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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Cobalt Company joins the Argent Crusade and the 7th Legion to fight the frostwyrm Sapphiron. Afterward, they find an interesting magical artifact. ~12,000 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Nexus War
When the forces materialize after using the orb to access the central sanctum, they are met with an unusual sight - a massive, domed room in the now-familiar Naxxramas style, but encrusted everywhere with ice. Bones are strewn haphazardly around the frosted floor.
Atley scowls as he materializes, sword and shield drawn. They’re still splashed with dried undead remains given all their earlier work in Naxxramas, aside from the lines near the edges that have been recently resharpened.
He frowns in confusion and steps away from the materializing location to make room for others, narrowed green eyes slowly taking in the grand space.
Anareline and the tree of Caspis arrive right next to him, Caspis keeping a close eye on his shalan and his shan'var. Anareline's eyes narrow as she eyes the bone-strewn floor.
Cressidha brings up her ice barrier as she enters, stepping off to the side.
Jo does the same, stepping over to stand by Cressidha. Mage solidarity.
Colson moves forward near the frontline fighters, but behind the defenders themselves. His armor is slightly mismatched now, the breastplate having been traded out for another, but he seems to be as calm as before. That might just be his face, though, who knows?
Ralaea appears, and eyes the various bones strewn about, maybe trying to piece them together in her head. Or count them. Or determine what happened here.
Mordecai touches Colson's arm, smiles at him, and steps back to what will presumably be the back lines once everyone is assembled.
Lena appears, and takes a step over towards Rae, summoning her felhunter as she goes.
Cressidha flinches back from Lena's felhunter.
Lena catches the flinch and mouths sorry towards Cressidha. She looks for a moment like she might dismiss the demon, but then she just shakes her head apologetically.
Nunuzac scurries in and hovers near Cressidha and Lena, banking on the squad spellcasters to know what they are doing in a situation like this. She clutches an armful of draenic totems emanating soft projections of elemental symbols.
Alysson crouches by the edge of the snow and immediately starts playing in it. Maybe he's making a snowman.
Atley spots Alysson and growl-whispers. “Oi. Alysson. On your feet, eyes up, lad.”
Alysson makes a shushing sound at Dane. "Hero," he says. "Call me Random Hero! I'm not s'posed to be here, see." He does, at least, get up and behave.
"Hero, please do not disturb the bone dragon's snow at present," Colson says, without even looking at Alysson. He's watching the dragon bones.
By now familiar allies Vond Satterly and Etone Greennote have arrived with other Argent backup. Vond carries an unusual calm after the recent rough engagements, but stands ahead of the others with a human woman in nearly identical plain dark steel and tabard. She is simply a somewhat more compact figure, but gives off a steadiness and confidence, a cold weather hood pulled over short coppery hair.
Atley reaches out upon being shown shushed with his shield hand, possibly to yank Alysson up, before he grumbles, appeased, and looks to this new figure accompanying Vond. He gives a grunt of confirmation and settles near the frontline.
"We all know what is likely to be guarding this place, given that the layout of the citadel has not been significantly altered since it was boarded in the Eastweald, by all reports," Anna Byrne speaks to the others. "I am counting on you to bring to bear all you have learned at the Breach."
Dame Briellen Clay nods gravely to Anna and flips the visor down on her helm. "Yessir."
One of the Argent backup, Aze Sunstrike, enters a few steps behind Vond and Anna. She nods at Anna's words, her expression serious, and rests her hands on the hilts of her weapons. "I'll bring everything I've got."
Ben moves in behind the Argents, and moves to stand at the front line, shield and hammer ready. He is also in fresh armor and looks significantly less splashed-with-disease-goo than he did earlier. He surveys the bones and snow; it is not clear which he likes less.
A fresh face appears in the back, though whatever her face may look like is shrouded in shadow. She drifts over and makes a point of standing near Ben in particular, even though it is basically the front lines.
Taeavon walks into the room with Thoridas wrapped tightly around his arm. The dragonhawk is helping to keep him warm, but it's still bitterly cold in the room. He takes one last chance to inspect his bow, arrows, and spells before the battle begins. "Alright buddy. It's do or die." He says to Thoridas. The beast hisses in response.
About half of the 7th Legion's 11th expeditionary unit enters two at a time.
There is Captain Alois Fairdale, a tall paladin with severe features, wearing the armored, blue-accented uniform of the 7th Legion. Next to the Captain is the unit's healer, Sergeant Elodie Gardner, more commonly referred to as the Scarlet Bride, wearing a white priestess's robe with a veil over her face.
There are the archers, Sergeant Bertrand Aspenwood and Sergeant Avrayia Coldshadow, a blonde human man and a tall, hooded Kaldorei woman.
Three members are missing, including their siege engineer.
Lydia Harcourt stands just behind the front lines, greatsword drawn. She has not had the opportunity to introduce herself to any of Cobalt Company's members, but she wears their tabard, and the Captain and lieutenants might at least recognize her as Elohad's newest auto-approved recruit.
Velrin strides into the room. She shivers from the cold involuntarily but by the serious look on her face it’s clear that she’s paying it no mind. She pats around her whole body making sure all of her weapons are accounted for. Once her final check is done she draws her main daggers and starts to bounce in place in anticipation of the coming battle. Her eyes remain fixed forward on the bones strewn throughout the room.
As the assault team gathers and organizes, the scattered bones begin to twitch. Little movements at first, then they gather into a whirlwind of bones and chill wind. Before everyone’s eyes appears the form of a massive skeletal dragon, illuminated by deadly blue-white magic from its interior.
The dragon roars.
Atley squints even tighter during the whirlwind and gives his sword a quick, deft spin to exorcise surplus energy as adrenaline builds. He sets his jaw and raises his head against the roar before growling, “There’s a dragon.”
Alysson grins at the flying bone display, and starts clapping. Until it turns into a dragon and roars at them. "Oh, are we s'posed to be fightin' that?”
Ralaea sends Alysson a glare of annoyance. Seriously. Who invited this guy?
Atley also growls in Alysson’s vague direction, eyes never leaving the dragon.
Ben rolls a shoulder and cracks his neck, his gaze fixed grimly on the dragon. He lifts his shield and shifts into a stance that says he's ready to charge into the fray, but he holds to wait for an order, tension crackling in his posture.
"Yes, I believe so, when they give the signal," Colson answers Alysson. Colson holds his position, waiting for the signal to engage the bone dragon.
Near Ben, Almeiria sighs. "Oh, a bone dragon, how creative. Can't they think of something that isn't bone, plague, or spiders? Like tentacles. Those are always fun."
Mordecai hastily shields himself as the bones begin to move. He watches the dragon form with wide eyes.
Anna leans forward slightly to observe the dragon forming, one hand on the chained libram at her hip and the other raised at shoulder height. She does not unhitch her shield or take up the hammer at her belt, simply holding a 'ready' signal.
Vond, conversely, steadies his shield of pilfered Scourge saronite at his arm and vrykul sword opposite, taking a look of concentration as he readies himself to be receptive to the Light.
Vond quickly takes stock of Dane, Ben, the 7th captain, and other potential front line fighters.
Atley meets Vond’s gaze and gives a sharp nod before he looks to Jocoza and repeats the gesture.
Etone levitates momentarily from the earth as he picks up a few melodic notes, a chiming prayer of mending ringing among the Argents.
Captain Fairdale recites a prayer against the cold as their aura shifts to [Frost Resistance].
Aze draws her swords, tense with anticipation. "Now that's a big one."
Anna assures Aze, "All the more room for you to do what you do best. Any cuts you can get at the hindleg joints, or damage to the magic binding it." She seems confident in the elf's quickness.
