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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | Blue Squad gets some bad news from SI:7 and Admiral Taylor; they offer their aid to the jinyu in an effort to neutralize the threat. A potential lead emerges in the search for Prince Anduin. It seems like kind of a gross lead, but a lead is a lead. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Atley stands in the center of Paw'don Village, staring up at the ornate fountain's statue.
Bran wanders over toward Atley, humming cheerfully.
Atley glances down, adjusting the winged helmet under his arm. "Afternoon, Bran."
"Hey Red! I got a fancy new cape like yours." Bran does a little spin to show it off.
Atley knits his brow and raises his head, peering down at the cape with an aura of gruff approval. "Looks sharp, Bran. You're representing the Company well."
Erixa comes walking up the stairs, and then turns her amble towards Atley and Bran.
Oranna finishes talking with a pandaren flight master, using emphatic hand gestures that imply she's suggesting something hitting a wall repeatedly, which makes the pandaren male laugh, and she waves goodbye to him before waving hello to the others.
"Lo there Boomer!" Bran says, eyes turning into upside-down crescents at Oranna.
Atley nods at Erixa in greeting before he looks to Oranna. "Right. Wot' was all that, then?"
Erixa waves cheerily.
Shine mounts the stairs several paces behind Erixa, and follows her in the same direction.
Atley inclines his head. "Shine."
Estel sits on the edge of the fountain, trying to get something out from between her teeth.
In a flash of light, Gwenivene blinks into existence among the other Cobaltians by the statue.
"Hullo," Oranna says, startling from Gwen's entrance.
Atley grunts at Gwen. "Afternoon, Squad Leader."
Bran waves cheerfully at Estel and Gwen.
Estel waves lazily. "Hey, y'all."
"Hi!" Gwen waves enthusiastically to Oranna, then to everyone else.
Shine smiles faintly at Estel, and nods to Gwen.
Shun silently walks on up. He doesn't just appear out of nowhere this time around.
Bran gives Shun a cheery wave, since he actually can see him.
Erixa waves at everyone.
"Anyone got, like, a toothpick?" Estel asks.
Atley looks from Estel to the others before he glances down at himself. Blades too big.
Bran digs through his bag. "I might have, aye…"
"A toothpick? Um…back at the inn, maybe." Gwen glances over her shoulder.
Bran finds a box of toothpicks in his bag, slides it open, and holds it out toward Estel. "Mint flavored!" he declares.
Shun grunts at Bran.
Estel selects one from the box. "Brilliant, thanks." She removes a sesame seed from between her teeth. Success!
Atley scoffs with amusement, unsurprised by Brannagen.
Bran tucks the box of toothpicks back into his bag with all his various other Extremely Prepared Supplies.
Atley raises his gaze and looks between them all. "Admiral Taylor's sent for us to return to Pearlfin Village. More work needs doing." He looks to White Squad and nods. "Watch yourselves, you lot."
Shine nods to White Squad in a general farewell.
Gwen nods to Atley. "You too, Squad Leader! And Blue Squad!"
"Good luck!" Erixa says, waving farewell.
Oranna waves farewell as well, trying not to look nervous, not quite succeeeding.
"Good luck! Later, later!" Estel waves.
"They've got a priest AND a mage!" Bran says confidently. "They'll be fine!"
Atley tugs his helmet on and grunts before he marches over to the kite master and arranges payment.
Bran seems excited to be heading back to Pearlfin.
Erixa heads over for kite transport as well.
In Pearlfin Village
As they land, Bran looks around excitedly.
Atley lands and smooths over his tabard before he glances around. "Let's get to it then, you lot."
Oranna tugs at her tabard, and resettles her hair, a little on the pale side, but recovering.
By the campfire at which Admiral Taylor had been recovering last week, Rell Nightwind now lies prone on a mat, wearing bandages and a clammy sheen of fever-sweat. Mishka is seated beside him, and nearby, Sully McLeary and a dark-haired human woman confer quietly. Little Lu, their jinyu guide, crouches fretfully on the far side of the fire from Nightwind, watching the SI:7 agents.
"It looks like something has happened to Intelligent team?" Erixa asks, looking over worriedly at Rell.
Oranna tries not to fash. Doesn't succeed.
Bran's gaze pauses briefly on Mishka before wandering onward.
Atley knits his brow at the scene, but approaches Admiral Taylor and salutes sharply. "Admiral Taylor, sir."
Oranna waves hello.
Erixa salutes Admiral Taylor
Admiral Taylor looks recovered from his ordeals of last week, if not entirely well. Right now his shadowed gaze is on the SI:7 team, but he turns at Atley's salutation and smiles. "Cobalt Company. Good."
Atley cinches his thumbs in his belt and offers a brief, inquisitive frown at the wounded Nightwind. "Wot's the situation?"
Bran throws a sparkly heal toward Rell, but it doesn't seem to do much.
At the sound of the Cobalt Company name, Sully breaks off his conversation with the unfamiliar woman, brightening with relief. “Cobalts, aye. Good to see ye. We’ve learned some things ye need to hear."
Admiral Taylor gestures at Sully grimly.
Atley doubletakes the female, dark-haired SI:7 agent before he shifts his gaze to Sully. "We're all ears, Sully."
"First of all," says Sully, "let me introduce ye to Amber Kearnen, for those who didn’t meet her aboard the Skyfire. She’s one of ours.”
The black-haired woman nods briefly.
Oranna checks out her gun. Respectfully.
Shine surveys the woman and then nods back politely.
Atley nods once to Amber.
"Hello, Kearnen," Erixa says, with a warm smile.
"Lo there!" says Bran.
“Her plane disappeared during our inital assault on the Horde outpost south of Paw’don. When Rell and Little Lu and I headed north into the forest, we found the wreckage,” Sully explains. “Amber had been pinned down by the hozen, but we were able to rescue her and she joined our search for Anduin.” Sully shakes his head heavily. “We found no sign of the Prince, but — “
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Amber interrupts brusquely. “We split up to scout while Little Lu set up camp. Sully and I came across a large hozen village — complete with a stockpile of Horde supplies and a gang of orcs. The Horde is definitely here, and they’ve allied with the hozen.”
