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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | White Squad is missing their leader, but surely they can handle a simple fact-finding shaman-vision mission, right? While they find disturbing facts about the numbers and intentions of the naga (who have been, indeed, fighting our old enemies the Kvaldir), a certain impatient Admiral moves ahead recklessly with attack plans. The squad helps as they can, with a plan that spirals rapidly out of control. ~7000 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Season 14
Four members of the usual Cobalt team are assembled at Tranquil Wash.
Florande Wildbloom waves to the others. "Hello! Ben has said he is going back to the other caves to make sure everyone makes it here."
Estel gives Florande a lazy thumbs-up.
"Ahh. Skipper's got a good heart." Niksi smiles.
Almeiria glances up from her spot by the water. "Hope nothing…unfortunate happens, then."
"Hopefully nothing major will happen before he gets back." Florand nods. Then she brightens. "Oh! And Niksi, I found some machine parts out in the sea! Maybe if I give you them, you can see if they help with the SHART?"
"Oh, excellent!" She holds up her work satchel. "Just dump them in."
Florande happily dumps half a dozen objects of various shapes and sizes into Niksi's work satchel.
Wavespeaker Valoren walks over to the team and says, “Cobalt Company? A word?”
Estel stands and stretches. "Hey, what's up?"
Almeiria moves to join the others.
Florande glances over at the Wavespeaker.
[Wavespeaker Valoren]: I’ve had a chance to study that shard you brought me from Quel’dormir. It looks to be of naga origin.
Niksi takes a moment to peruse the new machine parts before closing up her satchel and giving Valoren her attention.
Valoren holds up the shard, and continues,“I had hoped to find a strong focal object like this for a spell I've been working on that would allow us to glimpse into the recent past.The spell is ready now, if you are willing to witness it.”
"Oh, uh, sure." Estel nods.
Florande waits for more information.
“I've enchanted the blade, but you'll have to take it to a place where we know its owner was.” Valoren pauses. “You know the territory better than I. I want you to travel back to the site where you found it and use the blade.”
"Oh, hm… this is just like, a fact-finding thing?" Florande asks.
Estel raises a hand like she has a question and then immediately asks instead of waiting to be called upon, "Use it… how?"
"You basically just need to stand where the battle took place, and then the spell should take hold," Valoren says.
"Cool, okay." Estel pulls her goggles on and makes sure her bag is properly sealed.
Valoren holds out the shard to whoever wants it. “Perhaps we can uncover more behind what the naga are doing here. Or even better, maybe we'll uncover a weakness that will give us a better chance.”
"Sure." Estel takes it.
"We can probably do a little recon while we wait for Ben," Florande says, looking at the others.
"Hopefully their weakness isn't, 'become a giant,' because if so, I'd rather not," Almeiria says.
Estel snorts.
"Is that a common thing you're asked to do?" Florande blinks at her.
Estel gives her seahorse a pocket shrimp and climbs on its back.
"Stranger things have happened," Almeiria replies.
The team rides their seahorses back to the place where they found the vrykul skeletons.
There is a shimmer in the water above where they found the shard.
[Florande]: "Okay, Estel… maybe hold it in that shiny place?"
Estel takes the fragment of the sword and walks over to the shiny place.
Suddenly, all four of them are considerably larger. Not only that, they are naga battlemaidens! They manifest into this memory in media res, with the battlemaidens returning from a skirmish.
Fathem-Stalker Azjentus says, " I could hear the sound of your trident breaking from the gardents! The skulls of these Kvaldir are as strong as rock."
One Naz'jar Battlemaiden says, "A single prong. Hardly enough to stop me from slaughtering hundreds more."
Fathom-Stalker Azjentus says, "Indeed. I doubt much would."
Fathom-Stalker Azjentus waves over the other Battlemaidens. “There's no shortage of Kvaldir to slaughter. They're obviously still reeling from our assault. The city has been desolate so long, I doubt they expected any naga to contest them here.” Azjentus laughs. “I had heard tales of the fierceness of these Kvaldir, but so far, the boasts seem empty.”
“In any case, there have been no reports yet of their leader,” Azjentus continues. “I'm sure that culling them further will force the coward to rear his head soon enough. Shall we continue?”
Florande-naga nods.
The naga battlemaidens head out for more Kvaldir slaughter.
Niksi looks down at 'her' body. "So…we did turn into giants," she mutters.
Almeiria sighs.
Florande whispers. "A little. I do not think I like being transformed into a naga."
Estel makes no comment. She might be channeling the vision herself, as the holder of the weapon.
The slaughter is accomplished, and the naga return to the Fathom-Stalker.
Florande slithers back up to Azjentus. "We have slain kvaldir," Florande says, trying to sound confident.
