Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Nihal]

Raising one of my hands, I answer Baldhart, "Fssssssssoooooohhhhh."

It was supposed to be a "no".

I hurry towards the water and dive, happily drawing a mouthful of water and giving my gills some work to do.

That would be ironic to... drown, but in dry land.

I resurface and swim to the boat, tapping on it's side and helping them to the shore, then, drying my hands on the wood and picking up my things. I don't know how I forgot about it before. Searching in my pouches, I fish a piece of chalk out of it and deposit the rest of my stuff on the ground.

I write on the stone, “They ran. Watch for reinforcements?”

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nod - as soon as the conoe is ashore

"Fish girl might want these." I toss the shoes, the cloak, a bag full of lady things. I hand over the spear carefully. Pointy end toward the giant woman, not you, idiot! What if she betrays you first? Shut up. I'll stab your side of my head. Go ahead. Pry it from her hand. Do it!

...weakling. She has a friend who is littler than you. The winged one. Your replacement. Maybe she's your replacement. What does that even mean? Shut up.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I read Mauve's message.

"I know. I was hoping we could stop them from running." I smile at her. "You were amazing! Listen, Aliron can keep watch. His eyes are sharper than mine and I'm useless until enemies get close. You'll need my help when you turn back, and... actually I want to talk to you."

 

[Nihal]

Cocking my head to the side, I wipe the previous words just leaving, “?”

 

[Ireth]

I sigh as the sounds of battle from the other shore fade. Hopefully the lizards are all slain. But perhaps they have only retreated. That must be why the boat is not back yet; they could be waiting for any living enemies to return. I sigh again and stand back from the water. Those still with me are oddly silent, even in the face of my argument with Ankari. But perhaps it is for the better. I do not need more cutting words.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I make sure the boat is gone, then ask Aliron, "Can you keep your eyes and ears on that tunnel? Oh... and here." I give Aliron 5 berries. "I was about to shove them into your mouth, but I had to jump overboard. I don't know if these are enough or too many, but 5 is a nice round number. Eat one berry at a time until you feel no pain."



Alone with Mauve (and in earshot of Aliron)

((Just to get the RP moving. Ravana, if you want Algernon to respond to Baldhart we can do that retro or he can say something and leave.))

"I don't exactly fault the others who waver. It happens. People want to live. Me? I can't betray my principles, and certainly can't waver from the path of my Goddess. You saw Nissa. You touched her to see if she's real. I saw that!" I smile, though I know Mauve is probably a little freaked out by Nissa. "You know what my future is. You know what death brings me. It's a beautiful future and I won't risk displeasing my Goddess by wavering when I know I can win.

"I know what you're thinking... what does this have to do with you? Well... you always make good decisions. You take risks. Smart risks. I just... I feel like you are underappreciated. Maybe no one ever says thank you. Maybe no one understands the danger you put yourself in every time you cast a spell or jump in a lake. I want you to know that I do.

"When I jumped in the water, I knew you would turn into a mermaid. I had no doubt in my mind you would. I knew I was strong enough to crawl to shore. I thought I'd get shot, but win. I would have tried it alone if you were still in the boat. I would have died rather than turn back.

"But you... you jumped in first. You swam past me and prevented me from catching multiple arrows. Just one hit! It grazed me! I don't even want to waste a berry on the wound. Do you like these berries? I like what they do but..."

I watch her chalk hand.

"Sorry. Let me start with thank you, Mauve. Thank you! And... now I'll shut up and let you write before I go on."

 

[SeverinR]

If the arrow remains in my leg, I will pull it now. knowing that others can help if the bleeding doesn't stop.

To Aliron, I add, "I can heal you. Come over."

I nod, stick the torch in the mud, grab my bow and limp straight to the left barrel barrel. One hand holding the bow, the other on my leg. I watch the hallway, and keep my injured leg behind the barrel.

