Stockades and Skeletons – Page 170

I’ve done Specials for Valentine’s Day only sporadically over the years, but this year I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

For one thing, the date lined up directly with an update day. And for the other thing…well, it’s a well-known (and often satirized) fact that the average pen-and-paper RPG party employs a binary when it comes to dealing with encounters: fight or attempt to seduce, with no third option. And the choice of option is often quite arbitrary, the only firm variables being the presence of a bard in the party and the bard’s blood alcohol level.

K’ip has only always been fighting, up to now, but what better date to have him try out the alternative? No better date, clearly, although a Christmas-themed episode featuring mistletoe might have worked almost as well. And K’ip has only been an adult since the time-skip, anyway, so it’s technically also the first suitable occasion.

He does learn a valuable lesson about that approach right away…something important about size and species differences that many professional bards never really master.* Given the overabundance on cat-like species that was already commented upon, he was a bit unlucky in his choice here – he could have landed a hit much closer to home.

Si’ri is definitely loving the holiday, though, as is only natural for a tiny, sparkling person with wings. I mean, like most tiny, sparkling persons with wings she actually loves any kind of celebration, but Valentine’s day still remains a firm favorite.

In order to maintain the light mood, I kept the actual act of seduction, and the aftermath, off screen. This discreet approach affords every reader the opportunity to imagine the specifics in the least mentally-scarring way possible. If you prefer to, just imagine that K’ip’s butt is hurting because he sat on an uncomfortable chair during an hours-long, platonic dinner date with the copper dragon. =P