Aze nods, her attention riveted on the dragon, and she rises slightly on the balls of her feet, ready to get moving.
Lena takes a breath, preparing herself for the fight to come.
Jo moves forward towards the frontlines, possibly to get a better line of sight.
Anareline steps forward to join Vond, Dane, Ben, and the 7th Legion captain. "We cannot let this creature survive."
"Is it really survivin' now, if it's already a bone fellow?" Alysson asks Anareline.
Anareline looks at Alysson in mild resignation. "It's surviving enough to threaten our safety."
Vond nods to Anareline in respectful recognition.
Nunuzac rapidly plonks totems in the icy ground, speaking at the fire totem in draenic like she is cajoling it. It pulses a warm orange glow.
"As expected, it's a frost wyrm," Jo says, pitching her voice to carry, and speaking with her Captain firmness. "If we're going to put an end to this place, we'll have to defeat it." She looks over to the 7th Legion and Argent Crusade leaders, confirming everything is in order.
Jo raises her voice again, to say, "Cobalt Company, Argent Crusade, 7th Legion, on your marks."
Atley bends his legs, platemail leggings squeaking faintly.
"Sapphiron won't wait for us to get comfortable!" calls Captain Fairdale. "Keep its attention away from the casters. Paladins, spread as needed for maximum aura coverage."
Anna nods sharply back at Jo's call. "Ready."
Ralaea readies her swords. No needles, no vomit, no unbearable smells, just a big skeletal dragon. She is prepared.
"Now!" Jo calls, summoning up fire in both of her hands.
"Shield," Mordecai calls, infusing Ben with a brief burst of speed in addition to the protective bubble of Light around him.
Atley explodes into action, each running step more of a tremendous leap of mass composed of steel and muscle as he charges at Sapphiron with the others.
Anareline charges into combat alongside the other front line fighters, her movements economical but clearly so practiced as to be almost without thought. She keeps an eye on those closest to her, ready to shield them if need be.
Back with the healers, the tree that is Caspis sends a steady stream of healing towards Dane, Ben and Anareline.
Ben roars something inarticulate, which is probably for the best, and bulls forward furiously, already preparing a hammer-swing as a golden light grows around him inside Mordecai's protective bubble.
The 7th Legion's archers do their best to spread around the edges of the room - it's a bad idea for them to get caught in the inevitable dragon's breath cone.
Jo lets loose with her fireballs, and then pauses to sketch a frost ward, shivering. She notes the 7th Legion's tactics and spreads out.
Anna flares a pulse of light from her hand and drops it, signaling from ready to engage.
Vond lets out a whistle and takes to advancing from the side of Sapphiron's right foreclaw, watching the rest of the line of defenders for a coordinated movement. He bears in exactly like someone who expects to be able to be swatted by one of those monstrous bones and live, because he does.
Etone's voice picks up a marching hymn, his additional shielding adding speedy momentum to the charge of the front fighters.
Lena's felhunter charges into the fray, and she begins weaving curses to set on the bone dragon.
The dragon throws himself into combat, bony claws and teeth raking at the front-line fighters. His tail lashes like a scythe, catching anyone who might be unlucky enough to be in range.
Colson takes up position to the right of the shield fighters, outside the range of the mouth and tail both. His aura provides a nearby shield against the damaging frost and severe cold. His sword has a blaze of Light, as he works alongside the others to try to bring down the dragon by weakening the joints.
Almeiria takes up a safer position from which to channel shadows at the dragon, but she does her best to remain in Ben's line of sight. Good thing the dragon is mostly bones, so he can see how altruistic and powerful she is. Her smile is barely visible through the shadows surrounding her.
Briellen infuses Vond with a [Beacon of Light], a surge of energy that connects them over a distance as she brings her shield up, taking a place in front of some of the casters. Even with multiple instances of [Frost Resistance Aura] active amongst the numerous paladins present, the numbing cold is dangerous.
Aze leaps into the fray with almost unnatural speed, sweeping in towards the dragon's hind legs as directed. As she attacks, she darts around the bony legs, beneath, and to the other side, herself and her blades in constant motion.
Ralaea charges in with the rest, hacking away at any part she can reach, and doing her best to avoid claws and tail. Occasionally she pauses to throw a bomb up through the dragon's boney ribs.
Atley issues a battlecry and narrowly crouches underneath a sweeping attack from Sapphiron only to launch himself at the dragon’s left foreclaw, raising his durable but crude vrykul blade to slash at its joint
There's practically no cover available in the room, and Cressidha sticks close to Nunuzac's totems, channeling fireballs. Her ice barrier, ordinarily bolstered by the cold, is actually damaged by Sapphiron's pervasive chill, and soon fades entirely.
Alysson is the last one to notice the charge, whoops, I guess they're going now, and he hurries to take his place up towards the front with the others.
Ben practically flings his hammer into a bony foreleg. Instead of the snap one might expect of frozen bones, the hammer rebounds as though he's hit solid stone, though a tremor of golden light shivers briefly up the dragon's leg. Ben, a little startled by the dragon's failure to break, dodges aside only narrowly as a claw swings through the air where he just stood.
He collects himself and attacks with renewed but slightly more cautious fury, the Light surging around him.
As if the unrelenting cold were not enough, a blizzard begins to rain from the air over Nunuzac and anyone near her. The storm looks in some ways similar to Cressidha’s usual magic, but this spell targets allies rather than avoiding them. The storm begins to drift over the field of combat.
Cressidha blinks out of it, which is a clear sign that it's not her own blizzard.
The sound of small thundercracks fills the air from the totem vicinity as a jagged electric arc momentarily connects Nunuzac's waggly fingertips to an outstretched bony wing. "Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt!" It hits harder this way, and it's good Common practice. She yelps and scrambles when a curtain of blizzard interferes with her groove, trudging to get away from the epicenter and patches of skin and horn frosting over.
Lena moves away from the blizzard quickly, and then eyes it for a moment in thought. She makes a kind of summoning gesture, and then circles around the dragon, leaving a small fel geometric pattern on the ground behind her.
Ralaea hears the blizzard and grits her teeth, trying to keep track of its position in the background, though this does slow the speed of her swings as her attention divides.
“MIND THAT STORM!” Atley booms upon seeing Cressidha’s blink. He himself leaps out of its way to strike again at Sapphiron’s leg, barely making a scratch in the enchanted bone
Velrin darts around the room like a fiend. She slips in and out of the shadows, disappearing and reappearing across the room as the fight rages. She leaps and bounds as she does, giving off the illusion that she is practically flying across the battlefield.
Lydia attempts not to be buffeted by the bony wings as she hacks at Sapphiron's side, Light blazing around her.
Colson minds that storm. And also the dragon.
There's a faint dark trail that sometimes lingers behind Aze, as she continues her efforts to break the dragon's hind joints.
Anna moves among the crowd at a quick steady stride, consecrating a patch of earth in an effort to help restrict Sapphiron's movements, and striking at its necomantic core with a sizzling shock of Light. She holds her calm, trusting in Briellen and Etone's healing capacity, and focuses on methodically moving her aura about the field.
Ben dodges back again and gathers a blast of exorcising Light to fling at the dragon. He is not swearing this time which is probably why it isn't instant-cast.
Velrin sees Ben and Dane standing toe to toe with the dragon and takes it upon herself to leap up onto its back to slash and stab at the joints in its wings. It tries its best to shake her off, but her balance is sure and she is quick to anticipate and avoid any retaliation from the monster.
