Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Ireth]

The day Ankari shows an ounce of compassion or concern not couched in anger or bitterness, I think my heart will stop. I stay silent as he and the others speak, not having much to add. Baldhart has already mentioned what we (well, she) did in the round room and the tunnels, and Mauve seems to speak for most of us with her loathing for the ranger. I would not go so far as to say I hate Ankari, but his presence and especially his speech are barely tolerable. It's a good thing he is such a valued warrior.

"Baldhart and Mauve are both right. We are in no immediate danger, so we should take the chance we get to rest, tend to our charges," this with a glance at Branwen, "and do the important things that we now have the time to. I discovered three new spells, one of which is for healing, and a few of us have been studying them. Perhaps you would benefit from doing the same, were you not always so keen on rushing away to fight or scout for an enemy that has not come near our last resting place or this one."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Keitsumah asks a lot of questions. I'm happy to answer them.

"You saw the three dead trogs that became meat for Branwen and Batos... those fall in a single blow from my sword." I begrudgingly admit, "Usually," then go on. "The bigger ones are likely to withstand my best hit. If you paid attention to my attacks, the attack that brought down the..." I don't want to say harpy. How much does Branwen understand? "...siren was a near-perfect strike. The bigger lizards could stand up to that, and so could the shaman. I would expect to drop either in three hits. I mean with my sword.

"The trogs use bows and javelins, but they also bite and claw when you get close. Even the magic user tried to bite my face. Her spells included one that shrouded the area in darkness, and another that held me like a statue for at least twenty seconds... oh, and that deafening sound blast. Mauve learned that one from her spell book! If there are spells I don't know of, ask Mauve. She read up a bit."

 

[Steerpike]

Within the Gate room all remains quiet, as it does in the large room outside. Whatever the lizards have got up to in these tunnels, they've suddenly made themselves very scarce indeed. It appears they either dislike or are afraid of the Gate room, though their treatment of the door to the room did not indicate but a small fraction of the fear they appeared to hold for the harpy lair.

Branwen shies away from the Gate, squinting when she looks at the warm light of it. She maintains a position behind Baldhart or Aliron's legs, though she occasionally wanders over to Mauve, curious as to what she is doing. Branwen also stays well clear of Batos, and without seeming overly scared or bolting away, she somehow always manages to position herself on the far side of the group from the wolf.

When the arguments erupt, Branwen's head moves back and forth between the speakers, as though she is trying to decipher the words. She does not look upset; just curious. When Aliron leaves again, a hint of worry crosses her face.

Darin approaches Cadell once the group has more or less settled into the new room. He holds a steel gauntlet in his hand, fresh leather hanging from it and a long leather sleeve extending from the open end. The gauntlet gleams in the light from the Fae Gate.

Darin hands it to Cadell. "This should serve you for the moment, I hope. It is a far thing from the wonders produced in the Drimmen-delve, but I think you will find it serviceable."

Darin points at various parts of the gauntlet. "Put the end of your arm through the sleeve and pull it up as far as you can. If I judged it right, it should come to just below your elbow. The sleeve will be tight. It has to be a secure fit if you're to fight." He points at one of two small latches formed on top of the gauntlet. "This is attached to a leather band inside the gauntlet. The band encloses the end of your arm, much like a belt on a pair of trousers. You can pull it as tight as you desire, then attach it by inserting it into any of these openings I made around the wrist of the gauntlet. The further the opening from the latch's starting point, the tighter the attachment. Do you see?"

Then he points at the second latch, which is further up the hand. "This part is a bit clumsy, I'm afraid, but I don't have the tools to make a sophisticated opening and closing mechanism. This latch is connected to the fingers of the gauntlet. Draw it back all the way to the edge of the wrist portion, and secure it against this notch." He demonstrates, and as he draws the latch back, the fingers of the gauntlet close tight. "Release the mechanism and you will be able to open the gauntlet. Unfortunately, it will require your other hand to either open or close the gauntlet. I have shaped the inside of the gauntlet to more securely hold a sword, and I believe with the mechanism closed you will be able to fight and not lose hold of a sword."

Darin steps back from Cadell a nods, watching as the elf tests the mechanisms.

 

[Ireth]

I look down as Darin approaches me, the finished gauntlet in hand. I watch with a smile as he demonstrates how it works, then try it on myself. I take a few moments to adjust the fit of it with the leather band, then open and close the metal fingers a few times.

"Thank you, Darin. I am sure it will serve me well in the next fight, should that come before we reach the Drimmen-delve."

I turn back to the Gaita. I wonder if the incantation is written down anywhere nearby... but first I should try to remember it on my own. It is a slim chance -- the last time I saw a Gaita in use was over a thousand years ago, little less than half my lifetime -- but it is worthwhile.

