(2024-08-30) Troll Problems, Cobalt Solutions

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	Annibeth, Ionala, Jonas, Maisha and Mayellen return to Stormfeather Outpost to find it under attack! The team has to deal with unexpected crises before they can do anything to address the disturbing completed troll ritual. ~3400 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Hinterlands

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discussion of ritual sacrifice, faction conflict, some innuendo

As Maisha’s gryphon flies above Stormfeather Outpost, it is clear that all is not well. Revantusk trolls assault the perimeter, and the Wildhammer dwarves are hard-pressed to hold them back. Maisha lands and dismounts next to Jonas.

[Jonas]: What's going on?

[Maisha]: Are we under attack?
[Maisha]: I thought they said the Horde trolls were alright.

Jonas shifts warily.

Kerr Ironsight, inside the outpost, brightens as she sees what looks like a fresh strike team come in.

Inside, Mayellen rises from her chair.

Kerr Ironsight says: Cobalt, aye? The Horde's made their move.
Kerr Ironsight says: The guards are holdin' 'em back fer now, but we can't afford to lose this outpost.

[Maisha]: We're meant ta get down ta Jintha'alor to report…

Kerr Ironsight says: Vilebranch trolls, pah. We've got to deal with the Revantusk. These Revantusk trolls think they're special for bein' in the Horde. Makes me laugh!

[Mayellen]: We're a surprisingly effective combat team - we work together well.
[Mayellen]: We may look like only four, but we hit harder than that.

[Annibeth]: Honestly, we kick some serious buttocks.

Jonas nods. He looks like he hits pretty hard. Plus claws.

Kerr Ironsight says: Aye, I've no doubt, given yer Cobalt. We know we can beat ‘em because we’ve got allies, right? You’ll stand by us in this fight, won’t you? Stormfeather Outpost is not goin’ ta fall.

Mayellen doesn't hit hard. But demons.
[Mayellen]: Not on our watch.

Annibeth pats her hammer with her (just to remind everyone) effing ripped arm.

Kerr Ironsight says: It doesn't matter if they're part of the Horde, or some kinda troll empire, or the bloody Burning Legion for that matter. Between yer folk and mine, we'll put a stop to 'em.

[Jonas]: Stormfeather Outpost won't fall.

Mayellen gently pats Jonas.
Mayellen also scritches a little.

[Maisha]: Aye, but if it could not fall quick-like, we've got a whole other troll problem goin' on. Mass sacrifices and spider idols.

[Annibeth]: How tough can a troll army be, anyway?

[Mayellen]: Uh… very.

Kerr Ironsight says: All right, all right, I can see ye've got places to be. Let's see if we can knock 'em out with a strategic strike.

Jonas leans absently into the scritching.

Kerr Ironsight says: Their commander, Gan'dranda, sits in the ruined walls to the southeast of the battlefield. Our boys have most of their forces locked up, so I want you to slip in there and take out Gan'dranda.

Kerr Ironsight says: When they see a team from Cobalt standin' over the corpse of their biggest hero it should take some of the fight out of 'em!

Mayellen grins wickedly.

[Maisha]: I think we can do that, aye team?

[Annibeth]: We got Bael and Splodey McSplodeface on our side. Gan'drabla don't stand a chance.

[Mayellen]: We've got this.

Jonas growls.

[Maisha]: I did not expect a Horde attack, but…
[Maisha]: I suppose if they start the fight we've got ta finish it.

We head out to fight the Revantusk trolls.

Annibeth eyes the demon. "Oh, I forget we also got Ugly McUggface.”

Jonas roars with bestial vigor at Revantusk Stalker. So fierce!

[Annibeth]: Dayum, Jonas. If i were on the other side, I'd be pissin' myself at that roar!

Mayellen laughs.

[Maisha]: They better be scared o' all of us. May an' her demons, you an' yer muscles, Anni. Me an' my bow, and Jonas an' his claws an' teeth.

Jonas shows his teeth. He might be smiling? He might just be showing his teeth.

[Mayellen]: I just realized, we are all rather terrifying.

[Maisha]: We are, aren't we?
[Maisha]: But I hope comfortin' to the right people.
[Maisha]: I think I see th' leader in there!

[Mayellen]: Is that the one?

[Annibeth]: Oooh, big'un. Think that's Gal'blanda?