“And Rell meanwhile was ambushed by a hozen patrol,” Sully adds mournfully.
Little Lu makes a sad sound and draws his knees up to his chest to huddle miserably.
"Allied with the — ah fer Light's sake," Oranna mutters.
Bran facepalms.
Shine folds his arms.
Atley narrows his eyes at the news, and briefly inspects Little Lu for injury.
Erixa's expression hardens, and she nods understanding. "It makes sense."
"Does it make sense?" Oranna asks Erixa.
Bran looks at Oranna and shakes his head with wide eyes, mouthing NAAAAE.
"Savages'll band together when times are desperate," Atley says.
"Yes, orcs and hozen have similar approach to… other people," Erixa explains.
Atley nods at Erixa.
Bran chuckles darkly. Yes, that's a thing.
"Has anything been done towards the orcs and their new Hozen allies?" Atley asks.
"That can be our job, if nae," Bran offers.
"Not yet," says Admiral Taylor grimly, "but now that we know what we're up against, yes. Elder Lusshan and I have agreed that our best path forward is to work together, and you're probably best equipped to be our liaisons."
"Fantastic!" says Bran.
Oranna mutters to herself, shaking her head at the folly of the Horde. "Aye, that's the better way," she agrees.
Atley briefly glances over his shoulder at the Elder on the hill before he nods at Admiral Taylor. "We're cut out for it."
"We’ll share our superior military knowledge and weaponry with the jinyu," Admiral Taylor says, "to help their fight against the hozen. In turn, they'll be a powerful local ally against the Horde."
Atley grunts.
Bran nods, and makes a few notes in his journal in Dwarvish.
The Admiral indicates a stack of lion-stamped crates nearby. “Take this equipment and these weapons and distribute them to the jinyu of the village. Find out where their skills lie, and equip them appropriately.”
Shine examines the crates with a raised brow. He nods.
Erixa glances over towards Bold Karasshi and Little Lu, to see what they think of this.
It is hard to read Bold Karasshi's expression because he is a fish, but he seems cool with it.
Atley nods once. "Very well. Hop to, you lot." He crouches and lifts up two crates. "Let's get these people equipped."
Erixa likewise grabs two crates.
"Aye, ser!" Bran says, grabbing a crate himself.
Oranna picks up some weapons, carefully stowing them in a bag.
Atley marches up to a Pearlfin Aqualyte. "Afternoon."
The Aqualyte breaks off his conversation with a villager and turns toward Atley in mild surprise. "Yes?"
"We're distributing weapons among the Pearlfin, to prepare for the fight against the Hozen and the Horde," Atley explains. "Wot' suits you best?"
Bran furtively sketches the aqualyte, trying to quickly capture the unusual lines of his armor.
The Aqualyte gives a sly smile. "Being small has its advantages. I am quick and I am sneaky. I do best when I take my opponents by surprise."
Shine nods approvingly.
Erixa smiles and glances at Shine.
Atley looks to Shine as he opens up his crate. "Try these." He grasps a pair of daggers by the blades and holds them out to the Aqualyte, pommels first.
The jinyu accepts the daggers and gives a rippling laugh. “The hozen will never see me coming. I shall begin training immediately.”
Atley grunts and looks around.
Oranna watches him sprint off. "Oh, he meant immediately immediately."
Erixa nods at Oranna. "Yes, very eager."
"I like his style," says Bran.
Atley approaches another pair of Jinyu. "Afternoon. Weapon delivery. Wot'll you have?"
"Human," says the Aqualyte. "You are welcome here. Bold Karasshi has told us of your deeds. As for myself, I only carry bandages and food to the sick and injured. If I could be of more use…"
Shine looks down at Bran.
Erixa glances now at Brannagen. "We could talk later, of the Light — but what weapon will help…?"
"Oh, we know some powerful healin' prayers ye could try!" Bran says cheerily.
Atley looks at Brannagen as he lowers his crate, offering it to the dwarf to pick an item.
Bran rummages. "Here, this is very similar ta one o' the ferst ones I used." He offers out a prayer book. "It'll help channel yer natural compassion."
The jinyu pages through the prayer book reverently. “Yes! This is just what I needed. Thank you, friends! I will heal many with this learning.”
Atley lifts the crate, stacked onto another one, back up. He grunts at the Pearlfin Aqualyte and inclines his head.
"And ye can use it ta whack a noggin' in a pinch," Oranna adds helpfully. "Librarian in Stormwind taught me that."
The jinyu hefts the book thoughtfully and nods at Oranna.
"I promise, even someone who en't an expert in the Light can do the basics," Bran says. "And aye, ye can also whack people with it if yer inclined."
Atley turns and marches up to another pair. "Lads. We're arming the Pearlfin."
“My duty is to protect my people,” says the Pearlfin Aqualyte, straightening sharply. “I will gladly stand on the front lines to defend them from our enemies.”
"To protect is a noble calling," Erixa says. "We have a shield for him?"
Atley grunts and nods, removing a shield from the crate. He hands it over. "Try that on."
The jinyu accepts the shield, examining it admiringly. “This shield will block many mighty blows. Thank you, friends.” He bows.
"Yer welcome — " Oranna says as the aqualyte sprints off.
Atley grunts and inclines his head before marching on. "The Pearlfin have a strong will. We were wise to take them as allies."
Bran beams. "Somethin' about this reminds me o' the tellin' of a folk tale… each person gets a gift suited ta them…" He mumbles and starts writing in his journal.
"Does that make us the weird old lady in the woods?" Oranna asks Bran with a laugh.
"Aye!" Bran says in a creaky voice to Oranna.
"I am a weird old lady, so it fits," Erixa says with a laugh.
Bran eyes Erixa up and down. He opens his mouth, then just closes it. Good Bran.
Shine nods silent approval at Bran. Good Bran.
