SeverinR
Valar Lord
"The way to her heart is in music and food." I relax a little. Branwen is not the only person that doesn't trust strangers.
-
Welcome to the Fantasy Writing Forums. Register Now to join us!
Dragon's Egg - Act II
- Thread starter Steerpike
- Start date
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
Cadell
A rainy wind still blows through the chamber from the other side of the Gaita. I sigh and move back to the archway, and close my eyes as I rest my palm against the stone. The words of the spell come easily to me, and soon the Gaita is closed again. I stay there for a while, still trying to sort through my feelings. I cannot decide whether I want to be alone, or surrounded by people, or with only LÃadan beside me. I know I need to pull myself together if I'm to face the lizards with a clear head, but they just don't understand... Does LÃadan even know the truth of what happened?
A rainy wind still blows through the chamber from the other side of the Gaita. I sigh and move back to the archway, and close my eyes as I rest my palm against the stone. The words of the spell come easily to me, and soon the Gaita is closed again. I stay there for a while, still trying to sort through my feelings. I cannot decide whether I want to be alone, or surrounded by people, or with only LÃadan beside me. I know I need to pull myself together if I'm to face the lizards with a clear head, but they just don't understand... Does LÃadan even know the truth of what happened?
"Understandable," I tell her, "especially with all that talk of guards. I take it that that queen of yours is not easy to please, then?" I fail to stifle a scoff, so I'll just roll with it.
"We don't have royalty and other such formalities where I come from. If we did, I'd probably have to sit in a tower waiting for my nails to dry... and Mother would marry me off. To a prince, of all things! Don't take offense, but if your queen doesn't want you, it's her loss. Exile might be the best thing that ever happened to you. What you call 'exile' I call 'freedom.'
"Anyway, what do you do, Liadan? You mentioned battle... and, well... we've been making preparations for a big one. If I seem brave, it's because I follow the Goddess of Battle, Brynhild, and will not fail her. And I'm not Her only devotee here, though you can't see the other one. I don't know if Cadell told you about Nissa. You'll meet her, but I'm afraid it'll be brief."
I smile proudly. Proud of my cousin. Proud of my magic. I can't help it. "You're going to witness a miracle!"
Keitsumah
Grandmaster
I watch everyone with guarded eyes as they greet Liadan. It will be a while before we are back on track, and Batos continues to swivel his ears back, trying to hear something out in the tunnels that even i cannot pick up. Maybe the lizards are making some final adjustments to their "trap". I cannot be sure.
Exile. I had not been exiled, i had lost my family and been left alone. None of my own kind had even come looking for any survivors after the forest fire.
Blackened trees rose high into the sky, the dying, blood-red embers of the flames still visible beneath the thin skins of what still remained of their bark. I curled up in the place where my home had once been, tear-filled eyes staring at the twisted, broken skeletons of my parents. I had not found my brother's body, but it did not matter. I knew he was dead.
Soot crunched beneath me as i sat up, sniffling, covered head-to-toe in soot. My hand burned painfully, but I locked it away in the deepest recesses of my mind. Nothing mattered. Not anymore . . .
Batos whined softly as my hand clenched in the fur on his shoulder, and he licked my cheek, sympathy in his now sky-blue eyes. He had been abandoned by his pack, and had nearly been killed by Wargs in the process. He had lost his family as well, and now here we were -orphans tied together by a spell, and by fate.
I would not let anyone here die if i had any choice in the matter. Eyes narrowing, i pulled out a small rock with odd niches in it, then held it out. Batos stepped forward and grated his fangs across it, sharpening them. At the same time his claws scored the stone floor, catching small crevices and honing his natural weapons. After i had seen stags having that same sort of behavior to sharpen their horns before battle, I had instructed Batos how to do it. Now, whenever i held out the stone, he knew to prepare for a fight.
Exile. I had not been exiled, i had lost my family and been left alone. None of my own kind had even come looking for any survivors after the forest fire.
Blackened trees rose high into the sky, the dying, blood-red embers of the flames still visible beneath the thin skins of what still remained of their bark. I curled up in the place where my home had once been, tear-filled eyes staring at the twisted, broken skeletons of my parents. I had not found my brother's body, but it did not matter. I knew he was dead.
