A quest for family, a pursuit of gold
"Worse," said the night elf. He recalled what he had seen in the depths of Gnomeregan a few days earlier. A city ruled by foul troggs, consumed by the radiation the gnomes themselves unleashed upon it. The city does not lie in ruin, but it is uninhabitable nonetheless. He entered the city with his loyal panther, Rapid. After sneaking behind countless leper gnomes, irradiated troggs and even Dark Iron dwarves, he could finally see what he came for: a little gnome lying unconcious on the cold metal floor. The corridor was filled with troggs and only his exceptional eyes allowed him to notice the gnome on the other end. He grabbed his bag and took out a photo provided by Lelyan.
"Yes, that is the gnome, indeed," he determined.
He pushed further. As he went past a terminal, a metallic clang was heard. The terminal began to scroll and print out letters. Punch cards began to fly to every direction allowed by the laws of physics. The terminal started to beep, and greeted the night elf: "Greetings, unclassified entity. Please identify to gain access to terminal services." A series of various clangs, beeps and rotation of metallic parts followed. When it was over a light turned on.
The troggs became
aware of his presence and came charging at him from every direction.
"Gnomey isn't
paying me enough for this," he thought. He commanded his panther:
"Run, Rapid! I'll hold them!"
The terrified
panther began to flee even before his master's cry was heard, leaving
him alone to face the troggs.
The troggs ran towards him. The closest was close enough to lift his crude axe and attempt to split the night elf in two. The elf dodged and slashed the trogg with his sword. The trogg fell with a cry of pain before the eyes of his friends, and they hastened their approach in rage. Another trogg attempted to hit him with his mace, and was also dispatched easily. The elf turned around and started running. Trying to trace his path back to the surface, he ran past many more troggs who didn't seem to like night elves visiting their new city. They joined the chase, and eventually the elf was leading a train of troggs and leper gnomes back to the surface. He finally reached the elevator separating Gnomeregan from the rest of Dun Morogh. When he got there, the elevator was already beginning its journey to the surface, and the elf had to jump on it. He landed and rolled to his side. His heart was pounding and his breath was heavy. He lay on the round bronze platform, safe from the wrath of the new residents of Gnomeregan, until it finished its ascension and the troggs lost their interest. He hopped off the platform to find Rapid sitting next to it, waiting. "Why, you little..." The panther sniffed at him and turned his back. He began to walk towards the exit.
"Well, what
is it? Is he alive?" the gnome inquired.
"Yes, he is.
I found him, but I'm not going back there. Far too dangerous." he
replied with determination.
"I'll give
you more gold then, if you show me where he is," she offered.
"Two
hundred gold pieces, not a copper less, and that is, of course, in
addition to any valuable items we might find in there. Not including
any members of your family, obviously." he declared.
"Fine, just
get me my brother back."