"Well, I've done me time being the strange lady in a cabin in the mountains, so that's suitable," Oranna adds.
Erixa reaches over to pat Oranna's shoulder. She can bring the old, and Oranna can bring the wilderness.
Atley scoffs with warm amusement before he settles on another Pearlfin Aqualyte. "We're getting the Pearlfin prepared for battle."
The Pearlfin Aqualyte turns away from his contemplation of the lake. “I prefer to shape the properties of water and unleash them against my people’s enemies.”
"Oh uh, that sounds…" Oranna looks over at the crate. "Do we have a thing fer that?"
Atley crisply nods once and produces a staff, holding the bottom out to the Pearlfin Aqualyte. "Try that."
Bran is too busy writing in his journal to help at this juncture.
“Ah!” The jinyu hefts the staff and examines it with interest. “Yes. This will lend strength to my spells. I thank you.”
Atley swaps crates — the first is now emptied. "Afternoon. Ready to fight?"
"I will keep the enemies focused on me!" the jinyu says fiercely. "My allies will take them unawares from behind!"
Atley scoffs with amusement. "Man of my own heart. This is for you." He offers another shield, holding it steadily.
"Ah!" The jinyu takes the shield and eyes it gleamingly. "Many thanks."
Atley grunts and marches on.
"Love how eager they all are," Bran notes happily.
Oranna peers into the crate. "No guns? Ach, I should have spoken more ta the blacksmith here."
"If they en't used ta guns, probably best they dinna try ta use 'em," Bran notes.
Atley glances back at Oranna. "P'raps you can fashion a few and train some of the Pearlfin to be riflemen in between missions."
"Though not sure how ye'd even make a gun out of water shapin' but… there are some that are good fer learnin'," Oranna says. "It's not… impossible ta learn on the fly." Her eyes dart to the right, and hold for a beat before she looks back at them.
"I bet ye'd be a good teacher," Bran says confidently.
"If they shape weapons with water and revere the water, guns may not be to suit," Shine observes. "Spark and blackpowder, iron and fire. May be better suited to archery."
"Oh, archery, aye. Like the kaldorey," Oranna agrees. "I — I canna shoot a bow."
"Me neither," Erixa nods. "I do not do ranged things at all. Maybe a kaldorei could come through portal to help sometime."
Atley marches up to another Pearlfin Aqualyte. "Have you got the will to fight?"
The Pearlfin Aqualyte stands up from where he had been crouching beside a shallow pool. “I never meet an enemy head on. I prefer to use my speed and wits, and to strike unexpectedly.”
Atley grunts and rifles around for another pair of daggers. He holds them out. "Daggers."
"Daggers," Oranna agrees.
Daggers, Shine agrees silently.
The jinyu accepts them, flashes a grin and darts away.
Atley's crates are spent, but he keeps carrying them. "I'm out."
Erixa hefts hers. "Mine still here."
Atley grunts and marches over to another pair of Jinyu. "Lads."
The jinyu turn to regard him politely. "You bring weapons for us, they say?"
"We've got weapons fer fightin'. Jus' a few types though, so if ye've a particular style…" Oranna adds helpfully.
Atley grunts.
"A staff to shape my spells," says one of them promptly. "Knives!" says the other from over his shoulder. They have been watching. They are prepared.
Atley scoffs with amusement and looks to Erixa.
Bran chuckles delightedly.
Erixa sets down one crate to rummage through the other. Very soon she retrieves a staff, which she tosses to the first Jinyu. Then she hands over the daggers, a little more carefully.
Oranna fishes — wait, no, uh — digs around in her bag to produce several of the knives she picked up and hands them over as well.
"That ought to keep you two," Atley says.
"Cannae go wrong with a lot of knives, so I've been told," Oranna says.
Shine silently agrees.
"I have seen some people toss them, in a big fan," Erixa nods.
The Knives Jinyu snatches both sets of daggers happily and admires the glinting blades. The other holds his new staff aloft in a dramatic wizard pose.
Bran briefly sketches a jinyu in a dramatic wizard pose.
Atley grunts. "I never go into the field without throwing knives."
Knives Jinyu dashes away to show his new weapons off to his friends.
"Don't fan yerself with it though! That's… that's probably a bad idea!" Oranna shouts after the eagerly sprinting jinyu.
Shine mutters something about younglings running with knives.
"It's like runnin' with scissors," Oranna agrees in a mutter to Shine.
Bran does not say they might put an eye out that way.
"The could put out an — er," Oranna says. Sorry Bran.
Sorry, Shine.
Shine does not seem perturbed. Let him be a cautionary tale, children. Even if falsely.
Atley marches up to another pair. "Weapons. Which'll you have?"
"Look! Tha' one looks like he'd like a staff ta spell or bonk or anythin' with a… violence," Oranna says, pointing to a guy.
Erixa fishes out a staff and holds it up eagerly. "Do you fight with staffs or magics?"
"Book!" squeaks the smaller of the pair. "Pr– healing prayers!" He bounces a little, excitably.
Atley looks to Erixa.
"Ah, book!" Erixa tucks the staff away and rummages around till she finds a prayer book. She hands it over.
The taller of the pair nods at Oranna. "I will bonk. With a violence."
Bran gapes delightedly at the taller jinyu.
Erixa glances over to Oranna. Does she have a bonker?
Oranna nods. "Bonk, aye," she says and hands off the staff.
The little jinyu squeaks and runs off clasping his new book. The other accepts his staff and does some practice bonks in the air. He nods gravely.
Atley grunts. "Use them well."
"That's some good bonkin,'" Bran the bonkin' expert says gravely before leaving.
Atley marches up to another pair of Jinyu. "Lads. We're spreading these weapons about."
"Like butter on a hot — never mind, that analogy will do nothin' fer ye," Bran says.
"Not jus' like a… fan o' weapons or spread like a picnic, but ta fight with — ye….ye probably knew that," Oranna adds.
"I will bonk also," says one, who is picking up the Lingo of these foreigners. "Knives?" suggests the other.
Erixa retrieves the staff from before and hands it over.
