(2024-07-26) Land of the Gryphons and Home of the Dwarves

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Annibeth, Jonas, Maisha and Mayellen travel to the Hinterlands, where they meet people from Maisha's home, befriend gryphons, and begin an investigation into what the trolls are doing with all those spiders.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Hinterlands

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spiders

The team assembles at Refuge Pointe in Arathi, the day after their meeting with Vice Admiral Fallon and subsequent dinner at his house.

Mayellen hugs Jonas.

Jonas smiles at Mayellen.
[Jonas]: Feeling recovered from the forks?

Mayellen giggles at Jonas.
[Mayellen]: I hope I didn't make too much of a fool of myself.
[Mayellen]: I think I preferred when we met the Vice Admiral in random taverns.

[Jonas]: You didn't make a fool of yourself. I expect the Vice Admiral knows you're the responsible, leadery sort by now.

[Maisha]: He had a right nice house, though.
[Maisha]: Bit closed in, but that's humans for you, aye?

Jonas nods at Maisha. "He had a lot of house, anyway."

[Mayellen]: Most humans don't live in places that large.
[Mayellen]: But closed, yes. We like to avoid being rained on.

Jonas nods solemnly.

[Maisha]: Sometimes a bit of rain can be nice.

[Mayellen]: I'm not as accustomed to the outdoors as either of you.

[Jonas]: That's fair.

[Maisha]: True, I spend most o' my time out of doors, when left to my own devices.
[Maisha]: I think Nala will be meetin' us later on, in the Hinterlands.
[Maisha]: Once we've got Anni, we can head out.

[Jonas]: All right.

[Mayellen]: Where is she? Is she okay?

[Maisha]: Sure hope so. She seemed fine at the Admiral’s, aye?

[Jonas]: … I don't see why she wouldn't be.

[Mayellen]: Well, we spent the evening at a noble's house…
[Mayellen]: I half expected she might just… quit.

[Jonas]: Unless all of those sandwiches disagreed with her. She had… a lot of sandwiches. And then dinner.

[Mayellen]: And also, not just any noble…
[Mayellen]: But the brother of… you know.

[Maisha]: Seems like she's gotten over that by now? Hasn't mentioned it in a while.

Jonas shrugs uncertainly.

[Mayellen]: I hope so. She can be hard to predict.

Annibeth appears!

[Annibeth]: That's what makes me so special.

[Maisha]: Anni!

Mayellen jumps, then laughs.

[Jonas]: She seemed to get on all right with the Vice Adm— hullo, Anni. Are you okay?

[Mayellen]: Oh good, there you are.

[Maisha]: Ready ta see the Hinterlands?

Annibeth stares at Jonas.

Jonas regards her politely back.
Jonas and Mayellen are married now, so they are As One.

[Annibeth]: As for the Admirable…he is what he is. I'll deal.

[Mayellen]: Good.
[Mayellen]: I'm ready. I uh, should warn you about some of the abilities I've been practicing.
[Mayellen]: Unexpected demons may occur.

[Jonas]: … that sounds medical.

Mayellen giggles at Jonas.

[Maisha]: I hope they're at least unexpected enslaved demons?

[Mayellen]: So yes, the demons will be completely under my control.
[Mayellen]: But they tend to show up a bit… well… chaotically.

[Annibeth]: I trust ya, May.

[Mayellen]: Thank you. I promise it's safe.
[Mayellen]: You know I wouldn't do any kind of reckless experimenting around all of you.

[Maisha]: Aye, I trust ye, May.

[Mayellen]: This looks chaotic but I have been practicing very long and hard.

They ride to the north of Arathi Basin, and come to a very well-maintained, well-lit tunnel through the northern mountain range.

[Maisha]: This here's the tunnel to the region.

[Mayellen]: I've not been up this way before.

[Jonas]: I didn't know there was one. A tunnel, I mean.

[Annibeth]: I didn't even know this was here!

[Jonas]: Dwarves are ingenious and secretive.

Maisha grins. "Well made, ain't it?"

[Annibeth]: Right? Sneaky dwarves.
Annibeth giggles.

They emerge into the fresh air, blue skies, and healthy trees of the Hinterlands.

[Mayellen]: Oh…. it's beautiful…

Maisha takes a deep breath of the air.
[Maisha]: Home sweet home.

[Annibeth]: Whoa…not bad at all.

Jonas gazes up at the sky, and then around at the landscape.

