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| Details |
| Author: | Luridel |
| Summary: | Cobalt Company sends a squad to travel through the Maelstrom into Deepholm to assist the Earthen Ring. Dane does not insult Thrall. Auralind keeps an eye out. First Mate Moody has a very bad day. Bran and Colson do what they can to make his day less worse. Cressidha keeps her priorities straight. ~6.8k words. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
Arc: Deepholm
"Cmon, Auralind, let's head ta the meetin' spot," Bran says, giving her a gentle arm-tug.
Atley arrives with a stern glare, straightening out his tabard with a small sweep of his hand. He waits in the center of the Earthshrine.
Cressidha nods to the others. "Good afternoon, everyone."
Colson arrives with both Cressidha and Mordecai, exactly on time. "Good afternoon, everyone."
Atley glances around as the others arrive, performing a head count. "Right then, you lot. You got the same summons I did. Have you lot got with you all you'll need, in terms of people and supplies?"
[Brannagen]: "Lo there everyone! Great ta see ye all again!"
Colson has all he needs in terms of people and supplies. He nods. "Yes."
Auralind nods firmly to Atley. "I am prepared."
[Brannagen]: "Sure glad not ta be under the sea. Dinna tell Niksi I said tha'."
Atley grunts. "Very well, then. Let's get to it."
Atley marches up to Naraat the Earthspeaker, an ancient looking draenei.
Naraat nods slowly and takes them in. "I've heard much about you. The world needs people like you now more than ever."
Bran's staff is… wiggling a bit in a slightly unnerving manner, but he seems aware and unalarmed, so it's… probably fine?
Every so often Bran reaches up to hold one of its tentacles still. They look like squid tentacles, not old god tentacles, at least.
Mordecai looks a little anxious, but when doesn't he?
Atley briefly and discreetly doubletakes Bran's staff before he grunts at Naraat. "We've come to serve the Earthen Ring."
Naraat bows lowly to all of them. "Thank the spirits you're here. We're not sure how much longer we can maintain the rift in the Maelstrom. Our most powerful members, led by Thrall, are barely preventing the tear."
Thaeru'kal eyes the wiggly staff with a lick of her chops like it might be lunch.
The staff eyes Thaeru'kal back. Or… maybe that's just the way it's pointing. Let's hope.
"Ah." Colson's full attention is on Naraat. If he notices the tentacle staff, it's discreetly.
Atley knits his brow. Naraat continues. "Last I heard, our only hope was to go through the breach and attempt to stabilize it from the other side. I will conjure a portal. Take it and report to Thrall as soon as you can."
Atley takes one last look at all those assembled and grunts.
"So,if I understand correctly," Auralind asks, "If we cannot stabilize this rift, it will tear open further?"
Naraat shines a deep frown upon Auralind. "Yes. The results would be disastrous."
Bran nods. Just another doomsday to avert, yep yep.
Colson inclines his head. Disaster Sunday, that's his regular life.
"Have we got any other questions 'fore we transport?" Atley growls, opening up the floor as he looks between them.
Auralind shakes her head.
Colson shakes his head. "No."
"Does that portal take us underwater?" Mordecai asks.
Naraat shakes his head. "No, merely to the Maelstrom," he replies amicably.
"Whew!" Bran exhales in relief.
Mordecai relaxes such a small fraction that it's very difficult to tell. "Thank you."
[Brannagen]: "I've only just got the mildewy smell out o' me beard from it not dryin' off fer weeks."
Naraat nods slowly. "I will conjure the portal."
Atley scoffs faintly with amusement at Brannagen.
Naraat produces the portal in the center of the Earthshrine.
Atley squints at it, looks to his comrades, nods and grunts, and steps through, adjusting his heavy rucksack.
Colson closes his eyes before he steps through.
Auralind follows the others through the portal.
Colson takes a step forward, his eyes still closed, before he opens them slowly and re-orients himself.
The water rips and curls around them, filling the air with a fresh mist amidst what's already a heavy downpour of rain.
Bran blinks as they arrive, being pelted with rain and sea spray. "Well this is slightly wetter than I'd hoped."
Atley squints faintly at the noise of the place, and spots Thrall through the rain.
Colson's lips twitch. "Ah. At least we are over water, rather than under water."
They are on a rock in the middle of the sea. If they wanted to be underwater, that could very easily be arranged.
"There he is!" Atley calls through the storm, marching up the slippery landing towards Thrall.
Bran sighs heavily.
Atley knits his brow as he peers over the ledge, lips faintly parting.
Auralind inhales deeply, letting the air out slowly.
Bran perks up when they get sight of the actual maelstrom. He lets out a low, appreciative whistle.
Mordecai peeks at a flock of wyverns and an orcish woman standing off to the side as they approach Thrall, who stands alone at the edge of the rock, channeling a spell.