Azjentus smiles in triumph. “Hah! It seems you were right. Even broken, those tridents are serving you just fine. I suppose I don't get to see you claw anything to death today after all.”
Almeiria peers at Florande. Claw something to death is more accurate than this naga knows.
Florande kind of half-smiles at Almeiria.
“I have more good news - the Revered Lady has sent word for you. She awaits you at the far end of the temple gardens,” Azjentus says, as if we should be very pleased.
“If you feel the need to mention the heroic exploits of your faithful battle brother, Azjentus, please don't hold back. I won't take your admiration of me as a weakness,” Azjentus winks. “But I'll hold you up no longer. The Lady awaits.”
"We will attend her immediately," Florande nods.
We all slither-swim over to Lady Naz’jar at the end of the temple gardens.
Lady Naz’jar looks over the group and smiles. “Ah, my battlemaidens, you've come to me. The warrior caste whispers of nothing but your victories on the battlefield, and we've only just begun our assault to take the city.”
“You have served me proud thus far. May the Queen favor you that you might continue to do more of the same,” Lady Naz’jar says. “I have another task for you.”
Florande looks up attentively.
“Fathom-Lord Zin'jatar has sent word that the Kvaldir leader has shown himself. I would like you to make your way to him at the far end of the terrace above us, on the middle level of the ruins: Nar'shola Terrace.” Lady Naz’jar points.
“Kill any Kvaldir that stand in your path on that terrace. We want the echoes of this defeat to ring in their minds so that they will dare not return to threaten our purpose here,” Lady Naz’jar says.
Then Lady Naz’jar smiles at us and says, “Your devotion does not go unnoticed, my battlemaidens. Go knowing that you have my blessing.”
A nearby Sira’kess Tide Priestess raises a hand to call our attention. “My ladies, before you go, I have a request from the High Priestess that I am to pass along to you.”
The team slithers over to the priestess.
“Many of the city's defenses remain from long before it sunk beneath the waves, and some of them are but a trivial task to reactivate, were it not for the countless Kvaldir that stand in our way,” the Priestess explains.
The Priestess continues, “I hear that you are to be fighting on Nar'shola Terrace above us. You would do my lady a great service if you would but touch some of the devices as you pass.”
"Just… touch them?" Florande asks.
“Yes, your noble blood should prove more than sufficient to reactivate them,” the Priestess says, looking at us with deep respect.
The team swims up to the terrace. One of the battlemaidens touches a ward, and it starts to shoot out white beams that kill nearby Kvaldir.
Florande eyes the defenses. "Whoa. That is pretty powerful."
Another priestess waves us over before we reach the Fathom-Lord.
The Priestess says happily, “The Nar'shola Wards are performing perfectly. I will inform the Mistress of the Tides of your aid immediately. Thank you for your assistance, my ladies.”
Florande bows her head.
The Fathom-Lord Zinjatar surveys the team, admiring the blood on our tridents. “It is good of you to join me, Battlemaidens. The echoes of your combat graced your approach. It was a beautiful sound to behold.”
Florande tries to look proud and not just scared.
“Now to business,” Zinjatar says, as we come closer. “The Kvaldir leader has shown his rotting, ugly face but a short swim from here, down this hall to our west.”
“We kill him now and the Kvaldir occupation of our once beloved city shall be ended,” Zinjatar closes his hand into a fist. “Beware, Battlemaidens, for he is no weakling. He has many Kvaldir at his command, but you will not be alone.”
“Some Sira'kess Sea Witches have been dispatched to weaken him during your attack, but they will be interrupted if you let any of his Kvaldir attack them,” Zinjatar explains. “Show no mercy, Battlemaidens.”
Florande nods her understanding.
"Well then. Shall we go straight for him?" Almeiria smiles.
"I think so," Florande says. "I do not like being naga, but I like kvaldir even less."
We head over to the Kvaldir leader, who is fighting at the center of a circle of powerful sea witches who are casting magic at him.
Varkul the Unrelenting yells, "Squash these snakes!"
The battlemaidens fight along with the sea witches, and Varkul falls beneath the assault.
Varkul the Unrelenting yells, "Kvaldir never die… this city is ours…"
The Kvaldir General crumples to the ground, defeated.
With this, the ruins of Vashj'ir have been claimed for Lady Naz'jar. Her ultimate goals remain uncertain, but it is clear that the naga came here with purpose.
With the Kvaldir leader dead, the scene begins to shimmer and fade.
"They are spirits, I think, of a sort," Florande says, looking at Varkul's body. "He may be speaking literally."
Estel's voice does not come from a battlemaiden's body. "Hey… connection's getting weaker…"
In a few moments, the team is standing at the place where the Kvaldir leader fell, but in the present and in their own bodies.
