Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Steerpike]

((SomethingToPonder, I missed your post for some reason. Assume this happens before the elder wanders off))

The elder looks at Aldar and draws himself up straight. "Whatever your lands and titles may be in your forests, they mean nothing here. I have given the word of the Council that she will not be harmed, and so she will not."

((Then he wanders off)).

Gisla and the two militia men leads Mauve around the other side of the temple, toward the back of the structure. The crowd slowly starts to disperse, though a number of people remain near the temple to watch what is going on there.

 

[Nihal]

Something alive twists inside my stomach, making it heavy and uncomfortable. I will be imprisoned in the back of the temple. The temple of the priest who burnt people like me. Why am I surprised?

Yet, I wish to reach my cell as soon as possible. The sooner I am there, the sooner everything will be over. I pray that they use no chains there.

 

[SeverinR]

Bressel returns to the Maiden spear, for once in his life he lost the desire to drink.
So he takes Masama's room, then realizes Aliron took Bressel's pack.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I look up as footsteps sound on the stairs, and see Bressel coming up. As he passes, I call to him, hoping to halt him before he goes into a room.

"Bressel, where is everyone? I must speak with the whole company, as many as can come without disobeying the laws of this place -- so not Mauve, of course. Also Gisla, Aga and Burnbright, if they can. Please, can you help gather them here?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I mope into the spear behind Bressel. I hear Cadell. "Gisla is on guard duty. And Mauve… I don't know what she's thinking. I agree we need to talk."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I sigh. "Damn and blast. She has very good reason to hear this as well. And I'm not sure about sending someone to relay a message, as I have a great deal to say, and the ensuing discussion will likely take a good while." I just hope my remaining companions will listen to me.

Líadan

Once I'm sure Aga is alright, I come up the stairs in time to hear the tail end of Cadell's words, and look at him curiously. "What are you talking about? What happened here just now?"

Cadell

"I promise, I'll explain everything once all of our company and allies who can possibly come here are gathered." And I was so looking forward to sleeping tonight...

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Burnbright and I, Bressel, you two… only Aldar remains. The rest fled.

"I'll get Aldar."

I want to address the group—what's left of it—as well. With as little delay as possible.

As soon as I find Aldar, I'll invite him to join us.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I sigh. I hope those who fled had the sense to take Branwen with them.

"What about Keit? Has anyone seen her?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I head downstairs and speak to Aga before heading out.

"How're holding up, Aga?"



The local priest's been murdered.

Yeah.



"I swore an oath in Brynhild's name, my sword is at Gisla's service, and I know where to point it if she's not going to command me. If there's a problem, don't put yourself at risk. Get me. Anyone in my group who attacks an innocent is no longer under my protection. You are. I'll… I'll understand if it's difficult to trust me considering the murder by the blade of one I once thought a friend. Mauve, my one-eyed friend, is detained and Gisla's watching her, so I hope you'll trust those of us who haven't fled enough to keep watch in Gisla's stead.

"Sorry… it's been a rough night for this whole town. I feared trouble would follow me here, but in the form of monsters, not… not my friends."

I shudder to think of what Mauve will do. Gisla surely knows Mauve is dangerous unarmed. Did she take any precaution? Does Mauve fail to see Gisla is protecting her by not accusing her of using magic?



If she breaks out…

I understand. And if she harms and innocent…

Yes.



I'm ready to head out, and for what? Looking for Aldar is a waste of time. Either he flees or he returns here.

"Um… speaking of friends, Aga, do you remember the old elf who made that… 'joke' Gisla said not to make? If you see him, please tell him he's invited to Cadell's room."

 

[Steerpike]

Aga manages a weak smile as Baldhart speaks, but she seems nervous. When she hears Gisla isn't coming back, she frowns. "I-I guess I better lock up early tonight. I don't want trouble if people start drinking too much."

When Baldhart mentions Aldars, she nods. "OK, I'll tell him. He ran out earlier, before...um, when everything was going on by the temple. I haven't seen him since then."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I start heading up, but the fear in Aga's eyes disturbs me. "Remember my name is Baldhart. If my name is shouted in your voice, I'll be here with sword in hand to protect you."

I head upstairs. I don't knock. My fist would go right through. I enter the room and close the door. Slowly. Gently.

"Aga will tell Aldar where to find us. Let's not wait because I can't stay silent.

"Before you start, I'll tell you all now. My sword is in Gisla's service as long as I'm in Arendal or at her side. I hoped making the oath aloud—in my Goddess' name—would be a hint to Mauve that I was seriously going to kill Ankari if he didn't flee. She likely knew that, but chose to get in my way.

"Ankari is the traitor—we could have been found guilty as conspirators—and Mauve is an idiot for helping him escape, using the sort of method she warned the rest of us not to even talk about. She thinks the villagers are all idiots—and that we're idiots, and in her paranoia, she's undermined everything I worked for to keep us safe here, starting with the moment she stopped me from sneaking Branwen in the back as Gisla and I planned before you arrived by boat.

"I can testify as a character witness on Mauve's behalf, if the Council permits—and if she actually stands trial, but if she attempts an escape I am no longer bound by oath to protect her, nor bound by friendship.

