After your triumph against the Dreadlord, you’re taken prisoner by a new foe who’s hell-bent on using your blood to conquer the Realm of Light!
Genre: Fantasy
Role: Writing Lead
See Sample Below
Event: You spin back to the fight and see a serpopard charging toward a confused-looking Imtura, who stands blinking in the center of the ring!
Imtura [ANGRY]: I thought thur was just one ‘a yah…
Imtura [SURPRISED]: How much… did I drink?
Event: She stumbles backward, and you leap across the intervening space to plant yourself between her and the monster!
CHOICE 1 (If you have the staff weapon): I’ll aim for its eyes!
CHOICE 2: I’ll shield Imtura!
CHOICE 3: I’ll punch it as hard as I can!
IF YOU CHOOSE CHOICE 1:
Event: You grip your staff tightly in your hands, waiting until the creature is close enough to jab in the eye!
Event: It rears back, letting out a pained howl!
Serpopard [SURPRISED]: Arrrr!
Raine [ANGRY]: Back off!
Imtura [SURPRISED]: Damn…
IF YOU CHOOSE CHOICE 2:
Event: You dash forward and plant your feet as the beast lopes toward you! The long neck extends, and you catch the sides of its head in your hands!
Event: You allow yourself a satisfied smile for about a second before the serpopard shoves you with its massive feline shoulder, throwing you right into Imtura!
Raine [SURPRISED]: Urrrghh!
Event: The two of you crash to the ground, and Imtura angrily shoves you off her as she staggers to her feet.
Imtura [ANGRY]: Outta my way!
Raine [SURPRISED]: Sorry!
IF YOU CHOOSE CHOICE 3:
Event: You pull back and swing at the beast as hard as you can, hitting it squarely in the windpipe!
Event: Your hand meets its hardened scales with a jarring crack, like hitting a brick wall.
Raine [SURPRISED]: Ow! Ow ow!
Imtura [SURPRISED]: Why’d yah punch it? It’s armored.
Raine [ANGRY]: Gods, I hate this thing!
THE PATH RECONVERGE HERE:
Event: Across the small arena, Tyril lifts a hand, magic sparking at his fingertips.
Mal [ANGRY]: Tyril! Now!
Tyril [ANGRY]: I’m not ready–
Mal [ANGRY]: Do it!
Event: Mal flings a dagger with his usual deadly accuracy. As it sinks into one of the beasts’ backs, it bursts into Light-fueled flames!
Tyril [ANGRY]: Mal, you’re supposed to wait for me to give the signal–
Event: Suddenly, a hulking shape slams into you from behind, throwing you to the ground!
Raine [SURPRISED]: Gahhh!
Event: You manage to roll over just in time to see the serpopard’s fangs bearing down on you!
Serpopard [ANGRY]: Ssshhhkkkk!
Event: You jerk to the side, its fangs sinking into the wooden floor beside you, but then one broad leopard’s paw pins you to the ground!
Raine [SURPRISED]: Nia? A little help?
Nia [SURPRISED]: I’m trying, I’m trying!
Event: A flickering glow surrounds the serpopard, freezing it just as its fangs come within inches of your face! But even then, its weight keeps you trapped!
Raine [SURPRISED]: I’m stuck!
Nia [SURPRISED]: I can’t… unghh… hold it much longer!
Event: Just as the glow starts to fade, Tyril rushes in, cleaving his sword deep into the serpopard’s hide and shoving it off you!
Tyril [ANGRY]: What have I told you about using so much magic at once, Nia?
Event: A yelp from behind you draws your attention back to Imtura, who is bleeding from one arm and still attempting to swing her axe at the largest serpopard!
Imtura [ANGRY]: C’mon…
Event: Her words are slurred as she staggers drunkenly, clinging onto the railing of the ring to keep from falling.
Raine [SURPRISED]: (I have to get her out of here!)
CHOICE 1 (If you have the chain weapon): I should choke the serpopard.
CHOICE 2: Bait it into the wall.
CHOICE 3: Tackle Imtura to the ground.
IF YOU CHOSE CHOICE 1:
Event: You snatch your chain from your waist and swing it over your head!
Raine [ANGRY]: Here kitty kitty…
Event: The monster veers toward you. You wait until the last moment to swing the chain around its neck! It coils against itself with a metallic clink.
Serpopard [SURPRISED]: Grrk!
Event: The serpopard flails, nearly lifting you off your feet, but you manage to move around behind it!
Raine [ANGRY]: Yeah, try to bite me now!
Event: It does, but you pull back on the chain, cutting off its air until the beast collapses on the floor!
IF YOU CHOSE CHOICE 2:
Raine [SURPRISED]: Here kitty kitty… snake… thing.
