Echoes of Northwind

[Rigley]

Week 1, Day 1


I made my way into camp this morning with my unit. I must
say I was a bit skeptical at first when I heard of site B-184. A site is hardly
ever referred to by a sequential number, even by the higher ups—always ‘Southern
Ulduar camp’, or ‘Central Uldaman survey’. I had never heard about it
previously either, either from dispatchers or veteran explorers. Quite curious,
seeing as long as I’ve been onboard the League.


We made landfall not long after sunrise though, and I could
tell this was a genuine article. Towers and walls sprung up all around the
League camp and structures—certainly titanic, I would say. The place seemed gargantuan
on a brief survey from the air, though we couldn’t make out much in the fog
which swept in from the mountains—my guess is that this is some titanic
fortress, if I were to make a personal judgment on the site. At any rate, we made
our acquaintances with the current men on duty. They were certainly peculiar
when speaking about the previous commander, in that they didn’t seem to care to
speak about him at all. Maybe I’m simply an imposing figure, but it does
unsettle me somewhat. Even our dispatch was brief in terms of the former
command’s disappearance. Perhaps he was taken by something in the ruins.


I didn’t pay such thoughts too much attention at the time—as
always I found myself a mite bit too enamored in the survey before me. However,
as I came upon the gate into the fortress proper I found myself warded off by
the remaining commander’s force. They were very insistent that the site be left
alone—but why am I here if we plan to simply sit on our hands and regard the
larger part of the compound? They insisted I return to camp, upon which I found
myself presented with an insurmountable length of documents for which I was
told were of ‘urgent notice’, despite many of the papers clearly being suited
for a secretary.


Did they send me here for some glorified office position?
All of these years a valiant supporter and they stick me behind a desk upon a
possible trove of knowledge? I’ve the mind to write a stern letter back to
them. But if they think they’ll leave me
idle around this site then they’ve sent the wrong man—I’ll show them I’m
capable. The former unit may be unruly and persistent in their superstitious
ways, but my men still serve the true heart of the League. We’ve planned to make
an incursion later tonight, and perhaps investigate exactly what is so ‘cursed’
about these ruins firsthand. As far as I have seen there is nothing to be
apprehensive about; no whispers, no eldritch beings to confront—but as I look
out of my post tonight I do see a brilliant beam of light rising out from the
mist of that town. How alluring it is—When my men are ready perhaps we will see
its source.

I will preserve this journal amongst all else, for I do not
know how many writings upon this location will be published if the men manning
the transports have any say. We’ll just have to play along with their game when
their eyes are on us.


Until next time,


~Michael Harloft,
----B-184 Expedition Commander

[Rigley]

Week 1, Day 2


Haunted—Truly I am with men who joined the wrong organization. Last night my unit of ten entered the gate. What lay within? I cannot truly say we were expecting what we have come upon. We found ourselves treading into what seemed to be a city of some description—aged and damaged by what seemed to be fires and debris. Black ash seems to rest upon many a roof and street. What struck odd to me was its size, though.

This was no small town, from what I could discern. It had once been populous—the size itself was larger than a settlement, and it was certainly clear that these people meant to live their lives out here from the way homes seem furnished. Why have I not heard of this place? Another secret those men have kept from the world?

As we made our way through the town we found little indication as to the source of its downfall. The gleaming beacon in the district calls to me, though—I feel there are some answers at the root of it, no doubt. We pressed on despite some reservations among the more cowardly of the unit, and found ourselves quite close to the source of the light. We were in some residential quarter, or the like, when it happened. As we walked a creature, black as night and engulfed in a black smoke, clambered across the road ahead of us. Its movements were jagged, and its body grotesquely thin—one of my men took the instinct to fire at it, to no avail. The bullets simply… didn’t land. They went into the creature, only to see the a cloud of snow and dirt beyond it, with the thing crawling along unimpeded.

I told my men to ignore it and continue on. Perhaps I was justifying that it was a trick of the mist, but…

As we carried on it charged.
Screams came up from within my unit. They insisted that they had seen a creature—one said that it had taken a strike at him. Their groveling was just too much, and it was soon to be day out—with much resistance I relented, and returned to camp with them.

Surveyor Arden did not return with us; I didn’t see him after the creature ‘struck’. Did he run off in the mist? Perhaps he got lost in the fog. Hopefully he creeps out when the standard unit isn’t on watch. Wouldn’t wish to have any commotion with them over the place once more. But damn them, I say—what lies within fascinates me. Titanic fortifications, human construction—and so strangely worn. I have to know more. And I have to find that beacon—how can they remain idly by?

We will see soon. We return tonight, creature or not. Fortune favors the bold, after all. We can’t let this place sit steeped in mystery forever.



Until next time,


~Michael Harloft,
----B-184 Expedition Commander

[Rigley]

Week 1, Day 5


I went back in. I had to find Arden. I escaped into the town at sundown, so that I wouldn't be restrained by my 'coworkers'. They heard about the foray from one of my more shaken squad members-- But they said that anyone lost inside wasn't worth going in for.

They're insane. They've been here too long-- a man doesn't die in two days, even in such weather! He can't be dead. I have to find him. But even still...

I have tried to leave. At first I thought it was simply a misdirection that I have found myself wandering through the city streets in circles for the last few hours, but I have come to realize something... terrible. Very terrible. There is indeed something wrong with this place. More than just the dense fog lingering over it, it seems... to keep me here.

