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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Cerethan, Corvin, Halnar, and Vaaria head out from Fort Triumph to deliver grim news and retrieve the fort's new leader from Bael Modan. Things do not go entirely as planned. ~3500 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: Kalimdor Newbies
The team begins to gather by a pig being roasted over a campfire in Fort Triumph.
Corvin waves at Halnar and Mrs. Brumble. "Good to see you, Halnar."
[Halnar]: ALLO, lad! And greeting to yeh as well, Gon.
The fox raises a paw, tilting his head at Halnar.
Halnar inhales deeply. "That roastin' pig smells mighty good, donit?"
[Corvin]: Oh, and Mrs. Brumble, of course. Yes, it does… I hope we get a chance to feast after whatever Roberts has for us today.
Halnar blinks, eyes filling up. "Y-…yeh mean we cannae wait for the pig to be ready?"
Vaaria gently pats Halnar.
Cerethan's owl joins them, quickly followed by Cerethan. "Greetings, friends. I was just at Theramore again. What a wonderful city." He smiles.
[Corvin]: It is a pretty impressive port *Corvin says to Cerethan, and then turns back to Halnar.* Not today, I don't think. Roberts asked us to report once we were all gathered.
[Vaaria]: I am ready.
Halnar is heartbroken.
Halnar looks at the roasting pork longingly. "Farewell, piggy. May we meet again in more succulent times!"
Vaaria smiles crookedly at Halnar.
Vaaria gently pats Halnar.
Halnar gives Vaaria an appreciative smile.
Corvin turns away to hide a chuckle.
[Cerethan]: I am as well! Halnar, how do you feel, now that Deathwing has left this world?
[Halnar]: Deathwing's gone?! Dammitall! I wanted to punch him right in his overgrown snout!
Vaaria comforts Halnar.
[Corvin]: I didn't get close enough to punch him, but I was in Wyrmrest. He's pretty much gone.
Vaaria salutes Commander Roberts with respect.
[Cerethan]: I… Was expecting the answer to be "relieved". Ah, well. *He bows to Commander Roberts.*
Corvin salutes Commander Roberts with respect.
Commander Roberts says: Greetings, mercenary team! Have you heard the news of Northwatch Hold? The place was utterly destroyed by the Horde. In the light of that, we’re fortifying. Who knows when the next attack will come, and where.
[Halnar]: Pretty much? So…he might still be out there?
Vaaria tells Halnar to be quiet. Shhh!
[Corvin]: Ah, no. I was softening it to be polite. He's very dead.
[Vaaria]: Apologies, Commander Roberts. We are listening.
[Halnar]: Wot now? The Horde razed Northwatch?!
[Cerethan]: That is… Unfortunate news.
Corvin looks over sharply to Robert. "Utterly destroyed?"
[Vaaria]: I heard news of this a few hours ago. I feel sick. *She says calmly.*
[Halnar]: BASTERDS! I'll shove my fist down their gullets and rip their guts out!
Commander Roberts says: Yes. There were only a handful of survivors who made it out. Admiral Aubrey, and one of the ships.
Corvin looks horrified. "We were there, not long ago…"
[Vaaria]: Yes, Trent. I remember.
Vaaria stares grimly at Roberts.
[Cerethan]: So… *Cerethan shakes his head in horror.* Only one survivor then, as the ship is not a person… What a tragedy…
Commander Roberts says: Uh. The ship had people on it. Ships do not… escape on their own.
Vaaria's mouth twitches, despite the circumstances.
[Cerethan]: … Of course. That… I misunderstood. My apologies.
[Vaaria]: Unless it is naaru ship, perhaps.
[Vaaria]: Their ships are very advanced.
Commander Roberts says: In any case, there's nothing to be done about Northwatch, but we need to anticipate where they'll strike next.
[Vaaria]: What shall we do, Commander?
Commander Roberts says: The Alliance owes a debt to the dwarves of Bael Modan, who built some of our earliest fortifications in the Barrens. Their commander, General Twinbraid, is a real stalwart. One of our best.
Vaaria glances at Halnar.
Commander Roberts says: Since we've lost General Hawthorne to a cowardly assassination during travel, I've been trying to hold things together here.
[Vaaria]: You are appreciated.
Commander Roberts says: Thank you, but we need General Twinbraid. Right now he's just overseeing a digsite and a small Keep, while he patrols to keep the Horde on their toes.
