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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Arric, Birdie, Glyphe, Kenelly, and Slicket finally uncover the truth of the danger lurking in Westfall, but it may be too late! Includes a special vision cameo of early CC. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
Arc: EK Newbies
It’s now evening, and the team is reconvening at the camp by Moonbrook.
Glyphe wanders up. "That provisioner only has weapons. You'd think he'd have food."
Arric sits eating the supper that Kennelly has cooked, his manner suggesting that all is right with the world despite the fact that it manifestly isn't.
[Arric]: Oh, you need something to eat?
[Slicket]: Looks like we're all here… Kenelly was cooking earlier, maybe she's got somethin' left?
Kenelly returns with an empty pot from distributing stew around the camp. "Oh no, did you not get any, Glyphe? I'm so sorry."
[Bertrand]: Oh! Glyphe, you made it!
[Arric]: Are you Glyphe? Oh, I'm so pleased you aren't ill as well.
[Glyphe]: I was off seeing if I could find out what's wrong with Natlee. She's so sick, she wouldn't even open the door for fear I'd catch it!
[Kenelly]: Oh dear.
[Slicket]: Yeah, same! It's great she cares so much about her friends.
[Arric]: I'm Arric. The wolf here is Stormy - she bites, so please be careful.
Bertrand crouches down. "Tabard off today," he whispers. "We're back in danger."
[Slicket]: Right, right. *Slicket takes off his tabard and once again shows off his nice midriff-bearing green and gold armor*
Glyphe carefully folds her tabard and tucks it away. "Oh… Well, maybe it's good we have a bitey wolf, then."
[Arric]: Yes, Stormy did come in handy earlier when someone attempted to murder me.
Glyphe nods sympathetically at Arric. "That happens a lot around here."
[Slicket]: Let me catch you up - we're about to head into some kind of get-together.
[Slicket]: We think it's somethin' to do with the Defias, based on all the rhetoric. Maybe somebody planning a revival tour.
[Arric]: Revival tour! Ha.
Slicket grins at Arric.
[Bertrand]: There's going to be some sort of gathering soon.
Captain Alpert gazes off toward Moonbrook. "Looks like there's some movement in town. I think it's starting soon. Try to blend in and see what info you can gather."
Slicket nods. "They think I'm a murderer or something, but I'll do my best."
Bertrand tugs his ponytail holder out and shakes his head. His hair ripples dramatically in the moonlight like a commercial.
Slicket tries to slick down his mohawk a little. It bounces back up.
[Arric]: Your hair is distinctive.
[Bertrand]: Blending in, sure.
[Kenelly]: So…should I go in human? Or…?
[Bertrand]: Yeah, probably.
[Slicket]: Your choice.
[Arric]: Hmmm. Either has its advantages.
Kenelly speaks more freely about her nature, now that the local Brigade has seen her change in town.
Annuvin perches on a roof overlooking the square.
Arric speaks a word to Stormy in a foreign language, and she stays close.
Slicket looks around for where the gathering might be. Then he spots the crowd.
[Kenelly]: Probably the less attention we draw, the better.
The five of us blend in at the back of a crowd of people who are listening to the words of a shadowy figure.
Shadowy Figure yells: Gather, brothers and sisters! Come, all, and listen!
Shadowy Figure yells: Brothers. Sisters. We are ABANDONED - the orphaned children of Stormwind.
Shadowy Figure yells: Our "king" sits atop his throne made of gold and shrugs at our plight!
Shadowy Figure yells: Meanwhile, our children die of starvation on these very streets!
Shadowy Figure yells: The time has come, brothers and sisters, to stop this injustice!
Shadowy Figure yells: The government of Stormwind, of the ALLIANCE, must be made accountable for what it has done to us!
Shadowy Figure yells: Today, we are reborn! Today, we take a stand as men and women, not nameless, faceless numbers!
Arric looks a bit pale.
Arric tries to sneeeak away from the cheering crowd.
Bertrand tries to gauge the attitude of the crowd before backing off.
The team quietly makes their way back toward the camp.
Kenelly whispers, "Today we are reborn? I think that confirms it."
Arric mutters, "Throne of gold? I've been in that throne room, it is not made of gold."
[Kenelly]: Perhaps she was speaking metaphorically.
