[Alliance] Chapter Four: Session Three

Appearing Characters: Aramar Thorne, Elissa Cross, Makasa Flintwill, Remnii, Riff, Samaara, Seria, Tae'shara Sunwatcher, Tol'vas Moonshadow, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner

May 24th

The fight with the saltstone spined matriarch and her dunalisks rages on! The dunalisk closest to Seria tries to incapacitate her, clawing at biting at her. As she falls unconscious, the creature starts to drag her away.

Seeing Seria start to get dragged away, Aramar breaks off from the distraction to try and intercept the dunalisk that has her. He then uses healing light to heal the druid in its jaws. The dunalisk in the locust swarm burrows into the sand and retreats to safety.

The dunalisk closest to the group approaches and gets blasted by the guardian of faith, and it releases its heat breath. However, the group is able to resist it.

Magic flickers around Vel’s sword as she moves past Remnii and tumbles between the dunalisk and the matriarch, moving through them. Momentarily, illusions materialize near all the dunalisks, slashing through them, before Vel herself materializes next to the dunalisk that has Seria.

Tol’vas fires his wrath spell at the matriarch, which proceeds to blind it.

The matriarch bites Remnii, but thanks to Uther’s presence, she is able to resist the thick, viscous venom of the creature. It then tries to burrow under the ground, but as it does, Uther does an uppercut swing with his hammer. There’s a massive flash of holy light, and the matriarch collapses on the ground, very much dead.

The fey moth uses a mass cure wounds.

Remnii smacks the dunalisk closest to her with her spiritual weapon, and then also uses the smite spell on it. Uther follows up on her, smacking the dunalisk upside the chin with another smite. It goes spiraling off, dying on the ground.

Seria stands up, and wraps a thorn whip around one of the creature’s legs. There’s a snapping noise. However, as she moves, she feels a severe pain in her chest, having seemingly taken a grave injury from some of the attacks.

As the remaining dunalisk tries to escape, a single arrow from Samaara sails through the air, striking it through the eye--dead.

As this section of the battle subsides, it seems the remaining dunalisks are in full retreat.

Aramar approaches Seria and offers her a hand.

Aramar Thorne says: Are you alright?

Seria is dusting herself off as the spikes from the thorns spell fades.

Seria says: I’ll be fine.
Aramar Thorne says: Heh. Right.

He pulls his hand back.

Aramar Thorne says: Is everyone else alright?

Everyone mostly seems to be fine beyond some scratches. However, as Seria does a quick diagnostics on herself, she gets a pain in her chest again. Remnii however hurries over to examine her, and it seems she likely broke her ribs. Remnii heals her to get the ribs healing.

Remnii says: You should be careful though, that will not heal overnight. The rest are cuts and scrapes comparably.

As Vel goes to investigate the spined matriarch, the fey moth alights on one of its spines to watch. She gets a good read on the matriarch, and the most useful things from the creature appear to be its teeth, its spines, and it’s venom. Unfortunately, a lot of the insides of the creature are ruptured, but she is able to find a good number of unbroken teeth. In the meantime, Samaara was working on the smaller dunalisks, and she was able to get a vial of venom and more teeth.

The group opts to rest until sundown, and Tol’vas approaches the fey moth.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Thank you for coming to my aid.
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Of course, mortal. When the speaks of nature call, it is our duty to answer. And feeling the sun of the mortal realm is always a pleasure.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Is there a name I should call you by?
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Names are such a silly concept to us. We do not have a name, though if you wish to pick one, you’re welcome to.

The fey moth’s mouth is moving, but its language is one that only Tol’vas and Seria can understand.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Would you be opposed to me asking a few questions?
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: By all means! We have time before we return to the Emerald Gardens. We can assist you in what ways we can in the meantime.

Tol’vas grins.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Thank you. I’ve been away for a little while, so my first question, is there anything significant I should be made aware of?
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Leaves change and trees grow. Life blossoms anew and withers and dies to return to the moonless night. We are uncertain what you want to know.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Fair enough. Actually, I’m looking to make contact with Cenarius. Do you know the best way to go about that?
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: The Lord of the Forests! Hm. It is difficult to say for certain. He is found everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. Were you to seek him out, his home grove in the deep forests of the mortal lands known as Val’sharah. His ancestral grove may be a good place to start if you do seek him.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: It… still exists?

