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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | An old lady living in the woods has a surplus of jade on her hands. Nobody else has enough jade. Blue Squad evens the score. Oranna gets to ride so many kites. Everyone gets orange slices afterward, but nobody's mom remembered the juice boxes. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Atley stands in the center of Paw'don. He pats himself down, checking over his armor and weapons in a habitual pattern.
Bran moseys up, nose buried in a book. It happens to be [The Big Big Book o' Beards], but a guy can't be an intellectual every minute of every day.
Shine approaches. He checks now and then to see whether there is a tanuki behind him.
There is a tanuki behind him.
Atley raises his gaze and nods at Shine before he doubletakes the tanuki with a small shake of his head in grim amusement.
Oranna waves hello as she gets closer, adjusting her braid, and noting the tanuki.
Befound also notes the tanuki. She licks a paw as she waits for the signal if this is friend or food. "Ach, leave off, still a friend, lass," Oranna mutters.
Atley looks between each of them. "Afternoon. We're making for Dawn's Blossom. See if that shipment of jade's come in yet to Toya."
Erixa chuckles at Oranna, and then says, "So we fly more kites?"
Bran is still absorbed in his Beard Book.
"Aye, as the kite … soars. Let's move." Atley turns and half-jogs up the stairs.
Oranna does not look thrilled about this. "Right. Soars. An' not…falls. Because they don't fall. Out of the sky."
Atley grunts.
"The pandaren seem confident of this," Erixa says, as if this settles all concerns.
An unfussed tanuki scrambles onto the kite with Shine.
Bran trails a bit behind, still reading. Beards are fascinating!
Oranna clings to her kite in what seems to be abject terror, squeezing her eyes shut the whole ride over.
Atley idly glances out over the landscape as he flies, jaw set.
In Dawn’s Blossom, there is no sign of the merchant Toya. Near the kitemaster, however, waits a fidgeting cub dressed in flowered pink silk. As the first of the Cobalt kites lands, she straightens up and trots urgently toward them.
Bran at last puts away his beard book and pulls out his travel journal, already half full.
“Hey! Hey, you!” calls the cub. “You’re the ones that help people, right?” She stares up at the group.
"Oh, ah… aye?" Oranna answers.
"That's right, little one," Atley greets with a growl.
"We do that often, yes," Erixa nods, pleased by our reputation preceding us.
The cub nods seriously. “I’m An Windfur. There’s a witch in the woods but no one believes me. She turned my friend Shin into jade! We were all so scared we tried to run back, but she sicced her jade monsters on us. A bunch of my friends tried to get away by climbing trees, but now they’re stuck there because of the monsters in the woods. Can you help me rescue them?”
"Ach!" says Bran. He takes some notes. Probably not what the cub is hoping for in a hero.
Oranna's face is all sympathy. "Ah, poor wee things."
"We especially help children," Erixa nods, and then looks to Dane to see if we are helping the children.
Shine looks at Dane also. Make the right call, Dane.
Atley frowns, or rather, glares tightly. "Where?" he asks the child.
"In the forest. I'll show you. You can be my bodyguards. Let’s go!” The cub beams and then trots off.
Atley looks to the squad and grunts before he jogs off.
Bran follows amiably.
"Turned to jade, little one? Can someone be freed from this?" Atley asks as they move.
"Would depend on wot kinda magic it is I suppose," Bran says.
"Being turned ta stone?" Oranna clarifies. "I…mean, I can go ta stone, but it's not… it's not a taught thing, and no one's ever… I mean, with King Magni… if we could do that…"
"Also is this metaphor or real jade?" Erixa asks. "Are they actual stone? Or just green?"
"I don't know," says An fretfully.
"I can dispel most kinds o' magic, but we'll see," Bran says cheerfully.
“I hope she didn’t get all my friends,” An whispers worriedly as they approach a place where the bamboo forest thickens in ominous shadow. “She is super spooky.”
"We'll handle her," Atley assures.
"Dinna fash, wee one," Bran says. "Cobalt Company is good at solvin' problems an' rescuin' people."
An points at something gleaming in the underbrush. Unblinking red eyes glare out at them. “I tried to fight one of her jade tigers,” An says, “but they were too scary. They stare at you and you turn into a jade statue! Honest truth! Chen’s sister’s friend Ni heard it from Kai’s mom. Do you think… maybe you could help me fight a few of them?”
Atley nods. "We'll put them down."
"An' I'll keep everyone patched up!" Bran informs the child.
Befound pulls abruptly closer to Oranna at the sign of the jade tigers, batting a paw at one. She doesn't like this.
Jade tigers slink in from all directions, or pounce from the shadows. Blue Squad battles.
"So they are… living stone," Erixa says, peering into the forest.
Bran shows An one of his healing spells, demonstrating on Atley.
"Are these natural beasts? Or creatures of the witch?" Atley asks, or ponders, aloud.
"They sure dinna look natural to me," Bran says. "Livin' stone…"
“Oh WOW!” shouts An excitedly. “It was like RAWRR and you were like KAHPOW!”
Atley scoffs with amusement and spots a child clinging to bamboo. "Oi. Hullo'."
Bran, seeing the girl seems more impressed by KAPOW than healing, begins bonking tigers with his stick.
Oranna presses her lips together hard.
"KAHPOW!" Erixa repeats, laughing.
A teary-eyed pandaren cub is clinging to a bamboo stalk. “Eep!” he yelps at the sight of the squad. “Save me!”
Bran is too short.
"You are well, little one? Very un-green," Erixa is tall. She tries to help the cub down.
Atley extends a hand. "Come on, then. We'll save you. Your mate's here." He gestures to little An Windfur.
“It’s okay to come down now, Jun,” says An. “These heroes wanted me to help them rescue you.” She pauses, glances up at Atley a little guiltily, and amends, “… wanted to help me rescue you.”
The cub clambers into Erixa’s arms and then drops from there to the ground. "Thank you!" he squeaks, and runs away.
Atley nods and jogs off to another pandaren cub.
Shine materializes near a bamboo stalk to help another cub down.
“It was An!” shouts the cub, her eyes squinched shut. “She dared Shin to knock on the Jade Witch’s door! It wasn’t me!”
“You’re welcome for saving you,” says An sternly.
The cub opens an eye. “Oh,” she says meekly, and drops down from the bamboo. “Thank you.”