Glyphe stares at Arric. "You've been in the throne room?"
Bertrand pulls his hair up into a ponytail again.
[Bertrand]: Oh. Yeah. It's just a regular throne.
Arric nods. Nobles hang out in throne rooms all the time!
Glyphe tries to parse 'regular throne'.
[Slicket]: Yeah, sounds like they're gonna do some kind of rebellion, though?
Arric looks quite fretful.
[Slicket]: Think they want Westfall to split off from Stormwind? I doubt all the people'd be in for that.
The team arrives at the camp and Captain Alpert.
Captain Alpert says: I heard cheering.
Captain Alpert says: What happened?
Arric looks to Bertrand.
Bertrand sticks his hands in his pockets and looks to Slicket.
[Slicket]: Well, they're working themselves up against Stormwind and the Alliance, for sure.
[Kenelly]: Some woman was stirring up the people against the crown.
[Glyphe]: She says that the king is responsible for all of Westfall's problems.
Captain Alpert says: Who was it? What did she look like?
[Kenelly]: She was hooded. I couldn't make out her face.
[Slicket]: They didn't say exactly what they had planned, but they're going to be 'reborn'. And I still couldn't see her! Loud voice, but not showing her face.
[Bertrand]: Looked a whole lot like a priestess in Shadowform, honestly.
[Kenelly]: She also said it would happen today.
Slicket nods.
Captain Alpert says: Hmph. It looks like we're going to have to find a different way to find out her identity… we don't have time for a standard investigation.
[Slicket]: No, not if she's gonna do something drastic today.
[Glyphe]: I mean, probably the dawning will happen at dawn but who can say with humans?
Slicket nods at Glyphe. "Might be metaphorical dawning. Humans love metaphors."
Captain Alpert says: There is a shaman here, Thoralius, a friend of Grya— uh, Marshal Stoutmantle's. He came here on account of the elemental stuff but I bet he could help with this, too.
[Bertrand]: The Marshal mentioned him.
[Kenelly]: Oh, that's a splendid idea! Perhaps the spirits can aid us.
Captain Alpert points toward the draenei over by the other tent. "That's' the one."
[Slicket]: Alright, we'll talk to him.
Arric bows before Thoralius the Wise.
Thoralius gazes at the newcomers with a slight smile.
Bertrand has stopped smiling. He looks rather neutral, actually. Weird. He nods to Thoralius. "Hey."
[Kenelly]: Hello, gentle draenei! Are you the shaman?
Thoralius says: I am. How may I help you?
[Slicket]: We were sent here to ask your help in uncovering this shadowy figure stirring people up.
Kenelly stares in fascination at the alien man.
Thoralius says: Ahhh… I see. When I was in Northrend, I helped the people of Valgarde uncover some of the mysteries of the vrykul by delving into the spirit world. Perhaps the same could be done here.
Thoralius says: I can help to put you into a deep meditative state, and pull you into the spirit world. It will feel strange, but do not fight it. Allow the spirits to show you what you know.
[Slicket]: Does that work for present-day stuff too?
Thoralius nods.
Glyphe's eyes widen. Ooo, the spirit world!
Thoralius says: The spirits know much of past and present.
[Slicket]: Huh, okay. I'm game. Let's do it.
Kenelly murmurs to the others, "Remind me later to ask what a vrykul is."
Slicket gives Kenelly a thumbs-up.
Thoralius closes his eyes and begins to chant in his native tongue. His voice is deep, resonant.
Bertrand sits down on the ground.
Glyphe sneezes. Achoo!
Slicket cheerfully sits, trying to get his mind in a meditative state. Rocket-car zen.
Thoralius's voice takes on a hypnotic rhythm… suddenly the world seems to fade, and each person listening slips into a half-dreaming, drowsy state.
Slicket wobbles a little, but he doesn't quite fall asleep.
A vision begins to form in each person's mind… the farmhouse in Moonbrook, its entrance leading to a complex maze of abandoned mines…
Glyphe sits, weaving unsteadily.
Kenelly takes slow, steady breaths, not unfamiliar with meditation…but this is something new.
A voice seems to whisper, "Follow them…" as you see an image of the unhoused of Westfall wandering into the mines.
