Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I'm fine."

Am I?

No.

"I need to kill the bodyguards who stand in the way of the caster. Alin, if a carefully aimed shot can hit her directly, or Mauve, if you can blast the priestess and her guards, then yeah…" Breathe. Breathe, dammit. "…strike her as soon as you can. Once there's an attack from either side, we all attack.

"But I know from experience… when Mauve warns us to stay out of the way, listen to her!"

 

[Nihal]

"Yeah, I have some blasting in mind—unless some other spell presents itself as more useful during this confront." I play with the string while I walk.

"Aliron, if the darkness ends before we get close enough for an attack I do not see the point of shooting the pebble away," I say in a playful tone. "Anyway, I wonder what possible gain they would have with a few-minutes distraction... We better keep an eye on the surroundings and our backs when we get there." I chew the question in my mind, mumbling "...perhaps anything she could use now requires clear sight... gathering everyone in a delimited area... uhm..."

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I keep quiet as we move ahead, but pay close attention to Baldhart. Worry begins to gnaw at me. Something is clearly wrong, though she denies it. Is she hurt worse than I could heal? She seemed fine... my magic was strong... so what is it?

 

[Keitsumah]

Batos whines, and i notice Baldart is not looking as well as she should be. Gritting my teeth, I manage to get up beside her and hold out my staff within easy reach. "You're not fooling me." I whisper in an attempt to keep anyone else from hearing. "I have grown up amongst animals and plants, and I know when something is injured in any way. Is there any way i could help you?"

Then i raise my voice and speak to Mauve:

"An explosion spell, or an incineration spell may require clear sight and a confined space to work effectively." But those are only two ideas i can come up with. There are hundreds of other spells i may not know about that would need the same criteria.

Batos growls, and i shiver. Either spell i have mentioned involves fire, and i rub at my burned hand. The amethyst i wear flickers, then steadies again. Looking to my right, i start but keep moving as i spy my brother's ghost walking among us. He paces anxiously next to Cadell, silver eyes blazing when he draws a curved sword.

Be careful, sister . . . trust yourself, and your friends . . . he mouths before flickering out like an image in rippling water.

"I will," i mutter, and i can just sense him smiling before his presence truly fades out.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Keit speaks to Baldhart, her voice carrying easily to my sharp ears. I resist the urge to shake my head in response to her words, and stare ahead in silence. Baldhart herself knows there is nothing anyone can do about her heart. But I will not betray what she has confided to me. I did not even tell that much to Líadan.

Keit speaks again, and I turn my head slightly, seeing her looking toward me. I murmur to her despite myself, "You will what?"

 

[Steerpike]

((Was waiting for others to post, but I'm going to move ahead now. Not sure if Aliron is heading up with the party or splitting off ahead of time to try to sneak. Let me know. The walkway you are on is solid - that is, it isn't a bridge that you can swim under)).

After hearing the voice and discussing their options, the party decides to approach the enemy and engage them in conversation. The stone path is wet and slippery, and you step carefully to avoid falling in to the dark waters on either side. The cold air of the cavern is striking against your skin.

Darin walks the path with his characteristic grimace, knuckles white on the haft of his hammer. Branwen takes in her surroundings, wide-eyed, and every few feet has to be tugged along as she stops to stare around the vast cavern. She doesn't look scared, but when anyone takes the child's hand, her fierce grip betrays her nervousness.

The path winds its way to the island, then climbs like a corkscrew along the periphery of the craggy stone, up toward where you saw the movement. It is narrow enough that the group can only travel two abreast, and the wet stone of the sloping path makes footing more treacherous than below. Still, with care the party is able to climb with no real danger. The side of the island is formed from jagged rocks, which jut forth everywhere except on the path itself. It appears the path was cut into the rock, and as you climb higher you realize a fall from the path, or from the top of the island, could prove quite deadly.

