Isabelle and Tahsi looked at Sir Jingles, who stood before the looming maw of the young red dragon. His fur was puffed out, he looked terrified, but he didn’t run away. The dragon craned its head, and its pupils shrunk to slits.
“Oh yea? You think you’re so big and intimidating, huh?” said Sir Jingles. “Well, watch this!”
[Sir Jingles Special Ability Transmute to Mega Puma Activated]
Isabelle watched as Sir Jingles’ skin started to seemingly bubble under its furry surface. His two eyes slid further apart on his face as a third eye grew out in the middle. His spindly arms and legs grew toned and muscular, and his cute little mouth and nose became large and imposing. By the time Sir Jingles had fully transformed into the Mega Puma, he had quadrupled in size. Interestingly enough, his fanciful clothing shaped to fit his new body perfectly, giving Sir Jingles’ version of a Mega Puma a bit of a refined edge.
“Hey, this isn’t bad!” said Sir Jingles in a deep, intimidating puma voice. He sheathed and unsheated his huge claws a few times. “Yea, not bad at all.”
The young red dragon looked down at Sir Jingles and snorted lightly, shooting small puffs of smoke out of its nostrils.
“Oh yea?” said Sir Jingles. “Well, I’ve got nostrils too. See?” Sir Jingles huffed and puffed out his nostrils as loud as possible up in the direction of the dragon.
“Stop provoking it, Jingles,” said Tahsi. “You’re going to make the dragon angry.”
“Stop provoking it? Tahsi, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” said Sir Jingles. “It’s not like this damn giant winged kobol—er, giant winged lizard has any real agency. I assure you, if this thing has an int score, it’s got to be about a two at best. Seriously! It’s all hot air up there in that thing’s noggin. It probably can’t even get angry.”
With a loud, horrible slam that shook the ground the young red dragon’s jaws closed down on Sir Jingles.
[Sir Jingles -15 hp]
[Sir Jingles is stunned]
The young red dragon craned its neck back upright, and then before Isabelle or Tashi could really react it rose back into the air, beating the air down with strong whips of its wings and swift cracks of its tail.
“Holy shit,” said Tahsi. “So much for Sir Jingles.”
“Now, Tahsi, the system didn’t say he’s dead. Just that he’s stunned,” said Isabelle.
“He’s in the jaws of a fucking dragon!” said Tahsi. “He’s as good as dead!”
“Only if we fail to take the dragon down,” said Isabelle. She checked her mana.
[Mana 89%]
“I could probably muster to shoot some lightning in the dragon’s direction. That’ll have to pack some sort of a punch,” said Isabelle. She raised her hands, preparing to cast.
“Isabelle, if you electrocute the dragon, won’t that hit Sir Jingles too?” asked Tahsi.
“Fuck,” said Isabelle. “We need something else. Maybe some other weapon.”
“I don’t know why you’re telling me this, Isabelle, I don’t have shit,” said Tahsi. “Unless you wanna throw some of my bread at it or something, I mean. Which, of course, I would not endorse, because it would be incredibly wasteful.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. Tahsi’s personality could be a little much sometimes. Especially when the subject of his bread came up. However, she also had an idea. Isabelle’s int and wis traits must’ve been working overtime recently.
[Clarification: Your int and wis, while improved by the score points in your char sheet, are also informed by your normal and magic ability levels. This means that, as your wis and int improve, and your ability leves improve, the abilities with the highest levels in your character sheet will benefit the most from your increased int, allowing you to be more successful and creative with them.]
Fair enough, Isabelle figured. She walked over to the burlap sack hanging off the side of Lugano the horse, who was cowering beside Doug the horse and Stefano the horse.
“Hey, Stelas,” Isabelle said to the severed head contained in the burlap sack. “Do you have anything in your inventory that could take out a dragon.”
“Fuck if I know,” said Stelas. “Hell, fuck if I care. It’s not like I’m going to die from this situation. Dragon shmagon, I say. Why, I’m just waiting for the day when my body thaws out of its icy prison, the day where I can finally send it to come get you and your party of idiots and once again bring you all to your knees by the power of my mighty arrows! Oh, and I won’t make the same mistakes I made last time, oh no, no, no. I’ll use one of my many enchanted crossbows, not just some silly longbow! And I won’t use my stupid standard arrows, I’ll use my extra powerful enchanted arrows! Yes, I’ll use all these wonderful items I own, and you will have no chance at defeating me!”
“Wow, thanks for telling me about all that stuff in your inventory, Stelas. It was really helpful, because otherwise I would’ve had to dig through everything you own to find them. Now I can just focus on them and the system will show them to me first when I loot you,” said Isabelle. She then untied the top of the burlap sack so she could focus on the top of Stelas’ head. His hair still looked brilliant, silky, and bright white.
