(2025-01-19) A Mission to Vortex Pinnacle

Details

Author:	Alli
Summary:	After the day in Uldum, Dane Atley reports to Jo Sparkwire to propose a mission into Vortex Pinnacle, in Skywall. ~1300 words.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: Season 15: The Sands of Uldum

Jocoza pushes open the door to Ironforge HQ, stepping in and pulling off her usual goggles as she does so. She looks around for the person who asked to meet her here.

Atley stands quietly in HQ, admiring a stuffed elk head on the wall. Upon her arrival, he turns and grunts, firing off a salute. "Captain."
Atley salutes Jocoza with respect.

[Jocoza]: Sir Atley, at ease. I take it you wanted to discuss our company's work in Uldum?

Atley inclines his head. "I did. I've some pressing news."

[Jocoza]: Oh? What about, the Neferset?

Atley grunts. "The Orsis, as a matter of fact. Their city was flattened by a windstorm, an unnatural one, launched against them by the Neferset in conjunction with the Twilight's Hammer."

Jo’s eyes widen in concern. She’d known about the windstorm, but not that it was the doing of their enemies.

[Atley]: One of their civilian leaders was taken prisoner by the air elementals, and we've been asked by an Orsis general to venture into Skywall and get them back.

[Jocoza]: Into Skywall, hm. Is it going to prove difficult to get there? I remember for Deepholm we had to go through the Maelstrom itself.

Atley slowly shakes his head. "My squad and I flew up to it. We found the entrance simply enough. I warrant the true obstacles'll be inside."

[Jocoza]: I see. Well, it will be a dangerous mission, but we have sent people into the Firelands, the Abyssal Maw, and Deepholm so far. You were on two of those three missions. You're definitely qualified and able to lead the expedition.Do they have reason to believe the civilian would not have been killed?

Atley tongues the inside of his cheek. "They warrant he's being held and interrogated, for information. 'Pparently he's got some wisdom that'll prolong his life."

[Jocoza]: Hmm. Then we'd best move quickly, so the air elementals don't get this information before we rescue him. Both because it must be valuable, and because then they'd have no reason to keep him whole.

Atley grunts. "I'm confident we can save him, but worst scenario, we'll find a corpse. I'd wanted to get your official permission 'fore we venture in there."

[Jocoza]: If you think the mission is sound, and the objective is clear, then you have my permission. *Jo considers* I think we'd had some information about Skywall a while back, one moment - maybe it will be relevant.
Jocoza heads over to a file cabinet and starts flipping through.

Atley cinches his thumbs in his belt and furrows his brow, watching her for a moment before he glances around. "You miss it, ever? The field."

[Jocoza]: Mm? Sometimes. I do go back, time to time. I put myself in the squad, back when we were in the Dragonblight. Oh, and I've been joining the archaeology team more often lately.
Jocoza continues to flip through, muttering 'no, not that one'.

Atley grunts and nods slowly. "Where was it they ventured out to, last?"

[Jocoza]: Well, last time we ended up in the Hall of Explorers, talking about… old history. But before that - we've been wandering a fair bit around northern Eastern Kingdoms. Oh, here it is! The report from Westfall.

Atley squints and steps forward, turning his head to the side. "A report from Westfall. That blasted sinkhole?"

[Jocoza]: Exactly. It turns out three of our shamans found that the Lord of Air was trying to break through there, into the material plane. I suppose he's now managed, though it's in Uldum.

Atley knits his brow. "Al'akir attempted entry in Westfall," Atley growls thoughtfully. "To make a strike at Stormwind?"

[Jocoza]: It might be. My guess, from their report, is that the barriers were weakened there in some way as a result of the Cataclysm, which might have led to the attempt. They stabilized it, though, the sinkhole. But in the process…

Atley grunts and raises a hand to itch at his chin. "Warrant that means it's about time we strike back against his kingdom then, mm?"

[Jocoza]: I think so, yes.
[Jocoza]: They reported that in the process there were visions of Skywall. And the sense that the Lord of Air sought to destroy the material plane. That makes sense, if he's with the Twilight's Hammer. Just, I wouldn't count on being able to use diplomacy here.

Atley nods slowly. "We'll have Azizia. Air is her expertise. Warrant she'll be invaluable there."

[Jocoza]: Yes. Mansia was able to find how to calm the air elementals around the sinkhole, so… maybe Azizia would have a chance at soothing or quietening some of his subordinate elementals.

Atley grunts in thought. "P'raps after we've done away with the initial resistance. Skywall's hanging just off of Uldum's coast."

[Jocoza]: Really? That close to land? That's… probably not a good sign. The Earthen Ring seemed to say that it would be quite bad if Deepholm and the material plane were too… merged…? I admit I am not an expert at elemental planes.

Atley grunts and shakes his head. "Nor I. S'all new and coming fast. We'll learn more as we venture in and defer to Azizia's mastery over it. I doubt it'll be easy, but we're up for it."

Jocoza nods. "I think there isn't a better team for it. All of you either have experience venturing into elemental planes, and you’ll also have Azizia’s mastery of the elements. I hope you find that civilian leader alive." Jo pauses, then adds, "How are things going with the Ramkahen, then? Do they still seem likely to be friends for the Alliance?"

Atley works his jaw for a moment. "King Phaoris is afraid. The destruction brought against the Orsis has given him pause. He's a noble heart, but he fears for his people. He'd make a find friend to us, if we can be convinced the Neferset and their mates can be beaten. This strike against Skywall may be wot' it needs to strengthen his resolve."

Jocoza takes a deep breath. "All the more reason to commit to it, then. I admit it's asking a lot, for them to stand against the enemy that flattened their neighbors with a sandstorm. But I think they've seen we're good friends so far, and this… let's hope it's enough. Not to mention bringing survivors from Orsis into play. I can't imagine they'll want to bend to the Twilight's Hammer, after everything. They've little left to lose, and they must have a lot of anger.”

Atley grunts. "They'll certainly be a factor to our benefit. S'fortunate how things worked out in the end. Us getting captured alongside Prince Nadun drew us closer to them, faster than it would've taken otherwise."

Jocoza nods. "It really is. I hope your people don't feel as though they failed the caravan - you ended up succeeding at so much more. I tried to make that clear in the newsletter."

Atley grunts and turns his head to the side. "You know them. They're hard chargers, the lot of them. Couldn't help them from coming down too hard on themselves if I tried. Getting results here will be a proper salve to that disaster."

[Jocoza]: I hope so. It must have been a bit of a sting for the opening of a mission, but none of us knew to warn you against pygmies. We didn't know there was such a thing. But you're right, success will drown out failure, eventually.

Atley nods a few times. "Aye. You know the life, how things can go sideways." He grunts. "I'll keep you up to date and send word after we take this 'Vortex Pinnacle.'"

[Jocoza]: Please do. I'll be eager to hear how this plane stacks up to the others. *Jo smiles* And keep each other safe, okay?

Atley grunts and salutes. "Will do. Cheers, Cap'. 'Till next time, then."

[Jocoza]: Till next time. *Jo returns his salute.*