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❄ Quest Accepted! ❄
Baublekin glanced around, his eyes wide and mouth-watering. "Well, isn’t this something? Think I could sneak a quick nibble?"
Santa eyed the cookie walls, trying to estimate how long they’d been there. “I don’t know… they might be a bit stale.”
Chomp!
Santa turned as Baublekin let out a yelp, clutching his jaw. “Yep, very stale.”
“You alright?” Santa smirked.
Baublekin waved off Santa's amusement and pointed ahead, trying to change the subject. "Look," he said, wincing. "There’s only one passage in and one exit out."
Santa chuckled, surveying the path before them. "No forks in the road, no decisions to make. Just one way forward. Easy... or a trap?"
Baublekin shrugged. "Well, at least we won’t get lost."
Santa grinned, though his eyes remained focused. "True, but that means whatever’s waiting for us knows exactly where we’re headed."
Baublekin swallowed hard. "So, no turning back?"
Santa glanced at the magical doorway behind them, now firmly closed, and shook his head. "No turning back. We push forward." He knew he wasn’t about to go back, even if it meant biting down on a thousand stale cookies. S.E.R.G. had said the way to revive his poor friends was somewhere in this forsaken place, and nothing would stop him now.
With that, they stepped forward, their footsteps echoing through the sugary tunnel.
Santa and Baublekin advanced cautiously, their senses on high alert for whatever might be lurking ahead. As they neared the first bend in the path, they both tensed.
“You hear that?” Baublekin whispered.
Santa nodded, his ears picking up a strange scratching sound echoing from around the bend. Something—or someone—was waiting for them.
“Stay behind me,” Santa said, as he carefully peered around the corner.
He squinted in the dim light and spotted a small, quivering figure. His eyes quickly flicked up to the glaring red text hovering above the creature.
[Pip Goblin, Level 1]
The creature looked like a giant chocolate drop with spindly arms, sharp claws, and a mouth full of gnashing teeth. Its beady eyes gleamed as it looked about, searching for what seemed its next victim.
Baublekin leaned in close from behind Santa and whispered, “What is that thing? A chocolate monster?”
Santa squinted at the creature. “Looks like it. But I’m not sure if it’s dangerous or just trying to look scary.”
Baublekin frowned. “Either way, I don’t trust it. But how do we get past it?”
S.E.R.G. had said that this place was a high-level dungeon, and that whatever waited for him at the end of the tunnel was sure to be one hard cookie to crack. Which meant that the two of them would have to gain levels and gain them quick. “I don’t think we can be passive observers in this place.”
“So then, what do we do?”
"We’ll need to find a way to defeat this creature," Santa whispered.
Suddenly, the creature lunged at the wall, slicing through the cookie dungeon's rock-hard, stale surface and effortlessly turning it into large crumbs. It grabbed a chunk, shoved it into its mouth, and chomped down as easily as if it were cotton candy.
Baublekin gulped, staring at the rows of massive sharp teeth. "And… how exactly do we do that?" The elf made a comical wave of his fists. “I don’t think these babies are going to put even a scratch on that thing.”
Santa paused to survey the situation. It quickly became clear that in their current predicament, they needed to be smart.
“I have an idea,” Santa said, kneeling to whispered his plan into Baublekin’s ear.
The elf listened, then nodded with a smirk.
“Got it?” Santa asked. “We just need to wait for an opening.”
Just then, the monster turned around, distracted by a stray cookie crumb on the ground.
“Well, that was lucky,” Baublekin said.
"You ready?" Santa asked.
“Ready!”
It was time for their first test in this strange, sweet chamber.
Raising a hand, Santa turned the bend and called out his voice booming, "Mistletoe, Missile!"
A burst of Christmas energy sliced brilliantly through the dark cave, slamming into the Pip Goblin's back. The force sent the unsuspecting monster tumbling head over heels, wailing as it rolled before crashing into the wall with a painful, jarring halt.
“Now!” Santa called.
Seizing the moment, they sprang into action. Both grabbed large sections of the wall the creature had sliced off, using the stale pieces as makeshift weapons. With only seconds to act, they charged toward the fallen creature.
