Dragon's Egg - Act IV

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I watch Cadell write neatly and as carefully as I did, but with his recessive hand. And ink. Aww... I should've asked if he had ink. Of course knights have stuff like that. Or ex-knights. It's not like he'd throw the parchment away when he stopped being a knight. He'll need it more as a bard, if he plans to write lyrics, I guess.

As I reread the bit about my uncle, I tell Cadell, "My uncle definitely wouldn't sacrifice his life for other races. He'd rather sacrifice his marriage for other women. Maybe I was too idealistic about my family."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"Sounds familiar." I reflect bitterly on my last interaction with Queen Brigh. "Just getting Her Majesty to cooperate with humans was a struggle; she would never do the same for kobolds. And dwarves..." I laugh and shake my head. "We all know how well that idea went over."

Even so, I'm adamant that I did the right thing in allying with them, and with Darin. No matter what my former queen thinks of it.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

"Yeah, I think my uncle's a better leader than your queen." I turn to Tarlack. "But you're a rare find, Tarlack. Maybe a part of you suspected I said all those nice things because I had a use for you, but I meant every word. I grew up around a chief, and maybe I used to be a little bitter thinking how he has no heir, but I'm a girl so chief's wife was all I could hope for. Maybe my second nun's vow was just my way of saying that's not a hope for me, so I don't want the option.

"It doesn't matter now. What I want to tell you, Tarlack, is that you've made me take a second look at what I think of leadership and a second look at choices I've made. I'm not a chief or a wife; I'm a servant.

"That's what makes you better than my two-at-a-timing uncle and Cadell's Queen Bitch. You serve your people. You're willing to sit in prison or ride into battle in front of your men instead of behind. You don't ask them to do what you wouldn't, and that's what makes you great."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

I nod. "Well, Queen Brigh has had a lot more time to nurture her contempt for other races than your uncle. Tradition and stability are only so much of a good thing. When it leads to stagnation, then it is a problem." I sigh. "I only wish I'd seen that sooner. But at least I did see it, and more importantly I did something about it. It might be a small change, but I think it was for the better."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

"Yeah, well… uncle Wolfgang doesn't really hold anyone in contempt. He just loves his position. Higher ground from any direction. In fact, the Eisenberg who took the peak—Nissa's grandfather, by the way—married the druid princess after killing his own leader who meant to take the mountain by force. If the mountain can be taken…"

I can't help but overhear Nissa tell the children, "If you want to hear the entire story, best you ask her to tell it at bedtime."

Is she saying my stories are long? Oh…!



Nissa

I see Baldhart's guilty look. I tell the children, "Stay here with my oversized cousin. I'll fly out ahead."

I head out the way I know, to the south. Seems I just missed the battle, but that was moving at a child's pace. So south is quicker if I can fly without the need of direction.



((When Nissa exits the cave…))

I watch from above as I fly to where Dalla and Biorn are. When I get to Miss Liv's, I'll see if we can salvage any clothing for the surviving children. Warm clothing, including gloves and boots.

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"Fair enough. That sounds like Queen Brigh as well, honestly. Little wonder she has no heirs who could succeed her." I frown. "It also explains why she would not join in the actual fighting against the orcs who sought to raze the forest to the ground, and sent me as her general instead. I suspect she is all too comfortable in that throne of hers." I wonder what she'd do if ever someone sought to dethrone her.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

Nissa flies out. She knows me all too well.

I tell Cadell, "When we're done, you can meet my uncle. He's not perfect for certain, but he's not evil like your queen is, or seems to be. I should be careful what I say about my family. My father taught me all I know of battle tactics and Mother's diplomacy lessons… I didn't appreciate them enough.

"I really would like to talk of this some more, but when I was speaking to Tarlack—" I turn to Tarlack. "—you mentioned a caravan. A human caravan, right?"

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

There is more I want to say -- mainly to dissuade Baldhart from the notion that Brigh is evil rather than simply haughty and very isolationist -- but she diverts to Tarlack, and I stay quiet to listen for the kobold's answer.

