![](http://cobalt-company.wdfiles.com/local--resized-images/writing:2024-05-27-chapter-xi:schism-in-the-searing-gorge-pa/style="margin:/medium.jpg) |
| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | The Cobalt Blade (Arthur, Tadget, Thalstan, Vesyllah and Zaara) help build a Dark Iron alliance, and then take the fight to the Slag Pit to eliminate the enemy Dark Iron's latest elemental leader. Zaara has great dance moves (it's the tail). Vesyllah is wrapped in shadow and annoyance. Arthur is agreeable, and Thalstan tries to be diplomatic. Tadget is a poorly-built bridge connoisseur. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: The Cobalt Blade
The team gathers at the Iron Summit.
[Thalstan]: 'Lo there, everyone. Got th' candy an' flowers?
[Zaara]: What! I do not!!!
Zaara looks aghast.
[Vesyllah]: Candy and flowers….
[Zaara]: I did not know this!!!
Zaara tugs on her hair.
[Tadget]: I am candy.
Thalstan laughs. "It's a bit of a joke."
[Zaara]: … oh. Oh?
[Thalstan]: Don't worry, Booty. It's jus', we're here for diplomatic stuff.
[Thalstan]: Tryin' ta sweet talk a Mountain Lord.
[Zaara]: Oh.
[Tadget]: In other words, time for me and Ves to keep our mouths shut.
Vesyllah lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
[Zaara]: Okay!
[Thalstan]: An' someone last time suggested flowers an' candies. I did no' bring any myself though.
The come to speak to the Mountain-Lord, who is attended by two dancers.
Tadget winks slyly at Rendan's Attendant.
Thalstan bows before Mountain-Lord Rendan.
Tadget bows and keeps her mouth shut.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: And who might you be?
[Thalstan]: We're the Cobalt Blade, sent here on behalf o' Thorium Point.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Ah, an emissary from the Thorium Brotherhood. They're looking for my support? Fine, I might be willin' to help out…
Thalstan looks surprised. That was easy.
Zaara beams.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: …for a price.
Tadget smiles at Mountain-Lord Rendan.
Zaara stops beaming.
[Tadget]: My kinda guy.
[Thalstan]: Oh. Well, if ye know what's goin' on with the gorge dwarves, it's kind of everybody's problem.
[Zaara]: Mayhem, shh! You must keep mouth shut. You said.
Tadget closes her mouth loudly.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: I suppose, but our problems could be everybody's problems, too. That Overseer Oilfist couldn't'a picked a worse time to ask me to join a fight. my summit's already under siege.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: It's nothin' my guards can't handle, but still, it won't be easy for me to pick up and send some dwarves into that infernal gorge.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Tell ya what: If you can help me bring an end to all this faster, I’ll consider your offer.
Tadget pinches her lips between her thumb and forefinger.
Tadget looks a little like a duck now.
Vesyllah sighs loudly.
[Thalstan]: Oh, aye? Bit o' military help? We are a strike team.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Let me bring you up to speed on the situation.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: There’s marksman on the eastern flats that’re holding our fortress under siege, and they’re doin’ it with bullets much higher quality than anything I can reproduce.
[Thalstan]: So we should kidnap a smith?
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: …no. If ye want my help, what I want is for ye to take out those marksmen, and take their bullets.
[Thalstan]: Oh, aye, that works, too.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: I'm sure they'll be happy to give ye their bullets one at a time, but you might find it faster just to look for the crates filled with them.
[Thalstan]: Indeed, tha's an easier way of it.
[Zaara]: But if you have got a smith you can make some! If you only take the bullets, you use them up.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Well, yes… but in the short term… and anyway, their smiths are not likely to work for us willingly.
Tadget snickers at Mountain-Lord Rendan.
[Zaara]: Short term!
Zaara laughs.
Zaara, don't make dwarf jokes.
Tadget snickers at Zaara.
Tadget tells Zaara to be quiet. Shhh!
Thalstan looks at Zaara, confused. He did not catch the dwarf joke.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: One more thing, I’ll be needin’ ta take out those towers. I'm not sure if ye've noticed, but my tower's much taller than any o' the other towers here around the Gorge.
[Arthur]: We're stealing the bullets. depriving them of bullets, adding to our bullets.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Aye, lad, that's the shape of it.
