Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Steerpike]

Baldhart moves toward the cage as the haunting song begins. She pauses for a moment, as though fighting against something, then shakes it off. She puts her strength into bending the bars of the cage. They give slowly at first, but as she bends them further out of shape the metal gives way easier and she is able to make an opening big enough for a person to slide in and out of.

The song continues to fill the room.

Darin Save [1d20+5] = 14+5 = 19

A moment later, the entire group is struggling against the enchanting sound that fills the room, emanating from the dark corridor. Some are able to shake it off, others are not so lucky.

Matthew, Mauve, Rydh, Darin, and Algernon stiffen a moment, then go slack, as though the strength is sapped from their limbs. The room is alive with the sound of clattering as they drop what they are holding and turn toward the darkened hallway, a peacefulness having settled over them. Each then begins to move toward the hallway at a quick walk - not running, but seeking not to be delayed in reaching the source of the beautiful aria. They appear unalarmed, even serene, but a hint of determination around their eyes shows they are fixed on their goal, to the exclusion of all other concerns.

 

[Steerpike]

((Everyone in the room is in reach of everyone else with just a few steps. After everyone reacts to what has happened here, I'll get map up to show placement as a result of what people are doing)).

 

[Ireth]

As the majority of my comrades fall under the enchantment and move toward the hallway whence the music comes, I rush to place myself between them and the singer, bracing myself in the middle of the doorway. My back is to the room, and I look down the hallway, trying to see what or who is down there.

((Dunno if I need a check. If so I'll roll.))

"Baldhart! Keitsumah!" I call out over my shoulder, seeing that the former has freed the latter from her cage. "Help me over here!"

 

[Ankari]

Too late. They march to their deaths. "Grab them!"

I run before them. One shot will set them free. One shot, and those in my wake will have a chance to pull me out of the flames I've cast myself in.

As I approach the end of the hallway, I place an arrow against my bow and prepare.

 

[Sparkie]

It's Maia. She's singing that old hymn to our Battle-Father, the one she'd sing when I was tired and sad...



But so beautiful right now...


I must go to her. I must find her...

 

[Ireth]

Not knowing what else to do, I raise my hand and strike whoever is nearest to me across the face with all my strength. "Hey! Wake up!"

STR check if needed:

((Doesn't matter too much who the person is; assume it's the first enchanted person to respond. XD))

Ankari shoves past me and runs down the hallway, vanishing into the darkness. All I can do is yell after him. "We are supposed to stay together!"

There is bravery, and then there is foolishness -- rushing off alone like that tends wildly toward the latter, in my view. Especially when so many people here need to be held back, as he himself commanded.

 

[SeverinR]

"I've been wanting to do this since we met." I say with an evil grin, and jump in front of the dwarf to smack him.



Alittle too giddy, I think I smacked his armor.

"This is a trap. Shield walls up. Aliron, can you make something blow up? I have the oil I use for my weapons. Will that do? Let us match these wretched notes with a pure one."
"I'm not sure how flamable it is, just throw it on them and light it. Traps can fail, and with so many of our group lulled into submission we need a sure fired attack."

[[oh, by the way, Smacking the dwarf does not have a secret meaning.]]

 

[Ireth]

((Posting for Baldy on LS' request, since he's at work and can't post.))

Baldhart's POV

Almost everyone drops their weapons! I do the same, but quickly realize I can't fake out the charmer. Instead I sprint toward the one I vowed to support.

Little Mauve is speed-walking like the others, but bottlenecked at the narrow entryway, I can get her!

((STR - grab Mauve))

She's light--easy enough to scoop in one arm!

I turn and see Ankari and Aliron. ((They were behind the cage, so Baldy should be ahead of them, I think.)) I can only save one, so I go for the one who will thank me.

((STR - grab Aliron))

((Holy crap, those are good rolls! I hope this actually works!))

Both are lightweights. As long as they're not commanded to resist, I'll bet I can scoop one in each arm.

((According the quickstart, Baldy can lift 270 pounds without being slowed. Mauve may be around 100, Aliron closer to average, or hopefully a little under... maybe within 270 or not much more?))

I head to the door that we came in as fast as I possibly can. I figure we have 30 seconds for the charmer to organize the others before she can come after us. If we're quick, maybe we can be five instead of three!

"Sir Cadell, my sword--please! Keitsumah, get Mauve's spear, Aliron's bow. A shield if either of you can grab one!" ((Would shields have been dropped? - If not, disregard the shield comment.)) "Let's get them out, see if distance brings them back to us."

As long as we're not under attack, as long as Sir Cadell and Keitsumah are with me on this, I don't stop moving back the way we came, praying for a sign from Mauve or Aliron that all is well.

Cadell's POV

((Note to Baldhart whenever LS sees this: she can't have seen him by the cage, since he ran off down the hall toward the singer.))

I turn at Baldhart's shout and hurry to obey her, taking her sword by the hilt. "I can't take a shield, I'm already holding one!"

Baldhart moves out of the room. I start to follow, but hesitate, looking down the corridor where Ankari ran. I may not like him, but I fear for his safety. The fool's going to get himself killed, and if we're not there to help him -- "What about Ankari?"

 

[SeverinR]

"I am trying to smack the dwarf, granted it was a pretty pathetic attempt, but I am trying. Put me down. I am not charmed."

[[[My name is not among those enchanted. (I would hope a 16 saves, thats only a 1 in 5 chance of saving, or 4 out five chance of failing.) a 17 would mean 3 in 20 of success, 16 in 20 to fail.]]]

[[[Ok, go with the flow, next attack I smack Muave.]]]

