Dragon's Egg - Act I

[Sparkie]

As we run around the temple, I hear the tearing of fabric. Did Baldhart just rip her dress? What is it with that woman? She's so... Destructive with what few things she has.

As we run, this is what we see:

Running along the side of the temple, you see that the fire is more concentrated near the front of the building, particularly along the right side where Baldhart and the others are trying to get in. There is a fenced area behind the temple, with grass and plants that are as well-tended as possible given the northern climate and the curse on the land.

What you also see are a set of double wooden doors, set at a shallow angle to the ground just next to a rear door to the temple. You recognize that immediately as an entrance to a cellar. It is closed, as is the door leading into the temple from the back.

Arriving around back, I turn to Baldhart and say "Can you knock these doors down?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Hyaaaah!"


ROLL TO BREAK DOOR DOWN:

((Well… if Steerpike intended that to be possible, that roll ought to do the trick!))

 

[Philip Overby]

These people aren't very good at anything are they? Just shut up, Nod. At least they're trying. You've been picking your nose the whole time.

"Yes, break the door down!" I shout at the top of my lungs. I wait to see if anyone comes spilling out. If they do, I'm going to be the first one to carry them to safety. That way when they tell the story tomorrow, it will be Nod Gnatcatcher who was first to drag away the suffering people from the Temple of Tear--uh, Tar, whatever the hell it's called.

(Dex check for speed to grab someone if they come out. Not sure how this works with this edition, but my Dex is 17.)

 

[SeverinR]

I follow the group cautiously, those already climbed the wall, no need for me to follow them, so I will string my bow and wait with the archers.
I scan the crowd, looking for anyone that stands out, not helping, or looking a little too happy. Also watching for possible hostility in the crowd.

 

[Phietadix]

As the door breaks down I run in and search for any that need saving.

 

[Steerpike]

You move to the rear of the temple, Matthew and Cadell on horseback, following Rydh as he leads the way to the back door. The door is within a fenced area, what passes for a garden this far north. Though you've seen healthier plants, the garden is tidy and well-kept. Matthew dismounts and loops the reins of his horse over the fence while Cadell covers the back door to the temple with his bow.

Getting into the garden area is made easy the presence of a gate with an unlocked latch. The party rushes toward the door, the taint of smoke on the air. The fire rages more strongly around the front of the temple, but even here you can smell it and see the glow of flames against the sky above.

Baldhart reaches the door and put her shoulder into it. The door gives way, splintering the frame as it bursts inward, and the force of Baldhart's impact with the door carries her stumbling forward and onto her hands. Matthew steps around her and into the darkness of the temple, smoke billowing past him and through the open door. The corridor is wide, though the portion meant to be walked upon forms a thin line down the center. The areas to either side are meant for prayer or reflection. You can just make out, through the far window, the town center and the bustling commotion there. The sound of flames is loud, though the area immediately around you is not burning. There is a hallway to your left a few feet ahead, and then another at the far end of the temple near the window. Both lead into the temple proper, and further into the fire.

 

[Philip Overby]

I stand at the busted door, waiting for anyone to come running out. I'm not going in there...But, your companions will think you craven if you don't, Nod. Oh well, just stand here and look terrified. That always seems to work.

 

[Phietadix]

I decide to walk furthur into the temple and closer to the fire. I've been in burning buildings before this should be no different.

 

[Ireth]

I pull my tunic up over my mouth and nose before advancing into the temple. The smoke makes my eyes water; how am I supposed to use my bow in this state? Even where there is no smoke, the very air shimmers with heat. I look around for anyone to carry out, whether living or dead.

 

[Sparkie]

Crouching in a vain attempt to avoid the smoke, I carefully make my way down the entryway to the hallway on the left. It's dark, and the smoke doesn't help one's vision. I draw my sword and decide to shed a little light on matters. I try to cast on my shield, and...

((A one?!? Really!?!))

...something's wrong. Really wrong. The energy from the spell is...

((OK, I'm not sure of what the DC for this save roll is, but I'm sure I've failed.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I guess I don't know my own strength! I brush the dust off what's left of my mauve gown, as if its appearance should even matter at this point. That door broke so easily. Maybe winning that arm wrestling match gave me greater confidence in my strength. Maybe the gods and goddesses are with us on this.

Surely that is the case. There is Rydh, deep in prayer.

Huh? He lurches over, as if in pain.

Is the evil in the place too powerful? Is it the smoke? Are we too quick to rush into a burning building?

I shout out, "Survivors! Speak! Make noise so we may find you!"

Are there survivors? Are they in any condition to speak?

 

[SeverinR]

Crouching in a vain attempt to avoid the smoke, I carefully make my way down the entryway to the hallway on the left. It's dark, and the smoke doesn't help one's vision. I draw my sword and decide to shed a little light on matters. I try to cast on my shield, and...

((A one?!? Really!?!))

...something's wrong. Really wrong. The energy from the spell is...

((OK, I'm not sure of what the DC for this save roll is, but I'm sure I've failed.))

[[ooc-thinking Sparkie shouldn't play the lottery for a while, a 1 and a 3?]]

I continue to monitor the crowd, also expanding search to possible hiding places outside of the crowds.

