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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Colson, Dane, Dara, Lireen, Lydia, Mercy, Shine and Sophiette join the Brotherhood of the Light in an attack on the part of Stratholme held by the undead Scarlet Crusade 'Risen'. They face, once again, Balnazzar. Demons are hard to kill permanently. ~8100 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Eastern Plaguelands
Chain: Light Guide Us
The Cobalt team for the Stratholme offensive assembles at Light’s Hope Chapel in the Eastern Plaguelands.
Atley turns to side-eye Fionette up and down, chewing on some jerky.
[Lireen]: "Well if it isna Sir Dane the Red!"
Lireen greets Atley with a hearty hello!
[Atley]: "Lady Cloudskimmer. S'been a time, hasn't it."
Atley bows before Lireen.
Shine comes up the hill from the blacksmith's tent, checking the edge of a knife. He glances up at the voices ahead and surveys Lireen's Cobalt tabard as he sheaths the dagger.
Lireen eyes Shine up and down.
[Shine]: "Cobalts, are we?"
[Lireen]: "Hullo there dear! Don't think I know ye."
Atley turns peer at Shine. First the eye patch, then his walking cadence.
[Lireen]: "Lireen Cloudskimmer, I'm Cobalt's warrior-trainer. Or one of 'em."
[Shine]: "Don't believe ye do, ma'am. Shine Shine. Just 'Shine,' if you please."
[Lireen]: "As ye like, Shine."
[Atley]: "You're with House Fallon, aren't you."
Shine turns to Dane. "I am, aye. I recollect you from the Gala, don't I?"
Atley marches over and extends a hand. "Sir Dane Atley. Dane or Atley will do fine in this setting."
Dara walks up to the group, smiling nervously.
Shine shakes his hand firmly. "Ah, the famous Sir Dane. Shine."
[Lireen]: "Dane's a nice name."
Atley grunts. "I know a former Marine when I see them." He gives Shine an assessing nod before he looks to Lireen. "I've certainly grown used to it by now."
Shine nods at Lireen.
[Lireen]: "And yer Dara, aye?"
Lireen smiles at Dara.
[Shine]: "Lady Dara." *Shine inclines his head courteously to her.*
[Lireen]: "Are ye ready to fight some undead today, dears?"
Dara looks around at all the Cobalt tabards. "You're all here for Stratholme then? And yes, Lireen, I hope you recall me."
[Atley]: "Lady Tennerow."
Atley bows before Dara.
[Lireen]: "I do recall ye, it's the names sometimes that slip an old lady's mind!"
Lireen chuckles at Dara.
[Dara]: "Please, do just call me Dara. I'm a priestess of Cobalt and the Argent Crusade today, before anything else."
Shine casts a wry sidelong smile at Lireen. He knows a guy like that.
Dara smiles at Lireen.
Atley faintly knits his brow in surprise before he half-nods and grunts.
Atley tongues the inside of his cheek in between jerky chews as he glances around. "Battlement's grown."
Lireen looks around "Has it? I'm a bit new to the area."
Shine makes his own survey of the place, tilting his head a little as he cranes his neck. "Hadn't seen it before, myself, either."
Atley grunts and turns, pointing. "These walls. The statue. Looks to be more yet underway."
"Oh yes, it's much more fortified now," Dara nods.
Lydia approaches. "Comrades."
Sophiette steps up to Dara's side, taking her hand. "Has everyone come to help with the situation in Stratholme?"
"Aye," says Lireen.
Colson leaves the conversation with an Argent Crusader. "Good afternoon, everyone." He inclines his head to Sophiette. "I am here to be of what assistance I may."
"Yes," Dara says, looking around in wonder. "All these people are here for it."
Shine nods courteously to Sophiette.
Mercy quietly approaches the group from behind, her leather-wrapped bare feet almost completely silent.
Sophiette smiles warmly all around. "Delighted to have you."
Dara squeezes Sophiette's hand gently.
Atley nods to Lydia and Colson separately.
"Happy to serve," Shine tells her.
Dane flicks his gaze to Mercy and eyes her up and down as he strips another piece of jerky with his teeth.
Lydia nods to Atley and Colson. "You I recall from our battles in Naxxramas together! There is one I have not met."
"Lotta Cobalt tabards," Lireen observes with a smile.
Lydia offers her hand out to Shine to shake. "I am Dame Lydia Harcourt."
[Sophiette]: "For those of you I haven't met, I am Sophiette Valonforth, of the Argent Crusade and Cobalt Company."
Atley grunts at Lydia.
[Lireen]: "I'm Lireen Cloudskimmer, but I think ye all know me?"
Dara catches Dane's look and says, "Don't mind Mercy. She's helped us all over the Eastern Plaguelands - she can be trusted."
Shine inclines his head to Lydia, and shakes her hand firmly. "Shine, ma'am. An honor."
Mercy says nothing.
[Colson]: "I am Colson Aspenwood of House Aspenwood, and Cobalt Company. It is an honor to meet you."
Lydia nods and returns to her place.
Mercy stands slightly straighter at Colson's introduction, but she was already standing pretty straight.
Atley squints as he looks around, looking for those overtly unfamiliar.
[Atley]: "Who's in charge here?"
Lireen looks a little baffled by Atley's question.
"Crusade Commander Dawnbringer," Dara says promptly. "But we're meant to report to him at the gates of Stratholme."
Atley flicks his gaze towards Dara and seems to have his question answered. He inclines his head.
"Sophiette and I… we're here to help liaise with the Cobalt people, make sure we all end up in the right place," Dara smiles brightly.
Lireen smiles warmly back at Dara.
Atley looks to Sophiette and nods once.