[Mayellen]: The air smells so nice. Is that the trees?

[Jonas]: It's very fine.

[Maisha]: Aye, the leave an' needles have got a nice scent.
Maisha smiles gently as they pass a gryphon.

[Annibeth]: Gotta say, this is my favorite dwarf land so far. It's gorgeous!

Maisha smiles at Annibeth.

Mayellen takes a deep breath and smiles.
[Mayellen]: Look at the gryphons, just… flying around free.

[Mayellen]: I suppose I knew there must be wild ones somewhere, but I never thought about it.

[Maisha]: Oh! Would ye like to make friends with 'em?

[Mayellen]: Oh um… I don't mind keeping a respectful distance.

[Maisha]: Well, if yer keen at all, that's a thing I used to do back when I lived here, feedin' the wild gryphons. I bet they'd be happy for us to give a hand.

[Mayellen]: You weren't afraid they'd take your hand off?

[Jonas]: They probably haven't got much use for hands.

Mayellen laughs.

Annibeth laughs.

[Maisha]: Any animal worth its salt could take yer hand off. Ye just got to be a little bit careful.

[Mayellen]: Hm, I may leave gryphon feeding to the experts.

We arrive at Aerie Peak, and Maisha leads everyone up to the flight master.

[Maisha]: Here's the flight master, ye can check in to come back easy later.

Mayellen introduces herself to Guthrum Thunderfist.

[Maisha]: My friend Claira will be waitin' for us down in that round building.

We head back down to a squat dwarvish lookout tower. On the top floor, a cute dwarven girl with twin braids of brown hair and a rather short skirt stands keeping watch.

Mayellen looks around curiously.

[Maisha]: Claira! Hello! I brought my friends - the investigative team, like I said I would!

[Mayellen]: Hello, I'm Mayellen Jonas, and this is my husband Jonas.

Jonas nods politely.

Claira waves at Mayellen and Jonas and eyes Maisha's modest dress.

Claira Kindfeather says: Maisha! And pleased ta meet ye, Mayellen and Jonas. Welcome back. Maisha, ye look a bit… well-covered, aye? Are ye not hot?

Maisha blushes a little. "It's uh… armor. Ye know. Good armor."

Jonas looks between Maisha and Claira.

Claira waves at Annibeth cheerfully.

[Annibeth]: Oh hi! I'm Anni.

Claira Kindfeather says: Pleased ta meet ye, Anni. And I thank ye all for comin' out this way. We’ve had our share o’ problems here in the Hinterlands, but till now not much ta ask fer help with.
Claira Kindfeather says: Ta start with, I should tell ye that there’s more Horde here than we’d like - the Revantusk have been a problem fer ages, but now the Forsaken have made a ‘research station’, which is a euphemism if I ever heard one.

[Mayellen]: Oh, no.
Mayellen glances at Jonas.

[Annibeth]: Ugh. Gross.

[Maisha]: The Forsaken, here? *Maisha's expression darkens*

Jonas 's expression is grim.

Claira Kindfeather says: Aye. That’s no’ why ye’ve been called here, but I mention it so ye can take care. They’ve no’ made any move against Aerie Peak, but no tellin’ what they’ll do next.

[Maisha]: Aye, we'll be careful.

[Jonas]: They can't just be left to… do whatever they're doing, can they?

Claira Kindfeather says: As long as they don't mess with us? I'd like them to be no' here at all, but they're no' our only problem.

[Mayellen]: We can report back to Cobalt about it; maybe they can send a team.

Jonas doesn't look thrilled, but he nods and listens.

Mayellen links her arm through his and leans on him a little.

Claira Kindfeather says: Right, aye, ye can let people know.
Claira Kindfeather says: As fer today, I’m ta send ye on down to Jintha’alor, where Fraggar waits for ye. The thing we’re wantin’ help with is the Vilebranch trolls.

[Maisha]: Fraggar? Ye mean Donnall's friend?

Claira Kindfeather says: Aye, one o' those shamans that pal around with yer brother, Mai.

[Mayellen]: Oh, good, I've been hoping to meet more shamans.

[Maisha]: And he's a good sort. *Maisha nods* We can trust 'im.
[Maisha]: So what can ye tell us about the Vilebranch?

Claira Kindfeather says: The Vilebranch were th’ ones who kidnapped that gryphon chick, Sharpbeak, three summers ago. Yer company was the one who fought their way into Jintha’alor and got th’ little one back.

