(2025-04-16) How to Masterfully Bait Your Fish

Details

Author:	Aly
Summary:	A Knight, a Jeweler, a News Man, and a Worgen congregate on a dock in Menethil Harbor. Dane teaches Ozzy to fish, Alazriel comes up with a new design, Peril makes a request.
Rating:	T for Teen

+ Show additional content warnings

Mentions of worms used as fishing bait.

Peril approaches the edge of the dock holding a finely polished compass which he peers at intently. He almost does not notice the ballista, pausing just in time to avoid crashing into it.
[Oslynn]: Careful!
Oslynn is fishing under the shade of the massive tree. She's grubby, wears mismatched leathers, and her hair is a wild tawny tangle of curls.
Peril pockets the compass and straightens. "Ah, a fellow fisher of the… fish, is it?" he asks, and if his cheeks are a bit pink, it's hard to tell under the shadow of his hat.
Oslynn laughs.
[Oslynn]: Yeah, a fisher o' fish. An ocasionally if I get REAL lucky a fisher o' boot.
Oslynn has a VERY thick Gilnean accent.
[Peril]: Boot?
Peril leans over to gaze into the water.
[Oslynn]: Yeah, ya never caugh' a boot before? On yer 'ook?
Alazriel strolls and sings to herself.
Oslynn stops and finally gives Peril a good once-over.
Atley speaks at length with a Maiden's Virtue Crewman some yards away.
[Peril]: On my… ook? I…
[Oslynn]: OH MY GAWD IT'S DANE ATLEY THE RED!
Oslynn points at Atley.
[Peril]: WHERE?
[Oslynn]: THERE!!
Atley glances over and inclines his head before he gives the Maiden's Virtue Crewman a firm handshake.
Oslynn slaps a hand over her mouth and stifles a loud squeal.
Alazriel mumbles, "Red? but he's wearing blue…"
Atley lifts his helmet and tucks it underneath his arm. "Afternoon, then." he growls politely.
[Oslynn]: It's Red on account of all the blood 'e's spilt!
Peril squints. "Cobalt Company?"
Atley nods briefly to Peril. "That's right."
[Oslynn]: O wow HI! I'm Ozzy. Erm, Oslynn Grave'owl.
Atley neither confirms nor denies Oslynn's statement.
Oslynn notices the night elf. "O ello there luv," she says.
Atley looks to Oslynn and squints faintly. "Gravehowl… As in the Gravehowl Pack under Lord Graves?"
[Peril]: Worgen?
[Atley]: Aye. Worgen.
Peril blinks at Oslynn.
[Oslynn]: Yeah!!
[Oslynn]: Yeah, yeah, Rhenardt, e's me awpha.
Atley grunts. "I understand you lot did quite a bit of fighting out on the peninsula."
[Oslynn]: Yeah! Tore 'em a new one, them Forsaken rats, sir!
[Peril]: Well, well. My compass sure has led me in a direction today.
Peril pulls out a notebook.
[Peril]: Forsaken… rats… *he scibbles while mumbling to himself.*
Oslynn salutes Atley with respect.
[Alazriel]: Well, good Stars. I've stumbled upon heroes.
[Oslynn]: Oh mos'lly Sir Atley the Red's the 'ero 'ere, Oi'm just a tagalong.
Atley scoffs with amusement at Oslynn's enthusiasm but returns the salute. He looks to Alazriel. "And your name is?"
Oslynn peers at Peril. "Wotcha writin'? You some kinda scholar?"
[Alazriel]: You did well enough for your name to be known. Which is very fine, if you don't mind notoriety.
[Oslynn]: Oh yeah, I dunno 'oo you are, *she says to the night elf.* I'm Oslynn Grave'owl loike I said before but you can call me Ozzy.
Atley looks to Peril. "Are you with the Gravehowls as well, then?"
Peril fingers the rim of his hat, smiling. "Better. I am THE Peril Farrens, author and owner of the Azerothian Interest, Greatest News in Azeroth and Beyond."
[Oslynn]: Oh wow! *Ozzy takes a minute to process the whole sentence.* News, innit?
