Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Nihal]

Once we're far enough from the Srilkind I awkwardly row closer to the boat where Branwen is, glancing at the fishermen. They may be distracted by the elves now, but how long will it take to them turn their attention to Branwen?

"Could you help me to bring Branwen to my boat?" I ask the person closer to her. Turning to Grim, I ask, "Please, hold the boat close."

I do my best to not drop the little harpy in the water, allowing her to huddle close to me when she's safely in my boat. I hum to her, rowing away from the other boat.

Enchant them.

 

[Steerpike]

The boats move out to sea without incident, keeping the shore line in view so as not to get lost on the way to Arendal. The fishermen seem fixated on the elves, and mutter amongst themselves. They still haven't given Branwen more than a passing glance.

When Mauve asks that the boat be moved closer so she can retrieve Branwen, Grim complies. But when Mauve lifts the child into the boat, Grim lets go of his oar and yells out, placing a hand protectively near his wife. "Ye Gods, woman! What possessed you to bring that thing among us?"

The fisherman start at Grim's outburst, and they too focus on Branwen. Taking her in more clearly, they both make wards against evil once more, and now their dark looks are not reserved only for the elves but are shared among Branwen and Mauve.

From Bressel's boat, the is a cry of "By Asra!" And the big black man, looking more animated than ever, eyes flashing, says to Bressel "Get me to that boat!" he hauls at his own oar, trying to steer the craft toward Mauve and Branwen.

 

[Steerpike]

Joffur notices Liadan's affections toward Cadell and reddens. He turns his gaze to the ocean, occasionally turning to glower at Cadell when he doesn't think Liadan is looking. When the commotion over Branwen breaks out, he cranes his neck to look.

 

[Nihal]

I'm about to groan at the fishermen and mentally scold myself when the heat against my thigh distracts me. I feel my body getting stiff while I experience something that could be momentary black out, my vision being invaded by a smiling monster instead of the panicking peasants. His teeth are sharp, making the grin more disturbing, his scaly, dark skin stretching to accommodate it while it smiles at me.

What... the hell...

I blink, disorientedly looking around.

Compose yourself NOW, Mauve!

Cold against my face. I focus on it, holding Branwen closer to me and absently telling the lie I've prepared beforehand, "She was cursed by an evil witch. We are looking forward a way to break the spell over her."



Not good enough, as expected. If usually I'm not the best liar my shaken voice gave it away this time. What the hell just happened? Am I going mad? I hate these people, I hate this boat making this sickening motion, I want to go return to land as soon possible! With all this water around I have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. So vulnerable.

Frowning, my tired mind crawls towards a new thought. "Demon fishes... are there demon fishes in these waters?" I look down to the sea.

 

[SeverinR]

Aliron
"Bressel, stay your course. Anyone thinking of harming the child will recieve a burial at sea." I turn, arrow ready, looking towards all the boats. "That goes for elves, healers or anyone in the group that just saved your pathetic asses. If you wish, we can drop you off like the lady barbarian so you can climb the cliffs. One less person the rowers have to move. Make any hostile actions and I will drop you."
I watch for any sign of aggresssion.
"The child is under the groups protection. We all are sworn to protect the group, and she is part of the group. If you can't live with that then let the rowers know so they can move to land and let you off."
I make myself comfortable watching the group.
"Archers please watch the area around us, I will watch the rear and our guests."
"Large man continue to row, or move the boat to the shore, move towards the child and I will plant an arrow in you."

Bressel
"I won't change course unless someone wants to get off."
He looks around.
"I haven't killed in a while. On my boat, I'm good with my axe. Off the boat, I am good with the bow. The little naked winged girl will not be harmed. I think little naked winged girl and adult naked winged woman somehow related."
He smacks his arms,
"Ma arms is all warmed up, if you want to try me."
Bressel intimidates closest person that is upset with Branwen. (I guess it would be the black man)
Prime ability check [1d20] = 19 prime abilities Str,Dex,con
http://unseenservant.com/default.asp?do=showone&id=14176
<a href=http://unseenservant.com/default.asp?do=showone&id=14176>Prime ability check [1d20] = 19 prime abilities Str,Dex,con</a>
[actually, balance is needed in a boat, Bressel will probably use the scimitar.]

