Appearing Characters: Brubaker (Deceased), Elissa Cross, Gilveradin Windrunner, John Keeshan, Liadrin Everpost, Messner, Rai, Remnii, Samuel Troteman, Seria, Uther Menethil, Velameestra Windrunner, Victor Prestor, Yowler
December 25th
The battle rages on!
Seria attempts to swipe at the raider right in front of her, but it ducks out of the way. She uses her druidic magics to heal herself.
Another gnoll charges forward to join the fray.
From the distance, the group sees Bravo Company doing a good job fending off their own bands of gnolls. As Keeshan takes a few more gnolls out, Messner spies the catapult and hurls a fireball at the group of gnolls around the catapult. Many of them die.
Victor then runs forward to engage the giant spider while Radiant disengages to reconvene with Uther, the small tarantulas still on him. While he does so, another gnoll attacks.
Vel runs forward as well and the snowflake-like rune illuminates beneath the swarm of gnolls around the catapult and the flash of icy energy decimates most of the other gnolls and several spiders, however cold snap triggers.
A boar gores Gil, and he drops concentration on the spike growth. However, he blinks away and then moves further away. He shoots the boar and kills it outright. He then shoots the harrier by the catapult and kills it as well.
Seria starts to get flanked by gnolls and a boar, but she stands strong.
Remnii gets shot by an arrow and her spirit guardians drop, and Yowler starts to close on Seria, loping forward with his flail in his jaws. However, even as they pile on her, she’s still up.
Uther finishes the shadowhide gnoll at his side and decimates it with a blow to the skull before Uther hops on Radiant again, squishing several of the tiny spiders.
Seria is finally knocked out of her form as another gnoll lands a hit with its bone dagger. However, as another one follows up on her, she uses the shield spell that Vel had put in her ring to turn the blow aside, along with several others.
Remnii steps out of the spirit guards, and Remnii illuminates her spirit guardians again.
The tarantula bites Victor. Seria continues to get swarmed, but the arcane shield continues to do a degree of work.
The spirit guardians pummel a gnoll, and it goes for Remnii and hits--dropping her spirit guardians. A random arrow from the outskirts goes sailing past her, but it misses.
Seria continues to get pummeled.
Gil drops a faerie fire on the group of gnolls, including Yowler. More gnolls go for Seria, but the shield continues doing work. Until Yowler appears and slams her down.
Seeing the dog pile turning bad, Victor moves away from the Tarantula. He attacks and slashes into the mob, and then quickens a green flame blade, slicing into the group.
Vel quickens dimension door and then flickers to Seria, dropping a potion on her to get her back up. She then steps back, taking some damage but ensuring Seria is not caught in her cold snap.
Victor starts to take some of the aggro, and then he alights with fire as he uses a hellish rebuke.
Radiant charges forward with Uther on his back, trampling into a gnoll, and Uther lays into Yowler, doing a huge amount of damage with a smite.
Remnii illuminates with holy energy and she heals Victor, Seria, and herself, and then she casts sanctuary on herself.
Gil pegs Yowler with an arrow, critically wounding him and opening a bleeding wound. Uther calls “good shot” to Gil just as Radiant donkey-kicks Yowler’s jaw into his skull, dropping him to the ground.
All the gnolls look suddenly a lot less confident as their leader falls.
Uther Menethil says: Radiant. You’ve just slain the enemy commander.
Radiant says [telepathically]: Verily!
Some of the gnolls continue to fight despite their leader falling, and one of the brutes tries to take charge of the situation and goes for Uther, but the blows miss.
One of the giant tarantulas disengages from Remnii and goes for Uther. A gnoll attempts to attack Vel, but fails. Vel illuminates a rune in the air, and all the shadowhide gnolls and the giant tarantula immediately get wrapped with icy, spectral chains, slowing their movements.
Victor promptly kills one of the slowed Shadowhide with a strike and a green-flame blade.
The tarantula broodmother tries to attack Uther, but fails to do so. And with Yowler’s death, in the distance, the Bravo Company are also beginning to overwhelm their forces. Remnii drops a guardian of faith down.
Seria, meanwhile, releases an angry war cry and shifts into a giant spider with an angry screech. All the other spiders look at the new broodmother, and then their current leader. Seria launches herself at the broodmother and begins to engage it.
