(2024-03-18) Interlude: Survey for a Swamp Witch, Part 2 (Cobalt Blade)

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	The Cobalt Blade continues to collect supplies for Tabetha the swamp witch, all the while chatting about stuff like the 7th Legion, the unrest with the elements, Old Gods, and fan fiction.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Cobalt Blade

+ Show additional content warnings

crude humor, grief, some discussion of character deaths (including the 7th Legion death requirement)

The team meets back up in Gadgetzan, Tanaris.
[Tadget]: Sup.
[Zaara]: Sup!
[Tadget]: I'm smiling at you, Zaara, FYI.
[Vesyllah]: Mm.
[Zaara]: I am also smiling at you! *Zaara is smiling at Tadget. Which Tadget can see.*
[Tadget]: I have a really cute smile.
[Tadget]: Like maybe even like five percent cuter than yours.
[Zaara]: This is so good! Thank you for sharing it.
Thalstan is smiling at people generally, if they can tell under his beard.
Tadget cuddles up against Art, like an innocent little schoolchild who has definitely never killed an Old God.
[Thalstan]: Well, hope everyone got a good rest? Not too much sand in th' beds?
[Tadget]: I love it here.
[Tadget]: I took a power nap and then I've just mostly been slaying things.
[Zaara]: Slaying!
[Tadget]: So many slayable things. And no one minds.
[Tadget]: Sometimes in Loch Modan or Elwynn or whatever people get upset if I go on a killing spree.
[Tadget]: Here? Pffft.
[Vesyllah]: It's a desert. Death is a daily reality.
[Thalstan]: That's true, lots o' things ta slay in a desert. Speaking of, should we finish up gettin' the horrible stuff Tabetha wanted?
[Zaara]: Horrible stuff!
[Arthur]: Definitely yes.
[Tadget]: Sure. We'll show that old witch.
[Tadget]: She totally thinks we can't.
[Arthur]: We should do her tasks as fast as we can.
Tadget nods at Arthur.
[Vesyllah]: I don't know why you all get on her case so much. She's great.
[Tadget]: She's mean to Trouble.
[Tadget]: She reallly better watch it unless she wants me to go all Stabetha.
[Vesyllah]: She's just testing him. It's important for mageness or whatever.
[Tadget]: Yes, causing psychological damage to people with access to vast powers couldn't possibly go wrong.
[Vesyllah]: Psychological damage? C'mon. Art's tougher than that.
[Tadget]: Are you?
Tadget peers at Arthur searchingly.
[Thalstan]: It's a bit rough, how she's constantly sayin' this or that's gonna take 'im out.
[Arthur]: I talked to one of the Cobalt Company mages, one of the telemancers, and she pointed something out.
[Tadget]: Oh?
[Arthur]: That Tabetha might be baiting people to see how they respond when they're feeling emotionally attacked or ego bruised.
[Thalstan]: Oh! Do ye think?
[Tadget]: Ohhhhh. Do you feel emotionally attacked or ego bruised? If so, what is your response?
[Vesyllah]: See? It's for your own good.
[Thalstan]: But she seemed so cheerful about it.
[Tadget]: If your response is to involve stabbing, I would like to be involved.
[Zaara]: Who is attacking Trouble! This is not allowed!
[Tadget]: She is attacking his emotions. Otherwise there would be no debate about the stabbing.
[Arthur]: Well, I was worried that I was supposed to think that it shouldn't be hard for me to take on alone, and then I gave my head a shake, because who sends battlemages out solo for anything?
[Zaara]: Emotions are the elements of a person. *Zaara nods solemnly.*
[Tadget]: Good point, Trouble.
[Tadget]: Bet you ten gold she's never gone anywhere alone. Look at her dumb little entourage just hanging around at home.
[Arthur]: We can fetch books from peaceful libraries in a trice, but that's basically it.
[Thalstan]: Yer right fragile, if somethin' hits ye straight on alone.
