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| Details |
| Author: | MrMook |
| Summary: | Atley leads the squad with grim resolve, Arric keeps morale high and supports with rifle fire, Kenelly tends the wounded and reflects on the Sha’s corruption, while Peixin balances deadly skill with constant humor and mischief. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Peixin appears behind Dane, mimicking his posture. She grunts Danely.
Atley approaches the squad. "How are we, then?"
Atley briefly side-eyes Peixin.
Kenelly covers her mouth and giggles at Peixin.
Rica chirrs at Atley.
"I am well, thank you," says Arric amiably.
Kenelly regains her composure. "Yes, I am also well. How are you, Sir?"
Peixin tilts her head away from Atley and points a finger at him playfully. "Great, now that I totally got your grunt down and everything."
"Nearly," Atley says light-heartedly before he nods. "Let's see to the Lord. Learn wot' needs doing."
“Well now,” says Taran Zhu, and folds his arms. “It’s Lord Arric Falrevere again. And Cobalt Company. Just in time — we’ve got another job for you.”
Atley bows, briefly.
Arric's eyes widen with delight.
Kenelly beams at Arric. Taran Zhu remembered!
Peixin bows as well.
Taran Zhu says, “The dragon cannons we depend upon to keep the mantid back are running low on ammo. Our cannoneers have developed an improvised explosive made from the globe seeds down the western ridge.
“They dispatched a couple of initiates hours ago to bring some back, but we haven’t seen them since. I’d like to send someone a bit more… capable, this time. Are you up for it?”
"Whatever you need, Lord Zhu," Arric says with a bow.
Atley inclines his head. "We are."
"Okay, point us to that capable person and we're getting to you as soon as possible!" Peixin says. She waves a hand dismissively. "I'm joking. We're the capable guys, I know."
"Squad, move out," Atley says before he turns and starts jogging.
Arric narrows his eyes at Peixin.
Kenelly transforms as they enter dangerous territory.
They move through the Gao-Ran Battlefront, where the Krik'thik still test the Shado-Pan's resolve.
On the rocky road that leads down toward a mist-filled marsh below stands a pair of Shado-Pan initiates. One, armed with a spear, is gazing angrily downhill. “Yeah, you better run!” he shouts.
The other initiate stands at the road’s edge, gazing out over the marsh. He turns a little guiltily at Blue Squad’s approach. “Oh. Uh, hello.”
Rica makes a noise that sounds alarmingly like 'krik'thik'.
He glances at his comrade. “I’m Chao. That’s Feng. We, uh. Ran into some trouble with sprites.”
“It’s, uh, pretty embarrassing,” says Chao, and rubs the back of his neck. “I set my sword down for like one second to grab some orbs, and a big sprite sprung out of nowhere, snatched it, and bounded off down the western gap.
"Trouble, you say?" Arric says. "That's our specialty."
"Oh no. Thieving sprites, hm?" Kenelly gives a nearby sprite a chiding look.
Peixin giggles. "It's all right. Everyone has troubles with their sprites from time to time."
Arric never has trouble with his sprite, and wants everyone to know that.
Atley deadpans Chao. "You lost your sword," he repeats scathingly.
“I can’t go back to camp without it. Losing your weapon’s a sure way to get kicked out of the Shado-Pan. It’s sacred.” Chao wrings his paws.
“Pesky little buggers!” growls Feng. “Can’t catch a single one of ‘em!”
“Look,” says Chao. “I don’t suppose you guys could go find my sword out there? Please?”
"Of course!" says Arric.
“Gonna have to clear out some of those sprites just to get through,” Feng grumbles.
"We'll see to it. But if asked if you'd lost your blade, we'll not lie, initiate," Atley warns sternly.
Atley turns to the squad. "Down into the marsh, you lot…" As they descend, he says, "If I'd ever lost my sword in the army I'd have been skinned alive as a footman."
Arric listens with great interest.
"I've never lost a rifle," Arric says.
"Good," Atley commends as they draw closer to the misty swamp.
Rica makes a sound, possibly informing Atley that she's never lost her weapons either.
"I'm not very familiar with these sprites," Arric says. "Do they often cause trouble, Peixin?"