Commander Roberts says: We’ll need him and his people here, in Fort Triumph. Can you deliver this report to him in the field? *Roberts holds out a document*
[Vaaria]: Easily done.
Vaaria mounts up.
[Corvin]: South of here, he said…
[Halnar]: Bloody good thing Deathwing is gone, what with all his fire. I dinnae want to imagine how much worse it would be in Midsummer with all the fire spirits all giddy!
[Corvin]: You're not wrong. Wildfires are enough of a menace in this season, without a bloody dragon setting them.
[Corvin]: Here, look, there's the banner! That must be him.
[Vaaria]: Are you Twinbraid?
[Halnar]: ALLO!
Vaaria stares at his twin beard-braids.
General Twinbraid says: Aye, lass. That's me. What's the news?
[Vaaria]: Very good, almost like tentacles.
[Cerethan]: … Did your name come first, or the… the hm… the twin braids?
[Vaaria]: We have message for you. *She holds it out*
General Twinbraid says: Eh? I just like wearing… *The General reads over the report, and his expression darkens*
General Twinbraid says: This is grim news, friends. Grim news, indeed.
General Twinbraid says: The patrol's been quiet today. And that's got me worried. If the Horde has destroyed Northwatch Hold, it stands to reason they’d have some plans around here, too.
Vaaria frowns.
General Twinbraid says: You look like you can handle yourself - can you scout around for me?
[Vaaria]: Yes.
Vaaria salutes General Twinbraid with respect.
General Twinbraid says: Check in with my son Marley outside the Bael Modan excavation, southeast of here. The site's exposed and susceptible to raids, and I fear my son's too proud to signal for help if he needs it.
[Vaaria]: Marley. Yes, we will do this.
[Cerethan]: That is an error in leadership.
Halnar salutes General Twinbraid with respect.
[Corvin]: It is… but we'll check on him.
Vaaria agrees with Cerethan.
The team rides over to the camp by the digsite, coming first to a watchtower.
Twinbraid's Bodyguard says: You'll find Marley Twinbraid up top, sir.
Corvin salutes and nods.
The team heads up to the top of the tower.
[Vaaria]: Marley?
Vaaria salutes Marley Twinbraid with respect.
Marley Twinbraid says: Aye? What bring ye here?
Cerethan stares at his twin braids.
Vaaria does too.
[Corvin]: Your father sent us to check if you needed any help — there's a danger of Horde violence.
Marley Twinbraid says: Father sent you? He worries too much. There's nothing here I can't handle… But I'd still appreciate the help.
[Vaaria]: Since we are here anyway.
[Halnar]: You've got it, lad!
Halnar salutes Marley Twinbraid with respect.
Marley Twinbraid says: Look at the chaos down there! That's your Horde violence.
Vaaria surveys the rampaging Tauren calmly.
Corvin turns to see the digsite, and his eyes widen as he sees the tauren braves fighting dwarves.
Marley Twinbraid says: I've instructed the foremen to save what artifacts they can. Who knows what treasures these tauren animals are like to make off with.
Marley Twinbraid says: Can you help get a handle on things? Kill the raiders and save what artifacts you can. While you're at it, look for my missing tools. A few quick repairs and I can get this flying machine up and running again.
[Cerethan]: The artifacts must be protected at all cost!
[Cerethan]: … the dwarves as well, of course.
Vaaria stares Cerethan down.
Halnar thumps Cerethan's thigh. "Aye. The DWARVES."
Vaaria commences Retribution.
[Corvin]: What a mess… but at least it's not just completely destroyed. We can save some of these people.
Corvin takes aim and fires at a nearby tauren. Gon slips through the tall grass and pounces.
[Cerethan]: Luckily, yes. We arrived right on time!
Halnar unleashes fire and lightning on the tauren! The fire seems especially hot and aggressive today!
[Halnar]: YAWWWP!
Bael'dun Excavator says: They're everywhere!
Bael'dun Excavator says: Panic!
[Corvin]: Don't panic! We're here to help.
Bael'dun Excavator says: Don't let them make off with any of the artifacts!
One of the tauren gets in too close to Corvin, and he sets aside his gun to slash through him with a sword.
[Corvin]: I think this is pretty well cleared for now. We've got all we could find.
They return to Marley.
