Dragon's Egg - Act II

[SeverinR]

I slip out the door, promptly catching my foot on the edge of the door, and my sword smacks the wall as I catch myself.

"Aliron: 1D20+4 => 10 #move silently (dex+level)"

I wait slowly closing the door, listening for Branwen actions, and to see if anything moves ahead from my noisy entrance.

((A link to the song which I sung; Mordred's Lullaby Male - YouTube))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I hear a clanging sound as Alin exits. Oh...! I hope he'll be okay. I signal Nissa over to me.

"What can I do for you, Baldy?"

"Pray."

She puts the torch down ((sticking it into something if possible, or laying it if the floor is solid stone)) and joins me with Branwen in my lap. ((clothed or not))

My prayer is barely a whisper. What I have to say is for Brynhild's ears.

 

[Ireth]

I raise a brow and chuckle at Aliron's choice of song. Trying to sway the little bird's affections to him alone, is he?

I absently draw with my finger in the dust on the floor, making the shapes of holly leaves and berries. The repeated refrain of "loyalty, loyalty, loyalty" makes me think of my queen. I have served her, and only her, for as long as I can remember. Do I have any right to doubt her faith in me, even in these troubled times? Even with the truce I have longed for in my homeland, which she scorns above all else? All I want is peace and prosperity for all, mortal and immortal alike.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I stroke Branwen's hair. "Stay here, sweetie. You'll be safe."

I put on my armor and offer to Mauve, "Trade the necklace for the ring?"

Once I have the ring, I head for the door. "Who's picking berries with me? Keitsumah? Darin? Sir Matthew?"

 

[Nihal]

"Aliron," I call him before he leaves, "try to bring the ranger back, avoiding confrontation if you can. We do not know when another caster will show up; it is about time, actually. They are dangerous."

Handing the ring over to Baldhart, I answer, "Keep both. I do not intend to enter in a fight so soon. Darin and Sir Matthew should go with you, I really have this feeling that you might encounter some enemies on the way. Be careful."

I glance at Sir Cadell, "So... I know some other spells, but it is up to you to learn them or not. They draw its energy from arcane magic."

 

[Keitsumah]

"I'm coming." I reply to Baldart, heaving myself up off of the floor with a grunt. Batos shoves against me to help, and i pet him affectionately before following after the other woman.

I bite my lower lip and glance at Mauve, but I guess I can't expect them all to trust me with new magics; though I wanted to learn so badly it hurt. Sighing, i shoved down my unruly wants and replaced it with a focus on what we needed to get: berries.

Batos padded along calmly, though he made sure to be ahead in case so he could scent trouble in case of an ambush.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I say to Keit, "So, in case we run into any trouble before we get to the berries... you already read up on that new healing spell, right?"

((How much game time is needed to study that?))

 

[Steerpike]

The berries from the surface do not look good. Their color is too dark, and they are too hard to the touch. They are also smaller than they should be. Whether they are suitable for use as goodberries, you do not know, but the look of them is not pleasing.

Branwen's eyes lock on Nissa whenever the small valkyrie is in the room. The child again plays her fingers over her own wings, studying Nissa as though trying to figure out how she is related to the valkyrie. The child does try to emulate Nissa's flying motions, but it is clear that her wings are not sufficiently formed to carry her through the air.

As Baldhart tries to dress her, Branwen drops herself into the barbarian's lap and arches her back, trying to squirm free. She fights for a couple of minutes, but with Nissa continuing to comfort her and explain to her, she eventually relents, allowing the skirt to be wrapped around her. When that is done she not only wears the dress but the expression of one whose favorite toy has just been smashed in front of her. She is insult personified, but at least for the moment she doesn't try to tear the dress free.

When Aliron sings to Branwen, it seems to soothe her, as all songs do. She is quick with any sort of music or song, and before Aliron is halfway through his tune she is following along quietly in her own strange language, mimicking the tones and rhythms of the song perfectly.

When Aliron leaves to go after Ankari, Branwen watches the door with an expression of worry. When Baldhart makes to leave as well, the girl is panic-stricken. She latches onto Baldhart's legs with more force than a human child of her age would be able to muster, and babbles quick words that none of you can understand.