Santa, using his immense size pinned the creatures’ gnashing teeth to the floor while Baublekin climbed on top.
“Hit it there!” Baublekin called out, spotting a small crack that had formed in the creature's chocolate coating. Santa lifted the large, jagged cookie crumb and slammed it into the stunned creature with all his might. As soon as his blow landed, Baublekin struck as well.
As the duo continued their relentless onslaught, the Pip Goblin let out a pitiful moan, flailing helplessly. It struggled to turn itself over, but with Santa’s weight trapping it, there was little the goblin could do to defend itself.
Then, after Baublekin delivered a particularly well-placed strike, the sound of splitting chocolate echoed around them. The goblin let out one final shriek before crumbling into a pile of deliciousness.
“Good job!” Santa said as they both discarded their crumbling, makeshift weapons.
Suddenly a triumphant flash of light washed over Santa and Baublekin.
[+200 EXP]
[Level Up! You are now Level 2]
[Santa has gained the Skill: Sleigh Bell Sonar (Passive)]
Santa couldn’t help but grin, a swelling sense of pride filling him as he looked at the floating text. With the level up he felt a jingle of energy coursing through his limbs, as if his body had become slightly lighter, his movements a tad more fluid, and even his mind a touch sharper.
Baublekin’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the notification. “Well, would you look at that. You’ve levelled up, Santa! Whatever that means…”
Santa chuckled, flexing his fingers as if testing his newfound strength, but he quickly noticed the confusion on Baublekin’s face. “One of the younger elves, Twixy, developed a magical system to help me get stronger,” Santa explained.
“Get stronger? Because you lost your Christmas magic?” Baublekin asked.
Santa nodded, then sighed deeply. “Yes, my old friend. Not only that, but I have a very important quest to fulfill, and to complete it, I’ll need to regain my strength.”
Baublekin studied Santa’s face, seeing the sincerity in his words. With a nod of trust, he asked, “So, what now? Seems like you’ve got a fancy new skill as well.”
"Well, let's see," he mused aloud. "Last time, S.E.R.G. did this fancy dance through some digital menus. Maybe there's a hidden nugget of wisdom here somewhere."
With a confident yet slightly exaggerated flourish, Santa mimicked the motions he remembered from S.E.R.G., hoping to stumble upon some valuable information, or at least not accidentally order a hundred pounds of reindeer feed online.
Suddenly a menu flashed before him. “Ah here we go!”
Navigating the user interface with a mix of determination and the occasional muttered complaint about modern technology, Santa eventually located his stat sheet. His fingers, more accustomed to reins and wrapping gifts, danced over the selections until the sheet unfolded before his eyes, revealing his basic stats in a glow of digital light.
🎅Santa: Festive Enchanter - level 2
STM: 8
INT: 8
WIS: 10
STR: 7
AGI: 2
CHR: 10
Spells:
Mistletoe Missile - Rank 10 (Max)
Skills:
Roar of the Northern Winds
Passives: 2
Santa peered intently at the digital display.
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"Well, would you look at this," he said. "No new spells, but I've got something here called 'Sleigh Bell Sonar,’” he said as he began to read the spells description. “It’s like having Rudolph’s nose, but for directions!"
Baublekin, who had been scrutinizing a nearby wall of the dungeon, turned towards Santa with an intrigued raise of his eyebrow. "Sleigh Bell Sonar? Sounds quite useful. What does it do?"
Santa’s smile widened as he read off the description.
🪄 Sleigh Bell Sonar (Passive)
Level Requirement: 2
Class Requirement: Festive Enchanter
Description: Harnessing the enchanting sounds of Christmas, this passive ability allows Santa to perceive his surroundings with incredible clarity. Sleigh Bell Sonar uses the gentle jingles of sleigh bells to map out the environment, creating an intuitive and detailed mental map.
Effect:
Environmental Awareness: Santa gains an enhanced sense of his surroundings, allowing him to navigate effortlessly through even the most complex environments, like winding dungeons or crowded workshops.
