Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Nihal]

Shiny shore

"I think I will leave the talk to you," I say laughing, "for even if these things are true, I can not get rid of the suspicion that I would sound like Burnbright—she told me how she claimed she wrestled a bear. Let's just say I am still in training.

"I am not as strong as a true warrior, although I know how to exchange some blows." I look at her. "We should train some day."

 

[Ireth]

I look at Nodrick when he speaks, and am about to respond when he shuts, throws a crossbow and a quiver of bolts, and flees up the tunnel. Baffled, I disregard his instructions not to follow, and hurry after him. He's going to get himself killed if he goes off alone.

"Nodrick! Wait!" Damn, but he's fast! He is nowhere in sight by the time I reach the hole we descended through, the rope still swaying. I cannot climb back up on my own, not with my mangled arm. I sigh and turn back to rejoin the others. Wherever Nod is now, I wish him luck.

((Possible edits forthcoming, as I forgot how far it was from the lake to the temple. I don't know if it's feasible to go that far so quickly. Whoops!))

 

[Ravana]

((20+ minute walk each direction.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Still in training… yes, that is easier for others to believe, I suppose. But I did see you jump on that monster's back, and your attack is the reason it spat me out and turned to the water. If I forgot to thank you for saving me… thanks." I sigh. "Not being able to tell Hrolf that will be harder than having to keep silent about Nissa."

The thought of training her perks me up.

"Wait! You mentioned training? I love training people! Can you use a sword? If not, I know some spear techniques. One I often use with my sword is the impale technique. I think you're strong enough to do that, though… it's risky. If you just do it for practice, though, the risk doesn't matter."

 

[Steerpike]

As Nod rushes off into the darkness and Cadell runs after him, Darin shakes his head. "I don't trust that little halfling farther than I can throw Algernon, here." He gestures at the big man with his thumb.

When talk turns to the boat, Darin nods as Algernon is speaking. "At this point, the two trips might be the best way to get everyone together, so long as there is nothing urgent in crossing the water. Still, I wonder if we might take the table top with us, to leave on the far shore if nothing else. If we have need of it again, it will be closer. For now, I deem we best push onward." He presses his lips together and looks into the darkness. "When Sir Cadell returns, of course."

Regardless of the mode of transportation ((and feel free to RP it)), the party is ultimately reunited on the rocky shore with the long, dark corridor and the strange white stones. Dead lizards on the shore give evidence of the battle that occurred. Mauve's strength is returning, but everyone can tell she's exerted herself in some way.

Using hammers, pommels of swords, or even other pieces of rock, it is not hard to break off portions of the white stone. Darin frowns at the sight of the stones, turning a piece around in his hand and muttering. He puts the piece in his pouch.

The corridor is lit dimly by the stone Aliron threw forward earlier. It looks a lot like the tunnel that led from the temple to the dungeon in which you find yourselves now.

 

[Nihal]

"I am too awkward using a sword and it does not give me the necessary reach—and distance—to fight." I adjust the cloak under me, turning my eyes to the corridor again. "You could try to show me this technique, but if it is the one that includes lifting... well... I am faster than I am strong, and I fear my spear would break under my foe weight." I chuckle.

((What a déjà vu feeling. o.o))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

When the Boat Arrives

I greet the party with the shaman's wolf skull as a helmet and half a bottle in my hand.

"Anyone care for some wine? Oh! And Goodberries, too, if anyone is in need of healing."

 

[Ravana]

((Since it seems we have the GM's permission to ignore the possibility of surprise attacks, let's do it the fun way.))

By the time Sir Cadell returns, Algernon has gotten everything in the place and order he wants it for us to make it in a single trip. Sir Matthew takes the bow of the canoe and the other oar. Darin will anchor the rope in the center of the canoe. Rhyd, still recovering from his dip, sits behind Darin, carrying the torch, the warmth of which he finds so comforting he holds it perilously close to his body.

Ankari is positioned lying flat in the center of the table-raft, with five feet of rope between it and the stern of the canoe. The rope is passed around his waist, and then continues back.

An additional five feet behind the table is the barrel. When Sir Cadell returns, Algernon gives him an apologetic look: "Uh, sorry. But ever'body else already stole the good seats while you was gone." He has Sir Cadell wrap the rope around his waist and tie it off.

