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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Atley, Caspis, Cressidha, Lena, and Mi Shu continue the defense at the Golden Stair, and then they head to help out Mistfall Village with some local and spiritual difficulties. ~3000 words |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Atley speaks with a pair of Golden Lotus Archers. The three of them occasionally pause and look to the west.
Lena lands her gryphon and dismounts, heading into the Golden Pagoda to check in. She waves to Atley, moving over towards the group he's speaking with.
Atley breaks the conversation with the archers and turns to Lena — namely, her leg. "Lena," he greets, gaze raising to study her features. "How's the day?"
A flying carpet lands, and Cressidha steps off of it to approach the people she recognizes.
"A good one for fighting mogu, I hope," Lena says with a smile. Then she turns and catches sight of Cressidha and pauses in surprise. "Lady Cressidha, hello!"
Atley studies Lena for a moment longer before nods and doubletakes Cress. "Cress," he growls fondly. "How long's it been?"
"Good afternoon, Lena. Dane." She looks at Mi Shu. "Miss."
Caspis circles above in stormcrow form.
"I couldn't say." Cressidha shakes her head, smiling faintly.
The stormcrow soars in under the pagoda and resolves into the familiar form of the ancient, absent-minded druid.
"I was wondering if you might come over, not long ago," Lena says to Cressidha. "Some tailoring ideas came up with my new apprentice."
"Oh?" Cressidha sounds interested. She turns towards Caspis and nods. "Caspis, good afternoon."
"You've got a new hat on, haven't you," Atley says.
Caspis bows solemnly to Atley.
Mimi sits and quietly looks over her erhu, making sure to check for any wear it's sustained on her travels.
Cressidha automatically begins to trace water-summoning sigils in the air. "Hm? I suppose." It's probably not a new hat to her.
"Yes, there's this rather complicated tear in a lacey, crepey skirt," Lena says to Cressidha, and then looks over at Caspis, a touch warier. "Hello, there. I'm Lena, if we've not been introduced."
"Caspis Silvershade," he says solemnly to Lena, and bows.
Lena bows back politely. "It's a pleasure."
"Well then," Atley says, looking between them. "Let's get to it then, mm?"
Leven Dawnblade looks over at the team gruffly. "It is a good day to fight mogu. They're out in force at the Golden Stair. I trust you know what to do."
Nearby, Anji, Kun and Sun stand by to give their reports and tasks.
"Indeed. How may I be of assistance?" Cressidha asks.
"Fought much of the mogu, yet?" Atley asks.
Cressidha shakes her head no.
"Oh, a few things," Anji says. "You know those rituals you've been stopping? They succeeded at one. Looks like they plan to unleash the thing on us."
Caspis frowns.
"I would like to unleash you all on it, if you don't mind," Anji grins. "As well as on their narcissistic stone effigies. Think you can handle it?"
"I beg your pardon, what precisely is 'the thing'?" Cressidha asks.
"I had a similar question," Caspis says solemnly.
"A giant statue of stone," Lena supplies. "A behemoth. They've been trying to empower one for a while, we kept cutting down their channelers."
"They've been reanimating giant stone statues for battle. They're like Titan creations," Atley says.
"Ahhh yes, I remember…" Caspis nods.
"Ah. I see." Cressidha pauses. "'Like' or 'are'?"
Caspis looks to the others, unsure himself.
"And I suppose, lesser statues of stone as well…" Lena adds. "And I think like. There are titan construct machines here, but we've kept the mogu away from them."
"I don't know if these statues were crafted by them or the Titans — but that is where the mogu originally hail from. Titan creations. Like us," Atley says.
Caspis blinks at Atley.
"I see." Cressidha nods.
"While you're up there," Kun ventures, "Lao was out scouting around the stair, and it seems like he got caught. Set him loose if you run into him? He's… not a very good rogue."
Caspis frowns in concern.
Atley nods. "We'll see to him."
"I would certainly not leave an ally in captivity," Cressidha says. "We shall find him."
Mimi does her best to suppress a small giggle at Lao's expense.
"On that note," Sun speaks up, wringing her hands. "The mogu have a number of prisoners, and I can hear the screams from here. Please, please free any you find."
Atley inclines his head. "Of course."
Caspis frowns fiercely, and shifts immediately into stormcrow form, sailing off.