Tadget would tell Zaara to stop making height jokes, but for Zaara that's a bit of a tall order.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Some dwarves pride themselves at how deep they can dig, but not me. Sometimes I think I shoulda been born a Wildhammer.
[Thalstan]: Diggin' deep does seem ta cause problems sometimes.
Tadget makes a sound between her clamped-shut lips.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: I still don't like the sight o' those other towers, though. Reachin' up like that, ticklin' my tower's feet. Here, take this torch, an' use it on the braziers atop those other towers.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: They'll be sorry they ever built 'em to begin with.
[Zaara]: Who has a big tower seems not very important to worry about? Your tower is very big, it is fine.
Rendan smiles at Zaara. "Ye do look like a lass who appreciates a big tower."
[Zaara]: Are they using their towers better than yours?
Zaara can't see the smile.
Tadget just puts both hands over her mouth now.
[Thalstan]: This is… of strategic importance? No' jus' cause you don't like the towers?
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: They sure won't be after ye deal with 'em.
[Thalstan]: Well, we'll see what we can do with the fire.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Thank ye, Cobalt Blade. Good luck.
[Vesyllah]: Mmmhm.
The team heads out to kill marksmen, collect bullets, and set inferior towers ablaze.
[Tadget]: You know, I wouldn't have volunteered to keep my mouth shut if I'd known that guy was gonna be such a sleazebag.
[Tadget]: I do well with sleazebags.
[Thalstan]: He did no' seem so bad.
[Zaara]: He did not hear me say I think biggest of towers is NOT important?
Tadget giggles.
[Vesyllah]: I guarantee you he doesn't have the biggest of towers.
[Thalstan]: I think he jus' heard ye say he had a fine tower.
Zaara sighs.
[Thalstan]: Sleazebag or no', he's got fighters.
We approach one of the towers, which is on a protrusion of rock only reachable by a rickety bridge.
[Thalstan]: This one seems real secure.
[Thalstan]: Hope they're good bridge builders.
[Tadget]: Crossing bridges is no fun if they're built well.
[Tadget]: Where's the challenge?
[Thalstan]: That's one way ta look at it.,
[Zaara]: It is not built very well!
[Thalstan]: Is this bridge any fun to ye?
[Tadget]: A bridge isn't a bridge unless you fear for your life on the way over.
[Tadget]: The gaps between the boards are nice.
[Thalstan]: This one is suspended over lava, too, so…
[Zaara]: If that will make you happier, Mayhem. The wood is very complain.
[Tadget]: Extra points for lava.
[Tadget]: Oh, that does make me happy.
[Tadget]: Ideally you want to feel like at any moment it's gonna collapse under you.
[Thalstan]: Well I am pleased it did no'.
[Tadget]: If it had been perfectly stable, you'd be less pleased it didn't collapse. See?
[Thalstan]: I suppose it's a way ta look at things, aye.
Thalstan chuckles, rustling his mustache.
Zaara hisses. "Ah! These elements!"
[Zaara]: They are in very much pain.
[Tadget]: Stupid Deathwing.
[Tadget]: I wonder what he did to them exactly.
[Tadget]: I don't mean to say bad things about shamans, but they do not seem super… well organized.
[Zaara]: They are stupid right now.
[Thalstan]: Shamans?
Tadget laughs at Zaara.
[Zaara]: The Earthen Ring.
[Thalstan]: Why stupid?
[Zaara]: Because of the Horde and Alliance.
[Tadget]: Ugh.
[Tadget]: As annoying as I find the Horde, I gotta say that when we quit fighting with each other dealing with the situation in SIlithus was WAY easier.
[Zaara]: They will like to argue about everything and not weave together. They SHOULD be working together. There is many who wish they would! Like me! And Kaerix. And Thrall.
[Vesyllah]: Thrall?
[Thalstan]: Ah, so they're tryin', but the old animosities…
[Zaara]: The orc!
[Tadget]: Unfortunately when you have a big group of people and most of them want to argue, you get arguing, even if a few really don't want to argue.
[Tadget]: Because the few just end up arguing about arguing.
[Zaara]: Yes it is because Alliance shamans come to join Horde ones. Dwarves and draenei.
[Zaara]: But everyone thinks they have the best ways and the others are only bad intents.
[Tadget]: And then the anti-arguing people spend all their time arguing about why we shouldn't argue.
[Zaara]: … yes, also.
[Thalstan]: Saw that in the Guard sometimes. Folks like to argue an' argue. Sometimes it jus' takes a person to say 'Enough! This is what we're doin' an' I'm gonna go do it now with or without ye!'