Slicket's consciousness tries its best to follow instructions.
The vision fades - whatever it is trying to show is too distant.
Thoralius says: Wake, now.
Thoralius says: Did you see it? I saw… caverns… tunnels…
Slicket blinks his eyes, confused. "Wait. I'm not in a mine?"
Glyphe shakes her head rapidly.
[Slicket]: Oh! It was… right, we were visioning.
Arric looks a little dizzy.
[Bertrand]: Whoa. Yeah.
Kenelly blinks her eyes open.
[Slicket]: We were supposed to follow the people. In the mine.
[Bertrand]: From the barn over there, huh?
Bertrand orients himself very quickly.
Slicket nods at Bertrand.
[Kenelly]: That was incredible. I've communed with spirits before, but never experienced the actual spirit world!
Thoralius says: Yes… Hmmmm…
Glyphe scrambles to her feet and dusts herself off.
Thoralius rummages through his belongings, and finds a strange crystal. "Which of you is most attuned with the spirit world?"
Arric is not it.
[Slicket]: Um.
[Bertrand]: Maybe Nelly?
Glyphe points at Kenelly.
[Slicket]: Yeah, she's a witch.
Kenelly smiles softly. "I suppose it might be me, yes."
Thoralius looks to Kenelly. "A witch… hm… yes, that will do." He murmurs over the crystal in much the same tone he used to lull them all into a trance… then seems to listen to the crystal for a moment. He nods then, and hands it to Kenelly.
Kenelly takes the crystal reverently, cradling it in both hands.
Thoralius says: The spirits which spoke to all of you are attuned to this crystal for the time being. They should be able to follow you into the tunnels and speak to you again.
Thoralius says: Remember to remain open to what they show you, even if you feel fear or confusion.
Glyphe seems ambivalent. "More spirits…"
[Slicket]: I never feel fear! Confusion, though, yeah.
Kenelly nods solemnly. "Thank you."
Thoralius says: Please return the crystal to me when you have attained the knowledge you seek.
[Bertrand]: No problem.
[Kenelly]: Of course.
[Arric]: I do not know this area well; I shall follow your lead, Lord Bertrand.
Glyphe giggles at Arric.
Bertrand points straight ahead down the road.
Arric peers at Glyphe searchingly.
[Glyphe]: "Lord Betrand". I can't get used to that.
[Bertrand]: It's that building. Call me Birdie while we're out here, would you?
[Slicket]: And when we get closer, we follow Kenelly. She's the one with the crystal and the spirits.
[Arric]: Oh, of course.
[Bertrand]: Thanks.
Slicket grins.
[Bertrand]: You know Slick's actually our leader, right?
Bertrand looks at Arric.
Arric is dressed in grubby leathers, as though he understood at least part of the assignment, but by his inflection it's clear he is a Gembleman.
[Arric]: Oh?
Kenelly's lifts her brow in surprise. There's a leader?
[Arric]: My apologies!
Arric bows before Slicket.
[Arric]: Lead the way, Mr. Slicket.
[Slicket]: Yeah, I mean, Birdie has more combat experience, of course. So he's really valuable on the team.
Arric's assumptions make an ass out of u and— no, just him.
[Arric]: Birdie is a charming nickname. My name doesn't lend itself to such things, really.
[Bertrand]: Hmm… I'm sure I could find something.
[Kenelly]: Arric is a very handsome name on its own.
[Slicket]: Nobody calls you Airy?
[Arric]: Airy? Ha! I am surprised they haven't.
Bertrand whistles for Annuvin as they approach the farmhouse.
Moonbrook Thug says: This is the end of the line, pal!
The thug attacks.
[Arric]: Ah. Hostiles.
[Slicket]: If you want a nickname, we can do that. But Arric's a great name, too.
[Arric]: Thank you.
Most of the people within the mine, however, are not hostile.
Arric nods to the peaceful men they pass.
[Arric]: Pardon us, madam.
[Bertrand]: It's okay, don't mind the wolf, it's okay.
[Slicket]: This place is bigger than it looked
[Kenelly]: Amazing…just like the vision.
[Arric]: My. Indeed.
Bertrand reassures people as they walk by with Stormy.
[Slicket]: Yeah.
