(2024-11-19) Valonforths Go Forth to Outland

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Author:	Alli
Summary:	Sophiette, Hugo and Dara go to Outland as Cobalt reinforcements on the heels of the Cobalt Blade deployment.
Rating:	T for Teen

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Dara, Sophiette, and Hugo meet up at Nethergarde Keep in the Blasted Lands.

Dara waves happily. "Sophie, Hugo! Are you ready to see another world?"

Hugo Valonforth nods emphatically.

Sophiette takes Dara into her arms for a warm embrace. "I'm not sure I'll ever be entirely ready. It's hard to imagine."

Dara wraps her arms around Sophiette. Then she pulls back enough to look at her face. "We won't have to imagine for long. It'll be right there."

[Sophiette]: An entire alien world. Or…what's left of it. It boggles the mind.

[Dara]: Indeed. And when I think of what came from that world… well… I suppose the draenei made their home there, so it wasn't all bad.

[Sophiette]: I've been reviewing Cobalt Company's records on Outland. Apparently there are still some pockets of it that resemble old Draenor.

[Dara]: Really? I hope we get to see those parts. *Dara steps back, but slides her hand down to take Sophiette's.* Shall we?

Sophiette gives Dara's hand a squeeze and nods firmly. "Let's mount up!"

Dara retrieves her horse.

The three of them ride south swiftly to the portal!

Sophiette slows as they enter the crater surrounding the Dark Portal.

[Dara]: This is it, *Dara says in hushed awe.* The Dark Portal.

They approach it cautiously.

Hugo Valonforth says: Whooooaaa…

[Sophiette]: It looks so…fel.

[Dara]: Hugo, you don't need to be frightened. Many people went through it, it's perfectly safe. *Dara's nervous smile says that she may be saying this more for her own benefit*

Hugo Valonforth says: I'm not frightened!
Hugo Valonforth puffs himself up a bit.

[Dara]: Okay, then… onward we go?

Sophiette nods. "Onward."

Sophiette holds her breath as she enters the Portal.
Dara holds her breath.

They pass through the Dark Portal and enter an alien world.

Dara lets out her breath in a rush, staring up at the sky.
[Dara]: It's like a night sky… but but… the colors…

Sophiette looks up with eyes wide.
[Sophiette]: Phenomenal…

Hugo Valonforth says: Phumomnable…

[Dara]: I didn't expect it to be so beautiful.

[Sophiette]: I suppose it is…but eerie, too.

As the land comes into better view, Dara's eyes widen. "It's like the Blasted Lands on this side, too."

Commander Duron says: More Cobalt reinforcements, I see? It’s been a few years since we’ve had your folk with us over here in force, though we still get a few now and again.

[Sophiette]: More? You've had other Cobalt Company here lately?

Commander Duron says: Yes, the tabard's well-known in general. Most recently, the Cobalt Blade arrived here to deal with some recent troubling developments.

[Dara]: Well, we're here as well, so whatever we can do to help…

Commander Duron says: Glad to hear it. You'll want to report to Honor Hold - Amish over there can set you up with a ride.

Sophiette nods and salutes.

Dara salutes as well.

Hugo Valonforth says: Are we gonna meet the Cobalt Blade?!

[Sophiette]: Oh Light…maybe? Uh….

[Dara]: Oh, well, I'm not sure? Maybe, if they're in the same area.
[Dara]: Don't be disappointed if they aren't as impressive as they are in the books, Hugo.

Sophiette murmurs, "I'm a bit worried that they are like they're depicted in…certain books."

Dara giggles.

Dara spots a dwarf near some gryphons. "Are you Amish? We're here for a ride to Honor Hold."

Amish Wildhammer says: Aye, that's me. More Cobalt? Good ta have ye. Let me send ye on yer way, and Marshal Isildor’s the man to talk to you route ye ta where yer needed.

[Sophiette]: Thank you, sir.

Dara smiles.

Sophiette clears her throat. "We're looking for Marshal Isildor?"

Marshal Isildor says: More Cobalt Company? Splendid. You’ll want to check in with Force Commander Trollbane.

[Dara]: Oh, we… okay.
[Dara]: Can you tell us a bit of what the situation might be?

Marshal Isildor says: We’re not at war anymore, but Outland still isn’t safe. There’s been trouble with the fel orcs lately, and the Cobalt Blade’s been following it up.
Marshal Isildor says: These days it’s a skeleton crew here, so yes, there’s work to be done while we wait for the Blade to report back on what the orcs are up to.

[Dara]: Okay, so we'll check in with the Force Commander.

They head for the keep to speak to Force Commander Trollbane.

[Dara]: It all seems very… utilitarian here, doesn't it?
[Dara]: I suppose at least they must be able to ship comforts from home these days.

