Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Nihal]

The hissing catches my attention and I know something is terribly wrong right away. I utter a swear, followed by another. I'm not fast enough to stop an arrow on flight, but the chances are others will follow. I know what must be done.

Stepping away from them, I let my mind focus on the reason of the unnatural arrow. Magic, it must be magic. Possibly the writer. I can't hesitate now, I've got some people to kill.

((Lvl 1 cursed spell))

Perfect time to fail. Again.

I swear, attempting to control the runaway magic and keep the corruption at bay.

 

[Keitsumah]

"Baldart!" I shout, running over and drawing out the pouch of goodberries. Keeping my staff at the ready, i flick the end towards Batos and the rune glows on his forhead. That arrow had to have come from someone, and I am ready to have Batos sick them.

"Here -I'll cast the new healing spell as well." i say, setting down the staff as Batos stands on guard. He will attack any enemy that dares approach.

Healing: [1d8+0] = 2+0 = 2
Power rushes through me and the amethyst necklace i wear glows with a soothing, white light. It does not heal much, but it's enough to close the arrow wound on Baldart's back after i pull the shaft out. I hand her the bag of goodberries and take the ones that need to be changed, preparing to cast the next spell.

 

[Steerpike]

((1 hp of damage to Mauve. Since you stepped away from everyone, no one else will take 1 hp. Mauve knows how far away to get. Good thing for Branwen )).

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

The young girl's spell seems to have little effect; I hurry forward in her wake to see what I can do for Baldhart.

Warmth floods my hands as I call on my magic, and it flows into Baldhart, healing a much greater amount of damage.

((If I'm right, Baldhart is up to 22 HP [8+2 = 10 from Keit's spell, now another 12 from Liadan], and Liadan is down to 9 MP of 13 total.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Thank you, Keit." I laugh because it's that or cry. "I'm so badly beaten, it would take the whole bag to heal me! Oh, but I know not to eat more than eight." I lower my voice. "I meant to tell you sooner. My mother was a druid. That's why I know how to pick good berries for the Goodberry spell. I want to talk more later, when it's safe…"

Suddenly, all my wounds are healed! Well, my back has a slight ache… more like an itch.

"Liadan! No wonder the queen had you as chief healer. Whatever happened for her to lose favor with Cadell, she lost two great elves. Her loss is our gain. Thank you!"

Now I can think clearly. I give Keit the bag of 13 non-magic berries, should she see fit to use more. I offer Darin and Matthew 5 berries each, keeping the other six in the bag for now. "Eat one at a time until you're healed. Let me know if you need more."

I look ahead to see what I can see down the road. Baldy! Move it! Right! I rush to the string and reel in the pebble, then waste no more time to get that globe of darkness in front of us.

"She can't hit what she can't see," I tell the group, "not even with magic arrows."

I say it like I'm sure, but only because if I were wrong, the sacrificial lizards would've been pointless. The priestess isn't stupid like her weak underlings.

Cruel. But not stupid.

 

[Nihal]

"It's with me. I know, I know! Here is the problem: It doesn't need to target us to blow us with a blast!" I keep my grasp on the string, aware it's impossible to explain anything at the moment. I'm sweating cold, well aware I've got no time and little energy left to waste in another unfruitful enchantment.

"We need shields in front and I need to know if someone can get an arrow to reach this blasted island!"

 

[Keitsumah]

"Maybe not an arrow... but what if...." i mumble, looking up to the shadowed recesses of the cave ceiling. I cannot tell if there are any stalactites, but if Batos howled loud enough he may cause one to break off and fall right on top of our enemies to impale or crush them.

"I have an idea, but it could be risky." i call, pointing up at the roof of the cave. "Batos could howl and the stalactites might react like a mountain with a lot of snow -an avalanche. Probably not as strongly, but it may be enough to knock one or two loose and hit our enemies. It's worth trying just to keep from losing any arrows." I shrug, letting them process what i have just said, casting the Goodberry spell over the bag.

