Dragon's Egg - Act III

[SeverinR]

I rub Branwen's hair and move away from the temple gate, scanning the way ahead.
While the others prepare to move out.
My plan is to have Ankari and I sweep ahead to ensure we know whats ahead before the main(noisy) group gets to any problem.

We will watch for possible problems, possible information contacts, always looking for a good meal, also looking for signs of groups traveling through(reinforcements.)
When Scouted far enough ahead I will return conceal myself and wait for them to catch up(after I am sure they have left)

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Honestly, I wasn't sure myself… but I think Branwen would panic if she saw you, Alin and I leaving without her. But maybe she'd bond with the kids as well, and she'd be safe. Of course, her secret wouldn't be.

"Yeah, I think you made the right call."

As we walk, I add, "You should keep the patch off while we travel. Your 'wound' doesn't frighten me, and I'd hate for you to stumble over a branch and poke out your 'good' eye."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

"Yes baldhart i actually happen to have one here, Would you like me to light it?"
Aldar looks up from rummaging through his backpack and sees mauve approaching baldhart and talking secretively, His inquisitive nature begs him to get closer so he can hear, But he quickly decides against it as its not polite to listen into peoples conversations, especially new friends.
There's something about her..but what... he ponders it over in his mind for the next mile or so

 

[Nihal]

((Ninja festival today! xD))

"Aliron, when we get out of sight of the temple I will have a word with everyone. Do not go too far," I warn him when he stroke Branwen's hair.

"Let's go. I won't risk her," I answer Baldhart. "Yes, I know. I hate this thing covering my eye already."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I keep an eye on Aldar as we go, pondering Mauve's words about corruption. Though it's been centuries since Aldar and I last met, he does not seem that much changed... certainly not changed for the worse. He is older, of course, but that is to be expected even in such a long-lived race as ours. And he certainly does not look any more... serpentine than when I last saw him. Perhaps he has just been incredibly fortunate. Even so, in the Taint, it is hard not to worry.

I smile at him and decide to strike up a conversation. "You've missed a great deal of excitement at home, my friend. Though I think that may be for the better."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

I Snap out of my daydream about mauve To Cadell' striking up a conversation. Trying to figure out what was "different" about her was really getting to me but nevermind, there will be time for that later.

"What?.. Oh , have i? More than the usual fighting and needless conflicts? I had enough of those in my first 300 years alive to last me a lifetime. Or is it something more im missing Old friend? I had a few friends left in the cities i never heard anything? I always kept my ear to the ground for important information, I wonder what became of them.. Surely they are still alright. Those men could handle themselves. Well in their day perhaps. what have i been missing cadell?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

"Please do…" I tell Aldar.

((Assuming he does…))

I move closer to the fire, but I allow Aldar to hold it. More fun that way!

"Aldar, as it appears you're joining us now, you may as well know there are some things that must be kept secret from villagers. Your magic is one of those things—the people here are very suspicious. Even if magic is a miracle, it must be kept between us—kept from any villagers, even children. I hope we will keep no secrets from each other.

"So here's mine—the one miracle I can perform using the little bit of magic in me."

Nissa leaps from the fire. Two-foot-three, blonde and pig-tailed, and much more comfortable in that body than in mine. Her nudeness no longer disturbs me. And those white wings… I came so close to earning mine! For now, I'll enjoy watching Nissa fly with hers. This is my future. All I need to do is die. …and stay dead.

"Aldar, this is Nissa. A Valkyrie."




Nissa

"Good to meet you, Aldar. And Liadan, I didn't really get a chance to talk to you much, so it's good to see you without having to fly off into battle or take over Baldy's big, lumbering body." I fly to Baldhart. I know she wants me to wear my toga. I slip into it.

"As Baldy said, it's best you are honest with each other. So while I'm happy to chat, Mauve wishes to address all of you, and I don't want to get in the way of that."

I hover close to Mauve.

"I have seen what Baldy has seen. Maybe as the one heavenly representative here, I can tell you there is no shame in what you are about to reveal. You used your powers for the right reasons, and your magic made a couple potentially tough battles into easy wins. You're among friends here.

"Please speak."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I nod. "For a start, within the past fifteen, maybe sixteen years, Aelwyd Eirian has acquired a small human population. They've built a castle on the border, calling it Dunhold. Not all of our people are happy about it -- they've tried to drive the humans out and slaughter them more than once. But they are resilient folk, and they know how to defend themselves. That has come in handy in recent years."

My expression turns grave. "Only in the past year or so, we were under great threat. A vast horde of orcs, led by a matriarch known as the Lady, sought to burn the forest down and slaughter its people, mortals and immortals alike. I initiated a truce between peoples, which Queen Brígh agreed to, much to everyone's surprise. I was appointed her emissary and messenger to the mortals. We all banded together to fight when the orcs waged war. We had the victory, but at great cost. I myself came close to death."