I make sure the boat is gone, then ask Aliron, "Can you keep your eyes and ears on that tunnel? Oh... and here." I give Aliron 5 berries. "I was about to shove them into your mouth, but I had to jump overboard. I don't know if these are enough or too many, but 5 is a nice round number. Eat one berry at a time until you feel no pain."

I take the berries, eat one right away. Chance a quick check on the cannoe, then back towards the hallway.

"I should thank you both, your jumping in distracted the arrows from being focused on me, while the loud warrior turned the cannoe. The arrows, I think a third might have done me in, two were bad enough."
I look at the dead lizards.
"You might check them to see if they have anything of worth or any information that might be useful. Not expecting to find another mereknife, but no harm in checking."

[[how much healing does the beries do? I am down 5hp]]]

 

[Nihal]

((1HP each berry.))

I listen to her quietly, keeping my thoughts to myself. When she stops, I raise one finger and move to the water, talking another gulp of water and thinking on how could I answer it in few words. Hard.

Wiping the chalk, I write again, “I could have failed. I'll explain later.” I wipe it. “Don't repeat it. Don't take unnecessary risks if you can, foolishness is not bravery.”

I raise my hands, palms towards her in a peace sign, then wipe my writing. “But I understand, given the situation. Thanks.” I nod and underline the last word.

“Thanks.”

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Before the boat left...

"The barrels? Well... I was kind of hoping to use them for cover in case enemies come back, but if you have an idea to use them, you can have them."

I check the barrels for treasure or anything that may add unwanted weight, as I assume this is to be used as a floatation device, then assuming I have no reason not to, I'll load them on the boat.

"Um... on second thought, do you need both? I was also hoping to build a fire here and I need to break one for that. Mauve will be cold when she reverts to human form and some of her clothing is wet."

((I'll leave the fate of the barrels to Ravana and Steerpike.

Note: IF THE LIGHT SOURCE ON THE WHITE STONES IS FIRE, IGNORE PARAGRAPH #3))




Response to Aliron's words (while Mauve is writing)...

To Aliron, I say, "You're welcome, and thank you for the covering fire. In fact, thank you for earlier--telling everyone we must treat each other as equals. Maybe you don't know what my people are like, but... we are a free people. No prisons! Few crimes, since the penalty is death unless the crime is forgiven by the victim. Even then, some crimes are unforgivable."

I think of Ankari and Mauve, but keep that thought to myself. There can be no talk of killing one who I do not intend to kill. That may not break my vow, but... it would be even more damaging to the party.

"I don't mean to talk of crime and punishment. I just mean that we are free. No nobles, no complicated laws. Live off the land, raise a family, ski down the Iron Mountain in the winter... it was a peaceful life."




Response to Mauve's words...

I read Mauve's words.

"You care." I study her form. Amazing creature. So powerful, but it's still the same soul inside! "I like talking to you like this. Can I have the chalk? Mine's wet."

((I'm going to assume that Mauve gives Baldy the chalk. If for some reason she wouldn't, Baldy just speaks.))

I make sure Aliron is keeping watch, though if he does spy these words, I won't really mind.



I DO mean to talk of crime and punishment!

Where I come from, what Ankari did to you is punishable by death. Unforgivable.
He can never set foot on the Iron Mountain or I am honor-bound to kill him.
I made a vow to Brynhild never to speak in anger against an ally. Words of anger
almost got us killed. If I spoke against him only to again fight along his side,
I'd have broken my vow. I wanted to speak up. I know you don't appreciate this reason.
I'm sorry. I KNEW what he did was wrong. Very wrong! I KNEW you were truthful.


"There's more," I tell her as I wipe away the chalk. "...but Nissa asks me to let you respond before I go on."

I hand Mauve the chalk.

 

[Sparkie]

I knew it would be cold, but not this cold. Gotta keep moving, get my mind off the cold as I head into the tunnel. I remember something Maia used to say when I was younger, and I take comfort in the memory...

"Just Keep Swimming..."