Bran eyes An mildly. "Tha' true, lass?"
Atley lifts a brow underneath his helemt and looks from the cub to An with a stern, fatherly glare.
“Shin tried to back out of the hozen dare,” An explains very seriously. “But then we double hozen dared him and he couldn’t back out of that.” She casts a worried look deeper into the woods, and then looks back up with big, sincere eyes. “So the other kids — not me — dared Shin to knock on the Jade Witch’s door. He wouldn’t do it but then someone — not me — hozen dared him. Shin backed out of that, but then someone — not me I swear — double hozen dared him. And not even Shin can get out of a double hozen dare. So he went and knocked on the door but we didn’t see what happened because the jade monsters came and we ran away.”
After a moment An whispers unhappily, “I never should have dared him.”
Oranna watches An skeptically during this Not Me tale, but she sighs at the conclusion.
"Remember, lass, tha' bein' brave isn't about findin' danger ta get yerself in. It's about doin' the right theng when danger comes ta you," says Bran.
Atley nods once. "I trust this'll be a memorable lesson. Don't toy with witches. Not without any adults about."
"If something is called a hozen dare, it is probably not wise thing to do," Erixa says. "I have only been here a few weeks, and know that."
An nods worriedly.
Atley glances around with a squint. "… many bloody children are there … ?"
Another rescued cub drops down from his hiding place. "I'm growing a beard!" he shouts at Bran, and runs away.
Bran guffaws.
Atley lifts a brow and scoffs with amusement. "There you are, then."
Bran finds a cub that is clinging low enough for him to help her down.
"I want my mommy!" sobs the cub. She clings to Bran for a moment and then darts off.
Atley directs them with Thunderfury. "Off with you, little one. Back to the village. The way is safe."
"Ser, maybe dinna wave yer sword at bairns," Bran says amiably.
"I'll take it under consideration," Atley says. He turns to watch one of the fleeing cubs with a brief grimace of thought.
"Hands are maybe better for pointing," Erixa agrees with a chuckle.
“I tried to boot a jade monster in the head!” reports the next cub bravely. “But I hurt my paw.”
Atley nods. "Can you walk?"
"Yes!" says the cub, and proudly demonstrates. He can run, too.
"Well done, then." Atley says.
"These are good quality cubs," Bran observes. "Real resilient. If I'd been chased by jade tigers as a bairn, I'd've just been a snotty cryin' mess fer hours."
"Probably me too," Erixa nods. "I don't think I ever have. It was… long ago. I don't remember all…"
Atley grunts.
"I hope they are not scared for long," Erixa says. "Or maybe… just enough to not do this again."
"I wonder if it's because their home is normally so peaceful, they gotta go an' find trouble like thes," Bran ponders.
"I'd ha' been more afraid of me mother finding out I'd not fought them off," Oranna says distractedly.
Erixa uses her draenei height to get some of the more ambitious climbers of the cubs.
“How did you even get up that high?” An demands of one of them.
"Oh, good thing we brought a tall one, aye?" Bran chuckles, beaming at Erixa.
Erixa grins. "We complement, this team!"
"I trust the lesson is learned," Atley says, eyeing An Windfur. "But these woods'll be safer once we've killed this witch."
An nods determinedly at Dane.
"In the Eastern Kengdoms our kids dinna need ta go lookin' fer trouble," Bran observes. "World's endin' every other day."
Another cub clings to the lantern hanging from the post along the road. It swings gently as he tries to adjust his hold on it. “Help!”
“You’re going to catch on fire, Guo,” An scolds him. “Anyway, you’re rescued.”
Erixa moves over to help the lantern cub down.
“Please don’t tell my parents,” whispers the cub, and darts away.
Atley sets his jaw. No promises.
"I got some thengs to say to their parents…" Bran grumbles.
Oranna glances off to the right for a long moment. "Some parents… aren't good ones ta tell this sort of thing ta."
"We cannot guess, though, if they are or aren't," Erixa offers to Oranna. She eyes a massive porcupine as they pass, but it seems non-hostile.
Befound sniffs at the trail of one of the porcupines.
"Did none of em notice that all their kids had been missin fer a while?" Bran shakes his head.
"This is an extreme case, but little ones will get into all manner of mischief if you take your eyes off them for but a moment," Atley growls.
Bran snorts. "Say what ye will about me own folks, they'd've noticed if me an' all my friends were unaccounted fer."
"Some… might not have noticed. Some might not ha' cared. Either way…" Oranna shoots at a jade tiger.
"Pandaren don't seem to worry about much," Shine observes.
Atley eyes Shine knowingly and nods, looking back to An Windfur.
"I think my mother probably would have noticed, when I was a child," Erixa says, her gaze going a little unfocused as she tries to remember.
Another jade tiger leaps from the undergrowth. Shine reappears swiftly behind it.
“Hi-YAH!” cries An, and kicks out at the tiger with a small, bare foot.
Atley looks to An upon the kick. He nods.
"So are ye gonna be a monk when ye grow up, lass?" Bran asks An.
"Maybe!" An says cheerfully.
"Is that all of them? Think carefully," Atley says.
An looks around. She nods slowly, knitting her brows.
"Small army o' bairns," Oranna mutters, glancing back towards the village.
“Almost all? And thank you for helping me save those guys,” says An, looking around fretfully. “I still don’t see Shin, though.” She casts a look of wide-eyed apprehension up at them. “Maybe… the Jade Witch has him?”
Atley's look darkens. "Let's go get him back then, shall we? Stay behind us. Practice your kicks later."
"Be careful," Erixa cautions. "Remember the magic."
An ducks behind Bran. “I… I can’t do it! I don’t want to see the witch! Can you please, please just go yourselves and see if she has Shin?”
Atley nods once. "Very well. Get to safety, little one."
"We've faced worse than her, I'm sure, lass," Bran says reassuringly.
“You’re foreigners,” An adds hopefully. “She probably can’t turn you into jade.”
Erixa looks like she doubts that logic, but she nods.
Oranna looks down at herself. "A foreigner… ye dinna think we're made of somethin' else than — well. Mmmm."
An darts away to hide.
"I wonder if she canna turn certain things ta stone. Like a stoneform dwarf. What do ye think she's making of the insides? Is it only outside that's stone?" Oranna asks.
Atley shakes his head. "Cannot say. Be ready for anything." He looks around at the garden littered with jade statues.