Arric's wolf does not help reassure. She growls.
The mine tunnels are full of civilians, children among them. The team notices a young boy running by.
Kenelly gasps softly at the sight of the boy, then lets out a small whimper.
[Glyphe]: So many people.
[Bertrand]: Yeah, nice and indoors.
[Arric]: Clever of them to use this place for shelter, really.
[Kenelly]: Children living down here. It's just awful.
[Slicket]: Better than the fields.
[Arric]: They've done so well in a terrible situation…
Bertrand looks up at the dimly-lit support beams overhead. "At least this place stayed standing…"
Arric peers at an orphan searchingly.
Arric does a little sleight of hand for the little girl, producing a silver coin from behind his ear. He holds a finger to his lips.
[Slicket]: Kenelly, do you think we're close?
[Kenelly]: It's hard to say.
Kenelly sniffs the dank air.
[Glyphe]: No more hostiles down here.
[Arric]: It goes on and on…
[Kenelly]: Follow them…the spirit said.
Kenelly gestures to the unhoused people.
[Arric]: More this way…
[Arric]: I hope someone was marking our way in…
[Kenelly]: This is familiar. I think…yes, look there!
[Bertrand]: I'll remember it.
[Kenelly]: I think I could follow our scents back.
[Slicket]: Glyphe and I can get us out, I bet.
Bertrand looks at a tunnel.
[Slicket]: Gnomes are good in tunnels.
Glyphe giggles.
[Glyphe]: We can all get us out.
[Kenelly]: Very good point. I'm glad to have gnomes with us down here.
The crystal glows faintly.
[Slicket]: Here?
[Kenelly]: Ooh, yes, I think so.
[Kenelly]: The crystal is getting excited.
The crystal begins to produce that same trancelike sensation…
Kenelly's eyelids flutter.
The crystal pulls you deeper in…
Kenelly holds up the crystal.
CUTSCENE
Our consciousness is drawn deep into the Defias hideout, past all the foundries and workshops and to a ship under construction.
As our perspective zooms in, it pans for a moment past the lower deck of the destroyer, where a short, well-endowed young woman with long auburn hair tied back in a messy tail stands. She wears a plain linen blouse laced up all the way to her neck along with dark trousers and a pair of sturdy leather boots and a red bandana tied around her arm.
She has a long open slash across her nose that’s dripping blood down her mouth and chin as well as several other welts and bruises on her face and arms. She stands above a dark haired and dark skinned man who is crumpled on the deck before her, similarly bloodied and bruised.
She has him held up by a fistful of hair and she drives a sword down his throat. She lets go and the man falls dead. The young woman stands there and glares at him for a moment before she runs off toward the exit, clutching her bloodied face, and she tears the bandana from her arm and throws it away.
What becomes of her next is unclear, because our perspective zooms in on the top of the boat, where a ten-person Cobalt Company strike team faces off against Edwin Van Cleef and his Defias Blackguards. It’s a rather diverse team, only some of whom are familiar to the modern-day Cobalt squad watching the vision.
Sir Dane Atley, not yet a knight, is accompanied on point by a dwarvish woman. His modern-day wife, here Ivrianna Barlowe, stands by with her daggers at the ready. Lady Ference, or more accurately Niris Hazan here, heals alongside a young kaldorei woman. Jocoza Sparkwire, not yet a Captain, and Cressidha Aspenwood are there, and they’re accompanied by a warlock with two healthy legs, possibly recognizable as Sandy Spellbond. Two hunters hang back with bow and gun, respectively - the blind kaldorei Auralind Mistwalker and the dark-haired dwarf Oranna Stormbreaker.
Edwin VanCleef stands in a dark alcove on the top deck, glaring out at the assembled fighters.
Dane Atley yells: Van Cleef!
Dane Atley yells: You choose your end! Die, here, now, or HANG for your crimes against the kingdom!
Edwin VanCleef moves in to attack.
Defias Blackguard jumps out of the shadows!
Defias Blackguard jumps out of the shadows!
The fight begins.
Jocoza Sparkwire yells: So you have chosen death!
The team dispatches two of his bodyguards and then refocuses on VanCleef.
Edwin VanCleef yells: Lapdogs! All of you!
Edwin VanCleef calls more of his allies out of the shadows.
