Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Ireth]

Mauve runs after Rydh, and moments later I hear her bellowing at him. I grimace and shake my head, then take a deep breath and hurry out after her. I am too slow to reach her before she aims a blow at Rydh, but I rush forward nonetheless, grab her around the waist and do my best to pull her back.

Well, that was useless. I huff a sigh and instead brace myself between them, my arms outstretched to force them apart. I look left and right at each of them, trying to keep my voice calm.

"That is quite enough from both of you. Must every conflict we have lead to blows?"

 

[Ravana]

"'An' if'n 'twas a dragon, ye'd give it yer teat t' suck on then, too, would ye?' Something my Pa said t' me once. I told him I didn't have teats. He cuffed me an' said I didn't have balls, neither, then kilt the ogre hisself."

Algernon shakes his head. Thinking too much always made it hurt. So why is it people's always tellin' me I oughta think more—if they ain't gonna?

Still shaking his head, Algernon heads toward the round room. Mebbe they's doin' somethin' there'll make sense t' me.

All things considered, he finds this a dubious proposition at best. But it seems worth a try. Nothing going on in the cave requires his presence, in any event. And fewer people probably means less arguing and yelling at each other. Which he hates. And now they're hitting each other, too.

Mebbe that other druid girl with the reindeer was right. Mebbe I didn't want to come down here nohow.

On his way, he does the only thing he can think of which might be useful. He hooks Rydh with his L O V E arm before the cleric can respond to Mauve, and mutters to him "Let it go. 'Tain't worth it." He impels Rydh away from the diminutive wizard. If Rydh refuses to go, Algernon won't make an issue of it, however.

 

[Keitsumah]

I stare at everyone, wide eyed as Batos quickly inserts himself between me and everyone else, hackles up and a low growl rumbling in his throat.

Seeing that two of them are coming to blows, I place a hand on his shoulder, and Batos threatens to howl but I clap one hand over his nose. "Don't."

Batos snorts and looks at me, annoyed, but obeys.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I try to cradle the harpy girl while all hell breaks loose. Slow movements. Stop if rejected and slowly back-track. Don't overplay the comfort level and keep her calm. Maybe she'll think it was The Other Blue Painted Lady that killed her mom. Ugh... why is there always needless infighting when I'm in a delicate position? Weren't we all in agreement?

"Shhhh... it's okay," I lie, "we're all responsible adults here. Everything will be just fine."

I hope they can all cool off and come back to us like this never happened.



What did happen, Nissa?

Beats me. Some of you mortals are really touchy. My advice: die for a few hundred years, then come back. You become immune to insults.

Maybe it's just because you're old. Sir Cadell is even-tempered and he never died before. As far as I know.



"Aliron," I say keeping my voice as sing-songy-sweet as possible, "I'm going to try to move down the rope holding her. Keitsumah, would you be a dear and play your flute again? Maybe not her mother's song, but something as sweet yet less... charming, if you know what I mean."

 

[Ireth]

I look at Algernon with a small smile as he too tries to diffuse the conflict. "Thank you."

 

[Phietadix]

They're all acting like children, what have I done to deserve this? Taken hundreds of human lives perhaps. Perhaps I should simply end this now, it would be simple enough. This party would be far better off without me getting in the way. I've killed enough men to know how to kill myself. But that would displease Tyr, and he is all I have left. Somehow I'll have to continue on, however diffiucult it may be.

 

[Keitsumah]

I nod at Baldart's request, picking up the flute and playing it again. I don't add the magic effect to it, and pray that the young harpy doesn't know the difference as i am out of mana.

Something dark crossed one of the men's faces, and I try to smile sympathetically at him around the mouthpiece of the flute. But my attention is quickly drawn back to the song and i find myself slipping into one of the old elven lullabies. The notes bounce off of the walls and whisper around my ears, filling my head with images of rustling leaves and a calm, happy life.

((when Baldart gets to the ground keit stops the song just as it turns scary, due to her overwhelming memories))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Thank you, Keit."

And now it's time I cli—

Holy hell! That's a looooong drop!

