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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Sophiette and Dara continue to help out in Hellfire Peninsula, following up primarily on some recent demonic troubles near Honor Hold. ~2900 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Dara and Sophiette meet in the common room of the inn at Honor Hold, Hellfire Peninsula.
Dara smiles at Sophiette. "Commander Trollbane said he wanted to speak with us again. Will Hugo join us today?"
[Sophiette]: Incredibly, Hugo has tuckered himself out. I'm letting him rest upstairs for now.
Dara raises her eyebrows. "And here I thought that child was an endless fount of energy. Well, perhaps it's for the best. We are in a dangerous land."
Sophiette chuckles. "It takes traveling to an alien world to tire him."
Dara giggles. "Well, now you know. In case you need to do that later."
Sophiette laughs aloud!
The two women head to the Keep to speak with Commander Trollbane.
Dara salutes Force Commander Danath Trollbane with respect.
Sophiette salutes Force Commander Danath Trollbane with respect.
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: Ladies Dara and Sophiette. Good, you're here.
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: I’ve heard your assistance was valuable in preventing the fel orcs from crafting new weapons to harry us. Now, I have another task for you.
[Dara]: Of course! What is it, sir?
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: In short, it’s demons. The Cobalt Blade has recently handled a patrol of demons escaping from Hellfire Citadel.
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: It’s not unheard of. We’ve had problems now and again with the Legion reopening their portals here to Outland - a serious concern and one we have to keep an eye on. No one wants another full-scale invasion.
[Dara]: Oh, goodness, naturally not.
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: The worst case we’ve had recently was up in Blades’ Edge back in summer, but a group out of Shattrath handled it before it got out of hand. That group included a few from your Cobalt Company, if I recall.
Sophiette nods. "What can we do to help, sir?"
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: What Cobalt Company seems to do best. Deal with the demons.
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: I’ve had reports from Sergeant Altumus that more demons have been sighted here in the peninsula, likely more from whatever group was in the Citadel.
Force Commander Danath Trollbane says: It’s probably just stragglers, but it needs clearing up. Seek out Sergeant Altumus near the eastern supply caravan. She has been monitoring the situation.
[Dara]: Yes, sir!
[Sophiette]: Aye, sir!
The two women head out of the Keep and out of Honor Hold.
[Dara]: It does seem that Cobalt does a lot of work out here, even with the main Invasion past.
[Dara]: Three groups fighting demons, including us, within the last months!
[Sophiette]: It's remarkable that the company has grown so much that it has the personnel for this.
[Dara]: Indeed! It seems we're nearly an army these days.
Dara salutes Sergeant Altumus with respect.
Sergeant Altumus says: Ah, you’re my support? She looks over the team critically. These demons I’ve spotted are dangerous - imps, infernals and the like.
Sergeant Altumus says: Well, if you're anything like the Blade, I imagine you can handle it. It’s a simple matter, I just need you to clear out the demons.
[Dara]: Oh, um, certainly. We excel at clearing out demons.
[Sophiette]: We're not just Cobalt Company, we're also with the Argent Crusade.
Sergeant Altumus says: Ah, then you've done your time against Dreadlords as well, I expect.
Sophiette nods solemnly. "We have," she says quietly.
[Dara]: Yes, indeed. We assisted with killing Balnazzar. That is, one of the times he was killed.
Sergeant Altumus says: Hopefully, you won't run into any Dreadlords here. But it's good to hear you can handle yourselves.
The two women head out to handle the demons.
[Dara]: As confident as I may have sounded… I hope we can handle the demons.
[Sophiette]: Trust in the Light.
The Light helps them kill an infernal.
Sophiette smiles at Dara as the infernal falls.
Dara smiles back at her.
[Dara]: Is Hugo very excited for Winter Veil?
[Sophiette]: Oh, of course. He keeps asking if Greatfather Winter will come to Outland.
Dara laughs.
[Dara]: Something tells me Greatfather Winter will arrive for him wherever you are.
Sophiette chuckles.
[Sophiette]: I didn't think to bring along Winter Veil gifts, though. I'm not sure what there is to find on this world.
[Dara]: It is not a very festive place, Hellfire Peninsula, despite the decorations.
