Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Phietadix]

I’m fine with moving. Unlike others in our party I can think and move at the same time. No, no! Don’t think like that. If you think like that you’ll become just like Ankari. Still while they can think, nobody is perfect. Everyone needs some advice now and then.

“Darin wants revenge. Based on what I have heard, Darin wants vengeance on all monsters here. And is not afraid to die in the process. “

Revenge gets you killed, gets others killed, how can they all not see this. Perhaps they’ve been more fortunate than I. Perhaps they haven’t seen hundreds die because of their mistake. But if they continue they very well may see that.

“We don’t even know for sure that these creatures are responsible for what happened here. Yet we all want to chase them down and kill them. For what? Vengeance? Vengeance has no meaning. Our mission is to end this curse. We can’t take the risk of being killed here. We don’t have the time to track the creatures down. Killing them won’t change anything. As Mauve has said, more will simply come. I suggest that wefocus on our mission.â€

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Well, I'm fine with assuming Mauve's and Rydh's comments are more about speeding us up. In fact, how about we run...?))




Cadell increases his pace, and I match it.

"Hang on, Nod!"

Those are the last three words that will come out of my mouth until either a battle begins, or Darin trips over Ankari's corpse. I pray that that vision is just my imagination.


Hey, if that's a premonitoin, I had nothing to do with it.

Well, that's reassuring.

Not reassuring enough. Full speed ahead!


The tromping of our boots is all I hear. We are a small army.


Better hope the other army is small.

Nissa!

 

[Nihal]

"Whoa, yes, faster, but as careful as possible. Traps. Aliron, would you be so kind as to go in front, checking for traps?"

Here I am, taking another stupid decision.

"I'll bring up the rear. If we can't spare elven ears to monitor our back I am enough." I fall some steps behind the group. "They can't ambush us from behind. Probably will try to get the staggering first. If it's the case I'll let you know."

I don't want to ask, I don't want to ask. Argh.

"If... it happens don't abandon me to them." I adjust my backpack.

"Okay, Burnbright, if it gets too hard to keep up let me carry your load."

 

[Steerpike]

Darin is moving down the corridor at a half-run. Quick conversation, then an effort to run after him, is rewarded by those party members catching up. Anyone checking for traps will have to be content to do so after Darin has already charged past the area. He seems beyond reason and conversation at this point. Those engaging in longer conversation remain in the water room or move more slowly down the corridor, Darin and the others outpacing them.

The blood trail leads further up the corridor, then veers down yet another branch to the right. The corridor you are in continues straight to another set of double doors. Darin takes the right-hand branch, barely slowing long enough to confirm the trail of blood.

As you move down this corridor, you hear Ankari's distant voice yelling something about "come in peace" and "get Darin under control." The side branch you are in ends at a T-intersection, the passage to the left leading to a set of double doors, only one of which is open (and that one is pushing shut). The blood trail leads that way. The passage to the right leads off into the darkness, presumably further into the underground structure.

At the Temple

All is quiet for Hiljikki at the temple. The horses are grazing peacefully. The air is cold, but it is not snowing and the sun is in the sky. It would almost be tranquil were it not for the battle from the day before and the nearness of the Taint.

((Map will be up tonight after I get home)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Ankari!"

Yes, he will laugh at our overly cautious formation, but he lives to mock us! Of that I am glad!

"What about peace? Speak quickly!"

As soon as I say those words, I see...

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

...I'm not even sure what I'm looking at! Why is Ankari--?

"Nod-jump!"

Nod or no Nod, I move full sprint straight at Darin. I hope in his rage he doesn't mistake me for an attacker.

 

[Steerpike]

Just as Baldhart and Darin round the corner and rush the door, Ankari backs himself through the doorway with his reptilian prisoner in hand. The reptile has an arrow sticking out of its abdomen, and black blood washes down its legs. Ankari just makes it back into the corridor when the door closes with at least one creature in the room beyond.

((Map coming tonight. I'll show the entire area from the watery room to the door what Ankari is outside of. If you want to clarify where your character is, go ahead and do so. Baldhart and Darin are where Ankari is, quickly approaching the door)).

 

[Phietadix]

((Matthew was atempting to speak to Rydh, so he should be nearby him.))

 

[Ireth]

((Last I knew Cadell was not far behind Darin, so now he's probably beside Baldhart, since she's matching his speed.))