A final turn in the path leads to the flat area that forms the lofty top of the island. A stone archway, nearly ten feet wide, extends over the path where it reaches the top of the island. The arch is carved with strange runes and symbols, though what they mean is unclear. Protrusions of large rock flank the arch, leaving the path as the only safe means of reaching the top of the island, unless you want to risk a climb. Even from your vantage point moving up the path, you can see the enemy.

The top of the island is large and roughly circular. At the center is a circular depression, and behind that a small stone structure the size of a single room or perhaps a mausoleum. Standing just before the circular depression is a human male, pale-skinned with black hair flowing to his shoulders. In his hand he holds a beautiful, ornate bow, with an arrow nocked. The elves of the party recognize the bow immediately as of elven make, though of a style that has not been in use for at least a few centuries.

To the man's right are two of the larger lizards and three of their smaller brethren, extending away from the man in a line, all watching the approach of the party. To the man's left, but at the far side of the depression, are two more of the large lizards and two of the smaller. Each of the smaller lizards wields a crossbow and has a crude dagger hanging at its side. Each of the larger lizards wields an axe.

Within the depression itself is what appears to be a woman, laying almost prostate, her pale head raised as she watches you from underneath the hood of her vast cloak. The cloak spreads around her in all directions, covering her body and draping a larger portion of the rock around her. The fabric of the cloak is a deep, blood red, and its folds and contours suggest more lies beneath than a single woman.

As the party approaches, the man adjusts his grip on his bow and says "Slowly, now. Nothing foolish."

The woman raises herself up slightly, and you can see the shadows of her arms pushing her up from the ground. The motion exposes her face more clearly. You see no scales, though there is perhaps the faintest of green tint to her skin. Or perhaps it is the light. Her eyes are almond and pulled upward at the ends. A single, tight braid of brown hair slips from her hood and frames her face.

When she speaks, her voice is soft, but strong as it carries to you. She sounds human. "So, the criminals are here. You who descended into these tunnels, unprovoked. Who killed my servants, looted my treasures. You who would keep a young girl from knowing the love of her mother, entrusting her instead to a village of madmen. Explain yourselves."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

My breath escapes me in a hiss, and my eyes narrow as I look upon the woman. Aslaug? Or an impostor? We should find out more before we do anything.

"How do we know for certain that you are whom you claim to be?"

I am not sure we can trust her word, but perhaps we can keep her engaged long enough to accomplish our plan.

 

[Steerpike]

The woman cocks her head at Cadell. "I have claimed nothing, other than that this is my home and you are intruders."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I take a slow breath. "You did claim one thing. The one you seek -- you claim to be her mother."

 

[Steerpike]

A small, hiccup-like sound begins deep in the woman's chest, developing into a wry chuckle. "It is not I who am her mother, elf. But our Lady confides in me. She seeks to reunite with her daughter, and to keep her safe. You seek to prevent that."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"And who are you, that the Lady would confide in you so?" The title tastes sour on my tongue; it brings me back to days of fear and torment in Aelwyd Eirian. Thankfully, I know that this Lady cannot be the one who assailed my former home -- she is long since dead, by my own hand and others'.

 

[Nihal]

"Oh, why, hello!" I raise my hand, trying to calm Cadell and greet them happily—possibly way too happily.

I'm sure my fellow allies won't appreciate the sincere happiness I'm feeling at the sight of these two, even I couldn't suspect I would feel this happy. It's not that I forgot they must die, but it's good to see a fellow caster from time to time. I almost feel at home. Clearing my throat, I stand straight and smirk at them.

"It is truly refreshing to see another user of the old craft in these blasted lands. I wish we had met in different circumstances." I bow my head in a soft motion, showing respect. "Not that it should matter, but I did not agree with sending the girl back to this terrible village either. However, I believe bringing her back to her mother is not the best option; didn't Aslaug abandon her in first place?

"I can only infer that at that time she left the girl it was to protect her from the others and from herself. You must be aware of how the corruption can endanger the people close to one affected. She may not mean it, but she will put the girl in danger." I distractedly throw my hair back, revealing a bit more of my scarred face.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I don't care why the mother abandoned her," I tell the woman. "You spoke of love.