Path Memory: Automatically records and displays the paths travelled, ensuring Santa never loses his way, no matter how twisted the route.
Hidden Discovery: Subtly alerts Santa to nearby points of interest, hidden paths, or treasures, making exploration both efficient and rewarding.
Activate? [ Yes / no ]
Cooldown: None (Constant effect)
Special Note: This ability grows stronger in regions infused with the spirit of Christmas. In areas where the festive spirit is weak or absent, its effectiveness may be reduced.
“It’s like having Rudolph’s nose, but for directions!"
“Ensuring Santa never loses his way, no matter how twisted the route,” Santa read aloud as he pressed a button labelled ‘activate’. “Oh, look at that—a miniature map just popped up.”
Baublekin glanced around in confusion. “A what? Where?”
Santa pointed to the corner of his vision. “A map. Right there.”
Baublekin squinted but shook his head. “I don’t see nuffin.”
Santa’s brow furrowed for a moment. “I guess only I can see it.”
“And what does it show?”
“Everywhere we’ve been so far,” said Santa.
Baublekin looked back from where they had come. The vast expanse of the journey so far had been one corridor and one bend. Not exactly a grand adventure. “Handy… I guess, but with only one path, I doubt we’ll get lost. This place seems pretty straightforward.”
“Don’t count your presents before they’re under the tree,” Santa replied. “We have no idea what this place will be like deeper in.”
“True enough,” Baublekin agreed. “But at least if it does get all twisty and confusing, we’ve got a way to stay on track now.”
Santa nodded. “Between your knack for tinkering and my new Sonar, we might just be the most formidable duo this dungeon has ever seen.”
Baublekin chuckled. "Well, if things do get confusing, let’s hope your Sonar also shows us the quickest way out. After all this adventure, I’m really looking forward to a steaming cup of hot cocoa."
“No!” Santa blurted out, startling Baublekin, who stared at him in surprise. Santa quickly straightened himself, trying to regain composure. "Ah… Perhaps a mince pie or two to go along with it," Santa said with a nervous chuckle.
Baublekin studied Santa’s face, but Santa kept his eyes averted, trying to hide the uncertainty he felt.
Clearing his throat, Santa pushed forward. “Let’s keep going—Christmas waits for no one.” He started down the tunnel, hearing Baublekin’s hesitant footsteps following in silence.
As they walked, Santa shifted his focus to the miniature map.
“Heh,” Santa thought, amused by the irony. “Would’ve been nice to have this back on Christmas Eve deliveries.” The idea of a magical GPS simplifying his global journey brought a brief smile to his face.
But the smile quickly faded as red text flashed before his eyes, snapping him back to the present.
[Pip Goblin, Level 1]
[Pip Goblin, Level 1]
This time, two Pip Goblins stood guard over a mound of crumbled cookie crumbs, fiercely bickering over a large piece of cookie. Their sharp claws tugged at it, their voices a mix of grunts and hisses as they fought over the tasty spoils.
“This is going to be tricky,” said Baublekin.
The two exchanged a quick, glance. This fight would require even more grit.
“I’ll take that one,” said Santa.
Positioning themselves carefully, they nodded to each other. Santa raised his hand, preparing to cast his spell, while Baublekin crouched low, ready to spring into action.
“Mistletoe Missile!” Santa’s voice echoed through the cavern; the magical words enhanced with his increase level. The missile struck the first Pip Goblin squarely in the back with a force that sent it staggering forward. Crumbs and chocolate chips exploded from the impact, but the goblin didn’t crumble easily. Instead, it spun around, its beady eyes narrowing with rage.
Before the goblin could retaliate, the duo charged in. Santa grabbed a new, larger piece of cookie debris and, with all his strength, swung it at the nearest goblin. The impact reverberated through his arms, and the goblin shrieked as a crack zigzagged down its side.
Meanwhile, the second Pip Goblin turned its attention to Baublekin, but the elf was quick.
