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| Details |
| Author: | Luridel |
| Summary: | Admiral Taylor sends Blue Squad to check up on Firebough Nook. There isn't much left of Firebough Nook. Dane establishes priorities. Old Lady Fung escorts Blue Squad to safety. Almeiria decides she likes the Shado-Pan. Shun puts on a mask. Shado-Master Chong maintains control of his emotions. Estel performs non-traditional funeral rites. Iphindra redirects carrion birds. ~5.9k words. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
Atley stands in the center of Westwind Rest, eating jerky as he looks off to the east with a stern and steely squint.
Shun stands nearby with his arms folded over his chest.
Iphindra joins her team, a prairie mouse on her shoulder.
"H- hi!" Iphi waves.
Atley glances over his shoulder and doubletakes Iphindra with a scoff. He gestures to the prairie mouse with his jerky. "Made a new friend, have you?"
Shun grunts.
Estel approaches. "Hey. Oh, hi, little buddy."
Almeiria joins the group. "Ah, we were missing the rat-dog creature, so it has been replaced with an actual rat," she observes.
"The 'rat-dog' probably went back to Shine," Shun says.
Atley nods once. "The rat-dog creature'll be rejoining his master on White Squad," he confirms.
Iphi nods. "He fo- found his way into the food supplies. I'm taking him back to the wilderness so- soon!"
Atley points past Estel and Shun. "We're to meet with the Admiral and see wot' needs doing."
Iphi giggles at Almeiria. "He's not a rat!"
Shun glances over his shoulder to the Admiral's tent.
"You can tell by the tails," Estel says. "Mice have fluffy tails, rats have… tails without fluff."
Admiral Taylor is waiting in the command tent, addressing a solemn-looking trio of pandaren recruits. When one of these glances over at the new arrivals, Taylor turns. "Ah, Sir Dane, Cobalts. There you are."
Atley salutes. "Admiral."
Estel mutters to Almeiria, "He said hi to Dane specifically and not to the two of us who saved his life."
Almeiria glances at the pandaren. "Ugh, that is an awful color on them," she mutters.
"I'm told you handled a sha situation last week near Binan Village. I have what might be another one for you." Taylor folds his arms. "To the west is a village called Firebough Nook, at the foot of the Serpent's Spine. There are Shado-Pan monks stationed there to defend the wall, but these recruits tell me that they've got a new problem… on this side of the wall, in the village. Head out there, find Shado-Master Chong, and lend a hand."
Shun lifts his head.
Iphi looks at the Admiral in worry.
Atley briefly side-eyes Almeiria, almost turning all the way around, before he looks back to Admiral Taylor and salutes. "We'll see to it, sir."
"Let's move out, you lot," Atley bids, about-facing and marching off.
"Sure," Estel says cheerfully, giving Taylor a thumbs-up.
Shun goes to fetch the Black Goat.
"Later, later!" Estel calls over her shoulder as they leave. She fetches Menace.
At the foot of the tower ahead, the blackened earth shimmers with eerie white streamers of light. The earth shudders with the tremors of explosions.
Some yaungol are locked in combat with Shado-Pan monks, while others hurl explosive barrels indiscriminately. Some are aimed at the wall, but others detonate at random around the village, against fences or houses or trees.
"Oh, fucking hell," Estel mutters, slipping into Shadowform.
One of the yaungol turns his face toward Blue Squad as they ride past. He does not react to their presence. His expression is impossible to read: He is wearing a grotesque mask, like a warped version of Ken-Ken's.
"It seems they are having quite a problem here," Almeiria observes.
Atley grunts and squints. "Dismount. We venture in. Look for survivors."
Shun just sort of stares for a moment before swiftly dismounting.
"When I heard 'a new problem' I thought it was just sha," Estel mutters. "That's a whole thing."
Iphi's eyes widen. "The village… Where are its people?"
"Let's find out," Atley says, jogging forward.
"Just sha." Almeiria repeats. "Sha is its own whole thing I'm afraid."
Shun checks on a pandaren body nearby and shakes his head.
Estel pauses to attempt a resurrection on the villager. Nope.
Iphi gasps as she sees Shun kneeling. She also tries a resurrection. Nothing either.