Edwin VanCleef yells: Fools! Our cause is righteous!
Jocoza Sparkwire yells: No, it isn’t!
Dane Atley says: Kill the spares!
Edwin VanCleef yells: The Brotherhood shall prevail!
Edwin VanCleef fights valiantly, but he is outmatched. His bodyguards fall, and then Dane strikes off his head.
Dane Atley wipes the sweat from his brow.
Dane Atley says: He’s one of the best swordsmen I’ve ever seen.
Ivrianna Barlowe says: Dane? Are you alright?
Dane Atley tears his eyes off VanCleef to peer at Ivrianna and then himself. “Aye. Seem t’be in one piece.”
Jocoza Sparkwire says: Well, now you have a story for that intelligence group of yours, Ivri.
The rest of the team reports in to Elohad Ference about the success of the mission via gnomish buzzbox in muffled voices.
Dane Atley frowns with disappointment at Edwin VanCleef. “Stupid bastard. He could’ve been a soldier. A fighter.”
Jocoza Sparkwire says: He could’ve been a lot of things. He chose to be a murderer.
Dane Atley shakes his head, frowning, and turns away. “Bloody waste. Ivrianna, find a way to blow this place up, would you?
Ivrianna Barlowe says: What??
Dane Atley says: Jocoza, start some fires, li’l blaster.
Jocoza sets some fires on the deck with her magic. “Maybe that’ll do for a start.”
The Cobalt Company team heads off the burning ship, but our perspective remains. The dark alcove where VanCleef waited for his opponents is not empty. An adolescent girl creeps out amidst the smoke to look in despair and grief at the body of Edwin VanCleef.
Vanessa VanCleef says: Daddy…
Our vision goes dark.
—
Arric is white as a sheet when he comes out of his trance.
Glyphe blinks rapidly.
[Glyphe]: That poor little girl.
[Slicket]: Whoa.
[Kenelly]: So…the old leader had a daughter? Poor child….
Arric is shaky and silent.
[Slicket]: And she was right there. Cobalt would've helped her, I bet, if they knew.
Bertrand rubs his face.
[Glyphe]: They killed her father in front of her, I don't think she wanted their help.
[Slicket]: That's… probably a good point, Glyphe. Makes you wonder how much she knew about what he was doing.
[Bertrand]: Hm.
[Slicket]: Did you see that woman running off in the beginning? Looked familiar, but…
[Glyphe]: I didn't see anyone running, but I wasn't really paying attention. That whole thing was weird. I'm glad I'm a mage and don't do spirit stuff.
[Glyphe]: Magic is a science.
[Bertrand]: I wish I could've gotten a better look at her.
[Slicket]: As for the other one, it sort of looked like… nah, it couldn't be, could it?
Bertrand says nonchalantly, "Let's bring the crystal back?"
[Slicket]: She was hurt here, though, where our contact had a scar. *Slick gestures across his nose*
[Slicket]: Yeah, probably a good idea.
[Glyphe]: Wait, you mean Rozmatoz?
[Slicket]: Yeah Rozmatoz!
Bertrand sighs. He probably wasn't going to encourage the line of conversation. "Rozalin."
[Kenelly]: Who is Rozma-…Rozalin?
[Arric]: I do not know.
[Bertrand]: Nice lady who likes her privacy.
[Slicket]: Woman who helped us get oriented, local of the place.
[Glyphe]: She's the one who gave us the precis on Westfall.
[Arric]: She was there? In the–
Bertrand sighs.
Arric closes his mouth, seeming to think he might be about to say something problematic.
[Slicket]: Didn't look like she was on good terms exactly.
[Slicket]: Might be bad blood there, why she wanted to help.
[Arric]: Hmmm. So… perhaps an escapee of the — gang? Cult?
[Arric]: Often people are… temporarily led astray in hard times.
[Slicket]: Good on her for getting out, if so.
[Glyphe]: I liked her.
Arric nods. That seems to be all he needs to know.
Kenelly peers curiously at Arric.
[Arric]: What a maze…
We make our way out of the mines.
[Arric]: I am glad you knew the way out!
[Arric]: I can navigate well enough in the wilds, but underground?
[Arric]: This is the first mine I've ever been in, abandoned or otherwise.