Then the flotilla sets forth. Algernon once again sings to time the strokes:

"The first mate, he got drunk
And broke in the captain's trunk
The constable had to come and take him away.…"

You didn't even know he could do falsetto.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I am too awkward using a sword and it does not give me the necessary reach—and distance—to fight." I adjust the cloak under me, turning my eyes to the corridor again. "You could try to show me this technique, but if it is the one that includes lifting... well... I am faster than I am strong, and I fear my spear would break under my foe weight." I chuckle.

((What a déjà vu feeling. o.o))

"There's a variation that involves a downward thrust finish, which can pin an enemy. Easier than lifting!"

 

[Ireth]

I climb into the barrel, huddling with my knees tucked close against my chest and my left arm wrapped around them; my right hand clutches the rim of the barrel, in a perhaps useless precaution against tipping sideways and falling out. Between my own weight and that of my armor, the barrel rides far lower than I'd like; thank goodness for the rope around my waist.

Algernon's singing distracts me somewhat from my less-than-cheerful thoughts and the chill of the water slopping around the bottom of the barrel. I hadn't thought his voice would reach so high. He isn't a bad singer, either.

"Just so we're clear," I call to the others, "on the return trip, if there is one, I am not riding in here again."

 

[Nihal]

"There's a variation that involves a downward thrust finish, which can pin an enemy. Easier than lifting!"

"Oh... This I can try!"


Their Arrival

Glancing over my shoulder I finally discover who went for a swim in the lake. I do my best to not smile at the cleric's disgrace...



...but it can't be helped and I let out a low chuckle. I turn to the hallway again, biting my lips.

Hah, that will teach him to stop rushing into dangerous situations like the moron he is!

 

[Ireth]

I cannot help but sigh aloud in relief as our craft finally reaches the far shore. As soon as I am able to, I climb out of the barrel, wobbling a little with my first steps as my stiff, aching legs take my weight. Ugh. Ow. Never doing that again!

I look around, seeing the lizard carcasses lying here and there. "Is everyone alright?"

 

[Sparkie]

Then the flotilla sets forth. Algernon once again sings to time the strokes:

"The first mate, he got drunk
And broke in the captain's trunk
The constable had to come and take him away.…"

You didn't even know he could do falsetto.

I hear Algernon break into song. Ironically, it's one I've heard before. When I lived in Stoneport, there were always sailors coming and going. There was one group of boys always on the beach, singing away. This one one of the songs they sang often, so I learned the lyrics in time. Now I join in with Algernon, singing harmony.

"...Sheriff John Stone
Why don't you leave me alone, yeah yeah
Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home

So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don't you let me go home
(hoist up the John B's sail)
Hoist up the John B
I feel so broke up I wanna go home
Let me go home..."

When we finally arrive at shore, I see and hear Mauve laugh. I smile slightly. "I see I'm not the only one who got wet..."

 

[Ankari]

The arrhythmic roll of the water creates a sense of weightlessness, a seductive lull. Even with the random advance of water that soaks into my clothes, I'm content. For the moment, nothing exists, only me and peace.

The barbarian sings, and I forgive him. The knight speaks, and it passes over me. Peace.

When the soft scrapping announces the end of the journey, I stifle a yawn and sit up. Were I selfish, I would forget this group and return to the table and the promise of dissolution.

"Let's get to work." I move past the party to inspect the passage ahead.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Before we go in, one thing you should know. Two ran in, and we can expect a trap was set… and who knows? Maybe they set a proper trap for once."

I hand Rydh the wine and gesture toward the fire. "Before we go in after them, I hope we can come to a quick agreement on formations." I grab some chalk but… the water ruined it. I grab some glowing rocks and name them as I place them.

"Ankari … Aliron
Algernon … Darin
Sir Matthew … me
Rydh … Sir Cadell
Mauve​

"The is how we should move while looking for traps. Ankari, Aliron, I'll trust you two to judge how far ahead of the group you'll go. If there's a fight, fall back to second rank while we're shooting, third rank when my sword is useful. If we find ourselves in an open area, we fan out so all shields are in front." I move the rocks and name them again as I move or maintain positions.