Bran goes to stand so near the edge it's ridiculous.
Atley shifts his gaze to Thrall, who turns to observe them in the middle of channeling primal energy. Thrall's muscles strain as primal energy flows through him. He slightly inclines his head in acknowledgement.
"It is good to see you," says Thrall.
Bran doesn't even seem to notice Thrall - he has eyes only for the Maelstrom.
Colson bows his head respectfully to Thrall. "Aka'magosh," he says politely.
Cressidha nods politely. "We are here to be of assistance."
Atley looks like a very large and perturbed hound, his hair darkened as it sticks to his face. Thrall glances over his shoulder at Colson, and inclines his head again before he looks between each of them.
Auralind's jaw is set tight, but she gives Thrall a respectful nod.
"Oh! Lo there!" Bran says cheerfully. "Nice place ye've got here."
[Thrall]: "I knew you'd heed our call! When Deathwing was first defeated by the other dragon aspects, he retreated to Deepholm, the realm of earth!"
[Brannagen]: "Sounds like a job fer a dwarf."
Mordecai is giving off scared wet cat energy. He looked scared even before going through the portal, now he is wet.
Thrall juts a nod down at the gigantic maelstrom. "Deathwing's return to our world left a rift open between Azeroth and Deepholm. If we don't mend the breach, this land will be torn asunder!"
Atley continues glaring at Thrall, having grown quite still.
Colson squeezes Mordecai's hand gently once, as he listens to Thrall.
Thrall continues. "We're doing our best to contain the damage on this side of the rift. Aggra will take you through the rift so you can help repair the damage from the other side!"
Cressidha shields her eyes from the rain with one hand. "And how might that breach be mended?"
"Real good question!" Bran starts to stroke his beard, then pulls his hand away in annoyance at the cold drenched mess.
Thrall replies, "There are many obstacles in our way that will require your greatest effort." Vague.
"Well that's a bit of a day ending in Y fer Cobalt Company, sir," says Bran.
Colson inclines his head. He seems utterly unconcerned about the rain, or general vagueness of their mission. Maybe that's just his face. Difficult to tell.
"Get on Aggra's wyverns when you are ready… And heroes?" says Thrall.
"We specialize in removing obstacles. We'll do what we must to repair the damage." Auralind sounds very sure.
"Ooooh wyverns…" says Bran. Then perks up and listens to Thrall.
"Yes?" Cressidha asks politely.
Thrall ends in an ominous tone with, "Good luck."
Bran chuckles.
"Thank you. Light be with you," Colson says politely back to the ominous good wishes.
"Thank you," Cressidha says at the same time as her brother.
Auralind grunts and nods.
Atley grunts, and turns away, gaze lingering on Thrall before he approaches a wyvern.
Mordecai pulls his hood up and the wind blows it off his head. He sighs.
Colson murmurs a prayer of blessing for mana for Thrall, before he adds another for the group at large.
Atley approaches a wyvern with a glare. He doesn't seem to approve of it. "Stay together!" He climbs aboard.
"You must be Aggra, I take it?" Cressidha nods to her.
Colson stays together.
"WOO HOOOOOOO!" yells Bran as the wyvern swoops into the chaos.
Aggra nods to Cressidha. "I am."
Aggra says, "I hope you have a strong stomach. Traveling through the breach is not for the weak. We're at the center of the Maelstrom, the rift between Deepholm and your world. Watch as it threatens to tear our world apart! Let us hope Thrall and the others can contain it while you're inside."
The wyverns travel through the rift.
On the other side, Aggra looks back at the group. "You made it! Good! This is the Temple of Earth. It's the most important structure in Deepholm. There was once a Titan-made stone inside. It was known as the World Pillar. The name was literal. It bore the weight of all the elemental and magnetic forces in Deepholm."
Atley faintly widens his eyes at the sight of the place.
Aggra explains, "It was shattered when Deathwing broke through the dome above and created the rift between the two worlds. All of Deepholm is going to collapse into Azeroth if we do not put the World Pillar back together. The first fragment was going to be delivered to us by a Horde gunship known as the Storm's Fury. It never made it here. We've taken control of the temple and we're containing as much of the damage as we can. Go inside and speak to Maruut; he's in charge. We are all counting on you."
Bran rubbernecks. His eyes are wide and delighted.
After they land, Atley glances around. "Looks like we'll be quartered here. Let's get to Maruut." He marches farther into the temple, dropping his pack against a wall.
Auralind furrows her brow. "What do you see? This place feels very strange to me."
"Somethin' abou' this place just feels… homey," Bran says cheerily.
Colson looks like the kind of man with a strong stomach. His hair is wild, but the paladin is stoic, as he peers around them at the interesting rocks.
