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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Dara and Sophiette continuing their work by surveying the stability of the upper Uldaman digsite, and then an elf gives them a concerning theory about the origin of the earthquake. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Before the Cataclysm
Chain: Light Guide Us
Dara and Sophiette arrive in Thelsamar.
Dara smiles at Sophiette as they both dismount their gryphons. "Ready to ride?"
[Sophiette]: Let's do it!
They ride south.
[Dara]: I suppose the Uldaman dig site is more complicated to assess for damages.
[Dara]: It's all… underground and maze-like, from what I've heard.
[Sophiette]: Let's try not to get lost, then.
Dara nods firmly.
[Dara]: I suppose it also must be full of interesting historical things.
[Sophiette]: Probably far more ancient history than anything I'm familiar with.
[Dara]: I suppose, it's all ancient titan history.
[Dara]: I don't really know much about it.
[Sophiette]: Nor I. I don't really understand the Titans. Some say they supposedly made everything? I think?
[Sophiette]: It seems far-fetched to me.
[Dara]: Why would the world need to have been made? It seems like it's just always been here.
[Sophiette]: Exactly so.
[Dara]: Maybe it's a dwarvish thing, because they like building so much.
[Dara]: They track that backward, and think someone must have made Azeroth.
[Sophiette]: I suppose that makes sense when you think of it from a dwarvish perspective.
[Sophiette]: Still…they follow the Light now. It seems to me that if anything is responsible for the creation of the world, it would be the Light.
Dara frowns. "How would the Light create a world?"
[Dara]: Or perhaps someone wielding the Light, like the naaru?
[Sophiette]: I suppose…
[Dara]: I would like to see a naaru one day.
[Sophiette]: I suppose I would as well. The way they've been described sounds so strange.
[Dara]: Like… floating chimes…
[Dara]: Perhaps one day the church shall send us to Outland, and we can meet the one there.
[Sophiette]: Or…there could be another option as well. I went to Cobalt Company headquarters yesterday.
Dara brightens. "Oh?"
[Dara]: Did you meet with anyone interesting?
Sophiette nods. "I was fortunate enough to find Lord Ference there, in fact!"
[Dara]: Oh! Are you now a member of Cobalt Company, then? *Dara grins*
Sophiette chuckles. "No, no. I don't think it's quite so easy. But they provided me with application forms. One for each of us."
[Sophiette]: That is…if you're still open to the prospect of joining.
Dara nods eagerly. "Yes, of course. Is it… a terribly difficult application form? What sort of questions?"
[Sophiette]: It seems like it's mostly just personal information. Next of kin, previous experience, that sort of thing.
[Dara]: Oh, so not like… situation testing. What would you do in this terribly complicated situation?
[Dara]: Though experience. Do you suppose I have enough?
[Sophiette]: I think your significant progress speaks volumes about you.
[Dara]: And they won't be put off that I'm not… ordained yet?
[Sophiette]: I don't know. But when I mentioned your name, Lord Ference did not seem concerned.
Dara draws in a breath and smiles. "That's good news, then."
[Sophiette]: He mentioned an interview. So I suppose the application is just the first step.
[Dara]: Goodness, this is complicated.
[Dara]: I suppose they can't just let in anyone who asks, though.
[Dara]: They are an elite company.
[Sophiette]: No, I imagine not. They're rather an elite organization these days.
[Dara]: What will we do if they hire one of us, but not both? *Dara bites her lip*
[Sophiette]: Oh…I hadn't thought of that.
[Dara]: I wouldn't want to hold you back…
[Sophiette]: Nonsense. You could never.
Dara smiles a little anxiously.
[Dara]: I suppose there's no reason worrying until we know the answer.
[Sophiette]: I cannot imagine we would be rejected. I think Lord Ference likes me. And of course you have valuable connections.
[Dara]: You're probably right. Even if I'm not terribly strong on my own. But then again, maybe they'll just be very impressed with us.
[Sophiette]: You mustn't sell yourself short, Dara. You took to the Light like someone who has studied it for years.
[Dara]: I would imagine, also, our work here might show us in a good light. Humanitarian aid and everything.
