Dragon's Egg - Act I

[Sparkie]

In the twefth year of Ahm-Moon, Drusillia the half-blood was given over to Armory in Shila-Quizirre. Ten years old she was when she took up our Lord's arms, and for ninety-nine years she served as True Soldier. And her victories were many in the sight of our Father, for her blade always found the mark, and her spells never went awry."

3rd of Battles - Codex 6:1,2

*****​

I flinch at the shock of magic lancing through me, and I hope the others weren't hurt. Judging by the level of pain in Cadell's voice, however, I doubt that the spell's failure affected only me.

Cadell is saying something about carrying somebody, so I follow the sound of his voice. I see both him and Matthew trying to aid an old man lying on the floor. Just beyond I see Ankari outside of the window, struggling with some kind of hellbeast. I must help him.

I draw my sword, run over to the window sill, and strike.

((If these are too many actions, I'll save the rolls here for my next action.))

((EDIT: This is my 800th post! I can think of no place better to hit that mark than here in Dragon's Egg.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Only one creature?

That advantage may not last, Baldy. Don't underestimate the beast, or the danger it puts Ankari in.

Right, Nissa.

((Assuming I can get to the enemy from where I am,))

I charge!


CHARGE (TO HIT)

SWORD DAMAGE

THROW GOBLIN OUT OF WINDOW*

*((EDIT - Whatever I can do that either flings the goblin off of the second floor or into fire works, but since there's no map, let's just assume that even in a barbarian rage, Baldhart has the sense to not put her teammates in danger. If I can't throw the goblin out the window without hitting Ankari, for example, Baldy's charge forces the goblin through a weak spot in the wall or she flings him into roaring flames after striking him.))

 

[Philip Overby]

(Steerpike, yes, I decided to move. I rather help with the water buckets. I'm a lover, not a fighter.)

 

[Steerpike]

((map of the Temple, finally. People not pictured here are in the city center or somewhere other than in the Temple. Rectangles filled with blue are windows. Rectangles filled with brown are doors. Double doors outside the Temple, in the back, are the doors to the cellar. Two areas with shingled roofs showing are interior rooms in the Temple, with closed doors leading to them. You're not sure what is inside.

The areas that look like stone are walkways. The brown and white squares lining the walkways are areas of fine, polished wood where it looks like devotees may sit in prayer or reflects. Round objects you see in these areas are pillars extending up to the second floor. I'll describe the scene in another post, below))

 

[Steerpike]

As Matthew tries to position the man to carry him from the temple, he sees that the man wears a chain around his neck with the symbol of Tyr hanging from it. He's not a small man, and he's a bit difficult to maneuver. Cadell arrives, sliding around one of the stone pillars that line the temple walkways. Between the two of them, Matthew and Cadell, getting the man to the doorway should be no problem. As they prepare to do so, however, a door at the far end of the corridor slams open. The door is engulfed in flames, and a couple of creatures that look identical to the dead thing by the window rush into the hallway. Their speed is incredible, moving almost as if they themselves are flame and smoke rather than solid forms. One of them disappears down a corridor that branches off to the left. The other continues toward Matthew and Cadell. A third creature begins to emerge from the doorway.

Rydh strikes the creature in the window and it almost loses its grip, black blood pouring from the sword wound as well as the wound where Aliron's arrow struck. Even as it almost falls, it redoubles its strength and claws itself back into the window sill...only to be caught squarely in the breast bone by the tip of Baldhart's sword. This proves to be too much, and the creature dies even as it falls from the window sill, landing in the snow with a hiss, steam rising from the area around its corpse.

After missing the creature, Ankari pulled himself to one side, having seen Rydh and Baldhart running toward the window. There is plenty of room for the creature's body to fall through the window and onto the ground without brushing against Ankari or knocking himself from the window as well.

Everyone in the temple finds the sound of the flames loud indeed. The fire is spreading overhead, and it looks as if the entire second floor must be engulfed by now. Flames crawl up the walls in both the center and right-hand corridors, and in many places they have spread along the ceiling as well.

People in the town center saw Aliron's shot, and also saw the creature fall from the window into the snow. A few stand, slack-jawed, for a moment before the bellowing of some of the larger men get them back to work in the bucket line. Having seen the creature, many mutter prayers as they work. Others are talking rapidly about Ankari and Aliron.

"Did you see him? He climbed right up to the window after that thing!"

"How far was that bow shot? Did you see him hit the demon?"

And so on.

 

[Sparkie]

Sometimes your foe will be of kin and kind, other times of bestial nature. But there will be times when your enemy will be neither of these. There may come a day when you with fight something fearsome, terrible, with unusual strength and power. Do not fear these. They can lead you to a good death as well as any.

Engagements - Codex 1:83

*****​

What manner of evil taints this holy place? Creatures of flame and flesh? How do you fight a creature made from the stuff of destuction?

First thing first. I know not how long Ankari battled that fiery abomination, but I see the burns on his hand. I reach out of the window, grabbing his arm as if to help him into the building.

"Hold still," I tell him, and I let flow the power of Betula. Too bad he'll never see it as such.

