(2025-09-15) Interlude: The ECHO: Durnholde Keep (Cobalt Blade)

Details

Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	While they wait for information from Kirrik, the Cobalt Blade uses their time to train in the ECHO.
Rating:	T for Teen

Arc: The Cobalt Blade

[Tadget]: Oh, wow!

Thalstan nods at his team. "You all ready fer this?"

[Tadget]: This is just how I remember it!

[Zaara]: I feel strange.

[Tadget]: They must have mostly used my memories, since they are superior.

[Tadget]: You are strange, Booty.

[Thalstan]: Looks a bit like I remember from th' place itself. No' now though. This is a li'l slice o' history now.

[Arthur]: It looks so real!

Thalstan gasps at Zaara. "Yer a human! And Vengeance…"

[Tadget]: I'm not normally one for nerd stuff, but this is pretty cool magic.

[Zaara]: I am a WHAT?

Tadget laughs at Zaara.

[Thalstan]: I guess the memries were o' humans and dwarve an' gnomes.

Vesyllah looks down at herself. "Huh. Well…least I'm still hot."

Tadget cackles maniacally at you.

[Arthur]: That makes sense. The others hadn't joined yet.

[Thalstan]: Too bad they did no' make ye dwarf or gnome ladies. I wonder if it does somethin' wi' the height ye have comin' in…

[Tadget]: So I did this before, like for real, with the bronze dragons. So that's why they used my brain to help make it.

[Tadget]: I'm curious to see if they got the details right.

[Thalstan]: Ye can tell us if ye see anythin' suspect.

[Thalstan]: Dragon ride, everyone?

[Tadget]: I wish they could have left the bronze dragons out of the memory. But they said there's no one they can really use with a clear memory of the original event, so they have to use this version.

[Thalstan]: Well, tha' was a pleasant memory of a scenic dragon ride… and aye, I imagine so. Except Thrall 'imself, and he might be hard ta find.

[Tadget]: It's like a facsimile of a facsimile, in a way.

[Thalstan]: Then again… he doesn't have memry of this, aye? They said somethin' about mind wipin' in the report.

[Tadget]: I can't really see Thrall being like, "Oh yes, Dalaran illusionist, feel free to ransack my traumatic memories."

[Tadget]: Of like, the real one, I mean.

[Tadget]: This is like an alternate version, of the time when the Infinite Dragonflight did the thing.

[Thalstan]: Ye never know. But aye, without a clear and urgent reason.

[Tadget]: Still very educational.

[Vesyllah]: What's the deal with the Infinite Dragonflight, anyway?

[Tadget]: Not super sure.

[Tadget]: Some Cobalt folks know more, but it's apparently super classified.

[Thalstan]: I read up on it some 'fore we came. At least, what Cobalt's got in reports.

[Tadget]: All I know is they want to mess up the timelines.

[Tadget]: And I know at least some of the higher ups know why, but they aren't saying in official reports.

[Thalstan]: Aye, tha' seems ta be it. A time war. All the details are a bit hazy, but we trust the Bronzes are the right side. Tryin' ta preserve the true timeline.

[Tadget]: Yeah.

[Thalstan]: We just got ta trust that the things they say have ta happen, have ta happen.

Durnholde Sentry attempts to run away in fear!

[Tadget]: I mean, I hate the bronze flight, but they've not really steered us wrong in terms of strategy yet.

[Vesyllah]: I don't even want to try to wrap my head around all the implications of time travel.

[Thalstan]: I'm content ta trust tha' the dragons know the best of it.

[Tadget]: You're content to trust a lot of things, Valor.

[Tadget]: But we love you anyway.

[Thalstan]: Tadget, we're on the side o' right. I trust that an' everythin' else follows.

Tadget lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

[Thalstan]: If I e'er have cause ta doubt, I'll bring it up straightaway.

Tadget is in stealth, but you can almost HEAR her eyes roll.

Durnholde Rifleman attempts to run away in fear!

Durnholde Veteran says: Blackmoore will have… your head!

[Thalstan]: Seriously, turns out doubt can be right dangerous.

[Tadget]: Okay, so let's go this way.

[Tadget]: We gotta do some arson.

[Thalstan]: Ah, not straight to 'im, huh?

[Tadget]: Yeah, there's a whole diversion thing.

Thalstan looks warily at the memories of a time travel to an orc internment.

[Vesyllah]: I wonder what happens if we don't replay these events in the proper order.

Durnholde Rifleman attempts to run away in fear!

Orc Prisoner says: When can we eat again?

Durnholde Sentry attempts to run away in fear!

Durnholde Rifleman says: Why…?