Don't know if I get any bonuses with her being held.
[[Ok, maybe I should give up smacking people. Maybe use the flat of my sword.]]


++++++++++++++++++++++++
{{{Steerpike posted Darin saved with a 19, then listed him in the group to drop equiment. So I might be the one missing. (still with a 16?}}}

Alternate post: (if I am enchanted)
How stupid the dwarf is walking around dazed, I'd try to smack him again, but I need to go see who is singing, before all these poor people walk into atrap. Wait where is my Bow? MY sword, do I have a sword?
I'll find it later. [/I]
"Stupid warrior! I need to go stop that music, let me go! Find my bow and sword while I go see who is singing."
I try to smack the warrior, maybe he is charmed. (no worries, it was only a 9, probably smacked his armor too.)

 

[Ravana]

[[[My name is not among those enchanted. (I would hope a 16 saves, thats only a 1 in 5 chance of saving, or 4 out five chance of failing.) a 17 would mean 3 in 20 of success, 16 in 20 to fail.]]]

++++++++++++++++++++++++
{{{Steerpike posted Darin saved with a 19, then listed him in the group to drop equiment. So I might be the one missing. (still with a 16?}}}

((No, he said Darin rolled a 19. He did not say that succeeded—and it wouldn't, if the CR was 2 or greater and Darin's CHA isn't a Prime. When you rolled your 16, you said you'd failed, but then went on to act as if you hadn't… which is how I got confused about you in the first place. If CHA isn't a Prime for you, by my count you ought to be strolling down the hall placidly, too… may want to double-check that.))

•

((Edit: sorry for rules-like discussion. Wanted to keep it united with the question and relevant action. Feel free to remove if appropriate.))

 

[SeverinR]

Chr is anti-prime.

{{You can edit out the part where I posted thinking I saved. so no one will be confused.}}

 

[Keitsumah]

I see Cadell struggling to hold back the others and rush to his side, drawing my staff and spinning it threateningly before picking up Mauve's spear and sheathing it in my staff's place.

"Batos. Cackaphony!" I shout.

[1d20+3] = 4+3 = 7

Batos throws his head back and releases a series of wild howls that echo off of the walls, but they do not seem to have any effect on the others who are hypnotized. I grit my teeth and and an idea comes into my head.

"Cadell, try to get them out. If any try to pass me I'll knock them out!" i shout, calling Batos and positioning him at my back to guard me from a possible attack at my back.

I just hope this works. I think, glancing warilly into the dark hall before turning back towards the others, staff at the ready.

 

[Ravana]

As Algernon makes his way through the crowd, he begins nodding his head and humming. Looks like he knows the tune, and is just waiting for the head of a verse to come around.…

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Stupid warrior! I need to go stop that music, let me go! Find my bow and sword while I go see who is singing."

Poor Aliron… he wants to help but,
"SHUT UP!"

I wonder if yelling in his face will [Intimidate] him.

 

[SeverinR]

Poor Aliron… he wants to help but,
"SHUT UP!"

I wonder if yelling in his face will [Intimidate] him.

"Sorry, the tune is very pretty, there can't be any danger around here, the music would drive it away. Lets go find where it is coming from. Don't you just love it? Why are you holding us, this is taking friendship a little to far. I think I'd normally be very angry being held like this, but the music..." I sigh and just relax.

 

[Nihal]

Someone grabbed me and is dragging me back. I struggle, reaching towards the song.

"No! I must go. Unhand me!" I turn to the brute whose claws are on me. Baldhart. A cold fury stirs inside me and I fight to get free from her grasp, to move to the song's origin, the dark hallway, the place where all my hopes lie.

"How dare you?! LET ME GO!"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Oh, you pipe down, too," I say in a teasing voice. "At least you have clothes on, unlike the last three times I carried you."

Baldy, she's not herself. Joking with her won't snap her out of it.

I know, Nissa. It's just hard to see them like this. I can't believe the three of us were sharing wine less than an hour ago, and now some lady sings and it's like they don't know me!

 

[Keitsumah]

I look worriedly towards Baldart. The two that she is trying to hold onto are struggling, and I know that we cannot afford to have our focus on them and the enemy.

"Baldart! Throw them in the cage! It'll be easier to contain them then!" I shout, pointing with Mauve's spear at the cage at the back of the room. Then, i whirl around to face the dark corridor, the glow from my necklace casting a feeble, flickering light along the dripping walls. The song echoes eerilly into my mind, tempting, luring, but i resist it.

"Batos. Come." I say quietly, stepping past Cadell and meeting eyes with the knight for a brief moment. Then, i stand behind the knight with Batos right behind and raise my arms high, magic crackling around my body as my hair begins to rise and stand on end as if in a gale.

"Create Water."

[1d20+3]= 22

A blast of water erupts from my palms as i clap my wrists together in front of me, the force so great that I am shoved back a step and bump into Cadell.

"I have Mauve's spear if you need it." I call back to him, preparing for the creature's response if i have managed to interrupt it's song.

 

[Ireth]

I look on in dismay as those few who aren't enthralled fail to apprehend those who are. Keit casts a spell to create water, and I turn to her. "Are you certain that will work? You don't know how far away the singer is, and you may just hit Ankari."

 

[Keitsumah]

"Well then that will knock him over and I'll send Batos to fetch him," I say as-a-matter-of-factly. Batos snorts and paws the ground, the wolf coming easilly up to the bottom of my ribcage at shoulder height, "Don't doubt his strength. At least he would be able to pin him until we could get there." A mischevious smile comes to my face and my ears swivel forwards, creating a very disarming and dangerous effect on my features.