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| Details |
| Author: | inkie |
| Summary: | Cobalt Company's forward squads rendezvous with Prince Anduin for an historic occasion. Another one. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Atley waits by the bonfire in Onekeg, having summoned both squads.
Shun folds his arms over his chest as he stares into the flames.
"Sir Atley!" Arric says enthusiastically. "Good to be working with you again."
Atley grunts. "You as well, Arric."
Colson approaches the group at precisely on time, his face the classic Aspenwood Neutral. "Everyone, good afternoon."
"Hey," Estel says, waving.
"You lot all sorted?" Atley asks everyone.
Anareline moves over to join the team, and nods a greeting to Atley.
Shun grunts.
Almeiria glances over White Squad in silence.
Shine nods. He is never not sorted.
Bun lacks a snack.
Gwen "subtly" conjures up some biscuits and tosses them to Bun…and a few to Rica, just in case.
Bun is now sorted.
Rica stares at the biscuits as though they have personally insulted her mother.
"Someone's requested our presence. She's waited patiently. Grant her your full attention," Atley says, turning to…
A sweet-faced gnome with a dimpled smile is perched nearby on a morose-looking gray goat. The gnome is wearing priest’s robes embellished with the insignia of the Stormwind Army Medical Corps, and the goat is wearing a lot of bags and bundles. (And also a gnome.)
Colson grants her his full attention.
Arric's eyes light up at the sight of the gnome. He seems to like gnomes.
Anareline looks at the gnome in faint surprise, but gives her full attention.
“Emdee Sutureself,” chirps the gnome, “Army medic. Security detail to the White Pawn. Lieutenant Commander Azuredown dispatched me to rendezvous with you.”
Atley grunts at Emdee.
"Hi," Estel says. "I'm Estel."
"Hi, Estel," says Emdee, dimpling again. “The Pawn has arrived at the Temple of the White Tiger. An organization called the Golden Lotus has petitioned the celestials to open the gates to a place called the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, which the White Pawn believes is his objective.
“It’s been a few thousand years, I guess, since the gates to the place have been opened, so it’s a big deal and a touchy diplomatic situation. The Lt. Commander thinks it might be helpful to have Cobalt backup at this juncture.” She beams.
"Wow!" says Arric.
"Wow!" Emdee agrees.
Atley knits his brow and grunts.
"Whoa…this is big!" Gwen looks excited.
"Best behavior, you lot," Atley says.
Shun slowly nods, then goes to fetch the Black Goat.
"We've been doing well, diplomatically," Anareline says. "I hope we are able to help."
"Suppose I'll be keeping my mouth shut, then," Almeiria says.
Atley briefly eyes Almeiria.
Arric seeks out the malevolent white stallion that stands nearby, armored and ready.
Colson is on his best behavior. Tenacious is not.
Win-Win the white stallion turns his swampwater-green gaze toward Tenacious, as though daring him to continue existing. Arric yanks his head forward and gets him back on task.
Atley looks over the squads, and then back to Emdee. "This is everyone. We'll follow you."
"Right-o." Emdee kicks her goat vigorously. It looks placidly annoyed. "Intransigent might not… uh, it's okay if you end up outpacing me."
"A few thousand years," Estel mutters. She glances at Anareline, who is more than a few thousand years old.
"Everyone have their luckydos?" Gwen asks quite seriously.
Arric looks slightly anxious for a moment. He might have forgotten his Luckydo.
Shun just motions at Estel.
"Yep!" Estel says, and points at Shun.
Gwen grins and giggles. D'awww.
Colson sets his hand over his heart. "Yes."
"In my heart," Anareline says smoothly.
Intransigent the goat does, in fact, demonstrate a certain lack of leadership skill. Emdee is really good at swearing for such a cute tiny person.
Atley rides forward to take the lead from Intransigent and Emdee.
Between a pair of snarling stone tigers, a narrow path curves upward between blooming plum trees and beneath stately arches toward the mist-wreathed mountaintop temple. Braziers mark the way. A rough yard to one side of the path is full of combat training targets, overlooked by another stone tiger.
"Hey, more of those pink trees." Estel tilts her head up.
Atley adjusts in his saddle and keeps a wary glare locked on the road ahead.
Arric takes everything in, his pale blue eyes wide.
Anareline's nightsaber looks curiously at the stone tigers. "The flowers are quite beautiful," Anareline says.
The path is interrupted by a stone terrace on which two pandaren monks spar beneath an ornate overhanging roof. “Come on, Mister Flabbypants!” says a small, growling voice. “Punch like you mean it!” The voice’s source is not either of the monks themselves. “You call that fighting?” it demands.
Atley lifts a brow and studies the fighters as he walks past.
The path beyond continues upward until it reaches the first of a series of walled stone courtyards. Orange and white banners hang against white stone pillars, and inset panels on the wall depict prowling tigers.
Anareline's saber seems to approve of all the powerful cat imagery.
Groups of pandaren spar or watch others spar or discreetly eye the passing travelers.
Arric waves at them.
Atley slowly looks around as they move.
"Absolutely magnificent," says Arric, looking around at the temple.
Anareline gazes at the temple structure and the pink-flowering trees. She seems impressed with both.
"Baby tigers," Estel whispers loudly.
"Where??" Arric whispers back.
Colson glances over at the baby tigers. C-cute.
Estel points at one as they pass it.
"Many years since you were small," Anareline murmurs to her nightsaber.
Arric admires the baby.
