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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Dara, Shine and Sophiette continue their work in the Burning Steppes, collecting more mysterious supplies, softening up the enemy lines and contacting unusual allies. Then the long-awaited plan starts to be put into action, building on all the things they have prepared so far. ~4500 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Burning Steppes
Dara and Sophiette approach Morgan’s Vigil on horseback.
Sophiette trots up on Charity alongside Dara.
Dara smiles at Sophiette. "Ready for the next phase of the plan? The phase where we don't pretend we're orcs?"
[Sophiette]: Thank the Light that's over with.
Dara glances at the cage of whelps with a slight frown, but Troteman is waving them over.
Sophiette strides up to Colonel Troteman and salutes. "Sir."
Dara gives a salute, a relatively decent copy of Sophiette's.
Colonel Troteman says: Welcome back, ladies. Ready to continue the plan?
[Sophiette]: We're at your service, sir.
Colonel Troteman says: Happy to hear it. I need you to do some more gathering before we can go take out the remainder of the Blackrock army. If we're going to do this, we're going to do it right, and that means being prepared.
[Dara]: Of course, we must be prepared.
[Sophiette]: Ideally, yes.
Colonel Troteman says: First off, I need ash, ladies. Not just any ash… ash from the greater obsidian elementals that roam the plains to the northwest. The stuff is deep, deep black, which is what we need for our next disguise.
[Sophiette]: Disguise…?
Sophiette withers a little.
Dara blinks. "What are we doing next?"
Colonel Troteman says: Oh, don't worry, that was something of a royal 'our'. I've got somebody else lined up for the ash disguise. You'll love it.
[Dara]: If you say so, but I really don't see the need for all this secrecy.
Colonel Troteman says: Don't worry, I'll brief you when the time comes. It's just… a habit, maybe, of being in intelligence.
Colonel Troteman says: Besides, you've already got a top notch disguise.
[Sophiette]: Right….
[Dara]: Which I hope we won't need to use again, but…. Yes.
Colonel Troteman says: Next, we're also going to need fresh meat, which means you're going to be hunting worg. The worg on this side of the steppes should be your target.
Troteman produces a large blade, which he hands to Sophiette.
Sophiette takes the blade, blinking in confusion.
Colonel Troteman says: Hunt the giant ember worgs. Once you've killed them, use this saw to remove the choicest bits of meat from their bodies. You will find these worgs all over the steppes, but the closest pack rules the land just to our northwest.
[Dara]: Ember worgs, okay.
[Dara]: Is that all?
Colonel Troteman says: Not quite. Gathering is not the only aspect of this phase. We want to start to cause the orcs some serious damage.
Colonel Troteman says: The lava beds nearby - to the west - play host to flamekin, a brand of fire demon that has long roamed the steppes.
Sophiette nods. "I've seen them."
Colonel Troteman says: Good. *Troteman nods at Sophiette* Situations are such in the Blackrock army that, if we are careful, we may be able to sneak some of these flamekin behind enemy lines to cause some havoc.
Colonel Troteman says: I'm not asking you to transport them alive - just bring me the bodies of several flamekin. As demons, they are easily resurrected, and then we can use them for our own purposes.
[Sophiette]: I see. Understood, sir.
Colonel Troteman says: Once we have the ash, the meat, and the flamekin, we can really get things moving. Good hunting, Cobalt.
Dara and Sophiette head out into the Steppes.
[Dara]: Back to mysterious errands.
[Sophiette]: So it seems…and more disguises.
Sophiette sighs.
[Dara]: But not for us. Unless they want us to be orcs again. *Dara sighs* Well, they didn't ask us to yet.
[Dara]: What do you think first? Meat, ash, or demons?
A worg attacks them. They fight it off, and consider the body.
[Sophiette]: The meat volunteers.
[Dara]: Meat it is.
Sophiette uses the saw on the worg's body…as if she has any idea what the choicest parts are.
The two of them continue fighting worgs and cutting out the choicest parts. Or at least, some parts.
[Dara]: How's Hugo doing, by the way?
[Sophiette]: He's recovering quickly! I think your healing really helped him along.
Dara beams. "I'm so glad it helped."
[Sophiette]: Maybe once we're out of the Burning Steppes, I'll let him join us again.
[Dara]: Yes, here would be dreadful for his lungs, with all the soot in the air.