Atley pokes his head in through a house door to see all of its inhabitants slain.
"Please don't tell me we are stopping at every corpse?" Almeiria mutters.
[Shun]: "Tsk."
"We will do wot' we have to to secure the area," Atley responds sharply.
"There was one. Now there's like ten-twenty." Estel shakes her head. "I'll see what I can do after, you know, this is over."
Atley grunts.
Almeiria nods her approval.
"Oi–!" Atley exclaims as they happen upon a survivor.
"I- I will be stopping at every corpse. You c- can do what you want." Iphi answers, almost uncharacteristically confident.
A cowering pandaren woman gives a frightened cry as they enter the hut, and then gasps, wide-eyed. "The foreigners! I can't believe you're here!"
Iphi stumbles into the house, the corrupted land is taking a toll on her again.
"Just when I was about to question if there were any survivors," Shun mutters.
"Now this is time better spent," Almeiria says. "Hello dear, perhaps we can help."
Atley briefly looks to Iphindra before looking back to the pandaren woman.
"Hey," Estel says, approaching. "Let's get you somewhere safe, yeah?"
"My name is Sya Zhong. There must be others still alive and hidden in the village, but I don't know how long they can last. I didn't think I was going to last. Will you search for them? Then we can go to Shado-Pan Fallback together. Master Chong will know what to do next!"
Iphi beams at the survivor.
Atley nods reassuringly to Sya Zhong. "You can count on us, miss."
"I'm Estel, I'm a healer," Estel says. "We'll keep you alive."
"Come with us. Stay close," Atley says.
As Sya falls in with the group, she says, "When these monsters came, the Shado-Pan all got so serious. They kept saying ‘sha.' What's that?"
"You don't know?" Almeiria asks incredulously.
"You do not know?" Shun mirrors.
Atley stops in the doorway and looks back, too.
Sya shrugs and rubs her arm, looking away.
"So much for being prepared," Almeiria says.
"They're manifestations of strong negative emotions," Estel says.
"It's… ne- negative-" Iphi points at Estel. "That."
Atley shakes his head. "There are homes we haven't searched. I want eyes on her as we move," Atley growls, gesturing back at Sya.
Shun sighs.
Estel Shields Sya Zhong as they step outside of the house.
"Some of the yaungol've got masks of their own. They were prepared," Atley observes.
"These ones are from anger," Estel says, gesturing to the sha.
Atley grunts.
Even if she looks weakly here, Iphi does stop at every corpse, attempting to resurrect them.
"Prepared… to become victims of the sha?" Almeiria asks, frowning.
"Or to invade —" Atley says to Almeiria.
Inside the building, a pandaren man is cowering behind a pair of kegs. He peeks out at them and then straightens with relief. "Thank the heavens! I thought the secrets of Firebough Stout would die here with me!"
Estel keeps Iphindra Shielded as well.
"They might be like the Jinyu that drank the corrupted water on purpose," Shun mutters.
Atley beckons Jin Warmkeg. "Come out of there. We're rallying survivors and leaving."
"Yes, that's the concern, your brew," Almeiria mutters.
He shoulders both of the kegs before stepping forward. "I'm not leaving these behind! This is my family's legacy."
Shun deadpans at the Pandaren.
"Hey, if you can carry 'em, feel free," Estel says. More civilians to keep Shielded.
Atley deadpans Jin Warmkeg. "So long as they don't slow us."
"Your family's legacy is… is your l- life!" Iphi exclaims.
Atley looks back to perform a brief headcount of their growing group before moving on.
An old woman in a white dress is crouched trembling in the corner. At the sight of the strangers — accompanied by Sya — she straightens, though. "Oh, dear. This is no place for poor foreigners like yourselves. Perhaps you would like me to escort you to safety, hmmm?"
Almeiria sighs.
Atley knits his brow with some gruff amusement.
Sya rolls her eyes. "They're here to help the Shado-Pan."
Old Lady Fung scoffs. "They're working for the Shado-Pan? I don't believe it!"
Shun deadpans harder at this one.
"Sure." Estel smiles at her. "I'm Estel. You can come with us if you wanna get out of here."
Atley sheathes Thunderfury in the ground and offers Old Lady Fung a gauntlet. "Come with us, miss. We're leaving."