The moth hums.

Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Of course it still exists. It is the birthplace of mortal druidism, is it not? And all exists within the Dream, landspeaker. You should know that.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: ...Yeah, I really should actually. Though I think barging into a sacred place without his permission would not be wise.
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Perhaps. The groves beyond to all who dream.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: That’s actually very helpful, thank you.
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Of course! Anything else you would require of me?

He looks at the group.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: Is there anything else you want to ask an ancient fey spirit.
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Perhaps color to this drab place?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Can you bring the forests back here?
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: Not forests, but perhaps memories of what it was to be alive.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: That would be wonderful.

The moth beats its wings, and a scintillating waving rainbow that looks to be a mixture of pollen and pixie dust covers over the tiny hut that Vel had re-erected for the day. Tol’vas is completely enraptured, and for the next minute, he just stares in complete and utter awe at the hypnotic pattern. Aramar and Riff are also enraptured.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: That was neat.
Fey Moth says [sylvan]: We are glad that you like it.

With another flap of its wings, smaller moths with similar color patterns poof into existence, all of them resting on the body of the dunalisk matriarch. After the conjuration spell fades, the moth bids farewell, and disappears.

A few times during the remainder of the day, they can see the remaining dunalisks in the distance waiting for the group to leave so they can eat the corpses of the fallen.

The group then sets off in the cool night. While traveling, Vel veers her her steed over to Remnii.

Velameestra Windrunner says: Remnii, an idea for further commune questions if you’re receptive?
Remnii says: Of course, I did ask you.
Velameestra Windrunner says: This may be obvious, but did you try yet to ask if the Legion is involved in the conflict between the kaldorei and draenei?
Remnii says: I did not, I suppose I just assumed.

Vel also suggests asking if the Hidden have been active on Kalimdor. Remnii agrees those are good questions, and when they rest, Remnii communes.

She gets a definite positive response to the question about teleporting to Zul’gurub from Gadgetzan. However, the chimes take a tone of dread when she asks about the conflict between the Kaldorei and the draenei, indicating they were, but the extent wasn’t clear. And when she asks if the Hidden were active on Kalimdor for long, and the key indicates they have not been active for long.

She translates the answers back to the group. Vel thanks her for doing so, pleased they have a way back to the Eastern Kingdoms, though she notes the lack of the Hidden’s presence for a long time is curious given Greydon’s absence has been lengthy and they seemed to know of him.

As the group continues on through the night, they notice something in the sky. There are a number of shooting stars. The salt sea almost looks like a snow-covered tundra beneath the night lights, but eventually the sun begins to peek over the horizon.

May 25th

During the day as the group sets up camp and watches, Elissa and Aramar work on their paintings and drawings. It’s an oddly quiet day. Many of the group have an air of introspection about them. Contemplative, in a sense.

During watches with Uther, Vel has been working on drawing her own blood, both for her own reasons and also a spell that she’s been working on in what spare time she’s been able to find.

May 26th

It’s started to become clear that navigating is going to start getting more difficult, and Seria, Samaara, and Seria start guiding their passage.

May 27th

After the group’s at rest, while they are waiting for it to cool down, several of the group hear something outside the bubble. It’s unlike anything they heard recently, and a cloud of dust is picking up in the distance. There seems to be a silhouette of some kind that is speeding across the sand.

Vel is watching it. It’s getting closer. And closer. Her eyes widen.

Velameestra Windrunner says: I don’t think it’s going to turn.
Remnii says: I don’t think it is.
Velameestra Windrunner says: Shit. Everyone out of the way. Go. Go!

The group starts to evacuate the dome while Vel maintains it in case people can’t get out of the way fast enough. The vehicle charging at them banks as people start appearing out of nowhere.

There’s a shout as the vehicle, which is functionally rockets tied to string, veers and sparks as it clips the dome and flips and lands. The goblin that was piloting it shouts at them to watch where they’re going before speeding off.

Uther has stars in his eyes as he watches it drive off.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: What was that?
Velameestra Windrunner says: I think what the goblins were racing.
Remnii says: That didn’t look safe.
Velameestra Windrunner says: None of their technology is safe.
Remnii says: Is that a stereotype or…?
Velameestra Windrunner says: No, it’s just fact.
Remnii says: Oh.