Oranna looks over the stone children in the front garden. "Oh, poor things… even if the outside is all stone an' inside not… they'd…"
Erixa's expression hardens as she looks around at the 'jade statues' of pandaren cubs.
A gray-haired pandaren woman, smiling sweetly, emerges to blink at them. “Oh, my. What strange strangers!” she marvels. A jade cat slinks past her ankles. “Are you here to pay your respects at the shrine of my husband? The legendary Master Greenpaw? Or do you come to admire my statues? I craft each one with care.” She beams.
Atley glares at her. "We've come to free the children you've taken as prizes. And kill you, if need be."
"Aye, the jig is up, witch," Bran says calmly.
The widow’s smile fades, and she blinks at Dane. “Children? Whatever do you mean? … I did hear some sounds earlier. Perhaps in the garden out back? They do like to make mischief around here.”
Oranna's face is stony. Not jade stony though. "I dinna believe you," she says, her face saying the same thing.
"Yer really just gonna stick with yer story, eh?" says Bran. "We're no fools, an' ye'll be sorry if ye try anythin' with us."
Widow Greenpaw steps through the group. “We can go and look if you like. Come with me.”
Atley grits his teeth. He flashes the squad a look of warning before he marches along after Widow Greenpaw.
Erixa follows warily, her eyes on Widow Greenpaw.
Widow Greenpaw leads them around the side of the cottage to a shallow pond of water at the back. Stone pedestals stand within the pond, and atop each is an extraordinarily lifelike statue of a pandaren warrior. The largest and most impressive, a statue of a pandaren monk poised for combat, stands at the center.
Bran can't resist sketching the "sculptures."
There is a single, smaller statue at one edge of the pond: a little pandaren boy, frozen in an attitude of wide-eyed shock.
“Ah,” says the Widow Greenpaw complacently. “Here is the child. Doesn’t he look special? My late husband and I always did want children.” She turns to the group, her smile suddenly lopsided and unnatural. “Would you like to join us? As my guests?”
"Release them. All of them. Now." Atley snarls.
Oranna breathes in metronomic sniper precision.
"No," Erixa says, reaching a hand to her sword. "We are here to take them home."
Widow Greenpaw lifts her paws and begins to channel an evil green light. “Here, kitty kitty!” she warbles, and a jade panther slinks from the heavy brush beside the pond to join her.
“STOP IT!” shouts a small voice. “You will NOT turn my friends into stupid STATUES!” A flash of flowered pink silk darts from the shadows of a pedestal and aims a barefoot kick at the back of the Jade Witch’s knee.
Oranna takes two steps back at she brings up her rifle.
Erixa draws her sword.
"Kill her!" Atley charges in to do as he says.
Erixa attacks at Dane's order.
Bran shields the child.
Befound follows An as backup to weave between the Jade Witch's feet.
Shine steps through shadows swiftly to the Widow's back, appearing between her and the shielded An.
As the Widow Greenpaw falls, green light swirls around the pond, and the little boy's statue unfreezes: he is a cub again.
“Shin!” cries An, and flings her arms around the dazed-looking boy. “You’re alive! And your parents haven’t found out anything!” She beams up at the squad. “Thankyouthankyou!”
Erixa lets out a low breath. "He turned back."
Oranna looks deeply relieved. "Ah, it wasna all too late," she says.
Atley looks over Shin before he eyes An. "Don't bloody mind well, do you. If we hadn't arrived when we had, your mates may've been lost forever."
"Well, it turned out okay," An says cheerfully. "You were very heroic heroes." She takes Shin's hand. "Let's go!"
Atley grumbles and glances around at the statues on the pedestals with a squint.
"Looks like these other statues are older," Bran says. "An' appear ta be real statues."
"Children out front?" Shine asks tersely.
"Doubt much can be done for these," Atley agrees. "Let's see the front."
The yard in front of the cottage is empty of statues. A pair of cubs can be seen vanishing hastily into the brush.
Atley looks out over the empty lawn and nods. "Let's return to the village. Our work here's done."
"At least it wasna a death sentence ta be stone," Oranna says.
"They will be frightened, but they will be safe," Erixa says with a smile.
Bran goes into the witch's house and checks out her books.
Atley glances over at Brannagen. "Anything of interest?"
"Anythin' of danger?" Oranna asks with a worried look at the books.
"It's all in written Pandaren, which the spell didna teach me for some reason," Bran says. "I'll have the villagers check it out."
Atley grunts. "Let's ride."
An is waiting hand-in-hand with Shin at the edge of town. “I think Toya is looking for you,” she observes, pointing to a stout pandaren man dressed in blue and gold. “He’s been collecting jade for some reason. For Lorewalker Cho?”
Atley looks to An and nods. "Right. Be safe." he tells her sternly.
Bran pats An's head as he passes.
Atley dismounts and marches up to Toya. "We hear you've asked for us."
“Ah, yes, there you are,” says Toya. He indicates the chests stacked around him. “I called in every favor I could to get this jade for the Lorewalker. He said to meet him at Emperor’s Omen. There are kites ready for you. I’ll send the jade myself.”
Atley grunts. "Let's get to it, then."
"More kites!" Erixa nods.
"Oh, aye," Oranna says reluctantly.
Shine scoops the tanuki onto the kite with him this time so it doesn't have to scramble.
At the crest of a little hill in front of the kitemaster, Lorewalker Cho sits cross-legged on the ground. He is in conversation with an exasperated pandaren woman.
“I would love to help you, Lorewalker,” the woman says. She does not sound like she would love to help him. “Understand that I’m in a real bind here, though.”
Erixa raises a hand in greeting, but does not interrupt the ongoing conversation.
"Hullo'," Atley greets both of them. "We're Cobalt Company. Wot's the situation?"
Lorewalker Cho brightens. “Ah, but look who has arrived. Mrs. Mann, there is someone I would like you to meet.” He climbs heavily to his feet. “Cobalt Company, this is Mrs. Mann, the foreman of the mines.”
Atley nods gruffly. "Mrs. Mann."
Cho gestures at the faded, moss-covered fresco wall that looms over them. “This ancient fresco was once inlaid with jade, but it has fallen into ruin and now its wisdom is lost to us. With the arrival of strangers on Pandaria, I believe we’ll need the lessons our history can teach us.”
Erixa peers at the fresco, trying to imagine what it might show.