"Erm… big pillars. Blue-green in color. Dark stone." Bran tries to describe.
Cressidha produces a wave of heat to dry them off after they've left the rain.
"Nearly has the look of Wyrmrest Temple. There are minerals, large and plentiful." Atley growls.
"An' there's a big swirly white light ahead,' Bran adds.
"I am unfamiliar with these particular rock formations," Colson says. "They are as Brother Stillwall describes."
"Ye can probably tell the size by the echoes, aye, Mistwalker?" Bran says to Auralind with a little elbow to her hip.
Auralind nods to Bran. "Shai. It must be a massive chamber."
Maruut Stonebinder seems to be speaking to himself as they arrive. "Deathwing's entry into our world opened a rift between it and Deepholm. Rebuilding the World Pillar is the only way to stabilize the rift."
Atley clears his throat. "Cobalt Company's here."
Maruut turns around to face them. "You've arrived just in time. All our resources are tied up keeping the rift stable. We need people like you to help us recover the fragments of the World Pillar."
Atley grunts.
Maruut says, "The Archstone was being transported inside a flying Horde gunship called Storm's Fury. The airship crashed south of here and our scrying has revealed the Archstone's no longer on it."
"We're happy to help ye out," Bran says confidently. "An' we've got a dwarf on the team for extra underground-finding-stuff ability."
Maruut says, "Search the ship for clues related to what might've happened."
Mordecai turns to the others. "Um, Fortitude. I'm going to look around a bit here? If that's all right?"
"Understood. Ish-ne-alo por-ah," Colson says. His accent is careful and he speaks very slowly, but it's clearly enunciated Taur-ahe.
Another shaman nearby, Seer Kormo, turns to face them, and nods at Mordecai. "We're in the plane of earth. Everything is absorbed by the land eventually."
Colson nods to Mordecai. "Of course," he says softly.
Bran nods solemnly at Kormo in agreement.
Seer Kormo says, "The Storms' Fury will soon be turned to dust and we won't be able to gain any insight from its remains. Go and destroy the elementals that are dismantling the ship. We're only delaying the inevitable, but we need to buy ourselves some time if we're to track down all the pieces of the World Pillar."
Mordecai nods. "I'll be nearby. Good luck, everyone. Light be with you."
"I love you. We will be safe," Colson says, holding Mordecai's hand to his heart for a moment.
Atley grunts and nods at Seer Kormo before he turns to Mordecai, and also grunts, and also nods.
Mordecai whispers back, "I love you too. See you soon."
"Aw, aren't ye two just as sweet as tricky-treats! … But with less digestive problems," says Bran.
Mordecai blushes. He clears his throat. "Um, thank you?"
Atley scoffs faintly with amusement. "We'll be staying here, you lot. Deposit wot' you don't need for the fight and let's get moving."
Bran chuckles amiably and gives Mordecai a thumbs up.
Colson inclines his head. His digestive system is as stoic as the rest of him.
Auralind wrinkles her nose. "I was convinced to try one of those Tricky Treats. It was… unappealing."
Mordecai gives them a little wave and wanders off to look around.
Atley grimaces faintly as well and shakes his head. "Never been one for treats."
"I only managed ta eat two of 'em," Bran says. "The taste was fine, but me stomach did NOT agree."
"Ah. I see," Colson says.
Atley looks up up up once they step back outside. "Brannagen, I hope you've that sketch book handy."
"Always!" says Bran. Then fumbles around in his bags quite a while looking for it.
"Wreckage is there, top of that cliff. Let's fly," Atley growls.
Cressidha looks up at the bit of the sky they can see. "I see stars up there."
Cressidha takes out her carpet and unrolls it.
Atley looks to Cressidha, then follows her eyes. He grunts.
Bran whistles for Magni Bronzebird.
Colson flies. …on his gryphon, safely.
The ship is fully wreckage.
Colson's hair stands up in full electric alert as an energized geode takes a zap at him.
Atley squints at the downed airship. "Keep a sharp eye for any survivors."
Colson keeps a sharp eye out for any survivors.
"I'll do my best," Auralind says.
Bran is busy sketching the ship while the others fight elementals.
Cressidha covers her mouth to hide a smile.
Atley suddenly stops and frowns.
"How'd they get a bloody airship down here, then?" Ately growls.
"Perhaps the same way we came…which might be why it crashed," Aura muses.
"It may not have been intentional, or perhaps they expected it to be a one way trip," Colson says calmly.
Atley grunts. "I'd not have thought it'd fit."
Bran lifts a hand from his sketchbook briefly to toss a heal toward Dane as though it were a handful of rice at a wedding.
"If they kept records, then if we can locate the Captain's Log, we may be able to tell what they intended, and who was aboard," Colson says.
