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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Dara, Sophiette and Hugo meet the tuskarr people of Kamagua, who are fond of sharing stories! Aside from the young squire, Dara and Sophiette consider how the story they seek in Northrend -- Luc Valonforth's -- might have ended. ~2300 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Dara, Sophiette and Hugo meet up in the courtyard of Westguard Keep.
Dara smiles at Sophiette, and then glances to Hugo. "Ready for another adventure today?"
Sophiette nods excitedly. "That soldier I told you about came back. About a year ago he was on a scouting mission in Dragonblight and saw the remains of burned ships off the shore there."
[Dara]: The Dragonblight! Then we should go there, and see what we can find in the remains?
[Sophiette]: Yes, absolutely! The bartender told me that some locals have a boat that regularly goes to the southern coast of Dragonblight.
[Dara]: Locals… boat… oooh, are they talking about the Tuskarr?
Hugo chimes in, "He said it's called The Turtle!"
[Dara]: The Turtle! What a cute name. I wonder why they call it that?
[Sophiette]: It could be the tuskarr, I suppose. I confess, I was overexcited and I didn't ask.
[Dara]: Let's just follow the directions and see.
The two of them travel down the cliff’s edge from the Keep until they come across a Tuskarr standing by a wooden machine of swirling pulleys.
Dara stares in open amazement at the walrus person standing by a massive wooden contraption.
Hugo gawks in equal amazement.
[Sophiette]: Ah…hello there, sir….sir?
Orfus rustles his whiskers and says, "Good afternoon. Are you looking for transport to Kamagua?"
[Sophiette]: Kamagua! Yes, that's the place he mentioned. We're looking to get passage on the Turtle.
Orfus nods placidly. "Oh, yes, the turtle should be arriving any time now." Oddly, he says it less like it is a title. "Just hop on one of the boats here and ride down to the island."
[Sophiette]: Thank you so much!
[Dara]: A boat to ride down to the island? Hm..
The three of them walk up to the platform, and sure enough, a boat arrives. This boat is not in any water, but moving through the air on a rope pulley system.
[Dara]: Oh! It's all tied up on a rope!
They step on, and then off they go!
[Sophiette]: This seems less than saaAAAAFE!
[Dara]: Whoa! It's going so FAST!
Sophiette cries out in surprise as the boat lurches.
Dara grabs onto a wooden railing to keep her balance.
Perhaps not soon enough, the boat arrives at the lower station, on a chilly little island at the base of the cliff.
Dara stumbles off onto the Kamagua docking station. "Wow, that's… a little less sturdy than a gryphon, isn't it?"
Sophiette nods with wide-eyes. Hugo, however, is laughing gleefully.
[Dara]: I suppose if we take the boat out, we don't have to ride back up…
As they enter the tuskarr village, Sophiette comments, "I suppose they were the tuskarr after all."
[Dara]: It seems so… goodness, I've never seen anything like this village. The tents are so tiny!
Dara does not realize most of their ‘tents’ are underground.
[Sophiette]: They seem to use horns or something for construction. What do you suppose those come from? Dragons?
[Dara]: Maybe! Or.. look at that carven tail. Perhaps from whales or other sea creatures?
Hugo shakes his head. "Those don't look like dragon horns to me."
[Sophiette]: Remarkable.
Dara smiles at Hugo, the little dragon expert.
[Dara]: Ooh, a bigger tent. Maybe they can tell us the boat schedule.
Sophiette nods at Dara.
Dara approaches nervously, smiling at the little cluster of Tuskarr by the fire in the central tent.
[Sophiette]: Hello? So sorry to bother you. We're just passing through. We heard there is a boat that sails for Dragonblight here?
Elder Atuik looks at Sophiette. "You mean the turtle? Yes, it should be here in a little while. We could share stories while you wait. Or… if you were willing to help out around the village…"
[Dara]: Oh, I suppose… since we're here anyway…
[Sophiette]: You need help? Is something the matter?
Elder Atuik says, "Things are much better, now that the Dark One is toppled, but life is never easy here. If you could help build up our food supplies, we would thank you."
Sophiette glances at Dara and shrugs. "Like you said, since we're here. It's the least we can do to earn our way."
