Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Steerpike]

The reptile shaman makes a half-hearted attempt to get around Baldhart to Burnbright, but Baldhart cuts her down, sending her sprawling onto the stone, bleeding profusely. The creature's breaths are shallow. She is unconscious and appears to be dying.

 

[Nihal]

((Assuming she's still at 0 HP I guess she can only crawl a little around.))

I hear the sounds first. They seem to travel slow between my ears and brain. There is a humming too. Cold.

It seems to take ages to open my eyes. Where? Floor. The corridor.

Darkness and lizards.

As my mind seems to wake up I lift my head and look around, unable to see much. I strain my muscles trying to drag myself behind, getting short of breath. So cold. It's like that time.

I let my head rest, feeling too weak.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Burnbright," I call out in alarm. "Come quickly! Please, kneel by my side."

Baldhart, are you really going to let the kid see you cry?

I wipe the tear. There is no reason to regret what I've done, but... her soul is still in her body. I'll do the only thing I can for her now.

Burnbright has a sword, so I clarify, "She cannot hurt you now. Come, child. You wish to follow Brynhild, and for coming to aid me with sword in hand--though it is not what I intended for you--you have proven you are ready and worthy to follow this path. More than I was at the age of twelve!"

 

[SeverinR]

{I can't tell, is that all dead or dying, or is there one left up?}
"The queens not dead, can someone bind the wounds maybe we can get information from her before she dies. Many questions might be answered."

 

[Ireth]

I sigh and sheathe my sword as Rydh kills the last lizard guard, and look on as Baldhart kneels by the queen, calling Burnbright to her side. It feels strange to look upon a ritual observed by people of neither my race nor sex, yet I am too fascinated to turn away. My injured leg still throbs and bleeds, but I ignore it. Healing can come later.

 

[Ireth]

{I can't tell, is that all dead or dying, or is there one left up?}
"The queens not dead, can someone bind the wounds maybe we can get information from her before she dies. Many questions might be answered."

((Pretty sure they're all dead but the Queen, and she's out cold.))

I look over at Aliron. "She has not much time left. I fear we can gain nothing from her now."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Alin, Cadell, I feel for this creature... but the black blood controls her. That she was truthful about her intent and her refusal to surrender to me tells me that there is a pure soul, but her body is controlled by The Taint. Even now when I had the advantage, she died making a rush for Burnbright. She cannot stop even if she wants to.

"Please, let me help her in my way."

 

[Ireth]

I look back at Baldhart and nod silently. I had no intention of stopping her in the first place.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I smile at Cadell. In two thousand years, even he can experience something new!

"Burnbright, kneel here."

I remove the skull-mask from the queen, and brush my hand gently over her scaly forehead.

"You're a beautiful creature," I say to the dying queen. "I want to continue our conversation in the afterlife. I am even tempted to have you healed, but... that blood tortures you, doesn't it? Just let it all flow out, and the evil will never harm you again."

I turn to Burnbright.

"On my mountain, there are no prisons. Wrong-doers only have two possible fates: death or forgiveness. But you and I, Burnbright, are Daughters of Brynhild. We can grant both to our enemies. I brought death to her, Burnbright. You must be the one to bring forgiveness. Forgive her, even though she almost killed us all and intended a fate worse than death for you. Forgive her, and let Brynhild decide if one so worthy an adversary to me... is worthy of a Valkyrie's time."

 

[Philip Overby]

I watch in silence, trying to wriggle the arrow out of my collarbone. Nope, that's stuck in there. Maybe you can get someone to help you, Nod. After all, your song turned the tide of battle. No one can dispute that.

"Hey, I--"

I go back to watching in silence.

 

[Ankari]

I shrug the bow over my shoulder and approach the queen. The misguided see ritual where Aliron and I see common sense.

"I am not sure what you intend, but Aliron has the right of things. We are walking about in darkness. What mysteries she can dispel is to valuable to sacrifice to some contrived ritual."