[Loot ‘Stelas Stelford’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
Inventory: Stelas Stelford
Carrying Capacity: 82/100
Item
Traits
Hunter’s Crossbow of Chills (enchanted)
+3 frost damage, +7 damage, +2 dx, +4 carry weight
Hunter’s Crossbow of Flames (enchanted)
+3 fire damage, +7 damage, +2 dx, +4 carry weight
Hunter’s Crossbow of Electrocution (enchanted)
+3 electrocution damage, +7 damage, +2 dx, +4 carry weight
Arrows of Burning x30 (enchanted)
+2 fire damage, +1 damage
Arrows of Electrocution x30 (enchanted)
+2 electrocution damage, +1 damage
Arrows of Chills x30 (enchanted)
+2 frost damage, +1 damage
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
Well, Isabelle wanted everything, as usual. However, she had a feeling the arrows and crossbow of burning weren’t going to be super useful, and the arrows and crossbow of electrocution would be sure to do a lot of damage to Sir Jingles. Worse still, she knew she only had two carry weight left in her own inventory, and all of these crossbows weighed four carry weight! Then again, there was a reason Isabelle was lugging Stela’s head around everywhere. What could she put in Stelas’ inventory for safekeeping? Isabelle opened her inventory to look.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 89/91
Item
Traits
Cloud Reach Guard Helmet (human)
+2 hp, +1 str, +4.5 carry weight
Noble Robes
+6 char, +2 carry weight
Noble Boots
+4 dx, +4 carry weight
Necklace of Greater Speechcraft
+10 speechcraft, +0.5 carry weight
Map of Prison grounds
+ 0.5 carry weight
Steel Gloves
+1 str, +3 damage, +1 carry weight
Idlungie x2
+0.5 carry weight
Butter Tongue x5
+1 hp, +0.5 carry weight
Toadblossom x30
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
+0.1 carry weight
Daggerbud Berries x18
+3 poison, +2 stun, +0.1 carry weight
Giant Spider Boots
+4 stm, +2 str, +1 dx, +5 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
Okay, Isabelle wasn’t giving Stelas many of these things, a lot of them were far too good for him to have in his inventory, even for a second. Even with his severed head in her keep and his body hopefully still frozen stolid, Isabelle didn’t necessarily trust him. Isabelle figured she’d only really need three carry weight cleared out, so she focused on what items would get her there quickly. Isabelle technically only needed two carry weight, but she didn’t want to be completely at carry capacity because Isabelle wasn’t certain whether having full capacity wouldn’t leave her over encumbered. Isabelle figured she could give up four of her Butter Tongue for two carry weight, and then hand off those steel gloves in her inventory to Stelas for another one carry weight.
[Give Butter Tongue x4 and Steel Gloves to ‘Stelas Stelford’?]
Isabelle thought yes.
[Butter Tongue x4 removed from inventory]
[Steel Gloves removed from inventory]
Perfect. Isabelle then went in to Stelas’ inventory and took the hunter’s crossbow of chills and the arrows of chills.
Inventory: Stelas Stelford
Carrying Capacity: 81/100
Item
Traits
Hunter’s Crossbow of Flames (enchanted)
+3 fire damage, +7 damage, +2 dx, +4 carry weight
Hunter’s Crossbow of Electrocution (enchanted)
+3 electrocution damage, +7 damage, +2 dx, +4 carry weight
Arrows of Burning x30 (enchanted)
+2 fire damage, +1 damage
Arrows of Electrocution x30 (enchanted)
+2 electrocution damage, +1 damage
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
And she equipped them
[Hunter’s Crossbow of Chills (enchanted) equipped]
[Arrows of Chills x30 (enchanted) equipped]
Isabelle drew an arrow and aimed it up at the circling dragon, finidng aiming towards it almost impossible.
“Uh, Isabelle? Would you rather I do it?” asked Tahsi.
“No!” said Isabelle. “I’ll never get better if I don’t try!”
“Okay,” said Tahsi. “I just asked because one of our party members’ lives is on the line right now… as are all of our lives… and deciding on an ego stroke instead of focusing on the most prudent decision is very selfish. But, you know, you do you. I’ll just stand here and eat some bread. Who am I to say what we should and shouldn’t do, you know? Who am I?”
Isabelle almost dry heaved from how absolutely irritating Tahsi was being at this moment. Here he was going on about self-centeredness when all he could ever talk about were bread and his own feelings, and what’s worse, Tahsi had actualy distracted her from aiming at the dragon! And he thought she was selfish.
Isabelle tried again to focus on the dragon, but it keep swooping and circling and doing barrel rolls through the air. What a show off of a dragon.
[Notice: use stamina for extra battle focus?]
[Y/N]
Isabelle thought yes.
