![](http://cobalt-company.wdfiles.com/local--resized-images/writing:2026-02-01-the-most-fragrant-yaks-in-kun-lai-s19-e2/style="margin:/medium.jpg) |
| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | White Squad is summoned to meet Lorewalker Cho. On the way they fight some yaungol, collect sprite needles, and operate a Yak Wash. The grummles of Grummle Bazaar educate them on luckydos and luckydon'ts. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Shine stands in the yard before the command tent, gazing at the sky. Bun is sort of wrapped around his ankle like he fears abandonment again.
Anareline circles around the command tent, and then pauses when she sees Shine and Bun. "There is no more trouble?"
Colson bids Mishka goodbye, with a Blessing of the Light, as he joins the others, exactly on the time to a rather fine degree. "Good afternoon, everyone."
Shine drops his gaze. "Trouble?"
Arric is engaged in an animated chat with Janice Mattingly, but stops when he sees White Squad seemingly assembling. He makes quiet apologies to her and heads over, whistling for Rica to approach from the animals' area she's been relegated to.
"Of the sort that kept you last week," Anareline says, and then she looks around to the other three members.
"Oh." Shine nods to Anareline. "Wife had some trouble on the road to Binan. It's all sorted."
"It was quite an adventure, from what I hear," Arric comments.
Shine smiles faintly at Arric.
Colson's forehead crinkles faintly in genuine concern. "Ah. I hope she is well. Please send Lena my regards."
"I hope she's well," Anareline says with a slight nod.
Shine nods courteously to Colson. "She's at Binan, if ye like to see her."
Colson inclines his head to Shine.
Gwen lights up and waves, "Hello, Bun!" Then she remembers the human. "Oh, and hello, Mr. Shine!"
Shine nods gravely to Gwen. That was the correct order of precedence. "Miss Whittle."
Gwen gives more waves all around, "Hello, Anareline! Hello, Colson! Hello, Arric! Hello, Rica!"
Rica says k-k-k-k-k in greeting.
Anareline looks around again. "Gwen, Arric, Colson, all are prepared for… whatever we are needed for today?"
"Absolutely!" Gwen salutes!
Colson turns his attention to Anareline dutifully.
"I would like to check in with Mishka first today," Anareline says. "If there is anything urgent, she's likely to know of it."
"Ah, I was speaking with her a moment ago. I believe that will be wise," Colson says.
Shine nods and heads silently in that direction.
Mishka brightens at the sight of White Squad. “Cobalt Company! Hello!” She brushes some hair back from her face and hurries over. As she reaches them, though, she slows and her smile fades. She leans in to ask quietly, “We hear so many conflicting tales about what’s happening just out of sight. Tell me, is it as bad as it sounds?”
Shine does not answer. He has no idea how bad it sounds.
Colson considers the question for too long.
"It… depends on what you have heard," Anareline hedges. "The yaungol are quite violent, but we protect who we can."
Mishka nods and sighs. “Well, it is not for dwelling on. There is work to be done here. Oh! and your friend Cho left a message for you!” She brushes her hair back again impatiently as the steppe wind fans it. “He sent a… grummle? — so cute! — to say that you should go and meet him at a place called Onekeg — you must take the road east and then north toward the mountains. He did not seem to be in a great hurry, but said that you should catch up with him when your duties allowed it.”
Anareline nods. "Lorewalker Cho. From what I have heard, he is rarely in a hurry."
"Ah. I see," Colson says.
"I look forward to seeing him again!" says Arric.
"Onekeg," Anareline pronounces the name thoughtfully. "It does not sound a difficult path, for a group to travel. Shall we?"
Shine nods.
Arric fetches Win-Win, who is in a Mood. Which is to say, he is Win-Win.
Tenacious is READY! WILLING! ABLE!
Khamsin is bored by male nonsense.
Gwen dons her hat and and hops on Gethennis.
Anareline clicks her tongue, and the nightsaber slinks up, ready to carry her.
Gwen tugs at her robes. "I love these Pandarian silks. But I sort of feel like I'm appropriating their culture. Is that weird?"
"Appropriating?" Shine asks politely.
Anareline considers that. "I don't think there is anything wrong with using their materials. It boosts trade, does it not?"
Win-Win eyes Tenacious, possibly making evil plans.
Tenacious welcomes plans! He will rise above! HE WILL — Colson sets a hand on his charger's neck, as he glances to Gwen. "Ah. Is it not… appreciation?"