“I understand, Lorewalker,” says Mrs. Mann with the exaggerated patience of the extremely impatient. “But the Serpent’s Heart project is behind schedule and we haven’t got a stone to spare!”
Lorewalker Cho beams. “Ah, but that is where our friends can help, perhaps. Tell these heroes what you need, and perhaps we can all find what we are after.”
Bran stares in fascination at the huge stack of papers on the box near Cho.
Atley turns to take in the massive fresco. He briefly side-eyes Brannagen before looking back to Foreman Mann.
Mrs. Mann surveys Cobalt Company doubtfully and folds her arms. “Our whole jade supply line has fallen apart. The mines are a death trap, morale is historically low, and — if that weren’t bad enough! — the mason’s quarter has been overrun by thieving wood sprites! You and Cho need jade so badly, you can follow the road southwest and get it from those glorified chopsticks yourself.”
"Hehe, glorified chopsticks," Bran chuckles.
"Glorified… chopsticks?" Oranna repeats.
"Chopsticks?" Erixa blinks. "Like the ones for eating with?"
Shine, who has been squinting up at the eroded fresco, drops his gaze and looks to Dane.
Atley nods slowly. "Very well. Let's go gather that jade, then."
As Cobalt Company starts down the road, they can hear Mrs. Mann ask Cho scornfully, “Those dumplings are going to clean up the mason’s quarter? They barely even got bellies on ‘em!”
“Have patience, Mrs. Mann,” counsels the Lorewalker. “These strangers from beyond the mist continually surprise me.”
"Eh, harvestin' jade isn't too bad," Oranna says. "I've done worse types o' gems."
Atley pauses and squints at a Puckish Sprite. "Ought to be them, then," he theorizes.
"Ah… chopsticks! I see. They are wood animals," Erixa nods. "Magical?"
"Some kinda elemental theng," Bran surmises.
"These sprites drove them from this place…?" Atley ponders lowly, mostly under his breath.
Shine slips into stealth. The tanuki trails conspicuously after a rustle in the grass.
A puckish sprite throws a chunk of jade squarely at Oranna's forehead. "OW!" Oranna picks it up after the sprite is dead. "Okay, I revise, this might be the most painful I've done."
"Elemental," Erixa nods at Bran thoughtfully. "Very irritable element."
"Ach!" Bran sends a gentle healing spell at Oranna's forehead.
Atley glances at her forehead before he stomps another sprite into oblivion. "I've not worked with jade before."
"I wonder what is jade project that is behind schedule," Erixa muses. "Whatever Mrs. Mann wanted it for."
The tanuki chews thoughtfully on a dead sprite's twiggy leg.
"Statue or something, innit'? That big bloody serpent we flew past," Atley ponders.
"Ah, probably so," Erixa says. "Behind schedule… for a holiday or memorial or something, maybe."
Atley grunts.
Befound gets closer to Shine's tanuki, and slips into the shadows. Watch a master, young one.
The tanuki lifts its head and then trundles after Befound curiously.
Bran bonks a sprite.
Befound sticks to shadows, prowling around the others as the glorified chopsticks throw things at other people.
The tanuki does its best to prowl too. Its best is not very good.
Atley reaches down to collect a shard of jade the size of his face. "That'll do. Let's get these back to the Foreman."
Mrs. Mann is awaiting them with folded arms and raised brows. Seated on the ground beside her, Lorewalker Cho smiles benevolently.
"We've several handfuls of jade, Mrs. Mann." Atley says, dismounting.
“Well, well.” Mrs. Mann looks them over. “Maybe you ain’t so skinny after all.” She appraises them for another moment. “Tell you what. I’ve been lookin’ for some muscle to help out with problems at the quarry. And judgin’ by the size of the Lorewalker’s restoration project here, I think you’re going to need a lot more jade.”
Atley squints at her. "Wot' needs doing?"
One of Bran's ginger brows rises slowwwly as he infers they're going to be conscripted as quarry workers.
Oranna looks down at herself. She's got thigh muscles at least.
Mrs. Mann sighs. “Normally we’d have no problem filling Cho’s request. Jade veins run through this land like…” She frowns in thought for a moment. “Well, like something else that runs through something else in veins. I ain’t a poet. Point is: we got problems.
“You ever seen a shale spider? Usually harmless, just creepin’ around nibblin’ on rocks? Well, a few days ago we tunneled into a huge nest of the critters. They spilled up into the mines and went crazy — they got a taste for jade like cubs on candy, I guess. Been chewing up damn near everything in sight. Including some of the boys. You get in there and clear ‘em out, and we’ll have jade to spare. Mine’s west of here.”
"Consider it done," Atley muses with confidence, craning his head in a stiff nod.
"We have practice in fighting giant spiders of this land," Erixa nods.
"Much better'n the type o' work I was worried ye were gonna put us on," Bran says in relief.
“And, well… hey.” Foreman Mann lowers her voice uncomfortably. “This… ain’t easy. But I got a favor to ask.”
Atley knits his brow at Foreman Mann and listens.
Foreman Mann makes a face. “My idiot husband, Hao, is a shift lead down at the quarry. I told him not to go back, that it was too dangerous, but he’s as stubborn as a hozen and twice as dumb. Said the boys needed him for ‘moral support.’” She shakes her head sardonically. “And what about my moral support, huh? What am I gonna do if that idiot dies?”
She turns away and clears her throat gruffly. “So if you see him out there, you tell him to get back here.”
Atley briefly looks over the squad before he nods. "We'll pass along your words."
"O'course, madam," says Bran. "We'll keep an eye out."
Erixa's expression softens. "Yes, we will look for your husband, Mann."
"I'm gonna ta sound like I've forgotten a name, tellin' Thal that I went off ta rescue 'Mr. Man,'" Oranna mutters.
"Rescuin' some Mann or other," Bran says with a solemn nod.
Erixa chuckles. "Just explain then that it is Mrs. Mann's man."
Oranna laughs at Erixa.
Broken mine carts and scattered pieces of jade ore litter the stones outside the mine’s gaping entrance. A pair of miners in dusty overalls huddle nearby while another pair argues vociferously and a worker darts in aimless circles.
Shine surveys the scene impassively as he drops down from his horse.
Oranna breathes in the air like a familiar comforting scent. "Ah, nothin' smells quite like fresh broken rock in the afternoon," she says cheerily.
