Elohad asks the other thing next.

[Anareline]: What sorts of people - I have worked well with humans and kaldorei. Draenei I have somewhat less experience with, and gnomes and dwarves even less. But I do not object.

[Elohad]: Mm hm, mm hm. Well, given your history, I was surprised to see how well you worked with two mages on your team recently. Thoughts on that?

[Anareline]: I confess I do have reservations about those who work with arcane power, but the two women in question did not seem similar to Azshara in any meaningful way.

[Elohad]: Almost as pretty, surely! But besides that, no.

[Elohad]: Just the sweetest girls.

Anareline smiles briefly. "Luckily, we will never see them side by side, to see if Azshara is outshone."

[Elohad]: Ha! Indeed.

Paluuva smiles.

[Anareline]: But yes, I have my reservations, but I will always seek to treat people as individuals.

[Elohad]: There are warlocks in Cobalt Company as well. Few compared to other callings, but we do have a few.

[Anareline]: It seems unwise of them, but I trust you would not employ them if they were weak-willed.

[Elohad]: We hold all of our warlocks to a very rigid standard of ethics and behavior. One that has recently been codified beyond Cobalt Company into the Warlock Ethics Bureau, an organization meant to minimize fel corruption among practitioners.

[Paluuva]: I, myself, serve the W.E.B. as a counselor priest.

[Elohad]: Some of the things we do are to ensure that warlocks do not mingle only with themselves, but have constant contact with priests, paladins, shamans, mages, and so on, to have a broader perspective. As well as just… regular citizens.

Anareline looks between them curiously. "That is surely good advice for all people, not merely warlocks."

[Paluuva]: Very true.

[Elohad]: Especially warlocks, though. They're very prone to corruption if they only have themselves to be accountable to. You know?

Anareline nods. "Once someone considers themself above accountability, well… that is how worlds are broken."

[Paluuva]: And with public sentiment against them, they tend to naturally gravitate to each other for safety and comfort.

[Elohad]: So even though it can sometimes be uncomfortable for others, it's all to the good if we let our warlocks work in mixed groups.

[Elohad]: That's why it's a plus if new members are willing. It's not required, though.

[Anareline]: I will not object, though I would prefer them not to rely on demonic assistance in my presence. If that can be noted.

Elohad does make a note of it.

[Elohad]: We certainly don't want to re-traumatize anyone who has suffered at the hands of demons.

[Elohad]: But it has recently come to our attention that we need to be very specific about what "I'm fine working with warlocks" means, so thank you for the detail.

Anareline nods.

[Anareline]: I cannot think of any others you might employ that I would object to. Those who distrust kaldorei perhaps?

[Elohad]: Do we have any of those? Don't think so.

[Elohad]: What's not to trust?

Elohad smiles.

Anareline smiles. "Then I think that is answered."

[Paluuva]: Even those that fought against the kaldorei in war seem to have moved beyond any old tensions.

[Elohad]: Atley respects them all the more for it.

Elohad looks to Jo. "What do you think? I'm ready to call it done."

[Anareline]: That is good to hear. It is easy to remain stuck in the past. I am certainly aware of the risk.

Jo smiles. "I think I'm satisfied. And she's worked with our people before, to good result."

[Elohad]: All right then! The good news, Evensong, is that where I want you most right now is right where you've been. Alongside your shalan in the Plaguelands.

[Paluuva]: I agree. Her record is impeccable, and she shows the wisdom of her years.

[Elohad]: I am really excited to hear about your progress up there, so now I get to ask that you send regular reports. Uh, Silvershade has been… a bit sporadic in his communication. *He clears his throat.*

[Anareline]: That is where I would like to be. *Ana nods* I know the work in Northrend is pressing, but… I have been enjoying helping things grow and heal.

[Elohad]: We can't spend all our time fighting. We do also have to build.

Anareline smiles fondly, her eyes going a little distant. "I will make sure we send news regularly."

[Elohad]: Thank you. It'll be nice to have two people out there.

Anareline does not clarify if that's once a week, month, year, decade… probably closer to week.

[Elohad]: Especially if one, you know, does reports.

[Paluuva]: Three, in fact. Young Nilunelle Mistkwalker is also assisting the efforts in the Plaguelands.

[Anareline]: My mind does wander sometimes, but we do differ to some extent in that regard.