Iphi chuckles weakly. That old lady is cute.
Old Lady Fung rejects the outstretched gauntlet and dusts herself off. "I will accompany you, don't fuss!"
"Thanks, ma'am." Estel grins at her.
Atley grunts and reclaims Thunderfury.
Atley points out two more huts. "We scour those 'fore we bugger off."
Shun grunts.
A distinguished-looking — but shaken — pandaren gentleman emerges from the alcove where he'd been hiding. He straightens his silk jacket and smooths his moustache, then smiles uncertainly. "Ah, foreigners. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Ya Firebough, illustrious leader of this magnificent hamlet. Welcome! Please get me out of here."
"I'm Estel. This is Dane, Iphindra, Almeiria, Shun." Estel waves.
Atley beckons him impatiently. "Let's move along, then. No place to idle."
"L- lady Fung will get us out," Iphi nods, humoring the old lady.
He nods pretentiously. "I assure you there will be a few extra gold in it if you can assure my safety personally."
Old Lady Fung nods once. "Yes. I will escort you all far away from here."
Shun rubs his face.
Atley counts heads before he runs outside and makes for the other hut.
Estel now has four civilians to Shield. Or three civilians and Old Lady Fung.
After only finding corpses, Atley shakes his head.
"Quickly!" urges Sya. "The door at the foot of the tower. The Shado-Pan Master will be in there!" She points to the heavy, iron-bound red door.
A lot of the plants around Iphi's body have withered as she tries yet again another resurrection.
"Pace yourself," Atley says to Iphindra under his breath.
"It's o- okay. I can do it, I… I've been training," Iphi gets up difficulty and follows the others
Atley nods past the Shado-Pan manning the barricades and tugs the great red doors open.
Within the smoky, windowless stone tower sits a wounded Shado-Pan monk. Beside him, a second one turns toward the group. "Ah. You are the foreigners from Westwind Rest?" His eyes widen. "Are these… survivors?"
Shun grunts.
"A bit… understaffed, I see," Almeiria says. "It makes sense now how things got as bad as they did."
"Aye. All that we could find," Atley says, inclining his head. "I am Sir Dane Atley." He looks to his squad mates.
"Estel, Almeiria, Shun, Iphindra," Estel rattles off. "Hey. We're looking for Shado-Master Chong?"
Iphi sits down on the cold stone floor. "I'm Iphindra!"
The monk bows. "I am Shado-Master Chong. Thank you for coming, and for saving these people. I had no idea there were any villagers left alive." He gestures wearily at the door as yet another explosion shudders the tower.
Only Atley's jaw sets as explosions rock the tower.
"We have already lost the town, as you can see. We sent for reinforcements from the Monastery days ago, but none have come. If you can fight — which they say you can — will you help us to defend this tower, at least?"
"Thanks for getting us safely here," Estel says to Old Lady Fung.
Old Lady Fung tries to pat Estel's head.
Estel smiles at her.
"Well, we can hardly leave things as-is," Almeiria says.
Shun side-eyes Old Lady Fung.
Atley nods at Shado-Master Chong. "You can count on us," he says sharply, after Almeiria.
Chong nods. "Our true enemy is not the yaungol but the sha. The sha are emotion manifest: destructive, yes. But undisciplined. Undisciplined power cannot last. The flood, in dispersion, loses its force. The wildfire burns out of fuel. And discipline and wisdom can turn destructive energy against itself. Bring me the essences of sha in the village, and I will explain further."
"Right," Atley says, turning to the survivors. "You lot stay here. Cobalts, on me. Back into the fray."
Estel glances at Iphindra.
"Almeiria. Estel. You gather the essences," Atley says.
Estel gives Dane a thumbs-up. "On it."
"Gladly," Almeiria says.
"Forget trying to resurrect anyone here. These people are long gone," Atley adds.
Shun vanishes from view.
Iphi gathered some strength from staying in the tower for a bit. She enters the corrupted land once again with some apprehension. She looks sadly at Dane as he gives his order.
Atley looks at her and gives her a stern nod.
"We don't know that yet, but there's no point in trying until the place is clear," Estel says.