 

[Steerpike]

Tarlack listens to Baldhart reading the note, swelling with pride at its contents. He repeats the contents of the letter to the gathered kobolds, which now includes a handful of others who have entered through the north door after Skivver and the first group. As Tarlack translates the letter, he jabs a thumb at himself whenever his name is mentioned and casts a discerning eye over the kobolds, all of whom seem suitably impressed.

When Baldhart offers the parchment, he takes it. "Not many kobolds read. Not heard of goblins that read, but..." he shrugs. "Some do maybe. My writing not best, but enough to make known what I think. Some goblins tell story about a gnoll who read and write human words, but Tarlack not meet him. Maybe he made up. But good idea to have parchment." He clambers off of Batos, tired of not being able to control the wolf, and moves over to the altar. He sets the parchment down there, then returns to Baldhart.

"You right, Skivver good choice for second. He speak a little human too. He will help, and we make Tarlack's tribe big and strong."

As the group talks, Branwen eyes the drow corpses and subsconsciously licks her lips and starts forward. Burnbright puts a hand on each shoulder and holds her in place, and she looks up at the older girl, frowning.

Some of the gathered kobolds edge away from Branwen, and Tarlack seems to notice her for the first time. He scrunches his face up in what might be a frown, and says to the group. "You got harpy? That bad magic. Harpy live in caves and sing songs. Kill human, kobold, goblin, orc...anything. Not care."

 

[Ireth]

Cadell

"We're looking after the harpy," I say to Tarlack. "She is learning to not be like her mother and other harpies. We will teach her not to kill other people for food, only animals. "

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I nod at Cadell's words and add, "Tarlack, you may have already figured out I feel very strongly about those who kill children. I killed Branwen's mother, and her sister died by the hands of an ally. The mother was bigger than me, so I'm well aware of how powerful she'll become."

I approach Branwen, offering a hug and a piggyback ride, hoping Tarlack sees what a gentle creature she has become. (So I hope.)

"I can never be a child-killer. Had we found a drow child here, I assume my goddess would have understood my oath referred to adult drow who are guilty of the evil here. These particular drow are among the worst, but I believe not all drow are evil.

"Some humans would think of you as monsters. Of course you heard my letter, so you know I don't think that. I know some humans are monsters.

"This child is lovely, but a man who called himself good wanted to burn her. He said it would save her soul. Ridiculous. If her soul is in need of salvation, we show her love and raise her right. It's her best chance."

I thank Tarlack for the parchment and ask what it says. ((I'm assuming it's written in a kobold language. If in common, Baldhart won't insult him by asking as long as she can get the gist of his message.))

 

[Philster401]

Unsure of what to say Zoran says, "So what are we going to do now?"
((I'm a bit unsure of what is happening, where we are at exactly, and I don't what to do because it seems that you guys are finishing up unfinished business with the kobold.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I answer Zoran saying, "It may be wiser to rest after battle, but Tarlack did mention a human caravan. Perhaps we can head out, take a moment to honor the dead—Miss Liv and three children—" I turn to the oldest boy, adding, "whose names I would like to know.

"Once Abbi and her brothers have had time to dress in warm clothing, and pay their respects to their loved ones, I suggest we move. If the caravan involves merchants, we can resupply. If not, I purchased two weeks of rations 5 days ago. There's enough that the children and I can make it to town well-fed. Maybe a share short if my calculation's a day off, but Nissa doesn't eat much."



I don't mention the name of the town or the direction. Tarlack has earned my trust, but there's no sense telling him what our enemies could force him to say… or more likely loyal Skivver. He would tell of our path if he believed the information would save Tarlack. I can hardly fault him if that's true.

 

[Philster401]

"Have we given the kids the gold we found off the drow yet? I believe we decided to give them at least some of it to them get started." He says.
"Would you like me to come with you I have one week's worth of rations with me and maybe someone in town or in the caravan know something about this blade or that book Cadell has?" He states hoping to talk to people in the caravan and find information about if the inquisition has sent some scouts or priests of some sort near this area.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"You're welcome to come with us, Zoran, as far as I'm concerned. In fact, I was hoping you would want to. As for the gold…

"I'm fine with whatever all of you agree to, but bear in mind that we mean to battle two evil armies. Giving a full share to those we rescued may prove to be a costly error when we find ourselves short of armor and weapons.