Alysson starts to sing as he dodges around the dragon's legs, striking wherever he can reach, "I can't feel my legs, an' it hurts to breathe~!" After a while of this, Almeiria casts Silence on him. There, fixed.
Aze laughs when she sees Alysson fall magically silent, but she keeps an eye on him, making her own attacks complementary.
The Scarlet Bride dispels the Silence on Alysson seconds later. Fortunately, she didn't see where it came from. Maybe dragons do that.
Almeiria sends a shadowy glare in her direction as the singing starts up again, but returns her attention to the dragon.
Mordecai remains mobile, creating briefly-flaring healing Light circles around the battlefield as he tries to heal the effects of the extreme cold. He shields himself every fifteen seconds, but the cold clearly chews through his own shield quickly enough that he is left unprotected for much of the duration of the fight.
Ben's breathing has become harsher now and more labored, not from exertion but from the bitter cold of the air, despite overlapping auras.
Vond is flaring up with a building momentum of flickering light, chanting a continuous plea that fuels him with renewing force. He is trying to provoke as many direct swipes from the enormous frostwyrm as possible, and scores a claw strike with a shockingly loud clatter of metal. The layered Light shielding from himself and his allies absorbs the crunch and reacts with the material of undeath in a flashing pulse.
The dragon might not be defeated immediately, but the attackers do seem to be hurting it. It redoubles its ferocity, and flaps to dislodge the kaldorei rogue stabbing its spine.
Atley spots the attack get sent out, and depending on the height of the dragon’s head, he roars and sprints towards its parted jaws, striking on the lower mandible with his sword to perform some improvised dentistry.
Velrin's movements become stiffer and slower as the fight carries on. Even as determined as she is, the cold is still getting to her. When the dragon tries more vigorously to remove her, Velrin takes the opportunity and jumps into the wing buffet to propel herself back out of harm's way. She takes a moment to catch her breath and down a potion to help combat the effects of the cold.
Then the dragon coils back and lets loose a roar of dark magic, life-leeching curses spiraling out to find marks. Briellen, Mordecai, Etone, Aze and Ralaea feel the curse take hold, dealing excruciating pain as it rips life energy from their bodies, draining it back into the frostwyrm. Without intervention, this would be a killing curse.
Aze’s Curse
Aze says something in Thalassian (it's probably a favorite curse word) and ceases her attack, curling over in pain.
Cressidha breaks off a cast, letting the fire fizzle out in her hands, and traces a gesture in the air to strip the curse from Aze.
Aze shudders, rolling her shoulders, and turns slightly towards the casters, nodding thanks. Then she dives back into the fight.
Etone and Briellen’s curses
Briellen gasps, her concentration on the Beacon wavering. She tries to dispel the effect from herself, fails, and calls out, "Curse," in a choked-off voice.
Etone's melodic cadence wavers with the curse. "Curse…! Pah!"
The Scarlet Bride's voice picks up in song, carrying the healing melody when Etone falters.
Anna reacts immediately to the two Argent healers faltering. She raises and cracks her libram as a shimmering envelope of Light enfolds her, barking, "Maintain!" A simple command to mind their original target over themselves.
Incoming damage is dampened, redirected to the shielded Anna, for a short span of time as she casts healing light over Briellen and Etone.
Vond has heard the break in his song and reacted by sprouting a ragged banner of wings, bearing his vehemence at the insult to the Confessor into a spiraling holy wrath bolt and burning pummel of manifested shield. He already had a regular shield. Is there such a thing as too many? Some say no.
Cressidha's attention snaps to Etone, and she quickly draws another de-cursing symbol.
Etone sputters indignantly while Cressidha peels the curse and he recovers his breath.
Caspis notices Briellen struggling to speak and reaches out to cure her of the curse.
Mordecai’s curse
Mordecai is less eloquent and methodical about it - he just screams in pain and drops to his knees.
Jo rushes towards the healers, and first reaches out to decurse Mordecai.
Colson's head turns so fast on a swivel to Mordecai that it's a minor miracle he doesn't break something, and he leaves his position to sprint towards Mordecai, a [Hand of Protection] blooming around the priest. "Mordecai!"
Mordecai's screaming cuts off immediately as the curse is removed and he's encased in a safety bubble almost simultaneously. He mumbles a prayer as he gets shakily back to his feet.
Colson reaches to aid him back on his feet with a soft, "I am here," and then remains there, casting out healing [Holy Shocks] and damaging [Exorcism] holy spells from that position with Mordecai rather than returning to the dragon's side.
Ralaea’s curse
Jo looks around frantically, trying to find the others cursed. "Who?" She cries out.
Ralaea stumbles and drops one of her swords, collapsing to her knees. "What…is…?"
Jo hears Rae speak in response, and turns, tracing that same gesture to remove the curse from her.
Ralaea breathes a little easier and scrambles to her feet, retrieving her sword as she rises. Her next few strikes are a bit wobbly, but she soon finds her rhythm again.
Continuing the Fight
Ben grits his teeth — against chattering or against the distraction of the cries of his cursed comrades — and focuses on paving the ground with consecration, slamming his shield into the dragon with the whole force of his shoulder behind it. He isn't a healer; there are healers here. He is gonna break this fucken dragon.
Atley pushes out an exhale through clenched teeth and powers through the freezing cold with blood all but boiling in rage, the veins in his throat tensing as he follows up his attack on the dragon’s foot in a flurry of shield bashing and heroic strikes.
Some sort of magical bear spirit manifests near the center of the room as Sergeant Avrayia finally calls her companion. The bear slams its near-transparent bulk into the dragon's tail, trying to pin it to the ground.
Velrin hangs back for a while longer while the healers are occupied dealing with the curses. She launches a torrent of throwing knives in the meantime, trying to distract the dragon to allow the rest of the fighters openings before her potion can fully kick in and she can rejoin the fray.
Briellen nods her gratitude to Caspis and connects the Beacon of Light once again to Vond, who might be one of the warmest people in the room just from the healing spells getting constantly mirrored his way.
Colson sets his own [Beacon of Light] on Ben, focusing his heals between the frontline fighters of Dane and Ana and tethered to Ben, as he holds back with Mordecai.
Mordecai remains in place at first, because Colson is there, meaning that his healing can't quite reach everyone that it was reaching before. He scans the room and tells Colson, "Going left," moving so that he's in range to throw a renewing spell Velrin's way.
Taeavon looses a steady stream of arrows as he fights, but he's more focused on keeping an eye on Thoridas as he weaves in and out of melee. He lets out sharp whistles constantly to better direct Thoridas's attacks to help him strike where the dragon is most vulnerable and evade any incoming strikes that the bird can't see coming.
Alysson joins his singing up with the healers, "We're fightin' a large bone dragon, this is really cool~!" And then he adds, out of song, "In more'n one way!"
Nunuzac finds her teetering footing (hoofing?) again as she warms from semi-freezing by her fire totem, then shouts out, the sign of the naaru brightening at her face. A gift of inspiration falls over all who would grasp it, and the shaman herself even manages a somewhat heroic stance for a moment, shedding her normal personable ordinariness to carry a sense of the elements favor brought by this being from beyond the stars.
It is, in fact, go time.
Etone seems to notice Almeiria as he recovers and mouths a low 'tch,' keeping further thoughts to himself as he belts a resounding harmony with the other songcasting voice that has carried over the field.
Lydia laughs out loud as Nunuzac's spell reaches her and calls upon her own wings of Light. Light pours from her eyes and mouth as she fights.
Ben, bolstered by the shaman's gift and the beacon of light, shakes free of the slowing burden of the bitter chill briefly, a glimmer of wings unfolding at his own back and his gaze suddenly radiant as he flings another blast of light at the dragon and smashes hammer to bone once more.