"Our time's better spent clearing the land for those that are still alive," Atley says.
"Okay, okay, I ge- get it." Iphi says, frowning slightly as she tries to keep her gaze away from the corpses. The prairie mouse rubs his head against her neck.
"I brought back a guy that was dead for hours once," Estel says, scooping up an oily black substance into a bottle.
"These masks… in Krasarang a hozen put together masks that could undo and draw out the Sha. It's not working for this lot," Atley says, looking back to Almeiria.
"What if they are designed to do the opposite?" Shun asks.
"How do you figure?" Atley asks as they run and fight.
"We have already encountered one group that purposefully corrupted themselves for power," Shun says.
Atley grunts.
"At the very least there does seem to be some connection between the sha and masks," Almeiria murmurs.
Atley grunts again.
Atley looks over the party. "That's enough of the essence. Back to the Master."
Shun grunts.
"Shado-Master. We've got the essences," Atley nods to the priests in the party.
Once inside, Estel approaches Shado-Master Chong with her bottle of weird smoky sludge.
Almeiria steps forward with her offerings. "I am most curious to see what you do with this," she says.
Iphi sits beside a wounded soldier and heals him.
"Thank you," says Shado-Master Chong. "You fight as well as the people of our order, and you have bought us time. We do not despair — we act."
"Oh, I like them," Almeiria says.
"Good. Now you will see how to defeat unbridled rage." Master Chong looks grim. "I will craft these essences into a trap for Kobai, the leader of the yaungol. Though he will be snared, and we will defeat him, he is not our ultimate target."
"Simply killing Kobai will accomplish nothing, as he is merely a vessel for a particularly powerful and destructive sha of malevolent fury. You must lure Kobai into this trap, and steal his mask. The sha, caught and exposed, will attempt to take control of you instead. Defeat it, and we will have drawn a victory from the ashes of this tragic situation."
Shun tilts his head, then nods.
"I'll t- take the mask," Iphi nods.
Shun furrows his brow.
Atley shakes his head. "I want Shun to steal it."
"Can do so," Shun says.
Estel glances at Shun. "Hm. Okay."
"But I'm more well versed in healing than combat. Wh- what will the sha do if it possesses me? Heal y- you to death?" Iphi shakes her head.
Almeiria glances at Shun, then nods. "We will back him up," she says.
Atley raises a hand. "Shun's faster. Let's get this done."
Estel watches Chong craft the trap with interest.
Atley nods for Shun to take the trap.
"Should you g- give us your blades before you steal the mask, th- then?" Iphi looks worriedly at Shun.
Atley glances back at Shun.
"He's got a lot of them," Estel says dryly.
"I don't want you to maybe wake up fr- fro- from possession, seeing you've hurt one of us," Iphi says.
"There are four of us here," Almeiria objects. "It would be worse to leave him defenseless."
Atley grunts and nods at Almeiria.
"I have a lot of blades," he nods at Estel, "And I am still capable of harm even if I were 'unarmed'."
"That settles it, then. Let's move," Atley says.
Estel pats Iphindra's shoulder reassuringly.
Iphi still looks a little worried after that.
Shun once again vanishes into the shadows as their quarry comes in view.
Atley points out a large, roaming yaungol. "That's the one." He gives Shun the nod.
Shun throws down the smoke bomb, then yanks the mask right off the yaungol's face while he's dazed.
Atley grits his teeth and readies Thunderfury but stays in place as Kobai is unmasked.
Once the Sha manifestation springs free, Atley charges in to combat it and Kobai both.
Taking in a deep breath, Shun places the mask over his existing mask.
Iphi is looking a little pale. She readies herself to help Shun in any way she can.
"You don't need to put that ON!" Estel shouts.
Atley regards Shun warily once the Sha and Kobai are put down, glaring. "Shun…" he hedges warily, glaring.
"A- are you okay?" Iphi asks Shun as the Sha vanishes.
Shun breathes sharply as he tears it back off his face. "I can see color again," he mutters.
Almeiria watches him. "Did you hear any voices, Shun, dear?" she asks.
Atley watches and waits, looking between Almeiria and Shun.
Estel approaches Shun carefully. "That mask needs to be destroyed," she says.