"I mean more the style, really." Gwen nods to Shine. "It means to take something for yourself…especially without permission. I mean, I suppose I have permission. Pandarens gave me these."
In the scarred field east of the road, a group of yaungol bellow back and forth to one another as they attempt to round up a herd of terrified yaks.
Anareline draws up to a stop. "Yaungol."
Shine reins in.
Rica makes a raptor-aggro sound. Arric lays a hand on her head.
Colson frowns faintly at the yaungol. Tenacious stomps a foot. HOW DARE! HE WILL STOMP!
"They're frightening the local yaks," Anareline says, her brow drawing down. "We should stop them. We are in no hurry to get to Onekeg."
Shine has already vanished. Khamsin wanders away to crop at the grass.
Colson dismounts. "Yes m." Yes m.
He's working on it.
Gwen wrinkles her nose, looking over a fallen yaungol. Then, something shiny catches her eye. "Oooh, pretty!" She crouches to pick up the keepsake.
Anareline looks over, shaking blood off her sword. "What is it? Something the yaungol have stolen?"
The item is a simple silver bracelet. It is inscribed For my beloved wife Bina Muskpaw, always and forever. The dead yaungol is presumably not Mrs. Muskpaw.
Gwen peers at the inscription for a moment, then refreshes her translation spell. Her lower lip protrudes. "Oh…oh no."
Shine arches his brow.
Gwen reads it aloud: "For my beloved wife Bina Muskpaw, always and forever." She looks to others, still pouting.
Colson looks over politely. "Ah, an engraving of a bracelet. It would have significant sentimental meaning. Perhaps we will be able to locate the owners. It is fine work."
Shine looks down at the dead yaungol. "He doesn't look like a Bina to me."
Anareline considers, and then nods. "Likely stolen. Maybe we can ask around for a Bina Muskpaw in the next town."
Shine nods and goes across the road to interrupt Khamsin's break time.
"I know this is a wildly inappropriate quibble, but 'always and forever' is redundant, isn't it?" Arric observes.
Gwen blinks at Arric. "It's poetic, silly."
"Good poetry is not redundant," Arric persists.
Anareline climbs back onto her saber. "I think it might be intending to imply emphasis through redundance."
Shine considers this as he swings up into the saddle. "Different nuances," he says. "Always like 'all the time,' forever like… forever."
"Hmmm," Arric says noncommitally.
Gwen nods. "Yeah, like…always, all day, always in my thoughts. Forever like…throughout eternity."
Shine tips his head toward Gwenivene.
"Oh I suppose," Arric concedes.
"Forgive me, but I must agree as well. I do not think it would be the same if you said, 'I am always baking,' compared to 'I am baking forever.' And thus, the words are not the same," Colson adds.
"Do you think Lady Zephyrine would like that phrasing?" Arric wonders aloud.
Gwen giggles.
Shine smiles faintly.
"Lady Zephyrine?" Anareline asks, blinking.
"My — affianced," Arric says awkwardly.
"Your WHAT?" Gwen blinks at Arric.
Just off the road ahead, a painted silo is visible over the hills. As they approach, the silo proves to be part of a teeming, muddy village, chiefly full of grummles and yaks.
Anareline turns her saber towards the village, and looks over to Arric. "I did not realize. My congratulations, of course."
Colson's brows raise slightly. "I am afraid I am not familiar with her, and thus cannot offer any specific advice. My congratulations, of course."
Colson clears his throat slightly as there seems to be a slight Ana-Colson echo.
Ana looks at Colson, faintly puzzled.
"Oh, well, I've not proposed per se, but… the plan is to — " Arric interrupts himself turning toward the village.
Gwen squints at Arric. "Alright…then I'll forgive you, since I can still congratulate you once it actually happens."
Arric chuckles at Gwen.
"But you BETTER tell me when it does!" Gwen threatens Arric with the wrath of pouty lips.
Arric looks like he is desperately restraining the urge to boop Gwen's nose.
“Hello, friends of the grummles!” one of the peculiar small creatures calls. “Oh, you are big big luckydos, I see!”
"Luckydos!" Arric repeats with delight.
"What… is a luckydo?" Shine inquires politely.
"Us!" Arric infers.
“A luckydo? It is a person, place, or thing of good luck and fortune. It is most highest compliment from grummles to be called luckydo. Usually a luckydo has a special smell to it. Grummle noses very good for finding luck!”
"Absolutely enchanting," says Arric to the grummLe.
"Ah… then," Anareline looks down at the grummle. "Thank you fo the compliment, luckydo."
