Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Steerpike]

Burnbright nods at Baldhart. "OK. I just don't want you to think you shouldn't have brought me." She trails off as Mauve approaches.

"Um...I'm Burnbright," she says. "Well, that's what everyone calls me. Down in Srilkind, I mean. That's down by the ocean. We came here after some little demon things attacked the temple of Tyr and burned it down. They killed Finn and Koli and then one of them punched me in my face. But I got saved by Nodrick. Um...he's not here. We drank rum and people didn't like how he was laying on me or something. These adventurers wanted to come look at this temple, you know for clues about who burned down the temple in Srilkind. They're strong too, so don't try anything. They killed all those demons. I told them I could wrestle bears, so they brought me with them. Only I never wrestled any. But that's OK because I told them that too, on the way, so now it's behind us. I bet I probably could wrestle 'em if I had to though. You know, to stay alive or something." She squints her eyes a moment as though trying to see something. "We got here and found you and the other woman with the animal."

 

[Phietadix]

"The summary isn't entirely accurate; we came partially find clues about who burned the Temple of Tyr. But primarily to find information about the curse that's here. As well as finding the records that are most likely in one of the two journals we've found here. This is the second time she said we brought her because of her stories, and the second time I will tell her that that isn't the reason she's here. I have two reasons. One I cannot tell, the other is that I believe, one day she will be what she hopes to become."

 

[Nihal]

Upon hearing the girl's tale I reach over, messing up her hair and chuckling. "You are a brave youth, Burnbright. Let's hope you do not come to need to wrestle bears any soon, they are quite heavy."

I notice her stare, suspecting of it's reason, but Matthew talks and I raise my eyes to him, stiffening a little.

"So you already knew what you were looking for. I heard all the people but the priestress were slaughtered. This one disappeared, so she may be alive somewhere. Sometimes people just... leave." I shift my weight, keeping a blank face as I talk.

"Do you think one of these journals is hers, don't you?"

 

[Ravana]

For the benefit of the druid, ungifted with the ability to see by little light, I say, "we need to take advantage of what little daylight is left. Inspect the rooms down the hall, I'll look into this open area. Take a peak through the windows while you're looking. See if anything is on the horizon that may give us cause for concern."

I continue onto the large room and follow my own advice. If there is windows to look through, I'll examine the horizon.

"The sun is going down in the west. A flock of crows circles low to the northeast. The Taint still spreads across the land. From the wood, a large, red-bearded man in a cart drawn by goats has just emerged, bearing a placard which I believe says 'Kartðaga må ødelegges.' And the Northern Lights are coming out.

"Should any of those give us cause for concern?"

Hiljikki smiles to herself out in the hall, while no one's watching. Then she goes to the entrance of the next room and peers around the corner.

"You may stop rolling your eyes at me now, Täplä," she tells her cloak softly.

•

((P.S. Think you stuck the wrong thread, dude. ))

 

[Sparkie]

So much talking. Talking, talking, talking. I wonder if anyone will notice...

I walk over to the swivel stone and try to work the book out, hoping to at least get a chance to open the strap and read what's inside.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((So, it occurred to me that some of the searching is an INT check, and I have a bonus in INT. It's also a secondary skill, so I doubt I'll find anything, but…))

I look around [13 / secondary] for a key, a door, something, anything! I have no patience for this!

[COMBAT SENSE] I check for threats. Anyone trying to surprise us? What's that I heard about a red-bearded man? Selling what?

I head over to Rydh. "I wonder if this is the calm before the… oh." He's reading!

((Even if he can't open the book, Baldy's observation is that Rydh has a book in hand.))


Patience, Baldy.

How can I be patient, Nissa? Everyone is playing detective and all I'm good for is toppling statues and breaking things.

You also un-toppled the statue.

Gee, thanks.

You're welcome.

Your point.

I didn't think I had to spell it out for you. You have your gifts and your friends have theirs. Think of poor Nodrick, how useless he must have felt when he couldn't carry a child up a short flight of stairs. Yet if not for him, she would have died.

He did save her. Then people treated him like a pervert when Burnbright was taking care of his head wound, including me.

It was not one of your finer moments, Baldy. You're not like the men of the Iron Mountain. You have their strength, but you don't do things that are unbecoming of a lady. This is why Brynhild favors woman warriors. It's not muscle that wins battles, it's hearts and minds. The fact that you are strong in all of these areas is a bonus.


"…sorry, Rydh. I didn't mean to interrupt your reading. I will meditate here."


Meditate? What are you? The painted monk?

Rest. Whatever.

[COMBAT SENSE] I wait patiently for the first sign of aggression.

