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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Alysson, Ionala, Kenelly, Lireen and Maisha report back to Rheastrasza to help protect the uncorrupted black dragon egg from an angry black dragonflight. Deathwing is a difficult enemy to thwart. ~3700 (Conclusion of Badlands, introduces notable NPC) |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Badlands
Rheastrasza waves at the assembled Cobalt Company members.
[Lireen]: Hello dear.
Ionala greets Lireen with a hearty hello!
Kenelly greets Rhea with a hearty hello!
Rhea says: You’re back! Thank the Life-Binder. I have news, and it isn’t good.
Lireen frowns.
[Alysson]: Aw. Bad news? Someone drop the egg?
Ionala listens. Bad news? Oh no!
Kenelly winces at Alysson.
Rhea says: Dragon eggs are actually quite sturdy, so that wouldn't… I mean, it's worse than that!
Rhea says: In my haste to escape from Lethlor Ravine, I forgot to tie up one loose end: Nyxondra. She's free, and she's sounded the alarm among the black dragonflight.
[Lireen]: Oh, that en't so bad. I'm sure we can handle a few dragons.
Rhea says: I hope so, but it might be more than that. Half the flight is here in the western Badlands, combing for this egg.
[Lireen]: Is there somewhere we can hide it?
Rhea says: I'll take care of hiding the egg. I need you to take care of some of the more troublesome dragons. And I know you said you can handle it, but I've arranged help for you as well.
[Lireen]: I never say no ta help, aye.
Rhea says: Perfect. Talk to Eric, over on the other side of camp. He and his brothers will be joining you.
Rhea says: Also… do you mind if I speak with all of you through your minds? It’s a simple magic, really, and I won’t be able to read your thoughts.
[Maisha]: I… I suppose I do no' mind.
Lireen considers for a moment. "I suppose, dear. So long as ye dinna go pokin' around in there."
Rhea says: I promise you, I won't.
[Kenelly]: Ooh, that sounds interesting.
[Alysson]: Is it like hearin' Elune?
[Ionala]: Oh, that's all right. We all learn that in priest training.
Rhea says: If I sound like Elune to you, then sure!
[Lireen]: Let's find this Eric, then.
Maisha nods.
Maisha smiles at Nala. "Glad ye could join us. Do you all know Nala at all?"
[Lireen]: Do I know ye, lass? Forgive an old woman.
[Lireen]: I'm Maisha's ma.
[Maisha]: She's a pal of mine I did a lot of the crime-solvin' with.
[Alysson]: Crime solvin'!
[Kenelly]: I'm afraid I don't. It's lovely to meet you, Nala. I'm Lady Kenelly Ashewood.
[Lireen]: Aye, I never did get the names all straight.
[Ionala]: I'm Ionala Webster, Mrs. Cloudskimmer. You're probably used to me in priest robes.
[Maisha]: An th' other human one is Alysson. Let's go fetch this Eric, then?
The team heads over to the dwarves.
[Maisha]: Are you.. Eric?
Eric says: Aye! Me an’ my brothers are here to help you with the black dragons! Before we get too crazy with the dragon-killin', let me tell you a little bit about how I fight.
[Maisha]: Oh sure, good things to know.
Eric says: "The Swift" is what they call me, and here's why: I'll dash straight into your enemies - helmet first, mind you - and stun 'em for a few seconds. I also keep a few potions with me for tight spots.
His brother Baelog speaks up. "Before I start droppin' arrows on those dragons, I'd better introduce myself. I'm Baelog, the muscle of this group. My sword bites like a crocolisk, and my arrows sing like banshees."
[Alysson]: Does that… hurt people? Singin'?
[Maisha]: Banshees are no' known fer good singin' voices, but I take yer meanin', I think.
Baelog says: It'll hurt our enemies, aye. You give the word, and I'll send an aimed shot right through your target's heart. I can also cheer my brothers on, sending 'em into a battle-fueled frenzy.
Lireen, veteran of the Three Hammers war and survivor of Grim Batol, trainer of Cobalt Company warriors, says nothing at all about her own techniques.
Next Olaf speaks up. "You may have noticed, but I'm pretty big, as far as dwarves go. I make sure that my two brothers here don't get into too much trouble."
Olaf says: My brothers are small, and they don't have a big shield like me. I'm big, and I can handle a few monsters hitting me! Plus, if I'm careful, I can usually get them to hit my shield instead!
[Ionala]: Well! This is a very strong force!
