(2024-05-06) Stopping the Frostmane

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Natlee and Slicket continue to work together at Kharanos, defending the dwarvish town from the Frostmane trolls who were driven out of their caves by troggs after the Cataclysm.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Dun Morogh

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Natlee and Slicket both arrive at the market area of the disaster zone of Kharanos.

Natlee peers critically at the tradesman's offerings.
[Natlee]: You don't even have a nail file? What are you even doing?

[Slicket]: Natlee! How was your tent?

[Natlee]: Oh my GODS what now. I mean… hi!
Natlee smiles really wide at Slicket.

[Slicket]: What now is… trolls! Or that's the word on the street.
[Slicket]: Or the word on the earthquake-blasted rubble, whatever.

[Natlee]: Ohhh those guys really know how to party.
[Natlee]: What are they doing in this frozen wasteland though?

[Slicket]: I guess it's the ones the troggs chased out.

[Natlee]: Oh. Probably not the partying kind then.

Captain Tharran says: Indeed not. The cataclysm has thrown the balance of power of Dun Morogh into question. Without warning, a wave of troggs emerged from the caves near Gnomeregan and overran the Frostmane trolls.
Captain Tharran says: The trolls have been migrating east ever since.

[Natlee]: Frostmane. I don't know him.

Captain Tharran says: Doesn't matter. There has always been a troll presence up on Shimmer Ridge, to the northwest, but with the migration, the trolls now surround us.
Captain Tharran says: We're getting bogged down in the fight against the Frostmane trolls.
Captain Tharran says: Most of our steam tanks are out of commission and we're losing mountaineers quickly.

Quartermaster Glynna says: It won't be long before we're out of supplies too, Captain. Between the trolls and the yeti raids, we'll be down to half rations within a week.

[Natlee]: Well that's just… really super.

Captain Tharran says: We can't allow the trolls to use this position to their advantage. While my men hold the line in the east, strike against Shimmer Ridge.

[Slicket]: See? That's what he was telling me.

[Natlee]: Oh he's the… striking one. I just keep him from dying.

[Slicket]: Wanna come keep me from dying, babes?

Natlee sighs at you.
[Natlee]: I mean define want?
[Natlee]: What I want is a half decent bubble bath and maybe some champagne? But I mean you're going to run off and do this anyway and die if I don't go, so.

[Slicket]: Thanks, babes! I knew I could count on you. *He winks*
[Slicket]: We can get that bath and champagne later. *Slicket says, and then reconsiders his words* Or you can. I mean, you, alone.
[Slicket]: Of course

[Natlee]: Ugh I have got to stop being so… reliable. It really seems to end with me listening to weird people say gross stuff.

[Slicket]: Aw, come on. I didn't mean nothing by it.

Natlee sticks out her tongue.

Slicket laughs.

[Natlee]: Just hurry up and get this murder stuff over with.

We strike against Shimmer Ridge! A lot of troll killing goes on amidst the following conversation.

[Natlee]: Ugh ugh ugh, I hate when it ends in killing. Blood just goes everywhere.

[Slicket]: Usually a bad sign at the races, too, when killing starts happening.

[Natlee]: Is that a thing?

[Slicket]: Oh you know how it is.

[Natlee]: I wish I could say I didn't? But kind of, yeah.

[Slicket]: People get really serious about bets.

[Natlee]: Right?
[Natlee]: Especially when they lose.

Slicket nods.
[Slicket]: Did you know one of the pilot actually got murdered not long before the flood?

[Natlee]: Wow.

[Slicket]: Yeah. I'm betting it was to fix a race.

[Natlee]: So is that why you quit?

[Slicket]: Nah, I quit because of the flood. Can't race on a salt flat that's underwater.
[Slicket]: But man, Binky was a class act.

[Natlee]: Oh my god he was your friend? Your friend got murdered?
Natlee presses her knuckles to her mouth.

[Slicket]: Um, yeah? I mean, I was really sad about it.

[Natlee]: Wow you are like, really holding up. Good for you.
[Natlee]: It sucks so bad when people you like get murdered. It's just… the worst, right?

[Slicket]: Then, you know, there was the flood, and… *Slick shrugs a little. Bruisers… or warriors… maybe don't have all those cushy feelings.*
[Slicket]: It's… yeah, it sucked pretty bad.

[Natlee]: Yeah, no, I get it. Just stopping to cry about it isn't going to help anything.

[Slicket]: That's one reason I'm here, actually? They caught the guy.

