Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Keitsumah]

"You have been freed. If you choose to lend your healing skills to this group, they need you more than ever before. It puts a lot of responsibility on you, but because your role as a healer is important, you’ll have more than just a wolf to protect you. No offense intended, Batos. You’re still Keit’s protector!"

“And… at this time, I must admit Keit has a more powerful protector than Baldy. I am Baldhart’s protector, and since she needs all of you, I’ll do what I can to aid you as well. We’re all in this fight together.â€

"I am not that strong at anything . . . but I will do my best." I say, bowing my head slightly to the Valkyrie. Batos apparently takes no offense from her words but looks up, blue eyes bright in the firelight. He looks so much so that he is about to say something that I pause and look at him, but he only snorts and then sets his head in my lap.

Head protector. he clearly means.

 

[Nihal]

Her words lighten me up. I should be afraid of dying, of getting involved with something which would "shake our world" and all this bla bla bla... but I'm not an ordinary adventurer. Her words are a clear signal, I'm on the right path, and it's so right it's already attracting some heavenly beings—and evil too—attention! I hadn't great expectations when I decided to investigate the dark lands instead of heading straight to the south. I was alone, in a foreign and hostile land, dealing with something I didn't knew. But now?

Biting my lips to keep from grinning, I patiently listen to her words.

I don't need a stupid song to feel hope!

"What exactly do you mean by its event importance? Why is the Taint so crucial if it is a northern phenomena? Is it connected to the root of the arcane magic? To the War of the Dragons?" I ask her after she's done talking.

"Is this Valkyrie's information reliable? I mean no offense, however, 'gossip' is not always reliable."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Keitsumah says she's not strong.

"If you intend to stay in this fight, then you are strong. And since you're the only healer, I'm glad you're staying. See how important you are? Even the dead girl's happy to have you with us!"

Mauve wants details.

"I know Valkyries are a bunch of women," I say with a smile, "but we're not a sewing circle. No message would get to me from Asgard if it were in question. But please don't ask me to name-drop. She took a risk delivering Her message.

"As for the message itself, I can only tell you that, yes, what you're involved in is connected to the War of Dragons, to the Taint, to the roots of magic. This battle is confined to the north, for now, because mortals like you fight it and keep the south safe… and most of those groups keep my Sisters busy, sadly. Very busy.

"Part of the reason your group is voted Most Likely to Succeed: process of elimination."

 

[Ireth]

Nissa's words spark a strange foreboding in the back of my mind. I think of Baldhart, Rydh and Matthew, and their unwavering faith in their respective gods and goddess. I have never shown preference for any god or goddess over another; indeed, I barely pay them attention, except in odd cases like this. If I die on this journey, which god or goddess will accept me? And if none will, where will I go?

 

[Nihal]

"Is it the only thing you can say? Oooh, I thought I have heard you saying we only had to ask and you would help us," I tease her. "Can't you tell us anything else about this? Pretty please?" I put on my cutest smile.


((Dang! Almost... I think the typo is to blame!))

I chuckle. "At least you do not need worry about me, dead or alive I will not be one more burden on your sisters shoulders." I check on the little harpy.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"You're teasing, but I really wish I had more information to give. I also wish you wouldn't assume your soul is lost or that you'd be ignored by Valkyries. Judgment is for gods, but my Sisters and I are advocates. Your actions in these battles and your compassion for the harpy child can only work in your favor, and I've seen you at your best. Don't you think I'd get my say, or Baldhart, should you outlive her and still fall in battle?

"I don't know what wrong you've done or think you've done, but if you continue on your current path, death is nothing to fear."

 

[Ankari]

The winged child's words are as insubstantial as the steam from my clothing, and more stagnant. She would have us believe we are scions of our constructed beliefs, armored in self-importance and wielding sharp-edged purpose. The weak need to believe they are part of something greater, that their spilled blood will stain the tapestry of existence. The ages will sing of the sacrifice of a few, forever enshrined in praise and honor. If not, then what is the purpose of sacrifice?

Conflict is a cycle that manifests differently with each pass. What of the struggle of the first men as they conquered the elements and staved of death from ice and sun? Surely the names of those heroes still fill the minds of every living person today. What of those who conquered the wild and bent the land to produce food as needed? A simple request to all present would produce an extensive list of blank stares.

They need their glory, and their purpose. The pixie knows it and feeds on their desires.

After I pull the warmed tunic over my head, I grab my chestpiece and hold it over the flame. "Your presence is a comfort, pixie. It is evidence that things are measured, even your patron. All things measured have a beginning and end."

