Dragon's Egg - Act IV

[Ireth]

Liadan

Ever mindful of the bow in my hands, I move to look at the knife. Maybe the rune on the pommel can tell us more about its maker or its purpose.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

I tell the boys to remain here. (If the boys want to kill a drow, Nissa orders Baldhart to help make that possible.)

When Liadan comes to examine the knife, I say, "Have at it. I'll fly to Burnbright and get the others." With that, I fly to the children.


Baldhart

I move to the witch and carry her body to the north stairs. Judging by that… that card game… I'm not sure if this will horrify the drow or arouse them. It will distract them. Of that I'm sure.

I see Tarlack has dismounted, whether he wanted to or not, so I call to him. I request aloud, "Would you mind if the two of us talk alone?"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I see Liadan inspecting the spider-drow's knife, and move up beside her to help. Two heads are better than one, after all.

 

[Steerpike]

When Batos bucks Tarlack to the ground, all of the kobolds freeze in place, mouths open and looking expectantly at their leader. Tarlack lays still a moment, then climbs to his feet dusting himself off. He looks at his tribe members for a moment, then yips out a series of sharp laughs and says something in the kobold tongue. The rest of the kobolds relax, tension visibly draining from their bodies. Those by the altar finish looting the small drawer and make a sweep of the amphitheater floor, looking for anything Aliron may have missed but finding nothing.

Tarlack gives Batos a quick grin, but keeps his distance. To Keitsumah, he says: "Tarlack not know. We find other wolfs, like you say. Tarlack great chief now, and all kobolds know when they see wolf rider."

When Baldhart asks about the drow, Tarlack considers, then nods. "Skivver tell them the witch want them, they come. Not think they will bring kobolds. They not care what we do." When Baldhart asks to speak more privately, Tarlack casts another look at Batos, then nods his head and moves off to one side of the amphitheater, where he and Baldhart can speak quietly without being overheard.

Audun and Geir look skeptical when Nissa tells them of the alliance with the kobolds, but they seem willing to accept it. It was, after all, a couple of kobolds who set them free. Still, the children keep their distance from the reptiles. When Nissa offers to let them kill a drow, Geir shudders visibly, eyes darting to the blood and gore that remains on the stone altar. Audun shakes his head. "No...uh, thank you...uh, miss valkyrie. Me and Geir ain't cowards or nothing, but we seen enough killing. Miss Liv told us it were wrong to kill, unless the world didn't give you no choice." He pauses a moment, thinking. "I hope you do kill them drow, but I don't want to see it. I know valkyries only like them that fights and all, 'least that's what the stories say. You ain't mad are you?"

Masama takes up a position near the northern stairs leading up out of the amphitheater.

((Nissa can respond if she likes, then we'll assume she went off to find Burnbright and the others. PMs to LS and Ireth)).

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

Liadan and I talk in murmurs as we examine the knife. Neither of us can discern much more than what Nissa found out. There is definitely life energy in the blade, but it is tainted by evil. The rune on the pommel is one neither of us recognizes. Every so often the knife vibrates in our hands.

I look around at the others. "Do you think we should keep this, in case we find someone who can help us find out more about it?"

 

[Keitsumah]

Batos

I consider Tarlack again when he continuously glances at me. Okay. Maybe I'll help him get a wolf or two of his own. At least he has a sense of humor.

Snorting, I pad in the direction of the door where the Drow will come in from and crouch to one side of the entrance. When the Drow come, I want to be the first, and the last, thing they see. The witch deprived me of my chance to tear her throat out, so I guess I'll have to make do with one of her minions.

Keitsumah

I glance over to Cadell and Liadan when they speak. "Considering the obvious power within the blade... maybe we should break it? We can take the thing with us, but I do not like the idea of it being left intact and able to harm anyone else, good or bad."