Maisha nods. "He's got general markin's."

[Annibeth]: That what those are?

[Mayellen]: Gal'bladder.

Annibeth laughs at Mayellen.

[Maisha]: Aye, ye got to know those things, livin' in the Hinterlands.

[Mayellen]: He doesn't look so tough. I say we just rush in.
[Mayellen]: And you know I'm not generally impulsive.

We rush in. He does not stand a chance.

[Maisha]: Hah, he was not so tough. Good strategy.

Mayellen laughs.
[Mayellen]: I have to say I feel a little invincible when I summon a felguard.

Maisha grins at Mayellen. "That thing is right powerful."

Mayellen does dismiss it before returning to the outpost, though.

We head back to Stormfeather Outpost and in to report to Kerr.

Maisha waves a hand at Kerr. "One troll general down."

Kerr Ironsight says: Now that's what I like to hear! Good on ya.
Kerr Ironsight says: I think my men can handle fightin’ the rest of the Revantusk, but there’s somethin’ else you could help with in the meantime.

[Maisha]: Oh? If it's fast, maybe. Remember, troll sacrifice problem goin' on.

Kerr Ironsight says: It should be fast, and will help fortify our presence here. Years ago, there used to be a Horde base deep within Skulk Rock. They held that place till right up during the second war.
Kerr Ironsight says: I had a cousin in the second war - He used to tell me all about when they led a raid on Skulk Rock. Swept in there and drove the trolls out like rats from a nest. They chased right after 'em all the way to Alterac!

[Maisha]: That must've been a right heroic time.

[Mayellen]: Our job…?

Kerr Ironsight says: Oh, aye. I get carried away with history. It's been abandoned since then, but it's still prime territory, worth takin' for our allies!

Mayellen is not really in tune with dwarven social norms.

Kerr Ironsight says: Problem is, it's full of dwarf-eating slimes and oozes. Those things are slightly less disgustin' than trolls, but they'll still give us a hassle.

[Maisha]: Oh, we can handle slimes. This is like back in Wetlands, ye all remember?

Kerr Ironsight says: What's more, there might still be supplies in there as well, from the old Horde base. If there are, it’s better we get them than the trolls, aye?

Jonas growls again.

[Annibeth]: I'm used to gettin' govered in gunk. Just not too fond of the gunk that tries to eat me.

Kerr Ironsight says: You and me both, young lady. That's why we've got to clear them out before we can use it to fortify our position.

[Maisha]: Okay, clear out slimes an' get supplies, aye? We can do that.

Jonas eyes Annibeth. He might be wondering about getting covered in gunk.

Annibeth is frequently covered in oil, grease, dirt, and other gunk.

Maisha eyes Kerr, who is used to being covered in gunk, apparently?

[Annibeth]: Okay, let's get to de-gunkin'!

As we head out, Nala’s gryphon lands.

[Ionala]: I'm late!

[Maisha]: Nala! Ye made it! Gryphon went astray?

[Ionala]: I–
Ionala looks a little panicked, and her robes look like she just threw them on without checking to see if everything was properly tucked in.
[Ionala]: I'll just run upstairs…

Mayellen takes some time to straighten her own robes. Just in case.

Maisha calls after Nala, "The outpost's been attack by th' Horde. We're helpin' out before we get back to Fraggar about that completed troll rite."

Soon enough, we’re five strong and ready to head out.

[Maisha]: Okay, so I know where Skulk Rock is, so I'll guide ye there.

[Mayellen]: I've really been enjoying practicing my new spells. I think I'm starting to get… good at this?

[Annibeth]: Gooder, maybe. You was already good at it, May!

[Maisha]: Aye, I'd have said yer a good warlock whole time I've known ye.

[Mayellen]: I mean, compared to a non-warlock, I suppose I was.
[Mayellen]: Better at fel magic.
[Mayellen]: But compared to other warlocks? Not so much.
[Mayellen]: I'm starting to believe I could actually be powerful one day.

We arrive at Skulk Rock, beset by slimes.

[Maisha]: This place has been a menace long's I remember, Skulk Rock.

[Jonas]: It has a menacing name.

[Maisha]: Aye. An' like they said, it was a Horde place.
[Maisha]: They do not leave their places clean. I reckon tha's why the slimes move in.

