Dragon's Egg - Act II

[SeverinR]

Her hand slides to her side, searching for the sword Matthew gave her. "Where are Ankari and Matthew?" she yells, trying to retain focus in her eyes. "Where's Baldhart? If you lay a finger on me she'll snap you into little tiny pieces!"

[If I can hear her yell, I will yell to her]

"Burnbright. There is a battle going on, come up and see. Bring your crossbow, just in case. Help her find her weapons."
I think she heard me talk enough to know my voice.

I will continue to tell them below what I see, and watch for the chance to use an arrow.

 

[Sparkie]

Understand this first: Combat itself is chaos. True Soldiers bring order to the chaos by resolving the issue, by force if neccesary. This is why we are blessed by our Battle-Father. Betula allows us to enter the chaos, but He expects us to lord over it with law.

Soldiery - Codex 3:4

*****​

The dwarf shouts, and I do not question. A show of good faith may aid future relations with him and his fellows, if they survive. I run just ahead of him toward the fallen dwarf, hoping to engage the riderless wolf.

Baldhart heads toward Cadell. I get a glimpse of him fighting, and I wonder why he looks so awkward...

((Not sure if Rydh can attack this round. If not, these rolls will be for his next attack.))

A hit, I think.

And decent damage too.

 

[Nihal]

Aliron's voice comes from somewhere on the second floor, reminding me of his presence.

"Tell us about the battle!" I shout to him, hoping he doesn't ignore me.

Regardless of his answer - or lack of it -, I've already made my decision, drawing a symbol in the air. If I just stand and watch everything I've done so far will be for nothing.

I can feel the determination, the anger growing inside me while the words of power leave my lips, loud and clear. I won't mess this one!

I could never have been so wrong.



The spell escapes my grasp quicker than my tired mind and body are able to react.





((F- yeah, my first corruption point. It was another shield spell.))

 

[Sparkie]

((At this point Mauve has to be unconscious, right?))

 

[Nihal]

((It depends upon the damage I'm going to take. If I took 1 point of damage (as usual) from the last light spell I still had 2HP left before this fail, thanks to Hiljikki's berry. If I still take 1 point of damage now as a farewell to my corruption-free status I'm going to be at 1HP/1Mana.

Can you heal Mauve's ego too? Or my luck, that would be welcome. *poker face*))

 

[Ravana]

((Dang, but we need to break out a new set of dice.…))

As Mauve and Hiljikki wait in the statue room, the creaking of a door catches their attention. They turn to see Burnbright standing in the doorway to the basement, looking unsteady on her feet. She starts to mutter "what happened..." when her eyes dart around the room and she seems to realize there are only two relative strangers in the room with her.

Her hand slides to her side, searching for the sword Matthew gave her. "Where are Ankari and Matthew?" she yells, trying to retain focus in her eyes. "Where's Baldhart? If you lay a finger on me she'll snap you into little tiny pieces!"

"Calm down girl, they're outside, fighting. Do not go after them!" I stop for a second, thinking. "If they breach into the courtyard you would be helpful on the second floor, using your crossbow."

"Burnbright. There is a battle going on, come up and see. Bring your crossbow, just in case. Help her find her weapons."

Without turning from the doorway—or interrupting her slow, fluid gestures—Hiljikki breaks her chant long enough to shout to Burnbright: "Are you injured, child? If not, take yourself upstairs and be ready to shoot, as they suggested. It will be the best you can do for the others."

Täplä breaks off his attention on the courtyard long enough to give Burnbright a quick look-over. Satisfied that she isn't a threat or a vihmakissa treat, he returns to doing whatever it is he seems to think will benefit his mistress.

Burnbright still can't figure out what the blazes it is… but it's cuuute. She especially loves the way it sits upright on Hiljikki's shoulders and waves its paws as if it's getting ready to cast a spell of its own.

Given what she knows about magic, it might be.

Given what she knows about magic, it probably strikes her as a good idea to be nowhere nearby, just in case that is what it's doing.

((And given the rolls thus far, he might be the best spellcaster amongst us.…))

Behind Burnbright, a raven perched on the now-upright statue of the goddess ((she missed its righting, I believe)) coughs what sounds suspiciously like a laugh. At what or whom is anybody's guess.