Lireen smiles at the nearest young dwarf, looking like she's on the verge of giving his hair a tousle.
[Maisha]: Alright, so with the five o' us and the three o' you, we should be able to handle any dragon. Let's… maybe practice a bit together?
[Lireen]: Whatever ye say, dear.
The team heads out near the camp to test out their new teamwork skills on the local hostile wildlife.
[Kenelly]: Well, I'm certainly impressed!
[Maisha]: I think with this, we'll fer sure be able to deal with the dragons.
[Alysson]: We're gonna be the best Dragon Defender team!
Lireen appears quietly confident.
The voice of Rhea comes into all of our minds. "Hello, my Cobalt friends. It looks like you have had time to become well-acquainted."
[Lireen]: Hm, that is a bit peculiar.
[Kenelly]: It's remarkable!
Her voice continues, "I have my first assignment for you. Kalaran, an ancient black dragon of considerable power, has joined in the hunt for the egg we are protecting. We need to stop him before he gets too close."
[Lireen]: How ancient are we talkin'?
[Alysson]: Infinity.
[Lireen]: I suppose when a dragon says 'ancient' they do mean ancient.
[Lireen]: With humans ye never know.
Rhea answers. "Old enough to not take lightly. You will find him and his minions at the Dustbowl, north of Dragon's Mouth. Hunt him down and defeat him. "
[Maisha]: I suppose this is our first test then.
[Lireen]: A test? *Lireen raises a brow*
[Maisha]: As a team, I mean.
[Lireen]: I'm too old fer tests. But battles I can do, and this sounds like one.
[Maisha]: Aye, then let's call it a battle.
[Kenelly]: Don't worry. I'll keep you all safe.
[Lireen]: Any sign o' the big guy?
[Maisha]: I saw him as we came in, but he's lit off somewhere.
Lireen scans the skies.
[Alysson]: Should've brought us a net.
[Kenelly]: Maybe preparing for a surprise attack?
[Ionala]: He saw a fight he can't win!
[Lireen]: Still hard ta get used ta the idea of stayin' on the grownd when fightin dragons.
[Alysson]: Oh, there!
Alysson points at Kalaran the Annihilator.
[Kenelly]: I see him!
Kalaran the Annihilator is no match for the team.
The team annihilates him.
[Lireen]: That was a big'un fer sure.
[Maisha]: Aye, but we made it.
Rhea's voice pipes up again. "One less dragon to worry about, one step closer to redemption. Onward, my soldiers!"
Rhea continues. "The black dragonflight means business. It appears they've taken over a large portion of New Kargath, the large Horde settlement north of Dragon's Mouth."
She explains. "Their troops are under the command of General Jirakka and his champion, Moldarr. They must be stopped."
Lireen nods solemnly.
Then Rhea cautions, "We dragons do not take part in the squabbles between Horde and Alliance, but I do understand the risk you take in entering New Kargath. Please, heroes… be careful."
[Maisha]: We'll take care.
[Maisha]: So we need ta get closer to th' Horde camp.
The team gets there, and the orcs are paying little attention to Alliance interlopers - they are busy fighting black dragonkin.
[Maisha]: Ach, this whole camp is in a battle.
Lireen looks around at all the black dragonkin.
[Lireen]: So why do these ones have more legs?
[Lireen]: An' no wings?
[Alysson]: They're like centaur!
[Maisha]: Maybe they're dragon minions of a sort.
The team fights the dragonkin, but also slays the orcs that come close.
[Maisha]: I'd half say we're helpin' the Horde here, except that we're killin' them too.
Lireen shrugs at you. Who knows?
Alysson decides to try his hand at distraction.
Alysson points in a random direction.
[Alysson]: Look it's an angry tree!
[Maisha]: Bigger dragon fellow in here.
The team kills the bigger dragon fellow.
[Lireen]: Nicely done.
Maisha smiles proudly.
[Maisha]: Now we've just got to find their general.
[Lireen]: Steady now, lasses. And lad.
We kill their general.
[Maisha]: Rhea was not kiddin' about half the flight, feels like.
[Lireen]: We're doin' just fine.
[Kenelly]: Aye, there are so many.
[Alysson]: Did she say half the flight or half of 'em fly? 'Cause some of these sure don't.
[Maisha]: Tha's true. Maybe that's what she meant?
[Lireen]: 'Tis peculiar aye? Never seen a dragon without wings before.