Annibeth wipes a bit of ooze from her blade on her pants. "Huh…wonder if this stuff would make a good lubricant."

[Maisha]: I… cannae say I've tried tha' before, Anni.

Jonas does not ask what kind of lubricant.

Mayellen is looking really hard at the sky.

Annibeth digs around in Splodey and takes out a flask. She starts collecting remains from defeated oozes.

Maisha peers at Mayellen. "Ye spot somethin'?"

[Mayellen]: Oh um… just… looking at… clouds and stuff.

[Maisha]: Ah, to avoid th' slime-covered camp?

[Mayellen]: Sure.

[Annibeth]: Y'know, I think it's too acidic for lubricant. But it might be a really good degreaser!

[Maisha]: Aye, ye don't want lubricant ta be acidic, fer sure.

[Mayellen]: If we could stop talking about green slime lubricant that would be excellent.

[Annibeth]: I did stop. Now I'm talkin' about green slime degreaser.

[Mayellen]: The trees here really are pretty. And they smell nice

[Maisha]: Aye, one o' the things I miss when I'm away.

[Mayellen]: Is it nice to be back, even despite, well… everything? *She gestures around*

Maisha nods. "It is. An' this'd all be happening without us, elsewise, so I'm glad we're here ta help."

[Mayellen]: That's a nice way of looking at it.

We head down into a cave, and encounter a truly massive slime.

[Annibeth]: Holy ^&*!!
[Annibeth]: That thing was feckin' massive!

Jonas snarls and jumps back as he is splattered with goo.

[Maisha]: Aye. Glad we knocked that out. Wonder if all the little ones like, bud off it.
[Maisha]: If so, mayhap we've stopped th' source.

[Mayellen]: Very little is known about oozes, or at least, I've not found it in books.

[Maisha]: Most o' what I know is practical experience. Th' sorts o' things ye find in their innards.
[Maisha]: I think the weirdest thing I ever found inside one is a shark tooth.

[Mayellen]: That is weird.
[Mayellen]: Did it… go into the ocean?

[Maisha]: I've no idea how it got at a shark from Skulk Rock roundabouts. Or maybe it just got th' belongings o' someone who had one?

[Mayellen]: Oh that's probably what happened.
[Mayellen]: Someone took a shark tooth as a trophy.

[Annibeth]: Wonder how they make baby slimes. Like…they get too big then just barf out a little one? Course…that one earlier was huuuge.

Maisha nods at Mayellen.

[Mayellen]: Yes, I think they sort of… divide if they get too big. But no one has posited how they originated in the very first place. No god created that mess, that's for sure.

[Maisha]: But I also imagine, like the fight between a shark an' an ooze.

[Mayellen]: Can oozes even go in water?

[Annibeth]: I'd pay money to see a shark-ooze fight.

[Mayellen]: And this is why we get things like shark-ooze fights.

[Jonas]: How would the shark even fight back?
[Jonas]: The ooze would just envelop it.

[Mayellen]: Is this on land or in the water?
[Mayellen]: Either way there is an obvious winner.
[Mayellen]: If it's on land the shark will die regardless. If it's in the water the ooze would just… dissolve, right?

[Maisha]: See, that'd be the question. If the ooze is in th' water, will it just… dissolve? Then the shark would eat it.

[Ionala]: This is really giving me a bad feeling.

Maisha nods at May, her thoughts exactly.

[Mayellen]: What's giving you a bad feeling, Nala? *May looks concerned.*

[Maisha]: Maybe like… a fountain, deep enough fer the shark to swim but shallow enough for the ooze to keep together.

[Annibeth]: Maybe it becomes the water. Maybe that's how that one got so big.

[Mayellen]: Is our shark/ooze talk upsetting you?

Mayellen peers at Ionala searchingly.

[Ionala]: It's a little…vivid to envision.

[Annibeth]: Hey, that one had a coin purse in it! Woo, six whole silver!

[Maisha]: Rich fer a slime.
[Maisha]: We'll not set up the fight, Nala, don't worry. Probably.

We go through a few more bends in the cave.

[Mayellen]: I hope someone was paying attention to how we came in…

[Jonas]: I was.

Mayellen smiles. "Of course. I should have known."

[Maisha]: Can ye smell the fresh air, anyway? Find th' path that way?