Estel blinks, looking disoriented as she realizes she's somewhere other than where she was holding the prong of the trident. "Whoa. Uh."
"Hmm…I'm not sure we actually have that much control over our decisions, as this has already happened. Logically, I believe our minds are simply interpreting it as if we are affecting choices. But in reality, the choice is an illusion."
Florande blinks, "Yes, I did not try to disobey what had already happened?"
"I had questions, but the words would not come," Almeiria says.
[Florande]: "So… they fought kvaldir. We should go tell Valoren what we saw?"
[Niksi]: "Absolutely."
Estel waves a shrimp in the water and her seahorse shows up.
The other seahorses come behind Estel’s, and we all mount.
"I think we moved in space while in memory?" Florande says uneasily. "I am glad we were not attacked."
"Yeah…" Estel shivers. "Yikes."
We arrive back where Valoren waits for us.
Florande waves at Valoren. "We became naga battle maidens and pushed the kvaldir out of these ruins."
"I do believe we already knew it was kvaldir, so it seems we didn't achieve much," Almeiria says.
"There were a LOT of naga," Florande adds. "The kvaldir didn't stand a chance."
"True," Niksi says, "But now we know the kvaldir were also here with purpose, intending to take the city. It raises the question: What is so special about this city that the kvaldir would want it?"
"That is an important question," Valoren says. "As far as I'm aware, it's only ruins now."
Wavespeaker Valoren frowns. “And Battlemaidens? I never heard of such a thing. And this was recent. The way you explain it, it sounds like the naga forces are far greater in scope than the Admiral could possibly have realized.”
"We got the name of the naga leader," Estel says. "Lady Naz'jar."
"Hmm… Lady Naz'jar…" Valoren considers. "We might be able to learn more through the blade if we can find other locations where these Battlemaidens were present, but the information you gave me makes me fear for the admiral and his soldiers.”
Valoren’s frown deepens. “We must warn them.”
"Yes, some of us aren't down here to start a full-scale war with the naga," Almeiria says.
Florande nods at Almeiria. Then she says,"Warn them? Are they not safe at the cave?"
"Whether you want a war against the naga or not…" Valoren sighs. “The Admiral used information from his scouts to make a forward post under the terrace to our west,” Valoren gestures in the direction. “He's been preparing there for some kind of attack.”
“You should go to him immediately and inform him of the scope of what you've witnessed,” Valoren says in obvious worry. “Our force is small, and I fear for our soldiers if we charge in too recklessly. Take my sea horse with you. It knows the way.”
"We should not charge in at all," Florande murmurs.
"Buddy, follow the seahorse," Estel says to hers.
Florande also follows Valoren's seahorse to the new base.
The seahorse leads them towards a building in the west of the gardens that appears to be more intact than most. A curtain of mist covers the entrance. Soldiers mill about in the water, their heads encased in bubbles.
"They have… bubbles on their heads," Almeiria observes, eyeing the volunteer soldiers.
The team begins to pass through the mist into the building. They step through it… into air.
"Whoa," Florande says. "They cleared the water out of a building."
"They what?" Estel passes through a wall of mist. "Holy !@#$, they did."
"That must be some powerful shaman thing," Florande looks around at the mostly intact interior. "The bubbles… seem less practical than our water-breathing."
"Astonishing," Niksi muses. "The atmospheric regulation magic at work is truly impressive."
Florande nods vigorously, even if she has no idea what most of those words mean.
Admiral Dvorek scoffs as he sees the team arrive. “I see you decided to show up, Cobalt Company. I almost thought we'd lost you to the Wavespeaker's fool errand. Did anything come of it?”
"Well, some things," Florande says, a touch defensively. "We found out that there are a lot of naga here. More than we thought."
Admiral Dvorek looks irritated. “I see. The news you bring is grim, but I was not entirely unprepared for such possibilities.Without any effective scouting of naga numbers, I knew our plan was risky, but that's why we established this forward post.”
Niksi takes her journal out of its airtight container, jotting down another entry in the list of things about Admiral Dvorek she's going to gossip to Siamus about.
Florande blinks and says, “Without… scouting? Like, the scouting we did last week? And just now, that you did not wait to hear the outcome of?”
Dvorek waves a hand dismissively. “Let me put it to you plainly, Cobalt Company. If we do not keep the naga off-balance, they will bring the fight to us. We do not have the structures or the men to mount a defense, so that is not an option.”
Estel folds her arms over her chest and rattles off a description of the Sira'kess Sea Witches. "They're easily disrupted, they should be primary targets."
Almeiria is distractedly staring at the glowing runed stone in the back of the building.
"Ah, finally something useful," Dvorek nods, looking at Estel appreciatively. "I'll make sure all the men know."