[Arthur]: And when the foe is facing up against a squad, I'm safe to commit all kinds of violence and polymorphing and irritating stuff-hey! I WAS TALKING!
A basilisk did not respect Arthur’s right to talk. We kill it.
Tadget giggles at Arthur.
[Tadget]: Basilisks are so rude.
[Thalstan]: Anyway, so ye were sayin' Art.
[Thalstan]: Yer not goin' ta go it alone in the end?
[Arthur]: Right!
[Tadget]: Of course he's not.
[Tadget]: He's COBALT BLADE.
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE
[Vesyllah]: That's what I said in the first place! It's a test of wisdom.
[Tadget]: But you said it meaner.
[Arthur]: Well, I didn't. I put up a notice in HQ asking for help, and lots of people offered!
[Tadget]: Oh nice!
[Thalstan]: Oh! Ye've already done it?!
[Tadget]: Real self-starter, our Trouble.
[Arthur]: Most of it. I haven't brought it all back though.
[Arthur]: I was waiting for when we were done.
[Tadget]: Still, you're kiling this.
[Vesyllah]: See? He's passing with flying colors. Told you Tabetha's great.
[Thalstan]: Can't wait ta see th' look on 'er face.
[Tadget]: She is not great! He's great!
They arrive at the border between Thousand Needles and Feralas.
[Thalstan]: So the next thing on th' list is Feralas. And livers.
[Zaara]: Livers!
[Arthur]: I've only seen glimpses of Feralas! It-HEY!
More interrupting wildlife. It is dispatched.
[Thalstan]: I'm no' sure how a liver is gonna tell her what's goin' on with the land but… sympathetic magic I suppose.
[Thalstan]: Who all helped ye, from Cobalt, Trouble?
[Zaara]: Liver often can absorb trace elements from the environment in which - eh?
[Zaara]: Trouble?
[Thalstan]: Oh, can it? So maybe it's no' the magic, but the… study o' the liver itself.
Zaara looks around for Trouble.
Arthur fell behind. He pops back up!
[Arthur]: Hi!
[Arthur]: I'm here.
[Thalstan]: So who all helped ye, from Cobalt, Trouble?
[Tadget]: No one as sexy as us, certainly.
[Zaara]: Sexy!
Tadget thinks Zaara is a sexy devil.
Tadget is too sexy for her tunic…so sexy it hurts.
[Thalstan]: We are a right sexy crew.
[Arthur]: Oh! Lireen Cloudskimmer. Gwenivene. um. Names, come on….
[Thalstan]: Lireen? She's a good 'un. Taught me some fightin' when I first joined in.
[Tadget]: I had a dream once where I was her.
[Zaara]: A good un!
[Arthur]: Kaerix! She's a shaman.
[Zaara]: Kaerix!!!
[Tadget]: Oh right, all you draenei know each other.
[Zaara]: Yes!
[Zaara]: Kaerix is so good at language, even terrible Common.
[Thalstan]: I have no' met Kaerix or Gwenivene.
[Vesyllah]: Should I know who these people are?
[Zaara]: I have known her since Rangari.
[Thalstan]: Maybe no? Ye'd not need any weapons trainin' from Lireen, I'd wager.
[Tadget]: What's a Rangari?
[Zaara]: A… many thing! A hunter, scouter, ranger, spyer….
[Tadget]: Spyer! Ooooh.
[Tadget]: I didn't know you used to be a spyer.
[Thalstan]: Rangari seem versatile. An' now she's a shaman, huh.
[Arthur]: I just can't remember. They're all members of Cobalt Company. A - was she a warrior? a Paladin? UGH!
[Arthur]: WAIT! A druid!
[Arthur]: I'm a doof.
[Tadget]: But you're pretty, so.
[Arthur]: It's a good thing too!
[Thalstan]: Ye had a druid too?
[Tadget]: Sounds like you were collecting all the things.
Tadget looks around and sighs happily.
