Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Nihal]

With my brow creased I think in an appropriated response.

"I have been studying since I learned to read. Naturally, I had to wait my thirteen name day to cast my first enchantment." I answer in a calm and low voice. "Why did you stop?"

 

[Ireth]

"I thought I could serve my Queen better by becoming a knight. It served me well when my home wood was threatened by orcs not long before I journeyed here."

I force back the most painful of the memories that swarm to the front of my mind. So much loss of life... but it could have been far worse. Things can always be worse.

 

[Nihal]

"I see." I lower my eyes for a moment, recalling what I've read of orcs. "How is it to be a knight?"

((Forgot to comment that I have no idea about what is the common practice when studying magic, that's was how it was where she lived.))

 

[Ireth]

I smile faintly. "It has its merits and its woes. It is not always as glorious as some would believe. War is bloody business, after all. And there is the pressure to strive for perfection that can never be reached, not for personal glory, but to be an example to others. As an illusionist, I was certainly more carefree, for better or worse."

 

[Nihal]

Carefree? A caster?!

"When... how old are you?"

 

[Ireth]

My gaze drifts upward as I think, and I let slip a chuckle. "Somewhere between twenty-five hundred and three thousand years. At that age, it begins to get hard to remember the exact number."

 

[Nihal]

I stare at him, perplexed.

"It was before the War... The War of the Dragons." He might hold a precious knowledge! "Was you there? Do you remember it, what happened?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Ha! I'll be lucky if I make it to twenty-five, never mind twenty-five hundred!"

*chomp*


You're taking this rather well. Has it really sunk in yet?

I'll be like Sir Cadell. Thousands of years will pass, but my valkyrie form will remain young and beautiful.

 

[Sparkie]

Unable to remain silent, I speak to Darin with enough volume to let everyone nearby hear what I have to say.

"I agree with you, Darin. We should eliminate the theat in the tunnels before they have more time to prepare. I know it may seem rash of me, but I don't think we can deny the danger in simply abanoning this place. What would happen to Srilkind if these creatures decided to leave their lair and invade?"

 

[Ireth]

I sober again at Mauve's questions, gazing into the fire.

"I did not see much of the war until it came to me. My people were, and to an extent still are, very isolationist, unconcerned with the troubles of others. As such, we did not fight until our own borders were directly threatened. I was part of the group who first were harmed. Orcs and goblins invaded, and slew everyone who crossed their path. All except for me. I disguised myself as a corpse, and they passed me by; then I ran to report to my queen of the danger. Even then, we did not do more than drive the enemies back past our borders.

"Little word reached us about what was going on in the lands beyond. All I know for certain is that after the war, magic became dangerous. I left the ways of an illusionist, and dallied with other ways of life instead -- ranger, then fighter. I did not become a knight until very recently."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Responding to Rydh's words...

Cat got your tongue, Baldy?

Nah. I'm indifferent as to what we do next. I voted with Darin originally, but there are some in the group who are afraid.

It's a long trip to Drimmen-delve, then another trip back. Or you go down and fight the battle now.

"It's a long trip to Drimmen-delve, then another trip back. Or we go down and fight the battle now. Whichever we choose, we throw ourselves at the next challenge whole-heartedly... and win.

"We know of the threat that exists below; we don't know what threat we may stumble on on the way to Drimmen-delve. This means that while one choice is more likely to present a challenge we can handle more easily than the other, we don't know which. We won't know until we have already made our choice.

"As Aliron said, we are equals. So if each of us has no more say than another, shall we vote?"

 

[Nihal]

(Let's merge the timeline? =P)

I sigh at Cadell's response. It was too good to be true.

"I thought so. It must have been though." I lower my eyes to the flask, drinking a little more.

As they discuss strategies I remain quiet. I'm not sure about what they're talking about, something must have happened last night. There is nothing I could or wish to say, the druid made a similar point. What she said was all I wanted to do from the start.

Now I must solve this issue with the ranger, then, my magic.

My magic... The staff! My spear! I get up, looking to the temple's door and cursing under my breath.

 

[Ankari]

Before the Meeting

They prattle on like crows over a carcass, insulted by the presence of a wolf. Each caw wears against my patience, already thin from my encounter with the deranged wizard.

When they settle down, I speak. "Perhaps you heard one too many stories of a hero vanquishing evil. Perhaps your mothers told you how special you were, how the world revolves around your insignificant heads. A day will come when the walls of your tiny worlds will crumble, exposing the vast terrors beyond."