Atley’s eyes widen at the rush of heroism and he seems to temporarily lose all sluggishness caused by the unceasing, supernatural cold, booming in a commanding shout, “Everything you’ve got!“
Every member of the 11th Expeditionary Unit present seems to be accustomed to working with a shaman, because they all break out their best tricks. The spirit bear doubles in size. Some sort of burning fire trap comes sailing in from above, hits Sapphiron's back, and explodes.
Aze takes that to heart, spinning and leaping around the dragon and attacking it from so many angles that it can't possibly strike fast enough to hit her.
He returns to slashing and hacking at the dragon bone with tireless vigor, enchanted sword thrumming a deep blue.
Almeiria's smile widens into near mania as the shaman's gift reaches her, and she delves deeper into shadow. "Yes…" she murmurs. "More! Grind it to dust!"
Lena's spellcasting picks up speed, and fire begins to weave in with the shadow.
Jo is all fire all the time, and it shimmers over her form as if she's combusting.
Colson gives everything he's got. It's heals. He's got heals. And some bonus [Exorcisms] for Sapphiron. The sense of his [Frost Resistance Aura Warm Cozy Aura] intensifies in strength for a moment, bolstering not only his, but every paladin's own aura within range of him, as he glows with the Light around him.
Alysson, too, begins to step through shadows, his strikes quickening in a way that his singing just can't keep up with.
Ralaea seems a bit unsure about the bolstering magic, but she doesn't waste the opportunity, her strikes becoming more powerful, but more reckless at once.
Anna ceases her roaming all-rounding and careful monitoring of the field a the call, focusing her swift holy shocks at the sustaining necromantic turmoil flowing through the beast as her contribution to the onslaught.
Vond only pauses his efforts to physically intercept some of Sapphiron's swipes when he becomes irritated by the burning enough to take a widemouthed chomp at him, scrambling in an effort to avoid being snapped up off the ground and lash a few sizzling bows at the jaw displacing him to the side.
Lydia momentarily takes one hand off her greatsword to point at Ralaea. The [Hand of Salvation] causes a soft, muted Light around Ralaea's swords, and while they strike just as hard as before, they do not draw Sapphiron's attention.
Velrin strafes quickly toward Mordecai before jumping and vanishing again. At Mordecai's feet there is now a pair of mana potions. Velrin emerges from the shadows at Dane's side. Emboldened by the shamanistic power she fights at his back, echoing his every strike against the dragon to further strengthen his vicious attacks.
Mordecai scrambles to pick them up.
The Dragon Flies
All of this proves to be more than this dragon wants to handle. He pushes off into the air, somehow staying aloft on his skeletal wings. He rises higher, out of reach of the fighters below, and roars at the assembled attackers.
"HEY! That's not fair," Alysson shouts at it.
Aze makes a frustrated sound, then seems a little disturbed that she agrees with the guy who was singing.
Ben falls back a step instinctively and raises his shield.
"TAKE COVER!" shouts Captain Fairdale.
What cover?
Anareline says, "Be on your guard…"
Ralaea looks around the room. "Uh. Where?"
Ben has a shield. He's covered. He's guarded. It's cool. Right? He keeps eyes on the dragon, his jaw clenched.
The dragon’s bony jaw opens and it expels bolts of ice towards the combatants, hitting Vond, Lena and Alysson. On contact the ice fully encases them, freezing them into complete immobility.
Colson moves to be more in between the dragon and Mordecai, as he looks for cover. Well. That is cover. Lena is closest, and he looks behind him to Mordecai to be sure the priest is moving with him.
Mordecai hurries after Colson, his feet slipping a little on the ice.
"Lena!" Ralaea cries, rushing towards her. She stops near Colson. "What is this? Can we do anything?"
Jo blinks behind Lena and looks up at Rae and Colson. "I'm usually fine if I go into an ice block, but…"
"I do not know what it is. It is not magic I can break," Colson answers — an attempt at a [Hand of Protection] does nothing for Lena. He glances up, looking, perhaps for a de-curser, and spots Capsis. The [Hand of Protection] blooms over the tree instead, holding steady.
Ben glances sideways and his eyes widen. "Vond!" he roars, and leaps toward the other paladin as if to try to free him. Conveniently, this puts him behind Vond.
Anareline moves to help Ben with Vond.
Etone gasps and immediately darts up on Vond-cube beside Ben, beating his fist on the ice crystal. "Vondy, get out of there!" He looks perturbed.
Vond is rather immobilized, a wide-eyed stare at surprise behind his protective goggles. Maybe they will help a little?
Aze shrugs and darts behind ice-cube Alysson.
Almeiria moves over towards Alysson to examine the icy prison.
Caspis stands in the back, casting heals at everyone to counter the brutal cold.
Cressidha calls up an ice block around herself a moment later.
Captain Fairdale looks around the room, and a [Hand of Protection] goes up around the Scarlet Bride, their unit's healer.
Now the dragon seems to be setting up a more powerful attack, the frost magic gathering visibly in its gullet.
Nunuzac eeps and grabs her fire totem up from the ground, scurrying by frozen-Lena, planting it beside her, and rapidly waving her hands at it as if trying to stoke the embers.
Ralaea ducks behind the Lena ice cube. Maybe they can fix it when they're not at immediate risk of joining them.
Colson keeps a hand, his actual one, on Mordecai, as he sets up his own [Divine Shield] and places himself between Mordecai and the dragon, behind the Lena Cube. His [Hand of Protection] remains on Caspis for several crucial seconds.
Ben glances up again, distinctly mouths oh shit, and hunkers down behind the Vond-block. "Get down! Get down! Stay behind!"
Sorry Vond, ur the shield now.
Vond is living his dreams, following the path of protection even while utterly incapacitated. He has a nice view of the light show of stupendously fatal frost magic descending over the field.
Atley sprints in at full speed to the block of ice around Alysson, eyeing Sapphiron in his periphery. “Get behind them!“ He bellows.
Aze reaches over to pull Dane more into the shadow of the ice block.
Atley tucks his massive form behind the ice block with her help, just in time. He eyes her briefly and juts out his jaw with a scowl and a grudging nod.
Seeing the dragon prepping something nasty, Almeiria disperses into shadow, just in case.
Anna dives behind Alysson, unready to shield herself again so soon.
Captain Fairdale pulls up a [Divine Shield], trusting in the Light.
Briellen, as she hurries towards the nearest ice block (Cressidha, in this case), looks around for ranged fighters who might be too far away to make it in time. She casts her [Hand of Protection] on Taeavon.
Taeavon nods in thanks to Briellen. At this range there was no way he'd have made it in time. He whistles to Thoridas, however, and he swoops down to take cover behind one of the ice blocks, taking the opportunity to rest on Velrin's shoulder and warble affectionately.
The dragon lets loose a brutal attack of howling ice and cold, instantly freezing anyone who hasn’t taken shelter.
Lydia hurls herself behind Vond's ice block just in time.
It's raining stalactites. It also rains down one Bertrand Aspenwood, who hits the ground hard and unmoving near the edge of the room.
Spotting a falling stalactite, Atley bends his knees, straightens his back, and holds his shield over Aze’s head. He grits his teeth and braces the hilt of his sword against the shield to weather the blow as the falling debris shatters across its surface.
Aze moves in closer, murmuring thanks at the shield.
Ralaea flinches, trembling slightly, either from cold or fear, it's hard to say, as her face stays hidden behind the arms she threw up as if to shield herself.