Every-time I walk between the main gates, I do not come out in the courtyard. I walk out into another part of the town, and it seems my journey out has begun anew. Even worse is that now as the sky grows darker I hear... voices. A creature is following me. It speaks to me... But I cannot understand it. It sounds far away.

I must continue on. I must find Arden, and I must leave this town alive.

---An addendum is penned below.---

It after daybreak now, and the fog is as dense as ever. Now the whispers are closer, and I find myself beset upon by... beasts.

I saw a woman in the streets today-- well, not in the streets. Upon a roof, of all places. The first living soul I have seen in three days. We didn't speak much-- she was searching for someone too. A priestess, I believe she said. I was unable to hold conversation with her long; shortly after I found myself thrown to the ground by a blur of black.

She ran shortly after that. I have the urge to go seek her out-- for the company of another sane mind, if nothing else...

I will stop here. I am bleeding heavily from the creature's strike still, and have not rested for at least a full day's time. I've done what I can to bandage the wound-- despite my armor it looks as if a bite has been taken from my side. The voices entreat me to come down from this attic, but... I know better. I won't let them sway me.

Arden, please be alive. Woman in white, please survive. I am desperate to find someone in this town now. Anyone over these wretched voices.

Until next time,


~Michael Harloft,
----B-184 Expedition Commander

ThereIsNoHopeTheIronMountainWaits.

[Rigley]

I know where they've gone. I know where they're hiding. Hiding from me. Tormenting me. Calling these creatures down upon me.

They're judging me. They've given their verdict. I won't let them have the last laugh.

I can hear the others calling me. Their judgement has been given to me as well. They call me mad. They say I've been touched by this place. But they're the ones who are blind to what is going on in this town.

They beckon me. The Iron Mountain beckons me. Let them come if they wish.


I will open the gate.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

------DAILY POST - ABROAD TRANSMISSION

EXPLORER'S LEAGUE FLIGHTS HAVE REPORTED TERRIBLE LOSSES WITHIN THEIR RANKS, GIVEN AT A TOTAL OF AN ENTIRE BRIGADE'S VETERAN MEMBERSHIP AND UPWARDS.

BODIES OF EXPEDITION CAPTAINS BALGAN IRONVINE AND SKALD WINDSPLINTER WERE DISCOVERED AMONGST THEIR REGIMENT'S MASSACRED CORPSES IN THE ALTERAC MOUNTAIN RANGE EARLIER TODAY, JUST SOUTHWEST OF CHILLWIND CAMP. IT HAS BEEN SPECULATED THAT THE DWARVEN FORCE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE FLIGHT FROM SOME UNSPECIFIED LOCATION OF THEIR ORIGINAL DIG SITE, AND MET THEIR FATE FROM A BEAST OF THE MOUNTAIN'S PEAKS. ARGENT OFFICIALS HAVE INSTEAD STATED THAT WOUNDS SEEM SIMILAR TO BITES AND CLAWS-- THOSE OF UNDEAD INSTEAD OF ANIMALS. SOME HAVE STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE BROKEN BONES, NOTABLE AROUND THE HEAD. REPORTS OF BLADE WOUNDS WERE FOUND AS WELL.


THE EXPLORER'S LEAGUE HAS STATED THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO RELEASE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE OPERATION THAT IRONVINE AND WINDSPLINTER WERE A PART OF, BUT GIVE THEIR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN.

--DAILY POST, PLAGUELANDS FRONT COMMUNICATION STATION

[Rigley]

Two men stood across from one another, documents of various natures spread about on the desk before them. One a dwarf, the other a human-- both adorned in the tabard of the explorer's league.

“We can't just leave it.” said the human, a look of fatigue and exasperation upon his face as he turned his eyes up towards the dwarf before him. Though short in stature and showing age, his eyes were stony, uncompromising.

“An' what d'ye propose? T'throw another team at it? Send another bunch'a lads in an' tell 'em t'sit on their hands?”

“Commander Harloft was a casualty of his own arrogance. It's no fault but his own that he was taken. His orders were clear and--”

“An' what about Ironvine, n' Windsplinter? Who's fault were 'ey?” barked the dwarf in return. “Our lads are dyin' out there jus' t'play watchman on some cursed site! You listen an' you listen good, lad. I ain't gonna file no more reports away. I ain't gonna send any more letters t'families tellin' them that ma an' pa died ta 'unknown causes' on th'field! It ain't right!”

The human quickly set his hands out. “I... I understand. Fine. Fine. But what if others come upon it? Bandits? Cultists? The Forsaken took notice of the site-- you saw that article.”

“If 'ey find it, then mercy on their souls. Now send the order. Bring anyone we can home.”

-----------------------------------

------Explorer's League Transmission – URGENT

To all personnel stationed at League Site B-184.

This is an urgent transmission from dispatch: Abandon Site B-184. Dispatch has deemed this area too hazardous to continue operations within, and of too little profit to warrant these hazards. As such, all units under the command of Harloft, Ironvine, Windsplinter, or any residual forces are given full clearance to vacate the premises of the site with all due speed.

Dispatch order of non-disclosure is still in effect. Leave the site and return to the hall for debriefing. Do NOT enter B-184 to retrieve another. Do NOT wait for other operatives. Leave immediately. Northwind is no longer of concern.