"Knives," Atley confirms.
"Bonk," Oranna confirms.
"Bonk!" cries the jinyu aggressively, and marches toward his fellow-bonker to try a few experimental whacks.
"Woo hoo!" Bran encourages.
Erixa finds a few more daggers for the other.
The jinyu takes his knives and flips one dextrously. Show-off.
Oranna takes a cautious step back.
Shine prepares another Sharp Object Safety assembly.
Oranna nods approvingly at Shine's assembly ambitions.
Atley glances around. "They've been properly equipped. Let's see wot' else needs doing." He briefly eyes Instructor Sharpfin and the formation of jinyu with fondness, and some subtle nostalgia. He grunts softly and marches back to Taylor.
"Admiral," Atley greets, setting the empty crates down. "We've divvied out the equipment."
Erixa sets down her crates as well.
“Good work,” says Admiral Taylor. “And while you were arming the others, Instructor Sharpfin sent over a group of bright trainees who need field experience. Take them with you into to the northeastern wilds, and kill any wildlife you find. See that they’re battle-ready.” He gestures at a group of restless jinyu standing nearby.
Befound flexes her claws. Wildlife murder time! Now they're speaking her language.
Atley knits his brow and grunts with approval. "Outstanding." He marches up to the group. "You lot ready to test your mettle?"
"Bonk," affirms one. He has been studying.
"We will demonstrate a number of weapons," Erixa smiles. "Also Light."
Atley draws Thunderfury and his shield. "Let's move."
"I will demonstrate both Light and bonkin'," Bran says solemnly.
"And me, Light and slashing," Erixa nods. "I am the kind who is up front but with no shield."
Befound growls approvingly. She is also up front, no shield.
Shine stops to poison his knives. That's Advanced Daggers, kids.
Oranna keeps to the back with the casters who won't be bonking. "We let the ones with the shields go up first, aye?"
Atley grunts. "Let's start with that basilisk. See wot' can be salvaged from these beasts, Oranna."
"Noew, you healer types, it's fine if ye want ta stay in the back o' the formation," Bran says. "But I willna." He rushes forward to bonk.
"Ah!" cries one of the jinyu. "I understand now."
Bran beams.
"My blades are sharp but my skill is unhoned," whispers another jinyu, sidling up beside Shine.
Atley nods at a tiger den. "Don't understimate the importance of placement and positioning. A coordinated force will trounce a more experienced, but less organized force nine times out of ten."
Bran does hop back to chat with one of the healers. "So the words themselves en't magical," he counsels, "it's about the feelin' they stir in ye. So ye can alter 'em a bit if it helps ye."
One of the healers nods solemnly at Bran.
A jinyu with a staff pauses to wait for Oranna and the rest of his ranged comrades, as instructed.
Erixa pauses by one of the sword-and-shield guys, to better demonstrate a sword grip.
Atley eyes another Jinyu and shakes his head. "Thrust through, not at. You are performing a maneuver, and your target just so happens to be in the way."
The jinyu thrusts through, not at, and chortles as he fells a panther.
"How do I use this thing?" a jinyu with a shield asks Atley. He should perhaps have requested a different weapon, but here we are.
"Use that to establish a shield wall with your fellows. Become one long, armored organism, that fights as a collective. Mind the force that you'll arm'll absorb," Atley says.
"Keep yer aim up, hold back, an' time yer shots fer when the shields folk have the one's attention," Oranna tells her fellow back liners.
Erixa falls back beside one of the healers, and explains, "If all are okay, you can use the Light to harm as well. Similar to how I do."
"Can I use the spirits of water?" asks one of the jinyu healers anxiously.
"Oh aye!" Bran says encouragingly.
"Oh, sure, yes," Erixa nods. "My cousin Ness does that. Also effective."
After a time, Atley turns to the group of assorted Jinyu with pride. "Now. Who among you's ready to defend your ways, your lands, and your people from the savage Hozen — ?!"
Oranna looks briefly uncomfortable at the use of the word savage but she can't really disagree with the rest of the spirit of the thing.
One of the shield-bearing jinyu gives a sort of gurgling roar at Atley's words and raises his shield. The others follow suit. "RGLGLGLGGLGLGL!"
"Oh that's — murlocs?" Oranna asks of no one in particular.
Atley rasps Thunderfury on his shield a few times in support. "Let's bugger off."
Bran glances around to make sure none of the jinyu picked up THAT slang.
"Huh." Oranna is still thinking about murlocs and jinyu.
"Bugger off!" cries one of the jinyu as though it is another rallying call.
Bran sighs.
Atley growls with amusement.
Erixa laughs.
Oranna laughs as well. "Ah, hehe, bugger off."
"I suppose if they yell that as they charge the hozen it's appropriate," Bran muses.
Admiral Taylor is waiting expectantly, watching the group’s approach. He is smiling.
Bran smiles back!
Atley approaches Admiral Taylor. "They're in sharper shape, Sir."
The Admiral nods. “You’ve given them valuable experience and bolstered their confidence. Well done, Cobalt Company. They couldn’t learn from a finer group.”
"Absolute delights, these lads are," Bran says, his eyes doing the thing.
The thing is ^.^
Atley inclines his head and looks to his squad with pride.
“Just in time, too,” says Amber Kearnen brusquely as she approaches the group. “The hozen at the Slingtail Pits are being joined by reinforcements from the north. They’ve clearly got plans of their own for our Pearlfin friends.”
Admiral Taylor has paled slightly at the mention of the Slingtail Pits. He sets his jaw. “Well, Cobalt Company — why don’t you go and whittle their numbers back down again? And keep an eye out for any Horde with ‘em.”
"Ach." Oranna reloads her gun.
Amber breaks in again. “Chief Gukgut himself is there. The Slingtails’ leader? Cut him down to size and the rest will scatter.”
Erixa nods firmly. "We will protect Pearlfin Village."
Atley becomes grave as he looks between Amber and Admiral Taylor. "Done. Let's move out."
One of the newly-trained jinyu cries “RLGLGGLGRL!” again.
