Dragon's Egg - Act II

[SeverinR]

"Oh. I didn't mean to accuse you or your wolf or anyone. I just worried that..."

Tears fall. Relief. Maybe a miracle.

"Wait. Are you saying there really is a child?" I limp toward the ledge. "Just one? And... no one speaks of mercy killings, or leaving her to starve, or turning her loose so we can pretend we didn't sentence her to death? Right?" I look at Mauve. ((And Cadell, assuming he followed, too.)) "If it's only one child, this may be easier than I thought." I see Alin up there. ((And Batos, if he made it up.)) "If she could fly, she would have." I ask Alin, "Is she old enough to walk? How young a girl are we talking?"

"She looks much like a half elf-human girl about four years old." I repeat, loooking over the ledge.
"Is Baldhart alright? Did she get hit on the head, Or was she out of the room?
"Oh, sorry forgot she is probably still hard of hearing, can someone tell her what I said."

 

[SeverinR]

"We do not know if she will take on our food without even trying. I already expect it will take a good number of tries before she gives in and start to eat other kind of food, exactly like a wild's animal baby or even a pouting human child."

"It probably ate some lizard meat, best thing to try is something it is use too."

 

[Ireth]

I glance at Baldhart. "She is fine, though still somewhat injured, and she may also be a bit brwysg."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Thank you, Keitsumah." I sit on the rock. "You too, Aliron, for checking on the little one.

"How about I cook some meat from those trogdolytes we killed? I already have a fire going and... well, cooked meat. First step towards civilization... or... domestication? We can lift the food to her if you'd rather we leave her up there while we rest.

"Or... she can sleep next to me now, and whoever's on watch please make sure she doesn't eat my eyes while I sleep. Then we'll know if she's tame." I manage a smile. A tired-eyed smile, I'm sure.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Sir Cadell, first of all, I can hold my liquor!

"But to answer your question about getting into town, I was thinking... and, uh, Mauve. I guess I need your help here as well, since you have extra outfits. Heh?"

Only four... and she's cute, despite knowing what she really is!

"A cloak, some clothing cut and sewn into a long dress?" Poor Mauve. She probably likes her outfits, even if they are a little boyish. "Maybe the tatters are enough material for clothing, and I can sacrifice some of my bearskin cloak to make a smaller cloak for her. With a dress long enough to cover those big chicken feet, she might pass for a half-elf child. I guess she is half half-elf. The father must have been... well, let's just hope we can raise her out of cannibalism.

"Considering Batos, it's not like we won't already have an issue getting into town. Maybe Father Harald will let us use his church as a shelter, so we can keep both of our, um... pets safe.

"Pets! Did I just say...?"

 

[SeverinR]

"Thank you, Keitsumah." I sit on the rock. "You too, Aliron, for checking on the little one.

"How about I cook some meat from those trogdolytes we killed? I already have a fire going and... well, cooked meat. First step towards civilization... or... domestication? We can lift the food to her if you'd rather we leave her up there while we rest.

"Or... she can sleep next to me now, and whoever's on watch please make sure she doesn't eat my eyes while I sleep. Then we'll know if she's tame." I manage a smile. A tired-eyed smile, I'm sure.

"I would keep it on the rare side, and gradually work towards properly cooked."

{We'll just ignore the flying wolf comments since it didn't work.}

"Anyone got any ideas on how to get the half pint cannibal crooner down?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Rare... got it."

So, she's coming down now? I stand near Algernon. Huh... that ledge is really high!

"Does the girl respond if you hold her? Can she hang onto while you climb... or maybe...?"


((@Steerpike, I know the scale skill doesn't work on this cliff, but does the skill work with a rope? I'm assuming Baldy can climb a rope without issue since it's how we get in and out of tunnels, and that the party found a way to help Cadell up and down a rope.))

 

[Nihal]

"Don't let her see the corpses," I remind them.

 

[Ankari]

I roll to my feet and shoulder the bow. How fragile we are, we of two legs. I failed in my hunt, but failure is a fact of life, one that all predators overcome. Eventually, anyway, or else they die of starvation.

A thought wiggles like a worm, easily plucked or squashed. "I have reconsidered. Bring the harpy-child. The troglodytes are fearful of this cavern for a reason. Only we know the adults are dead. Surely the troglodytes will panic when they see us toting the child along. Their attention will be torn between the maniacs who dared leashing a harpy, and the darkness behind us in fear of retribution."

I pull off my boots and tunic and head towards the fire to dry off. "As far as food, we have the dead troglodytes or the large lizard. The child isn't a bottomless pit. A dozen pounds of meat should suffice for a week. Besides, we won't have a shortage of opportunities to replenish."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I'm coming up, then, Alin. Her weight is nothing to me."

