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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Glyphe, Halnar, Kalhidai, Natlee and Slicket continue their work in the Wetlands. They encounter a number of post-Cataclysm problems, including floods, cute dwarves, thieving gnolls, Dark Iron schemes, midriff armor, reanimated raptors and unruly earth. ~5000 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: EK Newbies
A few dwarves are hanging around outside the inn at Menethil Harbor, chatting about the flood. There are sandbags surrounding the building, keeping it mostly dry, though outside the door is gnome-waist-deep water.
Hargin Mundar says: Flood's not so bad. Not as bad as the ones we've had in Ironforge.
Junder Brokk says: Aye, you mean the one you caused?
Hargin Mundar says: You watch your tongue, ya blootered chuff! That was an honest mistake!
Junder Brokk says: You put a floodgate on a channel from the inside and trapped yerself!
Hargin Mundar says: An honest mistake!
Junder Brokk says: An' then you tunneled from the channel straight into a dining hall!
Junder Brokk says: We were findin' carp behind the furniture for weeks!
Hargin Mundar says: Well, at least the ale was safe.
Glyphe, Natlee and Slicket make it to the door somewhere during the above conversation.
Natlee greets Slicket with a hearty hello!
Slicket raises an eyebrow at the nearby dwarves, and then turns to Natlee and Glyphe and waves.
Natlee smooths her pigtails and arranges her face into a pleasant, vapid expression.
[Slicket]: Not sure what we can do to help with a flood…
[Natlee]: Yyyyyyeah, not getting involved in that.
[Natlee]: That seems like… a lot of manual labor.
[Glyphe]: Good news, the forge is above water.
Natlee cheers at Glyphe!
Slicket laughs. "Yeah, that's for the best. It actually looks like some of the buildings are pretty dry? Maybe they did that with sandbags, though."
Slicket pats the little sandbag wall outside the inn.
[Natlee]: Those things are the size of gnomes.
[Slicket]: They must absorb a lot of water, yeah.
[Glyphe]: Maybe they are gnomes. I haven't seen any around…
Glyphe grins.
[Natlee]: Reminds me of the time I hid in a sack for three hours during a cartel war in Kezan.
[Glyphe]: Where's Kezan?
Slicket laughs. "Okay, now you're both makin' me want to tear 'em open and see if there's cute gnomes inside."
[Natlee]: It's like, kinda… south seas… ish.
[Natlee]: Honestly I wasn't paying that much attention during the voyages, because I always had a boyfriend.
[Slicket]: Boyfriends are prone to hiding maps, sure.
[Natlee]: And other things.
Glyphe giggles.
Natlee giggles.
Natlee tips her head at the sound of the clock chiming. "Wonder where our friends ran off to."
[Natlee]: You'll notice I am always extremely punctual. *She fluffs a pigtail gently.*
[Slicket]: Hm, not sure. Maybe we'll meet 'em along the way. Captain Stoutfist said he had some more work for us.
[Natlee]: Can I ride on your shoulders, Slick?
[Slicket]: Oh, yeah, sure! Just hold on to my hair spikes.
Halnar walks up behind the gnomes. "HARR!"
Natlee hops up onto Slicket's shoulders, her feet remaining dry.
Glyphe jumps in the air. "Ahh!"
Natlee giggles.
[Natlee]: Yawp!
Slicket flinches, but stabilizes Natlee. "Halnar, wow, way to sneak up on a fellow."
Slicket grins.
Natlee holds onto Slicket's hair spikes
[Slicket]: Ready to go talk to Captain Stoutfist?
Halnar laughs at Slicket.
Slicket wades into the water with Natlee on his shoulders. The water comes up to his waist.
[Halnar]: On our way!
Natlee tries to steer her mount as they go.
Slicket is a little less responsive than a mechanostrider, but he tries.
The team makes it through the floodwaters to Captain Stoutfist, who is near the entrance of the reclaimed keep.
Halnar greets Captain Stoutfist with a hearty hello!
Natlee dismounts as they approach the Captain.
Slicket clambers back up onto the dirt and waves at Captain Stoutfist. "Hey, Captain! What's the news?"