[Sophiette]: I suppose that's out of necessity. It doesn't seem like there is much in the way of resources available.

Dara nods thoughtfully. "I do hope whatever this new trouble is, it's easily dealt with."

They reach the top, where Force Commander Danath Trollbane does his managing.

Dara salutes Force Commander Danath Trollbane with respect.

Sophiette salutes Force Commander Danath Trollbane with respect.
[Sophiette]: Force Commander Trollbane? Lady Dara Tennerow and Lady Sophiette Valonforth reporting.

Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: Welcome to Hellfire Peninsula, ladies. You're here as reinforcements?

[Dara]: Yes, we've heard there's new trouble with the orcs?

Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: You could say that, indeed. I need you to report to Dumphry at the tower just outside of town. The Bonechewer orcs continue to be a thorn in our side, despite the recent efforts to drive them away.
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: Dismissed.

Sophiette salutes. "Aye, sir."

Dara salutes Force Commander Danath Trollbane with respect.

The two ladies and Hugo head downstairs.

[Sophiette]: He gets right to the point, doesn't he?

[Dara]: Yes, he does, no words wasted.
[Dara]: I suppose he must be used to having to run a low-resource operation.

Sophiette nods.
Sophiette murmurs. "So many grayhairs among the troops here. They've been here so long."

Dara nods at Sophiette. "If you'd spent twenty years here already, perhaps some of them think of this place as home now."

[Sophiette]: I imagine returning to Azeroth might be just as shocking to them as it was for us stepping through that Portal.

Dara nods sadly, looking at the elderly guards as they pass out of the settlement.
Dara pauses. "Goodness, is that the orc place? It's all… spiky."

[Sophiette]: That certainly seems to line up with orcish aesthetic.

[Dara]: From our experience in the Burning Steppes, certainly.

They arrive at the tower.

Dara looks around at the Alliance tower. "Is there a Dumphry here?"

Dumphry says: Aye, et's me. Yer the reinforcements I was promised? Glad ta see ye.

[Sophiette]: That's us.

[Dara]: What can we do for you?

Dumphry says: It's still orc problems. The Cobalt Blade put a lot of these Bonechewer Orcs to the sword. Even so, they’re starting to send out more from Hellfire Citadel, now that the Blade’s off investigating the Bleeding Hollow to the south.
Dumphry says: They’re after scrap wood and metal for something or other, and we need to deprive them of it. Can ye drive them off again, and also recover as much salvage as ye can? Better we have it than they.

[Dara]: That is certainly something we can do.

Dumphry says: Be careful - the orcs are startin' ta get their fighting spirit back, though they're still a bit weak.

The two head off towards the orcs and salvage.

[Sophiette]: Seems a bit like busy work. But…I suppose we have to prove our mettle everywhere we go.

[Dara]: I suppose in this case it makes a little more sense, it is literally another world.
[Dara]: Hugo, you stay back while we fight orcs.

Hugo Valonforth says: When do I get to fight?

[Dara]: When you're older.

Sophiette smiles.

Hugo Valonforth sighs.

Dara smiles. "There's no need to rush time, it'll happen soon enough as it is."

Dara and Sophiette fight some orcs. Then a giant fel boar makes an appearance.

[Sophiette]: Light's mercy, look at that boar!

Deranged Helboar goes into a frenzy!

Dara boggles at the boar. "Is it supposed to be that big? And to have… orange hair like that?"
[Dara]: I suppose it is an alien boar.

[Sophiette]: All those spikes…just like on these fel orcs.

[Dara]: Perhaps the boars are poisoned with fel as well.

[Sophiette]: The reports said this region was once overflowing with demons.

[Dara]: I expect that would be the cause then, though I admit I know little of how demons would affect local wildlife.

[Sophiette]: Apparently the Legion is quite prone to mutating existing life to bolster their own ranks.

[Sophiette]: I suppose they could have done so with the boars.

[Dara]: I suppose so, yes.

Many more bonechewer orcs are killed, while the three of them collect scrap metal and wood.

[Dara]: There certainly are a lot of materials around here.
[Dara]: It must be the wreckage from the fighting a few years back.

[Sophiette]: It's no wonder the Bonechewers are being so persistent. Though…what do they need all this for?

[Dara]: I've no idea. I thought they were soundly beat. They were… Illidan Stormrage's forces in the end, right?

[Sophiette]: So the reports say, yes.

The team heads back to the tower with their collection of salvage.

[Dara]: Dumphry, sir, we've collected what we could and drove off the orcs.

[Sophiette]: At least for now.

Dumphry says: Good, good.
Dumphry says: While ye were out, I got some intel as to what they’re doin’ with that scrap. The blasted orcs have started building blade-throwers! Naturally, we can’t let that go.