[Tadget]: Do the shamans have someone like that? Someone who can convince the others to shut up? Like Malfurion for the druids?
[Zaara]: We have got Farseer Nobundo. Orcs have got Thrall. Everyone thinks they have their own person who is best.
[Zaara]: Even if Nobundo and Thrall are tired of this.
[Tadget]: Hm, maybe Thrall and Nobundo should duke it out in an arena or something.
[Tadget]: Though I guess Thrall would have an unfair advantage, yeah. Due to his arena experience.
[Zaara]: … the Horde right now is very angry for arenas. But also, no.
[Zaara]: Nobundo is for peace.
[Tadget]: Unfortunately when it's peace vs. war, war always wins.
[Tadget]: Because all war has to do is just… war.
[Thalstan]: Well, that's probably enough bullets, speakin' o' war.
[Zaara]: … yes?
[Tadget]: You're extremely cute.
[Zaara]: Yes.
[Tadget]: People say gnomes are cute, but like, you're way cuter than me. I'm terrifying.
[Thalstan]: Okay, now let's see if this fella will stop arguin' and help us out.
Tadget nods at Zaara.
Tadget greets Mountain-Lord Rendan with a hearty hello!
[Thalstan]: Mountain-Lord? We brought you a thousand bullets, killed a bunch of marksmen, and burned down four towers.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: I saw the blaze! Looks like ye know how to light things on fire! An admirable trait in any team, for sure.
[Tadget]: Just kind of a Monday for us.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: If nothin' else, you bought us some time, and some room to open up our supply lines through this siege. I'll just divvy these bullets up amongst the guards. Ye have my thanks.
[Thalstan]: Right. *Thal waits expectantly*
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: What? Why're you still here? Oh, did I promise that I'd help you and the Thorium Brotherhood in yer fight?
[Zaara]: Yes!
[Tadget]: Yep.
[Thalstan]: More or less, aye.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: I lied.
[Arthur]: Oh.
[Zaara]: Oooooh, taxes.
[Tadget]: Can I at least have one of your guns? I've always wanted a gun.
[Arthur]: Well that's unfortunate.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: I just can't spare the men right now. I know I said I'd help, but there's absolutely no way you can convince me to leave Iron Summit right now. Absolutely no way.
[Zaara]: We should build a bigger tower than you!
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: And no, we can't spare any guns either. Sorry.
Vesyllah glowers at Rendan.
Tadget glares. She immediately makes plans to steal a gun.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Eh, you're busy enough with the gorge dwarves. I'm not worried about your towers.
Tadget casually vanishes.
[Thalstan]: Well. I do hope you'll reconsider.
Thalstan gestures the others away.
[Thalstan]: Well that plan did no' work. Maybe the flowers and candies were the way to go.
[Thalstan]: Let's linger around a bit while Mayhem does her thing.
[Vesyllah]: Maybe some precise application of pain is the way to go….
[Thalstan]: Jus' in case she needs a distraction.
Tadget reappears, carrying a [Dark Iron Gun]. She grins.
[Tadget]: …. Oh no.
Lunk the ogre is happily dancing at the bottom of the ramp.
[Tadget]: He's… dancing.
[Arthur]: It's Lunk!
[Vesyllah]: Just…kill me now.
[Tadget]: Or maybe having a seizure?
[Tadget]: Please let it be a seizure. Like, the deadly kind.
Lunk says: Well well well. Look who come searching for Lunk this time!
[Tadget]: We did NOT.
[Tadget]: Under any circumstances.
[Thalstan]: We, uh… we were no' searchin'.
[Vesyllah]: What do you want now, Lunk?
Lunk says: Team looks so sad. What happen? You accidentally kill?
Tadget sights down her new gun at him.
[Zaara]: No! We only kill on purpose!
[Thalstan]: No, we were jus' tryin' to get this Mountain-Lord to join up with Thorium Point, but he's a lying arse.
Lunk says: Oooh…. This sounds like case for Lunk's unique brand of no-kill problem-solve.
[Thalstan]: Um.
[Tadget]: Nice spot you have there with your back to like a fifty foot drop. Shame if someone were to give you a little push.
[Vesyllah]: This should be amusing.
[Arthur]: Okay, Lunk. What's the plan?
[Thalstan]: Maybe let's just hear him out, in case he actually has an idea.