[Natlee]: So I don't wanna like, one-up your story?
[Natlee]: But my mom got murdered I'm pretty sure.

[Slicket]: It was some mercenary group, Cobalt Company, figured out who did it, and… oh what?
[Slicket]: Oh holy sh*t, Natlee, I'm sorry.

[Natlee]: Wait Cobalt what? Who figured it out?

[Slicket]: Some group, said they were the 'Cobalt Eye'.

[Natlee]: Oh my god oh my god shut UP. You're kidding, I think I know these people.

[Slicket]: But your mom… still not solved? Maybe we could ask them.
[Slicket]: And you already know them?

[Natlee]: Okay so RIGHT next to where I train, there's this headquarters for Cobalt Company! A GNOME is in charge.

[Slicket]: Really! No wonder they're smart.

[Natlee]: And they went in and like, helped save Gnomeregan? A couple of times?

[Slicket]: Seems like our kinda people.

[Natlee]: I was absolutely going to try to work for them or something.
[Natlee]: Because they need healers like ALL the time.
[Natlee]: But I didn't know they also SOLVED MURDERS?

[Slicket]: Do you think they'd like it if we went in together? Like… healing and killing duo?

[Natlee]: Um…. maybe….? *She gives a strained smile.*

[Slicket]: Babes, you know I wouldn't sabotage you signing up.
[Slicket]: I want to join 'em, too!

[Natlee]: Okay.

[Slicket]: I'd be real classy.

[Natlee]: Would you though?
Natlee winces a little.

[Slicket]: Extra grease on my mohawk, yeah, it'd be flawless.

[Natlee]: Ohhhh boy. Mmm, fun.
[Natlee]: Tell you what. How about I give you some interview tips.

[Slicket]: Yeah, sure. But I'm great at making good impressions. The Mirage team snapped me up right away.

[Natlee]: So for starters, I would go with maybe… minimal grease. Just like the least possible amount of grease you can go with.

[Slicket]: But… what if the points droop?

[Natlee]: I… honestly have no answer for that.

[Slicket]: That looks… d*mn, that'd look sloppy. I'm a sharp warrior.

[Natlee]: Okay okay maybe we lean into it then. Hm, let me think.
[Natlee]: Okay so maybe you can lean into the grease thing. But also tell them about your daring racecar driving or whatever? And also that you always let me do the talking to strangers.

[Slicket]: Sure, yeah, I'll tell them about the time I… wait, why do you need to do the talking?

[Natlee]: Because I am really, REALLY good at it.
[Natlee]: I talked an orc warlord into letting me do his nails once.

[Slicket]: I mean, you're charming as all hell, I'll give you that.

[Natlee]: RIght?

[Slicket]: Sure, then, I'll tell them you're the charmer.

[Natlee]: And obviously Cobalt Company will notice that. And saying you let me do the talking will show that you are shrewd at delegating based on skillsets.
[Natlee]: And that way they'll think you're smart.

[Slicket]: Right, yeah. *Slicket looks at her sidelong.* I'm smart like that.

[Natlee]: Right, they'll think you're smart because you totally are.
[Natlee]: Just so smart.

[Slicket]: Yeah. *Slicket says, then repeats again* Yeah, they'll see it in me.

[Natlee]: Okay, so that's our strategy.

[Slicket]: Got it.

They arrive back at Kharanos to report in.

[Natlee]: Hey we killed trolls!

[Slicket]: Captain Tharran, we got those trolls!

[Natlee]: Also I found this stuff, might be edible. Who should I give it to? *She holds out some Shimmerweed.*

Captain Tharran says: Good. We should be able to focus our efforts on the rest of the trolls to the east, but there's still the matter of the wendigos in the Grizzled Den.
Captain Tharran says: Ah, thanks fer that.

[Slicket]: So uh, Wendigos, sir?

Captain Tharran says: Aye. The wendigos in the Grizzled Den to the southwest of town have long been a thorn in our side.
Captain Tharran says: They're never quite strong enough to threaten Kharanos directly, yet they prey on travelers, mountaineer patrols, and supply convoys.
Captain Tharran says: I'm going to be withdrawing my observers from the Grizzled Den because I need them on the troll front. Would you help my men finish culling the wendigo population? Without strength of numbers, they won't be able to attack us.

[Slicket]: Sure thing!

[Natlee]: Lemme just run this stuff to the… food guy first.

She does that.

[Natlee]: Ready!

Captain Tharran says: I've got some orders for you to relay, too. I'm going to be withdrawing my observers from the Grizzled Den because I need them on the troll front.