Cressidha, who is too far away to hear the screams with her human hearing, just nods and steps back onto her carpet. Whoosh.
"Sounds like we've got our work cut out for us," Lena nods. She whistles for her gryphon.
Atley grunts.
When Caspis lands, he shifts into his ominious, shaggy dark moonkin form.
Lena lands at the stair and starts in on the usual business of fighting mogu.
Atley sharply descends upon The Golden Stair atop Thoras, and swiftly dismounts. He charges the nearest mogu invader and slices them in half with Thunderfury.
Cressidha rolls up her carpet and tosses out a pair of elemental bracers to summon Marina.
It's raining! Marina loves the rain! She burbles happily.
"Keep an eye out for Lao," Lena says. "He's… well, he's a pandaren guy…"
Atley nods slowly and grunts, briefly eyeing a pile of burning pandaren corpses.
Cressidha keeps an eye out for Lao.
Mimi eyes Lena half-expecting a better explanation.
"The one who helped us blocking off the cave," Lena reminds Mi Shu and Atley.
"We'll find him, if he's alive," Atley confirms calmly.
They find multiple pandaren guys to rescue. Lao, however, is caged rather than actively being tortured.
Caspis hoots softly in concern.
"Let's get him out of there," Lena says, looking at the lock. "Break it off, or freeze it?" She looks over at the others.
"Oh, by all means, break it," Cressidha says, looking to Dane.
Atley steps forward to smash through the lock with Thunderfury.
Caspis watches with interest.
"Wow, thanks," Lao says. "I'm a brilliant stealther, but sometimes these mogu get the better of even me!" He rushes off in the direction of the Pagoda.
Cressidha silently mouths the words 'brilliant stealther'.
Atley turns and looks out over the countryside, pointing out a towering silhouette. "There."
Caspis nods with solemn satisfaction.
"That'd be the thing," Lena says, summoning up shadow.
Fusheng hisses enthusiastically.
Caspis lets out an angry moonkin roar as he advances, gathering solar energy in his clawed hands.
The empowered behemoth stands really no chance against the team. The mogu should probably find better rituals.
Atley takes a step back and admires the rubble proudly. "There'll be more."
"We'll be here to stop them," Lena says firmly.
Atley grunts. "Let's make for the Pagoda and report," Atley says.
Cressidha helps escort the rescued prisoners back.
Mimi passes out some snacks to the newly freed prisoners.
As they head back to the pagoda, the pandaren of the Golden Lotus look up towards the team.
“My heart rests a little easier knowing what you've done. Thank you, my dears,” Sun says with a gentle smile, as she looks over the safely escorted prisoners and their snacks. “I’ll see to it that they get to the healers in Mistfall.”
"Wot' else needs doing," Atley asks.
“And Lao came through safely. You’re good folk, helping that silly rogue out more than he deserves,” Kun says.
"Hmm," Leven says. "The mogu have been quiet in terms of raiding parties as of late, so what most needs doing is supporting the refugees at Mistfall. I have Che keeping watch there. Can I ask you to check in with him, and to support the villagers?"
"Aye. We'll make for the village," Atley says. He turns to examine Yu Feng.
"Certainly," Cressidha says. "I assume those of you who have been here longer know where that is?"
"Aye. Not far," Atley says.
"Yes," Lena says, "Just down the road to the south."
The team, including the Caspis doomkin, heads down the road to the south.
Cressidha nods and follows the others. "You mentioned a tailoring project…?"
"It's a lovely little village," Lena adds. "Nestled in by the mountains — and yes, the skirt situation I was starting to describe before."
"I will be staying at the Shrine of Seven Stars for the time being," Cressidha says. "Bring it by when you can."
"My apprentice Melancholy is relatively new to combat, and I'm afraid her lace skirt didn't quite hold up," Lena explains. "It's rather complicated, so she wasn't sure if it could be repaired. I'll let her know, for sure."
"Ah. Lace." Cressidha smiles faintly. "That's certainly not an amateur project. Yes, have her bring it by."
"Wot's the name of your serpent?" Atley asks Mi Shu as they fly.
"Yu Feng" Mimi pipes up cheerily.
"Did you raise it?" Atley asks.
"A bit, yeah. I've spent a lot of time helping the Order of the Cloud Serpent."
