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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | The Cobalt Blade (Thalstan, Zaara, Vesyllah, Tadget and Arthur) head to the Swamp of Sorrows to help with an Alliance offensive against the Horde camp at Stonard. Then they're drawn into something horrifying, and unpleasantly familiar to some. ~5400 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: The Cobalt Blade
Thalstan, Zaara, Target and Vesyllah assemble in Darkshire.
[Thalstan]: Hello, team!
[Zaara]: Hello, team!
[Thalstan]: Ready ta head on over to the swamp?
[Tadget]: Sup cheesebags!
Thalstan grins at Tadget and Zaara.
[Zaara]: Ooooh, a swamp! Yes!
[Tadget]: I'm excited to go to this swamp. It's where I fell in love with my husband. Well, one of the places.
[Vesyllah]: Wait…we're not staying in Duskwood? Ugh…
[Thalstan]: Oh? Ye seem ta have memories of him all o'er the place.
[Tadget]: He gets around.
[Tadget]: So, this was the very first time I had any of those sorts of Weird Feelings for him. It was a very romantic moment.
[Zaara]: It is nice to remember all of your partner's places.
[Thalstan]: I can tell. Yer a romantic one. *Thal chuckles, rustling his beard.*
[Tadget]: We were walking down the road and we saw these shriveled up Lost draenei guys— oh wait. I should not tell this story maybe.
[Thalstan]: Does it turn dirty or somethin'?
[Vesyllah]: It's Tadget. It'll be dirty or bloody.
[Tadget]: Um… No. But… When I used to tell this story there was not like an actual draenei listening.
[Tadget]: It'd be like someone telling a story about leper gnomes with me around.
[Thalstan]: Ah… I see. No' polite.
[Tadget]: Don't go telling people I'm sensitive or anything. If it was anyone but Zaara I'd just tell it anyway.
[Tadget]: In fact if it was that draenei lieutenant I might tell it twice.
[Tadget]: Such a goody-goody.
We enter the swamp.
Vesyllah wrinkles her nose. "Grell, here? Yeah…this place sucks."
[Thalstan]: Right, right. I'll tell everyone yer insensitive, don't worry.
Tadget thanks you.
[Zaara]: Arkanon poros!
[Zaara]: It is so swampy!
They arrive at the Marshtide Watch military outpost.
Thalstan dismounts from his ram. "Here we are, the Alliance outpost."
[Tadget]: This place is new.
[Thalstan]: This is our contact. The Commander Joanna Blueheart.
Joanna Blueheart says: Cobalt Company, well met! I’m glad your superiors could spare a team on short notice.
[Thalstan]: Aye, we're Cobalt Blade, here ta help!
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE.
[Tadget]: Also with your apparent medical condition. It's not supposed to be that color.
Joanna Blueheart blinks at Tadget, confused.
Thalstan chuckles.
Joanna Blueheart says: Do any of you have personal history in this land? I recall your founder’s estate was just across the Deadwind Pass.
Tadget rolls her eyes at mention of the Founder.
[Zaara]: I do not! But I enjoy swamps.
Joanna Blueheart says: Alright. Then let me give you some basic background. This land is where orcs and humans first spilled each other's blood. To the south lurks Stonard, where the orcs first grouped to invade our lands.
[Tadget]: My only personal history in this area is watching my husband murder stuff.
[Zaara]: Her husband is a murderer! It is very sweet.
Blueheart looks dubiously from Zaara to Tadget, and then decides just to glide right over the sweet murderer husband.
[Tadget]: Oh right, this is one of those times when I'm supposed to not do the talking. Right.
Tadget makes a zipping gesture over the mouth area of her mask. Gnomes have zippers, it's okay.
Joanna Blueheart says: Back to the history lesson.
Joanna Blueheart says: It was here they amassed their armies before we even knew they existed. It was here that they started the first of three wars with their attack on a small Alliance town to the west.
Tadget thinks her mask hides her yawn. It doesn't.
Joanna Blueheart says: My town. The town where my parents died to save me. But I'm not here to settle a grudge… I'm here to win a war.
Zaara cheers at Joanna Blueheart!
Thalstan looks at Joanna sympathetically.
Joanna Blueheart says: That brings us to today. With skirmishes raging across the entire world, the last thing we need is a Horde settlement right in our backyard. Redridge, Duskwood, even Elwynn itself are all a short march from here.