[Slicket]: Right, we'll let them know.

Captain Tharran says: Specifically, find them and tell them to deploy those remote observation bots the gnomes provided, then return to Kharanos.

Captain Tharran says: There's no substitute for live observers, but I need those mountaineers here. We'll have to rely on those little gnomish observer bots for now…

Quartermaster Glynna says: One more thing! The wendigo have been attacking our supply wagons and stealing the supplies. They stashed them in a cave out of town. If you go by there… we could use those supplies.

[Natlee]: 'Kay.

[Slicket]: Right, yeah.

We head out for the Grizzled Den.

[Slicket]: They sure have a lot of different stuff for us to kill.

[Natlee]: So I figure, maybe we do a couple of big high profile jobs for them and then I can ask them about helping me figure out what happened to my mom.

[Slicket]: Cobalt Company? Yeah, that's a good idea.

We kill a wendigo so Natlee can pick a flower.

[Natlee]: Stupid wendigo. Stepping all over that pretty peacebloom.

[Slicket]: They really are pests, aren't they?

We start gathering up supplies scattered wildly around the cave.

[Natlee]: Ugh, why didn't these stupid things just pile all the supplies in one place?
[Natlee]: How do they find anything??

[Slicket]: It'd make things easier!

[Slicket]: So yeah, Cobalt, you could hire them, but I bet if we're internal they'd do the murder investigation for free!

[Natlee]: My thoughts exactly.

[Slicket]: What've you got so far?
[Slicket]: Any leads?

[Natlee]: I took some Snaps of her body and lots of notes.

[Slicket]: That's good, that's like evidence.

[Natlee]: Yeah. But I dont' have a lot of experience investigating crimes. *Weird emphasis, Nat.*

Slicket glances at her. "Yeah, I guess not me either. But I saw them do it at the Raceway. So I've like… watched people investigating crimes."
[Slicket]: What was the giveaway it was a murder?

[Natlee]: Well I just sort of had a feeling.
[Natlee]: She had a lot of enemies. Also it's pretty hard to accidentally stab your own back.

Slicket 's eyes widen. "Oh, sh*t, that's serious. Binky was just rocket-propelled into a canyon wall."

[Natlee]: I mean maybe it was kind of an exciting, cool way to go? For him?
[Natlee]: Sort of wheeeeeeeeeeee! but then less whee.

[Slicket]: I mean, yeah. If I had to, that'd be in my top ten ways, for sure.
[Slicket]: But your mom, why so many enemies? Not as charming as you?

[Natlee]: Oh WAY more charming. So charming.
[Natlee]: She could get ANYTHING she wanted. But, you know, did, most of the time. Hence the enemies.

We approach a dwarf mountaineer.

Natlee peers at Mountaineer Dunstan searchingly.

[Slicket]: Dude, send out your observation bots and head back to Kharanos.

Mountaineer Dunstan says: Tell Captain Tharran that I'll be back in Kharanos as soon as I've verified that the bot is working correctly.

We continue on and find a treasure chest.

[Natlee]: Oooh.
[Natlee]: THis looks important.

[Slicket]: It does.
[Slicket]: You got those lockpicks?

[Natlee]: Yep.

Inside the chest is a sword!

[Natlee]: You need a sword?

[Slicket]: Ooh, that's a sharp one.

[Natlee]: Take it. I'm not really the… sword type.

[Slicket]: And it looks light, too!
[Slicket]: I bet I could use this shield I found, and just swing it with one hand.
[Slicket]: How do I look? Like a bad*ss warrior?

[Natlee]: A shield would be good. So I don't have to keep making one so often out of like, the Light.
[Natlee]: Yeah, you look a lot less likely to die super quickly.

[Slicket]: I like the sound of that!

We find another mountaineer.

[Slicket]: Dude, deploy bots, and then back to Kharanos.

Mountaineer Lewin says: I can't wait to get out there and help in the fight against those trolls.

We fight some more wendigo.

[Natlee]: Mm, yeah, I think you're doing better now.
[Natlee]: The shield is a GREAT look for you.

Another mountaineer found.

[Slicket]: Another dude! Deploy Bots. Back to Kharanos for troll-fighting.

Mountaineer Valgrum says: We've been fighting nonstop since the cataclysm. It'll be nice to get a rest, if a brief one.

[Natlee]: Totally.

[Slicket]: Yeah, and then, you know, trolls.

Natlee giggles at you.

Orders delivered, they continue their murder conversation on the way back to Kharanos.