A pandaren man in black and white robes meditates in silence, seated in midair.
Atley grimly examines the group of meditating monks.
Across a wooden bridge, stone stairs rise toward the main temple itself.
Win-Win objects to the bridge. Arric objects to his objection. Arric wins.
Atley looks off to the side, spotting a gong with an ancient scroll next to it.
Estel looks to Gwen, who can read these.
"A scroll…" Anareline says. She nods to Gwenivene. "Can you read this one?"
"Gwen, have a look," Atley says, returning his gaze to the higher reaches of the Temple.
Bun stares at Gwen but probably not for the same reason as everyone else.
Gwen nods and dismounts. She unfurls the scrolls and starts to translate.
Shun looks around warily while he waits for the translation.
Arric listens eagerly. Rica and Win-Win less so.
"It's recalls the tale of Shaohao, the Last Emperor of Pandaria, and how he defeated the Sha of Anger, the Sha of Hatred, and the Sha of Violence."
Atley grunts encouragingly.
"The ones sealed by the Shado-Pan in the monastery," Almeiria says.
Estel resists doing finger-quotes when Gwen says the word 'defeated'. Her hands do twitch on the reins though.
Atley's gaze briefly roams over Almeiria and Estel, but he says nothing.
Gwen nods to Almeiria. "He thought nothing could defeat him, but at the urging of the Red Crane, he sought the counsel of the White Tiger; the spirit of strength."
Shine applies poison to his knives. Probably because someone mentioned violence.
"The White Tiger saw in him a dangerous recklessless found in those with no fear. He gathered the greatest warriors in Pandaria to test the Emperor. Shaohao was given a ten-foot pole and challenged to strike one of the warriors."
Rica begins to dart around restlessly, but stays within earshot of Arric.
Shun raises a brow.
Gwen continues: "They fought for hours, but he couldn't land a blow. He got angry and broke the pole over his knee."
Arric makes an 'oof' face.
"So it's not that he wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole, but that he couldn't," Almeiria says sourly.
Shine snorts at Almeiria. Very quietly.
Estel snort-laughs. She covers her mouth.
Gwen translates, "Humbled, he asked the White Tiger what was wrong, and learned his own passions made him weak. To save Pandaira, he would have to combat his own anger, hatred, and violence. Then the Monkey King carved for him three masks."
Anareline listens to Gwenivene impassively.
Atley glances at Arric. "Keep an eye on the beast," he mutters under Gwen's speaking.
"She's more of a person than a beast," Arric explains quietly. "But she is a young one, and restless. She knows her duty, however."
Atley slowly shifts his gaze back to Gwen.
Rica is now glaring at Atley. She may have noticed that he called her a beast.
"The Emperor wore each mask in turn," Gwen explains, "And with the aid of his friends and the warriors, the three Sha were defeated and imprisoned underground. The Emperor was forever changed, now a creature of patience, love, and peace."
Colson makes a faint hm sound, his expression as Neutral as ever.
Gwen carefully rolls the scroll again, tying it in place.
"Because he couldn't hit a person with a pole," Almeiria says. "Right."
"Because he learned humility," Gwen says pointedly to Almeiria.
"There we are, then," Atley says.
Rica falls back into line when they start moving again. She is still glaring at Atley, however.
"There's a human saying," Estel says to Anareline. "'I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole'. It means basically what it says. You don't want to get close to something. Could be, like, a literal thing, or an argument you don't wanna take part in."
"I can see that it would be difficult," Anareline says, lowering her brow in thought at Estel's words. "Much easier to strike someone with a sword's length pole."
Atley swings a leg over Hal'vyr and dismounts.
"Hm. Something still seems a bit off with this," Shun murmurs.
"Hope for the best, expect the worst. We'll get fierce if there's trouble about, and be properly civilized until then," Atley says.
Arric rubbernecks at the massive temple entrance.
The magnificent carved, iron-bound doors of the temple stand open. Between them a group of figures is visible across an enormous vaulted chamber. They are the Shado-Pan Lord Taran Zhu, Prince Anduin Wrynn, Lt. Commander Leric Azuredown, a pandaren in unfamiliar blue and gold robes, and an armored tauren. The five of them all face the ghostly figure of a giant white tiger.
Colson can't stand up any straighter without the aid of a 10-foot pole, but he tries when he sees the Prince.
“I have dark visions of late,” the unfamiliar pandaren is saying, “of mogu legions stirring in the mountains. Their eyes turn toward the Vale. If this proves true, the Golden Lotus will need help. We are not trained for mass combat.”
“The Alliance can help you!” says Prince Anduin. He glances sidelong at the Tauren beside him. “Even the Horde, perhaps.”
Anareline stares at the prince, and the nearby tauren.
Shun narrows his eyes.
“Great Tiger,” Taran Zhu says, “the strangers from beyond the mists, they cannot be trusted. The wreckage in the Jade Forest can attest to this.”
“Give us a chance to put things right!” protests Anduin.
Almeiria glares at Taran Zhu.
Atley quietly bows to Prince Anduin first, and then Xuen the White Tiger. His glare shifts around as the various people speak.
Anduin’s expression floods with relief at the sight of the new arrivals. “Cobalt Company. I’m glad you’re here.”
Arric bows deeply toward the prince.
Colson bows correctly to the Prince.
Gwenivene bows in reverence to Prince Anduin.
Anareline glances at Arric and Colson and Gwenivene, and then turns back to the prince.