[1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21
Every berry almost thrums with magic, i am so sucessful. A smile splits my face and I hand off the new berries to Baldart. "Keep them all in the same bag or separate, it does not matter to me."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Mauve, can you please cover us with darkness for now? From what you said of your sound blast, the range is nowhere near that magic arrow!"

I give a moment for her to comply, but regardless of her action, I tell her,

"That island is four times the distance an arrow can normally travel. No shield can block it—I know this for a fact because the arrow went around me when I tried to use the lizard to catch it. It's not that I failed to block—it's that success was impossible. I'm assuming she saw me, and her magic guided the arrow into my back. And the magic forced that arrow in deep!

"That little pebble may be the only means of getting us over there without getting shot several times."


((Have guest - will play more later!))

 

[Nihal]

"What? I don't want to shoot arrows at them, I—" I look at Baldhart, huffing, and pull the pebble out, covering us in darkness. "Do you have any idea of how far a fireball goes?! After that arrow I don't believe a stupid 'boom' is all this mage got!"

I move closer to them—or were I think they are—calling the others, "Come to the darkness now!" In a hurried, lower tone I add, "We can shoot the darkness at them when close and buy some time, my damned spell would protect me from any magical missile and many arrows; but I can only try one more time or two lesser spells at best! I'm near my limit!

"We still need the cover of those shields!"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"You have a spell that protects you from magic and arrows?" I recall that zapping sound when Mauve walked away. "Oh… did you just…?" I feel my way to Mauve and tap her with my hand. "Find my hand," I tell her. "There's a goodberry in it. Tell me if you need more than one."

After she gets the goodberry—I guess that's her, anyway—I suggest, "Let's step behind the darkness, get in the right order, then move. What is the right order, Mauve? Shields front, archers next? You near an archer? I suggest Alin shoot the darkness spell, since his bow has a 110-foot range—at least according the description at the shop.

"About… magic. I figure we don't have to worry about person-seeking arrows if we can't be seen. But we don't have to be clustered together for that to work. From what I know of your spells, Mauve, being clustered is not a good idea. I hate to say this, but… should some of us walk behind the darkness, not in it? If shields can actually block magic missiles and fireballs, maybe a heavily armored shield should be up-front, or two to make a wall."


If we're lined up as we want to be, I encourage the party to walk while we talk so the darkness doesn't fizzle out while we're discussing how best to use it.


After that, I add, "The only flaw with your plan, Mauve… how can we know when to shoot the arrow? I have an answer, if no one has a better one. It's a bit of a risk for me, but I think it may be necessary. I can swim out underwater—a good distance, like 50 or 60 feet beside the group. I'll estimate distance from the enemy, then dunk under and swim back before reporting. I figure the enemy is focused on the darkness, so they won't look for a swimmer—especially if they know humans can't normally handle this cold water."

 

[Nihal]

"Yes yes and yes, to cast you must see the target unless it explodes somehow. Hey, what—" I almost squish the berry someone placed in my hand. "Oh?" I try to follow her voice.

"Avoid swimming. They saw me transformed and got away, a mage can solve the puzzle and watch the water, sorry.

"I didn't grow up with knights, you know, to be sure of a real shield's effectiveness. Still, it's better than nothing." I sniff the berry. "My shield is impervious to magic missiles and helps a lot against mundane missiles. When it works." I finish with a quick whisper to her, "Though it's only those in front of me. Hopefully, he would fail to notice it and waste his power in a frontal attack.

"I don't know when we should shoot the arrow, but I believe the caster knows the counterspell and would take a second use it. We can charge while he's busy—it's a goodberry? Are you sure I should eat it? It's not like I can fail tons of spells now."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"If you're hurt, please eat."

I'm not worried about her failing spells. I'm worried she'll get hit so hard a healer can't save her. Nissa, I can't protect…

I place my hand on my chest. The wound there is healed completely. Why the sharp pain?

No time to worry. Time to fight. Kill the enemy so there's nothing to protect them from.

"I'm fine not swimming, since I prefer to wear armor in battle instead of a wet dress. If I walk behind the darkness, I may be able to estimate the distance based on what's to the side of the path, then we know when to fire.

