(2024-07-29) Chapter XII: Sorties in the Swamp of Sorrows, Part 3 (Cobalt Blade)

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	The Cobalt Blade (Arthur, Tadget, Thalstan, Vesyllah, and Zaara) ventures into the newly-active Temple of Atal'Hakkar to put an end to the latest bad troll plans at the request of Eranikus's brother, Itharius. They save more than they might have expected.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Cobalt Blade

+ Show additional content warnings

dungeon-usual violence, temporary peril to an unborn child, grief at a lost family member

The team meets up at Marshtide Watch in the Swamp of Sorrows.

[Tadget]: Sup.

Arthur gives Tadget water.

Tadget thanks Arthur.
Tadget salutes Thalstan with respect.

Thalstan salutes the team.

Zaara doesn't salute anyone because she can't see.

[Thalstan]: Everyone ready ta go into a sunken temple on behalf of a green dragon?

[Tadget]: Mayhem reporting for duty, sir!!

[Zaara]: Yes!

[Arthur]: A cute green dragon.

Tadget giggles.

[Thalstan]: I'll take yer word for it, Art. But it's definitely a high-rankin' one, I'd reckon. Brother to the consort to the queen an' all.

[Tadget]: Excited to see some action!

Thalstan rides right out onto the water, just assuming Zaara has managed the usual elemental magic. She has.

Zaara was on it like a bonnet.

Vesyllah holds Tadget and strokes her affectionately. The spider, you pervs.

The team arrives at the above-water entrance to the temple.

Lord Itharius says: Cobalt Blade, you have returned!

[Zaara]: Yes!

[Vesyllah]: Perhaps against our better judgement…but yes.

Lord Itharius says: This means you are willing to enter the temple on my behalf?

[Zaara]: Yes!

[Tadget]: Our blades are ready to stab your foes!

[Vesyllah]: Elune wills it.

Lord Itharius says: Thanks to your clearing the way, I can at least make it in to the start of the inner temple. I will meet you there.
Itharius bows his head gently in thanks.

We swim through the little underwater segment and then quickly find ourselves at the entrance to the inner part of the temple.

[Thalstan]: Alright, in we go!

Vesyllah draws the shadows in around herself like a cloak.

[Thalstan]: Alright, here's the entrance to the inner part. That prophet who fled from us last time might be in here.
Thalstan nods approvingly at Ves's shadows.

Lord Itharius waits for us there.

Tadget greets Lord Itharius with a hearty hello!

Lord Itharius says: I see you have made it here safely. I stepped through the Emerald Dream, myself, but I thought that would not be the best for you.
Lord Itharius says: You'll need to be at your sharpest in here.

[Thalstan]: Aye, I'd like ta not go in sleepy.

Tadget sharpens her blades.

Lord Itharius says: The Hakkar blood the Atal'ai have been injecting into the green dragons has had devastating effects on the dragons. These are the ones who were intended, long ago, to be the jailors of the Atal'ai.
Lord Itharius says: Sadly, between the lingering corruption of the Nightmare and exposure to the blood of Hakkar, they have become creatures of death themselves.

[Thalstan]: It's a shame is what it is.

[Tadget]: What kind of weirdo injects god blood into dragons? That's messed up. *She sounds almost impressed.*

Lord Itharius says: The followers of the Soulflayer. *Itharius sighs* I grieve every one of my flight that they have corrupted and slain.
Lord Itharius says: I can only ask you to slay those so corrupted,, so that their spirits may be redeemed in the Dream.

[Zaara]: So sad.

[Tadget]: Oh, sorry, that question was rhetorical. I think we're all very much aware of exactly what kind of weirdo. *She mimes tusks*

Zaara looks so sad.

Lord Itharius says: As for my brother Eranikus… when you find his likeness, see what you can determine. Is it his spirit, or simply some kind of twisted reflection?

[Thalstan]: We'll see to it, sir!

Tadget stands at attention and salutes.

We head into the temple. It is teeming with green dragonkin.

[Thalstan]: Guess these ones are to be slain. It's a real shame.

[Tadget]: Yeah, real shame. *poisoning her blades*

[Thalstan]: We'd best clear out the dragons before we go after his brother's spirit. They may rally to 'im.

We attack some dragonkin. One of them puts Tadget to sleep.

Tadget is so sleeeepy.
Tadget rubs her eyes as she awakens from her dragon-nap.
[Tadget]: Stupid green dragons and their nap magic.

