(2024-11-17) Soft Cobaltlings Making It Harder (Deepholm Arc 2 E1)

Details

Author:	Luridel
Summary:	Dane, Cressidha, Oranna, and Sil go looking for a missing goblin shaman and meet Flint Oremantle, who has a lot to say about how his father (the Stonefather) has been kidnapped. The rock giants have been properly fed (on minerals or something). Befound has never been fed in her life, pls sirs. ~8k words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Deepholm

Inside the Temple of Earth in the Stonecore…

Atley marches up, finishing up on chewing on some jerky. "Cressidha," he growls.

"Dane, good afternoon." Cressidha nods politely.

"Ivri'd like me to pass on our shared gratitude for Karson's clothes," he growls. "The little one seems to grow each day. That belly of his knows no end," Dane boasts proudly.

Cressidha smiles faintly. "Children grow very rapidly indeed."

"Aye, like weeds." He turns to raise his bushy brows at Oranna in greeting.

Sil walks over to the center of the temple and waves to Cressidha, and Dane.

"Sil. How's the day," Atley growls, extending a hand.

"Good afternoon, Silvestre," Cressidha says politely.

Oranna waves back at Sil. Befound stretches out, claws fully extended, scraping on the stone floor. Maybe in protest.

Sil reaches out to take Atley's hand and shakes it. "Going well, and good afternoon. I've been told to join you all for the next part of this mission."

"Oranna, it's good to see you." Cressidha smiles faintly at her.

Atley grunts. "So I understand. When was the last time we were deployed together?"

"A long time back… think it must've been like a year ago…" Sil ponders.

Atley grunts and turns to nod at Oranna. "Been some time for us, as well. Welcome to Deepholm, Oranna."

"I'd guess that mission with King Wrynn was the most recent…" Sil says with a nod. "And Oranna, been even longer. It'll be good to work together again."

Oranna nods to Dane, and Cressidha. It's obvious she's permanently a little uneasy with the cavern ceiling relatively close, and she keeps getting distracted by the glitter dropping down from the ceiling.

"Oh, aye," Oranna says, distractedly, and then refocuses. "Aye, good ta work with ye all again."

"We are to report to Earthcaller Yevaa. I understand it's an issue not directly related to the World Pillar, but it's important work nonetheless. We ready to move out?" Atley asks.

"Indeed." Cressidha frowns faintly. "We have no healer with us today?"

"Is it always raining down glitter in here?" Oranna asks, brushing a few specks off her shoulders. "Wha — no healer? Are we… I've got bandages, but they're… bandages."

"Bandages are only magical ta kids with skinned knees," Oranna mutters.

"No healer, but we've each been field tested. We travel lighter, as well. We'll tread carefully and manage our fights accordingly," Dane says.

Sil nods seriously. "We'll just have to be careful. I've got bandages too, if we need them."

Cressidha says, "Understood," but seems visibly uneasy.

Atley glances between them before he grunts. "Let's get to work." He also turns to nod at Befound.

Befound leans her head forward and licks at Dane's gauntlet. She is on the job of licking wounds. Group healer.

Atley scoffs with amusement at the great feline. "Oi, cheeky."

"Excuse me, we're looking for Earthcaller Yevaa?" Cressidha asks the shamans she does know.

Maruut Stonebinder turns and smiles faintly at Cressidha. He points over her head (literally) to Yevaa. The draenei shaman smiles pleasantly.

"Ah. Thank you." Cressidha nods politely and turns around.

Sil follows the others over to the Earthcaller.

"Earthcaller," Dane greets. "We're Cobalt Company, reporting for duty."

Earthcaller Yevaa turns to them and inclines her head. "Greetings to you," she says in a thick draenic accent.

"Arkanon poros," Sil says cheerfully.

"Good afternoon," Cressidha says mildly. "How may we be of assistance?"

Earthcaller Yevaa sighs faintly. "My goblin initiate has been gone for quite some time. His name is Goldmine. I sent out to observe the local rock flayers southwest at Quartzite Basin. Perhaps you would be willing to find?"

Atley grunts and nods.

Sil raises an eyebrow at the 'goblin initiate'.

Oranna nods. "Oh, aye. Tha's wha' I'm specialized in. Findin' people."

Earthcaller Yevaa inclines her head. "When find, please ask him to come back to temple."

Sil nods politely.

Atley looks to the others. "The Basin ought not be far from here. We'll take it on foot."

"Understood," Cressidha says.

Atley stubbornly ignores being pelted in the face by floating rocks.

"Righ'." Oranna tries to dodge the sparkles from the ceiling as they run out. She instead seems to dodge just wrong enough to collect them even more.

Cressidha pulls up her ice barrier. Floating rocks plink off it occasionally.

Sil steps carefully through the floating rocks, twisting to dodge as needed.

Atley inclines his head. "That'd be them, then…"

Oranna starts to look for obvious evidence of a person going through, and then looks up, over the gap of a canyon. "Oh. So it would be."

They find Initiate Goldmine standing over a wounded Earthen.

"Hey, are you a Mr. Goldmine?" Sil asks in a friendly voice as they approach.

"Excuse me, are you Goldmine?" Cressidha asks. "Earthcaller Yevaa is looking for you."

"The Earthcaller sent us to look for you," Atley growls.

"Well, tha' was…oh, ah –" Oranna starts awkwardly, gazing down at the Earthen, frowning hard enough for the worry line in her brow to show strongly.

They find Initiate Goldmine muttering irritably to himself. "'Oh sure,' she said, it'll be a simple trip out into the wastes. 'Become a shaman,' they said, see the — eh?" He turns to face them.
Goldmine perks up. "Hiya! Lend a hand, would ya?"