Sophiette nods grimly.
[Sophiette]: Exactly my thinking.
[Dara]: Maybe we'll go somewhere more healthy and sunny next.
Sophiette chuckles. "That would be nice."
[Dara]: I expect the call for Stratholme will come any day now, but that will hardly be an improvement in air quality. Not till they've repaired the city somewhat.
[Sophiette]: Hmm…true.
[Sophiette]: I'd considered bringing him there, now that we've put down the dreadlord. He should know his home. But you're right. All the smoke in the air….
[Dara]: Maybe once it's a little more settled?
[Sophiette]: I confess I am frightened for him. But he's a Valonforth, and he must learn to squire. I cannot shield him forever.
Dara nods. "That's what I hope Devon is realizing about me as well."
[Sophiette]: He must. You've done so much good since donning the cloth.
Dara smiles brightly at Sophiette. "I feel as though we have! I still want us to get to Northrend one day, though. It should be a little less dangerous now."
Dara glances down at the latest worg corpse. "That should be enough meat. If not, I'm sure he'll tell us."
They head over to fight obsidian elementals and retrieve nice dark ash.
[Sophiette]: Some part of me wishes I could have taken up arms against the Lich King. But…perhaps that wasn't my fight.
Dara nods. "The important thing is that he was defeated, I think."
[Dara]: And that means Northrend is being returned to the living. The Argent Crusade camps up there, and the walrus people… it will be easier to look for clues.
Sophiette nods solemnly. "Yes…I suppose so. It just felt like…I don't know…like it was my destiny to face him. With no Lich King, my future seems less clear."
Dara looks seriously at Sophiette. "He wronged a great many people."
[Sophiette]: He did, and it's selfish of me to assume the pain he caused me made his defeat my destiny.
[Dara]: Maybe… maybe a part of your future lies in healing. Our work in Stratholme, for instance, retaking that from the dead. Building a future.
Sophiette smiles at that.
[Sophiette]: You're right, of course.
[Dara]: It would be… satisfying to be the one to mete out justice. But I think it can be the more challenging path to find a way to put the pieces of the world back together.
[Dara]: I suppose that's it for the ash?
[Sophiette]: Now for the…what did he call them? Firekin?
[Dara]: Something like that, yes. The demons.
They come across some clusters of imp-like demonic creatures.
[Dara]: These must be the creatures.
[Dara]: I do hope this is a good plan. This is to save Redridge, after all.
[Sophiette]: I confess to wondering whether Troteman is focused on Redridge…or on testing his very creative plans.
[Dara]: If they work, I'll forgive him.
[Dara]: I do wonder what disguise the ash is for.
[Sophiette]: I have a sneaking suspicion I know…and I don't like it.
[Dara]: Oh? What do you suspect?
[Sophiette]: You saw they still have the dragon whelplings with them?
[Dara]: Yes, I suppose it is difficult to transport them to… wherever dragons are.
[Sophiette]: I think they kept them on purpose, and intend to disguise them as black dragons.
[Dara]: The babies! Oh, they mustn't.
[Sophiette]: As I said, I don't like it.
[Sophiette]: I hope I'm wrong.
[Dara]: I hope they've something else in mind.
Sophiette nods.
[Dara]: Maybe disguising a dwarf for a Dark Iron. Though… that would not help. As we have Dark Irons on our side and the Dark Horde does not.
[Dara]: Or perhaps simply stealth. Like… helping Shine to creep up on someone.
[Sophiette]: I wonder if they have him up to some reconnaissance mission right now.
[Dara]: Hm, I suppose he would be a good choice for that.
[Dara]: Let's get all these little demons back.
Dara and Sophiette walk in from out in the steppes. They're carrying a lot of new things… a crate of dead flamekin, bags of ash, and worg meat. Lots of worg meat.
Shine rises from his seat on the wall, a little ways distant from the Colonel. Shine steps down from the wall and approaches the two women.
[Shine]: Lady Dara. Lady Sophiette.
[Dara]: Mr. Shine!
Sophiette smiles and nods in welcome. "Hello again, Mr. Shine."
Colonel Troteman looks up as the three approach. "Ladies, you've brought the things I asked you for? And Shine, how did the scouting go?"
Shine moves toward the Colonel, drawing a folded document from within his tabard. "All three."
[Sophiette]: We have the item, sir. Hopefully more than enough.