Colson looks from Dara to observe who is 'Mercy,' and freezes as he realizes who 'Mercy' is. "Fi — " He clenches his hands, and his expression blanks out as he tries to keep the flash of pain subdued. "Mercy." An acknowledgment, stiff and formal.
Mercy inclines her head to Colson. Her expression is mostly shadowed by her hood.
"Does everyone have a horse? Or… or the equivalent?" Dara blushes a little. She forgot rams, almost.
Mercy definitely has an… equivalent.
"Justice will come when I call," Lydia says. Is that a horse? Or is that just a weird paladin saying?
"Aye, ram's ready," Lireen says.
Sophiette dips her head respectfully back to Dane. "Sir Dane the Red. It's an honor."
Atley stomps forward and offers a hand. "Lady Sophiette. At your command."
"Oh," Dara says, glancing between Mercy and Colson. "I should have… said something more specific. I'm sorry, Lord Colson."
Colson inclines his head stiffly to the question. "It is fine, Lady Dara. Thank you for your concern." He gestures for Tenacious, his paladin charger.
Sophiette beams a little more than she should, accepting the offered hand in a firm greeting. "Your experience and wisdom will be most welcome."
Atley grunts and inclines his head before he swings himself up atop Thoras.
Mercy calls her… "horse."
Lydia whistles, and a dashing paladin's charger comes strutting up. Justice gives Tenacious an evaluating Look.
Sophiette calls for Charity and mounts up on the gleaming, white charger.
Thoras sharply swings his head to the side to scowl at everyone present, emerald eye narrowed.
Shine steps back down the hill to collect the bridle of a restless black mare, and swings into the saddle.
"We have faced Balnazzar before, and vanquished him in the Holy Light," Colson says neutrally, as he mounts up. "His crimes are uncountable, but he will be brought to the Light's justice."
"All right, Donnall," Lireen says to her ram. "Don't mind the undead beast. Meanin' yer horse, lass, not you."
Mercy nods.
"These demons keep giving us chances to butcher them." Atley spits off to the side.
Lydia's attention immediately fixes on Colson. "You were there?"
Dara climbs onto her own peaceful horse.
Colson adjusts his gauntlets in tense jerks of movement, his jaw clenching so hard a muscle jumps briefly. "Yes. I studied under Sir Dathrohan in Lordaeron. I was there when the truth was revealed as to what truly led the Scarlet Crusade."
Atley flicks his gaze to Colson's face, searching.
Lireen's ram "Donnall" seems very irked by the presence of an undead horse, but obeys anyway.
Sophiette bows her head to Colson. "Then you have my thanks. Stratholme was once my home. I pray one day it can be fully cleansed of the rot that has infested it."
Atley shifts his gaze to Sophiette, now. He peers for a moment, but looks away if she meets his gaze.
Colson glances at Dane at that. "Yes, I pray to the Light that such a day will come."
Dara looks at Sophiette with deep sympathy.
Mercy looms in the back, saying nothing.
"Then I owe you my deepest gratitude," Lydia says, "for exposing the foul demon's falsehoods."
Colson inclines his head politely to Lydia.
Dara moves with Sophiette to lead the group out of Light's Hope Chapel.
The team begins to ride through the Plaguelands, following the road to Stratholme.
[Dara]: "I know it looks dire out here, but we've seen ever so many signs of renewal."
[Atley]: "Aye. Traveled through the Western Plaguelands recently. Things are alive."
Dara nods. "Perhaps here soon, too. It's really just the Cult remaining, trying to keep the land from healing."
"It's incredible what they've accomplished in the west," Sophiette muses aloud. "Maybe one day we can bring that hope to the Eastweald."
"It was the tale of your deeds that planted the seeds of my doubt," Lydia explains. "A priestess confirmed your story was true, that Cobalt Company truly had slain the dreadlord."
Atley looks back at Lydia at that, only briefly.
"I did not find her undead body in Tyr's Hand. I pray I shall not find her today, either." Lydia looks grim.
Dara glances at Lydia. "Was it a Cobalt priestess?"
[Atley]: "There's always hope, if you're willing to fight."
Shine surveys the landscape around them in grim silence as they ride.
Colson's expression is nearly impossible to read, as he observes the Plaguelands. "I am honored to hear that our actions were able to turn you to the Light's true path," Colson says to Lydia.
Lireen seems utterly relaxed and at peace, despite the surroundings.
Lydia looks at Dara. "Her name was Sister Halveris. Jenzelle Halveris."
Mercy rides at the back of the column, but stays close.
"Jenzelle Halveris," Dara repeats. "I'm afraid I've not met her."
Shine's expression flickers involuntarily at the sight of the fungi-eaten outskirts of Stratholme and roving undead. He catches himself immediately and is grimly neutral again.
Atley looks at the burning ramparts of Stratholme and lets out a single, low, slow, guttural sigh before it's back to business.
Colson regards Stratholme with a neutral expression, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Back yet again.
"We'll take it back," Dara says nervously, looking to Sophiette.
Shine drops down from his horse at the gates, murmuring quietly to her.
Atley gives Thoras a few firm pats before he, too, dismounts and marches inside.
Colson dismounts from Tenacious, who moves to where the other paladin chargers stand as if to start up a water cooler conversation.
Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer waits just inside the gates. He surveys the team with approval.
Lydia leaves Justice with the other chargers. He will probably have made either friends for life or nemeses by the time today's business is concluded.
Shine’s mare Khamsin looks prepared to make nemeses.
Atley follows along after Sophiette, finishing the last of his jerky, unbothered by the scent in the air.
Lydia salutes Commander Dawnbringer.
"Welcome, Cobalt Company," Dawnbringer says gruffly. "I’m sure some of you know the situation from Tyr’s Hand and your briefing from the Argent Crusade, but I know it’s a whole other thing to see it with your own eyes."