"Sure, we're here to help… what happened?" Sil looks down at the Earthen.

Atley furrows his brow distastefully.

Initiate Goldmine says, "Oh, him? He's the son of the Earthen leader! He almost made it ta' the temple when he got ambushed by more rock flayers than I can count."

"Tha's a healin' totem, isn't it?" Oranna asks, pointing to the green totem. "Somethin' gone wrong, but ye are keepin' him alive."

Goldmine nods to Oranna. "Sharp eye, sweetheart. We know that the Earthen Stonefather has the middle fragment of tha' World Pilla', so I was thinkin' that maybe if we could heal his son, he'd give it up. Sort of a, 'scratch my back I scratch yours' situation."

Sil's eyes widen. "I guess it makes sense there'd be Earthen down here in Deepholm. But gosh, that's bad luck."

In the middle of their conversation, a Rockslice Ripper attacks them. It's hastily dealt with.

"And they're still after him." Sil shakes his head.

Goldmine sighs. "Yeah, but my heals aren't workin' on Flint here. But if we were to get some of the quartzite resin off a these monsters, I think I can make an explosive compound that'll bond and cauterize his wounds."

Oranna startles loudly at the sudden Ripper, stumbling back several steps behind Dane's left flank to get a shot in.

Cressidha traps the rock flayer in a frost nova before it can get too close to the unconscious Earthen.

Atley keeps listening, unimpressed with all goblins, but he does discreetly try to set a hand on Oranna's shoulder.

"A… healing explosive?" Sil blinks.

"Yeah! Trust me. I'm a professional," Goldmine says with a wry grin.

"…Very well," Atley growls patiently.

Oranna blinks up at Dane, and gives him a forced smile. "It's — ah. I've seen things like it done afore, but not in a long time," she tells the goblin 'healer.'

Sil looks dubiously at the goblin and then Oranna, but nods.

Goldmine waves her off. "Don't sweat it. They're as friendly as they are pretty. But, we're gonna' need something that's gonna' make the compound go "boom!"

Befound growls at the Ripper to their left.

Goldmine pats himself off. "I'm all outta' gun powda', but I think I know what we can use instead…"

This time, Oranna's ready, and the shot she takes is precise.

Another Rockslice Ripper interrupts Goldmine. The goblin doesn't seem fazed in the slightest.
Atley removes his hand.

Sil isn't caught off guard by the next Ripper either. He slices into it with a poisoned blade as it leaps into the fray.

Goldmine continues from where he left off… "The heart of my fire elemental! Here, take my totem east ta the Blood Trail." He holds the totem out to Cressidha. "Just flip the switch on it near any of the lava pools over there and Magmatooth should be summoned. Bring back his heart and we'll be in business, baby!"

"Is that… safe for the elemental?" Sil looks to Cressidha, who has the most experience with elementals.

"The heart of your…" Cressidha accepts the totem automatically.

Goldmine sighs exaggeratedly. "I'm a professional! Trust me. Earthcalla' sanctioned and all that. It's no issue."

Atley smacks his lips. "Very well. Let's get to it then, you lot."

Cressidha sighs and follows Dane.

"I know they're not exactly like us, like they just get sent back to the elemental plane, but we're in Deepholm… but it's a fire elemental…" Sil mutters.

"We'll gather the resin from these beasts, first," Atley says, drawing Thunderfury.

Oranna looks at the goblin dubiously.

"I don't trust goblins, but I do trust the Earthen Ring," Atley says once they're alone.

"It is not remotely safe for the elemental, Silvestre," Cressidha says once they're out of earshot of the goblin.

Oranna looks over nervously at Cressidha. "Will it be hurtin' it? Th' elemental?"

Sil's brows draw down with worry.

"I do not know if fire elementals experience pain as such, due to their composition," Cressidha says hesitantly as she freezes some rock flayers.

"At any rate, it can always be resummoned, mm?" Atley posits.

"I want to help that Earthen, but…" Sil says, uncertain.

"As long as we are very careful not to damage the binding bracers…" Cressidha sighs.

Oranna chews at her bottom lip and nods. "Still, seems a harsh sort o' method ta do it. But we don't have another healer, jus' bandages…"

"And it sounds like the Earthen needs real specialty healing, too," Sil says.

Atley grunts in agreement.

"I used bandages on them up in Northrend, when I was helpin' with the siege there, but it was always a bit… odd. They're more stone than anything. Sort o' felt like binding up a rock in a sock," Oranna says.

"Wonder wot' these bleeding buggers eat. Stone?" Atley growls thoughtfully.

Atley grunts at Oranna. "I wager 'Flint' will need something more substantial."

Oranna shakes her head. "I ne'er really saw them eatin', at least not food like soup or toast or apples," Oranna lists off. This might have been Oranna's general diet in Northrend.

"Wouldn't doubt it, they're Earth Plane creatures, right?" Sil says, and then he nods at Oranna. "I didn't really have much time with the Earthen up in Northrend."

Atley grunts and lightly shakes his head. "I mean these ripper beasts, though I've a mind to learn wot' the earthen eat, too."

"That'll do for the resin. Let's go get the heart," Atley says.

"These sort o' rippers? Oh, aye, they gnaw on the crystals. There's somethin' in them. Minerals, I s'ppose," Oranna says. "I've no' the experience with them, but they're listed in a bestiary from Outland."

Cressidha maintains her ice barrier at all times.

Atley side-eyes Oranna at that and lifts a bushy brow. "Very well," he growls in approval.

"Oh yeah, those sort of creatures I fought some there," Sil nods. "Down in the south of Hellfire and a bit up in the Blades' Edge."

"This pool shall do," Atley says to Cressidha.

