Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

I fly close to Branwen. "You poor kid," I say. "We almost lost you. Well, you're part human, same as me. I trust my Sisters will watch over you. But live to grow up. It pains me every time I have to see to a child… no battle should claim one so young."

Just as well she doesn't know what I'm saying. I don't want to scare her.

"Watch me," I say in a cheerful tone. "Watch my wings. It'll be years before yours can pick you off the ground, but without any of your kind, I'm the only one who can show you how the wings work."

I watch her imitate me. "The highest form of flattery! I shouldn't give Baldy crap when she compares me to you… we are alike in this one way, aren't we? My toe nails aren't so sharp though."

 

[Nihal]

Before reaching the others I retrieve the stoppered bottle and proceed to fill it with snow, verifying if I can fit more than it looks like. I return to the side of Branwen, placing my hand on her head and smiling at Nissa.

"Nissa, what do you know about the corruption? I am sure you have heard more of it in the place where you come from than most of us. I know more than them, but it is not enough. What Baldhart meant when she talked about her mother?" I glance at the barbarian.

((Yup, one more test with the enchanted stuff.))

 

[Keitsumah]

I blink at Baldart's words. "Yes, I have known that druids can shape-shift, but one would have to be extraordinarily powerful in that class to become something quite so large. Your mother must have followed you around a lot, if you felt that way around that small cat, and when she saw you were in danger, turned into a cougar to fight off the bear." a small smile comes to my face as i imagine all the possibilities of what i can become. If i had grown stronger and not met the others, i may have lost myself completely to the animals i would become, and left civilization entirely.

Looking down at my hands, several images flit through my mind. The near-extinct race of silver eagles. I could help their race in my own way, as well as the ice lynx. Both were small animals, but it had never occurred to me that i could become a larger animal...

I give a sidelong glance at Batos, and the wolf's ears prick in curiosity.

"You may have heard that we are all like the animals in our own way -and indeed we are. Those of us who are druids just have a stronger link." i explain, but then a question of my own arises, and my eyes lower to the floor. "Baldart . . . I have been meaning to ask you about something. I keep hearing about these different gods and goddesses, but i know not of them. Am i . . . not right in the head because of that?" I realize my own naivette is gettign the better of me, but i honestly now nothing about the ones who walk the skies and the depths below. I want to know more, but i don't know how to ask.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

​Baldhart

"You may have heard that we are all like the animals in our own way -and indeed we are. Those of us who are druids just have a stronger link."

"My people have taught me how to channel the strength of a ferocious animal. But then… Eisenberg men have traditionally married druid women for the past 800 years. Maybe it's my mother's side, and my paternal grandmother's and so on… I never thought of it. Before the Eisenbergs came to the Iron Mountain, were my ancestors that strong?"

"Baldart . . . I have been meaning to ask you about something. I keep hearing about these different gods and goddesses, but i know not of them. Am i . . . not right in the head because of that?"

"If not for Nissa, I'd never have known Brynhild. So no, don't be hard on yourself. You can only know what you've been taught. I only know of human gods and goddesses. Not all. The druids on my mountain followed Ullr, god of archery, magic and skiing. I considered his path, but skiing is the only one of those things I'm good at. Freya is the goddess of fertility. My rock hard abs are hardly idea for child-bearing… not that I… never mind. Like Brynhid, I chose the path of the sword. She's the goddess of battle, but She wouldn't have her followers just fight for the sake of fighting. What we're doing now—clearing Srilkind of monsters—that is a worthy battle in Her eyes.

"All you need to know is that good and evil exist. Choose a path, and in death, I believe, a god or goddess will choose you even if you did not know how to follow Him or Her. Darin is with the All-Father, a dwarven god. Perhaps one of the elven gods will seek you when your time comes. Liadan may be able to tell you of them.

"If you choose a faith, the best advice I can give is to know what your god stands for. Brynhild wishes me to act with kindness and compassion toward innocents and righteous warriors, not just hack monsters to bits. If all She cared about was my efficiency as a killer, I would not follow Her. But thanks to Nissa, I don't have that misconception. I know She's as loving as Freya, and as protective."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

"Nissa, what do you know about the corruption? I am sure you have heard more of it in the place where you come from than most of us. I know more than them, but it is not enough. What Baldhart meant when she talked about her mother?"