Soot crunched beneath me as i sat up, sniffling, covered head-to-toe in soot. My hand burned painfully, but I locked it away in the deepest recesses of my mind. Nothing mattered. Not anymore . . .
Batos whined softly as my hand clenched in the fur on his shoulder, and he licked my cheek, sympathy in his now sky-blue eyes. He had been abandoned by his pack, and had nearly been killed by Wargs in the process. He had lost his family as well, and now here we were -orphans tied together by a spell, and by fate.
I would not let anyone here die if i had any choice in the matter. Eyes narrowing, i pulled out a small rock with odd niches in it, then held it out. Batos stepped forward and grated his fangs across it, sharpening them. At the same time his claws scored the stone floor, catching small crevices and honing his natural weapons. After i had seen stags having that same sort of behavior to sharpen their horns before battle, I had instructed Batos how to do it. Now, whenever i held out the stone, he knew to prepare for a fight.
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
LÃadan
I smile as Baldhart speaks, though it is tinged with sorrow. "I was not cast out, not really; I followed Cadell willingly. I am just glad no one tried to drag me back." I glance toward Cadell, still leaning on the Gaita, back turned and head bowed. "I am a cleric of Oercus, and until recently I served Queen BrÃgh as the chief healer in Caer Celynnen. I have some skill in fighting, though I prefer to heal rather than harm, if I can help it."
Cadell
Now that the shock has worn off, the pain really sets in. My head throbs, my throat aches, and my heart writhes. Baldhart and LÃadan stand behind me, talking of exile and gods. Can I tell them what happened? What will they think? What will I do, now that I am not a knight?
I open my eyes, my head hanging, and my gaze settles on the gauntlet that serves me for a left hand. Revulsion ripples through me at the sight of it. Though the heavy rain has washed it clean, to me it still bears the stains of Fachtna's blood. My kinsman's blood. A twpsyn and an asyn, but an ellyll nonetheless. The knowledge that I must soon shed blood with its aid again fills me with shame. At least now my targets will be evil creatures, not my own kind... Not that Fachtna was really good to begin with.
I smile as Baldhart speaks, though it is tinged with sorrow. "I was not cast out, not really; I followed Cadell willingly. I am just glad no one tried to drag me back." I glance toward Cadell, still leaning on the Gaita, back turned and head bowed. "I am a cleric of Oercus, and until recently I served Queen BrÃgh as the chief healer in Caer Celynnen. I have some skill in fighting, though I prefer to heal rather than harm, if I can help it."
Cadell
Now that the shock has worn off, the pain really sets in. My head throbs, my throat aches, and my heart writhes. Baldhart and LÃadan stand behind me, talking of exile and gods. Can I tell them what happened? What will they think? What will I do, now that I am not a knight?
I open my eyes, my head hanging, and my gaze settles on the gauntlet that serves me for a left hand. Revulsion ripples through me at the sight of it. Though the heavy rain has washed it clean, to me it still bears the stains of Fachtna's blood. My kinsman's blood. A twpsyn and an asyn, but an ellyll nonetheless. The knowledge that I must soon shed blood with its aid again fills me with shame. At least now my targets will be evil creatures, not my own kind... Not that Fachtna was really good to begin with.
Nihal
Valar Lord
I roll the parchments and put them in the safety of my backpack. They debate and talk, agitated, and I try to put my new resolution in practice, listening in silence, saving my acid remarks to myself, just watching and registering the new information. Stay low, provoke no drama. It's hard.
I guess we will not leave the North through this forest now.
Getting up, I crack my back, grab the spear and ready myself to leave. They will return at any second with more news about the lovely trap that awaits us.
All the attention is turned to the elf woman. She's beautiful, graceful, like all the elves... almost all the elves are. I feel some jealousy, naturally, like I feel every time a prettier woman joins my circle of acquaintances. Competition. Nowadays it's not really hard, not after that evening which changed many things, my face included. I dismiss those thoughts, it seems that even if I was unscarred I would stand no chance anyway, everyone loves to hate me.
I greet her in my best half smile, "Hello, LÃadan."
I guess we will not leave the North through this forest now.
Getting up, I crack my back, grab the spear and ready myself to leave. They will return at any second with more news about the lovely trap that awaits us.
