Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Ireth]

Cadell

There is no point in belaboring this further, and so I hold my silence. Self-pity, she says... She's wrong. And a hypocrite. If Mauve cares nothing for what Queen Brígh says, then why does she consider me a knight at all? It was Brígh who appointed me to that position in the first place! I am not sunk in self-pity; right now I am just angry. They could not be more different.

Líadan

When Mauve moves off, I lean close against Cadell, leaning my head on his shoulder and murmuring in his ear. "Don't let her words get to you, dear heart. Except what she said about being too irritable. Anger will hamper your judgment. Just focus on what you need to do, not what you cannot change."

I kiss his cheek, then slip away to speak to Mauve.

"Cadell asked us all not to address him as we would a knight, and it is a mark of disrespect to do otherwise, far from the honor such a title bears. Do not seek to kindle anger or resentment, or we will all be divided, and the worse off for it."

 

[Nihal]

I chuckle. "We are all divided. Are you blind?

"Do you know what 'honor' means, Líadan? Respect. Respect cannot be given, much less decreed due an abstract title. It cannot be taken either." I turn to face her, fuming. "He had my respect by who he was, by his own merit, not what a stupid—yes, stupid!—queen said. That was what made him a knight not only to me but to each one of us here. But now, aye, you are right, he is no knight anymore, he does not even respect himself! He is making sure to obey his queen by becoming this disagreeable person he is becoming. It is pathetic.

"Can you excuse me now? Go wipe his tears or something."

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I shake my head. "Do you not realize it was that same 'stupid' queen who made him a knight in the first place? And of course he is disagreeable -- even if his status in your eyes has not changed, he has lost far more than just his knighthood. He needs time to shake off those ill feelings, and having others' support will help a great deal. Acting harshly to him will only make things worse, and it will not serve us well in the long run. Think of others before you demean them, and consider the consequences of your words and actions alike."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

"I am even becoming tired of your trouble making now mauve, Please shut up and respect what cadell has said, If he does not wish to be addressed in some manor why not accept it? He is after all your friend. Would you want people to continually call you by a name you did not wish to have attached to you? I doubt it highly.
Now back to business, Time is of the essence, We cannot afford to wait too long to strike, Otherwise we may lose valuable resources in buildings that will be burned, Or even worse, Lives may be lost. Planning is essential, And i agree that we should take out the leader first, It is a time and time again proven strategy, and when we are dealing with creatures like these it is almost bound to work. I feel confident as a party we could subdue the leader fairly quickly with a group of us firing arrows, Cadell doing what he pleases due to his hand and alin using heartseeker. We shall then target the spellcasters and as bladhart i think it was said, Lure them into somewhere where we can barricade the door, And keep their attention on them.Then have a group of archers fill them with arrows from outside. "

I consider what i have just said , my eyes darting back and forth while i calculate all possible outcomes.
"Mauve is right, We need to plan for failure as well, If it arises and we dont know what we are doing, Well i dont need to tell you we will be like a group of idiots running around not knowing what to do. That is not an option. "

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I reply to Aldar first, ignoring his provoked outburst. "Planning for failure… yes. That's why I said we should get Burnbright on the fishing boat. It won't embolden the enemy if they don't know she's on it."

I speak very kindly to Mauve, "I am a true friend to you, Mauve." The kindness is sincere, as is my concern. "So please hear me. You say to target the strongest enemy—that is the leader. He's a dog in battered armor. All of the dogs bark orders, but he's the alpha—and the only one who Egil thought stronger than a warg. He may be a boy, but he's the only eyes we had on the enemy.

"Look… we almost died last battle. It was the leader who was most dangerous, and we couldn't kill her fast enough with her lizards all around. We learn from mistakes—the lesson: kill the strongest immediately.

"If the leader is alive to give an order while we have archers on the roof, there are only two orders he can give: retreat or rush the tavern. He didn't call Grim's bluff before, but he wasn't about to die from a rain of arrows when he decided to hold—assuming he's using a siege strategy, meaning he'll hold for six hours, six days, whatever it takes. A siege only works when staying in place isn't getting you or your army killed. We shoot from the roof, there is no siege.