Darin gathers his equipment. "I'll go with those who journey to the surface. Even outside of the Taint, the land is still wild. Wolves, goblins, and worse roam these parts." He hefts his hammer and makes ready to follow the group to the water. The boat is missing, of course.

 

[Nihal]

((@LS It takes 2 hours.
If the harpy dropped the doll Mauve will pick it up and offer to her while taking the following action.))

"Everything will be fine, Branwen." I run my fingers through her hair and hum a song. When it ends, I try to take one of her little hands and ask softly, "Do you want to hear the lyrics? I can sing it to you." I hum again, watching her reaction.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I look back at Mauve and Sir Cadell.

"Uh... I was hoping Branwen could stay down here, but if she's panicking like this, it'll be difficult."

I try to soothe Branwen. "I'll come back, child." I tell Sir Cadell and Mauve, "If she's nuts after I'm out, keep sying my name as you lead her to the waterfront. It'll take at least ten minutes for me to swim out for the boat, so you can catch up to us there."

I start to sing as I lead Branwen to Sir Cadell and Mauve...

"I'll be back / sweet child
Please don't / go wild
Don't plead / and don't beg
And don't / claw my leg

Time with Mauve / and Cadell
Is no / living hell
You could do / a lot worse
Cadell, sing / the next verse"

Hoping Cadell can improv better than I can, I slowly tiptoe to the door...


((EDIT - Ninja'd))

...but to my surprise, Mauve is the one who sings!

 

[SeverinR]

Hearing Branwen babble with fear, I want to return, but then Mauve begins to hum.
She might not be totally comforted, but she will survive.

I move on, stopping to pick up the glow rock, tuck it away so the light would not give me away, I move on following the most recent footprints in the dirt, while trying to be more quiet then my initial step into the hallway was.

 

[Steerpike]

Mauve's humming does seem to soothe the harpy child, and she reluctantly detaches herself from Baldhart's leg. She still looks worried, but music appears to have a calming effect on her to a greater extent than you might expect from an ordinary child.

 

[Nihal]

I pick the girl up and nod to Baldhart. "I can pretend you're my little sister, Branwen. Sometimes she bit people too."

Carrying her back to the campfire—but not too close—I start to sing the song I've promised. My voice isn't clear and beautiful, it's too low-pitched to be suited for singing. In the past the fact that sometimes I sound like a boy bothered me, today it doesn't matter anymore; I'm a sorry scarred thing, it fits me well.

Sitting, I allow her to huddle near me and pull the parchment. When the song is finished, I glance at Cadell, "Your turn. I can only hum while reading and she likes you." I smile and hum, waiting him to take over.

 

[Ireth]

I smile, set aside my sewing and gather Branwen carefully into my lap, though I keep my arms loose around her in case she wants to nestle by anyone else. At first I hum along with Mauve, then start to sing another song.

"Coo roo koo, cooruku, coo ru ku, coo ku,
Coo roo koo, cooruku, coo ru ku, coo ku.

Oh hush thee my dove, oh hush thee my sweet love,
Oh hush thee my lap wing, my dear little bird.
Oh, fold your wings and seek your nest now.
The berries shine on the old rowan tree,
The bird is home from the hills and valleys.

Coo roo koo, cooruku, coo ru ku, coo ku,
Coo roo koo, cooruku, coo ru ku, coo ku."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

After the door closes, I give Nissa a hug and feel her soul re-enter my body. I extinguish the torch. Thanks to my new rock collection, I only need the torch for Nissa! Wasting no time, I move to the waterfront, letting Batos take the lead. Once there, I see there's no boat, as expected.

((Since "The boat is missing, of course." was included in today's GM post, I'm assuming we can get this far.))

I turn to Keit. "This is going to be awkward for you... or at least I know it would be for me, but I can tell you--from recent experience--I'll sink like a stone if I swim with armor on. Since the dress offers no protection, I'm better off without anything on. Please spread my cloak open. I'm not sure if you're sparing the men or sparing me, but... let's just say I don't intend to put on a show."