[Thalstan]: Ach, did they get ye?

Tadget yawns sleepily at Thalstan.

[Zaara]: It is no time to napping!

[Tadget]: Agreed.

[Thalstan]: I'll aim ta pummel any as try it again.

[Vesyllah]: I could use a nap. All this daytime activity is unnatural.

Tadget chugs some thistle tea.

[Thalstan]: I guess they keep their sleep magic, even when it's become nightmare magic.

[Tadget]: Luckily I wasn't asleep long enough to have any nightmares!

[Thalstan]: Aye, that's probably fer the best.

[Tadget]: I really love what they haven't done with the place.

[Thalstan]: Oh? Ye been here before too?

[Tadget]: Yep.
[Tadget]: Still badly in need of a machete and a mop.

[Thalstan]: Did ye mention that before? Was it with yer fella?

[Tadget]: Nah, just sent in to steal a thing.

[Thalstan]: Oh really? What were ye stealin'?

[Tadget]: Classified.

Zaara sits down to eat a cupcake.

Thalstan chuckles.
[Thalstan]: If nothin' else, it'll be good, us buildin' up goodwill with the green dragons, fer Cobalt.

[Vesyllah]: Elune will be pleased as well. She thinks the green dragons are pretty cool.

[Thalstan]: Oh, aye? Then maybe this is one reason why she wanted ye to join the team.

[Vesyllah]: Yeah. Could be.

[Tadget]: The only dragons I don't specifically and deeply hate are the red ones. YET.

[Thalstan]: Wait, ye hate the green dragons?

[Tadget]: ONE JUST PUT ME TO SLEEP.

[Thalstan]: Aye, well, that was a corrupted green dragon. Itharius seems alright.

[Tadget]: Okay, fine, jury's out on the green ones so far.

[Thalstan]: An' then the blues, they did do that whole 'kill all the mortal mages' thing. So I'm against 'em on principle, for Art.

[Tadget]: But the bronze ones can will have bitten my tiny toned gnome butt.

[Arthur]: They could have just been cool. But oh, nooooo.

Zaara repeats 'can will have.' Oh no she hasn't learned this tense yet.

Tadget nods at Arthur.

[Thalstan]: Bronze ones are tricky, aye. And then black dragons, goes without sayin'.

[Thalstan]: Here's some bigger ones up ahead.

[Tadget]: Blues second worst, only to Deathwing's gang.
[Tadget]: But yeah, those bronze ones, they'll mess with you. And have. And did. And are.

[Thalstan]: Oh, I don't doubt it. We've been blessedly no' mixed up in time travel so far, with the Blade.

Zaara repeats under her breath, 'have did are.'

We arrive at the alcove where the shade of Eranikus rests in slumber.

[Thalstan]: I think that's most o' the corrupted dragons cleared out…. except…
Thal peers at Shade of Eranikus searchingly.

[Tadget]: Ooooh, is that the thing?

[Thalstan]: It is a BIG dragon.
[Thalstan]: Reckon that's Itharius's brother?

[Tadget]: See through dragon.

[Zaara]: It is not here?

[Tadget]: So I'm guessing yeah.
[Tadget]: Fits the description.

[Thalstan]: Wonder if we can talk to it.
[Thalstan]: I'll try ta wake 'im up.

[Tadget]: I mean, be my guest, you've got armor on.

[Vesyllah]: Suuure…

Thalstan clears his throat. "Mr. Eranikus, sir? Are ye really you?"

Zaara casts an Earth Shield on Thalstan just in case.

Tadget gets in stabby position just in case.

Thal pokes Shade of Eranikus. Hey!
[Thalstan]: He's real sleepy.
Thalstan prods him gently with a sword.

[Zaara]: HELLO? DRAGON?
Zaara clears her throat loudly.

[Thalstan]: He is right out.

[Tadget]: Super sleepy.
[Tadget]: Do you think he'd wake up if I stabbed him a little?

[Thalstan]: Ye can try, but I did prod him with my sword.
[Thalstan]: Maybe we just head back an' tell Itharius what we saw.

[Tadget]: I feel like there must be some magic at work here if he didn't respond to sword-prodding.
[Tadget]: I know I, at least, tend to respond when I am prodded with a sword.

We head back to Itharius.

[Thalstan]: Itharius! We found yer bro, but he's asleep. An' see-through.

[Tadget]: We couldn't wake him up.
[Tadget]: So, something is keeping him unconscious prolly.