Vaaria salutes Marley Twinbraid with respect.
Cerethan is very carefully carrying ARTIFACTS.
Corvin sets his batch of artifacts down, maybe a touch too roughly.
[Corvin]: We fought off all the tauren we could, sir.
Cerethan stares in horror at the way Corvin treats the artifacts.
Marley Twinbraid says: Okay, friends! Let's take these artifacts to my father and give him our report firsthand. My flying machine is ready to roll. We can fly there together and share in the glory.
The four of us hop in the back of his flying machine, and off we go for Bael’dun Keep!
Marley Twinbraid says: Hold on tight back there! Seat belts are for chumps.
Marley Twinbraid says: We're all very proud of Bael Modan. It was the first dwarven settlement in Kalimdor.
Marley Twinbraid says: Up ahead is Bael'dun Keep. Isn't she a beauty? That stronghold is indestructible!
It promptly explodes in flame.
Marley Twinbraid says: …What the? The keep is under attack!
Vaaria curses fluently in draenei.
[Vaaria]: Cerethan, are you all right?
Halnar laughs gleefully as they crash!
Corvin tumbles free of the wreckage. "MARLEY!"
[Halnar]: Any landin' ye can walk away from, righ'?
The battered dwarf hangs limply from the cockpit. As you approach the burning wreckage, his eyes flutter open. Marley Twinbraid is still alive!
Cerethan has blinked out of the wreckage. He's a little hurt, but okay, mostly. "I'm fine. Thank you." He smiles at Vaaria.
Marley reaches out a shaking, bloody hand.
[Corvin]: Yeah… but one of us isn't walking. *Corvin turns to Marley*
Vaaria casts a healing spell on Cerethan, then Marley.
[Halnar]: Uh oh.
Marley Twinbraid says: Ale… Must… have ale… Ol' Barkerstout from inside. *He coughs.* That should … do the trick.
Vaaria sighs at Marley Twinbraid.
Halnar places a hand on Marley, conjuring up healing waters to help.
[Vaaria]: Dwarves…
[Halnar]: ALE!
The injuries are very extensive, but the healing waters seem to stabilize him… for now.
Cerethan sighs.
Vaaria peers at Bael'dun Survivor searchingly.
[Halnar]: This man needs ale! NOEW!
Nearby, a terrified survivor cowers. "Help - Help! You've got to do something!
Vaaria throws a heal at the survivor as well.
Bael’dun Survivor says: Some dwarves are still inside - so many - they're trapped in the debris. Buried alive. The flames! It's a nightmare in there. We don't know how much longer until the roof collapses…
Vaaria dashes into the building without hearing more.
Bael’dun Survivor says: Please, you've got to save them! Run inside. Use the emergency fire valves to protect yourself from the flames. You're the only hope they have…
Vaaria runs back out, very on fire.
[Halnar]: Bloody Midsummer! Fire spirits are gettin' too wild!
Corvin starts to rush after her when a wounded officer flags them down.
Vaaria thanks Halnar.
Wounded Bael’dun Officer says: Sabotage! It had to be. The whole fortress magazine exploded. The Horde must've gotten someone inside…
Halnar conjures more water to douse Vaaria
Wounded Bael’dun Officer says: If you've the stones to rush into that burning nightmare… look for some clues as to who did this to us. The General will want to know! Look for a Horde corpse in the wreckage and get to the bottom of this disaster…
[Cerethan]: Shouldn't worshipping these fires like we do this time of year… Calm down?
[Halnar]: You ever known fire to calm down when yeh feed it, laddie?
[Cerethan]: I see valves. *He points.* Is it there, do you think?
The team rushes into the burning building. Flames are everywhere, and dwarves cry out for help, trapped under burning debris.
Vaaria dashes through the building recklessly, barely noticing when the flames touch her, it seems.
Gon does not rush into the burning building. Corvin does, though, in worgen form. He occasionally douses himself with water from safety valves.
Vaaria luckily is drenched by others' use of the valves periodically; her entire focus is on lifting rubble. She is remarkably strong.
Cerethan blinks from one space to the other inside the building. He covers his mouth with his cape to protect himself from the smoke.
Dwarves rush out of the building as they are freed, calling out thanks.
One smoldering corpse stands out amidst the carnage. The dead goblin clutches the schematics of the fortress in his lifeless hand… The Bilgewater Cartel goblins. They did this!
