This is a fanfic based on the GIGGS D&D Session #2 Twitch livestream. If you want to see any canon adventures, watch the livestream.
Brodude entered the Nailbrook blacksmith’s shop still limping slightly from the battle with the Nightmare and the cult. The Nightmare nearly trampled him to death and the cult leader almost barbecued him. He hadn’t felt this powerless, and worse useless, since his older brother dropped him into that pit.
He already wanted to visit the blacksmith; but now, he needed the distraction, and the others were busy with their own quests. Ruby was “shopping” at the jewelers. Max was in town looking for any information regarding the circus he once called home. Mister Wizard was bonding with his new feline familiar, which consisted of them staring at each other for what now was going on three hours. (In truth, they were deep in telepathic communication discussing the ancient Star-God Battles.)
The Nailbrook blacksmith was the most impressive that Bro had encountered on his journeys. It almost rivaled the dwarven forges of his home.
The blacksmith looked to be at least half tiefling with his pointy ears, tail, red eyes, and wild blond hair. The blacksmith had his full focus on the forge. He didn’t hear Bro enter. Even when Bro spoke, he reacted little.
“That is quite the forge you have,” Bro said. “Is that the new X-11?”
The blacksmith didn’t reply.
“I’ve always found working in the forges to be good exercise and great for the pores,” said Bro.
Still no answer from the blacksmith.
Bro watched as the blacksmith pounded on whatever he was crafting. Sparks shot up from the object showering the blacksmith in flashes of color.
“Did you learn that technique at the Halls of Grandor?”
Still no answer.
One more try, thought Brodude.
“I have money.”
The blacksmith stopped. He turned to Bro with a wide, friendly smile. “Welcome, weary traveler! My name is Redtek Noodle. How can I help you?”
“Just checking out your shop. I like seeing all the cool stuff blacksmiths are working on.”
“Oh,” said Redtek, his smiled twitched, “you’re a lurker.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
Redtek folded his arms. “Really? Well then, what is the optimal procedure for crafting a sword made of yoinkers metal?”
“Twelve whacks to the blade followed by 20 seconds in water to cool it. You then repeat the process three more times adding five whacks and 10 seconds each time.”
“OK then,” said Redtek relaxing a little. He then noticed the bandages around Brodude’s right arm and head. He also noticed that Bro, a dwarf, had no beard or mustache. They had been burned off during the fight with the Nightmare and cult.
Redtek’s face scrunched into a scrutinizing stare. “Are you one of the adventurers that saved the town from the Nightmare?” Apparently, word about Bro’s lost facial hair had gotten around town, which made Bro feel worse because he’d lost most of it during a critical failure attack on the Nightmare.
Bro nodded. He tried to look confident but wasn’t really feeling it. He had almost died twice, and Ruby did most of the vanquishing; plus, she was the one to summon the spectral horse that helped turn the tide in their favor.
“Then perhaps I can trust you enough to show you my latest invention. I was told by the Oracle of Broomstock that a wise and powerful wizard would one day need it to defeat a big bad evil guy.”
Redtek waved Brodude over to the forge. A long, cylinder-like device laid on the forge waiting for further work.
“I call it the Great Unending Nullifier, or G.U.N. for short,” said Redtek. “But alas, the contraption vexes me. No matter what I do, it won’t fire the small spheres of metal. And I don’t have much time to work on it because Canis, the wizard king of Red Winter, paid me to make a dungeon.”
“A dungeon?”
“Yes. And he wants 100 wardens to watch over the prisoners. Do you have any idea how long it takes to interview over 100 wardens…and the ones who don’t make the cut try to sue you.” Redtek slowly shook his head in frustration and disgust. “I’d rather be herding spiders.”
“Why would he need a 100 wardens? How big is this dungeon?”
Redtek shrugged. “I have heard that it is so large a mountain range was needed to be built to support it.”
“A mountain range?!” said Bro.
Redtek nodded. He then sighed, “I guess I best be getting back to work. Dungeons don’t build themselves, you know.”
Bro took one last look at the strange cylinder weapon. It seemed to him a useless weapon…nothing like a great axe.
Bro left the blacksmith’s. He thought about the dungeon and the G.U.N. as he walked back to the Cat’s Tail Inn. Then his stomach rumbled, and he completely forgot about the strange encounter at the blacksmith’s–the thoughts of Hal’s delicious eggs and beer were far more important.
Watching GIGGS (Grian, Impulse, Gem, GoodTimesWithScar, and sometimes Skizzleman) play Dungeons & Dragons for the first time has been fun. Pixlriffs has been a good Dungeon Master and teacher; he does a great job of making sure fun is foremost, even if some rules get bent.
Joe Rover 
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