Dragon's Egg - Act I

[Sparkie]

Nodrick

Burnbright narrows her eyes, which have a mischievous glint when Nodrick tells her to shut up. She looks about to say something just as the two enter the Hooded Crow, but a cry of alarm causes her head to jerk around. Bior's wife, left alone to tend the tavern, has her hands pressed against both cheeks, eyes wide at the sight of Burnbright. She shakes herself, grabs a mop from against the bar, and wielding it cross-ways stomps toward Nodrick and Burnbright. Her eyes are fixed on Nodrick. "You! What have you done to that girl? So help me, if you've hurt her..." The woman is so angry she chokes on whatever she was going to say next, still advancing toward Nodrick.

((Does anyone else think the above situation is laugh-out-loud funny?))

*****​

"But you must learn when to lead, my son. Sometimes you will be made to follow. Either that, or you will walk alone, always."

1st of Battles - Codex 4:26

*****​

Baldhart knows how strong she is, but I wish she would understand what adrenaline can do to an already strong person. I'll be lucky if I don't get a bruise from her grip on my arm.

As we round the corner in the hallway, I see one of the flaming beasts on top of someone...

It's Cadell, and he's hurt badly. In that second, I'm reminded of something Cadell said yesterday as we entered the tavern. Something about needing my magic before we left this place. Well, he was right. And now, in his time of need, I'll be there for him.

I somehow manage to shake myself loose from Baldhart's grip ((I would roll a STR check if I thought she would try to restrain me)) and, I run toward Cadell's prone body. I leap and try to slide down to the side of the creature, grab Cadell's hand, and utter my prayer.

((Not sure if I need a DEX check here, but better safe than sorry.))

((If successful, Rydh casts Cure Light Wounds on Cadell.))

((If all this works, Cadell gets 5 HP back and Rydh will be at 3 Mana.))

((EDIT: Thanks for clearing that up, Steerpike. Rydh's now down to 5 HP.))

 

[Philip Overby]

Great, I should have known better to bring her back here. Work your magic, Nod.

((Charisma modifier +1, I think))

"Look, I saved her with my heroic bravery. There are demons of the night lurking about. Can't you hear all that commotion outside? I suggest you bite your tongue and get us some warm milk or rum or whatever we're supposed to drink after surviving a demon from the fiery depths of unknown Hells."

I fold my arms and smile, looking over at Burnbright.

"Go on. Tell her."

 

[Ankari]

Cadell has fallen. The cool night breeze glides across my cheek like the fingers of a maiden. One creature remains standing over the knight, the first one fallen to the shadowy blade of Aliron. There is a chance.

"Aliron, bring Cadell to the window. I'll cover you!"

I take aim at the last fire creature and shoot.

((You have got to be kidding me....))

 

[Steerpike]

((Rydh can make the slide and touch Cadell, but not without the creature getting a shot at him. He simply has to pass too close to it)).

Rydh sprints toward where Cadell lays, sliding at the last moment to end near Cadell's motionless form. The creature begins turning as it hears Rydh running, lashing out with one hand as Rydh attempts to slide by:

Pain and heat flare across Rydh's shoulder as the creature connects. Rydh brushes it off, reciting his spell and even in the heat of the burning temple he feels the familiar warmth that envelopes his hands and spreads onto Cadell.

((Rydh takes 2 hp damage. Cadell received 5 HP, putting him at -1. He is still unconscious, but now stable and in no danger of dying)).

 

[Steerpike]

((Ankari, the die roller hates you for some reason)).

Burnbright looks out of the side of her eyes at Nodrick again, as though mulling something over. Then, she turns back to Grim's wife, marching across the tavern, and her shoulders slump a little. "He's right. He got me out of the temple and away from these demons things. Oh, you should've seen them and what they did in there."

The woman lowers her mop and pulls up short of Nodrick, still giving him the evil eye. "Well, let's go in back and get you cleaned up and into some fresh clothes, young lady." To Nodrick, she says "There's ale and some of the harder stuff behind the counter. Leave your coin on the bar. Don't think I won't know if you drink without paying." With that, she motions Burnbright and heads toward a door behind the bar.

Burnbright leans over and whispers to Nodrick. "I should've told her you hit me. Woulda served you right for telling me to shut up back there." She gives Nodrick a bloody-faced grin, but it seems her heart isn't in it. She follows the woman.

 

[Phietadix]

((Since Baldhart & Rydh went in through the back, they didn't pass Matthew so he couldn't call out to them)).

((I thought I went out the back door also.))

I decide the fastest way to get father herald to the inn would be to take Amaroq, so I mount him and have some of the townsfolk help me get father Herald behind me. Then I ride for the Inn.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Rydh struggles to free himself from my grip. I let him. I fear he knows something I don't, and sure enough, my fear is confirmed. Cadell falls. Rydh dives to save him.