Tadget nods grimly; even she can't quip about that assessment.
Joanna Blueheart says: That's why I want victory to be totally assured here. Having more resources isn't enough; we need to make sure the enemy has nothing.
[Tadget]: Now we're talking.
[Thalstan]: Right. Cut them right off.
Joanna Blueheart says: Stonard's forces depend on the lumber gathered from the surrounding woods. The orcish peons that chop the lumber may not be warriors, but they still know nothing but hate for the Alliance.
[Tadget]: Also they're dumber than a bag of doomhammers.
[Thalstan]: So we… go after the peons?
Vesyllah smirks.
[Tadget]: Peeing on them is optional.
Joanna Blueheart says: The warriors and the peons. We've already made the first strike, and I don't plan to give the Horde a chance to catch their breath. So consider yourself deployed.
[Tadget]: Sir yes ma'am!
Joanna Blueheart says: Grab a weapon, join the rest of the troops out in the Bloodmire, cut off their lumber supply, and start killing orcs.
Tadget salutes Joanna Blueheart with respect.
Joanna Blueheart says: Report back here after you've done some damage. I want you back alive…and that's an order. Dismissed!
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE!
[Tadget]: Cobalt Blade!
[Thalstan]: Aye, Cobalt Blade!
Vesyllah sighs. "Let's get it over with."
[Tadget]: This is my kind of Monday.
[Zaara]: Is it Monday?
[Tadget]: Last I checked.
[Tadget]: But I have twin toddlers, so, who knows.
Zaara nods gravely.
[Thalstan]: It is. We're usually deployed on Mondays, lately.
We arrive at the battlefield.
[Thalstan]: Ah, here's the battlefield! Already in action!
Thalstan looks at Tadget. "Don't ye have three kids?"
[Tadget]: Only two I admit to.
[Zaara]: One is a SECRET?
[Tadget]: The other… situation is on a need to know basis.
[Thalstan]: But ye've told us about the three before. Should I tell folk ye've got two?
[Zaara]: Secret baby! Exciting!
[Tadget]: Uh, sure, yeah, why not.
All the while, the team is killing orcs.
[Tadget]: Save me having to explain what the heck Pinni's deal is.
[Thalstan]: Uh.. can I ask what the heck Pinni's deal is? She alrigh'?
Tadget uses her daggers like pitons to climb up the kodo and stab it between the armor plates.
[Tadget]: She's weird.
Thalstan skins it, after it's dead.
[Thalstan]: Oh. Okay. That's quick to explain.
[Tadget]: Like, if you give her a knife, she doesn't try to stab anybody with it or anything.
Thalstan raises a bushy eyebrow.
[Zaara]: Does she try to cut anything? Knives are for cut also.
[Vesyllah]: Ahh. So she's not a psychopath.
[Tadget]: I am not sure how they'd have mixed up our babies given the way they were born, but… she really doesn't seem like a Tadget.
[Tadget]: She also cries a lot, but not like mad crying when she doesn't get her way.
[Tadget]: Like, oh no I'm loooonely, waaaaah.
[Thalstan]: Do ye not cry when yer lonely?
[Tadget]: The nanny spoils her danged rotten.
[Tadget]: I'm never lonely.
[Zaara]: All people are lonely in their own ways!
[Tadget]: Are you lonely, Zaara?
Tadget peers at Zaara searchingly.
[Zaara]: Yes! Who is not?
Tadget stares at Zaara.
[Thalstan]: I mean, sometimes, aye. Sometimes I am too. Even though I'm so attractive.
[Zaara]: Everyone is alone in their own heart.
Tadget stares at Zaara more.
Zaara looks totally blithe, just like when she talked about how much she enjoys the swamp.
[Tadget]: You okay?
Tadget peers at Zaara searchingly.
[Zaara]: Me? Yes! I am okay!
[Tadget]: If there's anything you want to like… talk about… I'm sure Art or someone will listen.
[Zaara]: … I talk about things all the time!
[Tadget]: Okay, good.
[Thalstan]: I think Mayhem means like, painful things, that hurt less when ye share 'em.
[Tadget]: It's good to talk about things. If for example you feel lonely. Hypothetically.
Tadget peers at Zaara searchingly.
[Tadget]: Do you get to hang out with other draenei much Zaara? Or are you always too busy with Blade stuff?