Estel bows once, kind of in the general direction of both Anduin and the White Tiger.
Rica, after observing the others, dips her head low toward Anduin.
Shun dips his head in turn as well.
Anduin steps away from his interlocutors and lowers his voice. “The pandaren tell of this legendary ‘Vale of Eternal Blossoms’ — a source of powerful healing. After the Cataclysm — and with this Light-forsaken war — the Vale may be our best hope for healing the wounds of the world. We must try to get in there.”
He glances at the patient form of the ghost tiger and then back to the group. “Nobody is allowed into the Vale without the approval of the August Celestials. Xuen, the White Tiger, appears ready to listen to me. But Taran Zhu of the Shado-Pan is reluctant to let the Alliance or Horde anywhere near the Vale after what happened in the Jade Forest. Even after your help at the Shado-Pan Monastery” — the prince glances at Taran Zhu, who folds his arms sternly — “he believes foreigners are not to be trusted with the Vale’s power.”
Anduin shakes his head. “Maybe you can help my case. Speak to the White Tiger on our behalf?”
Anareline steps up beside Atley. "We can give our words as well."
"We can, your Royal Highness," Atley says, removing his helmet.
“Ah,” rumbles the White Tiger’s voice. “More strangers from beyond the mists.”
Anareline lowers her head in respect to the White Tiger.
“Yes!” says Taran Zhu. “More! Soon they will overwhelm this continent! Where do we draw the line?”
Atley eyes Taran Zhu.
Shun side-eyes Taran Zhu.
“We’re here to help,” says Anduin. “We can help protect the Vale from the mogu and any other threat it faces.”
“You are a threat!” says Taran Zhu. “We all saw your ‘help’ in the Jade Forest! You have no control over your natures. You leave misery in your wake.”
Estel looks flatly at Taran Zhu.
Colson regards the conversation with a mild, neutral expression.
"Mistakes were made," Anareline says. "It does not mean that it is our nature."
Arric for once seems to be deferring to someone else, that someone else being Anduin.
“Ten thousand years ago,” says Xuen, “the last Pandaren Emperor came seeking my advice. He, too, was filled with conflict. Let us see if you are correct, Taran. Let us see how these strangers deal with turmoil of the soul.”
Sha-smoke begins boiling from the stone tiles at the center of the room, and then with an abrupt wrench, each member of the Cobalt group finds themselves staring down a shadowy clone of themselves. The clones exude waves of malevolence.
“You see?” says Taran Zhu. “Violence! They are filled with it!”
Anareline is startled to find herself face to face with herself, but then she grits her teeth and moves in to fight with confidence. She knows all this enemy's weaknesses.
Estel waves at her clone. Her clone does not wave back.
Arric is clearly startled but does not hesitate to shoot at himself. He and his clone take aim at each other. Real Arric is just slightly faster on the draw.
Shun sees his own double and immediately stabs it without any hesitation whatsoever.
Shine vanishes immediately and reappears behind his clone.
Bun looks confused. He does not have a clone.
Atley blinks at his own clone before Thunderfury's cross with a shriek of metal.
Gwen's eyes widen in shock at Sha-Gwen. "She looks so mad…"
"Destroy them!" Atley says.
Colson regards his shadow self calmly. He knows it is him and not him, and the Holy Shock that streaks out is made with confidence.
You might be imagining it, but Arric seems to be taking a strange satisfaction in filling other-Arric full of holes.
Estel looks directly at Gwen's clone, making a motion like zipping her lips to [Silence] the spellcaster. She does not believe in fighting her own clone when they have the power of teamwork.
Gwen gives Estel a firm nod, and quickly counterspells as Estel's clone tries to cast on her.
Almeiria first tries to bind her clone to her will. After failing that, she summons a shadowfiend to help bring it down.
Atley and Shadow Atley engage in a flurry of sword slashes and shield bashes, until real Atley feints and manages to bash his clone directly in the face.
Estel Shields Gwen before going to town with spellcasting violence on Gwen's clone.
Colson battles his clone in between sending out heals to the others as needed.
Gwen conjures up three clones of her own, and all four Gwens unleash arcane punishment on Clone Estel!
That is too many Gwens.
Estel's clone, locked out of Shadow, switches to Light with equal power, but her casting is repeatedly interrupted by four Gwens worth of arcane missiles.
Real Arric has something clone-Arric does not. Rica. So their epic battle is a bit one-sided.
Anareline moves in a clever feint that Shanareline falls for. Ana spins in a whirling strike that takes off her head — and the clone dissolves into mist.
Atley beheads Shadow Atley. The adversary falls back but disappears into a rolling cloud of smoke before he hits the ground.
Estel helps finish off Colson's clone from a safe distance.
Gwenivene and her Good Clones blast in all directions at any remaining clones.
Atley turns back Xuen and the others after inspecting the Cobalt Company members present.
Shine steps away from the dissolving smoke that is the only trace of his clone and looks back at the discussion.
“Yes, we are fighters,” says Anduin. “But we come from a violent land. We have fought off demons, fought off death, fought against the very end of the world!”
“It is true,” muses the unfamiliar pandaren. “They are strong. There is much they might teach us.”
“We can agree it is noble to fight for a righteous cause: to defend home or family. But what of vengeance? What of anger? I sense these emotions run deep in some of these.” The tiger’s ghostly gaze sweeps the group.
