Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Ireth]

The shock of the explosion wears off, and I am able to stand... well, almost. The javelin still protrudes from my leg -- but not for long. Quickly I switch my borrowed shield from my right arm to my left, needing my hand for action. I pull the javelin out of my leg despite the foolishness of such an action, feeling blood start to run down my calf from the open wound. There is still one lizard blocking the queen; I move so I am level with it, keeping my shield before me as I aim and throw.

Did I hit it? Could I be that lucky?

Not much damage, it would seem. Blast it. I draw my sword and step forward, hoping to finish the monster off. ((Next round, of course))

 

[Philip Overby]

"Hiss, hiss," I hiss back at the lizard man.

"Miss, miss," I mumble under my breath. "Dwarf! Knock him for a loop again!"

((I look to either step back a bit this round or the next, depending on when it's OK, and retrieve my flute. I'd like to use a skill next round.))

 

[Sparkie]

These trogs are fast. I'm slow. How to go about bringing them down..?

Power. Pure force.

I leap against the north wall, plant my feet against it, and kick off of it in order to gain elevation. I'll jam my sword into this reptilian fiend and try to drag him down as I fall...

((Ok, I'll have to make multiple checks here, I think, since I'm not sure what's neccesary. These will come off of Rolz because The Unseen Servant is giving me loads of trouble right now. I finally got to the roll screen and typed in a macro for a STR check, but it never gave me a result. The site still won't load up for me! So anyway, here we go: ))

((I doubt any of this worked.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Note: Steerpike confirmed that I'm too far to engage the queen AND attack, I can only move and RP.))



Briefly, I meet Burnbright's eyes as I rise. "I love you, Sister."

((It's not what she says… it's how she says it?))

Without another word, I dash to where my enemy was—where she still is—where she will die!

Wind against my face!
A clattering shield!
A stumbling attack!
A clear path!

I stand before the queen, the most beautiful and most dangerous enemy I have ever encountered.



"Worthy opponent," I say to her, "You have bested me…"

I point my sword at her.

INTIMIDATE

"…but your spells are slower than three swords. Drop the staff. We'll talk."

 

[Steerpike]

((I'm going to make this post for Burnbright now, on the chance that anyone wants to react to it during this round)).

Burnbright's eyes widen as Baldhart rises, and she stands as well, wiping the tears from her eyes when Baldhart says she loves her, then rushes toward the enemy. Something seems to settle in Burnbright. Her hands stop trembling. She sniffs once, then squares her shoulder, jaw set. She turns to Matthew, who is the only party member near her.

"I don't want to die down here," she says. "But if I'm going to die, it's not going to be behind this table. I'll die like a shieldmaiden. Like Veborg would've done. I'll die so that the valkyries will be fighting over who gets me! No one here has the right to tell me I can't. The women of the North fight!"

This time, when she starts over the table, it is with relative grace compared to her last, panicked attempt. No stumbling. Her feet are sure.

 

[Ankari]

There is pain. And blood.

Concerns for a later time.

Bow in hand, I stand.

And watch my arrow fly true.

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=10137]Longbow Attack: [1d20+3] = 16+3 = 19[/URL]

((Same enemy that attacked me))

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=10138]Arrow Damage: [1d8+3] = 5+3 = 8[/URL]

 

[Phietadix]

I try to pull Burnbright back behind the table.
(STR check)

"If you try to fight this battle you will kill yourself. You have no training. A true warrior knows when to fight, and when to retreat to fight another day. For this battle Burnbright you need to stay where it's safe."

 

[Ireth]

Baldhart pushes past me to face the queen, and I stand back to let her, listening and watching warily. Diplomacy cannot be so simple, can it? Not after the damage both sides have done here.

At Burnbright's cry I turn my head, seeing Sir Matthew pulling the girl back as she tries to climb over the table and join in the fight. I sigh and look away, shaking my head. I can understand him wanting to keep her safe, but surely he can engage in battle himself. His god is one of courage, and surely such a god would want his followers to fight at every opportunity. Where was he when the rest of us were being beaten down? I should have stayed behind to guard Burnbright, for all the good I've been in this battle!

 

[SeverinR]

[[If Ankari's reptile is still alive, I will backstab, but I think it should be dead.
So I will turn to the next closest reptile and backstab.]]


no paper cut this time, didn't hit.

 

[Ravana]

liars liars spurning flight…

•

Oh.

Oh, no.

The thought is far, far too long in coming to her.

That she was exhausted and drained from her journeying… might be a reason; it is not an excuse. Not one she's willing to accept from herself, at any event. She shakes her head.