[Thalstan]: I'm not sure if while fightin' orcs is the most ideal time ta talk about feelin's, but really any time can be a good time.
[Zaara]: I do not 'hang out' so much. Why?
[Tadget]: I find it easiest to talk about my feelings when I have something to stab.
[Thalstan]: Sometimes in th' romance novels, the big emotional breakthroughs come right in th' middle of a battle, after all.
[Vesyllah]: Is your entire life an actual romance novel?
[Thalstan]: Mine? I can hope. Zaara's, I do no' know
[Zaara]: Mine is a good adventure!
[Tadget]: Well Zaara, I was just thinking, you know… like maybe even someone who has a group they get to hang around with all the time might still feel lonely if they didn't get to hang out with people who were more like them.
[Tadget]: Hypothetically.
[Zaara]: It is very normal to feel lonely, though, Mayhem.
[Tadget]: For example if I didn't have gnome friends to hang out with between Blade stuff I'd go bananapants.
[Thalstan]: Do ye not mind feelin' lonely, Booty?
[Zaara]: Everyone is lonely in the soul because we all are separated by the circumstance of life and complexity of understanding.
[Vesyllah]: Speak for yourself. I prefer solitude.
[Zaara]: It is the normal condition. You must know it, is all!
[Tadget]: One time I felt so lonely I went on a weird murdering spree for like a year. So I'm not sure it is supes norms.
[Zaara]: You must learn to be lonely well, then.
Tadget peers at Zaara searchingly.
[Vesyllah]: That's not loneliness, Tadget. That's psychosis.
[Tadget]: Sometimes the longer you know someone the less you understand them…
[Thalstan]: Huh. How to be lonely well.
[Tadget]: A person can be psychotic and lonely, Vengeance.
[Vesyllah]: Fair.
[Tadget]: They are two entirely separate vectors.
Havingt completed our orc killing and lumber thwarting, we return to Joanna at Marshtide Watch.
Joanna Blueheart nods as the team approaches.
Joanna nods at Vesyllah's clothing. “More black on you than red… that's what I like to see. Looks like you've got what it takes.”
[Thalstan]: Aye, we've put many of them to the sword. The battle seems ta be goin' well.
[Tadget]: I assure you she has no Horde sympathies whatsoever, Ma'am.
Vesyllah arches an eyebrow at Joanna, and shrugs.
Joanna Blueheart says: I can imagine you wouldn't. I've heard stories of what's happening in Ashenvale. They're a menace everywhere.
[Zaara]: Everywhere.
Joanna Blueheart says: Anyway, we've had strikes on our own lumber line while you've been gone, but this should at least put us on equal footing for gathering rates.
[Vesyllah]: It's awful. But that's war.
Joanna Blueheart says: Awful or not, good work, Cobalt Blade.
[Thalstan]: What do ye need next?
Tadget mutters quietly, 'war is kind of awesome'.
Joanna Blueheart says: As it happens, something has come up. The battle's proceeding just the way I wanted it. With their warriors nearly exhausted, I've sent in our cavalry.
Tadget cheers at Joanna Blueheart!
[Thalstan]: Do ye… want us to support the cavalry?
[Tadget]: I have an extremely fast model mechanostrider.
Joanna Blueheart says: Not quite. What I wasn't expecting was ogres, which perhaps I should have, given the history of this place. Our knights are well-matched against the brutes, but they're going to need help.
[Tadget]: Oh, man, I am GREAT at killing ogres.
Joanna Blueheart says: Good, but just killing ogres won't be enough. The ogres themselves are being summoned onto the battlefield far too rapidly.
[Zaara]: Summoned!
[Tadget]: Oh like a portal situation?
Joanna Blueheart says: Like warlocks. I need you to go far behind the enemy line and seek out their summoners. The orcs are using warlocks to bring their reinforcements in.
[Tadget]: Ugh.
Joanna Blueheart says: Cut down the warlocks, and the portals should close. There aren't many of them; a quick, surgical strike should cripple the enemy.
Tadget salutes Joanna Blueheart with respect.
[Vesyllah]: Gladly.
[Thalstan]: We can be quick an' surgical.
[Tadget]: Sir, yes ma'am!
Joanna Blueheart says: And then I need you back in the field to handle the ogres they’ve already summoned. Few can bring down an ogre on foot, but I think I can count on you. Don't disappoint me.
[Tadget]: We won't, ma'am.
[Vesyllah]: We've handled worse than ogres. We'll be fine.