"Oh, isn't this a pretty song?" I say to the child. I look at Alin. "I can handle her weight but… I'm afraid I can't hold her with one arm if she struggles. If she falls, her death my fault because I tried to do alone what can easily be done with help."

From a safer distance, I look down again. Who's left? Hmm… I don't think he's angry.

"Sir Matthew? I could use another strong gentleman up here. I'm thinking it's best that I am lowered, so I can carry the child with both hands. I'm… not as light as the other ladies, so maybe you and Alin lower me together, just to be overly cautious."

To Alin, I ask, "Can you tie an end of Mauve's rope around me while the Nice Man climbs your rope? It's only twenty-five feet, but when I'm about ten feet from the ground, I can grab the other rope and slide the rest of the distance without risking this young life." To the harpy girl, I whisper, "Yes, I mean you. A precious young life and Auntie Baldhart will take very good care of you, you sweet little Valkyrie Chicken…"

((If the harpy girl is already being held, Baldy doesn't let go, and simply whispers to keep her calm.))

 

[SeverinR]

I look down at the group distracted by the arguement, in my sweetest voice, but loud enough for the group to hear.
"Maybe one of the nice people below will make sure the violence leaves the room(or stays out if they left), we don't need to scare the child any more then she already is."
As Baldhart begins to climb down, I will do a more thorough check of the ledge. For toys, or valubles.

 

[Nihal]

"As if I was the first to hit anyone." I glance at Cadell and back to the cleric. "You would think, Sir Cadell, that some men only understand strength; if you look weak they try to take advantage of their position. Here we are.

"See, cleric? Now you can hide behind them too!" I chuckle. "That's amazing how you took offense from Baldhart's words, hit me and ran away! Talk about cowardice..."

I turn and head towards the other room. "I am done with him, my hand is sufficiently dirty. Let him go, so he can keep fleeing." I peek over my shoulder when in somewhere in the middle of the way. "Oh, that's true! I already knew you—" I point at him to reinforce my words. "—were a little dirty liar, but you would expect that someone would wait at least a day before breaking his word in front of everyone! 'Oh, yes, Mauve, I shall not lay my hand on you'... Hah.

"Do it again and I will kill you."

I keep walking back to the cave.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Oh... Mauve is returning. Maybe she can help. I just hope there isn't another outburst--especially not in front of the child!

"Mauve..." I call out, trying to keep my voice pretty despite my concern. "Are you okay? I want to back you up--" How absurd I must sound! I'm practically singing this! "--but there is a beautiful, beautiful child up here, and I think my attempt to calm her is actually working. Yaaaaay! Won't you join us up here? Alironnnnn, and meeeee, and our cute, cute, cute little Valkyrie Chicken?"

Please stop calling her that.

 

[Nihal]

((Now she's going to do what she did here. =P))

Sighing, I retrieve the rope from my backpack, loop it around my body and place my things over a rock. I take hold of the rope coming down from the ledge and attempt to climb after them, carefully...



...without getting too far. My hands slip and I fall on my rear. I curse, tap my clothes to clean them—as if it helped...—and try again.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I think a 12 is successful, come to think of it.))

To the child I say, "Guess what, Sweetie! Mauve the Nice Lady is coming for a visit. You will like her very, very much." Like me, she has the scent of your dead family members. No--so does Alin. It's not that, then. She responds to women. "Mauve is a mermaid and we are going fishing!" I wait for Mauve to grab the rope. "Oh! I think I've got a bite!"

Don't say bite!

I pretend to reel in the rope as Mauve climbs: "Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup...!"

 

[SeverinR]

"Take your time, I think she spoke to you in her language or gibberish of a child, but she responded."
Then I speak over the ledge, "Mauve, please leave all frustration and anger with your stuff down below. The child will feel your anxiety and feed off it. Happy, nice and sweet is what she needs to see." With a sigh, I add, "Remember, we are all friends up here."
I continue to search using my dagger to sift through the bedding.

"I think I heard someone say there is food down below."

"I believe wolf girl will help keeping the child calm, with and without her flute. Keep the child near only people that are calm and show concern. Anyone with anger, frustration, or fear must be kept away from her. Anyone that suggested we harm the child must be kept away until we know they have changed their minds. I trust they won't go against us, but she will sence their feelings."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Once Mauve is up, I ask her, "Can you tie the rope to me? I'm hoping you and Alin can lend me your strength in case I have a poorly timed moment of weakness."