"I only know it attacks the body, then the mind. I don't believe the soul can be harmed. Either you are evil and embrace the corruption even before it overtakes you, or you are a well-intentioned victim of it.

"Baldy's really buying into this kindness and compassion thing—my boss' teaching, so she should—but she intends to treat you with kindness to help keep you sane. I can't guarantee it'll work—sorry… but I can tell you that those who have supportive friends fare better than outcasts.

"I wish I could be more of a help.

"Baldy's mom? A druid who turned into different kind of cats, she thinks… your eye reminded her, which may be why she's so positive about this."

 

[SeverinR]

"Aldar, Not everyone would look at a harpy, hear her sing and not react in fear or anger. I'm not sure if it proves you trustworthy, foolhearty, or insane."
"You know secrets of the group, keep them as such."

If we are done showing our smelly undertunics, might we push onward?" I smile at Mauve and baldhart. "Sing for us Branwen."
I invite her as I move away from the group.

 

[Nihal]

"Hah, for a moment I thought her mother... you know.

"I see. You know nothing more than I know, except this 'embracing' part. We were led to believe Aslaug embraced her corruption." I shake my head. "What does that mean? It makes no sense." Embrace what lies beyond that place? How?

"The ranger destroyed Aslaug's journal—or so he wants me to believe," I lower my voice. "Do you remember when Baldhart wished to compare the calligraphy of that note the lizard handed to us? I imagined it was not Aslaug's, I wanted to use it as an excuse to put my hands on the journal for an entirely different reason.

"Aye, I lie sometimes." I smirk. "I want to know more about her. I want to learn what I can from her, but do not want to walk the same path. People do not talk about the corruption, it is frustrating! How can I protect myself from something unknown to me? Sure, I know some little details, I have seen its effects, but it is not enough.

"The corruption gets us all. It can be sooner, it can be later, but it get us all." I sigh. "The key to my sanity? It's to do something about it."

When Aliron talks I look at him, confused.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

"Lying, eh… are you making confessions? Very well, I'll do the same.

"After Darin's throat was slashed, I saw something with these eyes that I couldn't see through Badly's. I had her talk to him and he told us that he crossed over—saw the halls of his dwarven god—and something followed him back. My sixth sense didn't do any good for him, regretfully. But the funny thing is, I was looking at some sort of entity when I looked at him, maybe a shade of some sort. Subtle… as if there was a small candle behind him that emitted a flickering darkness. Easy to miss, or dismiss, really. It wasn't until I was back with Baldy, NOT seeing it, that I knew something was off.

"I'm looking at your eye now… taking a good look. Let me see you again as soon as I'm back with Baldhart. If there's a difference, I'll tell Baldy, and believe me… she won't keep it from you. Even if I think it's something you're better off not knowing, I wouldn't order her to keep a secret from you. It would be too painful for her."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

A thought slips into my mind as we walk, and I look over at Líadan, speaking softly to her. "I wonder, before we reach Srilkind, could you perhaps teach me one or two of your healing spells? We have the time -- it is still some hours to the town. The more of us who are able to heal, the better. I have not had much luck with that sort of thing these days, but perhaps what I have been trying is simply too difficult. Maybe something easier, like simple first aid, would be more suited to my skill level."

Líadan

I look at him, tilting my head. "It is certainly worth a try... and you have certainly seen me heal enough people in the past several centuries, I wouldn't be surprised if you could mimic me from memory. Why not see if you can remember what to do on your own, in case I don't need to instruct you?"

Cadell

I nod, searching back through my memory to all the times I have seen Líadan heal. I focus on her movements, gestures, words, anything that could aid my own casting.

I sigh. "I can picture you perfectly, but knowing just how you cast is beyond me."

Líadan

I smile. "Well, it is also a matter of feeling, not just doing. Perhaps that is where you're facing trouble. I have my most-used spells memorized, so unfortunately I cannot lend you a written copy just now. If we have a quiet moment before the fight, though, perhaps I can write it out..." I shrug. "I wish you had asked me sooner."

