Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Steerpike]

((Nod is still on Baldhart's shoulders. No way to show the two icons together)).

With Ankari in the group again, the party reassembles itself according to Rydh's instructions, with Ankari taking a spot at the rear of the group. Thus assembled, the party moves down the corridor door in the direction of the strange creature - presumably some sort of troglodyte.

Darin pauses at the tripwire, examining it, then indicating to everyone to step over it carefully. He runs his fingers across crude glyphs scratched into the stone where the tripwire meets the wall on either side. "That's not dwarf work," he mutters, and spits on the ground. As the party continues onward, each member can clearly see the crude glyphs as they carefully step over the tripwire.

The passage continues forward with no change in the structure. The wall and floor have a constant appearance, and the air is cool. The stench dissipates as the party leaves the tripwire area. Every so often, dark blood is visible against the stone of the ground, and testing it with the fingers shows it is fresh. Presumably it is from the creature Aliron shot.

Still further into the darkness, and the passage takes a right-hand turn. "We should be heading north again now," says Darin. "Least that's the best I can figure it based on which way we were going when the damned Taint fouled up my senses."

Burnbright huddles close to Rydh, the heat of her torch keeping them both warm. Mauve's light illuminates much of the passage behind.

After a few minutes of walking through the unchanging passageway, there is a junction ahead. The flicker of Burnbright's torch and the constant, clean light from Mauve's spear illuminate a stone wall and branches running to the left and right. The party pauses as Aliron moves silently ahead, once more to scout the immediate area. When he reports that all is clear, Darin and Cadell peer around the corner as well, and the nature of the intersection is relayed to the rest of the group.

The passage to the group's left merely disappears into darkness. To the right is a set of stone double doors, some sort of relief carved into the surface of each. Before the hallway reaches the doors, it branches again, though after sending one of the group to creep forward a bit and peer around the corner, it too disappears into darkness.

Air from the corridor that branches off before the door carries the faint tang of water. Cadell notices a spot on the floor in the corridor leading to the party's left, and upon closer inspection it proves to be more of the dark blood.

Burnbright whispers to Rydh "This place is like a maze or something. Can you believe we're actually down here?" Her eyes are alight with the awe of youth.

 

[SeverinR]

[Is that a door?
And which way did the trog(tripwires) go?]

 

[Steerpike]

((Tripwire area is behind the group, back the way you came and quite a ways back. There were no other branches in the corridor so this has to be the way the creature came. As the narrative above indicates, that is a set of double doors )).

 

[Phietadix]

Should I tell him? Not now of course, but afterwords, should I tell him my concern? But what about the code; does the code prevent it? Does the code apply to this ? Is this what it was meant to prevent? There's no way to know.

Which is worse? Doing an action that might break the code, or not doing it, keeping my concern secret and possibly breaking the code another way?

This is maddening. If only I didn't need to follow Tyr's code. If only I could escape it. But there's only two ways to cause that now. And both are very unpleasant.

Maybe I should just run into our enemies alone, die in combat. Perhaps protect the others in the process. But that would still leave my concerns unknown. Never to be heard.

Besides, Tyr has a mission for me. He always has a mission for me.

Why me Tyr! Why did you choose me? Why did you give me this code then throw me into situations where I face the need to break it? Why do you want me to accomplish you will?

The answer is all too clear. From Tyr's own scripture.
Your time has not yet come. Follow my path, follow my truth, and you will be rewarded.

Still, the question remains. Should I tell him?

 

[Nihal]

I squint my eyes at the glyphs as I pass by the tripwire, trying to recall any similar glyph I may have seen before. I can only think in two reasons to have such symbols near a trap.

It's either a magical trap or they mark their traps so their allies don't get caught on them by accident. Anyway, the whole "setting traps" idea strikes me really odd. The temple door was sealed, wasn't it?

I procceed with caution, always searching the floor and walls for more glyphs.

Some of the carcasses were fairly fresh, there must be another opening not so far away. Probably to open field, unguarded, so it's possible to end wandering down here. But what do they expect to wander down there? Traps of this kind sounds more like something designed to catch sentient beings, I have a hard time imagining animals descending to this place, everything here scream "DANGER!". Maybe a village, not so far away? Unless they're just paranoiac. I should had taken a closer look at that pile.

I try to keep the tip of my spear high enough so everyone benefits from it's light. It's a little tiring, since my spear is only a little taller than I am. I wonder how many minutes have already passed.

The light won't last forever. I sulk in silence.

 

[SeverinR]

((Tripwire area is behind the group, back the way you came and quite a ways back. There were no other branches in the corridor so this has to be the way the creature came. As the narrative above indicates, that is a set of double doors )).

Thats why, I was probably typing my question as you were posting it. (2minutes difference)

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Flashback (to the moment of Ankari's arrival, and no later)

Ankari asks, "Did a rat run across the Gnat's foot?"

