Following the defense of the Huojin Shrine, the High Warlord called together a skeleton-council of the soldiers readily available. Stone Guard Arienne Autumnbow led an attack out into the void-infested Vale, yet mysteriously vanished on her own ferry. None have found her, not even Sergeant Galefist, who noted that he was given direction to lead said expedition. Noted in a follow-up report:
Sergeant Galefist, under the direction of Stone Guard Autumbow, lead a follow up sortie into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms in a squad composed of Lt. General Ithnan Drakenbolt, Vanguard Bwon'ran, Legionnaire Aly'sandrel, and Grunt Deylinna Summerveil.
The squad conducted reconnaissance of the Vale while engaging at the Sergeant's discretion. Several targets of opportunity were hit, with at least three confirmed kills of faceless ones, and examination and destruction of any isolated "obelisks."
Sergeant Galefist collected several fragments of one such obelisk, as well as a charcoal rubbing of the runes on another. These have been forwarded to the Deathweavers for analysis.
Falling back to the Golden Pagoda, Legionnaire Aly'sandrel noted signs of conflict leading into one of the vaults that run underneath the Vale. After conferring, the squad elected to conduct reconnaissance into the vault--it was here Sergeant Galefist took the rubbing of one of the obelisks.
However, during this, a creature believed to be a c'thraxxi emerged from the waters running through the structure. Having no choice, the squad briefly engaged. Through a concentrated effort between Vanguard Bwon'ran and Grunt Summerveil, a crumbling pillar was dislodged and used to briefly separate them from the c'thraxxi, at which point the squad disengaged. It is a credit to the prowess of Lt. General Drakenbolt that all operatives have returned safely and without lasting injury.
Sergeant Galefist notes the following:
--Whitepetal Lake should be considered an extreme hazard. The whispers are strongest there, and even hours after departing the mag'har felt the aftereffects, and saw ill omens all around him.
--The Old God forces habitually push alarmingly close to be Shrines, but the Shado-Pan are holding.
--No sign of the so called "Rajani" mogu.
--The C'thraxxi is still alive, and the sergeant recommends it be designated a HVT.
Although absent, Stone Guard Autumnbow is not imagined to be in any outstanding danger. A few days after this expedition, the void-infestation of the Vale subsided.
With the aforementioned skeleton-war-council, the High Warlord designated attention to the three main targets within the Vale:
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The Mogu clans,
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The Mantid
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The Void
A quick assessment of manpower and vote led the Vol’kar to turn their full attention upon the Mogu clans. Their assault on the Shrine and gross negligence for simple life - even during arguably, the dangerous invasion of Azeroth, was not something to be simply ignored. The Mogu Empire must be dealt with.
Previously, Senior Sergeant Iriari Danishi scouted the outer reaches of the Vale and came back with a troubling assessment. The Mogu were using a combination of their ancient anima magicks and cruel subjugation tactics of old. Populaces were being exterminated. Villages burned. Families ruined- just for the sake of reputation, fear, and loathing.
The High Warlord has stated that the civilians of the Vale were their top priority to protect. They shall not pursue any skirmishes with neighboring forces or rise to the antics of Alliance hecklers. Invoking the previously earned title on behalf of the Steelpaw Shaodin, the Vol’kar shall become the Champions of the Land by keeping themselves firmly rooted in Pandaria, shielding those that they may.
With a command to research what she could on the “new” mogu clans and their acts of pure terror, Legionnaire Aly’sandrel could only gain knowledge that the Lorewalkers had, nothing more. On the topics of Mantid strength:
Legionnaire Aly'sandrel, alongside Grunt Summerveil, took a small reconnaissance expedition past The Serpent's Spine to look into what the mantid may indeed be up to. With two tigers on loan from the Shado-Pan, they had discovered two noteworthy things.
The first is that survivors were being dragged and/or carried into the kypari in the Sumprushes. The majority of those being taken were pandaren, though there were certainly those fallen from both the Alliance and Horde. Their numbers too many, neither were willing to approach to see what may be transpiring.
The second is that several smaller bands of mantid were headed north along Serpent's Spine. Each group consisted of only four or five each. They were too high up to get any specific details from either Aly'sandrel or Summerveil.
Upon preparing to return, an explosion was triggered near the Horde outpost along the wall. Several mantid and a kunchong were preparing to breach a hole in the wall. With a bit of quick reaction, Summerveil was able to remove several mantid from the fight, as well as her wolf Fenrir taking one down. Aly'sandrel opened a small portal from the explosives laid against the wall to the kunchong. Nearly a dozen bombs destroyed the remaining forces.
Notes left by Aly'sandrel of the incident:
- Mantid forces are already prodding the Shado-Pan for holes in their forces.
- The large trees(kypari) are of interest to the mantid, be it for keeping prisoners or otherwise.
- Any expeditions beyond The Serpent's Spine should begin with even a check-up with the Shado-Pan on the wall, who may be able to provide recent reports of any movements.
Furthering her scorched-earth campaign against the overbearing Mogu, Senior Sergeant Iriari Danishi took a small taskforce of troops to the Guo-Lai Halls. With her earlier scouting reports at hand, she was able to lead several troops on a highly successful sabotage mission. They were able to render several of the “titan constructs” useless, as well as placing many of the cultists with such ancient knowledge to the blade. Several more Vol’kar troops disappeared in such chaotic fighting, such as Spymaster Lo’Gar’Nosh. Although he too is not rumored to be in immediate danger, the Vol’kar’s dwindling manpower makes fighting an Empire increasingly stark.
With the pieces falling into place, the High Warlord is preparing to case the die. The next move is to secure the northern gate to the Vale. By securing the gate, the Vol’kar will be able to split the Mogu empire’s forces effectively in half. Although the Mogu will not simply wait on the outside of the wall - and the gate will surely be sieged - it will give the sons and daughters of Vol’jin just enough time to properly clear the Guo-Lai Halls.
Will they succeed? Only time will tell…