[Extra focus activated]
[Stamina 90%]
Isabelle watched as time slowed down. She noticed that even the billowing smoke from the burning buildings of Wheatstar in the distance slowed to rhythmic licks. It was strangely mesmerizing. Isabelle could see the dragon clearly now instead of a dragon-shaped blur, and if she really focused, she could judge the trajectory of her arrows.
[Stamina 66%]
Finally assured of her aim, Isabelle released her arrow and fired.
[Critical hit]
Isabelle watched as the dragon’s red skin was illuminated in a light blue glow momentarily.
[455 damage dealt]
[634 frost damage dealt]
[Archery increased to level 6]
[Stamina 59%]
“Fuck yes! Fuck yes! Did you see that, Tahsi?” Isabelle turned to look at the kobold, who was stuffing his face with bread. “I just got a fucking crit hit on that bastard!”
“Nice job,” said Tahsi through a gluten-filled mouthful. “I’m really proud of you, Isabelle. Maybe I misjudged you.”
Isabelle was immediately irritated. Why was Tahsi always so good-natured? It was near unbearable. No matter, Isabelle needed to fire another arrow. The dragon was apparantly preparing to swoop down towards them, and Isabelle hoped that if she did some more damage to it then maybe that wouldn’t happen.
Isabelle readied another arrow. Since the dragon was reeling itself up but generally staying in the same place, Isabelle decided to try and hit it without using extra stamina. Finally assured of a good shot to the dragon’s chest, Isabelle fired.
[176 damage dealt]
[245 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 57%]
That only used up a little bit of stamina! Isabelle needed to hurry up and keep firing before the dragon swooped down and attacked.
[Attack missed]
[Stamina 54%]
“Fuck!” said Isabelle.
[135 damage dealt]
[202 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 50%]
[151 damage dealt]
[193 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 47%]
[Attack missed]
[Stamina 44%]
“God damnit!” said Isabelle.
[182 damage dealt]
[219 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 41%]
[135 damage dealt]
[202 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 38%]
[Attack missed]
[Stamina 34%]
“Jesus Christ!” said Isabelle.
“Who?” said Tahsi.
[142 damage dealt]
[201 frost damage dealt]
[Stamina 30%]
The dragon seemed to be shaking off this damage like it was nothing. Worse still, it started swooping down right in her directing. Isabelle dashed backward and then to the left.
[Stamina 25%]
The dragon landed with a smash, sending cracks shooting through the dirt and pebbles shooting into the air. It thwapped its tail against the ground, sending chunks of dirt soaring through the air, one of which knocked Tahsi’s bread out of his claw.
“My bread!” said Tahsi. “My beautiful bread!” Isabelle saw a single tear roll down his cheek.
The dragon folded its wings up and slowly opened its mouth. It started taking a deep, powerful breath, and the powerful vacuum of its suction started pulling Isabelle and Tahsi towards its jaws.
“Fuck! What the fuck is happening?” said Isabelle.
“Are you talking about the physics of air pressure and how creating a vacuum affects that?” asked Tahsi.
Isabelle rolled her eyes. Then she realized that instead of fighting the dragon’s pull, she could use it as an advantage. Isabelle decided she was close enough to this dragon to try something absolutely crazy and stacked three arrows into the crossbow, aimed right at the small spot of open mouth the dragon was leaving vulnerable, and fired.
[Crossbow of Chills (enchanted) is broken]
[Arrows of Chills x3 are broken]
All of the weaponry shattered to bits in Isabelle’s hands.
“Shit! I thought that would work!” said Isabelle.
The dragon stopped sucking in air and opened its mouth wide. Isabelle was flung backwards by the sudden loss of vacuum pressure, slamming into the ground. She clambered to her feet to see a small ball of flame building up the far back of the dragon’s throat.
“Shit!” Isabelle said. She looked to see Tahsi, laying on one knee and sobbing at the sight of his dirt-covered bread loaf. “Tahsi, we’ve got to fucking run!”
Tahsi did not respond. Isabelle looked up and saw the fire building and building in the dragon’s throat. Isabelle rolled her eyes and dashed towards Tahsi, pushing him and herself rolling onto the ground and out of the way.
[Stamina 48%]
In a flurry and a blast, fire shout out of the dragon’s mouth and singed the ground below. The tall, grassy plains melted and wilted under its burning power. Isabelle could feel the heat, but thankfully she and Tahsi had gotten out of its direct line of fire. The fire breath puffed out, leaving small dots of flame and embers over the ground it had hit. Isabelle pulled herself up and huffed. Tahsi did the same.
“That hurt, Isabelle,” said Tahsi.
“Tahsi, you absolute ass!” said Isabelle. “That dragon almost burned both of us to a crisp! I saved your life!”