Atley grunts and pushes floating rocks out of the way. "Right."
Atley points down with Thunderfury. "A way to get on top, there."
Colson gently moves some floating little rocks away from him, examining the effect.
"Is tha'… a gigantic horde symbol??" Bran is still sketching.
Atley grunts in the affirmative.
"Someone's compensatin'…" Bran mutters under his breath.
Atley narrows his eyes. "Wonder where the bodies are."
Colson takes the room in at a glance, and moves rapidly to the side of a body. "Dane, here."
"Search the place for anything we can–" Atley cuts off and looks to Colson.
Bran is too busy sketching the massive lines of the ship to notice the stuff on the floor in the cabin.
Colson attempts a resurrection immediately. It doesn't even start to take, the soul long gone.
Atley lowers and moves Captain Skullshatter's body around, spotting the log. He swipes it up and leafs through it to the latest entry.
"He has been dead for too long," Colson proclaims, as he rises up from a kneel, murmuring a prayer to the Light.
"Can you read it?" Cressidha asks Dane, curiously.
Bran still hasn't noticed there was a body.
Bran is now staring out of the ship at the massive rock formations outside. He's sketching those too.
"I know only a little orcish, polite greetings. I could not read something as advanced as a log book," Colson says.
Atley narrows his eyes in concentration. "Not well, but I can make out wot's happened. They were making for the Temple, bloody swiftly… They noticed a –…"
Atley knits his brow and looks up. "They were attacked by Alliance forces."
Auralind frowns. "Why would the Alliance attack if this was a mission vital to the survival of Azeroth?"
"I didn't know the Alliance was down here at all," Atley growls.
"Hm." Colson looks around the room.
"We still need more information. Look around for clues," Atley says, pocketing the log.
"Hm?" says Bran. "Clues to wot noew?"
"Clues as to wot' properly happened here." Atley says.
Cressidha sighs. "Bran, something called the Archstone was stolen or moved from this ship."
"Oh aye, the fragment o' the pillar?" Bran inquires.
Atley grunts.
Colson finds another body.
[Colson]: "Dane!"
"Another body, here." Atley says.
"So we're lookin' fer hints to what happened to it, then," Bran confirms.
"We are." Cressidha nods to him.
Colson once again attempts a resurrection. It fails as immediately as the other.
"Aye." Atley confirms.
Auralind's nose twitches. "Smells of black powder."
Dane casually lowers and reaches for the corpse, grasping at the wrists. "Right you are, Auralind."
Bran notices the gleaming crystals hovering and spinning in the air, and sketches those.
Colson unleashes a judgement with one hand at an elemental closing in, as he murmurs a prayer to the Light for the fallen orc.
Atley grunts. "Let's move on."
Colson moves on.
"Hold fast. Live ammunition," Atley raises a fist.
Colson holds fast.
Cressidha pulls up her ice barrier and remains back.
Once again, Bran tosses a heal toward Atley when an elemental attacks, without even looking up from his sketchbook.
Atley tilts his head and crouches down, gingerly brushing the shell off.
"This is from the Stormwind Royal Industries. Standard issue large munition," Atley grunts.
"There are plants growin' down here…" Bran mutters… "Would not've expected tha'…"
"Ah," Colson says.
"So the Alliance blew up the horde ship?" Bran says.
Atley grunts. "Looks that way. No sign of the fragment, either. Let's return."
"It would seem so," Colson says.
Cressidha gets on her carpet again.
As they return to the temple of Earth, Bran's eyes wander the architecture.
Mordecai wanders back towards the group.
As they return, Atley marches up, logbook raised. "It seems they were attacked by the Alliance. We found evidence supporting it." he growls mirthlessly.
Colson smiles faintly as Mordecai comes closer.
"Signs of battle, Alliance munitions. The last log entry details an incoming encounter with the Alliance, as well." Atley explains.
Maruut Stonebinder hums. "The clues point to an obvious conclusion. Too obvious perhaps."
Mordecai smiles back at Colson.
"Are there Alliance forces present here?" Auralind asks.
Maruut thinks aloud and asks, "Why would the Alliance attack the Horde just as they're about to deliver a fragment of the World Pillar to us…?"
[Auralind]: "I wondered the same thing."
"Are there even Alliance airships down here?" Cressidha asks.
Maruut nods. "There is…"
[Brannagen]: "Maybe they didn't trust 'em ta deliver it and figured they'd better do it themselves. That didna work out so well fer 'em if so."
"Hm," Colson says.
Maruut nods. "The Earthen Ring is a neutral organization. We cannot pick sides in the war between the Horde and the Alliance. Look around you — our members come from all backgrounds. Our mission would be compromised should racial tensions be put above our goal. Let's try to keep this under wraps until we have more information…" Maruut says, lowering his voice.
