Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Sparkie]

I stand beside Darin, shield at the ready.

"Alright, we're ready. Let's do it."

I motion to Aliron to move ahead. I hope this works...

 

[Nihal]

((Not that I'm complaining. I have special interest in how can we use these maneuvers to defend, so I can plan how to best use some of my tricks. I'm hoping Mr. Steerpike allow us to use these as defensive stances.

And yup, I'm also hoping for an attack, to see how well this strategy will fare.))


Okay, I don't want the stupid cleric to die right now.

I look over Burnbright's shoulder while waiting her response. It would be bad if something sneaked up on us, really really bad. We didn't inspect the refuse pile, I think, neither the ceiling, and we left the temple passage wide open...

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I'm hoping we get +2 cover for being behind a shield wall. Though the enemy will likely attack those with shields, so I don't think we have much to worry about.

Steerpike, can Baldy use her sword safely if she thrusts from behind Darin? I'd like to think she has the training to know if she can thrust with the blade held in a horizontal position so the edges won't slice the dwarf's head if deflected. If there's a game mechanic that makes it possible for her to hit a friendly target, she won't risk it, even if it's a low risk like a 5% chance of inflicting 1HP damage.))

 

[SeverinR]

When everyone is pretty much ready,
We move as quickly as we can do so quietly, I will have an arrow ready.
When we reach the corner, I will stop and look back to make sure everyone is ready.

When Nod ready, I will move out just enough to make a clear shot, when Nod is in position we will fire as one.


I assume its not night time, if it is it will be +2. I forgot my elf longbow bonus +1



not great damage if I hit.

If the reptile charges us, I will run back to the group, as fast as possible.
If it runs, we signal the group to come forward.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((To speed things up, can we assume that we're in the following formation?

Aliron (in stealth mode)

Darin / Rydh (shield wall)
Baldy / Matthew
Cadell / Mauve
Burnbright

Ankari (running)

Unless a player says otherwise, the only unknown is whether Nod is sneaking with Aliron or is on Baldy's back now.))

 

[Sparkie]

((I think Phil had Nod on Baldy's shoulders after my post suggesting he sneak. I hope he gets to shoot from her shoulders. I'm falling in love with the idea, athough I'm wary of the results.))

 

[Philip Overby]

((Yes, I'm going to shoot from her shoulders, because yeah, it sounds fun. ))

I shoot. "DIE!"

((Yeah, I think that's a miss.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Don't forget your dex mod! You only lose the +2 if Baldy's moving… so I guess Steerpike will make that adjustment and we roll normally? As for your miss, well, only Aliron is in front of us so missing is good!))

"I'm sure you can shoot straight when an enemy is among us. In the meantime, you must come up with a song about this."




Nissa, didn't you tell me Brynhild smiles upon her follower when she engages in mounted combat?

Usually her follower isn't the mount, but Brynhild has a sense of humor, so I'm sure you're making her smile.

 

[Ireth]

I put my hand to the hilt of my sword as I move into formation behind Baldhart and Matthew, with Mauve at my side and Burnbright behind us. After what became of me in the last battle, and my less-than-encouraging progress with off-handed swordplay since then, I am grateful to be close to the rear, but not so glad to have our healer at the front, shield or no shield. I breathe slowly and deeply, trying to force back my ever-present unease at the darkness and close quarters. Either one on its own would not bother me so much, but together they gnaw at my mind.

 

[Phietadix]

"Rydh, let me take the front. You're too valuable to the party to be in the front lines"

 

[Sparkie]

Never deny the fight when it presents itself.

Engagements - Codex 1:2

*****​

I wish I could get everyone to understand. My God demands I fight.

I look back to Sir Matthew and smile. "I understand your concern, Sir Matthew, but we all must share the load. Just use your spear from the back rank and you'll protect me from harm."

 

[Steerpike]

Aliron and Nod (on Baldhart's back) get in position and peer around the corner. The creature has finished dealing with one side of the trip wire and has moved across to the other side of the corridor. It's not hard to get a good shot at him, even in the dim light of the hallway. A dull glow suffuses the corridor around the reptile-thing, though you can't tell exactly where it is coming from. The light has made the presence of your own torches less conspicuous, though the creature's preoccupation with the tripwire is probably the better explanation as to why it hasn't noticed you.