•

((Can you heal Mauve's ego too?))

((Actually, I was kinda hoping my CHA would instill some confidence in ya. Well, maybe it did. Misplaced… but confidence.))

((Or my luck, that would be welcome.))

((Not nearly high enough level to handle that. ))

 

[Steerpike]

The Temple

Burnbright moves her hand away from the sword, eyeing Täplä curiously as her mind wanders into imaginings of what the creature might be. Then she remembers herself and says "Fighting?"

She rushes up the stairs to find Aliron at the temple window. Burnbright gasps as she follows Aliron's gaze out onto the battlefield, taking in the wolves and goblins, Cadell off his horse, Baldhart running toward more danger, the others spread across the battlefield.

Her hand goes nervously to her sword again. "Aliron...you're a good shot. I can see why you're up here, waiting to pick those things off. I can't even hit anything with a crossbow. I can't just sit up here while they're out there fighting, can I? That's not what Veborg would do. She'd run out to help no matter how many monsters there were. All that would matter to her is that her friends were fighting. I should help them. You...you don't think Baldhart would be mad, do you?"

Mauve's spell starts going wrong early. She can feel it shortly into the casting, and tries desperately to get control of the magic. It is no use, and now the familiar electric surge of runaway energy courses along her body.

((Mauve takes 1 hp damage; no one else is close enough to be hurt)).

This time, there is something different. When the runaway magic courses through her, Mauve senses something in her mind opening to glimpse the source of the arcane power. Her vision is filled, briefly, with flashes of light and shadow, and she has some deep, innate sense of a malevolence just beyond the boundaries of her perception, as though through casting she has inadvertently opened a path to places mortals were never meant to know, and things they were never meant to perceive.

((Mauve gains 1 Corruption point. Events on battlefield coming as soon as the new map is done))

 

[Steerpike]

((New map. Large version here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2578171/snowfield4.jpg ))

 

[Steerpike]

The Battlefield

Baldhart and Rydh rush toward the fray. It takes all of their swiftness to reach the enemy, and neither is able to strike at an enemy when they arrive. The wolf Rydh approaches is gnawing on the fallen dwarf, who is no longer moving. The wolf's rider leans out and thrusts its spear at Rydh, an angry grimace on its face:

Goblin Attack [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14

Rydh is just able to pull his shield up in time to deflect the spear with his shield.

The wolf that took Cadell's arm surges ahead, bloody maw snapping as it hungrily seeks more blood:

Wolf Attack [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10

Cadell is too wounded, too weak to attempt to dodge the attack, but luckily the wolf's teeth close on his armor instead of finding flesh, and no damage is done.

Baldhart races toward Cadell's side. One of Ankari's now-familiar arrows streaks past her as she runs, catching the wolf along its flank. The creature gives no reaction, other than a low growl, it's blazing eyes still fixed on Cadell. The wolf's rider has regained its feet, however, and it rushes next to its mount, putting all of its meager weight behind its spear as it lunges at Baldhart:

Goblin Attack [1d20+1] = 11+1 = 12

The attack is a glancing one, bouncing harmlessly off of Baldhart's armor. The goblin gulps and raises its spear again.

Matthew quickly bandages his wounded mount. On closer examination, he confirms that the wolf's bite did not strike any major arteries. Though the horse is bleeding and its flesh is torn, it is in no immediate danger of dying. The wolf in the snow tries to struggle to its feet, wobbles, then falls back onto its side with a piteous whine.

The dwarf nearest Cadell swings at the wolf in front of him, but the creature is too swift and the dwarf misses. The wolf-rider jabs in quick with its spear and scores a strike along the dwarf's arm, which the dwarf bears silently even as blood springs from the wound.

The dwarf who has just arrived on the scene strikes at the riderless wolf savaging the downed dwarf, catching it along the spine with his heavy hammer. This gets the wolf's attention and the creature lifts its bloody muzzle and faces the dwarf.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

A swing and a miss…

…but if my attack keeps the goblin focused on me, Cadell remains in the fight that much longer!


((Did my INTIMIDATE from my last turn work on the goblin? I love screwing up enemy rolls!))