I suppose I could still turn around and go back.…

Her feet, however, never stop moving forward.

I do not think I am up to this, Fjölnir. I will do as you bid. But I pray your bidding will not be what I fear it might. I fear it would destroy me.

And I pray that if I am wrong, I come to learn of it in a timely manner.

 

[Steerpike]

((New Map))

 

[Steerpike]

The battle rages on in the corridor. Burnbright, her determination set, starts over the table. Matthew reaches out to restrain the girl before she climbs over.

((Burnbright can't compete with Matthew on Strength, but she's fast, so I'm going to give her a DEX check as an opposed roll to avoid being caught)).

Burnbright DEX Check [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22

The girl's new-found determination seems to move her like the wind. She dances back from Matthew's grasp and vaults over the table, dragging her sword free as she passes Mauve's unconscious form. She has the weapon out, still with steady hands, as she moves next to Cadell, grimacing at the elf's wounds. Cadell has the javelin in hand and throws it gracefully, striking the reptile facing Rydh in the side. After the throw, Burnbright yells toward Cadell. "Cadell, what do I do? Who can I help?" She has to yell over the sound of the battle and Rydh's acrobatic attempt at an attack. ((Cadell is actually one square lower than shown)).

Rydh makes what might have been a dashing move, trying to use the force of the wall to launch himself into the foe. The slickness of the stone defeats him, however, and instead of getting a good push off the wall he slips down onto one knee. Displaying his agility, however, he keeps his blade on target and it scores a shallow cut across the reptiles arm ((taking 2 hp off the damage to reflect the failed manuever; but it still hit)).

The smaller reptile is still on its feet, however, and it hisses in pain as it returns Rydh's attack:

Reptile Attack [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9

Even with Rydh on one knee, the hapless reptile can't land it's attack. Rydh flicks its arm aside with the flat of his blade.

Nodrick, meanwhile, slashes at one of the larger reptiles. His dagger attack misses, and he leaps back a few feet, fumbling around in his pouch for his flute. ((Please consider Nod one square higher, right next to Cadell)).

Darin, too, strikes at the reptile:

Darin's Attack [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13

The hammer misses this time, the reptile dodging the thick head of the weapon at the last moment, then lashing out once more:

Reptile Attack [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8

Darin easily blocks the attack with his shield.

Ankari steps back, nocks and arrow, and releases it in a fluid motion. The arrow buries itself fully half of its length in the reptile's heart, and the creature drops to the floor, stone dead, before it even completes its next step. As the creature falls, Aliron turns his attention away from it, striking at the reptile fighting Darin and Nod. He misses the creature, and it hisses in alarm at having a third foe to contend with.

Baldhart has rushed around the corner toward the female caster, leaping over Rydh just as he goes down on his knee. The caster stumbles back half a step, holding her staff up defensively. She does not seem cowed, but at Baldhart's words she glances at her dead guard, takes in the wounded one, and her eyes flicker to the corridor where the tide of the battle is unknown to her. Still holding the staff crossways in front of her, as though to protect against attack, she says.

"Talk, human. We not have to fight. We make deal. Yes?" When she says this, her living guard takes a quick look over its shoulder, as though seeking instruction. The words are unheard in the corridor.

 

[Ankari]

The battle has shifted to our advantage. Blood streams from my wound like the first melt of winter. The desire to live beats in time with my thrumming heart. The need to slay compels my hand to find another arrow and set. I pull back the string, a light touch against my cheek. The bow quivers with need for release. To hunt as the hawk hunts.

((The troglodyte remaining before me))

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=10146]Longbow Attack: [1d20+3] = 16+3 = 19 (Rip this out and throw it back at me)[/URL]

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=10147]Arrow Damage: [1d8+3] = 6+3 = 9 (I meant, cut it out of your chest)[/URL]

 

[Philip Overby]

I hold my flute at the ready, blowing one shrill note. "Companions! We have turned the tide of battle! Rally forth!"

I sing a song to get the blood flowing more, a song of glory, honor, and potatoes.

There was a lady fair she was,
Who lived along the river,
And when the goblins came to her,
Oh, that she did shiver.
But when the goblins' arrows soared
She grabbed a lone potato,
And hurled it at the chieftain's head
Burst like a ripe tomato.

"That's one hard potato. Just like all of us!"

((CHA check))

((I use the skill EXALT which gives +2 bonus to any ability check, but NOT to attacks for any companions within 60 feet that hear my song. I think that's correct, please let me know if I'm wrong in one of other threads.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The queen does not drop her staff, but holds a defensive stance. Even Cadell, with his rules about surrender, surely sees that the queen has not ended the fight. Nevertheless, I lower my sword into the zero stance as she speaks. It makes me no less effective in combat, but it looks like my guard is lowered.