The other spiders actually stop to watch the brawl.
The remaining boar releases a squeal and retreats. The baby tarantulas also crawl off of Radiant given the situation with the broodmothers.
Uther crushes another Shadowhide brute, and Vel takes a step back, evading around the slowed Shadowhide Brute near her and blasts it with a frostbolt, chilling it. Victor follows up, trying to end it.
The enemy broodmother grapples Seria and there is now a spider ball wrestling on the ground.
Uther finishes off the last Shadowhide Brute, and the rest of the redridge raider gnolls just go to flee the situation.
Given all that’s left is the spider showdown, Gil shoots the enemy broodmother.
Most of the party just stands by, though Vel and Victor continue to peg the enemy spider with ranged attacks. It starts to run away, the rest of the spiders following.
The party is left victorious. Gil starts to harvest enemies while Vel goes to examine Yowler’s corpse, helped by Remnii.
All the Shadowhide gnolls have the pendants Dawn had mentioned, including Yowler. There were eight in total. None of the normal gnolls have the pendants.
The flail seems to have taken some degree of damage, but it’s still magical in nature.
However, as it starts to wind down, Seria runs at Uther. Still as a spider. Then she transforms last minute.
Seria says: You! Because of you I was almost sent to Bwonsomdi!
Uther Menethil says: Is this because I didn’t help you with the other spider?
Seria says: Quit running ahead! If you were a troll right now you’d be dead. And if Vel wasn’t there when she was, I would be dead.
Vel’s ear twitches.
Uther Menethil says: You’re right, Seria.... My apologies.
Seria says: This is the second time you’ve done it. Vel has told you before. ‘Dis is a war. There is no chance of messing up. You will lose people that way. ‘Dat is not a way to lead.
Victor Prestor says: For what it’s worth, cousin. She has a point. You… nearly met your own end against the beasts. I don’t think anyone here doesn’t want to see you succeed and stand beside you, but there’s not much we can do if you overextend like that.
Uther Menethil says: You’re right. I must keep a cooler head.
Seria says: Learn to be more careful. Not everyone is going to be there.
Velameestra Windrunner says: And some of us can’t be, like we were.
The remnants of cold snap are still easing off her body.
Uther Menethil says: My apologies, friends. I’ll return momentarily. At the very least, I should see to the wounded.
Uther kicks Radiant’s sides and heads to Bravo Company to see to any wounded. They had started to watch as the encounter happened, and Remnii had been looking at Keeshan in particular. He takes note of the situation, but doesn’t say anything.
As everyone is picking apart the bodies, Vel casts identify on the flail. The flail’s magic itself seemed to be somewhat linked to whatever corruptions or enchantments that were on Yowler. The weapon is magical, though definitely evil. While Yowler was wielding it, each of the heads had a different ability. The first one, the red gemstone one, on a failed Wisdom save the target would have to make an attack on a random target within its reach on its turn. The second one, the black gemstone one, one a failed Wisdom save does bonus damage, and the third one, the green gemstone one, on a failed Wisdom save paralyzes. When wielded by someone else, it would be lesser in use, but it could be used for other things. However, it’s very evil in make.
The amulets are just like the one with Dawn. When being worn, as long as you are within 100 miles, you fail all saves from the creator, and any spell cast on a target wearing it can affect all of those nearby also wearing amulets.
Gil manages to get a good deal of venom from the dead spiders--about five vials.
Bravo Company had started to gather the bodies is a pile for the wilderness to enjoy.
John Keeshan says: Well, with this Yowler dead, that should buy us some safety for Lakeshire for the time being. We should make camp if you ask me. We can make it back to Lakeshire tomorrow and perhaps learn more about what occurred. We’ll be late for muster, but--
He saws off Yowler’s head.
John Keeshan says: This should be plenty of proof what happened here was worthwhile.
Velameestra Windrunner says: I… would say so.
The group begins to make camp, and Keeshan and some other members start to peel off the remains of Brubaker. He leaves for a brief moment to bury him.
Vel approaches Victor and offers to try to get him through to Calia. Victor agrees, expressing he would rather know than not, though Vel assures him a failure does not mean the worst.
As the evening is wearing down, Keeshan asks Uther to come with him. He leads him to the gravesite and tosses him a shovel.