"I love that. Luckydo!" Gwen beams.
Colson accepts his designation of luckydo with grace.
The grummle nods solemnly. “I am called Lucky Eightcoins. I am named for my best luckydo, the one that gives most pungent-smelling fortune. Some say that the Brother Rabbitsfoot has more good fortune than I, the Lucky Eightcoins.
“At this I laugh. It is simple: He is called ‘Brother,’ I am called ‘Lucky.’ Obviously, I am of more luck.”
"Obviously," Arric agrees.
Shine nods affably. Makes sense.
"Otherwise it would be clearer in the naming, yes," Anareline nods agreeably.
Lucky Eightcoins leans in — well, sort of stretches up — confidentially. “Never trust unsmellable lucky. Sometimes that luck is for someone else.” He settles back on his feet again. “Also do not set a yeti on fire. It just makes them mad.”
Arric blinks at this latter advice.
Shine's nod this time is slower.
"Excuse me, Mr. Eightcoins?" Gwen interjects. "I don't suppose there is a Mrs. Muskpaw in this village?"
Lucky Eightcoins scratches his beard. “Muskpaw? Yes. Muskpaw is ranch, in that direction.” He points southeast. “Muskpaw sells the best and most fragrant yaks.”
Gwen nods solemnly. "Thank you."
Arric's smile becomes rather fixed at the idea of fragrant yaks.
"Ah, smellable lucky. Yes, of course," Colson says seriously.
"Most fragrant," Anareline repeats calmly. "Quite a distinction."
Lucky Eightcoins beams. "Friends of the grummles!"
Shine looks to Anareline for direction.
"Well, I think we know now where to go," Anareline says with a nod. She looks back at Lucky Eightcoins. "Any further advice, before we depart for the Muskpaws?"
Arric raises a dubious brow.
"The mountain wind may forgive the bird but not the rider," says Lucky Eightcoins solemnly. He nods.
"I will keep that in mind," Anareline nods. "And I will not set yeti on fire."
"Ah, another wind saying," Colson says, looking to Arric.
Arric smiles and glances to Shine.
"Feels almost like home, all this talk of winds," Arric elucidates.
Shine nods.
"Those grummles are delightful, aren't they?" Arric says.
"They are so cute," Gwen says. "I didn't think it appropriate to say to their faces, though."
"Perhaps you might invite your countrymen here one day," Anareline says. "Or your intended."
"Not many of our countrymen," Shine says blandly.
"I won't be inviting my countrymen anywhere, alas," Arric says. "And I'm sure Lady Zephyrine is too busy to travel so far, but I suppose an invitation wouldn't hurt."
There is a ranch spread across the land beyond the field. Some of the buildings are blackened and collapsed, but in the distance a few small structures remain intact.
"Mm," Anareline says, surveying the ranch. "Robbed rather than stolen, it looks like."
A pandaren man paces back in forth in front of a well, looking aggrieved. “I hope the mantid come and drag you back over the wall!” he yells. “You’re not gonna run me off my land!”
"Ho there!" Arric calls to the pandaren.
"I have no intention of running you off your land," Anareline says reassuringly.
"Are… are you a Muskpaw?" Gwen inquires.
The man squints at them suspiciously. “I’m Lao Muskpaw. You here to steal my yaks too?”
"Certainly not!" says Arric.
"We come in peace! I promise!" Gwen holds up her hands.
Shine looks like he is not sure why anyone would want to steal a yak.
Colson's expression is neutral, but that's just his face. He raises a hand showing his peaceful intention. "We are of Cobalt Company. I am a healer, if you have any wounded who may have been harmed by the yaungol."
Lao scoffs at Colson. "Wounded? It's just me and my boy here. Rest of the hands were run off by yaungol."
"We may have something that belongs to your family," Anareline explains.
“Oh? What have you got?” Lao folds his arms.
Anareline gestures Gwen forward with the bracelet.
Gwen grimaces and takes the bracelet out of her pouch. "This…" She offers it to Lao.
Lao's expression softens. “You never know how much you can lose until you’ve lost it. My wife passed a few seasons ago, but I can tell you this is a day I could use her smile the most.”
He accepts the bracelet wistfully. “At least she doesn’t have to see what the yaungol have done to her beloved ranch.”
Gwen's hands go to her heart. "I'm so sorry…."
"Ah. I am sorry for your loss," Colson says, immediately, but with genuine compassion.