Lunk says: Lunk not smart, but Lunk notice things. Today, Lunk notice that Mountain-Dwarf likes to watch people dance.
[Thalstan]: He… does?
Lunk says: Yes! And Lunk like to dance! You all like to dance! Probably!
[Arthur]: Those attendants up there were dancing.
Tadget charges and attempts to push Lunk off the cliff. Given how physics works, it turns out about like you'd expect. Her little feet churn grooves in the dirt as her forehead presses into his shin.
[Zaara]: Yes! I am so good a dancer!
[Vesyllah]: Okay, we're wasting our time here.
[Thalstan]: Hm, you may have a point, Art.
Zaara bursts into dance.
[Thalstan]: I was no' payin' attention to the attendents.
Lunk cheers at Zaara.
Lunk says: Maybe we can find some more dwarfs that like to dance. Then we go talk to Mountain-Dwarf, and he will listen to you.
[Tadget]: Well, I guess I'm in for any plan that involves dancing.
[Tadget]: I'm an extremely good dancer.
Tadget thinks Zaara is a sexy devil.
[Thalstan]: I guess it's no' the weirdest plan I've ever heard.
[Tadget]: Lunk, you can STAY there.
[Thalstan]: And aye, I can dance with the best of 'em too. The best of dwarves anyway.
Tadget leads a few boogying guards up to the Mountain Lord.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: I thought I told you that I wasn't interested. Why are you still here?
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Did I stutter? I believe I clearly stated that I… won't…
Zaara shakes her booty at Rendan. It's her trademark.
[Tadget]: Because… dance party!!
[Tadget]: Check out Booty's booty!
Rendan looks at all the assembled dwarves. He looks at Zaara.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Wow, ye've got some good moves there! I'm impressed!
[Zaara]: The important thing is to have a tail!
[Tadget]: Kind of jealous, frankly.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Alright, alright! If I knew ye could dance like that, I wouldn't'a asked ye to do all that stuff earlier. And maybe I'd have listened better to your tower criticism.
[Tadget]: Seriously?
Zaara nods firmly.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Yes, seriously. Tell Overseer Oilfist that I'll be joinin' ye. I'll meet ye in the slag pit! With the combined forces of Thorium Point and Iron Summit, those gorge-dwarves won't know what hit 'em!
Tadget cheers at Mountain-Lord Rendan!
[Thalstan]: Well, tha's just great!
[Thalstan]: Glad ta have ye!
The team backs away from Mountain-Lord Rendan.
[Thalstan]: I admit, tha's not the plan I would ha' come up with.
[Thalstan]: Alright, ready ta report back to Oilfist?
[Thalstan]: We can fly ta Thorium Point direct.
Tadget salutes Thalstan with respect.
The team flies back to Thorium Point.
[Thalstan]: Alright, let's go give him the good news!
They head up the ramp to talk to Overseer Oilfist.
[Thalstan]: Overseer Oilfist, we were able ta talk Mountain-Lord Rendan inta comin' to yer aid.
Tadget snickers when Thalstan says the guy's name.
Overseer Oilfist says: Rendan's on our side? About time that oaf came around.
[Thalstan]: Aye, that's what I'm sayin'.
[Tadget]: It took some really heroic-
[Zaara]: We danced for him.
Tadget sighs.
Zaara dances for the Overseer, to demonstrate.
Tadget is distracted by the booty.
Overseer Oilfist says: Danced? Huh. I suppose he always was talking about new dance forms, when I spoke with him. Bit of a hobby.
Oilfist eyes Zaara. "And… I can see that your dancing might be very persuasive."
Zaara beams.
[Zaara]: It is because of the tail.
[Tadget]: Keep your oil bottle corked, buddy.
Overseer Oilfist says: Ye do have a nice ta… Anyway, I had planned on your success, so we're ready to move!
Overseer Oilfist says: The first step is - I'm putting you on flying machines.
[Tadget]: Woo hoo!
[Zaara]: Ooooooh.
Overseer Oilfist says: You'll be responsible for softening the landing into the slag pit. Speak with the flight master here in Thorium Point, then fly down into the gorge.
Overseer Oilfist says: And a warning - Once you near your landing point, there will undoubtedly be hordes of Dark Iron dwarves waiting for you.
[Tadget]: My husband was a pilot in the second war, you know. Shot down DRAGONS. I think of him every time I fly.