I sing to the child, "A pooooooorly timed moment / of weakness!"

I make sure my grip is strong in case she and Alin can't handle my weight.

I think I've got this! Still... help is appreciated. Better safe than sorry.

Spoiler: what, exactly, I'm trying to do here

@Steerpike, if Baldy is able to keep the kid calm enough that she can hold her, Baldy's ready to bring her down.

I think the STR check is enough for a safe grip and safe climb, but as an extra precaution, the intent is to have Mauve's 50-foot rope around her waist while Alin and Mauve hold the rope to lower her. Baldy is also using Alin's rope to lower herself at the same time, so she's not just dangling. I figure Mauve and Alin--assuming they help in this way--can ensure safe travel from on top of the ledge. If a check is needed, I assume Baldy's STR check is enough anyway.

Asking for help was insurance that a failed check wouldn't be tragic. I'm also thinking that Mauve and Alin together can handle the combined weight of Baldy and the kid. I'm not sure if they need to roll checks since what they're doing is straightforward heavy-lifting, whereas I felt Baldy needed a check because the child may struggle when she sees she is being removed from the nest for the first time in her life.

Of course, this entire action can only happen IF the kid is calm enough to allow Baldhart to hold her. That has yet to be confirmed, I realize.

 

[Ireth]

"As if I was the first to hit anyone." I glance at Cadell and back to the cleric. "You would think, Sir Cadell, that some men only understand strength; if you look weak they try to take advantage of their position. Here we are.

"See, cleric? Now you can hide behind them too!" I chuckle. "That's amazing how you took offense from Baldhart's words, hit me and ran away! Talk about cowardice..."

I turn and head towards the other room. "I am done with him, my hand is sufficiently dirty. Let him go, so he can keep fleeing." I peek over my shoulder when in somewhere in the middle of the way. "Oh, that's true! I already knew you—" I point at him to reinforce my words. "—were a little dirty liar, but you would expect that someone would wait at least a day before breaking his word in front of everyone! 'Oh, yes, Mauve, I shall not lay my hand on you'... Hah.

"Do it again and I will kill you."

I keep walking back to the cave.

I lower my arms and fold them, watching Mauve go. I glance at Rydh and Algernon, then decide not to fan the flames of the conflict any longer, and join Darin in searching the room. Perhaps we'll find something helpful, or at the very least interesting.

 

[Nihal]

"I am not frustrated or angry." I smile sweetly to Aliron.


((Okay okay, a menacing smile.))

I turn to Baldhart and the child, studying the little harpy with curiosity before handing my rope over to Baldhart.

((It's 50ft of rope.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Oh, isn't she beautiful?" I ask Mauve. "Kindly loop the rope around me, would you please? My hands need to keep doing what they are doing. Ha, ha!"

((...which is either holding the harpy girl, or some kind of calming motion in attempt to gradually get close enough to hold the girl without agitating her.

As mentioned in my above post [in spoiler tags], I think Baldhart's ready to climb, but the harpy girl's reactions to Baldhart's attempts are unknown.))

I sing,
"And Mauve I hope you know / I've not forgotten my vow /
I'll talk to Rydh later / since I can't do that now.

"Wheeeeeeee...!"

 

[Nihal]

Her song makes me giggle. "I do not know why, but it is funny and creepy to hear you sing a message. Do not waste your time with the idiotic cleric,, it is not like if he respect us or would listen anyway.

"Hey, little girl," I call the harpy child in a soft voice, before tying the rope on Baldhart.

 

[SeverinR]

"I am not frustrated or angry." I smile sweetly to Aliron.


((Okay okay, a menacing smile.))

I turn to Baldhart and the child, studying the little harpy with curiosity before handing my rope over to Baldhart.

((It's 50ft of rope.))

The dice knows.

"We must focus on winning the child over, every stress or stray emotion could turn her on us. Her mentality is eat or be eaten, not unlike my growing up." I say with a frown.