"I mean, you just need to carry emergency weapons," Peixin says. "Even if you lose the main one, you can still use hairpins like mine!"
Rica mockingly imitates a sprite death sound.
Atley approaches a Volatile Dread Orb and plucks it before he turns to look at Peixin for her response.
"That's very clever," Kenelly says, nodding to Peixin.
"My wife uses hairpins," Atley says.
"I wouldn't say 'often'", Peixin shrugs. "More like, all the time. They're tricksters. A pain in the butt, but not evil, most of the time."
"These are the largest I've seen," Atley says, nodding to one of the slain Agitated Seedstealers.
"Ah, I see," Arric says, making a mental note. "A shame we must resort to violence, but sometimes pranks have serious consequences."
"They are curious creatures," Kenelly muses. "I can feel how strongly they are connected to the land."
Atley grunts. "No time for mischief when we're waging a war on every front."
"Pranks would never!" Peixin shakes her head. "They're harmless and fun!"
Atley shoots Peixin an admonishing look.
Atley looks to Kenelly. "I'm of a mind to have druids get a moment to examine these great trees. The kaldorei sort are the only I've seen that come close to it."
Arric scowls as he's forced to wade through stagnant water.
Atley pushes some reeds three times his height aside and makes stiff eye contact with a swamp turtle. It does not seem particularly impressed with him.
Atley looks from the turtle to Dane. "You know, with that heavy armor of yours, you kind of look alike."
Atley scoffs with amusement at Peixin. "Sturdy lad," he says to the turtle, giving it a nod before he moves on.
"There are turtles in the river by my home. Much smaller. They eat plants," Atley says.
"I absolutely adore turtles," says Arric.
Atley grunts. "My son's of the same mind. He tries to collect these box turtles. Set them on his sister's lap to get her to share his fascination."
"Oh dear," says Arric. "Poor girl."
Atley scoffs with amusement. "Indeed. Fortunate she's made of stern stuff."
"Yeah. Our turtles got really big after they started developing a liking for Hozen flesh," Peixin sighs wistfully.
"I learned as a young boy that unsolicited live reptiles are -not- the way to win a girl's affection."
"That great bloody wandering turtle — that was native to Pandaria, mm? Are there any other that size?" Atley asks.
"I was joking about the hozen thing, by the way, I've only ever seen that happen once or twice," Peixin specifies. "I don't know about other big turtles, to be honest. Not like the Wandering Isle, I mean."
Atley grunts and squints. "Which hozen 'thing?'"
"When she said that turtles grew large from eating hozen flesh, I imagine," Arric says helpfully.
Atley grunts slowly, as in a-ha.
"Keep an eye out for that sword," Atley says. "Can't be far."
"What can I say?" Peixin says, as she's stealthing. She reappears as a sprite. "I'm a jokester at heart!"
Atley eyes her mildly. "Not unlike these sprites," he says.
"Which is why I stole one's identity," Peixin the sprite nods. "For dramatic funsies."
Atley points out Needlebottom, a sprite swinging a Pandaren sword at a tree root. "Oi! That devil'll blunt the blade. Kill it."
"That is an interesting trick, Peixin," Kenelly says. "How do you manage it? Illusion magic?"
Arric smiles at Peixin. "I think it's nice to have someone along who can make a little harmless fun. The situation is grim enough without our adding to it with our attitudes, hm?"
"Is that a sword?" Arric points excitedly.
Atley nods and swipes up the curved sword. "Aye. Pandaren make. This'll be it."
"That seems to be a sword!" Kenelly agrees enthusiastically.
"I've never seen a blade quite so… wiggly," Arric observes.
"Hey! Don't just comment on somebody else's sword like that, Arric!" Peixin places her hands on her hips.
Arric grins at Peixin.
Atley shakes his head at Peixin with a smirk in his eyes and holds the curved sword out, running his armored fingers along its edge. "The blade's got more contact points. These help it bite and slice more. Cause more grievous injuries.""
"You're right, Peixin, I know I'd be very upset if someone were to slander my enormous and perfectly engineered rifle."
Atley gives the sword a brief spin. "The Pandaren favor cutting efficiency. Shock and disruption. Blades of the Kingdoms primarily favor thrusts, especially against armor."
Arric listens with interest to the smith's analysis.
