Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Steerpike]

Mauve

With the monsters entirely distracted by Nissa, Mauve manages to creep through the burned out buildings and make her way to the sea cliffs. To her right she sees the boats rising and falling on the waves beneath the Crow, most of the party members remaining huddled inside.

Nissa

The gnoll leader glances at the one dead horse near the stables, a brown and white animal laying in a pool of congealed blood. "A warg will be made ready for the child. She will not walk."

For now the creatures' attention is still fixed on Nissa. None of them are moving to the cliff edge as before. None have the opportunity to see the boats below.

The Party

A large black man steps back into the kitchen area of the Crow to see what the noise is about. He's around 6'6" or 6'7", barrel-chested and thick, though not fat. He is dressed in leathers and carries a large axe. He squints across the room toward the window, then grunts, apparently satisfied that Baldhart and Aliron are not gnolls or goblins.

Burnbright returns Baldhart's hug, but then takes half a step back. Her eyes glisten with moisture. "Baldhart, I already promised that dog thing I would go with them. I...this is all my fault. People keep getting hurt and getting killed, all because of me. Egil and Kolla and the other kids had to run away. I haven't seen Father Harald since..." her voice catches in her throat, and she wipes at her eyes. "Not since the attack started. He was fighting by the burned temple. I almost got caught, and Joffur of all people got me to my feet, only he got cut pretty bad and Grim and his wife had to come out of the Crow to help us, and then she got cut and...

"I just can't do it anymore. I can't let one other person get hurt all because of me. I told them I'd go with them if they left the village alone. Aslaug is my mother. It's me she wants. She won't hurt me, and once she has me maybe she'll leave everyone else alone. Everything happening here is my fault!"

Tears sun down her face by the time she finishes. Grim puts a hand on her shoulder. "Now, lass, I told you..."

Burnbright pulls away. "I know what you told me Grim. But it's your own wife laying in the other room, and we don't even know if she's going to make it! No one else gets hurt over me. I just can't stand it!"

Grim starts to speak, but the black man interrupts, his voice a deep rumble. "Asra lays many paths before us. We choose our way and trust him to watch over us as we walk. The child's paths are set. The choice is hers."

Grim scowls. "I've already told you what you can do with those foreign beliefs of yours. Here in the north, we watch over our children. This is not your concern."

The black man shrugs.

Burnbright turns back to Baldhart and Aliron. "I can stop the killing. You see that, right? Besides, I've given my word already. To be a valkyrie one day I have to be an honorable warrior. Does an honorable warrior lie?"

 

[Nihal]

What a delightful sight! I lower myself to the rock wall, crouching and taking off the robe. Luckily I wasn't forced to rely on it, I'm not nearly as good as Nissa when it comes to convince people, being more of the slowly-earning-your-trust-hey-I-swear-I'm-not-an-evil-mad-witch type of person.

Seeing no peasants I walk below the edge without bothering to hide the fact I'm not using my hands at all. Sooner or later my companions would notice how feet seems to stick wall or I would be forced to reveal my little trick to dismiss their concerns. I look down with a sly smile and bring a finger to my lips, asking for secrecy.

The rope is in place, prompting me to cover my cursed eye before reaching the Crow and pull myself over the edge.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Does an honorable warrior lie, she asks.

"Yes," I answer. "To an enemy, yes."

I say to Grim, "Get everyone else out. Let me talk to her."

I look Burnbright in the eye. "Burnbright, do you hear the woman speaking to the lead dog? She is a Valkyrie. She is lying to the enemy, and her words trick the enemy to save you. Honorable warriors do not lie to friends, but you are not bound to your word to an enemy—who would have killed people had you said what the enemy did not want to hear. It was not a lie, anyway; you didn't know a rescue mission was in progress.

"Climb down, Burnbright. Nissa cannot stall the enemy for long, and they will kill if they see us talking here. Let us stop the killing by destroying the enemy when they split up to search for you. We can save the wounded as well.

"Get in the boat, and watch the skies for Nissa, the Valkyrie. When she passes the Crow, it's her signal that only a minute or two remain before she leaves. Once she's gone, the sentries can come back at any moment. If we're not out of sight, we at least need to be out of crossbow range."


