Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Aliron!" I stay as far away from that barrel as I can. "Uh... about Nissa and this torch that I'm holding... are there enemies positioned in a place she can blow them to bits?

"Are you setting a trap in case you were followed? If so..." I stay by the fire holding my torch. "...maybe someone--not me!--stands watch, and when you or whoever gives the signal, I call Nissa."

We'll be killed if he brings the barrel inside, unless that gate is open ahead of time.

"Maybe--if the blast would reach this room--we should open the gate back to Wherever-the-Hell. That place I went to. Not Cadell's homeland!

"So... what's the plan for Nissa? I'm holding fire and there's a barrel, so I reeeeally want to make sure I understand the plan because if I don't, Nissa won't need to materialize for us to see her!"

 

[Ireth]

((@Steerpike I personally see Cadell as arriving very near the tail-end of his required hour, and Líadan coming a few minutes after that, so make of that what you will.))

Cadell

I stop fighting shadow-enemies before my arm can grow tired; I will need all my strength if I am to fight real foes. I sheathe my sword and loosen the gauntlet from it, then turn back to Líadan. She seems to be making friends quickly, which is a good thing. I am not looking forward to how Ankari will react to her, though. No doubt he will think I begged her to come with me because I was so lonely here without her. Why does he always assume the worst of us?

I pause that thought, realizing I have been doing the same thing of Ankari... but then, Ankari has acted consistently hostile from the moment we set forth, so I think my conceptions of him are justified. Still, a knight should not--

But I am not a knight. Not anymore.

Líadan

Cadell turns to me, and I go to him, raising a hand to his neck. "Here, let me. You can't fight as effectively with an aching throat."

((Hope I rolled that right (and yes, the +4 was intentional, ask Steerpike). Man, Liadan's base rolls have sucked so far. That was only a 3 without the bonuses!))

Cadell

I smile at the familiar warmth of healing magic, and sigh in relief as the pain in my throat fades. "Diolch yn fawr." My voice is clearer too now.

I look at the barrel Aliron brings with him, and Baldhart speaks my thoughts before I can. What does he plan on doing with it?

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"One thing I should tell you... if we need to enter the gate to stay clear of a blast, I won't step through without Nissa's soul inside me. Please consider that as you decide where to place the barrel, which we may need to blow up if we're followed regardless of our plan for the... the explosive.

"I think if I enter the side of the gate opposite the barrel, the blast won't get to me, even if it's bigger than anticipated. But please make sure everyone enters the gate ahead of me if we're in that situation, and please, please, please understand that I don't dare put several miles between Nissa and I. I'm not sure what would happen if we were separated. It could be something that, for me, would be worse than death."

 

[Nihal]

The child occupies herself while the group talks. When Mauve moves to the opening in the hallway, Branwen follows her. The harpy child's dress is muddy, as are her hands. Her face is streak with dirt where she must have wiped it. She holds one grubby hand up to Mauve. Branwen has formed a lump of mud about the width of her palm into a very rudimentary sculpture of a bird. Or is it a squirrel? Or maybe it is meant to be a tree? No...it's definitely supposed to be a bird. You can make out the wings. She offers the gift to Mauve.

"That's sweet. Thank you." I accept her little gift with delight, mussing her hair. It's a mystery why children have this effect on me, I like them much more than I like the adults. They have this special ability to bypass the cynicism and half truths and touch me for real. Probably it has something to do with the lack of prejudice from their part; children are less likely to loathe me based on my looks or try to hang me for using magic and all those adorable things. Mayhap I miss this other child, from a long time ago and—No.

Crouching to get at her height, I take a rag and clean her face and hands. When done, I fish a case out of my backpack and empty it, storing the parchments in another, then putting her gift inside the first one.

 

[SeverinR]

"I will be going to wash off the liquid I spilled on my clothes before we set off the barrel. I do not want to ignite by accident. But I won't wash until the barrel is in place. It is only about a quarter full, so there will not be a large explosion. It does give off an odor, but I am not sure if the fumes are flamable or not. Maybe when that trapped room ignites, it might explode,"
"We might use the barrel to burn out debris from an alternate room, we might need it to set a trap for the lizards. So it will sit near the door from where I got it until it is decided."