Both: (Bressel and Aliron) if the man reaches for a weapon or charges Bressel, Aliron will fire.
Bressel will either pull scimitar or simply pivot the charge and dump the man in the water. (The advantage of fighting on a boat, the anchored one is more steady.)
[Would Bressel's unarmed attack fall into "primal Instinct" to throw him off the boat?]

 

[Steerpike]

The black man frowns at Bressel, then at Aliron. He breaks into a huge white-toothed grin and he resumes his normal rowing pattern. His laugh is low and rumbling, and his speech strangely accented. "Be at ease, gentlemen. The child is touched by Asra. It was a shock, and I meant to get closer to see for myself. I mean her no harm, for she is a holy child." He looks at the two fishermen and even casts a glance at Grim. "There are others here who would not be kind of her, I think."

He seems about to say more when Mauve asks her question about fish demons. The heads of Grim, the fishermen, and the black man all snap toward Mauve, Branwen.

"Fish demons there are," says the black man. "Sahuagin they are sometimes called. Lay to these oars, men. If there are Sahuagin near, we want no part of this sea."

The old fishermen seem stunned to inactivity, but Grim barks at them and they work their oars with haste. One glances as Mauve and Branwen in the next boat and says "If they come, it'll be that demon child that brought them on us, and no mistake. That ain't no witch spell. That's unnatural is what it is."

The other fisherman looks at his comrade and says "Shut it and help me pull these oars!"

((To answer the primal instinct question, yes it could be used for something like that)).

 

[Nihal]

I take an oar and help in the rowing, refraining from answering the fisherman and almost wishing that monsters jumped out of the water to ambush us. Then I wouldn't be going mad nor possessed or something along these lines, it would be only the knife reacting to them.

From time to time I turn my gaze to the sea, expectant.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

In Arendal…

Looks like by horse is faster than by boat, even when going the long way. Oh well, I know where I want to be until the rest arrive, no doubt from a trip much more peaceful than mine…

I enter The Maiden's Spear.

The joyous expression on my face is nearly accompanied by tears. Am I trembling? I inhale deeply… compose myself.

I remove my skull helm, and wonder if the patrons are eyeing my blue-painted face and arms as I remember—just in time—to duck into the door.

"I am Baldhart Eisenberg, devotee of Brynhild, slayer of monsters… just a beginner, really. I want to meet Gisla. I could use a good meal, and so could my friends—when they get here, I mean—but for now, more than anything, I would very much like to speak to Gisla."

 

[SeverinR]

Aliron
"Good answer. I admit I am a little protective of the child."
I glance at the sea,
"I have seen a Fish demon, the child had no control of it. It did quite a number on the lizardmen we encountered. But fled at the sight of us. It looked tough, but when faced with our group alone, it decided against fighting us."

"I will watch the rear for a while, someone tell me if danger is ahead, then I will ask my group to warn me if our guests make any move to harm me, the child or anyone else in the group."

 

[Steerpike]

The Boats

Those traveling with the party are on edge after the talk of fish demons. The boats continue cutting through the water, progress not as fast as everyone might like due to the action of the ocean swells. The dagger continues to radiate heat, but for many minutes nothing disturbs the sounds of rowing and the noises of the ocean.

Then, off to the party's left, further out to sea, something breaks the water. It is a lean, thin shark of some kind, moving quickly, its upper body exposed above the water. Clinging to its back, a green-scaled creature, its scale flashing with reds and yellows in the light of the sun. The creature has a fish-like face with large, round eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth. It is out of range of any reasonable bow shot, and in any event it does not stay above the surface for long. The creature simply surveys the group briefly, its eyes lingering on Mauve for a second longer than the rest, and then the shark submerges again, taking the strange creature with it.

There is much muttering among those on the boat, and a redoubling of the oars. Tense gazes watch the waters around the boat, but minutes continue to pass with no sign of the creature or any others of its kind. After a time, the village of Arendal appears on the cliffs to the north, the fisherman who grumbled about Branwen pointing it out happily and heaving his oar so as to turn the boat toward land.

The Maiden's Spear

The tavern has half a dozen villagers in it, but is largely empty. The work day is not yet over. A girl of perhaps twenty tends the bar. What people are present eye Baldhart curiously when she steps in.