[Thalstan]: Now this place is full o' life.
[Tadget]: Always nice to come back here.
[Tadget]: I just mostly like the color palette.
[Vesyllah]: Ugh…so much green…
[Tadget]: Waa waaa.
[Arthur]: It's so beautiful!
[Vesyllah]: It's boring.
We fight a few bears.
[Thalstan]: These bears are the sort she was after.
[Tadget]: Green is the most beautiful color in creation.
Zaara is frowning slightly.
[Thalstan]: I don't know, a nice rocky gray is right lovely too.
[Thalstan]: An' the lovely warm glow of lava…
Tadget chuckles at you.
[Tadget]: You're such a dwarf.
[Thalstan]: I know. *Thal sounds proud. He rustles his mustache.*
[Zaara]: Valor is a dwarf??!
Thalstan laughs at Zaara.
Zaara giggles.
Vesyllah peers at Zaara searchingly.
Tadget laughs at Zaara.
[Tadget]: You're funny.
[Zaara]: Yes!
[Tadget]: I'm a gnome, by the way.
[Zaara]: What?! No!
[Tadget]: It's true.
[Tadget]: The superior Azerothian race.
[Vesyllah]: I'm a troll.
[Zaara]: You are the smallest elf!
[Thalstan]: You are not, Vengeance.
[Zaara]: Vengeance is tallest gnome.
[Tadget]: Vengeance is a troll, it's true.
[Vesyllah]: Tadget knows.
[Thalstan]: We can work our way inta the jungle a bit, find more bears.
[Vesyllah]: Oh good. More jungle.
[Thalstan]: Huh, looks like some elvish ruins here.
[Tadget]: Vengeance is an elvish ruin.
Vesyllah nods and points to Tadget.
[Thalstan]: I… would no' call her a ruin.
[Tadget]: She is.
[Vesyllah]: Shows what you know, Thal.
[Tadget]: See, I get her.
[Thalstan]: But more lively than those stones, ain't she?
[Vesyllah]: Eh.
[Tadget]: Barely.
[Zaara]: She is a ruinER. Not a ruin!
[Tadget]: She can be two things.
[Vesyllah]: I can be both.
[Thalstan]: Okay, fine, yer a ruiner and a ruin… I jus'… don't feel like that's a nice thing ta say to a lady.
[Tadget]: Good thing she's not a lady.
[Zaara]: Something is sickly here.
[Thalstan]: Huh, gnolls here. We'll try ta skirt by, not wipe them out if we can help it.
[Tadget]: Ugh, I hate gnolls.
[Tadget]: Gnolls are the WORST
[Thalstan]: And now we got Horde? Taurens…
[Tadget]: Wait, I take that back. Tauren are the worst.
Vesyllah nods.
We manage to thread through the taurens and the gnolls without drawing attention from either.
[Thalstan]: Alright, that was good dodgin'.
[Tadget]: One time this Tauren stomped its hoof and I popped into the air like corn on a frying pan.
Thalstan laughs.
[Vesyllah]: I'd like to see that.
[Thalstan]: Maybe we ought ta go say hello after all.
[Tadget]: You're so supportive.
[Thalstan]: We'd best enjoy the greenery as we can, though. I expect Tervosh'll have us back ta Desolace soon.
[Tadget]: Ugh.
[Zaara]: Desolace!
[Thalstan]: He sounded a bit worried about those crystals.
[Tadget]: Desolace is the worst.
[Tadget]: Everything that sucks about a desert and it's not even hot.
[Vesyllah]: Exactly. It's amazing.
[Thalstan]: I feel like we're no closer than we were on knowin' what's goin' on with the elements. Zaara, you feeling anything more clear these days?
[Zaara]: I do not wish to say.
[Tadget]: That's ominous.
Thalstan looks at Zaara worriedly. "Ye don't wish…?
[Zaara]: It will not make anyone to rest better.
[Tadget]: Oh great.