[Thalstan]: We'll handle 'em for ye. Warlocks and ogres.
[Thalstan]: Alright, we'll head…
Joanna Blueheart says: Oh, one more thing. We've taken more than we've lost, but we've still lost too much.
Tadget listens intently to Joanna Blueheart.
[Thalstan]: Oh?
Joanna Blueheart says: Too many brave people have given their lives for the Alliance out there. I want to make sure they've given proper honors no matter how fierce this battle gets.
[Thalstan]: The orcs are not likely ta give proper honors, sad ta say.
Joanna sighs.
Joanna Blueheart says: I know. But still, take these flags out with you and place one on any fallen soldier you see. The protective wards on them won't offer much protection against any defilement, but it's better than nothing.
[Thalstan]: Yes, ma'am, we'll mark 'em.
Joanna Blueheart says: I'll be able to better judge how many we've lost from a distance, as well.
Tadget salutes Joanna Blueheart with respect.
Arthur arrives.
[Arthur]: I'll have you know that a wizard is never late!
Tadget giggles at Arthur.
[Thalstan]: Art! Right on time! *Thal winks*
Tadget blows Arthur a kiss.
Joanna nods at Arthur, accepting him as a part of the strike team.
[Tadget]: Extra firepower has arrived!
[Tadget]: We've got this in the bag, ma'am.
[Vesyllah]: Mmmhm. Our artillery is here.
Tadget looks very eager to impress the awesome hardcore commander-lady.
[Zaara]: What bag? Do I need a bag?
[Tadget]: I've got the bag, Zaara, don't worry.
[Tadget]: Plus four cheese bags.
[Thalstan]: Just in time, really. We're ta kill warlocks and ogres, and protect the fallen from defilement as we can.
Thalstan surveys the battlefield. "Aye, the orcs have pulled back an it's all ogres now."
[Thalstan]: I see them there, the warlocks in the back!
[Tadget]: Why aren't the two headed ones casting spells??
[Thalstan]: Maybe some o' them aren't so smart?
[Tadget]: At least they're destroying a place that already sucked.
[Thalstan]: Not a fan o' swamps?
[Tadget]: This one in particular is awful.
[Tadget]: I like Zangarmarsh.
[Thalstan]: I'll have ta see that one someday.
[Tadget]: Zangarmarsh has mushrooms the size of trees.
[Zaara]: But… swamps! Also your husband's place!
[Tadget]: I have good memories here but the place itself stinks. Literally.
[Tadget]: What's the difference between a marsh and a swamp?
[Vesyllah]: Swamps have more trees.
[Arthur]: Too much fussing with socks and shoes on swamp assignments.
[Zaara]: A marsh is when you walk very sharply. A swamp is a wet place.
[Tadget]: Oh Zaara.
[Vesyllah]: Mischief managed.
We take out the warlocks, killing ogres along the way. Then we return to Joanna Blueheart.
[Thalstan]: Well, I think that's done with the warlocks, and we've cleaned up a lot o' the ogres. That might help wi' the smell a bit.
Joanna Blueheart says: By which I take it you mean death to the ogres and the warlocks?
[Tadget]: Yes ma'am!
Joanna Blueheart says: Once again, well done. With a few more pushes the battle will be ours.
Tadget salutes Joanna Blueheart with respect.
Joanna smiles. "Going toe to toe with ogres is impressive. I'm glad I've got soldiers like you out there."
Joanna Blueheart says: And the protections for the fallen?
[Tadget]: My toes and their toes are the only bits that line up.
[Thalstan]: Aye, we flagged all the ones we saw.
Arthur doesn't mind his soggy boots so much, after a smile like that.
Joanna Blueheart says: Thank you, Cobalt Blade. Those soldiers deserve better than to be left face down in the mud.
Joanna Blueheart says: With all that complete, we're ready for the final push into Stonard itself.
[Tadget]: Yes ma'am!
oanna Blueheart says: I shouldn't have to remind anyone, but I'll say it anyway: We're not orcs, and we're not going to become them out of revenge or spite. Stonard will not be burned to the ground for us to dance on the ashes.
Zaara pouts.
[Thalstan]: Right… it… won't?
oanna Blueheart says: No, I want this done right. I want this surgical. Hold your head high and strike down any orc that picks up a weapon.
[Thalstan]: Aye, that we can do.
Tadget's eyes are a little starry.