Atley cracks off a salute and listens.
Dara looks off over the undead city, her gaze worried.
Mercy looks like she is trying to be invisible, but she doesn't have Stealth or Fade.
"Let me catch you up to current events, though I'm sure many of you know this already," Dawnbringer continues. "Cobalt Company uncovered that the Dreadlord Balnazzar was possessing the body of Grand Crusader Dathrohan, and they killed him."
Colson nods politely to Dawnbringer, listening with that neutral expression of his.
Lireen is already looking down the corridor at the massed undead, calmly doing calculations in her head from the look on her face.
"That was years ago," Dawnbringer frowns. "You’d think that would free the Scarlet Crusade, but demons are a difficult foe."
Atley grunts.
Sophiette nods solemnly.
Lireen looks like she is resisting the urge to just charge right in and start chopping at bones.
[Colson]: "Indeed. On this plane, they cannot be truly killed, only vanquished."
Dawnbringer nods agreement with Colson.
[Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer]: "Balnazzar, in a rage, returned from the Twisting Nether and went on a rampage, killing every remaining crusader here."
Lydia winces.
Atley's expression remains unchanged.
Shine tilts his head, plainly listening to the Crusade Commander, but he is also drawing knives one at a time to check their edges again. He, too, is expressionless.
Lireen waits, showing no signs of fidgeting, but her gaze is fixed firmly on the enemies.
"As you know, we were hoping to bring the Crusaders back into the fold… that hope is no more, at least for those who remained in this region," Dawnbringer sighs. "He used his necromantic power to raise them all as vile undead slaves. Balnazzar refers to his new army as the Risen. "
[Sophiette]: "Light's mercy…."
Atley works his jaw.
Dawnbringer's expression firms. "We cannot let him grow this army - they are extremely powerful and, unlike Arthas' Scourge, Balnazzar will not hold his forces back. Kill him while we still have a chance."
Shine glances up and narrows his eye at the undead ahead, making his own survey. He nods at the Crusade Commander.
Dara nods firmly, clasping her hands together.
Colson flexes his hands, his jaw tight, and he nods curtly to Dawnbringer. "It will be done, Light willing."
"Light rest their souls," Lydia murmurs. "They have become what they always hated."
Lireen nods. "Lemme know when ta charge in."
"They will not be left in this torment," Colson says to Lydia. "We will free them from what he has done here."
[Sophiette]: "Let's go…but use caution. We still don't entirely know what we're walking into."
"It is truly a terrible end," Dawnbringer sighs. "Proceed, Cobalt Company."
Atley grunts at Sophiette and draws his sword and shield.
Shine draws two knives, flips one casually, and fades back from sight.
Sophiette's breathing quickens as they pass through the gates to the city. Even through the eye slit of her helmet, the horror in her eyes is evident.
"There's certainly no need to rush," Lireen (sort of) agrees. "They're no' goin' anywhere."
Lydia nods. "I did not know my brothers and sisters here the way I did those in Tyr's Hand. I hope as many of them as possible got out while they could."
Colson murmurs prayers as they approach the undead army.
[Lireen]: "Ready, dears?" She cocks her gun.
[Sophiette]: "On your mark, Ms. Lireen."
Colson sets a [Beacon of Light] on Dane, the Holy Light strong in the Holy Paladin.
Atley waits for Lireen, but when it's time, he takes to shield bashing and pulverizing the rotted corpses that charge him.
Dara smiles at Colson, and then keeps her eyes on who might need healing.
"Everyone all right?" Lireen asks calmly as she shakes bone fragments free from her axe.
"Mind the casters," Colson cautions as they approach the skeletons.
The first fight goes well. The undead fall to the Cobalt strike team.
Shine steps back from the heap of corpses. He nods at Lireen and fades again.
"One group down," Dara nods. "No one in need of many heals."
Lydia charges a group of skeletons and sends a holy wrath in all directions. This time, one doesn't come for Mercy at all.
Atley grunts.
Lireen pauses after each group to check on what she seems to see as her little flock of ducklings.
Shine says something under his breath as a corpse collapses and then, a moment later, twitches and hauls itself upright again.
Sophiette gazes up at the everburning buildings, the ashen air stinging her eyes.
[Lireen]: "Let's go around here t'the right," she suggests.
[Sophiette]: "Abomination!"
Colson stuns a caster with a brilliant Hammer of Justice, his head turning when Sophiette calls.
"Big fella," Lireen observes.
Atley nods and takes up the right flank, going about it all with a grim sobriety.
Colson regards the streets of Stratholme with a grim familiarity as they go.
Lireen engages the abomination, and gets repeatedly flung into a wall. This does not seem to bother her.
Atley effectively collapses a charging zombie with a single shield bash. He doubletakes Lireen. "Oi. You right?"
Dara frantically heals Lireen, distressed by the sight of the dwarf getting knocked around like that.
"Keep yer eyes on them, not me, dear," Lireen says to Atley with calm admonishment.
Sophiette pants heavily. "They just…wouldn't stay down!"
Shine appears behind a skeletal caster and silences it fatally. He steps away and moves toward the next, his focus absolute.
Colson more calmly joins in healing Lireen, watching for the casters. He nods gratefully to Shine as another is stopped.
Atley scoffs with some amusement and gets back to the fight.
It’s a difficult fight, but we emerge victorious.
"Are we ready to move into the next square?" Dara asks, breathing hard.
"All right dears, this way," Lireen says, as though leading a museum tour.
Lydia approaches a heavy gate.
"Take a drink dears," Lireen says to the paladins.
Colson takes a drink.
Dara pauses to drink as well.
Sophiette nods to Lireen and pours some water down her parched throat.
Lireen beams a smile at the good boys and girls.