[Dara]: Though I suppose we might head back, just for a few days at least?
[Sophiette]: It would give us the opportunity to visit Ironforge and see the…'actual' Greatfather.
Dara nods. "They always do such a wonderful tree there."
[Sophiette]: I confess a certain fondness for those holiday meats the goblins bring around.
[Dara]: Ooh, yes, there's some sort of spices they put in the sausages. Just delicious.
Dara looks around. "I think we've fair cleared the area."
[Sophiette]: You see? Trust in the Light!
Sophiette grins.
Dara grins. "Demons are no match for our faith."
We head back to Sergeant Altumus.
[Sophiette]: Sergeant, the demon party has been destroyed.
Sergeant Altumus says: Outstanding work! Our people will rest easier knowing that these creatures aren’t on their doorstep.
Sergeant Altumus says: Now, I've got your new orders, straight from Honor Hold… you’re to report to Foreman Biggums at the mine just next to Honor Hold.
[Dara]: The… mine?
Sergeant Altumus says: I expect there'll be more details when you arrive.
[Sophiette]: Very well.
Sophiette gives Dara a shrug.
[Dara]: I suppose we're here to help, we must be flexible.
The two of them ride back through Honor Hold and towards the local mine.
Dara smiles at the little pine trees as they pass through the center of Honor Hold.
[Dara]: Sir? Um, Foreman Biggums?
Foreman Biggums says: That's me! Ye'll be the backup I asked for?
[Sophiette]: We're Cobalt Company. We were sent to help you with…something.
Foreman Biggums says: Cobalt Company, wow! I’m glad to get some help down here. There’s not so many of us left, but the mine’s still operational - we still need the fel iron and adamantite to support our troops here and back home.
[Dara]: Well, we're not exactly miners… but what can we do to help?
Foreman Biggums says: The first thing I’d ask ye to help with is clearing out the supply lines. We send some of our ore back through the portal, and some on through Cenarion Refuge to the other camps.
Foreman Biggums says: Unfortunately, with less people here, the crust burster worm population has made a resurgence, and we’ve lost a number of shipments. Can ye clear them out a little, just west of here?
Sophiette peers west. "Ahh…those things moving around underground?"
[Dara]: Oh, that we could handle… *Dara's face pales a little as the 'worms' registers*
Foreman Biggums says: Exactly so. Ye'll see th' rumblin' before they burst up. Hence, 'crust bursters'.
[Sophiette]: Clever.
The two head out to fight some underground worms.
[Sophiette]: Hopefully these aren't as disgusting as the grubs in the Plaguelands.
[Dara]: Oh, Light, please let them not be.
[Dara]: Surely they don't eat them here, do they?
[Sophiette]: Maybe…? Food seems pretty scarce.
They kill a crust burster. It has an exoskeleton and pincers and is not very much like a grub.
[Dara]: Whatever they were serving yesterday had this awful hint of sulfur to it. I assumed it was boar.
Speaking of boards, a nearby Deranged Helboar goes into a frenzy! They kill it.
[Sophiette]: It doesn't seem especially safe, eating these boars.
[Sophiette]: They seem tainted.
[Dara]: Everything here does.
[Dara]: But I suppose if they've been here, twenty years, eating the boars…
Sophiette nods grimly.
[Dara]: In any case, between the two of us, I'm sure we could cleanse any taint that lingered.
[Sophiette]: I hope so. Fel taint is a foul and persistent thing.
We kill another crust burster.
[Sophiette]: What the-….
[Dara]: Perhaps I'll just make sure we have provisions sent from Redridge… what?
[Sophiette]: This worm vomited up something. It looks like a satchel.
[Dara]: Hm. They did say they were threatening the supply lines. It seems they send around more than just metal, then?
Sophiette holds up the eroded leather case.
[Sophiette]: What's this sigil on it? It's a bit worn away.
Dara peers at it. "It looks like a Cenarion symbol, doesn't it? Or am I seeing it wrong?"
[Dara]: A bit like a leaf. *Dara steps over to trace on the case.*
[Sophiette]: I'm not terribly familiar with the Cenarion Circle. I only know it by name.
[Dara]: I know little more, I confess, except for what we saw in the Nightmare. But we do have some of their number in Cobalt.