Tae’shara is looking at the fading speeder.

Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: Alright, anyone else in favor of going back to the racetrack?

She’s half-joking, as Aramar rapidly starts to try and sketch the speeder.

Vel re-erects the tiny hut for another hour or so before they head off once more. The salt flats are starting to fade, and now in the distance are huge, towering pillars of rock. As they approach the canyon, it seems like the days are starting to get slightly cooler.

May 28th

Over the last several days, Tae’shara had been periodically looking at Riff.

Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: Alright. That’s it. I can’t not ask this. Riff, can you always turn into one of those giant serpents back there with the dunalisks, or is that a trick, or what?

Riff looks at Seria for a moment.

Riff says: Uhhh… it’s just a trick, you know? Just some troll magic. Ya. That’s it!
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: You… should try to sound more convincing next time.
Riff says: What are you talking about? I’m totally convincing. Because I’m telling the truth.

Riff grins innocently, and Tae’shara squints at him.

Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: Alright, fine, keep your secrets. I’m not that curious, I just thought it was cool.
Riff says: Wait. You really thought it was cool?
Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: Yeah. I don’t know what creature that was, but it was cool.

Riff looks at Seria, beaming, and throughout the rest of the day (or rather night) he started trying to show Tae’shara other things he thought were cool.

As the group travels through the next night, they weave through the early parts of the canyon, and they stumble upon something interesting. Each time they pass one of the needles, Tae’shara is counting them.

Vel raises an eyebrow at her upon realizing what she’s doing.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: Are you counting the needles?
Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: Yeah. Look, I’m just saying that if there is a different number than a thousand, we can be the ones to change it if we’re the first ones blazing this trail.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: But people live here. We aren’t the first.
Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: Yeah, but… look, you know what I mean. Aramar, give me a piece of paper.

Over some time, after observing Tae’shara trying to tally on paper on horseback, Vel sighs and conjures an illusionary number that starts tallying down for her. Tae’shara fist pumps upon seeing she got Vel in on it.

However, they encounter some divots and Samaara warns the group of them. Tol’vas points out there was a meteor shower, and they start to investigate the area. After prodding around, Vel approaches the rock in the center, which seems to be incredibly cold to the touch.

Tol’vas and Seria are able to determine that the divot isn’t recent, but it isn’t super old either. However, there are relatively fresh tracks around the area--specifically horse tracks. They look to be from a couple days ago.

Tol’vas notes the tracks seem to end in a divot around the meteorite in a half-circle, like something heavy was placed.

Vel ritual casts detect magic on the stone. She can detect a fair amount of it, in fact. It seems to be evocation magic.

Velameestra Windrunner says: It’s magical, by the way.

Tol’vas points out the divot, and then he goes and stands in the area. He gets the sense there might be someone nearby, but he hurls a rock at the spot, but there’s nothing there.

Vel then ritual casts identify on the meteorite as the group opts to take a rest, and it appears it doesn’t have magical properties, but the cold aura it seems to radiate is distinctly magical.

Remnii climbs over the lip of the ledge, very much intrigued, and she hurriedly drops down in a somewhat comical, ungraceful display. She looks closer.

Remnii says: It’s hollow inside. That magical signature is likely from what’s inside. It may be acting like a magic… space geode? We could… crack it open?
Velameestra Windrunner says: Interesting. You don’t suppose this may be a sacred area, do you?
Remnii says: From what I know, many tribal cultures will revere things that come from the sky. I would not be surprised if the centaur or tauren have some sort of significance to it. So, I would not be surprised to hear that, especially if it has a magical signature. But that’s all I could say.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: We could open it.
Velameestra Windrunner says: I’m not sure if that’s wise if there’s a chance it may be sacred to the locals.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: It could be centaur. Which we already know don’t like anyone. The hooves aren’t tauren.
Velameestra Windrunner says: I’m not going to lie and say I’m not curious.

Tol’vas points out some really worn sigils, and the divot at the lip may have been from centaurs kneeling. Remnii also investigates that area, and it appears there are repeat offerings.

