The party had been back in Dalaran two days, during which Bellon had spent his days walking the streets of the floating city cudgeling the response he had gotten from Keeper. Darth Vowrawn is still tied up by Darth Baras on Corellia. A message had been sent to him apprising him of the situation, but no one knows exactly where he is or how to get the message into his hands. She reminded Cipher Nine of military protocol and warned that if he continued this insubordinate behavior, he would face disciplinary action upon his return to Dromund Kaas.
He had been so angry at the desertion of Darth Phallas, that no one dared be near him, not even Dr. Nope. When he approached, the spider would scuttle to hide behind his mistress.
He was surprised when Cinnabar found him near the Violet Enclave. Her touch was again soothing and healing.
He sighed and smiled. "Thank you."
"You need to kill something," she suggested carefully.
He chuckled and shrugged.
She took courage from that and went on, "Arbeth wants us to go to Azsuna. No one is ready yet to share space with the Worgen king." She paused considering that sentiment. "I've met him, he's really a very nice person."
"I suppose not to those who wrested his throne and kingdom from him and are responsible for the death of his son and heir," Bellon pointed out. "That makes Arbeth a little nervous about him."
Cinnabar smiled shyly and nodded. "You're right; but I'm sure you and he would get along fine, and Torque and Lux."
"As long as none of us mention Sylvanas," he tacked on.
She nodded. "Let's get back to the Violet Citadel. Torque has your gear and Arbeth has Spot and we're all ready to leave. We're supposed to meet a blue dragon by the name of Stellagosa."
"More dragons?" Bellon pretended shock as he fell in step beside the taller Pandaren.
Cinnabar shrugged. "Apparently Kalacgos recommended us."
The group was waiting outside the building when the two arrived. They were with Harmon. Once Bellon nodded, Harmon formed the portal explaining it to Torque.
Bellon found it fascinating to watch how Torque would "learn" to make a portal to a new location. It turned out to be very simple. It required the latitude and longitude; there was a third figure Bellon had to think about. Hell, once he deciphered what the third figure was, Bellon figured he could calculate the coordinates of where they wanted to go and Torque could take them there without paying someone else to teach him. He wondered briefly if, with the coordinates, Torque could take them to Bellon's ship; it was in fixed orbit.
They stepped through into a landscape of bluish growth near a pond of swirling blue ether with a huge, old, blue dragon lying in it. Around the pond were various types of undead fighting blue dragon kin and hatchlings.
The group fought their way through the attackers, who seemed to be trying to siphon the water from the pond, to another smaller blue dragon on a road overlooking the pond.
Bellon had entered the fray using his poisoned knives. He dropped down on the ground beside the small dragon and sucked in fresh air. Cinnabar had been right; killing something made him feel better, at least the physical exertion had. It had also allowed him to vent his frustration.
Arbeth was talking to the lady dragon about the situation. The elder dragon, her father or grandfather or something, had been poisoned and the magical properties of the pond were keeping him alive. Now the undead minions of the Burning Legion (damn not them again) were trying to drain off the magic and thus kill the elder.
"So what you're asking us to do is kill dead guys?" Bellon asked. He stood and spun his knives in his hand. "Sounds easy enough."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa," Torque caught Bellon's arm. "This from the guy who always wants a plan? Man, Dearth Phallic's departure really did unsettle you."
"Plan, schmlan, I want to kill something." Bellon started for the nearest potential victim.
Arbeth sighed and shook her head. "He was to work it out. Let's go guys."
"I'll keep an eye on him," Cinnabar assured as she and Torque followed Arbeth up into the rocks where they would have high-ground advantage.
As several undead converged on Bellon, Luxraina charged into the melee shouting, "He's going to get himself killed, again!"
Luxraina's prophetic statement came true; both she and Cinnabar had to resurrect Bellon at least once each before the group drove off the undead attackers.
"Six, you've died six times; that's more times than you've want to kill me, Billy," Torque pointed out scowling.
"Stop it!" Arbeth barked, getting in Bellon's face. "Stop this bullshit right now! That was reckless and stupid and nearly cost us, cost you. Phallas' desertion is water under the bridge, spilt milk, a thing of the past. Get over it, or I'm kicking you out of the group. Got it?"
Shocked at never having seen her angry, much less so angry her morbid complexion was scarlet, Bellon nodded silently.
Arbeth ground her teeth. "You better." She stalked off to report their success to Stellagosa.
"Ow," Bellon barked when an oversized foot kicked his shin. "What was that for?"
"Because Arbeth's too polite to do it and wanted to and I can't reach your ass," Torque explained and followed the hunter.
Luxraina shook her head as she followed the other two.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Cinnabar asked wanting to ease Bellon's frustration.
"No, Arbeth's right. I just have to get over it." Bellon sheathed his knives and trudged after the group with Cinnabar at his side.
"I'm beginning to wonder if an alliance with your people might not be a good idea," the priestess suggested uncertainly.
"I'm beginning to agree with you. Maybe I should just pack it in and go home." Bellon kicked a body out of his way.