[Elohad]: Fantastic! Maybe I can get her to send some reports.

[Anareline]: Yes, my shalan's bond-sister's daughter.

Elohad blinks at the series of apostrophes.

[Elohad]: Uh… right. She's Silvershade's niece.

[Anareline]: Oh, and my shalan's thero-shan has started assisting. Though she is… of a similar style of organization as Caspis.

[Elohad]: Uh huh.

[Elohad]: Just see that I get some reports, hm?

Elohad laughs.

[Anareline]: Yes, of course. *Ana smiles faintly*

[Elohad]: I mean really I guess it's Jo who should get the reports, but, you know, I lived in Lordaeron, so, I'm taking an interest.

[Paluuva]: I think we are decided, but let us take a vote to make it official? For the record.

[Elohad]: I vote yes!

[Paluuva]: I vote yea.

Jo nods. "I vote yes. And of course the reports on Lordaeron should go to Elo."

[Paluuva]: Welcome to Cobalt Company.

[Elohad]: Ben also votes yea from Northrend. Don't you, Ben? *Elo makes a hand puppet and says with a Westfall accent*, Yessir, I do!

Anareline bows her head. "Thank you for your trust in me. I give you my trust in return."

Elohad sobers and nods.

Paluuva inclines her head respectfully.

[Elohad]: Glad to have another tough-as-nails warrior on the team.

Anareline stands. "I look forward to our continued success. Shall I head back to the Plaguelands now?"

[Elohad]: Any other questions, on either side?

Anareline looks around for questions.

[Elohad]: I'm good.

[Anareline]: I think I am familiar enough with the working of your Company that I have none at present.

[Paluuva]: My questions have been answered.

[Elohad]: We've got another girl coming in shortly, so you're free to head out if you're satisfied.

[Anareline]: Thank you again.

[Elohad]: Thank you!

Anareline heads out quietly.

[Elohad]: Okay, so the next one's a gnome, Jo…

Elohad rearranges his paperwork.

Elohad passes the next app to Jo, who was here all along.

[Jocoza]: A gnome, you say? *Jo brightens* We have all too few of those.

Niksi comes downs the stairs, followed by a fish floating in a bubble of water.

Jocoza looks over the application curiously.

[Elohad]: Or does it just seem like there are fewer, by volume?

[Elohad]: And here she is!

[Niksi]: Ahoy!

Jocoza giggles. "I'm glad we got Tadget back… oh, hello!"

Elohad doesn't stand this time. Intimidating, maybe?

[Elohad]: C'mon and have a seat.

Niksi thanks everyone.

Jocoza does stand! She is probably not taller than Niksi.

[Elohad]: I'm Elohad Ference, the personnel lieutenant, and this is Captain Sparkwire and lieutenant Paluuva.

Jocoza peers at the fish. "Is that done via magic or… oh, yes, I'm Captain Sparkwire, pleased to meet you."

[Niksi]: Pleased to meet you all. I'm Niksi Knockfathom, and this is Glub.

[Jocoza]: Hello Niksi, Glub. *Jo waves*

[Elohad]: Paluuva is normally more of a research and diplomacy type lieutenant, but we like to have as many of the leadership present at interviews as possible. My son Ben is the other lieutenant, but he's also a squad leader, so he's tied up in Northrend.

[Niksi]: Ahh, a soldier on the front?

Elohad nods.

[Jocoza]: Yep, working on pushing into Icecrown now.

[Niksi]: I must thank him for his service if we should meet.

Elohad smiles.

[Elohad]: I gotta say, this was quite an interesting application. Some of it was a bit over my head, but I'm sure Captain Sparkwire understood it all.

Elohad looks to Jo.

Jocoza glances down at the paper and back up to Niksi. "I expect you will, if you join Cobalt. And yes I feel like I could take this application home for light reading."

Niksi smiles over at Jo.

[Jocoza]: We don't currently have a specific undersea operation, but it's a fascinating idea. Cobalt Fin, perhaps? And my partner works on airplanes. Have you ever met Kerlo Quarterflash?

[Elohad]: He's with the 7th Legion.

[Niksi]: I'm afraid I have not, but his name did come up in a recent conversation with your people.