Sergeant Avraiya Coldshadow freezes solid at the howl, and her spirit bear vanishes into sparkles, either dead or (far more likely) unsummoned.
As the howl subsides, the ice blocks dissolve.
Lena calls out, "What the…"
"Are you…are you good?" Ralaea asks Lena, straightening, and readying her swords again.
Colson turns to offer a steadying hand near Lena. "Lena, are you well?" He's got his other hand on Mordecai, the Light still glowing faintly around him as his shield fades.
Mordecai has begun shivering violently, his teeth chattering as he channels a Prayer of Healing. He remains on his feet.
Lena shivers, crushing a healthstone in one hand. The fel absorbs into her skin. She nods at Colson and Rae. "I think I'm alright. I couldn't move."
Jo sketches another frost ward, and looks immensely relieved that these weren't fatal ice blocks.
Colson nods once to Lena, sending out a [Holy Shock] to Mordecai, the echo of it stretching to Ben through the [Beacon of Light], as he surveys the field, trying to assess the damage for healing as well as ready up. His eyes land on the place Bertrand was.
Ben reaches through the vanishing ice block to prod Vond's shoulder roughly. "Satterly? Vond!"
Vond staggers a bit, shivering uncontrollably. He holds a shaky thumbs-up at Ben while Etone fusses at and over him.
As the ice block dissolves around Alysson, he looks himself over. "Was I a dragon?" he asks.
Aze laughs, pulling away from Dane. "No, just an ice cube."
"An ice cube," Alysson says, awed. "Hero ice cube!" He shivers from the cold, but is still clearly enjoying himself.
Anna steps back and drives a jarring holy shock into Alysson as he unfreezes for good measure. I mean, it's healing, but it's not exactly gentle. "Ready UP. Danger! Rally!" Her voice calls clear across the field with a practiced carry, urging awareness of the still very much looming dragon above.
Alysson might be seeing the Light a little bit after the holy shock. He still grins stupidly.
Anna pats Alysson's head as he chatters about being thrilled to be an icecube, as if by instinct. There there buddy. Perhaps she thinks he has been rattled by the experience and not simply like that.
Atley keeps his eyes on the dragon and gnashes his teeth. “We’re still in this fight! Stay sharp!”
Velrin responds with an ancient Arathi warcry without even thinking. She readies her bow and begins loosing arrows at it one after another.
Atley briefly furrows his brow in confusion at the Olde Language and looks in her direction.
Cressidha's ice block melts naturally, and she aims another fireball up at Sapphiron.
Captain Fairdale reaches out with a Hand of Salvation to Cressidha, who has not stopped flinging fire at the dragon, and the Light shimmers around her, impeding visibility.
Lydia has a greatsword and the dragon is flying up above her. She remains ready to move if it decides to land, channeling an exorcism up at it.
Ben's eyes are already fixed on the dragon again, and now instead of hunkered down behind Vond, his stance is clearly a crouch waiting to charge. He is too intently-focused even to shiver.
Almeiria returns to a more corporeal form, and moves closer to Ben again. The dragon's skyward anyway.
The Caspis tree spots the fallen Avrayia, and several of his leaves wilt. He sends nature magic her way, trying to pull her soul back into her body.
Avrayia gasps and shudders as she begins to thaw, her fingers clenched tightly around her bow. She begins to whistle, a long call presumably meant to call her spirit bear companion back to her.
Atley grows impatient, tossing drawn sword to his shield hand to quickdraw a throwing hatchet and fling it at the hovering dragon. “We’re still alive, bastard!”
Etone mutters prayers over Vond before lowering his voice to his ear and receiving a vigorous nod in return, Vond's wide eyes locked ahead on Sapphiron. Some kind of pep talk? The priest gives the paladin's heavy pauldron a forward shove and Vond gamely finds his footing again, preparing for another assault. His posture sharpens as his focus seems to narrow.
Mordecai drinks one of the mana potions Velrin gave him.
Colson's attention has fixed on Bertrand's unmoving form. "Bertrand." There's nothing Colson can do at the moment though with the dragon still animated and poised to attack, and the paladin knows it, even as he begins moving around the room carefully to get closer to his brother's body, his face a mask of neutrality.
Nunuzac looks to be fretting over seeing some fall. She summons crackling lightning around herself protectively, trying to find an angle she can get near enough for another lightning strike at the bone dragon.
Taeavon continues his attacks and directs Thoridas to pursue the dragon as it flies about the room. He gives the monster a generous lead, but dives close to belch a gout of flame whenever an opening presents itself.
Mordecai whispers, "Shield," infusing Colson with a burst of speed. He doesn't follow him, though, too busy trying to catch as many gathered people as possible in his healing prayers before they can spread out again.
The Dragon Lands
Sapphiron returns to the ground, lashing out once again with tooth and claw and tail. He seems more desperate now, and quickly coils out another round of excruciating life-stealing curses, which settle on Ben, Dane, Colson, Velrin and Mordecai.
Ben’s curse
Ben's first reaction is to snarl, and then his eyes widen and he makes a choking sound, turning ashen.
Ralaea drops one of her swords, taking up a shield and moving in to cover Ben until someone can handle the curse.
Vond sputters some oaths under his breath, pressed to recover even faster by the sudden coil of curses falling over the front line. He gives a hoarse shout, "Evensong! Let's give 'em space!" he urges her to help fend the swipes from Ben and Dane while they are seized with the magics.
"Blood's UP!" Vond yells, and Anna echos: "Blood's up!" It's the sign for expected voluntary injury, and a second Diving Sacrifice is called over the field. This time from Vond, who does not shield himself.
A shield and stream of concentrated holy bolts follow from Etone, hustling to keep up with the wasting pain redirected in a portion from the curses nearby to Vond.
Anareline nods and pushes in front of Ben and Dane to take the brunt of the dragon's attacks.
Ralaea continues to cover for Ben, not nearly as experienced as the others in the front, but doing her best regardless. She's trained a little bit with a shield, anyway.
Ben has sagged to his knees with a clatter of armor and shield on the floor, trembling and gray-faced.
Anna steps up to drive a spot holy shock into Ben as he sinks. The sacrifice may have dampened the curse slightly but it is still an ongoing threat. She begins pouring her reserves into chaining heals on him while the other Argents focus on the sudden incoming damage to Vond, struggling to keep up with the curse on Ben.
Jo sees Ben fall and takes a few frantic steps forward, tracing another symbol to remove the curse.
Ben takes a harsh, rasping breath and then another. He shakes his head and gropes on the ground for his shield, staggering back to his feet. He shakes his head again and lurches back toward the dragon, the Light surging through him in an uneven flicker now.
Anareline looks to Ben in concern, and says quietly, "Steady, warrior. Take a moment."
Ralaea stays near Ben for a moment longer. "Lieutenant," she says. "Are you okay?"
Ben nods at Rae, still rasping, and shakes his shield-arm loosely, then raises his shield. His forward stagger becomes a shuffle becomes a run as Anna's healing pours into him and his own Light strengthens and steadies in response. He reaches the dragon with a surge and brings his hammer down in an arc of Light.
Reassured, Ralaea tosses her shield aside and reclaims her sword, returning to the assault.
Mordecai and Colson’s curses
Mordecai screams in pain again, reaching out to grab at Lena's arm for balance since he was hiding behind her a moment ago.
Lena turns to catch hold of him, hastily pushing a healthstone into his hand.
Colson halts in place, and he tries to breathe in unsteady gasps, a hand over his heart. There might be an attempt at either his own shield, or a shield for Mordecai, but nothing happens. All he can do is send out a [Holy Shock] to Mordecai and to the [Beacon of Light] on Ben, as Colson staggers, dropping to a knee.