As I swim, I notice the noises have died down. Whether good or bad, I need to see what's going on. I move as fast as I can, which doesn't mean much here in the water. The sword in my mouth shifts and starts to dig into my cheek. I take a moment to adjust it and continue on.

 

[SeverinR]

If you do that, the canoe will be traveling in the dark.
.

I figure someone would grab the torch, I am not really mobile. (I think we could assume when the cannoe starts to leave they will figure out the torch needs to come along. I figured it was safer then propping it against the cannoe, rock or debris.)
Aliron doesn't assign anyone duties, nor does he yell very often, he is stealth, swift and silent.
(Probably why no one heard him when he yelled about the battle.)

I eat another berry and conceal the rest.

 

[Nihal]

I hand the chalk over to her and wait patiently. Again I raise my hand and go to the lake, breathing and returning to answer. I hesitate.

I know what I saw, the vicious glint in his eyes. The bastard was always like this, he's a monster under his skin and no one did a thing about it!

Picking it back, I write, “I know.” I shake my head. “It won't change what happened. I”

I stop writing and shake my head again, placing the chalk on the stone. Nothing I can say will be pleasant to her, and some things I can't say. Fortunately, I'm in this non-human form, she won't be able to read my expression so easily. I knew he would attack me, I didn't know he would be so violent. He wasn't merely defending himself.

Accepting my conditions won't stop the pig from trying to kill me, only from doing in their front. It can be a misguided arrow, a whisper about my magic near the wrong ears... He wanted to use me or kill me, and no bloody bastard uses me. It's only a matter of who'll kill who first.

I have no intention of dying.

I push the chalk into her direction, dark thoughts still swirling in my mind.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

She's always like this. Nissa, is this really a good idea?

It's YOUR idea, Baldy. Like any idea, you don't really know until you've tried.



"Okay." I take the chalk. "But I wish you wouldn't conceal your thoughts."

Before every battle, I must make a sacrifice to Brynhild. I have Nissa,
who speaks for Brynhild, so I know that my sacrifice is accepted.
So far, two of my sacrifices have been in the form of a vow that

I hesitate.

takes a little freedom from me. One is the vow I told you about, that
forbids me to lash out in anger against an ally. The other is the one
I have made for the next battle. Nissa said there must be a condition
for this one. It concerns you.

My vow: I will be unwavering in my support for you, as you have been
an unwavering ally in battle.

The condition: I can only support you in ways that will not have me fail my Goddess.
If anyone refers to you as "prisoner" again, I must speak up for you, but must not
let anger get the better of me, as that contradicts a prior vow. If you ask me
to retreat from a battle, but I know the retreat will displease my Goddess,
all I can do is reply, "Save yourself." Support does not mean obey,
but it does mean I do not sit and do nothing while you suffer.

Please do not be afraid to tell me what you think. I did not believe anyone
among our group seriously considered you a prisoner until you were attacked.
What happened to you is unforgivable where I come from. Can you forgive me?

Please?


I leave it for her to read while I talk.

"I considered this vow as I saw you jump off of that boat, while Algernon - who I thought to be like one of my people - tried to force me to retreat. At that moment I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I stopped caring about how underappreciated I am, and how no matter how many times I'm successful in battle, I always find myself next to an ally having second thoughts mid-battle. I jumped in with you ready to die, but I knew I wouldn't because you were with me.

"That's when it hit me. Of course I take risks. I killed almost as many monsters as the rest of the group combined. I have a valkyrie who tells me exactly what the afterlife will be like. I know that whether I fight or run home in a urine-stained dress I will never be elderly, and I have already come to terms with that.

"But you... the others mocked your wizardry. They underestimated you. Mistreated you. Ridiculed your miscast spells. And yet you remain unwavering while others who are sure of their abilities look for any excuse to back away from a fight.

"I meant what I said - you have what it takes to become a valkyrie. I'm not trying to convert you. I mean you possess the battle-sense and the courage. I don't know what it will be like when I meet other valkyries besides Nissa. But I'll bet a lot of them were once a woman very much like you."