John Keeshan says: If you wouldn’t mind. I think we’re all a bit weary after tonight. I could use a bit of help.
Uther Menethil says: Of course.
They start to fill in the grave.
John Keeshan says: You know. You remind me a lot of myself when I was your age. In some ways.
Uther Menethil says: That so? And how’s that?
John Keeshan says: You want to be a big shot hero. You want to be someone everyone else can look up to. You want to be a gleaming example of what it means to be a warrior and a soldier, and sometimes, you get in over your head.
He looks back at the camp.
John Keeshan says: The boys I travel with… they’ve been some of my closest friends for a long time. To be honest, I’ve lost track of the stories I’ve had with them. I could say the same about him.
He gestures at the grave.
John Keeshan says: But. This is the last story I could tell about Brubaker. I’m going to tell you something that doesn’t leave here. Between you and me, that half-breed wasn’t all wrong. But she weren’t all right, either. There’s no telling how things would have gone if you hadn’t tried to engage their leader. There’s no telling what would have happened if more of you did. But you all made it out of there, because you worked together. When you act like a team, it’s the only time you can be that shining hero. Instead of ending up like him.
He gestures at Brubaker again.
John Keeshan says: War is hell. And all it takes is one bad day. I don’t think you want to see your friends burying you. But that’s the nice thing about dying. You don’t have to.
Uther Menethil says: I would be telling you false if there wasn’t something to what you said about you feeling the need to live up to a legend. But war is significantly worse than hell. Did you lose men today?
John Keeshan says: Not today, thankfully.
Uther Menethil says: That’s good. Commander, I know that what I did was reckless. But it wasn’t uncalculated. Gnolls are simple creatures. When their leader took the field, I saw an opportunity to end the conflict at once. Without him, seeing their leader destroyed utterly, I believe it would have broken the enemy force.
John Keeshan says: And you were right. They scattered like birds.
Uther Menethil says: I was so close, commander. One blow that I hadn’t expected. And it was undone.
John Keeshan says: Life’s full of those, kid. Those unexpected, single blows.
Uther Menethil says: Am I to conduct every conflict in fear of those blows? Sitting behind lines? Waiting to win a war of attrition.
John Keeshan says: If you were, you’re not the type of man you’re trying to be. Do you play cards?
Uther Menethil says: I play some Hearthstone.
John Keeshan says: I’m talking about real cards, kid.
Uther Menethil says: I can’t say I’ve had an opportunity.
John Keeshan says: I’ve had my share of gambles. Sometimes you think you have a winning hand and you don’t. Sometimes those chances are what wins you big, what wins tables, what wins wars. It’s about reading the room. You gotta know when to hold, and when to fold. When there might be one of those unexpected blows, and making a situation when those blows can’t stop you. You’re good, but you’re not invincible. You only got two eyes. Krakauer only has one. But together, you got nine. Nine eyes can watch many more things. You and your lot are much the same, and no one said you had to play fair. I appreciate what you and your friends helped me do here. Lakeshire is my home. The last thing they needed was these bastards burning it down. You did good today. You almost died, but you didn’t. Your friends were there to drag you out of danger. Same could be said for the half-breed. That’s good. You didn’t lose anyone. You might tomorrow or the next day. No matter what, you did good today. This war will involve a lot of loss, and it’s as much about being prepared to face your fears as it is facing that loss. We saved lives here today, kid. It’s about remembering everything. The good. The bad. And the ugly. That’s how you keep your head straight. Otherwise, this will all swallow you.
Uther Menethil says: I’ll take what you said to heart.
John Keeshan says: Glad to hear it.
As they finish up, Keeshan wipes sweat off his brow.
John Keeshan says: I think you heard enough of this old man rambling. Tomorrow we head back, and we take the war to those monsters.
Uther Menethil says: Indeed we do.
John Keeshan says: For what it’s worth, kid, I think you got the makings of a hero, but you won’t if you get yourself killed.
Under his breath, Uther adds.
Uther Menethil says: ...again.
Victor and Vel fade off into their respective dreams, and so does, in fact, Seria. She falls into her trance, and as she opens her eyes again, she finds herself in the grass of the clearing she had fallen asleep in.