[Jocoza]: I can introduce you sometime if you'd like, but… that's really not the point of this interview. *Jo glances apologetically to Elo*

[Niksi]: I'd like that. But yes, not to get distracted.

[Elohad]: So what made you decide to join Cobalt Company? Did Bonk refer you?

[Niksi]: Bonk? Hm…I don't know a Bonk either. It was actually Lireen and Maisha Cloudskimmer that convinced me I should apply.

[Jocoza]: That's Parabolus Bonkladle, *Jo supplies helpfully* He's a recruit from the team that was stuck in Outland.

Niksi gives Jo a curious squint, then glances between the lieutenants.

Elohad is frowning and rifling through some papers in the drawer next to him.

[Niksi]: Parabolus…?

Elohad pulls out another file and compares them.

[Elohad]: Uhhh…. you listed the same parents…?

Jocoza blinks.

Niksi 's eyes widen and her face pales.

Jocoza looks at Niksi in concern.

[Elohad]: …Oh. Uh. I assumed…

[Niksi]: Waitwaitwait…you're saying you have a Parabolus…who was in Outland…and he listed my parents?

Jocoza looks helplessly at Elo. "…seems so?"

[Elohad]: Yeah, the name Kelsi Cloudhopper really stuck out, so I looked it up again, and yeah. Father Pogo Piecewise.

Elohad holds up the two applications.

Niksi 's breaths come faster and shallower.

Elohad sets down the applications and looks at her in concern.

[Niksi]: That…oh cogs….

[Elohad]: I'm so sorry. I literally just assumed he'd sent you.

Niksi drifts off for a moment, "Rab…you silly idiot…why…." She glances up, shaking her head. "He was dead. I mean…we all assumed…especially when we didn't get any correspondence after the Dark Portal reopened."

[Elohad]: He was um, a cook and mechanic for the Sons of Lothar, in Outland. Then when the portal reopened he came back, and he's just started studying as a mage. I had no idea he hadn't contacted his family. I mean he listed them here… this is so strange.

[Niksi]: A mage!

Niksi grimaces a little, even looking a bit worried.

[Jocoza]: He was always a little… shy?

[Elohad]: Yes, um, do you want to see the letter he sent us? I still have it in the file.

[Niksi]: Please, yes!

Elohad rummages, then passes it over.

Niksi hops up to take the letter.

Niksi reads the letter quickly…about six times.

Jocoza just continues to watch Niksi, not sure what to say in this situation.

Elohad does not hesitate to share the letter without asking Bonk, who seems to be avoiding his family. Elo may be a biiiiiit meddlesome.

Niksi blinks rapidly as her eyes well up.

Elohad offers her a hankie.

[Niksi]: Thank you.

[Jocoza]: This is a good thing, right? I didn't realize… but I'm glad we could connect you back together.

[Elohad]: The L— Fate works in mysterious ways.

Niksi dabs her cheeks and takes a deep breath. "Yes! Oh cogs, yes. My little brother is alive."

Elohad smiles warmly.

[Niksi]: He's…not here, is he?

Jocoza relaxes and smiles warmly herself. "Here in this room? No, no."

[Jocoza]: We could send word, though, and I bet he could get here to meet you quickly.

[Elohad]: I think he's mostly studying with the mages in Stormwind. Just a tram ride away.

[Niksi]: Stormwind! I'll go to him immediately-…um…after we finish.

Niksi sniffles and sits upright. "I'm so sorry. I did not expect this."

[Elohad]: Right! Right, sorry, that was… yes.

Elohad gently pats Niksi.

[Jocoza]: I suppose, on the matter at hand… that's one more contact you can add to the application. *Jo grins*

Elohad returns to his seat.

[Jocoza]: Where were we?

[Jocoza]: Maisha and Lireen suggested you to join… undersea Cobalt Fin…

[Elohad]: Um… okay so… right, Jo, what are the usual questions? I've… I seem to have forgotten.

[Jocoza]: Oh, right, what kind of work would you like to do or not like to do? And are there sorts of folk you can't work with?

[Niksi]: Well…if I may be so bold, I think you need me. You see, I came here originally in the hope that in all your explorations, you might have made some oceanographic maps I might purchase.

[Jocoza]: I'm afraid we haven't penetrated beyond the surface of the waves thus far.

