Dog Days Quest Episode 114

BANG!
Zzzzfpt-

"Try again."
Your finger pulls back on the hammer. Oh, you've been doing this so long; your thumb is sore.

BANG!
ZZzzsss-

The bullet cracks off into the distance. Somehow, it sails clear of every single one of the bottles set out before you.

Again, your finger lazily pulls at the hammer.
Click.

Six perfectly pristine bottles, and not a single one broken.
You lower the heavy iron. The worst part about the loud, annoying tool is probably the smoke it belches with every shot.

"..Mm." The man standing behind you grunts. "Next time you should try shootin' at the air. Maybe you'll hit a bottle."

Hey! Why is he smiling?! That's not funny!

You are Dorje, and that's how most people know you. It's not a very glamorous name, but you're not a very glamorous person. For most of your life, you've lived in the mountains with your family. This changed abruptly, several months ago.

Now, you have lots of people to look after. You have a princess who thinks you're the coolest person she's ever met. You're not entirely sure why, but that's besides the point. You've also been drafted into a team of extremely strong people meant to protect the land. You feel like it's your job to watch after them, as well.

Which is why you're here today: you feel more than a little disappointed with yourself in that regard.

"Okay, here. Let me the reload it fer ya." The tall man with a dumb-looking hat takes the piece from you. The very act of not having to hold it for just a second fills you with relief.

Recently, there was an attack on the castle your charge is staying at. Every person seems to have held their own and contributed to fighting the attack off.
Except for you.

>Cont.

The closest you came to being helpful during this event was that time in the forest. You spotted another hero, Kayda, almost get kidnapped by a scheming man and his massive bodyguard. You would have rushed to her side if it weren't for one problem; you're not exactly good with arrows, bows, guns, or anything that could have helped.
The only weapon you've ever been trained with, are your fists.

You felt unmovingly upset by that realization. If it weren't for Kayda's quick wits with her own firearm; she would have been kidnapped, Yuuki would have been kidnapped, and it would have been all your fault.

"C'mon, try again." Cody hands the silver weapon back to you.
Which is why you've come to this man, today. You just wish you were a little better.

>This isn't working, we should try another weapon.
>How do you even use this thing?! It's worthless!
>Try six more shots, maybe you'll get lucky
>Okay, stop, please, I'm tired. Quick break?
>Other?

>How do you even use this thing?! It's worthless!

>This isn't working, we should try another weapon.
>>i wish i could just punch things from a distance

>This isn't working, we should try another weapon.
>How do you even use this thing?! It's worthless
What ranged weapons go with an unarmed fighter? Something thrown perhaps?

Fists

>This isn't working, we should try another weapon.
Whelp, the number of handsome gunslingers will not be increasing today.

>How do you even use this thing?! It's worthless!
>This isn't working, we should try another weapon.

>How do you even use this thing?! It's worthless!
>This isn't working, we should try another weapon.

Writing!

That's... Hmm. What element does Dorje have again?

I can't remember.

I also forgot he existed.

Your thumb pulls back on the hammer.
Line up the V on the back-
With the notch on the front.

BANG!
Fzzsstttzz-

"Why?!"
"High and to the left." Cody sniffs, "Aim a bit lower next time."

"Come on, this thing is worthless!" You pout. "How is ANYONE supposed to hit anything with this?!"

Cody clicks his teeth, and sighs.
"Hand it here."

"You're not gonna shoot all the bottles and make me look like a dimwit for saying that, are you?" You pout.

Cody smiles, "Maybe later, right now, try this one."

He hands yet another firearm to you. This one is smaller in size than the one he usually keeps at his hip.
"It's kinda tiny, but maybe you just need something like that."

Your pout continues. In a way, it feels like he's almost insulting you by giving you such a small firearm.
Like, what is he trying to imply with this?!

You take it from him, and then take aim at the bottles.

The hammer pulls back much more smoothly.
POP!

The sound is much more pleasant, as well.

Fzzzst- Crack!

One of the bottles cracks along its side, and falls over.

You hit it!
Somehow!

"That's a practice gun." Cody shrugs. "Not very good in a fight, but it should start you on the basics."
"..Practice gun."
"Yup."
How is this going to help Kayda if she's in trouble?

You look at him with disappointment.
"Hey, sorry you can't impress your girlfriend with that-"
"She's NOT my girlfriend." You frown.

"-but you have to walk before you run, y'know." Cody bites his lip. "It's not like I just picked up an iron and went to town."

"..This isn't working out. Can we try another weapon?"
"Sure, what did you have in mind?"

>Let's try a Bow
>Maybe a slingshot?
>I don't know! What can I use with just my fists?!
>Maybe magic?!
>Rifle, like Kayda has.
>..I'll try the pistol again.
>other?

Earth.

>I don't know! What can I use with just my fists?!

>>Maybe a slingshot?

>Maybe a slingshot?
>I don't know! What can I use with just my fists?!
>Maybe magic?!

The perfect element to punch people with.

>"She's NOT my girlfriend."
Don't worry, Dorje, we'll get around to fixing that too right after your aim.

