Decline the Drink
Pick Your Peril: The Hero of Mudtown
(This is a series of choose-your-own-adventure articles. If you want to start from the beginning, click here. If you want to revisit the previous chapter, click here.)
The Revelers look like they’re ready to party, but you don’t want to drink tonight. You smile and shake your head as Jeremiah tries to hand you a tankard. He shrugs.
“Your choice.” Jeremiah smiles, “We won’t force you to drink if you don’t want to.”
“But if you change your mind, we won’t talk you out of it!” The Bard interjects with a grin.
You’re more than happy to get some food and watch the Revelers enjoy themselves. The Bard is a decent enough entertainer, and the Revelers clearly enjoy singing, but their musicianship suffers the more they drink. After a while, you realize that the Bard really only knows three songs, and the Revelers remember about half the words between the three of them.
As the night gets later and the keg gets emptier, the Revelers attempt a little dance routine and sporadically shimmy around the campfire. They start leap-frogging over one another with moderate success, until Bartholomew gets stuck trying to jump over Richard and rolls backwards onto the ground with a thud. They seem to be enjoying themselves, but you’re too tired to participate in the festivities.
You decide to call it a night and lie down to get some well-deserved rest.
The rising sun gently prompts you awake, and you look around to see if any of your new friends are up yet.
Richard, Bartholomew and Jeremiah are all unresponsive and snoring in their hammocks. You spot the Bard, looking hungover, sitting on a log at the edge of the clearing. He writes on a piece of parchment with a quill, unaware of you walking up to greet him.
You startle the Bard when a twig snaps beneath your foot.
“Our newest Reveler!” He flashes a strained smile. “I wasn’t expecting you to get up so early.”
He stashes his writing implements and stands to escort you back to camp.
“I’ve given your compatriots some tasks to tend to when they wake up.” The Bard puts his arm around your shoulder and smiles. “You’ve only just joined us, but I’m confident you’ll be a valuable member to our little team. We could use your support for today’s duties. If you’d like to choose someone to help, I’m sure any one of us would appreciate it.”
Which Reveler do you wish to assist?