The nimble toymaker bobbed and weaved, dogging deadly swipes from left and right. Lunging he reached for one of the fallen crumbs. A sharp claw grazed his shoulder, sending him sprawling to the ground with a pained grunt. But Baublekin wasn’t one to give up easily. Gritting his teeth, he gripped his new weapon and swung it as hard as he could into the goblin’s thin leg.
Crunch!
The blow shattered its leg and sent the goblin sideways.
Santa, seeing Baublekin’s struggle, swung his own makeshift weapon, this time with even more force.
Crack!
The shell under Santa shattered. “Now, Baublekin!” Santa shouted.
Baublekin sprang to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in his shoulder, and rushed to Santa’s side. Together, they delivered a final, crushing blow to the first goblin, shattering it into a pile of crumbs and chocolate dust.
[+180 EXP]
But there was no time to celebrate. The second goblin, now furious, clawed its way toward them with a wild screech. It picked up a fallen cookie boulder and hurled it at them. Santa barely had time to react as the boulder slammed into him, knocking him backward. Despite missing a leg, the remaining goblin scurried surprisingly fast toward them. In an instant, Santa felt a sharp sting as the goblin’s claws raked across his side. Fighting through the pain, he quickly grabbed another piece of debris and smashed it against the goblin’s head.
Baublekin, seeing Santa in trouble, leaped onto the goblin’s back, using his small size to his advantage. With fierce precision, he jabbed at the goblin’s cracked shell, each strike weakening it further. The goblin flailed, trying to shake Baublekin off, but the elf held on, refusing to let go.
With one final, mighty swing, Santa brought his weapon down on the goblin’s head, and Baublekin delivered a simultaneous blow to its back. The goblin let out a final, piercing shriek before disintegrating into a pile of sweet detritus.
[+180 EXP]
Breathless and bruised, Santa and Baublekin exchanged a weary but triumphant look. They had won, but it hadn’t been easy, and this was only their second encounter in the dungeon.
As they lay panting, the reality of their situation settled in—each battle would likely be tougher than the last. But regardless, they would have to press on, knowing the challenges ahead would only grow more difficult.
“Well done, my lad,” Santa said.
As their breathing calmed, the duo steeled themselves to delve deeper into the dungeon's sugary depths. But before Santa could sit up, Baublekin let out an excited squeak. “A present!”
“A what?”
Santa watched with a broad smile as Baublekin, despite his exhaustion, dashed ahead with surprising agility for his age. His little legs carried him swiftly to the glittering object left behind by the vanquished Pip Goblin. The elf’s shout of recognition echoed through the cookie corridors, filled with a mix of nostalgia and triumph.
“How on earth did this get here? It’s one of mine!” Baublekin said as he plucked the item from the remnants of the chocolate foe, his voice ringing with a sense of wonder.
Santa couldn’t help but chuckle at the elf’s excitement. “Well, it looks like we’re not just gaining experience points—we’re finding old treasures too.”
[Baublekin has looted: Toy Cork Gun]
He held it aloft like a trophy, his face alight with the joy of a creator reunited with his craft.
In Baublekin’s hands was a toy cork gun, a marvel of the elf's own making from a time long past. It was a beautiful thing, whimsically deadly—the barrel a perfect cylinder, the handle carved with intricate swirls, painted in vibrant reds and blues that seemed to defy the age of its creation. The varnish Baublekin had applied so meticulously in a bygone era still shone under the luminescent glow of the dungeon.
As Santa moved closer, he spotted the familiar glow that hinted the system had more to say on Baublekin’s new gift. So, without hesitation he pressed the glowing cluster of pixels and the description flickered into reality.
Weapon: Toy Cork Gun (Rare)
Damage: 0 - 4
Type: Ranged
Description:
This cork gun, a whimsical yet formidable weapon. While it appears as a simple toy, it can be masterfully adapted for combat. The gun features a unique reloading mechanism with a long string threaded through the barrel, allowing for quick reloads via a pull mechanism in the handle. Designed to fit comfortably in both a child's and an elf's hand, its true potential is unlocked in the hands of its creator.
Material: Enchanted Wood, Vintage Cork, Durable Magic String, lead paint
Length: 10 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
Crafted by: Baublekin
With a deft flick of his wrist, Baublekin tested the cork gun.
