Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Ankari]

((I guess I was wrong.))

Panic. It seizes my heart, squeezing all hope. Horrific images of possible fates roll through my mind like the stampede of an army through a destroyed city.

"Baldhart! Aliron! Outside with me! Burnbright is missing. Rydh. Matthew. Go upstairs and look. Cadell and Gnat! Downstairs."

I rush outside to the field where the wargs were slain. looking for her tracks.

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9626]Track: [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13 (Where's Burnbright)[/URL]

 

[Steerpike]

((Ankari - yeah my notes had her in the basement, and looking back over the thread that looks right to me, unless I missed something I posted previously)).

Ankari is able to find evidence of Burnbright out in the field, but those tracks eventually turn back to the temple. There's no sign of her out there now.

 

[Ireth]

((As far as I know, Baldhart and Cadell are still outside.))

 

[Nihal]

If there is enough space, I sit by her side, looking at the necklace.

"Uhm..." I think for a while. "Tricky question. There are things about you I don't know, but I am sure your friends know. I also know little about gods."

I don't think you want to hear that they're heartless bastards.

I put my hand over her head, messing her hair. "Do not over-think it, girl. My advice is to not put it on until you discover the whole truth. Tell me, why are you being hunted? Do they think your prophetic powers are a witch's power?"

I look over my shoulder, unsure if I've heard an alarmed call.

 

[Steerpike]

Burnbright's brow creases as she looks at Mauve. "My powers? I don't have any powers. I'm not even that good of a fighter yet. But I'm going to be, because Ankari and Baldhart and Matthew are going to teach me. And Aliron too, probably. I'll be a shieldmaiden. Why would I be a witch? Do you think the necklace did something to me?" She holds it out away from her, letting it dangle in the dim light. "It's pretty. But it's kind of scary too. I think I'll leave it off for now. Why did you say I'm hunted? Is someone after me?"

 

[Sparkie]

Darin sheds some light on this for me. Finally.

"I can take you upstairs to the room where I found this, but i'm not sure anything is there. We did find signs of a secret compartment in the cellar, though. Perhaps we should start looking there?"

I begin walking toward the cellar door, hopefully with Darin in tow. On my way, I call over to the Gnat.

"Nodrick! I think we could use your talents here. Come with me, if you please."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Orcs!

Nissa?

Oh... don't mind me.



"You will find her when you return. I mean, I don't claim to know but... I believe things are safe enough at home. Not that I know your queen, but I don't think she would send you here if your homeland was in great danger."



Orcs don't announce their attacks. They know that people are weakest in times of peace.

So... are orcs monsters or people?

Cowards. At least the ones who march in conquering armies.

My people were once conquerers, too. Maybe they were cowards.

Of course they were! All conquerers are cowards. But the Eisenberg clan put an end to that.

Must be nice being a Valkyrie and knowing so much.

Being a Valkyrie has nothing to do with what I know about that. In life, I knew. The Eisenbergs killed the barbarian warlords--their own leaders!--as they were invading a village at the mountain's base. After the battle, your ancestors simply walked to the peak and the natives chose the Eisenbergs as their protectors. What the world thinks of as 'barbarians' are actually a combination of the would-be conquerers and natives of the mountain. Your father carries the tradition of using strength justly, a tradition that started in my lifetime.



"I told Darin that old wars do not interest me. I guess they do. There are so many stories about how my people were able to conquer the Iron Mountain, but the true conquest was when good people from both sides united to defeat a common foe. I am descended from both the conquerers and the natives! As long as very different people recognize evil as something that must be stopped, I think... I think we need to speak to the others about going to Drimmen-delve.

"You just started an odd alliance, dwarf-friend! The kind that elves, dwarves, and Valkyries will still be talking about centuries from now!"

I start running back to the temple, but almost slip in the snow as I stop suddenly.

"Oh... but can I still have a riding lesson before we go?"

I smile pretty.

Pretty AWKWARDLY, you mean.

Oh, hush, Nissa. Not everyone is as cute as you.

 

[Nihal]

Crap, she doesn't know!

"Uh, sorry! I mean-" I take a deep breath. "I don't know what is going on. Ask them. Even if you are young I think you have the right to know, whatever it is."

"About powers... When you put on the necklace you said something. I don't think you remember this." I hold her hands, closing them around the necklace, with a shadow of a smile.

"The good news is that it's a goddess symbol. Probably, this kind of... magic... is corruption-free. You was knocked out, yes, but you're fine. Ignorant people pose a greater danger to you than your powers. Keep them a secret, and don't panic."


((I bet Ankari will get mad when he finds Burnbright with Mauve ;x))

 

[Steerpike]

Darin follows Rydh to the cellar door. He looks apologetically at Hiljikki as he passes. "One moment, lass." Turning to Rydh, he says "Let's take a quick look. Then I have to get word back to my hold!"

As the two pass through the doorway to the basement, they see Burnbright sitting with Mauve on the stairs. The two have their hands clasped, with the golden necklace of Gefjon closed between them. Burnbright is intent on whatever Mauve is saying to her.

 

[Ireth]

At the call from Ankari I hurry back toward the temple with Baldhart, and nod at her words. "I agree, this must be decided as a group."

When she stops and smiles at me, I cannot help but smile back at her eagerness. Oh, to have that youthful exuberance in me again! "Of course. As long as we get through whatever is happening now."

