Dragon's Egg - Act I

[Ireth]

I look up and see the monster running at Matthew and me with its teeth bared for the attack. I could shoot it, if only I could free my hands to reach my bow and arrows.

"Hold him," I say quickly to Matthew. "I need both hands free to use my bow."

Hastily ensuring that the man is secure in Matthew's arms, I stand protectively between them and the monster, aim an arrow at the beast and let fly.

((ATTACK:

I'm assuming that's a fail. Curses. XD))

Blast this smoke -- I can hardly see to shoot properly! My arrow flies harmlessly past the creature.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I strike the creature while it's down.

...a hit, but was it enough to kill the dazed beast?

The heat! I've been trained to deal with such harsh environments. The trial by fire--walking naked across burning coals! I imagine my skin like leather, so that the heat may not harm me. I breathe shallow, so I do not inhale the smoke.

((PRIMAL INSTINCT / CONSTITUTION CHECK to ignore pain/damage of heat/smoke))

I sense someone runing from behind, a quick glance--very quick!--confirms that it is a friend.

"Rydh! Finish the beast! Someone's in the basement!"

Maybe I killed it. Maybe not. Maybe the cry for help is a trick. Either way, I must see what is down there.




((NOTE: The rule for Primal Instinct is that I MUST throw myself into the challenge, so just standing by a weakened opponent to bear the heat doesn't quite cut it in my own honest opinion. My CON check is so I can get downstairs without getting burned or gagging on smoky air.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Correction: the voice is downstairs.))

 

[Philip Overby]

"Hey! I'm down here!" I scream louder. "Hurry up, this girl is heavy!"

 

[SeverinR]

My strength is nothing great, but I could help move injured if I see any, I don't see any urgent need to charge into the smoke at this point.
So I will remain at the open window.
"YOu need more help downstaris?" I scream towards the voice.
I might as well look like I would go help, even if i'm not sure I would. Much rather face a dozen dwarves then run through fire, crispy critters can't spend gold

 

[Ankari]

I run toward Cadell and Matthew and take aim at the creature down the hall.

"Damned smoke!"

 

[Steerpike]

((This post relates only to what Baldhart and Nodrick see. They're no longer on the map, and I'm posting this here instead of via PM. The other characters are unaware of this. There is still time for Matthew to act if Phietadix is around tonight, so I'm going to wait on posting the new map and the next turn for everyone else until later this evening)).

As the creature comes out of its daze, Rydh is charging down the hall, hoping to get as close to it as possible. Baldhart keeps the creature at bay with her weapon, and when its attention is distracted by Rydh she bolts down the stairs in answer to Nodrick's yell. Out of the corner of her eye she sees the creature bolt down the hallway as she descends.

The cellar is dimly lit by a couple of lamps, casting flickering light over a grisly scene. Against the stone wall of the cellar to Baldhart's left are two human bodies, slumped against one another in death. Their faces are torn and cut, and the skin of their faces, arms, and hands are covered with blisters and burns. More disturbing, the two men have been eviscerated, their abdomens cut open and blood and entrails spread across their legs and onto the cold dirt. Their intestines have been sliced open, leaking bile, acid, and undigested foodstuffs. It appears that some creature has taken this foul combination of tissue, bile, blood and so on and smeared the word BETRAYERS onto the stone of the wall above the bodies. The stench is abominable.

As Baldhart takes in this terrible scene, she sees movement by the stairs exiting the cellar to the garden outside. She tenses, but only for a movement as she recognizes Nodrick descending a couple of stairs to come into full view. Half leaning against him, half being held by him, is Burnbright. She looks terrible. The lower half of her face and most of her shirt is covered in drying blood, which is also smeared from her mouth to her right ear. She's standing somewhat under her own power, but using the halfling for as much support as she can.

((Since Phil is in a vastly different time zone, he and Legendary can go ahead and interact before it becomes some ungodly hour for him, if they like. I'll be back in a while with the new map and the next turn for everyone on the main floor)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Burnbright! No... Nodrick, thank you so much. Let me carry her." I rush over to Nod and Burnbright. I must get them out of here hastily!

((I assume Baldy can fireman's carry a child without an STR roll.))

 

[Philip Overby]

"Yeah, it was horrible," I say, wiping sweat and blood away from myself. "I--I cut the creature that came in, wounding it gravely, but it still got to Burnbright. I'm sure it won't come back after the thrashing I gave it."

As Baldhart takes the girl in his arms, I sigh. "I don't know if she would have made it if I hadn't have come on time."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Speaking of creatures, I left one by the stairs. It's half dead, and I thought it was too weak to move, but as soon as it saw me rush to you it sprang up toward Rydh.

"Burnbright needs him. We all do!"

I try the door.