I start to strip. Boots, armor, then everything but the necklace and the ring. "I suppose it's my muscular body--and believe me, I'd rather you just take my word than see it--that makes me sink so easily when I'm clothed. The muscle mass is the same reason that I can never become a mother, but you know what?" Finally! It's all off so I remove the sword from my sheath and jump in. "I'm proud of my body. The magic in me helps Nissa return to the world of the living, and thanks to Branwen, I can pretend to be the mother that I'll never really be."

I start to swim. "Hey, Keit... it's four minutes by boat from here. I know nothing about Batos, but do you think he'd be willing to protect me if you tell him to, or does he have to stay close to you? And if I give commands will he understand me? If there's trouble on the shore, I figure he's more accustomed to fighting naked than I am." I raise my sword. "But if it comes to that, I won't let him have all the fun!"

I wait for Keitsumah to answer, then swim across, wolf or no wolf. My intent is to peer at the shore and make sure it's safe, get the boat, and get out! I figure if an ambush was set up, Rydh and Algernon would have taken care of that, so I don't anticipate trouble. But then... they left, what, half a day ago?

 

[Keitsumah]

"Sure. I think he already understands that you are an ally anyways." i say, then pull of my outer garments, leaving me in a tight-fitting tunic and leggings-perfect for running, which had only been my way of transport for the last few years of my life. Jumping in the water after Baldart, I yelp when Batos comes up from under me, having gone in the water before the two of us.

"I can swim on my own you silly goose!" But the wolf snorts and gives me a look, and I have to growl at him before he huffs and swims ahead of Baldart, his muzzle curled to reveal jagged fangs and his eyes glowing as he seeks any enemy in the darkness. Still, he looks back at Baldart and he is clearly warning her that if anything happens to me, there will be hell to pay.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

She's stripping, too? Oh, no! "Wait! It's freezing!" I show Keit the magic ring. "It's like bathwater with this ring on, but for you… oh, Keitsumah, please dry off quickly. Rydh nearly froze and I doubt he even made it halfway across."

I just realized… I never told her why I'm swimming, did I?

"I'm swimming across to get the boat the deserters used. Please stay here with Darin. There's plenty of wood for a fire so you can warm up."

 

[Keitsumah]

I shrug, but swim back. The water does have a bite but having lived out in the cold for so long it really didn't affect me that much -but then it might if i stayed in long enough.

"Good thing i left most of my clothes on the shore then," i laugh, all the while berating myself for being so silly. No one seemed to know it yet but i could be a tad... impulsive at times.

Batos turned, treading water and watching me gather up my belongings.

"Shoulda learned a fi-" i swallow and blink several times. "Fire... spell...." Great job, but you're terrified of fire remember? I cringe and stand up, shaking myself all over like a dog and scattering water all over the place. Though i am still a bit damp.

I resolve by putting on my dry clothes and hoping that will keep me from falling ill as i head back towards Darin, face bright red with embarrassment.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I laugh, but the poor girl's blushing. "Now you and Darin have something to talk about," I say.

"C'mon, Batos!" I swim across as fast as I can.

((@SP, if hostiles are waiting, of course there's a map, turns, etc. Read the following as Baldy's readied actions--if there are no hostiles as far as she can tell--which she takes in the hope to minimize the chance of being spotted by an unseen enemy or stabbed in her bare ass while boarding the boat. I got a good CON check, so I guess she gets good distance underwater?))

When I'm close enough to see the boat, I check to see if it doesn't appear to be tied and that no hostiles have spotted me. If we need to attack, I've got Batos and my sword. If I don't spot an enemy, I'll whisper "stay" to Batos and swim underwater as far as I can…

…which will easily get me to the boat.

From there I'll tow it to where I got it the first time. I can't see down the dark hall, so I'd rather not climb in on that shore. If there's a place I can climb in the boat where I can't potentially get shot at, I'll board there.

Once safely on my way, I deal with the table and barrel…

((cut a rope))

​((almost fell overboard))

((cut the other rope - next roll was 15 hit / 9 damage if above missed))

…by cutting them loose and rowing a normal boat.

 

[Nihal]

Room!

"Thanks. I can try to help you with this spell... not that I am particularly good with elven magic, really, I only have been practicing more magic lately than you. I am almost done with this one, then I pass to the next; and when they return... whoever returns first... I can try Edan's Poultice."

At least one person of the both groups will be in need of this. Call that good timing?