 

[Nihal]

What an amiable ranger. I wonder when will he find something to violently disagree again and grace us by showing the vicious beast he is.

"I have no gods, Nissa," I answer her. "In fact, I am not particularly fond of them." Smiling, I add, "I do not fear death, I just not planning to die yet. But I should stop monopolizing your attention, shouldn't I?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Yes," I say to Ankari. "This temporary body is coming to an end, but I'll continue to exist without it..." I speak to all, but mostly Ankari and Mauve. "...just as all of you will continue to exist without your bodies. That's the one thing that won't end. Your consciousness."

I'm molting. Feathers disappear before they hit the ground. I stumble as I reach for Baldhart. Before I fade away, I add with a smile,

"Don't rush to your deaths just to see if that's true. Take my word for it."

 

[SeverinR]

"So do you see me as a heavenly being or a common girl who died young? If you knew how I died, maybe you wouldn't think I'm so wise."

"You have access to more knowledge then us mortals. You also lived and had different experience then we have, so why not see if you have any words of wisdom, from higher or lower learning."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I look up at the blurred image of Aliron. The glimmer of his moon pendant is the only evidence I'm facing the right person. Everyone appears to wear black through my expiring eyes. I manage a smile and mouth a thank you. No sound escapes my lips--just a last breath and a bead of drool. I cling to Baldy's bearskin cloak, shivering as feathers drift from my wings--assuming there's anything left that can pass as wings!

The shivering stops.

* * *

I find myself fully armored, sword in hand. Really, Baldy? Do all of your dreams have to involve fighting? But I'm mistaken. She's in a crowed tavern, enjoying a drink with her uncle on her Iron Mountain. I sit near the band. Her back is to me. Maybe she won't notice. Let her dream of home without my intervention...

 

[Nihal]

The valkyrie is gone. I yawn, take a good look on the others and huddle again, getting ready catch up on my sleep when a thought nags me. I roll to one side, then to another, finally sitting again and sighing.

"Jewels, right?" I glance at Aliron. "Give me everything you wish to verify so I can do it at once." I hold my palm up.

((Assuming he handed everything over to her, (parchment too?)...))

I get up and take a good distance from the others. I sit cross-legged and place the items in front of me, making sure they're apart to facilitate my work. I stretch myself before starting and chuckle.

I bet I'll botch this spell.


((Detect magic, lvl 0. She placed them apart just in case one is magical, so she knows which one.))

Happy with the success, I suppress my thoughts; there is only me and the items, nothing else. I narrow my focus, concentrating in one area each time, without any hurry.

 

[Keitsumah]

I nod once when the valkyrie tells me of my strength of the need that will be demanded of me, but doubt still gnaws in my stomach. Shoving it down, i lay on my side and curl up with Batos, resting my head on his flank. The wolf sighs, curling up further around me to keep me warm, as we lay in the cold shadows away from the firelight.

* * *

"Keitsu!"

I turned, and then a smile split my face as my brother plowed through the trees, silver eyes flashing in the dappled sunlight.

Scooping me up in a big bear-hug, he laughed and spin me around until we were both dizzy.

"I miss you." I mumbled, burying my face in his neck and allowing the dream to carry me away into a realm of warm sunlight and rustling leaves.

 

[Steerpike]

The party is able to rest without disturbance. It seems the lizards who inhabit this underground complex fear it enough to refrain from entering. Those on watch while others rest hear no sound, and no person or creature tries to enter the room.

In the time leading up to the rest, Darin continues to sift through some of the rubble in the room, occasionally scrutinizing a piece for a moment, then putting it back. "Dwarf work," he says. "All destroyed." Eventually, he joins the group near the fire. He pulls a set of tools from his pack and then slices a few strips of thick leather from the flap covering the back. As the party goes about its business, Darin sets to work on the gauntlet, removing the cracked leather and replacing it with new, and occasionally using a small mallet to tap at the metal of the gauntlet.

Branwen's eyes follow Baldhart as she returns to the room with fresh meat. The harpy's expression grows somewhat fearful as Baldhart starts to cook the meat, however lightly. Branwen's eyes are held rapt by the fire, but she cannot be cajoled into coming too near to it. When Mauve approaches with the lightly-cooked meat, the harpy child looks ready to scramble away on her haunches, but Mauve's demeanor is sufficiently non-frightening that harpy only tenses and does not bolt. She takes the meat, looks at it doubtfully, then takes a bite. She chews slowly at first, as though testing it, then swallows rapidly. She sets the doll down between her feet and snatches away the remaining meat with both hands, eating quickly and making rather a mess of her face.

