Dragon's Egg - Act III

[SeverinR]

Aliron
"Masama, pack everything we must leave now. When they finish with Ankari, they will seek Branwen out. We need to be safely away no matter what happens."

Bressel
"I will follow Baldhart. Do as you planned earlier."Bressel grabs his axe and rushes down the stairs and out the door.

Aliron
Aliron gathers his packs and goes in lifting Branwen, turning to Burnbright.
"Will you stay with the Barbarians or go with us?"
Aliron grabs Bressel's pack and moves to the door.

Not waiting for anyone else Aliron rushes out the door surveying the area. Most people are focused on going to the temple.
(If others were intent on following Aliron he will wait in the shadow of the Maiden spear. If it appears the others will go with Baldhart Aliron will move quickly out of town. I assume Masama will follow Branwen.)

 

[Steerpike]

Aliron

Masama nods at Aliron and begins to pack. "I will still with the holy child. You have my strength, if you need it."

Burnbright says to Aliron "I can't leave Baldhart out there by herself. Or Gisla, even. That's no way to act on Brynhild's path." She dashes from the room, ducking for a moment back into the room where Mauve left her knife. Emerging with it, Burnbright heads down the stairs.

Masama nods and says "Asra has chosen the girl's path. Let us get Branwen to safety."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I move forward to see what's going on inside, prepared to strike at Gisla's command, Nissa's, or my own will…

 

[Nihal]

On our way to the temple I take a different path from Baldhart, Gisla and the others, emerging back at the street later. I fell more behind than I would like to.

I curse loudly and try to follow them, shouldering my way past any peasant that doesn't move when shouted at to get out of my way.


((I hope it isn't need, or... nope!))

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I keep my hand tight on the reins, hoping the humans are wise enough to scatter before Llucheden and let us through to the temple.

"Líadan, your ears are better than mine. Can you hear what's going on?"

Líadan

I lean forward, trying to hear what is going on.

 

[Ankari]

The sounds from outside tell of a convergence. From Cadell's reaction, he didn't understand what I did. The priest condemned himself by his own words, the logic of his reasoning easily applying to our situation. Maybe he'll understand one day. Maybe the party will understand the world doesn't turn on an axle greased with good and righteousness. Power drive it, and the weak inhabiting it latch on with straining finger lest they are cast into oblivion.

Only the strong have the power to stand in front of the inevitable and represent good.

I dodge the wild hammer of the blacksmith's, edge deeper into the temple toward one of the windows. It is an odd thing, my party hold me in contempt when all I have done was for their benefit. Of them all, only Aliron may understand me. And the pixie.

The pixie? "Nissa! If you truly exist, carry this message to the behemoth you torment with promises of wings and heaven. I have saved Branwen's life. I have stood up to the masses who would see an injustice done. Does it sound familiar, Nissa of the Valkyrie? Does it sound like what a follower of Brynhild would do?"

I hold my axe in a defensive position, hoping to deflect the next hammer strike directed at my head. For his ignorance, this man isn't guilty. Not yet

"Convince her!"

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I tilt my head as Ankari speaks, and a chill runs through me. Is he right? Was this the right thing to do? I don't know enough about what happened to make a clear judgment.

I relay the message to Cadell, not knowing if Baldhart can hear me or not.

Cadell

Ankari's words make me snort in surprise and anger. He may have saved Branwen from the priest, but he has brought the whole village down upon the rest of us. And when we are dead, who will save the child? We are worse off now than we ever were before he decided to act!

I look around for Baldhart, catching her eye as I echo Ankari's words to Nissa as Líadan relayed them.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I hear Cadell… and can only assume the words aren't his. Especially 'behemoth.'

I tell Gisla, "A follower of Brynhild would never break an oath in her goddess' name, or she can forget about wings and heaven. My sword is in your service, Sister. My body is your shield."

Nissa…

I know.

 

[Steerpike]

Gisla and Baldhart manage to push through the people gathered in front of the temple just in time to see the blacksmith swing his hammer at Ankari again. The man seems to be almost in a rage:

[1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6

Perhaps too enraged. His attacks are ineffective and Ankari dodges them easily.