Atley nods slowly and studies Peril Farrens anew. "The author."
[Peril]: Yes, uh… innit news. Sure.
[Alazriel]: Ozzy. Hello. I'm no one special. And around reporters, I'm even more boring than that.
Oslynn eyes the imp. "An yer a wawlock too innit? I know those li'l guys."
Atley studies 'no one special' with some gruff incredulousness before he shifts his gaze to Nokuri. He grunts at Oslynn.
[Oslynn]: Can I call ya "No one" for short? Heh heh heh.
Oslynn laughs at Alazriel.
[Peril]: A whatlock? Oh, er. Yes. Warlock. In-training. To prove it's not… You know what, let's forget that part.
Atley briefly half-lids his eyes, and regards Peril anew, for a second time. He grunts and nods past him, at the water. "Much biting today, then?"
[Oslynn]: Oh roight! I almost forgot I was fishin', got so excited.
[Peril]: Boots, if we're lucky?
[Atley]: Boots. Only?
Oslynn wiggles one of her own mismatched boots.
[Oslynn]: Foun' this one off the shore o' Lor'danel. Fits me jus' roight.
[Alazriel]: I'm Alazriel Moonwing. I bet there's more to catch in these waters than boots.
Oslynn puts her line back in the water.
[Oslynn]: Yeah, fish're good too, when I can get 'em.
Oslynn seems to mostly be getting junk though. The floodwaters are full of it.
Peril readies his notebook. "Were you, before finding yourself in Lor'danel, short a boot, then?"
Atley squints into the water before he shakes his head with disdain. "I passed through here to see the flooding for myself."
[Oslynn]: Weww, I HAD two boots, but one was way too small an' the other full o' holes.
[Peril]: Really? Which did you replace?
[Oslynn]: The small one. 'Oles ain't tha' uncomfortable.
Oslynn wiggles her other, holey, boot.
Oslynn incidentally smells like sweat and floodwater. She may not have bathed in some time.
Atley looks down at the holey boot and then back up at Oslynn. "Is your … pack nearby, lass?"
[Alazriel]: Hm. Empty bottle.
[Oslynn]: Oh can I 'ave it??
Oslynn eyes the bottle greedily.
Peril mumbles, "Is it just a holey boot… or could it be a holy boot." He chuckles to himself.
[Oslynn]: Oh, I dunno where me pack's wandered off to today.
[Alazriel]: Oh, sure.
[Oslynn]: Fanks!
Oslynn takes the bottle.
Peril raises an eyebrow. "Does your — oh. Worgen."
[Oslynn]: Yeah, worgen.
Atley eyes Oslynn warily before he looks to Peril, and his fishing pole. "Mind if I try my hand?"
[Oslynn]: Wanna see? I can turn into all manner o' fings.
[Peril]: Another fisher of fish, is it? *Peril offers his pole.*
Oslynn giggles at you.
[Alazriel]: Oily Blackmouth!
[Oslynn]: NOICE!
[Oslynn]: Hey Mr. Atley sir, you wanna see all the fings I can turn into?
[Alazriel]: those come in handy.
Atley accepts Peril's pole as he nods at Oslynn. "Go on then, let's have a look."
[Oslynn]: Maybe Mr. News Man might loike to see too!
[Oslynn]: Okay so the first one obviously is the worgen.
Atley idly casts a line while side-eyeing Oslynn.
Atley stares up at the teenager and grunts. "There it is, then."
Oslynn may act like a teenager, but she is in her twenties, sadly.
[Alazriel]: Ah! You're one of the beloved of Goldrinn!
Oslynn]: I dunno bout no beloved.
Oslynn has a growl in her voice now.
[Atley]: Have you lot made your way to Mount Hyjal? To Goldrinn's Shrine? T'may be of some interest.
[Oslynn]: Ain't nobody beloved me since my boyfriend went to prison when I was loike, twewve.
[Oslynn]: 'yjal's a bit dangerous for the loikes o' me roight now. Maybe after the war.
[Peril]: You had a boyfriend at — uh, twewve?