[Mayellen]: From the name they don't seem very interested in public relations.

[Annibeth]: Seriously. Who names themselves 'vile'?

Claira chuckles. "No, they're not, at that."
Claira Kindfeather says: I cannae claim ta know how the trolls think. They've been a thorn in our talons for longer than I've been alive.

Mayellen nods sympathetically.

Claira Kindfeather says: Anyway, ye may not recall, but Cobalt killed their leader along the way, Vile Priestess Hexx, an’ they’ve been a bit quieter since then.

[Mayellen]: But I suppose they're rallying now?

Claira Kindfeather says: Aye, till recent months. We’re no’ sure what they’re up to, but they’re suddenly more organized an’ they’ve pushed the Witherbark out o’ the region. That’s what we want ye ta investigate.

Claira nods at Mayellen.

[Mayellen]: They must have a new leader. That's usually what's happening in cases like this.
[Mayellen]: We can find out.

Claira Kindfeather says: We'd appreciate that. Fraggar can give ye more tips at the base o' Jintha'Alor, on what he's found so far an' what ye're after.

[Maisha]: Thanks, Claira.

The team heads back outside, and makes their way out of Aerie Peak in the direction of Jintha’Alor.

Maisha whistles, and Bael comes to her call.
[Maisha]: Here, let me show ye how ta feed the gryphons.

Mayellen watches cautiously.

Maisha pulls out a chunk of meat and tosses it to the gryphon passing by.

The gryphon snags it right out of the air.

[Mayellen]: Oh, so you just sort of toss it…
[Mayellen]: That does seem wiser.

[Maisha]: See? Ye don't have ta get too close to the beak.
Maisha nods at May.

[Mayellen]: Okay, I can try.

Maisha offers May a chunk of meat.

Mayellen tosses a chunk of meat to the next gryphon they pass by.

Mayellen cheers at Trained Razorbeak!

[Maisha]: There ye go!

Annibeth claps excitedly for Mayellen.

[Mayellen]: They have quick reflexes, naturally.

[Maisha]: Anni, Jonas, ye want ta try?

[Annibeth]: Sure!

[Jonas]: Aye.

Maisha passes out meat to Jonas and Anni.

Jonas tosses a chunk of meat and smiles as the gryphon snaps it out of the air.

Maisha indicates the next gryphon.

Annibeth takes a hunk of meat, carefully approaching the gryphon and tossing it.

Mayellen claps excitedly for Annibeth and Jonas.

Maisha smiles proudly at her friends.

Jonas grins.

[Annibeth]: Lookit that! He took it!
Annibeth laughs giddily.

[Maisha]: Yeah, I think he likes ye.

[Mayellen]: They're surprisingly friendly.

[Maisha]: Wonderful creatures, gryphons.

[Mayellen]: They do realize they could tear our heads off, right?

[Jonas]: Not so loud, May, they might hear you.

Mayellen giggles.

[Maisha]: Oh, aye. But they know a friend when they see one.

[Mayellen]: They're clearly very intelligent.
[Mayellen]: Even more so than horses, I think.
Mayellen cuddles up against Jonas.

[Maisha]: I've no' much experience with horses, but I can say I think they're cleverer than rams.

[Mayellen]: I want to feed one more.
Mayellen tosses the food.
[Mayellen]: what a beauty…
[Mayellen]: I hope someone's been paying attention to where we're going…
[Mayellen]: I got a bit distracted by the gryphons.

[Jonas]: Maisha knows, I assume.

[Maisha]: Aye, we're well on our way. *Maisha smiles*
[Maisha]: We're at the ends of the gryphon grounds now. Probably a good time to mount up.

Mayellen relaxes and enjoys the ride, looking around at the towering trees.

They ride along peacefully for a while, and then come across evidence of Horde presence.

Maisha pauses, frowning at the plague wagon and the forsaken banner that comes into view as they turn around a corner.

[Mayellen]: Oh, I see the Forsaken outpost…
Mayellen makes some notes.

[Maisha]: I hope they've not much of a foothold.
[Maisha]: The Revantusk have been here for ages, but this is new.

[Mayellen]: The Horde is really pressing to take over the North.

Maisha nods. "Hillsbrad and Gilneas, and then Andorhal… and now here. I don't like it."

Jonas clenches his jaw. He nods.