"Eww. Too much information, Arric, I was just talking about the sword," Peixin raises an eyebrow at him. "This wasn't an invitation to brag or anything."
Atley scoffs with amusement and puts the blade away. "Let's get back. This initiate owes us greatly."
Kenelly gasps at Peixin and covers her mouth again. Don't laugh, Nelly. Keep it in.
Arric laughs good-naturedly.
"Wait there, Rica," Arric says, pointing.
Atley lands on Thoras and swings a leg over the saddle, dismounting. "Oi." He holds the curved blade out.
“You found it?” Chao’s expression lights with relief. “You… you’re lifesavers. Thank you so much!”
“Hey Chao,” says Feng. “You got your sword and the sprites are thinned out. We better get down there and get a few more orbs ourselves while we’ve still got face to save.”
"Hopefully you've learned a little something, hm?" says Arric.
"Keep a closer eye on it in the future, Mr. Chao." Kenelly gets all maternal.
"You've learned to ask strangers for help," Peixin nods. "Strangers are kind and strong."
Atley grunts, adding on to Arric's sentiment, before he mildly looks back and forth between Chao and Feng.
"Taran Zhu'll need the ammo. Let's get back, you lot," Atley says.
“Well, well,” says Taran Zhu. “Back even sooner than expected. And you have the seeds?”
Atley nods and produces his gathered Volatile Dread Orbs.
Arric bows to Taran Zhu, and sends Rica off out of the way.
Taran Zhu nods. “Good. Without ammunition for those cannons, the mantid numbers have been steadily increasing out there. Get those down to the battlefront and man the cannons. Let nothing through.”
"Capital!" says Arric.
"Let's get to it, you lot. Who's got experience handling artillery?" Atley asks as they jog.
"I do!" Arric says excitedly.
"Time to put it to good use, once again," Atley says.
"Absolutely. I've handled fireworks at least once or twice," Peixin nods.
"krrrik-thhhk," says Rica.
Atley jumps onto a cannon and adds to the onslaught.
As the mantid lines break and the survivors mill in disarray, the ground before the barricades erupts in a fountain of soil and stones. A massive stone elemental worm, bristling with spikes of amber, rears from the earth.
“Oh,” says Taoshi’s familiar voice from nearby. “Looks like we have our work cut out for us.”
"Oh shhh…oot." Kenelly boggles at the giant stone worm.
Peixin misses the arrival of the elemental worm. She's too busy looking at her teammates and screaming at them. "Do you think baby mantids are like… humanoids with larvae heads, or just larvae who grow into humanoids?"
"Peixin!" Atley barks, before he points Thunderfury at the elemental worm. "Focus."
Taoshi turns to the group. “Nice to see you all again. Our people weren’t really trained for something like… that. What do you say we get down there and take it out ourselves?”
Peixin tilts her head back and stares at the worm. "When did that get here?"
"Just a moment ago," Atley says, before he nods at Taoshi. "We can handle it."
Arric stares at the giant undulating worm. "I regret some of my earlier metaphors," he says quietly and wryly.
Atley scoffs with amusement. "Right. I'll draw its attention and turn it away. The rest of you lot focus on its joints."
"Don't say that, Arric. Early bird catches the worm, and it's still pretty early," Peixin shrugs.
Arric checks his rifle, which is not nearly as large as the worm.
Atley charges Norvakess, and survives through a combination of dodging and timely blocks. Thunderfury carves through the stony surface with a shriek of stone on metal.
Arric tries to shoot at weak points in the thing's structure. As it's almost engineered-seeming, this is not hard for him to figure out.
Kenelly clutches her viny staff, which is, arguably, larger than Arric's rifle.
But not as thicc.
Peixin vanishes, then reappears behind Norvakess. She throws shuriken at its weak points.
Eventually, the Terror of the Dread Wastes falls, collapsing in on itself.
After it falls, Arric takes a mining pick from his bag and harvests some of its most interesting bits.
“Well,” says Taoshi. “That’s that, then. Better report back to Taran Zhu.”
"Okay, now that the worm's gone. What about my question from earlier?" Peixin asks, clapping her hands as if she'd just gotten her hands dirty.
"He'll be pleased," Arric says with an air of satisfaction.