Bran blinks.
Admiral Taylor also blinks.
Atley knits his brow and glances at Oranna. Murlocs?
The jinyu form up around Cobalt Company.
Befound eyes the jinyu suspiciously. She's allowed to fight murlocs, Oranna.
"Not these ones, lass," Oranna mutters to her snow leopard. "Jus'… not without a signal, aye?"
On the shore beyond the lake, a swarm of hooting hozen is clashing chaotically with Pearlfin warriors.
Oranna takes a deep, steadying breath, and begins to pick off those she can see, carefully timing her shots.
The Slingtail Pits ahead are once again thronged with spear-throwing hozen.
Atley charges towards the Slingtail Pits and produces The Lion Horn of Stormwind with his shield hand. He sounds off with three short bursts that carry through the forest.
“Alliance dookers! We part of Horde now!” cackles a spear-brandishing hozen.
"I prefer it when they dinna talk," Bran says dryly.
"Horde dookers, then" Erixa says grimly, and continues to fight.
"Fight as one! And tear down that banner!" Atley yells.
Shine steps over a hozen corpse to tear a Horde banner down and toss it on a campfire.
Atley nods at Shine before bends to swipe up an axe from a pile of dead Hozen. "This is orc steel. They've been trained and equipped themselves."
In the pit at the center of the village, a massive hozen in bone armor stands defiantly watching their approach. His spiked pauldrons are huge, so this is clearly Chief Gukgut.
"Look a' the size o' those shoulders," Bran says, and gives a low whistle. "Clearly he's in charge."
Atley puts the axe away and points Thunderfury at Chief Gukgut. "Put him down!"
"RLGLGLGGLGL!" Bran shouts.
“Weak slickies! Good for nothing!” Gukgut howls gleefully as he swats one of the jinyu away. His face splits in a vicious grin.
Atley charges in to shield bash Gukgut.
Erixa steps up in front of the Jinyu, blazing with Light.
One of the jinyu trainees at the back shouts one of his new healing prayers and the swatted jinyu climbs to his feet and charges back in.
Given the number of eager front-line recruits, Bran hangs back and focuses on healing.
Erixa attacks with a strong sense of judgment and wrath.
Shine appears behind Gukgut to plant a knife in the back of the hozen's neck and twist. He is joined by a pair of darting, knife-wielding jinyu.
Oranna watches for her openings, and then she takes out an eye. Deliberately though.
Atley turns to yell at everyone. "Well fought! Carve through the remainders as we make our return!"
Shield-bearing jinyu join Atley at the fore to drive through the remaining hozen lines.
Bran smiles proudly at their fish army.
Oranna looks relieved once they're off the battlefield.
After they return to the village, Atley marches around lightly shield bashing the other frontliners, giving nods of approval.
"Success!" Bran announces cheerily.
Admiral Taylor and Elder Lusshan stand surrounded by Pearlfin villagers, the SI:7 team… and a handful of humans in Alliance blue and gold. Everyone turns toward Blue Squad’s return.
Shine raises his eyebrow and nods at a marine wearing a lieutenant’s insignia. “Worthy,” he greets. Lieutenant Worthy nods back at him with a smile.
Atley looks over at Shine and the group of marines with a grunt. "Pass along word to the Admiral at your leisure. We've left some big pieces for him." he growls wryly to Lieutenant Worthy.
Worthy grins at Atley and nods.
Erixa smiles at the marines.
Atley weaves through the crowd to salute Admiral Taylor in greeting.
Elder Lusshan steps forward and spreads his hands in a gesture of welcome. “The waters showed truth,” he says. “Because of your efforts, our people have a future. We rejoice in our victory! You came to us as strangers, but we welcome you and your ‘Alliance’ now as friends and defenders of the Pearlfin tribe.”
Bran bows solemnly to Elder Lusshan.
Atley sobers. He inclines his head to Elder Lusshan.
"We are happy to be your friends," Erixa says with a warm smile.
"We are honored to join forces with ye," Bran says.
Elder Lusshan raises his voice. “Today, our friendship with the Alliance is cemented! Today, we become brothers and sisters. Today, we look toward a new future!”
"WOO HOO!" says Bran.
"Oh tha's a large family ta acquire of — " Oranna starts, and gets strangely misty eyed.
"To a new future!" Atley booms in support.
The crowd of spectators — jinyu and Alliance alike — breaks into cheers. Admiral Taylor is grinning at Blue Squad.
"To the future," Erixa says, and there's a touch of sadness to her own smile.
Oranna brushes at her face, and sniffles loudly as she pushes a smile onto her face. "Aye, a new future."
Atley marches up to Admiral Taylor, thumbs cinched in his belt — glaring, but proud. "Got that sorted, Admiral," he says, tone casual.
Admiral Taylor offers Atley his hand. "Well done. Well done, as expected. The Alliance is once again in Cobalt Company's debt."
A Fallon marine nearby gives a quiet whoop and grins at his old comrades from Bladefist Bay.
Atley takes Admiral Taylor’s hand and shakes it firmly before he steps aside for more squad handshaking.
"We're the Alliance, too, so it's… well, it's like owing ourselves a…" Oranna starts, and then stops.
Bran chuckles.
As the cheering fades and the crowd begins to mill, marines and SI:7 and jinyu all mingling and talking, Bold Karasshi slips through the throng to address Blue Squad. “I have been thinking on your missing one,” he tells them. “I may know someone who can help. There is a pandaren Lorewalker called Cho who knows this land better than anyone. I cannot guarantee your welcome, but you have proved adept at making friends, and he may be as curious about you as you are about him. He lives in the forest to the southwest. Tell him that your friends the Pearlfin sent you.”
Bran's eyes widen in excitement. Out comes the journal!
Oranna looks directly east.
Bran gently turns Oranna southwest.
"Oh." Oranna looks southwest.
Atley sobers up, again, and fixes his gaze on Bold Karasshi. "The southwest, you say?" He eyes his squad. "We'll make for him… And thank you, Karasshi. You truly are bold."