I finally hear the sound of my own voice: a mix of righteous passion and suppressed rage. Where the tears would normally be, I feel as if there is fire in my eyes. I stop talking and breathe a little.

I give Mauve the chalk.

"No holding back your thoughts this time. If we can't be honest with each other, my vow is meaningless. I don't want it to be."

 

[Nihal]

Written words, spoken words; she's passionate and speaking the truth. I can barely feel anything, every emotional word meeting the void inside me, making this heavy weight on my stomach a bit heavier. For some reason, I'm not moved.

“I forgive you.†I glance at the worn out chalk. “About courage, I need words. Later.â€

She was just blind to it, all of them are. It doesn't make them any less guilty, just... different.

But you want no holding back, right?

I write, “We're both going to die young. I'm corrupted.†Watching her reaction, I wait. I'm strong, I'm powerful and if she decides to turn against me, I'm ready.

((I imagine she won't, then...))

I wipe it. “It happened the day I met you, it made me late to the battle. Don't tell them.â€

My gills are burning, so, I return to the lake and back to her. I wipe my words again, feeling a bit stupid. What else could I say now? “It happens to us all. I'm not changed, but it will get worse.†I look to one side, then another, uncomfortable with this situation.

“No one cares about us, they fear us.†The heavy feeling is rising, becoming something hot. Anger, revolt. I underline the first words. “Mages sacrificed themselves to end the War, the magic was broken. We're all suffering for a long time. If anyone cared we wouldn't be here today. No Aslaug. No Burnbright.

“Aslaug will die because we can't save her. Their mistreatment to me is nothing.â€

I wipe everything.

“I don't want your pity, I want you to see th truth.â€

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Some of your clothes are in the water. Why not get them while I write? I need to wring it out and let it dry."

((Will build a fire if the barrels were not needed, or… won't build a fire if the light source here is a heat source.))

Well, Nissa?

She's opening up a little. She really has no idea what you're doing, Baldy.

That's okay. I just need her to trust me by knowing I trust her. She's not the warm and fuzzy type. She may never be.


I don't fear you. I used to pity you, and maybe I do a little bit still,
but mostly I admire and trust you. You think I know nothing about magic
or about corruption. Close. I know little. Far less than you, but not nothing.
When you say Aslaug cannot be saved, if you mean she will be dangerously
corrupt until dead, then you are telling me what I already believe is the case.

But there is one piece of this that I know and you seem not to,
or maybe you do know but don't appreciate the significance.
If you hadn't met Nissa, I wouldn't expect you to believe me,
but you know who Nissa is and what she is so please believe this:

Corruption attacks the mind and body. It cannot harm your soul.

If your life is short and you know it, that should matter to you.
You are a good person. You may not think so, but your actions
speak louder than your attempts to distance yourself.
If you don't want the corruption to drive you mad, you
need to stay in touch with your humanity. You cannot accept
mistreatment from others. You cannot lose yourself to
the corruption. I want to help you with that.

Your forgiveness means a lot to me. So does your trust.
I will not tell anyone what you told me.

Can I tell the others how bravely you acted?
I won't tell them I made a vow to my Goddess to be
supportive to you. After seeing me carry you naked
everywhere, they may get the wrong idea. Don't you!


I erase that last bit.

((CHA check))

I think she knows I'm joking anyway.


I want to tell them how brave you were because they
need to see that someone is willing to treat you right.
I know you don't care to be touted as a hero, but it
has to happen. Anyone who questions your usefulness
must know that without you, there would have been a
retreat.

((Assuming Aqua-Mauve swam to get her tunic…))

"I won't be long. I need to spread out your clothes. And… I hope you don't mind, but mine too. Fair warning, Aliron. I'm not much to look at, but I'd rather be dry as possible before the next battle."