Corvin frowns down at the goblin's body stonily, and then continues the rescue work.
Cerethan's owl shows him the way, leaving little star-like-lights above dwarves trapped inside.
Vaaria calls, "Cerethan, get out! Let us handle this!"
[Halnar]: Thank the Titans for these valves! It ain't easy conjurin' water when it's this dry!
Cerethan looks confused at Vaaria, then he blinks further away. He is helping.
Halnar spots the large keg of ale on the burning bartop. "AHA! Ale! Let's get this medicine to Twinbraid!"
The fires are growing too intense. All of those who can be rescued by now likely have been.
Corvin makes his way out, following the dwarves.
Cerethan follows Corvin out.
Halnar bursts out of the flaming building, a keg of ale under one arm! "Ah'm comin', Marley!"
The survivor stands near the entrance, caring for a number of burned, coughing dwarves. "You're a legend. The other survivors and I will be telling the story of your deeds for years to come."
Halnar hurries to the wounded pilot. "Here ye go, laddie. Drink up."
Marley's eyes sparkle as Halnar rushes toward him with the ale. He grasps the mug in both of his shaking hands and upends it, white foam spilling out over his blood-caked beard.
Marley Twinbraid says: Ah… that's the stuff. Ol' Barkerstout… Thank you, friend. That'll make this… a little easier.
Coughing one final time, he slumps over the shattered control console, the half-empty mug crashing to the ground and spilling its contents into the sand. Marley Twinbraid is dead.
[Corvin]: No! Marley…
Vaaria immediately tries a resurrection. She concentrates fiercely… then the light fades. She curses in draenei, her eyes tearing up.
[Cerethan]: This can't be… I thought he would make it…
Halnar chokes out half a gasp. "Oh, laddie…" Halnar's lip quivers, and he drops to a knee. "His spirit's moved on," he says solemnly. "He's gone."
Halnar kneels down.
Corvin kneels by Marley, blinking back tears in his eyes. "We were able to save so many today. We have to remember that."
[Vaaria]: He was in too much pain… *Vaaria says quietly* Sometimes, once the body knows how much pain it can feel, the soul no longer wishes to return.
Halnar sniffles. "At least he got one more taste of Ol' Barkerstout."
Cerethan's ears droop.
[Vaaria]: The ale helped him, yes. Somehow it truly helped.
Vaaria looks baffled by this.
Corvin nods. "It seems to have."
[Vaaria]: One last moment of peace and pleasure. *She sighs.*
Halnar rises with a heavy sigh. "A good ale holds a lot of good memories for a dwarf, lass. He needed that."
[Corvin]: I think… we need to tell the General.
Vaaria nods.
[Vaaria]: I can tell him. I have… given this sort of news before.
Vaaria gently pats Halnar.
[Cerethan]: Yes, please! I would be… terrible at this.
Vaaria agrees with Cerethan.
[Corvin]: We'll need to tell him about all this, too. *Corvin gestures at the keep* And that goblins did it. Horde.
Vaaria's eyes harden.
[Vaaria]: Damn the Horde.
Corvin's own face looks grim. "Damn them, indeed."
Cerethan frowns a little. "Vaaria, are you angry at the Horde or at… me?"
[Vaaria]: I am not angry at you, Cerethan.
[Vaaria]: Why did you think I was angry at you?
[Vaaria]: I am not. Today.
[Cerethan]: Are you certain? Because I sense that you think of me as… incompetent.
[Vaaria]: That does not mean I am angry.
[Vaaria]: Also, you are very competent in… certain contexts.
[Vaaria]: But brute force and altruism are not these contexts.
Cerethan is looking extremely confused.
Cerethan gasps.
[Vaaria]: A moment, Cerethan.
[Vaaria]: I must speak with the General.
Vaaria bows before General Twinbraid.
[Cerethan]: Of course.
General Twinbraid says: What's the news? How was the digsite?
[Vaaria]: General Twinbraid, I am deeply grieved to report that the Horde has destroyed Bael Modan, and your son was killed in the explosion.
Vaaria braces herself for his reaction.
[Halnar]: He was fearless, General. He dinnae flinch for a moment in the face o' danger. Did his duty to the last.
Vaaria agrees with Halnar.
General Twinbraid says: What… WHAT!? That was my boy. My only boy. And Bael'dun in ruins?