Oranna nods to Sil. "Those are th' ones, aye." She takes a healthy step back from the place where the goblin's totem will go.

Cressidha stops by the edge of the crater. "I wish I could speak to it," she says as she places the totem. "Explain what Goldmine actually needs."

The totem conjures forth a large fire elemental.

Magmatooth yells, "Deepholm? I hate this place. Wait… you're not Initiate Goldmine! I know what you're after. I can sense it!" The elemental snarls. "This is not in my contract. Die!"

"Bring it down!" Atley growls.

Oranna blinks at the elemental, lifting her gun up to start taking the shots.

"No, wait, we could talk…" Sil moves into a defensive position to help protect Cressidha and Oranna.

Cressidha layers a mage ward underneath her ice barrier. "Ah." There's not much else she can do but cast ice spells to defend herself.

Oranna is not much for talking once something's already started yelling die and charging, and she takes her shots to defend Dane. Befound growls, but is kept back from the literal fire.

Sil fights very carefully in melee, since he's stabbing a creature made of fire. He is also careful to avoid anything that might damage the bracers.

After a brief fight, Magmatooth is brought down. Apparently the elemental was not amenable to a peaceful solution.

"NOOOOOO! You tell Goldmine he's a dead goblin! Our contract is over!" Magmatooth cries before its flames sputter. Cressidha draws her sword and cuts out its heart before it can fade into just the bracers.

"That greenskin better be on to something," Atley growls. "Take heart. This elemental isn't gone forever."

With the heart in hand, Atley nods. "Let's return."

Sil steps forward to examine the bracers. "They look intact. And he seemed more annoyed than anything, not like we were killing him, yeah."

"A moment, please," Cressidha says.

Atley grunts and glances back at Cressidha.

"Still. Seems wrong ta have been part o' breakin' a contract so obviously," Oranna says, as she frowns heavily at the bracers.

Cressidha examines the totem, which looks intact, and the bracers. She opens one of her bags and puts Goldmine's totem into it, followed by Magmatooth's bracers. The heart goes in a sample jar.

"You'd think a goblin shaman would be more likely to honor contracts," Sil says thoughtfully. "Or maybe he's just real desperate about that Earthen fellow."

Atley grumbles something unsavory and probably racist. He gives Cress a small nod and turns to start jogging.

Oranna's mouth twists back and forth. "Aye, mebbe," she says, but it's clear from her face she doesn't really believe it's benevolence.

"We'll tell Yevaa about what her apprentice is responsible for later," Cressidha says. She does not seem pleased.

"A fine idea. She seems squared away, at least," Atley confirms.

Oranna nods, paying more attention to the ethical question than how close she is to an energized zapper, and gets zapped, her hair floofing up three times its usual size, like an upset cat.

"Oi. You right?" Atley asks of Oranna.

Oranna looks worriedly at her hands before she leans down and touches her toes — oh, no, near her toes, the ground. "Aye, jus'…zapped," she mutters. "I'll be fine."

Sil looks over at her and tries very hard not to laugh. "Oranna, if you need help with tangles later, let me know. I'm good at detangling."

Oranna blinks at Sil, and then straightens to touch her hair, pulling her braid over a shoulder, and laughs. "Ach. This is nothin'. I've done worse out in the wind."

Atley peers at Oranna's hair. He marches back to Goldmine.

Goldmine is fending off more rock flayers with his totems, protecting the injured and unconscious Earthen, when the group returns.

"More Rippers! Bring 'em down!" Atley yells.

Sil helps bring them down.

Cressidha shoves the jar out towards Initiate Goldmine's face. "Magmatooth considered this a breach of contract," she says coldly. "But here is his heart."

Oranna pats down at her hair, trying to settle it back, frowning at Goldmine the Goblin of breaking a contract he knew would be in violation.

Goldmine blinks. "Uh oh. Sounds like he wasn't very happy about the situation. How was I ta know? I'm just an initiate after all. Anyway… I'll, ah, worry about Magmatooth later!"

"And we got the resin you asked for," Sil adds, offering what he collected.

Goldmine wiggles his fingers excitedly. "Goody. It won't take much resin. Those rock flayers are pretty dangerous though, so good job."

Goldmine overlooks his received ingredients. "Good thing that I just happen ta' be a grand master of all things explosively alchemical."

"I'm no' e'en an initiate, but I know yer no' supposed ta jus' hand off elementals like they're a fancy plate ta hang on anyone's wall," Oranna mutters.

Oranna looks over at Goldmine. "How explosively alchemical, at wha' range?"

Sil sighs, and just watches to see if any healing is actually going to happen.

Goldmine frowns petulantly. "Okay, okay, I'll get chewed out — but c'mon! World Pilla' fragment, big guy's son!" he exclaims, gesturing to Flint.

Atley watches with an unsurprised expression.

Cressidha does not offer the goblin his totem back. It is nowhere to be seen.

"Wait, did you say World Pillar fragment?" Sil asks, perking up.

Goldmine produces the Explosive Bonding Compound and holds it out to Sil. "Alright. Take this and apply it ta' his wounds. If the cauterizing effect of the flash dry explosion doesn't crack him wide open, it should completely heal him! I think."

Befound growls as a Ripper tries to sneak up on them.

"Apply it yourself," Cressidha says sharply. "Don't pass the danger off to Silvestre."

Sil glances in surprise to Cressidha at the objection, and backs away with the others to a safe distance.

Goldmine shrinks back. "Okay, okay… Eeesh! Tough crowd… Let's get'cha back on ya' feet, bigguy'." he mutters to Flint before applying the compound himself.

"Watch yer eyebrows," Oranna says worriedly, staying far back from a possibly uncontrolled explosive.

Cressidha backs off to what she hopes is a safe distance and pulls up her ice barrier.