I strip. Everything comes off. I wring out my wool dress and lay my boots down. The scale armor can only drip dry, so it doesn't matter if I wear it or not. It's not comfortable over my naked body, but one of Mauve's shreds meant for Nissa can take away some discomfort. The skirt of the armor isn't modest enough for my taste, but if the lizards come, being nude is only advantageous if I plan to swim away. I don't. I wear my scale armor and little else, then wring out Mauve's wet clothing and see if she has more to say.

"I'm going to hold your knife hand so you can write if you want to. I'd rather not jump in if you revert to human form while you dunk under to breathe. I know I can hold my breath long enough to get you out, even with armor on, but I don't know if I can prevent you from drowning. No more chalk for me. I'll use words to respond. I won't let go of you."

 

[Ravana]

If the barrels are still watertight, Algernon takes both—two is all we need. If there are more than two, he takes the largest two which seem to be in good shape.* If none of them look to be sufficiently intact, he'll just go.

Then he sets out toward the party, humming quietly to himself in time with his strokes. The tune sounds familiar, but he's being so good about keeping it down only the occasional note can be caught. Even though quiet at this point is pretty much rhetorical, possibly even counterproductive.

A couple minutes after he disappears around the corner, however, what certainly sounds like a startled Algernon can be heard saying something which might be "What are you doing here?"

•

((*There's a fair amount of other debris on the shore, too: perhaps some of that can burn? And I don't want to assume there are only two barrels just because only two were on the map.))

Also positioned along the shoreline are a number of piles of debris, anything from rocks to pieces of splintered, rotting timber, to a few storage barrels

 

[Nihal]

"Some of your clothes are in the water. Why not get them while I write? I need to wring it out and let it dry."

Hah, you just read my mind!

I smirk to her, showing my innumerable sharp teeth. Leaping into the lake, I welcome the water, gulping it vigorously; all this time having to repeatedly hold my breath is wearing me off. Made of light linen, my tunic is easy to find, but the darker trousers present a greater challenge. I swim around, locating a dark shape floating near the corner. Grabbing it, I peek around the corner to discover what startled the barbarian.

I return to the shore, not sure if I pity whoever was swimming or find it amusing. Anyway, the barbarian will help him. I twist the clothes and hand them to her.

Baldhart moves away, I sit and read. I feel a bit bad for her, the more she talks to me more I feel she's some kind of grown-up Burnbright, and I hate to admit it, but I feel responsible for the girl. After seeing something of Aurore in her, it would be impossible to walk away without giving a thought.

“I need words too. I'm starting to get dizzy. We can use what was left of my garment to dry ourselves, it's in my backpack. To breath I have a better idea.”

Heading to the lake, I lie down on the shallowest part.

There is no way to drown now. I smile.

 

[SeverinR]

Still watching the hallway, I finish the berries as the wound wasn't healing fast enough.
I need to be able to move, the muscles don't move well with a giant hole in them.

I ignore the writing, and pretend I don't hear the words. Its second nature to listen in on others conversation, there is profit in it, and sometimes profit can be heard at the strangest of times.

I glance back to check on progress of the cannoe.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I'll keep an eye on you while I dry the clothing," I tell Mauve.

I move to the fire.

((Per Ravana's post pointing out there are more sources of firewood than two barrels, Baldy used pieces of wood and built the fire near a rock pile so clothing can be spread on the white stones.))

My wool dress will take some time to dry, but I should be able to dress properly before Mauve can even move.

I see Nissa in the fire.



What you're doing... maybe it can help more than it can hurt... maybe.

What's the harm? Mauve needs someone to look out for her.

She'll never be a friend to you. You know that, don't you?

I'll be one to her anyway. I can't stand the way they treat her.



I check on Mauve again. She looks confident in that form. I wonder how many arrows I would have caught if she hadn't raced past me in the water.

I stand by Aliron.

"You look much healthier now. How'd you like the taste of those berries?"

I look at Mauve while I talk.