Colonel Troteman says: This should be the locations of the general, the dragon-lord and the high warlock? *Troteman takes the report in hand, and then scans over Dara and Sophiette's items* Excellent. The plan is finally coming together.
Shine nods to the Colonel and steps back. He glances sidelong at the assortment of things the two women have hauled in.
Troteman indicates the dead demons. "To the untrained eye, these will look exactly like imps. We'll just need to get them to that untrained eye. I'll work on preparing them for delivery."
Troteman picks up one of the slabs of worg meat and smiles. "This meat looks good… but I think it needs a little "seasoning". I'll make sure that gets taken care of." Then he nods at the bags of ash. "The ash is perfect. Thank you."
Dara drops her supplies next to Troteman as well.
Colonel Troteman says: I'll just need a few minutes to get everything together. I think Keeshan here had a plan for the meantime, to soften them up.
Shine looks mildly at Keeshan.
Keeshan waves cheerily. He is still topless.
Sophiette suppresses a sigh.
[Dara]: Of course, sir, if you think that's wise.
John K. Keeshan says: Right, so my plan. The Blackrock orcs don't come alone. You've already seen that they've got the Firegut ogres and Smolderthorn trolls on their side. Unfortunately for us, they're also teamed up with the black dragonflight.
Sophiette grimaces and nods.
Dara nods. "That Darkblaze dragon, in Redridge. He's dead now, but I imagine there's more where he came from."
John J. Keeshan says: Exactly. So we know some of what we're up against, but I'd like to know more. My legs are getting a little restless again. You interested in taking a little tour?
[Dara]: That… depends. Where to?
Shine casts an amused look at Dara.
John J. Keeshan says: We're going to take a trip around Dreadmaul Rock. I'd like to investigate some of the Blackrock army before we make our move, and I figure we might as well kill some of them while we're on the way.
Dara glances at Sophiette and Shine. "I suppose that sounds like a reasonable plan."
John J. Keeshan says: While we’re out there, the orcs and dragons have already sent some of their champions to stand guard at rally points, which are marked by a dragon skull on a pike.
[Sophiette]: And we have the fine scouting skills of Mr. Shine with us now.
Dara nods.
Shine smiles faintly, flicker-fast.
John J. Keeshan says: I hope he has fine combat skills, too. Because the four of us are going to find these rally points and take out this vanguard before the battle starts.
Shine casts a neutral look at Keeshan.
[Dara]: Oh, yes, I daresay he does. As do we. As you should know.
[Dara]: Is that all?
[Sophiette]: I wouldn't worry about Mr. Shine's combat skills. He was with us when we defeated a dreadlord in Stratholme. He is most capable.
Shine raises his eyebrows at Sophiette. He inclines his head. "Thank you, Lady Sophiette." To Keeshan, he says mildly, "I'm a Kul Tiran marine." And he wears shirts.
John J. Keeshan says: A Kul Tiran marine who killed a dreadlord, huh? If I had that under my belt, I'd probably lead every conversation with it.
John J. Keeshan says: I was instrumental in killing Darkblaze, but I wouldn't brag. It's really the least of my heroics.
[Shine]: Mm.
[Sophiette]: As you say.
John J. Keeshan says: Anyway, aside from the recon and the fighting, there's one more stop that we need to make. You remember the hatchlings that you freed from the Whelping Downs?
Dara stiffens nervously and glances at Sophiette. "Ye-es? Are you planning to do something with them?"
Shine looks wary.
Sophiette squints at Keeshan.
John J. Keeshan says: Do something? No, no, they're children. Troteman's been hanging onto them, and we're going to deliver them to someone who will take care of them better than we can.
John J. Keeshan says: That someone is staying in Slither Rock, to the northeast of Dreadmaul Rock. His name is Acride, and he might be the key to victory in the upcoming battle.
Sophiette lets out a sigh of relief.
Shine nods approvingly.
Dara looks relieved as well. "So it's a matter of figuring out where to send them. Yes, of course, we'll help those poor little dragonlings."
John J. Keeshan says: Alright, let's head out to Dreadmaul Rock! I want to be back by the time Troteman has the next step ready.
We head out to Dreadmaul rock, slaying black dragonkin along the way. Keeshan is… very vocal about it. The following vocalizations are just a sample of the endless screaming and bravado that is Keeshan.