All the attention is turned to the elf woman. She's beautiful, graceful, like all the elves... almost all the elves are. I feel some jealousy, naturally, like I feel every time a prettier woman joins my circle of acquaintances. Competition. Nowadays it's not really hard, not after that evening which changed many things, my face included. I dismiss those thoughts, it seems that even if I was unscarred I would stand no chance anyway, everyone loves to hate me.
I greet her in my best half smile, "Hello, LÃadan."
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
LÃadan
I turn and smile as Mauve addresses me. "Hello, Mauve. I've heard good things about you; Cadell told me how you saved him from drowning in these tunnels."
Cadell
I take a breath and turn back to the others, tearing my gaze away from my gauntlet. It is not the weapon that is evil, but its wielder. I should not be ashamed for defending myself in battle; it is what anyone would do, knight or not.
"LÃadan, where is my sword? I need a moment to grow used to using it with this gauntlet before we go off to the possibility of battle."
She takes it from her belt and helps me attach it to mine; then I close the metal fingers around the hilt and unsheathe the weapon. I step away from the others to practise without risking harm to them -- strikes, blocks, any movements I may need to use. As expected, my stiff grip is awkward, and my stump is not nearly as dexterous as the hand that had been there before. I hope I can handle it well enough to stay alive.
I turn and smile as Mauve addresses me. "Hello, Mauve. I've heard good things about you; Cadell told me how you saved him from drowning in these tunnels."
Cadell
I take a breath and turn back to the others, tearing my gaze away from my gauntlet. It is not the weapon that is evil, but its wielder. I should not be ashamed for defending myself in battle; it is what anyone would do, knight or not.
"LÃadan, where is my sword? I need a moment to grow used to using it with this gauntlet before we go off to the possibility of battle."
She takes it from her belt and helps me attach it to mine; then I close the metal fingers around the hilt and unsheathe the weapon. I step away from the others to practise without risking harm to them -- strikes, blocks, any movements I may need to use. As expected, my stiff grip is awkward, and my stump is not nearly as dexterous as the hand that had been there before. I hope I can handle it well enough to stay alive.
Last edited:
Nihal
Valar Lord
"Did I?" I frown, genuinely confused and taking a moment to remember. "Oh, that's true. We have been through so much together that this does not even matter anymore. We are always saving each other's asses—" Crap, I don't think a highborn shiny elf would appreciate my foul language. I clear my throat. "—you know."
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
LÃadan
"From what he tells me, most of you have become fast friends along your way. You seem to have quite a diverse party. What is it you do?"
"From what he tells me, most of you have become fast friends along your way. You seem to have quite a diverse party. What is it you do?"
Nihal
Valar Lord
"A big mess. I am a specialist." I grin and glance at Cadell, raising an eyebrow. Are the elves big jerks who like to burn people too?
I know he refused it, but I'll offer again. "The angle of your wrist is wrong. Please, allow me." If he allows me to, I adjust the wrist 30 degrees. If not, I'll ask Liadan to do that. He won't refuse her, I'll bet!
I tell him, "Limit your strikes to overhead, thrust—gut to lungs—and swing from shield side out. You need to invert your wrist to swing the other way, which won't work with that stiff grip. Use a hook—like thrusting sideways around your shield. Depend on your shield to block, or the enemy will see the stiffness of your grip on the sword and exploit it."
((Geeky confession: I had the house to myself when I read the quoted post, so I tested with my katana to see which swings seem to work with a stiff one-handed grip. I think this is fairly accurate… though my wrist isn't locked-gauntlet stiff.))
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
Cadell
Mauve catches my eye, and I smile reassuringly. LÃadan is not the sort of person to judge another, nor especially to scorn a magic-user.
LÃadan
"Indeed?" I note her glance toward Cadell, and cannot help but wonder at it. Perhaps it is simply because they look to him as a leader... though of course I may be wrong. "Well, it seems to suit you well enough, from what Cadell has told me."
Cadell
I pause when Baldhart approaches, and gratefully allow her to adjust my grip. I listen and nod at her advice, and try out a few thrusts as she instructs. "Much better. Thank you."
Nihal
Valar Lord
I laugh. "Yes, it does suit me indeed, like if I was born to create confusion." Encouraged by Cadell's smile I continue, "Sometimes I use my spear too, although it is rare. I use arcane magic, the old craft." I study LÃadan's reaction, then turning my attention to Baldhart and Cadell when she adjusts his gauntlet.