Florande frowns at him. “If we cannot defend, we cannot launch a big attack either. Even our own squad leader is not here, and he will have more people with him from the earlier caves.”
"I concur with Estel," Niksi nods. "But do not underestimate their battlemaidens. They are fierce warriors."
"Sea witches, battlemaidens, and we need more time," Dvorek nods. "Understood. Can you buy us some, thinning their numbers to the south?"
Florande nods reluctantly.
[Niksi]: "I believe we can accomplish that!"
Estel looks at the others. "Yeah. We're a small team, we can be clever about it."
We turn to head back into the water, when…
Captain Taylor waves us over and says, “I overheard your conversation with the Admiral. I know what we're doing sounds insane, but we really don't have much choice. There are people back at that cave that are depending on us.”
"We have to keep people safe," Florande says in agreement.
“I've stationed lookouts on various ledges in the immediate area. They're burning ammo fast on the scattered naga scouts,” Taylor looks at us in concern. “Can you bring them more crossbow bolts to buy us some extra time?”
"Give us the bolts and we can distribute 'em, sure," Estel says.
Taylor offers a crate of crossbow bolts.
Estel opens the crate and distributes bundles of bolts to the others for easier transportation.
Florande tucks hers in her bag.
"Back into the water!" Florande says.
Engineer Hexascrub mutters as we approach, “Tick, tock, tick, tock. Always in such a hurry. No time for innovation. What I wouldn't give for a lab again!”
The team swims past the gnomish engineer.
Engineer Hexascrub waves frantically to the team. “Hello! I've been scrambling, scrambling to prepare for the Admiral's assault. He's got high hopes and high plans to blow all kinds of things sky high! …or water high? That would do.”
"O-Oh?" Florande asks.
“Blowing things high takes EXPLOSIVES!” Hexascrub says with delight. Then his face falls. “I don't have explosives. It's saddening. Very saddening.”
[Niksi]: "Explosives? Engineer, we must be careful not to damage the ecosystem in the process."
Estel sighs.
"Well, yes, but… the battle," Hexascrub says worriedly. "But not to worry, I have devised a way to make explosives that works with the ecosystem! I've been properly inspired to improvise, and the solution has become apparent.” Hexascrub points to the ruins. “The bulbs on the seaweed hanging from the ruins contain a surprisingly volatile gas. Maybe you might gather some for me? Pretty Please?”
Niksi peers up at the ruins. "I think we can safely extract the gas without harming the seaweed."
"Excellent, excellent," Hexascrub beams. "Thank you so much for your help!"
Estel looks a little skeptical. "You're on gas extraction then, Niksi."
The team heads out into the water around the forward post.
Florande mounts her seahorse and flies around distributing bolts.
Niksi investigates the bulbs of volatile gas.
[Niksi]: "Oh, this should be simple! These bulbs can be removed at the stalk. Just cut high! Don't pierce the bulb!"
"Is it safe enough?" Florande asks worriedly.
Estel zips about distributing bolts with a courier's efficiency.
Niksi balks at the edge of the ruins, looking out upon hundreds of naga swimming about, preparing for battle. "Oh, my."
Florande frowns. "The kvaldir did not reduce their numbers much."
"I doubt we will make much of a dent ourselves," Almeiria says. "We're no army. This is foolish."
Florande nods. "We are four people."
"Let's clear these casters who are channeling and then head back," Estel suggests.
"Yes, good plan," Florande turns into a panther and dives into the fight.
"We may be few, but we're exceptionally skilled and intelligent!" Niksi gestures definitively. "I believe we can make a difference, if we're strategic."
"Another of these stones," Almeiria says, stopping before a runed rock. "There was one at the forward camp, as well."
"I wonder what they are for," Florande asks curiously.
"Huh." Estel looks it over and nods. "Let's get back before somebody hits those bulbs Niksi's carrying."
"Concerning, isn't it? Given what we learned, that their magic is still intact," Almeiria says.
Florande nods, worried.
Niksi drags a train of the explosive bulbs, all tied together with seaweed, behind her seahorse.
We arrive back at the forward post.
Niksi unties the bulbs. "Engineer, I believe you can make good use of these."
Hexascrub beams. “You are brave indeed! I've seen you battling all manner of murloc, naga, and pointy-toothed fish, but that was nothing! Handling bulbs of volatile gas takes a whole new level of courage!” Hexascrub takes the bulbs and handles them carefully himself.
"Aw, well…it was just a matter of careful planning." Is Niksi blushing under that helmet?
Hexascrub nods at Niksi in admiration. “You're my kind of mercenaries.”
We pass again through the mist into the air-filled interior of the building.
"Captain, we have given out all the bolts," Florande says as they emerge into the air.
