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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Thalstan, Zaara, Arthur, Tadget and Vesyllah are directed by their new goblin employer to an unusual new ally. He tasks them with investigating the new darkness in the Temple of Atal'Hakkar. Arthur meets his first dragon. Zaara learns some questionable new Common. Vesyllah is not too fond of elves. Tadget likes to solve problems with stabbing. Thalstan finds past dream experiences are still relevant. ~3500 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: The Cobalt Blade
The team meets up in the Swamp of Sorrows.
Tadget sharpens her dagger.
[Thalstan]: Okay, team. So I wrote back to HQ and she said… to keep on helpin' the goblin lady.
[Tadget]: I figured. What with the possible Old God nonsense going on.
[Arthur]: Okay, yeah, that makes sense.
[Thalstan]: Her first task fer us got us to kill a Faceless One, aye, so we'd best see what else she has a lead on.
Tadget salutes Thalstan with respect.
[Thalstan]: So, everyone ready ta see what else she's got?
[Zaara]: No!
[Zaara]: But I will come anyway.
[Vesyllah]: Sure. Let's find some more unspeakable horrors.
[Thalstan]: Aye, Ves, let's.
[Tadget]: Found one! *pointing to Ves*
Thalstan laughs.
Vesyllah smirks…at what is unclear.
Baba Bogbrew says: My Cobalt Blade friends! Here to help again?
[Vesyllah]: That's the rumor.
[Tadget]: We're helpful types.
Baba Bogbrew says: I’m glad you got rid of that Old God thing, but that’s not the end of whatever’s happening here.
Baba Bogbrew says: I settled here well before Bogpaddle was founded, to brew my potions and find some peace and quiet. I know this swamp like the back of my old, gnarly hand.
[Thalstan]: If ye say so, ma'am. So what've ye noticed?
Baba Bogbrew says: There's been a change in the wildlife recently. Those winged snakes you may have seen in the stagalbog are wind serpents, and they haven't been seen around here for quite some time.
Baba Bogbrew says: They're also prime for ingredients if they're the kind I'm thinking of. Be a dear and gather me some of their hearts, will you? I’ll see what I can learn from examining them, too, of course.
[Thalstan]: Aye, okay, I think we can handle a few wind serpents
[Tadget]: I sure hope this is a problem that can be solved by stabbing. Most problems are, actually. Including stuff like "too long a line at the bakery" and "feeling sad."
[Thalstan]: How d'ye solve "feeling sad" with stabbing?
[Vesyllah]: Stabbing makes her feel better.
[Tadget]: Uh, by stabbing something. Always cheers me up.
[Arthur]: You stab whatever made you sad.
Tadget points to Ves.
[Thalstan]: Okay, okay. Sure.
[Tadget]: I like Art's thinking.
Thalstan chuckles.
[Thalstan]: Well, this problem seems ta be stab-solvable.
Tadget cheers at you.
[Tadget]: Whose crazy idea was it to give serpents wings, anyway?
No one has any answer. Perhaps there is no answer! We stab a lot of them anyway.
[Thalstan]: Alright, that should be enough hearts. An' if not, that's her problem.
[Tadget]: You're getting a better attitude about things, Thal.
Tadget probably means a worse attitude.
Thalstan grins, rustling his mustache. He takes that as a compliment.
Tadget probably meant it as one. It can be hard to tell, with her.
We get back to the little goblin camp and Baba.
Thalstan holds out a few wind serpent hearts in bloody hands. Baba takes them eagerly.
Baba Bogbrew says: Let's have a look then…
Baba Bogbrew says: Mmm, oh dear. That's what I thought these were. They might still be useful, but it's horrid to have such things in my backyard.
[Thalstan]: Alright, gonna explain ta the team? *Thal raises a bushy eyebrow.*
Tadget folds her arms.
[Arthur]: What are they?
Baba Bogbrew says: Of course, yes. These serpents must be from the Temple of Atal'Hakkar. I already had a hint…
[Tadget]: Oh noooooo. Hate that place.
[Arthur]: Is that the pyramid building in the middle of the lake?
[Tadget]: Yep.
[Arthur]: Oh, I was wondering!
[Tadget]: I've been in there before. Do not recommend.
Thalstan nods. "I've heard stories about it and Cobalt in th' past."
Baba Bogbrew says: Not a few days ago, I had a visitor stop by and ask me to keep an eye out for such things. An elf by the name of Itharius.
