Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Steerpike]

As usual, the music has a profound effect on Branwen. She stops biting her nails and starts singing softly to the song. Her words make no sense to you, but each of you in the room can feel the faint tug of Branwen's magic as she sings. It gives you a warm, friendly sense toward her. Her magic is weak and easy to shake off, but there is no denying the slightly stirring of it whenever she sings.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I go back in the forest and peer around to view the backside of the gate, just to see what it looks like from the back. I re-enter the room, giggling. "Amazing!"

I turn around to tell the others what I saw, but just see the forest.

"Oh! I came in the wrong side!" I peer around the gate. "You can enter from either side, but you end up facing a different direction. I'll demonstrate!"

I walk toward the party but into the gate. In the forest I go around the gate and wave to the others. "See?" I check the position of the sun then point. "North is this way, so..."

I come back in the room and point the same way. "...from in here, is this way still north?"

I'm a bit disoriented, so I sit with Branwen. I'm not sure that we should encourage her to sing, but... maybe after playing with the gate, I'm not the best person to voice that concern. Anyway, elves don't charm easily, nor do I. As long as there are enough of us, she won't control us. And I'd like to believe she loves us enough not to harm us.

I hold the child's hand. "Let's watch for birdies." I point into the gate, hoping one of those chirping birds will fly by.

 

[Ireth]

I release Keit when she shows no indication of wanting to follow Batos, and watch and listen curiously while Baldhart explores the vicinity of the Gaita from both sides. Keit plays her flute, and Branwen begins to sing along in her odd tongue; her magic tugs at my mind, but I shake it off easily. My eyes are on the Gaita, and my heart yearns for what -- and who -- lies on the other side, in Aelwyd Eirian.

I find myself humming, though not the same tune as Keit plays. I sing under my breath, not wanting to disturb the others' song.

((If anyone wants Cadell to sing louder, just let him know. XD))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I wait for Keitsumah to finish playing before I respond to the soft song from the knight.

"Sir Cadell, if you have a song, too, I'd like to hear--uhhh, I mean... Branwen would find it calming. I think."

I remove my whet stone, but will not interrupt anyone's song with the grating sound of a blade being sharpened. It hasn't been that long, really, but... that six-legger's hide was tough. I better make sure my sword's in top condition before I run it through those who came after Burnbright. I'm enjoying the peace while Darin rests, but as soon as he's ready, play time is over!

I manage a smile at Branwen. We can protect her... right, Nissa?

 

[Ireth]

I look over at Baldhart when she speaks, and smile slightly. "As you wish."

I go back to the beginning of the song, and raise my voice so the others can hear.

"Are you going to Aelwyd Eirian?
Where the clouds and branches entwine--
Bring word from me to fair Líadan,
For she is a true love of mine.

Tell her to go where the wild cherries bloom,
Where the clouds and branches entwine--
And say that I'm coming to be with her soon,
For she is a true love of mine.

Tell her to bring me a ribbon of blue,
Where the clouds and branches entwine--
To prove to me well that she'll always be true,
For she is a true love of mine.

Tell her to wait as I set forth again,
Where the clouds and branches entwine--
When my task is finished, I'll not leave her then,
For she is a true love of mine."

 

[Ankari]

The fluid words of a song rolls from the gate room as if the damp, gray stones of this underground temple were the warm wood of an inviting tavern. These companions are either brave or idiots. I push down the anger and breath in deeply before entering the room.

The sight of the members brushes against my nerves in the wrong way. I look at the harpy, the most innocent of them all, and speak to the room.

"The troglodytes are waiting for us. They've set up a trap of combustible oil further along the hallway. Aliron thinks he can sneak past to confirm my suspicions. Do what you do best and discuss it."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I tell Ankari my immediate thought.

"Nissa and a torch could set off that trap intentionally. She can will herself away. No harm will come to her." Maybe to me, but... "They'll think the trap worked, and maybe send some scouts out. It would divide their numbers. Sound good?

"Of course, we need Aliron to come back first." I point to the gate. "Oh, and we opened the gate as you can see. Keitsumah's the one to thank, should this prove useful."