"So before we start, I need to know who in our party I can trust! Am I completely out of my mind, or does it seem to be a very simple and obvious thing that we don't condone murder, and we don't use deception tactics in a village! How many among us know the damn difference between a village and a den of monsters?"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

We gather in my room, and Baldhart speaks. I keep my eyes on her, my hand in Líadan's. "You can trust me. If I am called to testify before the Council as a witness to Geralt's murder, be sure that I will not twist the truth to save Ankari's sorry hide. He knew what he was doing when he first drew his axe in the temple. And Mauve knew when she helped him flee."

Líadan

I look at Baldhart and nod. "I am with you, Baldhart. Though I knew little of Ankari when I first met him, he has made his character unmistakeably plain with this attack, and I cannot stand behind him now."

Cadell

I release Líadan's hand and pace back and forth by the foot of the bed. I hope Aga and Aldar will be here soon. The less I have to delay telling what I know, the better for us all.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((@Ireth, I meant to have Burnbright with Baldhart. She did mention that she'd stay with her when talking to Gisla, but I didn't have any dialogue with her—mostly because the post was long enough without it. @SP, mind if we go on as if Burnbright is here? Baldhart wouldn't just leave the child behind if she wasn't already following Cadell and Bressel.))


"I'll try to help Mauve with testimony, which may work if she doesn't further incriminate herself. Best I can say is we—Mauve and I—knew Ankari attacked Geralt, but not that he killed him. I didn't know he was dead until I saw the corpse. Mauve… we know the rock was prepared ahead of time, and she's the sort who will follow through with a plan—her plan—no matter what. She should have noticed Ankari was positioned to escape without her help and done nothing!

"I won't comment on her… 'rock.' And I suspect Gisla will not, or she'd have added that to her accusation. All I'll say is it's evident, as Gisla may have observed, that Ankari and Mauve did not speak; therefore, she didn't plot the murder.

"As for helping him escape, she's the sort who won't abandon a friend in need. Had Geralt been alive when Mauve got Ankari out, her offense would not be nearly as serious. I don't know about you, but I never thought Ankari was capable of murder. I don't know if Mauve did… but if she thought getting Ankari out would mean everyone—Ankari and Geralt, and others who rushed to his aid—would survive only as a result of her action, then she risked personal safety thinking it was the right thing.

"If Geralt was bleeding out, getting Ankari away would've made it possible for his wounds to be bandaged and his life saved. At a glance, Mauve couldn't be sure he was dead even if she saw him down."

I sit down. I'm calmer now that Cadell and Liadan are honest. I trusted they were… but then, I've been too trusting lately.

"That's all I can do for her. But she needs to stand trial… I hope that whatever stupid plan that will either get her killed or put her on the run for—" Calmer, I said… calmer. "I hope she waits to find out if she's sentenced before she does anything. Stupid."

 

[SomethingToPonder]

I walk briskly back to the spear looking for any of my companions.
As I walk in aga notifies me what is left of my friends are upstairs.
"thank you very much." I say solemnly and head upstairs.
I knock on the door and address myself.
"It is I, Aldar; Are you in there friends?"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"Yes, come in. Is Aga with you?" She deserves to hear this, too, as the caretaker of the inn now that Gisla is otherwise occupied.

 

[SomethingToPonder]

I open the door and smile at everyone.
"No, She didn’t come up with me, I will just get her, give me a second."
I run down the stairs to the bottom and call Aga in a tone that can only be addressed as a soft shout.
"Aga, Could you come up here for a second please?"
I then turn and head back up to the room.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"Thank you, Aldar."

I look around at the others once we are all gathered, and the door is shut firmly behind us. The fact that a gnoll was more willing to listen than some of my companions have been of late – especially Ankari, who likely thought himself the wisest of us all, and treated us like simpletons or worse – makes my temples throb with shame and anger. But I push the headache aside, clear my throat and speak.

"Certain things have come to light that all of you need and deserve to know of." I look especially at Burnbright. "I will explain everything, but I ask that you keep your comments to yourselves until I am finished speaking. I don't want to lose my train of thought.

"When I returned to the inn after Ankari's flight, before the others arrived, I met a gnoll who had come to parley. Neither he nor I did any harm to the other. He used the human tongue, and spoke it well enough despite his mouth not being shaped to use it." I wish I had thought to ask his name, but somehow I doubt it would be pronounceable in the human tongue.

"The gnoll stated his terms, which you can likely guess – he wished for me to hand over Burnbright so he could take her to Aslaug. He spoke of the attack on Srilkind, and said he took no enjoyment from the slaughter of men, women and children; he said he almost regretted it, and commended Father Harald's dignity and valor in the fight. The gnoll gave his word that no harm would come to Arendal if we surrendered Burnbright, and that the gnolls would attack without mercy if she was not, putting Arendal's people to the sword, and its buildings to the flame.