[Oslynn]: Yeah! Just puppy love. Haha get it? Because now I'm a worgen?
Atley grunts knowingly and reels in a Rainbow Fin Albacore. He disconnects it from the hook and smacks its head on the wooden dock, before offering Peril his fishing pole back. "Cheers."
Peril points his pen at her and grins. Then puts the pen in his mouth to wrangle back his fishing pole.
[Oslynn]: Anyway I can also be other stuff. Loike this! *She abruptly turns into a large tawny cat with a slightly lupine snout.*
Atley lifts a bushy brow as she takes on cat form, and briefly looks to Alazriel. "A druid, then, is it?"
[Peril]: What do you call that form? Wolf…cat?
[Oslynn]: Yeah! *Her voice sounds a bit different yet again, but very clear.*
[Oslynn]: Um, I call it… cat?
[Alazriel]: Any of the Kaldorei who can change their form are favored. I can't do it.
[Oslynn]: Oh yeah? Wot can you do then? *she asks Alazriel*
[Alazriel]: I can cut gems.
[Peril]: A jeweler!
Oslynn seems to see nothing wrong with just chatting away in cat form in her nigh-incomprehensible Gilnean accent.
[Oslynn]: NOICE!
[Oslynn]: I wish I had jewels.
Atley grunts. "And you're far too modest. You're no ordinary jeweler. You've the look of a scout."
[Alazriel]: And i've a good eye for jewelry appraisal.
[Alazriel]: well…
[Oslynn]: Dress loike one anyway.
[Oslynn]: Them dark leathers.
[Oslynn]: But sometimes people just dress loike that 'cause it's sexy.
[Peril]: S-se… *Peril clears his throat.*
Atley grunts.
[Oslynn]: don't mean nuffing.
Atley scoffs with amusement at Oslynn and shakes his head. "You're a bit cheeky, aren't you."
[Oslynn]: Wanna see me be a bear??
[Atley]: Go on, then. Let's have us a bear.
Oslynn turns into a huge brown bear.
Oslynn dances with you.
Oslynn laughs at you.
Peril's eyes widen.
Alazriel pulls out a hunk of ore and finishes the delicate tapping it takes to prize a gem free.
[Oslynn]: I loike this one 'cause it's 'UUUUGE.
Atley watches with a grunt.
[Atley]: Stand up on your hind legs, will you.
Oslynn rears up and fake roars at Atley.
[Peril]: Well now that's even bigger than a worgen!
Atley takes a step closer, standing beside her and looking up. "Aye. Properly sized."
[Oslynn]: Nobody messes with me when I'm loike this.
[Atley]: Do much fighting yourself, then?
[Oslynn]: 'swhy I'm no' afraid to travel alone anymore. Yeah, I done some foightin'.
[Alazriel]: I happened to spot this one while Iwas wandering through here. and…this is a nice jade.
Oslynn turns toward the jade. SHINY!
[Oslynn]: OooooooOOOOoooh.
Atley grunts. "You look young, and the Front isn't far from these lands. I'd hazard against traveling alone, but p'raps you've it handled."
[Oslynn]: Yeah nobody messes wif me.
Peril snickers at the word 'hazard' for some reason.
[Atley]: Have you got … One of those water forms, then?
Atley seems to struggle faintly with the exact wording as he gestures to the water.
Oslynn turns back to Alazriel, and still in bear form, asks her, "So how would one foind jewels loike tha— Oh, yeah Mr. Atley, one second, I'll show ya."
Oslynn switches mental tracks like a dog spotting a squirrel, and shows off her remaining form.
Oslynn jumps into the water in bear form, then switches into some kind of hideous aquatic mammal.
Oslynn waves a flipper at them.
Atley leans forward and squints. "Wot's that beast, then?"
[Oslynn]: Dunno!
Oslynn laughs.
[Peril]: Oh. Oh my, that's… A little horrifying, what… are those teeth for?
Atley scoffs faintly before he looks to Peril.
[Oslynn]: Eatin fish.
[Oslynn]: BIG fish.
Oslynn laughs.
Atley waggles the albacore he'd caught towards Oslynn.