EDIT - The moment someone begins to climb, I say, "Tell Liadan to come up. Her and no other."

As soon as Liadan comes up, I'll ask her to heal the two in need. That's faster than carrying them, even when factoring in Liadan's climb.

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I look up when the messenger calls me by name, and quickly put aside my oar. I hurry to the rope and climb up, ducking into the Crow and looking around.

"Who is injured?" I call out softly, not daring to raise my voice too much.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Grim's wife, and a boy named Joffur," I tell her. I say to Grim, "Trust Liadan. Your wife depends on her." He's seen Rydh's healing magic, so I'm not worried about the reaction. As long as everyone else is climbing down, Grim and the wounded are the only witnesses. No worries about superstition, I trust.

 

[Nihal]

Upon seeing movement on their side of the wall I pretend again I'm climbing like an ordinary person would do, using my hands and everything. I offer help to Líadan to finish her climb and stop behind them, hesitating. I do not want to be seen by these villagers before I'm sure...

"I still have berries. Four," I whisper.

((FYI: Before Mauve was walking on the wall. Not climbing. Walking.

Witchcraft!))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Four berries, not five. I take the hint.

"Mauve… I understand." I check to see if other than her eye… oh, but the effect may be gradual. "I am glad you are not visibly injured. To the boat, please. My boat. The little one nearest your silk rope."


((@SP, if Baldy sees evidence of corruption in addition to the eye, let me know and I'll edit the above.))

 

[Nihal]

Grinning, I let her to see my teeth as well. "So, you survived."

Does she think a cursed eye is the only change the corruption would do?

I retrieve the berries from my pouch and take off the ring, handing them over to Baldhart. "Has anyone seen the ranger lately? He would be useful," I whisper back. "I will not go down until Burnbright is safe. I could wait everyone and take the rope down, unless..." I glance at Líadan. "I saw the horse in the woods."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Nissa will circle. When she's with me, I'll know if she's spotted."

Hopefully, Liadan's magic will allow them to climb.

"Mauve, let's climb together, taking one rope each. I'll show you how to climb properly" and not magic-shoesily.

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I look at Mauve, a smile rising to my face at the news that Llucheden is alive. Cadell will be happy to hear of that!

At Baldhart's indication I approach Grim's wife. Laying my hand gently on the wound, I focus and cast a spell. With luck, this one will be stronger than the ones I cast on poor Darin.

Or perhaps not. I watch the other woman closely, wondering how much that helped.

 

[Nihal]

I nod. "What about the druid, is she here?" I whisper even more quietly, risking not being heard. "The staff may help Líadan now. I do not want to make them nervous, but when we are gone they will search the forests and may find the horse.

If the ranger is out there he can take the horse and be quick enough to meet us somewhere."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Where is the horse? When Nissa swoops, I can say 'Ankari - horse'… or tell her where the horse is if she doesn't know."

((@SP, if Nissa doesn't see Ankari but can get to the horse, please PM me. I may have to change her action [after circling the area] to save the horse.))

 

[Nihal]

"Last time I saw it the horse was munching some plants on the forest to the east, near the edge. It is at least one hundred yards from there."

 

[SeverinR]

"Burnbright, I am no good with words, if you and the one that claims to be your mother are united, no good will come of it. Either she will turn you to her evil or she will lock you away until such a time as she can sway you. Death surrounds her by her choice, you should not give into evil to spare the innocent. Kill the evil that will kill a few innocent in the beginning, or they will grow in power and kill alot of innoncence in quest of thier evil."

I stop suprised to see Mauve.
"Mauve? An stealthy arrival that even impressed me. Perfect diversion made even better that we don't have to pick you up."

 

[Steerpike]

The Party


Grim nods at Baldhart's words. "The wounded are in the common room. I didn't want to put them upstairs, in case we had to leave in a hurry."

He helps Líadan through the window, then leads her out of the door room, through the kitchen, and into the common room beyond. A couple of grizzled fisherman are sitting at one table, fear written on their faces. Blankets have been piled on the floor near the fireplace. A woman lays on them, mumbling incoherently in a restless sleep, her face glistening with sweat. Next to the fireplace, a plump boy sits with his back to the wall. His left leg is bound, though blood seeps through the bandages.