With a small explosion, Goldmine hops back, then cheers! "Looks like that did it! He should come to any moment now. I told ya' I was a grand master of alchemy!"

Atley stays in place, deadpanning Goldmine throughout it all.

Oranna looks unconvinced.

Sil peers at the Earthen, waiting to see if he'll come to.

Goldmine strokes his pointed chin in thought. "Huh… He still looks a little loopy 'ta me… His head must still be ringin'."

"Or newly ringin'," Oranna mutters.

Goldmine snaps his fingers. "Best get him inside tha' temple and see what tha' Earthcalla' wants 'ta do with him! I think I'm gonna' stay out here a little longer and "observe" these rock flayers."

Cressidha sighs and pulls out her carpet. "Help me move him onto this," she says.

"Better to the Temple than out here for sure," Sil says, looking at the Earthen.

Flint Oremantle bolts upright immediately and begins speaking.

Flint Oremantle says: I am ready to meet with your so-called Earthcaller.

Flint Oremantle says: I was on my way to the temple when I was jumped. My father must be rescued before the stone troggs kill him.

Oranna clutches at her gun hard at the mention of troggs.

Flint Oremantle says: The war between the Earthen and the stone troggs has raged for time beyond measure. But now in the chaos, the Stonefather, prisoner. They are threatening to kill him if we do not surrender.

Cressidha rolls up her carpet.

Flint Oremantle says: The only thing that matters is that we rescue my father.

Flint Oremantle says: You must drop everything that you're doing to help me free my father, our leader the Stonefather.

Flint Oremantle says: Take me to this Earthen Ring friend of yours. I have important news for the lot of you.

Flint Oremantle says: We are going to the Temple of Earth, yes?

Atley raises his brows. "This way then," he growls at Flint.

"That sounds like something we should talk to the Earthcaller about, the trouble your father's in," Sil nods sympathetically.

Atley grunts.

Flint Oremantle says: We must hurry and speak with your Earthen Ring friend.

Flint Oremantle says: You would be wise not to waste time. If my father dies, he takes with him the knowledge of where the middle fragment of the World Pillar is hidden. I know that you people want it.

Flint continues in this vein, occasionally repeating himself, as Cobalt Company walks back to the temple.

Flint Oremantle speaks up as they reach the temple. "Earthcaller, my father, Stonefather Oremantle, has been taken prisoner by the stone troggs of Needlerock Spire. I demand that you send aid to Stonehearth. Help us with our war and to free Stonefather Oremantle. These ones that assisted me should be adequate. Have them report to our force commander, Crag Rockcrusher at Stonehearth."

Earthcaller Yevaa raises her brows. "We are honored by Flint Oremantle's presence. I am given to understand that the Stonefather is in the possession of a fragment of the World Pillar. It is imperative that we recover all fragments. Instability between worlds increasing. Soon, it may be too great even for mighty Thrall to hold at bay."

Atley grunts. "Your pupil betrayed a contract with his fire elemental to get this done."

Cressidha removes Goldmine's totem from her bag, along with the elemental's bracers, and leaves them near Yevaa's feet.

Earthcaller Yevaa sighs. "My thanks to you. He is new to the Circle, and has many things to … ehm, 'unlearn.'"

"You probably want to train him more, before he goes into the field again," Sil says, glancing down at the totem.

Earthcaller Yevaa nods. "I will. In mean time…"

"I can speak in more detail of this with you later," Cressidha says. "For now, it seems Mr. Oremantle is rightfully impatient."

"Why has he got a fragment? I guess he was planning on bringing it here, maybe, before the whole kidnapping thing," Sil muses.

Earthcaller Yevaa nods. "Earthen and stone troggs somehow found way to Deepholm through Uldum more than fifteen thousand years ago. They've been warring since."

Atley discreetly glances at Oranna.

Oranna nods, trying to dodge more ceiling sparklies. She is unsuccessful, as many catch in her shocked floof braid.

"Fifteen thousand years ago?" Oranna asks, somewhere just to the left of incredulous.

Sil doesn't seem to mind sparkling a little.

Earthcaller Yevaa says. "Yes. Tremendous, no?"

Atley grunts.

"That's before the Night Elves whole thing," Sil observes.

"That is an unreasonably long war." Cressidha shakes her head.

"Bloody ages ago," Atley growls, nodding slowly as it dawns on him.

Earthcaller Yevaa continues. "If we're to recover middle fragment of World Pillar, Stonefather must be rescued."

"Ahhhh," Oranna says, grimacing. "Aye. We know tha' it's far back, the split between earthern and troggs, but tha's… tha's a long time ta have still no' one win o'er the other."

"I guess there's good reason they gave the gnomes so much trouble," Sil says quietly.

Earthcaller Yevaa says. "Please, go Stonehearth and do everything you can to aid Earthen in war against troggs." She bites her lip and looks between them. "You're best hope, Cobalt."

Oranna looks pained at the mention of the gnomes struggle with troggs, and nods to Yevaa. "Aye, an' we have ta rescue th' Stonefathah fer his own sake as well."

Atley grunts.

"Of course." Cressidha nods.

"Let's move out," Atley growls.

Oranna clambers up awkwardly onto what might the world's oldest, grayest, most placid gryphon in existence. If Lireen were a gryphon, this would be it.

"Mind your flying in this place…" Atley warns, glancing around.

Cressidha minds her flying in this place.

Sil collects and rides his sprightly gryphon, Nimbus.

Oranna minds her flying everywhere, but she seems especially nervous here, holding on so tightly to the gryphon's reins that if they were alive, she'd be strangling them to death.

Atley pulls in Thoras to a 'stop' in front of a giant pillar that repeatedly crumbles, floats, and then reassembles.