Joanna Blueheart says: Still, even though we may not be flattening Stonard into dust, I don't want to have to go in there a second time.
[Tadget]: No ma'am!
Joanna Blueheart says: I want you to gather any supplies you see in the town while you're there. Without food, they won't have any fighters after more than a day. There should be crates scattered all over town.
[Thalstan]: Aye, ma'am! We'll strike them down and reclaim their supplies fer the Alliance!
Tadget salutes Joanna Blueheart with respect.
[Thalstan]: Ready ta move out?
Arthur flexes his muscles. Oooooh so strong!
Tadget salutes Thalstan with respect.
[Tadget]: You heard the dwarf! Move out!
We ride to Stonard.
[Thalstan]: Here we are. Ye heard the woman! Let's strike them down!
Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.
Tadget fills the mailbox full of crossbow bolts. Just because.
Thalstan sweeps around the town, fighting with any orc who raises a weapon.
[Vesyllah]: This is your penance!
[Vesyllah]: Face the agony of your sins!
[Vesyllah]: Let's check inside.
[Vesyllah]: Nothing in here.
We slay every combatant orc and steal their supplies.
[Thalstan]: Hah, if they try ta rebuild after that… it'll be hard.
Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.
[Thalstan]: Stonard in ruins. I bet Lord Ference'll be pleased.
Tadget makes a rude gesture.
We return to Blueheart.
[Thalstan]: We struck down the town! And got all these supplies. *Thal gestures*
Tadget salutes Joanna Blueheart with respect.
Joanna Blueheart says: Good work, Cobalt Company. With this, it's only a matter of time until the orcs are fleeing for the portal or begging for surrender.
Tadget grins wickedly at Joanna Blueheart.
Joanna Blueheart says: You've followed orders well. On behalf of the crown, I commend you all for your bravery on the battlefield.
[Arthur]: I mean, if we're comparing ruined homelands, here…
[Tadget]: It's not a competition, Trouble.
Thalstan glances at Art in concern.
[Tadget]: If it was, I think Zaara wins.
[Arthur]: And it shouldn't be. So many of us lost so much.
[Zaara]: Me? Why?
[Tadget]: You have the most destroyed homeland.
[Tadget]: Yours like, completely exploded.
[Zaara]: I do? Oh! Draenor?
Zaara laughs.
[Zaara]: We lived on Draenor… two hundred years? I was born many worlds before that.
[Zaara]: But yes. Very sad.
[Tadget]: …. Okay you definitely win.
[Thalstan]: Huh, what do ye consider yer homeland?
[Zaara]: Genedar! … which also is ruined, yes.
Tadget leans on Zaara's legs.
[Thalstan]: Ah… so ye still win, mayhap.
[Zaara]: But now we have Azeroth! Worlds come and go.
Tadget hugs Zaara.
[Zaara]: I hope this one does not go soon!
Zaara laughs.
[Tadget]: Not on my watch.
[Thalstan]: As do we all, Zaara, as do we all.
[Zaara]: COBOLT BLADE. We do not let the world go!
Joanna Blueheart says: I don't intend to let that happen. The orcs won't do to Azeroth what they did to Draenor.
[Thalstan]: Anything else ye need, Commander Blueheart?
Tadget salutes Zaara with respect.
[Tadget]: Anything at all?
[Tadget]: Like literally, we'll do literally anything.
Joanna Blueheart says: No, I think me and my troops will take some time to enjoy this victory. I suggest you do the same!
[Vesyllah]: Careful. Her husband kills people.
Tadget lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Joanna Blueheart says: I’d suggest you head around east and then south to Nethergarde Keep to fly back to Ironforge. No call for you to get mixed up in the aftermath. My men can handle that.
[Tadget]: Mkay.
[Zaara]: Ice cream!
[Arthur]: Yeah! Except, there's got to be something we can do.
[Tadget]: I have ice cream if you want, Zaara.
[Arthur]: I kinda feel like we just got started, you know?
[Tadget]: Would you feel less lonely if I gave you some ice cream?
[Zaara]: Yes! But also I would have ice cream.
Tadget literally gives Zaara some ice cream.
Joanna Blueheart says: You made quick work of them. If you run into any stray orc warriors out there, I'll welcome you to kill them on behalf of the crown.
Zaara licks a strawberry ice cream cone happily and absolutely does not ask where or how or why Tadget was carrying it.
