Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Nihal]

Baldhart's Room

I enter just in time to hear Mauve's frustrated exclamation, and tilt my head as I approach her. "What is it?"

I shake my head. "I am finding quite difficult to feel any enchantment that might be affecting these items. That's ridiculous! Can you give me some space, please?" I take a deep breath. "One last time."



Cursing happily when the spell finally works on my fifth try, I close my eyes, attempting to feel the aura of the items.

I nod when Baldhart speaks, but have one last thing to say before she goes. "What if Cadell has another idea regarding what to do with Branwen? This is something we should discuss as a group, not individually." I glance over at Mauve and Aliron.

"Líadan... risking to be rude—in fact, I don't care—but where were Cadell when Branwen needed someone to take care of her? I do not remember seeing him making sure she is well fed and not thirsty, or putting her to sleep, or carrying her around or anything. Why would he have say in this matter, something so important she might die if we make the wrong move, when he obviously does not take the responsibility the rest of the time?

"The tome, please?" I retrieve Cadell's clothes from my backpack, and also my writing material and a parchment, giving these to Baldhart.

"You are being morbid anyway." I face the Barbarian, taking my own letter. "If something happens, scream and try to get away from this cursed little town. Do not fool around. We will get you." I glance at the other letters she's checking, frowning. "You surely have many letters."

 

[Ankari]

Men of the cloth are like dogs in the wilderness. They are so sure of themselves, having survived in the soft pit of civilization, that they are blind to the trappings of nature. "No truer words have been spoken. I find myself hampered by a conflict. On one hand, one of my members is threatened for existing. She is my follower, with the same awareness of the world as those who flock into this temple. By your words, I should end the threat to her life before ruin is visited upon her."

I shoulder my way into the temple and pull out an axe. "But I am not a petty construct of the collective weakness of man. I am benevolent in my reasoning. You have two choices to pick from. I follow Tyr's wisdom and kill you, or you follow the words of your own reasoning and gather up a force of volunteers and militiamen and march to Srilkind, leave Branwen alone, and evacuate the weak, young, old, and cowardly to these caves. You will head the army, as you are the beacon of courage and bravery. You will write down the order now, sign it, and place my company in charge while the gnolls pose a threat to Srilkind, and this pile of sticks."

The need to bury the axe head in this pathetic man's skull burns through my arm. "You have but a few heartbeats to enjoy if you delay your answer."

 

[Steerpike]

The priest takes a step back and brandishes his staff defensively. "Indeed it is as I thought - you bring evil with you, and your intentions in Arendal are foul. Traveling with a demon as you do, I should not be surprised that you would attack a holy man in a holy place."

"Bring your axe, elf. I have seen battle. I fought beside the Inquisitors of Mittelstadt and have faced down greater evils than I see before me now."

With that, he moves into a defensive martial stance, or at least some semblance of one that must have looked better in his earlier, leaner years.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Mauve, I hope you and Branwen are far from here if I'm compelled to run away screaming." I laugh—the way she glares at the fan of letters I pulled hers from! "They're not mine, Mauve. They're…" I tuck them away. "…going to break a girl's heart."

I start heading out of the room. I'm not sure how Liadan will handle Mauve's bluntness, but if I don't write this letter, who knows when I'll get another chance?

"Thanks for the writing materials, Mauve. I only plan to write one letter myself. I expect you'll be asleep before I'm back, so I'll leave your stuff by your bed when I'm done writing." I gesture toward the end table, which seems as good a place as any.





((Just added to Baldy's planned actions within the hour:


1. Ask Gisla if she can meet with Dalla, preferably before the Elder Council meets.
2. Ask when the Council would meet.
3. Tell Gisla gnolls can talk, if they show when we're not here to face them, tell the truth in front of villagers: we left in the night and took the child we seek. Mention that we had a small, winged demon girl who we failed to disguise as a child. The villagers while think it's Branwen but the gnolls will think it's 'Sinda.' Nissa used a fake name while deceiving the gnolls.
4. Write a letter before her watch.
5. Ask Gisla if there's a means of sending letters south from Arendal, or which village, if not this one.))

 

[Nihal]

"Do not forget to wake me up midnight!" I start to prepare my bed.

Letters that would break a girl's heart? How would she...

...oh, that bastard! Harlot's son!




((Is Branwen already here or...?))

 

[Keitsumah]

After finishing my meal, i notice everyone is scattering their own ways, but the want to see Batos begins to nag at me.

Well... i don't think they'll miss me tonight. And they know that of the two places i'm likely to be in the forest is one of them. I tell myself, getting up and slipping outside.

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I sigh. "I can only attest to what I have seen and heard. Cadell says it was he who named her, which does seem to indicate he cares for her. As for the physical side of things, feeding and carrying her, don't you think his missing hand would hinder that quite a bit? Perhaps he simply saw fit to leave such tasks to those who are of whole and sound body."

I tilt my head at the mention of a tome. She must mean the contents of the case she gave to Cadell. I open the pack and hand over the case, then pack Cadell's clothing into the space left behind.

I stretch, then look toward the door. "If you have no further need of me, I think I will retire until my watch. Or perhaps go and see what has become of Cadell and Ankari." I'm not sure which would be wiser. These people already mistrust my kind, and I don't want to make things any worse.

Cadell

Ankari and the priest exchange words so rapidly I cannot get one in edgewise. Ankari finally muscles his way into the temple and brandishes his weapon, and Geralt takes a defensive stance. I immediately place myself between them, arms outstretched to force them apart.

"Enough of this! Both of you stand down." I look especially at Ankari, the perpetrator. "Please. Haven't we seen enough violence and bloodshed without bringing it upon ourselves? We may have gnolls and wargs to fight sooner than you know. Don't waste your energy on this."