Remnii says: Alright, so it does appear this is a space sacred to them. There are a number of signs of worship or ritual of the sort, so I am wagering this is a sacred space of some kind.

Uther and Elissa use their divine sense, and it doesn’t seem the area is hallowed. Tol’vas does commune with nature to determine if there are centaur anywhere nearby. There doesn’t seem to be, but there seems to be influence from another plane of existence two miles east of their location--which is not the direction they’re going. There is also a river flowing about three miles northwest in the direction the group is going.

Velameestra Windrunner says: Well. Are we going to deal with this further, or are we going to go on our way?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: I will not go against the will of the pack. Party. Group. Whatever you are.
Remnii says: Despite my being curious, as I love rocks, I don’t think I would appreciate anyone messing with my sacred spaces.

Vel nods, gets to her feet, dusts herself off, and climbs back out of the divot. However, Tol’vas brings up the influence about two miles east.

Velameestra Windrunner says: I don’t suppose you know what sort of planar influence it is?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: That’s the problem. There are a lot of planes, and a lot of them aren’t good.

They opt to go and investigate the influence, and as they are traveling, Samaara gets closer to Remnii.

Samaara says: You know Remnii. If Yrel was there, she would have wanted to crack that thing open.
Remnii says: I know. With that hammer of hers. It would have either broken on her, or she would have won.
Samaara says: Perhaps it’s better we never know.

The group funnels into a smaller canyon between two mesas, and the wind starts to pick up a bit. The wind blows through the canyon, along with another sound. It’s the sound of anguished crying. Remnii is immediately concerned.

Tol’vas and Vel both recognize words interspersed with the wailing in the distance. It’s completely dark beyond their light sources. It’s definitely in Darnassian, but the words are vague and incomplete.

The group continues moving cautiously, and they start to hear metal grinding, and then the sobbing continues. It sounds like they’re begging.

And then Vel’s tattoo starts to glow.

Velameestra Windrunner says: Undead.

Around a pillar, a night elf appears. His skin is desiccated and long-since flaked away. His teeth are yellow and hiss lips thin and pulled again his mouth. A piece of metal is jutting out of the earth, and the figure is trying to grasp onto it. Another figure is looming behind him. There’s a localized sandstorm, the remnants of his flesh and cloths whipping around him. The entity beyond the kaldorei is covered in armor that is sagging with sand, like a constant flow of rust is flowing off of him.

Suddenly, the creature’s eyes turn towards the group, screaming about thirst, and other shapes loom in the darkness.

Samaara says: We’ll hold off our escape! You cut us a path through.

She starts to loose arrows as several of the party’s companions move to hold off other threats from the back line.

Another decrepit kaldorei lurches from behind a rock, sand pouring from its mouth as it speaks. One of the creatures lunges forward and attacks Uther, but he is able to deflect the blow aside as Elissa bashes it with her shield to move it back out of the main battle.

Seria turns into a dire tiger and lurches at the nearest entity. She claws at it, shredding clothing and skin from its body.

Another lumbers toward the group, and Remnii and Tol’vas are whipped into the sandstorm. Uther activates his coronette and channel divinity as he raises Light’s Justice, the halo of light wreathing his head.

Another starts moving toward Seria.

Vel activates bladesong, the magical energy running through her blade and emanating outward as she casts haste on both herself and Uther. In the light of her magic, there’s the faint image of a smirk as she looks over her shoulder back at Uther.

Tol’vas retreats and casts wrath, lining up the perfect shot at one of the entities, but at the last second Remnii staggers into the way (nat 1 attack roll) and she gets blasted from the back by his blast of moonlight (nat 20), causing her to stagger forward into the undead (nat 1), though at the last second she lurches back (nat 20) with a startled scream.

Radiant and Uther charge forward to defend Remnii, and Radiant charges into the nearest creature.

Remnii, panting and heavily wounded, reaches out at the undead before her and casts holy light. There’s an explosion of holy energy, and she is healed in response. She then casts gift of the naaru on herself, working on refocusing herself.

One of the sandstorm-like entities lurches at Radiant, but Uther redirects the attack to him and blocks the attack with shield.

Tae’shara fires a chaos bolt from the rear as she shouts for Remnii to duck. A globual of roiling, sunlike energy explodes on the one next to Remnii.