Captain Taylor looks at us in relief. “You are perhaps the most dependable people I've ever met. I wish I could have more men half as thorough as you.”
"That's sweet." Estel smiles at him.
Captain Taylor smiles back.
Then we turn to Admiral Dvorek.
"Admiral, there are a LOT of naga to the south," Florande says without preamble. "Like the vision."
“Huh,” Dvorek says. “Then there’s more naga are amassing to the south than reported too it seems. We shall have to move quickly.”
[Niksi’]: "I estimate no fewer than two-hundred seventy-eight. But likely more we could not see."
"There'll be a lot less after you use the bombs that gnome assured me he could have in short order," Dvorek says firmly.
Estel narrows her eyes.
Admiral Dvorek nods. “We have everything we need to begin the attack. If your claims were correct, you would do well to make sure you cling tight to your mount as we make the run. Anyone who gets caught in the open water isn't likely to out-swim a naga.”
Almeiria sighs.
“Kill as many as you can as we make the attack run and we'll rendezvous on the broken ledge of the southern terrace above once we've expended our explosives,” Dvorek says.
Dvorek sets a hand on his sword hilt. “Hopefully by that point there will be few enough that we can finish them off the old-fashioned way.”
Estel frowns. "Ben's still not here," she says to the others.
"No, but…" Florande bites her lip. "We have to help, don't we?"
"Let's just get this over with," Almeiria says.
"As much as I'd like him to be here, we don't have time to wait for him." Niksi sighs. "He would expect us to fight on."
Florande nods uneasily.
"Well, %^&*," Estel says. She sighs and accepts the improvised explosives that Hexascrub distributes. She does not look pleased. "Guess they'd better have a healer with 'em." Estel swings onto her seahorse.
We head out on seahorses, laden with bombs. Our team and many other volunteer soldiers bomb the naga forces, while other soldiers attack on foot. The battle in intense, and many soldiers fall.
Estel spends the entire assault shielding and healing, trying to keep the seahorses moving. It is not an easy time for her.
When the bombing is complete, all the surviving seahorses make their way to the rendezvous point.
Florande arrives at the camp and dismounts her seahorse, having dispensed of all her explosives at the naga.
"Seems a number of people didn't make it," Almeiria observes.
Dvorek stands stiffly, but he nods as we approach. “You did great up there, soldiers! You devastated their ranks, but there were far more than we accounted for, and most of my men went down out there in the masses of naga.”
"Far more then we accounted for? Oh, really? Despite our repeated warnings? How dense are you?" Almeiria asks.
Dvorek glares at Almeiria, and does not dignify that with an answer. Probably because he has no good answer.
Estel ignores Admiral Dvorek and moves to the few dead who actually made it back on living seahorses, immediately trying to resurrect whoever she can.
“We'll need to hold this position as long as possible to buy them time. Hopefully some of them will still make it to the rendezvous,” Dvorek says, then he mutters, “Vicious louts… they did a lot of damage with those spears.”
"That took me back to my pilot days in the GDF," Niksi thinks aloud. "Though I've never done a bombing run underwater before."
The admiral winces slightly as he clutches a wound on his side. “While I wait here for survivors, “I need someone to scout their numbers to see how much damage we did. One of the biggest groups of them was around the corner on the northwest portion of this round terrace, and the other was a bit farther to the north in the small tunnel, also on this middle level of the ruins.”
"Yes, of course, dear. We'll give you more numbers you won't listen to," Almeiria says.
Admiral Dvorek seems to have run out of wind for a moment, but then he looks at the team sternly. “Then I'll have you go out for some scouting.”
"Busy, please hold," Estel says, and slams a wave of light into a soldier's chest. He stirs and opens his eyes.
"Thank you," the soldier gasps, struggling to stand. "I was… the naga… thank you."
"Yeah. Easy, now." Estel hits him with a quick flash heal and moves on to the next.
"Take a moment," Almeiria tells the soldier. "Don't be so eager to rush back to your death."
The soldier nods and sits back, trying to take stock of his surroundings.
Captain Taylor walks over to the team as Admiral Dvorek paces away and says, grim-faced, “That was a disaster! Most of our men went down to spears before making it anywhere near the rendezvous.”
“We're only going to be able to hold this position for so long before the naga overrun us,” Taylor says. “We need to save as many of the men we can find - get out there and do anything you can. They won't last long. Please hurry!”
More soldiers remain dead than not, but Estel is able to resurrect another two before 'please hurry' gets her to pay attention.
Niksi salutes the Captain. "We'll do everything we can, sir."
"I'm a healer," Estel says, swinging onto her seahorse. "Let's go."
"I can heal sometimes too," Florande says, following her.
Niksi spots an injured woman.