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I bite my lower lip. "I'm not sure. Breaking it might work, but it might also make things worse. We need to know more before we do anything."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Nissa

I tell the boys I am not mad. "Miss Liv taught you well. There is nothing wrong with a desire to live in peace. I will get the others, and we will leave this place together."



Baldhart

I see Nissa fly off, and Tarlack is coming to speak to me. I sit beside him in the back row where the acoustics are not so strong. I remember what Mother taught me.

To mind my manners…

 

[Philster401]

"May I see the blade, I might be able to recognize the symbol," Zoran said.

(O well it doesn't seem like he can remember at the moment.)

 

[Steerpike]

The children sit together in the upper, southern area of the amphitheater, backs against the wall that rings the center of the room. They're relieved Nissa isn't mad at them, and from where they're sitting they can't see over the wall. Whatever happens, they won't have to watch it. Masama remains at his post one the other side of the room, waiting.

Once Skivver knows what the plan is, he takes a deep breath. A reptilian tongue forks out and runs around the edges of his mouth. Then, with a nod at at Tarlack, he dashes up the northern stairs toward the exit, promising to send the remaining drow running back "at the command of the witch."

Zoran's examination of the knife reveals little more than what is already known. The rune is of foreign origin. It doesn't appear to share anything with elven of dwarven runes, or even with the older runic script of the Men of the north. As a Paladin, Zoran is particularly attuned to picking up the evil of the knife, and examining it makes his flesh crawl.

 

[Philster401]

"This blade is evil and alien, I don't think any of us should hold this blade. Does anyone have any cloth to wrap this blade also may I hold on to the blade?" Zoran asked.
"I am worried about who made this blade, this feeling is pure evil," he muttered.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I rummage in my pack and pull out a scrap of cloth I'd been using to practice sewing. "Here, use this. Though I'm not sure you should be the one to hold onto the blade if it worries you so."

 

[Philster401]

Yes, I am sure, I think it would be problematic if I wasn't worried about this blade, so unless someone else wishes to hold on to it I would like to keep hold of it ," he said defensively.
Then he told Cadell thanks, took the cloth and wrapped the blade in it.
(Sorry if it is hard to understand in a car)

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

As Skivver passes by Tarlack, I say to him, "Thank you, Skivver. Listen, the elves saw me and some of the others, but there's no chance they'd suspect you're on our side. You'll be fine. Just the same, I will pray for your safety and your success."

I offer a silent prayer: Brynhild, lend this little creature your strength, just enough to make him brave… enough to bring the battle to me. To us.

After Skivver is gone, I adjust my kneeling position to one that is a bit more comfortable. Mother's lessons paid off. I'll have to tell her! But for now, I focus on Tarlack's response to me. Mother said it's impolite to be lost in my thoughts when addressing a chief…

 

[SeverinR]

Aliron
Aliron lays 20gp, 28 sp, lockpicks and chain shirts, apart, and the hand crossbows.
"Can someone check these for magic?
Maybe identify the vial of fluid the kolbolds found?"

Bressel loads his crossbow and waits near the north stairs.

(Aliron is the only person able to use the lockpicks so he'll keep them. Everyone else can pick what they want.)

 

[Ireth]

Liadan

I move to inspect the vial of fluid, wondering what it could be. Poison, perhaps, or something else entirely?

 

[Philster401]

Zoran
"This is just my opinion but should we give the children at least some of the gold?" he asked.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I glance over the chain shirts with some interest, wondering whether they would fit under my scale mail. When Zoran speaks, I look at him. "I agree. The children have no one to care for them now that Miss Liv is dead, and they must be provided for. Perhaps we can direct them back toward town once this is over."

 

[Philster401]

"Good, I wonder what Baldhart is doing over there, they have been talking for a while," He says to Cadell.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I shrug. "I'm sure she'll let us know whenever they've finished their business." It is tempting to listen in, but I know better. Baldhart seems to be doing well at diplomacy with Tarlack, and I don't want to risk a blunder.