"Naturally, I asked for more time to discuss the matter with everyone, especially Burnbright herself. But that was not all the gnoll had to say. He spoke of his reasons for seeking Burnbright and serving Aslaug. Before the coming of humans, these lands were once full of gnolls; they fought often against the orcs, and less so against the dwarves. Then the men came, and hunted them down like beasts, driving them back to the hills. This gnoll said that Aslaug promised his kind the return of a portion of their ancestral homeland, and that it would be kept off-limits to all others, so the gnolls might live in peace. He was not certain whether Aslaug can or will follow through, but he was willing to serve her for the chance.

"Furthermore..." Here I lean forward. "The gnoll spoke of the southlands, and alluded to the rise of Aeron, who seeks Burnbright as well. He would keep her from her mother as leverage, to force Aslaug to serve him. Here in the north, says the gnoll, it is Aslaug who holds Aeron at bay. By giving Burnbright to her mother, we can deny Aeron that hold over her. If we cannot stop his evil from spreading here, perhaps we can at least delay it."

My mouth is drying out; I swallow, glancing around for a cup of water. If one is there, I take a sip; if not, I continue without.

"And there is something else... a third party we must not forget about." Líadan grips my hand, and I massage hers gently. "One we encountered on our travels, whose name I do not know. He was summoned here against his will, and wishes to see Aslaug slain so that he may return home once her power is broken." Do I dare tell them I speak of a demon, bound to this plane by our own power? "We can have no further contact with him until Aslaug is dead, as he ordered, or I might ask his opinion on this matter." I might... on a hot midwinter night in the north!

I look to Burnbright, remorse clear in my voice. "I am sorry to have to burden you with this. I have a plan to see both ends fulfilled and keep you safe, but I fear it may grieve you, if it happens that Aslaug's intentions are purer than we assume."

Without more pause than a breath, I outline my plan.

"I wish to send a messenger to the gnolls, who would bear the message that we will surrender Burnbright, but only if we are permitted to escort her to her mother, because of the oath we swore to protect her. If we are allowed to do so, we will. That way we can reunite Burnbright with Aslaug, thus fulfilling the gnolls' and Aslaug's desires – and then we may have the chance to kill Aslaug, thus freeing the bound one to return home."

I look at Burnbright again. "Understand this, Burnbright: it is more than likely your mother is a monster, and there is nothing in her that is worth saving, or indeed able to be saved. I would not condone the killing of an innocent woman.

"Regardless, we must still send someone to the gnolls once we decide what to do, and we should not take too long to decide. It may be we can escape unnoticed with Burnbright unhurt, and without speaking to the gnolls again at all, but at the cost of the rest of the village when they realize we have gone. The same will be the case if we refuse to give her up. If we do surrender her, we must prepare for what will transpire if they do not allow us to escort her to Aslaug. We must not swear one thing and do another, such as to offer her up to them, only to snatch her back from under their muzzles. The gnoll who spoke with me had never met an elf before, but he deemed me honorable; it would shame me, all of us, and all of my kind if I were to prove him wrong. I have no doubt that if we play them falsely, we will not be dealt with mercifully." Especially me, representative of the company as I am.

"Baldhart..." I meet her eyes. "I think you should be the one to speak with the gnolls when we come to a decision. Show them that despite what they have seen and suffered, there is honor still to be found in the hearts of Men. The gnoll left instructions on where to find a scout, who I assume would lead you to their alpha. Borrow Llucheden; a horse can go faster than a human can. And if you run into trouble... well, I hear followers of Brynhild do well on horseback." I smile, but it is faint and brief.

I don't want to say aloud that it is simply because, of those I met on the Bladnir and in the north, she is the one I trust the most – not to mention being the only other one of the original company who remains free. But it is.

I sit back, indicating that I am finished, and the others are free to speak.

Líadan

I listen in silence as Cadell speaks, holding his hand. When he allows us to respond, I speak up. "Do we have any idea of where Aslaug is? Would the gnolls leave a trail that is easy for us to follow, if they do not let us bring Burnbright ourselves?

"And about Aeron – you realize that if the gnoll was truthful, then killing Aslaug will bring down the sole barrier between him and the north. Keeping Burnbright from him will not delay him for long."

Cadell

"I know. But I don't see how we have any other choice. That is why I called us to council, so that others may make their voices heard, and perhaps offer insight that I do not possess. But sometimes there is no path that is wholly good or right." She must have seen that when she did her part to bind the demon to this plane. Sometimes it is a choice between the greater and lesser of two evils, and not between evil and good.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I'll be the messenger. And you know I'm all for deception techniques, but… not in this case. I'll only speak the truth."

I say to Burnbright, "This is your decision and yours alone, Burnbright. No matter what, the condition must be that I remain at your side for me to agree with it."



To Liadan, I answer, "She's in Verstenn Hold. Nissa got that from the alpha."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"Thank you, Baldhart. Remember that the gnolls are as intelligent as we are, and not the mindless animals many see them as. Do not act superior to them, but face them as equals. They do not need to be our enemies. Would you like the directions for how to find them now, or can it wait until you're ready to depart?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I won't meet them until I've spoken to Burnbright, and Gisla as well, if I can.

"I also will wish to rest the night—and maybe finish our business here with Mauve if we're given the time."