Coming up to the door alongside Baldhart and behind Darin, I balk at the sight of the lizardlike monster Ankari is carrying out of the room, and the black blood covering its legs. I cannot help but bristle; the sight reminds me far too much of the many orcs I faced in my home forest all too recently, and whom I nearly fell to. I eye the lizard-creature warily, wondering whether it is conscious or co-ordinated enough to attack.

 

[Ravana]

Taevataat: Good day for flying… besides, it's lunch time, and there's still plenty on the warg carcasses. Makes a couple circles around the temple; if nothing interesting shows, gets a bite to eat, returns to perch, acts casual.

Täplä: Mousie! Zips from huddle, grabs snack, cleans self fastidiously, returns to warm nest to keep watch as he was told.

Hirvi: < snore >

Hiljikki:

not all that glitters is blue…

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

My First Action at Map Time...

The door closes.

What about Ankari?

We save him! I'm breaking the door down!

((My max STR roll!))

 

[Steerpike]

((

Ankari just makes it back into the corridor when the door closes with at least one creature in the room beyond.

))


/10char

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Oops! /10 char))

 

[Nihal]

((Holy crap, Baldhart is going to bury us alive there! Hahhaha!))

Something is going on!

I resist the urge to run to them, keeping true to my last words. I make sure that Burnbright don't fall behind or run into danger and keep watching their backs.

((If my spear is still glowing))

I raise the spear to light our way, trying to be helpful.

Shield or Light? What should I do? Or, maybe...

 

[SeverinR]

"Can't check for traps when we're nearly running."
Move to the side of the door, in case the door opens again, arrow ready.
"Ankari? Why isn't the reptile dead?"

 

[Steerpike]

((New maps. The first is a close view of where you're at. The second one covers the area from the water room to where you are now. The water room is the door at the lower left of the map. Give me some time to complete the writeup! ))

 

[Steerpike]

As Darin rounds the corner, his eyes fixate on the reptilian creature Ankari is holding hostage. Ankari's knife is pressed against the thing's throat and at the sight of the party the creature stops squirming. A grin splits Darin's face as he steps forward, adjusting his grip on his hammer.

Baldhart rounds the corner an instant later. She sees the closing door and charges, Nod leaping free from her shoulders just before she does so. When Baldhart slams into the door, she hears what sounds like a combination of a hiss and a grunt, then sees the feet of the one of the reptiles flying across the room as the door flies open. A second reptile, behind a large table, had its short bow trained on the door, and it releases an arrow the instant Baldhart breaches the threshold, though its hands seem a bit shaky:

Reptile Attack [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6

The reptile Baldhart sent flying crashed into shelves containing a few pans and other items. It had a bow in hand, but dropped it when it was smacked by the door, and the bow now lays at Baldhart's feet. The creature groans and feels around on the ground, hand wrapping around the handle of an iron skillet. It can't get up yet.

The right side of the room has a fire pit that appears to have been in use recently, though there is no fire in it now.

The rest of the party is on the scene as well, some faster than others. Cadell has to pull up to keep from crashing into Darin when the dwarf stops suddenly, eyeing Ankari's reptile. The remainder of the group comes in behind, with Burnbright bringing up the rear. In addition to her torch, she's managed to free her sword and holds it in an unsteady hand.

Darin, still grinning, says to Ankari: "Put the lizard down, elf. I've got something here for it."

((Nihal, Mauve's spear is still lit for the time being)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Fight's in here, Darin! Someone take the archer!" I shout.

I go after the disarmed enemy.

INTIMIDATE

((Well... in case I don't need a to-hit roll for a stunned enemy, here's damage.))

((On the bright side, I forgot to roll a charge bonus, so I don't take that AC penalty.))

 

[Ankari]

"Everyone, calm down! Baldhart, back out of the room."

I'm angry. This creature is testing my patience. If the troglodytes don't yield, I'll be tempted to take Darin on his offer. Gritting my teeth, I hiss in the troglodyte's ear, "Command your idiot companions to yield. Now. Or I won't let the dwarf kill you. I will. You see we outnumber you. My dwarf friend will take his frustrations out on those within."

 

[Steerpike]

((Since combat started we're going to our usual 24-hour time frame. I'll post as soon as possible after everyone in the group has gone, or after 24 hrs.

Note, the creature Baldhart knocked down is not stunned. It just got knocked into the shelving and onto its rear)).