Session 20
+500xp for Rogha, Zau'lann, Vot, and Tian'ith
+750xp for Darsin
+1000xp for Miiq
Assault on Aldera Campaign
Moderator:Lazybones
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Vot had got his hands on some eggs, bread, and ham while they were taking care of business in the little human fortress. So he decided to try something he hadn't actually done before, but had overheard some humans talk about once while he was waiting to raid them. He think they called them "crock ladies."
He had no idea what that meant, but it seemed like they were toasted bread, ham, cheese, and eggs. That sounded easy, but you gotta try everything once right?
Oh, he made sure not to use the queen egg they saddled him with. They probably wouldn't appreciate eating bug queen. Although it did sound really posh. So, this queen egg though... it was supposed to be like the traditional bug colony queen as far as he understood it. And that meant it would assert some kind of control over the normally brain-dead bugs? He wasn't so sure he liked the idea of the bugs having a will behind them, but the island was already screwed to the point he'd never be going back up to it's surface after this anyway, so whatever.
Vot would just have to make his way to a new spot when he was done here.
He had no idea what that meant, but it seemed like they were toasted bread, ham, cheese, and eggs. That sounded easy, but you gotta try everything once right?
Oh, he made sure not to use the queen egg they saddled him with. They probably wouldn't appreciate eating bug queen. Although it did sound really posh. So, this queen egg though... it was supposed to be like the traditional bug colony queen as far as he understood it. And that meant it would assert some kind of control over the normally brain-dead bugs? He wasn't so sure he liked the idea of the bugs having a will behind them, but the island was already screwed to the point he'd never be going back up to it's surface after this anyway, so whatever.
Vot would just have to make his way to a new spot when he was done here.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Despite having any really well thought out plan, the assault on the human outpost came off without any major problems. There weren't too many or very good guards around the place; they were already into the village before one man stumbled upon them and was promptly dispatched. The group stormed thru the tower slaying all who stood in their path. There wasn't much of any loot to be had and Darsin reluctantly had to once more forego the traditional burnt offerings as they were still trying to mask their identity by having their bug soldiers mangle corpses and make a mess of things. They left some bug eggs in the tower cellars and others in the cavern they rested up in. Darsin wondered how long it would be till these things hatched and grew enough to be a serious threat.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Strange as it seemed to her Tian'ith ate the food prepared by Vot. She was well used to eating travel rations and any soldier is aware that they can't be sure where the next meal is coming from. Besides, compared to the mushroom broth they had been offered when they first arrived the meal was palatable at least. As she did so she wore a thoughtful air, pondering additions to the scant map she was making.
"We are suffering from a lack of available intelligence," she commented at last. "Vot has not seen all of the island and we are having to both ensure our presence is not disclosed and account for our own physical limitations in travelling in the bright light." She tapped her fingers on the map a few times and turned to Zau'lann.
"Azali has mentioned scrying, and from what she has said I believe she may already have investigated the surface of this island to some degree." Tian'ith ate the last morsel of food and rose. Regardless of whether her consort had finished his, she beckoned for him to follow. "Come, we will speak to her. I will attempt to enhance this map from what she has seen, and if she lacks the skill to recall details we will ask that you be allowed you to use the orb."
"The sorties will be improved enormously by the additional information and that fact may overcome any disinclination." She smiled to herself grimly. "Any other use to which we might put the information does not need to be mentioned."
"We are suffering from a lack of available intelligence," she commented at last. "Vot has not seen all of the island and we are having to both ensure our presence is not disclosed and account for our own physical limitations in travelling in the bright light." She tapped her fingers on the map a few times and turned to Zau'lann.
"Azali has mentioned scrying, and from what she has said I believe she may already have investigated the surface of this island to some degree." Tian'ith ate the last morsel of food and rose. Regardless of whether her consort had finished his, she beckoned for him to follow. "Come, we will speak to her. I will attempt to enhance this map from what she has seen, and if she lacks the skill to recall details we will ask that you be allowed you to use the orb."
"The sorties will be improved enormously by the additional information and that fact may overcome any disinclination." She smiled to herself grimly. "Any other use to which we might put the information does not need to be mentioned."