Oilfist grins. "Ye'll not have dragons comin' at ye, unless my recon is entirely off. But I'm sure ye'll handle the dwarves."
Tadget nods at Overseer Oilfist.
Overseer Oilfist says: Use our flying machine's guns to take out as many of them as you can, then land at the cavern's entrance. I'll send word for Rendan to be waiting for you there, by the time you arrive.
[Thalstan]: Ready ta fly, everyone?
[Arthur]: Ready!
[Thalstan]: Let's go!
Tadget pretends to shoot at things.
The team flies off in a little fleet of flying machines with impressive guns. They head into the gorge!
Tadget actually shoots at things, now.
We fight the hordes of Dark Iron dwarves that indeed have swarmed at our landing point.
[Tadget]: Nice work.
Tadget lightly hops down on top of a pile of dark iron corpses.
[Zaara]: … this is so many dead dwarves.
[Tadget]: They could've tried not being at our landing site.
[Thalstan]: But we landed safe!
Thalstan nods at Tadget. "Fer once, I'll no' chide ye on the bloodthirst, Mayhem."
Tadget grins wickedly at Thalstan.
[Thalstan]: Ah, here's Rendan an' his dancers.
Tadget greets Mountain-Lord Rendan with a hearty hello!
Tadget dances with Mountain-Lord Rendan.
[Vesyllah]: Hey, Twinkletoes. We're here.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Well, here we are, too. I hope you're ready, Cobalt Blade.
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Okay, now for the plans. Overseer Maltorius is in charge here, but he's not the only dwarf of power within the Slag Pit. Lathoric the Black and his horrifying golem, Obsidion, loom just down this corridor.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Interfering with Lathoric's altar should summon both of them. Find it, then summon Lathoric and kill him. That'll be one less thing to worry about.
[Thalstan]: We are quite good at summonin' things an' killin' 'em. We'll sort it out.
[Tadget]: Obsidion. That sounds like a black dragon name. He totally stole a black dragon's name.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: He likely did, either that or it's just meant as rock. Golem, ye know.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: As for the rest of it -
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Much like Overseer Maltorius, I'm a rich dwarf. However, I earned my riches through hard work and wise decisions, not through slavery. OK fine, very little slavery. Hardly any.
[Thalstan]: Hardly any. *Thal repeats dryly*
Tadget sighs at Mountain-Lord Rendan.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Anyhow, the first thing that I see inside these caverns are slavedrivers and taskmasters. I won't stand for this! As you progress through the cavern, kill as many as you can.
[Tadget]: Kay.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Of course, we'll want to free as many slaves as we can, along the way. Most of them will likely join forces with us, anxious to fight against their captors.
[Thalstan]: This all seems right in line with Cobalt Blade heroics.
[Tadget]: As long as they don't get in our way. We're kind of the fighting specialists. They should maybe just run.
[Arthur]: Indeed.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Running works too, so long as they’re safe. But as a warning, sometimes you will find that slaves are resistant to being freed. It's a strange phenomenon, often called "Durnholde Syndrome".
[Tadget]: Yeah, I've seen that. It sucks.
Rendan nods sadly.
Mountain-Lord Rendan says: Either way, you should try to free them. If they resist, you’ll need to be ready to defend yourselves. Report your results on all of these things to Evonice Sootsmoker, deeper within the Slag Pit.
[Thalstan]: Okay, Cobalt Blade, let's move out!
We start killing slavedrivers and freeing slaves.
Thalstan sets a gnoll slave free.
Gnoll Slave Worker says: Oh, thank you! Thank you!
[Thalstan]: That was… a gnoll. A friendly gnoll.
Vesyllah wraps herself in shadow.
We free more slaves.
Slave Worker says: It's about time! I'm sick of being a slave!
Slave Worker says: I knew the Thorium Brotherhood would come through!
We try on the next few, but it is not as well received.
Slave Worker says: Intruder! The intruder is trying to save me!
Slave Worker says: Never! I love working for the Dark Iron!
Slave Worker says: I'll never leave! I wouldn't know what to do outside!
[Thalstan]: Tadget, knock 'em out!
Tadget does so, efficiently.
The team makes arrangements for the unwilling free slaves to be taken to safety. They’ll have time to figure out what they really want. Then we come upon a sinister-looking altar.
[Tadget]: Oh, gosh.
[Tadget]: What's going on here?
[Thalstan]: Let's mess with his altar.