Atley grunts. "You a member?"
Mimi rests her hands on her hips proudly and nods.
Lena walks over toward Che, who is at the center of the peaceful village with his tiger.
Atley grunts before he turns to Che Wildwalker. "Are you Che?"
There are flames around some of the braziers throughout the village — something is going amiss here.
"I am, yes," Che says solemnly. "Leven has sent you to help, then, has he?"
Marina goes directly towards the fire and begins to pat pat pat it out.
"Mm, what needs doing?" Lena asks, looking at Marina and the flames.
"Marina, projectile jets, not your hands…" Cressidha says tiredly. Marina does a little wiggle and switches to shooting splashy water at the fire.
"He has…" Atley says, cinching his gauntlet's thumbs into his belt as he looks around. "The place is on fire."
"The flames, clearly, need putting out," Che says. "Mayor Shiyo has been working on that, so you may need to speak with her to find out what’s going on. On my side, I have a more unconventional request."
Lena raises an eyebrow.
“In the Tu Shen Burial Ground to the east, the spirits of ancient mogu are locked in battle with the spirits of our pandaren ancestors that rose up against them,” Che says. “The spirits have seen no rest since the return of the mogu to the valley."
Atley grunts mildly.
"We'll help in any way we can!" Mimi declares.
"Too right," Atley says.
"Is there some way to help the ghosts?" Lena asks, scrunching her brow.
“If you would be willing to go to the graveyard and force the mogu to relive their defeat again, we might offer some lasting peace to the spirits of our ancestors,” Che suggests.
Lena nods slowly.
"Very well," Atley says.
"Yes, yes," Cressidha says absently. She has mostly turned her attention to the fires.
Mimi nods solemnly, "We'll make sure they get the rest they deserve."
"The mayor's that woman over there," Lena says. "Maybe she can speak as to where these fires are coming from, so we can stop them from starting back up."
Atley briefly eyes Cressida before he looks around. "We'll sort out the village first. Then, bugger off."
Mimi bows quickly before leaving to follow the rest.
A sprite dashes by. Atley swipes it up. "Oi —" He promptly wrings its neck with a crunch of wood before dropping it on the cobblestone path.
Lena goes over to speak to the mayor. Before she can speak, the mayor starts in.
“I don't know if you noticed, but my town is burning…” Major Shiyo says, gesturing around. “The sprites have started kicking the braziers! They're going to set fire to the whole town! Please help us! Stamp out any fires you see!”
Cressidha blinks. "Are those pests?" she asks, indicating the sprite.
"Yes, yes," Mayor Shiyo says in exasperation. "Please, stop them before they burn down half the village."
Atley looks from the broken sprite to Cressidha. "Aye — strange forest dwellers. Vermin, like murlocs or kobolds."
"Let's stop them!" Mimi says.
"We've seen them elsewhere," Lena adds. "They were causing problems up in Kun Lai, with a local yak wash."
Cressidha silently mouths the words 'yak wash'. She does not ask.
Atley nods at Mayor Shiyo. "We'll secure the village."
Atley goes still and stares at a group of underbrush. After a moment, it stirs, and a sprite dashes out. Atley raises Thunderfury and incinerates it with a thunderbolt [Heroic Throw].
While they're fighting sprites and putting out fires, a cheerful pandaren in a chef hat comes over.
Atley eyes the pandaren. "Hail."
"Did I hear Che say you were heading to the Tu Shen Burial Ground?" Cook Tope asks.
"That's right," Atley confirms with a nod.
Marina burbles as she shoots water everywhere. Does she put out a couple of braziers? Yes. Does she also put out a lot of fire on the grass? Definitely.
"Could I ask a favor?" Tope asks. "I'm working on a hearty stew, but I'm short on lushrooms. They grow bountifully up there, but… it's a little dangerous for me, with all the angry spirits."
"Certainly. You ought to seek shelter until we have these critters managed," Atley says.
Mayor Shiyo looks over like Marina is the MVP of the day. She doesn't mind the braziers being put out.
Cook Tope ducks his head in a calm nod. "Sprites are sprites, but I'm glad you're here to help make sure they don't destroy everything."
Atley grunts.
Lena looks around. "Think we've got all the fire… time for the burial grounds?"
"Aye. Let's move," Atley says.
Cressidha moves. She re-summons Marina when they arrive.