((If unlocked, I open it. If locked, I attempt to break it open.))

STR ROLL

((If we get out of the church, we head to the statue of Tyr.

If "the door won't budge…", we head to "the stairs!"

No matter the action, I say to Nod,))

"Rydh can help her. One of us stays with Burnbright; one of us must run in there and get Rydh!" I pray I did not leave him in danger.

 

[Philip Overby]

"Um, I'll stay here. The battle with the creature has left me rather drained," I say, wiping sweat from my brow.

 

[Steerpike]

((new map. description in next post, below)).

 

[Steerpike]

Rydh moves as far down the corridor as possible, heading for the creature Baldhart has slammed against the door. The creature snaps out of its daze as Baldhart positions herself by the stairs. Orange glowing eyes lock with Rydh, and Baldhart uses the distraction to get down the stairs to the aid of Nodrick.


Although Rydh didn't make it quite all the way to the creature, it closes the remaining distance itself, displaying the impressive speed of its comrades. A wave of heat washes over Rydh as the creature reaches him and lashes out, both of its clawed hands striking in quick succession:

The creature misses both times, it's mouth opening in a feral grimace, its breath the unpleasant scent of burned meat. The smoke is getting thick in this end of the corridor, and Rydh's eyes burn from being in it. He tries to manage his breathing as best he can.

Cadell raises his bow and looses an arrow in a smooth motion, but the ever-growing cloud of smoke obscures his vision and that, combined with the speed at which the creature dashes through the fog, causes his arrow to miss. The beast locks eyes with Cadell and starts to close, the flickering orange bands on its skin creating a muted glow in the smoke.

Ankari appears next to Cadell, also loosing a shot at the creature. His shot goes wide as well, and the creature reaches Cadell unscathed:

With elven fluidity, Cadell steps well clear of the first swing and then rolls with the second attack, watching as the creature's gnarled hand closes on air just in front of his face.

Matthew manages to drag the wounded priest out the door, and some of the townsfolk outside who had been throwing water on the fire rush to his side, gathering up the priest to help pull him away from the temple. There are whispers of "Father Harald!" and concerns over his injuries.

Around the corner to Cadell's left sprints yet another of the creatures. It has not yet reached him, but given its speed it will be on him in a moment.

Aliron surveys the burning structure from his vantage point at the window. The heat is growing, smoke thickening. Bits of burning wood and ember start to rain down from the ceiling. The second floor looks to be lost, and the soundness of the walls and ceiling are greatly suspect. Aliron can barely make out Rydh through the occasional opening in the swirling smoke. The corridor between Aliron and Rydh is filling with swirling ash and ember and bits of the ceiling. It doesn't appear that it will hold for long.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Um, I'll stay here. The battle with the creature has left me rather drained," I say, wiping sweat from my brow.

"Thank you for keeping her safe, Nod.

"Brightburn, I promise to return here."


After leaving Brightburn and Nod in a safe place, I run full sprint to where I left Rydh with the creature.

I pray for his safety as I run.


((Steerpike, if I am able to reach the creature, the rolls I PM'd you are 11 to-hit / 11 damage. If I'm coming from the stairs, I might have +1 to hit because I'm flanking the creature. But if I was able to leave through the double doors, then I'm coming in from the rear doors (assuming that's the shorter path) so no charge/flank bonus.))

 

[Steerpike]

((You won't get there this round. The conversation between you and Nodrick takes place while this next round is going on in the temple. But Baldhart will make it there at the end of the current round)).

 

[Sparkie]

Do not be quick to punish

Or you shall be punished yourself

It is not the ability to cause pain

That will win the day

But the it is ability to endure

That causes victory

Psalms of War - Codex 7:58

*****​

Never mind the flames licking the body of this creature; it's my own lungs that are burning right now. I can't see with all the smoke, so I swing my sword in a wide sideways arc, hoping to hit some part of this unholy beast.

 

[Ireth]

Having no room to fire on the creature in front of me, I snatch an arrow from my quiver and simply stab at the beast with it, ducking under its arms in hopes of reaching its chest. ((Bold text = called attack.))

ATTACK:

((No STR bonus for a melee attack, but If my +1 DEX bonus counts, then that's a 13))

 

[SeverinR]

With no reply, I will go out the same way I came in, via window.


Once down I will head towards the door.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((You won't get there this round. The conversation between you and Nodrick takes place while this next round is going on in the temple. But Baldhart will make it there at the end of the current round)).

"I'm back!" I shout to Rydh in a voice that will surely INTIMIDATE the creature.

((Attack roll is still 11 to-hit / 11 damage - +1 for 12 to-hit if I came from stairs and flanked the beast.))

 

[Ankari]

I backpedal towards the window and shoot at the fire creature.

((wow))