Shine produces a flask and takes a drink. Not that kind of drink, Shine.
Dara giggles at Shine.
[Sophiette]: "Mercy…the air itself burns."
Atley works his jaw.
At the word 'mercy,' Colson glances again at Fi Mercy, and then hastily looks away.
Lydia double-stomps a skeleton that collapses and doesn't stay down.
Atley notices Colson peering at Mercy but says nothing.
Lireen peers at the ghostly courier.
[Lireen]: "Is tha' a bad one? Should I take 'im?"
"I think so?" Dara bites her lip. "We can try to approach peacefully, though. Not all the spirits are hostile."
Atley grunts uncertainly. "Watch wot' he does. May have something useful to say."
[Sophiette]: "He was once a Stratholme citizen. Can we free him of his ghostly prison?"
At that, Atley shifts his gaze to the paladins.
"Hail!" Lydia attempts to greet the ghost.
"Excuse me dear…" Lireen starts, but the Courier charges her.
"Well then," she says calmly.
We disperse the spirit.
"I'm so sorry, friend. I pray we release you," Sophiette says sadly.
Colson adjusts his gauntlets. "Temporarily, for a time at least, we might grant them rest, but there is something here that causes those caught in the city to rise over and over again."
"This place'll burn forever 'till we get to the source of it," Atley corroborates.
"Goodness," Lireen says, and dusts off her tabard.
Colson looks once more to the fires. "That day will come, Dane. We will see it done."
Atley grunts. "No matter how many bloody times it takes."
"That day shall come," Lydia agrees, her sword flaring with holy fire.
Dara nods, glancing to Sophiette. "It won't be like this always."
Sophiette looks grimly to Atley. "It never stops burning? Light's mercy…free us of this curse."
Atley locks eyes with Sophiette and shakes his head with a grunt.
Dara looks around at the burning, her eyes sad.
Lireen looks around once they've cleared the King's Square, trying to figure out where to go next. "Maybe through tha' gate there?" she suggests.
[Atley]: "Have a care. These've been faulty."
Colson nods in agreement to Dane. "There are some gates that will close without warning, separating a party."
As the group passes under a gate, the gate slams shut, trapping them briefly in a space between two gates.
Shine hisses a dry laugh as the gate closes without warning, except for the warning Colson gave about gates closing without warning.
[Colson]: "Ah."
Lireen manages to get herself through the faulty gate and eyes the next pack of skeletons. "Here we go," she says, and charges in.
Lydia consecrates the ground whenever they are swarmed by creepy crawly things.
Lireen gets thrown around some more by an abomination. This woman must have bones of steel.
Dara winces and does her best with shields to keep the hardy dwarf safe.
Colson joins Dara in steel hip replacement.
Sophiette chuckles weakly. "Dwarves really are made of stone, aren't they?"
Atley grunts.
"I have not seen any Scarlet Crusaders yet," Lydia says between packs of undead, frowning. "They all appear to be civilians so far."
Dara nods. "Yes, just civilians, ghosts or raised."
[Atley]: "Last we'd seen of them was farther in, past the Crusaders' Square."
Colson nods in agreement to Lydia. "They must be gathered in the stronghold they held here. If they have not yet had word of us coming, we may have some element of surprise yet." Colson is a bit of an optimist.
A crapload of ghosts ambush everyone from a side alley, but Lireen adjusts to the situation calmly.
Atley raises his enchanted shield and manages to smash one spectral form away from him. It floats in mid air, swaying.
Colson adjusts to the sudden onslaught with a battlefield healer calm.
Lydia once again responds to this situation with a wave of holy wrath. One bolt of holy power comes towards Mercy, but fizzles out mid-air.
Colson steps in front of the bolt headed towards Fi Mercy with a rapid, unthinking movement.
Mercy nods slightly toward Lydia.
"Well, that was a bit of a surprise," Lireen observes once all the ghosts have been dealt with.
[Lireen]: "Have a drink."
"There'll be more," Atley gravely warns.
Colson has a drink.
Shine smiles crookedly at Lireen. He offers her his flask.
Lireen smiles and takes a sip before handing it back.
Lydia has a drink. It's regular water.
Mercy does not have a drink. She stands there like a statue of a death knight.
Dara sits and gulps from a bottle of water. It may not be ladylike, but she'll blame all the fire around her.
"All right, on we go then," says Lireen.
Colson reaches into an adorable little pumpkin bag at his waist, and pulls out a bottle of conjured water, offering it to Dara as they head on. "Lady Dara, if I might offer more water?"
“Oh, thank you!” Dara says with a smile, accepting the bottle.
Lireen spots a particularly nasty-looking ghoul and points to it.
[Lireen]: "Ready?"
Mercy nods.
[Sophiette]: "Aye, ready."
Shine eyes the ghoul. He nods at Lireen and vanishes.
The ghoul bellows, "TIMMY!"
"All right Timmy, calm doewn," says Lireen sternly, and charges.
Atley glares at Timmy in disgust.
Violence is inflicted upon Timmy.
"Rest in peace, lad," Lireen says. She then immediately shifts her gaze onward.
"Barricade ahead," Lydia reports, letting the people with shields move in first.
Atley turns away from Timmy and gestures through the portcullises. "That'd be them, then."
Colson moves carefully with the group, staying near the back as a healer where he can keep everyone in his line of sight.
"Mind the bloody gate," Lireen says, her calm at odds with her language.
Dara follows Colson's lead and falls back to stand by his side.
Shine assesses the barricades. He steps back and slips a vial from his belt, to tip a few drops of reddish substance onto one blade.
Colson closes his eyes, murmuring a prayer as they enter the Crusader's square.
Atley grows slightly angrier with each step.