[Vesyllah]: Sounds like something we definitely need to hear.
[Thalstan]: Is there anythin' we ought ta hear? Even if it does no' help our sleep?
[Zaara]: Everything is very angry. Sometimes even water. Water is not to be angry! But sometimes it is.
[Thalstan]: Water is… the healin' one, aye?
[Zaara]: Everything sounds like Vengeance.
[Tadget]: Yikes.
[Zaara]: FACE AGONY OF YOUR SINS
[Zaara]: This is what elements whisper to me.
Thalstan raises his bushy eyebrows.
[Tadget]: You know what, there is some history with the elements here you may not be aware of, Zaara.
Vesyllah frowns.
[Zaara]: Is it sins?
[Vesyllah]: Damn elements are stealing my lines.
[Tadget]: Or maybe you are, maybe they cover that in shaman school even for space g- foreigners.
[Tadget]: Yeah, it is sort of sins, actually.
[Thalstan]: What are ye thinking, Mayhem?
Zaara frowns censoriously.
[Tadget]: It has to do with the Old Gods, which as you know is a favorite subject of mine.
[Zaara]: Azeroth sins at elements?
[Tadget]: Yeah, kind of.
[Zaara]: Well now they are made angry.
[Tadget]: So basically the elements were the original… things here, right? And then BOOM, the Old Gods show up.
[Zaara]: Boom?
[Thalstan]: Hm. And then what?
[Tadget]: Or splat, maybe.
[Tadget]: Anyway, the elements took a break from bickering at each other to be like OOOOH THIS THING IS WORSE and they tried to join forces against 'em.
[Tadget]: It didn't go well. The Old Gods enslaved 'em.
[Thalstan]: Oh, whoa.
[Zaara]: What?! This is terrible!
[Tadget]: Yep. But then the Titans came along and I'm pretty sure that was a BOOM.
[Tadget]: And they locked up the Old Gods. But a lot of the elementals were still all craycray.
[Tadget]: But they mostly took to fighting each other again after that, except for the nice ones, which went back to doing… whatever it is normal elementals do, I guess.
[Thalstan]: Fire burnin', water… wettin'…
[Zaara]: But Azeroth is not… hurting them? The elements? Anymore?
[Tadget]: But like, I wonder, if the elements are getting all mad again and talking about SINS they might be listening to the Old Gods. Who would be kind of… talking through them. Wanting revenge for being imprisoned.
[Tadget]: When Old Gods enslave things they just kind of like mind control them.
[Thalstan]: Hm, that is not a happy thought.
[Tadget]: So yeah, you might be hearing Old Gods or something talking through their little puppets.
[Zaara]: They feel like something is hurting them. And it is making anger. Something is breaking in the world?
[Tadget]: That's not good. Maybe another old god trying to get out?
[Tadget]: There have been rumors of Old God stuff up in Northrend where they're messing around with everything…
Zaara shakes her head, bewildered.
[Vesyllah]: And we stopped the Seed…didn't we?
[Thalstan]: Breaking? That does no' sound like a good thing…
[Tadget]: Yeah.
[Zaara]: It is feeling- I have said this before, but-
[Thalstan]: We stopped the one, aye.
[Tadget]: Yeah let's hope the world doesn't break. I'm kind of using it.
[Zaara]: It is feeling like Draenor. Before…
Thalstan looks at Zaara.
[Thalstan]: Before it came apart?
[Zaara]: Yes.
[Tadget]: So what are we supposed to do to stop it?
Arthur looks grimly horrified.
Thalstan frowns.
[Thalstan]: We're the Cobalt Blade, surely we can do somethin'.
[Zaara]: I do not know! If I know this I would say, for certainly.
[Tadget]: I guess when it comes time to stop the world from breaking someone will let us know.
[Vesyllah]: Tadget's killed one. We all stopped the Seed. If anyone is equipped to handle Old Gods….I guess it's us?