[Maisha]: We can ask Rhea about it next time she pops in.
[Lireen]: If ye dinna think it rude.
[Maisha]: Maybe not? It's a simple question, an' we're doing a lot of work with her.
[Lireen]: I suspect ye lot know more about dragons than I do. I've only fought red ones from the air. I'll trust ye ta know how to talk to 'em.
Rhea's voice speaks up once more. "Thank you! Two more dangerous black dragons have been removed from this egg hunt. Your hardest task, however, still awaits."
[Kenelly]: Oh my.
[Maisha]: We were sort of wondering, why have some of the dragons not got wings?
Rhea sounds puzzled. "Do you mean the dragonkin? They are not, strictly speaking, dragons."
[Maisha]: Ohhh, aye.
[Lireen]: Oh, well, blame my old eyes fer the mistake.
[Alysson]: They're dragontaur?
Rhea answers. "Dragontaur? I'm not sure what you mean. They are related to dragons though. But now, before we get too off track, there is something more I need of you."
[Kenelly]: Of course. Apologies.
Rhea's voice becomes more sorrowful. "As a follower of the Life-Binder, and a mother myself, I worry that I went too far with Nyxondra. Perhaps your reluctance to help me should have given me more pause."
Rhea continues. "My goal was healing for her flight, but I took her eggs and performed experiments on them. Over, and over, and over again. It was, simply put, cruel, and I can only imagine her sorrow."
[Lireen]: I can imagine it all too well.
Rhea sighs. "Our work is for the benefit of future generations of black dragons, so I told myself her sacrifice was necessary. However, now she and the corrupted flight are threatening that future again."
Kenelly whimpers sympathetically toward Lireen.
[Ionala]: Now that you mention it, yes. It's not very nice.
Ionala looks like that only just occurred to her.
Rhea sounds very sad, as she says, "Nyxondra circles the Ruins of Kargath, northwest of New Kargath, relentless in her fury. We must protect this egg - she will destroy it if given a chance. I must ask you to slay her."
[Lireen]: Why would she destroy the egg? Is it nae hers as well, in a sense?
[Alysson]: Yeah, she's half its ma.
Lireen nods at Alysson.
Rhea sighs again. "I would have hoped that, because it is her egg in a sense. But she has riled up her whole flight to destroy it. I think she and the other corrupted dragons see it as a threat."
[Alysson]: Because it's not corrupted?
[Kenelly]: That's heartbreaking.
[Lireen]: If they dinna want ta save their flight, there's nothin' we can do but fight 'em.
Rhea says, "Yes, I think so. So now we must protect the egg from its own mother. Just know that I will carry the guilt of my actions towards Nyxondra with me, and if the time comes to pay, I will pay."
[Lireen]: If they were in their right minds they'd understand. But once the Old Gods get at ye, there's no helpin' ye.
[Maisha]: Tha's terrifyin', ta be against yer own family.
[Lireen]: Aye, I've… I know a bit what it's like.
Maisha looks at Lireen in surprise. "Ye do?"
[Maisha]: Was it… at Grim Batol?
[Lireen]: Aye, I've had ta kill the children o' one o' me Dark Iron exes, and I'd seen em as family of a sort.
Maisha looks deeply sad. "One who might ha' been one of my brothers or sisters."
[Lireen]: But they didna see me the same way, so.
Lireen sighs sadly and shrugs. "War is like tha'."
[Maisha]: An' I guess we are at war with the Black Dragonflight, like or not.
[Lireen]: I hadna thought of it that way, but I suppose we are, aye.
The team goes to battle Nyxondra.
Nyxondra yells: My kin won't forget what you've done! We will rage, mortals!
[Maisha-BloodsailBuccaneers]: We are tryin' ta help!
Lireen steps in front of the furious dragon matriarch and bangs her axe on her shield.
The battle against Nyxondra is chaotic, as she thrashes out with fear at the gathered team. She charges Lireen.
Lireen remains calm, trying to keep the dragon turned toward her as the others flank her.
Ionala shouts a word of power and a hammer of light lands on the broodqueen.
Maisha stands at a safe distance, carefully timing her shots to hit the dragon's weak points.
Alysson avoids the dragon's tail.
Olaf charges in next to Lireen, while Eric and Baelog fight from further away.
Kenelly struggles to keep up with the others to soothe their injuries with her life magic.
After the dragon has been slain, the three dwarf brothers continue the fight, attacking any black dragon whelpling that comes close.