Atley nods down at the ground. "Earthen and troggs. This is it."

Sil seems at ease on the gryphon, despite the enclosed space of Deepholm.

Oranna doesn't even notice, she's just staring at her hands and keeping her head while they're aloft.

Atley nods swiftly. "Thin out the attackers!" he yells to his comrades.

"Oh, we've landed," Oranna says, several seconds after they've landed, hopping off to help.

After helping to clear the way, Atley grunts and lowers his voice to the others. "That must be him. Move smartly, you lot…"

Some of the floating rocks in this area are significantly larger.

Oranna nods, looking around with a pained sort of frown.

Crag Rockcrusher frowns. "Your arrival is timely, outlanders…" He suddenly clenches a giant stone fist in rage. "How dare they take our king prisoner!"

"We heard about that, yeah," Sil says. "We're here to help."

Crag Rockcrusher says, "We will take back Stonehearth and then move through the front to crush the stone troggs in their home!"

While Crag talks, Sil takes out a few vials and a cloth and carefully smooths poison over his blades.

Atley grunts. "Flint sent us to grant you aid. We've come as allies."

Oranna looks to the rock of a guy named Rockcrusher, the expression on her face clearly stating that she expects he's going to crush this rock.

Crag's blue eyes shimmer in thought for a moment. "The Stonefather's son, Flint, sent you? No time to talk. We must prevent a second front from opening up on the war!"

Atley inclines his head in agreement.

Crag Rockcrusher says, "Before you can help us here, you're going to have to deal with Therazane, the Stone Mother's forces to the south. The elementals and giants upon the Quaking Fields are being mustered…"

Sil's eyes widen as the description continues… giants, elementals, troggs, stone mothers…

Crag Rockcrusher explains, "They, too, are after the middle fragment of the World Pillar. They'll attack us amidst our war with the stone troggs and we'll be unable to repel them. I've sent the arch geomancer ahead. You say you come as allies? Prove it! Get to Slate Quicksand and do as he asks!"

Oranna squints at Crag Rockcrusher at the name quaking fields. "Are those… literally quakin' fields? Like earthquakin'? I mean, obviously, ah, earth quakin' because…we're in the… earth… plane…" She trails off awkwardly.

Crag Rockcrusher doubletakes Oranna. He stares for a long moment, visibly confused and distracted by something, before he finally shakes his head and digests her question.
"Yes!"

Atley nods slowly. "Very well then. You heard him, you lot. Let's get into the fight."

Oranna nods in response, and looks over at Dane. "We'll have ta keep tha' in mind. I'm a good shot, but in an earthquake, e'erything gets topsy turvey."

Atley grunts. "We'll deal with the obstacles as they arise."

Cressidha murmurs, "Therazane's forces…"

"I'm good at keeping my feet. I'll guard if there's too much quaking," Sil says, looking ahead.

Cressidha pulls out Marina's bracers and tosses them out.

Marina burbles. Time to throw splashy water at some rock troggs.

Sil pauses to pick a heartblossom. Then he rushes back in to kill stone troggs.

Oranna glances over at Marina. "Oh! It's a water elemental. Do ye think — would she have been able ta talk ta the fire one? Or do they speak, ah, different dialects? Firey or…bubbly?"

"Earthen are outnumbered…" Atley observes with a growl, shaking his head to himself at 'fifteen thousand years.'

Atley looks to Marina and nods. "Same tongue, innit'?"

"The fire elemental spoke Common," Cressidha points out. "I did not expect it to. But… I think they would have been able to communicate."

Sil peers over the cliff to the fields below and whistles. "Look at the size of that giant."

Oranna sighs heavily. "It's like we're doomed ta sieges, the Earthern born. Can't escape them, no matter where we are. We always end up in this same sort o' fight," she says.

"Maybe this time we can do something to help end it. After fifteen thousand years," Sil says.

Atley grunts in thought at Oranna for a moment before he shakes his head. "Your fate is yours to decide."

They come to the edge of a very steep cliff ledge.

Cressidha takes out a bundle of feathers.

"On your mark, Cress." Atley says.

Oranna presses her lips together into a line, shaking her head. "It's like I jus' go from one ta another. Ironforge, Northrend, Deepholm. Always trying ta break the siege."

Cressidha tosses the feathers up into the air. You get a slow fall. And you get a slow fall!

Atley leaps off the edge.

Oranna looks green as she steps off the cliff, closing her eyes the whole way down.

Sil doesn't hesitate, but just steps off the ledge once he feels the magic take hold.

The magic is a steady and consistent descent.

Oranna lands in a heap, with an oof as she fails to get her feet under her, even when they are back on the ground.

Cressidha offers Oranna a hand up.

Atley turns to offer Oranna a hand up.

Oranna scrambles back up to her feet with Cress' hand, and then Dane's hand. It's awkward.

Sil does not, as Oranna has two hands only, and they are now occupied.

Atley examines Befound as well.

"I'm - I'm fine. I'm jus'… no' good with. With fallin'," Oranna says, her voice squeaky and her throat sounding like she needs water. She drinks some water.

Atley approaches a group of Stonehearth Defenders. "Where's Slate Quicksand?"

Slate Quicksand blinks at them and raises a hand.

Atley grunts and marches over to Slate Quicksand.

"We've got more important things ta worry aboot," Oranna says, nodding over at the Defenders.

"Of course," Cressidha says. She pats Oranna's shoulder once and steps away.

"But you still came down with us," Sil says, with a reassuring smile.

Marina burbles.

Oranna offers Sil a shaky smile back.

Slate Quicksand says, "I suppose you're the softlings sent to aid us. We must keep Therazane's forces from attacking Stonehearth. If they do, they will steal the middle fragment of the World Pillar."