"Sir Matthew … Algernon … Darin … Sir Cadell
Ankari … me … Aliron
Rydh … Mauve​

"This keeps shield cover from the ranged attackers, arrows protecting flanks, and healers in the back. Yes, healers." I hand Mauve the bag of berries. "Unless someone needs healing now, Mauve has seven berries in that bag. Whether Rydh and Mauve wish to do more than heal is up to them, but healing is one way they can help. They can also move to second rank—" I move the rocks, but don't bother naming them aloud. "—like this:"

Sir Matthew … Algernon … Darin … Sir Cadell
Ankari … Rydh … Baldhart … Mauve … Aliron​

"The other thing I hope we can all agree on is that retreat and surrender are not options. No matter how difficult it gets down there, this beach is the end of the road if we run. If we surrender, they don't need all of us alive. Those killed without interrogation are better off. No prisoner will be released.

"We depend on each other for survival, so please use your most deadly attacks and never falter. I want to live. I want all of you to live. I don't think anyone here is expendable, so when I say we need to work together, it's because I know in my heart it's the only way we can all win the fight and live to tell about it."

Enough words.

"Anyway, do the formations work for all of you? If so, I'm ready when you are."

 

[Nihal]

When we finally arrive at shore, I see and hear Mauve laugh. I smile slightly. "I see I'm not the only one who got wet..."

"Oh, you know how I am fond of swimming!" I smile slyly to him.

"Anyway, do the formations work for all of you? If so, I'm ready when you are."

"We need a formation for when we expected to be attacked from front and rear. I remember well the last time I brought up the rear, hah."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Good point. If we cross a branching path, we probably will get attacked from both sides. What do you think of this?

"Algernon … Darin
Aliron … me
Mauve
Ankari … Rydh
Sir Matthew … Sir Cadell
​

"We keep heavier offense in the front—front being the direction we anticipate most dangerous, bear in mind—but we still have shields on each end, and a bow and sword near each shield."

 

[Steerpike]

((Moving ahead a bit; assuming the party is in formation. As always, feel free to backtrack a bit in RP)).

The corridor extends from the watery shore along a straight line for perhaps one-hundred feet, and then begins slanting to the right. There are no hard angles as it turns, but the turn is substantial enough that it is easily noticed by all. Soon it is as though you're traveling along a long, circular hallway, except that this hallway is also now slanting downward, moving deeper into the bowls of the earth.

The scouts range just ahead of the party, checking for traps, ambushes, or other dangers, but there are no such things to be found, at least not yet. The corridor is not very distinctive from one moment to the next as you travel along it, however after a couple of minutes the scouts spot something new - a side passage.

The main corridor continues its circular descent to some deeper place beneath the ground, but a side passage extends to the party's left. It is not a long passage. After a cautious approach, the party's scouts can see it extends only fifteen feet to a stone door. The door has faint traces of carvings on its surface, some the remnants of a runic script, the others images of dwarves, but they are hard to make out as someone has been at them with a hammer or other tool, chipping away at the distinctive writing and images.

In front of the door, rocks and debris have been piled, and a thick length of wood has been set against it as a brace, one end wedged against the floor, the other against the door itself. At either edge of the piece of wood you see signs that someone has hammered at it, presumably to wedge it more tightly. A single small skulls rests atop the slanted wood - that of one of the smaller lizards, as best you can tell.

The main corridor continues on ahead of you, spiraling downward into the dark.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((For the record, I considered this before seeing the other thread.))


"The door is clearly there to trap something… or someone. Let's check it out." I approach the door.

 

[Keitsumah]

I groaned as I came to, and upon Batos's throaty snarl I quickly curled up into a ball, gagging. An awful stench permeated the air, like sulfur and rotting flesh, and I buried my nose in the wolf's shoulder to try and block it out. What was that?

Groping around, my hands retreated quickly as soon as they brushed iron bars. A cage. I was in a cage. Then I remembered the thing that had attacked me and dropped me in here, and shivered. My eyes widened and i huddled next to my wolf, fear forming a deep, dark pit in my stomach. I knew i shouldn't have followed that creature i had spotted!

No, you wanted to see if it had hidden knowledge of where you were, Bright One. a mocking voice sneered in the back of my mind. As they say, curiosity killed the cat. You should have been a dog.

Gritting my teeth and swallowing back panic, i fingered the amethyst necklace i wore. It cast a feeble light onto the cold, dripping bars of the cage i was trapped in, but otherwise i could see no farther into the murky air.

Batos roared and swiveled around on his feet above me, and i curled up into a tight ball beneath him as he used his senses to follow the creature where i couldn't. His hackles stood straight up, and the three scars crossing his shoulder bulged, the remnant of his battles to protect me from creatures that had intended it harm me.

"Help . . ." I whispered to whatever gods may heed my words.