[Zaara]: I talk to the elements, I talk to other shamans, many other shamans talk to the elements… all angry.
[Tadget]: Well when it's time to stab something, I'm on it. In the meantime… *shrug*
[Thalstan]: If smashin' an Old God in the face'll help, my shield's on it.
Tadget cheers at you.
[Tadget]: Old Gods don't really have faces, per se.
[Thalstan]: Smash em in the… what've they got then?
[Zaara]: Emotions?
[Tadget]: The one I killed was basically just a giant eyeball surrounded by more eyeballs and then a bunch of tentacles.
[Zaara]: … that is not emotions.
[Thalstan]: Alright. Smash 'em in the ba… the eyeballs.
[Tadget]: Also some of the tentacles had eyeballs.
[Tadget]: I'm not sure if they all look like that, though.
[Thalstan]: Tentacles and eyeballs…
[Tadget]: I'm pretty sure there are tentacles involved in all of it, though.
[Zaara]: I have tentacles and eyeballs!
[Tadget]: Because everything even remotely Old Goddy is tentacley.
[Tadget]: Oh um, sorry Zaara.
[Thalstan]: But yer not a horror, Zaara.
[Zaara]: I am not.
[Tadget]: I don't mean to suggest that draenei are eldritch horrors or anything.
[Zaara]: I am delight.
[Tadget]: Your tentacles aren't the grabby kind, Booty.
[Zaara]: This is true.
[Thalstan]: They're more… decorative, aye?
[Vesyllah]: More like…tendrils? I don't know.
[Tadget]: Like hair or something.
[Thalstan]: Can ye move 'em on their own?
[Tadget]: PLEASE DO NOT SHOW US.
[Tadget]: IF SO.
[Zaara]: A - oh.
[Thalstan]: I mean, I'm a mite curious now.
[Vesyllah]: Please show me if you can.
[Zaara]: It is like eyebrows, I am thinking? You can move eyebrows on Azeroth?
[Zaara]: But not so much, only a little.
[Tadget]: Vengeance, don't move your eyebrows either.
Zaara waggles her eyebrows.
Thalstan waggles his eyebrows too.
[Zaara]: Some long wiggly stuff is very good.
Thalstan gives Zaara a curious look.
[Tadget]: Thalstan, don't you dare ask.
Vesyllah snickers.
[Thalstan]: Ye been readin' the fan fiction?
Zaara smiles beatifically.
Tadget laughs.
Tadget cackles maniacally at Zaara.
[Tadget]: Personally the Zaarthur ones are my favorite.
[Arthur]: The-
[Tadget]: Very wholesome.
[Zaara]: Who is Zaarthur?
Arthur goes pink.
Thalstan raises his eyebrows. They're getting a workout today.
[Tadget]: No one, Zaara, it's no one.
[Zaara]: But…
[Arthur]: She'll just ask someone else, you know.
[Tadget]: Fine, fine.
[Tadget]: Fan fiction people mix up people's names when they're making a um, relationship between the.
[Tadget]: them*
[Zaara]: Oh?
[Tadget]: So… Zaarthur means, Zaara and Arthur.
[Zaara]: Oh!
[Zaara]: Yes! Arthur and me have a relationship!
[Vesyllah]: But are you ^&*!ing?
[Arthur]: Yes but it means…
[Zaara]: We are frie-
[Zaara]: Oh.
[Tadget]: UGH
[Tadget]: You're the worst, Vengeance.
[Zaara]: We are not! Should we be?
[Thalstan]: Uh… if ye like?
[Tadget]: Lot of fan fiction writers seem to think so.
[Zaara]: Is this supposed? Arthur?
[Vesyllah]: Do you want to?
[Tadget]: I mean really we probably all should NOT.
[Arthur]: I-
[Thalstan]: It is no' for coworkers, no.
Vesyllah snorts. "That's ridiculous."
[Thalstan]: Not the usual, anyway.