"I was telling you about my mountain, how my people are a free people - not conquerers like outsiders think! We stick to Principles and live off the land, and mostly live in harmony. Aside from the occasional bar brawl, it's a peaceful place. We train for war, but no one invades the Iron Mountain. We have the advantage of high ground, mighty warriors as well as skilled archers and healers - the Uller-worshippers, and honestly... there's nothing that a conquering army of knights or orcs would actually want. My father is descended from the first Eisenbergs to settle the mountain, but even the daughter of a cheiftain is not a princess. And my uncle - the first son of the first son and so on - he's no king. Dad and Uncle Wolfgang don't take earnings from others. They earn the respect of others and make decisions about our Principles, but they are men same as any other men.

"I really appreciated your talk of equality. I don't understand the way of the noble. If I had some kind of birthright because of who my father is, I don't know if I'd be allowed to carry a sword, much less learn to use one. I'd probably prance around on a high horse with a tea cup in my hand. Hopefully, the horse would gallop off a cliff and put me out of my misery. Don't think I could stand the life of a noble woman.

"Sorry... I mean to ask about you, Alin. You want nothing to do with nobles. We're in agreement there. I just am curious as to why you feel that way."

 

[Steerpike]

((Each berry heals one point of damage. If Aliron eats all five he will have five HP back)).

With the battle over, the party is able to relax, if only a little knowing that enemies remain nearby. As Baldhart and Mauve scratch their conversation into the hard ground of the shore, Aliron stands nearby, watching the hallway. All is quiet from that direction. The enemies appear to have truly fled, though whether they have simply gone for help you can't be sure.

Checking the barrels reveals that they are all filled with the same rock that is scattered around the shore. Baldhart builds a fire to dry her things as the conversation progresses, the flames casting shadows across the walls and ceiling. They appear old, though one of them appears more or less watertight. The other barrel would not keep water out - the banding is loose and the wood has separated in places.

The debris piles on the shore are comprised mostly of rock, from pieces small enough to fit in the palm to others that are perhaps a foot along their longest side. They have been stacked into piles purposefully, providing a good hiding place for a crouching reptile, though they would be somewhat less effective for a full, human-sized creature. The piles also contain scattered pieces of wood and one contains the remains of banding for a barrel.

The white rocks are of unknown origin. They are solid enough, and crystalline in form. The light they give off is relatively dim, white, and without heat.

Rydh continues swimming through the cold waters of the tunnel, the air around him almost completely dark, though he can make out the dim, shadowy form of the walls. The exertion of swimming does not tire him rapidly, but the cold of the water starts to chill his bones as he goes, and after a couple of minutes his starts to shiver when he slows to readjust his sword. When he slows he takes in another detail of the cavern walls. At various points, well spaced apart and hardly enough to provide a substantial light source, there are pinpricks of white light in the walls of the cavern, like tiny stars spread across the canvas of a night sky.

Darin helps Ankari retrieve the table from the old kitchen area. It is heavy, but between the two of them they are able to carry it. He tests one of the legs, which is quite sturdy. "You think this will float?" he asks Ankari. "We could knock the legs off to give us a flat surface on both sides, if you think that will help. I'm not much use when it comes to advice for traveling on water, underground or otherwise."

Cadell hears Rydh's splashes vanish into the distance a couple of minutes before Ankari and Darin return with the table. The cavern is dim and quiet, the water returning to its motionless state quickly.

Mauve and Baldhart take time in their conversation, as scratching their conversations into the ground is a slow process. As Mauve finishes up her last statement she feels a now-familiar tension in her muscles - the onset of the change. In moments, she will be Mauve again. The only question, whether she will change on dry land or will make for the water.

Algernon disappears around the corner with the boat, heading back to the rest of the group. He paddles for a minute at most before he hears the faint sound of splashing ahead. Around that same time, Rydh makes out an outline approaching him on the surface of the water. It is too dark to tell what it is, but it is accompanied by a splashing of its own.