Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Ireth]

Líadan

I stare in mounting horror at the thing that takes shape near Calexa, and moves toward her -- and by extent, most of us -- with purpose. I quickly nock an arrow to my bowstring, but do not yet pull it back. The chance seems slim, but perhaps this creature can be reasoned with -- or at the very least distracted for a while.

"Who are you, and what do you want?"

 

[SeverinR]

Having bandaged any bleeding wounds on Mauve, I see the lizard move towards the group.
I spin bringing my sword up to hit the last lizard.
<a href=http://unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=13451>long sword to hit[1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10</a>
The Unseen Servant
damage:
The Unseen Servant
<a href=http://unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=13452>damage long sword[1d8] = 3</a>
(If I get a back attack, I hit)

My eyes focus on Baldhart, as I swing.

[list of people still standing: Cadell, Liadan, Ankari, Aliron, and the wolf Baltos. I think most of us are very injured (I think I am at 5hp) so if the formation can attack, I think we are dead, being it is probably stronger then Calexa.]

 

[Keitsumah]

Batos growled as the shadowy figure approached, his charred muzzle curling back to reveal bleeding gums and fangs:

Intimidate [1d20] = 15

A deep, menacing growl rises from his chest as he steps forward to further cover Keitsumah, the remains of his tail lashing about. With her unconscious as well as Baldart, there is no chance that anyone can control the wolf except for by force or a spell. Not that they would care so long as he didn't turn their attention to them. Either way, it doesn't look like he is about to leave her side despite his fierce posturing.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I stand protectively over Darin's body, my eyes on the creature who now stalks toward us. Líadan tries to speak to it, perhaps to persuade it not to attack, and I wish her good fortune. I do not dare sheathe my sword yet, and hold it low, but prepare to swing it again at any provocation from the creature.

 

[Steerpike]

Aliron makes his way to the last lizard, huddled against an outcropping of rock. He swings at the creature, but it sees the attack coming and leaps aside on panicked legs. The lizard backs away from Aliron, its eyes flicking between the elf and the events going on at the center of the battlefield. It casts a glance at the edge of the rock to its left as well. Then the creature bolts, two quick steps and a leap that takes it up onto one of the taller rocks. This is followed by a second leap meant to fling itself far over the edge of the rock and into the dark, cold waters below.

The leap is not strong enough. The lizard catches the edge of the path that winds itself up the island, below, spinning into a cartwheel before striking more rocks further below with a dull thud. It does not move.

The strange monstrosity continues toward Calexa, the whirling vortex still shimmering in the air behind it. Its malformed ears twitch when Liadan speaks, but it doesn't reply. A low rumble that may be an expression of mirth rolls in its chest. When Batos growls the creature turns an eye toward the wolf, but only for a moment.

The creature pauses for a moment when it nears Mauve, looking down at her with its baleful red eyes. Its mouth twists upward in a gruesome smirk and it twists it head toward Liadan. The creature utters a few incomprehensible words in a gravelly voice, gesturing at Mauve's prone form, then steps past Mauve and alongside Calexa.

It is near enough Cadell that he smells a strong odor of sulfur and rotting flesh. But the creature pays no attention to the elf.

The foul thing from the vortex raises one muscled arm high, then drives its razored fingers three knuckles deep into the serpent-witch's back. Calexa gasps and mumbles something, her head lolling from side to side, still too disoriented to do much more.

Then the creature takes a step back toward the vortex and drags the large, serpentine body of Calexa behind it, the muscles of its arm heaving with strain, and Calexa's blood leaving a streak across the ground. The creature fixes its eyes on the vortex, then heaves again.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I watch, neither moving nor speaking, as the creature acknowledges a few of us in turn -- Líadan, Batos, Mauve. I hold my breath and try not to gag at the sulfurous odor that rolls off its body when it comes close to me, but the thing pays me no heed.

The thing raises a hand and drives its clawed fingers deep into Calexa's back. I tense, eyes narrowing, when she stirs and mumbles -- I had thought her dead! Is it giving her its strength to attack us again?

The creature instead starts to drag Calexa to the vortex, muscles taut and visibly straining against her huge serpentine bulk. I do not dare relax or let down my guard just yet. Who knows what the creature will do when it has removed Calexa? Is it too much to hope that it will leave us in peace?

 

[Ankari]

What pain I feel is forgotten at the sight of this creature. We have won this battle, although we have lost dearly. Prone forms litter the platform. Most of them are my allies, and I would see to their recovery as soon as I can. But not yet.

Now, the answers to the multitude of questions circling in my head resides on the tongue of the witch-kin. I need her here, but this creature has its own plans.

"Creature of corruption." I speak in common, then in elvish. Whichever it responds to first, I'll continue using that language. If neither, then I will resort to my mother tongue.

"You carry away the body of Calexa, a person who has transgressed the grounds of holy Gefjon. She is to be relinquished to my custody, Ankari, Hunter of Gefjon." I thrust the holy symbol in the air as proof. "I know what she has done to earn your attention. Leave her now, and I will see that she is punished for her offense. Earn not Gefjon's ire. This land does not deserve it."