Cadell

I sigh and nod. "I wish I had thought of it sooner."

 

[Steerpike]

When Mauve declines Kolla's offer to take Branwen to the other children, the village girl nods. "OK. It's not my place to tell you what to do with your child. It's just...if you'd seen those monsters. The thought of a little one being anywhere near them worries me."

The girl takes her leave of Mauve, grabbing some wood as Skari unloads another armful onto the ground. He kicks one of the small logs. "It's a little wet," he tells Kolla. "Most of this was already on the ground, covered up by needles or leaves. Once I dug down a bit I found some that had been protected from the snow. It's still damp, though. Going to take a while to get it going."

Kolla nods. "Maybe it'll dry up some before night. We won't be burning it until after dark anyway."

As the party prepares to leave the temple, Egil, Kolla, and Skari have the younger children upstairs and out of sight. The subject of a return to Srilkind comes up again, and they agree that one of them will scout the village if the adults haven't sent for them in two days time. They've also noticed the underground tunnels the party has explored, and agree that if hostile forces, monsters of any kind, approach the temple, they'll retreat into the tunnels with the younger children and hope for the best.

When the party leaves the temple, Ankari is still out of sight, presumably on ahead somewhere. The walk is a long one, and there is time to discuss the situation in Srilkind, as well as other issues of concern to the party. When Nissa is nearby, showing off her wings, Branwen inevitably tries to mimic her. The harpy child's wings are not strong enough to provide even the slightest lift, however. When members of the group try to cover Branwen's wings again, after having freed them temporarily, she twists and fusses and even spreads them a bit to make it hard to pull the tunic over them, but eventually she gives way sullenly to the re-clothing effort. Only a few minutes after, she forgets the incident, busy humming Aliron's song back to him.

At one point, as the party make a short stop to eat, drink, or just rest their legs, Branwen hums Aliron's tune again, and even supplies what seem to be nonsense words, singing to the same melody. Her voice is pleasant. A squirrel clambers down one of the trees and leaps into the snow, streaking away from the group, then stops. The creature turns, tiny ears crested with long tufts of fur twitching. One by one, the members of the group find their attention drawn to Branwen, who has her eyes fixed on the squirrel like those of a hawk. She sings, and the creature scurries a few steps toward her, causing her to giggle and clap her hands together. As soon as she laughs, the squirrel bolts again and Branwen snares it again with her song, stopping it in its tracks and causing it to turn. Then comes the laughter again, followed by the bolting of the squirrel. After the third time, the animals gets far enough away to disappear into the trees and Branwen stares after it, disappointed.

Cadell attempts to cast one of Liadan's healing spells simply from memory of having seen the elf woman do it so often. His attempt misses the mark, however. Perhaps a subtle gesture missed, or an misremembered word, or even an intonation slightly off target. Whatever the reason, the attempt to cast based on what he has seen so often in the past is not successful.

Time continues to pass, and still Ankari has not returned. Aliron takes up scouting duties immediately ahead of the party. When you are perhaps an hour from the village, you crest a small rise. In the distance, the grey ocean can be seen in a haze of cloud of fog. Thin trails of black smoke rise from the area you know to be Srilkind.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

As we walk, I signal Mauve over so we can talk alone. I keep silent for some time, making sure others aren't paying much attention as we drift to the side. While I truly don't wish to keep secrets, Mauve has the right to know this and tell or not tell.

"Nissa told you what she saw around Darin. She saw it around you as well. If it's… any consolation, it was fainter than that around Darin."

I pat her on the shoulder. I don't know if I'm trying to comfort her or show I'm not repulsed.

 

[Nihal]

((Morphed my answer to Nissa to Baldhart. :x))

I shake my head.

"What—how... what? I..." I frown and start to talk quickly, "I do not understand, she saw a thing? Do you think there is something dark clinging to me?" I draw breath to continue and run my fingers through the hair falling over my face, pulling it to behind the ear. "Nissa, when you saw that around Darin it was where, here—what happened—it vanished?"