Cressidha cuts off a barrage of flame mid-cast for the second time, tracing a symbol to remove the curse from Colson without even needing to look at where her brother is. She knows by now, though, that when there's one curse, there are probably others, and she scans the battlefield.
The moment Colson's curse lifts, he channels a sudden [Flash of Light] on himself, still gasping as he begins channeling a stronger [Holy Light] to Mordecai.
Mordecai crushes the healthstone in his hand, gasping for breath, one hand reaching up to touch his throat.
Cressidha's eyes flick between Mordecai and Ben, torn by a moment's indecision, before she rips the curse away from Mordecai.
Colson's own paladin wings burst into Light behind him, as he holds his ground as steadily as he can, refreshing the [Beacon of Light] on Ben with a [Sacred Shield] chaser, and focuses his heals through Mordecai and the closer ones hit by the curse. He doesn't heal himself beyond that first [Flash of Light].
Velrin’s curse
Velrin nearly chokes on her next breath. She stumbles in place, but remains at the fore of the battle. She snarls at the dragon and does her best to continue fighting, but she's getting slower and weaker each second.
Jo also scans the battlefield, and spies Velrin weakening. She quickly traces a decurse symbol, dissolving the pain on the rogue.
Velrin's chest heaves as she tries to pull herself back together, but it's slow going. Her face is so pale it looks almost white and she remains close at Dane's side where she can fight from safety.
"You're alright," Aze says to Velrin. "Hurts like a #$^% but it doesn't linger long."
Velrin shoots a look at Aze. A whole wave of different emotions race through her as she does, but in the end she nods and does her best to pick up the pace.
Dane’s curse
Atley receives the curse with a deep grunt, having raised his shield to protect himself but in vain. He takes one step back as his body is wracked with agony before he involuntarily falls to a knee, sword swaying upside down to try and support himself, square jaw slack as he fights against it.
The Caspis tree is taking care of his shan'var, and the curse is lifted not long after it takes hold.
Atley’s vigor suddenly returns. He takes a step, swaying in place with surprise, before he uncrumples seemingly in a time lapse, shaking his head back and forth to return to the fray, breathing heavily.
Almeiria continues her assault on the dragon, doing some life siphoning of her own. It may not be as powerful as the dragon's, but the vampiric nature of her magic helps ease the pains of those in the room. Well. Anyone who's not the dragon, of course. The shadows mend wounds and pains with an almost hungry feeling, as though the shadows are thriving on the pain they are consuming.
Briellen's Beacon of Light remains anchored to Vond, and she channels healing relentlessly, targeting various members of the group to keep the frostbite off.
Jo looks around, in case she missed more curses to remove.
The Dragon Falls
The life-stealing curses were not enough to shore up the dragon under such a relentless assault. The bones in his neck shatter as the frostwyrm falls, and in the same moment, the brutal, unnatural cold lifts. His bone claws fall slack, and as they do, there’s a faint sound as something falls from them to the icy floor.
Once Etone is satisfied that the moment of redirected danger is passed, he does not look any happier. He channels his pique at the entire situation into singing a column of holy fire down from above on Sapphiron's skull. Whether the dragon is dead yet or not is beside the point.
Taeavon cheers as the dragon falls, "Yeah! There we go!" Thoridas flies circles in the air and screeches.
Ben does not seem to realize at first that the dragon has fallen, and takes another swing at it. When the bone actually goes crunch like bone is supposed to, he stumbles back, startled, and takes in the scene. He lowers his hammer slowly.
Lena sighs happily and waves a hand. The felhunter disappears.
Ben takes another step back and looks around the room, doing an automatic head count.
Mordecai stumbles a little on the ice as he tries to go do his usual healing circuit, but Briellen catches his arm and steadies him. "Easy, Aspenwood," she says.
Taeavon uses one of his trap-spells to conjure a fire off to the side of the room for people to warm up by.
Captain Fairdale goes to check on Avrayia, leading her carefully around the room towards the other fallen member of his unit.
Mordecai takes out a feather and levitates himself a couple of inches above the ice. He begins to float carefully around the room to check up on people.
Resurrecting Bertrand
The Scarlet Bride's healing song does reach Colson as she also approaches Bertrand's body.
Jo rushes over to Bertrand. "I can shock him back to… no, no, we have healers."
Cressidha begins to make her way towards Colson and Bertrand.
Colson kneels next to Bertrand's body, already channeling a resurrection spell before the Light of his wings have even started to fade, his face serene despite the ragged way he breathes from the lingering sense of the curse.
Etone is steadying Vond who is slow to subside on the intensive focus and effort to keep the Light flowing through him and withstand the force of the frostwyrm claws. After a moment of checking each other they both gravitate toward Colson making a resurrection attempt and kneel nearby in prayer in a bid to lend strength to the effort.
Bertrand's soul is easy for his brother to reach - as a member of the 7th Legion, this is part of the selection criteria, and the moment after Colson completes the channel, Bertrand groans and stirs a little.
Colson smiles gently at his older brother, his eyes glowing briefly with the Light before he sends a [Holy Shock] followed by a [Flash of Light], like two firm pats on the back. What he actually does is move a hand gently to Bertrand's, and another under his shoulder, to help him sit up. "Bertrand. I have you," he tells him softly, with a healer's reassurance. "You are well."
"Hey, Cole," Bertrand says with a bit of a lopsided grin. He sits up carefully. "Fight's over?"
Vond rises to his feet and makes a gesture of gratitude to the Light when life stirs to the fallen, and Etone stands looking drained.
"So it would seem. There appears to be something remaining, but it does not sound as though it is a continuing threat." Colson keeps a steadying hand, warm with the Light, on Bertrand, watching his brother rather than looking to the object.
The team by the dragon’s body calls for a mage. Seeing Bertrand alive and recovering, Jo blinks over.
Cressidha looks to make sure Jo's handling the call for a mage and then looks down at her brothers, her arms crossed over her chest.
Bertrand looks at his sister. "Hey, Cress."
"You died," Cressidha says, sounding a little cross. That might just be how her relief is manifesting, though.
Colson just nods. Bertrand did do a little die. He waits patiently for his brother to be ready to stand, though he looks to where Mordecai is, as if a necessary sight-touch in to know the priest is well.
The Dragon’s Body
Alysson cheers, because, you know, they won, and then slips on a random discarded shield and falls on his behind. The shield goes flying, taking off one of the fallen dragon's horns.
Lydia reaches down and offers Alysson a hand up.
Alysson grins and takes her hand. "Thanks," he says.
Lydia hauls him easily to his feet. "Well fought, bard."
"You too, uh… glowy lady," Alysson says. Even he realizes that was weak.
"Ha!" Lydia shakes Alysson's hand before letting go. "I am Dame Harcourt."
"I'm Alys…wait. Random Hero Mondragon," Alysson corrects. Then, in a whisper, "Alysson, actually, but that part's a secret. Nice to meet ya, Dame Hardcore."
"Well met," Lydia says, her eyes glittering with amusement. She makes no attempt to correct him.
Anna immediately approaches the crumbling bones to look for Aze.
Aze seems to sense her coming and raises a hand. She turns towards the woman and smiles. "One more frost wyrm down."
Anna nods approvingly as she gives Aze a quick look over for signs of injury. "Excellent work. A word with everyone after all are accounted for." She moves off to similarly check on the other three.
Atley raises his shield to defend himself, Velrin, and any others who might be caught by stray flying dragon bones.
Velrin smiles at Dane and nods, then stands tall to take in the fruits of their labor with a wicked grin.