I look to the priest. "Please, Father, do not take Ankari as an accurate representation of our entire company. Not all of us are so hateful toward those who choose to follow deities, whether human or elven. I do confess I find your methods disagreeable, but I do not wish you dead. We have one among our company who worships Tyr -- he is currently guarding the children of Srilkind. If we summon him here, would you talk this over with him, or let him speak to the Elder Council, and perhaps come to a more peaceable solution?"

The suddenness of Ankari's offense has shaken my resolve, at least as far as it shows in my voice. I look back and forth between the two, unwilling to stand down, and wishing I didn't have to choose a side.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((I started PM'ing SP about Baldy talking to Gisla, so I may as well place Baldy in the common room officially by posting.))

As I enter the common room, I see Keit heading out.

"Oh… Keitsumah. I hope Mother's advice worked out for you. Um, listen, it sounds like we'll have some early risers. I hope to pick berries with you in the morning, but if we can't, the early—" Don't say 'birds!' "—risers will tell you. Have fun camping!"

I take a seat and prepare write my letter…

 

[Ankari]

Cadell does his typical thing and puts himself between me and the priest who would threaten one of our own. I have bared my teeth, now it's time to bite.

I lower my shoulder and slam into the knight, hoping to throw him atop the priest.



((Cadell has to roll a counter strength check if he wants to stop me, or a counter DEX check to avoid me, right? Based on what happens, do I get to attack the priest in the same round if I'm successful?))

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I barely have time to brace myself before Ankari throws himself at me. I hope I am strong enough to withstand him.

((I think we're supposed to add our levels to basic attribute checks, right? If not, that's a 9, and a fail either way. Ouch.))

Ankari's body slams into me, knocking me off-balance and forcing the breath from my lungs. Damn! Should have tried to dodge him!

 

[Steerpike]

Cadell tries to brace himself for Ankari's attack, but is unable to hold his ground. The stumbles back toward Father Geralt with the ranger pushing against him.

Dodge Cadell [1d20+3] = 12+3 = 15

Father Geralt sidesteps the two elves as they come toward him, Cadell backpedaling to try to avoid being knocked from his feet. Father Geralt's deep bass echoes within the temple as he tries to edge toward the open door. "To arms, Arendal! Your enemies are within your walls!"

The priest whips his staff at Ankari...

Father Geralt Attack [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7

...but the wooden weapon whistles harmlessly over the elf's head.

((Cadell and Ankari can both act))

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Geralt retaliates, but his staff misses Ankari completely. It seems all hope of peace is lost. Stupid, stubborn Ankari! My mind races. What should I do?

I look around the room, eyes darting wildly. A temple devoted to a god of victory and courage in battle must have some weapons inside, mustn't it? Then at least I will not be defenseless. But perhaps it would be wiser to run back to the inn and tell the others.

Yes, I'll do that. Ankari can look after his own arse, and I can't possibly hold him or the priest back by myself. I duck out of the way of the two fighting fools, bolting for the door.

I stumble out into the gathering dusk, clutching my ribs where Ankari struck me. I take a moment to get my bearings, then run back up the road toward the Maiden's Spear.

 

[Steerpike]

Cadell emerges back onto the street. Only a few villagers are outside near the temple, and if Father Geralt's cry caught their attention, the appearance of Cadell hurrying out into the street seems to take them aback for moment. They watch, slack-jawed, as he runs back up the road toward the inn.

 

[Ankari]

The knight flees, leaving me and the priest to argue with muscle, steel and wood. Wolves and panthers can bark and hiss for so long until teeth must back up the threat. Words of a deranged man are twisted things, with double meanings and conditional application.

I avoid the staff and press close, bringing my axe up into the exposed ribcage.



((In case I hit))

 

[Steerpike]

The axe bites through Father Geralt's robes and into his ribs. He exhales a sharp breath and practically doubles over. A shadow fills the doorway in Ankari's peripheral vision, and a voice yells out toward the street. "They're attacking the Father! Get Gisla! Get Arn!"

The priest has more strength in his than you might expect, and despite the serious blow he manages to right himself and take another swing with the staff:

Attack [1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3

The swing is half-hearted the pain of his wound taking much of the force away from the blow. Still, the man rights himself and prepares for another attack.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I don't slow or stop in my race to the Spear, even as my ribs sing with pain, and a shout echoes behind me. Ankari, you damned fool! You're going to get us all killed!

((When should I have him reach the tavern? Would anyone there see him coming if they looked through a window?))

 

[Steerpike]

((It has been about six seconds since he left the temple. Generously, we could put him halfway to The Maiden's Spear, and within earshot or make him visible to others next round. So after Ankari and the priest go again, let's assume people in the Maiden's Spear common area or right outside the door see and hear Cadell coming)).

 

[Ankari]

I swing again, aiming for the wound in the ribs. Commotion at the door distracts me.



More come.

Let them. Perhaps they will gather enough courage to fight one man. "It is by Tyr's commands I kill him!" I snarl at the priest. "Is that not right, coward?"

 

[Steerpike]

Father Geralt says nothing, avoiding Ankari's attack and bringing his staff upward with two hands, aiming the tip for Ankari's chest.

Attack [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14

Ankari turns his body with the blow, and it glances harmlessly off his armor. The man at the door looks on nervously, then turns back to the street and yells "Hurry!"

 

[Ankari]

"Tell them and you live!"

The damned fool knows how to use a staff, at least to keep me at bay. I swing my axe at his arm.



((You never know, he may have a negative to DEX!))