What else can I say but...

Addison Lane asks, "What the hell are you two doing?"

Her red curls radiate in the misty rays of the morning sun. She is so beautiful, I wonder why she didn't abandon our friendship for a husband like all the others. Maybe because that freckled face is always obscured by a scowl. If not Hanako's skinny legs dangling over my torso, she'd just find something else to scowl at.

I explain, for all the good it won't do, "As part of my training, I must carry a hundred-pound load on long hikes. Hanako is instructed to meditate for several hours. I didn't want her to be alone, and she's about the right weight, so..."

"So you're giving her a piggyback ride around the forest."

"I wouldn't have said it that way, but yes, that is what I am doing."

"You look ridiculous," she says, in case I didn't already feel ridiculous without hearing the word from her mouth.

"The boys are not here, so who am I trying to impress?"

My attempt at humor only seems to annoy Addison even more, so we walk through the forest together in silence. I am lost in the sounds of rustling leaves and Hanako's gentle snoring.

Addison finally mutters, "Low branches."

"What about them?" I ask.

"Watch out for them."

"Of course I will, Addison! What kind of a fool do you think I--?"

A crash of leaves! Twigs rain from the heavens! Hanako shrieks, "Miss Eisenberg!"

A sharp tug at my hair! "My pigtails!"

"They're oxhor--NYAAAAA!"

Hanako and I find ourselves lying in a tangled mess of tree limbs and each other's limbs. Addison looks down at us with those green disapproving eyes.

What else can I say but what Mother always said to me:

"'If one cannot laugh at herself, she gets others to do it for her.'"

I say it with a smile. Hanako and I look at each other, then turn to Addison to see if Mother's advice had the same effect on her...

 

[SeverinR]

Check the door for traps;

first low roll for an ability check, but I think it is still good.


"The door could hold an army of foes that could sneak up behind, the wounded reptile went the other way. Then we also have a third option, and that way could allow a force to come in from behind. This is up to the leadership to decide."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I think any ability check below the teens is a failure. Some require higher numbers - I'm told the warg Baldy overpowered required a roll of 20 to stun! But I think the lowest possible success roll is a 13, or maybe a 12 for level 0 spells.))



"Our two best options...

"One: follow the blood where we know our enemies are. There is a chance something lurks behind the door or down the moist hall, but there is also a chance that those monsters have not been alerted to our presence since the trail of blood does not go in that direction." I repeat, "A chance..." since "it is possible that other creatures were already alerted and split up.

"Two: we keep someone with sharp eyes and ears as a lookout down the bloody hallway, then another by the damp hallway, while the rest of us try the door. At the first sign of hostility, we retreat to our exact current positions, and let the enemies come to us if they will. In this hallway, we don't get bit in the ass." As must as I hate to, I say, "The only glaring flaw in option two is that we don't know if the creatures will come to us even if we find them. But if they are that smart, then they are smart enough to lure us into a weak position with a trail of blood."

I meet everyone's eyes, then settle on Rydh's.

"What do you think?"

 

[Nihal]

"You should always assume that something may be lurking behind us. Only the probability, and how well organized they may be, change."

Again, I try to see ahead, over and between the people in front of me.

"Look, we won't catch the thing we're following if we keep at this pace. Can you see, hear or smell it?" I sniff, just to be sure. "It's running to somewhere it would be safer from us or for it's friends. In any case, by lagging behind it like now we're putting ourselves in peril. The trap tells me they're already awaiting some sort of company. We either hurry up - or split, what isn't a good idea - or take a different path."

 

[Ireth]

I glance back at Mauve when she speaks. "I will listen, but I will need silence."

When everyone obeys, I lean slightly forward, trying to catch even the faintest sounds.

 

[SeverinR]

[I wait until silence is over, then speak.]
"I could do the silent thing again, check the halls. Have the no missle warriors guard the doors, have the bowman watch me and someone watch the other hall(the one I'm not in) so we don't get suprised from any direction while I'm checking. If that is the choice, let me know which hall to go first, the blood trail or the other. I'm leaning towards the blood trail first, to reduce the liklihood of me encountering a responding attack group while I am checking. It wouldn't have enough time to tell its story and organize a group this soon, or thats what I'm hoping."

 

[Sparkie]

It was some days later that they came to see the Labyrinth with their own eyes. Drusillia strode up to the high walls and walked around it for half a day until she found an entrance. She then turned to her companions and said "This is my test, my battle. Wait here for my return. Though I go into danger, do not fear. Our Battle-Father is with me." Then she entered the great maze, and Garun and Stehllan looked to one another until she returned.

3rd of Battles - Codex 6:664

*****​

I look down at Burnbright, who still shivers in the cold hallway just a bit, and look into her innocent eyes. "A maze, eh? Remind me to tell you, when this is all over, about a story of a maze. I think you'd like it."