>I don't know! What can I use with just my fists?!

>Maybe magic?!

>Maybe a slingshot?
>I don't know! What can I use with just my fists?!
>Maybe magic?!

Writing!

And thus the matchmaker wars begin.

"I don't know! Maybe a slingshot?"
"A slingshot." Dorje repeats.

"Yeah! I used to know some people who hunted with one."

"That's great if you want to tickle an enemy's ass." Dorje snorts, "Not very good for anything bigger than a varmnit."

"What can I use with just my fists?!"
"Lad, listen here." Cody takes a cigarette out.

Then he does that ANNOYING thing where he rubs my head! Stop that! Your fingers are stained with tobacco; I don't want that in my hair!

"-Fists aren't for fightin', lad."

..What?
"What does that mean? Of course they're for fighting!"

"Lad, fists are for roughhousin', they're for kickin' the ass of the guy who tried to put his drink on your tab. They're for beating the shit out of someone who cheated at a poker game. They're for pounding in the face of a guy who slapped your whor-"
He stops himself.

"We'll get to that part of being a man a little later." Cody adjusts his throat. "Right now, you need to learn that bringing your fists to a fight is a good way to get killed."
"They're all I know, though!"

There has to be something more to this! You've seen some of those Gallete mercenaries with quarterstaves! You can disarm someone with a quarterstaff, so what's their secret?!

"Could I maybe do something with magic?"
"I don't know." Cody huffs, "What's your element?"
"Earth."

"Alright." Cody sniffs. "Let's try magic. Use your, err, 'Earth', to knock over those bottles there."

>1d100, best of three.
>On second thought, let's try something else.
>I need a break, I'll be in town if you need me.
>Other?

Rolled 81 (1d100)

Rolled 79 (1d100)

Rolled 95 (1d100)

Who needs guns anyways?

Well that would impress the ladies

Writing!

>Well that would impress the ladies
>Ara ara~

Apparently Dorje is lucky.

>no ladies in sight to impress

Just another day of being Dorothy.

...

Magic.
Yeah, you can do magic.

You've been practicing often. Mostly in the morning, when no one is awake to notice.

The bottles shake, and the Earth rumbles.
Cody drops his cigarette, and you focus your energy on one point.

The fence those bottles are sitting upon.

You think back to your training, keeping punches straight, strongest strikes are done with the elbows, and finally-

Your palm strikes the Earth!

A ripple of dust rumbles toward the fence.
Cody, almost by instinct, drops to one knee.

With a crash, a cacophony of spikes erupt from the Earth! Each one as razor-sharp as the quartz they're comprised of.

Timber, glass, and dust covers the makeshift practice ground.

Cody sneezes, and then works to dusting himself off. Your hands grip your silvery hair and rub the sand from the white strands.

"See?! I can be useful!"
"And destructive, too." Cody coughs again. "Great work, kid."

"Thanks!" You beam with the only compliment this gruff man has given you all morning.

"You sure that's all you want though? Something that destroys your enemy and everythin' around it?"

"It's enough for me." You cross your arms.

>"..But maybe I should look for something a little more precise."
>"Okay, I'm hungry. I'll catch up with you after lunch and we'll keep practicing!"
>"Better than the gun."
>Other?

>>"Better than the gun."

>"Better than the gun."
>"Like punching things with the earth?"

>"..But maybe I should look for something a little more precise."

I half expected the bottles to just roll away and not break.

>"..But maybe I should look for something a little more precise."

>"Better than the gun."
>Beat
>"..But maybe I should look for something a little more precise."

>"Better than the gun."

>"Better than the gun."
>"..But maybe I should look for something a little more precise."

I didn't peg him as a massive collateral damage kind of guy.

>"Better than the gun."
>"..But maybe I should look for something a little more precise."

Writing!

Folks my internet connection is acting flaky. if I suddenly disappear, I will continue in the morning when I wake up.

So, is Dorothy shy, gay or is Aileen simply not his type?

I think he might just be stupid.

He thinks Aileen is 'above' him, if I remember correctly. Princesses can't marry commoners.

Also

"Well, it's better than the gun!"

You smile, but he's not smiling.

"..But maybe I should look for something a little more precise."

"Atta boy." Cody holsters the practice weapon. "It's almost lunch, let's go get a bite and then we can try something else."

A part of you wonders if he's not just running away so he doesn't have to answer the question 'What happened to my fence and why are all these spikes here?' from the farmer he 'borrowed' this exercise from.

"What kind of 'something else'?" You question.
"Bow was a good thought, earlier. I've seen some pretty good trick shots with one." Cody looks toward you, "I bet you Kayda is pretty good with one."

"Why?"

"Just a hunch." Cody smiles.
"I'm not doing this to impress her.."

"I get it.. I get it. You got the princess after all."
"I can't marry her, either!" You huff.
"Who said anything about marry." He smiles at you.

"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'll tell you when you're older." Cody rubs his hand in your hair again. Gross! You can feel the stickiness from the tobacco!

Something tells you that he's a terrible influence.

"'ey, speakin' of which. Look who's in town."

Cody points to the small, gravel road leading into town up ahead.