"Which question, my friend?" Arric asks Peixin.
Atley turns to Peixin and squints for a long moment, as if enraged. Eventually, he says, "Larvae, that turn into humanoids. White Squad's got a larvae on their hands."
"Baby mantids. Humanoids with larvae faces, or just larvae who grow—" Peixin blinks at Dane. "Really? That's great! I'd love to see it!"
"P'raps in time," Atley says.
"Well, not in too much time, or the larvae will just be a grown up," Peixin shrugs. "That's how time works."
Arric just shakes his head with a smile.
"We can hope, at least," Kenelly adds.
"Let's move," Atley says.
“You!” says Taran Zhu, and folds his arms. “You’re coming with me. I want strength like yours on the battlefield when we face the Sha of Hatred.” He looks over at Taoshi, who waits nearby. “I’m taking Taoshi and heading westward to gather the strongest I can find. You’re in that number. Let’s go. We’ll stop at the encampments along the way to gather more veteran Shado-Pan to join us.”
Peixin's eyes widen ever-so-slightly at kind of being recruited for real into the shado pan. She goes back to a more neutral, carefree expression soon, though.
"Very well, my lord," Atley says to Taran Zhu with pride.
Arric looks like it's Winter Veil morning.
"Oh, ah…yes, of course." Kenelly bows her head to Taran Zhu.
“Wait,” says Taoshi, and slows as the road turns uphill. “Do you feel that…?”
“Yes,” says Taran Zhu grimly. “The Sha of Hatred has been through here. You! Initiate! Where are the troops?”
The Shado-Pan initiate, who is kneeling among the corpses of some giant scorpions veiled in black mist, looks up dazedly. “Lord Zhu! They are down at the bridge, holding off a mantid attack force, sir.”
Taran Zhu turns to Blue Squad. “You! Lord Arric Falrevere and friends! Help these men get their camp in order. I’ll assess the state of the bridge.”
"Of course!" says Arric.
"Right," Atley says. "Kenelly, see to healing. Arric, eyes on the perimeter."
Arric salutes crisply.
Kenelly nods solemnly and kneels by one of the fallen Shado-Pan.
As Taran Zhu strides away, Taoshi straightens from her examination of a dead scorpion. “These scorpions are infected with sha. It seems to have driven them from their hole and into our camp, seething with hatred at ‘invaders’ in their territory. We need to clear them out of here to secure the camp.” She looks over at the initiate. “You. Are you all right?”
Initiate Pao-Me nods unsteadily and takes a deep breath. “I was dispatched back to camp from the bridge to gather more pitch-tipped arrows. This is… what I came to. I trained with most of these pandaren. I… wasn’t prepared for this.”
Kenelly examines the pandaren man, but sighs and gently places her hand over his eyes, closing them.
"I'm so sorry," Arric says gently to Pao-Me. "You will get through this. You are strong."
Atley clasps Initiate Pao-Me on the shoulder and gives him a firm squeeze and a shake. "We're still in this fight. Time to do right by your comrades."
Pao-Me takes a deep breath. “The archers at the bridge still need help. Can you… help me gather arrows from the wreckage?”
Peixin pats the initiate on the back. "Sorry to hear that. Don't beat yourself over it, though."
"Of course!" says Arric.
"Move out!" Atley says, before jogging uphill.
Arric says, "Rica, follow."
"The Sha of Hatred," Atley begins, as they get farther away from other Shado-Pan. "It took hold of Taran Zhu when it escaped the Shado-Pan Monastery. This crusade of his is just, and personal."
"How did he get free of it?" Arric asks, eyes wide.
"We saved him," Atley says.
"But how?"
"Cobalt Company Magic," Peixin nods.
"He was possessed. Utterly taken by the Sha. When we battled him, we had to not only fight him, but the hatred in ourselves," Atley says. "Simple, but not easy."
"Simple?" Peixin tilts her head.
"It sounds simple, but it was quite the bloody trial at the time. It was difficult to stay … " He pauses, thinking of the word. "Driven. Directed. Precise."
"I understand some measure of his guardedness, but if not for the Company, he and most of the Shado-Pan wouldn't be alive," Atley says.