“You saved your own life, Isabelle,” said Tahsi. “I’m fire resistant.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Rub it in, why don’t you? I was just trying to help—”
[Young Red Dragon is confused]
A deafening roar shook the world as the dragon cried and shook its head back and forth and slammed it against the ground over and over again.
[35 damage dealt]
[44 damage dealt]
[41 damage dealt]
[33 damage dealt]
[40 damage dealt]
“Oh my gods!” said Tahsi as he struggled not to tumble to the ground. “What’s happening?”
“It’s confused!” said Isabelle.
[38 damage dealt]
[32 damage dealt]
[43 damage dealt]
The dragon started huffing. But this was different than when it was preparing to breath fire at them. It huffed, and huffed, and which a ground-quaking boom it sneezes out sparkles of smoke and flame as globs of blue dragon mucus sprayed across the land. Some of it battered Isabelle and Tahsi, sending them both stumbling to their knees.
[-2 hp]
[Tahsi -2 hp]
“Fuck’s sake, this is nasty,” said Isabelle, scraping dragon snot off her body.
“I’ll say!” said Sir Jingles.
Isabelle and Tahsi’s jaws dropped as their party member, still in his mega-puma form, emerged from a sticky ball of mucus with gasps for air.
“Well, that was some shit. I definitely never thought I’d get that familiar with a dragon’s sinuses, but hey, at least I’m alive!” said Sir Jingles. “That dragon is confused as hell, now. It just keeps whacking itself against the ground. How awesome is that? If only it could breath fire on itself, eh?” He smiled. “I dribbled my saliva all over its insides, too, so I don’t think it’ll become un-confused any time soon.” Sir Jingles winked.
Isabelle winced and dry heaved. Tahsi walked over to Sir Jingles, gave him a big hug, and forced him to eat some bread. Isabelle turned her focus to the dragon. Sure, it was ramming its head against the ground, but that didn’t mean it didn’t need to be finished off.
Isabelle considered her options for attacking the dragon. The horses had understandably run off sometime recently, and Isabelle didn’t want to call them back to the battleground with the dragon alive, so she’d have to do something that didn’t involve using any more of Stelas’ crossbows. Isabelle was, truly, sick of arrows at the moment. Maybe it was time for some more magic. Actually, she could use her lightning spell on the dragon now that Sir Jingles wasn’t inside it.
Isabelle cracked her neck and walked towards the dragon. She still had all her nice mana improving items equipped, so all Isabelle had to do was raise her hands at the dragon and think ‘Cast Shoot Lightning,’ concentrating on powering up the electricity with a decent bit of extra mana without spending it all up.
[Mana 65%]
Lightning crackled and splattered out of Isabelle’s hands and rattled over the dragon’s scales, sending some of them shooting off in wild directions as it charged and surged through the beast’s body.
[Critical hit]
[3045 damage dealt]
[1021 electrocution damage dealt]
Isabelle took a deep breath and watched as the dragon tried to fight back against her, but only kicked up dirt around her and shot poofs of flame at the sky. It wailed in agony. For a second, Isabelle almost felt bad for the creature.
But only for a second. She looked to the smoldering remains of rural buildings in the distance. Isabelle had to put this thing down before it did any more damage. She opened her inventory.
Inventory: Isabelle
Carrying capacity: 89/91
Item
Traits
Flask of Whiskey
n/a
Steel Longsword
+5 str, +5 damage, +8 carry weight
Abbreviated list based on prior use. Focus to see more items…
[Flask of Whiskey drunken]
[You are drunk]
[+5 char]
[+3 str]
[-2 int]
[-1 wis]
[Steel Longsword equipped]
[+5 str]
[+5 damage]
Isabelle was feeling good now. She raised her longsword and dashed around the flailing neck of the dragon, slashing and swiping at it over at over again for a total of six times.
[Critical hit]
[10251 damage dealt]
Isabelle gasped as the dragon’s gargantuan neck split open in many different spots, shooting showers of blood into the air.
[‘Young Red Dragon’ is dead]
The dragon’s neck slumped and slid off the remaining stump at is torso. The beast’s body went limp as its neck and head slammed into the ground like a felled tree and rolled off to the side, coating the dirt in bloodshed. Isabelle felt exhilarated. And powerful, too.
[Combat mode deactivated]
[Achievement Unlocked: Encounter a dragon]
[Achievement Unlocked: Slay a dragon]
[Achievement Unlocked: Slay a young red dragon]
[Achievement Unlocked: Behead a dragon]
[Armed combat increased to level 7]
[Archery increased to level 7]
[Destroy increased to level 6]
[Notice: You’re ready to level up]
Damn right Isabelle was ready to level up. Then again, there might’ve been something even more interesting that she could do at this moment. Isabelle focused on the enormous dead dragon carcass lying in front of her.
[Loot ‘Young Red Dragon’?]
Isabelle thought yes.