Bold Karasshi bows.
"Lorewalker…" Erixa says curiously. "He sounds interesting."
Shine looks to Atley for orders.
"Mount up, you lot. Let's ride." Atley says.
Bran rides Brann, the ram, which is not confusing at all.
Erixa rides her charger, Righteous. Or Rye, for short.
Atley eyes the strange swamp creatures as they ride. He slows down once he sees walls.
Above the misty miasma of the bog rises a neatly-walled compound, tile roofs just visible beneath bamboo and palms.
Atley grunts. "Has the look of an estate… Sharp behavior, you lot." He dismounts and leads Hal'vyr by the reins.
Shine dismounts and leaves Khamsin outside the walls. She’s ferocious, she can probably fend off bog things.
Erixa leaves Rye outside and follows a few steps behind Dane.
Oranna's version of sharpness is to get out her rifle, ready to scope in.
The courtyard inside the gate is empty save for a pair of wandering cranes… and a tiger dozing just within. It lifts its head to blink at the newcomers, then yawns and resettles, closing its eyes again.
Atley doubletakes the tiger and looks to Oranna.
Oranna looks over the tiger in particular. "Ah, should be fine, jus'…dinna startle into her territory."
Shine carefully does not startle the tiger.
Befound looks over enviously at the napping tiger. If only she too ever got to nap, Oranna.
Atley grunts and marches lightly. "Loremaster Cho?" he calls out, after clearing his throat. "We come in peace."
There is no reply. The door to the central hut is open and the lanterns within are all lit, but it appears empty. On a small table outside, incense burns in a dish. The slow-curling threads of smoke carry a heady fragrance.
Bran takes this opportunity to sketch everything.
Atley grunts. "Properly lived in. Must've been here recently…" He works his jaw and keeps glancing around.
"Fresh incense, aye." Oranna turns around in a circle.
Bran spots a hanging scroll and begins to try to copy down all the characters on it.
As the smoke of the incense steals over them, the five members of Blue Squad find their other senses gradually overcome. The scene before them wavers and then changes.
"We could wait till he returns?" Erixa suggests. "Maybe he just went out in forest for… whoa."
Bran closes his book. "Whooooa."
Oranna grabs at her head, making an uneasy sound.
Atley suddenly glares, hand raising for Thunderfury, but he doesn't take it up.
"What is that?" Erixa says, suddenly on guard as well. "Mind-things, like Northrend…"
Bran moves to stand closer to Oranna, shoulder braced against hers. Not clear which one of them he's trying to comfort.
"…Steady…" Atley growls lowly, eyes narrowed.
I am sorry, says a youthful voice familiar to some, and Prince Anduin shivers into view. I cannot go back just yet.
Erixa gasps.
Oranna squints at the image.
"Anduin…" Bran says softly, wistfully.
My son… missing! snarls the King’s voice. A hulking wolf lopes into the scene opposite the young prince, and then shifts into the form of Varian Wrynn.
Befound checks out the wolf appraisingly.
I’ve decided to look for the Vale, says Anduin’s voice. It is already fading, and there is a ghostly echo, Vale… Vale….
"Vale?" Oranna, uh, echoes.
"Vale…" Erixa murmurs. "I do not know Vale."
Atley shakes his head. "Prince Anduin —" he says sharply, using Dad voice.
All around the courtyard, a wall of flame and smoke roars to life, and from behind it rises the massive, shadow-wreathed figure of Garrosh Hellscream. His eyes burn with an unnatural flame of their own. PAINT THIS NEW CONTINENT RED! he roars.
Shine draws a dagger.
Atley widens his eyes in rage at the giant figure of Garrosh and grits his teeth.
At that, Erixa does draw her sword, her eyes flashing with anger.
"Oh, tha' cannae be good," Oranna says unnecessarily.
Bran fumbles his journal open, but the pen slips from his fingers and plinks onto the stone under his feet.
Befound bats Bran's pen under the table.
Bran bends over to try to fetch his pen, and gently bonks his head on the table for his pains.
“My, my, strangers,” says a jovial new voice. “I can see these dreams are unexpected. Forgive me for leaving my incense burning. I was not expecting guests.”
The vision-haze fades as a genial pandaren lifts the burning stick of incense and plunges it with a hiss into a jar of water. He turns to survey the group. “I am Lorewalker Cho. I have heard about your people washing up on our shores, but did not expect you to wash up to my very doorstep! What brings you here?”
Atley takes a single stabilizing step, glare flitting towards Lorewalker Cho. He briefly looks over his squad, and Bran in particular, post table-bonk.
Befound licks at a paw.
Shine continues to stare at the place where Garrosh Hellscream and the Horde's tattered banners had risen in flame over the compound's gate.
Oranna makes a eughhhhh sound. That's what brings her here.
Bran rubs at his head gently as he stares in amazement at Cho.
"Oh," Erixa says, with a relieved sigh. "An incense, like the one Thoralius uses."
Atley looks back to Lorewalker Cho and removes his helmet. "We're looking for someone. We were told you could be of aid. I am Sir Dane Atley."
"Oranna, Oranna Stormbreaker," Oranna Stormbreaker says, rubbing at her forehead.
"Brannananagenan," Bran manages.
Shine turns back to the pandaren. "Shine," he says quietly.
"Erixa," Erixa says.
Lorewalker Cho bows politely. "Sir Dane Atley. Oranna Stormbreaker. Brannananagenan. Shine. Erixa."
Bran clears his throat. "Bran is fine."
"Is Bran fine?" Oranna asks Bran in a mutter.
Bran makes an amused wheezing sound in Oranna's direction.
Befound yawns.
"Oh," adds Oranna, "this is Befound, my lass."
Lorewalker Cho bows gravely to Befound as well.
Befound slow blinks at Lorewalker Cho.
"Who is it that you seek?" inquires the Lorewalker.
"A human boy, short like so," Erixa gestures the height from the vision.
Atley licks his lips and deliberates with a growl. "Aye, a young lad. Blonde hair. Human, like me."