"Understood," Colson says.
Maruut says, "We must not jump to conclusions just yet. I'll send you and one of our new members to look for the Alliance gunships. Find out what you can without dragging us into the conflict."
Bran takes notes in his journal - in Dwarven.
"If I were being attacked, I do not know that I would have taken the time to write in my logbook about it," Cressidha points out.
Atley nods slowly. "We'll get to the bottom of this."
Maruut nods slowly at Cressidha. "Indeed. Convenient to have found that…"
Colson might be that lawful to commit to writing in his log book as he was being attacked.
"Oh I definitely woulda written in my journal about it. Possibly been blown up in mid writin'." Bran says this cheerfully.
Mordecai coughs into his hand.
"The Explorers' League has a room off to the side here," Mordecai says to the others. He points northwest.
"You'll have to tell me more about Vashj'ir, Brannagen. I reckon it's quite the … tale." Atley gets distracted by rock formations breaking apart and then reassembling on their own again.
Colson looks northwest.
"Oh excellent!" Bran says in response to Mordecai's comment about the League. It might be sarcasm; it's genuinely impossible to tell.
Atley looks to Mordecai. "Warrant it'll serve our purposes?" He briefly glances at Brann upon The Explorer's League.
"Oh I can tell ye all ye want to know about Vashj'ir, but I'll need a few drinks ferst," Bran says to Atley.
"They're still, um, unpacking, but there's a lot of space." Mordecai shrugs.
"Let's take to the air and find that airship, you lot," Atley says.
Colson takes to the air.
"Still tryin' ta wrap my mind around… airship… under the earth." Bran says as he mounts up.
Atley grunts and takes off.
Mordecai waves to the others as they fly away.
Atley spots the Alliance airship and swoops down to land on its deck.
"Oh, this takes me back…" says Bran as they land on the airship.
Colson inhales sharply as they come in sight of an Alliance ship, with bodies on the ground. He rushes to the side of a fallen, leaping off his gryphon.
Atley growls with amusement and nods. "Feels like old times already, mm?"
The airship is actively flying. Its deck is littered with dead crew members.
Colson attempts a resurrection, which fails as much as the other attempts.
Auralind frowns.
"Ah, Light," Colson says with some feeling, as he makes another attempt at another fallen.
Atley quiets down upon seeing the bodies, but he spots Stormcaller Mylra and rides over.
Cressidha blinks over to the one living person she sees. "What's happening?"
Stormcaller Mylra shakes her head. "I cannae say, not joost yet. I arrived just a minute or so before you."
Stormcaller Mylra says. "There's more to this than we know. I can guarantee ye that much."
Stormcaller Mylra says. "Something's wrong here. The ship's crew had been slain. Yet there is no bloodshed or damage ta the ship's structure. This was not the Horde's doing."
Stormcaller Mylra says, "We will find the answers we seek by speaking ta the spirits of the dead. They have not yet left this world. Take this totem and place it near the corpses of the fallen. You will have a few seconds to listen to their last few thoughts."
Stormcaller Mylra says. "Beware, however! There is no telling how the spirits of the dead will react to our prodding."
Atley nods Stormcaller Mylra on.
Colson continues to make his attempts at resurrecting the crew, murmuring prayers to the dead when each one fails.
Mylra says, "It's possible we'll find further clues inside the admiral's cabin. You will find it directly below us. See if there are any survivors or information that will lead us closer to the World Pillar fragment. Be careful. Whoever got the crew might still be out there."
Colson makes his way back to the squad. "I can feel the souls of the dead still lingering only in a slightest tether. None were able to be resurrected."
Atley grunts. "Let's see wot' they'll tell us. Brannagen." Atley turns and offers Brannagen the Spirit Totem.
Atley grunts. "Bodies here. Let's put that totem to work," he growls at Brannagen.
"Aye, sir," says Brannagen.
"I heard them praying to their dark gods as everything went black…" the spirit of a crew member says. "The Twilight's Hammer did this!"
Colson's expression goes tight, his jaw clenching so hard that a muscle jumps, as his hands clench and unclench. "Ah."
Atley's looks darkens. "Might've known. Let's question another."
Bran plants a totem. "Twilight scum!" cries the ghost of a crew member, attacking. "You did this to us!"
"A fine way of delaying progress, here, driving us to attack one another," Atley grumbles.
Colson exorcises the ghost, his lips a hard line. When it dissipates, he murmurs another prayer for rest.
"They tricked us into ambushing the Horde gunship…" says another spirit. "But why?"
Cressidha touches her brother's arm briefly, frowning.
"Everyone started dropping like flies…" says another spirit mournfully. "Everyone who ate the rations."
Atley glares. "Poisoned."
"Twilight's Hammer 'tricked them,'" Colson repeats. "Illusion, or merely provoking."