[Sophiette]: Precisely so. We have developed a reputable curriculum vitae.
Dara nods. "And speaking of our work… or at least related to our work…"
[Sophiette]: Hmm?
[Dara]: I… wrote to Devon.
[Sophiette]: You did? And…has he responded?
[Dara]: Yes. *Dara beams*
[Sophiette]: Well don't leave me in suspense!
[Dara]: I told him I wanted to marry you. And I gave him… sort of a report on what we'd done so far.
Dara blushes intensely and adds, "The work, of course, I mean our work."
Sophiette 's eyes widen. "You said…you want to marry me?" She swallows her worries. "What did he say?"
[Dara]: So anyway, he said he was pleased I'd found someone I cared for. And I'm supposed to talk to him in person in Stormwind very soon.
Sophiette lets out a sigh of relief…but there is still tension behind her eyes.
[Sophiette]: Dara…I love you. But…don't you think this is a little fast? There is a way to do these things.
Dara looks at Sophiette anxiously. "Should I not have said that, about getting married? I only thought… we were engaged before…"
[Dara]: I'm… I'm not saying we should sneak off to the Cathedral right this instant obviously, but I thought… isn't that where we were heading?
[Sophiette]: Yes, that's true. But that betrothal was broken off. I think-…don't you think I should court you first?
Dara looks at Sophiette a little shyly. "You want to court me? Formally?".
Sophiette gives Dara a wistful smile. "Of course I do."
[Dara]: And my brother would have to speak with your mother, in any case.
Dara looks at her earnestly. "For it to all be done properly."
[Sophiette]: I suppose she is technically the head of the house. But she tends to leave that role in my hands.
[Sophiette]: And yes…I want to show Devon that I'm serious. That…this will not be another broken engagement.
Dara considers that. "Should I tell him to negotiate with you, directly?"
[Sophiette]: Let us have patience. I must still ask his permission to court you, after all.
Dara nods. "I will be patient. I've waited for years, I can wait a few more if needed."
Sophiette smiles. "I shan't make you wait so very long."
Dara leans over slightly to brush her shoulder against Sophiette's, smiling.
Sophiette's eyes trail after Dara, as if momentarily entranced.
Dara glances over at Sophiette, a silly grin on her face. Then she seems to remember what she's supposed to be doing. "The support beams look very strong here, wouldn't you say?"
Oh right. Assessing damage. "I would say so. I assume these are new? Put in by the diggers."
[Dara]: Oh yes, I don't think they're part of the original structure.
[Dara]: It's possible the earthquake did more damage further underground.
[Sophiette]: I suppose that's a testament to dwarven engineering, that they survived the quake so well.
Dara nods.
[Dara]: Well, in the end I think there's not that much for us to do here. We can just let them know the upper tunnels seem stable?
[Dara]: Should we swing by the dwarf camp, see if everything's going well?
Sophiette nods. "And I think we've cleared out the hostiles sufficiently to make way for a proper inspection team."
Dara nods.
[Dara]: I'm sure they'll want to send someone all the way down to the… titan areas. To check.
Sophiette nods.
[Sophiette]: Yes, we should check in with our friends at the camp. We did say we would if we were in the area.
[Dara]: I bet they'll have built up a little by now.
[Sophiette]: I hope so. That tent of theirs looked to be in bad shape.
They head to the dwarf camp.
The camp does look better provisioned and better defended now. The tent is in better repair, and there's a perimeter fence built out of the scrap metal.
[Sophiette]: Hello again, friends! You seem to be doing well, all things considered.
Sigrun Ironhew says: Aye, your help was greatly appreciated! We're secure now, and preparing to get our way back ta the dig site.
[Sophiette]: That's wonderful news.
Sigrun Ironhew says: I've been talkin' to a mage friend o' mine, and he's got some kind of idea on what might have caused the quake.
[Sophiette]: Oh, do tell!
Sigrun Ironhew says: Elvish fellow, by the name of Garek. We've not time to follow up with him, but he's just south o' here if ye'd like to hear his theories.