However, it’s much more lush, and more green. As she looks around, it’s not night time, so much as the sky is simply a deep, viridian green. Instead of stars, there are bright green swirls. There are no moons, instead there are ambient swirls replacing it in the air.
Rai was not sleeping, currently. But after some time, he does fall asleep, and then awakes in the Emerald Green with a start.
Rai says: What the… I… ‘ello?
He does not seem to have seen Seria, but then Seria stands.
Seria says: ‘Dere ya finally are!
Rai stumbles and looks at Seria with another surprised noise.
Rai says: Are my… what… I…
Seria says: Wha’ you forgot about yer ol’ friend Seria?
Rai stumbles over his words, and then he surrenders to that and runs up to Seria to hug her. He then starts to sniffle and sob. Seria pushes him on the ground.
Seria says: What did I tell ye abou’ that cryin’?
Rai says: I’m sorry I thought you were dead!
Seria says: I could say the same abou’ you. I hear’ you back in the tribe.
Rai says: Fer the moment. Until they decide to kick me ou’ again. Where are we? How am I talking to you? I thought I went to sleep, mon.
Seria says: You remember the things my mother taught me.
Rai says: I didn’ know she taugh’ you this.
Seria says: ‘Dis is new.
Rai says: Oh. Well. This is pretty amazing.
Seria says: This is the place I told you about years ago.
Rai says: The great jungle place? I didn’ know I could come ‘ere either. This is pretty amazin’. Look, I know it don’ mean much, but I’m sorry I got captured. I hoped you got out, but I didn’ know how to find ya afterwards. I would have been dead… actually, it’s a funny thing. You remember that Gil person, right? I ran into him and a few--
Seria says: I know.
Rai says: Oh. How do ye know that?
Seria says: I’m with them right now.
Rai says: Oh… OH! Are they doin’ alright? I heard there was bad mojo up north. I spoke with Vel briefly. She was worried about what happened. The tribe got chased out.
Seria says: I know.
Rai says: Right. You were with them. You’ve been busy. Listen. I know ye probably be doin’ big stuff of your own, but if you come back to the tribe, if you want, I’m sure I could probably try to convince everyone to let you back in. After all it weren’t your fault. It was mine.
Seria says: They didn’t want me there, you know that. The blight of the tribe.
Rai looks down, unable to refute the statement.
Rai says: I… I don’t think you’re a blight. But I understand if ya don’t want to come back.
Seria says: I know that. You were my only friend.
Rai says: I know. But probably not any more! Gil was pretty friendly! And da rest.
Seria says: You make some strange friends, ya know that right?
Rai says: They are interestin’, but they good people. Uther was always real brave. Zap was--
Seria says: I almost died because of him!
Rai says: ...oh. I suppose ‘dat Vel is still there too?
Seria nods.
Rai says: That’s good too. I’m glad. But um. Tess and Elissa were nice, if you want to say hi. But you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I’m glad yer safe wit’ dem.
Seria says: Could say the same for you, runt.
Rai says: I don’t know how safe we’ll be. This place is bad for us. We are tryin’ to find somewhere better. Go back to Zandalar maybe. What all you gettin’ up to?
Seria says: Followin’ ‘dem around. Trying to find Zantabra.
Rai says: Any luck?
Seria says: Yes and no. I found another student.
Rai says: That’s good! I hope that it leads to somethin’ good. You, uh… I think you deserve some good news.
Seria says: I’m gonna be a mother!
Rai says: What? I’m glad for you, mon, but, who is the… I… you always kind of…
Rai blushes.
Rai says: Who’s the… the lucky… father?
Seria says: I don’t know, it’s an egg.
Rai raises a finger.
Rai says: ...oh. Okay, that makes more sense.
Seria says: What’s that supposed to mean?
Rai says: Nothing! I didn’t think you’d be the kind of person to settle down with someone, you know.
Seria raises an eyebrow.
Rai says: Not what I meant either! I didn’t really think that you were the kind of person to have a kid of your own, you know? Like not an egg kind of thing. It’s not that I think… I’m sure you’ll be a great mother and all that…
Seria is looking intimidating.
Rai says: … I’m just gonna shut up.
Seria says: That’s right.
Rai says: I hope I can meet the little fellow whenever. Someday. Where are you right now?
Seria says: Redridge Mountains.
Rai says: You have been busy.
