Slaying Dragons: A Tale of Success & Failure in a Team Environment

Rumors swirled from nearly as far back as they could remember of a massive monster dwelling in the desert. This beast wasn’t the first of its kind, nor the largest, or the smallest. And, while this kind of beast had slayed many before, our would be heroes had heard tales of these beasts being felled before. In fact, a member of their squadron claimed to have done so, and on more than one occasion. This experienced warrior reveled the team with tales of valor and conquest and inspired them to take on the challenge of felling this particular dragon.

Armed with this inspiration the team set forth to the desert. The desert was large and cragged with many places for such beasts to hide. As the team pushed towards their target they encountered many smaller monsters. Early on, these monsters fell with ease, building the teams hope. However, this desert featured an abyss in addition to the monster. The team had also heard rumors of the abyss, but these were more abstract, and they were not prepared for its depths. As our heroes traversed the abyss the team lost several members and hope began to fade.

As the team worked their way through the abyss, their hope lower than ever before. With no relief in sight, and even these smallest of monsters inflicting near mortal wounds, they picked up a couple wanderers also attempting to cross the abyss who both relished the protection of the team, as well as the chance to be a hero and slay the biggest beast. Unfortunately, both wanderers were both quickly felled and the short hope their addition brought to the team was quickly flipped to its nadir.

The team leader and the experienced warrior both did their best to stay positive, but even their training and experience were barely enough for the abyss, the small monsters still attacking as they crossed, and losing so many members of their squad. But, alas, they trudged on and eventually reached the other side; finding hope in a shelter the experienced warrior knew of. As they approached the shelter, one of the bravest on the squad heard rumors of an even larger beast and left to seek this monster for glory on his own. The few remaining reached the shelter. The shelter wasn’t as strong as it was last he’d used it, but it provided an inkling of hope, a refuge from which to recalibrate. Here, the team was also able to add new members to help slay the beast still lying in wait for them.

The Turn

The shelter now behind them, and drawing inspiration from the departure of one of their own for his own glory as well as from the experienced ones counsel on what to expect, the team began to build hope again. For the first time in ages the smaller monsters began to fall to their resolve. Building on the rest the refuge provided and the inspiration these small victories gave them, the team began to push headlong even harder and faster into the desert.

As the team neared the end of this journey they knew it was them or the beast and the beast smelled their approach just as they could taste its stench in the air. The beast sent its lieutenants at them with ferocity after seeing them nearly taken down by some of the smaller monsters, the lord of this lair thought for sure these final three hurdles would destroy these invaders to its lair.

The lieutenants, though great beasts themselves, were seen approaching from afar, and the experienced one drew up a plan of attack. The young leader gave his OK despite the risk in the plan. The first lieutenant fell with little fight. The plan worked. Again, a new plan, riskier, and again approved, and the lieutenant was caught off guard by the careful planning. The team took the beast to task quickly, and just when it looked like the beast might turn the tide, the team struck a killing blow. The third lieutenant approached, another plan in place, less risk, but more to lose. The third dropped the quickest of them all, it’s legs cut out from underneath, with no way to fight back, it wasn’t a matter of if the team would win this fight, but of how — and how quickly — they would end it.

The Dragon

And yet, here at the end, the three lieutenants felled with ferocity and ease, the team approached the great beast with fearless eyes, confidence in their guts, and glory in their hearts. The last remaining brave recruit from the beginning announced that he, too, would be seeking another beast for glory of his own immediately after this great battle with the fabled dragon; which saw the team bear down even more to make sure this warrior survived to fight again.

The team entered the depths of the lair; the dragon visible in front of them. They made their approach with lots of hoopla confident in their success. Imaging themselves triumphant, holding the detached head of this slain beast by the horns up high proudly showing the world their success. This beast was not an easy fight and it drew them in close, and the team pressed hard, pushing for success. The dragon was cornered, it’s defeat seeming more and more certain with every passing moment as the team clamored about.

Then, a stir, and it was clear they had it all wrong, the beast had them. Their success was not to come today, this great beast had drawn them in close only to devour their dream in the final seconds. The team, battered, survived, but the dragon still stirs, and the team is preparing to endure its desert trial once more; knowing that it will only have grown larger by the time they get back to its lair. They’re counting on the lessons learned from this defeat to help them bring this beast down on their next attempt, for attempt again, they will. They will, however, do so without the experienced warrior, who is traversing the continent to seek another adventure, and they rest their hopes on the young leader, their past experiences, and their motto of being stronger than they were yesterday.

Players

TL;DR — (Summary, it’s been a great year, we aren’t going to quite make the year goal, but with the month in the bag and back to back big bonus months looking very likely, even with today’s down volume and traffic, we can look with anticipation for tomorrows conclusion to the month, year, and the new year to start!)