Dragon's Egg - Act IV

[Steerpike]

When Baldhart explains her name to Skivver, the kobold nods. "You Ball Hard. Me Skivver. You not House-Lug. House-Lug House-lug." Skivver jerks a reptilian finger back toward Mauve. "You serve goddess, you protect Skivver." Then the creature points at Nissa as she emerges from the hole. "You harpy protect Skivver, serve goddess?"

When Keitsumah mentions hunting food for Branwen, the little harpy looks up at her, then around at the rest of the group and opens and closes her mouth quickly, clacking her teeth together for emphasis. When the group starts to gather wood instead, Branwen looks momentarily confused, but quickly enough is tagging along behind people. Soon she's on Baldhart's shoulders again.

Burnbright takes up a place near the entrance to the underground room, her spear grasped tightly. Biorn moves to stand next to Cadell and asks "What should I be doing?"

When Bressel questions Skivver about the size of the hole the lizard knows, Skivver says "Skivver think you fit." The kobold starts making vague motions with his arms, trying to show size and dimensions, but ultimately gives it up and drops onto his stomach. He drags himself on his stomach across the ground a few feet, looking up at Bressel and saying "You go like this."

Masama helps Baldhart gather the wood she needs to get the fire going. Dalla moves to where Ankari instructs, and they carry the dead lizard to the fire. Dalla wrinkles her nose at the dead kobold, but says nothing, only moving to stand next to Ankari once the corpse has been applied to the fire.

Skivver seems unconcerned about the treatment of the dead kobolds. When the fire goes up, he watches the opening expectantly for a few moments, then says. "They not come. Much other place run inside. Skivver take you hole?"

Skivver points against down the mountainside, in the direction of the Taint, and takes a few tentative steps that way. He looks back at Mauve. "House-Lug come?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I tell Skivver, "Nissa is my boss. She's not a harpy, and trust me--it's best not to point out the similarities."

I give Branwen's ankles a little squeeze and say to the child, "Not that there's anything wrong with being a harpy, sweetie."

I almost forgot Bressel was asking me if I had food for her. Burnbright's still lugging my stuff, so I tell Burnbright, "There's some rations in my bag, dear. Branwen could use a snack while she's up here, and if you need anything, help yourself."

Nissa says, "No need to take the backpack off. I'll get it." She flies to the bag, grabbing a bite for each of the girls.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I look down at Biorn. "I'm not sure yet."

Looking to Skivver, I say, "I'd rather not leave my horse behind if I can help it. Is there a place she will fit through? Or somewhere I can shelter her?" I try not to dwell on thoughts of what might happen if enemies come across her alone. If someone were to stay with Llucheden, that might be alright... but can we afford to leave anyone behind?

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

When Cadell voices his concerns for Llucheden, a part of me feels relieved we were unable to stop at a town with a ranch as I'd hoped we might. I was lucky to have found her in Srilkind…

I say to Cadell, "It's not pretty, but there is the ravaged farmhouse. Perhaps the enemy is through with that place." I remember the thick fog that marked the Taint, which I dared not touch. "It's either a stable surrounded by dead people and animals, or the Taint."

 

[SeverinR]

Bressel:
Bressel continues to help with the fire.

Aliron:

Aliron follows SKivver scanning the area, arrow ready. Glances back to check on Branwen, sees her eating the food Nissa had given her high atop Baldhart's shoulders.

 

[Steerpike]

When Baldhart points out that Nissa is not a harpy, Skivver looks at the valkyrie skeptically, but says nothing in reply. Biorn, standing near Cadell and listening to the conversation about the horse, runs a hand along Llucheden's neck and says "I can stay with her, if you want. I won't let anything happen to her."

Burnbright stays near the opening, though out of the smoke and fire, as Nissa comes to get food from the backpack she carries. "Doesn't look like they're coming out," she says, squinting into the smoke. She shakes her head when Branwen sets in immediately on the food Nissa brings over, and mutters "That girl can eat, that's for sure."

Skivver, meanwhile, tugs at Mauve and pulls her, lightly, in the direction of the Taint. "Skivver take to hole now. You come. Ball Hard come. Every comes. Get Tarlack, then get black elfs out."

He lets go of Mauve's cloak and dashes forward a few dozen yards, then looks back at the smoking entrance to the underground chamber, and at the rest of the party expectantly. "Horse elf catch. We go in!"

Aliron, following Skivver as he starts to move away, keeps a keen eye on the surroundings, but sees no sign of any enemy.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart (following Skivver)

If not for my nun's vow, I'd be brandishing a sword. Instead, my hands are free for other things—like piggybacking a little girl. That I'm piggybacking her to a place I'll be forced to kill is not lost on me, but neither is the hard lesson I learned a few minutes ago: in battle, there is no safe place for children.

Last time I had to kill a person, I cried for him. But these elves who target children… I may enjoy bashing their faces beyond recognition.