[Dara]: Blade-throwers? That doesn't sound good.

Dumphry says: Not at all. They’re just across the Path of Glory, ye can probably see the structures from here. Would ye mind settin’ ‘em on fire before the orcs get ‘em operational?

[Sophiette]: Leave it to us.
[Sophiette]: Hugo, this could get especially chaotic. Wait for me here.

[Dara]: Don't worry, I'm sure you'll have plenty of adventure here in Outland.

Hugo Valonforth sighs, but nods obediently.

The two women head out without their young squire in tow.

Sophiette sighs as well once they're out of earshot. "With so much fire and this dry landscape, I worry about his breathing."

Dara frowns. "Yes, the dust can't be good for him."
[Dara]: In any case hopefully we get to a better part of Outland soon.

They approach the edge of the Path of Glory.

Dara peers across the path. "Ah, yes, I think I see the things they're building."

As they head down through, some orcs that seem considerably less lethargic attack. The ladies are able to defend themselves.

[Dara]: Goodness, these orcs are a bit stronger than the ones before.
[Dara]: I'm glad we left Hugo behind.

[Sophiette]: Aye!
[Sophiette]: He would have loved it, though.
[Sophiette]: Sometimes I wish he were more fearful.

Dara smiles ruefully. "I know what you mean, but…"
[Dara]: I think it would hurt to see him in fear. He's always so brave.

[Sophiette]: He is. One day, he'll be a great knight. I have no doubt about it.
[Sophiette]: Still…fear has its uses.

Dara looks at the blade-throwers as they approach. "These look nearly operational already. And yes, we're here because the defenders are afraid of what these weapons might do."
[Dara]: That's useful.
[Dara]: I would just hate anything to dim the innocent light in his eyes, though I know it's likely to happen someday.

[Sophiette]: I know. It's hard…because the whole point of squiring him is to help him overcome youthful innocence.
[Sophiette]: He has to learn some hard truths if he's ever to be a knight.

Dara sighs as the last of the Bonechewer orcs falls. "I hope he'll gain more than he loses, as he grows up."
[Dara]: Let's set this on fire?

They set the blade-thrower on fire.

Sophiette nods.
[Sophiette]: Oh, that went right up!
[Sophiette]: Three to go!

They set the second one on fire.

[Dara]: And the second…
It lights up easily.
Dara coughs a little in the smoke.
[Dara]: Yes, definitely for the best he stayed behind.
[Dara]: Are there any… hard truths you think he needs to learn soon?

[Sophiette]: Given that even an encounter with Deathwing didn't seem to give him pause…
[Sophiette]: …I think he needs to learn he is not invulnerable.

Dara frowns, but nods, as Sophiette lights up another blade-thrower.

A few orcs try to defend the blade-thrower.

[Sophiette]: Face the Light's justice!

They face the Light’s justice.

[Dara]: I am not sure how to teach him that, but for him to be hurt badly.
Dara may or may not have ever actually learned this.
[Dara]: As long as we're around, we'll heal him, obviously.
Dara lights up the last blade-thrower.

They head back towards the tower and Hugo.

[Sophiette]: It's something we all learn eventually…and yes, usually through pain.
Sophiette frowns.

[Dara]: Deathwing might have frightened him more if he remembered it.
[Dara]: But then again… we were alright. You brought us back.

[Sophiette]: I agree…but I'm glad he doesn't remember. That might have been too much a fright.

[Dara]: I'd like for all three of us to avoid anything too frightening.

[Sophiette]: That would be nice…but it's not exactly the path we've chosen.

Dara shrugs. "I know you'll protect me, whatever happens. As I will watch over you."

They arrive at the tower.

Dara salutes Dumphry with respect.

[Sophiette]: Mr. Dumphry. I hope you can see the flames from here.
Sophiette smiles.

Dumphry says: Aye, lass, I can see it. Well done, the both of you.
Dumphry says: I think that’ll hold the Bonechewers for now. Ye can head back to Honor Hold, and I'm sure Trollbane'll have more work for ye soon.

Hugo Valonforth rushes back to his sister's — and soon to be sister-in-law's — sides when they return.

[Sophiette]: It's our honor to be of service, sir.

[Dara]: Please do contact us if there's more we can do!

Hugo Valonforth says: There's nothing we can't handle!

Sophiette chuckles at Hugo…and sighs a little.

Dumphry says: Will do, lasses. Good ta have ye on our side. And the lad, too. *Dumphry grins*

[Dara]: Back to Honor Hold for now? It should be safe enough, without all the battling.

[Sophiette]: Aye, let's get some rest and a good meal in us.

Dara smiles at Sophiette, as they head back towards the inn.