[Thalstan]: An elf came by to talk to ye. *Thal is trying not to sound skeptical*
Baba Bogbrew says: Well, he wasn't really an elf. I'm sure he didn't think I could see through his form…
[Tadget]: Hmmmm, let me guess.
Thalstan raises his eyebrows.
Baba Bogbrew says: Oh, will you? Go for it.
[Tadget]: Dragon, right? They are always pulling that crap. Probably a green one.
Baba Bogbrew says: Got it in one. He was a green dragon in disguise, come here to help his fallen brothers no doubt.
[Tadget]: Yep.
[Zaara]: Ooooh.
[Tadget]: Knew it.
Baba Bogbrew says: Those sorts would do better to pay more attention to people like us, wouldn't they? They discount us because we're small, but we know things.
[Tadget]: So many dragons take elf form. So annoying. But the best one knows which form's the best. Chromie forever.
Baba Bogbrew says: The little bronze one? Definitely a favorite.
Tadget grins.
[Arthur]: A green dragon! I've never met a dragon, actually.
[Vesyllah]: It's because people listen to elves. They seem to think we're wise or something.
Vesyllah snorts.
Tadget snorts also.
Baba Bogbrew says: Hah. That's a good one.
Baba Bogbrew says: In any case, this one may very well be on to something. Itharius left for the temple itself. Perhaps you'd better go look for him there. Dark things are afoot.
Tadget cackles maniacally at Baba Bogbrew.
Baba Bogbrew says: I fear something is stirring up the Atal’ai again, and I hope it is not related to that creature you slew.
[Zaara]: Dark things on foot! We will stop them.
[Tadget]: Ugh.
[Thalstan]: I've not really talked much to green dragons before. Saw some o' them in the Nightmare o' course, but not talked with.
[Tadget]: My dealings have mostly been with bronze, but during the war in Ahn'Qiraj I did a whole Dragon Tour trying to be the whatsit. Anyway, some elf got the job instead.
[Thalstan]: Elves. *Thal shakes his head* People do look ta them sometimes. Tha' and humans. No offense, humans and elves with us.
[Tadget]: I'm okay if there's slight offense.
[Tadget]: Dadgum clothespins.
[Vesyllah]: None taken.
[Vesyllah]: Elves mostly suck.
[Thalstan]: Looks like we're goin' ta have ta swim for it.
[Thalstan]: All ready?
They swim to the pyramid thing in the middle of the lake. A rather attractive elvish man with long blond hair and stylish, elaborate green clothing is standing there, apparently waiting for them.
Thalstan peers at the elf. "Not a kaldorei elf."
[Tadget]: Hello there, Mr. "Elf."
[Tadget]: We know you're a dragon, by the way.
[Tadget]: Let's just lead with that.
Lord Itharius says: Ah. The goblin sent you? She has a cunning eye, that one.
[Thalstan]: Aye, though I think we could've figured it out ourselves.
[Tadget]: All dressed in green with a name like Itharius. No last name. Very dragony.
Lord Itharius says: Well, if it was she who first told you, I can confirm that she speaks the truth. I am here to stem the tide of corruption seeping from this temple. If you would save your people from a wicked fate, I ask for your assistance.
[Zaara]: Okay!
Lord Itharius says: The trolls that lurk within this temple have done grievous harm to my kind. We were sent here to guard this place, and were instead used to unleash the terrible powers within.
[Tadget]: We're experts in saving people from wicked fates.
Lord Itharius says: The Nightmare was defeated, but the corruption lingers in some of my kind, trapped within this temple. The Atal’ai have been idle for some time now, but something seems to have stirred them into action.
[Tadget]: Yeah, you guys got boned.
Lord Itharius says: That is… one way to put it.
[Zaara]: Boned?
Lord Itharius says: I would rather say some of us tragically fell to the corruption of the Nightmare, but… fine. Boned.
Vesyllah smirks.
Lord Itharius says: The truth is, I must beg you for the help only a mortal can give. You can be my hand within the temple; should I enter by myself, I risk being turned against my brothers as well.
[Tadget]: Umm, it means they got their bones taken out, Zaara. Yeah.
[Tadget]: Figuratively speaking.
[Zaara]: Ooooh. That is so bad!!!
Tadget nods at Zaara.
[Zaara]: … how do you get bones out figuratively?