Atley grunts. "Must've been planning this for some time."
"They poisoned our supplies…" says a spirit. "We had cultists onboard all along…"
Bran shakes his head. "Reminds me o' the Cult o' the Damned in Northrend…"
"Very familiar," Atley concurs.
Colson looks sharply back at the rest of the ship, his eyes scanning for the rations. "So it would seem," he says.
"Let's get a story out of one more." Atley growls at Brannagen.
The next ghost simply attacks in a crazed frenzy of grief and confusion.
Cressidha sighs.
"Let's not disturb 'em any further," says Bran. "We know wot happened here."
Atley nods slowly and grunts with some relief as the story becomes clear. "I'll defer to you on that, then, Brannagen. Let's get to the Captain's Quarters."
Colson nods. "I agree with Brother Stillwall. I believe we have the fullest picture we can make."
"Cultists — stay sharp!" Atley booms.
Colson stays sharp. At least his sword does.
Inside the cabin, there is a wounded man standing above a pool of his own blood at the ship's wheel.
Colson rushes to the side of a living person.
"Brannagen! We've a live one –!" Atley growls.
For some reason, Bran isn't sketching this airship at all. Maybe the one in Northrend was enough like it?
"Lo there!" Bran says to the man at the wheel, tossing a heal at him as he speaks.
"Brother Stillwall!" Colson says, as he gets to the man with…a whole lot of blood under him.
First Mate Moody shivers. He doesn't seem healed by the attempt, but he still has enough strength to hiss out, "This ship is filled with rats…"
The man turns around, holding his stomach. His arm appears to be all that's holding his insides in.
Atley fosters a sympathetic glare.
"Oh dear," says Bran. He tries more healing. "Er, Aspenwood? Anythin ye can do?"
"You don't look like… one of them…" the man says between gritted teeth. "First Mate Moody."
Colson makes several attempts, shaking his head as he fails to make the man's insides go back into the inside. "No. I am afraid I cannot reach it at all."
"We are not the Twilight's Hammer," Cressidha says firmly. "We are members of Cobalt Company, sent to assist the Earthen Ring."
"I'm not sure what happened," Moody says. "I slept through supper and woke up to a ship full of dead people and murderers."
"Been too long, maybe," Bran says grimly. "Damn."
Colson reaches into a bag, pulling out bandages. "I cannot heal this with the Light, but I may be able to slow the bleeding." He looks to Moody. "If you would want that."
"That would be great," Moody exhales gratefully. "I can keep steering a bit longer…"
"Sounds like you still have some fight left in you, Moody," Atley growls.
"Also, can I have … just one last request? There's a bottle of whiskey around here somewhere…" Moody gives them a wry smile.
Colson moves the man gently. "Dane, if you can help keep him upright for a moment," he says. To Moody he says, gently, "This will hurt, I am sorry."
Moody nods. "I'm not sure I can feel much of anything anymore, honestly. Go for it."
Atley sets his jaw and nods, moving to gently prop First Mate Moody up. "Whiskey. Anything else?"
Cressidha backs up and begins to look for whiskey.
"Um, some rope," Moody requests.
Atley faintly furrows his brow at that and nods with a grunt. "We'll see to it."
Colson does what he can for the man, setting the innards inwards, and wrapping his torso securely. It really is going to be a long, painful, slower experience, but he can keep the ship in the air for a little while longer.
"Oh, that feels much better, I can use both hands now," Moody says.
"Stay with us for as long as you can, mate. We'll return," Atley says, nodding to the others to file out.
"I'm afraid I don't see any whiskey up here," Cressidha says.
"I'll keep this bird in the air as long as I can," Moody says, his even-keeled expression belying his name. "I hope you can help with… whatever this is…"
Auralind salutes Moody with respect before departing.
"We'll help with it, and avenge it," Atley explains, jogging off.
"Rope here," says Bran.
Atley grunts. "Good eye."
"I thought we'd killed everybody…" says a cultist leaping out of the shadows. "Mor'norokk should be pleased with this!" the cultist says just before Cobalt cuts him down.
"Mor'norokk," Colson repeats. "That sounds like an ogre name."
Atley grunts.
Bran taps his nose and points at Colson. "Oh hey, there's his whiskey…"
Atley points at a bottle on the table in the captain's quarters. "Whiskey."
Cressidha collects it.
Atley examines the bottle with a frown. "Fine label to down with," he growls softly before nodding. "Back to Moody."
Auralind nods. "Let's bring that soldier his last drink."
"Damn hero, that one," says Bran.
Auralind nods firmly.
Moody smiles a little as they return. He's very pale.
"Can tell everything you need to know about a person in their final moments," Atley growls.
"Your whiskey, First Mate." Cressidha opens the bottle for him.