Probably for the best.
[Thalstan]: Oookay. So we got our mission complete, and ice cream. Let's head south?
Tadget salutes you with respect.
Zaara nods. She has strawberry ice cream on her nose.
Tadget somehow made Zaara cuter.
We ride until we spot a goblin camp.
Tadget eyes an elderly goblin up and down.
[Tadget]: Ugh. Goblins.
As we ride by, an elderly goblin flags us down frantically.
[Thalstan]: Ma'am? Is there a problem?
Baba Bogbrew says: Hello, there! You look like mercenaries, am I right? Care to stop and help a poor old woman?
Baba Bogbrew says: There's money in it for you!
[Tadget]: It really depends on the woman.
Tadget stares Baba Bogbrew down.
Baba Bogbrew says: My name's Baba Bogbrew. Steamwheedle Cartel. Um… Alchemist? I don't know. What you want to know?
[Thalstan]: Maybe what it is ye'd like us to do?
[Arthur]: You're an alchemist? That's really cool!
Baba grins at Art. "Isn't it! Do you practice?"
[Thalstan]: I'm still waitin' ta hear what ye want of mercenaries.
Baba Bogbrew says: Okay, fine. Let me set the scene. We’re all alone here. *She gestures at Brita, Sid, and the handful of Privateers* The rest of the Steamwheedle are gone.
Baba Bogbrew says: All the young ones at the camp to the east were lost… when the murlocs came.
[Thalstan]: Murlocs, aye? They're a common problem, but nothing I'd think a few goblin bruisers could no' handle.
Zaara has finished her ice cream. She crunches on the cone.
Tadget gently pats Zaara.
Tadget peers at Zaara searchingly.
Baba Bogbrew says: Yes, there's always been murlocs on these shores… but not in these numbers. They came in droves from the sea at night, howling and frothing, swarming up onto the land to attack!
[Tadget]: I mean, we're in the area, and if what you want involves murdering, I guess we could do it on the way to where we're going.
[Tadget]: I'm not a big fan of goblins, but I hate murlocs worse, so.
[Zaara]: Howling? Murloc howls?
Tadget makes murloc sounds.
Baba's face brightens at Tadget's words. "Perfect! Murder was exactly what I had in mind. You've cleverly honed right in on my request."
[Vesyllah]: Those murlocs will become an Alliance problem as well if we don't cull them.
[Tadget]: Okay, I guess we can do some on-the-way type murders.
Baba Bogbrew says: Exactly. We can't have them still running around, now can we? Would you put an old goblin at ease and beat some of them back into the water?
[Tadget]: Does sound kinda fun.
Arthur shivers. Murlocs.
[Tadget]: Been a while since I did some murloc murder.
[Arthur]: I really don't like Murlocs.
[Tadget]: Don't worry Art, I'll handle 'em.
[Arthur]: My hero.
Tadget giggles at Arthur.
[Thalstan]: Down at the coast I reckon. That's where they usually are.
We find the abandoned goblin camp, full of murlocs.
[Thalstan]: Oh, this is a proper camp.
[Thalstan]: Wooden walls and everything.
[Thalstan]: I would no' have thought murlocs would run over a town like this.
We start clearing out the murlocs.
[Tadget]: What a dump.
[Tadget]: Looks like an orc internment camp.
[Thalstan]: A goblin camp.
[Thalstan]: Ye'd think they'd glam it up a bit.
[Tadget]: Yeah, where are the pineapple motifs?
The whole place is now cleared out.
[Tadget]: Very satisfying.
[Thalstan]: Alright, think we've pushed 'em back.
Thalstan nods at Tadget.
[Tadget]: See, murlocs aren't so scary, now that you're a powerful mage, right Art?
[Thalstan]: We can go collect our pay.
[Arthur]: They were pretty scary when I was a wussy mage.
[Thalstan]: And now yer a big tough powerful mage! No' even Tabetha can shake ye now, I bet!
[Tadget]: Now murlocs fear YOU!
[Arthur]: Gwenivene told me the secret about Tabetha. She's like that to see if a mage will act rashly, or slink away completely, or what.
[Thalstan]: Ah, so it's all an act?
[Arthur]: Yes, but it's important that I not give it away to mages who haven't been through it!
[Thalstan]: Ah, right, or the test means nothin'!
Yeah! Exactly.
We arrive back to Baba Bogbrew.