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
"Time for endings still approaches," Miiq said as he chewed on a chunk of cooked ham. He was starting to appreciate Voq and his skills. Every good dragon should have a personal cook, he decided. "Is good to know more. Of surface world, and places below. Places we might go... after."
"World is large; larger than Miiq used to think. Many places for conquering. Not for Derro, but for us. For the worthy."
He looked around the fire, carefully reading his companions' reactions to this notion. Discovering, perhaps, if they might in time make valuable vassals. Miiq grinned.
"World is large; larger than Miiq used to think. Many places for conquering. Not for Derro, but for us. For the worthy."
He looked around the fire, carefully reading his companions' reactions to this notion. Discovering, perhaps, if they might in time make valuable vassals. Miiq grinned.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
It was probably the wine, he'd reflect later. But there had been a growing instinct in him for some time, now. A want to push things a little further. They met, they talked, they drank, they played board-games, but she... with her rugged, wide-jawed look, her soldier's views of politics and people, her disdain - he had to at least try. Try and play the game as best he can, for her amusement if nothing else. And now, with his face flushed and at least half into his cups, he found a reckless moment.
"This may lose me some respect, but... He raised an eyebrow over the board, as she peered at him with curiosity. "If there is something I can do, anything. To make these shared moments of ours more enjoyable. You only need ask."
He put on his best charm, letting it ooze, but he knew almost immediately he'd made a mistake. She didn't seem flattered, or interested. More puzzled. "I am not sure what to suggest. We compete, we drink, and it seems now we engage in discourse. An enjoyable distraction."
He stopped. Rethought. This wasn't the time. Bad idea. Back away. After a moment's confusion, he put on his best diplomat's smile, and pretended to examine the gameboard. "If that is all that's to your taste, That's well."
"To my taste...? " He cursed inwardly. He'd hoped he could slide out of the way of this, but something in his words had clearly touched something angry. "Do you take me for one of my sisters? "
Of course. The Sisters. There was resentment there, some scorn of their ways, but he'd never been able to pry it all out of her. Too late now. "No. Never. But -"
He should have stopped at 'never'. She looked genuinely insulted, slamming down her goblet with enough force to rock the table and upset the pieces. She rose to her feet, hand moving to the dagger at her belt. He stood too, as if recognising the need to fight or run - and then... nothing. She stood there, frozen in the moment of action. She looked at him, at the table, the game-board, face rigid with fury. He could see her mind working, trying to find words, but there was nothing. Instead, she warred with herself a moent longer - and marched to the door.
Well, I'm dead. He cursed the him from a few moments ago - what a fool. Playing games with the pride of a woman like this. But at least, there was nothing to lose. The damned can go no lower. "Wait."
She froze in the doorframe, looking back at him, a vision of disgust. He sought for something to say, anything that might make it right... he reached for what he knew, her strange ideas about respect, her adoration for soldiers, her prideful nature, her admiration of boldness, appreciation of the poetic...
He brought it all together in two simple sentences. "It's not laying down my life for you. But it is giving it to you."
Her face twitched, and the fury turned to something like confusion. He didn't blame her. A prideful surge later, and she was gone, the door slammed behind her. He breathed quietly in the silence, feeling the unmistakeable crawl of dread up his back. Of all the stupid things to do, play games with a Matron's daughter - if House Neldarian's people didn't come for him, he'd be flayed alive by his own people for insulting another House, if he was lucky. Where could he go? Flee the city? Live as an exile? The thought sickened him.
But what else is there? he thought, as he poured himself one last drink of the wine. And then another, and another, minutes turning into an hour in silence. Maybe it was worth trying to drink himself to death before someone found him? A cleaner end than he might get otherwise, and there was no fixing it. She'd gone.
But then... then, she came back.
***
"Travel, hm. Maybe." He looked up out of the cave mouth, up at the dwindling stars. "Yes... maybe." His hand sought Tian'ith's, as she took him aside to speak. Everything I need is right here.
"This may lose me some respect, but... He raised an eyebrow over the board, as she peered at him with curiosity. "If there is something I can do, anything. To make these shared moments of ours more enjoyable. You only need ask."