The burial grounds are indeed full of angry ghosts. Pandaren valiantly fight against the spirits of ancient mogu.
Atley dismounts Thoras as they arrive. "It's a proper skirmish," he says, observing the spirits carefully.
Mimi winces and covers her ears, "The spirits here really are in turmoil…"
"It must be distressing," Lena says, watching some of the pandaren run by. "They thought they were finished, and now… centuries later, still fighting."
He turns just in time as a group of spirits of pandaren monks run right through him with dogged determination. "Let's bring them some peace," he says, nodding at Mimi.
Lena pauses whenever she sees lushrooms, to gather them for the chef.
Once someone points out the correct type of mushrooms to Cressidha, she helps gather them as well.
Atley raises his head. "Oi. A scroll."
"Oh?" Lena says. "Can you read it?"
Atley says, "If I can't, I'll take it back to the Mayor. She ought to have more use for it."
Cressidha looks at Mi Shu.
Mimi kneels down to read the scroll.
Lena looks curiously at Mimi. "What's it about?"
Atley waits, watching Mimi and the scroll.
"It's about the first pandaren monk, Kang, the Fist of the First Dawn." Mimi explains, "Pandaren were forbidden by the Mogu from carrying weapons so he trained to fight the mogu to free the pandaren and get revenge for his son."
"Oh, I recall some about that," Lena says, looking over at the characters she can't read. "I didn't know about Kang and the son, but the whole thing about unarmed combat…"
"Ah." Cressidha nods.
Atley grunts at Lena in agreement and shifts his gaze back to the scroll.
"For reasons to oppose an empire, that's not a bad one," Lena murmurs. "Love for a child."
As they head back into town, Lena pauses by Tope to drop off the lushrooms.
Cressidha drops off hers as well.
“I can hear the hungry bellies rumbling throughout the village!” Tope says. “Good timing! The stew's almost ready. You have my thanks.”
"It smells delicious!" Mimi sniffs the air.
Atley scoffs faintly with amusement and nods.
"I might come back later, if there's more work to do," Lena says with a smile.
Cressidha sits down at one of the tables. "Perhaps I shall wait, then."
Che waves the others up.
"I can hear the spirit of Lao-Fe, the Slavebinder shouting taunts from the cave at the top of Tu Shen Burial Mound," Che says. "Defeating him will surely serve to ensure victory for the spirits of the pandaren monks."
Atley looks to the others. "Let's get it done, then."
"We can take care of that," Lena says with a nod.
Mimi shoulders her staff and bows quickly before dashing off.
The spirit of Lao-Fe waits inside a crumbling structure of stone. Several echoes of dead pandaren are visible in front of him.
"That'd be him, then. Let's put the bastard down," Atley growls.
Lena nods, and begins casting.
Mimi rolls inside and throws a series of punches, bobbing and weaving unpredictably as she fights.
Atley charges in, shield at the ready to deflect, Thunderfury warbling with growing power.
Lao Fe tries to use his trademark moves to oppress the weak, but the team is anything but weak.
Lena weaves a haunt out of spirit energy, sending the spirit to torment the mogu slavebinder.
Lao-Fe's spirit eventually falls.
"Well, hopefully that will give them some peace," Lena says, dusting off her hands.
"All sorted?" Atley asks after a moment, glancing around.
"I think so." Mimi does a quick double check around them.
"Mmhm," Lena says, whistling for her gryphon. "Che will want to know."
Atley hops up onto Thoras and spurs the gryphon on.
Che waits in the village below. When he sees the team coming, he bows.
"Lao-Fe the Slavebinder was one of the most spiteful and vicious mogu of his time. May defeating his spirit act as a reminder to all the mogu in the vale of the fate that awaits them if they seek to defile the sacred pools again," Che says.
"Indeed," Atley says to Che.
Lena nods firmly, and then stretches her shoulders. "If everything's settled here, I might head down and wait for some of that stew myself."
"I'm making for the Steppes," he says, looking between them. "Travel well, ladies."
"Me too." Mimi's stomach growls and she laughs, "I'm glad I was able to be of help, Mr. Wildwalker."
"I'm glad you were here," Che nods solemnly.
"Take care in the Steppes," Lena says with a nod to Atley.
Atley grunts and hops upon Thoras, taking flight.