Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nod speaks (while reloading)

I shrug. "Shoot lizards…? leave women to die…? Oh. She's doing that thing again where she impales a guy on her sword."

Kick. Quiver. Spray blood. Squirt, squirt. She better teach you that before she dies.

"Oh, and big guy? Leave the boat with you closest to the lizards. You might want the shield."

You had to mention the shield.

"Shut up. Not you."

 

[Ireth]

Darin listens to the group in silence, appearing thoughtful as Cadell speaks.

"We have long lived with the Taint here in the north. It is growing worse as time passes. Many of my kind would retreat to our underground homes and leave it for the surface dwellers to deal with. Others, such as myself, prefer to confront it head on, wary that once it stretched its reach across the surface it would seek us below ground, and we would have no allies."

"What you do, here, helping to end this curse even though these lands are not your own...it is a good thing. I care not why you came, only what you do now."

He moves over to Cadell as he speaks, pointing to the stump of Cadell's arm. "Is the pain lessened?" Darin rubs thoughfully at his beard. "I have seen an artificial hand made that will grip a sword like a vise, but that can be made to release it when not needed. You will fight with both hands again."

I manage a smile when Darin speaks to me, glad to have my efforts appreciated. When he mentions my stump, I sigh and rub it with my hand. "It still aches a little in the cold and damp, but I think that will pass."

I listen thoughtfully when he describes the possibility for my new hand. "That would serve me well in battle. I hope we can fight past these creatures and reach the Drimmen-delve soon."

 

[Sparkie]

Not many dwarves are known for saying the right words at the right times. Darin may be the exception.

I hope Cadell pays no heed to Ankari's antagonisim. For the life of me, I cannot understand his behavior toward other people. It's one thing to be critical, it's quite another to project criticism outward whenever one speaks. He's about as subtle as a millstone grinding maize.

Still, I cannot fault him in other ways. Ankari is a man of action. When it's time for a fight, I can think of fewer than a handful of people I'd rather have at my side. And he's honest. I doubt he's even capable of telling a willful lie. He could have attacked my faith just now, but he didn't. Perhaps that's the reason for his moment of enmity with Cadell. He lashed out at him rather than belittle my beliefs.

Perhaps that's no excuse, but I don't care to think of it anymore. Ankari is what he is, and any change he may undergo in our travels with him will not change his abrasive nature.

Wouldn't the boat have been back by now? Why is it taking so long?

 

[SeverinR]

[[sorry I was not able to post earlier, but it doesn't look like anyone else could have done damage]]
[[I fire as soon as I see them, +2 more to hit if night time.]]




reaching for another arrow, I am hit twice, the thigh wound is deep and bleeding, rather then attempt another shot I lower myself to minimize the chance of getting hit again.
Once turned, I will be the person furthest from the arrows. Then I will try to stem the flow of blood.
I curse softly when in mid turn I hear the splash of someone falling in.
"Can someone grab who ever fell." I call out to the others. "I didn't think about the clumsy warriors, not being ready for the sharp turn."
"I think I gave a lizard more then what I got. Can anyone tell how bad my arrow hit? I was distracted."
"I don't think I could survive another good arrow hit like this one." I say softly holding a dressing around the arrow.
"Who fell in?"

I didn't specify which I would shoot at, probably the first one I would see, one of the upper pair on the map.

 

[Steerpike]

((Here's the map. Write-up coming to explain what you're seeing )).

 

[Steerpike]

Fish-Mauve surges from the water like some avenging demon-goddess of fishdom. Five reptile mouths drop open in almost audible unison.

Reptile Morale Check [1d20] = 10


Reptile Morale Check [1d20] = 13


Reptile Morale Check [1d20] = 5


Reptile Morale Check [1d20] = 15


Reptile Morale Check [1d20] = 14

The lizard Mauve is approaching fires his readied shot high, then ducks under Mauve's swipe and sprints for the corridor, leaving its bow clattering on the ground at Mauve's feet. Counting from the party's right, the next two lizards follow suit, wailing in their lizardy tongue as they head for the exit. Baldhart splashes ashore, water trailing from the scales of her armor and running back into the lake in a stream. She catches one of the fleeing lizards in the back, piercing its spine and heaving the creature into the air even as it goes limp.

The fourth lizard licks its lips and fires its readied shot at Baldhart.

Reptile Attack [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19

The reptile lets out a hiss of satisfaction as the arrow strike home...

Reptile Damage [1d6] = 1

...but its satisfied hiss transforms to one of frustration as it sees that the arrow landed only a glancing blow.

The fifth's lizard's gaze swings between Mauve and Baldhart, it's bow held shakily, arrow knocked.

Algernon heaves the boat around again, muscles burning from his quick maneuvering of the craft. The quick turn puts Aliron in position to fire, and his arrow strikes the left-most lizard full in the abdomen.

The arrow settles things for the fifth lizard. Loosing a half-hearted shot well above the heads of Baldhart and Mauve, the thing streaks for safety, a trail of black blood leaking behind it to moisten the stone corridor.

The remaining lizard licks its lips uncertainly once more, then begins to nock another arrow.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Too bad about your pals," I tell the last lizard…

GOING FOR DISTANCE! - STR

…before I smash him into the drink!

 

[Nihal]

The sight of them fleeing in terror stirs some kind of wicked satisfaction inside me. I see Baldhart attacking the remaining lizard. She's not badly hurt and an arrow came from the lake's direction. I'll just keep my ears turned to the lake, in case she gets in trouble, but the question is pretty much settled for me. Glancing at the blood trail I sprint after the wounded lizard, using my hands to run if it helps.