[Niksi]: Then there is certainly a gap I can fill. That is precisely what I do. I study the oceans: their topography, biology, and so on.

[Elohad]: Interesting… and how exactly can this support our operations?

[Niksi]: How can't it? You travel the seas. Understanding what is going on beneath the surface is crucial! I could help speed your voyages, avoid unseen dangers, even help to predict meteorological events.

[Niksi]: Not to mention all the life underwater. There are discoveries to be made there not just in zoology and botany, but alchemy, medicine…the list is endless!

[Jocoza]: We haven't ordinarily been attacked from the seas, but I suppose there's naga?

[Niksi]: Naga, murlocs, leviathans, you name it. There are plenty of unseen dangers down there.

[Elohad]: Would you ever be available for non-ocean-specific work? Say there's a job we need done and you're in the area, but it's more of a standard "Clear out a cave" situation?

[Niksi]: Sometimes my work takes me to land, absolutely. Plenty of underwater ruins have led to an investigation of a connected site on land. And I'm no slouch with my trident.

Niksi smiles.

[Elohad]: Great!

[Niksi]: I think I might be able to assist you with something immediately, in fact.

[Elohad]: Because as I see it, so long as you're flexible enough to help folks with other types of jobs, we could really use someone forging into new territory for us.

[Elohad]: Oh?

Niksi nods in agreement.

[Niksi]: I've heard that some of your people are looking into a missing ship. The Salty Heron? I believe I can find it. Or what's left of it.

[Elohad]: Oh yeah? Actually that would be great, as our primary investigators have moved on past the ship and its cargo never got located.

[Elohad]: They're following another lead at the moment, and that cargo's still rotting somewhere.

[Jocoza]: Oh, yes! I bet the Alliance would be pleased to finally get that delivery.

Niksi smiles.

[Jocoza]: It was something to do with weapons.

[Elohad]: Yeah, we can't afford to lose any more war supplies than we have to.

[Niksi]: Exactly so.

[Elohad]: Well this is quite fortuitous, then.

[Elohad]: Any jobs you won't do, or people you won't work with?

[Niksi]: Not at all. I'm about the science. If I have to work with distasteful people…sometimes that's the price to pay.

[Jocoza]: What kind of a person would you find distasteful?

[Elohad]: Which brings me to that part of your application… want to expand on that?

Jocoza nods at Elo.

Niksi chuckles. "Which question would you like me to answer first?"

[Jocoza]: Oh, whichever order.

[Niksi]: Alright. I don't think there are many I find terribly distasteful, unless you count troggs. In my experience, people are as various and surprising as the fish in the sea. Which brings me to that note on my application.

Elohad listens, taking notes.

[Elohad]: We promise not to pair you with a trogg.

[Jocoza]: Absolutely.

[Niksi]: As I mentioned in the application, I used to fly for the Gnomeregan Defense Force. While I love to fly, my real love was always the sea. So, I'd volunteer for any air patrols over the water.

[Niksi]: Well…one day I was pretty far out. Admittedly, further than I should have been…and a storm rolled in fast.

Elohad is riveted!

[Niksi]: It was bad. Knocked me right out of the sky. If it wasn't for Flotsam — oh, that's my sea turtle friend; a whole other story — I'd have drowned. He kept me afloat until a ship found the wreckage.

Jocoza listens to the story with bated breath.

Jocoza 's eyes are wide.

[Niksi]: I woke up aboard the ship, which had quite the salty crew. Questionable, you might say.

[Elohad]: Oh, I see.

[Jocoza]: Pirates? *Jo asks, as a person who doesn't do subtlety often*

Niksi nods.

[Niksi]: Of all the pirates who could have rescued me, these ones probably would have been the ones I would choose. They certainly weren't the worst of the worst.

[Elohad]: That's fortunate.

[Jocoza]: I suppose some of them must just be folk down on their luck that make bad decisions…

[Elohad]: The worst of 'em probably would've just had you for supper.

[Niksi]: Anyhow, you can imagine I was grateful. I felt I owed them. So, I stayed on for a while.

[Elohad]: That must have been quite an experience.

[Niksi]: I didn't engage directly in any piracy, but I did build things for them, and helped maintain the ship.

[Elohad]: So no actual sacking or plundering.

[Jocoza]: Helping people is… not a bad thing.