“Anger is a part of us all, yes,” says Anduin. “But we value control. The orcs were once driven solely by anger — they lived in a state of bloodlust — but they conquered it.”
Shine raises his eyebrow at that. It is a Big Expression, from Shine.
Anareline's eyebrows rise as well at that comment.
“All you seek to conquer is each other!” says Taran Zhu.
Once again the sha erupts, wrenching forth shadows of rage.
When the anger sha emerges, Anareline's eyes widen. She has heard of these, but this is new. She dives in to fight the misty creature with recklessness.
Estel falls back into a supportive role, dropping her Shadowform and Shielding the others.
Shun surveys the room for additional threats. When the Sha appear, he vanishes to keep them off of the support group.
Gwen’s mirror images fade away just as the Sha of Anger appears. "Oh, mustard burps." Language, Gwen.
Bun growls and charges at an Anger Sha. He is angry. He is also not super effective. Good thing there are other people fighting.
Colson sets an Eternal Flame heal on the tanuki, as he burns through the sha of anger with a different holy flame.
Shun sees one of the sha take on his form. He immediately narrows in on it to deal with at once.
Atley's Shadow clone appears and blows through his twisted mirror image of the Lion Horn. A horribly, demoralizing shriek fills the chamber as Shadow Atley grins — before actual Atley is upon him with a charge.
Anareline does not seem particularly angry, as the sha melts down into a furious Shanareline. The anger makes the clone sloppy, and Anareline dispatches her with cool efficiency.
Almeiria seems more irritated than angry, and switches tactics to a wide-radius mind sear, aiming to strike everyone's clones at once.
Estel is here to have a good time and she seems to be enjoying the trial. She follows Almeiria's lead, tethering a mind sear to Dane.
Gwenivene makes a complex gesture with her hands and points to the ground under her. A glowing Rune of Power appears beneath her feet. Empowered by the symbol, she casts one Nether Tempest after another on each clone. Arcane energy overflows from each, spreading to the others in a storm of damage.
Pookie watches the fray impassively.
When Atley's second mirror image enrages, the true knight goes on the defensive, withstanding the tireless barrage before finding an opening in his overstepping opening, bisecting them in the middle with a single strike.
“To live without anger,” says the unfamiliar pandaren, “is not to live at all. Our anger is ours to overcome. In defeating it to master ourselves, we draw great strength.”
“Well spoken, Zhi,” says the White Tiger, amusement in his rumbling voice. “The strangers from beyond the mists have no shortage of passions… but let us see if they can indeed control them.
“Beyond anger lies hatred, the wellspring of all misery.”
Shun's finger twitches.
As the sha begins to billow once more, Xuen asks, “But what is this? Your hatred has a face?” Before them on the tiles stands the shadowy form of an orc.
The words of the pandaren speaking of mastering anger to draw true strength seems to empower Colson's Light, as bright golden wings sprout behind the paladin's back.
“That… that looks like Garrosh Hellscream!” exclaims Anduin.
Gwen squeaks in surprise when the image of Garrosh appears. "Son of a biscuit!"
Shine sees the Garrosh-sha and doesn't wait for a plate-wearer but shadowsteps in at once.
Anareline looks over calmly as the tiger speaks of hatred. This is fine, she has no… when the sha takes the form of Garrosh Hellscream, Ana's lips draw back in a snarl.
"Hellscream—!" Atley snarls immediately, gaze first drawn to the weapon in the Warchief's hand — Gorehowl. He charges in to engage, shield braced.
Anareline charges in by Atley's side, cutting viciously to make the sha clone bleed.
Colson prepares a Holy Radiance, but his expression is as neutral as it has been.
At the sight of the illusory Hellscream, Arric looks about as grim as Arric ever looks. Which is… medium-grim. He glares at the apparition.
Estel is far enough behind the melee group that she can't really get a good look at Garrosh Hellscream, but fortunately Anduin is there to narrate for her. She doesn't seem to really care who it is. It's a shadow-thing. She's Shielding her buddies.
Shun blinks at the form of the third sha. He shakes his head, then moves in with the others to deliver a strike at his first opening.
"Do stay calm, please," Almeiria warns. "We are being watched." She herself appears to have no particular feelings about Garrosh.
Shine has definite feelings about Garrosh, but they mostly just seem to involve stabbing, which many of his feelings do.
Anareline does not seem very calm, but her attention is solely on the sha clone. The nearby tauren inspires no such feeling.
Atley contends with the image of Garrosh wholeheartedly, but he's not going at full strength, almost as if he's using this to test the Warchief's might — or at least, everyone's combined perception of the Warchief's might.
"Bring him down," Atley growls with a controlled tone.
Colson brings him down.
Rica lets out That Raptor Noise as she helps bring him down.
“See?” demands Taran Zhu. “See how these outsiders hate one another! They wear their hatred to battle and carry it to their graves!”
“That isn’t true!” protests Anduin. “There’s so much more to us than this! That Sunwalker Dezco and I are here with the same healing purpose should prove that. Peace will come, I swear it.”
“They have proven mastery over anger,” rumbles Xuen. “Between the young cub’s words and the actions of his champions, I think I understand. Those from beyond the mists are hardened by battle. They are scarred, yes, but they have learned much. I trust them.” The White Tiger nods slowly. “It is decided, then. I will open the gates. The Vale of Eternal Blossoms will be opened to all.”
“You are making a mistake,” growls Taran Zhu, and stalks toward the exit.
Estel watches Taran Zhu. "He's really leaving out the fact that some of us saved his life and his monastery," she mutters.