Atley grunts in agreement with Estel, and stays back, observing Shun.
"No voices. My vision just lost all color and I felt…" he starts, pausing as Estel approaches.
"Angry? Violent?" Almeiria prompts.
"I always feel angry and violent," Shun deadpans.
"Destroy it," Atley says.
Almeiria laughs. "Well! Looks like everything's fine, then."
"… More when wearing the mask o- or not?" Iphi looks sadly.
Shun drops the mask and stomps on it.
"That is difficult to say Iphindra," Shun replies.
Estel's eyes go from the broken mask back up to Shun's face.
Atley watches Estel now.
Shun looks down at her.
Estel's shoulders relax. "Hey, you're good."
He lets out a slow breath.
Atley points Thunderfury at the mask and emits a brief, sharply contained thunderbolt, incinerating the stomped wood.
"Back to the Shado-Master," Atley growls.
Estel pats his arm. "You're good. You're good now."
Iphi nods. She shivers.
Shun slowly nods.
"You weren't," Estel says plainly. "Breaking the mask did it."
[Shun]: "I really do not think I felt any different than usual…"
"That is ideally because we intercepted the sha before it could claim a host," Almeiria says.
"It wasn't much, but you weren't wearing it for long," Estel says, shrugging. "I think there's something to your theory about the yaungol putting 'em on on purpose."
Atley grunts.
Shado-Master Chong awaits them. "I felt the great fury's demise. You have done well." He is silent for a moment. "I should feel shame at the loss of the village. I should feel pride in your success. I should feel many things, but must not allow myself to. Until our struggle with the sha is complete, we must maintain total control of our emotions."
"I cannot leave this place to the sha," Shado-Master Chong says. "But I am troubled by the silence from the Monastery. You have performed admirably here. Perhaps you would travel north to Winter's Blossom, our base camp on the way to the Monastery? Speak with Lin Silentstrike when you arrive — he should know what is happening. To get there, travel north from Firebough and follow the road through Shado-Li Basin. But before you leave, you may wish to go to the top of this tower to meet Kite Master Ni on the wall, in case you need to return here with speed."
"If you've got these people sorted then we'll bugger off," Atley agrees with a nod.
"Another monastery? Okay." Estel nods.
Almeiria glances up the stairs. "That will allow us a view of what lies beyond," she says.
Atley grunts at Almeiria and briefly points at her.
Atley knits his brow as they reach the top of the Serpent's Spine.
"Which… side of the wall should I be looking off to see Winter's Blossom?" Estel asks the kite master as she registers with her.
The kite master gestures.
Iphi gasps as she sees the wall reaching far in front of her.
"This is quite the structure," Almeiria comments, glancing around. "How many years do you imagine it took to construct?"
Atley shakes his head. "I cannot say. Nor how many slaves gave their lives in its construction. This dwarfs the great walls of the Kingdoms… Thoradin's, Greymane's…"
Iphi's wonder disappears from her face as she notices another patch of corrupted land in front of them.
Atley tears his gaze off of the foreign horizon and looks north, to the towering mountain peaks. He points. "That is our path."
"Okay. We were told to take the road, so… back down, I guess?" Estel shrugs.
Atley grunts.
Estel reaches out to take Shun's hand on the stairs down.
Shun grips her hand.
"We ride," Atley growls.
Shun grunts.
They ride.
"This…road is barely a path," Almeiria comments.
Atley grunts.
"Signpost!" Estel says cheerfully. She can't read it and Gwen isn't here.
On the steep, golden slope of the mountain, past a herd of browsing yaks, is a little roadside camp. It seems to be populated entirely by the strange little "grummles" encountered on the Veiled Stair.
Shun furrows his brow.
"Ah! Ah! Greetings, friends of the grummles! I smell good fortune in our meeting!" calls one of them, and waves vigorously. "The winds are good today, yes? Kites for you? Hot kafa?"
Atley shakes his head. "Winds are good. No kites. Not now," he says, refusing.
Atley up-nods and looks around. 'Who are you lot?"
Iphi giggles at the Grummles. She seems to turn a little pinker as they're in healthier lands.
