As the evening grew later, the party sat themselves down around a small fire together with the water elemental -- though the elemental's tolerance for that fire seemed curteous at most, as though it actively feared the flame.
It introduced itself as Tsunaman; herald of the Hydraxian Court, which it in turn described as part of the Tribunal of the Tides. This Tribunal was a collection of water elemental dukes, serving and giving counsel to the waterlord Neptulon. The party, politely and reverently, introduced themselves in turn.
According to Tsunaman, the Tribunal had been sensing the recent upheaval of the other elements and now sought to learn more -- and stop it if they could. It was also the Tribunal who were the source of the many visions collectively experienced by the shamans of the horde, including by Turuk Thunderhoof, Nim, Yuma Stonehoof, and Unknown. These visions were a call for aid, and evidently they were working well.
As for why Tsunaman was hiding here, far off in the mountainous reaches of Stonetalon Mountains? According to the elemental, the Hydraxian Court had managed totrack down the presence of mortals clad in dark robes with elemental fire at their beck and call, surely a bad omen if any. They were hiding somewhere within the region, though evidently Tsunaman's effort to try and find them had turned to them instead hunting after it. No doubt to destroy it.
The party had heard of the War of the Three Hammers that took place long ago; a civil war among the dwarves that in the end resulted in the summoning of the elemental lord of fire, Ragnaros. Allegedly, this elemental lord had been defeated deep down in the bowels of Blackrock Mountain, where it had made its lair underneath a city of the Dark Iron Dwarves.
Tsunaman could confirm, the firelord had been vanquished just so, driven back to its domain in the Firelands. Evidently though, these events had only served to strengthen the resolve of some -- perhaps even the same who did the elemental lord's bidding, and whose plans were foiled with its banishment.
The water elemental was also able to provide the party with a point of interest in the region; a place where it had felt a source of power emanating, one it was sure tied back to elemental fire. Before they could talk any more, however, a small group of cultists suddenly descended upon the party's campsite. Swift as the wind and armed with fiery blades, they flanked the party and attacked, forcing them to take up arms and defend themselves.
Jung-Won Oxhide and Gan Jedi took to the front, to outflank their attackers and defend the rest of the party. A great fire elemental eventually joined the fray as well, but Zachariah Hallowhold managed to seal the being in a ball of divine force -- which then allowed Yuma Stonehoof to manifest water and drown it.
After the battle, the party had a chance to investigate the robes and belongings of their attackers. They quickly recognized the symbols present; these were agents of the Twilight's Hammer, there was no mistaking the adornment on their apparel. The party decided to take the time to rest and discuss their next step, feeling the wrath of their enemies ready to descend upon them. Tsunaman for its part, was eager to join along and seek shelter at Sun Rock Retreat.