[Sophiette]: "They're wearing Scarlet tabards. Oh Light…"
Lydia smashes the pommel of her sword into a skeleton's jaw as it tries to cast a spell. The jaw falls off.
Dara looks at them sadly. "Just like at Tyr's Hand…"
Lireen helps clear out the area just beyond the gate.
Shine catches another undead mage by surprise, stunning it before cutting it down.
Lydia looks over the bodies of the dead, murmuring a prayer.
Colson takes note of the trees as they pass by them, although it's difficult to tell what exactly he's observing in them by his expression.
Lireen draws a group back toward the gate.
Atley, too, flicks a gaze to the rotted trees, but it doesn't last long.
"Take a breather, loves," Lireen says, looking slightly out of breath but still calm after the last of the massive group falls.
Colson takes a breather.
Dara sips at the bottle of water Colson gave her. Fighting in Stratholme is thirsty work.
Mercy does not take a breather, as she isn't breathing.
Dara looks at Lydia in concern. "Are there people here you might know?"
Atley shakes his head. "There are no people here," he growls from the side, staring up at the towering structure. "None but us."
"I knew almost everyone we killed in Tyr's Hand," Lydia says to Dara. "But I did not find the body of Sister Halveris. It is my hope that she escaped alive. I hope not to find her fallen here."
Shine steps lightly up onto the crate of a barricade to sit, and surveys the square around them alertly.
"I don't know what she looked like, or I would help you look," Dara says apologetically.
Lireen heads toward a pair of undead to finish them off.
Sophiette removes her helmet to wipe sweat from her brow. "I used to walk these streets as a child," she murmurs.
Atley closes his eyes for a moment. "You're strong for returning to this place, as it is. Worthy of Lordaeron's legacy."
Sophiette smiles weakly. "Thank you, Sir Dane."
Lireen fails to notice small maggots attacking the party at first, then turns to help smash them. "Sorry, though those were Mercy's maggots at ferst," she admits.
Colson looks to Lydia. "Ah, Sister Halveris recently visited my family's estate. I do not believe she would be here," he says.
"Should we head through this door?" Lireen asks.
"What?" Lydia stares at Colson with sudden joy. "You're certain? She got out?"
Shine surveys Lydia and then Colson, nonplussed. "Aye. She's the Westwind lad's… friend."
Lireen waits for the others to finish what seems to be an important conversation, her eyes on the door.
Colson inclines his head. "I am certain she was not of the Scarlet Crusade of late, as she joined Cobalt Company years ago, although if she returned here to aid, I cannot say."
"Light be praised." Lydia smiles and upnods towards the door, sword ready.
Lireen seems to decide the conversation is not going to conclude anytime soon, and just goes ahead and opens the door.
"Oh, this looks just like the monastery," Dara exclaims. "I suppose they do have a style."
"Just three… shouldn't be too bad," Lireen observes at the first twist in the hallway.
Atley grunts.
Sophiette stands more upright, a bit more bolstered by Dane's affirmation, even with her white tabard and cloak stained with blackened blood and ichor.
Lydia glances over the bodies, but she has stopped scanning them thoroughly to see if one of them could be Jenzelle.
Colson moves through the Scarlet Bastion with a calm certainty of someone who has been here before. "When they were alive, they maintained regular patrols of these corridors. If it remains in death, we should be cautious."
Lireen heads into the Hall of Lights and surveys the group standing guard. "Four," she observes, needlessly. "And more comin behind."
Dara looks down the hall. "It was beautiful. Still is, but…"
Lireen dashes back out.
Dara cuts off when it's healing time.
Atley's eyes unfavorably appraise his surroundings.
A group follows Lireen out, and she takes care of them in the side hallway with the others' help.
Shine catches an undead priest from behind and slits its throat casually.
Dara looks over at Shine and blinks.
Once the battle is over, Lireen heads back into the Hall.
"…but corrupted by evil," Sophiette says, picking up from Dara's earlier comment.
"It can be cleansed," Lydia says to Sophiette.
[Lireen]: "Think I’ll lure these four back out into tha' hall as well, just in case there are more behind."
Atley grunts so loudly at that it echoes.
[Lireen]: "Wait fer me there, will ye loves?"
Colson waits for her there.
Sure enough the group of four charges after her into the hall. Idiots.
Colson appears to be listening for something. "Hm. They had a cannon inside here somewhere before. I do not believe I hear it in use, but that does not mean it is gone."
[Atley]: "Farther in, I warrant."
"A cannon? In here?" Shine looks at Colson a little incredulously.
"Why on Azeroth would they need a cannon?" Dara asks.
[Atley]: "Anything to stop us."
Colson shrugs his right shoulder eloquently at Dara.
Lireen leads the group to the end of the hall, then holds up a hand. She dashes into a side room, luring more out into the ambush.
A commander pursues Lireen into the hall!
Lireen enters the now clear side room and finds one (1) copper in the fellow's strongbox.
"I suppose funds are not a focus, with the whole undead thing," Dara observes.
Lydia looks at a partially-illuminated manuscript abandoned on a desk, never to be finished. She sighs.
Colson makes a hmm sound. "Sentimental perhaps? Or possibly cursed."
Shine flips a book open with the tip of a dagger and peruses it.
Atley lifts a brow, watching the artifacts with wary disdain.
"Or maybe just abandoned," Dara shrugs. "Maybe they just thought no more about it, after."
Colson inclines his head to Dara. "It is possible."
Lireen lures people in from the next room, delivering them to her comrades to dispatch.
Lireen leads the group through the next area with its huge square columns, and peeks into the next hallway. She holds up a closed fist: wait.
Colson waits.
Atley hangs back.
Now the hall is empty after the battle; they stand before a large door.
"Shall I open it?" Lireen asks calmly.
Sophiette nods. "Let's keep going."