Tol’vas stretches a hand up and pulls it straight down and a silver cylinder of energy drops from the sky and explodes into a wash of silver flame. The one that was knocked down erupts into sand, and a translucent image of what the creature was once before--a spirit essence shoots from the body and dances up the pillar of light with a sigh of relief.

Tol’vas also places a bear totem in the midst of them, and the spectral bear appears with a roar.

Another undead rushes forward to replace his fallen fellow, and he slashes around in circle with his sand slash ability. The sand strikes into them, but the bolstering of the totem seemed to have absorbed most of it.

Vel uses steel wind strike, switching her sword into a reverse grip as her illusionary duplicates appear around all the visible enemies. The duplicates rush through the enemies, bursting through them with a display of force energy as she herself materializes next to Seria and Uther. Her sword coats with frost energy as she drives it through the undead closest to her.

Seria follows up on another enemy and bites its head off, the undead crumbling into sand.

Uther slams his hammer into the nearest decrepit elf, and smites. The body crumbles, revealing an elvish spirit that also ascends into the night sky. He then brings his hammer down on the whirling sandstorm entity, destroying it in a blast of holy energy.

One of the rusty whirlwind creatures darts around Seria, heading straight for Uther as the rust continues to slough off it, but it misses.

Remnii summons a spiritual weapon, which slams into another entity in the distance. She also hits him with the holy flames of a smite spell.

Aramar looks back to the ground and crosses his diamond blade, which flickers with divine fire as he casts inner fire.

Vel coughs in the cloud of rust, her arcane tattoos flaring with magic again as she looks at her enemies with magic burning in her eyes, and she spins around in a whirlwind strike as her illusionary doubles mirror her movements. She slices through the two nearest her, their forms dropping to the ground before she teleports to the remaining enemy, following through on her attack as ice covers it and slices diagonal through the last one with a crack of shattering ice.

Everything falls silent as the rest of their allies finish off the backups.

Tol’vas immediately approaches Remnii with an apology for hitting her, and she appears shaken, but she assures him she’s alright. He quickly puts her a rejuvenation on her, and she thanks him.

Makasa, as she pulls a harpoon from a dead enemy, smirks at Tol’vas indicating that she saw his faux pas.

Samaara says: Well, I think we found whatever disturbance you had sensed, Tol’vas.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: I’m very happy we could take care of this.
Remnii says: I hope their souls can be at peace now.
Elissa Cross says: What were those things?

She looks at Vel, both because she knows a thing or two about undead, but also because she’s smart.

Velameestra Windrunner says: My best guess would be that the undead may have been held here by whatever the other entities were. Or whatever had caused their demise. But I can look further.

Vel and Tol’vas are able to identify the non-undead entities as rust revenants, specifically lesser revenants, unnatural ones at that. The rust revenants are lingering entities involved in the decaying objects of civilization, and the clouds around them turn those who breathe it in into metal which they then destroy.

Remnii examines some of the undead, and she is able to surmise that they are unfortunate souls who likely died of dehydration and likely were cursed or otherwise tormented. However, the ones that Tol’vas and Uther killed were released from their curse, and their spirits were allowed to rest. Unfortunately, the ones that were relinquished by holy energy may remain. Sandstorms frequently conceal their passage.

Vel is able to get some of the rust revenant pieces, which may be of use in some sense--if nothing else it’s a good research tool. Samaara was also able to get a singular mote of rust

The Tol’vas is able to tell the area is still registering as having supernatural influence, and he is also able to sense undead miles away. But all the elementals in the area have been destroyed.

Vel also uncovers some of the objects that one of the undead was looking at, and she’s pretty sure there were likely ruins here from a while ago.

Samaara says: So, what is the plan? We likely have an hour or two we can use to make progress. Do we wish to continue? I’m uncertain we can do more here.
Velameestra Windrunner says: It may be worthwhile to keep moving.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: Is there anything we can do to lessen the influence here?
Velameestra Windrunner says: Probably not without hunting down the rest of the undead in the area.
Samaara says: Or very powerful magics. Remnii, do you have anything?
Remnii says: I don’t think I have anything immediately.
Velameestra Windrunner says: The only other thing I could suggest is we can try to find any bodies or remnants in the area and we can try to speak with them to see if we can put them to rest that way. But it will also take time. I can start looking in the area if that’s something we want to do.