I look to Burnbright. The blue paint matches the fiece light in her eyes. Rather, the light in her eyes are a result of the blue paint. "Catli, their will be no more lies or hidden truths between us. Even your chosen name, a blue mask to cover the truth beneath, must drop. You are Catli, daugther of Aslaug, and a power flows through your veins. In the coming days, you must choose between the selfish desires to don blue paint and earn fanciful wings, or to help the people that love you."

One day, I will have no need for words. No audience to weigh and measure the meaning as if every letter were hollow. "It appears you have lost track of our purpose here. We did not come to replace a hand leagues away to staunch the leaking eyes of a knight. We did not come here to earn a brave death, repaid with pixies carrying our bodies to a mythical land. We did not come here for the gold, or the hidden knowledges that lay deep in the earth."

I point to Catli. "We came to end the plight of these lands and ensure she is safe. You bicker and moan at every pass, only uniting when an enemy stands before you. At night, gathered around the fire, you fall apart under the weight of your pathetic pasts or your selfish desires. Until a new target combines your collective hate.

Yes, I choked and bound the wizard. Tell me, Tyrant, what was it you said about prisoners? We take no prisoners of those who would cause us harm? By that logic, she would be dead. I have spared her because I value her aid in our quest. No, Aliron, you have nothing to fear of me. I can't say about those who you would guard."

 

[Ravana]

I refuse the bread, still nauseated, as if I was torn between a cold and a hangover.

Hiljikki reaches into her pouch, pulls out a couple berries, squeezes them between her fingers, smears the crushed berries onto a piece of bread, then hands the bread to you.

"Here. Now it has jam on it."

Only Mauve catches the slight upward twitch of one corner of Hiljikki's mouth. Yes, sometimes she really does make a joke.

•••

"What would happen to Srilkind if these creatures decided to leave their lair and invade?"

"Who cares?"

…

…

Well, so much for levity.…

 

[Phietadix]

Before the meeting.

Again he acts as if he knows all. And only he can think. I'm starting to wonder if he's the only one here who can not.

"Tell me Ankari, is is selfish to think, to have hopes, or to dream? Would you have us me mindless machines to do only your bidding? We are sentient beings. We have desires besides our mission. Is it wrong to have them?

"You say Burnbright will have to choose between what she wants and to help those she loves. Can she not have both? Can we not complete our currant goal and personal ones as well? Or in your complete knowledge of all the universe have you seen that it is not so?"

"You say all we do is bicker. But you bicker and whine as much as the rest of us. Nay, you do so more than the rest of us. Constantly thinking we are below you. That you know all and we nothing. That you can decide what we do and what we do not do."

"Yes our purpose is to end the taint. But will not having a knight with over two-thoundsand years of experience able to fight again help that? Tell me, how much experience do you have? Why do you act as if he is simply a child you need to correct?"

"You do not tell us what we need to do. You are the same as any of us. Is it wrong to wish to have rewards or honor? Does wanting them make out goal any farther away? Think carefully on this before saying otherwise."

 

[Nihal]

Hiljikki reaches into her pouch, pulls out a couple berries, squeezes them between her fingers, smears the crushed berries onto a piece of bread, then hands the bread to you.

"Here. Now it has jam on it."

Only Mauve catches the slight upward twitch of one corner of Hiljikki's mouth. Yes, sometimes she really does make a joke.

I nod and take the bread, biting it. So far I had no motives to not trust in her, even if she's a bit... unsettling. The berries don't take too long to take effect, I feel better as if the attack never occurred.

((If they are the right berries...))

"Yes, I choked and bound the wizard. Tell me, Tyrant, what was it you said about prisoners? We take no prisoners of those who would cause us harm? By that logic, she would be dead. I have spared her because I value her aid in our quest. No, Aliron, you have nothing to fear of me. I can't say about those who you would guard."

"Between being murdered or slaved by you, I chose the third option and fought. Why the surprise?" There is no anger in my voice, nothing, it's so passionless as I am.

I move to the door, turning to them. "You should go to Drimmen-delve. She has a point." I motion to Hiljikki with my head. "If storming in and attempting a frontal attack is your better plan you're doomed. You will fail, you will die, the girl will die. Their spellcaster was no novice." I cross my arms.

I ought to explain now I've started.

"Darin, you helped me with the book. A spellbook, it was what she carried. She was more experienced than me, it contained enchantments I would not dare to cast yet. You felt my bite today, ranger. Know that it could have been worse and an enemy mage will not refrain from casting it twice against you as I did."

"They were the first group to respond, assume they were unprepared. If you can get any help, do it, stop underestimating your foes. Now, I need my spear. I'll be back."

I leave the temple.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Before the Meeting

"Tell me, Tyrant, what was it you said about prisoners? We take no prisoners of those who would cause us harm? By that logic, she would be dead. I have spared her because I value her aid in our quest. No, Aliron, you have nothing to fear of me. I can't say about those who you would guard."