[Tadget]: You say that she is a very beautiful woman but you are coworkers and it would be inappropriate.
[Zaara]: Yes!
[Zaara]: I am beautiful but inappropriate.
Zaara nods gravely.
Arthur giggles.
[Tadget]: I am beautiful but inappropriate and also my husband would assassinate you.
Thalstan chuckles.
[Vesyllah]: You're all too tightly wound about sex.
[Tadget]: How tight I am or am not is entirely the business of someone NOT you, Vengeance.
[Thalstan]: It's different fer yer folk?
[Vesyllah]: I guess so. Kaldorei don't have all these hang ups, for the most part.
[Vesyllah]: This is your penance!
[Tadget]: I mean I'd happily boink all of ya but, you know, then Finn would murder you, so.
[Tadget]: He's so fussy about his things.
[Thalstan]: I would no' like ta be murdered, that's true. No matter how cute ye are.
[Tadget]: Finn is a GREAT person to be murdered by.
[Tadget]: If you ever do decide you wanna get murdered, I can arrange it.
[Thalstan]: Is tha' a… personal recommendation?
[Tadget]: He's got so much STYLE.
[Thalstan]: Fer… the 7th Legion thing?
[Tadget]: Wait, what? Ohhhhh.
[Tadget]: I hadn't even thought of that.
[Thalstan]: Well, maybe if we don't die by the time it's a situation… we can ask yer husband.
[Tadget]: Neat.
[Arthur]: Hold on. Why do we have to die?
[Tadget]: It's always nice when he can turn his murderous impulses to a good cause.
[Zaara]: Because it is the natural part of mortal life!
[Tadget]: To qualify for the 7th Legion, you have to prove you are resurrectable.
[Vesyllah]: To prove we're cool enough to be in the 7th Legion.
[Zaara]: … oh yes. The 7th Legion.
[Vesyllah]: Not all souls have the strength to return from the dead.
[Vesyllah]: The 7th wants only those that can.
[Tadget]: And the 7th Legion is as good as it is because of hte lack of turnover. They focus on long term training and stuff.
[Thalstan]: And they do dangerous stuff, so they got ta be able ta call ye back.
[Tadget]: Yep.
[Vesyllah]: Got to admit, it's kind of a brilliant strategy for making super soldiers.
[Tadget]: This was what made Wrathgate so horrible for them.
[Tadget]: They lost a lot of people. LOST lost. For the first time.
[Tadget]: Because the Forsaken did something that like… dissolved their connection to their souls??? I dunno.
Thalstan nods sadly. "Cause o' the plague. Could no' resurrect folk."
[Tadget]: Yeah.
[Tadget]: Zero rezzes on that field.
[Tadget]: ZERO.
[Tadget]: Lost half of what used to be my unit.
[Arthur]: That's something that would break a healer, I think. Oh, Light.
[Tadget]: Luckily the 6th's healer was dead already.
[Vesyllah]: I am vengeance!
Thalstan nods at Arthur. "Must ha been hard fer them."
[Tadget]: Still can't believe they lost Boles….
[Tadget]: She seemed like the kind of jerk who would never die.
Thalstan looks sadly at Tadget. "It's always hard ta lose folk, I'd imagine."
[Tadget]: And yet Crowley somehow lived??? And he's Master Sergeant now? UGH.
[Tadget]: Anyway, who cares, I don't need any of them. We can be our own unit!
[Thalstan]: Aye, our own unit.
[Vesyllah]: Assuming we can all make it back from death.
[Thalstan]: We'll jus need ta recruit… two more, ye said?
[Tadget]: They'd probably make me Captain. No offense, Valor.
[Tadget]: But I have Experience.
[Vesyllah]: Wisdom and restraint are also important.
[Tadget]: You could be my Lieutenant.
[Thalstan]: I am no' takin' offense on possible future decisions.
[Tadget]: Yeah, normally it's seven.
[Thalstan]: They'd have a lot ta live up to.