[Tadget]: Well, you know how you said "That is so bad!!!!"? When I described it? That is basically figuratively what getting boned means.
Lord Itharius sighs, but he persists. He needs these people.
[Zaara]: Oooooh.
Zaara nods gravely.
[Tadget]: Okay, Mr. Dragon, I think we are on the same page now. Proceed.
Lord Itharius says: To describe more clearly, the Nightmare seeped into their minds and turned them into creatures they were not. They turned on their own friends and families, in rage and fear.
Tadget nods. Yep, definitely boned.
Lord Itharius says: Do you think your team might help me?
[Tadget]: Of course!
[
Zaara]: Okay!
[Thalstan]: I think we're a bit more resistant to corruption, aye.
[Vesyllah]: Sure, I guess.
Lord Itharius looks relieved.
Lord Itharius says: Then we shall make a pact. If you wish to help, first gather Atal'ai artifacts from the waters around the temple, and return them to me.
Tadget sighs at Lord Itharius.
[Zaara]: A pack!
[Tadget]: Swimming time I guess.
[Vesyllah]: Fun.
Lord Itharius says: Pac-t. *He enunciates* It is a promise, made between myself and your team.
[Tadget]: Everyone who wasn't originally made from metal or stone, raise your hand. Maybe you can do the swimming bits.
[Zaara]: Pack-t.
[Vesyllah]: I'm all flesh….
[Zaara]: I can do breaths!
[Tadget]: In you go.
[Thalstan]: So… Tadget an' I stay with Mr. Itharius? Lord Itharius, sorry.
[Vesyllah]: Can't swim?
[Tadget]: I don't remember dwarves being especially buoyant.
[Zaara]: Dwarves can be boys! Thalstan is.
[Thalstan]: Well I am wearing heavy armor.
Zaara, Vesyllah and Arthur head out to collect artifacts. Zaara allows them all to breathe underwater, and Vesyllah allows them to levitate on the way back. She also goes into shadowform. They return with the artifacts.
[Tadget]: Behold. Your heroes return.
Lord Itharius eyes the floating shadow-wreathed elf. "Yes. My heroes."
Vesyllah gives Itharius a wicked grin.
Arthur is soaking wet and hauling artifacts behind him, muttering to himself. "Why do we do things like swim around underwater for pottery with fanged fish lurking around? Because some hot elf dude asked nicely? Preposterous."
Lord Itharius smiles at Art with some amusement. Or maybe he's just pleased he's a hot elf.
Zaara hears Art and leans to whisper loudly, "He is hot?"
Lord Itharius clears his throat.
Lord Itharius says: Now let me explain what I wanted with these.
Lord Itharius says: The essence of the green dragonflight wafts from these artifacts; the vestiges of my corrupted kin. In purifying them, I form a bond between us.
[Zaara]: Wofffft.
Lord Itharius does some magic, using the essence from the artifact, and then produces a green gem that he holds out to the team.
Lord Itharius says: Step forward, and receive an Oathstone of Ysera's Dragonflight.
Lord Itharius says: I will need you to enter the temple first. I can join you once a path is secure, but I dare not enter blindly. Turned against my kind, I would be a vicious enemy.
Tadget whispers back to Zaara, "If you like long legs and teeny little heads, maybe."
[Arthur]: Certainly. Tall, golden hair, green eyes, flashy robes…
[Zaara]: … how teeny?
[Tadget]: Like, about your size.
Lord Itharius pats his flashy robes.
[Zaara]: Oh, this is not too teeny for hot.
Zaara nods approvingly.
Lord Itharius says: Let's get back to the matter at hand. You can start by descending the stairs behind me.
Lord Itharius says: Then, swim through the flooded depths of the Broken Hall. Once there, follow the passageway to the right to find the Hall of Masks.
[Tadget]: Oh boy, more swimming.
Lord Itharius says: Beware of any temple guards. Once you have found the Hall of Masks, I will contact you through the Oathstone. This is how I will guide you through the temple.
[Tadget]: Mkay.
Thalstan takes the Oathstone carefull from Lord Itharius. "Alright, we'll keep it safe."
[Tadget]: You can count on us, despite appearances.
[Thalstan]: Bit more swimming, but it sounded like we'd be on ground inside?
Lord Itharius says: Yes, it is only the entrance that is flooded.
[Zaara]: I do more breaths.
[Thalstan]: Thanks, Zaara.