"Mayhap... The corruption is odd.

"When I felt it first I felt the familiar pain of the magic untamed, but something was off. It brought the glimpse of something: The origin of the arcane power. I was dazed by light and darkness and felt something daunting, a malevolence prowling just outside the corner of my eye, not my eye exactly—of my perception? I know that every time I fail to escape the corruption I get to see and feel things I'm not supposed to, but at the same time, I never get to see enough to discern what is going on in that place.

"Was it similar?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Exactly, Mauve… when I told Darin what I saw, he told me he saw something in the corner of his eye—his perception—he said that, too. But it never vanished, I'm sure. It's just that my eyes can't see it—only Nissa's can."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

Walking along i get the feeling this group might be alright afterall, At first fearing for what might become of me should they take me the wrong way, However it seems as if im begginning to fit in.
" Well, Unlucky with learning that spell there cadell, as a wizard i would say its more the technique, You seem to have the technical side down, With a bit of practice you will be learning them in no time"

"if anyone else has any scrolls or books containing magic they cannot read, Please allow me to translate, I can read magic so i will have very little problems translating the symbols and letters.Also if anyone wishes to swap information on spells when we geta chance i would be more than happy, I am always keen to learn, especially spells."
I announce to the group.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I look over at Aldar when he speaks, and nod slowly. "I'm sure we have several that would be of use to you. Ask Mauve, she carries most of them."

I cannot hold back a shudder as we come within sight of Srilkind, and I see the smoke curling into the sky. The temptation to whistle for Llucheden, just in case she is somewhere in earshot, is nigh overwhelming. But I dare not betray our position to anything else that could hear.

Líadan

I lay my hand on Cadell's shoulder, feeling the tension in his knotted muscles. I massage them a little, hoping to loosen him up. Too much tension can't be a good thing. But he knows better than to let down his guard, even when relaxed.

 

[SomethingToPonder]

"thanks, What say you mauve? Think you could teach me a few spells, You knever know i may well be able to teach you something in return. "
I see Srilkind in the distance, Wont be long untill we are there now, I Can smell the smoke, Those hordes must be burning all they can, A feeling of sudden anguish comes over me,Followed closely by anger thinking of all the innocents who must have been cut down as they tried to carry out their day to day chores. I feel like telling the others to hurry and start running towards the town, however carefull planning is probably called for over sheer brutality, even if it is what Comes to mind first.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I unsheathe my blade. Alin's ahead; Ankari's way ahead. I won't rush in without hearing from one of them—preferably both—but I hope they save a sentry or two for me!

 

[Nihal]

"Exactly, Mauve… when I told Darin what I saw, he told me he saw something in the corner of his eye—his perception—he said that, too. But it never vanished, I'm sure. It's just that my eyes can't see it—only Nissa's can."

"I do not understand, he was no user of the craft to get corrupted, if this shadow is related to the corruption... how would one follow him and stay with him? This place must b—" I stop abruptly when the elf approaches us.

"thanks, What say you mauve? Think you could teach me a few spells, You knever know i may well be able to teach you something in return. "

"And what could you possibly know I do not know?" I ask him in a sceptical tone. "In any case, we do not have time to study now."

Share the spells I have worked so hard to obtain with this fool? I bet his accuracy is terrible; he would call a visitor in his first try. Never!


((The next time Aliron appears after they left the temple, probably when they took a break to eat))

"Aliron, have you seen the stupid ranger? When you scout, please, look for his tracks. That idiot, always making us worry!"

 

[SeverinR]

"Ego Ranger is charging ahead, making no attempt to return to check on the group. I guess he will recon the town and have answers for us by the time we get there...or he will be long dead if he makes even the slightest mis-step."

"Part of scouting ahead is to be prepared for an encounter, but things can move from other areas, so that is why I return to ensure the group is not impeded. So as far as the ranger, business as ussual."

I move out again.

 

[Nihal]

"I see. Thanks, Aliron." When we are moving again, I turn to Baldhart. "Could you watch Branwen for a moment? Keep moving, I'll join you soon."

I head towards the forest, taking many minutes before returning.

((Almost forgot to do something. xD))