Isaac's Adventures #016 (Patreon)

Isaac and Parkeriss  set to devising a plan to storm the vampire castle and rescue Blobbo. After two hours of intense deliberation, they concluded that neither of them had any ideas that didn't end in their gruesome deaths, and that they would need to find a strategist to advise them before much else was decided. 

They set off on foot toward the capital city, the very place where Isaac's journey first began. As they walked the trail, Isaac's heart was heavy with worry for his son, as well as what may have become of Princess Chloe. They reached the city gates without incident just before nightfall.

As they walked the streets in search of lodging, Parkeriss grabbed Isaac by the arm. "Look, Isaac!" she exclaimed. "A tavern!"

"You read my mind," said Isaac. "Let's get hammered." 

"No! I mean we might be able to find someone who can help us there!"

"Oh, right."

They entered the warm and bustling tavern, "Ye Olde Dragon's Dangler" according to the name outside. As they found themselves a table, Isaac's spirits were low. Still lacking in coin, he would have to rely on Parkeriss to pay for his meal for now. He highly doubted that whatever she had in her small coin purse would be enough to hire any number of the skilled mercenaries they would require the aid of. 

His melancholy was interrupted by a lovely young barmaid passing their table. She was quite voluptuous, with a striking hairstyle and big green eyes that he couldn't look away from. She introduced herself as Synthiria, and Parkeriss stopped her to ask for information about the vampire castle. 

It was in that moment that a drunken patron bumped into Synthiria, spilling a flagon of ale on her white blouse and rendering it almost completely transparent. Synthiria went on to speak for several minutes in answer to Parkeriss's questions, and Isaac heard none of it. He was too transfixed on the wet nipples of the busty barmaid. Parkeriss had to snap her fingers in front of his face and recap the story for him after Synthiria had taken her leave. 

They were fortunate, they needed not seek to form a party to attack the vampire castle. It just so happened that such a quest was already in progress by others, and Isaac and Parkeriss needed only but to find and join them. Two warriors there were, set out from the city just days before: a barbarian known as Derek the Unfortunate, and a young arcane scholar named Warrendar. They sought the aid of two fearsome orcs to join their assault, and had ventured to their lair in the mountains to implore them for aid. 

Isaac shuddered. Were these two insane? There were only two orcs in the surrounding kingdom, and anyone with half a mind would no sooner ask them for help than throw sticks at a grizzly bear. Indeed, Isaac had heard horrifying tales of Trishavere and Marakull. Derek and Warrendar's plight must be even more desperate than his own if they were seeking aid from those hulking savages. 

Sure enough, the two warriors had not yet returned. Nonetheless, Isaac's options were slim. He and Parkeriss agreed that they would set out for the mountains at dawn. They would hope to join the party in their assault on the castle, or, at the very least, see to it that whatever might be left of two fools in the mountains receive a proper burial.