 

[Steerpike]

The creature does not hesitate when Ankari speaks common. When he switches to elven, it stops and regards him. It answers in elven, though the dialect it uses is old, from the days before humans had spread across the land, when elves and dwarves represented the largest populations. The pronunciation is almost incomprehensible at times, but it speaks slowly and you can make it out.

"'She broughte me here, upon this plane, by thoughte and deede." The monster shakes Calexa for emphasis, spattering blood. "Certes I take hir by righte. Wolde ye trade another in hir place?"

The creature turns, fixing Liadan with its gaze. It's eyes travel the length of her body and it rubs absently at itself in grotesque fashion. "This lady is ful pleasaunt to me, and much wolde I enjoy hir." The rumbling laughter echoes from the creature's chest again.

He turns back to Ankari. "I fere not thy god, nor thy conceit, nor thy folye. Choose."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Revulsion sweeps through me as the beast speaks in my tongue, and sets his lusting eyes upon my lover. I step forward and place myself between them, shielding Líadan from that gaze and locking eyes with the creature. I answer it in the same tongue. "This lady is spoken for, and I will not surrender her to another. Nor will I allow any other maiden here to be tarnished by one such as you."

Líadan

The creature makes his intentions unmistakably plain, and I shudder under its lecherous eyes. But my bow is still in my hands; I raise it and draw back the string, pointing it at the creature from under Cadell's arm. "I would kill you before you drew near enough to touch me."

 

[Ankari]

"Speak of your nature so that I may find a fitting substitute. Who are you, and how has the serpent-witch summoned you?" The platform spins like a boat lost on a thrashing sea of purpose. Much will come of this exchange. "Must your victim be living?"

 

[Steerpike]

"Hir magic called me," says the creature. It extends one long arm toward Mauve. "This other wil do the same in dayes to come. So it is right and so shall it be doon."

He readjusts his grip on Calexa and makes for the vortex again, speaking to Ankari as he goes.

"I take the serpent or one equally pleasaunt to myn eyen. No lesse shall satisfye me. Liketh ye hir so wel, she that ye foughte at grete cost?"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Goosebumps crawl up my arms as the creature speaks of Mauve, and I resist the urge to glance at the prone girl. Is she truly corrupted, as was the serpent-witch?

The creature speaks to Ankari again, and I mentally echo his question. What does Ankari want with the witch?

 

[Ankari]

"You can have her. I but need answers that she possesses. We are not enemies, you and I. Have her answer my questions and you may do as you will with her. I hunt more of her ilk. Do me this favor, and the next I come across I will throw at your feet. A boon for a boon."

 

[Steerpike]

The creature stops just before the vortex of magic.

"What wolde ye offer, if I waite? 'Tis your doom if you do speke lyes!"

 

[Ankari]

I do not doubt his words, nor his ability to fulfill them. In another time, before this journey to save the fate of a young girl, the challenge would have been met with a bite of my axe. I breath in, savoring the air tainted with the metallic odor of blood and cloying burnt flesh. "I hunt her master, a woman once known as Aslaug. She has embraced corruption far beyond and mortal that treads this land. Grant me the following and we will hunt her down for you. I need my companions revived, something I know you are capable of doing. I need answers from the serpent-witch, and I need a way of summoning you once the deed is done."

The weight of my companions eyes press against me like a storm surge. I dare not look, lest they see my doubt. "You know corruption, and you know I am free of it. Why bother with the serpent-witch when a greater treasure awaits?"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I stay silent and still, letting Ankari speak with the creature and knowing better than to intervene. I can only hope he knows exactly what he's doing, or he and his folly may bring doom down upon all of our heads. Even so, I do not move out from between Líadan and the creature.

 

[Steerpike]

The creature's eyes flash at the mention of Aslaug.

"Hir I knowe. Soothly, a greater prize." He regards the vortex for a moment, in silent contemplation, then turns back to Ankari. "I can not be longe here, on payne of myn lyf. With mortal help it can be doon. Binde me here, blood to blood, for a yere and a deye, or until you kille Aslaug, whiche e'er be firste. And I shall give to you the serpent. For a brief tyme."

 

[Ankari]

I lick my lips with a parched tongue. Thoughts of what this creature would do with a year and a day on this plane tumble through my mind. "What would you do on this plane in that time?"

 

[Steerpike]

((As a note: the elves in the group who have seen many centuries would know that demons and their ilk can only remain on this plane for a limited time. It is known, however, that they can be summoned by mortals and bound by mortal blood to this plane for a year and a day, or until the occurrence of a specified event. They do not become servants of the mortal. They are free to do as they wish so long as they remain. It is rumored that they can also be bound to the will of the mortal, but that is powerful and long-lost magic, if the rumors are even true. If the demon knows the ritual, then you could bind him here and allow him to remain in the world for now)).

 

[Ankari]

((Do the elves of the party roll some kind of wisdom check for that ritual?))