John J. Keeshan says: AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
John J. Keeshan says: AAAAHHHHH!
John J. Keeshan says: Oh no… I'm not done with you.
[Dara]: I still wonder what he's going to do with that ash, but it sounds like the whelplings are not part of the plan, at least.
[Sophiette]: Mmhm…especially since he mentioned disguises again.
[Dara]: Yes, I suppose we'll be orcs yet again. *Dara grimaces*
[Sophiette]: Mercy, I hope not.
John J. Keeshan says: Why not? You three killed that last time.
We fight more dragonkin, to considerable noise from Keeshan.
John J. Keeshan says: Stay out of Redridge!
John J. Keeshan says: You want more? YOU WANT MORE?
John J. Keeshan says: There's nowhere for you to run. The disease is inside you.
[Dara]: Oh, that huge skull on the post!
[Dara]: Is that one of the rally points?
[Sophiette]: Skull on a post…seems so.
John J. Keeshan says: That black dragon there. That's their champion.
[Dara]: Let's take it down!
We do so. Keeshan shouts a lot.
Dara peers through the smoky gloom. "I think I see another one just to the north."
We fight our way north.
John J. Keeshan says: You maggots brought this on yourselves.
[Dara]: There certainly are a lot of black dragonkin.
Shine points at Tugnar Goremaw.
[Sophiette]: Mercy, that one is enormous.
John J. Keeshan says: Yes! That's one of their champions. Let's take him down.
[Sophiette]: Ready?
[Dara]: Ready!
[Shine]: Aye.
We fight our way to the next skull, and Keeshan does a lot of shouting about Redridge.
Dara murmurs to Sophiette and Shine, "At least he is truly passionate about my homeland."
Shine nods dubious agreement.
John J. Keeshan says: That orc! He's another champion. To the kill!
Keeshan is covered in blood and sweat.
John J. Keeshan says: That was exactly what I needed. You too, I’d guess - your kill count is adding up. We're chipping away at them.
John J. Keeshan says: And we are going to win. Redridge will NOT fall to these cowards.
[Dara]: Oh it absolutely will not, indeed.
Sophiette nods firmly.
John J. Keeshan says: That Acride fellow should be in this cave up ahead. Let's go say hello.
Sophiette peers warily into the cave.
Inside the cave is what looks like a red-haired human man, in unusually ornate red and golden robes. There is a tower in gold on his torso, and his cloak-clasps look almost like wings.
[Sophiette]: Are you Acride?
Acride says: I am. What can I do for you good folk?
Shine hangs back and surveys the figure warily.
Acride then seems to notice the tabards. He smiles.
Acride says: Cobalt Company, unless my eyes deceive me?
[Sophiette]: We need your help. Or rather…these whelplings we rescued need your help.
Acride says: Oh yes, I had heard. The ones you rescued from the black dragonflight.
Acride says: Have no fear. I will take care of them.
[Dara]: You're a… dragon care expert? *Dara looks at him warily.*
Acride says: One could say that. Please, tell Colonel Troteman that I will hold up my end of our bargain. You will have your dragon for the battle against the orcs.
Dara looks at Acride a touch more nervously. This guy can call down dragons?
Shine also looks uncharacteristically uneasy.
Acride says: I and my people hold no particular love for the Redridge Mountains, but we do share your grudge against the Blackrock clan.
Sophiette nods warily.
[Dara]: You recognized our company… have you worked with our people before?
Acride smiles. "Indeed, yes. I am currently working with one of your teams in Blackrock Mountain. It's yet another front in this tangle of a region, trying to determine what the dragons - and their leaders - are up to."
Dara nods at Acride, still a little uneasy.
They head out of the cave, and make their way back towards Morgan’s Vigil.
[Dara]: There's something odd about that man. I can't quite put my finger on it.
[Shine]: Aye.
[Sophiette]: No? I have a suspicion…
[Dara]: What do you think, Sophiette?
[Sophiette]: Well…you know how fixated Hugo is on dragons. He is constantly imagining that people he meets are shapeshifted dragons.
Dara giggles. "Yes, it is rather cute."
[Dara]: And I don't even blame him, not after that whole Lady Prestor debacle.
Shine mutters something under his breath. It doesn't sound polite.
Sophiette nods. "Were he here, I've little down he'd be suggesting this Acride is one of them…and I'm not sure I would think it so preposterous."