Atley lowers his shield, peering at the slain dragon. He issues a grunt, and looks five years older with weariness and the post-curse fallout. Lowering his sword and shield, but gripping them just as tightly, he turns to oversee the battlefield, performing a head check as he nods slowly, looking unhappy as ever despite their collective triumph.
Aze starts to move over towards the group around Bertrand, and then pauses and frowns. She says to no one in particular, "There's still something magic there. The dragon, it dropped something - not necromantic."
Ben turns to Vond to look him over, but at Aze's observation his gaze swivels back.
Atley snaps to, again, fresh as ever, raising sword and shield as he spins towards the dragon’s corpse.
Anna steps near Ben to look at what Aze has discovered.
Ben glances sidelong at Anna and gives her a quick, sharp nod of gratitude before returning his focus to Aze's Mystery Thing.
As Anna, Ben, Dane and others get closer, they see an eye-shaped jewel that fell from Sapphiron's clutches. It's giving off a thrumming of a magical nature, verging on painful in close proximity.
“Let’s have a mage over here!” Atley calls out, glaring at the jewel. He keeps his distance from the artifact.
Ben puts his arm up as if to hold others back, but he looks to Anna.
Jo blinks over to Dane. "What is it?"
Tae's ears perk up at the commotion and he inches toward the strange object to get a better look.
“I don’t know. Some sort of jewel. Feels … powerful.” he says, turning to explain to Jocoza before looking to Anna.
Almeiria drifts closer, drawn by the interesting magic. "What is this?"
Lydia turns her attention to the object.
Anna steps back from the thrum of magic once she has made a squinting assessment by eye, returning the glances from Ben and Dane with one of concern but not recognition. "It is not something I'm familiar with." She makes room for the mages.
Ben nods at Anna and steps back as well.
Jo moves a little closer and winces. She pulls out ear muffs, puts them on, and approaches the gem to examine it.
"Is it dangerous?" Velrin asks.
Atley raises his head and turns it to the side, squinting over Jocoza’s little big head to warily observe. “It hurts to draw near to it.”
"Whatever this is, it's very powerful," Jo says, a little bit too loud. Ear muffs. "And yeah, probably dangerous. It came from a dragon. I've never seen anything quite like it. We should probably… take it to the dragons? The good dragons."
At that, Dane looks around for Nunuzac.
Jo backs away and takes off the ear muffs. "I wouldn't touch it. Maybe we can pick it up in a protective bag?"
Alysson bounds over to join the gathering at the magic eyeball thing. "It's not what made the bones fly?"
Atley slowly raises his shield to block Alysson at a moment’s notice if may be, balancing his question with subtle tilts of his head. “It may be,” he offers.
A panting ghost wolf sprints up across the frost at that, dancing her forepaws up and down from right to left. Dragons? Good dragons? Nunuzac materializes back into draenei form.
"Can we make a bone dragon for our side, then?" Alysson asks eagerly.
“No,” Atley grunts.
Aze shakes her head again. "Not necromantic."
Jo nods. "It's arcane, whatever it is."
"Aw." Alysson sulks.
Briellen heads over to Anna, removing her helm and holding it under her arm.
Anna nods approvingly at Briellen, her own bearing showing no particular sign of flagging in steadiness. "Fine work. We'll collect the boys once the 7th are satisfied with the field here."
“You too,” Briellen says.
Tae tries to get closer, but there are lots of people around and he doesn't want to push through, so he just stands awkwardly a few feet off.
Ralaea stands way far away from the magic item that is clearly cursed guys, come on.
Jo looks over at Nunuzac. "You think they'd mind us showing up unannounced with an unknown magical artifact?"
"They would be fools not to enjoy such an arrival," Almeiria says. "It would make for such a good present."
Ben seems to realize for the very first time that Almeiria is here. He stares at her.
Almeiria drops her aura of shadows just so she can give Ben a sweet smile and a wave.
Ben looks faintly annoyed. But only faintly. Progress!
Atley spots her and squints before he looks to the entrance, as if wondering who let her in.
Almeiria catches another set of eyes on her and offers Dane the same sweet smile. Clearly it was the same person who let Alysson in, dear.
Atley grunts quietly and slowly turns back to Jocoza.
"I think no, Captain!" Nunuzac answers quickly. "I think it is safest place, since they have good defense against blue flight. They are happy to have it to look at, I think this." She does not comment on the Kirin Tor's safety protocols, just, you know, suggests Wyrmrest is the best.
Jo nods to Nunuzac and turns to the others. "I'll head there right away. Anyone who'd like to come is welcome, but I understand if you need to get back to Wintergarde. That was a hard fight."
"I'll be taking my unit back to Wintergarde," Captain Fairdale tells Jocoza. "Keep the 7th informed should it turn out to be relevant to our fight here."
Jo nods at Captain Fairdale. "You can let them know the way is clear for the next force, to fight the lich."
Briellen watches the 11th EU begin to move out.
Recombining the two scenes
"Will do." Fairdale calls over, "Aspenwood, can you walk?"
Cressidha raises a brow.
"Yeah," Bertrand says, getting carefully to his feet. "Probably. Yeah. Thanks, Cole. Cress. Rest of you." The 'you two' might be Vond and Etone. "I'll be in Wintergarde while they fuss over me."
Mordecai quietly makes his way back to Colson and drops down a couple inches as he ends the levitate spell. "Are you all right?" he asks very quietly.
"I am fine," Colson says back quietly, as good a bit of information as saying nothing at all. But he seems to be less tense with Mordecai there at his side.
Aze turns to Anna. "Dragons or no?"
"Do you want one of us to go see what that object is about?" Briellen asks Anna. "Aszera, maybe?"
Ben shifts his weight from foot to foot and looks around the room a little longingly. Dragons! But also… a lich? The 7th is going to fight a lich? Ben is a pro at lich-fighting! Maybe just one lich, for a trea— he gives a rasping cough and shivers.
Okay. Dragons it is.
Anna considers momentarily. "Yes, I am curious to know if this object is something the dragons know of, and if there is anything that should concern us about any other Scourge capabilities."
She waves over the remaining Argents while addressing Aze and Briellen. "Once more, fine work. That is definitely the largest so far, and you all held yourselves well. Clay, good adaptability for the changing field situation, and Sunstrike. I know I did not keep as close an eye on you, and that is because you are well proven in your ability to act independently, and signal if anything is wrong.”
“If you would both accompany Cobalt Company to the Temple and bring back news, it would allow me to get a head start on things back at the front."
There is potentially something that could be read between the lines here about Anna's gut sense of Aze's attention span or head for informational priority, but she would deny it.
At the Wyrmrest Temple
The team alights near the top of the snow-dusted titan structure of the Wyrmrest Temple, moving through the ranks of defensive red drakes. Queen Alexstrasza is there, with her consort Krasus. In addition, there’s Itharius of the Green Flight and Chromie of the Bronze. Kalecgos is there, Kirygosa standing at his side with a bereft look on her face.
Jo lands her rickety flying machine and settles it by a pillar. Aze and Ana arrive via gryphon. Not the same gryphon, obviously.
Wyriel stands near Itharius in her kaldorei form, smiling as she sees Cobalt Company begin to approach.
Upon arrival, Atley faintly raises his brows and bows low (when appropriate) for the dragon All-Star Lineup, but otherwise takes up a place behind Jocoza.
Cressidha steps off her carpet, rolling it up.
Jo carries the artifact in a protective bag, careful not to touch it. The thrumming is muffled to the point that it isn't hurting anyone nearby.
Velrin and Taeavon both stand nice and tall, looking their best for the Lifebinder.