[Niksi]: "Estel! Other right over here."
The team rushes over to an injured assault volunteer.
Estel slams a volley of holy light into the woman from a distance as she approaches. "Hey!"
We spread out, looking for the injured, healing them, and sending them towards the rendezvous point.
Almeiria leeches the life from a nearby naga with her shadows, healing an injured assault volunteer.
"Head to rendezvous! We killed the naga on the way," Florande says after healing an injured asssault volunteer.
Estel burns through her mana as she finds people, calling up a shadowf(r)iend to bully a naga along the way.
Florande swims around a corner and gasps. There are ranks and ranks of naga. The assault looks like it did almost no damage at all.
In the tunnel, naga priestesses look to be summoning a near endless stream of reinforcements.
"So much for taking them all out with bombs, hm?" Almeiria grumbles.
We swim back towards the rendezvous point, helping as many people as we can on the way.
Captain Taylor waves at us as we ride back into the rendezvous point.
Estel returns with a dead body on her seahorse, attempting a resurrection while the seahorse swims. It fails, and she rolls the body off to rest with the other casualties.
"My people have been trickling in, thanks to you. Thank you. Truly.” Captain Taylor draws a breath, then nods firmly, moving into action. “I need to get these men moving as soon as possible. I'll meet up with you at the forward post soon, I'm sure.”
"We need to retreat, now," Estel says firmly. "They're summoning reinforcements through a portal."
Dvorek curses, and then winces. "Did we at least put a dent in their numbers?"
Florande shakes her head slowly.
[Niksi]: "Whatever damage we did doesn't matter. They're replacing troops faster than we can take them out."
"We don't even know what their numbers really are, there are so many of them," Almeiria says.
Admiral Dvorek pales, which is surprising since his face was already ashen when we arrived. “Still so many? They must want something very important here to come in such numbers.”
Dvorek limps a step away, and then lowers his voice. “I will be honest with you, Cobalt, because you deserve at least that: I don't know how much hope there is. We will retreat shortly, but we won't be able to defend ourselves when they strike back.”
Estel subtly attempts to place a slower-healing [Renew] spell on Admiral Dvorek.
It does not seem to do much. Maybe he's resistant to healing, or maybe there's some exotic poison in the spear-wound.
“We don't have anywhere to run… we're running out of options,” Dvorek winces again, and shakes his head. “I'm sorry, I should keep such thoughts to myself. Do me a favor and don't mention any of that to the men. I'll figure something out.”
"Sir, I was stranded for eight years, entirely alone, on an uncharted island." Niksi stands upright. "But here I am now. There is always hope."
Dvorek tries to straighten, and nods at Niksi. "We'll get these men out. Somehow."
"Yes we will, Admiral!" Niksi nods firmly.
“Cobalt? A word?” Wavespeaker Valoren calls. “Look, I know this is asking a lot during a time like this, but I need you to tear yourself away from this defeat for a moment.”
"Yeah," Estel says to Valoren. "Yeah, it is asking a lot." But she walks over along the stone.
"Away to what?" Florande sounds baffled.
“I can heal,” Valoren says, shaking her head. “I will tend to these soldiers - you need to find the location of that battle with the Kvaldir General to the west that you told me about.”
Florande blinks. "What does that have to do with… anything?"
“You should be able to glimpse more of the Battlemaidens’ experiences from there,” Valoren hands the shard to Florande. “I have a strong feeling that the key to defeating these naga will lie with those Battlemaidens.”
"I, for one, don't mind going back and pretending to be on the winning side for a while longer," Almeiria says.
Valoren gives Almeiria an odd look, and says, "“Please hurry - I will do everything I can to buy you time.”
"Check on the Admiral," Estel says to Valoren. "He's not doing well."
Valoren nods to Estel. "I'll see what I can do."
[Niksi]: "We will move with expediency!"
Estel gets onto her seahorse. "Let's go."
The team swims over to where the battle against the kvaldir leader took place.
"I don't like that our bodies moved in the vision last time," Estel mutters to the others. "Let's be careful."
Florande nods.
"Agreed." Niksi concurs.
Once again, we shift into memory, taking the form of a team of naga Battlemaidens. They are standing next to Lady Naz’jar.
Lady Naz'jar says, "The Kvaldir have been purged from the city. Now we can begin our preparations. Battlemaidens, I have a task that requires your attention."
Lady Naz’jar continues, “Lady Sira'kess has begun preparations for the ritual of summoning, but the Crucible of Nazsharin has been stolen from us.”
Lady Naz’jar grows more serious.“The Kvaldir have surely taken it with them as they retreated to shallower waters. Speak to the caste leaders to secure a war party, and then lead them in retrieving the artifact from Biel'aran Ridge to the east.”