 

[Keitsumah]

I shrug, putting my flute away and standing. Then i pause as i realize something:

"I haven't been with you guys very long, and though I'm glad that you rescued me, can I ask why you are all down here? Why do you all need to keep attacking the . . . things when we could all just get out of here through the Gate?"

 

[SeverinR]

I enter silently behind Ankari, Look first for Branwen, then Baldhart and MAuve.

"They are prepared for a fight, the room has enough combustionable material to keep it from an attack until they have their forces have been prepared. "

"I would offer two scenerios, one: we fake an attack, or set it aflame ourselves, then leave the area, they will wait and search for us after it burns out. Then we return when they have disbanded. BBut they might stay prepared for a long while, or have the ability to set up a new room of fuel."

I walk over to Branwen with a smile, and continue.
"Two, we try to sneak through, kill the guards and try to get through without igniting the room. Knowing there could be a fire trap that sets the room ablaze with us in it, that we might be discovered and burned alive, or we get through and they mobilize a force from some unknown alarm, and we can't retreat into that room. They could cut us down, or if we flee into the room they ignite it and we burn."
I sit down, and add.
"I prefer what ever choice that ensures we won't be sliced, diced, or even cooked. I have come as close to flames in the temple as I ever want to again. I enjoy living and I prefer not to smell my flesh roasting on an open fire to the delite of some stinkin lizardman. I also would prefer not hearing our young elfbird not screeching as flames devour her."

"Oh, the gate works? That gives us an escape. So to the above situation we could burn and flee though the gate, deactivate it, and wait. But if they figured we went through the gate, they could ambush us when we return or leave a trap for us in here."

 

[SeverinR]

I tell Ankari my immediate thought.

"Nissa and a torch could set off that trap intentionally. She can will herself away. No harm will come to her." Maybe to me, but... "They'll think the trap worked, and maybe send some scouts out. It would divide their numbers. Sound good?

"Of course, we need Aliron to come back first." I point to the gate. "Oh, and we opened the gate as you can see. Keitsumah's the one to thank, should this prove useful."

"I beleive if they didn't find enough burnt remains they would send a force in mass to search for us. Not just a few scouts. Maybe a few scouts to weed us out, then send in the main force when we trip our hand."

"What about a counter trap? We sneak down steal some combustionable material, spill it in the hallway so all we do is set it aflame when they are in the middle of it? They couldn't smell it, cause the smoke in the hallway would make it impossible to smell. They might notice the ground being damp thuogh. I would recommend only one trip to the edge and back though, each trip is dangerous. And I bet the item carried would be covered in oil also, so who ever carried it would need to wash it off or take the chance to burn too."

 

[Nihal]

"They either believe they could sneak away with Burnbright in their hands or learnt she is not with us," I raise my eyes from the parchment, talking in a low and serious tone, "Otherwise they would not dare to use a destructive trap like this and injure her. They wanted her alive."

That's not good. No, not at all... Did they already contacted their agents in Srilkind?

I clear my throat. "If we are moving on I would take my chances at setting this trap off, if it can not be dismantled. It would be foolishness to keep it as it is cutting off our retreat."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"So... how do you feel about Nissa setting it? It's the only help she can offer for one battle, but... it beats risking that the enemy can set it off while we're in the trapped area.

"As for making the enemy think we're dead, I was thinking the explosion might make some noise, so just some scouts would come. But... let me ask you this. How convincing would it be to have some burned bodies waiting? I'm not crazy about this idea, but there are quite a few corpses back where our little friend came from. Of course, the enemy would hear us setting up--assuming they're close to the trap--and we might become fresh corpses. Same risk if we try to steal the materials... I think. I'm not good at being sneaky, so Alin, if you think there's a quiet way to steal their supplies, I'll take your word for it.

"But before we cross that area, I'd rather have Nissa fly over the explosive material and disappear right there. The torch will fall, and no one will be harmed."

 

[Keitsumah]

I bite my lower lip, looking pensively at Baldart as she mentions Nissa. Batos quirks and ear in my direction and we meet eyes, my violet to his blue, and i spot the faint outline of the rune on his forehead as it begins to glow.

Be the predator, not the prey.