We come to the parting of the ways, and Baldhart, Mauve, and Aliron make their statements. I'm inclined to agree with Mauve.

"We already know they have some kind of intelligence," I say to everyone. "The tripwire proved that much. I'm disinclined to walk into a possible ambush, so this is what we will do: Sir Matthew, light your torch, take Ankari with you and keep watch a few paces down the blood-trailed hallway. Cadell, you and Mauve will keep watch by the entrance to the hallway closest to these doors. Aliron, I assume there were no traps to be found on the doors? Check to see if the doors are locked. If they are, try to pick the lock. If not, we'll get back into ranks and see what's inside that room."

I then turn to Burnbright and take the torch. "Stay by Baldhart for right now, child. Aliron will need some light for this."

I take the torch over by the door, hoping we don't have to break the doors down to get inside.

 

[Ravana]

Taevataat: bored.

Täplä: wants a mousie.

Hirvi: < snore >

Hiljikki:

raven bright in sky of white
eye of stormcrow eye of storm
dust motes blue swirling flakes
harvest fire harvest blood
one stalk of grain stands still

whirl wind fan flame
blue storm eye raven eye
bright

approaching
approach
bright
blue
eye

•

((Should Hiljikki awaken while party is away, she will send the message to Drimmen-delve whether Darin left one with her or not: she's not going to assume he's coming back, and the message must get through. She is going to be resting for several hours, though… my sense is that only about one has passed. So this may not happen for a while.))

 

[Nihal]

I'm not sure if the maimed knight's words were a discreet way to say "Shut up" or it just sounded a little wrong.

When the cleric speaks I move to the appointed place without complaining. Even if I was hoping to get a closer look on the reliefs on the double doors it's not worthy an argument. The time is running out.

As I casting a some light down the corridor I distractedly search the walls and floor for any crude glyph.

If the dwarf is right we were heading North. This corridor is still going to North, the doors, East, the creature's flight route, West. I try to create a mental image of our location, crossing it with what I remember from my old map. I sniff. Is that... water?

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I wait by Burnbright's side. This is the best place to be unless I need to break down the door or kill what's on the other side.

"How are you doing down there?" I say to Burnbright. "Or you up there, Nod?" I add, enjoying one of our few remaining peaceful moments.

 

[SeverinR]

[I check the door to see if its locked.]
if it is:

Once unlocked or
If not I will move away from the door and have the bow ready watching the other two hallways.

[[not sure about traps, but I know te door is unlocked.]

 

[Philip Overby]

"I'm just hanging out," I say to Baldhart. "Ready, I think?"

 

[Sparkie]

I hope this doesn't go to my head. Power is always open to abuse, and that's the last thing I want to do. Yet I must admit to myself that I like what I'm doing. I like having the power to organize, to insure our safety while fighting evil.

((The following assumes the door is unlocked and not magically sealed or something.))

"Good job, Aliron. Now, let's get back in formation. Darin? Cadell? Being in the lead here will be dangerous. Take care."

I leave the shield-bearers to get in position, and walk over to Matthew.

"Sir Matthew, we need you in your position behind Darin now. You too, Ankari. Take your place."

I walk back and signal Baldhart with my hands to get into position. She gets it, and I turn to Mauve and Burnbright. "Back into place, you two. Burnbright, here's your torch back. Thank you for letting me use it."

I look back to Mauve for a second, then turn away. No time to think about that.

Once we're back in formation, I say "Alright Darin. Open the doors."

 

[Steerpike]

The group goes quiet for a moment as Ankari heads off after the trail of blood. In the silence, Cadell hears a faint sound - it might be the movement of water. It is hard to be certain, but it is coming from the branching corridor near the door.

Burnbright looks up at Nodrick on Baldhart's shoulders and stifles a giggle. She tells Baldhart "I'm fine. Just a little cold. But I want to see what's in this place! There could be treasure here. I've heard of people finding treasure in old places like this."

Aliron moves quietly toward the set of double doors and checks it for traps. There are none apparent. The door has a keyhole that looks to be long unused, and once Aliron gets his picks out and tinkers with the locking mechanism he confirms that the door is unlocked. He heads back to the rest of the party to let them know the door can be opened. Rydh gets the group back in position, Burnbright frowning at not being able to see anything from where she is supposed to stand, particularly being smaller than most others.

At Rydh's suggestion, Darin moves to the stone doors. He runs his hand across the carvings in the stone work. "This was once a sacred place," he mutters. There is a hard edge to his voice. "The vermin here will pay for this."

With a grunt, he pushes the doors open, for indeed they open inward. Darin let's out a low growl of disgust. The torchlight does not allow much of the room to be illuminated from where the party stands, but Darin doesn't wait. Grasping his hammer tight he surges into the room, feet splashing through standing water. His voice echoes from within, though even his silhouette is hard to see at this point. "What have these foul creatures done!"