"The Pearlfin suggested you could help us," Shine offers.
Atley grunts.
The Lorewalker strokes his goatee. “Very interesting. They sent you to me, did they? It is true, I may be able to help you find your boy. But first, I would like to know a little more about you and your people.
“Come help me with my chores, and we will talk. You have the look of grizzled veterans, but surely you have a few minutes to help a bookish old pandaren like myself putter around the house, yes?”
"Oh aye!" says Bran.
"I do a great putter around," Oranna admits.
Atley's lips part for a moment before he nods once. "Aye. We do."
"I can putter if needed," Erixa nods. "Maybe you teach us to putter."
"It's a lot of chores ta do, when yer just all on yer own," Oranna adds. "It's nice ta have some help, time ta time."
The Lorewalker ambles down a path beside the house. “Walk with me, and let us learn from one another.”
Atley follows along, clearly still grappling with the fact that they're doing chores and not charging off to rescue Anduin immediately.
“Are your people fond of gardening?” Lorewalker Cho asks.
"Er not my people in particular," Bran admits.
"Oh, I… I've lived on a farm afore, but not so, uh, fond of the work meself," Oranna says.
"Some, yes," Erixa says, considering. "We had a part of the Tempest Keep for that."
The Lorewalker produces a pair of sharp shears and offers them out, motioning with his other hand to an unkempt tree. “Delicate cuts, yes? Let the tree decide.”
Atley looks to Shine. "Have at it."
Shine eyes the shears and then Dane. He accepts the shears a little dubiously and then contemplates the tree. Is it going to decide?
He begins to cut with careful precision.
Oranna tilts her head to the side.
Atley looks between Cho and Shine, brow knit.
Erixa watches to see what the tree will decide.
“Some would take their knives and lop away anything that displeases them, but this would kill the entire tree. It is not the pandaren way,” Lorewalker Cho says serenely.
Shine steps back to survey his work.
The tree is now an unlikely fancy topiary. Who would have guessed?
The Lorewalker beams at the trimmed tree. “Well now! Who knew such a beautiful thing was hidden here? I can see that you cut with precision to shape the things around you. Interesting.”
Oranna makes a huh sound. "Precision, aye."
Atley extends a hand to briefly pat Shine's back. It's something of a half-smack.
Shine looks a little startled by the back smack. Or maybe by his unexpected prowess at tree trimming.
Cho begins walking again, apparently expecting them to follow. “I am a ‘Lorewalker,’ a historian of sorts for my people. My instrument is the spoken word. Sadly, my artistic talents are somewhat lacking. What would you do to decorate my wall?” He stops before a chipped and fading mural, and gestures at some paint pots and a cup of brushes at the foot of the wall.
Atley settles on Brannagen. "You're up."
Oranna looks over at Bran. "Ah, thank the Light, we've Bran," she says with relief.
"Woo hoo!" says Bran, and gets to work in his usual fast, suggestive rather than detailed style.
"I'm not bad at a doodle, but nothin' real of art," Oranna adds. Dane may remember the postcard of him being overwhelmed by broccoli, many years ago.
Atley scoffs with amusement and approval. He does remember that postcard.
"Don't say a word," says Cho. "Allow your image to speak. We pandaren prize beauty, and we find it all around us."
Despite Bran’s swiftly-sketched brushstrokes, the painting is clearly of a younger Prince Anduin.
"Ah!" says Cho, contemplating the painting. "Who is this? A child. Ah, but he has had no childhood. You can see it in his eyes."
Bran looks wistful.
"Poor lad," Erixa nods.
"Oh, ach. Tha's… ye can see it?" Oranna asks sadly.
Atley grunts at the portrait, and the subsequent observations. He looks at Bran. "Well done."
Lorewalker Cho smiles sadly, and then turns. “My errands are almost complete. Come, visit my collection of birds. You may have the honor of feeding them.”
"Oranna. You're among the finest beast masters I've ever met." Atley said.
"Oh! Feedin' birds. Well, long as they're no' like chickens. Chickens are evil, an' what's worse, they know it an' dinna care ta change their ways," Oranna warns.
Atley grunts with agreement.
White cranes with delicate red and black markings flock eagerly toward the basket of food as Cho and the group approach.
Oranna scatters food carefully, watching the cranes’ behavior.
Lorewalker Cho smiles benevolently at the cranes. “You see how easy it is to make friends here? Remember that not all of your allies in Pandaria will be won over by the strength of your arms.”
Atley eyes Lorewalker Cho and gives a nod.
"Tha's good, because I've no' much strength in me arms. I'm all thighs," Oranna says, not really realizing what she's just said.
Shine regards Oranna blandly.
Bran chuckles. He does not comment on any other bits Oranna may have in abundance.
Erixa nods. "I have witnessed the puttering. If there is call for it in future, I will be able to help."
Oranna nods to Erixa. "Aye, it's a skill," she says with a laugh.
Atley grunts at Erixa.
Lorewalker Cho beams. “Well, my birds have taken a liking to you. I will follow their lead. Welcome! I will do what I can to help you find your young friend.”
Atley looks to the Lorewalker. "We're grateful for any aid you can give us."
“There is a brew I can make for you,” says the Lorewalker. “It is similar to the incense you… sampled earlier. It can expand your mind and show you events transpiring elsewhere in the land. I will teach you how to use it properly this time, and we will find your young friend! But you must help me to brew a batch of it. I will need you to gather ingredients.”
Atley nods. "Very well."
"A brew, aye? Happens to be a specialty o' mine!" Bran smiles.
Oranna seems uneasy about drinking brews.
Lorewalker Cho smiles at Bran. “First, to improve its strength, I will need an ingredient from a fearsome creature, a Mist Horror. It is said the creature only appears where the fog is deepest. Go out into the bog and find the smaller Mist Creepers roaming the swamps. Kill them until a Mist Horror appears, and then bring me its heart.”
Atley tugs on his helmet and listens attentively.