"We'd miss you. Besides, quitting isn't your way," Cinnabar offered. "You aren't one to give up; fail by no fault of your own, perhaps, but give up never. You will stick with this until all options are exhausted and your people call you home."
Bellon squared his shoulders. She was right. He could be frustrated and angry about the convoluted turn of events but he wouldn't give up. He would stick this out until Keeper gave up. He snorted to himself. She wasn't one to give up either; between the two of them this could become a very long mission.
He picked up his pace when he saw Arbeth signal and vault up onto Black. "Where to now?" he asked once up onto Spot.
"Stellagosa said there's a guy up this mountain who might need our help," she explained.
They rode silently side by side for a bit. "I'm sorry," Bellon finally said. "You're right. I'm being a jack ass."
"I can understand your frustration, Billy," Arbeth assured then grinned at him. "Back to killing scumbag demons and not taking names?"
Bellon laughed. "Yeah."
They ended up cleaning lesser demons out of an area for another dragon. By the end of the day, Bellon was feeling more himself but decided there wasn't anything of value to report. After some time chatting around the fire, he slid into his bedroll and slept very well.
"Now what?" Torque asked the next morning over their breakfast.
"Arbeth's not going to like this but there's a village of Worgen in Val'shara which is being harassed by demons," Luxraina explained. She pointed at the dragon. "At least that's what he said. He also said they'd pay well to anyone who settled affairs for them."
Everyone looked at the Forsaken. Arbeth shrugged. "Lux, you do all the talking. I'll hang back."
They got directions from the dragon, who also showed them the location on a map. He told them the trip would take four days, but they could spend the second night in a Druid settlement along the way.
"Wait, let's not walk." Bellon stopped them from immediately packing up their camp for the long trek. "I think I know what Torque needs to make a portal." He explained his theory. "It took some reviewing of his other portal coordinates but I firmly believe the final figure is elevation above sea level."
The blue dragon blinked. "The village you are going to is on the coast and sits at elevation 42."
"How do we find the latitude and longitude?" Torque asked.
Bellon grinned. "With a map. You all get comfortable while I figure this out."
He dug into his back pack and everyone else's and retrieved several maps, most importantly, one of Azeroth as a whole. He had a chronometer, astral compass, ruler, and sextant; he sat down with the map of Azeroth and plotted the locations of Torque's portals for Dalaran, Undercity, and Orgrimmar. Torque and Lux watched as he began drawing horizontal and vertical lines on the map of Azeroth and labeling them by degrees with the equator being horizontal zero and a measured location in the Great Sea being vertical zero.
Once he firmly placed the Burning Isles by latitude and longitude, he broke the map up into more specific lines of hours, minutes, and seconds.
Last of all, he picked a point to the east of the village and calculated its location. He'd been at this most of the day and the others sighed when he stood.
"Torque make a portal using these coordinates." He had written the numbers in a way that matched those Harmon and Torque used.
Torque shrugged and began the spell. The portal formed. "Okay, it looks like it doesn't come out in rocks or something. Who's going to try it out?"
"I will," Cinnabar bravely volunteered. "If I'm seen by a villager, they will be less startled." She squared her shoulders and stepped through. Mere seconds later she returned. "It worked! I came out on a road and the village roofs are visible. I really didn't expect it to work. Forgive my doubting you, Billy." She ran to her gear, grabbed her yak's reins and hurried back through.
"Well, this ain't gonna stay open for ever. Let's get a move on people," Torque ordered indicating Bellon to hand him Spot's reins and to drive his trike through the portal.
They stepped out as the evening sun was lowering to the horizon over the ocean to the west. The walls of Black Rook Hold loomed over Bradensbrook and the surrounding farm land. They were on the outskirts of the village; a farmer paused in his field work and watched the group head down the road.
Arbeth pulled her cloak hood up over her face and rode Black at the back of the group while Luxraina led the way into the village. Bellon rode beside Luxraina; this would be the second time he would encounter Worgen. They intrigued him.
A human, who identified himself as the mayor, greeted them with a challenge.
"Darnagos told us you needed help," Luxraina said keeping her hands clear of her weapons.
Several villagers with rakes and scythes flanked their mayor ready to defend their homes.
"We don't take too kindly to strangers," the mayor said eyeing the well-armed group.
"Just tell us what you need and we will see to it.", Bellon offered. "You needn't see us until we're done." The mayor's accent was similar to some Imperials from outlying areas of Dromund Kaas, not as refined as those from Kaas City. He also noticed that the village was occupied by humans and wondered where the Worgen were.
The Mayor considered the offer then pointed down a road leading farther west. "Name's Heathrow. They're that way."
"Billy DeKidt, this is Luxraina Sunseeker."
The mayor nodded his acknowledgement. "Demons arrived about a week ago and have been raiding our fields, terrifying our children and elders, and even kidnapped and murdered a couple of folks."
"Do you have any idea how many there are?" Bellon asked.
The mayor conferred a moment with the others standing by him. He shook his head. "A lot, several companies at least."