[Slicket]: Okay, so the suspects are anyone your mom got something from. Which is basically like everyone?

[Natlee]: Pretty much.

Slicket nods thoughtfully, straightening one side of his mustache.

[Slicket]: Well, let's see what's next.

They report to Captain Tharran.

[Slicket]: They should be coming back soon, and we brought some supplies.

Captain Tharran says: Alright, now that the wendigos are settled, we can really focus on the Frostmane to the east.
Captain Tharran says: Most of the mountaineers and steam tanks in Dun Morogh are battling along the Frostmane Front, which is approaching us from the southeast.
Captain Tharran says: We can barely hold the trolls back, let alone advance into their village and take on their leader.
Captain Tharran says: They've blocked our path of approach with mysterious totems that choke mountaineers who come in range, leaving the victims helpless against their enemies.
Captain Tharran says: This stone is inscribed with a rune of fire; it should be able to destroy the totems and free our mountaineers.

[Natlee]: Okay, I can probably figure out how to use that.

[Slicket]: Yeah, I'm not a shaman, but we'll get it sorted.

[Natlee]: I've been studying some rune stuff at the Mystic Ward just for funsies.

[Slicket]: Oh yeah?
[Slicket]: Gonna be a mage too?

[Natlee]: Oh probably not.
[Natlee]: I feel like healer is a way better look for me right now?

[Slicket]: You do look pretty cool haloed in Light.

[Natlee]: Right? It's the hair.

[Slicket]: Yeah, it's a good color for it.
[Slicket]: Arcane blue would be less cool.

[Natlee]: If I had red hair or something… I'd totally go fire mage.

[Slicket]: Okay, here's one of those totems. Want to give it a try?

Kharanos Mountaineer gasps for air.
Kharanos Mountaineer says: Thank you for freeing me!

[Natlee]: Ok wow that was super easy.
Natlee was happy to help.

[Slicket]: Alright, let's get a few more.
[Slicket]: You handle the totems, I'll hit the trolls with my sword.

Kharanos Mountaineer gasps for air.
Kharanos Mountaineer says: Thank you for freeing me!

Three trolls attack Slicket.

[Slicket]: Dude, they jumped me!

[Natlee]: No problem.

[Slicket]: They were totally hiding behind those wrecked tanks.
[Slicket]: Thanks for having my back, Nat.

[Natlee]: Sort of my job?
[Natlee]: Like I literally have One Job.
Natlee does another job.

Kharanos Mountaineer gasps for air.
Kharanos Mountaineer says: Thank you for freeing me!

[Slicket]: I guess I do too? Hit the things with swords.

Natlee giggles at you.

[Slicket]: And uh, make sure they don't hit you.
[Slicket]: So that's two.

A troll attacks Natlee.

[Natlee]: time to do that second one

[Slicket]: On it!
[Slicket]: Let's get out of here. Too many trolls.

Natlee nods at you.
[Natlee]: At least we helped those poor mountaineers.

[Slicket]: Yeah.
[Slicket]: Can't imagine, being trapped and not able to move. *Slicket shudders*
[Slicket]: We got the totems sorted. .Freed those guys. Too many trolls though.

They report back to Captain Tharran. When they arrive, Captain Tharran is in discussion with a Covert Operative.

Captain Tharran says: We can't keep up the operation much longer. Delber and his team must launch their attack from Steelgrill's Depot as soon as possible!

Covert Operative says: Delber and his men are working overtime, captain. He has devised a means of delivering an assault team to the rear flank of the battle.
Covert Operative says: We've also secured air support for the operation and will be ready to deploy soon. If any of your men want to join the assault team, just send them to Delber.

Captain Tharran says: Glad to hear it. I'll send Delber any forces I can spare.

The Covert Operative moves off, and Captain Tharran gestures Natlee and Slicket forward.

Captain Tharran says: With your help, we've managed to push toward Frostmane Retreat. Our forces will soon be in position to dwindle down the Frostmane trolls' reserves, leaving their village open to attack.
Captain Tharran says: That's where the Gnomeregan covert ops team comes in. Their technicians have figured out a way to deploy operatives behind enemy lines without alerting the Frostmanes to our presence.
Captain Tharran says: When you're ready, head to Steelgrill's Depot, just northeast of town, and speak with Delber Cranktoggle. He'll tell you more about it.

[Slicket]: Sure thing. I think I could use a break before getting into Covert Ops. What about you, Natlee?

[Natlee]: 'Kay.
Natlee goes to sulk in her tent.

Slicket shrugs and heads off for his own.