[Dara]: Yes, I don't see why not. We did for the Alliance camp, we can help the locals as well.
[Sophiette]: Hugo, would you like to stay here with the tuskarr while we hunt?
Elder Atuik smiles. "The young one is welcome. We have many stories to share."
Hugo nods vehemently, looking back at the walrus-like folk with a huge smile.
[Sophiette]: Oh, he'll have some stories for you as well.
Sophiette chuckles.
Elder Atuik says, "I look forward to learning them."
Dara peers at a glowfish lamppost on the way out. "This is really clever."
Dara and Sophiette head out for more shoveltusk hunting. They may be becoming experts.
[Dara]: Well, he seemed pretty excited. Our dragon expert may turn into a tuskarr expert.
[Sophiette]: Heh, he'll be happy to have a whole new audience, too.
Dara giggles. "And it sounded like it would be an appreciative one, too."
They hunt in pleasant silence for a while.
[Sophiette]: I've been thinking…
[Dara]: Mm? *Dara looks over at Sophiette, smiling*
[Sophiette]: About Hugo. I originally wanted him to be there when we investigated the 1st Legion. But…I'm less sure about that now.
[Dara]: Ah… we might… *Dara's smile fades.* We might find difficult truths there.
[Sophiette]: Exactly. If we find something awful… *she shakes her head* I'm not ready to see his innocence crushed.
[Dara]: We will have to tell him, but he doesn't have to see.
Sophiette nods solemnly. "We're of a like mind."
[Dara]: He'll want to come, though. I'm sure of it.
[Sophiette]: He'll be angry with me if I send him away. But that will pass, I'm sure.
[Dara]: He'll understand one day.
They hunt in more contemplative silence for a time.
[Dara]: If the coast of Dragonblight is the end of the road… will you be okay, Sophiette?
Sophiette sighs, a haunted expression passing over her face. "I've asked myself that question for years. I don't really have an answer."
[Dara]: I know we both understand that we're not likely to find good news, for all Muradin Bronzebeard survived all those years. But imagining it, and knowing for sure are two different things.
Sophiette nods, "I'm at peace with my father's death. The possibility of him surviving just seems…like wishful thinking." She says the last with a wistful tone that does not match the content.
[Sophiette]: The worst would be something far worse than death.
Dara reaches out to touch Sophiette's arm briefly in comfort. "We can hope, but… we do have to be ready for darker things. If that happened… then he might… the Lich King is dead, so…"
[Sophiette]: Mmhm. The Lich King is dead, but the Scourge still plagues the land.
[Dara]: I know this is hard to talk about, but we should know what we plan to do, just in case. If we end up in that situation.
[Sophiette]: You mean…can I kill him if he's become an undead abomination?
[Dara]: That is what we'd need to do, if he's mindless. But if he remembers you, then it's… more complicated. If part of his soul is still here… what should we do?
[Sophiette]: I want to say I would do it regardless. That it would be a mercy, and it's my duty as his daughter.
[Sophiette]: But when I try to picture it…even in my imagination, I balk.
Dara reaches over to give Sophiette's hand a squeeze. "I think that's only natural. And maybe, if he's… talkable… we could try talking to him." Dara hastily adds, "This is all just, thinking of everything that might happen. It's entirely possible this will never even be an issue."
Sophiette holds on to Dara's hand until the need to hunt more shoveltusk meat requires her to let go. "Would I want to talk to him…? If he's…not really him?"
[Dara]: I don't know. If he is like Mercy, then there would be a part of him that was still your father. She asked after people she knew while she was alive, after all.
Sophiette sighs. "True, but Mercy is an Acherus death knight. Whatever happened at Light's Hope changed them somehow. Unless he was somehow there…."
[Dara]: I really don't know how all this works. He wouldn't have been freed in the way that they were, but… what happens to the death knights and the undead here in Northrend, now that the Lich King is dead? Maybe they have their own minds again.
Sophiette sighs. "I just don't know…and could we trust anything he said? This is even assuming he could have become a death knight, rather than…just some ghoul."
Dara nods sadly. "I think if it's clear he's not here anymore, our path is obvious. If it's more complicated… we could ask the Argent Crusade to assess him, or even the Ebon Blade."