[Dara]: Hm. It is odd to find such a fashionable young man in a cave in the Steppes.
Sophiette nods. "My thoughts exactly."
[Shine]: I confess I mislike dealing with dragons, if it's true.
[Sophiette]: You've a history with them, Mr. Shine?
[Shine]: Not personally. But Fallon does. And I'm Kul Tiran. The nation does.
[Sophiette]: Ahh, of course.
[Dara]: Well… he is already working with Cobalt, so maybe he's to be trusted? Even if he is a dragon?
[Sophiette]: Colonel Troteman seems to trust him.
[Dara]: I know the company has had dealings with dragons in the past.
Shine shrugs. "I'm willing to go along. But I'm not easy about it."
As if summoned by the mention, the gnomecorder gives a burst of static.
Colonel Troteman says: It sounds like you and Keeshan have finished with your tasks. I've also finished mine.
[Dara]: Oh?
Colonel Troteman says: Return to Morgan's Vigil. I've prepared a few packages to deliver to the Big Three: Thorg'izog, Neeralak, and Xi'lun. You've already met General Thorg'izog. This will be your chance to meet the other two.
[Dara]: To… meet them?
Colonel Troteman says: Yep. That is, before we kill them.
[Dara]: Oh. Oh, I see.,
We arrive at Morgan’s Vigil and head straight for Colonel Troteman.
Sophiette salutes Colonel Troteman with respect.
Colonel Troteman returns the salute.
Colonel Troteman says: Good, you're back!
Colonel Troteman says: I hope you've still got those disguises. You're going back undercover.
Dara groans quietly.
[Sophiette]: Orcs again, sir?
Colonel Troteman says: Yes, orcs again. But now you'll finally get to see what all these things you've been gathering all along are for!
Colonel Troteman says: It has surely not escaped your notice that we've asked you for many things that have not featured in our schemes so far.
Colonel Troteman says: For instance, you might be wondering about those items you retrieved from Gorzeeki Wildeyes, and the ash, worg meat and flamekin corpses.
[Sophiette]: Yes…very much so, sir.
Colonel Troteman says: Well, here we go. I have three deliveries prepared, which will be to our benefit and the Blackrock army’s detriment.
Colonel Troteman says: First is General Thorg'izog. He is staying among the ogres in the Firegut Furnace, a cave on the western edge of Dreadmaul Rock. .
Troteman adds as an aside, "Thanks for locating him, Mr. Shine."
Shine nods once, curtly.
Colonel Troteman says: I'd like you to deliver this to him and the ogres. *He holds out a large package* Inside this package, you will find the worg cutlets that you obtained, marinated in the fel slider cider that we took from the Altar of Storms.
[Dara]: Ooh, so it's a poison of some sort?
Colonel Troteman grins. "Fel slider cider doesn't sound particularly healthy, does it?"
Colonel Troteman says: At any rate, I would avoid eating it if I were you. Just bring it to General Thorg'izog. He will make sure that his troops are fed and, with any luck, he will eat some himself.
Dara nods firmly.
They ride out of Morgan’s Vigil in the direction of Dreadmaul Rock.
[Dara]: Well, I'm glad some of our questions are starting to be answered.
[Dara]: Ready to don our costumes again?
[Dara]: And Shine, you'll be nearby?
Sophiette sighs. "Very well."
Shine nods.
Sophiette puts on the impenetrable disguise.
Dara dons her costume as well.
Dara walks nervously by an ogre, but the huge creature doesn't seem to notice anything amiss.
[Sophiette]: Mercy, these creatures are dim.
Dara tries to stifle a cough as they go into the smoky cave.
Shine is invisible in the shadows.
Sophiette grunts at General Thorg'izog.
General Thorg'izog grunts back.
[Dara]: We've brought some excellent worg steaks, sir! So juicy. *Dara grunts*
General Thorg'izog says: Well would you look at that! My favorite soldiers come through in the clutch! I'll make sure to get this distributed among the ogres. I'll see you in Redridge, soldiers. For the glory of the Blackrock!
[Sophiette]: Uh…for glory of Blackrock!
[Dara]: Yes, glory.
General Thorg'izog yells: Come on boys, let's eat! My favorite soldier brought enough worg for everyone!
Dara and Sophiette back away.