Atley grunts. "Wot' needs doing?"

"And you must be the Arch Geomancer." Cressidha nods politely. "How may we be of assistance?"

"Steal? So they're workin' with the cult… probably…" Sil looks troubled.

Oranna puts her water away, and her face twists a little at softlings, like she's actively comparing it to fleshling and other such names, and trying to fit it into a ranking system. "Softlin's," she mutters.

Slate Quicksand nods once. "We'll have to act fast to prevent Therazane's forces from attacking." He points behind them. "The emerald colossi are the greatest of the Stone Mother's creatures. They must be the first to be removed from the field."

Slate Quicksand produces a giant axe. "I brought Stonefather Oremantle's axe for just this task. Use it to sunder the giants. That should bring them down to a more manageable size."

Atley reaches out to accept the axe with a gruff frown.

"A giant-sundering axe," Sil says, impressed.

Slate Quicksand continues. "You're going to have to deal with the leader of Therazane's forces here. However, to get you to him quickly and safely, I'm going to need to perform a ritual."

Oranna looks up at the Geomancer roughly two Cressidha's high, and it's obvious on her face that she's wondering what he thinks of as more manageable size.

Slate Quicksand, again, points behind them. "Go out into the field and collect elemental ore from the ragers. With enough of it, I should be able to make you one with the ground to get you where you need to go."

"Why are Therazane's forces attacking?" Cressidha asks. "Has she been driven to violence by the sundering of the World Pillar?"

Oranna makes a faint ehhh sound at the mention of making her one with the ground.

Slate Quicksand. "That's what some believe. The Lady of Earth has not given us much chance to ponder it with her constant onslaught."

Atley looks to Oranna and gives a reassuring nod.

"Ah." Cressidha nods. "Very well."

Sil looks intrigued by the ritual.

Atley hefts the axe and turns, looking to the others. "Let's go slay giants, then."

"I'm already fair one with th' ground. I hope it doesn't lead ta… rocky bits," Oranna mutters.

"I cannot say," Atley growls contemplatively.

"These little ones must be the ragers," Atley observes.

"Therazane is… the leader for earth, like Ragnaros is for fire and Neptulon for water, " Sil says, with the air of someone trying to remember something they read.

"Indeed." Cressidha nods.

"Wot' do you know of her? Can she be made an ally, or is she as mad as the Firelord?" Atley growls.

"So we're about fifty-fifty so far on them being on our side or the Old Gods," Sil observes.

Atley grunts. "I understand Neptulon was more 'reasonable.'"

"Ye'd think tha' an Earthlady would be slow ta anger, but if she's been part o' the warrin' in here for fifteen thousand years, tha's probably enough time fer even the slowest o' angers," Oranna muses.

Atley winds up and throws the axe at the Emerald Colossus with a loud grunt of exertion.

"Yeah, Ben and his team talked to him, helped him out," Sil nods. "He's not fighting for us, but he's keeping his realm in order."

"With hope, we can get the same from this Therazane," Atley growls. He passively examines some of the collected elemental ore.

Oranna scoffs at the reasonable size version. It's still like, 8 Cressidha's high. "Manageable size my earthy feet," she mutters.

"Earth is also closest to Deathwing, I reckon," Sil says thoughtfully. "Though maybe she doesn't like him. You never know."

Cressidha covers her mouth to hide a smile.

"Properly fed, these. More minerals, p'raps," Atley growls.

Sil grins at Oranna.

As they roam, Atley takes a moment to look skyward, admiring the view with wary awe. He shakes his head.

Oranna looks uneasily up.

Cressidha regularly layers fresh ice over her ice barrier as it gets chipped by floating rocks.

Sil catches the direction of Dane's gaze and says quietly, "Feels a bit like being indoors, doesn't it?"

Atley grunts. "If you'd have told me when I joined Cobalt about half the things we'd see, I'd have called you mad."

"S'a bit like Ironforge, like bein' under the mountain," Oranna says.

Sil nods at Oranna. "I could see that. Less lava, though."

Atley spits a rock out of his mouth with a grumble.

"Here, at least. I wonder if tha's a our world thing, of magma, with fire an' earth. Or does it belong ta fire? Or are there pools here?" Oranna asks.

Atley grunts. "Mm? Wot' do you mean?"

"That's a thought. It's kinda both, isn't it? Fire when hot, then cools to earth…" Sil ponders.

"Magma. I've no' seen any so far here in earth, but magma's liquid rock, so, ye'd think… earth plane. Rocks," Oranna says.

Cressidha is quiet, freezing the stone giants' joints in key places with rapid precision as they fight.

Sil's poison doesn't seem super effective against stone, but his daggers are. Here's hoping they don't chip.

Befound's teeth feel the same way, Sil.

Thunderfury seems to have no issue carving large gashes in the limbs of the giants.

Atley grunts. "A fine question. May need a shaman to answer it. We've the ore and we've done enough giants in — let's return."

"But it's on fire, so. It's no'…all rock?" Oranna mutters to herself, as she nods.

Slate Quicksand perks up. "Thank you, softlings. Without all of their giants, Therazane's forces will have a harder time taking Stonehearth."

Slate Quicksand holds out a hand. "Now, if you please, hand back the axe. I'll keep it safe until you can rescue the Stonefather."

Atley steps forward and hands the great axe over.

"Tha's us. Softlings makin' it harder," Oranna says.

Sil chuckles.

"Are we off to save the Stonefather now, then?" Sil asks hopefully.

Slate Quicksand raises his rocky brows. "My apologies. Does this term offend you? You are all very strange looking."

Sil looks at the others. "I guess it's inclusive? Since we're not all one race?"