SUDDEN GOUT OF FLAME. But then we defeat the dwarf and his golem, all is mostly well.
[Tadget]: OW.
[Thalstan]: Well, it was effective.
[Tadget]: I do not enjoy being surprised by massive gouts of flame, as a general rule.
[Thalstan]: Ye alright? No eyebrows singed?
Zaara pats her face.
[Tadget]: I'm fine, but oh my gosh, have you heard???
[Tadget]: Half of Cobalt Company is bald now because Deathwing keeps killing them.
[Zaara]: WHAT.
[Tadget]: I think it's an insidious plot by Ference to have more hair than anyone.
[Tadget]: But yeah, at least two teams of Cobalt people have been caught by Deathwing so far and INCINERATED. And like, they can be resurrected, because heroes or whatever, but…. their hair cannot.
[Thalstan]: Wow, I did no' realize that was still happenin'.
[Tadget]: You figured Deathwing would just be like, "Okay, gonna take a nap now, made my point"?
Thalstan glances at Tadget. "A bit? I mean, he made quite a point, and he must get tired."
Tadget giggles at Thalstan.
[Vesyllah]: Hmm…bet I could make some kind of fire-proof shampoo…
[Thalstan]: Ah, and here's Evorice.
[Thalstan]: Nice goggles, ma'am.
Evorice Sootsmoker says: Hello, and thanks, on the goggles. You must be the Cobalt Blade?
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!
Zaara strikes a pose.
[Thalstan]: Aye, we've freed some slaves, killed some slavers.
Evorice Sootsmoker says: You've done good. I don't like slavery either. Now, we must move on to other pressing tasks. When you're ready, let's hit these Dark Irons where it really hurts!
[Tadget]: The danglies?
[Zaara]: Between the leg!
Evorice Sootsmoker says: No, but I like how you think.
Evorice Sootsmoker says: Here's what I was thinking: It's a little known fact but dwarves, particularly of the Dark Iron variety, need rest! Lots of rest!
Evorice Sootsmoker says: Now I ask you; How can they sleep without pillows? Exactly, they can't. This is why you must steal their pillows.
[Tadget]: …
[Zaara]: What!
Evorice nods. Proven. QED. The end.
[Tadget]: Do we get to keep the pillows?
[Tadget]: I could use more pillows.
Evorice Sootsmoker says: Absolutely! But if you find an especially nice one, I'd appreciate a gift.
[Tadget]: Okay, done.
Evorice Sootsmoker says: Once you've finished your cushion-thievery, talk with Taskmaster Scrange. He's a bit deeper in the cave, working on a covert project with Hansel.
[Tadget]: SCRANGE!
[Thalstan]: Ooh, Scrange and Hansel again! I'd like ta see what they're up to.
The team heads into the sleeping quarters, which are largely empty for the moment, and commence cushion thievery.
[Tadget]: Our old buddy Scrannnnnnnge.
[Tadget]: Scrangin' around.
[Zaara]: This is very scrange mission.
Tadget cackles maniacally at Zaara.
[Thalstan]: I suppose she's a point, but it does not seem the most direct way to go about an assault.
[Tadget]: You think… eighty pillows will be enough?
Seriously, the team has stolen eighty pillows.
[Thalstan]: That's a right army o' tired dwarves. Maybe Lunk can make 'em sleep on the battlefield.
[Tadget]: Heh.
Thalstan laughs, rustling his beard.
[Tadget]: Yes, we should definitely invite Lunk here, for a variety of reasons.
[Thalstan]: There's Scrange up ahead.
They head over to report in, with pillows.
[Tadget]: What's up Dr. Scrange?
Taskmaster Scrange says: I… am tryin' ta figure out why yer carryin' 80 some pillows.
[Tadget]: Ask Evernice, or whatever her name is.
Taskmaster Scrange says: Ah. Evorice is up to her old tricks again. I guess I'll just… um… hang onto these pillows for a while.
Tadget giggles at Taskmaster Scrange.
[Vesyllah]: Uh huh.
[Zaara]: You can have so many naps!
[Tadget]: Alllllll the naps.
Taskmaster Scrange says: Right, I’ll nap after we’ve won. The important part is that you're here. We're going to need your help.
Taskmaster Scrange says: Hansel and I came here on a secret mission: kill Overseer Maltorius.
[Zaara]: Ooooooh.