Seeing some beast in the window Ankari went into, if a clear shot of the beast exists without much chance of hitting Ankari- I shoot an arrow at the beast taking time to ensure the shot won't hit Ankari.



bonus=dex,race and diety(night shooting)

damage if hit:


"Blessed be with my arrow, for it would have no chance to hit without God's blessing."

 

[Steerpike]

((I'll work on getting a map up tonight. It will help with placement. I haven't finished making it yet!))

Rydh begins casting his spell, and for a brief moment the expected ball of luminescence forms in the palm of his hand. Then, something goes wrong. The ball becomes misshapen, roiling and bubbling like a cauldron, amorphous jets of plasma streaking away from it. Rydh's face is a mask of concentration, but it is for naught. The ball of light bubbles and swirls and then erupts, briefly spreading through the corridor like a flash of lightning before disappearing with a loud bang.

((Rydh, Baldhart, and Cadell each take 1 point of damage from the unleashed magic)).

Nordick and Matthew both feel the magic course over their skin, but there is nothing more than an unpleasant sensation and the feeling that their hairs are all standing on end.

As Matthew continues forward, he can hear the sound of the villagers closest to the door as they throw buckets of water into the temple. Reaching the end of the corridor, he can see the town square clearly through the window. To the left is the temple entrance, the wood lining the interior of the archway aflame. The floor is wet from buckets of water, but the flames still crawl up the walls. Beyond the entrance is another room similar to the one Matthew is already standing in, except that the fire burns more strongly there, creating thick smoke and casting that side of the temple in orange light. There appears to be some sort of body on the floor. A small, human-shaped figure as best Matthew can tell through the smoke and flame.

The corridor Rydh is facing remains dark, though it appears to intersect with another corridor just ahead, and a faint glow comes from the light of that intersection, which looks like it would lead back to the temple entrance.

 

[Phietadix]

I run to to body and see if he's alright

 

[Philip Overby]

Oh, buckets. Might as well throw some water on something so someone doesn't shout at me for being "worthless" or a "nasty cockroach" or some such. Wish I had a bucket full of scorpions...

I look where the others are getting the water from and grab a bucket if I can find one. If I find one, I'm going to absent-mindedly throw water onto the fire until either the temple collapses or the flames become too intense.

Good plan, Nod. Do that. OK then. Meeting over!

 

[Ankari]

Your throw strikes the wounded creature in the head, the hand axe sticking in place with a wet thock. The creature goes limp, the black blood now pouring from his ruined skull.

The second creature springs forward, and its speed is alarming. Like the flame and ember patterns that discolor its skin, it seems more to flicker in your direction than move like a normal being. It crosses the ten feet or so of floor space and leaps onto the broken window sill, one hand closing around a length of the wooden frame. The other hand, long and scraggly, lashes out at you, trailing smoke. You can feel heat radiating from the thing's body.

Angry at the injury, I call out to my companions for aid.

"I have a live person up here. I need help!"

I attempt to grab the unusual creature and pull him from the window.

 

[Steerpike]

The creature in the window has lashed out at Ankari, hitting him with an outstretched hand. Aliron's arrow streaks through the night, across the empty space between himself and the creature, and embeds itself into the thing's side. The creature lets out a high cry and turns in the direction of the shooter, scanning the crowd with round, glowing eyes like pits of flame. A second later, the wood of the arrow stuck in its side erupts into flame.

Ankari can see black blood running from the wound where the arrow struck, though how serious the injury is cannot be determined. Nevertheless, the attack has distracted the creature momentarily from Ankari as it looks out over the crowd.

More villagers have seen the creature now, and word is spreading fast among the rest of them. Many townspeople fall out of the bucket lane, backing away in horror at the sight of the thing in the window.

Matthew dashes past the temple entrance to the body he saw. To his surprise, there are two bodies. The one he saw initially is not human after all. It is a small, goblin-like creature with skin like burnt wood shimmering with patterns of ember and flame. This one is dead, a hand axe embedded in its skull, a pool of thick blood spreading underneath it. The body radiates heat.

The other body is that of a human. An elder man lays on his back, gasping for breath in the smoke. He looks disoriented. The skin and clothing around his hands and feet look burnt.

Matthew also sees one of the goblin-like windows in the broken window sill, hanging on to a piece of the wooden frame. Next to the creature, perched on the outside of the sill, is Ankari, who locks eyes with Matthew momentarily.

Ankari attempts to grab the creature in the window, but as soon as he touches it the creature yanks free and moves backward along the window sill, hissing at Ankari. Had it been just a little slower, Anakari may have got a firm grip on it. As it is, he achieved only a passing grasp that left his fingers blistered with heat.

 

[Steerpike]

((Nod - I had you at the back door Baldhart busted. If you want to help with the water buckets, you need to run back around to the front of the temple, where the well is in the town center. Is that where you want to go?))

 

[Phietadix]

I try to lead the man I found back out the back door.

 

[Ireth]

As I advance into the temple, I hear Matthew chanting what sounds like a spell. Then there is a burst of light, and I lurch back as something invisible seems to strike me. I shake my head, trying to process what happened and throw off the dizziness. When Ankari calls for help, I hurry in his direction, crouching beside the wounded man he has found.

"I will help you get him outside." If only I had not left Llucheden outside with Matthew's horse... she could be of use in carrying the wounded man.