[Jonas]: I could, aye.

Mayellen sniffs experimentally.
[Mayellen]: I think I can sort of tell when the air is a little fresher, but I can't tell which direction it's coming from.

Maisha nods.
[Maisha]: That's right useful though, those worgen skills.

[Annibeth]: I can't tell nothin'. But…I also need a bath. So….

[Mayellen]: Jonas was really good at outdoorsy kind of stuff even before he— before the um.

Jonas leads us safely out of the slime cave.

[Annibeth]: Before he got super wolfy powers!

Mayellen giggles.

Maisha takes a deep breath. "Good ta be outta the slime cave. Back to Kerr?"

[Mayellen]: Yes, I'm ready to go back.

[Jonas]: … something like that. And aye, Maisha.

Maisha grins at Annibeth.

Annibeth seems to think super wolfy powers are the coolest thing ever.

[Mayellen]: I feel like I'm a little steadier on my feet these days. Don't you think so? Barely using my cane today.
Mayellen beams.

[Annibeth]: Yeah, you're doin' real good, May!

[Maisha]: Yeah! *Maisha smiles*
[Maisha]: Do ye think havin' a strong demon out helps?

[Mayellen]: It's more… a mental adjustment I think. Instead of expecting my legs to work the way they used to work, I use them the way they do work. If that makes sense.

[Maisha]: So ye appreciate what ye've got rather than missin' what ye've not?

[Mayellen]: Yeah, sort of. Or… I've stopped reaching for something that isn't there and am using something else instead?

Jonas nods at Mayellen. He understands making mental adjustments.

[Mayellen]: Different muscles maybe?

Maisha nods, trying to understand. "I think I get that."

We make it back to Stormfeather Outpost.

Kerr Ironsight says: What's the news on the base?

[Maisha]: We cleared out the oozes an' brought back some supplies. No idea if they're any good still.
[Maisha]: Also killed a big one what might've been budding the little ones.

[Mayellen]: The crates are pretty… oozy.
[Mayellen]: We didn't try opening them though.
[Mayellen]: Might have been sealed up well enough.

Kerr Ironsight says: I'll be cautious on checking. If they're no good, then well, still no harm done.
Kerr Ironsight says: And thanks. Once we finish beating back this troll attack, we'll secure the base. The Revantusk won't get any further west than they have already.
Kerr Ironsight says: Alright, ye’ve helped us plenty, we’ll let ye get back to yer work at Jintha'alor.

[Maisha]: Ye all still have those spider idols we found on the bodies, right?

[Mayellen]: Spidols.

[Maisha]: This has got to be some kinda spider loa thing.

We head back to the base of Jintha’alor and gather around Fraggar.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Cobalt Eye! What did ye spy up there?

[Jonas]: Dead trolls.

[Maisha]: It was a scene out of a horror, Fraggar.

Maisha nods at Jonas. "All scattered round the altar. And they had these on 'em." She hands over a spider idol.

[Mayellen]: Honestly, I've seen a lot of things, and that was among the most disturbing.
[Mayellen]: And I'm a warlock.

[Annibeth]: It was pretty bad.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: That is sayin' something. *Fraggar looks disturbed himself at the news* It must be Shadra. The Spider Loa! They're trying to tap her power!

[Maisha]: What'll that mean fer us? I mean, they did the rite. What will this Shadra do?

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Shadra the spider loa… the venom queen, a spirit of darkness and death! If there's been a sacrifice, it means they're trying to bring her forth as a last-ditch effort.

Mayellen lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

[Ionala]: That can't be good.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: If the Vilebranch are performing rituals, we’re not going to let them finish.
Fraggar Thundermantle says: The good news is, this was probably the first step, not the last.

[Mayellen]: I hope we can get there in time.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Check the cave behind the altar at the top of Jintha'Alor. Deep within it, one of Shadra's keepers might still be lurking. Kill her and take whatever she carries back here so we can know what's going on.
Fraggar Thundermantle says: One more thing, since the sacrifice has already been made, Shadra's presence is going to start creepin' into this realm. That cave's probably full of her spawn by now.

[Annibeth]: 'Nother cave. Hopefully less slimy.

[Mayellen]: Fantastic.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Don't let them escape. Slay any of those vile spiders you find!

[Mayellen]: We'll take care of it.