Slicket grins at Arric. "I told you, gnomes are great for that."
Bertrand looks up at the night sky.
Arric smiles at Slicket. "Gnomes are great for a large number of things!"
Slicket chuckles. "You're a good guy."
The team arrives back at the Moonbrook camp.
Slicket salutes Thoralius the Wise with respect.
Bertrand nods at Stormy. "She did well in there. Didn't harass anyone."
Thoralius smiles faintly.
[Arric]: Good girl. *to Stormy*
Kenelly smiles to Thoralius, offering the crystal to him. "The spirits were very helpful. Thank you."
Bertrand raises a hand in a lazy wave to Thoralius.
Glyphe sniffles at the incense and rubs her nose.
Thoralius says: Thank you for returning it. These crystals are difficult to come by now.
Glyphe sneezes. Achoo!
[Slicket]: I can imagine.
[Bertrand]: Bless you.
Thoralius says: Did you discover anything of use?
[Glyphe]: Thang you.
[Slicket]: We got some information, and I think we'd better bring it to the officers.
Thoralius tucks the crystal away safely with a slight bow to Kenelly.
Thoralius says: I am glad I was able to assist.
Kenelly returns the bow in respect.
Slicket bows before Thoralius the Wise.
[Slicket]: Main thing is… I think we can tell you this… Van Cleef had a daughter.
Thoralius blinks.
Thoralius says: Useful information indeed… Yes, the Marshal will want to know.
[Slicket]: She'd be… would she be an adult by now? Humans, aging… *Slicket shakes his head*
[Slicket]: But yeah, we better tell him.
Thoralius says: Farewell.
[Slicket]: Back to Sentinel Hill!
The team flies to Sentinel Hill and heads straight for Gryan Stoutmantle.
Marshal Stoutmantle straightens as the group approaches.
Slicket salutes Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle with respect.
Marshal Stoutmantle says: Report.
[Slicket]: Sir, we've uncovered some news that might shed light on the situation.
Marshal Stoutmantle says: I'm listening.
Bertrand salutes the Marshal.
[Slicket]: Van Cleef had a daughter, maybe like… halfway grown?
Marshal Stoutmantle says: WHAT?
[Slicket]: Yeah, and she was there when Cobalt killed him. Hiding.
Kenelly nods. "An adolescent child. She saw everything."
Marshal Stoutmantle says: I had no idea. By the Light… If there was one thing that man was exceptionally skilled at, it was keeping secrets.
Marshal Stoutmantle says: How tragic. The poor thing witnessed something horrible. Had only I known…
[Slicket]: No idea what happened to her after that.
Marshal Stoutmantle turns his head sharply as the sounds of battle abruptly cease. "What's happening - the gnolls are pulling back - where are my guards?"
Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle says: I don't like this, Bertrand. Stay alert!
Hope Saldean walks up to the tower.
Hope Saldean says: You bastards will burn for what you did.
Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle says: Hope! Wha..
Hope Saldean says: Hope? Is that what I was supposed to feel when I saw my father decapitated by your henchmen?
Hope Saldean says: Hope is a cruel joke, played upon us by a harsh and uncaring world. There is no Hope, there is only Vanessa. Vanessa VanCleef.
Vanessa VanCleef yells: RISE UP BROTHERHOOD! THE DAWNING DAY IS UPON US!
The Defias attack the tower and take out the leaders.
Vanessa VanCleef says: Tie them up.
They free the criminal worgen from the stocks. He is apparently Admiral Ripsnarl.
Vanessa VanCleef says: Admiral, your hat.
Admiral Ripsnarl says: Thank you, my dear.
Then Vanessa turns to the Cobalt team.
Vanessa VanCleef says: And you few, I will spare your life. You have done much to help our cause, albeit unwittingly, but the next time we meet it will be as enemies.
Lieutenant Horatio Laine says: Just tell me one thing, Vanessa.
Lieutenant Horatio Laine says: Why'd you have the Furlbrows killed?
Vanessa VanCleef says: I had no choice, lieutenant. They recognized me. I knew them before my father’s death - some of the only living people in the world who even knew I existed. They saw me again recently, by chance, and… *Vanessa sighs*
Vanessa VanCleef says: I took no pleasure in their deaths.