Perhaps I could... nah. Better to keep it to myself until it's needed.
Perhaps I could... nah. Better to keep it to myself until it's needed.
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
LÃadan
I chuckle. "You seem a little like me. Though I have skill in both magic and fighting, the former is considerably more developed than the latter."
I follow Mauve's gaze to where Baldhart aids Cadell, and smile at the sight. He has made so many friends here, of various races and lifestyles. How would things be for him here if he had never thought to make peace with the humans of Dunhold? I imagine it would be far lonelier. But that, thank Oercus, is purely speculation, and will never be else. I cannot say what drove him to begin the truce in the first place, aside from a desire to see our people kept safe from the Lady and her horde, but it has paid off in more ways than we ever thought possible. I am sure he does not regret it, even accounting for certain consequences.
I chuckle. "You seem a little like me. Though I have skill in both magic and fighting, the former is considerably more developed than the latter."
I follow Mauve's gaze to where Baldhart aids Cadell, and smile at the sight. He has made so many friends here, of various races and lifestyles. How would things be for him here if he had never thought to make peace with the humans of Dunhold? I imagine it would be far lonelier. But that, thank Oercus, is purely speculation, and will never be else. I cannot say what drove him to begin the truce in the first place, aside from a desire to see our people kept safe from the Lady and her horde, but it has paid off in more ways than we ever thought possible. I am sure he does not regret it, even accounting for certain consequences.
Now that I won't end up interrupting Mauve, I finally reply to Liadan.
"You're a healer, you said? How fortunate! Where we're going, we may need all the healing we can get. And you follow… Oercus, you said? I don't know much about him."
Racist.
Oh?
Not her. The god Oercus…
Oh.
Just what I heard. I don't know if what Darin said of Freya is true, so don't think much of that. When I speak of Brynhild, I'm certain. I don't claim to know other gods and goddesses.
"God of the Forest, right?" I won't repeat Nissa's other words to me, but… "I guess I did hear things, but not everything I hear of the gods is necessarily accurate. I think a lot of people don't know Brynhild values compassion, and that She expects that of her Valkyrie. She's the Goddess of Battle, so most assume I'm just supposed to fight and die to earn my wings. But it's why I fight, who and what I fight for, and how I conduct myself in battle that matters. The reward isn't for losing a fight. There needs to be an effort and reason to win, and my reward won't be denied if I don't get myself killed because I'm victorious."
Slow down, Baldy.
"Sorry… I get carried away and don't know when to shut up." I laugh. "Maybe Cadell told you that, too."
"You're a healer, you said? How fortunate! Where we're going, we may need all the healing we can get. And you follow… Oercus, you said? I don't know much about him."
Racist.
Oh?
Not her. The god Oercus…
Oh.
Just what I heard. I don't know if what Darin said of Freya is true, so don't think much of that. When I speak of Brynhild, I'm certain. I don't claim to know other gods and goddesses.
"God of the Forest, right?" I won't repeat Nissa's other words to me, but… "I guess I did hear things, but not everything I hear of the gods is necessarily accurate. I think a lot of people don't know Brynhild values compassion, and that She expects that of her Valkyrie. She's the Goddess of Battle, so most assume I'm just supposed to fight and die to earn my wings. But it's why I fight, who and what I fight for, and how I conduct myself in battle that matters. The reward isn't for losing a fight. There needs to be an effort and reason to win, and my reward won't be denied if I don't get myself killed because I'm victorious."
Slow down, Baldy.
"Sorry… I get carried away and don't know when to shut up." I laugh. "Maybe Cadell told you that, too."
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
LÃadan
I nod and answer Baldhart. "I know very little of the human gods, save what I have learned from my friends in Dunhold -- a small human settlement on the borders of Aelwyd Eirian. Your Brynhild seems like a fine goddess to follow. Compassion is a valuable thing, as much as bravery in battle.
"As for Oercus, he can be rather resentful toward other races, particularly the dwarves. Many of the elves in Aelwyd Eirian worship him, which may explain why so many of them mistrust and even hate the folk of Dunhold. I admit, I was once the same way, until it became necessary for elves and humans to work together to fend off a great threat. But I think Cadell learned best and fastest the value of respect for those of other races, once the thought crossed his mind." I sigh. "I only wish more of my people had learned that as well. As soon as the truce ended, the majority went right back to their old ways, taunting and tormenting the humans as if they had never fought and died side by side."