Atley grunts and raises his shield.
Shine steps off to one side, knives ready.
"Wait at the top o' the stairs…." Lireen advises.
Colson murmurs prayers once more.
Dara nods and waits.
Sophiette looks to Dara worriedly. "Are you doing alright, love?"
"I'm… I'm fine," Dara smiles reassuringly at Sophiette. "It just feels a bit like being in an army, doesn't it? Or how I would imagine."
Shine waits at the top of the stairs.
Lydia waits at the top of the stairs, raising a hand to put a Hand of Freedom on Lireen so that she can't be tripped or slowed.
"Warrant that cannon's not far ahead. This was their cache spot, last." Atley growls quietly as Lireen scouts ahead.
Lireen lures a few back, which are easily ended.
Shine again steps out smoothly behind a sorcerer and silences him.
Lireen gestures for them to follow her downstairs.
Dara glances over at Colson as Lireen and Dane move forward, and asks, "Is this what it's usually like, when you heal with Cobalt squads?"
At the end of the hall is another group… Lireen glances only briefly at the others before charging in.
Atley charges right in beside her, flattening a Risen Priest under heavy boot.
Colson waits for a moment in between skirmishes to nod to Dara. "Yes. This is what it is like on the squads healing."
Sophiette taps the Argent insignia on her tabard, smiling softly. "We are in an army now, beloved."
Dara draws in a fortifying breath and nods. "I suppose we are, yes."
"Okay, a little breather if ye need," Lireen says once the undead have fallen.
Atley smacks his lips and marches over to inspect the armaments on display.
Shine steps back from another corpse and takes a breather to poison a second dagger.
Mercy gazes at Colson for a moment, then turns her face back toward the next group of enemies, who are unaware of the team lurking in the shadows nearby.
For some reason, the death knight's hands have begun to tremble slightly.
Lireen spots an odd paper lying on the ground. She bends over curiously to pick it up.
Atley looks over too, and lifts a bushy brow.
[Lireen]: "Looks like smithin–" She is ATTACKED by an undead blacksmith who lurches out of the shadows.
Dara squeaks. Then she recovers her composure and starts healing Lireen.
"Face the Light's justice, fiend!" Sophiette declares dramatically as she attacks the blacksmith.
Shine glances sidelong at Sophiette. Damn, girl.
"I guess he didna like us messin' with his plans," Lireen says wryly once the group has brought him down.
Colson's lips twitch at Lireen's joke.
Atley swipes up the plans, investigates them, then drops them onto a nearby table.
[Lireen]: "Onward," she says.
At the end of this hall is a man dressed with an air of importance. Also, two cannons.
Sophiette holds up a hand of caution. "Cannons."
"… bloody hell. What are they doing with indoor cannon?" Shine stares incredulously.
"Oh, cannons indeed," Dara says, looking ahead. "But why would they need them in here?"
Dara nods at Shine, her thoughts exactly.
"I'm gonna just charge right past em," Lireen says calmly. "Follow me at will."
Colson follows at will, which means he's at the back where he can keep everyone in his sight. "Ah. They do still have it."
Lydia shields herself in a protective Light and charges along with Lireen.
During the fight, a dozen undead riflemen show up to defend the guy who is apparently their superior officer.
Atley jumps between the healers and the oncoming riflemen.
Dara runs forward to take cover on the other side of the cannon.
Colson readies a [Hand of Protection] for those in danger, as he calmly turns to keep everyone in sight while the riflemen flank them.
Seeing the oncoming reinforcements, Sophiette hastily loads a cannonball and fires! BOOM! Scarlet bits everywhere.
Shine flinches and shoots Sophiette an incredulous look. He glances up at the ceiling. What is the structural integrity of this place?
When the leader finally falls, what's left of the riflemen simply… collapse, as though their loyalty was all that was animating them.
Lireen eyes the dead man's boots, then eyes Sophie's feet. "Bet I could reforge those to fit ye," she muses.
Dara glances at the cannons, and murmurs, "That can't be what they meant for them to be used for."
"Let's move out," Lireen suggests. She never quite sounds like she's giving orders.
[Sophiette]: "More the folly for them to have them here, then."
Shine is only too happy to get away from the cannons and people firing them indoors.
Colson obeys the suggestions anyway, as he moves out.
Lydia follows Lireen awaaaay from the cannons.
Lireen finds another closed door. This time she doesn't even ask, just opens it.
Behind the door is a lot of guys.
Shine murder-silences one of the guys. That still leaves a bunch of guys.
Dara gasps, and then gets back to healing.
Atley manages to catch a Risen Monk's skull against the stone wall with the pommel of his sword.
Crunch.
Colson heals calmly through the unexpected intense skirmish, watching for Dara's safety in particular as the priest of the group.
Dara looks down the hallway suspiciously. "It looks empty."
"Nice," Lireen observes, as she helps finish off the last of them.
"The stone is vibratin’," Lireen observes. "There's feet walkin' about."
Some of the feet charge from a hall to the left and attack.
"Said that too loud," Lireen admits as she chops at them with her axe.
Dara giggles nervously.
Shine flashes a reassuring smile at Dara. Look, they're all dead, it's cool.
"Ha!" Lydia strikes at them with a divine storm.
Lireen holds up a fist outside the next doorway.
Colson halts with military automatic obedience at Lireen's gesture.
[Atley]: "Balnazzar'll be about. Skulking likely." He growls quietly, waiting.
"This is where his sanctum was before," Colson agrees. "Not far from here."
Lireen lures a group into the hall for everyone to destroy.
"The Scarlet Crusade shall smite the wicked and drive evil from these lands!" shouts one of the undead monks.
Dara gasps as one of the undead Scarlets lunges out far enough to strike her and interrupt her healing. She is stunned for a long moment, and then hastily heals Lireen, just in time.