[Ionala]: The three of you, I swear! You'd start a fight in an empty room!
Ionala scolds Eric "The Swift".
Lireen laughs at Ionala.
Maisha laughs.
Rhea's voice comes through again. "Thank you, Cobalt, and I grieve that this was necessary. Still, we will make certain that her child - her uncorrupted child - remains safe."
Lireen smiles.
[Lireen]: I'll do whatever it takes to keep that wee one safe.
Rhea's voice becomes more firm as she continues, "With the major black dragons out of the Badlands, it is now safe to move the egg again. Come and find me on a small plateau north of New Kargath."
Ionala sighs at Olaf.
[Lireen]: Just think of it… we could be a whole new start fer the black dragonflight.
[Maisha]: Aye, the birth of the new earthwarders.
[Lireen]: People would've said it was impossible, an' yet, here we are.
[Alysson]: They just needed the titan reset button!
Maisha laughs.
[Ionala]: But I thought the titan reset button was bad?
[Lireen]: I still have no idea what that means.
[Maisha]: Oh, no, a dragon reset button, Nala! It's how we got the good egg.
[Lireen]: So do ye mean like, buttonin' up the old ways? Or… I canna make sense o' that analogy.
[Maisha]: More like a gnome button.
[Alysson]: Yeah, gnome button, you push it and stuff happens!
[Lireen]: Gnome buttons do things? Oh dear.
[Lireen]: I should've suspected. Remind me not ta visit any gnome tailors.
Maisha chuckles at her ma.
A number of whelplings are bullying Ionala.
Ionala threatens Nyxondra's Broodling with the wrath of doom.
[Ionala]: WELL! EXCUSE ME FOR BEING SO PRETTY AND SMART! AS IF I CAN HELP IT!
The team slays them all. Then they come around the corner to find Rhea in goblin form.
Rhea says: Cobalt! Good, you're here.
Lireen turns her attention to Rhea.
Rhea says: I can't wait here long. *Rhea blinks at Nala, and looks at all the dead black dragons* The egg must always be moving. We are not safe anywhere.
Rhea says: Deathwing, even in his madness, knows all the hidden places in this world. The egg must not rest.
[Alysson]: Do eggs sleep?
No one seems to know how to answer that one.
[Lireen]: Until Deathwing is stopped.
[Maisha]: Aye, until he's stopped.
Rhea leaves the group to go to a nearby cave. For now, the camera follows her, though the team waits outside. She walks in and pauses by the side of the room, setting down a scroll of paper.
Rhea says: I'll just leave this right here.
Rhea says: Now to get the egg…
Rhea walks to the back of the cave and retrieves the egg from its hiding place. She curls around it lovingly as she makes her way back to the entrance.
Rhea says: How's my little baby doing?
She freezes as the sunlight of the Badlands is blocked out by the dark shape in the cave entrance - Deathwing, huge and black and dark-armored.
Rhea says: No… it's… it's you! NO!
Rhea cowers in fear, protecting the egg.
Deathwing says: You impetuous little whelp… I know exactly what you and the mortal are up to.
Deathwing says: Are you ready to die, dragon?
At the question, Rhea raises her head, terrified but resolute.
Rhea says: Yes. Just… just show mercy to the egg.
Deathwing yells: Mercy?!
Deathwing yells: THERE IS NO MERCY! YOU WILL BURN FOR THIS, DRAGON!
Deathwing incinerates everything in the interior of the cave. The only thing that survives is the little note.
From the perspective of the team, Rhea went into the cave and was then trapped inside briefly by Deathwing’s appearance.
[Ionala]: Oh no! Rhea!
[Alysson]: An' the egg!
Lireen had ducked behind some brush the moment Deathwing's shadow passed over them.
Maisha looks distraught. "That was Deathwing!"
Kenelly gasps, hands over her mouth.
[Lireen]: I think the coast is clear.
[Lireen]: We should check on them.
[Maisha]: He did no' see us, but Rhea…
[Kenelly]: Hurry!
Ionala dashes to the cave.
[Kenelly]: Oh Light, no….
The cave is still on fire in places, and the smoke is thick.
Lireen waves smoke away, coughing.
[Maisha]: It's still on fire… Oh, no…
Lireen carefully enters the flaming cave.
[Alysson]: I can't see anythin'!
Ionala coughs. "Rhea?"
[Maisha]: It's all… all burned…
[Lireen]: Something here. Paper.