Arric tears up at the pandaren's words, and quickly attempts to hide it by mopping his face with a handkerchief as though perspiring.
Lao nods sorrowfully, gazing at the bracelet.
Anareline's ears droop slightly. "I'm sorry for your grief. I am happy we could return this keepsake, at least."
Meanwhile, Rica has gotten into a staring contest with Pookie. She's going to lose.
Pookie staaaares.
Rica staaaares back, but seems to become increasingly uncomfortable.
Pookie is unrelenting. STAAARE.
Lao pockets the bracelet and his expression turns harsh. “That’s it. I am not going to take this anymore. My wife, bless her, poured her heart and soul into this place.”
He points a rage-trembling paw. “The yaungol leader is over there being all smug and whatnot. I’ll pay you handsomely to knock that smug right off his filthy face.”
Gwen wipes her cheeks with her sleeve and nods firmly. "I think those yaungol must be starting to fear us by now, right?"
Shine glances in the direction of the apparently-smug yaungol. He looks to Anareline.
"We have already freed the Chow Farmstead," Anareline says. "We are here to help you and your people reclaim their lands."
Colson doesn't really look like a man much motivated by gold. But he does seem the type motivated to end the terrorizing of a farm.
"I'll shoot out an eye or two as well, for good measure," Arric promises.
Lao smiles grimly at Arric and nods.
Arric hands Gwen a handkerchief he didn't just cry on.
Gwen accepts the hankie with a grateful smile.
"Oh, green tea leaf," Colson remarks. "Excellent growth."
Arric smiles at Colson.
Bun goes rustling through the grass, thirsty for (one assumes) blood. There is no sign of Shine. There is blood, though.
Anareline nods approvingly at the blood.
Anareline charges a yaungol who is terrorizing a yak.
"Why are they doing this to the yaks?" Arric asks with obvious bafflement.
Shine shakes his head.
"I don't like to see them mistreating the animals," Anareline says, looking over to Arric. "Maybe they simply want to deprive the locals of their mobility?"
"Animals are not supplies to be carelessly destroyed," Arric says peevishly.
"It is unclear. The terrorizing of animals is… odd. As Ana suggests, there are some military strategies, but ordinarily you would see them in the field. This seems… personal." Colson frowns.
Arric nods in agreement with Colson.
Ahead, a very large yaungol sits proudly atop a yak. Bun growls quietly.
"They are creatures, yes," Anareline says. "Like my nightsaber. They deserve respect." She looks up and spots the larger yaungol.
"Perhaps they have specific training concepts that rely on fear and pain as the basis," Colson suggests. "It would not speak well of their cultural thoughts on animal training if so."
"Indeed." Arric narrows his eyes at the yaungol.
Shine fades from view.
"All the more reason to keep these yaks from them," Anareline nods. "Let's kill their leader."
"Understood," Colson says.
"Rica, attack!" says Arric. She makes The Sound and charges in.
Bun kills a cricket in the grass. Ruthlessly.
The yaungol swings an enormous axe from yak-back, knocking Anareline back several yards. She lands on her feet.
When the yaungol proves resistent to immediate slayage, Arric unleashes his little ghost iron dragonling as well to help.
Gwen squeals and stumbles back several yards before planting her feet to hurl arcane pew-pews at the yaungol leader.
Anareline starts to charge back in, and then hesitates at some unexpected dread.
Arric, for once, does not seem affected. He is probably standing too far back, out of the Dread Zone.
An arc of holy lightning streaks across to the yaungol. When Colson notes the strange unnatural fear, and a [Cleanse] does nothing, a shield of pure Light encapsulates Ana, blocking the dread.
Arric gasps in awe.
Shine reappears behind the yaungol and stuns him with a blade to his kidney.
Anareline shakes her head, and nods toward Colson. Then she runs her sword through the yaungol's chest.
Bun struts over proudly, the Bad Cricket in his jaws.
Rica stares at Bun, unimpressed.
That's fine, Bun didn't plan to share.
"That should break their leadership," Anareline says. "One mark in favor of the pandaren decentralization. You cannot break them by defeating a single leader."
"That is true," Colson concedes.
"It also imbues the populace with a greater say in their own destinies and their own paths, and a better distribution of wealth among the population. We have seen more community than many," Colson says.
Anareline nods faintly towards Colson in agreement.
Arric looks at Colson as though he is speaking Taurahe.
So does Shine.
"Let's tell Lao the deed is done," Anareline says.