Dara nods eagerly. "If he has an idea of what might have caused it…"
[Sophiette]: I think we had better hear what he has to say.
Sigrun Ironhew says: Aye, if ye can prevent more earthquakes, it'd be a great boon t' the area.
They ride south to find this Garek fellow.
[Dara]: Are you a friend with the dwarf from the camp just north? *Dara looks at the elvish man a little nervously.* Garek?
Garek says: That is indeed who I am. Are you the 'church lasses' he spoke of? *Garek peers at them*
Sophiette chuckles. "That would be us."
[Sophiette]: This is Lady Dara Tennerow, and I am Sophiette Valonforth.
Garek says: Pleasure to meet you. Sigrun told me that you might be willing to provide some assistance. I've been investigating what might have caused the quake here.
[Dara]: Oh? And do you know what it was?
Garek says: If I'm right… a band of ogres has stolen something. A 'Sign of Earth'. I don't want to explain further until I get a look at it. Can you retrieve it for me?
[Dara]: Ogres again…
[Dara]: If it will help…?
[Sophiette]: We'll get it back.
Dara nods.
They ride out, in search of a band of ogres.
[Dara]: Oh!
[Dara]: I think that's the ogre band.
[Sophiette]: Halt! Hand over the sign and nobody needs to get hurt!
Dustbelcher Wyrmhunter says: Me smash! You die!
[Dara]: Ow!
We kill all the ogres.
Sophiette sighs. "Or not."
[Dara]: Ogres just don't listen to reason, do they?
Sophiette pants heavily, covered in ogre blood.
[Sophiette]: I don't know if they're capable of reason. Ugh.
Dara comes over to sit by Sophiette, trying to brush some blood off her pauldrons.
[Sophiette]: I'm going to need a dip in the loch, I think.
[Dara]: I hope the thing their leader was carrying was the 'sign of earth'.
Dara grins. "We can go swimming after this, maybe. It's a bit cold, but…"
[Dara]: If you want to, I can bear it.
Sophiette blushes. "If you'd like to…."
They head back to Garek.
[Sophiette]: I think we found what was taken.
Garek says: I see you have the Sign on you! Yes, that is what I was looking for. It is the artifact I suspected, so let me tell you what I know.
Garek says: That Sign of Earth was created by the Dark Iron Dwarves of Angor Fortress to bind two of Deathwing's ruthless lieutenants.
[Dara]: Wait… Deathwing's?
Sophiette grimaces.
Garek says: Yes, black dragons. I suspect the ogres have been using it to bind black dragons as well.
[Sophiette]: The Church will need to hear about this.
Garek says: Indeed, yes. If the ogres have been up to mischief with black dragons… you do know they were meant to be the guardians of the earth, yes?
Dara nods. If she didn't, she does now.
Garek says: It seems a reasonable conclusion to think that they may have caused the quake we had recently. And if they did, they might do more damage.
[Dara]: We'll… consult with the church. Surely something can be done.
Garek says: Consult quickly, my friends.
Sophiette nods firmly.
[Sophiette]: You will hear from us…or someone…soon.
[Dara]: Black dragons…
[Dara]: Maybe I should wait until after this mission to speak to Devon about our work…
[Sophiette]: Ah…yes, perhaps best not to tell him just yet.
[Dara]: Black dragons are better in a past tense, 'so this is what I did last week' sort of conversation…
Sophiette smirks.
[Sophiette]: I'd best not tell Hugo, either…or he'll never leave me alone about coming along.
Dara giggles.
[Dara]: Such a courageous squire.
[Dara]: Do you think the church will have us deal with it?
[Sophiette]: I…don't know. I suppose I assumed they would. But…dragons. They might want someone with more experience.
[Dara]: I suppose we'll see!
[Sophiette]: But…I believe we can handle it. We've risen to every challenge thus far!
[Dara]: Yes! I hope they'll continue to have faith in us.
[Sophiette]: The Light is with us. We shall not fail.
[Dara]: We shall not *Dara agrees firmly*
[Dara]: For now, though, I suppose we should head back.
The two of them head back to Thelsamar.