"Hm, we might need to reconnoiter the situation." Luxraina glanced at Bellon, who nodded his agreement.
He addressed the mayor. "It would be nice if we had a relatively secure place to set up camp. We've been fighting two days straight and would like to rest as well as be able to lay out a plan of action."
"No place around here is secure," one of the other men grumbled. "But you can hold up in my barn for the night. It's empty since those bastards stole all my livestock. Just don't accidently burn it down. My wife might actually sleep tonight knowing you're there. Follow me." He started off expecting them to follow.
He led them southwest out of the village to his farm. He unlocked the barn door and lit a lantern, then silently left them. Bellon noticed a woman watching cautiously from behind the curtains of the house.
"I thought you said this was a village of Worgen." Bellon noted. "They all look human to me."
"Worgen are humans who were bitten and cursed," Arbeth explained rubbing down Black as he munched hay in a proper stall. "The Worgen you met in Shadowfang is the worg form they take. I don't know the details but they found some way to mitigate the curse so that they can shape-shift at will."
"What's mitigate?" Torque asked Bellon.
"Lessen," he whispered back.
"I've met King Greymane in both forms," Cinnabar said. "Lord Crowley too; I watched him go through the transformation. It looks really painful because their bodies are drastically changed."
Bellon shuddered remembering his own body changing shape and it wasn't as drastic a change as from human to Worgen.
"I think they like the human form because it isn't intimidating and is more relatable," Cinnabar continued.
"I thought the Worgen were fierce fighters," Torque said.
"Any Worgen can hurt you, but farmers are farmers, Worgen or not," Luxraina said. "These people are farmers; all they want is to live peacefully and tend their farms. Sure in Worgen form they can bite and claw, but they aren't trained warriors. We have to help them."
"Not to mention the goodwill it will generate: Horde types helping Worgen," Bellon pointed out.
"The mayor seemed to like you," Torque noted.
"Yeah, your accent is not too unlike theirs. I guess he figured you're a kindred spirit," Luxraina suggested.
"He couldn't see that you're blue, not pink." Torque giggled.
Bellon sneered and snatched up the pots and dinner fixings; he went out into the barnyard to make a fire and cook their meal. There was still enough light to see what he was doing while he cut up the elements for venison stew. A shift in light from the house caught his attention and he saw the woman peeking out again. A noise from the side of the barn drew his attention, something small.
"I see you little one, come on out," he encouraged. He shook his head at the waif who inched out of the shadows. "Are you hungry?" The child nodded. He wasn't sure if it was a boy or a girl, it was dressed in oversized cast-offs. "Doesn't your mum feed you?"
"Since the animals and crops was stole, we ain't had but bread to eat." The child was chewing its thumb nail.
"Well, we can't have that. You go tell your folks that we got plenty and are happy to share. Run along," he urged the child off. Once the child was gone, he added more to the stew then told Luxraina and Cinnabar.
"I'll go talk to the family," Cinnabar offered and headed for the house. When she knocked, the man answered holding his scythe defensively. The more she talked, the more he relaxed and looked back at his hungry family.
"They will provide a table and plates and utensils," she announced when she got back. "Lux and I will help them move the table and chairs into the yard."
"There are a bunch of rakes and stuff and several lanterns in the barn. I'll set them up to light the area." Torque hurried back into the barn.
Arbeth looked uncertain. "Maybe I should…"
"No you don't," Bellon stopped her. "As I said, this is an opportunity to create goodwill. You will join the party. If you show fear of them, that will only feed their fear of you."
The dinner started a little uncertainly; but Torque's bumptious nature, Cinnabar's and Luxraina's equanimity, and Bellon's excellent cooking skills soon broke down the barriers.
The family's name was Fieldstone: Jonathan, Patricia, Maraleigh, and Caleb. They had been farmers in Gilneas before it was overrun by Sylvanas' army.
Arbeth even began talking with Patricia about her brother and growing up in Pyrewood. It turned out they knew some of the same people. Patricia could tell Arbeth what happened to them. Arbeth shared her own story about how she became Forsaken.
"Where are you from?" Jonathan asked Bellon. "Your, uh, complexion is unique."
Bellon chuckled. "Not from around here, I can tell you that."
"Do you really think you can take care of the demons?" Jonathan asked with a tinge of hope mixed with disbelief.
"We took out a whole company," Torque piped up.
"We had Daiva and Phallus with us then, but yes, with good planning, I think we can," Bellon answered. He looked at Caleb, the waif he had met earlier. "We'll get you back your animals or at least bring you food stuffs when we're done."
"There's a good chance the cows and sheep are still alive; they want them for food too and fresh is better." Jonathan let out a healthy burp. Patricia hissed at him and slapped him. "Excuse me," he apologized sheepishly.
Report 26: Day 71: Final Report. This is to inform you that I shall send no more reports until such time as Darth Vowrawn himself is standing before me. I will be shutting off my long-range transceiver. All communications must go through 2VR8, my ship-board protocol droid. It will be instructed that no communications will be patched to me without my express permission. Have a nice day.
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