Shun grunts.
Shine is still watching the tiles at the center of the room like he expects more Garrosh.
“Thank you, Master Tiger,” says Anduin, and bows low. “You will see. I believe that my people — and the Horde — are essentially good.”
The tauren Sunwalker speaks for the first time, dryly. “I find your faith inspiring, little one. But I wonder if you have ever met our warchief.” Shaking his head, Dezco shoulders his hammer and strides away.
Arric watches the Tauren go, fascinated.
Anareline looks over to Dezco with a faint glint of respect in her eyes.
Anduin turns to Cobalt Company, his expression fervently aglow. “You did it! The White Tiger has agreed to let us accompany the pandaren into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. Master Zhi the Harmonious tells me there is a place we can set up an Alliance outpost there to act as our embassy with the pandaren.”
Behind him, the blue-and-gold robed pandaren bows.
"As you say, Highness," Atley says, before he pauses. "And well done, Anduin."
"That's wonderful news, Your Highness!" Gwen clasps her hands excitedly.
Anduin smiles warmly.
"In the Vale itself?" Anareline says, turning to the Prince. "I am grateful for their trust in our people."
Colson bows to the prince in acknowledgement. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Arric bows deeply.
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” says Anduin, still radiant. “And neither shall you, my friends! Meet me at the Gate of the August Celestials, in the south of Kun-Lai, and together we will see the gates opened.”
Atley bows in farewell to Anduin, before turning to the blue-and-gold robed pandaren. "And Master Zhi."
Master Zhi bows genially.
Estel waves cheerfully. "See you there!"
"Well done, you lot," Atley says to Cobalt Company. "Let's make for the Vale, then."
Arric looks thoughtful. "I hadn't realized that even some members of the Horde are … concerned about Hellscream."
Anareline looks to Arric. "The tauren especially. I would imagine he is not popular."
"No people are monolithic," Colson says to Arric.
"There are even a few Kul Tirans who dislike the sea…" Arric says with a wan half-smile.
Shine eyes Arric bemusedly.
"We'll make for Westwind Rest. Stay sharp, something is about to happen that hasn't happened in millennia," Atley says, before mounting a kite.
Colson stays sharp.
Shun grunts again.
"Oh, I thought that was the violent reemergence of the Sha," Almeiria says to Dane.
Atley deadpans Almeiria from the side. "An… other event."
At the Gate of the August Celestials…
Pilgrims, traders, and travelers have already gathered around the mighty southern gate by the time they arrrive. Prince Anduin is in conversation with an armored pandaren, while Zhi the Harmonious looks on benevolently. The Prince’s Stormwind Army escort form a loose and watchful ring around the area.
Estel waves cheerfully to the members of the escort she recognizes.
"This is so exciting!" Gwen exclaims. "We get to be part of an historic event!"
"Isn't this gate magnificent?" Arric breathes.
Gwen nods emphatically to Arric. "It's incredible."
Rica, too, strangely, seems mesmerized by the gate. She stares at it, her bright blue eyes moving over the details.
"So why exactly have these gates been sealed?" Estel asks. "Did I miss that?"
Shine shakes his head at Estel.
Atley hones in on Prince Anduin and walks over.
"Wait there, Rica," Arric says, pointing.
Anduin brightens at Cobalt Company’s arrival. “My friends!” He is still aglow with excitement. “This is an historic moment! Are you ready to see what lies beyond the gates?”
"We are, Highness," Atley says.
"…Sure," says Shun.
Colson bows again in answer.
"It's just a door," Almeiria mutters. "And it's in the way."
"It's not just a bloody door," Atley corrects sharply.
"It is a thing of beauty and art," Gwen says breathily, awestruck.
"It is a symbol of their trust in us," Colson says gently. "It is much more than a door."
Ghostly forms shimmer into sight: the Red Crane is stationed on one side of the gate, the Black Ox on the other. Xuen pads toward the gate from the north as Yu’lon descends gracefully from above.
“Children of Pandaria,” says the Jade Serpent; a hush falls and heads turn as the crowd looks toward her. “The mists have fallen. A new era dawns for us all. Accept the healing powers of this Vale… but use these gifts wisely, and see that they are protected.”
Estel gives the Jade Serpent a thumbs-up.
Xuen steps forward and gives a thunderous roar. Sparks catch in the sealed seam of the gates, and lightning streaks briefly along the edges of the doors. Mechanisms click and groan, and the gate begins ponderously to open. Golden light pours out, and throngs of pilgrims and travelers press forward on a wave of awed exclamations.
Rica lets out a soft, excited trill.
Colson inhales deeply at the wash of the golden light.
Atley leans down to pat Hal'vyr a few times as he watches the gates open with wary awe, lips parted, brow knit, teeth lightly clenched.
Anareline looks towards the Vale in curious wonder.
Arric pushes up his goggles to gaze through the doorway.
“We risk everything,” Yu’lon says quietly, “allowing so many into the Vale.”
“I have faith in our friends from beyond the mists,” echoes Chi-Ji’s warm voice. “And the Vale may need their aid in return.”
“Their strength is an inspiration,” rumbles Xuen. “And sorely needed. We must trust their hearts are pure.”
Anareline takes a breath, trying to reach a place of calmnes, of purity of heart.
Atley turns in his saddle to examine the Celestials, gaze lingering the longest on the Ox.
Shun eyes the spirits for the moment as they walk past.
