Dragon's Egg - Act II

[SeverinR]

I move up to where Baldhart and Mauve are(Or to the edge of darkness if the stone is out.) I have the rag wrapped arrow ready, a flaming lizard on a stick might be a nice snack for Branwen.

"You know darkness makes one scared, but when the darkness fades and a water monster emerges from the water, the lizards might just panic and charge into our warriors, paniced they might be easy pickings." I say to the pair(or where I think they are if darkness)

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

As we move forward, I keep to the rear of the group with Branwen beside me, furthest from the flames. I continue to hum to her, and stroke her hair every so often if she will let me. Her little fingernails hurt, but I tell myself that it could be far worse. Just look at her taloned toes!

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I nod to Alin. I like his idea, but I better let Mauve speak for herself when it comes to her magic. Instead I tell him, "Thanks for playing along when Nissa went down the long hall. Ha! I can't believe they fell for it."

((They almost didn't! The charisma checks done via PM were close!))

I see Liadan with Branwen. I stroke Branwen's hair, but it's Liadan I want to talk to.

"Liadan, Nissa apologizes for her lack of introduction and clothing." That's not what I—! "Oh… my mistake. She just apologizes for not introducing herself to you. There was no time, and…" I look to the dying flames which conceal at least three dead bodies. "…y'know, I've never seen that side of her before! Well, she does serve my Goddess of Battle… but she's normally very kind and gentle."

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I look up as Baldhart speaks, and twitch my scarf slightly aside for a clearer reply. I quickly come to regret it -- I can taste the smoke on the air, and the stink of burning lizards.

"Well, I cannot blame her for being rushed -- it certainly helped us, after all! But I haven't been formally introduced to others of this company, either. Cadell told me your names and looks, but it is nice to hear them from the people themselves."

 

[Nihal]

((I imagine the darkness would be well hidden by now inside 1872 bags, backpack and such things if necessary.))

I raise my eyebrows at Baldhart's last whisper. "Hey, I never give up." Moving back to the corner, I peek into the hallway once more before talking to the others.

"I've got some darkness inside my pocket," I say with a half smile, as if it was a private joke I knew well and they didn't, and go on, answering Baldhart, "I am open to suggestions on how use it. It is cast upon an object, so, anyone can take it. Twenty feet in all the directions around it will be covered in a darkness few can see through; I believe these lizards can not, otherwise we would not have a ranger anymore, hm?

"It is attached to a 50ft string. A little shorter, actually. In theory I can throw it anywhere and pull later." I grin. "Aliron's suggestion does not sound so bad, but it has some downsides, the usual ones. We will be forced to wait ten minutes and I will be incapacitated for some time after the spell is over; I will be naked—but hopefully not unconscious as I said—" I glance at Baldhart still smiling, "It depends on you, guys. You are the ones who will possibly carry me later and everything. Oh, and I will not have pockets after transforming, someone else would have to reveal and end the darkness."

I raise my eyebrows slightly, studying them. The better candidates are the ones who wouldn't fight immediately... I give a snort of contempt at the thought of having the druid messing with my things again.

"Well. The other option is to blind one of their groups with the darkness and let me try the noisy enchantment again. In any case I will need some space, unless you do not mind some pain."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I consider Mauve's words.

"Well… I'm used to Nissa flying naked, so, I won't make a big deal out of it if… if you… you know… are like that. Again. Oh, and the ring! You won't be cold this time and I won't have to do anything weird to keep you warm, but I'll keep the ring on until you need it. I'd hate to think of what would happen if you transformed while wearing it. Would you break the ring or sever a finger?

"In any case, I think the sound blast is more helpful. You can drop the stone ten feet from the entryway. The dotted line here…" I start drawing with my pink chalk.

"So darkness is maybe… twenty feet?" I draw a circle. "Sound blast, maybe twenty-five?" I draw an arrow from where Mauve should fire and a bigger circle. "That's cutting it a bit close," I admit. "Well, I drew it, so now I better explain it…

"Give a moment for lizards to fire arrows into the center, thinking one of us is carrying the source of the darkness. Step into the darkness and fire to one side. Let's say the west—or left—like how I drew the fifteen-foot blast before. But don't aim at the ground. Let the spell hit the west wall. It should reach the enemy without blasting you, if I'm right about where you fired the last one."