Oslynn claps her flippers excitedly and barks.
[Alazriel]: They say the animal is very old. no one ever sees one anymore, unless it's a druid.
[Oslynn]: Gimme it!
Atley casually tosses it towards her face.
[Atley]: Old? Hunted to extinction, was it?
Oslynn catches it. The fish disappears FAST.
Oslynn gulp gulp gulps.
[Peril]: I can see why that might've happened.
[Oslynn]: Yeah, scary innit?
Atley growls at Peril's suggestion. "Looks warm blooded."
Oslynn turns back to her human form. In the process, soaking her unruly curls and mismatched leathers. But she's a strong swimmer, and pulls herself back up on the dock.
[Alazriel]: Oh!
[Alazriel]: A dragon!
[Alazriel]: yes! there's a lovely design with a dragon, I think it might be just the thing…
Atley grunts and glances between the three of them. "Wot' brought you lot here?"
[Peril]: A compass.
Oslynn laughs at you.
[Atley]: You wot'? A compass?
[Oslynn]: Oh I loike this one, 'e's funny. An' cute.
Oslynn turns back to Alazriel. "So I bet your jewels are real expensive, yeah?"
[Peril]: C-cute?! I… No I'm not!
[Oslynn]: If you say so, News Man.
Atley looks between Oslynn and Peril.
[Alazriel]: It depends on the jewel. I can cut this jade into something pretty.
[Oslynn]: It's already pretty!
[Oslynn]: You're pretty too. I loike yer 'air.
[Alazriel]: And the setting will be also.
[Atley]: Do you sell them, then?
Atley asks Alazriel.
Oslynn touches her own hair, self-conscious for a moment.
[Alazriel]: Thank you! I like yours. And I sell some of what I make. I'm not a master jeweler yet.
Peril scribbles in his notebook, face hidden by his hat. "Air = hair…" he mumbles.
Oslynn gathers all her hair over one shoulder, squeezing the filthy floodwater out of it.
[Atley]: Prospecting's brought you here, then.
Oslynn returns to fishing, seeming to remember why she came here in the first place, as she listens to the others.
[Alazriel]: but this jade, held between a dragon's jaws, in gold….
Alazriel nods at Atley.
[Oslynn]: Noice.
[Peril]: What's the story then? Are there rare gems in these parts, washed up by the flood?
Oslynn looks hopeful at Peril's suggestion.
Atley grunts to add his support for the inquiry. He watches Oslynn's bauble.
Oslynn is really bad at fishing.
[Alazriel]: If pirates threw them overboard. It's the hills you need.
[Oslynn]: Pirates… *Ozzy half-whispers, her eyes aglow.*
Atley looks from Ozzy to the water. "Are you using bait, lass?"
[Oslynn]: Ummm, I dunno wot ta use fer bait.
[Peril]: Pirate treasure hidden in ocean outside Menethil… *Peril scribbles more.*
[Atley]: Have you got a bit of cheese on you? That's the easiest non-living bait I use.
Oslynn looks at Atley like he's gone mad. "If I 'ad cheese, why wouldn't oi be eatin' it?"
Atley scoffs with amusement and cranes his head in concession. "A fair question. If you were of a mind to trade that cheese for a fish."
Oslynn seems to try to do this mental math.
[Atley]: Wot' I'm getting at is you need something to lure the fish to the hook. You'll have more success.
[Oslynn]: I guess if it were a small bit o' cheese. That'd be a fair trade loike.
[Alazriel]: Shiny baubles work. fish like shiny.
[Oslynn]: I ain't go' any cheese though, I ate it all. An' nuffing shiny neither.
[Peril]: Do you fish with your gems?
Atley looks to Peril Farrens. "Wot've you got on you?"
[Alazriel]: Wait here.
Oslynn peers at you searchingly.
[Oslynn]: Besides that foine shirt?
[Oslynn]: We could take it off an' use IT for bait.
Oslynn grins.
Alazriel points at Stuart Fleming.
[Peril]: I-I…
[Alazriel]: You there! do you have bait?
Peril hides his face with his hat.