Beyond the gate, an ancient, stone-tiled road meanders into a broad valley of trees bearing gold and scarlet leaves. The air itself shimmers with a honeyed light, though there is a faded, nostalgic quality to it, some vividness stripped from the air. Grass grows between broken tiles in the road, and then eventually the tiles end altogether and the road becomes a simple path of dirt and stone rolling across autumn-gold fields. Ancient red and gold structures — and ruins — litter the landscape, and silent, forbidding mogu statues of bronze or stone stand sentry here and there.
"This place… is ancient," Anareline says. "Moreso than I."
"By the Light," Gwen gasps. "It's like I can smell the magic in the air. This place is…." She just trails off, speechless.
"Breathtaking," says Arric. Breathlessly.
"Lookit' the bloody size of them…" Atley says of the giant mogu statues.
Shine is as expressionless as ever, but Bun is gazing around in tiny, wide-eyed tanuki amazement.
Win-Win doesn't care. @#$% all this. All of it.
Bun looks like he has found The Snackiest Place of All.
Colson is taking deep, slow breaths as he takes in the golden vale.
Shun is alert as he looks about.
Atley sets his jaw and alternates between taking in the breathtaking view and scanning the crowds of pilgrims for threats.
"I… don't even know what to say," says Arric, saying it anyway.
"It's pretty," Estel says. "Menace, no, stay on the road…" She stops her ram from taking a bite out of a nearby bush.
"I expect we will come to know this place well," Anareline says, "If they mean to let us set up a place here."
"Mordecai will love to see this," Colson remarks.
At a crossroads before a pair of towering stone mogu guardians, pilgrims and travelers have drawn up their yaks and wagons and gathered companionably to sit on the grass and talk in excited or wondering tones.
Atley grunts. "Nearly reminds one of the Eversong."
Gethennis whinnies softly in agreement with Atley.
"The what now?" inquires Arric.
Gwen looks up at the massive mogu statues. "I reeeeally hope those ones don't come to life."
"The Eversong Woods. Quel'thalas," Atley says up to the giant mogu statues.
"We could take 'em," Estel says.
"If they do," Arric says to Gwen, "I agree with Estel." To Atley, he says with interest, "You've seen the high elf homeland?"
Between the mogu guardians is a golden pagoda, and Zhi the Harmonious waits at its center, surrounded by others in blue-and-gold garb.
"A long time ago," Atley says "I was a young boy."
Arric quiets as they approach Important People.
Zhi bows to the group. “Welcome, travelers. For thousands of years, the Golden Lotus has kept the Vale safe from those who would seek its power. We hope you will find here the peace and healing your prince speaks of.”
Colson bows in return.
"Of course!" says Arric.
Atley inclines his head. "Master Zhi."
“You should take this path behind me to the Shrine of the Seven Stars, which we have opened to refugees and to travelers like yourselves. I understand that you and your allies may wish to use the Shrine as an embassy of sorts. We will be glad to open the necessary portals and offer sanctuary.” Zhi beams.
"So kind of you," says Arric.
"The Alliance is grateful to you," Atley says.
At the margin of the terrace, a female pandaren in Golden Lotus garb waits, her expression grim, her watchful gaze on Zhi. When he has finished addressing Cobalt Company, she beckons the group with a tilt of her head.
"Miss?" Atley asks, walking over.
On the ground outside the pagoda, a massive dark form lies still in the grass: the body of a mogu.
Almeiria eyes the dead mogu.
Atley squints at the corpse.
Anareline frowns at the dead mogu.
“Master Zhi has had visions,” the woman says, “of mogu invaders in the Vale. Some would have had us keep the Vale sealed to guard against them, but Master Zhi thought it wiser to seek strength to defend against them while there was still time.” She nods at the mogu corpse. “We found this one skulking about not far from here. A scout, or perhaps an assassin. So now we must hope Master Zhi made the right decision in welcoming your people here.
“You should go and speak to the caretakers at the Shrine of Seven Stars to make sure the refugees and your people are safe, and that they are aware of the potential danger.”
Atley nods. "At once. We'll make it for directly."
"Of course!" says Arric.
The woman bows her head.
"They're already beginning to arrive," Anareline says quietly. "I hope we are here in time to stop them, this time."
Atley's gaze falls upon a goblin in a gaudy hat. "Didn't take very bloody long…" he grumbles under his breath. His gaze lifts to scowl at the mountains as they walk.
Arric lets out a low whistle. "Every time I think I've seen the most magnificent place Pandaria has to offer, I turn another corner…"
Beyond a tranqil pool of lotuses around which cranes stalk gracefully, an ornate, terraced building stands against the mountainside, tucked between golden trees. It is hung with the blue and gold banners of the Golden Lotus, and curving stairs wrap around each side of it.
Atley points out. "Shrine of the Seven Stars… The Big One, and that other one, yonder."
"I am so glad I had the chance to experience this place with all of you," Arric says warmly.
Almeiria eyes him. All of us? But she doesn't comment.
Colson smiles faintly at Arric, and inclines his head.
Arric smiles back at Colson. He gets it!
Gwen beams at Arric. "Me too."
Arric looks like he's booping her nose, but in his mind.
"And we will protect it," Anareline says, smiling to Arric.
Shine studies the building in silence. It is a quietly wondering silence. Probably.
"Man," Estel says. "Niris would wanna see this place, I bet."
Atley idly glares at the mogu guardian statues.