"Sweet artwork." I tell Branwen when I see what she gave Mauve. I hope the ladies realize, human children with proper upbringing have trouble staying clean in the best of situations, a wild child with no concern for clothes in a muddy place such as this, will not be able to stay clean.

"If we use the gate, we need to make sure Branwen will go through both ways before we fire up anything. Both ways, because there might be danger we have to flee on the other end of the gate also."

 

[Ankari]

"Darrin, you're going to like what I have planned. Aliron, can you watch the troglodytes while I explain it to everyone inside the gate room. I don't want to be overheard. Your ears will be able to pick up what I say."

((Regardless, I lead Darin into the room.))

"Sometimes the answers are so hard to find because it's as large as a mountain. They collapsed room has enough dirt and stone to build an impromptu barrier against the blast. We send in Baldhart's pixie to ignite it. They lizards are slow, but sly. They will see what we plan and attack us to prevent the obvious counter trap.

Why not just exit through the gate? Because we need as many of the troglodytes in the blast zone to make the trap effective. If we enter the gate, the trap will only kill the two or three that are watching us. We will have to build while some of us fight. They will send a force to disrupt what we're doing. Once the wall his high enough, we get behind the barrier set off the trap."

I allow the idea to simmer in everyone's minds. "We have two options afterwards. If the hall caves in on top of the troglodytes, then we hope that Darrin is right and excavate the caved in room. It may prove an alternate route to our destination. If the hallway stands, we wait for the fires to die down and continue on. There is a third option. If we can't reach the temple through either paths, we have the gate, or we can backtrack to the harpy room and try to estimate a distance beyond the caved in area and dig."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Finally! It's time!

"Ankari, Nissa will be happy to help... even if you did call her a pixie. I think she's grown fond of your nickname for her, to be honest.

"Do you mean we build a trap, then send her out once a bunch of lizards come after us? I think you really thought this through, so I'm in on it. I just need to make sure I know when to send Nissa. One misunderstanding will ruin everything. Also, I'll need someone near me with torch in hand if I'm to fight and still get Nissa to come out. So... who wants to stand close to me while I'm possibly fighting? Mauve? Keit? Liadan?

"Oh... Ankari, Liadan; Liadan, Ankari.

"Oh! And here's the best way to get Nissa out at the right time. Ankari, how about you call Nissa's name when the time is right? It's your plan, so you definitely won't screw it up. Give her the command and, within seconds, she'll grab the torch and ignite the trap. Oh... and Nissa says if you call her 'Pixie' she'll assume the command is for her, since she guesses you're more likely to say that than her name."

((@Ankari the Person, if you want to, I'm fine with you god-modding Nissa's appearance when Ankari the Character gives the signal. Whether you have her do the bombing run in Ankari's POV or have me follow up with my own post doesn't matter. Also, Nissa can come out even if Baldhart is engaged since it's Nissa who uses the MP, not Baldhart. She just needs the torch close by in order to appear.))

 

[Ankari]

Baldhart makes the quick introduction to the new face. We are buried by tons of earth and stone, yet we manage to pick up stray scavengers like a herd afflicted with a plague. Judging from her smooth skin and clean lines, she won't survive a few days. If she is capable, she will kick the knight out of his funk and turn him into the warrior he professes he is.

"Here is the plan. The knight will stand guard in the hall while the rest, even the delicate woman, haul stones and dirt. At the first sign of aggression, you (Baldhart) join him. Druid, command your wolf to stand guard with the knight. The last person to join the battlelines would be Darin, but try to withhold asking for his aid as much as possible. He is our engineer and must oversee the development of the bulwark.

"Darin, of all those who will be excavating the collapsed building, Aliron will best grasp the concept. Discuss with him your plans in case you should fall."

There isn't a need to remind him of what happened in the harpy cave. I glance through the door at Aliron to judge his reaction concerning the troglodytes.

"If there aren't any objections, let's remember we are in a hostile environment and not back home at some feastday celebration. Let's go."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"No objection from me. Just two questions. We can walk and talk, assuming this won't be a long conversation."

I start moving. I'll only stop if I see any clear signs of hesitation.

"One. Ankari, will you be the one to let Nissa know when to come out? I don't need anyone to tell me how to be effective with a sword, but for this trap business, I prefer you tell me—or Nissa, really—when to light up.