Nissa flies by, distracting me from my thoughts. I wonder if Branwen is studying Nissa's wings. I know I am…

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I gnaw my lower lip as I ponder my options. I don't want to leave Biorn alone, especially in a place like this. But can we spare any of the adults to watch Llucheden? Maybe I should stay behind myself. Would that be cowardly? The others might have need of an extra pair of hands... or, well, one hand.

Liadan

I look up at Cadell, seeing the worry in his face. "I could stay with Llucheden if you wish."

He shakes his head. "You're a healer. The others may need your skill. In fact, I doubt 'may' enters into it at all. There have already been injuries."

"We have other healers," I point out, looking at Mauve and Nissa. "I don't like the thought of having Biorn stay here alone. If anything does come after me, I have weapons for ranged and close combat."

"True," Cadell murmurs. "And speaking of weapons..." He looks to Bressel. "I believe you still have my bow and arrows. If it's not inconvenient, I would very much like them back. I shouldn't let myself get rusty, missing hand or not."

 

[Steerpike]

Dalla looks up as Cadell and Liadan discuss Biorn and Llucheden. "I can stay with him as well." She laughs ruefully and says "You will miss me least of all, should there be a battle. I know farmhouses - there is likely a cellar somewhere on the property. If I feel threatened, I'll take the boy there."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I smile as Dalla speaks up. "Thank you. Is that alright with you, Biorn?" No point in not letting the boy himself have a say in this.

 

[Steerpike]

Biorn nods at Cadell. "Sure. Me and Dalla will be OK. We'll make sure Llucheden is taken care of." The lad seems comfortable enough around Dalla. Arendal is small, and he must have known her his entire life. Biorn takes Llucheden's reins proudly as they walk the horse toward the farmhouse. Dalla has Biorn slow up a moment, to make sure there isn't anything else Ankari needs from her. When the two are done with any tasks at hand, they set off with Llucheden.

((If Cadell wants to RP more with Biorn or Llucheden, or accompany them to the farm, feel free to do so. At some point the group is back together and Skivver leads everyone toward his hole)).

Skivver leads the group on a winding path down the mountain, over rocks, patches of ice, and fallen trees. Soon, the party reaches the edge of the Taint, which spreads out before the group like a noxious fog. Skivver turns to look at Mauve.

"You make path?" When it is clear no path is forthcoming, Skivver shrugs and sets out into the Taint, muttering "Make much, House-Lug. Not need much Taint."

Picking your way through the Taint is slow, and if anything stranger than the last time you were in it. The air around you alternates from freezing to pockets of warmth, and there is the faint smell of the after-effect of lightning. At times, the hairs on your neck and arms stand up, tingling. Skivver keeps his head down, watching the ground as he picks his way along. The kobold doesn't seem all that pleased to be in the Taint, and lapses into an uncharacteristic silence. Burnbright is quiet as well. Branwen rides on Baldhart's shoulders, humming to herself, eating, and basically enjoying the ride. When Nissa flies near, Branwen stares, then reflexively tries her own wings. Once you go into the Taint her humming stops and her right hand grips Baldhart more tightly. She continues to nibble at her food, however.

You move on like this for what seems like a long time, though must have been ten minutes at the most. At times, Skivver runs his gaze across the ground, muttering "Skivver know hole. Got be here. Skivver find." The kobold continues in this uncertain fashion, then lets out a yip and dashes forward. He comes to a stop at the edge of a very small steam that is completely frozen over. "Skivver knowed!" Skivver traces the frozen path of the stream back in the direction of the mountain, and within a minute or two you find the opening where the stream emerges from the ground. The hole around the opening is large enough for all of you, though everyone except Branwen, Skivver, and Nissa will be crawling. Even Burnbright will have to be on her hands and knees to get through. What is beyond the opening, you can't see. Even with the vision of the elves who peer into the hole, it seems to simply go on into blackness, a frozen underground stream tracing the way.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart (Dalla and Biorn take off with the horse)

I thank Dalla for caring for the horse, and Biorn as well—though I make sure the boy doesn't hear that part—and I suggest she keep my tent bag at the farm. "If something goes wrong, you don't want us to lose our portable shelter." There is more I want to say to her, but for now, letting her feel appreciated is enough.



(at the hole)

Darkness. A small space. I don't like this place at all.

I take out a glow rock before heading in. I show Skivver, telling him, "This is a light source. Is there any reason not to use it?"

 

[Steerpike]

((before)

Dalla nods, somewhat curtly, and takes the tent bag. "We'll be OK. You...all of you...be careful in there."

((at the hole))

Skivver looks at Baldhart like she has posed a trick question. "Reason not use light rock? Light rock bad magic? Light rock boom?" He reaches out to poke the rock with a finger. "Light rock hot?" He does his best to twist his reptilian face into a frown, then finally shrugs. "Not know, Ball Hard. Why not use?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

Amusing little creep. I feel a crooked smile forming. "I can't think of a reason either."