I am silent for a moment, in reverent memory of those who fell.

"The Lady," I continue, my voice growing cold, "grew furious at her army's defeat. She came to Dunhold herself, in secret, and targeted us one at a time, to spread fear and discord. I was among the first, and far from the last. When we finally cornered her, a handful of us, it took many blows to bring her down. I am glad to say I had the pleasure of finishing her off for good."

 

[Nihal]

I nod to Nissa, thankful I do not have to explain the obvious to the crazy wizard. "Let's get out of sight of the temple first."

Where is the stupid ranger? I move my head, scanning the horizon and whistling.

"ANKARI!" I point to the path ahead, hoping he sees it from wherever he is. I do not like the idea of shouting, but he forced me with his habit of going on leisure walks. After Cadell and Aldar are done chatting, when—if he's going to have the grace—Ankari joins us and so does Aliron I put Branwen on the ground.

"There is something I must tell," I start in a somber voice while I remove the enchanted ring and put it on Branwen's finger. ((Probably she'll have to improvise something with a piece of string because the ring won't fit))

"I used to be free from the corruption, untainted, until the day I met you in the cellar. This day everything changed." I pick up my cloak, throwing it over my shoulders. "I never showed up in battle to help because something affected me in a way I could not get a single spell right. Stubborn, I kept trying to help and got corrupted." Blinking, I remove the improvised eyepatch.

"Since then I have gotten more tainted and it is starting to show now. No, it is not affecting my sanity, it will be a long way, hopefully I will not be around you anymore when I start to lose my mind. While I truly appreciate the concern, no, I shall not stop using magic. This life is my own and I am the one who decides how it will be lived—or finished. From now on I will wear an eyepatch in public places. That's all." Simple, direct, free of drama. I raise my chin slightly. If I let it beat me down, if I let them see how it affected me I'll be crushed by them. It's inadmissible.

"If you have questions about the corruption, I can answer with I know. If you can not stand my condition let me know and I will happily follow my own path."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

I look closely as Mauve removes the patch. I saw it with Darin—that darkness—but I was able to do nothing. I don't know if I can learn anything from Mauve. No secrets… what I learn, I'll reveal to Baldy and let her reveal it to Mauve.



Baldhart

"Don't think that way, Mauve. You won't lose yourself like Calexa did. She craved power. She had no friends, and simply used those around her. You saw how she rushed me when I gave her the chance to spare Tommen. If she cared, she'd have hesitated. But you… you did this to yourself because you do care, and you've taken huge risks for us.

"Never seclude yourself. That'll lead you into madness. Even without magic and corruption, it's madness."

 

[SeverinR]

"I think Baldhart has it correct. If corruption will take your mind it will pass more easily away if you isolate yourself. Your life is magic, cease using it and you cease to be you."

I rest my hand on the scimitar.
"If my friend opens her trust this soon, we might as well challenge our new friend. The child is not a typical child, attempt to harm her, you will not live to take another breath."
I lift the cloak to show her wings. Glaring at Aldar.

I softly begin to sing:
"Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep,
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep,
And carry you down into sleep."

A smile appears on the corner of my mouth as Branwen softly answers my song.
"You sing so sweet, Branwen." I wait for Aldar's response.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...A884D5144314DAD85EBDA884D&first=0&FORM=NVPFVR
(Aliron's lullaby is Mordred's lullaby.)

 

[SomethingToPonder]

Aldar looks taken aback.
"well in all my years, I have read of valkyries in the past but to see one in the flesh... How do you do nissa, i have studied your kind for years..." Aldar starts studying nissa intently.
"oh sorry if im staring, It's just .. well im astonished if i had known i would bump into a valkyrie when i set out i would have brought my papers on them , ahh well, im sure il learn much more with this field work. Thank you nissa for introducing yourself. I can assure you i am trustworthy. I agree, I have already been keeping myself to myself in these parts, Wizards are not widely embraced in the north. I shall retain my magic untill it is needed."

A look of astonishment comes across aldars face.
"The Lady! Well , I never. I came accross her once, she mistook me for a corrupted being partially thanks to another friendly wizard who knew spells i could only dream of casting managed to disguise me slightly, I never spoke with her, but her presence alone was very strong as she walked by. The evil woman, I cannot believe she made it so far into the city to threaten people as she did, Dunhold especially. Congratulations, I bet there would have been many who wish they could have landed the final blow. I am sorry to hear of your troubles friend, had i had gotten word i would have travelled back to dunhold and sought to assist you, I can only apologize for not being there."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

"A young harpy," I explain—in a less hostile way than Alin, but he means well, I know. "We had to kill a couple adult harpies, but… thankfully, none in our group would have harmed this little sweetheart." The torchlight reveals a bit of blood on the lip. "Sloppy eater, though." I wipe her lip. "Did you enjoy that rabbit I cooked you? Extra rare. I lit the germs so you won't sh—poop worms!"