Nodrick plays a beautiful tune. Over the sound of his song, I reply to the queen.

"I want to tell you that I admire your prowess in battle and your graceful elegance. I believe your soul is not lost."

I grab the queen's staff, like a lone potato, and hurl it behind me…

…in the same motion, I thrust from the zero stance—left hand meeting the hilt as the blade plunges into the queen's chest…

…which burst like a ripe tomato!

Black blood!

"But we have to fight," I tell her as I use body and sword to press her against the wall, "because I am the mother bear; you hunt my cub!"

 

[Ireth]

"Cadell, what do I do? Who can I help?"

"Get behind me, Burnbright!" I call back, and move forward to give her the needed room. ((one square))

Nodrick's tune elicits a chuckle from me, and I smile as I watch Baldhart... only for my eyes to widen as she impales the queen and thrusts her back against the wall. Not that I can blame her!

I raise my sword and rush forward, intending to slam it into the lizard's body.

HIT:

((I'm assuming that's a fail, so no damage roll))

Pain shoots through my injured leg, dropping me to my knees as I try to run. Grunting on impact with the stone, I yell to Burmbright and point with my sword. "Strike this one! Now!" Just don't hit me!

 

[Sparkie]

And now my knee hurts. That was a lousy idea.

I hear Baldhart and the spellcaster exchange words before fighting once again. I also hear Nodrick playing a tune, of all things! I, however, cannot afford to give up my concentration. I must finish this fight, and aid my comrades.

From my one-knee position, I rise and slash upwards at the same time. I want to end this now.

Here's the pitch... Swing!

And it's a long fly ball! Going, going...

 

[SeverinR]

Still facing the back of a reptile, I do what is natural to me.


"The tide of battle has shifted!"
[This is a hit even if not able to backstab, just half the damage. But he is facing two others in front, I think it would be hard to defend against a backstab from the rear.]

{{it is good to see the lizards get bad rolls too.}}

 

[Steerpike]

The reptile spell-caster tries to yank her staff away before Baldhart can grab it:

Reptile DEX Check [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7

The attempt is unsuccessful, and Baldhart manages to pull the staff free as she attacks. The reptile turns with the motion of the sword, however, and while Baldhart has visions of punching into the creature's chest, her sword instead scores a long gash across the thing's abdomen, black blood flowing onto the blade. The creature sucks in breath and touches a scaled hand to the wound, then leaps at Baldhart, mouth opening to expose sharp teeth:

The attack is ineffective, and Baldhart easily sidesteps it and knocks the reptile's gaping maw aside with her forearm.

Ankari steps back into the corridor and looses an arrow at the reptile that attacked Darin and Nod. The arrow flies true, embedding itself deep in the creature's back. The reptile straightens, it's hand moving awkwardly behind its back as it tries to pull the arrow free. Aliron lunges only seconds after the arrow hits, driving his sword into the base of the creature's spine. The combined attack proves to be too much, and the creature slumps to the ground just as Darin's hammer whooshes through the air where the reptile's head was only a moment before.

Nodrick's tune continues, his voice filling the hallways. It lends strength to the party.

Cadell strikes a the last remaining guard, but the wounded creature is still quick enough to avoid the blow, it's eyes flicking between Cadell and Rydh. Cadell presses himself against the wall to make room for Burnbright, and she rushes into the gap, jabbing with her sword. Her legs are all wrong and she ends up on the wrong foot as she thrusts, but her jaw is set:

Even facing three opponents the reptile is able to avoid this blow. It hisses something in its slithery language, and the female shaman catches sight of Burnbright as well, its reptilian eyes widening.

Rydh, who was on one knee, rises and slashes upward just as the reptile dances away from Burnbright's attack. The creature's luck has run out, and Rydh runs it through, sword penetrating deep into the reptile's torso. It twitches once, then slumps forward on the blade.

Burnbright readjusts her grip on her sword.

Darin runs to the edge of the adjoining hallway, where the reptile shaman and four party members are found. "Not even room for a dwarf in that!" he growls, then turns his hammer upside down, planting the head on the ground as he leans on the handle and watches.

Mauve regains some of her senses, lifting her head and looking blearily at the world around her. The corridor is a dim, damp place.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I circle to one side as I dodge her attack, and now stand in a position that leaves room for Rydh and Cadell to assist me, as this is no wimpy wizard!



"Worthy Opponent," I say with a smile as my sword strikes true.

"I promise to honor you!"


By clobbering her with your sword?

No, Nissa. I'll need you to help me... after she falls.