Chapter 46: Uld

Lorne Song-of-Flow gradually materialized, and he took a moment to survey the surrounding landscape to determine where they had been transported.

“Chief, the direction is settled. We’re near Molten Light Town. My friends, the dwarf surveyor Redur and the Lost One Seldurin, are in the Dustwind Excavation Site. Let’s settle down in Molten Light Town first and wait for them to arrive before exchanging information about Uldaman and making further plans.”

Since they had confirmed their location near Molten Light Town, the teleportation coordinates hadn’t deviated much, remaining within acceptable limits.

Lorne Song-of-Flow, being an experienced adventurer, was methodical and professional in his arrangements, which both Patrick and Aurelia agreed upon.

Taking the lead, Lorne Song-of-Flow guided the way; Molten Light Town stood atop Dustwind Canyon. Patrick had visited before, more than once, and although the terrain had expanded after the crossing, he surmised the general landscape remained similar.

Following Lorne Song-of-Flow, Patrick and Aurelia moved through a world where the sky was blue but the earth was red. The red desert exposed bare, crimson stone mountains, with barren soil and only sparse wild grasses struggling to survive.

In the distance, a vast sea of red stretched before their eyes, and farther still, undulating hills formed from uniform red sandstone. This was a world of red sandstone, an ocean of crimson, where the endless red met the sky, making it impossible to imagine where all the red sand ended.

The desolate desert was vast and unbroken, with scorching winds occasionally sweeping across the land, caressing its barrenness, and the howling gusts seemed to mourn the wounds of this forsaken place. Once, this had been a lush valley, abundant in natural resources, with verdant trees and thriving grasslands. Now, the Flame Lord Ragnaros had destroyed its former beauty, leaving it a wasteland.

...

They entered Molten Light Town and went into an inn.

“Time is money, esteemed guests! I have exactly what you’re looking for. I’m the proprietor here, and it’s a pleasure to do business with you.” A female goblin in a blue dress approached, her eyes gleaming with opportunity. Whenever there was money to be made, these little green-skinned folk were more industrious than any other race.

“Open the best rooms you have, and do it quickly,” Lorne Song-of-Flow tossed a pouch of coins onto the goblin’s table.

The chime of gold could make any goblin forget their soul.

“Oh, my old friends, you’ll receive the finest treatment in all Molten Light Town! I’m your best partner, Sally Gearwheel.” The guests had only just met her, yet instantly became old friends—true to goblin style.

Lorne Song-of-Flow went out to try to contact his dwarf friends, Surveyor Redur and Lost One Seldurin. Patrick didn’t ask further, waiting until they arrived.

“Are you confident about this expedition?” With only Aurelia and Patrick left, the elven woman spoke.

“Uldaman is a Titan relic. As the creators of our world, everything the Titans left behind is worth exploring. The ancient Well of Eternity was also a facility established by Titans. That’s why I want to investigate this place.” Patrick didn’t answer directly, instead explaining that the site might be a relic of the creators.

Of course, he couldn’t say outright that in his previous life, he had run the dungeon and knew there really was the Platinum Disc of Norgannon inside.

“The enemies here aren’t particularly strong. Barring any surprises, we should be able to handle them easily, without any safety concerns.”

Aurelia agreed, having observed along the way that the wild creatures of this barren land and the goblin residents were of low rank, posing no real danger.

...

Lorne Song-of-Flow met with the two dwarves, Surveyor Redur and Lost One Seldurin, who had come to Molten Light Town upon receiving his message.

“Long time no see, elven friend!” Even before the dwarves appeared, their gruff voices could be heard.

“Shall we have a drink later? Didn’t expect you’d arrive so quickly. What kind of teammates have joined us this time?” the other dwarf chimed in.

“Chief, Marshal, you know how dwarves are—fiery and welcoming. I hope you won’t mind,” said Lorne Song-of-Flow.

“No matter. Just don’t reveal our real names to them,” Patrick replied lightly.

Aurelia merely nodded, but Lorne Song-of-Flow could tell she was annoyed by these boorish fellows. As a member of a great clan from Quel’Thalas, she naturally had little patience for rough, unrefined adventurers from the outside world.

When the two dwarves entered and saw Aurelia and Patrick, they were startled, losing their earlier bravado. After all, such high-ranking professionals rarely became adventurers.

“These... two... are our new teammates?” Surveyor Redur stammered.

Lorne Song-of-Flow replied, “Yes. This is Patrick the Arcane Mage, and Aurelia the Ranger. Both are senior professionals in our High Elf Kingdom. They’ve agreed to join us in exploring Uldaman.”

“Do they have any special requirements?” Lost One Seldurin asked cautiously, afraid of offending Patrick or Aurelia.

Lorne Song-of-Flow answered, “None. They’re willing to abide by our original distribution plan. Patrick the Arcane Mage is very interested in the Titan relic and has no special demands.”

After hearing this, the dwarves looked relieved. The group settled on a time for action, planning to sneak in at dawn the next day when the Black Iron Dwarves were changing shifts.

The following day.

Lorne Song-of-Flow’s party set off under cover of night, leaving Molten Light Town from the northwest and following the mountain path toward the Creator’s Ruins. Not far south of Uldaman stood the Fortress of Pain, controlled by Black Iron Dwarves, with Ragnaros’s fire elemental envoy, Ambassador Infernus, stationed there to oversee the Black Iron Dwarves working for Ragnaros.

The dwarves in the fortress were focused on their new excavation at Uldaman, believing ancient Titan secrets lay buried there—secrets that could aid their volatile fire elemental lord in his war. The Black Iron Dwarves had become Ragnaros’s slaves.

Lorne Song-of-Flow didn’t want to alert the dwarves stationed at the Fortress of Pain, so he chose to enter the excavation center during the night shift, slipping into Excavation Site One, which was the entrance to the Titan ruins of Uldaman.

Relying on Patrick’s Fade spell, the group took advantage of the workers’ distraction at Excavation Site One and finally reached the entrance to the Titan ruins—Uldaman’s Hall of Guardians.

——— dividing line ———

My apologies. Due to Double Eleven (certainly Double Eleven’s fault), I didn’t notice the bit-part author was “Deep Moon Azure.” Here I offer my apologies and hope that “Deep Moon Azure” will forgive my five deficiencies, six wastes, seven muddled thoughts, and eight scattered concerns. This mistake has made me feel guilty for a long time.