Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Ready…"

Nissa flashes an image of a small island.

"And just so you're all as ready as I am, I know of an island across the water. Nissa saw it, and through her memory, I've seen it. It may not be of immediate concern, but if Nissa could see the island, anyone watching from the island could have seen the fire. I'm not trying to worry anyone—and I sure as hell don't want to tweak our plan anymore!—but you all have the right to know everything Nissa showed me."

 

[SeverinR]

"We need to attack now, before they can muster." I say still ready to fire.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I nod in agreement with Aliron. "Let's finish this and get out."

 

[Steerpike]

The party moves toward the end of the hallway, the air stifling in its warmth even though the fire has died down. The debris pile smolder and still burn in places, and pools of oil along the cracks in the stone are still aflame, but overall it is safe for the party to move forward.

Ahead of the party, the cavern opens up, the thin stone walkway disappearing across the water toward an island that is more like a crag of stone with a vague structure atop it. The burnt corpses of lizards lay on the ground in front of you.

Before reaching the end of the corridor, Mauve pulls the darkness stone from her pocket. The area immediately goes pitch black, allowing the party to proceed only by feel, with Mauve moving forward along the left-hand wall, feeling for the edge so she can judge her throw of the stone. Matthew, Darin, and Cadell move into positions, having to judge where they stand by feeling for the wall and each other. Baldhart lingers just behind the shield wall, ready to attack. The archers and spell-casters remind yet further behind.

Light returns like a signal as Mauve heaves the stone. The darkness travels with the rock, presumably enveloping the lizards to the left, though you never see them through the moving wall of dark. You do hear scrambling and hisses of fear as the darkness descends.

The lizards on the right, four of them with longbows, are perched among the rocks near the shore, two of them at ground level, two perhaps three feet above, having found purchase on raised portions of stone. Their arrows are ready and they release as soon as the party breaks around the corner, one at each of the members of the shield wall, with the fourth aiming from its perch at the large form of the barbarian woman closing in with the shields.

((Thus, the targets are in this order: Cadell, Darin, Matthew, Baldhart)):

Whether due to skill, sheer luck, or the divine providence of some lizardy god, three of the four arrows strike home.

The first arrow whistles past Cadell, bouncing off the hard surface of the rocky floor and careening into the magic darkness beyond. The second arrow flies in just above Darin's shield, catching him in the left shoulder. The third arrow hits just below the coverage of Matthew's shield, striking him in the thigh with a wet think. The final arrow threads the gap between two members of the shield wall and clips Baldhart across the torso.

((Damage in next post, since I can't post more pics here))

 

[Steerpike]

((That's 6 points to Darin, 5 to Matthew, and 6 to Baldhart)).

With arrows fired, the lizards hold their ground in fact of the oncoming shield wall, reaching desperately for additional arrows positioned at their feet and hoping to manage another shot before the party engages. Alas, they won't be fast enough.

A mere instant after the lizard arrows are loosed, Aliron looses a shot of his own, targeting one of the higher-up lizards. The arrow catches the hapless creature squares in the chest and sends it tumbling backward into the water.

((If you guys want to react before the map is up, you can. Or you can wait until I complete it this evening. Consider the lizards on the left in darkness. There are three lizards in front of the shield wall, which is advancing. Baldhart is right behind the shields. Aliron and Ankari are just behind her. Mauve is at the mouth of the tunnel and Keitsumah has just reached her side. Liadan is a couple of steps behind Keitsumah, with Branwen clutching at her once the arrows fly)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The shield wall is up, but the lizards' aim is true, and—dammit!—that arrow went in deep. These guys aren't scared. They're pissed.

So am I.

I roar past the shield wall and charge at one of the ground-level lizards!

With a mighty swing, I destroy one lizard and bash him into the one beside him!

((Charge, damage, STR check))

 

[Nihal]

"Ouch." I raise my eyebrows seeing the rain of arrows, glad I'm not part of the first wave.

Time to spread some hatred and perhaps some fear, a hidden talent revealed by my latest fights. I grin, reach for the luminous rocks and throw them, chanting in a high voice—almost shouting—a fake enchantment that sounds too much like the sound blast spell.

Are they going to recognize it?

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

As the lizards attack, I am the only one left uninjured at the front of the line. Aliron's arrow finds one of the lizards perched above; I yell in rage and launch an attack on the other, leaving those on ground level to be dealt with by Baldhart.

((+2 for level, -1 for a stiff left hand/gauntlet grip; no attribute or prime bonus. Not bothering to roll damage.))

Damn! I miss my strike, and keep my shield high to block the inevitable retaliation.