My attention turns back to Baldart, "It's a good plan, but what if we lured them into the oil as well? If it appeared that Nissa was alone, they might charge, and then she could just vanish and destroy them all. Corpses wouldn't be needed -they would be providing the evidence for us." I pause, waiting for her response, but an odd emotion steals over my face and i look down to the floor. To be planning out an ambush -even if its on monsters- feels strange to me. I usually run, but this new, devious side shows that I have been around predators for a long time. I've grown cold.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I like that. The question is... would they follow her into their own trap?"

Baldy... whatever I do, I hope my efforts bring you closer to victory and help keep all of you alive.

"Nissa's happy to help us, but once she's out, we only have her for ten minutes... or whatever time is needed for her to set off the explosive. Of course, I need to get myself close to the trapped area that she can have time for whatever plan we agree to." I light the torch. "We're at full strength now, so I believe we're ready to move once we've agreed upon our first course of action.

"Does Nissa light up or lure first, or is there any reason not to have Nissa blow up the place?

"My opinion: Keit's idea is worth a try. Worst case scenario, Nissa has to disappear early because she's shot and the explosive isn't set off." And maybe I get hurt. "In that case, we just blow it up ourselves. If anything happens to Nissa, her soul will be with me. I'll know instantly, so we can act accordingly."

 

[Ireth]

"I agree, Nissa should set the trap off first, whether or not the lizards are there. If they are, all the better; if not, then perhaps it will still buy us some time to recover our strength or do anything else we need, if they are all trapped on the other side while it burns." The lizards are not impervious to fire, are they? I certainly hope not, for all our sakes.

"In any case, yes, we should wait until everyone is agreed." I turn my back on the Gaita, more to resist the urge to look at it than for any other reason. I should put the needs of the company above my own desires, strong though they may be.

((I still do intend for him to go through the Gaita, though. XDDD As long as nobody minds. Well, Ankari [the character, of course!] might, but nobody wants to hear his opinion, right? ^^; ))

 

[Keitsumah]

I nod. "If worst comes to worst and we are cornered, i will seal the doorway with vines and we can escape through the Gate."

 

[Ireth]

I glance toward the Gaita again. If we escaped to Aelwyd Eirian rather than Rhuddin, would my people accept my new comrades if they are clearly in my company? I can certainly hope so. At least they might give me time to explain myself.

I sigh and look to the others. "Would anyone object if I went to Aelwyd Eirian for a brief time before we set out? It may be we need to escape there from the lizards, and it would behoove us to send my people fair warning of the possibility of strangers in their territory."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I hear Sir Cadell's request.

"Sir Cadell, I think we need… oh, damn." I look at my armor, where that six-legger punctured it. "Darin, could you set this again? The last thing I need is a gaping weakness the enemy can exploit." I show Darin the spot he fixed before. "Shouldn't take more than an hour…" I look at Sir Cadell. "…should it?"

I hope he knows what I'm doing. Liadan means the world to him, and… I know if there were a gate to the Iron Mountain, I'd want in.

"Well, as long as my armor's slowing us, see if you can recognize the area where the gate is. If you can get the warning out faster than Darin can repair my armor, your trip won't delay us at all."

I turn to Darin. "Maybe you can help in the hall. I'm embarrassed if everyone sees this!"

 

[Ireth]

I nod. "I should not be more than an hour. Keit, what are the words? The Gaita must be closed before it can be opened again to Aelwyd Eirian."

 

[Ankari]

Pressure builds between my eyes, each word of pointless dialogue pressing against my head like a mudslide. They are like innocent children who are captivated by the sparkle of sunlight on the surface of the sea, ignorant of the beast waiting beneath. I often feel these companions do this to evoke a response from me. If not for the perceived horde of troglodytes lying in wait, I would oblige them.

I do my best to squash the emotions from my face. I feel like I've fallen in clay and have allowed it to dry against my skin. "We are not planning a picnic. This is a matter of life and death." The blood pulses with built frustration. I turn away from the target of my ire and address Darin.

"Darin, would this stone withstand a prolonged fire explosion after an explosion? If the barrels are ignited, how far would the fires reach down the hallways?"

((If Darin needs to see the barrels, we will take him as close as is necessary.))