Orc Prisoner says: So-ngh-thirsty.

[Tadget]: Now we blow up the place.

[Tadget]: I'll show you how it's done

[Tadget]: Then you can each take a turn.

[Thalstan]: I guess if we go offscript, the thing will just chuck us out, aye?

[Tadget]: Yeah.

[Tadget]: They said there's room for small amounts of variance, like who dies first, but if you go too far outside the memories of the people whose brains they harvested, it glitches out or something.

[Thalstan]: I'll get this bomb!

[Tadget]: Okay who wants to blow up the next one?

Durnholde Warden attempts to run away in fear!

Durnholde Sentry says: I was just… following orders.

[Thalstan]: Who's next?

[Zaara]: I will go.

[Vesyllah]: Hopefully it gives us a reasonable window of variation. It won't be of much use as a training tool if we can't get a little creative. Though…I suppose this simulation is kinda specific.

[Tadget]: Booty Bomb!

[Thalstan]: This one maybe more than others.

[Thalstan]: It's like a particular story, no' just 'an then we assaulted the citadel'.

[Tadget]: It's funny, they even say some stuff I remember them saying. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since they used my memory among others.

Durnholde Warden attempts to run away in fear!

[Thalstan]: I wonder if they could do this wi' other memories.

[Tadget]: Gnome memories are very good, by the way.

Durnholde Warden says: Blackmoore will have… your head!

[Tadget]: I'm sure she could do it with any memories she wanted. But these are the profitable ones.

[Tadget]: You get the last bomb, Art!

[Thalstan]: It's a heck of a thing, though, walkin' through yer own memories.

[Arthur]: Okay!

[Thalstan]: Go for it, Art!

[Tadget]: So that's it for the fun part.

[Thalstan]: No more blowin' up?

[Tadget]: Alas no. The murder is pretty fun too though.

[Tadget]: Oh, here's lieutenant DRAKE, who is definitely not a dragon.

[Vesyllah]: Sorry…Drake?

Thalstan chuckles, rustling his beard.

[Tadget]: Yeah.

Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.

[Tadget]: Now we go find the green guy.

[Thalstan]: Down in th' dungeon, I believe.,

[Tadget]: Sucked to be him.

[Thalstan]: Some o' those riflemen are downright disorientin'.

Tadget giggles at Thalstan.

[Tadget]: Your eyes went all googly.

[Thalstan]: I was seein' birdies.

[Arthur]: Those are Vengeance's birdies.

Vesyllah points to the shadow ravens circling her. "Sorry about that."

Tadget giggles.

Thalstan laughs. "Maybe they didn't hit me so hard as I thought."

[Arthur]: I think they're really cool.

[Thalstan]: Alright, then here's our rescuee.

Tadget grins wickedly at Arthur.

Thrall says: Very well then. Let's go!

Tadget greets Thrall with a hearty hello!

Durnholde Armorer says: What's the meaning of this? GUARDS!

Thrall says: That's enough out of him.

Ves laughs at Thrall.

Thrall says: As long as we're going with a new plan, I may as well pick up a weapon and some armor.

[Arthur]: Did he actually say that?

[Tadget]: So the fun part about these is that the memories don't react to certain stuff.

[Tadget]: He did, as I recall, yeah.

Thrall says: Let's go.

[Thalstan]: Heh.

[Tadget]: But I could like, call him a big broccoli or something and he wouldn't respond.

Thrall says: I will not waste this chance. I will seek out my destiny.

[Tadget]: blah blah blah

[Tadget]: I can finally say out loud the stuff I was thinking.

[Thalstan]: This fella's really gogogo.

[Tadget]: THRALL YOU ARE ANNOYING.

Thrall says: It should not have come to this!

[Tadget]: He'll just say whatever I and others remember him saying, no matter what you say, so it's kind of fun.

[Tadget]: You can get away with whatever.

[Tadget]: YOU SUCK AT RIDING HORSES!

Captain Skarloc says: Thrall! You didn't really think you would escape, did you? You and your allies shall answer to Blackmoore… after I've had my fun.

Thrall says: I have earned my freedom!

[Vesyllah]: Blah, blah, blah…

[Tadget]: Wait until you see how much he sucks at riding horses.

Durnholde Warden says: I was just… following orders.

[Tadget]: He's like, so bad at it.

[Tadget]: I can't believe this asshole was a paladin.

[Vesyllah]: Wait…this one wasn't a dragon?

[Thalstan]: Just a fella?

[Tadget]: Not sure, but he was a paladin either way.

Thrall says: Very well. Tarren Mill lies just west of here. Since time is of the essence…

[Vesyllah]: He was a dick either way, too.