[Halnar]: Cap'n! Hoew are yeh?
Natlee wiggles her fingers in a little wave.
Captain Stoutfist says: Hello, friends. Still here ta help?
Captain Stoutfist says: I'm doing as fine as I can be in a flooded harbor. At least the Keep's secure now, thanks to you lot.
[Halnar]: AYE!
[Slicket]: Yeah, here to help.
Glyphe smooths her tabard self-consciously.
Captain Stoutfist says: Askin' you to haul sandbags would be a waste, to be honest: I'd rather send you along where your skills are needed.
Slicket waits attentively.
Captain Stoutfist says: We've got a small outpost up north in the marsh. Swiftgear's the gnome that built it, but you'll want to talk to Shilah Slabchisel and help her with Ironforge matters.
[Slicket]: Slabchisel! Any relation to Forba?
Captain Stoutfist says: Aye, her sister. *Captain Stoutfist peers at Slicket, and then at Halnar.* I'll admit, she's a looker… but I wouldn't make the mistake of getting fresh with her! They don't call their family Slabchisel for nothing.
[Natlee]: I'll honestly be relieved to go somewhere gnome-built. This place is totally depressing.
Halnar sighs. "Ahh…Forba…"
Natlee giggles at Halnar.
Captain Stoutfist says: I'll admit it was less depressing when it was above water fully. But aye, head on out to Swiftgear.
[Glyphe]: Right!
Slicket heads to the water, and then squats a little so Natlee can climb on.
Natlee climbs on!
Halnar laughs at Slicket.
Glyphe unpacks her mechanostrider.
They wade through some water until they make it to the ground outside the harbor town.
Slicket helps Natlee down and unpacks his mechanostrider when they reach dry ground.
Natlee retrieves hers from where she left it with the engineer on the bridge.
Natlee bats her eyes at Neal. "Thaaaaank you."
Halnar bellows, "Bear! Where are yeh, bear?!"
[Slicket]: Alright, here we go… bear?
[Slicket]: Oh right, the one you ride.
[Natlee]: Ewwwwwww.
[Slicket]: Th… the riding bear? It's not that gross, is it?
[Natlee]: I hope it's been eating murlocs, at least.
[Halnar]: Dunno!
[Natlee]: Did you know there is like, NOWHERE ON AZEROTH without murlocs?
There are, in fact, murlocs in the wetlands. The team mostly avoids them, and makes their way to Swiftgear Station quickly. It’s a relatively small camp with a handful of dwarves present.
[Slicket]: Okay, so we're looking for a hot dwarf lady…
Slicket spots a redhead in midriff armor.
[Halnar]: I see her!
Glyphe's eyes go right past Shilah.
[Slicket]: Well-spotted, Halnar!
[Halnar]: Hullo, lass!
[Glyphe]: Oh! Hi.
Slicket bows to Shilah. "You must be Shilah Slabchisel, right? Your sister sends her regards!
Shilah Slabchisel says: Forba? Oh, good, haven't seen her since she went off to slap that survey camp into shape.
[Halnar]: Aye, she's done a fine job! I'd like teh make babies with her.
[Glyphe]: Halnaaaaar!
[Natlee]: Oh Em Tee.
Shilah starts laughing uncontrollably.
[Halnar]: That's me! Halnar Thundervein!
Shilah Slabchisel says: I… I… oh gosh… *Shilah tries to get the laughing under control.* Halnar Thundervein, aye? I'll have to ask her about you next time we talk.
[Natlee]: Please don't.
[Natlee]: There will probably be a lot of cursing.
[Halnar]: Aye, I love the way she curses.
Shilah Slabchisel says: I bet she'll have some special words, just for you. *Shilah tries to stifle another giggle.* So what brings ye here? Forba?
[Slicket]: Oh, we were actually sent by Captain Stoutfist, at Menethil. Here to help.
Shilah Slabchisel says: Stoutfist sent you, eh? He's a good captain, runs his men well. Just wish he'd stop staring' at my midriff.