[Tadget]: So Zaara, that water breathing thing - do you ask water spirits for that, or air spirits?
[Zaara]: Air spirits!
[Thalstan]: Okay, that was not so much swimmin'. Now the path to the right.
We arrive at the Hall of Masks. There are several fragments of what appear to be dragon skeletons.
Lord Itharius says: This is it! These are the bones of my kin…
[Tadget]: Boned.
[Zaara]: Boned.
Lord Itharius says: Literally, in this case.
Lord Itharius says: My brethren are being butchered here. It's as I thought.
Lord Itharius says: I must ask your help further before I enter. In the passageway outside this room, the hallway proceeds left and right. To the right, it goes down to the Chamber of Blood. Here the Atal'ai perform their dark rituals.
[Tadget]: Stupid cultist trolls.
Lord Itharius says: Not only stupid, but ambitious and cruel.
Lord Itharius says: They have expected and prepared for my kind for years, but not for you. Enter the Chamber of Blood and slay the Priestess Udum'bra. She is one of three foul presences here that must be vanquished before I may enter.
[Tadget]: Mkay.
[Tadget]: I like vanquishing.
[Zaara]: Chamber of Bloooood.
[Tadget]: Blooooooood.
[Thalstan]: It does no' sound pleasant.
[Vesyllah]: Sounds kinda sexy.
[Tadget]: You would think that.
[Thalstan]: Chamber of Blood sounds sexy? *Thal raises a bushy eyebrow*
[Vesyllah]: Don't knock it before you try it.
[Tadget]: Please don't make her elaborate.
We arrive at a balcony over the Chamber of Blood.
[Thalstan]: Okay, she's just there under us. We hop down and kill?
[Arthur]: sounds great!
[Tadget]: Sure.
[Zaara]: We bone her!
[Tadget]: I enjoy both hopping and killing.
[Tadget]: Also boning.
We hop down and kill the evil priestess. We do not bone her, but that’s probably for the best.
Lord Itharius says: I saw that. Good riddance. Another source of corruption in this world put to rest.
[Vesyllah]: Mmhm. We do that.
Lord Itharius says: I thank you for your bravery. Also, that was an impressive jump.
Tadget giggles.
[Tadget]: And us without wings.
[Arthur]: We keep ourselves athletic. Never know what's next.
Lord Itharius says: I'm getting a better picture of what the trolls are doing here.
Lord Itharius says: They’re infecting and corrupting green dragons with the blood of their foul god, and then harvesting the evil that has grown within them. They are being farmed like livestock…
[Thalstan]: What? Oh no!
Lord Itharius says: This disgusting savagery cannot continue. Return to where you left the Hall of Masks and take the other corridor towards the Butchery.
[Tadget]: Cultists are the worst.
Vesyllah nods firmly.
Lord Itharius says: They are.
Lord Itharius says: Gomora the Bloodletter harvests corpses for these foul and evil rituals there. Take his undeserved life from him!
[Thalstan]: We're good at takin' lives fer a good cause.
Lord Itharius says: That's him! Just in front of you!
[Thalstan]: Everyone ready?
[Vesyllah]: Nonconsensual bloodletting is so foul.
[Zaara]: Yes!
Thalstan charges!
Behind the Bloodletter, on a table, are the corpses of several green dragons.
[Thalstan]: Oh, this is awful. The poor dragons.
Lord Itharius says: A deserved fate for Gomora. You will not find the pacifism of the red dragonflight among my kin; we will not suffer the intrusions of mortals.
[Thalstan]: We're not exactly pacifists either, so that works out.
Lord Itharius says: All that yet stands between me and the temple is Prophet Jammal'an himself. He is the leader of the Atal'ai trolls here, a foul manipulator.
Lord Itharius says: I believe he's been struck down in the past, but his followers revived him. Curse these trolls and their blood magics.
[Tadget]: If they like blood so much, we'll show 'em some. THEIRS.
Lord Itharius says: Know that you do not face a mere crazed troll, but an instrument of forces beyond your darkest comprehension. Yet you do not fight alone; my strength and the will of the Green Dragonflight go with you.
[Tadget]: Thanks buddy.
Lord Itharius says: Proceed to the Den of the Caller, left through the Hall of Ritual, and then down into the Hall of Bones. At the bottom, you will find Jammal'an.
[Thalstan]: Let's go show him some blood.
We get to the Hall of Bones. There is a troll there surrounded by dark energy.