[Dara]: Oh! They said they sent things to the Cenarion Refuge!
[Dara]: Maybe that's where this is from!
[Sophiette]: Where is that, I wonder.
[Dara]: Let's ask when we go back in.
[Dara]: If Biggums trades with them, he must know.
[Sophiette]: Oh, good point.
We head back to the mine foreman.
Dara waves as they approach Foreman Biggums.
[Sophiette]: Your supply lines should be much safer now, Foreman.
[Dara]: I think that's the way well and cleared.
Foreman Biggums says: Well done, lasses. I expect they'll make a resurgence, but fer now, our lines should be secure.
[Dara]: You mentioned a Cenarion Refuge, before. Could you tell us where that is?
Foreman Biggums says: Oh, aye. It's off to the west, at the entrance to the Zangarmarsh. They’ve a little camp between here and there as well, the Cenarions.
[Dara]: We may have found some of their belongings… we'd like to return them.
Foreman Biggums says: Good of ye. But if ye don't mind stickin' around a while longer, I've another trouble here to ask yer help with.
[Sophiette]: Oh? What's the trouble?
Foreman Biggums says: Here's the thing. With less workers, our shifts run long… but the last crew hasn’t come out.
[Dara]: Hasn't come out?
Sophiette looks to the mine entrance with a frown of concern.
Foreman Biggums says: Aye. I don’t know what’s going on in there, but, if I learned anything from horror novels, the best approach is not sending one person in at a time to see if they’re alright.
[Dara]: So.. you want to send two.
Foreman Biggums says: Aye, that seems safe! That's what I thought exactly! How about I send two battle-hardened maidens in to see what’s what?
[Dara]: Well…. *Dara looks at Sophiette* I suppose we could check?
[Sophiette]: We are battle-hardened maidens, after all.
Sophiette smirks.
Dara grins.
Foreman Biggums says: Thank ye, kindly.
The two of them venture into the mine. They haven’t gone far when they encounter a small demonic creature.
Dara gasps. "Oh my gosh. What is that creature?"
[Dara]: These aren't miners.
[Sophiette]: What are they? Demons?
They are disturbingly enthusiastic, but fairly easily slain by Dara and Sophiette.
Dara peers at one. "They're hideous."
Gan'arg Sapper's eyes glow red as he begins to cackle madly! He is killed by the Light.
[Sophiette]: Like bloated goblins…
[Dara]: Red, glowing eyes… seems demonic to me.
[Dara]: This is underneath Honor Hold, too. That can't be good.
[Sophiette]: They must be trying to literally undermine the fortress!
[Dara]: Not if we have anything to say about it.
[Sophiette]: And we do!
We head back to the foreman to report.
[Dara]: Foreman! We did not find your miners, but the place is full of demon-like creatures!
[Sophiette]: They kept saying, "Oooh-yeah!" They really seem to enjoy their work.
Foreman Biggums says: What?! The mine’s overrun with demons?! I guess that doesn’t bode well for my miners, whether you found them or not.
[Sophiette]: I fear not.
Foreman Biggums says: We’ll need to clear them out before I send in the next shift. And ideally, you could find out the source of this infestation, so I can be sure I’m not sending the next crew to their deaths.
[Dara]: We've cleared most of them, but yes, we need to find out how they got in there.
[Sophiette]: We'll have to go a bit deeper, but we'll see it through.
The two head back into the mine.
[Sophiette]: Bones here…
[Dara]: Did they eat them?
[Sophiette]: I don't think the miners are still alive.
Dara bites her lip and shakes her head.
[Sophiette]: Foul wretches!
We kill some foul wretches.
[Sophiette]: What is that?
A larger creature is at the end of the cavern.
[Dara]: Is that the leader?
The large gan’arg engineer cackles as he lets a portal snap closed next to him. “No matter how many of my minions you kill, I can always bring in more!”
[Sophiette]: Not if we kill you, monster!
Sophiette and Dara make good on that threat.
As the gan’arg dies, he cackles, “I only return to the nether. You have done nothing to stop… what the Legion… has planned…”
[Sophiette]: Planned…?
[Dara]: Does he mean… undermining Honor Hold?