[Halnar]: Aye. Pretty sure he was starin' at mine, too.
Halnar laughs.
[Slicket]: Maybe he just likes a good midriff. *Slicket offers*
Halnar pats his belly.
Shilah raises an eyebrow. "Well, I'll keep my eyes off yours, and don't let me catch you lookin' at mine. We've work to take care of here!"
[Glyphe]: Yes, please.
Natlee absently touches her own (hidden) midriff.
Shilah Slabchisel says: We've been getting more and more reports of raptor attacks in the area. I'm seeing to it that this place is safe enough for more settlement to start occurring, so I've put a bounty on the buggers.
Shilah Slabchisel says: A lot have been cleared out already, but the Highland Raptors to the north have been growing in number. That won't be true for long, now will it? *Shilah winks at the team*
[Natlee]: That does sound pretty easy.
[Slicket]: Yeah, we can take out some raptors easy.
[Kalhidai]: (yell) Finder! Where are you going?
[Natlee]: Not a big ask, for Cobalt Compan—- is that Kalhidai?
[Kalhidai]: (yell) Come back!
[Halnar]: (yell) Oy! Lass, over here!
Glyphe looks around. "I know a fox named Finder…"
[Natlee]: Finder found us!
[Halnar]: Good Finder!
[Glyphe]: Hey look, it's Finder!
Natlee giggles at Finder.
[Kalhidai]: Oh! Finder found you!
Kalhidai gently pats Finder.
[Natlee]: Taking the name super seriously, I see.
[Slicket]: Kalhidai! Finder! Want to kill some raptors?
[Kalhidai]: Good Girl!
[Kalhidai]: Yes! I would!
[Natlee]: This is gonna be SO easy.
Finder dances on her hind legs, briefly.
[Natlee]: Oh my gosh, Kalhidai, did you like, train Finder to do that?
Slicket blinks at the fox. "Now that is too cute."
[Natlee]: Soooooooo cute! *Natlee's face squinches up and her voice goes super high pitched.*
[Kalhidai]: It was an accident. I was dancing, and she danced too!
[Natlee]: What a little copycat! Copyfox! Whoooosa little copyfoxxxx…
Halnar laughs.
[Slicket]: That might be the most adorable thing I've ever heard. And I've heard some adorable stuff.
Natlee preens, as though she is assuming he means all the stuff she's said.
Who knows, maybe he does?
[Slicket]: Also, this is the perfect mission for a hunter and a fox, isn't it?
[Slicket]: Clearing out predators..
[Natlee]: When it comes to me and Slicket, he's the hunter. *She smirks and preens.*
Kalhidai nods. "And so you are the fox!"
[Slicket]: Hah, yeah, you're the fox. *Slicket laughs*
[Natlee]: Obbbbviously.
Natlee preens more.
[Halnar]: Aye, that's hoew it is with me and Mrs. Brumble, too!
[Natlee]: Wait, which one's the hunter in your case, Halnar?
Slicket laughs
.
Halnar laughs at Natlee.
[Halnar]: Yer adorable, lass.
Slicket peers at Glyphe. "You're pretty foxy too, when it comes down to it."
[Natlee]: Wow, so Slicket has eyes after all, I was wondering.
[Slicket]: Not that I'm, uh… lookin' at your midriff or anything. I'm respectful, aren't I?
[Natlee]: You're…. Learning?
Slicket laughs. "Maybe I'll pick it up from you all as we go along."
[Glyphe]: You can't really see my midriff anyway.
Glyphe resettles her tabard to be sure.
Slicket peers at her tabard to be sure. She did imply it was okay to look..
[Kalhidai]: It is more polite to not look at midriffs?
[Halnar]: D'aww, mighty cute seein' the wee ones flirtin'.
[Natlee]: It's really a shame you can't see mine. It's toned like wow.
Halnar laughs.
[Slicket]: Oh, I used to wear some midriff armor too, before the tabard. Let me tell you, I'm ripped.
Slicket does not move to show evidence of this.
Natlee wrinkles her nose.
[Halnar]: That's good! Yeh wee ones need some meat on those tiny bones!