Father Geralt's body is laying on the ground in a spreading pool of blood. Gisla doesn't answer Baldhart, but pushes through the temple door, her face grim. Ankari and the blacksmith are now at the far end of the temple from Baldhart and Gisla, some fifty feet away and on the other sides of a couple of tables and numerous chairs.

Cadell and Liadan thunder up to the temple, horse hooves pounding at the dirt of the street, and villagers scatter to let them through. Ankari can be heard yelling from within.

Mauve yells at a villager and pushes at him. He stares at her, nonplussed, when she bounces off him with her shove and has to go around him to continue her stamping toward the temple. She arrives at one of the temple's edges just as Cadell and Liadan arrive at the front of the temple by horse. Through the window, she sees Ankari in a defensive position, with the blacksmith she dealt with earlier trying to kill him with a hammer.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

No time to dismount or speak to the villagers outside. I urge Llucheden right into the temple, and soon see Ankari and the blacksmith several yards away, locked in single combat.

I yell to him, hoping my voice will carry across the room. "Ankari, for your own sake, lower your weapon! Stand down!"

If these people are so opposed to Ankari attacking an unarmed man -- though maybe not so unarmed, if Geralt's staff counts as a weapon -- perhaps they will back off if Ankari shows any inclination toward not killing anyone else. I can hope so, at least. At best, maybe I can earn Ankari a fair trial rather than a bludgeoning death.

 

[Nihal]

Skidding to a halt outside the window I can barely feel the throbbing pain on my shoulder. The scene unfolding before me is not good. No, it's not good at all. I take a step back and point discretely at the ranger, whispering something.


((Message spell))

 

[Nihal]

((Sorry about the double post.

I believe she can do this action now since it's not a full action. Feline overlord, correct me if I'm wrong.))


A single movement of my hand gets the pebble free from the pouch. With the little rock comes the darkness.

"STAND BACK! It's not the ranger, it's a warlock disguised! Run!"

I tense, awaiting the sound that will signal when I should reach for him and hand out the string.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I approach Ankari, shouting, "I will not be condemned for your murder!"

[INTIMIDATE] ((I think Ankari needs a CHA check of 20 to not be intimidated. Base + my level, right?))

I hear Mauve, and… see the dark globe appear. If she helps him escape, I won't reveal her part, but I won't purposely fail Gisla either.

"Don't be fooled! He's using magic to cover his escape. Gisla, we need some people outside, but keep the darkness surrounded."

 

[Ankari]

The crowd crushes through the doors, grim with determination now that their enemy is less in numbers than they. It's through the window, or else I die and Catli's chances die with me.

The witch's voice floats along the charged air, catching me by surprise. "Do you want to survive to see the end of the Taint?

"They turned their backs on you, you will be tried and killed in this village of fools. If you want to finish your journey get ready to break the window, I've got darkness. Whisper your answer."

Of all of my companions, she came. Suspicion worms through my mind, wondering if a slit throat awaits me on the other side. I have no choice. "Yes."

Without waiting, I slam the handle of my axe through the window.

 

[Steerpike]

Cadell yells for Ankari to stand down, and Gisla starts to pick her way through the chairs toward the elf. Mauve is outside the window, and suddenly the area visible through the window goes pitch black. A murmur travels through the crowd gathered outside as they see the darkness come into being.

Baldhart approaches Ankari as well, yelling at him and trying to intimidate him. Before the blacksmith can attack again, Ankari breaks the window with his axe and the area around himself and the blacksmith become enveloped in Mauve's darkness.

Villagers begin to converge on the group, with cries of "elf magic" and "murder" on their tongues.

Thrown Rock [1d20] = 10

A rock strikes Liadan in the back as she sits atop Cadell's mount, but it does no damage. An arm locks around her forearm as well, and she looks down to see one of the village militiamen attempting to drag her from the mount:

Pull Liadan [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9

The village militia member is caught up in the increasing press of people outside the temple and his hold on Liadan is tenuous.

Gisla turns toward the doorway, trying to get out of the temple to make her way around to the darkness outside. "Get that bloody horse out of the doorway!" she snarls, using her severed arm to try to push her way past the beast. She is on the opposite side of the mount from the militia man and seems unaware of Liadan's predicament.

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

A rock strikes me in the back, thankfully without hurting me. More alarming is the arm that hooks around my own; I look down to see a villager trying to drag me from the horse.

((Hah! No kill like overkill, I guess!))