((Not sure if she'll have bonus for charging, rear attack, if she can catch him now or in a later turn. I'll leave these rolls there.))
Opening my impossibly wide jaw, I jump at him letting out a guttural cry, my many teeth eager for his flesh.




((Damage))


((This one is a CHA check, not a prime, I didn't use her usual -1 because I don't know if her CHA changed in this form. Oh, and I forgot her level here, as usual. It would nullify her -1.

It's an intimidation attempt, with the leap and the cry. You know... she wants to make sure the others will keep running.))

 

[Ravana]

Algernon brings the boat in at a reasonable speed, saying to those still in it: "You gettin' out, or they gettin' in? If we're stayin', I'm gonna haveta hustle to get our other guys up here."

Looking at Nod, he adds "You get to stay either way. I can't row fast in the dark."

Then, surveying the shoreline, his face lights up. He yells to those already ashore: "Hey, what shape's those barrels in?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

​BALDY

Feeling confident my attack was fatal, I call back to Algernon, "Drop off Alin and go. I can heal him!"



NOD

"I'll get the guy running!"

"I didn't do that!"

 

[Ankari]

I move to the edge of the water and pace. To feel helpless is to know the desperation. The sounds of conflict carry on the cool water, reverberate off the damp stone of the cavern. Need compels me.

"I just told you our companions are in danger, yet you blather on like a child seeking the attention of a distant father." I would take those words back, but they carried barbed truths that tore at my throat. "How far is that room with the table. Let's go back and use it to cross this blasted lake."

 

[Ireth]

I sigh as I look to Ankari. "And how far do you expect it will carry us? Wood or no, it will sink under the weight of too many, and how will we fight and stay afloat at the same time? There is nothing we can do for them right now, so cease your complaining, if you please."

 

[Ankari]

"Sir Knight, you bravery is unparalleled."

I head back to the room.

 

[Ireth]

I sigh in relief when Ankari leaves. Finally, some silence. Ignoring his words, I look out to the water, wondering what is happening where we cannot see. Surely they should have come back by now if they could...

 

[Sparkie]

I hear it now, the odd noises reverberating across the water. Ankari's right. We need to get moving.

"Even if the table will float," I say to everyone, "It won't hold all of us. Get the table if you want. I'm going in."

I begin to take off my armor. I grimace as I unfasten strap after strap after strap. This is taking too long. Once my gear is off I run into the water and begin swimming toward the tunnel, sword in my teeth.

((This may be a really bad idea...))

 

[SeverinR]

Don't know where the boat is, but hearing good sounds from the battle, lizard screams and very little human cries, I decide to look.
"Is that a lizard crap trail?" I ask. "We need to get the rest of the group across as soon as we can, in case the bring back reinforcements."

 

[Steerpike]

((Guys - going to have to retcon due to my error. I missed Nodrick's shot. Since that shot came before Mauve's actions, it only makes sense to give effect to it. Sorry, Nihal, about Mauve's later action. I'll drink coffee before I post again at night!

For purposes of the last round, the combination of shots by Nodrick and Aliron kill the lizard that Mauve would have been chasing. I won't have Mauve chase the others, who had more of a head start. Maybe she can just look around the corner. Post coming up in just a few minutes)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((If Mauve doesn't chase, do we retcon Nod's second shot as well? My intent was to have Nod help her. It backfired!))

 

[Steerpike]

Backwards along the Timeline

As Nodrick's arrow streaks into the fifth reptile, bringing it down, you feel a faint tug at the corner of your senses, like a combination of deja vu and an eerie foreboding. Something has been missed, and perhaps some grim future avoided. The feeling passes as quickly as it comes.

The Battle

Baldhart skewers the remaining lizard before it can get its next shot off. The creature dies soundlessly, its bow clutched in a death grip, the arrow it held falling from its other hand.

Mauve rushes to the corridor as though having seen something, then pulls up short. The fleeing lizards have too much of a head start, and already her gills are burning and she feels the lack of water keenly.

The corridor disappears into blackness, the faint wailing of the frightened lizards still on the air. Where they've gone, or what help they may be going for, you cannot say.

The Previous Shore

Rydh hits the water and sucks in an involuntary breath from the coldness of it. Sword clamped between his teeth, he swims into the darkness of the tunnel. From the faint sounds that carry on the air, there is definitely some sort of conflict ahead. Chances are the other party members are involved in it.

Darin frowns at the water, fingering the haft of his hammer. He does not get in. Instead he runs down the corridor, back to the room with the table, muttering "Not sure if that's going to work, but I best have a look at it."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Mauve!" I say in a hoarse whisper. I dare not shout. I let my sword clatter to the floor and I grab her scaly shoulders. "It's just me. You need a swim, girl!"

She's about my size. I'm sure I can carry her with both arms. I offer to help her to shore, "You can walk or I can carry you."

After I see Mauve to shore safely...

((either carrying or watching her walk - Nihal's call))

...I watch Algernon head our way.

"Thank you for keeping the archers safe," I tell him. "I was never mad at you - in the heat of battle, my voice must strike fear into enemies and I must be unwavering, but I am glad the archers were out of reach."

To Aliron, I add, "I can heal you. Come over."

To Nod, "Give Algernon light so he can move swiftly to the others."

I bask in the glow of another victory-- "Well done, everyone!" --and as soon as I feel safe to build one, a fire.