Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Legendary Sidekick]

"He's an odd one. But last time he was hurt in a strange way, I laughed thinking it was an accident. He ran off angrily. And the sad thing is, I came to his aid and saw him carrying Burnbright. Trying to, anyway. He could have come off as a hero instead of an angry little man."

He's a knight, Baldy.

"Oh... I don't mean to... um... I must have violated half of your codes. Mother's code, too. 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.' That's why I don't insult dwarves even when one whose life I saved says I belong in the kitchen."

Don't talk about Ankari and Aliron!

Right!

"I'm glad Darin said that all of us are welcome, Sir Cadell, but... I hope everyone will behave themselves in the delve--to support you. To not embarrass us--us as a team! I hope we can really be a team. I mean a real team. You saw how Darin and Bren's differences divided them, and poor Darin was embarrassed. I even tried to keep Bren with me so his anger wouldn't get the best of him. That only postponed the ugliness.

"Our party won't end up like them... will we? You and Rydh I can trust not to get us in trouble with words. The ladies we met here seem nice enough, too. I don't know why Mauve is treated so badly; Hiljikki is given much more courtesy. Huh... no surprise there. Maybe Mauve should stand next to her when she prances around on her reindeer. On my mountain, the braggarts and loudmouths always chose their words to me carefully when I had a cute friend nearby."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((So, Steerpike... did Cadell find the bow while Baldhart was rambling so much he couldn't get a word in?))

 

[Phietadix]

I watch the events taking place silently. I've learned it's often better to stay silent. I skillfully carve out a pair of wooden swords for Burnbright to practice with. It wouldn't due for her to lose an arm with a real sword. I also keep a careful eye on everything. Few here have earned my trust. I notice that the Halfling Bard Gnatcatcher is back. But much about his arrival concerns me, I overhear Cadell voicing my same concerns. As I look around I notice Burnbright is missing. This concerns me more than anything else. I notice also that some in our party have begun searching the temple. If they don't find Burnbright I'll have to begin a search as well.

 

[Ireth]

I nod, recalling that night in the tavern. I never learned what really happened to Nodrick then. and it seems doubtful I will learn what became of him now. I smile at Baldhart's mother's advice. "Sage advice for anyone, I think, not only knights."

The talk of the dwarves and our party sobers me again. I nod in agreement, looking up at her. "I do hope we can all learn to work as one; such has been my hope since we set out. Some differences are a good thing, but when they drive rifts between friends..."

He trailed off and sighed. "I know some prejudices are not easily cast aside. But if we can, then it will be for the better. Darin's words to me are proof of that." I lightly touch the medallion, my fingertip tracing the outline of the mountain. Then I look up at Baldhart again. "It is one thing for us to speak of peace and fellowship, but if we are to bring them to being, we must reach out to the others as well, all of them. Especially those with the strongest opinions to the contrary."

 

[Philip Overby]

I lie still, looking up. So you're here, now what, Nod?

"Rydh saved me. That means they care about me. They want my help, they want to hear my songs, to join me--"

Someone has to die.

My eyes water, my lips tremble. "Why?" I say aloud.

They humiliated you. You were a hero. You saved that girl, not anyone else. Right? But they forgot about you, left you like garbage in the street.

"I left," I say. "I was the one who left."

Do it.

I look down at my hands, whispering to myself. "I don't want to do it again. Those men. Bounty hunters. They're still after me. I don't want more men after me."

Who's going to die then? I'll leave it up to you, Nod.

"I-I don't want to," I say, trembling under a blanket.

Well, if you don't choose, I'll choose for you.

I whimper into my hand. Maybe next time I'll cut just a bit deeper.

 

[Ankari]

I sit by the fire, reflecting the words of the dwarf. When juxtaposed with the mysteries of this temple, theories of what we're up against expand like the wings of a dragon. Lost in thought, the shrill voice of a whining bug grinds my teeth. I see him, and the little joy left in this world is drained.

Better to focus on important matters. Burnbright. follows the party coddling the deranged excuse of sentient life. I catch her attention, and motion her to the corner of the temple away from the crowd.

"We will be making a journey into the taint. In there, we will come across truths that will hurt more than any sword. Do you wish to come with us on our journey?"

 

[Phietadix]

Hiljikki is already inside the temple, preparing. Bren stalks in and plants himself against a wall, looking grim, which seems to be his favored expression. Burnbright is not in the temple room, even though she disappeared into it. The door to the basement is open

((I don't think anyone has found Burnbright yet. So you can't catch her attention or talk to her))

 

[Ravana]

"I'll bet we can find the bow. All we need to do is look for the warg with the missing eye. He was to the right of the other kills where four lie dead together. I remember because I was glad when two were fool enough to split from the pack."