[Natlee]: Um but yes, Kalhidai, I don't know what it's like for draenei, but for gnomes and humans and dwarves and stuff it's considered rude to stare at others' bodies.
[Natlee]: Unless they are like, putting them on display for you purposely.
[Natlee]: Then it is rude not to stare.
[Natlee]: Like, you'd better look.
Glyphe nodnodnods.
[Kalhidai]: Ah! How do you know the difference?
Halnar pats his exposed belly again. "AYE! Like this!"
Halnar laughs.
[Slicket]: It can be hard to tell sometimes. So it's usually best to meet people's eyes until they give you some clue one way or another.
[Natlee]: Oh my gods this one guy, totally looked at his pocket watch when I was in the middle of a stript— oh, well, Kalhidai, you can tell because they usually kind of tell you.
Glyphe is just the brightest shade of pink.
Slicket nodsnods at Natlee, and seems intrigued by the stript—
[Slicket]: Oh hey, here's Shilah.
[Natlee]: Like, usually they say something like, "Hey, baby, do you like what you see?" Or whatever.
Halnar laughs at Natlee.
[Slicket]: Oh yeah, that's a clear invitation to look.
[Kalhidai]: so you should assume that you do not … you pretend that you are not looking, until they say, now look!
[Natlee]: Pretty much, yeah.
[Natlee]: There's a lot of pretending in Azerothian culture.
Shilah Slabchisel says: Well, now… I see I've kicked off a discussion. Ye can look at my braids if ye like. I'm quite proud o' them.
[Natlee]: Gnomes pretend to be smarter than they are, dwarves pretend to be stronger than they are, humans pretend to be… like, interesting…
[Kalhidai]: So you do not say, "when you get to the tavern look for Ansuul, the handsome bodied man with a long scar on his arm?"
Slicket laughs at Natlee.
Natlee giggles at Kalhidai.
[Natlee]: I would definitely be looking for Ansuul but maybe not for the right reason.
[Natlee]: Um, anyway. Sorry. Ms. Slabchisel.
[Slicket]: The scar might help, but handome-bodied might mean something else to somebody else. Like I wouldn't be looking for a long-legger.
[Kalhidai]: but we can now say, "go see Shilah, the warrior maiden with beautiful braids and a sense of humour?
[Natlee]: Yes.
Shilah Slabchisel says: That ye can. I give ye permission. Thank ye, draenei lass.
Kalhidai bows before Shilah Slabchisel.
[Kalhidai]: I like your hair!
[Natlee]: Wow, those are pretty cool braids, honestly. *She touches her own hair self-consciously.*
Shilah Slabchisel says: And gnome lass, thank ye both.
[Slicket]: Oh, also, we killed a bunch of raptors.
Natlee looks like she is probably frantically figuring out how to do those sort of braids, rather than listening to the work stuff.
Shilah Slabchisel says: A job well done. Consider this reward not from me, but from Ironforge: the preservation of Khaz Modan is a matter that concerns every dwarf.
Slicket accepts his pay happily.
[Halnar]: AYE! For Khaz Modan!
Shilah Slabchisel says: You seem trustworthy enough to help me out with my real problem. I was sent here by Ironforge to recover a shipment of gold ingots.
[Natlee]: Ooooh.
Shilah Slabchisel says: The ingots are part of the Ironforge Royal Treasury, stamped with the royal seal… only an idiot would steal them for profit, far too easy to trace.
[Natlee]: I mean unless you melt them down and—
[Natlee]: Sorry, go ahead.
Kalhidai murmurs, "I was just thinking that."
Natlee winks slyly at Kalhidai.
Shilah Slabchisel says: You're assuming a lot o' intelligence there, lasses. Especially given this area is full of idiots: Mosshide gnolls.
[Glyphe]: Ew. Gnolls smell.
[Natlee]: Ew indeed.
[Halnar]: Harr! Gnolls are so dumb.
[Natlee]: I hate their little giggles.
Shilah Slabchisel says: Ah, I can tell ye've fought gnolls before — they're foul and brutal beasts, and dangerous. I need you to slay them and recover the missing ingots.