When they return, Rancher Lao is wringing his paws and gazing in the opposite direction. He startles a little bit. “Adventurers! Thank goodness! I need your help again!” He gestures to the southeast.
Gwen looks concerned. "What's happened?"
"More yaungol?" Anareline asks.
“As if the day could get worse, my boy went out to collect some pungent sprite needles and got grabbed by those wood sprites! They dragged him off to that Prankster’s Hollow of theirs. I can pay you again.”
"The sprites… dragged him off…?" Anareline says slowly. "I had not realized they were so dangerous."
Lao nods unhappily. "Vicious! They attack in swarms."
"Ah. I see," Colson says. "That is unfortunate."
"We must move quickly, then, to ensure they do not…" Ana looks uncertain as to what sprites might do with a pandaren. "So they do not."
Lao nods fervently. “While you’re teaching those sprites a lesson, uh. Maybe see if you can gather up some needles yourselves. The grummles don’t believe in luck they can’t smell. They’ll pay better for yaks with that fresh needle scent,” Lao confides.
"Aha!" says Arric with a laugh.
"Ah… the fragrant yaks," Anareline says, with a faint smile.
"We will collect what needles we find," Anareline confirms. As they move away, she adds, "I suspect this is the source of the fragrance that our friends in the grummle town value."
"I'll confess that I was afraid they meant, er, a stronger yak fragrance," Arric admits.
"Would that be a more lucky yak smell or unlucky yak smell, I wonder," Colson wonders.
Rica seems weirdly freaked out by the sprites. She does not bite them at first.
Shine seems to have had prior experience of these sprites, and moves swiftly but carefully between them.
"They are fine to kill, Rica," Arric explains. "But I wouldn't eat."
Bun chews a sprite's twiggy leg experimentally.
"I wouldn't," Arric says to Bun.
"Bun," Shine warns. Bun stops chewing and slinks over. You NEVER let him eat ANYTHING, Shine.
"I think they are made of… wood?" Anareline says. "Sharp wood."
Shine plucks a needle from his leather bracer and nods at Ana. "Pretty damn sharp."
Gwen sniffs the pungent needles and recoils. "Oh… wow. They want the yaks to smell like this?"
"It might almost be a pleasant smell if not so… strong," Arric says, holding a hankie against his nose.
A strained voice from deeper within the cave cries, “Help! Sprite swarm!”
Arric charges forward!
Colson uses a Knight-Captain's field voice, shouting much louder than the soft spoken paladin. "Help is on the way! Hold on!"
"Oh heavens," says Arric as they arrive. "I see 'swarm' was not an exaggeration."
Anareline doesn't call out, that's been handled. She just charges in, swinging her sword in a broad sweep to take out the swarm of sprites.
Shine appears in the middle of the fray, knives moving viciously.
Bun stays out of it. (He might be pouting.)
Arric is not well equipped to deal with swarms of things.
Colson wades in cautiously, looking for the pandaren within the swarm, to send out a [Holy Shock] for any wounds.
The stricken young pandaren gazes up at them with mingled apprehension and relief. “You’re… are you here to save me?”
"Yes!" says Arric immediately.
"Yes, we're from your father," Anareline clarifies. "Do you need help getting out of the cave?"
“Oh, thank goodness.” The young man clambers to his feet. “Listen: my father is crazy. I love him, but he’s crazy. The yaungol managed to obliterate our ranch and scatter our yaks every which way. If I know my father, though, at some point he’s going to get so heated up he’ll try to go head-to-head with the yaungol to get the yaks back.
“Can you help me round up some of the yaks before he does something stupid? Just… ride them over to the Yak Wash so we can clean them up to sell.”
"The… yak wash?" Arric echoes.
"Yes. We have to wash them before we can sell them." Muskpaw Jr. looks like this is obvious.
"Ah, the water station outside," Colson says. "That… makes a lot of sense."
"The Yak Wash," Anareline says evenly. "We must not let him attack the yaungol on his own, they are no match for… yak merchants. If it will keep him from charging into his death, I believe we can gather some yaks." Anareline looks to Arric. "We have experience in this matter."
Shine nods toward Arric also.
Arric beams. "Oh I do love it when our work requires animal wrangling!" he says.
"Arric was instrumental in recovering wild yaks for Westwind Rest," Anareline explains, in case it's needed.
"Ah. Your expertise will be instrumental. I am afraid I will not be of much help, but I will assist where I can. Please, direct me if you see where I may be of better use," Colson says with a nod to Arric.
"Yaks," Shine points out.
"We're meant to ride these creatures?" Gwen looks dubious.