[Maisha]: Paper? What, like a message?
[Lireen]: Magic paper I guess - it en't burnin'.
[Alysson]: Not on fire paper?
Kenelly sniffs at the paper.
[Maisha]: Dragon paper, maybe.
[Lireen]: I canna see through the smoke though. Anyone got better readin' eyes?
[Maisha]: I got good eyes… I'm a sniper. *Maisha's eyes are tearing up.* Let's take it out, aye.
[Alysson]: Can we move it outside?
[Lireen]: Good idea, lad.
[Lireen]: Shouldna breathe this smoke more than necessary.
Dr. Blam, the gnome, is at the entrance of the fiery cave.
[Lireen]: Oh, Dr. Blam.
Kenelly wipes her eyes. "Doctor…what are you doing here?"
Dr. Blam looks sad. "Looks like I was too late."
Dr. Blam says: You were not the only mortals that Rheastrasza confided in. I too earned the dragon's trust.
Dr. Blam says: What is that, a message from her?
Lireen nods.
Dr. Blam reaches for it.
Dr. Blam reads:
Cobalt:
If you are reading this, then my suspicions were correct. Deathwing has found us. The egg is destroyed, as am I.
[Lireen]: That was one courageous dragon.
This was, actually, the plan from the beginning. You see… the egg that Deathwing destroyed was not the egg he sought.
Kenelly presses her hand over her heart, face tense as tears start to fall.
[Alysson]: What egg was it?
[Ionala]: Oh, no.
It was mine.
*Dr Blam looks teary-eyed.* Oh, Rhea.
[Lireen]: Oh, my.
Lireen takes out a slightly dingy handkerchief and dabs at the corners of her eyes.
[Kenelly]: Oh Light….
I told you that if there was a price to pay, I would pay it. Now I have. With the loss of myself and my child, the Black Dragonflight will assume the matter is closed. Please, destroy this message.
[Ionala]: Rhea chose that form to shift to. She's—she was a red dragon.
[Lireen]: What an incredible act of courage.
Maisha has tears streaking down her cheeks.
[Kenelly]: She might be the bravest person I've ever met.
Kenelly fans her tear-stained face.
Lireen nods solemnly. "I dinna know if I'd have been able to do the same. Titans willing, I'll never know."
Dr Blam says: I hoped I'd be here in time to help, but… I have already moved the real purified egg on to a safer location, away from the Badlands. It will continue to grow, out of Deathwing's sight.
Alysson frowns. "Why'd she have to go doin' all that?"
[Lireen]: Deathwing would've kept huntin' that egg forever if he thought it was still alive.
Dr Blam says: She truly believed in what she was doing.
[Lireen]: Now it has a chance.
Kenelly nods, sniffling.
Dr Blam says: Even so - this little one will have a hard road ahead of him, a lone uncorrupted black dragon. Still he’ll have the red dragonflight on his side, to see he grows up safely. Rhea told me that his name is already chosen - Wrathion.
[Lireen]: Not a real auspicious name, but… it en't my child ta name, so, I hope he dinna live up to it.
[Ionala]: She did it to save the purified egg. But her own egg, she–
[Maisha]: Aye, I hope he finds peace, an' not only wrath.
[Maisha]: Aye, herself an' her own egg, sacrificed.
[Maisha]: We'll have ta remember Rheastrasza, and I hope we'll see the little guy again one day.
[Lireen]: I'll never forget.
[Lireen]: An' if there is anythin' else I can do to protect that special li'l dragon just let me know.
[Alysson]: Yeah, an' we gotta tell him about 'er if we do see him!
Kenelly nods to Alysson. "Absolutely."
Dr. Blam says: Yes, if anything arises, and I know about it, I will tell you.
[Ionala]: Dear Light, protect Wrathion so the he might bring the true black dragonflight back into being.
[Lireen]: Titans watch over him too, fer good measure.
Kenelly bows her head to Nala's prayer.
[Alysson]: Yeah, and Elune.
Maisha smiles at Nala's prayer and Lireen's mother's blessing.
Lireen nods solemnly at Alysson in agreement. Why not.
[Lireen]: Well drinks're on me tonight if anyone wants. Fer Rhea an' Wrathion.
[Kenelly]: I would like that, Lireen.
[Maisha]: For Rhea an' Wrathion. *Maisha nods* Back ta Ironforge?
Lireen nods at Maisha.
[Ionala]: To Ironforge!