Glyphe pets Finder.
[Natlee]: No problem at all.
[Slicket]: Yeah, we're on it. You'll have your gold in no time.
The team heads out to kill some gnolls and recover some gold.
[Slicket]: What do gnolls want with gold anyway? Maybe they just saw the shiny?
[Natlee]: So it's possible we don't find all the gold, right? Very plausible? If we don't bring it all back?
[Glyphe]: Natlee!
[Slicket]: I mean. The forge in Menethil is above water.
[Natlee]: Maybe we could hold back an ingot or two just in case they don't pay fairly is all I'm saying.
[Natlee]: Like, we're doing really hard work out here.
[Halnar]: Et's no' that hard.
Slicket chuckles.
[Kalhidai]: Many eyes in Menethil.
[Natlee]: The fact that it's not hard for us is why we should be paid well.
[Glyphe]: We are wearing Cobalt Company tabards!
Natlee lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.
[Slicket]: I wouldn't want to foul up Halnar's chances with Forba.
[Slicket]: And yeah, Glyphe, that's a fair point.
[Halnar]: Awww, yer nice, Slicket.
[Natlee]: Okay, okay, I was just making my thoughts heard… I'm not like, in charge or anything.
Slicket upnods at Halnar. "It's bro code."
[Natlee]: Ugggh.
Halnar laughs at Slicket.
Kalhidai studies this, and practices an upnod.
During all of this, the team has been killing gnolls and collecting gold. Now, they come across a gnoll already fighting someone – a Dark Iron dwarf!
[Slicket]: Whoa, uh.
[Slicket]: That gnoll’s fighting a Dark Iron?
[Natlee]: Oh no, someone stop them before they hurt each other
Natlee says very sarcastically.
[Halnar]: Haahahaha! Looks like the eejits are fightin' each other!
Natlee giggles.
Glyphe snickers at Natlee.
Slicket exhales a laugh. "I think we can leave 'em to it. But we should probably tell Shilah."
[Natlee]: Should we sell tickets?
[Slicket]: It is pretty entertaining.
They head back to Swiftgear and Shilah.
Slicket waves at Shilah Slabchisel.
Slicket starts taking out gold ingots and handing them to Shilah.
Glyphe hops up and down a little. "Guess what we saw?"
Shilah Slabchisel says: Well done! The Ironforge Guard appreciates this. You've done our city a fine favor. But something new has come up… oh, with you too? What'd you see?
[Halnar]: Dark Irons and gnolls pummelin' each other!
Shilah Slabchisel says: Huh! That's what I was gonna bring up too!
[Natlee]: It was like, super fun to watch.
[Halnar]: See hoew good we are at this? Maybe mention that to yer sister.
Shilah Slabchisel says: I'll do tha' Halnar.
Shilah Slabchisel says: The Dark Iron clan is never up to any good in these parts, and it looks like they're kidnapping the Mosshide gnolls for some reason.
Halnar grins appreciatively at Shilah.
[Natlee]: There's some real possibility for tourist entertainment coin, just saying.
Shilah Slabchisel says: Okay, but we're gonna have to do something about the kidnapping. I know we were just attacking the gnolls ourselves, but I'm not about to let the Dark Iron capture them.
[Natlee]: Why not?
Shilah Slabchisel says: For one, you found the thieves and took back what was missing, so justice is served; for another, whatever work the Dark Iron will be putting them to isn't something I want to allow.
[Natlee]: …. Good point.
Glyphe nods wisely. "Nefarious plans."
[Natlee]: The more I think about it, "Dark Irons with a gnoll army" does not sound like a good idea.
[Kalhidai]: It is always better to confront nefarity directly!
Shilah Slabchisel says: Aye, indeed it doesn't. And aye, indeed it is.
Natlee nods at Kalhidai.
Shilah Slabchisel says: The dwarf trappers should have keys on them, so use those to open the cages. As for the dwarves, I don't know what their game is, but we're putting a stop to this before more foul play occurs. So go and stop them.
[Natlee]: 'Kay.