"Arric, can you handle it?" Anareline says. She seems to share Gwen's doubt a little.
"Remember to lean against them for a moment first," Arric says. "Demonstrate that you are a herd member. Or… I suppose I could ride them all?"
Anareline considers. "Or you could teach a few of us how."
"You do seem the most comfortable at it," Gwen says, nodding.
Arric laughs with delight, and runs off to find a yak.
"We'll keep any stray yaungol off your tail!" Gwen offers.
Shine keeps a stray yaungol off Arric's tail. Off his yak's tail.
Lao’s son is waiting by the yak wash. “Oh, I’ve been looking all over for that one,” he says, relieved. “He’s a handful.”
Ana stares at the whirling brushes that fill the entire building. "That is… nearly gnomish."
Shine peers at them. "Are those… the needles?"
"So they wash them with the needles, replacing the natural yak smell with…" Anareline gestures at the brushes.
Rica makes a few noises and kind of wiggles back and forth. "I know, darling," Arric says, "but you're simply not big enough yet. I'd crush your little spine."
Rica watches the yak wash for a moment, then abruptly chargest through it. She shrieks with delight as the water hits her scales.
"I am SO sorry," Arric says to Muskpaw Jr. as Rica shakes water off of her scales like a dog.
Muskpaw Jr. laughs heartily at Rica.
Anareline turns back to Arric. "I could try to ride one. I do not know if they will sense I am a predatorial creature."
Arric waves over any interested parties as he approaches the next yak. "Now, you just move slowly like so. Stand as tall as you can. Now…" He slowly leeeeans into the yak, resting almost his whole weight against its side. It seems to relax and lean back.
Once it's calm, Arric mounts easily. "Nothing to it!" he declares.
Shine eyes a yak skeptically.
Bun looks totally ready to ride a yak. Let him at it!
Shine moves toward a yak warily and picks Bun up. They are going to try this. For Bun's sake.
Bun nestles smugly into the yak's mane as Shine settles carefully on its back. The yak looks profoundly confused.
Lao’s son makes a face. “That one’s going to need… an extra scrub, I guess.”
Anareline approaches a yak. She leans against it, a little stiffly. The yak sidles away and she almost falls. That's enough to loosen her stance enough that the next time she tries, the yak seems to calm, and brushes up against her.
Anareline swings up onto its back.
"They are not so dissimilar to sabers," Anareline observes. Nearby, from the shadow of a fence, there's a disgruntled growl.
Colson monitors the situation, but doesn't attempt to ride a yak back. He focuses instead on keeping everyone healed and well. It takes him too long to learn a new skill.
Having turned in their yak, Shine and Bun head back into the field. Bun becomes an inadvertent speed bump for a tumbleweed, and makes a shrieking sound of objection.
Colson reflexively sends out a [Holy Shock] of healing to the tanuki.
Shine nods to Colson, and then resignedly picks Bun up and sets the tanuki on his shoulders.
"You poor dear," Arric says to Bun. Rica gives Arric a :| face.
Anareline repeats the yak-lean procedure, glancing to Arric to make sure she's doing it right.
Arric nods encouragingly.
Anareline swings up on the yak's back in a smooth motion.
"Capital!" Arric says to Anareline. "Good show."
Anareline smiles again. "Rica seems to be enjoying herself. Does she often play in water like that?"
"She does seem to like water," Arric says. "Perhaps because her ancestors are from Stranglethorn. Lots of rivers and coastline there."
"That seems to make sense," Anareline says, and she looks again at the streams of water in the yak wash. "Gwen, the yaks do seem fairly docile."
"Yeaaaah…very docile. They looks so peaceful from over here," Gwen says.
Shine smiles faintly at Gwen.
Arric DOES boop Gwen's nose this time.
Gwen blinks in surprise at Arric…then just collapses into a fit of giggles.
“That’s great, friends.” Lao’s son beams. “We’ll take it from here. You have no idea how much your help has saved our family business.”
Arric beams!
Colson inclines his head. "We are honored to be of service."
Lao's son ruffles a yak's fur affectionately. The yak looks indifferent.
"I am pleased to hear it," Anareline says, nodding slightly. "This is what we are here for, to ensure that the people of Kun-Lai prosper."
Admiral Taylor might disagree, but that's what Anareline has decided we're here for.
"Precisely," Colson agrees with Ana.
Shine does not contradict either of them. This does not mean he agrees.
Arric also nods. They are heroes!