When Baldhart speaks, the bartender inclines her head respectfully and disappears through a curtain leading to a back room. A moment later she returns with a tall, aproned woman trailing behind. The woman looks to be around fifty, her blonde-brown hair having given way to a majority of gray strands. Her eyes are blue and piercing, her visage stern, and her left arm terminates at the elbow in a stump that looks to have healed many years ago.

She sizes Baldhart up and dismisses the bartending girl with a wave of her hand. "You wished to see me?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I… I did. I…" I'm so nervous. This is not how I want to be. I take a moment to compose my thought. "I heard you are a fellow devotee of Brynhild. My name is Baldhart Eisenberg, and I have just begun serving our Goddess, fighting battles that need to be fought.

"I am here for business, not just conversation. I would like a hot bath, and the meal can wait so I may eat with my friends, and if you have rooms to accommodate a dozen of us, I believe we will be staying here. Dining here." I show her the puncture in my armor. I feel the grin on my face. "A six-legged beast had me in its jaws. I need new armor. I can ride out and get the hide from this beast when there's time, there is much I wish to do in this town, but…"

I feel my face tense up, looking more serious now, not like a giddy schoolgirl.

"I know I am a stranger, but can we talk somewhere private while one of your employees readies my room?" I take out some gold coins. "If one's available, I mean."

 

[Nihal]

Placing my hand over the dagger, I watch the creature submerge again. Excellent! Attract monstrosities, that's all I needed.

I keep rowing. At least I'm not going insane. Yet.



I wonder if they want the knife back, some fresh meat or are just curious. If this thing attracts these creatures traveling by sea will be troublesome.

 

[Steerpike]

Baldhart

Gisla looks you up and down once more, then nods. "There's room. How many friends do you have coming? We can speak here." She leads the way through the curtain to a large kitchen. Fresh dough has been set out on a table for kneading. Gisla looks at the damage to Baldhart's armor and uses her good hand to feel some of the punctures from the giant lizard's teeth.

"You've been in the thick of it, all right. What brings you to Arendal? I hear from your accent that you're not from the north, though I'd have known it anyway, the way you speak of Brynhild. It has been many years since the daughters of the north pledged themselves to battle. When my time came, I went south, where women are accepted on the battlefield as they were many years ago here in the north lands. I knew little of our goddess, apart from the stories every girl learns. Veborg and the grand battles of old, you know. But Brynhild protected me and guided me until..." she shrugs and lifts her up stump of a left arm. "My battle days came to an end, but my faith in the goddess did not. Brynhild is revered here, though it may be only yourself and I who pay homage to her."

 

[Steerpike]

The Party

Rowing faster seems to be on everyone's mind. The fish demon does not reappear, and people begin to relax as it becomes clear the boats will reach the docks. Unlike Srilkind, the docks here are directly beneath the cliffs, and as the boats approach you have to navigate around tremendous rock formations just beneath the surface of the water. A set of thick wooden stair is built into the cliffs, winding the way up to the town itself.

When the boats reach the dock the fishermen almost stumble over themselves in their haste to put distance between themselves and the party. The black man and Grim help Grim's wife get to her feet.

The waves here are strong, sending up sprays of water, and the boats have to be tied soundly to the docks to prevent them from being knocked around.

 

[Nihal]

Still throwing some glances at the sea, I carry Branwen, half expecting to see one of the creatures jumping on me to get the knife. Looking up I have the certainty that my stay in this place won't be peaceful. The fishermen are scrambling up the stairs; in no time everyone in this little cursed place will hear about us, about Branwen—and they don't even know the best part yet. It's no place to study the tome.

I walk to Cadell, whispering something to him when he leans closer to me, ridiculously tall as he is, then follow after the group when everyone starts to move.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

A tear falls. I hate this. Does she think less of me?

"Sorry… I'm very excited to meet you, but… I hope you'll be happy to meet me, still, after I'm done talking. I love this place, and I don't want any harm to come to it.

"First: we are eight." Ankari makes nine, but is he…? And Branwen is another. "We rescued eight not long ago. I have been in the thick of it, as you say. So has Srilkind, which is almost burned entirely. Children escaped, we left a knight with 'em, and we rescued eight more. I stayed to look for a ninth, but he was dead when I found him. I don't know who of the survivors will stay. Maybe all. At least the child named Burnbright, who also wishes to follow Brynhild, by the way… I'm helping her.