((Rydh casts Cure Light Wounds on Ankari))

((Rydh restores 5 HP to Ankari. Including the last failed spell attempt, Rydh now has 5 Mana.))

 

[SeverinR]

Unless the collapse of the building looks eminant, I will secure my bow and climb to the window where I shot the beast.



[would that be -3 rather then +3 for high dex score?]

Will get inside window as soon as possible and pull sword look for more beasts. But I will keep track of the nearest window and how the fire is affecting the roof and floor.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Severin, you did id right. +3 always with your high DEX.))



I charge to the nearest creature...

...hit it as hard as I can...

((Max damage! I wasn't kidding!))

...with force enough to send its corpse careening into the creature behind it!

 

[Steerpike]

((Severin - just FYI, when you climb in the window you're shooting past at least Baldhart, Rydh, and Matthew (though he's kneeling). That gives you penalties to your shot. You still hit in this case, so no big deal, but keep in mind that if you miss bad enough when shooting past or in the area of friendly targets, you can hit them)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I thought the DEX check was to climb the rope.

In any case, this is good to know!))

 

[SeverinR]

((Severin - just FYI, when you climb in the window you're shooting past at least Baldhart, Rydh, and Matthew (though he's kneeling). That gives you penalties to your shot. You still hit in this case, so no big deal, but keep in mind that if you miss bad enough when shooting past or in the area of friendly targets, you can hit them)).

[With my night shooting bonus I was pretty sure I'd hit. Inside I will probably stay with sword.]

Now that I am in the window, I will remain behind the group until beasts are fixated on a target, then will move around behind. If beasts don't charge our group, I may switch back to bow. So basically I am observing right now.
Still monitoring fire and structural soundness of the building/floor.
Alive beast count is still 4 or did we kill one?

 

[Steerpike]

((I'll post the results of the actions after everyone has had a chance to act. I leave the window open for 24 hours, and if not everyone has posted an action by then I'll move forward regardless)).

 

[Phietadix]

((I can't really make my move without knowing if Baldhart killed the two creatures yet))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I think I killed one, but I seriously doubt the second one was killed. My guess is that he was inconvenienced by his dead/wounded ally flopping into him, and maybe he's INTIMIDATED*, but little or no damage was done. In any case, there's that guy to my left, so you should have something to hit.


*Steerpike, see my PM about the INTIMIDATE skill.))

 

[Phietadix]

If theres anything nearby I'll attack the nearest enemy, if not I'll continue the help the man outside.

 

[Ireth]

If theres anything nearby I'll attack the nearest enemy, if not I'll continue the help the man outside.

Ditto.

/10char

 

[Ankari]

I climb through the window and grab the two hand axes embedded in the dead fire creature.

((I've been hit with the flu. If I don't respond fast enough, just assume that I'm attacking with my bow and arrows.))

 

[Steerpike]

((New Map. Description coming in next post))

 

[Steerpike]

Rydh moves to the window alongside Ankari, reaching out and grasping him by the arm. A faint glow of light surrounds Rydh's hands and the warmth travels along Ankari's body, taking the blisters from his hand and removing the burning sensation.

Aliron appears in the window, bow in hand, and looses an arrow at the creature down the hall.

Baldhart rushes the same creature. Aliron's arrow whistles past her head, the fletching brushing against one of her braids before striking the creature in the chest. The creature lets out a gasp of pain, which is interrupted as the length of Baldhart's blade passes through it, impaling the thing. Baldhart continues forward, carrying the creature with her to crash into its comrade. Pain spreads across her upper arms and torso as the searing heat of the creature's body penetrates her clothing and armor.

((Baldhart takes 1 hp damage from the heat))

The creature on Baldhart's sword is dead. Its companion manages to avoid Baldhart's blade but can't prevent itself from being slammed bodily into the door behind it. It tries to shake off the violence of the body slam to attack Baldhart:

The impact of Baldhart's charge is too much, and the creature sways a moment, groggy, and is unable to attack. Smoke begins to thicken at this end of the corridor, causing Baldhart to cough.

Mathew and Cadell hurry the priest toward the door, each holding him at opposite ends. The man is coming around a bit more and mumbles something about "the others." Just as Matthew and Cadell reach the door they see, rushing through the smoke-filled corridor, another of the creatures, it's eyes pinpoints of orange light, flickering embers playing across the skin of its naked body. It is weaponless, but cruel hands and sharp teeth are bared as it runs at the duo.

Ankari pulls free of Rydh, his hand no longer in pain, and retrieves his hand axes from the dead thing. Smoke continues to fill the corridor. Ankari, Rydh, and Aliron can now barely make out Baldhart at the far end of the corridor.

 

[Sparkie]

Baldhart's at it again. She's a great fighter, to be sure, but reckless. I hope she doesn't get too badly hurt. I know my misfired spell probably didn't help her any.

I take a breath, hold it, and move down the corridor towards Baldhart. I'm not sure if I can reach her before the creature regains itself and attacks, but I'll be there just in case it does land a blow on her.