Atley swings his leg over his saddle and addresses the arguing miners. "Oi. We're here to help. Is Mister Mann inside?"
One of the pair breaks off the argument and turns to eye Atley. "Maybe," he says. "Who knows now?"
Erixa tilts her head at 'who knows now?'
"Oh, ah, who does know…now?" Oranna repeats.
"I think they maybe mean no one does," Erixa says. "Not good sign.”
Atley returns the eye. "Stay here. We'll be back out soon."
Shine eyes the mine entrance warily.
As they enter the mine, there is a groaning sound and an abrupt shift in the ground; a dust cloud erupts from below. A miner runs past them toward the entrance as if blown by the dust. “Dang nibblers tearin’ the place down!” he shouts.
Atley jogs a few steps before the ground shakes. He glares through the dust cloud before continuing on.
"Nibblers?" Bran echoes.
Oranna's good cheer disappears. "Oh they dig… human sized tunnels," Oranna says, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.
“Over here!” bellows a voice, and a dusty paw sticks up from a pile of fallen rock to wave vigorously. “Hang on, I nearly got it! HNNNNNGH!”
"Ach," Bran observes calmly.
"Steady — be still." Atley looks to Erixa and Shine as he starts to remove boulders. "Foreman Mann sent us."
Shine steps in beside Dane to drag boulders away.
Erixa steps in to lend her strength to uncovering Mr. Mann from beneath the boulders.
Oranna gets out her pick-axe, and she knows how to use it.
The battered, dust-covered man looks up at them. “Well I almost got it.” He climbs to his feet, swatting dust from his clothes. “My wife sent you?”
"She called ye a few unsavory thengs, ye should know," Bran says with a twinkle in his eye.
"Yes, you must go tend to her morale," Erixa says. "It is low."
Mr. Mann chortles fondly. “Ah, my delicate little snow lily, always frettin’ over me. It’ll take more than a little cave-in to keep ol’ Hao down.” He glances further down the tunnel. “Some of the boys deeper in might be in trouble, though. You want to help me out by helpin’ out any you run across? I’m gonna go up there and settle ‘em down.”
"F'course. Any range of many there are down there?" Atley asks.
Oranna looks uneasily into the mine with it's 'low' ceiling.
"Probably a dozen or so left," Hao says. "Holler an' they'll holler back, right?"
Atley discreetly eyes Oranna and gives her a nod. "Let's move. Time's against us."
"It's true. Longer folks are lost, the more likely they are ta try to wander or if they're hurt…" Oranna says. "We should hurry."
Bran peers at a little green spidery thing he just bonked to death. "Is tha' a 'nibbler' then?" he asks no one in particular.
Atley drives Thunderfury into the ground and starts hefting small boulders off of a Miner. "Looks it."
The shaken miner climbs to his feet and gives them a sheepish, gap-toothed grin. “I warn’t scurred,” he assures them.
Atley waves the miner off. "To the surface. Off with you."
The miner jogs toward the scaffolding leading upward.
Befound bats one of the small spiders around like a hockey puck. She leans down to nibble on the nibbler.
"Dinna break yer teeth, lass," Oranna scolds.
Shine has stooped to haul stones away from another trapped miner.
“Hey!” says the miner, brushing gravel from her hair as she rises shakily. “I was just about to wiggle myself free!” She pauses and considers the heap of rocks around her. “I think.”
"Big nibbles," Erixa says, widening her eyes.
Bran lets out a low whistle at the sight of the Lorge Version.
"Strange beasts." Atley comments.
“AAH!” shrieks a liberated miner as a shale nibbler skitters past. “Get these things away from me!”
"We will," Erixa assures him.
Another miner, unruffled, climbs to his feet and nods gratefully , smiling. “I’ll check in with Hao. Thanks!”
Atley grunts.
Bran takes some notes. "It's really amazin' how resilient pandaren seem ta be as a general rule," he says. "We can learn a lot from 'em."
“Oooh,” says a freed miner, and flashes a smile. “My favorite kind of strangers — the mysterious, heroic rescue-y types!” She winks at Oranna.
Atley knits his brow at that one.
"Er, did ye get some rock in yer eye? Ye should rinse with water," Oranna says helpfully.
The miner giggles and winks again before jogging away.
Bran chuckles to himself.
Oranna watches her jog off. "I hope her eye's all right."
“Grrr, get a little closer, critter!” threatens a muffled voice from under a heap of rocks. “I’ll bite yer legs off!” A pebble flies out of the pile and plinks against a shale nibbler’s carapace.
Befound approves of this leg biter.
Shine approaches the aggressive heap of rocks to move them away.
Oranna takes her pickaxe to the rocks.
The miner heaves himself to his feet, rubbing his head. “Today it’s cave-ins and nibblers, tomorrow it’ll be floods and jinyu. Just another day at the quarry.” He trudges off.
Atley glances around. "Hullo'!" His voice echoes.
Atley grunts. "Back to the surface, then."
"They seem in good spirits, despite," Erixa observes.
"Indeed," Atley says.
"Just fantastic people!" Bran says, eyes crescenting.
"Pandaren really don't seem to get too upset about things," Erixa nods to Bran.
Atley steps out into daylight and brushes dust off of his tabard.
Once they're back outside, Oranna heaves an enormous sigh of relief, wiping at her face. In the proper light, it's clear she's pale and drawn.
Shine eyes Oranna with silent concern.
"Hate those sorts of closed in places," Oranna mutters, as she brushes at her own tabard. Befound licks her hand.
Bran gently pats Oranna.
Hao Mann is speaking patiently with a group of dusty, tired-looking miners. He turns at Blue Squad’s approach, and gives a hearty laugh. “Looks like you found ‘em! I seen ‘em come runnin’ out of there like ol’ Kher Shan himself was givin’ chase.” He grins broadly.
Erixa glances over to Oranna and says, "We saved many."
"Aye. Anything else about here need doing?" Atley asks Hao Mann.
"Who's Kher Shan?" Bran inquires.
"You don't know the stories of Kher Shan! Buy me a beer later and I'll tell you all of 'em," Hao tells Bran.
"It's a deal!" Bran says.
“Awright,” says Hao. “We better get this jade back to the wife.” He pats a chunk of ore in a high-heaped wagon. “Whyn’t y’all hop in and lemme do the legwork? I could use the stretch.” He hefts the wagon shafts, grinning.
