Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Steerpike]

The priest waves his hand over his shoulders without turning around as Baldhart speaks. Soon he is lost from view.

Gisla shakes her head. "Ye gods! I came to this village for a quieter life." She follows the group inside. "I have rooms on the second floor. We will talk there. Follow me."

Gisla takes the stairs two at a time and moves down a short hallway to the last room. She pulls a key from her pocket, motions everyone inside, then closes the door behind her.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Mauve… Nissa can help, but I need you to help me out here. You understand very well that Nissa can't come out often, or for long. She's been a big help in our last two battles, but this one… I need ideas. And I'll help you get Branwen out of here as well."

 

[Nihal]

I only glare at Baldhart as an answer. I hope she has a plan. I doubt she has one.

Obeying the unknown woman, I enter the room and look for a place to sit. To think those preparations could be for me—still can be for me—does nothing to placate my anger. I keep working on my own little plan.

 

[Steerpike]

((NOTE: Masama stayed in the bar to keep an eye on things)).

The room is large, with a tall bed and a thick wooden desk near the single window. The window is open a crack, and a gray and white cat lounges on the sill. Branwen is almost immediately less tense, and upon seeing the cat, she giggles and begins her familiar song. The cat's ears twitch and then turn toward the harpy child. The cats leaps from the sill to the ground and walks toward Branwen, who claps her hands and giggles again. When she laughs, the song ends and the cat stops in its tracks, looks back toward the window sill, and jumps back to its previous perch.

Gisla cocks an eyebrow at Baldhart and Mauve.

 

[Nihal]

"What? She is what she is, and I will take her away no matter what is your plan. You know very well that sick bastard will not let her go. Coward, hiding behind a stupid title and a bunch of ignorants!"

 

[Steerpike]

Gisla's gaze hardens. "That's enough from you, child. Geralt may be rash, and he and I do not see eye to eye on this, but he has been a good priest to this village. You won't be helping anyone if you can't set aside your own prejudices!"

 

[Ireth]

"The preparations for the ritual will take at least three hours. I grant you that time, and no more. We all know humans are capable of both good and evil, and if someone from this village has fallen in with evil, then I regret it. However, that does not change the nature of this thing you've brought into our midst. I respect your goddess, but you are young. With age comes experience and wisdom. My way is the best, and though you may not know it now, you will come to realize it in time."

He looks around at the group. "Unless there is more to be said, I will go to make preparations now. I will prepare a draught for the creature, so it will feel no pain. When the time comes, I expect you will have seen to the less agreeable members of your group." He looks pointedly at Masama and Mauve, then glances around to see if there is anything else to be said.

Cadell

"Yes, there certainly is more to be said!" I hurry out to confront the priest, walking toward him without flinching. I tower over him and most others here; perhaps that will work to my advantage. I may not be as intimidating as a barbarian, but I can certainly try.

"With age comes wisdom, you say. Then listen to the words of one who has lived nearly thirty lifetimes of you mortal folk. Any child, no matter what race, is born innocent. Evil is a thing that is taught, not inherited. By taking Branwen away from those who would teach her violence and destruction, we hope to retrain her in the ways of gentleness and peace. She is no mere animal, to be ruled solely by instinct. She has a voice, a language, thoughts and feelings like any of us here. She can be taught to love and not to kill. If you 'purify' her now, you lose the chance to ever find out whether a creature born to darkness can learn to embrace the light."

 

[Steerpike]

Cadell

Father Geralt stops and faces Cadell, running his hand through his thick blonde hair. "You do not understand. It is not a child. Not a her. Not a she. You are not dealing in the difference between a orphaned child who is raised in a loving home and learns goodness and one raised in violence and terror who learns evil. It is a demon. It is evil. That is its nature. It cannot​ be changed."

 

[Nihal]

Room

"Good? GOOD?! He was smiling at the prospect of killing a child! What kind of sick pig you must be to smile at the thought of burning a child alive?

"I will not allow him to hurt her. No, never." I sound almost desperate. Why can't they see how serious is this situation? "I will not gamble with her life."

They felt it while I was on a boat. If I dip it in the ocean they will surely come. They must come! Then hide it where? If I discover where he lives... yes...

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Father Geralt stops and faces Cadell, running his hand through his thick blonde hair. "You do not understand. It is not a child. Not a her. Not a she. You are not dealing in the difference between a orphaned child who is raised in a loving home and learns goodness and one raised in violence and terror who learns evil. It is a demon. It is evil. That is its nature. It cannot​ be changed."