[Mayellen]: I don't understand why we're obsessed with taking Southern Kalimdor and they're obsessed with taking Northern Azeroth. Wouldn't it be better if the Horde and Alliance each had their entire own continent to themselves?

[Maisha]: I'd think so, aye.

[Mayellen]: It would end the constant border skirmishes.
[Mayellen]: But I suppose Lady Proudmoore isn't going to just casually give up Theramore.

[Maisha]: No, I suppose not. And th' Banshee Queen seems ta have her claws inta Lordaeron well and good.

[Mayellen]: Of all the Horde leaders, Windrunner is by far the most disturbing. Hellscream is evil, but he also seems a bit thick-headed.

Maisha nods at Mayellen seriously.

We arrive at Stormfeather Outpost, in the east of the Hinterlands.

[Maisha]: We've an outpost here, ye might want to register yer flight permit.

Mayellen introduces herself to Brock Rockbeard.

Then we ride south a little bit and find our way to the base of Jintha’Alor. There’s a little camp with a handful of dwarves there.

Maisha spots the dwarves and waves. "Fraggar! 'lo there!"

[Mayellen]: Oh, the shamans!
Mayellen smooths out her robe from the ride.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Is that… Mai? Donnall's baby sister?

[Maisha]: Aye, aye, a little less baby now. An' these are my friends an' colleagues, the Cobalt Eye!

[Mayellen]: Hello, I'm Mayellen Jonas, and this is my husband Jonas. We're here to help Mai.

[Annibeth]: I'm Anni.
[Annibeth]: Also here to help!

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Pleased ta meet ye all! And pleased for the help.

[Mayellen]: We've been briefed on the Vilebranch situation a bit.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Alright, so I don' t have ta start at the beginnin'. Good. And glad ye've got a whole team. Donnall'd have my hide if I sent in the lass alone. *Fraggar winks at Maisha*

Mayellen smiles at you.
[Mayellen]: You'd be surprised how tough she is.

Jonas nods firmly.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Oh, is she now? *Fraggar grins* The little ones sure grow up fast these days.

Maisha blushes again, but she glances at May and Jonas gratefully.

Mayellen gently pats Maisha.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: So… I've been doin' what I can ta figure out what's goin' on in there, so let me tell ye what I've noticed so far. In short, tiki masks an’ spiders.

[Mayellen]: Oh.

[Maisha]: Tiki masks? *Maisha blinks*

[Mayellen]: The spider part I understand. I'm not familiar with these masks, though.
[Mayellen]: As I understand it trolls worship different animal loa, so the spider situation makes sense.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Aye, the masks are kind of a dark magic thing. They’ve been hangin’ tiki masks all over the walls of Jintha’Alor, and I think they must be full o’ foul hexes.

Annibeth points to the large mask hanging from a nearby tree. "Like that one?"
Annibeth points over yonder.

[Mayellen]: Oh! Well spotted, Anni. What a disturbing looking thing.

Jonas surveys the mask. He grimaces.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Exactly. I don’t think they need much more investigation. I’d simply ask ye to burn ‘em where ye see ‘em. Ye can borrow a torch here if ye need.

[Annibeth]: Oh, I can do better'n burn 'em….

Mayellen giggles at Annibeth.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Better than?

[Mayellen]: She'll turn them into charred splinters.
[Mayellen]: In less than a second.

Annibeth grins.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Ach, nice! An' here I was goin' ta offer ye a torch. Sounds like ye're set.

Mayellen nods at Fraggar Thundermantle.
[Mayellen]: Who needs a torch when we have Anni?

Fraggar Thundermantle says: As fer the spiders, yes, they worship loa, but… their last leader, Hexx, was in with the Atal'ai. Hakkar-worshipper.

[Mayellen]: The Blood God…

Fraggar Thundermantle says: An' they're also not BIG spiders, the ones I’ve been seein’ all over the place. They're small ones, just about the size o’ yer hand.

Maisha blinks again, and looks at her own hand. That does not seem so small.

[Mayellen]: Oh, well, that's more of a nuisance than anything, right?

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Right, aye, it’s almost like they’re pets, but… somethin’ doesn’t sit right with me for it. They’re up ta somethin’ with these spiders.
Fraggar Thundermantle says: Can ye try to bring some ta me, alive? Then I can see what th’ spirits have ta say about it.

[Jonas]: Collect sinister spiders. All right.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Ye'll likely have ta fight yer way through some o' the trolls. I hope ye're up for that.

[Mayellen]: Oh yes.