Two bubbly girls seem to be walking along, chatting happily. A third one trails slightly behind them, and remains silent.

"Is that Kayda? And Louise?"
"Hey." Cody smiles in a way that makes you realize what he's going to say next, "Go get 'em."

>"NO!"
>"WHAT?!"
>"I think I'll go get lunch alone, okay, thanks bye."
>"Do what now?"
>"Other?

So, uh...
I read last thread and, uh, is there any chance we can get some Tuile focus soon?
This whole Madeline focus is getting weird

>WHAT?!
>Hesitantly nod.

>"WHAT?!"

Good things come to those who wait.

I think my writing in general has slowed down. It's funny, because I wanted to get this whole thing finished up someday, but I just keep opening more and more subplots.

Yeah, but, it's a little weird seeing this big focus on Madeleine while Tuile has pretty much disappeared.

Anyone else interested in hesitatingly nodding?

>WHAT?!
>Hesitantly nod.

Folks I am wearing down, so this is my last post of the night.

Tomorrow is Friday. I could try continuing tomorrow if you guys want to wait a LONG time. As in a gap of upwards of 5-6 hours on top of the 8 hour gap

I wouldn't say she's disappeared it's just, she's in the castle. She has princess things to do.

Maybe next thread we should go visit her.

Next thread assuming we can get through Dorje's little sidestory here.

I could run a bonus thread over the weekend if we'

So should we try and keep the thread bumped?

I don't know. It's going to be quite a gap.

I'll tell you what. I will finish up tonight and we will pick up with Dorje either next week or this weekend. We'll see!

Writing continues!

Getting a bonus thread over the weekend would be nice.

Hope you'll get to feeling better soon, Announcer.

Thanks, I blame it on stress.

Next post almost done. I'll explain what has me so stressed out after that.l

"WHAT?!" You almost stop yourself from shouting.

"I said, 'go get 'em'" Cody smiles at you.

Your eyes flick back to the three girls. Just to notice that both of them are wearing the same kind of dress that Keiko is wearing. That kind of flowery dress that Yuuki wears. Why are they wearing her clothes?

"What?" You repeat again, glaring back at Cody. "She's not my girlfriend! I was just worried about her after last time!"
"Then MAKE HER your girlfriend." Cody re-iterates himself. "You're both at that age."

"M-make her?!"
This is all going way, way above your head.

"W-what?"

"Go on, get 'em tiger."

The realization that he will not give up until you go talk to them is worse than the concept of trying to 'win' a girl.
How does that even work? What does he want you to do?

It's too late to ask that now, you've already slowly nodded to his persistence. Kayda is already a mere few feet away by the time it dawns on you as to what you're about to do.

"H-Hey." Yes! Perfect!

The girls turn in unison to face you.
"Huh? Dorje?" Louise blinks.
"Do you want something?" Kayda states, flatly.

"Uh! Um!"

Oh no! You didn't think past this part!

"I- I was just worried about the other day, you were acting weird and I wanted to know if you were okay after that fight in the forest! That's all! Just wanted to make sure you were fine! If you're going to get lunch, we can get lunch, too!"
Okay! That's a good start!

Kayda blinks, and then looks back toward Louise.

"You're weird." Is all she says, before walking away.

..
You feel a hand pat your head.
"Ah kid. It's a work in progress, don't give up."

You want to punch this man harder than anything else before him.

>Thread End

Thanks for the thread, everyone.

Okay, so stress. It's been afflicting my sleep and eating schedule, and also my writing. I'm undergoing quite a bit of writer's block, but I'll pull through that. I always have.

Right now I'm changing jobs. I found another in the same city that pays more, but I hate leaving my first job. The transition between the two hasn't been pretty and I'm having lots of sleepless nights over it. It's been affecting most of everything in my life.

Writers block on Dog Days Quest has done something strange: It's made me want to start another quest. Which seems bizarre and contradictory considering that I barely have the time to run the one I'm running right now, but it's true.

I don't know what your thought on that is, but me, personally, doesn't want to start another quest until I'm sure that the 'home stretch' of this quest is in sight. That I can plot where the story needs to happen to get from A to B.

That said, I'm feeling passionate about this new quest idea because it's the one thing I've been thinking about during work. So we'll see where that goes. Needless to say, DDQ isn't going anywhere.

Let me know what you thought of today's thread, and let me know if you think my writing has been suffering. Thanks for the thread, everyone.

well, up until no so long ago you were handling both CPM and DD, so starting a new quest wouldn't be that new.

tell me more about it anyway

That is something that is still in the planning phase. I will say that it's related to Nanoha.

Also if I run it, it will probably be under the CPM account and probably on /qst/.

I don't really think your writing has been suffering at all, and if it's something you feel passionate about I feel like you should try it, and we'll help you make it work.

Really sorry to hear that changing jobs is stressing you out so much, I hope things calm down enough for you to adjust.

Thanks for running, Announcer. Didn't really notice a drop in writing quality, so I'd say you're holding up well on that front despite any problems you're having.

Seriously though, take a break from quest running and use your free time to relax if you're having it that bad.