I tell Aldar, "That's all the winged ladies we have."

Nissa rolls her eyes. Sorry, I let my expression say.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Questions sear my tongue, but I bite them back; they swarm around my head like bees. I ask him only two. "How long ago did you encounter her? Did you warn anyone?" How is it we had never heard of her until I was kidnapped and tortured by her thralls?

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

"No offense taken at the staring." I laugh. "Papers, you say? What papers would those be, I wonder? I hope the text is more accurate than the art. Most paintings of Valkyrie are male fantasies of blonde, winged women flying around without any clo… well, okay. But only about a third of us are blonde, and a tenth built like the ones in the paintings.

"Anyway, you weren't reading one of those texts that says we serve ale in Valhalla like we're supernatural tavern wenches, I hope. The art is at least beautiful, but the heavenly waitress gig I find offensive."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

aldar turns sharply and glares back at Aliron with a hard stare, His eyes turned cold and dark and he proceeed to say
"If i had wanted to harm the child i would have kept the element of surprise on my side, I had plenty of chances, I dont think you know how long i was watching you, do you? For all you know it could have been weeks; It wasnt but it could have been, Please do not mistake my kindness for weakness, I have explained already many times i mean no harm to anyone here. I am not a fan of conflict unless it is neccesary. I Mean you no harm" I repeat.

Aldar then turns swiftly and walks up to baldhart to speak with her, The smile quickly returns to his face.
" Ahh well , And i was half expecting to have another few winged ladies here" He remarked with a smirky sort of attitude.
"Harpies usually are fairly sloppy eaters."

he turns to cadell, "Well I cant remember when exactly, my mind was clouded due to the quest I had undertaken. I didnt warn anybody, I did not have reason too, I thought she was a mere orc queen or emissary. I hard one of her minions refer to her as "the lady" which is the only reason i knew thats who she was. Had i known i would have taken different action, I perhaps wouldent be here by now."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I nod. "Well, it does not matter now; she is dead and gone, and her army defeated. I am just glad to have survived her."

I turn back to the road ahead of us, worry twisting my heart again -- not just for my horse, but for the rest of the town as well. What will it look like when we finally get there?

 

[Nihal]

Baldhart, you know nothing! I listen to her patiently, holding myself back. How can she not see how close she came to describe me?

"Yeah, perhaps," I lie to them with a sweet smile. What is the point of telling the truth they'll refuse to hear?

"I see you are busy, so excuse me, I must confirm something." I let my feet carry me, the wind whistling past my ears as I increase my speed until I am sprinting. I know the elf wizard have nothing of interest to say, crazy—or just stupid as he is. I always anticipated eagerly the day I would meet a mage from outside the little safe haven my home was. This elf, chatting non-stop about magic in a place where the mere suspicious get you hanged sounds nothing like a experienced or sensate wizard.

Disappointing.

I change my direction abruptly, jumping to the side and seeking a worse terrain to walk. Satisfied, I start my way back to intercept the group, attempting to move as silently as possible.

((Nope, she didn't go mad yet. @SP, those are some tests trying to discover what else the mysterious slippers might do. Not sure if I must roll something.))

 

[SomethingToPonder]

Aldar
I nod, and give a sort of appreciative look towards cadell for vouching for me, had it not been for him im not sure where i would be now. A feeling of guilt comes over me for not doing something about the lady when i had the chance, even though i didnt know, I still feel guilt of some kind.

I turn and continue down the road alongside the others. How long will it take us to get there, Not long i hope I want to continue my adventure and keep my mind busy, Off these terrible thoughts.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I watch Nissa fly. I should talk to her while she's out, but it's Keit I should talk to. I want to know more about…

"Keitsumah!" Oh… a little loud. I should try to hide my excitement. "We have time to talk without lizards jumping out at us, finally. I was wondering… you talked about turning into an eagle or wolf, and—and…

"There was this cat who used to follow me around. I called her Shadow because she followed me and usually used her black fur to blend into the shadows. Sometimes I'd just see her green eyes. Sometimes nothing, but I knew she was around. Anyway, I confronted a bear while exploring—I was fourteen, and—and I thought I felt the presence of the cat that day, but never saw her. Anyway, when the bear came at me, a mountain lion pounced between me and it. The two circled each other, growling, and… well, I didn't stay to see who'd win.

"My mother was limping that evening. She never told me. None of the druids told me they could do this! I skied with them and we were friends and I never knew. Maybe because you were on your own so young, you didn't know your powers were meant as a secret? I don't know. But is it right, my thinking? Could my mom have turned into a cat, and also a much bigger cat?"