Despite the best efforts of some of those in the group, Branwen's reaction to clothing is as though you'd set fire to her. She flails and bucks if you try to force her into, and seems almost to panic if anything restrains her wings. If you do get her into an outfit, she's torn through it in no time by a combination of teeth and nails.

When Nissa appears, Branwen goes absolutely still, watching the valkyrie in wide-eyed attention while absently touching her own wing over her shoulder.

Branwen keeps her doll close at all times, and even when she sets it down it is not long before she casts her glance around fearfully, relaxing when she sees it close and then snatching it up again, clutching it close to her. When it is time to rest, Branwen is nearest Baldhart or Aliron, but won't sleep terribly close to the fire. She falls asleep singing to her doll the soft song you heard from the ledge, when she was accompanying Keitsumah's flute.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Full HP! YAY!))

Feeling good as new, I start to rise and--"Awww...!"--I cover my mouth. Branwen is snuggled against Aliron. Cute! I won't wake them.

She tried to get close to you, Baldy, but feared the fire. You should have seen how she looked at me.

At you?

Yeah. I found out I can use your magic even if you're unconscious. That may prove useful, well, if you faint in a burning building. Maybe when I'm stronger I won't need fire. Oh, but while I was out there, I noticed...

...

Thanks, Nissa. Do you understand why?

No. Just a feeling I had.



"Darin," I whisper as I rub my eyes, "are you awake?"

If he is, I'll ask him to join me in the other room. Branwen needs breakfast. I can talk to Darin alone while I carve.

 

[Ireth]

((Pre-rest period...))

The hollow bone holds three slips of parchment, each in a tight roll. Looking at each of them, I see they are instructions for spells, though they are not specific on what the spells actually do. The names provide some clues -- "Edan's Minor Thaumaturgic Poultice" is clearly a type of healing spell, though how strong it is, I can only guess. I study this one in particular; it seems the most useful to us at the moment, now that Rydh is gone. Maybe I can finally be of some use to this company.

I tuck the parchment back into the bone and cork it again, then stow the bone carefully in my pack. My fingers brush the sheaf of parchment I brought with me, and I pull it out, along with a quill and bottle of ink. Might as well practise using my off-hand while nothing is attacking us. I smooth a sheet of parchment out on the floor in the firelight, then start writing my name. The lines are slanted and wobbly, but still legible. I write again and again, doing my best not to smear the ink, moving slowly to make the letters as precise as I can get them. It is nothing short of tedious, but I think it my pay off. Such is the way of things.

 

[Nihal]

((Before the full rest =P))

Smirking, I look over my shoulder. "This ring protects against cold, quite convenient, don't you think? The necklace also protects against... something—I am not sure of what it does. We will have to try the both to know how exactly do they work."

 

[SeverinR]

At some point before rest,I read the note to the group:
"I have discovered the nature of those who took my wife and child, as well as their location. I go into the Taint, alone, as no others will accompany me to avenge our fallen. Should this note be found, it means I am dead. Please deliver news of my fate to Breivik.

-Seith Olafsson"

Post rest:
I wake up, Branwen is tucked in beside me.
I lay quietly, listening the for the group to wake.
Gently, I loosely drape my cloak over her. maybe if we start small, a small blanket to keep her warm, maybe we could work towards clothing slowly. I make sure the dirty doll is propped where the child can see it when she wakes.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Thanks for the conversation, Darin." I cheerfully add, "I'm making breakfast. Stop by the fire for some bread. I mean... after I'm done with Branwen's breakfast. I'm not touching anything with all this blood on my hands."

I cook the meat--

"Breakfast time! / Breakfast time!
Too early to / think words that rhyme
I am cooking / and I'm...
Making it / less rare this time"

--almost fit for human consumption. Almost. I wouldn't eat it this rare, but... *sniffffff* ...it does smell better this time!

I move the meat slowwwwwwly by Branwen's little nostrils. Patiently, I wait for her to take it. I already dipped a cloth in the lake--once intended for Nissa to wear, but now a wash cloth. She's a messy eater. I'll wash her when she's done, then clean up myself.

"I'll bake some bread, too," I say to the sleepyheads around me. "Then I was thinking of doing something I've not done since my training days: gathering berries. How do the rest of you feel about that? Keitsumah, you did mention the Goodberry spell, didn't you? Now that you're our healer, I better make myself accustomed to the taste!"

 

[Nihal]

I wake up to Baldhart's song and the smell of cooked meat—in truth, it's more bloody than anything else. I rub my eyes.

"Good morning. Evening... night?" I yawn. "It's impossible to keep track of the time here. Anything interesting happened?" I sit, my spine making cracking noises.