I lean in close. "Are you up for wearing a rope around your waist? I'm worried about you… I want to pull you out of there as soon as you fire off the spell in case you can't walk out on your own for any reason. Eight guys with bows, Mauve! The sound blast is your most damaging attack I know of, but if you think it's too risky, the darkness gives us lots of advantages we can work with."

 

[Nihal]

I look at the corridor again and keep quiet for a while.

That's a good way of testing the reach. It could hit me, too. The idea doesn't bother me as it should. Somewhere along the way I lost the fear and became careless, but, hey, it works wonders doesn't it? I glance at Baldhart. Better not mention that.

Nodding, I say, "The rope is a good idea. If I succeed at the spell and the darkness does not end, pull me. Oh, but be careful, there was a pile of... stuff... in the end, right? Do not pull me to the fire." I look at them. "Stay inside the corridor when the darkness falls, I do not want anyone getting hurt by accident. If something happens, the string will be tied to my right wrist—" I tie it, showing them "—pull it to find the rock."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Oh, you like that? I have another one, so don't knock yourself out. I was wondering—and you can test this before the fire burns out…

"Could you put the rock in the pouch and, uh, how do I explain this…? Leave it in the pouch, right?—and hold the pouch open so it emits a beam of darkness? You could aim it at the enemies faces—upper bodies, too, just to be sure—so they think they're enveloped in darkness, but what they don't know is we can see their feet!"

A giddy sound escapes me.

"Can you imagine? Some of us taking down stunned deaf guys, the rest taking on blind guys that we can see? I don't have to draw a picture!

"But, since my chalk's out and the fire's still in our way…"

I erase the soundblast sketch and hum while I draw, peeking up every so often to see if the fire's low, then relaxing with my chalk…

A perfect plan!

Only if the enemy cooperates.

 

[Nihal]

I tilt my head to the side, trying to make sense of her now full-of-smudges sketch. "You are counting on my spell working. One can never know when her luck will turn against her." I keep smiling.

The feeling that my spells functioning well would still attract some hate creeps along my spine, making my shoulders feel stiff and heavy. The harpy's last look is still too fresh in my mind.

I shrug and do as Baldhart suggested, opening the pouch a little and seeing if the darkness behaves as well as we hope.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Then we make our own luck.

"Cadell, Liadan, Alin and I head west. Keit, Batos, Darin and Ankari head east. Both sides enter shield guy first, healing lady last. Mauve, you simply toss the pebble into the room and we rush them. It's one-on-one and we can win a straight fight!"

Mauve doesn't give up. I won't give up for her, nor on her.

"Now, whether or not Mauve does the sound blast first…" I turn to Mauve. "…your call." To the party, I go on, "In that case, those going west with me, after you hear the boom, rush in and finish what she started. I'll reel Mauve in and go east instead of west if her spell succeeds, since west will be easy. Those going east, move through the darkness before Mauve casts. We need the east side lizards to not put arrows into Mauve's back.

"Bear in mind, I only suggest this plan if the lizards stay put. But I doubt they'll rush us after seeing Nissa's work. Are we in agreement? And, Mauve, do you wish to cast your sound blast or not?"

…

After she answers, I add, "Oh! Also… when we head down the hall, I'm thinking shield wall first, and Mauve, if you're twenty feet behind Cadell, he can stick his head out of the sphere of darkness. Cadell, do you think you can communicate to us so we don't stumble into each other. I know when the shaman approached us under the darkness, that was enough to prevent us from acting quickly. If the enemy archers plan on shooting down the corridor, they may reconsider if they see a growing darkness consuming the hall!"

 

[Nihal]

I cross my arms, feeling my face getting serious. "One thing is risking my neck when I do not know how far the spell will hit, another is risking everyone's neck. If everyone get hit I do not think Líadan and Branwen are going to be enough to save us. No."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"So… no sound blast, then? We just rush them?"

Fire's dying. I don't want to go in with a misunderstanding.

"Or do you mean we all hang back behind the debris pile until you cast?"

