His biggest problem?
His mentor is one of the mysterious [Immortals].
Also, that mentor is a fanged banana slug named Richard.
After one ill-advised night of drinking, Cole and his lifelong friends Tandy and Leo accidentally sign themselves up with the Adventurer’s Guild, gaining responsibilities they are spectacularly unprepared for.
Things escalate quickly when they meet Meredeath, an isekai’d gothic powerhouse whose [Death Knight] abilities are the only reason they survive their [Trial Dungeon].
Somehow, despite all logic and good judgment, they form an adventuring party known as:
Cole – Class: [Dead Wrong] | Role: Heart of the Team
Cole gave up on being an [Adventurer] years ago. Unfortunately, fate—and a banana slug with questionable life advice—dragged him back in.
Richard – Class: ??? | Role: Resident Asshole
Richard claims he's [Immortal] because nothing has managed to kill him yet. He insists he's only helping the party because it’s convenient, though Cole suspects it might also have something to do with avoiding his last ex-girlfriend.
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Leo – Class: [Paladin] | Role: Muscle
A lovable himbo who recently joined the cult-like [Paladins of the Hunt]. He’s tall, handsome, and absolutely certain he’s making good life choices. The jury is still out.
Tandy – Class: [Mage] | Role: Brains
The party’s reluctant leader. Tandy has been dragging Cole and Leo out of bad decisions since childhood and shows no signs of stopping now.
Meredeath – Class: [Death Knight] | Role: Primary DPS
Meredeath is tired of the party. She’s tired of Cole flirting with her. She’s tired of people commenting on her eyeliner. Unfortunately, leaving would require effort.
Ash – Class: [Maganical Engineer] | Role: Inventor
Another visitor from another world, Ash is thrilled to finally meet people willing to listen to his ideas—or at least tolerate them.
- The party survives their [Trial Dungeon], only to immediately face a [Corrupt] Guardian protecting the great wall that keeps the monsters of the wasteland at bay. They somehow win, revealing troubling cracks in the world’s defenses.
- Powerful adventurers require sponsors. Cole has Richard. Meredeath is chosen by the [Lich] Rhi Voss. Tandy is apparently talented enough to sponsor herself. Leo, to his chagrin, is not powerful enough to need one.
- Investigating missing children in Eddie’s Mill, the party discovers a hidden dungeon beneath the town and rescues an orphan. Their reward: an invitation to participate in the legendary Hunt.
- During the event, Leo joins a cult, the [Paladins of the Hunt] on a jealousy fueled whim. Though the party successfully slays a mythical creature, the emotional fallout leads to the group splitting apart.
In the aftermath of the Hunt, Cole, Tandy, Meredeath, and their newest companion Ash, are escorting a caravan across the desert.
Leo has gone his own way.
Cole is still processing the breakup of the party.
And Richard has decided it’s time to level up…
The next chapter drops you into the beginning of Stumbling Up 2! Thanks for reading!!
To read the full Stumbling Up 1 read on