“I trust you, my Battlemaidens, for you have never failed in any task that I have given you,” Lady Naz’jar says, raising a hand. “As I am revered to the Queen, so are you revered to me. Go with my blessings.”
Florande nods seriously, but doesn't speak.
The team heads out to the indicated ridge.
"The Crucible of Nazsharin," Florande repeats quietly. "Summoning?"
The team arrives to Fathom-Lord Zin'jatar.
"We are supposed to hunt the Crucible of Nazsharin. Do you have warriors to assist?" Florande says, trying to sound like a naga.
Fathom-Lord Zin'jatar says, "You will have some of my best men, do not worry. Return to us quickly - I am eager to begin hunting the Tidehunter."
Florande nods, as if she knows what he's talking about.
We move away from Fathom-Lord Zin’jatar.
Florande murmurs, "We killed him."
Indeed we did, on the mission where we discovered a pearl of Nespirah.
"Oh… this one too," Florande stares at Overseer Idra'kess.
We approach Overseer Idra’kess, who we killed a few weeks ago in Nespirah.
"Overseer," Florande says. "We are hunting the Crucible of Nazsharin. Do you have warriors to assist?"
Overseer Idra'kess says, "You shall have your reinforcements, Battlemaidens. I had already intended to collect Kvaldir to labor in Nespirah, so your timing is opportune."
Florande swims away and mutters, "I guess not only Horde and Alliance were in Nespirah."
"Were there kvaldir in Nespirah? I did not see them," Almeiria says.
"Me neither," Florande says. "Maybe they were elsewhere? Or maybe the plan failed."
Last, we approach Lady Sira’kess.
"Lady, we are seeking the Crucible of Nazsharin. Do you have anyone to assist?" Florande asks.
Lady Sira'kess says, "I will send some of my priestesses to aid you. Find the artifact quickly so that I can begin summoning our allies for the battles to come."
We swim away.
"So. This artifact is responsible for their numbers," Almeiria says.
"It must be," Florande murmurs.
The team swims to the camp, where the forces are arrayed.
Fathom-Stalker Azjentus nods as we approach. “Reinforcements have begun to circle the waters around the ledge, preparing for the attack. They await only your lead.”
Before we head out, Azjentus holds up a cautioning hand. “I know that you, like our revered lady, have unfortunate streaks of mercy that you succumb to at times. I would advise against such kindnesses this day.”
"No mercy," Florande mumbles.
“The Kvaldir are proud, and they will strike back if we do not cripple them completely,” Azjentus says firmly. “Kill all that you find.”
Azjentus sighs. “Sadly, I have the inglorious task of making sure none return to the city, so you can go have all of the fun. I will cheer you on though, of course.”
"We know our duty." Niksi doesn't lie.
"This already happened," Florande mumbles.
Niksi nods to Florande, hoping to express some kind of sympathy and comfort.
A Naz’jar Honor Guard comes up to our side and says, “Our revered lady has sent me to aid you in your task. She wants you to retrieve the stolen Crucible of Nazsharin and bring it back here as soon as you can.”
“She grows impatient to start the ritual of summoning so that we might fully begin our preparations for war,” the Honor Guard says.
"Yes, we know, find the crucible," Florande nods.
We swim away to look for the Crucible of Nazsharin.
"Now, what do you suppose happened to the battlemaidens? Are we to fight them, in time, as well, or did they fall somewhere?" Almeiria asks.
"Maybe, if we can follow the vision far enough, we will find out?" Florande suggests, then blanches. "What happens if something happens to the battlemaidens while we are… them…?"
"I expect we will simply be ejected, unless your soul believes you were slain. Then you may have a problem," Almeiria says.
"My soul is used to changing form," Florande says, with a touch of worry.
Before this frightening prospect can be followed up, we are hailed by a naga.
“Battlemaidens! You’re fighting the kvaldir?” Executioner Varathress asks. “Perhaps you can assist me as well. The High-Shaman are in the buildings nearby, chanting and taunting, but not daring to approach me.”
"Should we kill them?" Florande asks, trying to get into character.
“I have something better in mind,” the Executioner’s lip curls with contempt. “These Kvaldir find their courage and strength only in the mist. They are a pitiful nuisance beneath the waves.”
“I came bearing a message,” the Executioner gives a cruel smile. “If your ladyships have the time, bring a high-shaman to my feet that I might deliver this message to him and his people.”
We lure out a High-Shaman, and the Executioner grapples him in.
Executioner Verathress yells: On your knees!
The Executioner executes the High-Shaman. Well, that was predictable.
Executioner Verathress yells: Let this be a lesson to all Kvaldir. You are weak! Facing Azshara brings only death.