"Sparing the leader isn't our best hope, nor that of the villagers."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

"agreed, On top of that , You mentioned a siege strategy, I didnt even consider these beats would be using strategies. they must have evolved somewhat since i last dealt with them. How do we know they wont get tired when there is nothing else left in the town for them and try to set fire to the building to smoke them out? This would be a very deadly and drastic move and would force us to take action immediately and might not allow us time to get set up. I think we should get into position to avoid any mishaps, just incase."
Aldar starts packing his things into his bag so he is ready to move out again, As the slightest moments notice.
"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I tell Aldar, "It's my hope they're using that… it's the only reason to hold position for several hours.

"They are led by a person. The naga who commanded the lizards taught a lizard shaman the common tongue. Perhaps the alpha can speak."


I turn to Mauve, "You know how to—as I would say in front of a villager—throw your voice. Is that something you would consider regarding the alpha? I want a plan that sounds like it'll work—it doesn't need to be mine. If you have an alternative, let's hear it. All we can do is talk while awaiting the scouts.

"But one thing I hope we can come to is a consensus before they return. Mauve, I can ask Nissa not to appear, but understand she doesn't take orders from me. If orders are exchanged between the two of us, it's her to me, and always will be. That said, you disagreed with every part of my plan, you said.

"Please tell me what's wrong with using fishing boats to get to the kitchen door and rooftops. What good is shooting from the roof if you don't kill the leader?—who, if he's any good at what he does, will order all goblins to concentrate their bolts on Aliron?"


Does she have a plan, or is her mind going? She's not just disagreeing with ideas, she disagreeing with everything! Can she speak positively…?


"No… you don't need to pick apart my plan, actually. The best way is to simply present yours."


Or is she forced to disagree…? Nissa, I'll be a friend to her and keep her as sane as I can, but when she said I was naive… it was a warning. That's my sacrifice. You counted the bread just to appease me, but my real sacrifice is that I'll keep fighting this battle for Mauve's sanity. If she alienates herself from the group, she'll always have me.

Isn't that like your other sacrifice on her behalf?

Well… I guess. But I didn't know what I was getting into. She wasn't apparently corrupt then, just bitchy. Now she's…

Bitchier?

I didn't want to put it that way.

You are a true friend. And yes, this is a true sacrifice. You risk alienating yourself, though so far, it seems you are not. Fight the battle, then.

 

[Nihal]

Líadan

I shake my head. "Do you not realize it was that same 'stupid' queen who made him a knight in the first place? And of course he is disagreeable -- even if his status in your eyes has not changed, he has lost far more than just his knighthood. He needs time to shake off those ill feelings, and having others' support will help a great deal. Acting harshly to him will only make things worse, and it will not serve us well in the long run. Think of others before you demean them, and consider the consequences of your words and actions alike."

I sneer. "And who thought of me before demeaning me, oh, noble elf lady?" I start in a mocking tone, looking her in the eyes. "Do not ask me to give him special treatment. It is absurd and disrespectful with the rest of the group!" I close my eyes and shake my head slightly. I'm too angry. When I open them again my face is blank. "We all lost many things, we all are losing many things, Líadan, some of us are dying, slowly, quickly. He is not special. I will treat him like a grown man because this is what he is."

When the elf wizard starts to condemn me I only show him the finger, while keeping my attention in Baldhart. I do my best to keep the empty expression and the flat voice. "The strongest except the leader, the other strong targets. It is not that hard to understand.

"I am tired of discussing. You all enjoy making yourselves blind, it is pointless. I hope you remember what I said if... when it happens exactly like I predicted. Again." I turn my back to them and walk back through the road, putting a little distance between us and sitting down. I wish I had a way to block their voices, but the best I can do is to hum to Branwen.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

What's hard to understand is why she wants to spare the leader. Is he going to not lead while his men die? How would the archers know which to shoot if four targets all pass for second-strongest? She has no plan. Just disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing… or at least no attempt to prove otherwise.

"Please," I say to the others, "let me talk to her. Alone."

I approach Mauve.

"Is everything alright? I'm going to be blunt with you." My voice is too kind to seem blunt. "Why do you speak as Ankari would? You said I was naive to keep you sane. I'm worried that that prediction is already evident."

 

[Nihal]

"Do not dare to say I am mad, Baldhart." I breath, feeling my nostrils flaring. "Oh, what am I thinking? You will anyway.

"Leave me alone."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I didn't say that. You did, when you told me I was naive. You also said I was a true friend. Don't make me your only friend." I stroke Branwen's hair. "Forgive me for that. Branwen will never give up on you either.