Seria says: And yourself?
Rai says: After the stuff with Zalazane wrapped up, we just tried to make a home, but there ain’t no place anymore. We buildin’ as many relationships as we can. Getting our folks. Soon we be leaving for the seas. We don’t know if there’s anything left of the first home. If we be lucky we might find somethin’ there. If the place is still, well, you know the stories. After everything that happened. I don’t know how much is left. If that don’t work, we try to find Zandalar. See if they can help us. We don’t even know what the situation is with them after the troll wars. I suppose we’ll see.
Seria nods and they spend more time catching up.
Rai says: I’m glad to see you’re safe. You look… good. I think you found some good people. I think ya can trust them. Who knows, maybe they have some way… maybe they can help you find your teacher. Eventually. At least point you in the right direction.
Seria says: Maybe.
Rai says: I know you’ll succeed. If no other reason, because you’re so stubborn.
Seria says: What’s that supposed to mean?
Rai says: It’s a compliment. I wish I was half as brave as you, ya?
Seria says: I tried.
The grove starts to fill with mist as the spell begins to end. Rai offers that he is always there if she ever wants company again.
Seria says: I’ll have to find you eventually. You have to finish my arm.
She shows her untattooed arm.
Rai says: I have to get a bit better. But yeah. I do. I can keep you updated on the tribe. If you run into others, tell them where we goin’. I don’t know if they want to, but if they do…
Seria says: I will.
Rai says: Thanks. Be seein’ ya.
He waves and the mist envelopes them as the trance ends.
December 26th
Seria tells those that knew Rai that he said hi.
Gil chokes on what he’s eating.
Elissa Cross says: Wait, Rai Rai? Our Rai?
Victor Prestor says: Oh, that twitchy fellow.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: Or is he your Rai?
Seria says: The runty one.
Velameestra Windrunner says: … glad he’s doing well.
Elissa Cross says: I didn’t know you knew him.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: Why did you make me go through all the effort of talking to you about them if you already knew them?
Seria says: I didn’t know I could trust ya. And it’s your own fault for assuming by my skin color what tribe I’m from.
Vel chuffs into her food. A few members of Bravo Company laugh, but Keeshan looks at them and they immediately stop.
Seria says: I could have said I knew you from a long time ago, but I wasn’t going to say that either.
She is looking at Gil.
Velameestra Windrunner says: … how many trolls have you encountered?
Gilveradin Windrunner says: As many as you have.
Velameestra Windrunner says: Clearly not.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: I don’t know what she’s talking about.
Seria says: Rai wasn’t the only one in those woods years ago.
Gil nods.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: That makes more sense. Not that he’s incapable, but to get that far into Quel’thalas alone…
Velameestra Windrunner says: Well. Small world.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: So it would seem.
Seria explains to mainly Vel and Gil that the Darkspear are still working on ships to try and go. She is now speaking in Thalassian.
It’s quite cold today, and it starts to snow.
Vel is glancing at Victor to see how the dream went, and he notices and pulls Vel and Remnii aside.
Victor Prestor says: So, it did work. She was fine. She told me that she had no idea what happened with Natalie. She said that apparently they went to investigate, but after she pointed it out Natalie sent her away and never met up again.
Vel expresses some possibilities, such as mind magic, but there’s no way to tell without directly examining Calia.
Remnii sends the bishop at Light’s Hope.
Remnii says: Brother, if you recovered sister Natalie, please keep her preserved. I hope to retrieve it.
Light's Hope Bishop says: Yes, we’ve recovered the body. We tried to ascertain what we could about the gruesome murder… but we could not learn anything. We are preserving the body.
Remnii then turns back to Vel and Victor.
Remnii says: If this is true… I am quite curious as to why I only heard her gasp, and why the scrying did not go through.
Velameestra Windrunner says: It’s possible that she could have been unconscious.
Remnii says: Perhaps. But it does not feel good.
Velameestra Windrunner says: Something is certainly off, but unfortunately there’s no way to guess at it beyond wild theories.
Remnii nods.
Victor Prestor says: I’m sure there’s an explanation. Thank the Light my mother’s not hurt.
Velameestra Windrunner says: I assume she’s returning to Alterac?
Victor Prestor says: She said she was. Her escorts would be bringing her back.