"Once the battle begins, we make a hole and rush the caster when possible. She won't make that easy, but she's a mortal, no matter how powerful she is. Overestimating an enemy can be as dangerous as underestimating one.

"Let's finish this!"

 

[Steerpike]

((Slight push ahead ))

The party reorganizes itself, contemplating the best approach to the island. The keen eyes of the group scan the route ahead, watching for enemies. The path appears to be clear of any foe. There is movement atop the tall island, but it is too distant and the cavern too poorly-lit to make out anything other than the fact that something or someone is up there.

A small form emerges from the water where the narrow path meets the base of the island, then drags itself ashore. When it rises, you can make out the silhouette of one of the small lizards - presumably, one that dove into the water to escape Mauve's darkness spell. Of the other small lizards there is no sign.

The creature lopes up the path as it winds up the small island and is quickly lost from sight.

The darkness on the stone is still active, and it covers the party when the stone is pulled out into the open. Traveling along the narrow path is very slow as those leading the group, shields in place, step gingerly to avoid falling into the water. The group travels this way for a few minutes when a voice fills the air.

The voice is female, and is thin, as though carried on a wind. The words are spoken with a thick accent that draws out the 's' sounds. Still, they are plain enough to be understood:

"Hear me, you who have come uninvited. Trespassers, I name you. And murderers. And thieves...."

Darin grunts. "Trespassers! The gall! When I get my hammer within striking distance..."

The female voice continues, seeming to emanate from all around you. "I would hear you speak in your defense, criminals. I would see you with my own eyes. Safe passage to the most holy of shrines atop the island that rises before you. Safe passage, and a chance to explain yourself. Then...we shall see."

By the end the voice is little more than a whisper, and you hear nothing else there in your darkness apart from the sounds of each other's breathing.

 

[SeverinR]

"I may or may not have slipped in a rich man's darkened home in the past."
"We can pace the distance we walk in the dark, and adjust to be sure its in range. Not being able to see the path in front, will mean we take smaller steps then normal. If I can figure the distance we travel, I will know when to shoot the arrow. Or we could use a rope, when we reach the end we know how far we travelled. My bow will shoot 110, I would prefer to shoot no further then 90, just to be sure it makes the target."
"I would also be shooting blind, so I will tell you when ready to shoot, so the shield team can drop the shield. I would hate to fire and hit the shield by accident. I assume I will be aiming above them, but what if I am to close to them?"
"I could drop behind the dark area, to ensure the proper distance, only someone to the sides would see me, I would know the distance behind us and could see the ceiling above us. Another problem, if the ceiling has a low point, I might hit that instead."

"I would also need to announce when I shoot, so the group can charge ahead." I smile in the dark, "50gold to the one that drops the mage, unless its me."
"20 gold to the one that drops the female lizard speaker, if it isn't one in the same."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I tell the party, "The darkness won't last long enough to make the climb, even if we could move faster than a snail's pace. We may as well take her word for it that we won't be shot and lose the rock. It's me she'll likely aim at, if that's any consolation."

I remove my hand from my chest. I can't afford to worry anyone right now.

I tell Darin, "These are dwarven halls, and I recognize that, but let's suppose they're ignorant of it. This is not a territorial war as far as I'm concerned. Consider what they intend for Burnbright. Consider that the weaker lizards don't follow her out of love or loyalty, but out of fear. Let her explain that—ha! Not that the nature of the conversation matters. She only offers safe passage for the reason I accept it: neither side wants to delay this confrontation. Both sides recognize the strength of the enemy."

To Alin, I add, "How sneaky are you? Can you position yourself for a shot unseen? Maybe find cover other than a shield wall? I'm interested in what the priestess has to say, but feel free to shoot her in the face while she's talking—especially if she or her nearest bodyguard is within charging distance. Every truce they've given is only a means of delaying us, positioning us, or trying to coax us into doing their bidding because they know we're too strong to be forced. I'd have honored their truces if they were sincere. I won't waste so-called honor on those who wish to use a lovely child like Burnbright as if she were a tool. The only rules that matter in battle are the ones that dictate who to kill and who to protect."