Well, actually you're looking for a warg who's missing both eyes, has had a large rectangular patch of fur removed, his guts split open and stomach hacked out, and for reasons that escape you entirely is also toothless. But I'm sure you'll find be able to find it regardless.

Or, you could ask Hiljikki, who would tell you she saw the bow right next to where she found the hand.

On your way back out the door, you notice that the bow is now resting against the wall next to it. She carries one, too, so she knows better than to leave one lying around in the snow.

If you ask why she didn't mention this, she'll look puzzled and say "You didn't ask."

Then she goes back to doing what she was doing.

 

[Ireth]

Well, actually you're looking for a warg who's missing both eyes, has had a large rectangular patch of fur removed, his guts split open and stomach hacked out, and for reasons that escape you entirely is also toothless. But I'm sure you'll find be able to find it regardless.

Or, you could ask Hiljikki, who would tell you she saw the bow right next to where she found the hand.

On your way back out the door, you notice that the bow is now resting against the wall next to it. She carries one, too, so she knows better than to leave one lying around in the snow.

If you ask why she didn't mention this, she'll look puzzled and say "You didn't ask."

Then she goes back to doing what she was doing.

((Cadell DID ask "Did anyone find my bow?" but I guess Hiljikki didn't hear him.))

 

[Ankari]

((The last thing Steerpike wrote about her is that she went out to see what the commotion was (Nod), then came back in following the group. My post is at that point.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Ha ha… confession: out-of-game, I knew you had the bow. In-game, Baldhart did not. Going out to look for it instead of asking around? 4 in wisdom. But your post tells what I see in-game, so I'll run with it.))



I say to Cadell,

"Huh… this warg is missing more eyes than before. And didn't blondie give you… um… a packet made of fur? That square-shaped wound isn't normal. Maybe she found your bow while she was… collecting… teeth?

"She looks so innocent when she rides that reindeer, but I must admit that this is a little bit creepy. Let's go back."

 

[Ravana]

((Cadell DID ask "Did anyone find my bow?" but I guess Hiljikki didn't hear him.))

((Ah. Wasn't sure if you'd come inside or not, whether that was general or addressed to Baldhart.))

 

[Ireth]

I nod, turning from the grisly sight of the disembowelled warg. "Yes, she did. She gave me back my hand. I have no idea what to do with it... it is rather mangled, after all, and it seems that it would be difficult to put back onto my wrist without much more pain on my part. Also there is Darin's promise to consider. I would not wish to refuse such a generous offer as he made to me."

As we turn back toward the temple, I finally return to my long-ago interrupted line of thought. "So... if it is not discourteous to ask about what you said in your sleep last night... who exactly is Nissa?"

 

[Ravana]

"Huh… this warg is missing more eyes than before. And didn't blondie give you… um… a packet made of fur? That square-shaped wound isn't normal. Maybe she found your bow while she was… collecting… teeth?

"She looks so innocent when she rides that reindeer, but I must admit that this is a little bit creepy. Let's go back."

((Actually, all the wargs are missing both eyes. She just keeps the raven around; she doesn't tell it what to eat. ))

((Yes, the teeth were what she was practicing scrimshaw on earlier.))

 

[Ireth]

((Ah. Wasn't sure if you'd come inside or not, whether that was general or addressed to Baldhart.))

((It was technically addressed to Baldhart, but Hiljikki was free to speak up if she heard him. ^^ Also he asked before they left the temple, in the middle of their sword-training session.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

“Nissa…â€



What am I allowed to reveal?

Since when did I tell you what you can and can’t say?

Then I can tell him… but… I’m conflicted.

You should be. There are high priestesses of Brynhild who have yet to speak to a Valkyrie. In fact, I don’t know any other Valkyries who get to guide a future…

…future what?

You figured it out, right? I thought you did…



“…I must confess that a part of me wants to just say she’s an old friend because that would not be questioned and you wouldn’t think I’m crazy.â€

I stop walking.

“I respect you too much to hide the truth, but… we need to talk out here. If Ankari hears us—and I respect him, too, by the way, but—he’ll surely think I have lost my mind.â€

Quit stalling.

“Nissa is…â€

Spit it out!

“…a…â€

He’s a knight. Knight’s don’t gossip, so if he thinks you’re nuts he won’t tell everybody.

I smile at Nissa’s last comment.

“She’s a Valkyrie. I was never a follower of Brynhild until she appeared to me in a dream. She was with me last night, and I am certain that it was both her and Rydh’s god—or Rydh’s magic—that protected me from the curse of the knife.â€

An icy breeze finds its way up my dress, and for a split second, I wonder if I am wearing anything at all. I press the wool closer to by body.

“If you think I’m crazy I won’t hold it against you.â€



He does.

You know that?