Atley eyes Hao up and down for a long moment. "If you insist."
"All of us?" Erixa eyes the pandaren, impressed.
Oranna looks up at Dane with pleading eyes. She smiles when it's clear they'll get to sit for a bit. She looks like she could use a sit.
Atley nods at Oranna and climbs aboard.
“Hold on tight!” Hao calls, and then starts running at an improbable pace, the cart jouncing along behind him, ore rattling and shifting.
Atley grips the side with one gauntlet as Hao Mann speeds off. "Bloody hell."
"Whee!" says Bran.
A shale spider erupts from the earth nearby and skitters after them.
Oranna finds a comfy place among the stone, and sits down to tuck her legs up close, arms around her legs. As soon as she's comfortable, creepers attack.
“Crazy nibblers! Doggone things ain’t know when to quit!” yells Hao cheerily. “Give ‘em what-for!”
Bran bonks a nibbler from his seat in the cart.
Another spider erupts in pursuit, and then a third.
Oranna sighs again as she takes out her gun to shoot at the things.
Atley punches a nibbler off of the side, his gauntlet cracking stone.
Hao slows to a trot and then a stop in front of the fresco and sets the cart-shafts down with a sigh. “I like you folks,” he declares, looking them over with a grin. He turns and heads for the hill where his wife and the Lorewalker wait.
"Proper strong," Atley commends.
“Snow-lily!” Hao calls. “We’re back from the quarry! Got a special delivery just for you, sweetness!”
Foreman Mann wheels around, her eyes wide. “Honey-Bear! I mean… it’s about time!” She folds her arms and glowers. “Don’t you ‘snow lily’ me! I was… we were worried sick about y– oh!” Her scolding ends in a stifled “Mmph!” as Hao grabs her by the hips and plants a passionate smooch on her.
Bran guffaws delightedly.
Atley looks at the reunion with his regular grim expression.
Hao straightens up, grinning. “Sorry to keep you waiting, sugarfur. I know how you worry. Truth is, these strangers here saved my old hide.”
“Hmph,” says Foreman Mann, and adjusts Hao’s collar sternly. “Well. The delivery is not for me. The honorable Lorewalker has been waiting.”
Lorewalker Cho beams at them both.
Erixa chuckles at the squabbling but happy pair.
Foreman Mann looks past her husband to Blue Squad. “We could use some bruisers like you around,” she says grudgingly. “You let me know if you want work.” She pauses. “And thank you.” She pats her husband’s arm.
Oranna takes out her water to drink.
"Will this be enough jade for the fresco?" Erixa asks, looking up at the wall.
Atley looks from Erixa to Lorewalker Cho.
"It should be more than enough." The Foreman turns to Lorewalker Cho. “I can spare some people to begin restoring the Emperor’s Omen, if our friends here can take the rest of the jade to Foreman Raike at Serpent’s Heart.”
“Of course,” says the Lorewalker placidly. “They are very helpful friends. Besides, I am sure they would like to see the Serpent’s Heart.”
"Serpent's Heart. The great statue near the center of the forest?" Atley asks.
The Lorewalker nods at Atley.
"I would!" Erixa agrees. "I am curious about big statue."
"Eh, sure?" Oranna says, unsure if she does want to see the Serpent's Heart, but now she's curious about it.
"We can deliver the jade," Atley confirms.
Foreman Mann nods. “Go on, then,” she tells Blue Squad, and gestures at some crates of jade. “Grab yourself some jade and a kite, and head on down to Dawn’s Blossom. Serpent’s Heart is south of there. You can’t miss it. Tell Foreman Raike his old friend Mann says hello.”
"Of course it's grab a kite ta see," Oranna mutters.
Atley crouches with perfect posture to lift a crate of jade before he marches over to the flight master.
Bran casts one little regretful look toward Cho at leaving him, but then follows the squad.
Shine hefts a crate of jade and follows Atley. The tanuki, jade-less, follows Shine.
"Maybe eventually we will feel more confident with kites," Erixa says. We might mean Oranna, but we're a team.
Oranna stores her own jade carefully in a bag that seems made for these things.
"I dinna like… flyin' fer fallin'. An' unlike a gryphon that might notice if yer fallin' off, or swoop down if you did, the kites… they willna e'en notice, let alone care," Oranna says.
Atley steps off of the kite and pauses, turning to Keg Runner Lee. "We're due at the Serpent's Heart. Wot's the best way?"
"He said south, aye?" Oranna says, looking northwest.
"South, yes," agrees Keg Runner Lee. He points to the road.
Erixa considers that. "I see what you mean. I am maybe more used to transport I have no control over."
Atley eyes Oranna and scoffs with amusement, adding, "If you were to fall, we'd notice, and save you."
Oranna gives Dane a shakey warm smile. "Aye…"
"Let's ride." Atley says, tugging his crate aboard his saddle.
"I can bless you with protection if you fall," Erixa nods. "I have done it and protected a friend once, leaping from a cliff."
Bran seems to belatedly notice Oranna's fashin'. "Oh hey Boomer, would it help if I cast a Levitate on ye before ye get on?"
"Ah… maybe more than nothing? Even if I know I willna hit the ground hard, I still… dinna like fallin'," Oranna says quietly to Bran, as evidenced by every time she's fallen screaming in a parachute.
Atley pulls up short as the statue looms in the distance. "Properly sized."
"It is an enormous wind serpent," Erixa says. "Beautiful."
Ahead of them, a massive jade cloud serpent, its stony scales gleaming, is curled around a carved monolith. It seems from its vantage to be gazing across the whole of the Jade Forest around it.
Bran lets out a low whistle.
"Taller than a bloody tower…" Atley growls.
"It does… look like it's an art statue," Oranna remarks on the statue. "That's promisin'."
"I like its beard," says Bran, art critic.
Atley stares up at the statue with wary awe. "A kingly monument…" His gaze lowers. "And an orange orchard underneath? Don't grab any until we ask. They may be sacred."
Erixa nods, "Understood."
"Oranges!" Bran says happily.
"It's so… triangular, the beard," Oranna says to Bran.
Bran nods enthusiastically about the triangle beard.
Shine adjusts the crate of jade before him in the saddle and looks around the blossoming orange orchard with interest.