Remnii looks to Tol’vas who is looking around, and he catches a small tag and hint of fabric. It’s a small curio, and unmistakable highborne in make. He picks it up.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: These were highborne. That would also mean… it’s been something like 10,000 years at this point. At the most.
Remnii says: Poor souls.

He looks to Vel.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: You said you were from Quel'Thalas?
Velameestra Windrunner says: Yes, that’s our homeland.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: How old is it?
Velameestra Windrunner says: About 7000 years.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: So it could be around 7000 years old, unless there are highborne still hiding here, but I would have no clue how to find them.
Velameestra Windrunner says: If you want I could try to investigate more.
Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: If you want to set up a dig site, I know a thing or two about that, but that’s an investment. If nothing else we can maybe see if the Boss Lady can do anything about that.
Velameestra Windrunner says: I can send Kilnar and see if she’s interested.

Tae’shara looks at Aramar and points a finger at him.

Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: You. You’ve been making a map of this place, ey?
Aramar Thorne says: Uh, yeah?
Tae'shara Sunwatcher says: Good! I’ll be needing that. Mark this place on the map, and we’ll make sure when we bring it back to the Boss Lady we can look into it later, or at least have someone do so. At the very least we can do that for them if we don’t want to stay ourselves.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: I can see if maybe I can find some contacts in the Dream, if nothing else.
Velameestra Windrunner says: At the very least, it seems we’re camping here for the night. Or day, rather.
Remnii says: That would likely make them less prone to bothering us, at least.
Velameestra Windrunner says: And ideally, if they are several miles off they won’t even wander this far in the first place.
Remnii says: We can always keep watches.
Samaara says: That would be wise.

The group settles down to set up camp in the area, and Remnii seeks out a divine intervention to try and request the Light to consecrate the grounds. The naaru are with her, but they do not directly answer her call for aid.

Tae’shara was taking some readings and investigating along with Vel to see if they could find anything.

Meanwhile, Tol’vas and Seria enter the Emerald Dream using the dream spell, and they bring Elissa and Remnii along with them. They awaken in largely the same territory they were in, but the ground and pillars are covered in leafy, verdant plants. There are trees growing from the earth, and it looks more like a jungle.

Elissa is once more floored by the sights unrolling around them.

Tol’vas looks around, but it seems the environment has no marks of the troubles that had befallen the landscape on the mortal plane.

Remnii says: I will stay close and follow your lead.
Elissa Cross says: Yeah, we should probably stick together. I mean, we could probably just wake up, but still.

The group begins to probe around as quietly as they can. It’s hard to keep track of time, as the sky is just always an emerald blanket of glittering light. Finally, they find some tracks and claw marks, as if something was digging. They opt to follow, and they can hear a voice speaking in sylvan. Up ahead, there is a round, rotund figure, its tail flicking around. There is dirt being tossed aside, and the voice continues to grumble.

Rotund Creature says [sylvan]: Hrm. Come on. I don’t have all day for this. Aha! Yes, there we go. Now we’re talking.

There are sounds of chewing, and as the group tries to stay silent, Elissa steps on a leaf, which crumples and turns into dust. Immediately, the creature’s ears perk up. It’s a furred creature, which seems to be mostly black with bluish white stripes. Its tail jolts straight out, and it turns around with subterranean vegetables still in its mouth.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Whbsd tvher?

It throws its head back and finishes swallowing.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Who are you, what do you want? Wait.

He sniffs the air.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: You smell like dreamers. Huh. Would you look at that. We don’t get dreamers around here very often. At least not ones that look like you.

He looks to the group. The creature is a very large badger roughly the size of a black bear.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Alright, for a second I thought you were trying to steal my meal, but… can you even understand me?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Yeah, I can understand you clearly, sir.

The creature ambles over and sits down. There is a very earthy musky smell as he approaches, and he sniffs Tol’vas and Seria first.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Yeah, you got the smell of this place all over you. Yeah. Alright. I can see that. What about these two? Who are they?