[Oslynn]: Oh lookit 'im, 'e's a SHY one.
Atley clears his throat. "Have you got any bait."
[Oslynn]: Precious!
[Oslynn]: Oi loike the shy ones 'cause they're not the koind to rough you up none.
[Peril]: I-I'll have you know I am a master of bait! I have so much bait, your bait will wish it had bait!
Oslynn starts dying laughing at "master of bait" but thank the gods, says nothing further about it.
Atley briefly side-eyes Ozzy upon her comment before he holds a hand out to Peril. "Let's have some, then. We'll teach the lass how to fish."
[Alazriel]: There. See if that helps!
Oslynn thanks Alazriel.
Oslynn struggles to get the shiny bauble attached.
Peril rattles around in his bag for a small container… that he promptly fumbles off the edge of the dock. It splashes into the water below.
[Alazriel]: oh! firefin!
Atley grunts and undoes his gauntlets — shooting Peril a Look — before he hangs them from his belt and reaches for Ozzy's pole. "Let's have a look."
[Oslynn]: Oi'll ge' it! *Ozzy dives in after the container.*
[Alazriel]: I better not cast until she's up.
Oslynn's pole is now on the dock.
[Peril]: Maybe you'll catch her.
Oslynn surfaces after a moment and waves the container triumphantly.
[Atley]: Aye, best not.
[Oslynn]: Wot'll you give me for it, News Man?
[Peril]: A negotiation, then? What… do you want?
[Oslynn]: Ummm, I dunno, wot you got?
[Atley]: You need bait.
Oslynn waggles the container. "I got bait roight 'ere." She grins.
[Peril]: Just uh… just keep it. I'll get more. I have a supplier.
Atley clicks his tongue and cinches his thumbs in his belt. "She's got us there, hasn't she."
[Oslynn]: Oh you're no fun!
Oslynn hands it back to him.
Oslynn makes a rude gesture at Peril.
Peril takes it, slightly baffled.
[Oslynn]: Okay, now! Um, how do I get the shoiny thing on.
Atley reaches for the bait box before it can get sent plummeting back into the water.
Peril surrenders the box of glow worms to Atley.
Atley kneels and cracks the box open. Upon spotting the glow worms, he glances up at Peril. "You're a proper fisherman, aren't you."
Atley kneels down.
[Peril]: In my off-time.
Peril grins.
[Oslynn]: News and Fish Man!
Atley politely collects a glow worm before he closes the box. He stands and reaches for Ozzy's pole again. "There's a snap-on here, with the bauble. See it?"
[Oslynn]: Oh, roight. I see.
[Atley]: Fasten it until you hear a click. This'll show you where the line is in the water.
Oslynn's tongue pokes out the corner of her mouth as she clicks the bait on.
[Oslynn]: There we go!
Oslynn casts her line again.
[Oslynn]: Fanks!
[Oslynn]: Well, fanks to YOU two, News Man ain't done nuffing.
Atley holds up a hand holding the glow worm. "Oi, oi. Not yet. You need the bait."
[Oslynn]: Oh?
Oslynn pulls her line back in.
[Atley]: The newsman's provided you with this.
[Oslynn]: Okaaaaay.
Atley holds up the wiggling glow worm. He offers it to Ozzy.
[Oslynn]: 'At fing good to eat, you fink?
[Atley]: No. It's a bloody worm.
Oslynn eyes it speculatively as she sticks it on the hook,
[Atley]: Run it through the hook, there. Center mass. Make certain it's on securely.
[Oslynn]: Oh loike YOU never ate a— oh, guess you prolly didn't.
[Atley]: Fishing is a sport of patience. A great deal of it's spent waiting for something to happen. You want to make the fish believe the bait's a line animal. Make it behave as they do.
[Atley]: It'll linger in place, moving slowly. Then it'll catch a bit of speed and roam about.
[Oslynn]: Oi can't wait to tell the pack that Sir Dane Atley the Red helped teach me to fish!
Oslynn is maybe a bit too loud to be a great fisherwoman.
Atley scoffs faintly and shakes his head before he glances around. "I figgered' you lot would stay together."