Oranna eyes the oranges. "Well, now I know where ta ask fer some oranges if we've more secret missions," Oranna mutters.
"Do ye think ye could get mine ta be a triangle?" Bran asks Oranna, stroking his beard-braid.
Erixa peers at his beard. "Maybe, if you cut like so…" she gestures triangular slices.
Oranna looks over Bran's beard. "Fer…a week or two, it could probably be that pointy?"
Bran deeply considers the beard situation as they walk.
Atley approaches one of the Serpent Stonecarvers. "We've a delivery of jade."
The Stonecarver looks up. He blinks at the strangers. "Eh? Uh. Foreman is over by the tents." He jerks a thumb.
"Let's take it on foot, you lot." Atley says, dismounting. He tucks the crate under his arm and starts marching down the idyllic orchard path.
Atley pauses, and turns back to the Stonecarver. "Are we permitted to take oranges?"
Bran chuckles. "Someone's hungry."
The Stonecarver peers up at the trees and then bemusedly at the strangers again. "Yeah? There's plenty."
Erixa beams.
Atley glances around. "Shine, climb up there and free a few for us, will you?"
Bran grins.
Oranna glances over at Shine's tanuki. "Eh, please," she also adds to Shine.
"I fancy a bit of orange." Atley growls.
Shine gamely swings up onto the lower branch of a tree and leans out toward its end. He twists some oranges from their stems and begins dropping them.
Bran takes a moment to sketch the trees, the nearby waterfall, in a few suggestive lines.
Atley removes his helmet and holds it upside down to catch an orange or two. "Cheers. Got some for you."
Shine nods to Dane. He climbs up carefully onto the next higher branch and pulls off a few more oranges to toss down, then drops to the ground after them.
Erixa steps underneath to catch an orange with one hand.
Oranna catches one with her head.
Befound sits down. If everyone is getting a snack, she should, too. Fair is Fair, Oranna.
Oranna gets out a fish for Befound, tossing it to the leopard.
Erixa walks along slowly, peeling her orange.
Atley bites into the orange and starts peeling it as they walk. He nods to Historian Dinh and another Stonecarver.
Orangeanna eats as they walk.
Bran peacefully takes in the whole grove and its surroundings.
Atley grunts. "S'good eating."
"An' useful, if ye canna talk about secret missions on the look out fer… Ian," Oranna adds.
The various pandaren workers watch them pass with mixed degress of perplexity or placid curiosity.
Shine peels an orange halfway and pulls a section out to drop it on the ground for the tanuki. He begins to peel the rest of it as he walks, gazing around.
Atley pounds two whole oranges and pockets the peels. He tugs his helmet back on as they make it to the base camp, crate of jade under his arm.
"Foreman Raike?" Atley announces. "We've a jade delivery."
Foreman Raike stands outside a tent at the workers’ encampment, gazing up at the incomplete monument that towers above the little island. He starts a little as Blue Squad approaches. He eyes their crates. “Ah! Am I seeing this right? A whole shipment of uncut jade?"
"Yer welcome!" Bran says with a grin.
"Right you are. We're Cobalt Company." Atley says.
Oranna glances at the shipment. "Eh… are we all seein' it right?" Oranna says doubtfully. Oops.
"I see it, yes," Erixa nods.
"It's definitely real uncut jade and a real shipment that exists and we all see it," Oranna says.
Atley rattles the crate and side-eyes the squad, bemused at the idea of it all being an illusion.
Shine looks from the jade to Oranna and nods soberly. He's only got one eye, but he can see it.
Befound pretends not to see it, cat-like.
Bran is too busy staring at the constructions behind the trees to see the jade.
The Foreman claps a hand to his heart dramatically. “Thank goodness! I knew Foreman Mann would come through for us.” He pauses and looks them over. “And, uh. You too. Thanks for bringing it.”
The tanuki stands and puts its forepaws on Shine's leg. More orange pls.
Foreman Raike steps back and squints up at the monument again. “Can I trouble you for another favor? We’re way behind schedule, and this is the last jade shipment we need. I’ve got my hands full here, so could you run this ore over to the foremen of the other teams, so it gets into our artisans’ hands as fast as possible?”
Atley nods. "Consider it done. Everyone grab a barrel."
Erixa nods and hoists a barrel up onto her back.
Atley leans down to sling a barrel over his back.
Bran doesn't look like the sort of guy who can carry a barrel of jade… but he picks up a barrel of jade.
"Careful, Shine, lad. If ye feed yer tanuki now, ye'll train it ta paw at ye like that," Oranna warns.
Too late, Oranna. Shine looks up at her with chagrin. The tanuki, orange section in paws, looks smug.
Oranna hefts her own barrel of jade with surprising ease. She's not called Ore-Anna for nothin'.
"You are surprisingly good at carrying barrels, Bran," Erixa observes.
"Thank ye!" says Bran. "I've been doin' a lot o' physical trainin' recently." He flexes.
"Strong anch… priest," Erixa nods.
"Food's like…rewardin'. An' what ye reward, yer tanuki'll do more of," Oranna says to Shine quietly. "If ye… need any help with trainin', I'd be glad ta… if ye wanted. Not tha' ye need ta…" She trails off awkwardly.
Shine nods to Oranna. "Aye," he agrees amiably.
The foreman standing by a kite station looks up. He brightens. "Jade! For me?"
"Aye." Atley confirms.
"You can set a crate there," the foreman confirms. "You'll want to get some to Taskmaster Emi, above. Hop on a kite!"
Bran hops on a kite.
Atley looks over the squad before he nods at Kitemaster Shoku. "Very well." He offloads some jade before climbing aboard.
"Ah… more kites," Erixa glances to Oranna. "I will watch in case of need."
Oranna gives Erixa a smile.
Atley mutters off-handedly to Oranna as they arrive at the peak. "Take my arm, if you like."
Oranna takes Dane's arm in a fierce grip. "There's no… railings??" she asks, aghast at this OSHA nightmare scenario.
Bran sketches a jade carver hard at work near the statue's head, standing on its massive scales.
Shine sets a barrel of jade down beside Emi.
“Ah, wonderful!” Taskmaster Emi beams. “Just look at it.” She gazes a little misty-eyed at the serpent. “A hundred years to raise this incredible monument for the Jade Serpent. And now you, too, have contributed to this masterpiece!”
Atley nods at Taskmaster Emi as he sets the jade down.