Velameestra Windrunner says: There was no other escort with them at Light’s Hope?
Victor Prestor says: She did not say. Not specifically. I would assume so… I can’t wager the queen of Alterac would go off into the woods alone with a priestess she barely knows.
Vel looks perplexed.
Velameestra Windrunner says: If you want we can check in with her periodically.
Victor Prestor says: It couldn’t hurt. It’s always good for me to see her, so making sure she’s still safe on the road… especially if there are more Syndicate traitors amongst the group, I would not have one of her escorts be among them, and if they are, I would know about it.
Velameestra Windrunner says: Remnii, you mentioned that Natalie had said it was never the Syndicate?
Remnii says: Those were her dying words.
Victor Prestor says: Well what could that mean?
Remnii says: I believe she may have stumbled onto something while we were in Last Crossing. Something bigger. She was.. Quite absent despite being my assigned teacher. It was something in Alterac. She kept it quite far from me. No matter how I pressed.
Victor Prestor says: I assume it was likely these cultists? They’re technically not the Syndicate. Or perhaps… I don’t know.
Velameestra Windrunner says: But you mentioned she knew we knew about the Argus Wake?
Remnii says: It was not that either. One thing I can say…
She looks at Victor.
Remnii says: This is simply observation… but her behavior changed like a coin flip shortly after your mother was brought back to life.
Victor Prestor says: She changed?
Remnii says: Not entirely, but she was shaken after that point.
Victor Prestor says: But what happened? What did she see?
Remnii says: I don’t know, but something that may revolve around you and your mother, Victor. I have nothing to give besides the observations of one person. Thus until it came to a conclusion, I must carry on.
Victor Prestor says: This is the same woman that performed the resurrection, yes? Are you sure you trust this woman? She didn’t look like she slept for a day and a half, and it seems that pulling an all nighter before trying to resurrect a queen of a foreign nation doesn’t seem up to protocol.
Remnii says: I believe I do. That said, the unvoiced fears of one person cannot drive any upset from me without… she got close to something. This we know. In the meantime, I want to check in with a number of people who could collect her and potentially glean something additional.
Victor Prestor says: Can’t hurt. Clearly someone killed her. And if it was not the Syndicate… then I suppose that may be a good first clue to find out what did.
Velameestra Windrunner says: And we’ll be finding more with this tower. There is likely something, unless we somehow fell across a completely unrelated thread somehow.
Victor Prestor says: That… would be a thing. A frustrating one.
Remnii says: If we stumbled across something different, we are still doing something important. Making sure the necrolytes do not establish a foothold this deep into the Eastern Kingdoms… that is deeply important even if it was not our initial goal. I will keep you both appraised as I learn more… or not. With what little I can do.
Victor Prestor says: Much obliged.
Velameestra Windrunner says: In the meanwhile, Victor. Given your show during the recent fight...
Victor Prestor says: I’m… honestly waiting for Gil to say something. If he cares.
Velameestra Windrunner says: ...regardless of if he does or not, we can likely take some steps toward waking tutelage. Some tricks that are more readily shown. Or perhaps he somehow didn’t notice, but for some reason I doubt that.
Victor Prestor says: Was it that thing you were talking about that one time? That disguise thing?
Velameestra Windrunner says: That, but also how to directly fight a mage that can defend herself. As it would happen, we were engaging solely in one-sided duels.
Victor Prestor says: Ah! Yes! A wonderful idea given we are raiding an evil wizard’s tower!
Velameestra Windrunner says: My thought exactly.
Victor Prestor says: Sure, yeah. Whenever you’re free. I know you’ve been doing your thing.
Victor also informs Uther that Calia seems to be okay.
Remnii does a few follow ups, targeting Liadrin.
Remnii says: Liadrin. Remnii again. Bringing ill tidings. A sister in the faith has fallen. Fort Crossing is likely not where you are, but I could use some assistance if you have time.
Liadrin Everpost says: Of course, what do you need? Last Crossing is close to the front lines and I was hoping to keep Salandria away, but if I need to do something for you, I will.
Remnii says: I will not ask you to risk your new family, but if you or someone you know can help me collect the body of-- Natalie Seline. Someone who can speak with dead and keep her remains safe until I can return to resurrect her myself. Someone you trust.