 

[Steerpike]

((Yes, it worked. He looks rather scared))

 

[Ireth]

Seeing Baldhart at my side adds a measure of courage and hope to the rage and hatred that burn through me. If I am to die, I at least will not die alone. Nor will I go down without a fight. I raise my sword again and strike at the wolf who took my hand.

ATTACK:

((Baldhart, I blame you for this awesomeness. Just sayin'. XD))

DAMAGE:

((Holy shit. Baldhart. Wow.))

CON check:

((Well, that was nothing unexpected.))

I may not be as dexterous with my right hand as my left, but my renewed courage seems to aid my luck -- at least in part. I wound the wolf, but feel my own energy flagging.

 

[Steerpike]

((Oh, as per the PM Cadell loses 1 hp this round. Forgot to mention that above)).

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Rydh!" I say as my sword uselessly bypasses the goblin that's yellowing the snow beneath its left pant leg, "Cadell's hand—bleeding! Can you—?"

Of course he can, Baldy! Shut up and focus on the enemy!

Sorry, Nissa. Cadell is so brave, I just—when I saw him pulled from his horse, I had no idea his hand was…

This is the cost of living by the sword. Cadell knows this. He faces his fate without fear. Don't fear for him. Caring too much can only cost both of your lives.

Isn't that why you're here? If I die, I…

Don't think about that! Not today!

Nissa?

I'm immortal. I can care as much as I want.

 

[Phietadix]

As my horse is no longer in danger my attention is turned to the wolf. Should I leave it, kill it, help it? My code prevents me from killing it. I feel it may prevent me from leaving it as well. I decide the best course of action would be to heal it and try to gain its trust. The wolf could be useful to bring along. I begin to tend to its wounds. I try my best to gain its trust.

But I'm not sure if I succeeded

 

[Sparkie]

As soon as I near the dwarves the goblinoid attempts to stab me through. I deflect the blow, muttering under my breath. This creature will rue the day he set upon a servant of Betula.

I hear Baldhart call my name, but I cannot make out what she says afterward due to the sounds of battle in the snow. Regardless, I must aid the dwarves. As the rider recovers from his ill-advised thrust, I make a thrust of my own toward the wolf's ribs.

((These were the rolls I used previously in my last post.))

A hit, I think.

Whaddya know? Not bad damage!

 

[Nihal]

My eyes are dry, wide open, but they weren't seeing this world. The temple comes slowly into focus, here is the mysterious young woman, still chanting at the door, the courtyard and the fading sky beyond the broken walls. Everything seems so normal.

Impossible.

I can feel the stone floor under me, not sure of how I ended onto my knees.

It can't be...

I slouch my shoulders when the realization of what just happened hits me.

No way!

His face haunts me, as I knew it would. Is he lost there? Is this... the terrible force that destroyed them? Somewhere in my mind I'm aware of my nails digging into my hands, that I'm shivering. I always thought my resolve would weaken the first time I experienced the corruption. I don't know if it's despair, hope or sorrow what is driving me now. I can see his expression, how he would disapprove of what I'm going to do.

Clutching to the base of the statue, I pull myself to my feet, a tear burning my cold cheek. I'm sorry. I brush away any remaining tears, pull the spear free from my backpack and assume a fighting stance.

 

[Ireth]

My successful strike against the wolf bolsters my courage. I tuck my bleeding arm close against my chest and try to catch Baldhart's eye. She gave me courage; perhaps I can return the favor with some inspiration of my own.

"We can finish them," I say through gritted teeth, attempting to grin rather than snarl. "Together."

 

[SeverinR]

"There is no honor in charging into a fight unarmed, even with a good blade in your hand, you are still unarmed until you have trained with that sword. Your day will come, but that day is not this. Have your crossbow ready. They do not need to have to their attention divided trying to protect you and fight the enemy. True wisdom is knowing when you are a benefit and when you are a liability, maximizing the former, minimizing the latter."

"I do not believe they will be able to bring the battle back to us as I had hoped." I announce to those below.

 

[Ankari]

The first arrow only glanced the frothing wolf. I knock another arrow and release.

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9348]Longbow Attack: [1d20+3] = 6+3 = 9 (I hate both sites now.)[/URL]

((Just in case))

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9349]Arrow Damage: [1d8+2] = 8+2 = 10 (can you believe this BS?)[/URL]