Cadell
I pause to rest my arms and listen as LÃadan speaks of the alliance. It seems so long ago and far away, and yet somehow still so near. Has it really been a year since the Lady tried to slaughter us all?
I touch my throat, wincing again at the bruises, and feeling beneath them the old scar from the Lady's attempt to strangle me. I have dozens more, most of which only LÃadan has seen. Orcs are nothing if not expert torturers.
I sigh and go back to practising with my sword and shield, imagining with each blow that I am fighting and killing the Lady, her henchman and her horde. I am glad I had the pleasure of dealing her the killing blow in reality, but imagining is nice to do as well.
I nod and answer Baldhart. "I know very little of the human gods, save what I have learned from my friends in Dunhold -- a small human settlement on the borders of Aelwyd Eirian. Your Brynhild seems like a fine goddess to follow. Compassion is a valuable thing, as much as bravery in battle.
"As for Oercus, he can be rather resentful toward other races, particularly the dwarves. Many of the elves in Aelwyd Eirian worship him, which may explain why so many of them mistrust and even hate the folk of Dunhold. I admit, I was once the same way, until it became necessary for elves and humans to work together to fend off a great threat. But I think Cadell learned best and fastest the value of respect for those of other races, once the thought crossed his mind." I sigh. "I only wish more of my people had learned that as well. As soon as the truce ended, the majority went right back to their old ways, taunting and tormenting the humans as if they had never fought and died side by side."
Cadell
I pause to rest my arms and listen as LÃadan speaks of the alliance. It seems so long ago and far away, and yet somehow still so near. Has it really been a year since the Lady tried to slaughter us all?
I touch my throat, wincing again at the bruises, and feeling beneath them the old scar from the Lady's attempt to strangle me. I have dozens more, most of which only LÃadan has seen. Orcs are nothing if not expert torturers.
I sigh and go back to practising with my sword and shield, imagining with each blow that I am fighting and killing the Lady, her henchman and her horde. I am glad I had the pleasure of dealing her the killing blow in reality, but imagining is nice to do as well.
Last edited:
Nihal
Valar Lord
Slouching against the opening to the hallway, I cross my arms and go back to the listening mode. They're back to all this Gods and Goddess talk and my mind wanders away. The newcomer talks of the elves mistrust of humans and how they discarded them after some war. I believe these elves kept happily hidden when the Great War happened, alienating themselves to the world crumbling around them. Humans saved their asses again in this War, did they ever notice?
Just some new names for my little list of the greatest ungrateful morons.
Just some new names for my little list of the greatest ungrateful morons.
"I find it unfathomable. I mean being hostile to someone because of who they were at birth. Where I come from, there is no highborn or lowborn. Who my father is or my uncle, or his father before him and his before him and so on for thirty generations… in most lands, I'd be a highborn, but I don't want that. I mastered the sword because I had to train as hard as everyone else. Being niece to the Chieftain of my mountain's most prominent clan didn't earn me any favors.
"As for race…" I stroke Branwen's hair. "Part human, part elf, part bird. But I believe we're all innocent at birth. Cadell came up with the name Branwen. She's a lovely little monster."
I look to the door. Darin and Ankari aren't back yet.
"You'll meet Darin and Ankari soon. Ankari won't want to chat much, I imagine. We do have a fight coming, and now that we're at full strength, I'd like to attack as soon as the group's together. You'll meet Nissa soon, too. Very soon, unless there's a change of plans.
"Sometimes change is good. Your presence may not have been part of any plan, but it's good to have you here. We'll keep you safe, you'll heal us, and as Mauve put it, we'll keep saving each other's asses until we lose track of who saved who."
"As for race…" I stroke Branwen's hair. "Part human, part elf, part bird. But I believe we're all innocent at birth. Cadell came up with the name Branwen. She's a lovely little monster."
I look to the door. Darin and Ankari aren't back yet.
"You'll meet Darin and Ankari soon. Ankari won't want to chat much, I imagine. We do have a fight coming, and now that we're at full strength, I'd like to attack as soon as the group's together. You'll meet Nissa soon, too. Very soon, unless there's a change of plans.