"That is exactly what I am dealing with." I look Geralt dead in the eye, closing the gap between us to further emphasize my height. "Branwen is part elf, and as such she is a cousin to me. I will not allow her to be taken by you for torment and death, even for the sake of a god. Any god.

"You know nothing of Branwen. You have not seen how much she has changed already since we met her. We are weaning her off of raw meat and onto cooked; she has tasted bread and called it good. Yes, in the common tongue, not that of a demon. She is just like any other child save only in outer form; she plays, she sings, she laughs. She loves and trusts those who are devoted to her care. It was I who named her Branwen, in my own mother tongue, and that of her elven ancestors.

"And before you speak harshly of my people, know that Branwen's father was only a half-elf. So she is as much of your kind as she is of mine."

 

[Steerpike]

Geralt sighs. "You see what you want to see. It has the form of a child, and a half-elven one at that. It may have mannerisms, or the ability to emulate your actions. Such is the deception of evil. But does it have a soul? No. In ancient times, it is said that wizards created golems - constructs of flesh or stone that took human form. Walked like humans. Fought like them. But they were soulless automatons. Their nature allowed for nothing more, just as the nature of a demon allows for nothing more. When a human, or an elf, or a dwarf is born, a soul is infused into that creation. Such is not the case with demons."

"There will be no torment. I will prepare a draught for the creature." He pauses a moment, then says "I will think on your words, but do not expect me to change my mind."

 

[Ireth]

I clench my fist so hard my nails dig into my palm. "Even an orcish babe raised by elves might learn the ways of good and peace, if any dared to try. Branwen is no different!"

Queen Brigh's voice echoes in my head again. "Will you make such bonds with all the races of the world? The orcs, the goblins?"

No, that is not what this is about. I have never seen an orcish babe, let alone tried to rear one, or even raised the idea before now.

I take a deep breath through the nose. "A golem such as you mention is only as good or evil as the one who commands it. Like a sword or a bow, it cannot be evil in itself, but evil hands may wield it as well as good. Thus, we mean to guide our Branwen with hands that are good and right, and keep her from the influence of those who would use her for evil. Judging her for how she was born is no way to teach her to be good."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Mauve, Gisla… I do have a plan, but it works best if we can sneak Branwen out of here—that is to say, in case my part doesn't work.

"What kind of people are on the Elder council? If I could convince them that sparing a harpy child is not sacrilegious in the eyes of a good deity, would the council side with us?

"I know that sounds crazy, but I can do that. It's not me, really… it's Nissa. She's an elder in our faith. When you meet her, you will surely agree she's an authority regarding our own faith. I don't want to say anything more without the ability to prove it. What I'm asking is: can I bring Nissa to meet the elders in two-and-a-half hours? Or maybe three, so Father can build his death trap and still attend?"

I turn to Mauve.

"The big guy, Alin, Bressel… get as many with you as you think you'll need and remain on the outskirts with Branwen. Or tell me who you want with you and I'll get them."

 

[Nihal]

"What? Nissa?" I shake my head, disagreeing. "They will think it's witchcraft, the simpletons. Do you understand it now, don't you? The danger." I hold her gaze, without putting my whole thought in words.

"Do not neglect to consider all the probable scenarios. They might retaliate once Branwen is gone, warn everyone and be ready to flee. Also, I should not take many with me or they will notice. A bigger group is a slower and noisier group. I need berries and the shoes.

"We should get the food now. I need new clothes, probably an extra cloak. Bandages. You know how often I get injured, and if I will keep hiding Branwen with my own cloak I will freeze." I move to the window, glancing down, looking for a escape route to the cliff.

"In the worst case I can provide cover to your escape. You know I can make them shit their undergarments." I raise one eyebrow, facing Baldhart again.

Busy with Branwen I will not be able to sneak back to hide the knife. I don't want my group caught up in this havoc, I need to convince them to flee first.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I give Mauve the shoes, the ring, the four berries, and rabbit meat wrapped tightly in layers of cloth.

"Mauve… I understand the danger far better than you think. That's why I made arrangements with Gisla to sneak Branwen into the back way before you and the others showed up. I'm not blaming you, but I wish you would have trusted my judgment and brought her in when I asked you to. I know why you didn't, but now you see for yourself Gisla is not a threat to Branwen.

"Trust me this time. You need to trust me that this is the best chance we have of being able to stay here. If it fails, we leave. Yes, take a small group. Alin should be with you. And I don't advise having any of our party around when Nissa shows up. Let them blame me. I'm gambling my own life with this plan, not Branwen's, not yours, not anyone's but my own.

"That is… if Gisla thinks this can be effective at all."

I turn to Gisla.