Now Vanessa is done with sentiment. She turns to her new Defias brigands.
Vanessa VanCleef yells: Leave nothing but ashes in your wake, brothers! Burn Sentinel Hill to the ground!
Vanessa and her people move off, destruction on her mind.
Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle says: Cobalt, get to Stormwind. Tell King Wrynn everything. EVERYTHING! GO NOW!
[Arric]: We must run!
[Bertrand]: Annuvin, go on ahead!
Arric does his best to help those who aren't already running.
Bertrand's stormcrow takes off.
[Arric]: We must report to the King!
[Slicket]: Let's get to Stormwind!
They hop on gryphons and fly to Stormwind. Once there, they make haste to the king.
Kenelly wipes her eyes, but does not falter in hurrying to the keep with her friends.
Bertrand takes off through the city at a run, outpacing the others and then waiting for them to catch up.
Arric's knees buckle and he actually falls for a moment.
Slicket hurries as fast as his little legs allow.
[Bertrand]: Arric!
Kenelly pauses, hurrying back to Arric and offering her hand.
Arric puts his head between his knees. "Sorry… Sorry… help me up? I… I'm fine."
[Slicket]: Arric, we got this. We gotta report to the king.
[Kenelly]: Hey…it's okay. We're in this together.
Glyphe dances from foot to foot.
Kenelly smiles through her own tears.
[Slicket]: The fire's behind us.
Arric nods. "Let's go."
[Arric]: Sorry, I was overwhelmed for just a moment.
[Kenelly]: "It's understandable, Lord Arric. This is a horrible situation."
[Arric]: We did our best… didn't we?
[Slicket]: We did.
[Slicket]: It was just… too late.
[Kenelly]: I think we did everything we could.
Glyphe pants as she runs. Running is hard.
Arric takes a deep, shaky breath.
Slicket is in good shape. But still, he's breathing hard.
Arric offers Glyphe a hand. "Shall I carry you?"
[Kenelly]: Now…we just have to be brave and prepare for what comes next.
Outside the keep is a stormcrow, yelling at the guards. "News! Warning! For the king!"
Glyphe grimly shakes her head.
[Arric]: Yes… courage, friends.
The guards don't seem to know what to make of this yelling bird, but are not letting it inside.
Slicket slides to a halt at the keep entrance.
[Bertrand]: Annuvin, we're here. It's fine. We can handle this.
[Slicket]: We have urgent news for the King from Westfall!
Glyphe helpfully gasps, "We're… with Cobalt… Compa… ny."
Bertrand yanks his tabard on over his head. "Bertrand Aspenwood, Cobalt Company."
[Kenelly]: Please let us in. It's an emergency.
Slicket hastily dons his own tabard. It's a little crooked.
Guard says: Cobalt Company? All right. Go ahead.
Arric tries to catch his breath.
Kenelly blinks in awe at how easily the tabard gained them access.
Glyphe puts her tabard on as she walks.
[Kenelly]: Cobalt Company's reputation is even more impressive than I thought.
Slicket peers at the throne as they approach, and murmurs, "Yeah, okay. Not gold."
Bertrand kneels before King Varian Wrynn.
Arric kneels before King Varian Wrynn.
Kenelly kneels before King Varian Wrynn.
Glyphe curtsies before King Varian Wrynn.
Slicket bows before King Varian Wrynn.
King Varian Wrynn takes one look at their tabards and expressions and rises to his feet.
[Bertrand]: Urgent news from Westfall, your majesty.
King Varian Wrynn says: From Westfall. *He growls softly.* Go on.
[Slicket]: There's been a Defias attack. A new-Defias attack. We left Sentinel Hill burning.
Bertrand does a double-take as he sees Genn. He bows his head, still kneeling.
King Varian Wrynn says: Defias?
Kenelly curtsies to each king, then kneels before Varian.
Kenelly kneels before King Varian Wrynn.
[Bertrand]: Marshal Gryan Stoutmantle sent us to tell you. Vanessa VanCleef has taken him and others captive.
King Varian Wrynn clenches his fists and turns away briefly, his back to the group. Greymane watches his face, seeming alarmed by what he sees.
Slicket watches the king.