Lord Itharius says: Hm. Either it is simply an illusion meant to lure me here, or… the trolls have some power over his spirit.

[Tadget]: I have a suggestion.

[Zaara]: Is it stabbing?

Lord Itharius says: Yes, little one?

[Tadget]: Well, yes. My suggestion is stabbing. Specifically, killing all the trolls, to you know, remove that possible variable.

[Arthur]: Yup, Stabbing.

[Tadget]: If he still won't wake up, then, we know it's not the trolls.

Lord Itharius says: I agree with your plan, young gnome.

[Tadget]: Oh!
Tadget looks surprised.
[Tadget]: He… agrees with me. Cool.

Lord Itharius says: It is time to put an end to Jammal'an the Prophet, leader of the Atal'ai and Hakkari trolls, as well as any of his followers you find. He has escaped you once, but here he has nowhere left to run.

Tadget nods. Stabbing time.

Lord Itharius says: Even if he had not imprisoned the soul of my brother, he is the one behind what is being done to the members of my flight. This leads me to think he still seeks to summon Hakkar into this world.
Lord Itharius says: We cannot allow this to come to pass. Please, slaughter Jammal'an and his priests before they get any further in their efforts!

[Thalstan]: Aye, I reckon we can do a slaughter, fer a good cause.
[Thalstan]: We'll report back after!

We head back into the temple.

[Thalstan]: I think I saw trolls down this first unblocked corridor.

[Tadget]: Lemme at 'em, sir.

We come to an alcove full of trolls, with two trolls standing at the far end on some kind of an altar.

[Thalstan]: Oh… indeed, trolls. A lotta trolls.

Tadget lets you know that she is ready!

[Thalstan]: I'll see if I can lure some back here. We don't want ta fight em all at once.

[Tadget]: Yes sir!

We fight a cluster of trolls. A ghost emerges from one after death.

[Tadget]: Run!!!

We run.

[Thalstan]: Whoa!

[Tadget]: I remember those things!!

[Thalstan]: It just popped right outta that guy!

[Tadget]: Okay so if any of em make spirit ghost things, DO NOT ENGAGE.
[Tadget]: Some kinda weird voodoo. Unkillable, hurts like HECK.

[Thalstan]: My sword went right through it, aye.

[Tadget]: But they just disappear after a bit.

[Vesyllah]: Ugh. Annoying invulnerable ghosts.

We fight a cluster of trolls that all turn into ghosts.

[Thalstan]: Goodness, so many ghosts.

[Tadget]: Veeeeery much not a fan of these guys.

[Thalstan]: Only a few more trolls left here.

[Tadget]: At least they do a whole light show first so you know to get out of the way.

[Thalstan]: Aye, that helps.
[Thalstan]: I think that's all the followers. Ready for the prophet an' his assistant?

[Zaara]: What is an assistant prophet?

Tadget giggles at Zaara.

[Thalstan]: I do no' know.
[Thalstan]: Part-seer?

We attack the troll prophet and his assistant prophet.

Jammal'an the Prophet yells: The Soulflayer comes!
Jammal'an the Prophet yells: Join us!

Thalstan is transformed into a massive troll who then attacks the party alongside the troll prophets.

Jammal'an the Prophet yells: Join us!

//Shortly after he recovers his mind, the same thing happens to Tadget. Arthur turns Tadget into a sheep.

Jammal'an the Prophet yells: Hakkar shall live again!

We finish off the prophet and assistant prophet, and then Tadget is a gnome again.

[Tadget]: I am extremely displeased with that entire situation.

[Thalstan]: Are ye alright? Did I hurt anybody?

[Vesyllah]: Thal? Tadget? You two feeling alright?

[Thalstan]: I feel like I turned inta a giant troll and attacked everyone. You too, Mayhem?

[Tadget]: And then a sheep.
[Tadget]: Not sure which was worse.

[Arthur]: I might have, um. Polymorphed you.

[Tadget]: Umm….
Tadget points to the altar.

[Thalstan]: I think a wise decision in the circumstances… what is it?

[Tadget]: What is that thing on the altar?
[Tadget]: Is it a bomb?
Tadget backs away.

Thalstan peers at the object, which is a little too oblong to be a bomb.
[Thalstan]: Is tha' a… dragon… egg?

[Tadget]: No. Way.

[Zaara]: It is not?

[Thalstan]: Or another creature's egg? I do no' know, but it's a big one.

[Zaara]: Or it is?