"Sometimes change is good. Your presence may not have been part of any plan, but it's good to have you here. We'll keep you safe, you'll heal us, and as Mauve put it, we'll keep saving each other's asses until we lose track of who saved who."
Ireth
Mythic Scribe
LÃadan
A smile comes to my lips. "I am not highborn myself; I was but a healer in Caer Celynnen, not a noblewoman of any sort. Queen BrÃgh does have an inner circle of those she praises most highly, but I was never one of them. I was made chief healer for my skill, no more and no less."
I watch as Baldhart cuddles Branwen. "Cadell told me how you came to adopt her. I think you made the right choice not to simply leave her to die. A little compassion, even to an enemy, can go a long way." Goodness knows it helped with Cadell and his human friends.
I nod when she mentions Darin and Ankari. I would like to meet this dwarf whom Cadell befriended, but the abrasive elf seems not to be someone who would be friendly to me.
I look to Branwen again, and wonder if it would be worthwhile to try to approach her a second time. Aliron said she likes music, so I sing softly as I hold out my hand. It is the same tune as the song I had been singing when Cadell met me in Caer Celynnen today, but the words are slightly changed.
"Come, come, come, my dear,
Quietly and peacefully..."
I sigh. "Maybe she will warm up to me with time."
((I want to have her heal Cadell, but I still haven't heard from Steerpike about how many MP she has.))
A smile comes to my lips. "I am not highborn myself; I was but a healer in Caer Celynnen, not a noblewoman of any sort. Queen BrÃgh does have an inner circle of those she praises most highly, but I was never one of them. I was made chief healer for my skill, no more and no less."
I watch as Baldhart cuddles Branwen. "Cadell told me how you came to adopt her. I think you made the right choice not to simply leave her to die. A little compassion, even to an enemy, can go a long way." Goodness knows it helped with Cadell and his human friends.
I nod when she mentions Darin and Ankari. I would like to meet this dwarf whom Cadell befriended, but the abrasive elf seems not to be someone who would be friendly to me.
I look to Branwen again, and wonder if it would be worthwhile to try to approach her a second time. Aliron said she likes music, so I sing softly as I hold out my hand. It is the same tune as the song I had been singing when Cadell met me in Caer Celynnen today, but the words are slightly changed.
"Come, come, come, my dear,
Quietly and peacefully..."
I sigh. "Maybe she will warm up to me with time."
((I want to have her heal Cadell, but I still haven't heard from Steerpike about how many MP she has.))
- Thread starter
- #2,320
((Going to post both timelines here to prevent confusion as to who is where, and when. By my estimation, Darin, Ankari, and Aliron left to investigate the lizard hallway around the same time Cadell went into the Gate. By the time Liadan arrives, Aliron has returned to the Gate room. It's unclear as to whether Darin and Ankari have. If they finish up what they are doing before the hour is up, it stands to reason they'll be back there by the time Liadan arrives. If they stir up the lizards, we'll bring them back shortly after her arrival so as to avoid retconning everything that has happened since Cadell and Liadan came through the Gate)).
30-40 Minutes Prior
Aliron is able to wrestle one of the broken barrels up the hallway to the room adjacent the Gate room. He does so carefully and loses little of the remaining oil, which sloshes around in the bottom of the barrel as he moves it. There is no hope of being stealthy, but there is no reaction from the second debris pile, which appears to have lizards lurking behind it. If they are in fact there, they are just watching.
Ankari leads Darin to the caved-in room. The dwarf looks at the room carefully, as though considering a problem, then says: "If we can get enough oil, and seal up some barrels tight enough to make them explode, we might clear some of this out. I can't tell how far back it goes from here. This room was dwarf work, though. And the ceiling wasn't blown up." He gestures at the rubble with his hand. "See how the debris pours in toward the center. It looks like a natural cave-in to me. Rare, but not unheard of after a thousand years, even for dwarf-built structures. If someone did this intentionally, I'd expect a different pattern, with debris cast further about the edges - particularly large chunks of the ceiling - with the earth coming in behind it. Instead, it looks like it all came down together.
"Could be the land shifted above this room. I don't see any sign of water, but that could be long gone by now.
"That big cavern below is a water source, and the dwarves who built this place would have known it was there. Stands to reason there is another way down there, and we may be looking at it. That tunnel with the oil in it is a more direct route, but we dwarves don't always follow the most direct path. We like to follow the earth when we can, taking a natural route as the rock dictates."