Lao Sr. is still pacing warily with his rake, but he stops at the sight of the group and nods respectfully.
"We got what you need," Arric says, not meaning to sound like a goblin.
“Mighty grateful to you people. Those needles are a real pain in the paw, I know, but I guess the yaungol and the sprites have probably learned their lessons. You’ve earned yourselves a handsome bonus.”
"We were happy to help," Anareline says simply.
“And hey, if you’re ever in the market for a yak, remember Muskpaw’s! Freshest-smelling yaks in Kun-Lai!” Lao grins.
"I will be sure to do so," Colson says. He will remember.
"I will remember," Anareline says solemenly, and her lips quirk slightly as she glances the yak-wash building.
Lao’s son is waiting beside the yak wash when they pass by again, this time with a herd of well-groomed, strongly pine-scented yaks. “Hey!” He waves at them.
Anareline moves over.
“You deserve an extra reward,” Muskpaw Jr. says. “If you take these washed yaks to the grummle caravan master Lucky Eightcoins at the Grummle Bazaar, he’ll credit us but pay you the delivery fee. He may be short, but he’s our biggest customer.”
"Oh, splendid!" says Arric. "I should have no trouble keeping them on the path."
"We have met Mister Eightcoins already, as it happens," Anareline says. "We will see them safely there."
Muskpaw Jr. beams. "Thanks a lot."
Gwen forces a smile through a grimace. "Oh… yaaay… more yaks. So close to us." Says the girl who rides a dragon.
"They're quite gentle," Arric assures her.
Colson's expression is neutral, but that's just his face.
"Their horns are soooo big!" Gwen says worriedly.
"They do not seem to be predators," Anareline says. "I believe they are herbivores."
Shine lifts Bun onto a yak's back and then begins to lead the yak up the road.
Bun stands majestically gazing into the wind. Hero.
Arric laughs at Bun.
"Yeah, but… I eat lots of veggies!" Gwen has abandoned logic. "What if I smell like veggies?!"
Arric sniffs her. "You're fine," he says.
Anareline sniffs. "I really can't smell anything besides those needles right now."
"Ah, and an herbivore can still have a strong bite," Colson cautions. "Though I agree that most likely, we smell like the yaks."
"Hey!" Gwen squints at Arric. "I'm pretty sure it's impolite to sniff a lady."
Arric laughs at Gwen. "Ah, do forgive me milady," he says in the joking way you might to a four-year-old.
Gwen pokes out her tongue at Arric… in a very ladylike manner.
Arric winks at Gwen, having expected just such a response.
“Oooh!” cries Lucky Eightcoins. “I can smell the luck of your yaks from here! Come, I will give you much fortune in return.”
He offers each of them a heavy gold coin strung on a red ribbon. The coins are of unfamiliar currency but clearly ancient. “Very fragrant luck.” He nods solemnly.
Anareline accepts the red ribbon with a respectful nod. She looks at the coin curiously.
Colson receives his coin graciously with a polite incline of his head.
Shine takes the newly pine-scented Bun off the yak's back.
"Which way to Onekeg?" Shine asks Lucky Eightcoins.
Anareline looks to Eightcoins, waiting for his directions.
"Aha!" says Lucky Eightcoins. "Luckydos must follow the road north! And then west. And then a little south again. And then north!"
Arric blinks.
Colson takes a moment to sort that. "Understood. Thank you."
"… Right," says Shine. "We'll find it."
“Hello! Hello, fragrant yak-bearers!” calls a grummle near the road. “Smokey must ask for some of your luck!”
"Ah?" Anareline asks. "In what manner?"
“Yaungols attack our Burlap Trail. This is most bad fortune for grummles. We use the trail to carry supplies to defenders of Serpent’s Spine. Without supplies, the wall is in danger. Grummles are carriers and explorers, not fighters. You will go and fight these yaungol for us?”
"Of course!" says Arric.
Shine looks to Anareline.
"Yes," Anareline says. "We have been fighting yaungol everywhere we go. We would be pleased to do so to protect the supply routes."
Smokey grins. “A luckydon’t travels a trail during a yaungol raid. A luckydo finds big fragrant fighter types to help.”
Colson blinks only once at the luckydon't. "Ah."
Anareline blinks at 'fragrant fighter'. Maybe we all smell like those needles. She says, "Then stay lucky, luckydo. And we will see to the trail."
The grummle looks a little emotional at the compliment of being called "luckydo." Well, maybe he does. It's really hard to tell.