[Tadget]: Those things are rare, right? We could probably make a killi— uh, we should tell Itharius.

[Vesyllah]: If it's a dragon egg, we need to take it to Itharius.

Tadget lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

[Thalstan]: Aye, an' if its not a dragon egg, he'd know.
[Thalstan]: Who wants to carry it?

[Tadget]: Hehe. Imagine someone coming to me like, "Is this a gnome baby??"
[Tadget]: I'm not carrying it.
[Tadget]: Do I look like a beast of burden? That thing's huge.

Vesyllah sighs. "I'll take it."

[Thalstan]: Thanks, Vengeance. Let's report back ta Itharius.

[Tadget]: Yeah, she'll be all reverent with it and crap. In case it's a dragon.

[Zaara]: Do gnome babies come in eggs?

Vesyllah carefully picks up the egg, cradling it to her body.

Thalstan nods at Vesyllah.

[Tadget]: Well, the short answer is no, Zaara.

[Zaara]: Short answer!

Tadget lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

Zaara laughs.

[Thalstan]: Is there a longer…? Oh, dragons.

[Tadget]: Technically we make eggs but just on the insi— I'll explain later.

A few larger green dragons circle in the central area. They appear to be corrupted.

Dreamscythe yells: We must destroy you for your own good.

[Zaara]: That does not sound like our good!

[Thalstan]: I think they might be nightmare-confused.
[Thalstan]: But… they're gonna fight us.

Zaara lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

[Tadget]: Let's unconfuse them, with daggers.

Vesyllah shields the egg with her body as she throws shadow spells at the dragons.

[Thalstan]: Might be they're tryin' ta stop us from gettin' the egg to Itharius?

[Tadget]: Awww, Vesyllah's a mommmyyyyy.

We head back to Itharius, after slaying the corrupted dragons.

[Thalstan]: Itharius! We found something!

Tadget points at Vesyllah.

Vesyllah unwraps the egg from her cloak, holding it gingerly toward Itharius.

Lord Itharius says: Oh? Did you kill the prophet?

[Tadget]: Yeah and he had this on his altar.

Lord Itharius says: Excellent! I suspect that without Jammal'an's leadership, the trolls will fall to infighting and Hakkar will never set his eyes upon our world. And what is that…?

[Zaara]: Not a gnome! They make eggs on the inside. Mammal biology.

Itharius peers at the egg Vesyllah holds, and then he pales.

[Tadget]: Any reason you can think of that Prophet Pajama-Land would have an egg on his altar?

Lord Itharius says: It reminds me of how they used an egg in their last attempt to summon the Soulflayer.

[Zaara]: This seems bad!

[Tadget]: They really need to come up with some new ideas.

Lord Itharius says: Indeed. I believe they've also recovered much of the Soulflayer’s skeleton, which is… needless to say, not good.

[Vesyllah]: Can this one be saved? Can you tell if it's corrupted?

Lord Itharius says: There might be a way, student of Elune.

Tadget makes fake buck teeth at Vesyllah and pushes up imaginary glasses.

Lord Itharius says: They will have done their best to corrupt the egg with the essence of Hakkar, but I do not think they are finished. If they were, it would have likely already have been put to use.

[Zaara]: Can it be purged?

Lord Itharius says: In the Sanctum of the Fallen God, there is a place they have used in past attempts to summon Hakkar. What I will ask you to do will be dangerous, but it may be the only chance to purify it.

[Vesyllah]: It's fine. Just tell us what to do.

Lord Itharius says: I would like you to use this setup to draw the spirit of Hakkar from the egg, as if you yourselves were trying to summon him. Then, when it is entirely in this world, you must kill it.
Lord Itharius says: It will not be the Soulflayer himself, I do not think. Merely an incomplete echo.

[Thalstan]: Ye do not think. *Thal repeats*

[Tadget]: I've killed gods before, it's fine.

[Thalstan]: Well… an ye think Elune would want this, Ves?

[Vesyllah]: A chance to save a green dragon egg? Absolutely.

[Thalstan]: Everyone on board with this? Given we've got our own Godslayer an' everything?

[Arthur]: Oh, yes. Definitely.

[Tadget]: I've sharpened my god-stabbers.

[Zaara]: THIS MONDAY, SOULFLAYER VERSUS GODSLAYER!!!

Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.

Thalstan chuckles at Zaara.

Zaara that was very out of character for you.

[Thalstan]: We'll do it, sir.