My expression turns grim again, and my hand goes to my sword as I head downstairs to join Nodrick.

 

[Sparkie]

Do not disregard

The wisdom of a child

They trust readily, but have

A good sense for evil

Psalms of War - Codex 7:953

*****​

Mauve and Burnbright sit on the steps to the cellar. If Burnbright trusts her, I suppose I should give her a chance as well. I'll still be leery of her, though. She did try to attack me.

Upon reching the cellar proper, I point out the hole in the floor that Baldhart made.

"There's some kind of opening here," I say to Darin. "Not sure how to get it open, however. Could a rune-lock work in this instance? Where would the device be if the opening is in this room?"

 

[SeverinR]

((I guess I was wrong.))

Panic. It seizes my heart, squeezing all hope. Horrific images of possible fates roll through my mind like the stampede of an army through a destroyed city.

"Baldhart! Aliron! Outside with me! Burnbright is missing. Rydh. Matthew. Go upstairs and look. Cadell and Gnat! Downstairs."

I rush outside to the field where the wargs were slain. looking for her tracks.

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9626]Track: [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13 (Where's Burnbright)[/URL]

[I am watching from the window, Did I see where Burnbright went or is from there? If I can't I will go to his call. If I did see where she went or is, I will relay the information.]

 

[Steerpike]

((Aliron can't see where Burnbright went from where he is watching. It looks like everyone is about to find her though!))

Burnbright still seems a bit perplexed. "But I told you, I don't have any powers." She frowns and looks at the necklace again, then slips it into a pocket. Rydh and Darin squeeze past the two seated on the stairs and into basement. The light is dim, but it doesn't seem to bother Darin. He moves to where Rydh is standing, then bends down the inspect to the broken rock and the metal plate beneath.

"By the All-Father," he mutters. "It's a rune-lock!" He turns to look at Rydh. "With the book and the key, I can open this."

A moment later, Cadell appears at the top of the stairs as well. He sees Mauve and Burnbright, and hears commotion from Rydh and Darin further within the cellar.

 

[Ireth]

((She? Last I checked, Cadell was a guy. XD))

 

[Steerpike]

((LOL. Fixed. That's what I get for multitasking!)).

 

[Sparkie]

"Here," I say as I hand over the book and disc to Darin. "Whatever you need, just let me know and I'll help."

I dig into my pack and bring out my lantern. In the darkened room, there's just enough light by the staircase for me to pour a little oil into the lamp. I light it with tinder, and now I can see Darin already at work.

 

[Nihal]

"You'll figure it all soon enough." I look back at Rydh as he passes, my face becoming serious. There are more people at the door.

"Oh, well..." I get up and offer a hand. "It seems they are finally going to open the secret door. Do you want to take a peek?"

 

[Steerpike]

Darin takes the book and key both. He sets the key down on the ground beside him. He places his hands on the rock and recites a few words from the book. The dwarf language is strange. Again the words slither like eels through Rydh's ears. If he had to recall the exact sounds even a moment later, he would not be able to do so. As Darin recites the words, small, silver-blue runes erupt across the surface of the stone. Darin murmurs his words for a moment more, then slides the tips of his fingers from one hand as much under the stone slab as possible. He steadies the stone slab with his other hand, and then lifts the entire thing out of the opening. He's straining a little, but is still moving a piece of stone that could scarcely be budged before. He sets the stone down beside him, then turns back to the opening.

It is immediately apparent where the key goes. The opening is covered by a metal plate of some sort, and in the center of the plate is a round indentation, toothed along the edges and with small holes in the stone distributed across its surface. Darin takes the disc, checks the underside, then checks the metal plate again, orienting the key so that the underside matches and the irregular teeth slide into corresponding structures in the rock. The key slides home effortlessly and makes a perfect fit. Still, nothing happens.

Darin grabs the book again. By this time, Cadell is there, watching, and Burnbright and Mauve have moved from the steps to stand nearby. Burnbright's eyes are wide. Darin begins his chants anew, flipping through pages of the book as he reads the passages. He reads for perhaps two minutes, skipping some pages, reading others. As he reads, a silver glow begins to form around the key. When Darin utters the final syllable, there is an audible click, then a grinding vibration that shudders through the floor as the metal plate slides to one side. The plate reveals an opening that drops perhaps ten feet to a stone floor. Walls on three sides form a narrow corridor that leads toward the north of the temple. The air floating up from the opening is cold and smells of mold and decay.

Darin sits back, rubs at his beard, and says "Huh."

 

[Sparkie]

Curious as I am, I cannot abandon good sense.

"Let's not be hasty here," I say. "First we must prepare. Darin, I believe Bren desires you upstairs. I'll keep watch here to make sure nothing comes out to attack us."

I turn to Mauve and Burnbright. "Will you two alert everyone to our discovery here please?"

I motion to Cadell and ask "What do you make of this?"

 

[Steerpike]

Darin nods. "I am intrigued by this as well, but now I must get word back to the Drimmen-delve. I can delay no longer. Once that has been done, I will investigate this new find." He heads back upstairs to find Bren and Hiljikki.

Burnbright follows, much to the relief of those who have been looking elsewhere for her. The girl looks contemplative, and keeps putting her hand in her pocket.