[Vaaria]: I am afraid so, General.
[Corvin]: It was the Bilgewater goblins that did it. We found one of their operatives.
Vaaria nods.
General Twinbraid says: The Bilgewater goblins, was it? They want a fight do they? We'll show'em what it means to be a part of the Horde, we will. I'll fill the Barrens with their corpses. I'll redden the dirt with their blood.
[Vaaria]: I will help.
General Twinbraid says: They've made it personal. Personal. Goblins. Are going. To die! Along with the rest of the Horde!
[Halnar]: AYE, SIR!
General Twinbraid says: Just west of here you'll find a whole warren of those little insects burrowing into the mountain. Let's see to it that they're digging their grave.
General Twinbraid says: Destroy them. Lay waste to their whole grubby operation. They've sown their own demise in Bael'dun, and it is time to meet the reaper.
[Corvin]: It will be done, sir.
General Twinbraid says: Even so, it's not enough to kill'em - after Bael'dun, I want to give those goblins a taste of their own. Go into Frazzlecraz's mine and arm a pile of the explosives inside.
General Twinbraid says: At the entrance to the mine you should see some sort of switch or plunger. Once the explosives are armed, use the plunger to blow that place sky-high. Put the fear in'em!
[Vaaria]: As you command, General.
[Cerethan]: Fight fire with fire, I see.
[Corvin]: It seems only right, after what they did.
Vaaria murmurs the word 'retribution' in draenei.
Corvin heads off towards the mine, grim-faced, his knuckles white around his gun.
Vaaria commences her goblin killing spree.
Halnar shouts, “FOR MARLEY!”
Corvin echoes, "FOR MARLEY!"
[Cerethan]: For Marley, yes. *Cerethan doesn't look like he understand the need to scream, so he repeats his more softly.*
[Vaaria]: Do any of you know what goblin explosives look like? I know what draenei explosives look like, but I see no crystals here.
Corvin points at a barrel with a skull and bones on it. "Like that, I think."
Vaaria nods and makes a mental note.
[Halnar]: THUNDERRRR!
Vaaria carves through goblins as though they were nothing more than green weeds blocking her path.
Corvin shoots without hesitation, as Gon darts from goblin to goblin.
[Vaaria]: Now how do we make them explode?
[Corvin]: Who wants to do the honors? *Corvin gestures to the plunger*
[Halnar]: LIKE THIS!
Halnar LEAPS onto the plunger with his whole body!
The ground rocks with the explosion, fire spouting out of the entrance to the mine.
[Vaaria]: Interesting.
[Vaaria]: Draenei explosives are more efficient.
Halnar laughs.
[Corvin]: That's goblins for you. Not more efficient, but… destructive.
[Halnar]: Sometimes bigger is better than efficient, lass.
Vaaria nods in grim satisfaction.
Vaaria is on the point of mounting up and leaving when a surviving orc foreman ambushes her and drags her down off her elekk. She beheads him and calmly mounts up again.
Corvin starts to move his hand to his gun, and then sees Vaaria handle it. He nods in respect.
The team rides back to where General Twinbraid waits.
[Halnar]: I assume ye heard the boom, sir.
Corvin salutes General Twinbraid when they return, not bothering to shift back into human form this time.
Halnar salutes General Twinbraid with respect.
[Vaaria]: General Twinbraid. It is done. Small pieces of goblin all over the area now.
General Twinbraid says: Aye, lad, I did. Well done! And lass, glad to hear it.
General Twinbraid says: Let word of this deed spread, and with it, terror. The Horde will feel the consequences of their attacks on Northwatch and Bael Modan, and they'll rue the day they ever crossed us.
General Twinbraid says: Now, I’ve got to get to Fort Triumph. Whatever force they’ve hit Northwatch with, we’ll put an end to'em sooner or later!
General Twinbraid says: I’d ask you to go back towards Honor’s Stand and Stonetalon, bring them the news of what’s happened here.
[Cerethan]: They will need all the help they can get, I'm sure. In Fort Triumph, I mean. If all camps around them are being attacked… They're probably next.
General Twinbraid says: Might prove so. If that's the case, we'll be ready for them!
Vaaria nods at General Twinbraid.
[Vaaria]: Yes, sir.
[Corvin]: We'll head for Stonetalon, sir.
Cerethan nods at General Twinbraid.