They get back to the entrance of the cave before they speak.
[Dara]: He didn't suspect a thing.
[Shine]: Well done, *Shine says quietly, emerging from the shadows at the cave mouth.*
Dara grins at Shine. "I think we're getting the hang of the acting."
Shine smiles back at her.
They ride back to Morgan’s Vigil.
Dara salutes Colonel Troteman with respect.
Colonel Troteman says: How did it go?
[Sophiette]: He accepted the food without question.
Colonel Troteman says: Haha! Perfect. Those ogres have no idea what they're in for.
Colonel Troteman says: Now for the second delivery! The warlocks of the Blackrock Clan often practice their magic in the Skull Warren, a cave on the eastern side of Dreadmaul Rock.
Colonel Troteman says: Their leader, Xi'lun, is busy elsewhere, so the cave is currently being held by another of the big three: Dragon-Lord Neeralak. And Neeralak's expertise is in dragons, not warlocks.
[Dara]: Hence the name. *Dara nods*
Colonel Troteman says: We've resurrected those flamekin you brought us, and subdued them with the slumber sand you retrieved for us from Gorzeeki Wildeyes.
Colonel Troteman says: Try to convince Neeralak that they're warlock imps, and not flamekin. When they wake up, they won't be happy.
[Sophiette]: Aye, sir.
[Dara]: Let's hurry. I don't want to be holding the bag, so to speak, when this sand wears off.
Dara walks nervously amongst the orc necromancers.
Shine moves silently, watching each orc they pass with a cold intensity.
Dara murmurs, "This place is a maze."
[Shine]: "Below," Shine murmurs back from the shadows. "To your right."
Dara follows these instructions, and then spots an orc in red armor, rather than the usual purple necromancer robes. "That must be our guy."
Dara walks up to Dragon-Lord Neeralak. "I have a delivery for the warlocks." She grunts, for good measure.
Dragon-Lord Neeralak says: More warlock nonsense? Ugh. What is it?
Dara hands over a box of sleeping flamekin. "Delivery of imps."
Dragon-Lord Neeralak says: What are these? Oh, are these imps? I'm pretty sure that imps don't just fall asleep in boxes!
Dara shrugs. "Warlock said to deliver imps."
Dragon-Lord Neeralak says: Fine, I'll take your word for it. I don't understand any of this warlock crap. Leave them in the corner.
Dragon-Lord Neeralak says: I guess I'll just… leave the sleeping imps right over here? Are these even… imps? Gah!
Dara smiles and grunts and backs away. On the way out she mutters, "He did suspect a thing, but not enough to turn it away."
We ride back to Morgan’s Vigil.
[Dara]: Colonel Troteman, sir! He was suspicious, but he accepted the delivery.
Colonel Troteman says: Good, good. The last is for High Warlock Xi'lun. He's the most clever.
Colonel Troteman says: I want to time it right before they move into action, so that he's in too much of a rush to question things too much.
Colonel Troteman says: Stick around here, and Shine, I'll ask you to do a little more scouting. We'll time this perfectly.
[Sophiette]: Very clever, sir.
Shine nods. "Sir."
Dara nods. "Yes, sir."
Sophiette salutes Colonel Troteman with respect.
Dara salutes Colonel Troteman with respect.
Dara backs away and says to the others. "This is actually starting to come together. Now I feel silly for doubting."
[Shine]: As much your fine work as their mad plans.
Dara giggles. "Your fine work as well."
Sophiette smiles. "And yours, Mr. Shine. You've been invaluable here."
Shine smiles faintly and bows his head to them.
[Dara]: Well, we shall see you again soon. When the time is right.
[Shine]: Aye. Be well.
[Sophiette]: Light be with you.
Dara reaches for Sohpiette's hand. "Perhaps we can find someone comfortable in this ruin to wait."
Sophiette smirks. "And to get that disguise off of you. Though…I don't know, something about it is quite attractive."
Dara giggles again. "In that case, perhaps I shall leave it on. For a little while."
Sophiette bursts into laughter! "No no, please don't…."
Dara laughs, and starts stripping off the worg hide and rubbing away the mud. "Anything for you, love. Look, your Dara emerges."
Sophiette grins. "There she is. Come, let's get cleaned up. I'm getting mud in places I'd rather not."
[Dara]: Yes, let's. Lead the way, Sophie.