The eyes of the fishermen widen as Líadan enters the room. When she places her hands on Grim's wife and casts her spell, the warmth of her healing powers infuse the woman, who immediately settles into a comfortable sleep. Grim sets about waking her for the trip to the boat.

The two fishermen shuffle uncomfortable when Líadan casts. One of them makes a warding gesture against evil.

The black man crawls through the window onto the edge of the cliff outside. He looks up at the sky and down at the boats below, then nods. "Thanks be to Asra," he says.

Meanwhile, Burnbright listens to Aliron and Baldhart. She pulls herself through the window, saying "I trust you, and if you say it is OK to go, then I will. If Nissa can lie to the enemy to save me, then I can go back on my word to be saved. But if anyone else dies because of..." she stops. "Baldhart! What about Father Harald? Have you seen him?"

Nissa

Nissa positions herself to have a good view of the boats and the party exiting the rear of the Crow. She sees that Mauve has returned, but of Ankari there is no sign. Sensing her time is near an end, she turns back to the gnoll leader and asks if he has any message for Aslaug. The gnoll considers this a moment, then says: "None, other than that we will take the shortest path to the Verstenn Hold. I mislike taking the child through the Taint, but if that is her wish, then so be it."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

I bow respectfully, overturn the torch, and snuff it out. My best hope is that McBarker took my word for it that there is no nearby threat, that he gives Burnbright more time undisturbed, and that he's too distracted by the notion I'll report to 'his Lady' to move his guards right away.

Back in Baldhart's head now.



Baldhart

"I haven't, but we need to move. Nissa's with me now so the enemy will move any minute." As she climbs, hopefully without stopping again, I go on, "I mean to go back up for him. There's a horse. If I can get to the horse, maybe I can get to Temple Tyr before too many enemies do. That's the best I can do for him."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

"cadell, If liadan cant heal the boy then we may have to leave him, It pains me to say it but he will only slow us down and it would be a shame to let many others die because we showed compassion. Try your healing spell if you must, But remember what I said." I whisper.

Ok so what now? We need a plan, Are we all heading east on the boats once we scale down the cliff or what?

 

[Nihal]

"Nissa's arrival made it possible," I happily answer Aliron then add in a whisper, "Did you hear it? I threw a blast right in the leader's face, hah!" I wink at him before realizing that my covered eye makes it impossible to tell it's a wink.

I glance at the black man when he passes by us, feeling a chill on the back of my neck. Villagers. I see Burnbright passing through the window and greet her, "Hello, girl." I have no idea of what she's talking about, but I know she must hurry.

"Girl, down the rope now, let us worry about the other people." I step closer to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and saying in a gentle voice, "I am glad you are safe. We should never have sent you back."

I look at Baldhart before moving to the window, whispering. "Make sure she goes down; I want to take a look inside."

Stepping in the kitchen I take a good look around before moving to the other room on wary feet. "I'm Mauve. Pack some food and get warm clothes because it is cold outside." Upon seeing the two fishermen and the looks in their faces I turn to them, "Elven magic does no harm, grow up men should not be shivering near this." I smile slyly.

Coming closer to the injured, I stand there, ready to help them to their feet and whatever else may be needed. "By any chance, the woman who brought Burnbright left a staff there?"

((I'll not answer Baldhart on the boat now or things will get too confusing. Soon. xD))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Quickly, Burnbright. Hesitation is death." I peer into the window, repeating to adults. "Hesitation is death. Do not fear the prayer answered by an elven god—a good god. No one will be left behind, but those who slow us kill us all."

I enter the window (if no one's moving out so I don't get in the way) to move the stragglers. The serving girl, I'll carry her out the window if need be. The fishermen, I'll urge along. "Please hurry." I trust Liadan will heal the boy now that Grim's wife is up.

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

Grim's wife is immediately comforted by my spell, and I sigh in relief. When Grim moves to wake her, I hurry to tend to Joffur, casting the same spell to heal his wounds.

((If I'm allowed to cast twice in one turn, this happens; if not, ignore it.))

Well, that didn't do much. I focus and try again, hoping for a better result.

I smile in satisfaction. The boy will certainly be fine now.