"Does he remember? The fight? Cobalt Company hurting him? Is that why he was so slow to trust us?" Arric looks concerned.
Atley grunts. "He does. Even in spite of being rescued he's been slow to trust us. Stubborn, I warrant. That's his way and job as the Lord of the Shado-Pan — wariness. But it's unwarranted, by now." Atley says.
"He's been slow to trust us since we first landed here," Atley says.
"And I'm sure being pummeled by people in our tabards did not help," Arric points out.
Atley lifts a brow. "I reckon he understands we were doing it to save him, and his corrupted Monastery."
"Even if it's for the greater good, it's hard to forget when people hurt you," Arric says.
"I mean, you guys are pretty untrustable, no offense," Peixin shrugs. "But I'm sure he'll recognize I'm a visionary one day, and make me head of the Shado Pan. Basically".
"That sounds so terrifying," Kenelly says, "Being possessed by such a force."
Atley stares at Arric for a moment, as if contemplating in his confusion.
"And then imagine the humiliation of being 'saved' by people who come in to fight you at your weakest moment."
"He was taken by Sha. We didn't happen upon him with a bunch of clubs in a back alley. If we hadn't been skilled enough to defeat him, and had the will to challenge him, he'd be entirely lost."
Atley explains.
"A proud man like that," Arric says, "that will leave a mark. You're not seeing it from his point of view, Atley, with respect."
"Arric's right," Peixin says.
Kenelly pauses by a large pit that seems to be leaking Sha energy. She backs away, shuddering.
"I am not saying that what you did was wrong, or cruel. What I'm saying is that he might resent it, because he is just a man, as skilled as he is - and proud, and hurt by the entire experience."
Atley furrows his brow. "You mean to say the physical harm we caused him, when he was corrupted by the Sha, is why he is slow to trust us still?"
"Imagine you're in Stormwind or wherevr you're from. And you've had that royal guard who's meant to be the one true protector of Stormwind from one of the most common threat it faces. And then random people from some place else save your king from that."
"Yes, his memories of the pain, as well as the humiliation of being rescued by foreigners, near-strangers."
"Your king would be pretty pissed off, I bet," Peixin srugs.
"Especially if it involved literally beating the king into submission," Arric adds.
"Eh, depends on the king. Some people like that," Peixin giggles.
Atley slows down to hear them out.
Arric gives Peixin a little wink.
"Just because people do the right thing," Arric says in conclusion, "it doesn't mean that those saved will always feel good about it."
"No. As a leader, his duty is to swallow his pride, and acknowledge that he was saved by outsiders. You misundertand me, Arric," Atley says sharply. "I can see from his point of view. That does not mean that I agree with his stubborn reservation to trust us, now. We have been risking our lives since we got here. My own people have been risking their lives," Atley says.
"Some people like…? OH. Oh, goodness, Peixin." Kenelly covers her mouth yet again.
"I am not asking you to agree with him," Arric says patiently. "Only explaining why I believe he is resentful toward us and slow to trust."
"Understanding is not the same as agreeing."
"I know he is resentful. It does not make me any more fond of him. I understand why he is slow to trust us. With respect, I've dealt with him a great deal more than you have. I know his ways, and he'll shift on his own time table."
Arric looks a bit wounded and confused, but just nods and doesn't say anything further.
Atley states sharply.
"I suppose it's also harder to trust when you've personally experienced how a prevalent force can twist even one's own loyalties," Kenelly adds.
"He's the Lord of the Shado-Pan, high protector of Pandaria. It's his role to be guarded, and stubborn. It's served them in the past and he only means to protect his homeland and his people," Atley says.
"That much I understand. But if he doesn't adapt and recognize our obvious merit, his people and Pandaria will suffer for it," Atley says.
Kenelly nods. "It cannot be easy, being in a position like that. One must admire his dedication to serving his people."
Arric makes no further comment.
"He is making use of us, Sir Dane," Kenelly says. "He may show reservation, but I believe he's seen our value."
"These trees really are large," Arric says with sudden enthusiasm.
"By the way. Kenelly. Stop that immediately." Peixin gently grabs the worgen's arm. "I'm extremely funny, you can't keep your hand on your mouth to hide your laughter forever. Just laugh, nobody's going to be mad at you for it."