[Thalstan]: Oi, Baba, we pushed 'em back.
[Tadget]: That smell is murloc blood.
Baba Bogbrew says: Thanks. Maybe we can work our way back into the camp.
Baba Bogbrew says: It's a good smell. Well, not really, but I'm still happy to smell it.
Baba Bogbrew says: Here you go. Here's the reward.
Baba hands over the gold directly.
Baba Bogbrew says: Before you all head out… it's strange, isn't it, how they overran an established camp like that?
[Arthur]: Hmm?
Arthur listens intently to Baba Bogbrew.
Baba Bogbrew says: It gets me thinking. You have to wonder just what's out there. This is the coast of the Forbidding Sea, with nothing beyond its reaches… but all these fishy folk just stomped right out of it.
[Thalstan]: ….aye?
[Tadget]: That's kind of what murlocs do?
Baba Bogbrew says: Yes, but they don't normally swarm to a particular place. I saw where they've been going…
Baba Bogbrew says: And it's not only the murlocs. I've been seeing sea creatures acting oddly through the whole swamp.
[Thalstan]: Have ye now?
[Tadget]: Hm, that could be some weird elemental cataclysmic type madness going on. Maybe we should check into it.
Baba Bogbrew says: Before the murlocs, it was the gilblins, and the makrura… I even saw some naga wander ashore the other day.
Vesyllah groans. "We're never getting out of this swamp."
[Thalstan]: That uh, aye, that is beginnin' ta sound cataclysmic.
Baba Bogbrew says: It might well be.
Baba Bogbrew says: Something's calling them here, and working them into a frenzy to boot. Many of the creatures have been drawn to Stagalbog Cavern to the west.
[Tadget]: Naga are definitely a bad sign, yeah.
[Vesyllah]: Gilblins? What the fel's a gilblin?
[Tadget]: They're like… sea goblins.
[Tadget]: Goblins with gills. Gil-blins. Get it?
Vesyllah groans.
Baba Bogbrew says: Aquatic goblins, yes. Gill-blins.
Baba Bogbrew says: You've got it exactly.
Tadget giggles at Baba Bogbrew.
Baba Bogbrew says: But I'm serious about that cavern. Something's down there, and if it gets any stronger we'll all start wandering in there too…
[Thalstan]: Us, really? Have ye started ta feel the pull?
Baba Bogbrew says: Not yet, but it might only be a matter of time.
Baba Bogbrew says: You should put a stop to whatever it is before that happens.
Baba Bogbrew says: And, you know, I'll pay you. Twice what I did for the murlocs.
Thalstan looks around at the team. "That does sound like a job for Cobalt Blade."
[Tadget]: All righty tighty.
[Zaara]: Righty tighty!
Baba Bogbrew says: Cobalt Blade, really? Wow, I just figured mercenaries, but… right, yes, a good job for Cobalt Blade.
Tadget grins wickedly.
[Tadget]: Today's your lucky day.
[Arthur]: We're here in Stonard to see if anyone needs a little help. Glad to do it.
Baba Bogbrew says: Good luck in there!
We head into the cave, and the first thing that attacks us is indeed some kind of finned aquatic goblin. A gilblin!
[Tadget]: What the torque.
[Thalstan]: Well, this is a gilblin apparently.
[Vesyllah]: Holy #$%%…a goblin with gills.
[Thalstan]: I've never seen anything like it.
[Tadget]: Did you see the look in his eyes though?
[Thalstan]: Lookit his little webbed fingers.
[Thalstan]: And naga in here too.
[Tadget]: Okay these guys are… something's up with 'em.
[Tadget]: they're like… weirder than usual. Got vacant eyes.
[Thalstan]: Aye, and they come right at us. Somethin' is definitely wrong.
Vesyllah peers into the makrura's mind.
[Thalstan]: Ye pickin' anything up on 'em, Vengeance?
[Vesyllah]: You're right. They're under some influence.
[Vesyllah]: It's…dark.
[Tadget]: They've got that kinda… puppety look.
We come around the corner and see… a faceless one.
[Tadget]: Ohhhhh @#$%!
[Vesyllah]: Fuuuuu-….
Thalstan pauses at the entrance to the cavern's darkest depths.
[Arthur]: oh heck.
[Tadget]: Why is it ALWAYS Old Gods.
[Vesyllah]: Can you all see that?
[Arthur]: That's…so ugly.