Event: You wave your hands over your head to get the creature’s attention, then run for the wall! It sprints to follow you, jaws wide and fangs flared!
Serpopard [ANGRY]: GRRROOORRR!
Event: You rush for the wall as fast as you can, waiting until the last moment before flinging yourself out of the way!
Event: The serpopard’s fangs jam into the side of the wall… and stick there!
Serpopard [SURPRISED]: Ssnnkkk!
Raine [HAPPY]: Missed me.
IF YOU CHOSE CHOICE 3:
Event: Panicking, you fling yourself at Imtura, knocking her out of the path of the beast! She hits the ground with a muffled curse.
Imtura [ANGRY]: Sunken hells… What’d yah do tha’ fer?
Raine [ANGRY]: Better knocked over than bitten.
THE PATHS RECONVERGE HERE:
Nia [ANGRY]: There’s just one left. Stay focused.
Tyril: And this one seems quite angry.
Event: Magic flares out from Nia’s hands just as Mal dashes forward! He barely dodges out of the way of the streaking bolts of Light, which the serpopard easily avoids!
Mal [SURPRISED]: Nia, watch where you’re– Ahhhhhh!
Event: The serpopard lunges forward and sinks its fangs into Mal’s arm!
Raine [SURPRISED]: No!
Nia [SURPRISED]: Mal!
Event: Mal topples to the ground, eyes wide as he starts to shake. Nia rushes forward, hands glowing with healing magic, and the serpopard locks its yellow eyes on you.
Serpopard [ANGRY]: Hisssrrrrrrrrrawr!
CHOICE 1 (If you have the alchemical weapon): I have to knock it unconscious!
CHOICE 2: I have to scream at it!
CHOICE 3: I have to jump on its back!
IF YOU CHOSE CHOICE 1:
Event: You pull a bottle from the pouch at your waist and toss it at the serpopard’s feet. It explodes in a cloud of green gas!
Serpopard [SURPRISED]: Hnnnggg…
Event: The beast blinks at you in confusion as it inhales the fumes, its body skidding to a halt before dropping like a stone!
Raine [ANGRY]: Stay down.
IF YOU CHOSE CHOICE 2
Raine [ANGRY]: ARRRRGHHH!
Event: Unimpressed, the creature lunges forward with the force of a battering ram, knocking you across the arena!
Raine [SURPRISED]: Urgh!
Raine [SAD]: Okay. So. That didn’t work.
IF YOU CHOSE CHOICE 3
Event: You run at the wall and push off it to gain momentum. Then you’re flying through the air, directly at the serpopard!
Raine [SURPRISED]: I hope this works!
Event: A heartbeat later you slam into the beast, locking both arms around its neck!
Serpopard [SURPRISED]: Hisss!
Event: You throw your whole weight on top of the creature, smacking its head against the ground hard enough to stun it!
Raine [HAPPY]: That is more like it!
IF YOU DID WELL IN THE FIGHT:
Event: Magic explodes behind you, and you turn to see Tyril, Light-wreathed sword in hand, standing over the final beast!
Raine [SURPRISED]: Is that all of them?
Tyril [ANGRY]: Yes. Though it was more trouble than I expected.
Mal [HAPPY]: Poor elf boy had to get his hands dirty.
Event: The color is slowly returning to Mal’s face. Nia looks breathless and drained in her own way, but you’re just glad to see everyone’s all right.
Event: The crowd erupts into cheers around you, though you hear one or two weary groans from people who’d clearly bet against Imtura.
Patron [HAPPY]: A round of ale for the adventurers! On me!
IF YOU DID POORLY IN THE FIGHT:
Event: Magic explodes behind you. You turn to see Tyril facing down the serpopard, barely keeping it at bay with a Light-wreathed sword in one hand and magic sparking from the other!
Raine [ANGRY]: Why are these things so hard to kill?
Event: Mal wheezes as Nia presses her glowing hands over his venom-filled arm.
Mal [SAD]: Maybe we should be considering our options. Like a strategic retreat!
Event: Before you can agree with him, pain lances through your side as a serpopard tears into you with its claws!
Raine [SURPRISED]: Hrkkk!
Nia [SURPRISED]: Raine!
Event: Nia sends a searing ball of white fire into the monster, giving you enough room to stagger to your feet.
Event: When you touch your torso, your hand comes away bloody, and you nearly collapse onto Mal as he limps over to you.
Mal [ANGRY]: Tyril! Get Imtura! C’mon, kit. I’ve got you.
Event: Shouts of protest rise from the gathered crowd as Tyril drags Imtura to the side of the pit and hoists her up.
Imtura [SURPRISED]: ‘m not dun–
Tyril [ANGRY]: Yes, you are.
Event: Mal helps you out of the arena with a drained-looking Nia stumbling behind, and all of you flee the tavern into the cold night air.