"Two. Will we be fighting in the area that needs to be lit? By that I mean, will we need to retreat before Nissa ignites? Or are we fighting from the safe area, meaning we should not advance past a certain point?"

 

[Ankari]

"We will fight on the other side of the bulwark. When I give the signal, we have to push whatever enemy is before us into the trap, and dive behind the wall before your pixie lights it up. The blow back from the explosion will harm us if we are not shielded."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"We will fight on the other side of the bulwark. When I give the signal, we have to push whatever enemy is before us into the trap, and dive behind the wall before your pixie lights it up. The blow back from the explosion will harm us if we are not shielded."

"Thanks." I feel a grin stretching from one painted cheek to the other. "Pushing lizards around… I can handle that!"

 

[Nihal]

"I hate to be the one to ruin the party, but you are overlooking something: What of Branwen? She will surely get scared during the fight... Also, I can not hold your torch, I need my hands to fight."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I'll stick the torch in the ground. Now that I have a better picture of how this'll play out, I think the torch can stay fifteen—maybe twenty—feet behind me. As for Branwen, maybe Liadan can stay close to her? Oh, and the torch will deter Branwen from following me to the enemy."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I am silent as Ankari returns, expecting him to speak in scorn to Líadan. He does not, much to my surprise, but nevertheless I can see it in his eyes. He lays out his plan, not even using my name -- he calls me "the knight". I do not bother to correct him, and simply nod.

Líadan

I look up as an elf and a dwarf enter the room side by side -- Darin, no doubt, and Ankari. Cadell warned me well of this elf's abrasive manner, and it is evident when he speaks, even more so in his eyes when he looks at me judgmentally. I do not rankle when he calls me "the delicate lady"; all the better chance to show him that I can defend myself as well as any of them, on top of being an experienced healer. I give them both a nod of acknowledgement, feeling this is not the time or place to introduce myself more formally to those I don't yet know. Now is the time for fighting.

Baldhart makes a suggestion, and I shake my head. "I would, but she does not seem to trust me yet. I would not want to risk her fleeing me and ending up in the line of fire."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Sing for her. The trick is to just sing. Don't look at her with cute smiles and look like you're trying to befriend her. Just sing. Her curiosity of music will draw her to you, and then she won't run to the enemy and die."

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I look at Baldhart and nod. "I can do that."

Turning back to Ankari, I add, "If we are all ready, then lead the way." I do not bother to string my bow; it seems I will not be using it for this excursion. I will need both hands free to move rock and hold Branwen back from the danger if I need to.

 

[Nihal]

"Sing for her now, so she will gets to trust you already. In the middle of the fight she will not hear you. She also like toys, birds in particular, she is a child after all."

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I nod to Mauve, and pause for a moment to think of a song. One that seems quite fitting comes quickly to mind, and I sing a verse or two to get Branwen used to the sound of my voice.

"There were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down-a-down hey derry-down,
And they were black as they might be, with-a-down;
Then one of them said to his mate,
'Where shall we now our breakfast take?'
With-a-down, derry-derry-derry down-down..."

 

[SeverinR]

From the doorway, I signal to Ankari, and quietly offer my thoughts, ensuring my words won't echo down the hall.
"Ankari, Might I suggest a call of warning, prior to the signal to light the fire, to let everyone know what is coming. Because my fighting style leans towards the rear of the enemy, I would need time to move to the wall, I could try to remain an archer, but the best laid plans often go astray. Someone else might need extra time to work towards the barrier, also.

Might I suggest "Rally" as the alert, Pixie as the call to ignite?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Rally and Pixie... I like it. I'll let Ankari respond rather than chime in.

I walk beside Cadell. I say in a low voice, "I don't know what happened out there, and now's not a good time to discuss it. But Ankari asked you to stand guard, and now that you can use both sword and shield, I can't think of a better man for the job."

I don't want to sound critical, but something about Cadell's look when he came back... Even Liadan's presence didn't shake it off.

"Liadan is with you now. She's the only reason you went back, and we both knew that before you stepped into that gate. I'm glad you brought her here. She's lovely. You're guarding all of us, but most of all remember you're protecting her."