"What do you know about love? A loving mother is present in the life of her child. She does not send an army of armed creatures to take her from those who care for her. That's how kidnappers take children! So, yes, I had no qualms about ripping the guts out of those who tried to take the child by force. I love her like a sister. To you—to her own mother—she is a tool, not a daughter.

"As for your servants, why do they serve you? Do you hold their children hostage, or is it simply that they must choose between your buddy's arrow or my blade? They obviously fear you! A leader worth following is loved, not feared. You fail as a mother and a leader in terms of love, but you are a great leader, if you think being a tyrant makes you great.

"You're the one who owes an explanation! Maybe you can write a carefully crafted letter to explain to Catli why her own mother left her then sent suspicious creatures to take her."

 

[Nihal]

"Hey, I do care! Just saying."

I whisper to Baldhart without taking my eyes off the caster, "She's not Aslaug."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"This is not Catli's mother," I say at the same time as Mauve, turning to Baldhart. "She is but a spokesperson, if she is to be believed."

((Haha, ninja'd!))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Oh." I look at the woman. "Then that makes you the head kidnapper or the servant of a lousy mother. Either way, you have no love for the girl and these lizards are more likely to die by your hands than mine, so stop pretending you care about any of those you use for your selfish purpose."

 

[Steerpike]

The woman laughs wryly once again. To Cadell she says "I am Calexa, a faithful servant to our Lady. Practically a sister, I should think." She grins wide.

When Mauve and Baldhart speak of abandonment, her visage grows angry, however. "You truly are fools! When orcs and goblins swept into the temple those years ago and dragged our Lady back to their fetid lairs, when they imprisoned her there in the dark and visited their vile tortures on her, was she abandoning her child? Did your precious villagers come for her? Did they seek to rescue her after all she'd provided for them? They did not!"

She ducks her head back toward the ground, laughing again. "Know, too, that when our Lady was but a child, those same villagers dragged her mother into the dark of night and burned her alive at the stake! The poor child saw it all. And still she worked to help the folk of Srilkind. When Catli came, our Lady hid her daughter out of concern for her well-being. Now, she would continue to protect her, while you throw the poor girl to the wolves in the hope that she doesn't manifest magic of her own. But she will.

"So do not speak to me of abandonment, lest you raise my ire and I strike you down where you stand!"

The black-haired man turns to the woman, who is nearly shaking with anger by the time she finishes her rant. "Calexa, we must..."

"Quiet, fool!" hisses the woman. "I know well."

The woman takes a deep breath and calms herself. "I owe you no explanations. I care not if my servants obey from fear or respect, so long as they do obey. As for Catli, her mother is the only one who can protect her. The only one who can teach her of the magic she will manifest. Your meddling will only harm her."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"You respond with threats. 'Don't make me angry, or else!' Like a common tavern brawler, only dangerous enough to intimidate an army into servitude, including Bo Handsome here."

I glare at him. "Thanks for shooting me in the back, by the way." [Intimidate] ((+10% chance of him screwing up a shot if this actually works?))

I go on, "Now you understand why we fought. We gave your servants a chance to convince us that they were innocents who built a home here. We'd have said 'live and let live.' But the truth came out. Like now. Laughter and anger as you fabricate a sob story! Even if it were true, it doesn't explain the ungrateful attitude towards the villagers who raise the child in her mother's stead. It most certainly doesn't explain current actions.

"I'm not one of your slaves. You can't use deception and fear tactics to get your way with me, and my life span will be shortened whether you strike me down or not."

 

[Nihal]

"I understand, now. You see, these villagers are not my people." I scoff at the thought and continue coldly, "I hold no love for any superstitious, ungrateful fool.

"I am not demanding explanations from you. I seek something completely different: Knowledge. I know little of what happened to Aslaug, and for this reason I looked forward this conversation—although I did not expect to meet you this soon, in this place." My voice is soft again.

"I do not understand, however, why did you allow us—"

"Baldhart, dammit!" I hiss at her.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"No, no… go on," I say to Mauve. "I won't interrupt you."