 

[SeverinR]

"I think we should search the temple find the best defensive room nearby, and build a fire, and then read the journal while the child thaws."
Maybe find some dry wood while searching, were those casks,the deadly weapons of the "wizard" dry rotted or wet?" I glance at her with a smile.

"I think we could all use a fire and some food."

 

[Steerpike]

Rydh

The journal is full of some kind of rune-script. Dwarven, if you're any judge of such things. Not something one comes across on a regular basis.

Baldhart

You find on other exit from the room, no more hidden compartments, and no keys.

((The party is interacting amongst themselves, which is good. I'll post responses to actions in the temple, conversation to NPCs, etc., then move things ahead.

I stickied Act I because it was falling down the list and I thought people might want to refer to it. The current Act is always near the top of non-stickied threads)).

 

[Nihal]

I cast a glance at Aliron at the mention of the cask, managing to keep a straight face for some seconds only.

"Oh please, don't remind me! It was shameful!" I laugh.

I raise a finger, smirking. "But I think I can help with the wood. There is a pile on the courtyard, some of it may burn better than rotten wood." I sniff my sleeve, wrinkling my nose and adding, "It will smell better too."

That means the campfire wasn't theirs. Good.

 

[Sparkie]

Runic script. Dwarven? A dwarven book in a temple devoted to a human God? How strange.

"It's written in rune-script," I say aloud. "I've no idea why this is here."

Thinking back to what Father Harald said about this place and the women who lived here, I remember a bit of lore that may be relevant. The dwarves have always had their own magic. Runecasting is what they called it, I believe. Even since the war so long ago when magic was weakened, I've heard that the dwarves still have some magical secrets inaccessible to other races. I wonder: Would this have anything to do with the magic that Rala and Aslaug had? Hard to say at this point. Perhaps we'll have to ask a dwarf to translate this tome.

"I'll keep the book for now," I say. "If anyone wishes to attempt deciphering it, just say the word and I'll give it to you."

Which reminds me, I have something else with me as well. I walk over to Burnbright and present her with the gold necklace with the scythe pendant. "Could you hold on to this for me, young lady? It's a symbol of a different deity than mine, and Betula has been known to be a jealous God. Besides, I think it would look better around your neck than mine, no?"

 

[Phietadix]

"Let me see if I recocignize the runes"
I take the book from Rydh look through a couple pages to see if I can read it.

((I'm not sure if this is a success or failure.))

 

[Steerpike]

Burnbright takes the necklace from Rydh, beaming. "It's pretty. I've never really had anything this nice for my own!" She hands off her torch to the nearest person and puts the necklace on, admiring the pendant before sliding it down inside her armor. She is about to say something more when her smile quavers. She stumbles back a step, the blood drained from her face.

"I...Baldhart!" she screams the name in a panick. Her body goes rigid and in the dimly lit room you can all see a blue light leaking from the gaps in her armor, emanating from the necklace. Burnbright looks toward the ceiling, one hand moving to her chest.

In little more than a whisper, she says "they're coming," and pitches face-first to the floor.

 

[Steerpike]

I take the book from Rydh look through a couple pages to see if I can read it.

You can't read the words, though you can confirm the script is dwarven.

 

[Ankari]

Finding nothing of interest, I join the druid.

"What did you say about a red-headed man?"

I look outside the nearest window for confirmation.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

What the…?

I swipe at the necklace in a desperate attempt to tear the thing from her body!

I prepare myself for the consequence of touching the damned thing!

"Who's coming, Burnbright?" My sword is ready for them, whoever they are. "I won't let them hurt you!"

 

[Steerpike]

Baldhart is able to roll Burnbright over and rip the necklace free, suffering no negative effects. Burnbright is non-responsive.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Rydh!"

He's probably not as guilt-ridden as I am, but I tell him—

"It's not your fault."

—before I ask him to—

"Check on her! Please!"

 

[Ankari]

I grab the bow and nock an arrow. Things are about to get serious.

((When they are in range, I'll shoot at the rider.))
Longbow Attack: [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10"]http:// Longbow Attack: [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10[/URL]

"Druid, warn the others."

Hoping my voice carries, I yell, "enemies approach! Prepare!"

 

[Nihal]

I receive the torch from Burnbright's hands, watching them quietly. The necklace's reaction takes me by surprise and I step back when Baldhart tries to tear it from the girl's neck.

What the... I can't believe they gave her something enchanted...!

As Baldhart asks her question I move near the stone they've been bashing, suspicious. I place my hand over it, trying to feel anything, my eyes darting forth and back the girl and the chipped stone.


((Not sure of what check should it be, I've failed anyway. =P))

[1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11 #INT check

 

[Steerpike]

Mauve finds nothing changed about the chipped stone or the exposed area beneath it.

((Any elves or half-elves downstairs hear Ankari's yell)).