Liadrin Everpost says: Many elves are at Fort Crossing right now preparing for the first battle. Lor’themar is there, and he is an honorable man. I’ll see if he can pull some strings. I’ll see that she can remain safe.
Remnii says: Thank you. Please reach out to me--or, I’ll check in with you. Stay safe. Thank you so much.
Liadrin Everpost says: I hope you can explain what happened, but I understand that’s hard to do in 25 words or less. Kronokai cristor. And Salandria says hi.
As the group continues, for what appears to be a brief moment--perhaps a trick of the wind or light--Gil and Remnii see what appears to be the flicker of a figure flying in the sky above. From the look of it, it seems to be pretty large. A large winged creature. It seemed to be a draconic silhouette dancing in the snowy clouds.
Keeshan also seems to have noticed it.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: We need to move.
Remnii says: I agree.
John Keeshan says: That was a dragon.
Gil nods.
John Keeshan says: I know they live around these parts, but I haven’t seen them in a long time. They normally live in the higher mountains.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: Yeah. We should move.
John Keeshan says: I just hope the bastard stays clear of Lakeshire. We’re going to have a problem otherwise. I reckon it’s just hunting or something.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: Or something. What would it be hunting down here?
John Keeshan says: I don’t know. Food? I wager the things still eat, yeah?
Gil looks up at the sky again.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: What does something that big find down here?
A few members of Bravo Company voice potentials.
Velameestra Windrunner says: Regardless of motivations, I don’t think we’re going to be guessing them.
John Keeshan says: Right.
They keep moving at a somewhat more accelerated pace. Eventually, they see Lakeshire come into view. It’s covered in snow. Seria turns back into an elf as they approach.
A familiar figure awaits them. It’s Sam Troteman--Keeshan’s commanding officer.
Samuel Troteman says: You know, Keeshan, you missed muster. I’d say that’s not like you, but I’m not surprised to find you on a joy ride.
Keeshan hops off his horse.
John Keeshan says: Forgive me, major.
He holds out Yowler’s head.
John Keeshan says: Don’t mind us, we decided to go and protect the town on our own.
He drops the head in Sam’s hands.
Samuel Troteman says: I see… This…?
John Keeshan says: Another Yowler. Except this one’s right ugly. This group says they are Shadowhide gnolls. Yowlers never looked like this. Whatever happened is likely because of that mage.
Samuel Troteman says: I suppose it’s a good thing you convinced the magistrate. He’s already spoken to both myself and the marshall in this area. You’ll be glad to know…
He turns to the party.
Samuel Troteman says: We’ve been given leave to deploy two companies to assist in the reclamation of the eastern valley from this… wizard and his armies, as well as in an attempt to siege that fort. If these Syndicate members are present, they won’t be in control for long. I’m not sure how you convinced him, but the magistrate seemed quite adamant. Well done. This--
He holds Yowler’s head up.
Samuel Troteman says: Will strengthen the cause. This is their home, after all. When the army goes out to protect their home, some regulars normally come as well. I will not be able to accompany you, but Bravo Company will. I’ll be staying behind with the main force for when the orders to march happen. You were sent here by the king to help us? I recommend you and your lot are put in command of one of the two companies that moves out. What do you say? I know you’re not members of the Stormwind military, but you are members of the Alliance, and clearly you’ve proven yourselves capable fighters. So what say you, your highness?
Uther Menethil says: If you think I could be of help, I accept.
Keeshan nods.
John Keeshan says: I think it’s a good idea. I’ll lead Bravo Company to whatever target you don’t hit. The rest of the other companies will head off with you. I wager you’ll be trying to hit that tower, aye?
Uther Menethil says: That’s the plan, yes.
John Keeshan says: We’ll back you up and ensure they don’t get more reinforcements if these bastards are in league with those bandits. And if we break them quickly enough, we can reinforce you. You sure you’re up for this, kid?
Uther Menethil says: I am.
Samuel Troteman says: Glad am I to hear it. We’ll begin making plans as soon as this storm breaks. Those plans will be pulled together in the barracks once we are all prepared.
Gilveradin Windrunner says: How weird is it to have winter storms like this?
Samuel Troteman says: Normal for this elevation. We don’t benefit from the milder weather in the woods. It’s a bad storm, but not abnormal.
The group disperses to start making preparations.