"Please talk to me, Mauve."

 

[Ireth]

I sneer. "And who thought of me before demeaning me, oh, noble elf lady?" I start in a mocking tone, looking her in the eyes. "Do not ask me to give him special treatment. It is absurd and disrespectful with the rest of the group!" I close my eyes and shake my head slightly. I'm too angry. When I open them again my face is blank. "We all lost many things, we all are losing many things, Líadan, some of us are dying, slowly, quickly. He is not special. I will treat him like a grown man because this is what he is."

Líadan

"I am not asking you to give him special treatment, Mauve. Nor is he. By not calling him 'sir' as if he is of different rank, you treat him as your equal, as you do the rest of us. It is not disrespectful -- just the opposite."

She leaves, and I let her go, sighing and shaking my head. We are all growing too irritable before this battle, it seems. When will we learn to work as a team?

 

[Nihal]

"Yeah, the little Branwen. Tell me, what are you going to do with her in your plan? Climb 30 feet dragging her along or jump an exposed fence to run in plain sight? And the wolf? I do not think wolves are the best climbers. I will not even talk about our less dexterous companions; we just acquired a stupid pet who looks as apt as a twig.

"Your plan overlook many key aspects and assume that our foes, who for all I know were dying to put the building to torch but were hold back, will stand and look while we get to the Crow and when the only thing holding them back dies. That's funny because we were not going to immediately fight these invaders—at the least four-to-one, remember? Look at us now.

"I remember now why I was so upset few days ago. Everyone talked about how they would protect Burnbright and kept jumping in battles, leaving her behind to be easily taken if not killed. I ended doing my best to protect her, getting hurt in the process, yet everything I said was dismissed by everyone. What did I say about sending her back to Srilkind?" I gesture towards the town. "Surpriiise!

"It is frustrating, now even more because if it depended on me these obnoxious people of this city would be dead! Look at me, fighting to make sure they will survive while everyone else do not seem to bother about them." I look at her.

"I was beginning to think you were my friend. Not a companion about whom I will never give a thought after it is over, but someone trustworthy. I am afraid it was a mistake."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

"Mauve, Why dont you add something constructive to the plan then, as opposed to criticising the whole thing? everyone is more than willing to hear your suggestions, Well i am anyway and im sure the others are as they know you better than I. Why dont you tell us what you think we should do with Branwen? "

 

[Nihal]

((Remember, she moved away from the others...))

"What—why are you stalking me? Go away, go back to the others!" I narrow my eyes with a new thought in mind.

"The corruption is contagious, don't you know? If I were you I would not hang near me, I would not even dare to touch something I have touched." I smile mischievously at him.


((Not quite convincing, but given his knowledge, who knows?))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Your plan is so good you wish to alienate the entire party…" Manipulation? Madness? Genuine frustration being handled very badly? "…and now you're trying to hurt me.

"If you really care about the villagers and you really have a better plan, stop ripping mine to shreds. That only leaves us with no plan. Tell me your plan. No insults. Just your plan."

 

[Nihal]

Frustrated, I sigh and lean closer to her, whispering.

 

[SeverinR]

"Good, the bickering has begun. I hope its about done."
I walk up from behind the group appearing from a shadow of trees.

"I have seen ego ranger, he lives."
"I have scouted the town. There are sentrys guarding the town. Guards are posted along the sea wall, they walk up to the side of the cliffs."
The east cliff wall there is nothing to stand on, cliff wall to water, accessable by boat or a sideaways movement.
To the west of the Crow is the docks, walking this area will be easy, but no place to hide.
From where I looked, I could see some small boats, as the boy said, no ships."
"The enemy did not seem to be doing anything in the near future, no raids, no massing for attack, that I noticed."
"I did not speak with Ankari, but if you would like I can go meet with him and see if his plans include letting the group know his ideas or not."
"I give you information, I am no leader. If you look to me to lead, the enemy looks to me to kill, if everyone is looking to me, then I can't do my primary job as well, which is to kill with suprise. LEadership and stealth do not mix."

"If the bickering hasn't completed yet, I can wait." then pause,"Or I could seek out ego ranger's wisodm."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Finally, some news! "Yes, please speak with Ankari and let us know what he wishes to do. We are divided enough here without him running off, not giving us a clue to his intentions."

 

[SeverinR]

{wisodm? I don;'t know.}

[If no other questions I will sneak off to find Ankari.]