"We are the grummles! Mountain ferries, packers of trails. Guides through the mountains, deliverer of supplies. We travel the Burlap Trail since the time of the mogu dynasties. Also we have the most best noses for smelling luck!"
Estel waves back. "Hey. Can you register us in case? But we're traveling by road for now, we ain't been to the place we're going."
Almeiria stares at the tiny tents.
"The mountain will forgive the bird," the grummle tells them, "but not always the rider." He smiles beatifically. "Farewell, friends of the grummles! You come back to us for finest Kota Kafa, yes?"
"Yeah, totally," Estel says. She actually might.
"I don't even know what that is," Almeiria informs him.
"Let's move, you lot," Atley growls.
They return to the road.
They are ascending now toward snow and sheer, rocky mountain faces. A white tiger crouches atop a rock and watches warily as they pass.
Menace watches the tiger right back.
Iphi waves at the tiger.
Estel waves to it, because why not.
Atley eyes the tiger mildly and produces another strip of jerky before he spots sprites rummaging around in the brush.
"Mm. More of them about," Atley says.
"I l- like these little… creatures," Iphi smiles fondly at the sprites.
Atley grunts distastefully.
"They can get mischievous or violent," Estel warns Iphindra. "But they grow back even if you beat 'em up."
"All of nature c- can be a little violent," Iphi nods. "Mischievous… it depends."
A steep path winds up and away from the road toward a sturdy wooden gate. Beyond it are a group of white tents and the bright dome of a hot air balloon. Masked Shado-Pan guards wordlessly let them pass into the camp.
"Winter's Blossom… literally," Almeiria murmurs, eyeing the blossoming tree in the snow.
Atley briefly eyes the tree Almeiria points out before he clears his throat. "We've come for Lin Silentstrike."
A pandaren in Shado-Pan leathers turns to peer at them from beneath his broad-brimmed hat. "I am Lin Silentstrike. What do you need?"
"We come from the Shado-Pan fallback. Shado Master Chong sent us to see to his reinforcements," Atley says.
"Shado-Master Chong sent us," Estel says brightly. "I'm Estel, this is Shun, Dane, Iphindra, Almeiria."
"Shado-Master Chong sent you?" Lin considers them. "Yes, we received his request for reinforcements. We are in no position to grant it, though. We have just concluded a battle of our own, and the Monastery's been locked up tight. We can't even get them to send reinforcements here, and we're just down the hill!"
"Oh?" Iphi tilts her head.
"He was concerned about the monastery." Estel shrugs. "Can we help with anything?"
"What are you dealing with?" Shun asks.
Almeiria frowns, her shadows deepening.
"Hmm," says Lin. "If Shado-Master Chong trusts you… perhaps you can help us…"
Lin nods. "The yaungol are our enemies. Still, we must prove we are better than they. We will show them honor in death. As after most battles, the carrion birds have begun to gather. Thin their numbers, so the bodies of our foes will not be desecrated." He gestures. "The battlefield is below, to the west."
Atley looks to the west and nods with a grunt. "Done."
Almeiria steals a glance at Iphindra.
"Sure," Estel says. "Iphindra's good with birds, I bet she can shoo 'em off."
Iphindra frowns in incomprehension. "Should w- we also kill the other animals who will get them eventually?"
Atley looks to Iphindra. "You're the naturalist here. Wot's the best move for the area?"
"… The birds are just trying to eat. If it's not them, something else will get the dead," Iphi shakes her head. "We can make them leave, but tha- that's not going to do much. This desecrated belief is… Misplaced."
"We're not going to let the bodies get picked at, either way. Are we killing the birds or will you shoo them off?" Atley says.
Shun looks to Iphi.
Iphi sighs. "Shoo." She looks off to the sky. Poor birds.
Atley grunts.
"Wait, strangers," calls another voice. A Shado-Pan in shaman-styled robes is watching them from the next tent over. "When my people regrouped after the initial yaungol attack, we numbered three less. You can fight, and we need time here to plan our defense should these cursed yaungol attack again. If you truly would help us, grant our fallen comrades last rites, and recover their armor. You will find their bodies to the west, near the gate."
"Okay," Estel says. "I don't know your last rites. I can do them the way I learned, if you want?"
Ban Bearheart nods. "I would be most grateful."