I look at the Gaita, biting the inside of my cheek and wracking my brain for the right words.

((Oops, that should be a 17 -- realized Cadell does have +1 to INT after all, hence his single Mana point. Still a failure though, so it doesn't matter too much here.))

Though I think until my head aches, I can only recall a few pieces of the incantation -- not nearly enough to open it myself. I saw Baldhart looking around before Ankari spoke and distracted us all; maybe she found something the rest of us missed.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Oh! "Darin, that's wonderful!" I turn to the door. "See? That's the kind of prep... oh, he's gone."

I get back to my search of the room, taking Branwen by the hand and singing to her as I search...

"What is hiding / in the bush? / Grab a branch / and give it a push.
What is hiding / in this room? / Who can find it / without a broom?
What is hiding / in this log? / I can't fit. / What about the dog?
What is hiding / in the grass? / Look too quickly / and you might look past.
What is under/neath this rock? / I'll pick it up / 'cause rocks can't talk.
What is under/neath this gate? / While I'm looking / don't activate!
What is sitting / on the floor? / Did I miss it / when I walked in the door?
What is sitting / in plain sight / underneath / these rays of light...?"

Yeah. I'm playing with a kid. What of it?

 

[Steerpike]

Baldhart searches the room and doesn't find much. The room appears to have been largely undisturbed for many, many years. There are bits of rock and debris strewn about, as one might expect, and some plant debris near the Gate itself, but apart from that there is nothing. The room itself offers no clues.

The Gate is carved with elven images and runes, though Baldhart does find one portion just above the ground that has been worn smooth. It looks purposeful, and is the only part of the Gate not decorated in either images, decorative whorls and patterns, or runes.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Huh. This part of the gate's a little off. Smoothed out."

I check to see if it's smoothed from movement in the only way I know how.

Brute force!

And if that doesn't work... one more try...!

And if THAT doesn't work, ask an elf to look at it. Or Darin. He's quite the tinkerer...

 

[Nihal]

Aliron approaches us, intending to follow the ranger I would guess. "Oookay, I lied. If I had absolutely nothing useful to do mayhap I would follow you just to piss you off. However, I have something to do, so, have fun getting killed for naught, or whatever." I smirk and whisper to him, "Bear in mind that if you get killed to soon you will never have the chance to... settle some scores."

I trust the thief to keep an eye on him.

I return to the grove, watching the others try the gate and go around their own business. When Branwen comes close to me I show her some of the plants, picking their leaves and tearing them, handing to her so she can smell them, crushing some dry ones near her ears—showing her what would look like wonders she has never seen before. She's kinda like me.

After the little harpy leaves my side I sit and resume my study. So many new spells, so little time.

 

[Ireth]

I look over at Baldhart and see her kneeling by one part of the Gaita, examining a smooth patch of stone -- the only one on the arch. Curious, I crouch at her side and follow her gaze. "What have we here?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I'll just RP a bit, as if Baldy's between attempts or looking for a place to grip in order to force this side of the gate further in or out of the ground. I'm not sure if what she's attempting is something that would even appear to be physically possible. Anyway, the STR rolls are 18 & 26, so if brute force can do anything, I suppose we'll know soon enough…))

I tell Cadell, "It's worn smooth. A moving part?" This thing sure is big and stony.

…so, as I was saying…

I giggle.

Baldy!

"Oh!" I explain to Mauve, "I was just laughing at that 'gender over reason' comment. Ankari's right that Nissa tells me about her friends—other Valkyrie, I mean. It's why I don't respond to his petty insults. A lot of the Valkyrie had to put up with guys like him. More Anakris, and worse ones! Sigrid… Sigderfia… um…"

How, Nissa?

Sigrdrifa.

Yeah. "Siggy's my favorite. She's the one who vowed 'never to marry a man who knows fear.'" Right, Nissa? Yes. That's the one. "So she never married!" I turn to Cadell. "If Liadan made the same vow, she'd still marry you."

I find a place to grip the arch…

 

[Ireth]

I look closer, tilting my head. "Perhaps..."

Baldhart mentions Líadan, and I smile and duck my head a little. "Just because I show no fear in battle does not mean I fear nothing at all." My tone is light, enough perhaps to impede any musing on what I do fear.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

As I position myself for the attempt to force this thing into motion, I reply to Cadell.

"Everyone knows fear. It's how you act on it. You're unwavering, and while I've grown up never thinking much of a knight's code, you're an example of what that code is about. I think men have twisted the knight's code into an excuse to make silly laws that encroach on the freedom of so-called commoners. I don't see that in you. I see a man who knows how to act in battle and how to act in peaceful moments, and if not for the vow to my Goddess, I might've let Ankari hear some harsh words about that dog-with-no-tail comment."