Atley blocks a strike from a charging Risen Gallant before he impales it upon his massive sword, throwing the corpse towards Lydia's hallowed ground.
Once the team has disassembled the undead, Lireen cautiously proceeds into a grand hall with a vaulted ceiling.
Sophiette takes a deep, steadying breath before marching on.
[Lydia]: Lydia looks into one of the alcove chambers and sighs.
"We've damn near cleared this place out," Lireen whispers, careful of the echoes. "Canna be too many left, aye?"
Dara notices the sigh and asks Lydia, "What is it?"
Mercy gazes at Lydia.
[Sophiette]: "By the Light's grace, let us hope not."
"Yer doin' fine, dears," Lireen assures them.
"It's simply tragic to see the scriptoriums abandoned," Lydia answers Dara quietly. "I helped the monks with their work in my youth."
Lireen checks everyone over briefly, then gives a crisp nod and heads toward the four looming at the end of the grand hallway. Lireen then charges into a side room.
Dara nods with sympathy, but has no time for more words. She follows Lireen, shielding her hastily.
There is only one guy in there, but he is a giant pain in the arse.
Ash blackens the walls in this room, and the furniture looks newer than the rest.
Colson looks mildly around the room, observing the evidence of scorching from years past.
Atley knits his brow and sets his jaw.
Lireen looks around the room, noting the various books and other signs of study.
Shine stops to peruse the maps on the table with interest. He selects one, rolls it up, and tucks it away in a pouch, then turns back to follow the others.
"I suppose they do still have minds, for all they follow a dreadlord," Dara says, looking at all the papers.
"I think I caught sight of yer demon fella when I was passin' by that other doorway," Lireen says calmly, pointing.
[Lireen]: "Bout two stories tall? Wings?"
[Sophiette]: "Mercy…"
"Hm?" says Mercy, turning toward Sophiette.
"Oh, Light," Dara murmurs, turning to see the dreadlord.
[Sophiette]: "Hm? Oh…sorry, not you, Mercy. I meant Light's mercy."
Mercy nods. Is that a slight smile touching the corners of her red-painted mouth?
Atley ducks his head to peer through the arch, squinting at Balnazzar. "That'd be him. No mask, this time."
Shine halts at the sight of the dreadlord. He gives a low whistle. "Tides a'mighty."
Colson moves towards the archway, where Balnazzar waits, and there's a blaze in the air around him as the Light builds, holy lightning crackling along his left arm.
"Properly fed, aye," Atley growls at Shine.
Shine snorts at Atley. He doesn't take his eye from the dreadlord.
Lydia's eyes glow golden with fury, and she lets out a battle cry at top volume. "BALNAZZAR! YOU WILL ANSWER FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!" Sorry about your eardrums. Lydia isn't sorry.
Lireen sighs as Lydia's voice bounces off the stone. She makes a Disapproving Mom face.
Dara winces at the sound, but not at the sentiment. She's all on board for that.
[Lireen]: "Are ye ready dears?" Lireen asks.
Mercy nods, eyes on the demon.
Atley grunts.
"Apparently," says Shine dryly.
Sophiette nods firmly, glaring at the dreadlord. Stirred by Lydia's battle cry, she declares, "You shall feel the hammer of the Light's justice, demon!" Sophiette is ready.
"Balnazzar! We have come to end you once more! You shall never have this world!" Colson calls as well, because the paladins are loud.
"Ye… Yes," Dara says, nodding. "I think so."
Shine flips a knife again, and then follows Lireen in.
Lydia is vibrating with barely checked rage, and the very moment Lireen moves towards the room, she charges.
"Get out of Stratholme, fiend!" Dara cries, joining the enthusiasm.
Balnazzar yells. "You fools think you can defeat me so easily? Face the true might of the Nathrezim!"
Brilliant gold wings erupt from Colson as he charges in, equal parts Holy strength and Righteous Vengeance.
Lydia's wings of Light burn red-gold with Avenging Wrath as she strikes at the Dreadlord.
Lireen simply chops away at the demon, and occasionally bashes it with her shield, her expression tranquil, her movements practiced.
Atley strikes and slashes at Balnazzar, but his expression is anything but tranquil.
Sophiette's mind fills with the demon's whispers. Her vision blurs, and where Shine and Dara stood, she sees foul demons…and attacks!
Dara cries out when Sophiette unexpectedly attacks her.
Shine curses and wheels to wrestle Sophiette away from Dara, but the dreadlord reaches a curled claw toward him and he is briefly stifled by an unnatural sleep. He sways on his feet. Lireen bashes the dreadlord with her shield and the enchantment breaks. Shine staggers back, disoriented.
Colson encases Dara in a [Hand of Protection].
Dara shields herself on top of Colson’s [Hand of Protection] and cries, "Sophiette, fight him!"
Mercy attempts to strike Sophiette to the ground without harming her.
Colson focuses on holding the shield of faith around Dara, as he calls down holy lightning to attempt to break Balnazzar's hold on Sophiette.
Sophiette falters, balking a moment at Dara's plea…pausing just long enough for Mercy's blow to knock her flat on her face.
Atley steps in front of and over Sophiette to shield her until she's back on her feet.
Once Sophiette has fallen Mercy returns her attention to the demon. There is less stillness about her now… her hands shake, and she makes occasional sounds of effort or distress.
Colson's Light flows through Sophiette like a cleansing river. As she rises to wobbly feet, she gives Dara a pleading look of shame, but turns to immediately launch her assault on the demon once again.
Dara shakes her head and mouths, not your fault, before she turns back to the demon and their other allies.
Colson's hand twitches as he aborts a heal started for Mercy, redirecting it quickly to another.