He points at Remnii and Elissa with his nose.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Oh, we brought them to help us look.
Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Alright. They’re not going to steal my truffles either, are they?

Tol’vas looks to Remnii and Elissa.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: You aren’t going to steal his truffles, are you?
Elissa Cross says: What? No!
Remnii says: Of course not.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Alright, yeah, they won’t steal your truffles.

The badger looks to Remnii, then to Elissa, and he squints at them before turning back to Tol’vas.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Alright. What do you want? If you’re not looking for truffles there’s not much around here.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: We were investigating this plane because it intersects so close to the material…

Tol’vas briefly explains what they had found regarding the planar disturbance and corruption on their side.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Ah, well, I don’t know much about no corruption or no walking dead, but if you need help with stuff with that, you probably want to speak with one of the nymphs in the area?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Would you be able to direct us to one of them?
Fey Badger says [sylvan]: You’re uh… you’re just gonna walk in and ask them for help? Is that it?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: I don’t know the protocol.
Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Look, mountain and canyon nymphs… you look like you’re more used to dealing with those foresty types. The ones down here are a bit more intense. Harder. You bringing them something?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: What would they want?
Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Well, probably something. Trophies. Kills. Especially things that defile their lands. All that protective sorts of stuff, you know.

Tol’vas looks at Seria.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: These aren’t your prancing dryads, alright? You can’t just give them a crown of flowers and expect them to be alright with helping. There’s as much chance that you’re gonna walk up on her and she’ll be arm deep in Nightmare goo and… yeah… they’re hardcore around here. You don’t want to just waltz in or you’re gonna get yourself punted out of the Dream faster than you can say… something… I dunno. Words. Something with words.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: So… if we can bring them something proving that we killed something that defiled their lands…
Fey Badger says [sylvan]: That would be a good start probably. I don’t really hang out with them much. I’m just over here looking for truffles. I don’t mess with the nymphs. I just stay out of their way. They do their business, I do mine. Oh, speaking of which.

He walks over to a bush and takes a quick dump before returning.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: There we go! Room for more truffles. Now what were we talking about?

Tol’vas blinks.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Ah, right, we were talking about the mountain nymphs.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Yeah. Would I be able to speak to them on the material in any way?
Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Yeah, if you can call one to you. It’s worth a shot. Just don’t make them mad or they’ll probably try to kill you. So uh… you uh… you good? Can I go back to hunting truffles then?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [sylvan]: Oh, of course. I wouldn’t dream about holding you back.
Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Alright. I was gonna say, I was gonna have to start charging you truffles. The system they got going on up there works pretty good.

He gestures to a cavern, and they can see a forest of what looks like a petrified trees jutting out a few miles off.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: So if you aren’t gonna pay me in truffles, I’m gonna go get more. Good luck with your corruption… whatever.

The badger meanders away while singing a jaunty tune about finding more truffles. He starts to dig and a moment later they hear an excited noise.

Fey Badger says [sylvan]: Ha! A worm!

And there are sounds of gobbling as he quickly slurps the unfortunate wriggler up.

Remnii says: He seems like he’s having fun.

Tol’vas gives Elissa and Remnii a quick summary of the conversation that had happened.

Remnii says: Ah, so at least I was correct about that.

Remnii laughs.

Remnii says: But, I guess that leaves us at a kind of dead end…
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: We could still ask them for help, we just need to give them the appropriate appeasement first.
Remnii says: Ah.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: Which I believe Velameestra collected already. We just need to talk to her.
Remnii says: Well, we have a goal.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: I guess in the meantime, we can either wake up now, or wander around for a little bit.

Seria had started to wander around the nearby areas in the dream already. She finds a small stream babbling, and a few snakes and lizards, but nothing really of note.

Elissa Cross says: I wouldn’t want to get into trouble here… It is pretty nice though.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says: We can’t really affect the dream, so they wouldn’t be worried about us.

The group opts to chat for a bit, staying in the immediate area. Elissa tries to not blink so she can absorb as much of the environment as she can so she can paint it later, but she quickly realizes she is still compelled to do so.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: You know… I never thought about having to blink here, but now that I am, I’m just thinking about how I need to make myself blink.
Remnii says: Oh, I will wake up right now if we’re going to play that game.

