The Will to Resist

Gremlin Risitas — Slain by Geometry


Encounter Log: The Gremlin vs. One (1) Goblin

Party composition:

Dungeon:

DM:

“You hear skittering.”

Gremlin (already smiling):

“I draw my sword.”

The sword is the size of a theological disagreement.

Goblin appears. Three feet tall. Holding a knife that has definitely killed before.

Initiative is rolled.

The Goblin goes first. Of course it does.

Goblin:

stab

Four damage.

Gremlin:

“Fine.”

He winds up.

This is a five-foot corridor.

DM (gentle):

“You… have disadvantage.”

Gremlin:

“Coward.”

He swings anyway.

CLING!

The broadsword hits the wall. Sparks. Echo. The sound of confidence leaving the room.

Miss.

Goblin, now emboldened by geometry:

stab stab

Six damage.

Gremlin rolls his shoulders. Still smiling. Still hasn’t backed up.

Second swing.

CLANG!

The sword lodges briefly between stone and regret.

DM:

“You lose your bonus action freeing it.”

Goblin:

stab

Critical hit.

The goblin’s knife is basically a letter opener, but it found a gap in the armor labeled Hubris.

Gremlin:

“…wait.”

Third round. Blood on the floor. No room to retreat. No dagger. No plan.

The Gremlin raises the sword again like this time the hallway might apologize.

CLING!

Miss.

Goblin:

stab

The Gremlin drops.

Silence.

The goblin wipes the blade on the Gremlin’s cloak, loots exactly three copper, and leaves.

DM clears throat:

“…so. That’s death saving throws.”

The Gremlin fails two. Succeeds one. Fails the last.

Dead.

Killed by a goblin. In a hallway. With a sword that was technically legendary.

Somewhere in the ether:

“Tuturuu!”

Not cruel. Not kind.

Just the dice reminding him:

Power without adaptability is just noise with weight.

Session ends.

The Gremlin writes in the margin of his character sheet:

Next time: bring a knife.

😌