Lord Itharius says: Best of luck to you all.

[Zaara]: He send us to kill maybe a corrupted god and he says "Best of luck?"
Zaara snorts.
[Zaara]: "Have a nice time, Cobolt Blade!"

[Thalstan]: He also said he 'thinks' it will no' be the Soulflayer himself.

[Zaara]: "Cheers-io!"

[Thalstan]: I suppose the greens risk a lot for their little ones.

[Tadget]: It's all that napping. Makes 'em prone to being a little overly relaxed.

[Thalstan]: Oh, here's the wind serpents Baba was on about!

[Tadget]: You listen way more closely to goblins than I ever do.

Thalstan smiles. Maybe that was a compliment.

Tadget and Thalstan have apparently never met.

[Thalstan]: Let's clear 'em all out, so they don't interrupt the ritual.

[Tadget]: Yes sir!

They kill the wind serpents and find an obvious ritual circle with a partial skeleton in the center.

[Thalstan]: This is clearly the ritual setup.
[Thalstan]: An' here's the bones.

[Tadget]: Or someone was really bored…

[Vesyllah]: Some kind of shrine.

Thalstan looks at the creature’s flaying-bones.

[Thalstan]: Vesyllah, you want ta do the honors?
[Thalstan]: I'll be right by yer side ta pick him up.

[Vesyllah]: On it.

Vesyllah focuses on the shrine, placing a hand on one of the skulls.

Avatar of Hakkar yells: I AM HERE!

[Thalstan]: That seems like him!

[Tadget]: Die, god!!!

[Thalstan]: Quick, kill it!

Avatar of Hakkar yells: DIE, MORTALS!

Tadget goes crazy stabbing everyone.
[Tadget]: Whoops.
[Tadget]: Um, sorry for stabbing anyone I may have stabbed.
[Tadget]: God stuck his proverbial hand up my proverbial bum and puppeted me for a bit.

[Zaara]: I heal them! *Zaara is surprisingly cheerful about people being stabbed.*

[Tadget]: Gods like to do that sort of thing.

[Thalstan]: I seem ta be okay.

[Tadget]: Okay good.

[Thalstan]: How's the egg?

[Tadget]: 'Cause I'm super good at stabbing so I thought maybe it might have been traumatizing for some of you.

[Vesyllah]: I guess you're pretty good at stabbing.

Tadget nods at Vesyllah.

Itharius walks into the room. We've cleared out the temple, it's safe now.

[Zaara]: Oh! Who is totally here now?

[Tadget]: Sup Itharius!

Zaara turns toward the sound of Itharius's approach. He has heavy footsteps, he's a dragon.

[Tadget]: As you can see, we have slain a god!

Lord Itharius says: You seem to have emptied the temple, so it is safe for me, at least for a time. How did it go with the egg?

[Tadget]: Oh the egg ummm…
[Tadget]: How's the egg, Vengeance?

Lord Itharius says: Ah, or at least the incomplete echo of one. And the little one? May I see it?

[Tadget]: Did he just…
Tadget bristles at this apparent undermining of her godslaying capabilities.

Vesyllah produces the egg from the safety of her cloak again. "It seems…fine? I wouldn't really know."

[Tadget]: Well I mean it's not scrambled anyway.

Lord Itharius is totally focused on the egg. He doesn't even seem to be aware he undercut the Godslayer.

Tadget is aware. SO aware.
Tadget will Remember.

Lord Itharius examines the egg carefully. There's a shimmer of green magic around it. "Yes, I think you have pulled out the corruption."
Lord Itharius says: As far as I can tell, it is healthy. Thus, from your skill at violence, you have preserved the life of one of my flight. For that I thank you.

[Vesyllah]: Uh…you're welcome.

Tadget folds her arms.

[Vesyllah]: So…you're gonna take it now…right?

Itharius reaches out to take the egg from Vesyllah. Once it is in his hands, he looks around the room more carefully, and his expression darkens.
Lord Itharius says: This is a sentiment that I never thought I would utter, but… where is all the blood of my people?

[Zaara]: We did not take it!

Lord Itharius says: I did not suspect you had. I had thought they were harvesting it for some foul ritual here. But… there is no blood.
Lord Itharius says: I have seen no blood throughout the temple… have you?

Thalstan shakes his head.

[Tadget]: Other than the stuff I spilled myself, no.

Lord Itharius says: And you saw the butchering in the halls above. There should have been plenty uncontained within any cultists.