Atley looks over the battlefield with a squint.
"These yaungol ain't wearing masks," Estel points out.
Almeiria looks around. "Oh, this was quite a battle," she says. "And they only lost three?"
Iphi approaches one of the carrion birds. She extends a hand and it lands on her arm. It's a big, heavy bird.
"Aye. Was performing the same count myself," Atley says to Almeiria. "Wot's it — twenty to one? The Shado-Pan are dead hard."
"Here's one," Estel calls. She crouches down by the dead pandaren and starts removing his armor.
Atley briefly examines the literal pile of dead yaungol surrounding Liu of the Thousand Blows.
Shun also eyes the large pile of bodies nearby.
"Do you think they do 'em burned or buried?" Estel asks.
"I'm s- sorry, the pandaren believe what you're doing is wrong, and they will hunt you down for it if you don't leave." Iphi says to the bird sadly. "Gather your friends and leave." She looks off to the side, noticing that her friends are distracted.
"To the South East of here is a village, destroyed by this malevolent power… Go, there you'll find food and no one to stop you from feeding, only for a bit. Go, honor these pandaren by raising your children with their strength." Iphi adds in Kaldorei.
"We'll burn them, after the rites are given," Atley says.
"Dane, can you take the armor, then?" Estel starts passing pieces his way.
Atley nods and starts to accept the pieces, pausing every now and then to examine them. "Custom made. Custom fitted. These are no mass-produced army standard issue."
"They do seem rather few in number, these Shado-Pan," Almeiria comments. "Only the best, then."
Atley grunts in the shadow of the Shado-Lin Basin.
Estel puts a hand on the dead warrior's forehead and says, "You did a great job. I dunno if you know what the Light even is, but you fought real well and nobody's gonna reanimate your body out here. You can rest now."
Atley grunts and looks to Iphindra. "The birds best not return, or they'll be slain," he says, before giving her a commending nod.
"If he wasn't concerned about reanimation before, he is now," Almeiria says.
Iphi raises her arm and the carrion bird leaves, the others following very soon. Iphi turns to Dane. "They w- won't, don't worry."
Estel dips her finger into a vial of holy water and draws the symbol of the Light on the pandaren's chest, then gets up.
Atley nods and briefly, gently clasps Iphi on the shoulder. "Another, here."
Shun notes this one also is surrounded by enemy bodies.
"Backed into a corner. Fought to the end," Atley growls warmly. "Know peace, defender. Your oaths have been fulfilled."
Almeiria gazes at the massive gate.
Once again, Estel removes the pandaren's armor. "You did great," she says, drawing the symbol on the dead woman's fur. "Your side won, and most of your people survived. You can rest now."
Atley gives Estel a nod before he follows Almeiria's eyeline. "This must be how the yaungol got into Kun-Lai to begin with. Made it all the way to bloody Binan, unless there's a breach elsewhere."
Iphi looks with great reverence at the ritual Estel is performing.
It's not quite 'Light guide your soul', but Estel's words are kind. The bit with the Light is probably implied.
"Was it a simple invasion, or prompted by something, that is the question," Almeiria murmurs.
"I warrant the Sha've got something to do with. 'Spite all the carnage they've brought, the yaungol have paid for every inch with blood," Atley says.
"Where's the third?" Estel asks.
"Check the piles. They'll be about here somewhere," Atley says.
Atley grunts, squats with perfect form, and rolls a dead yaungol off of another.
"Some made it up here," Almeiria says, pointing out the corpses on the barricades.
Estel jogs over.
Atley grunts.
"Damn," Shun utters.
"Th- there's a trail of dead yaungol leading up!" Iphi says.
Atley squints and examines a shuriken embedded in a slain yaungol. Lots of shurikens.
Estel follows the trail of bodies to the body of the final fallen Shado-Pan.
"This is… significantly more than what was near the other two," Almeiria says, staring at the piles of yaungol. "High rank, perhaps?"
"Maybe, yeah." Estel removes his armor with care, passing it to Dane as before.
Atley accepts the equipment. "P'raps a master."
"The battle is over, and your people are resting," Estel tells the dead pandaren, using a bit more holy water to draw the symbol on his fur. "You can rest knowing that they'll continue on."