Líadan

I look on in horror as three of the lizards' first four arrows strike their targets. Only Cadell is spared. Aliron and Baldhart succeed in harming three of the beasts, but Cadell's attempt fails. That stiff gauntlet on his wrist must be impeding his attack. I take up my bow and nock an arrow, aiming for the lizard Cadell's attack missed. If Oercus is willing, I may be able to kill it before it attacks my beloved again.

Oercus, lord of leaf and tree, guide my shaft to honor thee.

((I think I got the bonuses wrong, so that's actually a 16. The second +2 (for the special bow) applies to my damage roll, like so...))

((NB: Thanks to Sidekick for reminding me about the +1 to-hit bonuses for both my elves. ^^; Cadell's attack is actually an 11, and Liadan's is a 17.))

 

[SeverinR]

I ready my next arrow, watching for movement from the darkness, if none the arrow will go for a high archer if I have a clear shot, no clear shot I will wait for the lizards of the dark side to act...this round.

The Unseen Servant
Aliron normal to hit day arrow [1d20+5] = 8+5 = 13 (+2 if night time)
The Unseen Servant
Output: arrow damage [1d8] = 6

If no target this round, I will evaluate the situation for next round, back accessability versus waiting for the dark side lizards to attack.

I kneel behind the shield and shout evilly:

"We're going to kill you! We're going to gut you! We're promised to feed you to the harpy's!"
(If they shoot at my voice from the dark, they should hit the shield.)

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Assuming three dead, and the one remaining got clobbered by Baldy's victim, here's the last bit of Baldy's turn—just observation and words.))

I remain in a low stance—and listen to the sound of another arrow hitting its mark—one of ours! I'm pretty sure my attack mangled my opponent pretty badly. Hopefully, his buddy will be busy prying the dead body off of himself—too busy to attack me.

I glare at him. [Intimidate] Cadell and I are more than enough to finish the east.

"Watch the west!" I call to the others.

 

[Steerpike]

((Here's a map. Updated text shortly))

 

[Steerpike]

As the battle is joined, everything happens at once. Baldhart pushes past the shield wall, bringing her sword in a wide arc toward one of the ground-level lizards. The hapless creature raises its bow in a desperate attempt to block the attack, but Baldhart's sword cleaves the bow then cuts into the lizard, driving through its torso and nearly cutting the creature in half in a spray of blood and gore. It's torso hangs together only by a strip of scaly skin as Baldhart muscles the corpse onto the lizard standing to the left of her victim. The lizard lets out a reptilian shriek and falls onto its backside, its own bow clattering to the round as it reaches up to catch the corpse of the dead lizard as it falls. The creature twists frantically on the ground, drenched in the blood of its comrade as it tries to scramble out from underneath the body.


Darin is there an instant behind Baldhart, a cry on his lips, the strange dwarven tongue echoing off the cavern walls. He brings his hammer down violently:


Darin Attack [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16


Darin Damage [1d8+2] = 5+2 = 7


The lizard on the ground has only an instant to register the attack before its head caves in under the force of Darin's blow.


One of the perched lizards lies dead from Aliron's shot, and Aliron looses another arrow at the second lizard who stands on higher ground, nocking another arrow to its bow. Aliron's shot catches it in the side, spinning the creature around. For a moment, it looks like the lizard will fall, but with a hiss of pain the thing rights itself and draws back on its bow string.


Liadan pushes forward, trying to find a spot that will give her good aim at the lizard. Branwen grasps at her leg, following Liadan and stopping just behind her - between Liadan and Mauve - eyes wide. Liadan looses her arrow only a moment before the lizard fires. Her arrow catches the creature full in the chest, and as it totters backward off its perch the lizard fires its arrow harmlessly toward the ceiling above. When its body hits the ground it does not move.


Seconds, only, and the four lizards to the right of the corridor are down.


To the left, hissing and the scratching of claws on stone can be heard, though whatever is taking place among the lizards is hidden from sight by the darkness. A loud splash is heard over the sounds of hissing and movement, then a series of shorter, more rapid splashes - the sound of swimming. Still, no lizard is yet in view.


Matthew waits behind his shield, casting his gaze over the area, searching for visible enemies.


Keitsumah waits in the corridor, Batos obediently at her side, the wolf growling low in its chest.


Mauve chants and throws luminous rocks into the area around the fight. The last lizard goes down just as the rocks hit the ground, their pale light casting thin shadows off of the party members.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Guess we head north," I say. "Keit, I have 13 berries if you want to turn any. Since you can cast that new healing spell, it's your call how you handle healing.