The hooded one, Aliron, pulls his blade from a creature's back. There is only one target left. I charge!

((TO-HIT - a 20 since I'm behind.))

I dig the sword into the creautre's back, then with a downward thrust, pin it to the floor.

((STR/CON checks))

((I assume the STR check is successful, but the CON check to avoid 1 HP damage is a fail.))

I hold the creature face down on the floor with the end of my sword in its back--and a boot on its head. "Rrr!" I feel a minor burn going up my leg.

"Aliron! Finish this beast so we may leave this desecrated place - this burning Hell!"


((I wonder if Aliron can use his back-stab skill, assuming my pin is successful at exposing the creature's back.))

 

[Ireth]

((So, is Cadell just KO'd until I say otherwise, or does someone have to heal him up to positive HP?))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Well, there is that auto-heal when we rest, so that would give you the 2 HP you need.

But why is Cadell at -1? Didn't he fall at -3 then get healed for 5 in the next turn, bringing him from -4 to 1?))



((EDIT - Even if Steerpike says you're at 1 or 2 HP now, Cadell is still gonna get carried out of the building by a giant girl!))

 

[Steerpike]

((Sorry, that's what I get for posting so late. For some reason, when I was thinking he had been at -6. Please assume Cadell starts to gain consciousness as soon as Rydh heals him. You can post an action for him this turn)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Can Cadell take the stone knife from my boot and stab the pinned creature? If so...))


Cadell rises! He looks up! Does he not have a melee weapon?

"Cadell! My knife!"

 

[Ireth]

((Backtracking a wee bit to get in Cadell's reaction to being wounded, etc. before I wake him up))

My blow wounds the creature, making it stumble; Aliron finishes it from behind. I hear a scream of rage from my left, and the second creature lunges at me. Before I can defend myself its claws rake across my chest, rending my armor, clothing and flesh. I cry out in pain as the wounds burn, and my knees give out under me as the world goes dark.

* * *

I come to again, and all I feel is heat. Not the burning of my wounds, but that of the temple around me, and a different, more soothing warmth spreading from my hand to my chest. I open my eyes, blinking as I raise my head. Rydh is at my side; the creature who wounded me is still before me, pinned to the floor under Baldhart's foot and sword. I start to rise, reaching for my arrow, and hear Baldhart shout.

"Cadell! My knife!"

I see the stone knife tucked into her boot, and drop my arrow in favor of it. I plunge the knife into the creature's torso with what strength I have, which does not feel like much.

((Assuming this is possible, here goes:

If that +1 bonus LS mentioned applies, that makes it a 6.))

 

[Philip Overby]

All this liquor. Just for the taking. Don't do it, Nod.

I grab a bottle of rum from behind the bar. She said to help myself right? I'll just have a little drink. Wait for the fire to die out and the others to come back. I place a copper piece on the bar. That should cover it. I pour a glass of rum and drink a little bit of it. I look around the bar. Pretty quiet. I can just enjoy my drink.

You're not hurt, Nod. Don't you think the others will notice this?

That's a good point. They'll come back battered and bruised and I'll be perfectly normal. They'll say "Where were you, Nod?" "What were you doing you little cockroach?" At least I have Burnbright to back me up. Maybe. Well, if not, I have to make my own story. It's what I do after all.

I pour the rest of bottle of rum out on the floor. "This is a great idea."

I smash the empty bottle over my head.

 

[Steerpike]

Nodrick

The impact of the bottle is enough to weaken your legs and make your vision go blurry for a few moments. There is more than just rum running down your face, and when you touch your hand to your forehead it comes away bloody. You sit there in the rum for a few minutes, head throbbing, before Burnbright comes back into the room. Her face has been cleaned up but the area around her nose looks black and blue and she has dark circles forming two black eyes.

At first she doesn't see you. She heads toward the door, a confused look on her face. Then she catches you out of the corner of her eye and lets out a squeak. She rushes over. "What happened? Was it more of those things? Gods! What's going on in this town tonight? You're soaked. Come on, lets get over by the fire. You really stink." She helps the still slightly-dazed Nodrick over by the fire, glances around uncertainly, and then sprints to the bar, disappearing behind it. She returns with a bottle, a wooden cup, and a grimy rag. She plops down next to Nodrick, positioning his head across her leg and begins to dab at the wound with the dirty rag, which has been wet with rum. It stings.

"It's OK. Now it's my turn to help you. I hope whoever did this doesn't come back. I didn't mean what I said before, you know, about you hitting me. I wouldn't have said it. How do you feel? Does your head hurt? How big was the guy who hit you? Here, see if this helps."

She offers a bit of the rum to Nodrick. After a moment, she casts a furtive glance toward the door at the rear of the tavern (from which Grim's wife has not yet emerged) and take a swig from the bottle herself. This causes a coughing fit that jolts her body and increases poor Nod's headache.