[Slicket]: We'll get those gnolls back to being smelly menaces in freedom.
The team heads back out, this time to help the gnolls get free from the Dark Iron dwarves.
[Halnar]: Told yeh they're stewpid.
[Slicket]: Yeah. I wonder what the Dark Irons want 'em for?
[Natlee]: Really we're just trying to stop the Dark Irons from using them, right? So killing them also does that.
[Slicket]: True. Both good paths.
[Slicket]: So we can just sort of use… indiscriminate violence here.
Natlee giggles at you.
[Halnar]: Mah favorite kind!
[Halnar]: THUNDERRRR!
Indeed, ‘free of the Dark Irons’ can have a variety of meanings. The team uses violence against anyone who fights them, gnoll or dwarf.
[Slicket]: Here's the cages up ahead!
The captives, at least, the team sets free in the traditional manner, by unlocking cages and encouraging them to run off.
[Natlee]: Be free, smelly idiot.
[Natlee]: Be careful, Glyphie! You're so delicate!
Glyphe sighs. "I know. I wish I were more like Slicket."
[Natlee]: I am glad you are not.
Slicket looks over at Glyphe. "I could rig you up some armor? Or would that mess up your magic."
[Halnar]: Yer lovely as yeh are, Glyphe!
[Natlee]: Oh em tee, if it was just me and Slicket forever and ever I would like, literally go full void-touched.
Slicket looks puzzled. Is Natlee into void?
Oh em tee, Slicket.
The team heads back to Swiftgear to report to Shilah.
Shilah Slabchisel says: How'd it go?
[Slicket]: We freed some gnolls, killed some gnolls, killed some Dark Irons…
[Halnar]: A fine afternoon!
Shilah Slabchisel says: Good on the gnolls – the more those fools have to chase after, the easier it'll be to keep them in line.
Shilah Slabchisel says: I have more intel for ye, found out while ye were workin'.
Shilah Slabchisel says: I've found out who's pulling the strings on this operation here.
[Slicket]: Oh yeah? Who?
Shilah Slabchisel says: Yorla Darksnare is directing the Dark Iron dwarves from a camp to the east, and it might've been her orders to have the gnolls steal Ironforge's gold in the first place.
Shilah Slabchisel says: What's more, she's a wanted criminal… she's been inciting rebellion and attacks against Ironforge since Magni was still alive. She can't slip through our fingers this time. Go and get her!
[Glyphe]: Oh! Maybe they were going to melt it down after all.
[Slicket]: Yeah, once they'd got it from the gnolls.
Shilah nods. "I wouldn't put it past the Dark Irons."
[Slicket]: Let's go deal with this Yorla Darksnare!
[Slicket]: Her camp must be past the raptors.
[Slicket]: Up ahead. I see the same kinda gnoll cages.
We head through the raptor area and into a Dark Iron camp. We kill someone who looks important.
[Slicket]: That musta been her. She didn't have much to say.
Natlee giggles at Slicket.
[Natlee]: No manifesto?
[Natlee]: How boring.
Slicket shrugs and laughs. "Guess not. Maybe the manifesto is just, being a thorn in Ironforge's side. But not anymore.
The team heads back to report to Shilah.
[Slicket]: Shilah! Yorla Darksnare is no more.
Shilah Slabchisel says: A job well done! You've brought one of Ironforge's most wanted to justice today. I'd say you've earned a mighty fine reward.
[Slicket]: Awesome. So what's next?
Shilah Slabchisel says: I think you've foiled the whole Dark Iron and gnoll scheme pretty well, so we're good here at Swiftgear.
Natlee was happy to help Shilah Slabchisel.
Shilah Slabchisel says: Prospector Whelgar's been leading an excavation in the mountains southeast of here for quite some time. He had some raptor problems back in the day, but things were going better recently.
Shilah Slabchisel says: Just the other day, we got word he had to evacuate the entire digsite again. I'm not sure what's going on there, but I can't imagine the cataclysm made the quarry any safer than it was before.
[Natlee]: Stupid Cataclysm.