[Thalstan]: Joinin' this team.
[Tadget]: Wyrmbane's lucky number.
The team hops on a ship to Feathermoon Stronghold.
[Arthur]: Oh, a ship! I missed these.
[Zaara]: We can recruit Wisdom and Restraint?
Tadget laughs at you.
[Tadget]: at Zaara*
[Thalstan]: The town's out on an island.. and aye. Sounds like good code names. *Thal grins*
[Tadget]: Restraint would have been a good code name for my last captain.
[Thalstan]: The warlock fella?
[Tadget]: Yeah. He didn't hit me SO many times.
You laugh.
[Thalstan]: Let's head back to the witch now? To Mudsprocket!
[Tadget]: 'Kay.
[Thalstan]: Or… Art?
[Arthur]: Darling. I thought you'd never ask!
Tadget laughs at Arthur.
Thalstan grins at Arthur.
We all take Arthur’s portal to Theramore, and then head to Tabetha’s hut.
[Thalstan]: Just up here somewhere…
Arthur steels himself.
Tabetha looks up as the team enters. "You're back! I honestly wasn't sure if you would be."
Zaara whispers loudly, "So spoopy."
Tadget giggles at Zaara.
[Thalstan]: Aye, well. We brought ye the gizzards and the livers.
[Arthur]: We are. and we have everything you asked for.
Thalstan nods at Art.
Tabetha says: Well. My own apprentices could learn a thing or two about your promptness.
Thalstan looks a little surprised.
Vesyllah smirks at Tabetha. She's so cool.
Tabetha says: With these, I can get a look into what's happening in Kalimdor in general. You know, get a sense of exactly how much doomed we all are.
Tadget blinks at Tabetha.
[Zaara]: Oh! We are very doomed probably.
[Tadget]: It's really always such a pleasure to visit with you, Tabetha.
[Zaara]: It is like Draenor.
Tadget tells Zaara to be quiet. Shhh!
Zaara shushes.
Tabetha says: Like Draenor? Oh, I don't think so, not exactly. Every world falls apart in its own special way.
[Tadget]: Wow.
Arthur hands over a [Jade] and a [Bolt Charged Bramble]. "For the wand. Also…"
Tadget beams at Art. He's so cool.
Tabetha grins at Art. "You don't look singed at all. You dodged that lightning well, then?"
[Arthur]: It was a bit tricky. but a new strategy took care of it.
Tabetha nods at Art. "Strategy and initiative. I knew you had potential."
Zaara nods solemnly at Tabetha. Smart witch.
[Tadget]: He's the best!
[Tadget]: They don't ask just anyone to represent humanity in the Cobalt Blade.
Arthur peers in his bag and retrieves [Rituals of Power]. "This is the book you asked for."
Tabetha says: Oh, perfect! He hasn't been answering my letters.
Tabetha says: And the power source, young Arthur? Or is that doom still ahead?
Zaara whispers, Doom.
Tadget whispers, mooD.
Arthur continues to look solemn, but he can't help a tiny smile. "Finally, I have this [Obsidian Power Source]. Got stuck at the bottom of my bag."
[Tadget]: Whoa. He really came prepared.
Tabetha says: You did it? Well done! I was chatting with some of my colleagues and when your name came up they said, "You know that Arthur Reeves sure works well under stress!"
[Zaara]: Yes! This is what we say.
Tabetha says: But when I told them I sent you to Uldaman against the obsidian sentinel, they said I was crazy! They said, "Tabetha, you're crazy! There's no way Arthur Reeves could take on that sentinel!"
[Zaara]: What!
[Tadget]: Observe how very alive he is.
Tabetha says: And I said, "We'll see," and then they said "Yeah, we'll see…" Well we sure showed them, didn't we! Seriously, I knew you had it in you, little mage.
Arthur smiles enough for his dimples to show.
Tabetha seems genuinely pleased, even if maybe she was making bets on his survival with her colleagues.