"But she—Burnbright—was the target of the gnolls and goblins that laid waste to Srilkind. Before you ask, no, I did not lead them this way. I rode east from Srilkind, then far north before heading this way. They don't know my scent as I have not faced this enemy yet. If I was heard, the enemy was misled, though my guess is they will split, and I anticipate a dozen heading this way. Even if I did not come here, this is the nearest town—meaning without me, the enemy would still come and you'd have no warning.

"Of course… you know enough of battle that I didn't need to explain that last part. Please forgive me.

"I mentioned sixteen people, but it's more like sixteen and a half." I look into those blue eyes. "I'm trusting you as a fellow devotee—there are not to be secrets kept from you. I… I can't endanger those I'm with, understand, but you must know about a child." I point to the seventeenth hatchmark on my helm. "A harpy. I killed a harpy, and… she had a four-year-old daughter. You understand what I did, right? What coward leaves a four-year-old girl to starve? What irresponsible weakling considers it mercy to put a sword through her? You will see how beautiful she is, and she learned words… and love.

"Gisla, I came to you because I need someone I can trust with sensitive information. And I have one more secret I want to reveal to you. I would do it now if I could, but I promise you will love it! And though I can see your faith in Brynhild is strong, what I have to show you will make your faith even stronger!

"If I fail to deliver on that promise, you may run me out of town, or… it doesn't matter. I won't fail. If you would kindly meet me in a place where it's just you, me, Burnbright, and a fire… you will be very glad."

 

[SeverinR]

"Bressel, I believe you said the last person in the tavern bought, I was in, you were not." Aliron smiles.

"Always quick to take advantage of a situation." Bressel grumbles, and starts up the stairs.

"Bressel, beware the fishermen might be waiting, they might be running as fast as they can. But I always side with ambush."

 

[Keitsumah]

Batos padded back towards me, and i couldn't help a small laugh as he looked at me, licking his chops offendedly. Well, i guess he doesn't like the taste of rope anymore.

((Muse is dead))

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Líadan keeps her arm around me, and Joffur's eyes bore into my back. No need to wonder what he's thinking. At least he is better than that demon. I shudder to remember the look on the monster's face when he beheld my lover.

Finally, we reach the next town at the shore. Mauve speaks, and I bend down to listen, smiling and nodding at her words. I whisper back, "You're welcome." Perhaps we can talk more when we get to the tavern; I still have questions about the contents of the case, and why it is so important to her.

((Moved the last part of this to a new post after Steerpike's. ^^; ))

 

[Steerpike]

Baldhart
Gisla wipes the tear from Baldhart's cheek with one long finger. Her hand are quite large, though not as big as Baldhart's. She pulls a couple of chairs away from the table. "Sit, child. And do not be nervous. Northerner or not, you're the very image of a shield-maiden of old." She smiles. "Well, without the shield, of course."

She listens with curiosity, and then growing horror to Baldhart's tale.

"Srilkind, razed?"

"They sought a child, and you have her with you? And what would they want with a human child to begin with."

At the mention of Branwen, Gisla gets to her feet. "They're bringing the harpy child here? I agree with what you did, of course, but you are not from these lands and do not know these people. Harpies and humans do not have a pleasant history in these lands. And of late, there has been talk of dark magics. Fish numbers have fallen. Crops have failed. People seek to lay blame. If anyone learns of the child's presence, we may just as well be facing pitchforks and torches before breakfast. She must be brought in quietly, through the back. I'll gather some blankets and we'll wrap her in those. Then you can carry her up to your room."

She paces in front of the table. "Goblins and gnolls with the audacity to attack a human town. This does not bode well. And every day the blasted Taint seems to creep closer. There are dark things afoot. A dwarf passed through here some time ago, and he too spoke of goblins, and of warg-riders. I do not believe that goblins, in particular, would be so bold on their own. And since when do they join with gnolls?"

Gisla shakes her head. "These are strange times, Baldhart Eisenberg. I will keep your secrets, so long as they do not require me to betray other oaths I hold. When will your friends arrive? We will share a fire later, you and I and Burnbright. For now, let's watch for these friends of yours, and by the gods do not let them bring that harpy through the common room, or Srilkind isn't the only place likely to burn.