[Niksi]: Yes, none of that. They just used my weapons to do that. Though mostly I helped them plunder sunken treasure.

[Niksi]: I'm not proud of it, but sometimes life tosses you out of the sky and you get rescued by pirates.

[Elohad]: That's not so bad.

[Jocoza]: Thank you for being up front about it, and letting us know.

[Elohad]: Stealing lost treasure isn't the same as taking it from actual screaming people.

[Niksi]: I wanted you to know. It's not who I am, but it happened.

[Jocoza]: It would've been less great if you hid it, and then a pirate crew came around insinuating all sorts of things, and we didn't know what to believe…

Jocoza nods at Niksi. "You made the best of a difficult situation."

[Niksi]: I certainly tried.

[Elohad]: We do appreciate full disclosure, yes.

[Niksi]: But that was years ago, and I've used what I learned with them to become an even better explorer!

[Elohad]: What matters most is what you make of yourself once you join us. We've let a lot of bad past stuff slide.

Jocoza smiles.

Jocoza nods at Elohad.

[Jocoza]: It's who you are now that matters.

[Niksi]: I'd very much like to join you. I think we can help each other quite a lot.

[Jocoza]: So… Elo, do you have any more questions? *Jo considers* I suppose I should say I was part of the GDF myself. We wouldn't have met though - I was reserve forces, and mostly just for the last bit.

Jocoza | Before it fell, she clearly means.

[Elohad]: I think most of my questions will be answered by Knockfathom's future reports. *He grins.*

Niksi smiles and gives Jo a deep nod of respect.

[Jocoza]: Niksi, any questions on your side?

[Niksi]: Hmm. Yes, actually. I regularly plan expeditions. Would I be able to call upon Cobalt crew to assist? I would provide any necessary training.

[Elohad]: What you can do is post a notice here, and any of our members can contact you.

[Niksi]: Excellent.

[Elohad]: Also best to file the details with leadership first.

[Jocoza]: I bet there'll be interested people.

[Jocoza]: That too, yes.

[Elohad]: We trust you, but you gotta be sure no one is starting a cult or whatever.

[Niksi]: Any particularly strong swimmers in Cobalt Company?

Niksi grins.

Elohad laughs.

[Elohad]: Well… the druids…

[Niksi]: Oh my, yes! Druids would be most helpful.

[Elohad]: I think shamans and warlocks can breathe underwater too.

[Jocoza]: Hm. And Sil is fond of swimming, I think? And the sea, I assume, he's contracted out with the Fallon fleet.

[Elohad]: Half of Cobalt Company has.

[Niksi]: Fallon? Vice Admiral Siamus Fallon?

Jocoza giggles. "It does seem that way."

Jocoza nods at Niksi.

[Niksi]: Oh…I hope that won't become a problem. Not that I have any issue with him. But…the ship I served on. Um…do you know of the Skylark?

[Elohad]: I am not really a nautical kind of guy.

Jocoza shakes her head. "It doesn't ring a bell."

[Elohad]: Let's just say my first boat experience stuck with me.

[Niksi]: Captain Skylarke has some…let us say nautical history with the Vice Admiral.

[Elohad]: Uh oh.

[Jocoza]: Hopefully not a problem! You don't have to contract out with the fleet, of course.

[Niksi]: I could probably be of great use to the fleet. But, I suppose we'll see how things develop.

[Jocoza]: In any case, shall we vote? I vote yes.

[Elohad]: I do hope he leaves us at least a few people on dry land.

[Elohad]: Yes, I vote yes also. Paluuva?

Paluuva nods. "I am satisfied. I vote yea."

[Elohad]: Well there we have it.

[Jocoza]: Then welcome! It's good to have more of our people on board. And on dry land, too.

Elohad lets out a hearty chuckle.

[Niksi]: Splendiferous! I'm glad to join the crew.

[Jocoza]: You'll let us know if you run into any more questions? And maybe soon I can arrange that introduction to Kerlo.

Elohad smiles at you.

[Niksi]: I will! I hope you'll forgive me for rushing off. But I need to get to Stormwind and find my brother.

[Elohad]: Good luck. Let us know how it goes!

[Jocoza]: Oh, understood. I hope it is a wonderful reunion!

[Niksi]: I shall! Thank you so very much!