Pop!
The cork bullet darted out and struck the side of the wall with a surprising amount of force, only to be retrieved by the string it was attached to. Santa clapped his hands in delight as Baublekin handled the weapon with the expert grace of a toymaker, his eyes shining with a battle-ready gleam.
"Now that’s a fine piece of craftsmanship," Santa muses aloud, his gaze admired the weapon. "It seems you've been keeping quite the secret talent from the world, my friend."
Baublekin gave a modest shrug, a wistful smile playing on his lips. “Just one of the many toys I've forged over the centuries, Santa. This one was always a personal favourite.”
The elf tucked the cork gun into his belt, his stance now far more confident. With Santa's magical prowess and Baublekin's newfound armament, they felt a growing sense of strength.
Together, the pair continued their journey through the dungeon, each step bringing new challenges, but also the opportunity to reclaim lost pieces of themselves they hadn't even realized were missing.
The dungeon's cookie-scented air was thick with anticipation as Santa and Baublekin rounded the next bend.
[Pip Goblin, Level 1]
[Pip Goblin, Level 1]
[Pip Goblin, Level 1]
As if the dungeon itself were upping the challenge, three Pip Goblins now stood in their path. Each one hunched over, their beady eyes glinting with mischief and a hunger for battle.
“Time to test this thing out,” Baublekin said, stepping forward with a determined glint in his eyes.
Santa raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure this is the right time to test it out? There is three of them.”
Baublekin rolled his eyes. “I can count, Santa,” he said with a smirk. “Oh, ye of little faith.” He patted the barrel of his toy gun. “I have full confidence in this bad boy.”
Santa nodded, though he remained cautious. “Alright, but if I see you’re in any trouble, I’ll step in.” He mimicked swatting a goblin with a large stale crumb in his mitten.
Baublekin chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. Just watch and learn.”
The elder elf squared his shoulders and readied the cork gun. His fingers danced over the polished wood with practiced ease, his movements a silent ballet. He aimed with the precision of a master toymaker who had spent lifetimes perfecting the craft of play.
"Watch this, Santa," Baublekin whispered, his voice as steady as a calm winter's night.
With a flick of his finger, the cork went pop! It shot from the barrel, hurtling through the air in a blur.
Thwack!
The cork slammed into the closest Pip Goblin, hitting it squarely in the forehead, cracking its shell, and continuing straight through the creature before bouncing off the wall behind it.
Santa’s eyes widened. “What in the jingle bells?”
The unfortunate creature stumbled backward, crying out in surprise as the cork returned through the newly created hole in its head and returned to the barrel on its tether. The goblin stumbled and fell to the floor in a crumble of chocolate dust.
[+180 EXP]
Before the other creatures could respond, Baublekin fired at a new target. The cork instantly made contact, and the second foe followed the first in a tumble of confusion and cocoa.
[+180 EXP]
Santa couldn’t contain his mirth—a deep, hearty chuckle filled the chamber. “Elf craftsmanship is truly the best.”
As the cork returned to the toy, Baublekin spun the pistol in his grip like an old Western cowboy. “And don’t you forget it.”
The final Pip Goblin, seeing the two piles of chocolate that had once been its allies, began to panic. It spun around, ready to flee, when Santa’s hand shot up, shimmering with energy.
“Mistletoe, Missile!” he called out. The spell shot forth, striking the retreating creature in the back and stopping it in its tracks. The goblin yelped as the magical force sent it spiralling into the nearby wall, where Baublekin quickly fired a final cork, finishing off the monster.
[+180 EXP]
“You know what? I think I’m getting the hang of this whole dungeoneering thing,” Baublekin said, a grin spreading across his face.
“And it seems like us old boys can still learn new tricks,” Santa replied with a smile, his eyes twinkling with the thrill of adventure.
“Not to mention that this baby still packs a punch,” Baublekin added, twirling the cork gun before holstering it with a satisfied nod.
Santa actioned for them to continue. “Shall we?”
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