He puts his hands on his hips and surveys the rubble again. "Could also dig it out. Might take a while, depending on how far back it goes."
Now
During the time Cadell is gone, Branwen eventually conquers her fear of the Gate enough to make her way to the edge of the overgrown area, playing in the moist dirt on the ground. Given the dampness of the caverns, the upper layer of dirt is wet enough to form a soft mud when handled. When Cadell returns and there is again commotion around the Gate, she retreats toward the room's walls with a handful of mud. When Liadan comes through, she watches with interest but does not approach.
The child occupies herself while the group talks. When Mauve moves to the opening in the hallway, Branwen follows her. The harpy child's dress is muddy, as are her hands. Her face is streak with dirt where she must have wiped it. She holds one grubby hand up to Mauve. Branwen has formed a lump of mud about the width of her palm into a very rudimentary sculpture of a bird. Or is it a squirrel? Or maybe it is meant to be a tree? No...it's definitely supposed to be a bird. You can make out the wings. She offers the gift to Mauve.
As Liadan sings, Branwen turns her head, her attention caught as it always is by music. She doesn't approach the elf, but in only seconds she seems to have picked up the tune and is mimicking the notes only a split second behind Liadan. Now Liadan too feels the soft tug of magic, giving her kind feelings toward the harpy child. She recognizes it for what it is, however, and the magic has no hold over her. Branwen's song is simply too weak to do anything but instill general goodwill towards herself.
30-40 Minutes Prior
Aliron is able to wrestle one of the broken barrels up the hallway to the room adjacent the Gate room. He does so carefully and loses little of the remaining oil, which sloshes around in the bottom of the barrel as he moves it. There is no hope of being stealthy, but there is no reaction from the second debris pile, which appears to have lizards lurking behind it. If they are in fact there, they are just watching.
Ankari leads Darin to the caved-in room. The dwarf looks at the room carefully, as though considering a problem, then says: "If we can get enough oil, and seal up some barrels tight enough to make them explode, we might clear some of this out. I can't tell how far back it goes from here. This room was dwarf work, though. And the ceiling wasn't blown up." He gestures at the rubble with his hand. "See how the debris pours in toward the center. It looks like a natural cave-in to me. Rare, but not unheard of after a thousand years, even for dwarf-built structures. If someone did this intentionally, I'd expect a different pattern, with debris cast further about the edges - particularly large chunks of the ceiling - with the earth coming in behind it. Instead, it looks like it all came down together.
"Could be the land shifted above this room. I don't see any sign of water, but that could be long gone by now.
"That big cavern below is a water source, and the dwarves who built this place would have known it was there. Stands to reason there is another way down there, and we may be looking at it. That tunnel with the oil in it is a more direct route, but we dwarves don't always follow the most direct path. We like to follow the earth when we can, taking a natural route as the rock dictates."
He puts his hands on his hips and surveys the rubble again. "Could also dig it out. Might take a while, depending on how far back it goes."
Now
During the time Cadell is gone, Branwen eventually conquers her fear of the Gate enough to make her way to the edge of the overgrown area, playing in the moist dirt on the ground. Given the dampness of the caverns, the upper layer of dirt is wet enough to form a soft mud when handled. When Cadell returns and there is again commotion around the Gate, she retreats toward the room's walls with a handful of mud. When Liadan comes through, she watches with interest but does not approach.
The child occupies herself while the group talks. When Mauve moves to the opening in the hallway, Branwen follows her. The harpy child's dress is muddy, as are her hands. Her face is streak with dirt where she must have wiped it. She holds one grubby hand up to Mauve. Branwen has formed a lump of mud about the width of her palm into a very rudimentary sculpture of a bird. Or is it a squirrel? Or maybe it is meant to be a tree? No...it's definitely supposed to be a bird. You can make out the wings. She offers the gift to Mauve.
As Liadan sings, Branwen turns her head, her attention caught as it always is by music. She doesn't approach the elf, but in only seconds she seems to have picked up the tune and is mimicking the notes only a split second behind Liadan. Now Liadan too feels the soft tug of magic, giving her kind feelings toward the harpy child. She recognizes it for what it is, however, and the magic has no hold over her. Branwen's song is simply too weak to do anything but instill general goodwill towards herself.