"He's making use of us," Atley admits calmly. "He's seen our value. He's seen it for some time. Whether or not he's ready to admit to it fully remains to be seen. Nevertheless, we'll continue our mission here, as we move forward whether or not we receive acknowledgement or not. Our task is higher than that."
Kenelly laughs…with her other hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, Peixin. It's an old habit."
Kenelly nods in agreement with Atley.
"I agree, I'd prefer you laugh outright," Arric says to Kennelly.
"I don't really think about it. It's just a reflex," Kenelly explains. "I was raised to be demure…and quiet."
Arric nods at Kenelly sympathetically.
"Well, just know that among us, your laughter is always welcomed," Arric says.
Atley grunts. "Especially in the field."
"Ugh, who raised you? Mr Borington and his wife, Lady Borington Also?" Peixin says. "Quiet is only if you're trying to be sneaky."
Kenelly smiles. "I do laugh, though! Just…demurely." She laughs…and stops her hand halfway to her mouth.
Arric grins.
Kenelly laughs again at Peixin. "Baron Borington, if you please."
Atley scoffs with amusement and turns to Taoshi. "We've put all the Sha-corrupted scorpions we could find to the sword."
“Good,” says Taoshi, stepping away from the corpse of yet another scorpion, her blades still dripping. “What’s left of the camp will be safer.”
Rica sniffs the dead scorpion. Arric shakes his head at her sharply.
Atley turns to Initiate Pao-Me and starts offering him bundles of arrows.
“I… thank you. The pandaren at the bridge are depending on us. You didn’t have to help, but you did. Thank you,” says Pao-Me.
"It's what we're here for," Arric says to him warmly.
“I will handle the rest of this,” Taoshi says. “The archers at the bridge need those arrows. Take them down there and join the action.”
Pao-Me nods at the group. “Lao-Chin is in command there. Bring your arrows directly to him and report in.”
Atley slowly retracts the arrows and nods. "Very well."
Atley mounts up and nods. "Let's move."
Kenelly sighs as she drops to all fours. "I really must see about borrowing a mount that can take my worgen weight. This isn't exactly a dignified way to get around."
Ahead, Shado-Pan fighters are locked in combat with mantid skirmishers. Taran Zhu and another commander stand together in a grim conference nearby.
"Wait there, Rica," Arric says, pointing.
“Ah,” says Taran Zhu as Blue Squad arrives. “Here they are now. Lao-Chin, Cobalt Company. Cobalt Company, Lao-Chin the Iron Belly.”
"It's great for your cardio, though," Peixin shrugs at Kenelly.
Atley bows to Taran Zhu before he offers Lao-Chin a bow as well. "Lao-Chin."
"A pleasure, Lao-Chin. I am Lord Arric Falrevere."
"Hi, Lao-Chin. How's it going?" Peixin asks. She has sold him stuff in the past.
Lao-Chin looks them over. “Welcome to the mess,” he says. “Taran Zhu told me what happened at my camp. If I had known — but the attacks here have been relentless. I sent an initiate back for arrows, but have heard nothing from him.”
"About that…" Peixin turns to Dane to explain. He's the leader.
"We came across your man," Atley says. "He did his duty. He bid us give you this," Atley says, holding out the arrows he gathered.
Rica stares hungrily at the mantids nearby, but stays where Arric told her to stay.
“Thank you,” says Lao-Chin with a sigh. “For the arrows, for news of Pao-Me, and for helping at the camp.”
“Without reinforcement from the camp,” Taran Zhu says, “we’re undermanned here. But I expect our Cobalt Company friends are willing to join us in holding the bridge.”
"Of course!" says Arric.
Atley eyes Taran Zhu for a moment, some warmth in his eyes, before he inclines his head. "You suspect correctly. We're in this fight with you."
"Company," Atley says. "This is where we make our stand. We hold this bridge. Not one step backward."
"Wait what about our usual, post-mission snack? I bought some incredible beer for today," Peixin pouts.
"I wouldn't say no to one drink," Arric said. "Shouldn't hurt my aim."
"There's still time for it. I warrant some of these Shado-Pan've got a mind to eat, as well," Atley says.
"Well, there better be," Peixin says. "I'll go get it from my turtle as soon as we take a break."