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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Dara and Sophiette embark on the next phase of their mission, searching for the one who holds power over Sophiette's father's soul. Northrend is a large place to search, but there may be help to find along the way. ~1900 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Chain: Light Guide Us
Dara steps out of the inn at Wintergarde Keep and looks over to Sophiette. "At least now we know what we're looking for."
Sophiette nods firmly. She's seeming a bit more spirited and less anxious now that Hugo is safely back in Stormwind.
The two ladies pick up their mounts and take off into the chill Northrend snow. They ride north, in the vague direction of Icecrown.
[Dara]: Do you think Hugo will be alright?
[Sophiette]: I do. He'll be mad at me until I can make it up to him…but he's safe. Knowing we might be going up against a powerful death knight…I just couldn't put him in that kind of danger.
Dara nods seriously. "From what we heard of that echo, I think your father would feel the same way. Now… all we have to do is find this death knight. In all of Northrend.”
Sophiette chokes out a mirthless laugh. "Is that all?"
Dara spots a dark shape in the snow. She urges her horse closer, and the form of a fallen goblin becomes clear.
[Dara]: Oh, goodness! Not a death knight, but… this poor goblin…
Sophiette sighs. "I wish we knew who to contact. So many have died anonymously in these icy lands. Even a goblin doesn't deserve that.”
[Dara]: Maybe he's from a camp nearby… we really should stop anywhere that’s friendly, just for information.
Sophiette peers up at the sky. "I'd suggest we fly…but these skies are dangerous."
Dara nods. "I know the remnants here aren't controlled by the Lich King any longer, but that may just make them less predictable."
[Sophiette]: Mmhm, just so.
Dara shields her eyes and peers ahead. "I think I see… red? In the snow? Bloo— no wait, those are rockets! Red rockets!"
[Sophiette]: Hey, you called it! A goblin camp!
Dara approaches a little nervously, waving with a little smile. None of the goblins are sporting any Horde symbols.
Sophiette lifts a gauntleted hand. "Hail!"
Xink peers over. "Hail yourself, paladin. Here to buy anything?"
[Sophiette]: I am Sophiette Valonforth, and this is Lady Dara Tennerow, of the Argent Crusade.
Dara curtsies, as if she were in a ballroom.
[Sophiette]: Actually, we came with some news for you. Nothing pleasant, I fear.
“I'm Xink,” the goblin says. “And… uh oh. Bad news from paladins sometimes comes with an apocalypse.”
[Dara]: Not that bad, I hope.
[Sophiette]: Nothing so drastic, but sad all the same. As we traversed the frigid terrain, we came upon the remains of a goblin male. He was slashed badly…and there were large feathers around him.
Xink sighs. "So that's why he didn't arrive on schedule. Not the first and won't be the last. Those dang harpies. If only someone could do something about 'em."
Sophiette squints at the goblin. "I see what you're trying to do. But so be it. I've no desire to see your people hurt. Where can these harpies be found?"
Xink grins at Sophiette. "Up to the north, but… you might want to try your steel against the undead scavengers to the south before you take on the harpies. We're beset on both sides."
Sophiette sighs. "Alright then." She gives Dara a 'what did I get us into' look.
[Dara]: Maybe… *Dara bites her lip, and then says* If we help, then could you share any news you've had lately about the undead? Unusual movements, attacks, anything like that?
Xink nods. "Sure thing. You get the heat off us, all my undead information is yours."
The two ladies head out to the south, to handle some undead scavengers.
[Sophiette]: I suppose this is to be expected with goblins.
[Dara]: Yes, they do love to trade. I wonder if he even has any information. If not, this can be our good deed for the day, right?
[Sophiette]: I half expect him to say, "There are undead around here!"
Sophiette slashes down a ghoul. "And indeed, there are."
Dara sighs. "I don't know how else we could track Falric, besides asking around."
[Sophiette]: Nor I. I spoke to that seer at Wintergarde, but he couldn't divine anything useful.
[Dara]: If he is in the depths of Icecrown Citadel, maybe that would be alright? It must be nearly empty now, mustn't it?
[Sophiette]: The way undead tend to haunt places, I wouldn't count on it.
[Dara]: This place as a case in point. Goodness so many ghouls.
[Sophiette]: I wonder if they're just continuing whatever their last orders were before the Lich King died.
[Dara]: Kill the living, perhaps?
Sophiette chuckles grimly, "I think that one is just standard."
[Dara]: Sadly, yes. *Dara says with a grim smile*
[Sophiette]: 1. Kill the living. 2. Be disgusting. 3. Keep being disgusting.
Dara laughs. "That does sound like the playbook of a ghoul." Dara sobers and adds, "And whoever once owned the bodies they’ve reanimated, I hope their souls find some relief from our actions.”
Sophiette peers around at the dragon skeletons. "I already miss him. Hugo would be going crazy, telling us exactly what kind of dragons these were."
Dara smiles. "Yes, wouldn't he? I have no idea how to tell from the bones."
[Sophiette]: I did the right thing…didn't I? He's my squire, but…this is so much more dangerous than when we started.
Dara looks sympathetically at Sophiette. "You did, I think you did. You heard the echo — it's so dangerous he would have sent us away if we'd have gone."
Sophiette sighs softly and nods. "Which is just what my father would have done."