Baldy, do you really want to waste your breath on Ankari's commentary?

"Sorry. You don't gossip. I don't mean to bring him up. What I want to say is Liadan would have been proud--worried sick, but proud--if she'd seen the way you've been handling the loss of your hand. If we can get this thing to activate... does this mean we can see her? I should say you, but I would like to meet her, too. I mean... when the time for introductions is..."

My eyebrows give away a guilty thought: am I giving him a false hope?

 

[Steerpike]

Baldhart is able to grip the smooth area of stone with one large hand. No matter which way she tries to twist or turn the stone of the arch, however, it remains stubbornly immobile.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Well, if it is worn from movement, that fact won't change my inability to do anything with that information."

I look to Keit, "Any chance you know the magic words?"

To Mauve, "Would a dose of the Elven Light Magic applied to the smooth spot do anything? Your hand turned all blue and glowy when that spell didn't work."

To Darin, "It's bigger than a gauntlet... I don't suppose your tinkering skills would help. I'm pretty sure this smooth area has a purpose, but maybe if you look at it, can you tell why it's worn? I'm either mistaken that the gate can rotate or... or it just isn't something that can be moved by force, but with a tool or key?"

To Branwen, I say, "Bread!" I gather twigs for a fire, so I can heat it before I eat it. I'll share with the child and anyone else interested. It's been about a week. What I don't eat today or tomorrow is rubbish.

 

[Steerpike]

Darin walks over to the Gate and kneels beside Baldhart. He runs his hand over the smooth stone, testing it at various angles, and then pronounces it immovable. "Must have a purpose, I agree, but I know stone and that piece isn't moving." He rises and engages his characteristic frown as he considers the issue.

 

[Ireth]

My mouth tightens a little when Baldhart mentions Ankari's comment, but I relax when she moves on to speak of Líadan. I certainly hope she would be proud of me... not to mention Her Majesty.

Ignoring the thorns in the back of my mind, I answer Baldhart with a little hesitation. "I think that, if we do manage to open the Gaita, I should go to Aelwyd Eirian alone. My queen has no great love for humans, or strangers of any race for that matter, and to see a warrior such as you within her borders may give her the wrong idea."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

After Darin Speaks...

"Magic then? Anyway... if my discovery proves helpful, then I've already done more than I expected of myself here."

As the bread is heated to my satisfaction, I tell the others, "You're all welcome to it. Mother said the loaves would be good for a week, but we're close to that now. Once a loaf is heated, it needs to be finished. The thick crust keeps the inside from going stale. No sign of turning on the outside either, but to be safe, don't eat the crust. Well... I deliberately singed it so you won't want to. The inside is soft and warm, though, so don't let my warning scare you. I may not be anyone's idea of the ideal wife, but Mother taught me a few things about cooking and baking!"

I feed Branwen first, then offer Darin, Sir Cadell, Mauve and Keitsumah a piece. I hesitate, then let Batos sniff a small portion of the crust. If he likes it, he gets a larger piece.



After Cadell speaks...

"Oh. It saddens me that you come from a land so unwelcoming, but at least you don't think the way your queen apparently does.

"I wonder if she knew who my uncle was, would she see me as 'high-born?' And would that make things better for me or worse.

"Don't take my words the wrong way. I'm glad you warned me about your forest, and I still hope you are able to see Liadan."

 

[Ireth]

I smile and accept the bread as I answer Baldhart. "So do I. It would certainly be easier to let her know all that has happened to me this way than having to dictate and send a letter, or wait until I have a new hand and write one myself."

I take a bite of the soft, warm bread, looking at the Gaita and wondering. Maybe if I try again, I can remember the words to open it. But that can wait at least until I've eaten.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Yeah, but if you can't write with that gauntlet, I haven't forgotten my offer. Nor my other offer--I still owe you a second sword lesson. Maybe I can help you more this time. The stiff grip of a locked gauntlet may take some getting used to, but I know with a two-handed sword, you can afford to have one hand stiff and the other not.

"We could experiment to see which two-hand techniques work best with a stiff dominant hand. Then the next step is to try that without the recessive hand, so you can enter our next battle with sword and shield.

"Your techniques will be limited, but if the enemy doesn't know that, the stiff grip might not make you any less effective in battle. By the time your enemy's wise your limitation, he'll be a disemodied soul!"

 

[Ireth]

I smile and nod, replying between bites. "I think the gauntlet itself would hide the fact that I am missing the hand to put into it. And I don't intend to trumpet that information from the hilltops, so I think I should be reasonably safe. And speaking of lessons, I still owe you one as well. But that will have to wait until we return to Srilkind. You cannot very well learn how to ride without a horse to practise on!"

((Last post before work today. See y'all this evening! I'll try another INT check to open the Gaita then. ^^))