[Oslynn]: Oh, well we stay togevver.
[Oslynn]: We jus' don't always travel togevver, you know?
Atley grunts his understanding and looks back to Peril. "You say a compass's brought you here, then? Doing a bit of wandering?"
Oslynn looks at Peril from the side of her eye as she fishes, clearly curious.
Peril hesitates. "Cobalt Company… is active in the Highlands, if I've heard right?"
[Oslynn]: Wot, Araffi?
Atley shakes his head, holding a hand out to Ozzy. "No, the Highlands of Khaz Modan, and aye. There and other places," Dane remarks vaguely to Peril.
[Peril]: Araf… no, no, the — yes, Khaz Modan.
[Oslynn]: Cosmo Dan?
[Alazriel]: Cosmo Dan? that's a good name for a fence.
[Atley]: Khaz Modan is the 'mountain kingdom.' We're standing in it. It's the realm of the dwarf lords.
[Peril]: Why would you name your fence?
Oslynn peers quizzically at Alazriel.
Atley eyes Alazriel.
[Alazriel]: A "fence" is someone who makes a living selling valuables. Stolen valuables, usually.
[Oslynn]: NOICE!
[Oslynn]: I knew one o' those, but we just called 'im Bob.
[Oslynn]: Oh WAIT!!!
Atley deadpans Alazriel. "You're a thief, then."
[Oslynn]: IS THAT WOT LOREN DOES???
Atley grimaces with faint, light-hearted annoyance at Ozzy's volume.
[Oslynn]: I awways wondered why they called 'er "Loren the Fence," loike… was she real good at keepin' folks out? Like… a metaphor. She was a bit cagey, you know.
[Alazriel]: It's hard to be a jeweler without meeting criminals.
Peril eyes Alazriel suspiciously.
Atley grunts, unimpressed.
[Oslynn]: Ooooh a rat!
Oslynn turns into cat form and pounces on it.
Oslynn devours the rat.
Peril makes a strangled squawk, startled.
[Alazriel]: Not all jewlers are thieves. Some of them prefer looking for good ore to craft.
Oslynn turns back into her human form and just carries on fishing as though she didn't just hunt and eat a rat.
Atley turns to watch Ozzy consume the rat before he glances back at Alazriel.
Peril clears his throat. "A-anyway…"
[Peril]: So uh, truthfully, while I did follow my compass to this exact location, what brought me to Menethil is the pursuit of a mysterious man.
Atley grunts encouragingly at Peril as he watches Ozzy fish.
[Oslynn]: Oh! You need to 'ire someone to foind 'im?
Alazriel turns back to fishing.
[Peril]: Oh, I don't know about iring anyone, that sounds dangerous, but uh, if you do happen to run across a guy named Fray, tell him Per— wait, no, Jones, is looking for him.
[Oslynn]: Jones?
Atley deadpans with an impatient growl.
[Atley]: Harrison Jones. The archaeologist.
[Oslynn]: Fray? Just the one name? Or 'as 'e go' others?
[Alazriel]: You know Harrison Jones?
[Peril]: Yes… that is… definitely who I meant.
Atley shakes his head. "I know of him. Cobalt Company's worked with him before."
Alazriel is impressed.
Oslynn shows no recognition at the name.
Peril mumbles to himself, "Actually, that might work. Then I just have to keep track of Harrison Jones, and eventually…"
Atley glances back at Peril and up-nods. "Why are you acting so bloody strange? Speak plainly, man."
[Oslynn]: This Fray owe you money or somefing?
Alazriel keeps an eye on that conversation. interesting.
[Peril]: He doesn't owe me money, exactly… See, his last name is uh… Farrens.
[Oslynn]: Wait, weren't that your name?
Atley grunts.
[Peril]: Yes, so you see, he can't know I'm looking.
Oslynn sobers a bit. "Lost bruvver or somefing?"
[Atley]: Wot' makes you ask of Cobalt Company, then?
[Peril]: Well, he was last seen heading up that way, by himself.
[Atley]: The Highlands? Wot' for?