 

[Nihal]

She seems anxious and I feel the pressure from the time, too. "Look," I start, then stopping and closing my eyes, massaging my temples. Something, a little voice, tells me it's not time to waste all my energies.

"Okay. No sound blast. We advance, I toss the darkness into one direction and can even feign a spellcasting. Best scenario: They panic and become free targets scrambling out of the darkness, near the water I bet. Worst scenario: They remain in the dark, blinded and unable to aim properly to attack. We wait two seconds in the hallway while they shoot—or run in our front and get shot down—and you enter with your shields to deal with one side.

"I'll keep an eye on the ones inside the darkness if they don't flee immediately. It will get you away from the danger zone and free me to try the blast if it seems necessary. I'll take the west."

I look at each one of them. "Okay?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Okay."

I give Mauve the necklace.

"I wish this would protect you from arrows," I sigh.

I say to the party, "I'm with Mauve. If enemies panic from the darkness, leave the shield wall in place and archers shoot from the hall.

"If the lizards remain perched:

"Darkness west, heavy hitters go east. Darin and Cadell first. Move together, keeping the wall in case those bows are poised to attack on sight, once arrows hit your shields, attack. Alin and Ankari, go next—past the wall, shoot two."

I turn to Mauve,

"In this scenario, I'll come in fifth. Mauve, if I move west—which I will if east is looking good—pocket the light so I don't charge blindly. Make it dark again as soon as you see my sword swing. Don't worry if I get shot—the price of rushing archers—I'll live. Batos is my back up, since his sense of smell will guide him in darkness."

Nothing left to say, but for some reason I add, "From there, we improvise."

And I wait for the fire to get out of our way…

 

[SeverinR]

"We could shoot arrows into the darkness for a round or two, while the heavy hitters get their targets attention, then I could come in unnoticed and poke holes in the backsides. I would also bet when the darkness falls, the lizards will use their scent, if they haven't already done so with the fire attack, so be ready for that nasty little reward."

"Speaking of lizard scent, Batos might not be able to smell lizards as well in the dark with them using the scent, but the stronger the scent the closer a lizard is, I think it will still be a positive."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Arrows in the darkness? That's fine…

"In that case, if west is dark, I'll follow the shields east then charge past them. Three bows can fire into the dark. If that darkness beam thing works, you can figure out where to shoot."

 

[Nihal]

"What? Take the sure targets first, the ones you can see. If you try to take the ones in the dark all the advantage we have will be for lost! Waste of time and arrows. Take them if they step outside. And if you decide to charge in the dark I'll pocket the darkness and keep it. I bet those lizards have a better sense of smell or hearing than us."

I put the necklace and glance again at the corridor.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Okay… as long as we all go in with the same attack plan, it's fine. Here's a more sensible version that combines Mauve's and Alin's suggestions. I follow shields and hit what I can see. Archers watch the darkness ready to fire arrows as soon as a lizard steps out."


((How to do this in C&C combat: Readied Action. You roll the attack as a "readied action," but the attack only happens if a condition is met. In this case, the enemy moves from the darkness on the GM's turn.))

 

[Nihal]

I nod and talk without breathing, "Recapitulating: Up to the corridor keeping a shield wall. I pull the rock—the darkness will engulf us momentarily—crouch at the corner and throw it west, archers be ready to shoot, I feign a spell, if nothing happens, shields advance with melee people and take east. I follow behind with archers, we stop behind the shields, in the middle, watch the darkness and cover their backs.

"At any sign of attack from within the darkness I will use my blast, so, archers, stay behind me if possible. Líadan stay in the corridor, so does the druid. Ready?"

 

[SeverinR]

Will post action as if we moved up and stone thrown, feel free to post anything needed prior:

**Readied action: Arrow noched ready to shoot any person charging from the darkness, or if one lizard gets passed melee group I will shoot.
(using unseen servant)
Arrow shot (if night out would be +2 more)
"Output: normal to hit day arrow [1d20+5] = 16+5 = 21"
(bonus=+3dex+1 lg bow+1 lvl)

damage: Output: arrow damage [1d8] = 8
YATZEE!