Executioner Verathress yells: Slink back to your pathetic mist. Return and we will slaughter every last one of you.
"So, yes, we are killing him," Almeiria says.
The Executioner nods. “My scythe is sated. Thank you, my ladies.”
"Facing Azshara?" Florande murmurs. Then we come across an artifact. "Is this it?"
The crucible looks far too heavy to carry on our own, but more than enough naga forces remain to prepare it for transport.
Almeiria stares at the object. "This is…" If she could pale, she might.
"…the crucible?" Niksi asks.
Florande peers at it. "It must be something powerful. Something for summoning allies."
"Be careful with it," Almeiria says sharply. "It has the feel of the Void."
Florande looks at Almeiria in concern.
"The Void," Niksi says in astonishment. "And you can sense that, even in this memory? Sprockets, that's disturbing."
"If any magic could reach us like this, it would be Void magic. That is why we must use caution," Almeiria says.
"If only we could steal it, so the naga would not have it," Florande sighs. "But this is only a memory. Shall we go back and see if the Lady says anything else?"
The team swims back to Lady Naz'jar and Fathom-Stalker Azjentus.
“Not one slipped through to the bridge. Not one.” Azjentus scowls in disappointment. “It was very boring. I'd appreciate it if you shared a little next time.”
Lady Naz’jar steps over to speak with us. “Well done, my Battlemaidens. This crucible will serve as a font of power for our summoning ritual. With it, Sira'kess will beckon our allies from the depths to bolster our already swelling forces.”
Lady Naz’jar smiles. “With every day, more warriors arrive at Azshara's command. Soon, Neptulon the Tidehunter will hear of our preparations, but too late to stop what we have set in motion.”
“Our numbers will be too great and our allies too powerful. Victory is only a matter of time.” She places a hand across her heart. “In Azshara's name.”
The team loses their grip on the connection to the battlemaidens. As before, they return to their usual bodies in the same location they ended the vision.
Florande looks around. "We've moved again. We should get back to Valoren."
[Niksi]: "Expediently."
"!@#$," Estel mutters. "Yeah." Their seahorses seem to have followed them this time.
We quickly ride back to Wavespeaker Valoren, who is holding out against the naga with a small remaining force.
Wavespeaker Valoren brightens when we arrive. “You're finished! Just in time. I don't think we could have held them much longer. What did you learn?”
"The naga were after something called the Crucible of Nazsharin, to call in allies from the depths," Florande says. "They… they got it."
Valoren tilts her head in thought. “An artifact? Could this be something we can use against the naga? I suppose that would require finding it.”
"The naga are summoning reinforcements using a Void artifact," Almeiria says. "If I could study it, perhaps…"
Valoren shakes her head. “We may have to attend to more pressing matters first, until an opportunity to pursue this further presents itself. Right now, we need to get out of here before more naga push in. Make your way back to the forward post on the level below us. Take my sea horse as a guide. We will meet you back there shortly.”
Estel nods. "Okay. Buddy, follow that seahorse."
Once again, we travel in a seahorse chain, with Valoren’s guiding. When we get to the forward post, only a few lookouts remain.
Injured Lookout at the forward post says, "They attacked while you were gone… the Admiral didn't make it. The rest retreated to the cave, you should do the same."
Estel mutters, "Balls." She grits her teeth and her seahorse rides on.
Our seahorses hurry back to the Tranquil Wash cave.
Captain Taylor waves as we arrive. “You made it! After the attack at the forward post, I thought we might be the only ones left. I'm very glad to see you.”
“In case you didn’t hear… Admiral Dvorek didn’t make it. He’d taken injury in the first assault, and well…” Captain Taylor pauses a moment in silent respect. “Anyway, I think we’ve seen that our small force is no match for the naga here.
"So, he brings this war down on our heads and then has the nerve to die and leave us to deal with his mess?" Almeiria looks irritated.
“It’s time we refocused on regaining contact with the surface,” Captain Taylor says firmly. “And then, getting those of us left to safety.”
Niksi nods. "With these new parts Florande found for me, I think I can assemble something. If I'm honest, I've given up on the SHART. I think these parts will be better served in a Small Proximity Undersea Receiver/Transmitter."
Estel tosses her hands up. "I'm gonna go see to the injured," she says.
Florande nods to Estel.
"Oh a…" Florande looks at Niksi and thinks very long. "Spurt?"
Niksi shrugs at Florande. "If that's what you want to call it. In any case, I think I can get a short message through, to at least inform them to keep searching. But this goblin reconfigurable infusion tube you found should allow me to develop something more durable for a longer message…in time."
Florande beams. "I'm glad it helped!"
Niksi gives Florande a thumbs-up, then plops down by the fire and gets right to work assembling the SPURT.