Shine appraises the hundred-year carving with interest.
"A hundred years," Erixa says, eyes widening. "Such a long project."
"Is it?" Oranna asks Erixa.
Atley glances over at the view and squints, as if hoping to spot a particular blonde head in the green.
Erixa casually steps in between the team and the edge. "It is still long for me. A tenth of my life so far."
"Oh… right… it's… long," Oranna tries.
Atley's gaze flicks back to Erixa. "You're a thousand years old, are you?"
"Mm. A thousand years young," Erixa says, with a faint quirk of a smile.
Shine eyes Erixa thoughtfully.
"I'll be a hundred meself in just a little over three years," Oranna says.
"It took almost as long to build you as the statue, then," Erixa says with a smile.
Oranna chuckles weakly at Erixa.
"Back to the bottom, then." Atley says.
Oranna groans as she gets aboard yet another death trap waiting to happen of an enchanted kite.
"Whatever you do, don't look down!" advises the kitemaster cheerfully.
Oranna looks down.
"Jade here," Atley growls, dropping some off without waiting for permission.
“Unbelievable! You’ve just saved my neck, friends.” Surveyor Sawa blots at the back of his neck with a kerchief, and then mops his damp forehead. “And just look at that luster!”
"We bring good jade," Erixa nods.
"It is nice luster," Oranna says appreciatively.
"Jade." Atley says.
Historian Dinh bows solemnly. “Beautiful.” He straightens and regards them thoughtfully. “If you have time, strangers, perhaps you should try to visit the temple to the east. You may gain insight into our great statue and its importance to our way of life.”
Shine raises his eyebrow and gazes east.
"Oh, aye, I'll do tha'," Bran says enthusiastically.
"Very well," Atley says, nodding at the squad.
"We would love to learn more of your way of life," Erixa smiles.
Bran preemptively turns Oranna eastward.
"Let's check back in 'fore we bugger off." Atley says.
"Fore man, 'fore we," Oranna says as they get to the Foreman.
"We've spread the jade about," Atley tells the Foreman.
"Not jus'…spread willy nilly, we — we gave the people the jade," Oranna clarifies.
Foreman Raike claps his hands together. “So fast! You’ve done us a huge favor, strangers. And now that we have the jade to finish the statue, we will send word of our progress to Yu’Lon, the Jade Serpent.”
He looks Blue Squad over thoughtfully. “I will tell them of your aid, also. If you would like, I will petition Elder Sage Wind-Yi to admit you to the temple. I am sure the Jade Serpent would wish to meet you personally.”
"Whaaaaaa?" Bran's turquoise eyes sparkle like one of his healing spells. "THE Jade Serpent?"
"We would meet? Giant cloud serpent?" Erixa looks excited.
Atley knits his brow and sets his jaw a few times. "Very well."
"I-in the cloud?" Oranna squeaks.
Shine looks from the Foreman to Bran. There is an actual Jade Serpent? the look says. He turns to gaze over his shoulder at the statue again.
"Nae, nae, lass, in the temple." Bran pats Oranna.
Oranna lets out a breath. Giant snake she can handle. Meeting giant sky snake in the sky, less so.
"In the temple!" the Foreman tells Oranna. "Yu'lon may not be able to see you, but maybe she will be interested in helpful foreigners." He beams. “It may take a few days for permission to be granted. I can send word when the Elder Sage will open the gate to you.”
"We'll plan on meeting with her in a few days time, then." Atley growls.
"Is statue life-size?" Erixa asks.
"Yes," Raike says to Erixa. "Exactly life-sized."
Erixa mouths WOW.
"Do ye mean she may not have time ta meet with us, or … she may not be able ta perceive us?" Bran takes notes.
"She may not… have time, yes," the Foreman says, and his expression clouds a little uneasily as he looks up at the statue again.
Bran nods amiably and continues taking notes.
Oranna looks from him to the statue and back. "Because… she's busy doin' somethin'?" Oranna asks.
The Foreman eyes Oranna. "That is for Yu'lon to say."
Oranna seems uneasy at what might be occupying a giant sky dragon. "Righ'. I'm sure it'll be… fine. Not doubtin' that." We believe you, Oranna.
Atley knits his brow and looks back and forth between the Foreman and the Statue. "Very well. We'll be quartered in Paw'don."
"Oranges to apples," Erixa says with a quiet smile.
"I fancy a bit more orange." Atley says, looking to Shine. It's not pleadingly.
Shine nods at Dane amiably. He moves to the laden tree across the path from the Foreman's tent and swings up into it. "Anyone got a sack?" he calls down. "Can get quite a few to take back." He tosses a few oranges down again.
Atley accepts more oranges as they're offered and wanders over toward the falls.
Befound stares up at Oranna pleadingly, the poorest most starvingest cat that ever starved. Everyone else getting snack again, Oranna.
Oranna rolls her eyes, but Befound makes a compelling point, as she hands over another fish, and then pulls out a sack from another pocket. "Aye, here," Oranna says, tossing it up towards Shine with more skill than she has in catching oranges.
Shine shifts in the branches, climbing higher and propping a knee as he begins filling the sack with oranges. He drops down lightly with the filled sack and follows the others toward the water.
"Official business is done today. Fine work, as ever, you lot," Atley growls, before furtively glancing around. "The White Pawn is still our chief priority, but I'm sure you've all noticed the mission has changed. Stabilizing the land, strengthening our ties with these locals, are all part of winning the war, and saving the Prince."
"Ian anyway is not in trouble," Erixa says with a shrug. "He has his own business. We will not stop trying to keep him safe, but… maybe for now, this is most important."
"Righ'. Savin' 'Ian.'" Oranna nods. "I bet he's off like Brann with some Titan dig site. Brann Brann. Bronzebeard. Not that our Bran wouldna likely do… the same."
Atley nods, then nods again at Shine in thanks. "Dismissed for the day."
Shine nods back. "These'll be in Paw'don," he says to the group in general, and hefts the sack.
"I will join for oranges," Erixa nods. "There is plenty of time left for my run before sunset."
"I'm gonna go make some more sketches!" Bran says excitedly, and hurries off with his journal.
"I'm making for the Monastery. White Squad ought to be about there," Atley says, clutching one (1) orange.
"Maybe we'll… walk back," Oranna says. "I think I've had enough kites fer the day." She waves goodbye to the others.