"I'd rather you meet Nissa first, in private… like I had planned for us earlier, only less fun. If, after meeting her and knowing who she is, you think she will be welcome at an elder's council meeting, then we could schedule one at night. My party would need to be out of town, however… and I'm not sure if I'd be in danger for being associated with Branwen's escape."

 

[Nihal]

"You just left me there talking alone, the gods know why! You know very well how I managed to sneak in Srilkind, Baldhart. What was I supposed to do with everyone watching me, without the right conditions and means to repeat the feat? Create a 'distraction'? We are lucky they did not start questioning what was that sound yet.

"No, being alone is not an acceptable plan in case your attempt fails! You are one of the few people I trust in this world, even if I am still furious at you. I am not prepared to give up so easily. You need to be ready to flee. It turns out I am good in providing cover to people. If I can fool thirty foes with better hearing and sense of smell why wouldn't I be able to fool those people?"

How do I convince her without telling what I have in mind? I sigh and mumble, "I'm so tired. It's so unfair."

 

[SeverinR]

Aliron
Looking out the window
"Everything that man said could be said about an elven child in this world. Any creature they are not comfortable with could be described as he described Branwen."
"If I stay Geralt will be first to die. So I must go with Mauve. Anyone that threatens to burn a child deserves to die, I believe Geralt is an evil creature and we should purify him and release his tormented soul. He who lives by fire, die by fire.
I will purify this town before I allow them to purify Branwen."

"When we leave, If any of the town follows other then Gisla, I will assume they are hostile and We will...purify them. Any in this group, when you seek us be sure to call us by name, so we don't accidently attack you."

"If this was a isolated taint, I would allow it to swallow up these simpletons. But it is a world taint, so I must seek to find out how to stop it. These people would burn elves without much concern, only slightly more then our elfbird."

"I suggest Mauve, me, Masama, Keit and Baltos. Get all that makes the town fearful out. We should all move silently, Masama might not move quietly, but he has a religious motivation to protect Branwen."
"I could see Keit and Baltos staying, since they were accepted. BUt they could also see that the town did not make them feel welcome."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Mauve… I won't throw my life away. Please tru—"

A thought hits me.

I curse aloud. "We need to get the party together now. Mauve, I am considering all of the scenarios. Sorry I didn't just grab Branwen and go with you before, but I had other things to deal with, and I got information, too.

"Tommen—remember him? He's the reason they knew where to find Burnbright. No magic or demonic eyes track her. Just simple manmade methods of communication. Tommen sent letters to temple Tyr in Srilkind, but his girl, Dalla, is from here. Gisla, you said there was a runner that sent the letters. I thought maybe the runner was duped into giving Tommen information, but what if he wasn't? What if the runner knew of the attack on Srilkind? He's useful, so they wouldn't kill him. If that's the case, we brought the runner here, and he's a much bigger threat than the imagined one!

"The fat boy never did like Burnbright. And… I didn't see him when I talked to Grim and Burnbright."

I turn to Gisla.

"Gisla, any chance Father Geralt will stop constructing his vile death trap if we tell him that gnolls and warg-riders WILL arrive here before the sun rises again if not before it sets? If I'm right about this… Father Geralt puts his 'flock' at stake by driving a rift between our group and your town. I want to stay and defend these people in spite of this, but I will not allow Branwen to die senselessly!"

Though anxious to bolt out the door, I simply stand and await Gisla's response.

 

[Nihal]

Nodding at Aliron I say, "See why I do trust you?" I smile.

Baldhart swears, a sign she's about to say something important.

"What? Wait, I'm not..." I trail off, raising my hands and reinforcing my request. After a moment staring at the ground and contemplating the new information I finally lower my hands.

"I see. I knew there was someone from inside working with her, probably more than one person. I think you are right and I helped that boy to get up and out the Crow. Ugh. I can not see what prevented her from sending a c—" No! Damn, that was close. 'C' what? What... "—companion to get her discreetly. She would have higher chances of success, unless she has not the right type of companion available or it is employed in another task."

I walk around the room. "They will blame it on Branwen. On the boat when a sahuagin appeared they blamed it on her. They might even blame it on Burnbright. I am afraid that despicable man will twist everything to fit in his view of the world."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Mauve, your distrust is not misplaced, but Burnbright called Branwen a demon, too. Don't vilify these people for their ignorance. They know enough about Tommen and that poor girl Dalla that they should see the logic here. If they continue to speak of killing Branwen, we leave town as a group. They won't stop us."

I say to Gisla, "I wish to speak to the elder council, and Dalla deserves to know about Tommen as well. Who do I see first?"