"We've almost got him, dears," Lireen announces, her voice barely loud enough to carry over the sounds of fighting.
Lydia's eyes burn with rage as she battles the Dreadlord, screaming at him.
"Back to the Nether, you vile thing!" Sophiette bellows as she slashes through Balnazzar's leg, bringing him down to his knee.
For a moment, Dara's eyes harden with anger, and she leaves Colson to do all the healing, pulling Light down to burn the demon instead.
Atley buries his sword hilt-deep inside of one of Balnazzar's calves, and twists it.
Mercy seems somewhat able to heal herself, drawing on the pain from the demon's injuries.
Shine weaves in and out, knives flashing, warier now that he has felt the demon's focus once.
A gust of wind from the demon's flailing wings throws back Mercy's hood. Her face is… flushed? Her expression filled with rage. It is suddenly apparent that Mercy's anger at this demon is personal.
Atley rends Balnazzar's muscle and hops back to assess, shield raised.
Colson glances at Mercy, a moment's distraction, between heals, the ground ablaze with another paladin's consecration. Tis bright in here, y'all.
"We were good once!" Lydia screams as she slices at Balnazzar's wings. "Until your rot crept in!" Metaphorical high five, Mercy, it's very personal.
Mercy lets out a sudden cry, wordless but clearly echoing Lydia's sentiment.
"For Sir Dathrohan, and what he stood for," Colson says, as the Dreadlord falters beneath the onslaught.
"Back to the Nether with you!" Mercy cries savagely, her voice still echoing in that ghostly way, but sounding strangely more alive than usual.
Atley hones in on Balazzar's other leg, now.
"He's on his knees! Put him down! LIGHT'S JUSTICE!" Sophiette attempts to rally their forces.
[Balnazzar]: "Damn you mortals! All my plans of revenge, all my hate…I will be avenged…"
Lireen bashes with her shield, helping pitch him toward the others' blades.
Dara's hands glow with Light as she tries to bolster everyone at once.
Lydia drives her sword deep into Balnazzar's neck.
Mercy leaps up and thrusts her val'kyr polearm right next to Lydia's sword.
"Your evil ends here, villain!" Sophiette plunges her sword into the demon's gut.
Shine buries both poisoned knives, wrenching one. His face and tabard are spattered with black blood.
Atley strikes off a horn, removing a chunk of head with it.
Colson's Holy Shock is a punctuation mark.
Balnazzar falls forward onto the tile, black gore oozing in a puddle beneath him.
There are footsteps in the hall.
[Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer]: "Well done, heroes. Balnazzar had been a threat for far too long. He had a hand in the Scourge and the Scarlet Crusade, two of our most difficult foes. The Risen may have tipped the balance against us, had they time to fester."
"He's finished," Lireen announces, in the same tone she might say that dinner is ready.
[Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer]: "Regrettably, Balnazzar is not yet finished. Defeating a dreadlord in the mortal plane only sends it back to the Twisting Nether. He will be back one day, perhaps even working again with his brothers, Varimathras and Detheroc."
Mercy bares her teeth in fury.
Shine steps back, wiping his forearm across his face, smearing sweat and demon blood. He glances at the Crusade Commander like he can't quite remember who that guy is.
Sophiette stands over the fallen demon, ready to strike again, but the body discorporates into spectral bats and vanishes, leaving only its armor behind.
[Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbringer]: "For now, we have regained control over this half of Stratholme and should rejoice for that. The former Bastion of the Silver Hand is back in the hands of its rightful owners. Countless treasures to the order reside here, and we now have a fortified location to launch our next assault."
Colson nods to Dawnbringer. "May the Light grant us a part of salvation of this bastion, cleansed at last of the darkness that has rooted here for too long."
Mercy seems to realize her hood has fallen back, and reaches for it, drawing it forward to hide her flushed and strangely expressive face.
Lydia leans her sword on her shoulder as its flames dim. She claps Mercy firmly on the shoulder. "Sister."
Dara steps forward to place her hand on Sophiette's shoulder.
Sophiette turns and desperately pulls Dara into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry…."
"There's nothing to forgive," Dara says, next to her ear. "But if it needs to be said, I forgive you anyway."
Shine stoops to collect his knives from where they lie on the floor now that there is no demon for them to be embedded in. He inspects their edges and sheaths them again, and then glances toward Sophiette and Dara. He looks politely away.
Sophiette nods through sniffles, and in a voice muffled against Dara's shoulder, she says, "Thank you. I needed to hear it."
Atley glances over and nods with a grunt. "You shouldn't torment yourself. That wretch is a master of control, and manipulation. T'was his doing."
Lydia nods to Sophiette. "'tis true."
Sophiette stands upright, gathering her composure. She nods gratefully to Dane and Lydia. "Thank you."
Dara nods, giving Sophiette an extra squeeze before she lets her go.
Mercy secures the polearm in its holster on her back and then lowers her head, hastening for the exit.
"Well that's done then," says Lireen amiably. "I'm gonna go wash up." And off she goes.
Colson hesitates. "May the Light be with you all. Please, excuse me," he says, before he hastens after Fi Mercy.
Shine nods to Lireen and then to Dane. He offers Dara and Sophiette a faint smile.
Atley grunts, but he peers at her.
"You all fought valiantly today," Lydia says. She gives the group a formal bow.
Sophiette returns the bow. "As did you, Dame Lydia. I'm grateful you were here."
Dara glances after Colson and Mercy. "I hope they'll be alright."
Shine has vanished.
Atley looks around for Shine, but seeing him gone, he looks to Lydia. "And you are a fury."
"Ha!" Lydia grins at Dane.
Atley grunts. "Well fought, you lot. I'm out."
Lydia watches the others go, moving over to speak to Crusade Commander Eligor Dawnbreaker.