 

[Nihal]

"The closer we get to her without getting beaten, the better. I will take your word of the darkness not lasting enough to climb whatever we are going to climb, but it still can provide the cover Aliron needs to sneak away. Yet, I would rather listen her words, even if are lies—we would learn what is important by what they will keep from us.

"We do not have the opportunity to gather useful information every day. It will take only a few minutes. Pleeease? We could combine a keyword to signal the time of the attack."

 

[SeverinR]

"Are you talking swim to a vantage point or sneak when we get to land?"
[are we on a solid walkway or a brige over water?]
"I could enter the water swim away from the group /*swim under the bridge we walk on/ and I believe would make the chance of sneaking away unseen all the easier. An aimed arrow shot is always better then a quick shot. But I would be a sitting duck for attack from the others once I shot. I would prefer not facing several lizards alone and I am not sure I can achieve a one shot kill on the caster. If I could kill in one shot, the lizards would probably break down into chaos and I would have time to return to the group."
"If luck is wth me, and you give me enough time, I could come up behind the mage and skewer her. but then again, I am alone again to face the mob."
"Do we have an idea, of how many lizards we face?"

*include if we walk on a bridge, drop if it is a solid based walkway.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Never mind the swimming… it looks like we need to travel to higher ground to face our enemy."

In reply to Mauve's concern, I say, "I'm fine with hearing her out, and I'm fine with not. Just bear in mind that both sides will be sizing up the other and seeking advantageous positions. The weaklings may believe the talk will not necessarily lead to battle, but the priestess and her bodyguards know the charade. It's like a bear and a mountain lion facing each other. They growl, circling, neither backing down. Both beasts know they'll sink their claws into each other, yet the ritual has its purpose. Just don't be so tempted by desire for knowledge that you resent being cut off. But, yes, you're right that talking may allow us to advance painlessly.

"As for a code word, name one, but know it may never be uttered. The signal to begin battle could be an enemy attack, or if one of us sees the opportunity to strike, the attack itself should be taken as a signal for the rest of us to att…ack."

I stumble, then fight the urge to tear the armor from my chest. It's not the armor. I look at the floor as if a loose stone is to blame for my clumsiness, then continue to talk tactics.

"The best strategy we can have is to carve a path to leader and attack her relentlessly. The best way to carve a path is to target the same enemy until he falls.* Don't spread our attacks thin, as each time an enemy falls, it's one less attacker. If the priestess is exposed take her out quickly. If she falls, the weaklings who serve her only out of fear will flee. The stronger ones may wish to avenge her."


*((@GM, is there a legal way to do this? I mean, for example, Ankari shoots the guy to the caster's right, then Alin shoots him, then Baldy charges him… only the guy was killed by the two arrows. Can I, on my turn, state my intended action as "I charge the caster's bodyguard, but if I see him fall as I charge, I keep running but target the caster"—or that other pesky bodyguard who would get a free attack if I dumbly charged past him?))

 

[Nihal]

"I do not expect to 'advance painl—hey, are you okay?" I try to reach for her and almost stumble upon someone, cursing.

"Fine. The keyword is 'scales'. We should target her first, when the time comes I shall decide which spell is best suited for the occasion. If I shout to stay out of my way, stay out of my way."

 

[SeverinR]

"One problem, if I am shooting, focus is on me, and I can't sneak away. So its all or nothing. If we charge, that leaves Branwen alone or alone with one person. If we charge everyone else must stay together, focused. If they get behind us they could go after who ever is behind, or they might encircle us. Once the queen is dead, they should break into chaos, but if there is a second in command in the area, they could be redirected. If our momentum is lost, then the attackers would notice anyone behind. So if we do this, we need a full out charge keep moving or die trying."
"We might also do a quick count when we can see. We can probably kill 2 maybe 3 to one of the lower lizards, we might be able to kill 2 for each of us with the ranking lizards, but I bet the queen will take 2 or three to her one. If I can break away and get behind her, I could possibly end the fight quicker. "
"What you want to do is daring and dangerous. But it might work, unless of course we are outnumbered 10 to 1. (meaning there is more then 50-80 lizards)"

"I would parley to get as close as possible, so we might parlay this into a great victory."