[Tadget]: So maybe you can stop, like, actively trying to kill him now.
Tabetha laughs. "I was never actively trying to kill him. If I was doing that, I wouldn't be pointing out every risk to life and limb, would I? I'd just send him in blind. No offense, draenei."
[Zaara]: I am no offense.
[Tadget]: Send him in blind like you did with that gigantic demon, you mean?
Tabetha says: Hah, well, he had you with him. I'd have been terribly disappointed if the Cobalt Blade couldn't handle one measly little surprise demon.
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!
[Arthur]: I'm guessing there's still a bit more to do.
Tabetha says: Arthur, you're right. There's more to do. But you're almost at the end.
Arthur nods. "Where must I go, then?"
Tabetha says: Right here! This last step is the most perilous, so maybe it's best you've got your friends with you. I hope you didn't try to do all that other stuff alone. *She laughs, the very idea*
[Arthur]: What if I had?
Arthur smiles at Tabetha.
Tabetha just smiles back at Arthur.
Tabetha says: I have the empty summoner's orb and am ready to empower it. We will do this by harnessing the energy of a mana rift. I'll cast a spell that will temporarily open a rift, from which creatures, mana surges, will pour out.
Tabetha says: You must defeat the mana surges and their power will be released, which I will then collect.
[Tadget]: This all sounds very safe and fine.
[Arthur]: Oh. Well. I bet we could do that!
Tabetha says: Good. I'm betting on you. All of you. Otherwise, I'll have to clean up the mess, and ugh.
Tabetha says: Ready?
Vesyllah nods. Ugh.
[Arthur]: All right. one moment…
Tadget wishes everyone good luck.
[Arthur]: I'm ready.
Tabetha says: Prepare yourself, Arthur. I go to open the rift…
[Zaara]: What are we happening to?
[Vesyllah]: I am the night!
[Thalstan]: Is tha' enough?
[Arthur]: Oh yeah, a bit back.
Tabetha says: Ok, let's get this orb made…
We fight a lot of mana surges.
Tabetha beams at us when we return.
Tabetha says: You did it! I never doubted you for a second! Ok, maybe for just a second, or two… but basically I didn't have much doubt.
Tadget sighs at Tabetha.
Thalstan eyes Tabetha suspiciously.
Tabetha says: Stand back, and … hold your breath. I haven't done this in a while.
Tabetha says: It worked! Amazing! I guess I haven't lost my touch…
Tadget sighs at Tabetha.
Tabetha says: And that's it! You should be proud of yourself, Arthur. Many mages have fallen to the creatures you faced.
[Tadget]: And now they fertilize your garden or something.
[Arthur]: Thank you.
Tabetha says: Oh, don't be silly. They're generally far too arcane-tainted for that.
Tadget sighs at Tabetha.
Arthur Takes a [Celestial Stave] and a [Ragefire Wand] and equips them, grinning.
Zaara nods solemnly.
[Tadget]: Well, at least you got something out of all this.
[Zaara]: Friendship!
Tadget giggles at Zaara.
Tabetha says: Good luck, Arthur. I hope to hear good news of your adventures in the future!
[Arthur]: Thank you! We'll be back when we get the tiara.
[Tadget]: You'd look great in a tiara, Art. Just saying.
Tabetha says: Excellent. And as for the livers and the gizzards… tell Tervosh he was right.
Tabetha says: It's the same sort of corruption… not just in Maraudon. It will have to be addressed.
Tabetha says: But not today, you've all done enough.
Tadget cheers at Tabetha!
Thalstan nods at Tabetha.
[Arthur]: I should report to the tower at Stormwind. Does anyone want a lift?
Tadget nods at Arthur.
[Thalstan]: Aye, I could use a portal.
Arthur nods. "A portal, then. And then, Mauradon."
Zaara cheers!
[Zaara]: Friendship!
[Thalstan]: And Friendship!
Tadget cheers!
Vesyllah steps through the portal.