He put on his best charm, letting it ooze, but he knew almost immediately he'd made a mistake. She didn't seem flattered, or interested. More puzzled. "I am not sure what to suggest. We compete, we drink, and it seems now we engage in discourse. An enjoyable distraction."
He stopped. Rethought. This wasn't the time. Bad idea. Back away. After a moment's confusion, he put on his best diplomat's smile, and pretended to examine the gameboard. "If that is all that's to your taste, That's well."
"To my taste...? " He cursed inwardly. He'd hoped he could slide out of the way of this, but something in his words had clearly touched something angry. "Do you take me for one of my sisters? "
Of course. The Sisters. There was resentment there, some scorn of their ways, but he'd never been able to pry it all out of her. Too late now. "No. Never. But -"
He should have stopped at 'never'. She looked genuinely insulted, slamming down her goblet with enough force to rock the table and upset the pieces. She rose to her feet, hand moving to the dagger at her belt. He stood too, as if recognising the need to fight or run - and then... nothing. She stood there, frozen in the moment of action. She looked at him, at the table, the game-board, face rigid with fury. He could see her mind working, trying to find words, but there was nothing. Instead, she warred with herself a moent longer - and marched to the door.
Well, I'm dead. He cursed the him from a few moments ago - what a fool. Playing games with the pride of a woman like this. But at least, there was nothing to lose. The damned can go no lower. "Wait."
She froze in the doorframe, looking back at him, a vision of disgust. He sought for something to say, anything that might make it right... he reached for what he knew, her strange ideas about respect, her adoration for soldiers, her prideful nature, her admiration of boldness, appreciation of the poetic...
He brought it all together in two simple sentences. "It's not laying down my life for you. But it is giving it to you."
Her face twitched, and the fury turned to something like confusion. He didn't blame her. A prideful surge later, and she was gone, the door slammed behind her. He breathed quietly in the silence, feeling the unmistakeable crawl of dread up his back. Of all the stupid things to do, play games with a Matron's daughter - if House Neldarian's people didn't come for him, he'd be flayed alive by his own people for insulting another House, if he was lucky. Where could he go? Flee the city? Live as an exile? The thought sickened him.
But what else is there? he thought, as he poured himself one last drink of the wine. And then another, and another, minutes turning into an hour in silence. Maybe it was worth trying to drink himself to death before someone found him? A cleaner end than he might get otherwise, and there was no fixing it. She'd gone.
But then... then, she came back.
***
"Travel, hm. Maybe." He looked up out of the cave mouth, up at the dwindling stars. "Yes... maybe." His hand sought Tian'ith's, as she took him aside to speak. Everything I need is right here.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
“Scrying, xas. She has been spying on us too. Think of how they knew right when we arrived to open the gates for us. She is watching and listening to us when it pleases.” Ravillion said to the others after they had returned to their quarters.
It was to be expected really that they would be spied upon and watched, but she had learned that some of the others did not seem to understand what should be expected.
Then there was talk of what they were to do after the employ under the Derro ended... Did they wish to stay together? It seemed that way perhaps, and they weren’t without merit. Some thoughts for the future.
It was to be expected really that they would be spied upon and watched, but she had learned that some of the others did not seem to understand what should be expected.
Then there was talk of what they were to do after the employ under the Derro ended... Did they wish to stay together? It seemed that way perhaps, and they weren’t without merit. Some thoughts for the future.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
The team completed another mission, clearing another settlement and returned below to report. Old Rogha was a bit tired of going back and forth that way but for the time being she had to...
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Session 21
Full-posting bonus.
+750xp for Rogha, Zau'lann, Vot, Ravillion, and Tian'ith
+1125xp for Darsin
+1500xp for Miiq
EDIT: Per our discussion today, we'll postpone our EE test until we finish the Aldera campaign.
Full-posting bonus.
+750xp for Rogha, Zau'lann, Vot, Ravillion, and Tian'ith
+1125xp for Darsin
+1500xp for Miiq
EDIT: Per our discussion today, we'll postpone our EE test until we finish the Aldera campaign.