No, but it’s a safe assumption.

What do I do?

He saw what you saw…

What kind of an answer—?

…through my eyes.

Oh!



“But you saw me sleep, didn’t you? If you heard me, you were awake and you saw me! Tell me you saw something that, at the very least, revealed that my dream was not just a dream.â€



It is so liberating to not have to keep you a secret, Nissa. I didn’t want to have this conversation before, but now that I’ve said so much…

But you didn’t tell him too much. You were smart enough not to say something like, ‘she’s right here’—point!

What would I point to? I can’t see you.

You can’t? You mean I really need to jump into a campfire or eclipse the sun to be seen?

I guess so.

I just sat on Cadell’s head and nobody saw it. What a waste of a good joke!

 

[Ireth]

I keep the confusion from showing in my face as Baldhart speaks. When she is silent, I nod. "I saw something, certainly. The blue light around you turned white, and then you began talking in your sleep, mentioning Nissa... and something about a hairpin, which I understood even less than that. You mentioned someone killing another as well, then echoed my words from the battlefield. 'We can finish them together.' After that I heard no more, and shortly after I fell asleep myself. It was odd, though... I knew I was lying beside you, but I saw you from above."

I pause, then ask her, "And what did you hear from me, aside from the name of my beloved?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Hairpin is the name of her sword. She's beautiful, Cadell. She's little like a halfling, but... she doesn't have Nodrick's big, hairy feet or potatoey body. She's slender, graceful, strong in all the ways that I am not. I don't know what you might make of Nissa, but please know that if my visions were going to be a problem, you would have seen evidence of that. I hope... if you do think I'm out of my mind, I hope you know you can count on me in battle. If you can believe she is more than a dream, then you should know that I count on her to battle the cursed knife.

"Maybe I'm out of my mind for not just smashing the knife with my little hammer. The knife is stone, but... well enough about me, ha ha!

"Liadan. I woke up to her name, and I must admit that I was worried about the way you said her name. I didn't think you were capable of expressing worry with your voice after seeing how calm you could remain in... in our last battle. When I heard her name, it was the only time I heard you speak in such a voice. You worry about her, don't you?"

 

[Ireth]

I smile at Baldhart's loving description of Nissa, and nod slowly. "Surely something or someone who protects you from harm is not a problem to be feared. But I must wonder..." I trail off, biting my lip. Valkyries gather the souls of fallen warriors, do they not? What if her Nissa is an omen of death? Do I want to put such notions into her head?

I should be glad when the topic turns to Líadan, but Baldhart's words cause me to sigh. "Of course I do. Especially of late. Before I was sent here, there was an invasion of orcs in my home wood, and a great battle. It was an odd thing to me then, to see elves and mortals -- many of whom openly hated each other before then -- united in battle against a common foe. But then, I have seen stranger since." I gesture to the medallion again with a faint smile.

I sober again as I speak on. "I lost many friends and kin to the orcs, and nearly died myself. Líadan, as a healer, was in less danger than most. But still I worry... orcs have never plagued us before in such numbers, and although we won that battle, they may yet return with more. Last night I dreamt of my homeland ablaze, and Líadan nowhere to be found."

 

[Steerpike]

When Rydh hands the metal disc over to Darin, the dwarf takes it with a sense of wonder, if not outright astonishment. "Incredible." He runs his fingers along the spaced, irregular teeth around the perimeter of the disc, then flips it over and traces the small protrusions on the underside. "This is the key for a rune-lock. But the design is old. It dates back to the time of the Great War, perhaps further. The keys we use now are more complex than this. Still, this is a remarkable find. I know of no such keys currently in use. You must show me where you found this, and the book. Perhaps the lock is nearby as well."

Darin continues to examine the key, tracing out the details with his thumb and index finger, as Baldhart and Cadell spar outside the temple grounds and talk about their dreams.

Bren enters the temple room, still frowning, waiting for Darin to arrive so Hiljikki can begin her magic and get them on their way that much sooner.

Aliron has a view of the courtyard from his perch in the window. He sees Baldhart and Cadell sparring, witnessed the argument between Darin and Bren. From where he sits, he sees Nodrick, still looking disheveled and largely out of it. Matthew is putting the finishing touches on a pair of practice swords and Rydh and Darin are discussing some kind of metal disc Rydh found.

Ankari looks to speak to Burnbright, but she's not in the immediate area. He's not sure where she's gotten off to.

Mauve moves through the open door leading into the basement, where she first hid when the party approached. The light is dim, but it is enough to allow her to see Burnbright sitting on the stairs halfway down. In her hand, she is holding the necklace of Gefjon - the same one that rendered her unconscious when she last wore it. As Mauve's shadow passes over her, she looks up. "Uh...what do you think this is? Should I put it on again?"