"Since it's not easy to eat during battle, shall Darin, Matthew and I have some berries now?"

If Keit gives me the good berries, I'll see to Darin and Matthew first. But berries or no berries, I'm ready for the final battle!

"Oh… and this time, let's get Branwen to sing her favorite song when we're around arrow range. That might slow any lizard archers so we don't get shot so easily." I gesture to the splashing sounds. "The weak ones scare easily! And that pebble should be good for another fight if we don't dilly dally!"

 

[Nihal]

"I believe our fellow western lizards went for a swim," I inform them, for they could have missed the noise. "But you can never be sure."

I go to Líadan and Branwen—seriously, this is the idea this elf has of "protecting a child"?!—and put myself between the little harpy and the darkness. "Do you mind making sure they're all gone? I'll end the darkness when you're ready."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I position myself by the darkness. "I'm pretty sure they've given up, but yes, better to be completely sure." I assume others must move with me before Mauve pockets her rock.



While I wait, I scratch an eighteenth hatch mark on the right of my skull helm. I mark three on the left.

What are those?

Your kills.

Didn't I get four?

I don't know if the swimmer made it or not. If we see a floater, it's yours.


((If anything jumps out of the dark, Baldy will let her skull helm clatter to the ground.))

 

[Steerpike]

The narrow stone pathway winds to the craggy island, which appears as a dim silhouette against the ghostly lighting provided by the illuminating stones scattered along the cavern walls. There appears to be some sort of structure atop the island, though you can't make out any details. The narrow stone path across the water winds up the rocky side of the island like a corkscrew.

Much of the splashing moves away from the party, though one set of splashing draws quickly near. A few seconds later, a swimming lizard comes into view, arms churning frantically and face down in the water as it swims. The creature bumps the rocky shore, grabs on for a moment as though clinging for its life, when hauls itself onto the rock. It lifts its head to expose a dagger held between its teeth, the weapon clattering to the ground as the lizard's mouth drops open at the sight of the party. It rises into a crouch, head moving frantically left and right, and even casting a fearful glance back over its shoulder toward the darkness.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I grab the lizard by the throat, wrench my arm around and hold him close so he faces the other way.

I club him with the butt of my weapon…

((I types "punch" but meant "punch damage." Baldy doesn't have a free hand.))

…then hold the sword to his throat to make him reconsider any thoughts of retaliation.

"I don't care if this thing lives or dies, but I want the real enemy. Listen, lizard! You can get out of our way or die like the others!" I turn so he faces his dead friends, then turn the other way to point out the swimmers. "Which is it?"

 

[Nihal]

I pull the string, being momentarily engulfed by the darkness, until my fingertips touch the pebble and I pocket it. Surveying the destruction, I almost feel sorry for these lizards. They're nothing more than peons of Aslaug and her band. I chase a thought away, focusing on the water, noticing the fearful lizard.

Smiling, I walk some steps towards him, talking cheerfully, "Hey, little lizard, did a caster or a terrible monster over there scare you? Can you understand me?"

((Ninja'd!))

Baldhart is faster, moving up all the way to the lizard and grabbing him. "Dammit, Baldhart."

 

[Steerpike]

The lizard struggles and hisses in Baldhart's grasp, then goes dead quiet when the darkness passes over them. It doesn't move again until Mauve has set the stone back in her pocket, then the poor creature eyes the water longingly, thrashing in Baldhart's grasp in an attempt to follow its comrades into the drink.

As Baldhart grasps the lizard and the rest of the party keeps a wary eye on the surroundings, a pinpoint of light rises swiftly from the island and streaks toward the party. As it nears, a faint whistling is audible, growing louder as the light moves closer, though never loud enough to be painful.

The small point of light quickly becomes a shaft, streaking toward the party, and as it closes you can see that it is an arrow, lit at the front and trailing a diffuse stream of light. It seems a ridiculous range to waste an arrow shot, but you all notice with mounting dread that rather than following the straight path of a natural arrow, the fearsome missile moves from side to side as it travels, adjusting its path toward its target.

Only seconds pass between the first sighting of the arrow and its inexorable closing with its target, which judging by the flight of the arrow can only be Baldhart or the lizard she is holding.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I see the gaze of my allies. I turn. Ha! This lizard will shield me from—gaah!

Did that thing go around and hit me in the back?

"Dammit! You little—"

I shove the lizard and swing at him—

—but the damned creature tumbles into the drink before my sword can finish him.

I shout a curse word as the pain kicks in.

((11 damage, Baldy's down to 8HP))


I tell the others, "If we stand here we die! Heal me or don't, but let's move!"