Monsters and Mazes

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

As you enter the Sensorium today you find a most peculiar sight.

A large black wall with a 8-bit logo reading "Monsters and Mazes"

And two simple words.

"Start Game."

Upon choosing this a new menu appears showing a series of options:

Fighter
Paladin
Hunter
Rogue
Wizard
Cleric
Bard

What to do what to do?

Comments

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

"Sure he did! Wouldn't want anyone getting up there he wasn't ready for after all." He took another chomping bite off his meal and let the juices run down his chin, pretty smug and relaxed. He apparently had no real concern about Bowser.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

That smugness was getting on Bowser's nerves. "Here's a hint: whatever he's paying you isn't enough to deal with someone like me, so shove off and let me through or I'm turning you to mincemeat. Deal?"

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

"Just because you cut down my men doesn't mean you'll find me as easy a target ugly." The Bandit leader chuckled and jerked his spear sending the last chunk of sopping roast at Bowser's face.

And while he was distracted with that, attempted to sweep the legs.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

"UGLY!? Why you-" When the meat started flying, Bowser's first reaction was to hunker down and shield himself with his shell, so he avoided all but the juice of the roast.

The problem is that he got a spear haft across the chest, instead. "GAH!" Bowser staggered back a step or two, doubled-over in apparent pain.

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

"Heh, some warrior you are. Your armor will look nice in my collection though." He adjusted and lunged forward with the pointy end of the spear.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

"-- hah!" Dropping his facade of pain, Bowser suddenly slid a half-step to the side and bull-rushed right up into the bandit's face, too close for him to use his spear. "SAYS YOU!"

And then the Koopa King promptly tried to headbutt the bandit right in the forehead.

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

WHAM!!

With a startled look through crossed eyes the Bandit stumbled backwards clutching his head. "OW! Geeze!" He swung the spear wildly trying to defend himself as his vision re-adjusted.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

A straight-up slug fest battle of stamina? THIS is where the Koopa King excels.

Bowser roared with laughter and dropped his battle axe, sticking close enough that neither of them can use their weapons; he absorbs the spear haft's hits with one forearm or his shoulders while hitting the bandit with his other arm, trying to overpower the bandit.

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

The Bandit grunted and groaned trying to smack at Bowser's leg with the spear to trip him up as he thrust forward with the other gauntlet for a punch, but Bowser's strike put a solid dent in his chest plate.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

The spear wasn't quite that effective against Bowser's armored legs, not this close in. The PUNCH, however, would've come in right at temple height if he hadn't brought both arms up in time to block it, forcing the Koopa King back a pace or two.

"I'm getting tired of this! RRRAAGH!!" Bowser immediately re-closed the distance, trying to enclose the bandit in both arms and slam him into the ground.

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

The Bandit let out a noise between a yelp and a croak as he was smashed to the ground under the impressive weight of Bowser and his armor.

"Alright." He rasped, "Alright, I'm not gettin' paid enough to die."

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

Bowser sneered and kept him pinned to the ground.

"Throw your weapon away first. THEN we'll talk."

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

The Bandit groaned in a mix of pain and annoyance using one of his legs to kick away the spear knocking it off the trail and losing it in the bushes.

"There." He wheezed struggling to breath. "Now get off my fat ass."

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

Bowser STILL doesn't budge.

"That's LORD Bowser to you, lardo!"

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

"Lardo!?" The Bandit flailed his arms uselessly, "You weigh as much as a house and you're calling me names?"

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

"Well, if you're not gonna call me LORD Bowser," The Koopa King drawled, ignoring the bandit's protests. "Then let's just see what'll give out first: my ability to keep you pinned, or your ribs. And believe me, I can keep this up all day."

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

"Fine Lord Bowser!!!" The Bandit snarled and kicked in frustration. "Now get your lordly butt off me!"

Victory was sweet. Humiliation was sweeter.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

"THAT'S more like it! And in my infinite lordly wisdom, I'm letting that last comment pass, Chuckles."

Bowser briefly entertained the thought of making the Bandit say 'pretty please with a cherry on top,' but he'd already had his fun. With a guffaw, the Koopa King rolled off the poor sap and retrieved his axe, making sure his back wasn't facing the bandit.

"So, tell me. Are there any OTHER surprises waiting for me from point A to point Dragon?"

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

The Bandit was panting with effort and rolled onto his chest to push himself up. "Well be sure not to use the front door. He'll burn you up. There's a second entrance in the bushes." He explained through clenched teeth.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

"A second entrance, huh? How's about I cut you a deal..."

While the bandit was still floored, Bowser picked up the bandit's spear and hefted it somewhere into the bushes off the path.

"You take me there, show me INTO this backdoor cave or whatever so I can make sure it's not one step into a pit of lava, and THEN you get the heck off this mountain. How about it?"

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

"Do it yourself." The Bandit wheezed and started to unclip his armor so it wouldn't keep belaboring his breathing. "I'm not going anywhere near the dragon after losing to you. I'm gonna get as far away as possible so he doesn't feel like hunting me down after he's killed you."

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

Bowser was in a pretty good mood after having stomped all three bandits, so he just laughed again. "Fine! I don't need your help ANYWAY! Just remember that when it's time for MY reign of terror, you're gonna be right on top of my morons-who-need-a-good-stomping list!"

With that, the Koopa King started trudging up the path again, holding his battle axe at the ready (just in case Chuckles thought of pulling something funny).

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

True to his word, when Boswser reached the peak there was a large entrance, and then bushes to the side. The smell of danger was in the air and the sound of heavy deep breathing could be heard echoing out of the darkness from the main entrance.

And the faint sound of a princess crying quietly. Yep, this was the place. Also if he looked out to the right he could see across the land beautifully. This peak had a fantastic view of the kingdom that the dragon was terrorizing. Like they always say, Location, location immolation.

[king-of-koopas.livejournal.com]

Bowser DID take a moment to admire the view. He certainly couldn't fault the dragon's choice of kingdoms to terrorize OR the location. Now if only the dragon had put in a lava moat or deathtraps...

... speaking of which, Bowser glanced at the main entrance- he knew fire breaths, and that entrance was a good funnel for making a barbecue out of anyone standing right in front of it- before going over to search the bushes.

[changelingdude.livejournal.com]

There was another hole here true enough, and it led down a steeper incline with some bones scattered here and there, but the end of the incline was too far away to see and shrouded in darkness.