Atley grunts.

"It does not offend me," Cressidha says, and shrugs.

Oranna shrugs. "Well, aye, but jus' for a lookin' strange, we've got flesh cursed all of us. Ye could call us Cobalt Company though, as another option that we all are," Oranna says.

"Cobalt… but you don't look to be made of — very well." Slate Quicksand settles.

"Tha's our, ah, company, no'… we're no' made of cobalt, jus'…it's a…" Oranna tries, gesturing at her tabard. "No' a cult, either. Jus' matchin' tabard."

Atley hands over the elemental ore. Slate Quicksand. "These should do," the earthen says. "I'll just need a moment to prepare the ritual."

Cressidha presses her lips together, biting back a comment. If only Azizia were here.

Slate Quicksand grins. "I do not fault you for choosing an earthbound object as a totem!"

"Righ'. The ritual. Fer being more…earthybound than our company…tabard makes us," Oranna finishes lamely.

"Good," Atley says.

"Always good to be more earthybound," Sil says seriously.

Oranna's chuckle bursts out of her and she tries to stifle it, half successfully.

Sil grins back at her.

Slate Quicksand turns on Sil. "To answer your question, softl –… Cobaltling, the leader of the Stone Mother's forces here is the great earth elemental lord, Avalanchion. Luckily for us, the Twilight's Hammer cultists have decided to invade his lair."

"Oh, so she's not… that's good news, actually," Sil says, brightening.

"Is tha' lucky?" Oranna asks. "After all they've done so far ta corrupt some, it seems like maybe tha's….no'…the most lucky thing?"

Slate Quicksand explains, "They're seeking to bind his elementals to their will. We will take advantage of the chaos. The earth ritual that I invoke will make you one with the ground. It will take you near to Avalanchion without alerting him to your presence. Will you be able to slay him?"
Atley nods. "Yes."

"No problem," Sil says with a firm nod.

"Oh, so we're… still… slayin' then?" Oranna asks, looking up at Dane. "Ah. Righ'."

Cressidha collects Marina's bracers. "Very well."

Slate Quicksand nods, and looks to the others. "Yes. There are the troggs, the forces of Therazane, the vile Twilight's Hammer outlanders, and us."

Sil turns to Oranna. "If they're attacking her, it must mean she's not corrupted yet, right? Or she'd be on the cult's side. But we still got to keep her from attacking the Earthen."

Atley nods at Oranna.

Slate Quicksand also nods at Sil.

Slate Quicksand adds. "Avalanchion is aptly named. Take care that he does not crush your little bodies."

Atley grunts.

"Oh, avalanche-ion," Oranna says slowly. "Well, tha' makes…sense."

"Just let me know when you're ready for the ritual, Cobaltlings," Slate says.

Cressidha nods. "We shall be careful."

Sil pats his little chest carefully. "We'll keep our little bodies safe."

Atley looks between his comrades and nods. "We're prepared."

Slate conducts the ritual, and the four of them are absorbed into the earth. After a dizzying feat of transportation, they arrive in Avalanchion's Vault.

Atley pats himself down, then inspects his comrades.

Sil pops out of the ground dazed and unsteady. "WHOA. Do dwarves do that sometimes? Or is that new?"

Cressidha gets her bearings, pulling up her ice barrier as she spots Avalanchion close enough to overhear them. "Careful!"

Oranna brushes at her tabard, muttering to herself. "I canna speak fer all dwarves, but Ah've ne'er done tha' afore," she says.

Sil nods and silently slips into shadow.

Atley grunts at Avalanchion. "That'd be him, then. Slay him, and make safe Stonehearth."

Cressidha throws out Marina's bracers.

"I jus' turn ta stone sometimes, no' like a drill," Oranna mutters.

"Mind that edge, you lot," he growls.

Marina burbles at Avalanchion.

Oranna looks uneasily at the edge.

"Do me know you? No matter. Me crush your bones!" Avalanchion proceeds to try and crush their bones.

Atley raises his shield to deflect a direct blow. It's surprisingly effective!

Sil protects his little body, and does his best to protect the little bodies of his friends.

Befound gnaws at one of the floating rocks that serve as feet, trying to hamstring an unhamstringable being.

Cressidha's ice barrier shatters under a thrown boulder, but she is able to bring the barrier up again.

Sil's method of protection is mostly rapid stabbing of Avalanchion, though, it should be said.

Once Avalanchion falls, Atley nods at Befound with a small growl of approval. "I see this one's not lost any of their sand."

"Ach, Befound, no' yer teeth. Claws, lass, claws," Oranna says, as the snow leopard returns to her side, looking catly smug.

"Bit cheeky…" Atley observes with a growl.

Sil examines the edge of one dagger. "They're holding up so far. Hope her teeth are, too."

Did you hear that, Oranna, Befound has not lost any of her sand. She's cheeky and sandy.

[Atley]: "This front's been solidified. Let's return to Crag Rockcrusher. Cut down everything in our way here — it'll ease the pressure on Stonehearth."

Oranna nods to Dane. "Aye, she shouldna be usin' her teeth, though. No' as easy ta replace as claws, or ah, daggers, with… I mean, ye can get another dagger, no' regrow it, like…a leopard," Oranna says to Sil.

"Only wish I'd brought some raw meat for her to enjoy. Nothing else worth chewing on in this place," Atley growls as they carve through elementals and Twilight's Hammer cultists.

"Yeah, for sure, replacing teeth would be way harder," Sil nods. "Might need some special leopard-healing magic."

Cressidha curves a cone of cold around Befound, Sil, and Dane.

"Oh, she's go' her fish, an' she knows it," Oranna adds sternly to Befound, who is already turning Beggin' Eyes on Oranna.