Oslynn manages to catch a fish!! She's so excited that she drops it and it falls back in and swims away.
[Alazriel]: Oh that's good!
Oslynn beams!
[Peril]: That we're not sure of, but there's someone else who's got eyes on him too, so I was kind of hoping to find him first.
Atley grunts at Ozzy. "Make certain you've still got the bait on," he growls encouragingly.
Oslynn checks. "Ummm… I fink the fish ate it."
[Oslynn]: Wot you need to foind im for?
Atley reaches for Peril's bait box, but stops to silently ask Peril for permission.
Peril offers the box. "So he isn't used as blackmail against my … friend."
[Oslynn]: You gotta say more words if we're gonna 'elp.
[Alazriel]: Blackmail!
Atley pries it open and takes another worm before he sets the box back down. "Are you much of a fighter?" Atley asks Peril.
[Oslynn]: 'Ow you use a PERSON as blackmail anyhow?
Atley turns and holds the worm out to Ozzy.
[Oslynn]: Isn't that usually loike, letters an such?
Oslynn baits her hook.
[Alazriel]: Maybe they're somebody's secret baby, and one look at their face will tell the tale.
Oslynn glowers for some reason.
Atley grunts at Ozzy. "Stay calm next time. Don't be loose, don't pull too fiercely. You'll rip the hook right out of it's bloody mouth."
[Oslynn]: Roight, roight.
[Atley]: Slow and steady.
[Oslynn]: Oi'm not real good wif this patience stuff.
Atley scoffs with amusement. "So I've noticed. It takes practice."
[Oslynn]: An' patience. Which is the problem.
Atley looks back at Peril for his answer.
[Peril]: I know a few spells, but I wouldn't say I'm a fighter. And As for Fray…
[Peril]: He disappeared around the First War and only recently we — my friend and I — found out he's alive.
[Alazriel]: Not everyone can be a fighter. I tried for Sentinel training. Uff. Not for me!
Oslynn smiles at Alazriel. "I've seen them Sentinels, No One. You're way more fun."
Alazriel grins. "They have an important duty to society. Like the Sisters of Elune."
Oslynn makes a face at the word 'duty.'
[Atley]: You'll need to be a fighter to brave the Highlands. Especially now. The place is at war.
[Peril]: Yes, well. My friend probably means to go looking, himself, so I was thinking if Cobalt Company found him first…
Atley folds his arms across his barrel chest as he watches Ozzy fish before he turns on Peril. "The Company's been known to accept contracts of this sort."
[Oslynn]: Oh I bet they'll be real good at foindin' 'im.
[Oslynn]: Long as it's for a good cause.
[Oslynn]: They don't take no shady deals.
Peril looks a bit nervous and shifty.
Atley grunts, staring right at Peril.
[Atley]: The lass is right. We expect transparency. We're no ordinary band of sellswords.
[Alazriel]: If they were ordinary, they wouldn't be famous.
[Oslynn]: Oi'm SO lucky Rhenardt's a proper gembleman an' got the whole pack in.
[Peril]: You're Cobalt too?
[Oslynn]: Yeah!
[Oslynn]: Not loike a big one. But I do wotever they'll trus' me wif.
(May have missed a response or several here due to DC)
[Oslynn]: Ooooh, fine elven crafts sound noice.
[Oslynn]: Or Dalaran! They got one there too, but I ain't seen it.
[Atley]: Specifically our captain, Jocoza Sparkwire. I'd also add to speak plainly to her. She won't tolerate any half-explained solicitations for employment.
[Oslynn]: Gnomes is real big on detail.
[Oslynn]: If it weren't up in a war zone, oi might be willing to help for a bit less detail, just loike, personally, not official Cobalt loike.
[Oslynn]: So if your long lost bruvver or wotever 'e is runs off somewhere safer, send me a note.
[Oslynn]: Oslynn Grave'owl, 'Owlin' Oak, Darnassus.
Oslynn needs an address with fewer H's.
[Peril]: How's this, then. If Cobalt Company runs into a Lathrik Dinnsfield in Khaz Modan Highlands, maybe… try to keep him out of trouble?