[Annibeth]: So…skittery, 'stead of slimy.

[Mayellen]: Luckily I'm not arachnophobic.
[Mayellen]: Or claustrophobic.

[Ionala]: Luckily!

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Sharpbeak an' his friends'll take ye up, as before.

[Maisha]: Ye all ready to head to the top?

[Jonas]: Aye.

[Annibeth]: Yup!

The gryphons fly us to the top of Jintha’alor, and we retrace our footsteps to the eerie post-ritual scene.

[Maisha]: Okay, we'll see what we can find…

[Mayellen]: Kill any spider you see.
[Mayellen]: No spider survivors, remember.

Maisha nods seriously.

[Maisha]: Here we are, just like we left it. *Maisha shivers*

Jonas looks the grim scene over again in silence, his ears pinned back.

[Maisha]: Th' cave, he said.
[Maisha]: Let's all stick t'gether?

[Annibeth]: I see spiders….

Jonas growls at the cave entrance ahead. "Aye."

Maisha is not scared of the dark. Probably.

Mayellen isn't scared of anything, much. :)

The cave is, indeed, filled with massive spiders.

[Maisha]: These are not little hand-sized spiders, neither.

[Annibeth]: Yeah, big suckers.

[Mayellen]: Honestly I prefer the larger ones.

[Mayellen]: Much less likely to surprise you by suddenly appearing in your hair.

[Jonas]: Aye, I prefer the larger. Less… scuttley.

[Maisha]: Aye, that's the silver linin'.

[Mayellen]: If one of these gets in your hair you know it.

[Maisha]: Oi, troll back here.

[Mayellen]: New troll here.

Jonas eyes Morta'gya the Keeper up and down.

[Maisha]: Think it's the Shadra priestess? Keepr? Whatever he said?

[Jonas]: She smells… wrong.
[Jonas]: So I would guess yes.

[Maisha]: Let's take her out.

[Mayellen]: Agreed.

We take her out.

[Mayellen]: Seven on one… hardly fair.

[Maisha]: I don't mind unfair, when it comes ta stuff like this.
[Maisha]: Anything on her?
[Maisha]: Hints for what they're up to?

[Mayellen]: Someone else look…
[Mayellen]: I feel weird looting someone in a dress.
Unclear if Mayellen means because the troll is wearing a dress or because Mayellen is.

Jonas stoops to examine the corpse distastefully.
[Jonas]: Here. She's got… some kind of dried… food I don't want to think about. And some… pocket change? And this.
Jonas straightens and holds up a stone tablet.

[Maisha]: Ah. Now that looks serious.
[Maisha]: We ought ta take it back ta Fraggar?

Jonas peers at it. "I'm assuming it's in trollish. It's certainly not in Common."

[Maisha]: Much's I know about trolls, I can't read their language neither.
[Maisha]: Reckon this is urgent enough to fight our way down, aye? So we don't get waylaid by Revantusk again.

[Ionala]: same

We make our way down Jintha’alor, killing trolls along the way.

[Maisha]: Fraggar! We killed th' Keeper!

[Jonas]: And found this.
Jonas holds out the stone tablet.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: A tablet! If I can read this…
Fraggar takes the tablet from Jonas and reads over it.

[Annibeth]: What's it say?

[Mayellen]: You can read troll script? I suppose that's useful around here.

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Aye, it's all in Trollish, but I read Trollish. This is a ritual to summon Shadra herself into this world, and a list of the idols needed.
Fraggar Thundermantle says: You've done a good job slaying the keeper and getting ahold of this, Cobalt Eye. Let me consult with the other shaman on what to do about this.
Fraggar Thundermantle says: With the Keeper dead an' the instructions stolen, it'll at least slow 'em down.

Jonas nods.

[Annibeth]: Great! So we stopped a nasty spider goddess from comin' here?

Fraggar Thundermantle says: Fer now, aye. But it may not be a permanent fix. I'll be in touch.
Fraggar Thundermantle says: I'll send word when I've figured somethin' out, don't you worry.

[Mayellen]: Okay. You know we'll help.

[Maisha]: Thanks, Fraggar. *She turns back to the others.* Back to Stormfeather?

[Mayellen]: Sure.

[Maisha]: They could use the support, in the meantime.

The team heads back to Stormfeather Outpost.