Just as you both pull back on your bowstrings, the creature looks up. It lets out a hiss as Aliron's arrow flies home, striking it in the hip. Nod's arrow misses, clattering down the corridor. The creature does not charge the party, but turns around and runs as best it can with the arrow wound it sustained.

 

[Sparkie]

Straining to listen, I hear the hiss of loosed missiles. Then nothing. No sound of a fight.

"Steady, everyone. Once we get some kind of indication we shall act, but not before."

I just hope the others are alright. Ankari would have been of use here, had not his own pride got in the way.

 

[Ravana]

I turn to the girl, leaning a little to be in her eye height and placing my hands on her shoulders.

((Shortly after you lean back, you smell something awful. Not her fault: you're the fool who leaned into the torch.… j/k))

((Steerpike, can Baldy use her sword safely if she thrusts from behind Darin? I'd like to think she has the training to know if she can thrust with the blade held in a horizontal position so the edges won't slice the dwarf's head if deflected. If there's a game mechanic that makes it possible for her to hit a friendly target, she won't risk it, even if it's a low risk like a 5% chance of inflicting 1HP damage.))

((GM's call on the mechanic, of course. I can tell you from experience that this possibility always exists. As in "you could be twenty feet away from him and it could still happen" always.))

((Remind me to tell you about the time a friend of mine shot himself in the arm.…))

Are you really going to thrust a sword over his head?[/I]

No. If my sword gets deflected, I'll cut his head. I intend to vault over him. With a shield wall, only a spear between shields can fight effectively.

((Oh, please do this! Pretty pretty please? With whipped cream and a cherry on top? I wanna watch!))*

 

[Nihal]

I turn to the girl, leaning a little to be in her eye height and placing my hands on her shoulders.

"Burnbright, listen carefully." My voice is barely louder than a whisper.

"If you are told to run, you run. You're going to keep calm, find someone who seems to be in less danger and go to him. If the situation is really bad, you run back to the temple." My tone isn't condescending, it's dead serious.

"If I ask you to shoot, grab this crossbow of yours and shoot. You won't attempt to engage the foe at close range. To ask such thing, I'm probably trying to block some enemy with all my strength, unable to fight back and I'm going to need all help I can get to bring him down. Getting in the way won't help."

"If you get injured they are going to do the possible to save you. That will get them killed. So I won't speak kind and sweet words to you now, I need you to be strong and throw your pride and pretensions away. You are not stupid, as you said, so you know you're not prepared yet. There is no shame in this. For their sake you to must sensible and avoid the danger at all the costs. Can I count on you to do this?"

((My question sunk in this topic, but Mauve was expecting an answer, so she knows if she should worry about the delusional girl or not.))

 

[Ireth]

What is going on up there? I can neither hear what is happening, nor see far past my comrades and the circle of light, despite being taller than most (save only Baldhart). I wait, my hand still on my word, my breaths still slow and soft as I can manage. Did whatever is out there flee from their arrows, or were they lucky enough to kill it quickly and silently? I severely doubt the latter, even knowing my comrades' skill. Whatever our enemy, I only hope it does not bring reinforcements.

 

[Steerpike]

Burnbright nods as Mauve is talking. "OK. I can do it. What do you think is going to happen?" Her eyes are wide in the torchlight, and she is craning her neck to see around as many party members as possible, trying to see what is happening up front. When she sees Nodrick on Baldhart's shoulders, she lets out a little giggle then slaps her hand over her mouth to stifle the sound.

((I'll wait for either Baldhart, Nodrick, or Aliron to react to what happens after the shots; Ankari will be with the group shortly, since he's running and the group was walking rather slowly, so they're not as far away as it might appear)).

 

[SeverinR]

I signal to the group that it ran away, and to move up, then use the corner as cover, watching the direction it ran, arrow ready.

 

[Nihal]

I sigh. "I don't know, I can't see." I tiptoe and stretch my neck, but it's useless, they're too tall.

"What's happening?" I turn to Cadell. While I wait a response, I try to shake off the unease I'm feeling about the dark corridor behind us.

The girl is the most important person here.

"I'm blocking the torchlight, switch places with me, girl." I really don't want to risk having her spirited away.

 

[Steerpike]

Burnbright switches places with you, eager to be closer to the front to see what is going on. Aliron turns and signals to the rest of the group that whatever he shot is running.