 

[SeverinR]

I don't want to split the time periods in Aliron's actions, just in case something happens with the box I am opening.

If nothing happens with the box,
"I will try and see what happens, of course, yelling ina foreign language is not comforting or trust building so I won't be talking to you down there for a while."

I will talk softly to the bird child, I will look for another toy that the child have to play with.
"Hello there, little one. I am Aliron, I am not here to hurt you, and I am not here to be your food." In the sweetest voice I can.

Not a epic fail, but Chr is not my prime,
"Your a ...cute little cannibal bastard, and I am a gruff rogue trying to sweet talk a beast that doesn't speak my language. But if you are to survive, I must get you to trust me." I continue with my sweet voice throughout.
----------------------------
[[If it appears not to be working, I will call down and ask a female(with good prime Chr) to come up]]
"Maybe a female, one of the lesser intimidating females that is, can come up and try to win this beasts trust."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Baldy's on her way, and CHA is a prime for her.))

"I'm not intimidating, am I?"

I smile at Aliron.

((Natural 1! Wow...glad that didn't happen when her mom sang!))

Baldy! No fake smiles. Just words!

I approach the harpy.

"Hey, little girl. Can you understand me? Maybe you don't know my words, but surely you know kindness."

I reach my hand close to hers, and see if she'll take it. Or will she try to bite it off?

I'm ready, but... I don't think she'll try to hurt me.

 

[SeverinR]

"I found a box up here,
The box contains 20 gold, a gold ring, a gold necklace with a string of pearls hanging from the center, an a rolled up piece of parchment tied with dirty string. I'm checking to see if anything else of value up here."

Baldhart? Not intimidating?
"I was thinking wolf girl, she has a way with animals. But let Baldhart try."
I search for anything of value or that might be useful.
"Wolf girl, if Baldhart fails, maybe come up and play your music for her? She is a musical beast." I move away so the child doesn't feel crowded.

[[[How wide and long is the ledge? Is there enough room for both on it, I assume it was large enough for two adult harpies and the child.]]]

 

[Nihal]

Baldhart goes up, and I stand under the ledge for a moment.

I wonder how their nest is. If they don't manage to bring her down I'll never get to see how do their young look like.

Retrieving my rope and looping it around my body, I place my backpack and spear over a rock and carefully climb after her.



My hands slip, and I don't manage to go really far before falling on my rear. I curse and try again.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Keitsumah, perhaps your song would help. I can carry her down, but the music may prevent a struggle. I won't use force. If none of us can get her down, we should leave her with food while we rest. Nissa would be the least intimidating. She even has wings. She kinda looks like..."

Baldy! I am NOT like a harpy! Okay... the wings, yes.

I turn my attention to the girl.

"Yes, Keitsumah played a pretty song for you. I am Baldhart. And who is this?" I touch the doll, but move slowly. I hope it is clear I won't take it from her. "Does your doll have a name, and is your name as pretty as hers?"

I sit beside her and give time for a response. I hope someone did think to move the corpses while I was climbing up here. The sight of her dead family may freak her out, and... the big one died by my blade. I can't help but feel some guilt, even though it was clearly them or us, and unclear whether my words meant anything to the harpies.

 

[Sparkie]

"If she is young enough, it is possible to try to teach her different than that." I indicate a harpy's body with my chin. My eyes dart to the cleric, narrowing. "Are you going to deny her a chance?"

My heart is beating furiously, my breath, becoming short; I realize it's my body getting ready for a fight.

"You would think that, wouldn't you?" I say as I stride up to Mauve. I backhand her full-force across the face. Looking down at her, I start in.

"You would like to assume the worst about me, about everyone here! Baldhart calls us cowards from the other room, and you stand here making your threatening movements and snide, self-righteous comments before even seeing what we are trying to accomplish. If I wanted to kill her, I'd have climbed up there and put a blade in her. As it is, I was asking Aliron to bring her down. I don't kill children, and I take any inference that I would as an insult."

I turn to Baldhart now.

"And you! Don't think you're exempt in this. You'd brand us cowards before you even know what's going on? Be careful how you use your words from now on!"

I storm out of the room. How dare they! I'll not stand idly while an overgrown little girl uses words chosen specifically to manipulate. I'll not be bullied by woman who'll pout, cry, lash out, anything to get her way.

I walk all the way through the circular room and out to the circular ascension. Heading up a-ways, I sit and pull out the bone with the cork in it. I try to work the cork out of the one end using the tip of my sword.

((Not sure if a roll is needed here or not.))