Atley gives a nod.
"The symbol on their tent looks feline," Almeiria observes. "A tiger, perhaps."
Estel gets to her feet and tucks the vial of holy water back into her bandolier.
"Well done," Atley states somberly. "Let's return. We'll take that side path." He briefly examines Shado-Master Zhiyao's halberd.
"Barrels of pitch?" Atley wonders aloud. "Fine defensible position. Bloody miracle any yaungol made it past at all."
Iphi looks in the direction she saw the birds fly towards.
Estel admires the tree as they return.
"Silenstrike," Atley says with a nod. "We've seen to the birds. They'll not be desecrating this field."
Iphi briefly glances at Dane. Does he know what she told the birds?
Shun grunts.
"And we've brought back the armor of your fallen comrades," Estel says. She looks over at Ban and flashes him a thumbs-up.
Lin nods. "Good. After what they have done, I would not show the yaungol kindness in life. But neither will I allow their bodies to be eaten by the birds." He studies them again."Perhaps you will return soon, and join us in our defense?"
"Probably," Shun shrugs.
Iphi nods.
"You believe there will be more yaungol?" Almeiria asks. "That was a considerable number down in the basin."
"We'll be in the area, near Westwind Rest. Send word, and we'll answer," Ately says.
Estel nods.
Lin Silentstrike and nods and looks to Almeiria. "We do. They are a stubborn people."
"Stubborn and numerous, apparently," Almeiria says.
Atley grunts and marches away from Lin.
"Well done today, you lot. Shame more couldn't have been done about the village, but we saved those lives. And, I warrant we'll be venturing past that wall 'fore too long," Atley says.
"It'll be o- odd to see Pandaria, far from the main Pandaren settlements," Iphi says, tilting her head.
Estel reaches for Shun's hand.
"I had thought the wall was to keep out those mantid creatures," Almeiria says. "Do you think they co-exist with the yaungol somehow?"
Shun lets her take it.
Atley grunts. "I can't say. T'was the Mogu that put the wall together. The mantid were too bloody unruly be to be quelled. Must've trapped the yaungol on the other side with them…"
Atley shakes his head. "P'raps the yaungol are fleeing something greater."
"That would explain the desperation," Almeiria says. "Here they are practically throwing themselves at the pandaren."
"Fleeing rather aggressively if that is the case," Shun notes.
Atley nods at them both.
"When an animal is cornered, it fights to escape," Iphi shakes her head. "It's the same for people, y- you know."
"It does remind me of orcs, somehow," Almeiria comments.
"How?" Atley asks. He raises a hand to remove his helmet, letting the frigid mountain breezes waft through his hair.
"They ruined their world, and aggressively fled to ours," Almeiria says. "And there was an underlying reason, the Burning Legion in their case."
Shun grunts.
Iphi also removes her helmet, letting her green and purple hair flow. It's looking progressively more purple as the months pass.
Atley nods, but says, "Greenskins brought it on themselves. I'm not certain if the yaungol have. Or if they're in union with the mantid. Or if the Sha is driving them both…"
"I imagine we'll find that answer, one way or another," Almeiria says.
Atley grunts. "Until then, dismissed. I'll be about for a time."
Shun dips his head.
"I'm gonna go ask how they deal with their dead, then," Estel says.
"Someone should perhaps report to Shado-Master Chong about the state of things?" Almeiria suggests.
"I can go," Shun states.
Atley grunts.
Iphi nods. "We'll f- find out, yes." She turns to Estel. "Let me know what they tell you, pl- please!"
Estel nods. "Yeah, okay. Shun, I'll meet you back at Westwind Rest tonight."
Shun nods in turn, then goes to fetch the goat.
"I will ask around for more of their… sha handling techniques," Almeiria says.
Atley eyes Almeiria and nods. "Very well."
"I'll… Go train s- some more!" Iphi says. Sitting down where she stands.
Almeiria eyes her, then steps away.
Atley turns to peer at Iphindra. "All squared away then, are you?"
Iphi nods. "It's easy wi- with the Emerald Dream to be ready to train whenever."
"Carry on well, then," Atley says with a nod, before he marches off to speak with Lin.
And presumably return the armor they collected.