"I've got some venison, but it's jerky," Sil offers.

Atley scoffs fondly. "All beasts are bloody mercenary, aren't they… My hound Fang's the same."

Pls, Mr. Dane, Mr. Sil, Befound is a poor starving creature, who has never been fed, not once, in all her life.

"Don't ye even try it, lass. Dane an' Sil aren't suckers like th' innkeeper," Oranna scolds.

Atley pauses between fights to carefully try and scritch scratch Befound's head.

"I'd not go that far," Atley says to Oranna with amusement.

Befound gives a deep rumbly purr at Dane, enough to rattle teeth.

"Mm. Strong." Atley observes.

Sil grins.

Sil sheathes his daggers as the team moves out of the cave.

Atley grunts. "We'll need to fly out. Summon your gryphons. And rug."

Cressidha collects Marina's bracers.

Thoras swoops in with a deafening shriek and hovers. Atley hops down onto the gryphon, who doesn't seem perturbed at all by the weight or momentum.

Oranna uses her gryphon whistle, looking a little pale as she climbs up onto her. Oranna's gryphon looks as placid as ever.

The rug lives in one of Cressidha's bags. It gets taken out, not summoned.

Sil whistles and Nimbus flies in from the distance, making a lazy, playful spin.

"Let's fly!" Atley growls.

Sil mounts his gryphon, who is at least well-trained enough to not do loops when it's Serious Work time.

Oranna's gryphon by contrast looks like she's never done a loopity loop in all her life. Oranna clings to her as if she is expecting non-stop loopity loops.

Thoras swoops down, and Atley dismounts.

Oranna takes a moment to realize they're on the ground, and then gets her feet back on it with a whoosh of breath.

Nimbus lands lightly, and Sil dismounts.

"Crag," Atley greets with a growl. "We've shored up your south-eastern flank. Put a number of giants and elementals under Therazane's command to the sword, as well as a few dozen Twilight's Hammer cultists — and Avalanchion."

Crag Rockcrusher looks at them in surprise before he bows. "You've done what few others could have. Defeating Avalanchion was no small feat. You have proven your worth…"
Atley grunts.

Sil stands like a proud soft Cobaltling.

Crag Rockcrusher says, "I'm impressed. We will need time to organize, but can we count on you in our war against the stone troggs so that we can rescue the Stonefather?"

"You'll let us know when you have a plan for the Stonefather's rescue mission, I should hope." Cressidha nods.

Atley gestures to Cressidha. "You can call upon us at the Temple. We will hear the call."
Crag Rockcrusher nods. "Very well. Thank you."

"Of course, that's what we came here for," Sil agrees with the other two.

Oranna grips SUNBEAM and nods with grim determination. "I've no' got fifteen thousand years o' experience, but I've got no small measure o' it with sieges in general. I can stay an' keep a perimeter up, best I can," Oranna pledges.

"Crag," Atley growls, inclining his head.

Crag Rockcrusher rumbles in thought. "Not so soft… You and that exploding … 'stone' will be gratefully accepted."

Atley grunts and nods with approval.

Oranna gives Crag a warm smile, though her eyes are a little haunted, as she glances off to the right for a long moment, and then back to him. "Righ'. I'll ah…see if I can find a window or a shelter or sommat."

Cressidha conjures some extra water for Oranna. "Here."

"As for now, you lot, on me," Atley growls, marching away.

Oranna looks up at Cress and down to the water bottle, "Oh, aye, thank ye."

Cressidha nods. "Of course." She follows Dane a little ways away from the Earthen.

Sil follows the team as well.

Atley raises a hand and flicks a floating stone away. "Fine fighting today, you lot. We've made allies of these. If any of you others are to stay here and hold the fort, have a care. The troggs will be as unceasing as ever."

Atley asks, "Any of you have anything for me?"

"Not that I can think of," Sil says, looking to the others.

Oranna shakes her head. "I'll jus' be stayin' here, fer the week. I can see they've got some small windows o'er in some of the buildings tha' a sniper can use, an'… well. I'm …" Oranan trails off. She's a sniper.

"Right," Atley growls. "Then dismissed. Be ready for Crag's call. It may come at any moment."

"We did well, given that we did not have a healer," Cressidha says carefully. "I would still prefer we have one in the future."

Atley grunts. "A warranted statement. Unfortunately, the Cataclysm has us all stretched thin. We'll make do with wot' we have and press onward."

Oranna looks over at Cress. "Ah, yer no' suggestin'… th'… 'alchemical genius' goblin are ye?" Oranna asks incredulously.

Atley grimaces at the very idea.

"No," Cressidha says. "I was thinking of Ace Stormhammer."

[Atley]: "Ace made a great account of herself in the Stonecore, and many others places. I'd have her fight beside us if the Earthen Ring can spare her."

"We could always ask, raise the request, yeah?" Sil says.

"Oh, Stormhammer's daughter? She'd be welcome, aye," Oranna says with relief. Whew. No explosion heals.

Atley looks to Cressidha. "Are you returning to the temple to have Marina speak with Magmatooth? You could ask for Ace."

"I'll go settle in here," Oranna says, waving goodbye to the group.

"Take care, Oranna," Sil waves.

"I was planning to speak with, ah, Earthcaller Yevaa. Perhaps you could put in a request to Jo, Dane?" Cressidha waves to Oranna.

"And I'll be at the Temple, in case anything else comes up," Sil nods.

"I may, though the Captain wouldn't have sent us understaffed deliberately, especially if she thought t'was a hazard. We may be given a healer, and we may not. Best prepare for either outcome," Atley says.

Atley inclines his head to Sil.

Cressidha sighs. "Understood." She climbs back on her carpet.

Atley whistles for Thoras.