Taskmaster Scrange says: While our main goal remains the same - defeating Archduke Calcinder - it can't hurt to take out the infamous overseer of the Slag Pit while we're here.
[Tadget]: SLAG PIT.
[Tadget]: Everything has the greatest names around here.
Taskmaster Scrange says: Problem is, Hansel was only prepared to fight one dwarf, but it looks like Maltorius has a friend here… from the Twilight's Hammer!
[Tadget]: Ugh.
[Tadget]: Hate those guys.
Zaara looks immediately grim.
[Zaara]: We kill it.
Taskmaster Scrange says: Speak with Hansel and help him out. Then proceed down this corridor and along the balcony outside to find Overseer Oilfist.
[Thalstan]: Everyone ready ta take him out?
Everyone is! Zaara especially so.
Hansel Heavyhands says: Now ye're talkin'! I'll take the Twilight guy. You focus on the little dwarf.
Cobalt Blade plus Hansel Heavyhands is a deadly combination. Hansel punches the Twilight Hammer guy, and he goes flying.
Tadget cheers!
[Thalstan]: Heh, got him clean in the air!
[Tadget]: COBALT BLADE!!
Task complete, the team heads deeper into the Slag Pit.
[Thalstan]: Now ta find Oilfist!
Oilfist is apparently past a large bridge of crooked metal.
[Tadget]: Now the sturdiness of this bridge is made up for by its crookedness and the lava under it.
[Tadget]: I give it a B minus.
[Thalstan]: Yeah it does not feel well made.
Thal spots Oilfist up ahead.
[Thalstan]: Ah, there he is!
Also there are some very large fire elementals.
Zaara gasps at Searing Flamewraith.
The team winds their way through the fire elementals to Oilfist.
[Thalstan]: This place is a maze.
[Tadget]: Is it hot in here, or is it just Zaara?
[Zaara]: No, Mayhem, it is all of the corrupted fire element.
Tadget snickers.
[Thalstan]: Oilfist! How goes the fight?
Overseer Oilfist says: Cobalt Blade!
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!
[Tadget]: Yes!
Tadget strikes the pose.
[Thalstan]: We just killed Maltorius and some Twilight fella.
Overseer Oilfist says: Twilight's Hammer, eh? I expected as much, after news from Dun Morogh. I'm glad you arrived to help them out when you did.
Overseer Oilfist says: Hansel and Scrange, I mean. Obviously not the Twilight's Hammer.
Overseer Oilfist says: It looks like, despite all odds, we've pressed our offensive to the doorstep of Calcinder's lair. It's now time to finish the job.
Overseer Oilfist says: But as ye’ve likely noticed, it’s not only Calcinder. There is such a thing as digging too deep. While you'll find the richest mineral veins deep below the surface, you'll also find the most evil creatures. Like fire elementals.
Overseer Oilfist says: Calcinder's minions roam the cavern ahead. Every one of them holds a piece of Calcinder's evil within it. Slay as many as you can, and show no remorse.
[Thalstan]: We can do that, aye. An' there's a lesson in this deep diggin' thing.
Overseer Oilfist says: Archduke Calcinder himself squirms in the back of this very cavern. We are close to killing him.. but that is not what we are going to do.
[Thalstan]: No?
Overseer Oilfist says: Slaying Calcinder here means nothing. His acolytes can easily revive him. Instead, we are going to banish him.
Overseer Oilfist says: I asked you to gather a precious stone from the Twilight's Hammer earlier. You will now use it against Calcinder. Engage him, weaken him, then use this device on him. He will be banished from this realm.
[Thalstan]: Oh! That stone we merged together!
[Zaara]: Or we can chop him into many small pieces! And kill the acolytes.
Tadget giggles.
Zaara does not care for element-meddlers.
Overseer Oilfist says: Well, no matter how many acolytes we kill, there always seems to be more. I think that’d risk him getting called back too easily.
Tadget gently pats Zaara.
Overseer Oilfist says: That's why I'm thinking a banishment to the elemental plane is what we need. That's more permanent.
[Tadget]: I can definitely agree to the "show no remorse" part of the plan. I have got that part down.
Overseer Oilfist says: But aye, that's the stone! The one ye got the three pieces of off the cultists earlier.
[Tadget]: Spheeeruuuules.
Overseer Oilfist says: Good luck, brave Cobalt Blade.
[Zaara]: Why do they carry around pieces of a stone to banish their leader?