Alysson stands near Almeiria, looking more subdued then usual. Probably because he's standing next to Almeiria.
Nunuzac greets familiar drakes and dragons on the way up to the Temple and looks happy to see the various flight leaders in their places. Her smile falters toward worry at Kirygosa.
Ben follows quietly where his Tiny Cap'n goes, but doesn't crowd in. Tiny Cap'n Honor Guard. Also it kind of keeps him away from Almeiria.
Mordecai stumbles a little getting off of his rental gryphon, but that happens to him about 50% of the time and doesn't necessarily mean anything. He seems steady on his feet afterwards as he takes Colson's hand and moves closer.
Queen Alexstrasza looks over at the arrivals. "Welcome to the Wyrmrest Temple, once again. You all look as though you've something of import to communicate."
Jo walks forward to offer her the bag. "We found this in Naxxramas, on the body of the frost wyrm Sapphiron.”
Alexstrasza’s eyes widen when she sees it. “That is a key to the Focusing Iris. These keys are held by the most ancient members of the blue dragonflight. Only they are entrusted with them by their master, Malygos. Sapphiron was a truly ancient blue dragon, so I am not surprised he was given one. I am surprised that he had retained it, given his current form."
Alexstrasza shakes her head sadly. "He was killed by the Prince Arthas Menethil and reanimated, as you obviously have seen."
Aze leans against a pillar at the edge of the space, listening but not trying to draw attention.
Ben nods gravely at Alexstrasza. He has seen that.
Atley frowns faintly but keeps listening.
Briellen seems a bit in awe of even just being near all these important dragons.
"Focusing eye-ris?" Nunuzac echoes, as if unsure she got that right, while peering at the eye-shaped magic thing. Internally puzzling over this new suffix.
Alysson raises his hand. "An' Mister Arthas didn't take it from him? Did he not know it was there?" It's possible Alysson has not made the connection that Mister Arthas is the Lich King.
Atley raises his eyes and grunts, not to silence Alysson, but to support the inquiry.
Alexstrasza pauses, and then more information is needed. "Arthas Menethil is not a master of the arcane - he likely did not recognize its importance. As to that importance, let me explain. The Focusing Iris is one of two artifacts Malygos is using to achieve his goals. First, the Arcanomicon provided him the map of all the ley lines of Azeroth. Then, the Focusing Iris has allowed him to divert their flow.”
Alysson nods along. "The Arca-unicorn." He's following. Maybe.
Alexstrasza reaches out to lift the artifact in her hands, removing it from the bag. It thrums and then fades slightly as she holds it. “And now… now we have a key. This might be the break that we’ve been waiting for. The battle against Malygos has gone on too long, and too much damage already has been done. I am filled with regret, but I think the only way to stop this - the only way to protect Azeroth - is to take his life.”
Wyriel's eyes immediately flood with silent tears. She wipes hurriedly at her face and takes a step behind Itharius in a way that seems to imply this is not a good time to give her a hug or handkerchief.
Atley grunts quietly.
Kirygosa’s eyes brim with sudden tears as well. “There must be some other way. He’s the Aspect of Magic. And we’ve already lost so much. I’ve already lost…” She covers her face with her hands.
"Oh, no," Mordecai says very softly to himself.
Colson inclines his head gravely to the decision of the red dragonflight's queen. He murmurs something — a prayer maybe? — as he closes his eyes for a few moments.
Kalecgos puts a hand to Kiry’s shoulder. “If there was a way, we would have found it by now. I, too, hope for peace. But we cannot sacrifice the world for peace, Kiry. He has to be stopped, and soon.”
Jo steps back, surprised at the dragon queen's decision.
"If he's gonna destroy the world," Alysson says, "That makes 'im the bad guy." He looks around at the sorrowful faces. "So why's everyone so…"
Tears trickle down Kiry’s face, and at Alysson's words she turns, striding off. Soon, rather than a young woman, there is a blue dragon, diving off of the balcony and flapping into the distance.
Alysson watches her leave, looking confused, and concerned.
Atley finally pipes up, after clearing his throat, keeping his growl even. "Who would take his place, my lady?" Atley asks Alexstrasza.
"I don't know that anyone can," Alexstrasza says, her face grave but serene. "It was the titans that formed us into dragon aspects, and they are no longer here. But please, trust that I do not make this decision lightly. I, too, love Malygos as a brother. But this must be ended, and now I see a way to do so."
Atley inclines his head.
Aze watches the scene with a faint frown.
Kalecgos looks over to Alysson and explains, "It's just… Malygos is her father. He might be the 'bad guy', but he's one of us."
"He wasn't always the 'bad guy'," Cressidha explains quietly. "We were hoping maybe we could heal him and bring him back to his right mind, but it looks like we've run out of options."
Atley faintly knits his brow, looking between Kalecgos and Cressidha.
Jo nods. "He's supposed to be a guardian for people like us. Maybe a teacher, I would imagine. Like the green dragonflight is for the druids."
Ben watches Kiry go as Kalecgos explains to Alysson. You can't fix a bad dad, Kirygosa. Sometimes you just luck out and get a new one, though.
Nunuzac watches Kirygosa fly away with deepening worry, looking back with a conflicted expression. "I trust Dragon Queen," she says finally. "She understands life importance very much. Not hasty."
"I should…'pologize to 'er," Alysson says, still looking in the direction Kirygosa went. "I said somethin' wrong again."
Queen Alexstrasza nods, accepting everyone's feelings.
Kalec smiles sadly at Alysson. "I'm sure she'd be happy to hear it, but she won't hold it against you. This is a very difficult time for her, but she's not the sort to hold a grudge over an ill-timed and well-meant remark."
Alexstrasza turns back to the artifact and the assembled people. "Here is the chance that I see. You cannot use this key to take control of the Focusing Iris and set the ley lines right. I am certain that would destroy any one of you. But I will enable it to imbue you with enough of my power to open the iris a fraction. This will draw Malygos to you. If you draw in your allies from the Kirin Tor, and we handle the inevitable assault from the blue dragonflight… this will give us a chance to bring an end Malygos's plan.”
Jo takes a breath and nods, looking over at Cressidha. "We have contacts in the Kirin Tor, so we can speak with them. I do wish there were another way, but… if this is what has to be done."
Cressidha nods to Jo.
Almeiria smartly keeps her mouth shut, but you just know there's some sarcastic remark lurking.
Jo looks to Nunuzac. "And while we do that, you can keep communication open with the Wyrmrest Accord, right?"
"I can!" Nunuzac affirms eagerly. "I stay here below for if any thing needs saying. And if it does, I astral walk very fast."
Atley nods and grunts.
Almeiria takes this opportunity to approach Jocoza, giving a polite curtsy to the gnome. "Before you leave, Captain Jocoza, allow me to say what a pleasure it's been working with your Company again. If you see any opportunities for such a collaboration going forward, please do call on me."
Jo smiles up at her. "Miss Fey! It's a pleasure to see you again. If you're up in Northrend these days too, we're bound to run into each other again sometime."
"Oh yes, I am confident we will." Almeiria's smile says that maybe they will run into each other with intention.
Atley deadpans Almeiria from the side.
Mordecai moves over to Aze, towing Colson along because he's unwilling to let go of Colson's hand. "I got to fight with you again," he says to her, smiling. "You were incredible."
Briellen seems momentarily surprised that this priest knows her teammate, but shakes it off.
"And you," Aze says with a smile. "Kept us safe through all that cold and everything else. Colson, too. I'm glad we get to hang out where I'm more in my element. Maybe we can dance again sometime soon?"
"I'd like that." Mordecai smiles.