[Dara]: Whatever Falric's up to, I have a feeling this won't be like… chatting with the Ebon Blade. We'll be going up against him, one way or another.
Sophiette nods. "Though…the Ebon Blade. Dara, you're a genius. Maybe that's exactly who we need to seek help from. Maybe we can contact Mercy!"
Dara looks over at Sophiette. "Oh, goodness, you may be right! Mercy wasn't Ebon, though, if I recall. She was following the Argent Crusade, like us."
[Sophiette]: True…but she's still a death knight. She might know best how to find Falric, or to defeat him.
Dara nods. "You're right. Maybe she'd be able to help. I've other contacts in that direction as well, if it comes to it. But Mercy I trust."
Sophiette nods firmly. "I don't know how comfortable I'd be around other death knights. But she's special."
[Dara]: So long as her advice is not simply 'give up', because we're not doing that.
Sophiette smirks. "Hopefully she knows us better than that."
Dara nods. "When we put our minds to something, not even death can stop us."
Sophiette the Undying puffs up a little with pride.
Dara smiles proudly at her.
The two come back to camp, clearly not killed by undead scavengers.
Xink looks over in reluctant respect. "Okay, okay, so I'm not going to send a few ladies in to be slaughtered by harpies. You've made your point. Scout around to the north, if you can. Watch out for the worms and elementals and such, as well."
Dara nods, and the two head out from camp. It isn’t long before they’re attacked by ice elementals.
"He wasn't joking about this area being dangerous," Dara says. She fights elementals in silence for a while. Then she says, "Oh, by the way, I've had word from Leric. He's on a secret mission in Pandaria."
[Sophiette]: Pandaria! Wow…he's always right on the forefront of things, isn't he?
[Dara]: Yes, I'm ever so proud as a little sister can be. He says he's protecting somebody important. And he sent me some kind of tea that smells a bit like hay. We could try it later, once we're in out of the cold?
[Sophiette]: Hay tea? Huh….
[Dara]: Yes, he said it's very popular. I've my doubts on how it might catch on in Stormwind high society. Perhaps… with honey?
[Sophiette]: Oooh, I love honey. It makes everything better.
[Dara]: Doesn't it just? And I think I haven't brought any — I can send to home for some.
[Sophiette]: Oh, would you? Some honey would make this land just a little more bearable.
[Dara]: I shall write straight away, the next time we're by a mailbox. *Dara nods firmly* Anything to make this place a little bit brighter. We'll have tea and honey and a warm fire. Oh, wait, I forgot to tell you the funniest thing in Leric's news.
Sophiette smiles. "Oh? Do tell."
[Dara]: Do you recall that paladin fellow, long ago, that we ran into during the painting-recovery adventure? Dinnsfield?
Sophiette wrinkles her nose. "An unpleasant affair. But yes, I recall."
[Dara]: He has actually joined the army, I suppose, because he is working with my brother! What a small world, isn't it?
[Sophiette]: No kidding? Small world, indeed.
[Dara]: He mentioned a few other names, but that was the one I was surprised to recognize. So you and I, we have connections in Pandaria.
[Sophiette]: Maybe when all of this is over, we could vacation to Pandaria. I've heard it's quite beautiful.
[Dara]: Oh, that would be lovely. Once all this nonsense with bad-feelings monsters and such has settled.
At this point, they arrive at the edge of a woods positively filled with harpies.
[Dara]: Oh, um… this does look like the harpy forest. I think we've found it.
Dara and Sophiette fight harpies for a while.
[Dara]: Well, that should help. Let's see if they have anything useful to tell us about the undead.
[Sophiette]: Light's mercy, I hope so.
They head back to Xink's camp.
[Dara]: Xink, sir, you should find your camp much less beset by ghouls and harpies now. Have you any word about the state of the undead?
Xink shrugs. "Whole place is still lousy with undead."
Dara sighs.
Sophiette sighs. "What about death knights, in particular?"
Xink raises a hand. "Right, yeah, I need more specific questions. Death knights are a little rarer. Are you looking for Ebon Blade ones, or the ones who were following the Lich King?"
[Sophiette]: The latter sort, please.
Xink grimaces. "Ah. I keep well away from those, you'll understand. Are you looking for anyone in particular? If you've got names or descriptions I can see what I can do…"
[Dara]: Falric? Do you know of a Falric?
Xink slowly shakes his head. "Doesn't ring a bell. But… if you're looking for a single person in this wasteland, what you might need is a seer. Happens I know of one, over in the Grizzly Hills."
[Dara]: We've… we've tried one. *Dara looks to Sophiette*
[Sophiette]: I suppose talking to another seer might give us a new perspective. Alright…Grizzly Hills, you say? I don't suppose you can be more specific?
Xink grins. "She might wander a little, but she goes by the name of Ruuna. Ask around, someone can point you to her."
[Dara]: Ruuna in the Grizzly Hills. *Dara nods, committing it to memory. She looks to Sophiette* It's worth a try, isn't it? And at the very least we'll search as we travel.
Sophiette nods. "It's the best we have to go on." She turns and bows her head to Xink. "Thank you, sir. We'll be on our way. I hope you're able to continue your work here in peace."
Xink waves cheerfully. "Pleasure doin' business with you."