Knee beside the woman and examine her state. She is bleeding bad, but with some attention she may survive a day or so. Long enough to ask a few questions.

I cut strips of cloth from the base of my cloak to bandage her wounds. Some are too large for such attempts. "Who has string and needle?"

 

[Sparkie]

For my part, I remove my sword from the reptile we slew, wipe the blood off, sheathe it, and take a moment to pray silently.

Battle-Father, Divine Swordsman, Lord of Combat, thank You for providing us with victory this day. Though we do not leave unscarred, we live. That is enough, my Lord. May our future encounters bring honor to Your Name. So be it.

I turn and look back at our companions. Nod's got an arrow still in him, and Mauve is-

Mauve is down. I rush over to her side to help, and I breathe a sigh of relief to see her eyes are open and moving. "Can you get up?" I ask. "Here, let me help you sit up. If you feel ready, that is."

 

[Nihal]

I quietly listen to their voices, trying to make out their words through the dizziness. The battle is over.

A slight change in the light. The cleric is looming over me, offering his hand. I take it, leaning on my elbow. As I raise it shakes, informing me that my legs won't also be able to bear my weight right now.

A little longer.

I lay on my back again, turning my face away from him. I'm not physically injured, my magic failed me and the corruption has eaten a little more of my soul. Twice, in two days. For them. If they're going to think I'm pathetic for uselessly fainting here, I don't even want to imagine what will they think if they learn about this. I can't even get up and leave.

"Go." I mumble.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Since Burnbright would have had time to respond to Baldhart, and I PM'd Steerpike that the ritual is meant to be short so as to not monopolize the post-battle RP, I'm replying as if Burnbright has already completed the ritual. I'll leave it to Steerpike to determine whether or not the queen can be revived. Just so we're clear, as a player, I'm for that. My character, though...))


Nissa! Just when I'm about to tell that jerk how admirable his bravery is, he opens his big mouth!

Don't worry about it, Baldhart. You did what you can for the creature. Ankari's interference with her death cannot harm her soul. You pled the case for her, and the Valkyries will take it from here.



I speak softly. Gently. "It's true, Ankari, that I am a savage. But I am no tyrant, and if you are to delay this pitiful creature's moment to rest in peace..."



He's the tyrant, Nissa!

And what good will it do to tell him that?



Gently, softly, "...I will not interfere with your attempt. If either of us do anything to drive a rift through the party again, we may not survive the battle that follows. I only ask that you be respectful... to her. She bested me in battle, and her magic and leadership nearly defeated all of us. She deserves respect."

I gather the skull mask and staff, and turn my back to Ankari. But I stop.

"So do you, Ankari. You fought well today. You always do."

I pass by Aliron and say, "Thank you for letting Burnbright and I deal with her first. Please see that the queen dies mercifully after you question her. If she requests me, I will come."

As I pass by Cadell and Rydh, I shrug off our near-death experience. "We live to do this again another day. What else is there to say?"

I ask Nod, "Does that... hurt?" I move my hand to the arrow lodged in him. "Can I help you with that?"

((He gets help if he wants it.))

"Thank you for the song, Nod. It gave me the strength to defeat the queen. I just know it did!"

I finally reach my destination with Burnbright at my side. I kneel down beside Mauve, and show her the staff. "For you, wizard." I show her the green glowy part. ((IS it still glowing?)) "Thank you for attempting to follow through with my silly plan. C'mon," I say as I pick her up. "Let's get some clothes on you."

With Burnbright at my side and Mauve in my arms, I topple the silly barricade. To the unscathed knight I say, "Would you mind going to the hall for a moment? We need to use this as a ladies' room."

((She means for changing clothes.))

 

[Nihal]

A staff. I stare at it with vacant eyes.

I'm being carried. They're acting faster than I can keep up.

I need some minutes of peace, just some minutes.

After being placed on the floor again I pull out the first clothes I can find in my backpack and dress in silence, accepting their help if offered and fumbling with the clasps.