There is some laughter, and a bit later, they all wake up. Upon rising, they find that Tae’shara and Vel had had a fruitful search, and they had managed to find sandblasted remains of a skeleton, and a skull.

Tol’vas approaches Vel and asks if she would be amenable to relinquishing what had been harvested from the revenants as tribute to the nymphs. She agrees.

Seria and Tol’vas then begin the rituals needed to summon the nymph to the mortal plane. Upon hearing the types of things the nymphs would be interested in, Vel also offers her dagger of certain death and a Cenarion charm she had recovered from the druid at Orastrasz’s lair.

There is a ripple of magic, and wind starts to pick up around the group. Tol’vas sheds a small amount of blood, which sinks into the dirt and sand, and a circle of brambly thorns begins to appear and seems to form into a large shape or cocoon. Then the brambles fall away, revealing a creature. She has dark tan skin, and long elven ears. Her body is covered head to toe in white and red war paint, including over her bare chest. The lower half of her body is that of a mountain goat, and two curling ram horns sprout from her head.

She spins a spear around, which appears to be made of those same brambly thorns, and plants it in the ground.

She looks a lot like a dryad, but bigger, stronger, and more fierce.

Mountain Nymph says [darnassian]: You have called me, and I have come. Speak, and mince not your words, or I will strike you down where you stand.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [darnassian]: Of course I wouldn’t want to waste your time. First I want to present you with what we have to offer you.

Tol’vas presents the offerings they had collected, and the nymph looks at it, and then to Tol’vas. She is waiting for the group to explain why they called her.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says [darnassian]: We called you to ask for your help in clearing the corruption from this land.
Mountain Nymph says [darnassian]: Hmph. I’ve long since abandoned the mortal reflection of my domain. Look around you. This place is a desolate waste. And you wish for me to care for it, to tend to it like a garden, and you offer this for me to do so? Continue.
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [darnassian]: I do not wish you to tend to it like a garden, but instead remove an infection that could spread further.
Mountain Nymph says [darnassian]: An infection?

Tol’vas presents the trophies that they had taken from the revenants and explains the situation.

The nymph considers and then furrows her brow.

Mountain Nymph says [darnassian]: And so you wish for me to handle this by purging these creatures from this land? In hope they do not spread to the Dream? Am I understanding?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [darnassian]: Yes, absolutely.

The nymph takes the rusted chains and holds them up.

Mountain Nymph says [darnassian]: This… this is not from the Emerald Nightmare, but it is a pox nonetheless.

The rusted metal and chains begins to grow thorny vines, which almost choke the metal and crumble it to dust. She then looks at the other things that were offered to her. She leans down and grabs the dagger of certain death, and tosses it in her hand.

Mountain Nymph says [darnassian]: This steel… I mislike working with steel, but it will suffice. What is the nature of these creatures that you need me to destroy?

Remnii, who had put on tongues, explains the undead, and Vel explains the revenants. The nymph considers for a moment, and with a gesture of her hand, all the offerings are lifted up on small vines and she takes them.

Mountain Nymph says [darnassian]: Very well, I will do this for you. This land will be purged of the weakness that led to the deaths of these people, and I will ensure they do not return. Is that all you require of me?
Tol'vas Moonshadow says [darnassian]: That is all I could ask for.

The nymph turns away from the group, and she places the offerings in a small leather satchel. She grabs her spear, and a vine ties the dagger of certain death to her forearm should she need it. She twirls the spear and raises it to the sky, and the air ripples around them. On some of the plateaus, other isolated gates appear, and a dozen more mountain nymphs materialize on the mortal plane.

She raises her spear to the sky.

Mountain Nymph says [sylvan]: Sisters! We hunt! And today we shall ride like the wild! Come, we will not rest until the walking dead have laid to a final demise. Come, let us send them to the moonless night!

The other nymphs also raise their spears, and there is a frightening war trill as the warband of nymphs leap into the canyon.

Tol'vas turns to the group.

Tol'vas Moonshadow says: They remind me a lot of one of my old friends.
Remnii says: They’re beautiful!

As they continue to watch, the leader of the warband dives toward one of the pillars and it looks like she is going to collide with it, but she just passes directly through it and doesn’t come back out. She appears down the canyon out of another pillar.