“To enhance the brew’s visionary properties, I will need pristine eyes from the bog crocolisks. And for the accuracy of your visions,” continues the Lorewalker, “I will need the luminescent wings of glittering amberflies. Go and gather all of these things for me, and we will brew up a vision of your missing friend, hm?”
Atley nods again and grunts. "Very well. Let's get to it, you lot."
Erixa nods.
"Pristine eyes," Oranna mutters, both as a reminder to herself, and also in uneasy distaste. "We're gonna…drink eyes. Unless it's…like an eye drop sort o' brew."
"Oh aye," Bran says dryly. "Bug wings, croc eyes, an' the heart of a MIST HORROR, this sounds like a real wholesome brew."
"More like a desperate times sort o' stew than a brew," Oranna observes.
Erixa glances over at Oranna. "I think we will not all need to drink brew? Oranna and I could stand guard, in case."
"Aye. If you've got reservations, only those who want to drink, shall." Atley says.
"I've probably drunk worse," Bran says, "so I volunteer."
Atley grunts. "Oddities aside, I trust this pandaren."
"He does do a good putter," Oranna observes. "That's always a good sign."
"He seems calm, kind," Erixa says, considering. "Reminds me in some ways of Luu?"
Oranna carefully, carefuuulllly doesn't shoot at any crocolisk eyes.
"Never seen the like," Shine murmurs as he surveys a Mist Creeper.
Atley grunts, eyeing the Mist Creepers with disgust. "Wretches."
"One eye, facin' forward, definitely a predator," Oranna adds.
Bran glances at Shine's one forward-facing eye.
"Native to this land," Erixa nods, waving in front of her face like it might help with the mist.
As they kill Mist Creepers, the mist seems to gather more and more thickly around them.
Atley narrows his eyes. "Stay sharp. That big one'll be upon us, soon."
Oranna squints through the mist.
"That's foul," Shine observes of the mist, wincing a little.
Atley says, "Nasty bog."
Atley casually and carefully removes the eyes of slain crocolisks, inspecting them with crude assessment.
Oranna carefully dissects amberfly wings.
Bran takes whatever chances he can to sketch the various horrible things they fight.
As they fell yet another Mist Creeper, a hulking shadow is suddenly, silently upon them from out of the mist.
"Upon us! Kill it!" Atley roars.
"Well, she's a beauty," Bran says with a laugh.
(She is not a beauty.)
Erixa charges in, blazing with Light.
Shine flashes behind the monstrosity.
After it falls, Atley slices through its chest and shoves his gauntlet in, nearly elbow deep. He rips the heart out. "Ought to be it."
"Ach," Bran says.
Shine grimaces as the swampy thing, disheartened, dissolves into mist and muck.
"You have had stranger brews?" Erixa asks, glancing at Bran.
Atley scoffs with amusement at Erixa's skepticism.
"Okay, this might be the strangest, I'll admet," Bran admets.
"Had some strange things in my own time. This'll be the strangest," Atley says.
"His family's a brewer, if ye didnae know Stillwall brand," Oranna adds helpfully to Erixa.
"Aye, we're not the most famous, particularly outside of Ironforge, but it's good stuff!" Bran says proudly. "Stillwall Barleywine's the only stuff that ever made it out o' the city, ye'll find it sometimes in Dalaran or other places with fancy selections."
Atley grunts.
"That is a thing to be proud of," Erixa says with a smile. "I do not know my brewers, but I will trust your family does the good stuff."
Atley slices another Glittering Amberfly out of the way, cutting it through the middle.
"It's about all they're good at," Bran says with a lopsided grin and a wink to Erixa.
"Lot of taste-testin' I'd imagine," Oranna says.
"Oh aye," Bran says.
Atley eyes Brannagen in silent, grim agreement.
Erixa chuckles, and looks back at Bran curiously. She does not press about his terrible family.
Bran doesn't seem to be fashing much about it.
Atley snaps the wings off of one last Amberfly. "We've got the heart. The eyes. The wings. Let's return."
Atley whistles for Hal'vyr and rides back.
Atley dismounts and marches over to Lorewalker Cho. "We've gathered the reagents."
Atley holds the heart and his share of wings and eyes out.
Befound bats an eye at Lorewalker Cho. Literally, not fluttering her lashes. She has no lashes.
"Ah, my friends! Good, well done." The Lorewalker accepts the grisly bits serenely.
"We're gonna have ta trust ye on this," Bran says, eyeing the ingredients.
"Now,” Lorewalker Cho says, “a good dream brew is very powerful. It is going to take some time to… brew. To steep. I will send word when it is time for your vision. Yes?"
"Very well. Most of us are quartered at Paw'don Village, but if you send word to Pearlfin Village, we'll hear of it," Atley says.
"Aye, brewing an' steepin," Oranna says.
Atley looks to his squad and nods to the center of the Dreamer's Pavillion.
Shine follows Dane silently.
"So, I suppose we'll find out what that Vale's all about when it's done?" Oranna asks as she follows Dane.
"I hope so," Erixa says. "This land has so much mystery."
"I warrant. We'll move at his pace… even if it's not wot' I'd prefer." Atley says.
"I assume it's no' actually named Vale Vale Vale, but… might be a translation issue," Oranna muses.
Atley looks among them. "Fine work today. We've made great account of ourselves, and the Alliance. Dismissed, unless you've anything else for me."
Shine salutes Atley wordlessly.
Erixa salutes. "Nothing further, sir!"
Atley returns the salutes.
Bran heads out, looking thoughtful.
"Going back to Paw'don and the wife. Fallon's about, if ye see him. He'd be glad to say hello." Shine nods at the others and heads toward the gate to collect Khamsin.
Oranna shakes her head. "I'm jus' off ta talk ta the jinyu. Mebbe see if someone's come through the portal that could talk the them about long range options," Oranna says, and then waves farewell.
Atley grunts. "I'll see you about, there. I've a mind to train their footmen."
"I can assist, if you would like?" Erixa says to Dane, as she goes to retrieve Rye.
"A fine idea," Atley says, nodding. He swings himself back up on Hal'vyr.