[Thalstan]: That must be him.
[Thalstan]: Let's get 'im, clear the way for Itharius!
[Vesyllah]: Suffer the pain you have inflicted!
Jammal'an the Prophet says: Ya not be gettin' me dat easy! Atal'ai gonna rise up…
Jammal’an the Prophet vanishes.
Vesyllah frowns. "Rude."
[Zaara]: Oh! What happen?
[Thalstan]: No! He teleported!
[Zaara]: We did not bone him!
[Thalstan]: Or somethin'?
Lord Itharius says: He has escaped! I should have known it would not be so easy.
Lord Itharius says: The path is clear. It is time to return.
Lord Itharius says: You have done well. Jammal'an may have escaped our grasp, but his retreat paves the way for me to enter the temple as I desire.
Lord Itharius says: Stay where you are and do not move. I will hasten your return by pulling your spirit to me through the Emerald Dream.
Lord Itharius says: This may cause slight drowsiness.
The team is quickly yanked through the Emerald Dream and back up to the top of the temple.
Tadget giggles at Arthur.
[Thalstan]: Whoa.
Tadget yawns sleepily.
[Thalstan]: I hardly saw anything at all that time.
[Tadget]: I'm sleeeeebgy.
Lord Itharius says: It should pass. After you sleep.
[Tadget]: Cool.
[Zaara]: … yes, this is how sleepy does.
Tadget giggles at Zaara.
Lord Itharius says: You have performed a great service for me and my kind. Accept these pendants as a symbol of my gratitude, and of your courage.
[Tadget]: Oh neat!
[Vesyllah]: Oh. Goodie.
Lord Itharius offers everyone a dream amulet. He just has those.
Tadget bows before Lord Itharius.
Lord Itharius says: I must confess I have a more personal involvement in this affair. One of the first green dragons corrupted here was my brother, Eranikus.
[Thalstan]: Eranikus? Oh…
[Tadget]: Ohhhh.
Tadget grimaces.
Thalstan looks very sad.
Lord Itharius says: He recovered from this corruption, but remained hidden from us for some time, frightened that his weakness would put his beloved Ysera in danger.
Lord Itharius says: The opposite was true - he was not weak, and it was he who saved Ysera during the War Against the Nightmare. He sacrificed his life to destroy the prison where the Nightmare Lord Xavius had bound her.
[Tadget]: Neat.
[Thalstan]: Aye, I was there.
[Vesyllah]: So you're kind of like Ysera's bond-brother? Huh.
Lord Itharius says: In a sense, yes, though my brother is lost to us both.
[Tadget]: I would totally sacrifice my life to save my beloved.
[Tadget]: And then he'd just use the ol' goblin jumper cables.
Lord Itharius says: I'm afraid jumper cables would not have done the trick.
[Tadget]: Yeah. Unreliable goblin tech.
[Tadget]: Definitely not dragon-safe.
[Thalstan]: He was kinda… consumed by the mergin o' the Dream and real worlds. Or somethin' like that.
[Tadget]: Mm hm. Kay.
Lord Itharius says: I thought Eranikus gone completely, but I have heard that his shade has emerged within the temple. I know not whether it is truly him, in some kind of dreamform, or an empty, mournful echo.
[Tadget]: Oh gosh.
[Zaara]: Oh gosh.
[Tadget]: Gnomes don't do a lot in the way of haunting or lingering or what have you. That must be rough.
[Thalstan]: That is… down there all unsafe….
[Tadget]: Sounds like we might need to go back down in there soonish.
Lord Itharius says: I hope it is truly his spirit. And then again, I do not. I miss my brother dearly, but I do not want him to suffer further.
[Tadget]: Yeah.
Lord Itharius says: If you wish to help me, return to the Hall of Masks and journey through the archway into the true sanctum of the temple. I will find you there.
[Tadget]: Kay.
[Zaara]: Okay!
Lord Itharius says: But… you may want to rest first. The trip through the Emerald Dream may have wearied you.
[Vesyllah]: Yeah. Thanks so much for that.
[Tadget]: Yeah, I need a nap.
[Thalstan]: It was a nicer trip than walkin' and swimmin' back up.
[Thalstan]: Let's head back to Marshtide for now? Maybe Blueheart needs more help or somethin'.
[Tadget]: Sounds like a plan.
Tadget falls asleep. Zzzzzzz.