[Oslynn]: Wait, I f'ought it was Fray?
[Peril]: Lathrik's my… friend.
[Oslynn]: Ohhh loike a FRIEND… gotcha gotcha.
Oslynn winks.
[Atley]: Lathrik Dinnsfield. I'm leading the field in the Highlands at the moment. Wot's he look like, then?
Oslynn mutters something about 'all the cute ones'
[Peril]: Dark hair, golden brown eyes, I could tell you he's a paladin but that wouldn't help much, he doesn't act like one.
[Oslynn]: Can he use the Loight an stuff?
Atley grunts. "He'll be in plate then, I trust?"
[Oslynn]: Cor, we had the BEST caffedral in Gilneas, before it got all smashed up. The one in Stormwind's got nuffing on it.
Atley briefly side-eyes Ozzy but says nothing, turning back to Peril.
[Peril]: The what? Oh. Light? Yes. Stormwind Issue armor, most likely. He's a guard.
[Oslynn]: Lafrik Dinnsfiewd.
[Atley]: Has he taken official leave, or gone off on his own?
Peril snickers a little at Lafrik. "He'll have leave, but he hasn't done it yet. Just… if he does — and he will — and you see him, then…"
[Atley]: Make certain he's safe.
[Oslynn]: I'll keep me eyes peeled too, for wotever it's worf.
Peril nods.
[Atley]: Very well.
Atley adjusts his folded arms, turning back to watch Ozzy's bauble. "He ought to stand out if he takes a step beyond Highbank."
Oslynn catches another fish! This one she manages to reel in and successfully detach from the hook. She holds it until it stops wriggling, her gray-green eyes luminous with enthusiasm.
[Oslynn]: I GOT ONE!
[Oslynn]: Ohhhh, she's a beauty. I fink I'm gonna cook this one.
Atley growls fondly and nods. "Well done. The food's sweeter with the knowledge that you gathered it yourself. In the future, just give its head a bash."
[Atley]: More mercy in it.
[Oslynn]: Oh, awright.
Oslynn seems fine with head-bashing.
Peril smiles encouragingly. "Keep at it and soon you, too, can be a master angler!"
Oslynn hugs her fish to her chest. "Okay well see ya. If you need me or a cat or a bear or a water-dog for anyfing just write me at the 'Owlin' Oak awroigh'?"
Atley grunts. "Howling Oak."
Peril starts. "Oh. Howling…? I thought she meant owl…"
[Oslynn]: Tha's wo' I said. 'Owlin.
[Atley]: That Gilneas tongue is as thick as mud. Takes getting used to.
Oslynn scowls.
Oslynn puts out her tongue, turns into a cat, and dashes off.
Atley eyes Peril. "You'll be here for a time, then?"
Atley unclasps his gauntlet from his belt and shoves his hands through them.
[Peril]: I've got some cataloging to do for the fish in this area. I'm documenting how their populations and habitats have changed after the Cataclysm. But, if I'm not here, I'll be back in my office in Stormwind.
Atley grunts and nods. "I'm familiar with your work."
Peril opens his mouth as if to inquire, then shuts it again. Maybe he doesn't want to know.
Atley looks back to Alazriel. "And wot' of you, then?"
[Alazriel]: Me?
Atley grunts.
[Alazriel]: I'll be on the lookout for more metal. Maybe a little treasure hunting, if I get wind of something good.
Atley grunts. "The hills yonder are good for it. I'm buggering off."
Atley tugs his helmet on.
[Alazriel]: Safe travels.
[Peril]: Good luck with the… Well. Everything I suppose.
Atley grunts at them both and nods. "Farewell."
[Alazriel]: I should stop at the tavern and see if Jackal Jane is there.
[Peril]: Jackal… another fence?
Alazriel winks slyly at you.
[Alazriel]: She's resourceful.
[Peril]: I-I see.
[Alazriel]: Have a good night. I hope your friend is found soon.
Moments later in the distance…
[Alazriel yells]: JANE!! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE, YOU BIG OL' NERD. WHERE'S MY BLASTED MONEY?