[Maisha]: Aye, I think we can manage. We're tough.

[Mayellen]: Guns, blades, and magic.

[Jonas]: And raptors.

Maisha grins. "Aye, let's not forget Bael."

We move into the first tier of Jintha’Alor.

[Maisha]: Here it is. The Vilebranch city.

Annibeth eyes the mask on the wall.
[Annibeth]: Hehe…lemme at it.

[Mayellen]: Yes please. Creepy.

[Maisha]: Aye, ta splinters.

Annibeth packs some seaforium behind it and steps back. "Live bomb!"

Jonas stares at the mask, fascinated and revolted.

Annibeth watches in delight at the mask explodes into charred splinters, as promised.

Maisha cheers!

[Maisha]: I think I see some o' those spiders he was talkiin' about.

[Mayellen]: We're supposed to just… grab them? or…?

[Maisha]: I… guess? Anybody got a bag?

[Mayellen]: I do.
[Mayellen]: I can get them if no one else is keen.

[Maisha]: I would no' argue with that.

Mayellen doesn't seem too bothered by the spiders.

[Maisha]: I guess ye don't have much problems with trolls down in Stormwind, aye?

Annibeth 'splodes another mask! "BOOM!"

[Mayellen]: Trolls are more of a problem for people down in the southern reaches of the kingdom near Stranglethorn.
[Mayellen]: Different tribe though.

Maisha nods.
[Maisha]: They're more… Gurubashi. These ones are related to the Amani.

[Mayellen]: Jungle trolls, yes.
[Mayellen]: Ours, I mean.

[Maisha]: And ours are forest trolls, aye.
[Maisha]: Been a thing since I was a wee little girl. Don't go out alone, because the forest trolls will get ye.

[Mayellen]: For me growing up it was murlocs and gnolls.

[Annibeth]: BOOOOM! Heheh.

Mayellen smiles at Annibeth.

Maisha grins at Anni.

Annibeth is in her happy place.

[Maisha]: Parents always have some kinda thing for tha'.

[Annibeth]: Oh Light, yeah. Always had gnolls creepin' around the edges of our farmstead.

[Mayellen]: Once we moved to the city though my parents used different things to scare me into obedience.

[Annibeth]: Don't go out at night or the gnolls'll eat you and sew your face into their tents!

Maisha makes a 'yikes' face at Annibeth.

[Jonas]: … ugh

[Mayellen]: You got the tent-face sewing story too?
[Mayellen]: Do they really do that?

[Annibeth]: They do!

[Mayellen]: Uggggh.

[Jonas]: Aye.

[Maisha]: Now that is disgustin'.

[Annibeth]: I thought Papa was pullin' my leg, but I seen it!

[Mayellen]: I think I prefer the dangers of the city.

[Maisha]: What'd they scare ye with in the city?

[Mayellen]: Oh you know, bad men were going to ambush me in an alley and steal me away, and so on.
[Mayellen]: No face-sewing though.

[Annibeth]: Nobles that'll tax you to death.

Mayellen laughs.

Annibeth smirks.

Maisha lets out a hearty chuckle.

[Mayellen]: My parents did complain about taxes a lot.

[Jonas]: Everyone complains about taxes. It's what unites humanity in common cause.

We make it back to the dwarf camp.

[Maisha]: Fraggar, we got some o' those spiders ye wanted!

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Oh, aye? Give them here, and I'll see what I can make of them. I may have ta send ye in for more later.

[Mayellen]: They're not too bad. Just a little… twitchy.

Fraggar reaches out to take the bag of spiders from Mayellen.

[Maisha]: We can rest up at Stormfeather while you give it a look?

[Mayellen]: Oh, I look forward to spending some time relaxing here.

The team says their farewells to Fraggar and his comrades, and rides north to Stormfeather Outpost.

[Mayellen]: This is such lovely country you have.

[Annibeth]: Yeah, real nice!

[Maisha]: Aye, isn't it? *Maisha smiles widely.* I'm glad we got ta come here together.

[Mayellen]: It'll be good for Jonas to run around here for a bit, get some exercise.
Mayellen's husband might also be her dog.

Annibeth stifles a snicker.

[Maisha]: An' I don't think the Wildhammers will mind worgen much. They've only just joined the Alliance formally themselves.

[Mayellen]: Mm hm.

[Annibeth]: Rest up!

Mayellen looks around for a good place to relax for a while.