Glyphe is still trying to catch her breath. She has her hands on her waist. Woo. Hhhh.
King Varian Wrynn takes several slow breaths, then turns back toward the group, his expression grim.
King Varian Wrynn says: I will deploy a battalion of soldiers to Westfall at once. With the Defias Brotherhood reborn, an old threat to the kingdom is renewed.
King Varian Wrynn says: The Defias Brotherhood are not a force to be taken lightly, Cobalt Company. What you witnessed was the rebirth of a ruthless organization of criminals that will stop at nothing to see Stormwind turned to rubble.
King Varian Wrynn says: Return to your leadership - we may need your aid in this struggle soon.
Slicket nods seriously at the king, and takes another bow.
Kenelly rises, then turns to give a deep, reverent curtsey to Genn Greymane. "My king."
Kenelly curtsies before Genn Greymane.
Bertrand rises and bows to them.
King Varian Wrynn says: The Crown once again thanks you for your service. You will be rewarded from the royal treasury for your swift report. You are dismissed.
[Bertrand]: Your majesty. Your majesty. Your highness.
Glyphe curtsies before King Varian Wrynn.
King Varian Wrynn looks like he is about to burst a blood vessel.
Bertrand flashes a smile at Anduin and turns.
[Slicket]: Thank you, sir. Majesty.
Slicket heads out with his team.
[Arric]: I… may need to lie down a while.
[Arric]: I'm … seeing lights.
[Slicket]: That was not how I expected today to end.
Arric gestures vaguely to his peripheral vision.
[Kenelly]: Lights, Lord Arric?
[Glyphe]: Maybe it's just the stars?
[Arric]: Mmm. Means I'm about to have a terrible headache.
[Bertrand]: Ah.
[Arric]: Stress does that sometimes. It will be fine.
[Slicket]: You should get some chocolate milk. Fortifying.
Annuvin swoops down towards them.
Arric admires the bird.
[Arric]: That does sound quite nice, Mr. Slicket.
Arric smiles faintly.
[Bertrand]: Hey, Vin. Thanks for going ahead. Sorry they wouldn't actually let you in.
[Arric]: So they'll… we'll be told if there is more we need to do?
Arric peers at Annuvin searchingly.
[Slicket]: Yeah, for sure. *Slicket is also new at this*
Annuvin croaks, "Tried."
[Arric]: What a remarkable bird…
[Arric]: How did you train him to speak so coherently?
Arric is amazed by Annuvin!
[Glyphe]: I've never heard him say so much.
Bertrand holds out his arm for Annuvin to land on his bracer and pets him gently. "Long story short, he wasn't always a bird."
Kenelly blinks at you.
[Slicket]: Whoa, what? Is he a druid?
[Bertrand]: Yeah. Dunno if it's my place to tell it all.
Annuvin croaks, "Hey," to the others in his usual Birdie-mimicry style.
Slicket looks at Annuvin with new sympathy. "Maybe he can, one day."
Kenelly gazes at Annuvin with a new perspective, and gives the sort-of-bird a respectful nod.
Glyphe says, a little sadly, "Hey, Annuvin."
[Arric]: A druid… astonishing…
Arric bows before Annuvin.
[Arric]: I apologize for not introducing myself properly, Annuvin.
[Arric]: Arric Falrevere of Tiragarde Sound.
[Slicket]: In the meantime, I'm gonna head to find myself some chocolate milk in the Dwarven District. I know some good places there. Let's keep in touch. Annuvin, thank you for your efforts, too.
[Kenelly]: Maybe one day I'll learn to take the shape of a bird, and we might fly together, Annuvin.
Kenelly smiles at Annuvin.
Bertrand smiles at the others.
[Arric]: Thank you everyone. Off to find a dark room to lie down in for a few hours…
Annuvin bobs his head.
Arric smiles weakly.
[Glyphe]: I'm going to go talk to the people in the mage tower.
[Kenelly]: Would you like me to come check on you later, Lord Arric? I could bring some herbs that might help your headache.
[Arric]: Good idea.
Slicket nods at Glyphe.
[Arric]: Thank you, Lady Kennelly.
Arric bows before Kenelly.
Kenelly curtseys.
[Kenelly]: My pleasure.
The team, still in some shock, disperses.