I quickly pull out of his grip, wrapping my left arm tighter around Cadell as my right hand creeps toward the flail on my belt. I hope I don't have to use it.

Cadell

Gisla yells at me to get my horse out of the doorway, and I turn Llucheden, leaving the temple and hurrying around toward the window where I saw Ankari vanish. The sudden darkness has Mauve's name written all over it.

 

[Nihal]

Thankful for my new boots, I step on the glass and reach forward, my hands searching where the ranger is likely to be.

Is that an elbow?

"Take it, the stone on the end is enchanted," I whisper, hearing the alarmed cries. "Drat! Cover it when you need to block the spell, go! To the forest, now! We'll find you!" I give him the string, praying that he makes good use of the spell. If he does at least half of what I do he'll be fine.

((It's a 50 feet string with a small rock on the end, which is emanating the darkness. The spell will last 20 minutes now she's lvl 2.))

 

[Ankari]

A hand pulls at my elbow, and I fight my instincts to lash out. When the witch speaks, I do as she advises and jump through the window.

I clutch the stone in my hand to get my bearing. Moving in the shortest direction toward the forest, I find the shadows and stick to them.



When no shadows are present, I use the enchanted stone.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I watch the dark globe moving to the woods. To dispel any doubts about where I stand, I say to Mauve, "Well done. You almost had him, but you were too loud. Next time, don't panic at the sight of the dark arts." I walk away, not waiting for a response. Knowing her, she'll get into a conversation with me and someone will see her unrealistically clinging to the wall.

I head out the door, and tell the crowd, "The elves did not act together. I can prove Ankari, the murderer, was not with us, though I'll admit he was one that I once trusted and thought incapable of murder." I see Burnbright and Bressel headed this way. "Ask Burnbright, the child we rescued, if Ankari was among those who rescued her. You can ask Grim and his wife as well."

As soon as I can, I'll be at Gisla's side. What will I say other than, "I'm so sorry, Gisla." I'll stay at her side for as long as the futile manhunt will go on…




Arendal was such a joy… for the twenty minutes before my companions showed up. How many of us know the difference between a village and a dragon's lair?

Some in your group would tell you there isn't one.

That attitude is exactly what got us into trouble.

 

[Steerpike]

The crowd is mostly inattentive to Baldhart's comments, though some stop to listen. Others are still calling for help, even as more of Arendal's militia arrive and an older man appears, moving stiffly down the street. As Gisla comes out of the temple and into the street, she knocks a rock from a thin young man who was aiming another shot at Liadan and Cadell as they sit atop Llucheden beside the temple.

When Baldhart runs up, Gisla says nothing other than "Mind your oath, sister," after which she strides toward one of the militiamen. "Around the side of the temple is a woman with an eye-patch. Bring her. Also, the elf called Cadell. He's the only one who saw what started this. Nicely, if you please."

Many of the militiamen are handing out weapons to other men in the crowd - spears and a few axes, while the militia themselves have swords. They appear ready to charge off into the woods, but Gisla appeals to them.

"You saw what happened here. You've seen magic used in the escape, and by now you've all heard what happened in Srilkind. Father Harald cut down there, the town burned. Father Geralt killed here. The elf, and possibly more, may well be in league with the creatures who destroyed Srilkind. At the very least, there may be greater dangers in the wood than the murderer you wish to pursue."

This sets some of the villagers to muttering, though the militiamen around the temple do not seem impressed. One of them says "The elf is a murderer and a servant of evil. For all we know, he came straight out of the Taint and is heading back there now. If we don't get him now, he'll get away. My men with me!"

The man heads around the corner of the temple and toward the woods with three other men trailing him. In the mean time, the man Gisla ordered to get Mauve and Cadell has his sword out and looks between the two of them. "With me, both of you. Er...if you don't mind." He forces the latter words out with a grimace.

Gisla makes her way to the older man who has arrived. "Father Geralt is dead. The murderer has fled by aid of magic. I believe the one-eyed woman helped him and ask that she be bound over for trial. The elf male on the horse saw what happened between Father Geralt and the murderer. He came for help, so I do not believe he was complicit, but is a witness."

Burnbright runs up to the edge of the crowd, knife in hand, and looks around at the mob and confusion and says "Wha-what happened?"