Anareline's saber slinks out of the shadows, looking askance at the yaks.
Arric mounts Win-Win again. For all Win-Win's temperament issues, it's easy to see why Arric brought him here, as he seems impervious to fatigue, weather, etc.
The yaungol have established a crude settlement right beside a bend in the road. Smoky torch-totems ring the camp, and the slow sails of the yaungol oil derricks rotate in the wind.
"We have no bombs for these," Anareline says quietly. "But we can slay the yaungol."
Shine seems to agree. Because a yaungol is now dead.
"Such crude construction," Arric scoffs at the oil derricks.
"And destructive to the land," Anareline says disapprovingly.
Arric would plunder the environment more sophisticatedly, I guess?
"Ah. They have some healers among them. Those should be targeted soonest. Healers will keep the others on their feet longer," Colson says.
"These yaungol are absolute brutes," Arric says a bit shakily.
And then when such a yaungol attempts to start a heal, it is Colson who stops it.
"Ah," Anareline says, charging in to slash at a yaungol healer.
Arric seems to know just the place to shoot a caster to completely throw them off their game.
As the last yaungol falls, he gasps, “It is like… I can smell… the grummle luck.”
"That should keep them away from the road," Anareline says, looking over the carnage.
Gold and red box kites straining in the wind against their tethers mark a village tucked up a rocky slope. This one is more cosmopolitan than the Grummle Bazaar in the sense that it has three whole buildings, rather than a building and a silo, and it is somewhat less muddy. (They are far enough into the hills that it is snowy, instead.) Some pandaren travelers are seated on benches around a central bonfire. A kite-master stands beside the inn.
"Ah. North, west, south, then north," Colson remarks. "We must be at Onekeg."
Anareline looks around Onekeg, and nods. "Let's check in with the flight master, and then find Lorewalker Cho."
Anareline greets the kite master, and then turns back into the center of town.
Lorewalker Cho is waiting placidly at the edge of the village. He smiles as he sees White Squad approach. “Hello, my friends. It is good to see you again.”
"Lorewalker!" Arric cries delightedly.
Anareline approaches him slowly. "Lorewalker Cho?" She glances to Arric, who recognizes him.
Colson bows politely with respect to a Lorewalker. "I am Colson, of House Aspenwood and Cobalt Company. It is an honor to make your acquantaince," Colson Colson of House Colson says.
"Hello, hello, hello." Cho smiles.
Arric beams back at him.
"I am glad that you could come. Are you interested in making a journey with me, friends?" Cho asks.
"I hope we have not kept you waiting," Anareline says. "I am Anareline Silvershade. Is it for a journey that you asked to speak with us?"
"We'd be delighted," Arric answers for everyone.
"A journey? Where are you headed, Loremaster?" Gwen asks.
"I intend to follow the path of Emperor Shaohao," Cho says solemnly. “The toughest roads often have the most to teach us. I will no doubt learn a great deal from following the path of Shaohao.
“Many years ago, Shaohao traveled to the highest peak in Kun-Lai to seek the guidance of the Celestials. I, too, will travel to Seeker’s Point in search of wisdom. If you are willing to accompany me, I would be glad.”
Anareline's interest sharpens. "The path of Shaohao, the emperor who put the sha to rest. If there is wisdom to be found, we would like to have it as well."
Colson raises his brows. "Ah. That seems to be a most worthy endeavor."
Cho nods, smiling. "I thought this might be the case. I must make preparations for such a journey. Come back to me in a few days and Uncle Cloverleaf should have everything ready for our expedition.” The Lorewalker operates on his own time.
Anareline inclines her head. "We will do so, Lorewalker."
Colson bows to the Lorewalker. "Light be with you," he says to Cho, before he follows the others.
"Everyone, please stay nearby," Anareline says to the team as they move away from Cho. "As we do not know exactly when this journey will begin."
Arric looks around the little village. "Quaint," he declares with mild trepidation.
"Yes, ma'am!" Gwen salutes.
Shine nods to Anareline.
Bun WILL NOT BE CONTAINED. But he will stay where the snacks are.
"Understood," Colson says. "I will inform Mordecai, and we will alter our location."
"Wait there, Rica," Arric says, sending her to rest with the yaks.
"I hope there will be room in the inn, in such a small village," Anareline says, already moving over towards it.
"Light be with you all," Colson says to the others, with a murmured blessing of the Light. And then adds, "And fair winds and calm seas."
Arric beams!
Shine arches a brow. After a moment, he nods respectfully at Colson.