I keep the rock in hand, though I use my arms to shield it so it merely shines on the path ahead… that, as opposed to acting as a beacon, announcing our presence, guiding arrows and spells in our direction.

Masama has one of my glow rocks. I give the other to Nissa.



Nissa

I move close to the front, telling Alin, "Let me know if you need this rock for anything."

 

[Ankari]

Time to get dirty. I pull out out hand axes and move into the tunnel. When the tunnel shields us from the external sounds, I listen for what may lie ahead.

((Ball Hard made unlady like noises))

Listen: [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6

 

[SeverinR]

Before the hole:
Bressel gives the bow and arrows back. "Thank you for the use of them."

At the hole:
Aliron:
Following Ankari into the hole only a few feet behind. Bow in hand to keep it from being caught on the edges of the cave. Ensuring he doesn't get to close to Ankari with it. Knowing he might need to use it once in the larger room.

Bressel waits outside. Two stealthy people don't need a loud clumbsy armor clad warrior following them.
"Maybe one of the armorless warriors should go next?"
"If need be I will come in last."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I move in behind the stealthy ones as Bressel suggests, though I'll allow Nissa or Masama to go ahead of me. Same with Mauve, in case she needs to keep an eye on Skivver. Nissa's glow rock can help those at the front if they want it.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"You're welcome." After taking my arrows back, I keep an eye on Biorn and Dalla from afar as they take Llucheden toward the farmhouse. When the others move forward, following Skivver's lead, I stay close to them.

At the sight of the hole we're meant to crawl through, I can't help but be glad Biorn isn't here. He can't see me tensing up at the thought of squeezing into that tiny space with darkness beyond. I breathe deeply to soothe my nerves and brace myself for it. Baldhart mentions using her glow-rocks as a light source, and I glance her way in silent gratitude. But that won't make the hole any wider.

When it's my turn to start crawling, it's all I can do to hold back memories of the lizard-ridden tunnels under the temple, and worse: the Lady and her cruelty that gave me these fears. Inch by inch, one breath after another, I push through my fears and move forward.

Liadan

Cadell is none too pleased about crawling into such a small hole. I wish things could be otherwise. I squeeze his hand for a moment in a reassuring sort of way before he enters, and stay close behind him when it's my turn. I do wish we didn't have to go in one by one. What will happen if we meet something that forces us to retreat?

 

[Steerpike]

Skivver watches as party members crawl into the hole. After Cadell goes in, the kobold looks expectantly at others in the group, then goes in himself. The lizard doesn't quite have to crawl , but can move forward in a sort of low crouch. As soon as Skivver is out of the way, Masama motions for Burnbright to go in after him, which she does, one hand clutching Branwen's tight and pulling the harpy along, the other grasping her spear. Burnbright is more hunched over than Skivver, but not quite on her stomach. Masama brings up the rear, the light from his stone filtering out toward those in front of him.

The way is cold and slick, though it doesn't take long before the stream is no longer entirely frozen. The party members are forced to crawl forward through water that is too shallow to be of any danger, but enough to soak the front of their clothing through.

Ankari hears nothing apart from the trickle of water in the stream. It takes a good ten minutes of crawling through the tight space before the passageway opens into a small underground cavern. The stream veers off to the right of the party and disappears into the wall of the cavern. The path cut by the stream is wide enough that you could continue to crawl through it, but the natural cavern has another passage, wide enough for two people to walk abreast. Even in the dim light of the stones you can see it is a natural formation, not dwarven-work like the room that held the dark elf.

Skivver points a finger down the passage. "That go mountain. Go Tarlack." Burnbright tries to wring some of the water from her clothing, frowning. Branwen, as usual, seems unperturbed by the cold, or by the wet state of her clothing.

Once Masama arrives, it is a rather tight fit for all of you in the small room with the stream.

 

[Keitsumah]

I shiver and Batos huddles close to me, giving me the buffer of his warm fur against the chill of the water. Thankfully he walks on all four legs, so his back is dry, if not for his paws and his belly. I hold my staff carefully, but am not afraid to drag it in the water if moving around requires some dexterity. I'm more concerned about accidentally hitting someone with it in the dim tunnels.

Batos curls his lip in a silent snarl. We'd already been taken underground once before, unwillingly. I pray that this journey will allow us to escape in one piece, and send a prayer to Brynhild for the dwarf who hadn't made it out the last time. But then, he may have been happy to have died underground. Yet I shiver at the thought. Images of pale, bulbous eyes and shadows dance in my mind. To be banished underground like a dark elf... I do not blame them should they have enmity for my kind. But i do not know much. I cannot even speak my people's tongue fluently. I speak the words of humans.

Batos rub his head against the underside of my jaw and I sigh. No. I cannot give into fear. It is my job to protect the others and to heal them. I cannot hesitate.