"All right," Moody says. He takes the bottle from Cress, takes a swig, and passes it back. "Now," Moody says, "help tie me to this wheel."
Bran lets out a low, appreciative whistle.
Atley nods and takes one end, running it through the wheel.
Colson murmurs a blessing over the man. "May the Light be with you, and grant you strength and tenacity, and when the time comes, compassion and grace."
Cressidha leaves the bottle within arms' reach.
"Thanks, friends," Moody says. "This'll give us a couple more hours of not running into the rocks. No guarantees after that."
Atley gives Moody a firm shoulderclasp and mutters, "Ship is yours, First Mate. Stormwind'll hear of this." He steps back and salutes.
Bran also salutes. Not a thing he does often.
Auralind gently rests a hand on Moody's shoulder. "Anu dorah."
Atley looks to the others and nods silently before he files out.
Colson salutes the First Mate with a stoic expression. That might just be his face.
"That's a good death," Atley says.
"Damn hero…" Bran says again solemnly.
"Dane," Cressidha says as they leave. "We need to find someone who can steer this ship. Help him land."
Atley nods with a grunt. "We'll see who's around at the temple after we're finished here."
Bran nods. "I second the lass. We've got a couple hours, he said. Maybe we can find someone before then."
Cressidha fills in Stormcaller Mylra on what they found.
Stormcaller Mylra says, "We were bound to run into the Twilight's Hammer sooner or later. If they're behind this, it's quite likely the World Pillar Fragment is in their position."
Stormcaller Mylra says, "So they Twilight's Hammer's still on the ship. Go below decks and take them out. Careful, Cobalts. I've got a feeling they're not here for a spiritual retreat if ye' know what I mean."
"Then we shall release their spirits, so they may retreat." It's possible Auralind didn't get the reference.
"At least we know who we're dealin' with noew," says Bran. "Let's get 'em."
Stormcaller Mylra says, "It's not too late. Go below decks, find out who's in charge and subdue them. We will obtain the answers to our questions one way or another."
Atley shines a gruff look of approval on Auralind. "Let's get to work. First Mate Moody's due for some avenging," he growls.
"We're runnin' low on time," Bran says. "Maybe someone should fly back an' look for someone ta help steer the ship while the rest of us fight?"
Auralind nods and growls, "Tor ilisar'thera'nal." Let our enemies beware.
Cressidha looks at Dane.
"Colson, you stay with Moody while we go below. Do wot' you can to keep him alive, I know there's not much to do." Atley growls. "I want all of us to remain on the ship for now. The Twilight's may ambush any one of us alone," he growls. "Though it is imperative we keep this bird up for as long as we can."
"Yessir," Colson says. He nods to the others, as he heads back to the First Mate, to keep the man as comfortable as he can.
Cressidha nods.
Atley smacks a cultist with his shield to just send them flying over the edge.
Atley spots Mor'norokk the Hateful and points Thunderfury at him. "Kill everyone but him."
Bran tosses out heals, killing no one.
"Okay!" says the ogre. "Okay I give up! I"ll tell you everything!" says Mor'norokk.
Initially, Mor'norokk looks as if he's about to surrender, cowering in fear, but as Atley approaches, he swipes the knight up and takes to choking him to death!
Mor'norokk the Hateful says: Gotcha!
Mor'norokk the Hateful says: I hope you can fly, pipsqueak!
Mor'norokk leaps onto a central beam with Deepholm far below, and moves to drop the choking Atley.
Bran shields Dane!
Cressidha pulls out a feather and flicks it into the air to slow fall anyone necessary.
Stormcaller Mylra swoops in and disables the ogre, saving Atley.
Stormcaller Mylra says: Over here, you ugly whale!
Mor'norokk the Hateful yells: You! Let me go now! Wait… no! Don't let go!
Stormcaller Mylra says: Meet me back up top. This two-headed freak has a few questions to answer!
[Auralind]: "Dane! Are you alright?"
Atley looks to Auralind, rubbing his throat as he catches his breath, eyes blood shot. "Bloody tight grip on that bastard." He clears his throat and shakes his head. "Let's get up top, see wot' the ogre knows."
Bran remains calm, seeming aware that the others around him have the situation handled.
"Well done down there," Mylra says. "The Twilight's Hammer is an evil that we must fight anywhere we find them."
Stormcaller Mylra grins as they return. "Oi, this was a heavy one! We nearly broke me gryphon's back! Are you ready ta interrogate the ogre?"
Atley grunts and nods, looking to the others.
"I'm not much of a hand at interrogatin', but I'll follow along," says Bran.
Atley glares. "I'll question him," he remarks intensely.
Stormcaller Mylra chirps. "Alright! Hop on. Let's see what Mr. Ogreface has ta say for himself. Don't be shy, Stormbreak's only ever dropped a passenger a couple of times."