"May I suggest an alternative? Now that Nissa has a body that will last until death, I'm assuming she'll get a share. She and I need very little, however. I have vowed not to use weapons, and Nissa needs both of her little arms to wield the scimitar. It may be a very long time before we find a better weapon that she can us. She can't fly in armor, and as a nun, faith is my armor—that is a must now that I have committed to this path.

"In short, Nissa and I don't need to spend big. We can supply the children from our shares without jeopardizing the party's ability to survive."

 

[Philster401]

"That sounds fair, but what armies do you mean? Also I don't think I have officially asked if I could join the, ah..., group I guess that's what you call it. "(Does your/our group have a name)

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

"There are two forces against each other. One is Aeron—the same Aeron of the great war from a thousand years ago. I think he has become a demon, and the drow mean to resurrect him. In fact, the various forms of human sacrifice supposedly serve him, and that includes the mage-burnings conducted by the Inquisition.

"Zoran, I'm not sure how you might take that, but you did say you've known men to perform evil acts in a good god's name. Tyr is a good god. To claim to purify a soul through an act of murder is to lie, or to believe a lie. Tyr has no part in this ritual other than his name being misused by a mortal. You've seen the valkyrie with me, so you understand I have a means of knowing this.

"What I don't know is how the ritual does anything for Aeron. I simply cannot believe that an immortal soul can be used, abused, and cheated of eternal rest. Or at least I hope that's impossible, or we truly are engaged in a battle we cannot afford to lose…

"Anyway, Aslaug is a human priestess." I say to Burnbright, "And we'll leave it at that." To Zoran, I go on, "She opposes Aeron, and if not for her evil acts, I'd have an easier time believing her intentions are good. But she had a gnoll army lay waste to a town. Many innocents were burned to death in their homes. And this fate came after they survived the fire demons after a week before."

So, how to make a long story short?

"Basically, we're pissing off evil maniacs that are far more powerful than we are. And I think we're all staying in the fight for the same reason. There's no sense running from it. If either force grows too strong, not even my unconquerable Iron Mountain will be safe."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

Time to move.

I offer Kitsumah the honor of carrying the dead girl, since she offered to do so earlier. If she takes the body, I will carry the drawer full of gold--after tossing dead drow into a place were the kobolds can burn them, that is. I suggest the wooden cage as firewood.

I make short work of the flimsy structure with some well placed kicks, though I'm happy to make room for anyone who'd like to help break this damned prison. Once the demolition is done, I say my final goodbye to Tarlack, and to Skivver as well, thanking him for his loyalty to a great leader. I do ask Skivver to kindly show us the easiest way out, then I head to the door, bearing my burden. (Her "burden" being the dead girl or the gold.)

I say to the others, "Nissa's off to the farmhouse. I suspect she's getting some clothing for the children. Perhaps we can give the children a moment to pay their respects. I can say a few words... and I'm new to the nun thing. Honestly, I only trained with monks because I wanted to use my fists as they do. I took a couple nun's vows, but my friend said I need three. Took my third in Arendal. Point being, we can keep a funeral short and sweet, and we're all equals here. Paladin, priestess, ex-thief... anyone who has something to say, we say our piece, then we get to a town and treat these kids to a feast."

 

[Philster401]

Zoran had a mad look on his at face the mention of the inquisition but it only lasted a moment then he said, "Baldhart is there any way I can help?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Baldhart

I tell Zoran, "Let's get to Dalla and Biorn, then we can talk more about what we're up against."

I explain to Skivver, "It's best you know nothing of our plans. I'll only tell you that the parchment Tarlack gave me serves one purpose: if we ever run into kobolds, goblins, or others that can read Tarlack's words, perhaps we will be able to convince them that we would fight for their freedom as we did yours."