[Tadget]: I don't know what to tell ya, buddy.

Lord Itharius says: This makes me uneasy. There are Atal'ai elsewhere in the world. I worry that they may have sent it somewhere, to be used elsewhere.

[Tadget]: Oh that's probably not good.

Arthur has an idea—and then he shuts his mouth so fast his jaw clicks.

Tadget peers at Arthur searchingly.

Lord Itharius says: No, not at all. If you find any hint of where it might have gone, please contact me.

[Tadget]: Of course!

[Thalstan]: What is it, Art?

[Vesyllah]: Seems the Atal'ai haven't taken the hint from getting their asses kicked repeatedly.

[Tadget]: Right??
[Tadget]: On the one hand I admire their persistence. On the other hand… *she makes stabbing motions.*

Arthur looks uneasy. "Magic is often thought of as throwing energy all over the place. That's not the whole truth. Magic *needs* energy. And blood is…one of the most potent sources."

Vesyllah nods to Art. "Right. But what magic are they using it for? And where?"

Thalstan nods, both at Tadget and at Art.

[Tadget]: If blood is a source of energy, dragon blood's gotta be like… BOOM.

[Arthur]: I think we might learn more when we see Eranikus.

[Thalstan]: Aye, we ought to go see to the shade.

[Tadget]: If it was the trolls holding him asleep, he'll be lively now.

Itharius now walks alongside the party.

Tadget is not speaking to Itharius.

We all head back to where Eranikus’s shade lies sleeping.

[Tadget]: See? Sleeping.
Tadget points, apparently speaking to Itharius now.

[Zaara]: HELLO? DRAGON?

Itharius stops short when he sees Eranikus. "That… I recognize the soul of my brother."

[Vesyllah]: Wakey wakey!

Lord Itharius says: It may be that after his death, his soul was drawn to the place where he was long held captive before. We must free him!

[Tadget]: Thalstan go sing him a dwarven drinking song or something.

Thalstan starts singing a rowdy song, and walks toward him.

That seems to work. Well, or maybe it’s just because we killed the troll prophet. Anyway, the shade wakes and attacks Thalstan. He does NOT approve of the dwarf singing.

Tadget goes to the side of the dragon, not the back. She has fought dragons.

Eranikus’s spirit falls under the attack.

Tadget gazes in amazement at one of the dragon spirit-claws that came loose and is somehow tangible in her hand.
[Tadget]: Oh now THIS is a badass weapon…

[Thalstan]: Whoa, a claw of a dragon spirit?

[Tadget]: Perfect for me!

[Vesyllah]: Mm…that'll !@#$ some people up, for sure.

Lord Itharius says: I am pleased that my brother is able to assist in your stabbing.

Tadget giggles.
[Tadget]: You're all right, Itharius.
[Tadget]: Um, and I'm glad he's resting now or whatever.

Itharius smiles at her, and then at the team, though there is still a touch of sadness in it.
Lord Itharius says: I hope that what you have all done will have broken his ties to this place. I will speak with Ysera, and we will seek him now in the Dream.

Tadget gently pats Itharius. Or his shin, anyway.

Lord Itharius says: I have no further answers as to what the Atal'ai may be up to, but we must all be vigilant. If they have their way, it will be another reign of blood.

[Tadget]: We'll stop whatever it is, don't worry.

[Zaara]: Rain of blood! Oh no!

Tadget gently pats Zaara.
Tadget growls menacingly at Zaara.

Lord Itharius says: I have no doubt in you, my new allies. Shall I take us through the Emerald Dream to leave this place?

[Tadget]: That'd be great.

Itharius whisks the team through the Emerald Dream to the entrance of the temple.

Tadget is whisked!

Lord Itharius says: Until next time, my friends.

[Tadget]: Catch you later, 'Thar. Thanks for all the information and stuff.

[Vesyllah]: Mmmhm. Take care of that egg…or whatever.

Tadget eyes Vesyllah up and down.

[Thalstan]: Aye, we were happy ta help the dragons. Let us know what its name is, when it hatches?

Lord Itharius says: I will write to you, when it happens.

[Tadget]: A letter from a dragon! Don't think I ever got one of those before.

Lord Itharius says: There is a first time for everything.

Tadget giggles at Lord Itharius.

[Thalstan]: Well, I'm back ta Stormwind. Stay fresh, cheesebags. *Thalstan steals Tadget’s usual line*

Tadget waves goodbye to everyone. Farewell!