[Thalstan]: Paranoia? Their last leader enslaved them, didn't 'e?
Vesyllah's psychic scream of agony echoes in the minds of those nearby.
[Thalstan]: Calcinder's got ta be back here somewhere.
[Thalstan]: Ah, there 'e is!
Tadget eyes Archduke Calcinder up and down.
[Thalstan]: He's a big guy.
[Tadget]: Is that a… lava naga?
He does, indeed, look like a very large lava naga.
[Thalstan]: Zaara, we're clear ta banish him?
[Zaara]: WE KI— banish him, yes.
[Tadget]: Biiiig firesnake.
[Thalstan]: That's what it looks like to me. That's the one we saw in the flames, with the dark ember.
Archduke Calcinder yells: The flames of Ragnaros will burn you all.
The team rushes in to fight! Once we’ve weakened him a little, it’s time to use the ol’ banishing stone.
Archduke Calcinder yells: NOOOOOO! THIS CANNOT BE! I… AM… IMMORTAL…!
The banishing works like a charm, though it also causes a light show in the process that dazzles everyone’s eyes.
[Tadget]: MY EYES
[Vesyllah]: Ragnaros? Didn’t he get his ass kicked back to the fire plane?
Thalstan blinks, trying to dislodge dots from his vision.
[Tadget]: Huh.
[Zaara]: But the elemental plane is broke open!
[Thalstan]: Yeah, that's what he was after. Gettin' the dwarves ta dig deeper and free the elementals.
[Zaara]: This is why the Twilights call.
Thalstan nods.
[Thalstan]: It looks like our work here is done.
Tadget cheers at Thalstan!
[Thalstan]: We should head back ta Thorium Point,
Tadget nods at Thalstan.
[Thalstan]: Let them know its done.
[Zaara]: Yes.
[Tadget]: Hey Art.
[Tadget]: Do the portal thing.
[Arthur]: Yeah.
[Arthur]: Oh!
[Tadget]: Because I'm not walking all the way out of here.
[Thalstan]: I don't want ta havve to retrace my footsteps, aye. It was a long way.
Art makes a portal to Stormwind. We head right to the gryphon master and fly to Thorium Point. As the team heads to Overseer Oilfist’s usual spot, they see a familiar ogre.
Lunk says: Lunk heared that you used the stone to banish fire-lizard. You saved Gorge, and you didn't even kill!
[Tadget]: Uh, sure.
[Tadget]: Very nonviolent.
Lunk says: Lunk so proud. Lunk happy to be Cobalt Blade's teacher.
Tadget sighs at Lunk.
Lunk says: I will give you each a special gear, ones from the first thing you do for Luck! Lunk doesn't need them anymore. Lunk too busy adventuring!
Recall, the first thing Lunk asked of the team was to collect gears from war golems so that he could learn about machines.
[Tadget]: Uh, okay.
[Thalstan]: Thanks, Lunk.
[Thalstan]: Take care on yer adventures.
Tadget takes the gear from him and immediately pitches it over her shoulder off the ramp.
[Zaara]: I will treasure it!
Lunk beams at Zaara.
Then, the team gets to Oversee Oilfist.
[Thalstan]: Oilfist! Calcinder is banished.
[Tadget]: Your heroes have returned.
Overseer Oilfist says: Aye, our task is complete, and it's all thanks to you, Cobalt Blade. I'd like to offer you your choice from our coffers. In addition, I intend to make you all full-fledged members of our order.
[Tadget]: Oh. Cool.
Overseer Oilfist says: Welcome to the Thorium Brotherhood, Cobalt Blade. I'm proud to call you my brothers and sisters.
[Zaara]: Ooooh.
[Thalstan]: Wow. It's an honor, sir.
Tadget thanks Overseer Oilfist.
[Tadget]: And all we had to do was… well, quite a lot, actually.
Overseer Oilfist says: Aye, lass. It was quite a lot.
Overseer Oilfist says: There's still some trouble brewing in Blackrock Mountain, but I expect the gorge to be much calmer now with Archduke Calcinder gone.
[Tadget]: Yep yep.
Tadget was happy to help Overseer Oilfist.
Thalstan smiles.
[Thalstan]: Good work, Cobalt Blade!
Tadget cheers at Thalstan!
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!
[Thalstan]: Dismissed, till next time! We've made this place a lot safer fer the friendly Dark Irons.
Vesyllah nods.
[Zaara]: I will not see you all!