I will not break my vow.

"You don't understand what I said at all or you would never have treated Mauve as a prisoner to begin with, and you know nothing of my people nor do you demonstrate an interest to learn. Therefore, any response to you is as meaningless as are your words to me."

I ruffle Burnbright's hair.

"Knowing that, I won't break my vow or even waste my anger on you in silence. You can have some of my pity. To see Burnbright wearing my woad paint is evidence that I brought some joy into her life. How can you look at her face and fail to see that?"

I take Burnbright by the hand…

"Come on, Burnbright. Let me show you how to heat a loaf without burning the crust!"

…and walk away, with no intention to respond to the next barrage of meaningless words.



((Baldhart will only respond if Burnbright refuses to be led away.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

At the Meeting

Nissa, who voted for what?

Let's see, Rydh wants to go underground. So does Darin, though not as adamantly.

Hiljikki, Sir Matthew, Mauve… they're for Drimmen-delve.

Nod didn't vote. Did Alin? What about Ankari? Is he still sulking about what happened an hour ago? And Sir Cadell spoke, too, didn't he?

I thought Sir Cadell wanted to go underground, but perhaps he changed his mind at the prospect of getting his mechanical hand. What do you want, Baldy?

Consensus.

 

[Ankari]

"Tell me Ankari, is is selfish to think, to have hopes, or to dream? Would you have us me mindless machines to do only your bidding? We are sentient beings. We have desires besides our mission. Is it wrong to have them?

"To think, no. To dream, yes. Dreams are reserved for the nights when your bones are brittle and the joints ache. When you fear to close your eyes and open them again. I do not want anyone to do my bidding, only the bidding of their conscience. Keep your desires where you left them, somewhere in your past. A hunt is one the wind. We must strike before we die of failure."

"You say Burnbright will have to choose between what she wants and to help those she loves. Can she not have both? Can we not complete our currant goal and personal ones as well? Or in your complete knowledge of all the universe have you seen that it is not so?"

"Have you forgotten who she is? No, she cannot. to help the ones she loves, she will have to fill her mother's role. To die worthy of ethereal wings would rob the living of their peace. Would you, Oh Grand Knight, not sacrifice the blood in your veins for the safety of thousands? Still, if she wishes to tread the path of the Tyrant, I won't stop her. "

"You say all we do is bicker. But you bicker and whine as much as the rest of us. Nay, you do so more than the rest of us. Constantly thinking we are below you. That you know all and we nothing. That you can decide what we do and what we do not do."

"How do you measure your worth? Is it in the dreams you gather? The ideals that cloud your judgment? I measure mine with action. I measure mine with the eternal hunt. There are foes below us who would cause harm to the weak. Do you think they will suspend their intentions simply because we are not ready for them? Do you think they are shedding their armor, retreating to the dark recesses of their dwelling because we consider seeking aid leagues away? They plot as we plot. They sharpen blades as we sheath ours. They ready words of power as we use it against one another."

"Yes our purpose is to end the taint. But will not having a knight with over two-thoundsand years of experience able to fight again help that? Tell me, how much experience do you have? Why do you act as if he is simply a child you need to correct?"

"I have enough to know the dangers we face, but not enough to know the fear that grips your hearts. I have enough to act, while others debate. I have enough to keep an enemy alive to gather information, while others would see them dead. I have enough to sacrifice myself, while others mope about the loss of a hand, or wipe the tears from their eye as they recall some memory that reminded them the world is full of predators."

"You do not tell us what we need to do. You are the same as any of us. Is it wrong to wish to have rewards or honor? Does wanting them make out goal any farther away? Think carefully on this before saying otherwise."

"You are right. I don't care what path you chose. I care not for shining metal disks or glittering gems beyond their ability to equip me. You do not find glory at the end of sacrifice. Glory is a word cowards use to disguise their surprise at vanquishing a foe they thought beyond them. Keep your glory. I seek only balance."

 

[Ankari]

Joining the Timelines

I move back to the entrance and pull on my armor and gear. The time for discussion has pass. Now is the time to act.

"Darin, the dwarven tunnels have more openings than the one we entered through, or the troglodytes wouldn't have been able to access this temple. We can assume the tunnels are secured from the dwarven homes, but not from dead communities or ones overtaken like the one you and your comrades found. If we depart, then we run the risk of the troglodytes loose upon Srilkind, and other communities. If we lead Catli away, then we run the risk of them following us with the same superior wraiths that hunt our imaginations below.

No matter what is decided, I will go with you down below. Would you consider a dwarf an equal to the threats we face?"