[Slicket]: We're not really archaeologists…
Shilah Slabchisel says: Aye, but there's good dwarves working there. Would you go see what's wrong there, and maybe lend a hand?
Glyphe says hopefully, "Maybe it's crawling with monsters."
[Slicket]: Could be! You never know.
Slicket waves farewell to Shilah.
The team heads down to Whelgar’s camp, which is up a little hilly path away from the actual digsite.
[Slicket]: Maybe Whelgar talks to Forba too. They all seem to know each other out here.
Slicket waves at Whelgar.
[Slicket]: Hey, bud! Shilah sent us up here, said you might have problems with raptors.
Natlee nods at Damon Baelor, the flight master.
Prospector Whelgar says: Well met. We've got raptor problems for sure… sort of. More like the entire dig site deciding to attack us. I've never seen rocks and fossils get so upset.
[Natlee]: Uh oh.
[Slicket]: Rocks and fossils?
[Natlee]: More elemental stuff?
[Glyphe]: Sounds like.
Prospector Whelgar says: Don't be too alarmed. Any good archaeologist knows the risks that come with the job. If you don't unearth an ancient evil or get cursed by wicked spirits at least once in your career, you're not digging up anything worthwhile!
[Slicket]: Sure…
[Kalhidai]: Upset rocks? probably spirits!
Prospector Whelgar says: The real archaeologists know that a little thing like fossilized bones reanimating into skeletal creatures is no reason to stop working.
[Slicket]: It's… not?
[Halnar]: Uh oh. Earth is gettin' uppity, hm?
Natlee blinks.
Prospector Whelgar says: The bones are, at least. I don't know if that's the earth or what. But I still need those fossil bones. Collect 'em from the fossil monsters roaming around and bring them back to me, and I'll reward you.
[Natlee]: There are lots of good reasons to stop working, and that extremely seems like one of them.
Glyphe nods a lot.
Whelgar just grins at Natlee. Not everyone has an archaeologist's heart.
[Halnar]: Well, y'know, proper fossils ain't actually bones any more. They been replaced with minerals! So, could still be the earth just usin' what's available.
Natlee might have one in a jar on her desk?
Ormer Ironbraid says: Did I hear ye talking about the earth?
[Natlee]: Really interesting subject, I know. *dryly*
Ormer Ironbraid says: In case you didn't notice, the land here in the Wetlands is pretty messed up. Floods, earthquakes… and on top of it all, even the ground's got a wild hair now.
Ormer Ironbraid says: I never thought we'd be attacked by our own dig site, but sure enough, big chunks of it are now rampaging around trying to flatten any dwarf they see.
[Glyphe]: That's not so bad, most of us aren't dwarves and Halnar can duck.
[Slicket]: That sounds like the earth directly, so it seems like you might be right, Halnar?
Ormer Ironbraid says: Okay, sure, you're mostly not dwarves. You look like strong, strapping young folks… mind going down there and slapping some sense into the clods?
Halnar beams.
[Halnar]: Maybe if I give the earth a good smack back, it'll respect me agin!
[Natlee]: Ugh, you sound like my mom.
Ormer Ironbraid says: It's worth a try, brother!
Merrin Rockweaver waves the team over.
Merrin Rockweaver rolls her eyes at Ormer.
Merrin Rockweaver says: I'm in charge of supplying this dig. It's not that bad, but having to pick up and move out so fast wasn't exactly ideal!
Merrin Rockweaver says: Archaeologists need tools, you know. You can't run around pulling up priceless antiquities with your bare hands. If you're going back to the dig site, can you bring back the tools that got left behind?
[Natlee]: I mean, sure, we'll be in the area anyway.
[Slicket]: Yeah, sure, we can keep an eye out while we're clobbering skeletons and earth.
[Natlee]: I will be clobbering nothing. I will be calling on the Holy Light to protect and heal.
[Slicket]: Sure, sure. But I'll be clobbering.
Natlee sighs at you.
[Natlee]: I guess we all have our talents.
The team heads down into the digsite. There are whole raptor skeletons just… wandering around.
[Natlee]: Mkay, so.
[Glyphe]: Well. That's something I don't see every day.