[Sophiette]: I cannot imagine it's that simple.
[Dara]: The Legion does not usually plan so small…
The two head back out of the mine.
[Sophiette]: Foreman, we found another demon…it seems as much machine as flesh.
[Sophiette]: It was summoning the others through a portal.
[Dara]: We killed it.
Foreman Biggums says: Ah, one o' them gan'arg creatures, aye?
[Sophiette]: Is that what they're called?
Foreman Biggums says: Yep, you used to get those up at the forge camps, but I'm not pleased to hear I had one in my mine.
[Sophiette]: I can't say how it got in there in the first place. But it's gone now.
Foreman Biggums says: That's fer the best. Then we can get this mine back on its feet again.
[Dara]: I'm sure the Alliance will be happy with you and your team's hard work.
[Sophiette]: Light be with you, Foreman.
Foreman Biggums says: And with you, lasses.
The two head out, and Dara turns to Sophiette.
[Dara]: Let's see if we can find that Cenarion camp?
[Sophiette]: Good idea. Hopefully whatever is in this case isn't too late.
The two ride west, in the direction of the Zangarmarsh. Vaguely draenei architecture is visible off to the right.
[Sophiette]: Looks like a settlement over there.
Dara peers over. "It does. Do you suppose it's friendly?"
[Sophiette]: Let's find out after we find the Cenarions. They're supposed to be near the way to some marsh, yes?
[Dara]: Yes… oh, tents up ahead, by the road.
[Sophiette]: Careful now…
Dara looks at the taurens warily, but relaxes a little when she sees the kaldorei. "Is this a Cenarion Circle camp?"
Sophiette approaches the encampment warily.
It’s a tauren who answers them, a woman.
Thiah Redmane says: It is. What can I do for you?
Sophiette 's brow lifts as the tauren addresses them in Common.
[Sophiette]: Ah…we found something that we believe was intended to come to you.
Thiah Redmane says: Ah… things do go missing around here. Let me see?
Sophiette offers the case, "Please excuse the state of it…and the mucus. A worm ate it."
Thiah Redmane says: Those worms. *Thiah chuckles.* Natural to the area, but still a nuisance at times. *She looks over the case.* Oh, thank you! These are the seeds I had sent from Mulgore. I'd wondered where they went astray.
[Sophiette]: Hopefully their time inside a worm didn't hurt the seeds.
Thiah Redmane says: I hope not - but it looks like the satchel is… mostly intact. This land is barren, but I'm determined not to give up. After what the Circle did in the Plaguelands, I feel like no land is beyond hope.
Sophiette smiles. "We saw for ourselves that Lordaeron is beginning to thrive again."
The tauren smiles at Sophiette.
[Dara]: Oh, I had another question. We saw a settlement to the north on our way here. Do you know it?
Thiah Redmane says: Do you mean the Temple of Telhamat? Yes, we know it. It's a Broken place. By which I mean, the Draenei Broken live there.
[Sophiette]: So, it's safe for the Alliance?
Thiah Redmane says: Certainly, though I myself wouldn't venture there. I trust my Cenarion brothers and sisters, but relations between our people suffer elsewhere.
[Dara]: Yes, that does seem to be the case.
Sophiette nods with a bit of a guilty expression. "Ah…yes, true."
A nearby kaldorei, Tola'thion, adds, "They do have an inn and a flight master, if you're looking for a way back to Honor Hold."
[Dara]: Oh, yes, that was on our mind. Thank you.
Dara glances to Sophiette. "It is much closer. Shall we ride there?":
[Sophiette]: Well…Hugo is in the care of a priest at the Hold. I'll have to send him word that we'll be returning later than expected.
[Dara]: I'm sure he'll be delighted to wander a little on his own. And sensible enough to do that wandering in the inn.
They arrive at the Temple of Telhamat and look around.
[Sophiette]: So this is what a draenei settlement looks like.
Dara looks up at the temple. "It's very pretty in its way."
Sophiette smiles. "It is. Strange…but pretty."
[Dara]: Shall we explore a little ourselves, and then fly back?
Sophiette nods. "Let's get off our feet for a bit and rest first."
Dara heads into the inn, smiling back at Sophiette.