Episode 102 - Christmas, Video Game NFT’s, and Drunk Stories

Landing on the ground outside of the cave entrance, the heroes took a minute to catch their breath. The rumblings of the cavern collapsing beneath them continued, but they paid it no mind. They came back to their senses, and did a check to make sure everyone had escaped. Their allies took the opportunity to make a campfire using the remains of what the heroes had left behind before venturing into the cave.

The warrior hero laid the injured woman down, her bloodied rags soaked through. The other heroes assisted in cleaning her wounds and replacing her bandages. She would need treatment from a healer, but would likely make it. The warrior hero lay her up against a flat rock to rest, then returned to help with the campsite. The ground still shook, and the mountain seemed to roar as its hidden cavern collapsed in on itself.

As the warrior hero rejoined the group, the ground nearby erupted into a plume of dust. Dirt and rocks flew into the sky, raining down upon the party. A loud roar bellowed from the bursting ground, followed quickly by the emergence of the extremely bloodied and damaged beholder. Only one of its tentacles remained, but it had clawed its way to the surface in search of its prey. Its few undamaged eyes locked onto the members of the party, writhing its body to face them.

The warrior hero grabbed his mace and walked forward. The beholder swung its tentacle at him, but he batted it aside. He swung his mace again, and crushed the slimy appendage. Blood dripping from his weapon, he approached the body of the now immobile beholder. Lifting his  weapon high above his head, he slammed it down into the largest of the creature's eyes. It let out a loud scream of agony, and the hero struck again. He slammed his mace down again and again, bashing in the monster's bulbous body. Eventually, the beholder stopped screaming in pain, and lay dead at the hero's feet.

He turned and walked back to his companions, sitting down next to the campfire to rest. His friend's faces covered in appreciation of his handiwork, he knew he deserved his rest. The other heroes set fire to the creature, but not before scavenging it for its parts. An ancient monster's body parts would not only fetch a high price at market, but would net them a great reward from the closest kingdom.

They returned and relaxed near the campfire. They ate some food and talked for a bit, before their allies said their goodbyes and left. The heroes remained, and talked for a bit. They discussed Christmas, the nightmare of NFT's going into video games, and some drunk stories.