 

[Philip Overby]

Time to weave a tale, Nod. Weave away.

"I--I didn't see what happened. I was just sitting here enjoying my drink, trying to unwind after all that chaos outside. It could have been one of those things. It could have been something else. I just saw a shadow--wait, maybe it'll come back to me. Just give a minute. I don't know. I'm not well liked, I suppose. People call me insect, rodent, cockroach. Those words hurt, you know? More than this cut on my head."

I muster up some tears.

"I just want people to like me, is all. That's all any bard truly wants. To bring smiles to faces."

I pause, wiping away the tears.

"Look, I apologize for shouting at you earlier. You seem like a nice girl. I need you to do me a favor though." I wince at the pain of the cut on my head. "Those others that were here. The group with the elves, the knight, and the gigantic, pseudo- beautiful, behemoth, just tell them I'm worth keeping around. They seem to like you. I just don't know how to get people to like me."

I openly weep, blubbering into my stained tunic.

Nod, Nod, Nod. A wonderful performance. Bravo, bravo.

"It was one of the elves, that hit me," I add. "I'm sure of it now."

 

[SeverinR]

I haven't seen the creature fall yet so I will strike at it. No time for stealth, the building is coming down.


Take that beast, and back to hades with you!



Ok, maybe I scratch you, just to toy with you!
With the pathetic hit, I will dance under the doorframe, hoping it will offer some protection from the falling roof.

 

[Steerpike]

The Temple

Cadell is down, Rydh by his side. Ankari's arrow whistles past as Baldhart arrives, splintering against the wall, the pieces ricocheting down the corridor. Baldhart's sword attack pierce's the creature, and with brute strength she forces the thing to the ground. Black blood bubbles from the creature's mouth and it struggles, twisting on the end of the sword, to right itself or to at least swipe at Baldhart with its claws.

As Cadell comes to, he hears Baldhart's cry and plucks the stone knife from her boot. The impaled creature, unable to defend itself, lies helpless as Cadell drives the knife into it. This is followed immediately by Aliron's sword-thrust into the downed creature, and with a last, ragged gasp the creature expires.

Flames are now spreading uncontrollably through the temple's first and second floors. The smoke makes it difficult to see and breathe, and bit of ember and burning wood swirl from the ceiling, moving on currents of hot air. The central hall of the temple looks much like the right-hand wing did shortly before it collapsed into ruin.

Townsfolk have given up trying to throw water on the flames, and from their cries outside it is clear they are trying to move people as far away from the temple as possible.

Nodrick

Burnbright nurses her rum and listens to Nodrick's tale, her blackened eyes wide. She shakes her head. "Elves are strange. I've heard people say some bad things about having 'em here in Srilkind. But they were nice to me. I wonder why one of them would hit you."

She goes silent, contemplating and taking another sip from the bottle, though she doesn't try another gulp like the one that induced her coughing. She moves the rag away from Nodrick's head and looks at the wound. "That's not too bad. Looked worse. You want some more rum?"

The door to the tavern opens.

Matthew

Matthew manages to get Father Harald to the Hooded Crow swiftly. Having seen Matthew with the Father, and also having seen that the temple was lost, Grim hurries along after the two. When Matthew reaches the tavern, Grim calls for a boy to attend Matthew's horse and then opens the front door so Matthew can lead Father Harald inside.

The tavern is empty, Grim's wife nowhere to be seen. To the left of the front door, near the fire, sits Burnbright, her face battered and bruised. She looks up, glassy-eyed and guilty, holding a bottle toward a somewhat familiar looking halfling who has his head on her leg like a pillow.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Sir Cadell?" I offer my hand to help the knight up. I would carry him out the door, but he looks like he can manage to walk out on his own. "Let's move!" I don't let go of him. We need to move quickly. I can see Aliron is already halfway out the door. Ankari must have gone out through the window. Rydh is fine, and I know he can be quick when he needs to.

Full speed. Down the steps. All of us out. Alive!

Now where did Cadell leave his horsey?

 

[Ireth]

I gratefully accept Baldhart's help to stand, and hurry out of the temple beside her. Sighing in relief as the fresh air from outside cools my sweat-covered face, I look around for Llucheden. She is still where I tethered her, whinnying and tossing her head in anxiety. I hurry to soothe her, and when she is calm I loose her, swing up onto her back and take the reins. I look around quickly to make sure the others are with me, then lead the way toward the Hooded Crow.

 

[Ankari]

I grumble at my inability to contribute to the slaying of the fire creatures. Shouldering my bow, I climb out the window using the rope.

"Anyone want a quick way out, follow me down."

((In case I have to roll to climb down. What the hell is up with the dice??))