When done with it I raise my eyes. "I'm out."

((P.s.: Now she's changing the tunic might be interesting to mention now that she has more scars on her body - mostly torso and waist, some on her thigh and arm. Something clearly clawed her - and maybe burnt a little - in a not too distant past.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Out?" She's been treated badly, but surely she noticed I never mistreated her.



You scared her with that look of yours the first time you met.

That was to get her to stop attacking Rydh. Since then, I've... well, never mistreated her.

You never spoke to her like the guys, but your plan put her in a risky position and is the reason she was running around in her undies!

The poor thing... did you see those scars?



"Where are you going to go, Mauve? We can take care of each other. I think you can learn to use your magic better and, I know it's risky to learn magic, but..."

What am I doing?

"...here." I give her the staff. "This is a wizard's weapon. I wish you would not travel alone just because you haven't been treated like a lady." I check back to make sure it's just us ladies in here. "Well, if the men don't know how to say 'thank you,' I do. You tried to help me with your magic. I heard... that crackling sound your spells make. It doesn't matter what the spell was supposed to do. You risked your safety for me, and I thank you. I want to protect everyone who protected me, and I can't if you all go everywhere."



You can't protect everyone you care about even if they all hide behind a table you're sitting at. Even Brynhild can't do that!



I get up and guide Burnbright elsewhere, so Mauve can have some space.

"The staff is yours no matter what you do. Please rest before you travel."



I intend to rest myself, but while I sit, I look at the skull mask ((and anything else Baldy may have noticed based on my earlier PM to Steerpike--but other players, please note, Baldy did not search thoroughly)). I motion for Burnbright to sit with me, but before I attempt to rest I say to her, "Daughter of Brynhild, Sister of Mine... do you have any questions about the battle, or Our Goddess?"

 

[Ireth]

As the women retreat to the chamber, I look to the men who remain. Nodrick has an arrow protruding from his shoulder; I bend to look closer, and hiss in sympathy for his pain. "You shouldn't have moved it, you've only made the wound bigger. We'll either have to cut it out, or keep the head in."

Despite my own pain, I smile. "I enjoyed your song. I hope to hear more from you."

 

[Sparkie]

"Go."

That's all she says to me. She turns away and says "Go." I lower my head. I've no idea what to do for her, or about her. I'm useless.

I pick my head up again. There's still much to do. I look at Nod, still with the arrow in his shoulder.

"Gnatcatcher," I call. "Don't try to pull that out just yet, not until we get you healing magic. Let's get you to Hiljikke. I think she can help in that regard. Do you want to head back to the temple?"

 

[Nihal]

((Awwwwww, poor Rydh! ;x))

"I know how to yield magic." I answer rather coldly.

Do I really know? It feels like if it happened in another life.

I rest against the wall, still sitting. "Something is interfering." I bite my lips and add reluctantly. "Something is wrong and I don't know what it is."

I look at her eyes, talking slowly. "They could treat me as a harlot and I wouldn't care, I don't want compliments and sweet words. If only you were united, if only you could reach a consensus and do the right thing. I wouldn't mind being a prisoner then. But no matter how hard I tried, my attempts to bring harmony and my advises flew right over your heads. Today we're alive by luck. I have something to do, I can't die yet and I won't die for you."

"I'm so tired." I sigh. "Why am I even talking? Useless."

I lie where I am, curling inside my cloak. In order to leave I need to get some rest. Exposing my heart like this won't do any good.

 

[Philip Overby]

"Thanks--" I wince at the arrow. It kind of feels nice to pick at the wound. Like wiggling a loose tooth. Just dig it in further, Nod.

"No, shut up," I say aloud. I smile. "I mean, yes, any help would be appreciated."

Don't try to shut me out with your stupid songs, Nod. I'm still here. You're not getting rid of me. You wasted your chance. Next time I may just act without you.

I bite my lip, drawing blood. "This arrow really quite hurts." ((I allow Baldhart to pull it out the best way possible.))