[Natlee]: That's very not right.
[Slicket]: Yeah, those are raptor skeletons. They feel like earth, Hal?
[Natlee]: They feel… huh.
[Natlee]: Like, normally undead are very much a necromancy thing, right? But like… I'm getting kind of a voidy vibe off these.
[Slicket]: Voidy vibe? Is that good or bad?
[Natlee]: Void is pretty much always bad?
[Slicket]: Right, right. Of course. I knew that.
[Halnar]: Void, eh? I do feel some earth in them…but that dinnae mean it's the earth makin' 'em get up and walk about.
[Slicket]: So what makes void?
[Natlee]: Old Gods?
[Slicket]: Oh, right, this is that cultist stuff.
[Natlee]: I think it's like, a lot of different magics all confused and mixed up, maybe.
[Natlee]: Oh oh look though!!!
[Natlee]: I think I get it!
[Natlee]: These aren't bones!!! Look, they turned to rock.
[Slicket]: So they are kinda earth!
[Natlee]: So like, they're … yeah, the same kind of corrupted elementals as the straight up rock guys.
[Slicket]: Huh, okay.
[Natlee]: No idea why they're made of bone-shaped rocks, though, that's just weird.
[Halnar]: So…I was right? HUH!
Natlee is, once again, not an archaeologist.
[Slicket]: Stylistic choice, maybe?
Natlee nods at you.
[Slicket]: So this is kinda in Halnar's field, except that earth doesn't like him much.
[Halnar]: If this earth is all voidy, maybe earth'll like me better for smackin' it around!
[Natlee]: Yeah, nobody likes void.
[Natlee]: Not even void creatures.
[Glyphe]: Void's nothing. It's the antithesis of everything.
[Natlee]: Like have you ever talked to a voidwalker? They are like, sooooo depressed.
[Slicket]: I cannot say I've done that.
[Natlee]: Imagine being that gross and there is nothing you can do about it.
[Slicket]: I would not like to be made of void. It'd ruin my hair.
[Natlee]: It's not like you can have a bath and a makeover and stop being a voidwalker.
[Natlee]: That would really suck..
[Natlee]: So yeah, I can't blame them for being like, constantly in a mood.
[Slicket]: Well, I hope it helps your earth rep, Halnar.
The team heads back to the camp.
Slicket waves. "We knocked down some earth elementals."
Ormer Ironbraid says: That's showin' em what for! Good on you.
Slicket hands over some tools to Merrin.
Merrin Rockweaver says: Are they all here? We left a lot back there.
[Slicket]: Picked up all we saw.
[Glyphe]: We picked up a lot of them.
Merrin Rockweaver says: That's a relief! Maybe we can dig our way out of the hole we're still in, eh? No, nevermind, just a bad joke.
[Slicket]: And Whelgar, we brought some bonerocks.
[Natlee]: They're rocks. Shaped like bones.
Prospector Whelgar says: See? Not bad, eh? Why, I almost wish all my finds decided to dig themselves up for me. It'd make my job a lot easier!
[Natlee]: No idea what that's about.
Prospector Whelgar says: That's what I'm going to find out, now you've brought them to me!
[Halnar]: Like I was sayin', wee lass! Fossils!
[Natlee]: I have no idea what that is.
Prospector Whelgar says: You're welcome to stick around the camp if ye'd like. There might be more excitin' work ahead!
[Natlee]: Um… okay.
[Natlee]: I don't suppose you have a— never mind.
[Slicket]: Yeah, I mean… Menethil's flooded, so… maybe we could stick around here?
Natlee sighs tragically and slumps onto a stool by the fire.
[Halnar]: Here that, Mrs. Brumble? We're gonna be roughin' it agin!
[Slicket]: Lookon the bright side! No flood.
[Natlee]: Yeah.
[Glyphe]: I'M going to fly back to Ironforge and see a mage trainer. I have an idea for a new spell, see…
Natlee smiles at Glyphe.
[Slicket]: Good luck, Glyphe!
Natlee claps excitedly for Glyphe.
Slicket settles in by the fire.