[Zaara]: No!
[Vesyllah]: You're the lucky one, Zaara.
[Arthur]: It's so ugly it hurts me. Like i'm trying to make sense of how it could be this hideous…
Thalstan moves forward stoically towards the monster. He doesn’t watch his feet. He falls through a gap in the floor to the level below.
[Tadget]: Oops, our brave leader fell.
Thalstan calls up. "I was starin' right at' im and walked into a nothin'!"
The team hops down to join him, and we work our way back to the horrifying monstrosity. Because we are Cobalt Blade and we fear nothing.
[Thalstan]: What WAS that thing?
[Tadget]: It's definitely got an Old God vibe.
[Tadget]: I know from Old Gods.
[Thalstan]: It was all tentacles and… makes my head feel funny.
[Tadget]: I killed one once.
[Vesyllah]: Something not meant to be.
[Vesyllah]: I wouldn't try to make sense of it. LIkely to drive you mad.
[Arthur]: Can you do it again, Tadget? For me?
[Tadget]: Old Gods have lots of ugly little servant-things.
[Tadget]: The servants are easy to kill. We got this.
[Tadget]: Looks like some kind of n'raqi deal.
[Tadget]: Faceless.
[Thalstan]: Okay. So. We're killin' the Old God servant thing. The… faceless n'raqi?
[Zaara]: It has no face?
[Tadget]: They're like… commanders in the Old God armies or whatever.
Thalstan squares himself off towards the creature. "This is INDEED a job for COBALT BLADE then!"
[Zaara]: It feels very bad.
[Tadget]: Let's carve it a face.
Hr'nglth the Lost says: Hear the call… serve him… join ussssssssssss…
[Vesyllah]: Destroy it!
We hasten to destroy it.
Thalstan shivers, looking down at the corpse, and then stabs it again for good measure.
Tadget hops onto its chest and carves a big ol' smile onto its dead visage.
[Arthur]: Horrible thing! Horrible! Get back!
Arthur burns it to a cinder.
[Thalstan]: It's gone, Art. We got it!
Tadget gently pats Arthur.
[Tadget]: Aw, you burned my artwork.
[Thalstan]: Do ye think somethin' like that would be here alone?
[Vesyllah]: I'll always remember it, Tadge.
[Tadget]: Sometimes they do kinda wander off on their own, yeah.
[Tadget]: We got lucky.
Zaara yawns ostentatiously and then yawns again. "My ears went pop." She grimaces.
[Arthur]: I couldn't bear the sight of it.
[Tadget]: Yeah. If you're not already a psycho they will drive you bonkers.
[Tadget]: I guess I'm immune on account of being grade-A bananapants.
[Zaara]: Bananapants!
[Thalstan]: One benefit o' bein' Mayhem, I suppose.
[Tadget]: Lots of benefits of being me.
[Tadget]: It's kind of amazing, really.
Thalstan laughs.
We exit the cavern and head back to Baba.
[Tadget]: So you're lucky Cobalt Blade wandered by.
Baba Bogbrew says: What can I say? I'm a lucky goblin.
[Thalstan]: Ye were right, Baba. That thing in there was cut out for us ta fight.
[Arthur]: Whew! Good thing you didn't go in there.
[Tadget]: Guess what it was. Guess.
Baba Bogbrew says: Something… void.
[Tadget]: It was a Faceless commander of an Old God.
Baba Bogbrew says: Holy sh*t, really?
[Tadget]: Yep.
Arthur makes exaggerated tentacle gestures while googly-eyed.
Baba Bogbrew says: Oh my. It sounds like you ran across quite a sinister being. I wonder what one of those was doing all the way out here…
[Tadget]: Luckily the god-killer was in the neighborhood.
Tadget flexes at Baba Bogbrew. Oooooh so strong!
[Arthur]: Conveniently!
Arthur stops and frowns. What if…too conveniently?
Baba Bogbrew says: Hm. Lucky, yes. But this may not be the end of it. I'll be in touch with your employers. I think there may be work yet here for you to do.
Vesyllah rolls her eyes audibly.
[Tadget]: Sure thing.
[Arthur]: I'll bet.
[Tadget]: I don't truck with Old God nonsense.
Baba Bogbrew says: Nor do I. Whatever else I am, I don't touch that stuff.
[Vesyllah]: Oh good. More time in the swamp…
[Tadget]: We won't stray too far.