 

[Ireth]

At the request for the harpies' bodies to be moved out of sight, I lift one under the arms and drag it through the water toward the heap of bones. I hold my breath and try not to gag at the stink, and the thought of where those bones came from, as I sift through them and bury the carcass toward the bottom.

Shuddering, I turn to retrieve the other body, but Rydh's outburst draws my attention. I grit my teeth and head over to them, but Rydh runs off before I get there. It's probably best to give him some time alone to cool off. I turn to Mauve, asking, "Are you alright?"

 

[Steerpike]

Batos' valiant attempt to vault onto the ledge is commendable, but ultimately unsuccessful. The wolf manages a half-fall, half-slide down the rocky wall and lands on his feet, unhurt.

The ledge is wider than it appears from the ground, and it cuts back into the wall a bit. Four or five people could sleep comfortably enough in the space provided, assuming they had bedding. A cool draft is blowing in from the circular room as Baldhart starts up the rope and Aliron makes his gesture to appease the child.

The harpy girl presses back against the wall as far as she can, pushing at the rocky surface of the ledge with her decidedly raptor-like, if small and thin, legs. When Aliron's hand gets near, she snaps at it much as a wild animal would, though she is not anywhere near fast enough to bite before Aliron pulls his hand away.

The girl's eyes widen further as Baldhart climbs up onto the ledge, and a tear falls onto her cheek. She shows her teeth when Baldhart moves closer, her eyes tracking Baldhart's hand as she touches the doll. She doesn't try to bite. Up close, the faint traces of elven heritage are more evident, particularly in the slight taper of her ears. Her facial features are soft, though how much of that comes from her mixed blood and how much from her age, you can't say. The underlying bone structure of the harpy adults is definitely there.

When the song of the flute drifts up to the ledge, the harpy child sings along with it, watching as Baldhart touches her doll. Her voice is soft and pretty. It isn't compelling, though even as young as she is you can feel a very slight effect. Positive thoughts toward the child form in your mind, unbidden, but they are easily scattered if you choose to do so.

When Baldhart finishes speaking, the girl stops singing and answers her, though in a voice that is scarcely a whisper. Whatever the words are, neither Baldhart nor Aliron can make sense of them. It is a language unknown to either.

In the round room, Rydh notices that the temperature has fallen a few degrees in the last handful of minutes. Small flurries of snow drift into the room through the open ceiling far above.

Cadell is moving the bodies of the adult harpies. They are covered in filth and grime, and now in blood as well, and the stench is of rot.

Darin remains in the round room, glancing up when Rydh enters. He is throwing aside some of the rubble scattered around the room, as though searching for something.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Ankari has become calm and rational, and Rydh, the one I trusted most... he slaps Mauve as if she is nothing. What happened to that man?

"Mauve... I haven't forgotten my vow. I must respond to him, but later if you please... right now, the little one responds to me. She's so cute!" To the harpy girl, "You're adorable. Please come with me." I wipe her tear first. If she seems responsive, I try to take her hand, but keep my movements gentle.

 

[Nihal]

There is fire in my chest. Now my breath so short I'm afraid I'm unable to speak; no, I won't speak, I'll just explode. I clutch my hands, feeling my whole body shake with rage.

Rage. Yes, rage, why not? This arrogant pig, so quick to look down on me! Bastard!

I stride after him, shaking my head when Cadell say something. The despicable, useless, arrogant, one thousand damned cleric. The mere sight of him makes me angry, if it's even possible. Every gesture, every cocky word. The idiot thinks he's the only brave person in the world and everyone else is worthless. Every cold, angry glance, looking away as if the sight of me was too disgusting to bear. Did he think I didn't notice? I hate him. I hate him, hate, as badly as the ranger! It's a surprise, but not so big, the ranger was open about his intentions, but this moron? No, he hadn't the balls! Always with his all-knowing demeanor, a frigging idiot.

"HOW DO YOU DARE!?

"You pig! Self-centered blind COWARD! You always accuse other people of having your own defects! I bet you're only here because they kicked you out, because no one can stand you, you cocky bastard—always looking down on everyone else, do you think I didn't notice?! At least the ranger was honest, but you? You don't even have the balls to do it!"

I sprint the rest of the way before he can reach the stone door, my closed fist flying into his head's direction.


((*PUNCH! Hah!))

"You are the worst coward I've ever met, every time you have to face something you don't want you hide behind your god! I bet that's why you're so quick to try to prove you worth to him, because you know you're a shivering little girl; and you're terribly mistaken if you think he doesn't know the difference between courage and throwing yourself in the battleground desperately trying to earn his approval.

"I only know a thing: The all mighty lord of battle surely wears a skirt, so you can hide under it!"