Atley nods and moves to mount his own gryphon.
Cressidha remains safely on deck.
Auralind takes flight on Talathar to assist Atley.
Stormcaller Mylra says: All right, sunshine. Time to spill your guts before I spill 'em for ya!
Mor'norokk the Hateful yells: Wait! You can't do this! You people must have a code of honor or something!
Stormcaller Mylra says: I'm a daughter of the Wildhammer Clan and a shaman of the Earthen Ring. My code compels me to honor my ancestors and the elements.
Stormcaller Mylra says: Doesn't say a damn thing about dog-ugly ogres.
Mor'norokk the Hateful yells: Stop it, you tiny, angry woman! I'll tell you everything! What do you want to know?
Stormcaller Mylra says: You can start by telling us where the World Pillar fragment is. My gryphon's starting to look a bit tired from hauling you around.
Mor'norokk the Hateful yells: It was delivered to the forgemaster at Deathwing's Fall. I swear… that's all I know!
Mor'norokk the Hateful yells: Happy now? Pull me up, you vicious little dwarf!
Stormcaller Mylra says: You were never in any danger, sweetheart. My friends down below would've caught you. You're worth too much to us alive!
Mor'norokk the Hateful yells: What? What have you done? No! Do you have any idea what the Twilight Council will do to me when they find out I've talked!? I would sooner die!
Mor'norokk breaks free of the gryphon and falls.
Stormcaller Mylra says: Interesting. I'd never heard of the Twilight Council until now.
Atley grunts and nods. "Informative."
Stormcaller Mylra says, "We have our answers. Let's report back."
"I'll be glad ta get off this accursed ship," says Bran.
Stormcaller Mylra adds, "Ye' must get word back to the others at tha temple. Chances are, the fragment is already getting moved ta' an even more secure location. Tell Maruut what ye know. I'm going to do a little investigating about this Twilight Council in the meantime."
"I'll tell Colson and catch up," Cressidha offers, looking at Dane.
Atley grunts, and looks to Cressida. "Go fetch Colson, will you?"
Cressidha nods. and blinks away. She returns to the captain's cabin.
"Colson," Cressidha says. "The ogre leader told us that the fragment of the World Pillar was delivered to the Forgemaster at Deathwing's Fall. First Mate, we're going to report back to the Earthen Ring."
Moody gives the two a weak salute. "Thank you."
Colson nods. "Understood." He moves from his position, taking a steadying hand off the First Mate. "Light is with you, always."
"We'll try to find someone to relieve you as soon as possible," Cressidha says gently. "Light be with you."
"The Light is with me… the Light is with me…" Moody continues murmuring to himself as the others leave.
Atley climbs aboard Thoras and waits for them all to reunite. "Back to the temple, then!" he growls before spurring Thoras on.
Once they've all reunited, they fly down to the Temple. "How's he, then?" Atley asks Colson as they land.
"He has a great deal of tenacity, and he will endure as long as he can, but it is painful," Colson says. "I have word to deliver to his loved ones back in Stormwind." Colson touches a bag, where his notebook rests.
"Once we find someone ta land the ship we can get him to a surgeon who can knock 'im out good, help him pass easy," Bran says. "He's past the reach o' the Light, it seems."
Atley grunts and nods. "Aye, for now let's reveal wot' we've learned."
Maruut Stonebinder turns to peer at them expectantly.
Cressidha blinks towards the Earthen Ring members. "Are there any other Alliance forces here?" she asks. "I have an urgent message to deliver. Will we be able to reach this place via portal again?"
"The Twilight's Hammer's played Horde an' Alliance both," Bran says solemnly. "An' we need urgent help on the Alliance airship."
"As of now, no. Only those on the airship and you," Maruut says.
"Anyone here know how ta land an airship??" Bran says a bit too loudly maybe.
Atley glances around at that before he looks back to Maruut. "We've discovered that the fragment was taken to a place called 'Deathwing's Fall.' It's likely going to be moved swiftly."
Maruut Stonebinder nods slowly. "We must investigate your findings further, but we must not lose track of the fragment."
Mordecai approaches the others at the sound of Bran's raised voice.
Atley looks to Mordecai. "You've not come across a pilot round here, have you?"
"Well, I always wanted to learn how ta land an airship," says Bran. "Guess today's me lucky day."
"Let's get to it. That airship's only pilot is dying and we've to find a way to secure it," Atley growls at Mordecai.
"I-I haven't been looking for one." Mordecai bites his lip. "We could ask the Explorer's League?"
Dane nods. "Aye. If we can't find someone who can land it, then it falls to us."
[Brannagen]: "I'll go check with the League, aye."
Colson nods. He doesn't know how to pilot a thing.