"Who- oh, Lady Ference, yes!" Arric nods.
Colson nods to Estel. "I am sure."
"I am not sure what Caspis would make of this place," Anareline says, musing. "But the lands, I expect he will love."
The exterior is decorated incongruously with more bronze mogu figurines. Within the colonnaded space of the ground floor, however, stone statues of the four August Celestials keep watch over what looks like part library, part market. There is a horseshoe-shaped bar with kegs stacked behind it; a propped wooden boat has been set beside a jumble of fishing nets and shellfish traps. A representative of the Tillers stands nearby before an array of ridiculous vegetables. Armored members of the Order of the Cloud Serpent and the Shado-Pan — Taran Zhu not among them — mingle genially.
Beside a jinyu in the garb of a Lorewalker, Mishi (mini-Mishi) spirals in the air and seems to wink at the Cobalt group.
"Mishi!" Arric cries happily.
Mishi does another whirl in the air and bobs up and down.
Colson inclines his head politely to the mini-Mishi. There might have even been a lightning flash of a wink back. Who can say.
Estel looks for somewhere to tie up Menace.
Anareline slides off her saber, which wanders off. Anareline does not seem concerned.
Atley glances around at their surroundings, studying each person present with a concentrating frown.
At the foot of the statue of the Black Ox stands a woman in Golden Lotus robes, her face obscured by a mask and turban. She regards the new arrivals expectantly.
Atley glances over and grunts. He dismounts. Hal'vyr stays right where he's left, more statue than living animal.
Anareline strides over.
Arric finds a reasonable place to tie up Win-Win and approaches on foot.
“Double fortune to you, travelers. I am Elder Lin. If you are looking for a lucky charm, I can help you.”
"A… luckydo?" Anareline blinks.
"I already have one," Shun states.
"You're not a grummle," Almeiria points out.
"I am not a grummle," agrees Elder Lin tranquilly.
"Hi, I'm Estel!" Estel grins.
"Pleased to meet you, Elder Lin," says Arric. "I'm Arric."
"I am Anareline," Ana says, with a nod of greeting.
Gwen bows respectfully. "I'm Gwenivene Whittle. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Rica trills.
"We are Cobalt Company, of the Alliance," Atley says.
“May a lucky star shine upon you, friends,” says Elder Lin placidly. “Here you will find representatives from all the factions of Pandaria. They have begun to gather for diplomatic purposes, to meet with you and others of your people. When you have settled in and the embassy is properly established here, they may wish to talk to you about the aid you and they can offer one another.”
"We'll be happy to help however we can," Arric says.
"All sorted, then. You have our thanks. We'll look about and speak with the other Elders." Atley says.
Atley doubletakes Mishi on the way out and nods.
Up the flight of curving stairs is an elaborately-tiled terrace. To one side, a group of smiling kaldorei speak quietly with some pandaren as they set up what is clearly a lunar festival display. Members of the kaldorei delegation to the Krasarang Wilds mingle off to one side, gazing around in awe.
"Oh, splendid," says Arric.
A golden tree grows from the center of the terrace, and before it a cheerful pandaren flower vendor is setting out armloads of her wares. The kite master and a stable master stand together off to one side, and beyond them is an official-looking pandaren mounted on a cloud serpent. A tiger wanders freely.
Atley briefly eyes the wandering tiger.
Gwen sighs in awe. "This place is magnificent."
"It is hard to imagine it was closed for thousands of years," Anareline says quietly. "But then… there were some people in here, caring for the place."
Other merchants and visitors are setting up around the perimeter of the terrace. At the foot of the central tree stands a genial-looking jinyu (that’s probably geniality, it’s hard to tell) gazing upward. He turns toward the Cobalt group.
Atley bows. "King's Honor."
“What happened to the pandaren whose kitchen was robbed?” the jinyu asks. “He got… bamboozled.” He gives a burbling laugh at his own joke and bows to the group. “I am caretaker Kuru the Light-Hearted, here to see to getting the refugees settled.”
Shun just stares at this jinyu.
"You are named well, I see," Arric says genially.
Colson inclines his head politely.
Almeiria stares at him. "Ugh," she mutters.
Anareline raises an eyebrow, but she smiles faintly at the joke.
Gwen bursts into giggles at Kuru's punny joke!
Estel snorts. "Nice. I'm Estel, hi. We're with Cobalt Company."
Atley stares, then grunts. "How's the effort faring?"
Kuru makes a face that is probably a smile. “When times are dark, it is best to turn on a light. Many arrive from all corners of Pandaria seeking the solace of the Vale… and, indeed, preparations are being made to receive many of your own people, if they would come.” He gestures to an ornate open door. “You may arrange accommodations, if you go in that side near your… kaldorei friends.” The foreign word seems to please him and he repeats it to himself under his breath. Kaldorei.
"The Kaldorei. Very well. Cheers," Atley says.
"My people," Anareline nods, her smile strengthening. "Thank you."
Atley scoffs with amusement at the quadruplet Enchanted Guardians wandering the Summer Terrace.
The air within is heavy with the smoke of braziers, torches, and a savory-smelling grill. No surface of the interior is not ornamented in some way, by carving or inlay or paint or gilt. Beside a paper screen stands a woman at a desk, who watches their entrance with bright-eyed expectation.
“Hello, hello, and welcome! I am Matron Vi Vinh! Welcome to the Golden Lantern, where the taps never empty and….” She pauses and frowns thoughtfully. “The taps never empty and… the barrels never stop rolling!” She brightens again. “How does that sound? Your people will like that?”