[Tadget]: Watch this.

Thrall says: Let's ride!

[Tadget]: He's so bad at horses.

Tadget mocks the foolishness of Thrall.

[Vesyllah]: Ugh…go faster…

[Thalstan]: I don't think the horse can.

[Thalstan]: No' with th' weight.

Tadget literally rides circles around him.

[Tadget]: I think he doesn't know you're supposed to kick them?

[Tadget]: He's fine yelling at horses, but not kicking them

[Thalstan]: Horses are no' big on verbal communication I've heard.

Tadget giggles at Thalstan.

Thrall startles the horse with a fierce yell!

[Thalstan]: This place was a ruin e'en before all the stuff at Hillsbrad…

[Thalstan]: So strange ta be lookin' back on it.

Tarren Mill Lookout says: I thought I saw something go into the barn.

Tarren Mill Protector says: I didn't see anything.

Tarren Mill Lookout says: Something riled that horse. Let's go!

[Thalstan]: Heh. They see nothin'.

Tarren Mill Guardsman says: Give up or die!

[Vesyllah]: Dummies.

Tarren Mill Peasant grumbles to himself while he works.

[Tadget]: This place was cute before zombies took it over.

Tarren Mill Lookout says: Thrall's trapped himself in the chapel. He can't escape now.

Thrall says: I did not ask for this!

Tarren Mill Lookout says: He's here, stop him!

Thrall says: Blackmoore has much to answer for!

[Tadget]: He likes blondes.

Taretha says: Thrall, you escaped!

Thrall says: Taretha! What foul magic is this?

[Thalstan]: Seems ta, aye.

Tadget cackles maniacally at the situation.

Vesyllah snorts.

Thalstan looks worriedly at Zaara, who is currently a blond human.

[Tadget]: Look out, human-Zaara.

[Tadget]: You're blonde, by the way.

Zaara doesn't know this, blissfully.

Tadget ruins it.

Tadget gently pats Zaara.

[Zaara]: What? Why?

[Zaara]: I have a hat. Do I have a hat?

Innkeeper Monica shakes her head at all of the commotion.

[Tadget]: No hat.

[Thalstan]: He's no' reactin' to anyone anyway.

[Tadget]: THRALL, LOOK, ANOTHER BLONDE

Thrall says: Who or what was that?

Thrall says: No!

[Thalstan]: Ohh! Big dragon.

[Tadget]: Okay so these are the infinite guys.

[Tadget]: Luckily they aren't really infinite.

[Thalstan]: Tha's gonna be good practice.

[Tadget]: They are decidedly finite.

[Tadget]: There are a LOT of them, but not infinite.

Vesyllah admires the black and crackly dragon, "Cool style, at least."

Infinite Defiler says: We have all the time in the world….

Thrall says: Thank you, strangers. You have given me hope.

Thrall says: Blackmoore has much to answer for!

Taretha says: I'm free! Thank you all!

Tadget cheers!

Thrall says: I'm glad you're safe, Taretha. None of this would have been possible without your friends. They made all of this happen.

[Tadget]: We passed!

Taretha says: Thrall, I've never met these people before in my life.

[Tadget]: I'll have to check out my score later.

Thrall says: Then who are these people?

Erozion says: I believe I can explain everything to you two if you give me a moment of your time.

[Vesyllah]: There's a score? Nobody told me there's a score.

Erozion says: That spell should wipe their memories of us and what just happened. All they should remember now is what reality would be like without the attempted temporal interference. Well done. Thrall will journey on to find his destiny, and Taretha…

[Tadget]: There's totally a score.

[Tadget]: Also people bet on these.

[Tadget]: Down in the sewers.

Erozion says: Her fate is regrettably unavoidable.

[Arthur]: How did we do?

[Tadget]: It's a whole thing.

Thrall says: Goodbye, Taretha. I will never forget your kindness.

[Thalstan]: What do they… rank on?

[Vesyllah]: Of course they do….ugh.

[Tadget]: I'll have to check out the numbers later. We did win though!

Taretha says: They call you a monster. But they're the monsters, not you. Farewell, Thrall.

[Tadget]: They rank like, how much damage you do and stuff.

[Vesyllah]: Trust the Kirin Tor to quantify stuff like that.

[Arthur]: Why are all the dragons so cute in their people forms?

[Tadget]: Because they get to make them up!

[Tadget]: Okay, let's blow this imaginary ice cream stand.

[Thalstan]: Makes sense, they'd pick a form they think is cute.

[Thalstan]: Aye, good job all. I think we proved once again we're a good team.

[Thalstan]: An' I'm sure our score will show it.

Tadget cheers!