#hardygal writes original content

Artwork commissioned from @tlking-heads(commission info) - thank you so much, I love him! :D

HardyGal’s DnD Experiences (Roughly) Retold

Session 3: First Blood

yes i know thats the name of a just roll with it: riptide episode but shush it was the first damned title that came to mind

WARNING: dammit i killed a man by accident wtf

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Fredrick threw himself at the orc, attempting to restrain him in a tight bearhug. Despite the goliath’s superior height, though, the orc slammed his elbow back against Fredrick’s head and wrenched himself out of his grasp. Queenie was quick to swipe at the orc with her greataxe, easily grabbing his attention while Fredrick stumbled back, looking more frustrated than hurt.

“Shit!” Fredrick glanced back at Gossamer. “Help me pin him down!”

For a moment, Gossamer could only stare up at Fredrick incredulously. His eyes then flicked back towards the orc, who was still engaged in combat with the raging Queenie. The orc was clearly worn out from his previous battle, perhaps even on his last legs, yet he met the tiefling’s attacks with no less fire and zeal.

Gods, just what the hell was Fredrick expecting him to do…?!

Sure, the orc was a bit shorter than the absolute tower that was Fredrick, but meant nothing when the orc was still nearly two and a half feet taller than Gossamer. And that wasn’t even considering the fact that Gossamer was a damned stick compared to literally everyone else in the group, including Queenie, and she was was somehow shorter than him!

“Gossamer, help me out here!” Fredrick shouted.

“All right…!” Uncertain, dubious, but not knowing what else to do, Gossamer rushed forward.

There was no way in hell he would be able to tackle the orc. Even if he had the height, he certainly didn’t have the strength, and Gossamer was not so stupid as to think he could pull something like that off. His best bet was to stagger the orc and give an opening for Fredrick to try and restrain him again.

Brandishing the shortsword that Vyalda had given him, Gossamer darted right past the distracted orc, slashing at the back of his knee. The orc let out a slightly gurgling roar. Without breaking momentum, Gossamer spun around and prepared to stab his dagger into the other leg, just in time to see the orc collapse.

The impact of the orc’s massive body kicked up a poof of dust from the bloodstained grass. For another millisecond, orc’s eyes still burned with an anger and defiance to rival Queenie’s, and then that light was gone. The orc simply lay there, unmoving, unseeing, and a bit more than simply staggered.

‘Wait a second…’ Gossamer stared down at the massive body(!?). ‘Wait a second…’

“Hey, good job, Gossamer,” Queenie said, sounding a little breathless.

‘Wait, I didn’t… That wasn’t…’

“Someone is coming out of the cave…!” Vyalda exclaimed suddenly.

That didn’t sound good. Gossamer could hear Fredrick’s heavy footfalls fade into the forest, see Queenie and Vyalda rush past his peripheral vision. He was aware of all of this, but it was all a little faded and fuzzy, like a bad alcohol buzz. Yet by some miracle, Gossamer was able to put one foot in front of the other, though it felt like it took an eternity of effort, and he swiftly stumbled past the body and into the shadows of the trees.

As soon as Gossamer met the rest of the group behind the trees and pressed himself against a trunk, a pair of orcs emerged from the cave. They both ran into the forest, weapons drawn and teeth bared, running right past the group and quickly fading away from both sight and hearing.

Gossamer looked down at his hands, which were still gripping his dagger and the shortsword. The wraps were stained with blood. It looked like his hands were shaking slightly. There was a slight pounding in his temples. He felt just a bit dizzy.

A heavy hand clapped down on his shoulder, making Gossamer jolt with a yelp. He looked up to see Vyalda regarding him with just a bit less stoic-ness than usual.