Atley scoffs with amusement at Matron Vi Vinh. "Very much, Matron."
The Matron beams at Dane. “You must make yourselves at home here,” she urges. “Trade and banking accommodations are being made for you upstairs. Above on the other end of the shrine, our people are establishing portals to your homelands. Vendors and craftsmen of all trades are being invited to establish themselves here. Explore at your leisure!”
"Oh, that's awesome." Estel grins.
"It sounds very comfortable," Anareline nods to the Matron.
"This is amazing," Arric says wholeheartedly. "Thank you."
"I don't mean to darken a lively place such as yours, Matron…" Atley begins. "But have you heard any rumors of mogu movements about?"
“Rumors of mogu?” The Matron blinks and then narrows her eyes thoughtfully. “You should speak, perhaps, to the Golden Lotus master Jaluu the Generous. He is to the north, outside the Seat of Knowledge at Mogu’shan Palace.”
"Of course!" says Arric.
"We should consult with him," Anareline nods.
Atley grunts at Anareline. "Jaluu the Generous. We'll make for him."
"Sure, will do." Estel smiles at the Matron. "We'll be back, probably!"
Matron Vi Vinh waves vigorously after them.
Atley whistles for Hal'vyr, and the trusty steed rides up to meet him.
Arric says, "Rica, follow."
Estel does not whistle. She has to go all the way back to fetch Menace, because Menace was tied up, and then ride to catch up. It's still probably safer than letting Menace loose.
Anareline's saber sidles up exactly when she's ready to ride out of the shrine.
Atley looks up and squints. "Mogu'shan Palace. The seat of the old Emperors…"
Shine gazes expressionlessly at the palace as they approach. "Like the place in the mountains over Zouchin," he observes of the architecture.
Colson regards the place with a neutral Aspenwood expression.
Shun grunts.
"Mogu architecture," Anareline nods to Shine.
"Must they make everything so large?" Almeiria asks. "How do they keep it clean?"
Arric says grimly and very quietly to Almeiria, "They expected to have lots of slave labor, that's how."
A lone pandaren man in Golden Lotus robes is seated on the edge of a well that glows with a strange, pale radiance, sending drifting lights upward into the sky. He watches their approach.
Estel immediately goes up to the well to look in. The bottom is a ways down.
"Jaluu the Generous — We're Cobalt Company, of the Alliance. We've come to search for any suspicious activity," Atley says.
“Suspicious activity?” The man raises his eyebrows. “I have not heard — watch out!”
Colson watches out.
A pair of mogu assassins leaps from the shadows.
Or like a dozen of them.
"Cut 'em down!" Atley barks.
Colson cuts them down.
Anareline, also, cuts them down.
Shun dodges a blade and returns the favor to the lesser assassin.
Gwen and Pookie both explode with arcane energy! Gwen's explosion actually does something.
Estel tosses a glowing holy Barrier around the group.
Atley nods at Jaluu and wipes down his blade. "Not even this place is free of them," he observes. "Very well."
“Hmph,” sniffs Jaluu, settling again at the edge of the well. “The mogu will have to try harder than that. The Golden Lotus will defend this Vale no matter the cost. The secrets we guard are much too precious to allow into the hands of the Shao-Tien!”
Atley shakes his head. "Wot's the Shao-Tien, then?"
“The Shao-Tien are a mogu clan, and these wear their emblems. Sun Tenderheart tells me that they have been testing the Vale’s defenses, and one or two have been seen in the mountain passes.” Jaluu shakes his head disdainfully. “They will not find easy passage into to the Vale, nor will they catch the Golden Lotus unawares.”
Atley digests this with a grunt. "I doubt they shall. We'll be off, then."
Colson inclines his head.
"So we're allowed to stay here?" Arric says.
"Aye," Atley says.
"Yeah, back at the embassy, I think," Estel says.
"I've never even seen such luxury," Arric says. "Much less been allowed to stay in it."
"Do the Horde have an embassy, too, then?" Almeiria asks.
"…likely," Anareline says, with a frown. "The tauren was there with our Prince Anduin."
"Look there — to the west," Atley says darkly.
Colson looks there to the west.
"We'll keep the peace — here, especially, until they misstep. But we allow them to misstep first," Atley says.
"That Tauren seemed all right," Arric says.
"They have had a long friendship with my people," Anareline says. "Despite the conflict between the Alliance and the Horde. Much of my work in Hyjal was to heal one of their people, an Archdruid."
"Well done today, you lot. We handled a delicate situation triumphantly. We're officially dismissed…" Atley turns and points at the Shrine of Seven Stars. "I'll be quartering there and having a look about the place."
"As shall I," Arric says determinedly. "So much to see."
"I can't wait to see it all!" Gwen bursts with excitement.
Shine nods and shifts Bun on his shoulder. "I'll let Lena know, and we'll make our way back here."
"I will bring Caspis here," Anareline nods.
"I shall be returning to Onekeg to collect Mordecai, and we shall return here together," Colson says. "Light be with you all."
"We should take care if we wander from it," Almeiria suggests. "The mogu likely know this place well, considering…"
Atley grunts and shifts his attention back to the gates of Mogu'shan Palace.
Shun looks to Estel, "Hungry?"
"Hell yeah." Estel grins. "I'm gonna see who I can help get set up. Maybe they'll give me discounts."
Shun nods.