Sophiette nods solemnly, blinking back unwelcome tears.
Dara reaches out to take her hand again, in between shoveltusks. "I'm sorry. I'm not bringing it up to hurt you. And I know the most likely thing we'll find here is answers, and that alone."
Sophiette breathes out slowly. "I know. I appreciate you being here…helping me sort this out."
[Dara]: If we talk it out before, then it'll be easier in the moment, whatever happens. Or at least, I hope so.
The girls finish their hunt with these somber thoughts, and then return to the tuskarr village with steaks.
Hugo leaps up at the ladies' return. "Guess what! The tuskarr's ancestors' ghosts live in big statues!"
[Dara]: Oh, do they now? *Dara says with a smile. "That sounds like a… comfortable place to live?
Sophiette's mood visibly brightens at Hugo's enthusiasm.
Dara carefully hands over her steaks.
Elder Atuik says, "Oh, thank you! It's still a little time until the next boat — do you think you could gather some chimaera horns, for our hunters spears? I think Hugo and I still have a few more stories to share."
Sophiette smirks at Hugo, then nods to the elder. "I think we can manage that."
Dara grins at Hugo. "Make sure we sound amazing in whatever stories you tell."
The two women head out for more hunting errands.
[Sophiette]: Why do I get the feeling Hugo had something to do with that decision?
[Dara]: In the request to gather spears?
[Sophiette]: At least to keep us busy so he can have more storytime with the elder.
Dara giggles. "They do seem to be enjoying one another."
[Dara]: I think we have had some pretty impressive stories, though. Dragonslayers, orc slayers, so many things.
[Sophiette]: I suppose that old people and kids seem to get along well in just about every culture.
[Dara]: Indeed. Children have the enthusiasm, and the elders have the patience for it. *Dara smiles fondly*
The chimaera horns are much easier to acquire. Dara and Sophiette soon have plenty.
[Dara]: That's probably enough. Hugo has only bought himself a little time.
Sophiette sighs softly. "I do like seeing him happy. Maybe…we could stay a bit longer."
[Dara]: Do you think? It is charming here.
Sophiette smiles to see Hugo sitting at the elder's knee, going on and on about dragons.
The Elder looks up peacefully as the ladies enter, and he nods at the chimaera horns. "I see your outing was fruitful."
Sophiette lays the horns at his feet. "I hope these are useful to your people."
Elder Atuik says, "Oh, I expect they will be, for those younger than I am."
Dara looks around the tent, and then asks politely, "Does your village have an inn? Do you accept visitors?"
Elder Atuik smiles. "Of course! It's just across the way, you'll see the covered entrance."
Sophiette smiles. "Just send Hugo along to us when you need a break."
Elder Atuik chuckles. "I feel I am learning more of your people in an afternoon than I have in the past few years. I will send him along when one of us grows weary."
Dara smiles to see them getting along so well.
Hugo continues on as if the girls hadn't interrupted, "And then Onyxia turned into a human lady and got into the castle but then Cobalt Company found out and killed her RIGHT in the throne room and…."
Sophiette smirks. "That might not be quite how it happened…but close enough."
Dara giggles and reaches to take Sophiette's hand, moving out of the tent. "I think we can trust he's safe here. It seems like a friendly place."
They approach the entrance of the supposed inn, which looks far too small… only to see that the entrance is a ramp sloping downwards, and what Sophiette thought was a tent was simply a covering over the opening. The room below spreads out into a warm, comfortable inn with many cushions, furry blankets, and a blazing central fire.
[Sophiette]: Oh look!
[Dara]: I see what he meant! The entrance… it leads down! I thought it was a tiny tent.
[Sophiette]: I wonder why they need the tents if they live in burrows.
[Dara]: Maybe it's all to keep things warm? To keep the wind from coming down here.
[Dara]: It is warm, with the fire. I feel like I'm under a blanket already.
Sophiette smiles with a little blush, "We could get a little warmer under those furs…."
Dara 's smile takes on a different kind of playful edge. "Shall we see how warm we can be together?"
Sophiette giggles softly and takes Dara by the hand to go share some warmth.